Blue Moon Mystery Saloon

The Total Package

A Novel by Stephanie Evanovich, William Morrow, March 2016. * An e-copy was provided by William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review. The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

THE TOTAL PACKAGE by Stephanie Evanovich is a lighthearted book about football and romance, and the things that can go wrong when two people aren't honest with themselves and each other.

Tyson Palmer is a quarterback with the Austin Mavericks, enjoying a second chance at a quality football career. Once on a steady path to ruin and despair, he turns his life around through hard work, physical and mental endurance, and a little bit of blackmail from one of the Mavericks' owners. The meat of the story begins when he is on his last of four years with the Austin team. Ready to retire without having led his team to the Super Bowl, he's asked to stay on just one more year to work with potential new signee, receiver Marcus LaRue. Currently a Boston Blitz player, LaRue will only go to the Mavericks if Tyson is the quarterback, and he'll only speak to the press through Dani Carr, who has a past with Tyson.

Dani Carr is a woman sportscaster struggling to advance in the male-dominant world of sports news. Marcus doesn't play nice with the media, but he's willing to have Dani as his personal sportscaster. She is forced to accept or watch her career tank. She doesn't really want the specialty job but realizes it's one step higher on her master plan of becoming a well-respected woman sportscaster. And how bad can a football season in Boston be? But to her dismay, Marcus signs with the Austin Mavericks, putting her in proximity to Tyson Palmer every day. And every day she sees him will be torture.

This story begins with a lot of tell and not enough show, not a style of storytelling that I prefer. However, as the book progresses, it becomes fluid and interesting with more dialogue. While most of the characters are complex and multidimensional, I feel it's Dani who carries the story. She's tough and sensitive, self-deprecating and shy, and scared but bold. She has the most to lose in her fight to become a respected sportscaster. But she continues to do what's necessary to attain her goal. And Tyson Palmer presents one huge obstacle.

Overall, I enjoyed the interaction of the characters, their struggles, and how they worked out their differences. The book is humorous, with a few teary moments, and is perfect for fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson. Be sure to put THE TOTAL PACKAGE on your vacation reads list. It's the perfect lighthearted story for a nice day at the beach or a relaxing afternoon at home.

If You Like This, You Might Like: CHICAGO STARS SERIES by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, CHINOOK HOCKEY TEAM SERIES by Rachel Gibson, HOT ZONE SERIES by Carly Phillips

View all my reviews

Darkness

A Thriller by Karen Robards, Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, March 2016.

** An e-copy was provided by Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, Inc. and Edelweiss for an honest review.

 

Darkness by Karen Robards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first I wasn't sure I'd like DARKNESS . I really, really didn't like the first few pages and hesitated reading any further. But I'm glad I did. That first scene helped me feel like I was a player within the story and made me more invested in the outcome. And, if I hadn't persevered, I would have missed a gripping and fast-paced thriller that kept me up half the night reading.

The story revolves around the unlikely partnership of James 'Cal' Callahan, a 34-year-old former member of the Air Force Special Operations Command, and Dr. Gina Sullivan, a 28-year-old ornithologist and assistant professor of environmental studies at Stanford, and their efforts to safely escape Alaska's Attu Island in the Bering Sea.

Cal is a private contractor on assignment for the CIA/U.S. government, escorting a rogue, former CIA, computer hacker back to the U.S. The hacker has discovered intelligence info on how a foreign entity caused a plane to crash near Denver a year before. On the way home from Kazakhstan, their plane is blown up over the Bering Sea, with Cal being the sole survivor.

Gina is one of twelve scientists spending their Thanksgiving holiday conducting studies on pollution hazards to Attu Island, which was abandoned by U.S. and Japanese troops after WWII. While sitting in a motorized rubber boat watching a pair of rare white-tailed eagles soar away from her, and gauging how much time she has to get out of an approaching winter storm, she spots a low-flying plane moving erratically across the sky. The plane explodes and she desperately searches for survivors. On spotting Cal, she helps him into the boat, and they battle the choppy water and heavy snowstorm to get to some kind of shelter on shore. Thus begins a tense partnership to remain alive on a snow ravished island teeming with murder-minded terrorists.

He is wary of her survivalist abilities and wonders if she's part of the group that blew up his plane. She's worried about his need to stay off the grid and thinks he's going to get her murdered. With such a rocky start, they find it hard to trust one another, but they utilize their complementary skills to stay alive and to get back to the mainland.

The story picks up speed just a few pages in and continues at a rapid pace through to the end. The two main characters are three dimensional with flaws, prejudices and self-doubts. They also are smart and confident whenever their special knowledge is needed. The setting is almost a character in itself, as description of the landscape and interesting facts of what happened to Attu Island after WWII are scattered throughout the book. With an exciting, fast-paced plot, the narrative flows along seamlessly while Cal and Gina look for a way to escape their human predators and get off the island.

If you like your books exciting, full of intrigue and with a dash of history, DARKNESS is the story for you. Clear off your schedule, because you'll want to read this smart thriller all the way to the end in one sitting.

If You Like This, You Might Like: DR. CHARLOTTE STONE SERIES by Karen Robards, TEXAS RANGERS and MORGANS OF NASHVILLE SERIES by Mary Burton, TRACERS NOVELS by Laura Griffin, EVE DUNCAN SERIES by Iris Johansen

Tone Deaf

By Olivia Rivers, Sky Pony Press/Skyhorse Publishing, May 2016.

 * An ARC was provided by Sky Pony Press and Edelweiss for an honest review.

What an amazing book!

TONE DEAF shares one girl's journey living through emotional and physical abuse while struggling to show others that deafness is something she has, not who she is. Through her perseverance and with the help of friends, she bravely conquers her traumatic past and forges a better future for herself.

Seventeen-year-old Ali Collins was a brilliant child musical prodigy until a brain tumor left her deaf at a young age, destroying her dreams of a beautiful life immersed in classical music. Living with her abusive dad, she struggles to maintain her sanity and protect herself while hiding her bruises and spending as much time as she can with her best friend, Avery. The day when Ali accompanies her bestie to a pop-punk concert by Avery's favorite band, Tone Deaf, turns out to be the turning point in her somewhat bleak existence.

Jace Beckett, the nineteen-year-old, lead singer of Tone Deaf, is cocky, antagonizing and cares for no one but the other guys in the band. He's angry, guarded and an all around jerk to everyone else--even lashing out at Ali when he first meets her. But Jace becomes Ali's warrior, nurturer and protector. He vows to help her when no one else can.

The author doesn't make everything rosey and gooey for Ali and Jace. She is wary of his quick mood changes, and he's afraid of what she represents. Both are mentally scarred from their childhood traumas and reluctant to share things about themselves. Eventually they chip away at each other's emotional barriers to reveal a healing, happier person underneath.

I love the story arc of how Ali changes from being a deaf person living in a hearing world to identifying as being Deaf in the Deaf community at Gallaudet University, where she can finally just be herself, fully accepted and understood.

Don't think it's a depressing story, though. It has some sad moments, but overall it's vibrant, funny, poignant and educational. Readers get an idea of what it's like to be deaf around hearing people and how survivors of abuse protect themselves from the world around them. As a bonus, readers get a glimpse behind-the-scenes of how several months on tour can affect some bands.

TONE DEAF is suitable for teenagers and above. There are sub-themes of strong friendship through adversity and of developing trust with others, and a healthy male-male relationship between two band members is revealed. Sexual situations are mild with only some kissing and hugging.

If You Like This, You May Also Like --- GOING TOO FAR and DIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jennifer Echols, SAINT ANYTHING and JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick, PERFECT CHEMISTRY by Simone Elkeles

 

Scam Chowder

A FIVE-INGREDIENT MYSTERY  (Book 2) by Maya Corrigan, Kensington Mystery, July 2015.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for an honest review.

SCAM CHOWDER, by Maya Corrigan, is the second book in the FIVE-INGREDIENT MYSTERY series and is perfect for fans of good food, small towns and lighthearted mysteries. The story is set in Bayport, a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and stars Val Deniston as a 32-year-old former Manhattanite who now lives with her grandfather and manages the Cool Down Cafe at the Bayport Racket and Fitness Club.

The tale opens as Val cooks a chowder dinner for her grandfather and his guests from the Ambleside Active Adult Village. Though Granddad writes a food column in the local paper as the Codger Cook, he's mostly a hazard in the kitchen. So he's going to pass Val's meal off as one he prepared himself. Granddad has planned the dinner to corner a guest who he feels scammed his best friend, Ned, by taking off with his savings. But before Granddad can accuse Scott of any wrongdoing, Scott becomes sick while eating his chowder soup and goes home. Scott eventually dies from his illness, and Granddad becomes a person of interest in the death. Val gets involved in finding the real killer to prove her grandfather's innocence.

The thing I like most about SCAM CHOWDER is it's well-developed characters, who are unique and somewhat humorous. Val is adapting to life in a small town after losing her fiance and cookbook publicist job in Manhattan. She's juggling her attraction to two men, a deputy sheriff she meets during her research into the murder and another man with whom she has a frequently interrupted friendship. Her best friend/coworker at the cafe dresses too young for her age, and her grandfather passes himself off as a great chef when he can barely boil water. The story is peppered with several believable suspects and enough red herrings to keep readers guessing who the real killer is.

If you like cooking but don't want to take forever in the kitchen, try some of the five-ingredient recipes the author includes in the back of SCAM CHOWDER. Recipes include Waterman's Clam Chowder, One Ugly Spread, Crunchy Lime Chicken, No-Crust No-Fuss Spinach Pie, Dummy Rum Cake and Crumby Nut Rounds. And try your hand at answering the trivia questions similar to those posed by Val at  Ambleside Village's Brain Game night. You can find them in the back of the book, too.

Overall, SCAM CHOWDER is a fun mystery and a perfect read for a cold weekend in front of a warm fireplace or a well-deserved beach vacation. Just take time to relax in a cozy club chair or on a soft beach blanket and lose yourself in this lighthearted story by Maya Corrigan.

 If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- FOOD LOVERS' MYSTERIES by Leslie Budewitz, READ EM AND EAT MYSTERIES  by Terrie Farley Moran,  SUPPER CLUB MYSTERIES and CHARMED PIE SHOPPE MYSTERIES by Ellery Adams, MERRY MUFFIN MYSTERIES  by Victoria Hamilton

 

Ghost Image

A Sophie Medina Mystery (Book 2) by Ellen Crosby, Simon & Schuster, April 2015.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for an honest review.

GHOST IMAGE, by Ellen Crosby, the intriguing and suspenseful second novel in the Sophie Medina Mystery Series, begins in Washington DC and spans the Atlantic Ocean into London and the English countryside. Trying to solve the death of a friend, Franciscan friar and controversial environmentalist Kevin Boyle, leads freelance photographer, Sophie Medina, into a 200-year-old mystery involving a priceless 17^th century encyclopedia of plants. Not only is she trying to locate the rare, original botanical book as quickly as possible, but she needs to identify her friend's murderer before she becomes the next victim.

Important characters are introduced at the start of the story as party attendees at the Austrian ambassador's posh Kalorama neighborhood residence in DC. What could have been a very confusing lead in to the characters and their high political and royal status is handled very smoothly by the author. The main characters are given unique traits and personalities to help the reader identify them throughout the book, and there are plenty of suspects who have plausible motivations for killing Brother Kevin. With the plant of good clues and red herrings, the identity of the murderer is masked until the end of the story.

The author's use of a rare plant encyclopedia as a link to the suspects and sites in GHOST IMAGE is fairly unique, and the hunt for this treasure provides the catalyst for action and suspense in the story. It's a satisfying book for the mystery enthusiast and, as a bonus, lets the reader in on life rarely seen behind the photo ops and human interest stories arranged by politicians and royalty for positive press.

Crosby knows what it's like to be a journalist in media bureaus throughout the world and interjects that knowledge and enthusiasm into Sophie's investigation in Washington, DC and England. One of my favorite things about this story are the parts set in Washington, DC. The author knows the places that she uses in her books and gives the reader an insider's view of life in and around DC. She offers glimpses of life in the halls of Congress and behind the scenes at both the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress and shares information about interesting sights and overlooked gardens in DC.

I've lived in this region for a fairly long time, but I've never seen the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, which offers various tours and has a wealth of information on its website. And though I've walked the Mall between the Smithsonian buildings umpteen times, I've never paid attention to the small sensory garden alongside the second oldest museum building. Now I want to visit the little known places mentioned in this book.

I recommend this five-star mystery for those who like a good whodunit and for readers who prefer a side of history and political intrigue in their books. GHOST IMAGE would be a great book for a beach vacation or even a rainy weekend, and it's suitable for most ages.

 If You Like This, You May Also Like --- WINE COUNTRY MYSTERIES by Ellen Crosby, WHITE HOUSE CHEF MYSTERIES by Julie Hyzy, FBI THRILLER SERIES by Catherine Coulter, A BRIT IN THE FBI MYSTERIES by Catherine Coulter and JT Ellison

The Cat, The Devil, The Last Escape

A Novel by Shirley Rousseau Murphy and Pat J.J. Murphy, HarperCollins/William Morrow, Feb 2015.

* An ARC was provided by HarperCollins/William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.

THE CAT, THE DEVIL, THE LAST ESCAPE is not a light-hearted read, nor is it a hard thriller. It is a good, somewhat serious mystery set after WWII involving small-time crook & former train robber, Lee Fontana, and a young father falsely accused of murder and bank robbery, Morgan Blake. The 60-ish Lee helps Morgan adapt to life in prison. They eventually hatch a plan to find the man who set up Morgan and bring him to justice. Though something dark and twisted follows both of the men, their morality and strength of soul fortify them against the devil and his minions.

Morgan's nine-year-old daughter Sammie is another major character in the book. She sees the future in her dreams and is targeted by the devil for this gift. She and Lee have a strong link through the ghost cat, Misto. Although the two humans live across the country from one another, Misto appears and comforts Lee and Sammie whenever they are sad or worried. They share another crucial link which is revealed as the story progresses.

Scattered throughout the book are wonderful tidbits about life in the mid-1900s: how people traveled the country, what the penal system was like, aspects of the early years of flight, how people coped during and after the war. The authors' use of these historical facts help ground the story in its time and place.

However, there are a few things keeping me from giving the book five stars. The various points of view (sometimes within the same chapter) might be hard for some readers to follow. Usually it is fairly easy to understand whose side of the story is being told, but there are a couple of scenes where I had to reread a passage to determine the correct point of view. Another issue is how the first chapter is written. It's a long narrative where Misto relates his backstory with Lee and brings the reader up to date on Lee's criminal history. It seems like a dump of information that could have served better sprinkled throughout the book.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Columbo mystery, where it isn't about discovering who did the crime, but about how the real criminal is known, eventually reveals his part in the crime, and is finally brought to justice. It also might appeal to readers who enjoy stories set in the mid-1900s and who like a bit of paranormal mixed in with their mysteries.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: JOE GREY MYSTERIES by Shirley Rousseau Murphy,MIDNIGHT LOUIE MYSTERIESby Carole Nelson Douglas,MRS. MURPHY MYSTERIESby Rita Mae Brown,MAGICAL CATS MYSTERIES by Sofie Kelly,WHALES AND TAILS MYSTERIESby Kathi Daley,CATS IN TROUBLE MYSTERIESby Leann Sweeney,BLACK CAT BOOKSHOP MYSTERIESby Ali Brandon,CATS IN THE STACKS MYSTERIES by Miranda James, CATS AND CURIOS MYSTERIES by Rebecca M. Hale

One Step Too Far

A Novel by Tina Seskis, HarperCollins, January 2015.

* An e-copy was provided by HarperCollins via Edelweiss for an honest review.

ONE STEP TOO FAR, by Tina Seskis, is a psychological mystery that certainly has a lot of twists and turns. Part of the story is set in the 1980s and starts with a woman expecting one child that she's not sure she wants, then during the birth, she is distressed to find she's having twins. As the children grow, the family falls apart. The mother favors the first twin, Emily, and practically ignores the second, Caroline. Of course, Caroline picks up on this disparity and becomes manipulative and mean. She is jealous of Emily and causes trouble whenever she can.

In the present, the main story surrounds Emily's life. One day she leaves her husband and home, changes her name to Cat, moves in a group house and begins work at a hip advertising agency in London. One of her housemates is Angel, and the two of them quickly bond and become inseparable. As Cat, she tries to erase all traces of her old life so no one can find her. But no matter what she does or where she goes, she can't get rid of her memories and the truth of what happened in her past.

The psychological aspect of the story seemed plausible, and the ending was somewhat satisfying.  However, I found the story structure confusing and disjointed. The book has several points of view and skips from present, to past, to future, back to present and so on. Plus, Emily/Cat's narrative is in first person, present tense, while all the other point of views are in third person, past tense. A few times I began a new chapter and had to read several paragraphs before I could tell in whose point of view I was reading.

Also, the cover of the book was too washed out and seemed boring to me. If I'd seen it on a store's bookshelf, I would have ignored it. I know the author rarely has a say in the cover design, and frequently the cover artist only gets to read a blurb for the story before preparing a cover. But this particular cover just didn't work for me.

All in all, the book's premise was interesting and the characters were far from flat. But the story lacked a good overall structure and was, at times, confusing. Because of this, I gave it 3.5 stars.

And fair warning—the story is very depressing.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: THE PERFECT MOTHER by Nina Darnton, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins, THE MAGICIAN'S LIE by Greer Macallister, VANESSA AND HER SISTER by Priya Parmar

Rebirth of an Abandoned Scottish Castle

Houzz Tour: New Warmth for a 17th-Century Scottish Castle

The Monogram Murders

The New Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah, Wm Morrow/HarperCollins, September 2014.

* A copy was provided by the the publisher and Edelweiss for an honest review.

Sophie Hannah's new novel, THE MONOGRAM MURDERS, follows the famous Belgium detective, Hercule Poirot, as he tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the death of three guests at a London hotel and  the possible death of a young woman he encounters in a coffeehouse. Through various twists and turns, and several red herrings, Poirot sifts through the clues and gleans the truth about what happened.

The author fully captures Poirot's OCD habits and his mode of speech. I can picture David Suchet's Poirot smiling condescendingly at some fool, wincing at a scattered placesetting or a maid dropping his hat, and spelling out the truth of what happened to the gathered group of suspects.

However, the tone of the story seems more current than the original Poirot mysteries by Agatha Christie. This is not necessarily a bad thing, unless the reader is a devoted Christie fan. The story is told from a different point of view than the original stories were. The new narrator, Scotland Yard's Edward Catchpool, is thirty-two and introduces himself as a policeman friend of Poirot's. They meet when Poirot stays in the same London boardinghouse as Catchpool, about six weeks before the events in the book. Catchpool is a touch insecure and feels everyone will soon catch on that he's not the best policeman out there. He is an acceptable narrator, though.

I prefer to base this review on the book itself and not on how it does or does not read like Agatha Christie wrote it. With that in mind, I think this is a fairly entertaining novel that has enough clues and suspects to make it an enjoyable story for people who love mysteries. With the good balance of dialogue and description, the interesting and unusual mystery, and a story that flows along nicely, this novel could bring in some new readers of Agatha Christie's stories.

 

CIty of Mirrors

A Diana Poole Thriller by Melodie Johnson Howe, Pegasus Crime, August 2013.

* A copy was provided by the author for an honest review.

CITY OF MIRRORS, by Melodie Johnson Howe, is a fast-moving, entertaining mystery set in the semi-glamorous world of Hollywood, where who you know and what you know are sometimes more important than talent. The star of this story is 40-year-old Diana Poole, daughter of the recently deceased mega-star Nora Poole and widow of the Oscar-winning screenwriter Colin Hudson. Diana gave up a promising movie career when she married, and eight years later, after the death of her husband, she's back on a movie set in what she hopes will be a boost to her reemergence on the big screen. In the film she plays the mother to starlet Jenny Parson's character. Unfortunately production is frequently delayed because Jenny can't seem to remember her lines. But Diana's big movie break is all but forgotten when the starlet is found dead.

Diana is a strong, resilient and independent protagonist, who discovers that everyone plays a part, even behind the scenes. As more friends' and family secrets come to light in the story, Diana grows as a person. She comes to realize that not everything is as it seems, and that people she considered close friends, she never really knew at all.

Howe infuses realism in all her characters. The love interest is a security consultant who seems to be working for several competing players. The alcoholic next-door neighbor who passes out in the bushes along the side of his house may or may not have been involved with the murdered starlet. The producer of the interrupted movie has a wife and mistress who are longtime friends of the protagonist. And then there's the unscrupulous father of the dead girl.

CITY OF MIRRORS suggests that the glamour and glitz we see surrounding Hollywood movie makers sometimes hides lives full of shame, disappointment and deceit. This is what moves the story and may interest the reader. And Howe, as a former actor in film and TV, knows the world of which she writes.

So if you're looking for a glimpse of how things are done behind the scenes in Tinseltown, this book may be a good selection. If you're looking for a fast-moving, well-planned mystery, you'll definitely want to get this story. It's the perfect book for your vacation, rainy day or a day at the beach.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: PIPER DONOVAN MYSTERIES by Mary Jane Clark, BILLY BLESSING MYSTERIES by Al Roker, MURDER AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS by Joan Rivers (with Jerrilyn Farmer), HOLLYWOOD HEADLINES MYSTERIES by Gemma Halliday

That Old Black Magic

A Piper Donovan Mystery by Mary Jane Clark, William Morrow, January 2014.

* An ARC was provided by Harper Collins/William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review. 

Mary Jane Clark's THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC is set around St. Patrick's Day in New Orleans. Wedding cake baker Piper Donovan wins a contest to apprentice with the renowned Bertrand Olivier, a philandering baker with an amazing creative flair. She's starstruck and vows to learn as much as she can from the baker while she's there.  Most of the action takes place on Royal Street in the French Quarter, where during her short stay Piper meets colorful local residents and shopkeepers pivotal to the story. Just after Piper arrives, murders start occurring within the same block as the bakery. A talk radio DJ trying to get higher ratings coins the murderer as the Hoodoo Killer. As usual, Piper winds up in the center of the murder investigation.

The story picks up about one month after the previous book in Clark's series, FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, and a large plot point revolves around Piper's misadventure from that mystery and her resulting symptoms of possible PTSD. It's not necessary to read the previous book to understand why Piper reacts the way she does, as it's explained in this story. But while in New Orleans, Piper plays a small but significant role in a movie being shot in town in which her PTSD symptoms are amplified.

I don't prefer the author's method of making each scene a separate chapter, as sometimes it's hard to keep up with so many different points of view. However, this is Clark's writing style and probably what her fans expect from her stories.

I give this book four stars because of the complexity of the mystery and how Clark captures the vivacity of New Orleans, almost to the point of making the city a main character in the book. Red herrings abound, and most of the primary characters have motive and opportunity to be the killer. Clark's books aren't too light or dark and are enjoyable stories with just the right balance of action and dialogue, making them perfect to read over a weekend or at the beach.

If You Like This, You May Also Like:  Other PIPER DONOVAN MYSTERIES by Mary Jane Clark, DADDY'S GONE A HUNTING and I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (Apr '14) by Mary Higgins Clark, REGAN REILLY MYSTERIES by Carol Higgins Clark, KINSEY MILLHONE MYSTERIES by Sue Grafton

Corpse Flower (repost)

A Cornwall and Redfern Mystery, by Gloria Ferris, Dundurn Press, January 2014 (US) 

*An ARC was provided by Dundurn Press and Edelweiss for an honest review.

CORPSE FLOWER is a refreshing entry into a stale, craft-saturated, cozy mystery field. It's protagonist, Bliss Moonbeam Cornwall, is a 32-year-old, divorced and motorcycle-riding resident of Lockport, Ontario. Once a well-dressed, well-connected socialite and married to swarmy attorney, Mike Bains (a.k.a., the Weasel), she now lives in a decrepit trailer next to a 25-year-old hooker, shops at a second hand store, and works a bunch of part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Seeking retribution from her ex is a huge motivating factor in Bliss's day-to-day existence. Bliss wants to save up enough money to force her ex to provide a better settlement than fifty acres of swamp land and the clothes on her back. Her jobs as yoga instructor, library assistant, cleaning lady and cemetery groundskeeper help her eat, pay rent, and fuel up her beloved motorcycle. But If she can sell the seven-acre Barrister estate to the mother and son who've recently seen the property and do a little paying job for her cousin, agoraphobic Dougal, then she might earn just enough money to fight the Weasel in court.

Her Saturday groundskeeping job at the Good Shepherd Cemetery brings her into contact with Julian Barnfeather, a long-time town employee of the cemetery. While Bliss works, he lounges in the cemetery shed reading questionable 'literature' and drinking to his heart's content. Bliss does her best to avoid him, since he can't let a moment in her presence go by without harassing her. So it's not until Sunday morning, when police chief, Neil Redfern, and his constable, Thea Vanderbloom, stop by her trailer to question her that she finds out about Julian's death the day before.

And it's not enough that Julian's killer is on the loose. The Weasel and his wife are doing all they can to force Bliss out of town. Bliss keeps stumbling upon marijuana plants wherever she goes. And there's definitely something weird and most likely illegal going on in her little trailer enclave of Hemp Hollow. At least she and Chief Redfern get along okay, sometimes.

I highly recommend you read CORPSE FLOWER. This Arthur Ellis Award-winning story is the first book in the Cornwall and Redfern Mystery Series and is a well-written tale chock full of action, humor, and quirky characters. Guaranteed to keep you invested in the life of the protagonist from start to satisfying end of the story, it's just the right kind of book to lighten your day or take to the beach. I totally enjoyed CORPSE FLOWER and look forward to the next book in Ms. Ferris's delightful new series.

PROTAGONIST: 32-year-old divorcee working several part-time jobs

ACTION: Three deaths, attempted deaths, a little gore

LOVE INTERESTS: Hunky, blond, chief of police

ROMANCE: Sitting on lap, short kiss

QUIRKINESS: Loads!! An agoraphobic cousin, a puffed-up mayor, a dead skunk 

INTERESTING TIDBIT: Growth and care of the Titan Arum (biggest flowering plant)

FUN FACTOR: Snappy dialogue, funny situations, unusual characters

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The Charlie Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones (for mature readers), Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair, Mall Cop Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

His Bonnie Bride

Highland Brides Series (#1) by Hannah Howell, reprinted by Zebra Books, 2012. 

** BEWARE: Because of the sex scenes and a bit of gruesome violence, I recommend HIS BONNIE BRIDE for readers aged 18 years and above.**

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've been in a Highlander romance kick recently and stumbled on HIS BONNIE BRIDE (republished by Zebra Books, 2012) during an ebook sale over Thanksgiving. I was just looking for something light to read while I traveled in the car for 11 hours, and this ebook looked like the perfect escape.

Previously published in 1988 under the title AMBER FLAME, HIS BONNIE BRIDE is the first book in Hannah Howell's HIGHLAND BRIDES SERIES and for me a solid 4 star read. Set in the 14th century, it tells the story of Storm Eldon, a feisty, independent and witty English border woman, and Tavis MacLagan, the confident, good-looking heir of the Scottish castle Caraidland. Their families are enemies and have been stealing cattle, horses and other property from each other for generations. It's at the end of one of these border thefts that Tavis and his brothers save Storm from being raped by one of her stepmother's lovers. The men strip the attacker, strap him to his horse, and send him back to the Eldon stronghold in shame. Once they determine that Storm's father, brothers and male cousins aren't around to protect her from further harm by the man, Tavis decides to put her on his horse and head back to Caraidland. He wants to seduce Storm but waits until his clan has heard whether or not her ransom will be paid. All of Storm's adult male relatives are in another country fighting, leaving her stepmother in charge of the Eldon stronghold. She is a spoiled woman, who kills whenever she wants and spends as much money as the Eldon clan can raise. Storm's future with Tavis is set when her stepmother refuses to pay the ransom, and Tavis begins his seduction of Storm in earnest.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book with all its parallel storylines and interesting characters, particularly since there's something for every taste. A murder plot; a kinky, lusty, evil stepmother; rugged, handsome highlanders; a strong heroine; sensual romance; battles and altercations; secret goings-on; and, some laugh-out-loud humor. I read the whole book in sort of one sitting (not too difficult on an 11-hour car ride) and was glad I discovered this story. It turned out to be just the thing I needed to turn a long trip into a fairly pleasant ride.

* The second book in the series is HIGHLAND WEDDING, also reprinted in 2012.

If You Like This Book, You May Like -- Other Highlander series by Hannah Howell, Highland Adventure Series by Vonda Sinclair, Stolen Bride Series by Eliza Knight, Hot Highlanders Books by Mary Wine, Bad Boys of the Highlands Series by Victoria Roberts.

 

Rhythm and Bluegrass

Rhythm and Bluegrass by Molly Harper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

     An ARC was provided by Pocket Star eBooks and Edelweiss for an honest review. 

RHYTHM AND BLUEGRASS is the second book in Molly Harper's BLUEGRASS SERIES. It's an enjoyable and humorous story about Bonnie Turkle, a Kentucky Tourism Commission employee, and Will McBride, mayor of the small, dying community of Mud Creek, KY. Bonnie plans to research and catalog whatever items remain in historic McBride's Music Hall, an important venue for burgeoning blues, bluegrass and country/western groups in the 1950s and 1960s and a place where both whites and blacks intermixed without prejudice. Will's family owns the hall, and though his mom and other residents of Mud Creek step up to help Bonnie with her project, Will is reluctant to encourage any long-term focus on the building. He's been courting the ComfyCheeks Underwear company to build a new plant on the same property and doesn't want anything to hurt what could become a big employer for the financially struggling people of the region.

Bonnie and Will's relationship has lots of ups and downs. They first meet when Bonnie's car burns up just as she reaches the welcome sign for Mud Creek. Will stops and helps her get some belongings out of her SUV before everything goes up in flames. She doesn't know what to think about Will, especially when he leaves to deal with a sewage problem in town, so she's surprised when he ends up being the town official she has an appointment with later in the day. Will has a unusual sense of humor, and he and Bonnie get along great until she decides to nominate the music hall for status as a national historic landmark without telling anyone in town. Will is furious when he finds out, because a landmark deseignation for McBride's Music Hall might kill the ComfyCheeks project. And without the influx of new jobs, many of Mud Creek's remaining residents would have to seek jobs elsewhere, putting another nail on the town's sinking coffin.

Bonnie jeopardizes all her good feelings and interactions with the townspeople because of the landmark nomination. She knows she's really in trouble after experiencing Will's unhappy reaction and reading the newspaper article slamming both Bonnie and the McBride Music Hall project. Will's angry open letter in the “Letters to the Editor” section states that Bonnie is preventing Mud Creek from getting a factory that would bring over 200 desperately needed jobs to the flailing region. Mud Creek's residents show community support by denying Bonnie services and goods. Now Bonnie has to come up with a solution--and fast--if she has any hope to save her position, the future employment potential of the town, and her relationship with Will.

As someone who's been involved in historic preservation, I like that both the benefits and downsides of protecting locally significant sites are woven through the story. I understand Bonnie's desire to preserve the music hall's important history and to share it with others. I also can sympathize with Will's anger and frustration at not being informed about the landmark nomination and his concern that a positive landmark ruling would wind up killing his struggling town.

The story is humorous from the first chapter to the last page. Bonnie's temporary living situation is far from the cute apartment she's envisioned, and Mud Creek residents are a good kind of quirky. There's Fred, who runs the fire department and wrecker service; Miss Earlene, the spunky 50-year employee of the Mud Creek Public Library and it's first black head librarian; Joe Bob, the bald, bearded teddy bear of a tow truck driver and builder of the out-of-spare-parts VW bug (“FrankenBug”) he loans to Bonnie; and, Sheriff Jenny Lee Felter, who turns on her cruiser's siren and pulls Bonnie over to just introduce herself. Mud Creek is full of the type of loyal and lively characters I'd want as friends and neighbors.

Overall, I loved RHYTHM AND BLUEGRASS. It spoke to me about loyalty and friendship, small town pride in spite of economic concerns, and acceptance no matter who you are. Bonnie and Will's fun relationship and all the Mud Creek residents' antics make this a perfect book for anyone wanting a light-hearted romance with a hearty helping of small town life thrown in. It's the right read for the beach, a welcome snow day, or just anytime at all.

If You Like This Book, You May Like --- MY BLUEGRASS BABY by Molly Harper, THE LUCKY HARBOR SERIES and THE ANIMAL MAGNETISM NOVELS by Jill Shavis, SERENDIPITY'S FINEST SERIES by Carly Phillips, THE KOWALSKIS SERIES by Shannon Stacey

 

Cut to the Bone

A Body Farm Mystery by Jefferson Bass, William Morrow, September 2013.

*An ARC was provided by Harper Collins/William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.

CUT TO THE BONE  is a suspenseful, entertaining prequel to the successful BODY FARM MYSTERY SERIES written by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Bass is the real-life forensic anthropologist, Anthropology Department chairman, and Body Farm director upon whom the book's protagonist, Dr. Bill Brockton, is based. CUT TO THE BONE tells a fictional story of the vision and development of the real Body Farm at the University of Tennessee (UT) and parallels a suspenseful serial murder mystery. Though the story is told in several points of views, chapter and segment headings make the story easy to follow and assists in building suspense.

The mystery involves a serial murderer to whom the reader is introduced early in the story. Reading in the killer's point of view gives the reader insight into why he kills, how he picks his murder weapons, and who he chooses as his victims, and the FBI profiler characters help Brockton understand what kind of killer he's facing.

If learning a little about forensic anthropology is a draw, loads of body identification techniques and scene forensics are explained in the story. Brockton describes to local authorities how studying a body's bones can uncover the skeleton's gender, age and possible trauma suffered before death and what to look for in time-of-death and post-death trauma. The story also describes the specific and sometimes boring research needed to build a strong, fact-based database which can be accessed by medical and law officials to help solve crimes.

Humor, a common emotional release for forensic anthropologists and anyone else mired in the business of death, is scattered throughout the book. The bantering and conversations between Brockton and his grad assistant are totally believable, and several of their interactions with local rural county officials are funny and pretty authentic. I particularly enjoy Brockton's phone calls with his new, already beleaguered secretary and with the chatty dispatcher at the Morgan County sheriff's office.

I also like that the settings' details pull the reader right into the scenes and that the authors made sure to include other senses (touch, sound, smell and taste) to enhance the visual descriptions. I have a slight advantage in imagining where the story takes place, as I grew up in Knoxville. I also spent a lot of time in the Anthropology Department as an undergrad and for a short time as a grad student during Bass's tenure as department chair. I remember the room layout in Neyland Stadium and the unpleasant odors that bombarded me when opening the door to the department's hallway. But CUT TO THE BONE 's detailed descriptions also bring up memories of good times in the labs and classrooms there.

All in all, I would recommend CUT TO THE BONE to anyone who enjoys suspenseful murder mysteries, forensic science, anthropology and archaeology, or just good, entertaining storytelling. The book is fine as a stand-alone, but if this is your first time reading a Body Farm Mystery, then CUT TO THE BONE is definitely a good place to start if you want to continue this interesting series. Just make sure to take a big chunk of time to read. If you're like me, you'll want to read this story at one sitting.

If You Like This, You May Also Like ---   Other BODY FARM MYSTERIES by Jefferson Bass,  DEATH'S ACRE and BEYOND THE BODY FARM (both nonfiction, related to the real Body Farm) by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, TEMPERANCE BRENNAN MYSTERIES by Kathy Reichs, SCARPETTA MYSTERIES by Patricia Cornwell, DIANE FALLON FORENSIC MYSTERIES by Beverly Connor

Mrs. Poe

A novel by Lynn Cullen, Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, October 2013. 

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

 MRS. POE  by Lynn Cullen is a fictional account of the rumored adulterous relationship between Frances (Fanny) Sargent Osgood and Edgar Allan Poe. The story begins in February 1845 in New York City. Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" has just been published to much public interest and acclaim, and Fanny is trying to eke out a living as a poet and writer of children's stories.

While Fanny's husband is away having an affair, she and her two girls live with her good friend, Eliza Bartlett, and her husband, bookseller Russell Bartlett. It is through them that Fanny receives an invitation to hear Mr. Poe speak at a literary evening hosted by Anne Lynch. A large cast of famous characters intermingle at these soirees, including Walt Whitman, Mathew Brady, John Audubon, and Horace Greeley, and it is here where Fanny and Poe first meet.

Fanny is offered a large advance for a sensationalized story about Mr. Poe and his wife. Poe only agrees to an article about his work and then uses the interview as a way to see Fanny. Poe further seeks out Fanny to extend invitations from Mrs. Poe to join them at home, at the theatre, or for other outings. The story highlights their infrequent encounters, and the book ends after their last conversation in Winter 1847.

It is obvious the author did extensive research to interweave historical events and people throughout the story in order to create a believable background for the Osgood/Poe affair. So I would definitely suggest MRS.POE to readers who want to know more about New York City in the late 1840's. But I felt the presentation of the Osgood/Poe relationship was weak and somewhat dull and the overall story fairly flat.

Would I mention the book to Edgar Allan Poe fans? Probably. Would I read it again? Probably not.

 

The Clockwork Scarab

A Stoker and Holmes Novel  (Book One) by Colleen Gleason, Chronicle Books, September 2013

*  An ARC was provided by Chronicle Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB: A STOKER AND HOLMES NOVEL by Colleen Gleason is a terrific start to a new and unique mystery series set in 1889 London. It's an amalgamation of several popular subgenres, including steampunk, time travel, romance and young adult mystery, and stars Evaline Stoker (Bram's half-sister) and Mina Holmes (Sherlock's niece and Mycroft's daughter) as courageous, self-reliant, 17-year-old sleuths under the tutelage of Irene Adler (Sherlock's admired female opponent).

Told in alternating points of views, the story follows Mina and Evaline as they use their unique skills to identify the person(s) responsible for kidnapping and murdering upper class teenage girls and dumping their bodies around London. The palm-sized mechanical scarabs found beside each body link the murders and are crucial to the investigation. These and other clues lead to a secret Egyptian society to which all the dead girls belonged.

As in all good mysteries, the two young sleuths face a number of obstacles to their investigation. The main one here, though, is the girls mistrust of each other. The ever observant and analytical Mina Holmes thinks Evaline is flighty, weak, not terribly bright, and uncooperative. The incredibly fast and strong Evaline Stoker believes Mina is a haughty know-it-all who is dull and has no sense of adventure. But as the story evolves and they save each other with their set of special skills, they grudgingly begin to admire one another as worthy partners.

Though Mina and Evaline are the main sleuths in the story, they have plenty of help in solving the murders. The girls are glad to have Irene Adler as their mentor and supervisor, but their other assistants aren't as welcomed. Mina has to share her quest with the maddening but intriguing Inspector Ambrose Grayling of Scotland Yard and the handsome time traveler Dylan Eckhart, while Evaline needs help from Pix, a young man of questionable character who knows more about the case than he lets on. The men are just a bit older than the girls and provide the light romantic elements in the story.

Steampunk is a large part of THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB . The variety of steam-powered mechanical devices, such as Night-Illuminators, Steam-Stream guns, and the Deluxe Tome-Selector, adds a bit of humor to the story, and a few are even used to help solve the murders.

Overall, THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB is an intriguing and well-plotted murder mystery that readers from 12 years of age and up will enjoy. If you like adventurous stories with unique characters and strong, confident heroines, then this book is for you. I only hate that I have to wait a whole year for the release of the next book in the series.

If You Like This, You Might Like – THE GARDELLA VAMPIRE CHRONICLES by Colleen Gleason, F.R.E.A.K. SQUAD INVESTIGATION MYSTERIES by Jennifer Harlow, THE STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES by Kady Cross, THE INFERNAL DEVICES SERIES and THE MORTAL INSTRUMENT SERIES by Cassandra Clare

Esprit de Corpse

A Reluctant Reaper story (Book Three) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, August 2013. 

 * An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

ESPRIT DE CORPSE , the third book in the RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES by Gina X. Grant continues where SCYTHE DOES MATTER leaves off. It's the next day in the Underworld, and Dante's mad (again) at Kirsty for using his scythe to reap Conrad Iver, Kirsty's evil former boss. Upon awakening, Kirsty and Dante are faced with a huge problem in Hell's Cells. It seems there's finally an answer to what happens when one reaper uses another reaper's scythe to zap someone to the Underworld.

The two reapers rush to Conrad's jail cell just in time to see him turn into a demon and escape from jail. Of course, the first place they need to look is back on the Mortal Coil. Dante wants Kirsty to follow him to the hospital where they reaped Conrad, but Kirsty goes to her former boss's office instead, figuring Conrad will want to show up there sooner or later. There she discovers that her best friend, Shannon Iver (Conrad's daughter), is the prime suspect in Conrad's and Kirsty's deaths. Kirsty wants to make a true difference in someone's life, and she and Dante do all they can to help Shannon prove her innocence. Conrad's evil attempt to use his own daughter's blood to extend his life another 25 years is jeopardized when a female convicted killer tries to murder Shannon.

ESPRIT DE CORPSE is a wonderful, fun-filled, and action-packed addition to the RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES . I like the new, strong, and confident Kirsty and how she jumps in to save Shannon. Kirsty wants to exonerate Shannon even as she struggles with Dante's and Shannon's burgeoning friendship.

The RELUCTANT REAPER SERIES is such a unique and funny interpretation of the Underworld, and I can't wait for the next book's release. You can probably read each book in the series as a stand-alone, but I believe it would enhance your reading enjoyment to read the three stories in order. Whatever order you choose, be sure to read them all if you're looking for a lighthearted, funny, paranormal story with a plethora of quirky characters!

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER and SCYTHE DOES MATTER by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow

View all my reviews

Scythe Does Matter

A Reluctant Reaper story (Book 2) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, July 2013.  

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

SCYTHE DOES MATTER  is the second book in Gina X. Grant's RELUCTANT REAPER paranormal series. In this story, twenty-five-year-old Kirsty d'Arc tries to make something of her afterlife while waiting to appeal her denied Wrongful Reaping Appeal. She decides to attend the Reaper Academy, so she can return to the Mortal Coil and bring back the bewitched stapler that started her fall to the Underworld and proves Conrad Iver, her unscrupulous boss, tricked her into literally signing her life away.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series. Kirsty achieves tremendous growth and discovers an afterlife in which she can provide a useful service that makes her happy. She gains new, quirky friends in reaper school and saves the day when a time sync catastrophe strikes the Underworld.

Kirsty and Dante continue their supporting and sometimes rocky relationship, and Kirsty finds her calling as a reaper. The puns don't overwhelm the story in SCYTHE DOES MATTER  as they did in the first book, and I laughed out loud at the witty banter between Kirsty and her classmates.

Will Kirsty graduate from reaper school? Will she ever get back to her Earthly body and come out of her coma? And will she ever find that elusive, tricky stapler? You'll just have to read SCYTHE DOES MATTER  to find out. It's great for the beach, perfect for a study break, and just lots of fun to read.

* The third book in the series, ESPRIT DE CORPSE, was released in August 2013. 

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- THE RELUCTANT REAPER  and ESPRIT DE CORPSE  by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE  by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES  by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES  by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES  by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES  by Jennifer Harlow

The Reluctant Reaper

A RELUCTANT REAPER story (Book One) by Gina X. Grant, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books, June 2013.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Pocket Star Books and Edelweiss for an honest review. 

THE RELUCTANT REAPER, the first book in Gina X Grant's series of the same name, introduces single, orphaned, Kirsty d'Arc a PR marketing specialist at Iver PR. The story begins on the momentous morning of her twenty-fifth birthday, when strange things start happening. First she's attacked by a stapler in her office,  and her boss, Conrad Iver, rushes in to use her dripping blood as a signature on a soul-selling contract. Next, at a celebration with her friends and coworkers that evening, her soul is accidentally reaped by Reaper First Class, Dante Alighieri, when she steps in front of the original target, lying, despicable Conrad, whose own contract of death is now due. The rest of the book follows Kirsty's time adapting to the Underworld while awaiting her accidental reaping appeal. During her Hell-ish adventures, she falls in love, learns the layout and culture of the Underworld, and is introduced to several interesting, and a few pretty wacky, entities who will be featured through the rest of the series.

THE RELUNCTANT REAPER is a lighthearted, humorous paranormal, and I give it a solid 3.5 stars for an unusual storyline and unique characters.  Though it's a good book and a fun read, the overuse of puns keep me from setting a higher rating. The puns are cute at first, but after a while they lose their punch and just become tedious.

On the plus side, a good number of the puns are amusing and their sources easily identified. The downside, besides overuse, is that some might only be understood by a science major or mythology-obsessed reader.

THE RELUNCTANT REAPER is definitely worth reading and sets the scene for the next book, SCYTHE DOES MATTER, which I'll review separately. It's good entertainment, funny, and definitely beachworthy.

If You Like This, You May Also Like: --- SCYTHE DOES MATTER and ESPRIT DE CORPSE  by Gina X. Grant, HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR VAMPIRE by Mina Vaughn, CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES by Darynda Jones, DARKLIGHT SERIES by Darynda Jones, UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY SERIES by Hannah Jayne, F.R.E.A.K.S. SQUAD INVESTIGATION SERIES by Jennifer Harlow

* The next book in the series, Scythe Does Matter, was released in July 2013.

 

 

 

Multiple Exposure

A Sophie Medina novel (Book One) by Ellen Crosby, Simon & Schuster/Scribner, August 2013.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Scribner  and Edelweiss for an honest review.

MULTIPLE EXPOSURE is a finely crafted suspense mystery set in London and Washington, DC. The story begins when photojournalist Sophia Medina returns from an out-of-town assignment to find her London home trashed. Blood is splattered all over the place and her CIA operative husband, Nick Canning, is missing. Three months pass, and after unsuccessful searches to find her husband, Sophie prepares to move back to the United States. But days before she leaves, US and UK intelligence reps in London question if she knows anything about Nick. They tell her he's been spotted in Moscow and suggest he may have faked his own kidnapping. One high-ranking British official even implies that Nick may be a murderer and selling important and secretive info to the highest bidder. Sophie refuses to believe that Nick would murder or become a traitor.

Once Sophie returns to DC, she gets a job with Focus Photography. Her first gig is a National Gallery of Art exhibit opening of Russian artifacts loaned to the US through Russian oil tycoon Artaky Vasiliev. It's during this event that Sophie becomes part of the mystery surrounding her husband, a possible oil discovery in Abadistan, oil tycoon Vasiliev, and the Russian mafia. Her curiosity and desire to see Nick vindicated then lead her to another mystery involving a US senator and a supporter of Abadistan independence.

Conflicts and tension abound in the story. Outward conflicts are fairly obvious: the ongoing search for Sophie's husband, crumbling relations between Abadistan and Russia, a Russian ambassador arguing with a US Senator, among many others. Sophie's internal conflicts are a little more subtle. She doesn't know who to trust, intelligence officials follow her every move, her safety is constantly threatened, and she argues with her boss, family and friends. On page 146, Sophie's thinking about what she admires in her Jesuit priest friend, Jack, and his ability to "...do the right thing, to be true to your values, to act with integrity and compassion for others." She struggles with these ideals throughout the story, trying to do the right thing with highly skeptical information and personal threats thrown at her and bristling at what she needs to do to uncover the truth.

MULTIPLE EXPOSURE isn't just an exciting suspense novel, it's also a geography and history lesson of Washington, DC. Crosby shares interesting facts and backstories about many well-known and some obscure landmarks and sites around town. In fact, parts of the story occur in an almost hidden memorial on the Potomac River and in less traveled sections of Rock Creek Park. The reader also gets glimpses of what happens behind-the-scenes during museum exhibit openings and events at historic landmarks (i.e., Majorie Merriweather Post's home, Hillwood).

A few British words pop up (i.e., queue" for "line") in the story, but their use is natural for Sophie as she's just returned to the States after living in London for over a decade. Readers who do crossword puzzles may also discover some new Russian terms to help answer tricky clues.

I enjoyed MULTIPLE EXPOSURE and had a hard time putting the book down as I neared the end. Once I got through the backstory overload at the beginning and became familiar with Crosby's style of writing, I flew through the rest of the book. It's full of suspense and conflict, and it contains an interesting array of unique characters. I would highly recommend this book to all mystery fans and to readers who just like a good, solid, entertaining story.

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A 38-year-old photojournalist recently returned to N. Virginia

ACTION: Attempted murder, trashed home, arguments, car agression scene

ROMANCE: One sex scene but no details

QUIRKINESS: Sophie tooling around on her Vespa

INTERESTING TIDBITS: History of Library of Congress's design, a re-creation of the 3 Emperors Dinner of 1867, Meridian Hill Park's drum circle every Sunday at 3 pm

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby, Max Tudor Novels by G.M. Malliet, Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries by Louise Penny

Dirty Little Secret

A stand-alone novel by Jennifer Echols, Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, July 2013.

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books and Edelweiss website for an honest review.

Bailey Mayfield and her sister Julie were once a talented, blond-haired, music duo who honed their performances at all the bluegrass festivals their parents drove them to. It's been one long year since that fateful day when only Julie was signed to a recording contract and Bailey brushed aside.

Bailey feels forgotten by her family and resents the time they've spent focusing on her younger sister's burgeoning music career. She's spent the last year playing her fiddle, writing music, and being reprimanded by her parents for her bad attitude and constant shenanigans. The troubling incident on her high school graduation night is the last straw. Her parents ostracize Bailey to her grandfather's house with orders to stay away from any kind of performing, going out with friends, or generally causing any kind of scene that would jeopardize her sister's innocent country music reputation.

Her granddad knows music and fiddle playing is as important to Bailey as breathing, so he finds her a gig playing with little tribute country music groups at a local Nashville mall. There she meets good-looking, troubled Sam Hardiman, who plays guitar alongside his “Johnny Cash” dad.

Sam has a three-member country/rockabilly band that just can't seem to break into the next level of the Nashville music scene. Something's missing in their performance, and Bailey and her fiddle might be that little extra spark to move them into the music spotlight. Sam begs Bailey to join his band, and though she knows she shouldn't, Bailey agrees to play for one or two performances.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET is the story of Bailey's turmoil at being left behind and her struggle to break free from the worthless, bad-girl image she's portrayed to the world in order to protect her heart. Through cathartic songwriting, exhilarating fiddle playing, and her new place in Sam's life and band, Bailey realizes that she is just as important as her sister and that her dreams are just as worthy. Like the protagonists in Echol's books GOING TOO FAR and SUCH A RUSH, Bailey decides to take control of her own destiny. She breaks out of her self-imposed shell and releases the confident musician and beautiful eighteen year old she really is.

I love so many things about this story. Like in all of Echols books, the characters are well-fleshed out with emotional backstories and sometimes funny, and definitely distinctive, quirks. The story is filled with behind-the-scene glimpses into unique work settings (i.e., tribute groups serenading in malls), and Echols shares her amazing knowledge of music fundamentals and the downside of being blessed with perfect pitch.

I only have two very minor complaints. The first is the protagonist's continual inner conflict about how her family doesn't want to be around her and how disappointed they are in her. Granted it's important for the character to flesh out her feelings, but in my opinion, the “woe is me” stuff is a little too thick. Second, I thought the ending stopped too soon. I would have loved to see a little of what happened the Monday following her sister's outdoor performance. (I'm not spilling the info here. You'll have to read the story to see what I mean.) But neither of these issues were enough to take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I loved DIRTY LITTLE SECRET with it's realistic, vibrant characters, engaging storyline, and unique settings. It's just the type of lighthearted escapism I've come to expect and enjoy in all of Jennifer Echols's books and a perfect book for the beach, a weekend, or anytime, really.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE: Other books by Jennifer Echols, novels by Simone Elkeles, Lauren Barnholdt, Tijan, Abbi Glines, Leah Rae Miller, Tammara Webber.

Finding Colin Firth

 A stand-alone novel by Mia March, Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, July 2013

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

FINDING COLIN FIRTH is a lighthearted tale of three women who are struggling with life-altering decisions and how they find happiness and a chance for a new life in Boothbay Harbor, ME. With the title you'd think the book solely focuses on fans trying to catch a glimpse of the award-winning actor. And yes, that's a minor theme throughout the story. But there's so much more. The book's also about the decisions mothers make about having and raising children and how those decisions affect people many years later.

Bea Crane is a lonely 22-year-old short-order cook and student who suddenly finds herself in Boothbay Harbor searching for her birth mother. She's wary of approaching Veronica Russo, her birth mother, and worries Veronica won't want to see her again once they've met. Bea's running out of money and has to make a decision about meeting her mother soon. She's befriended by a pregnant journalist, 29-year-old Gemma Hendricks, who's writing a story about the 50th anniversary of Hope House, a home for unwed mothers. Gemma's been laid off of her newspaper job in New York City, visits Boothbay Harbor for a friend's wedding, and stays for a week. She's being pressured by her husband and his family to move to the suburbs and become a stay-at-home mom. But she's happiest when researching and writing a big story and questions whether she can drop her dream career to raise a child. Gemma's staying at a friend's upscale B&B and recommends Bea for the breakfast cook opening there. The inn is supplied with delicious pies made by 38-year-old Veronica, who's returned to Boothbay Harbor after traveling and working around the US for 21 years. Veronica prepares specialty pies infused with special qualities to help whomever's eating it and holds a pie-making class in her home once a week. After spending the last year worrying about and avoiding dealing with her teenage years in Boothbay Harbor, she's finally decided to have some fun and applies to be an extra on the Colin Firth movie filming in town. While Veronica enjoys being a movie extra, she's not so eager to look into her past, something she must face if she wants Bea to know the circumstances of her birth.

Bits and pieces of Colin Firth movies are woven throughout the story as they parallel some situations in the three women's lives. Parts of PRIDE & PREJUDICE are played out in Bea's life, and she tells Gemma that Veronica's not like Bette Midler's character in THEN SHE FOUND ME. Gemma's husband says she fell in love with him the way he was, hinting of Mark Darcy's famous quote to Bridget Jones in BRIDGET JONE'S DIARY, "I like you, very much. Just as you are."

I liked a lot of things about the book. The characters are fully developed, and the plot surrounding and linking them is strong. The author paints a wonderful picture of the town and the people who live there. Then there are the multitude of themes and emotions running throughout the story, including love, hate, fear, loneliness, romance, betrayal, self-confidence, and acceptance.

One thing I didn't like was the slow start hampered by the main characters' long inner monologues as they were introduced. To me the story just limped along until all three main characters were residing in Boothbay Harbor. Once that occured, the pace of the book picked up and was definitely more interesting.

All in all, I think FINDING COLIN FIRTH is a solid and enjoyable four-star story that you'll want to share with your friends and revisit from time to time.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE:  The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March, Time Flies by Claire Cook, He's Gone by Deb Caletti, Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

White Trash Beautiful

White Trash Trilogy (Book One), by Teresa Mummert, Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, July 2013

* An ARC was provided by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

WHITE TRASH BEAUTIFUL is an amazing story of one young woman's struggle to break out of the constant drudgery and abuse hounding her so she can make a better life for herself. Day after day, 23-year-old Cass Daniels leaves her whacked out mom and her abusive and drug-addicted boyfriend in their decrepit trailer and walks next door to Aggie's Diner. It's not only where she works; it's her sanctuary. She aches to get out of the never-ending cycle of broken promises and heartbreak. Sometimes waitressing two shifts a day, Cass scrimps and saves as much as possible so she can get away from the pit her life has become.

Her boyfriend, Jackson (Jax), was once her savior, protector and best friend. Now he's a jealous heroin addict, who constantly asks Cass for money to score his next hit. While Cass tries to make enough money to keep a roof over their head and some food in the fridge, Jax and her mom, Anne, drink, smoke and shoot up whenever they can. Cass has to hide the pittance of saved cash so the other two don't spend it on drugs.

One day a bright light sneaks into the darkness of her existence. Tucker White, a bad-boy rocker in an up-and-coming band, walks into the diner and into Cass's life. He's only known her for a few minutes, but he protects her from her angry boyfriend when he comes asking for money. Tucker sees something in Cass that touches him and, for as long as he's in the Eddington SC area, he does everything he can to make sure she's safe.

Cass gets a brief respite from work and home when Tucker takes her on his motorcycle to Savannah one night. She gets a glimpse of what life could be for her if she were strong enough to break free from Jax and her mom. It's been a long time since she's felt loved and safe, the way Tucker makes her feel. But he's leaving with his band. And leaving her behind.

This is a powerful story full of anger, lies, abuse and survival. Cass endures Jax's fits of physical and verbal abuse and her mom's negligence because she hopes that one day she'll get out of the hellhole that's her life. With Tucker as her lifeline, she knows it's only a matter of time.

If I could give WHITE TRASH BEAUTIFUL ten stars I would. It's gritty, gory, and sad, but it's also full of hope and love. Cass and Tucker are strong, good people who've had bad things happen to them. You can feel their need to be together and hold on to each other. Jackson and Anne are pitiful and broken, and it's hard not to feel compassion for them. Even when they're being mean to Cass.

I can't quit thinking about this story. It sucked me in and kept me there until the very last page.  For me, that's a sign of a great book. I'll be revisiting this story often.

*The second book in the trilogy, WHITE TRASH DAMAGED, will be released in 2014.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE:  FALLEN TOO FAR SERIES by Abbi Glines, REAL SERIES by Katy Evans, FALLING (WILDER) SERIES by Jasinda Wilder, DIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jennifer Echols

 

Up in Flames

A stand-alone novel, by Starr Ambrose, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, July 2013.

* I received an ARC from Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books and Edelweiss for an honest review.

Sophie's a 27-year-old good girl, fresh out of grad school with a doctorate in entomology, and she's looking for a job. She's from a highly educated commune family, who raised her with lots of love, trust and support. Zane's a 30-year-old bad boy, owns a landscaping company, and comes from the disgraced Thorson family. He grew up surrounded by hatred, mistrust and violence. One summer ten years ago Sophie and Zane were lovers. Though they parted with angry words and misunderstandings, their short time together left a mark on both of them, so much so, that they still feel a strong attraction to one another.

When they meet again ten years later at Sophie's sister's wedding, Sophie says she can't find a job and Zane offers her one at his landscaping company. He sees this as a chance to demean Sophie and let her see how it feels to really work for a living. But what begins as Zane's attempt to denigrate Sophie, ends in Sophie trying to find the killer who's framing Zane for murder.

Though they continually argue with one another, Sophie knows that Zane has worked hard to be a better person than his father and brother. She's seen the sensitive and caring side of Zane that everyone else in town overlooks, and she knows that Zane could never hurt anybody.

Zane's suffered through the town's scorn all of his life due to the cruelty of his family. His father's in jail for murder and his brother's been on the run for several years. When a young woman's body is discovered on Zane's property, the police automatically assume Zane is the killer. Sophie's the only one who comes to his defense, much to the chagrin of her family. It's hard for Zane to accept her help. Not only does he question her motivations, but he's not used to having anyone be nice to him.

UP IN FLAMES is a wonderful story of overcoming prejudices and ignoring rumors to do what's morally right. It also shows us that your past doesn't always have to dictate your future and that honest communication can break down prejudices.

UP IN FLAMES is also a good mystery. It's filled with lots of shady characters and potential suspects, and includes some surprising twists. And Sophie gets to use her entomology knowledge to help with the case. The story kept me guessing until the final reveal. Really. I couldn't figure it out until then.

So if you're looking for a great mystery or an interesting romance, UP IN FLAMES is the right book for you. It's a perfect story to read on the beach or curled up in a warm chair on a rainy day. It has an interesting good girl/bad boy vibe. AND it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. Just make sure you have a lot of time to read. You might find you can't put the book down until you've reached the very last page.

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A 27-year-old, unemployed, good girl entomologist

ACTION: Chase scenes, kidnapping, fun with frontloaders

LOVE INTEREST: A 30-year-old, bad boy, landscaping company owner

ROMANCE: A few sex scenes

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Novels by Lori Foster, Lori Wilde, Kathleen Brooks, and Rachel Gibson 

Spirit

An Elemental Series novel (Book Three), by Brigid Kemmerer, Kensington & KTeen, May 2013. 

* I received a copy from the author for an honest review.

Hunter is having a really bad day...night...week. He doesn't know what to do or who his friends are, so he only has himself to rely on. And that's not going too well, either. For awhile he and Gabriel Merrick were sort of friends, but Gabriel and the rest of his brothers are ticked off at Hunter and consider him an enemy, again. Then there's Calla, weird crazy Calla. She's creating a lot of havoc in his life and refuses to leave him alone.

The only person he may have a chance of befriending is the new girl at school, Kate Sullivan. She doesn't know anything about him or his history, so they can start with a clean slate. He likes her, but can he trust her?

And more sinister things are happening around town, things that threaten his community and his way of life. Hunter feels pulled in several directions. How can he do what's expected of him if he isn't sure it's right?

This third book in Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental Series is a powerful story of personal conflict, trusting others, and finding the courage to follow your conscience. Hunter struggles to understand his family, his past and the responsibilities expected of him as a Guide. The few times he's trusted anyone, he's been let down. And he hates that innocent people have to die just because they're born with special abilities. Hunter knows he's barely holding it together. But how can he expect any help or guidance when he doesn't know who to trust?

I'll admit I cried a lot while reading this story. I wanted to take Hunter in my arms, hug him tight, and reassure him that everything would be okay. That though he's well-trained in hand-to-hand combat and his ability with a knife is amazing, he's still a 16-year-old struggling with the same hormonal imbalances and maturity issues that other teenage boys experience. I wanted to assure him that he has the strength to overcome his insecurities and the courage to stand up for what he believes is right.

It's a testament to the author's storytelling ability that readers can become so invested in her characters. Hunter, Kate, and the Merrick brothers are so multidimensional that you can't help but care for them and to feel what they feel. Thus the reason for my tears.

But don't get me wrong. SPIRIT is not a depressing book, at all. Just poignant. It has happy and funny parts too. And it's a great book for the beach or to enjoy during a relaxing evening at home. So get out there and buy this book. Now, if not sooner. It's a great addition to the Elemental Series and to your library.

* The next book in the series is SECRET.

PROTAGONIST/HERO: A 16-year-old, blond, tattooed & pierced bad boy

ACTION: Fights, fire, fake accusations

LOVE INTERESTS: Bright, conflicted, new girl at school

ROMANCE: Kisses, hugs, much more implied

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Other books in the Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer, Mephisto Series by Trinity Faegen, Lux Series by Jennifer Armentrout, Paranormal Public Series by Maddy Edwards, Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, Darklight Trilogy by Darynda Jones, Starcrossed Series by Josephine Angelini, Shadow Falls Series by C C Hunter, The Reaper Diaries by Michele Vail

Corpse Flower

A Cornwall and Redfern Mystery, by Gloria Ferris, Dundurn Press, January 2014 (US) 

*An ARC was provided by Dundurn Press and Edelweiss for an honest review.

CORPSE FLOWER is a refreshing entry into a stale, craft-saturated, cozy mystery field. It's protagonist, Bliss Moonbeam Cornwall, is a 32-year-old, divorced and motorcycle-riding resident of Lockport, Ontario. Once a well-dressed, well-connected socialite and married to swarmy attorney, Mike Bains (a.k.a., the Weasel), she now lives in a decrepit trailer next to a 25-year-old hooker, shops at a second hand store, and works a bunch of part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Seeking retribution from her ex is a huge motivating factor in Bliss's day-to-day existence. Bliss wants to save up enough money to force her ex to provide a better settlement than fifty acres of swamp land and the clothes on her back. Her jobs as yoga instructor, library assistant, cleaning lady and cemetery groundskeeper help her eat, pay rent, and fuel up her beloved motorcycle. But If she can sell the seven-acre Barrister estate to the mother and son who've recently seen the property and do a little paying job for her cousin, agoraphobic Dougal, then she might earn just enough money to fight the Weasel in court.

Her Saturday groundskeeping job at the Good Shepherd Cemetery brings her into contact with Julian Barnfeather, a long-time town employee of the cemetery. While Bliss works, he lounges in the cemetery shed reading questionable 'literature' and drinking to his heart's content. Bliss does her best to avoid him, since he can't let a moment in her presence go by without harassing her. So it's not until Sunday morning, when police chief, Neil Redfern, and his constable, Thea Vanderbloom, stop by her trailer to question her that she finds out about Julian's death the day before.

And it's not enough that Julian's killer is on the loose. The Weasel and his wife are doing all they can to force Bliss out of town. Bliss keeps stumbling upon marijuana plants wherever she goes. And there's definitely something weird and most likely illegal going on in her little trailer enclave of Hemp Hollow. At least she and Chief Redfern get along okay, sometimes.

I highly recommend you read CORPSE FLOWER. This Arthur Ellis Award-winning story is the first book in the Cornwall and Redfern Mystery Series and is a well-written tale chock full of action, humor, and quirky characters. Guaranteed to keep you invested in the life of the protagonist from start to satisfying end of the story, it's just the right kind of book to lighten your day or take to the beach. I totally enjoyed CORPSE FLOWER and look forward to the next book in Ms. Ferris's delightful new series.

PROTAGONIST: 32-year-old divorcee working several part-time jobs

ACTION: Three deaths, attempted deaths, a little gore

LOVE INTERESTS: Hunky, blond, chief of police

ROMANCE: Sitting on lap, short kiss

QUIRKINESS: Loads!! An agoraphobic cousin, a puffed-up mayor, a dead skunk 

INTERESTING TIDBIT: Growth and care of the Titan Arum (biggest flowering plant)

FUN FACTOR: Snappy dialogue, funny situations, unusual characters

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The Charlie Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones (for mature readers), Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair, Mall Cop Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

Going Too Far

A Stand-Alone Novel by Jennifer Echols, MTV Books, March 2009.

This is one of my all-time favorite books! GOING TOO FAR is a story about two young people who seem very different but are really very much alike. Eighteen-year-old Meg is a senior in high school and somewhat of a delinquent. She rebels by acting out and dying her hair (blue during this story) and is ready to bust out of town as soon as she graduates. Nineteen-year-old John is just out of the police academy and can be overly conscientious about his work. He's proud of what he does and is determined to remain in their small Alabama town protecting its citizens. But both are broken--their actions products of painful pasts--and neither of them is living up to their potential.

The story begins with John arresting a drunken and high Meg and her friends when they trespass on a dangerous railroad bridge where two teenagers died several years ago. Three of the kids are ordered to do community service with the local emergency services during their highly anticipated Spring Break. As you can imagine, all three are extremely bummed that they have to stay home while their friends go to the beach that week and party. Meg is assigned to five consecutive graveyard shifts patrolling with John, during which they share a little about themselves and grow somewhat close. Meg sees the variety of pressures a policeman experiences in their backwater town, and when they eat at Meg's family's diner, John gets some idea of the life Meg endures. 

As a cop, John comes off as stiff and aloof, but Meg discovers he's not as boring as he appears. Meg acts all carefree and wild, yet John learns that she is more responsible and focused than he originally thought. Through each other, they discover strengths about themselves. Through their friendship, they help each other grow and overcome their fears.

GOING TOO FAR is the perfect book to take to the beach. It's a love story. It's humorous. It's poignant. And, it's extremely well written. Jennifer Echols' stories are filled with everyday people with unique personalities facing life-changing problems, and this book is no exception. You'll want to read this book again and again. (Well, at least I do. ;-D ) 

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A troubled, caring, 18-year-old senior

ACTION: Arresting some crazy guys, hanging on a railroad bridge

LOVE INTERESTS: A 19-year-old, dedicated policeman

ROMANCE: A few sex scenes but not in detail

QUIRKINESS: Meg's sense of humor

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Such a Rush and Love Story by Jennifer Echols, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, The Rock Star's Daughter by Caitlin Duffy, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Immortal City

An Immortal City Novel (Book One), by Scott Speer, Penguin Group, April 2012.

Angels not only live among us, but they are treated like rock stars. They marry other angels, have children born immortal, and the most talented among them become guardian angels. You can have their protection whenever you need it. Just pay a hefty monthly fee, plus a $100,000 bonus when you're saved, and you can escape from certain death. If you're extremely wealthy or win a protection lottery, you're golden. If you're poor and can't pay for protection, you die.

Welcome to Los Angeles, the City of Angels, where glamorous angels live in luxurious hilltop villas and are treated like royalty. It's commissioning week for a new round of guardian angels, and all TVs in the city are tuned to Angel News Network or the A! television channel for the most up-to-date info on our favorite angels. This year all eyes are on Jackson Godspeed, the youngest, brightest and hottest angel being feted. Mortal girls and women swoon at the sight of him, and even high school girls across town can't stop reading the latest gossip about Jacks.

Despite all the angel accolades and celebrity status, someone or something is killing guardian angels and hacking off their wings. Only angels can kill other angels, but the dead angels are first made mortal and killed after their wings are removed. Jacks leaves a commissioning party early on the night the first bloody wings are discovered and becomes a person of interest. His stepfather, Archangel Mark Godspeed, orders him off the street until he can come to pick Jacks up. So Jacks pulls into a small diner across town, walks into the place to hide awhile, and meets Maddy Montgomery. It's her Uncle Nick's diner and she's the only waitress on duty. Jacks tries to be incognito, but ironically, Maddy may be the only girl in the whole LA area who doesn't know who he is anyway.

Maddy works hard, keeps to herself and helps her uncle when she's not in school. Her parents died when she was a baby, and she's lived with her uncle ever since. Her best and only friend is Gwen, a fellow senior at Angel City High, who tries to get Maddy out of her shell and boring day-to-day existence. In fact Maddy's whole life has been unspectacular, that is, until the night she meets Jackson Godspeed.

Jacks has gotten anything he's wanted his whole life, except for Maddy. She doesn't stroke his ego or fall at his feet like other women. She's unlike anyone else he knows, which intriques him. He has always been pursued, but to win over Maddy, he has to become the pursuer.

I love this book, and here's why. With it's unique plot and far from stereotypical characters, Immortal City offers a fresh take on what has become a stale angel-focused sub-genre. Jacks and Maddy grow up in significantly different social and economic classes, yet they each struggle with their own family issues and personal expectations. Both of them have family secrets that, once discovered, connects Jacks and Maddy and significantly affects their future. And Speer does a great job hiding the identity of the murderer. I had no idea who was killing the guardian angels until the final reveal.

If you're looking for a cool mystery with interesting characters, a unique paranormal plot, and a story you can't put down, then I highly recommend you buy and read Immortal City. (Although it's a series, this book doesn't end on a cliffhanger!)   

** The next book in the series, Natural Born Angel, was released in April 2013.

 

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Gilded Wings Novels by Aimee Agresti, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

Infatuate

A Gilded Wings Novel (Book 2), by Aimee Agresti, Houghton Mufflin Harcourt, March 2013.   

Fall semester of their senior year is over, and Haven Terra, her boyfriend Lance, and her best friend Dante are now early high school graduates. The prior spring, the angels-in-training successfully passed their first of three angel tests by battling evil at the Lexington Hotel. This spring promises to be a little different. The three friends have been recruited to participate in a volunteer assistance program in New Orleans, a community still struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

They live in a group house in the French Quarter with other teenagers recruited from throughout the country. The volunteers are given projects all over New Orleans, including the haunted house next door and a spooky cemetery needing upkeep (both of which are important to the story), and the three friends continue to be on the lookout for any evil in the area. As a soul illuminator, Haven makes sure to take pictures of all the people in her house and anyone else deemed suspicious, so she, Dante and Lance can identify any evil characters around them. The strong ties of the three friends are strained as Lance is pursued by Haven's roommate and Dante spends his time in alchemy training with a voodoo practitioner or with his new friend Max. Even Haven has a separate love interest.

New Orleans turns out to have a powerful group of Satan's helpers waiting to tag the angels-in-training and bring them into the underworld. Another battle between good and evil looms, but the stakes are much, much higher. The physical training is more strenuous and pretty unusual, and this time, all three friends receive messages from the unknown entity who they have to trust to survive.

I really enjoyed the New Orleans setting for Infatuate. Agresti does a great job of invoking the character and feel of the city and its culture and weaving it throughout the story. She uses local legends and beliefs to heighten suspense and even uses a Mardi Gras parade for a pivotal scene in the story.

And boy is there conflict! It's raising it's ugly head between Haven and Lance, Haven and her roommate Sabine, Haven and Satan, and more. The volunteers who share the same house don't always get along among themselves or with their leader. Haven and her friends have strange and worrying interactions with the local evil group known as the Krewe. And through all that, Haven is struggling with lots of internal conflict.

Agresti described the scenic landscape and historic details necessary to imagine yourself in New Orleans so well, that I felt I was part of the story.  I think she's a wiz at writing emotions too. I felt Haven's happy confusion during the tagging side effects, her resulting fear and sickness when it was over, and her feelings of loneliness and worry over her relationship with Lance. 

Infatuate does end on a cliffhanger, but it isn't the Oh-My-God-What-Happened type of ending. I have an inkling of where the story's heading in Book 3, and I can't wait for the final book in the trilogy to come out so I can learn what happened. As I finished this book in one day, I know I'll have to block out the date of the third book's release so I can devour and savor it without stopping.

Once again, Agresti has written an enjoyable, engrossing fantasy story full of multidimensional characters, amazing imagery, and lessons of inner strength and the importance of friendship. Infatuate is a perfect book for a long Summer's day or a relaxing weekend whatever season of the year.  

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A good, high-achieving, 17-year-old high school grad

ACTION: Battle for good and evil

LOVE INTERESTS: Clark Kentish, fellow high school grad - and - an underworld resident

ROMANCE: Yummy heavy snogs

QUIRKINESS: Dante's character

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Immortal City Series by Scott Speer, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick, The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

 

Illuminate

A Gilded Wings Novel by Aimee Agresti, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March 2012. 

Haven Terra, a 16-year-old high school student, is awarded a prestigious, well-paying, semester-long internship at the newest, coolest hotel in Chicago, the Lexington Hotel. Along with the two other interns from her school (Dante, her long-time best friend, and Lance, a fellow 11th grader), Haven discovers that something is off about the owner and staff of the hotel. From the beginning of her stay, Haven is guided to prepare for an upcoming battle with evil, to become mentally and physically fit, and to be on her guard at all times.

Never having had a boyfriend, Haven is surprised when the very handsome Lucian shows a definite interest in her. He charms her with his obvious sophistication, intelligence and confidence, and she falls for him fairly quickly. But Haven discovers all isn't as it seems and that Lucian is not pursuing her with romance in mind. The real reason for his interest is much darker.

Haven's mentor is the very young and beautiful owner of the hotel, Aurelia Brown. She assigns Haven the job of photographing all of the staff and interns so that their pictures can be placed in the hotel's Gallery. On the Lexington's opening day,  Haven notices something wrong with the portraits. The scars she's tried to hide on Lance's and her pictures show up again, and she sees something off with Aurelia's photo. This sparks Haven's wariness of what's happening to her and her friends. Eventually, Aurelia assigns Haven and Lance the responsibility of overseeing their own high school's prom dance at the hotel. The three interns prepare for the event, knowing it will be a significant turning point for themselves and for the "it" people staffing the hotel.

The heroine grows from a timid and always-wanting-to-please teenager into a strong female who works to overcome and face her fears. Haven starts trusting her instincts, begins to trust in her friends, and prepares her body and mind for the upcoming battle between good and evil.

I really enjoy Young Adult paranormal stories and this novel doesn't disappoint. The book is long but never boring, and the glimpse of Haven's life before her internship provides a great contrast to her time spent at the Lexington Hotel. The author excels at descriptions and makes it feel as if you're a part of the story. Though the book isn't constantly gory like many horror movies, there are several incidents of bodily harm and descriptive gross endings to disreputable characters.

Illuminate has a strong heroine, a good message and a little romance thrown in, all of which I consider a perfect trifecta for a Young Adult novel. So don't let the over 500 pages put you off reading this entertaining story. Just take a good chunk of time and savor the book like I did. You'll be glad you did. 

** The second book in the series, Infatuate, was released in March 2013.  

PROTAGONIST/HEROINE: A good, high-achieving, 16-year-old student

ACTION: Battle for good and evil

LOVE INTERESTS: Clark Kentish, fellow 11th grader - and - suave manager of a hotel

ROMANCE: Pecks on cheeks, light lip kisses and yummy heavy snogs

QUIRKINESS: Dante's character

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Immortal City Series by Scott Speer, The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins, The Beautiful Dark Trilogy by Jocelyn Davies, Premonition Series by Amy A Bartol, Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick

 

Death of a Dowager

The Jane Eyre Chronicles, by Joanna Campbell Slan, Berkley Prime Crime, April 2013.

*This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Slan has crafted a delightful and interesting follow-up to her widely acclaimed mystery, Death of a Schoolgirl.

Death of a Dowager is set in May 1821, a few months prior to the coronation of King George IV. Jane, her beloved husband Edward, their son Ned, and Edward's ward Adele are staying in the London townhouse of their friend Lucy Brayton while their manor in Yorkshire is undergoing major repairs. Lucy is thrilled to have the Rochesters visiting and wants Jane to experience some of the delights of high society. While at a major ton event, Lady Ingram and her daughters, who are Yorkshire neighbors of the Rochesters, haughtily snub Lucy and Jane in front of a large group of the ton. This slight can affect Lucy's good standing in high society, and she is devastated. The Ingrams continue to be rude to Jane and Lucy, despite interference run by Lucy's great friend, Lady Grainger, who unfortunately is related to the Ingrams.

Jane also possesses a letter that, if released, could cause damage to the king. If the note winds up in the wrong hands, major protests and widespread havoc could break out among the country's populace, many of whom starve while the king spends a fortune on his coronation. The king, his mistress and even the note's original recipient try to obtain the letter by threatening the health and/or social standing of Jane's family and friends. But Jane maintains her objectivity and resilience while avoiding the manipulative attacks thrown her way.

Death of a Dowager is written in a style similar to that of Charlotte Bronte, the author of Jane Eyre, and to other authors from that era. Once I read through the first chapter, I felt comfortable with the different writing style and found the story easy to follow and very entertaining.

The major plots and subplots are believable, and Slan does a great job at weaving them together. She is masterful at infusing her Jane Eyre mysteries with the real social and political conditions of the time. Her detailed research shines throughout the book, highlighting real events of the day along with daily life in industrial London. She even has her characters talk about and apply various advancements in medicine and technology that were used in the 1820's. My favorite descriptions were those about the disgusting street smells and the intermixed odors of perfume, bodies and flowers at the opera house.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death of a Dowager and didn't put the book down, even to make dinner. It was easy to read, filled with appropriate clues, and contained interesting tidbits about British history. If you're looking for a good mystery or historical novel, you can't go wrong with Death of a Dowager.

Death, Doom and Detention

The Darklight Trilogy (Book 2), by Darynda Jones, St. Martin's Press, March 2013. 

The thing I like most about the Darynda Jones books is the unexpected humor lighting up her stories. She stays away from stale cliches and hits the reader with fresh, snappy dialogue and interesting, unusual characters. And Death Doom and Detention doesn't disappoint.

Although a slightly darker book than the first in the series (Death and the Girl Next Door), it continues the entertaining story of Lorelei McAlister, prophet extraordinaire. After finding out in the first book that she is the last prophet in a long line of female prophets, has Satan's second in command residing inside her, and, oh yeah, she's supposed to save the world, Lorelei just tries to survive everyday life at home and at school. She's aided by her best friends, Brooke Prather and Glitch (a.k.a. Casey and a.k.a. Blue-Spider); her part-angel/part-human protector, Cameron; and, her huge crush, the hunky Angel of Death, Jared Kovach.

In Death, Doom and Detention, unknown entities want to get rid of Lorelei. But first, they need to make her vulnerable. Jared is MIA, Cameron is weakened as the sole protector, and the kids at school are acting strange. Even Lorelei's nemesis, Tabitha Sind, is being nice. Weird. Lorelei is bombarded with visions and images that she can't control and worries that her group of misfits are supposed to be mankind's saviors "when we can barely make it to school on time". On top of all this, she discovers her grandparents want to send her away.

Why are her grandparents trying to get rid of her? Who's trying to stop Lorelei from her world-saving mission? What's happened to Jared? Why can't Lorelei control her hair? Read Death, Doom and Detention, another awesome Darynda Jones book, without delay and find out!

Themes of trust, friendship and self-confidence are woven throughout the story. It's a great read for the young adult target audience (and older readers too). 

* The final book in The Darklight Trilogy - Death and the Girl He Loves - will be released in October 2013. 

PROTAGONIST: Auburn-haired, orphaned high school student; prophet; good friend

ACTION: School fight between Cameron and Jared, sanctuary fight between Cameron and Jared

LOVE INTERESTS: Hunky, mysterious Angel of Death

ROMANCE: Hugging and kissing

QUIRKINESS: Lorelei discovers a new supernatural skill, Lorelei's sense of humor

FUN FACTOR: Snappy dialogue, funny comparisons, silly asides

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The Charlie Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones (for mature readers), Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

 

Rock Chicks

The Rock Chick Series, by Kristen Ashley, Amazon Digital Services, Mar, Apr, Nov & Dec 2011.

I first discovered how fun it is to read Kristen Ashley ebooks after reading Rock Chicks, the first in a what is currently a seven-book series (One more book is planned for 2013 to close out the series.) When I finished the first story, it took maybe two seconds to buy the other six. I couldn't get enough of the books.  They're high on action, full of enjoyable alpha male and strong female romance, and have interesting plots and satisfying character arcs.

The contemporary series, set in Denver, CO, focuses on the entertaining people that hang out at Fortnum's Bookstore and/or work at Nightingale Investigations. Each book features the angst-filled courtship of a Nightingale Investigations team member (or team “friend”) and a female who catches his eye. Oh yeah, she also comes with some kind of trouble. Drugs, thugs, car bombs, drive-by shootings, kidnappings are all in a day's work for the couples in these books. The men (which include two police detectives) are intense, hunky and skirt the edges of the law. The women are strong, sassy, and fight their attraction to the men. The men stake their claim (i.e., woman) fast, leaving the women confused and struggling to remain independent. The women's always expanding support group becomes known as the Rock Chicks, and the women call the Nightingale Investigations men the Hot Bunch.

From the loud, large and wild-haired barista to the straight-talking, petite Dolly Parton look-alike, funny and unusual characters pop up throughout the series, and Ashley isn't afraid to add more with each  book. She excels at keeping all the personalities and voices unique, so that the reader is rarely, if ever, confused about who's talking or present in a scene.

Some readers might find the situations in the later books a little far-fetched, but this is fiction, folks. And very fun fiction at that.

I highly recommend all the Rock Chick ebooks. But fair warning, don't start reading them unless you have lots of time to finish. The ebooks are long, action-packed and full of interesting plots, and you'll find it hard to stop at just one book. Once you start reading Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick books, you'll want to read all her other series too.

The books in the Rock Chick series are:

Book 1:  Rock Chick
Book 2:  Rock Chick Rescue
Book 3:  Rock Chick Redemption
Book 4:  Rock Chick Renegade
Book 5:  Rock Chick Revenge
Book 6:  Rock Chick Reckoning
Book 7:  Rock Chick Regret

WARNING:  Kristen Ashley books are for mature readers only. They include steamy sex scenes that are well-written yet don't overwhelm the plot.

 

On the Web Again

As you can tell, I've been on hiatus for the past several months. Starting next week, I'll be posting reviews again, with an extended repertoire. In addition to cozy and paranormal mysteries, I'll share my opinion on romantic suspense, Young Adult stories and anything else I fancy. So please tune in next week for my new and improved book review website.

The Taken

A Celestial Blues Mystery, by Vicki Pettersson, Harper/Voyager, June 2012.   

* Note: I received this book from the publisher for an honest and independent review.

The story's premise is pretty unique. Grif Shaw is an Centurian angel who assists souls of the recently and violently deceased cross to the other side known as Everlast. He was a 33-year-old PI in Las Vegas in 1960,when he and his wife were violently killed. The story opens as he's preparing to "take" Nicole Rockwell, a photojournalist murdered while investigating a possible underage prostitution ring involving prominent businessmen, judges, lawyers and police. Nicole had on a cheap hooker-style outfit when she died and refuses to be in the outfit for eternity, so Grif gives in and gives Nic a few more moments to change clothes. During this extra time, she does something that will cause the death of her friend, journalist Kit Craig. For punishment, higher heavenly creatures decide to take Grif's wings and make him alive again. Grif becomes infatuated with Kit and wants to prevent her death, so they join together to find Nic's murderer, keep Kit alive and uncover who's behind the prostitution ring.

The first part of this urban fantasy, paranormal mystery seemed slow, and I took frequent breaks from reading. Thankfully the pace picked up about a third of the way through, and once I reached the last third of the story, I couldn't put the book down. The lead characters are interesting and multidimensional. Kit Craig and her friends are rockabillies, people who live like they're in the 1950's. They drive cars, wear clothes and own furniture that were popular during that decade. Grif is actually from that decade, so he fits right in. The fact that he's an angel that's been demoted adds a depth to his character that a normal noir PI wouldn't have. 

I thought the story could be told effectively without the details of the prostitution activities and without the use of underage prostitutes being culled for the sexual delights of much older men. Other readers may disagree.

If you're looking for a different type of paranormal mystery for an interesting summer read, this would be a good choice. However, I suggest that you keep it on the high shelf to discourage younger, less mature readers from selecting this book for a light bedtime story. 

* The next book in the series, The Lost, comes out in March 2013.

PROTAGONISTS: Griffin  "Grif" Shaw, 33-year-old PI angel, killed in 1960; Katherine "Kit" Craig, 29-year-old journalist

ACTION: Killings, attempted rape & murder, driving around Las Vegas

LOVE INTERESTS: Between Grif & Kit

ROMANCE: Kissing, sex scenes

QUIRKINESS: Kit's rockabilly lifestyle; Grif's boss, Sarge, inserting himself on the faces of a bum, an old man and a child to talk to Grif

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Vignettes of old Las Vegas, people living like in a different era, discussion of free will

FUN FACTOR: Lighthearted moments when discussing rockabilly lifestyle

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Sign of the Zodiac Series by Vicki Pettersson, Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, The Hollows Series by Vicki Pettersson, Alex Craft Series by Kalayna Price

Beautiful Sacrifice

A Novel by Elizabeth Lowell, William Morrow, May 2012. 

Dr. Lina Taylor is a professor of Mayan culture and curator at Houston's Museum of the Maya. The museum's major funder is her family, the Reyes Balams, and many of the artifacts on display are from her family's estate in the Yucatan. Hunter Johnston is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who is helping a former ICE colleague track down significant religious Mayan artifacts stolen from ICE office. In the few days leading up to the Turning of the Wheel on December 21, 2012, they work together to identify who may have the stolen cache and how the artifacts relate to the end of the Mayan Calendar.

Engrossing passages filled with interesting action and compelling dialogue were few and far between in the first 200 or so pages of the story. The major characters seemed two-dimensional, their sexual chemistry lacked pizazz or tension, and I particularly tired of their silly sex-related banter. The constant change in point of view, sometimes from one paragraph to the next, was disconcerting and, at times, hard to follow.

Despite these downfalls, I discovered the last third of the book to be faster paced and more engaging, I learned something about traditional Mexican and Yucatan foods, and though the villain's identity didn't surprise me, I enjoyed how the reveal and the events leading up to and following it were written.

All in all, I would recommend Beautiful Sacrifice to beachgoers who are fascinated with the Mayan culture and archaeology (and don't mind that the story's Kawail'l culture and artifacts are straight from the author's imagination) and those who are looking for light suspense. Readers who prefer quick-paced, totally engaging and on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense might want to look elsewhere for a good summer read.

PROTAGONIST: A single, Latino woman who is a professor of and expert in Mayan culture & a single, gringo who was once an agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ACTION: Parking garage ambush, religious rituals in the Yucatan

LOVE INTEREST: Between Lina and Hunter

ROMANCE: Minor sexual tension, silly sex-related banter, minimal consensual sex

INTERESTING TIDBITS: Info about US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); traditional Yucatan and Mexican foods; and, Yucatan landscape

FUN FACTOR: More of a suspense story but some lighthearted moments

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell, A Skeleton in God's Closet by Paul L. Maier, Excavation by James Rollins, The Third Secret by Steve Berry, Empire of Gold by Andy McDermott

 

The Inquisitor's Key

A Body Farm Novel, by Jefferson Bass, William Morrow, May 2012.

*Note:  I received this book from the publisher for review. I also was a student of one of the authors (Dr. Bill Bass) when he was head of UT-Knoxville's Anthropology Department.

Dr. Bill Brockton, forensic anthropologist and founder of the University of Tennessee's anthropology research center known as The Body Farm, flies to Avignon, France to help unravel the mystery of an ancient skeleton found underneath the Palace of the Popes. His research assistant, Miranda Lovelady, and French archaeologist, Stefan Beauvoir, have discovered a stone ossuary with carvings of a lamb and a cross on the outside and a full skeleton showing evidence of crucifiction inside. They need Bill's expertise and discretion to determine if the bones could be those of Jesus of Nazareth. During their research, Bill and Miranda see similarities between the ossuary's skeleton and the Shroud of Turin, confusing their findings even more. When carbon-14 dating determines the bones are around 2000 years old and Stefan is killed, the identity of the ossuary's skeleton becomes less important than the identity of his murderer.

Moving back and forth between the present day and the early 1300's, the authors present a theory about the basis for the illustration on the Shroud of Turin and fictionalize interactions between the White Cardinal, Jacques Fournier (who became Pope Benedict XII) and Johannes Eckhart, a prominent Dominican theologian and mystic, and other players in the early years of the papacy at Avignon. I thought the backstory was unnecessary to the mystery part of the story, but it did help explain how hypocritical the pope and the popes' followers were while in Avignon.

Tripping in and out of different centuries failed to move the story along. I found it quite slow, with very little action and not a lot of tension, And while I was disappointed in the abrupt ending, I did appreciate the twist near the end. It was a complete surprise and done very well.

All in all, The Inquisitor's Key isn't as suspenseful and might not hold the reader's interest as other books in the Body Farm series. However, intertwining information on Avignon and its papacy years throughout the story should make it a worthwhile read for history enthusiasts.  

****

PROTAGONIST: A fit, 50-ish, forensic anthropologist and supervisor of the Body Farm at UT-Knoxville

ACTION: Car chase in France and Italy, running from a possible murderer

POTENTIAL LOVE INTEREST: The protagonist's 26-year-old female graduate student

INTERESTING TIDBITS: History of the papacy in Avignon, France; theory on how illustration was made on Shroud of Turin; info on artist Simone Martini and poet/philosopher Francesco Petrarch

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry, Map of Bones by James Rollins, The Sacred Vault by Andy McDermott

 

My New Obsession

I've been under the weather lately and have spent a lot of time reading a subgenre new to me...teen paranormal romance. Why so late to the party, you may ask? Where was I when the Twilight books and movies rocked the world of teenage girls everywhere? Well, I was reading lighthearted cozy and paranormal mysteries primarily written for slightly older readers. 

My Barnes & Noble needed to free up some more space for a new, much larger NOOK display, and staff had to rearrange the floor's layout. In the new set up, to get to the mystery section, I first had to pass by the general teen section on one aisle and the teen paranormal romance and teen science fiction on the adjacent aisle.  I tried to resist the haunting covers with pictures of lonely, lovely teenage girls pining for their one true love. But I caved. For fallen angels and mythological heroes (and only a smattering of vampires, shapeshifters and werewolves). The 50% off special at B&N two weeks ago solidified my new obsession.

Now I'm the proud owner of the amazing books in Lauren Kate's Fallen and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series. I flew through Meg Cabot's Abandon and am impatiently waiting for the sequel. I loved The Mephisto Covenant and am frustrated that I have to wait until fall for the next book in the series. I enjoyed reading the first two books in the C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls series and Leigh Fallon's Carrier of the Mark and am looking forward to the first book in the Yvonne Wood's Dead Beautiful series.

I can't help it. I'm in love. With teen paranormal romances. Sigh...

Happy New Year!!

Now that the Chanukah/Christmas/Kwanza season is almost over, I'm deciding how to enhance my blog in the new year. I've read a lot of books this winter and finished about a book a day for the last week, giving me plenty of stories to analyze and share. So book reviews will rule! And I'll continue the themed Friday posts (suggestions are always welcome), because I like picking a theme and seeing which books apply. I have a few new ideas that I'm mulling over and may apply within the next few weeks. So stay tuned and keep reading!

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!!!

Mysteries of Winter

I don't know about you, but when I'm sitting all cozy in my sweater and jeans and sipping luscious Earl Gray tea, I don't want to read a story set in the humid, hot months of summer. Likewise, if in July I'm relaxing in a beach chair and enjoying breezes off the ocean, I'm not interested in stories set in the snow-friendly months of winter. 

Today it's December 16th and the temperature's dropping. YAY! Time to get lost in books where the characters shiver in the 45 degree weather and drink hot chocolate or mulled cider in front of a warm fire (hopefully not a destructive one). Can't you just feel the heightened tension when the protaganist drives her Ford Focus down icy roads, sliding around tight curves and flying through red lights trying to outrun the big, black SUV following her every movement? I can imagine the scene a whole lot better if the temperature outside matches the one in the book.

So for those who are in the cold right now, here are some stories set in the frigid depths of winter. The forecast? A dusting of snow mixed with cold, cruel hearts and frosty relationships...

 

Killer Sweet Tooth (A Daphne Martin Cake Mystery) by Gayle Trent

Dead Bolt (A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery) by Juliet Blackwell

Let's Play Dead (A Museum Mystery) by Sheila Connelly

Bitter Harvest (An Orchard Mystery) by Sheila Connelly

Winter Study (An Anna Pigeon Mystery) by Nevada Barr

The Wicked Winter (A Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery) by Kate Sedley

Stork Raving Mad (A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews

Shot Through Velvet (A Crime of Fashion Mystery) by Ellen Byerrum

Armed and Glamorous (A Crime of Fashion Mystery) by Ellen Byerrum

The Fashion Hound Murders (A Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper Mystery) by Elaine Viets

Make, Take, Murder (A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery) by Joanna Campbell Slan

 

I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg for stories set in the cold months of winter. Did I miss your favorite book? Please comment and let us know...and stay warm!! 

 

Next Friday: MYSTERIES WITH MESSAGES

Holiday Who-Dun-Its

In this crazy season of rushing about buying presents and donning our party apparel, good little mystery writers everywhere look forward to all the holiday cheer, colorful blinking lights, good times with friends, and...murder.  That's because along with the frolic and festivities come kung fu fighting the meek-looking granny for the hottest new toy, waiting in long lines to reach irritable sales people, and arguing with dear Cousin Carmine over who gets the last piece of pumpkin pie. It's a mystery writer's paradise! While most people let the anger percolate inside, those who pen mysteries can put it all on paper...and maybe rake in some holiday dough.

Should your thoughts turn to murder this holiday season, don't let your stress get the best of you. Relax, refresh and renew with these holiday-themed murder mysteries:

 

Anthologies:

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier and Laura Levine

Candy Cane Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier

Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler

The Gift of Murder edited by John M. Floyd

Sugarplums and Scandal by Lori Avocato, Dana Cameron, Mary Daheim, Cait London, Suzanne Macpherson and Kerrelyn Sparks

Dying in a Winter Wonderland edited by Tony Burton

 

Anne Perry Christmas Stories:

A Christmas Odyssey

A Christmas Promise

A Christmas Beginning

A Christmas Homecoming

A Christmas Secret

 

Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark Christmas Stories:

He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Silent Night

Deck the Halls

Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea

Dashing Through the Snow

The Christmas Thief

 

Margaret Maron Christmas Stories:

Rituals of the Season

Christmas Mourning

Christmas Corpus

 

Kate Kingsbury's Special Pennyfoot Hotel Mysteries:

Herald of Death

Mistletoe and Mayhem

Ringing in Murder

Slay Bells

Shrouds of Holly

No Clue at the Inn

 

Christmas Beasts:

Silent Night (A Raine Stockton Dog Mystery) by Donna Ball

Six Geese A-Slaying (A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews

Cat Deck the Halls (A Joe Grey Mystery) by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Santa Clawed (A Mrs. Murphy Mystery) by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

 

Holiday Refreshment:

The Christmas Cookie Killer by Livia J. Washburn

Christmas Cookie Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery) by Leslie Meier

A Catered Christmas (A Mystery with Recipes) by Isis Crawford

Sweet Holidays (The Third Samantha Sweet Mystery) by Connie Shelton

Plum Pudding Murder (A Hannah Swenson Mystery) by Joanne Fluke

Sugar Cookie Murder (A Hannah Swenson Mystery) by Joanne Fluke

Holiday Grind (A Coffee House Mystery) by Cleo Coyle

The Diva Cooks a Goose (A Domestic Diva Mystery) by Krista Davis

 

Christmas in the United Kingdom: 

A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer

Kissing Christmas Goodbye (An Agatha Raisin Mystery) by M.C. Beaton

A Killer's Christmas in Wales (A Penny Brannigan Mystery) by Elizabeth J. Duncan

Hercule Poirot's Christmas: A Holiday Mystery by Agatha Christie

Queene's Christmas (An Elizabeth I Mystery) by Karen Harper

 

More Holiday Stories:

Shakespeare's Christmas (A Lily Bard Mystery) by Charlaine Harris

Indigo Christmas (A Hilda Johansson Mystery) by Jeanne M. Dams

The Alpine Christmas (An Emma Lord Mystery) by Mary Daheim

Poison to Purge Melancholy (A Pat Montello Mystery) by Elena Santangelo

A Wee Christmas Homicide (A Liss MacCrimmon Mystery) by Kaitlyn Dunnett

Holly and Homicide (A Domestic Bliss Mystery) by Leslie Caine

Christmas is Murder (A Rex Graves Mystery) by C.S. Challinor

Let There Be Murder (A Ministry is Murder Mystery) by Emilie Richards

Murder is a Girl's Best Friend (A Paige Turner Mystery) by Amanda Matetsky

Snow Angel (A Chloe Boston Mystery) by Melanie Jackson

Aunt Dimity's Christmas (An Aunt Dimity Mystery) by Nancy Atherton

Fleece Navidad (A Knitting Mystery) by Maggie Sefton

A Holiday Yarn (A Seaside Knitters Mystery) by Nancy Goldenbaum

 

And there you have it! Lots of murder mysteries to savor by the fireside on a cold winter night.  Enjoy the holidays with friends and family, and don't forget to pamper yourself and read.

Next Friday:      WINTER CHILLS, THRILLS AND MURDER 

Even More Mysteries of History (early to mid 1900s)

To finish our trip down history lane, here are some mystery series set in the early to mid 1900s:

 

Turn of 20th century

Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson

Molly Murphy Mysteries by Rhys Bowen

Edwardian Period (1901-1910)

Ursula Marlow Mysteries by Clare Langley-Hawthorne

Pre WWI & WWI

Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert

Bess Crawford Mysteries by Charles Todd

World War I Novels by Anne Perry

1920's

Hercule Poirot Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Jade Del Cameron Mysteries by Suzanne Arruda

Joe Sandilands Murder Mysteries by Barbara Cleverly

Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries by Carola Dunn

Laetitia Talbot Mysteries by Barbara Cleverly

Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood

1930's

Hercule Poirot Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Alan Grant Mysteries by Josephine Tey

Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen

Maisie Dobbs Novels by Jacqueline Winspear

Josephine Tey Mysteries by Nicola Upton

Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene

1940's & WWII

Alan Grant Mysteries by Josephine Tey

Billy Boyle WWII Mysteries by James R. Benn

Rosie Winters Mysteries by Kathryn Miller Haines

1950's

Miss Marple Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Flavia de Luce Mysteries by Alan Bradley

1960's

Murder A-G0-G0 Mysteries by Rosemary Martin

 

I hope you enjoyed this mysteries set in history series. Let me know if you discovered a new author and/or series from these lists.

Did I miss your favorite mystery series of the early to mid 20th century? If so, please comment and let us know.

Next Friday:      CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES

More Mysteries of History (up to 1800)

As we saw last week, a lot of excellent mystery series are set in the 1800's. But a good crime story can be placed in any era. All it needs is a murder, a few suspects and someone to solve the crime, right? So for all you history mystery lovers, here's a list of enticing tomes to peruse up to, but not through, 1800:

 

1st Century BC: Rome

SPQR Mysteries by John Maddox Roberts

 

1st Century AD: Rome

Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries by Lindsey Davis

 

2nd Century AD: Roman Britain

 Libertus Mysteries of Roman Britain by Rosemary Rowe

 

7th Century AD: Ireland

Mysteries of Ancient Ireland by Peter Tremayne

 

11th Century AD: Japan

Sugawara Akitada Mysteries by I. J. Parker

 

Medieval, Spanning Several Centuries: England

Historical Mysteries by The Medieval Murderers (Michael Jecks, Susanna Gregory, Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Philip Gooden and Simon Beaufort)

 

12th Century AD: England

Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters

Crowner John Mysteries by Simon Beaufort

 

13th Century AD: England

Templar Knight Mysteries by Maureen Ash

Medieval Mysteries by Priscilla Royal

Hawkenlye Mysteries by Alys Clare

 

14th Century AD: England

Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles by Susanna Gregory

Knights Templar Series by Michael Jecks

Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon, Chronicles by Mel Starr

Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries by Jeri Westerson

Mathilde of Westminster Mysteries by Paul Doherty

Hugh Corbett Mysteries by Paul Doherty

 

15th Century AD: England

Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries by Margaret Frazer

Bishop Pecock Tales by Margaret Frazer

Joliffe Mysteries by Margaret Frazer

Roger the Chapman Mysteries by Kate Sedley

 

15th Century AD: Scotland

Gil Cunningham Murder Mysteries by Pat McIntosh

 

16th Century AD: England

Matthew Shardlake Tudor Mysteries by C. J. Sansom

 

16th Century AD: Ireland

Burren Mysteries by Cora Harrison (new)

 

17th Century AD: England

Thomas Chaloner Mysteries by Susanna Gregory

The Chronicles of Harry Lytle by Paul Lawrence

 

18th Century AD: England

John Rawlings Mysteries by Deryn Lake

Blue Satan Mysteries by Patricia Wynn

Westerman Crowther Mysteries by Imogen Robertson

Georgian Historical Mysteries by Lucinda Brant (e-book)

 

18th Century AD: Italy

Baroque Mysteries by Beverle Graves Myers

 

18th Century AD: Japan

Sano Ichiro Novels by Laura Joh Rowland

 

Did I miss your favorite set-before-1800 mystery series? If so, please let us know. Leave a comment with the series' titles and tell us why you like them.

 

NEXT FRIDAY:      EARLY-MID 20TH CENTURY MYSTERIES

Mysteries Set in History

I prefer series set in the present. One of my friends only reads Regency period books (mysteries, romance and paranormal). Another bud is a Medieval fan. Still another loves early- to mid-20th century stories. 

I was certain that I'd never lanquish in a reading void. But what about my friends? Would they have to wait for weeks and weeks until a Regency- or Medieval- or a take-your-pick-era mystery was released? Would they wither away in a desert of despair? I decided friends don't let friends be without a good read. Thus began my search for history mystery series to keep my BFFs happy and sane. Too many to list in one post, I'll start in the 1800s:

 

Regency Period

Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries by C.S. Harris

Lady Arianna Regency Mysteries by Andrea Penrose

Being a Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron

Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries by Ashley Gardner (ebook)

Gilded Age

Gilded Age Mysteries by P.B. Ryan

Victorian Era

Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander

Lady Julia Grey Novels by Deanna Raybourn

Charles Lenox Mysteries by Charles Finch

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novels by Anne Perry

Victorian Mysteries by Emily Brightwell

William Monk Novels by Anne Perry

Amelia Peabody Mysteries (Books 1-7) by Elizabeth Peters

 

Have I missed a favorite series of yours? Please comment with your series suggestions.

 

Next Friday:   MORE MYSTERIES OF HISTORY (up to 1800s)

Thanksgiving Mysteries

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and just like the colorful leaves flying around in my yard today, thoughts of turkey, dressing and loads of yummy butter and cream cheese-filled mashed potatoes are swirling in my mind.

That's because I'm cooking this year.   ;-(  

To begin focusing on my upcoming fantastic and festive feast, I decided to read mysteries set around Thanksgiving. Here's a cornucopia of books I discovered in my quest to escape the madness of NaNoWriMo and tap my inner Julia Child:

 

A Catered Thanksgiving  - A Mystery with Recipes by Isis Crawford (new)

Turkey Day Murder - A Lucy Stone Mystery by Leslie Meier

 A Fatal Feast - A Murder, She Wrote Mystery by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

Death in a Turkey Town  - A Chloe Boston Mystery by Melanie Jackson (ebook)

Death at Bandit Creek - A Bandit Creek Mystery - by Amy Jo Fleming (ebook)

The Great Turkey Heist  - Boxcar Children Mystery by Gertrude Warner & Robert Papp (Children's)

Thanksgiving Thief - Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew by Carolyn Keene and Macky Pamintuan (Children's)

Swampmonsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys - The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids by Debbie Dadey and Marcia T. Jones (Children's)

Who Stole Grandma's Million-Dollar Pumpkin Pie? - A Chickadee Court Mystery by Martha Freeman (Children's)

The Killer Wore Cranberry - edited by J. Alan Hartman (Anthology)

 

Have I missed your favorite Thanksgiving-themed mystery? If so, please add a comment, share the title(s) and tell us why you enjoyed the story.

 

Join me next Friday for:  HISTORY MYSTERIES

 

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard), and participants are typing their fingers to the bone to reach 50,000 words by the end of the month. I know at least ten people besides me who are crazy enough to spend beautiful autumn days in the dark recesses of their offices or burrowed inside their favorite cafe charting the course of a new novel. My writing place of choice is my local Barnes & Noble bookstore. The cafe is huge, the lights are bright and wonderful double chocolate cookies and savory soups are here for the buying.

NaNoWriMo is more than just a supportive community for writers. It's 501 (c) (3) organization, The Office of Letters and Light, accepts donations that "help us bring free creative writing programs for kids and adults in over 500 cities and towns, 3,000 classrooms, and 200 libraries every year."  http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/wheredonationsgo 

The organization encourages children and teenagers to participate in its NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program, offering pep talks by Young Adult authors, creative writing workbooks, reward badges and certificates for those who achieve their writing goals. Once November is over, The Office of Letters and Light follows-up with post-event revision advice and information on creative writing events and contests.

Teachers can use the eight-week NaNoWriMo study curriculum for creative writing developed to the Common Core Language Arts standards, interact with other teachers in educators-only forums and access the Virtual Classroom on the NaNoWriMo website to enhance their writing classes. This year more than 3000 kits with buttons, stickers, posters and progress charts will be mailed to participating schools and up to 100 word processors will be loaned free of charge to schools in need.

Being a part of NaNoWriMo is not just a fun, focused and frantic way to jump-start that story percolating in your head. It's also about joining a diverse group of fantastic authors from around the globe who love writing and want to bring the joy of creativity to kids of all ages.

If you've signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo this year, please take a little break from your brilliant work-in-progress and consider donating to this great writing outreach program. Here's the link:  https://store.lettersandlight.org/donations

Now get back to work!!    ;-D

The Supernatural and Beyond...

Have you ever wondered how to read tea leaves or heard disembodied voices? Do you have a strange fascination with all things eerie or just plain weird? Then here are plenty of mysteries that cater to your interest in the supernatural and beyond...

(* Books reviewed on this website)

 

Psychic Sleuths:

*Little Black Dress by Susan McBride

*Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend

*Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie

Harper Connelly Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

*Missing Pieces Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene

 Jeff Resnick Mysteries by L.L. Bartlett

Raven's Nest Bookstore Mysteries by Allison Kingsley

 Psychic Socialite Mysteries by Jane Sevier (E-book)

 

Not Your Usual Suspects: (werewolves, vampires, zombies, latent supernatural powers, etc.)

The Smokey Corridor:A Haunted Mystery by Chris Grabenstein (Children's)

*Charley Davidson Stories by Darynda Jones

 Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow

Beaufort & Company Mysteries by Mary Stanton

Down These Strange Streets edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois (Anthology)

Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Home Improvement: Undead Edition edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Carole Nelson Douglas (Anthology)

 

Animal Antics:

* Magical Cats Mysteries by Sofie Kelly 

 Dog Walker Mysteries by Judi McCoy

Telltale Turtle by Joyce and Jim Lavene

 

Have I missed your favorite supernatural story? Leave a comment and share what paranormal mysteries you like. 

Halloween is just around the corner, and all kinds of little ghosts and goblins will be knocking on your door. But be careful of the tricksters...they may not be of this world!

***HAPPY HALLOWEEN***

Bewitching Books & Witchly Tomes

Need an enchanting book to read around the cauldron? Like a little witchcraft mixed in with your mysteries? Then look no further than these bewitching books and series:

 

Hex Hall (Book One) by Rachel Hawkins (YA)

Waking the Witch (Women of the Underworld, Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong

Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt

Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair

Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell

Ophelia & Abby Mysteries by Shirley Damsgaard

Southern Witch Novels by Kimberley Frost

Alex Craft Novels by Kalayna Price (YA)

 

Did I miss a charming book from the witchcraft mysteries above? Please comment and add your favorites to the mix.

Join us for next Friday's topic: The Supernatural

Vampires, Blood and a Hint of Mystery

Savor a long, sharp tooth or two with your Bloody Mary? Appreciate a nicely turned and succulent neck? Prefer  "blood red" accessories and fabrics? Then you should enjoy these bloody good mysteries:

 

A Taste of the Nightlife: A Vampire Chef Mystery by Sarah Zettel (reviewed on this blog)

How to Party with a Killer Vampire: A Party-Planning Mystery with Tips by Penny Warner

Bite Me: A Love Story by Christopher Moore

Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders: A Mystery by Gyles Daubeney Brandreth

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe, James Howe and Alan Daniel (Children)

Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine (YA)

Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Home Improvement: Undead Edition edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Anthology)

Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy edited by Carole Nelson Douglas (Anthology)

 

 

Have I missed your favorite vampire-themed mystery?  If so, don't be shy. Please comment and tell us why!   ;- >

And join me next Friday when the topic will be:  WITCHES