The Black Song Inside by Carlyle Clark

     Atticus Wynn and Rosemary Sanchez, newly engaged private investigators, have seen the dark and violent side of life, but nothing has prepared them for an explosive murder investigation that threatens to tear their relationship apart. They struggle to solve a case that as a best result could leave them in prison or dead. 

     Atticus's manipulative ex-girlfriend bursts back into their lives wielding a secret about Rosemary's family. She exploits the fact to force the couple into investigating the execution-style slaying of her lover. The case thrusts Atticus and Rosemary headlong into the world of human trafficking and drug smuggling, while rendering them pawns in Tijuana Cartel captain Armando Villanueva's bloody bid to take over the Cartel. The Black Song Inside is a vivid crime thriller rife with murder and madness, melded with gallows humor and the heroism of two flawed and compelling protagonists. If they can save themselves, they may learn the nature of redemption and the ability to forgive. (-synopsis)

     I thought that this was a fast paced an interesting book.  It opens with a woman being forced to watch a girl die without a way to help her.  She calls the police and tells them about it and they bring her into the station.  

     Atticus is brought to the station because the woman is his ex, Charlotte.  Atticus Wynn is a PI whose partner and fiance is Rosemary Sanchez.  The two are quite a pair and are good at their jobs.  Charlotte calls Atticus to the station in hopes that he will back up her story because she knows a secret about Rosemary.

     Then there is the "Priest".  A man who has created his own religion and wants to begin finding acolytes.  He leaves murder in his wake and forms an alliance with a Mexican drug lord.

     The story is a fast paced thrilled that revolves a lot around the drug war at the border which can be violent and crazy.   We see the inside world of the drug trade and wars between the traffickers.  I did find there to be a lot of characters in the story which made it confusing to follow in some parts.  There is also a lot of violence in the book.  

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

     Atticus Wynn and Rosemary Sanchez, newly engaged private investigators, have seen the dark and violent side of life, but nothing has prepared them for an explosive murder investigation that threatens to tear their relationship apart. They struggle to solve a case that as a best result could leave them in prison or dead. 

     Atticus's manipulative ex-girlfriend bursts back into their lives wielding a secret about Rosemary's family. She exploits the fact to force the couple into investigating the execution-style slaying of her lover. The case thrusts Atticus and Rosemary headlong into the world of human trafficking and drug smuggling, while rendering them pawns in Tijuana Cartel captain Armando Villanueva's bloody bid to take over the Cartel. The Black Song Inside is a vivid crime thriller rife with murder and madness, melded with gallows humor and the heroism of two flawed and compelling protagonists. If they can save themselves, they may learn the nature of redemption and the ability to forgive. (-synopsis)

     I thought that this was a fast paced an interesting book.  It opens with a woman being forced to watch a girl die without a way to help her.  She calls the police and tells them about it and they bring her into the station.  

     Atticus is brought to the station because the woman is his ex, Charlotte.  Atticus Wynn is a PI whose partner and fiance is Rosemary Sanchez.  The two are quite a pair and are good at their jobs.  Charlotte calls Atticus to the station in hopes that he will back up her story because she knows a secret about Rosemary.

     Then there is the "Priest".  A man who has created his own religion and wants to begin finding acolytes.  He leaves murder in his wake and forms an alliance with a Mexican drug lord.

     The story is a fast paced thrilled that revolves a lot around the drug war at the border which can be violent and crazy.   We see the inside world of the drug trade and wars between the traffickers.  I did find there to be a lot of characters in the story which made it confusing to follow in some parts.  There is also a lot of violence in the book.  

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. 

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Cut Short by Leigh Russell

     The park - a place where children play, friends sit and gossip and people walk their dogs. But in the shadows, a predator watches, waits - and chooses his first victim. But someone has seen the killer and come forward as a witness - someone who the killer must stop at all costs. For detective Geraldine Steele it is a race against time to find the killer as two more bodies are found. A gripping psychological thriller introducing Geraldine Steel, a woman whose past is threatening to collide with her future.   (-synopsis)

This is the first novel in a new series about Detective Geraldine Steel.  The book opens with the murder of a young girl in the small and quiet town of Woolmarsh.  Dectective Steel has just arrived in the town after a transfer and is on the scene.  The normally quiet town begins to panic when it looks like the murderer may turn out to be a serial killer as more and more people turn up dead.  

While we know who the killer is from early on, Dectective Steel does not.   She's out to prove herself and shows herself to be strong yet stubborn when it comes to finding the killer.  She's not out to make friends and doesn't mind stepping on a few toes to get the job done.  

There were some slow parts in the book that I didn't think needed to be included but in all it was a decent debut novel about a tough female detective.  I'll be interested in seeing where the author goes with the characters from here.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

About the Author:
  
     Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English. For many years a secondary school English teacher, she is a creative writing tutor for adults. She is married, has two daughters, and lives in North West London. Her first novel, Cut Short, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award in 2010. This was followed by Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead and Fatal Act, in the Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel series. Cold Sacrifice is the first title in a spin off series featuring Geraldine Steel's sergeant, Ian Peterson.

Connect With the Author:  

     The park - a place where children play, friends sit and gossip and people walk their dogs. But in the shadows, a predator watches, waits - and chooses his first victim. But someone has seen the killer and come forward as a witness - someone who the killer must stop at all costs. For detective Geraldine Steele it is a race against time to find the killer as two more bodies are found. A gripping psychological thriller introducing Geraldine Steel, a woman whose past is threatening to collide with her future.   (-synopsis)

This is the first novel in a new series about Detective Geraldine Steel.  The book opens with the murder of a young girl in the small and quiet town of Woolmarsh.  Dectective Steel has just arrived in the town after a transfer and is on the scene.  The normally quiet town begins to panic when it looks like the murderer may turn out to be a serial killer as more and more people turn up dead.  

While we know who the killer is from early on, Dectective Steel does not.   She's out to prove herself and shows herself to be strong yet stubborn when it comes to finding the killer.  She's not out to make friends and doesn't mind stepping on a few toes to get the job done.  

There were some slow parts in the book that I didn't think needed to be included but in all it was a decent debut novel about a tough female detective.  I'll be interested in seeing where the author goes with the characters from here.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

About the Author:
  
     Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent, gaining a Masters degree in English. For many years a secondary school English teacher, she is a creative writing tutor for adults. She is married, has two daughters, and lives in North West London. Her first novel, Cut Short, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award in 2010. This was followed by Road Closed, Dead End, Death Bed, Stop Dead and Fatal Act, in the Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel series. Cold Sacrifice is the first title in a spin off series featuring Geraldine Steel's sergeant, Ian Peterson.

Connect With the Author:  

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Champagne Lies by Wendy VanHatten

She should have been on her 30th wedding anniversary trip. Instead, Stacie stumbles upon a body where it should not be…an upscale beach on the Mexican Rivera. She also should have been celebrating with the man she has been married to for those 30 years. Instead, she finds out she may not have really known what he did or who he was.

Things happen to her she can’t explain. Who is the mysterious Maria in Italy, why did her husband need secret, hidden rooms, who do the guns belong to, and who was the man she married? Nothing is as it appears…and Stacie keeps finding more surprises the more pieces she uncovers.

From dead bodies to stolen jewels…it just keeps getting worse.  (-synopsis)

     Stacie thinks it is just a normal day as she and her husband Jon are planning a trip for their 30th wedding anniversary.  When he goes out to get champagne her entire world changes.  Suddenly the police are at her door and her husband is dead.  He apparently had a heart attack.

      But things are not as they seem.  Stacie meets a man named Tom who aparently knew Jon and says she needs to talk to him.  Stacie then receives a packet of letters from Jon telling her that everything she knew about him was a lie.  She then receives computer codes, phone numbers, and safety deposit box keys.  

      As she tries to learn more about him she finds herself more confused.  He has a box filled with passports with his photo but false names.  There is another box filled with gold.  In a safety deposit box she finds an expensive necklace that has been missing for decades.

      Stacie doesn't know who she can trust or who will tell her what is going on.  She soon finds herself on a trip to Italy to try and find out just who her husband really was and what he was doing with guns, money, and jewelry that she had no knowledge of.

      This book is fast paced and there are new details with every page turn.  Stacie is a smart, strong woman who is trying to put together the pieces of her husbands life.  I quickly became angry with the deceased Jon for hiding so many things from his wife and making it difficult for her after his death.  

      As Stacie tries to make sense of Jon's lies she also needs to keep herself safe.  There are people who are a danger to her but she doesn't know who they are.  Will she figure out who Jon really was or will her pursuit of knowledge lead to her early demise?

I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

About the Author:

Wendy VanHatten is a published author, Editor of Prime Time Living Magazine, professional editor for authors, and contributing writer in additional magazines. Her children’s books, the Max and Myron series, teach children to read as they learn how to become good citizens with positive character traits. She has taught writing at the college level and travel writing for continuing education workshops.

Currently, she documents travel advice and photos in her blog,  www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com. More information about Wendy and her books may be found at www.wendyvanhatten.com. Her books are available on Amazon or from her website.

She should have been on her 30th wedding anniversary trip. Instead, Stacie stumbles upon a body where it should not be…an upscale beach on the Mexican Rivera. She also should have been celebrating with the man she has been married to for those 30 years. Instead, she finds out she may not have really known what he did or who he was.

Things happen to her she can’t explain. Who is the mysterious Maria in Italy, why did her husband need secret, hidden rooms, who do the guns belong to, and who was the man she married? Nothing is as it appears…and Stacie keeps finding more surprises the more pieces she uncovers.

From dead bodies to stolen jewels…it just keeps getting worse.  (-synopsis)

     Stacie thinks it is just a normal day as she and her husband Jon are planning a trip for their 30th wedding anniversary.  When he goes out to get champagne her entire world changes.  Suddenly the police are at her door and her husband is dead.  He apparently had a heart attack.

      But things are not as they seem.  Stacie meets a man named Tom who aparently knew Jon and says she needs to talk to him.  Stacie then receives a packet of letters from Jon telling her that everything she knew about him was a lie.  She then receives computer codes, phone numbers, and safety deposit box keys.  

      As she tries to learn more about him she finds herself more confused.  He has a box filled with passports with his photo but false names.  There is another box filled with gold.  In a safety deposit box she finds an expensive necklace that has been missing for decades.

      Stacie doesn't know who she can trust or who will tell her what is going on.  She soon finds herself on a trip to Italy to try and find out just who her husband really was and what he was doing with guns, money, and jewelry that she had no knowledge of.

      This book is fast paced and there are new details with every page turn.  Stacie is a smart, strong woman who is trying to put together the pieces of her husbands life.  I quickly became angry with the deceased Jon for hiding so many things from his wife and making it difficult for her after his death.  

      As Stacie tries to make sense of Jon's lies she also needs to keep herself safe.  There are people who are a danger to her but she doesn't know who they are.  Will she figure out who Jon really was or will her pursuit of knowledge lead to her early demise?

I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

About the Author:

Wendy VanHatten is a published author, Editor of Prime Time Living Magazine, professional editor for authors, and contributing writer in additional magazines. Her children’s books, the Max and Myron series, teach children to read as they learn how to become good citizens with positive character traits. She has taught writing at the college level and travel writing for continuing education workshops.

Currently, she documents travel advice and photos in her blog,  www.travelsandescapes.blogspot.com. More information about Wendy and her books may be found at www.wendyvanhatten.com. Her books are available on Amazon or from her website.

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Book Spotlight: The Norfolk Mystery by Ian Sansome

Love Miss Marple? Adore Holmes and Watson? Professor Morley's guide to Norfolk is a story of bygone England: quaint villages, eccentric locals—and murder …

It is 1937, and disillusioned Spanish Civil War veteran Stephen Sefton is broke. So when he sees a mysterious advertisement for a job where "intelligence is essential," he eagerly applies.

Thus begins Sefton's association with Professor Swanton Morley, an omnivorous intellect. Morley's latest project is a history of traditional England, with a guide to every county.

They start in Norfolk, but when the vicar of Blakeney is found hanging from his church's bell rope, Morley and Sefton find themselves drawn into a rather more fiendish plot. Did the reverend really take his own life, or is there something darker afoot?

A must-read for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Charles Todd, this novel includes plenty of murder, mystery, and mayhem to confound.  (-synopsis)

~PURCHASE THE BOOK~

AMAZON  ~ BARNES AND NOBLE  ~  GOODREADS

About the Author:

Ian Sansom is the author of the popular Mobile Library Mystery Series. He is also a frequent contributor and critic for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The London Review of Books, and The Spectator. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.

Connect with Ian Sansome:   http://www.iansansom.net/

Love Miss Marple? Adore Holmes and Watson? Professor Morley's guide to Norfolk is a story of bygone England: quaint villages, eccentric locals—and murder …

It is 1937, and disillusioned Spanish Civil War veteran Stephen Sefton is broke. So when he sees a mysterious advertisement for a job where "intelligence is essential," he eagerly applies.

Thus begins Sefton's association with Professor Swanton Morley, an omnivorous intellect. Morley's latest project is a history of traditional England, with a guide to every county.

They start in Norfolk, but when the vicar of Blakeney is found hanging from his church's bell rope, Morley and Sefton find themselves drawn into a rather more fiendish plot. Did the reverend really take his own life, or is there something darker afoot?

A must-read for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Charles Todd, this novel includes plenty of murder, mystery, and mayhem to confound.  (-synopsis)

~PURCHASE THE BOOK~

AMAZON  ~ BARNES AND NOBLE  ~  GOODREADS

About the Author:

Ian Sansom is the author of the popular Mobile Library Mystery Series. He is also a frequent contributor and critic for The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The London Review of Books, and The Spectator. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.

Connect with Ian Sansome:   http://www.iansansom.net/

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A Secondhand Murder by Lesley A. Diehl

Spunky and outspoken Eve Appel moves from Connecticut to rural Florida intent on starting a new life, free of drama, and more importantly, her soon-to-be ex-husband. The rural Florida town of Sabal Bay, situated only an hour from West Palm, proves to be the perfect spot for her consignment store. Thanks to the recent economic downturn, Florida's society matrons need a place to discreetly sell their stuff and pick up expensive-looking bargains. But Eve's life, and her business with it, is turned upside down when a wealthy customer is found stabbed to death in a fitting room.

As accusations fly and business slows, Eve decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of an unlikely bunch of friends--including her estranged ex, her best friend, a handsome private eye, and a charming mafia don--she struggles to find answers and save lives. Through a maze of distorted half-truths, dramatic cover-ups, and unrequited passions, Eve learns just how far the wealthy will go to regain what they have lost.

A Secondhand Murder is Book 1 of the Eve Appel Mystery Series.

Eve is happy living in rural Florida far away from her cheating and calculating husband.  She opens a high end consignment store with her best friend Madeleine.  Things are looking up as customers come pouring into her store on opening day.  Then Eve looks in the dressing room and finds one of her customers stabbed to death.

Life starts to get messy as the police suspect Eve, especially after they learn of her connection to the victim.  Just when things are looking grim, sexy private investigator Alex shows up.  While he is as arrogant as he is attractive, Eve can't help wondering just how hot things can get. 

As if her life can't get any worse, he husband shows up with divorce papers and tells hers that he got a mafia dons daughter pregnant.  Eve can't wait for the police to find the real killer so she begins to do some investigating of her own.  

There were so many characters and clues introduced into the story along the way that I had no idea who the killer was until the end.  While I found some parts to move a little slow, over all this was an enjoyable cozy mystery.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Spunky and outspoken Eve Appel moves from Connecticut to rural Florida intent on starting a new life, free of drama, and more importantly, her soon-to-be ex-husband. The rural Florida town of Sabal Bay, situated only an hour from West Palm, proves to be the perfect spot for her consignment store. Thanks to the recent economic downturn, Florida's society matrons need a place to discreetly sell their stuff and pick up expensive-looking bargains. But Eve's life, and her business with it, is turned upside down when a wealthy customer is found stabbed to death in a fitting room.

As accusations fly and business slows, Eve decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of an unlikely bunch of friends--including her estranged ex, her best friend, a handsome private eye, and a charming mafia don--she struggles to find answers and save lives. Through a maze of distorted half-truths, dramatic cover-ups, and unrequited passions, Eve learns just how far the wealthy will go to regain what they have lost.

A Secondhand Murder is Book 1 of the Eve Appel Mystery Series.

Eve is happy living in rural Florida far away from her cheating and calculating husband.  She opens a high end consignment store with her best friend Madeleine.  Things are looking up as customers come pouring into her store on opening day.  Then Eve looks in the dressing room and finds one of her customers stabbed to death.

Life starts to get messy as the police suspect Eve, especially after they learn of her connection to the victim.  Just when things are looking grim, sexy private investigator Alex shows up.  While he is as arrogant as he is attractive, Eve can't help wondering just how hot things can get. 

As if her life can't get any worse, he husband shows up with divorce papers and tells hers that he got a mafia dons daughter pregnant.  Eve can't wait for the police to find the real killer so she begins to do some investigating of her own.  

There were so many characters and clues introduced into the story along the way that I had no idea who the killer was until the end.  While I found some parts to move a little slow, over all this was an enjoyable cozy mystery.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

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Murder by Syllabub by Kathleen Delaney

     A ghost in Colonial dress has been wreaking havoc at an old plantation house in Virginia. The house is owned by Elizabeth Smithwood, the best friend of Ellen McKenzie’s Aunt Mary. Mary is determined to fly to the rescue, and Ellen has no choice but to leave her real estate business and new husband to accompany her. Who else will keep the old girl out of trouble? 

     When Ellen and Aunt Mary arrive, they find that Elizabeth’s “house” comprises three sprawling buildings containing all manner of secret entrances and passages, not to mention slave cabins. But who owns what and who owned whom? 

     After Monty—the so-called ghost and stepson of Elizabeth’s dead husband—turns up dead in Elizabeth’s house, suspicion falls on her. Especially when the cause of death is a poisoned glass of syllabub taken from a batch of the sweet, creamy after-dinner drink sitting in Elizabeth’s refrigerator. Monty had enemies to spare. Why was he roaming the old house? What was he searching for? To find the truth, Ellen and her Aunt Mary will have to do much more than rummage through stacks of old crates; they will have to expose two hundred years of grudges and vendettas. The spirits they disturb are far deadlier than the one who brought them to Virginia. Murder by Syllabub is the fifth book of the Ellen McKenzie Mystery series.  (-synopsis)

     The story takes place on an old plantation in Colonial Williamsburg.  Elizabeth, the owner of the old plantation, thinks there is a ghost in her home.  She asks her best friend Mary and her niece Ellen to come to the house and help her solve the mystery of what is going on.  Only when the pair arrives the mystery turns to murder.  

      The main characters are all strong but elderly women.  Elizabeth is the owner of the plantation home and also the suspect in this murder.  Her sister-in-law Cora Lee has two sides to her coin.  She appears to love Elizabeth and be on her side most times, but there is also the sarcastic and sharp tongued side.  Throw in Ellen's Aunt Mary and there's a trio of elderly women prepared to defend the plantation home and everything in it.

      The story takes a turn when they find out Noah, who lives on the plantation grounds, thought the house was going to be given over to Monty.  Monty is the one who turned up dead and now suspicion is turning over to him.  But when Noah's mother is attacked everyone knows it wasn't him who did it.

     Ellen and Aunt Mary will have to dig through centuries of old grudges and hard feelings.  Time is running out to find the truth and solve the mystery of Monty's murder and the ghost in the plantation house.  Will they find the murderer before he/she finds them?  Or will the murderer find what he is looking for and claim the old house and its rich history for himself?


I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. 

     A ghost in Colonial dress has been wreaking havoc at an old plantation house in Virginia. The house is owned by Elizabeth Smithwood, the best friend of Ellen McKenzie’s Aunt Mary. Mary is determined to fly to the rescue, and Ellen has no choice but to leave her real estate business and new husband to accompany her. Who else will keep the old girl out of trouble? 

     When Ellen and Aunt Mary arrive, they find that Elizabeth’s “house” comprises three sprawling buildings containing all manner of secret entrances and passages, not to mention slave cabins. But who owns what and who owned whom? 

     After Monty—the so-called ghost and stepson of Elizabeth’s dead husband—turns up dead in Elizabeth’s house, suspicion falls on her. Especially when the cause of death is a poisoned glass of syllabub taken from a batch of the sweet, creamy after-dinner drink sitting in Elizabeth’s refrigerator. Monty had enemies to spare. Why was he roaming the old house? What was he searching for? To find the truth, Ellen and her Aunt Mary will have to do much more than rummage through stacks of old crates; they will have to expose two hundred years of grudges and vendettas. The spirits they disturb are far deadlier than the one who brought them to Virginia. Murder by Syllabub is the fifth book of the Ellen McKenzie Mystery series.  (-synopsis)

     The story takes place on an old plantation in Colonial Williamsburg.  Elizabeth, the owner of the old plantation, thinks there is a ghost in her home.  She asks her best friend Mary and her niece Ellen to come to the house and help her solve the mystery of what is going on.  Only when the pair arrives the mystery turns to murder.  

      The main characters are all strong but elderly women.  Elizabeth is the owner of the plantation home and also the suspect in this murder.  Her sister-in-law Cora Lee has two sides to her coin.  She appears to love Elizabeth and be on her side most times, but there is also the sarcastic and sharp tongued side.  Throw in Ellen's Aunt Mary and there's a trio of elderly women prepared to defend the plantation home and everything in it.

      The story takes a turn when they find out Noah, who lives on the plantation grounds, thought the house was going to be given over to Monty.  Monty is the one who turned up dead and now suspicion is turning over to him.  But when Noah's mother is attacked everyone knows it wasn't him who did it.

     Ellen and Aunt Mary will have to dig through centuries of old grudges and hard feelings.  Time is running out to find the truth and solve the mystery of Monty's murder and the ghost in the plantation house.  Will they find the murderer before he/she finds them?  Or will the murderer find what he is looking for and claim the old house and its rich history for himself?


I give this book 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. 

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Leaving Annalise by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

One unexpected and hotly fought-over little boy, two dead bodies, and a series of home vandalisms throw Texas attorney turned island chanteuse Katie Connell into a tizzy. Juggling all of this, Bloody Mary cravings, baggage, and the bad guys too, she waffles between the jumbie house that brought her back from the brink and the man she believes is the love of her life.

Be sure to catch Saving Grace, #1 in the Katie & Annalise Series.  (-synopsis)

The book starts out with Katie renovating an old island home.  She is dating Bart, a chef, but is trying to find a way to get out of the relationship.  Then her old flame Nick shows up on the island.  After the hurt, anger, and disappointment of their last meeting almost a year ago Katie is leery to speak with him.

Nick then explains that he loves her and wants to be with her but there is a catch.  He now has his nephew and sister to take care of because his sister's ex-boyfriend is hunting them down and wants the baby back.  Katie accepts his baggage and ends things with Bart but things don't go as planned.

Nick has to head back to Texas to take care of Taylor, the baby while Katie is being stalked by an angry Bart.  The pair want so much to be together but it seems as though there is too much standing in their way, including threats by Taylor's dad.

The story centers around the relationship between Katie and Nick. Their love for each other is so strong it is tangible but both have baggage that they need to deal with.  Katie is renovating the house but things keep happening.  A fire breaks out, there are holes in the wall, and rats are in the house.  Nick on the other hand is trying to stay one step ahead of Derek and keep Taylor safe.  

I like that this book has so many different elements to it.  There is the romance between Katie and Nick, the mystery of the murders, and the thrilling part of both Katie and Nick being chased by someone.  It all comes to a breath-taking event at the end that ties everything together.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

One unexpected and hotly fought-over little boy, two dead bodies, and a series of home vandalisms throw Texas attorney turned island chanteuse Katie Connell into a tizzy. Juggling all of this, Bloody Mary cravings, baggage, and the bad guys too, she waffles between the jumbie house that brought her back from the brink and the man she believes is the love of her life.

Be sure to catch Saving Grace, #1 in the Katie & Annalise Series.  (-synopsis)

The book starts out with Katie renovating an old island home.  She is dating Bart, a chef, but is trying to find a way to get out of the relationship.  Then her old flame Nick shows up on the island.  After the hurt, anger, and disappointment of their last meeting almost a year ago Katie is leery to speak with him.

Nick then explains that he loves her and wants to be with her but there is a catch.  He now has his nephew and sister to take care of because his sister's ex-boyfriend is hunting them down and wants the baby back.  Katie accepts his baggage and ends things with Bart but things don't go as planned.

Nick has to head back to Texas to take care of Taylor, the baby while Katie is being stalked by an angry Bart.  The pair want so much to be together but it seems as though there is too much standing in their way, including threats by Taylor's dad.

The story centers around the relationship between Katie and Nick. Their love for each other is so strong it is tangible but both have baggage that they need to deal with.  Katie is renovating the house but things keep happening.  A fire breaks out, there are holes in the wall, and rats are in the house.  Nick on the other hand is trying to stay one step ahead of Derek and keep Taylor safe.  

I like that this book has so many different elements to it.  There is the romance between Katie and Nick, the mystery of the murders, and the thrilling part of both Katie and Nick being chased by someone.  It all comes to a breath-taking event at the end that ties everything together.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack

Tour Schedule

Rocky Road

    It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in scenic St. George, Utah that would include shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fundraiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fundraising event, a local doctor, disappeared two months ago was not supposed to be Sadie’s problem. In fact, she refuses to participate in the grassroots investigation her friend Caro, and Caro’s cousin, Tess, have put together prior to her arrival. But then she meets the ex-wife of the missing doctor. How could she not ask a few questions . . . that lead to a few more questions . . . that lead to a small town and yet even more questions. Before she knows it, Sadie is in the middle of yet another murder investigation and trying to piece together a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.  (-synopsis)

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 
     When Sadie heads to Utah with her friend Caro she thinks they are just going for a girl's weekend.  Once they arrive she finds that Caro and her cousin Tess have other plans.  The girls want Sadie's help in finding out what really happened to Dr. Hendrick's.  Dr. Henrick's disappeared without a trace and there are some discrepancies with his disappearance.

     They trio get off to a rocky start when Sadie declines becoming involved in the investigation.  But once she means Lori, Dr. Hendrick's first wife, she can't help wondering what happened to the man.  Soon the girls are on the case asking questions and digging deeper into the disappearance.

     At the memorial service Sadie learns a lot from watching.  Why is Dr. Hendrick's widow only pretending to cry?  Why does his first wife keep checking her phone during the service?  Who are all the people at the service?  With Sadie on the case, there's no doubt she'll find the answers to these questions and more. 

      I had a difficult time getting into this mystery because it was very slow to start.  After I got into it I enjoyed it and Sadie.  Sadie is smart, caring, and has a knack for investigating.  Caro is friendly, quick to help, and tries to keep the peace between Sadie and Tess.  Tess is a rollercoaster of emotions during the investigation ranging from angry and bitter to sweet and welcoming.

I give this book 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

      

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Rocky Road

    It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in scenic St. George, Utah that would include shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fundraiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fundraising event, a local doctor, disappeared two months ago was not supposed to be Sadie’s problem. In fact, she refuses to participate in the grassroots investigation her friend Caro, and Caro’s cousin, Tess, have put together prior to her arrival. But then she meets the ex-wife of the missing doctor. How could she not ask a few questions . . . that lead to a few more questions . . . that lead to a small town and yet even more questions. Before she knows it, Sadie is in the middle of yet another murder investigation and trying to piece together a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.  (-synopsis)

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     When Sadie heads to Utah with her friend Caro she thinks they are just going for a girl's weekend.  Once they arrive she finds that Caro and her cousin Tess have other plans.  The girls want Sadie's help in finding out what really happened to Dr. Hendrick's.  Dr. Henrick's disappeared without a trace and there are some discrepancies with his disappearance.

     They trio get off to a rocky start when Sadie declines becoming involved in the investigation.  But once she means Lori, Dr. Hendrick's first wife, she can't help wondering what happened to the man.  Soon the girls are on the case asking questions and digging deeper into the disappearance.

     At the memorial service Sadie learns a lot from watching.  Why is Dr. Hendrick's widow only pretending to cry?  Why does his first wife keep checking her phone during the service?  Who are all the people at the service?  With Sadie on the case, there's no doubt she'll find the answers to these questions and more. 

      I had a difficult time getting into this mystery because it was very slow to start.  After I got into it I enjoyed it and Sadie.  Sadie is smart, caring, and has a knack for investigating.  Caro is friendly, quick to help, and tries to keep the peace between Sadie and Tess.  Tess is a rollercoaster of emotions during the investigation ranging from angry and bitter to sweet and welcoming.

I give this book 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

      

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Sutton Place by Louise Gaylord : Book Spotlight + Giveaway!

Secrets, Obsessions, and Scandal, Oh My!

The Fairchild’s were a happy family of wealthy New York stock, with two loving daughters. Until the secrets started to surface.

The first secret was revealed when Julia was told the truth about her father. Her reaction to the revelation sent her spinning out of control.

The second secret concerned the parentage of Julia’s sister, Ariel. How Ariel  responded to the revelation astounded the rest of the family.

Now Julia is building a superb reputation at one of New York’s finest hospitals. The future looks bright until a romantic weekend turns into a disaster. Fleeing home and family, she moves to New Mexico and starts to pull her life together.

Just when it looks like things are heading toward happily-ever-after, events in New York draw Julia back to Sutton Place, where she learns of Ariel’s secret life and finds herself facing her worst nightmare.

Sutton Place moves a mile a minute and never lets you see what’s coming around the next turn.

About the Author:

Louise Gaylord is an acclaimed national award-winning author who established herself with her very first book, a suspenseful murder mystery centering on a young, sharp female assistant district attorney. This was the cornerstone of what has become her popular Allie Armington mystery series, the idea for it sparked when Louise herself spent three months on a grand jury panel.

The series has grown to four novels, with stories ranging from the Southwest to New York, to the most recent featuring her beloved Adirondacks.

Her first Allie Armington Mystery, “Anacacho,” won the 2003 National Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Mystery/Suspense sponsored by Publisher’s Marketing Association in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Book Festival awarded Louise with best audio book in 2010 for “Spa Deadly.” “Recipes from Camp Trillium” won the Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards, in which “Julia Fairchild” and “Spa Deadly” were also finalists. And most recently, “Dark Lake” was recognized in the General Fiction category of the Los Angeles Book Festival.

Louise’s newest book, “Sutton Place,” will be published August 27, 2013, by Little Moose Press, Beverly Hills, California.

Louise lives in Houston, Texas, though she might be found writing almost anywhere in the world.

Connect with the author:

Author Website
Twitter (@LouiseGaylord)
Facebook

Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Secrets, Obsessions, and Scandal, Oh My!

The Fairchild’s were a happy family of wealthy New York stock, with two loving daughters. Until the secrets started to surface.

The first secret was revealed when Julia was told the truth about her father. Her reaction to the revelation sent her spinning out of control.

The second secret concerned the parentage of Julia’s sister, Ariel. How Ariel  responded to the revelation astounded the rest of the family.

Now Julia is building a superb reputation at one of New York’s finest hospitals. The future looks bright until a romantic weekend turns into a disaster. Fleeing home and family, she moves to New Mexico and starts to pull her life together.

Just when it looks like things are heading toward happily-ever-after, events in New York draw Julia back to Sutton Place, where she learns of Ariel’s secret life and finds herself facing her worst nightmare.

Sutton Place moves a mile a minute and never lets you see what’s coming around the next turn.

About the Author:

Louise Gaylord is an acclaimed national award-winning author who established herself with her very first book, a suspenseful murder mystery centering on a young, sharp female assistant district attorney. This was the cornerstone of what has become her popular Allie Armington mystery series, the idea for it sparked when Louise herself spent three months on a grand jury panel.

The series has grown to four novels, with stories ranging from the Southwest to New York, to the most recent featuring her beloved Adirondacks.

Her first Allie Armington Mystery, “Anacacho,” won the 2003 National Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Mystery/Suspense sponsored by Publisher’s Marketing Association in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Book Festival awarded Louise with best audio book in 2010 for “Spa Deadly.” “Recipes from Camp Trillium” won the Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards, in which “Julia Fairchild” and “Spa Deadly” were also finalists. And most recently, “Dark Lake” was recognized in the General Fiction category of the Los Angeles Book Festival.

Louise’s newest book, “Sutton Place,” will be published August 27, 2013, by Little Moose Press, Beverly Hills, California.

Louise lives in Houston, Texas, though she might be found writing almost anywhere in the world.

Connect with the author:

Author Website
Twitter (@LouiseGaylord)
Facebook

Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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