Jennifer’s Review – Page 16

September 3, 2014September 2, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Nightmares Can Be Murder by Mary Kennedy

The Strange and Wonderful World of Dreams

by Mary Kennedy

When I told my friends and colleagues about my new Penguin series, The Dream Club Mysteries, I was surprised at the outpouring of interest and support. Everyone, it seems, is fascinated by dreams, curious about their meaning and dying to discuss their own dreams. Are dreams really the “royal road to the unconscious” as Sigmund Freud proposed? Can they give us new insights into our own deepest thoughts and most hidden emotions? Or are they simply random firings of neurons as the brain rests and recharges itself, taking a few hours to deal with the “residue of the day?”

I knew I had to write a book about dreams and especially about “dream clubs,” which are quite popular here in the northeast. In The Dream Club Mysteries, a group of Savannah women meet once a week to share their dreams, eat some delicious pastries and solve a murder or two.

Ali Blake, who runs a vintage candy shop right off the Historic District, founded the Dream Club. When business was flat, she invited her high powered MBA sister, Taylor, to join her in Savannah in the hopes that she could pump up business. Taylor was a skeptical about dream interpretaion at first, but now she’s becoming a believer.

There’s a good mix of characters in the club; the Harper sisters, who are well into their eighties and know everything about anyone who has lived in Savannah for the past fifty years, Sam Stiles, a local policewoman, and Sybil Powers, who fancies herself a “dream hopper.” If you’ve never heard of a dream hopper, it’s someone who claims she can “visit” other people’s dreams. And of course, there’s a hunky private detective, Noah Chandler who helps with the investigations.

Sometimes the Dream Club meetings are full of surprises. In Nightmares Can Be Murder, the first of my Dream Club Mysteries, Lucinda Macavey, a prim and proper headmistress of a girls’ school in Savannah, recounts a most unusual dream. She finds herself shopping in the frozen food aisle of the local supermarket— stark naked! Nothing could be more out of character for the shy Lucinda and the dream club members offer various interpretations.

Appearing naked in dreams is actually quite common. The dreamer finds herself in a public place “without a stitch on,” and yet onlookers seem not to notice. Dreams don’t follow the rules of logic and time and space don’t exist in dreams. Also, there is no “backstory” in dreams. The dream exists in the present. Lucinda doesn’t ponder how she got to the supermarket, how she could have possibly driven there naked, how she could have left the house without clothes or why no one stopped her. She is just “there,” in the immediate situation in the supermarket and has to deal with it.

So how did the dream club handle Lucinda’s dream in my mystery novel? The dream members agree that being naked is a metaphor for feeling helpless and vulnerable. Maybe Lucinda has a deep dark secret that she doesn’t want exposed? Maybe she has hidden urges that she doesn’t dare acknowledge?

Lucinda seems to be a very proper Southern lady, but in her dreams, she has been thrust into her worst nightmare—appearing naked in public. Lucinda joins in the discussion and admits that she has been experiencing some stress lately. She took early retirement from the Academy and she’s not sure of her future plans. Uncertainty—in any form, whether it relates to a job or a relationship or finances– can lead to anxiety and that might explain Lucinda’s dream. (Other things might explain Lucinda’s anxiety, but I can’t say more without revealing the plot.)

If you think you might enjoy reading more about the Dream Club and the clever way the members rely on their insights to solve a few murders, I hope you’ll read Nightmares Can Be Murder. You might be in for some surprises, and I guarantee you will look at your dreams in a whole new way!

About the Author:

Mary Kennedy is a clinical psychologist in private practice and lives on the East Coast with her husband and eight neurotic cats. Both husband and cats have resisted all her attempts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic. Visit her website at www.marykennedy.net

Business consultant Taylor Blake has returned to Savannah, Georgia, to help her sister Allison turn her dream of running an old-fashioned candy store into a reality. Allison is also interested in dream interpretation and invites Taylor to her Friday night Dream Club, where members meet once a week to share and analyze their dreams.

When a local dance instructor, Chico Hernandez, is found dead in his studio, and the murder scene has an eerie resemblance to one of the dreams shared at their meeting, Taylor can’t help but be intrigued. And when her sister, who was briefly involved with the dance teacher, becomes the prime suspect, Taylor and their fellow club members can’t be caught napping. It’s up to them to dream up a solution to the murder before Allison faces a real-life nightmare.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Nightmares Can Be Murder

Review (4 Stars): This was a very interesting mystery for me because this was the first book I’ve seen where the characters solved a murder using their dreams. Taylor Blake and her sister, Allison, run a candy store in Savannah and become embroiled in a mystery when the local dance instructor is found murdered in his studio across the street. Ali soon becomes the prime suspect in the murder and it is up to Taylor and her dream club to decipher the clues to find the killer before it is too late.

I have never read a mystery that used dreams to help solve a murder and I enjoyed learning the symbolism behind each of the character’s dreams that contributed to clearing Allison’s name. The dream aspect of this mystery made the story very complex and I loved all the plot twists and turns. The only downside to this mystery was the pacing in the beginning of the book but things definitely picked up by the end to wrap up the mystery up neatly. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series to see how these characters develop and what interesting things I learn next about their dreams.

September 2, 2014September 1, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Groomed For Murder by Annie Knox

First Love
by Annie Knox

Love is in the air in Merryville, Minnesota, as Izzy McHale and her friends plan the wedding of 83-year-old Ingrid Whitfield to her first love, Harvey Nyquist. Ingrid and Harvey were torn apart when his parents shipped him off to a military boarding school. They both enjoyed long marriages to other people, but after they were widowed they reconnected on the Internet and that old flame reignited.

The romantic in me sighs at the idea of a love that spans the decades, a love so bone-deep that it survives a vast and lengthy separation. I’d like to think that the love my husband and I share is like that: if we were ever separated, we’d find our way back to one another.

I found my one-and-only in my 30s, so he was obviously not the first man (or boy) I had shared the L word with. I’ve kept in touch with one of them … my first love, my high school sweetheart. We’ve both gone on to have full and happy lives. He’s a lawyer who’s been married twice (last I heard), he’s successful, and he is surrounded by good friends and a big wonderful family. I’m blissfully married, have the best job in the world, and the best friends I could ever hope to have.

We’ve done well apart.

But a tiny little part of me wonders what would have happened if our first love had lasted. What would my life look like if that sweet boy and I had stayed together, weathered being apart during college, and made a go of things as a married couple? I don’t wish that had happened … I just wish I knew what it would have looked like if it had.

What about you? Did you marry your first love? Do you know what happened to him or to her? Do you ever let yourself wonder what might have been?

About the Author:

Annie Knox doesn’t commit–or solve–murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true. She’s also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states “home,” she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone’s throw from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Izzy McHale wants her new Trendy Tails Pet Boutique in Merryville, Minnesota, to be the height of canine couture and feline fashions. But in a week of wedding bells, someone is about to hold their peace…

forever. Love is in the air, and Izzy is hard at work coordinating two special weddings at Trendy Tails. First, Izzy’s friend and mentor, Ingrid, will be tying the knot with her old flame. And a week later, Izzy will host “pupptials” for two lovable dogs.

But even with the hullabaloo, the Trendy Tails crew is intrigued by Daniel, an enigmatic writer boarding above the shop who’s caught the attention of Izzy’s zany aunt Dolly, who gossips like most people breathe.

Unfortunately, it’s Daniel who stops breathing when he drops dead at the altar on Ingrid’s wedding day. Then Dolly is found at the scene with the murder weapon, and it’s up to Izzy, her Trendy Tails pals, and her scrappy pets, Packer and Jinx, to find a killer before the two affianced doggies bark down the aisle….

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Groomed For Murder

Review (4.25 Stars): I loved Ms. Knox’s first book, Paws for Murder, which I had finished in about a day. Groomed For Murder picks up shortly after the events of the first book, in which Izzy is helping Ingrid prepare for her upcoming nuptials. On the day of the wedding, a dead body interrupts the ceremony and Izzy’s aunt Dolly is found holding the murder weapon. Izzy must help find the true killer and why the victim was staying in Merryville before her aunt Dolly is locked up for a crime she didn’t commit.

This is such a cute cozy series! I really enjoyed Paws for Murder and Groomed For Murder is even better than the first one. Izzy is a very sweet character that you can instantly relate to and I love her idea of creating clothing specifically designed for your pets. I really enjoyed the mystery in this one because there were so many potential suspects in this one and I had a hard time figuring out why the victim was killed. Ms. Knox has created a winning mystery series that will keep you entertained until the very end. I’m looking forward to reading more about Izzy, Packer and Jinx in future installments of this fun series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Groomed For Murder. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 8th, please answer Ms. Knox’s question:

Did you marry your first love? Do you know what happened to him or to her? Do you ever let yourself wonder what might have been?

September 1, 2014August 31, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Death Is Like A Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons

Ingredients Make it or Break It

by Kathy Aarons

One thing I’ve learned from researching chocolate-making for my book, Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, (and I’ve done a lot of research J) is that the quality of ingredients is the most important, well, ingredient in the outcome.

Of course, the base chocolate you use is critical. Chocolatier Isabella Knack uses Felchlin for much of her products. I’d been experimenting with her recipes that she provided for my book –more are available in her chocolate-making classes – using whatever I could find at my local grocery store, even springing for the Ghirardelli brand. And then I tried the Felchlin.

Wow! The difference was amazing!

Don’t get me wrong – pretty much all chocolate has something to offer. (Except for maybe Butterfingers, but that’s a personal prejudice. J) But the more I sampled from different chocolatiers, and the more I made myself, a few subtle and not-so-subtle qualities came through.

Of course, the flavor was critical – the depth of the cocoa itself and the notes of vanilla, berry, coffee, and other spices that depend on where the cocoa was grown. But the next factor of importance to me was the “mouth feel” — how creamy the chocolate felt while melting on my tongue without being pasty or sticky. And third, the aftertaste. Did it continue to taste just like chocolate as it melted or did it turn bitter? I didn’t mind good bitter (like a great cup of coffee) but bad bitter (like medicine) was not for me.

Chocolate connoisseurs also evaluate the sheen and color of the chocolate, the way a bar cracks when you break it, the feel of the chocolate when you touch it, and more. But to me, flavor –which is subjective and totally personal — is paramount.

Following is one of Isabella’s recipes that makes awesome Lavender Truffles. I experimented with a variety of chocolate brands and my favorite was Felchlin.

Enjoy!

Lavender Truffles
Recipe by Isabella Knack

Ingredients:
12 fresh lavender flower heads (can also use dried)
1/3 cup heavy cream
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions:
1.   Place the flower heads and cream in a small pot. Heat on high until cream starts to simmer and melt the butter in the mixture. Take off heat and set aside to steep for 15 minutes.
2.   Divide the chocolate into two equal 5 ounce portions, and set one portion aside.
3.   Heat up the cream mixture again and, using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the cream into the chocolate in a small mixing bowl; discard the flower heads and bits of lavender.
4.   Stir the cream and chocolate together until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator until somewhat firm, but not hard, for about 1 hour.
5.   Melt the other half of the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments until liquid.
6.   Line a baking sheet with a piece of waxed paper. Roll the lavender mixture into 1 tablespoon-sized balls, and dip into the melted chocolate mixture using a skewer or toothpick. Place onto the prepared baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to harden.

About the Author:

Kathy Aarons is the author of Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, the first in the CHOCOLATE COVERED MYSTERY series by Berkley Prime Crime. It will be available at your local bookstore, Amazon and Barnes and Noble on September 2nd.

Research for the series was such a hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.

After growing up in rural Pennsylvania and attending Carnegie Mellon University, Kathy built a career in public relations in New York City. She now lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters where she wakes up far too early, and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.

You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.

Whether it’s to satisfy a craving for chocolate or pick up the hottest new bestseller, the locals in charming West Riverdale, Maryland, are heading to Chocolates and Chapters, where everything sold is to die for…

Best friends Michelle Serrano and Erica Russell are celebrating the sweet rewards of their combined bookstore and chocolate shop by hosting the Great Fudge Cook-off during the town’s Memorial Day weekend Arts Festival. But success turns bittersweet when Main Street’s portrait photographer is found dead in their store, poisoned by Michelle’s signature truffles.

As suspicion mounts against Michelle, her sales begin to crumble and her career seems whipped. With Erica by her side, Michelle must pick through an assortment of suspects before the future of their dream store melts away…

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Death Is Like A Box of Chocolates

Review (4 Stars): Michelle and Erica have created the perfect business in West Riverdale; a bookstore with a chocolate shop that have all the locals raving. Michelle has been looking forward to participating in the Great Fudge Cook-off when a friend is found dead in their shop, poisoned by Michelle’s own truffles. To clear her name and the reputation of her business, Michelle must team together with Erica and her brother to find the true killer before the negative publicity causes their business to go up in smoke.

I love culinary mysteries especially ones that deal with my favorite food, chocolate. This mystery was a winner for me because it had chocolate, books and a good-looking love interest. I liked Michelle and Erica together as a team because they were best friends and business partners and they just had this easy relationship with one another that I was a little envious of. The mystery was well-written and I’m excited to see what happens to these characters in the rest of the series. Death Is Like A Box of Chocolates is a mystery that you can definitely sink your teeth into and will have readers clamoring for more.

September 1, 2014August 31, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath

From New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath, comes the second book in a brand new series, The Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, featuring three eligible bachelors…and the scoundrels that reside within each.

Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can’t escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he’s not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning, he realizes she doesn’t remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she’s his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.

While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can’t be denied, regardless of consequences. So when Ophelia’s memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.

Amazon/B&N/iTunes

About the Author:

LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals and computer code, but something was always missing. After reading a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s RITA® and a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Once More, My Darling Rogue

Review (5 Stars): Drake Darling has never been able to forget the events of his childhood and even with all the success that he has achieved, those memories are never far from his thoughts. Lady Ophelia Lyttleton has known Drake for years and has always treated him as though he was beneath her. The two verbally spar with one another every chance they get and it has become a game to see who will win first. One night, Drake finds a young woman on the side of the river, dirty, bruised and has no idea who she is or how she got there. What surprises Drake the most is that the young woman is none other than Lady Ophelia and she has no memories of Drake whatsoever. As a punishment for the way that she has treated him all these years, Drake tells Lady Ophelia that she is his servant and makes her spend her time doing servant duties. As the days pass, Drake finds himself falling for the new Lady Ophelia and dreads the day when her memories return, knowing that she will hate him even more for what he has done. But Lady Ophelia is falling for Drake as well and maybe this chance at love will finally help melt her deeply protected heart of ice.

I absolutely fell in love with Drake Darling in Once More, My Darling Rogue. He was a charming man who couldn’t understand why Lady Ophelia hated him so much when he never did anything to hurt her. In a way, he felt that he deserved the verbal abuse because of his torrid beginnings but Lady Ophelia was downright cruel, mean and vindictive whenever Drake was around. I loved when she became Phee, the woman with no memories, who was sweet, kind and a crusader against any injustice in the world. I didn’t agree with Drake for making Phee believe that she was a servant as retaliation for all the things that she had done to him, but if he hadn’t, he would have never seen the amazing woman she could become.

Drake and Lady Ophelia were two very interesting characters because they both believed that they were unworthy of love because of events that happened in their childhoods. They were haunted by their past and were finally able to heal their broken spirits by finding love in each others arms. This love story brought me to tears when I discovered both of their secrets and to what lengths Drake went to make amends for what he had done to Lady Ophelia when she had lost her memories. Such a beautiful story of love and forgiveness between two emotionally scarred people who deserved to find love and found it in the most unlikely of places. This is one of my favorite books this year and I am looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.

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August 25, 2014August 17, 2014

Kelly, Jennifer & Kimberly review It’s In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: It’s In His Kiss
SERIES #: Lucky Harbor #10
CHARACTERS: Sam Brody & Becca Thorpe
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: August 26, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER
Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now’s her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam’s eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile.

Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can’t resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca’s heart?

KELLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Lucky Harbor is just going to be a pit stop in Becca Thorpe’s journey to find happiness. A beautiful pit stop with the Pacific Ocean as it’s backdrop and delicious ranch flavored popcorn. Oh and did I mention the amazing view a very sexy surfer? But that is not way she is here. Men are not on her list. Becca is here to get her life back on track. Except a certain sexy surfer keeps getting in her way.

Sam Brody is the one that everyone comes to. If you have a question in Lucky Harbor the answer is “Go ask Sam, he know everything”. Well Sam just met something, no scratch that someone that he doesn’t know how to handle. Oh he thinks he does, but he doesn’t. Sam’s tough exterior is not going to be any kind protection for the likes of Becca. But the problem is that Sam doesn’t let people close ever.

As with every trip to the to Lucky Harbor I totally fell in love with characters and their story. Sam & Becca are so good together. Once Sam finally get’s over his “rules” ;). I loved the Becca even with her faults is able to weasel her way into Sam’s heart and through the poor guy for a loop. Again I love Lucky Harbor and it’s inhabitants. I really wish I could go visit this please of true love and nosy neighbors. But until Jill tells me the location of this secret town I will wait patiently (okay not so patiently) for the next Lucky Harbor novel.

JENNIFER’S REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts I believe that this is one of my favorite Lucky Harbor books to date. Becca Thorpe moved to Lucky Harbor to start a new life and deal with the memories of her past. She never expected to move in next door to the sexy yet grumpy Sam Brody. Sam has a tough as nails exterior to protect himself from any emotional attachment and Becca slowly breaks down Sam’s carefully built walls. Together, they just may find the love that they have always been searching for.
I will be honest, I didn’t like Sam in the beginning of the book because of that gruff exterior that he was always hiding behind. The more I read about him and how he let his guard down with Becca, made me fall in love with him as well. He always did things for the people that he cared about, he just had a difficult time actually saying the words that Becca wanted to hear. His motto was “actions, not words” and he did some amazing things for Becca over the course of the book.
Becca didn’t seem like a very strong character to me in the first few chapters but I was soon impressed by the way that she held everything together after all the things that happened to her because of her family. It brought me to tears to know that she had dealt with that much pain and was still able to put herself out there emotionally with Sam. Sam’s love brought out the best in her and was the strong support that she needed to deal with the issues that still plagued her daily life.
It’s in His Kiss is a beautifully written romance about two kindred spirits that find love when they least expected it. Ms. Shalvis has done a wonderful job creating these characters and her books are always a winner for me. Can’t wait to read Cole and Olivia’s story next in He’s So Fine.

KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Another wonderful visit to Lucky Harbor. This is one of my favorite series and I am saddened that there is only a couple to go before Jill Shalvis leaves Lucky Harbor behind. This story was one of my favorites in the series. I adored Sam. He is quiet, responsible and good hearted but something about Becca turns him inside out and we get to see another side to him. I loved how he opened up with Becca. He was so quick to protect and is really a romantic guy. I love that he gets that Becca’s weakness is the ranch popcorn and not flowers. Any man who understands his woman that well has to be a good guy.

And Becca. She has had to deal with a lot and has had a hard time but she still has such a great sense of humor and openness about her. I wanted to be her friend from page 1 when she tells the ocean she would marry it and have it’s babies if she hadn’t already promised her heart to the popcorn. She made me chuckle right then and I knew I would love her. And I did all the way through the book.

I also enjoyed the bro-mance of Cole, Tanner and Sam. The closeness they have is endearing and really makes the background of this book. I can’t wait to read their stories in He’s So Fine and One In A Million. And then I will have to shed a few tears to leave Lucky Harbor forever.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

August 23, 2014August 23, 2014

Book Spotlight & Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse–her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between…

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene splits her time between North Carolina and Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of The Beautiful Ashes

Review (4 Stars): I have always been a big fan of Ms. Frost’s work and I was very excited to read her new book, The Beautiful Ashes, which is the first title in a brand new series. Ivy is on the search for her sister, Jasmine, who has been missing for days and seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. No one has seen her and Ivy is dealing with her disappearance as well as the death of her foster parents, who were recently killed in a car accident. Ivy has always been a little different, plagued by dreams and visions of horrible things that no one has been able to explain. She soon finds that people are trying to kill her to prevent her from finding her sister and finds an unlikely ally in a young man named Adrian. Adrian may be the only person she can count on in this deadly fight but he may also be the one person that is meant to betray her. She is running out of time to save her sister and she needs to find a historic weapon before it is too late to save them all.

I liked Ivy from the very beginning, she was a strong, independent young woman who was trying to hold it together after the loss of her parents and the disappearance of her younger sister. Ivy has always been plagued by horrifying visions of things that no one else could see but her. During the search for her sister, Ivy can’t find anyone that has seen her and the people that she meets look fine one second, then something out of a horror movie the next. She soon meets up with Adrian, a young man with secrets of his own, where she finds that her visions are real and she is the last descendant of a distinctive bloodline. She has supernatural powers that she has never known about and to save her sister, she must help Adrian find a historic weapon that only she can locate. She also discovers that Adrian is the descendant of another infamous bloodline and it is has been prophesied for him to betray her. She has this love/hate relationship with Adrian through most of the book which dragged on a little but I enjoyed them both together. He was the first person to believe in her and tell her that everything she had been going through was real.

Adrian was definitely a charmer but he was also a bad boy with a tainted past. He was always there by Ivy’s side through everything but sometimes his attitude made me want to reach in and smack him. He was destined to betray Ivy but couldn’t stay away from her no matter what happened. I liked that he tried to redeem himself from the past things that he had done and I’m interested to see how things play out for them in the rest of the series.

I liked The Beautiful Ashes and I think that is a promising start to a new series. It was action-packed from the beginning with a touch of romance to even things out. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see if the prophecy between Ivy and Adrian actually comes to light or they are able to change their own fates.

August 14, 2014August 13, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Curse Awakened by Cecy Robson

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for A Curse Awakened and spotlight this great title. Cecy Robson is an amazing talented writer and I have had the pleasure of spending time with her at the Romantic Times Convention earlier this year. If you haven’t read her Weird Girls series, you are missing out because I believe that Ms. Robson will be a big name in the literary world before too long.

A CURSE AWAKENED
Excerpt

(From Chapter One)

Shayna meant well. But her optimistic attitude didn’t adequately describe my state of being. “If that were true, she’d never come out to play without my permission.” I turned to face them. “I―we—could never hurt you. I hope you know that. But sometimes, when she wants to break free, it is to do harm. Except there’s no one around to send her after . . . at least not anymore.” Not since I had killed the men who’d killed our parents. We hadn’t had much, but the gang members who’d broken into our home had robbed us of our most precious asset—our beloved mother and father.

Taran huffed and squared her shoulders when my voice trailed and she caught traces of my guilt. “You need to get over that, Ceel. Those bastards deserved everything that beast of yours unleashed.”

It was easy for Taran to say. She hadn’t heard the men begging for their lives. She hadn’t slashed their throats or watched them bleed, listening for their hearts to stop beating so she could finally walk away. Their voices stayed with me, screaming for mercy during my worst nightmares. And those nightmares were brought on by stress. So between the strain of selling the house and our decision to become traveling nurses, my prey had visited me every night that month.

I shoved my feet into the old pair of sneakers by the sliding glass door, not wanting to dwell on those I couldn’t bring back. “I’d better go meet Danny. He should be at the field soon.”

Taran rolled her eyes and adjusted her tiny cropped shirt. “Fine, but not without us. The last thing I want is you straddling his skinny ass and making skinny-ass babies.” She swore again since, well, that’s how she rolled.

“I’m not straddling Danny,” I insisted. “What we had was sweet, but it’s very over.” I grabbed the house keys and marched out with my sisters behind me. I held open the door, waiting for everyone to scamper out. As I jiggled the old lock to the door, Emme tugged on the edge of my wolf T-shirt I’d purchased on a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo. I had a soft spot for wolves.

Discover Cecy Robson’s sensational Weird Girls series—or return to where the magic first began—with this eBook original prequel novella about four sisters coming to grips with their unique supernatural powers.

Celia Wird shouldn’t possess the ability to transform into a tigress. Her three sisters should never be able to burst into flames, heal wounds, or transform common objects into deadly weapons. And yet they do.

Before they were born, the Wird Sisters were cursed by a spell that was intended to destroy them, not endow them with extraordinary powers. The sisters’ magic is untamed and explosive at best, and time is running out for them to take command.

Vampires have targeted Celia’s sweet, tragically human ex-boyfriend Danny. The sisters rush to his aid, but in order to take down the vamps, first they must face their dark past and break a spell that’s screwing up their powers. Except this curse wasn’t meant to be broken . . . and the witch who cast it isn’t done toying with them yet.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Cecy Robson is the New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Robson counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, she enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of A Curse Awakened

Review (5 Stars): I have been a huge fan of Ms. Robson’s writing since reading Sealed With a Curse last year and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read more about the Wird sisters. A Curse Awakened is a prequel to this amazing paranormal series which provides the much needed answers about the girl’s powers and the beginnings of the back-fired curse that turned their lives upside down. In this story, Danny calls the sisters for help when he finds that his family is being hunted by vampires and his father is now missing. Determined to help Danny in his quest to find his missing father, Celia discovers that the only way to truly help him is to break the curse that is binding their powers. To do that, they have to face a dark evil that wants nothing more than to see the girls dead and will stop at nothing to make that prophecy come true.

A Curse Awakened is a fast-paced thrill ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. I love Ms. Robson’s style of writing because she not only creates a vivid paranormal world that will surely entertain readers but provides the perfect amount of humor that will have you laughing out loud when you least expect it. I can’t get enough of the Weird Girls series and I desperately want to get my hands on her next book, A Cursed Bloodline.

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August 13, 2014August 10, 2014

Jennifer reviews Return To Homecoming Ranch by Julia London

TITLE: Return to Homecoming Ranch
SERIES #: Pine River #2
CHARACTERS: Libby Tyler, Sam Winters
AUTHOR: Julia London
PUBLICATION DATE: 7/22/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Curly-haired Libby Tyler never stops smiling…until her beloved boyfriend suddenly forces her out of their home and away from his adoring kids. When she learns he dumped her for his flighty ex-wife, Libby’s sadness turns to fury—and she very publicly smashes his truck with a golf club, earning herself a trip to a mental health center for some “rest.”

Handsome, hazel-eyed deputy Sam Winters has been sober for two years. Afraid of backsliding, he lives in the mountains and keeps his distance from people. Yet he never forgot Libby, his former colleague at the sheriff’s office whose charm and cheerfulness always warmed his days.

Now Libby’s back, ignoring the townspeople’s whispers (and her ex’s restraining order) while desperately trying to make Homecoming Ranch a successful event destination. She keeps causing trouble for Sam, but he finds her smile more beautiful than ever…and his touch gives her thrills she’s never felt. Could these two lost souls mend each other’s broken hearts?

REVIEW: The thing that I loved about this book was that Libby and Sam were two kindred spirits that were doing their best to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives in Pine River. Libby Tyler was heartbroken when she was kicked to the curb by her ex-boyfriend and had a difficult time moving on from the life that she helped create with him and his children. Feeling lost and alone, she finds herself driving by his house when she knows that she needs to stay away and move on. Sam Winters is a recovering alcoholic who has always had eyes for Libby and Sam soon finds himself trying to keep her out of trouble with her ex-boyfriend.

Libby has never known what her friendship has meant to Sam, especially during the dark times recovering from his addiction. I loved how Sam was there to help Libby, even when she didn’t want it and to be the friend that she needed when the whole town though that she had lost her mind. They were great together as a couple and that Sam showed Libby that true love had always been right in front of her, she just had to take his hand and grab it.
Return to Homecoming Ranch is a sweet, delightful romance that you just can’t put down. I enjoyed Libby and Sam’s story, as well as getting updates about what is happening in the lives of previous characters from the first book in the series, Homecoming Ranch. Ms. London has written such a lovely romantic tale about two broken hearts that finally find the love that they were searching for and I can’t wait to see what is in store for these characters in the future.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

August 13, 2014August 10, 2014

Jennifer reviews Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

TITLE: Better Homes and Hauntings
CHARACTERS: Deacon Whitney, Nina Linden
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: 6/24/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I loved, loved this book! I have always been a big fan of Molly Harper and the fact that this book is about a haunted house is an added bonus for me. Nina Linden is down on her luck trying to build her landscaping business when she gets the job of a lifetime helping to renovate the grounds of The Crane’s Nest, which is owned by software mogul, Deacon Whitney. Nina joins a group of business-minded people set on bringing the decrepit mansion back into its former glory but each of them begin to experience things that have them believing that the house actually may be haunted.
Molly Harper is such a talented writer because each of her books are filled with romance, mystery and a dash of snarky humor that will definitely keep you entertained. I loved Nina, Deacon, Cindy and Jake in Better Homes and Hauntings and couldn’t get enough of these characters. The dialogue between these characters had me laughing out loud and wanting to find the secrets of The Crane’s Nest right along with them. Nina and Deacon were so cute together since they were both shy people that had a lot in common if they just gave it a chance. I felt sorry for Cindy for part of this book because she liked Jake and he was just an idiot that needed to be hit over the head for not remembering her from his past. I love all of Ms. Harper’s books and Better Homes and Hauntings has now become a favorite of mine. Can’t wait for her next book because I know that it will be a fun and entertaining ride.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Billionaire Blend by Cleo Coyle

BREWING UP MURDER

by Cleo Coyle

“Pluck” is a word I usually associate with chickens. On the other hand, Booklist was kind enough to describe my amateur sleuth as having pluck, a valid observation because Clare Cosi may be many things, but she is no chicken.

A divorced, single mom in her forties, Clare is like many of the women I grew up admiring in my big Italian-American family. Smart and determined with a sturdy backbone, Clare also has a generous spirit and enough ingenuity to cook mouth-watering feasts (and raise a daughter) on a shoestring budget.

By day, Clare manages a charming landmark coffeehouse in New York’s Greenwich Village. By night, she is a relentless snoop, who displays quite a bit of pluck in BILLIONAIRE BLEND, the latest entry in my Coffeehouse Mystery series.

When a car bomb goes off outside Clare’s charming shop, she comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, an intense young man who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. Eric is so grateful to Clare for saving his life that he hires her to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries, she begins to wonder: Is this brilliant CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe an NYPD bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it.

By the end of BILLIONAIRE BLEND, you’ll have taken a trip with Clare to an exclusive millionaire’s club, flown with her to a bohemian Paris neighborhood, visited some of the most intriguing coffee growing regions of the world—and uncovered the dark motives behind several murders.

Because this is a “culinary” mystery, you will also have over 20 fantastic recipes to try in your own kitchen, including a list of Clare’s secret off-the-menu coffeehouse drinks, as well as tasty foods enjoyed by the characters in the book, namely:

Clare’s Billionaire Bars
Baileys Irish Cream and Caramel Nut Fudge
Perfect Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Chocolate-Bottom Banana Bars
French Apple Cake Squares
Italian Beignets
Copycat Twinkie Cupcakes
Make your own Kahlua
Skillet Lasagna
“Coffee Hunter” Ugandan Stew
Crunchy Almond Biscotti (easy food processor method)
Quesa Fundido (Mexican Hot Cheese Dip) and more…

One last note for new readers: Although BILLIONAIRE BLEND is the 13th book in my Coffeehouse Mystery series—now celebrating ten years in print—you can read it as a stand-alone novel. If you enjoy the characters, you can read more about them in the previous books.

To download a free title checklist of all 13 Coffeehouse Mysteries, in order, including brief story summaries, click here

And please feel free to friend me on facebook at www.Facebook.com/CleoCoyle or sign up for my newsletter by writing an email that says “sign me up” and sending it to CoffeehouseMystery(at)gmail(dot)com.

May you read with joy!

~ Cleo

About the Author:

CLEO COYLE is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Their latest mystery, BILLIONAIRE BLEND, earned a starred review from Kirkus, a “Top Pick” honor from RT Book Reviews, and this month Berkley is releasing the book in mass market paperback. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, Marvel, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they not only write the bestselling Coffeehouse Mysteries but also the popular Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. To learn more, and sign up for Cleo’s newsletter, visit her website: www.CoffeehouseMystery.com

In this 13th entry of the Coffeehouse Mystery series, we return to the Village Blend, a charming coffeehouse in the heart of New York’s picturesque Greenwich Village. When a car bomb goes off outside this landmark shop, single-mom and manager Clare Cosi comes to the aid of an anonymous customer, one who turns out to be billionaire tech whiz Eric Thorner. In gratitude for saving his life, Eric hires Clare to create the most expensive coffee blend on the planet. But as Clare is pulled deeper into Eric’s world–a mesmerizing circle of cutting-edge luxuries and cutthroat rivalries–she begins to wonder: Is this charming young CEO marked for termination? Or is he the one making a killing?

To solve this case, Clare will have to bribe a bomb squad lieutenant; conjure up a menu for a “billionaire’s potluck”; fix her daughter’s love life; stop a Slayer while working with one; and stay alive while doing it. Coffee: it can get a girl killed.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Billionaire Blend

Review (5 Stars): Cleo Coyle is one of my favorite mystery writers and I absolutely love the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Billionaire Blend is the 13th book in this impressive series and shows no signs of stopping for its dedicated readers. In this novel, Clare’s staff has been quizzed on a daily basis by an eccentric young man about unusual coffee drinks to the point where they dread his appearance at the coffee house. He has met his match when he starts a conversation with Clare, that is short-lived when an explosion rips apart the Village Blend and severely injures the young entrepreneur. Clare soon learns that the Village Blend was not the intended target and must quickly find out who wanted him dead before more lives are lost.

The Coffeehouse Mystery series is one of my favorites with its complex mysteries, a strong-minded heroine and delicious coffee creations. Billionaire Blend is a perfect addition to this series and I was impressed with the amount of research that was involved in bringing this particular mystery to life. I had a very difficult time figuring out the killer and that is one of the reasons I like these mysteries. So many plot twists and turns that will have you guessing for hours. I enjoyed every minute of this delightful mystery and I can’t wait to read more of this series for many years to come.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Billionaire Blend. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by August 19th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite coffee (or other caffeinated) drink?

August 10, 2014August 9, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Bewitching Boots by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Once Upon A Time
By Joyce Lavene

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Isabelle. She liked to play around and take things away from those who weren’t as beautiful or royal as she. She especially liked taking other women’s boyfriends.

They didn’t like it much. But the men were happy—until she dumped them.

Then Princess Isabelle met a wonderful shoemaker named Bill who had elf magic. Bill was from a long line of shoemakers, the ones who’d made Cinderella’s glass slippers, and other enchanted shoes. He tickled her fancy, and her feet, for a short time.

But fickle Isabelle took his slippers and sent him packing.

What Isabelle didn’t know was that someone wanted to kill her. The killer took advantage of Isabelle’s new slippers to blame her death on the new shoemaker. Poor Isabelle was carelessly tossed from the castle terrace.

But a woman who was not Isabelle’s friend wouldn’t allow the shoemaker to be falsely charged with the princess’s murder. Lady Jessie Morton set out to prove that someone else was responsible for Isabelle’s death.

In the end, Lady Jessie found the killer and put Princess Isabelle’s spirit to rest. She had help from her hunky husband, Bailiff Chase Manhattan. Even that stupid blue ghost, Wanda, was something of a help.

And they all lived happily ever after in Renaissance Village and Marketplace, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Huzzah!

About the Author:

Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jessie is thrilled when she finds Bill Warren, an old fashioned shoemaker, and he agrees to come back to Renaissance Village with her. She’s not so thrilled when claims to have elf magic, and he falls for Princess Isabelle. The dancing slippers Bill makes for Isabelle make him a suspect when the princess takes a leap from the castle terrace. Now, Jessie must find the lady or lord who helped the princess with her last dance before she loses her star attraction.

Amazon

Jennifer’s Review of Bewitching Boots

Review (4.5 Stars): Whenever I have the opportunity to read a mystery from Joyce and Jim Lavene, I know that it will definitely be a winner. The Renaissance Faire Mystery series is one of my favorites and I’m delighted to say that Bewitching Boots is a charming addition to an already wonderful series. In Bewitching Boots, Jessie is excited to have Bill Warren at the Renaissance Fair showing the daily visitors how he makes his old fashioned footwear. Just when his exhibit is supposed to open at the museum, Princess Isabelle is found dead and the last person to have seen her alive just happened to be the new shoemaker. Jessie doesn’t believe for an instant that he is guilty of murder but when he starts talking about his shoes having elf magic, Jessie has to wonder if Bill may be somehow responsible for Isabelle’s death. Now, Jessie has to find the true killer before another victim is taken out of the Renaissance spotlight.

I love Jessie and the other characters of the Renaissance Faire series and I am always so excited to be able to spend time with them in each book of the series. Bewitching Boots was a quick yet entertaining mystery that had me guessing about who was truly responsible for Isabelle’s death. I can’t wait to read more from these talented authors and I hope that there will be another book in the series sometime next year.

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August 8, 2014August 8, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Book Fair and Foul by Erika Chase

Guest Blog

by Erika Chase

What’s not to like about a cozy? They’re so…well, cozy. To me that means a traditional mystery, a puzzle, something on the lighter side, without the excess of violence, sex or language – except where appropriate. If I want any of that I can read the newspapers, watch TV news, or even, most of the mystery/crime series that are on TV.

Don’t get me wrong, I do read other types of crime books, I’m an avid newspaper reader and I do watch some psychological police dramas on TV, because they do have their place and there are times when that’s exactly what I want to see or read.

But for the most part, I want my reading time to be spent in a world where friendships are a primary focus, where there’s a hint of romance, and of course, the world is made right by the capture of the bad guys. I want to work through the crime puzzle along with the main character, be he or she an amateur sleuth or professional. I want to get to know these people as friends so that I enjoy spending time with them catching up, in each new book in the series. And, as importantly, I want justice to be carried out.

So it’s natural that I write cozy mysteries. I try to combine all those factors that I enjoy when reading a mystery in my Ashton Corners Book Club series. I belong to a book club, and although the members are very different from my fictional ones, especially the fact that we don’t solve crimes, the friendships and camaraderie are the aspects I’ve brought to the series.

Each character is unique, someone I’d like to know and learn more about, (I am learning more about them as I write each new book) and to this end, each has her or his own story and reason for belonging to the book club. Together, they compliment and contrast, they cajole and console, they are friends and they are my friends.

To me, a cozy setting means community. From the larger community of Ashton Corners, Alabama (totally fictional but somewhat based on a small town located close to me) to the smaller community of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society…this is the heart of a cozy mystery. The puzzle and the unraveling of it are layered on to present a reading experience that hopefully will delight the mystery lover.

I enjoy writing cozies and I enjoy reading them. I hope you do, too.

About the Author:

Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime. In a parallel life Erika Chase is also known as Linda Wiken. A former mystery bookstore owner (Prime Crime Books in Ottawa, ON, Canada), Linda is also a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies’ Killing Circle.

Her short stories have appeared in the seven Ladies’ Killing Circle anthologies (three of which she co-edited), and in the magazines Mysterious Intent and Over My Dead Body. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.

Before life in the world of mystery, she worked as an advertising copywriter, radio producer, journalist and community education worker. Besides writing and reading mysteries, her other passion is choral singing and she is a member of two choirs.

Okay, maybe one more passion — chocolate!

She shares her house with Keesha and Mojo, her two Siamese cats. Actually, they allow her to live there.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: a new series looms! I’ll be writing the Culinary Capers Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime as the “other” me — Linda Wiken. Hopefully, the first one will be out in late 2015.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

The members of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society are all chipping in as Molly Mathews, now owner of the bookstore the Book Nook, prepares the first annual Mystery Book Fair. While gossip circulates about the guest authors, club member Lizzie Turner is unpleasantly surprised to see a certain book publicist make an appearance. It seems Lizzie has a history with Ashley Dixon—a chapter of her life she’d rather leave closed.

But when someone gives Ashley a death sentence, Lizzie becomes the prime suspect in a murder mystery she can’t put down. Now Lizzie and her fellow book buffs have to read between the lines of the publicist’s past and catch the real killer before Lizzie is written off for good.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Book Fair & Foul

Review (4.5 Stars): Book Fair & Foul is a delightful yet complex cozy mystery that will keep you guessing. I have always been a big fan of Ms. Chase’s Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries and I think that this one is the best so far. Lizzie Turner becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her scheming college roommate during the middle of a mystery book fair that Lizzie is organizing with her good friend, Molly Mathews. Between balancing literary divas and trying to clear her name, Lizzie has got her hands full and looks to her friends to help find the real killer. Hopefully, she can find the answers quickly before Lizzie finds herself behind bars for good.

Such a great series! I love these mysteries because they are light-hearted with fun characters and are always discussing other fabulous books. Lizzie has grown into a wonderful character and I love how her relationship with Mark is getting stronger with each passing day. I could understand Lizzie’s situation with her college roommate, Ashley Dixon, because she wasn’t a nice person at all. She was mean and conniving and tried everything to agitate Lizzie while she was there in Ashton Corners. I wasn’t sorry to see her go and other characters in this story had just as much reason as Lizzie to dislike her. This is the fourth book in the series and everyone of them is more enjoyable than the next. I recommend that everyone spend a little time with these delightful characters and I can’t wait to read the next book in this endearing series.