J.T. Ellison - It's One of Us

 It's One of Us is J.T. Ellison's latest suspense novel.

Oh, the premise of this one is downright devious!  

Olivia Bender and her husband Park seem to have it all. But the one thing they both want, is to have a child of their own. However, when the police come knocking on their door, things will never be the same for this couple. DNA that matches Park's points to his son being the perpetrator. But he doesn't have any children - or does he? And that's just the opener. Ellison takes her plot down paths you won't see coming!

I really liked how Ellison presented One of Us. Almost every character is given a point of view and a voice. As the reader, we're the only ones who have all of that information in one place. Also running parallel to the search for the crime culprit is a dissection of a marriage in crisis mode. The cracks are widening with every disclosure. 

Ellison's writing makes for addictive reading. With the rotation of points of view, I can't wait to get back to one thread and another and another! And without providing spoilers, Ellison's plot premise is more than possible. Current technology of a certain type has opened the door for professional and amateur sleuthing. (I know I'm being quite obtuse but I don't want to ruin this read for you!)

I quite enjoyed this latest from Ellison. See for yourself - read an excerpt of It's One of Us. 

Just Get Home - Bridget Foley

No word of a lie - I read Bridget Foley's new book, Just Get Home in a day (and a bit of the night!)

See the crack on the cover? Uh huh - earthquake time in Los Angeles. Single mom Dessa is on a rare night out with her friends, having left her young daughter with a new babysitter. Beegie is a foster home runaway who is headed back as she has nowhere and no one else. 

Now, I have no experience with earthquakes other than the news. But Foley's descriptions were terrifying. Even more disquieting is the behaviour of those who see this disaster as a chance to loot - and worse. (Gentle readers take not that there are more than a few triggering situations in Just Get Home.) "The earthquake isn't the real disaster, Dessa. The disaster is what happens after."

Initially the two characters are each on their own. Their paths cross more than once and they end up travelling the same way together. It is the action and danger that propels the book forward at a breakneck speed, but Foley has also developed her characters. Dessa loves her daughter Oliva to the moon and back, but she is struggling mentally and financially. Beegie's story broke my heart - "Because if you care about something it has power over you. Caring can give someone else the ability to control you and the only real way to own yourself was to let go." 

Their journey is fraught with danger at every turn. I (barely) resisted the urge to flip ahead in the book to see if things worked out the way I wanted. Just Get Home reads like an action movie - and I can absolutely see it on the big screen. Five stars as I couldn't put it down.

The Wonder of All Things - Jason Mott - Review AND Giveaway

Jason Mott's latest novel, The Wonder of All Things, has just been released in paperback.

Mott revisits a premise explored by numerous authors - a miracle and the aftermath.

When an accident threatens to take the life of her friend Wash, young Ava doesn't think, doesn't know how, but she puts her hands on Wash and the gaping wound is healed. And then the proverbial cat is out of the bag - the news spreads and the circus begins.

Their small town is invaded by the press and those looking to be healed. The medical community pokes and prods Ava and the religious sects want to own her. Her widowed father Macon is torn between protecting his daughter and being caught up in the frenzy.

While it is not a new premise for a book, Mott examines it with his own interpretation, exploring the themes of obligation, family, love and loss.  Mott has beautiful prose - his turns of phrases, descriptions and dialogues are eloquently expressed. It's worth reading slowly to savor the sense and the story he builds. People magazine called The Wonder of All Things 'spellbinding'.

While I enjoyed the book, I found I didn't like many of the characters. I expected to find myself drawn to Ava, I was - but not a much as I felt I should be. I was very disappointed with Macon. My favourite character ended up being Brenda, Wash's grandmother. A series of vignettes from the past of Ava and her mother are a lovely interlude, but provide no answers as to why her mother died.

Mott gives the reader an emotional ride of a read - you'll vacillate between sadness, shock, anger, hope, denial and more. And the ending? Fitting I think, but have the hankies ready.

Read an excerpt of The Wonder of All Things.

"Jason Mott holds a BA in fiction and an MFA in poetry both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is the author of two poetry collections. His writing has appeared in numerous literary journals, and he was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize. In addition to the rare achievement of receiving starred reviews from all four of the top publishing industry magazines—Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews—The Returned was named a “People Pick” by People magazine, and was featured in Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post, among others. Mott also appeared on numerous broadcast programs including NPR’s All Things Considered and Tell Me More, The Travis Smiley Show, the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Radio Show and many local television shows across the U.S. Mott lives in North Carolina." You can connect with Jason Mott on Facebook as well as on Twitter.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

And if you think The Wonder of All Things sounds like a book you'd like to read, I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader. Open to US only, no PO boxes please. Ends August 29. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

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Winner - Evening Stars

And the randomly chosen lucky winner of a copy of Evening Stars by Susan Mallery, courtesy of Harlequin Mira Books is:

Maureen

I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours. After that time a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered - check the sidebar for ongoing giveaways!

Giveaway - Evening Stars - Susan Mallery

Thanks to the lovely folks at Harlequin Mira Books, I have a copy of Susan Mallery's
 newest book- Evening Stars - to giveaway!

 

Simply leave a comment to be entered.  Open to US only, no PO boxes please. Ends March 15/14.

 

Want to know more? Check out the conversation with Susan Mallery about Evening Stars below!
 

Tell us about your newest novel, Evening Stars. Essentially, Evening Stars is the story of two sisters who have to learn to let go of others' expectations in order to claim the life they each want. Nina practically raised Averil because their mom took "flaky" to a whole new level. Nina gave up her dream of going to medical school—breaking up with her first love in the process—so she could put Averil through college. But now Averil's back home, dissatisfied with her career and her marriage. How can Averil be unhappy, Nina wonders, after everything Nina did for her? Then Nina's first love moves home to Blackberry Island, and he wants her back. Suddenly, she has the chance to reclaim the life she thought she wanted all those years ago, but at the same time, she's being tempted by a much younger fighter pilot who also has his eye on her. Evening Stars is a sometimes painful, often humorous story of moving past regret and reaching for your dreams. My hope is that readers will finish the book with a happy sigh of satisfaction and a new determination to play an active role in their own lives.

What inspired you to begin writing women’s fiction stories, after focusing on your popular contemporary romance novels? Romances are relationship stories, and so are my women's fiction novels—they're simply about different relationships. The relationships between sisters, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives… I consider my women's fiction novels, such as Evening Stars, to be a natural extension of the books I've written for years. And because I think love is essential, romance still plays a big role in each of my women's fiction books.

In Evening Stars, who is your favorite character and why? The character I identify with most strongly is Nina because I share her sense of responsibility for the people I love. As women, we often put a burden on ourselves to take care of everyone in our lives, whether they want us to or not. We want them to make choices that we think will make them happy, and it's physically painful to us when they behave in what we perceive as self-destructive ways. The lesson that Nina had to learn—and one with which I still sometimes struggle—is that she can't make choices for anyone but herself. And ultimately, the choices she makes will determine the life she lives.

Tell us a little bit about younger sister Averil. Averil is a good person who has found herself in the uncomfortable position of living someone else's dream for her life. She went to school where Nina thought she should go. She lives where Nina thought she should live. She likes her job as a magazine writer but isn't fulfilled by it. She loves her husband but finds herself lying to him about being ready to try for children. She isn't happy, but she doesn't know why, and she doesn't know what she wants. Averil has to go backward—move home to Blackberry Island—before she can move forward. The bonds of sisterhood and family are strong themes featured in Evening Stars.

 Do you have any siblings, and in what ways are your own family relationships similar or different to the Wentworth’s? 'm an only child of only children, so not only do I not have any siblings, I don't have any cousins. I think this is a big part of the reason why "finding family" is a theme that recurs in many of my books. I've created my own family through marriage and by developing close, lifelong friendships. Many of my characters are in similar circumstances, building a family by choice, rather than by birth. Nina and Averil's relationship was very interesting to me. They are sisters, yes, but in a very real way, they also have a mother/daughter relationship. They're only four years apart, but when Nina was twelve and Averil was eight, their mother began to leave them alone for weeks at a time while she traveled. So Nina was the one who was responsible for paying the bills, getting dinner on the table. And Nina is the person against whom Averil feels compelled to rebel. They love each other, but they have to restructure their relationship.

Your descriptions of Blackberry Island are beautiful and inviting, both in the book and at www.BlackberryIsland.com. What was your inspiration behind the setting? I live in Seattle, and there are several picturesque islands in the Puget Sound nearby. Blackberry Island isn't modeled after any of them specifically, but it certainly was inspired by them. Blackberry Island is within commuting distance of Seattle, but in terms of pace of life, it's a world away. Most people travel to Blackberry Island via ferry, though there is a bridge to the mainland, as well. The island is dotted with wineries and fields of daisies. Readers who want to learn more about Blackberry Island's history or see pictures can visit the website. Romance also plays an important role in Evening Stars, as Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two very different and equally exciting men.

Were there any challenges to writing two heroes and deciding which one would claim her heart? I'm a one-man woman, so it was challenging for me to put myself in Nina's shoes and date two men. It was challenging for her, too! I mean, how do people handle that kind of thing smoothly? I have no idea. I'd be completely overwhelmed. Nina's dating dry spell had lasted for years, and suddenly, she has not one but two men romancing her. While it's exciting, it's also very nerve-wracking. And, might I say, pretty hysterical at times. The biggest challenge for me was to try not to telegraph to readers which man—if either—Nina will decide upon. I want readers to take the journey along with her, and I'll be very interested to hear whether they think Nina made the right decision.

Do you have a favorite scene from Evening Stars?Many. One that comes to mind takes place in Chapter One. Nina's car has broken down, and it's pouring rain—which it often does in the Pacific Northwest. She's in a cellular dead spot on the island, so she can't call for help. She has no choice but to walk home in the rain. In her Betty Boop nurse's scrubs, make-up running, wet hair hanging limply into her face, thighs chafing as she trudges down the muddy road… she's not exactly looking or feeling her best. Which, of course, means that this is when her first love will come back into her life. Dylan has never looked better. Naturally. Isn't that just like a man? He's a doctor, driving a new car that costs more than Nina makes in a year, and he offers her a ride. Nina keeps walking. Makes me laugh every time I think of it! I hope it'll make readers laugh, too. In that moment, I am 100% on Nina's side. I love her!

Describe your ideal writing space. How does it compare to where you usually write? My ideal writing space is quiet, filled with light, and my little dog is nearby. I bounce ideas off of her, and she approves them all very enthusiastically. She's not discerning, but she is encouraging. I'm fortunate to have an office where I write, so unless I'm traveling, I write in my ideal environment. I have a very exacting writing schedule. In order to meet my many deadlines, I need to do everything in my power to nurture my creative needs.

Can we look forward to more Blackberry Island stories in the near future, or are you working on any new exciting projects? Evening Stars is the final book in the Blackberry Island trilogy, but it does lead readers toward a new series I'll begin in 2015, set in Mischief Bay, California. That's where Averil and her husband live, so readers will get a small introduction to Mischief Bay in Evening Stars. On the romance front, I'll release three Fool's Gold books in paperback this year—When We Met, Before We Kiss, and Until We Touch—plus an ebook novella, Yours for Christmas.

You can find Susan Mallery on Facebook and on Twitter.

Winner - The Stranger You Know

And the lucky winner of a copy of The Stranger You Know by Andrea Kane, courtesy of Harlequin/Mira is:

Linda H!

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours. After that time, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered - check the sidebar for other great giveaways!

The Stranger You Know - Andrea Kane - Review AND Giveaway

Andrea Kane is an author whose name I recognized, but hadn't yet sampled their writing. Kane is a fairly prolific writer, with a number of series to her credit.

The Stranger You Know is the third entry in her Forensic Instincts series. FI is a group of experts with specialized skill sets and deep pockets, able to go and do what formal agencies can't. In this book, they have been asked to assist by local law enforcement.

The founder of FI, Casey Woods, was the bait for a serial killer in the past. He's still behind bars, but it seems his reach extends beyond the prison yard. Someone else is either doing his bidding or is carrying on where he left off. And it's personal. The victims? All redheads - just like Casey. A series of taunting phone calls lets her know that her turn is coming...

Kane has populated the FI crew with an interesting group of support players - a computer expert who has wired their headquarters with an electronic presence known as Yoda, an ex Navy SEAL tough guy, an FBI boyfriend, Hero, the bloodhound and most interesting - a clairvoyant. Claire the clairvoyant plays a large role in this latest entry. All members of the FI team are dedicated - and attractive.

Kane's writing is easy and flows well. However, the whodunit is easily discerned and I wondered about some methods. But Kane's book is more about the delivery. Her first novels were firmly in the romantic fiction category. She has expanded into the romantic suspense field with her latest series. And quite successfully. The dynamics of the FI team includes a strong shot of romantic interest and tension between two pairs of players. The crime is designed to shock the reader - and Kane does that. The reader is privy to the killer's thoughts and actions. Gentle readers - the violence described is graphic and there are sexual scenes. Action is the order of the day in The Stranger You Know, with the body count increasing at a rapid pace as the killer makes his way to Casey. I did find the final scene a bit rushed.

While not my usual style of mystery, this is an excellent entry in this genre. It would be a great series to recommend to readers who enjoy Iris Johansen, Allison Brennan and fans of the Monkeewrench series. It's a quick read, one you can easily tuck in your purse, pick up and put down. Read an excerpt of The Stranger You Know.

"Andrea Kane's psychological thriller The Girl Who Disappeared Twice became an instant New York Times bestseller, the latest in a long string of smash hits. It introduced Forensic Instincts, an eclectic team of maverick investigators, each with different personalities and talents, all with one common bond: a blatant disregard for authority. The Man Without a Face is the next exhilarating installment in the Forensic Instincts series.


With a worldwide following and novels published in more than twenty languages, Kane is also the author of eight romantic thrillers and fourteen historical romances. She lives in New Jersey with her family, where she is plotting new ways for Forensic Instincts to challenge the status quo." You can find Andrea Kane on Twitter and on Facebook.

See what other bloggers on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here. And thanks to the generosity of Harlequin/Mira, I have a copy of The Stranger You Know to give away to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment to be entered. Open to US and Canada, no po boxes please. Ends Nov 1/13.

Winner - The Returned

And the lucky winner of a copy of The Returned by Jason Mott, courtesy of Harlequin/Mira is:

Freda!

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours. After that time, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered. Check out the sidebar for other great giveaways!

The Returned - Review AND Giveaway

The Returned is Jason Mott's debut novel.

Mott came up with his original and thought-provoking premise after his mother passed away. Missing her, he dreamed of her one night. And the next day thought...what if....what if "she actually did come back, just for one night? And what if it wasn't just her? What if it happened to other people, too?"

And those are the Returned. Jacob William Hargrave died at eight years old in 1966. Almost fifty years later a Bureau Agent shows up in small town Arcadia, MO at Lucille and Harold's door with  - well - with eight year old Jacob. Lucille doesn't question the miracle, but Harold does.

As more and more Returned appear, the miracle loses its sheen. Arcadia is declared a holding area for The Returned. More and more are shipped in. The 'True Living' are feeling crowded out and wronged. Tempers flare and aggression grows. But all Lucille wants is to be a mother to her son again. And Harold, he would do anything to keep Lucille happy. Anything.

"Just because a person don't quite understand the purpose and meaning of a blessing, that doesn't make it any less of a blessing....does it?

Mott captured me. I truly had no idea where he was going to go with this story. Are The Returned a blessing or a curse? We hear some of The Returned's own stories in short insert chapters. We follow along as Lucille and Harold try to deal with the unexpected hand that has been dealt to them. And when the Bureau takes control, the struggle to follow their hearts - at heavy costs.

The Returned can be read on many levels - simply exploring the love we feel at the loss of a loved one - what would you do if you could have one more day again?  The Returned reminded me a bit of the movie District Nine - ignorant mistreatment of a race/culture/phenomenon that isn't understood or tolerated. There are some chilling chapters from the colonel in charge of the forced encampment. The 'True Living'  townsfolk have their own agenda as well. "There were just too many people in the world all of a sudden. Concessions for life had to be made." Religious questions also arise. The reason behind The Returned is never explained, rather the book deals with the aftermath and reactions to this happening.

The Bureau Agent, Martin Bellamy is just as much a lead character as Harold and Lucille. He's complex, keeping his thoughts and feelings carefully hidden behind a company demeanour, but adding a nice twist to things as the book progresses.

But what touched me the most was the relationship between Lucille and Harold. Without revealing any more of the plot, I have to admit that I found my eyes watering by the end of the book. Mott does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life - their love and their relationship was tangible, real and touching.

What if?  Definitely recommended. Read an excerpt of The Returned.

Jason Mott lives in southeastern North Carolina. He has a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His poetry and fiction has appeared in various journals such as Prick of the Spindle, The Thomas Wolfe Review, The Kakalak Anthology of Carolina Poets, Measure and Chautauqua. He was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize award.
He is the author of two poetry collections: We Call This Thing Between Us Love and "…hide behind me…" The Returned is his first novel. You can find Jason Mott on Facebook and on Twitter. 

See what others on the TLC Book Tour thought. Full schedule can be found here. 

And thanks to the generosity of Harlequin/Mira, I have a copy to giveaway! Simply leave a comment to be entered. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please.  Ends Sept. 28/13, when a winner will be randomly chosen.

The Returned has hit the New York Times Bestseller List and has also been optioned by Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B. It will air on ABC this fall under the title 'Resurrection.'

Giveaway - A Spear of Summer Grass - Deanna Raybourn

Calling all historical fiction fans! Have I got a wonderful giveaway for you today!

A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn is newly released.....and....I have two copies to giveaway thanks to the generosity of Harlequin Books!

From the publisher:

"New York Times bestselling author of the Lady Julie Grey series enters a new era with A Spear of Summer Grass.

The daughter of a scandalous mother, Delilah Drummond is already notorious, even amongst Paris society. But her latest scandal is big enough to make even her oft-married mother blanch. Delilah is exiled to Kenya and her favorite stepfather’s savannah manor house, until gossip subsides.

Amidst the wonders—and dangers—of Africa, Delilah awakes to a land out of all proportion: extremes of heat, darkness, beauty and joy that cut to her very heart. Only when this sacred place is profaned by bloodshed does Delilah discover what is truly worth fighting for—and what she can no longer live without.

If you blend glamour from The Great Gatsby and romance from “Out of Africa,” you are beginning to grasp the stunning new novel that is A Spear of Summer Grass."

 A sixth-generation native Texan, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn grew up in San Antonio, where she met her college sweetheart.  She married him on her graduation day and went on to teach high school English and history.  During summer vacation at the age of twenty-three, she wrote her first novel.  After three years as a teacher, Deanna left education to have a baby and pursue writing full-time. Fourteen years and many, many rejections after her first novel, she signed two three-book deals with MIRA Books.

Deanna’s novel Silent in the Grave won the 2008 RITA® Award for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best First Mystery. The Lady Julia Grey series has been nominated for several other awards, including an Agatha, three Daphne du Mauriers, a Last Laugh, four additional RITAs, and two Dilys Winns. Dark Road to Darjeeling was also a finalist for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Historical Mystery as well as a Romantic Reviews’ finalist for Best Book of 2010."     You can find Deanna on her website or on Twitter.

Sound like a book you'd like to own? Simply leave a comment to be entered. Open to US and Canada. The winner will be randomly chosen on June 15/13.