#newrelease #review #5stars Hiding Cracked Glass @jamescudney4 @Shalini_G26 #NextChapterPub

Here we are, celebrating James J. Cudney on his next big adventure – the second instalment of the Glass saga. I absolutely loved Watching Glass Shatter. In fact, it was and is still my all time favorite debut!! That said, it’s no big surprise just how much I loved this second book involving the Glass family. Loved it!! Now, before I get into a lengthy and in depth review of this phenomenal follow up, Hiding Cracked Glass, let me just point out that I’ve been writing with James over the last year.

Figured I’d get that little fact out there — before you read my review and then find it out later on in my post. Don’t want you readers being all gudgy, thinking I’m favoring this book based on anything other than the book itself… and stuff.

Haha, just kidding…. 

kind of lol

Anyhow, back to the task at hand. I’ve been a giant fan of James’ writing for years now, probably since the first few months he started blogging. So, when he approached me last year with a few ideas he’d been kicking around, we didn’t waste any time on jumping into a co-written novel. I was smitten with these ideas, and to be honest a bit beside myself with the fact that he actually wanted to write with me! James J Cudney’s books are unbelievably well-written, crafty, annnnnnd just flat out genius really. I seriously don’t know how he finds the time. I’ve given both Glass books, Father Figure, and even all six Braxton Campus novels five star reviews. That says a lot!!

Olivia Glass, the mother of the one of a kind Glass family, still has a bit of an edge to her, although she’s really come quite a ways from the uppity, disconnected woman that she was in the start of Watching Glass Shatter. In this second installment, Hiding Cracked Glass, Olivia must once again do her best to hold her family together despite the drama that seems to have shown up with a vengeance! Most of the Glass family secrets came to the surface in book one, the big ones anyway, BUT it seems there’s a second round of hidden agendas and shocking twists, just around the corner.

One thing I love about this book is the pace. It’s a really quick engaging read with the majority of it all happening in one night. There’s a celebration a-foot. One that winds up tainted right out the gate. When an ominous and extremely dangerous letter arrives on the doorstep, there’s no responsible adult to manage the situation. Instead a couple kids accept the delivery and wind up spilling, smudging, and ultimately erasing the most important resource needed to solve the mystery. THE NAME of who it’s from. So, when this letter is found and read by Olivia and later the rest of the family, everyone automatically assumes the worst about their own personal lives. They speculate at their own possible responsibility, and no one knows who to talk to or trust.

The dynamics of the Glass family are complicated. Olivia’s sons each live a unique life, and the world building by Cudney is impeccable. I feel connected to each and every one of them. There’s financial struggles, drug problems, marriage/devorce troubles, children troubles. These characters feel real, down to earth, and exactly like a modern American family IS!

So, when this ransom situation comes up the Glass family has little time to work out their issues, dragging skeletons from the closet tooth and nail, in order to resolve the sudden danger ahead. The twists are perfect! I can’t really say much else without giving anything away, so you’ll have to read it yourself!  5 stars!!  Congrats James on another exciting release!!!

Now, here’s a bit about the book and the author, along with where and how to find his stuff. 

HIDING CRACKED GLASS BY JAMES J. CUDNEY 

Series Name: Perceptions of Glass

Book #1 Name: Watching Glass Shatter

Book #2 Name: Hiding Cracked Glass (cover reveal for this one)

Publication for Book #2:

Next Chapter, October 8th, 2020

Amazon Link:

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54399989-hiding-cracked-glass

About the Book

An ominous blackmail letter appears at an inopportune moment. The recipient’s name is accidentally blurred out upon arrival. Which member of the Glass family is the ruthless missive meant for?

In the powerful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, Olivia is the first to read the nasty threat and assumes it’s meant for her. When the mysterious letter falls into the wrong hands and is read aloud, it throws the entire Glass family into an inescapable trajectory of self-question. Across the span of eight hours, Olivia and her sons contemplate whether to confess their hidden secrets or find a way to bury them forever. Some failed to learn an important lesson last time. Will they determine how to save themselves before it’s too late?

Each chapter’s focus alternates between the various family members and introduces several new and familiar faces with a vested interest in the outcome. As each hour ticks by, the remaining siblings and their mother gradually reveal what’s happened to them in the preceding months, and when the blackmailer makes an appearance at Olivia’s birthday party, the truth brilliantly comes to light.

Although everyone seemed to embrace the healing process at the end of Watching Glass Shatter, there were hidden cracks in the Glass family that couldn’t be mended. Their lives are about to shatter into pieces once again, but this time, the stakes are even higher. Someone wants to teach them a permanent lesson and refuses to stop until success is achieved.

  

About The Author

Background

James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College, an historic but small liberal arts school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a degree in English literature and minors in Education, Business and Spanish. After college, I accepted a technical writing position for a telecommunications company during Y2K and spent the last ~20 years building a career in technology & business operations in the retail, sports, media and entertainment industries. Throughout those years, I wrote some short stories, poems and various beginnings to the “Great American Novel,” but I was so focused on my career in technology and business that writing became a hobby. In 2016, I refocused some of my energies toward reinvigorating a second career in reading, writing and publishing.

Author

Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, my mind and my body. At some points, it was just a few poems or short stories; at others, it was full length novels and stories. My current focus is family drama fiction, cozy mystery novels and suspense thrillers. I think of characters and plots that I feel must be unwound. I think of situations people find themselves in and feel compelled to tell the story. It’s usually a convoluted plot with many surprise twists and turns. I feel it necessary to take that ride all over the course. My character is easily pictured in my head. I know what he is going to encounter or what she will feel. But I need to use the right words to make it clear.

Reader & Reviewer

Reading has also never left my side. Whether it was children’s books, young adult novels, college textbooks, biographies or my ultimate love, fiction, it’s ever present in my day. I read 2 books per week and I’m on a quest to update every book I’ve ever read on Goodreads, write up a review and post it on all my sites and platforms. 

Blogger & Thinker

I have combined my passions into a single platform where I share reviews, write a blog and publish tons of content: TRUTH. I started my 365 Daily Challenge, where I post about a word that has some meaning to me and converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have had weekly segments called “Ryder’s Rants” or “Baxter’s Barks” where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real. And that’s why they are me.

Genealogist & Researcher

I love history and research, finding myself often reaching back into the past to understand why someone made the choice he or she did and what were the subsequent consequences. I enjoy studying the activities and culture from hundreds of years ago to trace the roots and find the puzzle of my own history. I wish I could watch my ancestors from a secret place to learn how they interacted with others; and maybe I’ll comprehend why I do things the way I do.

Websites & Blog

Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/

Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com

Amazon: http://bit.ly/JJCIVBooks

Next Chapter Pub: https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/james-j-cudney

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/james-j-cudney

Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesJCudneyIVAuthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BraxtonCampusMysteries/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsMyTruthNow/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamescudney4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamescudney4/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jamescudney4

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4

Genres, Formats & Languages

I write in the family drama and mystery genres. My first two books are Watching Glass Shatter (2017) and Father Figure (2018). Both are contemporary fiction and focus on the dynamics between parents and children and between siblings. I’m currently writing the sequel to Watching Glass Shatter. I also have a light mystery series called the Braxton Campus Mysteries with six books available.

All my books come in multiple formats (Kindle, physical print, large print paperback, and audiobook) and some are also translated into foreign languages such as Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German. 

Goodreads Book Links

Watching Glass Shatter (October 2017)

Father Figure (April 2018)

Braxton Campus Mysteries

·       Academic Curveball – #1 (October 2018)

·       Broken Heart Attack – #2 (November 2018)

·       Flower Power Trip – #3 (March 2019)

·       Mistaken Identity Crisis – #4 (June 2019)

·       Haunted House Ghost – #5 (October 2019)

·       Frozen Stiff Drink – #6 (March 2020)

I’m so proud of, and so thrilled for Jay!!  Writing with him has been an absolute blast, his books are fantastic. Every. Single. One. 

Thank you Shalini with Digital Reads Blog Tours for allowing me a slot in this HUGE event!  You’re such a book babe, and I adore you!

ANOTHER ALSO: There’s a whole bunch of pretty awesome giveaways up for grabs! CLICK HERE to be entered to win!