Review: Fatal Fried Rice (A Noodle Shop Mystery #7) by Vivien Chien

I first discovered this series because I was hungry. I was on my lunch break scrolling through Netgalley and saw the first book and was like lured in by the noodle ox on the cover and I have never been so glad to be hungry in all my life! I found such a fun series because I was hungry!

This has been such a fun little series to read and I am so happy to see that we are on the seventh book in the series! I am so happy people have loved it as much as I have. Lana Lee is a great amateur detective who has funky hair, a love for donuts, and doesn’t shy away from a murder or two. She sounds like someone I would totally hang out with which is one of the reasons I have enjoyed this series so much.

These are quick reads that I almost always finish within a day or two. They make for great beach reads or a great pick you grab at the airport between flights. I always feel satisfied after reading one of these books, not to mention hungry for Chinese food!

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Special Feature: The Northern Reach by W.S. Winslow

There is something about the rugged wildness of the coastline that adds so much atmosphere to a book. While I love the calming languid waters of the tropical islands, there is something so much more dramatic about a rocky untamed coast. This book is set on the Maine coast and that is one of the reasons this book caught my eye.

The other reason this one sounds so captivating is that it sounds like a pensive book that will give readers pause and reflect on their lives and the complexity of family and location. I think it’s going to offer a unique perspective for readers and give them something to think about and discuss.

This book spans a number of years and I am curious to see how that plays out. It starts in 1907 and continues through 2017 in a town where everyone is related on one way or another. I think that’s going to be an interesting angle and I am really excited to check this one out and see how it comes together, plus it’s been receiving solid positive reviews. It is out now and I can’t wait to read it later this spring!

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Review: Spellmaker (Spellbreaker Duology #2) by Charlie N. Holmberg

I haven’t had very good luck with duologies. I typically find them to feel unfinished. There is something about the trilogy of three books that rounds out a story in a way that two books just doesn’t. So often I tend to pass on them, but then I was pitched Charlie N Holmberg’s Spellbreaker duology.

The covers for Holmberg’s books are whimsical and really stand out to me. They are easy to identify and the suggest something historical mixed with fantasy and I couldn’t pass on the first book. It just sounded so good and I did enjoy it so reading the second book in the duology was a no brainer for me! These books are quick reads and I really enjoyed diving back into Holmberg’s rich world!

I still feel the a trilogy would have worked better in this particular series but as duologies go, this one wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed many aspects of this one and am excited to read more books by Holmberg!

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Special Feature: Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison

This book sounds like The Guest List and Rebecca got together and had a baby. I am so excited to check this one out and see if that assumption is correct! This domestic thriller is out tomorrow and I am so excited to check it out. It sounds full of atmosphere, menace, and twists. Not to mention an exotic location.

The book is set on an island off the coast of Italy and I don’t know about everyone else in the world but I can’t wait to travel again once COVID is more manageable, but until then I am more than happy to travel to all the exotic book locations! I think the location is going to be one of the things that really makes this book, I know it’s one of the things that attracted me first!

As the book is out tomorrow, I wanted to offer you all a little teaser for what’s to come with an excerpt from the book! If this sounds like a book that’s going to hook you, then reserve your copy today and keep reading tomorrow when it comes out on Tuesday! J. T. Ellison has a lot of of wonderful novels under her belt so this one promises to be another great addition!

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Special Feature: Windhall by Ava Barry

Like many devoted Netflix fans, I binge watched the new true crime documentary, Crime Scene the story of Elisa Lam. There is something about mysteries set in Lala Land that just add so much intrigue and a twisted sort of glamour. After watching the documentary, I was interested in finding not only some true crime books but also some thrillers that were also set in Hollywood.

That was one of the reasons that this book is so timely for me—it’s a murder mystery set in old Hollywood. I am so excited to share about this book with you guys today! If you love Hollywood’s golden age, starlets, investigative journalists, and of course murder then this is one you want to get on your radar! I am so excited to read it this spring but it’s out now and if you have been looking for a new murder mystery to read, this one might be your book!

Not to mention this amazing cover! This cover is so reminiscent of a Hollywood movie poster and I am in love with it! This is author Ava Barry’s debut and I think it’s going to be a hit for her and I will be sure to share my review here with you guys once I do read it but for now check out all the details below!

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