Righteous by Joe Ide

March 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Righteous by Joe Ide
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

For ten years, something has gnawed at Isaiah Quintabe’s gut and kept him up nights, boiling with anger and thoughts of revenge. Ten years ago, when Isaiah was just a boy, his brother was killed by an unknown assailant. The search for the killer sent Isaiah plunging into despair and nearly destroyed his life. Even with a flourishing career, a new dog, and near-iconic status as a PI in his hometown, East Long Beach, he has to begin the hunt again-or lose his mind.

A case takes him and his volatile, dubious sidekick, Dodson, to Vegas, where Chinese gangsters and a terrifying seven-foot loan shark are stalking a DJ and her screwball boyfriend. If Isaiah doesn’t find the two first, they’ll be murdered. Awaiting the outcome is the love of IQ’s life: fail, and he’ll lose her. Isaiah’s quest is fraught with treachery, menace, and startling twists, and it will lead him to the mastermind behind his brother’s death, Isaiah’s own sinister Moriarty.

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This is the second book written by Joe Ide and it picks up basically immediately after the first (“IQ”) leaves off. While I feel readers could pick this story up as a stand-alone novel since the author does a good job of fully explaining what is happening in Isaiah’s life and why he makes the choices he does, a part of me definitely feels the story was better for having read IQ first and knowing a lot of Isiah’s history and motivations.

I really enjoyed this story. Isaiah is a different character to many I read, fairly young and while incredibly smart still flawed enough to make youthful mistakes and not able to foresee everything like he thinks he can. It’s a great dynamic – particularly when it comes to repercussions (some of which he has to face from the first book which I also loved) and showing that being incredibly intelligent isn’t always an answer or solution for all problems.

My only real problem with this book was the time-line jumping around a fair bit. While this admittedly also occurred in the first story (IQ) I felt that was better integrated and didn’t leave me feeling so confused at times. Here, I felt the author could have done a bit of a better job highlighting where the story was being recalled from past interactions and which bit continued the current time-line. At points in the book I was quite confused as to when something was actually occurring in the time of the story itself.

That said, this book also had a great feel of realism to it for me. The world isn’t a perfect place and answers aren’t always there to be found. I thought the plotlines wove really well together in this story – between the various cases and characters Isaiah was interacting with and this helped to my mind in keeping the pace of the story moving quickly.

Readers who like a strongly plotted mystery story with a bit of action/adventure and a whole slew of realistic but different characters should definitely give this series a try. I’ve really enjoyed both the first story and this second book and I plan to purchase the rest of the series and continue along with it.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal by Kimberly Baer

March 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal by Kimberly Baer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Chloe Lamont doesn’t live in a neighborhood, like most kids. Her house is in the middle of the mall. And now someone is stealing items from her house and using them to vandalize stores. Who is trying to frame her? And how are they getting into the house?

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Who would frame a kid for petty crimes?

The main mystery storyline was exciting and well written. It was fun to look back and take notice of the small clues that were included in the first few chapters once I had a better idea of what might be going on with the random acts of late-night vandalism at the mall. The author included the perfect number of them for this age group.

I would have liked to see more time spent developing the subplot about why Chloe’s mom, Ursula, had refused to have any contact with Chloe’s grandparents for so many years. Most people will only cut off relatives for pretty serious offenses, so I was expecting her to tell Chloe about something dangerous or illegal that had happened in the family. The actual reason given for this decision never quite made sense to me. It would have been helpful for me as a reader to dive much more deeply into what Ursula was thinking there.

Chloe was an instantly likeable girl. Figuring out why she was so reluctant to let people get close to her was nearly as interesting as sorting out the main mystery. She was such a creative and sweet kid that I couldn’t stop hoping she’d meet some new friends who appreciated her for exactly who she was.

Mall Girl Meets the Shadow Vandal should be read by anyone who has ever wished they could see what a mall is like after everyone goes home.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

One Motion More by L. A. Tavares

March 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


One Motion More by L. A. Tavares
Consistently Inconsistent Book one
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Actions speak louder than words.

Long-haired bad-boy guitarist Xander has skeletons in his closest that refuse to stay dead. After a series of setbacks, Xander hits new lows, almost costing himself his reputation and career. While trying to take steps in the right direction toward better decisions and good choices, he meets Natalie, and for the first time—maybe ever—Xander sees past himself and past the music his rock band is famous for.

Their relationship is an unlikely one, with outside factors creating obstacles the two would have to tackle to make their love work.

He is reckless while she responsible.
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He thrives in the spotlight while she will do anything to avoid it.

He speaks fluent profanity while she doesn’t speak at all.

He works to win her heart, despite having to overcome the communication barrier, while she tries to look past the intensity of the spotlight they find themselves in.

I have many thoughts about One Motion More and the first thought that comes to mind is A+ for originality. I genuinely appreciate a book that includes social inclusion. I’ve never read a story where the main character, who in this case is the heroine, Natalie, is disabled. She can’t speak. I was intrigued to find out how Natalie and the hero, Xander, overcome the language barrier. Especially considering Xander is a rock star. I agree with the synopsis when it says they make an unlikely couple. That is why I needed to find out how they’d find their Happily Ever After.

I am familiar with the deaf culture after living near the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) in St. Augustine, FL for several years. I appreciate how the author accurately described Natalie’s world.

One Motion More started off capturing my attention immediately and held my interest throughout the well-paced book. I felt the characters were well developed and I enjoyed meeting each one. I am looking forward to book two being released.

Regarding the relationship and chemistry between Xander and Natalie, I had moments of joy and frustration. Xander was a bit too selfish for my taste and Natalie was a bit too forgiving for me. However, it all worked out in the end. They definitely were attracted to each other and I was pleased with the epilogue. It left me satisfied with their Happily Ever After.

One Motion More was a good read for me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Walk On The Wild Side by Pelaam

March 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Walk On The Wild Side by Pelaam
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, BDSM
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

By day, Devin is a staid systems analyst, but at the weekends, he becomes Miss Teaque, singer and drag queen.

Driving a little too fast to get home, he’s stopped by the police, and in Devin’s eyes, the big man in uniform is a walking sex god.

Justin is as smitten as Devin and traces him to the bar in which he’s performing. The only dark cloud on their horizon is Devin’s selfish and domineering mother. Caving in to her demands causes the couple to argue. Devin is heart-broken, but since he knows it’s his own fault, he can’t bring himself to call his handsome cop.
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Has he lost his chance of happiness?

Devin had only been a little bit over the speed limit, but when he’s pulled over by a policeman Devin has trouble keeping his interest and attraction to the sexy cop hidden. Relived both that the handsome policeman doesn’t give him a ticket but also that nothing was said about his attire, Devin continues his drive home after his singing gig in his drag queen get-up. But when later Devin and Justin meet again at the club Justin is no longer in his uniform and the two men don’t have to keep their exchange brief and professional any longer.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this short and sexy story. I felt a connection to Devin straight away – pleased that the opening scene of being pulled over and really nervous about it was something so utterly relatable. It helped really set the mood for me but also let me feel a good empathy and connection with Devin’s character. I was jolted out of the story a few times by some typos/editing errors near the start of the book, but overall I really enjoyed Devin’s story.

I loved how even though he could be brave and confidant as Miss Teaque (his drag queen alter ego) Devin also was still the somewhat shy young guy inside who let himself be bullied around by his mother. This contrast was part of what made Devin so realistic and enjoyable to me. Devin is still trying to sort himself out and find his way and watching him blossom was really lovely. I found the plotline surrounding Devin’s mother a little cliched – but this in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story as Devin and Justin’s connection – and Devin’s relationship with his brother – together more than made up for this.

I particularly loved how Devin and Justin took some time to get to know each other outside of the bedroom before they became physically intimate. While the sex was a little kinky and super hot when they got there, the connection between Devin and Justin felt deeper and more realistic for them actually trying to get to know each other first and not just having sex as soon as they connected. This really helped sell me on the potential longevity of their relationship and left me with a really good feeling about them both.

Sexy, light and fun this is a good short story.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Holding by Kata Cuic

March 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Holding by Kata Cuic
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Tori Russo’s job is very simple—be a pretty distraction for a professional football player with a bad attitude. Her only problem? She’d rather gain some actual marketing experience during her internship than be someone’s arm candy for photo ops. Growing up with a Navy captain father and five older, overprotective brothers, she’s never been allowed to stand on her own two feet. She’s going to prove to them she has what it takes to be an independent adult. Even if it means giving in and faking a relationship with one of the NFL’s most eligible bachelors. Tori doesn’t want to sleep her way to the top, but her client is impossible to resist. If she can keep her heart out of the game, she can walk away with her head held high.
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Mike Mitchell’s life shouldn’t be this complicated. All he wants is to play football and earn a good living for his family, but his life off the field is riddled with chaos. After a long-standing feud with an old friend-turned-rival is caught on camera, he’s assigned a PR rep by his team. His options are limited—play nice with the sweet as peaches redhead or be benched. With his paycheck and his ability to provide for his mom and sisters on the line, he’s convinced he can juggle one more ball. His only problem? He’s becoming way too attached to this gorgeous distraction. The friend zone is collapsing day by day. If he can’t avoid her temptation, then he’s going to have to find a different way to play by the rules.

I enjoy reading stories about football players falling in love. So, I was looking forward to reading Holding by Kata Cuic. It is an entertaining sports romance about a football player in need of some PR help. This is the first book I have read in this series and Kata Cuic is is a new author to me. While I enjoyed this story, I have to admit, at times, I found it confusing. There were a lot of different characters and since I didn’t read any of the other books in this series, I didn’t know their back stories and I felt a little lost.

Mike and Tori, the two main characters, are likable and it was fun reading their story. They are compatible and help each other through some tough times. They make each other feel better and help boost each other’s confidence. I hoped they would be able to work through their issues and be together.

Along with Mike and Tori there are a whole cast of entertaining characters. This is an engaging story and it is the fifth book in the Moving the Chains series. If you like reading about football players, you will like this one.

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Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton

March 17, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.

As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton’s personal and business archives.

Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics.

• Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia
• Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs
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Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.

Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton’s archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.

• Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” and more.
• The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country.

Dolly can do anything, but she’s one heck of a story teller.

I love Dolly Parton and when I saw this book had come out, I had to grab it. I’m glad I did. This is Dolly talking about her songs and the stories behind them. She doesn’t hold back, either. I loved how she gets right into the thick of the stories and explains why she wrote the songs she did. I liked how she talked about the different parts of her life, too. She talks about her husband, her life and how she put in the work to get where she did.

The writing flows well and it’s believable. It’s like reading conversations with a friend. Plus, there are photos of her gowns and other memorabilia that goes with the stories. I liked how she talked about why she wore what she did and where her mind was at the time she wrote the songs. She’s not always easy on herself and not always mean towards those she dislikes. She’s telling stories through those songs and it shines.

If you’re looking for something that’s a must for Dolly Fans, then this is the book you should pick up. Recommended.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Colors of the Heart by DK Marie

March 17, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Colors of the Heart by DK Marie
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Her vibrancy paints the dark shadows of his heart, turning them into shades of love.

What is it about the men in Harper’s life? Every single one of them eventually let her down and abandoned her.

Damn it. She freaking knew better.

Her passion should be only for her art and her gallery.
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She is a fool to think Lucas is different. Yet, she fell into his kind eyes and sensual smile, landing in bed with him. She offered him her unrestrained passion and hope for more. In return, he left her hotel room before the sun had even peeked over the horizon, not bothering to leave a note or his number.

Lucas can’t believe how royally he messed things up with Harper. He wants a second chance, but part of him wonders if it might be better to leave her alone. A past tragedy has left him a shadow of the man he used to be. Yet, he’s drawn to Harper and can’t walk away.

Once learning of his past, Harper agrees. She doesn’t want a risk falling for a man who might never be able to love her in return.

If only her body and heart would listen to her.

Colors of the Heart is a poignant story about two people navigating the dating world. Lucas and Harper meet at a wedding and instantly connect and it is hard for them to resist the chemistry zinging between them. Sadly, they both have baggage from the past, so they are hesitant to open up their hearts again.

I liked both Lucas and Harper and thought they were good together. I was rooting for them and wanted them to work through all their issues. First, they have to learn to trust themselves to not make the same mistakes again and they also have to learn to let go and trust someone else.

DK Marie writes about realistic people trying to figure out how to deal with their life and all the issues and problems thrown their way. Lucas and Harper have made mistakes and hopefully, they have learned from them. This is the fourth book in the Opposites Attract series and each book is a stand alone, but all the characters are interconnected. This is an emotional and engaging story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Careless Whiskers by Miranda James

March 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When librarian Charlie Harris’ daughter is falsely accused of murder, he and his faithful feline Diesel must leap forward to crack the case in this all-new installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Charlie Harris has sworn off investigating murder and mayhem after a recent close call. Instead, he’s delighted to cheer on his daughter, Laura, who’s starring in a production of Careless Whispers. The theater department at Athena College is debuting the play written by a fledgling playwright with local connections and Charlie’s son-in-law, Frank Salisbury, will be calling the directorial shots.

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Charlie knows his daughter is innocent, and he’s not going to let anyone railroad his little girl. So, despite his intentions to put his amateur sleuthing days behind him, Charlie has to take center stage, and with Diesel’s help, shine a spotlight on the real killer.

There’s a murderer on the stage and Charlie’s intent on saving the day!

I like the Cat in the Stacks mysteries. They’re comfort food in book form. The writing is good and drew me right in, plus there are cats. The pacing was a little uneven at times, but I could overlook it because I wanted to know what happened.

Charlie is a sweet older man. I’m not entirely sure how old he is, other than he’s a widower and has an adult child, but I never really got a good picture of him. I did get a great picture of his cats, Ramses and Diesel. I’d love to live somewhere that allows cats that readily around town. Then again, I’d love a Ramses and Diesel of my own, as these cats literally follow him everywhere like a pair of dogs. I’ve never had a cat that would listen to commands and wasn’t so headstrong that commands didn’t mean anything. These cats are different. Then again, this is fiction, so it’s okay.

The mystery is interesting and I had no idea whodunit. I had to read through and it was quicker pacing near the end when the ending is revealed. I did like that the story picked up that way. I do have to admit I got a bit tired of the various meals Charlie ate, but again, it could be overlooked because the mystery was interesting.

If you’re looking for a comfort style story, something to pass an afternoon and that involves cats, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Bad Moon Rising by Pelaam

March 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Bad Moon Rising by Pelaam
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Marcus is a bear shifter, living peacefully in the mountains with the rest of his sleuth made up of other shifters as well as humans.

When he rescues Kody, a lynx shifter, it changes both their lives. Marcus knows his mate, but Kody has been abused in the past and Marcus is aware he must court his mate carefully.

But not all those in his sleuth are pleased that Marcus brought Kody to live with them and are furious to find Marcus intends to claim Kody as his mate.
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Can a determined bear break down the barriers a lynx has surrounded him with and claim his mate?

Marcus, a bear shifter, meets Kody, a lynx shifter, by chance when Kody is trying to escape his abusers and kidnappers. Feeling an immediate connection, Marcus offers Kody not only his freedom, but protection in Marcus’ own group of friends that has formed their own pack together. Kody is nervous but willing to trust Marcus. Can they make something together?

I enjoyed this fast-paced short story. While I understand the author hurrying the plotline along because of the short length of the story, I would have appreciated Marcus and Kody’s relationship having a little bit more time to develop. I was very grateful they didn’t jump immediately into bed together – Kody absolutely wasn’t ready for physical intimacy after being held captive – but with a few interweaving plotlines I was left feeling as if the whole story was just rushed a little too much.

I guessed much of the plot between Kody’s abusers and one of Marcus’ family members and felt it was a little bit cliched. Again, with such a short page-count there wasn’t a huge amount of time for the author to really delve into a heavy plot or a complicated series of events, but I feel perhaps if one of the plotlines had been cut this might have made room to better flesh out (and finish) the remaining plot and still devote a decent amount of space to Kody and Marcus starting their new relationship.

I was surprised, though, that the author left some of the plot dangling unresolved, which really surprised me. Readers looking for an intricate or freshly different storyline won’t find that here and while Marcus and Kody’s relationship is completed and solidified, not all of the plot has that satisfying feeling of being finished. I did, however, enjoy Marcus and Kody’s characters and the small family Marcus had built from various friends, family and others. The characters really shine in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

A fun and easy paranormal short story, this was a good, quick read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Murder with Strings Attached by Mark Ruetlinger

March 15, 2021 By 4 Comments


Murder with Strings Attached by Mark Ruetlinger
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

Sometimes even the most carefully conceived burglary can take an unexpected turn. Florence Palmer has her eye on concert violinist Aaron Levy’s priceless violin. Unfortunately, she finds it’s already been stolen. Her surprise doubles when the virtuoso she’d planned to burgle offers to hire her to help him steal it back. But they’re not the only ones looking for the missing violin. When Flo inadvertently becomes the prime suspect in a case of murder, she and Aaron need to clear her name. Will they find the real killer and get the violin back to its rightful owner without anyone else, especially themselves, being killed?

This is a rather humorous cozy mystery involving a cleaning maid turned thief, a violinist who hires her to steal his own violin back from a billionaire who stole it and the maid’s best friend.

This story is told in Florence Palmer’s point of view and I love her character and the narrative. It’s smart, humorous, self-deprecating, and shows her confidence in her own skills and pride in her profession. She didn’t intend to become a burglar, but being a maid wasn’t covering the costs of living and she couldn’t afford college. It probably wasn’t the best idea she had to become a housemaid as she states herself: “Maybe that was a mistake because being exposed to all those beautiful and obscenely expensive tchotchkes, all of which my clients could easily do without wore me down.”

Her latest escapade was to steal an extremely rare and expensive violin from a famous violinist, Aaron Levy, although she was smart enough not to try to sell it, only to ransom it back. The start of this strange adventure begins when Flo is found in Aaron’s room and he happens to walk in on her holding his violin. Except, as she learns, that was a fake and the real one had been stolen several days ago. I had to laugh at Flo’s overdramatized thoughts of going to jail and facing some sort of horrible death. Imagine her surprise that instead of him calling the cops he decided to hire her to regain his lost violin. Then he he tells her that he is going to participate in regaining his violin, and Flo’s reaction is just what you would expect, horror. She could only imagine just how things could go with an amateur thief.

Still, she took him up on the offer, especially since he is offering her a huge payout and is going to cover any expenses. Poor Flo’s idea of a quick re-theft of the violin does not go as planned, even though Aaron knows who stole it.

Flo’s best friend, Sara is another wonderfully created character who knows about Flo’s profession but stays out of it as much as possible. Unfortunately for her, she tends to get dragged into them when Flo needs to get a quick getaway. She has a bubbly personality and enjoys the fact that she will get to go sightseeing, staying at a fancy hotel, and buying souvenirs without having to pay for it.

At first Flo thought it would be a breeze to get the violin from the thug that was hired to steal it, a man named Martin. To her horror and dismay instead of finding a violin, she finds a dead man in Martin’s apartment and is caught by the cops standing over the body. I ended up laughing again at Flo’s renewed frantic thoughts of being in the jail and what would happen next. I love how her mind works; it seems to either go to the best of things or to the worst of things. She’s just lucky that the man she is working for has money in spades who is willing to bail her out.

Aaron is another fun quirky character who also has a sense of humor that matches Flo’s Who else would hire a burglar they find in their room instead of contacting the police about his missing violin? He has a boyish air and even though he knows there are risks, he can’t help but feel like he is on a grand adventure. I can’t blame him as he was a child prodigy and spent his childhood practicing, giving recitals, or traveling. There is also a small romance between Flo and Aaron, but the reader is not sure if this will turn out to become more of a stable relationship or a little fun whenever they can get together.

They make a great trio of friends, and it does make me sad that Aaron confessed that he hadn’t many friends besides Flo and Sara since he was always so busy. There are many sweet moments where they share hugs and kisses on the cheek. This is a relationship that I believe will stand the test of time.

This is a wonderful cozy mystery with fun characters and a fun plot that has so many twists and turns you’ll get dizzy. The ending throws a few interesting facts to light and I love how Flo seems to have a magic charm for luck or something since even as she gets into trouble, she somehow manages to get out of it.

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