Harper- Collins HTP Books Blog Tour for Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan

Wow – this was a story that was a bit different from what I was expecting. I was expecting magical realism – which there is – but it also is gothic horror and creepy and gave me nightmares! There is a slow burn to this story, which is beautifully written. It starts slow – almost too slow for me (I kept putting it down and reading something else) but then it picks up in the last half and is sort of like an out of control roller coaster. There is a story within a story here, and I can see that this might not be a title for everyone (but what is??), but it definitely is not a book that you will soon forget once you finish it!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

THEIR MONSTROUS HEARTS

Author: Yigit Turhan

Publication Date: April 8, 2025

ISBN: 9780778368274

Format: Hardcover

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA

Price $28.99

Buy Links: Not affiliated with BBNB

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/their-monstrous-hearts-yigit-turhan 

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/their-monstrous-hearts-original-yigit-turhan/21435391

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/their-monstrous-hearts-yigit-turhan/1145530543 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Their-Monstrous-Hearts-timeline-suspenseful/dp/0778368270 

Social Links:

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/13825951.Yi_it_Turhan 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yigit/?hl=en 

Book Summary: 

A haunting novel about the boundaries people will cross to keep their dreams alive.

A mysterious stranger shows up at Riccardo’s apartment with some news: his grandmother Perihan has died, and Riccardo has inherited her villa in Milan along with her famed butterfly collection.

The struggling writer is out of options. He’s hoping the change of scenery in Milan will inspire him, and maybe there will be some money to keep him afloat. But Perihan’s house isn’t as opulent as he remembers. The butterflies pinned in their glass cases seem more ominous than artful. Perihan’s group of mysterious old friends is constantly lurking. And there’s something wrong in the greenhouse.

As Riccardo explores the decrepit estate, he stumbles upon Perihan’s diary, which might hold the key to her mysterious death. Or at least give him the inspiration he needs to finish his manuscript.

But he might not survive long enough to write it.

Author Bio:

Yigit Turhan was born in Ankara, Turkey. A lifelong reader, he owes his love of horror to his grandmother and the films she shared with him. He has previously published a horror novel in Turkish. He lives in Milan, Italy, where he holds a C-suite role at a renowned fashion house. This is his English-language debut.

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner

I love the writing of novelist Jennifer Weiner so I was thrilled when I was offered this title through her publisher and Net Galley. This was a story of two sisters who hit it big in the music world, but then a terrible accident destroys everything they have. These two, Cassie and Zoe, could not have been more unalike: one beautiful and self-centered and attention-seeking, one shy, gifted, and wanting to stay out of the limelight. This story is a bit heart-breaking, though I loved the ending. What rings true throughout, as it often does in Weiner’s work, is that you should not be judged by how you look, but by how you are inside and your actions.

Here’s the scoop:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, a deeply moving novel set against the glitz and chaos of early 2000s pop stardom. Equal parts heartfelt family saga and behind-the-scenes look at fame, this is a story about sisters, secrets, and the power of second chances. 

Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were thrust into the spotlight as The Griffin Sisters, a pop duo that defined the aughts. Together, they skyrocketed to the top, gracing MTV, SNL, and the cover of Rolling Stone. Cassie, a musical genius who never felt at ease in her own skin, preferred to stay in the shadows. Zoe, full of confidence and craving fame, lived for the stage. But fame has a price, and after one turbulent year, the band abruptly broke up. 

Now, two decades later, the sisters couldn’t be further apart. Zoe is a suburban mom warning her daughter Cherry to avoid the spotlight, while Cassie has disappeared from public life entirely. But when Cherry begins unearthing the truth behind their breathtaking rise and infamous breakup, long-buried secrets surface, forcing all three women to confront their choices, their desires, and their complicated bonds. 

With richly developed characters, a nostalgic nod to the pop culture of the 2000s, and a resonant tale of ambition, forgiveness, and family, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits will captivate readers from the first note to the final encore. Whether you’ve followed Jennifer Weiner for years or are discovering her for the first time, this book is a must-read for music lovers, fans of sisterly dramas, and anyone who cherishes a great story of second chances.

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

My friends over at Random House offered me a copy of this novel to review via Net Galley and I thought that it sounded like something I would enjoy. Well, I didn’t just like this novel, I loved it! I really, really loved this story, the characters, the plot, everything about it. It’s only January but it will probably be one of my Top Ten of the Year! One of my favorite things is that there is a page of sheet music at the end (even on kindle!) so that you can see the song the protagonist composed (I play the piano so I was really into this).

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

On sale February 25, 2025

More about The Secret History of Audrey James:

Northern England, 2010. After a tragic accident upends her life, Kate Mercer leaves London to work at an old guest house near the Scottish border, where she hopes to find a fresh start and heal from her loss. When she arrives, she begins to unravel the truth about her past, but discovers that the mysterious elderly proprietor is harboring secrets of her own.

Berlin, 1938. Audrey James is weeks away from graduating from a prestigious music school in Berlin, where she’s been living with her best friend, Ilse Kaplan. As war looms, Ilse’s family disappears and high-ranking Nazi officers confiscate the house. In desperation, Audrey becomes their housekeeper while Ilse is forced into hiding in the attic. When a shocking turn of events embroils Audrey in the anti-Hitler movement, she must decide what matters most: protecting those she loves, or sacrificing everything for the greater good.

Inspired by true stories of courageous women and the German resistance during World War II, The Secret History of Audrey James is a captivating novel about the unbreakable bonds of friendship, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the healing that comes from human connection.

So who is Heather Marshall and why is she not already on my “bestie” list?? I had not read her earlier book, Looking for Jane (but obviously need to). She lives with her family in (or near) Toronto (why do some of most favorite authors live in Canada? Do I need to move there? Trilby Kent and Elinor Florence, what do you think? I literally thought that everything I loved related to literature was in the UK but now I need to reconsider). At the end she says she is working on a new novel about women’s mental health historically in Canada – sounds intriguing!

If you love reading WWII stories with a past/present timeline and interesting, strong female characters, don’t miss this one!

Thank you, Random House team, for my copy!

HTP Blog Tour for Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass

I’m here today as part of the HTP winter blog tour, dishing about a new suspenseful thriller: Nothing Ever Happens Here. So, of course, a lot IS happening in this novel, from murder to missing persons to kidnappings to stolen items. There were a lot of characters and a lot of motives and it definitely kept me guessing. I kept thinking as I read that this would make a good limited series on Netflix. My challenge while reading was keeping everyone and their motives straight, but overall this was an edge-of-your-seat thriller!

Thank you so much for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Nothing Ever Happens Here

By Seraphina Nova Glass

On Sale: February 11, 2025

About the Book:

“A charming cast of characters, a twisty mystery, and a diabolical killer make Nothing Ever Happens Here impossible to put down. A riveting page-turner with a sly sense of humor.” —Robyn Harding, internationally bestselling author of The Haters

Nothing ever happens in small towns…

When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it—for herself, and for her family. Fifteen months later, with the help of her best friend, Mackenzie, she finally feels safe again in the snowy Minnesota town she calls home. But when an anonymous note appears on her windshield bearing the same threats her attacker made, Shelby realizes that her nightmare has only just begun.

As new evidence surfaces, and a group of well-meaning senior citizens accidentally makes the case go viral online, the situation quickly goes from bad to worse. And with suspicious accidents targeting those closest to her happening all over town, Shelby can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Fighting to stay one step ahead of disaster, she finds herself asking the question on everyone’s lips: Who attacked her that night?

But Shelby isn’t the only one with questions. Mackenzie’s husband, Leo, vanished without a trace on that terrible night, and over a year later, no one knows why. Until a deep dive into his finances reveals a history of debts, mismanaged funds, and hidden accounts—one of which is still active. Their suspicion that Leo is still alive only complicates things further, though, and when another person connected to Shelby goes missing, she’s caught in a race against time before her attacker becomes a killer.

About the Author: 

Seraphina Nova Glass is an assistant professor of instruction and playwright in residence at the University of Texas, Arlington, where she teaches film studies and playwriting. Her novel On A Quiet Street was nominated for an Edgar Award, was a New York Times Summer Read, an Amazon Bestseller and Editor’s Pick, and also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle. Publishers Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in dramatic writing from Smith College and a second MFA in directing from the University of Idaho. She is a proud dog mom and loves to travel the world with her husband. She resides in Dallas, Texas.

Buy Links (NOT affiliated with BBNB):

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/nothing-ever-happens-here-seraphina-nova-glass?variant=42521060835362 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=9781525836725&tag=hcg-02-20 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nothing-ever-happens-here-seraphina-nova-glass/1145581324?ean=9781525836725 

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/everyone-knows-something-a-thriller-original-seraphina-nova-glass/21448569?ean=9781525836725 

Social Links:

Author Website: https://www.seraphinanovaglass.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seraphinanovaglass/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8061717.Seraphina_Nova_Glass 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seraphinasnovaglass/ 

HTP Blog Tour for Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff

If you read my blog, you know I LOVE the writing of Pam Jenoff. She writes amazing stories of resilience and resistance in WWII with strong female protagonists. I loved this story, which had parallel tales in two time periods (my favorite structure for a historical fiction narrative!).

Here’s the scoop:

Last Twilight In Paris

By Pam Jenoff

On Sale: February 4, 2025

About the Book:

“A fast-paced and vibrant wartime tale of holding on to love against the odds and learning to fight for the truth.” –Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter

A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff

London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war. 
 
Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history.  The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.
 
Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours.

About the Author: Pam Jenoff is the author of several books of historical fiction, including the NYT bestseller The Orphan’s Tale. She holds a degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a degree in history from Cambridge, and she received her JD from UPenn. Her novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She lives with her husband and 3 children near Philadelphia, where she teaches law.

Buy Links: (not affiliated with BBNB)

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/last-twilight-in-paris-pam-jenoff?variant=42640819388450 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=9780778307983&tag=hcg-02-20 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-twilight-in-paris-pam-jenoff/1145679315?ean=9780778387794 

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-department-of-stolen-heirlooms-original-pam-jenoff/21476022?ean=9780778307983 

Social Links:

Author Website: https://pamjenoff.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamjenoff/ 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/213562.Pam_Jenoff 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pam-Jenoff/1216746581800099 

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/PamJenoff 

Thank you for my copy via Net Galley and for having me as part of the tour!

The Day after the Party by Nicole Trope

My friends at Grand Central Publishing sent me this suspenseful read and I read it this week as it published 1/7. Marriage issues, infidelity, friendships, birthdays, and amnesia combine for a taut, suspenseful thriller.

Highly recommended! Thanks for my copy!

The perfect birthday or the perfect nightmare?

Katelyn smiles at her husband and friends, gathered to celebrate her thirty-sixth birthday in their beautiful home decorated with fairy lights. But the next day Katelyn wakes up shaken and terrified in a hospital bed…

She doesn’t remember the sweet taste of birthday cake icing, or how angry her best friend was at midnight, or the terrible things her husband said. She doesn’t remember the party at all.

When she asks her husband what happened the night of the party he says ‘nothing’. But her blood runs cold at the way his voice lilts slightly. The way it always does when he is lying.

Did someone at the party harm her? What is her husband hiding? Or did Katelyn herself do something terrible?

About the Author

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realized the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story. She went on to publish a further five novels in Australia before joining Bookouture in 2019. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

Gaelic & Garlic: A Boston Love Story by Mike Bernard

I’m shouting it out today for a new novel by local-to-me writer Mike Bernard: Gaelic and Garlic: A Boston Love Story. As someone with a full Irish father and a full Italian mother, this one spoke to me!

Completing the Boston Irish Belt Trilogy along with Dorchester’s CROSSING THE SAGAMORE and Southie’s THE CROSSING GUARDS, comes Charlestown’s GAELIC & GARLIC: A Boston Love Story.

Among the most overlooked ethnic problems in the country was the division between Irish and Italians. Historically two of the poorest immigrant communities, they clashed on everything from jobs to housing to politics. As rivals, both were always treated with suspicion and fear. No Italian boy would ever bring an Irish girl home to dinner, and the Irish were even less welcoming.

When East Boston’s Antonio Domenicio Riccardo Maximilianus PrestiDiGiovanni meets Charlestown-tough Margaret Katherine Philomena Coventina O’Shaughnessy (for a combined total of 39 syllables!) they have no idea how their lives are intersected. Richie and Mary Kate both live in a world where things should have been – but one simple decision changed the whole trajectory of their lives.

GAELIC & GARLIC is a heartwarming and hilarious story about discovering love when you least expect it, and finding comfort in family and traditions.

Family.

It’s what makes us different and what helps us stick together. We’re Italian first and foremost. Or we’re Irish. Or English. Or Spanish. Or Asian. Doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, to the outside world we’re loud and boastful and clannish and full of ethnic pride. But the truth is, we’re bonded by the best and worst of ourselves. The devotion, the blind faith, the disappointment, the ball-busting, the insanity, the passion – we’re the sum of all of it and that’s why we hold each other close. It’s family, and families are tricky. There is so much there that can flatten us, knock us to our knees and then help us rise and stand tall. If nothing else, we have each other, because when it really matters, families stick together. No one stands a chance if they’re alone.To the Irish and Italian in all of us.

Sláinte and Alla Salute!

Mike Bernard

About the Author:

Mike Bernard is a multi-optioned screenwriter and author. His work has been recognized internationally in the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, PAGE International Screenplay Competition, NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL and Los Angeles Screenplay competitions. His ‘midlife crisis’ writing career began when his children and his money went off to college – checks made out to Loyola University Maryland (x2) and Assumption College respectively.

Mike is a graduate of Providence College and Boston College High School. He resides on Cape Cod with his wife Michele.

He spends his summers losing to someone twice his age in Pickleball, and his winters aimlessly roaming the aisles of Home Depot.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang

Oh my goodness – I am so happy that I was offered a spot on this blog tour because I loved this novel so much! I’m a huge fan of Lisa See’s historical novels of China and this novel reminded me of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, one of my favorite books ever. It is beautifully written and with interesting and multi-dimensional characters. I found the story fascinating, though sad at times, and I gained so many insights into Chinese cultures, and particularly into the systems of privilege and stations that existed.

Thank you so much for including me on the tour!

About the Book

A muizai is a mistress’s shadow. You are there to do her bidding…

19th Century China. Tightly bound feet, or “golden lilies,” are the mark of an honorable woman. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that her golden lilies will someday lead her out of a life of slavery.

Not only does Little Flower have bound feet—uncommon for a muizai—but she is gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with women of fortune. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to prevent Little Flower from escaping. But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower’s talents catch the eye of a nobleman, threatening not only her improved status, but her life—the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?

Richly atmospheric and profoundly moving, The Lotus Shoes is an empowering tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.

About the Author

Jane Yang was born in the Chinese enclave of Saigon and raised in Australia where she grew up on a diet of superstition and family stories from Old China. Despite establishing a scientific career, first as a pharmacist and later in clinical research, she is still sometimes torn between modern, rational thinking and the pull of old beliefs in tales that have been passed down the family. Jane’s family tales are an inspiration for her writing. She writes stories about women in pre-Communist China, exploring power and class struggles, and sometimes with a dash of suspense, spirits and hauntings.

Buy Links are NOT affiliated with BBNB

HarperCollins: 

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

Bookshop.org:

Social Links

Author Linktree: https://linktr.ee/janeyangauthor 

Twitter (X): https://x.com/JaneYangWriting 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janeyangwriting/ 

Embroidery features heavily in this story, so I wanted to include an interesting article I found: https://smarthistory.org/one-hundred-birds-hanging-scroll/

Bookouture Blog Tour for HOME IS WHERE THE LIES LIVE by Kerry Wilkinson

I love a twisty thriller and this one had me reading it straight through! I wanted to figure out what each of these characters were up to and who was hiding what. It reminded me of a Shari Lapena read, if you enjoy her novels (I do!). When I read these novels, I just want to move to England and live in one of these neighborhoods (but no murders, please!). And no, I did not figure it all out. And look at that author bio. This author is on a roll!! He’s definitely one to watch.

Thank you for my copy, for letting me participate in the tour, and for giving me the opportunity to share this one with readers!

Book Description:

Even the most perfect home can hide shocking secrets. But on this peaceful street, is one of them dangerous enough to kill for?

Young married couple Heidi and Freddie just moved to Huntington Grove. All the neighbours see they are friendly and polite but why is one door in their house always locked?

Across the street, Willow tries not to argue with her teenage daughter – even as her marriage is falling apart. And where does her husband really go each night, leaving the bed beside her cold?

Feeling lonely, she always waves hello to single dad Dylan next door. His wife died in a tragic murder. The culprit was never found. It’s no surprise there are rumours he was involved…

On a beautiful sunny day, it’s time for the whole street to gather for a summer party. Everyone plasters on a fake smile. But soon the picnic tables will be overturned, sirens will blare – and one of the residents will be marched away in police handcuffs.

Everyone at the party will be questioned. But everyone will lie…And with every household hiding something, who has a secret big enough to kill for?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that proves you can never really know what goes on behind closed doors. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and The Perfect Marriage.

Author Bio:

Kerry Wilkinson is from the English county of Somerset but has spent far too long living in the north. It’s there that he’s picked up possibly made-up regional words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’. He pretends to know what they mean.

He’s also been busy since turning thirty: his Jessica Daniel crime series has sold more than a million copies in the UK; he has written a fantasy-adventure trilogy for young adults; a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter and the standalone thriller, Down Among The Dead Men.

https://kerrywilkinson.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks/
https://twitter.com/kerrywk

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Kerry Wilkinson here: https://www.bookouture.com/kerry-wilkinson

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DLP7KZ12social

Blog Tour for Verity Bright’s A MIDWINTER MURDER

If you know me, you know I love a good, historical mystery, and this series with Lady Eleanor is so fun to read. It reminds me of an Agatha Christie – lots of good suspects and everyone is gathering on estates and such in England in the past. Plus Lady Eleanor has a sweet doggo – what’s there not to like?

It’s hard to believe that this title is number 20 in the series. I have read them in order as they came out, but you can read them as stand alones, too. This one had a Christmas theme — fun reading!

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Here’s the scoop:

Homemade baubles, reindeer-shaped cookies and snowy walks across the rolling moors… but Lady Swift’s festive plans are ruined when a body turns up!

Winter 1924. When Lady Eleanor Swift unexpectedly finds herself a guest of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, she’s determined to enjoy Christmas with all the trimmings at his sprawling manor house. And that includes kisses under the mistletoe and cozying up by the fire with her fiancé, dashing detective Hugh Seldon.

Instead, the season of goodwill turns frosty as she finds the Duke’s studious secretary, Mr Porritt, dead in the storeroom. Clasped in his chilly hand is a golden pendant in the shape of a rose. The Duke denies ever having seen the necklace before. But Eleanor can see the lies in his eyes… Did it belong to his mysteriously absent wife?

Hugh and Eleanor must ditch relaxing with hot cocoa in favour of interviewing the Duke’s holiday guests. Every suspect has a secret they’d kill to keep: the socialite with the false name, the Sir with a questionable inheritance and the husband hiding a crack in his marriage.

As the blizzard outside rages, Auldwyke Hall becomes cut off. Trapped by the snow, Eleanor and Hugh must skate around the increasingly secretive Duke to unwrap the identity of the killer. But does the answer to the secretary’s murder lie with a ghost of Christmas past? And when an attempt is made on the Duke’s life too, they realise the killer is closer than they think…

A gripping and twisty Golden Age murder mystery set in a country house on the Yorkshire moors, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss!

Author Bio:

Confident woman at office with laptop computer, mobile phone, and schedule notebook.Gradients, Blending tool, Clipping mask is used.

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Verity Bright here: https://www.bookouture.com/verity-bright

Buy Link: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DH4SVQ3Wsocial