Blog Tour: The Shadow Writer by Eliza Maxwell

Author:Eliza Maxwell

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of publication: May 2019

Every writer has a story. Some are deadlier than others.

Aspiring author Graye Templeton will do anything to escape the horrific childhood crime that haunts her. After a life lived in shadows, she’s accepted a new job as protégé to Laura West, influential book blogger and wife of an acclaimed novelist. Laura’s connections could make Graye’s publishing dreams a reality. But there’s more to Laura than meets the eye.

Behind the veneer of a charmed life, Laura’s marriage is collapsing. Her once-lauded husband is descending into alcoholism and ruin and bringing Laura nearer to the edge.

As the two women form a bond that seems meant to be, long-buried secrets claw their way into the present, and the line between friendship and obsession begins to blur, forcing each to decide where her loyalties lie. Running from the past is a dangerous game, and the loser could end up dead.

I loved The Widow's Watcher (my review), so I had really high hope for The Shadow Writer.  That is kind of the down side of loving a book by an author.  You end up having high expectations for the next book that you read by them.  I wish I could say I loved this one as well.  It ended up being OK for me.  I feel like the plot had a good backbone, but the body just didn't fill out the way it could have. It just felt very unbalanced to me.

The first 60% of the book, nothing happens.  The Time lines were jumpy and I had to re-read parts to figure out if I missed something.  I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well, so by the end, I wasn't really invested in them.  The last 35ish% was the best part of the book.  There were twists and a couple of surprises.  I did call the big one in the end.  I just wish the rest of the book had me as on the edge of my seat as the last 35%.  I know that I won't love everything by an author, so I'm not giving up on this one.  It is a fairly quick book to read, so I would recommend trying it out.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Eliza Maxwell

Eliza Maxwell is the author of The Widow’s Watcher, The Unremembered Girl, The Grave Tender, and The Kinfolk. She writes fiction from her home in Texas, which she shares with her ever-patient husband, two impatient kids, a ridiculous English setter, and a bird named Sarah. An artist and writer, a dedicated introvert, and a British-cop-drama addict, she enjoys nothing more than sitting on the front porch with a good cup of coffee.

Connect with Eliza

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Instagram tour:

Monday, May 6th: @diaryofaclosetreader

Tuesday, May 7th: @sarahs_reads

Wednesday, May 8th: @readingbetweenthe_wines

Thursday, May 9th: @lifeinlit

Thursday, May 9th: @jennblogsbooks

Friday, May 10th: @jessicamap

Friday, May 10th: @readingwithmere

Sunday, May 12th: @booknerdingout

 

Review tour:

Monday, April 29th: The Meganerd Blog and @meganthemeganerd

Tuesday, April 30th: @fortheloveofbooks85

Thursday, May 2nd: Tar Heel Reader and @tarheelreader

Thursday, May 2nd: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Monday, May 6th: Book by Book

Tuesday, May 7th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Wednesday, May 8th: Amy’s Book-et List

Friday, May 10th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, May 13th: Tales of a Book Addict

Tuesday, May 14th: Books & Bindings

Wednesday, May 15th: @bookclubwithbite

Thursday, May 16th: She Reads with Cats and @shereadswithcats

Thursday, May 16th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Friday, May 17th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, May 20th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit and @mwladieswholit

Tuesday, May 21st: Book Fidelity

Wednesday, May 22nd: @scaredstraightreads

Thursday, May 23rd: Kahakai Kitchen

Thursday, May 23rd: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Friday, May 24th: Mystery Suspense Reviews

Tuesday, May 28th: Novel Gossip and @novelgossip

Thursday, May 30th: The Pages In-Between and @thepagesinbetween

Blog Tour: The Widow's Watcher by Eliza Maxwell

Author: Eliza Maxwell

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of publication: May 2018

Living in the shadow of a decades-old crime that stole his children from him, reclusive Lars Jorgensen is an unlikely savior. But when a stranger walks onto the ice of a frozen Minnesota lake, her intentions are brutally clear, and the old man isn’t about to let her follow through.

Jenna Shaw didn’t ask for Lars’s help, nor does she want it. After he pulls her from the brink, however, Jenna finds her desire to give up challenged by their unlikely friendship. In Jenna, Lars recognizes his last chance for redemption. And in her quest to solve the mysteries of Lars’s past and bring him closure, Jenna may find the way out of her own darkness.

But the truth that waits threatens to shatter it all. When secrets are surrendered and lies are laid bare, Jenna and Lars may find that accepting the past isn’t their greatest challenge. Can they afford the heartbreaking price of forgiveness?

I'm sure I have said it before, but I rarely cry when I read books.  Once in a while a book comes along that hits me right in the heart.  The Widow's Watcher is one of those books.  Jenna Shaw has been dealt an incredibly crippling blow.  With one phone call, her entire world has ended.  But fate puts her in the path of the one person who may be able to help her find her way to the other side of grief.  

This book was gut wrenching, sad and emotionally draining.  I think I spent the first 40% of the book with tears in my eyes.  But, I couldn't put the book down.  My heart hurt for Jenna.  I can't imagine anyone surviving the amount of loss that she did.  I was rooting for her the whole time.  Her savior, Lars, had his own loss he had been dealing with for years.  Once the truth of his story was finally revealed, I spent the last 30% with tears in my eyes.  This story is like one of those tear-jerker movies that leave you exhausted from a good cry.  But it's a good exhausted.  I loved this book.  I loved the feeling of hope that I was left with and I loved the ending. 

 I won't spoil the story.  Just go read it.  It's worth the emotional ride. I know this will be in my top 10 books of 2018. 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Eliza Maxwell

Eliza Maxwell is the author of The Unremembered Girl, The Grave Tender, and The Kinfolk. She writes fiction from her home in Texas, which she shares with her ever-patient husband, two impatient kids, a ridiculous English setter, and a bird named Sarah. An artist and writer, a dedicated introvert, and a British cop-drama addict, she enjoys nothing more than sitting on the front porch with a good cup of coffee.

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Connect with Eliza

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Instagram tour stops:

Monday, May 28th: @suspensethrill

Tuesday, May 29th: @ladyofthelibrary

Wednesday, May 30th: @booknerdnative

Wednesday, May 30th: @bookishconnoisseur

Thursday, May 31st: @girlandherbooks

Thursday, May 31st: @jessislibrary

Friday, June 1st: @createexploreread

Saturday, June 2nd: @brookesbooksandbrews

Sunday, June 3rd: @girlsinbooks

Review tour stops:

Monday, May 28th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit

Tuesday, May 29th: Books a la Mode – author guest post

Wednesday, May 30th: Jessicamap Reviews

Thursday, May 31st: From the TBR Pile

Monday, June 4th: Openly Bookish

Tuesday, June 5th: Mama Reads

Wednesday, June 6th: Thoughts from a Highly Caffeinated Mind

Thursday, June 7th: Books & Bindings

Friday, June 8th: Not in Jersey

Monday, June 11th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Tuesday, June 12th: The Bookish Forever

Wednesday, June 13th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, June 14th: Peppermint Ph.D.

Friday, June 15th: Sweet Southern Home

Monday, June 18th: Katy’s Library

Tuesday, June 19th: Running Through the Storms

Thursday, June 21st: Kritter’s Ramblings

Friday, June 22nd: What is That Book About