#Inkubator Books

[kkecreads]

The Bride to Be by Daniel Hurst

Published: May 7, 2023Inkubator BooksPages: 276Genre: Psychological ThrillerKKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily. Daniel Hurst is the author of several bestselling psychological thrillers, including ‘The Passenger,’ ‘We Used To Live Here,’ and ‘Til Death Do Us Part.’ His books have been the #1 Psychological Thrillers in the UK and…

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Knock Out by Logan Ryles

Mason Sharpe #8

Fast-paced, action-packed, thrill-ride from beginning to end ~ I had not read previous books in the series but had no trouble getting into the story and following it throughout. There might have been previous stories that would have fleshed Mason’s character out more but enough was there to be fine without it.

What I liked: * Mason Sharpe: ex-military, ex-police detective, lost his fiancée in the past and is still carrying that pain, strong, intelligent, puzzle solver, stands up for the underdog, always gets back up, not invincible, suffers as humans do, a good man, learning and growing as he moves through life

* Riley Vaughn: FBI agent under cover, younger sister was murdered brutally, skilled motorcycle rider, still grieving, works well with Mason once they start working the case together

* Spencer Meyers: loves his family, trying to provide for his sister who has cancer, supporting of his sister and mother, makes some poor decisions for the right reasons

* The action scenes and that people did get hurt even though they were the good guys

* That I was smarter than mason and Riley in figuring out what the Gateway Hounds and their boss were up to before Mason and Riley figured it out

* That the bad guys were dealt with

* Wondering where Mason will end up next

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Being a bit surprised by the mention of the Bible in more than one place in the book

* Thinking about the loss of innocent lives

* Thinking about how evil some people are and what they are willing to do for their own gain

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Perhaps

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

Mason only knows one way to fight – to the bitter end. Army veteran Mason Sharpe is finally enjoying some peace and quiet. Sleepy days full of good music, better barbeque, and lazy rides on his motorcycle. But then he sees three burly men beating on a kid and knows he has to step in. The kid, Spencer, is obsessed with the idea of winning big money at an underground fight club – he desperately needs the cash to fund a life-saving operation for his little sister. Mason takes one look at Spencer and strongly advises against getting into the ring. But Spencer doesn’t listen and signs up to fight anyway. Badly injured, he ends up in a hospital – just another victim of the brutal motorcycle gang who run the fight club. Mason can see they’re taking advantage of Spencer, using him as cannon fodder. He thinks maybe he can win the money for Spencer’s kid sister – and rain down a little pain on the bikers while he’s at it. So Mason climbs into the ring – and sets off an escalating war with the vicious biker gang. A war that can only end one way – Knock Out. Knock Out – book 8 of the exciting Mason Sharpe action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Jason Kasper and David Archer.

[annarellix]

Mysteries and cozy mysteries: some reviews

Tropical Issue by Dorothy Dunnett (A Dolly Mystery  #1)

Rita, a small, tough Scottish make-up artist is on Madeira trying to find out who killed Kim-Jim, an American make-up supremo. Also anchored off the island is Dolly, the yacht of Johnson Johnson with whom Rita teams up to get to the bottom of this foul deed. Rita’s fighting spirits are aroused despite her danger. She is not one for quitting, even when she learns she is caught up in an international drug-smuggling ring. But she also discovers that dealing with the maddeningly enigmatic Johnson Johnson is, by no stretch of the imagination, plain sailing.

My Review: I used to think of Dorothy Dunnet as a writer of historical fiction and this book was a surprise because it’s a humorous, compelling, and well plotted mystery. We would call it a cozy mystery now but it was a mystery tout court in 1983. As it was  the first mystery I read by this author I cannot compare it to other novel but I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rita is a well plotted characters, a quirky and strong woman. The setting is wonderful, I’ve been in love with Madeira since forever, and loved the description I recommend it. Many thanks to Farrago for this arc, all opinions are mine.

Book page: https://farragobooks.com/book/tropical-issue/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64277922-tropical-issue

Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery #2)

It’s springtime in rural Manitoba, and the snow has finally left the exotic animal farm when an ostrich finds and swallows a shiny object. (Because this is what ostriches do.) Cue veterinarian and amateur sleuth Dr. Peter Bannerman, who surgically removes the object, which looks like an ancient Viking artifact. Soon after, people around are horrified by a series of animal mutilations. This sets Peter, and his talented sniffer dog, Pippin, on the hunt for answers. Peter begins to suspect a link between the Viking artifact, the mutilations, and a shadowy group of white supremacists on the internet. Before long Peter and Pippin are in over their heads, and the only way for them to get out alive will be to unmask the mastermind before they end up among their victims.

My Review: I always love Philipp Schott's books, both non fiction and mysteries featuring Peter Bannerman, an intriguing and well written amateur sleuth and vet. This story is darker than the first and there's some gore and graphic scene that I found a bit disturbing. That said it's another well plotted and enjoyable mystery and I hope there will be more mysteries in this series. Many thanks to ECW Press for this arc, all opinions are mine

https://ecwpress.com/products/six-ostriches-a-dr-bannerman-vet-mystery https://www.philippschott.com/ https://twitter.com/philippwschott https://www.instagram.com/philippschott/

Death on the Stella Mae By Jan Durham (Kipper Cottage Mystery #5)

Who can unlock the deepest secrets of the sea? Spring has finally sprung in the picturesque North Yorkshire town of Whitby, but high tides and easterly winds bring stormy weather. When trawlerman Daniel ‘Doc’ Holliday goes missing from his boat the Stella Mae, it looks like he was washed overboard. Widow Liz McLuckie soon has reason to believe otherwise. Someone wanted Daniel dead. But who? And how far will they go to hide what really happened that stormy night? Liz is determined to uncover the truth, with help from her motley collection of friends and Nelson the bull terrier – the ugliest (and bravest) dog in Yorkshire.

My Review: This is one of the best cozy mystery series I discovered in the last years: well plotted, light but featuring a cast of well plotted and clever characters. It always makes me wish I could travel to Whitby and I always enjoyed Nelson’s antics, he’s a sweet boy. This is another solid mystery that mixes well the different elements, keeps you reading and guessing. There’s plenty of surprising twists and a satisfying solution. Can’t wait to read the next story. Many thanks to Inkubator for this arc, all opinions are mine.

https://www.kippercottagemysteries.co.uk/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123128486-death-on-the-stella-mae

Ukulele of Death  by E. J. Copperman (A Fran and Ken Stein Mystery #1)

Meet Fran and Ken Stein - a private investigator duo who refuse to let a little thing like being not entirely human stop them from doing their jobs.

After losing their parents when they were just babies, private investigators Fran and Ken Stein now specialize in helping adoptees find their birth parents. So when a client asks them for help finding her father, with her only clue a rare ukulele, the case is a little weird, sure, but it's nothing they can't handle. But soon Fran and her brother are plunged into a world where nothing makes sense - and not just the fact that a very short (but very cute) NYPD detective keeps trying to take eternal singleton Fran out on dates. All Fran wants to do is find the ukulele and collect their fee, but it's hard to keep your focus when you're stumbling over corpses and receiving messages that suggest your (dead) parents are very much alive. Ukuleles aside, it's becoming clear that someone knows something they shouldn't - that Fran and Ken Stein weren't so much born, as built . My Review: E. J. Copperman’s mysteries are never banal or predictable. When you start reading you know that the characters will be well developed and the mystery solid. And the plot will feature something very original that will make you love the story. This is the weirdest of all and one of the funniest I read this year. There’s a lot of humour and it could be called a cozy speculative mystery or a sci-fi cozy mystery. The definition it’s up to you, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and there were some details that made me laugh loud. There’s always a more serious side about the origin of Fran and Ken even if it’s packed in humour. A solid mystery with some weird twists and a lot of surprises. I loved the solution and hope to read soon other stories featuring these characters. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Severn House for this arc, all opinions are mine.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3297526.E_J_Copperman https://severnhouse.com/books/ukulele-of-death/

All That Glitters by Mike Martin (The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series #13)

Sergeant Winston Windflower is moving on to a new chapter of his life, no longer an RCMP officer but now a Community Safety Officer in the small community of Grand Bank, Newfoundland. But when a body is found in the bed and breakfast he co-owns, diamonds are found in the body’s digestive system, and then Windflower’s friend Dr. Sanjay, who was given the diamonds for safe keeping, is kidnapped, it’s clear that crime has returned once more to Grand Bank. Windflower finds himself back in the thick of it, helping his newly promoted friend, RCMP Corporal Eddie Tizzard, track down a ruthless diamond smuggler who will stop at nothing — kidnapping, even murder — to pull off his dirty business.

My Review: . This is an excellent mystery series and I hope a lot of people will read it because it's compelling and well plotted. Sgt Windflower is an interesting character, clever and strong. I fell in love with the descriptions of Newfoundland and it's on my bucket list of places to visit. This is another well plotted mystery, on the cozy mystery side. The pace is even, the plot is tightly knitted and it kept me guessing. A highly recommended series. Many thanks to Mike Martin for this arc, all opinions are mine

https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/136278862-all-that-glitters

Rehearsed to Death By Frank Anthony Polito (Domestic Partners in Crime #2)

Hart to Hart via HGTV, this fabulous new quozy (queer cozy) mystery series by award-winning author and playwright Frank Anthony Polito’s features a gay couple who solve crimes while renovating houses in suburban Detroit as part of their hit reality show Domestic Partners . Now, their foray into community theater proves a major risk thanks to some deadly improvisation . . .

Peter’s first play is having its world premiere at Pleasant Woods’s community theater. His handsome one and only, JP, has the lead. Rehearsals have begun. And New York City’s award-winning, hotshot helmer, Xander Sherwood Deva, is directing. Unfortunately the controlling, arrogant, poison-barbed, egomaniacal diva has everyone on edge. No wonder he finally pushes someone over it . . . Xander is found strangled to death in the same extra-long, imported cashmere scarf he’s been brandishing like a boa ever since he arrived. In the name of making art he’s burned a lot of bridges and made a lot of enemies but which one wanted to bring down the curtain on him? As they say in the the show must go on. But not before amateur sleuths Peter and JP become Domestic Partners in Crime and try to solve this deadly real-life drama ahead of opening night.

My Review: Peter and JP are becoming a favorite couple of amateur sleuth as I love their humour and their personality. They remind me some friend of mine and I like how this novels describe how a gay couple life is exactly like any other couple and how the LGBTQ+ community is just people regardless of the gender or sexual orientation. This means that this a good story and there’s a solid mystery. I didn’t like the victim even if he made me think of Oscar Wilde in the XXI century. There’s a lot of twists, there’s a dog, and there’s an entertaining and compelling plot that kept me guessing. There’s humour, a lot of witty dialogues, and a cast of fleshed out characters. I can’t wait to read the next story. Many thanks to Kensington Cozies for this ARC, all opinions are mine

https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496735607/rehearsed-to-death/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1272874.Frank_Anthony_Polito http://www.frankanthonypolito.com Twitter: fapolito

[acommonrose]

Crossword Gift Guide

Since Hanukkah starts tonight (and idk there might be some other holidays happening this month), I figured I’d throw together a quick crossword puzzle gift guide in case you have a friend/family member who likes crosswords.

Subscriptions

AVCX: My number one suggestion for someone who likes crosswords, but wants them to be oriented towards a younger audience is AVCX. Originally started as The Onion’s crossword, AVCX has been completely independent for awhile, and it’s now expanded so that for $30/year, you’ll get almost daily puzzle content (a mix of standard puzzles, midi-sized puzzles, cryptics, and trivia). Full disclosure that I do some editing for their midi team, but I’ve been subscribed for years, and I really think this is your best bet.

Inkubator: Another indie subscription I adore is Inkubator, which is a weekly crossword subscription (also $30/year) of puzzles made by female and nonbinary constructors. Again, it’s very indie, and they try to preserve constructors’ voices really well (and also lean very heavily on feminist themes), but I think many of their themes lean a little more “mainstream” if you’re gifting to someone who might be put off by too many pop culture/Internet references.

Square Chase: This one might have some more logistical difficulties, just because it’s a Patreon, and Patreon doesn’t have built in gifting options, but if you need a gift for an American who likes cryptic crosswords, Steve Mossberg’s Square Chase is 100% the way to go. Steve’s one of the best American cryptic setters out there, and for $1.50/month you’ll get two really fun and creative (but not too tricky) cryptics every month.

Books

Inkubator: Inkubator also has a book! I’ve been working through it, and it’s great! It’s 100 puzzles total (again all by female and nonbinary constructors), some that were part of the subscription service in past years, some brand new for the book. It’s also a nice mix of difficulties.

Sit and Solve: Sit and Solve is a set of “bathroom books” with midi crosswords, and while I haven’t gotten them myself yet, this year, they put out a set of four crossword books (two easy, two hard), all by really brilliant constructors, so I feel pretty confident recommending them.

Crossword Puzzles for Kids: Again, not one I personally own, but if you’re looking for a gift for a kid who might like puzzles, I’ve heard really good things about Paolo Pasco’s Crossword Puzzles for Kids. It’s aimed at ages 9-12, and it gently ramps up difficulty to make fun but approachable puzzles for kids. Paolo’s puzzles in general are super fun and fresh, so I bet these ones are great too!

[therealimintobooks]

#BookReviewTour ~ Crazy For You by Marnie Vinge @inkubatorbooks @NetGalley

My Thoughts This is one of those books in which I enjoyed the numerous plot twists; they made the book very interesting until the last page. The various opinions expressed made the reading quite enjoyable and, at certain times, amusing. This is the first book I read from this author and I have to say, I am quite impressed. I look forward to reading more from her. Thank you to Inkubator Books,…

[biglisbonnews]

Puzzle Monday: That's the Spirit! Crossword Atlas Obscura's fortnightly puzzle comes to us from creator Stella Zawistowski and editor Laura Braunstein, members of Inkubator, which publishes crossword puzzles by women and nonbinary constructors. You can see more puzzles in their book, Inkubator Crosswords: 100 Audacious Puzzles from Women and Nonbinary Creators. You can solve the puzzle below, or download it in .pdf or .puz. Note that the links in the clues will take you to Atlas Obscura pages that may contain the answer. Happy solving! https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/puzzle-monday-that-s-the-spirit-crossword

[thecoycaterpillarreads-blog]

Book Review: The Good Mother by Cathryn Grant

Book Review: The Good Mother by Cathryn Grant @damppebbles @CathrynGrant

Welcome to the blog and I have a real treat for you – It’s my blog tour spot and I’m happy to be bringing my book review of this brilliant domestic thriller, The Good Mother.

The Good Mother is a stark warning that we can all become products of our past.  The past can haunt us, and it can keep tiptoeing back into our lives.  Is it ever possible to bury the past?  This premise is one that sends…

[2ifbyseabrook]

Now You Know

Now You Know- 3 stars

By: Nora Valters

Lauren's picture perfect life is quickly turned upside down in a matter of moments.  She loses her fiancé, job, access to her bank accounts and is blasted on social media.  Who could hate Lauren so much that they're determined to ruin her life?  Lauren will do whatever it takes to find out.

There was no richness to this story...it was mostly just dialogue and very basic language.  She got up.  OMG!  She walked to the kitchen.  The writing seemed very juvenile, as did the overall plot.  Also, so many unbelievable things happen.  At one point Lauren's social media accounts are hacked and very hateful posts are made in her name.  Without a second thought everyone in her life immediately believes she made these remarks.  It doesn't seem very realistic that all her friends and family would find someone who doesn't normally speak like this guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.  The ending was tied up very quickly and a bit too conveniently.  

I'm giving this book 3 stars because it was very fast paced and the ending did surprise me.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC.

[beneathathousandskies]

Blog Tour (Book Review) - Rough Country - T. J. Brearton

Blog Tour (Book Review) – Rough Country – T. J. Brearton

Hello!

Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘Rough Country’ by T. J. Brearton organised by Damppebbles Blog Tours. I hope that you will check out both the author and the book, as well as the rest of the blogs involved in the tour.

*Disclaimer: ‘I was given a copy this book in exchange for an honest review.’*

Book Summary:

A young girl murdered. A town with a dark secret.

A young…

[drxnkbetch1]

a small sneak peak into my book! can’t wait for it to be published next month!!

[writeherereadnow]

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

📖: Always Remember by Cathryn Grant

Always Remember begins with a death in the family. Louise's philandering husband is dead. Wyatt has lost the father who tormented him. Kelly found her lecherous father-in-law's body in a sauna.

The story is told from all three of their perspectives, giving fascinating and infuriating insight into their individual miscommunications, manipulations and misunderstandings.

Each of them brings the drama in their own way. Tension builds throughout until you're not sure who's crazier or more aggravating.

Wyatt is embarking on a new career, trying to fulfil his dream of becoming a musician, after a shove in that direction from his doting mom. Louise also gives Kelly the push she needs to go back to work after being at home with her and Wyatt's twin boys for a few years. There's a lot of change and, through it all, Louise manages to embed herself in the young family's lives and home ‒ with no intention of leaving.

Can a relationship survive a never-ending third wheel? Not if it's Louise, that's for sure. She is the queen of gaslighting, and then some.

For me, Always Remember was a gripping thriller with just the right amount of drama and intrigue. I honestly didn't know what was going to happen until the end.

I genuinely felt for Kelly, I wanted Wyatt to have some backbone and I would never, ever want to live with Louise. It's an interesting story in that I think different people might relate to the characters completely differently.

However you view it, it's a well-spun tale. I look forward to reading more books by Cathryn Grant.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this one.

#QOTD: Would you let your relatives, direct or in laws, move in with you?

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[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Blowback by Cameron Curtis

A Breed Thriller #10

Action-packed chase that leads Breed and Stein on a multi-country chase as they seek to find a stolen nuclear missile and make sure it is not used maliciously ~ Couldn’t put it down

What I liked: * Breed: intriguing, strong, lethal, intelligent, ex-military, sniper, excellent and varied skills, independent contractor, battle-scarred, survivor, attractive to women, someone I would like to have as a friend and definitely would want in my corner if in trouble

* Anya Stein: assistant CIA Director, intelligent, experience in field work, strategic thinker, capable, dedicated, intriguing, wealthy, good communicator, diplomatic

* Ellie: teenager, on her own, survivor, lives in underground New York, helpful, intelligent, independent, capable, protective, someone I would like to see again

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That the story is current politically and worth contemplating – brings enough fact into fiction to give me pause

* That though focused on an invasion in the country I live in and there were triggers in this story that made it difficult to read, I found that once I got past my situation, I couldn’t put it down

* The slow-burn of what may or may not eventually happen between Breed and Stein

* Wondering what will happen in the next book

* All of it except…

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about wars and how much damage they do with lives lost, land damaged, mental & physical trauma, and the fact that both sides in a war are usually fighting for what they believe is right…

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author, Inkubator, Booksprout, and NetGalley for this ARC ~ This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

One man can destroy a city. One man can save it. Antonovka-15 is a Russian nuclear weapons storage facility 15 miles from the Ukraine border. When an Alt-Right Ukrainian Special Forces unit – the Vampir Brigade - breaks in and steals an H-Bomb, Breed is tasked with finding it before it can be detonated. Breed and the CIA’s Anya Stein follow the bomb on a journey through war-torn Ukraine and on to Brussels. Are the Vampirs planning to destroy NATO HQ and the European Commission? Negative on that – their real plan is even more horrifying. After surviving multiple attacks by the Vampirs, Breed and Stein find the bomb has been shipped to New York. The Vampirs threaten to incinerate the city if the United States does not commit ground troops to fight Russia. With the help of Ellie, a young homeless girl, Breed and Stein fight the Vampirs through black 19th century tunnels 30 stories below the streets of modern Manhattan. Ellie leads Breed to the bomb - and a terrifying climax with the lives of eight million innocents hanging in the balance. Blowback — Book Ten in the stunning Breed action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Jason Kasper, Jack Carr, and Lee Child.

[cherylmmbookblog]

#BlogTour Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan

#BlogTour Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan.

About the Author

Hailing from Yorkshire, OMJ Ryan worked in radio and entertainment for over twenty years, collaborating with household names and accumulating a host of international writing and radio awards. In 2018 he followed his passion to become a full-time novelist, writing stories for people who devour exciting, fast-paced…

[therealimintobooks]

#BookReview ~ He Loves Me Not by Lorraine Murphy @MurphyLorr @inkubatorbooks @ZooLoosBt

My Thoughts It wasn’t until quite a way through this book that I began to get interested in it, but the plot was quite good once I did. Each chapter is short, and the novel can be read in a few days; however, most of the plot’s turns are quite predictable. Thank you to Inkubator Books and Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours for allowing me to read and review this book.

[don-lichterman]

No Quarter (A Tom Rollins Thriller Book 6)

No Quarter (A Tom Rollins Thriller Book 6)

Price: (as of – Details) From the Publisher Kindle Unlimited ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ eBook ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Paperback ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B7Z2G1WQ Publisher ‏ : ‎ Inkubator Books (August 7, 2022) Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 7, 2022 Language ‏ : ‎ English File size ‏ : ‎ 2251 KB Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎…

[trinigirlreader]

Review of 'The Intruder' by Daniel Hurst

Get ready to be taken on a wild ride, with lots of plot twists and turns that will have your head spinning. 'The Intruder' by Daniel Hurst is my second book by this novelist- he lived up to his ability to write engaging and equally menacing characters.

The plot revolves around the affluent William and Maria Gallagher, power couple extraordinaire, who have everything going for themselves - a successful advertising company, beautiful children, and a lovely home. It all appears perfect; however, all is not as it appears. Cue disgruntled employee, David, who is set on enacting revenge on the duo as they have ruined his life. As the title suggests, he intrudes on their carefully constructed life, and what follows proves the old adage of not all that glitters is gold.

I enjoyed the fast pace of this novel; I was never bored and always looked forward to seeing what came next. The writing style was simplistic, but not so much that it lagged. I also liked the interchanging POVs, as this allowed for an all-rounded view of the three main protagonists.

I deducted one star as I easily figured out the 'whodunit' a few chapters into the book; this took away from the mystery element for me.

All in all, this was a great and quick read and I will definitely be on the lookout for more work from Daniel Hurst in the future!

A great many thanks to Netgalley, Daniel Hurst, and Inkubator Books for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a positive review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.