Bones of Amoret Review Spotlight

 

We're celebrating the release of author Arthur Herbert's latest whodunnit, The Bones of Amoret! Read on for my review, more details, and a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

The Bones of Amoret is the latest "whodunnit" novel and the first that I have read by this author, and this book had me hooked! This novel takes readers back in time to 1982 in Amoret, Tx. Noah Grady helps out illegals to cross the border, gives them some medical attention to recover from the harsh journey, and then get along further on their journey. Noah has no idea that life is about to get very complicated and sticky. It begins with a situation he thinks he's managed to handle to avoid further trouble, but when Blaine Beckett comes up missing and his vehicle burned out near Noah's land, it looks bad. What makes it look worse? Noah's secrets are soon going to start coming to light.

The Bones of Amoret is the first book that I have read by this author and I absolutely devoured this book. The start of this book was a bit slow, but once it really begins to start gaining traction it's a page-turner of a novel. Noah is an engaging character, and I love how the story is told. It really makes you feel like the main character is talking directly to you, the reader. Noah gets lost in his memories from time to time in this novel, but it just adds to the authenticity of the character and makes him feel more real. 

The author does a fantastic job capturing the feel of a small Texas town. You honestly feel like you could to Amoret and meet each and every one of these characters or find the places where they might have spent time. I like how despite the fact that the main character, Noah, has secrets he's willing to share them with the reader. I will admit that I was a bit shocked when one particular secret was revealed. I would say that I didn't the character possible of such a thing, but I don't know them well enough to say that. LOL! But I was especially surprised that the main character was able to keep this secret a secret from the town for so long. If you know anything about small towns then you know that pretty much everybody knows everything about everybody unless you keep a low profile and don't really socialize. 

This book is packed with twists, surprises, and jaw-dropping moments. I'm not even gonna lie, there were more than a couple of moments in this story where I literally had tears in my eyes. Whether it was tears of sadness or tears of joy, I love that the author was able to evoke emotional responses from me time and again. The twists really kept me reading because just when I think that we're heading toward some answers more questions popped up. Trust me when I say this - I'm not complaining. LOL! This book is multi-layered to the hilt and that is the exact type of mystery novel that I go for. 

If you love a good "whodunnit" novel then I promise you this - this is the book to pick up. You get so much and so many different angles in this book. It keeps you engaged as you try to piece this puzzle together. You just know that Noah knows that things are about to go left for him, and he's always right. You keep hoping that he'll be wrong, and catch a break, and then fate comes and hits him hard. I'm not going to say that I approve of everything that Noah has done or chose to do in his younger years, but I have to applaud him at the end of the day for his heart towards others. 

I enjoyed every second of this book. I will admit that I was a bit on the fence about the "takes off like a lit fuse" blurb, but that was not overstated. LOL! I ate this book up, and I look forward to more from this author in the future. The twists, the turns, they kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Books that keep me on my toes are usually the best and for me - this book fits that category. I'm rating this book a well earned 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

The Bones of Amoret

Publication Date: February 13th, 2022

Genre: Mystery/ Suspense

Amoret, Texas, 1982. Life along the border is harsh, but in a world where cultures work together to carve a living from the desert landscape, Blaine Beckett lives a life of isolation. A transplanted Boston intellectual, for twenty years locals have viewed him as a snob, a misanthrope, an outsider. He seems content to stand apart until one night when he vanishes into thin air amid signs of foul play.

Noah Grady, the town doctor, is a charming and popular good ol’ boy. He’s also a keeper of secrets, both the town’s and his own. He watches from afar as the mystery of Blaine’s disappearance unravels and rumors fly. Were the incipient cartels responsible? Was it a local with a grudge? Or did Blaine himself orchestrate his own disappearance? Then the unthinkable happens, and Noah begins to realize he’s considered a suspect.

Paced like a lit fuse and full of dizzying plot twists, The Bones of Amoret is a riveting whodunit that will keep you guessing all the way to its shocking conclusion.”

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About the Author

Arthur Herbert was born and raised in small town Texas. He worked on offshore oil rigs, as a bartender, a landscaper at a trailer park, and as a social worker before going to medical school. He chose to do a residency in general surgery, followed by a fellowship in critical care and trauma surgery. For the last seventeen years, he’s worked as a trauma and burn surgeon, operating on all ages of injured patients. He continues to run a thriving practice.

In this enigmatic follow up to his critically acclaimed debut novel The Cuts that Cure, Arthur Herbert returns to the Texas-Mexico border with this saga of a small town’s bloody loss of innocence.

Arthur currently lives in New Orleans, with his wife Amy and their dogs. He loves hearing from his readers, so don’t hesitate to email him at arthur@arthurherbertwriter.com

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The Last Cowboy Book Tour

 

Welcome to the book tour for the historical fiction novel, The Last Cowboy by Jan Herrman. Read on for more details and a chance to win a $25 Amazon e-gift card!

The Last Cowboy

Publication Date: November 7th, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

As the romanticized period of the American “wild” West wound down, most cowboys rode off into the sunset. Hank Miller must follow a different path. In The Last Cowboy, he survives the Civil War, Texas sized desperados, and the great San Francisco earthquake. With a debt to pay, Hank will place himself and his twin sons in great danger in a new, wild and untamed frontier—Morocco!

This is a sweeping tale of a reluctant hero of the West. It is also a story of romance and international adventure, stretching from west Texas to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, London, Tangier and the Moroccan Rif. The novel spans an equally expansive time frame: 1860 to 1912. The backdrop is the American frontier with all its enduring myths and troubling realities.

Ultimately, his heroism earns Hank unexpected wealth, friends on three continents, and the love of an extraordinary woman. Now ensconced in a mansion in the most exclusive neighborhood of San Francisco, Hank has a beautiful wife and three remarkable children. He wants nothing more than to enjoy them all and the highly successful international tour business he and Beth now operate. But a last, perilous mission awaits. Hank has a debt to pay and a friend to rescue in a far-off land.

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About the Author

Jan is a retired physician living with his wife, a practicing pediatrician in Southern California. Their children have all flown the coop.

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Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers Review Spotlight

 

 Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner is the first book in her new Jules Keene Glamping Mystery. Jules runs a glamping resort with beautiful vintage trailers that she rents out to small families and individuals who want to get away from the city without going too wild with their “camping experience.” Business is going great, and everyone is happy until trouble shows it’s face in the form of one of her “long-stay” customers turning up dead. What exactly happened to curmudgeon Ira Perkins and why was he found in nothing but a red satin thong?? The trailer he was staying in was also ransacked, so one would think it’s over. Right? Well, the trouble doesn’t stop there as more seems to follow. Ira claimed to be a writer, but what was he really and why do his actions continue to haunt them?

Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers is the first book that I have read by Heather Weidner, and the storyline really captured my attention. While this story is the first in the series, the author has already established Jules’s business and hints at previous attractions at one time between some of the characters. I love that Jules learned quite a few things from her dad as she was growing up and that they also worked together to create many of the vintage trailers she uses at her resort. I appreciate that she also has such a good relationship with her Aunt Roxanne to work together at the resort as well. I love the family ties that surround Jules.

As I was reading this story, I began to wonder when exactly the murder was going to happen, but don’t worry it’s not too deep into the storyline. I have to say that Ira really is not a pleasant person. I thought that since Aunt Roxanne goes and spends a bit of time with him that maybe he’s not that bad. Nope! Wait until the next morning. That man blows his top like nobody’s business! So, of course, when he winds up dead, I’m like...well bless his heart, how tragic. LOL! Though the trouble with him in life may be done and over with, Jules’s troubles with him after-death are just beginning. It’s not long before Jules has the police on speed dial and more visitors who aren’t looking to check in to one of her vintage trailers. Rip them apart and the ground they stand on? Yes. Absolutely.

I have to admit that there are several times during this book that I completely forgot that this was a first in a series. LOL! I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing really. Probably a bit of both since I’m an avid reader of cozy mystery novels. Jules really has some truly amateurish moments in her sleuthing that I think create big risks for those around her. Granted, that is the nature of the beast when it comes to mysteries and deaths. I just felt that in some cases she takes some risks that could have had collateral damage for those around her. A prime example would be when she’s chasing after unknown individuals speeding through town. It’s bad enough that these reckless people were blazing through Fern Valley like it was a speedway. Things for me get compounded when Jules decides to essentially join in the speeding through town to either: 1) figure out who they are or 2) find out where they’re going. Jules honestly has no qualms pulling out in front of people for the sake of satisfying her curiosity. Her actions could have really come back to bite her if the Sheriff had gotten any complaints concerning her during those chases.

This book is like a really big puzzle, but some of the pieces are hidden and the only way to piece it all together is to find those stray pieces. Jules digs deep to figure out what was really going on with Ira Perkins. For someone who should have been in hiding, he really didn’t want to be too hidden away. In death he brings a lot of chaos and trouble into Jules’s life, but the trouble isn’t just with him as some locals get into some mischief after things don’t go their way. It makes it look like Jules is a magnet for trouble, but that’s just necessarily the case.

Jules, in my opinion, is an interesting character. I love how she runs the resort especially. While these people may not be “long-stay” customers, I appreciate how she takes the time to know their names and be more than just “customer-service” friendly to them. She works to create a sense of community for these people and help make them feel welcome and at home. The author gives readers a nice sense of community and connection whenever Jules goes into town as well. So many in Fern Valley appreciate Jules for what she’s doing, because she’s not just helping herself, but everyone in the Valley as well. I love it. The author does an excellent job showcasing Jules as a truly exceptional individual who wants to help all those around her.

This book is a truly enjoyable story from beginning to end. The author masks dangerous characters by having them use fake names, but their behavior is rarely above board. Of course, there were times when I was a bit suspicious of Agent Stafford. I mean...how is it that he’s always popping up somewhere that Jules is when she’s in town? That’s weird, right? LOL! Not going to lie I did slide a bit into Aunt Roxanne’s lane and think...well...maybe he’s interested in her a bit beyond the case. Maybe? LOL! It’s always fun to imagine.

While this story may not be a fast-paced thriller, it definitely keeps you on your toes wondering...what’s going to happen next? There are some budding romances fluttering around the pages, but nothing concrete just yet. I’m sure that there will be more to come as the series progresses. I enjoyed reading this book and the thrills and chills that Jules and those around her experience while piecing together Ira Perkins’s twisted story. If you enjoy cozy mystery novels or are just looking for a brand new series to dive into, then I encourage you to pick up this book. There is so much to enjoy with this book, and I don’t think you’re going to want to miss out.

Still Knife Painting

Prepare to dive into Cheryl Hollon’s newest cozy mystery novel set in the beautiful rural area of Eastern Kentucky. The author introduces readers to her newest main character Miranda Tolson, who, after inheriting her uncle’s homestead is hoping to be able to make her new business “Paint and Shine” a success in order to meet the requirements of his final will and wishes. The question soon becomes…can she at the very least make ends meet when a murder happens after her first painting class? Things don’t look good for her when she becomes the main suspect as locals are quick to remind her…and the police that she and the murder victim argued…a lot. Miranda is in for a real task in proving her innocence and keeping her business afloat as best that she can. Question is…who killed the cook…and why?

Still Knife Painting is a well –written cozy mystery that is full of tasty food (and recipes, too! Yum!), smooth moonshine, secrets, a touch of romance, and a few close calls of danger. The author gives readers the main character that is coming from the big city back to a small town and the small-time life. You can tell that Miranda isn’t used to small-town life and the complications of it, but she overall handles the whole situation pretty well. I’ll say this; she handles a couple of moments better than I would have when dealing with certain individuals in the story.

I like the way that the author writes the characters overall. You can honestly see them existing in this small town in Kentucky and going about their daily business. The descriptions of the scenery and events in the story are so well done that when the characters are tearing down the dirt roads kicking up dust I can almost taste it. Haha! The author shows the dynamic differences between what Miranda is familiar with and how some more rural towns are towards outsiders. There is some serious tension between two characters with a years’ long grudge. I was honestly surprised that after all this time these two grown men were still holding on to things that should have been let go of a long time ago.

This book is a soft cozy mystery. There is some thrill of danger and a couple moments of where you are pulled to the edge of your seat with the intensity of the moment, but there isn’t a lot of drama and thrills to go with this book. The focus is mostly on Miranda as she goes from having a decent beginning to her business to struggling to keep it afloat as she is painted as a killer by the police and those who don’t approve of the moonshine aspect of her business.

The author writes in some humorous moments throughout the book to help lighten the mood which I really enjoyed. One moment that almost had me waking the whole house was after the murder when the police begin to arrive. When the author has Miranda likens one of the officers to Barney Fife and then he actually SOUNDS like Barney Fife I almost howled. I had to choke back peals of laughter and that was all I could think of and hear when reading about that particular character.

My only real disappointment with this book is the revelation of the killer. I was expecting a bit more. For me, there isn’t a big REVEAL. The build-up is decent, but the revelation is…a bit disappointing for me. I have to say that the lead-up is absolutely tragic and gives readers a view into the past that speaks of unfairness and even cruelty.

All in all, I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The mystery is well done overall and I love how true to life the characters and settings are. There is a good deal of drama, and even some hints of romance, but the romance never takes over the storyline. The author keeps it on the fringes but hints at more in the future between the two characters. I’m looking forward to reading what new danger Miranda will encounter with future books.