Review: Final Roasting Place by Devon Delaney

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Sherry Frazzelle is back to being Sherry Oliveri, her divorce all but final and her new life in full swing. Her part-time job is helping her father with his hooked-rug business, and her full-time passion is competitive cooking. But murder is about to rock their little Connecticut town . . .

Erno Oliveri made sure to be on set for his daughter’s cook-off appearance on Sunny Side Up with Brett and Carmell. Or as it’s now known, Sunny Side Up with Carmell and Brett–since the ambitious young Carmell seems to have the producer and station owner eating out of her hand. But the important news is that Sherry has bested the competition with her Spicy Toasted Chickpea and Almond appetizer and clinched the spatula-shaped trophy. It’s her shining moment–until everything goes dark.

A quick-moving storm has knocked out power to the studio–and when the lights come back up, Carmell is at her desk with a sharp object lodged in her neck. The weapon is an unusual tool, used by craftsmen who make hooked rugs. Has someone taken corporate backstabbing to a new level, and framed Erno in the process? If Sherry’s going to protect her dad and their family name, she has to find out where he was when the lights went out . . .

Includes Recipes from Sherry’s Kitchen!

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Final Roasting Place by Devon Delaney delivers both mystery and humor. I love the way the characters bristle and fight between each other. Each one takes their opinion seriously. Then, there is the father daughter relationship on the pages. Sherry and her father seem to get along. I find it funny how he kept eating other foods except for his daughter’s own dishes. Despite that, Sherry and her dad were charming characters. Sherry is a smart, quick, and talented sleuth. Her fast thinking and observations help solve the murder case.

News worthy stories are just about to get deadly. It might even get worse for Sherry Frazzelle and her father. A cookout show, containing contestants and delicious meals, starts off okay but ends with a big bang. Jealousy, greed, and a fear of change bring out a murderer. The suspects list grows with each page, just as all evidence points to Sherry’s father, another clue proves someone else is the murderer. But who? A race to investigate and find the real killer keeps Sherry’s hands full.

Final Roasting Place offers a lot of entertainment. Action, intrigue, and a bunch of clues as to who may or may not have committed the crime. The cast is enjoyable to follow along. Reminds me of the Murder She Wrote TV show.

 

Review: Vampires like It Hot by Lynsay Sands

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands brings the heat in this new Argeneau novel, as one woman is rescued by an irresistible immortal

“Vampires…”

When Raffaele Notte pulls a barely dressed disoriented woman from the ocean, the last thing he expects is for her to utter that word. The immortal has come to the island resort to help his cousin, but now, it seems there are rogue vampires dining on unsuspecting tourists. And he soon realizes that not only is Jess a target, she’s also the life mate he’s been waiting for…

Vampires are real. Jess would’ve never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There’s something about Raffaele that’s unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is, will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Vampires like It Hot by Lynsay Sands is another great adventure. Hot, spicy, and hilarious. The Argeneau vampire family get another fun journey to enjoy. A young woman goes to a foreign tropical island as a wedding retreat with her unlikable cousin. What starts out normal ends up going into a dark and fearful territory.

Jess is and her cousin are lured by pirates. Not just actors dressed up as pirates but vampires needing a blood snack. Jess is overcome by desire that is set from one greasy haired vampire who may be her life mate. But she ends up witnessing a horror scene that leaves her swimming in shark infested waters.  That’s where her other possible vampire life mate finds her. Struggling to swim any further, Raffaele rescues the beautiful human. Only he finds out that she’s running from vampirates and is his life mate. Talk about complex situations and tons of heat. Lynsay Sands delivers an outstanding emotional journey and one packed with action to entertain. I was both laughing and falling in love with the characters, even the greasy haired vampirate with his silly vocabulary.  Overall, I highly recommend this paranormal romance to all.

 

Review: Face Off by Brenda Novak

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Tortured and left for dead at sixteen, Evelyn Talbot turned her personal nightmare into her life’s work—studying the disturbing psychopathy of some of the world’s most vicious serial killers. Now a leading psychiatrist at Hanover House in a small Alaskan town, she tries to believe the past will never come back to haunt her—until a woman goes missing from a cabin nearby, and every clue points to the man who once brutalized her…

As her boyfriend, who is the area’s only police, begins to investigate—and finds not one but two bodies—Evelyn can’t forget that her would-be killer, Jasper Moore, was never caught. But there are no new faces in tiny Hilltop, no one who seems suspicious or potentially violent. In this twisted game of cat and mouse, Evelyn is certain of only one thing—Jasper must be hiding in plain sight. And if she can’t find him before he comes for her, she won’t be lucky enough to survive twice…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Face Off by Brenda Novak is another brilliant installment to this series. I was intrigued. The entire time, I was waiting for Evelyn’s past killer to attack her. Yet each moment never seemed like the right time for Jasper. Jasper like any other serial killer, ended up making many mistakes. He became careless and it took him spiraling out of control. Everything he worked for, was doomed. The intensity of the big moment, kept me on edge. I was expecting a dark, creepy, and deadly read.

Brenda Novak provided me with just that. The characters were funny, entertaining, and added to the flavor of this read. I had to roll my eyes and bite my tongue at the humiliation that Jasper put up with as he planned his future killings. He hated the men who told him what to do and when to do his work. It was interesting to watch as his temper was pushed and how he barely reined it all in…I kept expecting him to lose his patience at the facility every time. Yet, he surprised me. So many turns and twists…Even knowing the background, I was still kept in the dark as to what would happen. The ending was epic. I would have wanted a bit more darker satisfying end with Jasper. But I will have to wait for the next tale to see what happens next. Overall, I recommend this thriller to all.

Review: Cold Barrel Zero by Matthew Quirk

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A CODE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. A BLACK OPS TEAM THAT WENT TOO FAR.

John Hayes is a Special Operations legend who went rogue on a deep-cover mission and betrayed his own soldiers. Disgraced and on the run, he returns to the United States to get back to his wife and daughter and take revenge on his accusers with a series of devastating attacks.

Only one man can stop him: Thomas Byrne. He once fought alongside Hayes as a combat medic, but he gave up the gun. Now a surgeon, he moves from town to town, trying to forget his past, until he is called upon by a high-ranking government official to help capture the man he once called a friend.

Hayes and Byrne were once as close as brothers, but with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance and nothing as it seems, both men must decide whom to trust–and whom to betray. In a final, explosive battle for justice, they face off along a rifle’s cold barrel.

Cold Barrel Zero brings together the blistering pace of Lee Child, the nonstop action of Brad Thor, and the richly drawn characters and moral stakes of Daniel Silva. An experienced reporter armed with deep behind-the-scenes research into America’s Special Operations Forces, Quirk takes the military thriller to a new level of suspense.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Cold Barrel Zero by Matthew Quirk is a suspenseful thriller. It displays the duty and actions of soldiers who risk their lives for their country. Sometimes, that country betrays them. This plot quickly spiraled from an innocent soldier doing his duty to him being hunted by his nation. Hiding away like a criminal, Hayes, a special ops agent is determined to go after those who betrayed him and his team. This novel has plenty of action, intrigue, and risks to keep me reading. I was entertained. It showed the gruesome reality of what happens that the public isn’t aware of…makes me rethink what really happens to our soldiers.

Review: Cross Breed by Lora Leigh

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Fans of #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh’s scorching Breed series first met Cassie as a little girl in Elizabeth’s Wolf. Now Cassie has finally come into her own as a young woman, and she’s about to discover the one she is destined for–but it is unclear whether her fate is to be mated for life, or marked for death…

The Breeds are humans altered before conception with the DNA of the predators of the earth. But although they all carry the genetic material of beasts within them, Cassandra Sinclair stands apart. A unique mix of wolf, coyote and human, she is revered by many–but preyed upon by others. She is fiercely protected by her community…but no one manages to stop her when she slips away one day to offer her body in exchange for her sister’s safety.

The man she succumbs to surprises her by unleashing her inner animal in ways she never dreamed possible–and provokes her deep, furious rage. To Cassie’s shock, he is the mate she has long awaited. She may never be able to forgive his deception. Still, as dangerous enemies track her, and as the threat of all-out war between Breeds and the humans who despise them hovers in the air, they must join forces and hold fast to each other.

But the passionate union between them holds a potential that could change the world–and some will do anything to stop it…

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Cross Breed by Lora Leigh is an intense paranormal romance tale. I was sucked into the whole Breed and Human world. Scientists took children away from their families only to use their embryos for creating half humans and half animals. Taking sperm from coyotes and wolves the government thought they could create an army to use as a weapon against others. Only it backfired on them in ways they did not expect. Eventually, enough human families had missing family members used and killed for these experimentations. The offspring were not looked at as monsters by the majority of the humans. But that did not mean that others were not disgusted with the Breeds and hybrids.

A young woman, Cassie, is overpowered by the feelings of lust and lack of fear towards a man who first aimed to kill her. He knew she was his mate when he saw her at eighteen. But he never went to claim her until 6-years later. One challenge between, and a night of exotic passion lead to distrust and anger. No matter the danger towards them both, their mating heat keeps increasing and only they can help each other survive its brutal wave.

Dog, aka Cain, is a coyote Breed. But he lets the council who created him think he’s undercover for them. Dog wants to get the info to take them out and destroy them. The council are the ones responsible for creating the Breeds and Hybrids like himself. Anger and loss is all Dog knew until his mate. Cassie gives him hope and tears his world upside down…but he’ll do everything in his power to keep her alive and with him.

Lora Leigh created a world full of drama, risks, and heat. I felt the instant attraction between both protagonists. They reeled me in deep. The plot is full of adult language from time to time, some fighting but not graphic, and a little bit of BDSM is inside the sex scenes. I recommend this paranormal romance to all adults.

Review: The Heiress He’s Been Waiting For by Kaitlyn O’Riley

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In Victorian London, the Hamilton sisters are known for their bookshops—and for finding their happily ever afters on their own terms. Now, much to their chagrin, their offspring are following in their unconventional footsteps—in life and in love…

Raised in New York, shipping heiress Sara Fleming was ready to elope—until her disapproving parents tricked her onto a boat heading to England. Her only consolation is getting to see her beloved aunts and cousins. Even the start of London’s Season—and a strikingly handsome earl—can’t make her forget the man she left behind.

Considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors, Christopher Townsend, the Earl of Bridgeton, is not what he seems. Having inherited his father’s crushing debt, he must choose a wealthy bride to save his family’s estate. Though rumored to be penniless and committed to another, Sara takes his breath away—and makes him question what he truly needs to be free of the past. But he’ll have to win the headstrong beauty’s heart one kiss at a time.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Heiress He’s Been Waiting For by Kaitlyn O’Riley is an interesting spin to the England society. A young lady in New York has fallen for the charms of a no good thief. Yet she has no idea of his schemes nor his evil plans for her. However, her parents have heard the rumors. They tricked their daughter into a boat trip to London. Once there, they will visit their family.

That is where the beauty heiress meets the charming Duke. Only he’s dirt poor and trying to protect his sisters and mother from ruin. Marrying a rich lady would help provide for his family. Little does he know that the American lady he’s falling for is richer than first rumored.

Sara feels that instant attraction and pull to the Duke. But in her mind she still has eyes for her American beau. Only time, will tell if the American lady and London Duke will find their happily ever after.

Overall, I highly recommend this funny, action-packed, and romantic tale to all. It made me laugh and fall in love with the strong yet determined young couple. Their banters and moments of passion made my heart melt.

Review: Every Day Above Ground by Glen Erik Hamilton

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A favor for a dying ex-con turns into a violent battle against a mysterious enemy for Van Shaw in this emotionally powerful and gritty thriller from the award-winning author of Past Crimes and Hard Cold Winter

It sounds like a thief’s dream to Van Shaw: A terminally-ill ex-con tells him of an easy fortune in gold, abandoned and nearly forgotten after its original owner died in prison. For the dying man, the money is a legacy to ensure his pre-teen daughter’s future. For Van, the gold is cash he desperately needs to rebuild his destroyed family home.

The grandson of a career criminal who taught him all the tricks of his trade, Van suspects that nothing is ever that easy. Sure enough, the safe holding the fortune is a trap—set by a mysterious player armed with tremendous resources and a lifetime of hatred. Now, Shaw’s partner is in the clutches of the hunters, and the former Army Ranger may be their next prey. But when the ex-con’s innocent daughter is threatened too, Van’s own hard childhood means he can’t let her come to harm.

To discover who has them in the cross-hairs, Shaw must seek out the hunters’ real prey. His quest leads him from an underground bare-knuckle fighting ring, which may be fronting a darker purpose, to a massive pop-culture convention, where Van and his allies, Hollis and Corcoran, play a dangerous game with foes on every side. It also introduces Van to a brash and beautiful aspiring journalist who poses a whole different kind of personal risk.

For years, Van Shaw has tried to live every day above ground, on the right side of the law, even though crime is his gift . . . and in his blood. If he survives the coming storm, he’ll have to decide what he wants—and whether he can live as an outlaw without sacrificing his honor.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Every Day Above Ground by Glen Erik Hamilton is a great crime fiction novel. I instantly liked the main protagonist. Van Shaw is trying to live by the law but present circumstances are making that difficult. He could lose everything he’s trying to build. Then, out of nowhere, an offer too good to be true happens. From there, I was sucked into the troubled mess that Van got himself into…

Plenty of action, suspense, and intrigue are supplied. The plot was enjoyable. I found myself wondering how Van Shaw was going to make it. A criminal who turns into a good guy only to be propelled back into hell is exactly what this book contained. I was rooting for this criminal. Normally, I like the good guys and Van was sort of a good guy. He  wanted to do good. Overall, I recommend this crime/mystery to all readers.

Review: Highland Betrayal by Alyson McLayne

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Laird Callum MacLean vowed to marry Maggie MacDonnell. But when his father’s supposed suicide makes him Laird of a clan, he’s too busy unmasking his father’s killer to bring her into his dangerous new home.

Maggie’s home isn’t any safer, so she does what any resourceful Highland lass would do. She escapes―and finds herself toe-to-toe with Callum, who’s determined to fulfill his promise. Maggie can’t bring herself to trust him with her heart again. But with a traitor still at large, they must rely on each other in every way, or their clans―and their love―will be destroyed.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Highland Betrayal by Alyson McLayne is one exciting Highland adventure. From one danger to another, Alyson McLayane kept me intrigued. Danger hung onto every page. Enemies seemed to appear from everywhere. Spies were in every clan making the intensity of the deadly situation for the heroine and hero that much more interesting. I loved how the lead female protagonist was just as strong, if not stronger, than the male protagonist. It brought a lot of humor to the dark journey.

Inside this tale, I found a young Highland woman left by her fiance, to stay, at her home. It was supposed to be safer for her there. Callum had every intention of returning as soon as possible for her. But his father’s death kept him away. Maggie thought her fiance broke his promise to come back for her. Now, her clan was full of traitors and enemies. The leading enemy being her cousin. He has planned to take the Laird title from her dying brother. Then, he planned to force her into marrying him. His evil plan went as far to have rapped to get her pregnant. Talk about betrayal…

Maggie came up with a plan. One that involved her leaving behind her home and running to find her other brother. She never intended to run into her old flame…

Callum loved Maggie and when he found out she’s in danger, he won’t let her go. He has a plan to take her to his home and keep her safe. Even marrying her…but was he too late? Overall, I recommend this exciting read to all readers.

A love that never died out…

Mistrust on both sides…

And enemies wanting them both dead…

Can they survive?

 

Review: Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Private Investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving Luke Gallagher after he disappeared. Now he’s back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster that will shake America to its core. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next target?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey is an exciting yet deadly journey. One that will reunite two old lovers who never gave up…time has a way of pushing old memories to surface and soon anger turns to passion. But now, they’re both targets. A fierce enemy has found out who they are and where they’re located. The end goal was to kill them both. However, FBI Agent Kate Maxwell and top agent Luke Gallagher are not to be stopped.

Inside Dead Drift, I got to experience the thrill of chasing down and stopping the bad guys. Especially one that wouldn’t stop targeting the FBI members. Danger, romance, and suspense kept me turning the pages. Dani Pettrey brought to life, the law enforcement and organization of a federal criminal case. It was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I wasn’t sure what to expect and numerous times I thought both main characters would die. Death hung in the air as the agents worked to escape and capture an enemy. Overall, I would recommend this to all Criminal Minds and NCIS fans. This book has all the similarities but the danger feels so much more realistic.

Review: Friction by Sandra Brown

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown comes a gripping story of family ties and forbidden attraction.

A Texas Ranger, relegated to deskwork due to past recklessness, petitions to regain custody of his five-year-old daughter, and his case is assigned to a family court judge who is as attractive as she is ambitious. When a masked gunman barges in during the custody hearing with his sights on the judge, the Ranger reacts instinctively and goes after him. But authorities apprehend the wrong man, and the real gunman remains unknown, at large, and a threat. Will this take-charge lawman jeopardize his chances of custody by going after the would-be assassin? And will this unlikely pair be able to deny the forbidden attraction building between them?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Sandra Brown’s latest novel, Friction, was just the way I liked it. Raw, complicated,  dangerous, and emotionally charged. The plot was fast-paced. It had my adrenaline pumping, like the moment when the judge got into her car and there was the other main character…inside it with blood and a gun in his hand. Frightening and intense is the temperament of this tale. The characters have everything to lose. One has lost a lot more than he knew and has an even greater risk of losing what’s left. Loss, grief, and justice are the main themes to this novel.

Friction held my attention from the start. It gained my sympathy for a father who lost his wife and found out that his daughter who survived a deadly situation wasn’t really his. But he loved the little girl as if she were his own. Despite his dead wife’s betrayal, he was still in love with her. That proved how great of a man he was inside and out…then there was the lady judge whose life just got complicated. A man whose case she handled ended up being the one man she fell in love with…it was not intentional but it happened. He was not going to let a second woman die. So, he risked himself to save her…but the bad guys are still loose. Overall, I loved reading this thrilling book. I highly recommend it to all readers.

Review: The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: 

LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERS

 

Derryth MacClaren is on the run—having been sent from her castle home to avoid capture by the vicious nobleman known as the Wolf, who has vowed revenge against the Clan Kincaid. When a surprise attack leaves her vulnerable, Derryth ends up in the hands of an enemy warrior who claims her, with the Wolf’s blessing, as his prize. But her captor’s gentle words and touch seduce her heart—and body—completely. . . and when she discovers the tattoo on his arm that proves him to be the legendary, long-believed dead son of the murdered Laird of Kincaid, Derryth knows she must find a way to alter his fate—and her own. . .

 

Cull has no memory of his family or past—all he knows is the life of a warrior, trained to fight on behalf of the Scottish king. But now that Derryth has informed him of who he really is—Cullen Braewick, the youngest son of the slain laird—he is torn. If Cull exacts revenge against the Wolf, who executed his father, he stands to lose the precious lass who he has come to love. What is he willing to sacrifice for Derryth to keep her safe. . .and in his arms?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Warrior of Clan Kincaid by Lily Blackwood is one that I could not stop reading. The plot was intriguing from the start. I was curious about the the young boy who was a slave as a child and the spoiled young woman. How their paths crossed was a tempt of fate. In the previous plots before this one, readers are aware of the trouble from the villain aka Wolf. Wolf sought to destroy the Kincaid clan due to a personal feud. One that was his caused by his own doing. A woman scorning a man is seen repeated here. Yet there is much more to the tale than sympathy for the cast of characters.

Romance, action, adventure plus hot Scotsman are inside this book. I loved the heroine. She was a spoiled lady but willing to suffer for the ones she loves. Not wanting to leave her family behind, Derryth is sent away to prepare for her sister and husband to come over…yet, their plan goes bad. They traveled only a small distance before they are trapped. That’s where the tall, handsome, yet unemotional man awaits. Taking them prisoners. The banters between Cull and English Guard and the Scotswoman is fun to follow. I was laughing, and devouring up every detail. Overall, I would recommend Lily Blackwood’s novel to all readers.

 

Review: Eternity’s Account by both Julie Bryson and Catherine Sharpe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis: 

Patterns. They are the material weaved to make the intricate fabric of the universe. The one guiding the threads is the one teaching the 12 chosen children to recognize the complex design within the fabric of time. Each stitch aliens the essential elements of the story, revealing the intended pattern to be followed. Owr, the master creator, has tucked the invisible into the hem of the visible, allowing the children to peek between the tightly drawn threads to study how the spiritual affects the physical.

The Eternity’s Account series continues – beyond the creation, the inception of evil, the fall of man, the division of kingdoms, and the fusion of dimensions. As the children tug on the seam of the cosmos, a new set of patterns is exposed. They prepare to witness the next stage in the saga; the rise of the rulers and the effects they will have upon the fate of the universe.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Eternity’s Account: Rulers by both Julie Bryson and Catherine Sharpe. This novel was different to many others in the way it was written. It combined fantasy with biblical elements. Intriguing and creative, this book hooked me. The themes in this tale such as evil versus good are clearly seen. The scenes were vivid. Characters were interesting. I found the entire book to be complex, entertaining, and diverse. Darker than most Christian reads yet more engaging. The characters pulled me into their fictional world. There was enough action to keep me turning the pages. Overall, I would recommend this to fantasy lovers.

 

Review: The R.E.M. Project by J.M. Lanham

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The most powerful psychological weapon ever created has been unleashed.

A weapon the government is willing to kill for.
A weapon Big Pharma refuses to acknowledge.
A weapon that’s only a prescription away.

It’s been six months since the release of Asteria Pharmaceutical’s groundbreaking sleeping pill, and already, profits are soaring. With the original clinical trial outliers in hiding and on the run, George Sturgis has had free rein to disperse his revolutionary genome-inhibiting medication to the masses, with little regard for Ocula’s unconventional side effects.

Meanwhile, in Langley, the Director of Central Intelligence has taken notice of Ocula’s success and is determined to take the drug off the streets—even if it means rebooting a dangerous project she swore she would eliminate for good.

As the original outliers get pulled deeper into the Ocula conspiracy, they’ll soon discover that they’re not the only ones dreaming.

—————————

The long-awaited sequel to The R.E.M. Effect by J.M. Lanham, The R.E.M. Project is a new addition to the science fiction tradition of Michael Crichton, Preston & Child, Marcus Sakey, and Blake Crouch.

Dive into fast-paced suspense that explores Big Pharma corruption, clandestine government experiments, and the mysteries of the mind to create a world where taking a pill could mean taking lives.

Want to download the first few pages of this book for FREE so you can try before you buy? Click the ‘Send a free sample’ button and start reading now!

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The R.E.M. Project by J.M. Lanham is a brilliant thriller. It kept me guessing the whole way. Here, I followed the characters once more as they are being threatened. They know the real truth about the popular sleeping pill that affects its victims in ways they are not aware of…the government comes to be the big bad guy, here. They are investing in this crazy drug that harms its victims all for the sake of profits. Sounds very much like our real government. I can see this happening for real. FDA does not approve all drugs even the most uneventful drugs out there. But this is one pill that should not have been approved, yet it was. Death hangs over the heroes as they struggle to survive the threats from their enemies including the said company, the government, and now the CIA.

The beginning was a little bit dragging…other than that, this is a must read. J.M. Lanham created a suspenseful action packed story. It kept me reading for a long time…and it was so worth every minute. Overall, I recommend this novel to all readers.

Review: Blind Betrayal by Nancy Mehl

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Deputy U.S. Marshal Casey Sloane has worked at the St. Louis Marshals office for two years and is given a routine assignment to help transport a reporter to D.C. to testify before a grand jury. Valerie, the reporter, was writing a story about an up-and-coming environmentalist who suddenly disappeared and, she later discovered, whose backers purportedly have ties to a terrorist. 

When the seemingly ordinary assignment suddenly takes a shocking turn, Casey is forced to put aside her own feelings about the unexpected reappearance of a man from her past as she and two other Marshals take Valerie on the run. And as it becomes dangerously clear Valerie’s testimony has even bigger implications than they knew, they’ll do whatever it takes to make it out alive.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Blind Betrayal by Nancy Mehl is full of action, danger, and twists. I never expected the ending to end the way it did. There was a foreshadowing event for it…but I still did not see it coming. Nancy Mehl is a talented writer. The plot was fast-paced with threats coming in from everywhere. An enemy targets the Marshals’ office and blows it up. Causualities are found. Three agents are not sure how many they have lost or who is behind the attacks. Was the enemy really after them or their current witness in protection? Then, there was the past connection that both Marshal Casey and E.J. shared. Tension on both of their sides that turns out to more than what they expected. As for the bad guys, one of them finally gets caught only to turn on the bigger enemy. This enemy isn’t going down without a grand finale even if it means killing a family member…overall, there was tons of suspense and deadly hostile situations to enjoy. I loved how realistic this law enforcement operation was conducted in the novel. In the end, I highly recommend Blind Betrayal to readers everywhere. Nancy Mehl kept me guessing. 

Review: Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Lee Hollis begins a delightful new series in which Poppy Harmon and her friends find that life after retirement can be much busier—and deadlier—than any of them ever anticipated . . .

When Poppy goes from complacent retiree to penniless widow in a matter of weeks, the idea of spending her golden years as the biggest charity case in Palm Springs renders her speechless. With no real skills and nothing left to lose, Poppy uses her obsession with true crime shows to start a career as a private eye . . .

But after opening the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with help from her two best friends, Violet and Iris, Poppy realizes that age brings wisdom, not business—until she convinces her daughter’s handsome boyfriend, Matt, to pose as the face of the agency. It’s not long before Matt’s irresistible act snags a client desperate to retrieve priceless jewelry burglarized from an aging actress at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Or before Poppy stumbles upon the bloodied body of the victim’s arch rival . . .

In a flash, Poppy’s innocent detective gig is upstaged by a dangerous murder investigation riddled with slimy suspects and unspeakable scandal. As she and her team uncover the truth, Poppy must confront the secrets about her late husband’s past and swiftly catch a killer lurking around the retirement community—even if it means turning her world upside down all over again. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis is an interesting twist to a new mystery series. It’s similar to Miss Fisher and Murder She Wrote. I love murder mysteries with a strong woman sleuth. That’s exactly what I found here. Poppy Harmon is the new detective lady in town and she’s definitely worth following in this book.

The book cover led me thinking that Poppy Harmon was in her tense ties when she is in fact, in her 60’s. I can picture Poppy dressing like the woman pictured on the cover except for the heels…considering her age.

Poppy Harmon is a retired actress left with no money. She then works on finding an income and the choice she makes will make readers laugh out loud. Poppy decided to run her own detective agency with a little help from friends and her daughter’s boyfriend. Like most women sleuth just beginning their epic journey, Poppy lands herself in trouble. Mayhem, murder, and humor are displayed across these entertaining pages.

Overall, I would recommend this new series to all readers. There is plenty of action, intrigue, and peril moments that adds to the suspense of the plot. Fast-paced with exciting characters, Lee Hollis sucked me into her world of fiction. 

 

Review: Moon Beam by Steven Burgauer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Peril stalked the corridors of the lunar habitat. Fear was its companion. The killer, a woman, fed on that fear. No one in the lunar station was safe from her wrath, not even the fresh, young team that had just arrived from Earth to erect the first lunar space elevator. When completed, the space elevator was destined to be one of the great engineering projects of all time. The unreeling of the space cable had just begun, when the killer struck a vengeful blow.

Now, with a catastrophic solar flare flashing overhead, the race was on.

Can Chief Clay Flynn and Senior Tech Lou Santini stop her before it was too late? Can they save the lives of the men, women, and children of the Lunar Station and its life-sustaining resources from total annihilation?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Moon Beam is captivating book from beginning to end. At every point the author leaves the reader wanting more. It’s impossible to put this book down!

Moon Beam by Steven Burgauer is a must read for anyone wanting to escape for a bit into an exciting world with action and suspense at every turn. This book should be on everyone’s “Must Read” List!

Review: X-Ops Exposed by Paige Tyler

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

 

HE LEFT TO KEEP HER SAFE
Believing he’s too dangerous to be among people, feline hybrid Tanner Howland retreats deep into the forests of Washington State—with no choice but to leave behind the woman who’s captured his heart. What he doesn’t know is that she followed him…

SHE WOULDN’T STAY BEHIND
Heartbroken and determined, Dr. Zarina Sokolov tracks Tanner into the wild. Her presence unleashes Tanner’s protective instinct—big time. Locals have been disappearing and he is desperate for Zarina to leave. As the kidnappings escalate, Tanner must embrace the dangerous instincts he fears so much. But with Zarina at his side, he’ll have to learn to control his animal impulses, or lose himself—and the woman he loves—to the beast within.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

X-Ops Exposed by Paige Tyler is an exciting paranormal romantic suspense read. I was thoroughly engaged, hooked, and in love with this book. It was full of danger, excitement, risks, and hot steamy scenes too.

I couldn’t get enough of Tanner Howland. He is the kind of man every woman wants in her life and every man wants as his best friend and backup. Tanner is a tough soldier who went through a lifetime of hellish situations. But somehow he’s managed to keep living and moving forward. Sure, he still struggles with real-life issues that all men could relate to him, but he is still the perfect hero. Tough yet kind as hell, Tanner is irresistible.

Dr. Zarina Sokolvo is Russian. I can see and hear her speak as the plot ran by me. I was fascinated with this scientist. She was kidnapped to work on a biological scheme for evil men. They took men off the streets to inject them with hybrid syrum to transform them from humans to animals. Many died from this experiment. Dr. Zarina wanted no part but teed like hell to stop them. She risked her life to save Tanner. Tanner has never forgotten her help nor who that bright woman was…

Life is messy. Complications arise as Dr. Zarina and Tanner are brought together again. Trouble comes  crashing down around them sending them apart once more. But Dr. Zarina does not give up that easily nor does Tanner. Overall, X-Ops Exposed by Paige Tyler was sexy as hell and full of action. I could not stop reading this novel. I would highly recommend it to all readers.

Review: Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she’d left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer–one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new voice in romantic suspense. Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn grabs readers by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final heart-pounding page.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn is an exciting romantic suspense novel. I was very pleased with this story. It offered suspense, mystery, and some romance. As the plot raced on, I found myself curious about who was behind the murders and what would happen next. The leading female protagonist has a slight idea but could not see the whole picture. I appreciated this, because it kept me in the dark as to who was behind it all. The building romance between the leading protagonists was fun to follow. Both had a crush on each other but did not realize it until an investigation dangers them both. Ryan is best of buds with the brother of the woman he loves. Kirk is the big protective brother of Leigh. Leigh always held a secret crush on Ryan. This complicates things further and made the connection to the characters easier. I loved them all. Kirk, Ryan, Gabe, and Leigh were my favorite group of characters. They’re the good guys. Beneath the Surface offers a lot of intrigue. The characterization and action propelled me through the pages quickly. It was hard to put this book down…overall, I highly recommend to all readers.

Review: The Golden Vial by Thomas Locke

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Lady Shona, the newly crowned queen of the realm, is a leader without a throne. Pursued relentlessly by a dark force, her small contingent of loyal followers must make a difficult choice–flee or fight. Determined to save her land from nefarious threats, Lady Shona decides that she must seek out the enemy and attack them head on–a strategy that leads back to the region of the Three Valleys where Hyam was born.

Alas, Hyam has been struck by a mysterious illness that is silently sweeping through the realm. Known as the wasting disease, the sickness has no cure. But there is one shred of hope for Lady Shona and the realm–and it comes in the most unlikely of forms. A young orphan, untested and untrained, could well mean the difference between victory and total defeat.

Thomas Locke concludes his epic trilogy with a gripping tale of courage that will inspire readers to persevere even when all seems lost.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Golden Vial by Thomas Locke is a strange yet intriguing fantasy. I was lured deep into a young woman’s journey. Dally, an orphan has been adopted in a way and soon to play a bigger role for many. Her power remains hidden until things start to happen. A woman, who is a queen, comes to her in dreams. Offering to help the valley residents that Dally knows. From there, it was like following the Lord of Rings and The Hobbit. Adventure, action, and danger all caging in around the characters. Power and enemies lie so close. I enjoyed reading this story. There was mystery, suspense, and a tiny bit of romance, too. Overall, I would recommend this book to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Mind Me, Milady by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Ken Hicks

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Jane Larson is an attorney on the Upper East Side of New York City, and the Gentleman Rapist has chosen her to receive his calls announcing each conquest. He also reminds her in chilling terms that he will one day twist his wire around her throat and bend her to his will.

Jane has professional and personal problems of her own, but she is forced to try to catch this monster when he stalks her newest client. Susan is a sweet young woman who cannot remember large time periods of her past and who has dreams about a prior life in which she was raped. Soon, the Gentleman escalates to murder, and Jane wonders if he was involved in Susan’s forgotten past, or if Susan is simply a means to get to Jane. Either way, Jane is caught in the deadly game of stopping the Gentleman before another woman feels the wire at her throat and hears his sinister whisper to Mind Me, Milady.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Mind Me, Milady written by both Anne Rothman-Hicks and Ken Hicks is the most intriguing women’s sleuth story ever. I was immediately swept into the plot as an evil man was strangling a woman. I love how the writers chose to use action to speed readers through the tale. It was not boring. I kept wondering what would happen next and who would fall victim.

This murder mystery, was suspenseful. It caught my interest right away. A man known as the Gentleman went around raping women. But something changed and he resorted to both rape and murder. The reason why became clear when I got further into the story. Women were being targeted by this crazy killer and it was up to one woman to stop him forever.

Mind Me, Milady carries many themes. These range on rape, survival, psychological fears, and the legal system. I was impressed with Jane. She is the main protagonist and the one who may stop a killer and save other women. Her personality was easy to connect with and overall, I really liked her. Jack is another character that I liked. Jane likes him, too. Madame Rosa is a strange lady. This novel was great! I, recommend it to all.

Review: The Clarity by Keith Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Dr. Matilda Deacon is a psychologist researching how memories are made and stored when she meets a strange eleven-year-old girl named Ashanique. Ashanique claims to harbor the memories of the last soldier killed in World War I and Matilda is at first very interested but skeptical. However, when Ashanique starts talking about being chased by the Night Doctors—a term also used by an unstable patient who was later found dead—Matilda can’t deny that the girl might be telling the truth.

Matilda learns that Ashanique and her mother have been on the run their whole lives from a monstrous assassin named Rade. Rade is after a secret contained solely in memories and has left a bloody trail throughout the world in search of it. Matilda soon realizes Ashanique is in unimaginable danger and that her unique ability comes with a deadly price.

Rating: 3.5-stars

Review:

The Clarity by Keith Thomas is an interesting read combining fictional elements and nonfictional information together. The frightening parts about experimental portions were based on some real experiences that did really happen to people. The characters were okay. But no emotional attachment that made me want to really connect with them. I thought they were fine but but not were Inwould be talking bout how great they were. The plot was gruesome, dark, and intense as was expected with some of the things mentioned. There was a lot of action in this novel. I would have been happier if there was more to the characters. There needed to be more on the interaction and backstory between/of the characters. It just felt felt flat to me.

The novel did hold a promising tale…Dr. Matilda is by far the worst character. She is a doctor interested in the whole journey of memory and past lives. Yet she wasn’t what I expected and didn’t meet the expectations for her role in this story. There were other characters that I did really like and thought that Keith Thomas did a fine job in creating. Characters like Kojo and Brandon were believable and enjoyable to follow.

The Clarity was fast-paced, action packed, and full of government misuse. Like the medical experiments that still bring a chill down my back. A lot of conspiracy themes are found inside the book. Overall, it was good and suspenseful.

 

Cover Release: The Maybrook Trilogy by Nicole Strycharz

 

 

 

 

 

 

~*~The Maybrook Trilogy ~*~
by Nicole Strycharz, Author of The Divorce

Come to a place where love grows the apples. 🍎 🍎 🍎

From the gilded late-Victorian Age to the sweeping elegance of the Edwardian era, Maybrook is a town hidden away in Pennsylvania where each book brings you new mysteries and nostalgic romances.

~A Lieutenant, in pursuit of a predator who’s next victim might be the woman he loves.

~A young woman torn from her first sweetheart and made to be an open-minded suffragette, returns.

~An attorney works to free an innocent while harboring dark family secrets.

~A young show girl crosses the Atlantic on the ill-fated Titanic but from the wreckage finds a place to call home.

** Each book is better read in sequence but the prequel can be enjoyed in any order.**

Join the party in the link below to stay up to date with the re-release of The Maybrook Trilogy, April 10th!!!!

There will be an enormous box set giveaway of paperbacks and a takeover party full of bestselling authors giving away prizes!

https://www.facebook.com/events/598243780524677/?ti=icl

You can also follow Nicole, here:
https://www.facebook.com/nicolestrycharz/

Review: The Luck of the Bride by Jana MacGregor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Can a woman who’s down on her luck find love with a dashing Duke-to-be? Find out in The Luck of the Bride, the next Regency romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from Janna MacGregor.

She’s leaving nothing up to chance. Not even love…

March Lawson is an orphan who, for the past eight years, has struggled to raise her siblings on a meager allowance. Most women March’s age would be picking out ball gowns for the upcoming season. But March’s focus is not on finding a husband. First, she must devote her energies to just one man: the coldhearted skinflint who refuses to release her inheritance.

Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin, is not a heartless man. When he learns that Miss Lawson has been forging his name to procure funds, he can’t bring himself to have her arrested—not when the bold-faced embezzler is so enchantingly beautiful. Instead, McCalpin agrees to visit her home to assess the situation more closely. March has no choice but to accept. But how can she manage the handsome trustee who controls her purse strings—when he tugs at her heart strings as well?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Luck of the Bride by Jana MacGregor is another interesting tale. A historical romance that takes readers deep inside a family’s woes. A young girl of 16, eldest daughter, lost her parents. After losing them both, she had to grow up quickly and take care of her family. Two other sisters and a baby brother, plus managing their family estate isn’t what March should have been left to do. Yet she took her responsibilities seriously and made do with what they had. Until too much of the burdens were adding upon her shoulders. Now, seeking her inheritance to help her family eat and stay well, she forges a letter. This letter leads March and her siblings into a headfast journey. One that brings trouble, trials, laughter, memories, and maybe, love.

Next, there is Michael. A Marquess who has a heart of gold. All his life he has struggled with a secret. He cannot add or subtract numbers. In fact, he can’t do anything with numbers. But he’s very smart with reading, arguing, and hard labor. The man helps anyone who needs him. But his brother fears of March using Michael’s generosity and kindness for her own personal gain. But as Michael and March hang out together, a path so unknown to them opens up…I was immediately enchanted and deeply engaged.

Jana MacGregor definitely knows how to lure readers, like me, into her world of fiction. The characters were memorizing. Believable, charming, and realistic…they were. I couldn’t help but to fall in love with them all especially, March’s young brother, Bennett. I hope to read his adult story. He will become a great man one day. This novel, was wonderful. I highly recommend it to all.

Review: Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In Regency London, an unconventional scientist and a fearless female artist form an unlikely alliance to expose unspeakable evil . . .

The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. He does not suffer fools gladly. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London’s most popular satirical cartoonist, A.J. Quill, skewers them both. But then the clergyman is found slain in a church—his face burned by chemicals, his throat slashed ear to ear—and Wrexford finds himself the chief suspect.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose is the first installment to a regency murder mystery series. I loved the combination of the protagonists. One is a determined single female writer and the other is a male scientist. Together they are brought into a murder mystery. While working on this new adventure both find their attracted to each other. Yet neither one is ready to pursue that path too soon. But they acknowledge that they cannot deny it. Here, one of the protagonist, Wrexford, finds himself in deep trouble. He is being treated as a possible suspect for the current murder of a clergyman. Charlotte Sloan is penning under the name of her deceased husband. She is afraid of anyone knowing that she is the popular writer of their time, he pushes her to help him find the real murderer. But will she accept the challenge or let him expose who she really is?

Andrea Penrose has created a set of characters unlike any others. Their personalities are charming to watch unfold as the plot unraveled. I was anxious to see what became of their partnership, if anything at all. Plus, the trouble hanging around Wrexford’s neck and Charlotte’s fear of her pen name dissolving had me intrigued. The whodunnit suspense was strong as well. I couldn’t stop reading this novel. Overall, Murder on Black Swan Lane is a must read for all liking for risks, danger, and a bit of romance.

Review: The Rainmaker by Petra Landon

 

 

Synopsis:

As they race to untangle the past and thwart a power-hungry Wizard, Tasia must face her toughest decision yet. Can she take a leap of faith and risk her deadliest secret?

Tasia Armstrong is no longer a nondescript, friendless and naïve Wizard flying under the radar on the fringes of Chosen society. With her fate now publicly entwined with that of a powerful Shifter Pack, she must navigate the minefield of Pack politics while keeping her secrets and cover safe from the Chosen who hunt her. With a Pack to defend her, a powerful Alpha to protect her interests and friends to watch her back, her life is a far cry from before. But living with the Shifters holds new challenges for a Chosen more used to the shadows.

The stakes have never been higher as old fault lines, long-buried secrets, Wizard dysfunction, and Lady Bethesda’s ruthless machinations draw the Chosen ever closer to a civil war. While Tasia grapples to avoid the pitfalls and confront her demons, it is an unlikely nemesis who forces her to face her moment of truth. Tasia finds herself at the crossroads – at stake are her carefully constructed house of cards and her tangled relationship with the man who holds her enemies at bay. Will Tasia risk opening Pandora’s Box or will she disappear into the shadows again?

Author’s Note: The Rainmaker continues the story from The Prophecy. The books are not standalone and are intended to be read in order.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Rainmaker by Petra Landon is the second installment to this exciting paranormal fantasy series. Here, three sisters are crucial to fulfill a prophecy that none of them really know about…their mother is using them to create the prophecy foretold. Chaos, danger, and risks are involved on both sides. War seems inevitable seeing as one woman wants to destroy would be alliances among different beings as well as use certain sides for her own agendas.

I found this story intriguing. Plenty of action to keep the plot moving at a great pace. So many things are involved and the end game could result for the worse. Wizards, weres, and vampires are found as cast members. Each one has a particular tie in this tug of war. Enemies are everywhere and it’s only a mattter of time before things break apart. Tasia is the leading protagonist and most likable character. Her life is barely hanging onto a thread. So many choices and so little time…I highly recommend this second novel to readers worldwide.

Review: Reclaiming Shilo Snow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Trapped on the ice-planet of Delon, gamer girl Sofi and Ambassador Miguel have discovered that nothing is what it seems, including their friends. On a quest to rescue her brother, Shilo, a boy everyone believes is dead, they must now escape and warn Earth of Delon’s designs on humanity. Except the more they unearth of the planet and Sofi’s past, the more they feel themselves unraveling, as each new revelation has Sofi questioning the very existence of reality.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, Sofi’s mom, Inola, is battling a different kind of unraveling: a political one that could cost lives, positions, and a barely-rebuilt society, should they discover the deal made with the Delonese.

But there’s a secret deeper than all that. One locked away inside Sofi and ticking away with the beginnings, endings, and answers to everything. Including how to save humanity.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Reclaiming Shilo Snow by Mary Weber is an exciting adventure. Once more readers are led by Sofi Snow in search of her brother. A brother everyone presumed to be dead. But not Sofi Snow. Together she and Miguel search her memories for clues to find him. Humanity is besting destroyed and it’s up to them to keep it safe.

I found myself completely engaged with this YA sci-fi fantasy novel. I was easily hooked. Sofi Snow is a likable character. Her caring personality and determination make her a strong protagonist. I loved how she would go to such ends to find her brother and save the world. Mary Weber created a stunning tale with an unforgettable emotional journey. I enjoyed every page of this suspenseful world. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Spotlight Feature: The Rainmaker by Petra Landon

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

As they race to untangle the past and thwart a power-hungry Wizard, Tasia must face her toughest decision yet. Can she take a leap of faith and risk her deadliest secret?

Tasia Armstrong is no longer a nondescript, friendless and naïve Wizard flying under the radar on the fringes of Chosen society. With her fate now publicly entwined with that of a powerful Shifter Pack, she must navigate the minefield of Pack politics while keeping her secrets and cover safe from the Chosen who hunt her. With a Pack to defend her, a powerful Alpha to protect her interests and friends to watch her back, her life is a far cry from before. But living with the Shifters holds new challenges for a Chosen more used to the shadows.

The stakes have never been higher as old fault lines, long-buried secrets, Wizard dysfunction, and Lady Bethesda’s ruthless machinations draw the Chosen ever closer to a civil war. While Tasia grapples to avoid the pitfalls and confront her demons, it is an unlikely nemesis who forces her to face her moment of truth. Tasia finds herself at the crossroads – at stake are her carefully constructed house of cards and her tangled relationship with the man who holds her enemies at bay. Will Tasia risk opening Pandora’s Box or will she disappear into the shadows again?

Author’s Note: The Rainmaker continues the story from The Prophecy. The books are not standalone and are intended to be read in order.

 

 

Goodreads Link: The Rainmaker 

Preorder Link: The Rainmaker

Author Links:

www.petralandon.com
www.twitter.com/PetraLandon
www.amazon.com/author/petralandon

Review: Murder Will Speak (book 3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In 1880s Chicago, Shakespearean actress turned Pinkerton detective Lilly Long must play the part of a soiled dove to find a missing friend . . .

As one of a handful of female operatives employed by legendary crime fighter Allan Pinkerton, Lilly draws on her theatrical training to go undercover in situations inaccessible to male detectives–much to the discomfort of her partner, Cade McShane. Their latest case takes them to the rough and rowdy bordellos that line Hell’s Half Acre in Fort Worth, Texas–truly the Wild West. By virtue of her gender, only Lilly can infiltrate the disreputable dens of iniquity that trade in flesh and cater to vices that would make even a Pinkerton blush.

This time the case is deeply personal. Lilly’s friend, Nora Nash, who traveled to Fort Worth as a
mail-order bride, has instead been forced into prostitution. After a desperate call for help, Nora has gone missing. To find her, Lilly must revamp herself as a vamp and expose a seamy underworld of unspeakable secrets where anything goes. But she and Cade soon discover firsthand that lives are cheap in Hell’s Half Acre–including their own . . .

Praise for Penny Richards and An Untimely Frost

“A strong heroine and the intriguing Pinkertons make this historical mystery a cozy way to spend a weekend. Lilly Long’s independence and stubborn spirit will immediately endear her to many readers.”
–RT Book Reviews (4 Stars)

“Penny Richards has created a fascinating heroine, a great mystery,
and an exceptional play on history.”
–New York Times bestselling author, Heather Graham

 

 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Murder Will Speak by Penny Richardson is an exciting adventure in the Wild West. The main characters, Lily Long and Cade McShane are fun to follow. There growing interest in each other peaks my curiosity as well as they deadly situations they put themselves into…

Lily seems determined to help women like herself. In doing that she must go undercover to solve the mystery. Yet, this one mystery will take everything she has. Danger, risks, and love are themes found on these pages. Lily likes Cade. Cade is her detective partner. He is just as interested in her as she is in him. Makes for an interesting duo. Lily finds herself in situations that have her rethinking her career as a female detective. If it weren’t for her partner Cade, Lily might not fully be the same.

The writer has captured the time period and mannerisms down perfectly. I felt like I was transported in time. Intriguing, fun, and engaging, I enjoyed reading this novel. Overall, I highly recommend Murder Will Speak to all readers.

Review: Return of the Continuums (book 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

As Myra Jackson and her friends set out to find the First Continuum, Captain Aero Wright and two companions from the outer space Second Continuum find themselves banished for treason and stranded on Earth. Wright has vowed to complete his late father’s mission to recolonize their ancestral planet, but his true mission is to find the mysterious girl who haunts his dreams. Meanwhile, Myra and the young refugees of the underwater Thirteenth Continuum must make an unlikely ally if they are going to survive the hostile surface world and reach their destination, the nexus of humanity’s hope for survival. As their paths begin to converge, the Beacons that guide and connect Myra and Aero begin to prove their power, and a shadowy force with a centuries-old grudge reveals itself.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Return of the Continuums by Jennifer Brody is a great YA dystopian novel. It continues off where the first novel left off. A bunch of teens working together to finish a quest. The obstacles that await them are challenging. It kind of reminds me a little of Star Wars and the Jedi. They have lost a lot of people for cause that may or may not win. Loss, grief, struggles, war, and survival are themes found in this book. Only two characters hold the burden of survival on their shoulders. Determined, they continue their journey for hope. For those looking for action, adventure, and fantasy…this, is a must read. It contains all of these elements.

Review: The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby

Synopsis:

‘Tis the season for…

A pistol-totin’ woman who’s no angel

A tough rancher who doesn’t believe in miracles

Love that warms the coldest nights

After a year in Kuwait, Lucas Allen can’t wait to get back to his ranch for Christmas and meet his gorgeous Internet pal in person.

When he pulls in, there’s Natalie Clark right in his front yard with a pink pistol in her hand and a dead coyote at her feet.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Hilarious, sweet, and engaging…

The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby by Carolyn Brown is a super sweet read. Family, love, and new beginnings are major themes in this book. I was hooked immediately. From the sassy women to the sexy cowboys, I was addicted. Then, there were the ways the farm animals kept coming into the farm house causing a hilarious yet interesting scene. There was also the cutest little baby boy, Joshua who warmed so many hearts including mine. I just could not get enough of these characters. Trouble, drama, and romance all rolled into one brilliant read. I would highly recommend this title to all readers.

Lucas is unfazed. But wait… is that a BABY in her arms? (less)

Review: A Quick Bite

Synopsis:

That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau’s bed? He’s not dessert – he’s the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there’s another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood…an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn’t hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?

Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger’s bedroom pretty quickly – once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That’s a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into…if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Sexy, intriguing, and overall exciting to read…

A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands introduces me to the Argeneau Vampire series. This first book, gives me everything I want in a romance novel plus some. Interesting characters both immortal and mortal alike. The main protagonists have challenges ahead of them that were fun to follow. I am hooked. Smart yet caring vampire meets sexy human psychologist. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I am in love. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series as well as the rest. Overall, I recommend this paranormal romance to all readers.

Review: The Perfect Hope (book 3)

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts introduces you to the Montgomery brothers – Beckett, Ryder, and Owen – as they bring an intimate bed-and-breakfast to life in their hometown.

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out – with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a toolbelt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except, apparently, Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate the joys of small-town living. She’s where she wants to be – except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year’s Eve kiss.

While the inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome – and embarrassing – appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Hot, sexy, and sweet!

The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts was exactly that. It felt so real and believable. The deeper I got into the story, the more I wanted to keep reading it. The beginning and middle sort of felt slow/steady that I didn’t realize how fast the ending got u till I was done. The characters are out of this world charming. I love them all. Feisty, unpredictable, and entertaining to follow. Ryder and his woman were my favorite couple featured in this whole series. Overall, I recommend this sexy romance to all.

Review: The Last Boyfriend (book 2)

Synopsis:

Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist – and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers give him grief for his compulsive list making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery MacTavish….

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation — and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of BoonsBoro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected — and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last….

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts is the next book in this great series. This part continues where the other left off. I followed Avery and Owen as they took their relationship further. Only it feels like their relationship is being stretched into three books. I love the story and the characters; however, I would have preferred if their story was told in one book. Owen knows exactly what he wants. Avery seems to be holding out and that frustrates me like crazy. The question I kept asking is why. The plot is sweet, engaging, and fun to read. But it’s their relationship that isn’t going at the speed I’d wish. Other than that is still a good read that I recommend to others. Romantic, family orientated, and tasteful.

Review: The Next Always (book 1)

Synopsis:

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there’s another project he’s got his eye on: the girl he’s been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town’s bookstore. Busy, with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett’s transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look . . . at the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett’s happy to give Clare a private tour – one room at a time. It’s no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something new – and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next . . .

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Next Always by Nora Roberts is a sweet heartfelt story. Her characters feel real. Beckett is remodeling an older building into a hotel. He’s very attracted to a single mother of three boys, Clare. Clare is just as attracted to Beckett. Hope, new beginnings, and second chances at a happily ever after are major themes of this book. It is entertaining. It engages me further into the characters’ lives. Overall, I would recommend this romantic book to all.

Review: Murder in an Irish Churchyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The village of Kilbane in County Cork, Ireland, has a new garda–and her first case is a grave matter indeed . . .

It’s official! Siobhán is now Garda O’Sullivan, and her five siblings couldn’t be prouder. While brother James runs Naomi’s Bistro, Siobhán is doing her part to keep the village safe. Of course, Kilbane is pretty quiet compared to a place like Dublin, where Macdara Flannery has gone to be a detective sergeant.

Then one night the local priest summons Siobhán to the church cemetery. There’s a dead man in the graveyard–aboveground. He lies shot on a blanket of freshly fallen snow, hand stretched out toward a nearby headstone. He’s a stranger, but the priest has heard talk of an American tourist in town, searching for his Irish ancestor.

A detective sergeant is dispatched from Dublin to assist with the case, and as fate would have it, it’s Macdara. After his parting, things are awkward between them, but they have to work together. They learn the victim was from Dublin–Dublin, Ohio, that is. And when his family members are located and told of his murder, the plot thickens. Siobhán begins to dig for a motive among the gnarled roots of the family tree. But as long-buried secrets are unearthed, she and Macdara will need to stay two steps ahead of the killer or end up with more than one foot in the grave.

Rating: 4-.5-stars

Review:

Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O’Connor is the third installment to this enjoyable cozy mystery series. Humor, family drama, and an Irish heritage are woven into this book. Siobhán is the leading protagonist and sleuthing detective. I really like her personality. She’s reliable and well-known for solving crimes. This time, an unknown person ends up dead in the church yard. No one knows who he is. Siobhán gets called in by the priest to check it out. She hasn’t even started her new career officially and yet Father wants her to head this murder case. Father is also another likable character. Easy to love him. Carlene O’Connor heats up the story as Siobhán takes the case. I was hooked. The plot is intriguing and the who done it theme kept going through my mind until the mystery was solved. I had to keep reading! It was fun getting lost within this third novel. I would love to see more of these wonderful characters…overall, I highly recommend this mystery to all readers.

Review: The Man He Never Was

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

“Rubart will leave readers inspired . . .” –Publishers Weekly STARRED review for The Long Journey to Jake Palmer

What if You Woke up One Morning and the Darkest Parts of Yourself Were Gone?

Toren Daniels vanished eight months back, and his wife and kids have moved on–with more than a little relief. Toren was a good man but carried a raging temper that often exploded without warning. So when he shows up on their doorstep out of the blue, they’re shocked to see him alive. But more shocked to see he’s changed. Radically.

His anger is gone. He’s oddly patient. Kind. Fun. The man he always wanted to be. Toren has no clue where he’s been but knows he’s been utterly transformed. He focuses on three things: Finding out where he’s been. Finding out how it happened. And winning back his family.

But then shards of his old self start to rise from deep inside–like the man kicked out of the NFL for his fury–and Toren must face the supreme battle of his life.

In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, James L. Rubart explores the war between the good and evil within each of us–and one man’s only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Man He Never Was by James L. Rubart is an interesting twist to the classic, Dr. Jekyll andMr. Hyde. Except in this case, the bad part of the main protagonist disappears completely. Like it was never there. Tore Daniels has had an awful temper. He has a wonderful family but sometimes his temper could be really bad…Toren goes missing. His family believes he’s dead until he suddenly pops up at the doorstep of their house. That’s where it gets really weird. Where was he, how did he go missing, and what happened to him while he was gone? These questions kept playing over and over again. His wife tries to push his buttons to see his temper fly but somehow Toren seems to hold it in way better than he ever did. His wife wonders who is this man…I found that a bit funny. The mystery is solved and it was a sweet ending. I loved these characters. There is a lot of inspirational messages on marriage, love, hope, and faith included in this book. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to all.

Review: The Cabin Sessions

Synopsis:

The Cabin Sessions is a confronting, hard-hitting, dark psychological thriller told with acid wit. Themes of abuse are explored through minds distorted by fear and corrupted by hatred and delusion; this is a tale in which redemption is gained in unexpected ways.

It’s Christmas Eve when hapless musician Adam Banks stands on the bridge over the river that cleaves the isolated village of Burton. A storm is rolling into the narrow mountain pass. He thinks of turning back. Instead, he resolves to fulfil his obligation to perform the guest spot at The Cabin Sessions. He should be looking forward to it, but fear stirs when he opens the door on the Cabin’s incense-choked air.

Philip Stone is already there, brooding. He observes with a ruthless eye the regulars, from sleazy barmaid Hannah Fisher, to old crone Cynthia Morgan.

Meanwhile, Philip’s sister, Eva, prepares to take a bath. It¿s a ritual – she’s a breath holder. At twenty-eight, Eva has returned to Burton to finish the business of her past, as memories begin to surface concerning one fateful day by the river and the innocence of her beloved brother…

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Cabin Sessions by Isobel Blackthorn is a dark edgy read. There’s an a lot hatred, anger, and fear represented in this thriller/mystery. The tale is built upon the motions of the characters. Their emotions cause for reactions that may cause them more problems. The internal war inside of the characters felt like a heavy dark blanket that simply would not lift away. The plot was interesting. It kept me wondering how it would explode and when. There were a few grammatical errors that made some lines confusing, other than that it was easy to read. Complex, intriguing, and a bit sinister…yet entertaining. The cast of characters was different from my usual reading kind but they added more to this book. Overall, it was good read.

Review: Ghost Night (book 2)

Synopsis:

A slasher movie turns real when two young actors are brutally murdered on a remote island film set. Their severed heads and arms are posed in macabre homage to a nineteenth-century pirate massacre.

Two years later, survivor Vanessa Loren is drawn back to South Bimini by a documentary being made about the storied region. Filmmaker Sean O’Hara aches to see how the unsolved crime haunts her…and Sean knows more than a little about ghosts.

Lured by visions of a spectral figurehead, Vanessa discovers authentic pirate treasures that only deepen the mystery. Are the murders the work of modern-day marauders, the Bermuda Triangle or a deadly paranormal echo of the island’s violent history? As Vanessa and Sean grow closer, the killer prepares to resume the slaughter…unless the dead can intervene.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Ghost Night by Heather Graham is at it again! Her cast of characters from the previous book are meet once more in this second installment. I love the O’Haras and their significant others. Hearing and seeing ghosts adds to the fun and mystery. This time, however, is Sean O’Hara and ghost Bartholomew’s turn at adventure and maybe, romance. A woman comes seeking Sean’s help. She once acted for a film until people were murdered. Then, more people were being killed. Sean isn’t convinced but with his sister, uncle, best friends, and a ghost, he can’t ignore the quest. History there seems to be nothing but dark, haunting, and deadly. I felt shivers down my spine. The intensity of the deadly situation kept building up with every page. It was thrilling. The cast of new characters are enjoyable to follow. A new crime to solve and new ghosts to meet. Heather Graham has just proved to be the best writer. Overall, I recommend this book to all.

Review: Hearts Entwined (Anthology)

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Four top historical romance novelists team up in this new collection to offer stories of love and romance with a twist of humor. In Karen Witemeyer’s “The Love Knot,” Claire Nevin gets the surprise of her life awaiting her sister’s arrival by train. Mary Connealy’s “The Tangled Ties That Bind” offers the story of two former best friends who are reunited while escaping a stampede. Regina Jennings offers “Bound and Determined,” where a most unusual trip across barren Oklahoma plains is filled with adventure, romance, and . . . camels? And Melissa Jagears’ “Tied and True” entertains with a tale of two hearts from different social classes who become entwined at a cotton thread factory.

Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Hearts Entwined is a super sweet collection of historical romances. Each story bares a different cast of characters as well as hardships. These writers have unique writing styles.

The Love Knot featured a story of one sister receiving her sister’s baby via train carried by her past lover. Claire gets the surprise of her life. From there, loving her nephew like her own child and working on her relationship with her love, Claire has her hands full. It was heartfelt. I love Claire. She’s a good woman.

The Tangled Ties that Bind featured two young lovers who grew apart. Now, one of them returns back home to pursue his heart. Yet his love isn’t interested. The suspense of what happened next between the two kept me hooked. I had fun following this story. It tempted me. Conor thought he did the right thing. While Maggie felt like her left her for good.

Bound and Determined was really interesting. It involved a heard of camels! That was rare in a story such as this one. Two young people meet in this journey. One is a young man needing to mature, so he is assigned military work. The other is a daughter of a military man. Both find a lot more than they were expecting.

Tied and True featured a love between a poor man and a rich woman. Both are strong, independent, and stubborn. In this tale, the woman did the chasing. She also went a long way, to try and catch her love’s heart. I felt connected to her. Her hope and determination made me like her all the more.

Review: The Lost Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Launching a brand-new series, Kristy Cambron explores the collision of past and present as she discovers the ruins of a French castle, long lost to history.

A thirteenth century castle, Chateau de Doux Reves, has been forgotten for generations, left to ruin in a storybook forest nestled deep in France’s picturesque Loire Valley. It survived a sacking in the French Revolution, was brought back to life and fashioned into a storybook chateau in the Gilded Age, and was eventually felled and deserted after a disastrous fire in the 1930s.

As Ellie Carver sits by her grandmother’s bedside, she hears stories of a castle . . . of lost love and a hidden chapel that played host to a secret fight in the World War II French resistance. But her grandmother is quickly slipping into the locked-down world of Alzheimer’s, and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history.

Sparked by the discovery of a long forgotten family heirloom, Ellie embarks on a journey to French wine country to uncover the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty–the castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale–and unearth its secrets before they’re finally silenced by time.

Set in three different time periods–the French Revolution, World War II, and present day–The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged, and an enchanted castle that inspired the epic fairy tales time left behind.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron is an interesting historical journey. A young woman is wanting to learn everything she can about her family history. Her grandmother provides the clues but is slipping away fast into Alzheimer’s. The clock is ticking fast, and Ellie Carver must find the answers. Soon, I was following her as she traveled to a castle that has holds so many secrets. Many generations of women, and their historical time periods were brought to life in this engaging tale. Captivating and intriguing, I was hooked. The Lost Castle peaked my interest. What were the women’s lives like…and how it all ties in with the present, kept me reading. Ellie is a good character. Her personality makes her easy to like. Overall, I enjoyed traveling back in time with The Lost Castle. I recommend it to all.

Review: The Breathing Sea I

Synopsis:

Second Place in Epic Fantasy, Virtual FantasyCon 2017!

Dasha is a gift from the gods. Only she’s not very gifted. Or at least so it seems to her.

Eighteen years ago, Dasha’s mother made a bargain with the gods. She would bear a gods-touched child, one who would stand on the threshold between the worlds, human and divine. Dasha is that child, now almost ready to become a woman, and one day take her mother’s place as Empress of all of Zem’. Except that Dasha is shy, lonely, and one of the least magically inclined girls in the Known World. Instead she has fits and uncontrollable visions. When she sets off with her father on her first journey away from her home kremlin, she hopes she will finally find someone who can help her come into her powers. But those whom she finds only want to use her instead. What will it take for her to unlock the abilities hidden within her, and take up her proper place in the world?

The sequel to the award-winning novel “The Midnight Land,” “The Breathing Sea” returns to the land of Zem’, where animals speak, trees walk, and women rule. Filled with allusions to Russian history, literature, and fairy tales, this coming-of-age tale straddles the line between high fantasy and literary fiction.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Breathing Sea I by E.P. Clark is an interesting fantasy. This novel features women as the rulers. The matriarch theme is unusual in most fiction novels. However, for this tale, it works great. The plot was steady. It contained a lot of magic, power, and action. Dasha has a heavy weigh on her shoulders. Sometimes it was hard to connect with her others times it was easy. I believe Dasha still needs a bit more time to mature fully. Yet she still holds potential as the main protagonist. Dasha goes on a journey to find her way in the world she lives within as well as what she may fully be capable of doing. I found that journey quest intriguing. Overall, The Breathing Sea was entertaining and held my interest.

Review: The Sea Before Us

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a “Wren” in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Dorothy pieces together reconnaissance photographs with thousands of holiday snapshots of France–including those of her own family’s summer home–in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt will turn into naval bombardment plans.

As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn to love. Dorothy must resist its pull. Her bereaved father depends on her, and her heart already belongs to another man. Wyatt too has much to lose. The closer he gets to Dorothy, the more he fears his efforts to win the war will destroy everything she has ever loved.

The tense days leading up to the monumental D-Day landing blaze to life under Sarah Sundin’s practiced pen with this powerful new series.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin takes me back to the rush of World War II. Dorthy is a beautiful yet smart woman. Her work helps the war effort in more ways than most imagine. She meets Wyatt. A soldier missing his family. Together, Dorothy and Wyatt find hope and courage to get through the rough times ahead. What they never thought would happen is the love they find for each other. Somehow, each character gives the other one exactly what they needed. Themes of friendship, love, hope and new beginnings can be felt throughout this engaging read. I couldn’t stop reading it. Both characters risks their hearts and lives to help win the war. Sarah Sundin created memorable characters in a time period that still haunts many of us, today. Heartfelt and intriguing, I highly recommend this historical romance to all.

Review: A Passionate Hope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep and abiding love, for each other, for their God, and for his tabernacle at Shiloh. Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer. But nothing changes as the years pass. Years that also reveal Hannah to be barren.

Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Disgraced and taunted by her husband’s new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered. Do her devotion and kindness in the face of Peninnah’s cruelty count for nothing? Why does God remain silent and indifferent to her pleas?

Travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh with an expert guide as Jill Eileen Smith brings to life a beloved story of hope, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Passionate Hope by Jill Eileen Smith is a wonderful Jewish tale of love, hope, faith, and forgiveness. During this time period, the struggles were harder. Especially, when their coveted ark disappears. Yet they still remain hopeful and obedient to God. I liked how Hannah turns to prayer when life brings her curveballs. She is strong, independent, and faithful. She is an inspiration to all women. Jill Eileen Smith’s historical fiction is well-written. It engages me to follow Hannah as her life dramatically changes for good to problematic to good again. Her love of her husband and God are strong. Hannah felt sad, angry, and hurt when her husband married another women. I wanted to hug her immediately. Her pain is real. It is easy to connect with her on many levels. The title is exactly what this book is about…and I recommend this read to others.

Review: Phoebe’s Light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.

Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.

In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Phoebe’s Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an enlightening Quaker journey. I love historical novels that take me back in time and hold me captive. The main cast of characters were interesting. They felt three-dimensional. The Quaker language and cultural is captured on every page. Phoebe wanting a different life than the one she has on land leaves for a life at sea. Until she leaves home, Phoebe does not realize just how much being on land means to her. Marrying the sea captain brings a whole new adventure to her life. Quipped with a journal from her great-grandmother, Phoebe learns a lot. Phoebe is wanting an adventure. That is exactly what she gets. Matthew is another main character that was easy to like. He’s a good man. Phoebe’s Light is inspiring in many ways especially, to women. Secrets, murder, and an emotional rollercoaster ride…all inside this intriguing story. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.

Review: Fully Ignited (Boston Fire)

Synopsis:

When Jamie Rutherford takes a temporary assignment as lieutenant of Boston Fire’s Engine 59, she doesn’t anticipate any problems. She’s been in the fire service for a long time and, even though she’s fairly new to Boston, she knows how to make any firehouse her home. What she’s not prepared for is her reaction to firefighter Scott Kincaid.

Scott is looking for a wife. It’s been a fun ride as a single guy, but he’s tired of being the third wheel, and nearly losing his brother-in-law finally made him realize just how much he wants a family of his own. When the new guy at the firehouse turns out to be a capable, confident and very attractive woman, his plan is completely derailed.

Hooking up with a fellow firefighter has never been part of Jamie’s plan, but she’s tempted by Scott—even though getting involved with him could tarnish the reputation she’s worked so hard for. And Scott can’t stop thinking about Jamie, despite the fact that she’s his superior and not sticking around. Chemistry can crush the best-laid plans, though, and while Jamie and Scott might not be each other’s future…there’s no resisting the right now.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Fully Ignited: Boston Fire by Shannon Stacey is a smoking hot read. It engages and pulls at the heart strings. Once a playboy, Scott is now looking for his happily ever after. Yet when he found a woman, he soon realized he made a mistake. Scott then goes on a hiatus from dating women. Thinking his choices in women is bad, Scott focuses on his family life and work. But that all goes to hell, when a sexy lady firefighter comes in to take over for one of their fallen members. Scott instantly takes to the beautiful woman before him. But being working partners their relationship is doomed from the start.

Jamie has fought her way through life proving she is just as good as the men. Many of them do not believe that she has what it takes. Her determination and hard work only makes the men like her more. Jamie has never had to watch herself around men more than she has had to when Scott is around her. He makes her want to break all the rules. He oozes sex. Makes her want things she cannot have…but avoiding temptation could prove to be difficult. Working day in and day out with Scott makes it impossible. Something about him makes Jamie fall harder for the man.

Fully Ignited is a temptation in itself. Hot, intense, and sweet. I love the characters. Their flaws make them real. Their courage for what they do is amazing. The reality of their risks is seen on every page. Family life, sexism, and the younger man loving an older woman are just a few themes featured in this contemporary tale. I recommend it to others.

Review: The Undercover Billionaire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The Tate Brothers were raised to protect what is theirs…

Navy SEAL Wolf Tate is on a mission of vengeance. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to infiltrate the lair of his arms-dealing enemy—and rescue the mother he never knew. To do this, he’ll need more than his father’s fortunes or his brothers-in-arms. He must find a way to kidnap his enemy’s daughter for leverage. There’s just one problem: She is also one of Wolf’s closest friends—and the only woman he’s ever loved…

For years, Olivia de Santis has been waiting for Wolf to take her in his arms and make her dreams come true. But she never imagined that he’d sneak into her bedroom one night…and take her as his hostage. Olivia knows she should resist him—and stay loyal to her own family. But how can she deny the burning justice of Wolf’s mission, and the blazing desire in his eyes—even if giving into the heat of the moment can put her in grave danger?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Undercover Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden is sexy, hot, and dangerous. The plot takes readers, like myself deep into their lives. Their fears, anger, and love are felt from all angles. A game of chess with the bad guys could prove to be the undoing of one couple. A woman who can’t resist the sexy seal who kidnaps her and the man who loves his captive fiercely. The stakes are high and there is so much to lose. Time and teamwork will help them…but will it be enough? Choices have to be made…

Jackie Ashenden sucks me into her world of fiction. I am in love. Engaging characters, fun yet irresistible banters, and danger on every page…everything I need. This book is suspenseful and intense. The further I went in, the more pressure the characters felt. This is one romantic suspense title, I will recommend to readers worldwide.

Review: The Recipe Box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Bestselling, beloved author of The Charm Bracelet spins a tale about a lost young woman and the family recipe box that changes her life.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha “Sam” Mullins felt trapped on her family’s orchard and in their pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family’s orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life–including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family’s history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.

As Sam discovers what matters most she opens her heart to a man she left behind, but who now might be the key to her happiness.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman is a heartfelt journey. Themes of family, love, and second chances are brought to life on these pages. I felt connected to the characters instantly. It was like I knew them for years. The pacing was steady yet emotional. The struggles were believable. Sam is a young woman who left her comfort to find her way in life. Only it did not turn out the way she had hoped. Frustrated and broken, Sam returns back home to find herself. Being back home, gave Sam all she needed. It was sweet, inspiring, and beautiful. Overall, I recommend it to all.

Review: Last Stop in Brooklyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

It’s the summer of 1894, and an infidelity case has brought PI Mary Handley to a far corner of Brooklyn: Coney Island. In the midst of her investigation, Mary is contacted by a convicted man’s brother to reopen a murder case. A prostitute was killed by a Jack the Ripper copycat years ago in her New York hotel room, but her true killer was never found. Once again it’s up to Mary to make right the city’s wrongs.

New York City’s untouchable head of detectives, Thomas Byrnes, swears he put the right man behond bars, but as Mary digs deeper, she finds corruption at the heart of New York’s justice system, involving not only the police, but the most powerful of stock titans. Disturbing evidence of other murders begins to surface, each one mimicking Jack the Ripper’s style, each one covered up by Thomas Byrnes.

As Mary pieces together the extent of the damage, she crosses paths with Harper Lloyd, an investigative reporter. Their relationship grows into a partnership, and perhaps more, and together they must catch a killer who’s still out there, and reverse the ruthless workings of New York’s elite. It’ll be Mary’s most dangerous, most personal case yet.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Last Stop in Brooklyn by Lawrence H. Levy is an interesting plot. I was curious who was behind all the jack-the-rippers killings and how far the corruption went. Murder, danger, and risks are shown here. I liked the main protagonist, Mary. I found it unusual for a woman during her time to be a PI but still it was good. A bit of romance is hinted in the relationship between Mary Harper. Both of their careers made this even more engaging to read. After reading this novel, the question of why the police are always terrible at catching the bad guys has seemed to frightening. I see a pattern of this happening in the real world as well as the fictional one here. Overall, this story had every hook that kept me intrigued until the last page. I would recommend this historical murder mystery to others.

Review: Coldwater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Having forfeited his youth to the state prison system, Michael moved back to the only home he’d ever known. An empty shell of a man who now lived–if it could be called living–in the still vacant house of his parents in a town with one stoplight. A town that hated him. Had always hated him. And was ready to pick up where the prison system had let off.

Now he’s on the run from men who’ve tried to kill him once; but Michael is more than an ex-con. A powerful, sinister force creeps inside him, threatening and destructive. Who–and what–it will destroy next is the only real question. From the bold voice that brought readers down Purgatory Road comes a new pulse-pounding, spine-rattling tale of vengeance and justice that will have them up all night.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Coldwater by Samuel Parker is a haunting, deep, yet nightmarish tale. The main protagonist is more troubled than what I was led to believe. A demon taking hold of him and controlling his life, Michael has if rough. A dark paranormal take over happens immediately. Hatred, sins, and death hung within the air with every page. Destruction felt unescapable. Hiding from those who want him dead and battling what is inside gave me chills. It was like a darker more sinister story than any of the Chucky movies that I have seen. Those movies give me nightmares. This was the first novel I’ve read by this publisher that was beyond frightening. Edgy, traumatic, and suspenseful…I never would have imagined this high of a level to be found. Coldwater is intriguing and entertaining but do not read it at night. This, is not for everyone to read. Overall, it was well-done.

Review: It Takes a Coven

Synopsis:

There’s a new witch-hunt in Salem, Massachusetts . . .

When Lee Barrett joins a former student’s bridal party as maid of honor, she expects cake tastings and dress fittings. But wedding planning becomes more peculiar than Lee’s scrying talents could ever predict. There’s a magical baker, a best man with a checkered past, and a talking crow named Poe as the ring bearer. There’s also a kindly old man dead under his apple tree—one of a series of unexplained deaths hanging over the Wiccan community . . .

With witches dropping dead before they even come out of the proverbial broom closet, Lee’s best friend, River, fears she might have somehow unleashed a terrible curse on the city. Now, aided by Poe and her clairvoyant cat, Lee sets out to investigate. Are lives being claimed by vengeful supernatural forces—or by something more shocking? She soon discovers, casting light on the wicked truth can be one killer commitment . . .

Praise for the Witch City Mysteries

“This rewarding paranormal cozy series debut will have Victoria Laurie fans lining up to follow.” —Library Journal on Caught Dead Handed

“Perfectly relaxing and readable.” —Kirkus Reviews on Look Both Ways

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

It Takes a Coven by Carol J. Perry is a bewitching read. I was enchanted. For fans of paranormal mysteries and Salem witches…this, is a must read. I have not read any previous novel by Carol J. Perry but now, I want to read them all. Her writing is superb. The characters felt so real. I felt like I spent my life living there where Lee and the others live. The cat and talking crow also made this particular book interesting. There’s murder, mayhem, and romance all in this one stunning title.

Inside, It Takes a Coven, I got to meet Lee Barrett. She is smart like Nancy Drew and well-liked. Her background makes her more three-dimensional as a character. I could easily be friends with this lady. This protagonist, reminded me of Julia from Agatha Frost’s cozy mystery series. She never gives up trying to figure out what is happening to the people she knows. Also, both sleuths share many common traits. The personality of Lee’s made her my favorite.

Other characters that I enjoyed meeting were Lee’s Aunt Ibby, her best friend River, and her romantic interest, Pete. Pete is a detective on the police force. He and Lee make a wonderful couple. Aunt Ibby is an interesting woman who raised Lee into the woman she has become. River is a witch. This cast of characters offered a variety of delightful and charming people. I was definitely kept on my toes with this book.

Carol J. Perry’s latest book is about a group of Salem witches being targeted by either a curse or someone who wants them dead. Some witches do end up dead, and I felt so sad for their loss. I wasn’t sure what was happening until all the prices came together. There were some very peculiar and mysterious stuff that happened that I still wonder about…overall, I loved reading this and would highly recommend it to all. I can’t wait to read this next novel in this exciting series.