In A Strange City

"What's the difference between a ritual and a routine? It's a question he asks himself almost every day. Are rituals better than routines, more elevated? Or do ritual invariable slide into routine, until we forget why we started and why we continue? Another good question, but he's afraid pondering the answer will only tempt him to sleep, and he is determined to see the sun rise today. Once upon a midnight dreary...ah, but such allusions are unworthy, the sort of obvious unthinking wordplay one expects from the newspaper hacks who write about him. Even in print, they cannot capture him.

He would not say it out loud - for one thing, he has no one to whom to say it - but he has begun to feel a kinship with Santa Claus. Who knows, Saint Nick was probably real once. A man decides to put on a red suit, visit a few houses in his village, and leave gifts behind. The first year, it was a lark. The next year, it was an obligation. And then the next and the next, until he could never stop.

But in that case, the tradition outgrew the man, so others had to step forward and preserve it. He cannot count on this happening here. He had been chosen, and soon he must choose." (pg 2).

So begins the latest novel from Laura Lippman, In A Strange City, the sixth book in the Tess Monaghan series. The premise behind this novel is that for the past fifty years on the birth date of Edgar Allen Poe, a person wearing a cloak has places three roses and a bottle of cognac on the writer's grave. His identity has remained a mystery. This time two men show up a the grave site and one of them is shot. Now the mystery grows as Private Investigator Tess Monaghan witnesses the apparent murder but just who shot whom and what is the connection? When roses and cognac appear on her doorstep, it seems as if the investigation takes on a whole new dimension as it begins to get personal.

I received In A Strange City by Laura Lippman compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion. Having read other novels from Laura Lippman, I found myself wanting this to be as good as her other books, but was disappointed by this being a reprint from 2001 when the novel was first published. I LOVE anything to do with Poe and love the occasional references to the literary writings of Poe along with the background of the toaster and more about who Poe was outside of his novels. All in all, I wasn't really a fan of this one considering I love a great mystery novel. For me this one came in at a 3 out of 5 stars in my opinion. Just didn't provide the twists and turns I was hoping for as they clues were almost spoon-fed to Tess Monaghan to figure out the who done it.

For more information about In A Strange City, Laura Lippman, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

In A Strange City by Laura Lippman

You can find https://www.facebook.com/lauralippman/?fref=tsLaura Lippman on Facebook to stay up to date on her latest novels.

To read more reviews on In A Strange City, please visit William Morrow's website.

A Pattern of Lies

I don't know what the draw if for mystery's and perhaps it is that we love to feel like we are contributing to solving the unknown. Set against the backdrop of WWI, as readers immerse themselves into the nursing duties of Bess Crawford. It is a time where nursing was just beginning to grow their grassroots and it wasn't a pretty way to get involved for women to help in the war effort. It is a time of unsanitary conditions, amid the begins of medical procedures while bombs and shells are going off all around. Where sleep and a good meal are the blessings one can hope for.

An explosion at the Ashton Powder Mill in Kent has claimed the lives of a hundred men, and like everyone involved they want answers to what happened. As time presses on, this is written off as simply an accident from war efforts and soon it is swept under the rug. But rumors don't like to lie in the dark, and soon hints at murder rock the Ashton family and it seems the only one who can help provide the answers has been dispatched to the frontlines. Will Bess be able to help unravel the pattern of lies to help end the persecution of the Ashton family or will she become the next target of the killer at large?

I received Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. Aside from a complimentary copy of the novel, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions found here are strictly my own. I am a huge fan of anything pertaining to WWI and love that once again readers find themselves back in the thick of things with Nurse Bess Crawford. I love her character because besides being a strong female nurse, she is not afraid to shatter the stereotypes we might have as a heroine solving mysteries while the war rages around her. It isn't easy being sleep deprived and moving from place to place where she is needed the most and always has her allies watching her back when it counts. I can't wait for more future novels from Charles Todd because it is such a breath of fresh air to see strong willed female characters that stand firm in the face of adversity and thus the reason for my 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is the 7th novel in the Bess Crawford Mystery series.

For more information about Pattern of Lies, Charles Todd or where to preorder a copy of this book that debuts in August of 2015, please click on the links below:

Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd 

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Pattern of Lies, please visit William Morrow's website. 

A Fine Summer's Day

For fans of novels like Sherlock Holmes, you might want to pick up Charles Todd's latest novel A Fine Summer's Day. It is part of the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery Series in which Ian Rutledge is part of Scotland Yards finest detectives. He has been assigned a complicated murder case in which a man has been found hanged with no apparent motive or suspect. In addition to that, a vandal has been marring the tombstones of nearby churches with a tar like substance. Is it possible that the two may be related?

As Inspector Rutledge interviews countless witnesses and possible suspects he is no closer to solving either crime. In addition, he has proposed to a woman Jean Gordon who no one is his immediate family cares for. They believe that Ian might be blind to the woman's spoiled tendency's that may not exactly fit into the lifestyle of a Scotland Yard detective. As he continues to investigate further, he learns that the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria has been assassinated along with his pregnant wife. It could quite possibly launch the country in the beginnings of war depending on how Austria choose to react. If that is the case will Inspector Rutledge be called up to serve for his country if they do decide on war? He can only hope calmer heads will prevail.

As the entire country waits to see what the outcome will be regarding the assassination of the Archduke, Inspector Rutledge finds himself facing more dead ends than he can count. Not only that but his boss is none too happy with the amount of time Ian is spending attending to dinners and engagement parties when he should be working to find the killer or killers that are slowly adding more bodies to the count with a variety of methods to their demise. Time is running out for everything to be answered.

I received A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I have not received any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I have absolutely love Charles Todd's series with Inspector Rutledge and to see a variety of things all culminating all at once. War is on the near horizon and knowing history, you know it will soon turn into World War 1. It's truly a race against time to see how it all turns out and I love the rich attention to detail Charles Todd pours into his novels. He painstakingly takes his time weaving the story so that you don't feel rushed to figure it all out at once. That is why I love this entire murder mystery series! For that reason I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about A Fine Summer's Day, Charles Todd or where you can get a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd

You can find Charles Todd on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

For more reviews on A Fine Summer's Day, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Poison Town

Jack Crittendon has a new mission, as an investigative reporter for The Dispatch, he is turning the tables on the man he just interviewed Leonard Bendickson III, CEO of Demler-Vargas, the fiberglass manufacturer in Trenton City. Since taking the helm as CEO thirteen years ago, Bendickson has steered the Fortune 500 company to unfathomable heights. The $7.9 billion corporation has consistently surpassed Wall Streets expectations on its way to becoming one of the world's most prolific manufacturers of fiberglass - all kinds of fiberglass. Although Demler-Vargas has been the subject of complaints about air pollution from Trenton City neighbors over the years, Bendickson insists the company has worked diligently to comply with OSHA and the EPA.

But there is something sinister and unsettling when Jack discovers that those around him that he knows are dying from similar symptoms. He wondered just what the truth was. Were pollutants from Demler-Vargas hurting employees and neighbors? Were they what killed Travis Randall's mother and made his father, Galen sick? But if Demler-Vargas was hiding something, wouldn't OSHA and the EPA caught on and stopped them? Was Bendickson lying, or was he running a clean shop as he claims?

The more Jack tries to uncover the truth, the more it seems that someone is out to make sure those secrets stay buried. When it gets personal however, and his wife and mother-in-law become victims of a random car accident, Jack begins to dig deeper into the truth. He is aided by Derrick Whittaker, on of Jack's best friends who has been assigned that beat and together they slowly begin to uncover things that don't make sense, especially when their editor, Cecil Barton, will only allow them to spend no more than a hour a day working on this investigation. He seems to think that in the past, Amy Sheets has tried to do much the same thing, but now has moved away to be closer to her aging parents and discovered nothing. But is that really the reason why she is no longer working at the office?

I received Poison Town by Creston Mapes compliments of David C. Cook Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This could be any real company today as chemicals continue to surface in our food sources and water supplies that are being linked to certain types of cancer and illness that seem to multiply the closer people come to living next to these manufacturing plants. In this case, it is more than just the poisons from the fiberglass plant that are infecting people, it's also greed and justice that are tearing families and businesses apart. But will Jack's now dormant faith come to light in time to save them all or will he fall victim to the same fate as everyone else? You'll have to pick this one up to find out. This is the second novel in the Crittendon Files and I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars. The first novel in the series is Fear Has No Name in which the reader gains insight into the back story of the issues between Jack and his wife.

For more information about Poison Town, Creston Mapes, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Poison Town by Creston Mapes

You can also find Creston Mapes on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Poison Town, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page.

Second Watch

There's that case that lingers in the mind of every single cop. The one that will never go away. The one in which the victim can never rest. For Detective J.P. Beaumont, that is the case that happened forty years ago. The one that was simply tagged at the Girl in the Barrel. The only reason that it remains on J.P.'s mind is that while undergoing double knee replacement surgery, he's been haunted by the ghost of Monica Wellington, the girl in the barrel. She reminds him of the promise he made to her mother, Hannah, that they would never rest until the case was solved. And they hadn't solved it.

Like another cold case, this one torments the sleeping hours while J.P. recovers in the hospital. Taken back to that time period in rich detail through his dreams he remembers the case as if it just happened. Yet something besides the ghost of Monica is plaguing his sleep. It is why they were never able to solve that case. Taking into consideration, that things like DNA testing and technology were not as prevalent as they are today, he's hoping that he can finally solve the case and lay both Monica's spirit and his conscience to rest.

Now his only issue with not being able to walk or drive is how to reopen a case that was sealed forty years ago while he remains in the hospital? Just what would be his reasoning? He knew that sharing that the ghost of Monica was haunting his dreams wouldn't pass, so he opted for the case that was never solved that every cop wants to see come to a resolved end. J.P. only ghost however isn't just Monica, he's also seeing Lt. Lennie Davis or Lennie D as his friends referred to him. Lennie has something he needs J.P. to do and he can't rest until there is peace in his life, the one he never was able to return home to after serving in Vietnam. So J.P. is once more transported back to Vietnam and that fateful day that changed both of their lives forever.

I received Second Watch by best selling author J.A. Jance compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is a first for me, reading J.A. Jance's novels but I absolutely LOVED this one. It truly is a must read for fans of crime murder mystery's or shows like Criminal Minds. In fact while reading it I heard Jack Webb (Dragnet) as the narrator's voice so it really made the novel that believable for me. The flash backs into J.P.'s past were well done and gave you insight into what is the character's motivation to find have absolution and resolution in his life in each of this situations, with one being personal with his past in Vietnam, one he hasn't even shared with his wife and fellow cop, Mel. This is one of those novels that you will think about long after it's over primarily because it's that real. I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading more from J.A. Vance in the near future.

For more information about Second Watch, J.A. Jance or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click the links below:

Second Watch by J.A. Jance

You can also read more about the novel through the publishers website as well as an excerpt from the novel by clicking here.

You can also find J.A. Jance on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Proof of Guilt

Sometimes in any criminal case it often appears open and shut. Meaning all the clues point to all the right people and it's simply a matter of connecting the proverbial dots to solidify the case. However in some, no matter how simply it looks to solve, but burden of proof may often times prove difficult or in some cases completely misleading. If you love a great mystery with a bit of twist to it and not too easy to solve, than I might suggest Charles Todd's latest novel, Proof of Guilt. This is the 15th book in his Inspector Ian Rutledge series and regardless of where you pick up in this series, they can all be read as a stand alone.

Ian Rutledge works for Scotland Yard in the 1920's and once again finds himself with a body without any identification. A proper gentlemen's clothing attires the body along with a gold pocket watch. The body appears to have been the unfortunate victim of a car accident, as the body appears to have been dragged to the location is now has been found in. Simple open and shut case right? Or does it merely appear that this is what the murderer wants the body of the man to look like. What is really going on? Who is this well dressed man? Why has his body been found in the street with no apparent markings around him that would show he has been dragged by a car? If he was the victim of a robbery, why does he still carry a gold pocket watch but missing his identification? Why hasn't anyone reported this man missing?

Ian Rutledge is a bit like your traditional Sherlock Holmes but with a modern flair. He finds himself bucking against the politics of Scotland Yard and his current supervisor while trying to solve this murder. The clues will lead our Inspector into a vast enterprise that begins just as the World War 1 is ending and businesses are still struggling to find a way to make money. It seems some of the wealthy business merchants would like to see this case simply go away and offer very little in the way of help for Inspector Rutledge. But just like Sherlock Holmes, he will not rest until he solves this crime. It truly is another page turner from beginning to end. Go ahead and try to solve this one before the end. Be warned however the evidence doesn't always point to the murderer.

I received Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins for my honest review. This is my third Inspector Rutledge novel and was super excited to once again lose myself in a mystery and ride along as Dr. Watson, trying to solve the case. In every single instance, you are completely caught off guard by the end, and realize that sometimes that path of clues you think are linked are merely clues to keep you guessing til the end. Another award winning novel in my opinion and a must read for fans of historical murder/mysteryies! I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next one to hit the presses.

For more information about Proof of Guilt, Charles Todd or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd

You can also stay up to date with all the novels from Charles Todd on Facebook.

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (January 29, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062015680
• ISBN-13: 978-0062015686
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches

First Visions: Second Sight - Giveaway and Review

Kate Edwards is tired of being labeled as a freak, and that is precisely why she has remained hidden away from friends, family and being in the public eye. Ever since she awakened from a coma caused by bacterial meningitis, she was given a gift, yet she considers it a curse. She was given what some call, "second sight" or psychic abilities. She has no control over what she will see when she falls asleep at night. Her dreams become visions she sees through the eyes of another person, but of events that have already happened. She doesn't see the future.

So when she woke from her coma with precise details of a recent kidnapping including providing the description and location of the suspects, she became what some would call a "freak." It isolated her from people she considered as friends, had to enroll in an on line college course to avoid the constant stares and whispers whenever she walked by. The media circus surrounding her success in the Matt Spencer case was more than she could handle. She told people it was a one time thing and she didn't have the abilities to find other missing persons. But that was a lie. She continued to see things she shouldn't and the onslaught of mail from people searching for a lost family member was difficult to endure. She felt that she could only see visions of people who were still alive, how could she tell people that she believed the person they were looking for were dead, or simply chose to walk away from their previous life.

So when Detective Jared Corbett, shows up a her door asking for her help in the recent kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl, Corinne Preston, she has a hard time telling him no, especially when he is so great looking. She learns that one of the reasons he is pursuing this case is because the victim, Corinne is the sister of her girlfriend, which automatically keeps her social status from becoming anything more than single. But she is drawn to him in a way like no other. Perhaps its because he can relate to her, his aunt also has the ability to predict the future in some aspects and he knows how ruthless the public can be.

In the novel, First Visions: Second Sight by Heather Topham Wood, the reader is immediately drawn into the character of Kate and can sympathize with her emotions of wanting to help but doesn't want to go through what she did when she helped with Matt's case. She finally agrees to help if Jared can keep her from being linked to this case, promising him that her visions aren't something she has control over. What she gets when she dreams is completely unpredictable, it could be a past event in the life of her parents, friends or even the kidnapping victim, but since he is so cute, she offers to help. In this novel, Kate will get more than she bargained for.

I received First Visions: Second Sight compliments of My Reading Addictions Book Tours for my honest review and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing was wonderful and keep me moving so much I didn't want to put it down. I love the vulnerability that Heather writes into her characters and keeps them flawed in ways, it makes it more believable for the reader to relate to and I love Kate's personality. My readers should be warned however as there are some elements that some may not find favorable. There is some profanity, references to Wicca witches and some sexual content. With that warning however, the story line is amazing in this series. It reminds me of the television series the Medium and I look forward to reading more in this new series. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars based on my rating system and think Heather Topham Wood is off to a great starting in writing!



Author Bio:

Heather Topham Wood graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a
bachelor’s degree in English. Working full-time as a freelance writer for publications such as
USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine, she writes fiction
novels in her spare time. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
First Visions is the first novel in the Second Sight Series.


For more information on this book, the author and where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

First Visions: Second Sight by Heather Topham Wood

You can also read more great reviews from this tour, by clicking here.

Thanks to the generous folks at Reading Addictions Blog Tours, they are offering a giveaway copy of this book to one lucky reader of my blog. Here are your details:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart and leave a comment.

3. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address, please No P.O. Boxes please.

4. Leave me a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this book. Don't forget to include your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will notify the winner via email when this giveaway ends on June 30th and will also posted this to my Facebook page at Reviews From The Heart.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

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No Mark Upon Her

Looking for a great Scotland Yard mystery that will keep you guessing just who did it til the very end and keep you turning pages faster and faster until you finally know who did it? Then look no further. In her latest book, No Mark Upon Her, Deborah Crombie takes her readers in depth into a rowing missing persons crime initially which will later prove that a murder has taken place. One by one the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit seamlessly together until you realize that not all pieces that fit together form the perfect picture and you have it all wrong.

I thought I had this one down pat until about 7/8ths of the way through the book and realized that I had been going on a wild goose chase and not everything was adding up the way it should have been. I guess in my opinion that's what makes for an excellent murder mystery is if the author can keep the identity hidden til the very end. Masterfully done and this is my first book review for Deborah Crombie but definitely will not be my last. Love her characters, dialogue and her writing style. A perfect blend in my opinion and well rated at 5 out of 5 stars. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

Book Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Deborah Crombie makes her mark with this absorbing, finely hued tale of suspense—a deeply atmospheric and twisting mystery full of deadly secrets, salacious lies, and unexpected betrayals involving the mysterious drowning of a Met detective—an accomplished rower—on the Thames.

When a K9 search-and-rescue team discovers a woman's body tangled up with debris in the river, Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid finds himself heading an investigation fraught with complications. The victim, Rebecca Meredith, was a talented but difficult woman with many admirers—and just as many enemies. An Olympic contender on the verge of a controversial comeback, she was also a high-ranking detective with the Met—a fact that raises a host of political and ethical issues in an already sensitive case.

To further complicate the situation, a separate investigation, led by Detective Inspector Gemma James, Kincaid's wife, soon reveals a disturbing—and possibly related—series of crimes, widening the field of suspects. But when someone tries to kill the search-and-rescue team member who found Rebecca's body, the case becomes even more complex and dangerous, involving powerful interests with tentacles that reach deep into the heart of the Met itself.

Surrounded by enemies with friendly faces, pressured to find answers quickly while protecting the Yard at all costs, his career and reputation on the line, Kincaid must race to catch the killer before more innocent lives are lost—including his own.

Raylan: A Novel

If your a murder/mystery fan, than I have the perfect book for you!

Raylan: A Novel by Elmore Leonard is a great collection of crime stories all linked around the central character of U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens. The novel begins with a new kind of crime being committed and the rewards for the criminals are worth taking that risk. Seems lately the drug lords have found a new commodity to deal, human body parts. Seeing as an entire human body when parted out can net close to a million dollars, there are loads of people just ripe for the picking. When they begin simply by taking the kidneys out of wealthy people and then selling them back to the victims, they begin to see other opportunities to make money faster than raising marijuana.

This is where U.S. Marshall Givens is called in to investigate. When he starts to get too close to the actual criminals, Givens is about to discover that he may in fact be the next victim. Will he be able to solve the crime before he becomes the next revenue source on the black market?

In the book, Raylan: A Novel by Elmore Leonard, the reader is taken on the journey into a series of criminal cases the U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens is in the midst of solving from human body part trafficking to coal mine operators looking for a bigger piece of the pie when it comes to company profits, and finally closing on a college student who is running the tables at poker to make a fast buck.

I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. The writing style for me was a bit choppy and there is a fair amount of profanity and sexual content. However, for those that expect this in their crime novels to make it more realistic, then this book will work for you. I would rate this one a 3.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I love the ideas behind the different crimes but I couldn't connect to the story the way I would have liked. The details were fuzzy and vague and it kept moving at a rapid pace. I would have liked to seen the writer spend more time in writing three separate books on these crimes instead of trying to get them all to fit into one.

For more information on this book, the author or where you can purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

Raylan: A Novel by Elmore Leonard

The Confession

Once again Charles Todd takes his readers into a deeply woven mystery that will leave you completely second guessing yourself to the very end. In his latest novel, The Confession, once more we follow Scotland Yard's Ian Rutledge as he meets with a strange man who confesses that he's dying of stomach cancer and wishes to leave his conscience clear. He reveals that his name is Wyatt Russel, and that he has killed his long time friend Justin Fowler.

Before Rutledge can question Wyatt Russel any further, he gets a report that he is found murdered, floating in the Thames River just hours after talking to him. As Rutledge begins his investigation into Russel's hometown of Furnham, he learns that there is more to the town than meets the eye, and it's residents want to be sure to keep it that way.

This is my second novel from Charles Todd, and I can honestly say, he writes so well you have a difficult time setting the book down to accomplish anything except to pick it back up again to solve the mystery. I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and now consider myself a true fan. What I mean by that statement is that I will read anything that has his name on it because he has sold me on his amazing writing talents so I know it will be a great book! This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and is sure to be a hit of anyone who loves a great mystery!!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy please click on the links below:

The Confession by Charles Todd

A Bitter Truth

Life is about to change for battlefield nurse, Betty Crawford on a dark and blustery night in London. When the police are searching for a deserter, Betty heads home to her flat alone. Yet on the stoop of her doorway is a woman, hiding and wearing a thin coat, trying to find temporary shelter from the storm. When Betty offers her a cup of tea and a respite from the weather for a few minutes, she sees that the woman's face bears a battered and bruise hand print along with endless tears down her face.

Fearing the worst but don't wanting to frighten the poor woman, she learns that she is running from her husband, Roger Ellis. Not prone to violence against his wife, Bess learns that the woman's name is Lydia and offers her a place to stay. Lydia fears the worst could happen the longer she stays away and asks Betty to accompany her home to Vixen Hill.

There Betty will meet the Ellis family of three generations of widows and meet the spirit of Julianna, who died a young girl and one whom the family can't seem to forget. Betty is talked into staying a few days to help care for Lydia and help her deal with issues involving her husband's jealousy. During her stay, the family is planning a memorial service to lay the headstone of one of the sons that was killed in the war. Only on the eve of the memorial service, one of the house guests George Hughes confides a deep family secret to Betty when neither of them can sleep. When the house awakens in the morning, George is soon discovered murdered and someone in the house is the prime suspect.

I received the novel A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd compliments of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. It feels like a historical version of the game, Clue, as Bess Crawford attempts to solve the mystery surrounding the Ellis family secret and the murder of George Hughes. Set in London during the middle of World War 1, the mystery continues to grow as more and more people turn up missing or murdered as well. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars and is perfect for you crime solving sleuth fans!

For more information on this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

You can also find Charles Todd on his Facebook page.

Two for Sorrow - Giveaway and Review

They were the most horrific crimes of a new century: the murders of newborn innocents for which two British women were hanged at Holloway Prison in 1903. Decades later, mystery writer Josephine Tey has decided to write a novel based on Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious, "Finchley baby farmers," unaware that her research will entangle her in the desperate hunt for a modern-day killer.

A young seamstress-an ex-convict determined to reform-has been found brutally slain in the studio of Tey's friends, the Motley sisters, amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. Despite initial appearances, Inspector Archie Penrose is not convinced this murder is the result of a long-standing domestic feud - and a horrific accident involving a second young woman soon after supports his convictions. Now he and his friend Josephine must unmask a sadistic killer before more blood flows - as the repercussions of unthinkable crimes of the past reach out to destroy those left behind long after justice has been served.

In the latest mystery by Nicola Upson, Two for Sorrow, takes the readers into two different storylines. One is the story that Josephine has been researching on the Finchley baby farmers that were hanged in 1903. Found guilty of offering pregnant women alternatives to keeping their babies, they were accused of killing those babies instead of finding viable adoptive parents who were willing to adopt or purchase unwanted babies. The reader takes a journey as Josephine begins to write her book based on a true life mystery based on the facts she gleens from meeting with people who were present at the time the women were hanged. Amelia Sach's believed she was innocent even as she went to the gallows.

Now however in the midst of writing this book and researching more information on baby farming, a reformed woman prisoner from Holloway prison is found murdered. What connection does she have with the baby farmers and how far is the killer willing to go to make sure that justice is served in their minds.

I received this novel compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review and found this to be a most unusual story line. Interesting in that it takes a form of the book that you are reading as it's being written in parts by Josephine and while she begins to slowly unravel a new mystery right before her eyes while she is researching material for her book. I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For even more great information about this book, the author and where to purchase a copy for your own, click on the links below:

Two for Sorrow by Nicola Upson

Thanks to the generous folks at TLC Book Tours, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky reader of my blog. Here are your guidelines:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. You must be a resident of the US or Canada. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. I will need a way to contact you by email so please be sure to leave your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave a comment and tell me why you'd love to win a copy of this book.

The giveaway will end on August 22nd, and I will notify the winner by email.