Month: October 2017

Ghost on the Case: A Bailey Ruth Ghost Novel by Carolyn Hart

Ghost on the Case (Bailey Ruth #8)

Bailey Ruth Raeburn is back, racing against the Heavenly clock in an all-new mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Times Two.

Bailey Ruth finds herself comforting a distraught sister when she’s sent to Adelaide, Oklahoma, on her latest mission. Susan Gilbert receives a $100,000 ransom demand for her younger sibling. When the caller wants Susan to pay a visit to her wealthy boss and take the cash from his safe, Bailey Ruth follows Susan to the home. But she finds herself in a quandary, knowing that robbery is hardly a Heavenly pursuit.

While Susan waits to hear back from the kidnappers, Bailey Ruth attempts to piece together how the criminals targeted Susan and how they know about her boss’s money. At a luncheon the previous week, Susan’s boss asked her to open the safe so all the attendees knew it was filled with cash. Could one of the rich man’s closest confidants be behind the abduction?

Bailey Ruth is positive she can use her detective skills to figure out which luncheon guest arranged the kidnapping. But an unexpected twist in the case soon has Bailey Ruth seeking a murderer who has plans to send more victims to the great beyond…

Bailey Ruth is back! As an emissary from the Good Intentions Department of Heaven, Bailey Ruth is assigned Susan’s case. And quite the mystery this is. As Bailey tries very hard ( okay maybe not too hard) to stay behind the scenes and not appear to anyone, she tries to gather clues and facts about everyone who was at the luncheon and if they had a motive to murder!

Bailey Ruth is just a fun character. Even when she has trouble with remembering the precepts of her office. It’s just a fun read.

I also noticed on this same day last year I reviewed the 7th book in this series! This is the 8th.

Out Now!    xx Patricia

THE QUICHE AND THE DEAD BY Kirsten Weiss ( A Pie Town Mystery #1)

The Quiche and the Dead (Pie Town Mystery #1)

Is Val’s breakfast pie the quiche of death? Owning her own business seemed like pie in the sky to Valentine Harris when she moved to the coastal California town of San Nicholas, expecting to start a new life with her fiance. Five months–and a broken engagement–later, at least her dream of opening a pie shop has become a reality. But when one of her regulars keels over at the counter while eating a quiche, Val feels like she’s living a nightmare. After the police determine the customer was poisoned, business at Pie Town drops faster than a fallen crust. Convinced they’re both suspects, Val’s flaky, seventy-something pie crust maker Charlene drags her boss into some amateur sleuthing. At first Val dismisses Charlene’s half-baked hypotheses, but before long the ladies uncover some shady dealings hidden in fog-bound San Nicholas. Now Val must expose the truth–before a crummy killer tries to shut her pie hole.

Oh my! An entire shop of pie. A dream come true. Val has poured everything she has into Pie Town, even going so far as sleeping in the tiny back room.

When good friend of the shops dies in his booth after some quiche, fingers are pointed and Val doesn’t think the police are taking this as seriously as they should.

Against her better judgement, she follows Charlene down a rabbit hole of investigations, conspiracy theories and narcoleptic cats. All for the chance to nab a real killer and get business going back in Pie Town. Plus Charlene just may hold the answer to her living situation so she lets herself get sucked into Charlene’s outlandish stakeouts and plans.

I liked Val a lot. Not so much on the ex! What a jerk! The combination of Val and the elderly Charlene chasing criminals and stumbling over bodies works. And it’s a good thing it does, because this little town is full of liars, schemers and killers!

I’m looking forward to the next one already. And some more of the hunky cop!

Netgalley/Kensington   Release Date: October 31st.

 

Don’t Tell A Soul by D.K.Hood

Don't Tell a Soul (Detectives Kane and Alton #1)

Small town. Big crimes. Dark secrets.
A wave of panic rushed over her as her heart pounded hard enough to break her ribs. ‘Not a soul knows where I am,’ she thought as she took in the darkness around her. 

Sheriff Jenna Alton and her deputy David Kane arrive in the town of Black Rock Falls, each hoping to escape their past for a new beginning. But instead, they find a town living in terror, and a killer on the loose…

Samantha Woodward was last seen driving towards Black Rock Falls to buy a house for her family. They haven’t heard from her since, and they fear for her life.

John Helms headed to town to watch a big game, but nobody knows if he made it or not. He was never seen again.

When a body is found, and Jenna’s life is threatened, she and her deputy become caught in a race against time to find a brutal killer, and to unlock the secret that lies at the dark heart of the town before it is too late…

This was a fast paced thriller with a tight timeline. Small towns harboring horrific secrets. And some grisly murders.

I had some issues with the main characters. When we first meet Sheriff Jenna Alton, someone has slammed into her cruiser and left her spinning in the snow. When a face shows up at the window she isn’t aware the man coming to her rescue is her new Deputy Sheriff Kane.

She is strong, former FBI undercover, a woman who has been given a new identity and plopped down in a tiny Montana town after her partner was killed by the drug kingpin she testified against. She is a strong, capable officer and woman.

It seemed like when she met Kane, she turned into a simpering female who was now leaving her alarms off, her curtains open and not carrying her phone. Helpless. Until he rushes in to rescue her from certain death.

I was all prepared for a crime thriller with a strong female lead and that’s not what I got.

Netgalley/Bookouture October 30th release.

Nora Roberts and The Dirt Road Dixie Roadshow!

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Saturday! I’m so glad you finally got here! There are a gazillion Fall Festivals today. But before that can begin, it’s Nora Roberts time! At Full Circle Books today so head on over and meet her and other great authors!

If you can make it check out the Dirt Road Dixie Roadshow featuring Pop Up Shops. Shopping, Eating, stuff for the kids and the pets! On Garth Brooks Blvd. in Yukon!

xx Patricia

 

 

Seashells,Spells and Caramels: Book 1 of the Spells and Caramels Cozy Witch Mystery Series by Erin Johnson

Seashells, Spells & Caramels (Spells & Caramels #1)

Imogen’s spent her twenties in Seattle, saving every penny and missing every party, to follow her dream of opening her own bakery.

When that dream goes up in flames, she accepts a spot in a mysterious baking contest—one she doesn’t remember entering. She travels to a bustling, medieval village off the coast of France and discovers an enchanting world of magic and mystery, and learns that she, too, possesses powers.

Unable to so much as cast a spell, Imogen struggles to keep up with the other witches and wizards who have come from all over the magical world to the Water Kingdom’s big competition. She juggles relationships with a sweet new friend, a snarky baking fire, and a brooding, handsome baker. As Imogen falls for this bewitching world, she fears she won’t master her magic in time to win the job of Royal Head Baker, and will be forced to return to the shambles of her non magical life.

It only gets worse, when a competitor drops dead in the middle of the big white baking tent, and Imogen’s the prime suspect. Now, she’ll not only have to survive the vampire and psychic judges, but also clear her name by finding the real murderer, before they strike again.
With a killer on the loose, a missing prince, and the Summer Solstice Festival fast approaching, Imogen will have to bake like her life depends on it- because it just might.

 

I don’t usually accept author requests. But when the author contacted me about this one, I thought well, the cover is cute and Imogene sounds like an interesting character so I gave it a read. And I really enjoyed it!

Full of quirky characters with different magical powers that they have had a long time to hone, Imogene is just discovering she has some pretty special abilities as well. She just has no idea how to use them!

With a little help and advice, she finally makes friends with her fire and gets to baking. When one of the contestants is murdered, Imogene needs to make sure her name is clear and that the contest continues. Imogene has no back up plan, its win the contest or back to her boring and unfulfilling life.

Magic and Baked Goods? Yes, sign me up. This was a fun read. When you read hard-core fiction and non-fiction regularly, a story such as this sweeps all the drama away and just leaves you smiling and laughing.

Well Done Ms. Johnson!  This book will be available on the 29th of this month.

 

 

 

 

 

Freddy and Jason and Michael and More!

Looking for some spooky reads this month? All of these look good to me. I’ve read Hell House, all the Anne Rice books, The Halloween Tree and Red Hill. All appropriately hellish.

It’s Thursday so back to work we go. Thunder game was awesome last night and we won. We woke up to Cold. I don’t know what degree of cold, but enough to send me back to the covers of my beloved bed. They say it should creep into the 70’s by afternoon. They also say Saturday night it’s going to freeze. I’m going to be in denial about that, just like last year. And it worked out just fine.

There were so many great reads that came out in October and November is going to be a big month too. So reading is the plan for the rest of the day.

I hope you are enjoying your day and if you aren’t happy where you are…move. You aren’t a tree.

xx Patricia