Tag: books

Spotlight: Ghosted

Ghosted by Lori Matsourani (cover art attached)
A sweet (PG-13) second-chance romance with a nod to the paranormal
Releasing on August 13

Blurb:
When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship. Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.

 Buy Link:

https://books2read.com/lorimatsourani

Author bio: Author Lori Matsourani is a romance addict. Give her stories with a touch of heartbreak and a spark of joy, and she’s happy. Throw in characters with a huge helping of heart and soul, and she’s up reading all night in romance heaven! While currently a Texas resident, Lori grew up near Baltimore and often draws on the historical flavor of Annapolis and Maryland’s Eastern Shore to inspire her story settings. She authored her first fiction story at twelve and has been hooked on writing ever since. Early on, her writing career focused on articles for magazines and newspapers before shifting to her first writing love—fiction. For Lori, connecting words to tell a story is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and she loves the challenge of creating every piece.
Social media links:

Website: https://lorimatsourani.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.matsourani.author/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.matsourani/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lori-matsourani.bsky.social

Review: A Death in the Flower Garden

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Series

4****

Blurb: It’s Independence Day weekend, and Maria Dolores, the descendant of Danger Cove’s first lighthouse keeper, is the new manager of the Lighthouse Farmers’ Market. While she may be a bit uncertain about her career change—trading financial planning for flower stalls and farm fresh produce—she’s still determined to get the market into shape and onto one of the region’s “best of” lists. From the very beginning, though, events conspire against her. Her mentor and attractive local farmer, Merle Curtis, fails to show up to introduce her to the vendors, the stalls are all in the wrong place, and an earthquake shakes up everyone in the market! In its aftermath, Maria realizes the flower vendor is more than shaken up… she’s dead. Maria suddenly finds herself embroiled in a small town mystery that’s got everyone on edge. Will it all lead to the end of Maria’s new career? Or worse yet… her life?

THOUGHTS: Danger Cove is aptly named as much as Cabot Cove is for Jessica Fletcher. Even though this is the 14th book in the series, it is the first one in the Farmer’s Market part of the series. So we are introduced to Maria Dolores as she takes over as manager of the farmers’ market in Danger Cove. And it’s the weekend of the 4th of July, so there is a lot going on—including murder x 2!

I love Maria Dolores and how she deals with Cary, who seems to be autistic (it’s never said, but the descriptions of his issues show that he is). And the curmudgeon woodworker. And the earthquake. And so many other things. I’m surprised her migraine wasn’t any worse than it was! But she deals with everything, including the potato farmer who hates her (he wanted the job) and just wants to cause problems for her.

I loved how the author put her own name in as the author doing a signing at the bookseller’s tent! That was a hoot. The mystery itself is well-done with clues placed here and there and lots of suspects. And a satisfying ending as she and Merle, the previous manager, get to finally enjoy some alone time together.

Recommended.

#GemmaHallidayPubblishing

Review: Potions and the Pleasantly Poisoned

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: At 40, Dani Williams thought she knew all her family secrets. Gran’s apple pie recipe? Check. The location of grandpa’s hidden cigarette stash? Double check. But when her gran dies, she discovers the biggest secret of them all. All the women in her family are witches. Including her. And the timing couldn’t be worse. After a tough six months, Dani’s life is in ruins. When she returns to Point Pleasant to deal with her gran’s estate, she is plagued by haunting visions of a woman’s death. She realizes who the woman is too late to save her. She knows the woman was murdered, but unfortunately, seeing something in a prophetic dream doesn’t count as evidence. Dani refuses to sit idle while the killer remains at large. With every ounce of her newfound magic, she races against time to unravel the mystery. But there’s one problem—Gran kept her witch heritage hidden, and Dani must navigate her powers alone. Can Dani unveil the true murderer before an innocent person takes the fall? Join her on a thrilling journey through magic, mystery, and self-discovery in this enchanting paranormal cozy mystery.

THOUGHTS: This was a good cozy with a different sort of twist – instead of a nasty person being murdered, it was actually a decent person who was a friend of the “sleuth”.

Dani, the amateur sleuth, is newly divorced, 40, and out of a job. She returns to Point Pleasant, WA to deal with her beloved grandmother’s estate, she starts seeing things and feeling things that don’t make sense. Then she learns that she is a witch and her gran had been suppressing her powers. Now, she not only has to learn how to use her new powers, but also help solve the murder of a good friend. While searching out the perps, she comes to realize that she has more friends there than in Spokane…a great house in her gran’s Victorian home, and the possibility of a job—and a cute cop guy. But someone doesn’t want her there and especially doesn’t want her looking into her friend’s murder. Thankfully, there are others who do want her to stay around.

Recommended.

Review: Funerals & Familiars

FUNERALS & FAMILIARS by Carmen Radtke

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: Midlife can be murder – or magic…
Almost fifty and freshly divorced, Bex Merriweather is going through The Change – battling hot flashes and night sweats. Little does she realize that when an elderly relative dies and leaves her a lending library in sleepy Willowmere, complete with cat, her whole life is going to change… Turns out Aunt Violet left behind more than books and home-made herbal teas, like full-blown witch powers, and a small town where murder is very much on the menu. Even Cosmo the cat is no ordinary feline, but a sassy talking familiar. And when rumors about her aunt’s death begin to circulate, Bex has no choice but to embrace her witchy inheritance, and her inner detective. Now the novice witch, armed only with her circle of lifelong friends and a snarky, judgemental cat mentor, must uncover the truth, before her newly acquired magical life goes up in smoke. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, magical mayhem, and heroines who believe it’s never too late for a new chapter—or a little witchcraft!

THOUGHTS: Bex is 50, newly divorced and living in a tiny apartment when she gets the news that her beloved Aunt Violet has died. Bex dyes her hair blue (because she can), and heads to the small town where she grew up to discover she has inherited the house, a lending library, a cat with attitude (who talks!), and magical powers. Cosmo the cat is not only her familiar, but her mentor who has to teach her how to use her powers and fast, because they have not one, but two murders to solve before there’s another. She has to learn how to control her magical hot flashes (different from her regular hot flashes), and bake “special” cookies. She has a cadre of friends who help her deal with everything and have some pretty special gifts of their own.  

A cute paranormal cozy and the beginning of a series that holds promise. And a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

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: 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: 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.

Review: Ropes & Last Hopes

ROPES & LAST HOPES by Trixie Silvertale

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: When a suspicious death takes the life of a friend, our psychic sleuth must expose a killer’s dirty laundry… Mitzy Moon hopes for a normal day running errands. And this time, she’s determined to get her grandmother’s couture properly cleaned. But her day gets stuck in a spin cycle when she encounters crime-scene tape at the dry cleaner’s and a puzzling murder. With her only way into the case through an undercover stint in the women’s wrestling league, Mitzy charges ahead with little help from her mentor, Ghost-ma, or her entitled feline. But if the bell rings before she corners the suspect, more lives could end up on the ropes. Can Mitzy hold a murderer down for the count, or will she be taken out in a lethal smackdown? Ropes and Last Hopes is the prequel novella to the hilarious new paranormal cozy mystery series, Harper and Moon Investigations, a spinoff from the popular Mitzy Moon Mysteries. If you like snarky heroines, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s wedded whodunits.

THOUGHTS: Mitzy Moon has inherited from a bookstore, a strange building, and a fortune from her grandmother. Oh, and a closet full of high-fashion clothing. And the ghost of her grandmother loves to tell her how to live her life. Grams lives with her as does a wildcat that seems to have a way with clues to mysteries. In this one, a beloved lawyer who helps endangered women with her skills is killed and Mitzy goes undercover (without much covering) as a female wrestler in order to help find the killer.

There were parts of this that I loved, and parts that had me scratching my head in confusion. If this is supposed to be the prequel to a series, there sure does seem to have been a ton of stuff going on before hand. I found the beginning rather confusing, but by the end, I was enjoying the read. But it took me almost a hundred pages to get there.

Still, not a bad story and it has a mostly satisfying ending (while setting up for the next book). Recommended.