by admin | Sep 15, 2016 | Books, Historical, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Each volume of Dawn Crandall’s Everstone Chronicles has been my favorite – that is until I read her latest. I believe each book has been a little better than the previous one and that is saying a lot because I’ve loved them all.
“The Cautious Maiden” may be best because black sheep Vance Everstone is back in the picture as its hero. And what a hero he is! With a questionable reputation that was earned through his poor choices and past mistakes, Vance is a changed man who has found the Lord. Determined to live up to his new-found beliefs, Vance suddenly finds himself in the very center of a scheme devised by Violet Hawthorne’s brother Ezra to save her from the man he lost her to in a poker game. As Vance grows to know Violet better, he finds himself falling in love with her.
This was one book I definitely did not want to put down. Between the romantic tension between Vance and Violet that was made all the better due to his vow to keep the relationship pure and the danger that seemed to stalk them at every turn, I found myself turning each page in anticipation of what might happen next. “The Cautious Maiden” is just the kind of book I love – a romantic historical woven with suspense and mystery plus a good dose of faith.
Violet was a strong and likeable character but Vance was the real star of this book. He was such a shining example of how finding the Lord can help turn a scoundrel into a saint. You really did good on this one Dawn. Now I’m ready to see how you will surpass it with your next novel.
Anyone who has not discovered Dawn Crandall’s Everstone Chronicles needs to pick up the entire series soon. “The Cautious Maiden” can certainly stand alone but is so much better if you have the background from the previous novels.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by the author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother Ezra turns their deceased parents’ New England country inn into a brothel to accommodate the nearby lumberjacks—but when Violet’s own reputation is compromised, the inn becomes the least of her worries. In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance—Vance Everstone.
As she prepares for a society wedding, Violet learns that her brother had staked her hand in marriage in a heated poker game with the unsavory Rowen Steele, and Ezra had lost. Now Rowen is determined to cash in on his IOU.
With danger stalking her and a new fiancé who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust—and who to leave behind.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dawn Crandall is the author of The Hesitant Heiress (released August 1, 2014).A graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Christian Education, and a former bookseller at Barnes & Noble, Dawn Crandall didn’t begin writing until 2010 when her husband found out about her long-buried dream of writing a book. Without a doubt about someday becoming published, he encouraged her to quit her job in 2010 in order to focus on writing The Hesitant Heiress. It didn’t take her long to realize that writing books was what she was made to do. Dawn is represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary.
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by admin | Sep 11, 2016 | 1950s, Books, Mystery
MY REVIEW:
I reluctantly agreed to review “The Rector” because it seemed that others were not requesting it. Afterwards I even questioned my sanity for taking on a novel I was not that interested in reading. I really did not need any more commitments – I have plenty of other books I want to read languishing on my shelves waiting for me to find time to read them. Well, as usually happens, I ended up being glad that I read the book!
“The Rector” is a somewhat lengthy but quite clever mystery that takes place in Mississippi during the 1950s which is not that far from where I have spent my entire life. Being somewhat familiar with the area and the Southern customs, I found the story of particular interest. “The Rector” actually includes three different rectors within its pages although the reader actually meets the first rector after his death.
A lot goes on within the pages of “The Rector” and Martha is right in the middle of all of it. At times I thought Martha was a real busybody and at other times I thought she had a strong gift of discernment and a quest for truth and justice. Whatever it was, Martha was largely responsible for solving the mystery of “The Rector”. I enjoyed reading the story from Martha’s point of view and was constantly entertained by the unique and quirky residents of Solo, Mississippi.
I am happy that I took the time to read “The Rector” and would recommend it to any who love a good mystery or a story with a Southern setting.
A copy of this book was provided for review by The Book Club Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
If Solo, Mississippi, had any claim to fame in the 1950s, it was due to the small town’s proximity to notorious Parchman Farm Penitentiary. The Rector is a thrilling mix of mystery, suspense, and Christian allegory. Solo may be a speck on the map, but a story as large as the heavens is playing out in its boundaries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After earning a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of South Carolina, Michael started a one-man ad agency. It grew to 87 employees in two cities, winning numerous national and international creative awards. Michael sold his firm in 2011 and turned his attention to full-time Christian fiction writing. His latest novel, The Rector, is available on Amazon in print, on Audio Book, and Kindle.
Michael was born in his mother’s own bed on a farm in Yazoo County, Mississippi. He grew up in a town of 310 souls. He knows a thing or two about strong Christian women, alcoholic men, and Jesus. He’s a member of Kairos (prison ministry), been to Cuba twice on door-to-door evangelism mission trips, been a Sunday School teacher, and a member of Independent Presbyterian Church for 35 years. He and his wife of 44 years live in Memphis, TN, have three sons and four grandchildren. The little ones call him “Big Mike.”
He’s a member of the ACFW, Mystery Writers of America, The International Crime Writers Association, and the Southern Writers Association. His books have won BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL and BEST INTERIOR DESIGN from the International Book Awards; the Silver and a Bronze IPPY (for Christian | Fiction) from the Independent Publisher Book Awards; BEST RELIGION | FICTION novel from the National Inde Excellence Awards; a Finalist in the Beverly Hills Book Awards, and Mystery & Mayhem Awards.
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by admin | Jul 30, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
I love this series! I enjoyed the first two so much that I couldn’t wait to read “Magnolia Moonlight”. As a lifelong Southerner it was fun reading about locations that I am at least somewhat familiar with, especially the Memphis area. The stories are all the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, humor, and romance. Throw in a strong message of faith and I am a happy reader.
“Magnolia Moonlight” introduces a couple of new detectives at the Price agency. Beth Kirby and Michael Preston are left with what seems to be a simple case in Natchez, Mississippi while their boss Nate Price and his wife Isabelle take a belated honeymoon in Bay St. Louis after two years of marriage. Sparks fly between Beth and Mike but not necessarily the romantic kind. It will be a miracle if the pair will be able to work together long enough to solve their case. Meanwhile, Nate and Isabelle find themselves embroiled in a case of their own that involves her ex. Things aren’t looking so hopeful for a relaxing and romantic honeymoon after all.
Mary Ellis has created some very entertaining yet down-to-earth characters for “Magnolia Moonlight”. I found it easy to empathize with each one of them (except one police officer that I disliked) and hated to put the book down for even a few minutes.The plot was imaginative and moved along at a steady pace with a few surprises along the way. At times I found Beth to be a little bit testy but Mike’s good disposition and charm made up for it and eventually I liked Beth also. It was fun to catch up with Nate and Isabelle again but I did miss Hunter and Nikki. Maybe they will make an appearance in the next installment.
It was with regrets that I reached the end and will find it difficult to wait until April for a chance to read Sunset in Old Savannah to learn what happens next for Beth and Mike. Lovers of Southern novels, cozy mysteries, or both definitely need to run to the nearest bookstore for copies of the entire Secrets of the South Mysteries series.
A copy of this book was provided for review by the author.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
What Sinister Secrets Lurk in the Shadows of Yesterday?
Natchez, Mississippi—Private Investigator Nate Price and his new wife, Isabelle, need a vacation. Their coworkers generously team up to surprise them with a belated honeymoon…but the happy trip turns sour when Izzy spies her ex-husband, who appears to have taken up his gambling addiction once again.
While the boss is away, Price Investigations remains in the hands of Beth Kirby, a former police officer, and Michael Preston, a former forensic accountant. Hardly a dream team, as Beth resents working with a man who has no experience in his new job.
But Beth and Michael must move past their differences if they hope to uncover the truth behind a beloved Southern preacher’s demise. The preacher’s widow suspects foul play, despite the evidence indicating suicide.
With tension escalating between these investigators and local law enforcement—and new threats arising on all sides—how will Beth, Michael, and Nate hold on to faith and bring the truth to light?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Ellis is the bestselling author of many books, including A Widow’s Hope, An Amish Family Reunion, and Living in Harmony. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.
www.maryellis.net
A Word from the Author
“The next in my Secrets of the South Mysteries, Magnolia Moonlight, took me to Natchez and Bay St. Louis, both in Mississippi. Natchez in a lovely town sitting high on a bluff above the Mississippi River, and Bay St. Louis is a vacation destination along the Gulf Coast. Price Investigations hires two new PI’s to investigate the suicide of a Baptist minister after his wife suspects murder. When Nate and Isabelle leave on their honeymoon, everyone ends up with more than they can handle in my brand new romantic suspense.”
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by admin | Jul 5, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
The hero of “Murder Mezzo Forte” is an unlikely college history professor in threadbare suits who drives what many would consider a junker. Preston Barclay is also a reclusive widower with a penchant for puns. He also suffers with musical hallucinations. Yet for some reason the ladies seem drawn to him. After he and a female colleague discover the body of another professor, they soon find themselves suspects as well as victims of rumors and lies intended to destroy their careers and perhaps even their lives.
Unfamiliar with Taylor’s books, I was delighted to find “Murder Mezzo Forte” to be quite entertaining with abundant humorous and witty remarks that helped to lighten the much darker subjects of murder and danger. More than once I found myself chuckling at one of Preston’s off-the-wall remarks right in the middle of a suspenseful scene. What fun!
The intriguing plot includes a diverse cast of characters that includes corrupt policemen, inept college administrators, organized crime members, and quirky faculty members as well as other unique characters. Preston himself was a quite interesting character complete with foibles but his honesty about his shortcomings was refreshing. The mystery was one that kept me guessing throughout the story although hints dropped along the way led me in the right direction. There were definitely some welcome surprises and the touch of romance was just right.
I enjoyed “Murder Mezzo Forte” and would definitely be interested in reading other books by Donn Taylor.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
He is a reclusive history professor with musical hallucinations. . . .
She a headstrong professor of religion, a converted Wiccan. Earlier, they solved a campus murder, but now police say they formed two-thirds of an illicit love triangle with a newly-murdered female colleague and they’re probably guilty of her murder. A leak of the alleged scandal to the college administration threatens their jobs.
Their desperate attempt to prove themselves innocent of the triangle and the murder plunges them into a tangle of unsavory corporate relationships among college trustees. And it puts their lives in danger from a mysterious criminal organization that seems to have tentacles everywhere.
Can this ill-matched pair’s stumbling efforts succeed against the entrenched forces of the police, the college’s incompetent administration, and that powerful but unseen criminal organization? If not, they may end up unemployed, in prison, or suffering a fate much worse.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His publications include three suspense novels, one historical novel, and a book of poetry. He lives near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics.
Find out more about Donn at http://www.donntaylor.com.
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by admin | Jun 4, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Dectective, Mystery, Suspense
ABOUT THE BOOK:
MY REVIEW:
“Sister Eve and the Blue Nun” is the first book I’ve read by Lynne Hinton. I was uncertain what I could expect and it took me a little while to become fully engaged with the book even though it began quickly with a murder to solve. However, once I became better acquainted with the motorcycle riding, jeans wearing nun who doubles as a detective, it was easy to jump in and let the story pull me along for the ride.
I liked how Eve tended to be a bit of a lone ranger but also had a tendency to jump into things too quickly and make a mess of them. Her belief in her friend’s innocence was admirable as was her determination to prove it. Unfortunately that led her to make dangerous decisions that jeopardized her life. The way the legend of the Blue Nun played into the story was fascinating and I learned about a spiritual gift recognized by Catholics called biolocation that I had never encountered before.
All-in-all, I enjoyed reading about Sister Eve’s adventures in helping to solve another case enough that I will absolutely be open to reading more books by this author.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
After a murder at the monastery, Sister Eve may need a miracle if she is to prove a dear friend isn’t a cold-blooded killer.
Sister Eve, a motorcycle-riding nun with a natural (or is it supernatural?) gift for solving murders returns to the enclave she once called home and quickly finds herself confronting yet another mysterious death.
Someone has poisoned Dr. Kelly Middlesworth—a researcher on the life and ministry of 17th-century’s revered “Blue Nun”—and a set of irreplaceable historic documents have disappeared before they could even be examined.
When all evidence seems to point to the victim’s brother, Sister Eve sets out to expose the killer and learn the explosive truth those missing manuscripts might contain.
Chasing a killer is dangerous work, and as her two worlds collide, Sister Eve may need some heavenly help simply to survive.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lynne Hinton is the “New York Times” bestselling author of “Friendship Cake” and “Pie Town.” A native of North Carolina, she received her undergraduate degree from the U.N.C. at Greensboro and her Masters of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She also studied at Wake Forest University and the NC School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking. She has served as a chaplain with hospice and as the pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both in North Carolina. Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer. She lives with her husband, Bob Branard, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Find out more about Lynne at http://www.lynnehinton.com.
by admin | May 11, 2016 | Books, Dectective, Historical, Mystery, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I don’t often take the time to watch TV because I prefer to spend it reading but occasionally I enjoy watching Murdoch Mysteries (aka The Artful Detective). Set in Toronto in the early twentieth century, it is a fun, historical detective mystery. When I opened the pages of “The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder” I found myself in that same Toronto time frame with Merinda and Jem, two friends who have defied society’s expectations to start a detective agency.
Merinda and Jem are unconventional and independent, preferring to don men’s clothing in order to slip past Toronto’s Morality Squad on their quest to discover clues to two unsolved deaths that the police seem to have forgotten. The plot is fresh and clever with frequent humor yet also contains an intelligence and depth that was somewhat unexpected. I loved all four of the primary characters and hoped for a match for Jem and Ray DeLuca throughout the entire book although at times it looked like she might be taken in by another character’s false charm. I also secretly hoped to see Merinda and Jasper join forces as more than just working together to solve crimes.
I pretty much loved everything about “The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder” including the quotations at the beginning of each chapter from fictional books as well as the explanatory footnotes scattered throughout the narrative. This is a witty and entertaining story with well researched historical facts and a solid message of faith woven through it. I eagerly look forward to the next Herringford and Watts mystery, A Lesson in Love and Murder. I can’t wait!
A digital copy of this book was provided for review by Harvest House Publishers through NetGalley but I also purchased a paperback copy.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.
Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.
While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.
