Taking over the world, one book at a time
TITLE: Gown With The Wind
SERIES #: Wedding Planner Mystery #4
CHARACTERS: Mallory & Keith & Becca
AUTHOR: Stephanie Blackmoore
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/18/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Professional wedding planner Mallory Shepard knows her job is challenging under any circumstances. But when the groom is your ex and someone invites murder, there may never be another tomorrow . . .
Mallory’s fine–really–handling the wedding arrangements for her ex, Keith. But his fiance, Becca, has at the last minute decided to switch from a Japanese-cherry-blossom theme to a Gone with the Wind theme. She wants to honor her ailing grandmother, who owns an impressive collection of GWTW memorabilia–and who is fiercely at odds with the groom’s mother over the nuptial plans.
But among other complications, Becca gets into a fight with an old childhood rival over a replica Scarlett O’Hara wedding gown. She wins the dress–but soon becomes a murder suspect when the other woman is found dead in Becca’s swimming pool. And it’s up to Mallory to solve the mystery behind this unhappy occasion, before a different kind of civil war breaks out . . .
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts hearted and fun. This is the 4th in the series and though I have not read the other three it is a stand alone and can be read without feeling like anything was lost.
This is a quick read with a bit of thriller and mystery but mostly just cheesy light reading. Great book to take you out of your own head for a while.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: The Perfect Alibi
CHARACTERS: Robin Lockwood
AUTHOR: Phillip Margolin
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A young woman accuses a prominent local college athlete of rape. Convicted with the help of undisputable DNA evidence, the athlete swears his innocence and threatens both his lawyer and his accuser as he’s sent to prison. Not long after, there’s another rape and the DNA test shows that the same person committed both rapes—which is seemingly impossible since the man convicted of the first rape was in prison at the time of the second one. Now, the convicted athlete, joined by a new lawyer, is granted a new trial and bail. Shortly thereafter, his original lawyer disappears and his law partner is murdered.
Robin Lockwood is a young lawyer with a prestigious small law firm and a former MMA fighter who helped pay for Yale Law School with her bouts. She is representing the victim of the first rape for her civil lawsuit against her rapist, who is now convinced the rapist is stalking her and trying to intimidate her. At the same time, another client is up on a murder charge—one that should be dismissed as self-defense—but the D.A. trying the case is determined to bring it to trial. Now she has to mastermind two impossible cases, trying to find the hidden truth that links the two of them.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I enjoyed the suspense of this story but I was very confused in a number of parts of it. There are a bunch of characters and I kept having to reference back to who was who.
Margolin is a great writer who knows how to put it all into his books. But sometimes putting it all in the book might end up meaning too much stuff was put in. That is what it felt like reading this book. I kept asking “What more can he put in here?” and then he put more in and it seemed like a lot.
That all being said the suspense keeps you on your toes.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Day Of The Dragon
SERIES #: Dragon Hunter #2
CHARACTERS: Thaisa & Archer
AUTHOR: Katie MacAlister
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TWO FULL NOVELS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! Fans of Lyndsay Sands and Gena Showalter will love this fiery paranormal romance from a New York Times bestselling author about a dragon shifter who finds his soul mate in the most unlikely place. Also includes WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle.
With dragons like him, who needs enemies?
Real scholars know that supernatural beings don’t exist. But the moment I meet Archer Andras of the Storm Dragons, all my academic training goes out the window. Thanks to Mr. Tall, Dark, And Infuriating, I’m learning that I really should worry about those things that go bump in the night. . . and that dragons like Archer are 100 percent pure trouble.
Now I’m caught in the middle of a war. On one side is Archer. On the other is his twin brother. And I am the key to translating an ancient text that could bring balance-or deadly ruin-to our world. But none of that is as dangerous as the seriously sexy sparks between Archer and me. He’s too tempting to be real. Too gorgeous to trust. And when it comes to dragons, there’s no smoke without deadly fire.
Includes the novel WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle: When Abby Carter is threatened by an anti-shifter organization, werewolf shifter Declan Reed will have to convince her that there’s no safer place in the world than in the arms of a big bad werewolf.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is two books in one so make sure that you have not read either one before spending the money. Especially the second book since it is from a different author and part of a different series…. WOLF’S MATE by Celia Kyle. You can read my review from when I originally read it in 2017. REVIEW
Now back to Day Of The Dragon… I was a bit bored. I never really connected with the characters and found them a bit maddening. I was just so bored that I wanted to stop reading but I didn’t. Thaisa just got on my nerves with the whole body image thing and Archer got on my nerves with his horniness. Just not my choice for reading.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Tripping On A Halo
CHARACTERS: Autumn & Declan
AUTHOR: Alessandra Torre
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/07/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It’s really hard to save a guy’s life when he keeps running from you.
You might be asking yourself why I’m waving an inflatable penis in the air and screaming at the top of my lungs. If I took time to explain, Declan Moss would get hit by a bus.
Let me back up. I didn’t ask for this. I was perfectly happy—and perfectly sane—before I was tasked with keeping Declan Moss alive. It was a thankless job until the moment that my panties dropped and his delicious smirk found his way in between my thighs.
Hello, toe-curling ecstasy. Goodbye, professional boundaries. And suddenly, there’s a new danger to avoid: the falling of my heart.
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts I think I must have been in the mood for silly when I started this book. It really is silly but also a quick read. It was perfect for a bit of calm and brainless reading between heavier books.
It kept me entertained and even had me laugh out loud moments… ok maybe not laugh but chuckle.
Cute read but be ready for mindless fun.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Bluestone & Vine
SERIES #: Blue Hollow Falls #2
CHARACTERS: Pippa & Seth
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/26/18
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Pippa MacMillan is a legend on the Irish folk music scene. But when her voice requires a time-out, she’s left wondering how–and where–to find happiness in the silence . . .
Seeking answers, Pippa leaves Ireland in favor of a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Turns out lovely Blue Hollow Falls is the perfect place to heal–and solitary Seth Brogan is the surprisingly perfect host. After all, Seth is beginning again too: turning his renovated stone barn and beautiful hillside into a vineyard is the start of a whole new life for the former Special Forces soldier. Only Mother Nature keeps thwarting both their plans, leaving Pippa snowbound with unsettling thoughts about how life can take unexpected turns . . .
To Pippa’s surprise, she might actually fall for small-town living. She might even fall for Seth, whose quiet strength is a balm for her world-weary soul. But when the music starts once more, will she follow her fortune back to Ireland, or surrender to the call of her heart?
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Oh how I enjoy the writings of Donna Kauffman. I have been waiting for Seth’s story. And Pippa seems perfect for him. Seth is just a simple man who has a desire to be calm and start something he can get his hands into. But Pippa changes everything.
This is a sweet quick read. Perfect to sit and read and enjoy to get out of your own head and take a break.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Castle On The Rise
SERIES #: Lost Castle #2
CHARACTERS: Laine Forrester
AUTHOR: Kristy Cambron
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?
When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks–a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple’s fledgling marriage–it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend–and once, for herself–is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.
With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom’s family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It’s in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland’s majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own–and a heart afraid to trust again–Laine must determine how much she’s willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.
Set in three time-periods–the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland’s turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day–Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin’s storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland’s stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith–which legacy would you choose?
REVIEW:
This is the second in the series and I did not read the first one.
This story is written in three time period and while I worried this would be difficult to follow it ended up being pretty easy to keep track of. All the time periods were set so differently but yet with just as much beauty.
This falls under Christian Time Travel romance. The historical aspects of Ireland were breathtaking and made me want to jump on a plane. The romance was sweet.
An enjoyable read from page one.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: The Murder Pit
SERIES #: Arrowood #2
CHARACTERS: William Arrowood
AUTHOR: Mick Finlay
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Where Evil Lies Buried
1896: Sherlock Holmes has once again hit the headlines, solving mysteries for the cream of aristocracy. But among the workhouses and pudding shops of South London, private detective William Arrowood is presented with far grittier, more violent and considerably less well-paid cases. Arrowood has no doubt who is the better detective, and when Mr. and Mrs. Barclay engage him to find their estranged daughter, Birdie, he’s sure it won’t be long before he and his assistant, Barnett, have tracked her down.
But this seemingly simple missing-person case soon turns into a murder investigation. Far from the comfort of Baker Street, Arrowood’s London is a city of unrelenting cruelty, where evil is waiting to be uncovered…
REVIEW:
Oddly enough I had two books set in the same time period in the last month and both were equally as good yet different. Arrowood is like a poor man’s Sherlock Holmes. He is in London back in the 1800’s and like Holmes people come to him when they need help.
Arrowood is clever and quizzical. He sees the clues most can’t and makes the discoveries no one else is able to do.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes pick up this series. I suggest reading the first in the series before this one so you understand Arrowood a bit better but trust me you will not be sorry you did.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: California Girls
CHARACTERS: Finola, Zennie & Ali
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/26/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…
Finola, a popular LA morning show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.
Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.
Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.
But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.
REVIEW:
Mallery is my favorite author. She is the first name that comes to mind when someone asks me to recommend an author… “Have you ever read Susan Mallery?” and most times the answer is “Yes! I love her.” From that point on I know where to go with the conversation.
First I always bring up her Fool’s Gold series, move on to the Happily Inc series and then talk about her stand alone stories. And still so many to talk about.
In this story we meet Finola, Zennie and Ali. This story takes you through every emotion a book can do. You feel the sadness and the joy that the characters feel.
Another story that can not be missed by Susan Mallery.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: The Wedding Guest
SERIES #: Alex Delaware #34
CHARACTERS: Alex Delaware
AUTHOR: Jonathan Kellerman
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/05/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The electrifying new Alex Delaware thriller from global bestseller Jonathan Kellerman. First comes love…then comes murder.
In the middle of a ‘Saints and Sinners’ themed wedding, a bridesmaid finds a young woman’s corpse collapsed in the bathroom. None of the wedding guests claim to know the well-dressed victim but psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis aren’t so convinced.
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is #34 in the series so it gets harder and harder to say something original about this series and the author but just as he comes up with original material I will try as well.
What I like best about this series is the way Alex Delaware is willing to follow his intuition and just goes with it. All the cops are running around like chickens with their heads cut off and Alex is calm and listens to the signs and follows where he is somehow led.
You can pick up any of the books from the series and dive in. The book lets you meet Alex all over again but more so the suspense is worth the read.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
