New Release of Murder Takes a Selfie and a $200 Gift Card Giveaway!

 

If you like Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, you will love Esther and her best friend Sophie in Murder Takes a Selfie, book one, of the By The Sea Cozy Mystery series.

Best friends from a small beach town leave the library to race against time when a student’s selfie looks like the last one they’ll ever take.

 

Enter our Launch Celebration Giveaway and win a $200 Amazon Gift card so you can buy more books! https://www.cozymysteriesbythesea.com/

 

Murder Takes a Selfie on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yzPGnw

Follow the author at: https://www.facebook.com/cozymysteryreaderswriters

And: https://www.facebook.com/shannonsymondsauthor/?ref=pages_you_manage

The Candy Cane Caper (A Culinary Mystery) by Josi S. Kilpack + Book Giveaway!

This Christmas, Sadie Hoffmiller Cunningham is making a list and checking it twice. For the first time since she and Pete married five years ago, their combined families are gathering for the holidays in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a party that would make Santa and Mrs. Claus proud.

She just has to bake the famous Cunningham Candy Cane Cake, make sure the looming snowstorm doesn't derail everyone's travel plans, and oh, yes, solve one teensy-tiny mystery before the big day.

At ninety-four and nearly blind, Mary, Sadie's friend and neighbor, knows this will be her last Christmas. When Sadie learns that someone has stolen antique Christmas ornaments from Mary's tree, she vows to find the thief, no matter what. The ornaments had been appraised at more than $40,000, but they were worth even more to Mary, who had intended to bequeath them to her great-granddaughter, Joy, as a final gift.

With Pete in Arizona wrapping up a case of his own, it's up to Sadie to question the residents of Nicholas House, where Mary lives, and deduce who had the means and the motive to steal heirloom ornaments during what should be the most wonderful time of the year.

When stories of other thefts surface, Sadie feels like she's creating a "naughty" list that could rival Santa's. Identifying the thief, recovering the ornaments, and restoring them to Mary's tree in time will take a Christmas miracle—and maybe a few extra-special cookies.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book * 

It's been awhile since I read a Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery!  It was so good to be back in the crazy that is Sadie's life.  She has mellowed a bit since her first books but she is still the same Sadie and I've kind of missed her.

Mysteries are Sadie's thing and when her friend's prized ornaments go missing, Sadie is on the case in an instant.  Her investigations have her talking to lots of people and that's where I find the most satisfaction.  She makes connections with people and learns about them.  Even though I'm always wondering who did it, I am enjoying the growing relationships and how perceptions change as Sadie gets to know people.  There is always guaranteed to be a scene or two that will make you smile because Sadie can't help but get herself into an embarrassing scrape or two.

This is a sweet mystery, cozy, and full of fun recipes, perfect for the holiday season.  There are a couple I'm going to try for sure.  

I have two copies of this book so I'm giving one away!!  The giveaway is for US residents only as it is a physical book and I'll need to ship it.

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- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author:

Josi S. Kilpack is an accomplished and prolific author of nearly two dozen novels including the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. She has won multiple Whitney Awards for Myster/Suspense, Romance, and Novel of the Year as well as the Utah Best of State Fiction Winner. She lives with her family in Utah.

Follow the author on Instagram @authorjosiskilpack  

The Marquess Meets His Match by Julie Coulter Bellon + Giveaway!

A traitor with a deadly plan. Two agents sent to expose his identity before he strikes. But danger is closer than they think . . .

Lord Christian Wolverton―known as Wolf in a covert group operating during the war against Napoleon―has been called home from his military duties. For the moment, his family responsibilities require him to suspend his more clandestine activities. But information falls into his hands that a traitor will soon try to tip the scales back into French favor and Christian doesn't have much time to stop it from happening.

Going to the one person who can help him, the powerful Duke of Huntingdon, Christian comes face to face with Lady Alice. She's a beautiful member of the ton with a very big secret―she's also a trained agent and already on the case. Forced to partner with her to lure the traitor out of hiding, Christian wants to quickly close the case himself, before Lady Alice is more closely involved. But Lady Alice has ideas of her own and she's going to prove her theories correct―with or without him.

Danger is closer than they think, however, and it's a race against time to expose the traitor's identity before British lives are endangered. Both Christian and Alice have strong opinions on who he is, but which one will be proven right and can they catch him before it's too late?

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

What a fun romp this book is!  There is mystery, intrigue, danger and yes, a growing romance.  Lady Alice is fantastic- a trained secret agent with plenty of moxie.  She is strong, brave and smart but also very feminine and classy.  She felt like the perfect heroine to me.  I love how she stands her ground with Lord Wolverton and how much he grows to respect and enjoy that.  ;)

The story was entertaining, the plot moved at a great pace and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, kissing

- I picked this book up on Kindle Unlimited.

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of nearly two dozen romantic suspense books. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense, Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense and The Captain was a RONE award finalist for Best Suspense. Most recently, her books The Capture and Second Look were both Whitney finalists for Best Suspense/Mystery.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. In her free time she loves to read, write, teach, watch HawaiiFive-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

If you'd like to be the first to hear about Julie's new projects and receive a free book, you can sign up to be part of her VIP Readers Group at juliebellon.com
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The Enemy Next Door and Other Misunderstandings (Strawberry Lake Estates Mystery Book 2) by Crissy Sharp

Jocelyn Kross always imagined her life differently—more loft in Upper Eastside Manhattan, less burned down house in small town Montana. Her temporary digs aren’t much better, a tiny apartment off the side of someone’s house. When the owner turns out to be her sworn enemy, Cade Warner, it’s just the rotten cherry on her terrible day.

Strange things are happening in Strawberry Lake Estates. Cade cannot afford to be distracted by his new neighbor, someone he’s known his whole life, and yet doesn’t really know at all. When Cade’s employee turns up dead, solving the sudden crime wave in their town turns a lot more personal.

As Jocelyn and Cade work together to solve the murder and help their town, they look pasts old grudges and see each other in a new light. When the investigation puts their lives in jeopardy, they find love sometimes comes in the most inconvenient ways.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I have been looking forward to reading this book since I heard it was coming.  This is the second book of this series and I would say that you probably need to read this series in order because it follows a continuing mystery.  Parts of the mystery are solved with each book but the big picture mystery is ongoing.  It's a fun way to write a series!

This is the type of mystery I love.  It doesn't get too intense and there is plenty of relationship building and character development to make me feel invested and connected to more than just the plot.  

Cade got a bad wrap in the first book.  I was so happy to have him starring in this book.  Cade is awesome.  I love his kindness to Jocelyn's daughter and his attention to details in the lives of the people around him.  The backstory and history between Cade and Jocelyn came out slowly but really helped to create a solid foundation for their present frustrations and growing friendship.  

I'm really enjoying this series and I'll be anxiously awaiting the next installment!

Content:  mild violence, peril, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Gem Thief by Sian Ann Bessey + $25 and Book Giveaway

Gracie Miller is a small-town girl who has landed her dream job in New York City. As jewelry designer for one of the most prestigious jewelers in the world, she completed a particularly stunning piece, a custom setting for a large pink diamond. But when her billionaire client Mrs. Katsaros comes to repair a minor issue with the setting, Gracie is horrified to realize it is not the ring she created. Someone has forged her design, and the priceless diamond is gone.

Mrs. Katsaros has no desire to bring media attention to the jewelry heist, so she recruits her nephew, Quinn, and his FBI agent friend, Steve, to do some sleuthing off the record. When they discover that the missing ring is just one of many forgeries in the widow's collection, they look to Gracie for help. They need her to act the part of Quinn's fiancée. From the lights of New York to the shimmering islands of the Mediterranean, Gracie is swept into a thrilling hunt. But amid the search for the elusive thief, she and Quinn find themselves increasingly distracted by their growing feelings for each other. What neither realizes is how close the danger lies and how serious the vendetta is—because, apparently, it is worth killing for.

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

I actually did a video for this book.  Which you can find HERE.   I guess the video is less about the story and more about the actual book, but still.  I call the video The BEST Cover because I wanted to show it to you instead of just talk about it.  This cover is a very good reason for loving print books.

For the official written review, I enjoyed this book.  The story was a good blend of mystery, characters and travel (which I love in books).  I really want to go to Greece some day but not on a cruise ship.  Because I get sick.

The story has great build up, slowly and steadily increasing until that pow moment at the end.  It was fun!

Content:  clean, kissing, mild violence

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Schedule:

* Nov. 5^th: http://mybookaday.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/

*Nov. 6^th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://empowermoms.net, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/

*Nov. 7^th: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, https://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/

*Nov. 8^th: https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

*Nov. 9^th: http://www.iamareader.com/, https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

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The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Housewife (Strawberry Lake Estates #1) by Crissy Sharp

 

Lotty Brooks’ days consist of avoiding thoughts of her failing marriage, changing diapers, and trying not to eat chocolate brioche for breakfast and lunch. However, everything changes when her perfect, lakeside Montana neighborhood begins bustling with crime and she seems to be the target.

Jason Brooks wants to know what happened to the woman he married. Lotty’s a mere shell of her former self. When she becomes the focal point of neighborhood threats, and the town seems to question her innocence, he must decide how well he knows his wife.

As Jason and Lotty try to get to the bottom of the threats and find those responsible, they’ll need to remember what they once loved about each other. Otherwise, they may lose everything and everyone they care about.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

I thought I was going to enjoy this book but I underestimated just how much.  I love being pleasantly surprised!  I think what I loved most about this book was the perfect balance of the harder, sadder things and the humor.  I smiled a lot.  There were many emotions in this book all of which I felt.  I love that.  

I love getting the duel perspectives from Lotty and Jason.  It really helped me to understand them both better and not pick sides.  😊 Lotty is a fun representation of young motherhood and there were so many things I could relate to as I remembered when my own kids were young and required so much of me.

I am completely interested in the mystery surrounding Lotty and Jason and their  neighborhood.  I sure didn't get all my questions answered in this book so it's a good thing I know there is more coming!  I can't wait for the next book!

Content:  peril, mild violence, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

12 Days at Bleakly Manor (Once Upon a Dickens Christmas #1) by Michelle Griep

When CLARA CHAPMAN receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, BENJAMIN LANE.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

I know it's not the Christmas season, but this book sure put me in the mind for it!  I love the cover for this book and I'm so excited to see that this is the beginning of a new series from Michelle Griep.  She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

This book had a bit of everything.  It's a cozy mystery with romance and a dash of danger.  I loved how the characters came alive for me- jumping out from the pages like a movie in my head.  This book should be a movie!!  I'm envisioning hot chocolate and a cozy blanket with my girls.  :)

Yes, this book is set during Christmas but don't let that stop you from reading it at any time of the year.  I loved that as a reader, I didn't have a clue as to what was going on.  I was right there with the characters, wondering and trying to figure things out.  It made me feel like I was a part of the book in some way.

This was such a fun story!  I can't wait for the next one!

Content:  mild violence, kissing

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Whatever After (Someone Else's Fairytale #5) by E.M. Tippetts

Chloe’s got it all: a happy marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, her first child on the way, and the chance to be the maid-of-honor in her best friend, Lori’s, upcoming wedding. The stresses of the past year are behind her… almost.

Chris Winters, Chloe’s half-brother, still isn’t in jail, even though he’s the main suspect in a double homicide. The police don’t have enough hard evidence to charge him with the crime, but Chloe is certain it was him. After all, he tried to kill her when she was a child.

When Chris begins to stalk Lori, Chloe is furious and decides it is past time he was locked up for good. She has the best security team money can buy, yet she knows they’re missing something, and mistakes in this business can be deadly. The deeper she digs, though, the less the facts add up.

Chloe’s got mere weeks to figure out how to keep her best friend safe, save the wedding from disaster, and get Chris back in jail where he belongs. That is, if she can gather enough evidence before he strikes again.

* Amazon * Goodreads * iBooks * Kobo * B & N *

This is a series I've been following from the very beginning and one I would highly recommend reading in order.  You just won't get the back history and relationships if you jump ahead.  So, for your own reading enjoyment, read this series in order!  :)

The first book in this series begins with the meeting and courtship of Chloe and Jason.  It had more romantic feel but as the series progresses, it's less about their relationship and more about other circumstances that arise and family relationships, always with a bit of suspense and mystery thrown in.  

In this book, Chloe is on set with Jason and pregnant with her first child.  Bad things start happening back home and Chloe feels the pull to get there to help.  Chloe holds a lot of guilt over the way her personal life has overflowed to the people around her that she cares about.  She is always trying to protect and save.  I love that Chloe is smart and has such a deep rooted sense of loyalty to those close to her.  Chloe is an awesome friend.

This book felt more like a mystery to me.  The suspense wasn't as prominent in this book although there is a definite build up to the end events.  I didn't really have a clue as to what was really happening and I was learning things right along with the characters for the whole book.  It made me feel like I was a part of the book- not knowing more or less than the characters.

 I have enjoyed every book in this series and the natural progression and continuation I've felt from the stories.  Every time I come back to this series I feel like I'm meeting up with old friends which is exactly what I want as a reader.  If you haven't read anything from this author or series, you should!!   This is a fun one!

Content:  mild violence

I received a copy of this book from WordSmith Publicity as part of a promotional tour.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Emily Mah Tippetts writes science fiction as Emily Mah and sweet romance as E.M. Tippetts. A lifelong New Mexican, she lives with her family in Santa Fe, though she's been known to spend years at a time in the UK, her second home. Aside from being a writer, she's been a lawyer and jeweler, and is currently a stay at home mother, polymer clay artist, book designer/formatter, and owner of E.M. Tippetts Book Designs.

Links:

Mailing list: eepurl.com/vS_wz

Website: www.emtippetts.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/emtippetts

Twitter: twitter.com/emtippetts (@EMTippetts)

Silver River Secrets by Linda Hope Lee + $50 and Book Giveaway!

Silver River Secrets
by Linda Hope Lee
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Tragedy made them strangers. The truth could change that…

Lacey Morgan's grandmother is the only reason she has to ever set foot in Silver River. Her hometown is populated with too many ghosts and memories. Too many painful reminders. Including Rory Dalton.

In all her brief visits over the past ten years, they've barely spoken. Locked on opposite sides of the tragedy that tore their lives apart, they buried their feelings along with their parents. But this trip is different. She will stay a little longer. Dig a little deeper. And try to solve the mystery that has kept them from the truth…and each other.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

Lacey is determined to prove her father innocent in a murder that was committed ten years ago.  Even though he was found guilty, convicted and sent to prison where he later died, Lacey believes in his innocence.  I had to admire Lacey's determination.  Everyone was against her and tried to dissuade her but Lacey pushed on because that was what her heart was telling her to do.  I also loved that Lacey never became rude or mean, even when it seemed she could justifiably do so.

If I had just one word for this book it would probably be gentle.  Harlequin Heartwarming line is perfect for a gentle, clean romance.  This book has a bit of mystery thrown in but it never became heart pounding or intense.  It stayed well within the gentle and calm boundaries.  It was maybe a little too gentle and calm for me.  I would have liked to have been drawn in a bit more with my emotions but overall this was a good book.

Content:  Clean

- I was provided a free copy of this book from Prism Book Tours.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She's also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Tour Schedule

November 29th: Launch

November 30th: Mommabears Book Blog

December 1st: Katie's Clean Book Collection

December 2nd: I Am A Reader & Heidi Reads...

December 3rd: Zerina Blossom's Books

December 4th: Rockin' Book Reviews & Falling Leaves

December 5th: Getting Your Read On

December 6th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

- 1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card & copy of SILVER RIVER SECRETS by Linda Hope Lee (print if US, ebook if international)

- 3 winners will receive a copy of SILVER RIVER SECRETS by Linda Hope Lee (print if US, ebook if international)
- Open internationally
- Ends December 12th

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The McCarran Collection by Liz Adair

Bridget Olasfson, a beautiful archivist hiding secrets, comes to Utah's brilliant red rock country to catalog the McCarran Collection. Though she's sworn off men in her life, she’s attracted to Ben, the bad-boy, off-road racing McCarran cousin. But it’s Lew McCarran, the tall, quiet cousin, she turns to when she finds herself caught up in a dangerous intrigue involving a lost boy, a drug cartel, and death. What will she do when the only way to save the boy is to give up the man she loves?

Part romance, part cozy mystery, part thriller, The McCarran Collection is, last of all, a novel about family ties.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  It took me a fair bit to get into the book and invested in it's characters but it did eventually happen.  Honestly, it was the little boy that brought that about.  I loved him.

I love when books are based on a bit of history and this one was.  It is set in Kanab, UT which I have driven through many, many times on our way from AZ to UT.  Beautiful country, that.  The house the characters live in is the part of history.

I felt like the author was trying to incorporate too many genres or separate story lines.  There is the family "secrets" discovered by Bridget in her work as an archivist, drug cartel stuff which was supposed to provide some suspense, and then a murder mystery as well.  I wish the author would have just stuck to one of those and developed the emotions of that genre more. 

By the end I was more invested in the book.  I liked the way things came together for a good ending.  But again, it was the little boy who made the story for me.  He brought each scene to life.

Content:  some mild violence

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

3/5 stars

Proposals and Poison (Wedding Planner Mysteries #3) by Rachelle J. Christensen

Love can be a very dangerous thing.
At least it seems that way to Adri Pyper, the premier wedding planner in Sun Valley, Idaho. When one of her clients dies mysteriously, Adri takes the advice of the local detective and swears she will stay out of the investigation . . . this time. Luke Stetson's involvement in the case, along with the possibility of a kiss between the two, should be enough incentive to keep Adri out of trouble. But when a dog-themed wedding is almost ruined by a suspect, Adri and her assistant, Lorea, are thrust into private eye mode. When poison enters the picture, even a reluctant sleuth can’t steer clear of danger.

* Amazon * Goodreads *

This is the third book in this Wedding Planner series featuring Adri Pyper.  If you love cozy mysteries, you will love this one.  Well, the whole series, really.  This series reminds me of the culinary cozy mystery series by Josi Kilpack starring Sadie Hoffmiller.  Instead of recipes for food (although there are some of those too), this one provides ideas for weddings and other helpful crafty ideas.

It's true.  Adri cannot keep herself away from trouble.  She finds it.  It finds her.  Murders surround this girl.  I think she is a dangerous friend to have.  Adri is a nice girl though and you cannot help but like her.  It's easy to find connections to her.  Well, aside from the whole murders thing.  That is one thing I cannot connect to.

There is a very slow moving romance in this series.  Very slow moving.  Definitely not the focal point but instead gently woven in everything else going on.  There are always a lot of characters in these books but I never feel overwhelmed by them.  The author does a good job of bringing them in naturally and allowing me to get a clear picture of who they are.

I think Rachelle Christensen is a fantastic writer.  This isn't my favorite genre- the cozy mystery series- and I have enjoyed other books by Rachelle better, but it was still good. 

Puzzle Pieces by Betsy Brannon Green + $25 and Book Giveaway!

Presley DeGraff is a young woman on the run. With nothing but the clothes on her back, her escape from the ruthless manipulations of her former fiancé leaves her with little time to hide. There is only one person to whom she can turn, only one place she may be safe . . . Haggerty, Georgia, is known for its Southern hospitality and quirky inhabitants. For Presley, her Aunt Violet’s home in the tiny town is a lifesaving haven. Her aunt, along with a cast of delightful friends and neighbors, warmly welcomes her. For the first time in so long, she feels hope—a hope that hinges on hiding her past. But the dreams of solitude that she had envisioned quickly fade when a disturbing discovery is made in her aunt’s backyard: a human skeleton. At the first hint of crime, Haggerty’s own amateur sleuth, Miss Eugenia, is on the case. Along with handsome Haggerty resident Mac and sprightly ninety-nine-year-old Loralee, Presley is quickly drawn into a mystery spanning generations of Haggerty’s history. But when news coverage of the investigation digs up Presley’s own secrets, it’s up to her new friends to come to her aid, by whatever means necessary.

 * Goodreads * Deseret Book * Amazon *

This book started out with a well thought out and executed escape.  It had me interested and excited about where this book was going.  Then it just dropped off.  Everything slowed down to a snail's pace and I was so frustrated!  So my advice to anyone reading this book is expect a cozy mystery with a slow moving plot set in a small southern town.  

I've read lots of other books by this author and many of them set with these same characters.  The older women in this book have made appearances in the other Haggerty books so in a way it was like visiting with old friends.  I really liked Mac.

Presley's story starts off with a bang and then fizzles as she gets to Haggerty.  Her back story comes in little bits as she and the other residents get caught up in the mystery surrounding a human skeleton found in her aunt's backyard.  Of course things pick up toward the end, the gaps are filled in and the whole story breaks loose, but it takes some patience to get there.  

This book is a clean, cozy mystery.  It is big on southern charm and quirky characters.  Small towns know how to rally around their own and that is exactly what the characters in this book do.  It has all sorts of feel good things going on.  

*Nov. 9th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/ 

*Nov. 10th: http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*Nov. 11th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

*Nov. 12th: http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/,http://www.littlelightdesigncollective.com/, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/index.html

*Nov. 13th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/ 

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Veils and Vengeance (Wedding Planner Mysteries Book 2) by Rachelle J. Christensen

When wedding planner, Adrielle Pyper, goes to Hawaii to orchestrate a destination wedding, she isn't prepared for what she finds.

After the trauma of her previous event, the beautiful isle of Kauai is the perfect place for Adri to unwind and do what she does best – plan. She even lets herself indulge in the attention of the groom’s handsome brother. But just when everything seems to be perfect, an afternoon snorkeling trip turns to murder when Adri discovers the body of a young woman.

Shaken, but unable to let it go, Adri’s sleuthing leads her into more danger than she could imagine. When a number of “accidents” threaten her own life, it soon becomes apparent that someone will do anything to keep Adri from interfering with their vengeance.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

This is the second book in the Wedding Planner Mystery series by Rachelle Christensen and it releases today!  If you haven't read the first book, Diamond Rings are Deadly Things, you might want to before picking up this book.  While I believe this book could stand alone, you would really get a better feel for it if you have read the first book.  The backstory that is a huge part of understanding Adri, is explained in depth there.

This is a fun, cozy mystery set in Hawaii.  You just can't go wrong with a Hawaiian setting.  It made me long to be there.  And I will be soon.  I just hope my trip is nothing like Adri's.  I really don't want to find a body while snorkeling!!!!

Adri is a great balance of strong and vulnerable.  She is good at standing up for herself which I really like.  The romance in this book is light- slow growing and very spread out.  The focus is more on the mystery part of the book.

I really enjoyed this book.  It kept me interested and focused which is always a good thing.  This is a fun series and I'll be looking forward to the next installment.  Oh, and it's squeaky clean!  Yay!

Spotlighting Crooked House by Marlene Bateman + Excerpt

Someone is trying to kill Liz Johnson and it’s up to quirky private investigator, Erica Coleman, to find out who. Erica is no stranger to murder and mystery, which is why her best friend’s daughter, Megan, turns to her when unaccountable and potentially fatal “accidents” threaten her roommate’s life.

Once Erica arrives at the ramshackle old mansion known as Crooked House, matters go from disturbing to deadly as it becomes clear someone is trying to kill Liz.  As Erica begins to unearth secrets, she discovers a twisted web of love, money, greed, and deception. Although the police and friends sometimes find Erica’s OCD annoying, its those very traits that help her sift through evidence and see clues that others miss. Erica must draw upon her all her investigative prowess to keep Liz safe and unmask the killer before he can accomplish his deadly objective.

 With a dash of romance and surprising twists, this thrilling mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. As with all Erica Coleman mysteries, ten delicious recipes are included.  

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

“I’m scared.”

Erica’s heart turned over when she heard the quaver in her young friend’s voice on the phone.

Then Megan asked, “Can you come?”

 “Of course.” Erica’s reply was automatic. She would do anything she could to help. Although she often received emotionally-laden phone calls in her job as a private investigator, there was a difference when the call came from the teen-aged daughter of her best friend. The very fact that Megan—who was usually so calm and composed—sounded frightened out of her wits, put Erica on high alert.

“I think someone’s trying to kill my roommate, Liz,” Megan said.

“What makes you think that?”  Erica asked. “Has someone threatened her?”

“No, but Liz has had a couple of serious accidents lately—at least she says they’re accidents, but either one of them could have killed her.”

Erica made an effort to reel in her skepticism. “Tell me about them.”

“First, someone tampered with her car. The brakes went out and Liz ended up driving across someone’s yard and hitting a tree. Fortunately, she was okay. The second one happened downtown. Liz was on the sidewalk waiting for the bus when someone shoved her. She fell into the road. A truck was coming and if a guy hadn’t pulled her back, Liz could have been killed.”

Still, they could have been accidents, Erica thought, at least until the third one occurred—this time at Crooked House.

Marlene Bateman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan. Her hobbies include gardening, camping, reading, and enjoying her four cats and three dogs.

Marlene’s first novel was the best-selling Light on Fire Island. Her next novel was Motive for Murder—the first in a mystery series that features Erica Coleman, a quirky private eye with OCD. The next book in that line, (they do not have to be read in order) is A Death in the Family.

Marlene has also written a number of LDS non-fiction books under the name Marlene Bateman Sullivan. Those books include: Gaze Into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History, which is a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences from the lives of early latter-day Saints, Heroes of Faith, and Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines. Marlene also wrote three books about documented accounts in early LDS church history when a person either saw or heard an angel; Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, And There Were Angels Among Them, and By the Ministering of Angels.  www.marlenebateman.info    

The Shamrock Case (An Amelia Moore Detective Series) by Linda Weaver Clarke

Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of Rick Bonito, her new partner, her business is flourishing. When Amelia is hired to search for her client's grandparents, the case takes them to Ireland. Kate must learn about her heritage. Who are her grandparents and could they still be alive after all these years? Why did her parents leave Ireland suddenly and move to America? Is there more to this case than meets the eye?

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The Shamrock Case is about the most gentle, easy going mystery that I've ever read.  Cozy is a great word to describe it.  To me, this book felt less like an actual mystery and more like a family history discovery trip to Ireland.  Amelia takes along her hunky, handsome (can do no wrong, knight in shining armor, rescuer of small children) partner, Rick.  It's all set up like the perfect vacation.

For me, this book was sweet and clean.  There was nothing to get worked up about at all.  I enjoyed reading it but was never invested emotionally.  I was missing that depth and richness that pull me in as a reader and make me a part of the book.  The story was told in a very straight forward manner.  I wanted to be wrapped up in growing tension and swirling feelings but I didn't get that.  However, this was a good book.  It was a simple story, easy to read and had a happily ever after ending.  And did I mention it was clean?  I really appreciated that.

This is the second book in the Amelia Moore Detective Series.  I haven't read the first book but I didn't feel like was missing too much picking up the second book to begin with.  The main events from the first books were mentioned in this book and I felt up to speed.