contemporary - No Apology Book Reviews

A Haunting in the Arctic by C. J. Cooke

August 5, 2024February 22, 2024

Title: A Haunting in the Arctic Author: C. J. Cooke Series: n/a didn’t end well Much thanks to C. J. Cooke, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Kaila Mundell-Hill for inviting me on the blog tour. Yes, you read correctly—Berkley actually let me have an ARC. No, no, don’t run to your bunker. Stay close, though. Ghost story, psychological thriller, historical fiction—this novel has it all…..if …

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

August 5, 2024February 16, 2024

Title: Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair Author: Laura Piper Lee Series: n/a it’s okay to fuck up your kid Much thanks to Laura Piper Lee, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Hmm. Well, one thing I can say for sure is that conservatives probably won’t like this book much. It should have the subtitle “a WOKE novel.” Did you just cringe? Me too. Though, blanket disclaimer, I …

Review Roundup Early 2024

March 3, 2024February 16, 2024

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Early 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: Don’t Let Her Go Author: Willow Rose Series: Detective Billie Ann Wilde #1 Much thanks to Willow Rose, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was fine. A good mystery to pass the time, if not a terribly unique one. I feel kinda slimy saying child abduction and …

Interview with Darci Hannah (Murder at the Blarney Bash)

February 16, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah is filled with St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. Readers will be delighted with shamrock sugar cookies, green icing, green beer, and Guinness cupcakes. The plot begins with leprechauns, something that the main character, Lindsey’s boyfriend, Rory’s Uncle Finn is obsessed with. He recently relocated with his daughter Colleen and their dog Bailey from Ireland to open a pub and bar, The Blarney Stone. As the characters are …

Interview with Lori Foster (The Fearless One)

February 9, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Fearless One by Lori Foster is another home run. Per usual, readers will not be disappointed in this story. The plot has adventure, suspense, and great characters. A bonus is that some of the secondary characters will be familiar to those who have read the first Osborn book or the McKenzies of Ridge Trail series. The plot begins with Memphis Osborne cleaning up after working on restoring the campground he bought. But to …

Interview with Patrice Lewis (The Road to Redemption and The Amish Midwife’s Bargain)

February 2, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Road to Redemption and The Amish Midwife’s Bargain by Patrice Lewis continues the story of the Kemp siblings. Both are books about forgiveness, hope, and how choices made can influence someone’s life. The Road to Redemption is the second book in the series. Thomas Kemp travels to the Amish community in Montana to redeem his life. He is ashamed of his criminal activities of the past. Now working as a bookkeeper, he meets …

Interview with Anna J. Stewart (A Detective’s Deadly Secrets and Vanished)

January 19, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Detective’s Deadly Secrets by Anna J. Stewart is sadly the last in the series. The hero is FBI Agent Eaman Quinn, someone readers should be familiar with. He is reunited with a former girlfriend, Lana Tate. She is searching for answers surrounding her late husband’s death but needs his help. Together they work the case and become reacquainted. Vanished is the second book in the Circle of the Red Lily series. It features …

Interview with Kallie E. Benjamin (Sniffing Out Murder)

January 18, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin, the pen name for Valerie Burns, is the first in a new series. This book is a delightful read that has humor and a riveting ‘who done it.’ Readers are introduced to the main character, Priscilla Cummings, who is a teacher by day and a children’s author by night. That is until she has found success with her first children’s book, about the adventures of her dog, …

Interview with Tarris Marie (Blaque Pearle)

January 18, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Blaque Pearle by Tarris Marie intertwines crime, romance, and the ‘90s era. Much like her characters, the author also took a powerful journey, having to overcome Stargardt Disease, a genetic condition that caused her legal blindness and cost her a corporate job. The plot has deeply flawed but relatable characters who risk everything for love and family. The main female lead, Pearle Brown was an aspiring actress that got caught up in her brother’s …

Interview with Melinda Curtis (A Cowboy Christmas Carol)

December 30, 2023

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Cowboy Christmas Carol by Melinda Curtis recalls the story of Scrooge, A Christmas Carol. In this case it is one of twin brothers, Ryan, wants nothing to do with the holiday. If readers want a story that will put a smile on their faces, they will want to read this because the banter between the characters is off the charts. Ryan and Tate Oakley are twin brothers who are part of the rodeo …