Tag: Weekly Book Reviews

Death in High Places Blog Tour and Review

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Promotional Blogs1 Comment

Death in High Places

Tour Date:March 22-26

Blog link: https://travelling-pages.com/blog-tour-death-in-high-places/

Book Details: 

Sara L. Jameson
February 8, 2023
Scrivenings Press LLC

324 pages

Book Links:

Amazon

Goodreads
Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

Book Summary: 

An Interpol agent with a deadline he can’t miss.

Urgent intel warns of terrorist cells planning coordinated attacks throughout Europe. Special Agent Jacob Coulter of Brussels Interpol is assigned to find the terrorist financiers supporting these groups and shut down their funding operations.

An opera singer’s life and career hang in the balance.

The Queen of the Night’s vocal pyrotechnics have launched many a soprano’s international career. But Riley Williams, Jacob’s fiancée, is terrified of heights, and her Antwerp Opera debut as the evil queen requires her to sing from a hydraulic lift forty feet above the orchestra pit. When newspapers cite Riley’s recent unmasking of an international terrorist plot and the lift malfunctions, Jacob suspects terrorist sabotage.

He encourages Riley to accept her BFF’s invitation to stay the Savoy Hotel in London where she’ll be out of danger. Or so he thinks …

A series of murders connected to a notorious terrorist financier known as the Priest leads Jacob across Europe. When the victims’ deaths point to London, his Interpol partner convinces him London is a haven for terrorist financiers.

But the clock is ticking, and what Jacob uncovers is more devastating than anything he could have imagined.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

My Review:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This book was sooo good! I just can’t put it into words. I’ll need to put some thought into it and write a longer review later.

Death in High Places Giveaway!https://cdn.woorise.com/e.js

Thanks for reading! Please check out the other bloggers in this tour!

Billy Balloon Blog Tour And Review

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Promotional BlogsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3Ju0IS3

Discover a story of adventure, fun, and friendship with Billy Balloon, the first in an exciting new children’s book series. Kids will love following Billy’s pen pal adventures in this children’s book for emerging readers (Age 3-5).


Billy Balloon was born in a little balloon factory on a little hill, with hundreds of his brothers and sisters and friends. His adventure begins with the start of the Big Balloon Race. The winner of the race is determined by how far each balloon carries its pen pal note. Follow along as Billy overcomes challenges and meets new friends!
Your whole family will enjoy this endearing and cheerful story. Come find out what happens.

Be Adoshable!

Adoshable: Adventuring with joy and intent.

About the Author

Jack Payton wrote Billy Balloon during a writing exercise in fourth grade.
This incredible story of adventure stayed with him throughout his life.
Now, after many years, an amazing marriage, and two wonderful kids, he
wanted to share the adventure with others. He isn’t done with just this one
book. There are more adventures to go on together. Jack became Adoshable and invites readers to be the same. Learn more at billyballoonadventures.com and follow his adventures (@billyballoonadventures) on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

About Pacific & Court


Pacific & Court is a Brooklyn-based boutique publicity and digital marketing company specializing in promoting
independent authors and book publishers. Together, the P&C team has over 30 years of experience publishing,
promoting, and marketing bestselling books. Focusing on heavily tested and proven PR and marketing methods, P&C will reach the exact audience that will be receptive to your unique book. Follow P&C on social media
@pacificandcourt.

Review copies of Billy Balloon are available upon request. For excerpts and/or interview queries, please contact Kourtney Jason at kourtney@pacificandcourt.com.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book very much! It was so cute. The artwork was beautiful. The writing was so sweet. I totally wish I could have seen the letter sent! I’d definitely read other books by this author!

The Reborn Prince Blog Tour and Review

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Promotional Blogs1 Comment

Reborn Prince (Mages in the Mundane Book 1)

Tour Dates: March 8-12

Blog link: https://travelling-pages.com/blog-tour-reborn-prince/

Book Details:

Julianne Munich

December 18, 2021

404 pages

Book Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

Book Summary: 

He was a prince, forced into a new life as a pauper.

Luc, a poor but vain young man in 1775 Paris, is confused by his dreams of gilded ballrooms and unknown people in lace and jewels. What’s more, everything before the past two years is a hazy fog in his mind. His only link is Aunt Mathilde, who gives him few answers.

What he doesn’t know is that ‘Aunt Mathilde’ is in fact his mother—and a Sorceress. She keeps him captive under her magical veil, desperate to both protect him and punish him for the evil deeds of his royal past.

When disease leaves Luc scarred and weakened, he feels his life is over. He pushes away his humble friends, including Emilie, a young housemaid.

Emilie, scarred from smallpox, is resigned to life as a spinster. Yet, she sees beauty and joy in life and understands Luc’s despair beneath his bitter, beastly attitude.

Unless Luc can embrace his inner strength, care about others, and love unselfishly, he risks destroying himself once more.

This is Book 1 of the Mages in the Mundane historical fantasy series and is an adult twist on Beauty and the Beast, with family drama, a secret underground society of Mages, and a sweet love story. The novel ends with a lead-in to the sequel.

Author Links: 

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Goodreads

WordPress

Weebly

My Review:

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. For the most part, I did. I really loved the story and the idea behind the story. The thing that just didn’t do it for me were the characters. I didn’t care for any of them. The ones I thought I might have been able to connect with weren’t really big parts of the story so I can’t really give a solid answer on that. I may read the next book in the series when it releases, if it hasn’t already. I’m just really not sure at this moment. I also may reread this book just to give it another chance.

Thanks for reading! Please check out the other bloggers in this tour!

Netgalley Review: Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3YzIMuC

Title: Missing Clarissa

Author: Ripley Jones

Release Date: March 7th, 2023

Page Count: 249

Format: Audiobook/Netgalley Ebook

Start Date: March 7th, 2023

Finish Date: March 8th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

Two girls who are looking for an amazing project for their journalism class decide to do a podcast investigating the disappearance of a girl in their town. She disappeared twenty years before and the case was never solved. This is more of a case where one girl had the brilliant idea and the other girl went with it. Either way, it was amazing!

I think there were parts of the book that I would have liked to have seen get expanded upon a little more. There are also references that I wish were more than just references. This isn’t a criticism of the book. It’s my own personal opinion. I also wouldn’t hate it if there were many other books set involving Blair and Cameron. I don’t know if there will be. If it were to ever become a series, I’d instabuy all of the rest of the books in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t even need to think twice about it.

I started to read it via Netgalley, but I preordered the audiobook once I was sure that I was going to enjoy it very much. The moment it hit my library, I listened to it. The narrator did a fantastic job. I did have to slow down my normal speed to listen to it. Not that I’m complaining. I’d definitely try out other books narrated by her.

Similar To:

A Good Girls Guide to Murder

Audiobook Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3F1UAz4

Title: The Girl who Fell Beneath The Sea

Author: Axie Oh

Release Date: February 22nd, 2022

Page Count: 329

Format: Audiobook

Start Date: April 25th, 2022

Finish Date: April 25th, 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I found myself not comprehending this story at the beginning. It just wasn’t resonating with me at all. I thought I was going to have to put the book down in all honesty. Those who know me and read my blogs know that I really don’t like setting a book down if I can help it at all. Sometimes I regret being stubborn and pushing forward, but for the most part, I wind up being glad I did. This is one of those cases. I kept with it. I reread when I needed to. It all paid off. The book wound up really captivating me. It’s a beautiful story filled with culture and thought-provoking content. It will make you want to research for accuracy and ball your eyes out. I really enjoyed the story. I plan to read it again. This time just to enjoy this entirely and not just appreciate the beautiful content and culture it shows. I also want to talk about how beautiful I find the cover.

Audiobook Review: Wake’s Claim by Michelle Dare

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3mmE8CJ

Title: Wake’s Claim

Author: Michelle Dare

Release Date: March 22nd, 2019

Page Count: 233

Start Date: October 7th, 2019 and April 15th, 2022

Finish Date: October 7th, 2019 and April 16th, 2022

Note: I frequently listen to this book when I can’t sleep at night. So even though I’ve only officially read it twice, I’ve probably listened to it dozens of times.

Review:

I’m going to be completely honest here. I almost put this book down. The beginning of the book got under my skin so much. I just can’t even begin to explain it. One of my biggest turn offs with books is the angst stuff that tends to hit lovers at random. Well, mainly when it’s been drawn out in the most excruciating and painful way possible. I stuck with the book anyways. I’m glad I did. It really turned around. The only thing I want to critique is that I wish they had drawn out some of the things that happened in the book.

I really adored Paige. In ways, I saw myself in her. She’s sweet and loyal. I loved her friend Ari too. Wake is the problem I had with the story. I mean I get that he’d been burned in the past, but COME ON! It was a bit dramatic. All the characters were pretty amazing. Some had too much time in the background for my liking. My favorite was Solomon. He kind of reminded me of Spike from Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Both narrators were pretty great. They made a great duo. I’m not sure if I’ve listened to anything from Sarah L. Colton before. I feel like I have heard at least one book by Troy Duran though. I can’t say for sure. Either way, I’d be willing to hear other books narrated by both of them. They have talent.

The book was really great after I got past the part that was getting under my skin. I’m really glad that I gave it a chance and stuck with it. I fully encourage anybody who struggles with it to stick with it to at least the halfway point. If they still don’t like it after that, then they are more than welcome to put it down. They will be missing out though. This book gets great. I see it’s a book 1. I’ll have to look into the rest of the books.

Audiobook Review: Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3ZJ5xxm

Title: Out of the Dark

Author: Gregg Hurwitz

Release Date: January 29th, 2019

Page Count: 391

Format: Audiobook

Start Date: March 18th, 2020 and February 12th, 2023

Finish Date: April 1st, 2020 and March 5th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I have read this particular book twice now. I’ve read the first two books in the series three times. There are now eight books in the series. I thought I needed to read the last two books, but I believe it’s the last three that I need to read. I’m really excited to get to them. Upon rereading, I realized that out of the first four, this one was most emotionally driven. The gentlemen that needed help was special needs. He went through a very traumatizing ordeal. All because he did his job. That’s all I’m going to divulge about it. It’s a deep one. When I first read these books, I was always very skeptical of Evan getting out of the situations he finds himself in. I think it was by this point in the series I just started wondering what left field idea he was going to pitch up next. Not going to divulge in those either because I really want more people to read this series. I’d be even happier if it became a movie or television series. I’d prefer television series honestly. One book per season would give us eight seasons currently. I’d definitely be committed to the show!

Audiobook Review: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

https://amzn.to/3mqkg1F

Title: The Personal Librarian

Author: Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Release Date: June 29th, 2021

Page Count: 347

Format: Audiobook

Start Date: February 26th, 2023

Finish Date: March 4th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I read this for our Cobb County Library book club. I was nervous about reading this book in the beginning. I struggled with comprehending it at first. After starting the book over a few times, I finally got there. This isn’t because the book itself was bad or poorly written. It’s just that I sometimes struggle with comprehending things that don’t hit me right away. Once I did get into it, I enjoyed the book very much. I felt a deep empathy for Belle. Even more so after I found out that this story was based on a real person. I took the time to read the authors’ notes in the back of the book as well. These two authors put in a lot of time and research into this story, and it definitely shows. I actually want to do research on Belle da Costa Greene and H.P. Morgan. I’d also love to do more research on Morgan’s daughter, Anne. I recommend this book. I also want to read other books by these authors.

Straight for the Kill Blog Tour and Review

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Promotional BlogsLeave a comment

Straight For The KIll

Tour Date: March 1-5 

Blog link:  https://travelling-pages.com/blog-tour-straight-for-the-kill/ ‎

Book Details: 

Winter Austin
January 23, 2023
Tule Publishing
298 pages

Book Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jIyt98

Goodreads:http://bit.ly/3jHqcCz
Bookshop.org: http://bit.ly/3Xj7XRt

Barnes&Noble: http://bit.ly/3I8BV6y

Book Summary: 

Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit’s worst nightmare returns when her deputies discover a young woman killed in the same circumstances as a death from 25 years earlier. That previous victim was Elizabeth’s best friend and Deputy Kyle Lundquist’s older sister. Elizabeth has spent a quarter of a century trying to nail the crooked ex-sheriff she knows is involved up to his elbows in this unresolved crime. She has a thick file of clues, but it’s going to take irrefutable proof to put both cases to bed.

Deputy Detective Lila Dayne draws on all her investigative skills, but still she can’t pin down their main suspect. Then prominent members of the community begin to disappear—clearly, there’s a bigger vendetta at play. Despite the legal consequences of being too close to the case, Elizabeth can’t keep away now.

When Elizabeth’s sister goes missing, it’s a no-holds-barred race against time in the showdown that’s been brewing in Eckardt County for decades.

Author Links: 

www.winteraustin.com

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Follow all these amazing bloggers!

My Review:

I wound up getting the first two books in this series in audiobook. I was smitten with the covers for the three of them. The covers are gorgeous. The stories are gorgeous. I can’t wait until the third book is released in audio so that I have an excuse to read them all over again! Will have a more detailed review later.

Mysterious Aisles Blog Tour And Review

On By Star's Books & TeaIn Promotional BlogsLeave a comment

Mysterious Aisles

by BG Hilton

Black Phoenix Book Tours

January 20-23

Axel Platzoff did not work at the Handy Pavilion by choice...

Stacking shelves seemed beneath the former supervillain who had come close to world domination so many times. But as part of his plea deal with the Hague, he had to work somewhere, so he worked at the big-box hardware store in the sleepy Australian suburb of South Hertling. Fortunately, he was not the only eccentric employee of the place. Pavilion workers included dryads, time-traveling cyborgs, water-witches, ape-men, cowboys, demigods, angels, demons, mad scientists and animate garden gnomes.

Gradually Axel came to feel at home, until tragedy struck. The construction of a rival hardware store, just across Hurley Road threatened his living and his new friends. Axel had no choice but to to take the fight to his enemies, the only way he knew how. But is the DIY Barn really nothing but a rival hardware store? Or will it’s sinister secret destroy the Handy Pavilion and seriously inconvenience the people of South Hertling?

An engaging mix of urban fantasy and workplace comedy.

See the book on Amazon here.

About BG Hilton

Australian SFF author BG Hilton spent most of his life doing jobs so tedious that his only escape was entertaining himself with crazy fantasy stories, and now he writes them down in the hope of entertaining others. He specialises in Specilative Fiction, Humour and Non-Fiction. He works in the education sector these days, which would probably surprise any of his teachers. His debut novel — the Steampunk adventure ‘Champagne Charlie and the Amazing Gladys’ was published by Odyssey Books in early 2020. He lives with his family in Sydney, and consequently spends a lot of time in traffic.

https://bghilton.com

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/b-g-hilton

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17803975.B_G_Hilton

Review:

Story: This was a really quirky book. I found myself laughing many times. I have to be honest, I kind of wish that I had some talent in the narration department. I’d totally volunteer to narrate this novel. It’s showcases the dreads of working retail with a supernatural twist. I’d love to see this book be turned into a cartoon. Probably one more geared to teens and adults, but still. I’d watch every episode.

Characters: There were too many of them to keep up with names. I really enjoyed all of them. They were all strange and very quirky.

Critiques: None

Final Thoughts: I’m not sure if this is going to be a series or not. I want to say it is, but I just can’t be sure. If it is, I will definitely be grabbing the rest of the series. I’ll probably reread this a few times. Especially when I’m feeling down and need a good laugh. There are some potentially offensive jokes displayed in the book. I wouldn’t recommend it for anybody who are more sensitive to jokes.