Tag: Book Review

Fiction

A Different Kind of Gone by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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  • Title: A Different kind of Gone
  • Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde
  • Genre: General Fiction
  • Takes Place: near the Arizona / Utah border
  • Main Character: Norma
  • Other Characters: Jill, Wanda, Betty, Teresa, Owen, Jake, Farley
  • Pets: A horse named Saint Fred and Norma’s 2 hound dogs Gracie & Lonny
  • Stars: 4

This is a thought-provoking book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The theme of the book is abuse, recovery, and the impact it has on family and friends, including children of those who have been abused. Abuse can have lasting effects on children and affect their life choices.

Norma is a local bartender plus she is a volunteer on the search and rescue team. Jill is a nineteen year old girl who has gone missing and the search & rescue team are looking for her. Norma finds her but Jill begs her not to tell anyone because her boyfriend will kill her if she is found. In the middle of the night, Norma takes Jill to her parents who then help Jill change her identity. Norma warns Jill’s parents that by concealing the fact, that Jill is alive could affect the rest of their life, if they make this decision they will have to keep the secret forever. Skip ahead five years and Jill is declared legally dead and her boyfriend Jake is going on trial for her murder. This is where the plot thickens. Even though Jake is not a good person, he didn’t murder anyone so a tough decision must be made. Does Jill come forward or stay silent and let Jake possible be

This is a thought-provoking book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The theme of the book is abuse, recovery, and the impact it has on family and friends, including children of those who have been abused. Abuse can have lasting effects on children and affect their life choices.

Norma is a local bartender plus she is a volunteer on the search and rescue team. Jill is a nineteen year old girl who has gone missing and the search & rescue team are looking for her. Norma finds her but Jill begs her not to tell anyone because her boyfriend will kill her if she is found. In the middle of the night, Norma takes Jill to her parents who then help Jill change her identity. Norma warns Jill’s parents that by concealing the fact, that Jill is alive could affect the rest of their life, if they make this decision they will have to keep the secret forever. Skip ahead five years and Jill is declared legally dead and her boyfriend Jake is going on trial for her murder. This is where the plot thickens. Even though Jake is not a good person, he didn’t murder anyone so a tough decision must be made. Does Jill come forward or stay silent and let Jake possible be covicted of a murder that didn’t happen.

This is a story of difficult decisions, secrets, family commitment, discovery and new life. While I enjoyed the book as a whole, there were a few plot points that didn’t quite work out as I hoped for Jake and Jill. I can’t reveal what I happened without revealing spoilers so I will leave it at that.

I like that this book brought awareness to abuse and how it can affect entire families especially their children. You can’t go wrong with a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

of a murder that didn’t happen.

This is a story of difficult decisions, secrets, family commitment, discovery and new life. While I enjoyed the book as a whole, there were a few plot points that didn’t quite work out as I hoped for Jake and Jill. I can’t reveal what I happened without revealing spoilers so I will leave it at that.

I like that this book brought awareness to abuse and how it can affect entire families especially their children. You can’t go wrong with a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder and Matrimony by Avery Kent

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  • Title: Murder & Matrinoy
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: A Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Bishop’s Landing
  • Main Character: Annie, Jake
  • Other Characters: Amanda, Janet, Devon, Warren, Maggie, Lieutenant Sherman
  • Stars: 5

This is the third book in Bishop’s Landing’s Cozy Mystery series, and I have to say that the books just keep getting better and better as I read them. I’ve fallen in love with the characters throughout this series.

Annie, a baker and the owner of Boardwalk Bakery in Bishop’s Landing, has landed the baking job of a lifetime. She has been commissioned to bake a wedding cake for the daughter of a wealthy resort owner in nearby Grenville. The wedding will take place at her daddy’s resort. This job could really put Boardwalk bakery on the map so Annie is doing her best to make it perfect. She has rented a van to deliver the cake and her assistant Maggie has agreed to drive her. When Maggie has an accident, it leaves no one to help Annie so Sheriff Jake volunteers for the job.

When they get to the resort, there is a sudden snowstorm so Annie, Jake and any guests that have arrived are snowed in. Anyone who hasn’t already arrived, will not be able to get there. Amanda, the bride, decides to go ahead with the wedding so she can marry the love of her life. The ceremony went on without a hitch but the reception is another issue. While eating the wedding cake, the groom drops dead of an apparentnut allergy. So now all eyes are on Annie as she is the primary suspect. Annie didn’t have a motive but could the cake have been cross contaminated with nuts?

Annie and Jake hustle to prove that Annie didn’t accidentally poison the groom. But if not Annie then who. Turns out there are a lot of people who would want the groom dead.

This book takes the reader on a roller coaster ride with a lot of twists and turns to find a killer. It was really good and kept me engaged and guessing until the last word.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Pies, Paws & Peril by Avery Kent

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  • Title: Pies, Paws & Peril
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: A Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Bishop’s Landing
  • Main Character: Annie, Jake
  • Other Characters: Casey, Maggie, Ursula, Maple, Walter, Carla
  • Pets: Golden Retriever named Cookie
  • Stars: 4

is the second book in the series Bishop’s Landing by Avery Kent. I am glad I gave this series another try because this book was much better than the first. It had better character development and we got to know the Protagonist a little better.

In this episode, Annie is entering the pie contest at the annual Fall festival. When a celebrity chef shows up to judge the contest and ends up dead, the town is in a frenzy until the killer is found. Of course Annie has to be in the middle of it to help solve the case. It seems the celebrity judge, isn’t the nice person she appears to be on TV so the suspects endless since no one really likes her.

This book takes you on a lot of twists and turns to solve this mystery of who killed the celebrity judge. With a lot of possible suspects including her family, staff and even her publisher it takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride with a suprise ending you won’t see coming.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Cookies & Crime by Avery Kent

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  • Title: Cookies & Crime
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery book 1
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Biships Landing
  • Main Characters: Annie, Casey, Maggie
  • Other Characters: Mildred, Hank, Martha, Mayor McCray, Catherine
  • Pets: Golden Retriever named Cookie
  • Stars: 3

This is my first book by the author. This book was given to me as a free giveaway at the time of reading. My opinion is my own and is not influenced by the giveaway.

Newly divorced Annie moves back to her home town of Bishop’s Landing to help her Aunt Mildred and take over her aunt’s bakery. The bakery needs extensive renovations before she can open her doors again so the town handyman begins the renovations. Imagine Annie’s shock when she arrives at the bakery to find the mayor dead at the base of the stairs. This is definitely a murder. The mayor wasn’t popular, so no one cares. Even the sheriff isn’t that interested in solving this crime. Annie and her amateur detectives Cassie and Maggie take on the task of figuring out who killed the mayor.

This book is the first in a series called Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery. This book was okay and kept me interested for a while, but it lacked depth and character development. The characters are 2 dimensional and not very interesting. Even Annie (the protagonist)) was not someone I could connect with. Most books I read, especially small town books, make me feel like the main characters are best friends and I want to be a part of that small town community. I didn’t feel that way in this book. I don’t really know where the book took place except Bishops Landing, and I never said where, so I’m not sure if it even took place in the United States. I thought it was the UK because the apartment above the bakery was referred to as a flat, but that’s just a guess. The town wasn’t really described and It lacked the sense of community connection I have come to love in the books I read.

This book reads more like a short story than a full-length book. I figured out who the murderer was early on in the book, so there weren’t any twists and turns to solve the mystery. I didn’t find out the motive until the end, but I had a gut feeling that this person did it and I was right.

I am going to give the second book in the series a try because I think this might have been this authors first book. When I look it up on Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads, It is only showing this series with this being the first of a three book series at the time of this review. I will see if my opinion changes after the second book and if I decide to read more. I feel like every author has to start somewhere and deserves a chance.

If you read this book, let me know what you think.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Hello Goodbye by Kay Bratt

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  • Title: Hello Goodbye
  • Author: Kay Bratt
  • Series: Hart’s Ridge #7
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Hart’s Ridge
  • Main Character: Taylor, Sam, Shane
  • Other Characters: Larson, Marc, Abby, Jo, Lucy, Anna, Alice, Judith, Cecil, Jackson, Fair, Blanche, Abby, Larson
  • Pets: Diesel
  • Stars: 5

This is book 7 of the Hart’s Ridge series and I loved it, just the others. This is a great series.

The protagonist of the story is Deputy Taylor Gray. Taylor and her sisters went through foster care most of their lives. Taylor basically raised her sisters after her mother supposedly burned to death in a fire with her baby brother.In this installment there is a double homicide. The Swansons who have 3 adopted kids kids, are discovered brutally murdered. We first met this family when we Taylor called to Their home after Marc’s parents refused to let him in due to missed curfew. While Marc is the prime suspect in the homicide, he is currently in a behavior health facility. Is it possible that he may have broken out and gone and killed his parents? There are several suspects but who could have done this heinous crime? Taylor and Shane are on the case to find out who could have brutally murdered this couple and left their kids without parents.

As Taylor is dealing with a double homicide her relationship with fiance Sam could be rocky due to them finding out he may have a 12 year old daughter that he didn’t know about (we found that out at the end of the last book).

Sam is also trying help Taylor close a case that is very personal to her. She has a lead but will she finally be able to put an end to this case so she can move on with the rest of her life . And as if this isn’t enough, there is another tragedy to the story that you won’t see coming.

There are several stories going on so Taylor has her hands full. This is definitely a page turner that you will have trouble putting it down. Be ready to curl up and engross yourself in this well written mystery with twists and turns until the surprise ending.

Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction

Christmas in Jubilee by Rachel Hanna

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  • Title: Christmas in Jubilee
  • Author: Rachel Hanna
  • Series: Jubilee #3
  • Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance
  • Takes Place:  Jubilee
  • Main Character: Madeline, Frannie
  • Other Characters: Eloise, Brady, Cole, Clemmy, Geneva, Jasmine, Anna
  • Pets: Gilbert the goat
  • Stars: 5

This is the 3rd installment of the Julee series and it is another great book by Rachel Hanna. I just love Rachel’s books. They always make you smile and feel good. They make you believe that anything is possible

The story follows us through the festive period from October to the New Year. It’s a tale of family unity and a second chance at love. When Madeline’s mother, Eloise, shows up unannounced at her doorstep, her life is turned upside down. She and her mother didn’t have the best relationship, so what could she want?

We’re also introduced to a new character: Frannie. Her grandmother passed away, and Frannie inherited the family’s home and some downtown retail space. Frannie spent a lot of time with her grandmother growing up and even went to high school there. She decides to stay in Jubilee and live in her grandmother’s house and pursue her dream of owning a bakery. Imagine her surprise when a highschool sweetheart shows up at her door.

It’s a story about second chances, family, small town community and love. It’s a story that will bring a smile to your face and make you laugh. I recommend reading the first two books before this one so you can get to know the characters and fall in love with them as I have. Every single one of Rachel’s books makes me want to move to the fictional town they are set in. The landscapes are always beautiful , but it’s the friendships that turn into families that I really love.

This book will be available to purchase on Amazon December 5th, 2023. You can preorder on Amazon or you can currently buy it at Rachel’s Store.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

The Christmas Visitor by Kathi Daley

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  • Title: The Christmas Visitor
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: Tess & Tilly #15
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: White Eagle, Montana
  • Main Character: Tess, Tony, Bree, Mike
  • Other Characters: Brady, Hap, Aspen, Cleo, Cole, Frank, Sam, Estella
  • Pets: a golden retriever named Tilly and a cat named Tangletoe (Tang for short) and a cat named Tinder and Tony’s German Sheppard Titan, Mike’s dog Leonard and the newest member of the family Kody. plus lots of other shelter dogs that come and go.
  • Stars: 4

This is the fifteenth book in the Tess & Tilly series. Even though I enjoy these characters and have really enjoyed this series, 15 is enough. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the previous ones. It just didn’t seem to have the depth and intrigue the previous books did.

In this episode, White Eagle is getting ready for the holiday season. As we follow the residents, Tess and her loyal sidekick Tilly are back delivering mail on their old route after the current mail carrier goes on medical leave.Tess and Tony are also helping out with the Christmas festival, which could be full-time job. Bree is dealing with some personal issues which have her feeling down, while Mike is juggling being there for his wife and solving crimes in their little town. Tony and Tess have a security break-in at their home, and they have an unexpected guest who needs their assistance. Tony has a brilliant idea on how to catch a criminal

Community, friendship, family, and helping others are at the heart of this story, as well as solving a mystery. The characters are likable and well-developed. My favorite character is Tess, and I love the animals, especially the dogs. I gave this a 4 stars because it really isn’t up to par with the previous books in the series.

Happy Reading,

Fiction, Romance

Christmas by the Bay by Kay Correll

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  • Title: Christmas by the Bay
  • Author: Kay Corell
  • Series: Blue Heron Cottages #7
  • Genre: Romance
  • Takes Place: Moonbeam, Florida
  • Main Character: Violet, Danny
  • Other Characters: Allison, Rose, Rob, Evelyn, Rose, Blake, Emily, George, Walker, Tara, Willow
  • Stars: 5

This is the 7th installment of the Blue Heron Cottages series. I really love this series. It has great 3-dimentional characters who have their own unique personalities and blend in well with each other.

Violet is preparing to celebrate her first Christmas as the owner of Blue Heron Cottages. If you have read the previous books then you know that Violet is the owner of Blue Heron Cottages in the quaint town of Moonbeam, FL. She totally restored the old cottages and gave them quite the facelift. They are charming with their different colored cabins.

Danny is struggling with his teenage daughter, Allison, who has gotten in with the wrong crowd at school and has found herself in a bit of trouble. He decided the best medicine is to get away and take his unruly daughter to Moonbeam for Christmas. Even though she is so stubborn and doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t have much of a choice. This may be just the medicine they need to rekindle their father / daughter relationship.

Rose is still grieving over her husband who past away months before as she prepares for her first Christmas without him. She decides to revisit Blue Heron Cottages for the holidays and reconnect with her friends including Violet.

Aspen is worried that Walker is losing interest in her. He seems to be keeping a secret. To make matters worse, her sister cancelled her plans to come to Moonbeam to spend the holidays with Aspen.

It’s going to be a magical Christmas in Moonbeam!

This is a sweet book about Community, relationships, friendships, family, surprises and second chances. I really enjoyed it just like I have the other books in the series.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Death by Dish – Claire Harlow

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  • Title: Death by Dish
  • Author: Claire Harlow
  • Series: A Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Sparrow Haven
  • Main Character: Olivia Harper, Milly
  • Other Characters: Millie, Ethan, Detective Fred O’Malley, Victoria Thorne, Milly’s Mother Mary & Dad Charles, Nancy, Antonio, Edith, Mr Thorne, Ben Fields & his wife Marsha, Cathy Simmons, Monica, Seth Silverton
  • Pets: Olivia’s Golden Retriever Barkley
  • Stars: 3

This is the 3rd installment in the Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery series. I have enjoyed all of this author’s books so far. The only reason I am giving this one a 3 is because it talks about a snake. Any book that mentions the ‘s’ word gets no more than a 3 rating because that is something I just can’t read about. In fact, normally it would keep me from finishing a book . I have a huge fear and it will give me nightmares. It was even hard for me to type the word. I skipped several pages of the book because this was talked about. Then for the rest of the book, I would scan each page to make sure there was no mention before reading it. It took away a bit of my enjoyment but since I really like this author, I wanted to finish the book so I plowed on through.

This book is not as good as the other books I have read by this author. This could be due to the fact that I had to skip a few pages. I enjoyed most of the book, except for the passages mentioned above. This took away some of my enjoyment. I’m glad I finished this book because the ending is good but not a big surprise. I’ll definitely read more from this author.

I received this book free from Booksiren as part of the ARC team. The review is my honest opinion.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder on the links – Penny Brooke

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  • Title: Murder on the Links
  • Author: Penny Brooke
  • Series: A Word Travels Mobile Bookshop Cozy Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Greenwood, Vermont
  • BookMain Character: Claudia, Aunt Daisy Mae
  • Other Characters: Detectiv Sterling, Mayor Tom Linden, Tammy, Noah, Jason, Aaron, Jenny, Everette, Scarlett
  • Pets: a cat named Jasper
  • Stars: 5

The author has a remarkable ability to craft a narrative that will captivate the reader until the unexpected conclusion. This is the third installment of the Word Travels Mobile Bookshop Cozy Mystery Series, and ito may be my favorite so far.

Claudia is once again thrust into the midst of a homicide investigation when Jason, the Mayoral Candidate, is tragically killed at his own fundraising event. To further complicate matters, Claudia is observed having an altercation with him shortly prior to his death, thus making her the prime suspect in the investigation. If you read the first book in the series, “Murder in the Library”, then you know that Jason is the ex Stalker boyfriend of Layla’s and a suspect in her murder. In this book, Jason is running for mayor in a race against Tom Linden, the incumbent mayor.

Jason’s reputation for ruthlessness and being a womanizer is well-known, and no one likes him, so there are numerous suspects who could have wanted him dead. This book takes the reader on a bit of roller coaster ride through the whole book. I found myself devouring the entire book in a single sitting, unable to put it down, simply because I had to discover the identity of the perpetrator. I suspected who the murderer was, but there were still surprises and twists along the way. The only thing I would have expected was that Claudia would have learned her lesson from the first two homicides in which she was involved, not to confront the suspect due to the potential danger.

When I am reading a book, I tend to find it easier to relax and enjoy the content without the need for a playbill. This series is an ideal fit for this type of reader, as it is full of complex and engaging characters that make the book enjoyable without the need for playbills to keep track of who is who. Additionally, the suspense of the book keeps the reader interested and entertained.

I highly recommend this series and each book just keeps getting better. They are full of suspense, intrigue, a bit of romance and a cat who is always into something. Jasper the cat is one of the main characters in the book. Claudia takes him everywhere and he can be a bit mischievous and fun. He tends to add a bit of humor to the books. I do recommend you read the first two books in the series before this one since several of the minor characters in the other books are in this one along with the protagonist, her eccentric aunt and sometimes naughty cat.

I highly recommended this series and each book keeps getting better. They are full of suspense, intrigue, a bit of romance, and a cat that is always into something. Jasper the cat can be a bit mischievous and humorous. I recommend that readers should read the preceding two books of the series prior to this one, as several minor characters from the preceding books are included in this one, as well as the protagonist, her eccentric aunt, and the occasionally naughty cat.

Happy Reading!