Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Published by Revell

Synopsis:

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.

My Take:

Before I even talk about what’s inside of Living Lies, can I just say how much I appreciate the cover?  The dark greens and low hanging Spanish moss provide the perfect backdrop for the murder/mystery that the writer tells.  I couldn’t help but imagine a very tangible setting due to that cover!   Ok, onto the content!  I haven’t read a ton of inspiration fiction in my short 33 years of life but I can say that Living Lies has passed my expectations.  Where other authors excel with sweet romance (Becky Wade) and action/adventure (Susan May Warren), Natalie Walters weaves both action and romance together so flawlessly that the reader is completely entranced into the story from the very first chapter all the way to the end!

Our two main characters, Charlie and Lane are very well thought out characters.  Which is a good thing, since this story is character driven.  When we meet Lane in the first chapter, I am immediately involved.  I am Lane!  There’s so much of this character in me that I felt one of the most raw and true connections to a character that I’ve ever felt, so thank you Natalie for writing this incredible young lady.  With truths about depression and anxiety spotlighted, this story delivers powerful messages that I feel, we readers not only appreciate but crave!  Oh, did I mention Charlie?

What a swoon worthy character if there ever was one!  Charlie Lynch is my kind of small town hero… dimples and all!  I don’t consider him having dimples a spoiler but if it is, than sorry not sorry!  If I know a hero has dimples, then I am all about that story and I hope you are too.  The chemistry between the two characters was palpable and gratifying to say the least!  I really want more romance from this author; she knows her stuff!

The secondary characters were also very lovely and memorable.  Ms. Byrdie was most favorite but personalities from Lane’s sister and her son added a lot of emotion that made this story so real.  The sheriff and all of his deputies were well written. Even the villain of the story was a well thought out, developed character, so true to the wicked nature of some people out there.  Some parts definitely gave me goosebumps!  I absolutely loved Living Lies and have already pre-ordered Deadly Deceit! 

About the Author: Natalie Walters

 My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zip code. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling. 

Hunting Prince Dracula Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!

PRAISE FOR HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA

“There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as well as tense escalations….A scenic, twisty mystery.”

―Kirkus Reviews

 “Readers of the previous mystery will be thrilled to have more of this likable duo. [A] delightful romp into an 1888 Gothic mystery with a hint of romance.”

                                            ―School Library Connection

About the Book

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Release Date: September 19th

Description: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life? 

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

My Thoughts:  I knew the sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper would be exhilarating, engaging and utterly intense and I was not wrong.  Maniscalco has mastered the craft of writing historical/Gothic fiction.  Her verbiage, clear and concise, with so much detail, fully captivates the reader and lunges them into the story.  So, into Romania, I went.

Audrey Rose and Thomas pick up right where they left off, with their witty and entertaining thoughts and remarks while searching for clues to Romania's darkest mystery.  This dynamic duo does not fail to impress me and with Maniscalco's intricate dialogues, I'm kept on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next clue to be discovered and the banter that's sure to follow.  

Hunting Prince Dracula is full of Romanian history and it is quite clear that Maniscalco has done her homework very extensively.  I was very intrigued by how the setting played a part in the atmospheric moods of Thomas and Audrey.  There was definitely a deeper, darker, and dare I say, more dangerous feel to this sequel.  I must admit, that I quite enjoyed that.  This story really took me for a Gothic ride that I was hoping for in every way.  I felt that it actually had a quicker pace to it than SJTR, which I really enjoyed as well.  I like quick and entertaining reads, that are sure to keep me wanting more when its over.  I will surely have to rate this with 5 bats!  Hehehe

About the Author:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with Gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

Follow Kerri on Social media links:

Twitter   |  Facebook   |   Instagram   |   Website   |   Tumblr   |   Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour!

Week One

August 21st ~ Paper Cuts: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

August 22nd ~ Literary Legionnaire: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

August 24th ~ Arctic Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

August 25th ~ 21st Century Once Upon A Times: A “Drink Your way through SJTR: Tea Edition”

Week Two

August 28th ~ Hiver Et Café: History of Prince Dracula

August 29th ~ Justice Reads: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

August 30th ~ Nicole’s Novel Reads: Travelling Etiquette and tips for Victorian Women

August 31st ~ Sophie Reads YA: Favourite Stalking Jack the Ripper Fanart

September 1st ~ LILbooKlovers: Top Ten Quotes from Stalking Jack the Ripper

Week Three

September 4th ~ One Way or An Author: Hunting Prince Dracula Phone Backgrounds

September 5th ~ A Blinding Book: Hunting Prince Dracula Aesthetic

September 6th ~ Rants & Raves: Review & Snacks

September 7th ~ Rattle the Stars: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

September 8th ~ A Gingerly Reviews: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

Week Four

September 11th ~ The Plot Bunny: Hunting Prince Dracula Trick or Treat Customer Ideas

September 12th ~ Blame it on The Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Review

September 13th ~ The Reader & the Chef: Hunting Prince Dracula’s Menu

September 14th ~ Books, Tv, and More…Oh MY!!: Top Ten Favourite Traits of Audrey & Thomas

September 15th ~ Unquenchable Reads: GIF, GIFS, and more GIFS

Week Five

September 18th ~ Rattle the Pages: A Glimpse Back in Time: Vlad The Impaler edition

September 19th ~ Beyond the Book Reviews: Character Wears of the 21st Century

September 20th ~ The Heart of a Book Blogger: Hunting Prince Dracula Mood Board

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Pre-order links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Book Depository 

Book People

Hudson Booksellers

Kepler’s Books

Target

Add HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA to your goodreads shelves here!

FIRST CHAPTER IS EXCLUSIVELY UP ON ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: READ IT HERE!

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES-BESTELLING AUTHOR OF GIRL ON THE TRAIN...

Into the Water

This book is intense in the best way! 

 I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the novel to follow Girl On The Train.  I loved the GOTT.  Well I must admit that Into The Water is even better.  With more characters, more story lines, this mystery isn't solved yet and I am coming to the end of the book!  I love when I don't discover the truth until the end!  

I first rented the audio book from my library of this book but didn't listen to it enough.  With 1 hour and 23 minutes left, the book expired.  I work at a college, so I immediate thought of the possibility that it would be here at the library and sure enough, bless Ms. Duphia's heart  (she took the elevator down to the main level to retrieve the book for me), there was one copy on hand.  

I read some more on lunch break and am very eager and excited for the conclusion of this psychological thriller that Paula Hawkins has very intricately crafted for us readers!

An Ember In The Ashes ~ Do Not, Not Read This Book!

An Ember In The Ashes

Sabaa Tahir

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.
 
Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.
 
It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.
 
But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.
 
There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Thoughts:

Oh boy, where could I possibly begin? At the beginning I suppose.  But can I just say, what a thrill ride!?  Reading the bio of this book doesn't do it justice in the slightest!  And I am an audio book lover!  However, if the actor's voice is annoying in anyway, I'm turned off immediately and will most likely not read the book, unless its been so hyped and comes off with a very unique story.  In my case, the voice of Laia is the same voice for a different character of a different book.  Now I know, I sound a bit crazy and that I shouldn't let that bother me, but how could I not?  While trying to picture Laia, I could only picture so and so from the other book!! Huge deal.  So what did I do? I deleted the audio book and said I guess I'll read it eventually.  And then that didn't work.  After seeing more reviews and pictures posted and A Torch Against the Night (the sequel to An Ember In The Ashes) promoted, I said to myself, "Self.  You really should try to listen to this again."  And so I did.  And after about 15 minutes of consecutive listening, I was hooked!!!  I do not say this lightly!  Ok, ok, to the actual review of the book!  

Elias has very quickly become my most favorite fictional boyfriend of all!  He is determined, resilient, and simply dreamy.  A little complexity, makes Elias a very intriguing character.  He knows what he wants, but seems to have so much doubt in his own capabilities that he holds himself back.  He seems to second guess his gut on more than one occasion, not always leaving him with the most desired outcome.  On the other hand, he seems so comfortable with other settings.  He does know where he wants to be, just maybe not so sure on how to get there or who to go there with.  The love triangles in the book, are definitely twisty and turny and I love them!!!

Laia on the other hand, is full of confidence.  Maybe not so much in herself, but in her mission, she is set like a stone.  She is determined to find her brother at all costs and willing to sacrifice herself and pretty much anyone else along the way, in order to achieve that goal.  I can totally relate because I have a strong relationship with my brother and would go to the ends of the earth to find and free him from any evil!  Back to Laia, a scholar, she was born a pheasant, but feels free.  Enjoys the little freedoms she has and doesn't take things for granted.  Very humble which makes for a strong willed character.  I love that slowly but not too slowly, Laia find her confidence and drive to continue and tries not to be too distracted by the handsomely charming roguish men that might stand in her way.

An Ember In The Ashes did not disappoint in any chapter.  It was one of those books that you want to slow down reading because you don't want it to end, but you also want to hurry up and get to the end because you want to know what its going to happen. With such vivid imagery, Tahir write the novel of a lifetime.  One that I can without a doubt 100% deserves to be a New York Times Bestseller.  I'm not any professional of course, but if I had to pick one book from here on out to recommend to someone interested in YA fiction, this would be it.  This will probably always be it, I can't even imagine another book having as much detail, love, stress, anger, devotion, and loyalty all wrapped into one YA book.  As you can probably guess, I highly recommend this!!!