Fat Tuesday Fricasse: A Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery-J.J. Cook

 

The national bestselling author of Fry Another Day serves up a third helping in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery series…

It’s Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, and food truck chef Zoe Chase is driven to distraction attending high-society soirees, feeding the partying masses, and getting the skinny on a Fat Tuesday murder…

Two weeks of carnival celebrations has got Zoe running ragged. By day, she charms hungry tourists with authentic Southern cuisine. At night, she accompanies her father to one masquerade ball after another, hobnobbing with the high rollers of the secret cabal known as the Mistics of Time.

But the fun turns frightening when Zoe stumbles across “Death’s” dead body. Journalist Jordan Phillips attended the Mistics’ latest bash in a traditional Death costume, and received a fatal bullet wound for the privilege. With more than three hundred masked suspects determined to remain anonymous, and the police covering up the facts behind the murder of the investigative reporter, Zoe realizes the Mistics have some serious secrets to hide…

 

The Beast of Clan Kincaid: Highland Warrior #1-Lily Blackwood

 

A Highland warrior battles to reclaim his birthright in the first of a new series filled with seduction, revenge, and soul-stirring passion…

They call him the Beast—a hardened mercenary whose heart seems as cold as his icy blue gaze. They do not know his true name: Niall Braewick, son of the Laird of Kincaid. It has been years since he escaped into the forest the night his father was murdered. Now he has returned, ablaze with a vengeful hunger. He will gain the MacClaren chief’s trust, gather his clan, and take back his lands. And take the MacClaren’s daughter as well…

Though he pulled her from the river, saving her life, Elspeth has been warned to keep her distance from her father’s hired warrior. He is a barbarian—a shame, as he is far more compelling than the lechers and fools competing for her dowry. Little does she know that, like the castle itself, she is a prize Niall intends to claim…but will he extract blood for blood and possess what is his, or will his enemy’s beautiful, innocent daughter tempt him to forsake his dream of conquest?

My Take:

I love a good historical romance. And man does this book deliver. It has everything that I love in this genre, a great setting, a perfect couple, and romance to spare. If you are looking for a new series to become addicted to, this is the book for you. Bravo  

Off The Books: A Novel Idea Mystery #5-Lucy Arlington

 

Literary agent and amateur sleuth Lila Wilkins is back to seal the deal in the New York Times bestselling Novel Idea Mystery series.
 
Lila is showcasing some of her biggest authors at a bridal expo. But when the joyous event turns deadly, she’ll have to figure out who penned the perfect crime...
 
The Novel Idea Literary Agency has planned a wedding-themed week for Inspiration Valley, celebrating not only North Carolina’s best vendors but also some of the agency’s most popular bridal books. The fact that Lila can use the event to plan her own impending nuptials is just the icing on the cake.

But wedding bells turn to warning bells when Lila finds a dead man facedown in the frosting. Soon it’s discovered that the victim was connected to several Novel Idea authors, all of whom quickly become suspects in the case. It’s up to Lila and her fellow agents to find the real killer before one of their clients winds up scribbling stories from behind bars...

My Take: 

This is another great addition to the Novel Idea Mystery Series. All of the characters are so much fun.
Lila and company are planning a Wedding Themed Week for all of those in Inspiration Valley but find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery when someone is found dead when the celebrations just begin. There were a lot of twists and turns in this book which made it that much more fun to read. In the end, Lila saves that day and a surprise murderer is brought to justice. Great job.  

Fat Tuesday Fricasse: A Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery #3-J.J. Cook

 

The national bestselling author of Fry Another Day serves up a third helping in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery series…

It’s Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, and food truck chef Zoe Chase is driven to distraction attending high-society soirees, feeding the partying masses, and getting the skinny on a Fat Tuesday murder…

Two weeks of carnival celebrations has got Zoe running ragged. By day, she charms hungry tourists with authentic Southern cuisine. At night, she accompanies her father to one masquerade ball after another, hobnobbing with the high rollers of the secret cabal known as the Mistics of Time.

But the fun turns frightening when Zoe stumbles across “Death’s” dead body. Journalist Jordan Phillips attended the Mistics’ latest bash in a traditional Death costume, and received a fatal bullet wound for the privilege. With more than three hundred masked suspects determined to remain anonymous, and the police covering up the facts behind the murder of the investigative reporter, Zoe realizes the Mistics have some serious secrets to hide…

My Take:

This is yet another great book from authors Joyce and Jim Lavene as J.J. Cook. I simply love their writing style and the way they can weave a great mystery. Zoe is one of my favorite characters. She has so much spunk that you just can't help but root for she and her friends. This mystery has Zoe looking to solve a murder that happened at a masquerade ball and Zoe finds herself in more danger than she has ever been in before. I could not believe who the murderer turned out to be. Great job.

I will miss these two authors so much. It is sad to know that in a space of 6 months they are both no longer with us. RIP.

Crime and Poetry: A Magical Bookshop Mystery #1-Amanda Flowers

 

From Amanda Flower—who writes the national bestselling Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries as Isabella Alan—comes the first in the new Magical Bookshop Mystery series.

Rushing home to sit by her ailing grandmother’s bedside, Violet Waverly is shocked to find Grandma Daisy the picture of perfect health. Violet doesn’t need to read between the lines: her grandma wants Violet back home and working in her magical store, Charming Books. It’s where the perfect book tends to fly off the shelf and pick you...

Violet has every intention to hightail it back to Chicago, but then a dead man is discovered clutching a volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems from Grandma Daisy’s shop. The victim is Benedict Raisin, who recently put Grandma Daisy in his will, making her a prime suspect. Now, with the help of a tuxedo cat named Emerson, Violet will have to find a killer to keep Grandma from getting booked for good...

My Take:

This is the first book that I've read by Amanda Flower and I have really been missing out on a fantastic author. This book combined everything that I love in a book. It had mystery, magic, and a wonderful bookshop that is nothing like you would expect. Violet is a fantastic main character and she finds herself dragged into the middle of a murder mystery when she returns home to Cascade Springs. This book will have you believing in magic and and that power that comes from all books. I look forward to reading many more from this author. 

Sweet Pepper Hero: A Sweet Pepper Fire Bridgade Mystery #4-J.J. Cook

 

Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.

Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.

As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.

My Take:  

I love this series. Stella is such a great main character that it is very hard not to fall in love with everything about her and the friends she brings to us. Once again Stella finds herself deep in the middle of a murder mystery and is looking for a way not to get burned herself. A great all around read.

On another note, It was very hard for me to finish this book knowing that both Joyce and Jim Lavene are no longer with us and that I don't know if this will be the last I see of their amazing writing. They will be missed terribly and I thank them for the joy that they have brought into this readers life.

Rediscovering Raine-L. G. O'Connor

 

Two Hearts. One Magical Night. The love story continues... Experience a magical night with Jillian and Raine picking up where the story ends in the first of two follow-up novelettes to Caught Up In RAINE.


Caught Up In Love Book #1.1 (A Caught Up In RAINE Novelette)

My Take:  

This is a great little novella that lets you discover Jillian and Raine all over again. I loved the first book in this series and loved even more that I had this quick book to give me another taste of this great couple. I hope that we get to see a lot more of them. Great job. 

Trouble Walks In: The McGuire Brothers #2-Sara Humpreys

 

Big city K-9 cop Ronan McGuire loves women, loves his dog, loves his job - but when old flame Maddy Morgan moves into his jurisdiction, he can’t think about anyone else.
Ronan knows she’s way out of his league, but he’s determined to help Maddy live life to the fullest.

Maddy has immersed herself in work and swiftly made a name for herself in the hot New York City real estate market. She’s looking for safety, not love, but Ronan McGuire is as persistent as he is sexy, and his crooked smile is hard to resist. But all other concerns are wiped away when Maddy goes missing and Ronan and his bloodhound K-9 partner are tasked with finding her and bringing her home.

My Take:

I loved everything about this book. Maddy and Ronan bring Romance to spare. The author is new to me but I don't see me missing any of her books again. This book has everything that I love in a romantic suspense book. Great job. 

Cherry Pop: Mercury Rising #3-Samantha Kane

 

Ben Heston followed his job from California to Mercury, North Carolina after his boss fell head over heels, crazy in love. Ben welcomes the change at first, still reeling from a bad breakup. The move is meant to be temporary. That is, until he meets Tripp Lanier.

Tripp was born and raised in Mercury. His family owns a local construction business and he’s next in line to take over. But as much as he loves his family and his job and his little hometown, there’s something missing in his life. When he meets Ben, he realizes what that something is.

Tripp is ready to embrace his newfound sexuality with the object of his desire. Ben, not so much, because he doesn’t believe Tripp is really gay. But Ben can’t resist the chemistry that explodes between them when they’re together.

Ben begins to love all the things Tripp loves about Mercury: night trains and tall trees, family, friends and sweet Cherry pop. Just when Ben begins to think he might be Tripp’s Mr. Right his past comes calling and old hurts and new fears might be the one thing that could keep them apart.

Warning: Contains Good Old Boys, NASCAR references, a reluctant computer programmer, an enthusiastic gay virgin and gallons of sweet cherry pop. 9 out of 10 dentists agree it could be dangerously romantic.

My Take:

To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I sat down to read it and finished it in one sitting. These characters just jumped off the page and ran me through a whirlwind. I love it!!!