BLOG TOUR: ROOM 119 (Review)

Room 119: The Whitby Trader by T.F. Lince

Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC

Published on December 14, 2017

Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Page Count: 282

Sources: Author

Format: eBook

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Description: High-flying trader Dean Harrison has it all – the London penthouse apartment; the fast car; the beautiful wife. But when the threads of Dean’s life start to unravel, they do so with alarming speed.

Following the advice of a frail stranger, Dean sets off for Welnetham Hall Hotel and is plunged into the mysterious world of Room 119 – a world where nothing makes sense. How does everyone in the hotel know his name? Why does he travel there on a train line that shut down over fifty years ago? And who is the sinister man in black who pursues him wherever he goes?

As he gradually pieces together the puzzle of Welnetham Hall, Dean is forced to re-evaluate his life and realises that nothing is more important to him than his wife and daughter. Desperate to get back to them, he vows he would lay down his life for the people he loves.

It’s a promise he may have to keep. 

Hello Readers.

Room 119: The Whitby Trader was one of those books that I wasn't quite sure what to think when it was given to me. A first novel by a new author. Those tend to make me nervous. I have found that they are either fantastic, decent, or just not that good. I went into this book with only having skimmed the blurb because I wanted a clean slate going into it.

It started out on a high note which both excites me and makes me nervous. Start out too high and you can only go down from there. That was not the case here. The flow was good throughout the book. Full of humor, intrigue, and emotion. I found myself wanting to read more. I could even look past the inclusion of a clown. *shudder* (There is nothing creepier than a clown.)

This was one of those books that ran the gamut of emotions. I was laughing out loud at some parts and ugly crying at other parts. It is refreshing to encounter a book that draws you in and not only makes you think but also feel. Add in a spash of the totally unexpected and you really have something.

Thank you to the author for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was a delight to read. Definitely does not feel like a debut novel. I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer us in the future. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon

BLOG TOUR: ROOM 119

Room 119: The Whitby Trader
By T.F. Lince

Release Date: December 14, 2017
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Crime, Thriller & Mystery

High-flying trader Dean Harrison has it all – the London penthouse apartment; the fast car; the beautiful wife. But when the threads of Dean’s life start to unravel, they do so with alarming speed.

Following the advice of a frail stranger, Dean sets off for Welnetham Hall Hotel and is plunged into the mysterious world of Room 119 – a world where nothing makes sense. How does everyone in the hotel know his name? Why does he travel there on a train line that shut down over fifty years ago? And who is the sinister man in black who pursues him wherever he goes?

As he gradually pieces together the puzzle of Welnetham Hall, Dean is forced to re-evaluate his life and realises that nothing is more important to him than his wife and daughter. Desperate to get back to them, he vows he would lay down his life for the people he loves.

It’s a promise he may have to keep.

Amazon UK
Amazon US


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Trev Lince originates from Marske-by-the-Sea on the north-east coast of England, but now lives in Darlington with his wife, Claire.

Their daughter, Annie, is a very good guitarist and is setting up a band, playing every pub in the north-east that she can. She’s so rock and roll, living the dream while her father is approaching his mid-life crisis.

A keen golfer and frustrated Middlesbrough FC fan, Trev gets to as many matches as work and leisure time allow. He writes in what little spare time he has, when not working as an IT Consultant for a major oil company in Surrey.

Room 119 – The Whitby Trader is Trev’s first book and he really enjoyed the experience of writing it. Who knows? He may have a few more stories bursting to get out of his head.


If you want to know more you can find Trev on Twitter @Room119TFLince

BLOG TOUR: ROOM 119

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

Published by Riverhead Books

Published on May 2, 2017

Genres: Women's Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Page Count: 400

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardback

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Description: A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.

Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother's sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she'd never return.

With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.

Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath.

Hello.

Have you ever longed for a book to come out that you were counting the days until it was released? You had enjoyed the previous work by the author so much that the prospect of another book filled you with joy? I wanted this book to be good. I longed for it to be good. It had to be good after the author's debut novel, The Girl on The Train took the world over. I read that book at once. I needed for this book to be good. Life is full of disappointments. It is a real shame that this was one. 

You know what they say about setting stuff up to fail? I fear that this may have been the case for a lot of people in regards to this book. I wish that I could praise it from the rooftops but I cannot. There were too many points where my mind completely glazed over because the POV kept jumping back and forth. The plot was predictable. Some of the characters were strong while some of them were just lacking. I found myself frustrated at times because of the flow. 

I am rating this book Three Orange Books because I did not hate it but it left me disappointed. What good is a mystery when you can figure it out almost immediately? I am not rating it lower because the author does a decent job on the backgrounds and locations. You do feel like you are there. She is a promosing author but she is better than this book. I will be waiting to see what she does in her next offering. My recommendation is wavy on this one. 

InkedBookDragon

Forever My Girl (The Beaumont Series, Book 1) by Heidi McLaughlin

Forever My Girl (The Beaumont Series, Book 1) by Heidi McLaughlin

Published by Books by Heidi McLaughlin, LTD

Published on January 2, 2014

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Page Count: 254

Source: Purchased

Format: eBook

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Description:  I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after. 

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile. 

And now I’m going back. 

After ten years. 

I hope I can explain that after all this time. 

I still want her to be my forever girl.

Hello Readers.

Like many others, I am a sucker for a good second chance love story  We all make choices that may lead us away from someone that we love dearly and it renders us devastated. Enter the second chance. A redo with all the history and feelings. This is a favorite for many, myself included. If done properly, a second chance romance can be great to read. If not done properly, it feels forced and just unpleasant. 

This book was one that succeeded in the second chance love story for the most part. The characters were relatable and I found myself very empathetic towards them at times With that said, there were other times where I wanted to shake them for all the back and forth. Then again, I know people like that. Overall, the story flows well. Emotions were present and I might have spoken out loud to the characters a time or two. 

I am rating this book Four Red Books because it was an enjoyable read and I was drawn to read more in the series. I would and have already recommended.

InkedBookDragon

Author Spotlight: Pierce Brown

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: PIERCE BROWN

"Pierce Brown is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the Red Rising Saga. He spent his childhood building forts and setting traps for his cousins in the woods of six states and the deserts of two. Graduating college in 2010, he fancied the idea of continuing his studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a magical bone in his body. So while trying to make it as a writer, he worked as a manager of social media at a startup tech company, toiled as a peon on the Disney lot at ABC Studios, did his time as an NBC page, and gave sleep deprivation a new meaning during his stint as an aide on a U.S. Senate Campaign.

Now he lives in Los Angeles, where he scribbles tales of spaceships, wizards, ghouls, and most things old or bizarre."

Published Works:
Red Rising (Red Rising, #1)
Golden Son (Red Rising, #2)
Morning Star (Red Rising, #3)
Iron Gold (Red Rising, #4)
Dark Age (Red Rising, #5) - Expected to be published in 2018
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #1 (1 of 6)
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #2 (2 of 6)
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #3 (3 of 6)
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #4 (4 of 6)
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #5 (5 of 6)
Pierce Brown's Red Rising: Sons of Ares, #6 (6 of 6)


www.redrisingbook.com
www.piercebrownbooks.com
Amazon

Pierce Brown is definitely an author to watch. His Red Rising series has taken off and has a true following. Rich storylines and great characters. He just keeps doing it! I look forward to seeing where else he will take us on this adventure.

**Bio above is from his Amazon Page and is not my personal words.

***NEW RELEASE*** On the Edge of Regret by Kate Squires

Meet Cute by Jennifer L. Armentrout (plus thirteen others)

Meet Cute by Jennifer L. Armentrout (+13 more)

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Published on January 2, 2018

Genres: Short Stories, YA, Romance

Page Count:320

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardback

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Description: Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors.

Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautifully written piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups, Katie Cotugno’s story of two teens hiding out from the police at a house party, and Huntley Fitzpatrick’s charming love story that begins over iced teas at a diner. There’s futuristic flirting from Kass Morgan and Katharine McGee, a riveting transgender heroine from Meredith Russo, a subway missed connection moment from Jocelyn Davies, and a girl determined to get out of her small town from Ibi Zoboi. Jennifer Armentrout writes a sweet story about finding love from a missing library book, Emery Lord has a heartwarming and funny tale of two girls stuck in an airport, Dhonielle Clayton takes a thoughtful, speculate approach to pre-destined love, and Julie Murphy dreams up a fun twist on reality dating show contestants.

This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.

Hello.

I am a sucker for short stories. I love them. I love how you can sit down and read the entire story in one setting with no real issues. I love that they are often tied up all nice and neatly at the end so I get that closure that I secretly long for. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the long novel that draws you in and forces you to live completely out of your world for an extended amount of time but short stories are fantastic. 

I was excited about this book. I have read novels by many of the contributors and I was very hopeful. They did not disappoint. Such a fun read. Some of them draw you deeply in while others just let you watch from a distance.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it has a little bit of everything. A wonderful collection. I highly recommend it. 

InkedBookDragon

After You (Me Before You, #2) by Jojo Moyes

After You by Jojo Moyes

Published by Pamela Dorman Books

Published on September 29, 2015

Genres: Women's Fiction, Contemporary

Page Count: 368

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardback

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Description: “You’re going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated too. Live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle. Just live well. Just live. Love, Will.”

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

Hello!

When I found out that Me Before You was getting a sequel, I was extremely hesitant. It was such a strong book that I was unsure if a sequel would add to it or take away from it. These were characters that I had developed a love for and I didn't want my memories of them to potentially be tarnished. Think about it. The reader grows attached to the characters. One wrong move and you altar their preception of that character and not necessarily in a good way. That being said, I did wonder how Lou was doing after the events of Me Before You. Tricky business, sequels are. Very very tricky. 

I wish that I could say that I went into this book with a totally open mind but I find that impossible to do. I did not go into with a completely open mind because I was so invested in the story. The first book was so extraordinary that it set this one up to potentially fall on its face. Unfortuantely, in some ways, it did. It was nice to see how Lou was doing but some of the events completely came out of left field and I was not quite sure how to process them. Good character development for some and so so for others. 

I am rating this book Three Orange Books because it fell short but I did not hate it. Predictable in some ways. Random in others. Upon finishing it, I hoped that any future books in the series would bypass this one. I wish that I could rate it higher because I loved Me Before You so much but I cannot. Not a horrible read but not up to the standards that the author gave us in the previous book. On the fence about recommending.

InkedBookDragon

***NEW RELEASE*** On the Edge of Regret by Kate Squires

OFFICIALLY RELEASES ON JANUARY 17, 2018. AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW.

Synopsis:

Brix Kelley is a typical, small-town girl, who grew up with scraped knees and dirty fingernails. Nash Cooper was the defiant teen of the town, who’s been in trouble with the law, practically from birth. The two have been friends for longer than they can remember, and somewhere along the way, a flame ignited.

They were inseparable. Then, suddenly, when she was just 15 years old, Brix left town, leaving behind everyone she’s ever loved, in search of a fresh start. She cut off contact with all five of her closest, childhood friends, never intending to return. But, when a tragic event forces her to go back six years later, she’s hesitant and unsure of what kind of reception she’ll receive…especially from Nash.

Still tortured by the ghosts of his past, Brix finds Nash as rebellious as ever, but for the first time since they met, his anger is aimed at her. Just when it seems as though things might be looking up, secrets, which have been long held and deeply buried, begin to surface, throwing them both into a tailspin.

With all the outside forces meant to keep them apart, can they find their way back? Was the love they shared as teens strong enough to bond them again as adults, or will the secrets from the past cause irreparable damage?


Excerpt:

The corner of his mouth twitches ever so slightly, as he takes a step closer to me.

“Have you told him you love him?” he says, taking another step. My heart beats wildly, as I look anywhere but at him. He steps closer again, until he's just inches away. “Have you?” I turn my head, but his hand touches my chin, steering it back to center. “Brix.” His voice is soft, seductive, and I’m not sure how much longer I can take being this close to him. “Look at me and tell me.” I finally find the courage to look at him, and it’s as if his eyes pierce through to my soul. “Have you told him you love him?” I open my mouth to speak, but I can't say the words. He sees my hesitation and goes in for the kill. With his hand still on my chin, he lets it slide around to the side of my neck. His fingers easily glide into my hair, and his thumb rubs gently back and forth against my cheek. “I need to know,” he says, just above a whisper. I close my eyes, my lips part fractionally, and my heart is about to leap from my chest. I can feel his warm breath against my cheek, as his lips graze my ear. “Yes or no, Brix?” A sharp intake of breath fills my lungs, before I exhale in desperation.

“No,” I say, and it’s as if I've just confessed every sin I’ve ever committed. The relief is profound, but now I know I've opened up an enormous gate. I feel him smile against my cheek and hear his satisfaction as he hums his exhale.

“Good. I can work with that.”


Amazon links:



US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077F52BXH

CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077F52BXH

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077F52BXH

FR https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B077F52BXH

DE https://www.amazon.de/dp/B077F52BXH



You can read the first full chapters of all Kate’s books on her website, www.KateSquiresAuthor.com

Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame By Mara Wilson

Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson

Published by Penguin Books

Published on September 13, 2016

Genres:Biographies & Memoirs, Comedians, Actors &Actresses, Essays, Humor

Page Count: 265

Source: Purchased

Format: eBook

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Description: A former child actor best known for her starring roles in Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and out of place: as the only kid on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys, a Valley girl in New York and a neurotic in California, and a grown-up the world still remembers as a little girl. Tackling everything from what she learned about sex on the set of Melrose Place, to discovering in adolescence that she was no longer “cute” enough for Hollywood, these essays chart her journey from accidental fame to relative (but happy) obscurity. They also illuminate universal struggles, like navigating love and loss, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. Candid, insightful, moving, and hilarious, Where Am I Now? introduces Mara Wilson as a brilliant new chronicler of the experience that is growing up female.


Hello Readers.

I am sure many of you recognize the little girl on the cover of this book. For years, she was the go-to adorable angelic girl that captivated the world. She appeared in many movies and shows. You may recognize her as the youngest daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire or as the title role in Matilda. That role sealed her into the hearts of many. One of my favorite books as a child had been made into a movie and I was delighted. She was everywhere and then one day, she was gone.

I saw this book and automatically thought, "Matilda!". I had to read it. I had enjoyed Mara's work in many roles but Matilda was my very favorite. She had taken a character that I adored and made her real life and I will forever love her for that. I wanted to know the woman behind Matilda. Sadly, I have never really thought of her as a grown up. The magic of film had caused her to be frozen in time in most minds so we never really thought of her as aging. I sat down to read this a little nervous but exicted.

I was quickly enveloped in her life. She welcomes readers into her world and doesn't hold back. She invites us into some very private moments and I found myself truly moved. There were moments where I laughed. Some moments I cried. At some points, I felt a little guilty because I had never really seen her as a person. I didn't think about how hard it must have been to not only go through puberty but to do it in front of the world.

I am rating this book Four Red Books because it was a very good memoir. She brings us into her world and tells us what it is like to go from an extremely famous child to a not so famous adult. Insightful and well written. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

Published by Roadswell Editions

Published on May 2, 2017

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Short Stories, Fiction

Page Count: 41

Source: Purchased

Format: eBook

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Description: When Elena decided to camp out for the next Star Wars movie, she was expecting a celebration, a communion — a line full of people who love Star Wars so much, they have to share it.  

She wasn’t expecting this:  a freezing sidewalk, nowhere to pee, and three nights stuck with a boy who decided not to like her before they even met. 

It’s enough to make a girl leave the line… 

But Elena came here for Star Wars, and it will take more than bad weather and a dumb boy to squash her spirits. 

Hello Readers.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this short story. I related so much to Elena. Her love of Star Wars driving her to step completely out of her comfort zone was relatable and endearing. Love the premise. A beautifully executed story about belonging and not being afraid to march to the beat of your own drum.

I am rating this short story Five Blue Books because it was a truly delightful read. If you have not read any of Rainbow Rowell's work, I suggest you do. Highly recommend!


InkedBookDragon

Mr.Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Published by

Published on

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery

Page Count: 288

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardcover

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Description: The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, but after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything; instead, they "check out" large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele's behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends, but when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore's secrets extend far beyond its walls.

Hello Readers.

I picked up this book one day because it looked like something that I might enjoy. Then life occurred and it became buried in my TBR stacks and I forgot about it. It wasn't until I was researching books for my book group that I remembered it. Then it was offically chosen and it finally got its turn. 

I geniunely enjoyed this book. I found myself picturing the story while reading it and I longed to see this bookstore in real life. The idea of a bookstore containing unusual books that most people have never heard of is exciting to me. It definitely makes me wonder what gems may be hidden in my nearest bookstore.

I am rating this book Four Red Books because it drug in some spots and was predictable. I enjoyed it but I did have a few moments where I felt like I was reading an advertisement rather than a novel. The characters were likeable and relatable. The premise was fantastic and I would love to find a bookstore like the one from the story. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will be looking into his other titles. Great read!

InkedBookDragon