Book Review: A Question of Devotion

Synopsis:

Then she saw it – a sheet of paper in the mailbox, underneath the mail. It was white with large black letters and said LEAVE IT ALONE. 
Mrs. B has a quiet life, and she likes it that way. Morning pinochle games at St. Mary’s Senior Center. Afternoon lunches with Myrtle, Anne and Rose. Peaceful evenings with a cup of coffee and the classic movie channel. 
But one day she wakes to a phone call, which leads to consequences she could never have foreseen. Secrets snowball and threaten to change the neighborhood of Burchfield forever. Someone has to make things right. It’s up to Mrs. B.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Question of Devotion by Anita Kulina is one novel that zeroed in on my full attention. An older Polish woman takes it upon herself to solve a case. One that involves her neighborhood. Changes are coming…as well as danger and threats. 

A debut novel, A Question of Devotion, is indeed an interesting mystery. Secrets come to light. Notes with threats are left and phone calls, too. Mrs. B. has a lot to juggle as the heroine of this book. Computer technology is one thing. I found it captivating and funny how one elderly lady’s typical life changes from doing games at a senior center to investigating a crime. 

The characters including Mrs. B are beleivable. For fans of The Murder She Wrote, Piriot, and Columbo, readers will love this book. I was engaged, entertained, and can’t wait for the next installment. Mrs. B is my new favorite lady detective. Smart, brave, and funny. Overall, I recommend A Question of Devotion to all. 

Review: Willowkeep

 

Synopsis:

Charlotte Darby’s ship is sinking. Penniless and alone, she is struggling to care for herself and her young sister in the harsh seaport town of Hull. But when a solicitor from London brings news that she is the heir to a vast estate in Kent, it seems her days of rough seas are over. Willowkeep is prosperous and grand, far too much for a shipping merchant’s daughter to manage, and she quickly comes to rely on the help of Henry Morland, the estate’s kind and handsome steward. Henry has worked hard his entire life, but all the money he’s saved won’t be enough to get his father out of debtor’s s prison. And Henry’s fondness for Charlotte and her sister is only another reminder of his low status and lack of wealth. Though he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Charlotte happy and looked after as the county’s wealthiest lady, she can never be his.
Courted by a charming man of the ton, threatened by those who want her money, and determined to keep her sister safe from the same fate that cost her the rest of her family, Charlotte must face some heartrending decisions. For no matter the size of the fortune, life and love are never smooth sailing.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Willowkeep by Julie Daines is a romance novel set during the regency time period. This historical setting was perfect. The setting and mood were set just right. Readers won’t be able to put this book down…I was hooked. Instantly Julie Daines takes readers on a journey. One of an older sister taking care of a younger sibling. Both are higher up in society than the servant that serves them so well. It was different to see a servant actually want to take care of his superiors in the way Henry does here. He knows he’s not for Charlotte but can’t help feeling attracted to her. His actions are good. I really liked him as much as I did the sisters. The younger sibling has a learning disability that readers do not hear about much in these kind of novels. I was happy that Julie Daines portrayed this into her stunning tale. It was charming, realistic, and sweet. This was the first novel, I have read by this talented writer. I hope to read more by her in the future. Overall, Willowkeep is a must read for all who love romance and historical tales.

Review: The Boyfriend Bet

 

 

Synopsis:

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains multiple PDAs, after-school detentions, and gambling on the side. Warning: betting on a boyfriend is bad for your health. Zoe Cain knows that Grant Evertide is way out of her league. So naturally, she kisses him. Out of spite. Not only is Grant her brother’s number-one nemesis, but he has zero interest in being tied down to one girl. She’s shocked and secretly thrilled when they start spending more time together. Non-exclusively, of course, but that doesn’t mean Zoe can’t change his mind, one PDA and after-school detention at a time. Zoe’s brother claims Grant is trying to make her his “Ringer,” an oh-so-charming tradition where a popular guy dates a non-popular girl until he hooks up with her, then dumps her. Zoe threatens to neuter Grant with hedge clippers if he’s lying but Grant swears he isn’t trying to trick her. Still, that doesn’t mean Grant is the commitment type even if winning a bet is on the line.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Boyfriend Bet by Chris Cannon is a YA that readers must not miss. Here, readers will get to experience two best friends not sure on whether they would be a great match or not. Their journey is one that I greatly enjoyed. Filled with choices, trust, honesty, and attraction. Teenagers experience it all in this sweet tale. It all started with a girl’s choice in making her brother angry by dating a guy he hates. But there lies the problem…that hated guy lures her in like no other. He makes her want things. A friendship turns into best friends and then something more. Can love come out of the equation or will the first choice have been a mistake all this time? Chris Cannon’s writing is superb. I couldn’t get enough of the main characters. The older brother’s way of protecting his little sister is annoying but warm-hearted. However, he needs to learn to let his sister do things for herself. If she makes a mistake, it’s on her. Not him. Then there’s the question of whether the guy really is into her or not. That alone leaves room for doubt which turns into mistrust. Relationships as readers will find out in this story is that there has to be, trust first, then communication, if anything is to come out okay. Overall, I highly recommend this dazzling contemporary novel to all.

 

Review: One Step Behind

 

 

Synopsis:

London, 1812. When the unconventional Gemma Lancaster embarked on a mission to infiltrate high society and avenge her beloved cousin’s murder she never, would have guessed she’d end up in the arms of a thief. At least, that’s what she assumes when she discovers Lucas Stone breaking into a private safe.

Lucas Stone, the Earl of Winchester, has a reputation for arrogance and a soft-spot for his sister, which is how he ends up in the predicament of hiding behind a curtain at midnight with the dreadfully dull Miss Gemma Lancaster. But he soon discovers appearances can be deceiving when the country mouse turns into a spitfire in front of his eyes and she makes it clear she wants nothing to do with him.

Though one is chasing a blackmailer and the other a murderer, they quickly realize they are on the hunt for the same villain. Now they must work together, which would be fine, if they could decide if they’d rather fall in love or kill one another.

Review:

 

One Step Behind is an enticing read. It lures readers back in time to the regency period. Brianna Labuskes’ historical romance is intense, sexy, and highly entertaining. The quarrel between a red-headed woman and a man highly regarded by the ton, is fun to watch. Their sparring keeps readers on their toes…constantly.  A female heroine strong and not to be distracted until a handsome man captures her attention. Especially, on a night of her clandestine mission. But then he too is on a mission. It’s not until that moment that both find out they share the same need. Plus, a more physical one that develops between them both. Causing both to think of nothing else. It’s quite dangerous to let an attraction disturb one from gaining the truth. There’s a murderer walking around free and both main characters are set to catch him. One Step Behind is an amazing novel. It has everything that baited, lured, and hooked me right into its plot. Fast-paced and bold, Brianna Labuskes’ writing is phenomenal. Overall, I highly recommend this romance to all.

Review: Find Me In Heaven

 

Synopsis:

Violet is a shy, introverted woman who hides behind her red hair and freckles. Xander is a strong, driven businessman who has no desire for romance. Living at opposite ends of the country, there isn’t any chance the two will meet. Little do they know, they have guardian angels who are determined to get them together as the soulmates they are.

Guided by their angels into finding each other online, they begin a whirlwind courtship in cyberspace, however, tragedy strikes when the lovers meet in person and both are killed in a horrible accident.

But what appears to be the end is just the beginning, for in Heaven they are separated and faced with obstacles not even their guardians can out-maneuver. If Xander can keep his promise to find Violet, they might stand a chance at a Happily Eternal After.

Follow this courageous, awe-inspiring love story that spans not only the digital world but the entire universe, and discover why the end is not truly the end. It is a beginning.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Find Me In Heaven by Kris Johnston is a heart melting read. The writer’s superb talent in creating this masterpiece is beyond amazing. A phenomenal romance tale unlike any other. Find Me In Heaven is about two soul mates connecting with the help of their angels. But once they meet, fate takes them apart and their struggles to find each other again, will be tough but not impossible. Love is everlasting. Inside this beautifully woven yet inspirational story, we see that love  can break all barriers even in death it can last forever. True love doesn’t break. The love found and created by the two main characters is something that will sweep readers up into Heaven. Emotionally the best novel I have read in a while. Once this book is opened, readers will forever be changed. Beware it will suck readers inside faster than they can blink…charming, engaging, and highly entertaining. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere.

 

Review: In Robin’s Nest

 

Synopsis:

What if your daughter spotted you in a rock video perched on the shoulders of the father she never met?

“Robin Hamilton, New York attorney, is poised to reveal a three-decades-old family secret that will at once alter the course of three lives.

One winter evening, Robin and her adult daughter Lark are watching a television documentary when Lark unexpectedly spots her mother in a rock concert crowd, twenty-one, luminous, and perched on the shoulders of a handsome young man. That man is Lark’s father, Dean Falconer, though neither of them knows the truth. Robin decides it’s time to come clean.

Flashback to 1977. Robin Hamilton meets Dean Falconer at a concert in Washington, D.C. The two fall in love over the course of a single transcendent weekend.

But now Robin hasn’t spoken to Dean in thirty-five years. While Lark is enthusiastic about meeting her father, Robin must deal with what could have been after three decades of loneliness and broken dreams.

A spring full of revelations, and one extraordinary summer in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia will teach these three people the ultimate measure of honesty, passion and devotion.

In Robin’s Nest is a richly detailed story of love and loss; secrecy and truth; and ultimately redemption, resplendent in poignancy and charm. It’s about embracing your choices, the ties that make a family, and finding that it’s never too late.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

In Robin’s Nest by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler is an amazing read. Readers will instantly be dragged into a family’s deepest secrets and must live courageously to face what lies ahead. The truth needed to be released. After many years, a mother has decided to let it out of the bag. Memories from the characters’ past swept me off my feet and into a whirlwind of love, honesty, and fate. Image a father having never known he had a daughter and a daughter never knowing her father…this is one secret that will haunt and terrify a mother who tried to what was best.  The future holds a lot of hope, love, and new beginnings. I enjoyed following the characters as they grew as a family. A family that finally found everything they ever wanted. Beautifully written, inspiring, and realistic. A mother, a father, and their daughter all experience a journey. One that will stun readers with joy and above all hope. This was the first novel I have read by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler. I highly recommend it to all.

 

Review: Hearts Unloched

 

Synopsis:

A psychic interior designer reluctantly agrees to renovate a sexy investor’s abandoned hotel on Loch Sheldrake, a lake rumored to have once been the mob’s body dumping ground.

Interior designer Kate Bardach loves her single girl’s lifestyle, living in Manhattan and spending weekends at her lake house. She’s passionate about her career, too–reinventing old buildings. But there are some projects she can’t take on because of the spirits trapped inside. Kate is psychic–she sees dead people.

Marco Lareci is one of Wall Street’s most successful investment brokers who’s achieved all of his life’s goals–except for finding his soulmate. His latest project, an abandoned resort on Loch Sheldrake, needs a savvy designer to transform the crumbling complex into a boutique hotel. When Marco meets Kate, he can’t believe his luck. She’s the perfect match for his business and his heart.

Marco’s body excites Kate even more than does his renovation project. But he wants more than a casual relationship, and she’s not willing to give up her freedom. Plus, the haunting at Marco’s resort, a bonafide poltergeist, affects her on an intensely personal level. Kate’s aunt disappeared from the place fifty years ago.

Will the spirit doom Kate and Marco’s love, or drive them closer together?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Hearts Unloched by Claire Gem is a hot, steamy, yet emotional read. The story is about loss, love, and spirits needing closure. All it takes is…a wealthy Italian man to purchase an antique place. His intentions are to restore it and turn it into a hotel. The Shipley Hotel. Somehow by fate, he meets a gorgeous woman who happens to be an interior designer. A woman that he wants to share his bed with forever. She is  one that captures his heart from the beginning…

Kate almost died when she was younger. Now, she sees and communicates with ghosts. Something about the place where she is designing frightens her. Something bad. Maro is a hot Italian man who drives her crazy. He feels a connection to a woman who admitted that she not only sees but talks to ghosts. Got to love a hot sexy man who doesn’t run away nor treat a woman bad after hearing all that. Hearts Unloched will have readers on the edge of their seats. Suspense drives readers to turn the pages faster. Ghosts have a way of destroying or making your life better. Maro and Kate may find their peace after all…but it all depends on the restorations and what they can do to set the ghosts free. Overall, the novel is well-written and I loved reading it. Characters were real. Also, they were easy to connect with on every level. I highly recommend Hearts Unloched by Claire Gem. Her talent is amazing. Can’t wait to read her next paranormal romance.

 

 

Review: Six Month Rule

 

Synopsis:

She created the game, but the rules are about to change…
 
Taurus: Hold fast to your single-minded nature today–no matter how long her legs or how lush her red lips.

Gemini: You were a shining star last night, but reality can be a real–well, you get the picture. Just remember: Tall, dark, and British equals no corner office for you.

Holly’s been busting her butt to make partner at Trousseau, and there’s no way she’s going to let some stuck-up British arsehole get in her way–no matter how drop-dead gorgeous he is. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the memo…

Each book in the Kingston Ale House series is a stand-alone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Six Month Rule by A.J. Pine is a contemporary romance that features all the worries, struggles, and insecurities of falling in love. A woman working her way up in her career is one job from landing a huge promotion. She has never had a date last longer than six months. So she creates the six-month rule. No strings attach and good sex. However,  fate brings in a sexy British foreigner who challenges and pushes all her buttons. He leaves her wanting him in bed just as much as she makes him want her. Talk about complications. They are both brought on to work together. Most flings, involving working partners never work out…or do they?  A man who is more than a good romp, in bed. He has a daughter from a woman whom he’s not married to…that woman is in a relationship with another man. Currently, he’s just a weekend dad. But that’s all about to change. Knowing he has a kid and live in Britain may cause the woman he’s just fallen in love with to run away. But then he has his daughter to think about and he needs to put her first over his happiness. A.J. Pine’s novel is messy, sweet,  and steamy. I loved the characters and their personalities. I also loved their flaws. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all.

 

Review: To Catch A Rake

 

Synopsis:

No Good Rake Goes Unpunished

When George Drexel used his vast experience with women to write and publish The Rake’s Handbook: Including Field Guide, little did he realize the havoc it would cause. Now years later, the rumor of a second edition has London’s naughtiest widows pounding on his door, begging to be included. But George has given up his roguish ways and wants nothing more than to be left alone with his architectural pursuits…until beautiful Meta Russell tempts him from his work and leaves him contemplating an altogether different sort of plan.

The handbook may be years out of print, but it still has the power to ruin lives. Desperate to save her sister whose inclusion has left her jilted-Meta tracks down the rake responsible, only to find a man who steals her breath and leaves her reeling. Banding together to put things to rights, George and Meta find themselves drawn inexorably together…but can Meta truly trust her heart to a man who wrote the book on being a rake?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

To Catch A Rake by Sally Orr is an interesting twist on historical romances. Inside this highly entertaining read, readers will experience, a world full of gossip, reputations at stake and a writer’s dilemma. A man who was once a rake writes a guidebook for all other men…but it holds dangerous consequences if ever published…then he meets a woman who turns his whole world upside down and inside out…the power that a woman holds over a man is incredible. The way Sally Orr has brilliantly brought about a man falling for a woman upon, first sight is a raw emotional journey unlike any other. I fell in love right away with the characters and the wonderful scenes. Never a dull moment nor slow pace where hearts and life changing moments are concerned. Futures will be forever changed. Including a former rake. The words of this talented writer, speaks volumes. I couldn’t put the book down and look forward to reading more by Sally Orr. Overall, this novel has everything to entice readers worldwide into reading its pages. To Catch A Rake is definitely a must read for all.

Review: Daredevil (A Leslie & Belinda Mystery)

 

Synopsis:

BONUS – Includes award-winning short story NO WAKE

Move over, Miss Marple; step aside, Jessica Fletcher—there’s a new gal on the case, well, two gals, that is. This pair of sassy, senior sleuths, Leslie and Belinda, are on the hunt for a missing girl; and it leads them on a crazy chase through a dark graveyard with Leslie’s eight-pound-dog, Riff-Raff, right in the middle of all the action. Buckle up and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times; it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

When the granddaughter of a deceased church member goes missing, the two best friends are determined to solve the mystery and rescue the young woman. It seems no one, including the girl’s father, is all that concerned by her vanishing act, but this pair just knew something’s amiss. Throw in one wandering bear, a flirtatious undertaker, a dustup with a TBI agent, an overweight corpse, and a trip to the Dollar Store for stakeout supplies and you have all the ingredients for one wild adventure. Sticky situations and comedic antics abound when these meddling senior citizens let their curiosity get the better of them.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

 

Daredevil (A Leslie and Belinda Mystery) by Linda S. Browning is absolutely charming, funny, and exciting. Every page is filled with fun, intrigue, and suspense. Two women going about as sleuths…reminds me of Miss Fisher and her woman friend who go about solving crimes together. I loved reading this story. This is definitely one genre that will never go out of style and this book will become an all-time favorite. Readers will be awed and impressed by this magnificent cozy mystery novel.

Daredevil moves at a fast pace and keeps readers turning the pages. A rush of adventure that will keep readers’ adrenaline pumped and keep them guessing. Linda S. Browning is a talented writer indeed and her characters are easy to love. A well-written and fully developed novel that is one thrill ride readers everywhere don’t want to miss. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers worldwide.