Lisa Henson

Lisa Regan has done. it. again.

Teenagers in Denton, Pennsylvania are scaring themselves silly with tales of the Woodsman, a bogeyman who takes children when they go into the forest. Two go in, only one comes out alive, so the story goes, and now children are daring themselves and each other go to into the woods. Kayleigh Patchett goes out with her little sister Savannah to prove that the Woodsman is just a myth. Josie, Noah, and the team are called in when their parents report them both missing. But Kayleigh is nowhere to be seen, and Savannah claims that the Woodsman took her sister.

The team struggles without Mett's presence and helpful insights, and they push themselves past the point of exhaustion, working nearly around the clock to keep the case moving. Lead after lead fizzles out. Frustration mounts, and the more time that passes, the more they fear what they'll find will be Kayleigh's dead body – especially once another teenager is found dead.

In case I haven't said it, Lisa Regan is the absolute master of suspense. She uses every word, every comma, every bit of dialogue to maximum effect. The snippets of the villain's point of view interspersed throughout really ramp up the tension.

This story is about a mystery and the hard work the police put into solving it. But it's also a study in family dynamics and a most excellent thriller with a plot twist that had my jaw hitting the floor. If you love a compelling work of detective fiction that doesn't give the ending away, with characters you will come to love as old friends (after eighteen books, they're practically family!), get to know Josie Quinn.

They say write what you know, and Martin Clark does a bang-up job of it. His latest, The Plinko Bounce, gives us a look into the inner workings of the legal system through the eyes of battle-weary public defender Andy Hughes.

For seventeen years, Andy has done his best to provide a zealous defense to the small-time crooks, cons, grifters, and general ne'er-d0-wells of his little corner of Virginia. He's just about ready to hang it up. The ink isn't even dry on his resignation when he is assigned to represent one Damian Bullins, charged with the murder of Alicia Benson, wife of a wealthy businessman. Andy agrees to stay on until the case is complete.

There's a confession. Blood on the defendant's clothes that matches that of the victim. At first Andy reckons it will be a matter of negotiating the best deal he can and having his client plead guilty. But then he realizes that the form from which Bullins was read his Miranda rights was missing a very important sentence. This could make all the difference to Bullins' defense, and whether he likes it or not, Andy is obligated to pursue this possibility.

Andy doesn't come off as a smooth-tongued shyster out to stick it to the man. He struck me as a defense lawyer more along the lines of Matlock – likable, professional, sometimes ill at ease with the path he pursued, but determined to uphold his ethical obligation to defend his client to the best of his ability. (I think Matlock generally had more likable clients, though!) He doesn't promise his client a not guilty verdict, and he doesn't ignore the fact that Bullins is a lowlife who actually committed the crime he's accused of. He just works with the facts handed to him and does it well.

In a former part of my life, I was a prosecutor. I appreciated the way that Clark portrays the relationship between the prosecution and the defense attorneys. It isn't all mudslinging and ugliness, as TV shows might want you to believe. Andy and his colleagues on both sides of the bar were, by and large, professional and respectful to each other, even cordial. That's as it should be, and in most cases, how it really is.

This isn't a fast-paced action thriller, but it doesn't have to be. Even knowing how the system works, even having been a part of it myself, the tension in waiting to see where things went next was enough to keep me turning pages well past my bedtime.

I also liked the fact that the focus wasn't solely on the legal drama (although that was plenty!). Andy had a life, and sometimes life and work butted up against each other. His actions as an attorney, a single dad, and a man newly in love all rang true.

This was my first Martin Clark book, but it won't be my last. If you're looking for a masterfully crafted legal thriller that will keep you hooked from beginning to end, this is it.

Thanks to Kaye Publicity and Rare Bird Books for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I'm not a native Texan. I grew up in Louisiana and headed off to Texas for college. The first time I saw a homecoming mum, I nearly dropped my teeth. (And this was in the mid-80s, before mums got supersized – the ribbons didn't even touch the ground!) I could not wrap my brain around this major production, statement piece, whatever you wanted to call it. There was nothing like it in my experience, and honestly, I didn't really want one!

But in Mumentous, Amy J. Schultz gives us a marvelous look at the history of the mum, from its humble beginnings as an actual chrysanthemum corsage to the heavy-duty bedazzled versions of today that almost require scaffolding to hold them up. And her telling of that history is SO. MUCH. FUN!

I loved reading the mum stories that people shared with her. Some made me laugh, some made me tear up a little. And I had no idea that mum-making was such big business. It was fascinating to read about the detailed work and time and effort that goes into creating the perfect mum. Pretty sure if I tried to make a mum, it would suck, because I do not have that kind of creativity.

The pictures were a fantastic addition. From the small to the supersized, from a simple corsage to the Whatamum (that I now deeply regret not having the opportunity to see), they highlighted different aspects of the mum tradition and really made it pop for me.

So I didn't grow up with the whole mum experience. After reading Mumentous, I kind of wish I had! It would be nice to be part of such a longstanding, joyous tradition. Whether you've known about mums your whole life or were raised somewhere outside of Texas like me, this is worth the read. It's a well-written and well-researched look into a fascinating aspect of the high school and college experience that started – where else? – in Texas.

Five mums from me!

FBI agent Risa Jacobs is used to being the one on the hunt, going after the bad guys. But things take an unexpected turn when her brother Trenton is killed by a hit-and-run driver, only moments after their first meeting in years. Trenton had broken the shackles of his drug addiction, and they'd had dinner to celebrate. Risa was looking forward to renewing her relationship with him, to seeing healing in her family. In a heartbeat, those hopes were smashed. When Risa finds a note saying she was the intended target, she wants to resign from the FBI. Her boss convinces her she needs to go after the killer and works out a way she can do that while appearing to leave the job she loves.

In Risa's absence, Agent Gage Patterson teams up with another partner to continue working a child kidnapping case. He misses Risa, though, on both a professional and a personal level. She does her best to keep him at a distance, wanting to protect those close to her from her brother's killer. But in her new role as a college professor, Risa gets a short story from a student that appears eerily similar to her brother's murder, and Gage's investigation into the kidnapping ring appears to involve the student's father. They combine forces and work together to try to solve both crimes without either of them getting killed in the process.

DiAnn Mills absolutely has a gift for crafting taut, compelling stories that hook you and don't let go. In Facing the Enemy, things start off with a bang when Trenton is killed, and then it's really off to the races. I don't think there was a slow spot in this book. With each new event, each new unveiling, the tension ratcheted up another notch. There were times I found myself literally holding my breath, waiting to see how a scenario would play out!

The tension wasn't just on the criminal investigation front, either. Risa and Gage clearly have feelings for each other, but they're both hesitant to let those feelings get in the way of doing their jobs. Risa proves she's able to take care of herself just fine, but Gage cares deeply for her, and seeing her in danger brings out his protective instincts. He is obviously willing to put himself in harm's way for her, even as she insists she can handle things. Their interactions are realistic, and I was cheering for them!

The child kidnapping case was of particular interest to me. Adoptive parents are learning that their babies weren't adopted legally, but were stolen from their biological parents. I was adopted as an infant. My parents never kept that from me, and they loved me as much as any birth parents could have. (For the record, I've met both of my birth parents, with siblings on both sides. They're all fantastic and I vote to keep them!) I cannot imagine the shock and horror they would have felt to be told that I wasn't really theirs after all. Man. I really wanted to see Gage drop the doomhammer of justice on the nasty people who'd do such a terrible thing to people, who'd take advantage of a couple's deep desire to have children for the benefit of filthy lucre. (Small spoiler: Gage drops the doomhammer.)

Romance, conflict, good guys, bad guys, action, tension, this book has it ALL. And it's clean to boot! If you're looking for a wild ride of a story that will make you gasp, bite your nails, and cheer, Facing the Enemy is for you. Just be prepared to lose a lot of sleep, because she'll definitely keep you up past your bedtime.

Five big ol' Texas-sized stars from me!

The book opens with a flaming row between Jem and Rhys. Words are said, and Jem leaves to stay with her best friend Pauley. Pauley is off to another of the Scilly Isles to emcee the annual bake-off at the luxurious Bay View Hotel, and she persuades Jem to tag along.

One Lemmy Beaglehole (what a name!) is this year's judge, and he is a piece of work. He's pretty well universally disliked, and when he drops dead after tasting the first contest entry, it's a shock. You kind of get the feeling no one really mourned his passing, though.

Problem is, no one – contestants and vacationers alike – is getting out of the Bay View with a hurricane blowing in. Sergeant Hackman is on the scene, but an unfortunate allergic reaction has taken him out of commission, so it falls to Jem to sort things out. The more she digs, the more people she finds who have reason to dislike Lemmy. But which of them disliked him enough to kill him?

This is an engaging treatment of the classic locked-room mystery. Jameson gives us a varied cast of characters with a lot of different bones to pick with Lemmy Beaglehole. Lemmy's vicious words have been directed against Jem's friend Micki, local baker Trevor, and a host of other people. Jem must consider that perhaps someone she knows and is fond of could be the killer.

Jameson draws vivid pictures with her words. This character description was one of my favorites: “Posh was Madonna if she'd held on to her eighties Material Girl persona right through to midlife.” That immediately brings to mind an image for an '80s kid like me!

The mystery was twisty enough to keep me guessing. The setting made me want to visit (except sometime when there's not a hurricane). There were some tense moments when Jem put herself in harm's way in the course of the story. The banter was charming as always. My only disappointment was that there were no cake recipes included. Alas. Ah well, we can't have everything, can we? Another win for Emma Jameson and Jemima Jago!

Kathleen finds herself at loose ends when she closes the book on her accounting career. She isn't quite sure what to do with herself, and she wonders if she has a purpose anymore. She considers a couple of things and decides she might make a good travel agent. She does. And that new career leads her on a journey she never expected.

I could absolutely relate to Kathleen! I'm also a middle-aged woman. I haven't held the same job for decades like she had (recently made a career pivot, in fact!), but I can relate to the idea of feeling like you've had the rug pulled out from under you when you lose something that's that much a part of you.

The story focuses on Kathleen's struggle to find her purpose, find meaning in her life. I think a lot of us base our identity, our sense of value, on the jobs we hold. As she takes on her new role as a travel agent, Kathleen visits places she might recommend for her clients. She wants to know that she's sending them to good places. She has to overcome a lot of anxieties and fears to travel internationally, but she does, one little bit at a time.

When she encounters a poverty-stricken child, her eyes are opened. Could this travel be part of a bigger plan that God has for her? What can she do to make a difference in the life of this child and others similarly situated?

And thus began Kathleen's journey to establish a ministry she called Gypsies for God – connecting needs with people and resources to meet them, sending people around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I liked the way the set-up unfolded. Getting a project of this magnitude rolling doesn't happen overnight. Kathleen planned and prayed, consulted with others for their input, and logged more than a few miles traveling to explain her vision. The process was depicted realistically, and the frustration Kathleen felt when she wasn't sure if it would work out is something I think all of us can understand. Was she making the right choice? Is this really what God was calling her to do? I've certainly asked questions like that.

I also found the portrayal of Kathleen walking out in faith something that resonated with me. She wasn't someone who is just on fire for the Lord, who seems to take every step in absolute confidence in His plan. She waffled, she hesitated, she doubted. Hello, I'm Kathleen. I have waffled, hesitated, and doubted when it feels like God has a new direction for me. (I've also thrown myself headlong into situations I really hope are God's direction for me and sometimes they aren't, but that's another story.)

This book is about change, about shifting gears when the familiar disappears. Kathleen showed herself willing to step outside of the familiar and follow where she felt God leading her, and it changed her life in ways she never could have imagined. What a beautiful reminder that God will faithfully lead us if we will just trust and go.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from WOW! Women on Writing. All opinions are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Outside gives us a glimpse at a fairly near-future dystopian England where the structure of society has fallen apart after widespread terror attacks. Riley was fortunate enough to live inside a Perimeter, one of a multiplicity of safe zones populated by the well-to-do. Walls keep those who have secure, and keep those who have not out.

But when her younger sister Skye is killed–murdered–Riley is determined that she must leave her protected home and go find the killer. Luc, her friend and her sister's crush, goes with her. They take an armored vehicle and drive off into the unknown.

I do love a good dystopian story! With Outside, Shalini Boland gives us a likable, if somewhat inconsistent, protagonist in Riley. (To be fair, when I was 17, I could be a bit inconsistent sometimes, too.) I love that she's desperate to find justice for her sister when the official investigation seems to be going nowhere. I want to smack her for running off without even a by your leave to her parents, because as a mom, I can imagine how her parents felt finding out she was gone. I love that she tries to resist her attraction to Luc knowing that her sister liked him. I don't really care for the fact that, in spite of her protestations, their relationship ramps up fast when it moves past friendship, without a lot of exposition or build-up. Zero to sixty in 5.2 seconds, give or take. But whether I want to hug her or shake her, Riley absolutely evokes strong feelings, and isn't that what a good character does?

The dual storylines woven together worked well for me. I wasn't sure who the second character was right off the bat, but the more I read, the more it started to come together. The religious zealotry aspect is realistically creepy, and for me, it was one of the most spine-tingling parts of the book. I can see there being people like that should a scenario like this befall our world.

Without going into much detail, the revelation concerning Riley's mother and what happened to Skye was a bit of a letdown. I mean, this is the first book in the series. Why do we have this huge question that's the driver of the book answered already? I can only figure we're being set up for something else in the other books. and please tell me it's going to be a humdinger.

Overall, this is a fair description of a future that isn't impossible to imagine for our society. It's perhaps not quite as heavy on the threat and danger as some dystopian stories I've read, but Boland's writing style is just so dang easy to read! I'm looking forward to the other books to see where she takes this.

Gwen is a normal young woman living a normal life. But when her house catches fire, she follows the ancient cat that lives in her barn through a portal. On the other side of the portal, she finds that she's in Avalon. Yes, that Avalon, the one with King Arthur. And the barn cat, who she's always called Merlin, talks. He tells her that Mordred, Arthur's nephew, now rules Avalon with an iron fist (literally), and that he managed to escape from the Crystal, where Mordred traps anyone in Avalon with magic. If Gwen wants to go home, Merlin says, she has to destroy the crystal. Then Merlin will have his magic back, and he can return Gwen from whence she came.

Mordred is convinced she'll turn on him like everyone else, and her fire magic (a complete surprise t0 Gwen) should have him sending her straight to the Crystal. But he wants to learn what she knows, to protect himself from the threat that brought her to Avalon, and, well, Gwen makes him feel things he hasn't allowed himself to feel in a very long time. And Gwen? She realizes she shouldn't trust Mordred. She certainly shouldn't fall head over heels for him.

I do love a good Arthurian fantasy, and this one was a lot of fun! Gwen is a little bit of a vanilla heroine – we don't know much about her beyond that she's a regular girl from Kansas. But Mordred more than makes up for it. Normally he's the villain in any Arthurian tale, and this is no exception. But Kingsley does a wonderful job of writing him in such a way that sometimes you can't help but empathize with him.

I liked the way Kingsley made use of the Knights of the Round Table. They still serve the ruler of Avalon, but do they follow Mordred and give him the same loyalty they gave Arthur? Read and find out.

Mordred has dogs, too. Naturally, they take to Gwen. If he's a dog person, he can't be ALL bad, can he?

And the romance bits. Let's not forget that! This is a slow burn romance, and boy, does it BURN. Most of it is teasing and innuendo and some pretty entertaining banter, but there's a bit more on-page spice toward the end of the book. Whatever. Gwen is perhaps inexperienced in the ways of love, but I suspect that if she ever really lets herself fall, the pages might burn right out of the book.

I've never read Sarah J. Maas, so I can't say how this compares to that. I can say it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Thanks to Second Sky Books and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Beth is a new empty nester. She dropped her daughter off at college just a few months ago, and she's trying to adjust to the new normal. So when her husband Joel tells her he wants a break from their marriage, that the thrill is gone and he's going to Paris indefinitely for work, her world is completely thrown off its axis.

Then she finds a listing for a rental in Rome for – well, for her. An apartment is available for three months for an English woman of a certain age. A friend encourages her to give it a try, and she does. Veronica (Ronnie), the owner of the apartment Beth rents, wants to help her guests break out of their ordinary lives, see the possibilities and beauty all around them. To that end, she gives Beth challenges to complete. At first Beth balks. She resents what she sees as intrusion. She wants to curl up and lick her wounds – her marriage is falling apart, her daughter is growing up and trying to move on. She even considers just forgetting the whole thing and going back to England.

And then she meets Rico. But nothing can happen between them, can it?

This is almost a coming-of-age story, but I guess it's more of a coming-into-your-own story. I think we've all felt like Beth at some point. Life stretches out, mostly comfortable but sometimes not, and we feel a little at loose ends but not enough to really make a change. And then POW! Right in the kisser, here comes something we never saw coming. And we have to decide what we're going to do with the broken pieces of the life we thought we knew.

I'm probably pretty close in age to Beth. I wanted to hug her and sometimes shake her. My heart ached for her when Joel told her he wanted time apart. I could just picture how dispirited she felt, hearing that she was boring, that her husband didn't find their marriage exciting any longer. I cheered for her when she took the big step of going to Rome, of not doing what was expected and moping at home. And I wanted to shake her when she found possibilities and kept shying away from them! I wanted to see her fling herself wholeheartedly into a new
adventure.

So did she? Well, you're going to have to read the book to find that out. Kerry Fisher spins an engrossing tale, and she tells Beth's story well.

I will tell you that the setting is fantastic. The food, the history, the light, all of it makes me want to visit Italy even more. The characters are engaging and realistic. Rico is a wonderful foil to Beth's reserve. He travels light, and he has already figured out how to see the beauty in the moment. Maddie, Beth's daughter, is perfectly written as a young adult on the edge of independence – pulling away, yet not cutting ties with her mother entirely. Ronnie sounds like someone I want to know and hang out with. I'll take her challenges any day! (Except no dating an unsuitable man, because I'm quite happily married.)

I haven't yet read Secrets at the Rome Apartment, but I can't wait to jump into it and learn more of Ronnie's story.

I highly recommend both books for a good summer read!

This is a collection of works by authors, sure. Each is worth reading in its own right. But the book as a whole is an encouragement to other writers, a homage to the field, if you will. Take time to read each individual part of the book. Let it sink in for a bit. Then move on to the next. I'll be rereading this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Liz Adams is traveling with her dog, Duke, from her beloved Charleston to Carmel, California to settle her inheritance from her friend Peg. Peg left Liz some property, and Liz must decide what to do with it. As it turns out, this trip also lets her spend time with Brad, the CEO of an identity protection company. Peg expressed her hope that Liz and Brad might become more than friends.

The story offers us a couple of mysteries to ponder. What's up with the cult whose leader keeps trespassing on what is now Liz's property? And something strange is going on at Brad's company. Former clients who have died suddenly have memberships reactivated in their names. Who's doing that, and why? Are the two related? Brad persuades Liz to stay long enough to investigate.

Stacy Wilder gives us a wonderful heroine in Liz - intelligent, caring, and practical. The relationship between her and Brad builds slowly, because her ex really did a number on her, and it's fun to see them growing closer to each other. (I think Peg would be pleased.)

Wilder gives us excellent supporting characters, too. New sheriff Sam is glad of Liz's help, and they work well together without it ever feeling like Sam is running into any legal issues by letting Liz share in the investigation. And of course, her lie-detecting dog, Duke, is a delight! Apollo, the cult leader, is manipulative and creepy. And the mystery is twisty enough that it kept me guessing pretty much all the way through the book.

And it sounds like Liz may have to decide in some future book whether she can divide her time between Charleston and Carmel! I'm not sure she'd ever leave Charleston entirely, but I think she's got a pretty compelling reason in Brad to spend a good bit of time on the West Coast.

I can't wait to read more of the series!

War changed Will Oxley. He returned home to a different life, a different world. He has found solace in paintings, found that contemplating them helps keep the nightmares at bay. And now, in 1953 New York, he has created a role for himself as the sole art insurer for All American Insurance. He isn't a detective, as such, but when an insured piece of art goes missing, he tracks it down.

When a Jackson Pollock painting is purloined from a small art gallery, Will is tapped to find it. This brings him into the circle of Liz Bower. Liz, the daughter of wealthy businessman Frank Bower, is the head of the Bower Foundation, which supports and funds American art and artists and owns the missing painting. She is, naturally, interested in his search for the Pollock, as it's part of an exhibit traveling to Europe that the foundation is helping fund. She's also interested in Will himself, and he in her. But Will can tell Liz is holding something back. She asks him to trust her – but can he? Should he?

As Will pursues his search for the painting, Liz ushers him into the rarefied world of the artists themselves – Kline, Pollock, De Kooning. But anti-Communist sentiment is running high, and abstract art and artists are coming under intense scrutiny as potential Communist inroads into the country. The Rosenbergs have been found guilty of espionage, and everyone – the FBI, the House Un-American Activities Committee, the CIA, maybe even the Communists – has eyes and ears in unexpected places.

Jeff Lanier's story does not read like a debut novel. He perfectly captures the mood and madness of the Red Scare, the unsettling angst of not knowing who might be watching you and of wondering if you'd done anything to land yourself on someone's list. He also paints (pardon the expression) a vivid picture of the renaissance of abstract art. I'd never really considered the juxtaposition of abstract art with the end of World War II, never really thought of it as an expression of American freedom. That was an interesting point!

The plot dashes from gallery showings to bar brawls and shouting matches between artists to clandestine meetings with informants and Mafia types. Will feels the crosshairs on his back as he works, not only to find the painting, but to figure out who's on what side and where he'll end up in all this. Lanier layers plot twists and paranoia like oils on canvas, and does it masterfully.

Mystery, drama, art, romance, action, all wrapped up into one compelling story. If you're a fan of mysteries, historical fiction, art, or all three, you need to read For the Minds and Wills of Men.

Hi, have we just met? If so, then you might not know of my love for Heather Webber's books. But if you've followed me for a bit, you know how I feel about her stories. Love, love, love.

Add another to the list to love!

Ava Harrison has lived a sheltered life due to her health issues. She's also wracked with guilt over the death of her boyfriend, Alexander. She feels like it was her fault he was hit by a car and killed. So when a mysterious letter with a job offer shows up, she wonders if he's speaking to her from beyond the grave. In an uncharacteristically spontaneous move, she packs her things and heads to Driftwood, Alabama, hoping for an interview.

Maggie Brightwell is the proprietor of Magpie's, the local coffee shop. In addition to serving great coffee, Maggie also matches people with the “curiosities” she keeps in the shop – little things she finds here and there that call to her. She has the uncanny ability to match people with the curiosities, giving them just the thing to spark interest in something they'd forgotten, or point them on a path they didn't know they needed to travel.

When Ava arrives and inquires about the job, Maggie is taken aback. The ad Ava shows her is one she drafted, seeking a caregiver for her aging father. His behavior has been a little strange lately, and Maggie has concerns. But she'd then quickly discarded the listing. Yet here it is, in Ava's hands. But Maggie thinks Ava will be good company for her father and hires her.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is delightful. Warm, inviting, with friends you didn't know you needed to meet. Ava and Maggie are both wonderfully written. Life has tossed them both some challenges, but they haven't let those challenges break them. Maggie's father is quite the character, and his cat Molly (who becomes Ava's cat, because cats) steals the show at times. Estrelle seems very intimidating, and her gift of seeing tends to make people nervous. But behind that veil and that dour exterior, is she as scary as all that?

Ava and Maggie each have unresolved issues to deal with. Ava's health has kept her cocooned from life. She desperately wants to be normal, not pitied because of her condition or looked at differently because of her extraordinary abilities. She's also dealing with the guilt of Alexander's death, wondering whether she could have – should have – done anything differently. Maggie has never quite come to terms with her mother's disappearance. The coffee shop was her mother's passion project, and she keeps the shop going like she's expecting her mother to walk in and pick up where she left off. Can Maggie see that perhaps she's been hanging on for the wrong reasons all this time?

This book has everything: learning to let go of the past, taking a leap of faith, dreams deferred and then realized, romance, and Webber's trademark touches of magic and whimsy. There were also some plot twists that had me just agog. I love it when authors throw in surprises that I don't see coming. I'd recommend it for anyone who loves a well-told story in a charming Southern environment with characters you can root for. And every time I see a butterfly now, I may pay it a little extra attention.

Sheila is grieving the death of her husband Fred. She honors his memory by moving to Paradise Cove, to the home where they'd planned to live out their golden years. Unbeknownst to Sheila, her cat Whiskers is mourning the loss of his crime-solving partner. Fred was a detective, and he and Whiskers had worked out a code so that Whiskers could help solve cases. And his crime-solving skills are put to the test not long after they move to Paradise Cove. There's a murder in the town (the first ever), and Sheila is the prime suspect.

This is a charming read! I'm not quite Sheila's age, but I'm old enough that I can understand how hard it might be for her to start over after decades married to her husband. She's a relatable and very likable main character, and I wanted to see her build a happy life in Paradise Cove, even if Fred wasn't there with her.

And Detective Whiskers! I'm a cat person, and he has utterly won my heart. He's smart and persistent and willing to do whatever it takes to clear Sheila's name. People can't understand him (even Sheila doesn't know the code that Fred and Whiskers shared), but he can communicate with other animals in the neighborhood. Having the story unfold through the animals' eyes makes for an engaging read.

If you love a good cozy mystery and cats, you'll want to read Paw and Order. Five paws up from me!

Sometimes the second book in a trilogy will be little more than a transition from a great opening to a thrilling close. Runes of Battle suffers no such fate.

Adelais is on the run. When she thinks she's alone, no help, no resources, things look bleak. Anakritim are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to capture her, often just a jump or two behind her, and she is far from home.

But hope is not lost. She is able to find shelter at an out-of-the-way hunting lodge that belongs to her friend Agnes, now married to Lord de Fontenay. There she finds rest and training, both in swordcraft and in the rune magic that runs in her veins.

Even though there are parts of the story that are calmer than others, Gudgion writes them in such a way that the tension of potential capture always pulls things along. Adelais is never truly safe, and it is in the moments when she starts to think she can breathe that danger catches up to her.

Ghislain Barthram is his usual driven self, intent on bringing Adelais to his version of justice. Does anyone else envision this guy when they read about Barthram?



Just me? Carry on, then.

Adelais has the opportunity to learn more about her rune magic from Elyse. I'm fascinated by the Norse mythology underlying the story, and I enjoyed reading more about Adelais' powers and seeing her start to grow into them. II appreciated that the story allowed her time to grow stronger, both physically and magically, before whatever trials she'll face in the third book.

The book offers food for thought about organized religion and the all-too-human politics that can sometimes be found at work there. We see a lot more interaction between the religious rulers and the secular, and see how they're working together to go against someone who could actually be blessed by their god, if they'd just stop to see it. It also raises the question of whether a god Adelais doesn't claim faith in can use her for his own reasons, which is interesting. Goodness knows God used lots of folks who didn't believe in Him in the Bible.

Trust and betrayal, growth and change, magic and mystery. The book is chock full of them all. What does the rest of the story hold for Adelais? Will she be the lightning that the runes foretold, the fate weaver her country has been looking for? Bring on book three and let's find out!

Texas Ranger Crock Ward is back on the job after suffering a gunshot wound. He's assigned to a cold case – the death under mysterious circumstances of Esme Green twenty-some years ago. Her husband Dan, a TCU professor, recently died in the same hotel – indeed, the same room – where his wife died, and that's just a little too coincidental. Crock is tasked with finding out whether Esme's death was murder, and if so, who killed her.

The course of Crock's investigation leads him to Dr. Lazaro “Laz” Corona, also a TCU professor and a paranormal researcher. He's hoping Laz can help with the paranormal side of the investigation, maybe get in touch with the spirits of the deceased professor and his wife. But Laz isn't the only Corona with some investigative chops. His twin sister Tess, recently discharged from the military, is back home and looking for work. She's the twin with legit psychic powers, and in spite of a difficult experience in her past, she's determined to help with this investigation.

This book, y'all! It is chock full of things I love. It's a mystery and police fiction and a paranormal thriller with some pretty serious sparks of potential romance.

There's plenty of tension to keep the story moving along. Crock, Laz, and Tss fined themselves in danger more than once, and the amount of physical damage that can be caused by incorporeal entities is surprisingly high. Gram, Laz and Tess's grandmother, is thankfully at the ready to tend to injuries both physical and spiritual with her sarcasm and her (often foul-tasting) remedies.

The Corona family is wonderfully weird. Laz and Tess love each other and will defend each other from all external threats, but they can sure throw down with each other. Gram is intelligent and quirky and quick to do what she must to protect her family. Sometimes that looks a little bizarre to non-family members. Three-year-old Tila, Laz's daughter, is sassy and stubborn as only a three-year-old girl can be. Crock is the straight man to a lot of Corona shenanigans, and I can imagine him trying so, so hard to maintain his composure sometimes.

There are parts that are absolutely bust-a-gut funny. When Crock comes to the Corona residence looking for Laz, Tila at her finest is his introduction to the family. And it's an introduction that anyone who's a parent (or aunt, or uncle, or older sibling) will cringe (and laugh) in sympathy over. The jams in which Tess finds herself while Crock is around are frequently hilarious. She finds herself embarrassed way more than she wants to be in front of the hot Texas Ranger, and he does such a good job containing his laughter that she has a hard time reading what he thinks of her. I can't wait to see where things go between them in future books.

All these elements—family, humor, mystery, paranormal, hints of romance—combine to make a story I couldn't put down! Tiffany Seitz is a new author to me, and one I want to read more from.

Nate Holub is weary of his small-animal veterinary job in Houston. When he's offered a position as the second vet in the large-animal practice in his small hometown of Hadlow, Texas, he decides to make a change. He takes the job. Moves to the country. And proceeds to do a lot of second-guessing of his decision.

We meet a varied cast of characters as Nate encounters them. His cousin Wink in particular stands out, as it seems like he's got some kind of beef with Nate. Other standouts include Nate's laconic grandmother Viola, his reclusive cousin Tilly, and his partner (boss?) in the vet practice, Everett. They all bring a unique point of view to the story and add their own individual threads to this tapestry of family. I think Tilly was one of my favorites. She was such a surprising character that her interactions with Nate, though brief, really stood out in my mind. She illustrated how easy it is to lose connection with part of our family, whether through physical distance and the passage of time or through efforts made to create that distance.

The animal interactions in the story are vividly and effectively drawn, and you can tell Porter knows that of which he writes. I've heard this book likened to James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. I've never read that book, but if it evokes the same feelings of compassion and connectedness with animals, I might like it, too. Some of the scenes involve surgery on animals and animal death, but they aren't thrown in for shock value. I imagine that's part and parcel of a veterinary practice. Nate himself struggles to handle it, and more than once questions whether he made the right decision coming back to Hadlow.

He also questions whether he's doing the right thing looking for information about his father's death. He knows there's more to the story than he was told, and his mother has long tried to keep that information from him. Memories come back to him in flashes, and as he digs, he learns more about what actually happened. But is this a path he should be taking, or would it have been better for everyone if he'd let past events lie?

At its heart, this is a story of family, their connections to each other, their connections to the land where generations have been born and raised. Nate thought he'd left his home place behind. In returning, he must decide whether to live focused on the past or whether it's time to plant his own roots there and give his daughters a foundation from which they can grow. It's not an action-packed story, although there are some moments of tension. Rather, it's a quiet, reflective tale that gives the reader space to consider their own family ties, how they might hinder and how they might help. It makes me miss my own growing up in the country, just a little. This is Brian Porter's first novel, but I sure hope it isn't his last. He's an author to watch.

Here we find Eleanor, Clifford, Gladstone, and the ladies in the Big Apple. New York City! They've successfully made it across the Atlantic, Hugh has proposed and headed back to England, and Eleanor and company are set to enjoy a lovely holiday in America. But murder finds them when Marty, the jovial doorman for their apartment block, is run over in the street. The police aren't inclined to pursue the matter, and the high society folks Eleanor is mingling with strongly encourage her to drop it.

But Eleanor's strong sense of justice won't let her leave it be. As she investigates, she comes up with more questions than answers. Why did Marty have a wad of cash stashed away? He couldn't have made that much money as a doorman. But he used to work for the wealthy Ogden P. Dellaney, also found dead in mysterious circumstances the following day. Are the two connected?

Verity Bright gives us another lovely literary confection here! Bright portrays a New York where everybody – cops, doormen, chauffeurs – is on the take somehow. People warn Eleanor that the city isn't kind to those who go poking their noses where they don't belong (what, Eleanor do that? Perish the thought!). But she persists. And at least one officer of the law, Officer Balowski, is willing to help Eleanor search for the truth. For their troubles, though, Eleanor is evicted from her apartment and Balowski is fired from the force. How much farther will the killer go to warn them off?

Not only do we have the main mystery, but we also have the irascible Mrs. Melchum and her snooty cat, Catamina. Mrs. Melchum isn't very kind to Eleanor, nor is she favorably inclined toward Gladstone (and who doesn't love Gladstone?!). The interactions between Gladstone and Catamina are pretty funny. Cat, dog, you get the drift. What happened in her past to make her so bitter? Will she ever warm to Eleanor?

With the cast of charming regulars and new characters to love (or not), a high society setting in the Roaring 20s, and a mystery that leads the reader on a merry chase, Murder in Manhattan is a joy to read. Can't wait to see what Eleanor gets up to next!

This is the third in Fliss Chester's Cressida Fawcett series, and I love it!

Here we find Cressida and Dotty at Ayrton Castle in the Scottish Highlands. They're visiting for the Glorious Twelfth, the opening of grouse hunting season. But the festivities soon lose their luster when Hamish Glenkirk, the former owner of Ayrton Castle, is found dead in a locked room in one of the castle's turrets. As the castle is somewhat remote, assistance from Scotland Yard will be some time arriving. So Cressida takes it upon herself to start investigating.

At first glance, it appears that rather a lot of people had reason not to like Hamish Glenkirk. His own son Jack is one of them. Jack's motive, the loss of his future inheritance since the castle was sold, seems to be stronger than most. But then Jack is shot and seriously injured. Accident? Or is the killer trying to strike again?

What a delightful take on the locked-room mystery Chester gives us! And so many red herrings to chase! She sets up one suspect after another, only to knock them down in due time and leave the reader back at square one trying to figure out whodunnit. And the locked room, with its windows far too small, is a puzzling murder scene. How did the killer get in and out of the room without being noticed?

The Bright Young Things that populate Cressida's world, and indeed Cressida herself, are delightful, as always. (With the exception of Jack Glenkirk, who's really not that pleasant.) Cressida and Dotty work wonderfully together, and the idea of Dotty out with a rifle hunting grouse makes me chuckle. I suspect Dotty would hunt grouse about as well as I would! Dotty's brother Alfred makes an appearance here, and Cressida gets her hackles up a little when she sees him appearing to flirt with the daughter of Ayrton Castle. Could our Cressida be developing feelings toward Alfred that are more than just friendly? And will she ever admit that?

As a former prosecutor, my suspension of disbelief had to work overtime just a little when Cressida started taking evidence from the scene. I can kind of see why she did it; with actual police assistance some time away, it would have been easy for the killer to return to the scene and take away anything incriminating (if I recall correctly, that's called spoliation of evidence – it's been a hot minute since law school, though). But my prosecutorial side shuddered at the chain of custody nightmare that would have been in real life. It didn't stop me loving the book, though!

Family drama, clues hidden in unusual places, a killer on the loose, and Cressida on the case. Once again, Fliss Chester has given us an enchanting story that kept me guessing. I loved it, and I am here for all of Cressida's adventures!

Imagine it. Out of the blue, you receive a letter telling you that the child you've raised and loved was switched at birth with another.

What do you do?

This is the conundrum that Margo and Cassie face. Margo and her daughter Elsa live in a small village in Ireland. Cassie and her daughter Tilly live in the United States. Both women gave birth in France, and due to a hospital employee's negligent actions, they both went home with the wrong babies.

Margo and Cassie must face this difficult situation alone – Margo because of her husband's death, Cassie due to divorce and the fact that when her soon-to-be-ex learned Tilly wasn't his biological daughter, he pretty much dropped her like a hot potato. Lawyers on both sides advise against contact. But both women know that only they know what is best for their daughters, and they'll have to sort this situation out themselves. So Cassie and Tilly make the journey to Ireland to meet Margo and Elsa.

This story, y'all. It really stuck with me. I was adopted as a baby, and the concept of nature versus nurture has always fascinated me. Here, we see two mothers meeting their biological daughters for the first time as preteens. Do they see themselves, their husbands, in the features and gestures of a child raised by another family? What has shaped the daughters they raised, their upbringing or their genetics? Or maybe it's both.

I'm an attorney by education, and I couldn't just take off my attorney hat while I read. It boggled the mind a little, the extent to which both women just disregarded legal advice after no doubt investing a lot of time and money into hiring their respective legal counsel. But Ann O'Loughlin packs a lot of emotion in this book. That really carried the story for me and made this a compelling read. It isn't just the switched girls. It's all of the other things they're dealing with that draw the two women closer together – death of a loved one, the struggles of divorce, illness. And I did love how Margo's friends eventually expanded their circle to include and support Cassie and Tilly, too.

Family doesn't come in one form. (I know that better than some – adopted, birth family, two sets of in-laws along the way. My family tree is a family flow chart!) Ann O'Loughlin illustrates that beautifully here, and that is the heart of this story – family found, sustaining each other even through the most challenging circumstances. An excellent read!

Laura Childs, where have your books been all my life?! This is the first of the Tea Shop Mysteries that I've read (nothing like jumping in on number 26, right?), and it definitely will not be the last.

Theodosia Browning (love that name!) hosts special event teas as part of her business. The book opens with a Honey Bee Tea she's hosting for a local art gallery, hoping to help them get their name out there and grow. But the tea is brutally disrupted when a fake beekeeper douses the guests with who knows what chemicals and a local political is shot dead. The police are investigating, of course, but it seems to be going nowhere fast. Knowing the powers that be may not want certain pots stirred, Holly, the gallery owner, asks Theodosia to do her own digging into the matter.

I love Laura Childs' characters! The names are wonderful: Theodosia. Drayton. Osgood Claxton III (doesn't that one just ooze “smarmy politician”?). Their personalities are just what I'd expect. Theodosia is smart, headstrong, and a shrewd businesswoman. Drayton, a tea sommelier (I didn't even know there was such a thing), is very good at what he does, and he's a good friend who'll go with Theodosia into sticky situations even when it's against his better judgment.

Turns out there are a lot of people who might have rejoiced to see Osgood Claxton III dead. Lamar Lucket, his political opponent? Mignon Merriweather, his soon-to-be-ex-wife? Ginny Bell, the supposed “other woman”? Booker, an artist who lost out on grant money because of Claxton? Childs tosses out a lot of possibilities and leads the reader on a merry chase after each one.

With a plot that moves along briskly, an intriguing mystery, and recipes at the end of the book (my favorite!), this is a sweet cozy mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it, stayed up past my bedtime reading it, and can't wait to go back to the start and read the entire series.

Eva is the daughter of a supermodel. She was kidnapped as a young child, and because of that, she's grown up in disguise. She's told that it's for her own good, that her mother wants to protect her. Now she's in Austin, caring for her rock star brother Lor, who is recovering from an accident that left him unable to perform with his band. Can she start fresh here, where no one knows her?

Alex is a young man on the verge of being grown and flown. He's a cowboy, a student at the University of Texas, working to keep up his grades and hold down a job. But he's haunted by his fling with a much older woman, and now he faces the possibility that it's all going to come to light.

The two meet when Lor orders a delivery that is definitely not in his rehab plan, and sparks fly almost immediately. Both are hesitant to pursue a relationship because of their respective secrets, though. They dance around it for a while, but are soon unable to resist each other. On top of all the new relationship turmoil, they're each keeping the other at arm's length. But as so often happens, life conspires to bring secrets to light.

This was really a fun read! Eva and Alex are both likable characters. Most of the characters are. The only ones I really didn't like were Eva's mom Sloane Silver (and I could understand to some extent why she was the way she was – I don't like it, but I understand it) and Alex's ill-advised fling Angie (she was just hateful and predatory toward Alex – she wanted him back and didn't much care who she had to stomp on to try to make that happen). Did I want to shake Eva and Alex at times when they were holding back from being open and honest with each other? Yes. Yes, I did. But I was young and foolish once, too. Their reticence was based on fear – fear of rejection, fear of showing their true selves. And I suspect we've all felt that way at some point in a relationship.

I really appreciated that Preece wrote such a good relationship between Eva and Alex's sister Lena. Lena has Down syndrome, and it would have been easy to make Eva hesitant or stand-offish around her. But she jumps right in and treats Lena just like she would anyone else, with kindness and dignity. Their interactions were a particularly bright spot in the story!

I also love that Eva isn't pretentious. Tiny houses are a fascination of mine, and I'd love to read more of the story in the future. Does Eva ever build her tiny house? Do she and Alex go traveling with it? What happens?! I want to know!

The story had a bit more on-page spice than I usually prefer in my romance reads. I wasn't really expecting that. I mention it for those of you who, like me, may prefer the zestier action to take place off the page.

Spice notwithstanding, Preece does a good job of weaving a lot of different elements together to create a fast-paced, engaging story with main characters you'll cheer for. Four shiny stars from me for Whiskey on Our Shoes!

Do you have a kid who's interested in all things science? Then you will absolutely want a copy of Magical Elements of the Periodic Table! This charming book by Sybrina Durant is bright, colorful, educational, and so much fun to read. It's an alphabet book that takes you on a journey through some of the magical elements of the periodic table, guided by the Metal Horn Unicorns.

Each letter represents a different element and is identified with a different unicorn. Information regarding the element itself, as well as its history and uses, is presented in clear, easy-to-understand language. The unicorn illustrations are adorable. It's learning at its best – engaging, accessible, and fun!

I read the Kindle version of the book, and so I have not availed myself of all the extras that are available. You can get a unicorn-themed periodic table, trading cards representing each of the 26 unicorns and their elements, fun lesson cards, and more as printable downloads. I think this would be a great summer activity to keep young minds active and entertained.

When my younger son was in elementary school, he was fascinated with all things science. This book would have been right up his alley. After reading it myself, I highly recommend this for any child who has an interest in science and enjoys an appealing, well-written book. And it's not just fun for kids – I learned some things, too!

Five sparkly unicorn horns up for a winner of a book!

Excellent start to a new trilogy!

Gudgion creates a world based on the medieval era, drawing from Norse mythology and the tradition of the Knights Templar to craft his characters and setting. This made it very easy for me to sink into the book and enjoy the story without having to also focus on the logistics of how things worked.

And what a story! We've got a novice nun longing for home, political machinations, religious persecution, conflict between faiths old and new, action, magic, even a touch of romance. The story is told from three points of view: Adelais; Guy, the son of the prisoner rescued from torture; and Pateras Malory, one of the king's anakritim, responsible for torturing those who don't follow what the king deems to be the true faith.

When Adelais helps rescue a former Guardian from torture by the anakritim, she finds herself fleeing with the last few of that holy order. The anakritim seek the treasure the Guardians supposedly hold, and they have no qualms about obliterating the Guardians to get their hands on it.

The characters are relatable. Adelais longs for home, for the faith of her people. She questions whether she should use the rune song she was learning from Yrsa, as she is untrained. Will she bring down ruin on her companions, or will she be their salvation? Guy wants vengeance for his father's death, and exercising patience is hard for him to do. Malory tries to do his job well, but he wrestles with the question of whether he is truly on the side of right in the matter. Malory is a refreshing foil to chief torturer Ghislain Barthram. Barthram is almost a caricature, so single-minded in pursuit and so devoted to his craft is he. It's good to see that becoming a torturer for the king doesn't relieve Malory of all his human decency.

The description compares this book to the work of Andrzej Sapkowski, author of The Witcher books. I haven't read any of his Witcher stories, but I have read The Tower of Fools. I see some of the same epic fantasy elements here, but The Tower of Fools had a satirical, comic thread that this story does not. Reynevan, the main character in that book, was an idiot, and this often led to some very humorous moments. Adelais is not (and this is a good thing! I like Adelais!). Before the story ends, there is a question of whether she is a heretic or one touched by the hand of God, whether she has practiced magic that deserves death or whether a miracle has been wrought. She is smart enough to make use of the tools she has at hand and work them to her benefit.

The story took a minute to really pull me in, but once it got going, I had a hard time putting it down. I'm anxious to read the next in the series to see if Adelais makes it home!

When you turn the last page of Watermelon Tattoo and come up for air. you may shake your head. You may wonder, “Who was driving that truck that just ran me over, and did anybody get the license number?” It packs a wallop!

I'll tell you right now, this book covers some hot topics. There's a fair bit of on-screen sexual content, both male/female and female/female. Lots of drinking and drug use and the effects thereof. Violence. It is not for teenagers and it is not for the faint of heart. I've seen one review liken it to a Quentin Tarantino movie. I'll agree with that assessment. If that isn't your jam, you have my blessing and encouragement to stop reading right here.
Jaqui Benderman is a small-town Texas girl. Her father is raising her on his own, and he may be renowned for the Black Diamond watermelons he grows, but sometimes he isn't quite sure how well he's doing as a dad. Jaqui aims to break free of her little town, and winning the title of Watermelon Queen (and a good chunk of change for college) seems to be the quickest way to do that. With the help of her best friend Langley, she nurtures her previously unrealized singing talent. But a tragic accident on the farm takes the life of Jaqui's boyfriend Randy, and the judgmental eyes of the town hold her responsible. Her drunken stupor at the talent competition is her undoing, and when they find booze and drugs in her things there, she's disqualified from the contest. Gathering up her tattered dreams, Jaqui heads off for the music scene in Austin, while Langley stays behind to pursue his dream of the police academy.
Jaqui is by turns driven to achieve her goals and something of a lost little girl. She makes a name for herself on the local music scene, and in the process meets Katrine, a Romany immigrant and a performer herself. They become roommates and then more. Jaqui isn't sure how she feels about Katrine's method of supporting herself, but she comes to realize that her feelings for Katrine are very real. She continues to dive deeper into alcohol and drug use to numb emotions she isn't always sure how to handle, and I sometimes wondered if she would ever be able to find her way out of that web again.
There's also the mystery (which isn't really that mysterious) of who wants Jaqui dead. Someone is trying to get to her, to avenge Randy's death. The tension builds as the threat draws closer and closer to Jaqui and those she cares about.
While Langley is a part of the book, this really isn't a story about Jaqui's friendship with him. We see the story unfold through their alternate viewpoints, but Langley is a tangent. He is a touchstone for Jaqui, but she is the story's focus. They're both growing up and coming of age in their own way, although Langley's path is a tad more conventional. Perhaps there's a future book planned with more of Langley's story?
The story gives what I would think is a pretty accurate look at the underbelly of the musical scene in Austin, or indeed, in any big city. Jaqui is the personification of “sex, drugs, and rock & roll” (although she favors torch songs, not slammin' guitars). Tony Burnett has done his research, and he puts together a barnburner of a book. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's gonna be somebody's shot of whiskey, and what a shot it is! Slam it down and hang on.
And if you want to know more about the titular watermelon tattoo, you're just going to have to read and find out.