Review: The Vanishing Man (Charles Lenox Mysteries 0.2) by Charles Finch

I have been a long time fan of the Charles Lenox mystery series. I believe I binge read the first three books and then had to wait for the next one to come out and when it did, it was in my Kindle on release day since I had it on pre-order months in advance!

Charles Lenox has been a wonderfully entertaining detective and I adore so many of the mysteries in this series! Sadly I got sidetracked by other books and missed a couple in the middle, but I always came back to the series and found something to love in many of the books!

When I saw that a prequel was in the works I was ecstatic and eager to read about a young Charles Lenox! I haven’t read The Woman in the Water yet, which is the first prequel, but I was thrilled when The Vanishing Man came up. I have had a lot of luck jumping around in this series and I figured the prequels would be no different. Continue reading “Review: The Vanishing Man (Charles Lenox Mysteries 0.2) by Charles Finch”

Review: The Friends We Keep by Jane Green

This is a book that I might have passed on if it hadn’t been for the thoughtful card from the author included in my pitch request.

I have been reading a ton of women’s fiction lately and while so many of them are good, there are some that are just ok. And as I have been reading so many lately, I am trying to be a little more selective.

This book arrived with the coolest welcome package ever, a makeup bag full of chocolates (and not the cheap kind either!), a fun bracelet, the book (dah!), and a hand written note for Jane Green herself!

I appreciate little things like that and the effort that authors or publishers go to to make a personal connection with their readers. And it wasn’t just a ‘hey thanks for reading this book’ generic note, it was a personalized note made out to me with thoughtful words of thanks.

So hell yes I will read this book. If an author and publisher took the time to think of me to read their book, I am going to do whatever I can to fit that book into my schedule for reviews. Continue reading “Review: The Friends We Keep by Jane Green”

Special Feature/Excerpt: THE SUMMER OF SUNSHINE AND MARGOT by Susan Mallery

Summer reading is in full swing and can I just say that I have been loving so many of the beach reads that I have had up for review lately?!

I am so excited to share this lovely new release just in time for summer from New York Times best selling author, Susan Mallery! I even have an excerpt to share as well so be sure to keep reading to get a little sneak peak before its release on June 11th.

Summery

The Baxter sisters come from a long line of women with disastrous luck in love. But this summer, Sunshine and Margot will turn disasters into destiny…

As an etiquette coach, Margot teaches her clients to fit in. But she’s never faced a client like Bianca, an aging movie star who gained fame—and notoriety—through a campaign of shock and awe. Schooling Bianca on the fine art of behaving like a proper diplomat’s wife requires intensive lessons, forcing Margot to move into the monastery turned mansion owned by the actress’s intensely private son. Like his incredible home, Alec’s stony exterior hides secret depths Margot would love to explore. But will he trust her enough to let her in?

Sunshine has always been the good-time sister, abandoning jobs to chase after guys who used her, then threw her away. No more. She refuses to be “that girl” again. This time, she’ll finish college, dedicate herself to her job as a nanny, and she 100 percent will not screw up her life again by falling for the wrong guy. Especially not the tempting single dad who also happens to be her boss.

Master storyteller Susan Mallery weaves threads of family drama, humor, romance and a wish-you-were-there setting into one of the most satisfying books of the year!

Continue reading “Special Feature/Excerpt: THE SUMMER OF SUNSHINE AND MARGOT by Susan Mallery”

Review: Murder Once Removed (Ancestry Detective #1) by S.C. Perkins

I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries and I love discovering new series that might end up being a long time favorite. The trick seems always be finding something new and different.

This book is the first in a new series featuring Lucy, a genealogist. I had to pause and reread this particular part. I was very intrigued by the genealogist part and was curious to see how that played out in the mystery.

My mom is really into genealogy and I have to say that it’s not the most exciting filed of study in my opinion, but I do love history and uncovering unique characters in family lineages is always fun and exciting. In this case, Lucy discover a murder in a family tree, but I was curious to see how that was going to be relevant in the modern story. Continue reading “Review: Murder Once Removed (Ancestry Detective #1) by S.C. Perkins”

Review: The Alchemist of Lost Souls (Bianca Goddard Mysteries #4) by Mary Lawrence

As many of you know, I have a weakness for historical mysteries. I adore them and can’t get enough. However, so many of them are written during Victorian or Edwardian era England that often the books blend together, no matter how well written they are.

That’s why this book set itself apart for me….it’s set in Tudor England. When I think of historical mysteries, I don’t think of Tudor England as an optimal setting, but rather a period full of obstacles to detecting/investigating, so I was eager to see how the author used this to her advantage.

I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, so I was a little wary of reading this book with already 4 books into the series. However, the author assured me that it could read as a standalone book. Continue reading “Review: The Alchemist of Lost Souls (Bianca Goddard Mysteries #4) by Mary Lawrence”