Meant to be Immortal by Lynsay Sands

May 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Meant to be Immortal by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Mac Argeneau knows all too well: immortals can be killed. Not with holy water or silver crosses, but by decapitation or being set on fire. So when Mac’s house bursts into flames—with him inside—he’s sure it was no accident. But who would want to kill a scientist specializing in hematology? There is a silver lining: a blonde investigator appears on the scene and sparks feelings in him that have been dormant for centuries.

CJ Cummings is in town on a special investigation, but she’s been waylaid by the local police to deal with this arson case. The biggest mystery is how this sexy scientist with silvery blue eyes has emerged from a blazing inferno without a burn mark on him. He’s clearly hiding something. Sure, she’d love to see him without his lab coat, but she’s got a job to do—despite his insistence that he needs a bodyguard and…he wants her.

But when a second attempt on their lives puts CJ in harm’s way, it’s Mac who will do anything to safeguard the woman who’s destined to be his life mate.

Ms. Sands does it again. She’s created another fun romance story for fans to enjoy. This one can definitely be read as a standalone because the main focus is on Mac and CJ. There is a mystery about who is out to kill Mac. Or, is CJ the target? Or is it both? What is really going on in this little town called Sandford? The action starts off in the first chapter and the novel’s pace picks up and keeps on going from there.

CJ has sworn off men but not for the reason I thought. Her reason is sound and I can understand her reticence in giving Mac a chance to get close. One of the secondary characters gives Mac a helping hand and the hero makes the most of it, but to balance that, he does respect CJ’s choice and leaves it up to her to make a move when she is ready. I like that the heroine surprised Mac in a way he didn’t expect.

The conflict is mostly external. CJ is there to investigate allegations against a cop but she’s being stonewalled. As evidence mounts, she’s getting the picture that something isn’t right and when more victims turn up, and the town expresses their anger, she knows her investigation needs to wrap up right quick – answers are being demanded and she’s the only one who can get them. That’s a serious and convincing plot vehicle and the author worked it to the max. It doesn’t overwhelm the budding romance between Mac and CJ though, in fact if not for its existence, they wouldn’t have met this soon. I say that because as fans of the series know, if I say the name Marguerite … they know what I mean. Yes, she shows up but is mostly in the background because it’s Bricker and Decker that come with her that help Mac and CJ the most. And, if fans remember the Bricker/Decker duo, witty repartee, teasing and shenanigans are usually mixed in for comic relief. They’re very effective and it was a lot of fun watching them interact with the hero and heroine.

Oh, I have to mention Marguerite again. Why? Because I think the lady at the bed and breakfast is going to star in a future book. I could be wrong…but I don’t think so. I’ll have to read other reviews after I’m done writing this one to see if other readers caught the same thing. Inquiring minds want to know.

Now the big reveal. I always look forward to seeing how Ms. Sands is going to have the love interest of an Immortal find out about their strange diet requirements and all those other fun details. All I keep envisioning in my brain is how CJ’s face must have looked like watching a certain thing happen in increments. I had a goofy grin on my face through most of the process. I totally cracked up from the Casper the Friendly Ghost reference. I never know when Ms. Sands is going to tickle my funny bone because in all her books in the Argeneau series, I’m guaranteed a few loud HA!’s, snickers and giggling. Meant to be Immortal is no exception. I was thoroughly entertained.

There is a lot more ground to cover about this novel, from other secondary characters, the town’s police personnel, the hot, ice-melting dream that proves CJ and Mac are life mates, CJ’s family history and so much more, but I’ll leave that for readers to discover. Just know that Meant to be Immortal is another satisfying romance from the fertile imagination of Ms. Sands and is definitely a recommended read.

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

A Little Bit Cupid: Valentine’s Day Blues by J.P. Bowie

May 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Little Bit Cupid: Valentine’s Day Blues by J.P. Bowie
Publisher: Pride Publishing, Totally Entwined Group
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

From the A Little Bit Cupid collection

What does it take for Valentine’s-Day-hating Bryan Colby to discover that he really loves it? Meeting Officer Ben Collins, of course.

Bryan Colby doesn’t like Valentine’s Day. Despite being told by his close friends that he’s silly to fester over something that happened five years ago, he just can’t get excited as yet another Valentine’s Day approaches.

Bryan, a rising star at the local real estate office, prefers to work instead, but is assaulted while showing a vacant property. In the ambulance, he meets Officer Ben Collins and Bryan wastes no time in letting Ben know he finds him attractive and would like to get better acquainted with him, in every possible way.

At first wary of Bryan’s flirty, come-hither attitude, Ben eventually warms to Bryan’s charm, and agrees to meet him for a coffee. But circumstances outside their control change that date to a much more sensual meeting.

After all, it is Valentine’s Day week, and romance is most definitely in the air…

Hesitation does not last long in J.P. Bowie’s Valentine’s Day Blues. When I tell you that reading this novel flew by, I mean it boarded a plane at noon and arrived at 12:10 p.m. This might be due in part to the bold and incorrigible main character Bryan Colby, a man who has sworn off Valentine’s Day, but drops lines smoother than creamy peanut butter. This does not go unnoticed by our slightly more cautious romantic interest, Bennet Collins.

After a scary run in with some local car thieves, Bryan is happy to find himself in the care of the one and only Officer Collins. He wastes no time in trying to win his affections, possible closed head injury aside. Though reluctant at first, Ben starts to enjoy Bryan’s very forward nature. The men do a bit of dancing around their personal issues, not wanting to move too fast, but sometimes when you know, you know.

The plot was very fast paced, leading perfectly into those heated moments that the readers anticipated from the characters first meeting. Very loveable side characters made me wish there was more book to really get in the heads of the lives that surround the main characters, but I will say that this sexy little glimpse into Ben and Bryan’s lives was a really great treat, and the perfect length to get that steamy fix.

The sensual scenes were hot, hot, HOT, made even more so by the wonderful open communication between Bryan and Ben. J.P. Bowie absolutely delivered a quick and spicy romance, and gave us all a little more appreciation for surprises on Valentine’s Day.

If you are looking for a quick and sexy feel-good read, then A Little Bit Cupid: Valentine’s Day Blues is the story for you!

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

Home Run Cowboy by Gemma Snow

May 20, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Home Run Cowboy by Gemma Snow
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

The only thing better than riding a cowboy is submitting to one.

On her own for the first time, Skylar Wedgeworth has no idea what to do about it. She’s torn between behaving like the hard-working mom she’s dedicated her life to being…and embracing her fascination with the erotic world of lust and submission she has long put second.

That’s where The Ranch comes in. And with it, Caleb Cash.

The injury that cut short Caleb’s pitching career just before he joined the majors, then his wife walking out on him have made Caleb question everything about himself, and he hasn’t had a partner since.

Until Skylar.

There’s no denying the heat between them when Skylar checks into the erotic lifestyle club Caleb and his six best friends opened in the Montana mountains, but for things to go further than their physical connection, Skylar has to learn how to put herself first and Caleb must be willing to trust a new partner with his heart…

Home Run Cowboy is an endearing and passionate story about two people who have given up on finding love. The plot immediately drew me in and I was transported to The Ranch, where all your erotic dreams can come true. I enjoyed the heat shared between Caleb and Skylar and found it easy to relate to them. They are both down to earth, good people who have been hurt in the past. They are vulnerable, but somehow are able to open their hearts up again. I was invested in their story and wanted everything to work out for them.

Caleb and Skylar meet when Skylar decides to visit The Ranch, owned by Caleb and his friends. Caleb and Skylar are taken by surprise by the instant attraction flowing between them. Unfortunately, they know their relationship can’t last because Skylar lives on the other side of the country. Caleb is also concerned about some unscrupulous people who are trying to force him to sell his land. This adds drama and intrigue to the story, as Caleb tries to discover who is trying to buy up all the property in the area.

What I enjoyed most about this story were the characters. I was invested in them and wanted them to find their HEA. Caleb is a moody cowboy who lost his baseball career when he was injured. Skylar is also feeling discontented with her life. She is a submissive and now that her daughter has gone off to college, she wants to explore this side of herself.

Caleb and Skylar lead full lives, but don’t have anyone they can share it with. Plus, they have particular needs and not everyone understands or has the same interests.

When Caleb and Skylar meet they find it easy to open up to each other and everything just seems to click. If you enjoy hot and spicy stories, be sure to read Home Run Cowboy.

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

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

May 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (Author and Illustrator), Skip Hinnant (Narrator)
Publisher: Scholastic Audio, Cartwheel Books; Illustrated edition
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xerantheumum

Tedd Arnold’s hilarious HI! FLY GUY, originally published in 2005, is now available in paperback with foil on the cover!

Boy and fly meet and so begins a beautiful friendship. Er, and so begins a very funny friendship. Using hyperbole, puns, slapstick, and silly drawings, bestselling author/illustrator Tedd Arnold creates an easy reader that is full of fun.This book is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book!

This cutie-patootie short story about a pet fly is unusual, clever and fun. This little audio book is filled with music, laugh tracks and sound effects. The narrator, Mr. Hinnant, has an expressive voice and does a convincing buzz and burp. I got a peek of the illustrations of the paperback version and they’re quirky and amusing.

I liked the basis of the theme – friendship contrary to grown-up norms. All the adults say flies are pests, not pets. Buzz, the boy and hero of the story, saw no reason why a fly couldn’t be a pet, especially since his fly was actually Smart! Amazing enough to be taken to a pet show competition to show his stuff kind of smart.

Fly Guy was clever because he understood that his friendship with Buzz was worth fighting for, so he did things only a fly can do to prove to the grownups how right Buzz was to call him his pet. It has a happy ending and Fly Guy has a new home.

I didn’t know what to expect when I chose this story but I am delighted to say that it’s humorous, silly and fun. I think the moral is that friendships should be based on who you are, not what you are. Fly Guy proved he was pet-worthy, even if he was a fly. Buzz gave him a chance, believed in him and the rest is history – a pet for Buzz, and friend for Fly Guy. What’s not to like?

Because this audio version of Hi! Fly Guy is chock full of music that underscores plot points, action and transition, sound effects that charm and entertain, and a narrator who really gets into character, I believe the audio version is probably a lot more fun than the print version – although I’d recommend looking at the pages of the paperback along with listening because the illustrations are cute and funny too.

All in all, I think kids will get a chuckle out of Buzz and his pet, Fly Guy. It’s whimsy at its best.

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

Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore! By by Jane O’Connor

May 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore! By by Jane O’Connor (Author), Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), Chloe Hennessee (Narrator)
(I Can Read Level 1)
Publisher: HarperCollins; HarperAudio
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Fans of Fancy Nancy will delight in this festive fall adventure story from the beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator team Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser.

Join Fancy Nancy on the perfect fall field trip—to the apple orchard. Fall is an extra-fancy season. Even the trees wear fancy colors! Nancy is determined to find a perfect Gala apple for her dad—it’s his favorite kind, and even the name sounds fancy. But what if the perfect apple is just out of reach?

Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore! is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

I decided to try this little book in the audio version and I’m glad I did. The only thing I missed was seeing the illustrations, but I could tell by the cover that they’re colorful, busy and active. Listening to the story was delightful and charming.

The audio publisher introduces and concludes the story with a chipper musical melody. Young Ms. Henessee’s narration was clear, adorable and easy to listen to. I thought it was really cool when I heard the tree branch sound effects. I didn’t expect that and it added to the level of interest and engagement.

Lionel’s antics reminds me of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, so it’s a wonderful way to teach kids about the consequences of practical jokes that aren’t funny at all. If a parent chooses to use the audio version of this short story, listen for the other sound effects. It took me listening three times in the process of writing this review to hear that the tree branch sounds aren’t the only ones that enhance this story.

I also liked how the story teaches new words by incorporating them naturally during the storytelling and adding “That is a fancy way of saying…” and they’re recapped at the end of the book under Fancy Nancy’s Fancy Words. My favorite is Orchard, a garden of trees. That’s the cutest description I’ve ever heard and I really liked it!

It wraps up with Lionel doing something goofy and the little heroine finding the perfect apple for her dad.

I wish they had audiobooks like this when my kids were little. I could do voices but I know I wouldn’t have been able to do the kind of cool sound effects I heard in Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore! It’s like a mini play and gives a child a well-rounded word experience. So, my recommendation is that parents do both – read the story and have their kids listen too. Since Ms. Hennessee’s voice is young, bright and energetic, I think kids will be able to relate and engage with the heroine’s apple adventure.

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

A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler

May 17, 2021 By 6 Comments


A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

A century ago, the fairy crown was stolen from Alina Lehrer’s clan, but now the usurper is dead and it’s time to reclaim what’s theirs. Rylan Jackson, codename Orion, is The Court’s most trusted assassin who always gets the job done. Until his target is Alina, the one woman he can’t resist. Fate has placed them on opposing sides for the crown, but Alina soon learns Fate isn’t set in stone.

Before I start, let me share this warning: this story contains issues concerning Post traumatic Stress Disorder, if this will trigger you, please do not continue with this review.

This story starts with an explanation of how fairies became to be. They had come from another world and were sent to Earth as a punishment. Yet, they contained their mystical abilities and they turned into two factions, the fairies and wizards. As you can imagine one side tends to rule over the other, which happens with the fairy’s treating the wizards as servants. As history has taught us all this never turns out well and, as expected, the wizards waged war against the fairies. The feud is still going on during the present day and the fairy’s court has hidden itself in London a long time ago that has now faded into legend.

In Chicago we meet our main character, Alina Lehrer, her older brother Atlas, and his wife Lucie whose mother, Gina DeLafontaine was part of the royal family. Alina has had far too many expectations on her shoulder as a young child since Gina, who has the ability to see in the future, believes that her daughter will be the one who brings back their family’s glory.

Alina is a wonderful character that is dealing with the world she has been thrust into as best she can. She had enough of the pressure that was forced upon her and rebelled by canceling her engagement to another strong fairy family that had been set up since her days in the crib, and instead started her own business.

Alina uses her business to hide away from herself, refusing to deal with her past which makes it worse. You see, she had been captured, tortured, and was forced to watch a good friend, Kurtis being tortured in front of her. This caused her to experience flashbacks and anxiety attacks at any time when she is triggered by something or it could come upon her without notice. These attacks are horrible for anyone that has gone through a trauma as she is transported back to the room where she had been tied up in and expecting to die.

I have to admit that her business fits her like a glove as her gift allows her to feel emotions and auras that allow her to help her patience make the best decisions in their life. Too bad that she can’t use her gift on herself when she thought that her friend Kurtis was attracted to her and she thought they could make a life together. Unfortunately, this goes horribly wrong as she misunderstood his signals, which caused Alina to place an icy boundary around her heart. Like most of us that have gone through the first pangs of a crush that blows up in our face, she can’t see him without feeling embarrassed. Her pain is real and as she had watched him being tortured this also affects her ability to be in the same room with him. The only good thing that came from her mistake was to receive a book that was in Kurtis’ father’s secret library that was supposed to belonged in her family for many generations and proved their lineage to the fairy court.

What nobody knows is that she has a hit out on her because of the broken engagement although that happened five years ago, which is strange since if any fairy rebelled against the court, they were often taken care of right away. Rylan Jackson, the spymaster, and assassin of the court where the current leader, Monoceros sent him out to complete the hit.

Rylan is an interesting and complex character with his own moral guide that sometimes can make his life difficult. When he sees Alina for the first time, he is struck by her beauty and as they talk, he enjoys her witty responses and the strength that she doesn’t realize she has herself. He charms Alina and offers to be a guide in Paris. As you can imagine this goes against all the rules of his profession.

Paris is where Alina really becomes into her own. I love how she decides to throw everything that she was in Chicago and become a completely different person. It was fun watching her grow and allow herself to do whatever she wants with no expectations from her mother and the joy of exploring a beautiful city. A wonderful example of her feel free to express herself is when she goes and gets a Henna tattoo of a butterfly. It’s a great symbol for her as she is trying to go through a metamorphosis and hopes to bring back her new courage.

The relationship between Rylan and Alina is almost instantly full of lust, but also tenderness. Alina she has never felt for a man that she feels for Rylan, the protection, the willingness to spend time with her and actually get to know the person behind all her masks. This is a book that shows just how, when you’re suffering from unresolved trauma, that love, help from a professional and letting those that are closest to you in will help you work through the flashback and anxiety attacks.

There is so much strength and tenacity in these two characters that it draws you in. Yes, the plot is well constructed but it’s the characters that really carry it off. Each one has a wonderful personality and a history full of sorrows and happiness.

This is a good book with some wonderful characters that have had to grow and face betrayal, and a past that has ruled life far too long. We see fate take its hold on both Rylan’s and Alina’s lives as you can tell almost right away that they are made for each other. I absolutely enjoyed it.

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Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham

May 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment


A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Clanton, Mississippi. 1990. Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a deeply divisive trial when the court appoints him attorney for Drew Gamble, a timid sixteen-year-old boy accused of murdering a local deputy. Many in Clanton want a swift trial and the death penalty, but Brigance digs in and discovers that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Jake’s fierce commitment to saving Drew from the gas chamber puts his career, his financial security, and the safety of his family on the line.

In what may be the most personal and accomplished legal thriller of John Grisham’s storied career, we deepen our acquaintance with the iconic Southern town of Clanton and the vivid cast of characters that so many readers know and cherish. The result is a richly rewarding novel that is both timely and timeless, full of wit, drama, and—most of all—heart.

Bursting with all the courthouse scheming, small-town intrigue, and stunning plot twists that have become the hallmarks of the master of the legal thriller, A Time for Mercy is John Grisham’s most powerful courtroom drama yet.
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There is a time to kill and a time for justice. Now comes A Time for Mercy.

Sometimes the lost causes are the ones worth fighting the hardest for.

I love the books of John Grisham. There have been some misses through the years, but the Jake Brigance series has always been a winner to me. I like the way Grisham writes and this story was no exception. It moved along fine and kept me in my seat needing to know what would happen next.

Jake Brigance is my favorite of Grisham’s legal heroes. He’s strong, but not overly alpha, he’s sweet and has his heart in the right place, even if things don’t always go his way. I root for him in every book.

This story also has Drew, Kira, their mother and the jerk cop they live with. I know it seems like I’m being harsh, calling him a jerk. The cop is doing some rotten things–beating the girlfriend and sexually assaulting Kira. I wouldn’t say he deserved what he got, but he did deserve some discipline. That said, the kids are traumatized by him and when the cop beats the living snot out of their mother, they think she’s dead. If I were Drew, I don’t know how I would’ve handled it, but I might have done the same thing he did. I wish there had been some more concern for the kids and for Drew at first, but this is a book about small town justice and family. Unfortunately, the town wants to think the boy is bad and the cop is good. It made for intriguing reading and for an emotionally charged tale.

If you’re interested in reading about Jake, Drew and how this all sorts out, then pick it up today. I won’t give away spoilers, but it’s worth the journey.

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

Seed Of Evil by Greig Beck

May 14, 2021 By 1 Comment


Seed Of Evil by Greig Beck
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

There’s something growing deep in the old Angel Mine – Something the Native Americans warned us about – And now it’s rising again.

Mitch Taylor, ex-Special Forces medic, is seeking a quiet life in the town of Eldon. Tragedy has dogged his life, and he sees the small friendly place as a second chance. But buried deep below the friendly smiles and quaint painted houses is an old abandoned mine that holds a legend of an ancient and terrible god.

In the mine’s labyrinthine depths, something has been growing, something from a time of myth when ancient gods strode the Earth and mankind hadn’t even stood on two legs.

But when the earth shakes and the groundwater rises, it reaches out and those it touches begin to deform and reshape into the image of their god. Their one goal—to feed their ancient master deep below the ground.
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Mitch Taylor soon finds himself fighting again, this time for the town, the ones he loves, and for his life.

The Seed of Evil is a horrifying legend of an ancient god that turned out to be real.

After a heavy mortar round literally blew Captain Mitch Taylor’s world apart he struggled to come to grips with civilian life. With almost everyone on his last mission dead – or practically so – he knew he had to keep moving forwards. Trying for a second chance in a small, sleepy country town in Missouri, Mitch comes to love the little place – until an earthquake re-awakens something deep underground and Mitch once more realizes he needs to fight for his new life if any of them are going to have a chance.

I admit I am a huge fan of Grieg Beck’s work – both his Alex Hunter series and his Matt Kearns stories as well as numerous stand-alone books and trilogies. This book lives up to the high expectations I now have of his work in general. Part spooky fable, part military/action thriller, part action adventure this is a crazy and excitingly wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. Something about Beck’s writing style just tends to grab me and drag me along, addicted like crack and turning the pages. I now know well enough not to start one of his stories late in the afternoon unless I want to be up until crazy hours of the morning or pull and all-night reading binge. I held off starting this book until a Public holiday when I started it shortly after breakfast and stayed at it until I finished the last page early in the evening. I was in no way disappointed and felt the d ay well used.

I was really pleased that Mitch’s character was realistic and engaging. The opening few scenes were graphic and strongly written to explain the devastation of his life being torn apart with his military action going badly pear shaped, but the scene wasn’t overly gory or written for the blood and deaths to be titillating. The scene also wasn’t dwelled upon, even though those shadows and the weight of it clearly carried through with Mitch. I felt the author struck a really good balance here of realistic writing, and consequences for Mitch’s actions and the grief and weight he carried with him without bogging up the story or being maudlin. I also thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere the book held, part action/adventure but also part spooky fable or horror story. Beck in particular is an exemplary author for this sort of balance and I am rarely left disappointed in his story telling abilities or writing style.

Without giving too much plot away readers will find this story full of small-town secrets, an abandoned and quirky mine, varied and interesting characters and a few really believable and surprising plot twists (the bottled-water angle was amazing and a stroke of genius to my mind). Added together, these are all the necessary ingredients needed for a fantastic story. Throw in some military know-how, a deeply buried history of the towns previous disasters and just a dash of adventure and one word could easily sum up exactly how I found this story. Brilliant. I found the ending to be quite satisfying – but feel readers looking for a traditional or romantic “happy ever after” might not enjoy the ending as much as I did. I found it well resolved, strongly plotted and satisfying, but not a traditional sort of ending.

Readers looking for an intense, action filled and slightly spooky story should definitely check this out – as well as other stories written by this author. I enjoyed every minute of this and am looking forward to a re-read in the very near future.

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

Twelve Angry Librarians by Miranda James

May 13, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Twelve Angry Librarians by Miranda James
A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Charlie is stressed out. The Southern Academic Libraries Association is holding this year’s annual meeting at Athena College. Since Charlie is the interim library director, he must deliver the welcome speech to all the visiting librarians. And as if that weren’t bad enough, the keynote address will be delivered by Charlie’s old nemesis from library school.

It’s been thirty years since Charlie has seen Gavin Fong, and he’s still an insufferable know-it-all capable of getting under everyone’s skin. In his keynote, Gavin puts forth a most unpopular opinion: that degreed librarians will be obsolete in the academic libraries of the future. So when Gavin drops dead, no one seems too upset…
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But Charlie, who was seen having a heated argument with Gavin the day before, has jumped to the top of the suspect list. Now Charlie and Diesel must check out every clue to refine their search for the real killer among them before the next book Charlie reads comes from a prison library…

A murder and librarians…must be something in the pages…

Join a cat, his master and a lot of people upset with Gavin Fong. I like these Cat in the Stacks mysteries and have read a couple now. It’s like catching up with old friends. The writing is easy and flows along well. Plus, there are kitties.

My favorite character has to be Diesel the Maine Coon. He’s huge and runs around like he’s a dog. He’s got about as much personality as everyone else in the book, which is great. Gavin Fong, the man who doesn’t make it, is equally great, but not because he’s a good guy. The author excelled at making him naughty, which made me want to know who’d bumped him off. I couldn’t wait to find out whodunit.

There are about five different storylines running through this book and series. Charlie is worried about his job, his future and his romance as well as his children, who are older. It’s nice to see the characters again, but at times, it feels a little overly complicated and that there are too many characters to keep track of at times. You can read one of these books and know what’s going on even if you haven’t read the others, which is nice

If you’re looking for a cute mystery, cats in your stories and family life, then this is the book for you.

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

The Black Widow’s Prey by N. S. Wikarski

May 12, 2021 By 9 Comments


The Black Widow’s Prey by N. S. Wikarski
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Consulting detectives Evangeline LeClair and Freddie Simpson face their most challenging case yet when a priceless Egyptian artifact is stolen from a Chicago museum. To make matters worse, the museum’s richest patron is robbed of a diamond necklace shortly afterward. Suspicion immediately falls on a wealthy widow and her scheming son. Trapped in their clutches is the widow’s hapless daughter, about to be forced into a marriage of convenience against her will.

The investigation is complicated by two mysterious strangers who have also taken an interest in the missing Egyptian relic. Solving both thefts will lead Freddie and Evangeline down some strange avenues of inquiry involving secret societies, international criminal masterminds, gentlemen jewel thieves, unexpected ocean voyages, and underworld kingpins. The two sleuths must either solve their case or join the ranks of fatalities numbered among THE BLACK WIDOW’S PREY.

I absolutely adore Victorian mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. All right – it’s set in America (Chicago to be exact) but it’s the same time period, so not being set in England is not a deal breaker. If anything, it adds to the enjoyment because it gives me a chance to learn a bit about the history of Chicago I was not familiar with.

If there is any complaint coming, it’s all on me, because I did not find this series earlier. I loved the characters and cannot wait to go back and read the other two books in the series.

It is definitely character driven, and if you are familiar with my reviews, you know this goes a long way! The author definitely knows her history, but does not hit the reader over the head with it. Yes, you will learn about this time period in Chicago, but you will absorb it almost by osmosis as you get to know the characters and enjoy their relationship, not to mention the way they work together to solve the issues in the book.

Although it’s not necessary to have read the earlier books in the series in order to understand what’s going on, the reader would probably get a richer enjoyment from knowing the background of the characters and how they got together.

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