Between Two Strangers by Kate White Book Review

 

As with all books I’ve read by this author, this one grabbed my attention from the beginning and didn’t let go. I could’ve probably read it in one sitting, but you know … life stuff.

Skyler is going about her business getting ready for an art gallery showing of her collages, which came as a surprise to this struggling artist. She never imagined she’d have a showing. Then boom! Her life is about to change but she doesn’t know why.

There is also the backstory of Chloe, one of Skyler’s sisters.

Unfortunately, Skyler’s parents (mom and stepdad) don’t always seem very supportive of Skyler’s art as they still blame her. Nicky, Skyler’s sister, seems to be the go-between.

Tuna – the cat. Who can resist a cat named Tuna?

I enjoyed reading about Skyler and her adventures in finding out the why behind the potential windfall she was about to receive. I liked the animosity that was played out between Skyler and Chris Whaley’s family – it made for a good read, at least to me. I was also engaged in how Chloe’s story from the past came full circle forward to explain the why behind Skyler’s inheritance, so to speak. I liked how this tale is written in “Now” and “Then,” which ultimately brings the reader full circle. I thought I had figured out the whodunit, at least I had my suspicions, and I was so off with that guess. I also liked the fact that even though this inheritance could potentially change Skyler’s life, in all the ways, she didn’t seem to change much in the end. She just wanted to find out why and bring some resolution, some healing to herself and her family in finally finding out the truth about what happened to Chloe. Skyler also finally found herself standing up for herself against all the naysayers.

The Unexpected Hostage by Allison McKenzie Book Review

 

I do not generally read blurbs and this one is no exception. I’ve had it sitting in my Kindle library for quite a while and picked it out to read. I was not expecting this story … at all. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was not disappointed.

I enjoyed reading Tess’s story. She is suffering from the loss of Kyle a year ago, is having trouble at her company (Kingsley Tech), comes face to face with some really bad guys, and is fighting the attraction she feels to Mark, a man she met at a function they both attended. Tess is tough, she’s strong, she’s committed to finding answers no matter the cost.

Mark is facing his own losses in life and wasn’t expecting to meet Tess, which is one thing they could agree on. He also wasn’t expecting to be put in the situations he found himself in.

There are a whole host of other characters – Declan, David, Kavita, The Raven, the bad guys, the police who were involved.

I enjoyed reading about all that Tess and Mark were facing, how they were both dealing with their own inner turmoil, trying to find some healing, some justice in what they went through. I like how the author portrayed this relationship as up and down as these two were going through their emotional baggage, not to mention some other trauma-filled events through these pages.

For a debut novel, this one is extremely well written, I thought, and played out the events well. It has just the right amount of action, the right amount of intrigue, the right amount of attraction between Tess and Mark. If you like reading about cybercrimes, I highly recommend you pick this one up. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung Book Review

 

I have had this eBook hanging out on my Kindle for a while now. I read this one in one sitting, I found it that attention-grabbing. I just kept turning pages as I was engrossed in Regan (Ree-gan) and John’s story.

Secrets abound!

Regan did not have the most perfect childhood nor did John, but John’s upbringing was much worse than Regan’s if you were to compare the two. John also held fast to some long-buried, best-forgotten secrets. Both John and Regan did all they could to better themselves, to escape their childhoods, and ended up meeting along the way. In the beginning, they had what I would call a fairytale relationship – John being what I would consider the weaker one in their relationship.

I like strong female characters and this is what Regan represented to me, but in a different light than what I would have predicted throughout these pages.

There are so many things going on throughout these pages – Regan wanting a home and a family and a career, John wanting to be the provider but getting into something he wasn’t expecting, their children (Etta and Philip), Arnold Scovel (his name just sounds like a bad guy), Tamara, the FBI, financial crimes, Regan’s parents, Randy (John’s brother), even John’s mom for a minute.

Part one is told from Regan’s point of view, part two is John’s revealing of his past, and part three is the culmination of parts one and two. I really enjoyed this read which kept me guessing as to how it would all come together in the end, who would be the winner, so to speak. Apparently, this is this author’s debut novel and I am hopeful that he will write more because I’d be interested in giving them a read.

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight Book Review

 

I have had this book sitting in my Kindle for a while now. I finally decided to give it a read.

We are introduced to Katrina (Kat; the mom), Cleo (the daughter), Aidan (the father), the McHugh family. Talk about a messed-up family. Kat and Cleo are at odds with each other for various reasons, and Aidan seems lost with his own problems and not wanting to deal with theirs.

We also have Janine and Annie (a mother and daughter who live across the street from the McHughs). There’s some history between Cleo and Annie and how their friendship went up in smoke.

There’s Kyle, the boyfriend.

There’s Kat’s past that she chooses to keep buried and hopes no one looks too closely.

And Kat’s job? She’s a patent lawyer, but not your typical patent lawyer. There is the underlying story of Kat and her new relationship with Doug, and a lawsuit that involves Darden Pharmaceuticals. I was wondering how all this tied together and then it did. Kat’s boss seemed oblivious to the intricacies of this whole case.

There’s also Will, Cleo’s newest love interest.

I kept turning pages because I wanted to know how all of these intertwining stories related to each other, and as I was reading along, I was starting to develop a theory of the whodunit. I actually figured out the whodunit, just not the why. It was a convoluted trail to get there, with all the intertwining smaller stories. It’s a good twisty read.

The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb Book Review

 

This author is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors, especially after reading the last book I read by her, The Haunting of Brynn Wilder. That led me to pick up this book, The Tale of Halcyon Crane, from my shelf.

I was especially intrigued with Hallie’s story. She ended up going to a small island out in the Great Lakes. She was summoned by a mysterious letter. What intrigued me about this town was the fact that there were no cars. Folks got around by horse and buggy (literally), walking, or bicycling. And, the author threw in a ghostliness to this tale. Of course, Hallie was met with stares and folks not quite believing her story and why she was in town.

There is also a bit of a love interest involved along with an inheritance. Ghosts of the past telling their story. Oh and Iris, how could I forget Iris? Iris definitely gives off a different sort of vibe, but is so necessary to this tale as she holds the history of the Crane family.

If you like a good ghost story with an adventuresome spirit in Hallie, give this one a go. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this author’s work.

A Thieving at Carlton House by Erica Vetsch Book Review

 

I am not a big historical fiction reader, but in trying to expand that genre to my reading list, I gave this one a try and I have to say – I was not disappointed. I think what got my attention was the cover. It matches perfectly, to me, the main character in this tale – Phillipa Cashel. This is a rags-to-riches type story.

Phillipa, Pippa to some, is a character who has escaped her previous life to do something good. She has such an inner strength about her that I appreciated. No matter how folks she encountered treated her, knowing her past, she kept on going to fulfill her dream … that of creating an organization to help women who were trapped in the same sort of life she had. She was also offered an opportunity that she wasn’t sure she would pursue. I also liked her attraction to one Sir Bertrand Thorndike, or Bertie to his friends. Bertie has a story of his own.

What I really found intriguing was the writing style and how true it stayed to the time period. I could just imagine some of these characters in my mind’s eye. It was also interesting to me how the ‘classes’ in one of the homes were described – from scullery maids, to first-floor maids, to second-floor maids. I’ve never read a historical fiction book with the classes defined like that.

According to the list of books in the front matter, this is going to be a part of a series, and the ending of book one is a perfect setup for book two. I’ll be sure to watch for it. The series is Of Cloaks & Daggers.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson Book Review

 

I had no idea what this book was about so I went in blind, as I kept seeing folks on social media say how good it was. To be honest, in the beginning I wasn’t sure this one would be for me. I diverted my attention to an eBook but kept reading this one. The more I read it, the more intrigued I became, so much so that I abandoned my eBook temporarily to finish this one. I had no idea, until the end, that this book was based on a historical time in Kentucky including none other than “book women.”

I was introduced to Cussy Mary or Bluet or “Book Woman” as her patrons took to calling her. They called her “Book Woman” as she was one of the Kentucky book women who went around and delivered reading materials to those folks who lived way back in the hills of Kentucky, those so out-of-reach places no one even knew of their existence. Bluet was also, to put it mildly, a ‘blue’ person. Not blue as in sad, but rather the color of her skin was blue. Again, I had no idea this condition even existed, and because she was blue, she was basically an outcast in the white world.

Bluet experienced a whole lot of sadness in her short life, saw some pretty sad sights on her book route, and also experienced some pretty horrific events of her own. Along comes Doc and his testing, with his own realization about Bluet, and Bluet’s realization that she was okay being a Blue. Bluet also experienced some happy moments in life. She was quite a strong-willed individual and became more important to her patrons than even she realized.

I can only imagine the research it took to develop these characters so deeply, to be able to describe what life was like during this time period, to make the reader feel like they were actually there seeing and experiencing what Bluet did. If you are big into history and like books that are accurate in their telling, this one might just be for you.

Newsletter Schedule for 2025

 

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Blood Lasts Forever by Jeff Gunhus Book Review

 

I have never heard of this author and one thing I enjoy as a reader is discovering new authors.

I enjoyed this story. It had the right amount of twistedness to keep me turning pages. I liked the way this story flowed and unfolded. I enjoyed reading about the Fab Five and their secret, the glue that made them stay quiet over the years. The Fab Five consisted of Mitch, Dan, Kelly-Ann, Lauren, and Rick. Each of the Fab Five grew up to lead relatively normal lives, but there was something that continually haunted all of them.

Wyatt and Sykes Bucks – brothers. Wyatt wanted to be like his older brother, Sykes, or so it seemed. Both were troublemakers.

There is also a bit of a ghost story involved in this tale of childhood gone wrong.

What I also enjoyed about this tale is how the chapters ended with a phrase that led right into the following chapter, the chapters of which flipped back and forth between the present time and memories of a long-past childhood that surrounded each character and what they each had to lose as adults if their secret was revealed. Who would benefit the most from the secret remaining buried? Who wanted to gather everyone in adulthood to make sure everyone stayed silent? A ghost from the past or one of the Fab Five?

 

Death in the Ozarks by Erik S. Meyers Blog Tour and Book Review

 

I really enjoyed ‘meeting’ Sally Witherspoon and being introduced to the many characters in this cozy mystery.

Sally is an amateur sleuth and the owner of Sally’s Smasher, who was co-owned by her friend Bill Arnold. There are a whole host of other characters you’ll get to meet – Jay and Magda, the mayor, Finnegan and Soder (the detectives), Margaret, Diane, the rest of the Arnold family, Zeke and Annette. All of these folks make for some pretty colorful characters that help bring this story to life. Some of the situations Sally finds herself in made me shake my head, and left Sally wondering how she got herself into the situation. The more questions she asked as an amateur sleuth, the more trouble she found herself creating.

There were a couple of folks in this tale that I suspected of being the whodunit. All of them viable for different reasons. I was wrong and the whodunit was totally unexpected, wasn’t even on my list of suspects. And the reasoning … that was even more unexpected.

On the whole, while I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, I did enjoy Sally’s tale and her sleuthing. I liked her persistence and her loyalty to her friends and wanting to see justice served. I liked the fact she was willing to take chances, even to her own detriment and much to Finnegan’s surprise sometimes. It will be interesting to read about her next adventure … see what small-town mysteries she unravels.

 

Find Mr. Meyers:

Website: https://www.erikmey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikSMeyersAuthor/

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487338

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Ozarks-Sally-Witherspoon-Mystery/dp/1685125204/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EYLOB4Q59GBH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lV8VPh81-sn-ENkbBIpyK5vRjCV_7Wk6Eks4BKdSPH5bCZH_WzO27pwu0Faf842WTbZ2wkECe7H9komeDpmzoNBcBGrtnJxs64dEhKp5BoWpZBikrBzqgpwJlqt-NVetxiw6Q5OVv904-SyZkvTn2l-r5Gggbv0i5UAsHrP-gEn0iY0kr-7dawA3P1Enw-B4fsVJmC7RV3ULlKrxqIofjrUng3g4Ibifhkr3GRFL_6s.FF6jdi3IO2wGAZTvsNZf3q6oIrO8EFzTafgye6MZ9P8&dib_tag=se&keywords=death+in+the+ozarks&qid=1727625453&sprefix=death+in+the+ozark%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-in-the-ozarks-erik-s-meyers/1144349296?ean=9781685125202

 

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MURDER ON THE MISSISSIPPI by ERIK S. MEYERS

I received a gifted copy.

 

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Find Mr. Meyers:

Website: https://www.erikmey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikSMeyersAuthor/

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487338

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

 

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Burn This Night by Alex Kenna Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Be sure to get yourself a copy of this author’s latest release. It has all the elements I like.

Kate is trying to put her life back together after a couple of bad accidents and some addictions. She finds herself in the private investigation business and this case takes her to Idlewood, to work on a recent case and a twenty-year-old case. Little did she know how they would tie together.

She also has a daughter Amelia and an ex-husband, John. Which only adds more depth to her story. And, her mom has been keeping a secret from her since childhood. Adding yet another layer to Kate’s story.

She meets Sam … there are fireworks between the two of them.

The case in Idlewood she was asked to look into was shrouded in half-truths as you’ll see when you read this tale that is told in the voices of Kate and Abby, one of the victims telling her tale in the past, only to collide with Kate’s tale told in the present.

You’ll meet the Coburns, Abby’s parents. You’ll meet Jacob, Abby’s messed-up brother. You’ll meet Richard, the lawyer tending to Jacob’s case. Richard has a tale of his own to tell. Myra … Myra is the one who tied everything together for Kate, and Myra has some serious issues of her own.

These characters are imperfectly perfect, showing their warts so to speak, which is the reason I enjoyed this tale so much. I really hope that there are more ventures for Kate in her private investigation work as I think she would turn out to be quite an interesting character. Maybe she and Harry can work together on a future case. I’d be interested to see how Kate’s relationship with Sam works out as well. I liked the attraction they felt for one another. I liked Sam, fiercely protective of those he cared about, and a man who could relate to Kate in a way she wasn’t expecting. If you like a good whodunit that will take you in circles trying to figure out the whodunit, give this one a go. I sure wasn’t disappointed.

 

Find Ms. Kenna:

Website: https://www.alexkenna.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085915802718

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alex-kenna

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22295347.Alex_Kenna

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexkenna9

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

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Burn-this-Night-Alex-Kenna-ebook/dp/B0CPXSKXQ9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=O1LK1Y6DRZCC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.A78tJJXqkUF6adPmK4KvI3aFxpXbXz8qmFwkTivYlD0ypkeXNqOIL1cluxxSRRMlMYwPWEeOHi_WmtpQgTNvQgz97eiYInWo4r-LzwFZy7-0RV-QKfQFemV0jXX7jaNI0sEb77MXALrJFwh-UeG0E4ECg-xh9Ge2MakEhIlD9_kamcHhjq6kC04ySX2x4R5q7LOIvzxeUsTfdtvr1DneqeL_D_23ZcclVHbPfKcc2r4.0RmU9wjqCSLh6PtFUNhLWds4ku-l_H9IPfehMkJpbFE&dib_tag=se&keywords=burn+this+night&qid=1722715287&s=digital-text&sprefix=burn+this+night%2Cdigital-text%2C173&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burn-this-night-alex-kenna/1144507977?ean=9781639109388

 

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Hidden Sins by Mike Donohue New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate Mike Donohue on his newest release – Hidden Sins. Here’s the blurb:

Trust no one, suspect everyone.

In the charming town of Cedarwood, where everyone knows your name, PI Marti Wells is about to uncover a darkness that threatens to shatter its picturesque facade.

Hired by a grieving widow to investigate her husband’s puzzling behavior before his untimely death, Marti finds herself entangled in a web of lies, betrayal, and long-buried secrets. As she digs deeper, she realizes the quaint community harbors a sinister underbelly – one that powerful forces will do anything to keep hidden.

With an uncanny intuition and a stubborn streak a mile wide, Marti has carved out a career piecing together the fragments others overlook. And in Cedarwood, those fragments are about to form a deadly puzzle.

With each clue, the danger mounts. A mysterious attacker. A missing notebook. A string of suspicious deaths. What connects them all?

As Marti races to unravel the truth, she becomes the target of a relentless killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried. Can she expose the town’s hidden sins before she becomes the next victim?

Read the second page-turning mystery in the Marti Wells series today. Perfect for fans of Laura Lippman, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, and John Sandford.

 

Bending the Arc by Nicholas Gretener Book Review

 

LawForce came into existence because a couple of folks needed a stronger legal force behind them to fight for the little guy, so to speak. Their first mission was to find a lawyer to help them out with LawForce which they found in Steve Shane. Their first case to take on was Green Action Coalition (GAC) versus Wildcat Gas and Oil.

Without getting into the specifics, this book is filled with all the ins and outs of this case, leading Shane and his team down roads they weren’t expecting. There were many factors in play in this case and many overlying roles between the characters, some good guys, some bad guys, because who can have a ‘legal thriller’ without those two characteristics? The interesting thing was the sabotage involved, at least to me; it seemed pretty mild but yet had so much bigger implications.

While I found this to be a long read at 474 pages, I did enjoy the writing style. Could some of the story been shortened? Probably, but without all the backstory and all the intricacies involved, I think something may have been lost in the telling. To me, there was one loose end that never was answered, but overall, I enjoyed this story. It leaves me wondering what LawForce will get involved with next. If you like a ‘legal thriller’ that is full of detail and not too much courtroom drama, give this one a try.

Six Degrees of Death by Marian Exall New Book Release

 

November 25, 2024

Help me congratulate Marian on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:

The suspicious death of a much-loved English professor in a small Northwest college town connects six strangers. Is one of them the killer? "It's always the husband," declares the jaded detective in charge, but a rookie cop assisting him isn't so sure. When the police investigation hits a wall, the former strangers come together to uncover unlikely links between the professor's death, Central American political corruption, and a secret document that names the criminals. Now they are all in danger, as an assassin seeks to eliminate any witnesses.

I Know She Was There by Jennifer Sadera Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Oh my goodness! Caroline, the main character, sure has some problems to work through. Part one, takes us through some of Caroline’s turmoil. I have to say I was a bit confused for a minute while I was reading Caroline’s story, as it is told mostly in narrative form … sort of like Caroline telling her side of events. Caroline, I found, to be an interesting lady. She has her problems, but by part two of her tale she was beginning to see things a bit more clearly and the answers she found … she sure wasn’t expecting them.

Mary, Caroline’s next-door neighbor. Bless her. She was seemingly looking out for Caroline, but her way of going about that, to Caroline, seemed a bit off. You’ll have to read the book to find out why. In the end, though, things came together and Caroline finally understood what Mary tried to do for her.

Tim, Caroline’s soon-to-be ex-husband. He’s one of those characters you want to like and empathize with, but you can’t because of who he turns out to be.

The big question for Caroline was – did she see what she thought she saw? And, if she did, who did it?

This is the author’s debut novel. While it was told mostly in the narrative form, I enjoyed it. I liked all the ups and downs Caroline had to go through while she was investigating an event that to her was very real, but to others seemed farfetched. Caroline suffers from some pretty serious mental health issues, which may be triggering for some, but she also had to accept some very hard truths that she was struggling with.

While she was playing amateur detective, she also found an inner strength that she didn’t know she had. This is something I appreciate in a female character. She may not have started out quite so strong in the beginning through her struggles, but she proved to herself, and to Tim, how strong she really was. Oh … and wait until you read about the plan Mary cooked up in the end.

 

Find Ms. Sadera:

Website: https://www.jennifersadera.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fjennifersadera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.sadera

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43850822.Jennifer_Sadera

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0744310954/?bestFormat=true&k=i%20know%20she%20was%20there&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_20&crid=1PSEQC98Z6A3Y&sprefix=i%20know%20she%20was%20there

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-know-she-was-there-jennifer-sadera/1144411792?ean=9780744310955

 

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The Crushing by Kerry Peresta Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Book 1 in this series is The Deadening.

Book 2 in this series is The Rising.

Book 3 in this series is The Torching.

Book 4 in this series is The Crushing.

The attraction between Olivia and “her” detective, Hunter Faraday is still there, although on a bit of a hiatus. I like this about their relationship, their back and forth, should they, or shouldn’t they. It adds so much realism to their characters.

Sherry – As I suspected before, Sherry is more involved in Olivia’s cases, even taking on some new clients of her own.  

Hannah – Another friend in this all-women circle. Hannah is a very troubled individual. She pulls out some surprises of her own no one was expecting.

Beth – Oh my! What a receptionist for Watchdog Investigations she turned out to be.

Hunter – He’s torn between two women. He gets a surprise or two of his own this time around.

Riot (the cat) and Marlowe (the dog).

What I am really enjoying about this series, Olivia Callahan Suspense, is the consistency of the characters. I also really enjoy all the intertwining smaller stories thrown in, some expected, some not so expected. I also like that Monty, Olivia’s ex, is a perpetual thorn in her side, so to speak. You never know what Monty will try next, just to see if he can get under Olivia’s skin. I’m sure Olivia will have more adventures in the future. It’ll be interesting to see what this author comes up with next.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crushing-Olivia-Callahan-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0DGRCBM5X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UI5TEBJARESN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vTOHcFF331k78pR7jZVy9E24CKB7BRfDNZUUhvAj4vs6In9kyCJPE5AcVPbNdWOp.VIkCzgQDXju6vv-ylRciolj9ca6TdGKwy5ttFz392WU&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+crushing+kerry+peresta&qid=1726929130&sprefix=the+crushing+kerry+perest%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1

 

Find Ms. Peresta:

Website: https://kerryperesta.net/#torch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.peresta

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/klperesta

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kerry-peresta#torch

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579490.Kerry_Peresta#torch

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kerryperesta#torch

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kerry-Peresta/author/B007S3C69K

 

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The Choice by D.L Wood New Book Release

 

Help me congratulate D.L. Wood on her newest release! Here’s the blurb:

What if a single letter could change everything you thought you knew about yourself?

Sadie Miles has built a life she can be proud of in Nashville, raising her best friend’s young son and pushing through every struggle that comes her way. But when an unsigned letter arrives at her door, she’s faced with a decision: ignore the letter and continue as is or take a risk to uncover the truth about her past—a truth she’s been chasing her entire life.

Following the letter’s cryptic instructions, Sadie finds herself aboard a luxury yacht, sailing down the eastern seaboard with strangers who share only one common goal: claim the fortune that awaits at the journey’s end. As the waves churn, so does the tension and when tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that someone on board will do anything to ensure they’re the last one standing.

Amidst the growing threat, Sadie’s only possible ally is the enigmatic lawyer, Liam Forrester—a man whose loyalties are as uncertain as the stormy seas around them, and who is as much of an unknown as the rest.

With Sadie on course to be the next victim, she must navigate treacherous waters both literally and figuratively. Can she survive until the end of the journey, or will she become another casualty of the deadly undertow of deceit and danger?

Buckle up for a suspenseful, slow-burn thriller that escalates to a heart-pounding conclusion—where every choice could be your last.

 

 

Frozen Lives by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush Blog Tour and Book Review

 

This book pulled me in from page one and kept me glued to the pages until the end … I read this one in a little over one sitting. It is also apparently part of a series, The Coroner’s Daughter Mystery Series, and is listed as book four. That means I have three more books to read! And … there’s book five coming out in 2025, according to her website.

The premise of this book is Jeremiah going missing, turning up again, but the nightmare for his family (Jo (mom), Paul (dad), Jessica and Jaden (sisters), doesn’t end there. Jo’s best friend, Emily (the coroner’s daughter), returns home to help look for Jeremiah, which only throws a wrench in her own relationship with Brandon. Wait until you ‘meet’ Brandon’s parents, Theresa and Valence (minor characters, really, but still …). Throw in Aditson (the cop) and you’ve got yourself a story!

Oh, I almost forgot Delia. There’s definitely a backstory there. There is more to Delia than just owning a bakery.

Don’t forget the bad guy … because there has to be one.

I really enjoyed all the tidbits of backstories that were peppered throughout these pages. And, while this is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. There is Anna and her two daughters, Fiona and Flora, with Fiona’s dream becoming a reality (pretty cool for such a young girl). There is Emily and Brandon’s relationship, coupled with one she can’t let go of. This is one of those stories that gets you invested in the characters – rooting for the good guys, hoping the bad guys get caught. And the bad guy in this tale? Serious issues.

I liked the writing style, the pacing, the characters, the short chapters, the plans that never come to fruition. I am definitely going to be checking out the rest of this series. I also really enjoyed the fact that Emily is a professional in the medical field, as a surgeon and a budding coroner. Oh! And that ending? The perfect setup for the next book.

 

Find Ms. Dornbush:

Website: https://jenniferdornbush.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JGDornbush

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-graeser-dornbush

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6070952

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Lives-Coroners-Daughter-Mysteries/dp/B0CX6HHKTN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29G6CSD7SL5WD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iY-Suh5qj262OdgGflA_dEfzVqRn19_QyQQLAs1GX27GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.uypZZO0Tsb0F0-p0gqYypu7T9rPy73C_UXkB4_gB4ho&dib_tag=se&keywords=frozen+lives+jennifer+graeser+dornbush&qid=1722714734&sprefix=frozen+lives%2Caps%2C269&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frozen-lives-jennifer-graeser-dornbush/1145021821?ean=9798212638364

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

 

 

Newsletter Featured Authors for 2025

 

Check out this amazing lineup I have scheduled for my 2025 newsletter. My newsletter goes out the first Monday of every month.

To sign up - 

https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/429866/87468051644024810/share

Or you can pop on over to my website melissaproofs.com

Huge shout-out to all the participating authors!

Class by Stephanie Land

 

I did not realize that the show we watched, “Maid,” was by this same author. We really enjoyed that show.

I have had “Class” sitting on my shelf for a while and decided to give it a read. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style. While a lot of times I find a narrative form of a story not for me, this one was very well written, I thought. And while it may seem to some that she is bemoaning and complaining about her life, it’s not really like that. She is just describing in a realistic way how her life was juggling being a single mom, a lot of heartache, going to school, and holding down her own business, not to mention trying to find some time for herself. She also doesn’t have a lot of money so paying the rent (even if she had a roommate) and buying food as well as providing for her daughter’s basic needs also became a juggling act.

I think all of these challenges made her who she is. I think it taught her daughter, Emilia, that sometimes even the smallest choice is a big one. All she really wanted was stability, less of a struggle, and someone to share her life with, someone to take part of the load off her shoulders. Not having that, I truly believe she did the best she could. I was also interested in reading how she struggled with applying for help – the negativity it would possibly bring upon her, not to mention her own self-image of needing the help, being embarrassed to need the help.

Even in today’s world, I often find myself wondering how single parents manage – working (sometimes more than one job), raising children, paying the bills, going to school, and the multitude of other things parents do. Hats off to all of you!

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

 

I finally pulled this one from my shelf. I was not disappointed and actually a bit surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. This tale is told in multiple voices, which made it all the more interesting to me.

Masha – the owner of Tranquillum House. She developed a new … ummm … treatment shall we say to help people transform themselves.

Yao – paramedic turned Masha’s right-hand man so to speak.

Delilah – another of Masha’s employees.

Jan and Gus – a couple minor characters, Jan being the massage therapist and Gus being her significant other.

Frances – she’s the author character and I believe the main one telling the story. She’s an author after all.

Lars – the overweight fellow.

Ben and Jessica – a young married couple who won the lottery, which caused all sorts of problems for them.

Heather (mom/wife), Napoleon (dad/husband), Zoe (daughter) – A family struggling with grief.

Tony – the good-looking fellow.

Carmel – a mom of four girls who just wanted a break.

Tranquillum House is marketed as a health resort where folks can go to transform themselves, little did these nine strangers know what they were in for. As you can imagine, having nine different personalities in one place proved to be quite unnerving for some of the guests, but Masha … she enjoyed it. She enjoyed playing on their so-called weaknesses. She came up with some activities that were quite unheard of, but I think that’s part of the beauty of writing. The author can delve into their imagination and come up with things that are so farfetched they make the reader shake their head. Like the ‘noble silence’ for five days, being locked in a room with total strangers and trying to find a way out, to name a couple of things. And don’t forget the smoothies! I also like how the author tied everything up in the end so there was closure for all of these perfectly flawed characters.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

 

I really, really, really enjoyed reading Brynn’s story. I cannot recall a book that has had such deep character personalities, and there were quite a few. Here’s a rundown:

LuAnn and Gary – Luann is the owner of the boardinghouse that Brynn was staying at for her summer in Wharton. Gary is the bartender. And boy what a story they have.

Jason and Gil – Summertime renters at the boardinghouse. Their story is quite interesting as well, how they came to be a couple.

Alice – Jason’s ex-wife, Rebecca and Jane’s mother. Alice is afflicted with Alzheimer’s, but she knows things … things she shouldn’t know.

Dominic – The very attractive man who is also staying at the boardinghouse and gets a lot of attention, being a newcomer to Wharton.

Simon and Jonathan – Another interesting couple who work at Kate and Nick’s inn.

Kate and Nick – Kate is Brynn’s long-time friend and Nick is her husband, who also happens to be the chief of police in Wharton.

Rebecca and Jane – Jason and Alice’s daughters. They don’t play a huge role, but they are important to this story.

The town of Wharton, a small town on Lake Superior. A place where folks go to recharge their batteries, so to speak, to escape their ‘real’ lives, if even for a summer.

Yes, it seems like there are a ton of characters in this tale, but each one has a specific role, some roles larger than others. This story centers around Brynn and her grief. She comes to Wharton at the insistence of her friend, Kate, knowing that she needs to reset her emotions. Along the way Brynn meets Dominic and there is an immediate attraction, but she can’t figure out why. Then come the dreams. Then the sightings she sees (of which no one is surprised, the boardinghouse is haunted after all). Then there is room five and what is so special about room five?

These pages contain so much … love stories, hauntings, visions, dreams, the past colliding with the present – or does it? The mystery surrounding Dominic and why Brynn feels so drawn to him. I think the author really nailed it with all the intertwining lives of these characters. Now, I have filled my shopping cart with all the books … I can only imagine what some of these characters get up to in each of them, as per the Acknowledgements, Wharton is a big part of this author’s writing.

A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell Blog Tour and Book Review

 

Where are all the cozy mystery readers? This one’s for you!

Laura finds herself heading to Texas at the invitation of her parents. This situation works out for her as she is not getting along with her siblings. She is also reunited with Hattie, who was like a grandmother to Laura and someone she has missed. The interesting thing – they communicated by writing letters! This is something that has gone by the wayside these days. I always thought it was fun (and still do) getting handwritten notes in the mail.

We are also introduced to Hattie’s care person, Nicole, and her mother, Edith. They are the colorful characters in this tale, based on their personalities.

We meet Jordan who has a story of his own. Hattie was a kind, caring person and helped him out.

We meet Brent, the good-looking lawyer. Every story needs a good-looking lawyer.

We meet Detective Adams. We meet Laura’s dad, Zane. And Connie. And Duska. And Moon Pie, a cute corgi, who adds to this tale.

Laura is what I would call an amateur sleuth. She wasn’t happy with the way the detectives were handling the cases they were handed so she decided to investigate on her own, much to the detectives’ dismay and admonishments. She gets herself into all kinds of trouble along the way, when she only wanted to help, not cause harm.

While cozy mysteries aren’t my normal type of book to read, I did enjoy reading about Laura’s misadventures and her persistence. I like the fact that she found out what she was made of, her inner strength, her never-give-up attitude until she found the answers she was looking for. And maybe even a bit more.

 

Find Ms. Bell:

Website: https://www.marlenembell.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/ewephoric

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marlene-m-bell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17642396.Marlene_M_Bell

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hush-Midnight-Secrets-Scandals-Recipe/dp/B0DG8K4CQD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3534EDWCQQRSY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sWAGxsWWASJWE_PAHLg5HA.v8MBWbFL46T_wEymS9dXZvL8SLRI7CXCWxh8Ko5-Fes&dib_tag=se&keywords=a+hush+at+midnight+marlene+bell&qid=1727623795&sprefix=a+hush+at+mi%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-1

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/

 

 

 

The House Next Door by Darcy Coates Book Review

What a cool read for the Halloween season!

The premise of this story is Josephine (Jo) living next door to the Marwick House, which was supposedly haunted. All Jo really knew was the neighbors closed their blinds on the sides of their homes so they couldn’t see Marwick House, as well as the fact that none of the families who moved in stayed for very long. In fact, the last family living there left in the middle of the night, leaving all their belongings, never to return. Then, Anna moved in.

Being somewhat of a loner, but also being curious, Jo met Anna and they became friends, of sorts. Jo also has a cousin, Lukas, who stops in occasionally just to make sure things were okay with Jo. I had a suspicion there was more to Jo’s story as to why she was alone but that was left a mystery. Lukas also met Anna; yes, there’s more there.

And let’s not forget Helen.

What I really liked about this tale was the description of Helen when she showed up and the backstory surrounding her. I liked the descriptions of the noises that Jo, especially, would hear when she was in Marwick House. I liked the darkness that surrounded Marwick House and the descriptions of how just being in its presence would affect different people. If you like a good ghost story, pick this one up.

Rain by H.N. Hirsch Book Review

 

I found myself relating more to Marcus in this tale. After all, he was the one who introduced Kenny, one of his students, to Bob, his partner, who happened to be a lawyer.

The premise of this tale is Kenny finding himself in all kinds of legal trouble and not knowing what to do. Bob, though exceptionally busy in his practice, decided to take on Kenny’s case. However, the more he talked to Kenny the more frustrated he got with him. Kenny, as it turns out, didn’t tell Bob everything … naturally, when Bob found out, he’d question Kenny further who still told him half-truths, if that. There was so much more to Kenny than I was expecting. I liked the realism that was portrayed with Kenny not being one hundred percent truthful.

What I really enjoyed about this tale was the courtroom scene near the end of the book. The back-and-forth trying to figure out what happened to the victim, Cathy. And then the verdict, and then the even bigger twist right at the end. That’s what really got my attention, that last final twist.

 

Idaho Fall by D.J. Maughan - New Release and Book Review

 

Help me congratulate D.J. Maughan on his new book – Idaho Fall. Here’s the blurb:

An entrepreneur with a startup valued at one billion falls from a balcony on the eve of the company going public. Was it an accident? Or was she pushed?

Rita Burch is a rising star. The founder of a huge clothing brand, she is on the brink of financial nirvana. Her company is set to go public with a valuation of over one billion dollars when her body is found broken and unconscious, a victim of an apparent accident. Comatose, and fighting for her life, determined to wake, she learns she can leave her body.

Following the detectives as they investigate her accident, probing for clues, Rita learns disturbing details about herself and others.

Shocked by her life, she faces a dilemma. Even if she could, would she want to live?

 

My Review:

I like having the opportunity to read books by new-to-me authors, so when the opportunity to read this one arose, I jumped at it. I was not disappointed. I could’ve easily read this one in a day, time permitting.

As the blurb suggests, Rita has a terrible accident and finds she can leave her body. This definitely adds a ‘paranormal’ aspect to her story, but it was intriguing to me that she could actually do this, focus on a certain person, and then ‘be there’ in an instant. She discovers what people think of her and has to take a close look at herself, even comatose, and was surprised at what she discovered. The biggest questions – who pushed her and why. You’ll have to read the book to find out the answers.

I liked the writing style, the short chapters, the pacing which was quick and kept me turning pages. I really enjoyed Hank and Joyce, the detectives assigned to Rita’s case. I liked their relationship. Joyce is the seasoned detective of the two of them; she seems to have a way of seeing a scene and picking up on the mildest of clues. She seemed to be stuck on one particular but odd question. She got her answer, though, and some pretty quizzical looks … the question was so bizarre and seemed misplaced in an investigation.

If you’re looking for a new author who lets his imagination take over, give this one a try. A bit of paranormal, for lack of a better word, sure, but what would you do if you could float around at will?

 

Specters in the Glass House by Jamie Jo Wright - New Release

 

Help me congratulate Jaime on her new book - Specters in the Glass House. Here’s the blurb:

An ominous butterfly house. A sinister legacy. An untraceable killer.

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills Blog Tour and Book Review

 

I had the opportunity to grab a copy of this book to read and I am so glad I did! If I had the time, I’m sure I would have devoured these pages in one sitting.

I enjoyed ‘meeting’ Carrington (a trained negotiator) and Levi (an investigative journalist). In the beginning, they were both called to a scene and weren’t surprised the other was there, considering they’d worked together before. They each held a silent respect for each other and their individual jobs. Case closed. They thought they’d go their separate ways when another situation required their attention … a bigger situation. This situation involved a couple of prominent families in Victoria, Texas, and it threw Carrington and Levi together once again.

There are quite a few backstories throughout these pages as well. There is the story of Will (husband), Felicia (wife), and their two children (Jace and Emma). Not to mention the parents of both Will and Felicia. There are the police personnel who are involved, Sheriff Macmire especially. Boyd and Lyndie and the problems Lyndie’s own mother caused. Skip, who was assigned his first big case, but he never gave up.

I enjoyed the intersecting yet conflicting emotions the author was able to portray with words alone. Carrington carries some emotional baggage which led her to give up on her faith, if she even had any. Levi, on the other hand, maintains his faith but has his own baggage that he carries around but prays continually for a resolution. I like the attraction that these two obviously felt for one another – one too scared to give in, and the other hoping a relationship would blossom.

I also enjoyed all the smaller tidbits – well-off but dysfunctional families, grown children who are trying to be better than those who raised them, troubled wives, troubled teens, a couple of relationships that shouldn’t have lasted but did, a budding romance, and Arthur (Carrington’s dog, her faithful companion). I really enjoy this author’s writing style; I like the fact that she is able to interlace all these messy stories yet portray a feeling of hope and forgiveness. Lethal Standoff is listed as a standalone read, but I suspect Carrington and Levi may find themselves faced with another dangerous situation in the future; at least, I hope so as I’d like to read about it.

  

Find Ms. Mills:

Website: https://diannmills.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannmills

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/diann-mills

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81639.DiAnn_Mills

Twitter: https://x.com/diannmills

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

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Standoff-DiAnn-Mills/dp/1496485106/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EP921P9KM08R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VjAlzvy91MgUxrlFqZwJIikj1TT31EMNtLZ79x28x4Sw4zDzbD3d7bhjeFM9WX_7chBJYFyWOUKZ0iHT6IJJiMR7_JhTyTxsEcSQULbI3xU.YIbDv4MhsO339ZOlF3LWQBbda2wL4Vmc25MLBuNzHmc&dib_tag=se&keywords=lethal+standoff+diann+mills&qid=1722714398&sprefix=lethal+standoff%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lethal-standoff-diann-mills/1145003280?ean=9781496485106

 

Interested in your own book tour?

Partners in Crime: https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/

Need a proofreader? I’ve got you covered - https://www.melissaproofs.com/