Review: Mumbo Gumbo Murder by: Laura Childs & Terrie Farley Moran

Title: Mumbo Gumbo Murder
Author: Laura Childs & Terrie Farley Moran
Publisher: Berkley
Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery #16
Format: e-book ARC (308 p.)

Description:

A shocking murder strikes a sour note during Jazz Fest in the latest New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It's Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and the giant puppets from the Beastmaster Puppet Theatre are parading through the French Quarter. Some are very spooky and veiled, others are tall and gangly, like strange aliens.

    

As the parade proceeds, Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, follow behind, down Royal Street and past the food booths. Suddenly, they hear a terrible crash from Devon Dowling's antiques shop. They rush inside to find Devon collapsed with blood streaming down the side of his face. Has he been shot? Stabbed? 911 is hastily called, and the police and EMTs show up. After the police examine Devon's body, they tell Carmela and Ava that their friend was murdered with an icepick. They're shocked beyond belief—and now Mimi, Devon's little pug, is left homeless.

Carmela and Ava are determined to catch the murderer, but the list of suspects is long. How long do they have before they find themselves on the killer's list?

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Carmela Bertrand and her bestie Ava as they are out one night in the glorious Crescent City and hear a glass shatter and find their friend Devon Dowling dead and his dog Mimi traumatized.  

Carmela ends up taking Mimi home thinking maybe Mimi can help identify Devon's murderer.  Of course they are so many suspects.  Could it be his heavy drinking assistant TJ?  Or could it be the owner of his building whose quick to build Condos? Or could it be Richard Drake from the vampire society?

This book had so much going on as Quigg was also involving Carmela with a new bar idea which created alot of friction with Babcock.  All this while also investigating a murder and getting a wedding dress and coming up with a wedding date!  I don't how these two do it but they manage to do it in style as well.

I love this series so much it has rich location of New Orleans along with alot of interesting and colorful characters!  Can't wait to see what this writing teams come up with next!

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Review: The Haunting of Maddy Clare by: Simone St. James

Title: The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Author: Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Format: e-book (318 p.)
Source: Personal Purchase

Description:

Sarah Piper's lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis—rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts—has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old maid Maddy Clare, who is haunting the barn where she committed suicide.

Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah's task to confront her in death. Soon Sarah is caught up in a deperate struggle. For Maddy's ghost is real, she's angry, and she has powers that defy all reason. Can Sarah and Alistair's assistant, the rough, unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, where she came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance—before she destroys them all?

My Thoughts:

Sarah Piper gets a new job as an assistant to a ghost hunter Alistair.  They travel to a small town and learn about Maddy Clare.  A girl who was scarred by something very badly and committed suicide.  she spends her time haunting a barn where a couple took her in when she showed up at their house.

Sarah finds herself contacting Maddy as she detests men,  She wants Maddy to find out the truth so she can seek her revenge.  Until she gets her way she hold's Alister in some sort of mental hostage, bringing him back to the war and his time in the war.  What happened to Maddie and will she ever release Alistair from her grip?

I loved this story it reminded me of Carolyn Haine's Pluto Detective Agency.  It brings you in wanting to learn more about Sarah, Maddy, Matthew and Alistair.  What they went through in this addictive book!  It hooks you in until the end and the ending was definitely worth it!  Can't wait to see what is next for this incredible author!

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Review: The Broken Girls by: Simone St. James

Title: The Broken Girls
Author: Simone St. James
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Paperback ( 336p.)
Source: Publisher

Description:

A suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare...

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .

Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . . 

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Fiona Sheridan whose trying to make sense of the murder of her sister Deb.  Part of making sense from it brings her to an abandoned private school.   Back in 1950 troubled girls were sent to Idlewild Hall.  There they are groomed to make a success of their life.  Some of the horror's these girls faced that brought them there were really traumatic.

Fiona finds herself digging deep into the past of the school while under the guise of writing a story about the girls who went there.  When a body is found the pressure is on to find out what really happened back then and whose to blame? 

I found this story very compelling it brought you back and forth and from various points of view it dragged you and didn't let go.  It was incredible adventure to go on and feel like you were on it until the very end!

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Review: Lover Reborn by: J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Reborn

Author: J.R. Ward

Publisher: NAL

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #10

Format: Hardcover (572 p.)

Source: Library 

Description:

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.

When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquillity of the Fade—he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future…but can his heart let go and set all of them free?

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Tohrment whose life was tilted on it's axis when he lost his shellan and baby.  Now she is stuck in a in between wanting to make everyone pay for what happened what he didn't count on was No one appearing everywhere he turned.

No one is stuck she's trying to find her way in the world but doesn't know what that is per se.  When the two are thrown together the sparks fly like crazy.  

Unfortunately Tohr has a hard road to travel one that would kill just about anyone to free one girl and have another!  This book was such a roller coaster ride.  It brings you all over the place.  While it had slow parts in the end it all came together!

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Review: Finding Peace by: Alaine Greyson

 

Finding Peace
Alaine Greyson
(Reclaiming Life, #3)
Publication date: September 24th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

Bracken Point is full of secrets, but none top the ones Tobias Sawyer is ordered to keep.

Sent undercover, Tobias arrives at the small town of Bracken Point determined to solve the case and leave. But he never counted on meeting Madeline Grant.

Ten years ago, Madeline was injured in a house fire, leaving severe burns over her body. Now at twenty, she prefers life behind the scenes, not wanting people to see her scars. When Tobias begins to notice her, will Madeline let down her guard or run away?

Goodreads / Amazon

My Thoughts:

This book follows Tobias Sawyer and Madeline Grant who are working for a photographer.  Secretly in their own way they are doing more than just photography they are both looking into a case to find who knows what?  But will they figure it out?  Or will they finally find each other?  

All Madeline wants is for her brother and father to get along and to be her own woman.  While interning at a photography office she meets Tobias under the name of Preston.  She finds herself attracted to him but will he like her with her scars and all?  

Tobias is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to his sister and who hurt her.  Is it a dirty cop or someone else entirely?

This book had a lot of sneakiness going one which makes it very interesting wondering if they will figure out who the bad guy is and if Tobias gets enough information to nail the bad person?  It's definitely a great book for people in their twenties/thirties!

Author Bio:

Alaine Greyson lives outside of Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, son and cocker spaniel puppy. She loves to push the envelope with her stories and strives to make her readers sympathize with characters from all backgrounds. Alaine is an avid reader and considers Jane Austen and Diana Gabaldon to be her literary heroes. She loves Mexican food, 80s music and is a Robert Downey Jr. super-fan. You will find mentions of things she loves throughout her books.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

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