Book Extract: A Nose For Mischief by K.T. Lee
I’m saying a big hello to K.T. Lee. She is here with the blog tour for her latest novel, A Nose for Mischief, book one in the Riverbend K-9s series.
When materials engineer Zoey Butler lands her dream job at Future State Energy, she believes her research in renewable energy will make headlines. Unfortunately for her, she’s right. Zoey is working on her latest experiment when FBI Special Agent Alexis Thompson and her K-9 partner, Waffle, raid Future State and arrest the head of the development for fraud. Zoey helps the FBI find answers in the aftermath, but she soon finds herself jobless and unemployable. Desperate and out of options, she reaches out to Alexis, the one person who knows Zoey was duped like everyone else.
Liam Graham is an FBI special agent and instructor at Riverbend K-9 Academy. When Alexis brings in a new recruit with an unusual background, Liam pairs her up with Tasha, a dog in need of a handler to stay in their competitive program. Zoey is thrilled to put her past behind her and give the mischievous rescue dog her own second chance. However, shortly after she arrives, the FBI realizes the Future State case is far from closed. And Zoey may be the key to solving it.
Zoey offers to go back to Future State to help the FBI end things once and for all. Only this time, she’ll have Liam and Tasha for backup. But, the problems at Future State are more explosive than any of them suspect.
K.T. Lee has shared an extract with us today. Enjoy.
***** beginning of extract *****
When materials engineer Zoey Butler lands her dream job at Future State Energy, she believes her research in renewable energy will make headlines. Unfortunately for her, she’s right. Zoey is working on her latest experiment when FBI Special Agent Alexis Thompson and her K-9 partner, Waffle, raid Future State and arrest the head of the development for fraud. Zoey helps the FBI find answers in the aftermath, but she soon finds herself jobless and unemployable. Desperate and out of options, she reaches out to Alexis, the one person who knows Zoey was duped like everyone else.
Liam Graham is an FBI special agent and instructor at Riverbend K-9 Academy. When Alexis brings in a new recruit with an unusual background, Liam pairs her up with Tasha, a dog in need of a handler to stay in their competitive program. Zoey is thrilled to put her past behind her and give the mischievous rescue dog her own second chance. However, shortly after she arrives, the FBI realizes the Future State case is far from closed. And Zoey may be the key to solving it.
Zoey offers to go back to Future State to help the FBI end things once and for all. Only this time, she’ll have Liam and Tasha for backup. But, the problems at Future State are more explosive than any of them suspect.
This excerpt takes place as Zoey is struggling with her job search.
by 
Book Review: Mr.Sunnyside: Imagination by CK Gregory
When Tommy, a young boy, is stuck at home on a rainy day with nothing to do, even his mommy can’t help him, especially with breakfast.
An eggstrordinary egg called Mr. Sunnyside comes to his rescue — only Tommy can see him. Mr. Sunnyside saves him from boredom by giving Tommy a lesson in imagination.
Mr. Sunnyside, a delicate egg, shows Tommy a new meaning in life by teaching him how to use his imagination. Buckle up and get ready for an eggciting ride — an adventure of a lifetime when Mr. Sunnyside enters Tommy’s life as a play friend! Tommy’s life will never be the same — he goes from feeling sad to eggcellent!
Tommy is a young boy stuck inside on a rainy day with nothing to do and is bored. Even his mother can’t help him.
Mr Sunnyside appears. Only Tommy can see him.
Soon, Tommy and his new friend delve into imagination and go on an adventure of a lifetime.
This book is so incredibly sweet. Being in my 40’s, I am not its target audience of 1-11 years but I couldn’t help smiling all the way through.
Tommy is a character I believe a lot of children will love and relate to. Many I am sure have or have had imaginary friends at some point, I know I did. Also, being in the UK, we have our share of rainy, boring days.
Mr Sunnyside is an egg and is a unique imaginary friend. He is very positive and fun.
by Book News: Get 20% off Used Books with Novel Kicks and Awesome Books.
Happy Christmas Eve!
Can you believe that Christmas is upon us? I can’t either.
Soon, we will have opened all of our presents, had our Christmas dinners before relaxing into the evening.
If you’re a book lover, like me, and are wondering how to spend your Christmas money, I wanted to tell you about Awesome Books. They sell both new and used books across a variety of genres.
They are a sustainable bookseller that aims to make a positive impact with every book sold and is one of the UK’s biggest online and second hand book retailers. In fact, since they launched in 2004, they’ve saved 132 million books globally from landfill. How amazing is that!
Along with this, they want to promote literacy. To help with this, they currently have a ‘buy one, give one‘ initiative, supporting the National Literacy Trust.
I was personally very excited and thankful to receive Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella from Awesome Books.
I love that it is secondhand. I like to imagine who it previously belonged to. It’s also in VERY good condition.
As a Christmas present to you all, Awesome Books want to give Novel Kicks readers and supporters 20% off used books from their site.
by Book Review: The Newcomer by Laura Elizabeth Woollett
When her 29-year-old daughter Paulina goes missing on a sleepy pacific island, Judy Novak suspects the worst. Her fears are soon realised as Paulina’s body is discovered, murdered.
Every man on the island is a suspect, yet none are as maligned as Paulina herself, the captivating newcomer known for her hard drinking, disastrous relationships, and a habit for walking alone. But even death won’t stop Judy Novak from fighting for her daughter’s life.
*****
Judy Novak fears the worst when her 29-year-old daughter, Paulina, goes missing on a pacific island where strangers stand out.
When her daughter’s body is found, every man on the island becomes a suspect.
As the investigation begins, Paulina’s behaviour prior to her death comes under scrutiny; her heavy drinking, her disastrous relationships and a habit for walking alone.
Judy won’t stop fighting for her daughter though.
The premise for this novel intrigued me and so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Newcomer by Laura Elizabeth Woollett.
Wow is what I want to say about this book. I am not sure what I can say without giving too much away but I will give it a go.
From page one, this story draws you in and immediately I was hooked. It’s a crime novel, yes but there are so many more layers to it.
Let’s begin with Paulina. She’s such a complicated character. I felt sympathy, frustration, love and anger toward her. Sometimes, it was all of these feelings at once. She moves to this island in search of something. To begin with, I don’t think even she knows what this is. She’s dealing with so many internal demons and as a result, she acts out in the only way she knows how. Paulina is a perfect example of ‘don’t judge a book by a cover.’ She is hiding a lot under an extroverted/alcohol induced personality. Most of all though, she just wants love. Laura Elizabeth Woollett does such a great job of conveying how lost and broken Paulina is.
by Book Extract: A Not So Quiet Christmas by Suzie Tullett
Please help me welcome Suzie Tullett to Novel Kicks today and the blog tour for her festive novel, A Not So Quiet Christmas.
A solo getaway at an English country cottage is a pleasant way to spend the holiday—but it takes two to really make things merry . . .
Antonia prefers a quiet Christmas. She’s happy to spend it on her own, watching Hallmark holiday movies in her pyjamas, eating what she wants, when she wants.
Antonia’s friend Jules, on the other hand, loves a big Christmas celebration and plans on travelling to the Yorkshire Dales for a festive break. But when Jules breaks her leg, she persuades Antonia to make the trip on her behalf. Arriving at the little cottage, Antonia meets the handsome property agent Oliver. But she can’t escape the weird locals—or avoid embarrassing situations like mistaking a cow for a burglar.
As Christmas approaches, the attraction between Oliver and Antonia grows. She could choose to return to the bustling city and spend it alone. Or she could choose love and have a not so quiet Christmas . . .
Suzie has shared an extract with us today. Enjoy!
*****beginning of extract*****
Letting agent, Oliver Chase, offers to show confirmed city girl, Antonia, the local sights. He fails to mention that she’ll be seeing everything in one hit. From the top of a mountain…
Chapter Nine
With my cheek squashed against the icy rockface, I clung to the mountainside like a limpet as if my life depended on it. I didn’t know who or what howled the loudest – me or the swirling winds that whipped around my already contorted face. As the gusts threatened to rip me from what little security I had, flying without wings was not how I’d imagined my final moments. “Tell Jules I’m sorry for ruining her Christmas,” I said while I still had the chance, voice raised and mid-wail.
“I’m the one who’s sorry, Antonia,” Oliver said, calling up from the ledge below. “If I’d have known your legs weren’t long enough…”
“I know, I know. Hindsight’s a wonderful thing!”
“Are you sure you can’t go any higher? There can’t be much more than a metre left.”
“If I could, don’t you think I’d be up by now?” Peeling my cheek off the rock, I carefully glanced about me. Double checking all the nearby indents and protruding rocks, it was no good. They were all out of my reach. I tilted my chin and looked down to see Oliver’s concerned expression and Frank’s head poking out of the man’s rucksack. As tears rolled down my face, I couldn’t believe Oliver had suggested I go first. The other way around and he could have shimmied up with Frank, then reached down and yanked me the rest of the way.
by Book Club
