Review of A Painting to Die For by Joan C. Curtis with Giveaway

A Painting to Die For Book 3 Jenna Scali Mystery Series

Jenna’s quiet weekend turns upside down when her house is ransacked and a body is found with her name and number in its possession. Meanwhile her long-lost cousins show up with stories about international art theft dating back to World War II.

While Jenna questions the motives of her dead father in his connection to stolen art, the police find a second body with Jenna’s name in its possession and she becomes the primary link in two murder inquiries. Sidestepping the police and dodging the mob, she and her best friend, Quentin, embark on their own investigation to save themselves and Jenna’s cousins from untimely deaths.

Offset by the quiet university town where faculty and students mill about, minding their own business, Jenna is kidnapped and held at gunpoint while her double-crossing, lying cousins chase after the missing painting worth millions.  

A Painting to Die For forms a web of deceit that leaves Jenna doubting everything she believes about her father and his Italian heritage.

[Please note that the following may include affiliate links. If used, I may earn a small commission to support my websites. I was also given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. No other forms of compensation were given to me, nor was my review influenced in any way.]

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**My thoughts**

I was so excited when I saw there was a new Jenna Scali book. I have been following this series since it came out, plus I read The Clock Strikes Midnight. Joan C. Curtis' mysteries are usually full of all kinds of twists and turns that keep you guessing as the pages keep on flying by. 

I have to say that this one was my least favorite out of the four. Jenna's cousins were a bit over-the-top for me and I didn't feel like I related to this one as much as I did in the other ones. Sometimes I felt like the story was coming to a close, only for some strange event to occur that sent the characters back a few steps on their journey. I also found it easier to figure out what the little plot twists were going to be and somewhat easily guessed a lot of the ending. I found her previous three books to be a little bit more shocking when those nuances were revealed. 

Was it still worth reading? Absolutely. I love to follow series in their entirety and you aren't always going to like every book in exactly the same way. I still love watching Jenna get into her weird scrapes and fighting her way out. Starr is still funny. I still want Quentin to be my best friend. And then of course, she has her smoking detective boyfriend Rich. Plus Jenna is almost done with her studies, which means that she is going to be even more likely to get herself involved in tracking down some bad guys. I see a great future continuing for Jenna, her friends, and this series.

Should you pick up this book? Absolutely. Just because this particular one wasn't my favorite doesn't mean that someone else isn't going to love it. I did still enjoy reading it and was extremely grateful for a break from my crazy schedule at this time of year. You'll likely also roll your eyes and chuckle as you make your way through it and try to figure out all the whodunnit. And you'll want to know all the storylines for when the next one rolls around.

About Dr. Joan Curtis

Dr. Joan Curtis is an award winning writer who has published 8 books and numerous stories.

The e-Murderer: Book 1 Jenna Scali mystery series won the GOLD in the Global eBook Awards for 2016 for Mystery.

The Clock Strikes Midnight has won three major awards. FINALIST in the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Awards 2016, FIRST PLACE Royal Palm Literary Award for mainstream/literary 2015 and the Silver in the Global eBook Awards for 2015 for Fiction/Suspense

Murder on Moonshine Hill won the SILVER in the Global eBook Awards for 2017 Mystery and the BRONZE 2017 for Southern fiction Reader's Favorite.


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Read an excerpt from Terror by Eamonn Hickson with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

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Terror

by Eamonn Hickson

Adult Thriller

Paperback & ebook, 336 pages

April 29th 2017
Have you ever felt that society consciously tries to undermine you?

In a society where everyone strives for growth, where everyone tries to build towards the heavens, there are some who wish to bring it plummeting down.

Terror is a thriller in which three people from different walks of life find a common enemy in the contemporary world. Yet, unlike most, they decide to do something about it.

Following his best friend’s death, military man Milton Haynes is forced to see a psychiatrist while he challenges his dishonourable discharge. Ally Winston, one year after being viciously assaulted, struggles to slot into the life her father has laid out for her, while Nestor Frings returns to Boston to find his parents have sold their home due to financial issues.

The three initially voice their pains through non-violent means, however, they soon find their efforts futile. In a world where outsiders are considered dangerous and are not to be trusted, it will be the insiders who do the damage. Follow Milton, Ally and Nestor as they come to, what they perceive to be, the inevitable conclusion: they must commit a terror attack.

Read an excerpt:

Nestor leaves the kitchen via the back door, walks around the house and stops in the driveway. His house sits on the corner across the street like an obedient dog. The new paint, the rattling window chimes, the nylon washing line, the new AC unit, the repaired woodwork, the balloon tied to the balustrade, the flank of flowers—they’re all imposters, along with Sarah and the Grinch.

But Nestor’s fingerprints still molest that house. An army of feelers and gropers, they smudge the wall in waxy oils, painting their gunk on everything she thinks she owns and everything she’ll come to love about the house. Implanted on the wooden partitions and banisters and doorknobs, they’ve adapted to the damp upper room where Dad could never stop the moisture from coming in—and they’ve grown xerophilic for the dried-out living room.

A home never loses the memories of its first love the way some people do, and even though loyalty can be bought, the home waits for its revenant. 

Nestor’s memories were put in the basement in a cardboard box and that box is now under a bed in stuffy dorm in a dingy hostel in a city that has forgotten he and his family ever existed. All Nestor has left are his fucking fingerprints, a box of poxy memories and a friend who’s only a friend because he has no one else.

Praise for the Book

“Eamonn Hickson brings the fascinating, dingy, and complex streets of Boston alive in his new novel TERROR, a probing novel of survival in the modern world. TERROR is a masterful portrait of the hard decisions and harder lives that must be lived during a dark time in American history – the present.” — Self-Publishing Review

Reviews of the Author's Other Work

“…a suspense thriller with a fascinating version of heaven versus hell that lingers after closing the pages.”

“Eamonn Hickson writes a vivid story of a war between angels and demons, and Heaven and Hell. The story captivates the audience as you witness deception, lies, and Heavenly Hosts that are working for the enemy.”

“Find yourself enmeshed in a roller coaster ride to a mind-numbing conclusion that will remain with you many a day to come.”

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Eamonn Hickson is an Irish author of three novels. He currently works as a radio journalist in Tralee, Co Kerry.

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Tour Schedule

December 11th:
Launch
Mythical Books
Teatime and Books
December 12th:
The Bookworm Chronicles
It's All About the Romance
December 13th:
Wishful Endings
Leels Loves Books
December 14th:
Andi's Book Reviews
Deal Sharing Aunt
December 15th:
Colorimetry
Mello & June, It's a Book Thang!
December 16th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive a print copy of TERROR

Open internationally

Ends December 20th

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Thriving in the Workplace With Autoimmune Disease by Holly J. Bertone

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Thriving in the Workplace

The #1 Amazon bestseller, Thriving in the Workplace with Autoimmune Disease is the first book ever to educate individuals specifically with autoimmune disease on their legal and disability rights in the workplace. The book was born out of author Holly Bertone’s personal and painful experience and lack of resources available specifically for individuals with autoimmune diseases. She walks you through the basics of navigating FMLA, EEO, reasonable accommodations, working with your boss, and then provides much needed resources to help you find that critical balance between taking care of your health and managing your symptoms at work.

Having an autoimmune condition or any other kind of invisible illness can be isolating. You may look and act totally fine on the outside, but you feel like your insides are slowly killing you and all you ever want to do is crawl under the covers and go to sleep.

It’s difficult enough for your family and spouse to understand what you are going through. It’s especially difficult in the workplace when your employer can’t “see” your condition and doesn’t understand why you are asking for flexibility or accommodations. You feel like no one understands. You feel like you have no voice.

This book is not going to tell you to give up and become a victim. The mission of this book is to empower you with knowledge so that you can rise above your illness and challenges and thrive both at home and in the workplace.

Get it on Amazon

Want to know more?

Author Holly Bertone is a survivor of breast cancer and Hashimoto's who also suffers from an autoimmune disorder. While going through cancer treatments, people could see what she was going through and were willing to work with her. But autoimmune disorders are also known as "invisible illnesses" because on the surface you may look normal, despite suffering inside. And that easily leads to discrimination in the workplace. 

Visit Holly's website PinkFortitude.com to watch a video detailing her experience, as well as downloading resources that are outlined in her book. 

About Holly Bertone

Holly Bertone, CNHP, PMP, is a #1 Amazon.com bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and wellness expert. She is the President and CEO of Pink Fortitude, LLC and runs the health and wellness website pinkfortitude.com. Holly is a breast cancer and Hashimoto’s survivor and turned these two significant health challenges into a passion to help others. She inspires others with her quick wit, brutal honesty, and simple ways to be healthy in real life.

Holly is a Certified Natural Health Professional, a Certified Essential Oils Coach, and is enrolled in a Naturopathic Doctorate program. She holds a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor’s Degree from Elizabethtown College, and is a Project Management Professional (PMP).