Blog Tour for Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher

March 18, 2024March 14, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Today I’m dishing about Tarryn Fisher’s latest suspenseful thriller Good Half Gone, a story about a young woman whose twin was abducted and trafficked when they were teens. Needless to say this is heavy stuff and disturbing, but the story is told mostly in the present, roughly ten years later, with flashbacks of memory as opposed to in real time once Piper is taken. Still, good to know in advance if you find reading about these topics disturbing.

Here’s the scoop: (and can I say I love this cover??)

GOOD HALF GONE
Author: Tarryn Fisher
ISBN: 9781525804885

Publication Date: March 19, 2024

Publisher: Graydon House

18.99 US | 23.99 CAN

Buy Links: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Social Links:

Author Bio:

Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nine novels. Born a sun hater, she currently makes her home in Seattle, Washington, with her children, husband, and psychotic husky. She loves connecting with her readers on Instagram. (note from Beth: I had a husky for many years that I adored and would love to see a picture of Ms. Fisher’s!)

Book Summary:

Iris Walsh saw her twin sister Piper get kidnapped—so why does no one believe her?

Iris narrowly escaped her pretty, popular twin sister’s fate as a teen—kidnapped and trafficked and long gone before the cops agreed to investigate. Months later, Piper’s newborn son Callum was dropped on their estranged mother’s doorstep in the dead of night, with a note in Piper’s handwriting signed simply, Twin.

As an adult, Iris wants one thing—proof. Because she knows exactly who took Piper all those years ago, and she has a pretty good idea of who Callum’s father is. She just has to get close enough to prove it. And if the police won’t help, she’ll just have to do it her own way–by interning at the isolated Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane, where her target is kept under lock and key. Iris soon realizes that something sinister is bubbling beneath the surface of the Shoal, and that the patients aren’t the only ones being observed…

There’s a lot going on in this book and the ending made me think “Netflix limited series, please!”. It definitely kept my interest!

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

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I just finished reading this amazing new book by Ariel Lawhon and it is destined to be one of my top picks of 2024. When I first started this novel, I thought “this feels SO familiar” and I was reminded of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s book about a midwife’s diary from the 1700’s in Maine (A Midwife’s Tale, which won the Pulitzer in 1991). This is the same Martha Ballard, but Ms. Lawhon has taken the facts of the diary and written a story around them, making it a true gem of historical fiction.

Here’s the scoop:

GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

“Fans of Outlander’s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon’s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive.”—The Washington Post

“Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine.” —People Magazine

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

I loved this book, though at times it was disturbing as it highlighted the harshness of life in the 1700’s and in a patriarchal society (note: there is description of sexual assault and rape). While I had originally received this book through Net Galley to review, my copy disappeared off my kindle at some point and I had only read a third of it, so I purchased mine from Amazon so I could finish it!

A Country Wedding Murder by Katie Gayle

March 14, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

If you read me, you know I love the Julia Bird mystery series! Julia is middle-aged and always seems to be bumping into mysteries, but she isn’t annoying (like Jessica Fletcher) or as elderly as Miss Marple. And I love that she has her black lab in tow for her adventures.

This one focuses on her ex-husband’s wedding and a death that happens as part of the events. I did find the pacing of it a bit slower than in the former books, with more dialogue and less description and actions — but that could just be me. I didn’t do an analysis or anything, it was just my feeling as I read it. It was well-plotted and once again, I enjoyed reading about the characters of Julia’s small village!

Thank you for my review copy through Net Galley!

Here’s the scoop:

Description

The joyous crowd applauds as the happy couple strides down the aisle. This Cotswolds country wedding has everything – friends and family, beautiful flowers and… murder?

When Julia Bird’s ex-husband Peter and his lovely partner Christopher decide to get married in Berrywick, Julia is delighted – after all, who doesn’t love a country wedding? Little does Julia know that normally calm and collected Christopher will turn into a full-on Groomzilla – and that by the end of the night, someone will end up dead.

The morning after the big day, the jolly nuptial mood turns grim when Julia discovers the lifeless body of the caterer, Desmond. Someone locked him in the cold truck and the poor man froze to death. Now looking for a murderer, all eyes are on Christopher who, mid-tantrum, had publicly threatened to kill him. Convinced that Christopher is innocent, Julia vows to find the real culprit.

Julia soon discovers Desmond had a long list of enemies as she races against the clock to clear Christopher’s name. Could his death be the work of the respected wedding planner who was heard exchanging choice words with the victim? Or perhaps it was his wife – ‘til death do them part – who didn’t shed a single tear at his funeral?

But just when Julia thinks she’s cracked the case, her prime suspect is found dead with a knife in their back. Can Julia find the murderer before they strike again?

An utterly gripping, charming cosy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries.

Harper-Collins Blog Tour for A Step Past Darkness by Vera Kurian

February 24, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m excited today to be part of the blog tour for Vera Kurian’s new thriller A Step Past Darkness.

This was a fast and exciting read, following 6 friends who witness something terrible and come back together twenty years later when one of them dies from a supposed accident. I could see this book being for adults or YA or new age readers. What I really could see would be it as a Netflix or Hulu limited series.

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

Here’s the scoop:

A Step Past Darkness : A Novel

Vera Kurian

On Sale Date: February 20, 2024

9780778310761

Hardcover

$30.00 USD

Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological

448 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER meets Stephen King in this character-driven thriller about a study group of six teenagers who witness something tragic in an abandoned mine, which comes back to haunt them 20 years later.

SIX CLASSMATES.

ONE TERRIFYING NIGHT.

A MURDER TWENTY YEARS IN THE MAKING…

There’s more to Wesley Falls than meets the eye, but for six high school students, it’s home.

Kelly, the new girl and rule-follower.

Maddy, the beauty and the church favorite.

Padma, the brains and all-A student.

Casey, the jock and football star.

James, the burnout and just trying to make it to graduation.

And Jia, the psychic, who can see the future.

When these six are assigned to work on a summer group project, their lives are forever changed. At an end of the year party in the abandoned mine, they witness a preventable tragedy, but no one will take them seriously. As things escalate, they realize the church, the police, and the town’s founders are all conspiring to cover up what happened. When James is targeted as the scapegoat, to avoid suspicion, they vow their silence and to never contact each other again. Their plan works – almost.

Twenty years later, Maddy is found murdered is Wesley Falls, and the remaining five are forced to confront their past and work together to finally put right what happened all those years ago. If they can survive…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vera Kurian is a writer and scientist based in Washington DC. Her debut novel, NEVER SAW ME COMING (Park Row Books, 2021 was an Edgar Award nominee and was named one of the New York Times’ Best Thrillers of 2021. Her short fiction has been published in magazines such as Glimmer Train, Day One, and The Pinch. She has a PhD in Social Psychology, where she studied intergroup relations, ideology, and quantitative methods. She blogs irregularly about writing, horror movies and pop culture/terrible TV.

SOCIAL LINKS:

Author website: https://www.verakurian.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/verakurianauthor/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vera_kurian

BUY LINKS: Not affiliated with BBNB

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-step-past-darkness-original-vera-kurian/20155061?ean=9780778310761

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Step-Past-Darkness-Novel/dp/0778310760

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-step-past-darkness-vera-kurian/1143574161

Bird’s Eye View by Jan Capps

February 11, 2024 / drbethnolan / 1 Comment

Jan Capps, the author of Bird’s Eye View, reached out to me earlier in the winter so offer her memoir which tells of her year living and working at a medical clinic, with her ten-year-old daughter, in Guatemala.

This was such an interesting story that I will admit I read it in pretty much one sitting (it’s 388 pages but who’s counting).

Here’s the scoop:

When Jan Moves to Guatemala with her young daughter to run a medical clinic on the heels of her divorce, she knows the experience will be difficult and life-changing. But she doesn’t anticipate all the ways she will change.

To make sense of her professional, personal, and parenting turmoil in a country with plenty of its own turmoil, Jan finds herself adopting a Maya worldview that weaves together concepts of duality (there can be no light without dark, no joy without pain), harmony with nature, and the importance of connecting to the past to understand one’s present self.

Awash with elements of Maya mythology, history, and culture and innumerable revelations of the compassion, intelligence, and resilience of the Guatemalan people, Bird’s-Eye View is a coming-of-middle-age story that shows how viewing life through the prism of a different set of myths can help an individual understand the familiar tales they have unwittingly followed.

About the Author

Jan Capps has been a public health advocate for immigrants, farmworkers, domestic violence victims, and people of color in the US, Guatemala, and Mexico for over thirty years, focusing on building local capacity and health equity. During her two stints living in Guatemala, she organized and trained community health workers and midwives, managed a medical clinic, and studied the Maya Tz’utujil language. She has presented, trained, and written for national audiences. Her greatest joy and most humbling experiences have been being a mother and watching her glorious daughter grow and launch into the world. Jan splits her time between Seattle, Washington, and North Carolina.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read your book, Ms. Capps!

Blog Tour for THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB by Robyn Carr

January 26, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m happy to be part of the blog tour for Robyn Carr’s new novel: The Friendship Club. Two of the main protagonists in this story are women in their 50’s so I could relate to them, even though their life circumstances (one divorced, one widowed) are different than mine. It was an engaging and “romantic” read and focused on the power of female friendship. I think my only other Robyn Carr novel was Virgin River (now on Netflix)- and I enjoyed this one, too!

Here’s the scoop:

THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB

Author: Robyn Carr

ISBN: 9780778311881
Publication Date: January 23rd, 2024

Publisher: MIRA
28.99 US | 35.99 CAN

Buy Links:
Harlequin

Social Links:

Author website: https://www.robyncarr.com/

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

Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/Robyn-Carr-134368309920956/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Robyn-Carr-134368309920956/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@robyncarrwriter

Author Bio:

Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty novels, including highly praised women’s fiction such as Four Friends and The View From Alameda Island and the critically acclaimed Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Virgin River is now a Netflix Original series. Robyn lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit her website at http://www.RobynCarr.com.

Book Summary:

Four women who work on a popular cooking show band together when they discover the youngest member of their group has an abusive boyfriend. The Barefoot Contessa meets Big Little Lies in this drama-filled novel about the power of female friendships.

Marni McGuire is the host of a popular television cooking show and leads a very happy life. Twice married, she has been widowed and divorced and now, in her mid-fifties, she enjoys being a successful single woman. But Marni’s daughter Bella, who is pregnant with her first child, is convinced that Marni is lonely and she is determined to find a new man for her mother. To humor her daughter, Marni goes on a series of terrible dates. Marni’s best-friend and colleague from the cooking show, Ellen, is a widow who has no interest in meeting anyone new and the two women have discussed the challenges of marriage and the joys of being single. But, while Ellen is adamant she wants nothing to do with men, Marni has to admit to herself that she would like to be with someone but only if he is the right fit.

As Bella’s pregnancy progresses she admits to her mother that she has some concerns about the state of her own marriage, and all three women are concerned that the young intern on the cooking show is caught in a toxic relationship.

Marni and Ellen are determined to guide the two younger women to have the strength, confidence and support to improve their situations and the women gather regularly to talk about the important issues in their lives.

When Marni and Ellen each unexpectedly find themselves falling for new men in their lives the younger women help them navigate the dating world.

Together these four women form a strong bond of family and friendship that will anchor all of them as they navigate the challenges and celebrate the joys of life.

The Shadow Box by Luanne Rice

January 3, 2024January 2, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I recently received this title as a free gift for my kindle as part of the Kindle First Reads program through Amazon. I’ve only read one other Luanne Rice book but I loved this one! It was suspenseful and exciting. I read the whole thing in two days over winter break.

Here’s the scoop:

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Last Day delivers a haunting thriller about how far one wife is willing to go to expose the truth―and the lengths someone will go to stop her.

After artist Claire Beaudry Chase is attacked and left for dead in her home on the Connecticut coast, she doesn’t know who she can trust. But her well-connected husband, Griffin―who is running for governor―is her prime suspect.

Just before the attack, Claire was preparing for an exhibit of her shadow boxes, one of which clearly accuses Griffin of a violent crime committed twenty-five years ago. If the public were to find out who her husband is, his political career would be over. Claire’s certain her husband and his powerful supporters would kill her to stop the truth from getting out.

When one of Claire’s acquaintances is murdered, the authorities suspect the homicide is linked to the attack on Claire. As the dual investigations unfold, Claire must decide how much she’s willing to lose to take down her husband and the corrupt group of elites who will do anything to protect Griffin’s interests and their own.

I need to find more novels by Luanne Rice! Happy Reading!!

The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz

January 2, 2024 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

So I was going through my kindle and I came across this title which I had not read. I loved Brenda Janowitz’ Liz Taylor Ring and Grace Kelly Dress so I knew that I’d love this one, too. This story moved through time, telling the story of a young woman who grew up on a large estate where her mother was personal assistant to the estate owner, and her two best friends: the son of the chauffeur and the grandson of the estate owner.

There are several subplots in this story, so I had to make sure I was keeping track (I read this book all in one day because I loved it so much and wanted to see what would happen). I will say that once we got to the climax and resolution I was a bit disappointed in the draconian choices the characters made (but I guess the story had to wrap up somehow!).

Here’s the scoop:

One woman. Two childhood loves. The dazzling place where it all began.

“An exciting, emotional page-turner.” —KRISTIN HARMEL, New York Times bestselling author

A CBS New York Book Club Pick!

When Emma Jansen discovers that the grand Long Island estate where she grew up is set to be demolished, she can’t help but return for one last visit. After all, it was a place filled with firsts: learning to ride a bike, sneaking a glass of champagne, falling in love.

But once Emma arrives at the storied mansion, she can’t ignore the more complicated memories. Because that’s not exactly where Emma grew up. Her mother and father worked for the family that owned the estate, and they lived over the garage like Audrey Hepburn’s character in the film Sabrina. Emma never felt fully accepted, except by the family’s grandson, Henry—a former love—and by the driver’s son, Leo—her best friend.

As plans for the property are put into motion and the three are together for the first time in over a decade, Emma finds herself caught between two worlds and two loves. And when the house reveals a shattering secret about her own family, she’ll have to decide what kind of life she really wants for herself now and who she wants to be in it.

“Readers will find themselves engrossed by this absolute treat of a book.” —PAM JENOFF, New York Times bestselling author

Thank you to Harper-Collins for my review e-galley!

Harper-Collins Blog Tour for: Two Dead Wives

December 28, 2023 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m thrilled to be part of the tour for this new Adele Parks novel: Two Dead Wives. This one kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat! I stayed up late reading it so I could see what happened. If you know me, you know I love suspenseful mysteries – this was a great one!

Here’s the scoop:

TWO DEAD WIVES

Author: Adele Parks

ISBN: 9780778333579

Publication Date: December 26, 2023

Publisher: MIRA

18.99 US | 23.99 CAN

Buy Links: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Social Links:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adeleparks

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45427.Adele_Parks

Author Bio:

Adele Parks, Hon Grad, photographed at home in Guildford for The Graduate magazine

Adele Parks was born in North Yorkshire. She is the author of twenty-one bestselling novels. Over four million UK copies of her work have been sold, and her books have been translated into thirty-one different languages. Adele’s recent Sunday Times number one bestsellers Lies, Lies, Lies and Just My Luck were short-listed for the British Book Awards and have been optioned for development for TV. She is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, two charities that promote literacy in the UK. She is a judge for the Costa Book Awards. Adele has lived in Botswana, Italy and London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to literature.

Book Summary:

Lost. Missing. Murdered? How do you find a woman who didn’t exist?

It’s a case that has gripped a nation: A woman with a shocking secret is missing, presumed dead. And her two husbands are suspects in her murder.

DCI Clements knows the dark side of human nature and that love can make people do treacherous things. You can’t presume anything when it comes to crimes of the heart. Until a body is found, this scandalous and sad case remains wide open.

Stacie Jones lives a quiet life in a small village, nursed by her father as she recovers from illness, and shielded from any news of the outside world. But their reclusive life is about to be shattered.

How are these families linked, and can any of them ever rebuild their lives in the wake of tragedy?

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour! I would LOVE to see this one on television some time!

Harper-Collins Blog Tour for The Weekend Retreat

December 26, 2023December 23, 2023 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m super excited to be part of the blog tour for this new title by Tara Laskowski, The Weekend Retreat. This was a suspenseful read, focusing on a family coming together to celebrate a birthday, but some people are going to end up dead. What is the backstory on these characters? Who hates them so much that they are ready to kill? Grab this one to find out – I promise you won’t be able to put it down!

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

THE WEEKEND RETREAT

Book Summary:

Every year, the illustrious Van Ness siblings, heirs to a copper fortune, gather at their lush winery estate for a joint birthday celebration. It’s a tradition they’ve followed nearly all their lives, and now they are back with their significant others for a much-needed weekend of rest and relaxation, away from the public spotlight.

With lavish comforts, gorgeous scenery, and indulgent drinking, the trip should be the perfect escape. But it soon becomes clear that even a remote idyllic getaway can’t keep out the problems simmering in each of their lives. As old tensions are reignited, the three couples are pushed to the edge. Will their secrets destroy them, or will they destroy each other first? And who’s been watching them from beyond the vineyard gates?

When a torrential rainstorm hits, plunging them into darkness, the answers prove all too deadly…

Author: Tara Laskowski

ISBN: 9781525811456

Publication Date: December 26, 2023

Publisher: Graydon House

18.99 US | 23.99 CAN

Buy Links: NOT affiliated with BBNB

Social Links:

Author website: https://taralaskowski.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.laskowski.9

Author Bio:

TARA LASKOWSKI is the author of The Mother Next Door and One Night Gone, which won an Agatha Award, Macavity Award, and Anthony Award, and was a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, Left Coast Crime Award, Strand Critics’ Award, and Library of Virginia Literary Award. She is also the author of two short story collections, Modern Manners for Your Inner Demons and Bystanders, has published stories in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Mid-American Review, among others, and is the former editor of SmokeLong Quarterly. Tara earned a BA in English from Susquehanna University and an MFA from George Mason University and currently lives in Virginia. Find her on Twitter and Instagram, @TaraLWrites.