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Showing posts with label Kari Bovee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kari Bovee. Show all posts

Friday, July 16, 2021

Grace in Hollywood: A Grace Michelle Mystery by Kari Bovee (Book Review and Giveaway!)


If you like fiercely loyal heroines, thrilling whodunits, and the magic of old cinema, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s enthralling second book in the Grace Michelle Mystery Series.​


Book Details:

Book Title: Grace in Hollywood: A Grace Michelle Mystery by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 336 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: May 25, 2021
Content Rating: PG + M. Book has mature themes; adultery, murder, bigamy, but there is no bad language.​

Book Description:

All that glitters… is sometimes blood. With her golden ticket buried in the ground, can she save a wrongly accused teen from the gallows?

Hollywood, 1924. Promoted to lead costume designer of a star-studded film, Grace Michelle should be on top of the world. But between her husband’s debt, her sister’s recent death, and the troubled teenaged girl she’s fostering, she’s struggling to please everyone and still keep a smile on her face. And when a Tinseltown shindig turns deadly, Grace is horrified to discover her young charge unconscious alongside the director’s grisly corpse.

Determined to prove the girl’s innocence, Grace’s own haunted past fills her sleep with prophetic nightmares. And no sooner has she sought clarity from a medium than a second body lands the scared teenager in the slammer.

Can Grace turn the camera on the real culprit before another victim ends up on the cutting room floor?

Grace in Hollywood is the second book in the riveting A Grace Michelle Mystery historical series. If you like fiercely loyal heroines, thrilling whodunits, and the magic of old cinema, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s enthralling tale.​

Review:
Reviewed by Lauren Carr

Kari Bovee amazes me. I have tremendous respect for any author who can take a compelling challenging mystery and wrap it in an intriguing period of history. Writing a mystery novel is hard enough. Add to that the research to convincingly bring the characters, places, and time to life takes a special talent and Kari Bovee has it.

Set in Hollywood in 1924, Kari’s second installment in the Grace Michelle mysteries has Grace and her husband Chet owning a ranch in Burbank. Grace is a costume designer for movies while Chet, a retired private investigator, rehabilitates horses on their ranch. They have employees in their home to help with numerous children who Grace and Chet foster.

The trouble starts when a movie producer who Grace works for requests that they host his party at their ranch. Of course, she can’t exactly say no. This party seems to draw in all the stars in Hollywood, but Grace doesn’t have time to mingle. She’s too busy keeping an eye on the partiers and the children. She is particularly concerned about the well-being of Lizzy, a teenaged girl who has caught the attention of both the producer and a movie star.

Grace’s concern is with good reason. After losing sight of Lizzy, Grace finds her unconscious in the barn next to the producer, who’s been murdered.

Now the mystery begins!

Everyone is questioned. Lizzy is taken into custody. Another murder is discovered. AS if that’s not bad enough, another of their children is arrested. Chet comes out of retirement to investigate the case and Grace searches for clues to clear her children’s names.

FIVE STARS! Lovers of both history and mystery will certainly love Kari Bovee’s new release. GRACE IN HOLLYWOOD is an excellent mystery that grabs the reader by the throat and won’t let go until they have made it through the last twist and final turn. Be warned, there is a lot going on in this book, but each ingredient adds meat and depth to the plot. The equal mixture of mystery and history pulls the reader into another world that will both fascinate and intrigue them.

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Meet the Author:

​When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels.

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and won First in Category in the International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards. It was also a finalist in the 2019 Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings won First in Category for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards. Peccadillo at the Palace won Grand Prize in the 2019 Goethe Awards, and was a finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category.

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant.
​​
Connect with the author: 


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Ends July 26, 2021


GRACE IN HOLLYWOOD (Grace Michelle Mystery) Book Tour Giveaway



Thursday, December 3, 2020

Bones of the Redeemed (A Southwestern Mystery) by Kari Bovee (Guest Review and Giveaway!)


A thrilling mystery with everything mystery-lovers require—great characters, mysterious setting, plenty of suspects, and tons of suspense. Enter to win this book plus a $100 Amazon gift card!

Book Details:

Book Title: Bones of the Redeemed (A Southwestern Mystery) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 298 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery (1952)
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: November 2020
Tour dates: Nov 9 to Dec 4, 2020
Content Rating: R for abuse, does contain the f-word a few times

Book Description:

A pit of corpses. An ancient cult. A quest for redemption that could leave her dead… New Mexico, 1952. Archaeology grad student Ruby Delgado is plagued by guilt after losing her son. So when her latest excavation drops her down a sinkhole filled with suspiciously mutilated bodies, she’s driven to bring the murderer to justice. But when digging deeper brings her dangerously close to a sinister religious sect, she could be their next sacrifice… Discovering some of the victims were crucified, Ruby pushes hard to give the evidence to the authorities. But when her trail crosses the path of a beaten man left for dead in the desert, she realizes she may be the only person who can save the community. Can Ruby stop the sacrifices and slay her inner demons, or will hers be the next body laid to rest? Bones of the Redeemed is a hair-raising standalone Southwestern mystery. If you like complex heroines, cult conflict, and hard-won redemption, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s grisly tale.

Review:
Reviewed by Lauren Carr

I’ll begin this review with a confession. Generally, I don’t read historical mysteries. I don’t have anything against history. I just prefer solving mysteries without having to get past the learning curve of history.

However, after reading so many fabulous reviews for Kari Bovee’s Annie Oakley Mystery series, I felt compelled to step out of my comfort zone and read her new release, Bones of the Redeemed, which is not set in the wild west, but rather 1950s Southwest. That’s close enough to the present time so that I didn’t have to step too far out of my comfort zone.

I was not disappointed.

Archaeology grad student Ruby Delgado literally stumbles upon a mystery when she falls through a sinkhole and lands on top of a mound of dead bodies. Now one would think that would grab the full attention of the local law enforcement. To her surprise, a cover-up, not an investigation, begins. Now a mystery is afoot!

Bones of the Redeemed is a fast-paced thrill ride with an intelligent, strong (though flawed) protagonist in the character of Ruby, an archaeologist striving to build a career after suffering horrendous personal and professional setbacks.

I have found that too often, mysteries with female leads make their protagonists so perfect that it is hard to relate to them. Such was not the case with Ruby. Her passion and intelligence is a double edge sword—especially at a time when women were expected to keep quiet and do as they are told. Combine that with her inner demons (guilt over the death of her son), and it is nothing but an uphill battle for this sympathetic character who single-handedly takes on an investigation to uncover a remote, religious community’s deadly secrets and identify a murderer.

One could applaud Ruby’s courage in her conviction to get to the truth, while at the same time sympathizing with her circumstance. Unsure of who to trust, Ruby was very much alone for her mission for much of the book. Most people in her circumstance would have climbed into her broken down vehicle and got out of Dodge. Not Ruby. This is what made her such a fabulous character.

Kari Bovee’s Bones of the Redeemed is a thrilling mystery with everything mystery-lovers require—great characters, mysterious setting, plenty of suspects, and tons of suspense. This one gets Five Stars from me!


Buy the Book:
Add to Goodreads


About the Author:


When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts.

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category.

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Connect with the author:


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Ends Dec 11, 2020


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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Folly at the Fair by Kari Bovée (Review and Giveaway!)


If you're looking for a good historical mystery series starring a feminist icon, this series will not disappoint! 

Book Details:

Book Title: Folley at the Fair (Annie Oakley Mystery #3) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 322 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: June 2020
Tour dates: July 13 to Aug 11, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.

Book Description:

She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one… Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent. 

Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer? 

Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovée’s fast-paced whodunit.

My Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

After reading the prequel, Shoot Like a Girl, I was eager to read Folly at the Fair. I would have liked to have read the first two books in the series, too, but each book is a stand-alone and I was able to enjoy this third book well enough without having read the previous ones. I did miss knowing how Annie met her husband Frank Butler and got involved in working with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, which was covered in the previous books.

Because this series is based on the life of Annie Oakley, an expert markswoman and sharpshooter, renowned the world over, I was immediately interested in reading it. And I was not disappointed! First off, I love that the book cover is a photo of the real Annie Oakley, and the posture she's in perfectly captures the mood of this novel. By the way, all the book covers are real photos of Annie Oakley.

In this novel, Annie and her husband have been in the show for a few years now, and Annie is showing signs of exhaustion. But then an old friend from her childhood appears and she leaves her daughter in Annie's care. This, coupled with fatigue and a beautiful woman who joins the show, bring friction to Annie and Frank's relationship. Around the same time, dead bodies start showing up on the fair grounds and Annie becomes involved in the mystery of it all, when another performer and close friend Bobby Bradley is implicated.

Between practices and stunning performances, Annie doesn't get a break. Her fame is growing, she is involved in trying to help her friends, and worried about the growing rift between her and her husband. There is not a boring moment in this novel. It is an exciting look at Annie's life as a performer while at the same time exploring her more personal life, her sadness at not having children of her own, and her courage to investigate how the murders connect to her friends. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style that kept me turning the pages. I was able to guess who the murderer was but I was never totally sure until the end. If you're looking for a good historical mystery series starring a feminist icon, this series will not disappoint!


Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


Buy Folly at the Fair:



When I signed up to Kari Bovée's newsletter, I received an ebook copy of the prequel novella Shoot Like a Girl, which I read before Folly at the Fair. I'm so glad I did because it gave me an introduction to Annie as a child and what led up to her becoming the woman who awed audiences with her shooting skills. 

At only 86 pages, I read this book in one sitting. It was so captivating right from the first page. I loved Annie's character, her strength and her resilience. The author builds Annie's story of a childhood that ended abruptly when her father died and she had to help her mother make ends meet. Sent to help the McCrimmons, Annie becomes enslaved to this cruel couple who abuse her and take advantage of her goodness. But this is where we see Annie's spirit, how she forms a bond with Buck, the horse who is worked to exhaustion by Mr. McCrimmons, and who gives Annie a glimmer of hope.

The ending is wonderful, making me whoop with glee at Annie's courage to take charge and save herself and Buck. I strongly recommend reading this prequel if you are interested in this series. The books are well-written and captivating. They star a heroine so likable and genuine, they are a pleasure to read.

Buy Shoot Like a Girl:

This short 4-minute video will give you an idea of how Annie became famous at the Wild West Show.


 

Meet the Author:


When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. 

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category. 

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Connect with the author: 


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Aug 18, 2020


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Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Annie Oakley Mystery Series (Spotlight and Giveaway!)



Today I'm excited to be spotlighting a historical mystery series that I've had my eye on ever since I saw those book covers. These are fictional tales of the famous Annie Oakley, an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. I'm currently reading the third book Folly At the Fair and hope to read the first two books plus the prequel.




Book Details:

Book Title: Shoot Like a Girl (A Prequel Novella to Girl With A Gun) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 84 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: November 2019
Content Rating: R for Mature themes and some violence. No bad language.

Book Description:

Shoot like a Girl depicts the historically fictive tale of a young Annie Oakley's struggles before she becomes the most famous sharpshooting woman of all time. After the death of her father, Annie is sent to the Drake County poorhouse where she learns to cook, sew, and keep house for other families to help her mother make ends meet. Annie ends up at the McCrimmons, a couple whom she comes to refer to as "the wolves." Cruel and neglectful, the McCrimmons push Annie to the brink of despair. The only bright spot in her dreary existence is Buck, a beautiful buckskinned horse, and the two form a bond. 

Despite her resolve to help her family, Annie loses hope of ever seeing them again, as life at the McCrimmons' becomes more oppressive, and she is cut off from all outside communication. Physically and emotionally weak from illness, hunger, and abuse, Annie resigns herself to a life of servitude to the abusive couple. But, when Mr. McCrimmon's continued cruelty to Buck finally threatens the horse's life, Annie takes matters into her own hands and formulates a plan for escape.

Buy Shoot Like a Girl:


Add to Goodreads
__________________________________________





Book Details:

Book Title: Girl with a Gun (An Annie Oakley Mystery #1) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction), 316 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: April 2020
Content Rating: R for one explicit sex scene. There is some swearing, violence, mature themes.

Book Description:

In an exciting new historical mystery series, award-winning author Kari Bovee brings the beloved American icon, Annie Oakley, into the world of mystery and crime as a plucky, amateur sleuth. Fifteen-year-old Annie Oakley is the sole supporter of her widowed mother and two younger siblings. An expert markswoman and independent spirit, she hunts game to sell to the local mercantile to make ends meet instead of accepting a marriage proposal that could solve all her problems, including the impending foreclosure of her family's farm. 

After a stunning performance in a shooting contest against famous sharpshooter Frank Butler, Annie is offered a position in the renowned Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance to save her family's farm--and make her dreams come true. But after her catapult to fame, a series of crimes takes place in the Wild West Show, including the death of Annie's Indian Assistant. The coroner claims the death was due to natural causes, but Annie is unconvinced. Then her prized horse, Buck--a major part of her act--is stolen, and she realizes that someone is out to get her. With the help of a sassy, blue-blooded reporter, Annie sets out to find her horse, solve the crimes, and clear her good name--before everything she's worked for is destroyed.

Buy Girl With a Gun:


Add to Goodreads
_____________________________________________





Book Details:

Book Title: Peccadillo at the Palace (An Annie Oakley Mystery #2) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 332 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: April 2020
Content Rating: R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.

Book Description:

In this second book in the Annie Oakley historical mystery series, award-winning author Kari Bovee brings back the lovable character, Annie Oakley, as an amateur sleuth. It's 1887, and Annie and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show are invited to Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration in London, England. But their long journey across the Atlantic takes a turn for the worst when the queen's royal servant ends up dead and Annie's husband, Frank Butler, falls suspiciously ill. Annie soon discovers that the two events are connected--and may be precursors to an assassination attempt on the queen. 

In London, it becomes clear that there is rampant unrest in the queen's kingdom--the Irish Fenian Brotherhood, as well as embittered English subjects, are teeming in the streets. But amid the chaos, even while she prepares for the show, Annie is determined to find the truth. With the help of a friend and reporter, Emma Wilson, the renowned poet Oscar Wilde, and the famous socialite Lily Langtry, Annie sets out to hunt down the queen's enemies--and find out why they want to kill England's most beloved monarch.

Buy Peccadillo at the Palace:


Add to Goodreads
_______________________________________________




Book Details:

Book Title: Folly at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery #3) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction, 322 pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: June 2020
Content Rating: R for some swearing, violence, and mature themes.

Book Description:

She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one… Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent. Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive. Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer? Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley Mystery historical fiction series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovee’s fast-paced whodunit.

Buy Folly at the Fair:


Add to Goodreads


Meet the Author:


When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her action-packed novels. Empowered women in history, horses, unconventional characters, and real-life historical events fill the pages of Kari Bovée’s articles and historical mystery musings and manuscripts. 

An award-winning author, Bovée was honored with the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards Hillerman Award for Southwestern Fiction for her novel Girl with a Gun. The novel also received First Place in the 2019 NM/AZ Book Awards in the Mystery/Crime category, and is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards, as well as the Next Generation Indie Awards. Her novel Grace in the Wings is a Finalist for the 2019 International Chanticleer Chatelaine Awards and the International Chanticleer Goethe Awards. Her novel Peccadillo at the Palace is a Finalist in the 2019 International Chanticleer Murder & Mayhem Awards and the 2019 International Goethe Awards, as well as a Finalist in the 2019 Best Book Awards Historical Fiction category. 

Bovée has worked as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 Company, has written non-fiction for magazines and newsletters, and has worked in the education field as a teacher and educational consultant. She and her husband, Kevin, spend their time between their horse property in the beautiful Land of Enchantment, New Mexico, and their condo on the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Connect with the author: 






Enter the Giveaway!
Ends July 17, 2020


a Rafflecopter giveaway


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