Monthly Archives: January 2022

Wright Rival (Wright #10) by KA Linde-Review Tour

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Wright Rival (Wright #10) by KA Linde-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 11, 2022

No one on this planet pushes my buttons like Hollin Abbey.

I don’t know if it’s the rugged, sexy cowboy look or the Harley Davidson motorcycle or the cocky swagger. Or just him.

But whenever we’re together we fight like cats and dogs. Now our vineyards are rivals in the annual wine competition, and I’m determined to win.

I just have to take out my Wright rival.

••••••

REVIEW: WRIGHT RIVAL is the tenth instalment in KA Linde’s wonderful, contemporary, adult WRIGHT erotic, romance series. This is thirty-year old, co-owner of Wright Winery Hollin Abbey, and twenty-nine year old, vintner at Sinclair Cellars Piper Medina’s story line. WRIGHT RIVAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Piper and Hollin) WRIGHT RIVAL is a frenemies to lovers story line focusing on thirty-year old, co-owner of Wright Winery Hollin Abbey, and twenty-nine year old vintner at Sinclair Cellars Piper Medina. Piper and Hollin are not only business rivals but their personal relationship was acrimonious and volatile hiding a barely veiled palpable sexual attraction. Everyone in their mutual circle saw what our couple refused to admit but it wasn’t until Hollin’s brother Campbell’s concert did our couple act on their unmistakable attraction. Hoping to keep their relationship quiet, it is only a matter of time before everyone suspects what our couple is trying to hide but all is not well behind the scenes are Hollin’s past refuses to let go, and Piper is blindsided by the previous owners of Sinclair Cellars.The upcoming Texas Wine Award competition will see a friendly rivalry between our leading couple, a competition that will see Piper take a stand that will affect both her personal and professional life. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hollin and Piper, and the fall-out as betrayal and heart break force Piper to change her direction going forward.

Hollin Abbey is a bit of a manwh*re, and his reputation affected his relationship with our story line heroine. The bitter and caustic, back and forth between our story line couple, is often immature and angst inducing, affecting everyone they knew . Always pushing one another’s proverbial buttons, their mutual hatred hid an attraction that was about to spontaneously combust. Piper Medina wanted nothing to do with Hollin Abbey, and although she was currently involved in another relationship, Hollin refused to take no for an answer. Knowing her current relationship was not her happily ever after, her attraction to Hollin may have been the motivating factor in walking away.

The relationship between Hollin and Piper was tempestuous at best but there was no denying the obvious. Hollin’s history with women was a bone of contention for our story line heroine but our couple never expected his past to destroy any hopes going forward. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several characters and couples we had met in previous story lines as well as Hollin’s siblings Campbell and Nora, Nora’s boyfriend August; Piper’s siblings Peyton and Peter, their father Matthew, and Abuelita Nina; Tamara, costume coordinator Tori, Jordan, Julian and Blaire. Campbell and Blaire’s story line is next.

WRIGHT RIVAL is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and intense; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are energetic, charismatic and impassioned.

Previous reviews
A Wright Christmas
Wright With Benefits
Serves Me Wright

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.

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The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford – a Review

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The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford – a Review

 

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Description:
The king is dead, his queen is missing. On the amber coast, the usurper king is driving Zavonia to the brink of war. A dangerous magical power is rising up in Biela Miasto, and the only people who can set things right are a failed bodyguard, a Landstrider witch, and the assassin who set off the whole sorry chain of events.

Valdas, Captain of the High Guard, has not only failed in his duty to protect the king, but he’s been accused of the murder, and he’s on the run. He’s sworn to seek justice, but his king sets him another task from beyond the grave. Valdas doesn’t believe in magic, which is unfortunate as it turns out.

Mirza is the healer-witch of a Landstrider band, valued and feared in equal measure for her witchmark, her scolding tongue, and her ability to walk the spirit world. When she’s given a task by Valdas’ dead king, she believes that the journey she must take is one she can never return from.

Lind is the clever assassin. Yes, someone paid him to kill the king, but who is to blame, the weapon or the power behind it? Lind must face his traumatic past if he’s to have a future.

Review:

The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford is a stand-alone fantasy novel.  The story starts out when we meet our hero, Valdas, who is the Captain of the High Guard, protecting the King.  Valdas learns after his liaison with his girlfriend, that while he was away, the King was murdered; and he is being accused of killing the King; all of his soldiers have been killed, by those protecting the new King, and the Queen is now missing.  Valdas has to run and hide from the usurpers who are controlling the new King, and pushing for an all-out war.

We meet Mirza, our heroine, who is a healer-witch, and has the ability to enter the spirit world, which she will come face to face with the dead King, who sends her on assignment to help Valdas, and save the Queen (who is pregnant).

We also meet Lind, who is the assassin who killed the King, having been paid to do so; but Lind discovers the Queen in hiding, and is determined to help protect her and the baby, which in time will bring all three together to defeat the evil villain, who is determined to take and use magic, as he plans to take over the crown.

With three narratives, the story becomes a bit complex, trying to keep up with everyone, but by the last third of the book, everything begins to tie together.  This is a complicated storyline to review, as there are so many details, surprises, attacks and events along the way. Though this is fantasy, it is a historical vibe of magic during the Prussian time frame.  I will say that I did like the main characters, with the third (Lind) being better later in the book. It is a unique story line, with the two amazing leads (Mirza and Valdas), who fought their way through danger at every step.

The Amber Crown was a complex, but very good fantasy, which was a bit slow early on, but got more exciting in the second half of the book.  The three of them joined together to try and save the queen, defeat the evil villain, and bring the country back to its rightful heir.  The Amber Crown was well written by Jacey Bedford.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis – a Review

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The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis – a Review

 

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Description:
During the snowstorm of the century Levi Cutler is stranded on a ski lift with a beautiful stranger named Jane. After strong winds hurl the gondola in front of them into the ground, Levi calls his parents to prepare them for the worst…but can’t bring himself to say goodbye. Instead, wanting to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish, he impulsively tells her he’s happily settled and Jane is his girlfriend–right before his phone dies.

But Levi and Jane do not.

Now Levi’s family is desperate to meet “The One.” Though Jane agrees to be his pretend girlfriend for just one dinner, she’s nervous. After a traumatic childhood, Jane isn’t sure she knows how to be around a tight-knit family that cherishes one another. She’s terrified, and a little jealous. But an unexpected series of events and a host of new friends soon show Jane that perhaps this is the life she was always meant to have.

As Jane and Levi spend more time together, pretend feelings quickly turn into real ones. Now all Jane has to do is admit to herself she can’t live without the man she’s fallen in love with and the family she has always dreamed of.

 

Review:

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis is the 1st book in her new Sunrise Cove series.  The story starts off with our hero, Levi Cutler, on a gondola as the weather turns disastrous with a major snowstorm, worried that is his time to die. Turns out there is another person stranded, Jane, our heroine, who is just as scared, as the ski lift before theirs, was broken off due to the heavy winds. Even though Levi tries to calm Jane down, telling her that they have never lost a ski lift, but despite that, he makes a call to his mother to say goodbye; but he decides against panicking his mother, and tells her that he is with his girlfriend.  Levi gets injured when something falls on him, and protected Jane.  They do get rescued, and Levi is in the hospital recovering, and his family only wants to know who and where is Jane, since he has not dated in three years.  When Levi is discharged, he tries to find Jane, to ask her if she would do him a favor and pretend to be his fake girlfriend, especially for his parents 40th anniversary dinner.  After a bit, Jane will reluctantly agree. After he’s discharged, Levi seeks Jane out and asks for a favor – pretend to be his girlfriend just until his parents 40t wedding anniversary dinner is over. Reluctantly, Jane agrees.

Both Levi and Jane do not plan to stay in Lake Tahoe, as have their own personal jobs and personal issues, with Levi not home for many years, due to the loss of his girlfriend, and Jane, having been abandoned by her family when she was very young, keeping to herself.  There was a wonderful second romance between Jane’s best friend, Charlotte and Mateo (both Jane and Levi’s friend), as both worked at the hospital. Charlotte had bad experiences, and refused to allow herself to get involved, though Mateo, who is a hottie, was very patient with her.  

What follows is a wonderful slow burn romance between two couples, and an amazing family (Levi’s) that did everything they could to find out more about Jane.  It was a lot of fun, as they took it upon themselves to meet her, and when Jane did go to meet the family, she found herself caught up in their wonderful and loving acceptance of her.

The Family You Make is a fun and delightful story, so very well written by Jill Shalvis. It had a little bit of everything, including two great couples, cute banter, emotional, romantic and a fantastic loving family.  I recommend you read The Family You Make, as you can never go wrong reading anything by Jill Shalvis.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland-Review Tour

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The Summer Proposal by Vi Keeland-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 10, 2022

The first time I met Max Yearwood was on a blind date.
Max was insanely gorgeous, funny, and our chemistry was off the charts. He also had the biggest dimples I’d ever laid eyes on.
Exactly what I needed after my breakup.
Or so I thought…
Until my real date arrived.
Turned out, Max wasn’t who I was there to meet. He only pretended to be until my real date showed up.
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
Before he left, he slipped me a ticket to a hockey game a few blocks away, in case things didn’t work out on my actual date.
I tossed the ticket into my purse and went about trying to enjoy the man I was supposed to meet.
But my real blind date and I had no connection.
So on my way home, I decided to take a chance and stop by the game.
When I arrived, the seat next to me was empty.
Disappointed again, I decided to leave at the end of the period.
Just before the buzzer, one of the teams scored, and the entire arena went crazy.
A player’s face flashed up on the Jumbotron. He was wearing a helmet, but I froze when he smiled.
You guessed it: Dimples.
Apparently, my fake blind date hadn’t invited me to watch hockey with him, he’d invited me to watch him play.
And so began my adventure with Max Yearwood.
He was everything I needed at the time—fun, sexy, up for anything, and only around for a few months since he’d signed with a new team three-thousand miles away.
Max proposed we spend the summer helping me forget my ex. It sounded like a good plan. Things couldn’t get too serious when we had an expiration date. Right?
Though, you know what they say about the best-laid plans.

••••••

REVIEW:THE SUMMER PROPOSAL by Vi Keeland is a stand alone, contemporary,adult, erotic, hockey romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old,professional hockey player and team captain Max ‘Pretty Boy’ Yearwood, and twenty-seven year old, business woman Georgia Delaney.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Max and Georgia) THE SUMMER PROPOSAL follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old,professional hockey player Max ‘Pretty Boy’ Yearwood, and twenty-seven year old, business woman Georgia Delaney. Georgia Delaney had been set up on a blind date but the man who arrived was nothing like he had been described and the chemistry between the two was palpable. When Georgia’s real date arrived, the pretend date offered our heroine tickets to that night’s hockey game, and the rest is history when Georgia discovers her ‘not’ blind date was none other than professional hockey player Max Yearwood. With a complicated past that was still a part of her present, Georgia was reluctant to become involved with someone else but Max persisted, offering a summer together, before our hero would embark on the next leg of his career. Never expecting to fall in love, Georgia struggled with a past that wouldn’t let go, a past that wanted more from our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Georgia and Max, and the potential fall-out as Max’s demons prevent our hero from committing to forever, pushing Georgia out of his life, threatening his own life in the process.

Georgia Delaney had yet to let go of her last relationship, a relationship that was more complicated than anyone could have ever imagined. Refusing to cut the proverbial ties, Georgia struggled with promises of forever, and a heart that wanted someone else. Max Yearwood had never found love yet something about Georgia pulled at his heart but Max had a secret that he refused to reveal, a secret that may end more than his relationship with the woman he loved.

The relationship between Max and Georgia is one of immediate attraction but one predicated upon a lie. Max was not the man Georgia had expected but he is the man that was about to destroy her heart. A summer of romance and $ex meant a summer growing closer together but also a relationship that came with dead line. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense but without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Georgia’s best friend and marketing promoter Maggie; hockey player Tomasso and his wife Jenna; Max’s brother Tate and his wife Cassidy, and their mother Rose; and Georgia’s ex Gabriel.

THE SUMMER PROPOSAL is a story of family, relationships, love and loss. The premise is emotional and heart breaking; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are fun, energetic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is an attorney and a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today Best Selling author. Over the last three years, ten of her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller lists and three on the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman-dual review

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Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 11, 2022

Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.

In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.

Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

•••••••

Sandy’s Review

WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on twenty-nine year old single father/ sports reporter Russell Barringer, and twenty-seven year old TV meteorologist Ari Abrams’.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Ari) WEATHER GIRL follows the building romance and relationship between co-workers at KSEA Seattle news station twenty-nine year old single father/ sports reporter Russell Barringer, and twenty-seven year old TV meteorologist Ari Abrams. Life at KSEA Seattle is no longer what Ari Abrams once thought it would be since the break up of her boss, Seattle’s weather woman Torrance Hale, and her ex-husband and KSEA’s news director Seth Hale. The tempestuous fall-out of a twenty year marriage is affecting everyone at the station, and in this, life has been difficult for everyone involved. At the KSEA Christmas party everything goes from bad to worse, and after a drunken sit down with her co-worker, sports journalist Russell Barringer, our couple devise a plan to push the former couple, back together. As Russell and Ari begin their journey of reconciliation, they find themselves growing closer together, looking forward to a possible future but all is not well in Ari’s life, and demons from the past are about to take hold, when our couple’s plans are discovered, and Ari takes a long hard look at what happened and why. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ari and Russell, and the fall-out as Ari is unable to let go of the past, believing she is not worthy of her own happily ever after.

Like her mother, Ari Abrams struggles with depression but a good therapist and the right medication have helped our heroine get on with her life but secrets revealed find Ari second guessing her relationship with Russell, and in this, words and actions are misunderstood, and Ari finds herself walking away from the man that she loves. Russell Barringer is a single father, whose first priority is his twelve year old daughter Elodie. Falling for Ari was never in the plans for a man who never expected to fall for anyone else but work place romances make for awkward relationships especially when secrets reveal something or someone else has been working behind the scenes.

The relationship between Ari and Russell is a co-workers to friends to lovers relationship that is pulled together by our couple’s need to reunite their embattled bosses. With each endeavor to reconcile the people in charge, our couple find themselves pushed towards their own inevitable and unavoidable paths. Ari struggles with trying to keep her depression at bay, and Russell’s home life was never meant to be workplace gossip. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and fun. We are introduced to Seattle’s weather woman Torrance Hale, and her ex-husband and KSEA’s news director Seth Hale; Russell’s daughter Elodie, and his ex Liv; as well as Ari’s twin brother Alex, his husband Javier, and Ari’s mother Amelia Abrams.

WEATHER GIRL is a story of family and relationships, friendships and love. An emotional story of struggle and commitment, acceptance and understanding. The premise is playful and impassioned, and a little slow going in the beginning; the characters are flirty, fun, animated and real; the romance is spirited and captivating.

_____

Barb’s Review:
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a stand-alone lighthearted romance. We meet our heroine, Ari Abrams, who is a meteorologist for a Seattle TV news station. Ari has always wanted to be a weather girl, starting when she was young and watched her favorite weather woman, Torrance Hale; now, Torrance is her boss, and Ari loves her job.  Ari secretly hides the fact that she suffers from occasional depression, especially due to her mother’s illness, and breakup with her boyfriend; she does go to a therapist, and takes antidepressants. 

Torrance and her ex, Sean (news director) constantly fight openly, in front of their employees, who try to pretend not to listen.  When Ari talks with Russ (sports reporter), they discuss ways to try to bring Torrance and Seth back together, raising the moral at the studio.; together they devise a plan to with gifts, double dates, trips and invitations. While Ari and Russ spend a lot of time together to push their plan, they slowly find themselves becoming attracted to each other. Russ was perfect for Ari, as he was very patient and understanding, as he learned more about Ari, and she began to trust him.  With Ari’s family issues, and mental health, Russ was always there for her; he too had his own issues, bringing up a 12-year-old daughter (Elodie, she was adorable) by himself.

What follows is a fun story, with two couples that we rooted for.  I loved how Ari and Russ were able to pull Torrance and Seth together, and I enjoyed them too.  It was a blast seeing all four become closer, and the banter between them was great.   As we get closer to the end, a few things backfire, with us holding our breath if they can resolve those issues.  The story also touches on various issues, such as depression, mental health, divorce, family. 

Weather Girl was a fun lighthearted romantic story that was very well written by Rachel Lynn Solomon.  I really did enjoy the couples, and how they each helped each other; Ari and Russ turned out to be a perfect pair, rising past their issues to trust love.  I wholly suggest you read Weather Girl.

 

Copies supplied by Netgalley

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WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON by Gillian Grant-a review

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WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON (The Blood of Eith 1) by Gillian Grant

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date January 4, 2022

As a hunter, Evren Hanali of Orenlion has probably seen it all and done even more, even though she likes to fade into the background. She prefers a solitary existence, doing the jobs she’s commissioned for and not much else. But fate has other plans. It seems she has a destiny—one she is only beginning to unravel. And unlikely companions and exotic places are only the beginning of her journey.

When circumstances beyond her control—and gravity—send her plummeting to what she fears may be her death, walking away unscathed opens a world of possibilities. Somehow, she becomes the leader of a motley crew of allies with a shared mission. Only it’s not clear what anyone’s end goal is, and trust is hard-earned. Still, the merry band of adventurers finds solace and friendship along the way—not to mention dangers galore.

In the instance of the Yawning Deep, as above is not as below. Add magic and mayhem to the mix, and Evren has the fight of her life on her hands. When one hard-fought win leads to revelations of lies, deceit, and murder, Evren and company must be willing to fight for what they believe—and each other.

Or die trying.

•••••••

REVIEW: WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON is the first instalment in debut author Gillian Grant’s high fantasy series THE BLOOD OF EITH focusing on half-elf, hunter Evren Hanali of Orenlion, and her ragtag team of misfit warriors.

Told from third person perspective (Evren) WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON follows hunter, half-elf Evren Hanali as she seeks temporary refuge in the underground city of Dirn-Darahl where she will meet Vasa Sorin Trinity, and his magical friend Arke, the goblin but their descent into the depths of Dirn-Darahl is met with a deadly explosion finding our trio on the fifth level, a level that holds the city’s most dangerous criminals. Upon their rescue, Evren, and her new companions she meets along the way, are task by the King’s second in command General Heliodar, with returning the Seeker, dwarf Goriryn Karas, an escaped political prisoner, whose search for his cousin, takes the team into an underground world of elves, giant worms, magical creatures and more.

We are introduced to a large number of colorful and eccentric characters including Sorin Trinity, goblin Arke, dwarf warrior Solri Amet, Seeker Goriryn Karas and his cousin cartographer Temsen Cartack, elf Abraxas Kain, Poig, warrior and half giant Gyda, Nobleman Malrus Ekan, General Heliodar, and Herald of Light elf Viggo of Andovine.

WHERE THE SHADOWS BECKON is a journey into the fantastic of magical beasts, betrayal, vengeance, and war. As Evren begins her trek into the underground world of elves and gods, our heroine will discover deceit and treason are but the starting point to a war between the differing factions of elves, dwarves, and surface worlders.

For fans and readers of the Lord of the Rings™ franchise, and the varying facets of Dungeons and Dragons™, the familiarity is overwhelming down to the names of several characters including Herald of Light Viggo (snicker). The premise is detailed and complex-the world building is intricate, comprehensive and familiar; the characters are numerous, rich and often recognizable.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

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Mainely Angst (Mainely Mystery 4) by Matt Cost -a review

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Mainely Angst (Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery 4) by Matt Cost -a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 12, 2022

The federally funded Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force sends two officials to investigate strange sightings in the Port Essex skies and they hire Wolfe and Baker to be their local liaisons. But are they really who they say?

It was as if he’d gripped an electric fence with a soaking wet hand and hung on, the current running through his body, making his breath catch in his lungs so that he couldn’t breathe in or out.

It appears that the missing persons case they are working on might related to the UAPs.

“You said you would do one thing for me.” His voice was muffled.
“I will do whatever you want.”
“I want you to die,” he said.

Port Essex becomes a melting pot of intrigue. People are disappearing. Strange sightings in the sky. And when Clay’s family and friends are threatened, things get very gritty.

His phone rang. It was Grandpops. “Clay? Somebody just blew up the house.”

••••••

REVIEW: MAINELY ANGST is the fourth instalment in Matt Cost’s contemporary, adult GOFF LANGDON MAINELY MYSTERY series focusing on fifty-something part time private investigator and book store owner Goff Langdon, of Brunswick, Maine. MAINELY ANGST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective MAINELY ANGST focuses on part time private investigator Goff Langdon as he is hired by three different people during the height of the COVID pandemic. A young woman has accused her boss of sexual harassment, and she has lost everything in the aftermath of losing her job; a lobster fisherman wants Goff to find his ‘missing’ wife, a Russian mail-order bride, whom he believes has been stolen out from under his nose; and thirdly, a four year old boy has been abducted, and the Q-anon supporters are claiming responsibility, threatening to kill the child if their demands are not met. As Goff, and his motley crew of amateur investigators begin to ferret out the truth, a pattern begins to emerge, linking all three of Goff’s cases together.

Once again, the return of several friends adds energy, familiarity and cohesion to the series: Sergeant Jeremiah ‘Bart’ Bartholomew, Attorney Jimmy 4 by Four, Jewell and Richam Jones, Goff’s wife Chabal, local gossip/drunk Danny T, and former attorney Jonathan ‘Star’ Starlng who now works for our story line hero. We are introduced to waitress and newcomer Raven Burke. The requisite evil has many faces.

MAINELY ANGST is another detailed, complex, and intriguing storyline that pulls the reader into a fictionalized world using real-world problems. The overlapping investigations reveal an array of suspects, secrets and lies, adultery, betrayal, madness and love. Matt Cost builds a comprehensive, thrilling and intricate story of murder and mystery in the small town of Brunswick Maine.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Mainely Power
Mainely Fear
Mainely Money

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook/

Over the years, Cost has owned a video store, a mystery bookstore, and a gym. He has also taught history and coached just about every sport imaginable.

Cost now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. A chocolate Lab and a basset hound round out the mix. He now spends his days at the computer, writing.

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The Girl in the Mist (Misted Pines) by Kristen Ashley-Review Tour

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The Girl in the Mist (Misted Pines 1) by Kristen Ashley-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 4, 2022

Renowned author Delphine Larue needs a haven.

A crazed fan has gone over the deep end, and she’s not safe. Her security team has suggested a house by a lake. Secluded. Private. Far away. In a beautiful area of the Northwest close to the sleepy town of Misted Pines. It’s perfect. So perfect, Delphine has just moved in, and she’s thinking she’ll stay there forever.

Until she sees the girl in the mist.

After that, everything changes.

Delphine quickly learns that Misted Pines isn’t so sleepy. A little girl has gone missing, and the town is in the grips of terror and tragedy. The local sheriff isn’t up for the job. The citizens are up in arms. And as the case unfolds, the seedy underbelly of a quiet community is exposed, layer by layer.

But most importantly, girls are dying.

There seems to be only one man they trust to find out what’s happening.

The mysterious Cade Bohannan.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE GIRL IN THE MIST is the first instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary,adult MISTED PINES romantic, suspense series. This is fifty-five year old former Green Beret, former FBI field agent, former profiler turned contractor and single father Cade Bohannan, and fifty-three year old, single mother, actress turned author Delphine Larue. For fans of Kristen Ashley’s books and characters, there is a slight cross over with the author’s Dream Man/Chaos/Dream Team series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Delphine) THE GIRL IN THE MIST follows actress turned author Delphine Larue hiding in seclusion in the small town of Misted Pines. Delphine has a stalker who has turned his attention on two other people in an effort to flush out our story line heroine but Delphine refuses to play, and secretly purchases a house by a lake in Misted Pines where she will first meet sixteen year old Celeste Bohannan, the youngest child of former FBI agent turned independent contractor Cade Bohannan. Cade is well aware of the danger that is following our story line heroine, and with the assistance of the FBI, Hawk Delgado and his team, and Cade’s sons Jesse and Jace, Cade knows that the woman with whom he will fall in love will have some of the best protection money can buy but all is not well in Misted Pines, when not one but two murders threaten to tear the small tight-knit town apart. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Cade and Delphine, and the potential fall-out as a psychopathic killer turns their attention on our storyline heroine.

Delphine Larue has a past shrouded in betrayal. The mother of two grown, adult women, Delphine knows a thing or two about family and relationships, and battles between head and heart watching Cade struggle with his blossoming sixteen year old daughter. With two adult sons, working alongside our hero, Cade is a respected and revered contracted profiler who has found himself on the wrong end of the local Sheriff whose work ethics are questionable at best. Trying to keep Delphine’s whereabouts a secrets, our couple quickly discover that betrayal comes from a familiar face.

We are introduced to a large ensemble cast of colorful and somewhat eccentric secondary and supporting characters including Cade’s sixteen year old daughter Celeste, and his twenty-seven year old sons Jesse and Jace Bohannan; Delphine’s daughters Fenn and Camille; Sheriff Dern; several FBI agents, local law enforcement, gossips and townies. Here’s hoping the author has plans for Jesse and Jace Bohannan.

THE GIRL IN THE MIST is a complex, detailed and edgy murder/mystery thriller of betrayal, murder and obsession, family and friendships, relationships and love. As Cade and Delphine begin to unravel the secrets of the small town where the Bohannan’s have lived and loved for generations, closeted skeletons reveals a deeper and much darker hidden agenda involving a number of prominent and scandal-ridden residents whose proclivities are about to be exposed in a town that puts ‘Peyton Place’ to shame. The premise is intelligent, intriguing, haunting and tragic; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are dynamic, stubborn and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

I called Hawk Delgado.
It was no surprise this situation in Misted Pines was known to him. He was tasked with keeping me safe, and although this had nothing to do with me, it had to do with Misted Pines, and that was where I was. It was also not a surprise that he currently did not have any resources to devote to assisting with it.
However, he gave me two names.
Nightingale Investigations, an outfit located where Delgado was, in Denver, Colorado.
And Tanner Layne, a private investigator who worked out of a shop in Brownsburg, Indiana, which was, to my astonishment, where Joe Callahan was based.
Neither were close.
But Nightingale was closer.
Though for reasons I didn’t understand (they probably had to do with Callahan), I called Layne first, left a message as it was the weekend and waited.
It was not long before he returned my call.
He had a full caseload, but said he’d look into it and get back to me.
I then reached out to Denver, leaving another message.
Not much time passed before a woman named Shirleen Jackson got in touch, saying she’d assessed it and presented it to her boss, the man behind the name, Lee Nightingale. She would follow up with me as soon as he’d made his decision.
Within hours, I had two replies.
Layne: “We’re ready to roll when we receive word from the investigator on site that he welcomes assistance. We have a message to him. But if he doesn’t give us the greenlight, I’m afraid at this time we can’t get involved. I hope you understand. I would feel the same if someone I didn’t know pushed into one of my investigations, especially at this early juncture. Trust me when I say that it’s never helpful.”
I didn’t know who “we” was, I also didn’t ask, but I suspected he’d consulted with Callahan.
I also didn’t think this was “early.” At that point, she’d been missing nearly a week.
Which begged the question, what parents had a slumber party for their eight-year-old on a Monday evening?
I didn’t ask Layne that either.
Jackson: “We understand your concern, but Lee looked into things and the investigator contracted to assist the local authorities is second to none. In this kind of situation, although it seems contradictory, more hands on deck can make a mess.”
That was two nos of the same ilk.
I decided to focus on the “second to none” comment, knowing they were referring to the fact it was clear the locals had called Cade Bohannan in.

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Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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