The Waking Land by Callie Bates

*Received a free copy of this book from Netgalley which I chose to voluntarily give an honest review.

From what I can tell this is a stand alone book. Meet Elanna Valtai who was kidnapped from her revolutionary parents at the age of five and raised by the King they were trying to displace. She is now 19 and has had to hide her magical powers over plant life her whole life in order not to called a witch and executed because magic was outlawed two hundred years ago when her people were conquered. When the King is assassinated her whole world is turned upside down and she finds herself having to choose between leading a revolution or pretty much give herself up. What she never she is she is just one part of a three way role of power that is needed for the land to come back to life making things better for all that live there. This book has all kinds of things going on. there is magic of course, intrigue, suspense, murder, battles, romance, and so much more. Each page leads the reader on a new path in the adventure that leads all the way to the grand finale at the end which was quite awesome if I do say so myself. Though the main characters are officially adults I highly recommend this book to fans of YA fantasy novels because this one flows just like one of them would which I think makes it fall into the new NA genre. I really enjoyed reading it so it gets 4/5 stars.

What the Duke Doesn't Know by Jane Ashford

Book two in the Duke's Sons series. This book shows yet again why the parents of these boys raised them so well. We get James' story this time as he meets a young woman from an island in the South Pacific when she attempts to shoot him thinking he is the man responsible for the theft of her fathers fortune. It is all a big misunderstanding of course but the following investigation throws them into each others company quite a bit which leads to some wonderful fireworks as the two cultures clash. The meandering road they travel to meet in the middle leads to some interesting misunderstandings as well as some funny moments that have the reader rooting for the two to figure out their differences before the end of the story. Overall this is an excellent historical romance novel that leads the reader along a path to true love in a most inspiring manner. I really enjoyed reading about this couple so it gets 4/5 stars.

Heir to the Duke by Jane Ashford

Book one in the Duke's Sons series. Nathaniel is the oldest son of a Duke which makes him the heir so he picks a proper English wife to wed. The wedding starts off the book, but what Nathaniel doesn't know is that his new bride, Violet, has waited her whole life to get married so she could be free from her controlling oppressive Grandmother. She starts with her staff, then her wardrobe, and finally what she chooses to go out and do. This shocks Nathaniel who would have sworn that he married a quite, polite, almost blend into the background wife. These changes all take some adjusting to for both the couple and her controlling family. Of course this all leads to quite a bit of drama though it all works out in the end just like a romance novel should. Ashford does a good job of keeping the writing historically accurate and the development is smooth. I enjoyed how this book followed a slightly different time line than a lot of the romances that I read. the hidden family secret was a pleasant surprise which added a new dimension to the story, and I admit to being impressed with how unsnobby the Duke's kids really are (which to be honest most of them should have been but we have all heard the stories of how awful some of those society people could be). I recommend this book to fans of historical romances that do not follow the set formula a lot of authors do. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman

 

From what I can tell this is a stand alone book though a letter from the author at the end states that it is her way of combining three different series though since I have not read any of her other books I had no way of knowing that. It does make sense all its won though. One of my co-workers recommended the book so I though t I would give it a shat and I am glad that I did. Meet Jane who grew up in an Abbey with nuns after being left at a church at three days old with a shattered ankle. At age 12 she moved to a foster home where they pretty much taught all the survival skills she could ever need for the state of Maine where they live. While out hunting one day she gets to see a plane shot down by another plane which causes it to crash upside down in the nearby lake so she goes to save the pilot. What she doesn't know is that the pilot is a Prince/soon-to-be King of a small country she has never heard of (a tidbit he keeps from her as long as he can). He must take her home with him to keep her safe from the assassins after him and they fall in love along the way though neither of them will admit it). The problem is that thanks to her upbringing she has no self esteem so she has a hard time believing that he really loves her. This book is definitely different than most of the romance novels I have read. Things do not go smoothly all of the time and there is lot of work required to get them together which I admit I really enjoyed. I recommend this to fans of modern day romance novels that have a little twist in them to make them different from normal stories or even if you just like the normal to royal type of story. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Look Behind You by Iris Johansen

Book five in the Kendra Michaels series. Just so you know I love pretty much all of Iris's books. She just has this way of writing them that keeps me hooked from the first to the last page making me wish I had a whole stack of new ones to get through (though I am always happy to re-read some of the old ones as well). Kendra is being targeted by a serial killer that has been in operation for over a decade though thanks to different MO's as well as locations the cases were never connected. This changed when the killer begins to leave souvenirs from past killings at the new murder sights. The FBI calls Kendra in to work with their dream team (all the lead investigators from the previous cases) knowing that she does not work well with a group thanks to her awesome skills. She tries her best until the killer makes her feel trapped then along with Lynch she strikes out in her own way finally bringing the killer to justice. The identity of the killer was a surprise to me which I enjoy since usually I can figure it out before the end but Iris is good at keeping you guessing. This book is just full of suspense, intrigue, murder, and so much more. Kendra's skills are just incredible and reading about her putting them to use (and showing up the other investigators) just makes me smile every time. I loved it so much that this one gets 5/5 stars.

The Madness of Mercury by Connie di Marco

Book one in the Zodiac Mystery series. Meet Julia Bonatti an astrologist from San Francisco who meets clients in her own apartment and owns a really awesome cat that seems to be quite the character. While this may not sound like a risky or glamorous career you may change your mind after reading about Julia's experiences when she is targeted by what is essentially one of those strange religious cults that wants you to sign over all of you worldly goods and only believe what they tell you to. I admit that this was a different type of investigation than I am used to when it comes to books like this. Instead of a murder with a list or one main suspect we get one event after another that is done by the religious mob that she has to look into. The need to figure out what is going on with this group escalates when a sister of one of her clients joins the group putting herself in danger. The astrology aspect gives a nice fantasy spin to the series though at times the explanations of her readings confused me no matter how hard the author tried to simplify things for the reader. Despite that it is still a really good story that I found myself wrapped up in until I reached the last page. I highly recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries that have a touch of fantasy, suspense, and an intriguing new way to tell a good tale. I really liked it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

Book three in the Hidden Legacy trilogy though I admit it ends like it may be a whole series or connected to further story line. We will have to wait and see. This book was incredible though as it picks right up after the last book with Nevada and Rogan together but facing a lot of upcoming issues. The Baylor family has to apply to be a house in order to keep them safe and Rogan is adamant that this will push Nevada away from him no matter how she feels about him. The road from the filing to the trials to be a house is filled with lots of action, drama, magic, and so much more. I found myself rooting for the main characters, hating the bad ones, and sorry when it all came to an end. I loved every page so much that I have to give this book 5/5 stars. If you love romance, fantasy, and action all mixed together then you must read this book.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Book one in the Queen's Thief series. I have had several friends of mine tell me over and over again that I need to read this series so while I still have a mountain to read at the house I picked up the first book. I admit that they were right. It starts as the story of a thief that finds himself in prison after stealing something important and bragging about it. He is removed on the stipulation that his skills are needed to steal something else. Considering his options he goes along with this plan which leads to all kids of events to happen as well as several twists and turns in the story line. These events all come to a head at the end of the book which holds a really big surprise that I did not see coming though I did like it. Overall I really liked it and recommend it to fans of fantasy made-up worlds with lots of suspense and action thrown into the mix. I give it 4/5 stars.

One Fete in the Grave by Vickie Fee

*Received a free copy from Netgalley in which I voluntarily choose to review after reading it.

Book three in the Liv and Di in Dixie Mystery series. This is book had me laughing and shaking my head and the girls antics. At the beginning Liv's mom announces that her and Earl are now engaged. This is wonderful news until a councilmen in found murdered by Earl's rifle making him the prime suspect since they were also feuding with one another. Of course Liv has to clear his name in order to make her mama happy and for once everyone in town is encouraging her to do it instead of telling her to stop. Reading about her stumbling attempts to investigate while she also runs her party business kept me hooked until the end when the killer was revealed (which I admit I did not so coming which is pretty good). This book has strong characters, a good story line, relate able events, and finale just full of surprise which also made me anxious for book four. Great for fans of cozy mystery books that are set in the South. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Avenged by Amy Tintera

Book two in the Ruined series. Can I just say wow? Olivia has totally lost her mind by this book. She has become completely vindictive, irrational, and enraged all at the same time with no effort to even control herself as she feels justified to feel this way after everything that has happened to her. Em tries her best to rein her in even going so far as to establish a duarchy with her so they can both maintain the throne of Ruina. Cas gets in the way of their efforts to rule though it is not his fault as his cousin tries to take the throne from him by using the ruined as her main argument. Things do not work out so well though and things keep happening left and right throughout the whole book which kept me turning the pages until I hit the very last one wishing their was more. This book is full of action, magic, intrigue, drama, suspense, and so much more. It is a must read for fans of YA fantasy novels. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars. Now for the wait for book three....

Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis

Book one in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. Hayley is a single mom of two kids that runs the local newspaper office. When the current writer of the food and wine column retires she steps up to take her place in an effort to earn a little bit more money to make ends meet because we all know how tough that can be with only one income rolling into the household. She does really well with her column and it leads to rivalry with the writer of the similar column in the second local newspaper. Things are heating up quite nicely between the two women when the competition is suddenly found dead by Hayley herself. Things only get worse when the murder weapon was found in her purse as well. Of course she is arrested and finds herself having to investigate in order to clear her own name which is more complicated because the police chief just happens to be the boyfriend/spouse of her brother (not sure which one to call him because both are stated in the book itself which led me to think that maybe it would official if it was legally allowed at that time though I do not really know that). The character interactions in this story are just great making me laugh, smile, or just plan shake my head over and over again. Hayley is constantly doing stuff she shouldn't but that does not seem to stop her one bit. I especially enjoyed how each of her columns appeared at the end of some of the chapters so we could read it too plus the recipes were also there if I chose to copy them down. Overall this was a really cute cozy mystery and I highly recommend it to fans of series that are focused a lot on food which is not a bad thing. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

 

Forever a Hero by Linda Lael Miller

Book three in the Carson's of Mustang Creek series. We met all the Carson brothers in the first two books. Now we get to follow the youngest as he falls in love while running his winery. About ten years prior Mace saved a woman, Kelly,  from being raped by a bad man even testifying to send the man to jail. When they run into each other again it is after she crashes her car almost going over the cliff with it. Of course Mace saves her making him her hero whether he wants to be or not. What he does not know is that she is there to make an offer on his winery for his company which he will not appreciate. There personal interaction go well but the professional ones are a little dicey. The mix of the two keeps things moving right along throughout the story. I love how Miller writes these cowboy romances even if they are set in modern times. They always have a horse, camping, manners, sunsets, and so much more. Her love of the west really shines through in her writing and the romance is always addicting as well. This is a must read for fans of romances set in the west. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

It's Your Party, Die If You Want To by Vickie Fee

Book two in the Liv & Di in Dixie Mystery series. Liv has lots going on in this book. She has an upcoming engagement party that she is in charge of planning and she has to assist with a business retreat. This would be so much easier if Morgan the head of another group was  more accommodating and less witchy to all the people around her. This wasn't and issue until she turns up dead. While Liv tries to stay out of it (like almost the whole town asks her to) her and Di's curiosity get the better of them so they end up asking questions anyways. These books crack me up as the girls she to get themselves in trouble repeatedly no matter how hard they try not to. Di is constantly fighting with Dave and Larry Joe seems a little clueless when it comes to what Liv is doing. The Southern charm is a nice touch and the mystery develops quite smoothly with enough twists and turns (like the haunted teen ride to name one) to keep the reader interested. Great fro fans of cozy mysteries. I really liked it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron

Book two in the Cajun Country Mystery series and I found this one to be so much better than the last one. Maybe is was because it was book one which requires the set up of the series but i just had a really hard time getting into the story. This one was much better as it starts with a bang, has lots of drama as a pregnant bride is involved, and finally ends with a big sh-bang that definitely different to say the least. Maggie is pregnant Vanessa's maid of honor which is really funny because she is marrying Rufus of all people. As the guests start arriving for the week long festivities one of V.'s horrible cousins shows up and has to stay at the Crozat B&B. This was not so bad until she was found murdered next to the bayou near a lost dog and cat that had just given birth. Vanessa demands that Maggie investigates once she becomes the prime suspect which only gets worse after another body turns up shot by her new gun. The drama had me giggling, the development is smooth, and the little details are included at the same time (such as Xander finally speaks). While the main focus is the murder mystery itself we still get to keep up with Maggie's budding romance as well as other things. Great for fans of cozy mysteries that are set in the South which adds that Southern charm to the mix.This one gets 4/5 stars.

About a Dog by Jenn Mckinlay

Book one in the Bluff Point Romance trilogy/series (though right now I would go with trilogy but I am not really sure yet. I have turned into a big fan of Jenn's books so when this one came out I just had to give it a shot. We get to meet Mackenzie "Mac" who travels back to her home town for a round of wedding festivities for her best friend. She has not been back since being left at the alter and sleeping with the best friends brother Gavin (though she never tells her friend about that). Once she returns things get interesting as she finds she has feelings for Gavin that she thinks she has to hide. She is doing well until she runs across a stray dog and the two are thrown together to save her. The development is incredible and I have to give Mac credit for her will power as she lasts much longer than I would have. The group of friends are fun to follow as I enjoyed how they were happy to give out honest advice whether asked or not while a few of them acted goofy as well livening up things a little bit (such as the sparkly purple penis veil). The dog was sweet saving the day by bringing the two together. The twist at the end threw me a little bit as things started to derail but Jenn fixed it quite nicely with a finale that matched the rest of the rest to a tee. Great for fans of romance novels that are set in current times. I really enjoyed reading it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Serafina and the Splintered heart by Robert Beatty

Book three in the Serafina series which is written for kids in grades 3-7. For this installment we get to continue with  Serafina's adventures though I admit that cannot say much because at the very end the author asks that when writing reviews that we not really say anything about the story itself because it is important for the reader to not know anymore than Serafina herself does as the story progresses. It was written like this on purpose. I admit that it does make an impact. At the beginning I was confused but as the book progressed it made more and more sense until the end which is rather amazing I must admit. This is a fascinating story with lots of little twists and turns that keeps the reader hooked while they learn life lessons at the same time. It is great for readers that need bigger chapter books that still do not have a giant vocabulary which is perfect for the grades it was written for. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Digging Up the Dirt by Miranda James

Book three in the Southern Ladies Mystery series. For this installment the sisters are excited because an old friend is coming back to town after being gone for over forty years. He was a playboy flirt way back when and all the women just loved him. This created competition both then and now which leads to some interesting events to say the least. Shortly after his arrival he rejoins the Garden Club board which stirs things up for the ladies. Before his first night back is through one of them is found dead, and after a horrible storm in the area Peanut digs up some old bones next to a tree that fell over. There are more accidents and deaths after this until things finally come to head with an ending that surprised me a little bit because it was more involved then I was guessing. I love the sisters as they represent Southern lady style and the pets are just incredible to the point that they may be my favorite characters. I enjoyed the story but I do wish it was a little more fast paced or something similar as parts seem to drag for a little bit. Good for fans of cozy mysteries that have no magic and older main characters. I liked it but did not really like it so it gets 3/5 stars.

Too Scot to Handle by Grace Burrowes

*Received an ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date is July 25, 2017.

Book two in the Windham Brides series which is essentially an extension of the Windham series as a whole since they are all related which I absolutely love. This is Anwen's story after her sister Maggie got married in the last book. Anwen helps run a local orphanage for boys, and her new brother-in-laws brother Colin also finds himself involved after being encouraged to pick a charity to support. As strange things start going on the two find themselves in each others company quite a bit until an attraction begins to grow. Just as they discover that they love one another someone else steps in attempting to ruin the day. They are able to work things out in the end as always. I just love Grace's writing style. Each book has its own unique story line even if they are all connected. She keeps them historically accurate with lots of details. Her books have become one of my staples when I really want to read a historical romance novel. I loved every minute of this book so it gets 5/5 stars.

Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Book two in the Conquerors Saga. The first book had quite a bit of action and development so I was really looking forward to this one especially after I saw how fat it was. I was severely disappointed though as this was just one really long whiny cry fest being held by a pair of siblings that both happen to be in love with am an that I think is using both of them. Lada is still trying to secure her place on the Wallachia throne. She is willing to endure all kinds of things to pull this off, but in the end she has to rely on her own instincts while turning against Mehmed. Radu on the other hand stayed with Mehmed as he tried to expand his empire only to be used for his own gains in the end. The games that are being played hurt my head and I think someone needs to take out Mehmed. I was so happy when I hit the last page and the whining and second guessing every decision stopped. I really hope the next book is better than this one. I marked it as 3/5 stars on Goodreads but it is really closer to a 2.5.

Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine

 *Received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book three in the Great Library series and I am really happy that this is more than a trilogy as I am totally in love with this series after this book. After saving everyone in the last book the group is altogether again though they seem to have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. They barely escaped alive at the end of book two and this one picks up with them arriving in Philadelphia amongst the Burners. Of course they do not receive a warm welcome instead they are used and held as prisoners though I must admit that all of the plans for escape are quite detailed and thought out making the more successful. This is a group of survivors much to the Archivist dismay. As the Library continues to attempt to silence them all they go ahead with their plans to build a printing press and ultimately go to war with the Archivist himself. They are hoping to take out the problem people without destroying the entire library system which is a good goal but I am not sure they will be able to pull it off in the end. Once they escape from Philly they find a new set of problems that must be dealt with but Jess through me for a loop with how he chose to go about fixing everything which leads to the cliff hanger ending that sets things up nicely for book four. This book is just full of action and adventure from the very beginning. There seems to always be something going on and secrets being kept. An absolute must read for fans of YA fantasy and book lovers themselves. I loved each and every page of this book so it gets 5/5 stars.

The Grumpface by B.C.R. Feegan

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Written for grades K-5 this is the cutest little book that also happens to be very well illustrated. We get to meet Dan who goes on a quest to find a rose for a women he really likes. Along his travels he runs across a green troll like person that is so grumpy he has a permanent scowl on his face. He tell Dan he is trapped with him forever unless he can complete one of three tasks he assigns. Dan is a clumsy man so he messes up each task he is assigned which makes the Grumpface smile breaking the curse forever. This story reinforces seeing the positive side of things no matter what actually happens which is a good lesson for young children to learn. Recommended fro younger children for learning lessons and learning to read (the language is simple and rhymes at times making it easy for readers). I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Wolf Unleashed by Paige Tyler

Book five in the SWAT: Special Alpha Wolf Team series. As I have previously mentioned I am completely addicted to this series by this point. I am looking forward to reading how each part of the team finds their very own soul mate. This stories build on one another because each time they have to take out a threat to save themselves a new moves in to take its place. For this installment is includes dog fighting and a new street drug that has been created. Alex Trevino meets his women at the vets office as he takes the team mascot Tuffie in for a check up. Surprisingly she turns him down several times so he has to try real hard just to get his foot in the door. Once he does events conspire to release his secret early and of course she takes it badly. When her sister goes missing the two have to work together despite their problems and it leads for some interesting fireworks to say the least. I was loving Alex's patience with her but I will admit that she really should have been a little more open minded when it came down to it. Good for fans of paranormal romance. I give it 4/5 stars.

The Brothers Three by Layton Green

*Received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book one in the Blackwood Saga. Meet the Blackwood brothers Val, Caleb, and Will. Living in New Orleans Will comes face to face with what looks like magic, but he cannot believe that is what is actually in front of him. A man with some creepy powers attacks Will then the other brothers and takes a family friend to hold as hostage. He gives them a timeline to concede to his wishes or their friend will be killed. Considering he exhibits magical powers the brothers are well aware that they are in over their heads. A different strange man gives Will a key that he claims will transport the brothers to a world that is like theirs but different at the same where they may be able to learn how to defeat the bad guy. The key works and they are introduced to a whole new world that contains magic that they have to find their way in. They train, learn, and eventually find there way home after some really remarkable events. The writing style of this book had me hooked from the beginning and the world building is just amazing. The book is pretty fast paced and follows a natural progression. Great for fans of fantasy books. I give it 4/5 stars since I really enjoyed it.

The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

Book two in the Ravenspire series. Inspired by the tale of Rumpelstiltskin this is the story of a set of twins that become entangled with a Wish Granter. First the older brother in the set wishes for his sisters safety while they are fleeing for their lives as the exiled bastard children of the King. The Wish granter refuses this wish though instead making him wish to be King because he wants to have a king in his pocket so he can do what he wants. The sister finds out about this arrangement after awhile and begins doing everything she can to break the deal without anyone getting killed and before the Wish Granter takes over the world. The beginning of the story feels drawn out and is slow to build but once it does the momentum moves fast which kept me hooked until the last page. The sister has a strong personality and very intelligent. She screams girl power and is the mastermind behind saving the day in the end though she did have a little help from her fiends. The brother seems more of puppet and comes of rather weak in the long run. The blend of magic, fantasy, and ingenuity makes for quite a fascinating story that I really enjoyed. Great for fans of the YA fantasy genre. I give it 4/5 stars.

Breach of Crust by Ellery Adams

 

The fifth and I believe the last book in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. Ella Mae's life is really different after the events of the last book. She has had learn to adapt and live her life in a whole new way though she is more than willing to embrace this new lifestyle. Of course she could be so eager because Hugh and her have finally gotten back together. He plans to stick around so much he asks her mother to perform the lunar rose ceremony which freaks Ella Mae out until he explains. The one problem is that Loralyn is still missing and Opal her mother is dying from cancer making it necessary to find her as well as a dead body which happens to be the President of a club. These two lines both lead back to the Camellia club which just happened to hire Ella Mae to work at one of their workshops making it easy for her to get a foot in the door of their exclusive club. The secrets start adding up to the point where things finally have to explode leading to the end of the story. I have to admit that I did not enjoy this book nearly as much as the first four. The massive change that happened in her life made the book a little awkward as she tried to fit in. This made the story stumble a little bit plus I was getting a little tired of everyone being so worried about it as well making it feel very repetitious at times. The grand finale was incredible though and I really enjoyed that part as well as the epilogue. It was wrapped up very nicely which is why I do believe this is the last book in this series. I gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads but if I am being totally honest it is closer to a 3.5.

Lemon Pies and Little White Lies by Ellery Adams

Book four in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. After the events of the last book Hugh as taken off telling Ella Mae not to wait for him. He is apparently having some huge issues after losing his mojo and I do believe that he blames Ella Mae for this. Ella Mae is heartbroken over this and she is having a hard time keeping her emotions to herself so instead she puts them into one pie to free up her mind so she can become the leader her people expect her to be. Just as she is getting the hang of things mysterious deaths start happening and when she finally puts the pieces together she realizes how bad things are going to get. To make things worse Hugh just happens to pop back up only on the wrong side of the equation. The beginning of this book was extremely whiny, but once she got over it things really started to pick up until the amazing finale at the very end. The twist was quite a shock and I admit that I really did not see that coming. Great for fans of cozy mysteries that contain magic as well. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

An Unhappy Medium by Dawn Eastman

Book four in the Family Fortune Mystery series. As an addition to the traditional Founders Day celebrations the residents of Crystal Haven have added a Zombie Fun Run to the Friday night lineup as a fundraiser for charity. While gearing up for it Clyde founds out that her sister and her husband are coming for a visit which raises some huge red flags because she has not been back since she left. One of the zombies is found dead during the run and he is dressed quite a bit like the sisters husband which leads her to admit that they are in really big trouble with bad guys coming after them. During her stay she pushes Clyde and Mac to sign emergency guardianship papers for their two kids Seth and Sophie in case anything happens to them. On top of all of that they become the prime suspects when it comes to the murdered man because he is the sisters ex-boyfriend and they all had words. As the stress is building the two of them disappear and their vehicle is found with the alarm going while a nearby boat goes up in flames. The really story comes from little Miss Sophie and it is a real doozy. Clyde is in for a whole new life now but thankfully Mac is more than willing to join her on the ride. This is great blend of whimsy (the dogs are hilarious), mystery, and supense making it a must read for cozy mystery fans. I give it 4/5 stars.

A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman

Book three in the Family Fortune Mystery series. At the end of the last book Clyde's family knew that her and Mac were finally back together but with teenage nephew living with her plus her crazy family alone time together is few and far between. So they plan a vacation to Mexico in February. They never make it to the airport before a blizzard has them stranded. They find a castle hotel close by that sounds romantic until they find out that all the women in both their families are there at a knitters retreat. Plus they have no open rooms making them have to share. On the very first night there one of the co-owners is found murdered after the power goes out. Since they are snowed in without power or a way to leave (the road is blocked by a tree as well as snow) Mac and Clyde find themselves solving the case though they would both rather be on their private vacation together. Clyde's dad, nephew Seth, and the lovable dogs all showed up on snowmobiles after becoming worried about not being able to get in touch with the ladies which added a nice touch to the story as well as some insanity. The characters are a hoot and the addition of the physic stuff keeps the story really interesting. Great for fans of cozy mysteries with some magic thrown in. I give it 4/5 stars.

Be Careful What you Witch For by Dawn Eastman

 

Book two in the Family Fortune Mystery series. Having established all of the characters in book one this one picks up with the fall festival with Clyde working on her one year in the house to inherit it. There is a big Wicca ceremony that is going to take place in the woods with a huge bonfire to kick off the events of the festival. All is going well until one of the participants shows signs of an allergic reaction and then dies shortly there after. Clyde feels compelled to help out her best friend, Diana, who was running the ceremony making her a suspect and the dead man did not get along with her brother at all making him an even bigger suspect. While trying to solve the case Clyde is also dealing with her nephew who ran away from home showing up on her doorstep and the fact that she is keeping her newly rekindled romance with Mac a big secret. Baxter and Tuffy just add to the craziness of the characters which blends into a very well written cozy mystery novel. I like how LCyde is starting to slowly embrace her powers while still using common sense and police experience to solve the mysteries thrown in her direction. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Book Blitz for Love, Murder & Mayhem Edited by Russ Colchamiro

~ Book Blitz ~

Love, Murder & Mayhem

About the Book

Love science fiction stories that all include elements ofLove, Murder & Mayhem?
 
Then welcome to the latest anthology from Crazy 8 Press! This amazing collection from 15 all-star authors will delight you with superheros and supervillains. AIs, off-worlders, and space cruisers. We’ve also got private eyes, sleep surrogates, time travelers, aliens and monsters—and one DuckBob!
 
With tales ranging from wild and wacky to dark and gritty to heartbreaking and fun, take the deadly leap with authors Meriah Crawford, Paige Daniels, Peter David, Mary Fan, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman Paul Kupperberg, Karissa Laurel, Kelly Meding, Aaron Rosenberg, Hildy Silverman, Lois Spangler, Patrick Thomas, and editor Russ Colchamiro.
 
You’ll never look at Love, Murder & Mayhem the same way again—and that’s just the way we like it.

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About the Editor

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the hilarious sci-fi backpacking comedy series, Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, and is editor of the new anthology, Love, Murder & Mayhem, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and crazy dog, Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself. Russ has also contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, and Altered States of the Union, and TV Gods 2. He is now at work on a top-secret project, and a Finders Keepers spin-off.

As a matter of full disclosure, readers should not be surprised if Russ spontaneously teleports in a blast of white light followed by screaming fluorescent color and the feeling of being sucked through a tornado. It’s just how he gets around — windier than the bus, for sure, but much quicker.

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Cover Reveal for Avishi by Saiswaroopa Iyer

~ Cover Reveal ~

Avishi by Saiswaroopa Iyer

12th July, 2017

Long before the times of Draupadi and Sita

Immortalised in the hymns of the Rig Veda

But largely forgotten to the memory of India

Is the Warrior Queen with an iron leg, Vishpala

Brought up in the pristine forest school of Naimisha, Avishi reaches the republic of Ashtagani in search of her destiny. When Khela, the oppressive King of the neighbouring Vrishabhavati begins to overwhelm and invade Ashtagani, Avishi rises to protect her settlement. But peril pursues her everywhere.

Separated from her love, her settlement broken, with a brutal injury needing amputation of her leg, can Avishi overcome Khela?

About the Author:

Saiswaroopa is an IITian and a former investment analyst turned author. Her keen interest in ancient Indian history, literature and culture made her take to writing. Her debut novel Abhaya, set in the times of Mahabharata was published in 2015. Avishi, her second novel set in Vedic India explores the legend of India’s first mentioned female warrior queen Vishpala.

She holds a certificate in Puranas from Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. She is also trained in Carnatic Classical music and has won a state level gold medal from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. 

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This Cover Reveal is brought to you by Book Review Tours

Pall in the Family by Dawn Eastman

Book one in the Family Fortune Mystery series. Meet Clyde (who also has a very long formal name that refuse to spell) who goes back home after things go wrong during an arrest at her job as a police officer. She ran from home to avoid her own physic abilities years ago and is not happy about this turn of events. She is working as a dog walker to help out her Aunt and when she arrives to pick up one of the dogs she finds the owner dead instead. Her nephew Seth adopts the traumatized shih-tzu and he becomes one of my favorite characters of the whole book. Clyde finds herself trying to solve the murder much to the dismay of her ex-boyfriend. Another dog owner gets murdered as well which is how Clyde herself ends up as the owner of a huge Mastiff named Baxter who is also quite the character. The mix of all the personalities from the variety of characters mixed with the physic, witchy, magic stuff makes for a very fun little mystery story that is a must read for fans of cozy mysteries that involve a little bit of the mystical as well. I give it 4/5 stars since I really liked it.

To Love a Wolf by Paige Tyler

Book four in the SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series. We finally get Landry Cooper's story for this series installment which makes me happy since he helped cover up the last two getting him in a little bit of trouble. Cooper finds a human artist as his women but unlike the last two he is upfront with Gage from the start. This may have been because Gage's wedding happens towards the beginning then he goes on a honeymoon which is when things went bad. I almost feel sorry for him having to deal with constant problems from his guys but then again its not like they do it on purpose. The woman is named Everly and things are going great between them until her family forbids her to see him but does not explain the why. They know his secret and they do not like it. When she finds herself in danger though they have to accept that Cooper is the only one that can save her. The dynamics are amazing and I just loved the development. The arching story is moving nicely and i am addicted to the team members. I give it 4/5 stars.

In the Company of Wolves by Tyler Paige

 

Book three in the SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series. I am addicted to this group of guys by this point and the author's writing style just sucks me in every time. We get Eric Becker's story in this installment. He runs across is potential mate in the middle of a shoot out. he helps to hide her, but when he meets her again later he discovers the situation is even more dangerous then he thought. He has to help Jayna save herself and the pack she has adopted. he goes undercover to do so but keeps it a secret from Gage. Of course it all hits the fan once things go pear shape but they figure it all out in the end with Jayna staying with Eric while still being able to be in charge of the pack that will always need her. I love the addition of the new types of werewolves. it give the story a whole new dimension that leaves lots of possibilities for future stories. I give this one 4/5 stars and suggest it for fans of paranormal romance.

Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay

Book seven in the Library Lover's Mystery series. For this newest edition to the series the library is having an amnesty day which of course brings in a huge mountain of overdue books that people have been hoarding. The surprise comes when one of those books was checked out twenty years ago to a woman that was murdered the same day she picked it up though the case was never solved. Of course this makes Lindsay have to investigate why the book popped up now and who had it. It is interesting to read a murder investigation of a cold case, but the story moves quite nicely even if none of the events are current (with a minor exception which you will know about when you read it). I have to admit that I am really happy that she finally got her romantic life under control and in the direction that I wanted her to take. The back and forth and glacial speed was driving me a little crazy. I am highly invested in the characters by this point including the newer ones and am really enjoying the arching story line. I give it 4/5 stars.

Murder Games by James Patterson

Welcome to the world of serial killers and the lovely games they play. People are being killed in Manhattan and the killer is leaving taunting clues for the authorities to follow. One of those clues just happens to be a book written by a famous author that gets him added to the investigation. He would have made a good cop though as he is the one that pretty much solves the entire case. This was a very enjoyable mystery novel that is  good choice for fans of that genre and of course Patterson himself with his fifty million books by this point. I did really enjoy the story though so it gets 4/5 stars.

Charlotte's Pact by Lauren Lee

*Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book one in the Demons of New York series. Meet Charlotte and her fiance Liam as they get into a car wreck in chapter one while the next chapter jumps back to when they met. The book continues in this manner until the two time frames meet one another and we get a good idea of how their relationship progressed. After the wreck Charlotte meets a Demon who offers to save Liam in exchange for her help and her soul. Of course she agrees and what follows is quite weird while still being awesome at the same time. The writing style is incredible and it really sucked me in. The story premise is also really good. I enjoyed all of the details and if the rest of the series goes in the same manner it will be a really good to say the least. I just love the blending of the real, the magical, and the supernatural all into one big story with a nice twist at the end which I did not see coming. I give this book 4/5 stars since I liked it so much and am looking forward to more books as they come out.

The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries

*Received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book four in the Sinful Suitors series. In the last book Delia's sister-in-law and her friends brother have a very distinct reaction to one another though they claim that they have never met. This book shows that for the lie that it really is. The two of them, Niall and Brilliana, courted briefly when they were younger but events forced them apart. They each went on with their lives though very unhappily until they finally run into one another again. They find themselves put into a position where they must fake an engagement to help with an investigation. This places them together quite a bit where of course the fireworks have to explode after awhile. This is an excellent historical romance novel that sticks with historical accuracy while still telling a good story. The romance was fresh without being a repeat of other books in the series and the author just has a way of writing that really brings the couple to life making me root for them along the way. I loved it from the first page to the last so it gets 5/5 stars.

Pecan Pies and Homicides by Ellery Adams

Book three in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. Ella Mae is depressed after everything that happened in the last book. While she is happy that her powers are getting stronger at the same time she cannot help but miss her mother. After doing some research with her new friend she thinks she has found a way that will free her mother without wiping out a source for all of their magic. She finds herself rushing to finds the answers after their city becomes a refuge for the citizens of another town that had its grove set on fire. To keep their powers they must relocate and of course that means the arsonist as well. When her grove is threatened Ella Mae finds the determination she needs to find the one thing she needs to save her mom while still finding the bad guy at the same time. The overlapping story lines gave lots of action as the story progressed yet still built nicely on one another. I admit that I thought Ella was a little whiny but she was able to suck it up in the end. Another great addition to the series and a must read for fans of cozy mysteries that have a touch of magic in them. I give it 4/5 stars.

Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams

Book two in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. Ella Mae has been hired to provide the desserts at a wedding. While she is trying to organize that she finally begins to get some answers about her magic such as what it is, where it comes from, the rules, and so much more. This leads to some interesting research that gets slightly derailed after a dead body is discovered. Of course Ella has to use her magic to investigate what is going on in her town especially after multiple women in an important line is succession start finding themselves dead or attacked. This all comes to one big climax toward the end of the book that ended up with so many emotions it made me cry. Of course any book that hooks me enough to cry about the events in it gets 5/5 stars. I am really loving the evolution of this series and am really looking forward to reading the next installment.

Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams

Book one in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries series. Ella Mae is from Havenwood, Georgia but seven years ago she fled to marry a man her mother did not approve of living in New York instead. After finding him "busy" with twins in the elevator of their apartment building she returns home to nurse a broken heart. Baking is her passion but after she returns home strange things start happening to people who eat some of the things she bakes though she has no clue why. To help her settle her mother and Aunt's finance the purchase of a shop that she plans to name the Charmed Pie Shoppe that will serve lots of different types of baked pies. When her old childhood rivals' fiance turns up dead after Ella Mae threatened the women she finds herself having to prove her innocence which can only be done if she can figure out who really did the awful deed. This is an awesome family of women even if they do have their secrets. The are each very individual people with strong personalities but the blend of them all is quite explosive as well. This has all of the earmarks for a perfect foundation for a magical series that I bet I am going to really enjoy if this first one is any indication. This one gets 4/5 stars and I am really looking forward to starting book two.

Death Crashes the Party by Vickie Fee

Book one in the Liv & Di in Dixie Mystery series. This is the cutest little Southern culture book. We get to meet Liv who is married and owns her own party planning business which she is really good at. She was hired to plan a fortieth wedding anniversary party, bu when she goes to check if the freezers are big enough for the ice sculptures she finds two dead bodies instead. The two dead brothers worked for her husbands family's trucking company and were involved in some shady dealing that they were unaware of. Her father-in-law has a heart attack thanks to the pressure of the investigation. This causes Liv to investigate the murders along with her best friend Di in an effort to makes things easier for her in-laws. Of course she fumbles a few things along the way which is where the Southern charm and social traditions come into play. The combination makes for a really cute story that I really enjoyed until the very last page. I give it 4/5 stars.

To Catch a Treat by Linda O. Johnston

Book two in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series which makes me officially caught up since I accidentally read book three first. Carrie has officially gotten both of her bakeries established by this book and things are going so well she has even hired more help. She is still dating Reed and hoping things will progress there at some point. She decides to join one of her bothers hikes where she gets to meet the new woman he is interested in and gets to hear the story of how her dog was stolen. The story breaks Carrie's heart and when she starts looking for a new dog for her she finds the stolen dog instead. Of course this raises questions of how the dog got there since it was stolen from far away but when other missing dogs how up as well things really heat up. While trying to figure out what is going on Carrie finds herself in more danger than she could have prepared for though she is able to figure it all out in the end. The characters are really well-developed and I just love the animals all throughout the book blended in so nicely. The doggy bakery would be my favorite place to go if it existed. This book is perfect for animal lovers and cozy mystery fans. I give it 4/5 stars.

Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan

Book three in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. After the events of the last book Granddad thinks he is an investigator now despite what Val says. Val is offered her old job in New York back which makes her ponder whether she is really happy where she is. There is a big festival coming up and they decide to rent out the empty rooms in the big house make some extra cash. On the very first might one of the guests is found murdered in the backyard which makes the whole house suspects. While trying to find the truth before the guests return home Val stumbles across quite a few surprises from both the past and the present. The combination is all quite interesting and I found myself hooked until the end wondering what would happen next. This is a really good cozy mystery so it gets 4/5 stars.

Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan

Book two in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. Val has gotten quite comfortable living with her Granddad by this point. She is even helping him pretend to cook for a dinner party. All goes well until one of the guest becomes ill succumbing to food poisoning after a few short days. Everyone at the dinner is now a suspect so of course Val has to look into things as best she can. She brings up some old secrets in her search for the truth that puts her in danger since the killer would prefer that this not be known. The development is smooth and the characters keep it all interesting. Grandad cracks me up but Val seems to be able to handle him quite nicely. This is a cute cozy mystery and I give it 4/5 stars.

The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries

goodreads.com

Book three in the Sinful Suitors series. Delia Trevor is determined to find the man that cheated her brother playing cards inadvertently causing him to commit suicide leaving behind a young widow and infant son. Destitute Delia wants to blackmail the man to return the family funds so they can save their estate. The one problem is she has no clue who he is and her brother only offered one identifiable feature for her to use. She disguises herself as young lad and spends her nights playing cards in search of this man. Warren is asked by his cousin to discover what is making Delia act in a strange manner. He discovers he nightly excursions and misconstrues what she is doing. In an effort to get her to stop he puts her in an awkward position by accident that causes them to get married. it may not start as a love match (only due to denial though) but it ends that way. The figure out the financial parts as well saving the day before it is all said and done though none of them expected the final story that came out. This is a really good historical romance book that tells the story of an unconventional couple that is happy by the last page. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

Dangerous Minds by Janet Evanovich

goodreads.com

Book two in the Knight and Moon series. Having established the characters in book one this one picks up with Moon working for Knight though she refuses to live in his huge house renting an apartment instead. Late one night before she goes home the house alarm starts blaring and when they go check they are met by a Buddhist monk that Knight is friends with. the monk claims an entire island has gone missing. Since this is impossible Knight and Moon have to look into it. What follows is one of the funniest investigations I have read in a long time. I found myself rolling on the floor laughing quite a few times before I finished the last page. The eccentric nature of the characters combined with some oddball tendencies proves to be a hilarious combination when it comes to solving a mystery though they do figure it all out in the end. Since I absolutely loved this book from page one all the way through it gets 5/5 stars.