Iron Canuck Reviews & More: August 2024

Saturday, August 31, 2024

Book Review: Midnight Falls by John Evans

Blurb:

After a series of disappointments and mishaps at college, Josh Blevins returns to his small hometown, loyal dog in tow, and begrudgingly settles in. Though he feels like a failure and his life is at a crossroads, he’s made new friends and even found a girl.

But the pleasant façade of Midnight Falls he remembered from childhood hides a sinister evil. One that goes beyond the hate festering within the borders and etched in the streets to something much deeper and chilling. Anyone and everyone could be a monster lurking behind the mask of hospitality. Knowing who to trust is impossible, especially when he’s constantly butting heads with the sheriff, who has a grudge against him, an axe to grind, and no intentions of burying it unless it’s in Josh’s back.

Somehow, he's become an outsider in a place he once called home, and is suddenly forced to choose between facing his problems or to keep running for the rest of his life. And what lingers in the dark may not let him survive long enough to decide.

Fans of "The Howling" by Gary Brandner, "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King, or "Midnight Mass" will enjoy "Midnight Falls".

Amazon: Midnight Falls - Kindle edition by Evans, John. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: Midnight Falls by John Evans | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Kobo: Midnight Falls eBook by John Evans - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Midnight Falls by John Evans - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: Midnight Falls by John Evans - BookBub

Goodreads: Midnight Falls by John (ronin) Evans | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars -

This was interesting, though a bit confusing in the beginning. Josh came to Midnight Falls to find himself when things had gone bad for him. He had no idea what he had stepped into. He made friends with his neighbors, Joel and Brad. He fell in love with Lizzie. He made enemies with just about everyone else. As things got darker and stranger, the truth came out. So as not to ruin the story, I leave it here, though the ending of the story was both scary and touching.

I received an ARC through Rowan Prose Publishing, and this is my unsolicited review.

Blitz: The Rebound Play (Love on Thin Ice #2) by Kate O'Keeffe with an excerpt and a giveaway

The Rebound Play

Series: Love on Thin Ice, #2

by Kate O’Keeffe

Release date: August 29th, 2024

Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215586441-the-rebound-play

Blurb:

If you get a second chance at love with your hockey star ex, should you take it?

Keira
What do you do when your NHL superstar ex skates back into your small town? Drop to the ground and hide behind the bleachers, hoping he doesn’t see you. But Lady Luck must be in a bad mood today because Dan spots me, my hood over my eyes, pretending I’m not there.

Mature? No.

Necessary? Oh, yes.

Humiliation washes over me, and the wall around my heart stands firm. Dan might be back, but I can’t afford to let him in again. Not after the heartbreak of losing him once before.

When he offers to coach my nephew, I reluctantly agree. Every smile he flashes at me, every kind word, threatens to crack my resolve. But I can’t go through that again. I have to protect my heart.

Dan
I want Keira back. End of story.

The Rebound Play is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet hockey romcom series. It’s a second chance at love story about a jock and a nerd who get a second chance in this small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Purchase:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MmKax5

Excerpt:

“The step. It was broken this morning when you left, and now …”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What has the broken step got to do with Dan?”

“It seems I’m going to have to spell this out to you. Dan came over this afternoon when you were out.”

My heart rate jumps at the thought of Dan coming to my house again. “He did?”

Clara nods. “He brought a hammer and nails.”

“Why would he bring—” My mind finally catches up on what Clara is telling me. “Dan fixed the broken step?” I ask, my voice coming out all breathy.

Her knowing smile morphs into a broad grin. “He fixed the step.”

Clara looks out the kitchen window, and I hear the rumble of an engine. “Oh, and one other thing, sis. He’s coming back to take you out, right about now.”

“Wait, what?!” I squeal, my pulse banging against my ribs like a caged animal trying to escape. Dan fixed the step? And now he’s here to take me out?

“Did I not tell you?” Clara asks, her face bright.

“I might have remembered that if you had!” I reply, clutching a tea towel and plate in my hands. “Is it a date? As in a proper date? It’s a date, isn’t it? Clara?”

My sister is now beaming like the Cheshire cat. “It’s a date.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “Be careful. Okay, Keeks?”

“Be careful? Why?” I ask, confused, as I peer out the window at Dan, closing the door of his SUV and making his way toward the entrance to the house.

Dan. Here. Taking me on a date.

I might pass out.

“Because, Kiki, you might just get everything you ever wanted.”

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT) ends September 5

$20 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251235793/

AUTHOR BIO:

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Kate O'Keeffe writes exactly what she loves to read: laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with swoon-worthy heroes and gorgeous feel-good happily ever afters. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family. When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it.

Visit kateokeeffe dot com to sign up to her newsletter and you'll receive a FREE romcom.

Author links:

https://kateokeeffe.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kateokeeffewriter/

https://www.facebook.com/kateokeeffeauthor

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-o-keeffe

https://x.com/kateokeeffe4

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195990.Kate_O_Keeffe

Friday, August 30, 2024

Release: Tangled Up with the Highlander (Return of the Highlanders #2) by Julie Johnstone

Tangled Up with the Highlander by Julie Johnstone is now available for you!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon - https://amzn.to/3XkixuI
Barnes and Noble - https://bit.ly/470ZVTX

Audible - https://amzn.to/3yY2V6P

Blurb:

He thought he would never love again… Then he fell for the lass he must give up to save his clan.

Desperate to keep his children and clan from starving, Laird Alasdair MacLachlan joins the ranks of mercenaries searching for the missing lass of a powerful clan. The mission seems simple—find the lass, return her to her family, and claim the hefty reward. But when fate throws bow and arrow wielding Sorcha MacGregor in his path, he’s about to discover how complicated one mule-headed, beguiling beauty can make things. For a man who has lost and loved and has no interest in doing either ever again, he’s confounded by the desire the opinionated woman awakens in him, and he’s shocked to discover his heart might not be permanently frozen after all. But his duty to his family and clan must come before all else, and that means sticking to the plan. Or is that just an excuse to avoid burying his painful past and taking a risk on a new future? One thing is certain—if he doesn’t figure it out soon, Sorcha will be lost to him forever.

Life has taught Sorcha MacGregor that only a harebrained fool would wish to wed and become a man’s chattel to control. So when she’s kidnapped by a Highlander who intends to deliver her like a trussed pig to a family she’s never known, she instantly decides he’s a selfish barbarian like all other men. Her opinion becomes harder to maintain, though, when the devilishly handsome warrior risks his life for hers. Still, she has no intention of lowering her well-placed guard and making herself vulnerable. But with each act of kindness Alasdair shows her, every moving interaction between him and his children, and the simmering way he looks at her, not to mention the toe-curling kisses, she comes to see the gentle, brokenhearted man behind the hardened exterior, and she does the one thing she swore she’d never do: falls in love. When the time comes for Alasdair to make the ultimate sacrifice for her, for love, will he prove he’s really the man of her dreams or just a fantasy that is too good to be true?

Preorder: Carpenter's Christmas Bride (Trinity Falls Sweet Romance - Icicle Christmas #6) by Clara Pines

Carpenter's Christmas Bride

by Clara Pines

Releases on September 3rd!

https://geni.us/CarpentersBride

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Blurb:

This grumpy single dad and upbeat ballerina are both unexpectedly home for the holidays. But is that the only thing they have in common?

Aidan Webb only wants one thing in life, and that’s to do right by his energetic four-year old son, Walt. He’s determined to focus on his business by day, spend lots of time with Walt by night, and avoid romantic entanglements, no matter what. His single-minded focus may make him seem like a grump, but Aidan doesn’t care, as long as Walt has everything he needs.

Kenzie Forrest has been dancing out the romantic stories of the great ballets ever since she was a little girl. But a terrible injury leaves the professional ballerina uncertain if she will ever dance again. Heading back to her hometown to rest and recover, she almost immediately bumps into a gorgeous single dad and his adorable son.

Suddenly, Kenzie is starting to think that all of this could be fate, and her injury happened because it’s time for her to find her own storybook love this Christmas.

But Aidan Webb doesn’t do love – especially with a ballerina who he secretly believes will head for New York again the minute the boot comes off her injured foot. It doesn’t matter that she’s the only one who can make him laugh, or that she has such a connection with his son.

The problem is that she’s already breaking his heart, and he hasn’t even let her into it yet…

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance is all about finding family – one clean & wholesome romance at a time.
From an ex-football star finding out about a secret baby, to a reserved tech genius who opens his heart to a small-town barista and her adopted daughter, you’ll lose yourself in these feel-good books celebrating love, family, and the very special small town community of Trinity Falls.

About the Author:

Clara Pines is a writer from Pennsylvania. She loves writing sweet romance, sipping peppermint tea with her handsome husband, and baking endless gingerbread cookies with her little helpers. A holiday lover through and through, Clara wishes it could be Christmas every day. You can almost always figure out where she has curled up to write by following the sound of the holiday music on her laptop!

Email: authorclarapines@gmail.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ClaraPinesRomance/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorclarapines/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaraPines

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorclarapines

Release: When Stars Rise at Midnight (The Midnight Saga #2) by Tess Thompson

When Stars Rise at Midnight by Tess Thompson is available now!

https://geni.us/5b3u7L9

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Blurb:

Falling in love was the last thing they wanted. Can they resist their feelings to protect the ones they care about?

Estelle
After the trauma of my family’s abandonment and the forced adoption of my baby, I find solace in New York City, living in a fine apartment, thanks to my benefactor, Percival Bancroft. He asks for nothing in return except for one thing – dinner once a week. All would be well if it weren’t for my growing feelings for the kind man who rescued me from a life on the streets. He is not mine to love, as he belongs to another.

Percival
This is not the life I wanted, but it’s the one I have, and I must make the best of it. Thankfully, I have Estelle safely tucked away in an apartment in the city. If only I hadn’t fallen in love with her, all would be well. With my wife committed to an insane asylum with no hope of recovery, there is no chance for love in my life.

About the Author:

Tess Thompson is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary and historical Romantic Women’s Fiction with over 50 published titles. Her books are emotional and heartwarming with themes of second chances, redemption and the power love has to change lives and create community.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest in a house on a small lake with her husband and kitties. Her four children are now young adults exploring their own paths and adventures, leaving an empty nest and a lot more time to write. She and her husband enjoy a quiet life, obsessed with birds and the other wildlife on their property, which makes them officially old. On any given day their yard could be visited by deer, bears, coyotes and squirrels.

Most days, she can be found curled up in her favorite chair reading or in her office writing while keeping an eye out for hummingbirds in the feeder outside of her office.

Follow Her Everywhere!

Website -- https://tesswrites.com/

Facebook Group -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/PatioChatwithTessThompson/

Bookbub -- http://bit.ly/2esOcrn

Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/authortessthompson/

Tiktok -- https://tiktok.com/@tesswrites/

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessThompson

Release Boost: Bang Brothers Hockey Series

Meet the Bang Brothers—five hot hockey-playing brothers who are allergic to commitment.

https://www.bangbrothersbooks.com/
Available on All Platforms

The brothers are about to face off against their newly-retired mother…who suddenly has plenty of time to play matchmaker. Add in their baby sister and some secret dating, a single dad, an accidental pregnancy, a marriage of convenience, and a wrong bed—or two—and these siblings are not going to know what hit them!

Bang Brothers Hockey Series Titles:
ALL AVAILABLE NOW!

Book 1: Lace ’em Up by Elise Faber
Book 2: Show ’em How by Jami Davenport
Book 3: Hit ’em Hard by Kat Mizera
Book 4: Lock ’em Down by Gina Azzi
Book 5: Light ’em Up by Kelly Jamieson

Book 6: Hook ’em Hard by Cathryn Fox

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Art Reveal: Arran's Obsession (Body Count #1) by Jolie Vines

ARRAN'S OBSESSION - ART REVEAL

To mark being three weeks away from launch, Jolie has revealed the amazing artwork for Arran's Obsession and the Body Count series.

We have the nightclub and 'other' club, Divine and Divide, then the three character pairs.

I am in love!

#arransobsession #jolievines #bodycount

#NewSeries #bookartwork

Book Review: Tangled Up with the Highlander (Return of the Highlanders #2) by Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

Amazon: Amazon.com: Tangled Up with the Highlander (Return of the Highlanders Book 2) eBook : Johnstone, Julie: Kindle Store

B&N: (paperback) Tangled Up with the Highlander by Julie Johnstone, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Bookbub: Tangled Up with the Highlander (Return of the Highlanders Book 2) by Julie Johnstone - BookBub

Goodreads: Tangled Up with the Highlander by Julie Johnstone | Goodreads

My Review - 5 of 5 stars -

I really enjoyed this tale with all the up, down, and sideway events. Sorcha was a delight in her archery skills, loyalty to her sister, big heart, and a willingness to adjust to what was happening around her. Alasdair was quite a broken man but drew strength from his duties to his clan. He was instantly protective of Sorcha. They both fell for each other despite all their best efforts to put distance and obstacles between them. Alasdair's children, Hew and Beatie, were a kick as well. I had moments of tears as this story found its way to the end. I recommend this story.

I received an ARC, and this is my unsolicited review.

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Bound (Breakers Hockey #9) by Elise Faber

Bound by Elise Faber releases on September 17th!

https://geni.us/BOUND

Available on all platforms!

She’s innocent…
And I’m the one who’s going to corrupt her.

I’m a hockey player with a secret—one so big that it can get me kicked out of the league.
I’ve spent years trying to bury it and there’s only one person who’s found me out.
Claire.
Former intern. Current jack-of-all-trades for the Baltimore Breakers.
And the woman I want more than anything else.
More than hockey. More than breathing.
Even more than keeping that secret.
But she’s seen behind the veil…
And, rightfully, wants absolutely nothing to do with me.

Unfortunately for her, I’m going to keep her anyway.

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Play Book (L.A. Phantoms #3) by Kat Mizera

Play Book by Kat Mizera releases on September 24th!

https://geni.us/PlayBook

Available on all Platforms

From blind date to blindsided…

I've been living my dream life for so long, it never occurred to me it could turn into a nightmare overnight.

But that’s exactly what happens when my estranged sister lands in prison, leaving me with temporary custody of her moody eleven-year-old daughter.

At twenty-six, I’m a professional hockey player and bachelor with zero interest in settling down, let alone raising a kid—especially one that hates me.

That’s where the other skate drops…

The stunning new woman in my life is the sunshine to my grumpy, but I can’t stay away, even though I know I shouldn’t start something I can’t finish.

Now I’m outnumbered, and to make things extra fun, the only person my niece hates more than me is my new girlfriend.

I’m learning the hard way there’s no playbook for parenting… or dating.

Blitz: Proven Innocence by Mary J. Rocco with an excerpt and a giveaway

PROVEN INNOCENCE

by Mary J. Rocco

GENRE: Suspense/murder

BLURB:

Cynthia Evans wakes up in the trunk of a car, no idea how she got there, only to discover she’s wanted for the murder of her husband and children. With no memory of life prior, Cynthia is sure she did not commit the crime.

Only problem is-how does she convince anyone she’s not a murderer when she is not sure who she is?

With the help of a downtrodden diner waitress, Gabrielle, Cynthia fights to prove her innocence.

One thing is clear: Rick Evans is dead. But who is the real killer?

EXCERPT:

Too many possibilities. To concentrate on survival, I must assure myself that this person driving knows I am here and plans to release me from the dark layer upon reaching his destination.

Seconds seem like minutes, minutes like hours, leaving it nearly impossible to estimate how long I have been lying here. My best guess is about thirty minutes, not including how long I lay there unconscious in the sealed compartment. No sense of day or night. No idea if it is dark or light outside, what day it is, or where I am in the world. I keep straining to listen for faint conversation, but still no luck. The blood on my head is drying and forming the beginning of a thin, crusty layer on top of my skin. My head itches, but I will not move a muscle to scratch it as the pain has not been numbed.

Suddenly, I feel the car turn around a ramp. The curvy road throws my body to the back part of the trunk. Gravity and centrifugal force are not kind to my aching ailments as we exit the major highway. A series of turns are made after the exit, each a few minutes apart. I need to remember how many turns it takes to make a quick getaway back to the interstate, though, at this point, I have no foreseeable idea how that will happen. If my calculations are correct, the car proceeded off the highway as follows: it turned left at the end of the exit ramp; then it proceeded for about three minutes and made another left, a quick right, then another left. The ride begins to feel bumpier as the road beneath the wheels is no longer smooth pavement. From the sound of the gravel below, I deduce the road is not paved. The location is too remote for paved roads––not a good sign.

Everything slows to a stop, and the roar of the engine fades. We have arrived at our destination. Sheer panic ensues.

What am I going to do? Is it best to pretend as if I am still knocked out? This person obviously wants me alive, or he would have finished the job earlier.

Click.

The driver popped open the trunk. It is slightly ajar, just enough to let in a small beam of light but not enough for me to see outside. Muted sunlight breaks through the space between the trunk and the car.

Both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side doors slam shut simultaneously, causing me to rock back and forth slightly.

There are two people.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I have dreamed of being an author since the age of ten. I have been writing and crafting stories for the last twenty years, mostly because, well you know, life… and I got in my own way. After finishing law school, graduate school, travelling the world, getting married and starting a family I figured now was the time.

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York and spent ten years in my early adulthood living carefree in New York City. I currently reside with my husband and two beautiful children in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, where I am a practicing attorney.

I hope to continue to publish many more novels that entertain and thrill readers.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mary-J.-Rocco/author/B0CX13KN4Y

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4965/