Whew….Emotional read. What I liked and also disliked is the hard life Michelle had. As a parent myself, I can’t believe a parent would let their child be bullied as Michelle was. I felt horrified that Michelle’s mother did not stand up for Michelle nor believe Michelle when as a young girl (age 6), she told her mother what the boyfriend did to her. But that is just me. As well, I do realize in life that not everyone is the “perfect” parent….and that we all must deal with the parent(s) we have and that certainly added volumes to the story, Having the mother as a central, albeit “lame”, character in the book was good as often in young adult books we see the parental figure take a non-existent presence in the story.
The writing of these sensitive issues: rape, bullying and death were handled very well, especially considering the story is being told by Michelle herself. I enjoyed the symmetry in the story as well….all the good that came into Michelle’s life: Nathaniel and Wolfie, her emancipation and Nathaniel’s grandmother. Their love story unfolded in what seemed to me a very real and possible progression. And that made it more real.
I was pleased that indeed Nathaniel is a good guy, damaged in his own way,….sticking by his gal through thick and thin…and trust me….the road is NOT smooth. His fortitude was uplifting, especially in a world where it is very hard to find the good ones. I loved the way the love story unfolded, slow, steady, believable. It was hard for Michelle to trust, but Nathaniel hung in there. Watching the trust between these two grow was very special. I also loved and chuckled as a result of the “quest” the grandmother sent the two of them on as her final gift the them both. What a wise old woman…(?)…or maybe just an eccentric old woman.
If I had any dissatisfaction with the book, it was that I was confused for a brief moment or two while reading and it seemed that I read one segment and then following that, I was re-reading the same segment. Once I caught on (guess I should read before midnight?), I did connect the flow of the story.
The complete story of the bullying was well told. In this day and age when we expect kids to handle their own problems, I thought that Michelle did the best that she could. If her mother had been a supportive and engaged parent, then of course much of the angst with respect to the bullying would not have been such a central part of the book. I literally wanted to beat the bully’s up myself….I felt such emotion. At the same time, I was totally thankful that my child has not had to deal with the cruelty of other kids!
To put it succinctly….engaging story, great storytelling, great read.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Romantic…I was caught up in the “sparks” in the opening pages and kept on reading… and reading! Basically, I did not want to put the book down.
The raw emotion that was brought out in the beginning while Iyani’s story was told added such depth to the character of Walsh. We find throughout the story that he is not just a pretty, rich boy. He is the complete package. I know….hard to find these days…so we get it in our romance novels :)
I was racked with emotion as Kerris bared her soul to Walsh with the story of her childhood. As Walsh put it so well, no child should have to endure that type of atrocity and it is NOT the child’s fault, but the person inflicting the pain. No child asks to be treated badly. Okay….I paraphrased his sentiments, but you get the point. And then later on when Kerris is the only individual Walsh can confide in regarding the horrors of the kidnapping.
I do wonder though…halfway through the book, when an inebriated Walsh comes home from Cam’s bachelor party and he is musing…
”How had he gotten here? Not just at the guesthouse, but here? In love with his best friend’s fiancée, soon-to-be wife?”
I ask myself how believable is it that he is truly in love with Kerris when the interactions between them have been limited to one intense, intimate moment in the hospital when they both learned of Iyani’s passing and shared a kiss and a dance and discussion at Walsh’s mother’s birthday party?
I was disappointed in Walsh for letting himself wallow for a year after Cam’s wedding. Living with Sofie, partying hard, working hard, not staying true to his inner good self. I understand that he is heart-broken, but if he let the wedding go through, he should have behaved better after the fact. The self-destructive behaviour will certainly not bring the woman is in love with back.
I must say that the number of plot twists were a bit too much for me. Dying child at the beginning, kidnapping, cancer and the inevitable loss from the disease.
But the romantic attraction between Kerris and Walsh did in the end overshadow any negatives to leave me with a desire to continue reading this series. And isn’t that what a series (and a romance one at that) is all about….wanting more :)
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*...more
Pepper Pomeroy has recently lost her job and is stuck in a dead-end relationship with her boyfriend Bobby. So when Warren, her sister Felicity’s boyfriend, asks her to plan the perfect proposal, (and carte blanche as to cost) Pepper agrees. However, while preparing everything abroard the little plane, she uses the restroom in the hangar and sees a man in there, someone she assumes is drunk. Figuring that she’ll call the police about it after the proposal, she waits until everything is a done deal and Warren and her sister take off.
However, when she enters the restroom again, the guy hasn’t moved…and his lips are turning blue. So she calls the police in a panic, reporting a dead body. With the cops wanting to know why she didn’t report it earlier, and generally everyone around her suspicious, she finds out Warren is the most likely suspect and sets out to prove him innocent.
Oh, this book had many possibilities – but a lot of them weren’t made clear. First, Pepper is in a dead-end relationship with her boyfriend, whom she has dated supposedly since high school (or I got the distinct impression from what was said that they started dating in high school). So she’s been dating him for eight years – but she’s thirty. You do the math. And the facts that the police think she’s a suspect? She has never been to that airport before, doesn’t know anyone there, yet she might be the killer of an employee she doesn’t know or has no connections to? The fact she was even considered seemed ludicrous. She considers herself smart, yet she acts before she thinks, and some of her actions just aren’t suited to an intelligent person. Plus, all the outfits anyone wears (or nearly so) seemed to be blue. If not the outfits, their accessories (like ties) were blue or had blue in them. This girl needs to figure out there are other colors that are out there.
But the mystery itself was good. There were people that could have – and should have – been suspects. But it appeared Pepper was the only one who considered them so. Yet when the killer was revealed, (I had already figured it out a chapter earlier because it was the only one that made sense), well, that’s the truth. After everything was said and done, it made sense, although it seemed kind of extreme to me.
Not a bad cozy for the first of a series, and I have read others that started off the series so-so and improved as they went along. Let’s hope this is one of them.
Second Review brought to you by OBS staff member Andra 3-Star-rating
We meet Pepper Pomeroy as she begins a new phase of her life…..unemployed but using her chosen profession (event planner) to good use……helping her sister’s boyfriend Warren, plan a wedding proposal for her sister Felicity. Surprisingly, while completing the finishing touches for the proposal (in an airplane hangar, on Warren’s private plane), Pepper goes to the washroom, where she finds a body. Yikes…what to do….Well, first off, do not interrupt the planned event (spoken line a true professional – the show must go on), so Pepper says nothing until after the proposal has occurred and the newly engaged couple are flying off to celebrate.
So here we have an event planner trying to figure out who the dead man is, in the hangar, where her soon to be brother in law keeps his private plane. Whew…a mouthful. But Pepper is not daunted by this task; she must prove Warren’s innocence, for the sake of her sister. At the same time, Pepper’s life is in flux. She is coming to the realization that she has just skated through life (love life that is) by continuing to date her high school sweetheart. However, he is a dud. And Pepper FINALLY realizes she deserves more (took her long enough!!). Lest we forget, Pepper is a bit stressed about being unemployed and all that particular scenario entails. A lot to handle all at once, but this amateur sleuth seemed to manage.
I enjoyed that even in the face of adversity (unemployed and dumping her long term boyfriend) Pepper embarked on a new career involving her passion. That is always great to read! I also liked the fact that this amateur sleuth was not associated with baking and/or cooking in any way. Seems like an event planner (proposals mainly) is a new twist on the standard formula of a cozy mystery and one I enjoyed as it brought a fresh twist, especially given Pepper’s talents.
I shall read book two in due course as I could see the depth of Pepper beginning to shine through. I also want to see where a possible new relationship could go with Pepper and Gage....more
Meg Reed lives with her friend Jill and sleeps on the couch. She lives in Portland, Oregon and needs a job so she can get a place of her own. One day, while out for coffee, Meg trips on the rain-slicked floor and a hunky man helps her up. He starts talking to her, learns she’s the daughter of a well-known newspaperman and tells her he is the editor of an outdoor magazine. When he hears that she herself is a writer, he offers her a job on the spot…of course, she kind of fudges a little bit to get the job – she tells him she loves the outdoors and sports.
So when Meg finds out that she has an assignment covering Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, she thinks, Great!…until she finds out she has to go along with the racers up a mountainside and get pictures and story background. Did I mention Meg is afraid of heights? Terrified actually?
But she decides to fake it as much as she can. When she hikes as high as she can without passing out, she decides to “fake a fall,” and slide down the mountainside a little. Upon doing this, she sees a body pass by. Someone fell, or was pushed, as Meg is sure happened. When her new boss, Greg, hears what happened, he tells her to keep quiet and not say anything to anyone. Meg knows what she saw; she’s sure Greg is suspicious too.
I was first interested because I’ve done quite a bit of hiking myself (not in Oregon, but other western states), so I know something about the equipment and safety measures you need to take. The author has done a wonderful job with explaining and visualizing the terrain and vistas of the area in the mountains near Portland. By the end of the book, I’ve decided that it’s definitely on my list of places to visit.
The story is certainly one that keeps you reading. The action moves fast, and there is a lot going on: people who aren’t the nicest and seem to have something to hide; friends who are willing to help her out while still trying to protect her; a grandmother (Gam) who has spiritual powers; and a nice blend of plot twists all the way through. When the ending came, I was surprised; there were enough red herrings that you weren’t sure who the killer was, and everything was tied together nicely.
I definitely plan on reading the next in this series and highly recommend this for anyone who likes mysteries, hiking, or just reading a good book.
Scene of the Climb is the first book in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series by Kate Dyer-Seeley. I have really enjoyed this author’s writings (notably the series – Sloan Krause Mysteries) under the name of Ellie Alexander. So here I am starting this new to me series and I must say – I am very pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this first book in the series and in fact, I was not able to figure out whodunit until the very end…just the way I like my cozy mystery reads!
Meg Reed is a recent grad in journalism and has secured a job at Northwest Extreme Magazine. A real coo BUT what the editor-in-chief Greg Dixon does not know is that Meg really isn’t an extreme sports enthusiast (at least not in any participating sort of way that is). So when Meg is asked to take over a colleague’s assignment to cover the final leg of Race the States, a reality show filming the finale in Oregon, Meg is both extremely excited and a lot trepidation. As the race activities continue – there is one climb that Meg is expected to participate in. Yikes – what is a girl to do when they are not personally equipped with proper hiking gear and very fearful of heights. Go shopping and get very pink hiking gear ☺. Fast forward to one of the hikes with the three remaining participants. Meg is to follow the three race participants on the hike to aid in her writing of the article. But tragedy strikes and Lenny falls to his death (with Meg seeing the fall down the mountain) …and then there were two to participate in the race.
I found the path to the eventual discovery of the killer twisted with many red herrings. Equally pleasing was the background story we got a glimpse of regarding her father’s death. There is certainly a mystery there to solve. I suspect that will be a slow burn throughout the series? There were many potential suspects for Meg to sift through, which kept me engaged throughout.
Lets not forget some of the other lovable and unique characters – least of which is her Gam – a new age woman running a very funky bookstore -> Light and Love Bookstore. The name just says it all. What reader wouldn’t want to spend some time there? And her best male friend, who everyone sees that he is crushing on her – but Meg is clueless. Another aspect that kept my attention was the detail in describing the countryside where the story took place. I really felt like I was in the area.
There was a nod to my home country and a typical comment on the slang of the country that had me chuckling – “Eh”.
“Gathering himself, he introduced his cameraman, Andrew, a shaggy, overweight sweaty guy in his thirties, who stood to shake our hands. His grasp was clammy. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said as he wiped his hands on his cargo shorts. ‘It’s roasting in here – eh?’…I pegged him as Canadian with his signature, ‘Eh’.”
I did not suspect the killer and the twist and reasoning came as a total surprise to me. If you want to read a good cozy mystery set in a wonderfully depicted location, with engaging and quirky characters – then I suggest Scene of the Climb. I know I cannot wait to learn more about Meg and her next extreme adventure article. As well, might there be a romance in the making for Meg? And will she finally get her own place and leave Jill’s couch? Time will tell....more
This is the first book I have read by Mhairi McFarlane. It took a bit to get used to the British humour, but once that was accomplished, I quite enjoyed the book.
I loved the section where the author is describing Anna’s (aka Aureliana) love of history and her chosen profession. I became totally engaged in the description and was excited for Anna about the topic at that moment as well. The description of Operation Theodora was delightful; I felt Anna’s enthusiasm for the project. Too bad I did not find that intensity throughout the entire book, which was a tad bit disappointing. However, the intensity does come back later in the book, for which I am forever grateful.
I thoroughly enjoyed Anna’s bantering with Neil, her one-time only blind date. His insistence that she is playing hard to get as a result of previous e-mail back and forth communication and her rebuttal is priceless:
“Dear Neil,
Speechless. It’s obviously risky to have eyes and hair around men these days. I should’ve taken care to be bald and blind. It’s a definite NO to a second date, thanks. If you continue to insist that I’m playing the long game then by all means, pencil some action in for the afterlife. Hell, make it an orgy – invite Marilyn Monroe, Caligula and Rod Hull. Good luck in all your future endeavours!”
And let us not forget the final text with only pages to go in the book – which initially Anna hopes and preys it is from James but finds it is from Neil:
“Anna! Long time no talk! I’ve notice you’ve gone quiet on the dating front. Ready for a second attempt at chasing that incredibly elusive ‘spark’ yet? :) Neil x “
In the prologue, we get the run down on what happened in high school and how the cast of characters interact. As I read through these pages, my heart broke for Aureliana. I was so getting annoyed at those boys!!!! And when the reader is reintroduced to Aureliana in the first chapter, we come to understand her name change to Anna.
Now skip ahead….Anna is now working at OCL (university) on a new project at work ….the exhibition of Theodora at the British museum. And who is a project lead for the museum to market the exhibition but none other than James, the lead in the last nasty event in high school. Predictable twist but told in a very compelling manner.
For a good portion of the book, Anna and James slowly develop a working friendship, which is built on a lie as James does not remember that fateful high school evening and Anna most assuredly does. Anna begins to have feelings again for James (we all saw that coming….). But I felt that the relationship was developed in a respectful manner, especially since James was still married (albeit separated).
As I continued to read at around the half way mark, I note to myself that I am fully vested in the story and do not want to put it down! The serious moments were especially well written. I was fully immersed in the emotional aspect of the topic and felt the pain of Anna and all those involved in the “high school hazing” and aftermath of the event.
The following passage certainly made me smile –
“It’s time you accepted that they’re the ones who have something to be ashamed of. Not you. Michelle said.”
It was about time that someone kicked Anna in the butt a bit and made her realize that the past events were not her fault; she was the victim after all.
The whole sub story of Aggy’s wedding brought comic relief to the story. As a younger sister to Anna, I loved her “fluffiness”. Yet when we get to know the character, Aggy was a true lifeline for Anna and her turbulent high school experience.
Overall, a very good book if you are looking for love and romance, forgiveness and a bit of laughter. Once you get used to the British colloquialisms, the reading is easy and compelling.
*OBS would like to thank the author and TLC Book Tours for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Some spoilers – but will try and limit these as best as I am able.
The Alcott sisters: Madge (the eldest at age 62), Lila Mae (the middle sister) and Dorothea (the youngest at age 55) – I must say, right from the beginning, I liked these eccentric, yet endearing sisters. They are a hoot! Chuckle….that is all I have so say. No, seriously…this is certainly one murder mystery that got me giggling…as well as guessing. A good combination in my book (pun intended :) ).
Right from the beginning the reader gets a sense of the quirks each sister (and other characters throughout the book as well) have. The sisters are heiresses to a fortune – the Alcott chocolate fortune…..yummy. You will be rewarded with some yummy recipes at the end of the book…good thing because whenever the sisters get together, coffee and chocolate abound.
There is the requisite murder of course, but the book holds a few other mysteries as well as odd turns of events. All I want to say is watch out for Bernie (the 92 year old patriarch, he is no spring chicken, but he is sly as a fox). While Bambi is portrayed as the young blonde bimbo bombshell (did I mention YOUNG?) home nurse to Bernie, as the story progresses, you can see a sweet, innocent side to this character. At times though (and I can’t say why), she seems WAY to needy for a woman of her age. Ah…it does add to the chuckle factor. Now venturing away from the chuckle aspect….you will be surprised by one turn events which bond Bambi and Dorothea in a most unusual way. I must say I found this surprise a wee bit unbelievable, but that is just me….you decide for yourself once you have read this delightful book.
I quite enjoyed the subtle relationship between Lila Mae and Chance…playfully in love but dignified, acting like a teenager in love but with the maturity of their years. It made the relationship feel pure and real. It was interesting to see how Chance handled the conflict of interest. This brought a certain feeling of classiness for me to the story.
Now this story takes place in the south….so I was totally astounded when I read:
“How am I going to get through the summer heat? We’ll have to go to Calgary.”
Now myself being from Alberta (the province in Canada where Calgary is), I wondered why a southern lady would think of a northern Canadian city to retreat to when the summer heat got bad?
I am delighted to say that I did not figure out “who dunnit” until the very end. And that is just the way I like my cozy mysteries. I was SO wrapped up in the lives of the sisters and the writing was so good, that I did not latch on to any subtle hints along the way.
I will patiently await the next book so that I can continue reading about these funny, lovable and enticing cast of characters in the next installment titled Bitter Chocolate.
*OBS would like to thank the author and Virtual Author Book Tours for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*...more
I love the writing style, it just grabbed me and would not let go, in spite of the fact that this is not a usual genre for me. I loved close to the beginning where Maggie and Grace are racing underground, having been dumped in a cistern – beneath the city of David. Their race to escape the rising waters was so well written…I felt like I was racing for survival as well.
The story really brought home the love for one’s child/children. Grace would do anything for her child Maggie (her adult child). This instinct never leaves a parent. This love also extended to family as Mark and Jeff (husband to Grace and son of Grace) whom also join the search to locate and rescue Grace and Maggie.
When intrigue and espionage are introduced to a story, it cannot help but be an exciting read. My knowledge, or should I say lack of current knowledge, about the Middle East was not a deterrent to my enjoyment of the story telling. The underlying premise is that Maggie was kidnapped in the first place to begin with was that she stumbled across anomalies with the underground water tables. What was happening? Maggie used her vast knowledge along with many “secret” spy agencies and operatives to develop a plan to save the water from being held hostage by the bad guys. I quite liked the fact that some of the spies on this mission were retired and aged into the 70’s and 80’s. A good operative is hard to retire :)
I also really enjoyed the use of humor. I was caught smiling and laughing numerous times. And what would any good adventure be without some romantic entanglements? Both of Grace’s children are stunted socially (Grace’s thoughts, not mine) and so when love strikes for not just one but both children….this reader felt satisfied, if Maggie and Jeff can find love, than all is possible.
I truly loved that in all the year’s that Grace was married, she did not catch on to the true nature of Mark’s work. Really???? But then, if he was so good at what he was…why would you catch on? And then to find out that Jeff is also a spy part-time. The portrayal of the women in the story as strong, intelligent, capable women was really great.
If I could have given the book 4.5 stars – I would have.
I knew I would like the book when I read the sentence …
“Maybe the hours I’d spent watching Castle and The Mentalist had prepared me for the real thing, but I had my doubts.”
As these are a couple of my family’s favorite TV shows. Or how about the giggle I got when I read …
“Ten years as a lawyer and what did I know about criminal law? Only what I’d learned from watching a Law and Order marathon one Sunday – and I`d slept through most of it. In other words, nothing.”
This story is a quick and easy afternoon (or evening) read, easily completed in one sitting. The story contains all of the true “cozy mystery” elements where sex and violence are downplayed and/or treated humorously (in this case…humorously), and the crime and detection takes place in a small, socially intimate community, where typically the “detective(s)” are amateurs, in this case a divorce attorney (on sabbatical as a result of her mother’s passing). Jamie is a fun, quirky character. Her intuitive and logic skills serve her well when she is contacted by her Aunt Peg. Jamie’s cousin, Adam, has been accused of murdering his music teacher, renowned musician, business owner Spike. A note about Adam, he is a gently young man whom enjoys his music and dogs and functions on the autism spectrum. Seems everyone who knows Adam does not feel he could be capable of murdering Spike.
If anything, this story is a bit boring in that this reader expects an attorney to be logical and methodical. And that is just what Jamie is when she sorts through all the information and eventually figures out who really killed Spike.
I got lots of giggles and enjoyment with respect to the character Duke Broussard. A womanizing, drinking, sleazy PI, who owes a favor to Jamie (shouldn’t every story have a Duke?). Interactions with Duke always seemed to have more pizzazz than any other interactions throughout the book. I would say this character is who kept me interested in continuing this short read.
There was some interesting chemistry with Jamie and district attorney Nick Dimitropoulos, possibly a future love interest. I would love to see more interaction between these two in future books….along with more from Grace, Jamie’s bestie.
If you are looking for a book that is light, with humor and a bit of a mystery for a quick read…this is your book.
*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*...more
It was an interesting book, though difficult to get into in the beginning (probably due to a lot going on in this book and the story vacillating between the vintage club member’s (a club of 12 of the richest men in the world) story and Reggie’s story in the beginning and thus a bit difficult to focus. Once I got past the initial hump….and as a result of the writing being so good and the story/mystery became intriguing, I did not want to put the book down and was swept away.
As stated in the book …
“The goal of the Vintage Club was to find a new wine that would reverse the aging process by chemically transforming a person’s blood into the sort of the blood that ran through Adam before his fall.”
Rather a bold goal for this club. The journey the club members take is thought provoking and bold, as the reader will see.
Similar to other stories (for example: the Da Vince Code) The Vintage Club explores both the literal and figurative meanings of many scripture and historical bits of information related to the life and death of Christ, and in particular the idea of eternal life. With these religious tie-ins included, it can make it difficult for a reader to follow, especially if at least a small base of religious knowledge is not present.
As a mystery/thriller, the author did a delightful job. I enjoyed following Reggie’s journey. The whodunit was not revealed until the end (of course), but I was kept guessing until the end….not the person I thought it was. And is that not what one wants from a mystery?
The story was wrapped up well, though it certainly left little “bits” of unanswered questions so that maybe another book is on the way?
*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review* ...more
I found this story to be thoroughly delightful. Early on it was spelled out very well how Mallory was beginning to feel:
“I was rattled by the kiss. At that moment, Mallory was a hell of a lot more than rattled. She was in lust so deep, she had to force herself not to crawl on his lap and lace her fingers through his hair.”
Ben was a classy guy throughout. When he found out Mal’s big secret (not gonna tell ya :) !!!), he did not run away, but came back the next day and began courting Mallory again. While Mallory was deciding whether she should give him another chance and start a relationship…..she had an epiphany …
“And screw a duck if she didn’t suddenly realize she already cared for him.”
One example where we see what Ben’s intentions are from the start:
“As much as he wanted her, he had to slow down. Not only did she need to know that he likes her, the whole package of Mallory, he also needed to take it at a more relaxed pace. The woman needed time, and he’d be sure she got it. He had no intention of being her rebound guy.”
All I can say is that this definitely endeared him to me as a reader!!!!
I must say, that at least temporarily, I was disappointed in Ben for what appeared to be him running away in the face of adversity. At a time when his new girlfriend needed him, he couldn’t handle it (or could he? Leaving you with too little information so as to not include a spoiler). The author depicted the adage about communication being vital in any relationship very well. When Ben and Mallory did not communicate fully, we saw life become bleak for Mallory, Ben and Ben’s daughter Amber. Now as all good love stories tend to go, after a period of silence between Ben and Mallory, communication is restored. I LOVED Ben’s creativeness and truly thoughtful way of apologizing. I expect Mallory did as well!
I was pleasantly surprised in how the introduction of a child to a new relationship was told. Nothing un-torrid occurred when Amber was around. Wholesome family values seemed to rule Ben’s choices, especially in how they would affect his child. I appreciated Ben’s choices and his respect for his daughter’s feelings and that Amber was always number 1, even before his feelings for Mallory.
Yet….the story is anything but “wholesome” when describing the intimate part of Mallory and Ben’s relationship. The steamy scenes were steamy and the loving “ahhh” moments were romantic. All in all, a delightful, easy to read love story. It had enough other sub-stories going on to keep it interesting. I expect that for the next stories in the series, we will get more of the backstory of each of the “Ladies Who Lunch” club members (teachers who have worked together for years). I look forward to further reads from this series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*...more
This cozy is filled with giggles and laughter as Fiona inadvertently stumbles upon a dead body while attending to her banking. A quick read which will keep you entertained as you attempt to figure out “who dunnit”. Fiona practices law, but her area of expertise is wills and estates so when the bank manager asks Fiona to help him, the fun begins. I quite enjoyed the banter between Fiona and Mr. Fives. It seems he is not capable of telling her the truth, the whole truth and nothing but….leading Fiona to fill in the gaps with her vivid imagination.
I laughed when Fiona was describing her sub-let office, from its size and location. The humour throughout the book was delightful.
As the tale unravels, the various interactions among the town folk unfolds. It is a credit to the writer that we are kept guessing until the very end.
*I would like to thank the author for providing a free copy of the book for an honest review*...more
The first story was just a delight. As I frequently am when a story about 9/11 survivors unfold, I was drawn into the rebirth, if you will, of Alison (the grandmother) and Christopher (the grandson) as the reader travelled through the summer before Christopher is off to college. Both Alison and Christopher must break the bonds that bind them as a result of losing husband/grandfather and son/father when the twin towers fell. As the reader is carried through this journey, one sees that there is life after tragedy while still respecting the life they had with fallen loved ones. Alison was a very relatable grandmother…I enjoyed her re-entry into dating life….very well told.
The second story was enjoyable. I felt like I was on a vacation with three of my best girlfriend’s from college. The life history of each unfolded smoothly and it was easy to follow the dynamics of the four women. One group adventure that was retold when they were younger definitely lead to a HUGE chuckle by this reader. I won’t give more details, so as to not spoil the moment for you! The only negative thing I have to say is that the story just ended…..and I wanted it to continue!
The third story was excellent. This story in particular, I felt, had more depth in the character development, which was refreshing and added to the complexity of the story. The telling of long-term, long distance love affairs I believe, would be difficult to portray convincingly, but it was. Right from the get go, I got a knot in my stomach, hoping that Matthew and Lindsey could and would work it out. Once I began reading this last segment of the book, I was unable to put the book down…which lead to one tired reader the next day. The complexity of Lindsey’s story was both compelling and thought provoking. It is amazing what journalists and photographers must endure (physically and emotionally) when following stories to war torn countries. This provided the backdrop for a very poignant story.
I will now put on Bockoven’s The Beach House and Another Summer on my to-be-read list as her storytelling is captivating.
*OBS would like to thank the author and TLC Book Tours for supplying us with a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*...more
This third book of the Novel Idea Mystery series is a very pleasant and endearing cozy mystery. The book was an easy read. I would have liked to start this series at book 1, but this 3rd book covered off introduction of characters well enough that I did not find it too great of a hindrance. I can honestly say one of the things I quite enjoyed about this story is the loving relationship Lila has with her boyfriend, Sean (one of the main policemen investigating the murder). Their relationship seems real and down to earth, sometimes a rarity in my view with the cozy mysteries. I enjoyed reading about this mature amateur sleuth who had full disclosure with the police.
I loved the opening scene where Lila comes home to find her kitchen on fire. Sean was preparing a romantic dinner for two when flames erupted….. An excerpt describing the scene brought to me the clumsily romantic side of Sean…
”I glanced from the lit candles, folded linen napkins, and the vase stuffed with bright pink roses to the handsome man wearing my apron. It was embroidered with the text All Great Chefs Drink While They Cook. Apparently, he had taken the motto to heart. Not only was there an open bottle of red wine on the table, but a cognac bottle had capsized on the counter….”
The subplot with Lila’s best friend, Makayla’s, and her secret admirer, was cute. The resolution of this particular mystery was very romantic. Who doesn’t like a secret admirer? Makes one believe romance is alive and well, even when a murderer is loose.
Lila was portrayed as a loving mother, daughter and girlfriend who enjoyed her job. For her, life was good, except being caught in the middle of yet another police investigation. Will Lila be able to keep the festival running in the midst of this mayhem? At times….I figured it would go either way.
Predictably, all the visiting chefs were suspects. If anything, the story was a tad tedious working through the BIG list of potential suspects. But in the end (and no, I won’t put in so much as to spoil that!), justice prevails and peace and harmony is restored to Inspiration Valley.
As enjoyable as it was, I may now have another series to follow, though I shall reserve that judgement until I have read book one and two first.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.*...more
I was drawn into the story quite quickly (good thing since this story is a novella). I generally enjoy more innuendo as opposed to raw, graphic sex scenes as I find my mind does a fine job of taking the leap, but with this book it was okay.
The character development of Susan and Peter was good. Right off the top I had a sense of Susan and her desire to work hard for the company she works for Bay Vista Properties Limited and for her pet project Archways San Francisco (the projects mandate is to reclaim decrepit, old neighbors and refurbish them for low and medium income residents). I related to the independence and fortitude of character of Susan, and thus drawing me into her cause. This boded well when it became apparent from early on that there would be a clash with her pet project and the main reason Peter was in town….to obtain land so that Breit Motorcars could build a factory to provide wealthy driving enthusiasts with the Dynamik (a luxury vehicle only previously available in Europe).
Susan’s preconceived notion of the man she is to work with is absolutely and 100% incorrect…Peter is first portrayed as an insanely wealthy, probably stuffy and OLD Englishman. When Susan meets Peter, she is shocked to learn that he is in fact a young, vibrant, insanely handsome (as well as wealthy) Englishman. Boy is she is trouble. At this point, the reader will realize that the lines between professional and personal will certainly blur.
I was pleasantly surprised that Peter was not just a one dimensional character. Rich, handsome, and he could cook – both in the kitchen and in the bedroom! And I actually mean….cook meals in the kitchen.
The erotic scenes were well written and for the most part, not too much. The story was a nice mix of story and eroticism.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*...more
entangled-moments-moments-in-time-dori-lavelleEntangled Moments from the author, Dori Lavelle is the first book in the Moments in Time series. This novella focuses on the life of Carlene Adams. Carlene is hiding out from life as she does not feel she deserves any better as a result of a deadly mistake made 4 years previously. An accident disrupted the future she’d hoped for by taking the life of the man she’d planned to spend forever with. She has committed herself to paying penance for the rest of her life to make up for the one mistake.
While visiting a local church to light a candle for her deceased fiancé, she meets Nick. They go for coffee and shortly thereafter, kiss. This evokes change in Carlene’s whole outlook…maybe life can go on after Chris? From that time on, Carlene begins to reclaim her life.
As the story is short, change is swift. Carlene cannot stop thinking about Nick. At her new job, Carlene flourishes and predictably, runs into Nick again. The sparks are there but timing is not right….Nick is picking out an engagement ring with his fiancé.
Without going into further detail (don’t want to spoil the story after all), I found the story fast paced. In then end (which came MUCH too swiftly), I was invested in Carlene’s life. I was left with the desire to read the next book so that I can see how (or if?) the relationship between Carlene and Nick will play out now that the “big” secret was revealed.
I enjoyed the story and would recommend it should you need a short, engaging read. Though….have the second book on hand….as I would have liked.
*The reviewer obtained a free e-copy of Entangled Moments from the author, Dori Lavelle, in exchange for an honest review.*...more
Well I was almost in tears from the break up in the prologue. Have we not all been through one bad break up? And the first is the most devastating. My heart went out to Harper in droves. But it this story is not just about her loss, but also about the loss of Austin’s best friend…he was dumped as well by Liam when he just up and left Harper. The three good friends were no more….and Harper and Austin had to come to terms with this.
The progression of life after devastation was so well told. One survives a break-up little by little and the time frame is different for each individual and each break-up. The writing was so good in my opinion that one could not help but feel gut wrenching hurt for Harper and being uplifted when Harper began to accept and move on.
I must say though, I don’t know anyone who has the luxury of essentially NOT going into work for a month….even if it was a family run business. So this part was a bit unrealistic in my opinion. We all need time to grieve, but life must go on.
I enjoyed Hilary (Harper’s mother), with her love of knives when protecting her daughter. :) Her jabs at Liam made me chuckle…..serves him right for messing with her daughter.
Clare and Dylan were great on many levels. They provided much needed comic relief while encouraging Harper to think about each decision she made. I loved how Clare just spoke her mind. And when they all moved in together….giggles abounded.
The changing relationship of Harper and Austin post breakup was very stirring and relatable. I found Austin’s sensitivity to Harper’s feeling very moving. He was not a perfect suitor but throughout the story he held what was best for Harper in the forefront of his feelings and actions. It spoke volumes to me about what a solid character he was, regardless of his checkered upbringing.
The whole journey (and I shall not say more as I feel you must read the story and thus I cannot include anything that would spoil the read) was thought provoking and heart-wrenching but well worth the journey. You won’t be disappointed (at least in this readers opinion).
*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
Angora Alibi is the seventh book in the series and unfortunately, I come in on the seventh book. While I caught up quickly with the cast of characters, the flow might have been enhanced by having read the first six books. Given that I enjoyed this cozy, I just may go back and read the series from the beginning. Can I sum up the story is one word???? Yes – cute! I found the story following the traditional cozy formula where the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community, where the detectives are almost always amateurs and usually women. They are typically well educated, intuitive, and often hold jobs (in this instance -> shop owner) that bring them into constant contact with other residents of their town. So yes – traditional cozy.
The book contains a whole litany of knitting related sayings:
“I think we’re getting closer. But it’s still a little bit like this sweater. We need to weave the ends in.”
or
“The stitches would come together, the yarn would remain taut, and by the time they were ready to bind off, the whole pattern-complicated as it might have been-would make startling sense”
In the next sentence the term “frogging” is used. (Definition source - Sometimes when a mistake happens and you don’t notice it for a long time, you have to rip out many rows, a process known as frogging.) Good to know I can read a simple cozy and learn a new term. I love expanding my vocabulary, something I don’t often get with cozies so this is a BIG bonus.
The cast of characters were lovable; I enjoyed getting to know Lizzy and her merry cast of residents: Nell, Cass, Birdie, Ben, Sam (husband of Izzy and father to be) to name but a few.
The only part which I found annoying was everyone’s insistence that Izzy’s baby was “Perry” – a boy and then of course, with such insistence, you know that they would be wrong…..way to predictable. I found the constant referral to the sex of the baby unnecessary.
If you are looking for a light cozy which will keep you guessing as to who the “killer” is until virtually the end, then this story is for you.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*...more
Spoilers – but tried to minimize them for your reading pleasure
Okay, I must say this author has outdone herself wiBrought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Spoilers – but tried to minimize them for your reading pleasure
Okay, I must say this author has outdone herself with the third novella in the Moments in Time series. I thoroughly enjoyed Melisa’s happily-ever after story. The book has SO much content for a novella, I was blown away (in a good way of course). Once I began this story I was literally unable to put the book down. I read nonstop until the last word in the book (before “the end”) had been read, which was “begun”, if you were wondering.
We are lead through the back story of Melisa – from losing her husband Scott, while he was doing the job he loved (firefighting) to the loss of their unborn child. What followed was the downfall of Melisa in that she began drinking and gambling and then she lost her business – Mel’s Delights as well as her home.
The reader is quickly immersed in drama (aka “a fire” at the shelter) that sees Melisa being reunited with her first love – Florian “Heat” Dane. The sparks from the fire are not the only sparks that abound. We quickly realize that Heat had not gotten over Melisa and that Melisa still carries around those “crush” feelings from her liaison with Heat all those years ago. Once saved from the fire at the homeless shelter, Heat visits Melisa in the hospital. He is surprised by the fact that Melisa is living in a shelter and quickly surmises that she is unable to pay her hospital bills. He takes it upon himself to assure Melisa that he will deal with the hospital bills and that Melisa will stay with him until she is back on her feet. And so the long ago (but not forgotten) love story between Melisa and Heat re-ignites.
As the story develops, the reader slowly learns secrets as to why these two did not work out as a couple all those years ago. While Melisa was in love with her husband Scott, who doesn’t still have those “feelings” for their first love :)
On this journey, Melisa regains an important facet of her previous life, the opportunity to work in her old business, Mel’s Delights. Without going into detail, it is a delight to watch Melisa blossom into her former confident self.
There are of course bumps on the road to happiness and her happily ever after, but Dori Lavelle has outdone herself yet again. My suggestion, get the trilogy in its entirety, get in your most comfy reading chair and get reading…..you will not be sorry.
I cannot wait for what the writing future holds for one of my new favorite authors.
*I obtained a copy of Bittersweet Moments from the author, Dori Lavelle, a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you VERY much. After reading the first two books in the Moments in Time Love Story series…I had to read this book as well.*...more
What can I say about this book…. Entrancing, yes….that is the word I would like to use. I was hooked from practically the beginning. The hard part about writing this review will be to NOT include too many spoilers, as I feel this is what added to the mystic and depth of this book. I promise to try, but no guarantees.
On the surface this book begins as a story about a woman who lost her father at a young age and the angst that goes with this. However, there are many layers to this story and that is what made the story entrancing. One quote I find quite poignant and really the crux of the whole story is:
“My plan since then has been to run for my life. Run away from a boyfriend who kept travelling too far, run into a marriage that I thought would work. Rush to have kids to cement the union. Rush home to them today. This plan means I’ve tried to solve everything quickly before all hell descended on me again. Trauma is like that. It smashes into your life out of the blue and just lingers, dripping like a broken egg.”
Allie is trying to live her life the best she can after the single most traumatic thing that can happen to a young girl….the death of her father in a plane crash, in which she survives.
Allie is married to Wade and we soon discover that all is not as it should be in paradise. She is a typical working mother in that she feels overwhelmed with her responsibilities while her husband is off “enjoying” himself all in the name of his career. There is the predictable red herring in Allie’s classmate Tommy. Of course he is good looking, charming and a great listener. How to throw a confused woman a distraction in the midst of her angst and confusion! However, I did appreciate Tommy’s value in driving Allie to complete her writing assignment for class.
I must admit, while I really enjoyed this book I was a bit disappointed in the story line with her best friend, James. Why is it that smart women always attempt to go back to the ex-beau when their current man is failing them? How predictable.
I was hooked by the intrigue with Jackie and how she played in this story and the many twists and turns. This kept me guessing, which added depth to the story.
And don’t get me started on Allie’s egotistical boss Marcus. I could just visualize a whiny, demanding, self-centered man pushing Allie with his constant requests with little time to accomplish the tasks though Allie continually pulled off miracles and did the seemingly impossible.
When you read how Marcus, Wade, Jackie and various other sundry characters in this book are interrelated, you too shall be hooked. Enjoy the read....more
This book is so far off my usual genre read (romance or cozy mystery); I was concerned about my enjoyment factor. This book is a mixture of science fiction, mystery, fantasy and western all rolled up in one. In the beginning, I was hard pressed to like the story, but as pages kept flipping by…I started to embrace the story, empathize and even yell at Virgin, shaking my head. I was hooked. I found that at about the half way mark the reading became easier and the pace of the story picked up. Except that there was an inordinate amount of awkward grammatical and word usage issues which definitely distracted me from enjoying the story.
Detective Chance just annoyed me. As a law enforcement official, she made her mind up that Virgin was guilty and I felt did not investigate fully, only enough to railroad Virgin. Luckily on the flip side, I really liked the character of Caro. She was there 100% for Virgin, and boy did Virgin need someone in her corner.
Virgin`s relationship with Marshall Nate Sixkiller certainly kept the mundane out of the story. His unique interactive qualities made for an interesting beginning, with both Virgin and Nate being social misfits. Throughout the story though, you could see the working bond develop between Nate and Virgin and a true respect and friendship developing.
It was interesting how the language in some parts of the book was simplistic but in other parts sophisticated. Example #1:
“Welcome back, Virgin. I missed you,” said a deep, mellifluous voice emanating from around about the poster girl’s mouth.
Example #2:
“that’s the thing,” he said. “We don’t got time.”
It was difficult for this reader to feel comfortable with such variance in verbiage.
On the lighter side….there were little snippet`s that just go me chuckling and full of odd imagery. For example:
Chuckle 1….
”An old Keith Urban track was on the E-box. Was that old guy even alive still?”
Chuckle 2 …
“He’s gone, Virgin. Lit out like a cricket upfront of a tornado when I told him you’d headed Parkside.”
I must say on the mystery front, I certainly did not see the end coming. I won`t elaborate as that is something for any reader to discover on their own.
Would I read a story with such a variety of genres all in one story….not sure. Time will tell.
*OBS would like to think the publisher for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*...more
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