Excerpt from Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines by Charlotte Bennardo

Today I have an excerpt from a middle grade fantasy by an author whose books I've enjoyed for about 5 years now. 

Until Hollywood calls, Charlotte lives in NJ with her husband, three children, two needy cats and sometimes a deranged squirrel. Evolution Revolution: Simple Machines is her first solo book. She is also the co-author of Blonde Ops (St. Martin’s/Dunne) and the Sirenz series (Sirenz, Sirenz Back In Fashion, Flux), and is one of 13 authors in the Beware the Little White Rabbit anthology (Leap). She’s written for magazines and newspapers. Currently she’s working on an historical fiction, sci fi, and time travel novels. She loves to hear from fans on Twitter (@charbennardo) or through her blog, http://charlotteebennardo.blogspot.com/

Excerpt & Giveaway: Sting by Sandra Brown

I'm delighted to share an extensive excerpt from Sandra Brown's newest romantic suspense, "Sting", and a wonderful giveaway. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy!

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), & HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

Review & Giveaway - Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver

Series: A Kelly Jackson Mystery #2
Publisher: Lyrical Undrground
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: June 7th 2016
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .

It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous facade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next! (

Bea Reviews Insidious by Catherine Coulter & An Excerpt!

Series: FBI Thriller #20
Publisher: G.P. Putnam Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 9th 2016
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*/OmniLit* | Google Play | Kobo | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Insidious is the twentieth thriller in #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter's FBI series. FBI agents Savich and Sherlock must discover who is trying to murder Venus Rasmussen, a powerful, wealthy society icon. They soon find out that the danger may be closer than expected.

Venus Rasmussen, a powerful woman who runs the international conglomerate Rasmussen Industries, believes someone is poisoning her. After Savich and Sherlock visit with her, someone attempts to shoot her in broad daylight. Who’s trying to kill her and why? A member of her rapacious family, or her grandson who’s been missing for ten years and suddenly reappears? Savich and Sherlock must peel away the layers to uncover the incredible truth about who would target Venus.

Meanwhile, Special Agent Cam Wittier leaves Washington for Los Angeles to work with local Detective Daniel Montoya to lead the hunt for the Starlet Slasher, a serial killer who has cut the throats of five young actresses. When a sixth young actress is murdered, Cam comes to realize the truth might be closer than she’d ever want to believe.

With breakneck speed and unexpected twists and turns, Coulter’s Insidious will leave you breathless until the shocking conclusion.

Guest Review: Sophia Rose Reviews No Pity for the Dead by Nancy Herriman

Series: Mystery of Old San Francisco #2
Publisher: NAL
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 2nd 2016
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*/OmniLit*  | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The author of No Comfort for the Lost returns with a new mystery of Old San Francisco...

British-born nurse Celia Davies runs a free medical clinic to assist the poor women of San Francisco. Aided in her endeavors by her half-Chinese cousin Barbara and feisty housekeeper Addie, Celia has earned the trust and friendship of many of the city’s downtrodden, including a young orphan named Owen—who’s just confided to her that he’s stumbled upon a corpse.

Owen recently started working for the ruthless real estate and development group, Martin and Company, and discovered a dead body in the office’s basement. Celia turns to Detective Nick Greaves for help, only to learn that one of the main suspects—the husband of Celia’s dearest friend—is an old enemy of Nick’s.

Now, Celia and Nick must put aside their personal feelings about the case—and each other—if they’re going to bring a killer to justice...

Sunday Book Share #181

 I'm participating in The Sunday Post, hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer; Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews; and Bought Borrowed and Bagged, hosted by TalkSupe. It's a chance to share the print and digital books we've received and posts and events on the blog.

My laptop was dying so I've been blogging from the library in the evenings after work, which is not convenient. Ive done it before but I'd blocked out what a nuisance it is. So today, after church and lunch out, I bought a new laptop. Then I took a nap, lol. So I'm late and I haven't been able to visit anyone but here's my post and  I'll visit and comment throughout the week.

I had gotten in the habit of pounding the crap out of my keys in order to get them to respond so I'm relearning NOT to do that so I don't break any of the keys on the new laptop. *pats the new shiny* The OS on this laptop is Windows 10, which I've heard horror stories about, but so far it doesn't suck. It IS confusing and not very intuitive but so far, not horrible.Oh, and the battery on the new laptop? Supposed to last 12 hours! My old one never got more than 2.5 hours before needing a recharge. If this really does last 12 hours or close to it, that would be amazing and oh so convenient. 

Mini Reviews of Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire & Silence by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin

Series: Every Heart A Doorway #1
Publisher: Tor
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 5th 2016
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

Bea Reviews Seattle Wolf Pack Box Set by Kristin Miller

Series: Seattle Wolf Pack
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: April 25th, 2016
Challenge:  NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | ARe*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

You’ll hunger for more…
Delicious alpha heroes protecting their mates at all cost? Yes, please. Take a bite out of these three, steamy full-length novels from New York Times bestseller Kristin Miller in this exclusive boxed set for a limited time only. Exquisite paranormal love stories with super hot alphas and the tenacious heroines who make these werewolves howl.
Devour them all in just one click.

Gone With the Wolf
When CEO and alpha werewolf Drake Wilder discovers that his one true love is a secretary in his company, his primal instincts kick into overdrive. Free-spirited bartender Emelia Hudson wants nothing more than to make her Seattle-based bar succeed. Upon learning that her bar has become property of Wilder Financial, Emelia is determined to get some answers. When Drake’s twin brother senses that Drake has found his match—and now inherits their father’s billion dollar estate—he plans to take Emelia out. Drake vows to protect her at all costs, but he might have to pay with his own life.

Four Weddings and a Werewolf
Logan Black, former Marine and bodyguard for the Seattle Wolf Pack, hates weddings and has no plans to enter into matrimonial misery. But when he’s hired to protect a hot-to-trot wedding planner with a werewolf stalker, he’s forced to put his feelings aside. Not such an easy task when the damsel can turn him on with a single smoldering glance. The chemistry between them seems fated, but with his playboy attitude, her hatred for werewolves, and a stalker lurking in the shadows, will passion be enough to keep them together?

So I Married a Werewolf
Carter Griffin, enforcing officer for the Seattle Wolf Pack, has been offered the promotion of his dreams…if he can find a wife to prove he’s over his playboy ways. But Carter’s already been there, done that. Faith Hamilton needs money to put her younger brother through college. Okay, and she totally wants Carter, her sexy next-door neighbor, to look at her as more than a friend. It’s too bad size 12 and plain isn’t his type. At all. When the two friends strike a deal to help one another out, will it spark a love neither anticipated?