Friday, June 30, 2017

Review: There was a Crooked Man by: K.J. Larsen

Title: There Was A Crooked Man
Author: K.J Larsen
Published Poisoned Pen Press
Series: Cat DeLuca Mysteries #5
Pages: 227
Format: iBooks
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:

Chicago private eye Cat DeLuca, founder of the Pants on Fire Detective Agency, catches liars and cheats—and, from time to time, killers. Cat’s brief marriage to runaround Johnnie Rizzo was a bust. But it gave her the mad skills she needed for her agency. She doesn’t investigate for insurance companies and she won’t find your long lost Uncle Harry. But if you’re in Chicagoland and you suspect your partner is stepping out, give her a call. 

Cat comes from a long line, and big family, of Chicago cops, stretching back to the day when her greatgrandfather gave Al Capone protection and a truck to move bootleg whiskey. Most DeLuca men are straight-up guys. Some are flexible, like Ferrari-driving Uncle Joey. But Cat’s Poppa stands above the rest, a man of integrity who one day took a bullet when on duty and became a hero. So why, after someone kidnaps Captain Bob’s dog and claims to have evidence of cop corruption, do Captain Bob and Poppa not only deny the accusation, but order Cat to leave it alone? 

Long ago when they were partners, the two cops responded to a hit-and-run that claimed the life of one of Bridgeport’s most beloved citizens. Daniel Baumgarten, owner and proprietor of Baumgarten’s Jewelry was killed in the street outside his shop. The unsolved death was relegated to a dusty cold case file where it was almost forgotten. Until now. 

Meanwhile Cat’s romance with FBI Agent Chance Savino still gives her goose bumps. Her Mama’s latest scheme to marry her off involves a romantic cruise, insane amounts of champagne, and a hijacked priest to tie the knot. But saving Poppa and Captain Bob comes first. There Was a Crooked Man is another funfilled, surprising page-turner. It’s a story of greed and betrayal. And the utterly astonishing things we do to save the ones we love.

My Thoughts:

This book follows Cat DeLuca whose investigating another cheat and finds herself knee deep in a dog napping of the Captain of CPD.  Whether Captain Bob asked for it or not Cat is going to find Sam I am the Captains beloved pooch where ever the trail may lead.  It leads right back to Cat's Dad and Captain Bob.  A cold case from years ago and what happened in that cold case.  Someone seems to think the Captain has a gold lion medallion and has taking to kidnapping to get the medallion back.  Will Cat find Sam or will the kidnapper go further?

I love this series it's one of my all time favorites with the crazy gun toting DeLuca's they are always up for a great time!  This one was no different if anything they have gotten crazier as time goes on especially Cat's sister whose now decided she wants in on Cat's P.I business.  I'm starting to think Cat is going to regret this decision.  I love how Savino is just like Cat in dealing with the reunion cruise and is more than happy to wheel his girl away from the crazy families!  Can't wait to see what is next!
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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Review: Anything For You by: Kristan Higgins

Title: Anything For You
Author: Kristan Higgins
Publisher: Harlequin
Series: Blue Heron #5
Pages: 410
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:


Before you get down on bended knee… 


…you should be pretty darn sure the answer will be yes. For ten years, Connor O'Rourke has been waiting for Jessica Dunn to take their on-again, off-again relationship public, and he thinks the time has come. His restaurant is thriving, she's got her dream job at Blue Heron Vineyard—it's the perfect time to get married. 



When he pops the question, however, her answer is a fond but firm no. If it ain't broke, why fix it? Jess has her hands full with her younger brother, who's now living with her full-time, and a great career after years of waitressing. What she and Connor have is perfect: friends with an excellent benefits package. Besides, with her difficult past (and reputation), she's positive married life isn't for her. 



But this time, Connor says it's all or nothing. If she doesn't want to marry him, he'll find someone who does. Easier said than done, given that he's never loved anyone but her. And maybe Jessica isn't quite as sure as she thinks…

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Connor O'Rourke and Jessica Dunn.  Connor has had a very long history with Jessica Dunn which began when her brother's dog attacked Connor and the dog had to be put down which made Jessica's brother despise Connor.  When Connor decides he wants to marry Jessica she rejects him flat out!  What Connor didn't know what is would take a whole lot of patience and understanding to win the affection of Jessica and her brother Davy who was born from an alcoholic.  Which created all sorts of problems.  

This book goes everywhere we get to listen to the joking between Colleen and Connor.  Watch as Jessica learns to trust people and find a way to let her brother prove his independence and let Connor love her.  Even if it means admitting to herself that she loves him in her own way.

Such a great series to go and see what everyone is up to and whose having a baby now.  I really enjoyed catching up with the Hollands as well as the O'Rourke family!


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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Review: Feels Like The First Time by: Marina Adair

Title: Feels Like The First Time
Author: Marina Adair
Publisher: Forever
Series: Destiny Bay #2
Pages: 320
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley

Description:

What's wrong with a little white lie?

There are a lot of things Ali Marshal doesn't do: pink anything, a day without chocolate, and Hawk, her sister's ex-husband. Sure, he's a sexy former NHL star who can make her pulse pound with just a wink. But he belonged to Bridget first. And no matter how long she's had a crush on him, how great he's always been to her dad, or that her sister is engaged to someone else now and Ali needs a date to their engagement party, she can't give in to temptation. Can she?

It's been years since his disastrous marriage crashed and burned, and Bradley Hawk has finally moved on. So when Bridget blows back into town with her new fiancé, throwing the engagement party of the year, he could care less . . . until Ali tells one little lie that lands him smack dab in a fake relationship. After one promise to be Ali's date and two of the hottest kisses he's ever had, Hawk can't deny how much he wants her. But what happens when this fauxmance starts to feel very, very real?

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Ali Marshal who has always been the one trying to keep her family together.  She has always sacrificed herself for others when she finds out she might be featured in magazine her father throws her a party and her sister Bridget shows up and steals the show announcing her engagement.  Ali reeling from the spotlight changing directions and the appearance of her mother does the extreme and kisses Hawk.  Bridgets ex-husband and convinces her sister that Hawk and her are a thing.

Hawk has no idea what hit him he just knows he's enjoying spending time with Ali and being her friend when the tables turn and Ali kisses him, his emotions go all over.  He's along for the ride but as it's gets busier and busier he's noticed something about Ali that makes him wonder if he picked the wrong sister all along.

This book was great to go back to Destiny Bay and see what everyone is up to.  It's especially great to learn more about Ali and Hawk and their background and families.  What I really enjoyed was watching the two try to figure out what was going on in their relationship and how far it would go.  And to see the happily ever after.  This book is great for all romance lovers.  It brings you in like Cedar Cove does.
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Monday, June 26, 2017

Review: Any Day Now by: Robyn Carr

Title: Any Day Now
Author: Robyn Carr
Publisher: Mira Books a division of Harlequin Enterprises
Series: Sullivan's Crossing #2
Pages: 333
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley & Personal Purchase

Description:

The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr's What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan's Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It's a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love.

For Sierra Jones, Sullivan's Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She's put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn't yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet.

Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she's always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it's a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan's Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose.
 

My Thoughts:

This book follows Sierra Jones who has moved to Sullivan's Crossing after finishing a stint in rehab and hiding from a bad date turn stalker.  She's hoping by being with her brother California also known as Cal and his very pregnant wife Maggie that she can move on with her life.  She learns alot about herself and what she is capable of while in Sullivan's Crossing.  She finds herself bonding with Sully, Maggie's father and the local people there.  It's also where she meets Conrad a great guy whose been handed a bad hand!  Can the two grow together or are their baggage too much to handle?

I love going to Sullivan's Crossing it's such a close knit family who know alot about one another and welcome strangers with open arms.  You feel like your part of the community and watch the relationships bloom.  What I find great is the people there have flaws no one is perfect it's getting past the flaws that is the best part of it!  You don't see the perfect girl with the perfect guy.  You see imperfections and things they need to work on.  And you get to see them work on themselves along with each other.

I think Sierra makes a wonderful and spunky addition to Sullivan's Crossing and anyone would be lucky to have a girlfriend like her.  Can't wait to see what is next at Crossing!
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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Review: The Cottage at Firefly Lake by: Jen Gilroy

Title: The Cottage at Firefly Lake
Author: Jen Gilroy
Publisher: Forever
Series: Firefly Lake #1
Pages: 368
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Description:

Some mistakes can never be fixed and some secrets never forgiven . . . but some loves can never be forgotten.

Charlotte Gibbs wants nothing more than to put the past behind her, once and for all. But now that she's back at Firefly Lake to sell her mother's cottage, the overwhelming flood of memories reminds her of what she's been missing. Sun-drenched days. Late-night kisses that still shake her to the core. The gentle breeze off the lake, the scent of pine in the air, and the promise of Sean's touch on her skin . . . True, she got her dream job traveling the world. But at what cost?

Sean Carmichael still doesn't know why Charlie disappeared that summer, but after eighteen years, a divorce, and a teenage son he loves more than anything in the world, he's still not over her. All this time and her body still fits against his like a glove. She walked away once when he needed her the most. How can he convince her to stay now?

My Thoughts:

This book follows Charlotte Gibbs whose is back on Firefly Lake to sell her mother's cottage after her death.  The girls Charlotte and Mia need the money.  What Charlotte wasn't prepared for was seeing Sean her boyfriend from when she was younger.

Sean Carmichael is doing the safe thing not taking many risks and helping everyone in the family achieve their dreams but at what cost?  Sean hadn't seen Charlotte in so many years after they broke up.  Which left him with questions.  Why Charlie left and what happened?

This book was a great love story to read which reminds me of authors like Jill Shalvis, Kristin Higgins, and many more.  It brought you on a great adventure as we watch Sean and Charlie weave their way around each other seeing how they will work out their issues to get their happily every after.  Can't wait to read the next book!

Next in the series is:


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Interview: Connie De Marco author of All Signs Point to Murder


What genre do you write?

I write mysteries, traditional mysteries, but I also like to incorporate thriller elements, the kinds of things that hopefully will keep readers turning pages, and even better, on the edge of their seats.  Those are the kinds of books I enjoy reading, so I do my best to create those stories for my readers.  My amateur sleuth protagonist(s) always seem to get themselves into lots of trouble as they attempt to solve the crimes.  

My earlier series, the Soup Lovers’ Mysteries, written as Connie Archer, is set in a small village in Vermont where Lucky Jamieson runs the By the Spoonful Soup Shop.  Lucky has risked her life to save a criminal from suicide, rescued a woman from a fiery death, been kidnapped and barely escaped and saved a young girl from certain death and dismemberment.  

Julia Bonatti in the Zodiac Mysteries manages to get herself into hot water too.  In The Madness of Mercury, the first book in the series, she speaks out against a religious cult and becomes the target of an evil preacher.  In the second book in the series, All Signs Point to Murder, well . . . you’ll just have to read the final scenes.  If I say more, it might be a spoiler.  

How did you come to write (said) genre?

Well, like a lot of crime writers, I fell in love with mysteries at an early age.  Of course, I read Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boys, then graduated to meatier stuff like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie.  It didn’t stop there.  I can’t imagine writing anything else.  I like every aspect of mysteries and thrillers -- plots that twist and turn, adventures, crimes, thrills and chills and characters that offer psychological depth.  It’s far more interesting to create a villain with gray areas to his or her psyche, or a murderer with a perfectly plausible reason for committing a crime, especially characters with whom a reader can identify, or even feel sympathy for.  Even people who do bad things have a logic to their reasoning.  

Who is your favorite character to write about?

Oh, it’s hard to pick just one, but I do have my favorites.  Jack, Lucky’s grandfather in the Soup Lover’s Mysteries, is very close to my heart.  First, because he’s the dearest man in the world and secondly, because he’s very eccentric.  He’s a Navy vet and insists upon telling time by the bells.  His granddaughter Lucky is the only one who can translate.  

In the Zodiac Mysteries, I guess I’d have to say Nikolai.  He’s a secondary character who appears in every book but he’s very unusual.  He speaks with a broad Russian accent, he’s very charming, and his work involves past life regression hypnosis and exorcizing demons.  Nikolai is larger than life, maybe over the top, but quite convinced the world is in great need of his talents.  Nikolai always makes me smile when I write about him.  

Who inspires your books?

If you mean, which writers do I admire, then I’d have to say many, perhaps too many to count.  I love to read Tana French’s mysteries.  They’re full of atmosphere with wonderful Irish turns of phrase, plots that are simple and chillingly elegant.  The Ann Cleeves’ books are fascinating.  Not just her stories, but the mood she’s able to create, especially in the Shetland series.  Dorothy Sayers’ books are wonderful classics and she was a master of plot in the sense of the traditional mystery.  I’ve fallen in love with a lot of the Danish and Scandinavian writers and when I’m in a bookstore, I always look for authors I’ve never heard of.  I’m always fascinated by other writers’ stories and the journeys they offer.  

The Zodiac Mysteries were inspired by the years I spent living in San Francisco.  Not only is it a beautiful place, but it’s a city of many faces.  Sunny and windy one moment, dank and foggy the next, full of dark alleyways and secret staircases.  There’s always something new to discover there, and the funny thing is, I’ve learned more about the city and its history writing this series, than I ever knew when I lived there.  Perhaps it takes distance or time to really appreciate certain things.

Most of all, I wanted an unusual protagonist to carry these stories.  Julia Bonatti is an astrologer whose life took an abrupt turn when her fiancé was killed in a hit and run accident.  She wasn’t able to pick up the threads of her former life and astrology offered her solace and comfort at a terrible time.  It wasn’t a profession she had ever considered, but she did discover that she’s quite good at helping her clients.  She certainly never thought murder or solving crimes would be part of her practice, but somehow her clients bring their problems to her doorstep and inevitably, she’s pulled into the investigation.  

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m laughing at this question!  I guess I’d have to admit I spend my free time reading other authors.  There’s so much to learn and it’s a process that should never stop.  I think the best way to continue to develop is to take lessons from the books of other writers.  I also love to watch foreign crime dramas, in films or TV.  I love all the series on PBS, which are for the most part, British.  But I also love productions of the Scandinavian and Danish and Icelandic writers.  It’s a chance to view crime through the eyes of another culture.  

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take
Water.  Books.  More books.

Thanks for inviting me today, Paula ~ happy reading!

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Review: Death on The West End by: Carrie Doyle


Title: Death on The West End
Author: Carrie Doyle
Publisher: Dunemere Books
Series: Hamptons Murder Mysteries #3
Pages: 268
Format: e-book ARC
Source: GEBT

Description:

Like a basket of warm cinnamon buns, an unsolved crime is something that Hamptons innkeeper and sleuth Antonia Bingham just can't resist. Despite a busy high-season schedule and an inn booked to capacity, Antonia has agreed to investigate a cold case in her beloved adopted hometown, East Hampton, NY: the killing of Susie Whitaker, whose brutal 1990 slaying on a tennis court in the poshest part of town was never solved. And the person who has hired Antonia? Prime suspect Pauline Framingham, a manipulative pharmaceutical heiress from a powerful family. As Antonia attempts to unravel the mysteries of the past she unearths even darker secrets and ultimately wonders if it would have been best to let sleeping dogs lie. To make matters worse, past acquaintances and love interests reappear in the Hamptons, disrupting Antonia's world and causing her to scurry to the fridge for comfort. Death on West End Road is the third book in the Hamptons Murder Mystery Series. Along with a colorful cast of supporting characters, the beating heart of the book is Antonia Bingham, restaurateur, gourmand, and nosy carb-lover.

My Thoughts:

This book starts with Antonia meeting with Pauline Framingham who is determined to set her friends mother at ease about her daughter's murder.  Antonia is hesitant to investigate but finds herself curious about what happened in 1990 and who really murdered Susie Whitaker?  Was it really Pauline or someone else?

This book was intriquing going back intime to investigate the murder.  Talking to people who were around back then and were part of Susie's world.  Definitely a great mystery with those who like cold case type books.  I love Antonia and how she is when she's sluething and like Jessica Fletcher finds that nagging feeling something isn't right.  Especially when it comes to Pauline she can't decide if Pauline didn't really do it in the beginning.  The rich definitely lead a different lifestyle then everyone else.  So it was intriguing to see Antonia through to the end of the book. I look forward to reading the next book when it comes out! 
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Monday, June 19, 2017

Review: Fat Girl Begone by: D.E. Haggerty


Title: Fat Girl Begone
Author: D.E. Haggerty
Publisher: self-published
Pages: 250
Format: e-book ARC
Source: GEBT

Description:

I’m a total mess. My boyfriend dumped me – get this – because I diet too much. Not because I’m fat, mind you. Of course, this spurs me into the diet-fitness-revenge-plan of the century, which leads me to the gym and a scorching hot personal trainer. I even manage to make some cool new friends, including a millionaire if you can believe it. Things are looking up! Naturally, that’s the moment my ex decides he wants me back, the personal trainer asks me out, and my millionaire male buddy decides to throw his hat in the ring. But that’s not enough drama. No, not for me. Because I’ve also lost my job and decided to start my own business. Just call me Ms. Drama.

Warning: Bad language, bumpy roads, and embarrassing moments ahead. But there’s also more than a bit of romance and even, if we’re lucky, love. Fingers crossed.

Not endorsed by or affiliated with any brand of tequila.

My Thoughts:

This book follows Everly whose boyfriend Josh broke up with her because she diets too much and apparently doesn't appreciate herself enough so with the help of her best friend Blaze Everly decides to join a gym loose weight and show the looser ex-boyfriend what he's missing.  What Everly didn't count on is a group of women who are part of Everly's Zumba class to become her new girlfriends that help life her up through her journey.  From buying clothes to going on clubbing binging.  They are definitely a great and wonderful group of women. 

First guy to show interest in Everly is her personal trainer Gabe who asks her out and Everly takes him seriously not realizing until it's too late that Gabe is a big ole player.  Everly's job also takes a new turn when she looses her job because she won't buy in at the ridiculous rate and can't keep her current job so with the help of a friend Carter she decides to take the plunge and start her own business.  Of course with Carter there is more than meets the eye.  How will Everly deal with everything that is Carter?  Will she run away or take the plunge? 

I loved this series and the other series by this author I read the skinny baker series.  It really pulls you in and has you hooked.  You learn so much about the characters created and see they have flaws in one way or another.  This one didn't disappoint at all.  Everly struggles with self image and getting control of her choices and it's amazing to see how much she changes in the book and how I don't think she couldn't do it without her fabulous network of friends.  They lift her up and keep her going even when going seems impossible!  Can't wait to see what is next for this author!
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Sunday, June 18, 2017

Interview: Killer Music by: Tammy L. Grace


What genre do you write?

 I write in the mystery and women’s fiction genres.

? I’ve always loved reading mysteries and solving puzzles, so when I began my career as a novelist, I knew I wanted to write a mystery.  As it turned out, the first storyline that came to me was one involving several different women and their emotional journeys.  These stories became my Hometown Harbor Series. After writing several of them, I turned my attention to a private detective mystery series with my Cooper Harrington Detective Novels.

Who is your favorite character to write about?  Coop is one of my favorite characters to write about.  He’s funny and has enough quirks to keep him interesting.  He’s also smart and focused on solving the case.

Who inspires your books?

I get inspiration for my work by visiting places.  A trip to Nashville inspired the Cooper Harrington Detective Novels.  I also take bits and pieces from people I observe in everyday life and incorporate them into my work.  I think authors have to enjoy people watching.  Listening and observing those around me are the things that usually spark an idea for a character trait or storyline.  

I also grew up with my dad being in law enforcement all my life, so stories of crime and mischief were, and still are, topics of conversations.  I always run technical and legal details by him to get his advice.

What do you do when you’re not writing?  

I’ve always been an avid reader and when I finish writing a project I reward myself by binge-reading all the things I’ve missed over the past several months when I’ve been focused on work.  I enjoy movies, walking, baking, and spending time with friends and family along with my own trusty golden retriever.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take? 
I’d take an expert in getting off a deserted island, so when I was ready to come home I could.  In addition, I’d have to have books to read to occupy my time.  If I could only take one, it would need to be a thick one, like the Outlander.  I’d also be lost with paper and pens…and I could use them to send a message in a bottle if my expert failed.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Review: Bearly Departed by Meg Macy


Title: Bearly Departed
Author: Meg Macy
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery #1
Pages: 293
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT

Description:

The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . . 

As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that s just kid s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch with or without Sasha s approval . . . 

But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha s hit with more bad news police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can t get too comfy or she ll become the next plaything for a killer . . . 

My Thoughts: 

This book opens with sisters Sasha and Maddie working in their bear factory and what transpires when Will Taylor their sales rep who wants to make changes that goes against everything Sasha and Maddie were raised to believe about the bear factory.  When after a heated meeting of the workers goes wrong Will Taylor finds himself stuffed.  Who killed the sales rep and why?  Was it a heated fight with his wife?  Or did he upset the wrong person at the factory?

I enjoyed learning about bears and what goes into making them.  This book was such fun to read how Sasha tried to figure out what happened to keep her Uncle from being convicted of Will's murder.  Definitely a fabulous new book series that pulls you in and won't let go until the last page is turned.  Who would have thoughts bears could be so intriguing for young and old! 
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Monday, June 12, 2017

Review: Crazy House by: James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

Title: Crazy House
Author: James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet
Publisher: Little Brown & Co.
Pages: 351
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal Purchase

Descriptions:

No one gets out alive.

Seventeen-year-old Becca Greenfield was snatched from her home and thrown without reazon into a hellish prison known as the Crazy House. To avoid execution, she’s told to shut her mouth and keep her head down.

Becca was never really good at either.

Her only hope for survival is for her sister, Cassie, to find her—that the “good twin” will stop following the rules and start breaking them, before it’s too late. Because the jailers at Crazy House soon discover they made a mistake that could get both sisters killed…

My Thoughts:

This book follows twins Becca and Cassie Greenfield.  When Cassie wakes up and finds her truck broken she is ready to kill her sister Becca for taking off when the cell has a curfew.  Becca is reduced to using her mothers moped which only goes 12 mph.  Cassie searches high and low for her sister.

Becca finds herself in a jail cell where she learns she is on death row.  There she will be schooled and trained and have to fight to stay alive.  Becca begins to wonder if Cassie will ever find her.

This book was tons of fun with a lot of mystery involved.  Learning about the Outsiders, the kids who go missing and what Crazy House is all about.  This book is basically like standing a book on it's and spinning the hell out of it.  What you think you know you don't just as what Cassie and Becca think they know gets totally spun on them.  It was such a thrilling ride to go on!  Can't wait to see what is next for them!
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Friday, June 9, 2017

Cover Reveal: Protocol by: Kathleen Valenti


Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.
With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her.

Ready.....

                               

Set.....

                                 

Reveal!!

           

Protocol by Kathy Valenti will be available September 5 from Henery Press!!

Book will be available for pre-order June 12!!

  [caption id="attachment_99" align="aligncenter" width="126"]Dollycas Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent[/caption]

Friday, June 2, 2017

Review Hospitality and Homicide by: Lynn Cahoon

Title: Hospitality and Homicide
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Publisher: Kensington
Series: A Tourist Trap Mystery  #8
Pages: 217
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley

Description:

A visit to the serene coastal town of South Cove, California, could make anybody feel refreshed and inspired. But as Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—discovers, some folks won’t live to tell about it . . .

Mystery author Nathan Pike checked into South Cove Bed & Breakfast to compose a compelling novel, not commit murder. But things get real when a rival B&B owner ends up exactly like the victim in his draft—undeniably dead. As Nathan prepares to complete his magnum opus behind bars, Jill’s the only one who can prove his innocence and deconstruct the plot of a twisted killer!

My Thoughts: 

This book starts with mystery author arriving in South Cove, California to write a novel and is welcomed by the town but doesn't seem to like mingling.  Unless it involves following around with Jill's boyfriend Greg and driving him nuts.  Of course that doesn't stop a murder from happening. When a owner of a local Bed and Breakfast winds up dead.  Who killed him and why?

Add this to Esmeralda looking for a child whose gone missing who everyone else assumes is dead but Jill's neighbor is adamant that the child is alive.  We also learn of changes happening in someone's life which is a surprise to say the least.  What will Jill and her staff do with the latest change?

I love this series it's such fun going back to South Cove and see what everyone is up to.  This book didn't disappoint Jill Gardner is working and going to college for another degree and is working with mystery author Nathan Pike to have him visit her store.  When a local bed and breakfast owner winds up dead everyone is curious to the murdered man and why someone would want to kill him.  It was a real ride to go on as various things were happening in this book.  I love the people of South Cove and seeing how the ride ends!  This is a book that won't disappoint and leads me to wonder where Ms. Cahoon will go from here!
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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Review: Watching The Detectives by: Julie Mulhern


Title: Watching The Detectives
Author: Julie Mulhern
Publisher: Henery Press
Series: The County Club Murders #5
Pages: 234
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT

Description:

Ellison Russell wanted a decorator, not a corpse. Too bad she finds Mrs. White in the study killed with a revolver. Things go from bad to worse when she finds Mr. White in the dining room killed with a candlestick. With so many bodies, is it any wonder Detective Anarchy Jones’ new partner considers Ellison a suspect?

With the country club gossips talking a mile a minute, an unexpected cocktail party, a visit from Aunt Sis, and a romantic decision, Ellison hardly has time to think about murder. Unfortunately, the killer has plenty of time to think about her.

My Thoughts:

In this book we follow Ellison and Grace Russell and their family and friends.  Ellison has decided it's time to redo Henry's study and is thinking about hiring Khaki White who in about a half hour winds up dead in the study while Ellison ran out to pick up her house keeper. Who killed Khaki and why?

As things go by Ellison's mother has an emergency and has Ellison host a dinner party.  Which is so not what Ellison wants to be doing but does it anyway.  This is happening after Ellison has broken up with Hunter deeming she wants to find out what kind of woman she is without a man.  Or maybe Hunter isn't the right kind of man for Ellison.  Next thing we are dragged through a drug overdose, an arrest at a luncheon over protesting the speaker.  Never seems to be a dull day with the Russell's, as the bodies pile up Ellison is determined to find out what is going on!

I love this book being back in the 80's pre-cell phones like we know them now, seeing how people were different back then you wanted to see someone you called on the house phone or paid a visit.  Totally different then now.  Families spent time together and the greatest invention seems to be Mr. Coffee the star of the book that helps Ellison think and work out her theories granted he's the strong silent type but you got to love him.

I am such a huge fan and my husband who was a teen in the 80's can appreciate all the various things that are mentioned when I repeat them to him it's like a trip down memory lane move over Jessica Fletcher Ellison Russell is on the case!
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