Sounds Like Love by Laura Ford 

Fun, inspirational young adult story with a strong heroine and a very smart cat. 

When Wendy went to pick up a box of mementos from her grandmother’s estate, she was shocked and dismayed to discover she was supposed to take the cat home as well. Wendy was not a fan of cats. Her parents had been avid cat fanciers, and she had grown up feeling the cats were more important to them than their daughter. 

The cat surprise was just one of several that Wendy was struggling to deal with at the moment. Besides the loss of her grandmother, she was also steadily losing her hearing, a hereditary trait. Her grandmother had also gone deaf as an adult, much later in life than Wendy. The older woman had been Wendy’s anchor as she’d gone through testing and diagnosis and had been helping her with lip reading and signing. But now she was gone, and the cat was here. 

Wendy was determined to find a home other than her own for the cat. However, the local animal shelter was full and couldn’t take her immediately. So, home the two went, with Wendy hoping for a spot to open at the shelter and the cat with a plan to secure a future in Wendy’s home and heart. 

Sounds Like Love is the heart-warming story of a young woman overcoming several challenging life changes that occur all at the same time. She’s gradually losing her hearing, but her grandmother had been helping her weather the storm of her emotions about this turn of events when she suddenly passes away. Her grandmother, having lost her hearing as an adult, was instrumental in her granddaughter preparing for the inevitable. Now Wendy had to deal with an unwanted cat?! I could imagine how piled-on Wendy felt. 

As expected, Wendy has her moments of despair, self-doubt, and self-pity, but the story never lingers on unproductive emotions. The main character is naturally optimistic and was inspired by her grandmother to live her best life no matter what. I loved the note she finds from her grandmother at just the perfect moment. 

There is a budding romance that is ignited by an instant attraction. I was delighted with the twists and turns this particular storyline takes where the past meets the future. This was a fun “fated” meeting and future relationship. 

SOUNDS LIKE LOVE is a fun, inspirational, clean underdog story recommended for young adult readers. 

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

Hero Haters by Ken MacQueen 

Intriguing premise, non-stop action, and clever dialogue, with regular people trapped in a plot for revenge. 

Jake Ockham is the editor of his family’s local newspaper, and freelances investigating nominees for the Sedgewick Medallion, a prestigious award recognizing acts of selfless bravery. He himself had been honored while in college by rescuing a teenage boy from his burning home. During the rescue, Jake had sustained burns to his hands that had ended his Olympic dream of representing the United States in rowing, however, that wasn’t the worst thing to come from his actions. 

When Jake dragged the unconscious and injured boy to safety, he was doing it in full view of the boy’s mother, who was trapped on the second floor of the family home with no way for Jake to reach her. As he watched in horror, the woman’s young daughter came home just in time to witness her mother’s terrible death, screaming at Jake the whole time that he was a coward. Now year’s later, the Medallion recipients were once again in the news. Several of these heroic individuals had suddenly gone missing … along with their medals. Despite the various police departments brushing off the missing persons’ reports from the heroes’ families, Jake was determined to get to the bottom of things and stop whoever was kidnapping the heroes. 

I am so happy I was selected to read and review Hero Haters, a new thriller by author Ken MacQueen. The story is a terrifying mind game and pulse-pounding thriller, and it is filled with regular people who, at some point in their lives, stepped forward to help out a stranger. Early on, the reader knows who is behind the disappearances of the courageous medal winner. Still, it is exciting as Jake and Erik hack away at discovering the truth themselves and stop them. I was completely invested in the story from the very start. 

Despite what Jake thinks of himself, he is a hero. He continually chooses the high road, well, except for a couple of great jabs at a particularly petty sheriff’s deputy who totally deserves it. His best friend, Erik, is fun and independent and a fantastic sidekick but a genius in his own right. He has some of the best dialogue in the book, too. The kidnapped medal winners are a varied group of individuals, with some continuing to be courageous in their direst moments. 

I was immediately attracted to this book by its premise, and as the drama unfolded, I was not disappointed. It is fast-paced throughout, and the author is terrific at revealing backstories without slowing down that pace. And when the climax arrives, things happen even faster. I was really on edge, concerned about whether things were going to work out or not. 

The story is told from more than one point of view; the narrative shifts between Jake’s actions and what is happening with the kidnap victims. The author’s writing style is smooth, witty, and easy to read, so I was quickly immersed in the story. I will be looking for more from this author. 

With a likable, sympathetic main character, an engaging sidekick, an irresistible love interest, and a breakneck plot, I recommend HERO HATERS to mystery and thriller readers who like non-stop action and regular people trying to make a difference. 

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

THE THRILLING CONCLUSION OF THE GHOST AGENTS TRILOGY!

GHOST AGENTS: RETRIBUTION (GHOST AGENTS TRILOGY, #3) by Nita DeBorde 

Excitement and danger are on every page as the City of Lights plays host to this final chapter in the GHOST AGENTS TRILOGY! 

After the pivotal confrontation between Claire, her compatriots, and the Syndicate at the close of Ghost Agents: Revelations, the Bureau was rocked by a bomb planted deep beneath the American headquarters. During the ensuing chaos, an agent working secretly working for the Syndicate freed Dr. Warner Vogel from his underground prison and lab. When Zach, Claire, and other handpicked agents are finally able to investigate, they discover the stored energy from all the dispatched projections has been released. Somehow, the Syndicate siphoned all of the safeguarded energy into tanker trucks and disappeared into the city.

 Despite these events, the leaders at the Bureau's world headquarters still refused to acknowledge the existence of the Syndicate. Understanding the dire threat, Director Fiorella Farrugia decides to take the evidence and testimony straight to the main man in person. She, Claire, Drew, and his brother, Luke, head to Paris, where they are still met with skepticism until the Syndicate goes public with their demands and threatens the heads of state of any nation that gets in their way. 

Ghost Agents: Retribution is the third and final book in the outstanding Ghost Agents Trilogy, and folks at The Society for Historical Preservation certainly conclude business in style! This time, the action moves from Galveston and Boston overseas to The City of Lights, and author Nita DeBorde really brings it with an insider's knowledge of the famous city. With the seamless inclusion of French dialogue (and English translations) and truly iconic sights around every corner, the reader will feel they are on the streets of Paris alongside agents Claire Abelard and Drew Mitchell. The author even slips in some delightful tidbits of history as our heroine and hero traverse the city, talking to well-known former residents. 

Claire is such a good-hearted person, and protecting the projections from harm, especially unethical living human beings, is always foremost in her actions. That continues to be her goal here, along with saving the rest of the world from the bad guys. She's surrounded and supported in her efforts by a loving family, and she and her brother, Zach, now seem to be working on the same page, making them a formidable team. The same could be said of her relationship with her love interest, Drew. Although still very much a romantic couple, the focus this time is more on their working together as a team. Thumbs up for Drew recruiting his brother, Luke, to the cause. I liked the siblings' dynamic in the previous books and enjoyed their being back together in this one. All these characters are likable and engaging people. 

One of my favorite things about this trilogy is the interactions Claire has with the projections (ghosts), and there are appearances by some famous names who are still hanging around town. The projections always seem to have entertaining quirks as they stay tethered to whatever spot they've felt was important to them during their Earthly life. I enjoy how the principals seek out these lingering spirits to get the low-down on what is happening in the city.

 If you've been following the story (and you need to have read BOTH of the previous books in the trilogy to understand what's going on), you know that Claire is still trying to discern the depth and breadth of her sensitivity and acumens. This thread is full of surprises in this book, with twists that made me gasp! Claire is such a good-hearted person, and protecting the projections from harm, especially unethical living human beings, is always foremost in her actions. That continues to be her goal here, along with saving the rest of the world from the bad guys. 

And speaking of bad guys, all the old enemies return for this finale, and they haven't gotten any nicer. The author has created evil characters that I looked forward to Claire besting at their own game. The plot is a nail-biter at times, though! 

I recommend GHOST AGENTS: RETRIBUTION to readers who have read and enjoyed the previous books in the trilogy and the entire GHOST AGENTS TRILOGY to cozy mystery readers who like a paranormal foundation to their stories. 

See my reviews to the previous books in the series: Ghost Agents (Ghost Agents Trilogy, #1) and Ghost Agents: Revelations (Ghost Agents Trilogy, #2).

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

Gavels, Tinsel, and Murder (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery, #4) by Victoria Tait 

An excellent holiday cozy mystery with an authentic Cotswolds setting. 

It’s the middle of November, and Dotty Sayers and her best friend, Police Sergeant Keya Varma, are successfully putting the finishing touches on their plans for the Christmas charity ball. Everything was going so smoothly. Retired rock star Jay Newton had agreed to host the event at his home, Windrush Hall. Kuki, the new caterer in town, was bringing samples of the canapes and main courses to try. The local gentry and businesses had been generous with donations for the auction to be held the night of the ball. Dotty’s work at Akeman’s was going well with daily inquiries about upcoming auctions, and the course on modern art Dotty was about to complete had proved interesting and useful, not to mention the increasing affinity a certain handsome art buyer was showing her. 

However, all was not rosy as her dear friends and landlords were amid a terrible personal crisis. Uncle Cliff was slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s, and his wife, Beanie, could no longer properly care for him. Norman Climpson lived with them in their farmhouse to help, but Cliff’s increasing confusion and agitation were leading him into dangerous territory. Norman wants Beanie to move Cliff into a professional care facility, but she refuses to consider this as an option, and the two have come to an impasse, with Norman declaring his intentions to leave. 

The evening of the ball arrives, and everything seems to be coming together for a successful event. But when the curtains in the marquee are drawn back to reveal the silent auction offerings, the guests are shocked to see a dead body propped up among the donations. And before the night is over, the valuable highlight item of the auction goes missing, and everyone involved seems to be hiding a secret worth killing for. 

Gavels, Tinsel, and Murder is another lovely entry in the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series by author Victoria Tait. I loved that over the course of the series, Dotty has come out of the shell that had been constructed around her growing up and maintained by her much older military spouse. She’s still mourning his death, but time has passed, and healing has started to occur. She’s gotten to a place emotionally where when handsome art buyer, Gilmore Chapman, shows her some very pointed attention, she responds favorably. 

The plot hinges on the disappearance of a valuable painting and the practice of some of the local landowners of selling their original artworks after retaining well-done copies to remain in their homes. In this case, Dotty, busy with an upcoming auction at Akeman’s, the Christmas charity ball, her modern art course, and the holidays in general, tries to take a backseat to the police investigation into the murder. However, she’s responsible for the disappearing painting, and the two cases seem to be a matched set, and she must get involved anyway.

 The author’s easy-to-read style puts the reader in the story right next to her marvelous characters, and it would be a perfect cozy mystery to usher in the feeling of the holidays. I recommend GAVELS, TINSEL, AND MURDER to mystery readers looking for a story set during the holiday season in an authentically portrayed Cotswold setting featuring antiques and fine art. 

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

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily 

Adventure and romance in a magnificent west Texas setting. 

After graduation from Texas A&M University, Emma Rosales returned to her home, the sprawling Thorn Ranch, the largest ranch in Texas. She was still undecided about her future, but had loved animals all her life and was considering continuing her education to become a veterinarian and open a practice in a small town near her home. However, she was the only child of the ranch owners, and like her mother before her and her mother before her and so on, she was expected to come home to prepare for eventually taking over the land that had been in her matriarchal line for many generations. 

Each year, Emma’s parents would take a trip to escape the height of the south Texas summer heat, and this year was no different. As always, Emma declined to accompany them, preferring to stay on the ranch and explore its more remote reaches, riding fence, camping out under the vast Texas night sky, and, this year, thinking about the rest of her life. But while she is out camping without a cell phone or radio, more than a three-day ride from the ranch house, Emma and her horse are surprised by a sudden rainstorm, and when Honey-Boy breaks a leg getting them to shelter, she is forced to put him out of his misery and continue afoot. 

She successfully makes her way into a small cave opening in the canyon walls but rising waters from the dry creek bed below force her further and further into its dark and rocky depths. Seeing an opening far into the gloom, Emma walks out to discover a large number of people in a valley hidden from outside view by the towering rock cliffs surrounding it. Turning to slip unnoticed back the way she came, she finds she’s already been observed, and The People aren’t going to let her leave. Ever. 

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a full and satisfying story of discovery, wonder, love, and loss. The tale unfolds from two angles: Emma’s experiences and those of the people left behind on the ranch. Both sides of the story are riveting. I was so engrossed in this book I almost completed it in one sitting, only putting it down because it had gotten ridiculously late. 

Daily has populated her book with engaging, sympathetic characters and a couple of unique personalities who present some interesting conflicts (Chesma and Jeff Bower’s mother) to the leads. Emma is a good person and uncertain about her pre-ordained future. She’s a bold, free spirit in her actions but cautious when it comes to her heart. She’s rightfully suspicious of the sincerity of Jeff’s interest in her and considerate about committing to Kai when she knows she’s going to try and escape any chance she gets. I was totally on board with her mother, Josie’s, feelings and actions, though. I would not have held up nearly as well as she did under the circumstances. 

The ranch setting is magnificent with its far-flung expanses, remote and hiding canyons, desert, and vacant spaces. It was easy to imagine the locations, getting lost in their vastness, and feeling the dust and heat that made the search and rescue and the possibility of escape so daunting. 

I enjoyed the story immensely and wasn’t ready to leave The Thorn Ranch at the end of the book. The author leaves some things up in the air, so I’m hoping for a sequel. How about a Sixth Daughter? I recommend THE FIFTH DAUGHTER OF THORN RANCH to readers who enjoy family sagas or western fiction with some magical elements and clean romance. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.