Reading and Reviews (Black 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. 

Death by Coconut by Susie Black 

Obnoxious Mystique Swimwear sales rep Simon Posnick was universally despised by competitors and customers alike. So the question wasn’t who wanted the lying, cheating scoundrel dead. The question was who didn’t. Mariel Levine, Laurie’s Fashions' swimsuit buyer and Holly Schlivnik’s career mentor, is wrongly arrested for murdering Posnick by impaling him with the jagged edge of a coconut shell at the base of his skull. The wisecracking, irreverent President of Mermaid Swimwear jumps into action to uncover the real killer. But the treacherous trail holds more dangerous human predators than the alligators and black pythons in the Everglades. Everything turns out differently than amateur sleuth Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a vengeful killer.

 

My Review

The Yentas are at it again. They’re cheering Holly on as she tackles another murder mystery. Ms. Black’s imagination and creativity are stellar in this Holly Swimsuit mystery down to using a coconut shell to stab the most obnoxious Posnick. This story is set in Miami, and having lived there, I can say she’s portrayed the setting rightfully, plunging the reader into the Florida city. Not to be a spoiler, but there might be a little romance for Holly in this book of the series. It’s a madcap mystery romp with plenty of unique characters. 

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Coconut-Holly-Swimsuit-Mystery/dp/B0GX9FZDNP

 

 

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton 

Although business has been slow lately for P.I. Kinsey Millhone, she's reluctant to take on the case of locating Beverly Danziger's sister Elaine Boldt. It's a small matter that Beverly should be able to handle herself. So why is she enlisting Kinsey's services? Beverly claims she needs Elaine's signature on some documents so that she can collect a small inheritance. But it doesn't sit well with Kinsey. And if there's something she's learned in her line of work, it's to always follow your instincts…

Kinsey's hunch proves true when she begins her inquiries into Elaine's whereabouts and discovers that the attractive widow was last seen in a flashy lynx coat boarding a plane for Boca Raton. But the more Kinsey searches for Elaine the more questions she encounters. Is Elaine's disappearance tied in to the brutal murder several months ago of one of her bridge partners? And what happened to Elaine's Persian cat who seems to have also vanished?

Things take a turn for the worse when a stranger vandalizes the home of one of Elaine's neighbors and another neighbor turns up murdered. With her reputation and career on the line, Kinsey risks all to find a missing woman and a killer who's waiting in the shadows to strike again…

 

My Review

I’m hooked on the P.I. Kinsey Millhone books. I’ve been reading them out of order but it doesn’t matter, although I can see the growth in her character in later books. Anyway, read the blurb and know I recommend this book for lots of entertainment. 

https://www.amazon.com/Burglar-Millhone-Mystery-Alphabet-Mysteries/dp/1250020247/

Reading and Reviews (Winters 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.

I'm on a Larry A. Winters jag right now with his Jessie Black legal thrillers.

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

 

Prosecutor Jessie Black has an airtight case against Tyrone Nash, a gang thug who shot a man behind a bar in West Philly. But what should be an easy trial turns complicated when Nash somehow intimidates her eyewitness, and he recants his testimony on the eve of the trial. Now Jessie's only move to stop the killer from walking is to call a witness she had hoped to avoid—Reggie Tuck, a smooth-talking jailhouse snitch who claims Nash confessed to him during a short time they shared a cell. Worse, there are other people with an interest in the trial—people intent on silencing Reggie's big mouth, permanently.

Soon Jessie and Reggie find themselves trapped in a courthouse taken hostage by armed assailants. She must find a way to keep both Reggie and herself alive long enough to learn who they are, and how to stop them. But is Reggie Tuck's life worth protecting at the risk of her own?

MY REVIEW

Another fun read by Larry Winters. Jessie's personality stays true to form. Reggie Tuck steals the show in this book. The entire scenario was just a touch difficult to suspend belief, but because of the characterizations and the twisty plot, I was able to accept it. The only thing that had me scratching my head was a timeline issue for Detective Leary who's outside the courthouse and trying to find a way to help. But that's a sidebar. Overall, this is another good entertaining novel.

 

AMAZON BUY LINK

 

 

Silenced Witness (Jessie Black Legal Thriller Book 6) by Larry A. Winters

 

Life is good for Assistant DA Jessie Black. She just brought another murder trial to a successful conclusion. Her reputation is growing as a top prosecutor in Philadelphia. And she’s engaged to a strong, handsome man she loves. Now it’s time to step back, plan her wedding, and look forward to a bright future.

But when a young man is brutally butchered in his own home, the courtroom calls to her. Especially when the police are desperate for help. Hal and Kristina Nolan, a clever husband-and-wife team of defense attorneys, have filed motions to block key evidence and keep a critical witness off the stand. Jessie knows she needs to go to trial and beat them at their own game. Because if she fails, their client, a remorseless human monster, will stroll out of the courthouse a free man.

MY REVIEW

This is my favorite so far in this series I will continue to read. I really need to drop back and read them in order I suppose, but it hasn't messed with my enjoyment. I'm a little lost on the relationship between Jessie and Detective Leary but not so much to disturb me. The villain in this book is complex and one we can love to hate. Jessie's personal life with her upcoming wedding causes more conflict for the story. And the clever husband/wife law team Jessie comes up against is so believable I think I saw them on a billboard in Phoenix. Enthralling read.

 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and #Reviews (Dean, Guidoccio, Anderson)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is Juror #3 by James Patterson, a crime and law novel.  I also read romantic suspense, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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!

End of Lonely Street by Alicia Dean
Romance

This is a short novella for those readers who love being transported back to the nostalgic 1950s. Toby quits school to return home and take care of her alcoholic mother. An old love, Noah, is there, too, which causes Toby another kind of problem. She finds solace in the music of her idol, Elvis, and the reader gets carried along. You’ll enjoy this short, sweet love story.

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A Season for Killing Blondes by Joanne Guidoccio
Cozy Mystery

Gilda has started her own business after winning the lottery. But before her Grand opening is kicked off, a dead blonde is found on the premises. This is only one of several. Besides being a suspect, her old love from thirty years ago is the detective in charge.

This story is character driven with a splash of Italian that will capture you and keep you reading. It’s a cozy that got me from page one.

AMAZON BUY LINK

When Mountains Fall by Rolynn Anderson
Romantic Suspense

Camryn’s husband is dead. She and her son have been living with his wealthy parents. But her son wants to return to their home in isolated Waka Bay, British Columbia. For his mental health, she takes him home and together they fight to run the failing business while she tries to clear her husband’s name of murder. When she meets Finn, who anchors his boat in the bay every weekend, her life becomes more interesting and more tense as he has secrets of his own.

Ms. Anderson paints a vivid picture of this beautiful area while weaving a story of intrigue and romance.

                                       AMAZON BUY LINK

Reading and #Reviews (Eden, Gallant, Dean)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is Lethal Memory by Jannine Gallant, a romantic suspense. You might notice I read a lot of Ms. Gallant’s books. I'm only a chapter into it, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the read. I also read crime and law novels, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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!

Fear for Me: A Novel of the Bayou Butcher by Cynthia Eden

Romantic Thriller 

The story was involved which is a good thing. I guess I should've thought twice that since it is about a Bayou Butcher the descriptions could be graphic. Not my cup of tea. The prose read rough in some areas. I found the hero's constant use of calling the heroine baby annoying. She was a very believable character and one of the highlights of this book. Being an author, I’m not opposed to foul language used in a story if the use is authentic and fits the character and style. Unfortunately, use of the F word felt gratuitious. If you like a gritty crime story and a too macho hero, you'll enjoy it.

Every Vow She Breaks (Who’s Watching Now book three) by Jannine Gallant

Romantic Suspense

Ms. Gallant’s stories are usually set in northern California, as is this book which takes place in the majestic Redwoods. She puts us there nicely. And then tosses in a twist because we’re on the search for Big Foot. While heroine is hoping to catch the unexplained on camera, the love from her past recaptures her heart. The story turns sinister, and you’re sure to enjoy this suspenseful romance. Recommended.

Death Notice (The Northland Crime Chronicles, book one) by Alicia Dean

Romantic Suspense

Ms. Dean knows how to weave crime, suspense, and romance, which is why this isn't the first book I've read by her. A newspaper columnist, Monroe Donovan, receives obituaries before they happen. Detective Lane Brody sees her as a suspect. While she deals with a boss who used to be more and a detective who is in an unhappy marriage and she’s attracted to, the murderer manages to capture her. The characters have depth and good back stories. The plot is compelling. Recommended.

Reading and #Reviews (Jackson, La Plante, Binchy)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read was a Romantic Suspense by Alicia Dean entitled Death Notice. I say was because my Kindle died before I finished. I picked up an actual book by Tom Clancy while my Kindle fixes itself...which it isn't doing. As soon as I get a new Kindle, I'll finish Ms. Dean's book. I was really enjoying it!

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!

False Bottom by James M. Jackson

Crime Suspense

“In this sixth book in the Seamus McCree series, he must find a path through a labyrinth of lies and secrets stemming from his father's death more than forty years earlier and resolve all of Uncle Mike's legacies before the killer can strike again.”

This is the first Seamus McCree series book I’ve read. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it. I doubt you need to read the books in order, but I’d like to go back and read book one to be sure. I had the sense I needed to know the family better. I couldn’t “see” the Seamus character clearly. I had trouble understanding what made him tick. I love a good story, but I also require characters with depth that pull me in and make me feel like I know them. All and all, the story was involved and intriguing.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Widows by Lynda La Plante

Crime Suspense

“Facing life alone, they turned to crime together. Dolly Rawlins, Linda Pirelli and Shirley Miller are left devastated when their husbands are killed in a security van heist that goes disastrously wrong.”

Criminal’s wives turn to crime. Dolly is the leader as was her husband. She’s rich and smart and not too young. She discovers his playbook and decides to continue his work. The only thing that made me hang in on this book past the fourth chapter was the characters. This book was written for the purpose of turning it into a film. It read that way to me. I didn’t find it written particularly well. But Ms. La Plante did weave a complicated tale, and it turns out with a bit of a surprise twist here and there. The characters were so vivid, I had to follow their paths to the end.

AMAZON BUY LINK

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy

Mainstream

“When a new highway threatens to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods, everyone has a passionate opinion about whether the town will benefit or suffer. But young Father Flynn is most concerned with the fate of St. Ann’s Well, which is set at the edge of the woods and slated for destruction. People have been coming to St. Ann’s for generations to share their dreams and fears, and speak their prayers. Some believe it to be a place of true spiritual power, demanding protection; others think it’s a mere magnet for superstitions, easily sacrificed.”

I am never disappointed with a Maeve Binchy book. Her tales of seemingly ordinary people absolutely enthrall me. There doesn’t need to be murder or hair-raising suspense that pushes your level of believability. Her characters are enticing, her settings beautiful. Always a great read.  

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Reading and #Reviews (Dean, Gallant, Brennan)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is crime thriller by Lynda La Plante entitled Widows. I'm seventy-five pages into it, and holding my judgement. There are some technical snafus that are bugging me, but I'll keep reading for now.

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

Lady in the Mist by Alicia Dean

A gothic mystery romance...

I’ve read other books by Ms. Dean, and she never fails to entertain. Lily Jackson is looking for a new start, but she goes from her own personal family tragedy into the Breckenridge family with tragedy she didn’t expect. While caregiver to an emotionally disturbed young man, she is both repulsed and attracted to the older Breckenridge man. There are missing women, ghosts, and danger for Lily if she can’t solve the mystery. 

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LADY IN THE MIST

Lost Innocence by Jannine Gallant

Romantic Suspense

I’ve yet to read anything my Ms. Gallant that I haven’t liked. Her settings are well described without overkill. Her characters are interesting. Her stories are involved. In Lost Innocence Nina Hutton has troubles with break-ins, unaware she’s in possession of someone else’s lottery ticket—and a not very scrupulous someone. Thank goodness there’s a handsome hunk who just moved in across the street and is more than willing to give her a hand. Teague O’Dell has a cute daughter and a wounded heart from losing his wife. Now, he’s in the middle of danger with Nina by his side. What they might uncover is worse than either of them expected.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LOST INNOCENCE

Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan

Murder Mystery with Romantic Overtones

You need a sturdy constitution for this Brennan mystery. A violent murderer who glues young women’s mouths shut suffocates them in a garbage bag, isn’t reading for the weak of nature. Carina Kincaid is the detective who investigates these murders. She's tough with a soft side, and Sheriff Nick Thomas can’t resist. Although Nick is scarred and unsteady from another serial killer case, his brother is the suspect in this one, and he can’t turn his back on it. The electricity between Carina and Nick is hot, but they’re working together to solve the case.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR SPEAK NO EVIL

Reading and #Reviews (Brennan, Buchbinder, Gallant)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write (romantic suspense), but not exclusively. My current read is a mystery/crime novel by James M. Jackson entitled False Bottom. No romance.

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

Notorious (Max Revere Novels, book 1) by Allison Brennan

Crime

This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Brennan. It won’t be my last.

“Maxine Revere has dedicated her life to investigating murders that the police have long since given up any hope of solving. A nationally renowned investigative reporter with her own TV show and a tough-as-nails reputation, Max tackles cold cases from across the country and every walk of life. But the one unsolved murder that still haunts her is a case from her own past.”

I thoroughly enjoyed Maxine, routing for her when dealing with her snobby rich family, and for her gutsiness in standing up to most everyone in defense of a suspect. She’s out to solve more than one murder, and you’ll enjoy the tale.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR NOTORIOUS

Legacy of Evil (the Hotel Labelle Series, book 2) by Sharon Buchbinder

Romantic Suspense

I happen to love horse stories. Emma Horserider is a horse whisperer. I’m also of American Indian heritage, so this book had it all for me. Horses are under attack and there’s a hate group to deal with. When Emma teams with Harley-riding Bronco Winchester, not only are they one tough couple to meet the challenge, but the romance will offer up its own challenges.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LEGACY OF EVIL

Fatal Encounter (A Counterstrike Novel, book 1) by Jannine Gallant

Romantic Suspense

The first book in the Counterstrike Series by Jannine Gallant kicks off this series in true Gallant style. She starts with a great series premise…an organization who rescues kidnap victims any way they can.

In Fatal Encounter, we meet Jaimee Fleming who has left the organization because one of their own has been killed. I really enjoyed this character who is a former Olympic biathlete turned sniper turned dog walker.

Pair Jaimee with best-selling novelist Eli Croft and you have a good mix for a romance with lots of suspense. Eli’s grandmother is murdered and it looks like one of the family did the deed. Counterstrike joins in to bring the murderer to justice.

I’m looking forward to more books in this series.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR FATAL ENCOUNTER

Reading and #Reviews (Wilson, Garr, Dean)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour my day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is a thriller by Allison Brennan entitled Speak No Evil. It's pretty graphic for me, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the read. I also read romantic suspense, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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

Laked by J.L. Wilson 

Romantic Suspense

Vivian DuLac deals in antiques and unusual items she sells in her shop. She also knows a great deal about software and her ex is a CEO of a large software company. Enter Able, who wants to know about the ex and isn’t totally on the up and up with Vivian when they meet. There’s an ancient sword, murder, deception, and a stormy night that brings it all together. The characters in this book really had me hooked. It is Ms. Wilson’s attention to character detail that keeps me coming back to her books. You’ll love the suspense in this story too!

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LAKED

Speedbumps by Teri Garr with Henriette Mantel

I’m a fiction junky, so this biography is an unusual read for me. I have to admit, I was drawn to it because for a period of my life (when Teri was doing the Jockey underwear commercials), I was asked almost daily if I knew I looked like her. Ms. Garr, star of classic films like Young Frankenstein, Oh God!, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Mr. Mom, and the Academy Award nominated Tootsie, tells her story with wit. And it’s not always happy. She spent time with Elvis, the Beatles, and has an illness that wasn’t diagnosed for twenty years. It’s an interesting read.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR SPEEDBUMPS

Love Breaks by Alicia Dean

Alicia Dean is an extremely talented writer. If you love romance stories, Ms. Dean’s collection of ten stories will keep you entertained. If you aren’t normally a short story enthusiast but you love romance, give this book a chance. Short story reading can be fun when you haven’t got a lot of time to invest, but you can use the entertainment a good read brings you.

AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LOVE BREAKS

Reading and #Reviews (Wilson, Brockmann, and Henderson)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or a reader at night for the last hour of my waking day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is a Gothic Mystery Romance by Alicia Dean entitled Lady in the Mist. I'm only a chapter into it, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the read. I also read detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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

Candy, Corpses, and Classified Ads by J L Wilson
One thing, and there are many, I like about J L's books are the heroes and heroines have a little distance on them. They've had past romances or marriages, and they have some depth of character from life's experiences. In C, C, and C, JT McCord jilted Molly Lawford twenty years ago. She survived, married twice, but her first husband died and her second ran off with a hairdresser. JT is back and Molly wants to resist him. But there's a body, a marauding pig, and all sorts of  suspense to get them entangled since he's back as the Chief of Police. This is a lot of fun and a highly recommended read.

Amazon Buy Link



The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockman

After a near-fatal head injury, Navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. The Navy won't believe him because of his head injury. He has to take saving the day into his own hands with crew he brings together which includes the girl-next-door he left behind. The action is good and so is the romance. An entertaining read. By the way, this is the first book of the Troubleshooters Series.

Amazon Buy Link

The Treasure of Como Bluff by Alison Henderson

Something about a woman doing a supposedly "man's job" and being so good at it makes for a fun read. When Caroline convinces the handsome Nick to pose as the paleontologist...well it's just plain fun. This is a sweet western romance you're sure to enjoy.

Amazon Buy Link 

Reading and #Reviews (Sandford, Collins, Hoornstra, and Gallant)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or a reader at night for the last hour of my waking day.

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. My current read is a Romantic Suspense by J L Wilson entitled Candy, Corpses, and Classified Ads. I'm not quite finished so you'll have to wait until another month for the review. But I also like detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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

John Sandford is the author of the Prey series, Crime/Thriller. I’ve read eighteen of the twenty-six books in this series. Although I didn’t start with book one, I changed directions after the first couple. They can be read out of order, but because the main character, Lucas Davenport, starts as a maverick detective and works his way up the law enforcement ladder, in order might be advised. I LOVE these books. I’ll certainly be sure to finish the series eventually. My TBR pile runneth over.

BUY LINK CLICK HERE

The Hunger Games #1 in the series by Suzanne Collins

I saw the movies first. I really didn't care about seeing them or reading the books, but my FDW came home one night with the first one from the Redbox. Wow, did I get hooked! We watched all three on consecutive nights. I then got the books. So entertaining! Books and movies differ, but I thoroughly enjoyed both.

BUY LINK CLICK HERE

On the Surface #1 in the series by Margo Hoornstra

For some reason I'm always attracted to bounty hunter stories, if there's romance involved. Margo Hoornstra didn't disappoint me with this Romantic Suspense. A wrongly convicted woman has to depend on one handsome bounty hunter to help rid herself of the slimy guy who used her and is coming back for more. She's caught between keeping herself out of his web and the law, and she needs help. The hero is a certainly the one she needs. This is good romance and suspense.

BUY LINK CLICK HERE

Hidden Secrets #3 in series by Jannine Gallant

I've read quite a few books by Jannine Gallant, and she continues to please. This Romantic

Suspense is maybe the best. It's been a long time that a book has kept me reading past my usual bedtime. An antique dealer has something that can lead to a murderer. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out who the bad guy was and never did nail it. The romance between two childhood friends was so believable. An absolutely great read.

BUY LINK CLICK HERE

Reading and #Reviews (Sandford, Anderson, Henderson)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or a reader at night for the last hour of my waking day.

I tend to read what I write, which is Romantic Suspense, but not exclusively. My current read is a Romantic Suspnse by Jannine Gallant entitled Hidden Secrets. I also like detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

I'm sharing three more books with you today. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author!

Amazon Buy Link

Sudden Prey by John Sandford

It's been a couple of years since I read this Crime Thriller, but I wanted to introduce you to the series if you haven't read it. There are a ton of Prey books. You can read them out of order, which is what I did with the first couple, but you'll enjoy them more if you start at the beginning. Lucas Davenport is the main character, a cop that is tough and is a character I fell in love with. The series follows him as he climbs the ladder of success to detective and on into the political side of law enforcement. There's a new murder to solve in every book. Sandford's secondary characters are great. And Lucas has a love life that eventually has him settling down with an equally engaging character.

Amazon Buy Link

Fear Land by Rolynn Anderson

Ms. Anderson tackles a tough subject in this Romantic Suspense...emphasis on the suspense. PTSD in children is Tally Rosella's focus as an acclaimed psychiatrist. But someone doesn't want her to tie her findings about troubled children to PTSD. Tally meets Army Major Cole Messer who won't admit his Afghanistan experience and PTSD have disrupted his life. You'll enjoy the suspense and romance and get yourself educated about PTSD at the same time.

Amazon Buy Link

Undercover Nanny by Alison Henderson

This is the 3rd book in Ms. Henderson's Phoenix, Ltd. series about female bodyguards. You don't need to read them in order. I can't begin to give a quick summary of the plot of this Romantic Suspense. It involves kidnapping, extortion, antiquities smuggling, and arson. The inexperienced Casey isn't quite prepared for her body guard duties when it turns so suspenseful. She's not too prepared for handsome Alec either. And no one knows how to handle a pesky monkey. This is a fun read. Adding the monkey was a funny touch.

Reading and #Reviews (Murphy, Walls, Patterson)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or a reader at night for the last hour of my waking day.

I tend to read what I write, which is Romantic Suspense, but not exclusively. My current read is a Romance by Alison Henderson entitled Como Bluff. I'm not quite finished so you'll have to wait until next month for the review. But I also like detective thrillers, WWII historicals, mysteries, and some main stream character driven novels.

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

Goodbye Emily by Michael Murphy
They met at Woodstock, and the love lasted a lifetime. Then she was gone, and so was his college teaching job. Heartbroken but determined, he calls on his two best friends to help him return to the place it all began. Three baby boomers relive their 1969 trip to Woodstock. One final roadtrip. One last chance to say Goodbye Emily.

What an absolutely enjoyable book. Michael Murphy did an excellent job of portraying the 60's while grounding us in the present with characters who "were there". The 60's are hard times to write about without sounding trite or preachy. Mr. Murphy uses dream sequences to flash back from present day to the Woodstock Festival. He handled it beautifully. I've never read a book that had me crying and laughing for the whole book. Thank you, Michael, for a beautifully enjoyable read.

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

This is a story about the author’s grandmother. Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great

Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds -- against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn't fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit.

What a great true story novel. I found it particularly interesting as the book is set mostly near where I used to live in Paulden, Arizona. The fact it is based on true happenings made it so enthralling. Great characterizations. 

Judge and Jury by James Patterson

Andie DeGrasse, an aspiring actress and single mom, is not your typical juror. Hoping to get dismissed from the pool, she tells the judge that most of her legal knowledge comes from a bit part curling around the stripper's pole in The Sopranos. But she still ends up as juror number 11 in a landmark trial against a notorious mob boss.

I'm normally a Patterson fan, but this one left me kind of cold. I couldn't get behind the characters, and the suspense was mild. This is one of his collaborated books so that could be why it didn't seem to have the same level of entertainment.