BOOK REVIEW- Cold Pursuit (Ryland & St. Clair #1)by Nancy Mehl

    

Christian | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance 

 Ex-FBI profiler River Ryland still suffers from PTSD after a case went horribly wrong. Needing a fresh start, she moves to St. Louis to be near her ailing mother and opens a private investigation firm with her friend and former FBI partner, Tony St. Clair. They're soon approached by a grieving mother who wants them to find out what happened to her teenaged son, who disappeared four years ago. River knows there's almost no hope the boy is still alive, but his mother needs closure, and River and Tony need a case, no matter how cold it might be.

But as they follow the boy's trail, which gets more complicated at every turn, they find themselves in the path of a murderer determined to punish anyone who gets in his way. As River and Tony race to stop him before he kills again, an even more dangerous threat emerges, stirring up the past that haunts River and plotting an end to her future. 

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

This is a well put together Christian story.  I hope the word "Christian" doesn't put people off though.  The story was SO well done with so much depth.  Both in the main characters, River and Tony and the murderers as well.

I have to admit that this author did a good job when it comes to the creepy factor of  the murders and attempted murders.  Also there are several crimes that are revealed as River and Tony investigate their original assignment. 

I enjoyed both River and Tony flaws and all.  It was realistic that there are some physical things that they were dealing with along with so many strong  recovery emotions as well.  Adding River's mother added just one more thing to her already full plate.  

Tony has been and continues to be River's best friend and he's been faithful to that friendship. Could there ever be more to that than friendship?  Not sure about that yet.  River is going through a crisis of faith though.  Angry at God for the betrayal of her earthly father.

One thing I am sure of is that there is a satisfying conclusion to at least the assignment that River and Tony took on. They had to peel back the onion to get through the layers of deceit.  However, there is one dangerous stalker who hasn't been caught. Yet.  

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

 -NEGALLEY- 

 

BOOK REVIEW- His Klutz by Lauren Wood

 

Unexpectedly, she tripped out of thin air, yes. Thin air. Making the tray of mugs spill onto the employees making them screech from the pain of hot coffee meeting their skin.

She was different.

She was a klutz, and I completely understood what that meant. I knew I had to have her. I wanted to hear her scream my name all night and to squirm beneath me.

But I had rules to follow, to keep my heart safe.

She’s innocently dangerous.

She’s a threat to my rules and my heart.

Her baby blue eyes stared at me with innocence and fear, she awoken a beast from within me.

I was going to have her but I was torn.

Should I follow the rules that has kept my heart safe or succumb to the growing feelings I have for Lily?

It was a duel between safe and secure against love and lust.

I was the bad boy in the office and she was the klutz. 

NOT FOUND ON AMAZON SITE

 

For me, I found this book kind of disappointing. The actual idea was a good one but it just didn't fully deliver.  It felt rushed and kind of shallow but I did finish it.  The wording at times felt odd and at times confusing.  I also had to re-read several paragraphs to get any meaning out of it. 

I didn't like Ethan right off the bat, because hey, he's a bully.  Sure, we find out why he's so messed up and he turns some things around so that helped.   I will say Lily was a sweetie who put up with a lot because of her clumsiness.  They do get a happy ending together, so there is that.

I did receive a free copy of this book so that makes me happy because if I'd paid for it I would have been irritated.  Would I give this author another chance?  Maybe.  But not right away. 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Just A Lucky Break-In: A Chinese Cozy Mystery (A Lucy Fong Mystery #2) by Anne R. Tan

 

 

Part 2 of the Lucy Fong Mystery series

A dead body. A crazy chicken. And a Chinese artifact. Morro Cliff Village will never be the same again.

Lucy Fong is keeping the family's private investigation firm afloat while her mother is in a coma. When a man collapses outside the PI office, Lucy is once again drawn into another murder investigation.

Who is the dead man, and why does he have a crazy chicken in his knapsack? How did he get inside the secured building owned by Lucy's family?

It's a race against time to find the murderer before danger catches up with Lucy. Join Lucy and her friends in this fast-paced cozy mystery.

 

 AMAZON LINK

 

4 STARS

I'm back into the life of Lucy Fong and enjoying it once again. Nothing beats this quirky town and it's people.  If your expecting things to be normal in this town then you haven't read the book information closely enough.  It definitely comes into the category of a fun read.

 

I enjoyed what Stella had to say that, "And to quote your foster grandmother- we single ladies gotta make some noise."  That made me smile and really did seem to fit the mantra of PoPo and her lifestyle. One that she was passing onto Stella and Lucy.  Loved that part.  Although PoPo doesn't show up in this book, her influence is still felt. 

The story is filled with surprises, some humor and some people with their own agendas. I enjoyed how the story ended..for now.  

I see there is a mention of a Lucy Fong book #3 so yes, I will be looking for that one.

BOOK REVIEW- Montana Silence by Josie Jade

  

Raised in a cult where opinions and freedom in women were not tolerated, Mara Greene narrowly escaped a life as a child bride—one where she would’ve been shared and owned by all the men in the compound.  

Her testimony helped put the cult leader in prison, but she’s never truly gotten past the horrors inflicted on her. Her conditioning to keep silent persists even now—despite having found a safe haven at the Resting Warrior Ranch.  

Here she’s safe, but still always alone and trapped in her silence.  

Liam Anderson is always the first team member to crack a smile or a joke. No one—not even his Navy SEAL brothers—know about his painful past or the truth he hides behind his charming mask.  

He’s captivated by fragile Mara and wants to help her heal. Watching her find her voice is the most amazing thing he’s ever known. And it doesn’t take long to realize she’s healing him just as much.  

When Mara’s past resurfaces, Liam won’t let her face it alone. He’ll be her personal protector no matter what the cost.  

No one is going to steal her voice again. 

AMAZON LINK   

5 STARS

I just finished this story and am still a little bit stunned.  Because, yes it really was that good and I'm searching for words to explain it.  Emotional is such a little word to describe it ! The way Mara's scary journey into silence was shown was off the charts beginning from the very first chapter. The cults "training" was so deep within her she was still struggling just like the book information said.  But we get to see what that meant and how she wanted to be free and be herself. 

Enter Liam and how careful and tender he was with Mara.  I loved that and how they found their own way of communicating without words.   Liam had his things he's been battling but he put it all aside because of how he felt about Mara.  He was there for her, hell or high water and he proved it time and again.

Was this story depressing? No.  Was it thrilling and unpredictable? Yes.  Did Liam and Mara have a good community of people (a chosen family) there to help them? Yes. Was there some humor in the story? Yes.  Was I satisfied with the ending?  Absolutely !

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

BOOK REVIEW- Unchained Fury (Axel Blaze Thriller# 5) by Bill Runner

  

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers

Description

Sometimes, anger needs to be unleashed.

Blaze gets a call from ex-US Marshal Mitchell. He has seen two ghosts roaming the streets of San Francisco. The Cady brothers. Ruthless arms traffickers and killers Blaze and his Marshals’ team had taken out two years ago. One brother, Carson, died trying to escape. The other, Dexter, killed a Marshal and barely stayed alive, once Blaze was done with him. Dexter ended on death row, awaiting execution.

When Blaze lands in San Francisco, he discovers he and his team are on the Cadys hit list. A gang of hitmen has taken the contract. They made a mistake. When the game becomes no holds barred, when nothing is off limits, there’s nothing to hold back Blaze’s fury.

Following the success of Blaze Returns, Lethal Force, Hard Target, and Mean Streets, Bill Runner is back with the fifth novel in the Axel Blaze thriller series. The fast-paced, brutal action in the series is attracting fans of thriller novels worldwide. 

AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

The opening pages of Chapter 1 starts things out with a bang.  And the intensity just keeps on rolling. The world-building was also excellent.   Prepare yourself for a surprise twist when it comes to at least 2 people you think you've figured out.

The Cady brothers, Carson and Dexter are NOT your usual run of the mill baddies.  They've taken steps way beyond that. Clever and ruthless should be their middle names.  They think they are unstoppable but they keep forgetting about Blaze.  Well, not exactly forgotten about Blaze and his team since they are on their hit list. But they did forget how smart and ruthless Blaze could be, especially when you come after his family.  Dexter's thirst for revenge has caused him to make dangerous mistakes in the past.  Is he going to make a final mistake that will get him killed?

The intensity level holds up throughout the story as it adds more depth to the people on Blaze's team.  So does the willing and unwilling people who aid Blaze in his pursuit.  You'll have to find out which camp Slick is in but I will say he was quite the interesting character.

It all comes to a satisfying ending and a good Epilogue.

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

-NETGALLEY-

BOOK REVIEW- Funeral Daze by Dorian Box

  

General Fiction (Adult) | Humor & Satire | Mystery & Thrillers 

 

SUMMER 2000. When down-and-out surfer and former lottery winner Danny Teakwell was framed for a grisly murder, he got help from a family of wacky morticians that included seven-year-old embalming expert Jessica Jewell (Psycho-Tropics). Five years later, the tables are turned when Jessica shows up, alone and desperate, seeking shelter. Her parents suddenly sold their family funeral home and vanished.

Danny’s not in a good place. Grieving the recent death of his wife and childhood sweetheart, he’s let life crumble. He reluctantly agrees to take the girl in for one night, but the willful twelve-year-old convinces him to join her investigation to find her parents and get back their funeral home. The trail leads into a ghastly criminal conspiracy of corpses, caskets, and killers. As the bond between the unlikely pair grows, it becomes unclear who’s saving who and which one is really running the show.

Hilarious and heartwarming mystery and suspense with a walloping conclusion, Dorian Box brings his unique blend of darkness and light to life in this zany joyride through the Sunshine State.

AMAZON LINK 

5+ STARS

I've got to be honest, when I first started reading this book, I wasn't too sure about it.   It's slow start and quirky people had me shaking my head. BUT, then that weird little girl Jessica grabbed a hold of me and didn't let go !! The more the story went on the more I loved her.  She was smart, loyal and could out maneuver any adult who tried to mess with her.  You argue with her?  The you lose, spectacularly! Didn't matter who you were, that wasn't going to intimidate her.  It left me wanting to read more of her adventures when the story ended. I hope this will be a series.  

Now on to the rest of my thoughts and this book.  Danny, was a good guy who had basically checked out of life after his wife, Sari died. Jessica was right when she says, "Everyone loves Danny" and he doesn't realize how great he really is.  It's really great how they begin to really connect and how they "got" each other.  They make a really great team.

The emotions, the dangers, the plots against Jessica and Danny was SO well written that I enjoyed all of it.  Especially when Jessica and Danny fight back.  Well, to be accurate it was mainly clever Jessica fighting back the way she knew best. Jessica was also bold and fearless.  Except for that one thing that she feared, drowning.

Excellent ending that left me wanting more. 

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

BOOK REVIEW- Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber

   

Romance

 

Description

Two women at different stages of life find themselves on a journey of renewal after undergoing hardships in this uplifting novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

“Wise, warm, witty, and charmingly full of hope, this story celebrates the surprising and unexpected ways that family, friendship, and love can lift us up.”—Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Four Winds
Joan Sample is not living the life she expected. Now a widow and an empty-nester, she has become by her own admission something of a recluse. But after another birthday spent alone, she is finally inclined to listen to her sister, who has been begging Joan to reengage with the world. With her support, Joan gathers the courage to take some long-awaited steps:  hiring someone to tame her overgrown garden, joining a grief support group, and even renting out a room to a local college student. Before long Joan is starting to feel a little like herself again.

Across town, Maggie Herbert works mornings as a barista, tending to impatient customers before rushing to afternoon nursing classes. She’s been living with her alcoholic father, ducking his temperamental outbursts and struggling to pay the household bills. But her circumstances brighten when she finds a room for rent in Joan’s home. In the unexpected warmth of her new situation, Maggie finds a glimmer of hope for a better life. But will Maggie’s budding attraction to one of her favorite customers ruin the harmony she’s only recently found with Joan? Meanwhile, what is Joan to make of the mysterious landscaper who’s been revitalizing her garden—a man who seems to harbor a past loss of his own? 

As Maggie and Joan confront difficult life choices, they draw strength from this new friendship in surprising ways—discovering in the process that “found family” is often the very best kind. 

AMAZON LINK 

4.5 STARS

 

 

This was quite the interesting story with really good people shown with great emotional depth.  Joan is the main person that kicks things off even though she has isolated herself for 4 years after the death of her husband. A major phrase for her for quite a while was about how things "used to be."  I found the part about 4 years later she is still struggling.  I say that because a friend of mine who lost her husband said she was shocked that she found it even harder to deal with 3 to 4 years later. She expected the first year to be the worst.
 This starts out as Joan's journey and the story picks up other people as the story goes on.  Maggie is one of those people, and she really does deserve to catch some breaks. Maggie is hardworking, loving and had plans for her life.  Too bad her father wasn't so much on board with helping her.  The reasons become clear though heart breaking too.
Phil Harrison, from Harrison Lawn and Landscaping is drawn into her life when she steps out and needs to hire him.  The scrambled message that Joan left on his voice mail was also amusing.  It also makes for great title for this book that makes total, sweet sense.
Joan's sons Steven and Nick also share in the story as they have a lingering affect from their father's death.  But also worry about their mother and didn't know how to help.
Even though this story dealt with grief deeper than I was expecting, it still kept me wanting to read more of the story.  I think it was the people themselves that kept me connected to the story. A sad story at times but also some victories in small steps.  
I liked how the story ended and enjoyed the Epilogue.

 

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

 

-NETGALLEY-