Summer Shadows

When Julia Lamontaigne received heartbreaking news that her sister and her husband were killed in an accident she never dreamed they had left their three children to her care. How could she possibly provide for herself and three other lives when she had just lost her job? Julia discovered that although the house she and the children were living in was mortgaged her sister had recently purchased an old fixer-upper in a small town near a lake in New Hampshire, hoping to make it their summer place. Financially, something had to give, and with thoughts of fixing up that place with the help of her three charges and selling it to make payments on the other house she packed up the kids, a few belongings, and began an adventure that would lead to far more than a financial solution! Julia found in their new location a house badly in need of cleaning and repair but did it also hold a deadly secret? A connection to that derelict old mansion at the end of the street where a young artist was murdered? It becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want Julia in town. Someone is watching her. . . Living in a neighborhood of free-spirited local characters, which tend to complicate life for Julia and her crew, especially the attractive cop next door, is the beginning of an engaging summer packed with action and emotional turmoil that leads to the knitting together of a real family. The family values addressed in this book were not only refreshing, in today’s jaded world, they added much to the mystery. I recommend Summer Shadows to any reader who wants a good read and to walk away knowing there are still people who care.

Three Days to Forever - Lauren Carr

Mac Faraday and Archie Monday are planning a wedding – simple enough until you throw in a few seemingly unrelated murders, a cell of terrorists, a heinous plot of mass destruction, bureaucratic cover up, and a new pair of high heeled boots – then, it gets interesting. Did Faraday kill the man who threatened him? Why was his DNA found at the murder site? What did Agnes, the tough handed mother of the bride, have in the black hole? Who targeted Faraday’s brother, David, as a sacrifice to Jihad? New characters, and old ones, merge in this exciting read. You’ll fall for the hard shelled naval officer, Murphy, who is a vegetarian and only drinks herbal tea. You’ll love the image of Jessica, Faraday’s daughter, her violet eyes, trendy clothes, closet full of shoes and purple Ferrari that screams spoiled rich girl – only don’t mess with her unless you’re up for a few surprises. And speaking of surprises, exactly who gets to walk down the wedding aisle? As always, the dogs take center stage every chance they get. From Jessica’s sheltie, Spencer (or is it Candi?), to Chelsea’s Molly and of course the ever present hero of the Mac Faraday series – Gnarly. This book, Three Days to Forever, is not only entertaining it is thought provoking. From the Bible reference to Ishmael, and in these shocking days of terrorist alerts, there are glimmers of truth mixed in a fictional account. The book is not intended as a political commentary, nor does it make broad accusations about our nation in general – yet, when you read it you may begin to wonder. . .what if?

The Deepest Dark

An elderly couple living out their remaining years in an isolated farmhouse – a famous writer, alone, working in a secluded cabin – three escaped convicts, Roach, Tattoo and Dog – sets up a terrifying and horrific scenario of brutal murder and willful kidnapping. Abby Miller’s life was torn apart when her husband, Corey, and daughter, Ellie, died in a car crash. Striving to get her writing life back on tract she told no one, not even Karen, her sister, where she had gone. Will that mistake cost her her life; or something even more horrible? And, why does the ring leader of the escaped convicts, Roach, seem vaguely familiar? Joan Hall Hovey’s The Deepest Dark is a thrilling, chilling, tale of sadness, regret and heart stopping suspense. Don’t miss it! Reader Beware: This is definitely not a cozy!!

Sucker Punches

This is a compilation of short stories written by Carolyn Rose and Mike Nettleton. I found the first three or four stories very entertaining. If you are an editor or publisher you will certainly enjoy the first one. After those it got a little far-fetched, although still amusing. It's a light read and something you can pick up and put down at will. Both writers are talented and imaginative. Worth the purchase.

The Novel World of Angela Crown

Crime has long reaching effects on its victims. Angela Crown is the small girl hiding under the bed when her mother is murdered – Angela Crown is the young woman, preparing for her honeymoon, who gets word that her fiancé and father are victims of a bank robbery gone bad. The violence suddenly becomes too much. As an aspiring writer, and avid reader, Angela is caught up in a world where she can no longer separate fact from fiction. Leaping into the pages of the latest thriller she sees herself as an avenging angel for the characters that are in danger. She perceives the authors and creators of the books as evil people preying on innocent beings. The Novel World of Angela Crown is a book within a book. The author skillfully takes the reader from the physical world of Angela Crown to the fiction world she creates from the books she reads. Her sister, Maggie, her psychiatrist, Liam Price, a police detective and a former teacher are striving to bring Angela back into the real world. A famous author sympathizes with her illness but becomes the victim of her increasing rage. It was difficult to place a rating on this novel. The concept was fascinating. Still, I found some of it very far-fetched and at times tedious. If you are looking for a book that is out of the ordinary you may want to give it a try. Reader beware – you may not like the ending.

Martini Regrets - Phyllis Smallman

If Sherri Travis hadn’t decided to have that last dirty martini her life would have taken a different turn. She wouldn’t have been traveling across the Florida Everglades in the middle of the night with an almost empty gas tank. She wouldn’t have wound up fighting off a plethora of critters both creeping and crawling; the most dangerous of all the kind that stands on two legs. Frightening beyond belief is Sherri’s adventure in the treacherous swamp land. But maybe not as terrifying as thinking she’s safe when that’s far from the truth. Why did a business card and a pink flip flop pose such a threat? Sherri and Clay, her finance, are thrown by circumstance into the elegant but amoral world of the ultra rich whose only passion is rare and exotic orchids. Would someone who would pay thousands of dollars for one orchid become a murderer to win the prize? Phyllis Smallman’s Sherri Travis is a sassy, tough but tender character that has never quite escaped her swamp rat image although she’s now the owner of the best bar on the coast, The Sunset. She’s mouthy, impulsive and a little paranoid but she’s also compassionate and loves deeply. If you have been following the Sherri Travis series, Martini Regrets, is a must read. Even if you haven’t read the others this book is guaranteed to keep you up at night eagerly turning page after page. Sherri may well start to regret more than that last martini as her life takes a dramatic turn. I personally can’t wait for the next book.

Murder Most Convenient

In Robert Colton's novel 'MURDER MOST CONVENIENT' it’s the 1940’s. Pulp fiction whodunits are all the rage. So, Mrs. Xavier Stayton, a recently widowed American woman of privileged class and her equally young English companion, Lucy Wallace, decide to get on the bandwagon and write their own ripping mystery. Mrs. X’s mother-in-law graciously arranges for the young women to stay with her deceased husband’s estranged relatives at a very proper British estate known as Pearce Manor. They do, after all, need atmosphere for their fledging novel. The ladies feel fate has smiled on their efforts but little do they know that their unwelcome appearance will set in motion a catastrophic procession of events that will spin light hearted murderous fiction into grim reality. Had someone already tried to murder the handicapped woman known as Phyllis? And why is she so interested in Mrs. X and Miss W’s manuscript? Does the handsome detective really believe that Mrs. X is the murderer? Stay tuned for a series of clues and revealing interviews that lead to truth about more things than murder. Murder Most Convenient is a light-hearted, humorous read with just enough actual mystery to keep the reader turning the pages. Be aware that there are some typos in this novel and I found Colton’s habit of addressing a future editor disconcerting. Otherwise – have fun with one!