GONE CRAZY by Terry Korth Fischer

Fiction, Cozy Mystery/Crime

4****

Blurb: A formal declaration of love scares the bejesus out of small-town Detective Rory Naysmith. As Valentine’s Day approaches, he evaluates his relationship with bookkeeper Esther Mullins, and decides to take her on a romantic date that ends with a poet’s murder. Assigned to the case, Rory pushes his private life aside. Things gets tricky after Esther is appointed Executrix for the estate—then rumors start that place a priceless item among the poet’s many possessions. The race is on to unearth the treasure and solve the murder, but it leaves Rory wondering if Esther will live long enough to become his Valentine—or end up as the murderer’s next victim.

Thoughts: This is the second Rory Naysmith mystery I’ve read. It doesn’t quite follow the standards of a cozy mystery in that the sleuth is actually a police detective and not an amateur. But it still takes place in a small town and there is a small handful of people who help Rory with his investigations. I love Rory. He’s so totally inept when it comes to his girlfriend, Esther. And he’s not exactly a curmudgeon, but he comes close sometimes. Rory is no youngster (and neither is Esther), which makes things even more interesting sometimes. He had issues with aches and pains (mostly from a crushed ankle in an earlier story) and wears a fedora (which I love!). Rory is definitely unique. And Esther is the perfect foil.

This story is all about family relationships as well as Native American culture and secrets that some people want kept buried. The plot twists and turns around so many events that I was actually a little confused at times – but it all works out in the end, which is always a good thing. And for a change, I didn’t know exactly who the murderer was until the end, so good going!

Note: If you want all the details on Rory and Esther and the rest, please pick up the other books in the series and start from the beginning. But honestly, you don’t have to. This is a stand-alone part of the series so you can read it and understand what’s going on. But it will be even better if you do start at book one.

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”:

THE PASSENGER by Joie Lesin

Fiction, Historical Paranormal Romance

4****

Blurb: Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home. Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction. Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?

Thoughts: This was a sweet romance with a lot of conflict, beautiful settings, and interesting characters. Set in 1945, mostly in the California wine country north of San Francisco, but also in Boston. Elizabeth is a young widow who can talk with spirits. When an old man she befriends dies in her arms, his ghost begs her to help him. She figures an easy crossover. Unfortunately, that’s not what fate has in store for her. She has to travel to California to meet his family and tell them about Paola. But his son Gio isn’t willing to listen. Elizabeth makes friends with Gio’s family, but getting through to the stubborn man may take a lot. But even with their problems, the two are still drawn to each other physically and emotionally. But fate does make their lives difficult. However, this is a romance, so we know it’s going to work out, but there’s a lot for them to go through first.

The only reason this didn’t get five stars was an idea that this might be a series. If it is, okay. Good. If it’s not, I’d be disappointed because I want to see what happens to the woman along the road, and Anna, Elizabeth’s sister. And maybe the daughter later on. But overall, a very good read.

Definitely 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”

DANGEROUS DESCENT by Evie Jacobs

Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary

4 1/2****

Blurb: Pilot Elise Hughes left the family business in the Florida Keys and now flies the rich and powerful to and from the Rocky Mountains. When she has to execute a by-the-book emergency landing, it’s no big deal. But being stranded in a small town with her handsome new colleague is something else entirely. Obsessed with getting justice for his murdered father, undercover FBI agent Eric Erickson believes retribution is finally within reach. Until things get complicated. And dangerous. And he’s forced to face a few too many realities—including Elise’s connection to a well-known crime boss. After Elise is kidnapped by the same man who took Eric’s father, he has a choice to make—find Elise or exact revenge. Meanwhile she has a choice of her own—trust the dangerous family she never knew she had or the man who’s been lying to her from the start.

Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic suspense story. There’s enough romance without it being over the top, and enough danger to keep the excitement going right until the end. This is the first book from this new author, and I hope to see more from her – as well as maybe these two characters. I can maybe see a series? Maybe with the brothers? Plus, we did leave one bad guy out there kind of dangling in the wind so I hope future books will deal with him.

The characters are good and their relationship builds from kind of instant lust to actual love so it works well. The setting descriptions are done well-enough that we are grounded in where we are – loved the way Eric reacted to the heat and humidity of southern Florida!

All in all, this was a story that captured my interest from the beginning and held onto it until the last page.

Definitely 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”

IN THE TIME OF SPIRITS by Beth Ford

Fiction, Historical, Women’s Fiction, Spiritualism

3***

Blurb: An epic adventure through the world of the nineteenth-century spiritualist movement. In 1890, Addy Cohart is determined to defy convention and remain unmarried-until she meets William Fairley, a psychic medium who gives her hope as she grieves the sudden death of her parents. Addy becomes a devotee of the spiritualist movement, but as she takes on a larger role as William’s assistant, she realizes that all may not be as it seems. As the couple moves from New York to London to Paris, Addy is forced to confront the fact that William’s talents may be a ruse, and that he may even be a criminal. She must decide whom to trust and where to place her loyalties. What price is she willing to pay to protect her love and keep her faith?

Thoughts: I thought this story had an interesting premise. Addy is a young woman living with her parents in Washington, DC. Her mother wants her to marry Addy’s lifetime friend, Arthur, but Addy wants nothing to do with marriage. She wants to be an independent woman. Plus, she’s interested in the new spiritualism movement, something both her mother and Arthur disapprove of. After her parents’ death in a fire, Addy decides to travel the world. Then she meets William, a “psychic” in New York. After a whirlwind romance, they marry and Addy thinks the world is finally hers. But then things go south and she discovers that William is not what she thought. But he is her husband. For better or worse.

I liked Addy in the beginning, but kind of didn’t by the end. And the end is what bothered me about the book. It was definitely not how I saw the ending coming. I guess I wanted more from her. Still, she did take things into her own hands and made plans for the future. So good for her. As for William, I pretty much knew what he was from the beginning, so that didn’t surprise me.

Would I recommend this book? Maybe? It’s not a bad story, though the beginning is a bit flowery. And the end…wasn’t wild about it, but I guess it worked. So, recommended with those caveats.

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”

NORTHERN LIGHTS IN HIS EYES by Andrew Grey

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Gay, Steamy Heat

5*****

Blurb: When Garvin Haverton lost his husband, he lost himself. Unable to bear the reminders of their love, he left his friends in Los Angeles for the remote Alaskan wilderness, cut ties with his old life, and started over. Model William Moreau has let Garvin hide for long enough. He misses his friendship, and he has to know if the spark he felt between them could ignite the love of a lifetime. So he packs a bag, books a flight, rents a car… and almost gets himself killed in a blizzard. When William shows up half-frozen, Garvin is furious. Unlike William, he doesn’t need to be rescued. He has a life in new friends, a dog, a job. But he can’t kick William out into the cold, and it doesn’t take many long, cold Alaskan nights before he realizes that he may have a life, but he hasn’t moved on. He could do that with William. The chemistry between them could heat his little cabin all on its own. But William’s life is in LA, and Garvin can’t go back. Is their unlooked-for romance doomed from the start?

Thoughts: It’s rare that a setting is so well done that it comes across almost as a character in and of itself. This story is one of those rare occurrences. Set in a small village in the Alaskan wilderness, the descriptions are so vivid that you can really picture it. Especially when the artist friend Devon describes the way the light plays off the snow and how it’s not all white. I don’t believe I’ve ever read a description so beautifully done. Kudos to the author for this.

Then there’s the bits about the cold and how dangerous it is and how dehydrating. I actually laughed at the one point where Garvin wants to go out the next day because it might actually get up to freezing and be nice for an outing.

Finally, there are the characters. Garvin is perfectly flawed in that he buried himself in his grief and hid away from those who cared about him. Enter William, a friend who wants to be more, but he has to track down Garvin and convince him to join the living. Then there are the friends at the general store and how everyone helps everyone. And there’s a little bit of danger with the explosion, the avalanche, the miners… and it’s amazing how William jumps in to help. The pull between the two men is well-done and their issues give them conflict. And the HEA ending satisfied.

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”

MY SO-CALLED LUCK by Jennifer Fischetto

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

5*****

Blurb: Welcome to Chance, a town founded on luck and filled with secrets. Sofie Rinaldi is just an ordinary young woman working at the local diner and dreaming of more than her small town life. That is, until she suddenly finds she can conjure up mystical spells. Too bad she hasn’t a clue what she’s doing. And when people start dying around her, she’s left wondering if her spells are somehow responsible. Can Sophie discover the truth about the deaths in Chance… or has her luck finally run out?

Thoughts: This was a fun book to read. Sofie is 25, lives at home with her dad above his diner where she works as a waitress. She recently discovered that she is a witch who can put spells on people through food. Unfortunately, she has no clue what she’s doing and karma bites her hard a few times. When the local football coach is killed, she wonders if one of her spells was responsible. And when her dad is arrested for his murder, she knows she has to figure things out fast. Add in a mother who’s been absent for most of her life and a cute newspaper journalist who was an old nemesis, but may be something else now.

The characters were well done as was the setting. Loved that the little town changed their name and all the shops to things to do with luck. Kind of knew who the baddie was early on, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. The murder was solved but there were enough threads that we know there’s going to be more coming in this series.

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”

CRUEL CHARADE by Alana Lorens

Fiction, Thriller,

4****

Blurb: Miami attorney Bet Lenard has had a rough year. She’s battling an unknown illness that drives her to drink to cope with her pain. Her lawyer husband has divorced her and taken the best part of their business, their home and their children. On the night of May 16, 1996, Bet finds herself in the Everglades in the middle of the night, drugged, lost and next to a burned car with a dead body in it. Hoping she’s hit bottom, Bet must drag herself out of her living hell and discover who tried to kill her. Was it her ex-husband, not satisfied with stealing everything that mattered? An angry client, unhappy with the outcome of their case? Her best friend’s husband, livid that Bet’s restraining order kicked him out of her life forever? Police officers fuming that Bet helped a client convict a dirty cop who was their friend? She has no idea.
As she tries to sort out the motives behind her would-be killer, even more suspects come to light. The only thing keeping Bet sane is her relationship with her therapist, who encourages her to struggle and survive, despite everything that’s gone wrong. How will Bet discover the truth and bring her enemy to justice before they strike again and, this time, succeed?

Thoughts: There is a lot going on in this story. It’s all about Bet Lenard, and the story is in her POV, but it goes back and forth from present time to her past so you get all the reasons behind what’s happening in the back story. Bet is nearly killed in the Everglades in a car fire. She barely gets back from that before other things start happening. As a criminal lawyer, she’s often worked with dangerous people, but she’s not sure who is doing this to her—and there are a lot of possibilities, including her ex-husband.

There’s enough going on in this story that you definitely will not get bored – right up to the last page! Just when you think everything is solved, you turn the page and… it’s not! Nicely done. The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars was the back-and-forth in past/present. Not one of my favorite types of writing, but overall, the story is excellent.

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”

SEEING GRAY by C.E. Brown

Fiction, YA Urban Fantasy

5*****

Blurb: Celestials have been killing Seers for centuries, as prophesy states that a Seer will overthrow Celestial rule. Worried for Zoey’s safety, her parents forbid her from registering as a Seer and interacting with the Celestials, Fae, and Demons who hide among humankind. Zoey is forced to wear a necklace that hides magic from her and conceals her magic from them. Witness to her mother’s murder at the hands of a Demon, Zoey vows to track down her mother’s killer and make him pay. Embracing her magic, Zoey is brought deeper into the mythical world by an unlikely ally and wonders if perhaps her parents were right to keep her out of it. Will she avenge her mother’s death, or will she meet the same untimely fate?

Thoughts: Although this is obviously part of a serialized story (which I normally do not care for), I really enjoyed this. The main characters did accomplish what they set out to do, but we also know there is a lot more to come.

Zoey is a Seer whose mother refused to register her as a Mythic and tries to keep her hidden from the Mythic world. But Zoey can’t wait to be registered as she believes all good things will come from that. But she finds out that it’s not all good. When she “Sees” the demon who murders her mother, she vows revenge and meets an unlikely ally in the form of Tristan, a demon enforcer who’s hot in more ways than one. They form an unlikely alliance as both need something only the other can get.

Zoey is a great character. She is rash and impulsive—which gets her into a lot of trouble. In fact, all the characters are great, as is the world building. We get to see all the different realms and species – like Carrion, the troll that Zoey befriends. There is a lot to like about this book and I am looking forward to more in the series.

Definitely 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”

THE STONE WITCH OF FLORENCE by Kelly Sweeney

Fiction, Historical, Medieval Magical Mystery

3***

Blurb: Ancient sorcery. Magic gemstones. Only one woman can save a city in ruins…
1348. As the Black Plague ravages Italy, Ginevra di Gasparo is summoned to Florence after nearly a decade of lonely exile. Ginevra has a gift—harnessing the hidden powers of gemstones, she can heal the sick. But when word spread of her unusual abilities, she was condemned as a witch and banished. Now the same men who expelled Ginevra are begging for her return. Ginevra obliges, assuming the city’s leaders are finally ready to accept her unorthodox cures amid a pandemic. But upon arrival, she is tasked with a much different she must use her collection of jewels to track down a ruthless thief who is ransacking Florence’s churches for priceless relics—the city’s only hope for protection. If she succeeds, she’ll be a recognized physician and never accused of witchcraft again. But as her investigation progresses, Ginevra discovers she’s merely a pawn in a much larger scheme than the one she’s been hired to solve. And the dangerous men behind this conspiracy won’t think twice about killing a stone witch to get what they want…

Thoughts: I found this story a little hard to get into, but once I did, it was fascinating, though a little slow at times for me. I did find it dragged a bit even though I liked the history mixed with mysticism. The imagery is amazing and the characters realistic – even for the era. This story takes place in the 1300s in Florence, Italy, during the height of the Black Plague. The main character, Ginevra, is a stone witch—someone who has an affinity with magic, especially gems. All she has wanted all her life is to be recognized by the guild of doctors as a healer. But women are not permitted to be doctors. So she stays in the shadows, helping those who come to her with her potions and magical lapidary (stone) applications. The story is heavily focused on church politics, but does a good job of adding in the elements of gemstone magic, alchemy, and more.

The author’s attention to detail as well as the extensive “author notes” at the back of the book show that she did her homework well. Her research is extensive and shows through with the knowledge of what a person in this time period would be up against, especially if thought to be a witch.

I liked the ending when the Inquisitor Michele and she become friends as they hunt for the lost relics and how, in the end, he accepts that God is working through her and helps her.

Recommended to those who enjoy a medieval tale of magic and the religious issues of the time.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC. All thoughts are mine and are not influenced by anyone.