Review: Bless Her Dead Little Heart by: Miranda James

Title: Bless Her Dead Little Heart
Author: Miranda James
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: Southern Ladies Mystery #1
Pages: 304
Format: Kindle e-book
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:

The new series from the author of The Silence of the Library and Murder Past Due...

New York Times bestselling author Miranda James returns to Athena, Mississippi, with an all-new mystery featuring Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote, two snoopy sisters who are always ready to lend a helping hand. But when a stressed socialite brings murder right to their doorstep, even they have trouble maintaining their Southern hospitality… 

With the Mississippi sun beating down, An’gel and Dickce are taking a break to cool off and pet sit their friend Charlie Harris’s cat, Diesel, when their former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up at their door unexpectedly, with her ne’er-do-well adult children not far behind. 

Rosabelle’s selfish offspring are desperate to discover what’s in her will, and it soon becomes clear that one of them would kill to get their hands on the inheritance. Suddenly caught up in a deadly tangle of duplicitous suspects and deep-fried motives, it will take all of the sisters’ Southern charm to catch a decidedly ill-mannered killer…

My Thoughts:

This book is from the same writer who writes the cat in the stacks and our beloved Diesel and Charlie Harris in this one we follow the Ducote sisters Dickce and An'gel who are kittysitting Diesel while his family is on vacation.  While resting in their living room they are interrupted by the sister's sorority sister Rosabelle, who is adament someone is trying to kill her when her daughter in law ends up dead at the hands of a mysterious killer related to Rosabelle the Decote sisters end up having to have a huge amount of guests related to Rosabelle.  Was it one of the relatives who killed Marla?  Or was it Rosabelle herself having to always be the center of attention?

This book was great I'd loved reading about Dickce and An'gel in Cat in the stacks book and the treat became even better when I read this book.  These two sisters were definitely the stars the of the show with all the crazy people who kept appearing in this book I was beginning to wonder if the sisters would ever narrow down the list of suspects which they did nicely.  Can't wait to learn more about them!

Next in the series is:

Read More

Review: A Ghostly Reunion by: Tonya Kappes

Title: A Ghostly Reunion
Author: Tonya Kappes
Publisher: Witness Impulse
Series: Ghostly Southern Mysteries #5
Pages: 352
Format: e-book ARC
Source: Book Tour

Description:

Emma Lee Raines sees dead people

Proprietor of the Eternal Slumber Funeral Home, Emma Lee can see, hear, and talk to ghosts of murdered folks. And when her high school nemesis is found dead, Jade Lee Peel is the same old mean girl—trying to come between Emma Lee and her hot boyfriend, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, all over again.

There’s only one way for Emma Lee to be free of the trash-talking ghost—solve the murder so the former prom queen can cross over.

But the last thing Jade Lee wants is to leave the town where she had her glory days. And the more Emma Lee investigates on her own, the more complicated Miss Popularity turns out to be. Now Emma Lee will have to work extra closely with her hunky lawman to get to the twisty truth.

My Thoughts:

In this book Emma Lee is setting up the reunion for high school which in Emma's case means facing some people in school she can live without seeing.  Jade Lee has been a thorn in Emma's side for as long as she can remember especially when she was called creepy funeral girl.  Emma's hoping this won't be the case with the dashing Jack Henry Ross on her arm.

With Fudgie a local newspaper owner on the hook for the murder of Jade Lee Peel Emma Lee finds herself helping Fudgie weed through the suspects to find out who did in the beauty queen.  While investigating she finds herself somewhat making ammends with Jade even though Jade is a ghost.  While this is going on Charlotte Emma's sister is working at a center for weddings, funerals, baby showers and more.  Which has put a bad taste in Emma's mouth and finding her fighting with her sister. 

I love this series they seem to fly by so quickly and before I know I'm at the end of the book wanting more.  I love how Emma has to deal with her 'funeral trauma' and locals wondering if Emma is insane or just an odd duck?  I love going back and seeing what everyone is up to and where they up too.  Can't wait to see what is next for the wonderful people of Sleepy Hollow!

Read More

Review: Get Witch or Die Trying by: Tonya Kappes

Title: Get Witch or Die Trying
Author: Tonya Kappes
Publisher: Krew Publishing
Series: Spies and Spells Book #3
Pages: 189
Format: Kindle ARC
Source: Tonya Kappes Book Tour

Description:

Get Witch or Die Trying
When an arrest goes wrong and the perp ends up dead, SKUL special agent Mick Jasper is under investigation and stripped of his badge. SKUL hires Maggie Park not only because of her ability to blend in with society when undercover but her uncanny ability to know things she shouldn't. Little does the agency know that Maggie is a witch and has special powers she uses to her advantage to clear special agent Jasper's name and hopefully bring the real killer to justice before the killer figures out who she really is.

My Thoughts:

Maggie Park and Mick Jasper are back at it again.  In this book Maggie is helping SKUL clear Mick when women Mick has dated wind up dead.  Maggie spends sometime working with Mick's partner Sherry.  When the latest woman Angela Fritz a local artist went to school with Mick Jasper, Big Stevenson and Brian Mingo.  Just as the direction points one way the truth lies another way.  Will Maggie uncover the murderer or will she go up in smoke?

I love this series it's so warm and inviting seeing what Auntie, Mom, Maggie, Lilith and Mick and the gang from SKUL are up to.  It's like coming home to visit the family and reminds me in some ways of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic I don't think I will ever grow tired of this series and look forward to re-reading them when I need my magical fix!  Can't wait to see what is next!

Read More

Review: More Tales From Suburbia by: Brandi Haas

Title: More Tales From Suburbia
Author: Brandi Haas
Publisher: Cup of Tea Books
Pages: 231
Format: e-book
Source: GEBT

Description:

Life in the suburbs ain’t easy. Squeezing into those tiny chairs on the back-to-school night. Finding the beloved pet fish floating at the top of his bowl.  Planning a romantic evening –only to fall asleep on the couch with your honey.

Lucky for us, we’ve got Brandi Haas to make us laugh.  As the author of the popular blog “Tales from Suburbia,” Brandi tackles the big issues of our day—like whether to pay six bucks to valet park or search for a spot and walk ten blocks to the restaurant. Her stories about the daily absurdities of life will make you laugh out loud.

Heartfelt and seriously funny, More Tales from Suburbia: Yes, It Gets Even Crazier is like sharing a bottle of wine and conversation with your best girlfriend.

My Thoughts:

I love this book and the way Brandi tells stories from her family.  She is so funny and they are so crazy I can totally see them happening.  If you ever need a good cheer up at all definitely pick up this book and it will leave you with a sore stomach from laughing so hard.  Can't wait to see what Brandi comes up with next!

Read More

Guest Post: Daggone It Author Maggie Toussaint

To visit the haunted house or not

By Maggie Toussaint

In Doggone It, amateur sleuth Baxley Powell reluctantly agrees to visit June’s Folly, a haunted house, with her reporter friend, Charlotte. I say reluctantly because Baxley has a bad history with the place. The last time she went there, the energy of the place shorted her circuits, she passed out, and her father had to rescue her.

That was over ten years ago and she’s learned tons about shielding herself since then. Besides, Charlotte will go out there whether Baxley accompanies her or not. Baxley doesn’t think it’s safe for her friend to be out there alone, so they head out there together at dusk. Charlotte’s sure her feature on haunted houses will land on the front page and further advance her rise to fame and fortune.

When Baxley says her expertise is in spirits from beyond, Charlotte tells her “tough” and suggests her dreamwalker friend change her frequency so she could talk to earthbound spirits. Baxley has no intention of tapping into any spirit frequency in the swamp. She’s along for moral support.

It should have been so easy. Drive out there. Snap a few pictures, peek in the windows of the abandoned mansion, and scoot back home. Baxley does her part, shielding herself from the bad juju at June’s Folly. Even walking up to the house, she still feels strong and in command of her senses.

Not so, Charlotte. She sinks down on the steps and can’t manage to move at all. When Baxley touches her friend’s hand, she discovers Charlotte is ghostly cold. Somehow, non-sensitive Charlotte has found the ghost at the haunted house. Charlotte is none too happy about the occurrence and demands her friend’s help.

Baxley is in a jam. If she doesn’t help her friend by sussing out the ghost, she’ll be a wimp forever. But for her to access the ghost, she has to lower her paranormal protection. She’ll be vulnerable to a psychic attack, just like she was as a teenager. At 28, she’s too old to call her dad to come get her.

The longer she deliberates, the more anxious her friend becomes, and the guiltier Baxley feels. Why does this haunted house have to be smack dab in the middle of a swamp?

Charlotte wants the real story of June’s Folly, but Baxley never planned to do more than chaperone this adventure. Getting involved in the ghost assessment was not on her to-do list. It topped the list of items not to do.

You’ve met and overcome all manner of baddies on the spirit side of the veil, the logical side of her brain insists. But this place is like kryptonite to you – you should be scared, whines her inner child.

Usually Baxley relies on her intuition to guide her, but her senses are locked down so tight that she can’t tell if her fear is warranted or a remnant of a childhood mishap. There’s no way she would ever consider abandoning her best friend, and it’s tearing her up to see her friend out of commission.

What to do? Save her friend? Risk a similar or worse fate for herself?

Share your advice for Baxley, and be sure to enter the drawing.

~*~

BIO. Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes mystery, suspense, and dystopian fiction. Her work won the Silver Falchion Award for best mystery, the Readers’ Choice Award, and the EPIC Award. She’s published fifteen novels as well as several short stories and novellas. The next book in her paranormal mystery series, Doggone It, releases October 2016. Maggie serves on the board for Southeast Mystery Writers of America and Low Country Sisters In Crime. Visit her at www.maggietoussaint.com.

Read More

Review: A Killer Closet by: Paula Paul

Title: A Killer Closet
Author: Paula Paul
Publisher: Alibi
Format: Kindle ARC
Source: GEBT & NetGalley

Description:

In a fashionably cozy short mystery novel, Paula Paul introduces a tenacious heroine who leaves big-city life behind and returns to picturesque Santa Fe, New Mexico—where murder lands on her doorstep.

Irene Seligman loves the warmth and beauty of her Southwest hometown, but only one thing could make her quit her prestigious job as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan to return there: the guilt applied by her demanding mother, Adelle. After Adelle’s most recent husband dies, leaving her with nothing, Irene decides to take a break from prosecuting criminals to move back to Santa Fe and open an upscale consignment store. With Irene’s determination and her mother’s eye for haute couture, they’re sure to make a killing.

But on the day of the grand opening, Irene discovers the body of one of Adelle’s friends in her storeroom. And although the intrigue causes business to boom, when someone else from Adelle’s social circle is murdered, Irene begins to suspect her mother might be in danger too. Ever the protective daughter, Irene investigates her mother’s friends, suspicious that they’re hiding more than designer clothes in their closets. But as she gets closer to uncovering some real skeletons, Irene might not live to regret coming home again.

My Thoughts:

In this book we follow Irene Seligman who moves back home to Santa Fe when her mother asks her to.  In her new store she finds a dead woman someone her mother new and finds herself under the police radar.  As the bodies pile up and it's up to Irene her mom Adelle and Irene's new worker Angel to figure out what is going on and how deep the mystery goes.

I enjoyed this book and had no idea where Ms. Paul was headed with the mystery.  I found myself digging deeper until the mystery was solved.  Can't wait to see what is next for Santa Fe in this remarkable cozy mystery!

Read More

Interview: Cathy Ace Author of The Corpse with the Ruby Lips

Recently I had a chance to sit down and talk to Cathy Ace the author of The Cait Morgan Mysteries and the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us Cathy!
    

What genre do you write?

I write crime fiction – on the broad spectrum of “cozy crime”, I’d say I write traditional mysteries rather than very cozy ones…think Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. I always write “closed circle” mysteries, where only a small number of people could have “dunnit”.

How did you come to write crime fiction?

It’s what I grew up reading – my mum was a real Christie fan, so it’s no surprise I devoured her collection of books when I’d “outgrown” Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

Who is your favorite character to write about?

I write two distinctly different series of books – the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries (which feature a quartet of softly-boiled professional female investigators who run their business out of a converted barn in the grounds of a a stately home in Wales) and the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which feature a professor of criminal psychology with a love of all things foodie! Today I’m cheering the launch of the eighth book in my Cait Morgan Mystery series, and I have to admit I have a soft spot for Cait. She’s a lot like me – though I don’t have all her flaws….but then neither does she have all mine, so I suppose we’re even. Like me she was born and raised in Wales (she even grew up on the same street as me and when to the schools I attended, if you can believe that!) and, also like me, she migrated to Canada and lives in British Columbia. Another thing we have in common is our love of travel – each of Cait’s adventures takes place in a different country…and it seems she’s following in my footsteps in even this regard. In THE CORPSE WITH THE RUBY LIPS Cait finds herself in Budapest, Hungary – a stunning city with a dark history, where I have spent a good deal of time over the years.

Who inspires your books?

I’m fortunate that my mum is still alive, and she’s the person (in my heart) I write for. Still an

enthusiastic reader of traditional mysteries, she’s happy to give feedback during my writing process and proudly borrows all my books from her local library.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

To be honest, writing is a pretty all-consuming way of life, but, when I’m not at my desk I’m likely to be in the garden. I’m so fortunate to live on acreage, and my husband and I actively garden about three of our five acres, so there’s always something to do, whatever the season. I especially enjoy pulling up weeds while I plot, or thinking about my victim/s when I’m decapitating dandelions (which I only do when there are plenty of other blooms in the garden to keep the local bees happy!).

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take?

Oh heck – this is a tough one! First off, I’d like a huge supply of water-purifying tablets and meal-replacement bars etc. so I can be sure I’ll survive while I’m trying to work out how to collect water and food for the longer-haul, if that’s okay? Secondly, I suppose I’m not going to surprise anyone when I say my choice would be to have a laptop with a year’s-worth of battery, back-up disks and internet access (not so I could escape, but so I could write and research the books I’d have the peace and quiet to work on) or – failing that – an endless supply of pens and paper would do! Finally, I’d opt for a copy of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare – because most of the truths about the human condition are contained therein, and his work would inspire me while I sat alone contemplating the universe. 

Thank you,Paula

Thanks so much for having me along.  Your welcome Cathy thank you for stopping by Community Bookstop today!

Read More

Review: Not The Killing Type by: Lorna Barrett

Title: Not The Killing Type
Author: Lorna Barrett
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: A Booktown Mystery #7
Pages: 309
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:

It’s November in Stoneham, New Hampshire, and that means it’s time for the Chamber of Commerce elections. The race is already a bit heated, as the long-standing Chamber president is being challenged by a former lover—Tricia’s own sister, Angelica. Then local small business owner Stan Berry throws his hat in the ring.

Unfortunately, it’s not there for long when he’s found murdered in the Brookview Inn. The murder weapon is a brass letter opener belonging to the inn’s receptionist. Tricia knows there’s no way the receptionist is a killer. And when Angelica asks Tricia to help clear her name and win the election, she sees little choice except to start snooping.

She soon uncovers a ballot box full of lies and betrayals, and a chamber full of people who had grudges against the victim. But were they serious enough to lead to murder? And who truly had something to gain? Tricia will have to do some serious sleuthing before she pulls the lever on a killer.

My Thoughts:

This book follows Angelica and Tricia who are sisters as well book store owners Angelica a cookbook store, along with her cafe across the road and until recently has decided to run for President of the Chamber of Commerce.  She has decided she can help run the town better than the current President and her ex-boyfriend Robert Kelly whose a local realtor in town.  When Angelica throws her name into the running the Chamber of Commerce she finds she's not alone as Stan Berry who makes signs for local businesses has decided to run the town and has his own vision of the future of Stoneham.

Not long into the Chamber of Commerce election Tricia whose in desperate need of a bathroom stumbles across Stan Berry on the toilet dead.  Who killed him?  Does his death have anything to do with the election and if not why was he killed?  And who is Stan Berry? 

Tricia finds herself doing her own investigating after her sister seems to be suspect number 1, and in order to clear her sister's name she knows she has to learn as much as she can about Stan Berry. When a new comer to Stoneham arrives Stan Berry jr. also known as Will Berry Tricia's learn he has a son whom Stan never really took the time to get to know or even support.  What will Will do?  Is he like his father or does he have something to do with his father's demise?

We also learn more about Christopher Tricia's ex-husband.  Why he's around and what he really wants.  Christopher seems to have finally figured out how badly he screwed up when he went to find himself and ditched his life and his wife.  Does Tricia want him back or even want anything to do with him?  While all this is going on Tricia's ex-employee Ginny is getting married to Antonio who works at the local Brookview Inn.  Will Ginny and Antonio have the wedding of their dreams or will the death of Stan Berry mess up their beautiful wedding?

I love this series maybe because I'm from NH or maybe it's the descriptions given to Stoneham by Lorna Barrett she really brings you in wanting to see how everyone is doing from the last time we've heard from them.  This book didn't disappoint it welcomed you in like you are just another shop owner catching up with Tricia and her sister Angelica.  I can't wait to see what is next in this series.

The next book is:

Read More

Review: The Unsaid by: Aaron Blaylock

Title: The Unsaid
Author: Aaron Blaylock
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Pages: 208
Format: e-book ARC
Source: Cedar Fort

Description:

Maggie, a heavenly curator of unspoken thoughts, is content to do her job while she waits for her turn in mortality. When Eric, her beholden, shows interest in the new girl at work, Maggie’s curiosity for the wonders of love and life cause her to forsake the rules in search of answers. But meddling in mortal affairs has consequences that Maggie could never have imagined…

My Thoughts:

This book was given to me for a fair and honest review by Cedar Fort.  The thoughts expressed here are my own and no way reflect Aaron Blaylock or Cedar Fort.  In this book we follow Maggie and other curators who shelve thoughts of their charges while waiting for their mortality.  Her charge is a guy named Eric who suffered a loss of April and has had trouble getting over it.

This book was definitely an interesting look into other thoughts and what could happen to them if someone else was watching over them and what happens when we die.  Definitely a great book for people really into religion and what happens above us.  Can't wait to see what Aaron Blaylock offers us next!

Read More

Review: Christmas in Eternity Springs by: Emily March

Title: Christmas In Eternity Springs
Author: Emily March
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: Eternity Springs #12
Pages: 336
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & Book Tour

Description:

Can Miss Christmas find her spirit again?

After a devastating betrayal, Claire Branham packs up the pieces of her life, along with a twenty-million-dollar secret, and moves to Eternity Springs. She opens a specialty shop—Forever Christmas—and, with the help of a surprise romance with the town’s sexy new handyman, Claire’s heart begins to heal. Until her past comes knocking…

Jax Lancaster never questioned the need to abandon his career as a Navy submariner in order to care for his young son in the wake of his ex-wife’s death. Desperate to help with this loss, Jax straps on a tool belt to give Nicholas the one thing he wants: A life in Eternity Springs. What Jax never expected to find a second chance at love with a fascinating woman for whom Christmas has become a business. But when the truth about Claire threatens their newfound happiness, can Jax prove to her that in Eternity Springs, the spirit of Christmas is real. . .and will last a lifetime?

My Thoughts:

This book opens up with Claire whose getting ready for Christmas with her fiance but gets the shock of her life when she finds he's married to someone else, she uproots her life to Eternity Springs to work on not being against Christmas forever.  Clare is determined to find a way past Landon the looser Lawyer.  Will she find it in Eternity Springs?

Then there is Jax Lancaster whose recently moved to Eternity Springs to pick up his son for a day camp after the death of his ex-wife, he vows to do anything he can to give his son a good life.  Jax is also trying to find his way after his last relationship fell apart and now he's learning to be a father on top of it.

Both Claire and Jax seems to have so many problems they have to work through.  Will their differences keep them apart or can they work through it?  I loved this story and found myself loving this small town romance which reminds me of Sherryl Woods's books as well as Debbie Macomber and parts of Jill Shalvis books too.  I think lovers of small town romances will find themselves drawn in and having hard time leaving Eternity Springs

Read More

Review: Crepe Factor by: Laura Childs & Terrie Farley Moran

Title: Crepe Factor
Author: Laura Childs & Terrie Farley Moran
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery #14
Pages: 336
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT

Description:

The Winter Market in the French Quarter is in full swing, but murder isn’t taking a holiday in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Parchment and Old Lace...

  

The holidays are a busy time for scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand—but not so hectic that she doesn’t have time to enjoy browsing the booths at the Winter Market with her best friend Ava. The last thing the ladies expect to see is a thrashing man stabbed by a serving fork, dying in front of them.

 

The victim is loathed restaurant critic Martin Lash, who posted his scathing reviews on the Glutton for Punishment website. And the prime suspect is New Orleans restauranteur Quigg Brevard—who was seen giving the critic a tongue-lashing minutes before someone stuck a fork in him. An old flame of Carmela, Quigg asks for her help, which does not please her current beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, to say the least.

 

Before her relationship is the next victim, Carmela needs to find a murderer who had no reservations about punishing the culinary curmudgeon...

My Thoughts:

This book takes place in the New Orleans where we are with Ava and Carmela who are walking around Winter Market. There they witness a heated exchange between Martin Lash a food critic whose been known for writing less than bad reviews of good food.  When he winds up dead with a fork in his neck stumbling at Eva and Carmela's feet.  Next thing Carmela knows is that Quigg asks for her help in clearing his name before he winds up arrested for the murder.  The more Carmela digs the more possible suspects appear.  From the editor of the Glutton for Punishment website who got stuck with Martin Lash and seems to have no love lost over it! To other restaurant owners who have had their restaurants ripped apart due to Lash's harsh reviews.  Who killed Martin Lash and why?

This book was a great look life in New Orleans, meeting interesting people and watch Carmela investigate to find out what happened to Martin Lash.  This book really pulled you in wanting you to figure out who killed him and why.  I loved going on the adventure with them.  The women who wrote this book were great at this story of following the adventure of Carmela it was a real treat to get to read this and review it.  I can't wait to see what is next for Carmela and Ava!

Read More

Review: Putting on The Witch by: Jim & Joyce Lavene

Title: Putting on The Witch
Author:  Joyce & Jim Lavene
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: Retired Witches Mystery #3
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: GEBT & NetGalley

Description:

In the latest mystery from the bestselling authors of Looking for Mr. Good Witch, the retired witches of Wilmington, North Carolina, are ready to kick up their heels...

With their coven’s spell book still missing, Molly and Elsie—along with their ghostly friend Olivia, her daughter Dorothy, and her boyfriend Brian—are all on edge, especially now that Dorothy’s infamously wicked father is back in the picture. So when they receive an invitation to an exclusive Witches Ball, the ladies jump at the chance to dress up and have some fun.

The castle locale is spectacular and the party is hopping, but the festivities come to a swift end when a member of the Grand Council of Witches is murdered. With the whole place on lock down, the coven is determined to find the cunning killer, even with an angry council and a real Spanish Inquisitor breathing down their necks...

My Thoughts:

This book was bittersweet with the death of Joyce and then Jim Lavene.  What they offered up was incredible and so worthy of their other books.  In this book it's Brian's birthday and his family is putting on an elaborate birthday party to witch the coven gets invited.  Dorothy and Olivia are also interrupted from everything when Drago, Dorothy's father shows up wanting to get to know her better.  Of course the coven doesn't know what to make of Drago who Olivia has stated is pure evil and not to be trusted.

At the ball a Council member is murdered and the castle gets put on lockdown spell wise so the witch-hunter can find the murderer.  Unfortunately for Molly she listened to the dying words of the council member and the other members want those words to find out what was said.  After convincing Antonio the wit-hunter that the old methods won't work anymore they work together to figure out who killed the council member and why?  Will Antonio and Molly figure out in time?  Or will they let a witch loose to kill again?

This book was incredible as is the whole series.  I loved seeing the coven form and work together, and how they were stronger with certain things happening in Elsie and Molly's life.  Between Elsie's boyfriend Larry the werewolf and Molly's amulet they old timers really have something to show the young witches.  I like how they stood up to the council when they could and even changed the opinions of a witch-hunter.  I'm also seeing how this series isn't anything without an appearance by the Bone Man with a cryptic message.  I wonder if we will see it again?

I was sad at the end knowing this is the last book Jim and Joyce wrote and will wonder if the kids will continue the series and the future of any of their books?  This series is by far my favorite and I am happy knowing I can always re-read them when I want to go back to Smuggler's Arcane!

Read More

Review: Unlucky Charms by: Linda O. Johnston

Title: Unlucky Charms
Author: Linda O. Johnston
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Series: Superstition Mysteries #3
Pages: 288
Format:  e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley

Description:

Rory Chasen, manager of the Lucky Dog Boutique in Destiny, California, hopes her new line of good-luck doggy toys will be a hit, especially the stuffed rabbits with extra-large feet. The timing of the line’s debut proves ill-fated, though, as several local shops—including Rory’s—are ransacked and vandalized with spilled salt and other unlucky charms.

The most likely culprit is disgruntled real estate agent Flora Curtival, whose issues with the town give her a motive. But when Flora is murdered and one of Rory’s toy rabbits is found with the body, Rory needs all the luck she can get while trying to determine just who killed the superstitious vandal.

My Thoughts: 

This book starts out with Rory Chasen speaking at the Theater with a new line of lucky charms for her shop.  Her speech about Black Dogs and Black Cats where she talks about various charms not long into this Rory and Martha find out their shop has been vandalized and other shops in Destiny have been vandalized.  Add this to Flora Curtival who keeps trying to find a house for Rory and Gemma her friend who have been living at the Rainbow B & B.  Are they really ready to move out or are they deliberately dragging their feet? Do they want to live here permanently or move on to somewhere else?

I love this book and the adventures found in Destiny to see whose wronged and by whom and how the luck whether good or bad  play into it.  This one definitely had me guessing as Rory rushes to clear her name before her luck goes bad!  Can't wait to see what is next for the folks of Destiny!  May the luck be in your favor!

Read More