Bonded by Death by Jared A. Rogers


Bonded by Death by Jared A. Rogers
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Slicing up dead bodies is one thing, but befriending the person responsible for creating them is another. Dr. Warren Gates has taken over as the King County Medical Examiner as the hunt for a dangerous serial killer begins and at each crime scene, the murders are as much gruesome as they are bizarre. Along with an unrecognizable branding, the victims are left with no fingers or toes. The professional precision in which the mutilations occur immediately grabs Warren’s interest, but what he doesn’t know, is that he’s about to be more involved than examining the leftovers

Warren’s life is turned upside down when the killer reveals himself in a desire to become friends. However, the relationship also comes with a unique offer, if Warren can figure out the reason for the murders, the killer promises to stop. With the cops, his wife, and the killer themself breathing down his neck the game is more dangerous than it seems. Is it genuine? Is it a sick joke? The bigger question is, how many bodies will pile up in Warren’s lab before he finds out?

Bonded by Death is original and unpredictable. It lives up to its name—thriller—by keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Dr. Warren Gates is a medical examiner and is very focused on his job. During his autopsies, he can separate himself from the death of the person before him to get the job done.

There is a serial killer on the loose, and Dr. Gates is the one who receives the victims afterward. His job alone is well-explained and detailed enough for readers to feel like they’re in the room with him. His assistant is peppy and adds interest to the story. She has intriguing insights and methods to her work alongside the doctor. The other characters are perfect and bring out the best or the worst in Dr. Gates.

Things take an unexpected turn. The killer introduces himself to the doctor. This is where the book differs from others of the same genre. Dr. Gates gets deeper and deeper involved, and his trouble and doubts about his future add tension to this different story.

If you like thrillers and want a different take on things, why not give this book a try?

Rediscovering Family by Sean Michael


Rediscovering Family by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Sometimes life gives you a second chance.

Bruce Dawson and Todd Greene had it all. A happy marriage, fulfilling careers and a brand new baby girl. When their nanny of three days kidnaps their daughter Olive, their world falls apart.
Two years later, divorced and working himself to death, Bruce gets a call that will change the downward trajectory of his life forever. Just three words: they found her.

Now Bruce and Todd must work together to provide the home their daughter deserves, and not only their own daughter, but the little girl found with her as well. To make matters even more complicated, Todd has a son on the way.

Join Bruce and Todd as they reconnect and rediscover what it means to be a family.

Bruce and Todd had a happy marriage, jobs they enjoyed and a brand new baby girl they adored. Their lives – and marriage – fell apart though when the nanny disappeared with their baby girl and although Bruce and Todd still loved each other, they couldn’t find a way to make things work. Two years later Bruce receives a call from Todd, one he never expected to receive with the fateful words “they’ve found her”. Can these two men patch up not just their trust and relationship once again, but build a family with their two new girls and each other?

I often find I’m a bit hit and miss with such deeply emotional storylines as this one portrayed. I often feel like it’s difficult to believe a committed couple who had been driven to the point of divorce could come back together and renew their relationship again. I was delighted that for the most part the author balanced these concerns of mine and the story managed to be both optimistic and emotional while still not negating the very deep and complicated issues Bruce and Todd faced. I found this to be an emotional read, yes, but not drowning in angst or recriminations which was lovely. The characters of Olive and Delilah also lightened the tone and feel of the story significantly and created an amazing balance I feel between the issues lying between Bruce and Todd.

Readers looking for a mostly sweet, second-chance style of story should find this ticks a number of the good boxes. I was pleased that from the very beginning both Todd and Bruce were committed to the two girls and determined to make their non-traditional family work. There was a strong cast of secondary characters – with both sets of Todd and Bruce’s parents as well as Todd’s sister and brother in law being fairly closely involved with the newly recreated family. There was a lot of emotion and a lot of rushing to get everything settled for the two girls but I felt the author really did a good job of balancing the hectic side of getting organized with the two men trying to wade their way through to what would become their new normal. I was particularly pleased that while their past issued weren’t ignored neither was it drawn out or made overly angsty. I thought it was a realistic and sensible balance that I enjoyed reading.

With some exceptional characters, a lot of realism and no shying away from the emotional aspect of the situation, I thought this was a lovely and interesting full length story. While there are a number of explicit scenes between Todd and Bruce this isn’t a full-on erotic romance story – more of a reconnecting and rebuilding a family style of story with plenty of craziness and antics from the children and a solid “feel good” sort of atmosphere. A lovely family story and one I enjoyed.

Once in a Lifetime by Mary Monroe


Once in a Lifetime by Mary Monroe
Publisher: Dafina
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Holiday
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Free-spirited, living on the fly, Vanessa Hayes is still always down for traditional family holiday fun—until now. She’s making her oft-delayed wish finally come true: Christmas in Paris, the glittering City of Lights. But when her passport gets delayed, it’s too late for Vanessa to rebook. Now it looks like the Yuletide she longs for won’t happen. Until a stranger suddenly enters her life, and changes it forever . . .

Overwhelmed by responsibility, Judith Guthrie is too busy worrying about her seriously ill brother to have time to celebrate. She’s taken a leave from her teaching job to care for him as he’s on the waiting list for a life-giving transplant. A trip to France is a kind of happiness she can’t imagine. But when she accidentally receives Vanessa’s passport, Judith can’t resist delivering it in person so Vanessa will at least have her holiday dream. She can’t anticipate that her small gesture will result in a series of big choices, big miracles, and lifelong rewards that all will be thankful for over many Christmases to come . . .

Is it fate?

The story is told from Vanessa Hayes’s point of view. The story seemed more of a high level overview than an in-depth get to know the characters that I am use to when reading the author’s writing style. This was an okay read. I finished it but didn’t quite get the normal excitement that I usually get when I read a Mary Monroe novel.

I enjoyed seeing Vanessa, a single 32-year-old woman enjoying her life and taking care of herself and helping her family. Her long time dream of going to Paris is halted when her passport didn’t arrive in time for her scheduled trip during Christmas. Because of the mishap with the postal service, it turns out she’ll receive another once in a lifetime opportunity. Unfortunately after Vanessa’s trip has been cancelled Judith Ann Guthrie knocks on Vanessa’s door to deliver the delayed passport. Here’s where things got strange for me, but who am I to say it could very well be divine intervention. Vanessa Googles Judith and gives her a call. The phone rung six times before Judith answered. For some reason Vanessa is eager to meet with Judith again. Judith invites a stranger to come to her home. While there the ladies have a bonding moment as well as Vanessa meeting Ronald, Judith’s brother who is in need of a kidney.

There were minor details that didn’t make this book a great read. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters. As I mentioned Vanessa has a loving personality but her life was just not that interesting to me. The book tells a lot about her with her family and friends and maybe it was the lack of drama that made the story bland.

However, I enjoyed the good hearted unselfishness on Vanessa’s part. She’s a lovely soul and she deserves to have someone just as loving. The story is a little easy to predict. I enjoyed how the author made me wonder and work for the ending. I knew there was going to be a happy ending but it wasn’t as instant as I thought. Here comes fate again. What are the chances of Vanessa and Ronald showing up at the same theater, to watch the same movie at the same time?

It’s not a holiday story but it is heartwarming and a story about family, unexpected friendship and helping others. It’s a nice read.

Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber


Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

In this joyous and whimsical holiday novel, Debbie Macomber rings in the season with the return of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy, delivering laughs, love, and a charming dose of angelic intervention.

Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy know that an angel’s work is never done, especially during a time as wondrous as New Year’s Eve. With an apprentice angel, Will, under their wings, they descend upon Times Square in New York City eager to join in the festivities. And when Will spies two lonely strangers in the crowd, he decides midnight is the perfect time to lend a heavenly helping hand.

Lucie Farrara and Aren Fairchild meet after bumping into each other—seemingly by accident—in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. They immediately hit it off and find they have a lot in common: Lucie is a burgeoning chef and Aren is a respected food critic. But just as quickly as they’re brought together, another twist of fate tears them apart, leaving Lucie and Aren with no way to reconnect.

A year later, Lucie is the chef of an acclaimed new restaurant and Aren is a successful columnist for a major New York newspaper. For all the time that’s passed, the two have not forgotten their one serendipitous evening—and neither have Shirley, Goodness, Mercy, and Will. To reunite the young couple, the angels cook up a brilliant plan: mix true love, a second chance, and a generous sprinkle of mischief to create an unforgettable Christmas miracle.

I recently came across a book called Angels at the Table… I remembered a series by Debbie Macomber that I loved and immediately read the synopsis. Yep! Shirley, Goodness and Mercy were back at it but this time with an apprentice angel, Will. This is not a religious book at all. It’s a sweet enchanting holiday romance with comedy. I couldn’t believe my luck to run across this particular story, one that I have not read yet.

I was a huge fan of Debbie Macomber years ago. It all began in 1993 with the book “A Season of Angels”. Humans are complicated and they send prayer requests to God and he sends down angels to help answer the prayers without interfering. However, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are absolutely hilarious. They can’t seem to guide without meddling. Each year I looked forward to the next holiday release. “1994 had Trouble with Angels, 1995 was Touched by Angels, 1999 – A Gift to Last, and 2003 was Those Christmas Angels. I just finished Angels at the Table and loved it! Each book includes those endearing angels of Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, doing their thing as only they can do.

I can’t recommend this book or series enough. It’s pure Christmas magic and as of today, Christmas is only a few months away. This particular novel, Angels at the Table, is the most romantic story in the series I’ve read and it’s between Lucie the heroine and Aren, the hero. Their relationship was, shall we say, ‘divine’. All the books can be read as a standalone so it’s okay to start with this story.

Once I started reading this book it was impossible to put down. It’s light, fluffy, humorous and heartwarming. It left me with the feeling of hope, peace and joy. I’m ready to put up my Christmas tree! But, since I’m writing this review on only the second day of Autumn, LOL, I guess I’ll have to wait. Meanwhile, I’m going to find the 2007 release that I missed.

Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer


Merry Little Wishing Spritz by Cherie Colyer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal, Holiday
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life turns upside down when her friend foresees the wrecking ball that threatens to destroy Cassie’s home and workplace. But Cassie isn’t giving up without a fight. She casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

Jack Quinn has had his eyes on Lakeside Books for years. He has big plans for the cozy waterfront property, but he didn’t expect to care about the store or its employees. And he never imagined he’d be drawn to a certain brown-eyed saleswoman.

Almost as if by magic.

This novella is the perfect story for when a reader is short on time but needs a quick fix of romance. Merry Little Wishing Spritz made me smile, grin, giggle and thoroughly entertained me. It kind of reminded me of Samantha in Bewitched, and when Cassie spoke to her cat, Smudge, it brought to mind a fond memory of Bell, Book and Candle when Gillian, the female lead, talks to her cat, Pyewacket. The thing is with this story, it’s more upbeat, sweet and playful with a happy ever after ending that left me happy and content.

I’m of the opinion that this story would make a delightful holiday movie which could be watched not only at Christmas, because of the mistletoe, but Halloween too, because good solid romance movies can span the holidays that happen towards the end of the year. I would really enjoy watching all the little pranks Cassie played on Jack. He was a good sport about it all – not suspecting a thing, of course. The scene with the reindeer made me grin.

The supporting cast is pretty much one person, Peyton, Cassie’s best friend. She’s the heroine’s cheerleader, confidant and conspirator in getting Cassie to open up to the possibility that Jack may not be like all the other losers Cassie had dated in the past. She was a perfect best friend and I liked her personality.

It was a stroke of genius to include the topic of gift giving to those in the community that had no one to give them gifts. Cassie and Peyton dressed up as adorable elves and that’s another reason why I could see this book being made into a film. There were so many details that touched the heart, coaxed emotions and feelings, and brought to life their little part of the world.

Merry Little Wishing Spritz is a happy romance story that includes a little paranormal zing of witchy wonderfulness to spice up the fun as Cassie and Jack fall in love. I’m glad I found this little gem and I believe a lot of readers are in for a treat when they read this book for themselves.

Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour by Kam Knight


Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour by Kam Knight
Publisher: MindLily.com
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

This has become the go to book for students, teachers, educators, professionals, and home-school parents & children to rapidly improve their reading.

It offers simple tips to not only accelerate reading speed, but also comprehension and memory.

Unlike other books that merely teach you to skim & scan, this book taps into your brain and eyes’ amazing power to naturally read more words in a shorter time.

Very impressive read. I am sure it took a lot of effort on the author’s part because the book is well organized and broken into sections in a certain order that allows for organized learning. There are five sections and each section has three chapters that provide numerous tips and insight to help improve reading speed, comprehension and memory. The various techniques make sense and will require effort on the readers part. Readers will have to be hands on with the training techniques and definitely have to put the advice into practice. I appreciate the tips and will definitely work on adding the methods when I am reading. As the author stated “speed reading is about increasing habits that speed you up while decreasing habits that slow you down.”

The author not only gives tips but he makes sure the reader understands and absorbs what’s been written, as well as being able to recall what’s been learned. He gives a deeper dive into the art of reading. A lot of useful information on previewing before the reader starts reading, methods to use for different reading materials, space reading and using visual range in addition to various eye exercises. He offer advice on what questions readers should ask while reading so that they can get the bigger meaning or purpose of what is being read. Again a lot of information that never crossed my mind and will surely make me a better reader and also be able to comprehend what I’ve read. The author explains each technique by defining it, explaining it along with illustrations and practice drills that the reader can perform.

Reading faster and retaining more information deeply affects many aspects of life so why not give the useful concepts a try. I am sure you will find several useful tips that will help you with your quality of reading. I highly recommend this book!

Nowhere To Ride by Andrew Grey


Nowhere To Ride by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Unjustly accused of a crime, Ky Archer is trying to keep his ranch together, with fierce tenacity and minimal help. With his nefarious accuser the lead wolf at the door, Ky is resolved to do whatever he has to in order to keep the final link with his family intact.

Brodie Tyler is down on his luck–way down. Down enough to camp with his baby sister in a tent to get away from relatives he’d hoped would help him. His parents are gone and he’s got nowhere to go, but he’s determined to keep his sister safe with him, no matter what.

Ky finds Brodie and Emily on his property and takes them in out of the storm… literally. Neither expects the heat that ignites between them to be as hot as the western sun. The men find they fit together well, both at work and in the bedroom. They also find they have a common enemy who tries to tear them apart. Working together, they might discover that each holds the key for the other’s desire.

Ky is struggling to keep his ranch afloat. With an enemy in town determined to smear his name and try to purchase his land and more work than Ky can handle things are looking dire. When he finds Brodie and toddler Emily on his land though, Ky can’t turn them away and offers the only help he can, a safe place to stay warm and dry. The sizzling attraction between the two men burns hotly between them, but when they find they share the wrath of a common enemy can these two men stick together and make things work?

I really enjoyed this well plotted and slow paced cowboy romance. I was pleased with the individuality of the main characters and enjoyed the strong supporting secondary characters as well. The author did an excellent job to my mind in making the two men relatable and believable, but still unique enough they stuck in my head and held my interest long after I’d finished this book. I also found this an emotional read and loved how Ky and Brodie formed a strong and believable connection before jumping into bed and becoming intimate.

The day to day problems and obstacles Ky – and Brodie – experienced also really resonated with me and felt both believable and relatable. Things like the hard manual work needed just to keep the ranch working in the searing Texas heat, the isolation of living outside the small township and how a precious resource like water could make or break the success of a farm. And while the villain could appear to be a little overdrawn I honestly feel that it wouldn’t be at all over the top for people to act so ruthlessly and mean-spiritedly – willing to destroy a man’s reputation and drive him out of town with hatred and lies – simply to steal land and resources. As despicable as those actions were, and hard to read, even this struck me as realistic and probably all too common out in real life.

I feel the author did an amazing job writing a realistic and emotional story with a decent and gripping plot. This was a lovely story and I’ve eagerly bought a number of his other works. This could easily become one of my new favourite authors. The fact the relationship and connection between Ky and Brodie was intense, believable and smoking hot was just icing on the cake.

A lovely read and a new to me author who I will enjoy reading more of.

Bad Guys Finish Fast & Good Guys Finish Last by A.H. Scott


Bad Guys Finish Fast & Good Guys Finish Last by A.H. Scott
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

A sexy lady with a fire inside has two men as different as dusk and dawn entering her life. Both men are sexy without a doubt. Will she choose lust or will she choose love? Maybe, it’s destiny that gives her that fateful shove. Out of a person’s hands they sometimes have little control on how the play of their destiny is cast in “Bad Guys Finish Fast & Good Guys Finish Last”.

This sultry story that begins with Miranda Grayson and Tiberius “Tiger” Preston, promises many steamy encounters to ensue, but there are a few things that lay underneath that will surprise every reader. Tiger and Miranda are off like a shot within the first couple of pages and diving deeper into those seedy fantasies we only think about behind closed doors. The scenarios presented are tantalizing, and while there are some more graphic depictions of these encounters, we hardly get any of those interactions between our main characters.

This may have been used as a device to show the readers that the relationship was not as intriguing as it presented itself within the first few pages, but as a reader I would have liked to get more description of our main characters participating, rather than the implication that they had participated before. Especially when we are not shy about all of the other participants in these lascivious acts.

As the title proclaims, Bad Guys Finish Fast & Good Guys Finish Last, when bad guy Tiger is old hat, so enters good guy Paul St. Richard. Miranda wants a shot at real love, and the handsome doctor might be just the candidate for a fresh start. The perfect hospital meet cute shows the audience right away that this is our guy.

The story from here moves pretty quickly towards an unexpected ending for Miranda, Tiger, and Paul. We find a sweetness in the characters whom we would normally associate with spice, but we find that nothing is sweeter than revenge.

A very fast read, but I found myself sometimes getting tripped up over cheesy dialogue. If I were getting down to the heat of things and my partner started calling me “My Randa”, I would not be able to stifle the urge to roll my eyes. But perhaps the possessive language is more to the liking of other readers.

Bad Guys Finish Fast & Good Guys Finish Last was all in all a pretty good read with some steamy moments, I only wished that we spent more time with the main characters getting busy! But A.H. Scott has truly written a novel that will give you a taste of EVERY forbidden fantasy!

*Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin


*Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Up-and-coming attorney Leigh Larson fights for victims of sexual extortion, harassment, and online abuse. She is not afraid to go after the sleaziest targets to get payback for her clients. Leigh is laser-focused on her career—to the exclusion of everything else—until a seemingly routine case and a determined cop turn her world upside down.

Austin homicide detective Brandon Reynolds is no stranger to midnight callouts. But when he gets summoned to an abandoned car on a desolate road, he quickly realizes he’s dealing with an unusual crime scene. A pool of blood in the nearby woods suggests a brutal homicide. But where is the victim? The vehicle is registered to twenty-six-year-old Vanessa Adams. Searching the car, all Brandon finds is a smear of blood and a business card for Leigh Larson, attorney-at-law.

Vanessa had hired Leigh just before her disappearance, but Leigh has no leads on who could have wanted her dead. Faced with bewildering evidence and shocking twists, Leigh and Brandon must work against the clock to chase down a ruthless criminal who is out for vengeance.

Last Seen Alone is an intriguing and fast paced story that I found impossible to put down. This gritty story held me spellbound as I was trying to figure out what direction the story would take and it kept me guessing until the very end.

Brandon, a detective, is investigating a case of a missing woman when he meets Leigh, an attorney. At first, Brandon and Leigh try to fight the sizzling chemistry flowing between them. They are working on an important case and don’t have time for relationships. Plus, they don’t trust each other and are hesitant to share information about the case with each other. However, as time goes on and they are constantly thrown together, they find it impossible to resist each other.

I was biting my nails while reading this riveting story trying to figure out who was guilty, right along with Brandon and Leigh. Time is of the essence, but everything is getting in the way of understanding what is really going on.

This compelling story has just the right mixture of suspense and romance. It is an interesting and realistic story with characters that are layered and easy to connect with. It took me on an unexpected journey and I loved every minute of it. I love trying to figure out where the story is going, but this plot was so intricately woven I never knew what to expect. Unexpected, wonderful and well worth reading.

*When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting


*When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Avery Spark is living her best life. Between her friends, her sisters, and Spark House, the event hotel her family owns, she doesn’t have much time for anything else, especially relationships. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals.

Declan avoids relationships, giving him a playboy reputation that he lives up to when he puts a one-night stand ahead of a promise he made to Avery. While he may not have been the one driving the car, he feels responsible for Avery’s injuries and is determined to make it up to her by stepping into the role of caretaker.

Little did they know that the more time they spend in compromising positions, the attraction they’ve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore. When they finally give in to the spark between them, neither is prepared for the consequences. Their love is fragile and all it will take is a blow from the past to shatter it all.

Going from friends to lovers isn’t an easy transition. That is the premise in Helena Hunting’s newest book, When Sparks Fly. Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors so naturally, I was excited to read this one.

Declan and Avery have been best friends since college and once they graduate, they become roommates. They have a great relationship and enjoy spending time together because they both love sports. They are athletic and love everything that has to do with the sports world. However, their friendship changes when Avery has a bad auto accident.

I liked Declan, although he is a manwhore. I found it is easy to forgive him because deep down he is insecure and dealing with baggage from his past. Declan is filled with self doubt when it comes to relationships and he doesn’t think he is suited to a long lasting relationship. So, his life is filled with a series of hookups with different women.

Avery is the perfect friend and Declan doesn’t want to ruin their perfect friendship by becoming intimate with her. The only problem is lately, he finds he can’t stop thinking about her and staying away from Avery becomes impossible.

Helena Hunting knows how to write romance and she doesn’t disappoint with this one. It is fun, slow burning and has entertaining characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Declan and Avery’s story. They have so much in common and are great together. They worry they will ruin their wonderful friendship if they take a chance on love, but I wanted them to work everything out and end up together. This tender story had me quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen next.