A DELICIOUS DECEPTION by Lucy Burdette
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Key West Food Critic Mystery #16
4****

Blurb: Mother-to-be Hayley Snow bites off more than she can chew in the sixteenth installment of Lucy Burdette’s USA Today bestselling Key West Food Critic mysteries. When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers asks Hayley for a small favor, she can’t say no. Nine months pregnant and temporarily benched from her food critic duties, Hayley’s itching for a distraction and eager to help. All she has to do is tag along while a young woman picks up her daughter from her father at Monroe County’s safe custody exchange location. Easy, right? Wrong. In the chaos of the Sheriff’s Office open house, the mother disappears. Then the father bolts, leaving Hayley with a terrified girl and the realization that something has gone terribly wrong. Hayley and Deputy Rogers head north up the Keys to search for answers. When a body turns up, Hayley realizes this isn’t just a missing-persons case—it’s a race against time. With the little girl’s safety at risk, Hayley must trust her instincts—and her heart—to uncover the truth.

THOUGHTS: Coming into a series this late is often a detriment, but the author did such a good job of giving us background on the characters and their lives that I didn’t feel lost. Yes, it would be better to start with the first book, but this one worked. The only thing I thought was a problem for me was that there seemed to be a lot of repetitions in the story. Plus we spent a lot of time worrying about her pregnancy – which is okay. But it did get a tad tiresome after a bit.

In this story, Hayley is asked to be a go-between for two parents exchanging their little girl. They do this at the sheriff’s parking lot, but during the wait, Hayley loses the mother when she takes off, then the father ends up dead, and the little girl is kidnapped. Hayley feels responsible for everything, though none of it is actually her fault so she goes on the hunt for answers, much to her family’s chagrin. Plus, her husband is four hours away in Miami with his father in the hospital so they’re connecting long distance. We are taken through the entire mystery wondering when Hayley is going to go into labor! The recipes at the end are amazing too! Yum!

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

HEART OF A HERO by Andrew Grey
Fiction, M/M Contemporary Romance
4****

Blurb: Forrest Scoville is used to being sized up and found wanting—built like a linebacker, teaching kindergarten. His students follow him around like he hung the moon. It’s their parents who keep asking if he’s really cut out for working with five-year-olds. Conrad Langdon is one of those parents. Since he took custody of his grieving niece, Lizzie, she has flinched from almost everyone except her enormous, soft-spoken teacher. Even Conrad’s own wariness around big men doesn’t survive one real conversation with the man. A shared obsession with Lego bricks pulls them into each other’s orbit anyway, one late night at a time, until the gentleness inside all that size starts working on Conrad the way it already has on Lizzie. None of it changes the fact that Forrest grades her spelling tests, and dating a parent could get him fired. Falling for his daughter’s teacher breaks every rule Conrad has left, but staying away might cost Forrest the first person who’s ever looked past every inch of him and seen exactly the right amount of man.

THOUGHTS: Forest is big, bald, and a kindergarten teacher. I love that! It’s an unusual thing for someone like this. Conrad is dad to Lizzie, his sister’s daughter. Because of past experiences, he’s afraid of big guys, but has to overcome his fear for Lizzie’s sake. What he should be afraid of is the deranged man he works with. Conrad and Forest get to know each other better – thanks to Conrad’s mom and Lizzie. As they grow closer, they realize that something has to change or Forest may lose his job. Also, Conrad discovers that his coworker is more dangerous than they thought and puts his life in jeopardy. This is a hot contemporary romance that has a soft level of danger. It ends in a HEA which is great for this type of book.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

A PINCH OF ASSAULT by Misty Simon
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Sunny Side Up Diner Series #3
5*****

BLURB: Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive…

With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn’t totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets! Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot’s past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on. The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.

THOUGHTS: Except for the occasional murder, I want to live here! I want to go to Jax and Dani’s diner. I want to have some of Eliot’s waffles. And I really want to meet the entire family! In this story, we get to meet Dot, Eliot’s mother. Yes, Jax gets to meet the future Mother-in-Law – and she’s a hoot! When they go to look at a retirement community model apartment and find a body, Dot goes into “investigator” mode to Jax’s surprise. After all, Dot spent years working for the police so she knows all about procedure. The group all comes together to figure out suspects and Dot gets them organized better than ever with a murder board that is amazing in its organization. I love that they’re still using the “spindle” for clues in the diner. Oh, and Jax is totally in love with Glenda, the Thing (Dot’s vehicle). I find it funny that Stella Luna (the cat) steals Eliot’s clothes and now Maureen’s too in order to make a nest.

If you like your cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and shenanigans, you won’t be disappointed here. And though you don’t need to, I suggest you read the entire series so you get to know the participants even better.

Definitely recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

MIDLIFE MOUNTAIN MAGIC by Renee Brume
Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy
4****

Blurb: It all started with a cheating husband and accidental magic. Now, she is on a one-way trip to hell. Beth Potentia yearns for more from her life. After a devastating discovery and an entirely unexpected crime spree, she is busted out of the big house by her father. She’s whisked back to her hometown, trying to wrap her head around how her life has so unexpectedly changed in a heartbeat. Now, she has her hands full dealing with her eccentric father and the shadowy government agency he seems to head. Their first mission, to prevent a demon horde from busting through and causing worldwide havoc and chaos, might be a disaster of biblical proportions unless she can harness the magic that is her birthright. Can Beth help her father and her new team go to hell and back before the devil himself makes his final appearance? Midlife Mountain Magic is the devilishly entertaining first book in a new Paranormal Woman’s Fantasy series. If you like middle-aged characters with accidental magic and more sass than is good for them, a quirky cast of magical sidekicks, and a slow-burn romance, you love Renee Brume’s hellish fantasy.

THOUGHTS: In this paranormal, Beth Potentia leaves a cheating husband with a burning business and drives his expensive sports car into a water-filled quarry. When she gets arrested, she calls her father who gets her out very quickly and takes her home, where she finds out some secrets that have her reeling. For instance, her father is a wizard who works for a secret government agency. Even more confusing, he wants her to join his team and eventually lead it. Beth is a witch, but untrained. Thus begins her adventures – including one where she ends up in Hell helping to get someone out and stop a full breakout.

This was a fun story, but there were a few issues. For instance, she has an 18-year-old daughter and is just now telling her the “facts of life”? And her romance with Clay was too sudden – it needs more buildup. Finally, the ending didn’t work well for me. These are personal issues, but they affected my feelings for the story. Still, if you can ignore these, go for it.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

THE GIRL’S GUIDE TO GUTS by Chloe Melas & Judy Batalion
Nonfiction, Self-help, Medical
5*****

Blurb: GAS, INDIGESTION, BLOATING, CONSTIPATION, DIARRHEA, PAIN…
60% of women suffer from chronic GI issues. But few people talk about our culture’s final the bowels. A must-have book for anyone who’s ever struggled with their gut health, with information you need to get from two women who’ve been through it all. Your doctor gives you medical advice. Your nutritionist suggests dietary changes. But who actually knows what you’re going through? Your girlfriends, of course—at least, the ones who’ve been through it all with gut health issues. In The Girlfriend’s Guide to Guts, NBC correspondent Chloe Melas and New York Times bestselling author Judy Batalion, two women with ulcerative colitis, talk to you in the way only a best friend can. Speaking to millions of their fellow sufferers, they share life stories, wisdom, and all the necessary, scientifically-backed information you need when facing a bowel disease diagnosis. Chloe and Judy share tips and tricks on how to live your best life with bowel disease, such as… “Dinner and a movie?” No! “A movie then dinner.” Eating can make you gassy and bloated, so it’s best to eat after other activities (and/or intimacies).
Protein rich meals, no nuts! Order grilled chicken or fish when eating out, especially during flares. The simpler the dish, the less likely it is that you’ll need to run for the nearest bathroom.
Aisle seats only! On a flight, there should be nothing between you and the toilet! (Except for 15 rows, a line of people waiting, and turbulence.)
Brush off the judgement. Your disease is not your fault. You’ve got gut health issues, but girl, you’ve also got guts.
And more!
From advice on probiotics to acupuncture to colonoscopies, healing your gut can be downright confusing! For practical tips—woman to woman—or just a reassuring voice to turn to when times get tough, this straight-talking guide will show you what to really expect when your bowels are going berserk.

THOUGHTS: As a person who struggles with GI issues, I found this book interesting and full of information that I can use. Up front, the authors admit that they are not doctors –though they did consult with medical professionals. “Colorectal cancer is the #1 cause of death in people under the age of 50.”Their advice comes from personal experience. In this particular book, they focus on IBS, BD, Celic, and diverticulitis.

I loved the humor in this book – something not usually seen in a “medical information” book. It helps turn a difficult, and usually taboo, subject into one that’s readable and understandable by anyone.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press for providing this ARC.

THE HAUNTED LIBRARIAN by Auralee Wallace
Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy
4****

Blurb: A lonely librarian finds love, friends, and a few ghosts between the shelves in this cozy, paranormal tale from beloved bestselling author Auralee Wallace.

It’s a dark and stormy night…and Amelia Bates is caught in the rain. Life hasn’t always been kind to her, and being a ghostseer certainly doesn’t make things any easier. Glowing warmly through the autumnal downpour is her safest the library. Amelia, the newly hired librarian, has always relished the comfort of curling up with a novel, vastly preferring it to the company of humans (alive or ghostly). But Amelia is shocked to discover the building is full of more than quiet stories and warm cups of tea. There are curious, talkative patrons, a shy, bespectacled head librarian who makes her heart skip a beat, and three quirky spirits causing paranormal havoc that endangers the future of the library. To help the ghosts and save the building, Amelia will have to gather all her bravery and wits, because learning to trust others might just be the first step to a happily ever after she only thought was possible in books.

THOUGHTS: This was a fun book to read, especially since I’m a librarian who worked at one time in a haunted library! Amelia is a great character with a rough background that has caused her to be extremely introverted. She was abandoned as a baby, grew up in the system, and was always thought of as “odd” because she talks to the air – except for her, there is a person there. A ghost. So in order to seem “normal” she comes up with three rules – don’t look, don’t talk, don’t interact. And it works well until she gets a job at a special library where three ghosts live. They can’t leave and can’t move on unless she helps them, so she must break her rules and they have to work together before the building collapses from a cosmic maelstrom. Oh, and there’s an adorable main librarian – Simon – who makes her heart throb, but she can’t let him know what she can do or he’ll treat her like everyone else does.

While I really enjoyed the story, especially the interaction between Amelia and the ghosts, I thought the relationship between her and Simon could have been better. There was really no build up at all until the very end which was a little hard to accept. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how they related to the chapter. But I really loved the subtle reference to “The Wizard of Oz” and the Cowardly Lion – “I do believe in you (spooks). I do. I do. I do.” I had to laugh at that. There are other little subtleties like that throughout.

Still, even with the relationship issues, I really enjoyed this book. It brought back a lot of memories of that old library (housed in an 1800s mansion) and the idiosyncrasies that go along with old buildings.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing this ARC.

DAUGHTER OF STARLIGHT by Molly M. Hammond
Fantasy, YA
5*****

Blurb: Luma was six years old when she was found wandering alone with no memory of a family or how she got the strange scars that crisscross her palms. Now, twelve years later, Luma is summoned across a magical bridge to another world: a world where the decimated population of elves suffer under the ruthless wizard army. Luma’s appearance is a ray of hope for the elves, who believe she is their prophesied “Daughter of Starlight”, the only one whose powerful magic can heal their broken defenses. Luma just wants to get back home, but the wizards discover her, and soon Luma is in the fight of her life. As she flees a mighty adversary, Luma struggles with hints of a strange power from deep within, a power she can neither control nor deny any longer. Desperate for answers, Luma joins a group of elf resistance fighters on a perilous journey in search of the exiled elf mage. Along the way, Luma begins to realize there could be more truth to this prophecy than she first thought, and that just maybe, she has a family after all.

THOUGHTS: Wow. This book grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the last. Luma is a good character, as are the others in the story. She is the one the elves have been looking for for twelve years—the one who will help free them from the wizards of another world who want to take over their world. There is action (a lot!), treachery, friendship, and even a dragon! She has to figure out how to come to terms with the fact that she is an elf and her life on Earth was an unfortunate accident of fate. She has no memory of before she got there, or of her powers, or how to use them, but everyone is depending on her to save the elf world. Unfortunately, there are just as many people who don’t want her to do it.

If you’re looking for a decent fantasy story with lots of twists and turns, treachery and friendship, long lost love, and a war that could end multiple worlds. Or help them. Then you need to pick this one up. Definitely worth reading.

And definitely recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE by Rosalie Spielman
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Hometown Mysteries #7
5*****

Blurb: It’s the spookiest time of year in New Oslo, Idaho, and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Treslow is looking forward to spending time with her aunt and their friends as they give away candy at the New Oslo community Trunk-or-Treat event. But first she agrees to accompany local salon owner, Becky Baker, to a funeral home to style the hair of a recently deceased woman—where they are both in for a surprise! There’s a note addressed to Tessa in the decedent’s bouffant do, asking Tessa to solve her murder. But was her death even a murder? As odd as that is, things get weirder when the woman’s body disappears…and then another body disappears from the funeral home as well! Where did they go? Who would take them? Tessa has barely has time to wonder before she and boyfriend, Nick, stumble upon yet another body—only this one is fresh, wearing a creepy clown mask, and has clearly been murdered. As Tessa realizes she knows the victim, she also realizes Becky’s husband has a connection to all three of the recently deceased. Is it a coincidence or something more sinister? It’s up to Tessa to find out before more any more bodies pop up…or wander off. Between a trio of “Grim Reapers” haunting the town, a glowing orb floating in the fields, a mysterious skeleton left on Tessa’s front porch, and a pup dressed like a hot dog, Tessa’s hometown Halloween could not be wackier. Will Tessa and her friends find the murderer…before the killer makes clowns out of them all?

THOUGHTS: Tessa and Aunt Edna are at it again! I love Tessa. She’s not your usual cozy mystery heroine. She’s ex-army, a mechanic with her Aunt Edna, has a boyfriend but is in no hurry to make their relationship anything more than what it is – friends with benefits. And he’s good with that too. Magnus the Moose is back too!

In this mystery, there are multiple dead bodies and way too many suspects. And multiple Grim Reapers are all over the place. Tessa just hopes one of them isn’t real and after her – but that gets iffy when she and Edna are caught by the villain. I love these stories. Tessa is not a twenty-something bakery owner. She has aches and pains that come with getting older, an ancient dog, and lots of friends. The stories are fun, challenging, and with good endings that satisfy.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

WILD’S SCAR by Saria Bryant
Fiction, M/M, Fantasy, Book #2 in Elemental Things
4****

Blurb: Vesryn Rydel has a new Fate string—a magical bond tying him to his soulmate. Unfortunately it’s to a fae who lost all memory of his name to the human who enslaved him. He gives himself the name Fated to die. Neither want a Fate bond—Vesryn because he is a guard to the heir of the Sun Throne, and Fey because he must venture north to seal the veil between realms that ripped open with his return.  On their journey through the Wound—the barren, magic-void, lifeless wasteland that tore across the center of their continent—they must learn to trust each other and accept the memories of their past selves in order to restore both the Wild Throne and balance to their world.

THOUGHTS: This takes place in the same world as “Shadow’s World” but with different main characters. Like the first book, this has excellent world building and characters. I loved the imagery. The story is excellent – Vesryn is an elf who can’t do magic, but he is a really good royal guard. but when a “fate string” appears on his finger and is tied to the mysterious fae, he wants to fight it. But you can’t fight fate. At first, when the raven-feathered fae orders him not to follow him, Vesryn finds a way around the order. They finally meet up and fight their way across the Wound (wasteland) to the Wild Throne. They need to restore the throne, but have no clue who is going to sit on the throne. They are up against monsters as well as other fae. When they finally reach their destination, they discover what Fate has in store for them – and it’s nothing like they thought.

I really enjoyed the story. The play between Fey (the Raven) and Vesryn is really well done. My biggest problem was with naming the fae, Fey. I kept getting confused. And although the story ended… the book definitely did not. There were a lot of dangling threads, so I see a third book coming (at least). Still, if you like fantasy with a few hot M/M scenes, you’ll like this one.

Recommended – but read “Shadow’s Wound” first to get the full story of what’s going on.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

SHADOW’S WOUND by Saria Bryant
Fiction, M/M, Fantasy
4****

Blurb: With the realm teetering on the brink of magical annihilation, Callith Ratearynn, the reluctant heir to the Sun Throne, is thrust into power centuries too soon. With his father dead and corruption tearing the kingdom apart at the seams, Cal must battle rising racial tensions and unravel a dark conspiracy. Justice, a manipulative human official, has stirred hatred between humans and the magical community, using enslavement collars and control over the Black Sun—an elite group of soldiers loyal to the Shadow Throne. Just as civil war seems inevitable, Cal’s Fate string—a magical bond tying him to his soulmate—leads him to a grim prison where he finds Haru, his bonded, broken and tortured. But Fate has more in store. Cal discovers he is bound not to one, but Rashi, a fox shifter, and Haru, a fierce dragon warrior. Together, this reluctant triad must face cult attacks, dark rituals, and the creeping Wound, a void threatening to consume their realm. Cal’s new reality is one of impossible choices—between duty and heart, loyalty and passion. As war looms, the only hope lies in Cal’s ability to trust in his newfound soulmates and uncover the depths of the corruption before it’s too late.

THOUGHTS: This was an excellent fantasy with great characters and incredible world building. I especially loved Rashi, the fox shifter! Magic is core to the story as is the relationship between Cal (the king), Rashi (fox) and Haru (dragon shifter). I will note that there are three very hot bedroom scenes. The biggest problem I had with the story was the incredibly long lives of most of the characters. That’s not a problem, but… are the humans also so long-lived? If they are normal like most humans, they’re not. Which means… (a problem with the story I won’t go into here since I don’t want to give anything away). But there is a paradox.

Cal has a lot of problems. In addition to being newly crowned, he has to find out who is creating havoc in his kingdom, who is tearing his kingdom apart. He also has to figure out how to fix the “Wound” an area of devastated land that is growing. Cal has so many problems, he doesn’t know where to start. And that’s part of the problem. The “villains” are well-organized, having had many years to prepare. It seems a lot of the time, Cal is chasing his tail. The story has a good ending, though there are several strings left dangling that show us there is more to come.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”