Review: Leave Tomorrow Behind: A Stella Crown Mystery by Judy Clemens

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (Dec 3 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1464202028
• ISBN-13: 978-1464202025

Book Description

She’s back! Tattooed, hard working, and often crabby dairy farmer and biker Stella Crown is hot—both in temperature and temperament. Her sister-in-law is a nag, her fiancée Nick is ill, and her bank account is in the red. But when a local country star turns up dead at the county fair, where Stella's teenage employee Zach is an exhibitor, things turn from hot to ugly.

Stella wasn’t friends with the victim. In fact, she’d only seen her from a distance. But seeing how Stella was the one to dig her out from her deathbed in the calf barn’s manure pile, the cops are on her like flies on…well…honey.  Why on earth would Stella want to kill a young singer she’d never spoken to? She’d much rather kill the annoying helicopter dad in the fair’s dairy barn. Or the fifty percent fake girl in the Lovely Miss Pennsylvania Pageant. Or her banker.

About the Author

Judy Clemens spends her days in rural Ohio, where she writes, spends time with her family, and eats too much chocolate.  She is the author of the Grim Reaper and Stella Crown mysteries, and is a past president of Sisters in Crime.

My Review

 Good read by new-to-me author Judy Clemens. This book has been available since early December and is published by one of my favorite publishing houses, Poisoned Pen Press.

Stella Crown is an interesting woman - a dairy farmer who rides a Harley and who is engaged to a good man (also a good looking man). In between dealing with her fiance's sister who is obsessed with wedding planning, there is a state fair and the murder of a rising country star who had just performed at the state fair. All of the action revolves around the state fair and the livestock competitions. Like myself, I'm sure a lot of readers will find this part very interesting as it is a very unfamiliar world. 

Good story, good well plotted mystery and interesting characters.  Also glad I'm now on the lookout for Judy Clemens books.  One complaint - I don't like the cover. I don't think it will entice readers.

 

Review: January Thaw (Murder-by-Month Mystery #9) by Jess Lourey

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1689 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (Jan. 1 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00H3R53NC

Book Description

Mira James' life is perfect. She's just consummated her relationship with Johnny Leeson, she's a freelance investigator for a local attorney, and she hasn't uncovered a dead body in nearly two weeks. That lucky streak comes to an icy halt when she joins the reopening festivities at the Prospect House, Battle Lake's oldest structure. Mira is covering the event for the Battle Lake Recall when she ice skates over a corpse frozen into the lake in front of the mansion. When Police Chief Gary Wohnt is shot in a seemingly unrelated traffic run. he and Mira must form a reluctant alliance as she becomes his eyes on the ground, uncovering a web of lies and murder that date back over a century.

About the Author

 Jess Lourey is the author of the Lefty-nominated Murder-by-Month mysteries set in Battle Lake, Minnesota, and featuring amateur sleuth, Mira James. Jess has been teaching writing and sociology at the college level since 1998.

When not raising her wonderful kids, teaching, or writing, you can find her gardening, traveling, and navigating the niceties and meanities of small-town life. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and The Loft, and serves on the national board of Mystery Writers of America.

http://www.jesslourey.com/index.html


My Review

I have been meaning to try out this series for some time and I am glad that I finally have. January Thaw is the ninth title in Jess Lourey's Murder-by-Month mystery series. Each title in the series contains the name of a month.

Amateur detective and librarian Mira James seems to have no trouble finding bodies in the same town of Battle Lake, Minnesota. Set in January obviously, this latest outing involves inheritances, drugs, a new microbrewery and lots of snow and ice! And of course a dead body...found frozen in the lake.

There is plenty of action and twist and turns to keep the reader engaged. A cast of interesting characters adds to the quirky mood of the novel. An enjoyable read that will be released on January 1st. Glad I finally waded into the Murder-by-Month mystery series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Review: A Christmas to Remember (Lucky Harbor #8.5) by Jill Shalvis (Goodreads Author), Kristen Ashley (Goodreads Author), Hope Ramsay (Goodreads Author), Molly Cannon (Goodreads Author), Marilyn Pappano

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 976 KB
• Print Length: 224 pages
• Publisher: Forever Yours (Dec 3 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CO7GN1W

Book Description

Curl up with this heartwarming Christmas collection!

Jill Shalvis, Dream a Little Dream: Melissa has kept every man at a safe distance-especially firefighter Ian, a sexy friend with sexy benefits. But Ian secretly longs for more. Luckily, 'tis the season for giving love a chance . . .

Kristen Ashley, Every Year: Holidays don't come easy for Shy and his brother, Landon. But with the magic of Christmas, along with a little help from Tabby and her family, the Cage brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime . . .

Hope Ramsay, Silent Night: Down on her luck and evicted from her apartment, single mother Maryanne hopes to start over in Last Chance. When the snow begins to fall, it looks like her baby might literally spend Christmas Eve in a manger. And Maryanne might celebrate the holiday with a handsome stranger.

Molly Cannon, Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Lincoln is a bachelor who's set in his ways-until a professional organizer dressed up as Mrs. Claus changes his life, one tip at a time. . .

Marilyn Pappano, A Family for Christmas: War widow Ilena doesn't mind spending Christmas alone. But when a new doctor blows into town with the winter wind, will she get her secret Christmas wish?

Plus: Excerpts from upcoming novels!


My Review

Silent Night by Hope Ramsay: I picked Hope Ramsay's story to read as I knew it would be likely a sweet, joy filled Christmas story and I was right. It is basically a retelling of the Christmas story but set in Last Chance, South Carolina. Lovely tale that had the tears welling up in no time.

Each of the 5 stories is by a different romance author. The ebook also contains an excerpt from each author's upcoming novel. Only $1.99 on Amazon. Well worth a read today, right before Christmas.

Review: An Avalon Christmas by Darien Gee

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1943 KB
• Print Length: 149 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00GFRJSGO

Book Description

http://www.amazon.ca/Avalon-Christmas-Darien-Gee-ebook/dp/B00GFRJSGO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1387774358&sr=1-1&keywords=an+avalon+christmas

 For fans of Friendship Bread and The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society comes a delightful collection of stories that will put a smile on your face this holiday season.

The holidays have finally arrived in Avalon, Illinois and everyone is filled with festive cheer. Well, maybe not everyone ...

The husbands of Avalon have started a Bah Humbug Club. A neighborhood cookie exchange wreaks havoc on Erin Meeks' carefully planned life. Melvin O'Malley's daughter has abandoned him for the holidays in a senior facility, and shop owner Margot West is intent on creating the best holiday shopping experience for her customers when a stranger threatens to ruin it.

But a few surprises await them as well--an anonymous donor is giving away free turkeys at the Pick and Save, and there's an air of mystery surrounding a generous raffle prize for the upcoming Christmas Bazaar. And when it looks like Santa might be a no show, someone unexpected steps into his boots.

Celebrate the season with 12 heartwarming stories of hope and cheer that continue the spirit of Gee's first two novels, Friendship Bread and The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society. Includes recipes.



About the Author


Darien Gee is the author of the novels, The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society and Friendship Bread. Her short stories have been anthologized and she also writes a weekly column on creativity and writing for the local newspaper. Darien lives in upcountry Waimea on the Big Island of Hawai‘i with her husband and their three children.

Darien attended Wellesley College and graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in Political Science. She has served on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library and ZYZZYVA, an award-winning literary magazine. Through it all she read voraciously, wrote short stories and journaled, and dreamed about one day writing a novel.

In 2000 she and her husband had the crazy idea of quitting their corporate jobs, selling their things and moving to Hawai‘i (note to reader: they also thought it would be fun to do this with no jobs, very little savings and while Darien was seven months pregnant). They landed on the Big Island of Hawai‘i with four suitcases. Twenty banker boxes came by USPS via the slow boat a few weeks later.

The years that followed were “life changing” (this is the polite way of putting it). But they made it through, saved some money, had a couple more children, and learned a thing or two about themselves. They fell in love with Hawai‘i and agreed never to move again–Hawai‘i marked Darien’s thirteenth move.

In 2007, Darien published her first novel, Good Things, under the pen name Mia King (visit the Mia King FAQs for more information about her husband, Darrin Gee, who is partly to blame for why Darien’s first books were written as Mia). Her second novel, Sweet Life, followed in 2008. In 2009, Table Manners was published.

Darien was homeschooling her children at the time, and started writing Friendship Bread after her daughter brought home a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter and the bread. She wrote the first draft in five weeks, and then spent a year in revisions. The novel sold at auction in 2010. It was published in 2011 in the US as well as in 11 countries. Friendship Bread is the first novel written under Darien’s own name.

My Review

What a lovely Christmas book. And it is free on Amazon so ever better!

 Filled with stories that revolve around Christmas, a senior's facility, anonymous giving and a Bah Humbug Club. It is also filled with heartwarming tales that are perfect for the Christmas season. A light read that fill you with the spirit of Christmas. And there are recipes too.

It's free, grab it now for goodness sake!

Review: In the Blood by Lisa Unger

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 2784 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (Jan. 7 2014)
• Sold by: Simon & Schuster Canada, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00APJ0XNK

Book Description

SOMEONE KNOWS LANA’S SECRET—AND HE’S DYING TO TELL.

Lana Granger lives a life of lies. She has told so many lies about where she comes from and who she is that the truth is like a cloudy nightmare she can’t quite recall. About to graduate from college and with her trust fund almost tapped out, she takes a job babysitting a troubled boy named Luke. Expelled from schools all over the country, the manipulative young Luke is accustomed to controlling the people in his life. But, in Lana, he may have met his match. Or has Lana met hers?

When Lana’s closest friend, Beck, mysteriously disappears, Lana resumes her lying ways—to friends, to the police, to herself. The police have a lot of questions for Lana when the story about her whereabouts the night Beck disappeared doesn’t jibe with eyewitness accounts. Lana will do anything to hide the truth, but it might not be enough to keep her ominous secrets buried: someone else knows about Lana’s lies. And he’s dying to tell.

“Unger pulls off a bravura feat. . . . Readers will … savor the pleasure of being guided by Unger’s sure hand along a deliciously twisted narrative path. Another scary winner from an accomplished pro.”

(Kirkus Reviews)

"[A] gripping novel of psychological suspense. . . [with a] tense, surprise-laden plot."

(Publishers Weekly (starred review))

“In the Blood is an absolute corker of a thriller that cements Lisa Unger's status as one of the brightest stars in the game.”

(Dennis Lehane)

"Reading In the Blood is like grabbing a live wire. . . . A shocking, unputdownable thriller."

(Karin Slaughter)

"In the Blood is a riveting new thriller from Lisa Unger. Dark and haunting, with a deadly twist that you won't see coming 'til you're hit between the eyes, this book is a winner."

(Linda Fairstein)

"In the Blood is a psychological thriller that played me--in the best sense--from beginning to surprising end. I guarantee Lisa Unger will pull the rug out from under you more than once, so hold tight."

(Andrew Pyper)

"Unger's latest offering is full of engaging twists and turns. . . . Skillfully keeps the reader guessing. . . Fans of mystery and psychological suspense. . . will be delighted with this imaginative story."

(Library Journal)




About the Author

Lisa Unger is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author. Her novels have sold more than 1.5 million copies and have been translated into twenty-six languages. She lives in Florida. Visit LisaUnger.com.


My Review

One of the best books I have read in a while. Riveting. Suspense filled. Impossible to put down. Lots of twists that I did not see coming!

This is a story of mental illness interwoven with murders and sinister thoughts. It is a story revolving around different types of love and friendships. It is a story of family. It is a story of dysfunctional relationships and dysfunctional people. Lisa Unger has set this story in the familiar town of The Hollows in New York.

If you haven't read any of Lisa Unger's books and you like a good thriller then it is time you discovered her. If you are already a fan then you definitely are going to enjoy this latest book. It is a book to look forward to diving into once the mayhem of the holidays are over. Release date is January 7, 2014.

Review: Delivering Death: A Novel (Riley Spartz #6) by Julie Kramer

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (Jan. 7 2014)
• Sold by: Simon & Schuster Canada, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00BSAZ6X2

Book Description

 From the author of Stalking Susan comes the latest installment in the “compulsively readable” (WCCO-TV) bestselling Riley Spartz thriller series, featuring a smart, sassy, and always entertaining TV reporter as she matches wits with a media-savvy killer.

The most appealing mystery heroine since Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, TV reporter Riley Spartz is a star investigative journalist for Channel 3—and no stranger to the seedier side of her hometown. But when she receives a package of smelly human teeth in the mail at work, she’s quickly embroiled in a homicide investigation that spirals into one of the odder cases the Minneapolis police force has ever seen. Though the cops try to keep certain grisly details quiet, this murder has a strange twist—it seems that the killer wants the crime publicized.

Is it a revenge killing, or something more? Riley’s investigation takes her inside a lucrative identity theft ring that links low-life crooks like now-dead Leon Akume to white-collar opportunists like once-wealthy Jack Clemens. Despite a prime motive for murder, Jack also has the ultimate alibi: he's behind bars. While Riley pushes to keep the homicide in the news, her boss is convinced that coverage of the Mall of America’s unique version of a royal wedding is key to the station winning ratings. As the stakes continue to rise for her job and her life, Riley must outwit the killer in a trap that could leave yet another person dead...

An irresistible suspense novel that will keep readers turning pages until the stunning conclusion, Delivering Death brings the humor, intrigue, and twists and turns Julie Kramer’s fans have been waiting for.


About the Author

 Julie Kramer is a journalist turned novelist. She writes a series of thrillers set in the desperate world of TV news. Julie has won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best First Mystery as well as the Minnesota Book Award. Her work has also been nominated for the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Mary Higgins Clark, and RT Best Amateur Sleuth Awards. She formerly ran WCCO-TV’s investigative unit before becoming a freelance network news producer for NBC and CBS. She lives with her family in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

http://www.juliekramerbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JulieKramerAuthor

My Review

 I do enjoy a good mystery and this series by Julie Kramer always delivers. The latest outing finds Minneapolis news reporter Riley Spartz on the hunt for a killer when she receives a package of human teeth in the mail. When wealthy Jack Clemens is murdered in prison his duplicity is revealed when authorities discover the dead man is not Jack. Could the teeth be related to Jack Clemens case? Is the man trying to buy the painting Riley bought at auction be the real Jack Clemens? There are lots of twists and turns in this entertaining mystery.

Another winner from Julie Kramer. It is available on January 7th.

Review: Home to Seaview Key (A Seaview Key #2) by Sherryl Woods

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 544 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (Jan. 28 2014)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00F12H244

Book Description

 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods reveals that the most delightful surprises may await right in your own backyard!

Falling for a handsome stranger on the very morning they meet is hardly what recently divorced Abby Miller planned for her return to Seaview Key. Hoping to mend an old friendship and to give back to the community she loves, Abby's definitely not looking for love.

For ex-soldier Seth Landry, Seaview Key seems like the perfect place to heal a broken heart…eventually. And when he rescues a beautiful woman on the beach, his nightmares about the past are eclipsed by daydreams about the future.

Neither Abby nor Seth are looking for forever, but powerful love has its own timetable. And taking a chance on the future will test their courage in ways neither of them could possibly have anticipated.

About the Author

 With two other careers to her credit before becoming a novelist and four states in which she's lived for extended periods of time, Sherryl Woods has collected friends and memories, along with way too much unnecessary junk.

"The friends are the only things I've brought with me through the years that really matter," she says. "I could probably live without one more chintz teacup, another tin-litho sandpail or another snowglobe, but I need those friends."

Author of more than 100 romance and mystery novels, Sherryl Woods grew up in Virginia. Over the years she had lived in Ohio and Florida, as well as California. Currently she divides her time between Key Biscayne, Florida and Colonial Beach, Virginia, the small, river-front town where she spent her childhood summers.

A graduate of Ohio State University School of Journalism, Sherryl spent more than ten years as a journalist, most of them as a television critic for newspapers in Ohio and Florida. For several years she also coordinated a motivational program for the more than 8,000 employees at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Her first book, RESTORING LOVE, was published in 1982 by Dell Candlelight Ecstasy under the pseudonym of Suzanne Sherrill. Her second book, SAND CASTLES, under the pseudonym of Alexandra Kirk, was published later that same year by Bantam. She began using her own name when she moved to the Second Chance at Love line at Berkley Publishing. In 1986, she began writing full-time and also began her long career at Silhouette Books with the Desire title NOT AT EIGHT, DARLING, set in the world of television which she covered for so many years.

In addition to her more than 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition, she has written thirteen mysteries — nine in the Amanda Roberts series and four in the Molly DeWitt series.

When she's not writing or reading, Sherryl loves to garden, though she's not at her best on a riding lawn mower. She also loves tennis, theater, and ballet, even though her top spin has long since vanished, she's never set foot on a stage, and she's way too uncoordinated to dance. She also loves baseball and claims anyone who's ever seen Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham" can understand why.

My Review

 I always enjoy Sherryl Wood's romances. Her latest, Home to Seaview Key, is the second in the Seaview Key series which are set on a fictional island near Naples, Florida.

Home, because main character Abby is returning to her childhood home after a long absence. Her high school sweetheart is now married to her high school best friend which adds some stress to everyone's lives.

Abby is looking to develop land she owns on the key into an upscale housing development that has some of the locals up in arms. Then there is the handsome paramedic Seth who rescues her from the surf. Both Seth and Abby have plenty of baggage...can they make it work? You'll have to read it to find out.

Another winner from Sherryl Woods.

Review: This Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (Jan. 28 2014)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers CA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00DB2YN9I

Book Description

The critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller A Land More Kind Than Home—hailed as "a powerfully moving debut that reads as if Cormac McCarthy decided to rewrite Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird" (Richmond Times Dispatch)—returns with a resonant novel of love and atonement, blood and vengeance, set in western North Carolina, involving two young sisters, a wayward father, and an enemy determined to see him pay for his sins.

After their mother's unexpected death, twelve-year-old Easter and her six-year-old sister Ruby are adjusting to life in foster care when their errant father, Wade, suddenly appears. Since Wade signed away his legal rights, the only way he can get his daughters back is to steal them away in the night.

Brady Weller, the girls' court-appointed guardian, begins looking for Wade, and he quickly turns up unsettling information linking Wade to a recent armored car heist, one with a whopping $14.5 million missing. But Brady Weller isn't the only one hunting the desperate father. Robert Pruitt, a shady and mercurial man nursing a years-old vendetta, is also determined to find Wade and claim his due.

Narrated by a trio of alternating voices, This Dark Road to Mercy is a story about the indelible power of family and the primal desire to outrun a past that refuses to let go.


About the Author

Wiley Cash is from western North Carolina and has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. He has held residency positions at Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony and teaches in the low-residency MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife live in West Virginia. This is his second novel.


My Review

I love Southern gothic novels, and Wiley Cash`s second novel This Dark Road to Mercy is an excellent one.  Well written story that makes you think.

I was recently in North Carolina. As soon as he mentioned Bojangles I remembered why I like to travel so much...so I can really understand the places I read about. When Easter was remembering how they could order a few things the one time they were there with their mother, I was overwhelmed. What to me was economical delicious meal - the biscuits are to die for - to someone else it was a feast..one that they could ill afford. The gulf between the rich and poor keeps getting wider in the US.

When they woke up on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fog with the leaves red and yellow on the trees I could feel the moisture of the fog and smell the leaves.

Baseball. Every aspect of the book is tinged with its influence. It`s all good.

Fabulous story. Hard to put down. I raced to the ending...which was worth it. This Dark Road to Mercy is available in January. It is definitely a winner and deserves a read.

Review: Jagged (Colorado Mountain #5) by Kristen Ashley

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1149 KB
• Print Length: 345 pages
• Publisher: Forever (Nov. 5 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00BEK71Q6

Book Description

An old flame rekindled . . .

Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece was the one, but he wasn't interested in settling down. When she found someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara's lost her business, her marriage, and she's barely getting by in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara's plight, he's on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.

Ham was always a traveling man, never one to settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely necessary. But Ham's faced his own demons, and he's learned a lot. About himself, and about the life he knows he's meant to live. So when he hears that Zara's having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to Zara that he's a changed man.


About the Author

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

My Review
I decided to try a new author. I liked the cover of the book. The scene looks like Silverton, Colorado which is a neat town that I enjoy visiting.

I was not impressed with the first third of the book.  In fact I almost gave up on it.  I could not relate to the main character Zara. I found the book to be too explicit for my taste.  But I stuck with it and the story improved.

In the end, the story was interesting. I didn't really like the author's style of writing. If you like explicit romance stories then you probably will enjoy this.

Review: The Broken Places: Quinn Colson Series, Book 3 (A Quinn Colson Novel) by Ace Atkins

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1322 KB
• Print Length: 369 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399161783
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (May 30 2013)
• Sold by: Penguin Group USA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00AI52PAK

Book Description

 The remarkable third novel in the �harrowing” (Associated Press), �killer” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) new series about the real Deep South from the New York Times�bestselling author.

A year after becoming sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the release of an infamous murderer from prison. Jamey Dixon comes back to Jericho preaching redemption, and some believe him; but for the victim’s family, the only thought is revenge.

Another group who doesn’t believe him—the men in prison from Dixon’s last job, an armored car robbery. They’re sure he’s gone back to grab the hidden money, so they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho themselves.

Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know they’ve got their work cut out for them. But they don’t count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as events come to a head. Communications are down, the roads are impassable—and the rule of law is just about to snap.


About the Author

 Ace Atkins, a former Pulitzer-nominated journalist, has written twelve previous novels, including The Ranger and The Lost Ones, the Edgar-nominated first novels in the Quinn Colson series. In 2011, he was selected by the Robert B. Parker Estate to continue the iconic Spenser series, which he has done with the bestsellers Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby and Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland. His previous novels include the historical crime novels, White Shadow, Wicked City, Devil’s Garden, and Infamous, and the Nick Travers series that launched his writing career. Atkins lives in Oxford, Mississippi.

My Review

Great author of a great series. I love the Quinn Colson series. Similar to the Lee Child Jack Reacher series but more realistic.  Another great story involving Quinn's sister Caddy's latest boyfriend...a former convict turned preacher. Always the type of person I'm wary of in real life. And Caddy should be wary too but she hopes she has finally found the real thing, and true love.

Lots of action involving escaped convicts and long missing treasure. Corrupt local politicians and corrupt local lawmen. Add in a tornado that rips the town apart.  A lot for Sheriff Quinn Colson to take on. But he does with the help of his deputy Lillie.  Quinn has been cleaning up his Mississippi county since he left the army and it looks like his work is far from over.

Time for y'all to start reading and enjoying this series!

Review: A Seaside Christmas (Chesapeake Shores #10) by Sherryl Woods

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 366 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (Sept. 24 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CN0N7TQ

Book Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods takes you back to Chesapeake Shores for another heartwarming holiday season

As the only child of a single mom, Jenny Collins wanted nothing more than to be part of a large, rambunctious family like the O'Briens. Ironically, though, when her mother married into that family, Jenny found herself feeling more like an outsider than ever.

Now, after years in Nashville as an established songwriter, Jenny's drawn back to Chesapeake Shores to collaborate on a Christmas production, and to make peace with the past. As if that's not challenging enough, Caleb Green, the singer who broke her heart, has followed her to town, determined to win her back.

With the help of a little O'Brien holiday magic, will Jenny and Caleb find a way to make sweet music forever?

About the Author

 With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether in her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. Sherryl is best known for her ability to creating endearing small town communities and families. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 75 romances for Silhouette Desire and Special Edition.

My Review

The Chesapeake Shores series by Sherryl Woods is a well-written romance series set on the central Atlantic seaboard.  While this book is not my favorite in the series, it was lovely to visit with the people of Chesapeake Shores. This is definitely a book for the fans of this series.

Review: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce #6) by Alan Bradley

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 368 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Canada (Jan. 14 2014)
• Sold by: Random House Canada, Incorp.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00E736H6M

Book Description

 Bishop's Lacey is never short of two things: Mysteries to solve and pre-adolescent detectives to solve them. In this New York Times bestselling series of cozy mysteries, young chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce once again brings her knowledge of poisons and her indefatigable spirit to solve the most dastardly crimes the English countryside has to offer and, in the process, comes closer than ever to solving her life's greatest mystery-her mother's disappearance...

About the Author 

 ALAN BRADLEY was born in Toronto and grew up in Cobourg, Ontario. He coauthored Ms. Holmes of Baker Street, to great acclaim and much controversy, followed by a poignant memoir, The Shoebox Bible. Now the internationally bestselling author of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, A Red Herring without Mustard, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, and Speaking from Among the Bones, Bradley lives with his wife and two calculating cats, where he is at work on future Flavia de Luce mysteries.

My Review

 This series continues to entertain and enthrall the reader. Many of the questions that have intrigued the reader since the beginning of the series are finally answered.

In the first place, Flavia de Luce is one of the most incredibly brilliant and well-drawn characters that an author could ever write. Reading any of the books in this series is pure pleasure.

I don't want to give anything away but any follower of this series will be devouring this book in one sitting. Excellent addition to an excellent series.

Review: Last Chance Knit and Stitch by Hope Ramsay

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1393 KB
• Print Length: 375 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1455522279
• Publisher: Forever (Nov. 19 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group Digital, Inc. 

Book Description

 "Last Chance captures the essence of Southern charm and quirkiness. I'm totally captivated!" --- Sherryl Woods, New York Times bestselling author

Molly Canaday wishes she could repair her life as easily as she fixes cars. She was all set to open her own body shop in Last Chance when her mother ran off and left her to manage the family yarn shop instead. Now guided by the unsolicited-though well-intended-advice of the weekly knitting club, Molly works to untangle this mess. But her plan unravels when the new landlord turns out to be difficult-as well as tall, dark, and handsome.

Simon Wolfe returns to quickly settle his father's estate and then leave Last Chance for good. Still wounded by a broken heart, Simon is surprised when the town's charming streets and gentle spirit bring back good memories. Soon the beautiful, strong-willed Molly sparks a powerful attraction that tempts him to break his iron-clad no-commitment rule. Can Simon and Molly find a way to share work space-and build a future together in Last Chance?

"4 Stars! Ramsay's romance packs just enough heat in this holiday-inspired story, with lead characters who will induce both belly laughs and smiles. Her hero and heroine are in for rough times, but their heartache and longing had me longing right along with them."

(RT Book Reviews on Last Chance Christmas)

"4 1/2 stars! Get ready for a story to remember...with characters that define eccentric, off the wall and bonkers, but most of all they're enchantingly funny and heartwarmingly charming." (RT Book Reviews on Last Chance Beauty Queen)

"Witty, touching, and absolutely delightful - this story has heart!" (JoAnn Ross, New York Times bestselling author of The Homecoming on Welcome to Last Chance)

"Welcome to Last Chance is an impressive start to a charming new series, featuring quirky characters you won't soon forget." (Barbara Freethy, New York Times bestselling author of At Hidden Falls)

"Last Chance, South Carolina, is a caring community filled with the promise of hope. Come for a visit!" (Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author of The Welcome Home Garden Club)

"Ramsay strikes an excellent balance between tension and humor as she spins a fine yarn." (Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Welcome to Last Chance)

"A sweet confection . . . This first of a projected series about the Rhodes brothers offers up Southern hospitality with a bit of grit. Romance readers will be delighted." (Library Journal on Welcome to Last Chance)


About the Author

 Hope Ramsay grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you'll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. She's a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart and is married to a good ol' Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia, where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.

You can learn more at:
HopeRamsay.com
Facebook.com/Hope.Ramsay
Twitter, @HopeRamsay.


My Review

This is a great series by Hope Ramsay!  Very readable, heartwarming stories best describe the Last Chance series. Last Chance Knit and Stitch has a good love story with some interesting back story thrown in. The characters are all very likable and it is easy to get attached.


Be sure to pick up a copy of Last Chance Knit and Stitch but read the rest of the series first.

Review: An Illustrated Death (Secondhand Prose Mystery #2) by Judi Culbertson

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 412 KB
• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publisher: Witness Impulse (Oct. 1 2013)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers CA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00C9AO988

Book Description

It's not every day you get an inside peek at the world of a famous artist.

So when bookseller Delhi Laine gets the opportunity to appraise the late Nate Erikson's library, she jumps at the chance, despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding the illustrator's death. But as she spends more time with the eccentric Erikson clan at the family compound in the Hamptons, Delhi can't help but wonder what really happened to the lost patriarch.

When death visits the family once more and another Erikson is found murdered, dark secrets come to light. Left coping with a charmed family not quite as idyllic as she first believed, Delhi is determined to solve the murders once and for all. But digging up truths can get you dirty . . . and Delhi is about to discover just how far some will go to keep them buried.

About the Author

 Judi Culbertson draws on her experience as a used-and-rare book dealer, social worker, and world traveler to create her bibliophile mysteries. No stranger to cemeteries, she has also coauthored five illustrated guides with her husband, Tom Randall, starting with Permanent Parisians. She lives in Port Jefferson, New York, with her family.

My Review

 This is the first time I've read a book by Judi Culbertson and I was immediately impressed with her mature writing style. I like the location - the Hamptons - an area I have not been too but it always sounds like a fascinating place.

Books and art...both interesting subjects for a mystery novel. Good story. I was surprised by the ending.

I recommend An Illustrated Death. Will have to keep an eye on this series.

Halloween At Work

Fun Times at Work Yesterday!

 

Review: Storm Front (Virgil Flowers #7) by John Sandford

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 638 KB
• Print Length: 385 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399159304
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (Oct. 8 2013)
• Sold by: Penguin Group USA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00C5R7I9C

Book Description

 The thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

In Israel, a man clutching a backpack searches desperately for a boat. In Minnesota, Virgil Flowers gets a message from Lucas Davenport: You’re about to get a visitor. It’s an Israeli cop, and she’s tailing a man who’s smuggled out an extraordinary relic—a copper scroll revealing startling details about the man known as King Solomon.

Wait a minute, laughs Virgil. Is this one of those Da Vinci Code deals? The secret scroll, the blockbuster revelation, the teams of murderous bad guys? Should I be boning up on my Bible verses?

He looks at the cop. She’s not laughing. As it turns out, there are very bad men chasing the relic, and they don’t care who’s in the way or what they have to do to get it. Maybe Virgil should start praying.

About the Author

 JOHN SANDFORD is the author of twenty-three Prey novels; the Virgil Flowers novels, most recently Mad River; and six other books. He lives in California and New Mexico.

My Review

 I'm a big fan of this series by John Sandford. Virgil Flowers is a fascinating character, a brilliant detective who would rather be fishing...and often is. But not in this book.  This one is a strict crime novel.

Lots of characters to keep track of as everyone is trying to find or buy a missing artifact. It was obvious to me at the start that the dying professor was trying to fund his wife's medical care after he was gone. Impressive, but illegal!

This is an entertaining as well as an absorbing read. I highly recommend this entire series as well as this latest adventure, Storm Front.

Review: Something Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin #24) by M.C. Beaton

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 343 KB
• Print Length: 302 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312640137
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (Sept. 17 2013)

Product Description

Gloria French was a jolly widow with dyed blonde hair, a raucous laugh and rosy cheeks. When she first moved from London to the charming Cotswolds hills, she was heartily welcomed.  She seemed a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly.  But she had a nasty habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, just small things, a teapot here, a set of silverware there.  So it's quite the shock when she is found dead, murdered by a poisoned bottle of elderberry wine.  Afraid the murder will be a blight on the small town, Parish councillor, Jerry Tarrant, hires private detective Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer.

But the village is secretive and the residents resent Agatha's investigation. Of course that doesn't stop the ever-persistent Agatha from investigating and sticking her nose where no one wants it—especially as the suspect list grows. And, as if it isn't enough that Agatha's ex has reentered the picture, the murderer is now targeting Agatha!

With M.C. Beaton's Something Borrowed, Someone Dead  the bossy, vain, and absolutely irresistible, Agatha Raisin continues to be a fan favorite.


About the Author

M. C. BEATON, who was the British guest of honor at Bouchercon 2006, has been hailed as the "Queen of Crime" (The Globe and Mail). In addition to her New York Times and USA Today bestselling Agatha Raisin novels, Beaton is the author of the Hamish Macbeth series and four Edwardian mysteries. Born in Scotland, she currently divides her time between the English Cotswolds and Paris. 

My Review

 I just love Agatha Raisin. I've followed her adventures through all 24 books. She is hilarious, outrageous and downright loveable! M.C. Beaton does an admirable job of portraying well-off, self-absorbed, middle-aged and slight desperate Agatha.

The mystery is set in the nearby village of Piddlebury. An obnoxious widow who had a tendency to borrow but not return things is murdered. It is a secretive village consisting of long term residents...is that a hint of witchcraft in the air...

Agatha seems to be mellowing out somewhat. Not quite as desperate or unfeeling. Still a highly enjoyable read. It is always wonderful to visit Agatha Raisin's universe...

 

Review: Found Guilty at Five by Ann Purser

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (Dec 4 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425252825
• ISBN-13: 978-0425252826

Book Description

She’s had her hands full sorting out both clues and clutter in the village of Long Farnden.  But a mother’s work is never done, and Lois Meade is discovering detective work is both dirty and dangerous…

A wedding is always a happy occasion, even if Lois Meade must remind herself she isn’t losing a daughter, but gaining a policeman.  Her new son-in-law is in the Tresham force—and happens to be Inspector Cowgill’s nephew—so now Lois has another link to the law.

But when her youngest son invites a mysterious woman, Akiko, as a guest, Lois wonders why she refuses to talk about her past.  And when a thief waltzes off with the young woman’s cello, Lois enlists the inspector’s help to find the valuable instrument.

When Akiko herself goes missing, Lois discovers that this could be another in a string of murderous musical thefts. Now she must pull out all the stops to find the girl and protect her son…before the music stops permanently…


About the Author

 Ann Purser was born in Market Harborough in Leicestershire and has lived most of her life in villages. She has turned her hand to many things, including journalism (as a columnist for SHE magazine), keeper of hens and donkeys, art gallery manager, clerical assistant in a village school, Open University graduate, novelist, mother of three, wife of Philip Purser, critic and writer. She is an avid reader of detective stories.

My Review

 Every mystery reader needs an English mystery series to follow.  Ann Purser's series featuring Lois Meade is mine.  Why do English bad guys always seem so more sinister? I think it must have to do with reading Enid Blyton's books as a child.

Lois's son Jamie has become involved with a young Japanese cellist Akiko.  Akiko's father is a wealthy Japanese industrialist who has a sinister man as his assistant. This assistant is holding something over him and Akiko is right to feel uneasy in his company.

Inspector Cowgill is now a member of the family what with his nephew marrying Lois's daughter Josie.

There is plenty of action to keep the reader interesting. I am getting a little tired over the overuse of the word: ferritin'. Other than that, this series is always a delight to read.

Review: Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold Romance) by Susan Mallery

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 422 KB
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin HQN (Sep 24 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CV30Y1Y

Book Description

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped... Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle...and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse....

About the Author

 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publishers Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

My Review

An excellent addition to the Fool's Gold series. You will always find uplifting and heart racing drama in Susan Mallery's books. A great series. This novel has two wounded souls who find each other in the every day magic of Fool's Gold. And there is plenty of Christmas magic as well! If you want a good romance series to follow, this is the one. 

 

Review: How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #9) by Louise Penny

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 676 KB
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312655479
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (Aug 27 2013)
• Sold by: Macmillan CA
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00AQUTNIE

Book Description

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” —Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it’s a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn’t spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.

As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna’s friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from Louise Penny.

The stunning, ingenious and sinister new novel in the internationally bestselling Inspector Gamache series.


A DETECTIVE

As a fierce, unrelenting winter grips Quebec, shadows are closing in on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department and hostile forces are lining up against him.

A DISAPPEARANCE

When Gamache receives a message about a mysterious case in Three Pines, he is compelled to investigate -- a woman who was once one of the most famous people in the world has vanished.

A DEADLY CONCLUSION

As he begins to shed light on the investigation, he is drawn into a web of murder, lies and unimaginable corruption at the heart of the city. Facing his most challenging, and personal, case to date, can Gamache save the reputation of the Sûreté, those he holds dear and himself?

Evocative, gripping and atmospheric, this magnificent work of crime fiction from international bestselling author Louise Penny will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

About the Author

LOUISE PENNY is the New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of eight previous Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has been awarded the John Creasey Dagger, Nero, Macavity and Barry Awards, as well as two each of the Arthur Ellis and Dilys Awards. Additionally, Louise has won four Agatha Awards and four Anthony Awards. Her most recent novel, The Beautiful Mystery debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She lives in a small village south of Montréal.


My Review

Louise Penny, an incredibly talented Canadian author, quickly became one of my favorite authors. She is an amazing storyteller and the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series is superb. This book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Everyone obviously recognizes the greatness now.

Impossible to put down, particularly if you are emotionally invested in the characters in this series. I cannot emphasize enough that you, yes you, need to read this series in its entirety, in the correct order. If you do, you will experience one of the best written series and fascinating examination of the human psyche.

It is Christmas time and Gamache's family is in Paris. He'll join them soon, but not before he gets to the bottom of the murder of the last Ouelette quintuplet. Of course this evokes memories of  the famous Dionne quintuplets of were Quebecois. They were a huge part of 20th century Canadian history. Everyone knew about the Dionne quintuplets. And their supposed fairy tale life. Of course, a complete fabrication, but I digress.

Three Pines is a magical place in the Quebec Eastern townships, an area southeast of Montreal. If you've been following the series, then you'll want to know that all of your favorite characters are back the brilliant poet Ruth Zardo, Clara the amazing painter but pining for her absent husband, Myrna and the bookshop, and our favorite inn keepers and bistro owners Gabri and Olivier. In fact it is Myrna, who brings Gamanche back to the village once again, in search of her missing friend.

Gamanche's Sûreté du Québec is in an uproar.  Jean-Guy is not speaking to Gamanche and he is giving in to his addictions. Gamanche's team has been disbanded and he is left with a team who are not loyal to him. Who in the Sûreté du Québec is out to get Gamanche...and why? This mystery has been in the background of the last few books...

Leading up to the ending, the novel is quite is suspense filled and action packed. Gamanche is brilliant.  Beauvoir's coming out his self pity fog. But what really makes a Louise Penny novel so special is her understanding of the human character and her ability to depict the details that make people so unique and special. The ending itself is beautiful.

There is a crack in everything, that is how the lights gets in.

This book is No. 1 this week for a reason. It is incredibly well-written. The characters are like your family. You really must read the entire series to fully appreciate this amazing story in its entirety.

Review: Never Go Back (Jack Reacher #18) by Lee Child

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (Sep 3 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385344341
• ISBN-13: 978-0385344340

 Book Description

After an epic and interrupted journey all the way from the snows of South Dakota, former military cop Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia. His destination: a sturdy stone building a short bus ride from Washington D.C., the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. It was the closest thing to a home he ever had.

Why? He wants to meet the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner. He liked her voice on the phone. But the officer sitting behind his old desk isn’t a woman. Is Susan Turner dead? In Afghanistan? Or in a car wreck?

What Reacher doesn’t expect to hear is that Turner has just been fired from her command. Nor that he himself is in big trouble, accused of a sixteen-year-old homicide. And he certainly doesn't expect to hear these words: ‘You’re back in the army, Major. And your ass is mine.’

Will he be sorry he went back? Or – will someone else?
 About The Author

Lee Child is the author of eighteen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with eight having reached the #1 position. All have been optioned for major motion pictures; the first of which, Jack Reacher, was based on One Shot. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in almost a hundred territories. A native of England and a former television director, Child lives in New York City.

My Review

Astonished that I was granted a review copy before Never Go Back was released! This is one of my favorite series to read.  Always action packed with a great story.

Jack Reacher is a favorite of both men and women readers..mostly because he is nothing like Tom Cruise.  Every man wants to be like him and every women wants to be saved by him! 

Jack Reacher finally gets to Washington, DC in Never Go Back.  He was intrigued by the voice of Major Susan Turner, the latest leader of the army's 110th division, since back in the novel 61 Hours, which seems like years ago but is only a few weeks in Reacher time. 

Does he find Susan? You'll have to read this to find out.  Lots of twists and surprises for Reacher in this latest outing. At one point I thought Reacher might want something else out of life, but he is who he is.

I highly recommend this entire series...don't base your knowledge of the series on one bad movie. Great addition to the series.

Review: A Bad Day for Romance [Kindle Edition] Sophie Littlefield

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 771 KB
• Print Length: 204 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (Sep 2 2013)
• Sold by: Simon & Schuster Canada, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00A6CL7K4

Book Description

 That’s no cupid, it’s a bridesmaid with a crossbow. Stella Hardesty is a seamstress with a sideline job in vigilante justice in this entertaining ebook in the Edgar-nominated and award-winning Bad Day series.Two days before her best friend gets married, Stella Hardesty has nothing more pressing on her mind than fitting into her fluffy pink bridesmaid gown, mixing her next cocktail, and enjoying a romantic weekend with her sometimes beau, BJ Brodersen. Just as she’s headed to the bridal shower, word comes that BJ and smokin’ hot sheriff Goat Jones have gotten into a dustup over Stella’s affections.

Before Stella can recover from this startling development, more bad news comes along. The minister’s niece, the hard-to-love pageant princess Divinity Flycock, has been arrested for the murder of her fiancé. The bride begs Stella to clear Divinity’s name so that her minister will be able to perform the nuptials. When Stella starts digging into the case, however, she uncovers a world of jealous nightclub singers, firearms dealers, and the ugly underbelly of reality TV. Hot on the trail of the truth, she’s distracted by the arrival of the sheriff, who finally seems ready to make a claim for her affections.

About the Author

 Sophie's first novel, A BAD DAY FOR SORRY (Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur, 2009) has been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Barry, and Crimespree awards, and won the Anthony Award and the RTBookReviews Reviewers Choice Award for Best First Mystery. Her novel AFTERTIME was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Horror award.

My Review


I'm a huge fan of this quirky series by Sophie Littlefield.  I've been  a huge fan of Stella Hardesty since the first book in the series, A Bad Day for Sorry (which was so awesome!).

All those who inhabit Stella's world are back and they still don't have a lick of sense! It's always a rollicking adventure with a dash of mystery thrown in. A great enjoyable light read to while away the hours.  It is released on September 2nd but only as an ebook.

Review: A Cold, White Sun by Vicki Delany

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 535 KB
• Print Length: 300 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (July 31 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00EA1Y6MI

Book Description

It’s the end of March and Trafalgar, British Columbia, is preparing for the last influx of the seasonal skiers. Teachers, parents, and students are preparing to relax at home or head off on vacation. But for high school English teacher Cathy Lindsay, the week of relaxation doesn’t work out as planned. She’s gunned down by a sniper on a hiking trail, her small dog the only witness.

Cathy Lindsay is an unlikely candidate for a murderous ambush: she was a respected teacher, in an apparently solid marriage to an Internet developer, living a quiet life. Sergeant John Winters, with the help of young Constable Molly Smith, digs into the Lindsay marriage and friendships, searching for a motive, but one thought continually niggles at the back of his mind: is it possible this was not a random killing but a case of mistaken identity?

About the Author
 
 Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers. Her popular Constable Molly Smith series (including In the Shadow of the Glacier and Among the Departed) have been optioned for TV by Brightlight Pictures.

She writes standalone novels of modern gothic suspense such as Burden of Memory and More than Sorrow, as well as a light-hearted historical series, (Gold Digger, Gold Mountain), set in the raucous heyday of the Klondike Gold Rush. She is also the author of a novel for reluctant readers, titled A Winter Kill.

Having taken early retirement from her job as a systems analyst in the high-pressure financial world, Vicki is settling down to the rural life in bucolic, Prince Edward County, Ontario where she rarely wears a watch.

Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/vicki.delany, and twitter: @vickidelany

She blogs about the writing life at One Woman Crime Wave (http://klondikeandtrafalgar.blogspot.com)

Vicki is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, and Capital Crime Writers, and is on the board of Wolfe Island’s Scene of the Crime Mystery Festival. 

My Review

 Set in the fictional town of Trafalgar, British Columbia (oh, lets just call it Nelson), this is a series that always satisfies.  Author Vicki Delany captures of the essence of the hippie-dippie, green, ski resort town Nelson, BC in this series. That Molly's real name is Moonlight is no surprise to those of us who grew up in the midst of British Columbia's hippie years.

Well written mystery by a consistently good author, Vicki Delany. There is a fascinating story. And with each book in the series, we know the characters better and we are now cheering for them. 






Great read! You should read the whole series as it is very well written. This book could also stand on its own. Loved the ending!  

Review: Last Chance Summer by Hope Ramsay

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 319 KB
• Print Length: 55 pages
• Publisher: Forever Yours (Aug 6 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00BL3P5DW

Book Description

"Last Chance captures the essence of Southern charm and quirkiness. I'm totally captivated!" --- Sherryl Woods, New York Times bestselling author

It wouldn't be summer without the Watermelon Festival, and single mom Amanda Wright is looking forward to a carefree day eating funnel cakes and sipping sweet tea. But with her inquisitive son and elderly grandmother in tow, she's not in the mood for carnival rides or the kissing booth, until she hears a charming, funny voice over the loudspeaker.

Grant Trumbull is the new DJ at the local radio station, and his deep, booming cadence has all the ladies of the church auxillary atwitter. Even without seeing his face, Amanda can't help but wonder if he's the one for her. When she finally comes face to face with the man behind the mic, summer is about to get a whole lot hotter in little Last Chance, South Carolina.

Approx. 10,000 words

About the Author

 Hope Ramsay is an award-winning, bestselling author and two-time Golden Heart finalist.  Her series of heartwarming romances, published by Grand Central Publishing, have won critical acclaim.  Hope is also a member of the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood and regularly blogs about storytelling and plotting.  She is married to a good ol’ Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her Southern heroes.  She has two grown children and a couple of demanding lap cats.  She lives in Virginia where, when she’s not writing, she’s knitting or playing on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar.


My Review

 Perfect quick summer read by Hope Ramsay. What more can you ask for:  Last Chance and the Watermelon Festival. And of course love is always in the air in Last Chance, South Carolina. Adorable heart warming story that warms up the reader for Hope Ramsay's next book which I'm looking forward to:  Last Chance Knit and Stitch.

Review: Tamarack County: A Novel (Cork O'Connor #13) by William Kent Krueger

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (Aug 20 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451645759
• ISBN-13: 978-1451645750

Book Description

Violence and murder blow into Minnesota’s sleepy Tamarack County as ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor returns in the latest installment of William Kent Krueger’s New York Times bestselling series.As a blizzard swells just days before Christmas, the car belonging to the wife of a retired local judge is discovered abandoned on a rural road in Tamarack County. After days of fruitless effort, the search-and-rescue team has little hope that she’ll be found alive, if at all. Cork O’Connor, former sheriff and now private investigator, is part of that team.

Early on, Cork notices small things about the woman’s disappearance that disturb him. But when the beloved pet dog of a friend is brutally killed and beheaded, he begins to see a startling pattern in these and other recent dark occurrences in the area. After his own son comes close to peril, Cork understands that someone is spinning a deadly web in Tamarack County. At the center is a murder more than twenty years old, for which an innocent man may have been convicted. Cork remembers the case only too well. He was the deputy in charge of the investigation that sent the man to prison.

With the darkest days of the year at hand, the storms of winter continue to isolate Tamarack County. Somewhere behind the blind of all that darkness and drifting snow, a vengeful force is at work. And Cork has only hours to stop it before his family and his friends pay the ultimate price for the sins of others.

With complex plot twists, rich characters, and a vivid setting, Tamarack County is a relentlessly fast-paced novel that will chill, thrill, and shock you


About the Author

 William Kent Krueger is the award-winning author of thirteen novels in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, including Trickster’s Point and Tamarack County. He lives in the Twin Cities with his family. Visit his website at www.WilliamKentKrueger.com.

My Review

William Kent Krueger is one of my go-to authors.  I am always so excited when I know a new book in the Cork O'Connor series or a stand alone is on the way.  And I am always elated when I am granted a review copy.

Once again, I am drawn into Northern Minnesota after just a few pages with Krueger's compelling writing style. Authors that immediately grab your attention are a rarity and Krueger is one of them.

Cork O'Connor's family dynamic is always changing.  In Tamarack County, middle daughter Annie is suddenly home from the convent with a heavily burdened heart.   Meloux is in Thunder Bay visiting his son and Rainy has left town for who knows how long.

There is a dark and menacing force around Tamarack County..first a judge's wife is missing then  Steven finds a murdered dog.  And Steven is under some kind of threat. Cork probes into the past to find the answer to the winter darkness.

There is plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled.  And I shed a few tears. And from the darkness there was tremendous light at the end. Excellent story with a fulfilling ending. It's available on August 20th.  Don't miss out. And read this entire series if you haven't yet.