Hiding Cracked Glass Blog Book Tour @jamescudney4 @Shalini_G26

It’s my turn today on James Cudney’s Hiding Cracked Glass blog book tour, hosted by the wonderful Shalini at Digital Reads Blog Tours, @Shalini_G26 Digital Reads. James and Shalini, thanks for allowing me to participate! Oh, look out for the GIVEAWAY at the end of the post.

Title: HIDING CRACKED GLASS (Series Name: Perceptions of Glass)

Author: James J. Cudney

Genre: Suspense, Contemporary Family Life Fiction

Publisher: Next Chapter, October 8, 2020

Summary

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.  

My Review

Hiding Cracked Glass is the second book in the Perception of Glass Series, by James J. Cudney. I loved the first novel and was excited when I learned the book is now a series. The second book did not disappoint. Mr. Cudney has honed his craft as a writer of contemporary family drama and whodunnit style mystery wielding it well in Hiding Cracked glass. Clever and fitting, the title alludes to more chaos in an already fractured family.

The story told in multiple POVs, with alternating chapters of each family member, disclosing the why and how’s of their burdensome secrets. Mr. Cudney tosses in a few new and suspicious characters that keep you pondering their intentions. How many more secrets lurk beneath the Glass’ facade? Is it enough to tear the family asunder or shatter an already fragile family?

A blackmail letter arrives at the Glass home hours before the family assembles to celebrate the matriarch of the Glass Family, Olivia’s, birthday. Unfortunately, the recipient’s name is indecipherable, soiled during hand delivery.

When family members learn about the blackmail, the tenuous façade of normalcy crack, each member believes the letter is for them. Who is that darn letter for, Olivia? Zachary? Matthew? Caleb? Diane? Teddy?  Most importantly, who is the blackmailer? Who wants to harm the family?

“Upon learning the package had been delivered, the individual cackled at great length and noted assuredly, “You deserve every bit of my revenge. Only one of us will win this battle, and in the end, you’ll beg for mercy. Once a brittle and feeble glass begins to crack, it can never be repaired again.”

Can the glass family handle more devastating secrets so soon after the death of a husband and father, son and brother, and a newborn child?

“This isn’t the universe trying to tell us we did something wrong. Accidents happen. If this were a game, we’re the team who’s down. We lost Dad, Ethan, Teddy’s baby… Nathaniel only lost his son.” Matt felt remorse for comparing the deaths and not recognizing the common pain they all shared.”

Tensions heighten as the family gathers in the home. Arguments and a melee explode as well as a gun, thrusting the  family into yet another fatal tragedy.

“Everyone’s ears experienced an unimaginable ringing from the blast’s reverberation and the victim’s piercing scream. Someone had definitely been hit the second time, but no one knew whom. No one except the stunned victim who gasped for air and fell backward onto the plush carpet.”

Wow! What a ride! I applaud Mr. Cudney for writing another emotionally charged page-turner that kept me guessing at every turn. I suspect there are more secrets to be told in the Glass family, and I’m looking forward to book three of the Perception of Glass Series. Mr. Cudney, thank you for the thrilling read!

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)

Hiding Cracked Glass available at:

Amazon and Goodreads

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