Bodice of Evidence-Nancy J. Parra

 

The author of Engaged in Murder returns with her second Perfect Proposals Mystery. This time Pepper Pomeroy discovers that shopping for the dream wedding dress can be a nightmare…

Pepper’s new wedding proposal planning business, Perfect Proposals, seems like a perfect fit. If only shopping for her sister Felicity’s bridal gown could be so simple.

After a long day of lace, tulle, and tears, Pepper, Felicity, and their mother pull it together to try one last bridal boutique. Maybe they’ll be surprised. And indeed they are—when they enter a deserted shop and soon discover the owner of the boutique slain in the alley out back.

Distressed by their proximity to the crime, Pepper vows to unveil the killer. As difficult as it is to draw a pattern from the clues, it’s still easier than finding Felicity’s perfect wedding gown. But as the killer begins to feel hemmed in, Pepper may be the one brought to her knees…

Honestly, there has not been a book by Nancy Parra that I haven't loved. This is no different. The characters are wonderful and I didn't know who the murderer was until the very end. I love this series. 

Marked Fur Murder-Dixie Lyle

 

Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster is fed up with all the goings-on at wacky billionaire Zelda Zoransky's mansion. Running around like a chicken with her head cut off, she's got a laundry-list of things to do. ZZ is hosting yet another one of her famous salons. Her nutty guests have more than their fair share of odd requests and strange demands. And now, friend Ben's estranged sister has been found dead in Zelda's pool, an apparent suicide, with a hairdryer floating beside her.

Yet Foxtrot doesn't buy it. Being a Thunderbird runs in Ben's family, and as the old saying goes, "you can't kill a Thunderbird with lightening." It's clear someone is trying to disguise a murder, but which of the guests could it be? Is it the renowned psychic who works with a painting dog? The slightly-schizophrenic transsexual writer of mysteries and children's books? And if it's the weather expert, what could the motive possibly be? It's a tall task, but with her fuzzy, slinky sleuths and a little bit of luck, Foxtrot might just solve her biggest mystery yet.

I really enjoy this series, but this book took me a bit longer to get into than the first two. Once I got into the book, it flew by. I love Foxtrot and the way she interacts with the everyone and everything. I look forward to the next mystery to come. 

Privy to The Dead: A Museum Mystery-Sheila Connolly

 

In the latest Museum Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Razing the Dead , a suspicious death has Nell Pratt down in the dumps…

Nell Pratt, president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society, has something to smile about thanks to a generous donation from a major Philadelphia developer who’s willing to help update their museum. But renovations have barely begun when a man is struck by a car in front of the building and killed.

The victim is a construction worker who found a curious metal object while excavating an old privy in the museum’s basement. Nell thinks the death is somehow connected to the Society, and her suspicions are confirmed when an antiques expert reveals a link between the objects from the cellar and a fellow staff member’s family.

Now Nell must unearth a mystery with ties to the past and the present. Because when someone is willing to kill over scrap metal, there’s no telling what they’ll do next…

This series is one of my favorites. I am never disappointed by the story. This one is no different. As always, Nell and James make a formidable team and the mystery left me wondering through till the very end. I hope to see many more adventures for these two. 

The Miser's Dream-John Gaspard

 

This book does not come out until October 27, 2015 but I was lucky enough to get to read and review it early. What a great find. I loved this book. From beginning to end I was hooked. The story is fantastic and the cast leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Foundations of Theory for Ancient Chinese Medicine-Gouhui Lui

 

This was a very informative book. Although hard to follow at times, it gives you great insight into alternatives to western medicine. 

Gone But Knot Forgotten-Mary Marks

 

Sorting through the estate of a wealthy recluse may sound like a fascinating task, but when the skeletons in the closets turn out to be real, Martha and her quilting pals wish they'd stuck to basting and batting. . .

Martha Rose is stunned when she hears that her best friend from high school has passed away. Her shock doubles when she learns that Harriet Oliver made her the executor of her estate. But when investigators determine that Harriet was murdered, Martha recruits her fellow quilters to help find the culprit. She's mastered the art of piecing together blocks to create intricate quilts, but piecing together her friend's murder will prove far more challenging. . 

I admit that I haven't read the first two books in this series. But that did not take away from the story at all. Right away, I was hooked. The characters are great and the mystery left me wondering until the end. My favorite kind of cozy mystery. I can't wait to read the next book. 

Demon Stone: A Dagr Brightsword Tale-Jake Scholl

 

LEGENDS ARE NOT BORN. THEY ARE FORGED BY COURAGE & STEEL.

When Dagr's kingdom and his wife are held ransom by an evil sorcerer, Dagr goes on a quest to give the sorcerer what he wants. But, at what cost is Dagr willing to go to save his kingdom?

Thus begins the first tale of Dagr Brightsword.

Excerpt:

King Dagr always prided himself on his strength. He was always able to use brute force and cunning to win his battles; but all of that was worthless right now, as cold sea water entered his lungs, and his muscles went weak.

He furtively tried to punch at the ice above him, to try and delay his inevitable demise.

But the ice didn’t respond or sympathize with his wishes. His lungs burned as his mind kept trying to succumb to the darkness of death.

On the clear ice, he could see two black boots above him. Dagr then started punching, kicking and tried screaming to get the man to help.

The man went on his knees, and stared at the King. Much to Dagr’s horror, it was a skull. The skull laughed at him, its red eyes glowed like a feral animal. It was death, come to claim his mortal soul…

This is a great little Novella. Jake does a wonderful job at getting you to like the characters very quickly. I'm sure that the next in this series, which is a full length novel, will be just as engaging. 

Troubled Treats-Jessica Beck

 

Troubled Treats, Donut Mystery #19, from New York Times Bestselling Author Jessica Beck!

There’s been a murder at the old wagon factory, a building recently purchased and now being renovated by Suzanne’s mother. What’s more, Jake and Suzanne were on the premises when the crime occurred. They soon get dragged into the investigation and begin uncovering a bevy of clues as to why this homicide took place. Did the killing happen for personal reasons, or was it instigated by someone’s lust for the rumor of hidden gold? 

I love this series. Every time I start one of these books, I cannot put it down. Jake and Suzanne make such a great team and the rest of the characters are just as wonderful. Keep it up. 

Some Like it Witchy-Heather Blake

 

Wishcrafter Darcy Merriweather can charm desires into reality, but as the national bestselling Wishcraft mysteries continue, she won’t be able to magically avoid trouble when death holds an open house….

The Enchanted Village is abuzz when the old Tavistock house finally goes up for sale. Darcy’s friend Curecrafter Cherise Goodwin is hoping she will have the winning bid on the home, but Darcy can’t shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen—and her magical instincts are usually right.

Sure enough, while Darcy and Cherise are looking at the property, they discover real estate agent Raina Gallagher stone-cold dead on the floor. Clutched in her hand is a gemstone amulet and, on the wall above her, a large red A. While Raina had no shortage of enemies, there’s also a dark legend about the house itself. To track down the killer, Darcy must unlock the secrets of both the deceased and the estate—and she’ll need to act fast, because revenge is a deal that never closes.

Another great addition to the Wishcraft Series. As always, the story is fantastic and the characters are all engaging. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Dead Men Don't Eat Cookies-Virginia Lowell

 

As the national bestselling Cookie Cutter Shop mysteries return, things are heating up for Olivia Greyson, her best friend, Maddie, and the rest of the crew at The Gingerbread House—until a cold case puts their plans on ice…

Olivia’s mom, Ellie, is always cooking up new schemes, but her latest idea has Livie and Maddie especially excited. Ellie’s converting an old boarding house into an arts and crafts school—one that, of course, houses a kitchen for those interested in baking. But right as renovations start, the workers discover a pile of bones buried within the boarding house’s walls, evidence of a long forgotten crime.

A silver necklace with a cookie cutter charm is found within the remains, convincing one of the workers that the bones are the remains of her father, who’s been missing for over five years. Of course, Livie and Maddie can’t resist the allure of investigating. But they’re about to discover that digging up the secrets of the past can be deadly dangerous.

This is one of my favorite series. I don't know how Olivia keeps getting put in the wrong place and the wrong time, but it is always a great story. The characters in this series are so heartwarming that you want to hang out with them and become friends. I hope the next book will be just as wonderful. 

What to Do with a Duke-Sally MacKenzie

 

Welcome to the charming, fatefully named village of Loves Bridge, where a woman destined for spinsterhood can live a life of her own choosing—or fall unexpectedly, madly in love…

Miss Isabelle Catherine Hutting would rather be lounging in the library than circling the ballroom in search of a husband any day. So when Cat hears that the town’s infamous Spinster House is open for a new resident, she jumps at the chance to put all this marriage business behind her. But first she must make arrangements with her prospective landlord, Marcus, the Duke of Hart—the most handsome man she’s ever seen, and the only man who’s ever impressed her in the least…

With her wit, independent spirit, and not least of all her beauty, Marcus can’t help but be stirred by Cat. It’s terribly unfortunate he’s not looking to marry, given the centuries-old curse that left his family with the Spinster House to begin with. No duke shall live to see his heir’s birth. But is there a chance the curse could be broken—in true fairy-tale fashion—by an act of true love? The race to Happily Ever After is about to begin.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were loveable and the romance was great. I hope to see more in the next books in the series. 

Tamed by the Bucaneer:Pirates of the Jolie Rogue #3-Normandie Alleman

 

Life as a buccaneer in the Caribbean in 1668 is not for the faint of heart, but at least Gaston Galette has a beautiful wife at his side and in his bed. During the day she serves as the ship’s physician, while at night in his cabin she is his saucy yet submissive wench.

But after countless brushes with death, Gaston has begun to wonder if it might be time to give up swashbuckling for good. The urgency of the matter is increased when, despite her stubborn refusal to acknowledge the obvious, it becomes clear that Frederica is carrying his child.

Having already lost one family years ago, Gaston cannot stand the thought of losing another, and as far as he is concerned it is time to start building a new life on dry land. Fearing the loss of everything he holds dear, Gaston is determined to convince Frederica to return with him to the Carolina colony and the home he left behind so long ago. But will the strong-willed lass allow herself to be tamed by the buccaneer?

Publisher’s Note: Tamed by the Buccaneer is the third book of the Pirates of the Jolie Rouge trilogy, which began with Rescued by the Buccaneer and continued with Bound by the Buccaneer.

This is one steamy read. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but after reading this I will be getting them as quickly as possible. Wow. Great job.  

The Heartbeat Thief-A.J. Krafton

 

Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth—she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.

In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn’t be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her.
But it’s not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It’s death—and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.

So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible—he’d be her perfect match if only he wasn’t so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it…

When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death—but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.

It’s a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Edgar Allen Poe, and a whole lot of stealing heartbeats in order to stay young and beautiful forever. From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time…

How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?

I loved, loved, loved this book. Once I started reading I didn't stop until the entire book was finished. I read a lot of books and that rarely happens. The story could be quite dark at times but that was to be expected. Great job. 

Cluttered Attic Secrets-Jan Christensen

 

After receiving a midnight phone call, professional organizer Tina Shaw rushes to her best friend’s ancestral home to determine if Leslie really saw a ghost. Tina doesn’t see one in the cluttered Newport, Rhode Island, Victorian attic, but does hear strange noises. While she tries to reassure Leslie, they’re drawn outside when police and firefighters arrive. A murdered man has been found in Leslie’s side yard.

A note in his pocket reads My name is Joshua Young in childish printing. Leslie’s father’s name is Joshua Young, the men are about a decade apart in age, and the man was killed outside the house where Leslie’s father grew up. Tina must help her friend find the answers to who the murdered man really was and why he was killed. And to what’s making the noises in the attic.

While Tina is absorbed in helping her friend investigate, a quarrel with her boyfriend, Hank, begins when he demands she quit because it’s too dangerous. He has ties to the police, and when Tina suspects he’s holding back information from her, her Irish temper flares even more.

The secrets behind Joshua Young’s murder are bigger than Tina ever imagined. Can the murderer be stopped before killing again?

Cluttered Attic Secrets illuminates the real spirit of friendship and is a suspense-filled mystery with many secrets and ghostly occurrences, a little romance, and a few organizing tips to help you tame your own secret clutter. 

This was a great book. The characters were very endearing and the story was very well written. I loved everything about it. 

Bold Seduction-Karyn Gerrard

 

Passion. Seduction. Pleasure. These are the qualities of any courtesan worth her salt. As owner of The Starling Club, London’s most notorious house of ill-repute, Madame Philomena McGrattan has seen it all, heard it all, done it all. There is little that surprises her anymore, and even less that excites her. So when she is presented a chance at an irresistible seduction, she can’t help but rise to the challenge.

A Dangerous Game

Studiousness. Practicality. Discipline. Such are the attributes of a good scholar, and such are the principles Lord Spencer Hornsby has built his life around. Alone in the Welsh countryside, with only his wolfhounds for company, Spencer has thrown himself into his work. There is little time for the pleasures of society, not even to think of the joys of the fairer sex. But when an unexpected guest arrives at his isolated hunting lodge, Spencer cannot help but be baffled by the presence of this dangerously beautiful woman. And when he discovers the reason for her arrival, and the pleasures she promises, he cannot help but find himself irresistibly intrigued.

This was a FANTASTIC little steaming novella. Wowza!! 

The Sound of Thunder(Ivy Meadows Mysteries Book 2)-Cindy Brown

 

All Ivy Meadows wants is to be an actor. And a private investigator. Plus she’d really like a pair of clean underwear, a place to stay since her apartment burned up, and to overcome her fear of singing in public. Also, she’d really like to knock the socks off the big New York producer who’s coming to Arizona to see her in the world premiere of "The Sound of Cabaret"—featuring singing nuns and Berlin burlesque—at Desert Magic Dinner Theater.

Ivy’s cast mates come through with singing lessons, a pair of granny pants, and a housesitting gig in a retirement community. And her P.I. uncle even assigns her a real case. But all is not raindrops on roses. During her investigation, Ivy clashes with the local posse, stumbles upon a firebug and a snoring pug, and finds herself smack in the sights of a serial senior-killer.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun to read about Ivy and all of her antics. The mystery is quite good and the characters were funny and interesting. An all around great book.

Go-Betweens for Hitler-Karina Urbach

 

This is the untold story of how some of Germany's top aristocrats contributed to Hitler's secret diplomacy during the Third Reich, providing a direct line to their influential contacts and relations across Europe - especially in Britain, where their contacts included the press baron and Daily Mail owner Lord Rothermere and the future King Edward VIII.

Using previously unexplored sources from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and the USA, Karina Urbach unravels the story of top-level go-betweens such as the Duke of Coburg, grandson of Queen Victoria, and the seductive Stephanie von Hohenlohe, who rose from a life of poverty in Vienna to become a princess and an intimate of Adolf Hitler. As Urbach shows, Coburg and other senior aristocrats were tasked with some of Germany's most secret foreign policy missions from the First World War onwards, culminating in their role as Hitler's trusted go-betweens, as he readied Germany for conflict during the 1930s - and later, in the Second World War.

Tracing what became of these high-level go-betweens in the years after the Nazi collapse in 1945 - from prominent media careers to sunny retirements in Marbella - the book concludes with an assessment of their overall significance in the foreign policy of the Third Reich.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. It gave me much more that I imagined. I went in thinking that the book would cover Hitler's time in power, but it went way beyond that. History buffs would love this book for its amazing accounts of the politics behind war and power. 

Haunted by the Abyss-Sarah Soderland

 

These true firsthand accounts chronicle the author's terrifying run-in with a freakish and twisted demon, alien abduction events, plus strange encounters with possessed houses, evil roads, and a slew of bizarre astral beings and beasts.

Sarah Soderlund, also known as Paranormal Sarah, has been psychically gifted since childhood. Her psychic abilities, coupled with her education and extensive astral world investigative skills, provide a unique and fascinating perspective as she describes not only what happened in her haunted childhood home, but why some houses are "alive" and how ghost energy can slam doors, whisper your name, or even manifest as a full-blown or partial apparition.

This was quite and interesting read. It gave a lot of insight into the life of someone that has seen and heard spirits there entire lives. A great book for anyone interested in the paranormal.  

Decorating With the Five Elements on Feng Shui-Tisha Morris

 

This book is a great example of how to incorporate Feng Shui into your everyday life. You are given examples of how to use it in your home and also for yourself. 

The Witch of Lime Street: Seance, Seduction, and Houdini and the Spirit World-David Jaher

 

History comes alive in this textured account of the rivalry between Harry Houdini and the so-called Witch of Lime Street, whose iconic lives intersected at a time when science was on the verge of embracing the paranormal.
The 1920s are famous as the golden age of jazz and glamour, but it was also an era of fevered yearning for communion with the spirit world, after the loss of tens of millions in the First World War and the Spanish-flu epidemic. A desperate search for reunion with dead loved ones precipitated a tidal wave of self-proclaimed psychics—and, as reputable media sought stories on occult phenomena, mediums became celebrities.

Against this backdrop, in 1924, the pretty wife of a distinguished Boston surgeon came to embody the raging national debate over Spiritualism, a movement devoted to communication with the dead. Reporters dubbed her the blonde Witch of Lime Street, but she was known to her followers simply as Margery. Her most vocal advocate was none other than Sherlock Holmes' creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believed so thoroughly in Margery's powers that he urged her to enter a controversial contest, sponsored by Scientific American and offering a large cash prize to the first medium declared authentic by its impressive five-man investigative committee.  Admired for both her exceptional charm and her dazzling effects, Margery was the best hope for the psychic practice to be empirically verified.  Her supernatural gifts beguiled four of the judges. There was only one left to convince...the acclaimed escape artist, Harry Houdini.

David Jaher's extraordinary debut culminates in the showdown between Houdini, a relentless unmasker of charlatans, and Margery, the nation's most credible spirit medium. The Witch of Lime Street, the first book to capture their electric public rivalry and the competition that brought them into each other’s orbit, returns us to an oft-mythologized era to deepen our understanding of its history, all while igniting our imagination and engaging with the timeless question: Is there life after death?

I quite enjoyed this book. Having heard a lot about Houdini's quest to expose fake mediums, it was nice to have something to read to back the stories up. This book does just that.  

Yoga Therapy for Stress and Anxiety: Create a Personalized Holistic Plan to Balance Your Life-Robert Butera, Erin Byron, and Staffan Elgelid

 

Holistic, practical, and student-centered, this guide offers you the tools and freedom to delve deep into your interior landscape and create your own comprehensive yoga program—a program that, like the world around us, changes from year to year and day to day. The lasting benefits of these transformative yoga practices encompass health, relationships, work, relaxation, meditation, and spirituality.

This is a very well written book. It gives you not only information on how to help center your life but gives you plenty of poses to use in your daily yoga routine. A very helpful read. 

Spellcasting in Silk-Juliet Blackwell

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Vision in Velvet comes more spooky sleuthing with Lily Ivory, vintage boutique owner and gifted witch…

Lily would like nothing better than to relax, enjoy her friends, and take care of business at her store, which is booming thanks to San Francisco's upcoming Summer of Love Festival.  But as the unofficial witchy consultant to the SFPD, she is pulled into yet another case.

A woman has jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, and her apparent suicide may be connected to a suspicious botanica in the Mission District. When the police investigate the shop, they ask Lily to look into its mysterious owner, whose granddaughter also appears to be missing. As Lily searches for the truth, she finds herself confronted with a confounding mystery and some very powerful magic…

This is yet another perfect book in this series. Juliet Blackwell makes all her characters so endearing that it's very hard not to love each one. This story was great and the mystery was fantastic. I didn't know until the very end who the bad guy/gal was. I cannot wait for Lily's next adventure. 

Flourless To Stop Him-Nancy J. Parra

 

The author of Murder Gone A-Rye and Gluten for Punishment returns to Oiltop, Kansas, where gluten-free baker Toni Holmes has to separate the wheat from the chaff to clear her brother of murder…

It’s never a good time for a crisis. Toni’s busy whipping up gluten-free holiday treats when a murder forces her to put baking on the back burner. A dead man has been found in the bathtub of a local inn—in a room registered to her brother, Tim.

With her sibling now a prime suspect in a mysterious homicide, Toni is determined to find out who set him up. But she’s about to get some unwanted assistance from former investigative journalist Grandma Ruth, who won’t let anything slow her progress in running down a killer.

There has yet to be a book that Nancy Parra has written that I haven't loved. This is a perfect example of the wonderful writing that she does. This series has great characters, a great mystery and, as always, great recipes. I can't wait for Toni's next adventure. 

Dangerous Dough-Jessica Beck

 

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Jessica Beck,
The Brand New Donut Mystery #18, DANGEROUS DOUGH!

Suzanne and Jake are finally married, but the honeymoon is over too soon when they find her mother waiting for them at the airport. Someone has murdered the new police chief in their absence, and the list of suspects comprise some of the folks closest to them, including Suzanne’s stepfather, her assistant at the donut shop, and several folks in the town Chief Tyler just left. As their investigation develops, suspicion falls on people from both sides of the law, and the newlyweds must learn to balance their new marriage with their drive to find the killers!

For more information on Jessica’s books, please visit jessicabeckmysteries.net 

This is yet another great book in this series. I would think that by book 18 the characters and stories would start getting stale but that is just not the case. They just keep getting better. 

First Season/Bride to Be-Jane Ashford

 

Two classic Regency romances by beloved bestselling author Jane Ashford celebrate the adventures of a London Season

FIRST SEASON
Widowed Lady Anabel Wyndham was married right out of the schoolroom and has never before experienced the delights of a London Season. She's dazzled by the attention of the fascinating Sir Charles Norbury, a man whose touch seems to melt her very soul, but a notorious rake. She's drawn to handsome friend-of-the-family Christopher Hanford and the comfort and serenity he offers. But how does one choose between two such charming suitors? Anabel is finding that love is so much more dangerous the second time around.

BRIDE TO BE
Emily Crane is the toast of the ton-and she couldn't find it more tedious. Until she encounters the darkly sensual stranger whose life she once saved and the London Season becomes infinitely more exciting. Recently returned from the wilds of South America, Lord Richard Sheldon has only contempt for tiresome London chits, but he finds himself stunningly intrigued by the dauntless Emily Crane. When the two become embroiled in a budding scandal and are forced into an engagement, they discover a passion more dangerous than any killer...

Praise for The Bride Insists:
"Another perfectly delightful Regency romance...remarkably executed." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Ashford captures readers with her keen knowledge of the era and deft writing." -RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
"Fabulous...well-written, great characters."

I always enjoy reading books by Jane Ashford. In this one, you are lucky enough to get two books under one cover. Both stories are wonderful. The romance is great and the characters are endearing. 

First Time With a Highlander-Gwyn Cready

 

Second in a new Scottish time travel romance series perfect for readers of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander...

Serabeth’s no-good fiancé is dead, and she needs a husband fast, or she’ll be ruined. Her indignant and handsome captive will do just fine, if she can keep her mind focused on the business at hand...

Gerard is a love-'em-and-leave-'em ad exec who opens the door to a wild party in 21st century New York and wakes up in 18th century Edinburgh with a hangover and a beautiful, disinterested new “wife” who says he has “served his purpose.”

What the kilt?

I haven't read the first book in the series and that always worries me when I am about to read a book. But, that didn't take away from the story at all. This was a great book with wonderful characters, a lovely romance and you can't go wrong with the local. 

Not Always A Saint-Mary Jo Putney

 

After the death of his sweetheart when he was at university, Daniel Herbert buried his grief in medical studies and his passion for healing. Viewed as a saint by those who know him, in his own mind, he never quite manages to live up to his own high standards.

Most men would be thrilled to learn they've inherited a title and estate from a distant relative, but Daniel is appalled because the burden of wealth will interfere with his medical calling. Warily he accepts that he must enter society and seek a wife—a sensible woman who can oversee his properties, leaving him free to continue his work. He does not expect to become intoxicated by a woman called the Black Widow, who is as mysterious as she is shockingly beautiful…

Jessie Kelham’s looks have always been a curse. Now alone with a young daughter and a perilous secret, she is in need of protection. But dangerously attractive Daniel Herbert is not the kind of husband she has in mind. If he recognizes her, the demons of her past will surely erupt. Yet they cannot keep apart—and soon they are drawn into a union that may bring joy—or shattering danger.

Mary Jo Putney is a perfect example of why I read Historical Romance. This book is PERFECT. From beginning to end, I loved it. The story was fantastic. The characters were endearing and the local was wonderful. I can't wait to read her next tale. 

The Haunting of the Tenth Avenue Theater-Alex Matsue

 

Is San Diego's renowned Tenth Avenue Theater home to an unlikely cast of ghosts—and if so, what has kept the spirits of the dead bound to this venue of entertainment and illusion? From reports of a child's tragic death on the premises to a suicide stemming from overwhelming guilt, there is grief, turmoil, and unfinished business lingering within these walls.

Alex Matsuo, an actress by day and a ghost hunter by night, was granted unlimited access to the haunted property where she has performed as an actor and staged professional readings of her plays. Investigating the popular and thriving theater she has always considered home, Alex must unravel the turbulent history of the building in order to find out why the ghosts of the Tenth never want to leave.

I love a good ghost story. This one was amazing. I hope to someday be able to visit this location and see for myself.  

In The Drink-Allyson K. Abbott

 

By day, Mackenzie "Mack" Dalton is the proprietress of a popular Milwaukee watering hole. But after last call, she uses her unique cocktail of extra perceptive senses to help solve some of the city’s most grisly homicides. Now, Mack and her barstool detectives are happy to help when Tiny, one of the bar’s newest patrons, asks them to look into his sister’s murder. Though the case has gone cold, Mack’s heightened senses quickly put her on the killer’s trail. But when a throng of reporters intrigued by her talents descends on Mack’s Bar, her efforts are muddled as a real-life Moriarty begins putting her infamous skills to the test, leaving Mack feeling shaken and stirred.

This book was a lot of fun. It gets you hooked from the first page and doesn't let go. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Threads of Evidence-Lea Wait

 

It's hard to imagine anything bad ever happening in picturesque Haven Harbor, Maine--until a famous face rolls into town and unthreads some very dark secrets. . .

Angie Curtis and the Mainely Needlepointers are all too familiar with the Gardener estate. The crumbling Victorian mansion, known as "Aurora," has been sitting vacant for nearly twenty-five years--and some say it's haunted by the ghost of Jasmine Gardener, the teenage girl who died there in 1970 under mysterious circumstances...

Harbor Haven is abuzz with excitement when Hollywood actress Skye West decides to buy Aurora and sell off its furnishings. And Angie is intrigued when Skye asks her to appraise the estate's sizable collection of needlepoint pictures. But the more she examines the pieces, the more they seem to point toward Jasmine's murder--and the murderer--and it's up to her to stitch the clues together.

I love a great cozy mystery. This one was fantastic. The characters are great and the story was amazing. I love the wonderful local and am hooked on this series. 

Candy Corn Murder-Leslie Meier

 

Halloween is coming to Tinker’s Cove, Maine, and local reporter Lucy Stone is covering the town’s annual Giant Pumpkin Fest for the Pennysaver. There’s the pumpkin-boat regatta, the children’s Halloween party, the pumpkin weigh-in…even a contest where home-built catapults hurl pumpkins at an old Dodge! But not everything goes quite as planned…Lucy’s getting very annoyed that her husband Bill and his friend Evan have been working seemingly nonstop on their potentially prize-winning pumpkin catapult. But when the day of the big contest arrives, Evan is nowhere to be found…until a catapulted pumpkin busts open the trunk of the Dodge. Amid the pumpkin gore is a very deceased Evan, bashed in the head and placed in the trunk by someone long before the contest started.

Bill is on the hook for the Halloween homicide—he was the last one to see Evan—so Lucy knows she’s got some serious sleuthing to do. The crime’s trail seems to always circle back to Country Cousins, the town’s once-quaint general store that’s now become a big Internet player. Though the store’s founder, Old Sam Miller, is long gone, his son Tom and grandson Trey now run the hugely successful company. But whispered rumors say things aren’t going well, and Lucy finds that this case may have something to do with an unsolved, decades-old Miller family mystery…

With each new lead pointing her in a different direction, Lucy sees that time is quickly running out. If she wants to spook the real killer, she’ll have to step into an old ghost story…

I will admit that I have never read a book by Leslie Meier until now. I don't know what I was waiting for. This book was just wonderful. I loved the characters, the plot, the mystery, everything. Now, I will go back and start from the beginning of this series. Keep it up.  

Harry Plotter and the Chamber of Serpents: A Potter Secret Parody-M.J.A. Ware

 

Austen comes to England knowing as an American he'll stick out at his new school. But when an errant owl lands him at Hogwarts he's in for more than he expected.

Any proceeds from the sale of this book will be given to the Children's Charity Lumos.

This book was HILARIOUS. I laughed from beginning to end. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I am always scared of reading something that may not be as great as JK Rowlings books. This one is just perfect. I think that Harry would approve.

Bushel Full of Murder-Paige Shelton

 

The New York Times bestselling author of Merry Market Murder returns to Bailey’s Farmers’ Market where Becca Robins must get her cousin out of a jam…

This summer, Becca is looking forward to selling her delicious jams and preserves, but things are changing fast at the farmers’ market. A fleet of food trucks has arrived for a two week visit, peddling cupcakes, tacos, chicken wings, and more—including a gourmet hot dog  truck operated by Becca’s own cousin, Peyton.

Tensions between truck operators and market vendors over their required licenses reach a crescendo when the town’s  business  manager is murdered. With Peyton already under suspicion of stealing money and a secret recipe from the restaurant where she worked in Arizona, the cops start grilling her as their prime suspect. Now it’s up to Becca to clear her cousin and find out who at the market gave themselves a license to kill.

Another GREAT book in the "A Farmers Market Mystery." Paige Shelton has a wonderful way of making you fall in love with her characters. This story is no different. The mystery was great and the end will have you smiling for days. 

Guaranteed to Bleed-Julie Mulhern

 

With his dying breath, Bobby Lowell begs Ellison Russell, “Tell her I love her.”

Unable to refuse, Ellison struggles to find the girl the murdered boy loved. Too bad an epically bad blind date, a vindictive graffiti artist, and multiple trips to the emergency room keep getting in the way.

Worse, a killer has Ellison in his sights, her newly-rebellious daughter is missing, and there’s yet another body in her hostas. Mother won’t be pleased.

Now Ellison must track down not one but two runaway teenagers, keep her promise to Bobby and elude the killer—all before her next charity gala committee meeting.

I really liked this book. The story was great and the characters were wonderful. It's so nice to read a book that is this good. 

Haunted Ontario 4: Ghostly Estates, Museums, and other Sightings-Terry Boyle

 

Terry Boyle returns with a new book of spine-tingling paranormal adventures. Part the dimensional veil and follow Terry into the world of spirits, beyond time and space. Meet the forever-beautiful spectre of Marilyn Monroe, who came to the French River seeking sanctuary from fame and fans, and decided to stay forever. Search Canoe Lake for the ghost of Tom Thomson. Visit the Ottawa Carleton County Gaol, where hundreds of lost souls wander the corridors and still occupy their cells. Enter the secret underground tunnels beneath Scarborough's Guild Inn, and relive the heart-stopping moment the elevator door seals shut! Journey to the remarkable Victorian Beild House Inn in Collingwood, sleep in the bed of King Edward VIII of England, and wait for the deceased doctor to make a room call. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, get ready for a chilling experience -- and keep the lights on!

This is a great book. Terry Boyle has a wonderful way of bring out the Ghost Hunter in us all. I can't wait to see what is in store for us next.  

Murder in the Family: The Dr. King Story-Dan Buchanan

 

As the old saying goes, "You can pick your friends, but not your relatives." In tranquil Northumberland County, Ontario, two families are well acquainted with the grim truth of that innocuous-sounding expression. They are the descendants of the first, and only, man executed in Northumberland's history. In a sordid true-crime tale of poison and philandering in 1850s Ontario, the respected Dr. William Henry King astonished the countryside with the sinister murder of his wife and with his subsequent attempts to evade justice. His capture and conviction were triumphs of vengeful relatives and early forensic science. Dan Buchanan, a blood relative of Dr. King's, grew up dogged by rumours of his ancestor s bloody crime, but family shame and obfuscation left him with more questions as time wore on. Now, based on original documents, breathless reportage of the sensational King trial, and interviews held just after the notorious hanging, Buchanan reconstructs the full tale of crime and punishment, which shocked the province and has engendered speculation for over a century and a half."

I want to be able to say that I loved this book, but I didn't. I had a very hard time ready it. It just didn't feel like it flowed very well. It had great information about the family, but that is all I can really say.

Witches Protection Program-Michael Phillip Cash

 

Wes Rockville, a disgraced law enforcement agent, is given one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he's reassigned to a 232 year old secret government organization. The Witches Protection Program. His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar Cosmetics company’s diabolical plan of using witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in both witches and himself. Filled with adventure, suspense and a rousing good time, Michael Phillip Cash creates a tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern day New York City.

I loved, loved, loved this book. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It was an engaging story from beginning to end. Great job. 

An Immortal Descent-Kari Edgren

 

Selah Kilbrid, descendant of the Celtic goddess Brigid, has been ordered to remain in London and leave any dangers in Ireland to her goddess-born family. They fear she's no match for Death's most powerful daughter and—if the legend holds true—the witch who once nearly destroyed the Irish people. But Selah has never been good at following orders, and nothing will stop her from setting out to find the two people she loves most—her dearest friend, Nora Goodwin, and her betrothed, Lord Henry Fitzalan.

Hiding from kin, traveling uneasily beside companions with secrets of their own, Selah is forced on an unexpected path by those who would steal her gift of healing. With precious time ticking away, she turns to a mortal enemy for help, heedless of the cost.

Selah would pass though hell to rescue Nora and Henry, but what if it means unleashing a greater evil on the human world? Her only chance is to claim the fullest extent of her birthright—at the risk of being forever separated from the man she longs to marry.

This was, simply, a fantastic book. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop. Just perfect. 

Aftermath: The Makers of Post World War-Richard Crowder

 

 

 

Seventy years ago the most devastating war the world has ever seen ended: World War II.

This century-defining event lives on in public memory. Yet little is remembered about the immediate years that followed when an uneasy peace was established and the world rebuilt by an unlikely group of remarkable people.
This is the first book to tell their story.

From Churchill and Roosevelt to Stalin and Truman; this era produced some of the most remarkable statesmen of modern times. The legacies of figures such as George Marshall and John Maynard Keynes towered over the post-war world for decades. It is their stories that form the core fabric of this book. Facing a world in ruins in 1945 with the collapse of old empires and the political world map redrawn, they came together to make peace. The United Nations, NATO and other international institutions that they built continue to shape our world today.

With a wealth of detail and entertaining anecdotes on these and less well known figures, Richard Crowder examines their bold ambition to rebuild the world, and launch a second age of globalization.

 

This was a very interesting read. I would recommend that any war history buff and this to their collection.  

Myles and the Monster Outside-Philippa Dowding

 

I will never leave this car, the back seat reeks of everything my little brother has ever eaten, and that thing is still out there ...
Myles and his family have been driving for four days. It's their final night on the road, but Myles knows they will never arrive at their new house. It will never stop raining. And even if they do get there (which is doubtful), he knows he will never have friends again. He also knows that something is following them in the dark, rainy fields outside their car.
Something monstrous.
Once the monster arrives, things go very wrong. Myles and his family get lost, their car keeps breaking down, and a strange old man and his dog turn up, again and again. Then things get really weird. Myles is pretty sure it's all his fault: he's the only one who can see the monster. He's the only one who can hear the monster. But perhaps hardest of all, he's the only one who can make it go away. 

This was just an all around fun book. I loved it. 

Drape Expectations-Karen Rose Smith

 

These days, home stager Caprice De Luca’s calendar is a full house. Her grandmother’s health is failing, her wayward uncle is stirring the pot, and she’s torn between two equally eligible suitors. With so much drama in her personal life, Caprice is grateful to have Ace Richland, a former 80s rock star, ask her to stage his girlfriend’s house. But Alanna Goodwin is a tough customer who balks at Caprice’s ideas and all but commandeers the staging. Caprice almost isn’t surprised when the snappish Southern belle is strangled to death with a tieback from her tacky velvet drapes. But just as she draws back the curtains on the truth, Caprice realizes she may be next on a murderer’s set list…

This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the main character. She is funny and bright and the mystery is great. 

Murder at Barklay Meadow-Wendy Sand Eckel

 

A delightful cozy debut featuring Rosalie Hart—an endearing, bread-baking heroine—and a supporting cast of highly original small-town characters on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Rosalie Hart’s world has been upended. After her husband confesses to an affair, she exiles herself to her late aunt’s farmhouse on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. With its fields untended and the house itself in disrepair, Barclay Meadow couldn’t be more different than the tidy D.C. suburb she used to call home. Just when Rosalie feels convinced things couldn’t get any worse, she finds a body floating in her marsh grasses. When the sheriff declares the death an accident, she becomes suspicious. The dead girl, Megan, reminds her of her own daughter, and she feels a responsibility to find out the truth.

Rosalie confides her doubts to her friends in her creative writing class, and they ask to join her investigation, beginning the search in earnest. Meanwhile, Rosalie works on restoring Barclay Meadow to its former glory—with help from the rugged Tyler Wells, a farmer who once leased the land. When Rosalie discovers her aunt’s favorite bread recipe on a yellowed index card, she begins baking, and with her deep love for nourishing others rekindled, she starts to feel alive again. But as she zeroes in on the truth about what happened to Megan, she begins getting ominous threats. Determined to get justice for Megan and protect the new home she’s begun to build for herself, Rosalie races to catch the killer in this deftly plotted and heartwarming debut perfect for fans of Jessica Beck and Carolyn Hart.

I really enjoyed this book. The local was perfect and the characters were great. Keep it up.