Cheers to female friendship! This book was a breath of fresh air. What truly impressed me was that it features women in their 30s and 40s. They have jobs. They are mothers. They are successful. They are independent. None of those “Just graduated from college, trying to find a man to make me happy” books.
When I was pitched this book, I realized it was the second in a series. But fear not, my friends. I haven’t read the first book and it’s absolutely not necessary. These characters stand on their own. They do refer to events that happened in Book 1, but you can read this book independently and not miss anything.
Taking place over a bachelorette weekend (or nonbachelorette, as Skylar would prefer), these women, Daphne, Skylar, and KC, experience all the ups and downs with New York City as the backdrop. I just felt so connected to the talk of marriage and motherhood and money. It reminded me of my girlfriends getting together. And I loved that they referred to themselves as the Three Musketeers because that was a nickname I had in childhood with my two best friends. The witty banter was the icing on the cake here.
If you’re looking for a fun, short beach read, this is one you’ll want to add to your list. If you enjoyed Center Ring by Nicole Waggoner, I’d expect you to love this one too. I think everyone can find bits or pieces of themselves in either Daphne, Skylar, or KC. Or even Krissa or Sloane.
Thanks to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
About the author:
The story of how Maria became an author is a little crazy. She used to work in high-tech PR but hated it, so she quit and ended up playing semi-pro soccer in Argentina for a year. While she was down there she decided to write a novel, which was something she’d always dreamed of doing. Fast forward a few years, and she’s now the bestselling author of the Waverly Bryson series (Perfect on Paper, It’s a Waverly Life, Honey on Your Mind, and Chocolate for Two, which garnered a starred review in Publishers Weekly), plus Katwalk, 2015 International Book Award winner Cassidy Lane, Wait for the Rain, and Bridges. And yes, she still plays a lot of soccer!
Learn more and sign up for her mailing list at www.mariamurnane.com
If you enjoy Maria’s books, please tweet @mariamurnane and “like” her on Facebook.
To contact her via email, send a note to maria@mariamurnane.com. She loves hearing from readers and personally responds to every message!
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Thanks to the author, I have a signed copy of Bridges to give away to a lucky reader. U.S. only, please. Enter on the Rafflecopter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE MEMORY PAINTER COMES A SWEEPING AND SUSPENSEFUL TALE OF ROMANCE, FATE, AND FORTUNE.
Semele Cavnow appraises antiquities for an exclusive Manhattan auction house, deciphering ancient texts—and when she discovers a manuscript written in the time of Cleopatra, she knows it will be the find of her career. Its author tells the story of a priceless tarot deck, now lost to history, but as Semele delves further, she realizes the manuscript is more than it seems. Both a memoir and a prophecy, it appears to be the work of a powerful seer, describing devastating wars and natural disasters in detail thousands of years before they occurred.
The more she reads, the more the manuscript begins to affect Semele’s life. But what happened to the tarot deck? As the mystery of her connection to its story deepens, Semele can’t shake the feeling that she’s being followed. Only one person can help her make sense of it all: her client, Theo Bossard. Yet Theo is arrogant and elusive, concealing secrets of his own, and there’s more to Semele’s desire to speak with him than she would like to admit. Can Semele even trust him?
The auction date is swiftly approaching, and someone wants to interfere—someone who knows the cards exist, and that the Bossard manuscript is tied to her. Semele realizes it’s up to her to stop them: the manuscript holds the key to a two-thousand-year-old secret, a secret someone will do anything to possess.
“Beginning as a clever mystery based on an ancient manuscript and evolving into a family epic spanning centuries, an international thriller, and a destined romance, The Fortune Teller has something for everyone. Offer it to fans of A.S. Byatt’s Possession and Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series.”―Booklist
“Womack alternates back and forth between a whirlwind history that spans thousands of years and the suspense of Semele’s search…Entertaining.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The Fortune Teller is a gripping, twisting tale that spans thousands of years, thousands of miles, and perhaps even crosses over to the ‘other side.’ A fascinating read that is that unlikely combination of unputdownable and thought-provoking.”—B.A. Shapiro, bestselling author of The Art Forger and The Muralist
“There aren’t enough words to adequately describe how much I love The Fortune Teller. It is a gripping and masterfully woven combination of history, mystery, fate, adventure, and family ties: a true page-turner that enthralls from the first sentence with unique characters, fascinating settings, and intriguing artifacts. Womack brilliantly illuminates how there is more at play in the world than logic can explain.”—Kelli Estes, USA Today bestselling author of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk
“The Fortune Teller takes you on an international thrill ride across centuries—with fascinating research and memorable characters—proving once again that Gwendolyn Womack is a magician, keeping readers turning pages with wonder and awe.”—M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author
“What a mesmerizing journey. The suspense increases steadily throughout the novel, as Semele realizes her identity is caught up in the mysterious manuscript and that the truth of her own abilities is a secret people will kill for. Readers who enjoy the novels of Katherine Neville, Kate Mosse and Diana Gabaldon will savor this treat.”—Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown
About the Author
Originally from Houston, Texas, Gwendolyn Womack studied theater at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. She holds an MFA in Directing Theatre, Video, and Cinema from California Institute of the Arts. Her first novel, The Memory Painter, was an RWA PRISM award winner in the Time Travel/Steampunk category and a finalist for Best First Novel. She now resides in Los Angeles with her husband and her son.
During the Book Blast we will be giving away a Tarot Deck & Book Set! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.
Description: This deck/book set provides everything you need to understand tarot. The full-size deck is a vibrantly recolored version of the classic Rider-Waite deck, updated with subtle shading that gives depth to the familiar tarot scenes. The 272-page, user-friendly handbook with full-color illustrations is perfect for beginners as well as experienced readers who want to refresh their tarot skills.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on June 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
It has been a long time since I read a gritty serial killer novel. The last series I recommended was the Smoky Barrett series starting with Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen. I had heard The Fourth Monkey was good, so I was excited to read it. And I was pleased to find that it was fantastic!
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We are first presented with the 4MK killer by finding his signature white box tied with black string. Inside is either his victim’s ear, eyeballs, or tongue. He follows the “Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil” mantra. You’ll have to read the book to find out why it’s called The Fourth Monkey. And the Chicago detectives searching for him assume he’s a vigilante killer.
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What I loved so much about this book and made it so readable was that interspersed throughout the search is the killer’s diary. It starts with him as a young boy and takes us through a creepy period in his life to give us a glimpse as to why he does what he does. I found the diary to be as page turning as the rest of the book! I couldn’t wait to get back to the back story to read more.
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If you are a fan of Dexter (the books or television series), You and Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes or James Patterson, this book is a must read. With an open ending, I sure hope J.D. Barker adds another to this series. I’d love to find out what trouble these characters find themselves in next. My thanks to Maxine Groves and HMH for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Today for one lucky winner I have a #4MK Killer Swag Bag which features a hardcover book and more fun prizes! U.S. and UK residents only, please. Enter on the Rafflecopter. a Rafflecopter giveaway
While I love reading historical fiction, often to discover a piece of history I knew nothing about, it’s rare to find those same books action packed. The Alice Network is an exception. The quick pace starts on page 13 and doesn’t let up until we reach the stunning conclusion.
This story is told in duplicate timelines, one in 1947 and the other in 1913. Charlie is 19 in 1947 and also pregnant out of wedlock. She is determined to find out what happened to her missing cousin. After a tip leads her to Eve Gardiner’s door hoping she can help her, the two take off in search of answers. The 1913 story is Eve’s as we learn of her role during WWI and how it ties into Charlie’s missing cousin.
Love James Bond movies? Pick up this book. Any interest in history, especially women’s empowerment? Pick up this book. Need a read to keep you on the edge of your seat? Pick up this book. Even book clubs will find much to discuss and you can find some questions to get you started in the back.
I loved The Alice Network for its glimpse into the life of female spies as well as its ability to keep the story moving, hard to do at almost 500 pages. I would love to see this one turned into a movie.
Some bloggers on tour were able to do a special video chat with Kate. You can view it here.
Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical voice. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance detailing the early years of the infamous Borgia clan. All have been translated into multiple languages. She and her husband now live in Maryland with two black dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia.
About the author:
Thanks to TLC Book Tours, I have one copy to give away to a lucky reader. U.S. only, please. Enter on the Rafflecopter.