Reading and Reviews (Grafton, Evanovich, Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

P is for Peril by Sue Grafton

 

Kinsey Millhone never sees it coming. She is mired in the case of a doctor who disappeared, his angry ex-wife, and beautiful current one-a case that is full of unfinished business, unfinished homes, and people drifting in and out of their own lives. Then Kinsey gets a shock. A man she finds attractive is hiding a fatal secret—and now a whole lot of beauty, money, and lies are proving to be a fatal distraction from what Kinsey should have seen all along: a killer standing right before her eyes...

 

My Review

So far, all of the Kinsey Milhone books I have read have been highly entertaining. This one didn’t seem quite as tight in the plot as prior books, but I won’t ding it too much for that. I think a couple of the characters didn’t ring true for me. I waited too long to do this review, honestly.

https://www.amazon.com/Peril-Kinsey-Millhone-Book-16-ebook/dp/B001D9T7ZQ

 

 

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

 

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and Trenton vice cop Joe Morelli join forces to find the madman killer who shot and barbecued the youngest son of international black-market arms dealer Alexander Ramos.

Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, is caught on video just minutes before the crime occurs. He's at the scene, he's with the victim, and he's the number-one suspect. Ranger is former special forces turned soldier of fortune. He has a blue-chip stock portfolio and no known address. He moves in mysterious circles. He's Stephanie's mentor--the man who taught her everything she knows about fugitive apprehension. And he's more than her friend.

Now he's the hunted and Stephanie's the hunter, and it's time for her to test her skills against the master. But if she does catch him...what then? Can she bring herself to turn him in?

Plus there are other things keeping Stephanie awake at night. Her maternal grandmother has set up housekeeping in Stephanie's apartment, a homicidal maniac has selected Stephanie as his next victim, her love life is in the toilet, she's adopted a dog with an eating disorder, and she can't button the top snap on her Levi's. 

My Review

This was one of the best, if not the best, Stephanie Plum book I have read. I haven’t read them in order, but it doesn’t matter. It was just gritty enough and quite funny. The dog was a hilarious addition. Stephanie is so down to earth every female reader can identify.

https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Six-Stephanie-Plum-Novels/dp/0312976275/

 

Free Fall by Jannine Gallant

 

Ascending Denali with family and friends was supposed to be a celebration of their engagement. Instead, the climb devolves into a horrifying nightmare when her fiancé falls to his death. With survivor’s guilt eating at her soul, Rowan Albright struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. If she hadn’t been bonding with Ian’s cousin, Xander, could she have somehow prevented his death? Or was the reason for his fall far more nefarious? Five years later, Rowan is climbing mountains and guiding backcountry tours in Glacier National Park, determined to put her troubled past behind her—and maybe find love again.

Rowan isn’t the only one with misgivings about the tragic Denali climb. For years, Xander Calloway has wondered if his cousin’s death was intentional. Now a law enforcement ranger with the National Park Service, he organizes a reunion hike to put his theory of foul play to the test. Spending time with the beautiful Rowan is an additional perk since he’s had a harmless crush on her forever. But Xander gets more than he bargained for when a series of deadly mishaps occur. With a killer hiding in plain sight, he’ll lay his life on the line to protect Rowan from becoming the next victim—because a future without her is unimaginable . . . 

My Review

This isn’t my first Jannine Gallant book and certainly not my last. She is skilled at setting you down in a scene, especially the rugged, wilderness kind, giving the reader a wild ride. The suspense, the action, the romance all combine to create a great story.

https://www.amazon.com/Free-Fall-Edge-Survival-Book-ebook/dp/B0H1YZS5ML

Reading and Reviews (Plakcy and Berry)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

 

Grounds for Hope: Smiling Dog Cafe (The Smiling Dog Cafe Book 3) by Neil S. Plakcy 

At a quiet Brooklyn café watched over by painted dogs and warmed by just the right cup of coffee, two teenagers arrive—lost, hurting, and unsure where to turn next.

In this deeply compassionate third entry in the Smiling Dog Café series—fully enjoyable as a standalone—author Neil S. Plakcy shares two powerful novellas about grief, resilience, and the unexpected ways we find our way home.

In Grounds for Hope, Miguel is alone on the streets after his father is deported back to their violence-plagued homeland. Cold, hungry, and nearly out of hope, he’s led to the café by a mysterious pit bull named Baxter—and taken in by Betty, the wise café owner whose coffee and compassion help restore his sense of safety and purpose.

In Finding Grace, Tanya is reeling after her mother’s decision to walk away from their life to “find herself.” Angry and unmoored, Tanya is gently nudged toward the café by Kiyomi, a calm, three-legged Samoyed—and slowly begins to rediscover her strength, her voice, and her path forward.

This tender volume celebrates how healing begins—in community, through ritual and memory, and with the quiet guidance of a dog who always knows exactly who needs help next.

Come in from the cold. The coffee’s brewing, and the dogs are waiting. 

My Review

I’m a dog lover, and I was immediately drawn to this book by the premise: dogs possess an innate sense to help and heal. The book relies on well-defined characters who are caring and have issues that immerse the reader in the story. A boy who is illegal in the country and how he finds a path to find his way is ripe for our times. Mr. Plakcy tells his story as if he’s lived it. Tanya might be a girl of privilege, but the pain of her mother’s action is deep. The café offers both of these young people hope.

 https://www.amazon.com/Grounds-Hope-Smiling-Cafe-Book-ebook/dp/B0FGWRNK2Y 

 

 

The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry 

A family’s secret, a ruthless fanatic, and a covert arm of the American government—all are linked by a single puzzling possibility:

What if everything we know about the discovery of America was a lie? What if that lie was designed to hide the secret of why Columbus sailed in 1492? And what if that 500-year-old secret could violently reshape the modern political world?
 
Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when one of his stories from the Middle East is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns. Now he lives in virtual exile—haunted by bad decisions and a shocking truth he can never prove: that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes in the form of an enigmatic stranger. This stranger forces Sagan to act—and his actions attract the attention of the Magellan Billet, a top-secret corps of the United States Justice Department that deals with America’s most sensitive investigations. Sagan suddenly finds himself caught in an international incident, the repercussions of which will shudder not only Washington, D.C., but also Jerusalem. Coaxed into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, unsure who’s friend and who’s foe, Sagan is forced to Vienna, Prague, then finally into the Blue Mountains of Jamaica—where his survival hinges on his rewriting everything we know about Christopher Columbus. 

My Review

This story held my interest and kept me turning pages because of the “what if” factor. Plus, in the recent years of factoids and fabrications you can find on the Internet, so much has been speculated about Columbus. It was a fun read of fiction and fact.  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OCYQJU/

Reading and Reviews (Finn and Grafton)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

The Secret in the Stacks (The Bookshop Detective) by Kat Finn 

A mysterious letter hidden in a valuable book leads a novice bookshop owner to uncover a decades-old disappearance in a quaint coastal town. 

A former librarian turned bookshop owner uses her literary expertise and newfound amateur sleuthing skills to solve a decades-old missing person case in a small coastal town, uncovering long-held secrets and finding her place in a close-knit community. 

When Olivia Paige inherits her aunt's bookshop in charming Millbrook Cove, she expects a quiet life surrounded by books. But a cryptic letter discovered in a rare edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" plunges her into a 30-year-old cold case. As Olivia investigates, she clashes with skeptical locals and forms unlikely alliances, including a gruff fisherman with surprising literary knowledge. With her keen analytical mind and vast knowledge of mystery novels, Olivia must piece together clues from dusty records and town gossip to solve a long-buried secret—and possibly put herself in the crosshairs of a killer who thought their crime was long forgotten.

This is the PREQUEL to The Bookshop Detective series.

My Review 

I haven’t read any of the other novels in this series. I was given this prequel free, and I’m glad I read it. I’m a fan of cozies, but I don’t like the cutesy kind which seem to be in abundance right now. I started two others and quit a chapter in. Ms. Fin has woven a twisty cozy with smart characters and just enough of the “cozy” feel to make it a good Cozy Mystery. I’ll be sure to check out the other books in this series. 

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Stacks-Bookshop-Detective-ebook/dp/B0DJPR518R/

 

 

S is for Silence: A Kinsey Millhone Novel by Sue Grafton 

Cases don't get much colder than that of Violet Sullivan, who disappeared from her rural California town in 1953, leaving behind an abusive husband and a seven-year-old named Daisy. But PI Kinsey Millhone has promised the now adult Daisy she'll try her best to locate Violet, dead or alive. All signs point to a runaway wife—the clothes that disappeared; the secret stash of money Violet bragged about; the brazen flirtations she indulged in with local men, including some married ones.

Kinsey tries to pick up a trail by speaking to those who remember Violet—and perhaps were more involved in her life than they let on. But the trail could lead her somewhere very dangerous. Because the case may have gone cold, but some people's feelings about Violet Sullivan still run as hot as ever... 

My Review 

To date, I’ve enjoyed the PI Kinsey books, but this one wasn’t one of the best. It started off keeping me turning pages so I got deep enough into it, I had to follow it to the end. There is a lot of jumping around in past and present. I didn’t much care for some of the supporting characters that I thought I was supposed to like. Or maybe I wasn’t supposed to like any of them. Hard to tell. Where they find Violet was a stretch for me. That’s all I’ll say so I won’t spoil it. Eh, somewhat entertaining. 

https://www.amazon.com/S-Silence-Kinsey-Millhone-Novel-ebook/dp/B000O76NCS/

 

Reading and Reviews (Evanovich and Jance)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

 

Look Alive Twenty-Five: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich

 

There's nothing like a good deli, and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World-famous for its pastrami, cole slaw, and for its disappearing managers. Over the last month, three have vanished from the face of the earth, and the only clue in each case is one shoe that's been left behind. The police are baffled. Lula is convinced that it's a case of alien abduction. Whatever it is, they'd better figure out what's going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

 

My Review: 

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Stephanie Plum novel. How odd it took me a couple of chapters to actually start enjoying it. I like her character Lulu, but the book started out being more about her than anything else. But true to form for Ms. Evanovich, it finally took off offering plenty of laughs, sighs at the two hunks Stephanie keeps company with, and an entertaining read. 

AMAZON BUY LINK 

 

Desert Heat (Joanna Brady Mysteries Book 1) by J. A. Jance

 

A cop lies dying beneath the blistering Arizona sun—a local lawman who may well have become the next sheriff of Cochise County. The police brass claim that Andy Brady was dirty, and that his shooting was a suicide attempt. Joanna Brady, his devoted wife and mother of their nine-year-old daughter, knows a cover-up when she hears one . . . and murder when she sees it. But her determined efforts to hunt down an assassin and clear her husband's name are placing Joanna and her surviving family in harm's way—because in the desert, the one thing more lethal than a rattler's bite . . . is the truth.

 

My Review: 

Being from Arizona, I could identify with the heat and the small-town obstacles Joanna Brady encounters. I know that those readers who aren’t familiar with Arizona will get a good visual. The characters are well-defined and the story is just twisty enough. Joanna is tough enough, but relatable, for a new widow who wants answers. I’m glad I started with book one to see how it all began. I’ll look forward to the rest of the series. Jance is up to 11. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and Reviews (Henderson, Marshall)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

A Death in Room 213: An Izzy Munro Cozy Mystery (Izzy Munro Mysteries) by Alison Henderson 

Izzy Munro’s budding photography business gets a big boost when she’s asked to photograph a holiday wedding at a grand old seaside hotel in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea. Everything is going perfectly until the best man disappears after the ceremony, and his tuxedo-clad body is found floating in the bathtub of his room.

Who could have wanted him dead—a swindled client, a secret lover, the father of the bride? What about the catering manager or the wedding planner? No one is off the hook.

Before Izzy and her maybe-boyfriend—an investigator for the DA’s office—can narrow the list of suspects, a second death muddies the water, threatening to turn the investigation on its head. As they work to untangle the web of leads and evidence, Izzy begins to wonder if the seeds of the crime might lie deeper in the victim’s past. With the help of her trusty trio of friends and bossy Burmese cat, Bogart, she keeps digging until the shocking truth is finally revealed. 

My Review 

Izzy Munro is still getting settled in her new life. I love starting over stories for women over forty. They have life experience they can roll into the adventure. Izzy seems to fall into murder mystery with ease, and she's off on another crime to solve. The setting is enticing. The plot is twisty. There’s a hint of romance. Ms. Henderson has done a wonderful job in creating a warm, entertaining cozy mystery.

 

Finding Zachariah: In a Community Garden by Nancy Hick Marshall 

Who knew a feral cat named Sebastian could observe and share so many different insights about human behavior- all within a formerly abandoned lot?

FINDING ZACHARIAH allows you to capture the spirit of what is possible in a community garden. While this remarkable story is fiction, it is based on true events. Imagine a veteran with PTSD, who has fallen into homelessness and thinks alcohol is his only friend - only to find a true friend in a feral cat, Sebastian. Then, imagine a family suffering from losing their dad to violence.

Finally, imagine the possible healing and reconciliation that can occur when volunteers work their own "road map" to turn their lives around - with the help of compassionate humans, the feral cat, and a service dog.

Many things go on in a community garden - mulch-making, seed-planting, pollinating, irrigating, nurturing - both plants and people, and reaping a bountiful harvest. 

My Review 

As told from the point of view of a feral cat, this unique story will tug your heart and bring you chuckles too. I’ve had the good fortune to listen to the author speak about her book. This story is based on true events, and there’s a lesson for all of us within the read.

Reading and Reviews (Gallant, Grafton, Anderson)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Perilous Quest (Truth and Lies, book 3) by Jannine Gallant 

On a quest to find a lost treasure, will they fall victim to love . . . or murder?

As a genealogist and historical researcher, Brielle Quintrell often uncovers secrets families would prefer to keep buried. Hired by the elderly scion of the Cape Cod Bishops, a dynasty stretching back to the founding fathers, she can’t wait to delve into their ancestry—despite her client’s skeptical grandson.

Weston Bishop has his hands full running his family’s cranberry farm, seeing to his grandparents’ needs, avoiding his ex, and keeping his cousin out of trouble. The last thing he wants is a genealogist digging into his family’s past and creating problems. Especially one as pretty and distracting as Brielle.

When old letters and diaries lead to more questions than answers, hinting at a dangerous legacy, Weston is hooked. The idea of recovering a stolen treasure is almost as tempting as his new partner. But after word of their search leaks, the two discover they aren’t the only ones determined to solve the centuries-old crime. Someone will go to any lengths to find the prize—even murder. 

My Review 

How fun to mix genealogy, history, and a treasure hunt in a suspenseful romantic adventure. Brielle and Weston are appealing characters…a genealogist and a cranberry farmer. There are enough suspicious characters to keep you guessing until the end as to who the villain is. A read you’ll enjoy. 

Q is for Quarry: A Kinsey Millhone Novel by Sue Grafton 

She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed. After months of investigation, the murder remained unsolved...

That was eighteen years ago. Now the two men who found the body are nearing the end of their careers in law enforcement—and they want one last shot at the case. Old and ill, they need someone to help with their legwork and they turn to Kinsey Millhone.

Kinsey is intrigued by the cold case and agrees to take the job. But revisiting the past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of Jane Doe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer. 

My Review 

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. The two old detectives jump off the pages, they are so well written. The cold case research has lots of twists and turns. The suspense is tense. 

When Oceans Rage: A Rivals to Lovers Sea Adventure (Woman at the Helm Mystery Book 2) by Rolynn Anderson 

To save her father, she must shut down corporate espionage and unearth a murderer before the killer finds her.

A shocking inheritance of a shrimp boat from her estranged father entices MIT-trained Jill Morrell to resign from her cushy Seattle job. Her lack of experience boating or fishing soon makes her a pariah on the Port McNeill dock. Worse: While she invests time and energy into a successful prawn season, her father languishes in prison for a murder he may not have committed.

Ray Stewart, stepson of the murdered man, has a stealth agenda of his own. Ray aims to sue Jill for ownership of the million-dollar vessel. In fact, he’ll join Jill’s crew for the season to protect his family’s asset while keeping an eye on the ever-fascinating, unpredictable Ms Morrell.

The raging ocean pales in comparison to the violent and greedy folks out to destroy Jill’s livelihood. Though Ray and Jill are sworn adversaries, they must join forces to find a murderer and identify traitors in their British Columbia community. 

My Review 

First off, Ms. Anderson gives us just enough information about the prawning business to entertain us while telling the story and not sound like an instruction manual. That’s not easy to do. The title tells you Rivals to Lovers which is an interesting trope. Not only is there tension and suspense involving murder and espionage, but the tension between the rivals keeps you turning the pages too. A great read.

Reading and Reviews (Jackson and Hart)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Born to Die (An Alvarez & Pescoli Novel) by Lisa Jackson 

A sad, strange coincidence. . .that's Dr. Kacey Lambert's initial response to the deaths of two women who bear an uncanny resemblance to herself. It's not like there was any real connection between Kacey and the B-movie actress or the elementary school teacher. But Detective Selena Alvarez suspects otherwise.

Can Be. . .

One of the bodies contained traces of poison at the time of death. Selena and her partner, Detective Regan Pescoli, can find no motive for murder. But Kacey has started to notice ties between the dead women's lives and her own--all close in age, born within miles of each other. And all have links to Trace O'Halleran, the man Kacey just started dating.

Deadly. . .

The deeper Kacey digs, the more reason she has to fear. More look-alikes are dying, and the killer is getting bolder and more brutal. And Kacey knows it's only a matter of time before hers is the next name on a list of those who were born to die. . .

 MY REVIEW:

I waited too long to review this book. My memory… But I do remember that I enjoyed it. I refuse to finish books that aren’t entertaining me. The only thing that made me scratch my head was there were so many women. Not that I have anything against women, I am one. But the lack of diversity was noticeable. The cops are women, the detective is female, the doctor is a woman. I was beginning to think it was an all-female book. But there is a hero, Trace O’Halleran, and his characterization is appealing. It’s a suspenseful read I can recommend.

 

Dirty Little Secrets (A J.J. Graves Mystery) by Liliana Hart 

J.J. Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work...She's not only in the mortuary business, but she's also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice. The murders are piling up...When a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he's so well known for. Passions are rising...J.J and Jack discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of her own—secrets that make her a perfect target in a deadly game. 

 MY REVIEW:

J.J. is actually in a bad financial way, in a tiny town where not enough people die, and trying to hold on to the mortuary that her parents left her. J.J. is a great character and so is her cop friend Jack. The story is clever, but the characters in the story are what I enjoyed the most. Her fast-fall relationship with Brody rubbed me wrong. There were holes here and there in the plot. But all in all, I enjoyed it for the most part.

Reading and Reviews (Heistand and Gallant)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense and mystery, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, romance, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Crumbs of Defeat (A Cookies and Kilts Mystery Book 4) by Jo A. Heistand 

April first. The annual bake-off contest in Beaudin Trace, Missouri. Oven temperatures and entrants' tempers are hot enough to bake most anything. And everyone there thinks if one particular participant would leave, things would cool off.

Evidently, someone's wish is overheard, for the contentious contestant is found post-contest, sprinkled with cupcakes and ready for her postmortem.

The death yields a mix of suspects, all capable of cooking up the murder. The problem is, who was stirred up enough to do it?

To prove herself innocent of killing Tiffany, bakery shop owner Kate Dunbar investigates. But she quickly wonders if the bake-off was the conclusion in a series of risky events, and if her own elimination is just around the corner.

 MY REVIEW: 

This is a cozy with a cast of characters who make it fun for Kate to investigate the murder of Tiffany, an obnoxious wannabe chef. Reg was my personal favorite. The setting is fun too. The Mississippi River, a dog bakery, and a culinary school all play roles. Unfortunately, Kate is among the list of possible murderers for the police. Her amateur sleuthing is a quest to prove her innocence. 

This was my first read of this series, although it is the fourth book. I feel if I’d read the prior books, a couple of the characters would be more complete. Kate’s relationship to the sheriff was vague. But the read was entertaining. Lovers of cozy mysteries will enjoy the story. 

 

Final Witness (Truth and Lies Book 2) by Jannine Gallant 

The face of a killer could be the final picture he takes…

As a photojournalist, Nash Quintrell travels the world, capturing striking images of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. He certainly never expected to snap a photo of the assassin who shot the nation’s first woman president on her Inauguration Day. Discovering his pictures hold important clues to identifying the men behind the attacks on several high-profile figures is a shock. But they also provide the key to rekindling a relationship with the woman he once loved and pushed away.

When FBI Special Agent Tempest English sees Nash in the inauguration crowd, camera in hand, she has no choice but to approach him. Her mission is to catch a killer, and she’ll take whatever help she can get, even if the last thing she wants is to work with the man who dumped her years before. Nash may have broken her heart, but fate throws them together again, and his photos are the best lead she has.

In an effort to unmask the powerful players behind the conspiracy, Nash and Tempest must track a ruthless band of homegrown terrorists. Infiltrating their circle risks not only their lives, but a future together neither imagined was possible. 

MY REVIEW:

I’m like a broken record when it comes to Jannine Gallant’s books. Just plug in a different title and the praises are the same. Isn’t this a timely read too, with political intrigue and a female president? There’s a story of intrigue and conspiracy with homegrown terrorists. And then there is the romance. Photojournalist Nash and FBI Agent Tempest make a fiery couple solving the crime and revisiting their love story. Romantic Suspense readers are sure to flip the pages of this satisfying book with a smile on their faces.

Reading and Reviews (Cooper and Winters)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

After the Fact by Jeff Cooper 

When Jack Collins leaves a small Connecticut law practice to join one of the nation’s most prestigious firms, he trades a nondescript office for an elite one in a gleaming New York City skyscraper. He basks in the pride of working with people far more glamorous than those he left behind, including a famous boss, an alluring coworker, and a well-known client, Abigail Walker, the wealthy widow of a senator.

Jack thinks he’s on the path to glory, but he’s really a victim of deceit, a pawn in a game he doesn’t even know he’s playing. His new boss harbors deep secrets, his seductive coworker is not the person he thinks she is, and his new law firm is at the very center of a blackmail plot involving the widow Walker.

Blinded by the allure of wealth and power, Jack doesn’t see the danger around him. Time is running out for him to figure out the truth before he loses everything: his career, his marriage, and maybe even his life. 

MY REVIEW

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The main character, Jack Collins, isn’t a perfect human being. He’s a good man, and I routed for him, but his faults made him that much more interesting. I feared he’d succumb to the seductive coworker and ruin his marriage. I’m not saying he doesn’t…don’t want to spoil it for you. There is a villain of sorts who I was happy to see take a dive. I applaud Mr. Cooper for good characterizations. To me a good story is incomplete without standout characters. And the plot is twisty enough to keep you guessing. 

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Deadly Evidence (Jessie Black Legal Thrillers book 3) by Larry A Winters 

When a massacre at an elite private high school leaves seventeen dead and a city reeling with horror, Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Jessica Black will stop at nothing to find justice for the victims. But doing so will require facing an adversary even more terrifying than the teenage shooter.

Lurking in secrecy is an evil voice known only as True_Man. True_Man haunts the Internet, befriending the lonely and the frustrated, turning adolescent emotions toward destruction. Jessie believes True_Man is just as guilty of murder as the teenager he manipulated, but finding him—and proving his guilt in the courtroom—will take all of Jessie’s formidable legal skills and more. 

MY REVIEW

I’ve read several Jessie Black novels by Mr. Winters. I’ve enjoyed all of them including this one, although I don’t rank this as one of the best. Her partner, Graham, irritated me a few times with his phone. I think you’re supposed to get irritated and feel Jessie’s frustration, but it seemed a bit overdone. Jessie hunting down True_Man seemed forced at times to make it work. But don’t get me wrong. This is an entertaining novel which is the purpose and appreciated.

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Reading and Reviews (Winters and Black)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, cozy mysterym, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Burnout (Jessie Black Legal Thriller Book 1) by Larry A Winters 

Years ago, Assistant DA Jessie Black's successful prosecution of Frank Ramsey—a serial killer known as the Family Man—put her on a path to stardom at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. But now an ineffective assistance of counsel claim threatens to overturn the verdict.

The claim alleges that Ramsey did not receive a fair trial because of his lawyer, a public defender named Jack Ackerman. Jack, an excellent lawyer, committed himself to a mental institution days after the trial. No one knows why.

Now Jessie must return to the courtroom to face the killer and his new lawyers—a dream team of high-powered attorneys with mysterious motives for taking his case. Unless Jessie can stop them, they will overturn the verdict, destroy a good man's legal career, and put a vicious killer back on the street.

Jessie's only chance to keep Ramsey in prison is to defend his defense attorney and prove Jack's sanity. And to do that, she's going to need to find out what really happened at that trial.

 

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MY REVIEW

This is my second Jessie Black novel. I’m not reading them in order, obviously. Doesn’t matter. I’m hooked on this series. Jessie is an easy character to get behind and follow her adventures. I love characters that are fleshed out so thoroughly that I feel like I know them. She is not so kick-ass she comes off fake. She’s just tough enough and smart. The story is involved and well rounded. An enjoyable read.

Death by Pins and Needles (Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 2) by Susie Black

 

The last thing Mermaid Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected to find when she opened the closet door was nasty competitor Lissa Charney’s battered corpse nailed to the wall. When Holly’s colleague is wrongly arrested for Lissa’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to sniff out the real killer. Nothing turns out the way she thinks it will as Holly matches wits with a heartless killer hellbent for revenge.

 

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MY REVIEW

The world of swimwear sales is a lot more cutthroat than I imagined. In fact, I didn’t know such a huge world even existed. This is the second book in the series and since I read the first, I’m learning even more about what I thought might be a glitzy world. Ms. Black makes that world come to life. The amateur sleuth, Holly, certainly knows the ins and outs all the while solving the murder. Ms. Black’s books are full of standout characters who guide you through the mystery. You don’t need to read book one to enjoy this second book in the series.

 

Reading and Reviews (Fuller and White)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

The Mockingbird Drive by A. C. Fuller 

Five people are dead at a small Las Vegas newspaper...
The police and the media are running with the "official story"...
But Alex Vane is after the truth.

Alex Vane was once a top investigative journalist. Now he peddles celebrity gossip and clickbait listicles, watching from a distance as his wife moves on with her life - without him. But Alex's past catches up to him when he learns that an old source, James Stacy, has been killed in a random mass shooting.

James left Alex one last scoop: a 50-year-old hard drive that may contain a secret worth killing for...and the name of the one person who can help him access the data. That person is Quinn Rivers, a paranoid and reclusive computer expert who believes the CIA is tracking her every move. And she may be right.

When Alex shows up at her door with the hard drive, armed operatives are right behind him. Now Alex and Quinn are on the run. There is no one to trust, nowhere to hide, and nothing but the hard drive to prove that James Stacy's death wasn't random at all. 

MY REVIEW

First off, I found this book entertaining. I think Mr. Fuller does a great job with character portrayal. The story is very “now” with lots of terminology and techy stuff so that part was lost on me here and there, but I was able to catch up and get the gist of it. If you don’t believe in the dark world behind government and the movers and shakers, then you might have trouble suspending belief enough to enjoy this read. I didn’t have ANY trouble with that. I like a hero who isn’t all good and has faults. I would definitely read another book with Alex Vane as the main character.

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Cause for Elimination by Marla A. White 

Reclaiming her life after a devastating riding accident, equestrian Emily Conners’ world shatters again when she discovers her friend and boss lying in a stall with a smashed skull. Now jobless and with a handsome cop underfoot investigating the case, she's torn between wanting the killer found and keeping her own secrets safe.

Detective Justin Butler always gets his killer, but this victim has a stampede of enemies and few leads to go on. Stonewalled by the tight-knit equestrian world, he looks to Emily for help, but she’s strangely reluctant. Is she hiding something, or is she afraid of their growing attraction?

As the search for the murderer heats up, their hearts become entangled and their lives at risk, forcing Emily and Justin to work together to find the killer before they strike again.

 MY REVIEW

I bought this book because it is about the horse world. One of my all-time favorite authors is Dick Francis. But Francis wrote about racing not the equestrian world. That’s okay. I like horses and learned a little about this other horsey world. The main gist of the story is about a murder within that community and the detective who is trying to solve the crime with the aid of a pill-popping equestrian, Emily, who he’s falling in love with. At first, I puzzled over the heroine and her addiction. Ms. White was brave in writing such a flawed protagonist. But I must say she handled the touchy subject well. There were times I wanted to slap Emily upside the head, and maybe that shows I got into her character. I enjoyed the characters Dearg and Lottie as well. 

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