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johnsbookshelf · 2 years

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📚 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 📚 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗭𝗘𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗬 by Carolyn Arnold ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My thanks to Bookouture for my spot on this tour and for the advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 While this is the fifth in the Detective Amanda Steel series of crime thrillers, it is also the first book I have read from the author. Being part of a series, I found obvious references to people, places, and occurrences from the previous books, but found that Her Frozen Cry worked perfectly well as a standalone novel, or even as an introduction to the series. I will be going back and starting the series from the beginning soon. This was an emotional roller-coaster and one that I was fully invested in before I had finished chapter one. The heart rate monitor on my watch alerted me to an unexpected change every now and again, and on one occasion, after reading a particular passage, I even felt a burst of adrenaline coursing through my veins, such was the author's skill at conveying a whole host of emotions. I remember being scared when watching Jaws as a child. My father told me to keep repeating , "𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚. 𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚." It's just a book. it's just a book. It's just... Written in third person, which I feel let’s the reader see the bigger picture rather than one character’s perspective, the story is centred around protagonist Amanda, but not restricted to her. I like Amanda Steel. She is centred, driven, flawed, and utterly believable. Trent is another likeable charger and compliments Amanda perfectly. There may be something in the world for these two, but I’ll have to read the rest of the books to see the full range of character development. I loved seeing Amanda’s relationship with Zoe as they became a family. Overall, this was a joy to read, albeit a bit stressful, and I happily recommend it to all readers of crime thrillers, police procedurals, and anyone wanting a great read, with the caveat to read the series to fully appreciate backstory and context. I gave Her Frozen Cry, by Carolyn Arnold, five stars. #ad #gifted #herfrozencry #carolynarnold #bookouture (at Southampton, England, U.K.) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cewh3p6rJP_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#ad #gifted #herfrozencry #carolynarnold #bookouture

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dollycas · 2 years

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#FlashbackFriday - The Ivy Tree - An Avalon Romance by Carolyn Brown #Review / #Giveaway

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf. In my quest to complete the Literary Escapes Challenge this year, I pulled this book from my huge Kindle TBR shelf.

The Ivy Tree Contemporary Women's Fiction / Romance Setting - Oklahoma Montlake Romance Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0803494661 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0803494664 Paperback ‏ : ‎ 158 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 147783169X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1477831694 Kindle Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DTTW5SE

After his rodeo accident, Truman James was just going home to his grandmother’s farmhouse to stay a few weeks while his broken leg healed. He surely didn’t expect to be awakened the first morning he was there by a snaggle-toothed kid and his sassy Irish mother, who’d moved right into the house with him. Allie McCleary wouldn’t have ever consented to move to Dougherty, Oklahoma, if she’d known Truman had the freedom to use the house, too. And she sure didn’t expect Truman James to be the magic she’d been searching for since her husband was killed five years before. The rest is what happens when you cross a handsome-beyond-words bull rider with a mostly-Irish lass with a temper to match her rich chestnut brown hair and mossy green eyes. It’s the story of an old ivy-covered elm tree in the corner of the yard, sitting in dormancy like Allie’s heart and rooted deep in the rich ranch soil, like Truman’s soul. Will they realize that the real fight lies within their hearts? Although they’re as mismatched as oil and water, they have fallen in love. Can either of them admit it? Dollycas's Thoughts Allie McCleary lost her husband, Taylor, five years ago and she really lost herself as well. Her grandmother Emma, and her friend, Bert thought relocating may help ease her pain and help her move on. So Allie and her seven-year-old son Linc packed up and moved to the country, Dougherty, Oklahoma, into an old farmhouse owned by Bert. Truman James has been on the rodeo circuit for many years but was thrown off a bull, the bull rolled with him, and "a couple of tons of weight landed on his leg" and broke it. Out of commission for at least 6 weeks he decides to visit his grandmother's farm knowing there is plenty of work to keep him busy and her meals would surely help him to heal up faster. He never expected that his grandma wouldn't be home and that a bossy Irish woman and her kid would be living in her house. They both called their grandmothers and were basically told "suck it up buttercup". Then both women packed their bags and left on a cruise. These characters were very engaging. Allie is a strong woman and had her guard up not wanting to get hurt again. She hopes a new man much like Taylor will come along in his three-piece suit carrying his briefcase and sweep her off her feet. Until then she will keep painting her coffee shop pictures and focus on her son Linc. Linc is a normal seven-year-old kid bursting with energy and talking a mile a minute. He loves living on the farm especially after Truman arrives with his horse. Truman is more laid back and he sure likes to push Allie's buttons. He may settle down someday with a quiet country girl that is a "short little blonde who comes just up to his shoulder and will make a whole house full of kids just like him". The banter between Allie and Tru was entertaining and their attraction sparks right from the start. I really liked the way Truman did things with Linc, telling him stories, taking him horseback riding, and teaching him how to care for the horse. He even gives the little boy a very special gift. The ivy tree was such a great theme throughout the story. Allie is drawn to the tree and sets aside the flower paintings that are sold in coffee shops to paint the tree and it wasn't easy. She wants to get the squirrels that live in the ivy-covered elm just perfect and the ivy needs to be just right. Later she wants it to carry the memory of a special day. Then one day she has an epiphany realizing that the tree symbolizes her life. Truman has one as well. I am not sure exactly what year the author set this story in but the fact that the characters did not have cell phones and that Garth Brooks and Billy Ray Cyrus' early hits were mentioned along with some of the fashion choices I would say the late 80s or early 90s. The Ivy Tree is a heartwarming feel-good story where the characters realize what they need is right before their eyes. A quick read with a delightfully happy ending. Ms. Brown's books are always a nice little escape.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly and #1 Amazon and #1 Washington Post bestselling author. She is the author of more than 100 novels and several novellas. She’s a recipient of the Bookseller’s Best Award, Montlake Romance’s prestigious Montlake Diamond Award, and also a three-time recipient of the National Reader’s Choice Award. Brown has been published for more than 20 years, and her books have been translated 21 foreign languages. When she’s not writing, she likes to plot new stories in her backyard with her tom cat, Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, who protects the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, locusts, and spiders. Visit her at www.carolynbrownbooks.com.

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I am giving away 1 Kindle copy of The Ivy Tree! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The Contest Will End March 17, 2023, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form *This book was purchased and is part of my personal collection. Read the full article

#CarolynArnold #ContemporaryWomen'sFiction #MontlakeRomance #Oklahoma #romance

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