Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Humor

4****

Blurb: Merry Wrath’s hometown of Who’s There, Iowa may be a nice, if quirky, place to live, but it’s also the murder capital of Iowa—a fact that’s somewhat known only regionally. But all that’s about to change, when a film crew with murder on its mind arrives in town to make a documentary. The team aren’t killers themselves, but they are a bit too eager that a death will happen around the murder-adjacent, ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout Leader, Merry. Only when a dead body finally does show up, Merry can’t get anyone in town to believe the man didn’t die of natural causes. It doesn’t help that the documentary’s focus on Detective Rex Ferguson’s 100% solve rate changes when a rumor starts that a major streaming studio is interested. Then every kook in town wants in on the action, and the film crew starts looking into some very fictional reenactments that include explosives. Things get worse when an anonymous family member of the victim shows up to claim the body for immediate cremation, and Merry realizes that she’s running out of time to solve a murder…before everything blows up in her face.

THOUGHTS: Here we go again with another murder in weird and wacky Who’s There, Iowa. This time, Merry discovers a body that for appearances seems to be a natural death. Which is a problem for the documentary film crew that is following her and her husband Rex around. but Merry thinks something is wrong with the body and it is only through her pushing that they discover that the man was actually murdered. While trying to hold the film crew in check, deal with the over-enthusiastic teenage mayor and council, she actually does figure everything out. This is an insanely funny series of cozy mysteries with unbelievable characters and situations that boggle the imagination.

If you don’t mind weird characters and even weirder situations, pick this series up – but be prepared to completely suspend your belief in anything sane or believable.

Recommended.

Blurb: Elfie Paulsen reluctantly returns to her hometown in Wisconsin when her sister Juliana disappears, leaving their teenage sister Reagan alone. As Elfie investigates the woman’s disappearance, she realizes how little she knows about either sister or her estranged father. She expects assistance from Vincent, who is an old friend, as well as her father, but she finds both are more intent on protecting their own secrets. Every step closer to the truth leads Elfie to believe Juliana didn’t leave voluntarily, putting her and Reagan in the crosshairs of a killer which may cost them their lives.

Author Bio: Mystery and suspense author Cynthia Rice is a physician living in the Milwaukee area and a proud member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Her debut novel, The Last Broken Girl, is set in rural Wisconsin where she has strong ties. The novel won the 2023 Claymore Award in the category of suspense. When she’s not working on her next novel (or plotting her next murder), Cynthia keeps busy reading, traveling, and playing mediocre golf and tennis.

Social Links:

email:  cynthiarice.author@gmail.com

website:  cynthiaarice.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CynthiaRice22

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/cynthiarice.author/

Buying Link:

Order your copy of The Last Broken Girl through your favorite independent bookstore, or Amazon, Barnes and Noble and just about everywhere else. 

https://mybook.to/CynthiaRice

Fiction, Paranormal Contemporary Romance

5*****

Blurb: Something in the Water? Marnie Somerset’s new job at the Mystic Springs Library seems almost too good to be true. Yes, the small Alabama town is populated with more than its share of odd people, and she did have a flat tire on her way into town and hallucinate Bigfoot crossing the road, which made for less than a stellar start. But the library is fantastic, her new house is charming, and the hot local writer keeps crossing her path. In more ways than one. Clint Maxwell is drawn to the new librarian, even though he knows getting involved with someone from outside Mystic Springs would be a very bad idea. Marnie’s not a Springer, and she won’t last long in a town awash with magic. Still, when she’s threatened he feels compelled to protect her. Is she meant to be his? Is this the woman he’s been waiting for?

Thoughts: This was a good paranormal romance. And the first one I’ve read with Bigfoot as the hero. But the author did such a good job with building the world, that it works and works well.

In this one, Marnie is a librarian who was “downsized” from her job when another one pops up in an ad. Before she knows it, she is headed for Mystic Springs as the new head (and only) librarian. Then things get really strange. On her way there, she has a flat tire – and swears she saw Bigfoot. And the people in the small town—quite a few of them—aren’t exactly friendly to her. Except for a few, like Susan, who invited her there, and Eve, who runs the local diner, and then there’s Clint. A lumberjack-type man who captures her interest, and her heart.

All is definitely not as it seems in the mystical small town, but there is a HEA that satisfies for the romantics at heart.

Recommended.

Blurb: Hailey Langley tries to wrap her mind around the news her husband survived a fire she thought had killed him. Before she can search for him, Hailey has a promise to keep that takes her to Colombia where she must face the drug lord behind her husband’s attack. Mark Langley is suffering from his own plight and insecurities, including burns and PTSD. Beneath Mark’s scarred exterior is a man seeking acceptance from a wife he refuses to see. Uncertain if he will ever reunite with his family, Mark struggles through his therapies, hopeful an experimental drug from the Euphoria plant will heal his scars. When another villain from Colombia seeks revenge, Hailey and Mark must learn to trust and love again as they battle their newest threat and find their way back to each other.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Euphoria-C-Becker-ebook/dp/B0DSG8XQ3X

B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/1146791353

BAM:  https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259809

The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/embracing-euphoria/

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/pt/book/embracing-euphoria/id6740242033

Kobo: https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=9781509259809

IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/22206508

Bio—C. Becker is a romance suspense writer, musician, and lover of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and worked in the clinical hospital setting until she began raising a family. As her children grew older, she never outgrew the attraction of using science in everyday life. She turned to teaching, music, and eventually to writing stories. She considers herself a “jack of all trades,” and readily admits she is a “master of none.” Yes, she even does home improvement projects! Becker has published three romance suspense novels in the Euphoria trilogy, several poems, and over a dozen children’s books (under Colleen Driscoll). Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, traveling, and gardening.

Social Links:

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19026691.C_Becker

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-becker

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

Webpage_   https://cbeckerauthor.wixsite.com/cbeckerauthor

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

Twitter  https://x.com/cbeckerauthor

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

HOW TO BE LESS SOCIALLY ANXIOUS by Megan Ashley Smith

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Mental Health

4****

Blurb: Feeling overwhelmed at social events or struggling with overthinking and making conversation? You’re not alone. This offers practical advice to help you navigate these challenges. Written in clear, accessible language, this book provides actionable solutions and tools that you can apply to everyday situations. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, improve your communication skills, or simply feel more comfortable around others, this guide supports you every step of the way.

Thoughts: This is a good book for anyone who is challenged by social anxiety. The author explains what it is in clear writing that show you that you are not alone, and that there are ways to cope. There are exercises like breathing exercises and using mental imagery to help diffuse the anxiety along with acronyms that make the exercises easy to remember – like SPARK that helps you with what to say in awkward situations. CLEAR helps you challenge and overcome your inner critic.

The book is easy to read, short, and with a lot of practical exercises to help you learn to cope.

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” Thanks to Zeitgeist @Penguin Randomhouse for providing this book.

@penguinrandomhouse #partner

SKYLAR ROBBINS: THE MYSTERY OF THE HIDDEN JEWELS by Carrie Cross

Fiction, YA Cozy Mystery

Blurb: A deserted mansion perches on a steep hillside, overlooking a rocky canyon. Tattered curtains hang behind broken windows, and a turret stretches toward the sky. Three years ago the wealthy owner disappeared suddenly, leaving behind a house full of secrets: A mysterious note, tantalizing clues, a hidden floor, one piece of a treasure map, and a missing fortune in diamonds. Thirteen-year-old sleuth Skylar Robbins moves into the mansion with her parents and embarks on a new and dangerous mission. Armed with her detective kit, and with the support of her BFF Alexa and a team of secret agents, Skylar sets out to decipher the clues and find the diamonds. Can she outwit a gang of aggressive bikers and find the hidden jewels before they do? Or will the perils of middle school–like battling ruthless bully Emelyn Peters for the attention of class hottie Dustin Coles–get in her way?

Thoughts: This was a fun read that I really enjoyed. Any young teen who enjoys a good mystery will love this one. Skylar is a 13-year-old girl who loves solving mysteries (thanks to her detective grandfather). Her parents buy a ramshackle mansion that once belonged to an heiress whose last words were that anyone who is brave enough to follow the clues will find her jewels – so that is what Skylar sets out to do, even when faced with a gang of thugs who are out to beat her to the jewels.

I loved that her best friend is challenged (dyslexia) and how Sky helps her out (and she helps Sky). In addition to the mystery, there’s the usual teen angst with bullies, hunky guys, and a big dance coming up.

I’m really looking forward to more from this author.
Definitely recommended.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST CHARM by Lillie Vale

YA, Romance, Fantasy, Lesbian, LGBT, Contemporary

4****

Blurb: The occasionally magic, always superstitious town of Prior’s End is famous for three. Whimsical charm at the annual Fall Festival. The legend of the wishing well hidden in a forest bristling with secrets. And Nova Marwood’s missing hiker father. Every year without him, it gets easier to pretend Nova doesn’t believe in myth and magic. Easier to pretend she’s doing okay. Easier to pretend she doesn’t have a secret crush on the girl she fake-hates. Kiara Mistry is the luckiest girl in town and the thief of every crush Nova had her heart set on first. In theory, Nova should resent Kiara. But it’s getting harder to deny her feelings. When Nova lays an unintended hex on Kiara at the Fall Festival, and one misfortune after another swiftly follows, soon Kiara’s very survival at stake. To reverse the bad luck, Kiara’s exes turned BFFs commence a quest for the miraculous wishing well. There’s only one person who can get them there . . . Nova. But to save Kiara—and maybe find her dad, too—she’ll have to believe in something much stronger than magic. Nova will need to believe in herself.

Thoughts: This is a story about love, grief, family, magic, and believing in yourself. There are definitely issues that the characters have that work well for the age of them (17). I will say that Nova seemed like a brat more often than not, but I understood her issues. She lost her father when she was ten to the forest. He went into the magical forest to search for his friend and never came out again. This story takes place on the 7th anniversary of his disappearance as Nova’s mother, on the advice of her psychic friend, is about to declare him dead. In addition to that problem, Nova has feelings (that she denies) for the perfect Kiara. When Nova pretends to be the psychic one evening, she hexes Kiara to have problems.

Words have power, as Nova finds out. Could she also be responsible for the disappearance of her father?

The only way to undo the hex is to find the mysterious well deep in the forest and wish her hex undone. But which hex should she undo? The one for Kiara? Or for her father? Because you only get one wish.

This is a story with a lot of depth. With nastiness, and goodness, with lies and truths, and with difficult decisions that could change a life.

Recommended.

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

UP IN FLAMES by Andrew Grey

Contemporary Romance, M/M, Gay

4****

Blurb: Newly minted firefighter Chase Van Casten had his heart ripped to shreds and is just getting it put back together.  He’s always seen things others missed, except for matters of the heart, and on his first fire call on his new job in Carlisle PA, something just doesn’t feel right.  But the other firefighters don’t believe him.  It isn’t until a second fire that Chase is able to say for sure that they are being set, and the only person willing to listen is the homeowner. Jerrod Whipkey lost everything he owned when his home burned. The cause of the fire, faulty wiring.  As an electrician, he had checked it over thoroughly, and now he’s in danger of losing his reputation along with everything else.  Jerrod believes that Chase is on to something, but neither of them are sure exactly what. Chase and Jerrod spent time together trying to figure out the true case of the fires and along the way, heat builds to white hot between them.  But while Chase keeps Jerrod at arm’s length, the arsonist now seems to have both of them in their sights.  They have to figure a way forward with their hearts intact and uncover the arsonist before they get themselves burned.

Thoughts: Like the other book in the series, this is set in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I love being able to say “I know that place” as the characters take us around the town. There’s enough detail so you know where you are, and even if you don’t know the town, you’ll get a good idea of the setting. The characters are realistic and believable, as are the problems they face.

In this one, Jerrod is an electrician who is raising his 4-year-old nephew. A fire occurs at their house and Chase, a new fireman, saves the little boy, giving him an introduction to the family. As he’s trying to help Jerrod out, he discovers that an arsonist is responsible for the fire, as well as several others around town. Someone is out to get rid of Jerrod and Chase can’t have that. The two work together with the police and investigators to figure out what’s going on and how to stop it before the fires turn deadly. Meanwhile Jerrod and Chase grow closer to forming a family of three.

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”

PUZZLED 4 MURDER by J.C. Eaton

Cozy Mystery, Jigsaw Puzzles

4****

Blurb: Soaring temperatures and a giant jigsaw puzzle combine to form a picture of murder . . . It’s a blistering hot summer in Sun City West, and members of the retirement community are happy to escape into the air-conditioned bliss of the library to work on a mammoth forty-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle. But things begin heating up inside, too, when members clash with the domineering head of the puzzle committee over which puzzle to solve—until someone settles the matter by killing her. Now it’s up to Sophie “Phee” Kimball to put all the pieces of the murder plot together and catch the culprit responsible. Any number of the jigsaw aficionados could have wanted the victim out of the picture for her personality alone, but Phee suspects there was a more sinister motive behind the murder. Then the chosen puzzle and the library itself are struck by one instance of sabotage after another, and Phee’s convinced that someone is sending a menacing message. But just as she unearths a telling clue and slots it into place, she finds herself in a race against time to finish the puzzle and solve the case—before the killer goes to pieces and finishes her off too . . .

Thoughts: Sophie (Phee) works as an accountant for a private investigator–whose team seems to do more investigating than the local cops do! This is the 14th book in this series, and it’s no less fun than the others. It takes place in Sun City West – a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. In this one, the committee of seniors are putting together a 40,000 piece mega-puzzle that will be featured in a magazine at the end of the summer. Unfortunately, things keep happening to prevent them from finishing the puzzle–an old picture of a street in Phoenix. The lead committee member is found dead, pieces of the puzzle go missing or are defaced, and members receive threatening letters.

It’s up to Phee, her husband (a P.I.) and the rest of the team to decipher exactly what is happening and why, but it takes Phee’s mother’s irritating dog to get to the final answer.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing 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: Annie O’Toole is a St. Louis Public Defender, passionate about fighting for the underdog and determined to prove herself as the badass trial lawyer she knows she can be.  Getting assigned to defend the kid charged with shooting billionaire businessman, Michael Grayson, is a big step up for her career. At least until the hot guy she seduced at the Justice for All Ball shows up at her office in response to her deposition subpoena. Turns out the sexy stranger who introduced himself only as ‘Mick’, the guy she’s been fantasizing about since slipping away while he slept — is none other than the billionaire himself, Michael Grayson. She’s horrified. He’s furious. He thinks she set him up. She thinks he’s an arrogant ass in a Savile Row suit. Sparks, intrigue, and bullets fly in a mix of swoon and suspense as the two battle each other, the bad guys, and an off-limits attraction neither can ignore. When the evidence leads back into Michael’s inner corporate circle, the two are plunged into a world of international intrigue, corporate espionage, and murder — with a side dish of unresolved family drama as Annie is forced to turn to the only expert in corporate intrigue she knows, her own estranged grandmother.  Now all she has to do is solve the case, escape her grandmother’s plans to take over her life (again), and save her client, her career, and the man whose lifestyle she despises . . . and whose touch she can’t forget. 

Amazon

Note: Both a book club guide and a bonus episode are available through the author’s website.
https://catjameson.com/books/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cat Jameson is enjoying her third career, this one as a writer of romance novels packed with equal parts suspense, snark, and spice. Before that, she was a criminal defense lawyer for almost three decades, a life experience that finds its way into her stories. Upon retiring from the practice of law, Jameson began a second career as co-owner of a metaphysical bookstore— exchanging her law books for books on astrology, tarot, and non-mainstream spiritual traditions. “People see that as a 180-degree shift,” Cat explains with a laugh, “but in truth, both have always been a part of me. The only thing that changed was which was front and center.” She says the same is true for her third career as a writer: “I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid. I just never sent any of them out into the world.” That changed in 2024 when Jameson’s debut novel, Chasing Shadows, was not only sent out, but picked up by The Wild Rose Press.

A native Missourian, Jameson grew up in a small town near the Ozark Mountains, the middle child of a railroader and a teacher, before moving to St. Louis to attend Washington University School of Law. She wound up staying in St. Louis for most of her legal career and the city features prominently in both her debut novel and two others she has in the works. Today, she resides in Columbia, Missouri or, as Jameson calls it, “the middle of the middle of Flyover Country, halfway between the Kansas City Chiefs to the west and the St. Louis Cardinals to the east.” When not writing, shop-keeping, or playing with grandkids, Jameson is most likely to be off on a road trip with her best friend and business partner in a ten-year-old van named Woo — stopping at every bookstore and thrift shop along the way, loading up on ‘things they do not need and have no room for.’

Website: https://catjameson.com/