I seem to be in a “second of series” phase right now because I have read a bunch of books lately that have had me concerned for “sophomore slumps.” Fortunately, I believe that all of them have been successful, and Kiss Me Tonight is no exception. I loved the first book in the series but the second installment hits full stride, and what a fun read it was!
From the initial text message to the method of
communication between Noah and Reagan, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I
loved the interplay between the two, I thought the situations were unique, and
I thought the author did a great job of staying true to the characters while
creating a realistic scenario.
Nobody would ever think that a random dick pic
could lead to something more, but in Reagan’s world, it does. Fortunately, that
dick belongs to a decent guy, Noah, who got shafted (no pun intended).
What follows is an unfortunate event, which in
turn leads to several realizations by both characters that they are meant for
each other.
Oh yeah, and there is a panty-eating chihuahua,
a fairly crazy great aunt, the usual best friend snark included in the budding
relationship.
Honesty, it’s just as crazy as it sounds, and it is fun reading. Ms. Hart certainly knows how to turn a phrase and create dialogue that is realistic and relatable. I especially loved the banter regarding favorite TV shows. And yes, totally agreeable on the fact that Ross from Friends is one of the most annoying (read: worst) characters ever. Fight me on this (and I LOVE the show).
But you have to read it for yourself to get the full essence. The book even sets up the third in the series, which…YAY! If you haven’t read the first one (and why not?), pick it up for the raccoons, stay for Poosh. I promise you will not be disappointed.
I have found a new series to get into (my list is getting long).
The second in the Detective Jo Fournier series
by M M Chouinard was entertaining and intriguing (and sometimes that is a
difficult combination to achieve).
From the first death in the office of a
college professor, I had a feeling that I was going to like this book. Having
worked in higher education, I am always interested in how accurately portrayed
it is. I am happy to report that the author does an excellent job of detailing
the politics and pitfalls of higher education faculty and staff.
The mystery itself was also gripping. By the
time Jo and her partner, Arnett, caught on to the links between the victims,
there were so many other questions to answer that I was kept off-balance as to
who the killer might be – there were a few red herrings that helped to
complicate the investigation. I did not mind those because they were well-written
and did not seem gratuitous.
I liked how the author interspersed a few
chapters from the killer’s perspective. This gave the depth to the motivations
and made the story more interesting. I also appreciated the “cat and mouse”
aspect to the search for the killer, because there were a few times that I
couldn’t tell which characters were the cat and which were the mouse. To be
kept guessing equals a good read in my book.
Usually I do not like it when there is random
personal background thrown into a story, but in this book it worked. I enjoyed
Jo’s visit to Louisiana and would love to see more about her family. I think it
was good background to her character.
There were a few places where I felt that I
missed a reference from the first book, but ultimately it did not diminish my
interest in the story. In fact, I had to go out and grab the first one to fill
in the backstory. In other words, this can be read as a standalone.
If you are a fan of crime thrillers, look no further.
Go and get this one now!
In a town full of secrets, the truth won’t stay buried…
When a girl’s body is discovered in a park in the sleepy Massachusetts town of Oakhurst, local detective Jo is shocked to the core. Because the girl is the second innocent victim to turn up dead in three days. And just like the first, a tarot card has been left by the body. The meaning of the card: betrayal.
After uncovering a series of threatening messages targeting the girl, a student at the university, and the first victim, her teacher, Jo thinks she’s locked the killer in her crosshairs. The primary suspect is a volatile ex-military student with an axe to grind for failing grades, and the frightened town is out for his blood. But the next day, a much-loved member of the community is found dead in her home, a tarot card in her mail. There’s no clear motive to link her death to the others, and the message on the card this time is even stranger: domestic bliss.
With a fourth body and card appearing the following day, Jo knows she’s running out of time to crack the code and bring the killer to justice. And the pressure only gets worse with heart-breaking news about Jo’s father forcing her to choose between helping her family heal or the victims’ families get justice. Can Jo find the twisted murderer sending the town into a panic before another life is lost? Or this time, will the dangerous killer find her first?
A completely addictive detective thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. If you love Kendra Elliot, Melinda Leigh and Lisa Regan you’ll love Taken to the Grave.
Author Bio
M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them. She’s currently at work on her seventh novel.
Every so often, I come across a book that doesn’t
exactly fit into the typical mold of a genre. The Demons Beneath is one
of those books.
Part-demonic possession/horror, part
crime-procedural, ALL interesting, this is a tightly written page-turner. From
the introduction of the characters that read like a television show to the final
twist literally on the last page, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The author did a fantastic job of creating
tension in both plot-lines and keeping the reader guessing. The way the book is
written made me feel (at first) as if I was reading two different books, which
was unique. When the plot lines seemingly merged (no spoilers) it was natural
but done in a way that ratcheted up the tension.
I liked how the main character, DI Daniel
Graves, was not entirely put together. He wasn’t the perfect policeman; he had
doubts and fears like any typical law-enforcement officer would. I appreciate
when an author seems to understand law enforcement and the pressures they face.
I also have to say that the title is
brilliant. There is so much in the book that is covered by the title but in
different ways. It’s hard to explain without giving away plot points. Some
people believe that demons do exist and are the cause of evil, but it also alludes
to the personal “demons” that guide peoples’ actions or make them feel
inadequate.
It’s challenging to write a review of a book
this twisty without giving anything away. But I will say that while the rest of
the book was very good, the end had a twist I did not see coming and made me
want more of the story right away. Too bad I have to wait until the next
installment in the series.
The Demons Beneath is a perfect book for the upcoming fall
season, especially close to Halloween. I highly recommend it.
On the one hand, I appreciated the setting of
higher education. I have extensive knowledge of the current trends in higher
ed, and the author did a great job of describing the problems that colleges are
facing these days.
The “for-profit” models, the focus on FTEs and
enrollment at the expense of programs, the theory of using a business model hierarchy
(CEOs, COOs, etc.) instead of traditional positions (Presidents, Provosts,
etc.), and especially the propensity to use adjuncts as a replacement for tenured
faculty are all very real to today’s world of education.
I also thought that the murder mystery at the
heart of the book was intriguing, and the “whodunnit” nature of that thread is
what ultimately kept me reading.
Unfortunately, there were a couple of things
that made this book a more difficult read than it should have been.
First, the focus on neoliberalism in colleges is
misguided in today’s higher ed universe. While it is true that the emphasis on
capitalistic practices in higher ed has grown, it is by no means the driving
force of today’s colleges.
Indeed, the author almost totally lost me with
the statement that colleges have experienced a rightward shift since Thatcher
and Reagan.
Now, I may be misunderstanding the intent, but
that could not be further from the truth. Colleges have become places where group-think
is encouraged, and opposing viewpoints are to be ridiculed or (in many cases)
completely shut down. And this is all done from the leftist point of view. So,
to say that colleges have shifted right really rubbed me the wrong way.
I also thought that the author got too carried
away with the minutiae of academia. I found it to be interesting because of my
background, but an average reader could find it challenging to wade through a
lot of the detailed academic descriptions to get to the heart of the plot.
Overall, it wasn’t a horrible book. But it certainly
could have been tightened up in several places to make it a more exciting and
accurate read.
This is becoming one of my favorite series. I like the setting of Seaside/Monterey. I especially like how the heroines in the series are strong women who support each other. This time, we get Sarah, who works at Bliss, a lingerie store. Her romantic interest–well, the attractive guy, but a jerk–is Jared.
Jared is a fairly typical romantic hero, in that he is gruff on the outside for personal reasons, but the heroine can really get him going. His character had more depth than Sarah. It felt like her backstory was a little less fleshed-out, and I wished that her brother and sister had played a bigger part. As it was, they were mentioned off-handedly as a plot point but didn’t have much else to do.
Of course, you know from the title that there is a “fake date” involved, this time to an engagement party in San Francisco. The couple has to work through some family-related stumbling blocks and, as usual, there are a few misunderstandings. I thought the characters involved with the engagement party were interesting because they were not the stereotypical type one might find. There was no bitchiness (which was refreshing).
But there is a HEA. Overall, it is an enjoyable book with good characters, and I look forward to the next in the series. I was really happy to see that Jared’s sister Candice is getting a story, but there are plenty of gals left to match up!
I have always liked crime-solving
entertainment, from tv shows to board games (does anyone remember Electronic
Detective?) to books. I’m usually partial to grittier crime novels because they
often contain twists and are harder to solve. But every so often, I enjoy a
simple cozy mystery where I can “go along for the ride.”
When I get into that mood, Leighan Dobbs is one of my go-to authors. I am happy to report that her new release, A Purrfect Alibi is another winner.
From the opening introductions of mediums and
psychics to the reveal of “whodunnit,” I was thoroughly entertained by this
book. I love how the cats are important characters and are often smarter than
the humans (anyone who owns a cat knows that this is true anyway).
In some ways, these books remind me of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries, mainly because of the way the animals communicate with each other and humans. But this series is much cozier and “fun-loving” (if murder could be called fun).
Honestly, you can read the blurbs for the plot, and with it being a mystery, I’m not about to write any spoilers. As always, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens. But I will tell you that it is well-written and enjoyable. With the weather turning fall-ish quickly, it’s time to cuddle up with a cozy, and you won’t go wrong with this one.
USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty. Her book “Dead Wrong” won the “Best Mystery Romance” award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention. Her book “Ghostly Paws” was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
The story grabbed me from the very beginning
and did not let me go until the very last word. I cannot remember the last time
a book had me so enthralled.
It is apparent right away that there is much
more to Evelyn Taylor-Clarke (Mrs. T-C to the workers at the home she resides
in) than meets the eye. From the moment that she fills in her first crossword
puzzle, the reader knows that she has led a fascinating life.
The book has eleven “Parts,” with each section
describing a segment of Mrs. T-C’s life. The chapters within the parts alternate
between letters to her husband and the action taking place at the time. The time-shifting
jumps around quite a bit; it is not entirely linear. But the author treats this
with a deft hand, and I never felt lost. It made the reading that much more
interesting because the events sometimes alluded to the letters and vice versa.
It was a smart way to keep the narrative focused.
As Mrs. T-C’s secrets reveal themselves, the
reader also learns that revenge is a motivator, both on a personal scale for
her and a national level post-WWII. There are well-drawn parallels that bring emotion
to the forefront of the story.
Ultimately, however, hers is a story of a life
full of secrets, told in memories, and perfectly honed to the way she wants it
told. Reading her perspective, and knowing her inner thoughts, gave me great
respect for the life that she led. I love that the author made me feel that
deeply about a character.
There were even a few twists that I did not see coming, which made me appreciate the craftsmanship of the plot even more. Additionally, the author does a fantastic job of relating some of the unspoken horrors of post-WWII life. I’m not going to elaborate, but I guarantee at least one of them is something you probably never considered. I’ve studied that era extensively, and it had never crossed my mind.
In case you couldn’t tell (and if the second line of this review wasn’t clear enough), this is an incredible book, and you do NOT want to miss it.
Make no mistake; this is a stellar read! From the thoroughly realistic characters (including the mysterious main character and her real jerk of a niece) to the intricate plot, I loved everything about it. I especially liked how Evelyn (Evie/Eva) was a master of manipulation. She was one of the most intriguing characters I have ever “met.” Do yourself a huge favor and pick this one up. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a complimentary, pre-release digital ARC of the book.
Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Two of her novels have been placed in the Winchester Writers’ Conference First Three Pages of a Novel competition. Her novel, The Way We Lied, can be read as a serial on her blog site, suzannegoldring.wordpress.com. She is currently working on a novel about delusion, deception, and death, set in Corfu.
Suzanne drew on her experiences of living in a timbered 14th-century house, where she raised two daughters and a variety of livestock, to write Powerless. All her other novels are pure fiction and any resemblance to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
I picked this book up expecting it to be a decent psychological thriller with the ever-popular “shocking twist.” What I got was a lot more than that.
On the surface, The Good Neighbor is about a
missing girl and how the community (one neighbor in particular) comes together
to help find her. On another level, however, there are astute observations
about homeschooling, social media, and society as a whole that gave this book
tremendous depth.
Being a homeschooling mom myself, I am always
a little suspicious when I see it as a plot point. Is the author going to do it
justice, or go with a stereotype? I was pleased to find that this author knows
her stuff. Whether she homeschools herself or spoke with homeschooling
families, she perfectly captured so many aspects of the experience.
Brittany’s observations about her homeschooled
peers were especially true-to-life. While they may be more advanced in book
knowledge, there is a large number of students who falter at social situations
and lack common sense knowledge gained through peers.
She also described a significant attraction of
homeschooling – the ability to focus on what interests a student and complete
guided learning instead of having to do rote memorization or be distracted by 30
other students.
Obviously, I was impressed with how the author
handled this sometimes controversial topic. But I digress from the actual plot.
I thought the author also had some accurate reflections
on social media and its impact on society, which was illustrated by Taylor’s
obsession with her Facebook page. I found it interesting that the more Taylor
wanted to build community within her neighborhood, the more she seemed to
bastardize it for her purposes, which brought her motives into question.
As with all of my reviews, you will not find
any reveals or spoilers here. But I will say that the book went in a different
direction than I expected it to more than a few times. And the shocking twist?
Yeah, it’s in there. And that is what ultimately made it an excellent read.
The Good Neighbor by Cathryn Grant My rating: 4 of 5 stars You will find everything from commentary on social media to accurate descriptions of homeschooling in this psychological thriller. The characters are realistic, the action is plausible, and the author gives the story depth by weaving the topics mentioned above into what could be a run-of-the-mill basic plot. It was definitely a page-turner, and I highly recommend it. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book. View all my reviews
About Cathryn Grant:
When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats. Cathryn’s fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines, The Shroud Quarterly Journal, and The Best of Every Day Fiction. Her story “I Was Young Once” received an honorable mention in the 2007 Zoetrope Fiction contest. She’s the author of the Alexandra Mallory Psychological Suspense series, Psychological Thrillers, Suburban Noir novels, The Haunted Ship Trilogy, and the Madison Keith Ghost Story series.
I was happy to find this short book because it
was the perfect piece of escapism. There were not a lot of deep thoughts or
plot twists to complicate matters. I was able just to read and enjoy the ride.
Alice was a character that many people could relate to – a scorned woman who wanted to get on with her life but still had enough anger left for some revenge (even though it’s not exactly what she thought she needed).
The author did move things right along, so
there was not a lot of time to dig deep into motivation or reasoning. Events
happened, and repercussions that led to more decisions.
(I know this all sounds a little vague, but because
the story is brief and the action moves quickly, I don’t want to give away any
of the plot points)
I thought the author did a great job of
tracing the indecisiveness of Alice. There were times when she seemed
thoroughly happy with where she was, yet in an instant was insecure and doubting
the trajectory of her new life. There were moments that it was hard to tell if
Alice was relying on what she thought was happening with her trinkets, or if
she was finding the strength within herself to move on. I liked this dual
focus.
Do yourself a favor and
pick this one up.
About Rachel Ellyn:
Life and loves after the career.
With degrees in Finance and Economics, Rachel found wonderful success in the business world, which took her I.T. and financial process consulting international. However, with her mind focused on business, and with the lack of training and mentoring in her personal life, marriage success eluded her.
After foraging on a path of self-awareness and exploration with a determination to avoid repeating patterns again, she found the key to relationship bliss. Now, combining her passion for writing and storytelling with her skills, knowledge, and drive that led to her business acclaim, Rachel shares her off beat take on the world, and her findings where life, love, divorce, and children are concerned.
Rachel is determined to be a publicist’s nightmare by writing in multiple genres including children’s fiction, flash fiction, romance, and suspense/thriller.
After multiple divorces, she is now happily married and lives in the Kansas City Metropolitan area enjoying the household noise of her soon-to-be empty nest.
When you find a series that catches your
attention, you can’t help but be excited each time a new release comes out. That
is how I feel about the Detective Natalie Ward series. I came to this one late
(book three) but you can consider me thoroughly hooked now!
This time out, Natalie and her co-workers have
a multi-faceted investigation on their hands. A young girl has died in a mysterious
fire. Her best friend seems to be hiding something, her brothers all react
strangely, and neighbors and acquaintances paint a conflicting picture of the
girl. Then her mother disappears.
As the web of connections between the
characters grows, the author keeps a deft hand in leading the reader through
the details and intricacies of the investigation. And this is one place where Ms.
Wyer shines.
She has obviously done her homework when it
comes to the ins and outs of an investigation, as her details are spot on. I
liked how Natalie is using her training to read the body language of the people
she interviews. It’s an essential tactic used by law enforcement, and so often
overlooked. The specific tells Natalie notices pair with her gut feelings and
the evidence to crack the case(s) and find the guilty person (or is it people? No
spoilers here! 😉 )
Natalie is less successful, however, when it
comes to recognizing what is happening in her own family. This is an ongoing
thread in the series, and it seems to now be coming to a head. With two
teenagers and an out-of-work husband who has been caught lying more than a few
times, Natalie has her hands full on that front as well.
As part of a law enforcement family, I especially
appreciate the way the author treats the members of Natalie’s unit and their
attitudes towards both their professional and personal lives. People who are
dedicated to their jobs very often become consumed with the cases they work on,
sometimes to the detriment of their family life.
For some, it is easier to work methodically on
a job where one can produce results. For others, it’s a way to bury their heads
in the sand and focus on other people’s problems instead of their own. It’s
fair to say that the author does an excellent all-around job of showing the
reader how complicated it truly all it is by having each of the members of the
unit a deal with a different issue on the homefront. I find these sections
often to be the most interesting.
There are a lot of moving parts to this story,
but the action flows smoothly. The “ah-ha!” moments are well-placed. The brief
glimpses into the personal lives are often triggered by an event in the
investigation, so everything is natural.
Really, there is nothing to complain about here. Even if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (and why haven’t you?!?), you will enjoy this crime thriller. Do yourself a favor and grab the others while you’re at it as well!
