Wednesday, August 24, 2022

The White House by Sean Christopher Book Review


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Picture provided by author.)

Do you like political intrigue? Then this book might just be for you!

Dominic Colletti, FBI agent, dad to Vanessa and Ashley, husband to Candy. Partner to Vasquez.

Current president, Randall Scott, up for re-election. Presidential hopeful, Alex Hamilton. Not only are each of these men dealing with campaign issues, they also both have troubled relationships in their personal lives, advisors and campaign managers who think they know best.

There’s an incident at Yale University that happened just after Dominic dropped Vanessa off, not having the best of goodbyes. He has to go back to Yale to find out what happened. He finds himself confronting the officer in charge, which does not turn out well for Colletti, and in the end he goes out on his own. Vasquez, as always, has his back. Dominic finds himself in all sorts of situations. The other thing behind the Yale incident is the kidnapping of three students and one professor, one of the students being Vanessa. The other two students who were taken came from moneyed families, so the question of this incident being money driven is ever present. And the professor? You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

I normally don’t read political “thrillers,” but this one was quite interesting with all the other stories intertwined … from the Yale incident, the dysfunctional family relationships, the it-really-could-happen scenarios, the mysterious notes, the past history that connects the bad guys, the greed. I was most intrigued with Dominic and Vanessa’s story. A difficult relationship for sure, but a dad who just wants to find his daughter and a daughter who wants her dad to find her.

If you are looking for a new author in the political thriller genre, give Mr. Christopher a try.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight Book Review


 

Molly Sanderson is married to Justin, daughter Ella. Molly and Justin have just moved to the neighborhood where Justin is a professor at Ridgedale University and Molly is a reporter for the Ridgedale Reader, not reporting on anything majorly exciting, until she gets a call from Erik. This is the opportunity she has been waiting for to prove herself as a full-on reporter.

Sandy is Jenna’s daughter. Jenna moved her daughter back to the area after hopping around from place to place.

Barbara is married to Steve who is the chief of police. They also have a couple of children, Hannah being their daughter. Hannah is also Sandy’s tutor, having been introduced to each other through Rhea who saw something in Sandy.

This tale is based around what happened to the baby who was found. This is a twisted tale of how the past meets the future in a not-so-kind way. Being an up-and-coming reporter, Molly starts asking questions. The more questions she asks the more she uncovers about a past event that happened in the exact same area. She starts to unravel the truth that has been buried for a long, long time and certain people don’t want the truth to surface.

I enjoyed the twistedness, the little bit of darkness in the telling of this tale. If you haven’t read Ms. McCreight’s work before, give her a try. You won’t be disappointed.


Out of the Rain by V.C. Andrews Book Review


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Saffron Anders has just lost her grandmother, leaving her alone in the only world that she has ever known. Off she goes to reunite with her father who walked away from her a few years prior, not knowing what to expect. Her father has a new wife and another daughter whom Saffron knew nothing about. Her father was surprised to see her on his doorstep. He immediately sends her to the local hotel, which coincidentally is owned by his family … or rather, his wife’s family, who has quite a lot of pull in the local area. Saffron’s father meets with her and, much to her surprise, has come up with an elaborate plan to integrate her into his now family. The question is why.

This story reminded me quite a lot of the first series I ever read by V.C. Andrews, that of Flowers in The Attic, with the secrets held onto by a family. The truth always reveals itself.

The Umbrella Lady is book one in this new series, with Out of the Rain being book two (The Umbrella series). I don’t know if there will be more books in this series, but I certainly hope so.


Dead In The Alley by Sharon Michalove Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

You know you’re in trouble when you start a book at lunchtime and are immediately pulled in by the little blurb in the beginning. This story takes off with a bang and keeps throwing curve balls.

This tale revolves around Bay and Derrick having moved back to Bay’s hometown of Sherburne where they opened a restaurant, much to Bay’s parents’ chagrin. They wanted more for Bay, but absolutely loved Derrick. It is not a spoiler to say that this tale starts out with the tragic death of Derrick, in the alley behind their restaurant. Let the police investigation begin. Enter Greg Musgrave, who works on the police force and, as fate would have it, knew Bay back in high school.

Bay finds out that her husband had secrets. She is forced to move back home with her parents. Her two sisters and brother are also in the picture, but they all have troubled relationships for various reasons. While Bay sets out on a new venture with another local business owner, the police continue to dig into her husband’s death, finding more and more clues but not getting any closer to the answer. The truths Bay learns about Derrick and those around her leave her stunned and angry.

The action keeps moving along at a relatively fast pace in this tale that will keep readers turning pages. If you are looking for a story that encompasses a marriage based on lies, friendships that are tested to their limits, a family hiding secrets of their own, a subtle yet undeniable attraction that has smoldered for years but is rekindled, give this one a read.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Alley-Sharon-Michalove-ebook/dp/B09P8QWC31/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10EHR6YF3WLWX&keywords=dead+in+the+alley&qid=1655048302&s=books&sprefix=dead+in+the+alley%2Cstripbooks%2C176&sr=1-1


Find Sharon Michalove:

Website: https://www.sharonmichalove.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sharon-michalove

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2128144.Sharon_D_Michalove

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sdmichalove

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


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Thursday, August 18, 2022

Prey No More by Lee Matthew Goldberg Book Review



I was able to grab a copy off of Book Sirens and am providing a review. (Not my picture.)

After reading Immoral Origins and finding myself immersed in the story, I find myself wanting to read this series. In Immoral Origins, we are introduced to an organization called The Desire Card. The Desire Card will fulfill anyone’s fantasy … whatever it is, no matter the cost. The employees, if you will, of The Card are each assigned the identity of a famous and recognizable actor, the leader being Clark Gable. All employees are carefully recruited which is how J.D. Storm came to The Card (identified as James Dean), through a lady he met one evening. She thought he was the perfect candidate as did Mr. Gable.

In Prey No More, we learn more of J.D.’s story of origin. He finds himself coming into close contact with his conscience while he is on a job. He then becomes prey to The Desire Club. On the run, he meets Bud, a truck driver, who gives him a lift all the way to Killenroy, Washington, where J.D. reunites with his once-girlfriend, Annie. After eight years, they are both shocked to see each other. Through Annie, J.D. (now Marcus) meets Abram who wants to do a job which will get Marcus a couple of things he needs, one being money, so he can escape The Desire Card. Or can he?

This story takes us on Marcus’s journey, of sorts, in his trying to escape from The Desire Card. Some of his encounters are rather hilarious in their telling, a bit unbelievable, some are just the opposite. In the end, the question is who is really the prey - J.D. (Marcus) or The Desire Card? I look forward to book three, All Sins Fulfilled. If you like dark humor, I recommend you give this series a try.

Series in Order: Immoral Origins, Prey No More, All Sins Fulfilled, Vicious Ripples, Desire’s End.


Sunday, August 14, 2022

Depths of Deceit by Laura Oles Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

While reading this book the character Jamie Rush seemed very familiar to me. I still haven’t figured out why, but the relationship she and Cookie have is one of respect and friendship. Those two things are important considering they are business partners. They are in the business of tracing down skips for repossession. Skips are those folks who have … wait for it … skipped out on payments of one sort or another. This book centers around Renata’s request of Cookie, Renata being a friend to Cookie. Her sister, Leah, has been ghosting her and she thinks something is wrong as Leah at least keeps in touch with Renata and it is unlike her to not so much as answer a text. To add to this mix is Alastair Finn who is back in the town of Port Alene where this tale is set (Texas). Alastair is no stranger to Cookie and is a rival in the skip business, having dusted Jamie and Cookie on a couple of their cases. While Renata’s case doesn’t generate any income for Jamie and Cookie, something they desperately need as their pockets are running on empty, the take it on. This case gets more and more interesting the more Jamie and Cookie uncover and, much to their dismay, they need Alastair’s help to bring this case to resolution.

This is quite an entertaining read. While there is a case involved that Jamie and Cookie need to solve, there are issues with Jamie and her mom and dad (Alex and Stella), her sister Grace, and Cookie’s family has quite a drama club going on as well, though that is not explored in great depth. There is the animosity between Alastair, Jamie, and Cookie, though there is also a mutual respect in the end. And, then there is Deuce. Deuce is Jamie’s bulldog; he makes for a delightful character addition. Marty is the bartender who watches Deuce during the daytime while Jamie is out solving crimes; he is also Jamie’s landlord, having rented the loft above his bar to Jamie.

It will be interesting to follow this series to see what other cases Jamie and Cookie get involved in. I’m sure Alastair will be right there with them, ready to scoop up their bounty! And Deuce, the bulldog, will be soaking up more attention than he could possibly imagine.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Depths-Deceit-Jamie-Rush-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09YJ1PNCG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GK81KBTAS6J6&keywords=depths+of+deceit+laura+oles&qid=1655048698&s=books&sprefix=depths+of+dec%2Cstripbooks%2C227&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/depths-of-deceit-laura-oles/1141375595?ean=9781948051859

 

Find Laura Oles:

Website: https://lauraoles.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-oles

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3182365.Laura_Oles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauraoles

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

 

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Monday, August 8, 2022

The Killings Begin by Bradley Pay Book Review


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. This is book 1 in the Spectrum series.

This is an interesting take on a not-so-typical murder mystery. In this tale, you will meet Gia. Gia is a young lady who has run away from her family to escape an arranged marriage. One evening, while sitting in a bar, she meets three long-time friends – Raul, Joseph, and Sal. She comes up with an idea to help them with their predicament of never having time to date, let alone have any sort of serious relationship. She comes up with the idea of a “contract” so she can be their “date,” if you will, no strings attached.

Through this “contract,” these four individuals, over the span of a few years, become friends. As well, Gia has experiences she never would have had otherwise from galas to dinner parties to openings of businesses to travel. As well, Gia has a best friend, Mari, who encourages Gia to pursue her own dreams and not focus so much on this “contract.” Gia does just that and pursues her architectural degree as she is fascinated with and has a passion for buildings, their history, how they were made.

This is only one story contained within these pages.

There is also the story of Judge Tracey Lauch. He’s retired. He’s bored. He decides to travel. He takes a cruise where he meets Mari and Gia. He also meets Charlotte, which surprises him. There is a dark side to Judge Lauch.

If you like to travel vicariously through characters in a book, this may be just the one to help. It does, however, take a while for all the affected parties to come together, so it is a slow burn (at least for me it was), but you will finally have the a-ha moment when everything ties together. You may even find yourself wondering … why?

 

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Thursday, August 4, 2022

Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

This is the first book in this new series for Ms. Coble, featuring Annie Pederson who is a law enforcement officer/ranger. There are many underlying layers in this tale. Annie’s ‘nightmare’ began when she was just a little girl and her sister disappeared. All these many years later, twenty-four to be exact, Annie is still searching for Laura. She now has her own little girl, Kylie, and is also dealing with the deaths of her parents and her husband, Nate, as well as some past regrets which come to the surface when Jon Dunstan returns to Rock Harbor.

Annie –Since her parents’ death, not only is she a ranger, she is also the owner of her family’s campground/resort.

Kylie – Annie’s daughter who is dealing with her father’s death along with losing her grandparents, and a diagnosis, not fatal, but shocking to Annie.

Jon Dunstan – Annie’s teenage boyfriend. Things didn’t turn out so well back then, Jon left Rock Harbor to pursue his medical career, and only returns to get his father’s cabin ready to sell. His dad accompanies him to Rock Harbor and is not blind to Jon’s affection for Annie, even after all these years.

Laura – Annie’s missing sister.

Taylor – An interesting character. Annie hires her to be Kylie’s nanny and to help out around the resort.

Bree and Kade – Readers of Ms. Coble will ‘know’ Bree from a previous series. She is present in this series as well, but more as a background character. She and Kade have three children of their own, Davy (Bree’s son) and a set of twins.

Anu – A local shop owner.

And the police force whom Annie works closely with. There are also many background characters who are essential in the telling of this tale.

When Jon returns to Rock Harbor, both he and Annie are forced to deal with regrets from the past. The more Annie investigates a particular case, the more ‘warnings’ she gets. Taylor is not all she seems to be. What exactly is Taylor up to? Kylie is diagnosed with celiac disease which makes Annie question certain aspects of her past. Both Annie and Kylie are dealing with the trauma of losing family members, compounded with Annie not only being a ranger but also the owner of her family’s resort/campground. Not to mention a new puppy! Kylie is dealing with meeting Jon and just exactly what he means to her mom, making her a very relatable little girl.

This is going to be one interesting series, especially if there are as many underlying stories running through the pages as there are in this first book. I am looking forward to more of Annie’s adventures.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Dusk-Annie-Pederson-Novel-ebook/dp/B09MBSG5NL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XK4A0GESS7KM&keywords=edge+of+dusk+colleen+coble&qid=1655047682&s=books&sprefix=edge+of+du%2Cstripbooks%2C141&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/edge-of-dusk-colleen-coble/1140521224?ean=9780785253709

 

Find Colleen Coble:

Website: https://colleencoble.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-coble

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33227.Colleen_Coble

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleencoble

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

 

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Saturday, July 30, 2022

See You Next Tuesday by Ken Harris Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Steve Rockfish and Jawnie McGee are partners at the firm of Rockfish & McGee – Investigative Services. They are quite the odd couple, but they work well together. Jawnie has just recently gained her PI license and is now a full-fledged partner to Rockfish. This tale takes us on a rocky ride through a scam that fell upon Rockfish’s father, Mack.

The team of Rockfish & McGee also have taken on the case of Mrs. Coyne who believes her husband is up to some hanky-panky, but as it turns out the Coyne case and Mack’s case, unbeknownst to either partner, overlap from opposite ends so they join forces, but they can’t handle all the details themselves. Enter Raffi. Enter Lynn. Raffi is a long-time friend to Rockfish, and Lynn is a down-on-her-luck kinda girl whom Jawnie stumbled across in an alley, literally.

This money chase leads them to a basement support group, or so they think. They find themselves racking up the miles chasing down leads, even crossing into different states at times, only to end up back at home base in Maryland. This tale is funny and serious all at the same time, and watch out for the acronyms!

There is some true-to-life reality in this tale, with how easily our elders can be fooled into a scam involving money. This also happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, so there is even more realism. Rockfish sort of reminds me of James Rockford from the Rockford Files, except Rockfish has a partner, and I am sure Mr. Harris’s background lends even more reality of how things could happen. It will be interesting to see what Rockfish and McGee get up to on their next adventure.


Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Next-Tuesday-Rockfish/dp/1684339898/ref=sr_1_3?crid=35MEEVIVUMYJ1&keywords=see+you+next+tuesday+ken+harris&qid=1655757546&sprefix=see+you+next+tuesday%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/see-you-next-tuesday-ken-harris/1141107708?ean=9781684339891

 

Find Ken Harris:

Website: https://kenharrisfiction.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kah623

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ken-harris-54a24282-553a-45ca-8f49-bf6adb71224e#Tuesday

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21772175.Ken_Harris#tuesday

Twitter: https://twitter.com/08025writes

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

 

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Among The Innocent by Mary Alford Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Leah Miller – Leah lost her family to a horrendous crime ten years ago. Ellis and Marge took her in after this tragedy and raised her as their own. In so doing, Leah also left her Amish faith. For the past ten years, she has been living with the pain of losing her own family and trying to bring the killer to justice as she followed in Ellis’s footsteps and became a police officer in the town of St. Ignatius.

Ellis and Marge Petri – The couple who took Leah in. Ellis was the chief of police and was in charge of Leah’s family’s case. Little did anyone know, he didn’t handle the case well at all, arrested the wrong person, and hid the details deeply. Marge became a doting mother to Leah, but Marge has some long-buried secrets of her own.

Detective Dalton Cooper – Enters the picture these ten years later. The interesting thing about Dalton is that he was actually around ten years ago because he, too, was taken in by an Amish family through a tragedy that befell them. The crime that caused so much pain in Leah’s life also intersected with Dalton’s own troubled past.

The Plain people in the Amish community of St. Ignatius, Beth, Eva, Colette, Willa, the other police officers and departments from surrounding communities all help to form this tale of tragedy, seeking justice and finding the person responsible and bringing them to justice, and romance help create this story. There is an underlying message of faith and hope throughout these pages. And the bad guy in this tale … he is a serious bad guy, a manipulator, a liar, but he also apparently has a charm that young Amish girls fall for, however unsuspecting they may be because they are experiencing their rumspringa … that is the time when they go out and see what the world is all about. They are sheltered in their lifestyle, so the bad guy is exciting to them.

This won’t be the last book I read by Ms. Alford. I enjoy her writing style. In this tale, I enjoyed the way she was able to bring together events from ten years ago into the present having two intersecting cases.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Among-Innocent-Mary-Alford/dp/0800740262/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OTXBLW7LMVG&keywords=among+the+innocent+mary+alford&qid=1652110736&sprefix=among+the+innocent%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/among-the-innocent-mary-alford/1140355574?ean=9780800740269

 

Find Mary Alford:

Website: https://maryalford.net/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-alford

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7235798.Mary_Alford

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13

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

 

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Monday, July 25, 2022

Wolf Bog by Leslie Wheeler Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Kathryn – curator in a library, visits the Berkshires over the weekends to spend time with Earl, her significant other, and her friends, Betty and Charlotte.

Betty – thinks life is like a spy novel.

Charlotte – secrets abound!

Paula and her cohort Rudy.

Wally – the lawyer.

Steve – Charlotte’s renter and his dog, Solly.

Todd – badly deformed after the auto accident that claimed the life of Izzy, his then fiancée.

While going on a hike in Wolf Bog a body is discovered, later identified to be Denny who disappeared over 40 years ago. A box of photos surfaces in Betty’s home that she hands over to Kathryn who begins to organize them and identify the faces in the pictures. The more questions she asks about who and why, the more stonewalled she becomes. Not to mention the fact that Earl is pressuring her into reuniting with her own mother.

Short chapters. Excellent pace.

This is the first book by Ms. Wheeler I have read and really enjoyed her writing style, the red herrings she dropped along the way, and the conclusion to the whodunnit was especially surprising. Wasn’t expecting that one! I believe this is book three in Ms. Wheeler’s Berkshire Hilltown Mystery series, with Shuntoll Road and Rattlesnake Hill being the first two. While this is a series, they can certainly be read as standalones.

 

Purchase Link:

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolf-bog-leslie-wheeler/1141600068?ean=9781645993858

 

Find Leslie Wheeler:

Website: https://www.lesliewheeler.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/leslie-wheeler

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/728725.Leslie_Wheeler

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leslie_Wheeler

 

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Thursday, July 21, 2022

Dead Drop by James L'Etoile Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

Detective Nathan Taylor finds himself with another “dead drop.” It is not a spoiler to say that this tale starts out with some 55-gallon drums full of some unknown chemical and dead bodies. He was called to this new site by Billie Carson. Throughout this particular investigation, Detective Taylor finds himself looking for the people responsible, getting suspended from his duties, as well as finding he has been betrayed by two people whom he didn’t think would ever do such a thing to him. He also found out something about himself and the folks who cross the border.

Billie Carson … now here is an interesting character. She has a backstory that suits her character. Billie is what one would call a drifter for various reasons, picking up other people’s trash to recycle and make a living. She comes across as a loner, someone who doesn’t care, but that is not true. Deep down, Billie is a kind, caring, giving person doing what she can to make her life, and the lives of others, better. You’ll have to read the book to find out her story.

Lynne is Detective Taylor’s ex. To say they don’t necessarily get along is an understatement until Lynne finally accepts the truth.

Espi is one of Detective Taylor’s friends, or is he? Was he just doing his job? Believing the story he was told?

Then there are the dueling Cartels. Which Cartel is going to win?

In this tale, you have a police procedural, some political intrigue, and the story of folks crossing the border to El Norte looking for a better life. Be sure to check out Miguel’s story. I have to admit that there is a one scene near the end of this book between Detective Taylor and Miguel that made me tear up for just a second. If you read the book, let me know which scene you think that is.

This is the first book I have read by Mr. L’Etoile and enjoy his writing style. I think his professional experiences help in making his writing realistic, as if he’s telling you a story while sitting next to you. There is also a very deep underlying message in this tale of people who cross the border; you’ll have to read the book to find out what it is.

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Drop-Detective-Nathan-Parker-ebook/dp/B09WVWZ4BG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NXF2LVLAA76G&keywords=dead+drop+james+letoile&qid=1652110445&sprefix=dead+drop+jame%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1

 

Find James L’Etoile:

Website: https://jamesletoile.com/#deaddrop

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamesLetoile/#deaddrop

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/james-l-etoile#deaddrop

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7076886.James_L_Etoile#deaddrop

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesLEtoile#deaaddrop

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

 

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Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Bachelorette Party by Carissa Ann Lynch Book Review


Publishing September 2022.

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. (Not my picture.)

Rosalee – the bride. Rosalee comes across as shy, quiet, reserved. She’s going to marry, Asher, the man of her dreams.

Elizabeth – the mother-in-law, at least she will be. She doesn’t think Rosalee is good enough for Asher, can’t understand what he sees in her, much preferring Georgia. She’s also a rich widow, which lends to her hoity-toitiness.

Mara – the best friend. Mara has been Rosalee’s best friend since college. She is also helping plan the bachelorette party, leading to disgruntlement between Mara and Tinsley, which Rosalee can’t understand until she finds out the reason. Mara is also a troublemaker.

Tinsley – the cousin. Tinsley’s mom took Rosalee in when Rosalee lost her parents, so Tinsley is more like a sister to Rosalee. They lost touch when Rosalee went off to college, but reconnected at the party.

Georgia – the groom’s best friend. Georgia’s business venture is failing … miserably. Rosalee begins to wonder if there is more to the relationship between Georgia and Asher. Elizabeth gets to the truth of the matter.

Bri – Asher’s sister, Elizabeth’s daughter. Bri is quite devious and has a talent that no one knows about.

Can you imagine being in a room with all these different personalities? The intriguing thing is, this book is written in six (6!) different voices, all very distinct, all very much tuned into the different personalities. (That takes a certain kind of talent.) Enter Detective Nina Smalls. Will she get to the truth of the matter when no one seems to want to tell the truth? And the setting for the party – the gorgeous Leblanc-Landry mansion in New Orleans. This is another tale that includes some secret passages in an old house (remember Cedar Farms?). The mansion holds secrets of its own, not just secret passages. And the ending? Man, the ending … that was totally unexpected. And, to top it off, a bright pink cover!


Sunday, July 17, 2022

Winter's End by Paige Shelton Book Review


 

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

This is book four in the Alaska Mystery Series. Thin Ice, Cold Wind, and Dark Night are the first three. I also had opportunity to read Thin Ice, book one in this series. At this point, Beth has now been in Benedict, Alaska, for a little over a year, still finding her way, still trying to face her demons, the reason she’s in Benedict to begin with. She is still grappling with the relationships she wishes to have with her mother and her father. This time, though, she has found herself making a friend in Kaye. They walked their dogs together, and now that winter is thawing and spring is trying to appear, the people of Benedict are surfacing. In Benedict, they have a yearly tradition called the Death Walk. That is when people of the community gather around just to be sure everyone survived the winter. If someone is missing, they are looked for to be accounted for. Not much happens in this small town of Benedict, but when something does happen it happens in a big way. Such is what happens in Winter’s End.

Beth still lives with Viola, who still runs her halfway house for non-violent criminals, generally female, this time though, she has taken in a male, Chaz. Chaz has his own story to tell. He may not be good at the criminal game, but he is an excellent cook and everyone seems to like him. Also, in this tale, Viola is reunited with the man who took her and her sister, Benny, in when they first arrived as teens in Benedict, Al. Beth has also been tasked with homing Elijah’s dogs, one of whom went to be with Kaye. There is also the story of the ongoing feud between the Millers and the Oliphants, and what a mess that has created.

While I have only read two books in this series, they can be read as standalones and the characters are very consistent which is something I appreciate in a series. I especially like the fact that Beth, in Winter’s End, has found some answers to many questions and has learned to face her demons, but in the end, there is more that is going to be happening in this small town of Benedict, Alaska. We just have to wait for the next book. Winter’s End also apparently ties up one of the biggest issues Beth has been dealing with, but I suspect that it’s not really the end.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Architect of Courage by Victoria Weisfeld Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review. 

Archer Landis – Known as Arch to his friends. He finds himself being thrown some of life’s curve balls that he was not expecting. It is not a spoiler to say this book starts off with Arch findings his mistress, Julia, dead in her apartment. This leads Arch to places he never expected to have to go, considering he was “just” an architect.

Marjorie – Archer’s wife of many years, having met each other in college.

Hawkins – Archer and Marjorie’s son. Here’s a character for you, as messed up as they come. Hawk was a fledgling architect, working at his father’s firm, Archer + Porter, but wasn’t getting the breaks he felt he deserved. He went to work for his father’s rival. Hawk is a troubled young man.

Deshondra – Archer + Porter’s receptionist.

Julia – Arch’s mistress and a very good architect working for Archer + Porter. Beautifully talented lady. Why was she killed? This is what Archer set out to find out.

Chaya and her parents – Chaya being a friend of Julia’s since their school years.

Karsch – Archer’s rival in the architecture business.

Of course, there are the detectives involved, the FBI, the JTTF, Archer’s lawyer who also hired Carlos to help Archer. Arch found himself traveling from New York, where his firm was located, to Brussels to Tarifa, looking for answers that he wasn’t sure he would find. There were so many secrets surrounding Julia that he only discovered after her death. He wanted to find out the reasons why. The title of this book “Architect of Courage” really is spot on as Archer really was “just” an architect, one set on a mission to find out who killed Julia and why, but was he really prepared for the answers he found out along the way? I found this to be quite an intense read, with the last ten or so pages really wrapping things up and providing answers.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Architect-Courage-Victoria-Weisfeld/dp/1953434819/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V415VRZYVKAT&keywords=architect+of+courage&qid=1652110068&sprefix=architect+of+courage%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/architect-of-courage-victoria-weisfeld/1141370669?ean=9781953434814

 

Find Victoria Weisfeld:

Website: https://vweisfeld.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoria.weisfeld

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6815763.Victoria_Weisfeld

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vsk8s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vsk8s/

 

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/

 

Friday, July 1, 2022

Goldhammer by Haris Orkin Book Review/Blog Tour


 

I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.

James Flynn – Seemingly Mr. Flynn works for Her Majesty’s Secret Service using the “cover story” as a patient of City of Roses Psychiatric Institute. The antics of Mr. Flynn will keep you turning pages.

Chloe – Left the town where she grew up to move to Los Angeles, looking to pursue her dream of being an actress. She also wanted Goldhammer to pay for what he did to her.

Tyler – Chloe’s brother who moved to Los Angeles with her, looking to get into film making. He only wanted the best for Chloe.

Jenna – Tyler’s friend, a reporter for a small publication. Tyler and Chloe elicited her help to write Chloe’s story.

Sancho – An aide at the City of Roses Psychiatric Institute. Always looking out for Mr. Flynn.

Alessandra/Alessa – A retired actress who befriends James, after finding him on the beach by her home. Tired from their escapade but happy to have been out in the world again.

Goldhammer and his goons – The bad guys in this tale. Ohana and Black Star are hired hands for Mr. Goldhammer. And, then there’s Marta.

I found myself laughing out loud, literally, while reading this tale. Some of the escapades James, Chloe, and Tyler find themselves in are described in such a farfetched, outlandish way they are hilarious. If you are looking for a whodunnit with a bit of a comical twist, give Goldhammer a try. This is the third book so I suspect you would get a greater sense of Mr. Flynn’s character if you were to read the other two books before this one, but it can certainly be read as a standalone. It’s quite entertaining.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Goldhammer-James-Flynn-Escapade-Haris/dp/1684339677

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/goldhammer-haris-orkin/1141107707

 

Find Haris Orkin:

Website: https://www.harisorkin.com/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/haris-orkin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarisOrkin

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

 

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/