Review: The Bleed-Through Effect

REVIEW: THE BLEED-THROUGH EFFECT by Amy DaSilva

Fiction, Science Fiction

4****

Blurb: Amidst a complex web of love, betrayal, and the quest for power, morality is tested, and two soulmates must face the consequences of choices they make across multiple lives.
Charlotte and Simon are ready to move on with their lives after dismantling the black-ops agency known as Quantym. But when Charlotte begins suffering from nightmares and disturbing visions, she fears events on the Periphery—her parallel life—are impacting her and she’s suffering consequences of the bleed-through effect. In a dual timeline between the main reality and the Periphery, Charlotte and Simon must confront the blurred lines between strength and weakness, love and loyalty, and their past and future. As they struggle to regain control over their lives, a catastrophic secret is revealed, a vengeful lover on a quest for power closes in, and Charlotte must figure out a way forward…even when the past refuses to let go.

THOUGHTS: This is the perfect sequel to the first book “Periphery”. Like the first one in the duology, this one involves Charlotte, Simon, and Jared—Charlotte’s dead husband. Or is he? The black ops company Quantym is not as defunct as Charlotte and Simon think it is and Jared and his father, Mitch, are after Charlotte in multiple universes because of her ability to understand and manipulate the multi-verses.

Like the first book, the characters are well-crafted and you find yourself hoping for a good outcome for Charlotte and Simon while wanting the demise of Jared and Mitch. There is a lot that goes on here and you have to pay attention to all the twists and turns or you’ll forget which one of the universes you’re in and what’s going on in each. Yes, it can be a challenging read, but the writing is so vivid that you’ll be engaged in the story. And there’s a satisfying ending that lets you know everything is going to be okay for Charlotte and Simon.

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”

Review: Hunks of the Month

HUNKS OF THE MONTH by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, M/M, LGBTQ+

4****

Blurb: Former fashion photographer Sterling Vaughn reached the pinnacle of his profession only to have his life and heart come crashing down around him. Now he’s attempting to rebuild his life as a portrait photographer in the town where he grew up. Connor Hillyard is proud of his Scottish ancestry and dresses accordingly. The civic-minded college history professor has spent more of his life collecting degrees than experience. His only family is his sometimes matchmaking great-aunt Lucille, who thinks nothing of pulling him into her community gardening projects. When Lucille needs a photographer for a calendar project to save her failing garden club, she recruits Sterling, who ropes Connor in as a model. Their eye-opening hunky gay calendar pulls the two men closer together. But just as things get interesting between them, the calendar polarizes the town, threatening to pull Sterling back into the high-profile world of fashion and away from the man who brought his heart back to life.

THOUGHTS: Who doesn’t love a gorgeous man in a kilt? When Sterling meets Connor at Connor’s aunt’s home, his interest goes zing. But Sterling is starting his life over after a bad breakup that also doused his career as a fashion photographer. Now, he takes senior pictures of high school kids. Then Lucille, Connor’s aunt, talks him into doing a calendar to promote her community garden club. But they don’t want just any calendar. They want to do one with hunky men (mostly gay) holding flowers. With Connor’s help, they get the couples needed and Sterling manages to talk Connor into doing a month – then Connor turns the tables and makes sure Sterling does it with him. Meanwhile, the connection between the two grows hot and heavy.

The story is fun to read and the conflicts keep the action moving. And there’s a HEA ending that satisfies.

Recommended.

Review: Rocky Road to Murder

ROCKY ROAD TO MURDER by Lena Gregory

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Danika Delaney is thrilled that her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, has gotten a catering contract for the biggest party of the season, the Rutherford Manor Fourth of July gala. She’ll be providing desserts for the party as well as attending the exclusive event on Eastern Long Island. However her path to the gala quickly becomes a rocky road… Dani arrives at the event, only to find the gala’s hostess, Cressida Rutherford, dead! What’s worse, one of Dani’s signature parfaits sits next to the dead woman, with what looks like peanuts in it—a food Cressida is severely allergic to. Amid the melted ice cream mess, Dani initially blames herself, thinking she made a mistake while rushing with the desserts. However she quickly learns that what appeared to be an accident was actually foul play, and suddenly Dani has to spring into action proving that she isn’t the perpetrator. Along with her friends, Dani uncovers a string of people in Cressida’s life who might have wanted the socialite dead. Can she prove her innocence and make sure the killer gets their just desserts?

THOUGHTS: This is the sixth book in the “Coffee and Cream” series of cozy mysteries. They take place in a small town on Long Island. Dani (Danika Delaney) runs a small ice cream parlor that once belonged to her Uncle Jimmy (who still works there a lot). Dani, along with her best friends Gwen and Eli, have helped solve several murders in their small town, and now they’re working to do so again—this time because Dani is being accused. When her boyfriend/cop Jake takes her out of the café in handcuffs, the town gossip tongues really start wagging – and her family takes offense. You do not rile the Delaney family! In this one, an heiress, Cressida, has been killed at her own party. In digging into the people who might have done the deed, a lot of dirt is dug up on family and friends. Dani, Gwen, and Eli sift through it all, giving what clues they come up with to the police and, eventually, solving the case. But not without danger to themselves.

I love Dani and her family and friends. Dani may make incredible desserts, but she is incredibly inept when it comes to coordination—especially when trying to do yoga on a boogie board in the middle of the bay. I love how her entire family rallies around her and how Uncle Jimmie defends her against the gossips. There were a few nits in the story that confused me, but overall, this was a fun, decent cozy with a satisfying ending. I look forward to more stories about Dani and crew.

Recommended.

Review: First Time’s a Yarn

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal (ghosts)

5*****

Blurb: Breezy Marston is almost 30 and doing her best to re-rail her derailed life plan. After losing the job she thought she would hold until she was old and decrepit, her best friend, Ammyleigh, throws out an idea for them to start their own business making homemade crochet items. As they are working on getting that off the ground, Breezy gets a phone call that she has to go pick up her youngest sibling, Oona, who is 15 and getting released early from juvie. Now, she is expected to be responsible for Oona in all areas of work, school, and home life. Then she also ends up with Juniper, Oona’s friend from juvie. More expectations. After they find Juniper’s ex-boyfriend and his older brother dead, Russian bad guys start chasing them, Breezy finds out she is some kind of “sleeper agent” for a government experiment, and, oh, she can talk with ghosts. Can she and her group figure out who killed the two boys before an angry Russian or ghost gets to her first?

THOUGHTS: I loved this story! I was expecting your standard cozy, but this is so much more. From the main character being part of a secret government experiment earlier in her life that lets her see ghosts, to the digital coding (and learning new words about it!) and the Russian mafia. She starts a business doing crochet and pulls in her best friend, juvie sister (Oona), sister’s friend (Jasmine), and the elderly Mary’s from the local church to help. Her brother is a cop and his partner is a hunk (of course). They find Jasmine’s boyfriend and his brother dead and the fun (not!) begins. There really is a lot going on in this story (loved the hidden basement!) and I can definitely see more books coming for Breezy and her “team”. This one has a satisfying ending with a surprise twist. Yes, it all may be a bit much for some people, but I really did enjoy this. And the crochet pattern at the end is a bonus. Definitely going to try that one.

Recommended.

Review: Hollywood Scandals

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

3***

Blurb: Tina Bender is the gossip columnist at the infamous L.A. Informer tabloid. She knows everything about everyone who’s anyone. And she’s not afraid to print it. That is, until she receives a threatening note, promising, “If you don’t stop writing about me, you’re dead.” Teaming with a built bodyguard, a bubbly blonde, and an alcoholic obituary writer, Tina sets out to uncover just which juicy piece of Hollywood gossip is worth killing over.

THOUGHTS: This started out fun with great characters that sometimes made me laugh–or wince. Tina is a gossip column writer for a Hollywood paper. She has a lot of “friends” (i.e. informants) and a lot of enemies. When she gets a death threat, the paper hires a bodyguard for her. One she doesn’t want–but the guy is a hunk, so maybe she can deal. And she lives with her elderly aunt who is a bit…challenging. And an elderly neighbor who complains a lot. When her neighbor is killed in Tina’s home, things get real for Tina.

The storyline was decent, the characters really fun, and the ending really good. But…the spelling, grammatical, timeline issues in the book really stopped me cold more than a few times. And that’s what cut the number of stars. I was tempted to give it a 2, but I really did like the ending, though I will say it was a total surprise because we weren’t given any idea of this possibility early in the story.

Recommended with reservations.

Review: The Librarians

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

3***

Blurb: Murder disrupts the peaceful, predictable daily routine of life for four quirky librarians who must protect their life-altering secrets in the first contemporary mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge…. In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too. Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won’t be enough anymore. When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together…. All in a day’s work.

THOUGHTS: The librarian in me was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I had trouble getting into the story. The only saving grace for me was the ending. This story takes place in a small branch library in Austin, TX. There are four librarians: Sophie (branch manager), Hazel (brand new to the library), Jonathan (big guy librarian, ex-football player), and Astrid (librarian). Each one has secrets of their own that they are reluctant to share, but when a murder happens that ties the library to it, they have to come clean.

Honestly, with all the different POVs, this reminded me a little of the movie “Clue”. We learn all about each one, and about their secrets, and why they kept such secrets. They band together to help each other and to help solve the mystery.

It’s an “okay” book, but not one I’d read again. It’s not bad, it’s just not great.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher 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”

Review: Death by Dark Roast

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, British

4****

Blurb: The annual Charleton House Food Festival is about to begin. But the first item on the menu is murder… Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is bludgeoned to death with the portafilter of a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases. Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value? Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head. Fans of T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love Death By Dark Roast. Join Sophie and the Charleton House team for a festival of coffee, cake and crime.

THOUGHTS: this was a very British cozy mystery set in a Duke’s “castle”. During a food festival held on the grounds of the estate, there is a theft, and a murder. Sophie is the manager of the three cafes on the grounds and is a coffee addict. There are two competing coffee companies in attendance. Sophie’s preference is the one run by two sisters. But when one of the men in the other mobile unit is found murdered, they become suspects—as well as several other people. And Sophie is determined to figure out who did it.

This is a good start to the series. There are plenty of twists and turns and a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

Review: A Poison Manicure & Peach Liqueur

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: It’s Christmas in Danger Cove, and all Cassidi Conti wants is clients. A rival salon owner has come to town and stolen The Clip and Sip’s business. Her holiday hopes go south, however, after someone sexes up the sleigh display at her open house, and an incident from the past makes the paper. Luckily, her tough talkin’ Texan aunt rides to her rescue, and she’s madder ‘n The Grinch in a gift shop. But when a nail client drops dead at her rival’s salon, and the killer sends unseasonal greetings to The Clip and Sip, Cassidi wonders whether an entire Texas cavalry could save her from the impending disaster. She has to act fast to figure out who the manicure murderer is, or her Noël could be nixed—forever.

THOUGHTS: The Sip & Clip is in trouble again – or rather, Cassidi and Gia are. They’re losing business to the new upscale salon in Danger Cove, run by Ivy Li. When Ivy’s latest client ends up dead right outside the salon, fingers point to her, but she manages to place the blame directly on Cassidi and Gia. Enter Cassidi’s aunt, Magnolia, in all her rootin-tootin-gun-totin’ glory, along with her Ouija board, her pink Cadillac (with Texas longhorn horns on the front) and her passion for contacting the spirit of Barry Manilow. From him, she gets hints of what’s going on.

And there’s a lot. Murder, blackmail, treasure hunting, and more—all at Christmas time. I loved Magnolia! She was a hoot. But Gia was starting to get to me with her Jersey girl guff. Her over-the-top actions got a little old after a while. And our favorite (not!) cop, Detective Marshall, is back and ready to arrest whoever the wrong person is (usually Cassidi).

The mystery was good (though I knew the perp from almost the beginning), the characters well done, and a satisfying ending that was a hoot.

Recommended.

Review: The Magic of Death

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: Witches, Murder, and Ghosts, oh my!
Welcome to Dead End, Texas, a tourist town where it’s spooky season all year long… Star Bell comes from a long line of witches originating all the way back to Salem—if her granny is to be believed. While the rest of her family employs their magical abilities in their assorted businesses on Main Street, Star flat out refuses to use her own because communicating with the dearly departed has never brought her anything but trouble. And the one spirit she wants to talk to—her sister Astra—has ghosted her. So why bother? And if that’s not enough for an almost forty-year-old to deal with, she’s living with three generations of Bells. Between her sixty-year-old aunt who is acting like a teenager and her teenage niece who isn’t acting much like herself, Star doesn’t have a moment of peace these days. But when her niece becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, Star must embrace her power and enlist the spirits of Dead End to help find the real killer before she becomes a permanent resident of Dead End herself.

THOUGHTS: This was an intense, but fun paranormal cozy mystery. Star is the main character and she can see and talk to ghosts. Which can be both good and bad. She also gets visions – ones that, in this case, show events that happened years ago but lead to the recent killings in their small town of Dead End. There are a lot of corruptions and secrets abound throughout. Star’s family is quirky and interesting in that they are witches. Star uses her gift/curse to help her discover the killer(s), but nearly ends up being a victim herself.

The story plot was intriguing and had a satisfying end. The characters well done, and the scene setting fit the story. What the story needed though was better editing. There were quite a few glitches throughout, but that didn’t lower my enjoyment of the story.

Recommended.

Spotlight: Between Today and Someday

Series: The Wonder of Wildflowers

Author: Ann M. Trader

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Steamy, Strong Language

Blurb: Blurb: Prim Vreeland is an emergency department nurse, and after a string of disappointing relationships, her own heart needs life support. On a leap of faith, she moves home and is surprised when her brother’s best friend—and her secret childhood crush—has the same idea. As attraction sparks, she finds her usual steady footsteps treading on quicksand. Sportfishing media influencer Chase Bova realizes it’s time to swap life on the road for hometown roots. When he crosses paths with Prim, she tangles his line, tying it in knots. Her charm reminds him why he’d steered clear of her years ago…and should probably do the same now. As their irresistible connection turns into romance, questions of honesty and commitment linger. Will Prim and Chase dig deep for the courage to face their past and together, discover what really lies between today and someday?

Buy link: Books2Read Universal Link

Author Bio: I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring recipes on the lighter side of southern comfort foods. I’m a member of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, and I love relaxing on my back porch to read and write. These days I take walks around my neighborhood, but when I was sixteen, I hiked the Grand Canyon with a group of friends. I love watching television dramas (in no special order) Palm Royale, The Buccaneers, The Bear, 1923, Emily in Paris, Outlander, Shrinking, Shogun, Bridgertons, Outer Banks, Stranger Things, The Crown, and Peaky Blinders and reading a great romance book.

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