Debut Authors

Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

Photo Credit: Crooked Lane Books

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Plantation Shudders

Summary from Goodreads:

Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival–elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes– Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durand, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Cozy mysteries are a book type that are close to my heart. I find them to be filled with great characters that I look forward to seeing again and again.  Continue reading →

Love and Miss Communication by Elyssa Friedland

love and miss communication

Photo Credit: William Morrow May 2015

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Love And Miss Communication

Evie Rosen. In her 30’s. Anticipating making partner at her law firm. Has great friends. Single (a fact that is driving her grandmother to worry about Evie’s future).

When Evie is called into a meeting, she assumes that it’s news related to her potential move up to partner.

It’s not.

Evie gets a wake-up call and then decides to do something drastic……. Continue reading →

Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey

dear carolina by kristy woodson harvey

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Dear Carolina

Khaki Mason. Southern. Interior Designer. Does not take “no” for an answer. Besides the death of her first husband, Khaki is the personification of the words “charmed life”.

Jodi, Khaki’s husband’s cousin, is not living the charmed life. She’s the daughter of an alcoholic. Her father has recently died. She’s in love with a man who is content to let her foot his bills and still think it’s ok to talk down to her. And she’s an alcoholic herself.

What do these 2 women have in common? Continue reading →

Small Blessings by Martha Woodroof

Small Blessings

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Small Blessings

Tom Putnam is not living- not really. His life is not bad, exactly, but he is existing. Just existing. Married to a woman who named Marjory- who has some peculiar quirks, Tom stays in this marriage because while Marjory had many quirks before, after finding out about Tom’s affair- her quirks have increased. Continue reading →

The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle

the last breath

Photo Credit: Harlequin Books

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration by Harlequin Books.

The Last Breath

Gia Andrews chases and helps with disasters all over the world- no disaster is too large, too intimidating for Gia. Except one…. And no matter what, Gia does not think she can fix the one- the one that tore her family apart.

Continue reading →

Vintage by Susan Gloss

Vintage by Susan Gloss

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Vintage

Violet, the owner of Hourglass Vintage, knows the history behind the pieces in her store. The vintage pieces all have a story to tell- and Violet is only too happy to listen. Violet, though, has a past that she is not sure how to move on from. She’s moved away- and yet, still feels tied to her past. Continue reading →

While Beauty Slept by Elizabeth Blackwell

While Beauty Slept

Photo Credit: Goodreads

While Beauty Slept was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a honest review.

While Beauty Slept

The story opens with Elise Dalriss’s great granddaughter telling a story to the other kids- a story about a fair maiden- Sleeping Beauty. Elise is uneasy with this story being told- but she doesn’t say anything to her great-grandaughter, until Elise finds her searching her room and holding a special knife. Elise sits the girl down and begins telling a story- a story of wonder, of love, of betrayal and pain. Continue reading →

Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter

hunted fb

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Hunted

Evelyn Baine is criminal profiler with the FBI. Evelyn has wanted to work with the FBI for many years- and her star is rising and she’s making quite a reputation for herself. When called in to profile the Bakersville Burier, Evelyn knows she must work hard to create a profile before too many innocent people are killed. What Evelyn does not count on is how the Bakersville Burier will change her life- and how deeply it will affect her. Continue reading →

Starter House by Sonja Condit

starter house

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Starter House

Lacey and Eric, a young married couple, are looking for a house. Their 2 will becoming 3 in a short few months and both Lacey and Eric desire a place of their own to raise their child, in a neighborhood that has good schools and a nice look.  Lacey, though, wants a house with character- not a square cookie-cutter house- a house with character. When Lacey sees this 1 house and finds out that it is for sale- she falls in love with the house. Eric is happy because it’s in the neighborhood they want, is in their price range, and makes Lacey happy. Too bad neither of them really listened to the real estate agent when she tried to discourage them from buying the house.

Shortly after moving in, Lacey begins having difficulty with her pregnancy- and is concerned. She and Eric begin making alternative arrangements- Lacey sleeping downstairs, her mother moving in temporarily and Lacey trying to keep stress to a minimum. Still, Lacey feels uneasy. The house, at times, has a different feel to it- not warm and welcoming; but dark and mysterious. There is a little boy  who Lacey keeps seeing… in her house. This boy, Drew, appeals to Lacey and her teacher/maternal instincts. But, slowly, she begins to pick up on things- that Drew is not what he seems.  That Drew is a jealous child and quick to anger- which Lacey finds out the hard way.

Determined to get to the bottom of what has happened in this house and the story of Drew- Lacey begins to look for clues. What she finds is dark and chilling.  Will Lacey be able to put an end to evil in the house- before she and her baby pay the ultimate price?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is Sonja Condit’s first book and while I enjoyed it- I was a bit conflicted at times. Sonja’s characters- Lacey and Eric, I did not completely connect with either. Lacey, at times, seemed like she was cracking up and Eric, was an obsessive workaholic.

The story is compared to The Thirteenth Tale and since I have not read that book, I can’t accurately say if Starter House is like that book. I was a bit worried that it would be too scary- similar to the movie, The Conjuring, but it was not super-scary. Starter House has more of a creepy vibe- and Sonja Condit does that very well.

Would I recommend? Yes. Was it perfect? No. But, Starter House kept me flipping pages because I had to know what happened in that house- and if or when it would ever end.

 

*Thanks to William-Morrow for sending Traveling With T STARTER HOUSE. Above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

 

 

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Killer Image (An Allison Campbell Mystery) by Wendy Tyson

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Photo Credit: Henery Press

 

Image is everything. Especially in the ritzy section of Philadelphia. Was a divorce lawyer killed because someone wanted to protect their image?

Allison Campbell is the image consultant in Philadelphia. Allison  knows about rising above a difficult past and how important image is in society. When a political mover and shaker tries to obtain her services for his 15 year old daughter, Allison is reluctant. She does not work with teenagers usually as Allison generally works with adults wanting to reinvent themselves after a divorce. Allison decides to at least consider taking on the 15 year old as a client. When she meets Maggie, Allison decides to help her- even though Maggie made it abundantly clear she does not want, nor need Allison’s help.

Slowly, Maggie and Allison become friendly- and the friendship may cost Allison everything she has worked hard for. When Allison refuses to play by Congressman McBride’s rules- he threatens to reveal Allison’s past scandal involving a teenage girl who needed help. Allison worries- but knows that she can’t let the Congressman McBride get the best of her. When a lawyer is found killed with ritualistic symbols- the police begin to question many people. They question Allison’s former mother in law (as well as mentor). But, they zero in on Maggie because of her connection the deceased and her Goth appearance. Allison knows this girl did not kill the lawyer- but who did?

With her detective hat on, Allison searches for clues to clear Maggie and to make sure that her former mother-in-law is not considered as a suspect. Between running her business, following the clues, and dealing with the Congressman- Allison’s hands are full. She, though, does find time for some romance and for learning about a secret or two!

Can Allison find out who killed the lawyer? Will the Congressman succeed in putting Allison out of business? Is the killer right in front of Allison’s face? Read Killer Image to find out!

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Wendy Tyson’s debut, Killer Image, is part mystery, part psychological thriller with a dash of romance. Entertaining and enjoyable. The characters are fleshed out, the storyline twists and turns (but ties together nicely). Allison is not a push-over- she’s a strong character with a big heart. Recommended.

 

*This book was provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.