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Missing at Christmas

Jameson Investigations, # 4

by

Deena Alexander

 

Just when you think it's safe and can relax, think again!

 

Missing at Christmas is the fourth book in author Deena Alexander's Jameson Investigations series for the Love Inspired Suspense line and another top-notch inspirational tale of romantic suspense. Freelance journalist Lexi McKenna had fled her childhood home, taking her younger sister, Gia, with her, when she'd discovered their father was the head of a New York criminal organization, intending never to return. However, as the pair constantly moved about, changing their names, staying out of their father's grasp, Gia began to feel differently, longing to return to the city, where she met and fell in love with a man from a rival crime family. When she realized she was pregnant, he left her without a word to continue on her own, with only her older sister for support. Someone else within the city's criminal organizations discovered her and her twin daughters' whereabouts and decided to use one of the babies as leverage against her father, killing Gia in the process. Now Lexi was determined to get the other child to safety and figure out who was behind the kidnapping and do all she could to get her little niece back in her arms. 

Lexi, while one tough cookie, is still a loving and protective sister and aunt. She'd gotten the education and skills necessary to support herself and help out Gia and the new babies by working as a freelance journalist, but things were tight. After the death of her mother from cancer, losing Gia is an unimaginable loss. 

Noah Thompson, a former NYPD cop, now works for Jameson Investigations and uses all their considerable resources to help Lexi on her mission, but even Jameson can't control the weather in Montana, where they end up looking for safety. He, too, has a vested interest in taking down the Cipriana crime family. His feelings are very close to the surface as he and Lexi bond over their shared goals. 

As is a hallmark of this author's work, the story hits the ground running, and the action never lets up. Just when you think Lexi, Noah, and little Alyssa catch a break, think again. Both Noah and Lexi have developed their own faith-filled inner lives and share their deepest common beliefs and discover common ground. They work through their past traumas while trying to rescue Alyssa's twin sister, Avery, from the unknown kidnapper. The surprising resolution makes for a satisfying conclusion to the story. 

I recommend MISSING AT CHRISTMAS to readers of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, faith-forward romantic suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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Death on Dickens Island

Books on the Beach Mystery, #1

by

Allison Brook

 

A solid mystery entwined with family drama and a surprising paranormal element.

 

Death on Dickens Island is the first book in author Allison Brook’s cozy new Books on the Beach Mystery series and is an absorbing mix of mystery and family drama, with a surprising paranormal element. With its multiple compelling storylines and relatable characters, this complex and satisfying tale had me firmly in its clutches from the very start. 

Delia Dickens had returned to Dickens Island to help her father with the family general store and try to build a stronger relationship with Connor, the son who had grown up with her parents while she established her career in the city. Delia felt she had fumbled the ball with Connor, as her demanding job and early, ongoing difficulties finding safe childcare had prevented her from keeping him by her side. Her mother and father had been a godsend, stepping in when childcare had repeatedly failed and soon became the answer to providing a consistent and nurturing environment while Delia earned them a living. Connor, now fifteen, was having a hard time forgiving, forgetting, and just adjusting to living with his mother full-time again. 

Delia and Connor were not the only ones experiencing family drama on Dickens Island. When Delia decided to move back home and into the house left to her by her grandmother, her mother took the opportunity to move into Delia’s Manhattan apartment for a little “Me” self-care time away from her husband and the island community that soon stretched into months, with no firm end date in sight. Additionally, her Uncle Brad and Aunt Reenie, an island councilman and the town manager, were publicly at odds with each other over town council business and the unusually keen attentions of a flirtatious single councilwoman. But when the problem councilwoman is found murdered in her home, the stakes get even higher as both Brad and Reenie suddenly become suspects in her death. 

Delia has her hands full trying to reconnect with her teenage son as a full-time mom, and I didn’t envy her the task of mollifying her dad with his constant requests that she convince her aunt and uncle to reconcile. Awkward. I was glad she was able to fulfill his request without aggressively meddling in something she was aware was none of her business. She had her own struggles, including the reappearance of her old high school sweetheart in her life. 

The plot is complex, to say the least, with multiple storylines, all clamoring for attention. The author does a stellar job establishing each one and entwining them so well. There’s a friendly stray dog who comes into their life at just the right time, Connor’s treasure hunting dreams with his friend, Trevor, who has a bad reputation and a worse homelife rounding out the picture, and a hidden room in Delia’s house with an even more unexpected visitor: her dearly departed Grandmother Helena with questions of her own and, perhaps, the answers to long-held island secrets. 

I liked how Delia finally stood up to her father about her purpose at the store, and he was able to see her side pretty quickly. Of course, her addition of a book nook to the general store was an attractive one to me. Delia is a thoughtful, contemplative woman, and she takes the time to analyze her feelings for Jack and the best approaches to take with her wayward family members. I enjoyed how the storylines converged, some leading to clues that solved several mysteries and to the resolution of both a decades-old disappearance and the present-day murder. 

I recommend DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy stories full of family drama, New York/Long Island-ish settings, and paranormal elements. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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The Queen of Ocean Parkway

by

Sarvenaz Tash

 

A magical mystery for middle-grade readers!

 

The Queen of Ocean Parkway is a new, fantastical mystery story for middle-grade readers from the creative mind of author Sarvenaz Tash. Young Roya Alborzi and her precocious new friend and neighbor, Amin Lahiri, travel through time to try and break a curse that makes the women of the Petrov family disappear, never to be seen again. 

The main character, Roya Alborzi, is the only daughter of their Brooklyn apartment building’s super, and while only 11 years old, she is carrying an emotional load that adults would have trouble managing. Though her parents are divorced, her father is desperately ill with cancer, and she does all she can to assist her mother in her job to free her up to care for him. Then, one of her favorite tenants, Katya Petrov, suddenly disappears without a trace. She joins forces with Amin, the son of the new family in the building, to find her and break the chain of disappearances that have plagued the Petrov family for the past four generations. 

The Brooklyn setting is well-developed, feeling familiar and comfortable. Roya’s descriptions and tales of the other neighbors for her fledgling podcast are entertaining and made me laugh about some of her observations. 

The plot thickens as soon as the characters are introduced, and some surprising twists make the story even more suspenseful and intriguing. As time travel is involved, the author must re-describe the Coney Island setting each time Roya and Amin land in the past. The gorgeous cover, rich with jewel tones, attracts the eye and had my imagination working before I even read the first page. I liked how the author populated the apartment building with an array of different configurations of families and enjoyed meeting each one as the mystery of the disappearing Petrovs unfolded. 

I recommend THE QUEEN OF OCEAN PARKWAY to upper elementary and middle-grade readers or for reading aloud in the classroom, in afterschool programs, or at home. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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Sun Tzu’s Café

by

Dr. Eric Bornstein

 

Top drawer espionage/revenge story combining fact and fiction for a rivetingly realistic thriller.

 

The espionage thriller, Sun Tzu’s Café by Dr. Eric Bornstein, is an absolutely riveting read, combining fact and fiction, historical and current events, historical figures and engaging fictional characters. It is a tale of insidious revenge, eked out over many decades until some of the main players practically become institutional memories. I was glued to this story! 

Li Qiang is a good son; he loves and honors his parents and accepts his father’s generational desire for revenge against the country of his birth (the U.S.), passed down from HIS father, without question. He’s smart and excels at school, and just when he left college to begin his own life, he was snatched up by the U.S. government to be used in secret, unethical research. The story of his twenty-five years at the mercy of the government is incredibly tragic and heart-wrenching. Even knowing his goal was to destroy the U.S., I still rooted for him to escape his life of servitude in the name of false patriotism. I was conflicted about how I felt about this character until the end. 

Similarly, I ached for the position young Dr. Guilford Champlain finds himself in. Deliberately and ironically, Qiang manipulates the young Ph.D. student into the same program he himself abhors. Both had little choice but to comply and were trapped, weighed down by the same disgust of what the government was doing. 

Throughout the story, the author cites sources for names, events, science, and technology, establishing which specific elements are factual rather than fiction. Some of the issues involved, such as the prohibition of the TikTok app on government devices, are amazingly timely. I wondered, as I read, how much I assumed was fictional I was wrong about; it was plausible and so realistic. 

The tension builds slowly at first but gradually and increases until it’s almost in full panic mode by the eleventh-hour climax. At this point, the author alters his chapter lengths to almost paragraph size, switching between the points of view of those involved in the unfolding excitement, each ending with a cliffhanger as the perspective changes. The action was breathtaking and edge-of-your-seat stuff, and no one will put this book down when they get to this point of the story. 

I enjoyed the interesting mix of historical figures with fictional characters and the saga-like span of time the book covers. The story is well-paced, even with its inclusion of the scientific and technical descriptions of the processes under investigation and the history of the different eras. The footnotes could keep readers busy going down rabbit holes for weeks after reading the story. 

With its highly sympathetic characters, clever, long-haul plot, and historical settings, I recommend SUN TZU’S CAFÉ to readers of espionage tales, revenge stories, family sagas, and political thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

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Beltany

Circle of Nine, #1

by

Valerie Biel

 

Excellent coming-of-age story that mixes the present with the past, the mundane with the magically arcane.

 

Beltany is the first book in the Circle of Nine by Valerie Biel and is a wonderfully exciting (with very relatable scenes of growing up) start to this series. As the clock ticks over to her fifteenth birthday, Brigit Quinn is surprised by her mother with an ancient family heirloom, a book that has been passed down through the women in her family for almost 700 years. While it tells the life story of each successive owner, it does so by vividly transporting the reader into the tales of the women who went before her, but only if read in the right order. However, the gift is only the beginning, as Brigit learns that her family descends from a powerful and magical Irish clan, and each woman in the family develops a magical gift of her own. But as her understanding of her family’s history grows and her own special gift begins to manifest, she also discovers an old evil has come to wrench her legacy away -- a legacy she still must decide to accept or ignore. 

I really enjoyed the story of the modern-day teenager and her best friends as they navigate the minefield of high school, growing up, discovering boys, and the changes that can cause in their own relationships. Brigit is so relatable as she faces exciting (and some unwanted) changes in her life. The other side of this dual-timeline treasure follows the lives of Brigit’s female ancestors and reads like the best action-adventure tale, combined with often heart-wrenching romance. Some of the early stories give an idea of the past when the Catholic Church was trying to woo or intimidate those who followed pagan religions to Christianity, and some of the means and methods used have tragic results. 

The author’s storytelling is mesmerizing, and I was soon completely wrapped up in Brigit’s story; the pages flew by. While Brigit displays a lot of the typical teenage brattiness toward her mother early on, she’s still an engaging character who eventually learns and grows. As this is the first book in an already established series, I look forward to diving into the rest of the story. 

I recommend BELTANY to readers of young adult paranormal fiction, fantasy, and adventure.

 

For this and other book reviews, visit my blog, Guatemala Paula Loves to Read!

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Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens

Fanny Fitzpatrick, #3

by

Dana Hammer

 

Fun, mysterious, and suspenseful tale of gods, goddesses, sirens, and friendships.

 

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens is the third book in author Dana Hammer’s middle-grade adventure series featuring Fanny Fitzpatrick and her unusual group of friends. In this adventure, Fanny is invited to a summer music camp run by famous pop star Mara Fry, who heard Fanny sing at her cousin’s funeral. Against the advice of her friends —Athena, Gemma, and Danial —and despite their worry and the revelation that Mara and the women who run the camp are sirens, as in the mythological sirens of old, Fanny decides to attend. However, things at the beautiful tropical island camp aren’t exactly what they appear, and she soon realizes there’s more going on than vocal training. 

Fanny is a sweet, helpful girl, and she especially looks forward to being a great big sister to her new baby brother, Damon. While a summer hanging out with her friends would be wonderful, the opportunity to spend time with a superstar and get some professional vocal training proves impossible to pass up. In fairness to Fanny, she considers her decision long and hard, with the deciding factor being her tired mother’s desire for her to be out from underfoot as she adjusts to life with a cranky newborn. Athena and Gemma, in their distress, are a little heavy-handed in their attempts to dissuade Fanny, too, ordering her around and getting angry rather than maintaining a cool head and offering proof of their accusations that the sirens are still up to no good. 

The plot is fun and quirky, with Fanny trying to keep Athena’s bed-bound brother, Dion, out of trouble, but the suspense quickly takes center stage when she and the three other girls get to the island. The formerly overly friendly adult leaders have secrets they’re not ready to share with the campers and use questionable tactics to get the girls to do what they want. The story is absolutely absorbing, and I didn’t want to take a break until almost halfway through the book, and then it was hard to find an appropriate stopping point! Fanny and her friends are bright, engaging, and so easy to root for. Although this is the third book in the series, adequate backstory is provided so it can be read as a standalone. 

I recommend FANNY FITZPATRICK AND THE SIRENS to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy a mythological theme. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall

by

Jamie Jo Wright

 

Eerie, atmospheric dual timeline tales of mystery, deception, and murder!

 

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright is a masterpiece of eerie, atmospheric mystery and cold-case murder, told through the eyes of two young women separated by more than one hundred years. I enjoy a dual-timeline story, and this one did not disappoint; I was hooked immediately by its dark, evocative descriptions, hidden secrets, and stuck to its pages all the way to its much more hopeful ending. 

In 1890, young Waverly Pembrooke’s rigid and severe uncle and aunt are brutally murdered in their big house overlooking the town of Newton Creek, Wisconsin. However, the odd provisions of her uncle’s will lead Waverly to lose the only home she has. Fast forward to the present day and to the tale of Jennie Phillips, who, after the death of her abusive father, which is soon followed by the death of her much-loved mother, is the new owner of the Traeger Hall estate, along with numerous other historic properties accumulated by her father. Traeger Hall has literally been sealed and bricked up for more than a hundred years, its brooding presence on the hill outside town an eerie beacon for tourists and the curious. On Jennie’s first visit to the property, she encounters a young local boy who leads her to a skeletal hand reaching up from its, until then, hidden, muddy grave. 

The plot unfolds at a quick pace, with startling revelations that open both time frames. While each of the heroines’ stories unwinds separately, the similarities of their pasts, though one hundred years apart, are striking as their tales converge. Twists and turns completely surprised me as old secrets came to light. The author’s storytelling is mesmerizing, and her descriptions of Traeger Hall placed me alongside the young women in each scene. The spooky-season timing of my reading this book couldn’t have been more perfect, with its monsters camouflaged as men, morally charged to protect both these girls. 

I recommend THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL to readers of gothic suspense, domestic thrillers, and mysteries. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Murder by the Millions

Literary Dining Mystery, #2

by

Daryl Wood Gerber

 

Murder mystery cleverly mirrors many aspects of THE GREAT GATSBY.

 

Murder by the Millions is the second book in author Daryl Wood Gerber's unique Literary Dining Mystery series, and with its welcome returning characters, new faces, and a myriad of parallels with the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, THE GREAT GATSBY, it is a stellar new addition. From contentious business rivalries to disappointments in love to the scrumptious mentions of baked treats and well-researched historical recipes, this book has a little something for every fringe of cozy mystery fandom. 

Allie Catt and her two business partners, half-sisters Tegan Potts and Vanna Harding, are well along in their plans and preparation for their next big literary dinner, this time based on The Great Gatsby, when a newcomer to town, handsome developer Jason Gardner, swans into town, upsetting a whole swath of the folks of Bamblewood, North Carolina. Jason had bid on and been awarded the purchase of a row of four historic homes along the far end of Main Street with the intention of demolishing them and building a shopping mall in their place. While the town council is slated to approve his plans, many others, including Allie, are vocal in their opposition. Still, she wants to maintain an open mind, especially after spending some time with him as he explained his vision. But later, when Allie discovers Jason stabbed in the back with a spearpoint like one from her own collection, she becomes the police department's prime suspect. Someone is trying to frame Allie, and they have gone to great lengths to do a good job. 

Allie is the busiest young entrepreneur in town, with her catering business growing in leaps and bounds and her daily work at her best friend Tegan's bookstore, where she has a small financial interest. She is also finally finding some personal time to socialize and enjoy the perks of having an entire bookstore at her disposal. Her relationship with Police Detective Zach Armstrong seems to have permanently veered into the friend zone, and his assignment as the lead detective on the murder investigation isn't going to improve it. She's driven and energetic, so despite being warned off, she takes a hands-on approach to clearing her name. 

Many of the residents of the small town frequent the bookstore daily, so it was fun reading all the book titles and author names discussed over the course of the book as they come in for their next read. However, I've never encountered such widespread enthusiasm, nor such a deep understanding of The Great Gatsby's themes, or even knowledge of the plot as it's depicted in the book, in real life. Everyone LOVED it. But after reading about the literary dinner and dress-up —the culmination of all their plans, preparation, and anticipation —I could understand why the patrons there studied up before participating; it sounded amazing. I especially enjoyed the numerous parallels between the murder victim, Jason Gardner, his life and circumstances, and the fictional Jay Gatsby. 

The murder occurs after the victim's relationships with many of the townspeople have been vividly established, which results in plenty of potential suspects for Allie to check out and eliminate from her list. There are some really good red herrings to distract her and readers from pinpointing the actual perpetrator too soon, and of course, there are some awkward as well as perilous encounters on the way to the final resolution. I enjoy these characters, with their quirks and, sometimes, fractious, messy relationships, a lot, and was well entertained from start to finish. 

I recommend MURDER BY THE MILLIONS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy literary-themed storylines. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

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The Cassette Tape Secret

by

Danielle Herzog

 

Wonderful middle-grade tale of friendship and facing one's fears.

 

The Cassette Tape Secret by Danielle Herzog is a wonderful middle-grade novel about friendship, stepping out of one's comfort zone, and facing one's fears. Eleven-year-old Alex Bennett struggles with OCD and severe anxiety after the school bully viciously shamed him in front of the entire class about some of his compulsive but harmless behaviors. New classmate Ida May Brooks is his exact opposite—bold and sassy—but has her own secret heartaches to bear. When she finds an old cassette tape with a mysterious, pleading message for help, she begs Alex to work with her to uncover the story behind the forgotten recording. Alex wants no involvement in her scheme, but his therapist sweetens the deal with tickets to meet a famous social media influencer he admires. If he stretches outside his comfort zone and helps his classmate, he signs on as Ida May's sidekick and faces many of his basic fears in the process. 

Alex is a warm, engaging, completely sympathetic bundle of anxiety, with a long, rigid list of things he avoids at all costs. It is heart-wrenching to observe his struggles, but also so uplifting as he finally tackles one challenge after another head-on. I love how he had learned to cook as an accommodation to his aversion to eating out (and having PEOPLE touch his food) and his eye-opening realization that he'd isolated himself even from those he loved, like his own grandmother. He proves himself to be quite witty as he and Ida May spend more time together. 

Ida May is sassy and smart-mouthed, and her banter with her new friend, Alex, is full of humor, wit, and compassion far beyond her years. It was tough to watch her reactions to her mother's continued absence and to her mother's slow disengagement from her daughter. 

The plot is full of action as the two deal with their mutual bully, Darren Roe, in their own ways, then team up to search for a hidden treasure and uncover the mystery behind it. It was riveting as they inch closer and closer to the answers they sought, while Alex made significant breakthroughs in his coping with his issues, with brave determination and dignity, until he can share his truths with his new friend. 

I recommend THE CASSETTE TAPE SECRET to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy stories of courage, determination, friendship, and healing.

 

For this and other book reviews, visit BOYS' MOM READS!

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Born To Bead Wild

Glass Bead Mystery, #5

by

Janice Peacock

 

With an almost ensemble team of sleuths and its interesting glass bead theme, this long-awaited addition to the author's Glass Bead Mystery series will not disappoint.

 

Jacqueline “Jax” O’Connell and her best friend, Tessa Ricci, were on their way to teach a week-long glass bead jewelry workshop at a farm-turned-arts-camp in the Olympic Peninsula when they got a call from Jax’s neighbor, Val, that she was also going. Val, a hairdresser and an excellent, albeit at times adventurous, cook, was headed to the same location, having been hired as the new chef for the facility. Along with a huge pink suitcase filled with fashionable clothes and heels, Val had also brought her Basset hound, Stanley. But while Tessa was looking forward to sharing with her future students, Jax, a lifelong city girl, was a bit apprehensive about spending a week in a rustic camping environment. 

When they arrive at the camp, the three discover the accommodations are a tad more rustic than they’d anticipated, and with a strict no-technology policy in place, they are required to leave their cell phones in the camp office. However, making up for the inconveniences, the setting on the shores of a lake was beautiful, and Tessa and Jax were elated to find that the studio for their class was an absolute dream.

 While inspecting the beautiful space, Tessa is surprised when an old nemesis, Marvin Caputo, appears to check the studio’s ventilation system and questions its adequacy and safety. He and Tessa had come into conflict years earlier when he was trying to gain consulting work from her by claiming her glass studio wasn’t up to code and had caused her numerous problems. Even though Tessa had come out on top of that situation, her studio was fine; it still rankled. 

Marvin Caputo had angered many people in his past and had a notorious reputation. But when Caputo is found floating in the lake, all the workshop participants come under suspicion when it is deemed a homicide. Jax, Tessa, and Val quickly realized that someone in their group was a murderer. 

Born to Bead Wild is the fifth book in author Janice Peacock’s delightful and quirky Glass Bead Mystery series and is a long-awaited addition, as the last book was published in 2018. The main character, Jacqueline “Jax” O’Connell, is smart and savvy, and in this story, she has quite a bit of time on her hands to look around and uncover clues to what is going on at Full Moon Farm, the site of the workshop. She’s good-hearted, and though initially annoyed by Val accompanying her and Tessa, she stands up for her neighbor at every chance and willingly lends a helping hand. Tessa is the lead instructor for the glass bead class along with their friend, Adriana Jones, and although she must focus on teaching, she still has Jax’s back and urges her on when needed. For me, it was Val’s camp experience that took center stage. Honestly, I could feel the horror of those menus and weird staples, and I applauded what Val could create out of that mess. Frankly, I would have starved to death or worn a rut in the road to Port Angeles, going for food before eating any of the camp owner’s scheduled meals. 

The murder mystery and the amateur investigation were solid and intriguing. The victim doesn’t have much page/screen time, but it’s enough to know he’s trouble with a capital “T.” In contrast to our three heroines, quite a few unpleasant folks are involved with the workshop, including the owners of Full Moon Farm, and some make for good suspects. I never clued in on who the actual killer was until the reveal, though, with hindsight being 20/20, perhaps I should have. Then, too, the final resolution of the case comes with its terrific twist. 

With an almost ensemble team of sleuths, a great setting, and the interesting glass bead art and jewelry theme, I recommend BORN TO BE BEAD WILD to cozy mystery readers who enjoy artistic or craft-themed stories, books with a rural camp location or set in the Pacific Northwest, in general, but especially fans of the previous books in the series. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.