authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Restless Hearts by B. J. Daniels is the first in a new series and it starts off with a home run. This story has a great murder mystery, some western romance, and family conflict. The plot begins with the heroine, private investigator Blaze McClintock, returning home. She is asked by the Judge who set her on the right path to help her estranged father who is accused of murdering a neighboring rancher. As the …
Title: A Murderous Relation Author: Deanna Raybourn Series: Veronica Speedwell #5 I adore this series My profuse thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No major spoilers, but I might have let a few minor ones slip through. This book was awesome. If I hadn’t had a prior commitment last night, I’d have inhaled this book in one day. After reading the very first …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Princess Plan by Julia London is a good murder mystery, along with a royal romance. This first in the series delves into the Victorian Age culture and expectations. The story opens with Prince Sebastian, the future king of Alucia coming to England to secure a trade deal and find a bride that will bring influence to this small kingdom. Able to secure an invitation of a masquerade ball held in the prince’s honor, …
Book Review by Elise Cooper Bookmarked for Murder by V. M. Burns is the fifth book in the Mystery Bookshop series, one of three the author writes. Many of the amateur sleuths in this series are not young at heart, which adds to the plot. “I write three series and this one is from the “Mystery Bookshop series.” It has a story within a story with a contemporary murder and a historical cozy mystery. The protagonist has two poodle dogs, …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Passengers by John Marrs is a pulse-pounding read. This riveting story delves into the potentially destructive nature of technology and how social media contributes to a mob mentality, where people determine who will live and who will die. Imagine a world where there are only driverless cars. The rationale is that there will be less accidents, less deaths, and more safety. This is exactly what takes place in England because of a government …
Title: Penny for Your Secrets Author: Anna Lee Huber Series: Verity Kent #3 Better than I expected! I would like to thank Anna Lee Huber, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. In the past I haven’t liked the Verity Kent series as much as the Lady Darby books, but surprisingly I enjoyed this one more than the previous two. Admittedly, it had a slow beginning. I understand narratively …
Title: All Fired Up Author: Lori Foster Series: Road to Love #3 Meh Thanks to Justine Sha for inviting me to participate in the blog tour, and thanks to Lori Foster, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a cute story. Not riveting but not terrible either. My overall feeling was an amicable “meh.” A little too cheesy for my taste. Mitch was a nice guy if rather …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a story with a lot of mystery and action blended with some romance. As the chapters progress so does the suspense. The story starts out with an intense scene where the main heroine, Vivian DeMarco, finds her boss lying on the floor and just minutes away from death. Readers might remember her from the previous book, Living Lies, but in this novel, she more than redeems herself. She …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd creates an atmosphere of suspense and tension, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This story never lets up from beginning to end. A psychopath, Mara Phillips, has a vendetta against the main character, Kellen Rae. She has escaped a maximum-security facility for the criminally insane. This psychopath targeted Kellen, her husband Max, and their daughter Rae who still has a maturity level beyond her …
Title: A Bad Day for Sunshine Author: Darynda Jones Series: Sunshine Vicram #1 Don’t repeat your mistakes, Jones I would like to effusively thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for letting Christmas come early by allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. When a new Darynda Jones book drops out of the wild blue yonder directly into my lap more than six months before its due to be released, there’s only one …