MURDER AT FIRST LIGHT by Christine Knapp

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Lighthouses, nannies, and murder… Life has calmed down for modern nurse midwife Maeve O’Reilly Kensington, following her daughter’s eventful arrival into the world. Her family has settled into a welcome routine, and Maeve is about to break new ground as the first faculty midwife at Rosemont College in the quaint New England town of Langford. Unfortunately, her tranquility is short-lived. During an early morning row on the bay, Maeve witnesses a jogger stumble out of Langford’s iconic lighthouse, First Light, and collapse. He is later pronounced dead, and Maeve wonders if it was a natural death or foul play. First Light had rescued many in the past but certainly didn’t save this hapless soul. When Maeve and her indomitable sister, Meg, assist a young Irish nanny caught in the aftermath of the death, they land headfirst in the world of Langford’s posh “Yummy Mummies.” Will the fearless M&M’s crack the case? Will Maeve adapt to the college world? Life in Langford carries on…with its usual mix of midwifery and murder!

Thoughts: This is the fourth in a series. As such, since I hadn’t read the previous ones, I wasn’t sure who all the characters were and what their relationships were, but the author quickly brought me up to speed without hitting me over the head with the information. I really liked Maeve. She’s a no-nonsense kind of person who knows what she’s doing, but still admits she has doubts about some things. Just not about her midwifery. It’s the whole teaching at a college that makes her gulp. But she handles it with the same aplomb as she does delivering a baby in the backseat of a van (which she does in the opening scene).

I found the tidbits of information at the beginning of each chapter interesting. I just wasn’t sure what they were doing there. This was a murder mystery, not a study of obstetrics. The beginning of the story started out rather slowly for me, but did pick up once the body appeared. There were plenty of suspects for her and her sister (the M&Ms! LOL) to investigate and pass along any info they got to their cop brother Pat.

There were quite a few stereotypes as far as characters went, but the author wove them in with enough skill that you didn’t mind. I loved Maeve’s mother. She’s a hoot in a wheelchair and sparkles. And her sister is stylistic in her fancy clothes and shoes. But the funniest part was the “Yummy” crowd at the posh gym. All that spandex in lollipop colors! Had to laugh at that. Especially when the M&Ms joined them. Maeve was definitely not comfortable in her violet outfit. And her coworkers! They were fun too.

In other words, though there was some slowness, there was enough LOL moments that I kept reading and smiling.

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”

THE GODDESS PATH by Kirsty Gallagher

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Spiritualism

4****

Blurb: The Goddess Path is your sign to start living authentically. Taking you on a personal deep dive, this 13-step journey will help you to uncover all that keeps you hidden. By venturing on the goddess path, you’ll reclaim your self-worth, learn how to establish your boundaries, cultivate intuition and learn who you truly are. Kirsty will help you embrace your shadows so you accept and love all parts of you; you’ll get to know yourself like never before. Packed with wisdom, affirmations, simple practices, rituals, and a sprinkling of ancient goddesses, this is your invitation to activate your sense of wholeness. These pages will help you trust yourself and show up in the world as your most powerful, goddess-like self.

Thoughts: I’ve read other “spiritual pathways” types of books but this one is very different. Yes, the emphasis is on goddesses from various religions and crystals and altars, but you don’t have to buy into that if it makes you uncomfortable. But… you should still read the book. There is good information on taking a path to self-discovery. There are daily affirmations that will help you find who you really are; learn to set boundaries and say no, figure out your hopes, dreams, desires, and value. For these things alone, this is a good book. And the author encourages you to take the pathways slowly – this is not something to rush through.

Overall, I thought it was a good self-help book that can help you find your true self. Be prepared to do some deep thinking.

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”

KILLING IN THE CARIBEAN by Jennifer Fischetto

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Fischetto comes a beach read full of romance, mystery, and a vacation turned deadly in the sunny Caribbean! Welcome to Voyage Cruise Line: where a sunny day is always just a trip away! At least, that’s the official motto Zibby Foster learned when she was hired as the ship’s dance instructor. And she’s starting to believe it—sailing to tropical ports all over the world that have almost been enough to leave the cares of her former life behind. So, when the ship docks in Barbados, Zibby and her new best friend, Cady Hart, plan to soak up the sun, see the sights, and sip the island’s infamous rum at Cady’s boyfriend Aiden’s local bar. Only their plans go terribly awry when a group of American tourists enter the scene, and one of them dies right in front of Zibby after sipping one of Aiden’s cocktails! With the police suspecting foul play, suddenly Aiden’s livelihood is on the line, a murderer is on the loose, and it’s up to Zibby and Cady to figure out just what killed the vacationing victim. With a little help from the ship’s sexy doctor, Zibby finds herself getting closer to the truth as she gets closer to the deceased’s circle of friends…maybe too close as the danger mounts, time runs out, and the killer sets his sights on Zibby as his second victim!

Thoughts: I love unique settings and this story had one. From a cruise ship to the island of Barbados – I’d have liked a little more setting description for the story. I couldn’t really “picture” where I was. But that’s a minor issue. The mystery of who killed the victim was well done with plenty of suspects and the standard amateur sleuth. The characters are realistic and interesting.

Zibby (love her name and the reason behind it!) is working as a dancer on a cruise ship. She makes a best friend, Cady, and they’re on their way to Barbados where Cady’s boyfriend Aiden owns a bar. And Zibby even has a romantic interest in the ship’s doctor. On their first trip into town, they meet up with a group of Americans vacationing there. They form a fast friendship, but when one of them ends up dead, things get really intense, especially since Aiden is one of the suspects. At Cady’s insistence – and with her help – Zibby decides to do her own detecting in order to set Aiden clear.

Overall a decent murder mystery. But we are left with some threads dangling – enough for me to know that there will be more in this series. (I hope). Yes, the murder gets solved and Cady and Aiden get things worked out, but, I’m guessing other questions will be answered in coming books (like what happens between Zibby and the doctor).

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”

THE CONSEQUENCES by Avis Adams

Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, YA

5*****

Blurb: Olivia Jensen survived the Novel Hepatitis A Virus that devastated her community but is grief-stricken when she learns that her entire family has died. She ventures into the post-apocalyptic world left by storms and disease, searching for solitude to grieve and come to terms with her emotions. Unfortunately, Brian, the boy who has had a crush on her since the second grade, offers his help out of concern for her health. Is he hoping a relationship will blossom? Fat chance. Olivia, still weak from her recovery, must accept Brian’s help to get to the stables and check on her horse. When she is given a chance to help a little girl who will die without medicine, she joins forces with Brian. Together they travel on horseback through snowstorms to a mountain town in search of a doctor who has developed medicine. In a world with no existing infrastructure, Olivia’s community relies on her success. Can they find the doctor and bring her back with them before they freeze in the blizzards?

Thoughts: As several states deal with the aftereffects of Hurricane Helene and the COVID outbreak over the last few years, this book rang a little too true. In this one, the storms called Elprimo have devastated the US, as has a virulent disease that no one expected. Thousands dead, no electricity, no running water, towns devastated by both and cut off from everything because of storm damage.

Olivia and her friend, Brian, go to check on her horse, Shadow, at a nearby farm, but when they get there, Olivia discovers that Shadow has died. Given no chance to grieve, the elderly farmer sends them to a nearby farm to get hay for the remaining horses. Along the way, they find an abandoned 4-year-old girl, and thieves who steal their bikes, then accost them for the horses they’re riding. At the hay farm, they’re tasked with going to a nearby town for medicine for the family. They have to make their way through treacherous roads, a blizzard, and more, then get back home before more people die. I loved the dog with the rips. And how much they depend on the horse not just for transportation, but heart as well.

The two of them learn what it is to depend on each other for their lives and what desperate people are capable of. And that they are stronger than they thought. This is a story about friendship, survival, and strength of character.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced or solicited by anyone.

PERIPHERY by A.A. Dasilva

Fiction, SF Romance

4****

Blurb: Charlotte barely survived the accident that killed her husband four years ago. Resuscitated a savant, she struggles to find meaning in her survival. When she meets Simon, a mysteriously familiar stranger, they are drawn to each other with undeniable magnetism. But Simon is contracted to a black-ops agency. With the agency on her heels, and Simon claiming her heart, Charlotte’s past and future collide when she’s offered a chance to reconnect with her late husband. As secrets are revealed, motives uncovered, and alliances are formed, Charlotte must choose…between the fate of the world and the fate of her heart. Content warnings: Intense medical interventions/injuries, sexual situations (fade to black), profanity, mild violence, and mention of pregnancy loss. 

Thoughts: This was an intriguing book. It didn’t immediately draw me in, but I found I couldn’t put it down. I just kept reading…and reading. And wondering what was going to happen next to the characters as I was drawn into their world(s). Not only were the characters well done, but the imagery was so vivid that I was there with Charlotte in Sy’s home on the bay. Or in her cottage as she took down the shutters and fought with the wasps.

Charlotte is a widow. Her husband, Jared, was killed in an auto accident that nearly killed her. But she came away from the accident with a new ability to understand involved math and physics. And memories of something different. Something she can’t explain—and doesn’t try. Nor can she explain her instant attraction to Sy when she meets him at a bar. The two develop a strong relationship and she begins to understand that the love she had for her dead husband wasn’t really love at all. Then her ex-father-in-law comes back into her life and she finds out things about both Jared and Simon (Sy) that rock her world to the core. She’s not sure which man is the hero and which one is the villain, but she knows where her heart lies. She also discovers that the multiverse is real and she, Jared, and Sy are connected through them all.

I loved the ending, but then the author added on an epilogue and we know that the universe isn’t done with these three. I can’t wait to read the next book.

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”

CHASING SAFE HARBOR by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M/M, Suspense

3***

Blurb: The last thing DEA contractor Thorsen Magnus wanted was an assignment that brings him back to where he grew up, a small town four hours north of San Francisco. He left years ago to get away from his intolerant father and hasn’t been anxious for a reunion. But he has a job to do, and his reward might turn out to be more than he hoped for. Michael Constantine trained as an architect, but now works for his father’s construction company. Unlike his golden child younger brother, he does all his family expects and still feels like he can never do anything right for his father. Needing time to think, he goes to his favorite spot overlooking the ocean, where he witnesses something strange through the fog, and in the process nearly falls right into Thor’s strong arms. Thor had been hoping to see a rendezvous off the coast, but Michael’s presence changes everything. Thor needs to know what he saw, but as attraction builds with Thor’s attempts to get Michael to confide in him, so does Thor’s caution about starting a relationship, no matter how strong the desire. Eventually they agree to work together, but any investigation in a small town has the potential to come close to home and could terminate their fledgling relationship before it really begins.

Thoughts: At only a hundred pages, this was a short, quick read. Thor and Michael are good characters who have family issues—mostly with their fathers. But the two of them work well together. Thor is a DEA contracted agent searching for drug runners in a small town north of San Francisco. He meets Michael while staking out an area where the ships might meet and the two have an instant attraction. Michael helps Thor out and the two draw closer. The heat levels build nicely and the intimate scenes are well-written.

What I had a problem with was the length of the story vs. the subject matter. I really wish we could have found out more about why Thor and his father didn’t get along. And what happened between Michael and his father when he confronted him. I mean, it all worked out nicely in the end, but there could have been a lot more to flesh this story out. And the ending was more a “happy-for-now” rather than a HEA that is the way the author’s books usually end. This one just seemed rushed to me.

Recommended with the caveats above.

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”

LIVE, LOCAL, AND LONG DEAD: Vermont DJ Jaye Jordan’s Green-Up Day ends in murder when not one, but two, bodies turn up in an old park — and one of them was much too close to both her ex and her current man when it was alive and bodacious. Now Jaye, with the help of a colorful (and diverse) cast of townies, will have to clear her men’s names, unravel a World War II-era mystery…and get Grandpa Seymour to the Senior Prom on time. 

Buy:   Live, Local, and Long Dead – The Wild Rose Press Inc

Or Amazon:

Live, Local, and Long Dead (A Vermont Radio Mystery): Knight, Nikki: 9781509257461: Amazon.com: Books

Nikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City’s 1010 WINS Radio, she writes short stories and novels including the Vermont Radio and Grace the Hit Mom series. Her stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, and Black Cat Weekly, online, and in anthologies – and been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. Active in writers’ groups, she’s served as Vice President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and is currently Co-Vice President of the New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime. As Kathleen Marple Kalb, she writes the Ella Shane and Old Stuff mystery series. She, her husband, and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.

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

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NikkiKnightVT

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

Other: YouTube: NIKKI KNIGHT’S RADIO STORYTIME – YouTube   

I always knew I’d inherit Covett House. But the timing couldn’t be worse. My divorce is still fresh. I’m not even forty. Quite. The last thing I need is pressure to step right into the life Nanna made for herself in Crescent Bay. What do I need with an 1888 Victorian mansion in a tiny northern California coastal town? I live by myself now. But I’m not alone here. There are those half-heard whispers in the night, the reappearance of Nanna’s lost cat…and then there’s the murder. Cherise Tillson died on the floor of the Museum of the Odd and Wondrous, the most eccentric piece of my inheritance, the day after I got to town. But why did she have my name on her person? And what was she doing in the museum at night? To clear my name – and my way out of this small town – I need answers. Nanna’s secrets are more than I bargained for when the cat’s antics reveal an old, ornate key. The key to a hidden garden in the woods behind Covett House, where pale blooms glow under the waxing moon. Where the creatures are strangely attentive. And a dryad waits to give me a piece of her mind. The moon garden threatens what little is left of the life I knew. But discovering midlife magic has made me bold. Or maybe that’s all the strong coffee I’m currently running on. Either way, I’ll make a better life with this second chance. Welcome to the Moon Garden Mysteries paranormal cozy mystery series, a magical blend of paranormal women’s fiction and cozy mystery for those who believe forty marks a new beginning, cats can talk (and you’d better listen), and when you’re guarding a fae portal, chocolate is a girl’s best friend.

Thoughts: Like most books, there were parts of this that I loved, and other parts not so much. The first part of the book seemed slow to me. Then the ending felt very rushed. We’re going along, with Naomi waffling between staying in her newly inherited grandmother’s home, or going back to Sacramento and her life there. That got a little old after a while. And all the angst about not having kids. In other words, I wasn’t overly fond of Naomi. But… the paranormal stuff was really good. Brownies helping around the house, a magical garden, the white stag, a griffin… perfect.

There were just too many things that didn’t quite add up to a great story. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a “good” story, just not a great one. But I’m still interested enough to look for others in the series to find out what happens next.

Recommended for the magical parts of the book if nothing else.

The conclusion to The Victory Series!

Iain Fraser thought he understood his life. Then the brother he didn’t know existed turned it all upside down. Everything he has built, everyone he cares about, is under attack. And every choice he makes to defend it seems to be the wrong one. It’s time to go on offense, but it’s hard to take the fight to the enemy when you can’t find him. Cassandra Michaelson has been in a protective limbo since her husband was killed. Victory has been her entire focus, a cocoon wrapping her up, keeping her safe but also confining her. Fighting Iain’s brother, the man who stripped that protection away, has awakened her again—and made her see not only that she doesn’t have to be alone, doesn’t want to be alone, but also that she wants far more. She wants to fly again. And she wants to fly with Iain. Iain has always been waiting for Cassandra. He hadn’t put his life on hold —in fact, he’d thought he was building something new, away from Victory and from the partnership that shattered when his best friend was killed. But Cass refuses to stay away, stay safe, and now they must work together to trigger their enemy’s end game. What they can be after that will have to wait until—and if—they survive it.

THOUGHTS: Wow. Just wow. This should really be a TV show – or a movie. I’ve read the entire series and this is the perfect conclusion to the series. In this one, Cassandra (the head of the Victory group) and Iain are finally finding the answers they’ve been looking for on who is trying to destroy Victory, and them. All their friends are back to help them figure it all out. And the answers are surprising – not just to me, but to the team as well. 

I love the interaction between all the team members. They’re not just colleagues, but friends who do actually care for one another. Even when they’re angry at one another. And there’s just enough hope at the end that this might not be the complete end. 

If you like thrilling adventure with your romance, definitely pick this one up – and all the rest of the books in the series as well. 

Definitely recommended.

THE CONSEQUENCES by Avis Adams

Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, YA

5*****

Blurb: Olivia Jensen survived the Novel Hepatitis A Virus that devastated her community but is grief-stricken when she learns that her entire family has died. She ventures into the post-apocalyptic world left by storms and disease, searching for solitude to grieve and come to terms with her emotions. Unfortunately, Brian, the boy who has had a crush on her since the second grade, offers his help out of concern for her health. Is he hoping a relationship will blossom? Fat chance. Olivia, still weak from her recovery, must accept Brian’s help to get to the stables and check on her horse. When she is given a chance to help a little girl who will die without medicine, she joins forces with Brian. Together they travel on horseback through snowstorms to a mountain town in search of a doctor who has developed medicine. In a world with no existing infrastructure, Olivia’s community relies on her success. Can they find the doctor and bring her back with them before they freeze in the blizzards?

Thoughts: As several states deal with the aftereffects of Hurricane Helene and the COVID outbreak over the last few years, this book rang a little too true. In this one, the storms called Elprimo have devastated the US, as has a virulent disease that no one expected. Thousands dead, no electricity, no running water, towns devastated by both and cut off from everything because of storm damage.

Olivia and her friend, Brian, go to check on her horse, Shadow, at a nearby farm, but when they get there, Olivia discovers that Shadow has died. Given no chance to grieve, the elderly farmer sends them to a nearby farm to get hay for the remaining horses. Along the way, they find an abandoned 4-year-old girl, and thieves who steal their bikes, then accost them for the horses they’re riding. At the hay farm, they’re tasked with going to a nearby town for medicine for the family. They have to make their way through treacherous roads, a blizzard, and more, then get back home before more people die. I loved the dog with the rips. And how much they depend on the horse not just for transportation, but heart as well.

The two of them learn what it is to depend on each other for their lives and what desperate people are capable of. And that they are stronger than they thought. This is a story about friendship, survival, and strength of character.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced or solicited by anyone.