by admin | Jun 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery
MY REVIEW:
It takes a pretty talented author to pull off such diverse genres as A. H. Gabhart has written but she is definitely up to the task. Her latest cozy mystery series set in Hidden Springs is both fun and suspense filled as all cozy mysteries should be. In the second book of the series, “Murder Comes by Mail”, Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane is faced with yet another case to solve in his small hometown that used to be quiet and peaceful. Why can’t things stay that way?
When Sheriff Keane stops a man from leaping to his death off a bridge near town, the last thing the man tells him is that he will be sorry he stopped him from jumping. When photographs of a dead girl show up in his office mail and the jumper disappears from the hospital, it is a foregone conclusion that the jumper must be the murderer. Then why is it so difficult to locate the man? With more deaths and indications that the murderer is taunting him, Michael is desperate to protect the people he loves. Can he solve the case before anyone else dies?
“Murder Comes by Mail” is a bit grittier and darker than the first book of the series “Murder at the Courthouse” but even so there is still no graphic violence to disturb the reader. Once again the pages are filled with the lovable and quirky residents of Hidden Springs, a lot of mystery, a little humor, and even a touch of romance. I love trying to figure out “whodunnit” and wondering what role a pet will play this time in the story. I did wonder about a certain character from the first time he appeared in the story because he was just so weird but there was never any real evidence against him.
All-in-all, “Murder Comes by Mail” was a fun and satisfying read that held my attention until the end.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Doing a good deed never felt so bad
Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn’t particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses–a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn’t last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs’ concerned citizens.
Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves–because the killer could be targeting one of them next.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Memories by Chris
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels–The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted–and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Learn more at www.annhgabhart.com.
by admin | Jun 8, 2016 | Books, Historical, Romance, Southern
MY REVIEW:
As a lifetime southerner, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about some of our history in Beth White’s Gulf Coast Chronicles. For some reason, that history was severely neglected during my school years. “The Magnolia Duchess” takes the reader to the southern coast during the War of 1812, particularly during the Battle of New Orleans. I couldn’t help but recall that beloved song by Johnny Horton from my childhood –
“We fired our guns and the British kept a-comin’
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to runnin’
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico”
Sorry, couldn’t help myself. What self-respecting southern child (or grownup for that matter) wouldn’t love a rousing song with lyrics like that? After reading Beth White’s account of the battle, the song made so much more sense.
Back to the book. I have loved reading about the Lanier family and their life on the Gulf Coast. As the female protagonist, Fiona was a strong young woman driven by compassion whose first response was to care for others whether friend or foe. I liked how conflicted she was about keeping Charlie’s identity secret from her family and how she tried to do the right thing despite how it affected herself. I liked Charlie a lot too. I had to admire his determination to fulfill his commitments but at the same time I was frustrated by his decisions.
Once again, Beth White captured my imagination and interest to the point I had difficulty taking care of everyday chores. I hate to see this series end but am in hopes the author will see fit to provide her readers with more southern fiction.
A copy of this book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
As the War of 1812 rages across the newly formed United States, another war rages in Fiona Lanier’s heart–one that threatens to tear her family apart.
Fiona can scarcely take in the news of her brother’s capture and imprisonment by the British Navy. It is almost as unbelievable as the half-drowned British sailor who is washed ashore on the beach of Navy Cove.
Charlie Kincaid claims to have no memory of his life before being discovered by Fiona, but in a world that seems saturated with treachery, she cannot be sure he is telling the truth.
As Charlie’s memory returns in agonizing jags and crashes, he and Fiona discover that falling in love may be as inevitable as the tide. But when political allegiances collide, they’ll each have to decide where their true loyalty lies.
Read an excerpt from The Magnolia Duchess HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth White‘s day job is teaching music at an inner-city high school in historic Mobile, Alabama. A native Mississippian, she writes historical romance with a Southern drawl and is the author of The Pelican Bride and The Creole Princess. Her novels have won the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, the RT Book Club Reviewers’ Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Learn more at www.bethwhite.net.
by admin | Jun 8, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Medical, Suspense
MY REVIEW:
“Medical Judgment” is yet another of Dr. Richard Mabry’s suspense-filled novels woven around the medical profession. It always surprises me how well this author can write from a female protagonist’s viewpoint but he pretty much nails it every time. Dr. Mabry grabbed my attention with this one from page one and held it all the way to the end. I read the book in one evening because I couldn’t put it down.
The plot moved along at a steady clip, driven by plenty of action, suspense, and soul-searching. Spiked with just the right touch of romance and faith, “Medical Judgment” was an extremely satisfying read. Each of the primary characters was well-rounded with both positive and negative traits which made them all the more authentic. I particularly liked how difficult it was to decide just who was harassing Sarah Gordon during the entire book. Several possible culprits were presented, all with feasible motives. Even her good friends and pastor were suspect! This novel just goes to prove that not all murderers have rational motives so it can be very difficult to pin them down. I was completely surprised by who the guilty party turned out to be. I had no clue!
If you enjoy medical mystery/suspense novels, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of “Medical Judgment” asap. I don’t think you will regret it.
A copy of this book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Dr. Sarah Gordon lost her husband and daughter. Now she’s about to lose her life.
After losing the two people she loved the most, Sarah Gordon doesn’t think life could get worse. But, after a fire in her garage is ruled an arson, she begins to realize someone is after her—and that person wants to see her dead. But first, they want to see her suffer.
Her late husband’s best friend, Kyle Andrews, and a recovering alcoholic detective, Bill Larson, are trying to solve the mystery before it’s too late, and they’re both trying to win her heart, too. Not only does Sarah feel torn between two men, she also feels as though she cannot trust anyone.
With creepy threats that become more and more sinister, Sarah finds herself in constant fear, but even the best home alarm technology won’t protect her. Who is doing this, and why are they after her?
Click here to learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes “medical suspense with heart.” His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers’ debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, and Romantic Times’ Reader’s Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.
Find out more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com.
ENTER TO WIN:
Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Medical Judgment
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Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.
by admin | Jun 7, 2016 | Books, England, Historical, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Dawn at Emberwilde” is yet another example of why I love Sarah Ladd’s books. The mysterious and often threatening forest of Emberwilde is the perfect background setting for the events that take place within the narrative. The strongly depicted characters have differing motives that only come to light at just the right points of the story. At times their motives are fairly obvious and at other times they are not easily discerned. Unexpected twists in the plot lend a certain amount of suspense and the romantic tension is flawless. The story moved along at a good pace with adequate dialogue, action, suspense, and romance to hold my attention – in fact it ended much too quickly as most good books do.
As of late my favorite type book is historical fiction that contains not only a romantic element but also one of mystery and suspense. “Dawn at Emberwilde” absolutely meets those qualifications. It reminds me of the old Gothic type romance novels I used to devour when I was much younger. Apparently my taste in books has not changed very much.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Dawn at Emberwilde” and my only regret is that I will have to wait awhile for Sarah’s next novel. It will definitely be on my must read list.
Copies of this book were provided for review by LitFuse Publicity and The Fiction Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.
For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would enable her to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.
The unexpected arrival of a stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.
At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. Perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.
At Emberwilde Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for “The Heiress of Winterwood.” She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky Golden Retriever.
Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahladd.com.
by admin | Jun 4, 2016 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
MY REVIEW:
As I have read the earlier books in Raney’s Chicory Inn series, Bree has been present but has only played a small part in the stories of members of the Whitman family. In “Close to Home” readers finally get to read her story.
As the young widow of the oldest Whitman son Tim, Bree has spent the five years since his death close to his family. Although she is beginning to feel that she may be ready for another chance at love, she fears how that could affect her relationship with the family she has grown to love as her own. A new relationship offers possibilities and challenges that leave Bree confused about her future. Then she meets another man who changes everything. Could this be love?
I enjoyed spending time with the Whitman family again and it was both fun and frustrating watching Bree’s efforts to navigate the deep waters of romance again. As in the previous books, I was struck by the intense Whitman family loyalty, their faith, and the way they all worked together to take care of their own, not to mention how easily they welcomed new people into their ranks. I also loved Grant’s term for his son-in-laws – “the sillies”. I love reading about this wonderful family and am looking forward to the next book of the series.
A copy of this book was provided for review by The Amazon Vine Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Bree Cordel Whitman is a Whitman by marriage, but sometimes she forgets she wasn’t born into Grant and Audrey’s family. Her late husband, Timothy Whitman, gave his life for his country on a windblown hill in Afghanistan. Bree has let the love of Tim’s family keep her ties to him strong–in the same way she keeps Tim’s memory alive for them. But it’s been almost five years, and she can’t hang onto the past forever.
Fighting the guilt she feels for wanting to love again, she can’t help her dreams about a tall, dark, and handsome man–a man who is not her Tim. How can she accept the flirtations from Drew Brooks without throwing the Whitman family back into grieving? And how can Drew compete with the ghost of a hero and the hero’s very alive family who seem to hold some spell over the woman who shares their name . . . a woman he might just love?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deborah Raney’s books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas—the setting of many of Deb’s novels—for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita. Visit Deb on the web at DeborahRaney.com.
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.
