Friday, December 19, 2014

Deep Fried Homicide-Jessica Beck

Deep Fried Homicide (Donut Shop Mystery, #13) 

When Suzanne’s boyfriend, Jake, is shot in the line of duty, he comes to April Springs to recuperate. The only problem is the that the man Jake was trying to capture has a partner, a very bad man now intent on seeking revenge. Add another villain returning from Suzanne’s own past into the mix, and the donut shop owner’s normally tranquil world is suddenly turned upside down.

Suzanne and Jake are on the look out for a couple of people that are hunting down each of them. A couple of new characters are introduced and they fit in perfectly. I love the interaction of all of the characters and find this series wonderful. 

A Burned Out Baker-Jessica Beck

A Burned Out Baker (Classic Diner Mystery, #7) 

Barry Jackson’s bakery is burned to the ground, with the baker still inside, soon after a fiery confrontation with Moose and Victoria, and the pair must solve the murder before their reputations, and their freedom, go up in smoke!

Victoria and Moose are once again looking for a killer. As with all these books hijinks ensues and you are not able to figure out the killer until the very end. Great job.  

Priestess Dreaming-Yasmine Galenorn

Priestess Dreaming (Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon, #16) 

We're the D'Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. Menolly is a vampire married to a gorgeous werepuma. And me? I'm a Moon witch married to three gorgeous husbands, and I'm about to journey through the veils to search for a long lost legend...

With the war in Otherworld raging, the Queen of Shadow and Night summons me to her court. Aeval orders me to embark on a hunt through the mists to find an ancient ally she once knew. I must seek out The Merlin and wake him from his long sleep. But Morgaine and Bran are along for the journey, and the pair pose a threat to both me and my quest. Now, surrounded by danger on all sides, I must pray they are allies rather than enemies, as we undertake a perilous search through the labyrinth of time.

I love this series. That said, this is, so far, my favorite of the story lines yet. I can't wait for more.  

One Potion in the Grave-Heather Blake

One Potion in the Grave ( A Magic Potion Mystery #2) 

Carly Bell Hartwell’s love potions are always in demand in Hitching Post, Alabama, the wedding capital of the South.…

When Katie Sue Perrywinkle walks into the Little Shop of Potions, Carly is surprised and delighted to see her old childhood friend. Katie Sue fled her hometown and a troubled family over a decade ago. But she’s not back for a social visit. She’s come to settle a score with Senator Warren Calhoun, who is in town for his son’s high-profile wedding.

But before Katie Sue has a chance to voice any objections, she’s forced to forever hold her peace. After finding her friend dead, Carly vows to find her murderer. Were the corrupt Calhouns willing to go to any lengths to avoid a scandal? Did Katie Sue’s family take the term “bad blood” to a whole new level? And why did the bride-to-be come to Carly for a love potion? As Carly gets closer to the truth, a killer is planning a very chilly reception.

Another fantastic read by Heather Blake. I love this series and look forward to many more books.  

Friday, December 5, 2014

Spell Booked-Joyce and Jim Lavene

Spell Booked (Retired Witches Mystery #1) 

The national bestselling authors of the Missing Pieces Mysteries summon up the first Retired Witches Mystery in a brand new supernatural series...

Once upon a time in Wilmington, North Carolina, three witches ran a curio shop named Smuggler’s Arcane. But as the years passed, their magical powers started to fade—leaving them no choice but to conjure up a retirement package…  

Before they could blink their eyes or twitch their noses, Molly, Elsie, and Olivia somehow became eligible for AARP. But they can’t fly off to Boca Raton just yet. First they must give up their magic, recruit and train three new witches, and pass on their cherished spellbook.

They’ve barely begun to consider potential practitioners when Olivia winds up dead and their spellbook is stolen. To honor their friend and reclaim their spells, Molly and Elsie are about to go wand-to-wand with a dangerous young witch more powerful than the trio was in their prime. And this time they’re going to need more than magic up their sleeves.

I am never disappointed when I read a book by these authors. They books are always fantastic. This book is a great start to a new series. The characters are wonderful and the story was great. I want to live with them in Wilmington. What a great book. I can't wait for more to come. 

Herbal Goddess-Amy Jirsa

Create Radiant Well-Being Every Day with Herb-Inspired Teas, Potions, Salves, Food, Yoga, and More 

 

This is a great go to herbal guide. I really enjoyed not only reading it but I learned a great deal. Thank you. 

A Tiger's Tale-Laura Morrigan

A Tiger's Tale (Call of the Wilde #2) 

When a normally mellow tiger at a rescue facility trees a terrified vet, animal behaviorist Grace Wilde needs to use her psychic ability to get to the root of the problem…

A tiger can’t change his stripes—but if his behavior changes suddenly, there’s a reason. So when even-tempered Boris the Siberian tiger goes into attack mode, Grace knows there’s more to the story. Something is agitating the big cat. As she uses her telepathic ability to calm the tiger, she realizes he has witnessed a theft—not of something but of someone. A teenaged volunteer at the animal rescue facility has been taken…kidnapped.

The problem is Brooke Ligner’s parents believe their troubled daughter ran away and Grace can’t exactly reveal her source. Even though sexy cop Kai Duncan is aware of Grace’s secret ability, he can’t initiate an investigation based on the word of a tiger. Now, as Grace searches for solid clues to rescue the missing teen, it’s the human predators she’ll need to watch out for.

I cannot get enough of this series. Is there anyway I can get books faster????? I love this series. The characters are fantastic and the story is always funny, romantic, and a perfect mystery. I can't wait to read the next one. Great job. 

The After House-Michael Phillip Cash

The After House 

Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?

I quite enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect and found myself pleasantly surprised. It was spooky in all the right places. Great job. 

The Expatriates-Corinne O'Flynn

The Expatriates (Song of the Sending, #1) 

They told him his world was destroyed.
And they were the last to escape.
They thought he was safe.
They were wrong.

Seventeen-year-old Jim Wales can communicate with animals, but that's not why he lives with a traveling carnival. Turns out his family’s been hiding him there since he was little, since someone started hunting all the scholars. Jim is a scholar--someone who can manipulate energy using magic--and he has no idea.

When a message arrives from Jim’s father--who supposedly died twelve years ago--Jim’s whereabouts are discovered, their carnival is attacked, and his mother is kidnapped. On the run with a strange glass map and a single coin, Jim finds himself racing to reclaim the father he thought he’d lost, plotting to save his mother, and discovering the truth about who he is.

But going home isn’t the same as being safe, and trust is everything.
 
I really enjoyed this book. I found it very easy to read and a lot of fun. I can't wait to see where the story leads in the next book. 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

On Borrowed Time-Jenn McKinlay

On Borrowed Time (Library Lover's Mystery #5) 

Loving a good cup of coffee runs in the family for Briar Creek library director Lindsey Norris. But when her brother, Jack, a consultant for a coffee company, goes missing, her favorite beverage becomes a key clue in a dangerous mystery.

Between preparing the library for the holidays and juggling the affections of ex-boyfriend, Captain Mike Sullivan, and her new crush, actor Robbie Vine, Lindsey has her hands full. But the mysterious disappearance of her world-traveling playboy brother takes precedence over all.

Afraid that involving the police could brew trouble for Jack, Lindsey takes matters into her own hands. But as her quest for her brother embroils her in a strange case involving South American business dealings and an enigmatic and exotic woman, it’ll take the help of both her library book club—the crafternooners—and her eager-to-please suitors to keep Jack from ending up in hot water.

I'm so excited every time that I get a book by Jenn McKinlay. They are always a lot of fun and great to read. This book is no different. I love the characters and the story is fantastic. Another fantastic read. 

How To Plan A Wedding To A Royal Spy-Vanessa Kelly

How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy (The Renegade Royals, #3) 

Whether as spies or lovers, the Renegade Royals—illegitimate sons of England’s Royal Princes—are bold, skillful, and a force to be reckoned with…

A war hero returned from Waterloo should be able to indulge in a bit of bad behavior. Instead, Captain William Endicott is summoned by his father, the Duke of York, to investigate an assassination plot. The unlikely suspect: William’s former sweetheart. Will can’t believe that innocent Evie Whitney could be mixed up in anything so nefarious. Then again, almost everything about Evie has changed—except for his body’s instinctive response to hers…

Just as Evie’s life is finally coming together, Will saunters back into it. Should she slap him—or seduce him? Even as she tries to decide, scandal pushes her toward marriage with a man she can neither trust nor resist—and into the heart of a deadly conspiracy.

love, love this series. The romance is excellent and the characters are amazing. I get excited every time I get to read a new book from Vanessa Kelly and this did not disappoint.

Ennara and The Fallen Druid-Angela Myron

Ennara and the Fallen Druid (Ennara, #1) 
 
When a mysterious curse threatens to transform everyone into shadowy demons, a magical eleven year-old girl must travel to a sunken city ruin—fighting pirates, monsters, and an undead sorcerer along the way—to find a weapon that can save her world.

Please note that this story contains some dark elements. Recommended for ages 11 and above. Reviews greatly appreciated!
 
I don't know what else to say about this book except that I LOVED IT. This is a fantastic children's book. I cannot wait to read more. 

Ennara and The Book of Shadows-Angela Myron

Ennara and the Book of Shadows (Ennara, #2) 
 
When strange accidents start happening around thirteen year-old necromancer Ennara and her friends, she must search for the mysterious stolen artifacts causing the attacks while learning the highest form of magic--the spells that could prevent the fruition of a terrible prophecy.
 
I cannot get enough of this series. The first book was amazing and this one is just as wonderful. Keep it up. 

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

A High End Finish-Kate Carlisle

A High-End Finish: A Fixer-Upper Mystery 
 
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

In the seaside town of Lighthouse Cove in northern California, everyone knows the best man for the job is actually a woman—contractor Shannon Hammer. But while Shannon can do wonders with a power drill and a little elbow grease, she’s about to discover that some problems aren’t so easily fixed....

Shannon’s home-renovation and repair business is booming, but her love life needs work. On a blind date with real estate agent Jerry Saxton, she has to whip out a pair of pliers to keep Jerry from getting too hands on. Shannon is happy to put her rotten date behind her, but when Jerry’s found dead in a run-down Victorian home that she’s been hired to restore, the town’s attractive new police chief suspects that her threats may have laid the foundation for murder.

Determined to clear her name, Shannon conducts her own investigation—with the help of her four best friends, her eccentric father, a nosy neighbor or two, and a handsome crime writer who’s just moved to town. But as they get closer to prying out the murderer’s identity, Shannon is viciously attacked. Now she’ll have to nail down the truth—or end up in permanent foreclosure.
 
One thing that I love about Kate Carlisle books is that I always feel like a could be a part of the family of characters. This book was FANTASTIC. I wish that all books could be like this. I loved the setting, the characters, the storyline, everything. I am looking forward to a very long fulfilling series. 

Woof at the Door-Laura Morrigan

Woof at the Door (Call of the Wilde #1) 

Animal behaviorist Grace Wilde keeps her ability to psychically communicate with furry and feathered critters under wraps. But when a Doberman turns out to be the only witness to a crime, Grace will have to let the cat out of the bag in order to catch a killer.

Grace Wilde’s job is anything but normal. When she’s not helping out at the zoo by comforting agitated lemurs, she’s listening to the woes of annoyed house pets. Grace’s life gets even more complicated, though, when the cops summon her to a crime scene to help deal with the murder victim’s terrified Doberman.

The pooch turns out to be the only one who saw what happened the night of the shooting—and only Grace can get the information out of him. The problem is, how will Grace tell the distractingly gorgeous Sergeant Kai Duncan that it’s the dog who’s giving her the intel without spilling her big secret or sounding crazy? Left on her own, Grace will have to follow the pup’s lead to track down the killer. But she’ll have to be careful—or curiosity may end up killing the cat whisperer.

I don't remember when a cast of characters has made me laugh more. I loved this book. It was hilarious, mysterious and just down right good. I can't wait to see what happens next.  

Picked to Die-Sheila Connolly

Picked to Die (Orchard, #8) 

It’s harvest time in Granford, Massachusetts, and orchard owner Meg Corey and her fiancé, Seth, are both racing to beat the New England winter. Meg is bringing in her apple crop with a team of workers, while Seth is working to restore an old building in the center of town. But when his project is set back due to the unexpected discovery of a skeleton under the building—and even worse, a young man related to one of Meg’s former apple pickers is found dead behind the local feed store—the couple’s carefully laid plans are quickly spoiled…

Meg can’t help but wonder: are they just unlucky, or is there something rotten in Granford? If so, she knows she’s got to seek out the bad apple before it ruins the whole bunch.

I always look forward to a new book being released by Sheila Connolly. She never lets me down. This was, again, a wonderful mystery in the An Orchard Mystery series. I love this series and this book did not let me down. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

A Sinful Deception-Isabella Bradford

A Sinful Deception (Breconridge Brothers, #2) 

For fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries: the seductively charming second historical romance in Isabella Bradford's Breconridge Brothers trilogy.

Lord Geoffrey Fitzroy leads a charmed existence. As the second son of the Duke of Breconridge, he has none of the responsibilities of his older brother and all of the advantages, leaving handsome Geoffrey free to enjoy his rakish pursuits. And pursue them he does, leaving hearts fluttering all over London. But one night, at a ball teeming with high society's most sought-after beauties, only one truly intrigues him: the regal, aloof, and mysterious Miss Serena Palmer.

Magnificently dressed and wearing jewels befitting a queen, the lady is considered the prize of the season, a noble-born heiress raised in India. But even as Geoffrey's fascination grows, Serena deftly deflects his curiosity—and with good reason: Serena's exotic past contains a perilous secret that could destroy her. Yet her plan to live in safe solitude is thwarted by her hungry heart, and soon Geoffrey's passionate seduction finds her blissfully bed—and wed. Will her deception destroy her chance at happiness as Geoffrey's wife? Or will the devotion of her new husband reveal the only truth worth embracing: her undying love?

 This was a wonderful historical romance. The characters where charming and the book was so good that I found myself starting it and did not put it down until I was finished.

Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact-Melanie Abed

Anni Moon and The Elemental Artifact 

Anni doesn't know about Elementals, Funk, Zephyrs, excited talking Bat-Rat creatures, and, least of all, Dragons. All that changes when her best friend, Lexi, is kidnapped and forces beyond Anni’s control trap her on a hidden, floating island in the Elemental world.


In a race against time, Anni sets out to save her friend. Along the way she finds allies among the Elementals, but she is also presented with a choice, one that might help save Lexi. If Anni agrees to an ancient, open-ended contract, will her sacrifice cost her more than she’s bargained for? Or will it land her in the middle of an age-old war between the humans, the Elementals, and the dreaded Fectus?
 
What a wonderful book. It was full of adventure and was just a lot of fun. I hope there are many more books in this series to come. 

A Nip of Murder-Carol Miller

A Nip of Murder (Moonshine Mystery Series, #2) 

As Daisy McGovern knows all too well, it isn’t easy being a young, small town waitress at the local diner. And it becomes even harder just as she’s trying to stitch her life back together and salvage her job by converting the diner into a bakery when a mysterious robbery occurs and one of the thieves ends up dead on the bakery floor with a chef’s knife in his chest. Forced into a twisted game of cat-and-mouse that takes her from secretive nip joints overflowing with moonshine to weathered Appalachian mountaintops overflowing with history and guns, Daisy must figure out who the dead man is—and why he was in her bakery—before she becomes the next victim.

This is the second entry in a charming series filled with eccentric characters, red herrings, and, of course, moonshine!

This was a really great little mystery. It didn't feel like the second book in a series so you are not lost when reading this one. It was a lot of fun. 

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Diva Wraps it Up-Krista Davis

The Diva Wraps It Up (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #8) 
 
In the latest novel in the national bestselling Domestic Diva Mystery series, it’s beginning to look a lot like murder…

The holidays are domestic diva Sophie Winston’s favorite time of year. But this season, there seem to be more mishaps than mistletoe. First, Horace Scroggins tumbles from a balcony during his office Christmas party. Then, Sophie’s neighbor takes a fall from his ladder while decorating his roof with lights. But it’s the cookie swap that really starts her wondering who’s naughty or nice….

Sophie arrives at the annual event with high spirits and thirteen dozen chocolate-drizzled gingersnaps. But when an argument erupts and a murder ensues, it becomes clear that the recent string of events is anything but accidental. Now Sophie has to make a list of suspects…and check it twice!
 
Krista Davis NEVER disappoints. This was a great addition to her Domestic Diva series. I love everything about this book and wish that I could crawl in and join them. 

Bless Her Dead Little Heart-Miranda James

Bless Her Dead Little Heart (Southern Sisters, #1) 

New York Times bestselling author Miranda James returns to Athena, Mississippi, with an all-new mystery featuring Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote, two snoopy sisters who are always ready to lend a helping hand. But when a stressed socialite brings murder right to their doorstep, even they have trouble maintaining their Southern hospitality…



With the Mississippi sun beating down, An’gel and Dickce are taking a break to cool off and pet sit their friend Charlie Harris’s cat, Diesel, when their former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up at their door unexpectedly, with her ne’er-do-well adult children not far behind.



Rosabelle’s selfish offspring are desperate to discover what’s in her will, and it soon becomes clear that one of them would kill to get their hands on the inheritance. Suddenly caught up in a deadly tangle of duplicitous suspects and deep-fried motives, it will take all of the sisters’ Southern charm to catch a decidedly ill-mannered killer.

Miranda James is one of my favorite authors. So, I could not wait until I could read her new book. She did not disappoint. The sisters in this book are so funny that I was laughing out loud at some of the things coming out of their mouths. The story was a amazing and I was shocked to find out who the killer really was. Bravo. 

Star Magic-Sandra Kynes

Star Magic: The Wisdom of the Constellations for Pagans & Wiccans 

A fresh look at the constellations and how you can tap into their energy for divination, ritual, magic, and psychic work. Each chapter provides details on where to locate constellations and Pagan/Wiccan interpretations for use in magic, ritual, divination, astral travel, and other practices. Also included is the history associated with each constellation, notable stars, and instructions for engaging star energy.

Organized by season, Star Magic explains why the twelve sun signs of the zodiac are special, how and why the thirteenth zodiac constellation works, and explores the power and influence of all eighty-eight constellations in the night sky.

This book was very helpful and informative. I recommend it to anyone that is practicing Wicca or a Pagan. It has so much information that you almost get lost in it. Great job. 

Mac on the Road to Marseilles-Christpoher Ward

Mac on the Road to Marseille 

Fifteen-year-old Mackenzie returns to Paris to attend the Christmas Eve wedding of her Dad's old friend, Rudee Daroo, and the love of his life, dancer Sashay D'or. Mac is told about the annual New Year's taxi road rally, this year hosted by the Marseille Marauders, the nastiest lot of drivers you've ever seen.

Partnered with hulking cabbie Blag Lebouef, Mac manages to convince her parents that the road rally is more like a carefree drive in the French countryside than the death-defying cutthroat rivalry it's always been. Negotiating brutal weather, cryptic signage, outright sabotage, random flocks of sheep, and zigzagging back roads, Mac and Blag might be the perfect combination of cunning and brute strength, though they are both extremely strong-willed and rarely agree.

On the road, she makes the startling discovery that the clues the drivers have been given during the rally could lead to the discovery of some valuable missing artwork. Is that worth losing the rally over?

This was a really fun book. I would recommend it for all ages. It was a lot of fun to read and you can almost see the places you are taken. Great job. 

 

The Job(Fox and O'Hare #3)-Janet Evanovich and Leonard Goldberg

The Job (Fox and O'Hare, #3) 

The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man Nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord.

From the streets of Nashville to the back alleys of Lisbon, from the rooftops of Istanbul to the middle of the Thames, Nick and Kate chase their mark. When they find themselves pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard and a Portuguese enforcer who gets advice from a pickled head, they decide it’s time to enlist some special talent—talent like a machete-wielding Somali pirate, a self-absorbed actor, an Oscar-winning special effects artist, and Kate’s father Jake, a retired Special Forces operative. Together they could help make this Fox and O’Hare’s biggest win yet . . . if they survive.

I love this series. I will admit that I have not been a fan of Janet Evanovich's work. I'm not sure what it was but I haven't enjoyed one of her series until this one. The characters are hilarious. I cannot wait for there to be more to come. 

 

The Magician's Dream-Shawn Thomas Odyssey

The Magician's Dream (Oona Crate Mystery, #3) 

Pseudonymous Bosch crosses with Angie Sage in a middle-grade novel that mixes mystery and fantasy as our intrepid heroine investigates the theft of a ruby necklace that bestows upon its wearer untold powers.

A break-in at the museum, mysterious visitors to the grand new library, and a cute guy that Oona is just beginning to notice provide obstacles, distraction, and aid as Oona navigates her way among the politics of her wizard neighbors to discover who is to blame in the latest Oona Crate mystery.

Releases simultaneously in ebook (978-1-60684-512-7)

Praise for The Wizard of Dark Street: An Oona Crate Mystery:

“A magical mystery tour of a novel with a bright and charming heroine and a sidekick unlike any other in the whole genre. Kids are going to love this story.”—Peter Abrahams, New York Times best-selling author of Down the Rabbit Hole

“This is at heart a rollicking good whodunit with plenty of red herrings and suspicious characters to keep readers guessing.”—BCCB

“[E]xcellent blend of fantasy and mystery.”—Booklist

“Boys and girls will appreciate the protagonist’s magical Nancy Drew-type capers and her straightforward style.” -School Library Journal

I really enjoy this series. Having read all three, so far, this book doesn't lessen the fun by being a sequel. It is just has much fun as this first book. I can't wait for there to be more. Fingers crossed. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Death of a Christmas Caterer-Lee Hollis

Death of a Christmas Caterer 

Office Christmas parties can sometimes mean career suicide, but they rarely lead to murder. Hayley thought Garth Rawlings would be the perfect caterer for this year's bash, but when the gourmet sees her budget, he goes galloping. Unfortunately his run is short-lived. Garth is found dead on the floor of his kitchen, with his delectable creations burning in the oven. Faced with a spread of suspects, Hayley is determined to discover who would want to take out the Christmas caterer, because - no matter what the season - justice must be served!

I cannot get enough of this series. The books are always fun and quick to read. This one is no different. Hayley is once again thrown into a murder mystery and comes out kicking. What a wonderfully fun read. 

Madelein's Christmas Wish-Elle Quinn

Madeleine's Christmas Wish (The Marriage Game, #5.5) 

The bachelors in Ella Quinn’s Marriage Game series make a habit of resisting the irresistible. But during the season for giving, surrendering to temptation may be the greatest gift of all…

A French spy, Georges, Marquis Cruzy-le-Châtel, has lived in England for years, sacrificing his life for his country—but not his heart. For he’s never been able to forget his childhood friend, Madeleine. And now, in her hour of need, he is there to rescue her…

The victim of a ruthless statesman, Madeleine, Comtesse du Beaune, has been abducted and sent to England to work in a brothel. Her greatest wish is to return home for Christmas, and her only hope of it is to marry Georges—though she will be his wife in name alone. Yet as they steal across the snowy countryside, Georges decides to woo her—with kisses that melt the winter’s frost and leave her longing for a holiday miracle.

This was a cute, quick read. I love historic romance and this was a great little book to get my fix. 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Girl in the Empty Dress-Lise McClendon

The Girl in the Empty Dress (Bennett Sisters #2) 

Wine, women, and walking. That’s all the Bennett sisters planned for their vacation in France. Merle Bennett [from Blackbird Fly] delights in showing her sisters her corner of southwest France until the sixth member of the walking tour finds an injured dog along the path. That simple event shouldn’t have changed everything but this isn’t just any stray dog. She’s something special and Gillian Sargent wants her at all costs. Besides being a law colleague of one sister, no one knows much about Gillian. She’s moody and secretive. Answers elude Merle and her sisters as their idyllic summer turns dark and dangerous, deep in the heart of France.
Join the five Bennett sisters, all of them desk-bound lawyers at home, as they tramp through the woods and hills of the Dordogne on a walking tour. The middle sister, Merle, hosts them at her stone house, juggling sibling bickering, her teenage son, two boyfriends, and the law. Is there enough wine in France to calm her nerves? The delicate karma of sisterhood gets a hard and sometimes hilarious ride in The Girl in the Empty Dress.

This was a very enjoyable book. I truly loved the setting more than anything else about this story. 

The Rippers Wife-Brandy Purdy

The Ripper's Wife 

It begins as a fairytale romance-a shipboard meeting in 1880 between vivacious Southern belle Florence Chandler and handsome English cotton broker James Maybrick. Courtship and a lavish wedding soon follow, and the couple settles into an affluent Liverpool suburb.

From the first, their marriage is doomed by lies. Florie, hardly the heiress her scheming mother portrayed, is treated as an outsider by fashionable English society. James's secrets are infinitely darker-he has a mistress, an arsenic addiction, and a vicious temper. But Florie has no inkling of her husband's depravity until she discovers his diary-and in it, a litany of bloody deeds.

I thought this was a wonderful book. I flew through reading it because it kept me intrigued the entire time. I loved the romance turning into mystery, betrayal and left you wanting more.

It Happened on Broadway-Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer

It Happened on Broadway: An Oral History of the Great White Way 

In this deliciously revealing oral history of Broadway since World War II, more than 100 theater veterans-including Carol Channing, Hal Prince, Donna McKechnie, Hal Holbrook, Andrea McArdle, and Al Hirschfeld-deliver the behind-the-scenes story of the hits, the stars, the feuds, and the fiascoes. Black-and-white and color photos throughout.

I loved, loved, loved this book. It had so much information that I didn't know about. I recommend this to anyone that has a love of the Theater. 

Murder at the Book Group-Maggie King

Murder at the Book Group (Hazel Rose Mysteries) 

For fans of Anne Canadeo comes a fun and sassy cozy mystery in which one woman must solve the murder of a book group member and untangle a web of secrets hidden by her bookish cohorts.
Hazel Rose never dreamed that the murder mystery book group she and her friend Carlene started would stage a "real "murder.
Nevertheless, on the night when the normally composed Carlene seems unusually angry and rattled, during group discussion she dies after drinking cyanide-spiked tea. Despite a suicide note, Hazel is skeptical; Carlene never seemed suicidal--why else would she make all those plans for her future? Incidentally, Carlene was married to Hazel's ex-husband, and Hazel has always suspected there might be something more to her past than she let on.
How much does anyone really know about Carlene Arness? And did she die by her own hand or someone else's? Hazel begins a search for the truth that produces no shortage of motives, as she unearths a past that Carlene took great pains to hide. And most of those motives belong to the members of her very own book group...
Featuring memorable characters and a wicked sense of humor, "Murder at the Book Group" shows the darker side of a book club where reading isn't about pleasure--it's about payback.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I had a very hard time getting into it and didn't enjoy the characters. 

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Rebel Without A Cake-Jacklyn Brady

Rebel Without a Cake (A Piece of Cake Mystery, #5) 

Halloween is approaching, and the co-owners of Zydeco Cakes, Rita Lucero and her former mother-in-law, Miss Frankie, have scored a sweet treat—a fantastic catering opportunity that could lead to a rich future for their bakery. But their good news is quickly rattled by a bump in the night when Miss Frankie’s neighbor, Bernice, barrels into her kitchen toting a Bible and a gun, and serves up a story about a ghost at her window.

Bernice swears she just saw the ghost of her moonshiner uncle who disappeared in the swamp fifteen years ago. And when her cousin soon goes missing in the same swamp, Bernice is certain someone’s playing a nasty trick, and convinces Rita and Miss Frankie to help her investigate. They’ll just need to watch their steps, as these ladies are liable to get mired in a very swampy mystery.

Typically, I love this series, but this book was not as good as the others. That said, I did enjoy the book. The mystery left a little to be desired but the characters are all wonderful and getting funnier by the book. 

Groomed for Murder-Annie Knox

Groomed For Murder (Pet Boutique #2) 

Izzy McHale wants her new Trendy Tails Pet Boutique in Merryville, Minnesota, to be the height of canine couture and feline fashions. But in a week of wedding bells, someone is about to hold their peace…

forever. Love is in the air, and Izzy is hard at work coordinating two special weddings at Trendy Tails. First, Izzy’s friend and mentor, Ingrid, will be tying the knot with her old flame. And a week later, Izzy will host “pupptials” for two lovable dogs.

But even with the hullabaloo, the Trendy Tails crew is intrigued by Daniel, an enigmatic writer boarding above the shop who’s caught the attention of Izzy’s zany aunt Dolly, who gossips like most people breathe.

Unfortunately, it’s Daniel who stops breathing when he drops dead at the altar on Ingrid’s wedding day. Then Dolly is found at the scene with the murder weapon, and it’s up to Izzy, her Trendy Tails pals, and her scrappy pets, Packer and Jinx, to find a killer before the two affianced doggies bark down the aisle.


I love this series. It is only the second book and I'm waiting on pins and needles for the next installment. The characters are wonderful and the mystery is great. I look forward to whatever happens next at Trendy Tails. 

A Shiver of Light-Laurell K. Hamilton

A Shiver of Light (Merry Gentry #9) 

I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...

Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.

Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t prove it.

To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.

Is it me or do these books just keep getting better and better. With each chapter I find myself sucked further into the book and that is a wonderful thing. The characters are some of the best in any book that I have ever read. Bravo. 

Tall, Dark and Royal-Vanessa Kelly

Tall, Dark and Royal (The Renedage Royals, #2.5) 

 He’s the man behind the mission to track down the illegitimate children of England’s Royal Princes and help them get their due. But his deepest desire is far more personal…

Magnificent and stubborn. Fourteen years apart had not changed Chloe Steele, or Dominic’s love for her. He’d been a street urchin, a boy raised at court, and finally a magistrate, yet he’d never belonged anywhere—except by her side. Now Chloe devoted herself to girls threatened by scandal—like she had been. But she was in danger, and Dominic was determined to help—and hopefully make up for lost time…

Even in childhood, Dominic had made Chloe feel safe. Now she also felt thrillingly flustered by the powerful man he’d become, and by the longing he inspired. Because Dominic meant not only to protect her, but to untangle the lies that had separated them. Yet for Chloe, surrendering to temptation may be easier than risking a future that could ruin them both.

I love this series. This is only the second book by Vanessa Kelly that I have read and I just loved it. It was a very quick read and the characters were great. I can't wait to see what happens with the next Renegade. 

The Way of the Wicked-Ellery Adams

The Way of the Wicked 

The second book in a terrific series by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams.

Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.

Cooper Lee and her friends in the Hope Street Bible study group have just volunteered for a local charity, delivering much-needed food and cheer to shut-ins in their community. It seems like the perfect way for the group to do good, and to Cooper it offers the welcome opportunity to get out of the house and spend more time with her new boyfriend, Nathan. But when one of the charity’s recipients is murdered, the police have no choice but to single out the church group and their fellow volunteers as the prime suspects.

Determined to make sure no evil deed goes unpunished, Cooper and her friends decide to discreetly interrogate each volunteer in their search for the killer, even if it means putting themselves at risk in the process. And as serving the needy becomes more treacherous than any of them could have imagined, they just might discover that the road to murder is paved with good intentions.

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!

Thanks you once again for a fantastic read. Bravo. 

The Graves of the Guilty-Ellery Adams

The Graves of the Guilty 

The third book in a terrific series by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams.

Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.

Cooper Lee is on top of the world, thanks to her great friends at Hope Street Church and the satisfaction of having solved two perplexing mysteries. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, she’s hoping that love is in the air for her and her new boyfriend, Nathan. But Cooper’s faith is about to be tested when her sister, Ashley, discovers a corpse and is implicated in the gruesome murder. And just as troubling, a darkly handsome and exciting man has come into Cooper’s life and just might tempt her to stray.

As Cooper and her friends from the Bible study group once again spring into action to root out a killer—and Cooper digs deep to solve a more personal mystery—she discovers that following the clues is raising more questions than answers. But one thing’s for certain: when cold-blooded criminals mess with Cooper’s family and friends, the killers haven’t got a prayer.

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!

In book three of this series, you really hope that this is not the last book. As with every book Ellery Adams writes it is fantastic.

The Path of The Crooked-Ellery Adams

The Path of the Crooked (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 1) 

The first in a terrific series by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams.

Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.

Cooper Lee was at a crossroads. Her boyfriend of five years had just left her for another woman, she was living in an apartment above her parents’ garage, and her job as a copier repairperson was feeling a little, well, repetitious. Hoping for a fresh start and a new outlook on life, she joins the Bible study group at Hope Street Church. The last thing she expects while studying the Bible is a lesson in murder.

When Brooke Hughes, the woman who first invited Cooper to Hope Street, is found murdered in her home, all signs point to her husband as the culprit. But Wesley Hughes was an elder at Hope Street Church, and the members of the Bible study are filled with disbelief that such a kind and loving man could take a life, much less his wife’s. Unwilling to let an innocent man and friend be railroaded into prison, the Bible group decides to investigate on their own.

As Cooper and this humorously diverse group of people—including a blind folk artist, a meteorologist with a taste for younger women, and a soft-spoken web designer who might be out to catch Cooper’s eye—dig deeper into the clues, they’re about to discover that finding the truth sometimes takes a leap of faith.

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen! 

You can never go wrong with an Ellery Adams book. I love everything about them. 

Tagged for Death-Sherry Harris

Tagged for Death: A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery 

Starting your life over at age thirty-eight isn't easy, but that's what Sarah Winston finds herself facing when her husband CJ runs off with a 19-year-old temptress named Tiffany. Sarah's self-prescribed therapy happily involves hitting all the garage and tag sales in and around her small town of Ellington, Massachusetts. If only she could turn her love for bargain hunting into a full-time career.

One man's junk is another man's treasure


But after returning from a particularly successful day searching for yard sale treasures, Sarah finds a grisly surprise in one of her bags: a freshly bloodied shirt…that undoubtedly belongs to her ex, CJ, who now happens to be Ellington's chief of police. If that's not bad enough, it seems Tiffany has gone missing. Now it's up to Sarah to prove that her cold-hearted ex is not a cold-blooded killer…


But finding that treasure can be murder.

I really loved this book for several reasons. I loved that it had a hint of military life in it and the characters where fantastic. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

If You've Got It, Haunt It-Rose Pressey

If You've Got It, Haunt It (A Haunted Vintage Mystery #1) 
Cookie Chanel has a passion for fashion--and a murder mystery to solve!

Cookie Chanel has opened her own vintage clothing boutique, It's Vintage, Y'All, in the charming town of Sugar Creek, Georgia. Always on the lookout for stylish second-hand steals, she attends the estate sale of deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when Charlotte's ghost appears before her--offering fashion advice and begging Cookie to find out who murdered her.

As the persistent poltergeist tags along and a possibly psychic pussycat moves into the shop, Cookie sorts through racks of suspects to see who may be hiding some skeletons in the closet. Do a clothing store owner and a disembodied socialite have a ghost of a chance of collaring a killer--or will Cookie's life be the next one hanging by a thread?

Don't miss Cookie Chanel's Fashion Tips!

Once again, Rose Pressey, has given me something magical to read. I devoured this book and cannot wait for there to be more in this years. A real home run. 

Shadow of Doubt-Nancy Cole Silverman

Shadow of Doubt 
When a top Hollywood Agent is found poisoned in the bathtub of her home, suspicion quickly turns to one of her two nieces. But Carol Childs, a reporter for a local talk radio station, doesn’t believe it. The suspect is her neighbor and friend, and also her primary source for insider industry news. After a media frenzy pits one niece against the other—and the body count starts to rise—Carol knows she must save her friend from being tried in the court of public opinion.

But even the most seasoned reporter can be surprised, and when a Hollywood psychic shows up in Carol’s studio one night and warns her there will be more deaths, things take an unexpected turn. Suddenly nobody is above suspicion. Carol must challenge both her friendship and the facts, and the only thing she knows for certain is that the killer is still out there. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she’s in.

  I'm beginning to wonder if I'm too picky with the mysteries that I read. I could not get into this one at all. The characters did nothing to connect me to the story.

Nun Too Soon-Alice Loweecey

Nun Too Soon (Giulia Driscoll #1) 
Giulia Falcone-Driscoll has just taken on her first impossible client: The Silk Tie Killer. He’s hired Driscoll Investigations to prove his innocence and they have only thirteen days to accomplish it. Talk about being tried in the media. Everyone in town is sure Roger Fitch strangled his girlfriend with one of his silk neckties. And then there’s the local TMZ wannabes—The Scoop—stalking Giulia and her client for sleazy sound bites.

On top of all that, her assistant’s first baby is due any second, her scary smart admin still doesn’t relate well to humans, and her police detective husband insists her client is guilty. About this marriage thing—it’s unknown territory, but it sure beats ten years of living with 150 nuns.

Giulia’s ownership of Driscoll Investigations hasn’t changed her passion for justice from her convent years. But the more dirt she digs up, the more she’s worried her efforts will help a murderer escape. As the client accuses DI of dragging its heels on purpose, Giulia thinks The Silk Tie Killer might be choosing one of his ties for her own neck.

I wish that I could say that I enjoyed this book. But, I really just couldn't get into the characters. 

Children of the Tide-Jon Redfurn

Children of the Tide: An Inspector Endersby Mystery 
London: the early 1840s. The birth of the young Queen Victoria's first child is taken as an auspicious sign for all. But on a cold March night, a spree of dark crimes in shadowy workhouses shocks the city.

When Inspector Owen Endersby, of the recently formed London Detective Police, learns that the string of identical murders and abductions have all taken place under similar circumstances, he fears a monster is prowling the city. How long until the murderer strikes again? Is this the work of a diabolical killer, or a madman with confused motives? Facts are scarce. Endersby and his sergeant, Thomas Caldwell, must start an investigation based on the fitful testimonies of terrified girls and one peculiar clue: a piece of curtain lace found in the throats of the victims.

I really enjoyed this book. What a wonderful mystery. 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Seaborne #1 The Lost Prince-Matt Myklusch

Seaborne #1: The Lost Prince 
Middle-grade adventure readers will love this fresh take on classic pirate tropes. Fans of Percy Jackson and The Chronicles of Egg will enjoy Dean Seaborne's adventures on the sea.

Dean Seaborne is thrown off his ship by the Pirate King and given one last chance to redeem himself before he meets Davy Jones's locker. He has to spy on the Pirate King's biggest rival, Gentleman Jack Harper, and find the treasure hidden on the mysterious island of Zenhala.

Once on Zenhala, Dean finds that the inhabitants of the island think he is the lost prince who went missing 13 year ago. In order to fulfill his mission for the Pirate King, Dean undergoes intense and fantastical trials to prove he is the lost prince. But the longer Dean stays on the island, the more he questions his mission.

I loved this book. It was so much fun. I am going to send one to every child in our family. It is that good. That said this book is truly for all ages and I am off to read the next one. Great job. 

Skull in the Ashes-Peter Kaufman

Skull in the Ashes: Murder, a Gold Rush Manhunt, and the Birth of Circumstantial Evidence in America 
On a February night in 1897, the general store in Walford, Iowa, burned down. The next morning, townspeople discovered a charred corpse in the ashes. Everyone knew that the store’s owner, Frank Novak, had been sleeping in the store as a safeguard against burglars. Now all that remained were a few of his personal items scattered under the body.


At first, it seemed to be a tragic accident mitigated just a bit by Novak’s foresight in buying generous life insurance policies to provide for his family. But soon an investigation by the ambitious new county attorney, M. J. Tobin, turned up evidence suggesting that the dead man might actually be Edward Murray, a hard-drinking local laborer. Relying upon newly developed forensic techniques, Tobin gradually built a case implicating Novak in Murray’s murder. But all he had was circumstantial evidence, and up to that time few murder convictions had been won on that basis in the United States.


Others besides Tobin were interested in the case, including several companies that had sold Novak life insurance policies. One agency hired detectives to track down every clue regarding the suspect’s whereabouts. Newspapers across the country ran sensational headlines with melodramatic coverage of the manhunt. Veteran detective Red Perrin’s determined trek over icy mountain paths and dangerous river rapids to the raw Yukon Territory town of Dawson City, which was booming with prospectors as the Klondike gold rush began, made for especially good copy.
Skull in the Ashes traces the actions of Novak, Tobin, and Perrin, showing how the Walford fire played a pivotal role in each man’s life. Along the way, author Peter Kaufman gives readers a fascinating glimpse into forensics, detective work, trial strategies, and prison life at the close of the nineteenth century. As much as it is a chilling tale of a cold-blooded murder and its aftermath, this is also the story of three ambitious young men and their struggle to succeed in a rapidly modernizing world.


I really tried to get into this book but found too many things in it distracting. 

Seeing The Dead-Sheila Connolly

Seeing the Dead 
Ever since her first ghostly sighting, Abby Kimball has been trying to unravel the mystery of her newly discovered ability. So when she sees the apparition of a Revolutionary War soldier in the middle of the town green—just days before the annual Patriot’s Day celebration, no less—she’s determined to figure out her connection to the man.


The ethereal soldier is not the only mystery in Abby’s life. She’s also trying to sort out her connection to Ned Newhall, the man who shares her ability and is playing a more serious romantic role in her life every day. But with plans for the celebration ramping up and her job becoming more chaotic by the minute, Abby’s finding it hard to catch her breath, much less come to grips with all the new turns her life has taken.


And when another eerie episode is followed by the appearance of a very curious young girl who seems wise beyond her years, Abby discovers she and Ned may have only scratched the surface of their special ability, and that Ned may hold the biggest surprise yet.


I love Sheila Connolly books. This one is a bit slow in the beginning but makes up for it in the end. I'm glad that I didn't give up and you will be too. It's a great read and has plenty of ghosts to go around. 

Wiccan Shadows-Lori J. Schiele

Wiccan Shadows 
Alex Grisham, a practicing witch, is familiar with the paranormal, but nothing can prepare her for the evil she and her Wiccan Sisters must face when Celia, their High Priestess, suddenly disappears.

Alex and her Sisters of the Laurel Tree Coven must work against the clock—and the hidden evil that wants to destroy them—in order to discover the mystery behind Celia’s disappearance before Samhain, when the world as they know it might just come to an end.

In her search for answers, Alex finds herself torn between her live-in partner, Glenn, and Dan, a sexy animal control officer, with far too many dark and dangerous secrets of his own. Soon Alex realizes that one of these men is out to kill her. If she chooses the wrong one, she’ll unleash pure evil upon the world. 
 
I loved, loved, loved this book. It had so many things that I love about books. There was mystery, romance and just an all around fantastic read. I can't wait to find out what happens next. 

Friday, October 3, 2014

Macdeath-Cindy Brown

  
I loved this book. I sat down to start reading and didn't stop until I had finished the book. I, truly, hope that more books will come out in this series.

The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding-Victoria Alexander

The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor, #4) 
The bride and groom cordially request your presence for a wedding at Millworth Manor. . .
Guests will include Jackson Quincy Graham Channing, New York City banker, and Lady Theodosia "Teddy" Winslow, wedding planner to the finest families in England.
Introductions shall be followed by light conversation, dancing, flirtation, arguing, reconciliation, and an impulsive kiss that both parties are quite certain they will never repeat.
Until they do.
A mutually beneficial fake engagement will be accompanied by all manner of very real complications, scandalous revelations, nefarious schemes, and one inescapable conclusion:
That true love--unlike the perfect wedding--is impossible to plan.

This was not my favorite Victoria Alexander book. Usually, I can jump right into them and read from beginning to end. This one, however, started off quite slow but once it picked up it was quite good. 

The Chihuahua Always Sniffs Twice-Waverly Curtis

The Chihuahua Always Sniffs Twice  
This was a cute little read. It was very entertaining from beginning to end.