Review of Margaret Daley' Scorned Justice

 

 

 

About the Book:

Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody's help. At first, it seems an open-and-shut case.

As Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence involving cattle rustling, bribery and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.

Brody expects to protect her. What he never expects is to fall for Rebecca all over again, or for a murder to throw the case wide open. Is Brody's faith strong enough to withstand not only deep-rooted corruption and cattle rustling but also love?

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

My Review:

This is the third book in the Men of the Texas Ranger's series, but the first one that I have read in the series.  Even though I hadn't read the other books in the series, I was able to follow along and it read like a stand alone novel.  Let me just say it kept you on the edge of your seat.  There was action throughout the book and I kind of suspected who was behind the threats to Rebecca's family, but you really don't find out till towards the end.  It had a great Christian message and of course the love story ended in a great way.  Great job Margaret.  I look forward to more great stories by Margaret Daley.

 

 

 

About the Author:

Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-three books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household.

Her latest book is the Christian fiction, Scorned Justice.

 

To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

TWITTER| FACEBOOK

Review of Larissa Reinhart Portrait of a Dead Guy

Synopsis:
In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge -- but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.
Purchase links for Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0091X7NGQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0091X7NGQ&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwabibli-20

My Review:

I thought this book started out kind of slow, but it soon got my attention.   Cherry Tucker is a very determined sleuth.  She decides to go after a commission to paint a portrait, even though the portrait is of a dead guy.  She gets herself into a lot trouble trying to paint this portrait, so she has to clear her name to get everyone in town to stop talking about her.  I really liked this character.  When she does figure out who the killer was, it is totally unexpected.  Great job Larissa.  I look forward to the next Cherry Tucker novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

Author Bio:
Larissa loves small town characters with big attitudes, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. Her Cherry Tucker Mystery series, beginning with PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (Henery Press), received a 5/5 Star review from the Examiner.com, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial finalist. The second book, STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW, arrives in May 2013 followed by HIJACK IN ABSTRACT. A Cherry Tucker prequel will appear in a December 2013 mystery anthology, THE HEARTACHE MOTEL.
After moving around the midwest, the South and Japan, Larissa now lives in Georgia with her husband, daughters, and Biscuit, a Cairn Terrier. When she's not writing about Southern fried chicken, she writes about Asian fried chicken at her blog about life as an ex-expat at http://theexpatreturneth.blogspot.com. You can find Larissa chatting on Facebook on her author page; on Twitter as RisWrites; and on Goodreads. She loves pinning on her Cherry Tucker and other boards at Pinterest.

 

Review of Hidden in the Heart by Catherine West

  About Hidden in the Heart:

Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach...

After losing her mother to cancer and suffering a miscarriage soon after, Claire Ferguson numbs the pain with alcohol and pills, and wonders if her own life is worth living.

Adopted at birth, Claire is convinced she has some unknown genetic flaw that may have been the cause of her miscarriage. She must find a way to deal with the guilt she harbors. But exoneration will come with a price. With her marriage in trouble and her father refusing to answer any questions about her adoption, Claire begins the search for her birth mother. For the first time in her life, she really wants to know where she came from. But what if the woman who gave her life doesn't want to be found?

Hidden in the Heart has been nominated for a 2013 Grace Award and is on the long list for an INSPY award.

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/jyIxz 

 

My Review:

 

This book made me feel really good.  It had such a happy ending after the way it started out.  Clair is Christmas shopping and runs into and old friend who tells her she has found her birth parents and suggest that , since Clair is also adopted she should search for her also.  Claire is still reeling from several recent losses and has turned to alcohol and prescription drugs for comfort.  She and her husband have separated.  When she takes a trip to Maine, she finds a lot more that she bargained for.  She finds out that GOD really is there for her and that he make ever thing happen for a reason.

I was so happy for Claire; I would love to read more about her and to find out what is in store for her bright future.  This story is filled with so many likable characters.  Great job Catherine West.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

Meet Catherine:

Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Her first novel, "Yesterday's Tomorrow", released in 2011 and won the INSPY for Romance, a Silver Medal in the Reader's Favorite Awards, and was a finalist in the Grace Awards. Catherine's second novel, "Hidden in the Heart", released in September 2012. When she's not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children.

Learn more about Catherine by visiting her website: http://www.catherinejwest.com

       

Review of Payne and Misery

Christine Sterling has developed a reputation for jumping to wild conclusions. With such an imagination, who is likely to take her seriously when she discovers a bruised and neglected neighbor named Lila Payne? Try as she might, she cannot interest anyone in Lila's dire need for immediate rescue. Something about crying wolf once too often.

But then Lila and Christine's beloved dog Molly both disappear the same night.

If no one will help her, she must find Lila and Molly herself. Heedless of possible consequences, Christine dives headfirst into a dark pool swirling with muddy secrets and misery. Her best friend throws her a lifesaver of prayer and soon she begins to sense God at work. But even with God's help, can Lila and Molly be saved before it's too late?

 

My Reveiw:

 

This book was okay, I would have liked a little bit more mystery.  Christine was a pretty likable character.  She's "nosy" and alwasy wondering what is going on.  She pays a visit to her neighbor and suspects all kinds of things.  What happens next is a pretty crazy ride for her to find the truth.  This book is filled with eccentric characters.  It had humor in it also, but the best part was the character leaning on GOD to find the answers to the mystery.  Good job Catherine.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

Review of Siri Mitchell's Unrivaled

 

Lucy Kendall returns from a tour of the Continent, her luggage filled with the latest fashions and a mind fired by inspiration. After tasting Europe's best confections, she's sure she'll come up with a recipe that will save her father's struggling candy business and reverse their fortunes. But she soon discovers that their biggest competitor, the cheat who swindled her father out of his prize recipe, has now hired a promotions manager-a cocky, handsome out-of-towner who gets under Lucy's skin.

Charlie Clarke's new role at Standard Manufacturing is the chance of a lifetime. He can put some rough times behind him and reconnect with the father he's never known. The one thing he never counted on, however, was tenacious Lucy Kendall. She's making his work life miserable...and making herself impossible for him to forget.

Link to buy the book:

http://ow.ly/jiUA3

 

 

My Review:

 

This, to me, was a book that had a little bit of everything.  It had a little romance, it had a little humor, and it had a little intrigue.  When I first met Lucy, she seemed a little spoiled to me, but she grew on me.  Charlie was someone I liked from the beginning.  His father had deserted his family fifteen years earlier and then, asked Charlie to come help with his company after Charlie got into a little trouble.  When Charlie met Lucy he was enchanted with her.  But when the two find out they are from rival families, they realize there can never be anything between them.  The book is humorous at times, when Lucy and Charlie compete against each other to see who has the best candy company.  They decide to work together to find out who the spy is that is sabotaging Lucy’s company, and when they find out who, Lucy is devastated.  After a tragedy, Lucy and Charlie both realize that GOD is forgiving of anything.  I won’t give away the ending, but it is what I rooted for the whole way through the book. 

I really enjoyed reading about this time period and the rivalries between candy companies.  It is always interesting to read about the past, and Siri Mitchell did a very good job with her research and made this a very real and enjoyable story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

Meet Siri:

Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists "Chateau of Echoes" and "The Cubicle Next Door". A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area.

Visit www.sirimitchell.com

 

 

 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/smitchell

Review and Interview of J. J. Cook's That Old Flame of Mine

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries

By J.J. Cook

That Old Flame of Mine

 

Berkley Prime Crime

April 2013

ISBN – 978-0425252048

Set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, J. J. Cook’s thrilling new mystery series features Fire Chief Stella Griffin, who solves crime with the help of her predecessor, who just happens to be a ghost…
NO MATCH FOR MURDER
After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.

As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

 

 

My Review:

 

Wow!  What a great mystery.  All I could do was hang on for the ride.  This cozy kept me guessing till the end, and then, Wham!  I had no idea.  Then to top it off, it leaves off with a big cliffhanger.  I absolutely cannot wait till the next book in this series comes out.  

Stella comes to Sweet Pepper as acting Fire Chief to get the Fire Brigade up and going again.  She finds out some surprising things in Sweet Pepper and to top it off, she is sharing her house with a Ghost!  I just loved this.

J. J. Cook, this was an absolute hit with me!  Like I said, I can't wait till the next book comes out!  Great job!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. 

 

Bio:

Joyce and Jim Lavene write as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com.


Interview:

Q. What were your inspirations for writing this series?

 

A. We were most inspired by our local volunteer firefighters. They are pulled away from their families and their lives at a moment’s notice for no pay. They risk their lives for the good of their community. We thought it would be fun to write about all the training they go through and how they could solve mysteries.

 

Q. Tentively, how many books do you have planned for this series?

 

A. Ten. We have the first three books written as well as a short novella, Hero’s Journey. The first book, That Old Flame of Mine, is out in April. The second, Playing with Fire, will be out January 2014 and the novella will be out in December 2013.

 

Q. This book is set in the Smoky Mountains; do you like to visit this area?

 

A. We have vacationed there many times. We love the mountains – their peace and serenity. It’s fun to go there and imagine Stella and her friends living and working there. We use photos we’ve taken there as a base for our stories.

 

Q. What is your favorite part of the country?

 

A. That would be hard to say. We love the mountains, but we also love the coast. We were both born in the south and raised in the Chicago area. Having southern mothers and northern fathers gives us a weird perspective on life.

 

Q. What is your favorite Cozy Mystery Series?

 

A. We like so many! We follow authors Casey Daniels, M.C. Beaton, and others. We really enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal element.

 

Q. What is the first Cozy Mystery you remember reading?

 

A. Probably Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

 

Q. Who is your favorite Cozy Mystery author, other than yourself and your pseudonyms? 

 

A. We also enjoy Sheila Connolly, Nancy Martin, and Patricia Sprinkle.

 

Thanks for having us here today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Review of Invisible by Ginny Yttrup

   Ellyn DeMoss -- chef, café owner, and lover of butter -- is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he’s attracted to Ellyn, she’s certain there’s something wrong with him. Sabina Jackson -- tall, slender, and exotic -- left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she’s come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina’s doing more hiding than healing. What’s she hiding from? Is it God? Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed? As these women’s lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God’s image

My Review:

This was a very good book about three women who are having certain health issues and their struggles.  They aren't regular health issues, like cancer or anything like that; they are more on the mental health side.  The character of Ellyn is very likable.  She is a chef and owns her own restaurant. She has a love of butter and has decided that she will never get married.  Then there is Sabina, she comes to Mendocino to work through some issues.  Last, there is Twila, she grew up in the small town and has come back. 

I came to really love these characters as they worked through their struggles, they end up helping each other out, but in the end realize they need to give their struggles over to GOD for complete healing, and they also realize they are made in GOD's image and that he loves them the way they are.   I think this was a really lovingly told story.  It had so much compassion.  Ginny Yttrup did an excellent job with this book.  I highly recommend this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.