Jersey Girl Book Reviews: Book Teasers

Pru has a secret, which she has no plans to reveal – ever. But after a woman is murdered and all clues point to her, she has no choice but to disclose her true identity. When her revelations thwart the killer’s plan to frame Pru for murder, the killer begins stalking her. With each note he sends, he gets closer. The police are stumped. Pru wants to run away. She really, really wants to run, but Ajax has found the woman of his dreams and he’s not letting her go anywhere. He can be patient. In the meantime, he’ll protect her with his life. Pru isn’t feeling very patient, and her friends, Mel and Terri, are definitely not willing to wait until the police discover who the stalker is. The three friends take matters into their own hands and jump headfirst into the investigation.

Will Pru and her friends uncover her stalker before he turns his violence on Pru?

Book Teasers:

My Book Review:

In Hide Not Seek, the third book in The Not So Reluctant Detectives Series, author D.E. Haggerty continues to weave a delightful cozy mystery series that follows the amateur investigative adventures of best friends and co-workers Terri, Melanie and Prudence.

Pru's secretive past has come back to haunt her. Someone has tried to set Pru up for the murder of a local woman, but that's not all. Pru has a stalker who is leaving her notes, and she is ready to high-tail it out of Milwaukee, but Pru's special guy Ajax isn't going to let her run away, he is determined to keep her safe. And when you have a friend like Melanie who is determined to find the stalker, Pru has no chance but to go along with friends Mel, Terri, Ryder (Terri's private investigator boyfriend), Owen (Melanie's police officer fiance), and Ajax, as they embark on a murder investigation adventure that is sure to find the murderer / stalker before it turns deadly!

Hide Not Seek is a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery that will keep the reader engaged as they follow the humorous trials and tribulations of Melanie, Terri, and Prudence on their latest amateur investigative adventures.

This was such a fun book to read! The reader can't help but get drawn into the quirky trials and tribulations and intriguing suspense that Pru and friends encounter as they fly by the seat of their pants during their latest murder / stalker investigation.

In this latest installment of The Not So Reluctant Detective Series, the reader finally gets to read Pru's story, one that is filled with enough past secrets that will keep you wondering who she really is. I really enjoyed Melanie's sassy humor and wit, you can't help but laugh as this feisty chick coerces her friends to embark on another investigation adventure through her tireless determination, and when you add in the hilarious antics that follows these three cheeky chicks and their boyfriends, you get a delightful cozy mystery that will leave you wanting more! And if the murder /stalker investigation isn't enough, the reader will enjoy the romantic angst that Pru and Ajax share as they go through the trials and tribulations of their blossoming romantic relationship.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I really loved how the author used clever English Literature quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

Cozy mystery fans, I would highly recommend that you read the entertaining The Not So Reluctant Detective Series, you won't regret it!

RATING: 4 STARS

About The Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom's Harlequin romances, to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

Author Website
Author Blog
Amazon Author Page
Book Bub Author Page
Newsletter Signup
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Goodreads

Friday, January 25, 2019

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich (Book Review)

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich

Publisher: Poppy

Publication Date: October 9, 2018

Format: Hardcover & Paperback - 368 pages

Audio Book - 8 Hours 8 Minutes

Kindle - 2625 KB

Nook - 2 MB

ISBN: 978-0241361870

ASIN: B07B8FS9PJ
BNID: 978-0316420228

Genre: Young Adult / Social & Family Issues / Anxiety / Depression / Suicide Prevention

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Audio Book

Goodreads

Book Description:

From the show's creators comes the groundbreaking novel inspired by the hit Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today's going to be an amazing day and here's why...

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.

Suddenly, Evan isn't invisible anymore--even to the girl of his dreams. And Connor Murphy's parents, with their beautiful home on the other side of town, have taken him in like he was their own, desperate to know more about their enigmatic son from his closest friend. As Evan gets pulled deeper into their swirl of anger, regret, and confusion, he knows that what he's doing can't be right, but if he's helping people, how wrong can it be?

No longer tangled in his once-incapacitating anxiety, this new Evan has a purpose. And a website. He's confident. He's a viral phenomenon. Every day is amazing. Until everything is in danger of unraveling and he comes face to face with his greatest obstacle: himself.

A simple lie leads to complicated truths in this big-hearted coming-of-age story of grief, authenticity and the struggle to belong in an age of instant connectivity and profound isolation.

Book Teasers:

Book Trailer:

Links:

Play Website

Facebook
Google+

Instagram

Tumbler

Twitter

YouTube

My Book Review:

It all began with a letter to oneself that leads to a tangled web of lies ... but out of it comes a social discussion and movement with a powerful message that "you are not alone, and that you matter!"

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel is a more in-depth coming-of-age adaptation of the hit Broadway musical that examines the important social issues of mental health (anxiety, isolation, the struggle to belong, invisibility, self-importance, self-acceptance, depression) and suicide.

Told in the alternating first person perspectives from high school seniors Evan Hansen (mental health issues) and Connor Murphy (suicide), the reader follows Connor's perspective of witnessing the aftermath of his death, and Evan's perspective as he tries to deal with his downward spiral after his letter to himself morphs into a tangled web of lies about being Connor's best friend, all done in the name of trying to fit in and help Connor's family deal with their grief.

I saw the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen at the beginning of January, and it was such a profound story that had me feeling the full gamut of emotions as Evan and Connor's story unfolded. I applaud the author for adapting this amazing musical into an unforgettable book that everyone should read. While I loved the musical, it did leave me with some questions, and I am so glad that Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel went more in-depth into Evan and Connor's story, it cleared up a lot of the questions, and really made more sense.

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel is an emotional and inspirational story about serious social issues that affects everyone. Mental health and suicide are important issues that needs to have a perpetual conversation in our society. The story and musical's powerful message says it all: "you are never alone, you matter, and there will always be a tomorrow."

*Note: At the end of the novel, there is an important listing of mental health and suicide prevention resources available.

RATING: 5 STARS

About The Author

Dubbed a "Renaissance Man" by the New York Post, Val Emmich is a writer, a singer-songwriter, and an actor. His first novel, The Reminders, was a Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers selection and his follow-up, Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel, based on the hit Broadway show, was a New York Times bestseller. He's had recurring roles on Vinyl and Ugly Betty, as well as a memorable guest role as Tina Fey's coffee-boy fling, Jamie, on 30 Rock. Emmich lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Instagram
iTunes
Tumblr
YouTube
Goodreads

Thursday, November 29, 2018

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane (VBT: Book Review)

In association with Social Butterfly PR, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for A Gentleman For Christmas by author Prescott Lane!

About The Book

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane

Publisher: Independent Publisher

Publication Date: November 26, 2018

Format: eBook - 122 pages

Kindle - 1033 KB

Nook - 354 KB

ASIN: B07K8VNSQH

BNID: 2940156143863

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Holiday Romance

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBook

Kobo

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Social Butterfly PR.

Book Description:

Some say “chivalry is dead.”

I don’t think so. Most women I know like a gentleman.

Protective, opens doors, treats women with respect, typically follows the rules.

But a gentleman doesn’t fall for his best friend’s woman. Current or ex.

And that’s what I’ve done.

During the Christmas season of all times — that magical time for decorations, gifts, family . . .

Yes, the girl who was off-limits for so long, who I’ve loved all my life, has come back in town and possibly back to me.

I can’t follow the gentleman rules this time. There’s too much at stake. I let her go once. I won’t let her go again.

What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe.

Or does it?

Book Excerpt:

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”

Otherwise known as the original bros before hoes commandment.

I’m not advocating calling women hoes. It’s an expression, so put away your Encyclopedia of Political Correctness.

There are rules in life. The Ten Commandments were just the beginning. We have rules for everything. How to drive. How to dress. How to walk across the damn street. So why not rules for love? That’s how all this started — a set of rules between my buddies and me.

The Bro Code.

Obviously, bros before hoes is rule one. We vowed never to let a girl come between us, which meant if one of us liked a girl, she was forever off limits.

Little did I know our teenage pact would launch my multi-million dollar career. A little tweaking here and some socially acceptable rewording there and The Gentleman’s Handbook was born.

I’ve written books and given seminars on everything from how to find love, to how to propose, to how to have a successful long-distance relationship. You name it, and I’ve got rules for it. Personally, I’ve never been much of a rule follower, but that’s my little secret.

The funny thing is I’ve never been in love. Well, there is this one girl, but we won’t talk about her. It does no good to think about someone you can’t have and never will.

My lack of emotional commitment hasn’t slowed down my career one bit. Currently, I have two books on the New York Times Best Sellers List. My seminars sell out like a Drake concert.

I always find it interesting that the rules started between a group of male friends, but it’s mostly women that come to hear me speak. Occasionally, you see the poor sap boyfriend who was dragged along to listen, but for the most part it’s all women.

This time of the year is no exception. December first until January first is important for guys. Holidays are big for a lot of couples. If you don’t know what you’re doing for your lady, you better figure it out and fast. In fact, my rule is that you should be paying attention all year long.

Trust me on this. If you remember something she mentioned she liked three months ago and surprise her with it at Christmas, she’ll spread her legs before Santa even has time to slide down the chimney. Let’s be honest, that is always at least part of the goal for guys.

So my current work in progress tackles Christmas. A how-to guide for the holidays.

The Gentleman’s Rules for Christmas.

Book Teaser:

My Book Review:

A Gentleman For Christmas is a wonderful holiday romance story about two childhood best friends who are unexpectedly reunited in their hometown during the Christmas holiday after being apart for ten years, and their discovery of the holiday season's magical gift of receiving a second chance at love.

Author Prescott Lane weaves a beautiful romantic tale that takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as they follow Jax and Skylar's story. Their story is set in the small southern beach town of Waterscape, Florida. Jax and Skylar are part of a tight-knit group of childhood friends that include Maci, Malcolm, and Luke. But Jax and Skylar were longtime childhood best friends until he messed things up ... Jax let Skylar get away when Luke expressed an interest in dating Skylar. The guys have a "bro code" where they vowed to never let a girl come between them, and if one of them likes/dates a girl, then she is forever off limits. Ten years later, Jax is a successful author / motivational speaker who wrote The Gentleman's Handbook, a series of relationship and lifestyle books. But there is one little problem ... Jax doesn't follow his own rules ... especially when Skylar comes home heartbroken after breaking up with Luke ... because this time Jax isn't letting Skylar get away!

Told in alternating first person narratives by Jax and Skylar, these two childhood best friends reunite unexpectedly when Skylar comes home after breaking up with Luke, her boyfriend of ten years. Jax has always loved Skylar, but he let her get away and tried to honor the "bro code", but Skylar is the forbidden fruit that he wants so badly. Their story is filled with friendship, laughter, angst, family and relationship dramas, friendship conflicts, and the amazing chance of having an unrequited love finally become fulfilled.

A Gentleman For Christmas is a sweet and sexy friends to lovers second chance love story that is very swoon worthy. I loved how the author draws the reader into Jax and Skylar's story with flashbacks to their childhood past intertwined with the present. It is filled with emotional angst and drama, and a slow smoldering craving and build up of sexual tension that leads up to a passionate romance that will send tingles down your spine. I was Team Jax from the start, he is the kind of Gentleman that any girl could easily fall in love with. I loved getting to know the group of friends, especially childhood sweethearts/married couple Maci and Malcolm, because they are the glue that kept the love triangle of Jax, Skylar, and Luke from tearing their longtime friendship apart. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I really enjoyed Jax's various "Gentleman's Rules" that were included throughout the book, especially my favorite rule: "when you find the right woman, never let her go."

A Gentleman For Christmas is a beautiful holiday romance story of best friends getting a second chance at true love and moving forward in life that will resonate with you for a very long time.

RATING: 5 STARS

About The Author

Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She's got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List. She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren't enough happily ever afters in real life.

Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Goodreads

Monday, November 26, 2018

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane (Book Release Day Blitz)

In association with Social Butterfly PR, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the book release day blitz event for A Gentleman For Christmas by author Prescott Lane!

About The Book

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane

Publisher: Independent Publisher

Publication Date: November 26, 2018

Format: eBook - 122 pages

Kindle - 1033 KB

Nook - 354 KB

ASIN: B07K8VNSQH

BNID: 2940156143863

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Holiday Romance

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBook

Kobo

Goodreads

Book Description:

Some say “chivalry is dead.”

I don’t think so. Most women I know like a gentleman.

Protective, opens doors, treats women with respect, typically follows the rules.

But a gentleman doesn’t fall for his best friend’s woman. Current or ex.

And that’s what I’ve done.

During the Christmas season of all times — that magical time for decorations, gifts, family . . .

Yes, the girl who was off-limits for so long, who I’ve loved all my life, has come back in town and possibly back to me.

I can’t follow the gentleman rules this time. There’s too much at stake. I let her go once. I won’t let her go again.

What happens under the mistletoe, stays under the mistletoe.

Or does it?

Book Teaser:

About The Author

Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Goodreads

Pages

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Hide Not Seek by D.E. Haggerty (Book Review)

Friday, January 25, 2019

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich (Book Review)

Thursday, November 29, 2018

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane (VBT: Book Review)

Monday, November 26, 2018

A Gentleman For Christmas by Prescott Lane (Book Release Day Blitz)