Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Madam de Stael: The First Modern Woman review

Madame de Stael: The First Modern Woman

Madam de Stael: The First Modern Woman by Francine du Plessix Gray is billed as being a biography about a French woman who defied a woman's role. It sounded very interesting and I'm always looking for good biographies to read so I took a chance. Unfortunately, the book didn't work for me on a couple of levels.

First, the writing style was not what I enjoy. There was a lot of jumping around in time and place instead of a linear story of de Stael's life. That combined with the author's refusal to simply use first names for the people in the book made for a confusing read. 

Second, Madam de Stael was not someone who defied the role of women in her society if this book is accurate.While she supported more egalitarian rights for the people of France, this did not necessarily translate to a larger, more participatory role for women. The only non-conformist action she ever took was to take lovers outside her marriage - and as any student of French history knows, this is not exactly a shocking occurrence among the elites. 

While it was very interesting to read about a period, people, and place that I haven't spent much time learning about, I would not recommend this book. It simply was too confusing and about a woman who isn't as interesting as the synopsis would lead you to believe.


Synopsis


"A writer of scintillating style and resonant substance," ("Publishers Weekly"), bestselling author Francine du Plessix Gray chronicles the incandescent life of the most celebrated woman of letters of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic era. 

The daughter of the second most important man in France, Louis XVI's Minister of Finances, Jacques Necker, Madame de Stael was born into a world of political and intellectual prominence. Later, she married Sweden's ambassador to the French court, and for a span of twenty years, she held the limelight as a political figure and prolific writer. Despite a plain appearance, she was notoriously seductive and enjoyed whirlwind affairs with some of the most influential men of her time. She always attracted controversy, and was demonized by Napoleon for her forthrightness, the sheer power of her intellect, and the progressiveness of her salon, which was a hotbed for the expression of liberal ideals. The emperor exiled her, on and off, for the last fifteen years of her life. 


Madame de Stael--force of nature, exuberant idealist, and ultimate enthusiast--waged a lifelong struggle against all that was tyrannical, cynical, or passionless in her time, and left Europe a legacy of enlightened liberalism that radiated throughout the continent during the nineteenth century.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Magic Bleeds review

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4)

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews is book four in the Kate Daniels series and continues the fantastic ride Andrews has been sending Kate on throughout the series.

In Magic Bleeds, we pick up with Kate ready to make good on her bet with Curran from Magic Strikes - only Curran doesn't show. Kate being Kate, she jumps into work - and into a whole lot of trouble. Between relationship problems with Curran, crazy magical diseases, psycho family members, and her usual work problems, Kate can't seem to catch a break in Magic Bleeds. But as always, it's an interesting and fast paced ride with moments of brilliant humor woven in for an awesome read.

I've loved the slow build up of Kate and Curran. The chemistry as they circled each other warily has been brilliant and the back and forth banter is laugh out loud funny. However, eventually there has to be a resolution though. We get that resolution in Magic Bleeds - in a spectacular fashion. I won't ruin what happens but suffice it to say it's a miracle someone didn't end up dead!

The slow reveal of information regarding Kate's powers and her family connections throughout the series has been both frustrating and fascinating. Each book provides slightly more information but leaves you wanting more. Magic Bleeds continues this trend and we get to meet a member of Kate's family that even Kate didn't know existed. For Kate, this is a vision of what her future could look like. For us, it's a fascinating insight into Roland and his history as well as the version of her father that Kate has been fed.

All in all, Magic Bleeds is a fantastic addition to the series that helps set Kate on a slightly different path than she'd been traveling. It will be interesting to see how this changes Kate - and how Kate changes the path :)


Synopsis


Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren't for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose.

Kate Daniels works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle - especially if they involve Atlanta's shapeshifting community. When she's called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar on the border between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers that there's a new player in town. One who's been around for thousands of years - and who rode to war at the side of Kate's father. This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, to handle. Because this time Kate will be taking on family.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Shield of Winter review

Shield of Winter (Psy-Changeling, #13)

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Nalini Singh's Shield of Winter at the RT Booklovers Convention! It will be released on June 3rd.

I've been reading the Psy-Changeling series since the beginning and have eagerly anticipated Vasic and Aden's books so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out that Vasic's story would be out this year. I worried a little that I would be disappointed - I'd been dreaming about his story for so long - but Singh hit it out of the park with Shield of Winter. I devoured this book in one sitting and then went back and re-read it a second time.

Vasic has been a solitary character from the very first time we met him, separate not just in the emotionless Psy way but going even beyond that in an isolation even from his fellow Arrows. Even with Aden, Vasic is withdrawn much to his friend's consternation and frustration. Is it because he is the perfect member of Silence? If so, why would he feel guilt at the lives he has taken as an Arrow? It was clear to me through the series that Vasic wasn't Silent at all and that was his reason for isolating himself. So who could connect with such a man? At first I thought it might be a changeling since they are so far opposite Silence but Singh's need to have protection for the newly acknowledged Empaths after the revolution in the PsyNet made the pairing of the Arrow and an Empath the perfect solution.

Ivy Jane was a bit of a surprise. Not because she was an Empath or because she was able to bring out the protectiveness inherent in Vasic but because her growth through the book was very clear. From a scared but determined Psy not willing to be silenced to a worthy match for Vasic and for her role in the lives of the other characters and community, Ivy showed what Empaths can become if given the chance to flourish rather than be stifled. We had seen this with Sasha but she wasn't in the PsyNet so it is a bit different.

The continued journey of a post-Silent Psy and the continued inclusion of previous characters such as Lucas, Kaleb, Judd, and the rest makes for a wonderful continuity as the series gets longer while progressing the world building and plot arc beautifully.

Shield of Winter is a fantastic addition to the Psy-Changeling series and now I have to (impatiently!) wait for the next book - I hope it is Aden!!

Synopsis


Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch—if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life. 

For if the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical “treatment” that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should have run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she'll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption. But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Hunting Ground review

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2)

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs is the second full length book in the Alpha and Omega series after Cry Wolf. Hunting Ground takes us closer to Bran's plan for the big reveal that werewolves exist.

In Hunting Ground, Charles and Anna travel to Seattle in Bran's place to meet with the European pack alphas about problems with revealing werewolves to humans. We meet lots of wolves - including Tom and Moira, Tom's witch mate and the Beast, a French werewolf who is basically a serial killer. I liked meeting more of the North American wolves that owe Bran fealty as well as the alpha wolves from Europe because Briggs does such a great job of giving each one a unique personality.

Briggs builds more supernatural into the series with Hunting Ground. In Cry Wolf, there were werewolves and witches and in Hunting Ground, Briggs brings in vampires, the Fae and the legends of Arthur, which may not be legends after all. It's a neat twist, especially since the Alpha and Omega series is set in the same world as Briggs' Mercy Thompson series but has focused more specifically on the wolves because of the isolated setting of Bran's pack in Montana.

I liked that Anna is clearly growing into her role as Omega and her increasing understanding of who she is and what being an Omega means is underscored by her remaining mental and emotional issues from being changed and her early years in the Chicago pack. It's an interesting dichotomy and one that a less skilled author would not be able to balance as well as Briggs does.

Hunting Ground is an excellent entry in the Alpha and Omega series and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and paranormal stories with interesting characters.

Synopsis


Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything...
  

Friday, April 18, 2014

Mind Over Murder review

 Mind Over Murder (A Raven's Nest Mystery #1)

Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley is the first book in the Raven's Nest cozy mystery series set in small town Maine and featuring cousins Stephanie and Chloe Quinn.

Mind Over Murder had lots of potential with a bookstore featuring Poe paraphernalia and a healthy occult section as well as a touch of the paranormal with Chloe's extra sense, called Quinn Sense. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to the potential.

As a mystery, Mind Over Murder was okay. I actually knew who the killer was as soon as the character was introduced - and Kingsley dropped enough clues even as she tried to implicate every other character in the book to keep me firm in my belief of the murderer's identity.

I wanted to like the characters but not one of them was someone I would want in my life. Chloe, who we are supposed to cheer for and empathize with, needs to grow up. She acts and reacts like a tween with her first crush instead of an adult woman who lived alone in New York City for eighteen years. She is also far too much of a pushover for my taste, wanting to keep everyone else happy even if she is unhappy.

Stephanie is even worse than Chloe. She is flat out a horrible person. Stephanie always wants everything her way, no matter how miserable that makes everyone else. She also says "we" a lot but means "you" - as in "We need to investigate" meaning "Chloe needs to investigate" - and she always has a lame excuse and an emotional manipulation to get Chloe to do what Stephanie wants.

The secondary characters also left a great deal to be desired. They were either completely flat or were complete caricatures. The creepy guy who used to own a candy store, the New York City transplant who is a man eating model that hates other women, the cute, single hardware store owner who conveniently wants Chloe. These people don't have personalities of there own in Mind Over Murder.

Over all, I was pretty disappointed in Mind Over Murder and will likely pass on the rest of the books in the series.

Synopsis


Cousins and best friends, Clara and Stephanie Quinn run The Raven's Nest Bookstore, where people go to find their most coveted reads. But they have no idea it's the psychically-gifted Clara who's reading them...

The bookstore has made an enemy of the town crier, Ana Jordon, who claims that the store's occult collection is "poisoning" the town's youth. Meanwhile, the store's number-one employee, Molly, has made no secret of her anger over Ana's antics. So when Ana is found dead, killed by the bust of Edgar Allen Poe sculpted by Molly, the evidence is stacked against her. And Clara must rely on her gift to make sense of this senseless murder...


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Dangerous Curves Ahead review


Dangerous Curves Ahead by Sugar Jamison is the first book in the Perfect Fit series. The premise was great but I didn't love the characters.

I loved the idea of a romance novel featuring a fashionista who wasn't tall and skinny - a "real woman" so to speak. Ellis is a business owner catering to a customer base that isn't served by the traditional clothing retailers. She is intelligent, funny, and very loyal to her friends. However, Ellis is also too much of a pushover and Jamison's attempt to write Ellis as being perfectly okay with her weight and figure often comes across as Ellis being defensive and not nearly as okay as she is trying to pretend.


The hero, Michael, is someone who Ellis used to have a crush on but who slept with her sister - not exactly a forgivable offense to me but whatever.  Unfortunately, Michael sometimes seemed less intelligent than he should be given that he's a cop. He also expects Ellis to get over her issues but he certainly hasn't dealt with his own which is all too apparent throughout the book. Plus, he demands commitment from Ellis but isn't willing to give back the same kind of commitment. All in all, he's just not a guy I can think of as someone who should get the girl.

I did enjoy the secondary characters - Colin, Michael's Irish rogue best friend, and Cherri, Ellis's friend and retail help, as well as Ellis's sister who you just love to hate.

Overall, I can't say I recommend Dangerous Curves Ahead but if you don't mind uneven characters or romantic hero's who is neither romantic or a hero, you may enjoy this book.

Synopsis


Ellis Garrett is dumping her critical boyfriend, opening a plus-size clothing store, and starting a blog—all to spread the word that fashion shouldn’t require a size-two body, and happiness should allow for the occasional cupcake. Or two. But is indulging fantasies about her sister’s long-ago ex, the still-hunky Michael Edwards, biting off more than she can chew?

Mike must be losing his detective’s touch. He doesn’t recognize Ellis when he bumps into her at Size Me Up, and he certainly doesn’t remember his ex-girlfriend’s outspoken sister being so irresistible. Her curves are indeed dangerous—and so is her wit. Could it be that Ellis is his Perfect Fit? One thing’s for sure: Mike will make it his sworn duty to find out…



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Cry Wolf review

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1)

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is the first full length novel in the Alpha and Omega series but you definitely should read the novella, Alpha and Omega, first or it is a little confusing.

I have been devouring this series compulsively - it's just addictive and that starts with Cry Wolf! The more I read about Anna and Charles, the more I want to read. The people and events surrounding them are always interesting and often dramatic but never seem to go too far, in the sense that it never seems over the top or eye roll inducing.

The relationship between Anna and Charles is an interesting read because the two characters are so different and each have their own issues that need to be overcome. Charles is an alpha and an enforcer, not exactly an emotionally available guy, plus he's several hundred years old. Anna is in her twenties, has only been a werewolf for a few years, and was severely abused during that time. However, as an Omega, Anna is learning about her place and her power now that Charles has told her what she is. For his part, Charles wants to protect Anna but is trying hard not to smother her or scare her.

Add in Anna meeting the members of Charles' pack, a witch with evil plans, and a new werewolf haunting the mountains near the pack's home, and you get a novel with a fast paced plot and a lot of emotional turmoil. Cry Wolf has a little bit of everything - action, romance, plot twists, beautiful location, and fantastic characters.

I highly recommend the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs but definitely read the novella, Alpha and Omega, before reading Cry Wolf.

Synopsis


Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Blood Sisters review

Blood Sisters:  The Women Behind The War Of The Roses

Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the War of the Roses by Sarah Gristwood is an interesting look at the female historical figures of a fairly famous period in British history.

Historically known as the War of the Roses between the York and Plantagenet lines who vied for the throne of England, the term wasn't used during the period in question. Blood Sisters focuses on Margaret Beauford, Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth York, Anne Neville, and Margaret of Burgundy - mothers, wives, and sisters of the men vying for the throne and who are the more usual focus of historians.

Blood Sisters is an interesting book, not only because it focuses on people who were instrumental but have since largely been ignored, but also because Gristwood is very frank about speculating and informing readers there are simply things we can never know for sure as documentation does not exist any longer, if it ever did.

Historians often portray the royal women as powerless or corrupt but Gristwood simply shows that they were real people with real lives who made the most of their station in life while not being allowed to rule in their own right - even those who were queens - but who were by no means powerless.

Blood Sisters is a well written account of the lives of women that haven't been fully explored in such an even handed way previously and one that any fan of the pre-Tudor and Tudor eras should definitely read.

Synopsis


From best-selling historian, Sarah Gristwood comes the true story behind Philippa Gregory’s recent novels – the women who gave birth to the Tudor dynasty. It is a fiery history of Queens, the perils of power and of how the Wars of the Roses were ended – not by knights in battle, but the sinewy political skills of women.
 

The events of the Wars of the Roses are usually described in terms of the men involved; Richard, Duke of York, Henry VI, Edward IV and Henry VII. The reality though, argues Sarah Gristwood, was quite different. These years were also packed with women's drama and – in the tales of conflicted maternity and monstrous births – alive with female energy.

In this completely original book, acclaimed author Sarah Gristwood sheds light on a neglected dimension of English history: the impact of Tudor women on the Wars of the Roses. She examines Cecily Neville, the wife of Richard Duke of York, who was deprived of being queen when her husband died at the Battle of Wakefield; Elizabeth Woodville, a widow with several children who married Edward IV in secret and was crowned queen consort; Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, whose ambitions centred on her son and whose persuasions are likely to have lead her husband Lord Stanley, previously allied with the Yorkists, to play his part in Henry's victory.

Until now, the lives of these women have remained little known to the general public. Sarah Gristwood tells their stories in detail for the first time. Captivating and original, this is historical writing of the most important kind.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Long Live the Suicide King review

SuicideKing_AaronRitchey_Cover

I don't generally read YA but when Aaron Ritchey, who I met at RT, contacted me with a fantastic pitch for his new YA novel, Long Live the Suicide King, I couldn't say no. I'm actually really glad I agreed to read the book because it was very different than what I expected.

My problem with YA is that every time I break down and read a YA book, I find the characters whiny and rather unintelligent. Most of their problems are because they are self-absorbed and make stupid choices. While Jim (JD) Dillenger certainly makes a lot of stupid choices, he is definitely not stupid and he is not whiny. Some of the other characters were stupid and whiny, but as it is Jim's head we are in for the duration of the book, that isn't as big of a deal.

If you are expecting a book called Long Live the Suicide King to be depressing, you'd be very wrong. This book is, in fact, hysterically funny. I sincerely hope that Ritchey intended the book to be as funny as it was because I laughed as I read most of it. That's not to say that the topic isn't serious or that there were not very serious moments in the novel - there were - but Jim, for all his suicidal depression, doesn't seem to take anything very seriously and can make fun of himself right along with everything else in his suburban life.

Overall, Long Live the Suicide King is a very solid novel that addresses some serious issues in a not so serious tone that makes it both readable and interesting and I would recommend checking it out.

Synopsis


Seventeen-year-old Jim “JD” Dillenger knows exactly how his miserable suburban life is going to play out. At least drugs added a little chaos to his life, but after almost losing his soul, JD knows he has to quit. Now clean, he figures he has another sixty years of boring life followed by a meaningless death. JD decides to pre-empt God by killing himself. However, once he decides to die, his life gets better, more interesting, and then downright strange. New friends, a possible romance, and donuts, lots of donuts.
Once the end is in sight, every minute becomes precious.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Indigo Dawn review



I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Indigo Dawn by Elle J Rossi which I devoured on my first free day.

Indigo Dawn is the first full length novel in the Josie Hawk Chronicles, a series I've enjoyed from the first novella. Josie is a complex and interesting character and reading about her makes me want to know her. She is smart, honest, dedicated, and has very deep feelings which she hides behind attitude and sarcasm. Josie's past is revealed in bits and pieces as the series progresses and the unfolding picture makes her actions and reactions completely understandable. And if Josie couldn't kick my ass without breaking a sweat, I'd try to take Keller home with me :)

From the first page, Indigo Dawn is pure action. The poor characters just can't catch a break! As soon as they put out one fire, another pops up and they have to race to deal with it. This makes the book flow well and makes it a fairly fast read. The action also allows Rossi to paint a picture of the characters' interactions and personalities organically. Rather than descriptions of Alec, Grant, and the others, you learn who they are by their own voices and by their actions in the middle of all the drama. I have to say I'm very much looking forward to a book for each of the team members!

The Josie Hawk Chronicles are set in Nashville and Rossi does a brilliant job of transporting readers to the city but at the same time she builds a new, supernatural world that makes it a Nashville different from the one we know. It is both familiar and alien in the best possible way.

The ending left me wanting more and wanting to know what will happen with the supernatural world that Josie and the gang inhabit. I highly recommend the Josie Hawk Chronicles and particularly Indigo Dawn to any fan of fantasy and paranormal stories with strong characters and lots of action.

Synopsis

 
Vampire Lust and Pixie Dust.
 
Josie Hawk is a Huntress. A killer devoted to protecting the humans of Nashville from the shadows that lurk in the night. But the shadows are gaining ground.
 
When an infamous pixie tricks Josie into a drug-induced nightmare, Josie envisions the death of her vampire lover, Keller O'Leary. Was the vision a threat ... maybe even a promise? But from whom?
 
Desperate to track down the source of the toxic psychedelic pixie dust, Josie kicks and punches her way toward the truth. But her efforts backfire, provoking a deadly attack at Wolfie’s—the bar Josie co-owns with her sister-in-arms, Sage.
 
Tag. You’re it.
 
Haunted by the threat to Keller, Josie scrambles to outwit her elusive opponent before the deadly game escalates and claims more lives. But in saving Nashville, will Josie lose those she loves?
 
Or will she be too late to stop the deadly game of tag?

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Cover Reveal - Indigo Dawn by Elle J Rossi

Last week, I posted a fantastic interview with Elle J Rossi and promised the cover of Indigo Dawn...well, here is the gorgeous cover for the e-book version. The book will be available in both e-book and print formats next week! Additionally, the e-novella Alabaster Nights, the story of the first time Josie and Keller met, is available for free at Amazon this week so check it out and then grab Indigo Dawn on the 25th - you won't be disappointed!

Drumroll...the cover of Elle J Rossi’s INDIGO DAWN, coming out 25th March with Moon Rose Publishing! Josie Hawk and Keller O’Leary are back in full force in this continuation of the Josie Hawk Chronicles, kicking the ass of every dark creature that stalks the night in Nashville.

  
Vampire Lust and Pixie Dust.

Josie Hawk is a Huntress. A killer devoted to protecting the humans of Nashville from the shadows that lurk in the night. But the shadows are gaining ground.

When an infamous pixie tricks Josie into a drug-induced nightmare, Josie envisions the death of her vampire lover, Keller O'Leary. Was the vision a threat ... maybe even a promise? But from whom?

Desperate to track down the source of the toxic psychedelic pixie dust, Josie kicks and punches her way toward the truth. But her efforts backfire, provoking a deadly attack at Wolfie’s—the bar Josie co-owns with her sister-in-arms, Sage.

Tag. You’re it.

Haunted by the threat to Keller, Josie scrambles to outwit her elusive opponent before the deadly game escalates and claims more lives. But in saving Nashville, will Josie lose those she loves?

Or will she be too late to stop the deadly game of tag?

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Author Interview - Elle J Rossi

As regular readers of this blog know, I adore Elle J Rossi. Not only is she a talented author, designer, and singer but she's an all-around fantastic person and I'm very proud to call her my friend.

Elle has written several books including Broken Flight, the Brennan Coven series and the ongoing Josie Hawke Chronicles. In fact, Indigo Dawn, the third story in the Josie Hawke Chronicles and the first full length novel in the series will be released in e-book and print on March 25th! Look for the review of Indigo Dawn here on Friday and a cover reveal next week.

Q1. You write this kick ass - literally! - character who can and does take on anything thrown at her but there is also a softer and slightly vulnerable side to Josie that makes rare appearances. How do you balance those two sides of the character when you are writing?

Elle: I know this is going to make me sound crazy, but I honestly have nothing to do with it. Josie is one of those characters that basically writes herself. I often speak about her as if she's real. When I'm writing, I find myself holding conversations with her. Perhaps I'm borderline schizophrenic. If so, I'm okay with it. I love when characters come alive for me. Part of me wants to be more like her. She's as fierce as they come in most aspects of her life. But part of her is still that little girl who was severely bullied as a child for being a half-breed. Had her parents coddled and fought her battles for her, I think Josie wouldn't be anything like who she is. They didn't, though. They taught her to be proud and to stand up to anyone and everyone. This is why she fights so hard for those she holds close to her heart.


Q2. You come from a very talented family and have a background in music and performance. I've heard you say that you turned to writing for an artistic outlet for yourself after having kids. Why writing instead of starting a band or doing something else in music?

Elle: I see you want me to spill blood here. For you, I will! That, Melly Mel, is a question I ask myself quite often. The answer is one I've battled with for some time. To be completely honest, I thought I had to give up music in order to be a good wife, a good mother. In my heart I know I was wrong. Music was/is such a huge part of my life. Singing soothes my soul in ways I can't even explain. I very much regret giving it up like I did. I think when you truly want something, need it even, you have to find a way to fit it into your life.

Q3. Between a day job, a husband and kids, and the digital art design that you do with EJR Digital Art, how do you find time to write? Do you just never sleep?

Elle: NEVER!!!!!!! Haha! I love to sleep. If I could get 10 hours a night, I'd be a happy gypsy. I know my husband and children have sacrificed a lot of "me" time so I can do all this. My ultimate goal is to be a full time write and cover artist. I've got to put in a lot of hours to make this happen, and they get that. I've been working on so many covers lately (an awesome thing!), my writing time has suffered. So, I set my alarm for 5 am and write for an hour before the house stirs. Whatever it takes, right?

Q4. When you write, do you start with the character or do you start with the plot? Is there a time or place that makes it easier for you to write?

Elle: Many times I'll start with a character or a group of characters. For instance, I really want to write about a coven of hillbilly witches. But plot wise all I have is a lot of moonshine drinkin' and drunk drivin' on broomsticks. Yeah, I know. Ca-Razy! Then, I have another idea that is total plot and I don't know anything at all about a cast of characters. Somehow I don't think my hillbilly witches will fit in this case. 

I'll write any time I can squeeze it in. I'm most productive in the midst of chaos. If it's too quiet, I sit there and look around a lot.

Q5. Do you have a favorite fan story?

Elle: Best fan story EVER! Adam Levine sent me a letter telling me how much he loved Josie and asked if I would sign his book. Um, hellz yeah! My heart was all aflutter for days. When I got to the signing, Adam ANDJared Leto were both dressed as vampires and asked if they could be my Keller. Stop laughing. That could totally happen. Maybe. Eventually. For sure!


Q6. How about a "hater" story?

Elle: You mean other than the turned up noses when I tell some folks that I write paranormal romance? They don't faze me. I know they read Twilight late at night while peeps were sleeping. I know they secretly wish a vampire would seduce them out of their scivvies. I know everyone has a bit of the twisty dark inside them. They're just afraid of what others will think of them. I'm not ashamed. I'm a paranormal junkie. Appreciate, yo!

A huge thank you to Elle for stopping over and answering the interview questions. Look for Indigo Dawn from Moon Rose Publishing on March 25th and check out the two novellas in the Josie Hawke Chronicles, Alabaster Nights and Crimson Beat, both available as standalone e-books.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Read It and Weep review


Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay is the fourth book in the Library Lovers series. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review and have posted this review on additional sites. I have been in love with this series since the very first book, Books Can Be Deceiving, and it has not disappointed yet!

I have to admit I was a little worried about Read It and Weep as I was so mad at the ending of Book, Line, and Sinker, the third book in the series. I won't give any spoilers in case people haven't read it but I was afraid McKinlay was setting it up for Lindsey to become a pushover. I should have had more faith in McKinlay! While I am not thrilled at the love triangle that is set up in Read It and Weep - really cozy mystery authors, why must you all do this?!?! - Lindsey remained the strong, independent, smart, and funny character I've loved since the beginning.

The mystery part of Read It and Weep was a solid mystery with multiple suspect possibilities until McKinlay put forward the clue that allows Lindsey to figure it out. However, the "twist" wasn't particularly surprising. I suspected the truth from the beginning though perhaps that is what McKinlay wanted.

The best part of this series, besides Lindsey, is the Crafternoon members! McKinlay writes vivid secondary characters that grow with each book and make the world of Briar Creek feel very real and inviting. If it was a real place, I'd go visit! These are solid characters who are loyal to their friends, tease each other, laugh and cry together, and are just generally very authentic.

I also want to give a shout out to whoever - and I don't know who it is - that does the covers for this series. They are always perfect and evoke the feel of the book beautifully.

If you are looking for a solid cozy mystery series and love books, definitely check out the Library Lovers series by McKinlay - you won't be disappointed!

Synopsis


William Shakespeare is credited with inventing how many words?*

Answering Shakespeare trivia comes with the job description for library director Lindsey Norris. But when the Briar Creek Community Theater mounts their newest production of the Bard, she has no intention of leaving the stacks for the stage. Unfortunately a villain is waiting in the wings…

Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream—and everyone from the sour spinster librarian Ms. Cole to Lindsey’s youthful library pages are trying out for parts. Brought in to play the mischievous Puck is the flirtatious professional actor Robbie Vine, who seems to have eyes for Lindsey. Before her blush has faded, the Bard’s dream turns into a nightmare—when one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey and her crafternooners must take center stage to unmask the culprit before the final curtain call….


*Over 17,000

Monday, March 3, 2014

Archangel's Legion review

archangel's consort

Archangel's Legion by Nalini Singh is the sixth book in the Guild Hunter series. After a couple of books focusing on members of the Seven, Archangel's Legion is back to focusing on Elena and Raphael.

It seems like Elena and Raphael just can't catch a break. With each book, there is a new and bigger threat - and that doesn't take into account the fact that Elena is still growing into her immortality and Raphael's powers are changing in unknown and sometimes frightening ways!

Archangel's Legion is a fast paced and wild ride. New York's angels and vampires are under attack in an attempt to weaken Raphael. Our couple and the Seven are trying desperately to figure out where the attack is coming from while at the same time trying to form closer alliances with other members of the Cadre. Elena is also trying to keep her humanity as her immortality grows and the familiar relationship issues between the couple are still clearly present. The issues in their relationship and their completely different backgrounds and power levels make for a page turning tension that practically leaps out of the book.

The unanswered questions left at the end of Archangel's Legion are many though I have no doubt that Singh will answer them all as the series moves forward.

As always, I highly recommend Singh's Guild Hunter series if you aren't reading it!

Synopsis


Angels are falling from the sky in New York, struck down by a vicious, unknown force.

Vampires are dying impossibly of disease.

Guild hunter Elena Deveraux and the Archangel Raphael must discover the source of the wave of death before it engulfs their city and their people, leaving New York a ruin and Raphael’s Tower under siege by enemy archangels.

Yet even as they fight desperately to save the city, an even darker force is stirring, its chill eyes trained on New York…and on Raphael. Rivers of crimson and nightmares given flesh, the world will never again be the same…

Monday, February 24, 2014

Out with a Fang review

Out with a Fang by Jessica Sims is a novella in The Undead in My Bed anthology. I hadn't read anything by Sims until Out with a Fang.

The main character, Ruby, is a jaguar shifter and is still in love with a forbidden human, Michael, who she dated in the past. In an attempt to get over him, Ruby goes to a dating service for the supernatural world. Her blind date insists she be just that - blind - during the whole date! Frankly, that would have had me walking away but that's why I'm not a character in a romance story :)

The blind date is, of course, Michael. He is no longer human but a vampire so he and Ruby are free to be together. Oh, except for that pesky assassin that's after him.

The interactions between Michael and Ruby are interesting and it's easy to see the tangled relationship of their past in the short amount we are given. I enjoyed the story and will be looking for more stories by Sims in the future.


Synopsis


Jessica Sims’s “Out With a Fang” features Ruby Sommers, a lonely were-jaguar who signs up for a blind date through the paranormal dating agency Midnight Liaisons. When she arrives, she finds out that her date, a vampire, was the human she’d been in love with four years ago but was forced to dump.


Friday, February 21, 2014

Mine to Hold review

Mine To Hold

Cynthia Eden has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I've yet to read anything by her that I haven't absolutely loved and Mine to Hold, third in the Mine series, is no exception.

In Mine to Hold, we read about Noah and Claire, who were introduced in Mine to Keep. Noah is a playboy mercenary who happens to own hotels and he's enough like Trace to be familiar to readers of the series but different enough to be interesting and engaging. I have not so secret book-crushes on all of the men from Trace and Noah's old mercenary group :)

Claire, the sister of Trace's assistant in Mine to Keep, is still being hunted after her crazy boyfriend murdered her parents when she was a teenager - only the crazy boyfriend is in prison. Noah is, of course, determined to protect Claire from the clearly dangerous threat but he is equally determined to have her for his own. Claire, understandably, is wary of Noah's possessiveness and his love 'em and leave 'em ways. Two strong personalities, a dangerous situation, and incredible, jump off the page chemistry - Mine to Hold has all the elements you expect from solid romantic suspense.

Eden's characters - whether contemporary ex-military, paranormal creatures, or Greek gods - are always vivid and entertaining. While Mine to Hold has a lot of drama - it is romantic suspense - there are moments of levity at the perfect time to keep the story from being too dark. Also, Mine to Hold features a lot of action and is fast paced, which I greatly enjoy.

If you aren't reading Eden's Mine series and you enjoy romantic suspense, I would highly recommend the entire series!

Synopsis


She was one man’s obsession…
Nine years ago, Claire Kramer’s lover brutally killed her family, and he tried to kill her. She escaped, but she’s been haunted ever since that attack. Too afraid to trust another man and too worried that her past will catch up with her, Claire never gets too close to anyone. But then she meets Noah York.

He must have her.
Noah York is a man with secrets. The world sees him as a billionaire hotel tycoon, but Noah has a dark and dangerous side. For years, he worked covert military operations before he built his fortune. When it comes to death, Noah is a master. He knows that he should steer clear of Claire, but the white-hot attraction Noah feels for the delicate beauty is instant—and consuming.

He will never let her go.
Someone else is just as consumed by Claire—someone who will kill to possess her. And if Noah can’t stop the hunter in the darkness, he may just lose the one woman that he can’t live without.
 
Author’s Note: MINE TO HOLD is a dark and sexy romantic suspense novel. It contains a twisted killer, a hot hero, and a heroine who has been pushed to the edge. Adult language and sexy situations are included. Please consider yourself warned. 


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Alpha and Omega review

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Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs is the novella that kicks off the Alpha and Omega series. It was first published as part of the On the Prowl anthology but is available as a stand alone ebook. Seriously, if you want to check out this series, read the novella first or you will be confused!

Briggs introduces Charles and Anna, werewolves though different from others of their kind in unique ways. Charles is the son of the Marrok, the werewolf alpha who rules North America, and Anna is a recently turned wolf who has been used and abused by her pack.

I wasn't sure at first if I'd like this series because I tend toward much stronger female characters but the more I read, the more I realized that Anna is a very strong character just in more subtle ways rather than my more usual "kick ass and don't bother with names" way. I also like that, while Charles is an alpha, he is honest that he doesn't know everything and that emotions are not his strong point.

The novella Alpha and Omega is an intriguing short story that can be read alone but I couldn't wait to dive into the first full length book that is really a continuation of the novella. I definitely recommend checking out this series if you enjoy shifter books and interesting characters.

Synopsis


Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.

Charles Cornick is the son — and enforcer — of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf — and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Curse of the Black Swan review

Curse of the Black Swan by Alyssa Day is technically the first story in the League of the Black Swan series but it was published after The Cursed. Curse of the Black Swan is a novella featured in the Enthralled compilation. As of this writing, the story is not available as a standalone.

Sean is half fire demon and a firefighter, which is probably logical. He is one of four O'Malley brothers, all of whom are renowned for their looks and their way with women. Sean is rough, large, and very much an alpha male. But being a fire demon is something he and his brothers promised they'd never let anyone find out so he hides half of himself from everyone he allows in his life.

Brynn is cursed. She, like all the first born females in her family, must turn into a black swan at regular intervals and sing for the goddess. She is great with animals leading naturally to her owning an animal grooming business. Brynn vows never to have children in order to break the curse.

To add drama to an already dramatic story, Day adds in a serial arsonist and when that arsonist is reveal it is at once unexpected and yet so obvious.

Curse of the Black Swan also has fun secondary characters - Luke *squeee* - that make you want stories for each of them. I look forward to a long and interesting League of the Black Swan series.

Synopsis


New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan…and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family’s curse dooms her to kill the man she loves.


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Moon Called review

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1)

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series and I really enjoyed it.

The Mercy Thompson series is loosely connected to the Alpha and Omega series with crossover characters but I don't think you need to read the Alpha and Omega series to understand and enjoy the Mercy Thompson series.

Mercy, or Mercedes, is a coyote shifter and is fairly kick ass. She was raised with werewolves, not easy for a coyote shifter, and doesn't put up with much from anyone. She also runs a successful garage. Mercy also lives next to the local Alpha, Adam, who she enjoys annoying for being too controlling. But when Adam is attacked and his daughter kidnapped, Mercy takes charge and doesn't give much of a damn what the Pack thinks about it. Of course, there is the small problem of the wolf who broke her heart showing up but what's one more thing to deal with, really? :)

Briggs gives us a lot of different kinds of paranormal characters in the series beside shifters. There are also vampires, who are hidden from humanity like the shifters, and fae, who revealed themselves to humans with not so good consequences. She also builds an interesting world that is pretty much like our own but with these hidden communities of paranormals. It makes me wonder who the new neighbors might be!

If you enjoy a strong female lead and like a variety of paranormal characters, I recommend you check out Moon Called and the Mercy Thompson series.

Synopsis

Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...

Friday, February 7, 2014

Undead Sublet reiew

9781451656794cvr

Undead Sublet by Molly Harper is a novella in the anthology The Undead in My Bed and the first story I've read by Harper.

I found Undead Sublet to be both fun and funny although I felt the end was a little abrupt but that's often the problem with novellas. In Undead Sublet, we find that vampires are "out" - they are known to the human population with the expected mixed reactions.

Tess, the main character and a chef, goes a little crazy (literally) so she takes a vacation to a small town where her mentor lives. Upon arrival, she finds that there is a vampire in the basement of the house she has rented. I love that she's the kind of woman who isn't afraid to get into a prank war with a vampire :)

The secondary characters are great as well. Three women that Tess becomes friends with - Jane, Andrea, and Jolene - remind me of my closest friends. They accept her as she is but aren't afraid to call her on her craziness either.

All in all, a fun story and I'll be looking for more of Harper's work.

Synopsis


After overworked Chicago chef Tess flips out (can everyone hear that arugula talking, or is it just me?), she rents a quiet house in Half-Moon Hollow for a month of R & R. But when she finds the place occupied by a drop-dead gorgeous vampire, Tess’s tastes—for comfort food, for small Kentucky towns, and for her irresistible lover—become nearly insatiable!


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Silence of the Library review


The Silence of the Library (Cat in the Stacks Mystery, #5)

I received an ARC of The Silence of the Library by Miranda James in exchange for a review. The Silence of the Library is the fifth book in the Cat in the Stacks series and is pretty consistent with the previous books.

Beloved characters Charlie and Diesel find themselves entangled in yet another murder mystery when the Athena Public Library’s planned exhibit of children’s books for National Library Week - yes, that’s a real thing - leads to a murder. The plot is well-written and flows quite well. I enjoyed the interspersing of excerpts from a fictional children’s mystery book and the secondary characters have the same love of books that I do.

As for the mystery, unfortunately, it wasn’t very mysterious. I had figured out what was going on by the time I had read a third of the book. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the rest of the book but if you are looking for a true mystery, this might not be for you. 

The things I’ve enjoyed the most about this series - wonderful main characters, colorful and entertaining secondary characters, solid police work by the local authorities, and book references galore - continue in The Silence of the Library making it a solid addition. 

Synopsis


Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but a celebrated author’s visit draws an unruly swarm of fanatic mystery buffs…and one devious killer.

It’s National Library Week, and the Athena Public Library is planning an exhibit to honor the centenary of famous novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright—creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series.

Charlie has a soft spot for Cartwright’s girl detective stories (not to mention an extensive collection of her books!). When the author agrees to make a rare public appearance, the news of her whereabouts goes viral overnight, and series devotees and book collectors converge on Athena.
After all, it’s rumored that Cartwright penned Veronica Thane stories that remain under wraps, and one rabid fan will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get hold of the rare books…

Monday, February 3, 2014

The Final Cut review


The Final Cut (A Brit in the FBI, #1)

The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter and JT Ellison is the first book in the Brit in the FBI series. A globe hopping mystery, Coulter and Ellison give readers an interesting and entertaining story.

Murder, jewel theft, international diplomacy, and cops from multiple countries all come together in The Final Cut. A once in a lifetime exhibit at the Met in New York of the Crown Jewels from London leads to the murder of a Scotland Yard inspector. Was she a random victim? Was she killed because she knew something? Or was she a dirty cop? Nicholas Drummond, heir to a barony and a chief inspector in London, is determined to find out why his friend and colleague is dead and the FBI isn’t going to stop him.

Agent Michaela Caine, known as Mike, must solve the murder of a foreign cop and work with Nicholas despite her misgivings. When the murder case turns into a jewel theft investigation and more murders occur, the pieces start to fit together - only to fall apart again during the opening reception of the jewel exhibit.

The thief’s identity was pretty easy to figure out even before the reveal but the twisty turns of the various murders and the subsequent investigations, kept me guessing until the authors revealed the final piece. Starting in New York and then through the streets of Paris and the banks of Switzerland, The Final Cut is a wild ride that I couldn’t put down. 


Synopsis


Scotland Yard’s new chief inspector Nicholas Drummond is on the first flight to New York when he learns his colleague, Elaine York, the "minder" of the Crown Jewels for the "Jewel of the Lion" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was found murdered. Then the centerpiece of the exhibit, the infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond, is stolen from the Queen Mother’s crown. Drummond, American-born but raised in the UK, is a dark, dangerous, fast-rising star in the Yard who never backs down. And this case is no exception.

Special Agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich from Coulter’s bestselling FBI series don’t hesitate to help Drummond find the cunning international thief known as the Fox. Nonstop action and high stakes intensify as the chase gets deadly. The Fox will stop at nothing to deliver the Koh-i-Noor to the man who believes in its deadly prophecy. Nicholas Drummond, along with his partner, FBI Special Agent Mike Caine, lay it on the line to retrieve the diamond for Queen and country.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Broken Music review

Broken Music

Broken Music by Marjorie Eccles is a murder mystery set in the aftermath of World War I Britain. It’s a cozy mystery but with the murder having taken place years in the past. Herbert Reardon, our detective, is determined to solve the murder despite its having been declared a suicide. 

Eccles does an excellent job of portraying the village and the era in Broken Music. It’s got a definite sense of place and time and is very vivid in that respect. I think fans of Downton Abbey would very much like Broken Music as it has the same sort of relationships portrayed as on the show. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy Broken Music very much for a couple of reasons. First, it jumps around in time a great deal and that is something that regular readers of this blog will know bothers me. I’m fine with the occasional flashback but I want stories to be told mostly in a linear fashion. Second, I didn’t really feel anything for any of the characters. I didn’t particularly like any of them or hate any of them. If I don’t feel deeply about the characters, then I’m not invested in the story. Third, I want a murder mystery to be a murder mystery and Broken Music is more of a solved cold case being re-investigated rather than a murder mystery to me. 

If you don’t mind jumping around in time and are a fan of Downton Abbey, Broken Music just might be for you.

Synopsis


The year is 1919 and the population of Great Britain is still struggling to its feet after being hit by the atrocities of the First World War. Progress is slow, even in quiet spots like the village of Broughton Underhill, on the edge of the Black Country. Gradually soldiers return, wounds begin to heal, and people try to move on with their lives. Former police sergeant Herbert Reardon has returned to the village, determined to solve an old murder--a woman was found drowned in the lake when the war was just beginning.

However, as Reardon begins to investigate, it becomes clear that secrets still abound and lips are staying sealed. When Edith Huckaby, a maid from Oaklands Park, is found murdered in exactly the same spot, Reardon is convinced that the two cases are linked. As he endeavors to discover the hidden truth, his suspects and witnesses are painstakingly trying to rebuild their lives, in a world that has been changed and scarred forever.

Broken Music is a masterful portrait of the horrors of the front line and the anxiety of the home front, as the loves and losses of wartime Britain are woven together and the truth slowly dawns on a local tragedy.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends review

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends

I suspect that many, perhaps even most, romance readers are like me in that they got their start in the romance genre by reading fairy tales. In fact, my favorite fairy tales (the cleaned up, kid friendly versions my parents let me read and watch) were the ones with a paranormal element - think Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty - which explains a lot of my reading choices as an adult :)

These days I like my romantic heroine's to be a little less damsel in distress and a little more independent and kick ass - which is why I enjoyed Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale so much.

Featuring Raven Queen, the Evil Queen's daughter, as the protagonist and a storyline teaching kids that they don't have to follow the path the world sets for them, Ever After High was a fun, intelligent, and well paced book. Obviously geared toward children, Hale kept me entertained and interested through the whole book and did so with a great deal of humor. I particularly enjoyed Madeline Hatter, daughter of the Mad Hatter and her quirky yet pragmatic view of the world and the people in it.

Interesting questions arise from the story - Can the next Evil Queen really be friends with the next Snow White? What happens to Prince Charming's younger brother? Is your future set in stone or are you master of your own destiny? - blending life lessons and fairy tale enchantment in such a way that kids won't feel like they are "learning" but that adults will appreciate.

If you enjoy fairy tales or have kids who enjoy fairy tales, I highly recommend Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends.

Synopsis


At Ever After High, an enchanting boarding school, the children of fairytale legends prepare themselves to fulfill their destinies as the next generation of Snow Whites, Prince Charmings and Evil Queens...whether they want to or not. Each year on Legacy Day, students sign the Storybook of Legends to seal their scripted fates. For generations, the Village of Book End has whispered that refusing to sign means The End-both for a story and for a life.

As the daughter of the Evil Queen, Raven Queen's destiny is to follow in her mother's wicked footsteps, but evil is so not Raven's style. She's starting to wonder, what if she rewrote her own story? The royal Apple White, daughter of the Fairest of Them All, has a happy ever after planned for herself, but it depends upon Raven feeding her a poison apple in their future.


What if Raven doesn't sign the Storybook of Legends? It could mean a happily never after for them both.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Book, Line, and Sinker review


Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay, is the third book in the Library Lover's series. The first two books are Books Can Be Deceiving and Due or Die. I've been enjoying this cozy mystery series more with each book.

I didn't guess the murderer in Book, Line, and Sinker so it was a good mystery. I enjoyed the growth of the various secondary characters, especially Chief Daniels, and feel that McKinlay's strength lies in her ability to write wonderful characters outside the protagonist. The new characters were entertaining and the returning characters were as interesting as I remember them from the second book. The Crafternoon Club members are still tons of fun and I often find myself chuckling when they are featured.

The pacing and action is well done and the historical aspect of the murder is fleshed out without causing the story to bog down. I like that McKinlay rounded back to a historical Briar Creek mystery that was discussed earlier in the series and brought it to a close with the solving of the current day mystery. That kind of attention to detail from book to book makes for a wonderful reading experience.

Seeing Lindsey's growth in Briar Creek, especially when her ex-fiancee shows up, was really fun. I especially loved the Lindsey and Sully relationship - right up until Sully turned into an idiot male.

Overall, Book, Line, and Sinker is a solid addition to the series. For fans of cozy mysteries, I definitely recommend the Library Lover's series.

Synopsis


"Avast" in pirate speak means what?*

Answering tricky reference questions like this one provides plenty of excitement for library director Lindsey Norris. But when a shocking murder is committed in her cozy coastal town of Briar Creek, Connecticut, the question of who did it must be answered before an innocent man gets the book thrown at him...

Lindsey is enjoying her second year in Briar Creek as the library director, meeting with the crafternoon club, and happily dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan. But when a salvage company arrives in town to dig up treasure buried on Pirate Island over three hundred years ago, the locals are torn between protecting the island and welcoming the publicity.   

In spite of the squabbling, Charlie Peyton, Lindsey’s downstairs neighbor, takes a job with the salvage company. But when Trudi Hargrave, the local tourism director who hired the company, is found murdered at the excavation site, Charlie becomes the chief suspect. To help him, Lindsey must do some digging of her own before the real killer buries the truth for good….


*Stop