Book Review: Rattlesnake Road by Amanda McKinney

 Rattlesnake Road

by

Amanda McKinney

 

A Small Town Mystery Romance

 

Everyone hits rock bottom, only the brave escape.

 

Publisher:  HH Tisevich

Publication date: 4th May 2021

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Pages: 419

Kindle price : $7.69AUD 

Format read: eBook

Source: Netgalley

 

About the book

 

Welcome to 1314 Rattlesnake Road.

A quaint two-bedroom log cabin nestled deep in the woods of the small, southern town of Berry Springs—the perfect hideaway to escape your past.

Tucked inside thick, mahogany walls lay mysterious letters, forgotten and untouched for decades. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame breathtaking views of jagged cliffs, deep valleys, and endless lies. Mature oak trees, tall enough to touch the clouds, carry the whispers of the haunted, of stories untold

Inside sits Grey Dalton, emotionally battered and bruised, her only wish to pick up the broken pieces of her life. But outside, await two men, one a tattooed cowboy, the other a dashing businessman.

One will steal her heart, the other, her soul.  

 

My review

 

A story of having to hit rock bottom before you can climb your way back.

 

Grey's life has spiraled out of control. After suffering a miscarriage and getting fired after a drunken outburst at work Grey starts to re-evaluate her life and her first step is to leave her cheating husband and her luxury life behind. She buys a rundown log cabin nestled deep in the woods in the small southern town of Berry Springs.

 

Rattlesnake Road is my first read by Amanda McKinney and I love her biting prose. Grey Dalton's character is fantastic; sarcastic and funny, I was drawn into her life and wanted her to succeed, anxious over her set backs

 

With two love interests introduced, one promising her the life she had left behind but the one she was used to and attracted to whilst the other offered her a new beginning where she would have to come to terms with her inner turmoil.  

 

Amanda McKinney has not only written a great angsty romance the story is filled with topical issues such as; domestic abuse, self harm, alcoholism and mental illness. It did at times become quite dark and disturbing.

Through a ghost with unfinished business Grey becomes inadvertently involved in a 30 year old murder mystery.

 

Rattlesnake Road had me glued to the pages, there was plenty of fun banter between the characters, a bit of harmless snark that kept me laughing, a great twist that had my heart racing and one swoon worthy male that melted my heart.

 

If you love new beginnings Rattlesnake Road is worth a read. 

 

4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Photo credit Goodreads

Amanda McKinney is the #1 bestselling and multi-award-winning author of more than fifteen small-town romantic suspense and mystery novels. She wrote her debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY in 2017, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. Her books include the bestselling series, STEELE SHADOWS SECURITY, the multi-award-winning BERRY SPRINGS series, BLACK ROSE MYSTERIES, and many more to come.

Set in small, Southern towns, Amanda’s books are page-turning murder mysteries peppered with steamy romance. She lives in Arkansas with her handsome husband, two beautiful boys, and three obnoxious dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Gift of Diamonds by Roberta Seret

Gift of Diamonds

by

Roberta Seret Ph.D.

 

 

Publisher:  Wayzgoose Press 

Publication date: 23rd February 2021

Series: Transylvanian Trilogy #1

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 324

Format read: paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Smith Publicity 

 

About the book

 

Seventeen-year-old Mica is an aspiring actress living with her parents in Romania as Nicolae Ceausescu begins his reign of terror. Her parents are covertly political and influential, which makes them a perfect target for the Secret Police. When they're arrested, Mica flees the country with her father’s rare—and possibly cursed—diamonds. With her parents imprisoned, it’s up to Mica to investigate Ceausescu, his business partners, and their plot for nuclear terrorism.

Will revealing the truth to the world finally bring her the peace she seeks?

 

My review

 

Gift of Diamonds is set in Romania under the dictatorship of Ceausescu. Roberta Seret has fused fact and fiction to pen a story that is both devastating and hopeful.

 

The Transylvanian Trilogy has four main characters. Four teenaged girls, inseparable, dubbed the four musketeers. Book1, Gift of Diamonds, gives us Mica's story. Seventeen-year-old Mica is intelligent, a gifted actress. She has grown up listening to her father's stories of freedom and a better life. Her father and friends were plotting an anti-communist rebellion. These were dangerous times.

One night her parents disappear and Mica must put all she has learnt into action.

Gift of Diamonds is a wonderful read, both informative and entertaining. The main character, Mica, is well developed and likeable. I enjoyed her story and wanted her to succeed. She was strong willed and intelligent but also had a vulnerability about her.

I know nothing about Romanian history and I found the political infused chapters were not overly described or complicated which made my reading more enjoyable. (I'm sadly not a history buff)

Mica's motivation to move forward was the drive to free her parents from Romania and she never gave up. There were many pitfalls and the path to freedom wasn't easy. 

The bad times were moved over quickly and the concentration on happier events made the story easier to read. These were desperate times and the story could have been a lot more depressing. However, Roberta Seret used hope rather than despair to move the story along.

 

The information on the diamonds was fascinating, mixing history and tragedy through the story of the diamonds travels causing them to be labelled as cursed. 

Gift of Diamonds is a highly engaging Historical Fiction infused with political intrigue.

4 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Photo credit: Wayzgoose Press

Roberta Seret, Ph.D. is the founder and executive director of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at United Nations, International Cinema Education Organization and the Director of ESL and Film for the Hospitality Committee of the United Nations. She is an adjunct instructor at New York University in English and has published various articles in film review for the Journal of International Criminal Justice and Oxford University Press. Her work in the United Nations Global Classroom has been praised by various influential Americans, including Michelle Obama, Mike Bloomberg, and Caroline Kennedy. The Transylvanian Trilogy is her first fiction series. She resides in New York City with her husband, and has two sons.

Challenges entered: Historical Fiction Challenge #HistFicReadingChallenge

 

 

Book Review: Something to Hide by Fleur McDonald

 

 Something to Hide

by

Fleur McDonald

A riveting new novel of rural suspense from the bestselling Voice of the Outback.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin 

Publication date: 30th March 2021

Series: Det Dave Burrows

Genre: Rural Crime / Suspense

Pages: 336

RRP: $29.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

With the sickening realisation that his cover has been blown, Detective Dave Burrows knows his family is in serious danger from the vicious stock thieves and murderers, Bulldust and his brother Scotty.

Devastating news brings Dave back to Barrabine, where circumstances force him to question his determination to stay in the police force. How could he live with himself if anything happened to Mel and the kids?

Mel, understandably frightened, must decide who she'll listen to. Can she trust Dave to handle this threat hanging over their family, or is her father right to argue that she should leave her marriage immediately?

 

My review

 

I've been hanging out for this book since I finished Red Dirt Country and I wasn't disappointed.

 

Anyone that reads Fleur McDonald's books will know that Dave and Mel's marriage doesn't last so I don't think it's a spoiler to say this is the book that sees it all come undone. And, wow, Fleur McDonald does this in a spectacular way!

 

Mel is still struggling with looking after two small children whilst Dave is away on long assignments and delivers an ultimatum before he leaves on his latest job. It's his job or his family. I've been firmly on team Dave during the last few books thinking Mel was being unreasonable, but this story completely flipped me on Mel's side. We see the struggle of the wives of police officers bringing up family and living with the constant stress that they may leave for work and never return.

 

Bulldust and Scotty return in this novel and they are as ruthless and underhanded as ever, giving for some tense and heart-stopping moments.

 

Dave does investigate another case during this novel but I think his hunt for Bulldust trumps the case he is on and this plot-line had me turning pages in unfettered horror.

 

Something to Hide can be read as a standalone as there is enough backstory to know why Bulldust is a threat to Dave but I would recommend, at least, reading Without a Doubt first. 

 

 If you are looking for gripping rural crime reads Fleur McDonald never disappoints.

 

 5 / 5    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Fleur McDonald has lived and worked on farms for much of her life. After growing up in small town of Orroroo in South Australia, she went jillarooing, eventually co-owning an 8000 acre property in regional Western Australia.

Fleur likes to write about strong women overcoming adversity, drawing inspiration from her own experiences in rural Australia. She has two children, an energetic kelpie and a Jack Russell terrier.

 

 

 

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21

                                 Cloak and Dagger Challenge

 

 

 

Book Review: The Affacombe Affair by Elizabeth Lemarchand

 The Affacombe Affair

by

Elizabeth Lemarchand

Who in the village has a motive for murder…?

 

  

Publisher: Sapere Books

Publication date: 11th October 2018

Series: Pollard & Toye Investigations #2

Genre: Cozy Crime / Mystery

Pages: 238

Format read: eBook

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

About the book

1966, Rural England

When a body washes up at the banks of the river in Affacombe village, the residents are thrown into disarray.

It turns out to be the quiet and solitary matron at the local school: Sister Roach.

But when the police start to investigate it appears Roach’s unassuming demeanour hid a much darker secret…

With rumours of blackmail and clandestine affairs, it becomes clear that more than one person may have wanted Roach dead.

Chief Detective Inspector Pollard and Detective Sergeant Toye are called in from Scotland Yard to crack the case. 

 

My review

 

The Affacombe Affair, the second book in the Pollard & Toye series, is another enjoyable cozy mystery set in rural England.

 

When a murder haunts the small, sleepy town of Affacombe and the local police investigation comes to a standstill, Scotland yard is called in to pick up the case.

Set in the 1960's The Affacombe Affair has all the charm of the era; small close-knit town, a mix of well to do and working class, local traditions, garden parties and hidden secrets.

 

The story builds slowly revolving around the community, their day to day life and interactions. As the police investigation progresses hidden secrets are exposed and we find there is more than one person who may have wanted the victim out of the way.

 

Pollard & Toye didn't come into this story until about the 50% mark and I felt in this novel they didn't come across as the main characters. Olivia Stode, a community stalwart, is a wonderfully drawn character and it felt much like her story as she became involved with many aspects of the investigation and also did a little sleuthing of her own.

Pollard solves the case by piecing together what seemed to be inconsequential evidence and a good dose of sheer luck.

I really enjoy following along with the investigation in cozy mystery reads, trying to pick up on clues and having my own guess at who-dun-it. But I must say I didn't guess the outcome of this case.

If you enjoy reading about quaint rural communities with a murder mystery thrown in The Pollard & Toye series is sure to appeal.

4/5   ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

 

Elizabeth Lemarchand was born in 1906. She became a teacher at The Godophin School in Salisbury. Her first book Death of an Old Girl was published in 1967. Elizabeth passed away in 2000 at the age of 93. Her books are currently being republished by Sapere Books.

Click cover to read my review

 

 

 

Mailbox Monday - April 26th

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

 

Happy Monday!

 

Some happy snaps.  

 The weather has still been sunny enough to enjoy some water play

 

I've been doing a few secret bookfairy drops

 

Knitting a new afghan throw - only 29 squares to go 😀

Spotted this beautiful ANZAC day chalk drawing on a driveway 

 

 Books I've received and purchased over the last two weeks.

 

 The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock

 

How To Mend a Broken Heart by Rachael Johns

 

The Secret Path by Karen Swan 

 

Left You Dead by Peter James 

 

The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs 

 

Debesa by Cindy Solonec 

 

Dinosaur Snap & Dinosaur Flap  

I would love to hear what books you've received in the mail recently! 

 

Book Review: Those Hamilton Sisters by Averil Kenny

 Those Hamilton Sisters

by

Averil Kenny

Will their mother's scandalous past decide their futures?

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 30th March 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Pages: 464

RRP: $32.99AUD

Format read: Paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

About the book

 

 
Beautiful Esther Hamilton had a reputation in the town of Noah Vale. That was, until she ran away, twenty years ago, under a cloud of shame. 

 

It's now 1955 and following their mother's death, the Hamilton sisters have returned to Noah Vale to live near their aunt and uncle.

The eldest, Sonnet, has inherited both her mother's fiery hair and her independent streak. The middle child, Fable, at twelve-years-old, is a gifted artist and a dreamer. And three year old Plum, is anxious to please and notices everything.

As the years pass, the three sisters settle into small-town life, but suspicion and judgment seem to follow them wherever they go. And when Fable falls in love with Noah Vale's golden boy, is history destined to repeat itself.

My review

I think 2021 will go down as the year of the debut. The ones I have read lately have all been amazing and diverse in content and writing style. I love that there is so much talent yet to be discovered! Those Hamilton Sisters is no exception.

Averil Kenny's writing is lyrical and poetic. The setting of Far Northern Queensland is ethereal and haunting. Kenny has captured the wonder and seclusion of the area with perfection. She also highlights the danger of the wild storms, cyclones and floods and the relentless heat and humidity of a northern summer. I loved how the characters welcomed these dramatic changes in weather. It was a part of their life to celebrated not endured.

It's 1955, a time of conservative social values. Sonnet, Fable and Novella-Plum arrive in Noah Vale, recently orphaned, they will be living in a small cottage previously owned by their mother. Their Aunt Olive had inherited the family home after their mother was disowned and cast out of the town.

Sonnet, fiercely independent, capable and outspoken is the surrogate mother to Fable and Plum. Fable is wistful and dreamy, a budding artist, she is rejected by the other girls her age and spends her time in the rainforest sketching  and running wild with the boys. Aunt Olive wants nothing more than to smother the girls with love but first she must break through Sonnet's defenses. 

The story has its villains and heroes with each character richly drawn and integral to the overall story.

Averil Kenny has given her readers a coming of age story that incorporates small-town minds, a mother's legacy, misogyny, first love and above all, family.

The novel, spanning ten years, is written in three parts each headed by a quote from Jane Austen's Persuasion. It is then broken down into short chapters that reflect on important events in the girls' lives.

Those Hamilton Sisters is a sobering story of love, legacies and the strive for acceptance. This is one debut novel not to be missed!

 

5 / 5      ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Photo credit Goodreads

Averil Kenny grew up on a dairy farm and began work in the tourism industry at a young age. She studied Education at James Cook University, before completing a bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland. She currently lives in Far North Queensland with her husband and four children. When not dreaming up stories, she can be found nestled in her favourite yellow wingback chair reading and sipping tea, in her library overlooking the rainforest. Those Hamilton Sisters is her first novel.

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges entered:  Australian Women Writers Challenge #AWW2021

                                 Aussie Author Challenge #AussieAuthor21