Tour! Rubies in the Roses by Vivian Conroy

In June I participated in the double cover reveal for Vivian Conroy's latest series.

In July I was able to share my love for the first in the series, Death Plays a Part.

Today I am beyond thrilled to be participating in the blog tour for the next Cornish Castle book -- Rubies in the Roses!

Once again, we're back at the castle in Cornisea where Guinevere is still trying to make some sense out of all of the books and documents that Lord Bolingbrooke needs catalogued ... as well as out of Lord Bolingbrooke's son, Oliver.

Oh, Oliver.

I have to hand it to Vivian Conroy. She definitely knows how to write a swoon-worthy male. I am absolutely torn between Oliver and Jake Dubois from her Lady Alkmene Callender series. It's almost as bad as my constant battle of whether I prefer Knightley over Tilney! Each one is rugged, serious without being too stuffy, mysterious in his own right and, at least in my head, ridiculously good looking.

And then she has to go and throw Max into the mix.

Max is a photographer staying at the castle with Bolingbrooke's old friend, Gregory Wadencourt. Wadencourt is a historian and treasure seeker who believes that there's a legendary wedding goblet on the castle grounds and he has every intention of locating it before an article about it's existence is published and hordes of tourists show up to search.

Of course, another murder takes place and thrusts Guinevere, her dog Dolly, and Oliver right into the middle of things. Having to figure out what happened in the past, in the present and what could possibly be happening in her future has poor Guinevere more than a bit frazzled. I honestly can't blame the poor girl!

History is obviously a dangerous thing -- especially on Cornisea. Luckily, Guinevere has the support of Inspector LeFevre again (and oooooh how I want to know more about him!) and, of course, her beloved Dolly. It almost makes up for the constant confusion being thrown at her from Max and Oliver!

It's another 5-star winner for me from Vivian Conroy and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us (and Guinevere) next!

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Get the first two #CornishCastle books now!

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Death Plays a Part

Welcome to Cornisea island and spend your summer holidays in a Cornish Castle.

Guinevere and her trusted dog Dolly have arrived on Cornisea island in Cornwall for the summer. But what should be weeks of cataloguing books and sunny walks on the beach turns deadly when murder strikes!

Amazon US

Amazon UK
Amazon Canada

Barnes & Noble
Google Play

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Rubies in the Roses

Welcome to Cornisea island and spend your summer holidays in a Cornish Castle.

Guinevere and her Dachshund Dolly are happily enjoying their summer by the Cornish coast - sun, sea and delicious food. Until a long-lost treasure and a mysterious death turns her holiday into a search for justice!

Amazon US

Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
Google Play

The Great Escape by Charlotte Fallowfield (Tuesday Intro & Teaser Tuesday)

I absolutely loved the first of Charlotte Fallowfield's books set in Dilbury, Never the Bride, so when I was offered the chance to read the follow-up I was pretty much ecstatic. The Great Escape actually overlaps Never the Bride a bit, but it isn't necessary to read them in order I suppose. (Yes, it pained me to say that. Read them in order. ALWAYS read things in order.)
It's another fabulous book that made me laugh, and cry, and laugh some more until I cried some more. This time, though, our main focus is on Georgie -- the best friend of Abbie from the first book. She's not quite as much of a hot mess as Abbie, but the girl definitely has some serious issues going on in the trust and romance departments.
While on vacation with Abbie she meets Weston who, of course, turns her world upside down. She allows herself to let her guard down to have some vacation fun .... but then he shows up in Dilbury, too! (Because it's a book and of course he does.) And because Georgie has trust issues, he ends up lying about ..... something. (Because it's a book and of course he does.)
Watching it all unfold with the other Dilbury residents (Dilburians?) mixed in has been absolutely delightful and I'm already looking forward to reading Charlie's story next!

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" from Bibliophile by the Sea is on vacation ... but I'm used to doing these two together so I'm just going to stick with it. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

Oh, my dear readers, you must know by now how much I adore Jane Austen (except, of course, for Mansfield Park). Even on my own personal Facebook page I'm constantly updating my cover photo with different art based around sappy Austen quotes. I have a regular rotation from Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Emma, with a random Persuasion tossed in from time to time. But what about Northanger Abbey? It's not that I don't love Northanger Abbey because I do oh-so-much, but it seems as though aside from one or two quotes, the vast majority of the world overlooks it. 

It's a shame, really, because that means that they miss out on Austen being fabulously snarky (especially towards the book world), the innocent bookworm Catherine Morland, and most of all the swoon-worthy Henry Tilney. Sure, Emma's George Knightley is one of my longest-standing fictional crushes (especially when being portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller) but Henry? 

Oh, Henry. 

He's the stuff that daydreams and life-long loves are made of. He's got intelligence and quirkiness and is adorably funny. I do believe I fell for him at their first meeting. I do love a good smirk, after all. And he reads. Not just the "proper" things, either. In fact, one of my favorite Austen quotes (which stays off my Facebook cover to save certain people from being offended) is Henry's: 

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

Of course, it figures that my beloved Tilney does not appear in either of today's Book Beginnings & Friday 56 snippets. I suppose you'll have to acquaint yourself with him the old fashioned way and grab yourself a copy of the book. 

As always, Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings is at Rose City Reader. 

This week my "56" comes from the 56% ebook mark since I sadly forgot my paperback at home.

Life Unbothered by Charlie Elliott (Tuesday Intro & Teaser Tuesday)

As per usual, "First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" from Bibliophile by the Sea is on vacation ... but I'm used to doing these two together so I'm just going to stick with it. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read. I know I have more than a line or two. Be impressed I didn't just screenshot the whole page to post.

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I knew absolutely nothing about Charlie Elliott when I saw us both complaining on Twitter one day about Goodreads being down. I was just outright complaining while Charlie was lamenting the fact that he had a giveaway to set up for Life Unbothered. Smartass that I sometimes am (I know - you're shocked at that revelation), suggested that since Goodreads wasn't playing nicely he could just send the book to me directly and cut out the middle man. Shockingly (to me, anyway), he agreed.

Of course, my life being such as it is, it took me longer than I had hoped to start reading it and then longer still to actually find the time and mental oomph to stick with it. It's the story of Wade (and, later, of Wade and Sophia).He's depressed. He's got massive anxiety. Panic attacks are a normal thing for him. He shuts pretty much everyone away as often as possible. 

I get it. 

Most of what he experiences and feels I just sat there nodding. "Yep ... that's totally what it can feel like." Amazingly, though, Elliott has written it in a way that hasn't triggered any of the feelings like books sometimes can. Either I'm getting a better grip or Charlie Elliott is some kind of magical being. Perhaps it's a little bit of both.

This is not a happy-go-lucky book. There's humor and romance and pain and heartache and so much realism that it's sometimes hard to read, but it's harder to put down.

Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stevens (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

I have an enormous amount of NetGalley ARCs waiting for me right now ... but Hazel Wong is my spirit animal and I need to spend some quality time with her, Daisy and the rest of my Deepdean girls.
The last two books saw Daisy and Hazel off campus, but they're back in Jolly Foul Play and the school has been commandeered, as it were, by a nasty group of Big Girls. When the head of the group, who also happens to be the school's Head Girl, dies at a Guy Fawkes Night celebration, the Detective Society jumps into action.
This time, Daisy and Hazel have accepted help from their friends and suite-mates, Lavinia, Kitty and Beanie. Oh, and Hazel is also secretly corresponding with a boy detective they met in First Class Murder and is enlisting his aide, as well. It's all so delightfully scandalous!

As always, Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings is at Rose City Reader. 

This week my "56" comes from page 56 of the UK paperback.

The Punch Escrow by Tal M Klein (Teaser Tuesday & Tuesday Intro)

As a general rule, if Felicia Day recommends something I'll give it a shot. Such was the case when I was offered Tal M Klein's The Punch Escrow. I wasn't sure that it really sounded like it would be "my thing," but .... Felicia .... so I said yes and I am so flipping happy that I did.

No, it's not "my thing." I daresay it's not like anything I've read in a very long time. That, my friends, is a very good thing. And, for at least the first 44%, so is this book.

As per usual, "First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" from Bibliophile by the Sea is on vacation ... but I'm used to doing these two together so I'm just going to stick with it. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read. I know I have more than a line or two. Be impressed I didn't just screenshot the whole page to post.

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Amazon Description

"An alt-futuristic hard-science thriller with twists and turns you'll never see coming. I couldn't put it down." —Felicia Day, founder of Geek & Sundry

It’s the year 2147. Advancements in nanotechnology have enabled us to control aging. We’ve genetically engineered mosquitoes to feast on carbon fumes instead of blood, ending air pollution. And teleportation has become the ideal mode of transportation, offered exclusively by International Transport—a secretive firm headquartered in New York City. Their slogan: Departure... Arrival... Delight!

Joel Byram, our smartass protagonist, is an everyday twenty-fifth century guy. He spends his days training artificial-intelligence engines to act more human, jamming out to 1980’s new wave—an extremely obscure genre, and trying to salvage his deteriorating marriage. Joel is pretty much an everyday guy with everyday problems—until he’s accidentally duplicated while teleporting. 

Now Joel must outsmart the shadowy organization that controls teleportation, outrun the religious sect out to destroy it, and find a way to get back to the woman he loves in a world that now has two of him.

Cover Reveal! Vivian Conroy's Lady Alkmene # 4!

 

I have known about the fourth Lady Alkmene Callender book since the first part of May and it has been absolutely killing me not to have my hands on it. The third book was released way back in November 2016 and I've had a giant hole in my life every since. Vivian Conroy has made up for a little with the introduction of the Cornish Castle series and by sending devious little teases, but I need Jake and Alkmene.

We're still a couple of months away from the October release of Fatal Masquerade, but today I can finally share with all of you what Vivian sent to me last week.

Are you ready???

Are you sure???

How gorgeous is that cover?

I saw it and immediately started to freak out.

Whoever HQ Digital has doing the covers for this series definitely deserves all the kudos for this one. There is absolutely nothing I would change and it makes me want October to get here even faster! (Even the missing Jake is okay since he's never been on a cover. Maybe though .... just a glimpse at some point? Please???)

Pre-Order Available at: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play

If You Could See Me Now by Keris Stainton (Book Beginnings & Friday 56)

I know .... I'm supposedly on a self-imposed ban of sappy .... but I couldn't help myself with this one once I went to see what the 56% would have. After all, I don't necessarily have to read something to tease it, right? 

And then the strangest thing happened.

I wanted to sap.

Without knowing anything about who he is or who she is? The quote I pulled for the Friday 56 was enough to make me want to dive into Keris Stainton's If You Could See Me Now head first. I just wish I had made the decision a few hours earlier because I'm so incredibly anxious to see where it's all going and likely won't be willing to sleep until it's finished. 

It's that good.

No ... it's not good ... it's splendiferous. It's everything that I've needed without realizing it. It's making me sap again.

As always, Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings is at Rose City Reader. 

This week my "56" comes from the 56% mark of the ebook.

Crazy Stupid Love by Cassie Rocca (Tuesday Intro & Teaser Tuesday)

As per usual, "First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" from Bibliophile by the Sea is on vacation ... but I'm used to doing these two together so I'm just going to stick with it. "Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read. I know I have more than a line or two. Be impressed I didn't just screenshot the whole page to post.

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Crazy Stupid Love is Cassie Rocca's follow-up to A New York Love Story, which I read back in December.  This time the main focus is on Clover's friend Zoe ... but for me it was really more about her best friend Eric. It's a classic unrequited love story.
He's loved her forever.
She's pretty oblivious.
Been there, done that ... may actually be doing it now.
It was quite similar in general feel and pacing to ANYLS, and I got to see Clover and Cade again which was awesome ... but I couldn't find myself as into this one. Maybe it hit a little too close to home with the Eric similarities while also feeling a little too "yeah ... right ... never going to happen" all at the same time.
I think maybe I'll go back to serial killers for a while.