Friday, July 12, 2019

FFBC Blog Tour: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager...Review & Giveaway!


Wednesday I shared my thoughts on The Bartholomew, the fictional hotel in Lock Every Door and today I am here to share my review!
Keep reading to find out more about Lock Every Door and more!

Lock Every Door
by Riley Sager
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Genre: Adult, Horror, Thriller

Synopsis:

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer.

Now a full-time writer, Riley is the author of FINAL GIRLS, an international bestseller that has been published in 25 languages, and the New York Times bestseller THE LAST TIME I LIED. His latest book, LOCK EVERY DOOR, will be published in July.

A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Title: Lock Every Door
Author: Riley Sager
Format: Digital ARC
Source: Publisher/Blog Tour 

With Lock Every Door, Riley Sager has solidified himself as one of my favorite authors of thrillers and suspense. As he did with his previous two novels, The Final Girls and The Last Time I Lied, Sager created a story and characters that I’m not likely to forget any time soon. This time it all centered around a fascinating, old apartment building with a storied past, The Bartholomew.

Jules Larsen is having the worst luck ever when she gets the chance to live and work as an apartment sitter in the luxurious apartment building that she has dreamed about for years, The Bartholomew. It seems almost too good to be true and soon Jules begins to suspect it just might be with its strange rules, secretive residents, and dark past. Her suspicions kick into high gear when fellow apartment sitter Ingrid disappears and Jules learns all is not what it seems at The Bartholomew.

Lock Every Door is a page-turner that I couldn’t put down. Mystery, suspense, drama, horror, there’s a little bit of everything and a nice balance of all. As a fan of thrillers, I enjoyed every bit of this story, from the beginning where we get a brief glimpse of what’s to come to the shocking ending with its horrific twist. I could easily see Lock Every Door on the big or small screen someday as it reminded me of some of my favorite films from the thriller/suspense genre.

In addition to successfully handling the genre, Sager also manages to breathe life into The Bartholomew making me view it as its own character despite it being an inanimate building. From the wallpaper with flowers like faces and vents with openings like mouths that swallow dropped items, each description brought this building to life and made it real. It is just as important as the human characters in the story and it is probably my favorite part of the story. Just imagining the floor plans, the history, the residents, and extravagance of it all makes me wish I could see it as it was meant to be.

I also really enjoyed how Sager managed to tie Jules’s past to her present situation even though they seem completely unrelated. The Bartholomew is the setting of her missing sister’s favorite book, a book-within-a-book whose author turns out to be a resident at the apartment building. And fellow sitter Ingrid reminds Jules of her sister which sort of motivates Jules in her search for Ingrid and answers when the girl disappears. 

As for those answers, I can’t lie and say I didn’t see them coming...well some of them...but I enjoyed watching them play out. And as I read the ending, I realized little clues had been dropped along the way (which is one reason why I wasn’t completely surprised...I had my Nancy Drew hat on). Now I want to reread the book to see what clues that I might have missed!

I can’t wait to see what Riley Sager has in store for us next!

*I received a free digital ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.*
7 copies of LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager
US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out the other stops on the Tour to learn more about Lock Every Door!




Wednesday, July 10, 2019

FFBC: Lock Every Door By Riley Sager...My Favorite Character & aGiveaway!


I am not going to lie, Riley Sager is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed each of his previous books, The Final Girls and The Last Time I Lied. And Lock Every Door is one of the best books I’ve read this year, if not the best. 
So I am super excited to be able to tell you about the book today!
Keep reading to find out more about Lock Every Door and to learn about my favorite character and more!
And be sure to check back Friday for my review!




Lock Every Door
by Riley Sager

Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Genre: Adult, Horror, Thriller

Synopsis:

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer.

Now a full-time writer, Riley is the author of FINAL GIRLS, an international bestseller that has been published in 25 languages, and the New York Times bestseller THE LAST TIME I LIED. His latest book, LOCK EVERY DOOR, will be published in July.

A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey.




Now it’s time for me to share some of my random thoughts...well, maybe not-so-random...I’ll let you decide...

My Favorite Character from Lock Every Door...

One of my favorite things about Riley Sager’s writing is his knack for creating fascinating and complex characters that you want to know more about. And Lock Every Door definitely doesn’t lack colorful characters. Each character has its own idiosyncrasies and unique personality that makes them memorable. They also have a backstory that makes them intriguing and you long to discover more about what brought them to this particular moment in life. My favorite character in Lock Every Door has all of these traits and just happens to be The Bartholomew, the apartment building in which the main character and most of the other characters reside. 

Yes, there are plenty of human characters in the story that I could have easily chosen. The residents of The Bartholomew are definitely eccentric, secretive people who make you curious to know their story and what brought them to this apartment building. There are quite a few I loved. But Riley Sager manages to bring The Bartholomew to life giving it its own quirks and personality as well as providing it with a fascinating back story. From the wallpaper that looks like tiny faces to the giant gargoyles to the old-fashioned elevator, everything about The Bartholomew intrigues me.

The Bartholomew is more than just a setting or building to me, it is integral to the story because without it and its supposed curse, the story falls apart and loses what makes it so interesting. I won’t say anymore...you’ll just have to read to find out what exactly happens and judge for yourself. But to me, it is a character in the story.

But The Bartholomew isn’t the only building that is important or could be looked at as its own character throughout literature or fiction. Can you imagine the Harry Potter series without Hogwarts? The Shining without the Overlook Hotel? The Haunting Of Hill House without Hill House? These are just a few examples.

Do you have a favorite building from literature? Would you consider it a character?

7 copies of LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager
US Only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out the other stops on the Tour to learn more about Lock Every Door!

And be sure to check back here on Friday for my review!

Friday, February 8, 2019

Release Tour and Book Spotlight: Must Love Coffee by Leigh Lennon

I am very happy to be part of the Release Tour for MUST LOVE COFFEE BY LEIGH LENNON!




Check out my Spotlight on Must Love Coffee below and look for my review soon!
The first book in the highly anticipated 425 Madison series is now live! Read MUST LOVE COFFEE by Leigh Lennon today.


Only on Amazon + Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited




Gwen
I was stripped of all my own desires and wants when I was married to my ex-husband. I now carry a list with me—a list that will help me choose a man that will put me first in life. Then the storm cloud of an entitled millionaire appears in my life and knocks me off my axis. This man sends so many mixed signals, my body either quakes with anger or passion when I’m around him.

I'm his son's teacher and his tenant, but I find myself wanting more.

Leo
My life is run with precision with little regard for others until a woman in crazy clothes challenges me to be a better father. She’s one of the few people that puts me in my place and maybe for this very reason—I want her more than I can articulate. With her failed marriage and list of requests she needs from her next partner, I know she’s my future. My life is less than perfect, and with it—baggage that follows me everywhere. Does she want my kind of crazy in her life?

I'm her landlord and an a**hole, but  I find myself wanting more.

Where to begin? For starters, you must love coffee...

After all, 425 Madison Avenue is the perfect place to fall in love.

*Each story is completely standalone.

Gwen:


Leo stands with so much force it pushes his chair over, bumping the table and knocking some of Teague’s test results to the floor.


“Mason, this teacher is clearly incompetent and I want her replaced—no, fuck that—I want her fired.”

I don’t give Mason much time to reply. I stand just as fast and, though he has a good six inches on me,  I’m in his face.

“Okay, Mr. Eastman, you want me fired so badly, answer me this. How much time do you spend with Teague each day on his homework? I’ve sent home small readers with questions to be answered each day, even if you have to write the responses for him. I’ve never gotten a completed form in return.” As I speak, the harsh teacher tone takes over and demands his attention. I don’t miss how his hands curl into fists when I continue. “I’ve sent him home with a phonetical set of flash cards and a completion sheet. After ten times, he gets a reward. I have yet to receive that back. The same goes for number recognition. So, you tell me I’m not doing my job. But, since turnabout is fair play, how are you doing on your end? It takes a village, Mr. Eastman. Let me know when you move in and we can talk.”

Leo:


How is it that a man who has access to countless hot women wakes on the morning of his kid’s playdate like it’s fucking Christmas? And with a jolly ripe boner at the thought of his son’s teacher. Yeah, this guy here. I’m not ashamed of it but is it appropriate to ask this woman out while we are essentially chaperoning our daughters? See, I haven’t always been a manwhore. With Dez, I was the most committed father and husband—I only had eyes for her. And maybe these new feelings make it obvious I’m ready to start over again.

With the first glance at my phone, I’m accosted with a shit-ton of texts from Donna. She invited me over last night but I’d told her I was taking my kids to the movies. This crazy, bleached-blonde tried to invite herself with us to see Venom. She had no idea it was a Marvel movie, in addition to being oblivious to the fact that I’d never let her get within arm’s reach of my kids. A good fuck she’s been but that’s all she ever could be. And now, after imagining the teacher as a person I want more than sex with, I’m on the offensive with today’s playdate. But don’t fucking get me wrong—I sure as fuck want to fill her up—but I want more than that. I can’t fucking believe that I, Leo Eastman, am admitting to this.  

Shit, shit, shit. But it’s true.








Leigh Lennon is a mother, veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led to a deep passion. She lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. One could say she loves pretty nails, big earrings, and spiky hair. She can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.


Website ➝ http://bit.ly/2UxaxnT
Facebook ➝ https://bit.ly/2DXBg48
Goodreads ➝ https://bit.ly/2zxFsce
Amazon ➝ https://amzn.to/2qXQ1yH
BookBub ➝ https://bit.ly/2oZJPp2


About the 425 Madison Series


Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read

The series features stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, and C. Lesbirel

Join these authors as they come together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy

Featuring some of readers' favorite tropes: second-chance romance, best friends sibling romance to a good ol' enemies to lovers romance. We've got you covered with a sports romance, a fake relationship and even an ugly duckling or two. Don't forget a brother's best friend and falling for your soul mate. Maybe a little love triangle as well. Each tale offers you something new, something different. After all, 425 Madison Avenue is the perfect place to fall in love


For more information, visit the series website ➝ www.425madisonseries.com

Follow the series on Facebook ➝ https://www.facebook.com/425MadisonSeries

Books two and three in the series are coming soon! Add them to your Goodreads shelf today! 

Let Me Love You by MK Moore, Book #2
A Best Friend’s Sibling Romance
Goodreads ➝ https://rebrand.ly/MLC_425Madison


Just Swipe Right by Allie York, Book #3 
A Love Triangle Romance
Goodreads ➝ https://rebrand.ly/JSR_425Madison


This release event is brought to you by Forever Write PR - Forever your source for all your writing needs.

Friday, January 25, 2019

An Apology and an Announcement...

Hello all...


Sorry for the silence...it’s a very long story that I’ll explain very soon.
But I apologize to those I let down in my absence and those who wondered what was going on.
Let’s just say that I had a really rough last few months and I’m still struggling to get caught up and feel normal again as 2019 is not cooperating either. But I missed blogging.


Anyway, I’m going to be working on updating some stuff and changing a few things here on the blog in the next few weeks...which I’ll also explain soon.


But I did want you to know that you should be on the lookout for new content next week!
Yay!


In the meantime, what is everyone reading?