Book Review - PLATFORM SHOES A Steve Daniels Mystery Series Book 1 by Linda Watkins

Something different... A noir crime/historical mystery

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year was 1943. He was a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, on loan to the British, flying a reconnaissance mission over occupied France. Shot down, he had to make his way back to England with what could prove to be a very important reel of film taped to his chest.

Wounded, he was grounded and sent back to the States to the Air Cadet Base in San Antonio, Texas to teach. Plagued by nightmares stemming from his wartime experiences, he was easy pickings for a woman like her … She was his commander’s wife – beautiful, restless, and the wrong kind of woman for him. 

What would happen when they got together would be nothing less than murder... 

REVIEW 

Although Steve Daniels is a hero, due to his injuries sustained as a pilot, he's to teach pilots instead of being one. His nightmares and his disappointment at not being able to continue his dream career? Well, he's not always thinking clearly. 

Then there's Kathy. She's married to Steve's commanding officer and she wants out of the marriage. Steve falls for her and she frames him for her husband's murder, then disappears. His attorney and the assistant appeal his guilty verdict, get the charges erased. You'd think he would take the good fortune and run (with the assistant now officially a lawyer). Anyone could predict the trouble he would find searching for Kathy.

Watkins depicts what was happening in the early 40s, the tension, and the effects of war before PTSD was even recognized. I'm partial to happy endings and Steve blows his HEA. At the same time, there's part of me that understands his wanting to confront Kathy, and the consequences be damned. 

I don't usually read noir crime, however, I do read historical fiction, especially the WWII era.The book is well-written, kept my interest, with twists and turns, and more action just when I thought it would end. It is as advertised - noir crime and historical fiction. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (from Amazon)

USA Today bestselling author, Linda Watkins is the author of the multi-award-winning MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES. She currently resides in Sedona, Arizona and, in another life, was a Senior Clinical Financial Analyst at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

In 2006, she packed her belongings and, along with her four rescue dogs, took the plunge and moved to a remote island off the coast of Maine where she started the MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES. 

She also published a new stand-alone novel, SUMMER GIRL, and a novella, SARAH & ZOEY, A STORY ABOUT THE POWER OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, both of which are award-winners. In November, 2018, she published the first of the THE KATE POMEROY MYSTERIES, STORM ISLAND. She also has a novella (The Witches of Storm Island, Book I: The Turning) in the USA Today bestselling boxset, LOVE UNDER FIRE. 

Serious about dog welfare and rescue, all net proceeds from sales of THE MATEGUAS ISLAND SERIES are donated to Linda's charitable trust, The Raison d'Etre Fund for Dogs, Dedicated to Rescue and Research. Linda is a member of the Horror Writers Association, The Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers, The International Association of Crime Writers (N.A.), and the Authors Guild. 

To take a look at her other works or communicate with her, please visit her website, her blog where she posts book reviews and other features and/or her novel website, dedicated to the Mateguas Island Series. 

Book Review: THE INNOCENTS by C. A. Asbrey

Synopsis 

Pinkerton Detective Abigail MacKay is a master of disguises—and of new crime-solving technology! But she’ll have to move fast to stay a step ahead of Nat Quinn and Jake Conroy. 

Nat and Jake are the ringleaders of The Innocents, a western gang that specializes in holding up trains carrying payrolls—and Nat is pretty savvy when it comes to using the new sciences of 1868 in committing his crimes.  

Charismatic Nat and handsome Jake are on the run, and they’ve always gotten away before—before Abi. But when Abi is caught by another band of outlaws during the chase, there’s no other choice for Nat and Jake but to save her life. Abi owes them, and she agrees to help them bring in the murderer of a family friend. 

The web of criminal activity grows more entangled with each passing day, but Nat, Jake, and Abi are united in their efforts to find the murderer. Once that happens, all bets are off, and Abi will be turning Nat and Jake over to the law. But can she do it? She finds herself falling for Nat, but is that growing attraction real? Or is he just using her to learn more about the Pinkertons’ methods? Abi always gets her man—but she may have met her match in her “best enemies”—THE INNOCENTS. 

Book Review 

This is my first read by C. A. Asbrey and I'm glad I picked this one up. What attracted me was the idea of a female Pinkerton agent, not well believed in 1800s Wyoming. Abi explains it well - nobody expects a woman to be an agent and they let their guard down. She's also a wizard at disguises. As Nat and Jake try to figure her out, they don't always recognize her. 

Abi took on this role after her husband was killed and she was left alone. She needed a goal and taking down the Innocents gang leaders, Nat and Jake, is her current goal. Only there's something between Nat and Abi, even as she holds to the line. She has her honor to consider.

Aside from the old west setting, what makes this a great read is the characters. Abi, the independent woman in a time when women were not independent, who manages to slip into situations easily and begins to question her assumption that she would remain alone for the rest of her life. Nat and Jake are quite the pair, with Jake not very trusting and Nat the charmer - and the challenger. Yet, both are gentleman and protective of women. They manage to unite to find the killer of two women and ensure that other such ladies do not get lured to their death thanks to Abi's ingenuity.  

If you like mystery set in history, twists to the plot, and loyalty among friends, you'll like this one. It's well-written with a touch of humor and potential for romance. This is the first in The Innocents series, and a quick glance at the next few is enticing. 

About the Author 

C.A. Asbrey developed a deep interest in early forensics and detection methods working in the field. She researched early detectives and the tools available to them for years before developing her characters. They are compelling versions of real people, all her crimes are based on fictionalized versions of real crimes, and the methods used to solve them were available to detectives at the time. 

She likes her mysteries twisty, complex, and intricate, through a fog of history and a touch of light humor. She is a writer of mysteries and a fan of all things Victorian and obscure, topped off with interest in early forensics, science, music, jaywalking, ordering the best meal at the table in a restaurant, and dropping out of society to do whatever she wants. She enjoys an eclectic mix of the old and new, foreign and obscure, funny and dramatic, so includes these elements in her writing. 

She loves finding gadgets which were invented earlier than popular wisdom accepts, especially when they involve the spying and scientific techniques of the of the past. If you are looking for historically accurate mysteries laced with vivid characterizations, romance, and compelling plots, these are the books for you. 

You can follow her on Twitter

The Innocents Series 

The Innocents (Amazon purchase link)

Innocent as Sin 

Innocent Bystander 

In all Innocence 

Innocent Minds 

Innocent to the Last

Blog Tour Spotlight : Erin's Children by Eileen O'Finlan

Today, we have a definite change of pace. The spotlight is on historical fiction that captures unrest and wars in both the US and Ireland... 

 

About Erin's Children

 

In 1851 Irish Famine survivor, Meg O'Connor, buys passage to America for her younger sister, Kathleen, and arranges employment for her as a maid. Kathleen's feisty spirit soon puts her at odds with her employers, the bigoted and predatory Pratts. Driven from their home, Kathleen ends up on a wild adventure taking her to places she could never have imagined.

As a domestic servant in the Worcester, Massachusetts home of the kindly Claprood family, Meg enjoys a life beyond her wildest imaginings. Yet she must keep her marriage to Rory Quinn a secret. Rory, still in Ireland, eagerly awaits the day he will join her. But as the only jobs open to Irish men pay poorly, Rory's imminent arrival threatens to plunge her back into dire poverty.

On the eve of the Civil War, while America is being rent asunder by the fight over slavery, Irish Catholics wage their own war with the growing anti-immigrant Know Nothing party. Through grave doubts, dangers, and turmoil, Meg and Kathleen must rely on their faith and the resilient bonds of sisterhood to survive and claim their destinies in a new and often hostile land. 

About Eileen O’Finlan

Eileen O’Finlan writes historical fiction, telling the stories on history’s margins, the things rarely taught in the classroom. For her, that’s where history really gets fun. Her promise to her readers is to craft stories that will thoroughly immerse them in another time and place.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, her family moved to Worcester when she was two. Four years later they moved to Holden where Eileen grew up and where she now resides.

Eileen holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry. She works full time for the Diocese of Worcester and teaches online courses in Catholic studies for the University of Dayton, Ohio. Erin's Children is her second novel and the sequel to her debut novel, Kelegeen. 

Author Links 

Webpage: https://eileenofinlan.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eileenofinlanauthor/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17762333
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eileenofinlan 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnoxfrZpgvtHbAH74qM_vEQ 
BWL Publishing, Inc. Author Page: http://bookswelove.com/o-finlan-eileen/ 

Purchase Links 

Amazon B&N 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 

December 7 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
December 7 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 8 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

December 8 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT 

December 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 

December 9 – Baroness' Book Trove - SPOTLIGHT 

December 10 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

December 10 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT 

December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 

December 11 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 

December 12 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST 

December 12 – My Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

December 13 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

December 14 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT 

December 14 – Diane Reviews Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

December 15 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

December 15 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

December 16 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

December 16 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

Blog tour and Review: GUNFIGHT AT GRACE GULCH (A Dressed for Death Mystery Book 1) by Darlene Franklin

Gunfight at Grace Gulch

(Christian Cozy Mystery)

(A Dressed For Death Mystery Book 1)

Forget Me Not Romances

A Division of Winged Publications (February 28, 2015)

Paperback: 216 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1508946991

E-Book B00U4XPROW

Synopsis
The feud between the Graces and the Gaynors is still going strong more than a century after its inception in the 1891 Oklahoma land run. Newspaper editor Penn Hardy is murdered during the reenactment of the most famous gunfight in the history of Grace Gulch, Oklahoma. Cici Wilde, owner of a vintage clothing store, feels compelled to investigate when police suspect people close to her. She soon discovers her talent for sleuthing equals her flare for wearing period clothing. Theater director Audie Howe never expected the reenactment to end in a real murder. He cares too much for the future of the Magda Grace Mallory Theater – and the charming Cici Wilde – to let her face danger alone. Cici and Audie take a dangerous gamble to nail the killer – and lay their lives on the line.

Review

Historical re-enactment of a feud between two families turns deadly during the shoot-out. Cici's involvement starts out as the vendor for the costumes, but she is determined to solve the crime when her sister Dina or special friend Cord are the prime suspects. Audie gets involved, hoping to win Cici's heart.

Readers who enjoy historical contexts will enjoy this cozy mystery. Not only does the mystery have a historical bent, but Franklin supplements the story line with letters from the 1890s to help set the stage and provide the "history" for this community and the feud. This book will also appeal to those who like a Christian theme.

This is the first of three in the Dressed for Death Series. The other two are A STRING OF MURDERS and PAINT ME A MURDER.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the Author
Best-selling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over forty books and has written more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont.

Author Links
http://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Franklin/e/B001K8993A/https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3
www.darlenefranklinwrites.com
@darlenefranklin

Purchase Links
Amazon

A Book Excerpt

The gigantic black hands on the town clock atop our municipal building inched toward twelve o’clock. Audie put a cell phone to his ear.

Cord and Penn, reprising their roles as Bob Grace and Dick Gaynor, burst through the saloon doors, shouting insults.

My heart stuttered a bit, worried for Cord. Penn sounded really angry.

“You can’t get away with it. You’re a scoundrel and a cheat.” Penn’s face was set into deep lines, hatred aging him prematurely.

“I’m not a cheat. I arrived first, fair and square. You have to accept it.”

Tension twisted my shoulders. I held my breath.

“That’s what you think!” Penn pulled out a Colt and fired.

A flash of light—popping sounds—two men fell to the ground.

Blog Tour: CAPTAIN SHELBY by Jesse Giles Christiansen

Synopsis
In coastal Denmark, a young man named Nereus builds a longship and leaves at age eighteen to discover a new, enigmatic land. Faced with unimaginable obstacles, he crosses the North Atlantic, only to be captured by the Skraelings, the Inuit indigenous people who seek revenge on all settlers because of a “Great Red Man” who murdered many of their family members.

Many years later, Nereus is hired by a group of Irish settlers who are fleeing the tyranny of King Henry VIII, and he takes them across the North Atlantic to the Newfound Land. A fierce battle ensues against the sea, the Little Ice Age, and the vicious Skraelings.

When Nereus falls in love with Laura Hodges, fiancée to the group’s leader, William Brockelby, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous love triangle…until the formidable mystery surrounding Captain Nereus H. Shelby is finally revealed.

Review
The reader is introduced to Captain Shelby, grandfatherly fisherman in Pelican Bay and his story continues here. He is the fisherman who seems more than real with a depth of knowledge – or secrets– that he is not all too keen on sharing. With well positioned metaphor and description that is crisp yet potentially esoteric, Christiansen again shares both history and mystery in this tale. What is the secret that Captain Shelby works so diligently to hide? How does is this secret entwined with his love of Laura and the customs of the long ago time? Readers who enjoy history, rich description, and eloquent language will enjoy this story.

About the Author - Jesse Giles Christiansen:
Jesse Giles Christiansen is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature, and holds an M.A. in philosophy from Georgia State University. He is the author of Pelican Bay (book one in the Captain Shelby Series), an Amazon #1 list bestseller, outselling Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. One of Christiansen’s literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he always reminds himself of something that Ray Bradbury once said: “You fail only if you stop writing.”

Author Links

Web Site: www.jessegileschristiansen.com
Blog: www.jgchristiansen.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JesseGilesChris
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jesse.gileschristiansen.7
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5261095.Jesse_Giles_Christiansen

Purchase Link:
Amazon