Book Review - Sneaking Out (The Chased Series) by Chuck Vance + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Luke Chase is a modern day hero who managed to escape when he was held hostage by utilizing several survival tactics. When he was sent to St. Benedict's prep school, he was hoping to leave that all behind him and have a normal life, including hooking up with hot girls. He, however, didn't expect to get caught up in a murder investigation especially when his roommate is accused of murder. Luke will have to use his famous survival skills to outwit the murderer and bring him/her to justice. Who is behind the murder? Why would they try to kill someone from the school? Is someone from Luke's past trying to hurt him?

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. The plot was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time along with being surprised by the ending. I liked how well developed the characters were even though I felt some of the characters were a bit too trusting. If I was in Luke's position, I would consider everyone a murderer and stay very far from them! I definitely can't wait to read more books from these amazing series!

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Title: SNEAKING OUT

Author: Chuck Vance

Pub. Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: Dunemere Books

Pages: 404

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, B&N, TBD, Goodreads

Could you sleep next to a murderer?

Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.

For fans of “A Study in Charlotte” and boarding school lit, “Sneaking Out” (book one in the “Chased” series) immerses readers in the privileged prep school world, with a mystery that exposes the dark side of life on a residential high school campus. 

About Chuck:

Chuck Vance is a pseudonym for a bestselling writer of both adult mysteries and novels for young adults. Vance attended boarding school in Connecticut and graduated from Columbia University. Vance has lived in New York, Moscow, London, Paris and Los Angeles and is frequently on the move.

Website | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of SNEAKING OUT & a $30 Amazon GC, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/26/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview

3/26/2018- Bookish In Bed- Review

3/27/2018- Christen Krumm- Guest Post

3/27/2018- Between the Pages- Review

3/28/2018- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

3/28/2018- Twirling Book Princess- Excerpt

3/29/2018- Crandom- Interview

3/29/2018- Blushing Bibliophile- Review

3/30/2018- Novel Novice- Guest Post

3/30/2018- two points of interest- Review

 

Book Review - A Flute in the Willows by Carole Brown

Photo Credit - Amazon

Jerry Patterson has a mission to protect his country regardless of what he has to do. When task to infiltrate a high ranking German household by wooing the sister, it seemed like a piece of cake. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem for Jerry but being that he's married and madly in love with his wife, it poses a few guilt fueled problems for him. However, after completing his mission he is injured and fears that his wife deserves someone who isn't "broken". While trying to acclimate to being back home,  he notices someone from his mission who has a malicious grudge against him following his family. Why is this person after Jerry? Will Jerry be able to work on his marriage with Josie?

I enjoyed the first half of the novel but towards the middle of the novel, I felt that the story dragged on. I wasn't sure why someone who is plotting revenge against someone was taking so long to do so, especially since his hatred seemed so deep seeded. There were a few parts of the story that felt convoluted and out of place. For example, one character was told a secret in front of two characters who wanted to hurt the first character but it didn't make sense why they would do it that way since it seemed very childish and gimmicky. It was an interesting story line which was a bit slow moving but I would read future works by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

About the Book

Book Title: A Flute in the Willows
Author: Carole Brown
Genre: Historical, Romantic Suspense
Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other’s love…and keep the German enemy at bay.
She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she’s scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?
Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamourous life…especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife’s life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can’t stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.
These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their ownselves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away a grand prize of a canvas flowered/musical tote, a pink “All Things are Possible journal, and a copy of A Flute in the Willows (winners choice of print or ebook)!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c9e2

Book Review - The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

In this third novel, the FIGs are living separate lives after leaving the Rosewood Academy.  Dara is studying obsolete languages at Yale, Mackenzie is attending MIT and Jennifer was accepted to Juilliard and occasionally performs her sold out performances. After returning from NYC, where Dara learned about her birth mother, Mackenzie also wanted to find out more about her parents. However, afraid that she will find disappointment she asks Larry to investigate in secret.  When Dara and Mackenzie are both invited to China for different reasons, they find that their paths cross but for very deadly reasons. It seems someone knows the true identity of Mackenzie's parents and won't stop at anything to keep it a secret. Who is trying to keep Mackenzie from knowing the truth?

Even though this is the third book in the series, it can be read alone or together. I found it to be cohesive to read in order but the author supplies an in-depth summary of the previous books. Personally, I found the third book to be my favorite out of the three novels even though, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed especially the parts where they find out who Mackenzie's parents are. I feel like that author could have spent less time on building up the story and the summary since the ending was a  bit predictable and rushed. I like that the author bought up interesting facts like red dandelions, but I wished she went into more details with them.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category:  YA Fiction,  208 pages
Genre:   Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher:  Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date:  February 2018
Format available for review:  print & ebook (PDF or gifted Kindle copy)
Will send print books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)

Book Description:

Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.

Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.

Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.

The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.

​Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.

​Buy The Clock Flower:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Add to Goodreads

​ Meet the Author:
​
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author: Website

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Wish Rider by Barbara Casey + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

When Dara Roux was seven years old, her mother took her to a candy store and left her there. She was sent to live at an orphanage where she met two other young women who were classified as geniuses like Dara. Together with their teacher, Carolina Lovel, the quartet travel to New York City to locate Dara's mother. While on their journey, they realize that not everything is what it seems as they keep digging into something sinister. What happened to Dara's mother? Why is she in NYC?

This was the second novel of the FIG series and it can be read as a standalone novel. I felt like this second novel was a bit of a disappointment as majority of the novel was spent giving readers a summary of the first book along with the information being repeated several times.I also didn't like that some parts of the story was literally word from word taken from the first book. I found the characters to be a bit annoying that they kept repeating that they are genius and how they know everything. For example, they never went to New York City, but they act like they know directions better than an NYC cab driver but when it comes to utilizing a telecom system, they leave it to Jennifer to use since she went to NYC when she was younger. I felt like the majority of the book was either fluff material or a summary and the final few pages were dedicated to the overly simplistic plot.  

The Wish Rider: Book 2 of the F.I.G. Mysteries

​Book Details:

Book Title:  The Wish Rider (Book 2 of The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey
Category:  YA Fiction, 160 pages
Genre: Literary / Mystery
Publisher:  Gauthier Publications
Release date:  May 10, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13

Book Description:

Seventeen-year-old Dara Roux and her two best friends, Mackenzie Yarborough and Jennifer Torres, the three collectively referred to as the F.I.G.'s (Females of Intellectual Genius) because each has an intelligence quotient in the genius range, have just returned from Frascati, Italy. It was there that their much loved teacher and mentor, Carolina Lovel, discovered that her birth parents were gypsies, and that she had a connection to the Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious document in the world.

Now, with graduation from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women behind them, Dara asks her friends to help her locate her birth mother when she learns that she might be living in New York City. Relying on Dara’s gift for speaking and understanding foreign languages, the black and white images that stir musical cadences in Jennifer’s mind, and Mackenzie’s mathematical calculations that normally provide numerical solutions and answers to life’s most difficult questions, the determined young women tirelessly go from one address to another in search of Dara’s mother.

Their determination turns to desperation, however, as they encounter a dark hidden society more dangerous and terrifying than they could have imagined. It is there that Dara hopes to find out why she was abandoned in a candy store all those years ago.

​Buy The Clock Flower: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~  Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:
​ Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author: Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - How to Walk Away: A Novel by Katherine Center

Photo Credit - Amazon

Margaret Jacobsen has always been afraid of flying but when her dreamy pilot to be boyfriend promises to take her on a trip she won't ever forget; she hesitantly agrees. Margaret has the picture perfect life with a dreamy boyfriend who proposed to her during their flight and her dream job lined up. However, everything she worked so hard for is in jeopardy when an unfortunate accident occurs.

While in the hospital trying to recover, Maggie must come to terms that her life will never be the same as it once was. Her fiancé, Chip is reluctant to visit but he wants Maggie to forgive him without putting in the effort. And then her older estranged sister, Kit who disappeared from Maggie's life for three years.  When Maggie only wants to wallow in self-pity, she paired with a tough as nails physical therapist, Ian who refuses to let her give anything else than 100% during her therapy. Is Ian the thing that Maggie needs the most but refuses to acknowledge? Why did Kit and Maggie have a fallout? Can someone love when they are at their most vulnerable?

The novel was an interesting and delicious read about perseverance, happiness, and tough love. Each of the book's characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional while continuously grow. I found that Maggie was an inspiration point that she didn't help her accident define who she is along with being the bigger person and understanding that everyone had faults. There were parts of the novel, I was shaking my head and yelling that Maggie could do better but I still find this novel enjoyable. A great read for an upcoming beach day!

Book Review - The Cadence of Gypsies by Barbara Casey + Giveaway

Photo Source - Amazon

Carolina Lovel knew that she never quite fit in with her parents. When she receives a letter on her eighteenth birthday that she was adopted she kind of expected it.  The letter was written in an unknown language and has answers surrounding her birth and her family. Carolina decides that she would take  her three intelligent and gift students with her to discover more about her past. Will Carolina and her students be able to decipher the note?

The novel had an interesting premise and was fun to read. I found the four main female characters to be lovable and well-developed. However, I found that the story was more of a cozy read than a thriller or action packed that I thought it would have been. I felt like a lot of the mysteries and answers just fell into the protagonists' lap and there wasn't much mystery or action. I also appreciate how the author weaved in historical facts but I was dismayed that she referred to the Hindu people as "Hindoo" and alternated the spelling of "Sanskrit". If one is going to use a culture and religion, please make sure to use it correctly.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

The Cadence of Gypsies: Book 1 of the F.I.G. Mysteries

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Cadence of Gypsies (Book 1 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)by Barbara Casey
Category:  YA fiction,  272 pages
Genre:  Literary/Mystery
Publisher:  Gauthier Publications/Hungry Goat Press
Release date: April 2015 (e-Book)
​Content Rating:  PG-13 (A few expletives, mild sexual innuendo)

​Book Description:

On her 18th birthday Carolina Lovel learned that she was adopted and was given a letter written by her birth mother in an unknown language. After years of research she travels to Italy on a mission to find the truth about her past. Carolina is accompanied by three extremely gifted but mischievous students the FIGs from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women. In an effort to help their favorite teacher, the FIGs will have to use their special abilities to decipher the Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious document in the world, and the one thing that is strangely similar to what Carolina was given. Their search will take them into the mystical world of gypsy tradition and magic, more exciting and dangerous than any of them could have imagined.


Meet the Author:
​
Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book, Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author: Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - His Risk (The Amish of Hart County #4) by Shelley Shepard Gray

Photo Credit - Amazon

Calvin Fisher left his Amish community at the tender age of fourteen after having a problematic relationship with his family. Calvin only returned to Hart County because his beloved brother, Mark has fallen ill. As Calvin works to make amends for his troubled past and questionable job, he crosses path with a sheltered local nursery school teacher, Alice Yoder. Alice is wary of Calvin because of his questionable past, but she can't help feeling an attraction to him. Although Calvin assures Alice that he is worthy of her friendship, she can't help to feel conflicted. Will Calvin be able to tell his family why he is working in a gang? Will Alice be able to trust Calvin only has her best interest at heart?

I have read a few of Gray's books and loved each novel because each one had a surprise element. However, I felt like this novel fell short and lacked excitement. The person who causing all of the trouble was very obvious even though there were two people of interest. I did like how Gray humanized and showed each characters' struggling between doing what is right and following their hearts. Fans of Gray's work would be happy to know this novel has recurring characters.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Nivea Extended Moisture Body Lotion

The creamy lotion is enriched with provitamin B5 and patent Hydra IQ technology (all hail, Hydra!). The non-greasy lotion is free of artificial colors and animal ingredients.  The lotion was absorbed quickly and left my skin velvety but I noticed my dry skin come back the next day.