REVIEW: Do you love a good old fashioned Detective Mystery? If you do, I would suggest picking up a copy of Cold Killer by Tammy L Grace. It was so nice to sit down with old friends and see what they are up to. I got so involved in their new case and could hardly put the book down. I started it before bed and read until my eyes were closing. I picked it back up the next day and read until I finished the book. It was so good y’all! 

Coop is a Nashville lawyer turned Detective, AB (Annabelle) is his assistant and Gus is his faithful Golden Retriever. They solve murder cases that come their way. In this book Coop’s new client has been dead for 25 years! Sounds like fun. Right? 

This is the fourth book in the Cooper Harrington Detective Novels. They are written as standalone books but, I would encourage you to read them from the beginning because you get to know background on the characters that are common in each book. I love these characters. They are so well developed and they care for each other. They become your best friends and that makes it nice to sit down and catch up with what is going on in their world. 

If you love good friends, faithful dogs, and a good mystery, this book will be right up your alley! I’m already looking forward to the next installment of the series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: Coop’s new client has been dead for the last twenty-five years.

Despite all their wealth and success, the Covington family has been cursed with tragedy. Twenty-five years ago, two horrific accidents threatened to ruin their business and livelihood. This, followed by two deaths in the family, forever change them. Now, the patriarch of the family is dying, and the son everyone thought died so long ago, returns.

Dax Covington wants Coop to help him prove his identity and find out who tried to kill him. Then, there is the matter of identifying the remains of the body buried under Dax’s headstone.

Dax ran away all those years ago, convinced he knew who the killer was and the motive, but was he right? He needs Coop’s help getting to the truth, even if it means the worst—someone he loves is the killer.

Will Coop be able to unearth old evidence and solve the case before it’s too late?

Cold Killer is the fourth book in the award-winning Cooper Harrington Detective Novels, featuring Coop, a Nashville lawyer turned private detective known for his love of coffee, snarky t-shirts, and talent for solving cases. He, along with his faithful dog, Gus, and his right-hand assistant, Annabelle, work together to solve murder cases full of twists and turns.

You’ll find a bit of humor, a dash of southern charm, a dog who is more like a furry best friend, plenty of comfort food, and murder, of course. If you enjoy complex characters with a few quirks and plots that keep you guessing, you’ll love Tammy L. Grace’s mystery series.

Treat yourself to the fourth book in the series readers describe as “well-written, clever, and will keep you guessing until the end” today. The series may be read as stand-alone novels, but are more enjoyable when read in order.

Read more from USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace

COOPER HARRINGTON DETECTIVE NOVELS

• Killer Music (2016 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
• Deadly Connection (2017 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
• Dead Wrong
• Cold Killer

REVIEW: Boy Underground by Catherine Ryan Hyde will leave you with a tangle of feelings. It makes you happy, sad, heartbroken and optimistic. It’s a wonderful story. This is one author I don’t hesitate when I see a book by her. I snatched that baby up because I know I want to read it. 

Coincidentally, this book releases on December 7 which is the anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. If you’ve read anything about the internment camps in the United States for the Japanese during WWII then you will know a little bit about this book. It is about four friends that are inseparable until the war tears them and their families apart. This book addresses many topics that will make you stop and think. Maybe it will change how you feel about things. 

I wasn’t sure, after I learned what this book was about, if I really wanted to read it. I’m glad I did. I’ve had this happen a couple of times lately. I’ve learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover, subject matter or the synopsis. Do judge it by the author and how well they have handled sensitive subjects in the past. I’m so glad I didn’t turn my back on this book. I still know I want to read anything Catherine Ryan Hyde writes! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #LakeUnionPublishing and #Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: During WWII, a teenage boy finds his voice, the courage of his convictions, and friends for life in an emotional and uplifting novel by the New York Times and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author.

1941. Steven Katz is the son of prosperous landowners in rural California. Although his parents don’t approve, he’s found true friends in Nick, Suki, and Ollie, sons of field workers. The group is inseparable. But Steven is in turmoil. He’s beginning to acknowledge that his feelings for Nick amount to more than friendship.

When the bombing of Pearl Harbor draws the US into World War II, Suki and his family are forced to leave their home for the internment camp at Manzanar. Ollie enlists in the army and ships out. And Nick must flee. Betrayed by his own father and accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he turns to Steven for help. Hiding Nick in a root cellar on his family’s farm, Steven acts as Nick’s protector and lifeline to the outside world.

As the war escalates, bonds deepen and the fear of being different falls away. But after Nick unexpectedly disappears one day, Steven’s life focus is to find him. On the way, Steven finds a place he belongs and a lesson about love that will last him his lifetime.

REVIEW: Wish Upon A Christmas Star by Karen McQuestion proves this author can write anything! I have read a few books by her and they are all different genres! I love an author that stretches her wings and always brings a new and wonderful story. 

This book is everything you want in a Christmas story. It really is what Christmas is all about. Gwen is recently divorced and moves into the home she and her ex bought for their retirement in Poplar Creek. She is depressed and it is when she steps outside of herself that she finds a new life with new friends. 

I’ve read a couple of books this year that rate at the top of my Christmas book list and deserve a re-read next year. Wish Upon A Christmas Star is one of those books. Don’t get me wrong, the others I’ve read and given a good rating to are very good. I don’t make a habit of reading a book more than once. There are simply too many good books out there to spend time reading books over again. Just my opinion. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: Get caught up in a special holiday story about the magic of Christmas and a second chance at love.

When Gwen Hayward moves to the quaint town of Poplar Creek, she’s too mired in post-divorce misery to meet the neighbors. That changes when she spots a little girl leave an anonymous wish on the local bookstore’s Christmas tree. Compelled to find the girl and fulfill the wish, Gwen enlists the aid of local business owner, Lucky Gallagher.

With the help of the townspeople, a lost dog, and some holiday magic, Gwen and Lucky may see more than one Christmas wish come true.

REVIEW: Christmas Yearnings by Ev Bishop was so very heartwarming. This is book 8 of The Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series. At first, I didn’t remember who Marilyn was. She is Jo’s biological mother who was addicted to drugs and eventually lost Jo. This story is about her life starting at three years sober. 

I don’t think many of us liked Marilyn in the past. We all were wanting the best for Jo and we’re glad that Maddie came into her life. In this book we see Marilyn’s life from her point of view. It makes you want to reach out and hug her at times. She knows she messed up her life. She also doesn’t feel she deserves any grace. She longs for her family. I began to start pulling for her. 

If you’ve read any of the books in this series, you have to pick this one up. I loved every single second of this book. I think you will too. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Marilyn Fox is three years clean and sober but a life-long loser—in her mind, anyway. It doesn’t matter that she’s finally holding down a job, providing for herself, and trying to make amends with those she’s hurt. Her past haunts her. What kind of mother abandons her own child? No kind, that’s what.

She yearns for connection and love but knows that she doesn’t deserve it, not even from Millie, the big old dog who’s become her best—maybe only—friend.

When a chance encounter with a man as lonely as she is sparks dreams of things she’s long since given up on—okay, never thought possible for someone like her—she is more than stunned. She is . . . utterly baffled. Even more surprising, Jamie is deluded enough to think she is valuable, loveable, even.

Her daughter Stevie shows her unbelievable and completely undeserved grace—even going so far as letting her have a relationship with her precious grandson. Millie gives her the most gentle and effusive unconditional love—and much laughter. Jamie is bent on trying to get her to see herself the way he sees her. . . . But none of that is enough.

If the yearnings of Marilyn’s heart will ever be met, she needs to know for herself: can she—has she—really changed? And even if other people can forgive her, can she ever forgive herself?

If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming holiday romance, second chances, and furry dog friends, you’ll be rooting for Marilyn and hoping her heart’s deepest longings can be met in Christmas Yearnings, Book 8 in Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, from USA Today bestselling author Ev Bishop.

REVIEW: I love a good Christmas story. I have been fortunate to be an early reader for several of them this year. It was a ton of fun and I have a few more to go. The Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge rises to the top because this year we get to read a continuation of the story for each of the girls and their mother. Christmas Peace by Violet Howe melted my heart. 

Ms. Violet writes the story of Maddie who is the Matriarch of the family. After losing her husband and daughter in an accident she struggled for purpose in her life. During Christmas one year she took in four girls who needed homes at the last minute knowing foster homes are hard to come by during the holidays. The love that grows between Maddie and these girls is beautiful. 

I love these characters! Each author writes a different one and their particular story and because of that the characters are rich and full. You get a wide perspective of the family they have become and the adults the girls are now. 

The stories were so well received last year and because readers fell in love with them, the story continues this year! I’m hoping we get at least one more year. They set such a warm and beautiful feeling for my holidays and I know they will do the same for yours. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Christmas has been a magical time for Maddie and her four adopted daughters ever since she first welcomed the girls into her home for the holidays years ago. With each passing year, preserving their family traditions and holiday customs has remained a priority, but now that the girls are adults beginning families of their own, Maddie worries that this may be the last year they’ll all spend the holiday together.

When Robert suggests a pre-holiday trip to celebrate their first year together, Maddie’s heart is torn between making the most of time with her daughters or enjoying a romantic getaway that would provide a much-needed break from the overwhelming stress she’s been under at work.

With a promise that she’ll be back by Christmas Eve, she jets off to an idyllic resort in Costa Rica with Robert, but the vacation ends up being not at all what Maddie expected. Then, when complications threaten to delay their return and put her beloved family holiday in jeopardy, Maddie’s faith in the Christmas spirit is put to the test.

Can she still find the magic of the season and have Christmas Peace in her heart?

If you’re a fan of heartwarming, second-chance, holiday romances with later-in-life heroes and heroines, you’ll love this volume of the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series!

Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book – download them all today!
Book 1: Christmas Sisters – FREE prologue book
Book 2: Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim
Book 3: Christmas Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: Christmas Hope by Violet Howe
Book 5: Christmas Dreams by Ev Bishop
Book 6: Christmas Rings by Tess Thompson
Book 7: Christmas Surprises by Tammy L. Grace
Book 8: Christmas Yearnings by Ev Bishop
Book 9: Christmas Peace by Violet Howe
Book 10: Christmas Castles by Judy Keim
Book 11: Christmas Star by Tess Thompson

REVIEW: Holy Toledo! Hang on to your seat!! Only One Wave by Jenifer Ruff was one of those books that hooks you and won’t let you go until you’re finished and beyond. I finished last night and I’m still thinking about this exciting book. 

Number one. The medical part of the story is awesome. There is a Tsunami on the Island of Nalowale and a virus follows. The story is the race to find out how to cure it. I loved all the medical testing and attempts at treatment. If you’re like me and love medical stuff, this is your next read. 

Number two. The main characters who appear in the rest of the series are on the island. The inhabitants of the island that are suffering losses and illness after the  the disaster of the Tsunami. You can’t help but feel sorry for them. One little boy kept tugging at my heartstrings. 

Number three. There is a lot going on and the author is so good it’s easy to follow. I felt along the way I knew what was going on, but I didn’t. Only One Wave was very well written and Jenifer Ruff did an amazing job.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: “Once again, Jenifer Ruff delivers a heart-pumping thriller! The well-crafted twists surrounding this medical mystery will keep you guessing until the end.” – Audrey J. Cole – USA Today bestselling author

A tsunami strikes a small island in the Pacific Ocean, leaving destruction and madness in its wake.

After the natural disaster, CDC epidemiologist Dr. Madeline Hamilton and her fiancé, FBI operative Quinn Traynor, go to Nalowale Island to investigate a deadly outbreak of unknown origin. Victims become aggressive and irrational, suffering from insomnia, hallucinations, and eventual death.

Under quarantine conditions, with all communications to and from the island shut down, the wave of illness climbs toward a calamitous crash. Then Madeline uncovers something terrifying…and impossible. The investigation requires huge leaps of faith and significant acts of courage, but what they discover, and what they take home with them, will change lives forever.

“Only One Wave is a gripping thriller led by captivating characters and an enthralling story. I loved every minute of it.”—Timothy Browne, USA Today bestselling author

This is the third adventure in the FBI & CDC thriller series featuring Dr. Madeline Hamilton and Agent Quinn Traynor. Mystery and medical thriller fans of James Patterson, Michael Crichton, and A.G. Riddle will be hooked. It can be read as a standalone novel with no confusion.

REVIEW: Believe me when I tell you that I never wanted to read a book about Covid. We have heard and lived Covid for almost two years. Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult was a pleasant surprise. I truly thought the book would be different than it was.

I enjoyed the part of the book where Diana goes to The Galapagose on her own because her boyfriend who is a doctor has to stay behind to fight the virus. She becomes stranded on the island when it and the world closes down due to Covid. She stays so long that she is no longer a tourist and is seen as a resident. Who wouldn’t want to be stranded on such a beautiful place as Isabela Island?

The interesting part of the book is some of the research this author has done about the after effects of Covid especially those that have been put on ventilators and survived. I love the medical facts I learn along the way in my reading journey. 

I know most of us want to shy away from a novel about Covid. I highly recommend reading this book. It takes us away to a dream vacation and provides some pretty interesting information. I even appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. I think you’ll love it and at least appreciate it. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #RandomHousePublishing-Ballentine, #Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and The Book of Two Ways comes “a powerfully evocative story of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Malibu Rising)

Rights sold to Netflix for adaptation as a feature film

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

REVIEW: Mimi Lee Cracks the Code by Jennifer J Chow was a rollicking good time! This is the second book I’ve read by her and because I now know what a Cozy Mystery is my enjoyment was unbridled.

I enjoyed visits with many of the same characters from the first book. I totally missed the second book in the series but, it didn’t seem to be a problem. I think you can jump in anywhere and not feel lost at all. Jennifer makes it easy. I will be reading number two as soon as I can. 

Mimi Lee and her talking cat Marshmallow have solved a few murders much to the chagrin of Detective Brown. He would like her to get lost but, you have to protect your friends! Right? Marshmallow has a dry sense of humor that I appreciate. Like most kitties, he demands attention and pampering.

If you love Cozy Mysteries or just enjoy a fun book, you might enjoy this series! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: One of BookRiot’s Best Upcoming Cozy Mysteries for the Second Half of 2021!

When murder follows Mimi Lee to her romantic island getaway, she puts on her best sleuthing hat with her sassy cat in tow in this adventurous cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow.

Mimi Lee just found an extra perk to being a pet groomer at Hollywoof (other than cuddling animals all day long, that is). Pixie St. James, one of Mimi’s clients and the investor behind Hollywoof, has offered her and her boyfriend, Josh, a getaway at her vacation home, nestled on beautiful Catalina Island. With the island just outside of Los Angeles but still far enough from the hustle and bustle, Mimi, Josh, and their cat Marshmallow (who, of course, wouldn’t be caught dead in a dingy pet hotel) are excited for their relaxing stay.
 
That is, until Pixie’s last renter, Davis D. Argo, turns up dead. Mimi and Josh’s romantic getaway immediately turns into an enormous buzzkill, especially when Pixie asks Mimi for help. The police suspect Pixie, and Mimi knows a thing or two about wrongful allegations. Mimi figures it couldn’t hurt to snoop a little since she’s already there, and soon discovers that a valuable item is missing. Except Pixie isn’t the only one in the neighborhood who has been robbed. There is something strange happening on the island, and Mimi won’t stop until she finds out what it is.

REVIEW: The Confidant by J.S. Ellis was an interesting book but, not my favorite by this author. I’ve read a couple of others that I loved. This one was good, just not a home run. 

This novel deals with friendship and cheating both within a friendship and a marriage. The big hangup for me is I don’t like cheating or lying and go out of my way to avoid both.

This story was like having a long discussion with your best friend and hearing all the ins and outs of another friendship that person is involved in. 

The characters were believable along with the story line. It made me miss my best friend that passed away several years ago because there was nothing we wouldn’t discuss all day long. I miss that and just maybe why this book left me wanting something more. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: Be careful who you trust with your secrets.

A part of him knew she was always lying, but he could change that. He could change her.

When charismatic Zoë first sits in Jason’s salon chair, he can immediately tell they have a connection. Who wouldn’t? She was smart, witty, and incredibly funny, everything someone could want in a budding friendship. But soon, Jason learns there is more to Zoë than meets the eye.

When lies are uncovered and secrets exposed, Jason must decide just how far he’s willing to go in the name of friendship.

How far should he go to uncover the truth? If he digs too deep, could Jason lose the very person he’s trying to keep?

When it all comes crashing to the light, and someone’s very life hangs in the balance, will he regret what he’s done? Or will Jason wish he had only done more?

For fans of Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn.