[BOOK TOUR] Death of a Kootch Show Girl by Corey Recko

 Title: Death of a Kootch Show Girl 

Author: Corey Recko 

Release Date: 25 February 2017

Summary:

It’s Halloween night 1953, the last night of the carnival in rural Ohio, and a stripper turns up dead. Tom Davis, the chief of police, orders the carnies to stay in town while he investigates, but there are no leads to Mary’s killer—no fingerprints on the murder weapon, no blood but Mary’s at the scene, no foreign hairs or fibers—no clues of any kind. Brian Stockton, a reporter for the local paper, hopes this will be his break into the big time, so he begins to investigate as well. But, alas, the killer’s identity eludes him, too. As tensions build, the carnies become paranoid, pointing fingers at each other. Could it be the owner, Bill Harris, the one who discovered the body? Or was it perhaps Gino Guglielmo, the man who runs the kootch show and has a nasty temper? Was it the eccentric clown, Otto Radowski, a man with dark secrets in his past and who just happens to have Mary’s cat? And how did the killer manage to commit such a violent act without leaving a single speck of evidence? Mary certainly wasn’t killed by a ghost…or was she?

[BOOK BLITZ] The Weekend Warriors by James Burke

Title: The Weekend Warriors

Author: James W Burke Jr.

Release Date: 23 November 2013

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[Book Blitz] Ordainment Betrayal by Dennis Quiles

Title: Ordainment Betrayal

Author: Dennis Quiles

Release Date: 23 February 2017

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Book Review: Shameless by Brynley Bush (The Black Brothers Trilogy #3)

Title: Shameless

Author: Brynley Bush

Publication Date: 13 February 2015

Publisher: Createspace

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Summary:

It started as a deception to catch a killer. It turned into a game of seduction. Will it end when a shocking secret threatens to tear them apart?

Sheltered good girl Victoria Raine has always wanted to be a little bad. Tired of living life safely on the sidelines, she summons the courage to forge a new path for herself and applies to the FBI, looking for adventure and something to fulfill her vague longing for something…more. She gets more than she bargained for with her first undercover assignment—posing as the girlfriend of country music’s bad boy, Drake Maddox, a lone wolf with a reputation for having singularly erotic tastes. Hoping to catch a serial killer that’s targeting women close to Drake, Tori’s job is to convince the public, and the killer, that she and the wickedly handsome superstar are an item.

Although their relationship is a sham, there’s nothing fake about the hidden desires the sexy as sin cowboy awakens in Tori. As the killer draws closer, Tori finds herself falling for the one man she can’t have.

My Thoughts:

Do you remember the reviews I had back in March 2016, yes, before I took my “vacation” from the blog? If you do, then you should be familiar with the Black Brothers Trilogy. And today I’m finishing it up! Therefore, you have yet to read Fearless or Matchless you can check them on my blog. Now, let me get back to today’s review. It will be short, so I will not be boring you a lot!

As mentioned in Matchless, you can read this one as a stand alone. It is intervened with two other books, but you won’t get lost as everything will be explained. But if you have read the previous books you can guess on whom we will be focusing today! Yes, it’s time to get to know Drake Maddox or Drake Black the youngest of the Black brothers. He’s your bad boy, country music superstar. And who’s going to be his pair? Meet Victoria Raine, or Tori and FBI agent, no kidding there. So, how the hell did these two meet? I would have really wanted to keep the intrigue, but it’s not all that necessary. Drake is getting letters from a crazy fan, and lastly, the girl he has been associated with have gone missing and one was found dead, that’s where Tori comes in. she is going to act as Drake’s girlfriend to lure the murderer out. So far so good?

And now you’re wondering where the “romance” comes in? well, you could have guessed, what started as a fake relationship blossomed into a real one, but before our characters acknowledge it, lots of stuff are going to happen. Are you ready to see how Drake’s and Tori’s relationship is going to work out? What kind of Alpha Make Drake is? He was the cutest but I still loved Griffin more. Are you ready to see how Camille’s case is going to end? She as the villain does not disappoint me!

Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos! Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

My Rating:

Book Review: Bitter Harvest by Oliver Phipps

Title: Bitter Harvest

Author: Oliver Phipps

Publication Date: 29 February 2016

Publisher: Gray Door

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Summary:

The year is 1825, and a small Native American village has lost many of its people and bravest warriors to a pack of Lofa; huge beasts humanoid in shape but covered with fur. The creatures are taller than any normal man, and fiercer than even the wildest animal. 

Rather than leave the land of their ancestors, the tribe chooses to stay and fight the beasts. But they're losing the war, and perhaps more critically, they're almost without hope. 

The small community grasps for anything to help them survive. There is a warrior on the frontier known as Orenda. He's already legendary across the west for his bravery and honor.

Onsi, a young villager, sets out on a journey to find the warrior. 

Orenda will be forced to choose between almost certain death, not just for himself, but also his warrior wife Nazshoni and her brother Kanuna, or a dishonorable refusal that would mean annihilation for the entire village. 

The crucial decision is only the beginning, and Orenda will soon face the greatest test of his life; the challenge that could turn out to be too much even for a warrior of legend.

My Thoughts:

I remember I got my very first book by Oliver Phipps around a year ago. It was “A Tempest Soul” and after reading the first 2 chapters I knew that the author would become one of my favourites. I have read nearly all books by him and am always excited when he publishers new books. When I received the news that Bitter Harvest was out, I forgot anything that I was doing and started it right away.

Oliver Phipps never disappoints, he tries new genres, but his fantastic way of telling the story, keeping the tension on maximum and making us turn the pages very fast to know what is going to happen next is ever present. The story throws us into 1800s native Indian village. We get to know how hey lived and the dangers they faced.
As a mythology and native legends junkie, this story was a fresh view on native legends and trust me I was hooked as soon as I read the words “demon” and “Lofa”. However, do not forget that we are talking about Oliver Phipps here, and we will not be just seeing a supernatural story. You’ll get to see what it means to be a warrior. We are shown on the example of Onsi, that sometimes a person needs to be a warrior, sometimes a leader, and maybe sometimes even a follower.

This story is less than 100 pages, however, it holds much more for such a short story. I hope everyone will read it as it shows a different view on many aspects and the realism of fights is something that will make even a total action junkie impressed. Enjoy it to your fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don't miss you next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

My Rating:

Book Review: Found by Jason Smith

Summary (from Goodreads)

Title: Found

Author: Jason Smith

Publication Date: 13 May 2015

Publisher: MaxQ Enterprise

Goodreads – Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Summary:

Not all the good in the world is known—the same can be said for the bad. People, places and events that seem random, really aren’t. 
How are we to know whose lives will be affected, or destroyed? Will one wrong move make the difference? Will one bad decision end somebody’s life? 
No one knows what will be lost—or who will be Found. 

My Thoughts:

When I first got this book I was intrigued by the summary right away. If you think about it, it doesn’t give much about the book at first glance, however, the more you reread it, the more you are asking yourself what it is going to be about. What revelations will the author throw at us, and what will we find?

I remember I have heard or read somewhere that to truly find yourself you need to first get absolutely lost. Oh, now I remember, it was in the third Pirates of Caribbean movie. But enough with my useless banter let me briefly explain what I thought of the book. Simply put it’s fantastic. It mixes everything possible and gets you right in the core. Are you ready for fantasy, suspense, bits of thriller and a really great doze of humor?

Have you ever had the series of awful days? Yes, like those that just ruin the whole course of events and you have no idea how you ended up in all that mess? If yes, you’ll understand Noah Carpenter. His relationship is ruined, he lost his job and was even pulled over for driving under the influence of alcohol. Can it get worse? I wanted to say here my cliché read-for-yourself-and-find-out sentence, but I’ll spoil a bit. It does, but then again it’s how you want it to see. Noah, meets Simon a really, really old guy, who gives him new identity and relocates him. Why the whole thing? Noah is to start a journey of redemption; he will have to help people make things right as he had miserably failed at his own previous life. 

Get to know characters that at first glance have nothing to relate to Noah, but the more you read the more you understand, or that’s what you think… Am I going to read another book by Jason Smith? Absolutely, his writing is great and you really need to think to get to the bottom of all of it! Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

My Rating:

Release Day Blitz: Catalyst by Leighton Riley

Title: Catalyst

Author: Leighton Riley

Release Date: Dec 28, 2015

Find on Goodreads

For every action, there is a reaction.

People aren’t always who they say they are. Everyone has their secrets. Some are more evil than I ever thought imaginable.

I was left broken and alone after my boyfriend was murdered in my bar.

An old acquaintance moves into Liam’s home and a spark is ignited deep inside me.

Becoming vulnerable made me weak, and I never saw it coming.

When obsession takes over, lies and deceit can be killer.

Amazon

Watching movers pack away his things and throw them into the truck is so impersonal. Tossing the boxes into a truck with no thought as to what they are handling. I wish I had the strength to be the one who packed it all away, but I couldn’t. It was hard enough to pack up my things. I moved my stuff out of the home two weeks ago, but the majority of everything in that home was his. 

He was my other half. My soul mate. One morning, we were completely in love and talking about starting a family, and then by nightfall, I had found my boyfriend barely alive in the storage room of the bar I owned. I rode with him as he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, praying he would pull through even though the look on the paramedics’ faces told me otherwise. After what seemed like forever in the waiting room, doctors gave me the news he didn’t make it. The police questioned me extensively, and later that night, I came home to his empty house. From that day on, I have been on autopilot. 

Leighton Riley resides in Dallas, Tx and works in real estate for her day job. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Sinfully, Regretfully, and Deceitfully can be read in order or as standalones. Sinfully and Regretfully take place around the same time frame and can even be read in reverse order (will give more background on Payton and Ryder's story). Tate's story, Deceitfully, finishes off the series. She's also the author of the romantic suspense novel, Catalyst.

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Cover Reveal: The Ribbon Catchers by Len Webster

Title: The Ribbon Catchers

Author: Len Webster

Release Date: TBA

Find on Goodreads

Once chased. Now caught.

Two years after her brutal ordeal that almost ended her life, Rachel Sims returns home to Australia. For two years she's been in the Witness Protection Program, living with the trauma of her attack by vicious gangland leader, Vincent Salvatore. But just when she thinks she's safe, she's assaulted and kidnapped.

Cohen Morgan has done the one thing he swore he'd never do: commit a crime. Actually, he's committed several in a blink of an eye. His actions are a must if he wants to continue to infiltrate Melbourne's Underbelly. The woman he's abducted isn't the usual type wanted by the gang. And from the moment Cohen sees her knife and bullet wound scars, he knows she's different. She's a fighter. A victim. A survivor. And she could blow his entire undercover federal operation.

A basement with one door will hold Rachel captive.

A basement with two small windows will hold her screams.

A basement with three steps will be stained with her tears.

A basement with four walls will be painted with her blood.

And her torture will have Cohen questioning whether his badge is worth Rachel Sims' life.

PROLOGUE

SADIE

Two years ago

I can’t breathe.

Her arms desperately thrashed as Melbourne’s vicious underbelly boss held her face into the river. Sadie Harris felt it. The hand in her hair. The fingernails in her arm. Pushing her. Drowning her. Forcing her to inhale water. Every time she saw the black start to encroach her vision, he’d wrap her hair around his hand and yank her to the surface.

On instinct she gasped for it.

The air seemed heavy.

The air felt synthetic as it surged into her lungs.

Her chokes, she felt against her throat.

Her coughs added to the burn.

Then it hit her.

The water rose up, leaving an agonising cut along the way as she threw it up.

The tears, Sadie couldn’t help. The water torture Vincent Salvatore had unleashed on her was exactly that. Torture. Over and over again. More and more. He’d had her wishing for death.

Death would be so easy.

She screamed words telling him to do it. To kill her. Make it all go away. Stop the brutality. Words that seemed like the words to say. He’d already ran the knife throughout the length of her body. Knicks and stabs he had made.

Then Salvatore bent down.

And Sadie felt the delicious sensation of the cold barrel of his gun run along the side of her face.

Death was easy when it was in the hands of a mad man.

Len Webster is a romance-loving Melburnian with dreams of finding her version of ‘The One.’ But until that moment happens, she writes. Having just graduated with her BBusCom from Monash University, Len is now busy writing her next romance about how a boy met a girl, and how they fell completely and hopelessly in love.

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Book Review: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Summary (from Goodreads)

Title: Taste 

Author: Kate Evangelista

Publication Date: 30 April 2012

Publisher: Crescent Moon press

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Summary:

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

My Thoughts:

Hi, guys and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Yes, as promised I am reviewing Taste. I remember I got this book right after I finished Savor. To say the truth I thought it was like a prequel to Vicious Feast. But I postponed it a lot, and only read it after finishing Relish. Imagine half of my expectations crushed just because this story from a totally different place. The only similarity it had to Vicious Feast series is the names of the characters and a setting of the story. But let me elaborate:

Let me start with the similarities. You’ll meet lots of characters from Vicious Feast, but they’ll be absolutely different in everything except their names and description. The second similarity: the setting is at Barinkoff academy. Rings a bell? Yep, that was where our Vicious studied in Savor and Relish. And that’s it. I remember all through the way reading I would have some clues that it would be somehow connected to the other books. But no, no such luck. And it actually frustrated me a lot, because author chose to use the same names in her Vicious Feast series, therefore confusing the hell out of me. It’s not good to confuse my over imaginative mind!

But if we overlook all of that, the book is great. It reminded me of two manga blends: Vampire Knight and Tokyo Ghoul. How come? The structure of the school was so Vampire Knight with day and night students. And how does Tokyo Ghoul mix into that? The paranormal creatures we are dealing with in this book are flesh eaters. So that instantly equal ghouls in my brail. Though they didn’t drink coffee in this story. But if you’re not a manga fan, ignore whatever I just said, as in the book history that’s kinda first. And please do not confuse it with Warm Bodies, absolutely different in idea and development. Are you ready to get to know a race of creatures which were the prototypes for zombies? You should be. The story will suck you into it in no time and you’ll be having fun with all the intrigue of that would as well as a love triangle. Which, if you ask me, wasn’t really a love triangle at all. But you’ll have to read the book to understand more. Intrigues, romance & flesh eating monsters are waiting for you once you open the book!

Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

My Rating:

Book Tour & Review: In the Eyes of Madness by Michael Pang

Title: In the Eyes of Madness

Author: Michael Pang

Release Date: 30 April 2015

Publisher: SolaFide Publishing

Goodreads | Amazon 

Summary: 

A near tragic incident at the hands of his psychotic mother left Declan Peters alone and with so many questions.

Years later, Declan is determined to find a way to be closer to his mother and takes a job at the institution where she's being held. That fateful decision will be the impetus for a chain of events so terrifying that Declan will question his own grasp on reality.


What he finds will be more horrifying than anything he's ever experienced and more dangerous than anything he's yet known. In a place, rife with demonic possession and sadistic beings, will Declan finally be able to find the answers he's longed for before its too late or will he succumb to the evil forces that inhabit the institution and all who live there?

~ Excerpt~

As Declan approached his mother’s room, he clutched at the pendant that hung around his neck. The pendant didn’t have any expensive jewels on it or anything, just a smooth stone with a few symbols carved on it. The pendant had been one of the few articles of jewelry that Declan had found amongst his mother’s belongings soon after she had been committed. Ever since he was seven, he had worn that pendant around his neck. And whenever he thought about his mother, he would unconsciously clutch at the pendant as if trying to grasp and hold on to a time when everything had been good.

His arrival at his mother’s door broke him out of his thoughts, and he realized that he was clutching his pendant so hard that the symbols had imprinted onto his palm. He stared at the door for a while as if deciding whether or not he should turn around and leave instead. He took a deep breath. He placed his hand on the cold doorknob, and he felt goose bumps traveling up his arm. He was hesitant to open the door because he didn’t know what state of mind she would be in. Taking in another deep breath before he turned the knob, he swung the door open.

Declan’s mother greeted him with a smile. She looked healthy, rosy cheeks, fair skin, and big warm brown eyes. The same eyes that that had always given Declan peace. With a smile she said, “There’s my boy. How was your day honey?”

Declan let out the breath he realized he had been holding the whole time. “My day was fine, Mom. How are you feeling today?”

She walked over to him and gave him a long hug. “I feel great!”

Declan almost teared up as his mother embraced him. From the day that he’s just had, he was afraid that he would find his mother in a state of mind similar to that of Kyle’s. “Do you need anything? Can I get you some more water or blankets? I hear that it might get a little cooler tonight,” replied Declan as he quickly turned around so that his mother didn’t see his eyes water up. He pretended to check the thermostat in the room and adjusted it keep it at a warm 78 degree Fahrenheit.

She replied, “No worries, I’ll be fine. I had a chat with Dr. Lanier today, and he said that I might be able to come home with you soon. I can’t wait to get out of here. It’s been too long. But enough about me; you told me yesterday that Caleb came into town last night. How is he doing?”

Caleb and Declan had been best friends since the second grade. They used to do everything together, but when they graduated, Caleb went off to college, while Declan had to start working to help support his family.

“He seemed to be having the time of his life last time I spoke with him on the phone. I’m supposed to have dinner with him tonight. I guess I’ll hear all about his awesome college adventures then. Yay…” he replied sarcastically as he walked over to the window and looked out at the setting sun.

At least Keira will be there, he thought as he face started to heat up.

“As soon as I’m out of here, Declan, I promise you I’ll help financially, and you can go to college,” she said, interrupting Declan’s thoughts. “I know that it’s been hard on you and your uncle and aunt. As a matter of fact, I’ve been working on a little something. I made these during craft time. I think I can sell them as jewelry and maybe make a business out of it. Here let me show you,” she declared as she walked toward a box on her nightstand. She took out of the box a flower with a string on it. It was an orchid that had been preserved in some sort of glossy resin. The sunlight from the setting sun reflected brightly on the glossy flower, making it shine brightly.

“That’s beautiful, Mom. I bet you there will be people who would want to buy these,” responded Declan as he examined the flower while taking hold of his mother’s hands. Declan felt his hand burn and looked up when he thought he saw something move in the corner of his eye. Suddenly still, he realized his mother was staring off into the box. As calmly as he could manage, he asked, “Mom? What are you looking for? Mom?” He got no response from her, and he felt a chill go down his spine. The remainder of the setting sunlight seemed to have withdrawn from the room. A sense of panic engulfed all his senses, and suddenly she looked up, grabbing his arms.

Then she screamed, “You can stop pretending to be my son! I will never tell you!” And she grabbed Declan by the back of his shirt collar and started hulling Declan toward the bathroom in her room. Struggling to free himself from his mother, he thrashed his arms and legs around trying to grab hold of something.

Declan choked, “Stop, Mom! Please stop it! I’m your son! Can’t you remember? I’m your son! Please Mom, don’t do this!” as his collar bit into his throat.

She bashed Declan’s head against the base of the bathroom sink, and she tried to push Declan’s head into the toilet bowl. Pain exploded from the side of his head, and everything started to look blurry.

“I will drown you this time, demon child! You took everything from me! I won’t let you hurt anyone else!”

Declan pushed off with his arms and legs and slammed her against the bathroom wall opposite from the toilet. The room seemed immensely longer than it had been as he ran back to her bed to push the call button for one of her nurses. He had almost reached the button as she grabbed him by the hair to drag him back to the bathroom screaming, “Not this time! I’ve got you this time!”

Declan reached out once again to the hospital bed where the call button was, and the bed moved forward a couple of inches. Declan’s finger collided with the button. Despite, having to fight off his mother, he squeezed his eyes shut for a second as he thought he must have somehow hallucinated the hospital bed’s movement.

Within twenty seconds, three UAPs rushed in and restrained his mother. She continued to struggle and hiss, screaming, “I will get you, demon! I will kill you if it’s the last thing I do!” Declan walked out of the room. His eyes burned as tears streamed down his cheeks. He said, “Goodnight Mom, sleep tight,” as the doors closed behind him.

~ Book Trailer ~

~About the Author ~ 

Project manager by profession but modern Renaissance man by nature, Michael Pang has dabbled in many different areas in his career. From working with steam turbines to eventually switching into the world of IT, his plethora of experience highlights his personality – he’s a person always searching for more knowledge.

Michael was born in Hong Kong in 1983. His family immigrated to San Francisco when he was three and eventually landed in Florida. After graduating from high school, Michael gained his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. Despite his currently demanding work schedule, Michael is very involved in activities at his local Project Management Institute Chapter where he fulfills his passion for teaching as the Vice President of Education. But, his desire to serve and help others doesn’t end there, he’s an avid Christian and very active in his local church. He loves kids, with two daughters of his own with his lovely wife, and volunteers at children’s church in his ministry.

He speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin and in his free time enjoys reading, writing, eating, cooking, playing music, dancing, singing, and watching musicals. One of his mottos is “Everyday that he hasn’t learned something new is a day wasted.”

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~ Review ~ 

When I first got this offer to review the book, I only looked at the genres and I was hooked. Then I actually read the summary and I got intrigued, and lastly when I got the book all my expectations were heightened and truthfully this was a fantastic thrilling ride!

Declan aka the main character is a fantastic character. He has seen madness and he has experienced fear and pain while seeing the madness in his mother’s eyes. But if any other person would have gone mad or become twisted, Declan is different. Instead of running away from his mom, he actually longs to be next to her. I had many times doubted his sanity on those moments, because every time I have put myself in his shoes my first instinct was to flee rather then stay and fight.

This book is truly a journey to the unknown. It intrigues you, it’s frightening in parts, but you have to reach the end by yourself! This is the first book in the trilogy, and I am looking forward to read what is going to happen next!

~ Tour Schedule ~

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