From the TBR Pile: Michelle Cox

Showing posts with label Michelle Cox. Show all posts

Friday, October 2, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Child Lost by Michelle Cox

Book Title: A Child Lost (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox
Narrated by: Jayne A Entwistle
Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Michelle Cox
Audiobook Release date: June, 2020

Content Rating: R: Books 1-2 do not have any sex scenes, though there is sexual reference, Books 3-5 do have explicit sex scenes (tasteful). There is periodic swearing and violence, but not a lot. There are some dark themes (though not graphic examples) of suicide, prostitution, mob involvement, rape, drinking, homosexuality.

A spiritualist, an insane asylum, a lost little girl . . . When Clive, anxious to distract a depressed Henrietta, begs Sergeant Frank Davis for a case, he is assigned to investigating a seemingly boring affair: a spiritualist woman operating in an abandoned schoolhouse on the edge of town who is suspected of robbing people of their valuables. What begins as an open and shut case becomes more complicated, however, when Henrietta―much to Clive’s dismay―begins to believe the spiritualist's strange ramblings. Meanwhile, Elsie implores Clive and Henrietta to help her and the object of her budding love, Gunther, locate the whereabouts of one Liesel Klinkhammer, the German woman Gunther has traveled to America to find and the mother of the little girl, Anna, whom he has brought along with him. The search leads them to Dunning Asylum, where they discover some terrible truths about Liesel. When the child, Anna, is herself mistakenly admitted to the asylum after an epileptic fit, Clive and Henrietta return to Dunning to retrieve her. This time, however, Henrietta begins to suspect that something darker may be happening. When Clive doesn’t believe her, she decides to take matters into her own hands . . . with horrifying results.

Buy the Book:
Audible ~ Amazon.com
Chirp ~ Apple ~ Kobo

My thoughts:

A Child Lost is the latest book in this series and the last one I'll be reviewing for this tour. After five books, I feel like I have come to know and love these characters and look forward to seeing what happens to them next.

This one takes place about 2 months after the events of A Veil Removed. Henrietta has had a miscarriage and is fighting depression. Clive seeks out a case to get his wife's mind on something else. I really liked the mystery of what was happening at the insane asylum. I was completely wrong in my guess. Henrietta is a great detective. I am now also loving Elise and Gunter's story-line

The book ends with a few things up in the air. I am hoping the next book comes out soon. I need to know what is going to happen to all of the players. The epilogue was very cryptic. I have my own idea of what it means, so I look forward to seeing if I'm right.

Meet the Narrator:

Jayne Entwistle was born in the North of England and lived in a myriad of places (Vancouver, San Francisco, Tucson, Sequim, Seattle) before landing in Los Angeles. She is an avid improviser who hitched her space-work wagon to Patrick Bristow’s company, Improvatorium, where she studied, taught, directed and performed improv. She is an award-winning audiobook narrator best known for her narration of the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. She also received the 2015 Odyssey Honour Award for The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry and the 2016 Odyssey Award for, The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. When not inhaling books for work or pleasure, Jayne works in film, television and commercials. The biggest star she has ever worked with is Shaquille O’Neal. He is quite literally THE biggest star she has ever worked with. Ever. He’s really big!

Meet the Author:

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.

Connect with the Author: website ~ facebook ~twitter ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Aug 31 - Bookish Paradise – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 31 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Aug 31 - Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / guest post / giveaway
Sep 1 – Lamon Reviews – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Sep 1 - Rebecca Graf on Medium - audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Sep 2 – Bookriot – audiobook review for A Child Lost / author interview / giveaway
Sep 2 - Rajiv's Reviews - audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Sep 2 - Library of Clean Reads - audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Sep 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Sep 3 - Amy's Booket List - audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Sep 4 - Rebecca Graf on Medium - audiobook review of A Ring of Truth Sep 4 - Rajiv's Reviews - audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 7 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 7 – Books for Books – audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Sep 7 - Rajiv's Reviews - audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 8 – Sefina Hawke's Books – series spotlight
Sep 8 - Rebecca Graf on Medium - audiobook review of A Promise Given
Sep 9 – Jazzy Book Reviews – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sep 9 - Rajiv's Reviews - audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 9 - Library of Clean Reads - audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 10 - Amy's Booket List - audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
Sep 10 - Rosepoint Publishing - audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Sep 11 – Books for Books – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
Sep 11- Rebecca Graf on Medium - audiobook review of A Veil Removed
Sep 14 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 14 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 14 - Rajiv's Reviews - audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
Sep 15 – Olio By Marilyn – audiobook review of A Girl Like You / giveaway
Sep 15 - Rebecca Graf on Medium - audiobook review of A Child Lost
Sep 16 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 16 - Library of Clean Reads - audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 17 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 17 - Amy's Booket List - audiobook review of A Promise Given
Sep 18 - Books for Books – audiobook review of A Promise Given
Sep 18 - From the TBR Pile - audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Sep 21 - Books for Books – audiobook review of A Veil Removed
Sep 21 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 22 - Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
Sep 22 – Olio By Marilyn – audiobook review of A Ring of Truth / giveaway
Sep 23 – Book Corner News and Reviews – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 23 - Library of Clean Reads - audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 24 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 24 - Amy's Booket List - audiobook review of A Veil Removed
Sep 25 – Books for Books – audiobook review of A Child Lost
Sep 25 - From the TBR Pile - audiobook review of A Ring of Truth
Sep 28 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 28 - From the TBR Pile - audiobook review of A Promise Given
Sep 29 - Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Sep 30 – Olio By Marilyn – audiobook review of A Promise Given / giveaway
Sep 30 - Library of Clean Reads - audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveawaySep 30 - From the TBR Pile - audiobook review of A Veil Removed
Oct 1 – Olio By Marilyn – audiobook review of A Veil Removed / giveaway
Oct 1 - History from a Woman’s Perspective - audiobook review of A Girl Like You
Oct 1 - Amy's Booket List - audiobook review of A Child Lost
Oct 2 – Locks, Hooks and Books – audiobook review of A Child Lost / giveaway
Oct 2 - From the TBR Pile - audiobook review of A Child Lost

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Veil Removed by Michelle Cox

Book Title: A Veil Removed (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox
Narrated by: Jayne A Entwistle
Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Michelle Cox
Audiobook Release date: April, 2020

Murder is never far from this sexy couple . . . even during the holidays! Their honeymoon abruptly ended by the untimely death of Alcott Howard, Clive and Henrietta return to Highbury, where Clive discovers all is not as it should be. Increasingly convinced that his father’s death was not an accident, Clive launches his own investigation, despite his mother’s belief that he has become “mentally disturbed” with grief. Henrietta eventually joins forces with Clive on their first real case, which becomes darker―and deadlier―than they imagined as they get closer to the truth behind Alcott’s troubled affairs. Meanwhile, Henrietta’s sister, Elsie, begins, at Henrietta’s orchestration, to take classes at a women’s college―an attempt to evade her troubles and prevent any further romantic temptations. When she meets a bookish German custodian at the school, however, he challenges her to think for herself . . . even as she discovers some shocking secrets about his past life.

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com ~ Chirp ~ Apple
Kobo ~ Google Store

My thoughts:

A Veil Removed picks up right after the events of A Promise Given. So, I advise that you start from the beginning. Being the fourth book, you might be a bit lost. This book made me invested in the series again. I felt like the pacing in this one was a lot steadier and After not loving the direction that Elsie's story-line was going, I was pleasantly surprised at the turn it took in this book. I can;t wait to see how the relationship between her and Gunther develops.

Clive and Henrietta's relationship grows a lot stronger in this one. With the death of Clive's father, their idea of starting a detective agency begins to take root. They set out to find out the truth surrounding his "accident". I do love this couple and how they work out their squabbles. You can tell they love each other deeply. They also make a good team. I look forward to seeing how their detective agency works out in the future.

The last book (currently published) is coming up next.. If you like series that are a combination of a mystery and soap opera, then you will like this one.

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Promise Given by Michelle Cox

Book Title: A Promise Given (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox
Narrated by: Jayne A Entwistle
Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Michelle Cox
Audiobook Release date: February, 2020
Content Rating: R: Books 1-2 do not have any sex scenes, though there is sexual reference, Books 3-5 do have explicit sex scenes (tasteful). There is periodic swearing and violence, but not a lot. There are some dark themes (though not graphic examples) of suicide, prostitution, mob involvement, rape, drinking, homosexuality.

This third book in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series provides a delightful romp through the English countryside and back. Anxious to be married, Henrietta and Clive push forward with their wedding plans despite their family differences, made worse now by Oldrich Exley’s attempts to control the Von Harmons. When the long-awaited wedding day arrives, there is more unfolding than just Clive and Henrietta’s vows of love. Stanley and Elsie’s relationship is sorely tested by the presence of the dashing Lieutenant Harrison Barnes-Smith and by Henrietta’s friend Rose―a situation that grows increasingly dark and confused as time goes on. As Clive and Henrietta begin their honeymoon at Castle Linley, the Howards’ ancestral estate in England, they encounter a whole new host of characters, including the eccentric Lord and Lady Linley and Clive’s mysterious cousin, Wallace. When a man is murdered in the village on the night of a house party at the Castle, Wallace comes under suspicion―and Clive and Henrietta are reluctantly drawn into the case, despite Clive’s anxiety at involving his new bride and Henrietta’s distracting news from home. Delicately attempting to work together for the first time, Clive and Henrietta set out to prove Wallace’s innocence, uncovering as they do so some rather shocking truths that will shake the Linley name and estate forever.

Buy the Book:
Audible ~ Amazon.com
Chirp ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ Google Store

My thoughts:

A Promise Given is the third book in the The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series. At this point in the series, you really need to have read the first two books before this one. There are a lot of characters and points of view. So, reading the first two books will give you a lot more context.

Having said that, so far, this is probably my least favorite of the series. It moved a bit slow for me. The mystery doesn't show up until about halfway through the book. I felt like the book could have been shorter. This is due largely to the multiple points of view. I am not really enjoying Elsie's story-line. I did not like the path that her story took in this book at all. I found myself enjoying the book more when it focused in Henrietta and Clive.

I still do recommend this one and the series. Next up is A Veil Removed.

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 25, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Ring of Truth by Michelle Cox

Book Title: A Ring of Truth (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox
Narrated by: Jayne A Entwistle
Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Michelle Cox
Audiobook Release date: May, 2020

In this second book of the series, Henrietta and Clive delightfully rewrite Pride and Prejudice―with a hint of mystery! Newly engaged, Clive and Henrietta now begin the difficult task of meeting each other’s family. “Difficult” because Clive has neglected to tell Henrietta that he is in fact the heir to the Howard estate and fortune, and Henrietta has just discovered that her mother has been hiding secrets about her past as well. When Clive brings Henrietta to the family estate to meet his parents, they are less than enthused about his impoverished intended. Left alone in this extravagant new world when Clive returns to the city, Henrietta finds herself more at home with the servants than his family, much to the disapproval of Mrs. Howard―and soon gets caught up in the disappearance of an elderly servant’s ring, not realizing that in doing so she has become part of a bigger, darker plot. As Clive and Henrietta attempt to discover the truth in the two very different worlds unraveling around them, they both begin to wonder: Are they meant for each other after all?

Buy the Book:
Audible ~Amazon.com
Chirp ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ Google Store

A Ring of Truth is the second book in the Henrietta snd Inspector Howard series. This second book finds newly engage Henrietta spending time in Clive's family home. She had no idea that he came from immense wealth. While trying to learn how to fit in, she stumbles on a mystery. She just needs to convince Clive it's worth investigating.

I thought this was a solid follow up to the first book. I do recommend reading A Girl Like You first. This can be read as a stand alone, however, you will have much more background for certain characters and events in this one. I did enjoy the book. I felt like it was less of a mystery and more of a family drama. Henrietta learns some truths about members of her family. She and Clive also begin to question where they both fit and if they are right for each other.

I am enjoying this series immensely. The cast of characters has begun to expand and that really enhances the story. I do recommend this one. Stay tuned for my thoughts on A Promise Given.

SERIES DETAILS:
Series Title:  Henrietta and Inspector Howard by Michelle Cox
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre:  Historical Mystery
Publisher:  Michelle Cox
Release dates:   November 2017; April 2017; April 2018; April 2019; April 2020
Content Rating: R: Books 1-2 do not have any sex scenes, though there is sexual reference, Books 3-5 do have explicit sex scenes (tasteful). There is periodic swearing and violence, but not a lot. There are some dark themes (though not graphic examples) of suicide, prostitution, mob involvement, rape, drinking, homosexuality.

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 18, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox

Book Title: A Girl Like You (The Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series) by Michelle Cox

Narrated by: Jayne A Entwistle
Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Michelle Cox
Audiobook Release date: November, 2017
Content Rating: R: Books 1-2 do not have any sex scenes, though there is sexual reference, Books 3-5 do have explicit sex scenes (tasteful). There is periodic swearing and violence, but not a lot. There are some dark themes (though not graphic examples) of suicide, prostitution, mob involvement, rape, drinking, homosexuality.

Henrietta Von Harmon works as a 26 girl at a corner bar on Chicago’s northwest side. It’s 1935, but things still aren’t looking up since the big crash and her father’s subsequent suicide, leaving Henrietta to care for her antagonistic mother and younger siblings. Henrietta is eventually persuaded to take a job as a taxi dancer at a local dance hall—and just when she’s beginning to enjoy herself, the floor matron turns up dead. When aloof Inspector Clive Howard appears on the scene, Henrietta agrees to go undercover for him—and is plunged into Chicago’s grittier underworld. Meanwhile, she’s still busy playing mother hen to her younger siblings, as well as to pesky neighborhood boy Stanley, who believes himself in love with her and keeps popping up in the most unlikely places, determined to keep Henrietta safe—even from the Inspector, if need be. Despite his efforts, however, and his penchant for messing up the Inspector’s investigation, the lovely Henrietta and the impenetrable Inspector find themselves drawn to each other in most unsuitable ways.

My thoughts:

A Girl Like You is the first book in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. I ended up really becoming immersed in the story from the start. I don't think I have read a book set in this time period in a long time. The author did a wonderful job of setting the scene. I didn't know much about 26 girls or taxi dancers, so I did do a bit of research to get some context.

As I said, I did enjoy this one. I thought the mystery was solid. The twist was unexpected. Henrietta was a wonderful character. I loved her willingness to be open minded and do what she had to do to help her family. She was a bit naive, but not in a TSTL way. She was kind of a breath of fresh air. I also liked Clive. I loved them together. I loved the closet scene. There were a lot of other great side characters as well.

I listened to the audio book for this. The narrator did a great job. I am glad that she is narrating the entire series. I highly recommend this one. I'll be reviewing the the next book, A Ring of Truth, next week.

Buy the Book:
Audible ~Amazon.com
Chirp ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ Google Store

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading

Disclaimer

The reviewers of From the TBR Pile read and review books acquired from multiple sources. We often receive complimentary copies and ARCs from publishers, publicists, authors and book tour promoters. Some books we borrow from our local libraries or purchase on our own. We are never compensated in anyway for any review written on this blog. We are in no way obligated to write good or bad reviews for any complimentary material received by us. We are honest reviewers and our reviews are based on our own opinions and written solely by us.

Pages

Friday, October 2, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Child Lost by Michelle Cox

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Veil Removed by Michelle Cox

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Promise Given by Michelle Cox

Friday, September 25, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Ring of Truth by Michelle Cox

Friday, September 18, 2020

Blog Tour: Review of A Girl Like You by Michelle Cox