Author Archives: Barb

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis – Dual Review

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The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis – Dual Review

 

 

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Description:
Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter’s life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists’ models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City’s most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica’s financial woes, but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

 

Barb’s Review:
The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis is a historical standalone novel. The book is centered around the Frick Mansion/Museum in two-time frames (1919 & 1966). We meet Lillian Carter from the start, as she is a successful model using the pen name of Angelica, but with the death of her mother, her life has totally fallen apart, struggling to pay her bills. At the age of 21, Lilian depended on her mother to arrange everything, and now she is desperate.

Lillian still dreams of going to Hollywood and becoming a movie star; but when her landlord constantly pressures her, things go from bad to worse, as she becomes a suspect when the landlord’s wife was murdered. Lillian will escape the apartment, and accidently is mistaken for someone else, and ends up getting a job at the Frick Mansion, working as a private secretary for Miss Helen (daughter of Henry Clay Frick).  Lillian plans to stay a month or so just to make some money to pay for her trip to California.  Miss Helen was a difficult and demanding person to work for, but she began to rely on Lillian to do much of the work for her.

In the other timeline of 1966, we meet Veronica Weber, who is also a model, attending the photo shoot for Vogue at the Frick Museum with other more experienced models.  While cleaning up, and walking around, Veronica finds herself locked in the museum, with no power, and to make it worse, a major snow storm hits. While she is stuck at the museum, Veronica she begins to search some papers, and becomes intrigued when she learns about a scavenger hunt created in 1919. In a short period, Veronica runs into Joshua Lawrence, the museum archivist, who fell asleep by his office in the basement.  Together they look for food, drinks and other things and when Veronica tells Joshua about the scavenger hunt, they start looking for clues to help them pass the time, which could be days.

Back in 1919, Lillian (Miss Lily) learns more about the Frick family, and helping Miss Helen send romantic letters to her suiter.  She finds herself pulled into a web of family secrets, betrayals, missing cameo (with the Magnolia diamond), romantic trysts, and murder.

What follows is very well written story that eventually merges the two timelines together.  The missing Magnolia Diamond will play a part in both timelines.  To tell too much more would ruin the book, so you need to read this from start to finish.  Fiona Davis gives us a detailed look at New York in 1919, with the wealthy historic Frick mansion, as well as story of mystery, murder and love.  I did enjoy both timelines, as well as the ending.

 

Sandy’s Review:

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE by Fiona Davis is a story of historical fiction following two alternating timelines (1919 and 1966) that focuses on models Lillian ‘Angelica’ Carter, and Veronica Weber.

Told from dual third person perspective (Lillian and Veronica) THE MAGNOLIA PALACE adds color, and up close but fictional retrospective into the lives of the wealthy and controversial Frick Family of New York City. In 1919, model Lillian Carter is an artist’s muse known as Angelica; a sculptor’s model whose image has been used throughout New York, attached to buildings and museums, but a scandal is about to send our heroine on the run, and in the wake of her mother’s death from the Spanish Flu, has left Lillian penniless and alone. A case of hunger and mistaken identity finds Lillian Carter working as the private secretary for the wealthy Frick heiress Helen Frick, a thirty year old spinster whose own life is entwined with that of her embattled and ailing father. For three months Lillian will keep a low profile working for Helen Frick and the Frick family but her alternate identity is about to be exposed, and another scandal will force our heroine to run for the sins of someone else.

Fast forward to 1966, wherein model Veronica Weber’s latest assignment has landed her in New York for a Vogue shoot at the famed Frick Collection, a museum that was once home to the Frick family heirs. Fired within minutes, Veronica finds herself wandering the museum, only to be trapped inside, along with intern archivist Joshua Lawrence, when a power failure locks down New York City in the wake of a storm. Walking the museum, Veronica finds what looks to be clues to a scavenger hunt from years before, a scavenger hunt that will reveal a truth that will ease some of the ghosts and troubles from the past.

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE is a story of power and riches, the haves and the have-nots, secrets and lies, vengeance and family. Seamlessly blending fact with fiction, as per her style, Fiona Davis pulls the reader into an intriguing and fascinating story of murder and betrayal, family and friendships, love and acceptance, romance and art. Lillian ‘Angelica’ Carter’s character is loosely based upon the scandal-plagued, real-life, early 1900’s artist’s model Audrey Munson, whose image graces the pediment of the Frick Collection, as well as a number of famous statues found in New York. THE MAGNOLIA PALACE is a wonderful escape into a Gilded Age house, and the ghosts that continue to inhabit its’ world.

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The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson – a Review

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The Sweetheart Deal by Miranda Liasson – a Review

 

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Description:
Pastry chef Tessa Montgomery knows what everyone in the teeny town of Blossom Glen says about her. Spinster. Ice Queen. Such a shame. It’s enough to make a woman bake her troubles away, dreaming of Parisian delicacies while she makes bread at her mother’s struggling boulangerie. That is until Tessa’s mortal enemy―deliciously handsome (if arrogant) chef Leo Castorini, who owns the restaurant next door―proposes a business plan…to get married.

Leo knows that the Castorinis and the Montgomerys hate each other, but a marriage might just force these stubborn families to work together and blend their businesses for success. The deal is simple: Tessa and Leo marry, live together for six months, and then go their separate ways. Easy peasy.

It’s a sweetheart deal where everyone gets what they want―until feelings between the faux newlyweds start seriously complicating the mix. Have they discovered the perfect recipe for success…or is disaster on the way?

Each book in the Blossom Glen series is STANDALONE:
* The Sweetheart Deal
* The Sweetheart Fix

 

 

Review:

The Sweetheart Deal begins with Tessa Montgomery making bread in her family’s bakery and lamenting life when in walks her ex.  Tessa has no idea why he still frequents their bakery and secretly wishes he would just go away.  After a brief exchange, Tessa is shocked to see that Leo Castorini was seated in the corner of their bakery and heard the whole thing. 

The feud between the Montgomerys and the Castorinis is legendary.  She is shocked to say the least when he approaches her and ultimately tells her that he has devised a plan that will help them both.  His family’s Italian restaurant is next door and has been struggling just as the bakery has been.  When he lays out the plan, Tessa can only think of how crazy the idea is.  Marrying, even a short-lived one, to save their respective businesses?  A Montgomery and a Castorini?  Tessa is floored, but then realizes that it may be just the ticket to not only save their businesses and enable her to fulfil her dream of becoming a pastry chef.

Once they discuss the “terms”, it is full steam ahead.  After all, they don’t even really like each other, so no chance of being hurt.  I believe there’s a saying about best laid plans and all……………

The Sweetheart Deal is a wonderfully written story.  The characters are relatable and pull you in immediately.  Tessa is a wonderful friend, daughter and sister and has had to put her life on hold for far too long.  Leo is trying his best to save his family’s business.  Their chemistry is amazing which only adds to the storyline.  The secondary characters are well written as well and leave you wanting more.  If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll not go wrong with this first book in the Blossom Glen series.  This is the first time I’ve read this author but do truly look forward to the next installment.  Well done, Miranda Liasson!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf -Review & Excerpt

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The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf -Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
She thought she was alone…

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.

As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.

 

 

Review:

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf is another one of her psychological thrillers. We meet at the start, Wylie Lark, who is a crime author, and she has just arrived to stay for a week, in an isolated farmhouse in Iowa to write her next novel. A major storm develops, keeping Wylie trapped inside the house, which was the scene of a double murder 20 years ago, which is the basis of Wylie’s new novel. 

The Overnight Guest is told in three narratives, with Wylie in current time, and in 2000, when the murder occurred; the third narrative focuses on a mother and daughter, who are being abused and kept in the basement by a violent man.

In 2000, we learn everything about the murder of the Doyle family (mother and father), the daughter, Josie, who was injured, as well as the disappearance of Josie’s best friend, Becky and her brother, Ethan, who were missing.  Aside from the missing Becky and Ethan, Josie is the lone survivor, and the police try to put the pieces together; with Ethan being the main suspect, as he was nasty and angry at his parents.

In the present time, while the blizzard gets worse, Wylie notices a young boy lying in the snow, and rushes out to bring him into the house; she tries to help the boy, but he is afraid, and refuses to talk.  In a short time, the electricity goes out, leaving Wylie and the boy to find ways to keep warm.  Wylie will take it upon herself to try and see if there was an accident that caused the boy to be near her cabin.
What follows is an edge of your seat, exciting, compelling, suspenseful mystery that kept me unable to put the book down.  I was trying to see where the three narratives fit together, and by the time we got to the last third of the book, everything became clear.   To say too much more would be spoilers, as you really need to read this book from start to finish. 

The Overnight Guest was a tense and heart pounding story, which had a number of surprises and twists, and was very well written by Heather Gudenkauf.   If you like suspense thrillers, mysteries, then you should be reading The Overnight Guest.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

                                          Three

“Maybe we can go outside and play?” the girl said as she peeked around the edge of the heavy curtain that covered the window. The sky was gray and soft drops of rain tapped at the glass.
“Not today,” her mother said. “It’s raining and we’d melt.”
The girl gave a little laugh and then hopped off the chair she had dragged beneath the window. She knew her mother was teasing. They wouldn’t actually melt if they went out in the rain, but still, it made her shiver thinking about it—stepping outside and feeling the plop of water on your skin and watching it melt away like an ice cube.
Instead, the girl and her mother spent the morning at the card table cutting pink, purple, and green egg shapes from construction paper and embellishing them with polka dots and stripes.
On one oval, her mother drew eyes and a pointy little orange beak. Her mother laid the girl’s hands on a piece of yellow paper and traced around them using a pencil. “Watch,” she said as she cut out the handprints and then glued them to the back of one of the ovals.
“It’s a bird,” the girl said with delight.
“An Easter chick,” her mother said. “I made these when I was your age.”
Together, they carefully taped the eggs and chicks and bunny rab-bits they created to the cement walls, giving the dim room a festive, springy look. “There, now we’re ready for the Easter Bunny,” her mother said with triumph.
That night, when the girl climbed into bed, the butterflies in her stomach kept chasing sleep away. “Stay still,” her mother kept re-minding her. “You’ll fall asleep faster.”
The girl didn’t think that was true, but then she opened her eyes, a sliver of bright sunshine was peeking around the shade, and the girl knew that morning had finally arrived.
She leaped from bed to find her mother already at the tiny round table where they ate their meals. “Did he come?” the girl asked, tucking her long brown hair behind her ears.
“Of course he did,” her mother said, holding out a basket woven together from strips of colored paper. It was small, fitting into the palm of the girl’s hand, but sweet. Inside were little bits of green paper that were cut to look like grass. On top of this was a pack of cinnamon gum and two watermelon Jolly Ranchers.
The girl smiled though disappointment surged through her. She’d been hoping for a chocolate bunny or one of those candy eggs that oozed yellow when you broke it open.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Thank the Easter Bunny,” her mother said.
“Thank you, Easter Bunny,” the girl crowed like the child on the candy commercials that she’d seen on television. They both laughed.
They each unwrapped a piece of gum and spent the morning making up stories about the paper chicks and bunnies they made.
When the girl’s gum lost its flavor, and she had slowly licked one of the Jolly Ranchers into a sharp flat disc, the door at the top of the steps opened, and her father came down the stairs toward them. He was carrying a plastic bag and a six-pack of beer. Her mother gave the girl a look. The one that said, go on now, mom and dad need some alone time. Obediently, the girl, taking her Easter basket, went to her spot beneath the window and sat in the narrow beam of warm light that fell across the floor. Facing the wall, she unwrapped another piece of gum and poked it into her mouth and tried to ignore the squeak of the bed and her father’s sighs and grunts.
“You can turn around now,” her mother finally said. The girl sprang up from her spot on the floor.
The girl heard the water running in the bathroom, and her father poked his head out of the door. “Happy Easter,” he said with a grin. “The Easter Bunny wanted me to give you a little something.”
The girl looked at the kitchen table where the plastic bag sat. Then she slid her eyes to her mother, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing her wrist, eyes red and wet. Her mother nodded.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Later, after her father climbed the steps and locked the door behind him, the girl went to the table and looked inside the plastic bag. In-side was a chocolate bunny with staring blue eyes. He was holding a carrot and wore a yellow bowtie.
“Go ahead,” her mother told the girl as she held an ice pack to her wrist. “When I was little, I always started with the ears.”
“I don’t think I’m very hungry,” the girl said, returning the box to the table.
“It’s okay,” her mother said gently. “You can eat it. It’s from the Easter Bunny, not your dad.”
The girl considered this. She took a little nibble from the bunny’s ear and sweet chocolate flooded her mouth. She took another bite and then another. She held out the rabbit to her mother and she bit off the remaining ear in one big bite. They laughed and took turns eating until all that was left was the bunny’s chocolate tail.
“Close your eyes and open your mouth,” her mother said. The girl complied and felt her mother place the remaining bit on her tongue and then kiss her on the nose. “Happy Easter,” her mother whispered.

Excerpted from The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf, Copyright © 2022 by Heather Gudenkauf. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

 


 

Heather Gudenkauf is the critically acclaimed author of several novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Weight of Silence. She lives in Iowa with her husband and children.

Social Links:
Author Website
Instagram: @heathergudenkauf
Twitter: @hgudenkauf
Facebook: @HeatherGudenkaufAuthor
Goodreads

 

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To Be Loved by You by Debbie Burns – a Review

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To Be Loved by You by Debbie Burns – a Review

 

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Description:
Jeremy Washington couldn’t be happier running his own therapy program for at-risk teens. Between weekend service projects and hanging out with his faithful rescue dog, Rolo, Jeremy doesn’t have time to date–which is fine with him considering the mess his early marriage turned out to be. The only thing he needs now is a new project for the kids in his program, and the High Grove Animal Shelter has the perfect opportunity–a group of dogs and puppies needing foster care.

At the rescue site, Jeremy meets Ava Graham, a yoga teacher looking to expand her practice. Jeremy thinks the kids would really benefit from learning yoga, and Ava’s the perfect person to help–maybe too perfect. Ava’s beautiful, talented, and funny–and she has the biggest heart Jeremy has seen in a long time. But can Ava convince him that mixing business and pleasure could be the key to rescuing his heart?

 

 

Review:

To Be Loved by You by Debbie Burns is part of her wonderful Rescue Me series.  Once again, Debbie Burns gives us another wonderful sweet story as we return to the High Grove Animal Shelter, where we also get to see many of the people we got to know in the previous books.

Ava Graham, our heroine, not only works in real estate, but is also a yoga instructor; she is Olivia’s sister (heroine in previous book).  When Ava goes to help Olivia at the shelter, she meets Jeremy, who is Gabe’s (Vet and Olivia’s significant other) friend, as he arrives with his adorable dog, Rolo.  

Jeremy Washington, our hero, has his own therapy program for teens, who need support. He decides that perhaps Ava’s yoga class would be a good benefit for them, especially since the shelter dogs would participate. Jeremy finds himself in awe of Ava, as she is not only beautiful, but very sweet, friendly, talented and savvy for his kids, and is great with the dogs. 

In a short time, as they begin to work together often, they both begin to have feelings for each other.  Though Ava is determined to win Jeremy over, he hesitates, as he has had a difficult childhood, and later marriage that still haunts him.  Can Ava convince Jeremy to open up his heart and move forward with her?

To Be Loved by You is a charming, delightful, heartwarming, fun story of two people trying to get beyond their past, and learn to trust each other.  I loved seeing some of the past characters who lead the previous books, but most of all, I adored the puppies, kittens and the adorable & lovable, Rolo.

What follows is a wonderful sweet romance between Jeremy and Ava, with a fun animal shelter background. Debbie Burns gives us another wonderful addition to her Rescue Me series, which was a delightful, heartwarming story that kept us hooked until the very end.  To Be Loved by You was well written by Debbie Burns.  If you love animals, with a romance in the background, you need to be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey – a Review

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Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey – a Review

 

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Description:
After his twin brother pulls a foolish prank, Reverend Daniel Wayward’s life is now decidedly complicated. With his family, his parish, and even his reputation at risk, there’s only one way to avoid utter ruin—by swapping places with his rakish, wicked twin. And the second Daniel steps foot into his brother’s worldly and sinful life in London, he’s completely caught by temptation of the most enticing, green-eyed kind.

Miss Olivia St. Peters knows the son of the duke is a dangerous fellow, but something in those hooded, hungry blue eyes makes her blood sing with pleasure. She’s determined to have this Wayward noble, no matter what Society—or even her father—says about the match. And if that means playing with fire, she’ll gladly burn…

The more Daniel resists the oh-so-inviting charms of Olivia, the more determined she is to have him. Now he’s caught between his vows of faith and the lure of sweet temptation. And the only thing standing between his heart and his immortal soul is one unforgivable deception…

 

Review:

Reverend Daniel Wayward and his twin has switched places because of a prank to save their and the family’s reputation. Daniel isn’t happy with the situation but for goes along like always when his brother does something like this. He’s tasked with discouraging the affections of the business partner’s daughter. Only on their first meeting Daniel’s smitten by the lovely unique young woman. Olivia St. Peters is determined to marry her father’s business partner Devlin Wayward. Her plan is to reform the rake, only her plans don’t progress as she thought. Olivia’s determination to marry the man she thinks she loves just may lead to Tempting the Vicar.

Tempting the Vicar by Liana LeFey is the second book in her Wicked Waywards book. It’s the other side of the story of the switch between twin brothers who decide to that’s the best way to handle a prank gone wrong. It leads this twin facing temptation and heartache and the complicated relationship between the two brothers. He also must face a test of faith and an old enemy from his past. Anger, passion, and guilt play a role in working through the complicated situation that he finds himself in especially with the daughter of his business partner. We also meet a young woman who thinks she knows how to counter act her father. Headstrong and determined to get her way she just may take things a little too far.

Tempting the Vicar has passion, temptation, a little danger as these two main characters work their way through life changing effects. A man just may learn that life as a Reverend alone isn’t enough. A woman may realize that her plans were never the ones she thought might be. Heartache, passion so strong its hard to resist weave its way through this story of finding true love. Lives will be forever changed as they journey through a situation that is a lot more complicated than they realize. Liana LeFey’s Tempting the Vicar pulls at the reader heartstrings hoping these two people who are meant for each other just may have a chance at true love once the games and deceit are stopped and the truth revealed. This  reader was hoping that the other side of the switched twins story would be told. I’m looking forward to the next book in the Wicked Waywards series and who will it be, the  Duke himself, or the opinionated younger sister. Liana LeFey didn’t disappoint with this second book in the series.

Reviewed by Kim

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Dating Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman – a Review

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The Dating Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman – a Review

 

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Description
Lexi’s Reminders

* Work.

* Don’t think about your birthday tomorrow. Or debt, your crappy apartment, and nonexistent social life.

* Re-stock wine and ice cream because that’s coming.

* Die in a raging blaze of humiliation when the super-hot and very delicious fireman waiting in your office is not in fact the strip-o-gram birthday present you suspected.

* Reschedule the fire safety inspection you 100 percent failed because of said humiliation.

* Figure out how you, in fact, agreed to fake dating Mr. Not a Strip-O-Gram Fireman to help him with a bet.

* Oh yeah, and do not fall for this guy. Seriously, they call him One Night O’Neil. Red flags all over the place.

* Remember, this is fake dating, even though his very talented, very real lips are doing some sexy things you definitely like.

* Realize bending one tiny rule can’t be that bad, can it?

* Except bend too far, and something breaks. Something you can’t get back.

 

Review:

The Dating Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman is the 2nd book in her Mile High Firefighters series. I love these stories and the author that writes them, which I am automatically clicking on. Her use of words brings the emotions and the characters to life. 

Lexi is just great, she says what she thinks, and sometimes that gets her into trouble. Her center for kids needs updating, and what better person to help her than a fireman! She just had to remember he isn’t to be taken seriously! 

Dyson has a bit of a reputation as a one night stand, no one gets a second date. You can‘t help being that way after your fiancé was caught in bed with your best friend! He needs a “fake girlfriend” to take to his sisters minds off of trying to get him to date properly. 

The sparks that fly off these two is just electric, both think that the other one isn’t really interested in getting serious. And Lexi has sworn off dating after the last relationship went nowhere but heartbreak! 

Fake romance is what this author does best. Entertaining throughout the book. It’s really hard to put it down one you’ve open it up. The secondary characters were just as fun. The sisters needs stories (and the fire crew could be ideal ?) and there are a couple of characters that Dyson knows who could do with a prod in the right direction. 

So if you like a RomCom with a little angst, but plenty of laughter and embarrassing moments, I’d recommend this one. You don’t need to read the first book, but after reading this one I wouldn’t be surprised if you go back for seconds. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Giveaway

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Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Guveaway

 

 

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Description:
Olivia LeClair’s experiment with speed dating is not going well. First there was the nasty encounter with the date from hell who tried to murder her and now the mysterious Harlan Rancourt—long believed dead—sits down at her table and tells her she’s the only one who can help him locate the legendary Vortex lab.

This is not what Olivia had in mind when she signed up for the Four Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the dating agency. She doesn’t have much choice, though, because her psychic investigation firm works for the mysterious Foundation and Victor Arganbright, the director, is adamant that she assist Harlan. There’s just one problem—no one knows Harlan’s real agenda. His father once ran the Foundation like a mob organization, and Harlan was destined to be his heir. There’s a real possibility Harlan has returned to claim his inheritance.

For now, however, it’s a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend because others are after the secrets of the long-lost lab. Unfortunately for Olivia, the one thing friend and foe have in common is that everyone is convinced she is the key. Her unique psychic talent is required to defuse the ticking time bomb that is Vortex.

Neither trusts the other but Olivia and Harlan soon realize they must work together to survive and unlock the Bluestone Project’s most dangerous secrets before more innocent people die.

 

 

Review:

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz is the 3rd and final book in her wonderful Fogg Lake series.  Refresher: 40 years ago, in the small town of Fogg Lake, an explosion caused various paranormal effects on many of the residents; such as visions, auras and other unique abilities.  The community kept to itself, not revealing anything about those strange effects; leaving the town bare of updated mechanics, such as Wi-Fi, computers, cell phones, as the dense fog blocked those signals.

Olivia LeClair, our heroine, is a private investigator with her best friend, Catalina; they both lived in Fogg Lake when they were younger; she has a psychic gift of reading aura’s.  Olivia takes part of a speed dating, which originally failed when the person tried to kill her; but now she attends the event, and asks a weird question to each person she meets “If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into to hell to find me?  Only one person answered back correctly, saying he would walk into hell, because he has been there.

Harlan Rancourt, our hero, has been presumed dead, until he shows up years later, at The Foundation run by Victor Arganbright and Lucas Pine.   After his father (the original founders of the Foundation) died in the explosion years ago, Harlan now returns to convince the Foundation to help him find an oracle, whom he feels will lead to discovering where the legendary Vortex Lab is.  Arganbright agrees to work with him and suggests to use Olivia, who is one of the best.  She is not sure that she can trust Harland, but agrees to work together, especially since he assures her that he will find her mother’s killer. They are both powerful talents in the psychic world, with her seeing his aura and knowing how dangerous it was, even with his ability to hide it, and she also being an excellent private investigator.

I loved Olivia, her smarts, savvy, confidence, fearlessness, as she made a fantastic heroine.  I also like Harlan, and in a short time, we can see the chemistry between them heat up.  I really got a kick out of the car scene, which was very funny.

What follows is an exciting, intense, action filled adventure, with some twists and turns. From start to finish, the story keeps us unable to put the book down, in this journey filled with romance, suspense and danger.   Olivia and Harlan were a wonderful couple and made a great team; there were some excellent secondary characters, as well as evil villains.  To tell too much more would be spoilers.

Lightning in a Mirror is an exciting, intense, suspenseful thriller, with supernatural elements.    Jayne Ann Krentz gives us a wonderful conclusion to this series.  If you enjoy suspense mysteries, great couple and a dose of supernatural, you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Jayne Ann’s Publisher, Berkley is offering a hardcover copy of LIGHTNING IN A MIRROR  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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8. Giveaway runs from January 18-22, 2022

 

 

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One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner – a Review

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One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner – a Review

 

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Description:
Frankie Elkin, who readers first met in Before She Disappeared, learns of a young man who has gone missing in a national forest. Law enforcement has abandoned the search, but a crew of people led by the young man’s father are still looking. Sensing a father’s desperation, Frankie agrees to help–but soon sees that a missing person isn’t all that’s wrong here. And when more people start to vanish, Frankie realizes she’s up against something very dark–and she’s running out of time.

 

 

Review:

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner is the 2nd book in her Frankie Elkin series.  I have read a few series by Gardner, and I think she is one of the best authors who write suspense thrillers, as I have loved all her books. 

Frankie Elkin, our heroine, is the star of this series; she is a recovering alcoholic, who devotes all of her time to find missing people that are cold cases. Over the years she has found 15 people, with the majority not found alive.  When she reads about a woman who is dying, and wants to be buried next to her presumed dead son, Tim, who disappeared 5 years ago; she learns that a group is planning to do another search, and Frankie decides to join them.  The experienced group consists of the missing boy’s father, the four boys who went camping together 5 years ago, a woman and her cadaver dog, the local wilderness expert, and a bigfoot expert.   When Frankie approaches them, at first, they do not want her, even if one tells them she does find missing people; but one of the boys gets sick, they allow Frankie to become part of the search.

The difficult trek into the woods has them all exhausted, but Martin, the father, pushes them to keep going.  In a short time, things change, as overnight they are being sabotaged (food stolen, camp in disarray, etc.); and they realized that someone is out to stop them from continuing the journey. The story was set in the Shoshone National Forest, which became creepy each passing day, especially after they learn many more people were missing over the years. 

I loved Daisy, who was the perfect search and rescue dog, and her handler, Luciana; with Frankie becoming closer to them.  Frankie is a great heroine, as she is tough, street savvy, smart and tenacious. She makes sure to talk and question all the other members of the group, to get her feel of what really happened, as well as being concerned by who is now hunting them.   

The last half of the book was a tense, scary, exciting thriller that kept me glued to my kindle, especially with everyone fighting for survival, and the danger escalates as slowly one by one they fall.  Who will survive?  Who is the villain?

What follows is an amazing, action-packed, exciting & intense thriller, where Frankie finds herself in some dangerous situations, as she desperately tries to survive in the wilderness. As we get closer to the end, there are a number of surprises and twists, which had me on the edge of my seat.  

Once again, Lisa Gardner gives us a fabulous intense exciting story, that was very well written. As noted previously, you can never go wrong reading Lisa Gardner, who always writes fantastic suspense psychological thrillers.  I suggest you read One Step Too Far, which was a fantastic story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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