Taking over the world, one book at a time
TITLE: Second City Sinners: True Crime from Historic Chicago’s Deadly Streets
CHARACTERS: Chicago Criminals
AUTHOR: John Seidel
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Countless criminals have made their mark on Chicago and the surrounding communities. Chicago Sun-Times journalist Jon Seidel takes readers back in time to the days when H. H. Holmes lurked in his “Murder Castle” and guys named Al Capone and John Dillinger ruled the underworld. Drawing upon years of reporting, and with special access to the Chicago Daily News and Chicago Sun-Times archives, Jon Seidel explains how men like Nathan Leopold, Richard Loeb, and Richard Speck tried to get away with history’s most disturbing crimes. . .
REVIEW:
It might be bad but I have been fascinated by Al Capone for a long time. I really find him an interesting character.
This book emcompasses Capone and so many others. Chicago has been laden with crime that have fascinated the general public over the years and this book adds to the fascination.
I thought this book was really well written and kept my interest. Many I have heard of but some I have not. Being a fan of John Douglas (FBI Profiler) this one fits right in to the same caliber.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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TITLE: A Dash Of Christmas
SERIES #: The Montgomery Brothers #9
CHARACTERS: Carter & Emery
AUTHOR: Samantha Chase
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With a dash of Christmas magic…
Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…
Learn a little something about following their hearts…
Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restauranteur, he’s at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas…
Emery Monaghan’s no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she’s relieved―until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza’s son Carter―Emery’s childhood nemesis.
REVIEW:
This is the 9th in the series so really what this means is there are a lot of Montgomery’s to keep track of and it is not easy.
Besides the family we are dealing with Carter and Emily. They end up working together on a cookbook. But they have a past.
I never really connected with the characters. The story is sweet for a holiday romance but just not one that had me staying up late to read the story.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Peace, Blood and Understanding
SERIES #: Half-Moon Hollow #7
CHARACTERS: Meadow Schwartz & Eric Weston
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
NARRATOR: Amanda Ronconi
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/7/2019
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The “enchanting” Jane Jameson series returns with this fun and witty paranormal romance following a vampire consultant who has nefarious plans to oust Jane from her role as the head of Half-Moon Hollow’s vampire council.
Ever since Jane Jameson took over running the Vampire Council for Half-Moon Hollow, things have been a little unorthodox and that doesn’t sit well with the head office. Who would have thought vampires were so into bureaucracy and tradition?
Enter a vamp from corporate who’s determined to unseat Jane and get the council back on track—which means no more of this Kentucky neighborliness and mixing with humans, werewolves, witches, or anything else.
But Jane’s not interested in going back to the bad old days when the council was mired in corruption and tended to “accidentally” eat people now and again, but she might be in over her head this time. Good thing there’s a pretty new face in town who just might be the perfect distraction and help save Jane’s career.
REVIEW:
Meadow Schwartz just wants to live a quiet peaceful life filled with tea and her friends. But nothing can be that simple in Half-Moon Hollow. The Council has sent in an auditor to take a closer look at the way Jane and Dick are conducting business. Enter the stuffy uptight Eric Weston.
Another great installment from Molly Harper. I really enjoyed listening to Meadow’s story. As always Amanda Ronconi does an amazing job of bringing Molly’s characters to life. It was fun to see some of our past favorite characters pop up in Peace, Blood and Understanding. I love Dick’s nickname for Meadow “Hippy-Dippy”.
I can’t wait to see what is next in this series and what other secrets Half-Moon Hollow has in store for us.
Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Fan Mail
SERIES #: Aspen Adams #2
CHARACTERS: Gloria Morning & Aspen Adams
AUTHOR: Daryl Wood Gerber
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/12/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber returns with a dark new novel of suspense . . .
An adoring fan and a string of murders: a demented show of love that leaves no one safe . . .
Local celebrity news anchor Gloria Morning is used to receiving declarations of love and praise in her weekly fan letters, but when a Lake Tahoe doctor is murdered and she gets an anonymous note telling her it was done for her glory, her appreciation turns to panic. Unsure of where else to turn, she enlists the help of novice private investigator Aspen Adams. No sooner does Aspen begin digging into who sent the macabre note than another murder occurs, followed by another note, and she soon realizes she’s up against a ruthless and deranged killer.
Working with scant clues and a puzzling array of potential suspects, Aspen is determined to unearth the elusive connection between the victims and her client. But as the body count grows and the murderer remains a mystery to both her and the police, Aspen discovers she’s gotten closer to the killer than she ever imagined, and now she must risk everything she holds dear to stop the killings, including her own life . . .
REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts I realized this was the second in the series as I got into it and realized there was some missing information. I highly suggest reading the 1st in the series first.
Because of not understanding the characters from book 1 I think I couldn’t connect with the characters. Aspen seems very, well honestly bitchy. I think the author was trying to give Aspen an independent attitude but it came across as rude to me. She figured because she wanted to do something she could. Including going through confidential case files of her boyfriends.
I think the idea of the story was good but it was hard for me to get through it because of the characters.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: It’s A Christmas Thing
CHARACTERS: Rush & Claire
AUTHOR: Janet Dailey
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The best gifts last a lifetime . . .
Veterinarian J.T. “Rush” Rushford isn’t looking forward to Christmas. It’ll be his first without his beloved four-year-old daughter, Claire. A year ago, Rush’s wife divorced him for another man–then broke his heart further by revealing that Claire was her lover’s child. The final blow was Rush losing all parental rights. Now he’s in Branding Iron, Texas, with his mobile vet practice, just hoping to get through the season–until something like a Christmas miracle happens . . .
Turns out Claire’s parents are going on an extended cruise, leaving Rush to take her for the holidays. It’s bittersweet, knowing that he and Claire will have to part again, maybe forever. . . . Until a smart, not to mention beautiful, lady judge with a pregnant cat and an aging mutt takes a liking to the vet and his little girl and gets involved. With her on their side, and love in their hearts, this Christmas just might be the most joyous of all . . .
REVIEW:
Oh how I loved this story. This is a great book to snuggle up with on the couch and fall into the Holiday season.
Rush was madly in love with his daughter just to find out that he is not Claire’s dad, breaking his heart. When Claire’s mom and her new boyfriend go on vacation they have to leave Claire with Rush. But there is still sadness for Rush and Claire knowing they have to part soon. And then Rush’s new girlfriend brings the fun back into the holidays.
What a delightful story. I loved Claire and her world of an old dog and a pregnant cat and of course Rush, her favorite cowboy. To me this was Claire’s story.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Hunter
SERIES #: Decorah Security Series #20
CHARACTERS: Kathryn Kelley
AUTHOR: Rebecca York
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/19/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Kathryn is hired to socialize a criminal whose memory had been erased. But the better she gets to know him, the more she fights to strip away the lies she’d been told and get to the heart of the man. Even as the two of them grow to care deeply for each other, she knows that every move she makes only puts her in graver danger. Does the man who named himself Hunter have the skill and the cunning to save her life? And what if he has to sacrifice himself to do it?
EXCERPT:
Acting out of character, Hunter has defended himself by decking a man before going off to take a shower. The staff are all afraid of what he will do next. Kathryn volunteers to bring him out.
She wanted to bolt from the room. But she remembered the face of the man on the road. She’d seen a bleakness behind his eyes that had wrenched at her heart. No wonder, when you considered the implications of Emerson and Winslow’s callous conversation.
Instead of running away, she crossed the tile floor on unsteady legs and dropped quickly onto one of the benches.
There was no noise from inside the shower room besides the steady dripping of water. And she could see nothing beyond the billowing steam.
“Hello?” she called.
No answer.
“Hello. It’s Kathryn Kelley. Do you remember me? We met while you were on your run. I’m in the locker room.”
She sat staring into the mist, wondering if he had heard. Or if he even remembered her, for that matter, she thought with a jolt. If they’d been feeding him mind-altering drugs, there was no telling what they’d done to him.
After several seconds she saw a form moving indistinctly in the vapor. A tall, man-shaped form. Moving closer. Moving slowly on feet that were silent as a cat. Then he stepped through the doorway and into the locker room, and she couldn’t hold back a gasp. A towel was draped across his shoulders. Otherwise, he was as naked as the day he was born.
She saw her own feeling of shock mirrored on his face as he came to an abrupt halt, staring at her with a mixture of recognition and astonishment. Well, he remembered her, all right. Apparently, their meeting had been as unique for him as it had been for her.
The disbelief vanished as he continued to regard her, standing comfortably with his feet several inches apart. He was tall and intimidating, towering over her where she huddled on the bench. Droplets of water clung to his skin. His dark hair was wet, making it look almost black.
“You were with McCourt,” he said, his features filling with a roiling mixture of emotions before he got control of them.
She struggled to keep her posture relaxed as she looked up at him. He had been compelling in running shorts and a tee shirt. Naked he reminded her of Michelangelo’s David. And he stood with the same unconscious nobility, as if nudity were the norm and she was overdressed in her beige skirt and jade silk blouse. His shoulders were broad, his hips lean, his stomach flat. And his sex was proportioned to inspire some very erotic fantasies.
But this was no time for fantasies or recklessness. One wrong move and she could be in serious trouble. The two of them were alone, and he could hurt her if he wanted, she reminded herself. The thought of rape leaped into her mind, to be dismissed at once. He wasn’t looking at her like a would-be rapist. In fact, he didn’t look as if he were trying to embarrass her or make a point about a woman invading the guys’ locker room. There was no smirk on his face—only an expression that had become carefully neutral.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is #20 but the 1st that I am reading. But honestly it was fine. There wasn’t a lot about the company so I didn’t feel I missed too much not having read the first 19 in the series.
Hunter is a really interesting character. He is being trained for the government but something is really off about it. And Kathryn is hiding from a deranged psychopath. So of course they find romance… because why not?
There is something that makes Hunter and Kathryn perfect for each other and each want to protect the other from the rest of the world. I really enjoyed these two together.
I enjoyed the romance and the paranormal was a bit crazy but heck that is why we read paranormal.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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