Eyes on You by Kate White Book Review

 

Robin is making a comeback with her career … the book she has just published is skyrocketing on the charts and she has landed back on TV. Of course, viewers are taken in by the easy rapport she has with her co-host, Carter. Someone at the station is apparently not happy with Robin’s success, or just with Robin herself. Some creepy things start to happen to her … a note left in her purse at a book signing, a poisoned brownie, a bug in her coffee (can you imagine?!?), and a mutilated Barbie doll left in her office. Oh, and let’s not forget the internet searches that lead back to her.

There are some interesting characters in this tale … Robin herself. Carter, her good-looking co-host. Ann, Robin’s best friend. Maddy, a cousin to Robin. Alex, Bettina, the bosses at the TV station, and a whole host of others who get involved in this tale of whodunnit. Oh, and Sharon.

I found myself trying to figure this one out. I thought it was person A, a most unlikely suspect, but then I changed my mind to person B because that was another unlikely suspect. It is quite intriguing how Ms. White is able to drop subtle hints to lead the reader to believe it is person A, but then leaves the reader thinking maybe it’s person B or even person C. Who really is the whodunnit in this tale? If you read this one, let me know if you figured it out before the end. This one definitely has the right kind of ‘creep’ factor intertwined with some interesting relationships.

 

The Wrong Man by Kate White Book Review

 

Continuing along with my Kate White binge … next up is “The Wrong Man.” This one is a slow burn taking the reader through what Kit, an interior designer, stumbles onto in her quest to become a little more gutsy with her life decisions. She takes a vacation to Islamorada. While there, she literally stumbles into a stranger, has dinner with him, ends up with his Mont Blanc pen by accident, and everything falls apart from that point forward. She finds herself involved with the police, finds herself being stalked, hoping against hope that her business doesn’t crumble around her ankles, and then finally stumbles upon the truth of the matter.

This tale contains the friendship between Kit and her business partner, Baby Meadows, who is an interesting character with her flashiness that sets well against Kit’s more subtle style. There is a bit of intrigue in that the police and FBI are involved. A little bit of insider trading. A murder. A flash drive with some incriminating information. There is a hint of romance. There are some very interesting interior design clients Kit who picks up along the way. There is also a bit of medical intrigue. All of these tidbits put together make for an enjoyable read, at least to me. This is another one of Ms. White’s earlier releases in 2015, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

 

And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling Book Review

 

I was fortunate enough to win a print copy of this novel as well as receive a copy from NetGalley (I really should check my shelves first!).

Upon looking at Mr. Moehling’s web site, I discovered this is his first/debut novel. Talk about impressed! I am eager to watch Mr. Moehling’s writing career over the years, especially if this first book is any indication.

Jesse and Jenny – Teenagers who have very different lives but are drawn together.

Emmett Burr – He’s an interesting character, described as morbidly obese, with all the associated medical complications. There are two sides to Mr. Burr.

Ben Packard – Has moved back to the small town of Sandy Lake for personal reasons, trying to outrun his ghosts, trying to keep his secret just that – secure. Sandy Lake, being a small town where people talk, he discovers that people know his secret. Sandy Lake is also where his brother, Nick, disappeared.

Gary, Cora, Olivia, Carl (Cora’s husband), Sally (Ben’s cousin), and a few other characters all lend to this tale where you’ll find drug deals gone wrong, several unsolved murders, Nick’s backstory, Gary’s colorful past, neighbors fighting with each other, pasts that can’t be outrun. And the pink room, bad things happen in the pink room.

Again, I look forward to following Mr. Moehling’s career through the years. I suspect his writing will only get better. Be sure to get this one when it publishes in June 2022.

 

The Second Husband by Kate White Book Review

 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. Publishing June 2022.

Emma Hawke is the owner of her own business, which is a business that monitors current trends and passes those trends on to places such as advertising companies like Halliday which is where she met her current husband, Tom. Emma finds it hard to believe that she has found her happiness, especially since losing her first husband, Derrick, one fateful night. One day, minding her own business, there’s a knock at the door … think about Emma’s surprise when a detective is starting at her telling her they have reopened her husband’s case. Through twists and turns and some carefully planted comments, Emma begins to question everything she knows about her life now. When the bad guy was revealed it actually took me by surprise, thinking it was someone else entirely, and the reason behind Derrick’s death … another element that was unexpected. Brittany, Tom’s stepdaughter from a previous marriage, has a couple different elements to her character that lend to this tale as well.

If this one isn’t on your radar and you enjoy Kate White, be sure to give it a read. When I received this surprise mail, I actually squealed with delight. Ms. White has become one of my go-to authors, without knowing the premise of the tale contained within the pages.

A Message in Poison by BJ Magnani Book Review/Book Tour

 I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

This book is deep, steeped in the mysteries of how poison can kill a person. As a medical transcriptionist, at least ten of those years spent as a pathology transcriptionist, I found myself being fascinated with some of the language used in this book. Even though I don’t know what all the terms mean, my own background makes me familiar with the language. While this is book #3 in the Lily Robinson series, it can be read as a standalone, though I think having read the first two would give the reader a better idea of the background of the characters.

The premise of this tale is Lily Robinson being called in to take a closer look at the death of Senator Steinman, and then also being called in to take a closer look at a high-ranking official in another country. Both deaths are shrouded in the same mystery – why, how, who? There is also quite a lot of political intrigue underlying all of these questions. There may even be just the tiniest hint of romance, just to keep things interesting.

Dr. Magnani’s experience as a “pathologist, toxicologist, chemist, author” (as taken from her website) gives all the more credence of some of the finer details between the pages of this book. If you are even remotely interested in medicine and/or political intrigue, give this one a read.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Message-Poison-Lily-Robinson-Novel/dp/1645993256/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1I1JG0QKKFGH9&keywords=a+message+in+poison&qid=1649341009&sprefix=a+message+in+poison%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-message-in-poison-bj-magnani/1140554801?ean=9781645993254

 

Find BJ Magnani:

Website: https://www.bjmagnani.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/bj-magnani

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19119211.B_J_Magnani

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bjmagnani?lang=en

 

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/

 

 

 

Under Her Care by Lucinda Berry Book Review

 

Publishing June 2022; not my picture. 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

I am up at 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning because I cannot get this book out of my head. I went into this book without knowing what it was about because … Lucinda Berry! I’ve read all of her books, so this one has to be good, right? RIGHT! I knew I was in trouble as soon as I read the prologue … I should never start one of her books at lunchtime or in the morning before I have to start my workday. To say I was hooked is an understatement.

Annabelle – The victim in this story, the one this tale is based on.

Casey Walker – A therapist who works with children with autism spectrum disorder is called in to help with the case this story is built around. She has a daughter, Hannah, who also has ASD. Casey’s father is also involved in this tale as he helps take care of Hannah while Casey is at work, on top of which they are dealing with the loss of Casey’s mom.

Detective Layne – His title speaks for itself. He comes across as a not-so-smart detective, but that’s not true.

Genevieve Hill – What a character she is! She is the rich, I’m better than you character. Genevieve is involved in many different programs, trying to raise awareness for ASD, but there’s another side to her.

Mason – Genevieve’s son who also has ASD. Extremely important character.

Savannah – Genevieve’s estranged daughter who has issues of her own, but she’s tucked away at Ole Miss.

This book starts out with a bang and … does … not … stop. It is filled with so many twists and turns, it’ll leave your head spinning and by the time you get to the end you’ll be asking yourself what you just read, as well as why you didn’t see THAT around the corner. Not to mention what happened to John, Genevieve’s husband. That could be a story on its own. This tale is twisted on so many levels, a little dark, and a little creepy. Exactly my kind of read.