Lisa Henson

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.

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.

The time is nigh! The time for Autumn's wedding, that is. Felicity is tickled to be serving as Autumn's maid of honor. Wedding preparations are underway, and Felicity is in the thick of them. But she soon finds herself in the thick of another murder investigation, too, when one of the bridesmaids is under suspicion of killing a real estate agent that was once a friend.
Amber Royer does it up big here! There are so many things going on in this book, but like the perfect recipe for a good chocolate, they all work well together. Wedding things go wrong, including the custom-designed groom's ring going missing and the jeweler nowhere to be found. Arlo's old flame, Pam, asks Felicity to look into her father's disappearance. He's an insurance investigator and may or may not have fled his family and headed south of the border.

And then there's a kidnapped goat. I simply adore Royer's inclusion of animals in her stories. Felicity's bunny, Knightley, is in every book, and he's a dear. Here we also get to meet Princess Buttercup, a darling goat taken from a wedding expo and held captive. Let's just say she doesn't take well to being held against her will, and I am reminded of why I enjoy the cuteness of other people's goats! The goat shenanigans add an extra touch of whimsy to the story.

In the middle of all the goings-on, Felicity is still trying to decide: Arlo or Logan? Her self-imposed deadline to choose is drawing ever nearer, and sometimes she seemed like she was no closer to making a decision than she was in the last book. But huzzah and hurrah, the choice is made! (Don't be silly. I'm not going to TELL you who she picked. Go read the book if you want to know!) I felt myself swayed back and forth as Felicity weighed the pros and cons, the good and bad of each choice. But in the end, I am well pleased with how things turned out. As another reviewer said, the man Felicity chose needed her more than the other did, and she needed him, too. Romance may not be the focus of Royer's books, but it is on point here, and I adored it. Can't wait to see the relationship unfold in future books!

We get to learn more about characters who don't always play a major role in Royer's books, most notably Ash. I liked that we got to see new facets to his character here. I hope we see more of this side of him in the future – maybe more collaboration between him and Felicity? And we get to see Felicity slowly making her peace with being known for her sleuthing abilities almost as much as for her designer chocolates.

It's another five-star read for me! If Amber Royer is writing it, I'm reading it, no questions asked.

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.

This is the first of Nisha J. Tuli's books that I've read, but it won't be the last! (Especially since this one is first in a quartet! Three more books of this delicious fantasy world! Woo hoo!)

Zarya has grown up a captive, held in an idyllic location. But as the book says, “It wasn't an unpleasant prison, but a firefly trapped in even the most ornate jar would still die without air.” She's been raised by Row and trained alongside his apprentice Aarav. Row won't tell Zarya anything about her upbringing, just that it's imperative no one know where she is, and he sets magical boundaries in place to keep her from leaving (because she tries). She and Aarav aren't on good terms, and she chafes at her lack of freedom. Then one day, Row is gone, and so are the magical boundaries. Zarya takes Row's horse and takes off fast as she can, heading for the city of Dharati. She wanted adventure, freedom, a chance to truly live? She surely finds it.

Nisha J. Tuli has crafted a beautiful world here, based on Indian/South Asian mythology. I don't know a lot about the culture and history, but we've recently taken an interest in Bollywood/Hindi cinema (my apologies if this isn't the most current term) and really enjoyed them, so I'm interested in stories with similar settings. Tuli's word does not disappoint! I could almost see the things she described, almost smell and taste the foods. She does a top-tier job of creating her universe.

Another thing I found intriguing was the process Tuli created by which a new monarch takes the throne. I don't recall seeing anything comparable in other books. When Princess Amrita took the throne, it hurt my heart, because her becoming queen is life-changing in ways I couldn't have imagined.

And I know it isn't the romance, but I adored the relationship developing between Zarya and Yasen! At first he is very gruff to her, sometimes almost rude. But as the story progresses, they warm up to each other and become almost like siblings. I hope we see more of that in future books. I think Zarya will need someone who can balance her, encourage her, and kick her butt when she needs it.

I've seen some reviews expressing disappointment in Zarya's actions and attitude, opining that she acts more like a teenager than a 20/21-year-old. I agree that she did seem very naive and overly emotional in some ways. But think about it. She's spent pretty much all of life that she remembers closeted away from the world, with no one to help her mature emotionally. Of course she acts younger than her age. She doesn't know how to do otherwise. She starts out as so many of us do when we're young, thinking that life is one big adventure, romance is all rose-colored glasses, and everyone is looking out for our best interests. She's learning otherwise. I think she'll grow up and mature just fine.

The identity of the love interest really blew me away. I did NOT see it coming, and this is a romance that will definitely be enemies to lovers. Zarya and Rabin didn't meet face to face until near the end of the book, so I'm not sure if it's going to be a slow burn or a raging inferno. Either way, I'm here to see how it plays out!

As this is my first book by Tuli, I won't yet say she's on my super short list of favorite authors. She's sure making a run for it, though. Heart of Night and Fire is a solid four-star read for me, and I'm ready for the rest of the Nightfire Quartet!

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

I've read and loved all three books in M. D. House's Barrabas trilogy. His vision of what may have happened after Barabbas was released in Jesus Christ's place, allowed to live so that Jesus could die and be resurrected as the ultimate atoning sacrifice. The third book in the trilogy, The Barabbas Legacy, began to shift focus from Barabbas' life to the legacy he was building, through his children and through the fledgling Christian church. In Sophia: Daughter of Barabbas, we learn more of that legacy with Sophia's story.

Sophia is called to take a missionary journey with Onesimus, a former slave who has been freed and converted to Christianity, and the apostle John. Yes, that John. The one into whose care Jesus commended His mother Mary as he was dying on the cross. The apostle whom Jesus loved.

We see Sophia learn and grow in her faith and in her ability to reach out to others to share that faith. Sure, she has insecurities, but she doesn't let those dissuade her from following the call the Spirit has given her. She comes to be a powerful preacher and teacher, and even when others are not persuaded by her words, she leaves an impression. And while she starts the journey committed to remaining single, she learns that God sometimes has plans that differ from ours.

I loved the portrayal of John! Although he's getting up in years during the events of this story, he remains energetic and on fire for the Lord. I like to think that's how he really was.

As always, House has done a meticulous job of historical research. I had never thought of the early Church against the backdrop of events like Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. House's juxtaposition of the two puts his story into a recognizable historical context.

Is this book scripturally accurate? Much of it is undoubtedly fictional in nature. There is no mention of Barabbas' life after his release, so his family is House's creation. But Sophia is a wonderfully imagined character, and fits with what I know of the role of women in the early Church. She seems like someone I'd like were I to meet her in person.

If you enjoy well-researched historical fiction and a plausible imagining of events beyond the pages of Scripture, you need to get to know Sophia.

Thanks to Reedsy Discovery and the author for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Sheila and the Paradise Cove Murder Society ladies are helping out their friend Evelyn. Evelyn is hosting a convention of murder mystery writers at the Parrot Eyes Inn, and she's struggling. Since her husband died, Evelyn has barely kept the inn afloat. Her son, Kevin (who we met in Paw and Order when he tried to help Roger Cabot frame Sheila for a murder that Roger committed), is home under court supervision. I'm not sure if he's more help to his mother or if she's trying to help him, but he's at least marginally contributing assistance with the inn.

Kevin tells Sheila that he's afraid for his life, that Roger Cabot, in prison awaiting trial, has threatened him. He claims Roger has found a way to get out of prison and threatened the lives of anyone who will be testifying. He asks Sheila to meet him after conference events end for the evening, that he's got something to show her. Problem is, when Sheila goes to meet Kevin, she finds him, dead in the pool. And the evidence points to none other than Roger Cabot.

This is a clever variation on the locked-room mystery, only instead of the victim being locked into a room, the apparent murderer is locked in prison! There are misdirections aplenty – Chief Anderson supposedly checking out key evidence in Cabot's murder trial, the USB drive found on Kevin's dead body that belonged to one of the authors at the convention, Cabot's DNA and prints all over the scene. But Cabot's attorney insists that his client is securely in jail, and all of these goings-on cast enough doubt on his murder charge that he's going to ask the court to release his client for lack of evidence. So they're racing against the clock to solve the crime before the court makes a ruling that could set a killer free.

Would a writer of murder mysteries kill someone right under the noses of other mystery writers? And which one of them would have a reason to murder Kevin?

Sheila even comes under Chief Anderson's suspicion. You'd think he would have learned by the times he's tried to pin crimes on her in the past and she's been cleared of suspicion. Apparently not. (Detective Whiskers does not take kindly to the chief's casting aspersions on his person and responds in appropriate cat fashion. I laughed out loud!)

Sheila, Tarrie Ann, Becky, and Julia work to help piece together what happened and share their information with the police. And Detective Whiskers is the one who helps put all the pieces together. The ending is a happily ever after, with things tied up in a neat bow, and how it all worked out made me smile. Sadly, Chief Anderson hasn't yet seen fit to acknowledge Whiskers' contributions to crime solving, but hopefully that day is coming!

These books are sweet literary treats – light, engaging, quick reads that are absolutely charming. If you love a good mystery that has not only good human characters but delightful animal characters, too, you'll love the Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mysteries. Start with the first and read them all!

Did anyone get the license number of that truck that just laid me out?! That’s this book. Y’all, Manning Wolfe has written an absolute banger of a novel with Dead by Proxy.

Byron Douglas is a respected criminal defense lawyer in New York City, and he’s very good at what he does. He’s retained to represent a defendant connected to the Irish Mob, charged with murder. When his client insists on testifying against Byron’s strongly worded recommendation, Byron is unable to live up to his reputation, and the jury finds his client guilty. Byron then finds himself in a heap of trouble, literally running for his life.

I burned through this book in significantly less than 24 hours. I could not put it down, because I had to know what happened! After his defeat in court, it doesn’t take Byron long to realize the Irish Mafia has him in the crosshairs, and he starts laying some pretty meticulous plans for dropping out of sight. I was impressed! If I were in fear for my life, I don’t know that I’d have the presence of mind to set things up the way he did. (That’s probably why he’s a better trial lawyer than I ever was, that whole preparation thing.) But no plan is perfect, and while he’s making enough playing poker to survive, he misses his legal career. When his cover is blown, Byron heads to Texas to see a judge – the father of his former best friend, Quinton Bell. The judge suggests that Byron takes on a life as Quinton, but will that be enough to protect him?

Manning Wolfe does a masterful job with courtroom settings and litigation know-how. I was on the prosecution side of the bar, but I can tell you, her descriptions of the process are spot on. And I know defense attorneys are generally not highly regarded except by the people hoping for a not guilty verdict, but I appreciated that she had Byron/Quinton not being a total jerk in court. He conducted himself with professionalism and he did the best he could to provide a zealous defense to someone who was a pretty despicable person.

She also does a phenomenal job of writing a thriller that will have you chewing your nails to the quick. The tension absolutely never lets up. Quinton is constantly looking over his shoulder, second-guessing himself. He’s been made once before. Is a new identity enough to keep the eyes of the Irish off him? And even when he thinks it’s okay to draw a breath, that maybe he isn’t on their radar for a minute or two, he has to navigate life basically wearing someone else’s skin. Who can he trust? Who can he just relax and be himself with? Who can he tell his secret to? I can only imagine that keeping people at that kind of distance is exhausting.

I’m not going to tell you the whole story. That’s Ms. Wolfe’s job, and I certainly can’t do it better than she can. I will tell you this: there were things I didn’t see coming, and Judge Bell does a whole lot of stuff that I’m pretty sure violates more than one judicial canon. I know desperate times call for desperate measures, and he did what he thought was best to help Byron. But man, Judge Bell rolled some pretty big dice and hoped no one called him on any of it. And he calls himself an officer of the court. I wasn’t sure whether I really liked his character or not as the story went on!

Find yourself a comfy spot and settle in, because once you start Dead by Proxy, you won’t want stop until you get to the end. It’s a great beginning to the Proxy Legal Thriller series, and there’s a heck of a cliffhanger at the end that will leave you in a froth to get your hands on the next book!

I'm a big fan of epic fantasy, and Shadowcast has introduced me to a new favorite fantasy author, Crystal D. Grant! It was so good, I legit read it in less than 24 hours.

The book starts with a bang as one of our main characters, Mason, sees his older brother brutally murdered by the Stewards, the forces for good whose ranks he'd one day hoped to join. That was a turning point in Mason's life. He swore revenge on his brother's killers and turned all his energies toward joining the Shadowmen.

Seria is alone in the world, except for her donkey Sanjo. She sees the battle at the small town of Rackson, Shadowmen against Stewards. When Mason, disguised in a Steward's armor, is seriously injured, Seria finds him and takes him in to tend his wounds. Can he keep his true identity hidden from her?

Prince Eric is resuming his role as marshal of the Stewards after the man who served long and well in his intended place is killed in battle. He has no reason to believe in himself, and struggles to become the leader he wants to be, the leader his men and his country need.

I can't believe this is the author's first novel. It doesn't read at all like there are first-book jitters here. Grant's worldbuilding is superb, and her characters are well-crafted and well-developed. Even Mason gives us reason to empathize with him, gruff as he is.

The grumpy/sunshine romance aspect is just perfect. Mason is so, so grumpy. Which I guess he would be – a man pretending to be something he's not, and trying to recover from some pretty serious injuries, to boot. That would make anyone grumpy! Seria is perfectly sunshiny. I love her. She is almost aggressively cheerful (but not without her low moments), and she looks for the best in every situation. And she could talk the hind leg off a dog! LOL I think Mason was just worn down by her pervasive optimism and the fact that she was open and honest with him about who she was. She didn't have anything to hide, and I think he found that attractive.

The struggle on a personal level is heartwrenching. Mason has devoted so much of his life to becoming the darkness, he isn't sure how to handle himself when he finds himself changed by the light he encounters in Seria. He still feels that thirst for revenge for the man who killed his brother, though. Seria likewise struggles when she learns of Mason's true identity. How can she ever love a man who's swearing himself to battle all that she believes to be good and true?

But make no mistake, this is an epic battle between good and evil on more than just the personal level. The book isn't overtly Christian, but there is a clear belief in a higher Deity who is all-knowing and all wise – the Lambient. Their faith is important to the characters on the side of the light. Their belief in the Lambient's goodness and wisdom sustains them. Destroying that faith and tearing down everything good is equally important to characters on the side of the darkness.

The cliffhanger at the ending of the book was maddening in the best possible way. It leaves you knowing there is so much more of the story to come. And this is a story where you get all of the excitement, all of the intrigue, all of the romance, and it's clean to boot. I can't wait for the next book!

My thanks to the author for a review copy of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

If you ever wanted to focus your heart on the truth of Christmas, Angela Hunt’s Star of Wonder: An Advent Devotional to Illuminate the People, Places, and Purpose of the First Christmas is the book for you! This isn’t a “quick bite” devotional that you can read in a few minutes. Hunt delves deeply into biblical events and illustrates how they connect to Jesus as Messiah.

The book is divided into four parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. I particularly liked the Prophecies section. Lately I’ve taken a more intense interest in how Jesus is the fulfillment of so many prophecies in the Old Testament, and this section of Star of Wonder fits right in with my studies. I also like Hunt’s focus on a couple of people that we might not necessarily think of in terms of Christmas. The fact that it goes beyond the expected is one of my favorite parts of this devotional!

Hunt ties in a good deal of Jewish history with the Christian faith here. I grew up in church. I’ve heard about Jesus since I was a wee girl. But the churches I attended when I was young never really made the connection of the Jesus we followed to the Jesus who was born into and a part of the Jewish culture. I can appreciate the richness of that tradition, and it informs my reading of Scripture to have information about Jesus’ historical and cultural background.

Each daily devotional includes “A Moment for Wonder” that gives you something to contemplate, and each closes with a prayer. I really like the prayers. Sometimes having something structured to pray helps me focus.

If you’re looking for an Advent devotional that lets you go beyond the traditional Christmas stories and songs, I highly recommend Star of Wonder.

Thanks to JustRead Publicity Tours and the author for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

I do love a good dual-timeline story, and Heidi Eljarbo delivers!

In 1973, art historian Fabiola Bennett is called in when the National Gallery in London receives a mysterious note indicating there may be a problem with Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, a well-known work of artist Thomas Gainsborough. We see the investigation into the matter through Fabiola's eyes, and we see the history of the painting from the artist's viewpoint in 1750.

I know very little about art history or how one would tell a real painting from a forgery, so the detail the author provided on those subjects was fascinating. As a former prosecutor, I'm always interested in anything related to crime and its investigation, and it was fun seeing Fabiola work with (and sometimes without) Detective Inspector Cary Green. I sometimes had to hold my breath at the situations Fabiola and Pippa put themselves into for the sake of gaining information. They were definitely keen to solve the mystery!

The dual timelines wove together effortlessly, and it was interesting reading about the thought process that Gainsborough may have put into his painting. (I say “may” because this is fiction, after all.) I'm no artist, and Eljarbo gave us an engaging look into the the artist's inner world as he put brushes to canvas.

There's just a hint of romance between Fabiola and the Detective Inspector. I hope we see more of that in future books. Fabiola is a likable character. She's mourning the death of her husband, so it's understandable that she isn't jumping into anything right now. But I would like to see her happy in a new relationship at some point. I can hope!

This is the first book I've read by Heidi Eljarbo, but it won't be the last. I look forward to more in this series, and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery that keeps you guessing.

My thanks to JustRead Publicity Tours and the author for a review copy of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I enjoy a good time travel read, and this one had a bit of a different take on it. Here, time travel involves alchemy.

Ayoub is a Moroccan boy, growing up Muslim, learning what can only be called terrorist ways. When he is helping his mother steal a book from a museum, things go wrong. His mother loses her life, and Ayoub is on the run with this book. Inside it he finds an artifact of some kind. The artifact whisks him to the days of the Barbary pirates through a ball of light.

Experience Fuller (or Peri, as she understandably prefers to be called in this modern world) is a freshman in college. She's looking forward to enjoying the college experience, and she's flattered and maybe a bit overwhelmed when Liam, an older student, takes a romantic interest in her. She discovers an artifact in the shallow waters off Martha's Vineyard. During a storm, the artifact attracts ball lightning, and much like Ayoub, Peri is transported back in time. She finds herself in the era of the Puritans.

Ayoub is rescued by a pirate crew. He resolves to become captain of his own ship, and then use the artifact to travel forward in time and bring modern weapons back. His goal is then to establish the Caliphate before America becomes a nation powerful enough to fight against them.

Peri is rescued from the water by a group that includes Daniel, a Wampanoag who has converted to Christianity and is training to become a minister. She ends up meeting her ancestors and, by the by, Connecticut Governor John Winthrop, Jr. Winthrop is an alchemist, and Peri is able to learn about alchemy from him in hopes of figuring out how she can get back home. She has realized that there's a connection between her artifact and a book she'd seen on her travels, and between the book and terrorist activity.

Ms. Denny clearly did her research on this book. The historical detail is almost an education in itself! I'm not a huge student of history, and I never really think about what else was going on in the world when studying one aspect of history. This book helped me do just that. The Barbary pirates were the terrorists of their day, so it seems fitting that our time travelers should end up in similar situations when they were transported back – Ayoub with like-minded fellows, Peri with the Americans that will be.

Peri was a little dithery at first, and I really wanted to scream at her when she was so infatuated with Liam. He just seemed off to me (and indeed, he is). But I thought about what I was like at that age, and realized I was probably very similar to Peri when I headed off to college. Ayoub is slightly terrifying in his single-mindedness and his determination to bring 21st-century havoc to the 17th century.

The book doesn't have a cut and dried ending. It's rather a cliffhanger. I loathe cliffhangers, because it means I have to wait to get my hands on the next book, and I hate waiting. So I'm anxiously looking forward to seeing how the story continues. Will Ayoub succeed? Will Peri stop him? Will Peri find a way to stay with Daniel, or to bring him with her back to modern times? How will that even work? I have so many questions!

I recommend this if you like well-researched and detailed historical fiction, time travel, and a little bit of romance. It's a lot of fun, and I look forward to reading more.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the author for an advance copy of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't really like.

Katherine Macdonald has done it again. She's reimagined Beauty and the Beast in a most delightful way.

I can relate to Asami. She's a quiet heroine - introverted, logical, inquisitive, and tenacious. All the qualities that make her a good scientist lead her to ask questions when her research isn't adding up. Her questions lead her into danger, and to Beau - Beaumont, a former soldier, left deformed by the experiments conducted on him and other soldiers. He's one of the few who lived. Those close to him know him as “Beast.” Asami walks away from her career to try to help Beau, to see if she can undo some of the damage that's been done to him.

The world building here is superb, as it is in all of Macdonald's books. It may not be anything like the world of Beauty and the Beast that we're familiar with, but that makes this retelling all the more enjoyable.

The character development is on point. Asami and Beau are not perfect people. They have flaws. But they are perfect for each other, even if their attraction doesn't come to fruition immediately. And the Dread Doctors are deliciously macabre. When I learned what they really were, I just about dropped my teeth. I didn't expect that!

Macdonald's treatment of Beau's deformities is sensitive and realistic. They clearly make Beau uncomfortable and make him think he's unworthy of affection. Asami doesn't gloss over them and pretend they don't exist; rather, she tells him that yes, she sees them, and that they aren't the things about him that matter most to her. He struggles to accept her love, to believe her when she says that his deformities are part of him but they don't make her want to pull away from him. I thought this was very well written.

You don't get the straight-up “happily ever after” ending here. But there are hints at a chance for happiness yet to come, and it sure sounds like there will be more stories to be told in the Mechanical Kingdoms. I am here for them. Every single one.

My thanks to Booksprout and the author for an advance review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Carlie Walker gives us a zesty holiday-themed treat with The Takedown!

Sydney Swift is an undercover agent for the CIA. She’s very good at what she does. And she hasn’t been home in a very long time, because, well, undercover. She’s missed a lot of Christmases with her family. But this year is different. This year, the FBI has recruited her for a mission to take down organized crime heir Johnny Jones, so Sydney is going home for the holidays. Oh, did we mention that Sydney’s adored younger sister, Calla, is engaged to said organized crime heir? Yeah, there’s that. How will Sydney accomplish this without breaking her sister’s heart and without giving herself away to her family?

Walker gives us characters that are believable in their roles. I really liked Sydney. She’s a butt-kickin’ secret agent who loves her little sister deeply and will do anything to protect her. And it was hard not to like Nick, too, even when I wasn’t sure where his loyalties really lay. He was not what you’d really picture for a crime lord’s bodyguard – he had some surprising depth. Grandma Ruby was an absolute delight. I should be so spry and sassy when I’m her age! And Sydney’s relationship with Calla as a sister who’s been absent for far longer than she should was spot on.

Sydney’s efforts to charm Nick are wonderfully written. She’s determined to break him down to get to Johnny. Her little sister’s well-being is at stake. But could she be actually attracted to him? She fights it for all she’s worth, and there are twists in the plot that make you wonder who’s really doing the seducing here. And the snark! The funny! There were a couple of things that made me laugh out loud. Walker did a great job of infusing humor into her story.

When things finally click for Sydney and Nick (because you know they do), there’s a little more on-page spice than I look for in my books. It’s not an overwhelming part of the story. I’m mentioning it in case there are others who share my preference for clean romance that might like to know.

Carlie Walker gives us a zesty little treat with action, tension, enemies to lovers, plot twists, family relationships, and just the right amount of Christmas cheer! This book was really a lot of fun to read. If you’re looking for a quick holiday-themed read to take your mind off the stress that can build up this time of year, I strongly recommend The Takedown.

Thanks to Berkley and the author for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

This was a thoroughly delightful read! Cassie is staying in Florida with her aunt Flora, at least for now. She is persuaded to join the chorus of a traveling theater troupe that promotes itself as donating all their profits to needy children. But when the star of the production meets an untimely end upon the stage, Cassie can't help but do some digging. Is the troupe as altruistic as Mr. Gage made them out to be? Who, really, is Prince Richard Montgomery, and why doesn't Flora seem to like him? So many questions!

A Plot Most Perilous is a quick read, set in the 1880s in Florida. (I love that it's set in Fernandina, as I have a friend that lives there.) It's clean, with hints of possible extramarital shenanigans but no overt adult content, and no strong language. It was just fun to read.

Cassie is smart and generous and kind. She and Hughes are adorable, as they both seem to be trying to figure out what the other feels about them. I hope to see their relationship develop in future books. And I absolutely love Flora and Jake! Once they move to a more official “relationship” status, they both struggle with communication and expectations of how they “should” act instead of how they're accustomed to interacting with each other. Flora has to sort out how to maintain both her relationship and the independence she's developed and nurtured for so long. Very believably written, as all of the characters seem to be.

And the end of this book, y'all. It made me smile, and made me want to read the next one RIGHT NOW.

If you're looking for a clean, well plotted cozy mystery to take along on vacation or to curl up with on a Saturday afternoon, I highly recommend A Plot Most Perilous.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I have long been fascinated by cemeteries and gravestones. Growing up in the South, I was expected to attend funerals and graveside services from an early age, and I always liked walking around cemeteries to see what interesting tidbits I might find on the grave markers. So when I had a chance to review What Lies Beneath, I jumped at it.
The book is divided into ten sections, based on the ten Texas Heritage Trails established by the Texas Historical Commission. That makes it easy to read in smaller chunks (if you can bear to put it down – I found it quite engrossing!), and if you're interested in traveling to see any of these places in person, the book's structure will make it easy to find and visit several in one area.

I lived in Texas for a time, and while I didn't grow up there, I appreciate its history and culture. Massey doesn't just give you a coffee table book full of pretty pictures. She really digs into the pioneer stories, the life and times of the folks whose grave markers she's writing about. I learned a lot of things I didn't know and was introduced to some fascinating characters. Some of the people whose burials she highlighted were lawmen. While many were good, honest men who strove to uphold the law, a couple turned out to be just about as bad as the criminals they were supposed to go after!

I've said before how much I enjoy books that both entertain and educate. What Lies Beneath does both admirably. It's not a dry historical read at all. Massey's prose brings the people she writes about to life, and I particularly enjoyed the sidebar facts. For instance, did you know that a “cemetery” is not the same thing as a “graveyard”? I'd never given it much thought. The terms have always been used interchangeably in my experience. But there is a difference. I also learned how women were identified on their tombstones if they died before or after their husbands. I had really never given that any thought at all.

We'd like to travel more, and I hope we can see at least some of the locations mentioned in the book. I'd love to go take pictures and share them on the Find A Grave site.

This is a great read for “the spooky month,” as my kids call October, and one I'd highly recommend for any student of history and anyone who, like me, feels the pull of the past coming from a graveyard.

Five stars as bright as the ones you'll see in an old country cemetery on a moonless night.

A couple of months back, I had the chance to participate in the cover reveal for Anita Dickason's Deadly Business. So I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the blog tour and review the book. And boy, am I glad I read it!

The book opens with our protagonist, U.S. Marshal Piper McKay, on a raid. As the raid wraps up, she gets word that her grandmother, Jen, was seriously injured when she was thrown from her horse. Jen took Piper in after her parents were killed, and Piper is skeptical that any horse could throw Jen. When she gets back to the ranch where she grew up, Piper talks to Grady, the ranch foreman, and does a little investigating of her own. She soon realizes that something is out of line. And then we're off and running.

I could not love this book more if I were twins. It grabs you by the heart and the throat from the beginning, and it does. not. let. up. The action is intense, the emotion Piper and Grady feel over Jen's injury and whether or not she'll recover is wrenching, and the characters are vividly drawn. I'd love to know how much of Piper is drawn from the author's own life experiences in law enforcement, because the book sure reads like Ms. Dickason is writing what she knows.

I love Piper, of course, because who doesn't love a strong woman who takes no crap and does a great job in a typically male-dominated field? Her relationship with her boss and co-workers is excellent – she says she needs help, and she gets it, no questions asked. We should all have such great working relationships! Grady is wonderful, too. He helps Jen keep the ranch running smoothly, and he's a great cook, too. If there are more books in Piper's world, I'd love to see some of Grady's recipes added in at the end! Jen is the heart of the story. Everyone revolves around her, and their care and concern for her is palpable.

While romance can sometimes be a distraction in a good thriller, the chemistry between Piper and Cade Tanner works here. It isn't insta-romance. It's a slow burn that hints of romance and fireworks yet to come. I hope we see more of their relationship in later books.

And I learned some things in this book, too! The information included about cattle breeding and certain characteristics that make one animal more desirable over another was fascinating to me. I didn't grow up a rancher's daughter, but I was a farmer's daughter, so anything that can relate back to what I learned in 4-H, I'm all about learning more on the subject. I loved the factual details included in the book.

If I hadn't had to work while I was reading Deadly Business, I probably would have stayed up and finished it all in one night. It's that good. I nearly got myself in trouble by reading past my lunch break at work. It's a well-written, engaging, hair-raising ride with a plot that rings true and characters you either love or love to hate. Give me more.

Five bad-guy butt-kickin' stars. If you enjoy a good thriller, go grab this one. Quick. (Or scroll down and enter the giveaway and see if you can get yourself a copy for FREE!)

Maiden, Mother, Crone. The three archetypal stages of a woman's life. The Maiden is young and fair, blooming with life and potential. The Mother is nurturing and giving. And the Crone? Well, we all know what people think of her. Dried up, not much use anymore, withering away to the end of life.

In Creatrix Rising, Stephanie Raffelock is here to smash the Crone archetype to smithereens. In the Crone's place, Raffelock proposes the Creatrix.

“Unlike the Crone, the Creatrix is no haggard old woman of the forest. She has the radiant beauty we all seek, that of wisdom, compassion, courage, and strength. She is the witness that holds the lamp to illuminate the path the younger women behind her will traverse. The Creatrix is the pinnacle of a woman's life.”

I'm a middle-aged woman myself. I'm a bit of an oddball in that I'm still in the parenting years in my 50s. I have two boys, 19 and 12, so they're not quite grown and flown – I'm the oldest mom in the 7th grade class. Even so, in middle age, the idea that my best years are behind me has never set well with me. Growing up, I knew many older women who were graceful and confident, living their best lives. So why does society expect women to shrink and dwindle? Are we useless once we're no longer able to contribute to the continuation of the species? I think not.

Raffelock's Creatrix, introduced to us through stories and personal anecdotes, is no shriveled hag. She is a woman full of vitality and creativity, life and grace. Raffelock walks us through some of her own experiences that led her to conclude that there was a need for a new archetype. Her insights and experiences help me think of my own life in a new light.

I like the way the book is divided, and I like that it looks at the Creatrix in different aspects: Teacher, Healer, Illuminator, Artist. We're all different, and it makes sense that that continues into our later years. I also like the questions for reflection, activity, and journaling. I read through the book straight through the first time, but I'll be going back and working through all those questions.

I love the message of the book, that life isn't winding down just because we're at or past the midpoint of our lives. I kept hearing Helen Reddy's “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar” as I was reading. I highly recommend this book for any woman who's starting to feel less than because she isn't a pretty young thing anymore. It'll give you a much-needed new direction and new outlook on growing older and living with purpose.

Five stars from me!

The Big Empty is a story of a clash of cultures. The present that's rapidly becoming the past colliding with the seemingly incompatible future.

Life in the town of Conquistador is really all that Trace Malloy has ever known. He's a ranch manager and a cowboy, and with the exception of a short stint trying unsuccessfully to break away from his hometown, he's been in Conquistador all of his life. He realizes that ranching and the cowboy life are likely not viable options for the long term, and he wants to see his son Colt take advantage of other opportunities. Colt, unable to pursue his dream of flying in the Air Force due to the lingering damage from broken legs, stubbornly persists in saying he's going to follow in his father's footsteps right there in Conquistador.

But the future is on its way to Conquistador. AZTech, lured by the promise of tax breaks and accommodations, is building a computer chip manufacturing facility in the middle of the wide-open, dusty spaces. Blaine Witherspoon is heading up the project, seeing it as his ticket to bigger and better things in bigger and better places.

Past and present literally collide when Trace's pickup and Blaine's moving truck try to occupy the same piece of road at the same time. This doesn't bode well for their future interactions. Blaine sees Trace as a backwards yokel who needs to join the twenty-first century, and Trace sees Blaine as someone with no frame of reference for his new environment, someone who wants to come in and change things to suit the needs of his new facility without giving any thought to how those changes will impact the people in Conquistador, their livelihoods, their very ability to survive.

Blaine wants to get the factory up and running and meeting production goals on time and under budget. Trace wants to protect the town's scarce resources and see them managed so that the needs of both town and factory can be met. They both realize that something has to give, and they make grudging efforts to find some common ground. Some of those efforts are comical – Trace inviting Blaine, his high-maintenance wife who'd rather be anywhere but West Texas, and his emo son with a drug habit to a barbecue at the ranch, for instance. The Witherspoons thoughtfully bring their own food to accommodate their vegetarian eating habits, and the Conquistador folks are a bit befuddled as to why anyone would make a burger patty out of vegetables when there are perfectly good burgers made of beef to be had. Some of those efforts hurt – Blaine invites Trace to tour the chip factory, and it becomes a literal pain for Trace as he struggles to navigate the sterile, unfamiliar environment. But they're trying. Can they find enough common ground for the factory to succeed and bring prosperity to Conquistador?

Blaine and Trace are both well written characters. Blaine was at first a thoroughly unlikable character. He just came in wanting to do things how they were done back in California without thinking that hey, we aren't in California anymore, maybe we need to rethink this. As the story unfolded, though, I started to feel a little bit sorry for him. He didn't know what he was getting himself into, and he was so accustomed to doing things a certain way that it was difficult if not impossible for him to shift gears. His efforts to achieve a task that seemed to become more impossible each day were almost uncomfortable to watch. Trace was more likable, but I felt sorry for him, too. He struggled to maintain his way of life, and struggled to teach the newcomer how to adapt to West Texas. He ached for what he saw as his son throwing away a better future than what the cowboy life offered. He wrestled with guilt at not spending enough time with his mother, who was declining due to dementia. Both men have to find ways to adapt to new and different things.
I've never been to West Texas, but Steffy's writing lets me envision the never-ending expanse of flat, dusty land that has its own harsh beauty. The setting here is more than just the physical space that the characters occupy. It takes on a life of its own. The dust isn't mindful of how clean the chip factory needs to be; it just goes where it goes. When one of the new electrical lines run out to the factory collapses and sparks a wildfire, the fire threatens the town and the new facility alike. The immensity of the Big Empty is harsh to old-timer and newcomer alike, and environmentalism takes on a whole different meaning there.

This didn't read like a debut novel. It was well written and well worth the time I invested reading it. Five stars, and I hope to read more from Steffy in the future.

I'm not a romance reader. But this book was wonderful. I read it while my whole family was sick with the Covid, and it was just what I needed. It was a quick read, with characters I could cheer for, and parts that made me laugh right out loud.

Ryan “The Rocket” Sutton, NFL quarterback extraordinaire, deeply regrets divorcing his ex-wife Coco. When he learns that a judge's mistake on the divorce papers means they're still legally married, he jumps on that as a second chance, an opportunity to win Coco back and make things right. Coco is, shall we say, skeptical. And she's just let her best friend talk her into reading some book called the Yes Dare – encouraging her to say yes to more things in her life. That leads to Coco saying “yes” to being in charge of the town's financially strapped annual Cow Chip Toss Festival, something she NEVER thought she'd do. All this is happening while Ryan is making a foray into professional baseball while still playing football, and a movie crew is following him and Coco around to document the whole story.

Ryan and Coco are both delightful characters. Ryan is so genuine in his love for Coco, I had a hard time believing he was ever, even for a brief moment, dallying with some other woman. And Coco is no pushover. She isn't falling hook, line, and sinker for whatever Ryan says. Oh, no. If he wants to win her back, he's going to have to work for it. Not that she's trying to play hard to get. She just doesn't see them ever getting back together. Ryan persists. Shenanigans ensue. There are some funny moments, some tense moments, and some where I just about cried.

The Suttons' twin boys, mostly grown and flown and off at college, are wonderfully written. You can tell they love their parents dearly, and they're on their dad's side in the whole getting back together thing, even though they realize his efforts are kind of making their mom nuts. I'm a boy mom, so I'll own to a soft spot for boy children.

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a romance reader now. The Yes Dare has put me over the top on that. I have to go read the rest of the series now, and I hope there are more to come after this one.

Five sweet-as-pie stars from me!

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

In Scattered Legacy, Marlene Bell takes us from the Manhattan art gallery world to the glitz and glamour of Italy. Alec plans to take Annalisse to see Bari, Italy, his mother's birthplace. It's supposed to be a relaxing vacation, a time of togetherness for them. But they don't figure on a murder implicating a former employee of the Zavos family business. Alec, Annalisse, and their friend and detective Bill Drake soon find themselves drawn into a tangle of mystery, murder, and Mafia.
The characters in this book are well-developed, the likable ones easy to like and the hateable ones easy to hate. Annalisse comes across as a bit diffident at times, especially when she starts to question where she really stands with Alec, but when the chips are down and it really counts, she stays cool, calm, and collected. Generosa, the art maven with a mysterious past. She loves her family, and she includes Annalisse in the circle of those she loves. She may not realize the danger that awaits when she gifts Annalisse with a medieval rosary. Alec, determined to clear his father's name and successfully sell the family business as well as unravel the former CFO's involvement in the ugly murder they've stumbled into.

Marlene Bell takes you on a transatlantic thrill ride with this one. I was drawn in from the beginning with the idea that Annalisse has suffered because of secrets kept from her. When it turned out that Generosa may have kept secrets of her own from everyone, even her family, I couldn't put the book down! There's a grisly death, white collar crime, a seemingly abandoned cat that may play an important role, chases and pursuits, and so much more. And let's not forget romance. Could you have a book set in Italy with no romance in it? Don't worry, though, the romance isn't front and center at the expense of the mystery.

Scattered Legacy is the third in a series, but I was able to pick up enough of the back story from this book to read it as a stand-alone. I'll go back and read the first two, though, because this one was mighty good! I recommend you do the same.

Five “ready to hop a plane and go to Italy” stars for Scattered Legacy. I hope there are more to come in the series!

Mars Adrift is the conclusion to McFall and Hays' Halo Trilogy. I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading books one and two, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of book three.

This is some pretty hardcore sci-fi meets a good detective story. It's a dual timeline story, told from the point of view of Lauren Valentine, chancellor of Stardust University and history professor, in 2238, and from the point of view of Crucial Larsen, fifty years earlier on Mars. Crucial's parts of the story unfold in response to discussions Valentine has with her students, and this storytelling method really worked well for me.

Crucial is something of a curmudgeon, largely interested in what's best for Crucial, but he's still a surprisingly likable character. And he's not quite as self-interested as he used to be. Sure, he's still working toward his own agenda, but he'll do his best to save those who matter to him – and the world – in the process. He's not always happy about his newly discovered compassionate tendencies, though. As they search for Mel, his former lover and the only person who might be able to really make a difference following the attack, Crucial glares at his sister Essential and thinks, “If the nanites have somehow infected me with empathy, I will never forgive her.”

I think Sanders was my very favorite character, though. He's a cybanism – a cybernetic humanoid. As you might expect, there are some pretty entertaining misunderstandings when he takes something Crucial says literally that shouldn't have been taken literally or has no frame of reference for how humans think. And just as the Resistance sought to introduce an empathy hack into the overlord AI Halo, Sanders himself seems to be developing emotions. Coincidence?

The writing style is sharp and smart, and moves the story along quickly. Mars Adrift touches on serious issues, such as global wealth, climate change, politics, and the grasping greed that is part of human nature. However, it does so with fascinating turns of phrase and unexpected elements that make the story fun to read as well as thought-provoking. I mean, “an interstellar invader in squiggly paramecium ships crapping out clouds of what are most likely weapons”? Come on, if that doesn't make you want to read this book, you are dead inside. And I think “Oh, for the love of binomial aggravation” may be my new favorite expletive phrase.

If you're a sci-fan, or just a fan of a well-told, well-written, wildly entertaining story, get the Halo Trilogy. McFall and Hays have gotten bumped up to the top of my “I'll read anything they write” list.

I give it five dome-smashing meteors. Top notch.

I didn't grow up in Texas, but I learned a little about the Alamo when I was young. The basic things that everyone learns – “Remember the Alamo!”, the deaths of notables such as Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and the fact that the Texans lost. I never really gave much thought to the actual historical setting or the events leading up to that battle, though. In her engrossing and clearly well-researched book, Before the Alamo, Florence Byham Weinberg paints a vivid picture of the people who populated Mexican Texas.
Emilia is the focal point of the story. She is born in 1814, in the municipality of Béxar, the result of a short-lived love affair between her mother and a man of Spanish descent. She and her mother work for the father who refuses to acknowledge Emilia, and they are considered lower class. But Emilia learns to read and write, and works her way up to a position of some importance as a clerk for the city council. The story unfolds, following Emilia up to the Battle of the Alamo and its aftermath.

I don't speak a lot of Spanish, and I appreciated how Weinberg used Spanish terms throughout the book, but also used the English equivalent nearby. This made me feel immersed in the story and the culture without having to stop and check Google Translate for every unfamiliar term.

Weinberg also pulled no punches on how some Anglos treated the Tejanos when they came into Texas. While there were some who were honorable and treated the Tejanos with dignity (as exemplified by the character of Charles McCray, a doctor who befriended Emilia when she was working to help others during a cholera outbreak), there were some who were rude and downright ugly. Weinberg didn't try to pretty up those interactions to make the white folks all look better. In the modern era where racism is a topic that's front and center, it highlights that the arrival of the Anglo wasn't necessarily something welcomed by all Tejanos, and for good reason.

The story is compelling and the characters are well developed. It's got action, tension, romance, something for almost every reader. And this was another of my favorite kinds of books, the kind where the story is both enjoyable and educational. Before the Alamo has inspired me to learn more about Texas history, and I hope you'll take the opportunity to read it and learn something yourself. It gets five big stars from me.

I enjoy a good M.C. Beaton book, so when I had the chance to read A Death at Silversmith Bay, I jumped on it. This is my first book in the series. I wasn't unduly hampered by not having read books 1 and 2, although I suspect the backstory would be helpful. So, don't do like me – start at the beginning.

Jemima Jago, or Jem, is coming home to Penzance after having spent some time in the Scilly Isles. Imagine her surprise to find her flat occupied by a cat she doesn't recall owning, and her bathtub full of bags of smelly, messy garbage. Turns out her sister Tori is the one responsible, both for the cat and the garbage. When Jem sees what appears to be a bloody mallet in the trash bags, she has to figure out what happened.

When she and her friend Micki find Micki's sister-in-law with her head bashed in in her used bookstore, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the bloody mallet in Jem's flat could well be what did Gina in. Jem earned a reputation as an amateur sleuth in Scilly, and the “Scilly Sleuth,” as she was dubbed now has to work out what happened, and whether her sister had anything to do with it.

A Death at Silversmith Bay is a light, enjoyable read. I liked the setting, as Cornwall is a place I've never been but would love to visit. The characters were entertaining and believable, even when they did some pretty stupid things. Wyatt the Walrus was a particularly humorous touch (although I'm sure the people in his path probably didn't find him amusing in the least!). The mystery kept me guessing, and when I'd think perhaps I had it figured out, bam, another suspect got knocked off the list.

And I want Jem's job! I'd love to be a librarian where I can take lashings of time off to go pursue interests outside of work. Are there any other bosses like hers in the world, and if there are, are they hiring?

If you're looking for an engaging, cleverly written mystery that will let you escape to Cornwall for a while, take a trip to Silversmith Bay. Five stars from me!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Can I give this twenty stars?! Seriously. I don't know how Lisa Regan does it, but each book in the series is better than the one before it.

Here, the story opens with the team trying to help plan a honeymoon for Josie and Noah. But a call comes in – a young girl has been found dead at a high school prom. And with that, we're off and running.

Josie and Noah aren't so much front and center here. Instead, we get to see Josie interact with Chief Chitwood. Not only are they investigating the current murder, they're also looking into the unsolved murder of the Chief's sister, Kelsey. The unsolved murder on which the Chief's father, Harlan Chitwood, was the lead investigator. Was the Chief's father a crooked cop?

In this storyline, Regan gives us some fascinating insight into why Chief Chitwood is the way he is. We learn a lot about how his sister's unsolved murder haunts him, and Josie begins to see why he's always kept her and the other officers at arm's length. We also see why he is so invested in solving this crime, knowing that doing so might finally bring justice for his sister.

And the twists and turns! At 68% of the book, I thought we knew who the killer was. But then he said, “I-nothing happened. Not before, and not this time.” Before?! Not this time?! And there's the twist. And the story bolts off like a horse with a burr stuck under its saddle, and all I could do was keep on reading.

I read waaaaaaay past my bedtime with this one.

Josie Quinn is one of my favorite protagonists. She's doing a hard job, but she doesn't let it make her a hard person. Watch Her Disappear is a thrilling read, another masterful work by Lisa Regan. Go get it. Right now. All the stars from me.

Listening recommendation: Dream Theater, Caught in a Web; Evanescence, Disappear

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.