Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Hawaii

4****

Blurb: Paradise is shaken when the body of a young woman is dragged onto a university research vessel during a class outing in Hilo Bay. Cleo Cooper is shaken when she finds her favorite student is on the hook for the murder. Danger lurks on land and sea as Cleo and her friends are enticed to search for the true killer. In between paddling, swimming, and arguing with her boyfriend, Cleo discovers all is not what it seems on the Big Island of Hawaii. But will she figure out the truth before she becomes the next victim?

Thoughts: There is a lot going on in this story.
The author wove a tale of mystery and family issues as well as the cultural aspects of living in Hawaii. I loved the imagery and interesting dialogue of the island. It’s obvious that the author must have lived on the big island for a time in order to give us such depth of flavor. There’s no way a mainlander would have done as good a job. I have visited other islands, but not the big on, but with the author’s descriptions, I felt like I was there. I will also say that she pulled on my emotions so much, that I sat here and cried during a couple of scenes (and no, I won’t spoil the story by telling you why). Just know that it was hard to read and I completely understood.

As far as the mystery goes, Cleo (the main character) is looking into the murder of a young woman, Ali. Her boyfriend—a friend of Cleo and her husband’s TA—has been accused of the murder. But everyone who knows him knows he couldn’t have done it. So who did? There are a lot of leads since Ali’s background included drug dealing and her family isn’t exactly the best. But the police don’t want to hear Cleo’s theories. And there are plenty of other suspects as well—a shady professor, a jealous woman, another man in Ali’s life…and more.

While Cleo is trying to solve the mystery, she’s also trying to help her dog Suki, and train Ali’s large puppy (the borzoi). And save her relationship with her husband that has become strained. There is so much going on here, it almost felt like three stories in one—the murder mystery, the dogs, and Cleo’s romantic life. But the author does a decent job of weaving them all together. Unfortunately for me, there wasn’t quite the neat tie-up at the end. Oh, we do find out who the murderer is (and for a change, it wasn’t who I thought!), and the dogs’ story is taken care of, but Cleo’s is not. So I’ll assume that is left for later stories.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Zeitgeist (Penguin Random House) 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”

Fiction, Psychological Suspense, Thriller

4****

Blurb: Erin Moore, kidnapped as a teenager and held for months, learns her abductor is up for parole. The police always believed her captor acted alone, and that the female accomplice Erin described years ago was the fabrication of a traumatized mind. Twenty years later, Erin leads a rigidly structured life with her husband and two young daughters and has a successful psychology practice in the same small midwestern town. When her abductor is paroled early and goes missing, leaving behind a large pool of blood, Erin and her husband become suspects. Erin receives threatening notes she is certain came from the accomplice, but she is unable to convince the police the menace is real. As Erin watches her life unravel, including her marriage, career and possibly her sanity, she knows the only way out is to bring the accomplice to justice, even if it’s twenty years late.

Thoughts: This book is full of suspense and angst. The main character, Erin Moore, was kidnapped when she was a young teen and kept for months. She was rescued and the man who held her sentenced to 25 years in prison. But he might get out early. Erin has lived her entire life in fear of the woman accomplice, but nobody believes her. Not then, not now. She, her husband, and two daughters live in a beautiful home surrounded by high security fences and cameras. Even though she is a practicing psychologist, she can’t get past her fear or the knowledge that there’s another person out there. Every year on her birthday, she receives a postcard, but nobody will believe it’s from this so-called accomplice. Then the kidnapper gets out… and is killed.

The characters are frighteningly realistic, as is the premise for the story. And the twist at the end was unexpected – and well-done.

If you’re the nervous type, I suggest reading this during daylight hours with all the lights on. And make sure to lock all your doors and windows.

Recommended.

A SIDE DISH OF DEATH by T.C. LoTempio

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cats, #5 in Series

4****

Blurb: When a celebrity chef is murdered, Shell McMillan has to cook up a plan to trap the killer of a man for all seasonings . . .

With adopt-a-cat month in full swing in Fox Hollow, pet shop owner Shell McMillan decides that hosting a night of murder mystery dinner theater will be a fun way to raise funds for the cause. But she didn’t realize that the celebrity chef she’d hired for the event would turn out to be a tyrannical snob, or that her scoundrel of an ex-fiancé would turn up with his own shady agenda. Still, the show must go on, and as the lighthearted plot on-stage unfolds, the scene off-stage turns decidedly darker when the chef is found murdered. Rather than question an entire roomful of possible suspects, Shell determines that looking into the victim’s past will lead her to the culprit more quickly. What she finds is that the chef had left behind a disreputable past and a trail of disgruntled people, including a long string of women he’d wronged and a host of others who may have been out for revenge. But as Shell closes in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her. And she’s discovering that while too many cooks can spoil the broth, being a murderer’s next target can really ruin your appetite . . .

Thoughts: Who doesn’t love a good mystery with cats. Specifically, Purrday, Princess, and Kahlua. I loved how they helped Shell out of a couple of tight spots, found not one, but two dead bodies, and helped catch the perp.

Shell is helping host a charity “adopt-a-cat” event – during a hurricane – and with a murder mystery theme. What could possibly go wrong? Right. Add in an egotistical chef and you have all the fixings for a murder. Fortunately, Shell’s boyfriend, a cop, is stranded in the building with them so they have built-in support. But so is her ex, who has an issue with the chef. As do several other people. And how does he tie in with the second murder?

This was a fun read, especially with the cats. Loved how they helped out with things. There were a few editorial glitches- like a phone showing up in a pocket when a few pages earlier, it was pointed out that she didn’t have her phone. And it was rather obvious to me from the start who the murderer was – just not the why until later. But overall, an entertaining read with a satisfying ending. And you don’t have to know the entire series to understand who the players are and what’s going on in this one.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this 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”

UNDERCOVER BABYMOON

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Most mothers-to-be spend their pregnancy leafing through baby names and shopping for nursery furniture. Minka Avery spends hers trying to hunt down a murderer on the open seas. Minka’s promotion to Orlando PD’s homicide department has some bumps at first, including her growing baby bump. Just as she and her partner begin to hit their stride, Logan Baris’s suspicious death baffles them. The investigation leads the detectives to believe he had a hand in a shady operation, but the cruise ship worker’s troubles seem to voyage into the ocean blues with him. After they meet up with some dead ends on land, Minka convinces her partner and his wife to join her and her husband to embark on a covert investigation on the ship. Will they be able to uncover whatever scheme is underway on the vessel? Or will the choppy waves of personal drama make it run ashore?

THOUGHTS: This was a fun read. It’s #4 in the series, but you don’t *have* to have read the ones that came before – though I suggest you do. It will really help you understand more. But even without the first three, this was still an enjoyable read. Minka Avery is a homicide detective. She is pregnant and deaf – though she wears a cochlear implant. And her cop partner is her brother-in-law. I loved the way she turns off her implant when she doesn’t want to hear anything and uses sign language to her advantage when she doesn’t want others to know what she and her partner are talking about. Going undercover on a cruise ship with her partner, his wife, and her husband is the only way they can keep and eye on the suspects, but it does cause complications, especially with her pregnancy. Not enough though to keep them from success.

Recommended – suggest you get the entire series. It’s worth it.

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”

Blurb: The staff at Forever Friends Animal Shelter are faced with a fowl problem. They need to re-home a wild turkey before a group of community gardeners take matters into their own hands. One employee attempts to harvest calm, but his life is cut short with the blade of a hori hori knife. When blame is shoveled onto Lily’s friend, she digs into the lives of the gardeners, unearthing secrets that make everyone a suspect. Can Lily dredge up the truth before the ax falls.

About the Author: Darlene combined her passion for the written word and animals into the Lily Dreyfus series. The books are written based on her experience as a volunteer at the Animal Welfare Association, a no-kill animal shelter in Voorhees, New Jersey. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Membership Chair for SinC Grand Canyon Writers, and served as a mentor in the Sisters in Crime Mentorship program. Darlene lives in New Jersey with her four-legged best friend, Billie.

www.ReadDarlene.com

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=darlene+dziomba&crid

ReadDarlene@hotmail.com

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GUIDED NUMEROLOGY WORKBOOK by Kelli Miller

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Astrology

5*****

Thanks to Zeitgeist @Penguin Randomhouse for providing this book.

Blurb: Numerology is an ancient practice that assigns specific meanings to numbers and helps people decode messages about their personalities and destinies. A core tenet of numerology is that each of us is more than a single number; rather, we are all complex individuals with unique personalities and unending potential. That’s why the primary tool for self-understanding in numerology is the numerology chart, a customized group of numbers derived from your unique information, including your name and birthday. In Guided Numerology Workbook, you’ll learn to master the principles of numerology and delve into the significance of your Life Path Number, Expression Number, Inner Soul Number, and more. You’ll receive the tools and knowledge to understand yourself better, improve your relationships, and navigate life’s challenges.

Thoughts: This is an excellent book to begin with for the study of numerology. There is a lot of detailed information on each number and how they can apply to our daily lives. She even included a small section on how each number applies to the tarot, astrology, and gemstones. I would have liked more on this, but that was such a minor detail that it didn’t make a difference.

The author includes sections on how you can figure out your core numbers and what they mean. There are areas for you to enter your information and how to calculate the results and what they mean. Each section is detailed, easy to understand and follow, and written so that it all makes sense.

Highly 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 Zeitgeist @Penguin Randomhouse for providing this book.

@penguinrandomhouse #partner

Fiction, LGBTQ Contemporary Romance (M/M)

3***

Blurb: Ronny Ledbetter inherited a bar, The Gingerbread, from his father, and he’s been working his hands to the bone to update the building and keep the business functioning. What he really needs is help… and a life outside of work. What he doesn’t expect is a man like Arden to stumble into his life. Turned out by his parents, Arden Thatcher is living in his aunt and uncle’s converted garage, and he needs a job. Getting desperate to find something, he approaches the sex-on-a-stick hot Ronny, who gives him a test behind the bar and then a job. But that only solves one of his problems; his controlling uncle is still attempting to run his life. With all their issues, neither Ronny nor Arden is looking for a relationship, but one forms more quickly that either could imagine. Arden supports Ronny, helping him build the business. His skill behind the bar draws new customers, and Ronny backs Arden with his family issues that never seem to end. But Arden’s uncle poses a threat not only to Arden, but also his aunt and even the bar. It will take both Ronny and Arden’s combined strength to see things through to a possible future together.

Thoughts: Ronny owns a popular bar in downtown Carlisle, but he is in desperate need of help. When Arden walks in looking for a job, he hires him on, not knowing what he’s getting himself in for. Not only is Arden a capable bar tender, but he’s also got issues. A lot of them. He was kicked out of his home and lives in a small apartment owned by his uncle and aunt. He dumpster dives for food until he can earn enough to live on. But his uncle is no better than his father was and when Arden discovers that his uncle is abusing his aunt, he steps in to try to help. Meanwhile, the sparks fly between him and Ronny, turning into heat. Between Ronny and Arden, they manage to help his aunt, and his mother, come to terms with the abuse they’ve been suffering and take legal action to protect them.

I enjoyed the story for the most part, but it could have a lot of triggers for sensitive people. There is spousal abuse and bigotry and physical violence. So be forewarned about that. The heat between Ronny and Arden is well done and works well in the story. I just think this could have been a lot better.

Recommended with reservations.

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery

2**

Blurb: n the heart of downtown Seattle, a quirky building is home to a cast of eccentric residents, both living and not. When Meg Dawson moves back to the Morrisey after quitting her career as an artist, she thinks she’s found a safe haven. But when she discovers a murdered resident, Meg realizes that her sanctuary may not be as secure as she thought. It quickly becomes clear that the police are lacking an important piece of the investigative puzzle. Because of her ability to communicate with ghosts, Meg has information about the man’s death no one else knows. Ripley, Meg’s ghostly best friend, is confident they can solve the mystery and keep the rest of the residents safe. Meg and Ripley must navigate strange happenings and unravel the secrets of their building before it’s too late.

Thoughts: This was an okay story, not great but not totally awful. The main character, Meg, has moved back to the building where she lived with her aunt (who moved to Scotland). She was an artist and working in museums in NY and Chicago and got hammered by her mentor so gave up everything and moved home. And her best friend happens to be a ghost from the 1990s and is attached to her so can go where Meg goes (convenient). Meg can also see and communicate with other ghosts. In addition to coincidences, her childhood best friend and crush, Laurie (Laurence) has also moved back into the quirky building. There are a lot of odd characters in this book – many of them old enough to remember Meg when she lived there. When the recluse in 3B is killed, they look to Meg to figure out who did it. Add in secret passages throughout the building and another murder that ties into this one and you have an intriguing plot that seems to follow the plot of a TV show starring Steve Martin and Martin Short. There was very little description of the characters except for maybe the ghosts. In the end, the mystery is solved and Meg makes decisions about her life, but there was very little mystery to this mystery.

Northwoods Mysteries book #3
by Annie McEwen

Winter has wrapped the Wisconsin Northwoods in a bitter chill, and Emmy Cooper’s family lake cottage resort, Cooper’s Cove, is no exception. But it’s someone from Emmy’s past who’s about to bring the real frostbite! A stormy mix-up at a local hotel reroutes an unwanted group of guests to Cooper’s Cove Resort, including Emmy’s former boss and the reason Emmy slunk home with her tail between her legs, Gwenda Caperwell. As if being face-to-face with an old grudge wasn’t bad enough, a fierce blizzard picks that moment to strike, leaving Emmy snowed in with her least favorite person on earth. But things go from bad to downright chilling when Gwenda suddenly turns up dead—colder than the January air—and Emmy’s snowed in with a corpse! With the roads impassable and the safety of the other guests at stake, the local law enforcement had no choice but to rely on Emmy and her parents to help solve the mystery and catch the real killer, much to the dismay of Emmy’s love interest, Officer Dean Erickson. But it quickly becomes clear that plenty of the other guests snowed in at Cooper’s Cove had a reason to want the Gwenda dead. Battling through drifts of secrets and lies, Emmy must navigate the frosty web of suspicion to uncover the murderer—before the next victim is iced!

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