IF BOOKS COULD KILL by Karen Rose Smith

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, 3rd in Tomes & Tea series

5*****

Daisy Swanson’s daughter Jazzi has moved away to the lakeside town of Belltower Landing, but the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Much like Daisy, she’s running a tea bar and bookshop––and has a knack for getting into hot water… Town librarian Mathilda has a troublesome new employee, and after Jazzi spots the two of them arguing at the ice-sculpture festival, Mathilda asks Jazzi if she’d mind discussing her workplace woes over a cup of tea. During the visit, Jazzi also finds out about Mathilda’s top-secret stash of valuable first editions. Soon afterward, those rare books have vanished—and Mathilda is dead. As the police check out suspects and a lawyer searches for the next of kin, Jazzi learns that the librarian’s life was as mysterious as any crime thriller. She’d left home and changed her name as a teenager, and always seemed a little lonely. Oddly, it’s her new employee who seems the most distraught. It’s the off-season, so the upstate New York town is free of the usual swarm of tourists—but the quiet doesn’t last long. The press is descending as the murder makes national news, and rumors start circulating. With Belltower Landing steeped in suspicion, Jazzi must figure out whether the first editions were the real motive for sending Mathilda to her final resting place…

THOUGHTS: I thought this was a good addition to the series. I love that there is a connection to the previous series (Daisy’s Tea Garden) and Jazzy’s mom, Daisy, actually shows up in this one briefly. Jazzy misses her mom and her home, but she is settling down in Belltower Landing, loves sharing her apartment and bookshop/tea shop with her best friend and making new friends. One friend she makes is the head librarian, Mathilda. While trying to help Mathilda relate better to her newest young hire, Mathilda reveals a secret compartment in her home where she hides valuable first-edition books. A few days later, Jazzy and her friends are on a scavenger hunt when they hear a gunshot. Jazzy runs toward the shot, followed closely by her boyfriend, Oliver. They discover Mathilda dead and call in the cops, who order Jazzy to stay out of the investigation. But Jazzy is too much like her mother and can’t. Unfortunately, delving into who might have done the deed will put Jazzy in serious danger.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well done and the setting puts me right there in the town of Belltower Landing. As for the suspects, I had two in mind and was happy to find that one of *my* suspects was the killer. The ending was satisfying in that they caught the one who was responsible, but the aftermath with Jazzy and Oliver… I wasn’t quite as sure about that. But it fit the story.

Overall, definitely a good read and an excellent addition to the series.

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 Kensington Press for providing this ARC.

WORDS FOR PATTY JO by Jill Arlene Culiner

Fiction, Romance, Second Chances

4****

Blurb: A passion for books creates a lasting bond between teenage Patty Jo and David, but small-town prejudice and social differences doom their romance. After a summer of reading and falling in love, David heads for university, foreign adventure, and a dazzling career; Patty Jo marries slick, over-confident Don Ried. Yet plans can go horribly wrong. The victim of her violent husband, Patty Jo abandons her home and children to live on the streets of Toronto. David, a high-ranking executive in Paris, is dismayed by the superficiality of corporate success. Forty years later, Patty Jo and David meet again. Both have defied society; both have fulfilled their dreams. And what if first love was the right one after all, and destiny has the last word?

THOUGHTS: This was an interesting story that takes place over several decades. We start in the 1960s in a small town. Patty Jo is definitely from the wrong side of the tracks, and though she hangs out with other kids from her part of town, she’s not really a part of them. But going home just means abuse from everyone in her family. David, on the other hand, is from the “rich” side of town with all the advantages that implies. Falling for Patty Jo–and she for him–is not what his family has planned and he is sent off to boarding school. Meanwhile, Patty Jo quits school and gets a job waitressing, where she meets Don Ried, a slick-talking salesman. Patty Jo gets pregnant and they get married. But all is not sunshine and roses as he is abusive and turns the boys (now two of them) against her. Patty Jo decides she’s had enough and walks out, heads for Toronto where she sleeps where she can find a spot and indulges in her passion of theater. Over the years, she becomes a star actress. Meanwhile David is an executive in Paris, married, and sick of his life. He and his wife divorce and he follows his dream to open a small bookstore in a small French town and live a simple life. Forty years after their breakup, he and Patty Jo reconnect when David visits his family in Toronto. And the two of them realize that, even though they’ve changed, their connection is still there and still strong.

The characters are interesting and the settings very well done. I could see Patty Jo climbing out her window to go meet up with David. Feel her disgust with her family–both her parents and sister, and her husband and children. I was happy she found the courage to do what she did in leaving them all, even though that put her in disgrace with most of society. And I was also happy for David in that he followed his heart and left big money to do what made him happy.

The book started slow for me, but the ending was so satisfying that it made up for the slow parts. The HEA ending showed that second chances can work out.

UNDER HIS PROTECTION by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M/M

3***

With his Hollywood career over, Eddie returned to Olympia and began his life again as a police officer. When he gets a call from an old friend, he hurries to help. Eddie never expected to come face to face with his biggest regret again. Yet maybe this was a second chance with the man he’d left behind to pursue his ambitions of fame and fortune. Accountant Marty’s life hasn’t turned out the way he expected, and now he’s discovered that he may be working for a front for money laundering. Not knowing what else to do, he calls the old number he has for Eddie, hoping for help. What he gets is a protector… and quite possibly more. Things go from bad to worse when money laundering turns to murder, with Marty as a possible witness. Passion rekindles and builds quickly, but so does the danger. Eddie is determined to keep Marty safe, but catching the killer will push them both and test their renewed relationship to the limit.

THOUGHTS: This was a quick read – only 92 pages – with all the romance tropes you could want like second chances, cop/protector, danger, and more. It was a good story, typical for Andrew Grey with a hot scene to get you sweating. I liked that characters from previous books show up – good connection there. Marty is an accountant for a small company. He discovers some discrepancies that he takes to his boss. The next thing he knows, he’s being followed and threatened so he does the only thing he can think of and calls his old lover, Eddie, who is a cop. With the help of Marty, Eddie and his partner Brian uncover a money laundering scheme that is based in heavy drug running. When Marty’s boss is murdered, they have to step up their game to keep Marty safe, so Marty moves in with Eddie – and their old feelings for each other erupt.

Things I liked: the links to other stories through the characters. The ending was satisfying and perfect for them, especially the way it was all tied up nicely. What I didn’t like: Marty. Yes, he is a victim and he does the right thing in bringing in the police, but he’s way too whiny, especially about “my job”. I just couldn’t connect with him well. He’s got the courage to do something right, but then he wimps out and just whines about himself and his lack of a job. But, as I said, the ending is satisfying and there’s a HEA for the two of them, so it all works out in the end.

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 PRICE OF PEACE by Barbara Jean Miller

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Joss Dane is not overly worried about her husband Sam going alone to London for the 1814 Peace Celebration until she gets a letter from his former commander telling him he must assassinate an innocent Quaker, an advocate for permanent peace. She rushes to the city to consult with Sam. Sam is staying at Dane House but cannot control his former captain or make sense of the minor official who wants to hire Sam to protect the Quaker. The suspicion that both Sam and the captain are having their strings pulled forces Sam to protect the innocent man on his own while looking for another target higher in public recognition. This might be the most critical case ever to confront the Discreet Detectives.

THOUGHTS: This was a quick read – only 90 pages – and is part of the “Discreet Detectives” series. Not having read the other books in the series, I had a little trouble getting into the story, but the conflict for the characters was definitely there. The setting is well-done and the characters were interesting, but I didn’t understand all the connections between them at first. Still, it is a good story, well thought out and with a satisfying ending. If you’ve read the other stories in the series, I’d definitely recommend this one as a good part of the series, but not necessarily as a story to begin with. I love the idea of “discreet detectives” in England after the Napoleonic wars, especially a couple. And I loved Joss carrying her derringer – definitely not someone to mess with, even when six months pregnant!

I’d give the entire series a chance and add this one to the group.

THE FINAL TARGET by Nora Roberts

Fiction, Romantic Suspense

4****

Blurb: He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that. Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake… An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude―but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility. Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden’s purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

THOUGHTS: The best part of this book was the characters. Nora really gets us into their heads, including Dustin, the stalker. He is so evil… and you just know he’s not going to give up on going after Arden. The romance part of the story wasn’t great, but the suspense was good. I loved that Arden wasn’t just sitting around waiting for him to attack her again or waiting for someone else to rescue her. She panicked a little, then made a plan and followed through. She was a very strong character. The plot was a little slow for me in places, but not so much that it detracted from the overall story. And the setting details definitely added to the story.

I will note that there are some scenes in here that might be triggers for some readers. The attack and rape scene at the beginning and the kidnapping and murders. But this is a thriller/suspense novel so readers should expect this kind of darkness in the story. And the scenes themselves were very well done.

I’ve been a fan of Nora Roberts for years and, though for me, this wasn’t one of her best, it was good enough for me to definitely recommend 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” Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Blurb:  Voices have two rules—don’t fall in love with your mortal, and don’t reveal what you are. Over the centuries, those rules haven’t been a problem for Nik, son of the Muse, Erato. That is until his latest assignment, a result of a promise he made to his last client, her grandmother, a well-known romance novelist. “Will you help her as you helped me? Please?” The promise was made. And now he faces the consequences of breaking those rules. With MJ, who used to believe in fairy tales and myths. Can she again?

Buy Link:  https://www.rowanprosepublishing.com/paulachaffeescardamalia.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222449562-the-tempting-voice

Bio: Paula Chaffee Scardamalia is an author and book coach who loves helping other writers write their stories and life discoveries using her experience and knowledge along with intuitive tools such as dreams and the tarot. She’s the author of the recently released mythic contemporary romance, The Tempting Voice, and a romantasy, In the Land of the Vultures. She also has written three nonfiction books on writing and the creative life, Enchanting Creativity, Tarot for the Fiction Writer, and the award-winning Weaving a Woman’s Life: Spiritual Lessons from the Loom. Divine Muse-ings is her weekly newsletter on writing, creativity, dreams, and tarot. She lives with her husband in an 1840s Greek Revival farmhouse, constantly in need of TLC, in the foothills of the Catskills.

Social media links: facebook.com/paulascardamalia  instagram.com/paulascardamalia  paulamuse.bsky.social  threads.com/paulascardamalia

CONDITIONS by Skye Mueller

Fiction, Romantic Suspense, steamy

4****

Blurb: Being married to a thief had one definitive upside—financial security for her sister’s medical expenses. Up until acupuncturist Summer Halley experiences pregnancy loss while on a heist, she was willing to overlook the immorality of her husband’s crimes. But the miscarriage elicits broken vows and sacrificed money, a perfect combination for the FBI to exploit.
Forced to assume the role of informant in her ex-husband’s realm, Summer also faces the undeniable tension building between her and Agent Liam Reyes, her handler on the case. As she reconciles the choices surrounding her past, Summer concedes to cooperating with Reyes, even when he reveals his own conflicted feelings. Just as Summer and Reyes stop seeing each other as adversaries, a new target threatens their tentative trust while the truth about her sister’s deception is exposed.

THOUGHTS: This was an interesting romance with a definite twist. Summer Halley was once married to a man who was building a crime empire. She even works for him on occasion, trying not to let what she does get to her. After all, she needs the money for her sister who has cancer. But when she loses her baby due to an accident during a crime gone wrong, the marriage falls apart and she divorces him. Fast forward a year and she has her own small acupuncture clinic and is living a quiet life. Then Agent Liam Reyes pushes his way into her life. For a chance at immunity for her own past crimes, the FBI wants her to entrap her ex. As he lays out her options, Summer realizes that she has no options and agrees to help them. But getting back with her ex isn’t easy, and the longer she works with Liam, the more she realizes that her ex was bad for her in more ways than one. As their feelings for each other grow, Liam and Summer turn from enemies to lovers.

Summer is a good character with a lot of issues. I will note a trigger here about her losing the baby and occasional talk about her angel baby (a term I love). It’s a thick theme throughout the story. Add in her sister’s cancer (and some other issues) and you have a character with a lot of baggage. Liam isn’t exactly free of baggage either. Which makes interesting conflicts on multiple sides.

The story was a little slow for me at first, but definitely picked up by the end and there were several scenes between Liam and Summer that will have you reaching for a cold drink and a fan. I did think the ending with the ex was a touch of a letdown, but overall a decent read.

For those who like their suspense spicy.

Murder on the Sea Otter Express: In the third installment of the Grace “the Hit Mom” Mysteries, a field trip to the New Haven Aquarium ends in disaster when a creepy chaperone falls to his death in the beluga whale tank…when Grace was the one who was supposed to kill him. Now, Grace will have to solve the murder, settle decades-old grudges, and keep her own secrets—all while taking care of her family…and serving as flower girl at her handler Madge’s wedding. As the tasks, and the stakes, keep rising, Grace isn’t sure she’ll live to dance at the wedding.

Buy: 2/10/26 from Turner Publishing/Keylight Books: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Sea-Otter-Express-Mysteries/dp/B0DW7R6MM4/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Nikki Knight is the pen name of Kathleen Marple Kalb, an anchor/author/mom…not in that order. An Agatha and Derringer nominated author of short stories and more than a dozen novels, she’s also a longtime weekend anchor at New York’s 1010 WINS Radio. Her series include the Grace the Hit Mom, Vermont Radio, and Ella Shane Mysteries. Active in writers’ groups, she’s currently a Marketing and Communications Liaison on the National Board of Sisters in Crime, and a past VP of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and NY/Tri-State SinC. She and her family live in a Connecticut house owned by a large calico cat. 

Website:  https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/nikki-knight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkiKnightAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mysterymarple.bsky.social

Red Gate Farm By D. V. Stone

A heartwarming tale of second chances and the healing power of coming home.A spirited rancher and a country boy returning home find themselves tangled in horses, government notices, and a little lakeside magic—where second chances bloom and love trots in on four hooves.

Blurb: Nestled in the countryside on the outskirts of Lake Unami, Little Flower Ranch is more than just a patch of land—it’s Addie Martin’s whole world. Her dogs, goats, and horses, both rescued and boarded, know her better than most people do. A life built with grit and rooted in compassion. Until Addie’s peaceful life is thrown into turmoil by a man from her past, with a government notice that threatens to take it all away. Henry Price never planned to come back to Red Gate Farm, but after losing his job and his sense of purpose, the old homestead near Lake Unami calls him back to the place where he grew up surrounded by love and family. But the simpler life may not be so simple when your family introduces you to a woman who has troubles of her own. Lake Unami has its own quiet magic, the kind that works through neighbors, animals, and special guardians. As Addie and Henry navigate old wounds and new beginnings, they’ll discover that sometimes the smallest towns hold the biggest miracles… especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

Links

https://books2read.com/u/ml08j9

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-gate-farm-d-v-stone/1148973033

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243837437-red-gate-farm

http://bit.ly/3L6oQ1Y

Bio

D. V. Stone is an award‑winning author and speaker known for crafting stories filled with heart, hope, and a touch of the extraordinary. Writing across middle‑grade paranormal mysteries, fantasy, and romance, she blends emotional depth with imaginative adventure. Drawing on her background in human and animal medical fields, she brings empathy and authenticity to every character. Based in Northern, New Jersey, she finds inspiration in travel, nature, and seasonal traditions. Through her popular blog and community outreach, she champions creativity and connection, inviting readers and writers alike to celebrate the power of story. You can find out more at-

https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/

https://linktr.ee/d.v.stone

SECRET RECIPE: A REDFORD FALLS STORY by Darlene Fredette

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, #4 in series

4****

Blurb: She has one last hope – a small, family-run bakery that might just be baking up second chances. Dwindling finances has Jesse Robinson running out of options. With a past filled with failures, she longs for a new beginning. Applying for a job she isn’t qualified for may be another crazy mistake, but at this point Jesse has nothing to lose. Juggling two jobs, Travis Cooper has absolutely no time for a relationship and isn’t looking for one. But when his mother hires an unqualified baker, he has more to worry about than three-tiered wedding cakes. Like whether to break his own no-dating-employees rule and make a little room in his life for love.

THOUGHTS: This was a different kind of romance story – oh, not in the general sense. We still have boy meets girl, loses girl, gets girl back for a HEA ending. But the characters. Or at least the heroine – and her past. Jess Robinson has moved to Redford falls and lives in a tiny apartment where she’s a month behind on her rent, drives a rusted car that breaks down quite regularly, and is broke and looking for a job. Most places won’t hire her because of her father—Slick Vic—who is in prison for murder. Her father raised her to be a conman (woman) and she was quite good when she was a kid. But she wants desperately to put that past behind her. Unfortunately, fate has other ideas.

Even though she knows nothing about baking, Jess stops in at a bakery that is looking to hire help. The woman who owns the place gives her a test—and Jess passes it (blueberry muffins). Jess discovers that she loves the job, not as a baker, but out front with the customers. Then her father calls her and needs her to do something for him. If she doesn’t he’s in trouble, even in jail. And it has to do with the bakery.

Meanwhile, the owner’s son, Travis, is leery of the new hire. Yes, she’s beautiful and smart, and good with the customers, but there’s something about her…

I loved the tie-ins with the other stories in the series, especially when the rabbit shows up at the moment Jess goes into the bakery (you have to read the other stories to understand why this is important). I love the way Travis’ mother Heather handles everything with a touch of mysticism. This is a sweet romance with a touch of suspense and a HEA that satisfies.

Enjoy!