Category: 5-Stars

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Book Review: Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

 

Eight Perfect Murders 
by Peter Swanson

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU /

B&N / HarperCollins

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (March 3, 2020)

“Swanson rips us from one startling plot twist to the next… A true tour de force.” —Lisa Gardner

“Fiendish good fun.” —Anthony Horowitz

From the hugely talented author of Before She Knew Him comes a chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders.

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne’s Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox’s Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald’s The Drowner, and Donna Tartt’s A Secret History.

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. There is a killer is out there, watching his every move—a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife.

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects . . . and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leave more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Books are time travel. True readers all know this. But books don’t just take you back to the time in which they were written; they can take you back to different versions of yourself.

 

The thing is, and maybe I’m biased by all those years I’ve spent in fictional realms built on deceit, I don’t trust narrators any more than I trust the actual people in my life. We never get the whole truth, not from anybody. When we first meet someone, before words are ever spoken, there are already lies and half-truths. The clothes we wear cover the truth of our bodies, but they also present who we want to be to the world. They are fabrications, figuratively and literally.

 

Fiction is so much better than reality. I know. I’ve been alive a long time.

My Review:

 

Peter Swanson is a devilishly clever and diabolically talented evil genius. I feel comforted by the fact I live far, far away from his neck of the woods as he scares me, and more than just a bit. This multi-layered, complicated, absorbing, and smartly written book was laced with unforgettable and truly unlikable characters who were also inexplicably compelling and complex. The storylines were multifaceted, maddeningly paced, and deviously irresistible. I loved it and am eagerly looking forward to his next offering but would caution his neighbors to stay sharp and keep the noise down.

I was provided with a review copy of this well-crafted tale by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins.

About the Author

Peter Swanson is the author of five novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and his most recent, Before She Knew Him. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. He lives outside of Boston, where he is at work on his next novel.

Find out more about Peter on his website and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Book Review: Gravitate (Brooklet Dreams #3) by C.A. Harms

Gravitate
(Brooklet Dreams #3)
by C.A. Harms

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

I was the ultimate bachelor. I enjoyed my wild life, the late nights, and the fact that I had no commitments. My job and my freedom were all I needed.

Or so I thought.

Chloe was sweet and kind, and the way she got so flustered in my presence was adorable. That smile of hers did things to a man. And her laugh? It was infectious.

She had this gravitating pull that was irresistible.

She was younger, sweeter, and too innocent for a guy like me. But none of that mattered because she also possessed the power to make any man want things he’d never really given himself a chance to even think about.

But there was one thing that held me back. One thing that made me question the feelings I held for her.

She was my best friend’s cousin.

To make matters worse, she had an army of men around her that were ready to defend her if needed. And let me tell you, being on the opposite end of that line was enough to make any sane man pause.

But the more time I spent time with her, the faster all the reasons I should hold back disappeared.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but a woman who was suffering from rejection and humiliation, well, that was a dangerous combination. We could be vindictive, and yes, even overdramatic, but how was I supposed to look at him and not remember…

 

Needing her full attention, I committed the sin of all sins in a woman’s kitchen, and I grabbed the spoon and bowl from her hands. When her mouth fell open and she narrowed her eyes at me, I knew I better speak fast or run.

 

Margie was the town gossip; anything she’d heard, she added to it and told it to anyone who would stop long enough to listen. The object of the game was to be polite but never offer any bits of information that were not necessary.

 

There was no denying it. Even Grace herself understood how wound up she was… Each of us all gave her advice on how to scratch the itch. I had a feeling if this all kept up, whomever the man was that finally got past her guards, she’d end up killing them by sexual exhaustion.

  

My Review:

 

C.A. Harms has a devoted fangirl for life, as I adore her clever brand of snark, wit, and sizzling style. The storylines were original with emotive tones that were equal parts sweet, angsty, amusing, and steamy. This was an engaging and well-balanced tale that frequently had me smirking and/or turning up the fan and seeking out liquids for re-hydration.   Although he was somewhat clueless, this installment to the series featured a sexy fireman/construction worker packed with muscles. Swoon, sign me up to volunteer for their next fundraiser. No wonder his loony-tunes stalker couldn’t stay away.

 

About The Author

 

I am an Illinois girl, born and raised. Simple and true. I love the little things; they truly mean the most. I may have a slight addiction to my new Keurig—oh my, that thing is a godsend. And so fast too. I have two children who truly are the greatest part of my days, and their faces never fail to put a smile on my face. I have been married to my best friend for seventeen years and looking forward to many more.

I am one of those authors that adore my readers. I love to hear from you. After all, it is because of each one of you that I continue to write.
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FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCAHarms/
INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/authorcaharms/
NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/1xsgHCS
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/C.A.-Harms/e/B0…

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Book Review: Lemon Drizzle Mondays at the Little Duck Pond Café (Little Duck Pond Cafe #9) by Rosie Green

Lemon Drizzle Mondays at the Little Duck Pond Café
(Little Duck Pond Cafe #9)
by Rosie Green

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Molly Hooper has a secret. It haunts her dreams and casts a dark shadow over life with her gorgeous three-year-old daughter, Eva. Arriving in Sunnybrook has given her a glimpse of sunshine.

The Little Duck Pond Cafe crew seems so welcoming and there’s even the chance of a new job. Baking delicious cakes have always taken Molly to a happy place, so the job – at the glorious Brambleberry Manor Cafe – might just be perfect for her. It would mean she and little Eva could finally put down some roots at last.

But is Sunnybrook the sanctuary Molly is searching for? Or will the past come back to haunt her, wherever she hides?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘Married forty-two years. And we’ve never had an argument serious enough to consider divorce. Murder, yes. But divorce, never.’ Her face is completely deadpan.

Arlene picked on Lisa because she was shy and had long red hair. The nicknames wore her down – things like Garfield and Fire Crotch.

 I suppose I must be sex-starved. One sniff of an attractive man and my heart starts racing as if I’m on the Dive Bomber ride at the fair.

 Kindness is love made visible… That’s what my lovely granny used to say.

Honestly, you kids don’t know the half of it. Do you have any idea at all how traumatising it is to see the skin on the back of your hands waving about under a hot air hand dryer?

  

My Review:

 

This sweet series continues to introduce new and enticing characters with realistic concerns and situations that easily captivate and ensnare my interest as well as squeeze my heart. Ms. Green expertly peppers her engaging narratives with equal servings of perceptive insights and amusing slices of wry humor from a quirky and oddly interesting cast of new and familiar characters. My new favorite is Bertha – I adored her comedic deadpan humor and feistiness.

I scored big time with three fun new additions to my Brit List with plonker – a fool, servery -a counter or service hatch were food is served, and damp squib – a dud/failure/or something that doesn’t work as expected.

About the Author

Rosie has been scribbling stories ever since she was little.

Back then, they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’.

Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all – unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s series of novellas is centered around life in a village cafe. The latest, ‘A Winter Wedding at the Little Duck Pond Cafe’, is out now.

Rosie has also written a full-length, standalone book, ‘Snowflakes over Moondance Cottage’, out now.

Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

 

 

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Book Review: The Sea of Lost Girls by Carol Goodman

The Sea of Lost Girls
by Carol Goodman

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU / 

B&N / HarperCollins

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 3, 2020)

In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier, Shari Lapena, and Michelle Richmond comes a new thriller from the bestselling author of The Lake of Dead Languages—a twisty, harrowing story set at a prestigious prep school in which one woman’s carefully hidden past might destroy her future.

Tess has worked hard to keep her past buried, where it belongs. Now she’s the wife to a respected professor at an elite boarding school, where she also teaches. Her seventeen-year-old son, Rudy, whose dark moods and complicated behavior she’s long worried about, seems to be thriving: he has a lead role in the school play and a smart and ambitious girlfriend. Tess tries not to think about the mistakes she made eighteen years ago, and mostly, she succeeds.

And then one more morning she gets a text at 2:50 AM: it’s Rudy, asking for help. When Tess picks him up she finds him drenched and shivering, with a dark stain on his sweatshirt. Four hours later, Tess gets a phone call from the Haywood school headmistress: Lila Zeller, Rudy’s girlfriend, has been found dead on the beach, not far from where Tess found Rudy just hours before.

As the investigation into Lila’s death escalates, Tess finds her family attacked on all sides. What first seemed like a tragic accidental death is turning into something far more sinister, and not only is Tess’s son a suspect but her husband is a person of interest too. But Lila’s death isn’t the first blemish on Haywood’s record, and the more Tess learns about Haywood’s fabled history, the more she realizes that not all skeletons will stay safely locked in the closet.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I could feel the waves of emotion radiating off her like blast waves from an explosion.

 

It’s called a tuck box, my mother had told me, it’s what all the kids take to boarding school. As if I were going to Hogwarts and not being sent away in shame.

 

It’s the quickest, lightest touch of the lips on mine, but it shifts something in me, like the moon pulling an internal tide.  

  

My Review:

 

Goodreads lists twenty-four novels after this talented wordsmith’s name, and shame on me, this is the first one I have chanced to pick up. It was fantastic! The premise and writing style were gripping, unfailingly intriguing, super twisty.   The compelling storylines hosted a bevy of unlikable yet curiously enticing and prickly characters that kept my curiosity lashed to a well-honed edge and made me itch, as they were either close to or well over the edge of being… icky, but that was not always readily apparent.   I cringed, flinched, chewed my cuticles and wanted to hiss at any interruption that dared to disrupt my perusal. Sigh, Ms. Goodman has a rabid fangirl on her hands. More, please!

I was provided with a review copy of this unusually absorbing tale by HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

About the Author

Carol Goodman is the critically acclaimed author of fourteen novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages and The Seduction of Water, which won the 2003 Hammett Prize. Her books have been translated into sixteen languages. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family, and teaches writing and literature at the New School and SUNY New Paltz.

Find out more about Carol on her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

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Book Review: The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn

The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant
by Kayte Nunn

Amazon US / UK / CA / AU /

B&N / HarperCollins

 Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 3, 2020)

A cache of unsent love letters from the 1950s is found in a suitcase on a remote island in this mysterious love story in the tradition of the novels by Kate Morton and Elizabeth Gilbert.

1951. Esther Durrant, a young mother, is committed to an isolated mental asylum by her husband. Run by a pioneering psychiatrist, the hospital is at first Esther’s prison but soon surprisingly becomes her refuge.

2018. Free-spirited marine scientist Rachel Parker embarks on a research posting in the Isles of Scilly, off the Cornish coast. When a violent storm forces her to take shelter on a far-flung island, she discovers a collection of hidden love letters. Captivated by their passion and tenderness, Rachel determines to track down the intended recipient. But she has no idea of the far-reaching consequences her decision will bring.

Meanwhile, in London, Eve is helping her grandmother, a renowned mountaineer, write her memoirs. When she is contacted by Rachel, it sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to reveal secrets kept buried for more than sixty years.

With an arresting dual narrative that immediately captivates the reader, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant is an inspirational story of the sacrifices made for love.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Beneath a pewter sky and afloat on an even darker sea, she was reminded of Charon, the ferryman of Hades, transporting newly dead souls across the Acheron and the Styx.

 

“You have the blood of a lizard.” He released her and placed his palm below her collarbone. “There is a stone where a heart should be.”

 

I suppose I am drawn to broken things. As a boy I loved to fix, to repair and restore. The same goes for me now, except it is people not toys.

 

It might not have been the right decision, but it was the only one I knew how to make.

 

  

My Review:

 

This expertly crafted and slowly unfolding tale was a heart-squeeze and a half, and I didn’t mind that one bit. Spanning two timelines over sixty years apart, this engaging book was a hybrid of genres being equal parts women’s fiction, mystery, and historical fiction. The plot was intriguing, multi-layered, well nuanced, and deftly paced. I was captivated by these complex characters as well as Ms. Nunn’s smoothly rendered writing style, which was poignant, insightful, and hit all the feels. My attention and curiosity were well and truly captured but while my brain cells stayed abuzz, my poor coronary muscle took some abuse. But I’d gladly do it all over again and hopefully will soon as I see Ms. Nunn has a respectable listing I need to acquaint myself with.

I was provided with a review copy of this absorbing tale by TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins.

About the Author

Kayte Nunn is a former magazine and book editor, and the international bestselling author of four novels, among them The Botanist’s Daughter and The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant. Originally from Britain, she has also lived in the USA, and now resides in Australia, in Northern New South Wales, with her family.

Find out more about Kayte at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Book Review: Wildfire by Chelle Bliss

Wildfire (Men of Inked: Heatwave #3) 
by USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss

★Men of Inked Heatwave Standalone★
 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 
 


AVAILABLE NOW!

📕Print: amzn.to/2svuVMs

 

🎧 Audio News: Wildfire will be narrated by Jacob Morgan & Callie Dalton

Synopsis

Tamara Gallo knew she was missing something in life. Looking for adventure, she takes off, searching for a hot biker who can deliver more than a good time. But once inside the Disciples Compound, she may get more than she bargained for.

The badass biker thought he had everything he wanted. He had his freedom, the open road, and the brotherhood. But after being tasked with protecting an innocent, he realizes he’s missing the most important thing of all…the love of a good woman.
But can the bossy biker tame the wild child, or will she be too much for even him to handle?
Wildfire is the third book in the new steamy MC romance Men of Inked: Heatwave series by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss. If you love a dirty talkin’, tough-as-nails, smooth-as-sin bad boy with tons of heat and a wickedly wild ride, Wildfire will deliver.
 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She’s a fascinating mix of pure sweetness and total wildcat.

 I know she’s beautiful, but sometimes the deadliest things are the most appealing.

 

My Review:

 

Sizzle and snap! I fell right into this sexy and provocative Chelle Bliss vortex. My brain and sense of self were completely hijacked and I was transported into the loud and crass circle of the ever-alluring and profane Gallos as well as a mix of daunting and smexy bikers. Ms. Bliss can conjure an intoxicating, sensual, and breath-stealing escapist tale like no other as her second generation of Gallos aptly illustrate.

The sassy and impetuous Tamara Gallo went looking for an “epic adventure” and a fun fling to scratch an itch before starting her final year of college, and she certainly found one, one of Mammoth proportion.   Mammoth was Bedazzled as his sacred member had serious bling along with impressive girth and stamina.

Flaming monkey balls, this salacious and carnal story had my beloved Kindle and I both in serious danger of overheating as my faithful reader was smoking while my clammy hands gripped it tight.   I gasped and sputtered my way through while sipping a copious amount of wine and am eagerly awaiting the next installment of this beguiling and licentious guilty pleasure.

 

⬇️ Men of Inked Heatwave Series ⬇️

 

 

 

 

Meet The Author
USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She’s written over ten books and has two series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in History. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
WEBSITE – FACEBOOK – NEWSLETTER – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM

 

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Book Review: The Moonglow Sisters by Lori Wilde

The Moonglow Sisters
by Lori Wilde

HarperCollins | Amazon | B & N

 Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 3, 2020)

It’s Jill Shalvis meets Susan Mallery in this gorgeous novel by New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde about three sisters, one small town, a wedding, and the summer that changes everything.

Welcome to Moonglow Cove, Texas, a place where your neighbors know your name and the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico lap lazily against the sands. It’s a magical spot, especially in the summertime…

Once the town was the home of the Clark sisters—brought up by their grandmother at the Moonglow Inn. Nicknamed “The Moonglow Sisters”, as children they were inseparable.  Then, a wedding-day betrayal tore them apart and they scattered across the globe and away from each other.  But the sisters have at last come home…

There’s Maddie: smart, sensible, and stubborn. Shelley, who ran off to find her bliss. And Gia, a free-spirit determined to keep the peace. It’s her impending wedding that keeps them together…but Gia has a secret, and when her sisters find out all heck is going to break loose!

The Moonglow Sisters continues Lori Wilde’s trademark storytelling to create an unforgettable novel of family, betrayal, love, and second chances.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Regret tasted like burnt pennies in her mouth, and her throat clotted thick with the salty taste of grief.

… those Divas were the bomb-diggity…

Gia was feeling overlooked and incidental. “You guys always leave me out,” Gia grumbled. “Treat me like a mushroom, keep me in the dark and feed me—”

“Life is a puzzle.” Darynda backed out of the driveway. “Seems like by the time you’ve got it all together, it’s time to die.”

Contentment stole over her, and she realized she wasn’t thinking about anything. She smiled. It felt like recess. A time-out from the craziness her life had become.

My Review:

 

I thoroughly relished this cleverly plotted tale and by the end of the book, I knew this oddly enticing train wreck of a family so well I could recognize them on the street. They hadn’t always been a train wreck but they had always had issues.   Each of the three sisters had strikingly different personalities, insecurities, and looks. They had been a close unit until “the Incident with Raoul,” which mercilessly taunted me until the actual event was finally revealed.

The writing was unfailingly engaging, easy to follow, and absorbing with cleverly layered with unusual nuances and unexpected twists, as well as witty Easter Eggs of humor tucked in unexpected places to balance out the emotional tone. The cast with packed with a lively and quirky crew of secondary and tertiary characters who provided considerable levity and amusing scenarios, such as the wry banter provided by the geriatric Quilting Divas and a cameo appearance by a hapless beach bush urinator. I adored this book and felt pleasantly entertained while I also gleaned considerable new knowledge about quilting, love bombing, and kite flying – all valuable lessons. Flying pigs, it was the bomb-diggity!

I was provided with a review copy of this lively tale by HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

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About the Author

 

Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 87 works of romantic fiction. She’s a three-time Romance Writers’ of America RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award. She has won numerous other awards as well. Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie.

Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics and is also a certified yoga instructor.

A fifth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.

Find out more about Lori on her website, connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: The School of Starting Over by Lisa Swift

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The School of Starting Over 
by Lisa Swift

 

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / Kobo

 

Nell’s going back to school… but now she’s learning lessons of the heart

Reception class teacher Nell Shackleton has a plan. At least, she had until she arrived at her new home of Humblebee Farm, a dilapidated farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors. But so what if the roof’s full of holes, the back door’s hanging off and there’s a sheep in the front room? Because sometimes a new beginning means starting at the bottom… right?

Xander Scott is one of the youngest headteachers Leyholme Primary School has ever had. But managing over-zealous parents and their semi-feral kids proves a tricky task for shy Xander – as does keeping his mind on the job when his feelings for the new Reception teacher become more than strictly professional…

At 43, Nell’s new friend Stevie Madeleine has given up on love. After losing her wife, Stevie’s decided that her four-year-old daughter Milly and cocker spaniel Red are the only girls she needs in her life. That is, until larger-than-life dog-walker Deb arrives on the scene. But will the secrets of Stevie’s past stop her new romance dead in its tracks?

Meeting Xander and Stevie brings joy back into Nell’s life – but when old secrets start to surface, there may be some hard lessons to learn for them all…

A gorgeously uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy that will delight fans of Milly Johnson, Holly Martin and Heidi Swain.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

‘It’s not All Creatures Great and Small, Dad,’ she said impatiently. ‘There’s more to rural life these days than cousin marriage and cow-fisting.’

 

‘Exceptional. You know they put that on your school report once? Exceptional’ … He could remember a few choice phrases from those reports himself. It hadn’t been all exceptionals… from his Biology teacher: ‘Alexander would do rather better if he spent more time properly studying the reproductive system diagrams and less time doodling beards on the testicles’.

 

His mum was right, he was gifted. Gifted at being a little bugger.

 

‘It’s hard to feel sexy with a kid in your life, what with the endless bouts of screaming and bodily fluids. Life at home these days is like the director’s cut of The Exorcist, now with extra vomit.’ ‘You’re really not selling parenthood to me, you know.’ ‘Good. Save yourself, love, while you still can.’

 

‘Sometimes it feels like there must’ve been some sort of special lesbian school that all the others had access to but me. You know, like a gay Hogwarts.’ ‘What, you mean you didn’t get your owl-delivered letter letting you know you were one of the lucky few who’d been selected to fancy girls?’

 

‘Jacob’s not a kid, he’s Satan incarnate.’ … ‘I brought story books, a pan-pipe CD and some biscuits to help soothe the savage beast.’ ‘Did you bring a crucifix and a couple of gallons of holy water?’

 

‘So are you feeling broody after that?’ Nell asked Xander when they were outside. ‘Are you kidding? I’ll be booking myself in for a vasectomy next week.’

My Review:

 

I adored every perfectly chosen word of this cleverly amusing and well-crafted tale. I smirked and giggled-snorted with glee as Lisa Swift, AKA, Mary Jayne Baker is found treasure and a master storyteller.   Reading this tale was pure delight – I had a ream of exceptionally witty highlights on my Kindle and it was painful to pare the list down and decide what to include in this review. Oh happy day, a new author to add to the very top of my list of Favorite Things.

The characters were endearing, adorable, and colorfully detailed while the storylines were engaging and held my rapt attention while tickling my funny bone and teasing my curiosity in equal measure, as there was a mystery afoot and a petty and villainous bureaucrat always lurking. The banter between the main characters was quite witty and fun. The writing was simply stellar and deftly paced. I tumbled right into Ms. Swift’s story and resented all interruptions to my perusal as I didn’t want to leave it behind.   When forced away from my beloved Kindle, I found I was often smiling to myself and contemplating the characters and replaying their storylines in my head while hurriedly completing the dastardly deeds and annoying intrusions to my reading known as daily living so I could return to the far more enticing story awaiting me.

I struck gold with a massive influx of fun words for my Brit Word List with dead-man’s-bootsed – being in a situation where you can’t advance until someone else dies or retires so you can step into their position, lecky – electricity, apeth – an affectionate term for a silly or foolish person, and off your chump – crazy.

About the Author

Lisa Swift is a romance author from West Yorkshire in the UK. She is represented by Laura Longrigg at MBA Literary Agents. Her first book is due to be published by Hera Books in August 2019.

As Mary Jayne Baker, Lisa also writes romantic comedies for Aria Fiction.

Lisa is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Social Media Links

https://twitter.com/LisaSwiftAuthor

http://www.lisaswiftauthor.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/LisaSwiftWrites

 

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Book Review: The Chapel by Jess B. Moore

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The Chapel
by Jess B. Moore

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

Mallory Johansen has nearly given up on thinking she’ll get her act together – the one where she plays the part of an adult – by the time she hits thirty. As it is she’s desperate and depressed. Her only friend is leaving town, she’s paired to work with a man who can’t stand her, and she finds herself homeless. Definitely hasn’t mastered being a grown-up yet. 

Otis Bell wants nothing more than to play his guitar, book acoustic bands to perform at his upcoming music venue, and be in charge of his own life. Instead, he’s working full time in his family’s auto shop. He only owns half the supposed music venue, which stands as an abandoned church and needs more than a little work. When his best friend moves away, he’s paired with an aloof girl he’s never liked as a partner, and stretches himself thin working too many hours. 

The Chapel is the little music venue that could. Full of potential. Full of ugly carpet, peeling paint, and exhausting work. Mallie and Otis navigate their way through a fledgling partnership, trying their darnedest to get the place up and running while trying pretty hard not to fall in love in the process.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

That is never good. Never. The we need to talk and the I have to tell you something is always followed by news that you do not under any circumstances want to hear.

 

I couldn’t sit around alone for the rest of my life. I was two steps from adopting fourteen cats and giving up.

 

There was a sturdiness about Otis Bell that had always been appealing to me, and yet it was his vulnerability that did me in.

 

The truth was, I’d always been a charity case. My parents died when I was four, and from that moment on I’d been at the mercy of other people looking out for me.

 

“You’re beautiful, Mal.” … He didn’t say you look beautiful, but you’re beautiful. Somehow there was a difference, and it landed on me with substantial force.

 

 My Review:

 

I don’t know she does it but Jess B. Moore has magical skills, she writes from a dual POV with such keen insights, regardless of the age or gender, and transports me into her compellingly flawed characters’ lives as well as implanting me under their skin. I’m right there, either by their side or behind their retinas. I feel their uncertainties and annoyances while absorbing their inner musings. Her emotive tales conjure empathy and sympathy along with heart-squeezes, rapid blinking, and thoughtful reflection on her expert character development of not just the main characters but the secondary and tertiary players as well.

 

This installment featured an unlikely pair. Mallory was a fretful and fragile little bird who was riddled with insecurities and social anxiety. She strived to be independent but was in a near-constant state tension after her only friend moved hours away. She frequently felt awkward and worked at being invisible, yet she overflowed with kindness toward others. And she loved cats, how could I not adore her after she rescued an abandoned puss?   Poor Mallory had been cursed with a life-long crush on Otis, who had been a major anus toward her most of their lives. I wanted to give him more than a few swift kicks in a tender area for being such an ass, but he made up for it, eventfully, and gradually won me over when he finally stopped acting like a tool.

 

I am no fan of angst but, oddly, I don’t seem to mind at all when it comes to Ms. Moore’s captivating and perceptive scribblings.   The engaging storylines of The Chapel were relevant, original, well-crafted, and realistic, and seemed to keep me a bit on edge as Mallory was frequently tense. I enjoyed Otis’s sweetness once they fell into sync and hit their stride, and heard myself sigh contentedly at the stories end.   I can hear their fiddles, guitars, and mandolins being tuned and am already looking forward to my next trip to Bluegrass country.

About the Author

Jess B. Moore is a writer of love stories. When she’s not writing, she’s busy mothering her accomplished and headstrong children, reading obscene numbers of books, and knitting scarves she’ll likely never finish.  

Jess lives in small-town North Carolina with her bluegrass obsessed family. She takes too many pictures of her cats, thinking the Internet loves them as much as she does. She is a firm believer of swapping stories over coffee or wine, and that there should always be dark chocolate involved.  

The Fox River Romance novels combine her interests in family, music, and small towns into thoughtful tales of growing up and falling in love. These books can be read as stand-alone, or as a series starting with The Guilt of a Sparrow. 

Follow Jess on social media @authorjessb
Please consider leaving a review to let other readers know what you think!

 

Social Media Links 

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Website: https://jessbmoore.com

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Book Review: Mystery at Apple Tree Cottage (Eve Mallow Mystery #2) by Clare Chase

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Mystery at Apple Tree Cottage
(Eve Mallow Mystery #2)
by Clare Chase

Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

 

Obituary writer and amateur sleuth Eve Mallow is enjoying life in sleepy Saxford St Peter – until a mysterious murder lands right at her door…

It’s spring in Saxford St Peter – time to get back in the garden, listen to the birds, and take gentle strolls in the woods. But for some, it’s the season for murder.

Eve Mallow is relishing the gentle pace of the village until a new arrival stirs everyone up. Ashton Foley is back: a teenage tearaway turned interior designer to the stars. He’s mad, bad and dangerous to know, but charming too – as Eve herself can testify – and every house in Saxford opens its doors to him.

So when he’s found murdered in the woods near his mother’s home, Apple Tree Cottage, there’s no shortage of suspects. A jealous husband? A spurned lover? Or has someone from his past life caught up with him?

The police soon hit on a simple solution, and arrest his mother’s partner Howard. Ashton always hated him, and he bears all the marks of a recent fight. But Ashton’s mother, miles away in New Zealand, is convinced he’s innocent, and enlists Eve’s help to prove it.

There’s just one problem. Eve saw Howard sniffing around Apple Tree Cottage on the morning of the murder, and she’s fairly sure he’s guilty, too…

An unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Betty Rowlands.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

As a freelance obituary writer, she interviewed the living to unearth the secrets of the dead…

 

‘I’m sure Simon’s ready to settle down now. And he’s looked very subdued lately.’ ‘You have a vivid imagination. He looks like a dog that’s been let off the leash each time I see him.’

 

She wasn’t busy at the moment, but a fascinating obituary subject could turn up at any time. It wasn’t like you got advance notice.

 

Still, he seems like a nice guy, not like he’s portrayed in the press. I’d guess he works hard at his bad-boy image, then goes home and brews up a cocoa.

 

I know what you’re thinking. I can see it in your face. Nothing would delight you more than having me as a houseguest, but you can’t imagine how to express your thanks. Well, don’t worry, you don’t have to. I want to come. If any dodgy characters turn up on your doorstep, I can frighten them away with my violent hair colour.

 

Villagers at the ready! Deploy!

 

He might not be chatty, but he’s easy on the eye. And great with a hoe. So there you are, double benefits. Nice scenery, which will lead to nice scenery.

  

My Review:

 

This engaging cozy mystery was a proper conundrum and complete head-scratcher with a full slate of suspects for such a small village. There appeared to be ample circumstantial evidence to put several under suspicion, yet no actual proof on anyone. Color me intrigued. I delighted in this amusing and observantly insightful tale with clever and generous servings of wry humor along with well-paced tidbits and red herrings that had my cynical nature spinning in all directions.

Ms. Chase’s character development continually comes up aces with dynamic and well-honed descriptions and colorful personality traits.   I have yet to decide on my favorite, between the vivacious Viv and ever-curious Eve, they are still neck and neck and tied for the top spot.

Clare Chase writes women sleuth mysteries. After graduating from London University with a degree in English Literature, Clare moved to Cambridge and has lived there ever since. She’s fascinated by the city’s contrasts and contradictions, which feed into her writing. She’s worked in diverse settings – from the 800-year-old University to one of the local prisons – and lived everywhere from the house of a Lord to a slug-infested flat. The terrace she now occupies, with her husband and teenage children, presents a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.