Monday 27 October 2014

Blood Line: Blog Tour


So today i'm tagging along with a blog tour! The book you can see in the huge banner (Up there, no way you missed it) is Blood Line by John J. Davis! I read the book, it was pretty good. You can read my review and two excerpts down below. But first, let me give you some more information about the book and tour!

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Blood Line , A Granger Spy Novel (Book 1)

by John J. Davis

Publisher: Simon & Winter, Inc.

Genres: Action, thriller

254 Pages

Release date: October 14, 2014

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“Sharply written, with characters that readers will be happy to see again.” —Kirkus Reviews 

Blood Line is a high-voltage spy thriller that redefines rogue—the Granger Spy Novel series introduces a loving family with lethal issues caught in the crosshairs of global arms dealers.
When a simple home invasion turns out to be not so simple, Ron Granger must put aside his quiet rural life and return to the Central Intelligence Agency. 

Aided by his brilliant wife, Valerie, and resourceful teen daughter, Leecy, Ron must quickly decide who to believe among the calculating opportunists, shrewd criminals, and power-hungry rival agencies racing to possess the technology that will change modern warfare forever. But when Leecy is kidnapped, Ron and Val must choose between the mission and a rescue. 
With time quickly running out, Ron only knows one thing: 

When you can’t trust anyone else, trust your family.

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Purchase Links for Blood Line


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John J. Davis is the author of the Granger Spy Novel series, including Blood Line and the soon to be published sequel, Bloody Truth, available Spring 2015.
 Davis grew up in the Southeastern US and after university traveled extensively in North America during his career as a regional sales rep and independent broker for leaders in the transportation, shipping and pharma industries. His years sitting in lobbies and airports honed his skill for human observation and fed his talent for writing fast-paced, character-driven stories. 

His inspiration for the Granger family-of-spies comes from the people he has known and his family roots in the Carolinas–the extraordinarily strong and gentle women and men, whose lives are defined by the love, trust and respect for family. Currently at work on the third Granger Spy Novel and a screenplay, Davis lives near Atlanta with his wife, daughter and two dogs.



Author John J. Davis will be making personal appearances at bookstores while the virtual book tour is in progress. If you live in the areas he'll be visiting and would like to meet him, here are the locations he will be at throughout October and November:

Thu Oct 23 – Charlotte NC
7:00pm – 8:30pm
Charlotte NC Park Road Books - 4139 Park Road Charlotte, NC C 28209 

Wed Oct 29 – NYC
6:30pm – 8:30pm
NYC Mysterious Bookshop - 58 Warren St, New York, NY 10007

November 3
6:30pm-Westlake, OH
Barnes & Noble, 198 Crocker Park Blvd Westlake, OH 44145
(440) 250-9233

Fri Nov 7 – Chicago
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Chicago - Barbara's Books Willis Tower - Willis Tower Chicago - Lower Level 233 S. Wacker Drive Chicago

Nov 8 – Burr Ridge, IL 
1:00pm – 2:00pm 
Chicago - Barbara's Books Burr Ridge - 810 Village Center Dr, Illinois and Michigan Canal, Burr Ridge, IL 60527

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Follow the Virtual Tour Here:

Oct 13 Like a Bump on a Blog Special spotlight post to kick-off the tour

Oct 13 Author J. Scott Sharp Spotlight

Oct 14 B.C Brown's Books...Weird is Good Spotlight & guest post

Oct 15 Book Bunny PR Review and more

Oct 16 Book Bunny PR Review and more

Oct 16 Monica Pulliam Spotlight & Excerpt

Oct 17 Write as Raine Spotlight & Playlist

Oct 20 Getta Got to Have Its Review & Exerpt

Oct 21 Ciara Ballintyne Spotlight

Oct 22 Terri's Little Haven Review

Oct 23 Rebecca Campbell Books

Oct 24 Megan's Blog Spotlight

Oct 27 Let Books Bee Review and guest post

Oct 28 Becca Hamilton Books Spotlight/Exerpt

Oct 29 Rainy of the Dark Spotlight

Oct 30 My Train of Thoughts on... Review

Oct 31 Contest Patti Spotlight

Nov 3rd McClellan Books Spotlight & Excerpt

Nov 3 Skye Skye Review

Nov 4 Like a Bump on a Blog Review & Special spy feature

Nov 4 Desafio in the City Spotlight/Excerpt

Nov 5 Cia Says Excerpt & guest post

Nov 7 Notorious Spinks Talks Review

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Excerpts from Blood Line

The black SUV I’d seen earlier came into sight. I watched it cruise through the parking lot of the motel next door. I slid down in my seat in an effort to hide behind the steering wheel, and knew without question the SUV was looking for us, but what I didn’t know is how anyone could’ve found us.

I had to act. I had to get to the room where Valerie and Leecy were sleeping. It was only a matter of time before the SUV made it to the Motel 6 parking lot.

I peered over the steering wheel. The width of the Motel 6 parking lot and a thin grass divider was all that lay between them and the Oldsmobile. The distance was about two hundred feet. I ran to the room. Inserting the old fashioned key into the lock, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside to find the girls awake and staring out the window.

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I woke up on the cold concrete floor of Anderson’s garage. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but at least I was alive. I stood slowly and was immediately dizzy and fought the urge to vomit. I probably had a concussion. I walked on very unsteady legs toward an open overhead door and the fresh night air and kept walking toward the front door of the house. I fell up the two steps, pushing the front door of the house open. I saw with blurred vision heads turn and look in my direction. I couldn’t make out any of the faces. I heard talking but I didn’t understand what was being said. Valerie’s face came into focus looking over me. She was unharmed.

“You’ve got a really nasty black eye and busted lip. Here, look in the mirror,” she said as she steered me to the left.

The left side of my face was red with black and blue streaks.

I remarked, “I’ve seen worse. What happened after I lost consciousness?”

Val steered me to the kitchen table and helped me sit down.

“You have a hematoma on the back of your head the size of a baseball. Sit here. I’m getting aspirin.” She turned to walk away but I grabbed her hand and said in my firmest voice, “Look, I’ve been worse: shot twice, stabbed in the back and chest. I’ve broken both arms and one hand. This is nothing. Tell me what happened.”

“Moore and Porter have Leecy.''

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Review, Blood Line by John J. Davis


To be honest, I think this book could have been way better in many ways. But at the same time, I kinda like it as it is. You must have no idea what I’m blabbing about, so let me tell you.

Blood Line is a thriller/action novel, but it was too slow-paced for my liking. Not enough toe-curling mysteries or omg-what’s-happening-OMG action scenes.

The first 2/3 of the book also felt like a history lesson. Too much talking about the past, not enough being revealed about what was going on in the present.

BUT. After you get through that history lesson, the story starts to build up into awesomeness. I can guarantee that it’s worth reading through.

The environment was described in a mesmerizing way, I could really see the words on the pages come alive in my mind like a movie.

The only problem I had with the writing was the lack of emotion. Now this was something that exasperated me to no end. There’s this saying I read about a while ago “Don’t tell; show”. Don’t tell me somebody is scared, show me by describing their eyes widening, their hands shaking uncontrollably, etc.

Before I get into the ending, Let’s take a moment to talk about the characters. in particular, The protagonist’s insanely intelligent daughter, Leecy. She’s a cool character, all right. But what I don’t get about her is the lack of any trauma… maybe it was just shock, but like… c’mon! I can’t spoil anything, so I’ll just say that some awful things are going to happen to Leecy. And she wasn't that affected by any of it.

Then there was Julia, she’s a secondary character, but I just think she’s a little off. But at least she has kind of a reason to be like that… A reason I’m not going to reveal right now. You’ll just have to read the book and judge for yourself ;)

Okay! So, returning to one of the previous topics. After History, you get P.E.! I really, really, really enjoyed the last chapters. They were interesting and the action was great. Valerie is BADASS. Like holy crap. Don't want to piss her off.

I can’t really give this novel more than 3 stars because the first half of the book was… well, slow-paced and not thrilling enough.



                         Tour hosted by:


HGM

















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That was all! I hope you're going to check out this novel, it's kind of a book you read when it's raining outside and you're snuggling on a couch next to a fire :D.

Lots of Luck,
Bee

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