Saturday 31 March 2018
Friday 30 March 2018
Book of the Month - Satin Cinnabar by Barbara Gaskell Denvil
has RECEIVED
Book of the Month Award
for
March
An intriguing historical mystery, full of suspense and romance.
Set in 15th century England, against the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth when the first Tudor King Henry VII took the throne from Richard III, The plots and sub-plots interweave, held together by the strong atmospheric medieval backgrounds and the depth of characterization. With all the inevitable power struggle, politics and turmoil accompanying the beginning of the new Tudor dynasty.
On his escape from the abandoned battlefield, Alex, younger son of a slain lord, throws off his armour which would mark him as a knight of the defeated Yorkists. The Lady Katherine, having heard tales of marauding soldiers both vanquished and victorious, is dressed for safety as a boy. She and Alex, both in disguise, meet in unusual circumstances.
Now the lords once loyal to King Richard are in danger of losing their titles, their property and their heads. Law and order seem under threat so Alex quickly goes into hiding. Taking refuge in the kitchens of old friends, he impersonates a servant. During his unorthodox sojourn in the kitchens that Alex encounters Katherine once again. Given in an arranged marriage, the lady is now reluctantly wedded to the new lord of the house. Alex and Katherine come face to face for the second time and begin a most unorthodox courtship.
But Alex’s cousin, newly pardoned and released from the Tower, is discovered murdered. The circumstances of his death put Alex under considerable suspicion, especially when Katherine’s bridegroom also dies suddenly, albeit of natural causes. The parish priest believes Alex guilty of double murder. He gives evidence, leading to Alex’ arrest and incarceration in Newgate prison – a veritable hell during that period. Discovering the true murderer, overcoming his enemies, and convincing Katherine that marriage with the right person might actually be an excellent prospect after all, keeps Alex on alert for the rest of the book.
Genre: Historical Romance / Romantic suspense
Approx pages: 477
All books receiving a Book of the Month Award are automatically considered for Book of the Year 2018
All books receiving a Chill with a Readers' Award in April will automatically be considered for Book of the Month – April.
for
March
An intriguing historical mystery, full of suspense and romance.
Set in 15th century England, against the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth when the first Tudor King Henry VII took the throne from Richard III, The plots and sub-plots interweave, held together by the strong atmospheric medieval backgrounds and the depth of characterization. With all the inevitable power struggle, politics and turmoil accompanying the beginning of the new Tudor dynasty.
On his escape from the abandoned battlefield, Alex, younger son of a slain lord, throws off his armour which would mark him as a knight of the defeated Yorkists. The Lady Katherine, having heard tales of marauding soldiers both vanquished and victorious, is dressed for safety as a boy. She and Alex, both in disguise, meet in unusual circumstances.
Now the lords once loyal to King Richard are in danger of losing their titles, their property and their heads. Law and order seem under threat so Alex quickly goes into hiding. Taking refuge in the kitchens of old friends, he impersonates a servant. During his unorthodox sojourn in the kitchens that Alex encounters Katherine once again. Given in an arranged marriage, the lady is now reluctantly wedded to the new lord of the house. Alex and Katherine come face to face for the second time and begin a most unorthodox courtship.
But Alex’s cousin, newly pardoned and released from the Tower, is discovered murdered. The circumstances of his death put Alex under considerable suspicion, especially when Katherine’s bridegroom also dies suddenly, albeit of natural causes. The parish priest believes Alex guilty of double murder. He gives evidence, leading to Alex’ arrest and incarceration in Newgate prison – a veritable hell during that period. Discovering the true murderer, overcoming his enemies, and convincing Katherine that marriage with the right person might actually be an excellent prospect after all, keeps Alex on alert for the rest of the book.
Genre: Historical Romance / Romantic suspense
Approx pages: 477
All books receiving a Book of the Month Award are automatically considered for Book of the Year 2018
Wednesday 28 March 2018
Seraphina's Song by Kathryn Gauci
has RECEIVED a
Chill with a Book READERS’ Award
“If I knew then, dear reader, what I know now, I should have turned on my heels and left. But no, instead, I stood there transfixed on the beautiful image of Seraphina. In that moment my fate was sealed.”
Dionysos Mavroulis is a man without a future; a man who embraces destiny and risks everything for love.
A refugee from Asia Minor, he escapes Smyrna in 1922 disguised as an old woman. Alienated and plagued by feelings of remorse, he spirals into poverty and seeks solace in the hashish dens around Piraeus.
Hitting rock bottom, he meets Aleko, an accomplished bouzouki player. Recognising in the impoverished refugee a rare musical talent, Aleko offers to teach him the bouzouki.
Dionysos’ hope for a better life is further fuelled when he meets Seraphina — the singer with the voice of a nightingale — at Papazoglou’s Taverna. From the moment he lays eyes on her, his fate is sealed.
Set in Piraeus, Greece during the 1920’s and 30’s, Seraphina’s Song is a haunting and compelling story of hope and despair, and of a love stronger than death.
Genre: Historical Fiction / Crime Fiction / Noir
Approx pages: 172
Seraphina's Song was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
“If I knew then, dear reader, what I know now, I should have turned on my heels and left. But no, instead, I stood there transfixed on the beautiful image of Seraphina. In that moment my fate was sealed.”
Dionysos Mavroulis is a man without a future; a man who embraces destiny and risks everything for love.
A refugee from Asia Minor, he escapes Smyrna in 1922 disguised as an old woman. Alienated and plagued by feelings of remorse, he spirals into poverty and seeks solace in the hashish dens around Piraeus.
Hitting rock bottom, he meets Aleko, an accomplished bouzouki player. Recognising in the impoverished refugee a rare musical talent, Aleko offers to teach him the bouzouki.
Dionysos’ hope for a better life is further fuelled when he meets Seraphina — the singer with the voice of a nightingale — at Papazoglou’s Taverna. From the moment he lays eyes on her, his fate is sealed.
Set in Piraeus, Greece during the 1920’s and 30’s, Seraphina’s Song is a haunting and compelling story of hope and despair, and of a love stronger than death.
Genre: Historical Fiction / Crime Fiction / Noir
Approx pages: 172
Were the characters strong and engaging?
Was the book well written?
Did the story / plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
Friday 23 March 2018
Foxglove by Phillip Winberry
has RECEIVED a
Chill with a Book READERS’ Award
Seeking to start a new life after being exonerated for the shooting of a robbery suspect he mistakenly thought was armed, troubled Los Angeles police detective Jake Miller resigns and takes a new job as Police Chief of Silver Cove, a small resort town on an island in Washington’s Puget Sound. Shortly after his arrival Jake is summoned to a local motel where a man’s body has been discovered. At first glance, the death appears to be due to natural causes, but when he hears one of the paramedics responding to the scene mutter, “looks like she got another one,” Jake decides to take a closer look. Questioning the paramedic, he learns the deceased is the fourth man in the past twenty years to have a fatal heart attack while in an intimate relationship with Diana Raynes, owner of the town’s destination resort. He also finds trace evidence that suggests the death might not be from natural causes.
Is Diana a serial killer?
Setting out to answer to that question, Jake soon finds himself being drawn closer to Diana, causing him to question his objectivity as it pertains to her possible guilt. His investigation grows more complicated when Diana’s high school sweetheart, Sam Winters, newly returned to town after an absence of thirty-one years, is wounded by a sniper. Then, days later, Sam’s daughter is critically injured when an exploding car bomb leaves her near death, and provides Jake with new evidence suggesting Diana might be responsible for those incidents, as well.
In the ensuing weeks, Jake doggedly pursues promising leads. His efforts succeed only in widening the list of possible suspects, not getting him closer to solving the case. Then, at the town’s annual Thanksgiving celebration, the perpetrator strikes again, an act that propels Jake’s investigation to a tragic and shocking conclusion.
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Approx pages: 377
Foxglove was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
Seeking to start a new life after being exonerated for the shooting of a robbery suspect he mistakenly thought was armed, troubled Los Angeles police detective Jake Miller resigns and takes a new job as Police Chief of Silver Cove, a small resort town on an island in Washington’s Puget Sound. Shortly after his arrival Jake is summoned to a local motel where a man’s body has been discovered. At first glance, the death appears to be due to natural causes, but when he hears one of the paramedics responding to the scene mutter, “looks like she got another one,” Jake decides to take a closer look. Questioning the paramedic, he learns the deceased is the fourth man in the past twenty years to have a fatal heart attack while in an intimate relationship with Diana Raynes, owner of the town’s destination resort. He also finds trace evidence that suggests the death might not be from natural causes.
Is Diana a serial killer?
Setting out to answer to that question, Jake soon finds himself being drawn closer to Diana, causing him to question his objectivity as it pertains to her possible guilt. His investigation grows more complicated when Diana’s high school sweetheart, Sam Winters, newly returned to town after an absence of thirty-one years, is wounded by a sniper. Then, days later, Sam’s daughter is critically injured when an exploding car bomb leaves her near death, and provides Jake with new evidence suggesting Diana might be responsible for those incidents, as well.
In the ensuing weeks, Jake doggedly pursues promising leads. His efforts succeed only in widening the list of possible suspects, not getting him closer to solving the case. Then, at the town’s annual Thanksgiving celebration, the perpetrator strikes again, an act that propels Jake’s investigation to a tragic and shocking conclusion.
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Approx pages: 377
Were the characters strong and engaging?
Was the book well written?
Did the story / plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
Thursday 22 March 2018
Satin Cinnabar by Barbara Gaskell Denvil
has RECEIVED a
Chill with a Book READERS’ Award
An intriguing historical mystery, full of suspense and romance.
Set in 15th century England, against the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth when the first Tudor King Henry VII took the throne from Richard III, The plots and sub-plots interweave, held together by the strong atmospheric medieval backgrounds and the depth of characterization. With all the inevitable power struggle, politics and turmoil accompanying the beginning of the new Tudor dynasty.
On his escape from the abandoned battlefield, Alex, younger son of a slain lord, throws off his armour which would mark him as a knight of the defeated Yorkists. The Lady Katherine, having heard tales of marauding soldiers both vanquished and victorious, is dressed for safety as a boy. She and Alex, both in disguise, meet in unusual circumstances.
Now the lords once loyal to King Richard are in danger of losing their titles, their property and their heads. Law and order seem under threat so Alex quickly goes into hiding. Taking refuge in the kitchens of old friends, he impersonates a servant. During his unorthodox sojourn in the kitchens that Alex encounters Katherine once again. Given in an arranged marriage, the lady is now reluctantly wedded to the new lord of the house. Alex and Katherine come face to face for the second time and begin a most unorthodox courtship.
But Alex’s cousin, newly pardoned and released from the Tower, is discovered murdered. The circumstances of his death put Alex under considerable suspicion, especially when Katherine’s bridegroom also dies suddenly, albeit of natural causes. The parish priest believes Alex guilty of double murder. He gives evidence, leading to Alex’ arrest and incarceration in Newgate prison – a veritable hell during that period. Discovering the true murderer, overcoming his enemies, and convincing Katherine that marriage with the right person might actually be an excellent prospect after all, keeps Alex on alert for the rest of the book.
Genre: Historical Romance / Romantic suspense
Approx pages: 477
Satin Cinnabar was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
An intriguing historical mystery, full of suspense and romance.
Set in 15th century England, against the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth when the first Tudor King Henry VII took the throne from Richard III, The plots and sub-plots interweave, held together by the strong atmospheric medieval backgrounds and the depth of characterization. With all the inevitable power struggle, politics and turmoil accompanying the beginning of the new Tudor dynasty.
On his escape from the abandoned battlefield, Alex, younger son of a slain lord, throws off his armour which would mark him as a knight of the defeated Yorkists. The Lady Katherine, having heard tales of marauding soldiers both vanquished and victorious, is dressed for safety as a boy. She and Alex, both in disguise, meet in unusual circumstances.
Now the lords once loyal to King Richard are in danger of losing their titles, their property and their heads. Law and order seem under threat so Alex quickly goes into hiding. Taking refuge in the kitchens of old friends, he impersonates a servant. During his unorthodox sojourn in the kitchens that Alex encounters Katherine once again. Given in an arranged marriage, the lady is now reluctantly wedded to the new lord of the house. Alex and Katherine come face to face for the second time and begin a most unorthodox courtship.
But Alex’s cousin, newly pardoned and released from the Tower, is discovered murdered. The circumstances of his death put Alex under considerable suspicion, especially when Katherine’s bridegroom also dies suddenly, albeit of natural causes. The parish priest believes Alex guilty of double murder. He gives evidence, leading to Alex’ arrest and incarceration in Newgate prison – a veritable hell during that period. Discovering the true murderer, overcoming his enemies, and convincing Katherine that marriage with the right person might actually be an excellent prospect after all, keeps Alex on alert for the rest of the book.
Genre: Historical Romance / Romantic suspense
Approx pages: 477
Were the characters strong and engaging?
Was the book well written?
Did the story / plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
Wednesday 21 March 2018
Monday 19 March 2018
The Road to California by Louise Walters
has RECEIVED a
Chill with a Book READERS’ Award
Proud single parent Joanna is accustomed to school phoning to tell her that her fourteen year old son Ryan is in trouble. But when Ryan hits a girl and is excluded from school, Joanna knows she must take drastic action to help him.
Ryan's dad Lex left home when Ryan was two years old. Ryan doesn’t remember him - but more than anything he wants a dad in his life. Isolated, a loner, and angry, Ryan finds solace in books and wildlife.
Joanna, against all her instincts, invites Lex to return and help their son. But Lex is a drifter who runs from commitment, and both Joanna and Ryan find their mutual trust and love is put to the test when Lex returns, and vows to be part of the family again.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Family Life
Approx pages: 203
The Road to California was read and evaluated by Chill's readers against the following...
Proud single parent Joanna is accustomed to school phoning to tell her that her fourteen year old son Ryan is in trouble. But when Ryan hits a girl and is excluded from school, Joanna knows she must take drastic action to help him.
Ryan's dad Lex left home when Ryan was two years old. Ryan doesn’t remember him - but more than anything he wants a dad in his life. Isolated, a loner, and angry, Ryan finds solace in books and wildlife.
Joanna, against all her instincts, invites Lex to return and help their son. But Lex is a drifter who runs from commitment, and both Joanna and Ryan find their mutual trust and love is put to the test when Lex returns, and vows to be part of the family again.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Family Life
Approx pages: 203
Were the characters strong and engaging?
Was the book well written?
Did the story / plot have you turning the page to find out what happened next?
Was the ending satisfying?
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