DEATH BY SURFBOARD by Susie Black

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, (232 pages)

5*****

Blurb:  No one is more stunned than Mermaid Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik when a fisherman hooks her unscrupulous colleague’s battered corpse attached to a surfboard and hauls it onto the Washington Street Pier. The coroner ruled that while Jack Tyne drowned, he “had help dying,” and Holly’s boss is wrongly arrested for the crime. To save the big cheese from a life behind bars, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur detective dons her sleuthing hat to find Jack’s real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a pretzel, and nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.

Thoughts: Are you ready for sarcasm mixed with murder? If so, you found the right book (series/writer). The third book in the series centered on the fashion industry—specifically the swimsuit fashion industry. Holly Schlivnik is sarcastic, witty, and smart. The story moves quickly and there are a ton of suspects for the murder. You’ll have fun trying to figure out whodunit before Holly does. 

I love the characters (even Holly’s dog Sigmund). And the world building is great—you’ll read all sorts of stuff about the swimsuit fashion industry – but not in a boring way! It’s interesting and works so well with the story.

Overall, this is a great addition to the series – oh, and it’s a stand alone so you don’t have to have read any of the others to understand what’s going on in this one. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it. All opinions are my own.

Birthdays: Blaise Pascal (1623), Elbert Hubbard (1856), Laura Z. Hobson (1900), Pauline Kael (1919), Tobias Wolff (1945), Salman Rushdie (1947), John Ralston Saul (1947)

Quote: “Nobody has the right to not be offended. That right doesn’t exist in any declaration I have ever read. If you are offended it is your problem, and frankly lots of things offend lots of people. I can walk into a bookshop and point out a number of books that I find very unattractive in what they say. But it doesn’t occur to me to burn the bookshop down. If you don’t like a book, read another book. If you start reading a book and you decide you don’t like it, nobody is telling you to finish it. To read a 600-page novel and then say that it has deeply offended you: well, you have done a lot of work to be offended.” ― Salman Rushdie

“The last thing we decide about a book is what to put first.” – Blaise Pascal

Tip: You should be able to answer any question about your main character, and by the end of the book, you reader should know them almost as well as you do.

Jumpstart: You’ve been locked in a store overnight and can’t get out. What do you do? Does the kind of store make any difference (department, grocery, book)? Why? What about security?

Birthdays: Philip Barry (1896), Gail Godwin (1937), Russell Ash (1946), Chris Van Allsburg (1949), Vivian Vande Velde (1951), Richard Powers (1957), Angela Johnson (1961), Lidia Yuknavitch (1963),

Chris Van Allsburg is a two-time winner of the Caldecott for “The Polar Express” and “Jumanji”.

Quote: “I write for what’s left of the eight-year-old still rattling around inside my head.” – Chris Van Allsburg

Tip: Don’t be afraid to promote your books in unconventional places. Link your story to something or somewhere special and use that for promo purposes. I have a friend whose cozy mysteries center around a funeral home. She’s made friends with them and they have been promoting her work. Do you have dogs or cats in your book? Go to vets, animal shelters, pet stores and see if they’ll promote your stuff.

Jumpstart: It is the middle of the night and your phone rings. The voice on the other end says: “You won’t get away with it. I’ll see that you pay.” There is a scream and a loud crack… and the line goes dead. Caller ID is “unknown”. What if anything do you do? Did you deserve the call? Why?

Blame it on the Moon

by Marilyn Baron

Category: Romance / Fantasy

Series: Jelly Beans and Spring Things

What if you went outside one evening to observe the Blood Moon and when you came back in, it was three years later, on the night of the next Blood Moon. And everything had changed during those lost years. There was another woman in your husband’s bed, younger and slimmer than you. Your daughter had gotten married to the man whose mother had taken your place. They have a daughter, who was named after a missing and presumed dead grandmother—you. What would you do? Try to reclaim your life? Or realize it was the time and the season for starting over?

ISBN: (digital) 9781509250684  

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Blurb A chance meeting lands dating columnist Lexi Anderson an invitation to the most sought-after D.C. event. Seeking inspiration for her spring column, she agrees to accompany an older gentleman she met at the Vietnam Memorial. Everyone lets go at the Pink Tie Dinner. Navy Commander Steve MacDonald is no exception. He’s attracted to Lexi and disappointed she’s returning to New York in the morning. He makes a plan guaranteeing he’ll see her during New York’s Fleet Week. Lexi has shared with her readers that she never gets involved with a man in uniform. When the magic of the evening disappears, will Lexi hold tight to her dating rule?

Research is always my favorite part of writing. Cherry Blossom Serendipity is part of the Wild Rose Press’ Jelly Beans and Spring Things series—jelly beans had to be mentioned in the story.  I experimented with different color beans to see how they dissolved in various liquids. The primary ingredients for jelly beans are sugar, corn syrup, modified cornstarch, and confectioner’s glaze. Sugars dissolve easily in liquids. Easy enough—I had the perfect technique to include jelly beans in my story.

Springtime Magic Mocktail or Cocktail?

Excerpt

“Would you like another drink, sir?” A server glanced at the untouched drink.

Steve turned when Lexi laughed at something his grandfather said. A cherry blossom necklace shimmied with the movement of her chest. He looked away and ordered a drink. “A ginger ale, please.” No more silly pink beverages. He needed a clear head. The situation required a plan, one to help her see beyond the uniform. Next week, he’d be in New York preparing for Fleet Week. Would she meet him for a real drink when he was off duty?”

Excerpt From: Zelda Benjamin. “Cherry Blossom Serendipity.” iBooks.

About Zelda

I’m a self-proclaimed foodie who loves writing books with a food theme. When I’m not writing, I’m baking, traveling, or tasting new and exciting foods that may or may not show up in a new story.

To find out more visit my website.

Website https://zeldabenjamin.com

LINKS

https://twitter.com@zbenjamin7

https://instgram.com/love_by_chocolate_romance

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/zelda-benjamin

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show503149.Zelda_Benjamin

THE SEAFARER’S BRIDE by Laura Strickland

Fiction, Viking Historical Romance

4****

Blurb: A year ago, Magnus Tolljursson helped repel a treacherous attack from his father’s enemies, and discovered he carries the berserker’s seed of madness. Now he must sail to the settlement from whence those attackers came, and fulfill a promise to a friend. He doesn’t know what he’ll find in Husavik and never suspects he may lose his heart. In her father’s absence, Embra Fritisson has been engaged in a desperate battle to keep leadership of the settlement. When Magnus arrives saying her father is dead, she fears her unstable family will splinter into factions and destroy one another. She must retain control, but how can she hope to keep her head while falling in love with the enemy?

Thoughts: This is the third in a series, though I have not read the first two. Still, this is a well-written stand-alone that does not need the previous books for you to understand what’s going on and enjoy the story.

The characters are well-developed, especially Magnus and Embra. They are strong characters whose differences create enough conflict for an entire story just by themselves. Add in the “feud” between Magnus’s people and Embra’s and you have another layer. Add in Embra’s family—some of who are not exactly nice people—and you have even more. In other words, there is a lot of conflict in this book. But there is also a lot of love—and not just the romantic kind. This is a book full of emotions. There is also political intrigue and treachery and more. And the world building and descriptions add to the flavor of the book, putting you right there in the Viking village and on the ships.

In other words, it’s a book with a lot to offer for a good read. And a satisfying ending caps everything off beautifully.

Recommendation: Recommended.

Disclaimer: 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”

Blade of Thieves

by Lee Roland

Category: Romance / Fantasy

Series: Guardians of the Blades

Garrett Dain, an enforcer for the Fenrir tribe, and Katrine Dolinski, a master thief, meet in a museum basement while both are seeking an ancient icon created by a goddess. What’s that clichéd saying? A woman should never love a man who’s prettier than she is? Katrine has no intention of falling for a man with the face of an angel and the body of a god.Katrine wins the battle for the icon, but murder suddenly rips her life apart. To add to her misfortune, Garrett has plans for her. He reveals a mystical secret that will transform her forever. Aided by a magical knife, she takes him up on his offer to visit the mysterious town where her life story began. But will the trip be the worst mistake she’s ever made?

ISBN: (digital) 9781509247691  ISBN: (print) 9781509247684

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BooksAMillion

Indie Bound

Babe in the Woods

by Jude Hopkins

Category: Women Fiction

It’s September 1995, the first year of the rest of Hadley Todd’s life. After living in Los Angeles, Hadley returns to her hometown in rural New York to write and be near her father. In addition to looking after him and teaching high school malcontents, Hadley hopes to channel her recent L.A. heartbreak into a play about the last moment of a woman’s innocence. But she seeks inspiration.Enter Trey Harding, a young, handsome reporter who covers sports at the high school. Trey reminds Hadley of her L.A. ex and is the perfect spark to fire up her imagination. The fact that Trey is an aspiring rock star and she has L.A. record biz connections makes the alliance perfect. She dangles promises of music biz glory while watching his moves. But the surprising twist that transpires when the two of them go to Hollywood is not something Hadley prepared for.

ISBN: (digital) 9781509248445  ISBN: (print) 9781509248438

Available through these fine retailers…

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Kobo

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Walmart

Target

BooksAMillion

Indie Bound

JUST CALL ME CONFIDENCE by Stella Grae

Fiction, Erotic Romance, (160 pages)

4****

Blurb: Jenna Craig is a 40-year-old freshly-minted “hot momma” looking for a little love in her post-divorce life. After a night out with her cougar tribe, she wonders whether she’s still got “it”—the double-takes from the college clowns at the bar quickly put her doubts to rest. Though she may be alone, she knows she’ll never be lonely.  Jenna’s newfound confidence is buoyed by some swim club eye candy: Travis the lifeguard. Hot trysts in the locker room leave her wondering if she might want something more. When her naughty, new boy toy introduces her to his friend, Collin, Jenna is engulfed with waves of emotion that she thought she might never feel again. With two younger men vying for her heart, will she choose the perfect guy for right now, or the man who could give her another shot at love?  The experienced Ms. Craig is certain of one thing: She better bring the confidence to pull off the choice of her desire.

Thoughts: If you’re looking for a really hot read, you need go no further than this. Jenna is recently divorced, has three kids, is 40 years old, and looking for some fun in her life. And does she find it. With men a little less than half her age. Travis is teaching her 4-year-old how to swim. And teaching her what it’s like to be with someone young, hot, and eager. Then he introduces her to his friend Collin and they spark immediately.

Recommendation: For a steaming hot graphic story with good characters and a decent plot, pick this one up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’d review it. My thoughts are all my own.