Loving Lizzie Finn by Tamara Hughes


Loving Lizzie Finn by Tamara Hughes
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Historical, Romance, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Lilikoi

Lizzie Finn grew up in a brothel, and she’s reminded of that fact every day. She dreams of finding a job and becoming independent. Only then can she be free of her aunt’s disdain. First, she must find an employer who won’t turn her away because of her past.

Byron Greeley is determined to save his family’s business after Lizzie’s uncle falsifies the amount Byron owes on a loan from the bank. Determined to find proof of Teague’s perfidy, Byron slips into the banker’s house and rummages through the study only to be discovered by Lizzie, a red-haired beauty who utterly captivates him.

Byron offers Lizzie a job in exchange for information about her uncle, and because she believes her uncle is innocent, she agrees. When Teague discovers Lizzie and Byron’s growing affection, he threatens to destroy Byron and his family, insisting Byron is exploiting her. Is Teague’s warning well-founded? Are Byron’s feelings for Lizzie true, or is Byron using her for his own gain?

Loving Lizzie Finn is a charming historical romance with engaging characters, a hint of spice, and an intriguing, well-developed plot.

Lizzie Finn is an indomitable young woman who was raised in a brothel until her mother’s tragic death, when she subsequently became the ward of her uncle Eldon Teague, a prosperous businessman and bank president in Boston. Within the affluent home of her new guardians, Lizzie is subjected to harsh ridicule and shame by her maternal aunt Margaret, who constantly reminds her that she is the daughter of a prostitute with little chance of overcoming her scandalous past. Although her uncle Eldon is much kinder, Lizzie cannot wait to escape her aunt’s vindictive cruelty by finding employment and becoming self-sufficient.

Byron Greeley—a young businessman who has inherited his ill father’s textile factory—is juggling the responsibilities of supporting his parents while keeping the floundering company afloat. He discovers that the amount of the loan negotiated between his father and the bank president has inexplicably doubled, but with the original documents having mysteriously disappeared, he has no proof to confirm his suspicions that Eldon Teague has fraudulently tampered with the terms. When he breaks into Teague’s house in the middle of the night to look for evidence, he is caught by Lizzie, a fiery redhead who not only captures his heart, but provides the means for him to obtain the proof he seeks. In exchange for her cooperation in obtaining the original documents, he offers Lizzie a job, providing them both the means to accomplish their separate yet entwined goals.

The characters are compelling and likeable. Lizzie is brave, stubborn, and independent, hardened by the cruelty she has endured. Having witnessed the abuse of women in the brothel where she was raised, she has learned self-reliance and developed a fierce need for independence. Although she has vowed to never marry, Lizzie’s undeniable attraction to Byron makes her question her convictions. Byron’s noble heart and commitment to both his family and to Lizzie make him an endearing character, yet his involvement in criminal activities keeps the reader—and Lizzie—unsure of his true intentions. Aunt Margaret is a bitter, resentful, and angry woman who is easy to hate, yet as the story progresses and secrets are revealed, much more easily understood.

Although I did enjoy much of the novel, I found it lacked the descriptive details necessary to evoke the historical background setting of nineteenth century Boston. Lizzie’s freedom to come and go as she pleases without an escort or chaperone—even to the point of sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night for a clandestine meeting at a warehouse— are not only implausible, but inconsistent with the societal norms of the era. And while Aunt Margaret is credibly portrayed as an active member of the Society for Moral Reform against prostitution, it seems highly unlikely that the aristocratic wife of a prestigious bank president would publicly malign her niece by spreading salacious gossip about Lizzie’s prostitute mother—Margaret’s own sister— for fear of tarnishing her prominent husband’s professional reputation.

When Lizzie and Byron finally overcome numerous obstacles to arrive at the anticipated happy ending, truths come to light through a most unexpected source of revelation and satisfying redemption.

Despite the insufficient historical background and the inconsistencies with societal norms for young women, Loving Lizzie Finn is nevertheless an entertaining romance with appealing characters and an absorbing, enticing plot.

Death Walking – Dream Journeys into Death, Forgiveness, and Healing by Julie Winifred


Death Walking – Dream Journeys into Death, Forgiveness, and Healing by Julie Winifred
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

I have cherished the dreaming world for as long as I can remember, and wanted to add my thoughts to all that information that is already out there. I wanted to have my say, and hoped that others might get something from my insights, just as I have done so from many other writers. I have focused upon the way I have dreamed with the dying and how this has guided me towards forgiveness and healing. And I hope I have also illustrated something of the sheer wonderfulness of dreaming life and the many gifts it can bring.

Grief is a journey that everyone must eventually take.

Dream logic doesn’t always translate well to real life. I smiled as I read about the author’s more abstract dreams and her attempts to make sense of them once she woke up. In some cases, it took her a while to come up with theories about what they were trying to tell her, but her interpretations ultimately made sense to me as she delved more deeply into her difficult childhood and the struggles she had as a result of it.

As interesting as it was to read about the author’s dreams about the loved ones she had lost, I struggled with the slow pacing. Some of the descriptions of the dreams and her interpretations of them were so detailed that they further disrupted the pacing as well. This is something I’m saying as someone who loves talking about dreams and what they might mean, and I wish I could have given this book a higher rating given the thought-provoking subject matter of it.

Some of my favorite sections were the ones that discussed how dreams can assist the healing process. When a death is sudden or tragic, it can be even harder than usual to adjust to the loss of that person or pet for those who are still here in the land of the living. A peaceful dream about the deceased can go a long way in helping someone to make peace with what has happened and move on with their life as much as possible.

Death Walking made me want to update my dream journal more often!

Vow of Revenge by P Rayne


Vow of Revenge by P Rayne
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Dark Mafia Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Mirabella La Rosa
When my father arranged for me to marry the heir to the Costa crime family, I swore I’d do anything to escape that fate. I have more to offer than being some man’s arm candy and producing heirs. Marcelo Costa might be my fiancé, but he’ll never be my husband.

So when he and his father are killed in a car bombing, I consider myself lucky. No longer will I have to go from being a mafia princess to becoming a mafia wife, I can now attend the Sicuro Academy—a private college created for mafia children like me.

But all my plans come to a screeching halt when Marcelo shows up on campus alive and well, seeking revenge on those that crossed him.

Marcelo Costa

The look of shock on my fiancée’s face when I walked into the classroom pleases me more than it should. Mirabella made it clear she didn’t want to marry me, but at the moment I have a bigger issue on my hands—revenge on whoever killed my father. Once I mete out my own particular brand of justice, I’ll remove Mirabella from campus and make her my wife.

And no amount of pleading on her part will change my mind.

Two opposites who shouldn’t attract, but do.

Mirabella and Marcelo are two people who shouldn’t get together because she isn’t interested in being his wife. Until she has no choice. She heads off to college and wants to move forward with her life after the death of her father. She doesn’t want to be a mafia wife. He can’t see her as anything else.

I liked the combination of the two characters. She’s just as strong-willed as he is and determined to not be with him as much as he’s determined to have her. I liked that they were thrown together, but I wasn’t a fan of the almost insta love aspect. It’s not my favorite, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great story. Others will absolutely love it. I also had a hard time with her being so young–fresh off to college–and in such a position with Marcelo. She had moments of such maturity, then it switched. This story wasn’t as dark as I’d expected, either. Those looking for a dark romance might want to keep that in mind. If you’re new to dark romance, this is a good one to dip one’s toes into.

If you’re looking for two characters that aren’t what they seem and show growth throughout, then this might be the story for you.

The Accidental Sisterhood by Julie Edelman


The Accidental Sisterhood by Julie Edelman
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Jules Malone has sworn off love after two failed relationships: one with an abusive fiancé whom she calls her white knight-mare, and the other with a nice-but-boring ex with whom she co-parents their son, Max. But then one fateful Christmas Eve, Jules meets Sean, a twinkly-eyed charmer with a captivating smile and an unexpected invitation. Despite Jules’s efforts to stay guarded, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to him.

As their relationship deepens, so does Sean’s unpredictable behavior. He misses Jules’s calls, changes plans abruptly, and hangs up quickly when she enters the room. One night after returning home from a charity meeting, she finds Sean missing and blood everywhere. Panicked, she’s about to call 911 when she hears a phone ringing on her patio. It is Sean’s. By the time she gets to it, the caller has hung up. Multiple texts follow-as does Jules’s journey of shocking discoveries. The first? That she is one of four women sharing full lives with Sean.

But it is the devastating secret these women uncover together that leads to a resolution none of them could ever have imagined…and to the power of sisterhood.

A woman trying to rebuild her life and finding out that life is more complicated than she ever believed.

I did like that this story involved real life situations. I picked up this book knowing full well there might be trigger warnings. Jules is a woman navigating life after two men that weren’t her dreamy forever man. She’s trying to raise a son and get through life. It’s not easy. But her exes aren’t the half of it. She meets Sean. He’s the one she thinks she’s looking for.

I could identify with her need to slow down with Sean. Been there, done that on my end. I liked that she was relatable in that way. I also liked that she wasn’t perfect. Finally, a few characters that aren’t perfect, but aren’t so flawed it’s hard to get behind them. I liked Jules. I will say Sean’s antics could be a struggle for some readers and might trigger them. He’s not what he could be, and it helps to layer the story, but again, might bother some readers.

That’s not to say this is a book to skip. Far from it. Pick this book up knowing there might be some angles that are difficult, but it’s worth the read. The difficulty makes the story more memorable.

Check it out.

The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths


The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
Publisher: Quercus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When archaeologist Angelo Morelli asks Ruth Galloway to come to the Italian countryside to help identify bones found in picturesque Fontana Liri, she jumps at the chance to go—and brings her daughter along for what she assumes will be a working vacation. Upon arriving, Ruth hears murmurs of Fontana Liri’s strong resistance movement during World War II, and begins to sense that the townspeople are harboring an age-old secret. But how, if at all, could this chapter in history be connected to the human remains that Angelo has unearthed? Just as she’s getting her footing in the dig, DCI Nelson appears, unexpectedly and for no clear reason. When Ruth’s findings lead her and her crew to a modern-day murder, their holiday turns into anything but as they race to find out what darkness is lurking in this seemingly peaceful place. . .and who may be on their trail.

Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself in a bit of a low patch. With her mother only recently dead in the last few months, her off/on relationship with her married lover – DCI Harry Nelson – solidly off for now, and Nelson’s wife newly pregnant things are feeling difficult for Ruth. When an old colleague from Italy calls out of the blue asking for Ruth’s assistance, it feels like exactly the right time for her and her young daughter to take a quick working vacation before the school year starts once again. Only things in the sleepy little Italian town are not as peaceful as Ruth was expecting. Can she sort out what’s really going on before she and her daughter find themselves in danger?

I really love the plots in this series – always finding them to be a solid weaving together of British police procedural mystery and scientific archaeology. The plots and mystery are always clear and multi-layered. The romantic and family relationships, however, is usually quite murky, messy and often heart wrenching. I find Ruth generally to be a strong and independent heroine for these stories. While it’s completely understandable that Ruth is a little blue with quite a few changes having occurred in the recent past for her, I did find that low ebb of her confidence really seemed to cast a bit of a cloud over the story for me. I also think having Cathbad back in England and Ruth in Italy for the majority of the book might have helped this darker cloud feeling seep into the story for me. I feel Cathbad often can help Ruth feel a little more optimistic and seen. I really feel he lightens her thoughts sometimes and for this book I could have used a bit more of that.

That all said I absolutely love the murder mystery aspect to this plot and as always, I found the strongly written and well plotted archaeology was a joy to read. For me personally this is hands down the best series out there with this style of writing – I guess I just wish the personal and romantic relationships weren’t as messy and complicated as they are.

Readers who want a straightforward mystery might not find this gives them what they wanted. The inter-personal relationships take up a fair bit of space in this novel and while the plot and history are strong components of this book the relationships certainly give the other plots a run for their money. Readers who have enjoyed the previous installments likely will thoroughly enjoy this book as much as they have the others – and like me curiosity on what will happen next shall likely compel them into reading more, just like I’m sure I’ll be picking up the next in the series as well. A well plotted and well written novel, though an emotionally difficult one to read.

Sour Apples: A Novel For Those Who Hate to Read by Paul Jantzen


Sour Apples: A Novel For Those Who Hate to Read by Paul Jantzen
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The year was 1975, and that summer would prove epic for Jimmy Hamilton. Imagine, an eleven-year-old boy with an imagination so powerful that he uses it like others would use a compass. Jimmy Hamilton sets out for the adventure of a lifetime. But summer, with all its promise, throws him a curveball, and he loses his fort on three separate occasions to unwanted squatters. He comes to discover each new unwelcomed tenant proves more difficult to evict than the last. His plans have a modicum of success but each comes with unintended consequences.

Add to that mix, the prettiest girl his age, a baseball diamond, a groundhog, a snapping turtle, a boy with a heightened olfactory acuity, and the town vagrant and Jimmy soon finds his summer adventure is more than he expected.

Not every lesson happens in school.

Jimmy’s character development was realistic and well done. I enjoyed his adventurous and courageous personality as well as the fact that he was the sort of kid who would try almost anything once. One of his biggest flaws were the sometimes sexist things he said and thought about women and girls. Given the historical setting and his very limited exposure to other ways of living, this, too, felt accurate. While I hoped that he grew up to be more accepting given a few illuminating experiences he had with people who didn’t fit his assumptions about what girls should be like, I understood why he wasn’t currently at a stage in life when he was ready to think critically about such things.

It would have been helpful to have that same sort of character development for the secondary characters, too. Since everything was shared from Jimmy’s perspective and like many folks his age he wasn’t always interested in understanding other people’s points of view, this meant that readers only had small, brief glimpses into what anyone around the main character was actually feeling or thinking. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting multiple chapters dedicated to this topic or anything given how active and busy Jimmy was, but even occasional scenes here and there that dug more deeply into their personalities and interests would have gone a long way while I was trying to figure out what they were like as individuals.

While I wasn’t yet alive in this era, I did grow up in a family that didn’t have Internet access and sometimes didn’t even have a television for years. Boredom is much harder to come by when someone has constant access to such passive forms of entertainment, and the descriptions of the zany things kids come up with when they are left to their own devices were as relatable as they were funny to me. Yes, there was some risk taking and a few bad decisions involving wildlife, but there were also hours of fun to be had out in nature with nothing but a vivid imagination and whatever could be found in the woods to work with. That’s the sort of childhood everyone should have a chance to experience if you ask me.

Sour Apples: A Novel For Those Who Hate to Read made me feel like I’d visited the 1970s.

The Night Man by Jorn Lier Horst


The Night Man by Jorn Lier Horst
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Gruesome happenings in the quiet town of Larvik. Only one man is capable of solving Chief Inspector William Wisting.

Before long, more bodies are found. Media frenzy sweeps the locals into panic. And when Wisting’s investigation leads him to a deadly underground crime ring, he fears the whole town may be in danger.

But at the heart of it is the gang’s elusive The Night Man. Who Wisting must find if he wants to stop the murders.

That is, if The Night Man doesn’t get to him first . . .

Two bodies are found in a distressingly gruesome manner in the small, quiet township of Larvik, Norway. William Wisting and his police team immediately investigate the shocking murders, but when that leads them to a highly organized crime ring Wisting fears for his small town, and in particular his journalist daughter.

I have been a great fan of this William Wisting series, the first ever Scandinavian Noir series I found many years ago and it has always been a great annoyance to me that the English translations only began at the sixth book. So, when I recently found that the fifth book had been translated, I quickly scooped it up. Even knowing this book was actually written before every other novel in the series which I had read, I still found myself greatly enjoying this earlier story and I sincerely hope the first four are soon also translated.

Even though this book was originally written back in 2009 I really feel like it has held up remarkably well. It didn’t feel dated to me and indeed many of the core elements to this police procedural plotline – trafficking, drugs, local crime that is made harder and more brutal by larger gangs and even international elements – all is still very much in the forefront nowadays as well. I really feel this book is equally relevant now than when it was published nearly fifteen years ago.

In many other respects this is a well written, but very normal type of police procedural story. I did enjoy William Wisting’s character as always and I equally enjoyed the strong storylines – almost a second plotline – as his adult daughter, Line, followed the same murder inquiry but from a journalistic perspective. The way the two definitely fed each other information while trying to keep their professional boundaries and not cross any lines was quite emotional and very well balanced, I felt.

With some strong secondary characters and a very interesting, and still strongly relevant, plotline this was a good book.

Serpent’s Point by Kate Ellis


Serpent’s Point by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus (Little, Brown Book Group)
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Serpent’s Point in South Devon is the focus of local legends. The large house on the headland is shrouded in an ancient tale of evil, and when a woman is found strangled on the coastal path, DI Wesley Peterson is called to investigate.

The woman had been house-sitting at Serpent’s Point and Wesley is surprised to discover that she was conducting an investigation into unsolved missing person cases. Could these enquires have led to her murder?

While the case takes Wesley to Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, archaeologist Neil Watson is making a dramatic discovery of his own in the fields near the house.

When a skeleton is uncovered, the pressure rises to find a killer, and Wesley and Neil realise that Serpent’s Point holds more secrets than anyone could have imagined.

Serpent’s Point house in South Devon is shrouded in ancient tales of evil, so when a woman house sitting there is found strangled on the coastal path DI Wesley Peterson and his team are called in to investigate. Can they sort out what is trapped in the past and what is very much in the present day?

I’ve been enjoying this British police procedural mystery series for over a year now and found this book to be an excellent addition to the series. While there’s a bunch of previous books, readers should feel comfortable picking this one up even if the author and series is new to them. The police team have quite a history together, but they work well enough that no real prior knowledge is needed. Also the plot line and simultaneous archaeology plot are both fully contained in this story and can easily be picked up.

Readers who prefer an action-oriented story might find this a little slow – but I personally thoroughly enjoy the slower unwinding of the mystery and piecing together of the clues. I admit I found parts of the mystery plot easy to guess but there were still a few twists I didn’t see coming so I was invested and interested the whole way through the book. I also really like how the historical and archaeology aspect winds together so well with the mystery and that’s a driving force keeping my attention for such a long running series.

Readers who enjoy mysteries and/or historical books should check this book and this series out.

Blessings and the Thief by Elaine Violette


Blessings and the Thief by Elaine Violette
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Holiday, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Damien Reeves grudgingly agrees to host his ailing Uncle Lionel’s Christmas party at the Blackmoor Inn, a restored castle famous for absurd ghost lore. When he learns of petty thefts that have occurred among his uncle’s elderly friends, he hopes discovering the culprit might keep him from reliving his own tragic holiday memories. When a beautiful young woman arrives, a more enticing challenge appears.

Tessia Bennington is relieved to spend the holidays at the reputed haunted inn with her aunt and uncle after the man she’d expected to marry begged off. She enjoys the frolicking escapades of the aged partiers while ignoring the handsome host’s flirtations. What she can’t ignore is a ghostly presence seeking her help.

Neither Tess nor Damien could have imagined the bizarre events and this most unusual holiday. Will they part with special memories or shed their defenses and find happiness in each other?

Christmas is the perfect time for romance and ghost stories.

I enjoyed the gentle ambiance of this tale. The characters lived in a world where the most scandalous thing that could occur were a missing pair of gloves or two young lovers kissing for a moment when the elders weren’t looking. This was a place where everything always turns out well in the end even if there may also be a few mischievous ghosts rumpling the bedsheets or moving personal items around. There’s something to be said for spending time in such a peaceful world.

It would have been helpful to have more character development in this piece, especially considering how many people were staying at this inn over the holidays and how little time there was to get to know most of them. I found myself feeling sympathy for characters like Annabelle who tended to be described in ways that didn’t always paint her in the best light. While I’m not sure if this was the author’s intention, it made me wonder what she and other characters like her would be like if their virtues were highlighted instead as well as how this tale would be different if told from another perspective instead.

The paranormal subplot made me smile. I enjoyed learning the backstories of the various ghosts who were said to haunt Blackmoor Inn and seeing what the characters thought of them. Would they believe in ghosts or think that question was a silly one? Other readers should discover the answers to these questions for themselves, but I thought these scenes added depth and humor to the storyline.

Blessings and the Thief was a cozy Christmas tale.

The Stone Chamber by Kate Ellis


The Stone Chamber by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

On a summer evening, Robert and Greta Gerdner are shot dead at their home in the Devon countryside.

DI Wesley Peterson suspects the execution-style murders might be linked to Robert’s past police career – until Robert’s name is found on a list of people who’ve been sent tickets anonymously for a tour of Darkhole Grange, a former asylum on Dartmoor.

Wesley discovers that other names on the list have also died in mysterious circumstances and, as he is drawn into the chilling history of the asylum, he becomes convinced that it holds the key to the case.

When his friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, finds the skeleton of a woman buried in a sealed chamber dating back to the fifteenth century at his nearby dig, Wesley wonders whether there might be a connection between the ancient cell and the tragic events at Darkhole Grange.

With the clock ticking, Wesley must solve the puzzle, before the next person on the list meets a terrible end . . .

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are called in to investigate when Robert and Greta Gerdner are shot point blank in their Devon country home. Wesley suspects the execution like murder has ties back to Robert’s previous career in the Met – but Wesley and his team find Robert’s name along with others who have suffered from mysterious deaths all linked to a ghost tour of Darkhole Grange. Can Wesley and his team find what’s really going on?

I have been enjoying Ellis’ Wesley Peterson and Neil Watson’s Archaeology/British police procedural crossover books for over a year now. While there are nearly 30 books in the series, I feel that the writing and plotting is still going strong – and best of all this book definitely can be read as a standalone mystery/archaeology story. While there are things happening in the secondary character’s lives – Wesley’s colleague Rachel and with his son, Michael – these sub-plots can be easily picked up and understood and really no prior books need to be read to thoroughly enjoy this story.

I also really enjoyed the fact that the Archaeological side of the story with Neil and his newest excavation linked in strongly to Wesley and the murder mystery. Often these two parts to the book run side by side and don’t necessarily overlap or really link together. While I don’t mind this – I did find myself highly enjoying the fact that this time the two stories were solidly woven together and interacted a lot more strongly than I recall in the last few books.

I definitely feel readers should feel comfortable with picking up this book to see if they like Ellis’ writing style or if they want to see if the series would interest them. Like any long-running series individual books rise and fall – but I feel this is one of the stronger plotted and written books and would be a good place to dip your toe into the long series if you’re not certain and didn’t want to necessarily go right back to the start to have a go.

With an interesting murder mystery plot well woven around an archaeological dig and a strong historical plotline this is a different and interesting book that I enjoyed.