Fogged Inn: A Maine Clambake Mystery #4-Barbara Ross

 

An autumn chill has settled over Busman’s Harbor, Maine, but Julia Snowden is warming up the town by offering lobster stew at the local diner. When her landlord discovers a dead body in the walk-in refrigerator, Julia must figure out who ordered up a side of murder.
 
Nothing’s colder than a corpse—especially one stashed inside a sub-zero fridge. The victim spent his last night on earth dining at the restaurant bar, so naturally Julia finds herself at the center of the ensuing investigation. Lost in the November fog, however, is who’d want to kill the unidentified stranger—and why. It might have something to do with a suspicious group of retirees and a decades-old tragedy to which they’re all connected. One thing’s for sure: Julia’s going to make solving this mystery her early bird special…

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Somehow I missed the third book in this series. I'm not sure how that happened because all of the books have been great. This book is no exception. Julia is such a great main character and the story is always wonderful. Keep up the great work. 

Murder Most Wholesome: A Blossom Valley Mystery #5-Stacy McLaughlin

 

Business has never been better at the O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa in Blossom Valley, California. But a murder has two of its top employees ploughing for clues at a commune where tree-huggers are wary of the modern world--and a killer may be disturbing their peace…

When Dana Lewis and Zennia Patrakio go to the Blossom Valley farmer's market, they expect to find luscious fruits and vegetables to delight the spa's guests. They are not expecting to see Birch Keller, Zennia's one true love. But Zennia's excitement over "the one who got away" is short-lived when Birch is found dead in her garden. Kitchen-challenged Dana takes over grief-stricken Zennia's cooking duties at the spa--but the biggest challenge will be searching for answers at the commune where Birch had been living. The residents are nuttier than granola, and as Dana tills up the truth, she'll discover a killer with a wholly unwholesome appetite for revenge… 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. How did I miss this series? This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am hooked. Staci McLaughlin does an amazing job of pulling the reader into the story. I admit that once I started this book I did not stop until I finished. Great job. 

Murder in an Irish Village-Carlene O'Connor

 

A little slice of Heaven on the Emerald Isle…

In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Natalie's Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O'Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago.

It's been a rough year for the O'Sullivans, but it's about to get rougher. One morning, as they're opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest.

With the local garda suspecting the O'Sullivans, and their business in danger of being shunned--murder tends to spoil the appetite--it's up to feisty redheaded Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CARLENE O’CONNOR AND MURDER IN AN IRISH VILLAGE
 
“If Janet Evanovich and Maeve Binchy wrote a book together, Murder in an Irish Village would be the result. The Irish setting rings with authenticity and Siobhan O'Sullivan is a character to savor. She's funny, feisty, and fearless. I want her to be my new best friend. I also want another book by Carlene O’Connor to read. This one is delicious fun.”—Laurien Berenson, author of Live and Let Growl

“A smart whodunnit in an idyllic locale. I dare you not to be charmed by sleuth Siobhan and her siblings, the O’Sullivan Six.”—Barbara Ross, author of Musseled Out
“A delightful, funny, fast-paced romp of a book. O’Connor has written a vivid evocation of life in a small Irish town, an evocation replete with sharp characterizations and dialogue real enough to make you believe you’re sitting in an Irish pub. A satisfying read that will keep you entertained from the first to the last page.”—Isis Crawford, author of A Catered Tea Party

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was a lot of fun. It was exactly what I look for in a mystery. Siobhan is a wonderful main character. Fingers crossed that the author has a lot more stories for us to enjoy.  

Shards of Murder: A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery #2-Cheryl Hollon

 

"A fresh and original new series!" --Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author

When a glass-making competition turns deadly, glass shop owner Savannah Webb must search for a window into a criminal's mind…

As the new proprietor of Webb's Glass Shop, Savannah has been appointed to fill her late father's shoes as a judge for the Spinnaker Arts Festival, held in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With her innovative glass works, the clear winner is Megan Loyola, a student of Savannah's former mentor.

But when Megan doesn't show up to accept her $25,000 award, rumors start flying. And when Savannah discovers the woman's dead body on festival grounds, the police immediately suspect her of murder. To keep from appearing before a judge herself, Savannah sorts through the broken pieces of glass scattered around the victim for clues as to who took this killer competition too far…

"Cheryl Hollon clearly knows her glass craft, but better still, she also knows how to craft a good mystery." --Sheila Connolly, New York Times bestselling author.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I admit that I haven't read the first book in this series. But after reading this book I can assure you that I will be reading all the books in this series. This book was great. I love cozy mysteries and this is a great one to add to my list of great books. The characters were all wonderful and the mystery was top notch. I found out so much about glass that I didn't have any idea about. Great job. I hope there will be many more books to come.  

Wedding Cake Murder: Hannah Swensen #19-Joanne Fluke

 

Hannah is thrilled to be marrying Ross Barton, her college crush. And her excitement only grows when she learns he’ll be able to join her on her trip to New York City for the Food Channel’s dessert chef contest. She’s especially nervous about facing Alain Duquesne, a celebrity chef with a nasty reputation. But before he can tear into Hannah’s layer cake, she finds him stabbed to death on the show’s kitchen set. Out of the oven, as the saying goes, and into the bright lights of Broadway, as Hannah tries to solve a mystery with more layers than a five-tiered wedding cake…

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. What can I say? I love, love, love this series. Hannah is a great main character and the adventures that she takes us on are well worth the ride. This book takes Hannah to The Great White Way and is fantastic. The mystery is perfect and the recipes are to die for. I hope that Joanne Fluke keeps giving us these wonderful tales.  

A Duke by December: A Year Without a Duke #5-Sabrina Darby

 

A YEAR WITHOUT A DUKE

The duke has died. Long live the duke! The only problem is no one knows who the new Duke of Beckworth is. All of England wonders, but no one more so than the people who depend upon Beckworth for their livelihood. In 1816, a year so cold that the word “summer” is a cruel joke, that livelihood is even more uncertain. However, they are all about to find out, there is nothing more warming than scandal and love…

A DUKE BY DECEMBER

Elizabeth Smith is secretly in love with the tall, handsome golden-haired man who rescued her from Arkansas Territory and offered her a new life. Unfortunately, she knows he’ll never see her as anything more than his secretary.

Nathaniel Hughes has spent the majority of his life in America amassing his fortune. When he discovers he is the next Duke of Beckworth, he must reluctantly travel to England, face down his past, and rehabilitate an estate to save those who live on it. But every duke requires a duchess and an heir.

He’ll figure this out somehow with Lizzie, his loyal and capable secretary, at his side. Once at Beckworth, he finds it increasingly difficult to deny a powerful attraction to the woman he has vowed to protect—even from himself. Can he find the strength to choose duty over desire?

Other books in the series:

A YEAR WITHOUT A DUKE...

Book 1: JILTED IN JANUARY by Kate Pearce;
Book 2: FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY by Suzanna Medeiros;
Book 3: SEDUCED IN SEPTEMBER by Genevieve Turner;
Book 4: AN AFFAIR IN AUTUMN by Jennifer Haymore;
Book 5: A DUKE BY DECEMBER by Sabrina Darby

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I think that this book was my favorite of the Year Without a Duke books. The story was very well written and the romance was top notch. I hope to read many more books from Sabrina Darby.  

Life in the Third Reich-Paul Roland

 

Drawing exclusively on interviews and personal letters and diaries from the earliest days of the Nazi party to the final hours of the thousand-year Reich, this book reveals how the Hitler cult influenced and corrupted every aspect of public life. Every part of German life was shaped by its malign influence education, health, business, the press, the judicial system, the church, sport, the arts, work, the family. The stark contrast between the myth of One People, One Fuhrer perpetuated by Nazi propaganda and the harsh realities of life in the Third Reich are laid bare in this compelling study.True-life stories of ordinary Germans and their lives in Hitler s Germany. Challenges the popular view of Nazi Germany as a nation unified behind their despotic leader, and asks 'What would you have done if you had been in their shoes?', Includes photographs scattered throughout text."

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a truly fascinating read. It is hard to imagine what would possess people to join such a horrible belief. This book explores what made people believe Adolph Hitler and join his cult. The book is very well written and a wonderful glimpse and the history and madness of Hitler. 

A Reckless Desire-Isabella Bradford

 

For fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries: the elegantly seductive third historical romance in Isabella Bradford’s Breconridge Brothers trilogy.

Lord Rivers Fitzroy is as charming and sought-after as his rakish elder brothers, though he immerses himself more in dusty books and scholarly pursuits than in bawdy houses. Yet, Hell-bent on making the most of his remaining bachelorhood now that his father insists he marry, Rivers becomes the favorite of a troupe of Italian dancers. One night, after a performance, the handsome lord is challenged with a most provocative wager: Turn the players’ meek and mousy cousin into the first lady of the London stage.

But Lucia di Rossi is not what she seems. Scorned by the rest of her family, Lucia longs for the respect and stardom of a great actress. Rivers’s wager could be the answer to all her hopes—so long as he understands that she wants to be an actress, not his mistress. The two commence her metamorphosis in earnest—even as passion begins to take center stage. As Lucia’s dreams come true, she fears that it may be Rivers, not she, who is the master performer. Is he only making her believe he cares? Has she found the spotlight only to lose her heart—or will the final curtain reveal a love strong enough to last?

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book by Isabella Bradford that I have read and I am hooked. She does an amazing job with historical romance. These characters are wonderful. The setting is perfect and the romance is fantastic. I hope to see many for books from this author. 

Eisenhower's Guerillas: The Jedburghs and the Liberation of France-Benjamin F. Jones

 

In the run-up to the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower faced a series of seemingly insurmountable dilemmas. Outnumbered and desperate for any advantage to make their way past the well-defended beaches and into France, the Allies had reached out to French guerillas and partisans to help secure their aims—but transforming the highly independent resistance groups into a governable body and fighting force was a formidable task. To make matters more difficult, President Roosevelt refused to give full Allied support to Charles de Gaulle and his Free French government, and would not supply the timing, location, and other key details of Operation Overlord. It was into this storm of political mistrust and military confusion that Eisenhower sent the Jedburghs.

Eisenhower's Guerillas tells the story of the reconnaissance and intelligence teams of young Special Forces, called Jedburghs, who worked behind enemy lines to strengthen the Allies' position in Northern France. Their task of organizing and training the French operatives, already monumental, was made more difficult by the fact that France's war aims were profoundly different from those of America and Britain, who regarded France as merely a military objective on the way to defeating Germany. Ben Jones describes how Eisenhower learned how to exploit this political turmoil to his advantage, and explores how the Allied Jedburgh teams still managed to coordinate French guerrilla operations within the overall plans for the country's liberation.

Underscoring the critical and often overlooked part that irregular warfare played in Allied operations on the Continent, Jones delivers a riveting story of the battle for France and the political complexities that threatened to undermine the operation from within.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It gives us a look at a bit of little know history and is all together fascinating. General Eisenhower was simply a force to be reckoned with. This book is the perfect book for anyone that enjoys reading about history or anything to do with WWII. Great job. 

Benjamin Franklin in London:The Brtish Life of America's Founding Father(The Lewis Walpole Series in Eighteenth Century Culture and History)-George Goodwin

 

For more than one-fifth of his life, Benjamin Franklin lived in London. He dined with prime ministers, members of parliament, even kings, as well as with Britain’s most esteemed intellectuals—including David Hume, Joseph Priestley, and Erasmus Darwin—and with more notorious individuals, such as Francis Dashwood and James Boswell. Having spent eighteen formative months in England as a young man, Franklin returned in 1757 as a colonial representative during the Seven Years’ War, and left abruptly just prior to the outbreak of America’s War of Independence, barely escaping his impending arrest.    

In this fascinating history, George Goodwin gives a colorful account of Franklin’s British years.  The author offers a rich and revealing portrait of one of the most remarkable figures in U.S. history, effectively disputing the commonly held perception of Franklin as an outsider in British politics. It is an enthralling study of an American patriot who was a fiercely loyal British citizen for most of his life—until forces he had sought and failed to control finally made him a reluctant revolutionary at the age of sixty-nine.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was such a fascinating look at Benjamin Franklin. The history of it was amazing and I found myself suck right in. I love that there are still books like this out there for the younger generations to read and find out the true history of one of our founding fathers. 

The Soup Cleanse: A Revolutionary Detox of Nourishing Soups and Healing Broths from the Founders of Soupure-Vivienne Vella and Angela Blatteis

 

 

Souping is the new juicing!


When Angela Blatteis and Vivienne Vella set out to create Soupure, the LA-based soup company at the forefront of the souping movement, they wanted to share the power of healing soups with the world. With a few simple, delicious recipes they've helped people lose weight, boost their energy, and feel better every day. Now with THE SOUP CLEANSE they are bringing their satisfying, 100 percent good-for-you, whole food-based soups straight into your kitchen.


With more than 50 delicious recipes and a flexible, easy-to-follow detox program, you'll learn how to nourish and purify your body while flooding it with essential nutrients. You will sip your way through high-fiber soups packed full of regenerative whole food ingredients. Unlike juicing and many other quick-fix diets, THE SOUP CLEANSE is built on simple, satisfying recipes that won't leave you feeling hungry or deprived, making it accessible and easy to stick to-even for those with the busiest lifestyles.


Get ready to rejuvenate, revitalize, and reclaim your health-one sip at a time!

 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. WOW!!! This book was amazing. There were so many great recipes that I don't even know where to begin. If you are looking to start the new year off right then this is the perfect book for you. I cannot wait to try each and every one. 

Give Up The Ghost: Haunted Home Renovation Mystery #6-Juliet Blackwell

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of Keeper of the Castle, San Francisco contractor and ghost whisperer Mel Turner must solve a murder mystery at a haunted mansion in the Pacific Heights...

San Francisco millionaire Andrew Stirling wants to sell his Victorian mansion, but ghostly music, the squeaking of a long-disappeared weathervane, and an angry ghost keep running off potential buyers. After a famous psychic is called in, she informs the Stirlings that their multi-million-dollar renovations to “update” the home have left its resident ghost extremely agitated. So contractor Mel Turner is engaged to track down and replace some of the original features of the house.

But when the beautiful psychic is found stabbed, it appears someone had a very human motive for murder. Now Mel must use her ghost whispering gift to uncover the secrets of the haunted house on the hill, and her sleuthing skills to catch a killer.

This is by far one of my favorite series. Mel is a great main character and the mystery is always fantastic. This one has a little twist that I loved and was happy to see happen. I hope that Mel has many, many more Victorians to preserve.  

Revenge of the Chili Queens:A Chili Cook Off #3-Kylie Logan

 

The author of Death by Devil’s Breath takes the chili cook-off circuit to southern Texas to prove that revenge is a dish best served hot . . .

Everyone in San Antonio remembers the Alamo, but how many remember the Chili Queens? Back in the early twentieth century, these spicy señoras sold their lip-smacking chili in plazas all around the city. Now, as part of the Chili Showdown, Maxie and her half-sister, Sylvia, are dressing up as the Chili Queens to raise money for charity.

But someone wasn’t feeling too charitable toward a local troubadour, who is murdered at the fundraiser. When their friend Nick Falcone, head of security for the Showdown, actually becomes the prime suspect, it’s up to Maxie and Sylvia to turn the heat up on a killer, who’s planning a chili reception for them . . .

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

I love, love, love this series. Maxie is one of my favorite main characters. She is just so spunky that you wish you actually knew her. As always, this book was very fast paced and the mystery keeps you hanging on until the very end. Great job. I hope there will be many more stories to come.  

The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss:A Domestic Diva Mystery #9-Krista Davis

 

The New York Times bestselling author of The Diva Wraps It Up unwraps an all-new tale in which chocolate is the kiss of death…

Domestic Diva Sophie Winston is in charge of the sweetest event in Old Town this summer. Amore Chocolates is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a chocolate tasting at the mansion of the company’s CEO, Joe Merano—and Sophie is running the show. With cookies, candy, and five kinds of chocolate cake, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream! But when Joe goes missing, the celebration becomes bittersweet. And when Sophie discovers the body of a competing chocolatier in the guesthouse, the event turns downright deadly.

As if that wasn’t enough, Sophie’s been receiving daily boxes of sweet treats. After ruling out her new beau and her exes, Sophie wonders if someone’s trying to send her a message—and if she’s next on a chocoholic’s hit list…

Includes delicious recipes and entertaining tips!

This is the 9th book in this series and it has not slowed down a bit. Sophie is a wonderful main character and keeps the story moving from beginning to end. You really cannot go wrong with this series. It is fun, the characters are endearing and the story is fantastic. Great job. 

Winter is Coming:The Medieval World of Game of Thrones-Carolyne Larrington

 

Game of Thrones is a phenomenon. As Carolyne Larrington reveals in this essential companion to George R R Martin s fantasy novels and the HBO mega-hit series based on them the show is the epitome of water-cooler TV. It is the subject of intense debate in national newspapers and by bloggers and cultural commentators contesting the series startling portrayals of power, sex and gender. Yet no book has divulged how George R R Martin constructed his remarkable universe out of the Middle Ages. Discussing novels and TV series alike, Larrington explores among other topics: sigils, giants, dragons and direwolves in medieval texts; ravens, old gods and the Weirwood in Norse myth; and a gothic, exotic orient in the eastern continent, Essos. From the White Walkers to the Red Woman, from Casterley Rock to the Shivering Sea, this is an indispensable guide to the twenty-first century s most important fantasy creation."

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the perfect book for any "Game of Thrones" lover. The thought of a book that explains the concept and history that became GOT is wonderful. I loved reading the stories that inspired the stories. It is a both wonderful and horrific look into history. 

Moon Dark:Auriano Curse Series #1-Patricia Barletta

 

Lady Sabrina Dunfield is desperate. Widowed and destitute, she must rely on the dubious benevolence of her secretive uncle, an art collector living in Venice. Determined to make her way and provide for her young son, Sabrina is forced to take on clandestine and dangerous errands for her tyrannical relative. But when a mysterious shadow man saves her from an assassin’s blade, she knows she must do everything in her power to keep her son safe.

Alessandro D’Este, Prince of Auriano, is cursed. Doomed to live a life half in shadow, he is determined to free himself and his family from the evil that stalks them. When Alessandro saves the English woman’s life, he is captivated by her beauty and shocked at her ability to touch him in his shadowy form.

When Sabrina meets Alessandro in his human form, heady attraction sparks between them. She has no idea he is her shadowy savior, and she wonders what her life might be like with this charismatic man. Alessandro has never met a woman who affects him this way. Although life has taught him to trust only family, Sabrina might be the key that could deliver him from the diabolical darkness. 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book and the cover made it even more so. I really liked this book. It was packed full of wonder. Don't let the beginning slowness hold you back from completing this book. The pace picks up and it is well worth the read. I hope there are many, many more in this series. 

The Wild One:The De Montforte Brothers #1-Danelle Harmon

 

England, 1776: Lord Gareth de Montforte is known as an irresponsible rake with a heart of gold. When he takes a bullet for boldly thwarting a stagecoach robbery, he is stunned to discover that the beautiful young woman he has heroically rescued, Juliet Paige, is his deceased brother’s American fiancée, accompanied by her infant daughter. Despite his brother the duke's refusal to acknowledge Juliet, Gareth is determined to do right by the courageous woman who crossed an ocean to give her baby her rightful name. But Juliet is wary of marrying this black sheep aristocrat, even while she is hopelessly charmed by the dashing devil. Never has she met anyone who embraces life so thoroughly, who makes her laugh, who loves her so well. And, even when it seems the odds are against them, Juliet has absolute faith that Gareth will go beyond the call of duty, risking his life itself to give her and her daughter a home — and a love that will last a lifetime.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I admit that this is the first book by Danelle Harmon that I have read and I am happily hooked. This was nothing less than perfection. It had every element that I look for in a historical romance. I cannot wait to see what happens to the next De Montforte brother.  

A Scone To Die For:Oxford Tea Room Mysteries #1-H.Y. Hanna

 

When an American tourist is murdered with a scone in Gemma Rose’s quaint Oxfordshire tearoom, she suddenly finds herself apron-deep in a mystery involving long-buried secrets from Oxford’s past.

Armed with her insider knowledge of the University and with the help of four nosy old ladies from the village (not to mention a cheeky little tabby cat named Muesli), Gemma sets out to solve the mystery—all while dealing with her matchmaking mother and the return of her old college love, Devlin O’Connor, now a dashing CID detective.

But with the body count rising and her business going bust, can Gemma find the killer before things turn to custard?

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a great start to a new series. Gemma is a great main character and the story is fantastic. I was enthralled from beginning to end.  

Illusions Event with Kacey Hammell

ILLUSIONS

By Kacey Hammell

Book 1: In the Arms of the Law

(also includes bonus short story, TIED DOWN)

Genres: Contemporary, Suspense, Paranormal (Seer), Erotic, Romance

ISBN: 978-0-9877993-3-3

Word Count: 50,000

Release Date: January 20^th, 2016

Author’s Note: Illusions was previously released with another publisher. It has received minor revisions for reissue.

Also includes a bonus short story

Protection. Adventure. Love.

It's all found within The Arms of the Law...

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancée years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

Order your copy!

All Amazon Stores ~~ http://authl.it/B01AMVXXDC

Smashwords ~~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/607702

Kobo Store ~~ https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/illusions-in-the-arms-of-the-law-book-1

B&N (Nook) ~~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/illusions-kacey-hammell/1109677332
iTunes ~~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/illusions-in-arms-law-book/id1075278656
All Romance eBooks ~~ https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-illusionsinthearmsofthelawbook1-1969737-149.html

Excerpt, Kacey Hammell, © 2016

Replacing the receiver, she sighed, resigned to leave the comfort of her bed. “Got to go to work, Izzy?”

Brady’s voice came from behind her and not for the first time, Isabella wondered if he realized he used so many variants of her name. She had noticed it a lot in the last few weeks but didn’t think he did. Tonight, for some reason, it bothered her more than ever.

When he was driving into her or when they were warm and cozy, sharing a few quiet moments, he called her Bella. She found herself coming to enjoy every time the name rolled off his tongue. It was special to her but she didn’t want to dwell on why at the moment. Instead, she counted off in her head his use of Isabella.

When they were around others, coworkers or just talking in general, he used her full name. At times like this, when interrupted by her job, he used Izzy in a distant, unaffected tone. The tag was starting to grate on her nerves.

She twisted on an angle toward him, unable to keep from caressing his body with her gaze. The sheet only covered his hips and navel, leaving his abs and biceps exposed to her hungry eyes.

What I wouldn’t give for ten more minutes with him tonight.

“Umm, yeah. It was Connor. I have to go. A woman who’s been missing for thirty-six hours was found dead down by the docks.” She headed to her closet as Brady got off the bed.

“Damn. Connor suspects foul play?”

Pulling a denim shirt from her closet and a pair of jeans, Isabella turned to look at him as he grabbed his clothes. Her breath hitched as he covered his tight ass with his Jockeys and jeans. It was a shame to see such perfection hidden.

With a small shake of her head, Isabella pulled herself from her musings and reached into her top dresser drawer for panties and a bra. “Yeah. The woman’s been missing for over a day and from what he said, she’s naked.” Her hands shook as she put on her panties and willed herself to calm down and think it all through.

“Connor didn’t say much else.” Turning her back to Brady, she shook out her jeans, put both legs in and pulled them up. So lost in her thoughts and trying to get a grip on her emotions, she didn’t hear him come up behind her, until he placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Do you want me to go with you, Izzy? I’ll assist in any way I can.”

Touched beyond means by his offer, she turned in his arms. “Thanks, but no.

You know I’ve been through it all before. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it has to be. I’ve seen this kind of thing many times, over and over.”

She sounded like a bitch but couldn’t let the fact they were having sex get in the way of her job. They had an unspoken agreement, no commitments, and let one another do what they had to do, never coddling each other or making bigger issues of anything.

“I know you have, Izzy, but sometimes…. Hell, never mind. It’s cool.” She could tell by the look in his eyes he was frustrated but didn’t want to show it.

Good, let him be pissed, irritated or anything other than caring. She understood he was a man used to taking care of others, but she’d be damned before she leaned on him.

After taking her gun from where it was locked up, she clipped the holster to the waistband of her slacks and adjusted it to where she liked it. Pulling her hair back into a scrunchie, she turned to face her lover, certain she had her emotions in check. “Thanks for coming over tonight. It was, as always, the exact thing I needed.”

For just a moment, she saw an emotion—maybe anger—cross his face, but it was gone so quickly she might have imagined it.

With what looked like a forced smile to her, Brady shrugged. “Always here for you, babe, whenever you have an itch.” His voice held the cold, detachment she was coming to dislike. He grabbed up his leather jacket near the door, but stopped before crossing the threshold. He turned to her, staring at her in a way she had never seen before. “I know you won’t—seriously know you won’t—but if you happen to need me, I’m only a phone call away.”

She couldn’t even ascertain what sensations spread through her body at his words. As she watched him walk out of her bedroom, she could identify only one emotion.

Loss.

Feeling like she was on a tightrope easily broken at any moment, she shook herself of her musings as she heard the front door close. She patted her pockets and sides. Keys, badge, gun. She was ready to face the night ahead. Detective Isabella Knowles, one of Trenton’s finest, was ready to catch the bad guys.

Too bad she couldn’t allow herself to be caught. Love and the badge didn’t mix. For a few short hours she could let her hair down, let her lover drive himself into her body and fill her thoughts.

But she’d never let a man drive himself into her heart. Never.

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Illusions:In The Arms Of The Law #1-Kacey Hammell

 

Protection. Adventure. Love.
It's all found within The Arms of the Law...

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before. She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancée years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life. But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this book. The characters were a lot of fun and the added suspense to the romance was great. This is a great first book in the series and I hope to see many more to come. 

To Helvectica and Back: A Dangerous Type Mystery #1-Paige Shelton

 

The New York Times bestselling author of the Farmers’ Market Mysteries and the Country Cooking School Mysteries introduces readers to Star City, Utah, and a little shop called the Rescued Word...

Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?

When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?

What can I say? I have, many times, written about how Paige Shelton started my love of cozy mysteries. This is the 1st book in her 3rd series and I could not be happier. If you have never read a cozy mystery, this is the perfect book to start with. It's fantastic. First the characters are endearing from the start and then the story is amazing. I hope there will be many, many, many more to come for Clare and everyone in Star City!!!  

Why the bad reviews???

Good morning all,

Please check out my friend, Kim, and her take on bad reviews.

http://book-obsessed-chicks.blogspot.com/2016/01/to-review-or-not-to-review.html

This is exactly how I feel. Please remember that authors are people, too, and have feelings. There is no need to be cruel.

Much love,
Jenni

Seduced in September: A Year Without a Duke #3-Genevieve Turner

 

Adele Vere is the model of a perfect English governess: docile, good-tempered, and well principled. She’s worked her entire life to keep others from knowing the truth—it’s all a façade. If her origins were discovered, she’d fall too far to ever recover.

No one is more dangerous to her than Edward Coyne, the roguish stable master tasked with her riding lessons. His knowing gaze and bold touches make her suspect that he sees through her lies. When Mr. Coyne surprises her with an audacious offer, she must choose: remain safely behind the walls she’s erected… or dare the fall she so fears in her reach for love.

A YEAR WITHOUT A DUKE

The duke has died. Long live the duke! The only problem is no one knows who the new Duke of Beckworth is. All of England wonders, but no one more so than the people who depend upon Beckworth for their livelihood. In 1816, a year so cold that the word “summer” is a cruel joke, that livelihood is even more uncertain. However, they are all about to find out, with the duke away, there is nothing more warming than scandal and love…

A YEAR WITHOUT A DUKE...
Book 1: JILTED IN JANUARY by Kate Pearce;
Book 2: FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY by Suzanna Medeiros;
Book 3: SEDUCED IN SEPTEMBER by Genevieve Turner;
Book 4: AN AFFAIR IN AUTUMN by Jennifer Haymore;
Book 5: A DUKE BY DECEMBER by Sabrina Darby.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the 3rd book in this series and the second that I have read. This is a really great book. The romance is fantastic. I hope that each book in the series is just as good.  

The Reign of Queen Victoria-Hector Bolitho

 

Queen Victoria remains one of the greatest figures in British history, not simply because of the tremendous position which she occupied for so long, but because she was in so many ways herself an extraordinary character.

From the day when as a young girl of eighteen she succeeded to the throne she showed that a constitutional monarch could still have a will of her own and that her words could make statesmen tremble.

In this classic biography Hector Bolitho analyses the phases of the Queen's life; her childhood and upbringing, her all too brief married life with Albert, the years of' retirement behind the great walls of Windsor and the more remote fastnesses of Deeside.

Although Bolitho calls his book ‘The Reign of Queen Victoria’, his work is essentially a record of a remarkable woman and her husband, their personal lives and characters, rather than a political history of her reign.

It describes the childhood and youth of Victoria and Albert in alternate chapters so that the reader can see the two growing up side by side yet independently, and can trace the gradual evolution of their characters in isolation until they come together.

The expansion of the Prince's influence, first over the Queen, then on successive Cabinets and Prime Ministers, and finally on every aspect of the national life, is traced, and the importance of his reforming zeal is clearly brought out, particularly in its lasting influence on Victoria herself, which controlled to the end the more irrational elements of her character.

Praise for Hector Bolitho:

‘Flowing and lively’ – Cobden Sanderson on ‘Albert, Prince Consort’

Hector Bolitho (1897-1974) was born in New Zealand but settled in Britain, where he wrote over fifty books and worked as a freelance journalist. His other books include ‘Albert: Prince Consort’ and ‘A Penguin in the Eyrie’.

Endeavour Press is the UK’s leading independent publisher of digital books.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. If you are interested in the history of Queen Victoria or the English Monarchy in general then this book is for you. It is very well written and she was just an all out fascinating woman. The author did a great job bringing Queen Victoria to life. Great job. 

The Bookseller-C. Robert Cales

 

A bookstore across from Boston Common operated by a lovable rare book dealer and his wife becomes the acquisition target of a violent South American drug cartel with a new, high tech smuggling process.

George Saunders married Elizabeth Stratton and The Bookseller, a bookstore, coffee parlor and residence across from Boston Common was a wedding present from her father thirty years before the story begins.

Frank Richter, Funeral Director, former high school basketball star and Best Man is reunited with his best friends by a rare book. Frank spends a week with George and Elizabeth on their sailboat and comes to the realization that the joys of life have been slipping away, unnoticed.

John Stoner, lead man for one of the largest construction companies in the country is in Freetown, MA where a woods is to be clears to make way for a mall. The crumbling old house within the woods has been the source of local legends for hundreds of years.

Carlos Ramirez, drug lord, child molester, murderer and that's just the tip of the iceberg...

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I was intrigued and had to read this book. I'm glad that I did. It was a roller coaster of a read and I love that. I really enjoyed it. It does have some things that are hard to read because of the context but if you keep in mind that it is fiction and just a book then you can get through it with no problems. Great job. 

The Life of Queen Elizabeth:Albion Monarch-Agnes Strickland

 

On the 7th day of September, 1533, Elizabeth I was born.

She was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth I was declared illegitimate when her parents’ marriage was annulled.

Elizabeth’s early life was full of potential and promise. Despite being branded illegitimate and the jealousy of her older sister, Mary I, Elizabeth enjoyed spending time playing and studying with her younger half-brother, Edward VI.

On their father’s death, Edward VI, succeeded their father. He was merely a child at the time. However, due to religious differences, Edward VI attempted to remove Mary I from the line of succession. Following a lung disorder, Edward VI died at the tender age of 15. With both his sisters removed from the line of the throne, their cousin, Lady Jane Grey was appointed queen. But Mary I was able to depose her and became queen in 1553.

Shortly after her succession, Mary’s jealousy of Elizabeth I deepened and she ordered the imprisonment of Elizabeth as it was believed she was in engaged in a plot against Queen Mary I. Despite the Spanish Ambassadors urging, Mary I refused to have her sister executed.

Despite the harsh and solitary conditions, Elizabeth I survived the confines of the Tower and rose up to become one of England's greatest monarchs.

Elizabeth proceeded to reign for another forty-five years. In her early years as Queen, she re-established the Reformed Church and announced that she would remain a virgin. This she did and never produced an heir to the throne.

Despite this, there were rumours of a potential marriage with Robert Dudley. However, Queen Elizabeth I offered his hand in marriage to the Queen of Scots and therefore closed off that avenue. Following this, several suitors are proposed … of which none came to fruition.

Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with the Queen of Scots took a turn for the worse and Elizabeth had her detained. With this came several threats and assassination plots on Elizabeth’s life.

Under Elizabeth’s reign, England prospered. Through wars, religious upheavals and political unrest, Queen Elizabeth I won the love of her people and her death was mourned by all.

The Life of Queen Elizabeth portrays a detailed account of the queen’s life, starting from her birth and early years to her death.

Agnes Strickland was a poet and historical writer. Born in August 1796, she and her siblings were educated by their father. Her literary career began as a poet and moved on to researching English history. She died in 1874. Other books by Agnes include Letters of Mary Queen of Scots, Lives of the Bachelor Kings of England, and Lives of the Queens of Scotland, and English Princesses.

Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now. 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have always been intrigues by Queen Elizabeth 1. She seems to have been a force to be reckoned with. This book is perfect in highlighting everything that you could possible want to know about the monarch. I was hooked from beginning to end. 

A Muddied Murder: A Greenhouse Mystery #1-Wendy Tyson

 

When Megan Sawyer gives up her big-city law career to care for her grandmother and run the family’s organic farm and café, she expects to find peace and tranquility in her scenic hometown of Winsome, Pennsylvania. Instead, her goat goes missing, rain muddies her fields, the town denies her business permits, and her family’s Colonial-era farm sucks up the remains of her savings.

Just when she thinks she’s reached the bottom of the rain barrel, Megan and the town’s hunky veterinarian discover the local zoning commissioner’s battered body in her barn. Now Megan is thrust into the middle of a murder investigation—and she’s the chief suspect. Can Megan dig through small-town secrets, local politics, and old grievances in time to find a killer before that killer strikes again?

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. It was fantastic. The writing was perfection and the story was top notch. Great job. I hope you have many, many more to come. 

To Catch a Lady:Hunt Club #1-Pamela Labud

 

If you love Mary Balogh and Eloisa James, don’t miss Pamela Labud’s sensuous Hunt Club series! To Catch a Lady introduces four lordly, rakish sportsmen whose bachelor paradise is threatened by a matchmaking aunt—and by the sting of unexpected love.

Ashton Blakely, the Duke of Summerton, cannot stop his aunt from meddling in his affairs. So rather than let her select a most disagreeable mate, Ashton decides to fire the first volley by holding a ball as a scheme to bag the ideal wife: a deferential girl eager to produce and raise an heir, leaving Ashton to his beloved hunting lodge and titled friends. But when Ashton falls for the one woman who isn’t willing to play his game, all his plans scatter like buckshot. Suddenly, the chase is on!

Caroline Hawkins has no interest in marriage. In fact, she has devoted her life to defending women from the indignities visited upon them by their husbands. She only chaperones her beautiful younger sister to Summerton’s ball in the hopes of saving her family from bankruptcy. She certainly doesn’t expect to catch the Duke’s eye . . . nor is she prepared for the heat that rises every time she thinks of his powerful build or his dark, tantalizing gaze. Caroline can run, but she cannot hide—for Ashton has already captured her heart.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I'm very torn about this book. In some aspects, I quite liked it and in others not so much. I think there is room for improvement and that this author shows a lot of promise with this book. I hope there are more so that I can see how far it will go.