Book Review - City Spies by James Ponti + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Sara Martinez is a hacker who hacked into the foster care system to expose the crimes of her foster parents. Instead of being thanked for exposing the fraud, she finds herself spending time in a juvenile detention facility along with being banned from using the computer.  Mother is a British spy that offers Sara a haven to practice her hacking skills by working with the M16 agency.

The five kids who were recruited from across the globe are now based at the M16 in Scotland. When they are not in school, they are working on developing their unique skills such as hacking, sleight of hand and explosives. This will help them become better spies in the world of espionage. Sara was bought into the team before she was able to be trained. Along with her four teammates, Sara will need to stop a villain along with managing the complex dynamics of her team.

I thought the book was a fun read. I like that the author included a diverse cast of characters. I enjoyed reading the background on each character and how they overcame difficult situations. Young readers will enjoy following along with the characters as they solve crimes while learning about themselves.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

About The Book:

Title: CITY SPIES

Author: James Ponti

Pub. Date: March 10, 2020

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

In this new series James Ponti brings together five kids from all over the world and transforms them into real-life spies.

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sarah is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

No one said saving the world was easy…

About James:

James Ponti was born in Italy, raised in Florida, and went to college in California. After receiving a degree in screenwriting from the USC Film School, he began a career writing and producing television shows for the likes of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, Spike TV, History Channel, and Golf Channel. James loves writing, travel, and the Boston Red Sox. He lives with his family in Maitland, Florida.

Photo by Elena Seibert Photography.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Three lucky winners will receive a finished copy of CITY SPIES, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21059/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/2/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
3/3/2020	BookHounds YA	Review
3/4/2020	Book-Keeping	Review
3/5/2020	Nay's Pink Bookshelf	Review
3/6/2020	YA Book Nerd	Review

Week Two:

3/9/2020	Wonder Struck	Review
3/10/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
3/11/2020	momfluenster	Review
3/12/2020	Two Points of interest	Review
3/13/2020	Savings in Seconds	Review

Book Review - One Little Lie by Colleen Coble + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Jane Hardy is promoted to the new Chief of police in Pelican Harbor, Alabama after her father's sudden retirement. Jane barely has time to catch her breath when her father is arrested for theft and implicated in a murder. As Jane begins to investigate the wave of crime, she realizes that someone is after her family and they will stop at nothing to make sure that she and her father pay.

Jane and her father left a cult fifteen years ago but, Jane still searches for her mother who refused to leave with them. Reid Bechtol is a well-known investigating journalist who produces documentaries. His latest project is covering Jane's career. Jane is the first female Chief and she doesn't want to be the subject of his documentaries but, the committee who appointed her loves the idea.  Jane finds herself leaning on Reid but, Reid is trying to keep distance between them because of a secret. Will Jane be able to find out the truth while they work together to help prove her father's innocence?

 I have read a few of the author's books and enjoyed them. While the novel is the first book in the series, I felt like there were portions of the story that could have been more detailed. The plot was predictable but, had a few surprises. While I did enjoy the book, I felt like a lot was going on and felt like I was getting pummeled with details. For example, the part where seemingly out of nowhere Jane goes off to search for her mother during the middle of a murder investigation. I believe the author is trying to build the story for the next book but, I would have preferred if the book stayed more focused.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

One Little Lie
(Pelican Harbor #1)
By Colleen Coble
Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
March 3rd 2020 by Thomas Nelson

It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.

Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there's no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she's facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.

After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?

Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane's career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.

Jane finds herself depending on Reid's calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.

Praise for the Book

“Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride.” —Diann Mills, bestselling author

"Colleen Coble once again proves she is at the pinnacle of Christian romantic suspense. Filled with characters you'll come to love, faith lost and found, and scenes that will have you holding your breath, Jane Hardy's story deftly follows the complex and tangled web that can be woven by one little lie.' —Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Target | Christianbook | TNZFiction

About the Author

Colleen Coble is a USA TODAY bestselling author and RITA finalist best known for her coastal romantic suspense novels, including The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, and the Lavender Tides, Sunset Cove, Hope Beach, and Rock Harbor series.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble (US only)

Ends March 25, 2020

ENTER HERE

Book Review - Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White

Photo Credit - Amazon

Shannon Blaine sets off her a morning jog near her home in Lake George, NY, one sunny day during late September. Shannon runs the same rural road every day but, this day she never returns home.  Bailey Weggins is a true-crime writer and reporter. She receives an assignment from the website Crime Beat and heads north to report on the young mother's disappearance. While searching for leads, Bailey receives a call from the murderer that leads to a shocking discovery. As Bailey starts to dig deeper into the case, she realizes everyone has secrets but, how far will someone keep theirs?

I thought the novel was easy to read and kept me hooked until the ending. I wasn't a fan of the ending and thought it felt like rushed especially, with the suspense build-up. The middle of the novel had a bit of fluff and it picked up towards the end. This was my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Let's Dance by David Bowie

Photo Credit - Amazon

The illustrated children's book embraces the spirit and mood of dancing through the iconic musician David Bowie's music. The book adapts the lyrics to "Let's Dance" for young fans along with including whimsical artwork. I don't listen to David Bowie and can't name a single song from him. I am not saying I hate his work just that I do not know his work. I felt like fans of the song would like this book more because I felt like the book was boring and had no point. The lyrics were repeated and I felt the artwork of people just dancing got redundant after page 5. I did like that the illustrations were inclusive.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Killing Fog (The Grave Kingdom, #1) by Jeff Wheeler + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Bingmei becomes an orphan after she watched her family being murdered in front of her. She becomes the sole member of a once-thriving combat school. Bingmei joins a band of mercenaries that work for a local king to search for magical relics. Their recent assignment for Bingmei and her team is to travel to the wilderness to retrieve treasures from an ancient palace that is buried under a glacier valley. As the adventurers dwell deeper into the palace, they realize that trespassing the vault might come with deadly consequences.

The emperor of the Grave Kingdom and ruler of darkness has been lying in slumber waiting for the phoenix. Now that Bingmei and her friends awakened him, they are afraid of the legendary prophecy that is about to unfold.  Bingmei is thrust into the role of being a savior and it's a role that she isn't prepared for or wants. But as the fate of her friends and the world lies in her hands, will she be able to stop the prophecy?

The novel had generous world-building details that informed but, didn't overwhelmed the reader. I did wish that them unleashing the curse happened sooner and the novel didn't leave off in a cliffhanger. As this is the first novel in the series, I hope we don't find out until the last book whether or not the main character succeeds in defeating the emperor.  I did like the bond between one of the characters but, I am torn on the main character. She is portrayed as a strong fearless leader but, when we learn about her true feelings, I feel conflicted. Overall, the book is an interesting read and I look forward to seeing how the series ends.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Print Length: 404 pages
Publisher: 47North (March 1, 2020)
Publication Date: March 1, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07RJQPB63

Praise for THE KILLING FOG

“Wheeler (Broken Veil) opens the Grave Kingdom series with this winding tale of valor and sacrifice, set in a realm where using magic summons a heavy fog that kills every living thing it touches. [T]he threat of the fog looming in the background adds atmosphere and tension…This excellent introduction to the prolific Wheeler’s work will appeal to fans of Asian-influenced fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly

The Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain series conjures an epic, adventurous world of ancient myth and magic as a young woman’s battle with infinite evil begins.

Survivor of a combat school, the orphaned Bingmei belongs to a band of mercenaries employed by a local ruler. Now the nobleman, and collector of rare artifacts, has entrusted Bingmei and the skilled team with a treacherous assignment: brave the wilderness’s dangers to retrieve the treasures of a lost palace buried in a glacier valley. But upsetting its tombs has a price.

Echion, emperor of the Grave Kingdom, ruler of darkness, Dragon of Night, has long been entombed. Now Bingmei has unwittingly awakened him and is answerable to a legendary prophecy. Destroying the dark lord before he reclaims the kingdoms of the living is her inherited mission. Killing Bingmei before she fulfills it is Echion’s.

Thrust unprepared into the role of savior, urged on by a renegade prince, and possessing a magic that is her destiny, Bingmei knows what she must do. But what must she risk to honor her ancestors? Bingmei’s fateful choice is one that neither her friends nor her enemies can foretell, as Echion’s dark war for control unfolds.

You can purchase The Killing Fog at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Jeff Wheeler

Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains. His books have been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list 5 times (for The Thief’s Daughter, The King’s Traitor, The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and Prism Cloud) and have sold more than 4 million copies. His novels have also been published or will be published in many languages: Italian, Chinese, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Russian, and German.

He is also the founder of Deep Magic: the E-zine of Clean Fantasy and Science Fiction (www.deepmagic.co), a quarterly e-zine featuring amazing short stories, novellas, and sample chapters.

You can usually find Jeff at Emerald City Comic Con, New York Comic Con or at writers conferences.

He welcomes hearing from readers: jgwheels /at/ gmail dot com

If you are interested in purchasing signed copies of his books for friends, family, or your own collection, please e-mail: WOJWbooks /at/ gmail dot com

      

WEEK ONE

FEBRUARY 24th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 24th MONDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY TMBA Corbett INTERVIEW 

FEBRUARY 27th THURSDAY Life Within The Pages REVIEW

FEBRUARY 27th THURSDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

FEBRUARY 28th FRIDAY Wishful Endings INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 28th FRIDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

WEEK TWO

MARCH 2nd MONDAY BookHounds INTERVIEW 

MARCH 3rd TUESDAY Book Queen Reviews REVIEW

MARCH 3rd TUESDAY Fundinmental EXCERPT

MARCH 4th WEDNESDAY Have Coffee Need Books REVIEW

MARCH 4th WEDNESDAY Port Jericho REVIEW

MARCH 5th THURSDAY Book Briefs REVIEW

MARCH 5th THURSDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW

MARCH 6th FRIDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW 

MARCH 6th FRIDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Book Review - Blame the Dead by Ed Ruggero + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Eddie Harkins is a Military Police lieutenant during World War II in Sicily. Eddie was a cop in Philadelphia when he decided to enlist.  On his way back to base, Eddie and his driver are flagged down to help solve a murder at the US Army's 11th Field Hospital. Eddie has to solve the murder of Dr. Stephenson and who would want him dead. Eddie and his childhood friend, nurse Kathleen Donnelly, will need to work together to solve the mystery.

The novel was an engaging and thrilling read. The author included vivid details of the atmosphere along with capturing the chaos and mayhem on the battlefield. However, there were a few times when I felt like the author went too much in details and the story took to long to progress. I am interested in reading other books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Forge Books (March 3, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250312744
ISBN-13: 978-1250312747

Praise for BLAME THE DEAD

“The title of this riveting, finely crafted novel may be Blame the Dead, but I blame author Ed Ruggero--for keeping me up at night, reading "just one more" chapter then another and another. Whether your interests lie in a well-wrought mystery, a classic cop story, historical settings or first-rate military fiction, this thoroughly enjoyable novel set during World War II checks the block. Great pacing, compelling characters, solid research and a fiendishly clever plot add up to non-stop reading excitement.” ―Ralph Peters, author of Cain at Gettysburg and Judgment at Appomattox

“This book is a lot of fun, written with an insider's feel for the U.S. Army and its history.” ―Thomas E. Ricks, author of The Generals and Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq

“Ruggero's story sets itself apart with the vividly rendered field-hospital setting and the focus on the battle-hardened nurses. A solid choice for WWII-thriller fans.” ―Booklist

“At the start of this exceptional WWII mystery and series launch, Lt. Eddie Harkins, an MP who was once a Philadelphia beat cop, comes across a murder scene near Palermo, Sicily.... Ruggero plays fair with his readers and makes the carrying out of a homicide inquiry in wartime both exciting and plausible.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Ruggero uses his military expertise to create a vivid and unconventional setting for a murder mystery, crafting an intriguing quagmire of institutional corruption to challenge his everyman hero.” ―Library Journal

The nurses of the US Army's Field Hospitals, mobile units that operate just behind the battle lines, contend with heat, dirt, short-handed staffs, the threat of German counterattack and an ever-present flood of horribly wounded GIs. At the 11th Field Hospital near Palermo, Sicily in the bloody summer of 1943, nurses also live with the threat of violent assault by one of their own--at least until someone shoots Dr. Myers Stephenson in the head.

Enter Eddie Harkins, a tough former Philadelphia beat cop turned Military Police lieutenant, who is first on the scene. Although he has never been a detective, Harkins soon finds himself the lone investigator, either because the Military Police are under-staffed or because someone in power thinks this rank amateur will never get close to the real killer. When the hospital commander tries to derail Harkins' investigation by transferring or harassing key witnesses, it becomes clear to Harkins that the unit is rotten to its core, that the nurses are not safe, and that patients who have survived Nazi bullets are still at risk after they arrive at this place that is supposed to save them.

Harkins fights--and worries that he is losing--multiple battles. He is driven to give hope to nurses who just want to do their life-saving work, to right at least a few of the wrongs around him, and to do penance for sins in his own past. The one bright note for Harkins is a rekindled relationship with Kathleen Donnelly, a nurse from Harkins' old neighborhood; but even that is complicated when Donnelly becomes a victim.

You can purchase Blame the Dead at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Ed Ruggero

Ed Ruggero has studied, practiced, and taught leadership for more than twenty-five years, helping organizations develop the kinds of leaders people want to follow. His client list includes the FBI, the New York City Police Department, CEO Conference Europe, the CIA, the Young Presidents Organization, Forbes, the SAS Institute, Hugo Boss USA, CitiFinancial, and Time, among many others. He has appeared on CNN, The History Channel, the Discovery Channel, and CNBC and has spoken to audiences around the world on leadership, leader development and ethics. Ed is a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company and has been a panelist for The Washington Post’s On Leadership series. He also has been a guest speaker at Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Ed is the author of eleven books, including Duty First: West Point and the Making of American Leaders, a study of leader development at the US Military Academy; and Combat Jump: The Young Men Who Led the Assault Into Fortress Europe, July 1943, which became a one-hour docudrama on The History Channel. Ed is also the co-author of The Leader’s Compass, a fictional story of how one leader developed a personal leadership philosophy. His most recent book is The First Men In: US Paratroopers and the Fight to Save D-Day.

After his graduation from West Point, Ed received his commission in the United States Army and served as an infantry officer in a variety of leadership positions, followed by an assignment teaching at West Point. After his service, Ed continued to share his insights about leadership, leading to his career as an author, public speaker, and trainer.

Ed is the founder and principal of The Gettysburg Leadership Experience, The Concord Leadership Experience, The Valley Forge Leadership Experience and the Normandy Leadership Experience, four distinct experiential learning programs in which participants walk the grounds of great military struggles and learn battle-tested leadership lessons that will help them meet today’s business challenges.

        

WEEK ONE

MARCH 2nd MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

MARCH 3rd TUESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

MARCH 4th WEDNESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

MARCH 5th THURSDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

MARCH 5th THURSDAY TTC Books and More EXCERPT

MARCH 6th FRIDAY BookHounds INTERVIEW 

WEEK TWO

MARCH 9th MONDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

MARCH 10th TUESDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

MARCH 11th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW

MARCH 12th THURSDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW

MARCH 12th THURSDAY Zenithmeridian REVIEW 

MARCH 13th FRIDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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