Showing posts with label 2022. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2022. Show all posts

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Murder at the Wedding ~ Partners in Crime Tours Audiobook Review & Giveaway!


September 8 - October 3, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

MURDER AT THE WEDDING
Modern Midwife Mystery Series, #1  
by CHRISTINE KNAPP
Narrated by Erin deWard

Cozy Mystery / Suspense / Medical Professionals
Published by: Print, Gemma Halliday Publishing; Audiobook, Tantor Audio
Publication Date: Print, June 10, 2022; Audiobook, October 17, 2023
Number of Pages: 249
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 8 minutes

SCROLL DOWN FOR A GIVEAWAY!

Synopsis:

Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp

A Modern Midwife Mystery

Birth, death, mayhem, and murder…

Maeve O’Reilly Kensington loves her job as a nurse-midwife at Creighton Memorial Hospital in the quintessential New England seaside town of Langford. Nothing could bring her more pleasure than helping women usher new life into the world... except possibly having a child of her own with her husband, Will. In the meantime, she's happy to celebrate the families of those she treats and content to support her husband in his newly formed catering business.

However when Creighton Memorial's Chief Obstetrician drops dead at his daughter’s extravagant wedding reception, catered by Will, Maeve's two worlds collide in the worst possible way. Suddenly murder is on the menu, and Maeve is desperate to help her husband and find out who killed the doctor.

With the help of her wealthy, acerbic sister Meg and quick-witted Boston Irish mother, Maeve sets out to solve a murder and clear her husband's name. Can she stay one step ahead of the killer? Or will they strike again... this time closer to home?

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BOOK REVIEW
I don't spend time on plot summary, so please read the book synopsis above.

In Murder at the Wedding, author Christine Knapp captures the readers’ attention early on and holds us spellbound by creating rich, realistic scenes in which we can immerse ourselves. And how refreshing it is to have a cozy mystery that features a married main character.

“Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed a graduate-level midwifery program and have passed a national certification exam.” – chapter two introduction

Other than the obvious, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from a series called Modern Midwife Mysteries. Each chapter of Murder at the Wedding started with a factoid about midwifery or a pregnancy-related topic before going into the story. This is an interesting device to incorporate and a great way to inform readers about the midwifery angle. Author Christine Knapp doesn’t hold back on using proper terminology and situations, which may be uncomfortable for some readers. Additionally, some heavy topics are addressed with the main character, midwife Maeve Kensington, as well as her patients, and this could trigger some readers.

Fortunately, the heavier bits of Murder at the Wedding are balanced with lighter and humorous ones – not to mention the intensely suspenseful parts that keep us on the edge of our seats. It’s an odd mélange of sub-plot ingredients that together create quite an appealing mystery meal.  We see midwifery up close and personal, but care to peek into the lifestyles of the rich or the lives and struggles of a caterer? How about the triumphs and heartaches of pregnancy? Or the secrets of the seemingly upstanding? Knapp’s got us covered.

Murder at the Wedding has a huge cast of characters, which is always hard for me to manage. Perhaps some will show up in future books? I certainly hope so, especially the main character’s mom, Mary Margaret Callahan O’Reilly, who is a show-stealing hoot of a gal every time she appears. I suspected who was the killer and wasn’t wrong; however, coming up with the motive, and watching the mystery (and that character) unravel was delightful, and those chapters showcase some of Knapp’s blissfully well-edited and best writing.

I mostly read this with my ears, but I floated between both the audiobook and the eBook, and I’m glad I did the latter, or I would have missed out! At the end of both formats, readers get a Sneak Peek of book two in the series, Murder on the Widow’s Walk, but at the end of the print book, there are five recipes (that are mentioned in the story) and a chance to get a free bonus eBook. Score!

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Erin deWard is terrific, though her pace was a bit too slow for me, so I listened at 1.25x speed. Whether a character is male or female, haughty or humble, deWard’s performance is on point. She voices each person so that they sound unique, and as mentioned already, she takes the character of Maeve’s Irish mom to the next level. Until I listened to Murder at the Wedding, I didn’t realize that ‘midwifery’ had two acceptable pronunciations, so thanks to deWard for the lesson, too. The second and third books in this series are also available as audiobooks and deWard returns as narrator. I’d listen again without hesitation.

After all the nail biting and nerve-wracking action in Murder at the Wedding, I appreciated the sweet, heartwarming ending that leaves readers hopeful and hankering for the next installment. There are so many characters and threads, future installments in the series can take any number of enticing directions to entertain us. I can’t wait to return to Maeve’s world again, and binge-readers, rejoice! There are already four more books in this series. Stay tuned.

I voluntarily reviewed this book and received a print ARC from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Read an excerpt from CHAPTER TWO of Murder at the Wedding

The parking lot at St. Andrew's Episcopal was filled almost to capacity. Despite a recent visit to the car wash, my Jeep looked out of place next to all the Mercedes, BMWs, Range Rovers, Jaguars, and Porsches.

I took out and quickly scanned the engraved linen cream invitation. It read:

Matrimonial Ceremony of
Charlotte Alexis Whitaker
and
Brooks James Hawthorne IV
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Langford, Massachusetts
Saturday, the eighth of June, at two o'clock in the afternoon

As I approached the massive church, I saw all the pink plantings and railings wrapped in white tulle with pink peonies at precise intervals. It was a floral tour de force that must have taken an army of gardeners and florists a few days to accomplish. Inside there were pink roses, peonies, and hydrangeas everywhere. The scene was right out of InStyle Magazine. I wondered, were there any pink flowers left on the East Coast? On the West Coast?

As I squeezed into the last row, a large choir serenaded the full house in the loft above the congregation.

The choir began to sing "My Spirit Sang All Day" as Mrs. Whitaker, resplendent in a strapless, rose silk Carolina Herrera with a vibrant pink cabbage rose behind one ear and a necklace of marble-sized, green South Sea pearls, was ushered to the left front pew. Really? Strapless for the mother of the bride? Well, she does look amazing.

A hush fell over the crowd. The stained-glass doors closed, and the groom and his men filed to the altar.

Did one have to be six feet two, gorgeous, and ripped to be in this wedding party?

As the first strands of Wagner filled the air, the doors opened, and down the aisle came Anastasia Bleeker. She was one of the bride's four-year-old charges at Miss Bloomfield's School, where wealthy, pregnant women enrolled their offspring-to-be to claim a coveted spot. Anastasia was wearing a white tulle fairy-tale gown with a dark rose-colored sash. A circle of petite, light pink roses and baby's breath crowned her chin length, straight, white-blonde hair. She carried a small, white wicker basket in one hand, and with the other, she started to drop pale pink rose petals down the long aisle.

Channeling Lady Di, I thought.

Next came the ring bearer, Barrington Cabot. He was another nursery school trust-fund-baby-in-the-making in white linen shorts and jacket and a head of black, curly hair. Then six breathtaking models, or rather bridesmaids, dressed in rose-colored tulle skirts and pale pink lace wrap blouses, floated down the aisle carrying white and pink hydrangeas wrapped in rose-colored ribbons. They looked like an upscale version of an ad for the United Colors of Benetton.

After a slight pause, the stained-glass doors parted again, and Dr. Whitaker appeared in his morning suit, standing at Charlotte's right side. She was breathtaking in a Vera Wang white silk ball gown glittering with thousands of tiny seed pearls. A deep rose satin ribbon wrapped around her bouquet of white peonies. Her Belgian lace veil trailed behind her down the aisle.

The ceremony went on amid candlelight, roses, and organ music. It was like being in a dream, albeit a very, very expensive dream.

Finally, vows were exchanged, there were no objections, and Charlotte and Brooks were off to the photo-taking session in a vintage, white Bentley. As they left, the guests milled about outside the church for a bit and then headed to the reception.

Evelyn Greyson, the sixtyish director of Obstetric Nursing, stood at the top of the church stairs as I exited. She was dressed in a powder blue suit with a short jacket with peplum and knee-length, fitted skirt. A pearl necklace, her ever-present pearl brooch, and small pearl stud earrings completed the look. Her graying hair was, as usual, in her trademark chignon.

"Beautiful wedding," I said.

"Magnificent," Evelyn replied. "Dr. Whitaker wouldn't have it any other way. See you at the reception, dear." And then she strode off to her car.

Evelyn always agreed with everything Dr. Whitaker said and did. She worshipped him. Did she also have an unrequited crush on him?

I quickly greeted a few colleagues but didn't linger because I wanted to see how Will was doing.

The Country Club was buzzing with activity when I drove through the porte cochère, pulled up to the main entrance, and handed my keys to a valet. The grand foyer was glittering with hundreds of candles and still more massive floral arrangements in blush pink. A string quartet played Pachelbel's "Canon in D" beside the grand staircase.

Out on the veranda, the wedding party was taking pictures before an expanse of green lawn and brilliant blue sky and sea. It would be a wedding album worthy of its own issue of Town and Country.

Large silver serving trays were circulated among the guests, offering tiny crab cakes topped with dill aioli, mini beef Wellingtons, smoked salmon pinwheels, and tomato and goat cheese on toast points. There were massive silver bowls of fresh shrimp on ice on round marble tables.

"Maeve! Maeve! Over here!" one of the midwives called. Looking around the ballroom, which held table settings for six hundred guests, I saw that the Creighton Memorial staff was on the right side of the room while family and friends were on the left. I waved to the midwives but walked over to the table where Grand, Will's grandmother, was sitting with Will's parents, Will's sister, Eloise, her husband, Taylor, and Will's younger brother, Teddy.

"Hello, Maeve." William stood and extended his hand. Never a hug, never a kiss on the cheek, just a handshake.

"Hello, so nice to see you all," I replied, shaking his hand as I nodded to the table. I saw that Lydia, my mother-in-law, was outfitted in a mint green silk cocktail dress with a large diamond necklace and matching drop earrings. She tilted her head toward me and smiled but said nothing.

"The Country Club is such a perfect wedding venue," I offered.

"Quite lovely," she replied.

"You look beautiful, Maeve," Grand said.

"Thanks, Grand."

"Sweet dress," Lydia said.

Sweet dress? What, am I five years old? Lydia was a master of the backhanded compliment, and she was not my biggest fan. Keep it together, Maeve.

Eloise was in a sleeveless, pale green and cream striped dress with an emerald and diamond pendant and earrings. Like mother, like daughter.

"Well," I said, "enjoy the meal. Will has been creating a masterpiece." I saw William's and Lydia's smiles tighten. They did not respond. They were not pleased with Will's chosen profession.

"I can't wait," Grand said.

I gave a little wave and headed over to find my table.

Scanning the room, I saw my sister, Meg, cross her eyes and raise her wine glass in a mock salute. Meg was the Langford real estate agent of choice for the wealthy and had been invited along with other top business leaders of the town. She knew I had just navigated a minefield with my emotionally distant in-laws. As soon as I reached my table, I quickly sat down and took a long drink of chardonnay.

Herend Chinese Bouquet china in pink, Gorham Newport Scroll sterling, and Baccarat crystal decorated each setting.

My gosh, they'll have to pat everyone down before they leave.

Murray Alfond, the famed orchestra leader, turned on his mic and said, "Please be seated while the bridal party arrives."

There was sustained applause as Charlotte and Brooks triumphantly paraded into the ballroom. "The bride and groom will dance to a classic personally chosen by Brooks," Alfond announced.

"The Very Thought of You" wafted through the room as Charlotte and Brooks took to the floor. They obviously had attended many ballroom dancing classes in preparation for this moment, and they danced impeccably.

Then the entire wedding party sashayed to "Fly Me to the Moon." It was like watching La La Land. They were all perfectly coiffed, dressed, and ready for filming. Plus, they could dance.

When they were done and returned to their seats, Alfond intoned, "Please bow your heads while Reverend Lucas Mathers says grace."

The Episcopal pastor of St. Andrew's, Reverend Mathers, was slightly rotund with flushed pink cheeks. He ran his hand through receding black hair, obviously feeling the weight of this moment. Then he bowed his head.

"Dear Holy Father, thank you for this glorious day! What a wonderful celebration! We ask you to bless Charlotte and Brooks, as well as their families and friends, and we beseech you to grant this special couple a life together that is happy and blessed. We further ask you to bless this fabulous repast and grant your blessings on all present. Amen."

Gee, that was short. He must be hungry.

A phalanx of waiters served the first course of spring green and white asparagus spears with shaved red onion. As we started in on the delicate vegetables, the best man, Ry Farmington, took the microphone and asked all to raise their glasses in a toast to the couple.

"Brooks has been like a brother to me since our first day at Hollis in Harvard Yard. We've seen many adventures together—none of which, out of respect for your patience and his reputation, I will go into here."

He paused for applause and a few knowing hoots.

"In the words of the Bard,
No sooner met but they looked;
No sooner looked but they loved;
No sooner loved but they sighed;
No sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason;
No sooner knew the reason, but they sought the remedy;
And in these degrees have made a pair of stairs to marriage

Please rise and toast to their lives together."

Six hundred guests rose and toasted the couple.

Then came truffle-scented tenderloin with dauphinoise potatoes and tender baby carrots. I snuck a look first at the Whitaker table and then at William and Lydia. They all seemed to be enjoying the meal, and I prayed that all the reviews would be excellent.

For dessert, a chocolate mousse with a crème brûlée center was placed at each setting. I knew the wedding cake would be cut and served later.

Just then, the wait staff re-entered the room. They set a Baccarat champagne flute filled with pink champagne at each place. A hush came over the ballroom. Dr. Whitaker was standing at the head table, staring the crowd into silence. Then he picked up his glass and smiled adoringly at Charlotte.

Everyone listened as he gave a long, loving toast to his daughter. Finally, he took a moment to gather his thoughts before saying, "Charlotte, your mother and I found this magnificent champagne in France a few years ago and had it shipped in for your wedding."

Mrs. Whitaker stared at Dr. Whitaker with a huge Miss America smile.

Dr. Whitaker continued, "Would everyone please rise and toast my lovely daughter Charlotte and her husband, Brooks." He lifted his crystal flute to his lips and took a sip while beaming at Charlotte.

Immediately, his cheeks turned scarlet, and he started to wheeze. The crystal dropped from his hand and shattered on the ground. He clutched at his throat while making extensive gasping attempts to pull in a breath. Then he went limp and collapsed to the floor. The room erupted into pandemonium.

***

Excerpt from Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp. Copyright 2022 by Christine Knapp. Reproduced with permission from Christine Knapp. All rights reserved.

MODERN MIDWIFE MYSTERY SERIES

Check out the full Modern Midwife Mystery series:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Gemma Halliday Publishing

Murder on the Widow's Walk Modern Midwife Mysteries book #2 Christine Knapp
BOOK #2
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Audiobooks.com
Murder on the Books Modern Midwife Mysteries book #3 Christine Knapp
BOOK #3
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Audiobooks.com
Murder at First Light Modern Midwife Mysteries book #4 Christine Knapp
BOOK #4
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Murder on the Green Modern Midwife Mysteries book #5 Christine Knapp
BOOK #5
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

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Author Bio:

Christine Knapp

Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as the author of the Modern Midwife Mysteries. Christine currently narrates books for the visually and print impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston.

Catch Up With Christine Knapp:

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TWO (2) US-ONLY winners each will receive a $20 Gift Card. 
The Grand Prize winner will receive their choice of an Amazon.com Gift Card or a BarnesandNoble.com Gift Card. The runner-up will receive the gift card not-selected. 
Giveaway ends 10/5/2025.
This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Christine Knapp. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited. 

Murder at the Wedding by Christine Knapp [Gift Cards]

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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts ~ Audiobook Review

 

A HAUNTED HISTORY
OF INVISIBLE WOMEN
True Stories of America's Ghosts
by
Leanna Renee Hieber
& Andrea Janes
Narrated by Linda Jones

Nonfiction / Supernatural History / Gender Studies
Tantor Audio
10 hours, 45 minutes
Publication Date: September 27, 2022

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FROM THE TBR PILE. This came across my radar in 2022, and I just thought it sounded cool, so I added it to my audiobook library, where it has sat until now -- because retired! Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories exist, and who doesn't love a ghost story? (Rhetorical.) And don't we all just want to believe them? (Rhetorical.) Read on...

ABOUT THE BOOK: From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion this offbeat, insightful, first-ever book of its kind explores the history behind America's female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us--and why they haunt us...

Sorrowful widows, vengeful jezebels, innocent maidens, wronged lovers, former slaves, even the occasional axe-murderess—America's female ghosts differ widely in background, class, and circumstance. Yet one thing unites them: their ability to instill fascination and fear, long after their deaths. Here are the full stories behind some of the best-known among them, as well as the lesser-known—though no less powerful.

Tales whispered in darkness often divulge more about the teller than the subject. America's most famous female ghosts, from "Mrs. Spencer" who haunted Joan Rivers's New York apartment to Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the Salem witchcraft trials, mirror each era's fears and prejudices. Yet through urban legends and campfire stories, even ghosts like the nameless hard-working women lost in the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire achieve a measure of power and agency in death, in ways unavailable to them as living women.

Riveting for skeptics and believers alike, with humor, curiosity, and expertise, A Haunted History of Invisible Women offers a unique lens on the significant role these ghostly legends play both within the spook-seeking corners of our minds and in the consciousness of a nation.

MY AUDIOBOOK REVIEW


HALL WAYS REVIEW: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW. I was intrigued by this cover and title the first time I saw it, so I got a copy of A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN back when it first published in 2022. I finally moved it from TBR to finished -- only took me two years!

To be clear: A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN isn't a book of ghost stories so much as it is the history of the real women behind the ghost stories. The two authors alternate points of view and present readers/listeners with stories about a variety of famous, not-so-famous, and infamous women including maidens, witches, Jezebels, crones, mothers, wives, widows, and spinsters. Oh, and full out "bad girls." 

They not only explore many of the commonly used tropes when it comes to ghost stories, they dive deeper. In pointing out that most ghost stories are about women, they then examine the truths behind the stories and point the lamplight on the suppression of and societal prejudices against women. By grouping together these stories, it's much easier to see what the tragic figures have in common and how that common thread is found in most ghost stories. And it left me thinking about how some groups profit from the tragedies of others. 

While the true stories of the murders and deaths of the women are harrowing, this isn't a book that gave me spine tingling chills. The focus isn't on telling ghost stories but enlightening readers as to why they persist and pointing out discrepancies between the truth and the ghost story. It's much more an academic investigation than anything else, very well researched, and it was certainly a fresh approach and perspective I'd not considered. 

ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Linda Jones's delivery is even, but it was a bit slow for my enjoyment so I bumped to listening at 1.25x speed.  Her voice fit well with the subject matter, and listening is much like hearing a speaker at a conference. However, there are more mispronunciations than there should be and too many misplaced pauses that took me out of the narration. 

Interestingly enough, the authors are believers and have had their own ghostly encounters. Somehow, for me, that gives them more credibility when they debunked and denounced some in how they approached the book.  Because of the amount on information that's shared, I think I'd like to have a print copy of this one in order to re-read some sections and utilize the bibliography and authors' notes I imagine are there (but weren't in the audiobook, which is the norm.)

I recommend this for readers who enjoy the stories behind the stories and for those who entertain the possibility of spirits who walk among us. 




Tuesday, July 25, 2023

For the Minds and Wills of Men~ Lone Star Book Blog Tour Book Trailer & Giveaway!

FOR THE MINDS
AND WILLS OF MEN
by
Jeff Lanier

Mystery / Art History
Publisher: Boyle & Dalton
Date of Publication: October 16, 2022
Number of Pages: 310 pages 

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A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal.

MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client's daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left...

With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.

PRAISE FOR FOR THE MINDS AND WILLS OF MEN

*2023 INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1ST PLACE FICTION*


"Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy and excitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistic twist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into Abstract Expressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas." 
-Ross King, Acclaimed art historian and New York Times bestselling author of The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi's Dome, and Michelangelo and The Pope's Ceiling.  


Click to Purchase!







Jeff Lanier is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art History at the University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children. 

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ONE WINNER: 
Autographed hardcover copy of
For the Minds and Wills of Men
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/4/23)



Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Blue Running ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Audiobook Review & Giveaway!

BLUE RUNNING
by
Lori Ann Stephens

Dystopian Fiction / Coming of Age / Suspense
Publisher: Moonflower Publishing
Date of Publication: November, 2022
Number of Pages: 334 pages 

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In the new Republic of Texas, guns are compulsory and nothing is forgiven. Blue Running is a gripping coming-of-age thriller set in post-secessionist Texas. A fast-paced, page-turning book, it looks unflinchingly at what the future could hold, and finds hope there.

Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet Andrews is on the run across the Republic of Texas. An accident with a gun killed her best friend but everyone in the town of Blessing thinks it was murder. Even her father – the town’s drunken deputy – believes she did it. Now, she has no choice but to run. In Texas, murder is punishable by death.

On the road she meets Jet, a pregnant young woman of Latin American heritage. Jet is secretive about her past but she’s just as determined as Blue to get out of Texas before she’s caught and arrested. Together, the two form an unlikely kinship as they make their way past marauding motorcycle gangs, the ever-watchful Texas Rangers, and armed strangers intent on abducting them – or worse. When Blue and Jet finally reach the wall, will they be able to cross the border, or will they be shot down in cold blood like the thousands who have gone before them?

Some things are worth dying for.


PRAISE FOR BLUE RUNNING:
"Brilliant." --Heat Magazine

"A fast-paced story that races along, and stays with you long after you’ve finished it." -- The American

"An important and unforgettable read." -- Armadillo Magazine


CLICK TO PURCHASE FROM:







HALL WAYS REVIEW: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW. There’s Texas, and then there’s America. Doesn’t sound dystopian, right? But in Blue Running, THIS Texas has finally seceded, walled itself in, and every citizen over fourteen is required to carry a gun. That still doesn’t sound dystopian as much as prescient, which makes reading Blue Running, by Texan Lori Ann Stephens, a real page-turner.

“We gotta trust in God and the law.”

This book is all about the setting. As Stephens starts the story, everything seems normal enough. We meet Blue (short for Bluebonnet, of course), who’s trying to navigate life at age fourteen. She’s embarrassed by her drunken father, embarrassed by her poverty, and just embarrassed – because fourteen. But readers soon learn that this is not the teenager’s life we know. For one, the kids have an armory at school where they check-in/out their guns each day before boarding their buses home. People aren’t stopped for carrying their guns in public places, they are stopped for not carrying. And anything that comes from America, not Texas – like orange juice, for example – has a heavy import tax so that only the wealthy can afford to have it. Cell phone and internet reach, naturally, are controlled for most Texans, because the leaders know best. Bless their hearts.

“I swallowed down my own stupidity, but it

stuck in my throat refusing to dissolve.”

I love the words and phrases Stephens chose that immerse the reader even more in the story and setting. Blue “piddled around” or found herself “screwing up the courage,” and of course ordering a tea at a restaurant means it’s delivered as iced, sweet tea. The description of Blessing, Texas, is familiar with its lay-out that could easily be any small-town, suburban Texas city. Since I listened to the audiobook and didn’t read with my eyes, I don’t know if Stephens uses eye dialect, but narrator Ashley Rose Kaplan uses g-dropping to help convey the Texas accent. That touch, along with Kaplan’s slow, soft, and lyrical drawl, perfectly fits with Stephens’s evocative writing.

Stephens doesn’t miss including any of the hot button issues that are plaguing Texas (and beyond) right now. She spins a set of believable, what-if scenarios of how life could be in a terribly wrong, not-so-distant future. Blue Running is a different kind of horror story. It’s especially terrifying for me because I know there are readers that think it’s not dystopian, but utopian Texas.

Reading Blue Running is sometimes super-stressful: the suspense! The danger! But it’s also a massive social commentary on the fine line we are walking right now, and it forces thinking, which may be uncomfortable for some. Stephens wraps up the book with a BANG (literally & figuratively) and in the Epilogue, readers are told what we need to know to be satisfied as we close the cover. But be warned: it also requires us to envision our own ending. There’s that thinking thing again. 


Novelist, librettist, lecturer Lori Ann Stephens grew up in North Texas, where she developed an addiction to the arts. Her novels for children and adults include Novalee and the Spider Secret, Some Act of Vision, and Song of the Orange Moons, and her award-winning work has been noted by Glimmer Train Stories, The Chicago Tribune, and the English National Opera. She teaches Writing and Critical Reasoning undergraduate courses, as well as creative writing graduate courses, at Southern Methodist University. She lives in Texas and is a bit mad about her cat.


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ONE WINNER:
Paperback of Blue Running
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Monday, April 3, 2023

Confessions of a Knight Errant ~ Lone Star Blog Tours Spotlight & Giveaway!


CONFESSIONS OF
A KNIGHT ERRANT
by
Gretchen McCullough

Humorous Fiction
Publisher: Cune Press
Page Count: 240 pages
Publication Date: October 18, 2022

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Confessions of a Knight Errant is a comedic, picaresque novel in the tradition of Don Quixote with a flamboyant cast of characters. 

Dr. Gary Watson is the picaro, a radical environmentalist and wannabe novelist who has been accused of masterminding a computer hack that wiped out the files of a major publishing company. His Sancho Panza is Kharalombos, a fat, gluttonous Greek dancing teacher, who is wanted by the secret police for cavorting with the daughter of the Big Man of Egypt. 

Self-preservation necessitates a hurried journey to the refuge of a girls’ camp in rural Texas. Then a body turns up nearby that is connected to Middle East antiquities, and they are on the run once more.

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Gretchen McCullough was raised in Harlingen Texas. After graduating from Brown University in 1984, she taught in Egypt, Turkey, and Japan. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and was awarded a teaching Fulbright to Syria from 1997-1999. 

Her stories, essays and reviews have appeared in The Barcelona Review, Archipelago, National Public Radio, Story South, Guernica, The Common, The Millions, and the LA Review of Books. Translations in English and Arabic have been published in: Nizwa, Banipal, Brooklyn Rail in Translation, World Literature Today, and Washington Square Review with Mohamed Metwalli. Her bilingual book of short stories in English and Arabic, Three Stories From Cairo, translated with Mohamed Metwalli, was published in July 2011 by AFAQ Publishing House, Cairo. A collection of short stories about expatriate life in Cairo, Shahrazad’s Tooth, was also published by AFAQ in 2013. 

Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition at the American University in Cairo. 



GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER!
In Confessions of a Knight Errant, readers get a taste of the Hill Country.
One winner will, too, with a one-pound bag of pecans from 
Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company!
(US only; ends midnight, CST 4/28/23)