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Review: A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton

A Study in Murder
Callie Hutton
A Victorian Book Club Mystery, Book 1
Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published May 12th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
A mystery author is charged with murder–and the plot thickens faster than anyone can turn the pages–in USA Today bestselling author Callie Hutton’s new series debut, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ellery Adams.
Bath, England, 1890. Mystery author Lady Amy Lovell receives an anonymous letter containing shocking news: her fiancé, Mr. Ronald St. Vincent, has been dabbling in something illegal, which causes her to promptly break their engagement.
Two evenings later, as Lady Lovell awaits a visit from Lord William Wethington, fellow member of the Bath Mystery Book Club, her former fiancé makes an unexpected and most unwelcome appearance at her house. She promptly sends him to the library to cool his heels but later discovers the room seemingly empty–until she stumbles upon a dead Mr. St. Vincent with a knife in his chest.
Lord Wethington arrives to find Lady Amy screaming and sends for the police, but the Bobbies immediately assume that she is the killer. Desperate to clear her name, Lady Amy and Lord Wethington launch their own investigation–and stir up a hornet’s nest of suspects, from the gardener who served time in prison for murder to a vengeful woman who was spurned by St. Vincent before he proposed to Lady Amy.
Can they close the book on the case before the real killer gets away with murder?

4 Stars
A Study in Murder is a well written and entertaining start to the Victorian Book Club Mystery series.
Lady Amy Lovell is truly a character you can’t judge by her appearance. A lady by day and a secret mystery writer by night. Not really by night but you get my point. She is so much more than her time likes to accept from a woman. She has a passion for life and a love for reading. Her way of thinking outside the box gets her in a spot of trouble here and there. I love that she thought for herself and stood her ground. For a 1890’s woman of Bath, she’s not your typical woman of the time, she’s much more fun.
When Lady Amy ends her betrothment to Mr. Ronald St. Vincent after evidence is presented to her that he is taking part in some dealings that are rather unsavory Her biggest worry was what her father was going to say. Until two days later Mr. Saint Vincent shows up at her home unannounced and is found murdered In Lady Amy’s Home library. The investigators are naming Lady Amy as their number one suspect. Amy puts practical use to her research that she uses as a mystery writer, to uncover the mystery of who killed her ex fiancé.
Callie Hutton has a real winner with A Study in Murder. By nature I am a contemporary reader. However when I read the description for this book I was so intrigued I had to give it a shot, even with it being historical. The mystery itself Has all kinds of twists and turns and I’ll be honest I didn’t know the outcome until the end. The characters are a riot. There were some truly hysterical and laugh out loud moments that I didn’t expect to experience with a historical story. I loved the passion for reading itself within the pages of the story. As a reader that is something that I think we all enjoy seeing within characters in the books we read. I look forward to to seeing what Ms. Hutton has in store for Amy in the upcoming books in the Victorian Book Club Mystery series.

ARC Review: Flame by Donna Grants
Flame
Donna Grant
Dark KIngs Series, Book 17
Kindle Edition
Expected publication: June 30th 2020 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Flame is the next Dark Kings book in New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant’s series.
If she believed in destiny, she would believe they were meant for each other.
But that fire was put out long ago. . .
Living among the Dragon Kings, Cain has spent lifetimes learning to distrust both mortals and Fae. He is a warrior born—and every instinct demands that he fight to keep his own kind safe. But when a fringe member of the Dark Fae contacts the Kings with an urgent warning, Cain is torn for the first time. How can he trust this beautiful creature when resisting his primal attraction to her is battle enough?
Noreen is horrified by what her kind and the malevolent Others are planning for the Dragon Kings. Dark Fae or not, there are lines she will not cross—even if it means risking her life. But she never imagined that she would risk her heart until she meets Cain. She wants him with a soul-deep desire that frightens her…and endangers them both. Is saying goodbye to everything Noreen has ever known worth a love that will span time and realms?

4 Stars
It’s not everyday that the enemy reaches out, willing to give up vital information. Is it legit or is it set up? Is the truth a lie or is the lie the truth. The deception is layered thick and something epic is on the rise. Donna Grant builds the anticipation for the ending of the series while giving readers a jaw-dropping story with Flame.
Noreen is an other and a dark fae. Her story is twisted and plays a bigger part than she could have ever realized. She has been victimized just as badly as the Kong’s themselves have. Things with her are not as they seem. I liked how as Noreen learned her own personal truth she adapted quickly, using it as a strength to move forward, doing what is right. There were many times while reading Flame, I wanted to dislike her but in the end she was truly an extraordinary character.
Cain is the King of the Navy Blue Dragons and has been tasked with finding the enemy source who sent them information. At first sight of her Cain knows he is done. At the first touch of her, he knows she’s his mate. Trust comes hard for the kings, he found truth and trust within an other. He was gentle, genuine, kind and compassionate. Was he blindsided by love or are more layers of deception being uncovered. Cain goes wholeheartedly into something that broke his heart and then healed it too. He knew the dangers to himself and the kings and he dove in head first. I so loved that about Cain.
Wow! Donna Grant has taken readers on an epic journey over the years with her tales of the Dragon Kings. Flame is the latest chapter in the overall story bringing us closer to the end. Flame gives readers the story of Noreen and Cain. An unlikely pairing but one that seems to have proven enemies can make the best lovers. Noreen and Cain were smoldering together. Their passion was intimate and deep. Cain was a gentleman among dragons. Even when he was feeling betrayed and hurt he was never Malicious towards the source of the pain. Noreen cares deeply and no spell could change those feelings. The two seem to have been almost made for each other. Many questions that have been lingering have answers come to light within the pages of Flame. A few old friends make important and impactful visits and a missing one returns. We see the king of kings and away we’ve never seen him before and some of the sacrifices that have truly been made. Flame is a story that has a lot of revenge, lies and deceit. Within those pages we were also able to get a story of compassion and love. Being the next to the last book in a series so much information lies within these pages and I believe a few hints to finally give us an answer to the biggest question we’ve all been asking.

Review: A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

A Sprinkling of Murder
Daryl Wood Gerber
A Fairy Garden Mystery, Book 1
Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .
Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she’s starting a book club tea.
But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source . . .

4 Stars
A Sprinkling of Murder is an enchanting beginning to the magical new Fairy Garden Mystery.
Open Your Imagination is Courtney Kelly’s wonderfully popular fairy garden shop. A place that allows one to believe. Courtney is a charming woman who is creative and a bit nosy. With an ex cop for a father, a fairy on probation on her shoulder and a ragdoll cat in tow, Courtney will make you a believer in fairies without even trying. When a neighboring business owner is found dead In Courtney’s shop, she finds herself at the top of the suspect list and a non stop determination to find out who the real killer is. Maybe a little fairy magic is just what she needs.
A Sprinkling of Murder is a fun and whimsical cozy that will keep you thinking. The plot is a puzzle that seems like the pieces change as they are trying to fit in place. Courtney is a very likable character and I love that she carries her cat, Pixie, with her as if she were a dog. I love the way her mind thinks up scenarios and she tries to figure out if they are feasible or not. Courtney’s persistence never falters even though she’s a prime suspect. The mystery is just one of the great elements of the story. The setting is cozy and has plenty of charm. The love that we learn about the fairies as Courtney does. I love that there’s just enough paranormal to make you think but not so overwhelming that you can’t believe it.
Daryl Wood Gerber has a unique and entertaining beginning to her Fairy Garden Mystery series with A Sprinkling of Murder. I can’t want for the next magical mystery.

Review: Seducing the Enemy by Shayla Black

Seducing the Enemy
Shayla Black
Forbidden Confessions Series, Book 4
Kindle Edition, 87 pages
Expected publication: June 25th 2020 by Shelley Bradley, LLC
Once he takes his pound of flesh from her, will she steal his heart?
I’m Jett, self-made billionaire.
I have everything I could ever want—except revenge.
Eight years ago, my best friend and I planned to start a business together…
Until I fell for his little sister.
After he found out, he stole my idea and made a fortune.
She took his side and stabbed me in the back.
Now he’s in financial straits, while I’m richer than I ever dreamed.
So I made Whitney a bargain: forty million dollars in exchange for a week of her body.
But now that she’s in my bed, what if it’s not animosity I feel?
What if I fall for her again?
Enjoy this Forbidden Confession. HEA guaranteed!

4 Stars
Is it a confession, a fantasy or a longing. Shayla Black’s latest in the Forbidden Confession Series, Seducing the Enemy is a quickie read that will more than bring the heat.
Jett is set on revenge. He’s willing to do anything and everything it takes to get his pound of flesh for the injustice done to him. That is what his mind is telling him but his heart is another story. Whitney Is willing to do anything to help save her brother’s company. A week of belonging to a man who is not her fiancé to save her brothers $40 million company, is it a sacrifice or is it a secret longing that Whitney has been craving?
Holy hotness! I absolutely enjoyed this quickly. Whitney has sass and confidence even if you don’t see it at the surface level. Jett is a powerhouse of a man with a romantic bone that I didn’t see him having. The two combust with chemistry from the moment you meet them. Even when they’re fighting it’s sexy. I loved how the story went from being a downright revenge tactic to something so much more. Seducing the Enemy will make a hot summer afternoon that much hotter.

Review: Forever Only Once by Carrie Ann Ryan
Forever Only Once
Carrie Ann Ryan
Promise Me Series, Book 1
Published June 23, 2020
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan comes a sexy new contemporary stand-alone series.
Hazel Noble has survived horrors she wouldn’t inflict on her worst enemy. Since then, she’s healed, found herself, and connected with a group of women she’s proud to call her friends. However, when they make a pact to start looking for love, Hazel finds herself not only up first but also forced to face a past she thought she’d escaped.
Cross Brady has no need for a relationship. As the oldest of five, he’s always been the one his family can rely on. Now, all he wants is to work in peace and live his life. His priorities shift dramatically, though, when Cross finds himself in Hazel’s path.
Though the two initially fight their connection, they soon learn that it’s safer to fall for each other than keep running from what’s holding them back—not to mention, who wants them dead.

4 Stars
I love the concept of this series. Four friends who have not had the best of pasts, make a pact to give each other the push they need to jumpstart something just possibly amazing in their lives.
Hazel is a Survivor. A sweet and caring woman who has lived through some of the worst possible horrors. She lives very cautiously and is constantly looking over her shoulder. Hazel is a brave woman who has taken the correct steps to overcome the hurt of the past. Although it is never far from her thought. I love that She was able to find a group of women to bond with. So much so they made a pact. Hazel is the first up. When her blind date doesn’t go quite as planned and this unexpected and handsome man sits at her table little did she know what the true meaning of forever was.
Cross is an amazing artist. A man that knows how to use his hands. He’s Fiercely protective of those he loves, a bit grumpy and brooding yet as loyal as they come. What he projects of himself to the world is not what he truly is. He is so much more. Focused on his career and a person that many rely upon, the last thing Cross would even think about is a relationship. When meeting a client as a favor for his partner falls through,yet not knowing until he sits down a cross from a woman, little did he know his entire world was about to change.
Forever Only Once is an emotional, slow burn, romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Cross and Hazel came together beautifully. From their accidental meeting, to the chemistry taking off, to the emotional depth this story holds. I loved it all. Hazel is honest about her issues and Cross is so gentle and supportive. Carrie Ann Ryan brought to light issues many women have had the unfortunate experience of having or are dealing with. Reminding them they are not alone and there is help in places you may not realize. Cross and Hazel will touch your heart, heat up the pages and leave you with a smile at the end.

Review: Love to Hate You by Melissa Schroeder

Love to Hate You
Melissa Schroeder
The Fillmore Series, Book 2
Published June 2020 Harmless Publishing
Grab the next exciting installment from USA Today Bestselling author Melissa Schroeder set in the Camos and Cupcakes world!
For years, I’ve loved him. Not that I ever told him, or that he would ever be able to tell. I hid it from him…from everyone including my best friend.
Travis Fillmore is my best friend’s brother and the object of my infatuation. He’s also my cohost for our home improvement show and we are zooming to the top right now. Unfortunately, I can’t work with him any more. He’s pushed me too far with his antics and I’m walking away. Only, he just realized how much he needs me on the show and he wants me back. He just pops into town and thinks I will forgive and forget.
At first, I don’t believe him, but he won’t go away. He tells me that he’s changed, that he can be professional. And I believe him. Until he kisses me…and then does a whole lot more. A night with him is a fantasy come true–until someone threatens our happiness. An overzealous fan…I can deal with that. What scares me is the man who could shatter my heart and leave me broken.
Warning: This book include breaking and entering, donuts, sarcastic friends, a woman with many trust issues, a man who doesn’t realize what he wants until he almost loses it, a weirdo who doesn’t understand boundaries, nosey neighbors, a trip to the Juniper Jail again, and a happily ever after for two people who finally admit they are in love.

4 Stars
Travis Fillmore and Nancy Howard star together on a well to do home improvement show. Their relationship is much longer than a span that the show has been going. Nancy is Travis‘s sister’s best friend and have known each other for many many years. Working together is natural for them. However curveballs are thrown when neither one of them can no longer deny what they feel for one another.
Travis’ head gets big and his attitude goes right along with it. Nancy has had it with the crap and quits the show. Only too late does Travis realize what the bigger picture of it all is, and set with a new determination not only to get his co host back but prove that she was so much more than that all along. The old saying goes “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone”, until you have a sister who is not afraid to kick you in the behind to make you realize it’s not gone but groveling will be necessary.
Nancy and Travis have a solid friendship and along the way it turns into so much more. Denial can only get you so far until you realize you might have just missed out on it all. Their bickering and dancing around one another is just a slow burn that is bound to explode. And they surely do. As they begin to acknowledge their feelings for one another Nancy discovers a stalker on her tail. And with that one thing, everything for Nancy and Travis changes. They may be watching over their shoulders but they know their feelings for one another are genuine, true and completely mutual. I loved visiting Juniper Springs and it’s corky town folks. The LOL are a riot. In its own weird way it felt like a home away from home. Ms. Schroeder gives readers an entertaining and slow burn romance with Love to Hate You. Well developed characters with charismatic personalities along with a fun setting, an entertaining plot line and some steamy romance more than make Love to Hate You a more than enjoyable read.

Review: Screwed by Jayne Rylon
Screwed
Jayne Rylon
Powertools: The Original Crew Returns Book 1
The original Powertools crew is back in a brand new series!
Joe has it all–a gorgeous wife, two amazing children, four best friends who are also sometimes lovers, and a booming construction business. He never expected to face some sort of midlife crisis. But somehow, he finds himself longing for even more.
How can he tell his family and the rest of the crew that he wishes they could be closer to his Uncle Tom and the rest of the Hot Rods and Hot Rides gangs?
An emergency crew meeting turns into a steamy attempt to show Joe exactly what he’d be missing out on if he left the crew and their polyamourous lifestyle behind. Will it work? Will he listen to his heart or parts of him below the belt? Either way, he’s screwed.
This is a standalone book set in the Powertools universe. All your favorite Hot Rods and Hot Rides characters will be making appearances as well. Some come make new book boyfriends or hang out with old ones.

4 Stars
The Crew is back and as sexy as ever.
Jayne Rylon gives us readers a new and emotional Powertools story. Joe is torn between wanting to be closer to his blood relatives while not wanting to leave behind the family he has made. My heart hurt for Joe in so many ways. Finding it hard to talk about and doesn’t wanting to hurt anyone in the process. His love Morgan reminds him what family is and sharing what’s on his mind with her and the crew will help. Joe does just that, confides in his best friends, his crew, his family.
Joe learns quickly that the family he builds through friendship and love is a bond stronger than he realizes. With his trusted foreman in lead, the crew reminds Joe just what it is to be part of the family they built together. Screwed is a sexy and emotional visit with the Powertools crew. I loved all emotions throughout the story. Wanting something, changing your life and going for it are all big steps but with the support of the crew at their back, there is nothing at can’t be accomplished.
I so enjoyed the emotional and super hot visit with Joe, Morgan and the crew. Screwed is a fantastic quickie afternoon read.

Review: Witching Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
Witching Moon
Yasmine Galenorn
The Wild Hunt Serie, Book 12
An Ante-Fae Adventure
When you dance with Death, you have to be willing to roll the bones…
Still shaken from her run-in with the serial killer, Raven turns to a new and unlikely friend. But the Ante-Fae Trinity has dark secrets in his background, and he threatens to destabilize Raven and Kipa’s relationship when he leads Raven down a wild, dangerous path. When Trinity encourages Raven to behavior so extreme that even Kipa questions her sanity, will the Wolf Lord and Raven’s dearest friends be able to drag her back from the precipice? Or will Raven tumble into an abyss so dark that she may never be able to find her way out again?
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4 Another epic installment to The Wild Hunt series.
Raven is dealing with some self issues, while an innocent exploratory adventure turns for the worse when something far more dangerous than they were expecting awakens.
Ravens friend Trinity invites her to visit a beautiful secret Garden. More than flowers lay in awaiting when Raven hears the shrieking of spirits all around. For fear the two have woken something very nasty and dangerous, Raven will need the help of The Wild Hunt for this mission.
Witching Moon is an action packed and emotional read. Raven’s growth throughout this book shows just what a strong character she is. Admitting your faults is never easy and asking for help even more so. Being the independent woman she is, she tries helping herself and realizes her problems go deeper then she is able to heal herself. With the encouragement and help of her friends, Raven begins the journey to heal her mind and soul. Raven and Kipa take a big step in their relationship. Their chemistry is amazing. Kipa is a good man and truly has Raven’s Best interest at heart. Even when she’s trying to push them away. I love how he stood beside her and encouraged her to talk. That one’s definitely a keeper.
Witching Moon was amazing. Action packed and fast moving with a lot of healing and growing. Ms. Galenorn’s world are something magical and I alway enjoy a visit with The Wild Hunt.
I received a complementary copy of this title for an honest review. Receiving a review copy does not reflect my opinion of this title.

ARC Review: Silver-Tongued Devil by Lorelei James

Silver-Tongued Devil
Lorelei James
Rough Riders Series, Origin Novel
Published June 9, 2020
Their love story sparked a brushfire that grew into the legacy of Lorelei James’s Rough Riders series. This standalone historical romance is a prequel to the McKay family saga.
The West doesn’t get much wilder than Silas McKay. He’s earned his cowboy reputation not just as a rancher, but as a brawling card sharp who’s short on cash but long on charm. And just as soon as he claps eyes on the pretty new schoolteacher? Well, Dinah Thompson is about to discover what courtin’s like McKay-style—sweet, hot and passionate.
Luckily, Dinah’s got the sass and sense to stand up to Silas’s shenanigans. She relocated to rural Wyoming to teach and become a self-reliant woman, not to spend her nights dreaming about that blue-eyed rogue and his ranchwork honed-body. But Silas McKay’s powerful appeal and tempting promises convince Dinah to recklessly go all in with him.
When Silas’s long-standing rivalry with Zeke West puts Dinah, Silas and his twin brother Jonas in danger, each one is forced to make difficult decisions about taking a chance to build their legacy . . . and a love that transcends time.
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5 Stars
Silas McKay was living the single cowboy life to the fullest. He’s a charmer with the ladies, knows his way around the ranch with his eyes closed and the luck of the draw seems to always be on his side. Silas is a smart man and is trying to build something lasting. Being on his ranch was his favorite place to be until he sets his eye on the new teacher, Ms. Dinah Thompson. I loved how this big strong rancher became putty anytime he was near her.
Dinah Thompson it’s a woman ahead of her time. Moving to rural Wyoming was a step for her to become independent and self-reliant. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her, she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. As a teacher and a nurse, her doors are opened and the possibilities endless. That is until a silver tongued cowboy makes his intentions known.
Oh how I loved Dinah and Silas together. Their relationship was hard but that didn’t stop them. The distance that separated them made the time they spent together treasured and special. Silas is a true romantic and I loved how he asked Dinah to read to him. Dinah has this sassy streak that allows her to put Silas right in his place. I also love that she wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty and do what needed to be done whether it be on the ranch, with a patient or for one of her students.
And wait, we are not done yet.
Jonas McKay is the town Deputy and twin brother to Silas. A man whom everyone believes is married to his job. The reality is the job keeps him close to his brother and the one his heart wants most. Ruby Redmond is the madam of the Miss Ruby Red’s Boarding House. Knowing what people think of her, and loving Jonas as she does, Rudy stands the higher ground to avoid any harm her reputation could do to Jonas. So so loved the pairing of the law and the harlot. Jonas and Rudy were intense and their chemistry was explosive. Maybe not a conventional pairing but one that will stand the test of time.
Ms. James has given readers something truly special in the pages Silver-Tongued Devil. We get not just one but two beautiful and intense love stories. We see a family legacy at its infancy stage. We get unlikely friendships and what it truly means to be family. To see what the truth of brotherhood means. I laughed and cried. Felt the happiness and loss right along with our couples. Silver-Tongued Devil is a beautiful written historical romance that will make you feel like you have been transported to another time. Well done Ms. James, well done.
Reviewer’s note:
A few years back a dear friend introduce me to Ms. James’ Rough Rider series. I was not a fan of cowboy romance. I was told I would not be disappointed. I would also like to note that I’m not a fan of historical romance at all. So with that being said, Ms. James not only got me to like her brand of Cowboy romance, she got me to love a historical as well.






