Author Archives: Barb

Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review & Giveaway

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Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review & Giveaway

 

 

 

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Description:
VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS . . .

Most spies take a break for the holidays, but not me, Charlotte Locke. As an analyst for Section 47, a secret spy organization, I normally use my magical form of synesthesia to uncover lies and track paramortal bad guys from the comfort of my cubicle. But tonight I’m going out into the field, along with my partner, Desmond Percy, a powerful galvanist.

Instead of enjoying Christmastime in the city, I’m in a German castle, dressed like a toy soldier and masquerading as a waitress at a swanky Christmas Eve party. My mission? To gather information that will help Section 47 track down a dangerous enemy.

Despite the glitz and glamour, I can’t shake the sense that something is wrong—and that Desmond and I might not leave the party alive.

DANCES OF DEATH . . .

My name is Desmond Percy, although I’ve had many aliases during my years working as a cleaner for Section 47. But I’ve never had a real partner until Charlotte Locke.

My part of the mission is simple: pretend to be a guest and keep an eye on things at the party while Charlotte uses her synesthesia to track down the information we need. But what starts out as a sugar plum dream quickly turns into a holiday nightmare.

Forget the mission. All I want for Christmas is to keep Charlotte safe.

__________

Barb’s Review:
Sugar Plum Spies by Jennifer Estep is the 2nd book in her Section 47 series.  I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having enjoyed all her fantastic series.  After reading the first book in this series, I couldn’t wait to read this book.   Refresher: Secret 47 is a secret government agency that handles paranormal, terrorists, criminals, and have magical abilities.  Their job is to gather information to prevent attacks, casualties, as well as to protect the mortal world; especially against those who create dangerous weapons.

Our main heroes are Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy; Charlotte is an analyst, with a magic of synesthesia to allow her to uncover lies and track bad guys; Desmond has powerful magical abilities, especially using energy.  They are sent as a team to a party at a German Castle, and have Charlotte sneak out later, when Desmond shuts the lights off, for her to find more information on their enemy. What turns out to be a simple assignment, turns into a nightmare, as all hell breaks loose. 

From start to finish, there was so much action with either Charlotte or Desmond fighting the enemies.  Desmond with help from Gabriel, managed to kill off the mercenaries in the ballroom, but he was worried about Charlotte. She found herself stuck in her plans to find information, and was caught, along with the lady in the house, as terrorist threatened their lives.  I really loved Charlotte, especially how she always managed to get out of death-defying situations.

Sugar Plum Spies was a fun, exciting story, that had constant danger and action, with some romance and witty banter.  The entire story revolved around one night, and lots of fun.  This was another wonderful intriguing urban fantasy that is very well written by Jennifer Estep.  I loved both Charlotte and Desmond, and look forward to more on them in future books.   I suggest you read Sugar Plum Spies, as I fully enjoyed it.

 

Sandy’s Reviews:

SUGAR PLUM SPIES is the second instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary adult SECTION 47 paranormal, urban fantasy series focusing on paramortal analyst / diner waitress for Section 47 Charlotte Locke, and assassin/cleaner Desmond Percy. SUGAR PLUM SPIES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary

SOME BACKGROUND: Paramortals make up approximately one percent of the world’s population, and most have hidden their magic from the ‘mortal’ world. Section 47 is a paramortal spy organization whose mission was to gather intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks but found themselves tracking those who use magic to commit their crimes.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Desmond) follows Section 47 agents Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy on their latest assignment in Frankfurt Germany. Heiress Elsa Eisen moved her orphaned niece Lina to an historical castle in the wake of her parents’ murder. Hoping to give Lina a magical Christmas, Elsa sponsored a Christmas Eve Nutcracker fund raiser featuring a world famous ballerina and scenes from the play but all does not go according to plan when the reveal of the world-famous and multi-million dollar Nutcracker Ruby brings out an array of paramortal assassins, thieves, and Section 47 Agents. Hoping to learn the location of CEO and founder of Hyde Engineering Henrika Hyde, a chemist who has invented a powerful weapon in her war against the paramortal, Charlotte, Desmond and fellow agent Gabriel Chase finds themselves on the defensive when lives are threatened, and our couple face the prospect of losing one another.

The relationship between Charlotte and Desmond has been building since the first instalment, a relationship that is now passionate and intense. Desmond is desperate to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, and Charlotte knows that Desmond is the man that calls to his heart. The $ex scenes are seductive.

The secondary and supporting characters included heiress Elsa Eisen and her niece Lina; ballerina Katarina Tanetsa, as well as the return of Section 47 Agent Gabriel Chase. The requisite evil has many faces.

SUGAR PLUM SPIES is a fast paced, action packed, violent story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, desperation and determination, magic and mystery. The premise is intriguing and exciting; the romance is impassioned; the characters are energetic and dynamic.

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala – a Review

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The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala – a Review

 

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Description:
A fresh start for a young teacher to build the life she’s dreamt of
A second chance at romance for a single dad
The warm and uplifting small-town community cheering them on

After two back-to-back life-changing events, first grade teacher Katie McGrath left Albuquerque for a fresh start in Borden’s Gap, Tennessee. She is finally back in the classroom where she belongs, but it will take a little while for her to heal and feel truly like herself. She’ll need to dig deep to find the courage it takes to try again—in life and in love—but with some help from her neighbor Sam Youngblood and his adorable daughters who bring her out of her shell, her future is looking brighter than she dared imagine.

 

 

Review:

The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala is a wonderful heartwarming & heartbreaking story. Katie McGrath, our heroine, is devastated when her fiancée leaves her at the altar, marrying someone else. Katie is strong, independent, as she manages to pull herself together, since she was raised in foster homes as a child.  She is a first-grade teacher in Albuquerque, and not long after her fiancée abandoned her, a school shooting brings chaos, as many people have been shot, and Katie runs down the hall to cover up two of her students; when it is all over, she is badly injured, but in time she will recover, with the town honoring her for her bravery.  Though Katie is a fighter and survivor, she begins to suffer from PTSD, and decides she needs to leave her job and the town, to find a quiet small town.

After some research, Katie accepts a teaching job at Borden’s Gap, Tennessee, in hopes of a fresh start.  She rents a cottage, and in a short time, she makes friends with the local people; helping a neighbor walk her dog, and meets two cute young girls across the street.   Sam Youngblood, is the local police chief in town, and is also the father of the two 6-year-old adorable twin girls, Beth and Evie.  Sam, who is a gorgeous hunk, finds himself attracted to Katie, but it seems almost every man in town tries to befriend, Katie; though in a short time, her and Sam become friends, and a slow build romance begins. 

When school starts, Katie is amazed at the kindness from many people in town, with some keeping the school shooting private.  Sam sees signs that Katie is having issues with her PSTD, and tries to help her begin to heal, as he is patient and caring, slowly watching over her nightmares, and stabilizing her emotions.  I loved Sam and Katie together, not to mention Evie and Beth. Sam is a perfect hero who brings Katie out of her shell while he waits for her emotions to stabilize.

Katie was a great teacher, and even in this new school, she deals with parental abuse and child abuse.  I loved when Katie used her skills to protect a child from an abusive father.  It was cool. The Next Best Day was a wonderful story, filled with hope, love, happiness, fun and strength to move on.  The Next Best Day was so very well written by Sharon Sala.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh – a Review

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The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh – a Review

 

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Description:
At midnight, one of them is dead.
By morning, all of them are suspects.

It’s a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.

 

 

Review:

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh is the start of mystery thriller series. I have become a big fan of Mackintosh, having read all her wonderful thrillers.   On New Year’s Eve, during a big party thrown by a wealthy famous singer, Rhys Lloyd, was found dead in the freezing water of the lake by his mansion, later that night. The case is assigned to Detective Constable Ffion Morgan from North Wales CD and Leo Brady from Cheshire Major Crime; with Ffion being part of the Wales side and Leo being part of the English side.

Ffion, our heroine, is mostly the lead in this story, with Leo playing a big part.  She is a great protagonist, strong, determined, as well as having an emotional past; but she is a great detective. On the site, Ffion and Leo interview many of the people who attended the party, as well as the swim earlier in the day; Ffion knows all the locals, and there are so many suspects, which include her neighbors, friends and even family. Though all the locals were thrilled to be at the party, truth begins to show that Rhys Lloyd was hated by most of the town; he was not the good man he pretended to be.

The storyline switches often from the past and the present, learning more about Rhys, and the other locals who had past conflicts, tensions with many.  Ffion was under pressure during the interviews, which included those who were parts of Lloyd’s life; his wife Yasmin, his partner, Jonty, those who owed him money, and other locals who purchased lodges, Clemmie, Caleb, Dee and those who Lloyd used, such as Mia, Seren, Huw, etc.  Ffion also reflects back to her childhood, which comes back to haunt her.   To say too much more would be spoilers and this is an intriguing, complex psychological thriller that revealing anything would ruin it for you.

The Last Party was an intense small town murder mystery that kept me glued to my kindle.  There so many suspects, and every time Ffion and Leo thought they had the killer, things would change fast.  The Last Party was a psychological thriller, with surprising twists and turns, that was so very well written by Clare Mackintosh.  If you like thrillers, you most definitely need to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven – Review & Excerpt

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Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Siora has been on the run for longer than she cares to remember, from her past and her gift. Born with the ability to see and speak to ghosts, she has heard their desperate pleas as an otherworldly predator stalks the dead amid the fertile killing fields of the collapsing Krael Empire. The creature’s power and reach are growing with every soul it consumes, but Siora is preoccupied with her own troubles: namely an assassin who has sworn an oath of vengeance against her.

Gharek of Cabast was once the right-hand man of the reviled empress but is now a wanted fugitive. Although his reasons for hunting Siora are viscerally personal, what Gharek can’t anticipate is that when he finally does find her, she will hold the key to saving his world, or what’s left of it. To make good on old debts and protect the vulnerable dead from a malevolent force, Gharek and Siora will both need to make an ally out of an enemy—and trust that will be enough to save each other.

 

 

Review:

Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven is the 3rd book in her The Fallen Empire series. Raven Unveiled is a slow built romance, but the story takes center stage; filled with violence, betrayal, battles, and sacrifices. We met both of our leading characters in the previous book, with Gharek, the Empress’s cat-paw, determined to find Siora, who he feels betrayed him and his daughter. Gharek being the Empress’s cat-paw committed terrible atrocities against others, but now that the Empress is dead, he is free, keeping his disguise not to let others recognize him. His daughter, Estrad, was born with no arms, and is considered an abomination; and he makes sure she is protected, while he searches for Siora.

Siora, our heroine, is wonderful, as she is caring, compassionate and always looking out for others; but she knows Gharek is looking for her, and is constantly trying to be a step ahead. Siora is a shade-speaker, who sees and talks to the dead; she fears she has other powers, and tries to ignore them.

Along the way, they are both captured by a General, who is determined to take over the lands once ruled by the Empress. With the threat of death, as well as concerned about the protection of his daughter, Gharek agrees to find what the General needs to defeat the enemy.  Soira and Gharek have to work together to find the device, as well as stop an evil creature destroying the trapped souls.  Slowly, both Gharek and Soira begin to come to terms with the past, as he also tries to tell her that she has more powers, that is not evil, but good to help them. I really enjoyed seeing Gharek and Siora begin to care about each other, as well as his redemption and forgiveness.

What follows is a heartbreaking, emotional story, with so much action, danger, twists and turns along the way. Raven Unveiled an excellently written fantasy, that had a bit of everything from great heroes, romance, and exciting throughout.  Raven Unveiled was very well written by Grace Draven. If you enjoy fantasy, I suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

                                        Excerpt

Gharek held a small lamp aloft to illuminate the path ahead. He didn’t worry that the fragile light might be seen in the distance and alert someone. His mount’s hooves crushing sticks and brittle deadfall would accomplish the task long before the light did.

The music of insects and bird calls had been loud just before he crossed the tree line, a cacophony of whistles, rustles, and chirps. Those sounds died away the closer he rode to the ruins of the dead city until the silence itself held its breath and only the gloom shrouding the trees breathed. His amiable mare stopped suddenly then pranced backward, tossing her head and snorting. Gharek tapped his heels against her sides to coax her forward. She’d have none of it, fighting the bit in her mouth as she pivoted on her hooves to trot back the way they’d come.

Gharek reined her to a halt, considering whether it was wise to continue his scouting in another direction or make camp nearby and wait until morning to resume his hunt. He’d lose time with camping but trying to find anyone in this darkness while riding a spooked horse was an exercise in futility. Besides, he could make up the time in daylight. Siora was on foot, he on horseback. He’d cover far more ground in less time than she would, and the chance she’d outrun him if he spotted her was nonexistent.

He guided the mare to retrace her steps, and this time she readily obeyed the command, eager to put distance between them and the city that squatted like a pustule on the landscape. But she’d taken no more than a pair of steps when something wrapped icy fingers around Gharek’s spine and wrenched him backward. He flew off the saddle as if lassoed from behind and landed on his back. The ground beneath him vibrated from the beat of his mare’s hooves as she bolted past him into the labyrinth of trees.

He lay there for a moment, stunned and winded. The ice shard wedged against his backbone remained, though whatever had ripped him from horseback didn’t press him into the dirt. A few more breaths and he lurched to his feet, unsettled by his unusual clumsiness, alarmed by the violence of an invisible force that had so thoroughly unhorsed him. There’d been no trip rope to clothesline him, nor had he been riding fast when he fell. The lamp he held had fallen when he did, lost somewhere in the underbrush when its flickering light had guttered. Darkness hung thick enough to scoop with a spoon.

His muttered curses sounded loud to his ears as he peered into the sepulchral black, hoping he might spot the mare standing nearby or at least find a partially cleared path that led back to open pasture. He took a step only to suffer a hard clamp on his backbone, as if the icicle there had suddenly transformed into a shackle locked around his middle. Invisible tethers seized his arms and legs and he was jerked to one side and then the other as if by a drunken puppeteer with their hands on the strings.

Gharek staggered, struggling to keep his feet, struggling to free himself from the bonds that held him in an unbreakable grip that both dragged and yanked him in the direction of Midrigar’s walls. He careened through the dark, along a jagged path that propelled him into tree trunks before spinning him away to tear through the underbrush. He tried planting his feet in the dirt to no avail, his boots carving skid marks as he was pulled along like a cur on a leash. His palms left bloody smears on the bark of those trees he tried to grip for purchase and was wrenched away with little effort.

The iciness slithering down his spine spread in creeper tendrils throughout his body, wrapping around his lungs and heart, his liver, even his tongue so that his curses and snarls slowly ebbed away and his struggles waned. Speaking was an impossibility, breathing a challenge, and he was reduced to nothing more than a grunting, shambling mute driven inexorably toward an ancient city of the damned and a fate he could not know but feared with every part of his soul.

Excerpted from Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven Copyright © 2022 by Grace Draven. Excerpted by permission of Ace. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams – Review & Giveaway

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A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity.

It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…

Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together.

 

 

Review:

A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams is the 5th book in her wonderful Bromance Book Club series.  Having enjoyed the first four books in this series, I looked forward to reading A Very Merry Bromance,   and happy to say I thought it was the best one yet. This is a fun romantic series that centers around a male book club group, most being athletes, and how they read and discuss romance novels to help teach each other how to handle their women with care and love.

Colton Wheeler, our hero, is a country music star, who is attending one of his friends (bromance book club members), wedding, and ends the evening with an amazing one-night stand with Gretchen Winthrop (she used to date Mack).   But she walks out in the morning claiming she needed to get back to her life, which did not include Colton.

Gretchen is an immigration attorney, who is an heiress of Winthrop family: one of Tennessee’s richest and most influential families.  But Gretchen is not close to her family, but when her brother asks her to help obtain Colton as a brand ambassador for the family-owned whiskey line, Carraig Aonair Whiskey, she agrees.  Gretchen forces herself to visit Colton, making an offer to be the face of the famous Carraig Aonair Whiskey.  Still unable to forget their glorious night together, Colton makes a counter offer; go on some dates with him.

Colton and Gretchen’s relationship becomes steamy, though she was a hard case to love.  Gretchen comes from a wealthy family, but the family did not treat her good; especially her bad brother, Evan. We totally understood how her family was unbearable; and why she was closed off.  I loved how Colton would push Gretchen to begin to enjoy Christmas, as well as meet all of his friends, making her know what a true family was like.

What follows is a fun sexy holiday story, that had many tender moments, as well as being emotional.  I enjoyed meeting Colton’s family, did not like the Winthrops, and loved seeing the wonderful members of the Bromance Book Club.  The guys were so much fun, and the women also joined in. 

A Very Merry Romance was another humorous fun story line, with a couple that won us over later in the book, and the fantastic group of alpha men/females that had me laughing throughout.  Lyssa Kay Adams did a wonderful job writing this fun story, which you need to read.  I know I will be waiting for the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth – a Review

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Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth – a Review

 

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Description:
Three days ago, all Maisy Norgate had was a stack of bills, about a gazillion jobs, and her sunny-as-hell outlook. Now, thanks to an uncle she never knew about, she’s inherited an ornate skeleton key with absolutely no idea what it’s for—or why she has it. Which is exactly when a ridiculously handsome guy claiming to be an angel shows up at her door and all hell breaks loose…

Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. Why would anyone bequeath this warm, bubbly redhead the key to Hell? And to make matters worse, she’s given the key to the first person who asked for it. A demon. Yep, Maisy is determined to make his job—not to mention some seriously inconvenient temptation—as hard as possible.

First a half angel with a very human chip on his shoulder must find a way to convince Maisy that angels and demons do exist. Then Rhys will have to break the really bad news…that she might have accidentally ended the world.

 

 

Review:

Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth is a fun fantasy standalone novel. We meet our heroine, Maisy Norgate, as she learns that she has inherited something from an uncle she never knew.  When Maisy discovers that she was given a skeleton key, and has no idea what it is for; until she meets a hot handsome hunk who shows up at her door.

Rhys Boyce, is a Nephilim (half angel), whose task is to protect the new keeper; who to his shock, is Maisy, a young bubbly woman who knows nothing about the real supernatural world of demons, angels, witches, heaven and hell. Rhys will explain that she is the new keeper of the key, and since he is a half angel, it will be him and two other Nephilims, who will train her as well as protect her. But all is not well, since Maisy gave away the key to a locksmith (demon).  They only have a couple of weeks to get the key back, and help her assume the role of the Keeper.

Rhys, with his friends (Gideon. Zavier) will protect Maisy (and her friend Liss), besides teaching her the importance and severity of the role she will have to play.  Danger is always close, as the evil side of the gate to hell is determined to stop Maisy and get the key for themselves.

Slowly, Rhys begins to see how wonderful Maisy is, being loving, caring and determined. Maisy will begin to see the seriousness of the job she has been assigned to and learn more about the different world she is now in, with help from her Nephilim friends.  The romance between Maisy and Rhys slowly heats up, and I loved the bantering and bickering between them.  I really liked them together.

Imperfect Angel was a fun, witty enjoyable read; in a wonderful fantasy world of Nephilim, Demons, creatures, witches. I do not want to give spoilers, and the last third of the book was very exciting, as I could not put the book down.  The overall story line of the Keeper was well done and interesting. Imperfect Angel was fun to read, and written so very well by Christi Barth.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she’s perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker–with her designer jeans and shiny car–who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Ava’s discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

 

 

Review:

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin is another one of her fantastic standalone mystery suspense novels.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance.

We meet our heroine, Ava Burch, who has recently moved to Cuervo, and she and her friend open their own law firm. Ava also volunteers for SAR missions, as her wonderful dog, Huck is fully trained to be a search and rescue dog.  When a child is missing, Ava and Huck join the search and Huck manages to find the missing boy; and Ava also notices an old abandoned campsite, which she takes pictures of. Ava reports her findings to the local sheriff, who ignores her; but she meets deputy Grant Wycoff, who is interested in Ava’s findings.  The next day, she goes with him to the site, only to find the spot is cleared, with someone having removed it.  Huck will find a gravesite, with the remains of a missing girl from two years ago.  Molly Shaw was the missing girl, but Ava finds out that more girls have been missing over the years (Deanna Moore, Brittlyn Spencer are two of the missing).

Grant finds himself attracted to Ava, but worries about her, since she is active in trying to get more information on the missing girls. He tries to get her to not continue to investigate, as he is concerned about her safety. This is escalated when Ava and Huck find a rattlesnake in the back of her car, managing to escape the poisonous snake.  She also tells Grant about footprints under her window. Grant tries to get Ava to stay in his secured house to protect her.  Grant and Ava’s relationship begins to sizzle, though Grant is not happy about Ava taking more chances, which does complicate their romance.

I really loved Ava and Grant together, as the chemistry between them was hot. I adored Huck, who was simply amazing. Jenna (her friend) and Connor (Grant’s partner) were wonderful secondary characters. I thought the Sheriff was unlikeable for the most part.

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax.   Griffin gave us a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and an excellent suspenseful story.  The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Vanishing Hour was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin.  If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

                                      Excerpt

Missing children are an emergency. Always. Their little bodies are less able to regulate temperature, so they’re especially vulnerable to exposure. And in a place as vast and rugged as Silver Canyon State Park, additional hazards abounded: rattlesnakes, coyotes, hundred-foot cliffs. Even the anemic little creek that Ava had been following was terrifying. A child Noah’s size could drown in a bathtub.

Ava glanced up at the relentless sun that sucked moisture out of everything beneath it. She looked ahead at Huck, who trotted back and forth in front of her in his zigzag pattern. He was working the wind, as he’d been trained, tirelessly sniffing the air with his powerful nose, which could pick up anything with human scent on it, from a candy wrapper to a dropped article of clothing.

So far, nothing.

Ava checked her watch. Two long hours since she’d left the trailhead. Sweat stung her eyes, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. She paused beside a boulder and dropped her pack on the dusty ground to retrieve one of her water bottles. Huck needed some, too, but right now he was intent on his work.

She took a lukewarm sip and scanned the scrub brush lining the canyon wall. Young children had a tendency to wander aimlessly until they found a place to curl up for a nap. Some would even hide from search teams, afraid of getting in trouble for being lost. So Ava had been incessantly scanning pockets of brush.

Huck halted in front of her, his nose lifted in the air. Ava froze and watched. But then his head dropped down and he resumed his zigzags. Ava tucked the water bottle away and pushed off the boulder to continue her trek.

She watched Huck, amazed by his energy. Even in this heat, he loved working, and when he had his vest on, he didn’t have an off switch. As he bounded around in front of her, she thought of the other teams, especially the canine one. She was surprised they hadn’t found something close to camp.

Of course, the parents had been there, which might have been a problem. Frantic parents threw off a lot of scent, which could have overpowered Noah’s smell and possibly confused the dog. Also, the temperature rising in the canyon could have wafted the scent up, well above the dog’s nose. Yet another challenge here was that young children didn’t throw off as much scent as adults. And still bodies-ones that were either asleep or unconscious-threw off less scent, too.

So there were all kinds of factors in play, especially in a park this size.

Ava checked her watch again and sped up her pace, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had been settling in her stomach as the hours ticked by. Scanning the canyon wall, her gaze caught on something beige and triangular.

A tent? No.

A tarp. She climbed onto a boulder for a closer look. About halfway up the slope of the canyon was a sand-colored canvas tarp that had been stretched taut to create a patch of shade. It looked like a primitive fort-just the sort of thing that would attract a kid’s attention, and her pulse quickened as she climbed closer. Nearing the tarp, she spied a small yellow tent tucked in the shade beneath it.

She glanced around for Huck, but he was sniffing along at the base of a rockslide.

Grabbing hold of a juniper tree, Ava levered herself onto the ledge. She ducked under the tarp and paused a moment for her eyes to adjust. The little tent was unzipped. Hope ballooned in her chest as she pulled back the flap and poked her head inside.

Her hope disappeared as she scanned the interior. No sleeping child curled up in the dimness. The air was utterly still, and everything was coated with a thin layer of dust, as though no one had been there in weeks, maybe months. A pile of gear in the corner included a cookstove, a hiking boot, and a blue bedroll with a carabiner clipped to it. Attached to the carabiner was a black key fob.

A chill snaked down her spine. Who would leave their car key out here? The fob seemed odd. Ditto for the hiking boot. Where was the other one? And where was its owner?

On impulse, Ava took out her phone and snapped a couple of pictures. As part of her SAR training, she’d learned to document crime scenes. She couldn’t pinpoint why, exactly, but that was what this felt like. She ducked out and snapped a shot of the exterior. A faint bark pulled her attention back to the mission. She couldn’t afford to get sidetracked, even though this place felt creepy. She put her phone away as she skimmed the surrounding area for the missing boot, or any sign of the boot’s owner. She glanced up the canyon, looking for evidence of a fire pit or any other camping equipment.

A soft whimper had her turning around.

Huck sat beside a rock pile, his ears pricked forward and his gaze fixed on hers. Ava’s heart skittered. This was his sit alert letting her know he’d found something.

“Show me,” she commanded, and he sprang into action, bounding across the creek bed. She climbed down the rocks and jogged after him, frantically searching the clumps of trees. Huck darted around a giant prickly pear cactus and behind a line of mesquite trees. Amid the fluttering green leaves, she caught a flash of red.

“Please, please, please,” she murmured.

Huck disappeared beneath the brush and barked. Ava spied a small white sneaker and a pudgy leg.

Huck danced in a circle, drunk on success and eager for his reward.

“Good boy, Huck! Good boy! Good boy!” She filled her voice with praise, even though her heart had lodged in her throat. The little body wasn’t moving. Oh God.


 

 

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The Wish List by Michelle Major – a Review

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The Wish List by Michelle Major – a Review

 

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Description:
This Christmas the Carlyle sisters will rediscover the gift of family

For some families, a Christmas reunion is like a feel-good movie. For Beth Carlyle, it might be more of a disaster epic. Her ex-husband’s new girlfriend is already pregnant. Her self-absorbed, bestselling author mother recently suffered a stroke and has summoned Beth’s sisters, Freya and Trinity—neither of whom even seem to like Beth very much—back to Magnolia. Beth’s so lonely and stressed that she spills her guts to a stranger, wondering why the handsome newcomer affects her so deeply. Reality TV star Freya deliberately forged a career that would upset her mother, who’s always been as brilliant as the sun…and just as distant. Now a handsome literary agent is making Freya dream of a different life. As for Trinity, she just wants to start over after leaving an abusive relationship and make a future for her and her baby.

It’ll be a Christmas like no other in Magnolia. But the Carlyle sisters might find they have more in common than their shared past—and that the holidays are made for second chances.

 

 

Review:

The Wish List by Michelle Major is the 4th book in her wonderful The Carolina Girls series. This story takes place close to Christmas, and centers on the three Carlyle sisters ((Beth, Freya, Trinity), who are brought together in Magnolia when their mother has a stroke. 

Beth is the oldest sister, who has always watched over her younger sisters, when their famous mother (author) is constantly away on tours, leaving the girls to struggle.  Beth still lives in Magnolia, but her other sisters travel home to help. Beth is divorced, and a nurse at the hospital, with her ex also working there as a doctor; they do remain on friendly terms.  Privately Beth wants to step away from her burdens and leave Magnolia, once her mother is better. But when she meets Declan, will Beth allow herself to find love again, or will she leave Magnolia.

Freya is a reality tv star, who does come across early on as a bit sarcastic, especially when she meets her mother’s agent. She doesn’t trust the agent (Greer), even though they both feel their attraction to each other.  Will Freya, who seems to be getting closer to her sisters, open her cold untrusting heart.

Trinity, the youngest sister, is also pregnant, much to the surprise of her other sisters.  What they don’t know is she has run away from an abusive boyfriend.  Trinity is worried she won’t be able to handle having a child, but her sisters promise to be there for her.  Trinity meets the next-door neighbor, who just happened to be the police chief.   A friendship builds, but in time things will change to a possible romance. 

I did enjoy seeing the three sisters begin to bond, bringing the family together.  It was nice to see each of the sisters find love. I did like Beth with Declan, Freya finally with Greer, and Trinity with Ash.  I love seeing many of the characters from previous books, such as Mariella, Anji, Carrie, Avery, just to name a few. It was exciting when Trinity had her baby, and when the family stood together against the abusive boyfriend.

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming romantic story with all three Carlyle sisters playing major parts, as well as all finding love.  I enjoyed this return to Magnolia and the comfort of a family reunion; despite the many struggles along the way.  Michelle Major also created a wonderful group of secondary characters, as well as giving us a glimpse at the ladies we loved from the previous series. The Wish List was written so very well by Michelle Major, with three great sisters, hot men, and so many wonderful secondary characters.  The Wish List was a very entertaining read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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