BLOG TOUR: Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita! I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for a honest review. Thanks so much to Berkley and Iris Yamashita for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Village in the Dark (Cara Kennedy #2)

Author: Iris Yamashita

Published by: Berkley

Released: February 13, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

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Synopsis: Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder--and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.

On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.
 
Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.
 
Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I am always game for a mystery and Village in the Dark gave me a good mystery. This was a really intense case to follow. This story deals a lot with grief and loss. Detective Cara Kennedy has lost those closest and most important to her, her husband and son.

I loved the setting of the story. It was so atmospheric and almost a character in it's own right. There were a lot of secrets to unravel in this one, and I was invested throughout the story.

There's an intense feeling to this mystery. We've got cat and mouse games happening.

I really enjoyed my time reading this one. I could see a lot of other people really enjoying it too.

 

 Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. She has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years developing material for both film and streaming, has taught screenwriting at UCLA, and is an advocate of women and diversity in the entertainment industry. She has also been a judge and mentor for various film and writing programs, and lives in California.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita! Thank you to Berkley and Iris Yamashita for letting me be a part of the tour. This is definitely a good mystery to add to your reading pile.

BLOG TOUR: A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Park Row and Vera Kurian for letting me be a part of this tour!

Title: A Step Past Darkness

Author: Vera Kurian

Published by: Park Row

Released: February 20, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: SIX CLASSMATES. ONE TERRIFYING NIGHT. A MURDER TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING…

There’s something sinister under the surface of the idyllic, suburban town of Wesley Falls, and it’s not just the abandoned coal mine that lies beneath it. The summer of 1995 kicks off with a party in the mine where six high school students witness a horrifying crime that changes the course of their lives.

The six couldn’t be more different.

• Maddy, a devout member of the local megachurch
• Kelly, the bookworm next door
• James, a cynical burnout
• Casey, a loveable football player
• Padma, the shy straight-A student
• Jia, who’s starting to see visions she can’t explain

When they realize that they can’t trust anyone but each other, they begin to investigate what happened on their own. As tensions escalate in town to a breaking point, the six make a vow of silence, bury all their evidence, and promise to never contact each other again. Their plan works – almost.

Twenty years later, Jia calls them all back to Wesley Falls—Maddy has been murdered, and they are the only ones who can uncover why. But to end things, they have to return to the mine one last time. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This is exactly the kind of book that I can't resist! I knew I had to read it after that synopsis. I love a mystery. I love a ragtag group. This had such a fun concept that pulled me in.

This is long and it's very character driven. I feel like these facts can either be a turn on or a turn off. I'm in the camp that liked it. I just really wanted to know what happened, so I had to keep reading.

The mystery and supernatural elements were really fun. I had a good time with this one!

Vera Kurian is a writer and scientist. Her short fiction has been published in magazines such as Glimmer Train, Day One and The Pinch. She’s lived in DC for most of her adult life and has a PhD in social psychology. Never Saw Me Coming is her first novel.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian! Thank you to Park Row and Vera Kurian for letting me be a part of the tour! This is an easy add to your TBR pile!

BLOG TOUR: Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Amanda Jayatissa for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Island Witch

Author: Amanda Jayatissa

Published by: Berkley

Released: February 20, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Goodreads         Amazon

 

Synopsis: Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, award-winning author Amanda Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.

Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.

Now someone—or something —is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.

As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mother’s frantic No one can find out what happened .

Lush, otherworldly, and recalling horror classics like Carrie and The Exorcist , Island Witch is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I knew I wanted to read this one as soon as I saw the cover and read that synopsis. I had a good feeling that it was going to be my kind of book!

This was exactly the creepy, gothic tale that I wanted it to be. It's a historical leaning towards horror story. I really loved the vibe of it. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.

I really enjoyed the main character Amara. I'm glad I got to follow her through the story.

There is a lot of violence in this story. Not only are men being killed, but there is also a lot of violence against women. It's not a happy book, but sometimes life is not happy.

I can see a lot of people really enjoying this one. I'd definitely recommend it and I'm glad I got to read it.

When she isn’t recovering from a self induced book hangover, Amanda runs corporate trainings on Communication Skills Development, and works tirelessly as the Chief Taste Tester at the cookie shop she co-owns. She grew up in Sri Lanka and has lived in the California bay area and British countryside, before relocating back to her sunny island, where she lives with her husband and two Tasmanian-devil-reincarnate huskies.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa! Thank you to Berkley and Amanda Jayatissa for letting me be a part of the tour. This beautiful book should definitely be added to your TBR!

BLOG TOUR: Night for Day by Roselle Lim

I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Night for Day by Roselle Lim! I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for a honest review. Thanks so much to Ace and Roselle Lim for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Night for Day

Author: Roselle Lim

Published by: Ace

Released: February 20, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: Two people destined to be together, but to never see each other again, fight against the greatest odds in this powerful and moving fantasy novel by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.

Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, and they are reminded of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try.

Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this story. I'm always up for something fantastical, and the synopsis for this one really did pique my interest. I don't think I've read a story like this before. It was very unique.

I enjoyed the way the story was told. I also liked our two main characters of Ward and Camille. They are destined for one another, and have to fight their way back to being with each other.

I was just interested to see where this story was going to go. I could definitely see a lot of other people enjoying it too. It's nice to jump into a book where the creativity really gets you curious. That's how I felt with this one. I'd definitely read other stuff by Roselle Lim.

 

Roselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood.

She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels.

An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words."

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Night for Day by Roselle Lim! Thank you to Ace and Roselle Lim for letting me be a part of the tour. I would definitely recommend giving this one a read!

BLOG TOUR: The Catch by Amy Lea

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Catch by Amy Lea! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Berkley and Amy Lea for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Catch (The Influencer #3)

Author: Amy Lea

Published by: Berkley

Released: February 13, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.

In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”

After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.

Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was super cute and I really enjoyed it! It had a lot of tropes that I really like, especially the grumpy main man and fake dating/fake engagement. It was all just very entertaining and just what I was looking for in a romance. 

Oh, and I almost forgot it's set in a small town. I love small town locations. It had a lot of outdoorsy fun too.

I really liked this one. I'd definitely read more by this author. I could see this being a winner for a lot of other readers too.

Amy Lea is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Set on You, Exes and O’s, and Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection Woke Up Like This. Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and more. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.

When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and two goldendoodles in Ottawa, Canada.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Catch by Amy Lea! Thank you to Berkley and Amy Lea for letting me be a part of the tour. This is definitely a cute one that deserves a spot on your romance shelf.

BLOG TOUR: The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Hanover Square Press and Brandy Schillace for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Framed Women of Ardemore House

Author: Brandy Schillace

Published by: Hanover Square Press

Released: February 13, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: A sharp, savvy mystery about an autistic editor who inherits a crumbling English estate, only to find herself at the center of a murder investigation when a family portrait vanishes and a dead body turns up.

Jo Jones has always had a little trouble fitting in. As a neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor and divorced New Yorker transplanted into the English countryside, Jo doesn’t know what stands out more: her Americanisms or her autism.

After losing her job, her mother, and her marriage all in one year, she couldn’t be happier to take possession of a possibly haunted (and clearly unwanted) family estate in North Yorkshire. But when the body of the moody town groundskeeper turns up on her rug with three bullets in his back, Jo finds herself in potential danger—and she’s also a potential suspect. At the same time, a peculiar family portrait vanishes from a secret room in the manor, bearing a strange connection to both the dead body and Jo’s mysterious family history.

With the aid of a Welsh antiques dealer, the morose local detective, and the Irish innkeeper’s wife, Jo embarks on a mission to clear herself of blame and find the missing painting, unearthing a slew of secrets about the town—and herself—along the way. And she’ll have to do it all before the killer strikes again… (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was fun. I'm always up for a murder mystery. I really enjoyed the setting of the book. I love an old manor house.

I enjoyed the mystery in this. The characters were fun to follow. I can see a lot of people enjoying this one.

BRANDY SCHILLACE is an autistic author, historian, mystery novelist, and editor. Having grown up in an underground house (next to a graveyard, in abandoned coal lands, with a pet raccoon) she spent her childhood reading about diseases and going to a lot of funerals. This led to an abiding interest in dead stuff, a PhD, and a career in science history--a likely thing to happen when one spends their formative years in a cemetery. Brandy writes at the intersections of history, mystery, and the weird.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace! Thank you to Hanover Square Press and Brandy Schillace for letting me be a part of the tour. If this one sounds good to you, you should definitely add it to your TBR pile.

BLOG TOUR: The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott! I received a free electronic copy for a honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Graydon House and Kylie Scott for letting me be a part of the Blog Tour!

Title: The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck

Author: Kylie Scott

Published by: Graydon House

Released: February 6, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: “Be quiet and listen: He is cheating on you. The name of your soulmate is Alistair George Arthur Lennox. You will be passed over for the promotion. The winning numbers are 5-8-12-24-39-43. And I’m very sorry to tell you this, but you will die next Sunday.”

When Lilah Goodluck saves the life of Good Witch Willow as they’re crossing a busy L.A. street, the last thing she expects is five unwanted predictions as a reward. Who gives someone the winning lotto numbers then tells them they’ve only got a week to live? And who believes in that nonsense anyway?

But when the first three predictions come true within twenty-four hours, Lilah’s disbelief turns to mild panic. She’s further horrified when she nearly runs a car off the road that belongs to Alistair Lennox, who just happens to be the illegitimate son of the British king.

While Alistair is intrigued by her preposterous story, Lilah is adamant about resisting the heat between her and the playboy prince. If she denies he’s her soulmate, then the last prediction can’t come true, right? As the days count down, they become maybe friends…and then maybe more. But between the relentless paparazzi and some disapproving royals, finding time for love isn’t easy, especially when her days may be numbered.

Red White and Royal Blue meets The Last Holiday in this delightfully quirky novel from the New York Times bestselling author of End of Story, about a woman who unexpectedly finds "fall in love with a prince" at the top of her bucket list. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the vibe of this book. I was intrigued as soon as I read the synopsis.

It has a fairy tale vibe to it that is a lot of fun to read.

The relationship was fun too. It is very insta-love, but it works for this story.

I can see a lot of people enjoying this one. It's just an easy breezy story that is a good time to read.

Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014, 2018, & 2019, by the Australian Romance Reader’s Association. Her books have been translated into fourteen different languages. She is based in Queensland, Australia.

You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kyliescott.com/

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott! Thank you to Graydon House and Kylie Scott for letting me be a part of the tour. Go add this to your TBR!

BLOG TOUR: The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman! I received a free electronic copy for an honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Sara Ackerman for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West

Author: Sara Ackerman

Published by: MIRA

Released: February 6, 2024

Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Goodreads          Amazon

 

Synopsis: An extraordinary story, inspired by real events, of a female aviator who defies the odds to embark on a daring air race across the Pacific, perfect for fans of Great Circle and Her Last Flight.

1927. Olivia "Livy" West is a fearless young pilot with a love of adventure. She yearns to cross oceans and travel the skies. When she learns of the Dole Air Race––a high-stakes contest to be the first to make the 2,400 mile Pacific crossing from the West Coast to Hawai'i—she sets her sights on qualifying. But it soon becomes clear that only men will make the cut. In a last-ditch effort to take part, Livy manages to be picked as a navigator for one of the pilots, before setting out on a harrowing journey that some will not survive.

1987. Wren Summers is down to her last dime when she learns she has inherited a remote piece of land on the Big Island with nothing on it but a dilapidated barn and an overgrown mac nut grove. She plans on selling it and using the money to live on, but she is drawn in by the mysterious objects kept in the barn by her late great-uncle––clues to a tragic piece of aviation history lost to time. Determined to find out what really happened all those years ago, Wren enlists the help of residents at a nearby retirement home to uncover Olivia’s story piece by piece. What she discovers is more earth-shattering, and closer to home, than she could have ever imagined. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this one! This is a dual timeline involving two women adventurous in their own way. I enjoyed uncovering the story of each of them.

I liked following Livy West who is a women determined to fly her plane in the Dole Air Race. I had a lot of fun following her story. She is very determined and very strong.

I also enjoyed Wren's story. She gets to discover and uncover a lot of Olivia West's history.

I also loved the setting of the story. 

I can see a lot of people enjoying this one!

Sara Ackerman is the Hawaii born, bestselling author of The Codebreaker's Secret, Radar Girls, Red Sky Over Hawaii, The Lieutenant’s Nurse, and Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers.

Sara's books have been labeled “unforgettable” by Apple Books, “empowering & deliciously visceral” by Book Riot, and New York Times bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Madeline Martin have praised Sara’s novels as “fresh and delightful” and “brilliantly written.” Amazon chose Radar Girls as a best book of the month, and ALA Booklist gave The Codebreaker’s Secret a starred review.

Find out more about Sara and her books at www.ackermanbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @saraackermanbooks and on FB @ackermanbooks.

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman! Thank you to MIRA and Sara Ackerman for letting me be a part of the tour. If this one sounds good to you, you should definitely pick it up and give it a read!