Lisa Henson

Eve Mallow jumps at the opportunity to volunteer for Lovelace Sunday, a big to-do held each year at Lovelace Manor. The manor has quite the history and romantic legend, and this year popular historian Cammie Harrington will be there as well, so Eve figures it will be worth taking part. What she didn't expect was that she'd be writing Cammie's obituary and working to solve her murder, too.

Clare Chase writes a delightful mystery! It's full of people like you'd expect to find in a small English town, and some you might not expect. Eve's love interest, Robin, is actually in the witness protection program. That tidbit makes their relationship a bit more complicated than most, as they can't do anything that will risk his true identity being revealed.

Eve is one of my favorite kinds of protagonists – intelligent, keenly observant, and just a bit quirky. I mean, she's a professional obituary writer. That's not your everyday kind of job. And she's got a dachshund. That automatically makes her good people as far as I'm concerned.

Eve's job drafting Cammie's obituary gives her an opportunity to ask all sorts of questions to plenty of suspects. It seems like there are any number of people who might have had reason to want Cammie out of the way. Could it be Ralph Roscoe, her university ex-boyfriend, who tried to jump into the hot air balloon at the last minute? What about Diana Pickford-Jones, the owner of Lovelace Manor, who had once been so close to Cammie? Or Diana's drop-dead gorgeous model brother, Sebastian, and the deep dark secret Cammie said she knew? The taciturn gardener, Josh Standish? And what about the mysterious storyteller, Raven, who may or may not be who she seems to be?

The story is also full of twists and surprises, and even more than one death. Some I saw coming, some I didn't, and one or two I suspected.

Is there anything really new and unexpected about the story? No. But it's an enjoyable cozy mystery in a British setting, which I always like. It's set in a small town, full of characters that I feel like I'd like to know. It's a quick, easy read, perfect for unwinding after a hard day at work or relaxing in a comfy chair by the pool. If you like a mystery heavy on cozy and light on gory details, with just a touch of romance, I highly recommend Mystery at Lovelace Manor!

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.

Fatal Code is the second in Natalie Walters' SNAP Agency series. I haven't read the first, but after reading this one, you better believe I'm going to to grab it.
Buckle up, y'all! This book takes off right out of the gate and doesn't slow down. Elinor, an aerospace engineer, is grieving the death of her grandfather who practically raised her, hanging onto the journals he left her. But when she discovers some secret codes in the journals, she knows they're a puzzle she has to solve. Kekoa is part of the SNAP Agency, and they've been tasked with investigating leaks at the company where Elinor works. Everything seems to point to Elinor as the leak, and Kekoa is tagged to monitor her. As he gets to know Elinor, though, and finds himself rescuing her from hazardous situations, he can't reconcile what he's seeing with what the data is telling him.

I couldn't even tell you which character I liked more. Elinor is my kind of girl. She's incredibly intelligent, unabashedly nerdy, and a genuinely decent human being. And Kekoa? I want to hug him and hang out with his family and have some of those “ono grindz” they kept talking about. (I'm pretty sure that means tasty, tasty food. If only the book came with recipes....) He's smart, and he doesn't see himself as a protector, but he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep Elinor safe. They're both delightfully three-dimensional, and they aren't perfect. Elinor hesitates to let anyone get close to her. Kekoa is battling the guilt he feels over his younger brother's death several years earlier. They're all the more real and relatable by having to work through issues that their pasts have left them with.

And as I would expect in Christian fiction, both Elinor and Kekoa rely on their faith to help them in difficult times! Elinor often recalls “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” one of the hymns her grandfather would sing to her. I love having a good old-fashioned hymn woven into a story. Walters doesn't just pay lip service to faith in Christ. Her characters are living it out. The language is clean, and the romance is, too, and I appreciate that.

But don't think this is some precious, too sweet for words story. It is a butt-kickin' thrill ride of a suspense read. There are two mystery storylines to try to sort out – one, what the codes in Elinor's grandfather's journals mean, and two, who is leaking information on the top secret project and trying to case Elinor as the source. Walters does a great job in laying down hints and clues that take you first one way, then another, and in keeping the tension almost constant. I didn't peg the identity of the leak until she laid it out, and I do love books that keep me guessing until the end.

To sum up, if you love a clean slow burn romance, a good redemption story, and suspense that just never stops, get your hands on Fatal Code. Bonus that it let me learn about Hawaiian culture and nerdy tech stuff. It's a five-star read for me, and Natalie Walters has added herself to my favorite authors list.

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

I am a sucker for Russian history. I remember traveling to see the Catherine the Great exhibit in Memphis with my mother back in the early 1990s. Such opulence! Such treasure! Such beauty on display! It made an impression. So I jumped at the chance to read and review Kelli Stuart's The Master Craftsman. A secret egg crafted by the master himself, Peter Karl Fabergé? A treasure hunt for this lost piece of history? Yes, please! Sadly, it didn't quite hit on all cylinders for me.

First, the things I liked. The story is told in a dual-timeline fashion, and Stuart uses that technique to great effect. A portion of the past revealed would often provide information on the next clue our treasure hunters needed to move forward. I didn't find the shifts between time periods too confusing, and I enjoyed the historical sections most of all. You hear about the Russian Revolution from the aristocrats' point of view, and you hear about the impact it had on the everyday folks. Fabergé, as one of the royal family's master artisans, wasn't quite royalty, but had perks in life that the common folk were lacking. You never really hear the story from that perspective. In this telling, it sounds like being close to royalty wasn't a benefit and might have even been a detriment to the Fabergé family.

The treasure hunt was also a pretty good adventure! There are clues to be figured out, a little bit of cyber sleuthing to be done, and some pretty nasty bad guys to be faced down. It offered some nice suspenseful moments, and I was invested in the outcome. I also appreciated that an older character (closer to my age!) was involved in the hunt. Good not to let the youngsters have all the adventure!

Now for what didn't really work for me. My biggest disappointment is the distinct lack of a strong faith underlying any of the characters' actions. Nick Laine, a renowned treasure hunter, bailed on his family years ago to chase the dream and the goods. Now that he's dying of cancer, he hopes to reunite with his estranged ex-wife, Carol, and daughter, Ava. My goodness, what a golden opportunity there for characters to act out their faith and portray a beautiful moment of reconciliation and redemption of the years they had lost. Did that happen? Nope. There may have been a couple of mentions given to prayer, and Carol cautions against the use of swearing as “unnecessary language.” But none of the characters portray any sort of real faith in God or any sort of reliance on Him, even in really hairy situations. If you like your Christian fiction more overtly Christian, keep in mind that you won't find that here.

It also bothered me that Ava tended to take advantage of her neighbor, Zac. He obviously had feelings for her, and she knew it, but it felt to me like she played on his feelings when it was advantageous for her. She was slobbering all over Xander, their treasure hunt guide, very nearly from his first appearance. She persisted even when Carol tried to remind her more than once that hey, maybe you need to tone that down, knowing that Zac is clearly hooked on you. I know, the heart wants what the heart wants. But that part of the storyline seemed almost high schoolish in the way Ava so visibly crushed on Xander and ignored how Zac felt.

In summary: Interesting historical detail, vivid imagining of what Fabergé's life might have actually been like during the Revolution, lots of adventure with the treasure hunt, minimal mention of the Christian faith, and Ava came across as kind of a mean girl to Zac a lot of the time. I enjoyed it enough to give it three stars. Had the faith component been more prominent and fleshed out, my rating would have bumped up to four stars. Read it for the adventure, not the faith.

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

In Northfall, Brian Lutterman returns to the world of Pen Wilkinson, a paraplegic attorney who doesn't let anything slow her down in her pursuit of justice.

“When a friend invites you to breakfast, you don't expect to be sucked into a vortex of evil. But, having encountered evil on several occasions in recent years, I can tell you that the experience, pretty much by definition, is like Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition: nobody expects it.”

Here, Pen is trying to steer clear of the freelance investigations that have previously put her in harm's way. While her boyfriend, James, had reluctantly accepted that she was going to get involved in dangerous projects, Pen knows it would be better for her to back away from them. She's anticipating returning to federal prosecution, awaiting final word on whether a position will open up for her.

Then Luke Reilly contacts her, asking her to look into the murder of a homeless man. Luke is on the board of the homeless shelter that had helped the dead man, Roger, and his girlfriend, Nella, and he fears that the police investigation is going nowhere fast. He appeals to Pen's sense of justice, to the fact that the police really aren't going to try that hard to seek resolution for Roger. And just like that, we hear the sucking sound of the vortex, pulling Pen in. But she's definitely NOT investigating.

What does billionaire Jake Conover have to do with Roger? That's something Pen would love to know, but Jake Conover is nowhere to be found. A photo of Jake with an older man, talking to a homeless woman, is Pen's only real lead. He turns out to be the elusive Leo Hurt. Who is he, really? How does he know Jake? What is his connection to all of this? And why is Jake's sister Chloe so determined to buy his company right now, and how far will she go to achieve her goal?

Lutterman gives us family tension, murders both old and new that cry for resolution, international bad guys, and people who are not what they seem. Pen finds herself with new questions at every corner, and she definitely finds herself at risk of bodily harm more than once. The tension is high and the action keeps on coming, right up until the end. This one had me biting my nails, reading as fast as I could to see what happened next!

So. Was this Pen's last investigation? Will she return to the relative safety of a desk job? You'll have to get the book and find out. If you love a good thriller, grab it and get to reading. You won't be disappointed!

Nonna Maria has lived on the island of Ischia her whole life. In fact, she's never traveled anywhere else. She knows everyone on the island quite well (and is probably related to half the people there), and they know and trust her. They come to her with their problems before they'll go to the law because of their long-standing relationships with her. And Nonna Maria helps. She says she doesn't investigate, she helps friends.

There are two threads to follow here. First, we have Anna, our “missing bride,” who comes to Nonna Maria in tears as the book opens. She has agreed to marry a man, a stranger to Ischia, and now doubts that he is who he claims to be. Then we have Pasquale, a sailor born if ever there was one, who has fallen overboard to his death in the ocean that he loved. The police have very little to go on with Pasquale's death, and can't really do anything with Anna's fiance, but Nonna Maria can and does sort things out.

This is not a fast-paced, action-packed book. If that's what you're looking for, you might not enjoy it. Me, I loved it! I'm not as young as I used to be myself, and it's always a treat for a book to feature a more seasoned sleuth. Nonna Maria is precisely that, and in addition, she's an independent woman who definitely knows her own mind. She only drinks the coffee she makes (and she makes it strong!), and she sees no point in water, but will indulge in a glass of wine. I think she's my new favorite main character.

And true to her assertion, Nonna Maria doesn't really investigate. She has no phone, no car, no television. She doesn't get on the internet to dig up public records or old news articles. She talks to people, one friend to another, to learn the things she needs to know. Her circle of friends is broad, ranging from the parish priest at the local church (you know, the one she doesn't attend) to a man who keeps to the shadows but whose reputation still carries weight, to a crime lord from Naples to the local mechanic. It is her many connections and relationships that allow her to get to the heart of just about any matter.

She doesn't go it alone, either. The whole island looks out for their Nonna. She is on good terms with Captain Murino of the carabinieri as well. He may not be local to Ischia, but he would no more let harm come to Nonna Maria than any of her friends or family would. He's got a personal stake in one of the two mysteries, and he hopes she can ferret out information that he might never have access to in his official capacity.

I loved the slower pace of this book. I want to visit Ischia now, to hear Aldo Poli play piano at the Bar Calise while I enjoy a cool beverage. It sounds like a lovely place to spend some time, and I hope the author takes us back there in future books!

If pulse-pounding thrillers are more your speed, don't pick up this book. But if, like me, you enjoy a well-crafted mystery set in a jewel of a place, with a protagonist who's sharp as a tack and who looks out for her friends, you need to read this. It's a hit with me.

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

I loved Thief of Spring, so I was excited to get to read the story from Hades' perspective. If you're expecting dark and brooding and maybe mean, that's not Macdonald's Hades. He puts up a good front, but inside he is a boy who expects life to hand him bad things, because that's all it's done so far. He's loved Persephone from afar for years, even though she has no memory of him when she encounters him at the strange party she was invited to. He's horrified to see her there and acts to save her, even at the risk of making her hate him. He has to.

It's fascinating to see the story from the flip side. We got Persephone's point of view in Thief of Spring. (If you haven't read that, you absolutely should.) Now we get to see what Hades was thinking during all the events of the story. And it is so sweet to see their romance blossom, and see how nervous he really was about whether Persephone could actually love him, too. I just want to hug him, because he is so broken and so precious and so deserving of good things.

And I'll tell you what, the ending from Hades' perspective just about broke me. Oh, my heart.

Please tell me we're getting a Hades take on Queen of Night!

Thanks to Booksprout and the author for the advance review copy. 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.

Anna Weber is running from her past. She thinks she's found a place she and her twin daughters can safely settle, at least for now. That place is Comfort, Texas. She's making a life for herself. She's making friends she finally feels like she can count on. What she didn't count on is Jack Moses. Jack, a former NFL quarterback, finds himself having car trouble at the school where Anna has been hired to check the provenance of a piece of music that has been donated. He's more impressed with her than he expected when she isn't bowled over by his looks and charm and when she gets his car started back up in short order. Anna tries her best to ignore the attraction she feels to Jack, but that proves to be difficult! And when her past comes back to haunt her in vivid, living color, Anna worries that she'll lose the little spot she'd found to call home.

I big puffy heart love this book! Kimberly Fish has such a way with words. She makes you feel like you're part of the story, and the characters she creates are just almost as close as next door. Anna, for instance, is absolutely spot on as a single mom trying to protect herself and her daughters from a nasty operator from her past. Her longing to belong, to have some place to call Home, is palpable, as is her fear of letting others get too close. She has a select circle that she's opened up to a bit, but she's very hesitant to go beyond that. The more people who know any of her story, the greater the risk, as she sees it.

And Jack. Oh, y'all, I wanted to hug him! He's used to people being swayed by his star power, even though he's no longer on the playing field. When Anna doesn't roll that way, he's bemused. But not in a bad, stuck-up way, because he's really a good guy. He does his best to help others where he can, and if people being impressed by his football prowess makes that a little easier, well, so much the better. I love that he is just fascinated by Anna in significant part because she doesn't give two cents for his handsome face or his claim to fame.

The Greens, Joseph and LaDonna, are wonderful characters, too. You can tell they're good friends with Jack, the kind of friends that kick you in the pants when you need it, and LaDonna is just a treat. She welcomes Anna like Anna is one of their own already. I'm telling you, these will feel like folks you've known for years, or at least folks you want to know!

And I love that Anna is not what Jack expects her to be. She knows her way around the mechanics of a car. She can speak football fluently. She is not your typical pretty face. Likewise, Jack isn't what Anna expects, either. He's not just a former athlete who does nothing but capitalize on his name. He's not just a pretty boy thinking everything should always fall into place for them. Their interactions as they both try not to fall for the other are so much fun to read.

There's a fair bit of tension, too, when Anna's past threatens to become her present. She learns that she has finally found people who have her back, though, and she doesn't have to run anymore. I cheered at that part of the book!

Kimberly Fish has created a family that has chosen each other here, and I love it. That and the delightful second chance romance for Jack and Anna make this a must read. I want to get to know the other folks in Comfort now. This may have been the first book of Fish's that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last! Run out and get this if you enjoy a sweet, clean romance, a little bit of suspense, and a beautiful found family. All the stars from me!

This is the first book that I've read in Lisa Cutts' Belinda Penshurst series, but it won't be the last! I jumped at the chance to review this because I love M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, and I was not disappointed here.

Belinda has used her connections at Brabourne Gardens, a local zoo, to help her tenant and possible love interest Harry get hired on there as a security guard (unbeknownst to Harry). Harry's first day starts off with a bang, when a rather obnoxious zoo patron is found murdered. To make things even more interesting, Belinda's ex, Ivan, is unexpectedly in town, there to see what can be done about competing groups of protestors at the Gardens, one wanting to keep the elephants there, one wanting to see the elephants rewilded. Ivan keeps popping up in close proximity to the crimes, and he seems unusually interested in Estelle, the owner of the Gardens. Could he be the murderer?

Murder at the Gardens was a really fun read! The interaction and chemistry between Belinda and Harry is wonderful – I am totally Team Harry, not Team Ivan. Doesn't matter that they seem to be in different social strata (Belinda, who's come into some money and lives in an actual castle, and Harry, the former police officer), they just click. I was hoping Belinda and Ivan didn't get back together. (Spoiler: they didn't. Huzzah!) I also liked the fact that Belinda and Harry are a little older than the main characters in many books. I'm a little older than I used to be, and it's nice to read stories where the characters are close to my age.

Misdirection abounds. There are animals – sometimes on the loose, sometimes not. There's humor, and intrigue, and that spark of romance I mentioned previously. This book has a little something for everyone. The plot was just twisty enough that the murderer's identity came as a bit of a surprise.

Highly recommended if you're a fan of cozy mysteries, particularly those of the British variety. I can't wait to read more of this series!

I read a lot of fantasy. For me, this one ranks near the top of the pile. Marilia is a wonderful heroine - strong, determined, but not so perfect as to be unbelievable. I approve of strong female leads, and I like the fact that Marilia doesn't get where she does by virtue of being born with special powers. She works hard for what she achieves.

The book deals with some fairly serious themes, one being female resistance to a male-dominated society. But it doesn't come across as shrill or angry. It's written in such a way as to make the reader think, and that it does.

I felt like the story moved along at a good pace, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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

The Catch is the third in Lisa Harris' US Marshals trilogy, and it's a fine way to close out a series!

The action kicks off from the first page and never lets up. Federal marshal Madison James and her partner Jonas Quinn are tasked with rescuing a judge from an active shooter situation at the courthouse where he is to hear a high-profile case. But things take a turn when they learn that the judge's wife has been murdered and the judge's son with his mistress is missing.

Not only is Madison trying to solve the murder and find the missing child, she's also trying to figure out who killed her husband five years ago. Solving that crime may be the only way she can close that chapter of her life and hopefully move forward into a life with Jonas.

Lisa Harris has a straightforward, easy to read writing style, and it works well for this suspenseful story. I never felt like the action lagged, and I never felt like there were any slow parts to the story. It moved along at a brisk pace.

Her characters are also wonderfully written. Madison and Jonas have this incredible chemistry, even when they're dancing around the relationship, neither sure how prepared the other is to take things to the next level. And Judge Saylor, he's a piece of work. Makes you wonder about the integrity of the judicial system if there are many judges like him on the bench!

And the story. It's full of threads that criss and cross and you might not be sure how it all interconnects – until you see it. Harris does a masterful job of crafting multiple plot lines and steadily weaving them together into a magnificent whole.

This book is billed as Christian fiction, but Harris doesn't thump you over the head with any Bibles. The faith portrayed here is an integral, natural part of the story, and the characters stay true to their beliefs.

The Catch is a heck of a read. I had a hard time putting it down. If you enjoy a good mystery, full of tension and suspense, with a lot of action and a clean romance, you'll like The Catch. Even if you don't think Christian fiction is for you, give this one a try. You might like it!

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

Some stories you read, and they're fun, but they don't make a lasting impression. Some stories, though, grab you by the heart and stick with you long after the last page has been turned. The Bones of Amoret is one of those stories.

Set in west Texas in the town of Amoret, out where the land is as much a character in the tale as any of the people, the story unfolds through the eyes of Dr. Noah Grady. He's telling his story as his life draws nigh unto its end, and we see events unfold through flashbacks as he talks to a much younger reporter doing research on the events of forty years earlier.

Like any of us, Noah has been faced with choices throughout his life. Sometimes he did the right thing, sometimes he did the expedient thing. But he always chose to do what he thought would best protect those he cared about. He helped illegal immigrants get across the border and gave them medical treatment when necessary. The choice to save one of them instead of leaving him to die got the attention of some bad folks focused on him for his trouble. He took actions that he felt were necessary to protect Angelica, his wife, and her son Miguel. He looked after his own in an unforgiving landscape filled with its own harsh beauty. He was a sympathetic character who will stick with me, even if some of his choices weren't necessarily “right” by societal standards.

I also really liked Sheriff McHenry. Yes, he cared about law and order and seeing justice served. But he also realized that sometimes, justice isn't best served by strict adherence to what law and order would require. He and Noah had an interesting and largely cordial relationship, and it made for good reading.

The ending of the story wasn't one that I figured out. Herbert does a good job of laying down rabbit trails for the reader to follow, and then changes direction on you at the last minute. I love stories where the author keeps me guessing!

“It's mankind's evil that gets the headlines. Sometimes we need a reminder that God sprinkles the goodhearted among us too.” Noah Grady is one of the goodhearted.

Great characters, wonderful setting and description, dialogue that was true to where the story took place, tension that moved the book along at a brisk pace – all of these things make The Bones of Amoret a five-star read. Highly recommended!

I received an advance copy of this cookbook as part of the launch team for it, and I am so glad I did! I've had the chance to make a couple of the recipes, and they are gold, y'all. Texas Trash Pie is salty, sweet, crunchy, delicious goodness (bonus: I've now got an awesome pie crust recipe!). Chicken and Dumplings are down home comfort food, straight up. I can't wait to try more recipes, and someday I have to visit Round Top and go to the cafe in person! If you like good food, you need this cookbook.

Odd Birds is not my usual fantasy/suspense/cozy mystery read. It defies description, a little bit, in the best possible way.
Cosimo Infante Cano finds himself stranded in San Antonio, Texas, in a time where racial tensions ran high. He and Sara, his younger lover, planned to travel back to the United States from France, with her traveling ahead to prepare for his arrival. But when he reaches the house where he expected her to be, he learns she has passed away. His possessions were stolen on the trip, and now he finds himself in a place where he is looked upon with suspicion because of the color of his skin. He is basically destitute, and he just wants to find a way back home to France.

The language of the book is almost musical. It's an interesting parallel that Cosimo is an artist and the book reads like a painting. Layers build up, details may not make complete sense in the moment, but then it all comes together to a magnificent whole.

Cosimo was an odd bird, as the title suggests. He did what seemed to be the next right thing, not the next expedient thing. As an artist, he could have sold his work and made himself some money while he tried to recover what was his. Instead, he gave his art to people who had helped him as gifts. In a world where the mindset is so often “look out for number one,” Cosimo stands out.

The story is populated with other odd birds, as well, most notably the three library pages, Richard, Maddie, and Oscar. Ruthann, the bigoted, narrow-minded librarian charged with bringing the new hires into the library, does her best to discredit them and make them look bad. Yet, like Cosimo, they keep doing their best to do the next right thing, to find a way to be true to themselves and to be decent human beings.

Profound themes such as the pain of loss, overt racism, and dealing with change are handled delicately and with grace. Like a bird's nest, Perez weaves what appear to be disparate details and bits of information into a strong, beautiful whole. The ending of the book left me feeling like I was waving farewell to friends after a long, interesting journey.

Odd Birds may not be my usual reading fare, but it is definitely a book well worth your time. Five 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.

Let me just say this right up front: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!

I've read Susannah B. Lewis's non-fiction before (How May I Offend You Today? and Can't Make This Stuff Up are both hilarious and thought-provoking and must-reads in my book), but this is the first of her fictions works that I've read. I've got to go back and read some of her other fiction books now.

Raeley Ann Sutton, or Rae, has a lot on her plate. Her ex-husband, Carter, divorced her for some pretty young thing (although Rae never had the heart to tell her mama why Carter really left), and now her mama has passed away and left her the small house she grew up in. Is moving back to Whitten, Alabama really the right thing?

Lewis tells her story with her trademark Southern wit and wisdom, and that just brings me right back to my childhood. When talking about the meal after the funeral, Aunt Maxine tells Rae, “Dora is bringing chicken. Lena will bring a dessert. She'll pass it off in her own Tupperware, but it will be storebought. The woman can't boil water. Bless her heart.” How many of us who grew up in the South haven't heard something along those lines?

Rae's story may not be exactly like mine or yours, but it rings true for all of us. How many of us have been left gobsmacked by life's disappointments, wondering if anyone got the license plate of the truck that just hit us? How many of us have felt like hope is distant and God surely must have given up listening to our prayers, because we can't see a thing that He's doing to improve the situation? Rae struggles to find the faith she grew up in, and the Third Thursday ladies and their “ministry” (where, “for an hour each month, they laughed, gossiped, reminisced about days gone by, and solved all the problems in Whitten, Alabama”) point her in the right direction. She hears their stories of their own struggles, she sees their hearts for helping others as they have the ability to do so, and she realizes that she can't – and doesn't have to – carry her hurt on her own. As Rae says, “Iron sharpens iron, and they had certainly sharpened me.”

And this particular quote, from a letter that Rae's mother left for her to find, really struck me: “Appreciate the good and even the bad, Rae. Cherish the valley, because that is where you find the strength to reach the mountaintop.” What a wonderful reminder for Rae from her mama, and what a wonderful truth for me to hang onto, tucked away into a really good book.

This book is a delight. I'd like to have my own group of Third Thursday ladies now. If you love a wonderfully told story set in a small Southern town, filled with characters you feel like you know (or might be kin to), brimming with love and faith and redemption, you need to read Bless Your Heart, Rae Sutton. Don't wait. Go get it now, and enjoy. You can thank me later.

Disclaimer: I was provided an advance review copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

A brief synopsis: Beth and Niall live in Dorset. A decision is made that they'll go on holiday, so they do a house swap. They're going to the Italian coast, and the family that lives there will come stay in their cottage in Dorset. (That would squick me right out, having people stay in my house as if it's theirs, but that's another topic.) Beth hopes for a lovely holiday where she and Niall can work through this rough patch and get their marriage back on track. But alas, things do not go as she'd hoped. Stuff gets weird, bad things happen, and it isn't looking like there will be a happily ever after here.

Now. My thoughts.

Not one of the main characters is truly likable. Beth, bless her heart, was such a doormat that I wasn't sure whether to hug her or shake her. She takes whatever crap Niall wants to throw her way with minimal complaint. Beth had the unmitigated gall not to come running when Niall said to come NOW? Demerit. Beth drank too much? Black mark for her. The holiday isn't perfect? Well, Beth planned it, so whatever is wrong is clearly her fault. And Niall throws a lot of crap her way. He is an abusive cretin of a man. He snipes at Beth for not devoting the entirety of her attention to family togetherness when it suits him, but he's constantly bailing on family to go off and “work.” Every word out of his mouth seems crafted to cause Beth the maximum amount of mental anguish. I wanted to punch him.

Amber and Renzo aren't much better. Amber is just a straight-up, stone-cold heifer. (I mean, she told Beth they'd leave their car at the airport for them, and then got a kick out of Beth's frantic texts saying they couldn't find it and worrying that it had been stolen. She knew good and well she didn't leave the car at the airport, and it wasn't a mixup or a slip. And that's on the tame end of things Amber does.) She has not a nice bone in her body, and it seemed like Renzo deserved so much better than her. He puts her up on a pedestal and treats her like a princess. But then he turns out not to be worth a darn, either. Although his offenses, in the grand scheme of things, aren't nearly as egregious as Amber's. Still, maybe they did deserve each other.

And some of the plot really stretched the bounds of believability for me. If I've swapped houses for a vacation, there's a break-in at my vacation house, and then two dudes who may or may not be Mafia come looking for the house's owners? I am outta there like a flash. Gaslighting, abusive husband or no, my butt would be on a plane back to England. He could come or not, as he wished.

But this is a quick, tense, compelling read. I read it in two sittings, and it would have been one if I hadn't had to get up early for work. Boland's writing style pulls you into the story, whether the characters are pleasant or not. And the tension builds as the story goes. If you read the blurb, you know what's coming at some point. But you don't know when or how.

The epilogues at the end (yes, there are several) were a nice finishing touch. We learned something interesting about some folks, including the one really redeeming character in the book, Luciana. I think her epilogue made me like her even a little bit better.

So while the story gave me several reasons to want to scream and throw things, it was still a good read. Highly recommended for beach reading, as you can read it in one sitting if there aren't any distractions. This was my first book of Boland's to read, but I'm pretty sure it won't be the last.

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.

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.

A Curse of Hope and Shadows is a wonderful reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, and so much more. Macdonald once again excels at making me feel all the feels. Dimitri's loneliness and hurt just drips from the page, and I hurt for him. I wanted so badly for him to let Addie in, and waiting to see that happen was deliciously agonizing. Addie never gives up on Dimitri. She is the perfect sunshiny heroine, and she knows when to try to make him laugh, when to kick him in the pants, and when to leave him be. And the Duke?! He is an odious, horrible man who should have been the one cursed, not his son.

So now I'm left with the feeling that I need to get my hands on the rest of the story posthaste. Macdonald has again clearly demonstrated why she is the queen of fairy tale reimaginings, and I will gleefully read everything she writes.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Myra is an artist who can affect a person's appearance with her paintings. She's a Prodigy, and she hides her talent, because Prodigies have been going missing – including her mother. Her father is missing as well, leaving her and her sister Lucy struggling to make ends meet. Lucy is terminally ill, so when the governor's wife offers Myra a ridiculous sum of money to bring her dead son back to life with her magic, Myra really can't turn her down. Not only does she need the money, but the governor's wife threatens to expose Myra's magical ability if she doesn't successfully complete the task. So the stakes are high, and as Myra has never brought someone back from the dead, she's not sure she's up to the challenge.

Myra's magic can't work unless she understands what she's trying to change. To resurrect the governor's elder son, she has to know how he died, what killed him, what he was feeling at the time. She soon learns that his death was no accident, but she can't tell his mother that. When August, the younger son of the family, offers his help, they set out on a treacherous task to find a killer before the killer does them in.

The premise behind the magical system of A Forgery of Roses is fascinating! Painting as magic that modifies the human form. I can't think of a magical system quite like it.

August suffers from nearly debilitating anxiety. Lucy's ailment isn't easily visible to the eye. Olson deftly illustrates how these “invisible” ailments can be just as harmful to those who suffer from them as any visible wound or defect.

The atmosphere of the story is definitely creepy, with a Gothic vibe. The governor's house sounds like a chill, horrible place, with August being just about the only spark of life there. There are attacks on dark streets, encounters that shouldn't happen. Very mysterious, and it made me feel like perhaps I should look over my shoulder when walking alone.

I will say that if you're looking for a clean-cut ending, this wasn't it. Will there be a sequel? I hope so! Four stars for the story, plus one for the unique magic system. So five stars from me!

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

See the rest of my reviews at https://www.theplainspokenpen.com.

This is a really good story! I didn't know a lot about women working as codebreakers for the U.S. during World War II. Isabel Cooper, the codebreaker of the title, is tapped to go to Hawai'i shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to work on Japanese codes that are proving difficult to crack. She is the only woman on the team, and has to prove herself. In addition to her determination to break the Japanese codes, she hopes to find some closure following her brother's death. She didn't expect her brother's best friend to be the man she'd fall in love with.

Lu Freitas, a young reporter with ambitions of writing more than lifestyle pieces, returns to her home state of Hawai'i to cover the opening of Rockefeller's newest hotel. She meets a veteran photographer who is obviously wrestling with something in his past. Gradually they strike up something of a friendship, and when a high-profile guest goes missing, their search for her uncovers a World War II-era mystery, and uncovers secrets long kept as well.

Sara Ackerman writes a beautiful book! I've never been to Hawai'i, but the way it's described, I can see why Lu realizes how much she actually misses home. I'd love to see it for myself.

Ackerman's characters are realistically written, and the relationships don't feel forced. The book flowed smoothly and kept me engaged. I liked learning about something different from other World War II historical fiction that I've read. This is a book I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a look at an interesting slice of history.

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

The Shattered Gate starts in a not-too-distant future on Earth. A man is attending a sporting event with friends, staying in touch with his girlfriend by phone. Everything goes pear-shaped when an attack of some kind begins and he finds himself enclosed in an unbreakable pod, being pulled away from Earth. Aliens have arrived...and they aren't here to help.
Fast forward 400 years to the planet Ceres. The 144,000 people snatched from Earth were taken there, to serve as a source of genetic material for the Cerans so that the Cerans could continue to survive on their home planet. Micah Trace is a descendant of the humans brought to Ceres. He has never seen the planet from which his ancestors hailed, and he is overwhelmed with a longing to travel there. But the people of Earth have never forgotten the Cerans' visit 400 years earlier. Can Micah reach Earth and open up communications with the people there before they shoot the expeditionary ship out of the sky?

The book raises interesting questions of bioethics and how we treat those different than us. The Hybrids, the ones taken from Earth, are viewed by some as worthy and vital to Ceran survival, and by others as little more than cattle, to be used when the Cerans have need. The Hybrids themselves are divided in what they want. Some want to be fully integrated into society on Ceres, and others feel the Hybrids should be separate, their own society on the same planet. There are Cerans who are favorable to the Hybrids, such as the king and queen, Artax and Hanani. Others, like counselor Sanballat and barrister Tobiah, are open in their disdain for the Hybrids. Both Sanballat and Tobiah are included in the mission to Earth, which made for some interesting reading. I'm curious to see if both maintain their unfavorable stance on Hybrids and on Earth in book two!

I love the characters in the story. Sanballat and Tobiah are just so deliciously nasty, you can't help but despise them. Garreous, the young scientific genius, is delightful, and his relationship with the princess Susa is sweet. Aquis, the hulking former sports star, is just a joy to read, and the relationships between Micah and his best friend Wes, and Micah and Eaton, another Hybrid who has traveled to Earth to observe, are well crafted.

One thing I'm not entirely clear on (and that may be my misreading rather than the author's lack of telling) was whether the humans pulled from Earth interbred with Cerans to strengthen the Ceran gene pool, or whether they bred only wtih other humans and served literally as replacement parts for the Cerans. I think maybe the latter, since Micah is described as half human. But if it is the latter, I'm not sure how there would be any half-humans after 400 years had passed. That's a relatively minor quibble, though.

All in all, this was an enjoyable sci-fi read with a premise I've not seen before. I'm looking forward to book two and, as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story!” This is a solid four-star read for me.

Grant Price writes a cyberpunk dystopian tale that grabs you right off the bat.

“The man's blood was on her skin and now she would have to run.”

Mara Kinzig agreed to a stint in a dreamtank for easy money, because life in the city doesn't come cheap. But she wakes up to something other than what she bargained for. A dead man she doesn't recognize. A body that isn't the one she went to sleep in. And a second voice in her head that most definitely isn't hers.

She's desperate to figure out who she is, but she knows she can't stay where she is. The body has been discovered, the robotic bull cops are hot on her tail, and there's a price on her head high enough to make just about anyone who sees her turn her in. So she flees outside the city to the Vanguard, a mysterious group that may or may not exist. She's hoping that, if she finds them, they can help her survive long enough to solve both the mystery of the dead man and the mystery of who she is. Who is the dead man? Why was she framed for his murder? Who (or what) is the voice Mara has begun hearing in her head? Does she – does Mara – even really exist anymore?

Grant Price crafts an engrossing and slightly disturbing vision of a future Earth. The story is set in a future Berlin. Carbon credits are currency, and climate crisis has wreaked havoc. Technology is king, the wealthy call the shots, and the poor are human test subjects in every kind of scientific experiment you can imagine. The green infrastructure that was supposed to be society's salvation is a crumbling mess. The haves care only about having more, and the have-nots are disposable.

I get serious Blade Runner vibes from Price's story, with a touch of Firefly coming through in some of the jargon he uses. There's rather a lot of jargon included without much overt explanation, but I was able to determine the meaning pretty well from context. A couple of chapters in, and it all made sense to me just fine.

The world Price has constructed is incredibly detailed and well thought out. I could just feel the noise and overwhelm of the city as Mara tried to break free of it. I mean, the mental clutter of a world where the advertisements tailor themselves to your frequency – thinking about it makes my brain itch! The squalor of the underground, the unexpected open spaces Mara finds, I can see all of it in my mind's eye because Price puts it together so effectively.

His characters are well-constructed, too. No one, not even the most minor character, feels like an afterthought or a throwaway. Everyone in the story has a role to play, and they do so admirably.

The story moves pretty quickly, and that makes it a fast read. It's thought-provoking, because who knows but that our society couldn't end up like the one envisioned here. With its questions of environmental preservation, how to survive with limited resources, ethically and morally questionable technological procedures, and more, this is a book that really gives you pause to consider where our world may be headed.

Five stars for a dang good story. I want to know what happens next!

Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of this book by the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Check out my other reviews at http://www.theplainspokenpen.com.

The book opens with Natalie Bellman, administrative assistant at a high-dollar, very exclusive private school, confused as to where she is and why she's there. She stumbles into the school gym, sees someone apparently dead, and wonders what exactly she's done. Did she commit murder in an altered state? Or is there more to the story?

First off, there wasn't really a lying club, unless it's just implied. But there was definitely a whole lotta lying goin' on. Husbands lying to wives, kids lying to parents, coaches lying to everybody, I don't know how everybody managed to keep their stories even remotely straight. To me, a lot of that lying seemed unnecessary, but then, I prefer open and direct communication. Apparently many of these characters did not.

And was there a likable character in the bunch? Bitchy moms with too much money and a big entitlement chip on their shoulders (both for themselves and their children). Children who were horrible to parents (although I suspect Mia would have been a normal, sometimes moody teen were it not for Sloane's influence). Coaches who thought they were a law unto themselves. Natalie could have been a lot more likable, but her tendency to make colossally stupid decisions spoiled that just a little. Her brother Jay and her fellow school admin Yvonne were probably the best characters in the book in terms of likability. And Jackson, the dog. He was cool.

Very twisty and turny. I knew at the outset that somebody was likely dead, but I had no idea who. Ward leads us down a lot of roads, takes detours, and backtracks, and she does all of this to great effect. She tells a heck of an engaging story, and does it with style.

Dark. Very dark. Maybe a little too dark for my taste, and I prefer books where I feel at least some twinge of empathy for the main characters. But still, worth the read. If you like a book that digs into the deep, unseen corners of the human psyche and love a good story regardless of whether you'd actually be able to stand any of the characters in real life, go grab The Lying Club.

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

Once again, I find myself jumping into the middle of a series. Once again, doing so leads me to a whole new series and a new author to enjoy!

Flora and her companion, Jack Carrington, are off to Treleggan, Cornwall so Jack can do some research for his latest crime novel and Flora can get in some rest and relaxation. Those plans are sidetracked when Flora finds the landlord of the cottage they've rented dead in the cottage garden. A mystery needs unraveling, and Flora is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Flora Steele is a thoroughly likable heroine. She's intelligent, adventurous (sometimes too much so for her own well-being), and generally pretty outspoken. She barely knew Roger Gifford, but she's determined to see justice done for him, especially as it appears the local constabulary may not be doing such a great job. She and Jack work well together, and their banter is a lot of fun.

The story's setting is wonderful. I'd now like to go visit Cornwall, please. I want to eat the food and meet the people and explore all the historical sites. The plot was well laid out, too. Allingham would give us a possible villain, and then they'd be taken suddenly and thoroughly out of the running. I love it when stories take turns that keep me guessing!

As for characters, I particularly appreciated Mercy Dearlove and how Flora related to her. Mercy seemed not to be very well liked in Treleggan, but Flora moved past local prejudice and reached out Mercy when she thought Mercy might have useful information. I daresay there may have been good feeling toward Flora on Mercy's side, too. It's a good reminder that just because someone is different doesn't mean they're bad.

Murder at Primrose Cottage is an easy read, and an enjoyable one. The mystery isn't too easily resolved, the characters are well-written, and the setting makes me want to go there. I've found a new author and series to love. Five stars, because it's just that much fun!

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

Alexandra Tarkington has been raised by her aunt since her mother's death. Her father left for parts unknown and returned only a couple of times a year to see his daughter. But when Alexandra needs to leave town because of a persistent and difficult suitor who won't take “no” for an answer, it is her father she seeks out.
Gabe Seymour is an investigator hired to look into the business dealings of Calvin Tarkington, Alexandra's father. Neither Gabe nor Alexandra knows who the other is when they hit it off on a stagecoach headed for Mesquite Springs, Texas. Calvin – now known as Mr. King – is building a grand hotel in Mesquite Springs. It appears to be a legitimate business venture, but Gabe feels certain there is chicanery afoot, if he can only track it down. But what will happen when Gabe's true purpose for coming to Mesquite Springs is revealed? And when it becomes clear that someone intends harm to Alexandra, can Gabe identify the culprit and keep Alexandra safe?

The Spark of Love is the third in Amanda Cabot's Mesquite Springs series. It's the first I've read, but I was able to follow the story just fine. Of course, now I must read the first two, because I want the backstory on all of the characters. But the reading of this one didn't suffer for me not having read the first two.

Alexandra is a marvelous heroine. In the 1850s, when the book is set, women were not really expected to be strong-willed, outspoken, and independent. Yet she sets out for Texas alone to avoid an unpleasantly persistent suitor. She is clearly intelligent and not afraid to engage in the fine art of verbal self-defense. And she wants desperately for her father to get past his narrow, rather archaic mindset and see that she is capable and has skills that she can use. She makes herself useful, both to her father at the hotel and in her new role as the local school's art teacher.

Gabe is a delightful hero as well. He may not be described as the most handsome man in the story, but we see that the prettiest face is not always the one that's most worthwhile. He's clearly taken with Alexandra, and he's a good sport, too. I love the part where Alexandra is giving the Gottlieb twins painting lessons, and Gabe just rolls with it when the twins call him out for his poor artistic skills (as only young childen can do).

The supporting characters are wonderfully drawn, some loveable, some despicable. The Hill Country setting that Cabot describes makes me want to go visit. And the mystery and suspense woven throughout made the book hard to put down!

I laughed, I cheered, I booed, I jeered, I even teared up a little sometimes. I'm sad that this is the last of the Mesquite Springs series. I just got here, and I don't want to leave! If you love historical fiction, clean romance, action, and suspense, you will adore The Spark of Love. I give it five shiny stars. The only thing that would have made it better was if it had included the recipe for that famous oatmeal pecan pie that was mentioned so often!

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