Synopsis

 

How do you escape a man who believes he owns you?

Sophie Steele’s life is ruled by fear. Her husband, Ben Steele, tracks her phone, her bank accounts, her every move. His position as part-owner of a successful surveillance and investigations company gives full rein to his controlling instincts.

When Ben allows Sophie and their son, Benji, to travel interstate to visit family without him, she hopes he’s trying to change. But when he continues to monitor and manipulate her from afar, she realises she no longer wants to live the lonely life he’s forced upon her. As her determination to leave him grows, she develops a much-needed friendship with Lee, an attractive Taekwondo instructor who promises to help her however he can.

But even thinking about leaving Ben is dangerous, and it quickly becomes apparent how far he’ll go to keep her under his control.

How can she escape a man who has the means to hunt her down no matter where she hides? Is the chance of freedom worth risking her and Benji’s lives?

A powerful blend of deceit, manipulation, and intrigue, Captive will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, shocking revelation.

 

 

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Review

 

I have read several books by this author, but this one is on a different level than the other books! Told from three points of view – Sophie, Ella, and Cathy, each story blends in with the others with a final culmination at the end. It reflects how easy it could be for someone to be taken in by a master manipulator.

Sophie is one of the main characters. She is stuck in a loveless relationship and actually an abusive one. Her husband, Ben, thinks that he owns her and is in control of everything. He doesn’t trust her and is always checking her phone for messages, calls, and search history. He tracks her wherever she goes, either via the phone or a smartwatch. To top it off, he has security cameras installed inside the house and watches her constantly. Warning lights were going off in my head with every turn of the page based on his actions.

Ella is young and naive, and she believes that Ben loves her and fears for his safety from Sophie. She should have been on guard when he said not to mention him to anyone. However, she has blind faith where he is concerned, until it lands her in hot water.

This thriller had me turning pages as fast as I could. Would Sophie and her son Benji get away from Ben? Would Ella see through his manipulations? Would Ben get what was coming to him?

I appreciated that the author shared resources within the pages on how Sophie could leave Ben for a better life. Sophie even has a couple of new friends who try to help her escape to a better life. Luckily, Ben doesn’t cut her off from these friends. Perhaps because one of them has a boy that is Benji’s age and a new friend for him. Despite all of Ben’s faults, there is no doubt that he loves his son.

If you enjoy psychological suspense/thriller novels, this is a good one to read. If you have any triggers regarding abuse, it may not be the best choice for you.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Cally Jackson grew up in the small country town of Gatton. After deciding at 17 that a Hollywood acting career was sadly out of reach, Cally turned to a career in professional communication with fictional writing as her labour of love.

Cally’s passion for fictional writing first emerged in grade two when she got in trouble for penning her own tale instead of copying directly from a story book as she was supposed to be doing – it was a handwriting exercise, after all.

Cally’s first novel, The Big Smoke, was published in 2012. A decade and two children later, Cally has released her second novel, The Ripple Effect.

 

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THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN

 

A Genealogy Mystery, #1

 

by

 

ML Condike

 

 

Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy

Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC

Date of Publication: March 5, 2024

Number of Pages: 446 pages

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined.

Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every clue.

 

 

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Who knew that genealogy could be so dangerous?

This new cozy series is full of information, so much so that you might need to reference the family tree documents on the author’s website! If you have ever been fascinated with genealogy, this is a series you might want to dive into. I really enjoyed watching the process of RaeJean uncovering documents and tying them to the people she is researching. She is one smart woman, but not without issues that sometimes impact her work when she comes across something that reminds her of her loss. The relationship that she has with her husband, Sam, is a loving one. They are supportive of each other, and their chosen careers sometimes intersect. This happens when RaeJean finds a puzzle box in a desk she accepts as part of her fee to research Mary Roberts.

The mystery is very detailed, especially when it comes to the affected family trees. It takes a little time to keep these people straight in my head, but I think I had it by the end of the book. It is quite interesting to see the lengths some people will go to protect their family name. RaeJean runs into this with Lillian, a Mather and self-appointed historian for the family. Turns out, not many in the family like her, which is a good thing when all is revealed in the end. Lillian has some secrets; see if you can figure them out. I know I didn’t!

The story flows nicely, and I was never left hanging, wondering what happened in different situations. The answer might come later in the book, but everything is explained.

There are some minor characters that I would love to see more of in future books. Claire is a fellow genealogist and quite brilliant in her own right. She has a minor storyline in this book, but it ties everything together. Caitlin is RaeJean’s sister and, I think, a strong supporter of RaeJean. You can see the family bond quite well.

My review would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sophie, her corgi. I love dogs in books, and I really enjoyed Sophie and how she didn’t let RaeJean get too engrossed in her work. After all, dogs need to be walked and fed.

This book revived my interest in my own family’s genealogy. There is a lot that goes into tracking down the correct information. I am still unsure how forensic genealogy can help identify bones, but I can understand tracing the family lineage.

This book was hard to put down, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ML Condike’s novel, The Desk from Hoboken, is the first in a genealogy mystery three-book series. She also has short stories published in five anthologies. ML Condike completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path in Dallas in 2019 and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.

 

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1^st: signed paperback + Corgi plush toy

 

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03/20/24	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
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03/23/24	The Real World According to Sam	Review
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Synopsis

 

The author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.

Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.

Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love.

Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.

 

 

 

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Review

 

Sometimes, I just need a light-hearted romance to offset everything else that I read. This book was the right choice, and I loved the characters, premise, witty banter, and women working their way into what was predominantly a male-dominated field. In this case, the gaming world.

Sloane is the kind of woman that I can root for. She is trying to break into a field that she loves while not being stereotyped by misogynist males. She gives up her job in engineering and lands an interview with a local gaming company. While it is uncomfortable watching this interview go down, let’s be honest: it is probably not uncommon to find this kind of attitude from men in the gaming world. Sloane does have someone in HR looking out for her as one of the few women in the company. It is down to Sloane and her ex-boyfriend for the position. Their task? Create a game for the company to showcase their skills. Is Sloane up for the task?

Charlie is Sloane’s neighbor and apparently is very popular for an ad he did for spray-on abs. I can only imagine this product and commercial. However, despite his good looks, his girlfriend dumps him right before a trip to the Caribbean. I think this is to Charlie’s benefit because what sane woman would turn down a free trip? So he entices Sloane to go with him as his fake girlfriend. He had planned to post photos to make the ex jealous, but what he doesn’t expect is to fall in love with Sloane.

The crux of the book happens in Turks and Caicos at a resort. Charlie and Sloane have a good time, but there are rocky moments, too. I enjoyed watching them get to know one another over the course of the week and seeing Sloane in action creating her game. I know this is a book, but there are people out there who are geniuses when creating games or any other product. The story has its ups and downs, but in the end, they do get their HEA. It just takes some time.

There were many laugh-out-loud moments, some sweet, sentimental moments, and even a few that made you want to punch something or someone.

This book was an enjoyable read, and I liked the STEM connection. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Neely Tubati Alexander is originally from the Seattle area and currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two elementary-aged children. If she’s not tucked away writing, you can find her at some kiddo activity, drinking wine, or watching reality television, usually the last two together. She is also the author of Love Buzz.

 

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Synopsis

 

The old 19th-century Victorian house at 221 Baker Street is the home of the Holmes and Moriarty Society, where amateur sleuths from different walks of life would meet to solve crimes. On the black granite hearth in front of the mansion’s massive fireplace are three stone statues of monkeys – Mizaru holds its hands covering its eyes, Kikazaru with its hands covering its ears, and Iwazaru covers its mouth. The owner of the mansion and one of the society’s founding members, Osgood Ridley, turns up dead.

But, as more bodies are found, the true purpose of the society is slowly revealed.

When the statue of the fourth monkey, Sezaru, appears on the hearth, the questions begin to outweigh the answers.

This is no longer a job for amateurs.

This is now the job for two police detectives to solve the mystery.

 

 

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Review

 

This debut novella from WM Gunn was a delight to read. It included many aspects I enjoy in books, from mystery to murder to misdirection.

The Holmes and Moriarty Society isn’t quite what you imagine, at least not on the outside. This group of amateur detectives has deeper motives for what they are trying to accomplish. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I won’t share any of those details. Let’s just say that no one should be trusted, and the truth will be revealed in the end. I liked the inclusion of the three wise monkeys. I even learned that this is a fourth wise monkey. This is one we don’t see often, but I liked learning about the last one.

I will admit that I did not suspect the killer. The author did a fantastic job of throwing red herrings into the mix and leading you down a different path.

This is a short read at 86 pages, but the author packs a lot of details, descriptions, and intrigue into those pages.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

After years in the pharmaceutical industry in sales, sales management, and training and development, I learned the courses and materials I created had to be relevant, thought-provoking, and usable or it was simply of no value.

In a similar manner, the reader of a novel should be able to relate to a character or an event. It should make them think, question, and enjoy the journey. That story should create a landscape, an enveloping atmosphere that the reader can experience, participate in, and sink their teeth into.

I have endeavored to infuse those concepts into my stories and books. Journey with me.

 

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Synopsis

 

When Loretta digs in the dirt to plant her flower garden, she discovers glowing larvae. Learn about the lifecycle of the firefly as she puts the larvae in her empty ant farm box and watches the larvae build tunnels and mud houses. After they hatch, she also learns the secret to their special flashing messages.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

This book will introduce young readers to the life cycle of fireflies. I have to admit, I learned a few facts that I did not know about these insects.

Loretta is a curious young girl, and when she finds these glowing larvae in her garden, she puts them into her ant farm container so she can watch them grow and become full-fledged fireflies. She studies their life cycle and even learns how to have them come to her by using a small flashlight, imitating their flashing patterns.

This book is good for all young readers, especially those with a strong interest in insects. There is even a page at the end that goes through the life stages of fireflies that parents could read to their children and discuss this fascinating insect with them.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with a minor in chemistry and English. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety,” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

 

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 About the Illustrator

 

The artist Francie Mion received a degree in fine art and resumed her avocation for art after a career in the holistic health field as a Massage Therapist. She has illustrated Lois Wickstrom’s STEM books. Some take place in the Colorado Mountains.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Recent college graduate Holly Schlivnik dreams of being a writer, but fate has other plans. A family crisis throws her into an improbable situation, and her life will never be the same. Determined to make her own luck when things don’t happen the way she plans, the irrepressible young woman takes a sledgehammer to the glass ceiling and shatters it to smithereens. The wise-cracking, irreverent transplanted Californian takes you on a raucous, rollicking rollercoaster ride of her hysterical adventures as a ladies’ apparel sales rep traveling in the deep South as she ends up finding herself along the way.

 

 

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Review

 

There is a cozy series featuring Holly Schlivnik (Swimsuit), and this book is a great introduction to her, including how she came to work for Ditzy Swimsuits, her background, etc. This book is the prequel and is not a cozy, so don’t expect murders she has to solve.

This is based on the author’s experiences in the garment industry, and I found it fascinating how reps for different clothing lines would travel across the country to meet with buyers to sell those lines for the stores. There is a diverse character list, scenes that might make you cringe, and friendships and love found on the road.

This story is also a great reminder that your path in life might divert from what you expect after college. However, there are so many stories for Holly to tell about her travels with her job, the people she meets, the lessons she learns, and even family life.

I appreciated that Holly was not a person who would roll over just because she was a woman. There are still chauvinistic men in this world, in all industries, and she is not afraid to stand her ground and let them know she is not going to be taken advantage of or be told how to do her job.

This can be read as a standalone or before you start the Holly Swimsuit cozy series.

We give this book 4 paws up and encourage all women to take note of Holly’s endeavors and stand their own ground!

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now, she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

 

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Synopsis

 

The bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil mines the subtle horrors of 1950s America in a gripping novel about a woman under pressure—from the living and the dead.

The first day of autumn brought the fever, and with the fever came the voices.

Missouri, 1955. Loretta Davenport has led an isolated life as a young mother and a wife to Pete, an ambitious assistant professor at a Bible college. They’re the picture of domestic tranquillity—until a local girl is murdered and Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond. Pete dismisses them as delusions of a fevered female imagination. Loretta knows they’re real—and frightening. Defying Pete’s demands, Loretta finds an encouraging supporter in parapsychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen. He sees a woman with a rare gift, more blessing than curse.

With Dr. Hansen’s help, Loretta’s life opens up to an empowering new purpose. But for Pete, the God-fearing image he’s worked so hard to cultivate is under threat. No longer in control of his dutiful wife, he sees the Devil at work. As Loretta’s powers grow stronger and the pleading spirits beckon, Pete is determined to deliver his wife from evil. To solve the mysteries of the dead, Loretta must first save herself.

 

 

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Praise

 

“A brilliantly layered suspense thriller and feminist nightmare wrapped into one, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport grips you and never lets go. This book will cement Kennedy as one of the most important voices in modern feminist literature at a time when we need it most.” —Constance Sayers, bestselling author of A Witch in Time

“Paulette Kennedy is the modern Daphne du Maurier with her dazzling ability to usher readers into any point in history while making it feel vibrant and fresh with her magical, gothic touch. Her newest novel deftly captures both the simplicity and horrors of being a midcentury housewife in a patriarchal society. With gorgeous lyricism and a determined heroine, the story spellbinds from the first page until the harrowing end.” —Heather Levy, Anthony Award– nominated author of Walking Through Needles

“Powerful, poignant, and soul-stirring, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport will haunt you with its chilling supernatural phenomena and claustrophobic domesticity, Paulette Kennedy brilliantly explores the limits of forgiveness while centering deep and compassionate love. You’ll weep and cheer for Loretta as she fights a truly terrifying evil. This is a book to treasure!” —Jennifer Sherman Roberts, author of The Village Healer’s Book of Cures

“Mesmerizing from start to finish! Paulette Kennedy delivers suspense, empathy, compassion, resilience, and just a hint of the paranormal in a way that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.” —Mansi Shah, bestselling author of The Direction of the Wind

 

 

Review

 

What devil is worse – the known or unknown?

This book combined many of my favorite genres, with a few others sprinkled in to round out the story. It is a combination of suspense, historical, horror, paranormal, and a touch of romance.

Loretta Davenport is trapped in a marriage that has gone downhill over time. But is it her doing or her husband’s fault? The answer is not that simple, and with the book set in the 1950s, there is more she has to overcome than just a bad relationship. This is a time where women were not allowed to open bank accounts without a male family member’s permission and signature. That alone sends shivers down my spine. Top that with women are considered weak and crazy, it isn’t hard to see why Loretta is fighting for her life and her children.

There is another twist to the story: Loretta is psychic and doesn’t discover her abilities until later in life. She isn’t sure what is going on, but her husband, Pete, is no help whatsoever. However, there is a psychologist who studies parapsychology, and he is able to guide her in these new abilities. It doesn’t hurt that he can use her as a study subject for his field. It isn’t all work for Dr. Curtis Hansen, and there is attraction and admiration for Loretta that brings them closer together.

It is hard to sum up this story in a few words or sentences. The story is gripping, and if you have ever been exposed to the Pentecostal faith and casting out of demons and such, you might understand this book a bit more. There is the time setting that works against Loretta, and then Pete’s religious fanaticism causes issues for them. It is like a train wreck that you can’t look away from because you know what is going to happen.

I rooted for Loretta and admired her attempts to find a way to support herself should she be able to leave her husband. It isn’t easy since women aren’t given high paying jobs, if they can even find one outside of the home as a housewife. But she digs down and finds a way. Top it off with these discovered psychic abilities; she is able to assist in solving several crimes. It is a good thing that some people believe in her abilities!

There are many moments that I held my breath wondering if certain situations would work out for Loretta and those around her. I also appreciated a jump forward twenty years to see where her life ended once everything was resolved.

This was a fantastic read, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Paulette Kennedy is the bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil, which received the prestigious HNS Review Editor’s Choice Award. She has had a lifelong obsession with the gothic. As a young girl, she spent her summers among the gravestones in her neighborhood cemetery, imagining all sorts of romantic stories for the people buried there. After her mother introduced her to the Brontës as a teenager, her affinity for fog-covered landscapes and haunted heroines only grew, inspiring her to become a writer.

Originally from the Missouri Ozarks, she now lives with her family and a menagerie of rescue pets in sunny Southern California, where sometimes, on the very best days, the mountains are wreathed in fog.
As a history lover, she can get lost for days in her research—learning everything she can about the places in her novels and what her characters might have experienced in the past.

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Appalled by his daughter’s vain and impertinent attitude, the king forces her to marry a peasant, hoping to teach her a lesson. Feeling devastated by this decree, Alora loses everything she knows and is thrust into a world she is not prepared for. The skills she learned to help her rule a kingdom have not prepared her for the drudgery of living the life of a peasant’s wife.

Larik, her new husband, is determined to help Alora and show her kindness despite her unfriendly personality. Will Larik’s example and affection towards her be enough to heal her heart of anger and grief so that she can see the beauty in the world once again? Can she let go of the past and allow herself to be loved? This is a retelling of the Grimms’ fairytale, King Thrushbeard.

 

 

 

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Praise

 

“What a wonderful book! It hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. It was full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved it!” –Ann Ferri, Book Reviewer

“I didn’t really know what to expect. What I found was a sweet romance with heroes and villains and a surprise at the end! The story has twists and turns, and you won’t know what happens next until you keep on reading! It’s amazingly clever how the author retells the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, the spinner of gold. There was great chemistry going on in the romance, and it totally engaged me. Well done!” –Sunnie Reviews

“Promises of Gold by Serena Clarke is a retake on the fairytale of Rumpelstilkin. I really did like it. This is a love story with heroes and evil villains. I think the ending will surprise most readers. It did me but it was a sweet surprise. This story is different from the original version, but it still covers the gold from straw, guessing the real name of the hero and etc.” Debbie Curto, from Dusty Deliberations

 

 

Review

 

Take one spoiled princess, one weary peasant traveler, and a King set on making things right, and you have this fantastic fairytale story retelling of King Thrushbeard.

Alora lost the love of her life, and this has turned her into a bitter woman. So much so that her father decided to marry her to a random traveler who visited their kingdom. Let’s just say this did not go over well with Alora. Especially since that means she will not have the cushy life she has enjoyed for the past few years. It is an eye-opening experience for Alora as she has to travel to another kingdom to Larik’s home, is not garbed in the finest apparel, and has to watch what she says and does around others. This is the kind of experience that will humble nearly anyone.

Despite the living conditions, Alora learns much more about herself and her capabilities. She also learns to love and appreciate those around her. The interaction between Alora, Larik, and the neighbors was engaging, and I was able to watch Alora evolve from a petulant child to a kind and caring young woman. I also enjoyed her relationship with Larik, and learning how to be a giving soul to your spouse and that it isn’t all about what she could get from this world.

I had some suspicions as to who Larik might really be from a few hints dropped here and there, but I didn’t know for sure until the end.

This fairytale does have a happy ending, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Serena Clarke is from Sunny St. George in Southern Utah. Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and has taken several writing classes in college. Her favorite genre is fantasy romance. She is not only an author but also a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team and creates book covers for indie authors. She has three fantasy romances and two fairytale romances. Her fantasy/romance novels are The Treasure of Isian, The Alliance of Isian, and The Secret of Isian. Her fairytale/romances are Promises of Gold and In Royal Ruins.

 

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Synopsis

 

In a bind, Bud Palmer finds himself at the crossroads when just about everything was on the verge.

Like most people, Bud Palmer felt this was just another day. Though the era was drawing to a close, he assumed his life as a sports columnist in the subtropics, in keeping with the benign fifties itself, would go on as predictable as ever. But that particular autumn morning he was thrust into a caper that was totally beyond him, forced him to leave Miami and take the train to Manhattan, and suddenly found everything in this restless “Big Apple” was up for grabs, on the brink, at a dicey turning point.

 

 

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Praise for Shelly Frome

 

“This is a great mystery that had me guessing at what was really happening. I was sucked in and held tight until the reveal. A couple great twists and turns had me thrown off balance and guessing the whole time.” (Moon Games by Shelly From)-JBrounder Reviews

“It is full of action, adventure, mystery and suspense. It is not one that I could easily predict. The twists and turns kept on the edge of my seat. I never knew what would happen next.” (Moon Games by Shelly Frome)-AmyBooksy, Locks, Hooks, and Books

“The cover of this book shows what looks like a beautiful and peaceful place to live, but looks can be deceiving. Lies, bribery, and deceit are running rampant in this little town. Twists and turns are around every corner. Well written mystery”(Secluded Village Murders by Shelly Frome)- Lisa’s Writopia

“An entertaining story that has enough quirky characters, intrigue, suspense, humor, and drama that easily draws the reader into Emily’s amateur sleuth adventure. This cozy mystery is full of devious plot twists and turns that will easily keep you guessing. The Secluded Village Murders is an intriguing whodunit tale that cozy mystery fans will want to add to their reading list.” (Secluded Village Murders by Shelly Frome)- Kathleen Higgins-Anderson, Jersey Girl Book Reviews 

 

 

Excerpt

 

 

Even when Bud caught up to Katie, she did one of her I’m-mad-and-not-listening pouts and climbed a branch higher on the mango tree until she was almost camouflaged by the big leaves and hanging fruit.

Reaching out to her, Bud said, “Katie, I’m trying to tell you it couldn’t be helped. And if you’d think about the example I just gave you, you could be grown up about it, understand and come down from there.”

“Well I don’t care,” Katie said, poking her narrow face out through the foliage. “You promised. You always keep your promises. And when a person doesn’t all of a sudden keep their promise, they shouldn’t be listened to. And I especially don’t care about some dumb girl named Scout in some dumb town in Alabama, wherever that is.”

“Don’t,” Bud said, as she plucked a plump, reddish Haydon mango, tore into the thick skin, and took a big bite out of the juicy orange pulp. “Come on, Katie. You’ll get it all over your blouse, it’ll dribble onto your overalls and—will you stop this and listen for a second?”

“Why should I?”

“The point, Katie. You’re missing the point. No matter how hard you try, sometimes something comes up and you’ve got to make a choice. Are you going to take the easy way out and be tomboy Scout? Or are you going to go out of your way and be sensible Jean Louise Finch?”

Wiping some of the orange glop off her face, Katie peered down and said, “She’s got two names. How come? I don’t have two names.”

Trying harder, Bud said, “‘Cause Scout was her nickname. ‘Cause the writer was trying to tell us that under pressure—look, she marched straight over to the jailhouse steps and looked this mob right in the eye. Did it before they could storm the jailhouse and harm an innocent prisoner. Dropped her nickname and reminded them who she was and who they were. And said,  ‘Hey, Mister Cunningham. I’m Jean Louise Finch, remember? I play with your boy Walter and you brought my dad and me some hickory nuts.’”

“So?”

“So she made them ashamed. Stood up to them.”

“And that’s why you were late? And that’s what you did?”

“Not exactly. But I wound up at a Miami Beach hotel to keep them from doing harm to your grandmother’s kid brother Uncle Rick. It took some doing, called your mom and made my apologies. And, by the time I was through, it was too late to take you to the parrot jungle. And that’s just for openers.”

“So it’s not over?”

“It could get even worse until I go to New York and—”

“Golly.” Katie said, cutting in. “Then you got to tell me how you stood up to them and saved the day.” She scrambled down and took off through the grove. Before he could catch up to her she raced past Jill, the freckled faced baby sitter, grabbed her mother’s hand and pointed to Bud as he was catching up to her. “Hey, mom, guess what? Uncle Bud is taking on the mob!”

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

I honestly was not expecting such an engrossing read going into this! I do appreciate a good historical mystery, but I’m not that familiar with the 1950s, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started ‘Fast Times, Big City.’

Boy, was I surprised to find this would soon become one of my favorite reads of the year so far! This is an electric story about crime, passion and one man’s quest to protect his own family, all set in the buzzing world of New York City in the 1950s.

Bud Palmer is a sports reporter for the Miami Herald. Family means a lot to Bud, especially his sister and his feisty tom-boy of a niece, but when Bud’s mother asks him to check on his uncle while she is on a cruise, Bud is immediately reluctant.

Uncle Rick has a bit of a reputation for being a screw-up. As a private detective, Rick hasn’t had much success and now he’s gotten himself into something that may even get himself killed.

After meeting with Rick, Bud soon learns that his uncle has angered a mobster named Al Escobar who believes that Rick set him up. Something happened during a high-stakes poker game that left a woman that Rick arrived with—a beautiful Marilyn Monroe lookalike—walking away with a briefcase that belongs to Escobar.

Now, Bud has been roped in to traveling to New York to find the blonde and retrieve the briefcase. Of course, he has no idea where to find her, so things get hazardous quickly. Luckily, Bud is a natural investigator, who makes friends quickly even in the mean streets of New York.

‘Fast Times, Big City,’ is a book that you’re going to have to read to believe, I know I had to! This is a top-notch novel that totally transports the reader to another era.

Five stars! (or Paws in the case of this blog!)

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Award winning author, Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at UConn, a former professional actor, and a writer of crime novels and books on theater and film. He also is a features writer for Gannett Publications.

His fiction includes Sun Dance for Andy Horn, Lilac Moon, Twilight of the Drifter, Tinseltown Riff, Murder Run, Moon Games, The Secluded Village Murders and Miranda and the D-Day Caper. Among his works of non-fiction are The Actors Studio: A History, a guide to playwriting and one on screenwriting, Shadow of the Gypsy is his latest foray into the world of crime and the amateur sleuth.

He lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 2 print or ebook copies, open to the U.S. and Canada only.

This giveaway ends on March 26, 2024 midnight, pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

Detective Cara Kennedy thought she’d lost her husband and son in an accident, but harrowing evidence has emerged that points to murder–and she will stop at nothing to find the truth in this riveting mystery from the author of City Under One Roof.

On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances.

Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.

Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.

 

 

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Review

 

While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. This is important to note because if you follow my reviews at all, you know that I hate reading books out of order! The author does a great job of filling in the details of what happened in the first book.

Alaska is a beautiful state, but it can be cold and desolate in the winter. That doesn’t mean they don’t have their fair share of crime and misadventure. This novel blends native cultures with present-day issues. Set in a small town where everything is located in one tall building, we become involved with the lives of those residents of the Davidson Condos. This town doesn’t see a lot of tourism, but if people do venture that way, there are condos for rent in this town. There is another small town that plays a factor in this book called Unity. It is an incorporated village and was set up to be a haven and refuge for abused women and their children. No men are allowed except for the children. I really enjoyed the part of the story that was based here and learning how they lived, their traditions, how they incorporated all beliefs and the structure of the village. Sometimes, leaving to discover what else might be out there doesn’t mean they will be happier.

This story is told from three points of view – Cara, Ellie, and Mia. These three women are tied together without knowing it until events unfold in the novel. Each plays an internal part in the story, and while they may not trust each other, they find their commonalities and work together to bring this story to its conclusion.

I thought the book was action-packed, with just enough mystery and suspense to keep me guessing. I will say that the ending was quite a surprise. I should have expected that revelation, but I didn’t.

I doubt I will go back and read the first book, but I look forward to future novels in this series. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter for the movie Letters from Iwo Jima. She has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years, developing material for both film and streaming, has taught screenwriting at UCLA, and is an advocate of women and diversity in the entertainment industry. She has also been a judge and mentor for various film and writing programs and lives in California.

 

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