Murder in a Tourist Town by Lynn Cahoon - 4 Stars!

Lawyer Jill Gardner flees job burnout to take a vacation and finds a new life on the California coast. Her family law career is in a rut. Watching a client go back to her abusive husband, again and then learning she’s been passed up for a partnership, again prompts her to take a break. When she arrives in South Cove on the Pacific coast, she finds friendly residents, a peaceful beach, and nature’s beauty. But she also witnesses a shouting match between two business owners. When someone she knows turns up dead in the local coffee shop, she finds the town needs her skills, just as much as she needs the town.

This was a great prequel to one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I always wanted to know how Jill came to live in South Cove. It whets the appetite to read more of the series. The only bad thing about this story is that it wasn't enough, I wanted more mystery, more suspense, and the proverbial showdown between the main character and the villain. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who want to escape to the Pacific shores and a good cozy mystery.

 

A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari - 2 Stars!

London, 1923. Returning from Paris, botanical researcher Saffron Everleigh finds that her former love interest Alexander Ashton’s brother, Adrian, is being investigated for murder. Alexander asks Saffron to put in a good word for Adrian with Inspector Green. Despite her unresolved feelings for Alexander, Saffron begins investigating. When another murder occurs, Saffron agrees to go undercover at the government laboratory. Risking her career and her safety, she learns there are many secrets to uncover. But some secrets, Saffron will find, are better left undiscovered.

I hoped to like this historical mystery more than I did. I like the main characters, but the plot needs more action. It seemed to drag, and I became bored and put down the book. I want to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Road Trip with a Rogue by Kate Bateman - 5 Stars!

Daisy Hamilton’s new mission for King & Co., a London private investigation firm, is to stop heiress Violetta Brand from eloping. But her case is derailed when she mistakenly holds up the carriage of Lucien Vaughan, Duke of Cranford, the very man who broke her heart five years ago. Lucien’s determined to see his nephew married to Miss Brand, but the appearance of Daisy, the one woman he’s never been able to forget, could ruin his plans. As they follow the couple together, Lucien decides that delaying Daisy by any means possible will be his absolute pleasure, and hers. After Daisy’s reputation is threatened, and an unexpected enemy threatens her life, he realizes she’s the only woman for him. Can he prove to her that his love is true?

Miss Bateman writes is one of the best historical romance writers today. Her characters are always fun to read about, the plots are so engrossing that you don't want the story to end, and there's just enough heat to make the whole read thoroughly satisfying. If you're looking for a historical romance, with great characters, enough action to keep you turning the pages, and a happily ever after, look no further. Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly - 3 Stars!

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck decide to take a chance on a property where two murders have already occurred. The headmaster of a former boarding school and his wife were killed three decades earlier, their deaths remaining a mystery to this day. Can Whitney and Buck solve the cold case, and give the building new life?

This was a very interesting cozy mystery. I liked it, although I thought it took too long to solve the mystery. The chapters were drawn out, and that made the pacing very slow, in my opinion. I thought the chapters where the cat was the main character was cute; I just didn't understand the purpose of them. I felt that those chapters were an afterthought. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

In Her Highlander's Bed by Lynsay Sands - 4 Stars!

An invigorating swim in the loch was exactly what Calan Campbell, Laird of Kilcairn, needed after a battle. What he didn't need was a thief trying to steal his plaid. Calan gave chase and managed to catch the lad, only it turned out to be a lass. Having hit her head, the woman was now unconscious and couldn't explain how she had ended up bruised and naked in the woods. Kidnapped and forced to wed her clan's enemy, Allissaid MacFarlane had risked death to escape. But after being chased, she awakens in a strange bed with a strange man seated in a chair beside her. Unsure if he's a friend, she claims not to remember anything. However, the more time she spends with Calan, the more she falls for him. She soon decides she can trust him with her life. But can she trust him with her heart?

I really liked this historical romance because it seemed to have a lot of heart, and a lot of action that kept me wanting to go back to it. The main characters were likable and entrancing. I was always wondering when something was going to happen, and they would have a disruption in their budding relationship. The time period was beautifully described and showcased the best and the worst of those times. An entrancing romance, a diabolical plot, and a beautiful historical setting, that is why I liked this story. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Clause of Death by Lorna Barrett - 4 Stars!

Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica, are the co-presidents of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce. Things are changing, and some merchants would say not for the better. When Eli Meier from The Inner Light Bookstore is killed, the new police chief needs assistance from Tricia to ferret out the murderer.

This book was a fine example of why I love this series. Tricia and her sister Angelica are women who take chances and risk it all to create a life of success. I also love the side characters. My favorite character in this series is probably Mr. Everett. He seems like just a jolly, sweet old man that reminds me of a grandfather. I love how the characters form familial relationships not just from relatives, but from people they adore in the community. The plot was confounding, and I had no idea who was the murderer. I recommend this cozy mystery.

 

The Possibility Wing by Cindy Kirk - 5 Stars!

When librarian Cora Summerbell returns to GraceTown, she expects only a quiet reset. Instead, she discovers a forgotten wing in the old Carnegie Library, shelves lined with mysterious books that reveal the alternate lives she might have lived. Each volume draws her deeper into a spellbinding blend of romance, and what-if possibilities. But the more she explores these other destinies, the more she begins to understand the truth buried in them. The life she’s meant to live is still waiting for her to claim it.

This is a very interesting romance. Cora was a woman at a crossroads in her life, and she felt like she had no direction. That's what sets up the theme and the gist of this story. Every choice we make changes our lives, for the good or for the bad. We must be conscious enough to understand that and to choose wisely. I have said this before; Cindy Kirk is a clever author who has these lessons wrapped up in a gorgeous romance and a beautiful setting. Her writing draws you in and you can't let go until the end of the story. Thank you, Ms. Kirk, for granting me the honor of reading this wonderful romance. This review is my honest opinion.