Blog Tour: Point of No Return by Tanya Jean Russell (with giveaway!)

Point of No Return
Jake Williams has been undercover as a captain at Great Britain Air for months and he's beyond frustrated. Tasked with finding the airline insiders who are smuggling chemical weapons into the country, he's getting nowhere fast.

Bree Phillips has spent her whole life wanting to travel and experience life outside of the small village she grew up in, but her family needed her. Now, years later than planned, she is finally joining her best friend to work for Great Britain Air, and her adventure is beginning.

Jake knows he is better off alone, it keeps him sharp and focused, but despite his efforts to keep Bree at a distance, she is drawn further and further into his world. Both have to ask themselves whether some risks are worth taking.

Review
For some people (see: Bree), working for an airline is a dream come true. For others (see: Jake), it's a long slog undercover surrounded by vapid cabin crew - until he meets Bree. He's not supposed to get close, but she has a way of getting under his skin.

I really enjoyed the slow burn of Bree and Jake getting to know each other, along with the fun supporting cast of characters - even with the cloud of suspicion hanging over everyone's heads. There are heaps of fun little details about being cabin crew that make the descriptions really come alive.

The slow burn takes a turn towards action when Bree sees something she shouldn't have and the plot (and Jake's mission) really gets going. I found the second half of the book fast-paced and gripping, but perhaps not as charming (I'm a sucker for slow burns and banter).

Overall this was a decent read with a fun cast of characters and the potential for more.

Four stars.

Purchase Links
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Evernight Publishing
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Author Bio
Tanya Jean lives in England with her award winning performer husband, Fisher Stevens, and their two teenage boys. She has always loved (been obsessive about) books, and has an embarrassingly huge and ever growing pile of things that she just 'has' to read, next to her bed. The Cabin Crew Series, Broken Trust & Point of No Return, allowed her to combine her love of writing with her experiences of working in the airline world. She squeezes her writing (daydreaming...) around her family and her day job , and is convinced that chocolate & diet coke should be considered a well-balanced diet.

Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/TanyaJeanRussellAuthor/
https://twitter.com/TanyaJRussell?lang=en-gb
https://www.instagram.com/tanyajeanrussell/
https://www.tanyajeanrussell.com/

Giveaway to Win 2 x e-copies of Point of No Return (Open INT)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Death in the Sound by Rhen Garland

Death in the Sound; The Versipellis Mystery Series Book Two.
The year is 1900, responding to a desperate plea from an old friend, Elliott, Giselle, and Thorne, accompanied by Veronique the Labrador, travel from England to New Zealand to unravel a new and complex mystery.
For his daughter’s twenty first birthday, Millionaire philanthropist Octavius Damant orchestrates a weekend party aboard the Taniwha, a luxurious paddle steamer moored in the primordial and isolated landscape of Milford Sound.
Several high society guests are invited to their remote home for the celebrations; Sir Wesley Eade, society lawyer and his beautiful but icy mistress Lady Leonora Carlton-Cayce, Dona Carla Riva, a flamboyant Brazilian dancer, and Carolyn Nolloth, O.D’s estranged sister-in-law who has a great love of other people’s money.
But O.D is the subject of persecution; a series of anonymous letters accuse him of past crimes and threaten the life of his daughter unless he gives in to their creator’s poisonous demands.
Elliott, Giselle, and Thorne discover the odds stacked against them when an unforeseen murder is committed, and they find themselves trapped aboard the Taniwha with a killer who will seemingly stop at nothing to achieve their ends.
As the body count rises, they must unravel the clues and piece together a devilish jigsaw that includes blackmail, extortion, desire, and the reappearance of the fabulous Larkspur Diamond, a gemstone with a past as murky and blood soaked as that of the relentless killer on board.
Set in the late Victorian era, with a touch of the odd, and a twist of the macabre, “Death in the Sound” continues the crime solving, paranormal escapades of Elliott Caine, Giselle Du’Lac, and Abernathy Thorne.
Book One, “A Portrait of Death” was released in 2018.
Review:
This is the second book in the Versipellis series of Victorian era mysteries, classic whodunnits with a paranormal twist. Death in the Sound finds us on a boat in Milford Sound in the South Island of New Zealand, where blackmail and betrayal disrupt the twenty-first birthday of a sheltered young woman.
Our merry band of protagonists are on board to investigate threatening letters to the host, but are quickly drawn in as the body count rises.
This is a delightfully twisty mystery with false leads and little clues, so that as one puzzle becomes clear, another presents itself for solving. I enjoyed the clever way that everything fitted together and was gradually revealed, as well as the little touches of local colour and Victorian society.
The main place where this interesting plot falls down is the editing. It really needed a good copy-editor who could point out the difference between Gaelic (Irish) and Gallic (French), the correct spelling of discreet, and who could chop up the run-on sentences that sometimes took over entire paragraphs. Once the plot gets going, it is easier to ignore these errors, but I found them distracting.
I also found the paranormal side of the mystery surfaced in a rather expositional way. While it adds something different to the mystery, it also slowed down the plot. There were also a few loose ends to extrenuous storylines that could've well been cut.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more in the series, but sincerely hope the author engages a good editor and cuts back on the exposition.
Three stars.
Purchase Links:
Kindle https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082Q39R3H
Paperback https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1674868367
Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082Q39R3H
Author Bio:
Rhen Garland lives in Somerset, England with her folk-singing, book-illustrating husband, approximately 4000 books, an equal number of ancient movies, and a large collection of passive-aggressive Tomtes.
She enjoys the countryside, peace, and Prosecco and the works of Ngaio Marsh, Glady Mitchell, John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson, Agatha Christie, Simon R Green, and Terry Pratchett.
"I watch far too many old school murder mystery films, TV series, and 1980s action movies for it to be considered healthy."
"Death in the Sound" is a murder mystery thriller with paranormal touches set in late Victorian England and is the second book in the Versipellis Mysteries Series, book one “A Portrait of Death” was released in 2018.
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/RhenGarlandMysteries
https://www.instagram.com/rhen_garland/
https://twitter.com/RhenWitch
https://rhengarlandkdp.wixsite.com/rhengarland
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rhen-garland
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18718625.Rhen_Garland

Blog Tour: The Chapel by Jess B. Moore

The Chapel
Mallory Johansen has nearly given up on thinking she’ll get her act together – the one where she plays the part of an adult – by the time she hits thirty. As it is she’s desperate and depressed. Her only friend is leaving town, she’s paired to work with a man who can’t stand her, and she finds herself homeless. Definitely hasn’t mastered being a grown-up yet.

Otis Bell wants nothing more than to play his guitar, book acoustic bands to perform at his upcoming music venue, and be in charge of his own life. Instead, he’s working full time in his family’s auto shop. He only owns half the supposed music venue, which stands as an abandoned church and needs more than a little work. When his best friend moves away, he’s paired with an aloof girl he’s never liked as partner, and stretches himself thin working too many hours.

The Chapel is the little music venue that could. Full of potential. Full of ugly carpet, peeling paint, and exhausting work. Mallie and Otis navigate their way through a fledgling partnership, trying their darnedest to get the place up and running, while trying pretty hard not to fall in love in the process.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chapel-Fox-River-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B082PBSNYM/
US  - https://www.amazon.com/Chapel-Fox-River-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B082PBSNYM/


Reviews in Heels
The Chapel is a sweet story about Mallory, a modern day wallflower with an eye for design, and Otis, her long-time crush and her cousin Tyler's best friend. She's always been too shy to connect with him and growing up, he took it as arrogance or dislike. Thrown together by Tyler's sudden move out of town, they are forced into close proximity as they renovate the Chapel, a former church and future music venue - if they can get it off the ground.

Mallory is a sweetheart with a deep-seated fear of abandonment and a stubborn streak a mile wide. I found Otis harder to like, as he initially channeled his feelings for Mallory into jealousy and being brusque to the point of rudeness. About the only thing I can say for his behaviour is that he is very aware how awful he is being and seeks to change that. As a friend of mine pointed out, their awkward conversations are all too reminiscent of real life where no-one ever says what they mean in the right way and then ends up kicking themselves afterwards. I would definitely have appreciated a bigger apology from Otis, but once he gets over himself, he proves himself staunch and loyal, not just to Mallie but to his family as well.


For a sweet and light contemporary romance, four stars

Author Bio
Jess B. Moore is a writer of love stories. When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her accomplished and headstrong children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish. 

Jess lives in small town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved. 

The Fox River Romance novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into a thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love. These books can be read as stand-alone, or as a series starting with The Guilt of a Sparrow.

Follow Jess on social media @authorjessb
Please consider leaving a review to let other readers know what you think!

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessb/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjessb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorjessb
Website: https://jessbmoore.com

The Rich Boy by Kylie Scott

In the world of romance, there are few authors more iconic than Jane Austen. That the Rich Boy begins with Austen banter is a serious point in its favour. In fact, Austen quotes are peppered throughout the novel (though Beck loses points in-story for quoting Mr Collins).

It's the little things that make this such a good read.

I loved Alice, with all her insecurities, wit, and stubborn refusal to be anyone but herself. I loved the family feels - yes, Beck is part of a big screwed up family with more money than tact, but as the book progresses you get to see the family stand together and look out for one another. In particular, Emma and Matias were memorable, entertaining, and fully-rounded (if not always likeable) characters.

Best of all, I liked the growing relationship between Beck and Alice, with its banter and affection. It meant that the climax of the book (no spoilers) was NOT based around a big misunderstanding that could've been avoided if the characters had actually talked to each other for once. The problems that faced Alice and Beck were all understandable in the context of the story. The way they worked through them (talking! together!) was satisfying and didn't feel forced. Both the grovel and the time invested to make things right felt appropriate.

Fave part: Alice at the charity luncheon being awesome

Least fave part: Beck talking about how his grandma respects strength etc, setting up a reconciliation, with no real payoff.

Honestly, the little niggles like the above are far outshone by the fun, funny, and feelsy (is that a word? totally is now) moments that make up the vast majority of the book. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author via Social Butterfly PR, all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour: the Widow's Mite by Allie Cresswell

The Widow’s Mite
Minnie Price married late in life. Now she is widowed. And starving.
No one suspects this respectable church-goer can barely keep body and soul together. Why would they, while she resides in the magnificent home she shared with Peter?
Her friends and neighbours are oblivious to her plight and her adult step-children have their own reasons to make things worse rather than better. But she is thrown a lifeline when an associate of her late husband arrives with news of an investment about which her step-children know nothing.
Can she release the funds before she finds herself homeless and destitute?

Fans of 'The Hoarder's Widow' will enjoy this sequel, but it reads equally well as a standalone.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0848P81GJ
US -  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0848P81GJ

Review in Heels
When one thinks of the poor and needy, the phrase 'widows and orphans' may come to mind. Some may consider this an outdated stereotype, but it does have a basis in the truth. Poor Minnie Price is exactly one of these. Widowed after a brief marriage, she finds herself alone and starving in the house they used to share. Her callous stepchildren and the bitter winter push her into penury and deceit, and leave her vulnerable to promises of a secret investment.
This wasn't a comfortable read. Sometimes I just wanted to step into the page and tell someone - anyone - what was going on underneath their noses. It was all too easy to watch everything play out and makes one wonder how far one would go in the same circumstances. The deft prose was vivid without being heaving handed, painting Minnie's struggles with careful, honest touches. I found myself grimacing  at the emotions evoked even as I struggled to put the book down.
I will say that as this is the second in a series, I did find part of the plot wrapped around characters from the first book. I wouldn't say this diminished my enjoyment, but there were definitely threads that I didn't understand. The switching timelines also took a while to get used to, as they read like two separate books that had been merged chapter by chapter.
If you are looking for an emotional read about the quiet fringes of society please pick this book up.
Four stars for the feels and a very satisfying ending.

Author Bio
Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil. She did a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London. She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners. She has two grown-up children, two granddaughters, two grandsons and two cockapoos but just one husband – Tim. They live in Cumbria, NW England.
The Widow’s Mite is her tenth novel.
You can contact her via her website at www.allie-cresswell.com

Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/alliescribbler/
www.allie-cresswell.com

Blog Tour: Lady Edith's Lonely Heart by Audrey Harrison

Lady Edith’s Lonely Heart

A dashing tale of romance from a bestselling author of Regency Romance.

She is under pressure to find a husband she doesn't want.

He keeps to the fringes of society because of family constraints.

Will the written word be enough to bring two lost souls together?

Lady Edith Longdon is an heiress, in danger of being classed a spinster, and disillusioned with the fops, dandies, and fortune hunters surrounding her in society. Deciding it’s time to take her future into her own hands, she devises a foolproof way of finding someone she can love. She's convinced nothing could go wrong…

Lord Ralph Pensby, overwhelmed by a sense of obligation, and with no one he can turn to, is adrift from those around him…

Two people drawn together, both on a journey which will affect them in ways they could never have foreseen. Secret correspondence, mistrust and confusion, not to mention cads of the highest order, make this novel a fast-paced, heart-warming story, with appealing characters and a strong sense of time and place.

Perfect for lovers of all things Regency.

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audrey-Harrison/e/B009SO2EYO

US - https://www.amazon.com/Audrey-Harrison/e/B009SO2EYO

Review in Heels
Lady Edith, unprepossessing heiress and belated debutante, hopes to find a love match. Despairing of her choices, she places an advertisement in the Times' Lonely Hearts column. After a disappointing deluge of fortune hunters, she receives a letter from Mr S, an altogether different sort of gentleman, and they strike up a correspondence...

This could've been a story that I really enjoyed. Edith is simply lovely as she handles the curveballs life has thrown her way - bereavement, an impossible mother, and a brother with PTSD. Her method of seeking love - the very historical existence of the lonely hearts column - are the perfect set-up. Unfortunately, a deal-breaker for me is deception between the romantic leads. How can I believe in a relationship if it is built on deceit?

Ralph, the so called romantic lead, pushes Edith away in person while baring his soul to her on paper. I could understand this if he was unaware of the identity of his correspondent, but he knows from the start who he is writing to and yet unloads his sorry life on her anyway. He's also distressingly controlling of his mother in his attempts to protect her. I liked how both Edith and his mother gave him a verbal slapdown once everything came to light, but by then, poor Edith was head over heels.

I enjoyed the writer's style and would consider reading more of her work, but a few tweaks could've made this a far more enjoyable read. Three stars.

Author Bio
AMAZON UK KINDLE STORYTELLER COMPETITION FINALIST 2018!

Audrey was born about two hundred years too late. She wants to belong to a time when men were men and women were dressed in gowns and could float, simper and sigh.

In the real world she has always longed to write, writing a full manuscript when she was fourteen years old. Work, marriage and children got in the way as they do and it was only when an event at work landed her in hospital that she decided to take stock. One Voluntary Redundancy later, she found that the words and characters came to the forefront and the writing began in earnest.

So, although at home more these days, the housework is still neglected and meals are still late on the table, but she has an understanding family, who usually shake their heads at her and sigh. That is a sign of understanding, isn't it?

Social Media Links
www.audreyharrison.co.uk (sign-up for emails and receive a free novella)
www.facebook.com/AudreyHarrisonAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/audrey.harrisonauthor/
https://twitter.com/AudreyHarrison2