All Bark and No White Knight by Stella St. Claire

All Bark and No White Knight by Stella St. Clare

Published by Relay Publishing

Published on Oct. 13, 2017

Genres: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Cozy Mystery

Page Count: 242

Source: NetGalley

Format: eBook

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Description: Roses are red, Violets are blue, and Olivia Rickard is officially the worst at fixing relationships. Case in point: Olivia decides the best way to go about getting her boyfriend back is to tail him around town. There’s no way daring to spy on Andrew’s date was going to end well...but Olivia didn’t expect it to end in death. 

Hannah Maclin, Andrew’s date, is found dead in the parking lot of the restaurant with a tacky rose sticking out of her chest and lots of suspects near the scene of the crime. Hannah wasn’t a well loved woman and she’s got a long list of enemies and haters that the police believe includes Andrew. While Olivia thinks this is preposterous, it’s given her a reason to go sleuthing again. Before she can fix her love life she has to make sure the man she loves stays out of jail! 

As Olivia dives into a two part mystery of solving a murder and tracking her ex-boyfriend’s puzzling movements, she finds that the two investigations weave together in the old secrets and hidden passions of the town. Her mission becomes finding the truth in the misinformation, but Olivia will need to be careful—she can’t miss a clue or she’ll lose the love of her life.

Hello.

I must admit that I seem to have a weak spot for mysteries, especially ones of the cozy mystery variety. They are often fun to read. They have become ones that I turn to when under a lot of stress or needing a break from life. 

I did not realize going into this one that it was the fourth book in the Happy Tails Dog Walking Mysteries Series. Thankfully, it could be read alone. There were some references from previous books but they did not detract from the overall story. This was an enjoyable book. 

Thank you NetGalley and Relay Publishing for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Four Red Books because it was predictable at times. I do wonder if my experience would have been more filling if I had read the three prior volumes. It was a very cute read and I would recommend it to other cozy mystery lovers.

InkedBookDragon

Choke Hold by Gerald Everett Jones

Choke Hold by Gerald Everett Jones

Published by LaPuerta Books and Media

Published on October 24, 2017

Genres: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

Page Count: 254

Source: Netgalley

Format: eBook

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Description: Hank Ellis was murdered in his own home for dissing the cops.

Cynical personal-injury attorney Eli Wolff rediscovers his idealism for simple justice when he sues the city for the wrongful death of an unarmed African-American man at the hands of two police officers. Ellis was killed in his own home, choked to death, after angry officers stormed in without a warrant, anxious to teach him a lesson for disrespecting them in front of his neighbors.

Hello.

Choke Hold: A Novel by Gerald Everett Jones could be taken straight out of the headlines. This book is about a man killed by the police and the attorney that fights for justice for him. It is refreshing to see characters grow and become more confident. I was uncomfortable at times because it does feel so much like some of the recent events. It is very well written. 

Thank you Netgalley and LaPuerta Books and Media for the digital ebook in exchange for a honest review. This novel is the first that I have read by the author. I am rating it Four Red Books because there were moments where it drug some. I am definitely considering reading more books by the author. I would recommend it. 

InkedBookDragon

Pavlov's Dog by David Kurman

Pavlov's Dog by David Kurman

Published by John Hunt Publishing Ltd (Roundfire Books)

Published on November 7, 2017

Genres: General Fiction (Adult), Literary Fiction

Page Count: 192

Source: Netgalley, Roundfire Books

Format: eBook

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Description: Down-and-out actor Stan Pavlov’s life takes an unexpected turn when his beloved Dog inadvertently gets cast in the commercial Stan was auditioning for. Pavlov’s Dog moves to LA and ascends to stardom in a late-night talk show. Stan quits. He has flushed acting out of his system, until the Dog, sick and broke, needs money for an operation - having blown all his on chew toys and bitches... Stan grudgingly agrees to become a prime-time game show host, but finds that money, fame and attention can’t erase the simple truth: there is no loneliness quite as profound as a man separated from his dog.

Hello.

What do you do when you are a struggling actor and your dog gets more jobs than you do? Pavlov's Dog by David Kurman gives us that scenario. Stan has to endure the humiliation when his dog is chosen for a job that he had tried out for. Can you imagine how that would feel?

This wasn't the best book that I have ever read but it was highly entertaining. The bond between a man and his dog is endearing. In a way, it is a love story about that unbreakable bond. There were moments where I was like, "What in the world?" but the amount of laughs I experienced outweighed the odd moments. The characters were easy to relate to and the reader sees them grow.

Thank you NetGalley and Roundfire Books for the digital eBook. I was given it in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Three Orange Books because it drug at times and was predictable in some aspects. It was a humorous book and I would probably recommend.


InkedBookDragon

These Violent Delights: A Novel by Victoria Namkung

These Violent Delights: A Novel by Victoria Namkung

Published by Griffith Moon Publishing

Published on November 7, 2017

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction

Page Count: 243

Source: Netgalley

Format: eBook

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Description: At Windemere School for Girls, one of America’s elite private schools, Dr. Gregory Copeland is the beloved chair of the English Department. A married father with a penchant for romantic poetry—and impressionable teenage girls—he operates in plain sight for years, until one of his former students goes public with allegations of inappropriate conduct. With the help of an investigative journalist, and two additional Windemere alumnae who had relationships with Copeland as students, the unlikely quartet unites to take him down. 

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, These Violent Delights is a literary exploration of the unyielding pressures and vulnerabilities that so many women and girls experience, and analyzes the ways in which our institutions and families fail to protect or defend us. A suspenseful and nuanced story told from multiple points of view, the novel examines themes of sexuality, trauma, revenge, and the American myth of liberty and justice for all. 

Hello readers.

Wow! What a book! These Violent Delights is intense. It focuses on subjects that most people would shy away from. The author didn't shy away from anything. Instead, she paraded it around in from of the readers. 

This book felt as though it was taken directly from the headlines. What does a school do when one of their own turns out to be a predator? Do they remove the monster or do they sweep the issue under the rug and pretend it never happened? How are the victims treated? What happens when the school in question is full of the children of the rich and powerful? All these were addressed in this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for giving me a ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was very well written and maintained a decent speed. The characters developed nicely. It was a beautiful piece of work and I would love to read more by the author. I am giving this book Four Red Books because it was very well done but I had to stop and set it aside at times because of the subject matter. 

InkedBookDragon

Trouble Brewing by Paul Carroll

Trouble Brewing by Paul Carroll

Published by Troubador Publishing Limited Matador 

Published on May 28, 2017

Genres: General Fiction (Adult), Humor

Page Count: 256

Source: Netgalley

Format: eBook

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Description: Brian Parkin, a TV celebrity chef whose star is on the wane, is enlisted as a somewhat unlikely figurehead to help save a Yorkshire brewery in this bittersweet tale. Brimdale is facing closing time as it strives to protect its famous Brim ‘miracle’ ale. Centuries of tradition, as well as jobs, are at stake and a rival brewery will stop at nothing to nobble its pesky competitor.

Brian joins forces with some unlikely allies in the shape of an award-winning historical novelist, a retired cricketer and the world champion ferret legger to send out a message to the world that miracles can happen and Brim must be saved.

The campaigners’ antics raise smiles and tears in equal measure. The town unites, love flourishes, a mother and daughter are reconciled and unlikely heroes emerge. But as the clock ticks down to last orders, is Brim and its miraculous powers all it’s cracked up to be?

Trouble Brewing is contemporary, warm-hearted, full of quirky characters, clever plot twists and amusing set pieces. The book explores celebrity culture, romance, the art of the white lie and throws in Brexit as a chaser. Witty, intelligent and humorous, Paul Carroll’s latest novel will appeal to readers looking for a cheering and enjoyable satire.


Hello Readers!

Recently, I was sent a digital copy of "Trouble Brewing" by Paul Carroll in exchange for an honest review. I was delighted to get the opportunity and hope that this review expresses what I intend to share about this novel. Any quotes that may appear come straight from the text.

Let's see. Where do I begin?  "Trouble Brewing" was a wonderful read. I greatly enjoyed it. I am not one that gives out false praise. If anything, I tend to be a bit of a literary snob at times. I admit it. From the first page, I knew that I wanted to read more. That is rare.

Who doesn't love an underdog story? Small town brewery being harassed by a larger one that hopes to destroy it. We have all seen and/or experienced events similar. From page one, the reader finds themselves rooting for the underdog.  In fact, I found myself getting frustrated with some of the characters to the extent that I would talk to them. "Don't do that!" "What are you doing?" I was taken deep into the story and wanted nothing more than to see it develop. Within the pages, you see characters grow in such a way that you honestly feel for them. In a way, it becomes your town and your friends.

Overall, it was a pleasure to read and I hope to read more of Carroll's work. His novel left me wanting more.  Perhaps, I will reread it in the near future. It will be like having a pint with old friends.

InkedBookDragon