Review: Asking for Truffle

Synopsis:

When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town’s seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she’s immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize–only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate. Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn’s quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she’s learning to love. Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Asking for Truffle by Dorothy St. James is an exciting cozy mystery. Dorothy St. James brings readers murder, mystery, and romance. I love chocolate. The main protagonist is a fan of chocolate herself. Easy to connect with and likable. Charity Penn has always felt like something was missing in her life. Her mother was gone and her father moves quickly from woman to woman. All she had was an elderly woman took her in like a mother would. However, Penn soon finds trouble. She receives a letter which causes so much suspicion that she sends her best friend on the case. Only, he ends up dead. He found something. Told her to come there quick. And after that his body was found. The whole town thinks he was into drugs and that’s what caused his death. But Penn knew better. Her guess work soon leads into an investigation of crazy events. Money, chocolate, and greed. Penn and her new friend, a fury snapping dog head out to find answers. Asking for Truffle is indeed the perfect title. Suits well for this book. I loved it. Engaging from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more mysteries by Dorothy St. James. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all. 

Review: Mine

Synopsis:

Anika Mason—simple name. Brown hair—average color. Blue eyes—she wished they were brown. But somehow she’s attracted the attention of the new boy at highschool, and he is becoming quite obsessive and possessive over her. She needs to figure out how to get rid of him, fast. But when she’s forced to lie about having a boyfriend to get him to leave her alone, she gives the name of the biggest player in the school; Brady Morrison. Not only did she not like him, but he barely knew she existed. And now she had to pretend she was dating him. Wonderful.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Mine by A. N. Senerella is an exciting YA novel. Inside, I found a young high school student avoiding the new guy. She makes up a lie and then has to live it. Unlike most stories, the pretend boyfriend, goes with it. I thought that was interesting. Then, A.N. Senerella holds yet another surprise. But then something dark and tragic happens…the tale gets more intense and darker with each page as I went through a stalkerish account from the new guy’s point of view. Intriguing. Mine is a perfect title for this book. As I was led further into the plot, I was hooked. Romance, mystery, and drama. Anika Mason is an ordinary girl whose life becomes visible and emotional. A. N. Senerella’ writing is fun to follow. I enjoyed following each of the characters as the tale unfolded. Overall, Mine is a great YA contemporary read. 

Review: Train Wreck

Synopsis:

train wreck

noun
1. A chaotic or disastrous situation.

2. An utter catastrophe or mess.

3. A devastating calamity or source of trouble.

4. Pepper O’Brien.
As the daughter of a famed film producer, Pepper O’Brien is Hollywood royalty.
Also, her life sucks.
Because, unfortunately for her, the old adage is true: money can’t buy everything—including grace, true love, or the ability to not screw up every single opportunity her life has brought her.
After her latest disaster, Pepper moves across the country to start over but, as usual, her life has other plans, namely in the form of Derek Cashette, her former teenage crush and now ridiculously handsome friend of her older brother.
Derek is determined to salvage the train wreck of her life and Pepper’s determined not to let him. Her life is her problem and, dammit, why can’t she be her own hero?
But sometimes fate has other plans. Or maybe it’s hormones. Especially, when her rescuer comes with a killer smile, a chest Thor would be jealous of, and a butt that any girl just wants to.

Rating: 4-stars

Review: 

Train Wreck by Elise Faber is one hot mess. A young woman has constant trouble. She’s determined to leave and go about living life without help from others. Only that plan comes to a crumble when her long time crush enters the equation. Attraction, lust, and love. Pepper can’t ignore accidents nor ignore the smoldering chemistry with Derek. However, Derek is keeping Pepper in his view constantly due to a pack made with her daddy. Train Wreck is an emotional wreckage of emotions. Two flames and one major issue. I enjoyed reading this contemporary romance. It was funny, sweet, and engaging. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: Jennifer Brown’s Journey

Synopsis:

Five feet one and full of fizz, Jennifer Brown lights up the room. She has a gorgeous partner, a wicked best friend, and a boss who doesn’t mind that she’s the worst typist on the planet. She’s loyal, generous and irredeemably ditzy. Everyone loves Jennifer Brown. But can she learn to love herself? When her world caves in, she needs every ounce of her steely core to step back from the abyss and take charge of her life, reinventing herself first as cook and housekeeper to a saucy sexagenarian, then as manager of a tumbledown country estate with sensitive secrets.

Peopled by a battalion of hilarious characters from the caustic, cross-dressing confidant to the besotted ex-boyfriend with a barmy ex-wife, Jennifer Brown’s Journey is a heartwarming, thoughtful, often poignant portrait of the trials of life as a thirty-something woman.Jennifer Brown champions the importance of self-belief, and the value of a bucket-sized glass of wine in a tight spot. And, always in the background, there’s the quiet man with the warm eyes and the velvet vowels. What on earth is Jennifer Brown going to do about him? 

The first in a series of three, Jennifer Brown’s Journey is a story of female self-empowerment and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of challenges that many women will recognise. Lighthearted and poignant, the story gives readers a very real sense of a woman, initially rather ditzy, maturing into a redoubtable, self-possessed individual who faces her many challenges with developing aplomb. 
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Jennifer Brown’s Journey by Angie Langley is an entertaining book from beginning to end. The main character, Jennifer Brown, is an ordinary woman. She’s stuck at a job that she doesn’t like nor do well. Her episodes of mistyping memos is hilarious. I love her humor. Jennifer isn’t sure what she wants to do. She feels like she’s the only one growing old. Her journey from one job to another is exciting. There is plenty of juicy scenes to enjoy. Drama to respecting herself, Jennifer Brown has a journey that is just beginning. Angie Langley has created a fun atmosphere. Her character feel real. Their troubles are easy to understand. A laugh out loud comedy that is alluring. Overall, I recommend this novel to all. 

Review: The Accidental Honeymoon

Synopsis:

What happens in Vegas…

When Georgie discovers that her fiancé has been cheating on her, only a few days before her cousin’s wedding, her whole world explodes. Facing a romantic trip to Vegas alone, she decides to go out and have some fun…
…but Georgie never expected to wake up wed! And even worse, she can’t remember who to. So when gorgeous Jack reveals himself as her husband, she can’t believe her luck – he’ll act as the perfect wedding date!
Even if it is their very accidental honeymoon, surely the newlyweds can keep their emotions in check for just a few days more?
Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from Portia MacIntosh, author of It’s Not You, It’s Them. Perfect for fans of Rosie Blake, Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Accidental Honeymoon was a perfect summer read. It has humor, romance, and a good dose of reality. I would give this title a perfect 5-stars if only the pacing at the beginning was a bit faster than what it was. Felt like it was sluggish. However, skip over that bit and readers like myself are entertained. I couldn’t stop reading this…Portia Macintosh cleverly wove a tale that hooked its laws deeply into my soul. I had toknow what the main characters were going to do and where they would be afterwards. I wasn’t disappointed. The family of the heroine were interesting. British, funny, and charming characters. The man that gets stuck with the heroine is different. Sure his looks are good to melt any woman near him, but something about him keeps driving Georgie crazy. She keeps him at a distance but she can’t deny she’s attracted. Jealousy, anger, lust, and love are on the horizon. Bring old boyfriends and a cheating ex to the mix and it’s all fun and excitement for readers. I truly enjoyed reading this new novel. Overall, I recommend The Accidental Honeymoon to all. 

Review: Onyx Webb Book Nine

Synopsis:

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Nine. (Episodes 25, 26, 27, & 28) Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

Book Nine is the most cataclysmic book in the series yet and what we have been building to for so long. The web is almost entirely formed now. But questions remain: what happens to everyone now that it is?
Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.
In Book Nine: The Mulvaney’s host the Solstice Eclipse Ball for the Restoring Savannah Foundation and Gerylyn’s prediction comes to pass. Stan Lee gets his revenge and Juniper battles a dark evil at the mansion. Onyx Webb spends her days at the lighthouse alone again without Noah Ashley but Noah may have other plans. Scroll Up and Grab Book Nine Today! 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Onyx Webb Book Nine by both Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz has been my new favorite series. This book series has it all and has everything readers want in each book. The characters are complex and realistic. Yes, there are dead characters…like ghosts but they so make this an interesting and unforgettable read. I love it all. These two writers are definitely masters of fiction writing. They have combined parts of both the past and present in ways that make it easy to follow along and understand. It’s hard to do that in any particular book, but Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz have succeeded each and everytime. Readers can also find a variety of every genre known to readers inside this novel. Yes, I’m serious. Yes, it works out perfectly. Onyx Webb is the main character of this series and I’m so sad to see this series coming to a close. Action, adventure, romance and mystery on every page. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. 

Review: The Bed and Breakfast on the Beach

Synopsis:

A gorgeous summer read to escape with this summer!

Three women throw caution to the wind and move from England to run a B&B on a Greek island.

They’ve all reached a point in their lives when they need a change – one divorced, one empty nester, one made redundant from the job she’s held since leaving school many moons ago.
The move tests their friendship to the limits, brings errant husbands running, and offers new opportunities for love. Each of the women go through their own metamorphosis, but will they choose to stay in Greece when the holiday season winds down?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Bed and Breakfast on the Beach by Kat French is a lovely summer read. Full of humor, romance, and real life issues. It was hard not to connect with the women friends featured inside…

Failed marriage, loss jobs, and a cheating husband makes the three friends at point where they take what they get. A bed and breakfast place on the beach is now owned by the three of them. It was quite interesting to watch each take on the challenges of their new lives. Romance is also in the air. 

Kat French provided a refreshing piece of fiction for her fans. I haven’t read previous novels by this writer, but I did enjoy this one. Friendships, romantic entanglements, and adventure of a lifetime are filled on these pages. I was excited. Hooked. Overall, I recommend this hilarious and heartfelt tale to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Little Bed and Breakfast by the Sea

Synopsis:

A cosy and charming romance set in an English seaside town, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Caroline Roberts.
Escape to the seaside this summer!

Mae loves running her little Bed & Breakfast, it’s the perfect place to raise her adorable four-year-old daughter! And no matter how persistently local vet, Alfie, chases her, she just doesn’t have time for men in her life.

Willow is busy building her dream home with her husband, Ethan, but with every month that passes she secretly worries that her happy every after will never come true…

Melody only intended to stay in the bustling seaside town for a few days to capture the perfect photo. But when she meets Hugo – the charming man in the ice cream van – she decides to stay a little longer!

One thing is for sure, summer at the little Bed & Breakfast by the sea certainly has a few surprises in store…

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Little Bed and Breakfast by the Sea is a sweet summer tale. Jennifer Joyce is a talented writer. Her charcaters were so believable. They felt real. I kept asking myself…are these characters real people or pieces of fiction created by a mastermind. This ummer is full of action. Love is in the air…readers like myself can feel it and the heat is scorching…however, it maintains a clean yet hilarious vibe. Three women go through life with some tough spots. Each one has a man to deal with. One has her husband, the other two will have to work at it. Love isn’t easy. Life can be messy, but it can also bring happiness as well. The entire novel was entertaining from being to end. A steady-paced plot. Blooming friendships and relationships that will tug at your heart like it did with mine. Overall, I recommend The Little Bed and Breakfast by the Sea to women everywhere. It’s a book that is easy to relate to and understand. Enjoyable romance. 

Review: Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove

Synopsis:
A second chance by the sea?

When Kiki Jackson’s marriage falls to pieces, there’s only one place that she knows she can escape to – her sister’s little guesthouse in Butterfly Cove.
But she’s worried that turning up on bride-to-be Mia’s doorstep, especially with her two adorable children in tow, will spoil her sister’s imminent wedding plans!
Luckily, handsome neighbour Aaron Spenser offers to share his new cottage with Kiki until she’s back on her feet. And as the wedding draws closer, Kiki realises that Butterfly Cove may be offering her little family more than just a new home…
Maybe this is where her new life begins…?
An uplifting and heartwarming read, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett is a delightful and engaging read. I was impressed with the writer’s talent. I laughed so hard and felt sympathy for the main charcater, Kiki. Kiki is a fictional charcater but one that readers like myself can relate to…I never went through some of the things Kiki did but I totally understood the family and relationship issues. Sarah Bennett created a hilarious, sweet, but believable tale. Her plot holds a lot. A divorce in the works, a lying slash cheating husband, kids who were sad, and a broken family. Plus, broken hearts that needed healing. Kiki’ children are the sweetest. My heart instantly melted for them. Then, with her bravery of leaving the abusive relationship behind, I applauded her. She went from being abused to being independent and strong. The transformation was slow but beautiful. Then, there was the handsome stranger working for Kiki’s sister, Aaron. Aaron, instantly let Kiki and her kids live in his cottage. He never met them yet what he did won me over…a blossoming romance on the horizon, a meddling older sweet woman, and a family that might just get mended. Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove has it all. It was an emotional journey I’ll never forget. Overall, I highly recommend Sarah Bennett’s novel to all. 

Review: Rejected Writers Take the Stage

Synopsis:

After months of playing the lottery and hoping for an uptick in her dog-boarding business, Janet’s friend Annie must face the inevitable: the bank is foreclosing on her family farm. But thanks to the Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Annie doesn’t have to face it alone. With just a few weeks to raise the $20,000 that she and her fifty rescue dogs need to avoid becoming homeless, the writers need a fund-raiser, and fast. Much to Janet’s horror, Doris has another crazy plan.

In a moment of inspiration, their fearless leader declares a solution: a musical extravaganza. No one in the group has ever produced a musical, but Doris will not be deterred—they’ll write it together. And with Flora, who has never sung a note in her life, as the lead and Janet as their reluctant director—along with a hypochondriac costume designer, a pyrotechnics enthusiast, and Janet’s very pregnant daughter pitching in—what could possibly go wrong?
To produce a miracle for Annie, Janet and her friends will work around the clock holding auditions, concocting elaborate costumes, and getting a little too close to blowing themselves up—but will it be enough?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Rejected Writers Take Stage by Suzanne Kelman is a wonderful woman’s fiction piece. The charcaters are charming. There are moments I laughed out loud, worried, and fell in love with this group. A group of writers get together to help one of their own be saved from being homeless. Their actions to save her and the dogs under her care, will be full of drama, flair, and excitement. This book is full of craziness, humor, and friendship. The sense of community in this small-town of theirs was believable. I loved following along. Suzanne Kelman’s writing is entertaining from the start to end. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Chocolate Comeback

Synopsis:

Fame, fortune and fashion: that’s aspiring model Deirdre Cash’s ideal life. But when her splashy New York career dries up, she swallows her pride and returns to Marietta, Montana, desperate for any work she can find.
Isaac Litton doesn’t want the intrusion of a home care aide for his brother, Mark. But when the young man takes a shine to DeeDee, Isaac decides to give her a chance. He can’t help but be impressed when DeeDee changes his brother’s life around, by rewarding his healthy habits and exercising with treats from the Copper Mountain Chocolate Shop. Gorgeous and opinionated, DeeDee stirs everything up in the Litton household, including an attraction that Isaac can’t deny.
As DeeDee and Isaac start to fall for each other, an unexpected opportunity arises that could launch DeeDee back into the modeling scene. It’s her chance to achieve everything she’s ever wanted. But taking it would mean letting down her friends at the chocolate shop, her family who believes in her, a boy who adores her, and a man who thinks she’s already perfect, just the way she is. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Chocolate Comeback by Roxanne Snopek is another brilliant masterpiece by this talented writer. I highly recommend this to all. There’s humor, romance, and and chocolate. I loved this deadly combo. I was enchanted throughout the book. The main character, DeeDee, is fascinating. She doubts herself when a new challenge arises yetshe goes about doing it anyway. I really liked that about DeeDee. It made her real. Plus, her personality is a bubbly one. It would be hard not to smile when DeeDee is around…

Roxanne Snopek created a beautiful enriching story. Here, inside her seventh novel, we meet Issac who has a brother, Mark. Mark has a learning disability. This part of the novel caught my attention and snagged me further into the fictional tale. I loved how the main charcater interacted with Issac’s brother, Mark. She ends up helping Mark improve himself and his life. A positive and heart felt journey. The Chocolate Comeback is exciting, entertaining, and well-written. Overall, I highly recommend it. 

Review: Cozzi Cove (New Beginnings)

Synopsis:

Cozzi Cove, Book 4
Welcome back to the romantic and magical place called Cozzi Cove, seven guest bungalows on the New Jersey Shore.
This summer, Cal and his new husband, Michael, along with sister, Taylor, and her wife, Carla, prepare for the first in the next generation of Cozzis. To add to the action: Cal finds his great-grandfather’s diary, exposing a shocking surprise; Michael and Taylor weigh new job opportunities that could take them far away from Cozzi Cove; red-letter Christian and new houseboy, Billy Dean, gets his wish when meeting Jesus and John at the cove; summer guest, Nijad, can’t decide which sibling he prefers—Annabel or Andrew; and Jonathan, an occult enthusiast, encounters a sexy vampire.
As usual, nothing is as it seems when romance blossoms once again at Cozzi Cove. What secrets, mysteries, and passions lie waiting to unfold? Find out in Book Four of the Cozzi Cove series.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings by Joe Cosentino is the fourth best gay romantic comedy I have read. The entire Cozzi Cove Series is perfect thus far. Each book represents new events, political agendas, sexy characters, and happy endings. Plus, Joe Cosentino has once more added his brand of humor to this book. I can’t decide which book within the series is the best. Because each one is unique and ties together. The writer has a flare for creating the juiciest plots, unexpected twists, and a romance that sizzles with passion. The heat is a amazing…

Inside this latest novel, readers will find out just how close Cal’s family is and how it’s growing. A baby to come. Michael is once again having some sad moments where he feels like an outsider. He Issue of finding a job has him feeling out of sorts. But he and his husband Cal are close. Their romance made me blush. So bold and strong…felt believable. They each compliment the other. Joe Cosentino has sprung an interesting plot with the new title. Of course, the story follows as the title suggests, new beginnings. I loved how the woman carrying Cal’s and Micheal’s baby was while pregnant. Her comments made me laugh so hard. The struggles women go through while carrying a baby for nine months…can be crazy. Then, the interesting set of charcaters add spice and variety to Cozzi Cove. There’s never a boring moment at the Cozzi Cove place. Buzzing with cool people, new budding romances, and more surprises lie ahead. I have read many gay fictional pieces, but none of them have as much life to them as Joe Cosentino’s Cozzi Cove Series and Nicky and Noah Series have. It’s like Joe pours his whole heart, soul, and mind into each character, scene, and plot. I feel an array of emotions from the pages that hit me hard and good. It a book doesn’t provoke an emotional response than it’s not worth reading. I could feel and almost see the charcaters as they went about their lives. Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings is a definite must read. I know with a doubt that readers worldwide will fall in love with this book as much as I have. Overall, I highly recommend it. 

Review: The Children of Manor House

Synopsis:

Mikey and his friends thought they had successfully freed the ghosts of the children in the garden, but they were mistaken. Now faced with a new mystery, Mikey and his friends must enter a haunted mansion, uncover its secrets, and finally bring the killer to justice once and for all in this final book of the Children series. Can Mikey trust a ghost to solve a mystery one last time?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

R. A. Douthitt’s last novel, The Children of Manor House, in the series is superb. I loved it! Her writing is the best. I found myself pulled into the book. The characters once more were beyond just interesting. I was intrigued. Readers will find humor, ghosts, and danger inside…the danger meter has upped since the last book. Mickey and his friends must s get rid of the evil ghosts forever or else risk others getting hurt again. Lexie, Mickey’s girlfriend and best friend, was taken hostage last time. 

Now, his family is being threatened by past murderers who have died and are now haunting his hometown. Then, there’s the group of mean boy ghosts who take fun in harming people. In order to get rid them, Mickey and his friends will need to get the truth of what happened to Annabelle and others inside of the Manor she calls home. Annabelle is a new ghost readers will meet in this series. Her evil ghost sister along with the other evil ghosts are tormenting her and Mickey. Only time will tell if Mickey and his friends will solve the case once and for all. Overall, I enjoyed reading this new title by R. A. Douthitt. Her writing has a way of coming to life. The Children of Manor House is one thacan be read by children and adults. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: The Children in the Garden

Synopsis:

Now that Mikey and his friends have solved the mystery of The Children Under the Ice they are off to solve another murder mystery with the help of a little girl ghost and her dark secret of the children in the garden.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Children in the Garden by R. A. Douthitt is the second stunning piece to this series. I was wowed with the first book, and I’m definitely in love after reading this second one. R. A. Douthitt has done it again. Creating another masterpiece. A tale that both children and adults will enjoy reading. The characters are twelve-year-olds who solve murder cases with the help of ghosts. 

One of the boys in particular can see all the ghosts. All it took was for him to play hockey on an ice pond and since then he has seen ghosts. The first was his uncle and uncle’s friends. Now, we meet a group of boy ghosts who are cruel. They were cruel when they were living and cruel after death. They haunt a garden called Kew Gardens. There they are called for help by a little girl ghost, Irelene. 

She has been told by Mickey’s Uncle Kevin that Mickey is the guy to go to for help. Mickey at this point isn’t too thrilled about solving ghost crimes. His dad is now married to the nice librarian and he has a baby brother named after his Uncle Kevin. It seems after the bad good can happen. But little does Mickey know that the ghosts from the garden are in connections with the ghosts he will meet later. An old book called the Secret Garden with clues from Irelene and a group who want to get revenge on Mickey will keep readers entertained as well as frightened. I couldn’t stop reading it. This book was just as amazing as the first one. Humor, action, adventure, ghosts and danger….The Children in the Garden has it all. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

Review: June Jenson and the Shield of Quell

Synopsis:

June Jenson, an accomplished Oxford professor, has spent her life trying to get out from under the shadow of her infamous grandfather: a renowned archaeologist accused of stealing a relic during an excavation at Sutton-Hoo. When a secret alliance recruits June to guard priceless artifacts she realizes that this is her chance to contribute to the history she loves and rid herself of the cloud of suspicion that her family has lived under for so long. 

But, when the artifact June is commissioned to guard turns out to be the same relic her grandfather was accused of stealing− a relic he has consistently claimed never existed − her carefully laid plans of family redemption are a bit shot. Now, with the aid of her accused grandfather who suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s, and a chauffeur who’s looking for a scandal to make him famous, June must race to discover the truth of the shield and what really happened at Sutton-Hoo all those years ago.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Emily Harper has surprised me with a wonderful world of mystery, intrigue and a bit of romance. I would like to see more romance between June Jensen and another character. June’s personality made me warm up to her instantly. I was taken with her story. Her family, her grandfather, was accused of stealing a relic. Then, the plot gets more interesting by the seconds, when June, herself is put on a job to guard this same relic. However, it goes missing again, and saving her family name will prove most difficult. Especially with a grandfather who drinks a lot, gives the caretakers a hassle, and has Alzheimer’s. June tries her best to take care of him and chasing after her dream of being an archeologist.But doing so, will cause her to chase after clues and dig up the past. A family friend and chauffeur willing to help her, June Jensen may just save her family name after all. This was the first novel I have read by Emily Harper. I was both intrigued and fascinated. The plot moved quickly and kept my sole interest with every page. Emily Harper has a way of creating suspense and keeping readers guessing. I loved reading it. I can’t wait to read the second novel in this new series. Overall, I highly recommend June Jensen and the Shield of Quell to all. 

Review: Cozzi Cove (Stepping Out #3)

Synopsis:

It’s time for another summer of sun, sand, suntan lotion, sandals, and Speedos on Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey Shore. Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are once again open for love.
This summer, sexy Cal welcomes back his brother and sister, who are confronted with people from their pasts. Connor, the maid packed with muscle and mayhem, becomes the subject of a handsome young psychologist’s study on human sexuality. Tommy, the strapping, bald and tattooed local bartender, is captivated with guest Cory Magnum, a police officer with a secret. Another guest, Bill, a disbelieving pastor, is inspired by a vision of two sexy male angels on the cove. And Cal and Michael reach a plateau in their relationship.

What secrets, humor, tragedies, mysteries, and passions lie waiting to unfold in this magical place called Cozzi Cove?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out by Joe Cosentino is an emotional journey that stays with readers forever. The characters inside have a way of luring me deeper into their lives. I felt their emotions as if I were experiencing it first-hand. The details were wonderfully woven. Once more, Joe Cosentino has captured real life inside his fictional world, Cozzi Cove. It seems here at Cozzi Cove, a resort for gay men is the place to be. Tons of action, drama, love, and secrets to keep readers hooked. Many relationships are brought to life. From the varying ages to various backgrounds, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out offers a lot. It’s hard not to get lost within the pages. Cal will experience more relationship issues as well as family stuff and somehow find a way to overcome all obstacles. Cal and his lover, Michael, are easy to follow as the plot unfolds. One of the things I love most about Joe Cosentino’s books, is that he break so many barriers within his stories. From same sex relationships to racial diversity, Joe Cosentino covers it all. His writing is beautifully written and highly engaging. There’s a ton of stuff for all readers to love. Humor,  mystery, and romance…Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out is indeed a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

Review: Hometown Cowboy

Synopsis:

NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY 

Jessa Mae Love is done with relationships. No matter how tempting he might be, she cannot–will not–fall for a man like Lance Cortez. The outrageously handsome cowboy is practically a living legend in Colorado, as famous for riding bulls as he is for breaking hearts. What would a big-time rodeo star like him see in a small-town veterinarian who wears glasses, rescues animals, and cries when watching rom-coms? Turns out, plenty. 

Raising bulls, riding the circuit, and looking after his ailing father–Lance never stands still for long. Yet Jessa catches his attention, and the more she tries to resist him, the more he wants her. When she agrees to move to the ranch to keep an eye on Lance’s dad, Jessa tells him they have to keep it professional: no flirting, no sweet talk, and definitely no kissing. But with Jessa now living under his roof, that’s easier said than done . . . 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Hometown Cowboy by Sara Richardson is a must read for all. This romantic tale is full of hot sexy cowboys who can make any woman swoon. Their stories come alive with every page. Deep, sad, and emotionally charged. Sara Richardson has created an unforgettable story. Her characters are charming, funny, and believable. Themes of forgiveness, love, and family are represented from beginning to end. I remember just opening the book and before I knew it, I was done. The reading went by fast. I got lost within the lives of the characters. I loved reading it.

Sara Richardson brought a tale about one small-town family. Cowboys. A father was a bull rider. His wife couldn’t handle the pressure of losing him…and knowing her boys wanted to do what their father did…only pushed her further away. One day she left. Never returning. It was that day foreword that the lives of three boys and their father changed dramatically. Secrets kept since childhood come tumbling out…as all four men are reunited under sad circumstances. The oldest son, took over as parent to his younger brothers. It not long until fate comes knocking his world completely upside down and inside out…Jesse Mae Love. A woman who is dumped once more and ready to give up on romance and love. That was…before she got tangled up further into the lives of one family. Especially with the eldest son. Fates are entwined and it’s only a matter of time if they both come out healed or completely destroyed. Hometown Cowboy is definitely Italy a page turner. So much action, drama, and love to lure readers within its depth. Overall, I highly recommend it to all 

Review: The Dark and Other Love Stories

Synopsis:

“The emotional range and depth of [Willis’s stories], the clarity and deftness are astonishing.”—Alice Munro

The characters in the thirteen stories that comprise The Dark and Other Love Stories exist on the edge of danger, where landscapes melt into dreamscapes and every house is haunted. A drug dealer’s girlfriend signs up for the first manned mission to Mars. A girl falls in love with a man who wants to turn her into a bird. A teenage girl and her best friend test their relationship by breaking into suburban houses. A wife finds a gaping hole in the floor of the home she shares with her husband, a hole that only she can see.
Full of longing and strange humor, these subtle, complex stories about the love between a man and his pet crow, an alcoholic and his AA sponsor, a mute migrant and a newspaper reporter—show how love ties us to each other and to the world. 
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Dark and Other Love Stories by Deborah Willis is a compelling read. Each story inside contains its own set of emotions and powerful tug. Luring me deeper into its core. The characters are believable and well-developed. The stories are easy to read. Every page brings a new sense of excitement. Never knowing what the next tale will contain. Deep, engaging, and well-told. Deborah Willis is definitely talented. It shows in each piece. The Dark and Other Love Stories is a collection of fictional worlds for readers to explore. Meanings that will not be forgotten. The human heart, soul, and mind are brought up in each tale. So sad but rich…I loved reading every single story. Overall, I highly recommend it to others. 

Review: He Said She Said

Synopsis:

Joshua Adams is a Harvard-trained Philadelphia lawyer and managing partner of White & Marks, a prestigious 300-plus-person law firm. The story revolves around a disputed charge of sexual harassment by a former white female associate against a prominent black senior partner. In addition, crafty European interests seek to wrest control of the firm’s largest real estate client. Meanwhile, Joshua must contend with difficult personal issues: marital problems, a young daughter with an eating disorder and two beautiful but confusing women.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

He Said She Said by Frederick Blumberg is a novel completely focused on lawyers and the law work they do. Tons of terminology, that relates to law that I wasn’t familiar with…made it a little less easy for me to be swept up into the story. The drama on the other hand was quite a rollercoaster ride. The main character, Joshua Adams has his hands full. A wife who makes marriage less like marriage, a daughter with issues, and a major case at hand. I didn’t like Joshua Adams wife at all. I felt sympahty for the man throughout the book. The pages went by fast. They were filled with a lot of dialogue and action. Never a boring moment. Stressful for the main character but engaging for readers once the terminology is put behind them. I liked getting an insiders view and tour into a lawyer’s way of life both at work and personal too. It truly helped in showing what Joshua Adams was really like. Four amazing things happen inside this fictional piece. I woos happy with the way the story ended. There was some humor woven into the tale. It revolved around how women were a mystery to the main character. Some are hard to deal with while others are not. Trying to figure women out…is tough. Those moments made me laugh. Men will never understand women fully. Overall, He Said She Said is an entertaining read. I recommend to readers everywhere. 

Review: Rome is Where the Heart is…

Synopsis:

Can a holiday romance ever have a happy ending? Escape with Kate to the sun-drenched city of Rome where a love affair is just about to begin …
When Kate’s husband Matt dumps her on Friday 13th she decides enough is enough – it’s time for her to have some fun and so she hops on a plane to Rome. A week of grappa and gelato in pavement cafes under azure blue skies will be just what the doctor ordered.
What she doesn’t count on is meeting and falling for sexy policeman Alessandro. But the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly – Alessandro has five meddling sisters, a fearsome mama and a beautiful ex Orazia. They’re all certain that Kate is not the girl for him.
Can Kate and Alessandro’s love last the distance? Or will she return home with the one souvenir she doesn’t want – a broken heart …

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Rome is Where the Heart is by Tilley Tennant is superb. The title alone snagged my attention. From there, I was following a young woman who marriage and work life were dull as ever. No wonder her husband wanted a divorce. But then again, he proved to be a dirt bag…and his wanting a divorce was the best gift ever for his wife. Kate was shocked, furious, and sad her husband dumped her. But then life, presented a perfect moment for her to travel. Rome…the city all love. Once she arrives, she meets a complete stranger. A gay man whose humor and charming personality, as well as good looks, make him the perfect guy friend. He takes on helping Kate explore and taste Rome’s finest food and places. I laughed so hard. This guy is the one people should invite to all social events. He can easily make any situation fun and easy going. His friendships with Kate helps not only her and him to…then, the plot gets even more intense. Unexpected people come into their life. Each friend has a whirlwind of events that will change everything. But their friendship will continue to grow. A hot romance between Kate and an Italian man was absolutely steamy. No sex…no dirty scenes. But their chemistry sparked enough attention to keep me interested. Alessandro has a complicated life. Life dealt him a sad hand until he meet Kate while just getting off duty. From there things are interesting. I was intrigued even more to know what will happen. I hope Tilley Tennant writes another book on these characters. I have come to love each one. They have a way of pulling me into the book. Overall, Rome is Where the Heart is…is indeed the perfect romance for all. I highly recommend it.

Review: Flora Lively and the Murder at Maples

Synopsis:

Meet feisty new amateur sleuth Flora Lively in the first of her cozy mystery adventures …

When twenty-nine-year-old Flora Lively loses both of her parents and inherits the family business, she tries hard to make a success of her father’s dream – even at the expense of her own dreams. Burdened with Marshall, her father’s handpicked American manager, Flora finds solace in her friendship with Joy, an elderly client, she helped move into the Maples, the local retirement community. 
But when strange and dangerous things begin to happen at the Maples, Flora finds herself plunged headfirst into a web of betrayal, intrigue and deceit. Convinced a murderer is preying on helpless residents, Flora is forced to conduct a private murder investigation. But can she solve the puzzle in time, or will the murderer strike again?
Murder at the Maples is a cozy English village mystery, ideal for readers who love cozy reads with romance and humor, and British mysteries on Kindle.
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Flora Lively and the Murder at the Maples is amazing. Hilarious and offers an adventure readers will love. I fell in love with this story instantly. Joanne Phillips has created a laugh-out-loud mystery. Then, there’s a murder to solve before it’s too late. The main character, Flora Lively, is about my age. Just a year older. I can easily relate to herfear of heights. I remember going on rides with my baby sister because she had no one else to go with her. Unfortunately, she didn’t care if I was scared. Reminded me of the opening scenes with Flora Lively and the elderly woman she cares about…Joy. Joy is not one’s typical 80-year-old. She’s bold, daring, and strong. Her sense of humor and way living life to the fullest was entertaining. She tries to get Flora to live a little. Once again, I felt another connection with the sleuth.

 I love murder mysteries. This book, has it all. Danger, excitement, and intrigue. Death, investigation, and some romance. I was surprised how fast the reading went by…before I knew it, I was finished. Murder at the Maples is easy to read. Flora Lively is fun to follow along as the story unfolds. She’s intelligent and caring. Plus, going all the way out to solve a murder definitely puts her on my adventurous list. So, in a way, Flora can also be bold and daring like her friend, Joy. Joanne Phillips writes extremely well. Her characters are fully developed and peak my interest. I want to read more books featuring the sleuth, Flora Lively. Overall, I highly recommend this cozy mystery to readers everywhere.

Review: Scot of My Dreams

Synopsis:

In Janice Maynard’s sweet and sexy new series, three childhood friends with a shared passion for the Outlander novels and TV show decide to travel to Scotland looking for adventure-and their very own Highland heroes…It’s a dream come true for schoolteacher Hayley Smith. No homework to grade, no students to corral, no social media, Internet or cell phone…just a month amid the heather and rolling hills around Inverness. A brawny alpha male in a kilt is probably too much to ask for. But Hayley is in heaven ambling around Loch Ness, gazing and then…falling into the icy water, before being rescued by a strong, chivalrous local hero…

Retired soccer star Angus Munro, aka Angus the Angler, is a little insulted and a whole lot intrigued when Hayley doesn’t recognize him. How long has it been since anyone saw beyond his wealth and fame? And how long before the macho athlete and his modern-day American damsel in distress act on an attraction that could make even the misty Scottish moors sizzle with heat? Long enough, maybe, for both to figure out if this is an affair to remember…or the start of something everlasting…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Scot of My Dreams by Janice Maynard is a magical journey readers won’t forget. I was instantly dragged into Hayley’s travel. She is forced onto a trip most would dream about taking. Her friends forced her. They all love Outlander series which inspired their trip to Scotland. One of the three friends is wealthy and paid for their travel. The other two only had to bring enough to eat and for their own hotel room. I enjoyed the women’s banter as they all fussed on explorations and embracing for a  brewing romance. All of them except for Hayley. She was the a tough critic against the fact that they each would find a Scot. One that would sweep them off their feet. But to meet this man of their dreams they need to go traveling on separate paths. I laughed along as the story unfolded. Behold…the impossible can become possible. This tale was beautifully told. Engaging from beginning to end. A romance does come to brew within the pages. It’s sweet and believable. Irresistibly good. A sexy Scotsman and an epic castle will surely keep readers hooked. Scot of My Dreams is fast-paced, exciting, and unforgettable. I finished reading it within an hour. I simply could not stop reading this novel. I loved it. Overall, I highly recommend Janice Maynard’s book to readers everywhere. 

Review: Beauty and the Wiener

Synopsis:

A TAIL AS OLD AS TIME…

Addison Turner has scripted a perfect future for herself, complete with a fairytale ending. She will become the name in doggie fashion design and live happily ever after with the husband of her dreams–and her dachshund, Princess, by her side. Just when her plan is on track and she’s gaining recognition at the local dog show, Addison is hit with some Oscar-worthy drama. A group of prize-winning show dogs are stolen from under her nose, and she’s stuck asking for help from Felix Vaughn, an infuriatingly hot bartender who is the exact opposite of Prince Charming.

When more dogs go missing–and Felix becomes a suspect–the two team up to clear their names. Although Felix and Addison fight like cats and dogs, there’s an undeniable spark between them. And as the trail to the missing dogs heats up, so does their red-hot chemistry. Can Addison be persuaded to throw away her script to find an ending that just might be better than she ever expected?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Beauty and the Wiener by Casey Griffin is a hilarious romance. From the beginning, Casey Griffen lures her readers into the doggy world. Animal lovers will fall deeply in love with this tale. Meet Addison, a pet sty,sit on the verge of her biggest dream yet. To become a top brand name in the art of grooming fashion. Or should I say dog couture? Addison is easy to relate to as well as to like. Her personality reminds me of myself. Always wanting to shoot for the stars. Sometimes we don’t get to the top without falling down hard on our butts. Addison ends up falling super hard before things go good for her. Being at a dog fashion show, where it could literally break or make her…Addison soon finds herself in the mist of ruins. Seven dogs in her care go missing. Then, there’s this super hot bartender who riles her up so easily. I enjoy their fun banter. Something about him draws Addison in…but she’s tired of falling for the wrong guy. Yet Felix, starts to appear more right for her than wrong…

Beauty and the Wiener is a sweet, fun, and exciting. The beginning starts off super slow, but then builds up in a way that readers can’t stop reading. I was definitely hooked. Casey Griffin has a way of bringing the love of animals and believable characters to life. Her stories have tons of humor, action, and most of all a brewing romance. Once I started to read it, I couldn’t put it down. Mystery, suspense, and an adventure wait within it’s pages. Overall, I highly recommend this latest novel to readers everywhere. 

Review: Three Fat Singletons

Synopsis:

Dotty the virgin, Jesse the divorcee, and Mary the man-eater are best friends with four things in common: they are single, obese, pushing 40, and unsatisfied with life.

Together they explore the fat-underworld of London including blind dates, Internet dating, phone sex and the possibilities of lifetime celibacy.

When a week-long getaway to Greece turns into a whirlwind of romance, sex and horrific embarrassment, each one of them will have to decide what they really want in life.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Three Fat Singletons is a laugh-out-loud kind of read. Readers will find themselves relating to the realistic issues of the three women. Being fat is a major issue we see in our world, today. Here, are three friends who are struggling with being over weight. Their heavy weight is the center of their problems. Then, there’s their choices they make…that leads them further into a whole. I thought it was great to read about real women with real issues. Dotty, Jesse, and Mary are as real as characters can get in fiction. It was refreshing. Most books portray skinny or curvy women getting the hot sexy man and lucking out with everything. However, in the Three Fat Singletons, J.M Bartholomew captures reality with ease and flair. I enjoyed following the friends as they went opabout their situations from food to men. Their journeys are not pretty nor the best, but it was quite entertaining. Well-written, funny, and three dimensional characters…I would recommend this novel to readers everywhere. A great women’s fictional piece, as well as a comedy. 

Review: Drama Cruise

 

Synopsis:

Theater professors and couple, Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, are going overboard as usual, but this time on an Alaskan cruise, where dead college theater professors are popping up everywhere from the swimming pool to the captain’s table. Further complicating matters are Nicky’s and Noah’s parents as surprise cruise passengers, and Nicky’s assignment to direct a murder mystery dinner theater show onboard ship. Nicky and Noah will need to use their drama skills to figure out who is bringing the curtain down on vacationers before it is lights out for the handsome couple. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, ribald, edge-of-your-seat entertaining third novel in this delightful series. Curtain up and ship ahoy!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

Drama Cruise by Joe Cosentino has delivered my favorite gay couple. Nicky and Noah are on a cruise while on vacation and things get pretty crazy fast. First surprise, was one they weren’t expecting. Family. Both their families came onto the cruise. They caused a groan from Noah and Nicky to smile. Soon their families are planning all their wedding details…but then, other surprises much darker start to happen. It will be up to Nicky and Noah to navigate through the suspects to solve who murdered the gay professors on board.

I was not expecting the murderer to be who it was…I was surprised. Nicky and Noah were funny as always, but this time…the story didn’t quite match the previous magic by this talented writer. The engaged couple’s antics were realistic, however, it appeared the Nicky didn’t mind his family fussing with the wedding plans but got super mad at Noah pretty fast…but then, Nicky was like whatever Noah wants that’s what he wants too. But it seemed like Nicky just gave in to easily to Noah in this tale. Other than that, Joe Cosentino’s writing was great. There’s always a murder case to be solved when Nicky and Noah are around doing theater. Acting, action, and death…follow these two amazing guys everywhere even to Alaska. I can’t wait to see what holds for Nicky and Noah in Hawaii. I love these characters and the plot is always intriguing. Drama Cruise is another stunning piece…once more this book was written strong isssues and heartfelt feelings. Overall, I highly recommend it to all.

 

 

Review: Dystortions (100 Hues of Purple)

Synopsis:

Dystortions: 100 Hues of Purple is a tale of mystery, murder, and love in a parallel universe, with a bit of humor. Addy O’Malibul is a former journalist who is convicted of murder and imprisoned on a planet called Malaprop, strikingly similar to Earth, but with a few twists and many Dystortions in translations of data transmissions from a planet known as Hearth. Glitched up radio communications are bombarding Malaprop – a world where fearful national security analysts, politicians, and P.R. flacks re-write history and distort facts to recreate their reality in Hearth’s image. The Dystortions in those radio communications sometimes appear to twist words backwards and create opposite meanings, but maybe also reveal underlying truths.

There’s just enough good science and wacked-out myth-busting to make the story hauntingly credible – and enough saucy romance to keep things hot. It’s much warmer and more colorful than any shades of grey.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Dystortions: 100 Hues of Purple by Lisa Pell is fast-paced and thrilling. The plot doesn’t wait for readers. Instead, it instantly takes them on a journey through time and space. Addy is a character unlike any other. She starts off like a everyday fictional character then progressing into a whole another category. Her thoughts and actions are what propels readers to look deeper. Traveling from single to married then, arrested and convicted, Addy never has a boring moment in her life. Until she’s locked up, then time is all she has. Her relationship with her husband is great. Joking and sexual. Sweet and hot. But just as life was good it soon turns bad…finding the truth will be harder than thought. Addy’s dreams each contain a different hue of life. In the end good overcomes the bad. 

Lisa Pell has woven a piece of literature that is thought provoking. Each situation gets harsher and more cruel. The story is told from protagonist’s eyes. I felt intrigued. The pages flew by and before I knew it, I had landed at the last page. Dystortions: 100 Hues of Purple shows readers many messages. It’s up to readers to analyze their content. Action, adventure, and fantasy all brought together in one marvelous volume. I was surprised. This book’s tale was unlike many i have read. It was rich, bold, and engaging. Truly enjoyed reading it. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: Dark Rage

Synopsis:

In a universe of myth and magic that spans the known, two great forces battle for control of all the realm, and at the heart of it are two powerful sisters, Princess Asora of the enchanted Utopian Kingdom and Queen Laxur of the mighty Darkcon Empire. Asora and Laxur clash with great nations, armies, and powers. However, both wish to reshape the universe in their image and ideals–one with enlightenment and progress, the other with greatness and order.

Asora, a magical princess, seeks scientific and technological advancements, both for peace and war. Laxur, a dark queen, wants greater power and revenge. Love and morality be damned.
Change can create great opportunities and new life, but it can also lead to terrible strife.

In all this, the people from both nations love their leaders (Asora and Laxur). But the world around them is coming down around them. New factions rise to protect the old ways. And to that, Laxur discovers a power that is beyond all. Asora discovers an ancient machine of great power built by a culture from eons past.

Asora and Laxur have become the wills of their people and nations. And the fate of this universe is in their hands.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Daniel Darcey has written Dark Rage, with belivable out of this world characters!!! The two main characters are sisters. These sisters are opposites who fight each other using their magical power, talents, and knowledge of technology to keep the other one away from their plans. Asora loves history, reading books, and knows more about advance technology than her evil sister Laxur. Laxur uses her power of seduction to persuade people to do things for her. Laxur knows more about military fighting than her sister Asora. Both sisters love each other even though they constantly fight against each other for good versus evil. This amazing novel, contain excitement, love, adventure, advance technology, romance and wars between two kingdoms. There is never a dull moment when reading, Dark Rage. You will find yourself on magical discoveries, falling in love, and battling your toughest enemies. Daniel Darcey’s book is one that is geared for all readers in every genre! His stunning and brilliantly written plot will leave you asking for more. I highly recommend reading his first novel in the series. Once you begin, you will never stop reading. I look forward to this writer’s next book and grand adventure in this series. A sci-fi fantasy full of promise.

The writer’s talent is obvious from the beginning. His creation of Laxur an Asora was brilliant. No creature nor character can compare to the two sisters. Their personalities are so different from each other. Both princesses are determined. They will use everything in their power to keep their kingdoms alive. But how far will one of them go? Power is a major theme. I see both the good and bad sides of it within this new novel. Daniel Darcey also, let’s readers see the characters best and worst sides. I loved that. It made the characters come to life. Their world then became three-dimensional. The war is never over…and the fighting never stops. There will always be a new enemy to fight and choices to be made. Where the sisters go and what will come, is something that readers everywhere must dive into to see for themselves. I was never really into sci-fi fantasy until I read this book. Daniel Darcey has masterfully woven a series that has snatched me from my chair and deep into it’s pages. Dark Rage is a must read for all.

Review: Shylock is My Name

Synopsis:

Man Booker Prize-winner Howard Jacobson brings his singular brilliance to this modern re-imagining of one of Shakespeare’s most unforgettable characters: Shylock

 Winter, a cemetery, Shylock. In this provocative and profound interpretation of “The Merchant of Venice,” Shylock is juxtaposed against his present-day counterpart in the character of art dealer and conflicted father Simon Strulovitch. With characteristic irony, Jacobson presents Shylock as a man of incisive wit and passion, concerned still with questions of identity, parenthood, anti-Semitism and revenge. While Strulovich struggles to reconcile himself to his daughter Beatrice’s “betrayal” of her family and heritage – as she is carried away by the excitement of Manchester high society, and into the arms of a footballer notorious for giving a Nazi salute on the field – Shylock alternates grief for his beloved wife with rage against his own daughter’s rejection of her Jewish upbringing. Culminating in a shocking twist on Shylock’s demand for the infamous pound of flesh, Jacobson’s insightful retelling examines contemporary, acutely relevant questions of Jewish identity while maintaining a poignant sympathy for its characters and a genuine spiritual kinship with its antecedent—a drama which Jacobson himself considers to be “the most troubling of Shakespeare’s plays for anyone, but, for an English novelist who happens to be Jewish, also the most challenging.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson is a modern rebelling of Willian Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. I truly enjoyed reading this new literary novel. It was fascinating to follow. From the start to end I was enchanted with the characters. Especially, Shylock. There is so much depth to him. This character’s struggles are engaging. Some are easy to understand while others are more complicated. Both internal and external conflicts are shown throughout the read. The other characters, Strulovitch and Zionist add to the tale. Their roles are quite interesting. The modern twist and drama soak up readers into an entertaining adventure filled with humor, betrayal, grief and rejection. Howard Jacobson has indeed captured William Shakespeare’s tale and brought to life a brilliant new masterpiece. This satire will leave readers like myself begging for another book, told by this talented writer. 

Shylock Is My Name is a new compelling piece of fiction that’s fresh, exciting, and keeps readers guessing. The style of writing is easy to read. The pages seem to fly by as readers delve deeper into the story. What I loved about this book, was that Howard Jacobson brought in a culture and heritage that is popular even today. The Jews and hatred towards them. Then there’s the issues of those leaving behind their Jewish heritage. Today, we see a lot of that as well. Other topics like revenge and anger are displayed. Once, I opened this novel, I couldn’t stop reading it at all. Howard Jacobson has a way of drawing his readers to his characters and their lives. Beautifully woven. Overall, I highly recommend Shylock Is My Name to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Marquess’ Curse

Synopsis:

The princess he desires may be the next victim of the marquess’ curse.

The second son of Lord Fairfield, William David Montgomery, has just experienced one of the greatest tragedies of his young life. His wife, who he confesses that he did not love as he should, has just died suddenly, leaving him alone to battle the demons of guilt and regret that haunt him. If he’d been the husband he should have been, perhaps she would not have succumbed to her weak heart.

To escape the past, he decides to leave for America and begin establishing business ventures there, but on the way he meets a beautiful princess also seeking respite from daily life. Belle Van Den Berg, Princess of Netherlands, has captured his thoughts in a way that he’s not experienced since Abigail, the mother of his illegitimate child, or since the beginning days of his married life. However, she is as innocent and pure as he is tarnished, and he knows that there’s no room for him in her loving heart.

Everything changes in an instant when Princess Belle falls into an unexplained coma suddenly, although they are at sea on a small ship with only a handful of passengers and a skeleton crew. Lord William begins to wonder if it is because of her frail constitution or if the sudden onset is deliberate…perhaps a case of poisoning. He must discover the truth before it’s too late for beautiful Belle…

Can Lord William find the culprit—and an antidote or cure—before his heart is broken by another untimely death?

Will Princess Belle find room in her heart for her wayward knight in shining armor?
Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Marquess’ Curse by Jessie Bennett is another grand adventure. I loved reading every moment…her characters are irresistible. Their charms have ways of luring readers to their story. The heartbreak and instant connections are the secret ways Jessie Bennett uses to entice me. Her words are well-written. 

The Marquess’ Curse is quite an interesting tale. For one, a man is struck with grief and guilt over a woman he should have loved but didn’t. He feels it’s his fault that she died. But just as he plans for a way to overcome his obstacle, another comes his way. Women are trouble indeed. I never believed that saying until this novel. I have to say after reading this story, I can agree a little to that bit. They can surely power a man and once pulled in…he’s a goner. This describes exactly what happens to Lord William. His heart is played twice. But he may just have a chance this time around…maybe. Fate is cruel. But not as cruel as the fate waiting Lord William when he meets Princess Belle. Their lives forever changed. Intriguing, funny, and addictive lay sweet. I loved this historical romance. The title of the book fits in perfectly with the suspenseful plot. Fast-paced, entertaining, and easy-to-read. A clean tale with enough sexual atmosphere created to keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Overall, The Marquess‘ Curse by Jessie Bennett is a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

Review: My Nazi Nemesis

Synopsis:

Jack Goodwin is a savvy CIA agent oozing with charisma, yet saddled with baggage. Haunted by a dark past for fifteen years, Jack finally reveals all to his daughter, Eleanor. 

As an OSS agent during the war, Jack’s traumatic past involved a series of near-death experiences, from failed sorties and secret missions, to a horrifying encounter with Auschwitz, to having met and married Eleanor’s mother, Veronika. 
But the flames of passion had died when a prying Waffen SS officer, Alois Richter, entered the fray. With an amorous eye for Jack’s bride and a suspicious plea to join the OSS, Alois had sent Jack’s world into a catastrophic tailspin with tragic results. 

Fueled with revenge, father and daughter join forces to hunt down his long-time nemesis. But when disturbing evidence arises, Eleanor is forced to reevaluate the mission, as intrigue, murder, and suspense abound, leading to a climatic face-off that reaches unexpected and terrifying heights.
Rating: 5 stars

Review:

My Nazis Nemesis by Rich DiSilvio is now, my new favorite historical WWII novel. His book brings my favorite topic to life. The awful Nazis. Deadly, frightening, and real. This thriller brings the time period when the Nazis were active and creates a suspenseful dark tale. The action is everywhere. Just opening the book, the first page catches readers attention. Like it did with mine. Deadly situation that can be the last, yet the main character seems to make it out…and the plot thickens.  Rich DiSilvio has masterfully woven an entertaing war novel. One that both scares and lures me. I feel like a fly landing in the killer plant…only seconds will determine if I fly off to live, or if I’ll die. The same is applied to this novel. Hilarious, romantic, and stunning. My Nazis Nemesis will engage readers from the beginning to end. Rich DiSilvio knows how to draw readers into his book. Captivating. The main characters like Jack are believable. Reading this novel, was like watching the scenes come to life. I would love to see this story made into a big motion picture. Overall, I highly recommend My Nazis Nemesis to readers worldwide. 

Review: Imogene in New Orleans

 

Synopsis:

At the ripe age of 73, Imogene Deal McGregor has a penchant for following her own instincts, as well as more grit and spunk than her hypochondriac son, Billy McGregor, and Billy’s impulsive partner Jackson Miller can handle. The boys take Imogene to New Orleans with their devilishly handsome English bulldog Goose, hoping to visit friends and attend a second line parade, but moments after arriving in the French Quarter, they find their friend Glenway Gilbert murdered in his art gallery. Immediately, Imogene and the boys run into a temperamental and ethically-challenged lieutenant who appears hell-bent on neglecting the crime, compelling them to seek answers themselves. As they delve into Glenway Gilbert’s murder, Imogene and the boys realize the deceased artist was surrounded by suspicious friends and lovers. With Goose the bulldog by their side, Jackson and Billy seek answers among old friends and new enemies, while Imogene follows her own ideas on the case. But the sooner they solve the murder, the sooner they can get back to catching beads and eating pralines.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy is the second amazing novel in this mystery series. I love the main character, Imogene. A sleuth like no other. Her personality makes her a fun character to follow as a new investigation pops up…sadly this one involves the death of a friend. The lieutenant nearby should be working the case but isn’t doing a thing. Thus, Imogene and her two sons go about the investigation themselves.

Hunter Murphy knows how to create a world of fiction with just the right amounts of humor, suspense, and intrigue. A murder mystery that will definitely entertain fans every time. Visiting the dead’ art gallery for for clues will be interesting as well as long list of suspicious perpetrators. I also loved traveling to New Orleans through this novel. New Orleans has so many possibilities and with this set of characters is makes for a must read. Imogene reminds me of some of my best female detectives and sleuths. Like the lady from Murder She Wrote and Miss Fisher the lady detective. Imogene somehow has qualities of both of these ladies. Hunter Murphy has beautifully created a three-dimensional character that readers can’t help but to love. Imogene in New Orleans is a cozy mystery that I highly recommend to readers worldwide.

Review: Hag-Seed

 

Synopsis:

William Shakespeare’s The Tempest retold as Hag-Seed

Felix is at the top of his game as Artistic Director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival. His productions have amazed and confounded. Now he’s staging a Tempest like no other: not only will it boost his reputation, it will heal emotional wounds.

Or that was the plan. Instead, after an act of unforeseen treachery, Felix is living in exile in a backwoods hovel, haunted by memories of his beloved lost daughter, Miranda. And also brewing revenge.

After twelve years, revenge finally arrives in the shape of a theatre course at a nearby prison. Here, Felix and his inmate actors will put on his Tempest and snare the traitors who destroyed him. It’s magic! But will it remake Felix as his enemies fall?

Margaret Atwood’s novel take on Shakespeare’s play of enchantment, retribution, and second chances leads us on an interactive, illusion-ridden journey filled with new surprises and wonders of its own.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

 Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood is a sensational hit. I loved how she brilliantly captured one of Shakespeare’s famous plays, The Tempest and brought to life in a modern world. I felt like I stepped back into my high school English classroom. That’s when I studied Shakespeare’s plays. It was then, that I fell in love with King Hamlet. Now, after reading this tale, I have to this one is indeed my new all-time favorite. Echanting, thrilling, and beautifully told. 

Margaret Atwood brings us a realistic character that is similar to Prospero from The Tempest. This modern rebelling is so similar to the original play. It’s quite frightening in a way. I love the setting and tone that the writer has set for this story. I was hooked from beginning to end. Hag-Seed is about an artistic director who lost his only child and from there let a man take over his duties. He knows it was indeed the wrong decision. But once it was made he didn’t change it. For in some ways it was a blessing but underneath he knew it was more of a curse. Then, this new man that he let take over his duties soon has him kicked out of the life he lived for…now, enters the themes that we all knew and love from Shakespeare’s plays. Revenge and redemption. The protagonist Felix, is quite an interesting character. He had a way of drawing me into his life story. The events were dark, hilarious, and entertaining. Suspenseful too.  Felix wants to go after all who drew him out of his former life. Creating a play in a prison with prisoners was an enticing way to go about his goals…readers will love this title. It was hard to not be drawn into the troubles ahead. Margaret Atwood masterfully woven Hag-Seed into a new beloved novel. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide. 

Review: When All The Girls Have Gone

 

Synopsis:

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz is a cozy romantic mystery with a lot of humor. I have read a few of Jayne Ann Krentz’s novels, but this latest one hooked me. The characters were fascinating to watch in action. Their easy-going nature and troubles were interesting. They fit in together like a jigsaw puzzle. Both main characters had lived lives that changed them. Apparently, it seemed to change them both in a positive way. One escaped a fire and was adopted the other was dumped before her wedding and left with bills to pay off…both have issues. Real life issues.It was easy to connect with them on many levels. The way life pulls the rug from under their feet kind of theme also rings true in real life. I love how realistic everything played out inside this book. The PI investigator’s timing and knack for gut instincts in finding out stuff were incredible. Yet he seems to put doubt, in his gut, when it comes to a more personal reason. This causes him to wonder and it eats him alive. Anyone placed in this man’s shoes would have questions as well as doubts. Then, there’s the leading female character who believed in him. This sort of gave him a piece over his internal conflicts. Plus, the instant chemistry between the two satisfying. Two sisters are involved in a dangerous situation. One left thinking she was protecting her sister and friends. Turned out that she was wrong. Instead, she and her sister will be reunited under dire circumstances and it will be up to the PI investigator to get them both before it’s too late…When All the Girls Have Gone is an intriguing, suspenseful, yet wonderful journey. One that readers won’t resist. I loved reading it. Every page had some kind of action that intrigued me. Kept me turning those pages. When I reached the ending, I was very glad I read this book. Overall, Jayne Ann Krentz’s novel is a must read for all. I highly recommend it.

 

Review: A Priestly Affair

Synopsis:

A PRIESTLY AFFAIR is a lively and humorous murder mystery. Jesse Thorpe, a young private investigator, is hired by Monsignor Francis O’Reilly to find his three-year-old daughter, Evelyn, who was conceived during a one-time sexual encounter. DNA testing, requested by the mother, Nicole Levesque, concluded that he is the biological father, but Nicole has never allowed him to see her. He has been paying $15,000 a year in child support, beginning shortly after “Evelyn” was born. 

On January 1st, Father O’Reilly meets Nicole in Deering Oaks Park, in Portland, Maine to make his annual payment. Jesse and two of his colleagues secretly film the meeting and follow her as she leaves, hoping to discover where she and Evelyn live. However, Nicole proves to be an elusive adversary. She drives away with her money and gives Jesse the slip in a Boston suburb. 

Within a week, Xavier LaGrange, a second paternity “victim,” comes knocking at Jesse’s door, but this time the mother has been murdered, minutes after Xavier makes his support payment. 

This second novel in the Jesse Thorpe Mystery Series is every bit as inventive, exciting and hilarious as the first. Jesse is a charmer, and his girlfriend, Angele Boucher, lends a spicy feminine touch to the narrative. A PRIESTLY AFFAIR is a page-turner that will leave you in stitches.
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Priestly Affair by Carl Schmidt is an extraordinary read. It combines danger, suspense and mystery as well as humor into one marvelous book. The plot is full of action. The intrigue will leave readers on the edge of their seats as the scenes roll on by. A Priestly Affair is the second Jesse Thrope Mystery novel. I was fascinated. From beginning to end, Carl Schimdt knows how to hold onto my attention. I loved reading the page turning tale. Jesse Thrope is hired on a mission to follow a priest’s daughter whom the priest has not once meet due to the mother. The mother having been a seductove parishioner…but soon Jesse as before, found himself in a bigger and more deadly investigation. Money, blackmail, and a deadly case. Jesse Thorpe will once again drag readers into his world of mystery. I loved the humor throughout the story. It made the tale more interesting. Well-written and well-developed, A Priestly Affair is a must read for all. I highly recommend this new book to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Shrinkage Situation

Synopsis:

After a hometown grocery store’s puzzling acquisition by a pioneering eCommerce conglomerate, one man becomes suspicious when the grocery store’s best employees – including himself – are fired. 

Grant Taylor loves just two things in the entire world: bacon and his job marking receipts at Mesford Mart, the local family-owned grocery store he has worked at for 22 years. However, Grant’s idyllic world comes crashing down when Not Evil Worldwide (NEW), the largest technology company in the world, acquires Mesford Mart. NEW’s insistence on technical innovation and analytics is a complete 180 from Grant’s old-fashioned values of hard work and excellent customer service. The culture clash peaks when NEW’s analytics technology names Grant as a key reason for the store’s loss of inventory and he is promptly fired. 
Aided by Ravina, a sexual harassment lawyer who is equal parts lewd and successful, Grant embarks on a quest to win back his job, to prove his innocence. While investigating, Grant is forced to navigate the job market for the first time in two decades, and is aghast with a job market full of high-tech automation, hipster-owned juice bars, and entry-level jobs requiring a doctorate degree. 
Initially viewing his firing as an honest mistake, Grant’s investigation unveils that NEW’s ulterior motives are much more ominous. 
Was Grant truly to blame? Or does NEW have ulterior motives that extend beyond Mesford Mart? 
The Shrinkage Situation is a comedic novel that mixes humor and thought provocation. And answers the serious questions: 
Who are the losers in a world of technological progress? 
Is digital social networking tearing us apart? 

Is there anything bacon doesn’t taste good with? 

What is the difference between foodies and hipsters? 

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Review: Enjoy the Ride

Synopsis:

This memoir chronicles the last seven years of the life of Uncle Sammy, a Holy Fool, as he travels the different dimensions of dementia. There are stories of deep wisdom in this simple tale, written by Sandia Siegel and Sammy after he came to live with her in Hawaii. He is truly a rascal and an unlikely sage.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Enjoy the Ride by both Sandia S. Siegel and S. George Green is a beautifully written book that all will love. It is about an older man who goes through the journey of suffering from dementia. I can truly relate to this book because someone from my family is suffering from it as well. It’s hard for us to accept a loved one going through the it. This title, gave humor and wisdom everywhere. It made me laugh, cry, and love it. Truly a refreshing outlook and a real experience that readers can be sucked into as well as enjoy. Life seems too harsh not to try and enjoy the present moments. Enjoy the Ride is definitely a memoir that I would highly recommend to readers everywhere. 

Review: Jack and Jill Went Downhill

 

Synopsis:

Jack and Jill meet on Freshers Big Party Night at university and for both of them it’s love at first sight. Despite their backgrounds, personalities and interests being poles apart, the relationship flourishes during their university years. It’s not quite as comfortable when their studies are over and they start work, Jack in the City and Jill as a teacher.

Way back when they first met, they’d shared the joke that their names were those of the nursery rhyme. Down the line, they fail to recognise that their lives are matching the plot – Jack falls down and Jill comes tumbling after.

Their relationship is on the rocks. Can it survive?

Rating: 4 stars

Review: 

Jack and Jill Went Downhill by R.J. Gould is a great read. The beginning moved too slow for my own interest. However, the middle was where it got super interesting. I mean there was action and all to enjoy. I felt that R.J. Gould could have left off the first part aka the beginning or shortened to a bits and pieces throughout the book like a flashback from the characters’ standpoint. The characters’ emotional journey hit it off in the middle. The ending made me wish the book wasn’t ending quite yet. The romance between the main characters is symbolic in many ways. I thought the portrayal of the romance between them was real. I can’t see most humans forgiving so easily all the time like most novel would have us readers think is believable. The realistic side of relationships can come off harsh and difficult. But that’s life. The story overall, was entertaining once the action started to come into play. Then, from there the rest was highly entertaining. I enjoyed the title and how the story captured the title onto its pages. I would recommend this read to others.

Review: A Tragic Kind of Wonderful

 

Synopsis:

For sixteen-year-old Mel Hannigan, bipolar disorder makes life unpredictable. Her latest struggle is balancing her growing feelings in a new relationship with her instinct to keep everyone at arm’s length. And when a former friend confronts Mel with the truth about the way their relationship ended, deeply buried secrets threaten to come out and upend her shaky equilibrium.

As the walls of Mel’s compartmentalized world crumble, she fears the worst–that her friends will abandon her if they learn the truth about what she’s been hiding. Can Mel bring herself to risk everything to find out?

In A Tragic Kind of Wonderful, Eric Lindstrom, author of the critically acclaimed Not If I See You First, examines the fear that keeps us from exposing our true selves, and the courage it takes to be loved for who we really are.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful is one of the best YA tales that I have read. Here, readers will meet a deeply flawed character who has one heck of a journey to find herself. Courage, love, and friendships are easier said than done. When one has a mental disorder such as being bipolar, that brings a lot of insecurity to a teenage girl. Teens go through enough stress and inner turmoil without adding to it. But this, new flaw, will be the disaster or the realization she doesn’t have to be alone anymore. It’s tough keeping people out of one’s circle. Especially, when that said character wants to be around them. Friends can come and go. Who’s to say they will stay if they find out Mel’s deep secret? Then there’s that good guy that every teenage girl wants in her life…David. David is another great character. He struggles with the fact his grandma is being taken care of by others. It puts him in an awkward situation. But his grandma is okay and the girl helping his grandma fascinates him more than anything. But as with all good things, there’s always the deep dark side to that must come with it. Eric Lindstrom takes readers deep into his character’s mind and heart. Feeling and hearing everything through Mel’s eyes. I loved getting to know her and to watch her grow. Facing her struggles is tough but I kept my hopes up…Overall, A Tragic Kind of Wonderful is exactly that. Tragic but wonderful too. I highly recommend this YA story to all.

Review: To Have and to Hold

 

Synopsis:

To Have and to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories

By Betsy St. Amant, Katie Ganshert & Becky Wade

They’ve helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples. Now twelve new couples will find themselves in the wedding spotlight in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

Love Takes the Cake: A September Wedding Story by Betsy St. Amant

Charlotte Cantrell is always the baker; never the bride. When Will, a regular at Charlotte’s bakery, catches her attention, she can only hope that he is the reliable man this single mother has always hoped to find. The problem is that he’s regularly stopping in to buy cookies for another girl. But when Charlotte is hired to bake a host of wedding goodies for a difficult bride and finds out Will is the best man, she has the perfect opportunity to get to know him better—and find out how serious Will is about this other girl in his life.

 

The Perfect Arrangement: An October Wedding Story by Katie Ganshert

Amelia Woods is a small-town wallflower and the proud owner of Forget-Me-Nots, a quaint flower shop. Her love life has always been a bit lackluster—until she ends up in an embarrassing fender-bender with handsome Nate Gallagher. Meanwhile, Amelia’s younger brother, William, has proposed to his girlfriend. Amelia would be excited except she has evidence that the fiancée is not who she says she is. It seems Nate is the only one available for any advice-giving, and he’s good at it—and pretty fun to talk to, too. As Amelia works to craft the perfect flower arrangements for other people, she begins to wonder if real love is better than the dream. And if it is, will Nate still be interested when he learns who she is?

 

Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story by Becky Wade

When Josh returns to his hometown of Martinsburg, Texas, to help his best friend get married, he didn’t intend to run into church wedding coordinator—and ex-girlfriend—Holly. He can’t help but pine after the girl he never got over. Holly broke up with Josh years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. But she loved him then and still loves him now. As she helps him plan his best friend’s wedding, she longs to be with Josh but doesn’t feel worthy of his big-time lifestyle when she is more comfortable in her small-town world. Will Josh and Holly be able to keep things as they are when their true feelings threaten to surface at every turn?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

To Have and To Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories is a heartwarming collection that all will love. Three talented writers put together a book that holds a story that will knock readers off their feet and drag them to the altar.

The first story, Love Takes the Cake: A September Wedding Story, is superb. Here readers, get a good clean romance as well as a good dash of humor. A woman who happens to be a single mother and talented baker falls for her customer. Not just any customer but a hottie. He comes into her bakery like clockwork each day. Orders the same cookies every time. Her heart goes into overdrive. Wondering if the man is single or taken. Then fate has a way of interrupting her quiet lifestyle and shakes things up for the baker. The same man she’s falling for happens to be the one to bring a crazy bride to the bake shop. The woman is someone the baker would love nothing more than to kick out of her shop until the bride is convinced to let the baker not only do her wedding cake but the bachelorette party as well as the reception party. This means money and Charlotte would be nuts to let one silly bride get to her. But then that means more quality time with the mysterious man she’s crushing for…plus, there’s the question…is he too good to be true. Overall, I highly recommend this sticky sweet yet hilarious romance read to all.

Next, is The Perfect Arrangement: An October Wedding Story. This story was written in a unique yet casual way. I felt like the characters were real rather than just words stretching across the pages. Here, I go to meet interesting individuals with a common interest. Who would have guessed that a man can love classic romantic movies? I surely didn’t yet the writer, Katie Ganshert, made it appear manly and perfectly normal. I loved the atmosphere in which she created. I couldn’t help to feel the fear and worry creeping up on the florist and the smooth calmness from the stranger who’s car she happened to bump into…at least she gave him her email. Since that day, he has emailed her back and her replying back to every one of his emails. Great, advice he seems to give. Then fate brings up another issue and the suspense is back. Readers will find this story sweet, highly engaging, and funny. Overall, I highly recommend this romance to readers everywhere.

Last but not least, is Love in the Details: A November Wedding. This is the last of the three amazing romantic tales inside this book. I could not stop reading it. Becky Wade has a talent of luring her readers into the story. Imagine loving someone for the longest time…then in finding a wedding coordinator for a friend, that person finds his love again. Only he doesn’t know that she let him go due to her wanting not to drag him down. His success meant she had to let him go…but what if there’s a chance that love is in the air for these two past lovers? Two characters both living entirely different lifestyles. This may be the break it or make it moments for their ultimate test in love, or not. Marriage is for forever and that is a serious game that requires everything one has to win it.  Intriguing, entertaining, and a must-read for all. I loved reading this and recommend it to everyone.

Overall, To Have and to Hold: Three Autumn Love Stories is the best clean and romantic series I have read. Highly recommend it to all.

Review: Hit the Road, Jake!

 

Synopsis:

Thrilling, romantic, and sprinkled with humor, HIT THE ROAD, JAKE! reinvents the ‘buddy movie’ concept with the written word … and a pretty woman. Jake and Lindsey are good at tracking down offenders responsible for petty theft and blackmail, but when new mysteries become personal—slashed tires, spattered blood, steamy love letters, a stolen pet—everything changes.

Who is this enemy that secretly harasses them from town to town? Jake calls in some favors and manages to finagle the DNA testing of several blood samples. The results are shocking, and the dangers they face become deadly.

Practically, newlyweds, the couple thought they’d created the perfect win-win plan. While traveling between Tucson and Estes Park in their RV, Jake would solve embarrassing mysteries that schools wished to keep under wraps, and Lindsey, being the ‘cover’ for their presence, would conduct workshops for teachers. Then all hell broke loose.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Hit the Road, Jake! by Cricket Rohman is a great cozy mystery that soon gets deadly. The beginning introduces readers a wonderful yet newly wedded couple. Jake and Lindsey and their dogs. This couple is deeply in love with one another and their bantering will keep any reader grinning. It was hard not to laugh along. Then, as they dive into their first mystery case it seems things get peculiar fast. Threats that look like a harmless prank is more than beats the eye. The couple will soon discover fast just how dangerous their mystery case is.

Cricket Rohman’s novel reminded me much of the Miss Fisher Mysteries. Funny, dangerous, and a puzzle not only to the detectives on the case but also to the readers at hand. I was intrigued at the mystery. A rhyming poem, literature, and petty stuff…what was the real MO and who was behind it and the more puzzling question was why. This novel will keep readers guessing and entertained from beginning to end. Hit the Road, Jake! is an excellent mystery full of suspense, intrigue and a great set of characters.

Hit the Road, Jake! by Cricket Rohman is indeed the perfect read. An unforgettable journey with the world’s best couple. Both Lindsey and Jake are a perfect match. Their investigating soon leads them into more than just trouble with their clients. It comes straight to them as well. The humor and romance that fill the pages as well made it believable. I recommend this novel to all. I look forward to reading the other novels by this talented writer.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Bad Napkin

 

Synopsis:

The young adult comedy about love, lies and lists.

“. . .this delightful, quirky book . . . A zany and satisfying story for fans of YA tales that pack as much humor as they do heart.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

When Sophy’s backpack is turtled, Russ finds a plus-minus list on a napkin stuck to the bottom of a copy of The Catcher in the Rye. He knows with certainty Sophy wrote it about him. Except Julie wrote it about her boyfriend Freddie, the school’s oddly sexy football quarterback. Russ decides to change himself to save his relationship with Sophy. But then he writes his own plus-minus list about her in revenge. And that’s when things start to go very wrong.

Sophy’s research project. Julie’s list on a napkin. A terrible discovery. Feeble self-improvement. Horrifying betrayal. The McRib. A watermelon named Brittany. A cyber-wedgie. A cactus-wedgie. A beautiful girl with a foul mouth. A foul girl with a beautiful mouth. And love. And kissing – lots and lots of kissing (with perhaps a bit too much tongue at times).

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Bad Napkin by T.S.W. Sharman is a hilarious read that will bring readers in every time. I thoroughly enjoyed this laugh-out-loud title. The characters were a variety of kinds that made the plot juicy and ripe. Teenagers whose struggles and perfections made them interesting individuals. A popular girl ends up in a super awkward situation due to a friend of hers taking a list that was written about a terrible boyfriend. It was about Julie’s boyfriend…except Russ, who likes Sophie thought it was about him. So, he then decides to improve himself for her. But what happens next is a dramatic roller-coaster full of ups and downs as well as love. T.S.W. Sharman writes a charming novel that will keep readers coming back time and time again. Themes like being young, finding love, and friendship can be found within this stunning novel. I absolutely loved following the characters’ growth as the story unfolded. The mood swings were crazy but in a realistic yet believable way. Overall, Bad Napkin is a definite must read for readers everywhere.

Review: Dead Down East

 

Synopsis:

Dead Down East, a fictional murder mystery, is both detective noir and smart screwball comedy rolled into one. Jesse Thorpe, a young private investigator operating out of Augusta, Maine, receives a mysterious phone call from a former client, Cynthia Dumais. She begs to be rescued from an island south of Brunswick, within a mile of where William Lavoilette, the governor of Maine, was assassinated the night before. She insists that her life is in danger, but is unwilling to provide any further information. Reluctantly, he goes to fetch her.

Fresh, witty and loaded with eccentric characters, this first novel in the series is both clever and stylish. It’s an old-school private eye tale with inventive twists and local color. If you enjoy a well-crafted and zesty narrative, lively banter, or take pleasure in the company of Mainers, you’ll love Dead Down East.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Dead Down East by Carl Schmidt is a mystery readers everywhere won’t be able to get enough of…especially of the man character, Jesse Thorpe. I am hoping there’s going to be more books out soon. Otherwise, I will go bat crazy trying to come up with new adventures this new detective will engage. Absolutely, the most charming, hilarious, and intriguing detective noir that I have read. This is a new series, I would recommend to all.

Carl Schmidt’s writing is that of a seasoned writers. Words that make me want to dig further and solve the case as well as find out more about Jesse Thorpe. Dead Down East holds murder, humor, and a mystery unlike any other. The danger is real. Plus, there’s some steamy scenes. The characters will blow away readers’ minds. Jesse Thorpe goes on a mission to rescue a woman who is in danger. She happens to be in the same area that someone else was recently assassinated. Jesse Thorpe goes about finding the murdering weapon, theft, has the DNA of an accomplice for the murder. If the accomplice can be found and interrogated the murder might just be within reach…but it all depends on if, when, and how. Every page is filled with action of some kind. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.

 

Review: Yellow Tulips & Red Buses

 

Synopsis:

London. What if she pursued her master’s at an English university? Or left Florida to its sun and swamps, and feasted her eyes instead on historic towers set against overcast skies? What if crossing the ocean was the path to a brighter future?

Stuck in a dismal job and entangled in a back-and-forth relationship, Adia Kamaria ponders this unexpected idea for quite a while before finally taking the plunge. But when she does, she does so wholeheartedly.

Yellow Tulips & Red Buses reads like a journal in its vulnerability and hopeful honesty as it recounts Adia’s romantic escapades—first with a young Pakistani bloke, followed by a Nigerian prince—and traces her travels in the United Kingdom and beyond when she’s not hard at work studying. While she quickly learns she can’t leave her problems behind, she does realize that a fresh perspective can do wonders for the soul.

An inspiring view of life and love through the eyes of a thirty-something woman who’s had her heart broken one too many times, this no-filters account will make you laugh, cry, and long for adventures of your own.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Yellow Tulips & Red Buses is another fabulous adventure by Adia Kamaria. It’s her own adventure and travels that she shares with us, readers. I absolutely loved being able to travel the world with her while still being safe in my room. Life, love, and lessons…all integrated beautifully within this book. A biographical journey of one woman’s road to finding and failing at love. To traveling the world and meeting new people as well as finding a peace within herself. I truly enjoyed getting to know the talented writer through this book. Truly an engaging story that readers won’t want to miss. Steady and exciting. Readers can feel the emotions as if the emotions were their very own. The scenes come to life and the words suck readers into the tale. Adia Kamaria brings an inspiring piece to readers everywhere. Funny, sad, and frustrating to acceptance of her life. I highly recommend this book to all.

 

Review: House of Curds (5)

 

Synopsis:

The leaked, unauthorized, complete, original, first-draft script plans, treatments, and dialogue for season five of “House of Curds”.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The House of Curds season five brings danger, clandestine activities, and a whole lot of humor. Another great political satire by Richard M. Fleegle. Readers will be dragged once more into the drama filled episodes. The plot is fast-paced. There’s plenty of action, intrigue, and quirky stuff. Politicians are dangerous, dirty, and crazy. That’s exactly what readers will find in this latest book. Then’s there’s unpredictable stuff like characters skinny dipping in a shark tank! Murder, mayhem, manipulative and dirty…House of Curds is richly entertaining. I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere.

 

Review: House of Curds (3 & 4)

 

Synopsis:

The zany saga of Frank and Clear Underwire continues.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

House of Curds by Richard M. Fleegle season begins! Here readers brought into a two-volume book containing seasons three and four. The book for those unfamiliar with House of Cards (Netflix show) is a political satire. Hilariously entertaining as well as intriguing. Every page has action, drama, and secrets. The characters are beyond quirky and keep readers interested. The writing by Richard M. Fleegle is superb. His words have ways of dragging in readers.

Inside season three, readers will find out more lies, miserable people, and someone who clearly hates dogs. Then in season four, readers will find more anti-political- psychosis, traveling to Moscow, and murder as well as much more. A journey unlike any other book, I have read. This book has it all…ups, downs, and in-betweens. Redoing wedding vows...House of Curds is intense, gritty, dirty, and well-told. The characters…well, readers just have to read on to find out for themselves…overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere. Richard M. Feegle is indeed a talented writer whose work readers should add to their TBR piles.

 

 

Review: House of Curds (2)

 

Synopsis: 

Episodes 14-26 offer a lot of fascinating twists to retwist. Frank Underwire has been banished to a hog lot. Frank starts his own religion. Frank strategizes to get some “WOW” in his life. Smoky Buns is out of Frank’s life. Of course, episode 18 is the famous “Curd Hurled ‘Round the World” episode. In episode 19, look for “Animal Planet” to tweak some of the character names and habits so “Curds” can run on their channel. And, naturally, what would the second season be like without a visit to Earth by E.T.? He’s reporting on Frank and others. Episode 25 is the “Just Shy of Treason” offering. And Episode 26 is essential to read if you want to decipher all the complex symbols in “Curds.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Once again readers are brought back into the best Netflix show companion book. This title contains the episodes of 14-26 from House of Cards. House of Curds will leave readers reading and re-watching the Netflix episodes all over again. Detailed, hilarious, and a must read for all. Richard M. Fleegle is a great writer. His words have power over readers. Keeps them turning those pages and never losing interest.

Inside season two of House of Curds, readers will experience deals with the devils, phone tapping, Chinese cyber attack campaign, hidden cameras, and threats of arrest as well as more political intrigue. Absolutely, a funny yet highly entertaining read. The characters’ lives are full of nothing but drama, threats, secrets and much more. I couldn’t stop reading. There’s a lot of action and thrilling scenes to keep readers turning the pages. Great book. I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: House of Curds (Book 1)

 

Synopsis:

This is a parody of the first season (13 episodes) of the popular Netflix series “House of Cards.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

House of Curds by Richard Q. Fleegle is indeed a hilarious read. For fans of House of Cards…they will be familiar with what happens inside this tale. The book contains the first twelve episodes of the famous Netflix show. Readers will be lured in by the words and dragged into the humor, drama, and quirky characters. I never watched the Netflix show but know have to see it. Never a boring moment in this laugh-out-loud piece. Well-done, and I definitely recommend House of Curds to readers everywhere. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere.

 

Review: I Take You

 

Synopsis:

Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter, and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.

Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Take You by Eliza Kennedy is a sassy, sexy, hilarious read. Instantly, I found myself turning the pages fast. The main character is quirky. Her ways are not what I would do yet, the way she is presented is great. Eliza Kennedy has done a fabulous job in creating a leading female character that has more flaws than perfections. That’s what made this book so easy to connect with…there’s a lot of sex with men and things that would leave me utterly speechless. However, Lily, the soon to be bride knows how to live life fully. Lily is about the most impulsive character I have met. Readers will never be able to guess what she does next or why. A woman about to be married may or may not actually get married. Her journey to that moment will string readers along and leave them laughing at the craziness of who Lily is. Overall, I highly recommend I Take You to readers everywhere. This is definitely a must read for all.

Review: The Innocents

 

Synopsis:

Quinn Colson didn’t owe his hometown of Jericho, Mississippi, a damn thing. After serving for more than a decade as a U.S. Army Ranger, he’d returned, been elected sheriff, and tried to make the town and surrounding Tibbehah county a better place. He was rewarded with being voted out of office, and went back to the war zone he’d left.

Now, back in Jericho, trying to fix things with his still-married high school girlfriend and retired Hollywood stuntman father, he’s drawn to becoming a lawman again. This time, he accepts a badge from acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil, a foul-mouthed law woman with shades of Calamity Jane. But what they must confront together is something brand-new.

When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, the entire state focuses on the rural county, wanting answers. The light soon shines on several people: the girl’s father, a worthless drunk named Wash Jones; a pair of teenage thugs with grand ambitions to control north Mississippi; and a red-headed truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, who has her own problems – the Syndicate from down on the Gulf Coast has big plans for her neck of the woods.

As Quinn and Lillie uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they learn the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Innocents by Ace Atkins is a well-developed story. A southern detective tale that will bring readers some humor, intrigue, and danger. After spending sixteen years in a rural community, I can connect easily with this novel. What seems to be a rural town with high priority case to solve, turns out to be more deadly than originally thought. Those that the characters trust are the ones that are their enemy. The bad guys are in plenty…then to have an entire town flip sides on the good guys is a nightmare. One I hope to never see…but inside this riveting read, the scenes play out like a movie screen. Action, adventure, and crime are everywhere. Every page is detailed, engaging, and lured me deeper into the tale. The plot is fast-paced. Sheriff Lillie is a female leader who knows how to handle people and the job at hand. Then there’s tough sexy Quinn Colson.  He was once a sheriff and wants back in…only time will tell if that happens. Both of them are in for a thrill ride…Believable and realistic. The Innocents brings drugs, sex, violence and redemption all into one stunning book. I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it. Ace Atkins is definitely a writer that hooks readers with a suspenseful yet unforgettable story. Immediately, drew me inside…to a journey that sends both mind and heart racing.

 

Review: Kill All Cats

 

Synopsis:

Ron Black is a 35-year-old night security guard living a moribund existence. Past deeds need to stay buried for him to remain a free man. When the elderly cat lady next-door dies along with her thirty-eight cats, Ron feels the investigative heat from Detectives Moore and Porter. His alibi: “I was at work.”

The police disrupt Ron’s life, which he shares with Brisbane, his cockatiel. He squawks surprisingly relevant quotes learned from watching crime show reruns 24/7—some of which don’t help Ron’s situation. Ron picks up clues about what happened next-door from conflicting comments by his odd neighbors: “She was popped.” “Poisoned.” “Chopped up.” The neighbors include Ron’s estranged great-uncle Kirk, a disgruntled scientist, who had worked at the pharmaceutical company where Ron is the night guard.

When Ron’s only friend, Jean, disappears, the police double-down on him as a suspect for this crime, too. The next day, the police infer his arrest in twenty-four hours for the crime at his neighbor’s house. Despite the pressure to save himself, he is compelled to find his friend.

Sprinkle a bit of an Agatha Christie closed-room mystery with the situational humor of Evanovich for a high-level concept as Ron tries to “…control what he can control.” And just when you think it’s all over, another layer of horror reveals itself, and Ron didn’t even see it coming.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

Kill All Cats by Rick Bylina is an intriguing novel. This crazy tale about an elderly lady owning thirty-eight cats has been found dead. But that’s not all. So were her cats. All were found dead. Who did it and how are left unknown, until the ending where all it all became known. I found the beginning dragging behind a bit until more suspicious events occur like his friend gone missing. The writer has brilliantly incorporated humor into his writing. The bird inside this story will keep you turning the pages….but so does Ron’s troubles. Ron seems like the average guy. A guy who happens to pull himself deeper into hot water with the police than pulling himself out of it. Every page kept me wondering if and when they police would arrest Ron or if something horrendous would happen to Ron. Kill All Cats is similar to a cozy mystery that keeps readers held in suspense as the plot unfolds. Steady paced, and packed with crime and mystery, and a peculiar set of characters. I enjoyed reading this novel. Overall, I recommend Kill All Cats by Rick Bylina to readers everywhere.