Category Archives: ARC
Review: Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates
Death By Beach Read
Eva Gates
Lighthouse Library Mystery Series, Book 9
It’s spring in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and Lucy and Connor have moved into their new home at last, a historic cottage on the Nags Head Beach. The house needs a lot of renovations, but they worked hard over the winter to get it ready. Lucy is now happily immersed in her work at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, planning her wedding, and decorating the house. That is, until a dead body disrupts their peaceful new abode.
The first night Lucy’s alone in the house, with the company of Charles the library cat, she hears sounds. Investigating they see footsteps in the dust of the unfinished living room, and the door to the outside is open. Lucy’s reminded that the house is said to be haunted: forty years ago the teenage daughter of the owners fled in the night, and never again stepped foot inside her family home.
But the sounds have an all-too-human origin and one evening Lucy and Connor find the dead body of a man they don’t even recognize in their kitchen. They soon realize he has a long-time connection to their house. Lucy’s forced to find out what happened all those years ago and why it’s threatening her happiness today.
Meanwhile, the Classic Novel Reading Club is reading The House of the Seven Gables by Nathanial Hawthorne, a book about another old house full of secrets. Can Lucy find parallels to her own situation in Hawthorne’s fiction before the killer strikes again?
Review: A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert
A Fatal Booking
Victoria Gilbert
Booklover’s B&B Mysteries, Book 3
The victim – an opinionated busybody whose jewelry store sold original designs, along with some possibly “hot” merchandise – had plenty of enemies, spurring Charlotte and Ellen to offer their well-honed investigative skills to assist the local police. But as they delve deeper into the each of the guest’s stories, they realize all of them had a motive, and the means, to close the book on the unfortunate victim.
Enlisting the aid of a few local residents, as well as their new ally, agent Gavin Howard, Charlotte and Ellen vow to reveal the truth, even if the path to any sort of happy ending is strewn with deadly danger.
Review: Etched in Honor by Carrie Ann Ryan
Etched in Honor
Carrie Ann Ryan
Aspen Pack Series, Book 1
The betrayal that had nearly taken out the Aspen Pack has passed, but the ramifications of starting with a new hierarchy are taking their toll on Audrey Porter. Once traitor to the former leaders for trying to save their people, she’s now the Beta of the Pack and must try to hold their shattered remains together. Only she never expected the man from her past to awaken memories long since buried.
Gavin Powers is the new Tracker for the Aspen, yet it feels as though he’s always been part of the Pack, rather than a newcomer trying to heal a people long since thought forgotten. There are secrets within the den that could alter how the world sees shifters, and if Gavin isn’t careful, his attraction to Audrey could ruin everything.
There is a mysterious new enemy on the horizon, one long since vanquished into myth. As the darkness surrounding the Packs is unveiled, it will take a wolf and a lioness to unbury the past and fight for their future—or risk losing everything before it begins.
An exciting, emotional and mysterious introduction to the Aspen Pack.
Audrey is the Beta of the Aspen Pack. Not a wolf but a lioness who has been with a pack for a great deal of time. She is strength, combined with beauty and a natural born leader. Her whole purpose is for the betterment of the pack. When a new member joins their pack a bit of Aubrey‘s past is staring her back in the eye. It can’t be possible or can it
Gavin is the new Tracker for the Aspen Pack. A lone wolf from England he feels like he has always been a part of the Aspens. Except he doesn’t understand upon meeting Beta why she doesn’t like him like the other Pack members seem too. While trying to figure out what the issue may be a surprise attack comes from an unknown enemy. Not only does this put the Pack in danger Gavin soon realizes the years of memories that he’s missing are all of a sudden back in his head.
What an amazing introduction to the Aspen pack. Etched in Honor Is a fantastic beginning and introduction to what is going to be an exciting new series. Aubrey and Gavin I have a story that will break your heart and make you fall in love all over again. I love how the two of them work together to find themselves, a friendship, to be pack mates and even more to find love. The story is emotional. There’s danger learning on the page and there is love to be found. My favorite kind of read.
Carrie Ann Ryan knows how to get her readers emotionally invested in her characters.
Review: Strawberried Alive by Jenn McKinlay
Strawberried Alive
Jenn McKInlay
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series, Book 14
Life is smooth as buttercream at the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, and newlyweds Mel and Joe are stopping to smell the flours. But things start to crumble one night when an unknown gunman takes a shot at Mel. Though the bullets miss their mark, the cupcake crew goes on high alert to figure out who would want to kill a small-town baker, and why.
When more business owners are attacked, things turn fatal, and locals begin to wonder if the killer could be one of their own. Every shop owner in town starts to fear it’s only a matter of time before they too become victims of the mystery murderer. Despite the cupcake crew’s superb baking skills, it will be anything but a piece of cake to catch the killer, as they try to prevent anyone else from being berried.
Review: A Margin for Murder by Lauren Elliott
A Margin for Murder
Lauren Elliott
Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series, Book 8
Addie leaves her Greyborne Harbor bookstore, Beyond the Page Books and Curios, in the capable hands of her assistant while she travels to the neighboring town of Pen Hollow to attend a book sale at a library that is closing due to lack of funding. But the real find is a bookmobile bus, which she’s excited to refit as a traveling bookstore to hit all the summer festivals. The bookmobile also holds a surprising treasure: several classic first editions and an early edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses.
But before the bookmobile can be delivered to Addie, a fatal car crash occurs. When an autopsy reveals poison in the victim’s system and the first editions go missing, it’s up to Addie to determine what would drive someone to murder. If she’s not careful, however, she may be the next one to be dead on arrival…
Addie and Paige are on a simple trip to purchase books from a library sale in a neighboring town. What should be a fun and simple visit to get some new things for the bookstore turns into a complicated mess that no one saw coming. They find some books, obtain a few pieces of furniture and are now the new owners of a bookmobile. The glory is only celebrated for moments when they should be receiving the bookmobile that they just purchased, the said vehicle is involved in a murder. A murder that has Addie and Paige as the number one suspects. With not being allowed to leave town and a police chief that doesn’t seem to want to look any further for suspects, Addie can’t help to do what she does and get to the bottom of this even if no one else wants to look in any other direction.
Lauren Elliot has a way of keeping you guessing and laughing throughout the entire story. That was no different with A Margin for Murder. This story is well plotted with plenty of clues dropped here and there to keep you guessing all along the way. Addie goes through A roller coaster of emotions throughout the story. Not only is she dealing with being a murder suspect and a wrecked bookmobile that she’s owned for an hour, Addie should be celebrating her birthday. Even with all of the emotions going on, Addie does what she does best and gets to the bottom of this mystery. I very much enjoyed this read and I very much look forward to seeing what happens to Addie in the future.
Review: That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant
That Cowboy of Mine
Donna Grant
Or a lover?
Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the woman on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and he is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them. There is no turning back.
Was it a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or being in the right place at just the right time? That Cowboy of Mine starts with one of those moments and keeps on edge until the end.
Dillon has inherited her late aunt’s ranch and is bound and determined to keep it up and running. Even with the mishaps that are happening that no one can seem to explain. When a stranger turns up on her land, her prized horse is missing and someone fires shots at her, things just got way more serious than a mishap.
Cal turns up on Dillon’s land after a night of hard-core drinking with no knowledge of how he got there. To be awakened by her holding a shotgun aimed at him, then moments later saving that same woman from being shot herself raises questions. Cal is not only determined to prove that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of her horse but yet protect her and figure out who is threatening her life.
Donna Grant delivers an action packed, engaging and suspenseful read with That Cowboy of Mine. I really liked the story. The cowboy who has come to the realization that his rodeo days are over and the woman bound and determined to keep her ranch running. This is a slow burn romance. They definitely have chemistry and when Dillon and Cal allow themselves to connect they are explosive. I love the determination, the suspense kept me thinking and that slow burn romance kept me rooting for both of them. Donna Grant gives us another fantastic standalone cowboy read.
Review: ‘TIl Death by Carol J. Perry
‘Til Death
Carol J. Perry
A Witch City Mystery Series, Book 12
Lee and Detective Sergeant Pete Mondello are finally tying the knot—and Lee is tying up loose ends before the big day. It’ll be an adjustment moving out of Aunt Ibby’s house, but the couple will stay nearby—after all, they have to share custody of O’Ryan, their clairvoyant cat. And Aunt Ibby will be renting out Lee’s old apartment . . . though she’s getting some bad vibes from her current prospective tenant.
After the celebration, complete with a cake made by the station magician, there should be time to relax—but the Maine island happens to be near the site of the crash that long ago killed Lee’s parents, a mystery she’s never been able to solve. Soon she’ll be putting wedding gifts aside and turning to her psychic gifts instead, to wrap up crimes both past and present . . .
This is my first experience with the Witch City Mystery Series and I so wish I would have discovered it before now. ‘Til Death was a fantastic, edge of your seat and engaging cozy Mystery.
Lee is a local program director for Salem’s WICH-TV network. She loves her job and is very good at what she does. She has worked her way up from almost the bottom and has made a wonderful name for herself. In this installment of the series, Lee Is about to marry the local detective and her love Pete. With the plans of a honeymoon to be more like a road trip finishing up the last minute things for the station is all she wants to get done. Parts of Lee’s past and family show up in the story. Making her honeymoon into an info gathering adventure while celebrating her marriage. Not everything goes as planned and some family secrets are unearthed.
Oh I absolutely love this story. From the concept of the series to the themes that are sprinkled all throughout the book and a strong woman who is bound and determined to figure out something that has happened in her past. Carol Perry Has created a fan of me with just one book and that’s the 12th book in the series. ‘Til Death ‘is the 12th book in the series but even A newbie like me was able to catch on quickly and enjoy this very intriguing tale. Also making me want to go back and start at the beginning of the series and see how we ended up where we are at now.
Shadow Fallen by Sherrilyn (Kenyon) McQueen
Shadow Fallen
Sherrilyn (Kenyon) McQueen
Dream Hunters #6
Dark Hunters
New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon returns with Shadow Fallen, a brand-new entry in her Dream-Hunter series.
For centuries, Ariel has fought the forces of evil. Her task was to protect the souls of innocent mortals when they die. Captured by a powerful sorceress, she is transformed into a human who has no memory of her real life or calling.
And is plunked into the middle of the Norman invasion of England.
Cursed the moment he was born with a “demonic deformity,” Valteri wants nothing of this earth except to depart it and will do his duty to his king until then. When a strange noblewoman is brought before him, Valteri realizes he has met her before…in his dreams. When others come for her, bringing with them preternatural predators, he is faced with a destiny he had no idea was waiting. One he wants no part of.
The truth is that Valteri isn’t just a knight of William the Conqueror. He is the son of one of the deadliest powers in existence, and if he doesn’t restore Ariel to her place, she is not the only one who will be in peril. The world itself hangs in the balance, and he is the necessary key to hold back the powers of evil. But only if he can find a way to work with the woman who stands for everything in the universe he hates.
4 Stars
Sherrilyn is back
Fallen Shadow marks a comeback with everything that I have come to love from Sherrilyn’s writing.
In a medieval setting, the Battle of good and evil continues. Valteri has known nothing from life other than sorrow, pain and battle. Born with different color eyes made him an outcast from the beginning. Some say he was evil, others say he was a demon and some call him as a son of the devil himself. He is brother to the king and undefeated in war. A hardened man who is whispered about behind his back does nothing to change what people think of him. Knowing nothing of the good side of life, the Temptations of a beautiful woman make Valteri think quite differently than he normally does.
Ariel has been a part of the battle of good and evil for as long as she knows. Her job is to collect the souls of the dying on the battlefield for the unknown war of good and evil that’s going on. Ariel finds herself bound to the earth knowing nothing of who she is and with a curse because of the grief of a mother’s loss. Not knowing who or what she is Ariel stumbles onto the lands of a feared man but yet she embraces him. Sewing is not something Ariel knows but skill with a sword can’t be denied. Ariel is about to embark on something she’s never known but yet can’t seem to say no to.
As a long time fan I am very excited to see this wonderful author back in action. From beginning to end this book is classic Sherrilyn everything! Ariel and Valteri are perfect for each other. From the moment they met to the interactions they had there was no lack of chemistry whatsoever. I love the way they talked and interacted with each other. Whether it be funny, protective or sensual they seem so in tune to each other and just wanted the best for one another. A broken hero and a kick butt angelic woman find their happily ever after.
I know some will complain that this is not one of the big name characters that long time fans have been very patiently waiting for. However when a series is this long and has this many characters sometimes we have to be patient longer than we would like. Some wonderful bits of information are discovered within the pages Shadow Fallen And have some nice foreshadowing for one of those big names that we have been waiting for. And we even get treated with an appearance from one of the all-time favorite dark hunters. I very much enjoy the book and look forward to the things to come within the Dream Hunter/ Dark Hunter world.
Review: Three Shots to the Wind by Sherry Harris
Three Shots to the Wind
Sherry Harris
Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery Series, Book 3
Chloe’s Windy City ex-fiancé gets blown away in the Florida panhandle . . .
DEAD EXES TELL NO TALES
Saloon owner Chloe Jackson appears to have a secret admirer. She’s pouring drinks at the Sea Glass Saloon in Emerald Cove when an airplane flies by above the beach with a banner reading I LOVE YOU CHLOE JACKSON. She immediately rules out Rip Barnett. They are in the early stages of dating and no one has said the L word. Then a bouquet of lilacs—her favorite flower—is delivered to the bar, followed by an expensive bottle of her favorite sparkling wine. It couldn’t be . . .
Sure enough, her ex-fiancé from Chicago has flown down to Florida for an accountants’ convention. But is he trying to mix business with pleasure and win her back? Unfortunately he’s not in a hotel conference room, he’s floating facedown in the lake next to her house, clutching a photo of Chloe. Who murders an accountant on a business trip—it just doesn’t add up. When Rip becomes the prime suspect, Chloe is determined to find the secret murderer. But if she isn’t careful, it may be closing time and lights out for her .
4 Stars
Review: Evernight Unleashed by Carrie Ann Ryan
Evernight Unleashed
Carrie Ann Ryan
Ravenwood Coven Series, Book 3
Rowen Ravenwood is the final witch of her line—the only one standing in the way of Oriel, the dark necromancer who wants the core of the town’s magic for his own. With each passing battle and loss, Rowen is one step closer to losing it all if she doesn’t rely on the one man she refuses to love again. Only this time she might not have a choice when family secrets come to light.
Ash Christopher’s family curse hit him harder than anyone knows. He’s cool, relentless, and only feels what he needs to in order to survive. He’s gained everything in power and lost all else to his ambition—including Rowen. After all, a man cannot have a soul mate when he does not possess a soul.
The town of Ravenwood is dying and as the final battles come to pass, it will take the courage of a coven reborn, a mating bond broken, and a love worth fighting for in order to save all before it is lost.\
Ash and Rowen, swoon my heart. Their road was a crazy one but they made the magic happen in the end.
Overnight Unleashed Is the epic conclusion Ravenwood Coven Series and the couple that I have been most eager for. Rowen is the last of her line and an original family of Raven Wood. Rowen is tied to the Town in ways deeper than even she knows. With each battle she loses a bit herself, also taking away the protection of the town. Rowen has strength beyond measure yet one of the things she wants the most she can’t have even though it crosses her path on a regular basis.
Ash I just found the love of his life and bonded in a way that he knew was forever only to have the curse hit him harder than anyone in the family. He’s become a cool and relentless man who doesn’t feel remorse, he is only out for gain. As a town begins to fall, Ash takes measures, putting himself in the line of danger hopefully, to succeed and helping save his family in town. Not to mention his soulmate.
I absolutely loved this conclusion. Evernight Unleashed is emotional, magical and action packed. Rowen and Ash have some serious history. There is so much emotion between the two of them that it’s hard to describe but you know that they belong together and even when Ash is having some of his moments you know that they were meant to be together. Carrie Ann Ryan keeps readers on the edge of their seats with a fast paced, action packed and quite steamy romance. Although I am sad to see this series end, I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment that I have spent with The Ravenwood Coven.
Coffee Books Life 