GONE FOR GOUDA (Cheese Shop Mystery #2) by Korina Moss

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, 256 pages

4****

Blurb: Things are going from gouda to bad to ugly for cheesemonger Willa Bauer in Gone for Gouda. Yarrow Glen’s newest cheese shop, Curds & Whey, has a lot on its plate, but cheesemonger Willa Bauer relishes a challenge. There’s a float to build for the fall festival, plus the French-inspired cheese shop is playing host to celebrity vegan chef Phoebe Winston. But when photos surface that prove this vegan influencer is, in fact, a carnivore, things crumble faster than any cheese on the market: Phoebe is murdered. Willa’s employee, the affable Archie, was the last one to see Phoebe alive and the first person the police suspect. To clear his name Willa must uncover who’s been up to no gouda…

Thoughts: This is the second in a series, but I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything by not having read the first one. The author throws in enough clues for me to figure out who the people are, how they fit in together.

Willa owns a small cheese shop called “Curds and Whey” in the Northern California town of Yarrow Glen. I learned a lot about cheese in this book, especially Gouda cheese—enough that I was able to beat an expert to answer a trivia question the other day. I loved that! And the author finishes up the story with cheese-filled recipes at the end.

Willa is hosting celebrity chef Phoebe Winston in a “Cook and Book” demonstration in her cheese shop. Willa’s excited about the event until she actually meets Phoebe—a self-absorbed diva who expects everyone to do what she wants without question and without a thought as to how it might affect the other person.

Then pictures of vegan-proclaimed Phoebe scarfing down ribs appear in the papers and she is a no-show at the event. Then Willa finds out Phoebe has been murdered and everything goes downhill. One of Willa’s employees is suspected of the act and she goes into sleuth mode.

There is a touch of romance between Willa and Roman, the man who owns a meadery across the street, but also sparks between Willa and the lead detective Heath. A triangle that is so common to cozies.

The ending is well-done and satisfying and there are a couple threads left dangling that you know are going to show up in the next books in the series.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended. Have a plate of your favorite cheese selections — and maybe a glass of mead — while you read. Or maybe try a new one that you read about here.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC. 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”

Will a bitter betrayal send a determined pilot and her engineer to a fiery death?

Cass Brennan makes her living scavenging artifacts and searching for her lost parents, while piloting her spacecraft. When she discovers an ancient ship, everyone rushes to steal her prize. Along with her godfather, and Zack Anderson, who she admires for his expertise with engines, gentle manner, and handsome features, Cass refuses to go down without a fight.

Zack is on a search also—to find who’s responsible for destroying his family. He doesn’t want to believe the beautiful, brave, and talented woman he’s trying hard not to fall for is the one he seeks. The more he gets to know Cass, the idea of her being a murderer is ridiculous, and he is definitely ready to take the next step in their relationship.

Zack and Cass are betrayed and then stranded on an unforgiving planet. While nature’s forces try to kill them, they fight to stay alive.

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Bio:

It seems like I’ve been writing and editing forever. And, in a way, I have. But only professionally for the last twenty years or so. I’ve worked for newspapers and magazines, done policy and procedures manuals for organizations and the government, and worked as an editor for a variety of publishers and private clients doing everything from novels to college-level textbooks. Whew! That’s a lot!

As a writer, I write fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and romance novels and novellas. At various times in my life, I have been a teacher, librarian, computer specialist, short-order cook, DJ and more. I’m married to the most supportive guy in the world and together we raised four great kids.

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HEARTSONG HILLS by Wendy Stetson

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Amish, 303 pages

5*****

Blurb: Amish girls don’t dance. Dancing is against the rules, and Nora Beiler always follows the rules…until a runaway logging truck shatters her world forever. Desperate to heal from the accident, she enrolls in Shuffle off to Fitness, an exercise class at the local senior center. She never dreamed it involved tap-dancing…or just how much she’d love to dance. Exiled from Nashville, country music star Tucker McClure has no one to blame but himself. Weekly gigs at the local farmers’ market keep the demons at bay. The last thing he expects is to find himself in an old folks’ fitness class…dancing with a girl who makes him question everything he ever thought he wanted. Will the past drive Nora and Tucker apart? Or can love bridge the gap between hearts and worlds?

Thoughts: What a sweet story. And a different twist on the usual Amish romance. In this one, Nora Beiler has been in a bad accident that left her with a limp and in constant pain. When a doctor claims he can help her through a hip-replacement surgery, she doesn’t exactly jump at the chance, but she does go through with it. Afterwards, the doctor recommends physical therapy to help her regain strength, but the place for PT is too far for her to ride a bike and there’s no one to drive her. Instead, the doctor’s nurse sends her to a nearby senior center. When she gets there, she discovers that the recommended exercise is tap dancing. Amish girls definitely do not dance. And yet… the stretching and workouts do help her leg.

Then she meets Tucker McClure and he shatters everything in her life. Tucker is a country-western singer who is looking for fame. What he finds, is a beautiful widow with a 10-year-old daughter… who just happens to be Amish.

The two go through a lot of ups and downs and soul searching in their relationship. Nora comes very close to being shunned. And Tucker needs to decide whether to give up his dream, or give up the woman he loves.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended. This is a sweet romance that looks at the Amish/English relationship not just between two people, but between the societies as a whole. And there’s a HEA with a twist that satisfies completely (nope. Not going to give it away.) Read the book. You won’t be sorry.

Disclaimer: 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”

FISH IN A BARRELL (Fish Out of Water #7) by Amy Lane

Fiction, LGBTQ+, Crime/Mystery, Adult (18+) Spicy heat (345 pages) 

4****

Blurb: Jackson and Ellery face their toughest case yet—against the criminal justice system itself. Jackson Rivers and Ellery Cramer have worked difficult jobs before, but usually it’s getting the facts that’s the problem. For their newest client, the trouble isn’t finding the truth—it’s corruption at the highest levels of the justice system. It isn’t enough to find the actual perpetrator and unveil a heartless plot—not when the DA is the bad guy and he’s using cops as his goons. Keeping their vulnerable client alive and out of jail takes blood, sweat, and tears. When one of their major antagonists is killed and the DA tries to pin the death on Jackson, he’ll need every ounce of luck and all his resources to clear his name—and to find the perpetrator before the DA can use the murder to further his own agenda. They soon find that it’s easier to spot an honest man in a field of thieves than it is to shoot fish in a barrel—and both the man and the fish will be lucky to survive….

Thoughts: Wow. Strong crime books are not usually my thing. I prefer them lighter and cozier, but the author grabbed me, pulled me in with really good writing, and didn’t let go of me even after the story ended. That’s because she added some quick story bites after the story. Those were just fun and Interesting. 

First of all, the writing. Amy Lane is an amazing writer. Her characters, setting, plot… it all works together to make one amazing story. Jackson Rivers is a PI who has a rough background and is always getting hurt, much to his partner Ellery’s dismay. In this one, they are fighting corruption at the highest levels. Jackson gets badly injured (of course) and spends most of the story bleeding through his shirts and suits. The relationship between Ellery and Jackson is beautifully done. The emotions come through and you really feel for them. The best part of the story for me, was the old brown hauntedmini-van Jennifer. The way she helps them, lets them know her feelings. She was such a fun character!

What I didn’t like: I was really confused by some of the relationships in the story, but that’s only because I haven’t read any of the previous books. An issue I am going to immediately correct. The writing is that good. But I really suggest you start with the beginning books first. This does stand alone, but I think you’d get so much more out of it if you had more b ackground on the series.

Recommendation: Highly recommended. 

Disclaimer: 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”

September 17

Birthdays: William Carlos Williams (1883), John Creasey (1908), Elizabeth Enright (1909), Mary Stewart (1916), Bjorn Berg (1923), Robert B. Parker (1932), Ken Kesey (1935), Deena Metzger (1936), Carl Dennis (1939), Paul Goble (1945), Gail Carson Levine (1947), Jennifer Crusie (1949), Brian Andreas (1956), Cheryl Strayed (1968),

John Creasey was a prolific English crime and science fiction writer with over 600 books and at least 28 different pseudonyms.

William C. Williams actually wrote a book called “The Great American Novel”

Elizabeth Enright won a Newbery Medal for her book “Thimble Summer”

Mary Stewart is best known for her Merlin series including “The Crystal Cave”

Ken Kesey is best known for his novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

Carl Dennis won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for “Practical Gods”

Gail Levine received a Newbery Honor for her book “Ella Enchanted”

Quote: “Writing is part intuition and part trial and error, but mostly it’s very hard work.” – Cheryl Strayed

Tip: Finish the manuscript you’re working on, put it away for a week or more, then edit it, send it out…and then start on the next one!

Jumpstart: If you had one month to live, what would you do? What if it was a week? A day?

September 18

Birthdays: Samuel Johnson (1709), William March (1893), Christopher Ricks (1933), Richard Kluger (1934), Drew Gilpin Faust (1947), Lynn Abbey (1948), Anna Deavere Smith (1950), Steven Pinker (1954), Chris Hedges (1956)

Richard Kluger won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for “Ashes to Ashes”

Drew Faust was the first female president of Harvard. Her books have been finalists for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer.

Quote: “Ideas aren’t magical; the only tricky part is holding on to one long enough to get it written down. ” ― Lynn Abbey

“Thanks to the redundancy of language, yxx cxn xndxrstxnd whxt x xm wrxtxng xvxn xf x rxplxcx xll thx vxwxls wxth xn “x” (t gts lttl hrdr f y dn’t vn kn whr th vwls r)” ― steven pinker

“There are always people willing to commit unspeakable human atrocity in exchange for a little power and privilege.” ― Chris Hedges, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

Tip: When you get a contract (yay!), if you don’t have an agent, be sure you go over every clause carefully and ask about the ones you are unsure about. If nothing else, take it to a knowledgeable attorney and have them go over it for you.

Jumpstart: You’re remodeling your home, a place you’ve lived for at least a few years. While tearing out a wall, you find a skeleton…

September 19

Birthdays: Rachel Field (1894), William Golding (1911), Penelope Mortimer (1918), Damon Knight (1922), Ingrid Jonker (1933), Keorapetse Kgositsile (1938), Thomas H. Cook (1947), Tanith Lee (1947), Rebecca Skloot (1972), N.K. Jemison (1972), Gina Trapani (1975),

Rachel Field is best known for her Newbery Medal winner “Hitty, Her First Hundred Years”

William Golding won the Nobel Prize for Literature and is best known for his 1954 book “Lord of the Flies”

Thomas Cook won the 1996 Edgar Award for “The Chatham School Affair”

Rebecca Skloot is best known for her book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

Quote: “Growing up with a writer for a father influenced me and my work in many ways. My father really taught me how to see the world through a writer’s eyes, especially when it came to character development. When we went out to dinner, we would make reservations as the Howsers, and we’d spend our time making up stories for different people in the restaurant. It was a character development game—we’d talk in accents, invent detailed backstories, even dialogue for what they were saying during dinner.” – Rebecca Skloot

Tip: Make friends with your local bookseller by not just stopping in, but by purchasing books from them. Talk with them. Get to know them before you ask for a signing.

Jumpstart: I’ve never done anything like this. It’s not who I am. But today, I…

September 20

Birthdays: Charles Williams (1886), Donald Hall (1928), Arthur Geisert (1941), Jude Deveraux (1947), George R.R. Martin (1948), A.A. Attanasio (1951), Upton Sinclair (1968), Chris Mooney (1977),

Quote: “My advice to young poets is pretty standard—read the old people. Read the 17th century. Don’t just read 20th century. Sometimes you get the impression that people think that poetry began in 1984 or something. And read the old boys and revise. Revise endlessly.” – Donald Hall

“There are no new stories. It all depends on how you handle them. In romances the characters are going to fall in love with each other; you know that when you see the syrupy cover. It’s how you get there that’s the fun.” – Jude Devereaux

Tip: When creating a title, keep it short, use common words…and check online to make sure there aren’t thousands of other books out there with your title.

Jumpstart: You’re playing an online game that gets successively harder, but you stick with it…and win. The next thing you know, the FBI knocks on your door and say you have to come with them…

September 21

Birthdays: H.G. Wells (1866), Leonard Cohen (1934), Fannie Flagg (1944), Kay Ryan (1945), Stephen King (1947), Marsha Norman (1947), Kelley Eskridge (1960), Samantha Power (1970), Sarah Rees Brennan (1983)

H.G. Wells is best known as the “Father of Science Fiction”

Kay Ryan was the US Poet Laureate from 2008-2010

Samantha Power won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction for “A Problem from Hell”

Quote: “Strangely enough, the first character in Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe was the café, and the town. I think a place can be as much a character in a novel as the people.” – Fannie Flagg

“Before I was published, I really had no idea what  being published entailed: how suddenly I would have to learn, and come to care passionately about, covers and distributions and awards and what hills to die on when you’re editing and how to coax marketing departments and promotional items, and so much else I never dreamed of. It’s like a life-long apprenticeship: you keep on learning. Be ready for the learning!” – Sarah Rees Brennan

Tip: Put together a media kit for when your book is published. This should contain cover art, blurbs, author bio, excerpts, buy links and personal links. Anything you think someone might want for the purpose of promoting your work.

Jumpstart: Write ten of the best pickup lines. Then ten of the worst. Which one would your character use? Write a situation where they use one and the result.

September 22

Birthdays: Alice Meynell (1847), Esphyr Slobodkina (1908), Rosamunde Pilcher (1924),Fay Weldon (1931), Jo Beverley (1947), Elizabeth Bear (1971),

Esphyr Slobodknina is best known for her classic children’s book “Caps for Sale”

Quote: “Fiction stretches our sensibilities and our understanding, as mere information never can.” – Fay Weldon

Tip: Beware of overusing profanity in your story. A few words here and there are okay, but not every sentence. You’ll risk turning off more readers than you’ll gather.

Jumpstart: You’ve been stuck in meetings all morning and are starving. When you get back to your desk, you find a plate of cookies there with a note that says: for emergencies only. Do you eat them? What kind are they? Who sent them?

September 23

Birthdays: Euripides (480 BC), Emmuska Orczy (1865), Jaroslav Seifert (1901), Anne Desclos (1907), Jerry B. Jenkins (1949), Bruce Brooks (1950), Peter David (1956), Jennie Shortridge (1959), Frank Cottrell Boyce (1959), Bill Phillips (1964), Justine Larbalestier (1967), Wesley Chu (1976),

Jaroslav Seifert won the 1 984 Nobel Prize for Literature for his poetry.

Emmuska Orczy is best known for her books on “The Scarlet Pimpernel”

Quote: “Do not despair when you are rejected. Welcome to the club. There isn’t a writer in the world who hasn’t been rejected. Many, many times.” – Justine Larbalestier

Tip: Different genres usually have different lengths. For instance, category romances tend to be around 60,000 words while a high fantasy can be 110,000 or more. Like everything, there are exceptions to this, but in general, check the standard word lengths for what you’re writing.

Jumpstart: You’ve just won a three-minute shopping spree at your favorite store. Where do you go and what do you buy?

September 24

Birthdays: Horace Walpole (1717), F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896), Robert Lewis Taylor (1912), John Brunner (1934), Eavan Boland (1944), David Drake (1945), John Kessel (1950), Richard K. Morgan (1965), Eleanor Catton (1985),

Robert Tayloer won the 1959 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters”

John Brunner won the 1968 Hugo Award for “Stand on Zanzibar”

Quote: “All fine prose is based on the verbs carrying the sentences. They make sentences move.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tip: Figure out the GMC (goal, motivation, conflict) in your story. Every story should have this. In fact, each scene should have this. Try: (who) wants (what) because (why) but s/he can’t because (why not). For instance: Dorothy wants to go home because there’s no place like home but can’t because she needs to defeat the wicked witch and learns running away doesn’t help.

Jumpstart: “I’d never have done that with you if I’d known…”

KAI’S HEALING SMILES by Vivi Anne Hunt

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ+, 201 Pages

3***.  Steamy heat level (5+)

BLURB: Silas is mourning the loss of his wife. Every day, he is going through the motions and barely managing to keep the excruciating pain from overtaking his life. There is precisely one ray of sunshine in his days — Kai — the smiley, awkward barista at Starbucks. For some reason, Silas finds comfort being around Kai and soaks up as much light as this sweet boy could give him. For the short time Kai has worked at Starbucks, he has secretly watched one man from afar, hoping that one day he would notice him back. He looks all mature, business-like, and always sad. One day Kai finally gets the chance to speak to him. And this is where their story begins. Will Silas be able to let go of the past and start fresh? And will Kai be able to heal the gloomy man with his smiles?
Tropes: age gap, hurt comfort, Daddy/boy kink
Content warnings: mature sexual content and language
Trigger warnings: sexual assault, grief

Thoughts: This was a very well-written story with great characters who came across as being real. The emotions pulled at you and the conflicts added to the overall feel of the story. 

What I liked: The characters. Kai Is sweet and a bit naïve. May is a hoot. Silas is broken, but on the mend and Wes is a good friend. They all blend together, along with others who come into their circle, to make an interesting blend—just like in real life. They are messy and broken and have problems and don’t always do the right thing at the right time, but so is everyone else in real life.

Silas’s grief over losing his wife is real. Then Kai comes into his life and he finally stars to heal. Their relationship starts off slow and builds in a realistic fashion that works.

What I didn’t like: The whole “daddy” thing was off-putting for me. And that’s a personal issue. I just didn’t care for that aspect of Silas and Kai’s relationship. 

Recommendation: If you are okay with the tropes and high heat level, then get this one. It’s a good story with a satisfying ending that will leave you smiling.

Disclaimer: 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”

ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King

Fiction, YA, 272 pages

5************!!!!!

Blurb: Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. Everyone in town knows and fears Ms. Laura Samuel Sett. She is the town watchdog, always on the lookout for unsavory words and the unsavory people who use them. She is also Mac’s sixth-grade teacher. Mac and his friends are outraged when they discovered that their class copies of Jane Yolen’s THE DEVIL’S ARITHMETIC have certain works blacked out. Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong, so he and his friends head to the principal’s office to protest the censorship. Her response isn’t reassuring — so the protest grows.

Thoughts: This was an amazing book that all adults should read. It’s aimed at YA readers (the main characters are in sixth grade), but I think kids “get it” while adults don’t. Especially those who are trying to get books censored or banned.

Mac and his friends are assigned Jane Yolen’s “The Devil’s Arithmetic” to read, but a lot of the words are blacked out In the books with black marker. They go to the library to find the “uncensored” book but can’t find It there so they head to an Independent bookstore where they find—and read—what is missing. And thus starts their fight. 

This is a book about censorship and book banning. It’s also about PTSD and family issues. It’s about life today. Censorship and banning of books is wrong. You hae the right to read what you want, as do I. But you do NOT have the right to tell me what I can read. Freedom of speech is a basic tenet of our constitution and as such, book banning and censorship is wrong. 

Recommendation: I sincerely wish every adult would read this book as well as kids. Unfortunately, the people who *should* read it, won’t. But please, do yourself a favor and realize what this book is about and fight against censorship.

PEG AND ROSE SOLVE A MURDER by Laurien Berenson

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, 304 pages

3***

Blurb: Murder, She Wrote meets The Golden Girls in the award-winning author’s brand-new series! Two cantankerous septuagenarians, opposites in every way, put aside their differences to stop a killer… if they don’t throttle each other first! Rose Donovan looks for the good in everyone. With her sister-in-law, Peg, that sometimes requires a lot of searching. Even a sixty-something former nun like Rose has her limits, and gruff Peg Turnbull sure knows how to push them. But after forty years of bickering, they’re attempting to start over, partnering up to join the local bridge club. Peg and Rose barely have a chance to celebrate their first win before one of the club’s most accomplished players is killed in his home. As the newest members, the sisters-in-law come under scrutiny and decide to start some digging of their own. Bridge is typically seen as a wholesome pastime, yet this group of senior citizens harbors a wealth of vices, including gambling, cheating, and adultery . . . By comparison, Peg and Rose’s fractious relationship is starting to feel almost functional. But as their suspect list narrows, they’re unaware that their logic has a dangerous flaw. And they’ll have to hope that their teamwork holds steady when they’re confronted by a killer who’s through with playing games.

Thoughts: If you love dogs, you’re going to love this story. Peg raises standard poodles (for show), and is now a judge. I learned more than I ever knew about being a judge. But even though her dogs (and any dog) are a big part of the story, the card game Bridge is even stronger. 

Which is kind of why the story didn’t work well for me. I am not a dog person (cats for me) and all the information about grooming and everything that goes into a dog show made the book read a little too slow for me. Plus, I know nothing about the card game Bridge. Pinochle, Poker, and other games, yes, but not Bridge. I honestly skimmed over a lot of this because it just did not interest me. 

But the murder mystery? And the conflict between Peg and her sister-in-law Rose? That was interesting. Peg and Rose worked with each other and fought each other and actually—eventually—almost got along with each other. And solved the mystery together. As characters, they were wonderful. They were older, stubborn, with their own ways of doing things that clashed with the other. Perfect conflict. And in the end, they actually grew as people and characters. Very well done.

Recommendation: This is a well-done cozy mystery with a satisfying ending involving two older women who don’t work well together—until they do. If you like dogs and Bridge, you’ll get even more out of this story than I did. A bit slow for me at times, but overall a decent story.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the publisher for this ARC. 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”