BOUGHT/ BOOK REVIEW- Poodle Versus The Assassin (Cottage Country Cozy Mysteries # 1) by Anne Shillolo

   

Small-town action, zany characters, and a Nasty Small Poodle will capture your heart! The mayor has been killed, and 50-something newspaper publisher Zora Flynn might be next. But Rocco, her pampered prince of a poodle, is her secret weapon. Can he sniff out a killer before Zora becomes the next victim? Readers are loving this new cozy mystery series. “This was a fun read and a clever mystery. I loved it from start to finish!” Book 1 of a continuing series.

 

BOUGHT@ 

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 

 What a quirky book.  Zora does often find herself in some embarrassing situations but they are also funny.  She also has a fashion statement all her own, which I liked.  It just showed how she marched to her own drummer.  And how the author writes about Zora's views of her dog is hilarious. 

Rocco was a small poodle-bichon cross, who has quite the personality.  He's a tiny trouble starter at times, Zora nicknamed him, The Prince.  

I will mention that the setting for the story is in a different country than the U.S.  Meaning some of the terms I was unfamiliar with.  BUT, it was easy enough to figure out so that shouldn't be a problem for other readers either.

There are plenty of suspects and I have to admit that a few times I got a bit lost with so many.  However, everything does get sorted out after some dangerous moments.  

Although I liked this story, I can't say it was a favorite. 

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Highlander's Kilted Bride (Clan Kendrick) by Vanessa Kelly

  

Romance

The youngest brother in Clan Kendrick has become a charismatic force in his own right—especially when the perfect woman gallops into his life—in the latest novel in USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly’s sparkling Scottish Regency series.

Charlotte “Charlie” Stewart would rather don a kilt and ride her horse than simper in a ballroom. But with her younger sister about to be wed, she can’t escape the pressure to be next. A husband has been chosen, and Charlie’s fate seems set. Until an afternoon gallop sends her horse colliding with Kade Kendrick, the broad-shouldered Highlander who was once her childhood pal . . .

As a youth, Kade felt overshadowed by his older siblings. Now he’s a renowned musician whose fame provides cover for his other work—as a spy. Home from his latest mission, he’s annoyed to be roped into attending the wedding of a family friend—until it reunites him with the fearless tomboy who has become a breathtaking beauty. And though his thoughts should be on a new concerto, Kade is soon distracted by rival suitors, a dangerous quest—and the unconventional woman who fills his soul with music and his body with desire . . . 

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

Both Charlie and Kade were easy to like beginning from their childhood friendship to their present day lives.   Each in their own way didn't fit the mold of what most people expected them to be, especially free spirited Charlie.  Her family couldn't figure her out and for the most part didn't like her ways.  Oh, they loved her but find her odd too.  

Kade is and has always been loved by his family but they were often overprotective because of his being so sick as a youth.   They still see his as that "lad" who needs to be coddled for being frail.  Only a few of his family see that he has changed, although they still desire to protect him.  

Charlie spends a fair amount of time amused by the antics of Kade's family and she really likes them.  His family likes her too.  Charlie also spends a fair amount of time apologizing for her family's antics.  Which really isn't needed as Kade tells her often.  He teases her that her family's antics are mild compared to his family and that amuses Him !

 The only downside for me was that there were several subjects that felt over done. Meaning that it just kept going back over more than I personally needed it to. 

Plenty of hi-jinks follow with some dangerous ones as well.   Charlie leads everyone on a merry chase at times but Kade is happy to follow after her.

Everything comes to a good ending with a H.E.A. Epilogue to finish it off. 

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

NETGLALLEY

BOOK REVIEW- Burning Justice (K-9 Special Ops # 2) by Tee O'Fallon

  

Romance

Description

After narrowly surviving a childhood fire that killed two of his friends, ATF Special Agent Brett Tanner knows what it’s like to get too close to the flame. The trauma only spurs him and his K-9 partner to track down the arsonists targeting a Colorado town. This latest warehouse blaze looks suspicious as hell…and there’s a body. Now it’s murder.

Fiercely independent insurance investigator Gemma Scott has been burned enough times to know she doesn’t need anyone—especially a handsome agent with an agenda. Teaming up with the hardened and determined ATF agent means not just trusting her instincts…it also means trusting him.

Now they’re racing against an arsonist with a lethal agenda—one who’s willing to burn and kill to hide the evidence. But the killer is only part of a larger mystery. And the searing attraction between Gemma and Brett adds fuel to an already dangerously lethal fire. One that will smoke out a killer…along with Brett’s darkest secret. 

Each book in the K-9 Special Ops series is STANDALONE

AMAZON LINK 

 3.5 STARS

I'm having a hard time rating this book.  To best honest, I had some parts I liked and others that felt like for me, they dragged the the story down. 

One of those things was all of the technical information about fires and some of the techniques and chemicals. Some of it was important to build a good foundation.  It's clear that the author did their research but after awhile, it felt it kind of crowded the people a bit.  I could have done with a bit less of that.  Also, giving the author credit for good world building, once again for me, it was a lot.  For the same reasons that I mentioned before.

Okay, now that said all of that, I did think Brett and Gemma were good main characters.  While Blaze, the K9 partner to Brett, manages to steal quite a few scenes.  In the best possible ways. to my way of thinking.

Brett and Gemma's first meeting at a fire does not go well.   They were two strong, skilled people.  What Gemma didn't realize at first is that he wasn't afraid to give a woman the credit she was due.  What a radical but welcome change that was for her.  

Clever "monsters" have them chasing their tails for quite a while but the team of Brett, Gemma and Blaze wouldn't give up.  But it sure stirs up a lot of emotions now and from their pasts.

It comes to an explosive ending with a H.E.A. for now.  

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” 

-NETGALLEY-

BOOK REVIEW- Protecting Rebel by Katie Reus

 

Romance

 Author note: this may be read as a stand-alone in the Red Stone Security series, complete with HEA and no cliffhanger.

Description

They’ve been friends since they were kids…
Protecting Rebel by Katie Reus
Musical superstar Rebel doesn’t have many people in her life she trusts. The majority have always wanted something from her; fame, money, influence. She’s learned to keep her protective walls high, but it’s made having a real life impossible. Then a funeral sends her home and into the arms of her childhood friend who protected her from danger when they were young—the only man she’s ever truly wanted.

But he’s always wanted more than friendship…

Billionaire Weston Davis is stunned when Rebel shows up to his aunt’s funeral. They’ve stayed in touch over the years but he always thought she was with someone and out of his league. When he discovers she’s single, the billionaire knows it’s time to make his move. But danger strikes before he can, and keeping her safe is the only thing that matters. The threat is closer than anyone imagined, and Weston will do whatever it takes to protect the woman who stole his heart so many years ago. 

AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

Rebel and Weston make for really interesting main characters.  What a rock solid history that they had.   And after they had to go their own separate ways for a while, they still stayed in contact.  They had each other's back, and encouraged each other throughout it all.  

 Rebel's home life was a one of neglect and some dangers too.  Often she was afraid to go to sleep because of her mother's offensive boyfriends.  Weston and his Aunt Margaret became her safe place.  They had opened her house to here a long time ago and she spent more here than at with her mother.  This really was her home and both Weston and Margaret both encouraged her to follow her dreams.  They both recognized her talent and knew she would hit it big.

Weston was such a sweet man when it came to Rebel.  And he'd been sweet on her for years.  But he wasn't going to hold her back from her dreams. While sweet to her, Weston was also a tough nut to crack by people other than his friends.  I enjoyed how much he tried to help her and protect her even without her knowing the full extent of that.   Weston had developed some awesome skills and contacts as well.

Rebel's success of course caused jealousies and stalkers.  All of that kept things really moving.  I was surprised that the one person that I was suspecting managed to be overlooked.  Even with Weston's superb protection and investigating still managed to miss it there. 

Everything comes to a spectacular ending and I really liked that !

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

-NETGALLEY-

BOOK REVIEW- Hit & Run (PASS Series #1) by Freya Barker

     

Returning home to Grand Junction would not have been Rosie Perkins’ first choice, but with her mother no longer able to take care of herself, it’s the only one she has. As is working the night shift at a local hotel to bring in a much-needed income.

Rosie juggles to keep all the pieces of her life together and has no room to add anything more. One morning after a long shift, when she witnesses a hotel guest crash into a dumpster, her careful control starts to unravel.

Security specialist, Jake Hutchinson, has his hands full protecting the arrogant lead actor of a movie being filmed in town. Since the production company and crew arrived at the hotel, the entitled star has been nothing but trouble.
The only thing that can improve his mood is the occasional nightly glimpse of the redheaded housekeeper.

Until he finds himself trapped between desire and duty.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

This story pulled me in so quickly.  That surprised me a bit. I didn't know I was going to like it so much.  Mainly I think because I liked both Rosie and Jake so much as I got to learn more about each of them.

Rosie's mom, Connie has moments of clarity from her disease but when she does she's mean as a snake.  That seems to be her normal setting when speaking to or about Rosie.  But Rosie is there for her mom every step of the way even as hard as that has been.  With her life so out of control, it's shown pretty well why she is exhausted.

Rosie's best friend Grant Peabody was a hoot ! I didn't know going in that he was gay and that might be a problem for some of us. His really is a good guy, with a smart mouth which is funny so much of the time.  He helps Rosie as much as he can and knows how to charm Connie. 

Jake was an interesting person as well.  The company that works for and is a part of, PASS stands for Protection and Security Services.  Run by two brother, Yanis (his boss) and Damis Mazur.  Jake is more than just an employee. The Mazur family had brought him in as a brother from   another mother years ago.  The Mazur brothers are not a silent part of the story but are quite good.  Dimas is not afraid to poke some good humored fun at Jake.  Jake missed out on a lot of growing up normal things having lost his parents really young.  Rosie is about to turn his world upside down but he doesn't know that right away. Danger keeps finding Rosie like a heat seeking missile and she can't figure out why.  

There's plenty of action in the story with some of it being caused by the trouble finding actor that Jake is protecting.  There's several different things going on and that kept me interested.  But then so did the people in the story too and not just the main characters.

A moral issue comes up because of the death of a homeless man and he never really gets justice.  It was good to see that some of the people struggled with that.  In the long run though other people get helped because of that unidentifiable homeless man.  

Everything comes to a good conclusion with an enjoyable Epilogue leading into a sneak peek of the story about Dimas. It looks good and something I might follow up on.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

- NEWSLETTER-   

BOOK REVIEW- In His Sights by Leah Ashton

     

It started with a marriage proposal - but ended with a bomb.

Tick…

…It was just a normal lunchbreak

If Lauren ignored the unworn engagement ring in her handbag. But she’d had to say no to Seth, even though it broke her heart.

Tick…

…He was no ordinary sniper

All Seth had needed to say was I love you, Lauren, to salvage his f-ed up proposal - but far too many buried secrets had kept him silent.

Boom…

…This couldn’t be the end

Held hostage by a crazed bomber in the centre of Perth, Lauren knows Seth is watching through the scope of his rifle. But is there enough time for Seth and Elite SWAT to save her and the other hostages before another bomb explodes?

 

 

Although it had it's moments, I can't say that it really grabbed me. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed that the story jumped right into a very detailed sexual encounter between Seth and Lauren. Yes, it becomes clear that they have been together for 18 months and this wasn't their first time together. However, that did throw me off balance as I read the story and this isn't the only detailed sexual scene. Well written sure but more than I wanted to read.
The best part for me was the scenes where the team has to go out to fight against the bomber and find Lauren is right in the middle of it all. While on the job Seth and Lauren work together seamlessly. Lauren shows some really unexpected strengths right there. But the problem off the job in his relationship are things that Seth still had to work out.
Of course there is more emotion to the story that gets worked though and there is a H.E.A.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

-NEWSLETTER-

BOOK REVIEW- The Duke's Best Friend (The Duke's Estates # 5) by Jane Ashford

   

Romance

Description

What's a lady to do when the man standing in her way might also be the man of her dreams?

Henry Deeping and Kate Meacham seem to clash every time they meet. Kate is frustrated by the change in her status following the death of her grandfather, a legendary figure in diplomatic circles. As a lone single woman, she is now effectively nobody, even though she knows everyone and has made important contributions to diplomacy in the past. Henry, just joining the Foreign Office, is wondering how to make his mark.

They agree to an exchange—Henry will serve as Kate's escort to important events to which she is no longer invited, and Kate will introduce him to the important people she knows so well. But when they spot a foreign agent they thought had been apprehended, they decide to investigate on their own, enlisting a motley group of friends and relying on each other to uncover the truth…

AMAZON LINK 

3.5 STARS

While this was a well written book with good world building, I didn't like it as much as I had hoped.  It did have it's good points though, and most of them I felt had to be with the people themselves.  

It's pretty clear fairly early on that you underestimate Kate at your own risk. I liked the clever idea of Kate and Miss Daphne Palliser basically thumbing their nose to societies restrictions by living together.  Each would be the chaperone for the other.  Which they thought a ridiculous need, since they were smart, resourceful adult women not children. I liked Daphne and found her as unusual and resourceful as Kate.

What a creep Jerome Delaroche was, a thankless interfering one that Kate had thought had her back.  He thought she expected marriage, while she had looked at him as a faithful brother.  He proved to be a snob, social climber who thought needed no one's help.  He actually resents the help that she gave him. She's the one that gave him his boost in his job. 

Another person I didn't like was Henry's Uncle Brinsley.  He might have been a power in the Foreign Office with years of experience, but still he just expected everyone to bow to his wishes.  Well, he expected Kate to fade away but she wasn't one to meekly follow.  One of my favorite things is a statement made by Daphne.  She basically said, that power is not given but taken.  That also set Kate's thinking in a new way and operating.   

I have to say that Henry just might have been born before his time  He was not trying to hold Kate back from who she was.   I liked that.  In fact, he found her fascinating as he got to know her more.  He saw how clever she was and liked it even though others didn't.  They began to work together as a good team.

It does have a good ending and epilogue with a unexpected way to the H.E.A. ending for Kate and Henry.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 -NETGALLEY-

HOOPLA/ BOOK REVIEW- Cold Snap by Toni Anderson

      

Evidence that a notorious criminal is hiding out in a small, seaside town in rural Maine leads to an FBI agent going undercover in this new Romantic Thriller from New York Times bestselling author Toni Anderson.

Grady Steel returns to the insular community of Deception Cove, Maine, where he spent his troubled youth unfairly labeled the town’s bad boy. Now a member of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, Grady is on a risky undercover mission, hunting one of the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives.

Recovering from a broken marriage, Brynn Webster comes home to the sleepy small town—where nothing ever happens—to help her parents run their seaside cafe during her mother’s illness. After diving into the frigid waters of the winter harbor to rescue a dead man, Brynn begins to realize that the ocean isn’t the only place swirling with dangerous undercurrents.

Grady befriends the pretty manager of the local cafe in an effort to unearth the town’s closely guarded secrets. Deceiving Brynn isn’t easy, though, especially when he starts to fall for her. Then, when decades-old crimes lead to modern-day murder, Grady’s mission becomes a race against time as he strives to catch a ruthless killer—before Brynn becomes the next victim.

AMAZON LINK

5+ STARS

Grady Steele was a great main character.  Someone who gets dragged into a dangerous, serious  investigation without prior heads-up or even his permission.  The way that FBI Agent Ropero and Agent Dobson marched him out of a HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) briefing was so unfair. Remember the name, Eli Kane because that's the name of who they are searching for. 

There is a couple of flashbacks to 27 years ago.  Usually I don't enjoy switching back and forth between past and present.  However, this was very well done and was a good foundation that I liked.

I will say though that the early days of Eli Kane include some very serious details of some sex parties that I didn't like.  Hoping that only adults would be reading or could kind of skip over those parts, because the actual rest of the story was outstanding. 

Coming back to Grady's childhood home is hell on earth for him.  And it's not going to get any better.
His former friend/nemesis is Sheriff Darrell York, who would like nothing better than to put the cuffs on him and drag him to jail permanently.   What a "dog" he was.  He was married but still chasing after a VERY uninterested Brynn Webster.  And abuse of power?  Yes, pencil his name into the dictionary for that description also the fact that he's inept at his job. It definitely stirred my emotions to want to see him caught and forced to face his actions.

Grady's sister Crystal HATES him with a passion and he doesn't know why.  He's never really done anything to her.  We'll find out why later.  There are a few people in town that stand up for him though which I liked when it happened.
Brynn Webster, what a great but ill-used woman.  Her ex-husband left her self-confidence and trust so low.  Some many people of the town looked at her with pity but also being a small town were eager to get more insider gossip.  She had courage, loyalty, integrity and she cared about people. Someone that made me want to see win especially having someone who truly loved her.  A friendship develops between her and Grady, and a romance blooms too. Because of secrets you know that's going to have some serious problems. Just to let you know that isn't the only problems cropping up in Deception Cove, Maine.  What an appropriate name for this town because there is plenty of deception going on.

''Cowboy'', Ryan Sullivan is not only a HRT member but also Grady's best friend.  Ryan shows up with another HRT member Donnelly for undercover backup.  They kept things interesting.

What a stunning conclusion with surprises when it comes to the identity of the former Eli Kane. Never saw that coming.  And it's just the first of MANY revelations and the "hits" just kept coming. Following those revelations is plenty of pain for several people. There is a H.E.A for Brynn and Grady  which put a smile on my face.

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App

BOOK REVIEW- Texas Bodyguard: Chance (San Antonio Security#4) -by Janie Crouch

      

 From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

 She has secrets she prefers to keep hidden.
Too bad he’s so good at getting to the truth.

When a violent attack puts Maci Ford in the hospital, security expert Chance Patterson learns that she’s carrying his baby. Even though she ended their relationship, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect her and their child. But, as her stalker’s behavior escalates, Chance can’t shake the feeling that Maci is still hiding something from him…

AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

Having read the other books in the series, the clash of the "titans", Chance and Maci is something that I've been looking forward to.  Even if it's a new reader, it shouldn't be a problem diving into this book.  There's just enough background of their family and previous challenges to make a solid foundation.  Having said that though, reading the other books would give even more depth to the experience. 

Chance has been a care-taker for years, even years before he should have had to.  When he loves someone he wants to be there to take care of them.   He wishes that Maci would just allow him to do that and get closer.  As much as Maci wishes things could be different, her past makes her fear the worst.  She is different from Chance because she has never had anyone in her corner.  She's had to walk through life alone.  She adores Chance's brothers and the rest of his family, but fears if they knew her secrets they would abandon her.  Chance's brothers, mother and dad do add a lot to the story too.

I really like how it was mentioned that when Chance and Maci were fighting each other verbally in the office, that was their form of flirting.  It made me smile that others recognized that but they didn't.
The stalker angle was really a different one from others that I have read.  The one step ahead idea has been used before.  But this villain being a step ahead was a bit different, and  it's not exactly happening like you would think.  The author takes you on a ride when it comes to twists and turns and the final reveal of the true villain.  
I enjoyed how the story ended and that it included a good Epilogue to wrap things up.
 
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

 

FIRST READS/ In the Likely Event by [Rebecca Yarros]

    

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing, Rebecca Yarros, comes a sweeping romance about the sustained power of chance encounters.

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful.

Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now.

Just ninety seconds after takeoff, their plane goes down in the Missouri River.

Their lives change. They change. Nate goes on to a career in the military while Izzy finds her way into politics. Despite a few chance encounters over the years, the timing never feels right.

Then comes a high-stakes reunion in Afghanistan, where Nate is tasked with protecting Izzy’s life.

He’ll do anything to keep her safe. And everything to win her heart.

AMAZON LINK 

 5 STARS

Although I'm not really a fan of a story being switched back and forth between the past and the present, this is well done.  Which is about the only time that I find it somewhat easier to work with. That said, this is one intense story with outstanding main characters and some pretty good secondary people as well.  Getting both Izzy and Nate's points of view also gets a plus in my review.  It's so well done too, full of feel-able emotion.

I really enjoyed the fact that neither Izzy or Nate were perfect people.  Their first meeting on the plane was unique and I liked how ditzy Izzy seemed.  That she babbled when nervous and that she forgot her  ADHD medicine in her rush to get to the plane that she feared getting on.   She has no idea that things are about to get worse.  Izzy had quite the odd parents who really weren't there for her much unless it benefited their photo opp. But her sister Serena was ALWAYS there for her.  They were each others support system. 

Nate might not have been in the military yet, but he sure helped a lot. He was pretty pulled together when it came to surviving that plane crash.   That smartness, and calmness is going to a big help as he survives the places the military sends him.  He makes some solid friends as well. He's learned to keep his emotions and parts of his life compartmentalized.  He learned that as a child in a dysfunctional household.  That also made him very observant of things around him  almost all the time. 

 The romance between Izzy and Nate was outstandingly NOT normal.  They snatched what time they could together.  Then things would happen to cause an upheaval and years would separate them. Although we knew that the love was still there.  Then things get REALLY intense was they are thrown together in a war torn unstable country and it stays that way until the ending chapters.  

The ending allowed me to release the breath that I was holding. So yes, the story got a hold of me even more than I thought it was going to. 

I was able to read this story through Amazon First Reads and these are my honest thoughts about it.

Singing Builds Your Immune System - Dr. Gundry MD

Singing Builds Your Immune System - Dr. Gundry MD: I have followed this non-traditional heart surgen for many years, and we have purchased a number of his natural health products. Learn about Dr. Gundry here. Below is one of his very interesting articles. Dr. Steve Gundry MD Singing out loud is one of the BEST ways to quickly boost your health. Yep, whether it’s an old classic that “takes you back” or a new song you can’t get out of your head

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (# 3 of the Rules of Scoundrels series) by Sarah MacLean

   Great main characters filled with plenty of emotions.  Some of them being guilt, and regrets by both The plot was excellent with plenty of unpredictable actions.

A rogue ruined . . .
He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London's corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he's dreamed of . . . absolution.
A lady returned . . .
Mara planned never to return to the world from which she'd run, but when her brother falls deep into debt at Temple's exclusive casino, she has no choice but to offer Temple a trade that ends in her returning to society and proving to the world what only she knows...that he is no killer.
A scandal revealed . . .
It's a fine trade, until Temple realizes that the lady-and her past-are more than they seem. It will take every bit of his strength to resist the pull of this mysterious, maddening woman who seems willing to risk everything for honor . . . and to keep from putting himself on the line for love.

AMAZON LINK 

4.5 STARS

 Great main characters filled with plenty of emotions.  Some of them being guilt, and regrets by both Mara and Temple. The plot was excellent with plenty of unpredictable actions.

Temple had more friends who cared for him than he realized.  Most of them from the gambling hell that he was a part of.  The men of society refused to acknowledge the Killer Duke but they sure didn't hesitate to try to make money off of him as he fought in the ring.  He was unbeatable.  He'd lived a tough life after being thrust out of his cushy life as a duke. 

But life had also been tough for Mara as well and she'd developed a backbone of steel when she needed it.   Her love and care for the boys at her orphanage was clear to see and she would do whatever she needed to do to make them cared for.  And that's how she ended back up in Temple's life. Things get interesting although not easy from there.  And her brother only added to her troubles. 

After many twists and turns, they manage to get their stuff together.  I liked how everything ended followed up by a good Epilogue as well.
It kept my interest all the way through.

I read a copy of this book through the HOOPLA Library App.
 

 

BOOK REVIEW- An Evil Heart(Kate Burkholder# 15) by Linda Castillo

 

 Mystery & Thrillers 

 Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of a young Amish man in An Evil Heart, the latest installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.

On a crisp autumn day in Painters Mill, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder responds to a call only to discover an Amish man who has been violently killed with a crossbow, his body abandoned on a dirt road. Aden Karn was just twenty years old, well liked, and from an upstanding Amish family. Who would commit such a heinous crime against a young man whose life was just beginning?
The more Kate gets to know his devastated family and the people—both English and Amish—who loved him, the more determined she becomes to solve the case. Aden Karn was funny and hardworking and looking forward to marrying his sweet fiancé, Emily. All the while, Kate’s own wedding day to Tomasetti draws near...

But as she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Is it possible the rumors are a cruel campaign to blame the victim? Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance, sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach.

The case spirals out of control when a young Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the awful truth is finally uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places.

AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

What a story this was and the opening scenes of the first attack was truly brutal and cold blooded.  Kate has no idea how truly twisted this crime is going to turn into, with so many layers.  Secret after secret will have to be unraveled and it won't be easy.  It continued to surprise me which as a reader I really like.  She also has a really good team of people working with her.  Not just her own in her department but also other law enforcement departments come alongside to help.  I enjoyed their interactions with Kate with many that had actually become friends.  Even the coroner, Doc was an unusual character who was as skilled as he was unique.

There is plenty of emotions shown and not only by the shocked community.  Kate is still dealing with some of her own emotions with having been a former Amish person.  Her romance and upcoming wedding with Tomasetti was so good. He accepted her for who she was and so often was a steadying influence when she needed it.  They knew each other so well, that it was easy for them to know what the other needed and when they needed it.  I enjoyed that.  And if I haven't said it yet, I really liked BOTH of them as a couple and main characters.

Just like the opener of the story being a shocker, prepare yourself for a shocker of an ending. I dare anyone to say it was easy to figure how things were going to end. 

They will fight through stuff to get there but there will be a wedding.  And it's a sweet one at that !It added a great note to the end of the story.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Countdown (Extreme Measures#4) by Lynette Eason

  

Christian , Women's Fiction 

Description

A stalker who wants to finish what he started. A US Marshal who's vowed to protect his charge. And one woman who is determined to put the past in the past.


Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to do it.

AMAZON LINK

4.5 STARS

What a well put together story with a well of emotions to go with it.  Pure terror being a part of it.   Raina has been on the run for SO many years, afraid to put people she loves at risk.  Many people in her life wanted to help but she learned the hard way that it was a horrible danger to anyone who tried. The fear and the threats were real.  There were some people had been injured and some actually killed when they tried to help.

Vincent/Vince what a great guy he is.  Of course, he carries wounds of his own but he wants to help Raina so bad.  If only he can get past her walls and get her to trust him.  He is so tender with her, knowing when to step back and when to push just enough.  His skill and contacts that go with his job are things that enable him to help her more.

And boy if she going to need his help.  In fact they are going to need each other and others as the attacks increase.  The mystery of who Kevin really is takes quite a while to figure out.  Because when she survived his initial attack, no one could find him anywhere.  With good reason, he was a clever evil guy.  Someone one determined to find her and punish her for leaving.  But there's even more at stake than just her life.

There is an explosion of exposed secrets, dangers and some unexpected people in the mix towards the end.  What a great way to end that part.  The romance, also friends and family members bring a smile-worthy end to the story too.

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

 

-NETGALLEY-

 

BOOK REVIEW- The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

  

A Thriller

A cryptic murder pulls a former soldier turned financial analyst deep into the corruption and menace that prowl beneath the opulent world of finance, in #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci’s new thriller.

Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead.

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bull’s-eye.

 

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 

I have to admit that the book title got my instant attention.  Making me wonder what on earth that could mean. This really was a good story with incredible depths.  Travis Devine was someone who I wanted to see win against multiple people who were lining up against him.  And I have to say, poor Travis because he had people running him in circles.  It was hard to figure out who was friend or foe. Plus people were dropping like flies. I was just hoping that he made it out alive.  That's going to be extremely dicey.

The mysteries (because there was more than one) ran deep. 

The only thing that I didn't enjoy as much was so much of the technical stuff, the financial stuff that was needed for the story. 

However, the ending was a humdinger, which I liked.  With the door wide open for more adventures.  

I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App

 

BOOK REVIEW- Not That Duke (A Would-Be Wallflowers #3 )by Eloisa James

   

General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance  

Description

The Duke of Huntington has no interest in an eccentric redhead who frowns at him over her spectacles…until he realizes that she is the only possible duchess for him. A new enemies-to-lovers romance by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James.

Bespeckled and freckled, Lady Stella Corsham at least has a dowry that has attracted a crowd of fortune-hunting suitors—which definitely doesn’t include the sinfully handsome Silvester Parnell, Duke of Huntington, who laughingly calls her “Specs” as he chases after elegant rivals.

And then—

The worst happens. Marriage.

To the duke. To a man marrying her for all the wrong reasons.

How can Silvester possibly convince Stella that he’s fallen in love with the quirky woman he married? Especially after she laughingly announces that she’s in love—but not with that duke.

Not with her husband.

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 It felt like this author really nailed it when it came to the rigidness of the society of those times.  And what society thought about just about everything. Also what they deemed what was was outside of their mold of what was acceptable. Stella fit in to none of those  So many times she is made to feel like less, a second choice at best, if even chosen at all.  She was definitely an "original". A intelligent woman, with a kind heart.  I really liked her and even more when she was gutsy. 

 The friendly arguing between Stella and Silvester made for some fun times.  He is highly competitive which we get to see bites him in the butt.  Stella had been secretly attracted to Silvester but she also knew most of the women of the ton were too.  At least she had a friendship with him.  That is until she learned of a careless comment that he made when he joined in others laughing about her.  That was like cold water in her face, and she began to see him more of his actual flaws.  I did like Silvester, except for that shortcoming.  But I also began to like him better when he began to grow up  more when criticized. He's beloved by just about everybody so the only people to really call him on any behavior is Stella and his mother.  

Let's talk about Silvester's mother.  What a straight-forward woman. Okay she was blunt.  I really enjoyed her unique personality and what others considered her wacky ways.  She was smart as a whip though and not just about inventions but also people.  

There were plenty of emotions in the story without being mushy.  A entitled woman whose mouth knows no end of insults and had no restraint.  New friendships are also formed with Silvester's mother also being firmly in Stella's corner.  It was good that his mother did love him even though when he was growing up, there was some lack in her mothering. 

For me, the thing I liked best was all of the different people and their interactions.  And how Stella beat them all and got her H.E.A.

It had a good ending and an even better Epilogue.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Stirring Up Trouble (Pine Mountain # 4) by Kimberly Kincaid

    

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance 

 

Description

Ingredients:

One grumpy restaurant manager desperately in need of a nanny for the thirteen-year-old half-sister he’s suddenly single parenting

One capricious, flat broke author who needs to kick her writer’s block to the curb with a one-way ticket out of town

One temporary deal that comes with some seriously distracting, seriously off-limits temptation

Mix well and watch these two go from slow burn to sizzle

Serve with a side of grumpy/sunshine, single dad + “anti” nanny workplace romance, epic flirting, and a hot and hard-fought happily ever after 

AMAZON LINK 

 3.5 STARS

I liked all three of the main characters, even as different as they were.  Sloane was different in so many ways and she'd held so many different jobs but writing was what she loved.  Her mother keeps pressuring her to settle down, be normal and get married.  That is SO outside of anything Sloane has EVER wanted.  She marches to a different drummer and she liked it that way. But being a nanny was so outside her wheelhouse. But I doubt that she's ever done anything poorly.

Gavin had also been somewhat of a free spirit until his mother got cancer and he came home to be with her and his sister, Bree. He's a smart, good at his profession and totally over his head when it comes to his sister.  There were a few times that I actually didn't like him because he was so quick to pass judgement.  He needed to listen more and get ALL the facts. But hey, he was a work in progress.

What about Bree?  The author nailed it when it came to her teenage angst and personality. The relationship misunderstandings between Gavin and Bree were totally believable. 

The book did have well done heat between Gavin and Sloane. It did make me wonder how anything would work out as a H.E.A. for all of them.

Although this book had it's moments, I can't say that it really drew me as much as I would have liked. However it did have a good ending even if it was to me somewhat predictable.

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

   -NETGALLEY-

BOOK REVIEW- Relentless Joy Finding Freedom, Passion, and Happiness (Even When You Have to Fight for It) by Rachel Joy Baribeau

   

Christian | Self-Help 

Description

Finding Joy Even When You Have to Fight for It

Do you feel like life's kind of kicking you around a bit? Do you feel yourself sinking, trying to get back to the surface but weighed down by regret, frustration, or grief? This book is for you. Or maybe life is great--the job, the kids, the house, the partner--but you want more. You know there is more joy, more abundance, more peace. This book is for you too!

Award-winning storyteller and former national sportscaster Rachel Joy Baribeau is the friendly hand reaching for you right now. She knows what those dark moments are like. And she knows the profound joy of healing and finding happiness again. With gut-level honesty, she shares her own story of changing the narrative of her life from stuck, overwhelmed, and anxious to confident in her identity and joyful in her life's purpose. Then she helps you do the same with your one precious life.

Inspired by Rachel's contagiously indomitable spirit, you'll be encourageBearcats are noted for smelling like which food?d and equipped in your journey to finding joy, peace, and inspiration in your own new narrative. Because your story's not done yet--and the best parts are yet to come.

 

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

I really enjoyed Rachel's writing style.  It almost felt like sitting down with a friend in person with her. It had a great introduction as well.

She wasn't afraid to share her personal ups and downs without leaving you feel heaviness with the down's.  I got the feel of it being real.  She's a survivor of many different things and that came across really well. She was also not afraid to laugh at herself and her humor came across too. Of extra value was some of the stories that she shared that came from other people. 

 Rachel's comment about wanting to be a Joy Starter made me smile.   And I liked that at the end of the chapters there was a Joy Start with practical ways to be interactive with the insightful questions and ideas.

Her thoughts on having No Regrets was excellent. She  mentioned that the body keeps score so holding strong feelings in, does damage the body sooner or later.  

Writing a Joy List was a great idea.  I also say that with a smile and a wink. Because a short le ago before reading this book, I had started doing that very thing. I know this book is something that I'm going to re-read from time to time and gain even more from it.

There was one phrase that brought me so much joy. "When we lean into our God-given joy, it makes the devil bellow in the halls of hell".  Let him bellow away because that's a "picture" that I can get into.

 On a side note- The author recommended a book that surprised me but I just might follow up with it."The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D."

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

FIRST READS/ JULY/ BOOK REVIEW- There's No Coming Back from This: A Novel by Ann Garvin

   

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy's a capable person—how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It's not like she has a choice; her life couldn't get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.

As a single mom, she's rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn't sew, and she doesn't know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.

Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she's always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

AMAZON LINK 

 4 STARS

How in the world am I going to be able to rate this book?  In one word it was Unusual. I was on a seesaw for a while. I went from kind of liking it, to not really liking it, back to liking it in the end. 

A lot of Poppy's problems stem from her inability to say No.  Something that she does recognize early on in the story.   It's interesting to see her work out how her people pleasing ways kept biting her in the butt.  Of course when you see how she was raised that also explained a lot.  She's a caregiver, a problem solver but usually for other people's problems not her own.  It was interesting to see her growth when it came to that. Also of interest was her relationship with her daughter, Robyn who showed up in snippets.  Kevin is also a smile-worthy character who Poppy was stuck with at first.  Kevin made me smile and so did the relationship between the two of them, as it grew. Just to be clear, Kevin is not a person but did have a personality of sorts.

It also had really good world-building with some humorous inner conversations that Poppy had. She was genuinely funny even if most people didn't get her humor.

I like a good overcoming story but Poppy had me worried about that and she had to go through a lot of humiliation along the way. 

I was hoping that the evil the evil  thief of an accountant, Dawna Klmp gets pinched and made to pay. 

There was a question or two that kept running through my mind. It was about her former lover, Herman Blatterman who she called Three.  "Is he really as good as he appears to be?  Is he now more reliable than he was in his younger years when Poppy knew him?  That question does get answered to my satisfaction. 

I really like it when the reason for a title is made clear. And towards the end the reason is made crystal clear. 

Did I like how the story ended? Yes.  That's what also helped get me back to liking it again.