Title: Bell, Book and Corpses

Series: A Nick and Nora Mystery

By:  T.C. LoTempio

ISBN: 9781960511829 (ISBN10: 1960511823)

Website: https://www.tclotempio.net/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

Waincroft Manor has long been tied to rumors of witchcraft and fatal curses, and to Nora Charles, that makes it the perfect place for a Halloween fundraiser. But her first trip to the deserted old mansion turns out to be truly ghoulish when she discovers a dead body. What’s more, the corpse is laid out in a coffin—with two bite marks on its neck. Then the autopsy comes back showing that the body was drained of blood, and there’s no stopping the local gossips from whispering the word vampire to anyone who will listen.

Determined to dispel the rumors and save the fundraiser, Nora sets out to prove the murderer was quite human after all. Sifting through the clues, she learns of a bitter family rivalry that spans generations, and a more recent conflict that may point to the motive for the murder. And when Nick spells out a clue that proves to be the missing piece of the puzzle, Nora knows she’ll have to watch her back—because there’s a killer out there who wants to keep some secrets buried, and they’ll happily bury Nora right along with them . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

In my limited experience with author T.C LoTempio, I have always enjoyed her storytelling. Of course, since all that I have read have cat’s being a big part of the sleuthing (and I am a big fan of cat’s), it is no wonder I have enjoyed the antics of these unsung hero’s in LoTempio’s cozy mysteries. Hile entering this series in book 7 is maybe not the wisest of choices, I was able to keep up with the sleuthing duo. In fact, it was such a good read, I am planning on going back to the beginning and starting there.

Bell, Book and Corpses is another Nick and Nora Mystery with Nick (a tuxedo cat) leading Nora to a body. The story begins with a Halloween fundraiser scheduled in a “Haunted House” (the old Waincroft Manor). Now if that is not ominous – I don’t know what is . However, the planning for the fundraiser does not proceed smoothly due to the body. Who is the deceased and more importantly – how and why were they located in a coffin in the Manor with what looked like a vampire bite? And more importantly – can the fundraiser proceed and will anyone show up??? Nora is determined to figure out the who and why as a friend of hers is accused of the murder – and she knows that her friend did not do it!

So Nora and Nick work through the myriad of clues with the help of their friends to find the actual killer and save the fundraiser . But it was not without risk as the real killer did not want to get caught and was not above committing yet another murder or two (so watch out Nora and Nick). I enjoyed the twists and turns, which kept me guessing to the very end. I won’t reveal anything further regarding the murder and its resolution as I think each reader should enjoy the journey for themselves. What I will say though is that there were numerous “red herrings” and the story telling was good, which kept me engaged.

I must say that Nick is one of my favourite characters! I love how he communicates with Nora through scrabble squares. It seems that Nick tends to be one step ahead of Nora. Oh my…. And this will undoubtedly drive me to go back and read the first six books in the series.

As with all cozy mysteries, the “whodunit” is revealed in the end and I am happy to say – I was stumped until then as well. Just the way I like my cozy mysteries

I do love the cover art…Nick all dressed for the occasion with a red cape, very handsome tuxedo cat I must say.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, as well as a fan of cats – then this sleuthing duo might be just up your alley. Pick up Bell, Book and Corpses, pull up a comfy chair and read the night (or day) away.

The Bridegroom

Stone Creek, Book #5

By Linda Lael Miller

ISBN# 9780373773886

Author’s Website:  https://lindalaelmiller.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

It’s been ten years since the events in A Wanted Man, when we met teenage Gideon.  Now he’s been through college and has grown into a man, even if his brothers do still see him as a kid.  

And, his latest job is bringing him back to Stone Creek.  The task is simple, take on a job as one of the miners, befriend them, and convince them not to go on strike.  The owners of the mine are paying him big bucks to keep the workers … well… working.  Once the miners realize what he has done, he won’t be very popular so he won’t be staying in Stone Creek.

However, Gideon never expected to receive not just a letter on his way to Stone Creek, but the letter.  The letter he wrote and gave to eight-year-old Lydia when she went to live with her aunt.  The one he told her to send if she were ever in trouble.  It’s a missive that he can’t ignore.

Lydia’s aunt has passed, and she lives in her home with her remaining elderly aunts and the housekeeper.  However, they’re about to lose everything, unless she goes through with the wedding to the banker, Mr. Fitch, that Lydia doesn’t like all that much.

Gideon shows up just in time to crash the wedding and steal the bride!

However, the scorned bridegroom is not taking this sitting down, and the only way that Gideon is going to avoid jail time, is if he marries the bride himself!  He is more than willing to marry Lydia.  But he can never be the husband she deserves, not when he will soon have to flee Stone Creek for good.

I absolutely loved seeing Gideon and Lydia again.  I figured they’d end up together eventually, although I figured this book would be toward the end of the series, after all the other Yarbros got married off.  I loved this couple just as much in this book as I did back in A Wanted Man.

Gideon was obviously attracted to Lydia now that she’s all grown-up.  However, he was trying to keep his distance from her emotionally knowing that he’d have to leave her soon.  But when he finally gave in it was both sweet and explosive.  I truly enjoyed watching Gideon grow up before my eyes and become the man he was meant to be.

I really loved this installment of the series.  I found it had a bit more humor than I remember the previous books having.  I guess that’s what you get when you have a book with a carefree rake, like Gideon!  And, the aunts too … they were a hoot.  This book was one that made me really quite glad that I started and continued the series.  I’m only sad that Gideon & Lydia’s story is over now, except as side characters in the remainder of the series.

Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth

Bainbridge Island Mystery #2

By Lynn Cahoon

ISBN 9781496752123

Author’s website: lynncahoon.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

Bainbridge Island bookseller, aspiring author, and amateur sleuth Meg (no relation to Bill) Gates investigates the murder of a crabby food critic in New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon’s latest Pacific Northwest-set mystery for fans of Kate Carlisle, Lorna Barrett, Jenn McKinlay, and Ellery Adams.

Twenty-something bookseller and sleuth Meg Gates has a confession: solving crimes may be easier than writing. She’s been working on a guide to becoming a detective—but she’s her own worst critic. She needs a how-to in order to write her how-to!

At the Bainbridge Island writers’ group, she meets freelance food critic Lee Anderson, who invites her to join him for dinner at the Local Crab so he won’t be suspected of reviewing the place. Lee is a bit of a crab himself and intends to do a hatchet job on the eatery.

Instead, someone does a job on the critic—he’s found dead by the marina. Now Bainbridge’s culinary elite are on the suspect list.

With help from her beau, Dalton, and the Mystery Crew at Island Books, Meg dons her sleuthing cap to solve the mystery du jour—before another murder is served cold . . . (from Goodreads)

Review:

This is a great second offering in its series, with the perfect blend of suspense, action, and wit. Bainbridge Island provided a beautiful setting! I enjoyed meeting Meg, her family, and friends. It had been less than a year since Meg returned to the island, and she was building a new life after breaking up with her cheating fiancé in Seattle.

Meg worked part time for Lilly, a local, best-selling author, and part time for her mother at her bookstore, Island Books. One of Meg’s goals was to write a non-fiction “how-to” guidebook about sleuthing. She attended a local writer’s group on the island. An advantage of the group was hearing speakers share information on various aspects of what a first-time author might consider, including writing, publishing, and marketing.

Meg arrived late to the group one evening, and sat in the back with a man she had not yet met. Lee was a free-lance food critic. They made plans for her to meet him the next evening at the Local Crab, where they would dine and he’d review the restaurant. Nobody would guess the real purpose of his visit if someone was with him. Meg and her boyfriend, Dalton, knew the chef there, Emmett, and was confident Lee would love it there. She looked forward to learning more about writing from him.

Meg told Dalton about dinner with someone from her class, and later gave him details. The experience was terrible. Lee planned certain “tests” to see how well the staff would respond, from their late arrival to other customer service challenges – one plate was too hot, one was too cold, and the like. Meg finally had enough, had several unkind words for Lee, and left.

The next evening, Dalton and Meg went to dinner in Seattle. Meg saw her mother at the restaurant – at a table with a man she had never seen before! Her mother had not dated since her parents divorced. Her mom texted her that they’d talk later. Meg and Dalton returned on the ferry to see police officers all over its parking area.

A man was found in his car, and was thought to have been asleep. He was dead, however, possibly by suicide. Later, his death was determined a homicide. And it was Lee! Uncle Troy, aka Police Chief Miller, wanted to know why she was in the Local Crab with him one night, stormed out on him, and the next night he was dead.

Meg had helped with one previous homicide on Bainbridge Island, that of her boss, Lilly’s, agent. This time, Uncle Troy didn’t want her involved so that she wouldn’t get hurt by a person desperate enough to have killed at least once.

Meg’s photo was in the news after marching away from Lee and out of the restaurant, so some thought her to be a suspect. Lee had left Meg a costly bracelet and note at the restaurant further linking them. Other suspects included the chefs for whom he left bad reviews, which was almost every chef on Bainbridge Island.

Meg couldn’t let it go. She, with either Dalton or best friend Natasha, visited people who might answer her questions rather than those by a cop. She found minimal background information at the college they both attended at different times. Meg shared what she learned with Dalton, Natasha, and Troy. Meg’s attention was split between the murder, her jobs, her mom, writing, seeing Dalton, studying for her college classes, even playing on a pickleball league. Whew! She committed to write for thirty minutes each day, and her book progressed. I loved the chapter names that correlated with the contents of each, as well as her current experiences.

The characters’ personalities were revealed through their conversations and behaviors. Written in first person, I got to know and like Meg quickly, then Dalton, Natasha, Meg’s mom, and others through their interactions with her. I liked Meg, Dalton, and Natasha the best, and look forward to seeing more of them and several others in the future.

There were excellent plot twists, often adding or eliminating suspects. Lee was not well-liked, but they could find no logical motive for his murder. Or for the special bracelet he bought for her. The killer was cleverly disguised to misrepresent their connection to Lee. The ending was excellent and more than satisfactory! I highly recommend this cozy mystery, and look forward to the next one!

Eight Enchanting Elixirs

Kitchen Witch Mysteries

By Lynn Cahoon        

ISBN: 1496752856

Website: lynncahoon.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

Mia’s grandmother is feeling stress about an ex who’s returned . . . from the dead. Mia’s boyfriend is confined to his home for six weeks in a desperate attempt to get his fluffy Maltese pup, Cerby, trained as a hellhound. And Mia herself is being hassled by the coven, which is suddenly questioning the validity of her witch credentials!

Suspected of cheating on her exam, Mia is pressured to retake it. When she not only passes but moves up a level, national coven rep Suzanne Parker is furious. Parker, a relative of a witch hanged in Salem, threatens Mia with a witch’s worst nightmare. When she’s found dead the very next day, the coven suspects kitchen witch’s potions contained an extra, very lethal ingredient.

With all this toil and trouble, Mia has no choice but to prove that she’s a good witch—in every sense of the word . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

Eight Enchanting Elixirs is the eighth book of Lynn Cahoon’s in the Kitchen Witch Mystery series. This is the fifth book in the series that I have read, having previously read 3 novellas’ and a full length novel in this series. It may well be that as I have not read any of the full length novels in this series from the beginning (only the book previous to this one – Seven Secret Spellcasters) that I am not quite jelling with this series? Don’t get me wrong – this book is easy to read and enjoyable, but really knowing the backstory of the characters I think would go a long way to enhance my enjoyment of the story. Or perhaps if the story had begun with a bit more backstory on the characters…

In Eight Enchanting Elixirs Mia (the main protagonist / kitchen witch) is being threatened and she is therefore mostly confined to her home. Mia’s recent results for her testing is at a level 3 and this causes some coven members to make a fuss and suggest that Mia cheated? So…the coven brings in another tester. This witch is tough (with a capital “T” I might add) and while Mia is exhausted beyond belief after this round of testing – she scores a level 5! And then the tester is found dead at a hiking trail (from hypothermia – or so it is believed). To vindicate Mia’s good scores, she takes it upon herself to work at confirming cause of death for Suzanne Parker. Also creating challenges for a harmonious existence is the fact that Trent (Mia’s boyfriend) is confined to his home for six weeks as he is getting his fluffy Maltese pup, Cerby, trained as a hellhound. Along with him is the police chief’s wife and daughter – training their hellhound as well.

I found once I got into the story it did seem to flow and was an enjoyable read. Mia and her growth was evident. As well – I could really tell that all she really wanted to achieve was to be a kitchen witch. After all, her passion is in the kitchen!

Another redeeming quality is the love and support that is evidenced in Mia’s family. They are inclusive in the broader sense of family – and that is a feel good emotion that shone through while reading the story.

As to be expected, any mystery surrounding the death of Suzanne Parker is solved by Mia and her cohorts … after all – that is the name of the game with these witchy cozy mysteries. I am not inclined to delve further as I do not want to impede any future reader’s enjoyment of the mystery and the solving of said mystery within

All in all – a relaxing but engaging read. I may continue with the series, but not unless I start from the beginning of the series as I think that would be to the benefit of my reading pleasure with respect to Mia and her world.

The Wolf King

The Wolf King, Book #1

By Lauren Palphreyman

ISBN# 9798853931916

Author’s Website: laurenpalphreyman.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

There is a war that has been raging for years between the humans and the werewolves, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Aurora is the human princess of the Southlands.  And, her father has brought her to Sebastian’s castle as they are to soon be wed.  It is not a relationship of love, but for political gain for her father, the king.  Her father does not love her, but has trained her to be the perfect living doll, always do what is expected and to always reflect well on him.

Aurora’s betrothed has a kennel of captured Werewolves that he has fight for his entertainment.  And, he has put some in the ring for them to watch.  However, Aurora cannot stay quiet when she sees the big alpha against a young boy.  It’s an unfair fight and the boy is about to be slaughtered by the big beast.  Sebastian agrees to let the boy live as a wedding gift to her.  However, her display of compassion embarrasses her father and angers her husband-to-be.

That night it becomes clear that the wolves were not bested by Sebastian’s men. They had allowed themselves to be taken in an orchestrated plot against the humans.  And, before they leave the alpha comes and takes the princess with him.

Aurora has been saved from a marriage to a horrible man, but she is now at the mercy of her enemies.  They want to use her to get back a sacred relic that is believed to have the power to allow them to shift at any time; instead of only at the full moon.  Can Aurora use the situation to gain knowledge of the wolves and save herself from the marriage her father arranged?  Or will she die at her enemies’ hands? And, what happens when she realizes the wolves aren’t as horrible as she had always believed?  And, one wolf in particular is awakening a hunger she never felt before.  Will he be able to keep his promise to protect her or will it go to crap before their very eyes?

I found this story to be interesting.  The humans were quite horrible in this book and it made you realize that the supposed brutes were not the most savage in this tale.  Sebastian was an awful person, and he knew that no matter what he said or did that his new bride would have to endure it.

I enjoyed Callum.  For being part of such a savage race, he showed more respect and tenderness than anyone from Aurora’s own life or family.  It’s easy to see why she started to grow feelings for the big oaf.  The story and Callum, in particular, did have a bit of a Scottish Outlander vibe.

There were a lot of politics and games being played among the wolves as well.  And a certain dark wolf that seemed to know way too much about Aurora and the Southlanders.  Blake did not keep it a secret that he was playing a game and encouraged Aurora to play along with him.  Although he would not divulge, what the game was or what the rules entailed.  He was definitely the most intriguing character in the novel and was clearly the puppet master of everyone involved. Now that his game has been outlined for us, I’m interested to know how it all plays out.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book.  I felt it did drag in places and could probably have been trimmed down to avoid some of that.  Otherwise, I really have no complaints about this novel.  It was an enjoyable read and a story that is a bit different than others I have read.

Dreidels and Dead Ends

Bad Hair Day #19

By Nancy J. Cohen     

ISBN: 9781952886409 

Website: nancyjcohen.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet.

When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard.

Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case.

Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside. (Goodreads)

Review:

Dreidels and Dead Ends (while book #19 in the series) is the fifth book in series that I have read and I can honestly say that I am finding the books are getting better and better as the series goes on. I find that the main protagonist, Marla, finally has depth. Maybe this is because she has settled nicely into her married life with Dalton and that of a mother of a toddler and a soon to be new baby.

In this edition of the Bad Hair Day series we find Marla as the guest speaker at a gala for a new exhibit at the local history museum. The exhibit is a diamond-studded antique hairbrush – right up Marla’s alley (as she is a hairdresser after all). Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to begin the holiday season while waiting for the arrival of Marla and Dalton’s baby. Now what is new is that Dalton is newly retired from the police force… surprise! During the gala, the hairbrush is stolen. The curator at the museum, Becky Forest, asks Marla for help locating the stolen hairbrush, especially as this theft may well be the final straw for the museum to stay viable as the town mayor would like nothing better than to shut the museum down. And what makes this extra special – the hairbrush is believed to be cursed!

We are led through Marla’s process of tracking down leads and finding new ones along the way to wade through. So many suspects with so little leads. In this story, I quite enjoyed how Marla works together with Dalton now that he does not have the restraints of being a police officer. To me this pairing worked very well with this new dynamic. While they usually worked together, there were times they went off on their own… and the inner dialogue that Marla had added to the sleuthing

As per usual with cozy mysteries, the ‘whodunit’ was cleverly hidden until the very end (well – at least for me) and that is just the way I like my cozy mysteries. Was the brush recovered? A question that is answered when you read the book

One of the aspects that I quite enjoy and found interesting is how the author incorporates Jewish customs and traditions and Christmas traditions into her stories. Love getting a bit of an education while reading for pleasure.

If you like cozy mysteries, then I suggest adding Dreidels and Dead Ends to your TBR (to be read) pile. The writing of Ms. Cohen will not disappoint.

Jack

For the Love of a Good Woman, Book #1

By Giulia Lagomarsino

ISBN# 9798223873242

Author’s Website: giulialagomarsinoauthor.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

*Beware of Spoilers*

Harper was having the worst luck.  She ran out in her skimpy pjs to go feed her friend’s cat, while Anna was out-of-town.  Her car broke down on the side of the road and it was pouring down rain.  She decided to walk, but she tripped in a hole disguised as a mud puddle and sprained her ankle.  While sitting in the mud puddle, in pain, the most gorgeous man she ever met came over to see if she needed help.  Jack wasted no time in putting her his truck, stopping off at the pharmacy for supplies, then to Anna’s and eventually taking Harper home.

Jack and Harper hit it off right away and they run fast and furious into a new relationship.  But will the relationship fizzle out as quickly as it began?

I disliked these characters from the very beginning.  They were too immature and everything moved way too fast to be believable.  Harper has zero self-preservation skills.  She’s a serial killer victim waiting to happen.  Jack is a complete stranger and she allows him to put her in his vehicle and then shows him where both her friend and she live.  And, if that wasn’t bad enough, she does the same thing with another guy later in the book.  And, don’t even get me started on the fact that they were grinding on each other in his truck moments after they met.

Jack was selfish beyond belief.  He wanted what he wanted and nothing else really mattered.  They had barely been dating when he started throwing a fit about having her move in with him.  She was worried about if things didn’t work out.  He makes a big scene and when they’re out with his friends and they started giving her a hard time.  And, Jack’s thoughts are I’m not going to help her because she deserves this!?! What the actual fuck?  She wants to decorate for Christmas.  And, instead of telling her why the holiday is so hard for him, he storms off like a big baby and is gone for hours.  Even their breakup is due to his selfishness.

Everything went way too fast.  Their relationship, the moving in together, the breakup.  They both just needed to be by themselves.  Nobody deserves to be saddled with either one of them.  Then, this book just ended suddenly… there was no peak into the future to see their happily ever after.  Just a big moment happened, and Harper was being immature again during that and then the book was over.

This novel had no redeeming qualities for me.  The writing was as immature as the characters just too fast, superficial, and unbelievable.  And, I actually paid for this book, so that was disappointing.  This is a beginning of several connected books, with a spin-off series or two so I really hope that the writing improved over time.  However, I’m unlikely to continue with it.

Two Purloined Pillows

Nimble Needle #2

By Allie Pleiter

ISBN 9781496752031

Author’s website: alliepleiter.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

When 30-something graphic artist Shelby Phillips reluctantly returned to her small hometown outside Asheville, North Carolina to manage her mother’s needlepoint shop, she thought it was temporary. But getting entangled in murder investigations has a timeline of its own…

It’s been a little over a year since Shelby started managing Nina’s Nimble Needle following her office-romance and career implosion, and Shelby’s mom has finally handed her the reins—technically, at least. Next, Shelby is excited to oversee two well-known needlepoint designers who will be participating in the town’s first two-week-long arts festival . . .

Laura Bitters and Paul Bardo have each stitched up one-of-a-kind pillows that should be big wins for the Nimble Needle at the festival’s auction . . . until the pillows vanish amid a sudden string of shoplifting incidents.

To add to the knot in Shelby’s stomach, Laura proves highly anxious, while Paul is an egomaniac who believes Laura has been stealing his customers for years. But things go from bad to tragic when Laura behaves oddly at the auction dinner, then collapses—dead.

Soon after, Shelby makes a shocking discovery in Laura’s room at the local inn. Then tests reveal that Laura was poisoned. Resolved to piece together the truth, despite the police chief’s determination to keep her on the fringes, Shelby rallies her personal team, including her sister, Jessica, her friend Deb, and Jake, her potentially more than a friend. As an extra twist, a magazine reporter arrives with unsettling—yet useful—dirt that includes Laura and Paul.

What unravels is a skein of suspects, long-held resentment, bitter jealousy, and betrayal, from which Shelby will have to pull the one crucial thread tied to the killer: a murder-worthy motive . . . (from Goodreads)

Review:

Shelby’s parents returned to Gwen Lake, North Carolina for the annual Gwen Lakes Arts Festival. It has been almost a year since her mom, Nina, has turned over management of Nina’s Nimble Needle, to Shelby to manage. It is also the first year Shelby will be in charge of their part of the festival. Nina gave Shelby last minute warnings about their key – and fiercely rival –  guests.

The NYAGS – Not Your Average Grannies – were at the shop most days with their current works in progress, enjoying the local news and gossip. The older ladies were there, looking forward to meeting the special guests.

The shop’s key guests are two famous, rival needlepoint canvas artists. Paul and Laura have many long-time fans who would pay almost any price for their canvases, especially original, hand-painted ones. Laura and Paul are each donating a spectacularly designed pillow for this year’s auction. Each artist designed and painted a canvas especially for their town, then personally stitched them. Their fans are eager to see and bid on the pillows. Proceeds of the auctions would support local arts programs.

Paul came into the shop and delivered many new canvases. He was angry that Shelby, not Nina, would be handling him this year. The mayor brought Laura in. Neither designer was happy to see the other. Gwen Lakes’ “power couple”, Mayor Rose and her husband, Police Chief Tallen were disturbed to discover that Laura’s and Paul’s amazing pillows had been stolen from the Town Hall, where they had been displayed. They had to be located before the auction on opening night!

The pillows were not found, so Shelby put together a special kit from each artist. Shelby met Laura at the ball. Laura was more anxious than usual and appeared to be ill. Shelby noticed Laura slurring her words just before she collapsed. A nearby doctor tried to help, but could not. Laura had passed away amidst the crowd.

Afterwards, Shelby and her best friend Deb went to Laura’s room, where they found a hidden treasure trove of goodies, including an assortment of trinkets and items that might have come from local stores. Chief Tallen, unhappy the friends had gone into her room, took charge of it. Preliminary tests showed that Laura had ingested poison from belladonna berries, tiny fruit of a highly toxic plant that grew wild in the area. It had been added to a smoothie that an unknown person brought her.

Shelby began to learn more about Laura to help find who killed her. Joanne, a writer for her local paper and a freelance reporter for arts events, knew both Laura and Paul. She shared what she knew about them with Shelby. Paul was one of the suspects due to their combative history. There were only a couple other suspects.

I was very pleased with the variety of characters! All were defined best through their conversations and behaviors. Most are engaging, except for Paul and, at times, Cole, a personable young artist who harbored bitterness against Laura. I especially liked Shelby, who loves what she does and keeps an open mind, eager to learn from and help others. Deb, her best friend, is also a delight, far happier with her coffee shop than in her former career as a chemist! I enjoyed meeting Jake, and hope that Shelby sees more of him!

Several wannabe sleuths wanted to “help” Shelby, and she graciously found harmless ways they could. The NYAGs wanted to know the progress, which she couldn’t share. It seemed that the festival would end and the tourists and artists would leave without the killer being caught. While it was preferable to think the killer might leave, yet they wanted justice for Laura. And then…I was very satisfied and happy with the ending! I highly recommend this cozy mystery to those who enjoy various needlecrafts, town festivals, and challenging investigations.

A Murder at the Mansion

Novel Detectives Mystery

By Ellie Alexander     

ISBN: 9781837003143 

Website: www.elliealexander.co

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

 In the charming town of Redwood Grove, even the grandest estates have something to hide…

When reclusive heiress Bernadette Garst vanishes from her sprawling mansion, bookshop owner and investigator Annie Murray is summoned to the scene.

Arriving at the legendary Garst property, Annie and her partner Fletcher discover a household riddled with secrets, bitter family rivalries, and suspicious staff members. When Bernadette’s lawyer also goes missing, it’s clear the case is escalating into something far more dangerous.

With her keen eye for detail and a little help from her friends, Annie must piece together the clues hidden within the opulent estate grounds. Can she solve the puzzle before it’s too late? (Goodreads)

Review:

The third book in the, A Murder at the Mansion, by Ellie Alexander is another cozy mystery that has my highest praise. Novel Detectives Mystery series Now the reason for this is that the storytelling was very good and the mystery in and of itself was very good. Pause here on the praise… I did figure out ‘whodunit’ quite early on but since the writing was so good – I did have to wait until the end of the story to have my theory 100% affirmed. Luckily for me the storytelling, many characters in the story and the animals provided more than ample impetus for me to finish the book in record time. The read is like coming home as you know what expect – a cozy mystery with a number of suspects along with the cast of recurring characters involved in solving the mystery – with Annie and Fletcher taking the lead in that department.

What starts out as a missing persons case for the matriarch of the Garst family, Bernadette Garst quickly turned into a murder case as the body of Ms. Garst’s lawyer, Gabe Bowers is discovered in the boat house. So who murdered Gabe? And where is Bernadette? Annie has a number of potential suspects (mostly family members of the Garst clan) to sift through with respect to the murder. But with such an expansive acreage – it seems like a daunting task to locate Bernadette – and time is of the essence given her age!

I noted that this installment of the series is very skimpy on progressing the storyline of Hal’s origins and his possible connection to Agatha Christie. I do hope this picks up a wee bit in the next book of the series. In fact, not really much character development nor relationship development in this book either. Here is hoping that the next book will add more depth to the various characters of Redwood Grove.

Never fear – the mystery of ‘whodunit’ is all is wrapped up in a neat little package in the end (which is one reason I did not give this read 5 stars – too neat!). Though there a couple of twists and turns that did keep me guessing and there is a surprise or two at the end .

I shall patiently await the next installment (book #4) of Novel Detectives Mystery series, A Murder at Midnight, to see where Hal’s storyline goes. I shall even wait with baited breath for book #5 –
A Fatal Frost!

If you enjoy feel good cozy mysteries with interesting characters, then I suggest reading this installment of the Novel Detective Mystery series! In fact – read the whole series.

Deadly Does It

Mann & Mason #2

By Abbi Waxman

ISBN 9780593816691 

Author’s website: abbiwaxman.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

When Natasha Mason’s AA sponsor is in deadly danger, she turns to the cranky yet brilliant Julia Mann for help, in this exciting new mystery novel from the USA Today bestselling author of One Death at a Time.

Mason, a Gen Z adrenaline junkie, and Mann, an ex-con, ex-actress, and lawyer turned sleuth, have already solved one murder together. United by their commitment to sarcasm and general disappointment with the human race, they now face a second crime that’s way too close to home. Alexa Rousso keeps having accidents, and no one but her thinks it’s a coincidence. Could her checkered past be coming back to get her? Mason and Mann’s investigation takes them to the Bay Area, to the Central Coast, and – of course – to the hippest spots in Los Angeles. Will the Berkeley boho vibe convert Mann from vintage couture? Will the wine snobs of Ojai drive Mason to drink (or to vinicide, which isn’t even a thing)? More importantly, will they solve the mystery before the murderer’s sights settle on the detectives themselves, or will this new challenge also be their last? (from Goodreads)

Review:

Five years sober and in her twenties, Mason met former actress Julia Mann at an AA meeting. The former actress was in prison for a murder she didn’t commit when she earned her degree and became an attorney. She got sober there, had a couple slips over the years, and immediately returned to meetings. Julia asked Mason to be her temporary sponsor.

Even with the substantial gap between their ages and their polar opposite lifestyles, they got along quite well. Neither are delicate little flowers. Julia has many skills, from being professionally adept to acting to understated elegance. Mason became her sidekick after helping Julia solve a major case, and lives in one of Julia’s guest houses.

Julia met her housekeeper and excellent chef, Claudia, when they became close friends in prison. Claudia’s boyfriend, Teddy, is a former con and a private investigator. Mason is deciding on a career and whether to return to college, and went on stakeouts with Teddy for on-the-job training to be a PI.

Mason’s mother called her from Berkeley; her father had a mild heart attack. He should recover quickly with some lifestyle changes. If Mason went to visit, it would only be for her father. Her mother and sister never understood her, and have always, only, questioned and critiqued her.

Mason’s sponsor, Alexa, had been sober for over twenty-five years and sponsored two other women. Alexa is an event planner with a huge fashion show scheduled. Mason attended to support Alexa. Several attendees were injured as a result of a mechanical “attack”, and some of her clients cancelled their events.

Jennifer is another of Alexa’s sponsees. Mason attended the grand opening of Jennifer’s third restaurant, made memorable for several people going to the hospital with food poisoning. The police could only ascertain that each person who got sick had wine from Jennifer’s new wine vendor, but none of the bottles tested positive.

Alexa and her husband Scott went to see Julia with a troubling situation. She received threatening letters with unique similarities but refused to tell the police. The threats implied that “I know what you did; you know what I did” and “I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine”. Alexa said she had no idea what she did, but she had survived a fire in a rundown warehouse, lived in and used by artists who drank, used, and/or sold drugs. Many people died that night, and it was still discussed almost thirty years later.

Mason planned a brief visit to visit her father and family. Julia joined her so they could interview people Alexa knew from the time of the fire. Julia saw how her family interacted with Mason, and Mason’s parents were thrilled to meet the star that her father once had a crush on! Mason learned what was stressing her father’s working life and discussed ways to resolve the situation. Julia and Mason tracked down and questioned Alexa’s ex-husbands, friends, a policeman, and a fire inspector before returning to LA.

A loyal friend, Mason believed what Alexa told them. Alexa sent Mason to check on her third sponsee, Iris, and found her dead of an overdose. Detectives saw an inconsistency with the needle, still in her arm, and declared it a homicide.

Alexa received another letter, “one down, two to go, then it’s your turn”. They believed “one” was Iris, and “two to go” were Alexa’s other sponsees, then Alexa herself. Julia convinced her to tell the police. They would continue to investigate for her, but the detectives needed to consider the letters when investigating Iris’s death.  Then, someone attempted to kill Mason.

The characters are three-dimensional in their actions and conversations. Most are engaging and transparent, but at least one is keeping a secret or two. I genuinely like Mason and Julia. They help others, and are a “family” that includes staff and friends. Some of Mason’s family have not gotten past her troubled teen years or addictions, but people can surprise us!

I appreciate that Abbi Waxman’s protagonists are people in recovery and fell in love with the series when reading the first in the series. For readers unfamiliar with the groups, the author explains certain aspects of twelve-step programs. She presents each person with value and dignity.

There are several twists and hair-raising U-turns, even changing the course of their investigation. It will take everything this crew has to solve the crimes before another person is murdered. I love the ending! I highly recommend this challenging mystery and the first in series!

Cold-Hearted Rake

The Ravenels, Book #1

By Lisa Kleypas

ISBN# 9780062371812

Author’s Website:  https://lisakleypas.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer

Devon Ravenel’s life is turned upside-down when his cousin is killed in a riding accident.  Theo was an earl and now Devon has inherited his earldom, and all the debt and responsibility that goes with it.  

Devon and his brother, West, live a carefree life indulging in all their vices.  And, they had no intention of changing that.  Devon’s plan was to sell off all of Theo’s property and be a landless earl.  However, that all changes when he meets Theo’s widow, Kathleen.  Kathleen is in her period of mourning, but Devon is willing to play the long game.  He’s even willing to keep his new estate that is crumbling into disrepair.  It’s all worth it, for a chance to be with her.

But all is not as it seems with Kathleen and the relationship she had with Theo.  The two had barely said their vows when Theo went off in a fit of rage to his death.

Can the dashing Devon convince the proper lady to take a ride on the wild side with him?

This is not my typical genre to read, but every once in awhile I delve into one.  It was a decent read, but it didn’t blow me away.

I enjoyed Devon and West.  Both of them took to their new responsibilities rather well.  Well, at least after Kathleen put West in his place!  The brothers seemed very fatherly with the girls as well too.  Although I’m feeling something brewing between West and Pandora.

I do wish this book hadn’t focused so much on Helen and Mr. Winterborne, even the epilogue was about them!  I found it boring and it just took away from Devon and Kathleen.  I found that Kathleen interfered way too much in that relationship too.  And, I suppose the next book will be about Helen and Rhys fixing what Kathleen broke.

I don’t know if I’ll continue this series or not, but it’s always there if I get a hankering for a historical romance.

Title: The Secret Book Society

By:  Madeline Martin

ISBN: 9781335016287 (ISBN10: 1335016287)

ASIN: 1335016287

Website: http://www.MadelineMartin.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society…
 
London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club—a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.
 
Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands’ untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.
 
As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything. (Goodreads)

Review:

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin is a well crafted historical fiction, a genre I have recently come to appreciate. Be warned, this book is not really about books (though it is a bit) but more about the oppressed lives of the members of the secret book society.

The story follows three women who receive and accept an unusual invitation to an afternoon tea from Lady Duxbury (a widow three times over). From henceforth, their lives are entwined with periodic afternoon tea. We soon learn that each woman has a unique set of challenges with their lives. This is the late 1800’s so women are still oppressed and not seen as “persons” and are controlled by their husbands and/or fathers.   

I found that the lives and struggles of each of the women was engaging, intriguing and at times I was annoyed with the men in their lives! One woman, Eleanor Clarke, was abused by her husband and his brother. Rose Wharton is a rich young American struggling to fit into her new role as an English aristocrat’s wife. The youngest, at age 19, is Lavinia Cavendish. She is trying to find her voice. These three women join the thrice widowed Lady Duxbury in her home for afternoon tea from there, these four women turn to each other to have their individual voices heard. While life did not go always as planned, it was good to see these women do what they could for each other.

I was surprised and appalled that women were frequently being confined to an insane asylum, apparently something husbands (and fathers) did at their whim in this particular time period!

I was also enthralled with the way each woman grew and took charge of their own situations through personal growth. The following quote regarding Lady Lavinia Cavendish made me smile (because I saw how far she had come into her own life of wanting to write and expressing that to her father):

“Empowered by the hatpin fighting, awed by the séance, intrigued by the poison garden and filled with joy from the loving embrace of friendship, every one of those experiences played in Lavinia’s imagination like sunlight dancing over the water.”

What was refreshing is that the story and all the characters drew me in and would not let me go. That, for me, is a truly good sign when I have difficulty putting the book down for simple things like eating and sleeping .

I am not able to go into further details regarding the story, nor what I liked specifically about the book as I do not want to inadvertently provide any spoilers – I want the next reader of this delightful tale to discover them all on their own. The tale also included a noteworthy epilogue and author’s notes.

All I can say is that I am very glad that this book was added to our monthly bookclub list for May 2026.

Something from the Nightside

Nightside, Book #1

By Simon R. Green

ISBN# 9780441010653

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

John Taylor is a struggling private Investigator that lives in his office and can’t even pay the bills.  Then, money walks into his door in the form of Joanna Barrett.  The rich businesswoman has misplaced her teenage daughter, well the teen ran away, and she wants John to find her.  John has a gift to find lost things.  However, this lost thing has gone to where he swore, he’d never go again … the Nightside.

The Nightside is the dark underbelly of London.  It’s where all of the things that go bump in the night call home.  It’s magical, deadly and totally addicting.  John left enemies behind there, and they may just collect on old debts as he looks for the runaway teen.  The key is to get in and out as quickly as possible.  However, it quickly becomes apparent that something evil is residing in the Nightside, something unnatural even for the Nightside and it’s hiding Cathy.  And, it’s up to John to find her.  After all, it’s the only way he will get paid.  Can John find what’s missing before it’s too late?

This is one of those older books that I really didn’t know what to expect.  It’s a small and quick read though.  I found the world building of the Nightside to be quite interesting.  Having something other in the middle of a bustling city is nothing new in books though.  However, I did enjoy the way the author painted the Nightside for me.

I found the relationship between John and Joanna, if you want to call it that, to be completely unnecessary.  I really didn’t think there was much there, but in the end, he was devastated over it.

I found the ending of this book to be a bit strange, but I guess that is to be expected with a book like this. 

This was a decent read with great world-building, I just wish the story was as vivid as the world itself.

Fudge and Jury         

A Bakeshop Mystery, #5

By Ellie Alexander      

ISBN: 9781250088055 

Website: www.elliealexander.co

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crêpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.

Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream? (Goodreads)

Review:

The fifth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series, Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander is yet another fine addition to this series. In this story we find Torte undergoing renovations as the store gets new ovens and a bit of a facelift in the kitchen area.

Additionally, Torte has the honour of having a featured role at the annual Chocolate Festival!  As Jules (aka Juliet) and her mom, Helen set their booth up for the festival a chocolatier, Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, is perusing near by booths to his booth, which includes Torte’s booth. After Evan samples a slice of cake at the Torte booth the man has a severe allergic reaction and dies. At first, it is thought the man died due to his nut allergy but Jules adamantly states there are no nuts in the cake and there was no cross-contamination. We shall have to see what the coroner says! Seems to me that a man with such a severe peanut allergy attending a conference with perhaps many confections and baked goods that contain nuts – why was he not carrying his EpiPen on his person? And Evan’s assistant Carter took an inordinate amount of time finding and bringing the EpiPen to Evan and by the time he had – Evan died.

And as is to be expected – Jules must find out what really happened so that Torte’s reputation is not ruined nor any of the other participants are accused of facilitating Evan’s death. Along the road to the truth, there are many red herrings to keep the story interesting and Jules sleuthing. We also got to experience the local police (The Professor – aka Doug and Thomas) working the case. So who will figure out what really happened to Evan first?

The reader also gets to read about the growing relationship between Jules and Thomas (a local policeman). Additionally – the relationship between Helen and the professor. I quite enjoy more than one love story being pursued in this series – can’t wait to see how each turns out.

My favourite quote:

“I remember my mentor in culinary school had a poster in his office with a quote from George Bernard Shaw that read: “There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” It was a philosophy that I had learned watching Mom serve customers for years – a pastry with a side of love.”

As to be expected, the amateur sleuths figure out “whodunit” in a timely fashion. I am not inclined to put more of that in my review as it is for each reader to wander through the quagmire and discover for themselves who did the dead and why. But what I can say is that this is a well crafted cozy mystery that kept me guessing ‘til the end – just the way I like my cozy mysteries. With good character development (and knowing there are many, many more books in the series to read) of many of the supporting characters as well as the main characters – I feel like I will have many sleepless nights reading this series.

I must say that the cover art in all of the books in this series to date are definitely eye catching.

If cozy mysteries are your “genre” then the “A Bakeshop Mystery” series by Ellie Alexander may be right up your alley. I know it is up mine …Onwards to book #6!

The First Lady Next Door: A Canadian’s Memoir of Iceland, Identity, and Unexpected Adventure

By: Eliza Reid 

ISBN: 9781668096482 

Website: elizareid.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

An inspiring memoir by the Canadian-born former First Lady of Iceland that asks the question: What if the life you didn’t plan is the one where you find your voice?

In early 2016, Canadian-born Eliza Reid’s biggest daily goals were modest but meaningful: showering without one of her four kids bursting into the bathroom, juggling clients without dropping a deadline, and growing the writers’ retreat she was building from scratch. What wasn’t on her bingo card? That her husband—a bookish, cardigan-wearing history professor—would run for president of Iceland. . . and seven weeks later, actually win.

Suddenly, Eliza was catapulted into a new life as First Lady of her adopted country, with the eyes of a nation watching her every move—as someone’s wife. Absent an instruction manual (she googled how to curtsy before meeting the Queen of Denmark), she decided to do what she’d always done: figure it out on her own terms.

Part fish out of water and part fairy tale, The First Lady Next Door takes you from rural Ontario to Timbuktu, to the White House and Buckingham Palace. Eliza shows how embracing authenticity in all its messiness can become your greatest strength, even when the world expects polished perfection. After all, our everyday moments are what create the roadmap for making the unexpected count. (Goodreads)

Review:

The First Lady Next Door by Eliza Reid is a truly captivating memoir. Now I might be biased, since I am Canadian… but I don’t think so J. Eliza Reid takes us from her humble beginnings in rural Ontario through her college years and meeting the love of her life (a young man from Iceland – Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson). From there we are lead through the years when her husband (yes – she married the love of her life ) became a professor, then the sixth president of Iceland. Her role as first lady is told with great detail and honesty as to the trials and tribulations (as well as high points) of being the first lady, especially without any guidance as to the role.

I felt that Eliza wrote with humour and honesty. This combination made for a very heartfelt read. She writes about finding herself and her purpose, not only about balancing motherhood, but about uncovering and carving out her role as a wife to the President. Additionally – pursuing her own work opportunities which included writing (both fiction and nonfiction).

This was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the role of a First Lady (particularly for a small country like Iceland). In this memoir, she doesn’t shy away from the struggles she encountered or the various uncertainties she wrestled with. As a reader with little knowledge of Iceland – I found learning from Eliza all the intricacies of the Icelandic government, etc. very intriguing and definitely interesting.

Another reviewer wrote the following and I whole heartedly agree:

“What an amazing legacy for Iceland and for Eliza Reid who continued the conversation on gender equality during her tenure as Iceland’s First Lady and since. I love her tenacity and spirit.”

If you read only one memoir this year I urge you to read The First Lady Next Door by Eliza Reid. You will not regret it J. And now – I want to go and book a trip to Iceland

Enter the Nightmare

Harmony #18

By Jayne Castle

ISBN: 9798217187386

Author’s website: jayneannkrentz.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

Summary

Nightmares become real when a woman trying to rebuild her life enters the Hotel of Dreams in this exhilarating Harmony novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.

Alice Radstone should have known not to return. Her life before the Hotel of Dreams had been the perfectly cloistered world of a teacher at the Ballantine Academy. When the death of her mentor forced her out, she was left to reinvent herself in the big city. Since then, things have not gone well. Ten months ago, after her first trip to the hotel, she woke up in the locked ward of a hospital for the criminally insane, told that she had murdered her husband on their wedding night. She has no memory of the husband or the wedding but after escaping the asylum, one thing is certain—she is never going back.

Unfortunately, Alice’s second reinvented life is also deteriorating rapidly, which is why she finds herself once again at the Hotel of Dreams—this time hiding in the shadows of her room, a dead body in the shower, and two men wearing masks creeping toward the bed to kidnap her. Again.

When the enigmatic and decidedly dangerous Owen March shows up, claiming he’s there to rescue her, she has no choice but to accept his offer—and hope that he doesn’t intend to kidnap her, too.

With Alice and now Owen in the killer’s sights, time is running out. Alice and Owen must trust each other and the electric passion between them if they are to make it out of this hotel alive.

Review

Enter the Nightmare starts with Alice Radstone crouching next to the body of an unknown dead man in the bathroom while listening as an assailant is looking for her in her hotel room. The same hotel where ten months ago she allegedly went mad and killed her new husband. The worst part is she doesn’t remember her husband, her wedding or why they were in that hotel room. But she knows that the man in the bathroom was already dead when she arrived and the man outside is looking for her.

Many things happen at once. The man reaches the bed and stabs the body of pillows she left as a decoy. She fires her flamer-gun, and another assailant enters the room. Her aim is bad, but she learns that the men are there to take and they will do it by force. She tries to shoot again but still misses. At this time, her pet Sebastian, a dust bunny, attacks one of the men and a shot from the outside takes down the other one.

In comes Owen March, a Forensic Psi-Genetics consultant that works as a private detective on the side. Owen, without knowing the full story, at first provides the location of Alice’s whereabouts to her capturers and is now trying to help Alice stay alive and free from those who wish her to be committed into a hospital ward. Even though Owen saved Alice’s life this time, she might not fully trust him, but they don’t have much choice as the strange Hotel of Dreams tries to kill them and they need to escape before it happens.

Alice Radstone has unusual psychic powers that make normal people afraid of her. Her powers let her control the dream energy of others and let her either help them get a peaceful sleep or induce their worst nightmares. It was fun at some times to have Alice’s POV and have her try to calm herself with the Ballantine Core Principals, and as the story moves on we see how she must let them go or think outside the box of the Core principals to get her and Owen out of danger.

Owen March, while being the hero that rescues Alice from her most recent kidnapping attempt, comes off as a bit intense from time to time. We know that he is trying to help Alice solve the murder she was framed for but I hoped we had gotten more of his background. 

Enter the Nightmare, is set in a world that seems to be an interesting one. It is set in an alien world where humans thrive but have psychic powers because of the ambient energies of the planet. This is the fourteen book in the series, while it seems to be set as a standalone, it didn’t provide more information about the worldbuilding and other characters. 

“Late in the twenty-first century, a vast energy curtain opened in the vicinity of Earth, making interstellar travel not only possible but practical. In the typical human fashion, thousands of eager colonists packed up their stuff and headed out to create new homes on the unexplored planets that were suddenly within reach. Harmony was one of those worlds.”

The story starts with many unknown questions: why was Alice committed and locked in the hospital? Who killed her first husband? Who is after her?. As the story progresses, we get answers to these questions, but I also feel that some questions are overlooked or characters only show up for a scene to provide information and don’t show up later again. In the end, most of the reasons for the villains are money or revenge.

If this is your first entry into this series as is mine, I do suggest to start reading the first books to learn more about this series. I think that the dust bunnies might have a deeper story, and I assume Owen’s family money might have come from somewhere. Their hotel bill did go up after the dust bunnies came to the party. 

I recommend Enter the Nightmare, in this new instalment of author Jayne Castle Harmony series, we meet the Derange Bride as she looks for who murdered her first husband and gets married again. 

Theoden

New Haven, Book #0

By Nicholas Bella

ISBN# 9781986740067

Author’s Website:  https://www.nicholasbella.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

This is the story of vampire Lord Theoden, and how he got to where he is today.

Theoden was born to a mother that wasn’t willing or prepared to care for him.  She went to the church for help when she was having complications during labor.  And, the church took her burden off her hands.

The church raised Theoden, not allowing him to have toys, or to even play more than one hour a day.  They were raising him to be a warrior and his training was paramount.  They told him that he was a gift from God and that he had a purpose from God.  To fight the scourge of the blood drinker.  And, Theoden served them well.  Killing vampires and even an occasional werewolf in his teen and young adult years.  It was all going great until he was tricked by the evil blood drinkers and was turned into one.  

Theoden is now everything that he knew to be evil.  Feeding off of humans and giving in to carnal desires that he knows are sins.  His vampire father feels that he has freed him, by exposing the church’s lies.  He also revealed to Theoden why the church found him so special; that he wasn’t completely human, but part dragon as well.  Dragons usually kill their hybrids as they are considered abominations.   However, they’re allowing Theoden to live since the king owes Ara a favor that he is cashing in.  It’s up on Theoden to either accept the gift that Ara forced on him, or to continue to be punished for his rebellion.  Can he accept his new life or will he forever be stuck in the past?

This is a new author and series to me.  And this is a prequel that was written after the series had already been well-established.  I wasn’t sure if I should read it first or last, but I ended up starting with it.

First and foremost, there is a lot of detailed gay sex in this book.  The vampires believe in keeping it in the family.  The vampire sires enjoy sharing their bodies with their children … often.  And, it’s usually a group affair with all the siblings taking part.  So, I can see how this can be off-putting to some readers with the incest aspect.  And, you have to be okay with the gay orgy aspect as well.  It also has some anti-religion themes.

This was touted as a dark erotica, but it didn’t feel all that dark to me.  Gay erotica? Absolutely!  Maybe the actual series is darker, but this book did not have that feel for me.

The last third or so of the book started to drag, as they started glossing over everything.  One Hundred years later this happened, three hundred years passed and that occurred and so on and so forth.  I think this is most likely due to this being a prequel made after the fact.  I’m assuming these events are covered in more detail in the actual series and the author was trying not to repeat too much.  It did make for some boring reading for this new to the series reader.

Of all the characters not named Theoden, I found Tylendel to be the most interesting.  He’s a Dragon Knight, and a Prince.  He helped Theoden get a handle on his dragon powers.  And, was obviously the person that Theoden was most attracted to.  

The dragons in this world seem to have a bit of Incubus blended in as they feed off of lust and have an abundant sexual appetite.

Overall, I didn’t mind this book.  It’s definitely smutty, but it did have a decent storyline, which I appreciate.  It didn’t blow my socks off, but it was an okay read, for what it was.  I don’t see myself rushing out to get the next book, but I wouldn’t shy away from reading more of the series either.

Some Like it Fudgy

Candy-Coated Mystery #14

By Nancy Coco

ISBN 9781496756978

nancyjcoco.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

Allie McMurphy lives the sweet life running her world-famous fudge shop on Mackinac Island—but when a killer strikes, she has to turn from creating confections to extracting confessions . . .

TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME

As a gesture of goodwill, Allie is bringing a tray of assorted fudge to her new husband’s ex-wife, Melonie. But she finds Melonie’s body on the floor of her photography studio—where a remote-controlled camera keeps snapping picture after picture. In one, she’s alive, and in the next, she’s dead.

While Rowan Giles, another visitor to the shop, chatters nervously—and incessantly—Allie dials the police, though she encourages her husband to leave the case to another officer. Several unidentified people were leaving when she arrived on the scene. Nevertheless, Rowan is the top suspect, thanks to one thing she didn’t talk about: her bitter relationship with Melonie. Was Rowan just stirring the pot with all her gossipy gabbing?

Allie’s not so sure. She’s learning about some dark secrets in Melonie’s past. And identifying an obvious suspect is one thing, but finding the truth is a whole other kettle of fudge . . . (From Goodreads)

Review:

Allie and her husband have enjoyed almost a year of wedded bliss. They lived on Mackinac Island, a favorite tourist destination in every season except winter. The only motorized vehicles allowed on the island were emergency and service vehicles. Even tourists walk, ride bicycles, or ride in horse-drawn carriages. Rex is the lead local police officer, and Allie is the owner of the historic McMurphy Hotel & Fudge Shop that has been her family for several generations. She inherited the hotel and fudge shop from her Papa Liam, who taught her to make fudge in the family tradition.

Melonie, Rex’s ex-wife, managed an old-style photo shop, complete with Victorian costumes and a variety of realistic backgrounds. It was next door to the McMurphy.

Melonie had made many threats to Allie, including that Melonie would steal Rex back. Optimistic and friendly, Allie decided to take a sampler box of several fudge flavors to Melonie, including what she heard was the woman’s favorite flavor.

Allie went into the photo shop. Several people in the costume area left out the back door. When Allie found Melonie, she was lying on the floor, wearing one of the shop’s costumes. She was not breathing and had no pulse. A woman she hadn’t seen before came in behind her, also shocked to see the photographer on the floor. Rowan had heard, from the outside, the sound of her camera remote clicking over and over, and came to see if she could help. A plumber came down from the upstairs apartment, claiming he did some work for Melonie, wore his headset, and heard nothing.

Allie’s husband, Rex, and two of his officers arrived quickly. George, an EMT, arrived with the ambulance. Melonie had been murdered by a quite unusual means. Rex struggled between shock and what his brain reminded him was necessary to do. He turned the investigation over to Charles, and the crime scene to Shane, who handled all the crime scene testing, and was the husband of Allie’s best friend, Jenn. And Rex kept referring to Melonie as his wife.

Rowan had gone to school with many people on the island, including Melonie. Rowan’s huge family now lived in Charlevoix, and she was taking a few days on Mackinac Island before returning to the family compound. She and Shane had been close friends in school, but lost contact after going to separate colleges. Her very protective Great Dane, Finn, stayed at Rowan’s side.

Rex could not work on Melonie’s case, so a snarky officer from another area came to take lead on the investigation. Officer Laird had hated Rex for years, back from when they were in law enforcement classes. Laird heard about Allie’s talent of helping to find killers in local murders, and threatened to put her in jail if she got in his way.

It was difficult for Allie to rein in her curiosity. She had found the remains of most people murdered there since she moved there. She also helped solve most of them, with the book club ladies or with Jenn. Officer Laird had wanted to pay back Rex for several years. She and Rex, with the help of their attorney, had already pulled a hilarious joke at Laird’s expense and couldn’t risk upsetting him further. She finally chose to trust Rowan and get her help.

The characters continue to be defined well through their behaviors and conversations. Over the course of this series, Allie, Rex, and best friend Jenn have continued to grow and change as demonstrated in each mystery. Relatively new or less visible characters add to the stories without overpowering them. Allie, when learning more about Melonie’s background as well as Rowan’s, was the most likely person to give them grace and be kinder to them. Most of the friendships there were solid and true, the kind that keeps this reader returning.

It was clear that Melonie was disliked by most island residents. She had no real friends except the very kindly Mr. Beecher. Still, it was impossible to determine who killed her, until one person, to me, began to look a bit more suspicious than others. When the guilty is/ are revealed, along with the motives, most are shocked! Even Allie and Rex did not expect what occurred! I was very satisfied with the ending, and can’t wait until the next visit! I highly recommend this mystery and series; Nancy Coco has a winner with each novel!

Sword of Darkness

Lords of Avalon, Book #1

Hunter Legends, Book #6

By Kinley MacGregor

ISBN# 9780060565442

Author’s Website: sherrilynkenyon.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

Seren is an apprentice weaver with aspirations of becoming a guild member.  However, they refused her once again, despite her fabric being perfect.

Then she is approached by a pair of knights.  They tell her that she will be the mother of the next penmerlin and that they are there to protect her.  She runs away in fear to be whisked away by the Kerrigan.

Kerrigan is dark and evil; he is a demon king of the fae.  When he was a boy, he found a magical sword.  Caliburn is the opposite of Excalibur.  Caliburn is an evil sword, and one must possess evil to wield it.  With the sword, Kerrigan is immortal and cannot be defeated.  He went from a poor thief to a king, and he vows never to go back to the starving boy he once was.

After bringing Seren back to Camelot with him, he must guard her well.  Morgan will do anything to control Seren’s future child.  And, once Kerrigan gives in to his desires with the young peasant, they put into motion things that cannot be undone.  Now they are on the run to save the woman he has come to care about and the child she now carries.  How much is Kerrigan willing to risk for a woman he barely knows?

I’m slaving away trying to read through all the books in the Dark-Hunter world.  This is my first Lords of Avalon book, and I really wasn’t expecting to really care about this one.  It was okay, but nothing all that exciting either.  It’s definitely not the worst I’ve read though.

I did enjoy Kerrigan… I always do like the dark evil ones.  I found Seren to be a bit boring, but it was nice to see the side of Kerrigan that she brought out.  It was also good to see Blaise again and see a glimpse of his past.

This book wasn’t as bad as I feared, but it wasn’t that good either.  Just fully middle of the road territory for me.

With this being written under one of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s pseudonyms, I enjoyed her humor with the quote on the cover of the book.

‘Kinley MacGregor writes fantasy the way I would.” – Sherrilyn Kenyon

Unexpected Queen

Unexpected, Book #2

By Mink

Author’s Website:  minkromance.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

Antonio Palermo never thought much about marriage and kids.  Love was definitely never part of the equation.  He is the head of the Palermo mafia family.  Anything Antonio does, is just to strengthen their hold in their world.

Now he is marrying Angelica Larone, a woman he’s never met.  He’s doing it to form an alliance with the Larone family.  He didn’t care which of Constantine’s daughters he married, it was all about expanding his empire and his own family’s status.  So, Constantine gave him Angelica, his problem child.

Antonio never expected her though.  The attitude.  The mouth.  It turned him on in ways he never anticipated. 

And, when someone comes after them, Antonio will rage an all-out war to protect his angel.  When the smoke clears, will there be anything left standing?

I think this book started out decently.  Better than I expected, if I’m being honest.  It’s an arranged marriage set to benefit a couple of mob families.  You know that going in, so you aren’t expecting much more than that.  Of course, Antonio falls for his wife instantly and it becomes all about protecting what is his, especially her.

I thought this novella was going at a decent pace, until the very end when it seems like the author decided to get into a rush to finish the story.  Like oops we’re approaching our word count better wrap it up.  Then, all hell breaks loose and then the book is just over.  Like that’s it?  I would have preferred Mink to have taken the time and gotten to a more natural conclusion.  It just seemed too rushed at the end, and it didn’t seem like much was solved.  And, honestly, I’m not sure who was left standing, at the end.  It left the book feeling unfinished.