Friday, July 30, 2021

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library (A Lakeside Library Mystery Book 2)

Author:    Holly Danvers
Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781643858906
Crooked Lane Books
304 Pages
$12.99; $26.99 Amazon
February 8, 2022

⭐⭐⭐


A glowing wood stove, a cozy log cabin, and shelves full of books are all Rain Wilmot needs to ride out the Wisconsin winter, now that she's made her family's Lofty Pines library her year-round home.  But the warm-hearted librarian's blood runs cold when local man, Wallace Benson, is found dead during the annual Ice Fishing Jamboree.

After Benson's body is found in his ice shanty, Rain recalls that she recently saw the victim in her library, borrowing a few cookbooks to prepare for the fishing tournament's communal "chili dump."  She later finds these same books returns to the library's drop box, with an enigmatic note from Benson to Rain.

As Rain seeks to understand the message, the prime suspect becomes Rain's friend Nick, who was the last person to see Wallace alive and who returned to the Jamboree with a nasty cut on his hand.  the knife found in his tackle box only makes Nick's troubles worse,  But Rain keeps fishing for other suspects.  Was the killer Danner, who lost his arm to a logging accident involving Wallace?  Or Danny's bitter father, whose dreams of retirement were dashed by his son's accident?

With the help of her friends Julia and Jace, Rain sets out to hook the real culprit and clear Nick's name.  But can her sleuthing skills protect her from a killer who'd like to take her out of circulation?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Rain Wilmot is a young widow who lives year round in a cabin in Lofty Pines, Wisconsin and runs the local library.  She's visited by a man who's looking for a cookbook so he can enter the annual "chili dump" along with the Ice Fishing Jamboree.  He's happy he's got the prime spot, right in front of the library's view, and is determined to win.  But Rain's friend Nick is upset that the man, Wallace Benson 'stole' his spot and complains about it to anyone who will listen.  Then Benson is found murdered in his ice shanty, and since Nick is the last one to see him alive, he's the main suspect.  Because of this, his police officer brother-in-law Jace can't investigate, so the two need to sit on the sidelines.

But Nick's wife Julia insists that Rain investigate, since she's solved one murder before, and the two women find themselves knee-deep in both snow and looking for a killer who might just be looking for them...

This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I haven't read the first, although I have read Ms. Danvers's other series and thoroughly enjoyed it.  However, it didn't make any difference as it was easy to follow the storyline and the characters.

What bothered me was all the talk of snow and snowstorms.  It was constant.  Never-ending.  Right there on the page in nearly every paragraph.  We get the fact that Wisconsin gets a lot of snow and a lot of snowstorms.  But we have the weather channel if we want to know about it.  It was completely distracting to me, and made me lose interest in the story quickly.  I also started to lose interest at the first hint of a possible love triangle.  I abhor them.  Put it this way: if a man were stringing along two women, you'd think him a dog, or worse.  So why is it okay when a woman is stringing along two men?  Now, there wasn't any of that in this story, thank you very much.  But there was a very strong hint of it just the same, and one that we're bound to see in the next book.  Please no.  Just no.

Other than that, I guessed who the murderer was, but the story line kept it well hidden, which is a good thing.  In the end, the climax scene was done very well, with no unbelievable scenarios, so I did enjoy that.  All in all, this was a nice cozy that can be read in one evening.



More on Holly Danvers's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/holly-danvers/

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Railroaded 4 Murder (A Sophie Kimball Mystery Book 8)

Author:    J.C. Eaton
Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781496724571
Kensington Publishing
336 Pages
$8.41; $7.99 Amazon
August 24, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Phee's marriage to Marshall Gregory promises to be the wedding of the year in Arizona's Sun City West -- that is, if you ask her mother Harriet.  But before she can walk down the aisle, it looks like she has to solve one more murder.  At a model train exhibit, Phee, Harriet, and her beloved Chiweenie, Streetman, discover the body of Sun City West's railroad club president, with an incriminating tap shoe near his lifeless corpse.

Wilbur Maines may have loved model trains but apparently he was not a model husband.  There are rumors of affairs with hot-to-trot hobbyists the Choo-Choo Chicks.  The police suspect his wife--and Harriet's friend -- Roxanne, who dances with the Rhythm Tappers, but Phee's mom is convinced they're on the wrong track.  Before the poor woman is railroaded into spending the rest of her life behind bars, Phee, Harriet, and the book club ladies will need to do some fancy footwork, infiltrate the dance group, and find the real culprit before the killer leaves the station...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie "Phee" Kimball lives near Phoenix, Arizona and works as a bookkeeper for Williams Investigations.  She's also engaged to one of the PIs, Marshall Gregory.  Her mother Harriet lives in Sun City West and spends her free time nagging Phee and imagining murders are taking place all over the city...or she could be right...

Phee is trying to sleep when she receives an early morning phone call from her mother Harriet.  Harriet insists she come to the model train building, because her friend Cecilia has found a body.  Although Phee thinks it's not true, she finds out she's wrong.  It certainly turns out to be a body -- the body of Sun City West's railroad club president, Wilbur Maines.

But when Wilbur's widow Roxanne is looking to be the guilty party by the police, Phee's not so sure.  Neither is her employer, Nate Williams, nor Marshall.  So now Phee's wedding plans are on hold while they search for the killer.  Unfortunately, Phee is getting dragged into another of her mother's hare-brained ideas, and she needs to go along with it, even if just to keep her mother and her friends out of trouble.  But that's not going to happen.  Not if Harriet has anything to say about it...or her Chiweenie, Streetman...

This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all.  I have also loved how each one has gotten better than the last.  I have no idea how they do it, but the authors seem to have found a golden key to making each book better.  This one is all about model trains.  I remember my brother had a Lionel train, and we would play with it quite a bit.  (He probably still has it somewhere).  To this day, I love watching the trains at Christmas, so it's memories for me.

But the memories for Wilbur Maines ended when he died.  However, it seems he left memories with plenty of women, and now Phee doesn't know if a man or woman killed the man.  All she knows is that every time she seems to get closer to a killer, it doesn't pan out.  And with her bosses running around catching other leads, she's on her own (unless you count her mother, friends, and her Aunt Ina).  

This book has quite a few funny moments, one involving Ina, which I wouldn't have expected, and another involving Streetman, which I would.  And I love how the stories reflect on different characters in each book; this one involving Cecilia, the poor thing; who just doesn't understand how modern society works.  It's quite interesting.

The mystery itself is intriguing, with the clues few and far between; but each thread leads back to another, and when the murderer is finally caught it comes as a complete surprise, although I did have a clue as to the reason why, and I was close in that, at least.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope that others will, too.  Highly recommended.



More on J.C. Eaton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Write Your Own Horoscope (Follow the Stars Design Your Destiny)

Author:    Jane Struthers
Genre:     Astrology/Reference

Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9780711254510
White Lion Publishing
212 Pages
$13.99; $9.99 Amazon
February 23, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Your horoscope is both an astrological blueprint and a guide to your future.  You can use it to uncover fascinating insights into your soul, love life, relationships, finances and career, as well as your potential.  This beginner-to-pro astrology guide gives you the tools and information you need to decode your birth chart and make meaningful forecasts,  Figure out the whys, hows and whens, and make the most of all the opportunities these present.

  • LEARN why you behave the way you do
  • IMPROVE decision making
  • FLOURISH in the workplace
  • DISCOVER your best love matches
  • CULTIVATE more rewarding friendships
  • MAP OUT your future
  • DETERMINE your own fate
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I have been studying astrology for decades, so I pretty much have it figured out.  But as a book with all the tools you might need, this one is a good choice.  It gives you the information to get started, and explains pretty well what everything is.  Not only does it give basic information, but it expresses everything in a facile way, it explains it easily enough for anyone to follow.

The book goes further into adding things you may not have thought of: transits and returns , but they are also a part of a fully explored chart.  While it does not give you the tools to create a chart, there are plenty of places on the internet where you can find one for free, if you have all of your birth information (date, plate, time).  From there, you can pretty much navigate anything the book has to offer.

Learning your chart can be educational, but I have to say that while I have studied astrology extensively, I do not allow it to control my life.  It's an informational tool, but only you can determine what path your life will take.  Saying that, I feel that this book would be a welcome addition to anyone's astrological library, and a good reference to have.



Saturday, July 24, 2021

Here Comes the Homicide (A Wedding Crashers Mystery Book 3)

Author:    Erin Scroggins
Genre:     Mystery

Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781953826046
Helium Press
264 Pages
$12.99; $3.99 Amazon
July 16, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Two rival towns.  One decades-old feud.  A copper pig named Earl.  Can she pull off their dream wedding before bad blood turns deadly?

The citizens of Flat Falls love a good wedding, especially when it falls in the middle of their famed Founder's Day festival, affectionately known as the Roadkill Jubilee.  But when wedding planner Glory Wells unearths a skeleton and cracks open a family mystery that points the finger squarely at her deceased father, family fireworks threaten the happy couple's nuptials.

As Glory closes in on the killer, her investigation takes a personal turn.  Can she clear her father's name, avoid a team of matchmaking chickens, and bring two communities together before the bridal brawl puts a murderer on the road to revenge?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Glory Wells owns Carolina Weddings, her bridal planning business.  Right now she's got the biggest contract ever - the bride is the daughter of the mayor, and the groom is the son of neighboring town Big River's best chef.  But when the bride disappears, it's up to Glory to find her -- which she does.  But all does not go well when Ruby gets in Glory's car and seems to see something that sets her off -- she pushes on Glory's gas pedal and slams into the town's statue, a pig named Big Earl.  But when Big Earl destroys Glory's car, it seems there's another surprise:  a skeleton in its base, and it turns out to be someone that can make her father look like a killer.

Now, Glory is determined to find out the truth, even if it means facing her ornery grandmother who wants nothing to do with her, and a nasty chef who thinks he owns the world.  But then another tragedy occurs, and time is running out on both the wedding and the murder investigation -- and Glory might just have known the killer all along...

This is the third book in the series and I loved it as much as the first two.  Glory is one of the strongest female protagonists I've seen in awhile, but also one of the most clumsiest, which turns out to be pretty funny.  Then there's the woman who raised her from age five when her parents were killed, her Aunt Beverlee, who's been married four times and always looking; loves gardening and cooking; and is more adventurous than anyone Glory knows...not to mention Matilda the chicken, whom Beverlee refers to as Glory's "sister."  It makes for an interesting book.

Also an interesting place I'd love to visit if I could meet all these people, especially during the Roadkill festival...which brings us back to the wedding planning and the murder.  The groom's father doesn't think anything is good enough and barks orders so much that Glory fights him against taking over the wedding planning; and then her grandmother actually speaks to her (which surprises her -- but that's another story); and she's just trying to keep the groom from absconding and the bride from calling everything off.  Just another day in the life of Glory Wells.

The mystery itself is extremely intriguing; we have old secrets and lies that are coming to the forefront and someone doesn't want any of them known -- someone who would rather kill than expose the past.  But Glory keeps digging, determined to find out the truth about her father and prove he wasn't a murderer; yet while all the evidence points to him, Glory is sure there's something else but she just can't find it.  Desperate and knowing she's on the right trail, she almost misses the clues in front of her because she's focused on something else, and it may be an eye-opening but life closing experience for her in the end...

When the killer is found we realize that insanity can rear its head at odd moments, and we never know what lives in the minds of others, or what they will do to protect themselves.  The book is funny, sad, action-packed, and filled with lively and likeable characters that I hope to visit with again.  Highly recommended.



Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Tabby Trouble (A Cat Aunt Cozy Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Iris Leigh
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B095HZFDL2
Independently Published
93 Pages
$2.99 Amazon
July 15, 2021

⭐⭐


I don't ask for much, and I know for sure I didn't ask to communicate with cats.

But when I agree to cat sit my best friend's cats, that's exactly what I get for my trouble -- well, that and a baffling murder mystery to solve.

Now my next-door neighbor is dead under mysterious circumstances, the talking cat is giving me orders, and  my cat is missing, and somehow both are connected.

It's up to me to figure out how and why and solve the murder in a town full of potential suspects.

I'm going to need a little more than luck and a chatty cat to help me solve this puzzle, but there's one big problem.  I've never solved a crime before, let alone investigated one.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I love books with pets, especially cats, but this book just didn't make any sense from page one,  I also really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't, no matter how hard I tried.  There were just too many inconsistencies, and the protagonist was just Too Stupid to Live.  Below are some of the examples of this:

When the victim dies at the beginning, the protagonist, Kat, admits she didn't know the woman well at all, but was told by her neighbor, Mrs. West, whose husband is a retired police detective, that the woman was murdered.

Then Kat has an 'accident' with a toaster that allows her to hear the thoughts her (temporary) cats are saying, and also those of the victim's cat, Rusty, who wants her to solve the murder.  So obviously she must solve the murder.  But the thoughts those cats are thinking would be nowhere near what cats think, I believe.  As an owner of cats, I think they'd most rather be home sleeping or wanting to spend all their free time with me.  And never would they want to go outside and leave their cushy homes -- my cats never even try to escape when I open the front door; and it's also not safe for cats to be outside; they can catch diseases and have a chance of a shorter life span.  So that's irresponsible of Kat not to even look for the cat.

Then she goes to a gym and starts working out -- without workout clothes.  Unless she was wearing them, she didn't use the locker room to change, and no one noticed she was wearing street clothes.  Very odd!

Kat also started opening cupboards at the dead woman's house while it was full of people.  Say what?  Who would do something like that?  Snooping with a house full of people?  Not even being discreet about it?  Then being surprised when someone notices?  Why was everyone there, anyway?  There was no mention about a wake; she just goes in the house and everyone is there.  Another odd situation.

There were no descriptions of anything -- especially Kat.  We don't know what she looks like, how tall she is, whether she's attractive, etc.  Where does she live?  What does the surrounding area look like?  We also don't know if she has a job.  Supposedly she has her own home, but never went to work during the investigation, or spoke to anyone to take time off.  So what does she do for a living?  Watch cats?  That she doesn't really like?  The book left me with too many questions and not enough answers.

Unfortunately, this was a simple mystery with simple cardboard characters that didn't give us anything to think about.  There just weren't enough pages to flesh out the characters at all. As for the reason for the murder?  Since we didn't get involved with the characters, it really didn't matter.  Sorry.



Monday, July 19, 2021

The Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care (A Holistic Approach to Wellness for Every Sign in the Zodiac)

Author:    Stephanie Gailing
Genre:     Astrology/Self-Help

Softcover; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781577152347
Wellfleet Publishing
256 Pages
$20.72; $11.99 Amazon
April 27, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


The Complete Guide to Astrological Self-Care features a modern-day approach to the ancient art of healing Astrology, providing you with a way to curate a wellness plan that mirrors your unique needs.  Discover numerous easy-to-incorporate holistic approaches, lifestyle tips, and recommendations for all twelve astrological signs, including:

Eating Tips, Health-Supporting Foods, Natural Remedies, Wellness Therapies, Sleep Tips, Yoga Poses, Essential Oils, Relaxation Practices, Flower Essences.

After exploring how to personalize your self-care regimen based upon your star chart, you'll then learn about:

  • STELLAR LIFE STAGES: Find a road map to navigate your health and wellness needs from your twenties to your eighties.
  • THE MOONS: Explore ways to align your well-being with the lunar cycle, including all twenty-four New and Full Moons.
  • PLANETARY RETROGRADES: Reduce stress and bolster your vitality by understanding the opportunities offered by Mercury, Venus, and Mars Retrogrades.
Filled with strategies and inspirations for nurturing your body, mind, and soul, this beautifully illustrated and timeless resource brings the healing wisdom of the planets down to earth to optimize your physical health and emotional well-being.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I have taken the time to read this book a couple of times, mainly because I found the content interesting; but I also wanted to see how it applied to my own life.  As a disclaimer, I have studied Astrology for several decades and dam pretty much aware of how it applies to my own life.

This book is pretty much spot-on with that.  It gives full information on each sign (ruling planet, modality, element, etc.) which might not be important to some, but I do think it is vital information to help one understand oneself better,  The book then goes on to personal health profile, areas of health focus, etc.  Then it focuses on the changes of the planets and how it affects you personally.

I will say that this is a guide, not a bible.  It doesn't mean that you have to follow it religiously; but it does give some very good information that one can put to use in your own life.  I, for one, am glad that I found this book and will be very happy to add it to my collection.



More on Stephanie Gailing's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Gailing/e/B002BOHG2S/ref

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Double Chocolate Cookie Murder (A Cook-Off Mystery Book 5)

Author:    Devon Delaney
Genre:      Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781496727862
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$8.99; $8.54 Amazon
August 24, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Sherry Oliveri is used to competing in cook-offs, but this time she's serving as a judge.  The upside is that she gets to taste all the contestants' cookies.  The downside is that one of the bakers will wind up dead...

It's the long Thanksgiving weekend, and between cooking for her family and working her dad's store for Black Friday, Sherry has a full plate.  Next, she has to judge the big cookie contest -- and among the many entrants is her old high school ec teacher, Mr. Currier.

For old time's sake, Sherry invites him over for dinner, although sadly, the reunion will be short-lived.  The next day, the prizes at the bake-off go missing -- and later turn up at the marina, along with her ex-teacher's body.  Now Sherry has to find out who would do such a thing...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sherri Oliveri loves entering cooking contests.  But this time out she's been asked to judge a cookie contest -- one with the backstory of how the baker created the cookie.  Before the contest, a man comes into her store and she finds out that he was once her home ec teacher, the person who gave her inspiration to do what she loves.  On a whim, she invites him to dinner at her home along with her sister, father, father's girlfriend Ruth, and her boyfriend Don.  She also learns his life is much different now, as he's changed his last name and is also entering the contest.

The next day, everything seems to be going swimmingly; the contest winner is named along with the runner up, but when it comes time to disperse the prizes, they are nowhere to be found.  Later, her old teacher's body is found at the marina, and it raises all sorts of questions as to who hated the man enough to kill him.  When Sherry is asked by his ex-wife Rachel to find the killer, she decides to do it only because of what he taught her.  Now, there's a killer on the loose, and Sherry wonders if someone is using her to play a deadly game...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read every one of them.  I have watched Sherry and her family as they go through changes in their lives, and it's nice to see the characters grow.  Sherry's life is full, and I'm surprised she has the energy she does.  It would wear most people out.

This time, she's trying to solve the murder of an old high school teacher, but things are more complicated than she expected.  The past intertwines with the present, and not everyone is happy to see what she's discovered and wants it left alone.  But Sherry, once she starts digging, doesn't stop until she's uncovered everything she needs to solve the crime.  Unfortunately, people might not like it, but truth is truth.  And finding that truth opens a lot of wounds, which nobody -- including Sherry -- ever expected.

When the killer is discovered and everything comes together, the motive for the murder is rather sad; even if there's no excuse for killing another human being, I found myself torn by the story.  I really enjoyed the climax -- it was set in an interesting location -- and the tale was indeed intriguing; I love stories where the past meets the present, so this was a bonus for me.  I think the author did well by this entry in the series and I eagerly await the next.  Highly recommended.



More on Devon Delaney's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/devon-delaney/

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Murder by the Bookend (An Antique Bookshop Mystery Book 2)

Author:    Laura Gail Black
Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781643858265
Crooked Lane Books
304 Pages
$26.99; $13.99 Amazon
September 7, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


The quaint warehouse district of  Hokes Folly, NC, is hopping despite the drizzly November chill.  The occasion?  The mountain town's beloved antiquarian bookstore, Twice Upon a Time, is throwing a bash for its grand reopening.  But bookseller Jenna Quinn's peace of mind is shattered when the local library's Director of Antique Books turns up dead in the parking lot -- his head bashed in by a glittering pair of vintage glass bookends.

As they examine the murder scene, Jenna and her police detective boyfriend happen upon the only witness -- the victim's dog, who flees the scene leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind.  If only dogs could speak, Jenna might be able to make quick work of the murder case and get back to stocking her bookcases.  

Alas, finding the killer won't be so easy, even though this is not Jenna's first murder investigation -- indeed, she inherited Twice Upon a Time from her slain uncle.  The suspect list is voluminous -- the late librarian had not-so-friendly run-ins with numerous guests -- but suspicion eventually centers on three unsavory individuals who left the party shortly before the victim did.

Now, Jenna must edit her inventory of suspects from three names to one, before the bloodthirsty bookend-wielder becomes the author of Jenna's demise.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Jenna Quinn moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to the small town of Hokes Folly to help her uncle run his bookstore after she was accused (and acquitted) of a crime she didn't commit.  But when she arrived she found her uncle dead and she had inherited everything.  Now that her life is finally becoming normal again, she's renamed the bookstore to Twice Upon a Time and is staging a grand reopening, inviting only those who are clients and love rare books -- intending to later have the the reopening to the rest of the town.

When one of the guests arrives, a man she's done business with over the phone but never met, he brings along his dog Eddy.  But Jenna notices the dog growls at another client and even though the situation is handled quickly, she wonders what is going on.  But with other altercations between her guests, she just wants the night to end.  And end it does -- until she and her employees see the man's dog run by her shop.  When they catch the dog, they discover his master dead in his car, killed by one of a pair of bookends he won at the store.  Now, Jenna's right in the middle of a murder investigation again, and her police detective Keith can't work the case because he's one of the witnesses.  

Knowing that police detective Sutter hates her and will do anything to get her in jail, her only hope is the help of her friends and her boyfriend to try and solve the case.  That is, unless the killer knows what she's doing...if so, she'll need to stay close to home or risk losing her life...

This is the second book in the series and I honestly think that it's even better than the first.  Ms. Black has a real knack for creating characters that draw you into the story and make you part of the action.  We don't need to be in Hokes Folly to become part of it; one can do that merely by the engaging characters and the descriptions of what is happening around them.

What I enjoyed the most was the interactions between Jenna, her friends, and Keith.  She truly cares for people, and her heart is big enough to let one more in, who is a damaged soul like herself.  It says a lot about her and about the quality of the writing.

The plot is indeed interesting -- when the man is killed, Jenna must sort through her guests and decide which one of them had the most motive to kill him.  But when she discovers that the three she's chosen all had a motive, it makes it more difficult, and with no help from the police, she and her friends are left to figure out a killer.  Then, when an attack is made to kill once again, Jenna's even more determined, knowing that time isn't on her side.

The climax is all one could hope for, with both danger and watching Jenna once again use her wits to try and outsmart a killer, hoping help will come in time.  It's quite a scene, and leaves you feeling satisfied at the ending when the murderer is caught.  When the ending comes, it gives you something to look forward to in the next book, and I will be one of the first readers.  Highly recommended.



More on Laura Gail Black's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laura-gail-black/

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Make Room for Murder (A Willow Inn Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Amerie Brand
Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B0963t9BGX
CleanTales Publishing
68 Pages
$.99 Amazon
August 1, 2021

⭐⭐



Welcome to Honeywell.  A small coastal town on the East Coast that has its fair share of social misfits, nosy neighbors, struggling businesses and...murder.

Norman runs the Willow Oaks Inn on the outskirts of town with his trusted Border Collie, Milo, by his side.  He doesn't think twice when he checks in a new guest who seems to be passing through town.  He's seen many of such guests and knows he'll see many more in the future.

Things take an awful turn for the worse when Norman discovers this guest in an unusual position the next morning.. and stone cold dead.  There was something about this guest that makes Norman think there's more to their death than meets the eye.

The further he delves into this mysterious murder, the more he realizes how this stranger in Honeywell was related to some movers and shakers in town.  He also realizes how his curiosity to find the killer is attracting unwanted attention to his fledgling establishment and putting his life at risk.

Will he discover the killer before this murder investigation is relegated to the dust heap of unresolved cases at the local police station or will he face his fears and find out whodunit?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Let's get to the blurb: Norman's business isn't 'fledgling.'  From what I read, he owned this inn with his late wife and continued after her death.  Just thought I'd set that straight.

When Norman finds a dead body he calls his police officer friend Ben, and Ben calls who is needed, but when they return to the room, the body is missing.  This causes all kinds of problems for both Ben and Norman, but Norman is determined to discover who killed the person and why.  Unfortunately, he's not getting the answers he wants, and it's leading to issues at his inn and his personal life...

I really hate to ding authors on the first book, and I struggled with this one.  I waited a couple of days before writing the review to ensure that I was fair.  However, there were so many things wrong that I just couldn't get over it.  However, do not read any further unless you have already read the book:

 

I really would have liked to have given this book a better rating.  But between the listings in the spoiler, and the writing -- which was decent, but written as if the book were for a tween -- it is pretty rudimentary and the book reads at about a tween level.  Perhaps in the next book the characters will be more developed.  However, I do think that this author has promise.


The Father's Tale (A Disappearance Mystery Thriller Book 6)

Author:    Laura Greene
Genre:      Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B08YZBDB3Z
Independently Published
37 Pages
$.99 Amazon
July 15, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


My father is dead, and Will Deacon did it.

Melody is desperate to uncover what Will is hiding in the basement.  A ploy to unveil his sinister plans, leaves Melody finding herself in danger in the final part of this tantalizing series.

What's worse than the imminent danger is what she finds out.  The secrets of the Deacon mansion come to an unexpected close.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

In this final installment of the Disappearance series, Melody is left on the island with three men who are taking care of her.  But she needs to find her way back to the Deacon mansion to find out the truth of what happened to her father.  She knows he is more than likely dead, but she wants to know why.  She also believes Will Deacon is the culprit, and blames herself for falling for him.

Will Melody find the answers she is looking for?  Will she find out what happened to her father?  And more importantly, will she find out what is going on with the Deacon brothers and what they are trying to hide?  Or will this be the final journey for Melody herself?

As a conclusion to the six-part story, we have a short but gripping ending.  Melody is determined to get the answers she's been searching for, and we go with her, wondering what lies ahead and if all her questions will be answered.  Since this is a short installment, I will not give any more information than I already have so as not to spoil it for others who have not read it, but I will recommend this entire series to those who have not.  You will enjoy it.



More on Laura Greene's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/laura-greene/

Monday, July 12, 2021

To the Tome of Murder (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #7)

Author:    Lauren Elliott
Genre:      Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781496735126
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
October 26, 2021

⭐⭐⭐


Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate -- and a killer on her case...

Addie's determined to turn a seemingly ordinary November in coastal Greyborne Harbor into one for the books.  The windows of her shop display carefully curated works by American writers, including a rare selection of traditional holiday recipes from the influential 19th-century publication Godey's Ladies Magazine.  And then there's the town's Civil War-era themed cooking and baking competions, with a hefty cash prize and free publicity going to the winning dish...

But when she finds her cousin's boyfriend murdered, a stunned Addie reluctantly realizes she may be the only person who can blow the cover off a grisly crime.  With so many unanswered questions surrounding the victim's death, Addie must figure out the strange connection between a mysterious vintage briefcase, the disappearance of the first edition copy of Sarah Josepha Hale's famous nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and a dangerously well-read culprit...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Addie Greyborne lives in Greyborne Harbor, named for an ancestor, and owns Beyond the Page Bookstore.  One morning she receives a frantic call from her cousin Kayla Hudson, who owns a dress shop a few blocks away, and when she arrives she finds Kayla crying, and Kayla's boyfriend JArod behind the counter, dead.  After calling the police, things start to go really awry, with Kayla as the main suspect in his death.  Addie has had problems with Kayla in the past, but she refuses to believe her cousin is a killer.  With no help from her ex-boyfriend and chief of police Marc, Addie decides to investigate herself and find out who wanted to kill the man.

But it isn't going to be easy, especially with everything else going on.  There's a contest on recipes from the Civil-War era, and she's swamped with people buying books on both recipes and the era.  Then there's the only thing missing from Kayla's shop: Jarod's briefcase.  What at first seems like a burglary gone wrong sets Addie's instincts humming telling her there's something else afoot.  When a major clue turns up later in the case, Addie needs to call in reinforcements from an unexpected source.  Still, the evidence is piling up against Kayla, and Addie's racing against time.  Something she doesn't have much of...

This is the seventh book in the series, and I have read every one of them.  I have greatly enjoyed spending time with Addie and her friends, even if some of them can be annoying at times.  I did like this book quite a bit, and there was plenty going on throughout from the various subplots.  We're watching the characters evolve quite a bit, and their lives are changing, although I still can't warm up to Kayla (my own opinion).  I remember how she treated Addie in previous books, and Addie has a better control on her mouth than I would have! (ha!).  Ms. Elliott has a true feel for her characters which keeps the series moving along wonderfully.

But finding out who is setting up Kayla to take the fall is giving Addie a headache, since she can't really put her finger on one specific person.  (I knew who it was almost immediately when I met them, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries, so there's that).  Still, watching her glean her information piece by piece while she also learns about a mysterious person in town who has just come to her attention is worth it alone.

There are changes in the book as well; some unexpected and others not so much; and the usual altercations between Addie and Martha, who are like oil and water together, as always; and Addie might just discover something about herself.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it is not without a decent climax, and the reason for the murder is rather sad in itself, although I still couldn't quite feel sympathy for the killer.  Such is life, I guess.  But I was torn at the epilogue; while I wanted more, I didn't quite find it, yet we still have something to look forward to in the next book.  Highly recommended.



More on Lauren Elliott's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/lauren-elliott/

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Mrs. Morris and the Vampire (A Salem B&B Mystery Book 5)

Author:    Traci Wilton
Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781496733047
Kensington Publishing
336 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
August 24, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


It's B&B owner Charlene Morris's second Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts, and one she won't soon forget when a self-proclaimed vampire is murdered...

Charlene's bed and breakfast is fully booked with guests wanting to experience Salem's wildest holiday -- especially the annual Witch Ball, held at the historic Hawthorne Hotel.  At the dance, actual witch and winery owner Brandy Flint has her back up over her daughter Serenity's new beau -- it's bad enough he's a decade older, he also claims to be a vampire from Romania.

As for Charlene, with handsome ghost Dr. Jack Strathmore haunting her B&B, she has developed an open mind regarding the supernatural.  But her mind is blown when the clock strikes midnight, the lights flare and dim, and the vampire vanishes -- leaving behind only his cape and a wooden stake with a thick red substance on the sharp tip.  The next morning, a naked man washes up on the shore with a hole punched through his chest, and Detective Sam Holden has a homicide on his hands.  Now Charlene and Jack must put their heads together to find out who staged the trick to stake a vampire...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Charlene Morris is a widow who owns a Victorian B&B in Salem, Massachusetts.  The former owner is Dr. Jack Strathmore, a ghost who haunts the B&B and has become Charlene's friend and companion.  Unfortunately, the only other living thing who knows about Jack is Charlene's cat, Silva.  So she's naturally discreet when talking with him so as not to have people think she's less-than-sane.  

But on this night she's one of the judges at the annual Halloween costume ball at the Hawthorne Hotel, and as she's watching the people, she sees her friend Brandy, a powerful witch of the Flint family, who also owns the winery that supplies the B&B with their own brand, staring out to the patio.  Brandy isn't happy that her daughter Serenity has taken up with a man who's at least two decades older, and he's insisting he's a vampire.  Brandy knows they don't exist, and wants him out of the picture.  Charlene secretly agrees, but knows that Brandy will have to handle it her way.

But then there are altercations with the self-named vampire, Alaric, that get heated with threats, including one from Serenity.  Before anything can blow up, however, just before the costume judging begins, Alaric states that he is going to show everyone he is a vampire, then disappears when the lights go out and isn't seen again.

When a body washes up on the beach the next morning, it's discovered to be Alaric, and now Detective Sam Holden has a homicide on his hands.  But who is the killer?  Brandy?  Serenity?  One of Alaric's followers?  Or Orpheus -- who followed Alaric from New Orleans for his own reasons?  Brandy wants her daughter cleared, and asks Charlene to investigate.  Now Charlene is stuck in the middle of another murder investigation, a fully packed B&B full of guests, and trying to stay out of the crosshairs of a deputy who doesn't like her.  Will she find the killer or be the next victim?...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read every one of them, savoring the plot right down to its conclusion.  I will admit I'm a sucker for books with ghosts in them, and have many series in my book collection.  When this series came out, I thought great -- another one for the shelves.  But I've become attached to Charlene and Jack, and even some of the secondary characters.

I love the fact that the books are progressing as the series grows.  Charlene is growing closer to Jack (which I do love), and wish he could find a way to eventually return to earth. (Ah, well); and then Avery, her teenage employee, is coming into her own and looking up to Charlene as a role model, which is nice.  I also like the rest of the characters, but am withholding judgment on the deputy, only because I abhor the "evil nemesis" in a book.  However, I will state that she's not in it enough to ruin the book for me, but this is all my own opinion.

The plot is definitely interesting -- a group of people move from New Orleans and all proclaim to want to be (or are) vampires; something Brandy insists doesn't exist.  So why are they interested in Serenity?  And is there more to the story that neither Sam nor Charlene are learning?  But when Charlene becomes interested in a book written by a local author on the the history of Salem and its secrets, she becomes more interested in what's really going on...

I would love to reveal more about this book, but I won't, since it's the discovering it on your own that is the best part.  When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it comes as a complete surprise, which is a good thing.  There are clues hidden throughout, but done so well as to keep us focused on other areas.  This is an entrancing book, and a wonderful addition to the series.  Highly recommended.



More on Traci Wilton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/traci-wilton/

Saturday, July 3, 2021

A Spirit Seeks Asylum (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery Book 6)

Author:    Lena Gregory
Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #:    9781954717442
Beyond the Page Publishing
202 Pages
$13.99; $4.99 Amazon
July 13, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



Cass Donovan is confronted by ghoulish crimes both old and new when a defunct asylum is the site of a fresh murder and a long-hidden injustice...

The old abandoned buildings of the Twin Forks Lunatic Asylum have always fascinated and frightened clairvoyant Cass Donovan, but she never dreamed her psychic abilities would be put to the test there.  Then the new owner of the site tells her he plans to renovate it and turn it into a boarding school, and he'll pay Cass handsomely to determine whether the place is haunted!  Cass accepts his offer, but her search for hints of old ghosts soon has her looking for clues among the living when the man who hired her turns up dead.

Returning to the shuttered asylum looking for evidence of who may have wanted her client out of the way, Cass stumbles upon signs of yet another murder, even as she's besieged by an onslaught of haunting voices from the past.  When it comes to light that rival real estate developers have been hatching plans of their own for the property, Cass sees no shortage of motives for the murders, but she'll have to find a way to quiet the disturbing voices from long ago and focus on the here and now, because whoever's behind the killings has targeted Cass as their next victim...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Cass Donovan is an ex-psychiatrist who moved to Bay Island when one of her patients died, and her marriage fell apart.  She discovered that she has strong psychic abilities, and has since opened a shop where not only does she sell items that help others, but gives both private and group readings.

Her best friend Bee is trying to get Cass to start a vlog where she shows people what she does, and he's sure it will increase business for her.  But Cass can't get a solid reading, and so when the weather turns, he packs up his equipment and they head back home, where Cass is slated to do a group reading that evening.

It's at this popular group reading that she discovers she still can't get a full grip, like something is blocking her.  She feels as if  she's having trouble allowing her mind to truly open up.  But Bee insists she'll be fine, and so she proceeds.  During the reading however, a woman stands up and insists that 'sometimes the dead need to be left alone.'  With this cryptic statement, she leaves.  After the reading, a man tells Cass that he owns the old closed Twin Forks Lunatic Asylum and wants to open it as a boarding school for children.  Others who are on his board, and especially his wife, want him to sell it and leave it alone.  But he will only do so if Cass investigates the asylum and tell him whether it's truly haunted or not.  If it is, he'll give up his plans.  He tells her that he will pay her well to do so, and writes her a check.

Bee thinks it will be perfect for their vlog, and so the next day they venture out.  But while there, Cass definitely senses and hears something, and it's not long before they hear a shot, and look outside to see a man lying on the ground.  When she discovers it's her client, she wonders why he was there in the first place.  But even then her new visions don't leave, and Cass thinks she can find the murderer.  But first she needs to find out who had the best motive, and if they're going to kill again...

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read every one of them.  I do believe that they keep getting better and better, as Cass's psychic ability gets stronger with each book.  Each time I read one I declare that it is my favorite, and here we go again.  This one is definitely my favorite.  Cass not only finds herself investigating a murder once again, she finds herself in the protective 'custody' of Bee, her six-foot-plus best friend, who gives up working in his shop on his own schedule to watch over her.  We also get to meet Simone again, whom I took a definitely liking to in the last book and am glad to see that she's back once more.

But we also have the subplots involving her other friend Stephanie's new adopted son, Aiden, who is autistic; and a newcomer named Thea, who is a link to Cass's investigation, although you will have to read the book to see how.  

The plot was indeed suspenseful, and it kept me reading in one sitting, which is a very good sign.  It means that the book kept me interested enough where I didn't want to veer into anything else.  There were secrets long held, ghosts both old and new who wanted justice, and a cunning murderer who so far had been able to escape the eyes of police.  But when the ending comes, the climax is gripping and when it all ends, you wish that the book would go on.  I definitely loved this book and await eagerly for the next in the series.



More on Lena Gregory's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/lena-gregory/

Friday, July 2, 2021

Christmas Kitten Chaos (A Mira Michaels Mystery Short Story)

Author:    Julia Koty
Genre:      Mystery

Digital Book
ASIN #:    B097K96FCF
Busstop Press
58 Pages
$2.99 Amazon
October 12, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Told from the point of view of Mira's trusty cat, Arnold, this short story is about the trials and tribulations of being a cat-dad to three rambunctious kittens during the Christmas holiday.  Even more challenging, Arnold's rivals arrive with Mira's sister Darla, on Christmas Eve.  The twin cats are psychic and forcing Arnold to use every ounce of patience to be a good cat for Christmas.  To make matters worse his kittens go missing and he must partner with Darla's twin menaces to save them.  Quickly things go sideways, the tree is toppled, Santa's cookies spill to the floor.  Is there enough Christmas magic to fix this year's Christmas Kitten Chaos?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Arnold isn't happy.  While he loves Mira's sister Darla, he hates her Siamese cats, X and O.  They make his life miserable, and he isn't going to stand for it.  He has enough trouble as it is keeping tabs on his three kittens.  But when the kittens go missing and Arnold is afraid they're outside - somewhere he never goes - he has to ask the help of the twins to find them.  But even that isn't without a price.  Will Arnold find his kittens before Christmas?  Or will the twins find a way to get rid of Arnold?...

This short story is another delight from the pen of Julia Koty.  I love Arnold and the fact that he's very self-efficient, thank-you-very-much.  It takes all that he has to keep his calm while the twins are baiting him constantly with veiled threats.  So when his kittens go missing and he's afraid they've gotten outside, the twins hint that this is the case, but offer to help him if he'll give them something in return.  Something, in his mind, vile.  But he's willing to do anything to save his kittens.

Along with this, there are the fights of the three, with Arnold showing his superiority in his own home, which only causes chaos and disaster, toppling of the tree, and when Santa's cookies spill, the twins insist that he won't come and Christmas is ruined.  Will Santa come?  More importantly, will Arnold's kittens be found?...

I loved this story and all that it entails, including the spirit of Christmas.  This is a perfect short story for anyone, but children would especially love it, as it shows what the true meaning of the holiday can and should be.  Putting aside differences and working together, magic can be created.  The ending leaves you feeling wonderful, and looking forward to seeing more of Arnold and his kittens.  Highly recommended.



More on Julia Koty's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/julia-koty/

A Spicy Side of Homicide (An Ivy Creek Mystery Book 14)

Author:      Ruth Baker Genre:       Mystery Digital Book  ASIN #:     B0CPVY5PKY Clean Tales Publishing 138 Pages $2.99 Amazon May 31, 2024...