Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Review: Sugar Plum Poisoned by: Jenn McKinlay


Title: Sugar Plum Poisoned
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Publisher: Mass Market Paperback
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #15
Format: paperback/ebook ( NetGalley) review

Description:

It's Christmastime, and this holiday season, things are heating up for the bakers at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in the newest Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.

After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby's manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake. With the bakery crew and Shelby's backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it's impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she's frosted for a crime she didn't commit.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Angie and Mel who are getting ready for Christmas when Shelby Vaughn in town for two weeks to preform a Christmas concert. Mel is woried that Angie is gonna get so wrapped up in the music world again and forget those close to her.  When Shelby's manager winds up dead Mel decides to look into the death and find out what is going on around Shelby.

Shelby has had a hard time this month with her manager and being stuck doing songs others have done for Christmas instead of her own music.  As the heat gets on someone is making Shelby look more and more guilty. Did Shelby kill her manager or did someone else?

This was a great Christmas story that pulled you in and had you captivated to find out what really happened.  The ending was great and alot of fun!

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Book Tour::The Twelve Months of Christmas by: Sheila Roberts

 


 

From USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts comes a story of family, second chances and holiday do-overs, brimming with warmth and Christmas charm.



Title: The Twelve Months of Christmas

Author: Sheila Roberts

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Pages: 400

Genre: Women's Fiction/Romance

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Sunny, Arianna and Molly are having three different but equally terrible Christmases. Sunny is a newlywed with two new stepkids who want nothing to do with her; Arianna is newly divorced and hates having to send her daughter off to spend the holiday with her dad; for Molly, nothing is new, but her job at the post office is getting very, very old. The whole Christmas season has been a bust all around. 

But Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they had a Christmas do-over in January? February? On Saint Patrick’s Day? Christmas all year long – what could that look like?    As these three determined women chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters, over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover perfection is way overrated.

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Book Excerpt  

Sunny Hollowell had planned a perfect day for her first Christmas as a wife and stepmom and it was a fail. Who was it that said something about the best-laid plans getting screwed up? Whoever it was, her mom liked to quote him a lot. 

“The best-laid plans of mice and men,” her mom had begun when Sunny told her about the latest development as she and Dad walked in the door, presents in tow. 

“And women,” Sunny had added before Mom could finish. Women who were trying their best to be a good wife and mother, women who only wanted to bring two families together for a memorable day. 

The day was memorable all right, but not in the way Sunny had intended. 

It all began at eight in the morning. Sunny had found a recipe online for a crescent roll breakfast pastry with a cherry filling shaped like a candy cane and, to her surprise and glee, it had actually turned out like the picture, ready for the kids to be dropped off by their mom at nine o’clock. She was laying it out on the family room coffee table for everyone to enjoy while they opened presents when the Weed called Travis to let him know that she wasn’t going to bring the kids over for the big day. 

“What do you mean you’re still stuck in Spokane?” Travis had growled into his cell phone. 

Sunny had watched the anger roll over his features like a breaking storm. Scratch two kids from the guest list. Tansy strikes again. 

“You did this on purpose,” he’d accused. 

Of course, Tansy would deny it. That was how she rolled. Mess with the ex and his new wife as much as possible but never let it look like you meant to. Was Tansy’s mother psychic when she named her daughter after a noxious weed? 

“Well, thanks a lot,” Travis had growled. “Way to screw up Christmas for the kids.” 

“Okay, what happened?” Sunny had asked after he ended the call and dumped his phone on the coffee table. 

“She did it again, managed to screw us over,” he’d said, and slumped on the sofa. “She and Jared accidentally—” he held up exaggerated air quotes “—missed their flight home last night and are stuck at his parents’ place.” 

“Can’t they get another flight out? There has to be something going out today.” Of course, by the time they got to Bremerton, Washington, breakfast and Christmas dinner would long be over. 

“Not until tomorrow.” 

Sunny had made a superhuman effort to blink back tears. Poor Travis was already upset about not getting to be with his kids. She didn’t need to make things worse by having a holiday meltdown. But darn, she’d sure wanted to. 

My Review: 

This book follows Sunny, Arianna, and Molly who are having a very bad Christmas.  For Sunny it's trying to have a perfect Christmas with her new stepkids.  For Arianna it's dealing with her ex and their time with their daughter.  For Molly it's dealing with angry people at the post office and not loose her cool.  The three decided to extend Christmas for the whole year.  What could go wrong with that?

This was a great addition to Sheila Roberts collection of stories.  I love her writing ability to pull you in and generally care about them.  Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!







About the Author
 

USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance to self-improvement. Over three million copies of her novels have been sold to date. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans and her holiday novels have been turned into movies for the Lifetime and Hallmark and Great American Family channels. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends and chocolate.  

Author Links 

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Thursday, December 2, 2021

Book Spotlight: Cut and Run by: Annabelle Lewis

Cut and Run
Annabelle Lewis
Publication date: August 14th 2021
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Their story continues . . .

The four Boston clairvoyants, blessed—or cursed—with special powers, must fight a ruthless enemy and stop injustice. In Dead Cat, Run, the Sisters of Fate drove them together, but at what cost? The God Apollo wasn’t playing around. He’s still dead set on vengeance.

Sinister forces will have a wicked agenda. An energy grab, a mineral rights war, and deadly mercenaries create a mortally serious game. But the psychics’ sibylline abilities aside, they’re only human. At least three of them are. (What’s up with that?)

Can they stop the killers? And who will survive?

An energetic contemporary thriller, Cut and Run will have you on the edge of your seat as the dance between good and evil resumes.

Goodreads / Amazon


Book Excerpt:


Duke Montague Marshall squinted into the harsh rays of the sun as they beamed with a strobe-like 

effect through his front windshield. Behind the wheel of his silver Toyota RAV4, he looked at the 

dashboard clock. Ten minutes to arrival.

    “Nice up here,” Fiddler said, looking around. “Lots of trees.”

    Duke felt no need to reply to his riding companion’s inane comment about the dense pines and 

spruce 

trees of the Superior National Forest. The forest, covering 3.9 million acres of land in Minnesota, also 

had about 2,000 lakes around the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters region between the 

United States and Canada. 


    He looked in the rearview mirror at the vehicle following them. Five minutes to arrival.


    “Run down the Monday-morning setup for me again,” Duke said.


    “Assembly takes place in a green, industrial-type shed to the right past another shed-like main office 

with an awning and signage. They’ll be having their bullshit, Monday-morning meeting. Every fucking 

Monday the heads and general labor have a bull session. Donuts. Coffee. That kind of thing.”

Focusing on the task, Duke said, “We’re sure everyone will be there? No one in the quarry yet?”


    Fiddler shook his head, his longish hair pulled back today. “Nah. Just the two places. Main office with 

the awning and the big green shed next to it.”

    Not really worried about how things would go down, Duke told him to cut the noise once Fiddler 

started 

chattering about his planned trip to Turks and Caicos. 

    They’d arrived. Granger’s Quarry, a trillion-dollar shithole.


Author Bio:

Annabelle Lewis—a pseudonym for the author—lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regrettably? Perhaps. She still believes she’s a Texan even though the math no longer supports that. Nor her birthplace. Nor her residence. No offense, Minnesota. You’ve got your good points too, but only about six months of the year.

In her youth, Annabelle was a complete failure. Ask anyone who knew her. Any of her teachers and family would tell you this. High school graduation was a sad day for all when Annabelle walked proudly off the high school stage, her thoughts consumed with boys, beer, and after-parties, and later into the arms of her parents. Her father’s laughter and singular remark? “I didn’t think you’d make it. Get a job at the post office, they have a good retirement plan.”

A high bar and words to live by, but Annabelle wanted more. She needed to flunk out of college too. But damn, she sure did have a good time. Trivial arrest records not-withstanding, it was a growth period for our girl. And if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of what was to come when she majored in criminal justice. Her lifelong aspiration was to become a judge. Hmm.

For better or worse, Annabelle didn’t graduate from college but did find gainful employment and a fulfilling career. This path ended when she became a mom. Married to her wonderful George, who to this day can hardly remember an actual proposal, Annabelle finally became a mother. She didn’t have a clue how hard she would need to work to keep those self-imposed requirements of Downey-fresh, iron-pressed sheets, home-baked meals, and mom-of-the-year awards arriving. She composed a small self-affirmation song and made her children sing it to her for money. She was a very good mom.

After clearing the largest hurdles of motherhood and regrettably, begrudgingly, and not-without-tears, launching her children onto the world, she looked around and realized she had a lot to say. Picking up a laptop, she got to work.

Annabelle spends her days continuing to tackle the challenges of motherhood, for both her humans and canines. She also writes. And reads. And cleans. And cooks. And bakes. And cleans again. She also supports her husband, George, in an administrative capacity for their small business. She’s in charge of payroll and cuts George’s checks. This leads to no marital acrimony.

In the beginning, with the blank page staring at her and possibly in a hostile mood after being literally mauled by a dog and by the world in general, she had an idea. What if she could wield a force of good upon unsuspecting evil-doers? What if she had the resources to get the job done without dealing with committee and anyone else’s whiney-ass opinions?

It was gold. It took off. Annabelle sat down and began to write and couldn’t stop. To date, having written over a million words in the Carrows Family Chronicles and her second series on the Boston Clairvoyants, several items have become quite clear. Annabelle had a lot to say. Annabelle really enjoys writing. And although she hates all things technology, she begrudgingly pounds her head on her desk daily as obstacles are thrown in her path. Almost a hero.

Since entering her world of make-believe, she has rebelled against all intrusion of real-world responsibilities. Her house is a mess, but she tries. Her family is fed, but more often than not, on takeout. She vows to shower every day, but no, it’s a vow she’ll never keep. Her friends are neglected, but not in her heart.

Read her mordacious blog! Read her books! Follow her on social platforms! Sign up for her newsletter! These are all good things. What are you waiting for? Jump into bed with Annabelle. She’s having a swell time. You should join her.

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Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Review: Dad by: Steven Manchester


Title: Dad
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher:  Story Plant
Format: e-book ( 336 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Three generations of dads, playing traditional roles in each other's lives, arrive simultaneously at significant crossroads. The decisions they make and the actions they take will directly - and eternally - affect each other. After a life of hard work and raising children, Robert is enjoying his well-deserved retirement when he discovers that he has an illness he might not be able to beat. At 19, Jonah is sprinting across the threshold of adulthood when he learns, stunningly, that he's going to become a father. And Oliver - Robert's son and Jonah's dad - has entered middle age and is paying its demanding price. While reconciling the time and effort it has taken him to reach an unfulfilling career and an even less satisfying marriage, he realizes that it's imperative that he keep it all together for the two men who mean everything to him. When different perspectives lead to misunderstandings that remain unspoken - sometimes for years - it takes great strength and even more love to travel beyond the resentment. Dad: A Novel chronicles the sacred legacy of fatherhood. 

My Thoughts:

This book follows Jonah, Oliver and Robert.  They are each at a crossroads in life. In Jonah's case he's trying to figure out life and where that leads when his girlfriend winds up pregnant and how to hand;e all life it throwing his way.  Oliver is having a hard time with his relationship.  He hasn't figured out if he wants to continue the marriage with his wife or leave.  He's also meeting with a psychiatrist to analyze his life.  Robert is at the part where he is retired and trying to figure out what to do with his life.  He does different charity events to help those less unfortunate but when Robert is hit with a health scare that puts him on a very different life path one he hadn't counted on.  Will these men figure out their life journeys or are they doomed to fail?

 Oh my word, Mr. Manchester has figured it out.  He writes with such depth of character you feel like you know these men and their family/.  You find yourself unable to put the book down without seeing how it ends and what lessons they learn from one another.  If you haven't read his books yet you are totally missing out and  you must check them out to see how it goes!

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Review: Deadly Ever After by: Eva Gates


Title: Deadly Ever After
Author: Eva Gates
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Series: A Lighthouse Library Mystery #8
Format: e-book ARC (
Source: Publisher

Description:

Librarian Lucy's wedding is at stake when a murder interrupts her engagement celebrations. To make it down the aisle, she'll have to find the killer to save the date in the 8th book in the Lighthouse Library mysteries.

They're getting married! Lucy Richardson and Connor McNeil have announced their engagement. Their friends throw a party for the couple at Coquina Beach, close to Lucy's beloved Bodie Island Lighthouse Library.

As they're packing up the presents and the (few) leftovers from Josie's Cozy Bakery, who should arrive, but Richard Eric Lewiston III, Lucy's former almost-fiancé and his overbearing mother Evangeline. Push comes to love when Evangeline makes no secret of why she's here: to get Lucy and Ricky back together.

Lucy isn't temped in the least, and Ricky is nothing but embarrassed at his mother's desperate ploy. Before returning to Boston Evangeline throws a dinner party at Jake's Seafood Bar for a reluctant Lucy and her family. Lucy hopes to get the dinner over with and see Evangeline and Ricky returning to Boson. But when a body is found at the restaurant's kitchen door, Lucy is again forced to unwillingly put on her detective's hat and do what she can to save her family and her engagement. Meanwhile, the classic novel reading club is reading The Hound of the Baskervilles, and open war breaks out in the Lighthouse Library when Lucy agrees to temporarily take care of a dog named Fluffy, but Charles the library cat has other ideas.

My Thoughts:

Lucy and Connor are having their engagement party with their friends and family when an unexpected arrival comes to cause chaos to the party.  Lucy's ex Richard and his mother Evangeline who is determined to break up Lucy and Connor much to dismay of Lucy's family.  When Richard's father winds up dead it's up to Lucy to figure out what is going on.

This book was fun to see how Lucy will deal with the latest murder.  So much was going on from the first page to the last.  I enjoy reading this book and seeing where the people in town are up to and how it's going to end this time!

Review: The Ghost and The Haunted Portrait by: Cleo Coyle


Title: The Ghost and The Haunted Portrait
Author: Cleo Coyle
Publisher: Berkley 
Series: Haunted Bookshop Mystery #7
Format: Paperback ( 336 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her gumshoe ghost team up to solve the stunning mystery at the heart of a madwoman's self-portrait in this all new installment from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

While gathering a collection of vintage book cover paintings for a special event in her quaint Rhode Island bookshop, Penelope discovers a spooky portrait of a beautiful woman, one who supposedly went mad, according to town gossip. Seymour, the local mailman, falls in love with the haunting image and buys the picture, refusing to part with it, even as fatal accidents befall those around it. Is the canvas cursed? Or is something more sinister at work?

For answers, Pen turns to an otherworldly source: Jack Shepard, PI. Back in the 1940s, Jack cracked a case of a killer cover artist, and (to Pen's relief) his spirit is willing to help her solve this mystery, even if he and his license did expire decades ago.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Penelope Thornton-McClure and her friends who are traveling to someone selling alot of classic noir stuff.  Before you know it though the seller winds up dead, the pressure is on in Pen's case to figure out who killed the seller and why?  Seymour also finds himself in ownership of a classic painting of a past McClure.  Who killed and why?

This book has so much going on between traveling back and time with Jack to figure out more about the painting and why it's so mysterious.  Then there is the murder going on around town and whose to blame with it.  

It's a good read and keeps the reader well informed of the ins and outs of the mystery while adding history with Jack to the mix such a fantastic story!

Monday, September 13, 2021

Review: The Rest of the Story by: Sarah Dessen


Title: The Rest of The Story
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Paperback ( 448 p) Personal Purchase

Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a big-hearted, sweeping novel about a girl who reconnects with a part of her family she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl—and falls in love, all over the course of a magical summer.

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when Emma was twelve. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family that she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is also divided into two people. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her—Emma or Saylor—will win out? 

My Thoughts: 

Emma Saylor has very few memories of her mom who died when she was young.  Her dad is now remarried and finds herself with her grandmother on her moms side while his dad is on his honeymoon.  She learns alot about her mom's life during this adventure.  North Lake is nothing like Emma is prepared for and she spends her time switching her name back and forth Saylor vs Emma.

This was a great summer read.  You walk next to Emma and see how she deals with all this family she knew nothing about.  Family she seems very capable of adapting too.  But buried deep are the secrets between Emma's mom and another local boy and what happened that one summer.

Definitely a great summer read for teens as they prepare for college.  You find yourself pulled into Emma's world and can't wait to see how it ends!

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Review: Secrets in Death by: J. D. Robb


Title: Secrets in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: In Death #45
Format: Hardcover (370 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.

The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.

Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know… 

My Thoughts: 

Det. Eve Dallas finds herself at Du Vin meeting with someone else when she finds Larinda Mars dying in front of her.  Eve doesn't really know Larinda but apparently Larinda had her mitts into everyone else's business Eve and Roarke being in her sights, but unable to touch them.  Larinda's job was a gossip reporter but she seemed to have a very sneaky side job.

As Eve and Roarke and others investigate into Larinda they find more disturbing information on her Larinda is not what she seems.  She had been digging deep for secrets people try to keep quiet then exploit the secrets.  Is this what killed her?  Did she upset the wrong person or was it someone related to her past?

I love this series it's so great and fun to see what Eve is up to.  Also to catch up with Eve, Peabody, Roarke, and all the other people we see in this series, and to see how far her friends will go to protect her.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Review: Night Pleasures by: Sherrilyn Kenyon


Title: Night Pleasures
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: Dark Hunters #`
Format: e-book ( 309 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

See how it all began…

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power?

That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minute of it.

Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: an accountant. She’s smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal.

My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Now I find myself wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist.

Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there’s any way a woman can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he’s not sure it will ever beat again.

Kyrian of Thrace

My Thoughts: 

If you have read the chronicles of Nick then you somewhat know of Kyrian of Thrace.  You know this as the guy who hired Nick to work for him.  Well in this book you learn about Dark Hunters how they came to be and you learn about Kyrian what horrors he had been through about his bad love affair and how it all fell apart and how he finally found love.

Amanda was a pure girl who is also a sorceress and has yet to tap into her powers.  After recently breaking up with her boyfriend who was dull as dirt.  She found herself handcuffed to a Dark Hunter who stirred something in her she didn't know was there.

Dark Hunters aren't allowed to love.  but the connection between Amanda and Kyrian is so much when danger approaches Amanda has a choose to do something she didn't think possible to save Kyrian will she choose to help him or not?

I love Dark Hunters and I also loved this book also featured sarcastic Nick and all his young glory.  I loved watching the relationship bloom between Kyrian and Amanda and see where it led to such a fabulous story and lots of action as well!

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Review: Being Jamie Baker by: Kelly Oram


Title: Being Jamie Baker
Author: Kelly Oram
Publisher: Bluefields
Series: Jamie Baker #1
Format: e-book ( 353 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities. To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High's resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. 

Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special. Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat? More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him? 

My Thoughts: 

Jamie Baker is just trying to get through high school without dating or really having friends after a recent tragedy what she didn't count on was the yumminess of Ryan Miller and she goes so far as to kiss him when he makes a bet with another jock.   What she didn't count on was the fireworks that came with that kiss literal sparks between them.

Jamie does everything she can to dismay Ryan she's called the Ice Queen for a reason for her own protection as much as everyone else's.  Will Ryan be able to break her down find out what her story is?  Or will he treat her like everyone else does?  

The problem is someone else is watching Ryan and Jamie and who knows what there agenda really is.  Will this find Jamie in a predicament she can't escape?  She knows she's falling for Ryan but can she get out before she's in too deep?

I love this series it's like Smallville in a weird way we have the superhuman girl we have teen drama and the big issue will she or won't she.  We see many sides of Jamie as she tries to get through high school with as little drama as possible.  Of course real life also gets in the way it's was so much fun to watch Jamie figure out where to go from here.  It was tons of fun.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Review: Murder Makes Scents by: Christin Brecher

Title: Murder Makes Scents
Author: Chastin Brecher
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery Series #2
Format: e-book ARC (272 p.)
Source: NetGalley

Description:

Stella Wright loves creating candles at her Nantucket store—and she also has a burning passion for justice. Now, after visiting a perfume conference, she must solve a vial crime . . .

Stella and her globe-trotting mom, Millie, have come home from a perfume industry conference in Paris, where their trip was marred by witnessing the stabbing death of a young man. It’s a relief for Stella to be back on her picturesque island, with the comforting company of her cat, Tinker. But lingering danger may have followed them back across the ocean.

After someone breaks into her candle store, the Wick & Flame, Stella starts feeling spooked. And just as things threaten to ignite, Millie suffers a blow to the head. Stella receives an anonymous note claiming that her mother smuggled a secret formula out of France—and threatening her life if it isn’t returned. Now Stella’s picked up the scent of a cold-hearted criminal and an intriguing puzzle, and things are about to get wicked . . .

My Thoughts:

As Stella and her mom Millie return home from a convention in Paris along with a murder it seems they may have brought trouble back with them.  Stella finds herself helping someone get to the bottom of a vial that shows up in Millie's stuff and when Millie winds up in the hospital the pressure is on Stella figure it out!  But will figure out the culprit or will her life be extinguished.

This book was tons of fun from Paris to Nantucket.  It was great to go back to Nantucket to see what everyone is up to and to see the relationship between Millie and Stella so much fun!  Can't wait to see what is next in the series!

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Review: Tails You Loose by: Carol J. Perry

Title: Tails You Loose
Author: Carol J. Perry
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Witch City Mystery #2
Pages: 365
Format: e-book
Source: Purchase

Description:

Her instincts may be killer--but can she catch one this wicked?

After losing her job as a TV psychic, Lee Barrett has decided to volunteer her talents as an instructor at the Tabitha Trumbull Academy of the Arts--known as "The Tabby"--in her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts. But when the school's handyman turns up dead under seemingly inexplicable circumstances on Christmas night, Lee's clairvoyant capabilities begin bubbling to the surface once again.

The Tabby is housed in the long-vacant Trumbull's Department Store. As Lee and her intrepid students begin work on a documentary charting the store's history, they unravel a century of family secrets, deathbed whispers--and a mysterious labyrinth of tunnels hidden right below the streets of Salem. Even the witches in town are spooked, and when Lee begins seeing visions in the large black patent leather pump in her classroom, she's certain something evil is afoot. But ghosts in the store's attic are the least of her worries with a killer on the loose. . .

My Review: 

This book follows Lee Barrett as she is about to begin her next big adventure and new job teaching kids at The Tabitha Trumball Academy of Arts known better to people as The Tabby.  Before she even begins someone is found dead whom Lee's Aunt Ibby knows.  Who killed Bill and why?

As they adventure continues Lee also stumbles upon a lot of history about Tabitha Trumball who spend her remaining years at the Tabby under the guise of being insane!  Nobody knows for sure what happened in the end except for her nurse Megan.

I found this book great it combined history and witchcraft, and all things Salem.  Such a fun adventure to be on Ms. Perry doesn't disappoint.  She makes you feel like your right next to Lee during the whole story!  Can't wait to see what is next for Lee!
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Saturday, April 10, 2021

Review: Egg Shooters by: Laura Childs


Title: Egg Shooters
Author: Laura Childs
Publisher: Berkley Series: Cackleberry Club #9
Format: e-book ARC (304 p.)
Source: Publisher

Description:

A murder in the local hospital is raising everyone's temperature in the latest book in the New York Times bestselling Cackleberry Club series.
     
Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café, is visiting her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.

Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.

My Review:

This book was such a fun adventure following Suzanne and her co-workers at the Cackleberry Club as they are trying to solve an attack at the local hospital where Suzanne was bringing dinner to her soon to be husband.

With a murder going on plus people stealing major drugs all over the place the stakes are high as Suzanne and company try to figure out whose selling drugs and why.  Also Junior makes another wonderful appearance trying to help.

I love this series it's such fun to see what Suzanne and her co-workers are up to.  You never know what you are going to get especially when you add Junior to the mix!

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Review: Murder in The Wine Country by: Janet Finsilver


Title: Murder in The Wine County
Author: Janet Finsilver
Publisher: Kensington
Series: A Kelly Jackson Mystery #6
Format: e-book ARC (304 p.)
Source: NetGalley

Description:

Curl up with a glass of merlot and travel to California wine country, where a sweet, unsuspecting town becomes the site of mischief and murder…
 
This is a cozy mystery that will check all your boxes: a charming bed and breakfast, a clever heroine and a lovable cattle dog named Rex…you are sure to fall for this series!
 
Weeding out killers wasn’t part of the job description . . .
 
Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is excited to participate in an event to raise awareness for the plight of struggling veterans in their Northern California coastal community. Local wineries are sponsoring tastings, and to prepare for a culinary competition, professional chefs will forage for wild edible greens. Kelly plans to come along, despite a warning to beware of poachers, who have been stealing the highly valued succulent Dudleya farinosa.
 
The senior sleuths who call themselves the Silver Sentinels join forces with environmental activists known as the Succulent Saviors to thwart the poaching operation. When a consultant for the sale of a local winery is murdered, the poachers are suspected—but so is a wine merchant, Kelly's friend Phil. As Kelly and the Silver Sentinels attempt to root out the real killer, what she digs up might just put her permanently underground . . .

My Thoughts:

This follows the Silver Sentinels and  Kelly Jackson find themselves introducing new people to things offered at the Redwood Cove B and B along the way Michael whose idea it was for the bed and breakfast among other things and a chef visiting end up kidnapped and another chef disappears Kelly finds herself deep in a search and rescue situation.  

They also learn about poachers in the area stealing plants that are worth quite a penny on the market.  While avoiding the poachers Kelly uses her witt and a dog to get to the bottom of what is going.  They also help Phil get out from under a murder wrap of his friend.  

Will Kelly and the Sentinels figure out in time or will she be checking out next?  This book is such fun I love the Sentinels and what they bring to the story and I love how Kelly is like a dog with a bone and won't give up until she figures it out!  Definitely a series I will continue if you haven't read it your missing out a fabulous mystery!

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Review: Read and Buried by: Eva Gates


Title: Read and Buried
Author: Eva Gates
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Series: Lighthouse Library Mystery #6
Format: e-book (325 p.)
Source: Publisher

Description:

 
Librarian Lucy Richardson unearths a mysterious map dating back to the Civil War. But if she can't crack its code, she may end up read and buried. 

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library Classic Novel Book Club is reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne while workers dig into the earth to repair the Lighthouse Library's foundations. The digging halts when Lucy pulls a battered tin box containing a Civil War-era diary from the pit. Tucked inside is a hand-drawn map of the Outer Banks accompanied by a page written in an indecipherable code.

The library is overrun by people clamoring to see the artifact. Later that night, Lucy and Connor McNeil find the body of historical society member Jeremy Hughes inside the library. Clearly Jeremy was not the only one who broke into the library--the map and the coded page are missing.

Lucy's nemesis, Louise Jane McKaughnan, confesses to entering the library after closing to sneak a peek but denies seeing Jeremy--or his killer. When Lucy discovers that fellow-librarian Charlene had a past with Jeremy, she's forced to do what she vowed not to do--get involved in the case. Meanwhile, the entire library staff and community become obsessed with trying to decode the page. But when the library has a second break in, it becomes clear that someone is determined to solve that code.

My Thoughts:

While renovations were ongoing at the lighthouse library the workers stumble upon a box containing a diary, everyone seems to be determined that there is a buried treasure.  What is reality of this hidden treasure?  Or is just a simple fisher woman's diary?  Not long someone breaks into the library and Jeremy Hughes is found dead in the library.  Who killed him and why?  Is it connected to the diary or something else?

This book had everything we've come to love with Lucy, Connor and their friends.  Lucy has dig hard to find out who had motive to kill and why and whether or not it was connected to the new found diary and hidden missing treasure!

I love this series it shows things about North Carolina you may not know and you learn alot of history from the various characters in this adventure!


Friday, February 19, 2021

Review: A Field Guide To Homicide by: Lynn Cahoon


Title: A Field Guide to Homicide
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Cat Latimer Mystery #6
Format: Paperback (288 p.)
Source: Publisher

Description:

Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .

Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.

To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike . . .

My Thoughts: 

Cat Latimer has her hands full with her latest writing group which consists of couples and a college guy.  Seth her boyfriend has his hands full with a reunion with his military group.  When they find a dead military guy that Seth knew the question becomes who killed him and why and does it connect with the military tour in Germany?

This book had so much going on you see the stress of Cat writing a new series about a boot camp not sure if anyone will pick it up/  The different type of group this is because they are mostly couples minus the one college student whose afraid to show his story to his professor.  

Then there is Seth and his military friends some of them make no bones about the fact Cat broke Seth's heart, which I don't think helps but Cat can't help but wonder who committed murder and why?  At times you wonder if this will be the thing that comes between the two of them.

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Review: The Iron Raven by: Julie Kagawa




THE IRON RAVEN

By Julie Kagawa 

On Sale: February 9, 2021

INKYARD PRESS

Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy; Folklore and Fairytale; Paranormal romance

978-1335091765; 1335091769

$19.99 USD

336 pages


About the Book


Wicked faeries and fantastic danger... Welcome to book one of the new trilogy in New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey fantasy series, as infamous prankster Puck finally has a chance to tell his story and stand with allies new and old to save Faery and the world. 


"YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF ME..."


Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Prankster, joker, raven, fool... King Oberon's right-hand jester from A Midsummer Night's Dream. The legends are many, but the truth will now be known as never before, as Puck finally tells his own story and faces a threat to the lands of Faery and the human world unlike any before.

With the Iron Queen Meghan Chase and her prince consort, Puck's longtime rival Ash, and allies old and new by his side, Puck begins a fantastical and dangerous adventure not to be missed or forgotten. Filled with myths and faery lore, romance and unfathomable dangers, The Iron Raven is book one of a new epic fantasy trilogy set in the world of The Iron Fey.


My Review:

This book continues the story of the Iron Fey with Ash, Meghan and Puck.  This story is told from Puck's perspective and here we learn alot about him how he came to be in the Summer Court.  The awful tricks he's played on various people.

In this book Keirran and Nyx and Puck fight an evil monster who won't die but seems to be turning into what he has tried so hard to change from.  Keirran sends Puck and Nyx to the Iron Court to inform his parents what is going on. 

Along the way he's learned alot about Nyx and how she came to be and helping her get into the Iron Court, all the while something is going on with Puck that he can't seem to totally control.  

I loved this book it had everything we have come to love with the Iron Fey series and adds some new blood so to speak so we see new friends working with old ones and friendships strengthened through it all!

About the Author


JULIE KAGAWA is the New York Times, USA TODAY and internationally bestselling author of The Iron Fey, Blood of Eden, The Talon Saga and the Shadow of the Fox series. Born in Sacramento, she has been a bookseller and an animal trainer and enjoys reading, painting, playing in her garden and training in martial arts. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and a plethora of pets. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



Social Links:


Author website: http://juliekagawa.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jkagawa 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045094913658 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52735443-the-iron-raven 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2995873.Julie_Kagawa 


Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Raven-Fey-Evenfall/dp/1335091769 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-iron-raven-julie-kagawa/1136599840?ean=9781335091765 

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335091765?aff=novelknight 

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Iron-Raven/Julie-Kagawa/9781335091765 

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-iron-raven/id1501522621?id=1501522621&ign-mpt=uo%3D4    

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Julie_Kagawa_The_Iron_Raven?id=km3UDwAAQBAJ