No Apology Book Reviews - authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers

Interview with Victoria Schade (Who Rescued Who)

March 20, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Who Rescued Who by Victoria Schade is a heartwarming novel. Intertwined throughout the story is how family, friends, including the furry four leg types, can make an imprint on someone’s life. Readers will love the interaction between the charming town and characters. At the beginning of the book, the main character, Elizabeth, gets fired from her social media job. Having been addicted to social media herself, she feels lost and abandoned. But coming to …

Interview with Jackie Kennedy (from And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton)

March 13, 2020

Find an interview with the author here. Elise Cooper: Thank you for doing this. I must say that it is an honor since you are respected and admired, someone who became an American historical icon. Throughout your life there have been such tribulations and triumphs. From the time you married John Fitzgerald Kennedy, your life seemed to be a roller coaster ride from becoming First Lady, to having to endure the assassinations of John and Bobby Kennedy, to making a …

Interview with Stephanie Marie Thornton (And They Called It Camelot)

March 13, 2020March 13, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton brings to life one of America’s iconic figures, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Although much has been written and told, readers who think they know everything about her legacy will find that there are actually new and meaningful true revelations with this intimate portrait. The former First Lady was glamorous, strong, intelligent, politically savvy, charming, and stylistic. She was able to adapt to the many difficult …

Interview with Kerri Maher (The Girl in White Gloves)

March 6, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher reads more like a biography than a fictional story. It delves into the life of Grace Kelly, an iconic actress of her time, who became a princess. Readers get a glimpse into her childhood dreams, her rise to fame, and her eventual royal life as Princess of Monaco. Born into a wealthy family, Grace was encouraged to achieve success in the things that mattered to her …

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

May 24, 2020February 29, 2020

Title: The Sun Down Motel Author: Simone St. James Series: N/A Not her best but I still really enjoyed it Well, let me tell ya. I wasn’t going to review this book because I’m bitter that Berkley wouldn’t allow me to read an ARC. I’ve praised St. James’s books up and down since I discovered them a few years ago; I’ve recommended them to friends and family; and I was allowed to read The Broken Girls six months early. But …

Interview with Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm, and Jackie Ashenden (A Cowboy for All Seasons)

February 28, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Cowboy for All Seasons written by the cowgirl quartet, Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm, and Jackie Ashenden is billed as an anthology, but is actually a compilation since the four stories flow into one riveting plot. It will remind readers of the Dixie Chick song “Cowboy Take Me Away,” as they are swept up by the characters and plotline. The four heroines tangle with their hardheaded cowboys as they find love, healing, …

How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks

February 23, 2020

Title: How to Love Your Elf Author: Kerrelyn Sparks Series: Embraced #4 (Embraced by Magic #1 *eye roll*) Could have ended better but overall a joyous return to Aerthlan I would like to thank Kerrelyn Sparks, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Yaaayyy! They’re back! The Embraced series was my introduction to Sparks, and I’ve become a big fan. I grew concerned when, after the release of book …

Interview with Luanne Rice (Last Day)

February 22, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Last Day by Luanne Rice is a gripping psychological suspense story. It starts out with an intensity from page one that never lets up. The story delves into survivors of trauma, sisterhood, best friends, and small communities shaken by violence or death. The plot begins with the brutal murder of Beth Lathrop who was six months pregnant. She is found by her sister Kate, strangled in her bed with her skull bashed. Kate also …

Interview with C. M. Gleason (Murder at the Capitol)

February 13, 2020

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Murder at the Capitol by C. M. Gleason is a unique historical mystery. With a superb ability to combine famous and admired historical figures with characters of her own, Gleason masterfully creates a suspenseful and informative story. The characters created bring to life the Civil War era. This third book in the series has want-to-be journalist Sophie Gates and Southern Belle Constance Lemagne sitting in the Senate Gallery waiting for a session to start. …

How Can I Get Advance Reader Copies?

October 8, 2024February 12, 2020

Updated 10/2024 Recently someone asked me how she could get advance reader copies (ARCs) to read and review. She was probably expecting a short and sweet answer—go to site A, sign up, and give ’em hell—but it’s not that simple (and I’m not that succinct). I’m sure every reviewer’s story is unique, and I could only describe to her what I’ve experienced. I’m no expert by any means, but I did want to share what I told her, in case …