CONCRETE EVIDENCE

 

by

 

DiAnn Mills

 

 

 

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Pages: 416 pages

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Categories: Christian Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers

 

 

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Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of a faulty construction job, the discovery of a dead body, and a sinister plot.

 

On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’ just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

 

 

 

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Praise

 

“* VERDICT Mills . . . delivers another action-packed novel that offers intrigue and an adventurous ride. Recommend to fans of Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, and Carrie Stuart Parks.” – LIBRARY JOURNAL, Shondra Brown

 

“The confident plotting keeps the mysteries coming, and red herrings will have readers guessing the culprit through to the satisfying conclusion. Fans of Colleen Coble and Susan Sleeman will savor this thrilling standalone.” – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DiAnn Mills hits it out of the ballpark again! I have enjoyed this author’s books for a few years now, and she can suck me into the story like no one’s business.

This novel mixes politics, murder, romance, family, and forgiveness all in one not so tidy bundle. Many characters are flawed, but there is growth as obstacles are put in their path.

Avery, the protagonist, is a strong-willed woman, but she didn’t get that way all on her own. Taken in by her grandfather as a child, she learns a lot from him about ethics and faith. Both of those served her well over the years but could stand in her way of moving forward with her life. It was interesting how her body reacted to stress at the beginning of the book. She is tenacious and doesn’t back down, which is both good and bad, especially regarding her safety.

Marc is one of the good guys that finds himself smack dab in the middle of this situation because of his father. It is no surprise when sparks happen between him and Avery as the story progresses. I think they are good for each other, but at the same time, they are both stubborn, and someone has to give in at some point.

The mystery has multiple layers, and just when I thought I might know who was orchestrating everything, a new piece of evidence or a suggestion changed everything I thought or believed. By the end of the book, I had narrowed down who was behind all of this, but the truth is revealed in bits and pieces for us to understand.

The characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed getting to know all of the players. I loved Marc’s partner, Roden. He has a good sense of humor and is dedicated to his job with the FBI. He could also play the “good cop” to Marc’s “bad cop.” But they are a good team and were able to put a lot of the pieces together. There are plenty of characters to dislike, including Avery’s parents. They are lowlifes and are only after one thing, money.

Faith is a strong component of this book. Not all characters are strong believers, but many come around and realize that perhaps having faith and believing help soften the edges.

This is a top-notch book that will take you on a fast-paced ride. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. You can download a list of her published titles by clicking here.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a former director of Blue Ridge Christian Writers, and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She shares her passion for helping other writers be successful by teaching writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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10/18/22	Jennie Reads	Guest Post
10/18/22	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
10/19/22	Shelf Life Blog	Review
10/19/22	Rainy Days with Amanda	Guest Post
10/19/22	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
10/20/22	The Book’s Delight	Review
10/20/22	Rox Burkey Blog	Guest Post
10/21/22	All the Ups and Downs	Guest Post
10/21/22	That’s What She’s Reading	Review
10/22/22	Reading by Moonlight	Review
10/23/22	It’s Not All Gravy	Guest Post
10/24/22	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
10/25/22	Stories Under Starlight	Guest Post
10/25/22	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/26/22	Forgotten Winds	Review
10/27/22	The Clueless Gent	Review
10/27/22	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review

 

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

It’s just a little crush. I can fake date him and not get my heart broken. Really. It’s not like this situation has disaster written all over it.

Meet the newest resident of the quirky, small town of Winter Falls. Clean slate here I come.

Unfortunately, my ex-boyfriend isn’t ready to wipe the slate clean. Maybe because I skipped town and ghosted him?

When the residents of Winter Falls hear my ex is trying to find me, they jump in to help. Their idea of help? Asking Phoenix to pretend to be my boyfriend.

There’s one little problem with this scenario. I have a major crush on the sexy goat farmer, but he doesn’t want a relationship. Even if he did, it wouldn’t be with me. No, I’m too ‘nice’ and ‘soft’. His words. Not mine.

But do I say no? Of course not. I’m not stupid. A chance to be in close proximity to my crush on a daily basis? Where do I sign up?

To my surprise, this fake relationship feels anything but fake once we’re spending all of our days together. Feather light touches, hair kisses, and scorching looks make me start to wonder.

Can we turn this fake relationship into something real?

This fake relationship small town romantic comedy features a shy woman who insists shy and timid aren’t the same thing, a goat farmer who needs to learn his lesson before he loses the girl, a goat named Pan that believes she’s a person and should be treated as such, a gaggle of sisters who think matchmaking is their true calling, and a whole town full of hippies who think being called a busybody is a compliment.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

So excited we get to return to Winter Falls and its quirky citizens. This time, we get to know the Dempsey sisters. Their brother, Beckett, is dating Lilac West, so they have already met some of these crazy townsfolk. First up is Gabrielle, the youngest of the sisters. At the end of the last series, we meet her and discover that she has a crush on Phoenix, Lyric’s brother. Yes, it is a small town! Phoenix was burned in his last relationship, so he is hesitant to get involved with anyone and doesn’t think that Gabrielle will last long on his farm. He is no match for the Gossip Girls! After a person from Gabrielle’s past shows up in town, they are forced into a “fake” relationship to try and deter this person. Neither expects to really fall for the other, but we can all see it coming.

There is something about this town that draws me back, time and time again. I always get a chuckle from their antics, and I enjoy watching the characters overcome obstacles and find their destiny. Gabrielle is shy, but her confidence grows as she and Phoenix spend more time together. They have their share of bumps and miscommunication along the way, but that doesn’t stop them from becoming attached to one another.

This town also protects its own, so the person from Gabrielle’s past doesn’t stand a chance. Good thing, too, because he is not a nice person.

I can’t wait for the next book, which will be Elizabeth and River’s story. This is going to be interesting since River is something of a playboy.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

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Synopsis

 

He’d lost so much he wanted to die. But a stray dog changed everything.

Left for dead in the gutter, Rio struggles to his feet and lurches into the shadows for a place to hide. Life has always been brutal, thanks to a monster of an owner, but at least he’d had food, a bed, a place to call home. Now…?

Ben’s life ended when he lost his family. Drink no longer dulls the pain; therapy is a joke; friends have moved on. He’d had everything, yet now…?

But when the broken man meets the broken dog, they discover something neither had ever dreamed could exist… a reason to go on.

In a story as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, Where the Echo Calls explores how hope can be found in the most unexpected of places if only we have the courage to look for it.

 

 

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon CA * Amazon AU

 

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Review

 

This is the third book in this series, and I have loved each one. Each story has tugged on my heartstrings, made me laugh, and even cry a little.

The story starts out with Razor (later renamed Rio) being shoved out of a car, and he doesn’t know what is going on or why his man left him behind. Razor is a fighting dog, and we get the impression he must have lost. It was hard to read because I hate when any dog is abused or neglected, or tossed aside. We watch Razor navigate the streets, tending to his wounds, finding things to eat, and just trying to survive.

The story is told from Razor/Rio’s point of view, and it is interesting how he thinks that if he isn’t abused that he isn’t loved. But I think those emotions probably hold true for various people in this world because they have been beaten down and don’t know to expect more.

Rio’s saving grace is when Ben adopts him. They need each other more than they can ever know. It takes time for both of them to adjust to one another, but when they finally do, it is so sweet. But it takes time for both of them to discover the strength that they gain from the other.

The book does have some humorous parts with the addition of Izzy and her chihuahua, Woofy. They are perfect to offset the seriousness of the book.

This book also deals with friendships and emotional attachments that are formed. I don’t think we give enough credit to animals and what they can experience and feel on an emotional level.

This is a lovely book, but if you have problems reading books dealing with abuse or abandonment, you might want to pass this one by.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 60 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who arrived in the garden one day and liked it so much, they stayed. Graciously, the cats allow Steve and Ania to stay in ‘their’ house.

 

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THE LOST MELODY

 

by

 

Joanna Davidson Politano

 

 

 

Historical Romance

Publisher: Revell

Pages: 384 pages

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

 

 

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When concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant’s father dies, he leaves to her the care of a patient at Hurstwell Asylum. Vivienne had no idea the woman existed, and yet her portrait is shockingly familiar. When the asylum claims she was never a patient there, Vivienne is compelled to discover what happened to the figure she remembers from childhood dreams.

The longer she lingers in the deep shadows and forgotten towers at Hurstwell, the fuzzier the line between sanity and madness becomes. She hears music no one else does, receives strange missives with rose petals between the pages, and untangles far more than is safe for her to know.

But can she uncover the truth about the mysterious woman she seeks? And is there anyone at Hurstwell she can trust with her suspicions?

Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women’s independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era–and now.

 

 

 

Baker Book House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

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Praise

 

“Haunting. Riveting. Filled with hope. The Lost Melody is all these things and more. Author Joanna Davidson Politano delves into the dark world of Victorian mental health, and it’s the reader who comes out the winner after being enchanted by this tale of identity lost. After you read the last page, the characters will live on in your mind. Truly a fantastic read!” — Michelle Griep, author of Lost in Darkness

“Joanna Davidson Politano’s stories go on my bookshelf as a favorite! The stories she pens entice my Gothic-loving senses, thrill my literary soul, and inspire the dark romantic inside my spirit. I cannot emphasize enough how strongly I adore each story from this vivid and insightful author, and how badly I wish for all readers to experience her tales!” — Jaime Jo Wright, author of The Souls of Lost Lake, and Christy Award-winning The House on Foster Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

This book is one that touched my soul. Despite the dreariness of the setting, it is inspirational and uplifting.

I love well told historical novels, and this one is no exception. While based on some facts, such as who was put into asylums and why, it is purely fictional. I have read several books that are set in asylums, and it is heartbreaking to think of how they were treated, or not treated, 100+ years ago. People were often put into asylums for things that the doctors didn’t understand, such as depression, epilepsy, and so much more. But that is how things were in the 1800s; medicine was still evolving.

In this story, we meet Vivienne, a concert pianist, who has just lost her father and discovered that there wasn’t much left of his estate except for someone named Rose, that was in the Hurstwell Asylum, and he was paying for her care. But attempts to discover who this person is and why her father was paying for her care were met with opposition from the staff. They claimed they had no idea who she was talking about. This leads Vivienne to go undercover to uncover the truth. What she finds is deplorable, and things continue to go south for her when she is locked up as a patient in this asylum.

There are so many inspirational characters that, despite their situation, continue to be a beacon of light for Vivienne and those around them. They lift each other up in times of despair and sorrow and want what is best for everyone. Other characters are closed-minded, and I think they have become frustrated with the job, which is understanding. The conditions are deplorable, and because of the century, modern medicine is not ready for all of these issues.

What fascinated me was the beginnings of music therapy in this story. Music touches everyone’s soul in one form or fashion, and it was heartwarming to see how it opened up some of the patients they thought to be a lost cause. Music is in everything. We just have to be open to hearing it.

There is even a little bit of romance in this novel. Because of the era, it is very mild, but we see a relationship developing between Vivienne and Dr. Turner. Will it continue, or is it two people caught in a situation that holds them hostage for different reasons?

This book held me captive, and I did not want to put it down or the book to end. There is so much growth due to the situations that the characters were embroiled in that it might make one take a look at their own life.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, and A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

 

 

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ONE WINNER!

 

Receives a Sterling Silver Treble Clef pendant necklace

 

+ Copy of The Lost Melody

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, October 13, 2022.)

 

 

 

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10/4/22	Chapter Break Book Blog	Playlist
10/5/22	Shelf Life Blog	Author Interview
10/6/22	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
10/7/22	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
10/8/22	Rainy Days with Amanda	Excerpt
10/9/22	LSBBT Blog	Excerpt
10/10/22	Jennifer Silverwood	Review
10/11/22	The Page Unbound	Deleted Scene
10/12/22	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/13/22	Boys’ Mom Reads!	Review

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

“It is a dreadful thing to be possessed, to be invaded by a spirit woman who commands your body and soul and looks out at the world through your eyes. It happened to me in 1778. Pray it will never happen to you.”

Adele’s diary tells the story of her domination by an incubus Lynne, a serving girl in a London ale house who died a violent death and commandeered Adele’s body for eight years. Can Adele be held responsible for Lynne’s crimes? Will the evil spirit return and renew her tyranny over Adele’s mind?

Lynne has moved on into the 21st century, but the transmigration has left her emotions flat. Lynne is eager to go back to her first life and experience once more the passion she felt for her lover, Jack. To do so, she needs a channel to the past: the manuscript of Adele’s diary, if only she can find it.

A time-slip novel set in contemporary Los Angeles and 18th century London, The Loneliness of the Time Traveller is a story of love, crime, and adventure combined with fantasy, a little bit of Jane Austen-style irony, and a healthy serving of social criticism.

 

 

Amazon * Indiebound * Bookshop.org * Inanna Publications & Education

 

 

 

Praise

 

“This is a fast-paced page turner. A suspenseful, thrilling roller coaster ride with lots of twisty, loopy sections. Head Games is an apt title for this enthralling read. “- Joy Renee, Joy Story

“Identity’s a big theme in this work, so if you’ve ever felt you were someone other than yourself, if you thought you might like to try living in someone else’s skin, if you’ve wondered whether your friends and loved ones were not exactly who they claimed to be, then this psychological labyrinth might just be your winding road to a good read”.- Carole Giangrande, Words to Go

“This was a book that grabbed me from the start. It’s a period in history that offered much to the world but also had some of man’s darkest moments. Due to that it does provide rich material for a novelist and Ms. Rummel does an excellent job of taking her reader on a dangerous journey through the twists and turns of what many faced during the time. The characters are well developed and defined. The scenes are well described and I found myself feeling like I was actually walking the streets with the characters of the book.”-Patty, Books Cooks Looks

“To live during such tumultuous times would be horrible. You would have to be careful of every word that came out of your mouth. That might be easy when you are alert, but what about when you are so tired that you can’t even think? This book made me thankful that I was born in America in the 20th century. Any fan of riveting historical fiction will get lost in this book from page one.”-Lisa, Lisa’s Writopia

 

 

Excerpt

 

NOSTALGIA.  It started a week ago in New York, at a farewell party the Shearers gave me.  Maybe I should call it a good-riddance party because I wasn’t popular at Argus Investments. My success left a bitter taste in the mouths of my colleagues. Bitch! they said behind my back, but I caught them in the act. Bitch was hovering in the air.

Stockbrokers are realists. They believe in statistics, in calculable risks, in tangible facts. They don’t believe in telepathy and the ability to read a person’s mind. But that’s my forte. Thoughts are visible to me, whether they come out as words or remain tucked away in people’s minds. I see them swirling around their heads, little puffs of vapour merging with other people’s thoughts, turning into clusters, becoming trends.  I know what people think, about me, about currencies, about real estate, tar sands, copper mines, steel production, oil platforms. That’s how I made my money on the stock market, predicting the next big thing, spying on the thoughts of traders and investors, watching the aura of greed tremble in the air and build toward a boom, or the fears gather and burst the bubble. That’s how I knew it was the right time to leave Argus Investments and cash out. The market was at its peak. The downward slide started two days after I sold my holdings. The rancour among my former partners was palpable. They resented my perfect timing. I could see the question in their eyes, casting an opaque shadow: How the fuck did she know? It couldn’t have been pure luck.  She must have a hook-up. — I do. Reading people’s minds is my hook-up.

So the Shearers put themselves out and gave me a party. They thought it was a good investment.  I might be useful to them in future.  I could see the idea sticking up from Dan’s head like the crest of a Mohawk: Let’s keep on friendly terms with Lynne. She’s got connections. Smiles were painted on every face around the table and reflected in the gleaming silverware. Thoughts coiled around every head, wound tightly to prevent them from unravelling and turning into slippery words. It was a perfectly staged party. There were enough flowers for a wedding or a funeral. The caterers had planned the dinner to the last delicious detail, although gourmet food and vintage wines are wasted on this crowd. They are hungry only for stock market news.

“So what’s up next, Lynne?” Dan Shearer asked me.

The conversation around us stopped as people leaned in to hear my answer.

“Just moving on,” I said.

They thought it was a metaphor, as in: moving on to a new company, to new investments. No, I meant it literally, as in: transmigration. I suppose Dan Shearer would call that a hook-up, too.  If he believed in paranormal phenomena such as time travel and switching bodies.

When I reach the point of ennui, when success no longer keeps away boredom, I make my move. It’s a natural cycle. The current begins to flow in the right direction, the winds pick up, impatience runs in my veins like sap. It’s the season to slough off my old body and slip into a new skin, to enter new territory. I know the danger, but I can’t resist the call. Reading people’s minds and migrating into their bodies are, shall we say, related activities. One is only a brief incursion — a hit-and-run operation to prey on their thoughts. The other involves all-out war, a battle for total control, the permanent occupation of a foreign body. You become them. They become you. Timing is crucial in transmigration. The battle begins when the body’s owner has reached a low point and is ready to cede control to Death. That’s when I make my move and contest his take-over bid. It’s an operation that requires a high level of competence. I’ve honed my transmigration skills over more than two centuries and still can’t say that I’ve perfected the method. It’s always risky. You have to take into account a large number of variables when you challenge Death for control over a body. You have to time your entry exactly and strike with military precision. One mistake, and you are in a disaster zone. Death wins, you die. But there is glory in fighting Death, a poetic beauty in the glint of danger, the rush of blood, the terror of an uncertain fate, and in the end, the exhilaration of victory.  I’ve never lost a battle yet. I am a survivor.

“Not giving anything away?” Dan said and smiled a knowing smile.

I smiled back at him.

“Sorry, Dan, but that’s confidential for the time being.”

I don’t remember the rest of the conversation because my attention was arrested by a painting on the opposite wall. When Dan leaned forward to talk to me, it came into full view and hit me between the eyes – that’s what it felt like, a violent knock, someone demanding to get into my head. What I saw was a large white canvas. In the upper left corner was a tangle of green letters like graffiti marking gang territory. In the centre of the painting, a gash spurted tiny blood-red letters that said LA to NY, NY to LA. It looked like an itinerary, and I recognized the thing that had punched me in the head: nostalgia. I’d moved to New York from Los Angeles twelve years ago. Was I nostalgic for L.A., for a time when my interests were more genteel, when I studied history at UCLA and worked as an intern at the Clarkson Rare Book Library? Yes, those memories played into my nostalgia, but for some reason the painting on the wall had triggered a longing for something further back.  It was nostalgia for my first life, in London, two centuries ago. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see Jack again. For some inexplicable reason, when I looked at that painting, Jack’s name flared up in my brain, a lick of fire. I ran hot and cold. I could feel his mouth on mine, making me shiver with pleasure.  I could hear his voice in my ear, an urgent whisper making my heart beat faster: Come back, Lynne!

Perhaps the cliché is true, and you can’t go home again. In my travels I’ve always moved on.  I don’t know how to reverse the flow of time, or let’s say, I tried it once, in Los Angeles twelve years ago, and it didn’t work, but when I looked at that painting in Dan Shearer’s apartment, I made a decision: I’ll give it another try.  I’ll find a way to go back home to London, to my first life.

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

19^th century London. A world that is easy enough for some, but heinously difficult for others. This is the story of two young woman from different worlds that come together in a very unexpected way.

Lynne is a serving girl from the seedy side of the city. In love with a criminal, she is suddenly murdered one day by an enemy of her lover, Jack. Somehow, though, her spirit survives beyond death. You see, Lynne is what is called a ‘transmigrant.’ A spirit that is able to migrate between bodies to keep themselves alive.

Lynne is only able to enter bodies that are dying, and, as such, she finds a girl named Adele who is suffering from a life-threatening fever. Making herself right at home in Adele’s body, Lynne spends the next eight years slowing gaining control over the poor girl and ruining her life.

After Lynne leaves Adele to move onto someone else, the latter woman writes a memoir about her experiences with the body-snatching evil spirit. And, after centuries of spanning the globe, taking others lives and eventually moving on when she gets bored or the body loses it’s luster, Lynne finds herself desperate to return to Adele’s life—and she decides to use Adele’s original manuscript to do it.

Lynne believes that touching the words that Adele wrote will allow her to time travel back to the 19^th century, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to obtain the manuscript and test her theory.

Having read one of Erika Rummel’s books before, I’ve come to know her as a very talented author especially in respect to her ability to write historical scenes. The scenes that looked back at Adele’s life were some of my favorites in this book, and so well written that they momentarily made me forget I wasn’t reading a novel from that era.

This is Rummel’s first foray into science fiction and she hit a home run! I want to give this more stars, but I will have to settle for five, since that is the standard. Do not miss out on this captivating novel!

 

 

About the Author

 

Award winning author, Erika Rummel has taught history at the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo.

She divides her time between Toronto and Los Angeles and has lived in villages in Argentina, Romania, and Bulgaria.

She has published eight novels and more than a dozen books on social history of the Renaissance. A recipient of international fellowships and literary awards, she was honored in 2018 with a lifetime achievement award by the Renaissance Society of America.

 

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Giveaway

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

This giveaway ends on October 8, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

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Synopsis

 

Paige and her joyful Aunt Glo have learned that the home they inherited comes with a magical library. They put together a book club group of loveable kooks to explore the magic. They’ve recovered from their first book journey, and they all agree on their next book which takes place on a cruise ship bound for Hawaii. Problem is, they were so excited about the cruising idea that they didn’t read the entire blurb on the back of the book. (“It was entirely too long,” explains Zell.) Once on the ship, they meet a charming and likeable man who blends seamlessly into their motley group. Too bad they don’t know why he’s so scarce during the day but shows up to join them every evening for dinner, drinks, and a show. When a dead body shows up on board, their new friend is labeled a suspect. Can they help him out by finding the real murderer? Or is he the real murderer? The book club will need to solve the case to get off the ship, out of the book, and back to their home.

 

 

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Review

 

This is a light, whimsical cozy that has such an intriguing premise – the characters are transported into a book to solve a murder. The book is written while they are figuring out the details, so there is no wrong or right way to investigate.

While it isn’t necessary to read the books in order, I think you will gain a lot more insight into the characters and watch them grow. Ok, so this is only book two, but I imagine there will be a lot more growth between now and future books, so start with the first book now!

Paige, Glo, and the gang have a new member in their book club, Million. He was ordered to join by a judge, and this isn’t the first time that has happened with one of the book club members. He is a cranky 82-year-old but has a lot to offer, especially once they arrive aboard the cruise ship to solve the mystery. I love that they can pick whatever book and setting and be transported there. In this case, their inn becomes the 20th floor of the cruise ship. That is a magical paranormal book for you; all rules are set aside.

I love the interactions between the book club members and the book’s characters. In this case, there are vampires on the cruise ship. This causes a stir when someone turns up dead, and it looks like he was killed by a vampire draining his blood. As you cipher through the book and the clues, when all is revealed, you might find yourself as surprised as I would by who the killer was and their motivation. Definitely not someone I suspected in the least.

I have loved everything that this author has written so far, and I would have been the first to tell you that paranormal-type books weren’t my preference. I have been converted!

I am looking forward to the next book in this series to see where they end up and since a book club member stayed in the book, who will be the new addition to the club?

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

 

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Buttercream Betrayal (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – California
Cinnamon & Sugar Press (September 13, 2022)
Number of Pages: approx. 300

 

Synopsis

 

Intent on getting their two mischievous dogs under control, Emory Martinez and her half sister, Vannie, join a group dog training program led by Shawn Parker. With a graduation certificate just within grasp and a party to celebrate their hard-won achievements, what could go wrong? For starters, their two dogs have decided to wreak havoc during the party and tempers flare. It turns out not everyone is pleased with the dog trainer and his mother, the condo association president. Whispers of the mother and son’s misbehavior, or worse, fly amongst the barks, whines, and growls of the canines.

 

 

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Review

 

This series brings together a few of my favorite things – dogs and cupcakes!

I really enjoy this series and am amazed that Emory manages to survive all of the situations she finds herself in, thanks to those that kinda push her to investigate. Her ex calls her a murder magnet, but she can’t help that she keeps tripping over dead bodies. Definitely not her intention. But her ability to put people at ease, thanks to her bubbly personality and the cupcakes she bakes, helps her uncover the killer.

This mystery addresses puppy mills and the horror that some dogs endure if not raised by an ethical breeder. However, Emory and the gang are trying to uncover a particular unscrupulous breeder that has sold dogs with health issues. This doesn’t come without a price, not one but two dead bodies, including the breeder.

I have to admit that I wasn’t quite sure who to suspect as the killer in this book. There weren’t a lot of clues or hints to point me in any one direction. There were some characters that seemed to be acting strangely, but there were good excuses for that behavior. So when the killer revealed themself, I was taken by surprise especially considering how it was done.

Part of what I also enjoy about this series is the sense of family between all of the characters. They all chip in and help wherever they can to make life easier for one another. Tillie is still a hoot and is not afraid of a little action to spice up her life.

I won’t spoil the ending, but I like how it moves Emory forward in her love life. You’ll just have to read the book to find out what exactly.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series, and we give this one 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not chasing her puppy or spending time with her granddaughters, she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.  She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, and the Aromatherapy Mystery series. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Never agree to one night only with the grumpy boss.

I am perfectly content with my life. I have a loving (albeit nosy and interfering) family, a fulfilling career as an environmental engineer, and I enjoy living in my quirky hometown of Winter Falls.
But then Beckett Dempsey is appointed CEO at the company I work at. For reasons I cannot fathom to understand, Beckett believes that I am incompetent. He also thinks I should be at his beck and call twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week.

Unfortunately, Beckett is also the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and my body yearns for his. I will not give in to these ridiculous cravings, though. I know better than to mix business with pleasure.
But then Beckett suggests we burn off our chemistry together for Only One Time. I agree. Unbeknownst to me, he has plans to convince me for more.

 

 

 

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This grumpy boss romantic comedy includes a career woman who doesn’t do complicated or drama but finds herself smackdab in the middle of both, a grumpy boss who’s determined to get his engineer to take her hair down, a gaggle of sisters who think matchmaking is their true calling, and a whole town full of hippies who think being called a busybody is a compliment.

Only Forever is a standalone novel in the Winter Falls series.

 

My Forever Love – Aspen and Lyric’s story

Forever For You – Ashlyn and Rowan’s story

Just For Forever – Ellery and Cole’s story

Stay For Forever– Juniper and Maverick’s story

Only Forever – Lilac and Beckett’s story

 

Review

 

It is the end of a series, BUT there are many new characters, and I see that the author has already created a spinoff for Beckett’s sisters. There are four of them, and one of them has a crush on Lyric’s brother, Phoenix. I think that is going to be a fun story.

I have always liked Lilac. She is intelligent, no-nonsense, and always honest. She may not always get social cues, but she is a loyal sister. She has had her share of flings, but Beckett, her new boss, is something more. He is annoying and doesn’t quite know what to make of Lilac. Of course, everything he says or does is offensive to her, and I can’t blame her in the least. He basically says, without words, that she is incompetent and can’t do anything right. But that is her interpretation. Beckett just wants to spend time with her but can’t seem to come out and say so. Plus, there is that pesky “no dating coworkers” policy. It takes time, but he eventually overcomes the barrier to her heart.

I still love this quirky little town. The gossip girls (ladies), Ruby offering condoms to all the men dating her daughters, and the West sisters and their beaus make this town entertaining. I do love the zero carbon town where they do everything they can to save the environment. I think out of all of these books; Lilac has been my favorite. I think it is because she doesn’t resort to trickery or stunts to get by in life. She is very matter-of-fact regarding everyone and everything. I love that they call her Literal Lilac. As the story progressed, I enjoyed seeing Lilac and Beckett’s story unfold as their relationship moved forward. There are a few surprises near the end regarding Beckett, but they are good surprises.

I look forward to the spinoff series since I am sure we will learn more about Lilac and Beckett since the book ends with them together, but there are still several questions left in the air.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

D.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad, living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job-hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she’s all ears.

 

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Synopsis

 

They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire – it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman–and a killer–of a certain age.

 

 

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Review

 

Let’s just say that I loved this book! We follow four women back and forth in time that were recruited to become assassins, and they were darn good at their job. Perhaps too good. Once they retired, a contract was put out on their lives and what ensues is their efforts to stay alive and uncover who was behind this death notice.

We always see paid assassins in the movies and such, but I don’t think we have ever seen an all-female squad. Not that it doesn’t happen, but these four are a team from start to finish, and they all have their own individual skills. I think that because they are women, this lets them into places that men may not be able to enter. But after forty years, they know each other very well and are able to complete their missions successfully.

I was impressed by their observation skills, which should be surprising considering how long they have been in this field. They aren’t sure who to trust, that circle is very small, but there are a few. I know that once everything is uncovered as to who was behind everything, it is somewhat surprising. Part of it was expected, but there is a small twist. And even after the truth is revealed, there is even another twist.

The book is told primarily from Billie’s point of view, but it encompasses all four women and their lives outside of this hit squad. I enjoyed the jumps in time to understand how they were recruited and some of the jobs they worked. The book is action, suspense, and humor all rolled into one.

Make sure to read the author’s notes at the beginning and the end of the book. These cracked me up!

I could see this becoming a series or even a movie made from this book.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna’s first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022.

 

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Synopsis

 

In September 1939, Britain declares war on Germany. Bernard Sandler, a 17-year-old schoolboy from Yorkshire, is on a school trip to the United States and consequently finds himself unable to return home, separated from his close-knit Jewish family in Britain.

Stranded in cosmopolitan New York for an unknown duration, he must grow up quickly. He discovers the pleasures and excitement of Broadway theatre and jazz while developing his own social circle at New York University. But just as he finds his independence, the United States declares war in December 1941, which changes his life once again. Bernard is drafted into the United States Army, joining the 26th Infantry “Yankee” Division. Eventually, he returns to Europe, serving on the front lines alongside General Patton’s Third Army during the brutal Lorraine Campaign in Northern France in the fall of 1944.

The book also follows the remarkable story of Bernard’s family in England, and the fate of his wider family in Latvia (whom he visited in an epic journey in 1937, also as a schoolboy), during this period.

The English GI is a moving personal story about coming-of-age, the powerful bond of families, and the tragedy of war.

 

 

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Review

 

This is the first graphic novel I have ever read, and I have to say I was blown away by this author’s depictions of his grandfather’s journal and memories of WWII. I enjoyed each frame of the story and was swept away to the 1940s and his life in the US and how it was very different from England, away from family.

I enjoyed the snippets from Bernard’s journal interspersed between the drawings. While a graphic novel doesn’t tell the story in long chapters and descriptions, this book caught the energy of that timeframe, and each frame added to the history that some of us may know, but not in great detail.

This will be a book that his family can treasure for years to come and retain that historical information for the family records.

If all graphic novels are like this, I may find myself picking up another one in the near future.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

My grandfather came from a close-knit Jewish family in Leeds, England. In the summer of 1939, he had the amazing opportunity to go on a school trip to the United States. Soon after, Britain declared War, and he was unable to return. The graphic novel depicts his whole experience, from naive schoolboy alone in the vast metropolis of New York – through to his eventual call-up to the US Army, including him being sent back to Europe, serving in the brutal Lorraine Campaign in 1944 under Patton’s Third Army.

Jonathan Sandler studied Politics at Leicester University and has spent a large part of his career working in the software industry, leading and managing complex projects. Jonathan, a keen sketcher,  has always been passionate about World War Two History and Graphic Novels. In 2020, he combined these dual interests and commenced work on The English GI, which graphicmemoir.co.uk published in 2022.

Jonathan lives in North West London with his wife and three children.

 

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