Book Review!

 

The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father tells him that he needs to find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most notorious rakes, Kieran only knows one proper lady. Celeste Kilburn has always been reputable and upright. But her spotless reputation leaves little room for fun and she longs to have an adventure. When Kieran, her older brother’s best friend, begs for her help, Celeste makes a bargain with him. She’ll introduce him to the social elite if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London. In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste, who disguises herself, to rowdy gaming establishments, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction grows to a desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves.
This novel was a breath of fresh air. Its characters are unique and unconventional, yet they seem very real. The plot was very sensual and romantic, with a suspenseful ending that was very gratifying. The only thing that I didn’t like about it is that it started out a bit slow. I would love to read the next installment in the series and see the latest about the characters. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley, and this review is my own opinion.


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Book Review!

 

To Catch a Texas Cowboy by Julie Benson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2016. Grace Henry has known all her life that cops are not into solid relationships. And, that’s okay with her. Any relationship that gets too serious is too much for her. She likes to control all situations and leave the guy before they leave her. FBI agent AJ Quinn is all business. He has to be, he doesn’t want to know what happens to the victims and informants of his cases when the case is closed. He just moves on. When Grace accidently crashes her car into AJ’s, every view they had about relationships will change but will love conquer all?
This was a great contemporary romance with a cowboy flair. I love the fact that the heroine didn’t just sit and cry about her circumstances but changed her life for the better. AJ is the cowboy every woman dreams of meeting. I need to put this series on a list of must reads.


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Book Review!

 

Mall You Need is Love by Sarah Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amara Hart, who is jaded by her past relationships, owns a retro-style gaming arcade in the local shopping mall. Valentino Rossi believes in endless love and has made it his mission in life to help others express that love through his custom-made jewelry. Amara finds herself agreeing to help Valentino when his store is robbed a few days shy of Valentine’s Day—his biggest annual moneymaker. After they spend time together, Amara feels her rough edges begin to soften. She begins to wonder what would happen if she asked the man to be mine, Valentino.
I really liked this contemporary romance. It was a sweet, and heartwarming, and as a reader, I wish there was a Valentino for every Amara. I liked how the author made everything positive in the end. But I wanted more, more romance, more character development, and more story. I believe that this story could’ve been better as a full-length novel. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This is my honest review.


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Book Review!

 

A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Samantha Warren is trying to restart her life after losing her fiancé and their life together. Her friends invite her to show off her mixologist skills at a party for a local historical-homes council. But, when one of the council members dies of a poisoned drink, Samantha finds that she’s a suspect in the murder. To keep her reputation, Samantha investigates the crime, but can she trust her instincts to figure out the truth?
This was an interesting cozy mystery. I loved Samantha, the main character, and how she was determined to turn her life around after her fiancé left. I could see how Samantha’s growth throughout the novel made her into an even more compelling protagonist. The mystery was a puzzle, and I was surprised with the ending. I want to read the next one in this series. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.


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Book Review!

 

Wild Game by Alisa Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First published in 2015. Owen is an ex-soldier who’s afraid of his inner wolf. He’s protecting the head of a gaming company. Nova’s father was assassinated and now she has to run his business, while every male wants her to submit to him and become the new alpha. When Owen and Nova meet, sparks fly and everything they believe in will change.
This was a fun escape filled with romance, over the top characters and enough suspense to keep me interested. The sexual chemistry was evident in the first pages, and the love scenes were tastefully written. If you are looking for a paranormal romance with suspense that’s a quick read, look no further.

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Book Review!

 

A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published in 2015. While delivering books to the housebound residents of Star Island, library director Lindsey Norris finds Peter Rosen dead and his brother Stewart missing. Now she's determined to solve Peter’s murder and find Stewart before it’s too late.
This was a fabulous cozy mystery with lots of great characters. I loved Lindsay, and the way she works to find out the truth about the mysteries that surround her and her friends. The author has a way with words, and the setting was so well described that I could feel the cold and the rain. The romantic subplot was a nice reprieve from the suspenseful investigative scenes. I am definitely going to read the rest of the series.


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Book Review!

 

Hot and Sour Suspects by Vivien Chien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lana Lee and her best friend, Megan Riley, host a speed dating contest at Ho-Lee Noodle House. The night goes better than anticipated, and both women are beyond thrilled with the results. But when Rina Su, fellow Asia Village shop owner and speed dating participant, calls to inform Lana that the date she’s just matched with has been murdered, Lana starts to investigate. She finds that the man had a rather unsavory past. Can Lana find the culprit before he finds her?
I enjoyed this one, but felt that it needed more excitement, and suspense. I loved the characters and enjoyed the camaraderie between them. The culprit was someone I felt didn’t have enough book time, so I didn’t feel like he was a genuine suspect. The story had a satisfactory ending. I would like to read another story by this author. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.


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Book Review!

 

Stranded with the SEAL by Amy Gamet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2016. When a movie star trying to escape a bad relationship, and a SEAL bent on revenge are stranded in a cabin during a blizzard, sparks will fly.
I really liked this story. I could feel the characters attraction, even though it was fast. It had some heated scenes, but the overall story was rich with suspense. The ending was satisfying. I recommend this book for anyone who loves romantic military suspense.

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Book Review!

 

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rain Wilmot has decided to live year-round in Lofty Pines. Her family's library remains open to the surrounding community. When she meets Wallace Benson and assists him in finding a few cookbooks to prepare for the fishing tournament’s communal “chili dump," she doesn't realize the impact he would have on her life. When Wallace's body is found during the tournament and her best friend's husband is arrested, Rain decides to find the true culprit. Will she be able to find the truth before her number is up?
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The author expresses the setting so well that I could feel the cold during certain scenes. The characters are likeable, and I keep wanting to know more about them. It's an easy read, and there were no dull moments. The only thing I didn't like was the little cliffhanger the author left concerning Rain's new relationship. That was a little annoying. But I was going to read the next installment anyway. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

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Book Review!

 

Poisoned Pages by Lorna Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published 2018. Tricia Miles, mystery bookstore owner, throws a housewarming cocktail party in her new apartment and has cooked all the food by herself. Then one of her guests is poisoned and dies. Meanwhile Tricia is also running for Chamber of Commerce president against two bitter rivals. With all that's going on can she find the killer before she's the next item on the menu?
This was a fantastic entry into the Booktown series. Tricia and Angelica are the main characters. They are successful women dealing with extraordinary circumstances. The plot is a puzzler and kept me guessing until the end. The one drawback: Stoneham will soon take Cabot Cove's place as the most murders in a town. I recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers.

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New Releases of Cozies for the month of January!

There are many cozy mysteries released this month. Here are my recommendations for you:

A Fatal Family Feast (A Farm-To-Fork Mystery #6) by Lynn Cahoon, pub. date 1/4/2022 

A Three Book Problem (Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #7) by Vicki Delany, pub. date 1/11/2022

The Mystery of Albert E. Finch (Victorian Book Club Mystery #3) by Callie Hutton, pub. date 1/11/2022

Up To No Gouda (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #1) by Linda Reilly, pub. date 1/25/2022

Easter Bonnet Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #28) by Leslie Meier, pub. date 1/25/2022

Happy Reading! 

Book Review!

 

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carly Hale moves back to Balsam Dell to pursue her lifelong dream of opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After a couple of months, business is booming as people flock to lunch on her grilled cheese concoctions. Then, Lyle Bagley, Carly's former boyfriend and now town bully, buys the building that houses her eatery and wants to evict her. But, when Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, one of her employees becomes a major suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she's the one who gets grilled.
I loved this new culinary cozy mystery and hope that the author has many more stories. Carly is a very likeable character who is finding new life after dealing with a tremendous loss. She's a very inspiring character. The plot of the story was a real puzzle, and I was surprised by the identity of the culprit. I'm unsure whether a grilled cheese eatery would be a viable business in the real world, but I would love to visit Carly's eatery again. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley and this review is my honest opinion.


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Book Review!

 

Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Heritage House senior center regularly attracts positive press as they cater to their senior citizen population with activities such as the Easter Bonnet contest. Lucy starts seeing a different side of the facility when her friend Miss Julia Tilley, checks in to recover from an illness. When Agnes Neal, a retired journalist, goes missing and foul play is suspected, Lucy starts investigating. She needs to find the truth behind The Heritage House's false facade.
This was a good cozy mystery with a lovely set of suspects who reminded me of characters from my favorite TV show, Murder, She Wrote. The plot was suspenseful, and I was surprised at the end. Lucy is a likeable protagonist who has a take charge attitude that I love to read about. I received this advanced reader's copy from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion.

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