Excerpt & Giveaway: Power Struggle by Carolyn Arnold

Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Bea Reviews Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox

Series: A Pancake House Mystery #3
Publisher: Alibi
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 7th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Kobo  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble * affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Lights. Camera. Murder? Wildwood Cove’s star turn is soured by a sneaky killer in this delicious cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of The Crêpes of Wrath.

Bonus content: includes original recipes inspired by the Flip Side Pancake House menu!

With a Hollywood film crew in town to shoot a remake of the horror classic The Perishing, the residents of Wildwood Cove are all abuzz. Even Marley McKinney, owner of The Flip Side Pancake House, can overlook the fact that the lead actress, Alyssa Jayde, happens to be an old flame of her boyfriend. After all, the crew loves Marley’s crêpes—so much so that Christine, the head makeup artist, invites her onset for a behind-the-scenes tour. But when Marley arrives, the special-effects trailer is on fire . . . with Christine inside.

The cops quickly rule Christine’s death a murder, and Alyssa a suspect. Marley’s boyfriend insists that the actress is innocent, but when Marley sticks her nose into the complicated lives of The Perishing’s cast and crew, she discovers more questions than answers. It seems that everyone has a hidden agenda—and a plausible motive. And as the horror spills over from the silver screen, Marley gets a funny feeling that she may be the killer’s next victim.

Make Every Child a Reader this #GivingTuesday, November 28th

Last week I shared a post about First Book and Chronicle Books donating books to children this holiday season. Today I want to share how you can help children get books via another organization, Every Child a Reader.

Every Child A Reader is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading in children and teens across America. They support all those who inspire children and teens to enjoy reading— parents, educators, librarians and booksellers across America — year-round as well as through their popular and long-running national programs which include Children's Book Week (every year I review only children's books on the blog during that week), Children's & Teen Choice Book Awards, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, the Reading Without Walls Challenge, and the Anna Dewdney Read Together Award. Every Child A Reader works to connect young children and teens with books that they love and create lifelong readers. They aim to give children books that reflect their world.

Every Child A Reader reaches out to schools, libraries, and communities across the US. Every little bit of support helps in furthering their mission and reaching children in all walks of life.

Want to help? Donate directly, any time during the year and not just at the holidays, at http://everychildareader.net/donate/ Then spread the word and share this campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues. Use #GivingTuesday and #MakeEveryChildaReader in your social media posts and link to the url: http://everychildareader.net/donate/

Every little bit will help, and a donation of $20 will help:

Ship children's books to a health clinic (Every child who comes in for a check-up gets a free book from Every Child a Reader)

Print and mail  word puzzles and draw-your-own story pages to 10 rural and urban schools and libraries across America.

Produce online and downloadable voting ballots for our 4 book prizes, the only national awards voting on only by kids and teens. 

BUY A BOOK, GIVE A BOOK Campaign Update:

I got an email from Chronicle Books concerning their campaign -

This weekend, for every book you buy on our website, we'll donate three to a child in need through our non-profit partner First Book.

And don't forget our Friends + Family sale, get 35% off with free ground shipping on everything with code GIVEBOOKS

Now, go share your love of books with a child! 

Bea Reviews Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander

Series: A Sloan Krause Mystery #1
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 3rd, 2017 
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

When Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, screwing the barmaid, she gives him the boot. Sloan has spent her life in Leavenworth, Washington becoming an expert in brewing craft beer, and she doesn’t have time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband. She decides to strike out on her own, breaking away from the Krause family brewery, and goes to work for Nitro, the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian-themed town. Nitro’s owner, brewmaster Garrett Strong, has the brew-world abuzz with his newest recipe, “Pucker-Up IPA.” This place is the new cool place in town, and Mac can’t help but be green with envy at their success.

But just as Sloan is settling in to her new gig, she finds one of Nitro’s competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for the IPA. When Mac is arrested, Sloan knows that her ex might be a cheater, but a murderer? No way. Danger is brewing in Beervaria and suddenly Sloan is on the case.

Bea Reviews Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

Series: Rolling in the Deep #1
Publisher: Orbit
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves.

But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone celebrating today has a wonderful day, whether you are spending it at home or away, by yourself or with family or friends. May your day be full of good food, good company, good books, and joy. For everyone not celebrating, may your day be joyful and full of books. And everyone take a moment to think about what you are thankful for. I'm thankful for my family and friends both near and far, a safe and warm place to live, reasonably good health, my collection of books, this blog and its readers, and the luxury of having a pet, my boy Claude.

Happy Thanksgiving from Bea and Claude!

Jax and Steph Review Flame in the Dark by Faith Hunter, with Special Bonus Short Story and Giveaway

Series:  FLAME IN THE DARK (Soulwood #3)

Publisher: Ace/Roc

Source: pr firm in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: December 5, 2017

Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble

* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Nell Ingram has always known she was different. Since she was a child, she’s been able to feel and channel ancient powers from deep within the earth. When she met Jane Yellowrock, her entire life changed, and she was recruited into PsyLED—the Homeland Security division that polices paranormals. But now her newly formed unit is about to take on its toughest case yet.

A powerful senator barely survives an assassination attempt that leaves many others dead—and the house he was visiting burns to the ground. Invisible to security cameras, the assassin literally disappears, and Nell’s team is called in. As they track a killer they know is more—or less—than human, they unravel a web of dark intrigue and malevolent motives that tests them to their limits and beyond.

2018 Nora Roberts/JD Robb Book Schedule

Nora Roberts has released her book schedule for next year, including new books and reprints, for both of her author identities. ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. The source for the schedule and image is Nora's newsletter.