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Can't Run With the Big Dogs

Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, #4

by

Tracy Carter

 

Excitement, suspense, and the heroine's special relationships with working dogs make this tale of mystery and hidden menace a must-read!

 

Can't Run With the Big Dogs is the fourth book in Tracy Carter's dog-loving Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series, featuring the savvy dog trainer and her amazing dog, Leda, and their wonderful circle of family and friends, each with their own working dogs and passion for helping others. In this latest adventure, Veronica and Leda are called upon to trail the paths of several missing, lost, and abducted people, and readers get a front-row seat as a couple of service-dogs-in-training learn their new craft. 

Veronica, a lifelong dog lover, has built a new life as the owner of her own dog training facility and the human half of the area's premier search-and-rescue team, alongside her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Leda. But before settling in Boulder, she had been the victim of an horrific ambush when her district attorney boss and sheriff's deputy fiancé had been gunned down by a violent criminal who then eluded capture. While the gunman's burned-out vehicle with an unidentified body inside had eventually been discovered, there had been no positive proof that his reign of terror and threats to Veronica were over. Throughout the series, the lingering threat that Tommy Arnett was still out there, watching and waiting, has really enhanced the foreboding and suspense of the stories, and this book provides the same brooding background menace. Still, a note of hope lingers as everyone waits for the results of new DNA testing. 

Veronica's relationship with her delightful professional baseball player beau, Ricardo, has helped heal her emotional wounds from the past, and their time together is warm and comfortable. Veronica is supported by her loving and talented father, Bob, who tests and rights reviews for outdoor outdoors equipment and has a clear genius for manipulating and processing out information via the Internet, besides being a dab hand in the kitchen, and by Michael, the young product of the state foster system, now living on site while attending college and learning to become a K-9 handler and dog trainer himself. Veronica's best friend Sylvia, her husband, Boulder PD Sergeant Tim Donovan, and their brood of two sets of twin teenage daughters round out her close-knit circle of friends. As a group, they focus on service and making a positive impact on their environment and community. While facing some difficult situations, they always strive for excellence and maintain a positive attitude, which becomes very important when partnered with a working dog on assignment. 

Yet, the highlights of the book are those featuring Veronica's work with the dogs. Beyond Leda and her exciting rescue operations in the surrounding Colorado wilderness areas, this book also features her adventures with two fledgling service dogs. Sky, an 18-month-old Australian cattle dog mix and shelter rescue, is undergoing training to sniff out and alert nursing home staff to the presence of C. diff, an insidious bacteria that can be deadly to the elderly. Decla, a two-year-old Irish Red and White Setter who lost her human family in a car accident, is finding a new home and purpose as a drug-detection dog at the local horse-racing track. Decla's storyline intersects with the main plot of strange goings-on at the track, where already two grooms with important information have gone missing. 

Finally, the author chooses an exceptionally versatile setting by placing the action in the Boulder/Denver, Colorado, area. The descriptions of the locations are vivid and so critical to the action that readers can almost feel the bitter cold and damp, smell the crisp, fir-scented air, and feel the loose, rocky trails beneath their feet as Veronica and Leda trail the scent of someone who is having the worst day of their life. 

With its engaging cast of characters, vibrant settings, and compelling plot, I recommend CAN'T RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS to readers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Buried Dallas-Fort Worth:

A Photographic Journey Through North Texas Cemeteries

by

Tui Snider

 

An interesting guide to famous resting places, cemetery symbolism, and gravesite art in the DFW area.

 

If you have any curiosity regarding cemetery symbols, historic headstones, or gravesite art in general, or cemeteries in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in particular, Buried Dallas-Fort Worth: A Photographic Journey Through North Texas Cemeteries should be right up your alley. Author Tui Snider has curated an interesting collection of examples of these very things in or near the metroplex, with location details so readers can visit these special sites for themselves. 

Accompanied by stunningly clear, vivid photographs, the author highlights not only cemeteries of historic significance but also the resting places of historic figures, both famous and infamous. The guide includes stories that explain the associated notoriety or the location's place in our area's history. Readers may be surprised by what they discover has existed right under their noses, just out of plain view. 

One of the most interesting aspects of the guide is its explanations of the carved symbols and artwork on the various headstones, grave markers, and monuments. While many relate to the personalities or characteristics of the dead when they were still living, others express the grief, loss, and longing of those the deceased left behind. Some symbols date back far into the past, while others are more recent. While not definitive, the descriptions, discussions, and photographs provide a valuable key to unlocking their meanings and will enhance the understanding of the surroundings when visiting these remarkable places of eternal rest. 

I recommend BURIED DALLAS–FORT WORTH to those interested in cemetery symbolism, sites, and celebrities. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Dragonslayer's Valkyrie:

The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr

Viking Dragonslayers, #1

by Jennifer Ivy Walker

 

A masterpiece of reimagining a Nordic folk legend.

 

Dragonslayer's Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr is the debut novel in author Jennifer Ivy Walker's exciting new Viking Dragonslayers series, and is a masterful reimagining of a renowned Nordic folk legend. While retaining the bones of the ancient story, Walker's lyrical prose, attention to historic detail, and creativity make the tale her own. 

Told in the alternating points of view of the two fated lovers, the story begins with Sigurd's final trial of ability, strength, stamina, and determination before he is enrolled in the ranks of the elite Sea Wolves of his stepfather, King Alfr. His successful narrative is followed by Brynhildr's introduction and her fantastical summoning of Freyja for the goddess's confirmation of Brynhildr's future as a shieldmaiden rather than the simpering prize of a tournament victor. These wonderful openings set the stage for what's to come and define their early strengths of mind and body. 

Readers are treated to the innermost thoughts and desires of these two earnest and deserving young people, establishing their worthiness for what will become a legendary love story. The author excels at delivering meaningful thought processes and dialogue that sounds natural, authentic, and makes sense. However, the author's skills truly shine in incorporating perfectly appropriate, timely descriptions of settings, rituals, and the characters' daily lives without bogging the story down in minutiae. The research that must have been done is evident in the vivid, precise details organically blended into every scene. 

Sigurd and Brynhildr's attraction blossoms into aching longing, and their union and fulfillment are accomplished openly as part of the story, so be prepared if full disclosure makes you uncomfortable. The same care used to depict daily life or religious ceremonies is applied to revealing the pair's emotional and physical relationship. 

The plot moves at an exciting pace as the characters are introduced and the scenes are set. Sigurd's and Brynhildr's hopes, dreams, pride, and longing will become yours as events intervene between these two classic fated mates. If their story weren't legendary before, it certainly would be now. 

I recommend DRAGONSLAYER'S VALKYRIE: THE LEGEND OF SIGURD AND BRYNHILDR to readers of historical romance, historical fiction, fantasy romance, and folktale retellings. 

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

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Living at the Edge of the World – Summer

Papala Island Adventure, #3

by

S.J. Barratt

Narrated by Gill Mills

 

Environmental bad actors and a possible sale of the small, isolated island threaten the homes of the twins' family and friends.

 

Living at the Edge of the World – Summer is the third book in author S.J. Barratt's Papala Island Adventure series, and in this adventure, the disregard of Mother Nature and her creatures and the rumored sale of the tiny, remote island in the Scottish Shetlands threaten the homes and lifestyles of the twins' family and friends, who have made the island their home for generations. When tween twins Timothy and Tabitha Brown return to Papala Island for a much-anticipated summer break, they and their friends discover the ocean is being polluted with trash by not only visitors but also islanders who know better. A mysterious sealskin is washed up with the debris, and the local legend demands that the finders must get the skin back to the selkie that lost it or suffer the consequences. 

Readers are returned to Papala Island, a small island on the far reaches of Scotland's Shetland Islands, where Tim and Tabitha have returned to spend their summer break with their Great-uncle Tamhas. While Tim is anticipating all the opportunities available to expand his knowledge of life and the island, especially the local Puffin population, Tabitha looks forward to reconnecting with the friends she made during their earlier sojourn. 

The plot is exciting and full of local lore and nature. Readers who enjoy stories with a lot of interaction with animals will find themselves right at home among the pages. I really enjoyed the selkie legend and the related parts of the story, as well as the history of the groatie buckie shells and the search for the hagstones, rocks featuring a complete hole through the center. 

Gill Mills narrates the audiobook, and her performance really brings the twins, their friends, and their family to life. I clearly imagined all the characters and the story's excitement and emotions. 

I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – SUMMER to middle-grade readers and listeners, and for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or at after-school programs. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Silver Dagger Book Tours.

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Ripped Genes

Tri-Star Investigations, #2

by

Lawrence E. Rothstein

 

Intriguing, fast-paced, and clever!

 

Ripped Genes is the second book in author Lawrence E. Rothstein’s Tri-Star Investigations series featuring the Nero Wolfesque master detective Marko Corb and his associates Kelan Su and Desmond St. Clair. When the doctor heading up the project to find a cure for Golda Merino’s daughter’s and others’ devastating genetic disorder isolates the gene responsible but then secretly files a patent in his own name, effectively restricting further research, Golda, the president of the funding foundation, confronts the man but is left with little recourse but to file suit. Days later, when the man is found murdered, she quickly becomes suspect number one. 

Told mainly from Kelan Su’s first-person perspective, Marko rarely leaves his home, and the reader follows her through the seemingly straightforward process of investigating the murder of Dr. Alan Scanlon. She knows her boss’s preferences well and often anticipates his requests and moves. Kelan is relatable as she works and tries to navigate the emotions and stumbling blocks she encounters in her relationship with hunky police homicide detective Ron Sagers, while also staving off her parents, who want her to return to practicing law and settle down with a nice Chinese man. She’s such a nice, smart woman, and I enjoy seeing her get things right. 

The plot is fast-paced, especially early on, as the murder occurs almost immediately, and a suspect is charged soon after. However, plot twists will surprise readers and send things in different directions. Korb is a foodie, and his mealtime preparations and planning are fascinating. Des’s menus sound fantastic, making me want to sample almost everything mentioned. 

Although this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read and enjoyed on its own; however, book one was a 5-star read for me and, in my opinion, shouldn’t be missed. I recommend RIPPED GENES to mystery readers, especially those who enjoyed the Nero Wolfe series or Chicago settings. 

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

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Venetian Bind

Tri-Star Investigations, #1

by

Lawrence E. Rothstein

 

Clever, quirky, and utterly unique!

 

Venetian Bind is the first novel in author Lawrence E. Rothstein's new mystery series, Tri-Star Investigations, and I found its clever plot and quirky main characters an utterly unique combination. I enjoyed the mix of characters – assumed series' regulars and the local law enforcement personnel, the Venetian setting, the attention to regional cuisine, and the political atmosphere of the story. 

Private investigator Marko Korb is a Bosnian survivor successfully living and working in Chicago. He travels to Venice, Italy, at the behest of local officials, to assist in the investigation of the murder of a former enemy during the Bosnian War. His decision to participate is a moral and emotional conflict. To most, someone did the world a favor by taking the murdered Pakulić out; however, he agrees to ensure some innocent doesn't take the blame. While Korb has characteristics that remind me of literary detectives from the past, most notably Hercule Poirot and Nero Wolfe, he is still a distinct and unique personality all his own. I greatly enjoyed his deep appreciation of the cuisine of Venice and his, at times, active participation in its preparation. His attention to detail and ability to parse their importance in the case at hand were clever and fun to watch unfold. 

I enjoyed Kelan Su's energetic and go-getter presence, quick mind, and willingness to act on opportunities, which made for some interesting situations. She plays a major role in the story but is still Korb's assistant. I found their relationship a little uneasy, with her worrying about his opinion of her and his occasional disdain for her efforts. I was glad to see that she and Venice police detective Angela Campari were portrayed as good, professional partners rather than competitors. 

The plot moves at a fast pace, with Korb connecting with old acquaintances and local Bosnians. A major reason he was invited into the case is that he was once a part of this community, and the police know he's more likely to get answers from the residents than they are. How he would handle those answers, in light of his internal conflicts, kept me turning pages. I thought setting the debut novel of a new series outside the main characters' home territory a creative way to introduce the foreign-born detective and his storied past. The descriptions of Venice were vivid and the mentions of specific people, places, and things had me happily Googling as I read. The easy-to-read and compelling storytelling is sprinkled with Italian words and phrases added to the atmosphere and were clearly understandable through context or an included explanation. 

I recommend VENETIAN BIND to mystery readers looking for an entertaining and dynamic new PI team to enjoy and those who would enjoy an immersive Venetian setting. 

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

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The Frequency

by

Randall D. St. Claire

 

Atmospheric noir and non-stop action!

 

The Frequency by Randall D. St. Claire is a riveting new mystery that blends memorable characters, an intriguing storyline, and atmospheric settings with effective, timely suspense and non-stop action. I was immediately invested in Bronx Rousselle’s story, and it proved to be one that kept me glued to his narrative way past any reasonable bedtime. 

The main character is minding his own business when Heather Li enters his store, her drugged-up brother in tow, along with a box of Inuit artifacts that originally belonged to their great-grandfather. An RN, Heather has liberated George from the mental institution where she’d gotten herself hired in preparation for this very thing. They now need to leave town quick, fast, and in a hurry before whoever is behind George’s committal catches up with them and the mysterious maps and papers with the artifacts. She’d found that Bronx was the man to make that happen, and the box of valuables was what she wanted to use as payment. 

Bronx is intrigued as the artifacts prove to be the real deal and the accompanying papers evoke a mysterious dread in the cultural expert he consults. His interest deepens when the fleeing pair quickly become “persons of interest” with the local beat cop, and his shop comes under the menacing nighttime scrutiny of mysterious, unidentified law enforcement types. He becomes irrevocably involved when bullets start flying, bodies start dropping, and Bronx is in for a journey that stretches from small-town Minnesota to Texas to above the Arctic Circle. 

Bronx is a pawnshop owner in the small town of Warroad, Minnesota, and a bit of a figure of renown among hockey fans, having played semi-professionally earlier in his lifetime, and with the local gendarmes for skirting the boundaries of what’s legal in his business dealings. He runs his business ruthlessly and views his clients with a jaundiced eye. Yet, he has acquired a low-key reputation as a “fixer,” which is what brought Heather Li, George Tikaani, and his box of Inuit artifacts his way. Bronx’s opening vibe is the classic noir protagonist, and I was there for it all the way. His ensuing adventures undeniably affect him, as the wonderful epilogue shows. 

The plot gains traction quickly, and the suspense builds as Bronx investigates what’s in the box and why someone is so deadly interested in getting their hands on it. The story unfolds like a film with the author’s evocative descriptions of the places Bronx journeys to so vividly you’ll feel like you are on the scene with the characters. For example, early in the story, I could almost smell the dumpster detritus knocked about as Heather and George made their first furtive moves to safety. Yes, ugh, but even this little bit was perfect imagery. 

I recommend THE FREQUENCY to readers of suspense, mystery, and thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Let’s Hide From Mom

by

Parimalasri Docktor

 

Children will relate to the vividly illustrated and simple story.

 

Let’s Hide From Mom is the fun sequel to author Parimalasri Docktor’s children’s book Tortoise Goes to the Vet. It features Radha, an Indian Star Tortoise who, like many young children, doesn’t want to go to bed at her established time. Along with her tortoise companion, Krishna, she scrambles to hide from Mom when she comes to put them to bed. 

Radha is a precocious little tortoise who knows all the best hiding places. She also tries to coach Krishna in finding the perfect spot. Small children will love hearing about how they escape detection, maybe seeing themselves in Radha’s desire to stay up past bedtime. 

The author also illustrates the story and uses bright colors in her often intricately detailed scenes. Her style gives readers plenty to look at and discover on each page. At the end of the book, there is an entertaining section devoted to finding specific items hidden in plain sight, such as birds, butterflies, and insects. That bumblebee is a tricky one! 

I recommend LET’S HIDE FROM MOM to young readers and adults for reading aloud. 

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

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Fire and Rain

Rain Mystery Trilogy, #3

by

David Homick

 

This final entry blazes across the pages with riveting, non-stop action and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

 

When Jenn's secret former husband, Finn Rafferty, showed up on the ranch house doorstep and announced they were still legally married, Dillon Bishop put his plan to propose on hold until things got figured out. Although Jenn swore the marriage had been annulled, Finn claimed there was no record to prove it had ever actually been filed in court, and he wanted HIS HALF of Jenn's ranch! 

Finn was a conman, and his arrival at the ranch coincided with the appearance of Riverdale Gaming in the nearby town of Redfield, with money in hand and hoping to buy up numerous sections of land to open up a large-scale casino operation. Some local property owners took the offers and sold out, but many didn't, and soon word of more aggressive persuasion began to filter into the sheriff's department, where Dillon now worked part-time as a deputy. Unfortunately, Jenn's ranch was right in the middle of the area Riverdale Gaming proposed to build the casino, and she was most definitely not interested. She was so close to fulfilling her promise to her Uncle Roy to open an equine therapy center. However, rumors that the casino people were urging the town to consider eminent domain to help them acquire the needed properties had started circulating. 

Finn refused to back off on his demand for half of the ranch and threatened to go to the authorities and nullify Jenn's adoption of her son, Alex. With his family at risk, Dillon starts investigating Finn's connections to the casino project and the rash of suspicious accidents on the properties of owners who refused to sell to Riverdale Gaming. He breaks into Finn's room at the local motel to search for evidence of his collusion with the casino gang when Finn walks in on him. Later, when Finn is found dead from a gunshot wound, Dillon becomes the number one suspect. 

Fire and Rain is the final book in author David Homick's excellent suspense series, the Rain Mystery Trilogy. This group of books has been so good that I was reluctant to start this final entry and have it end, but read it I did, and it was full of the same action, intrigue, and breathtaking suspense that made the previous books some of my favorites of the year. Dillon Bishop is a great character and has grown and healed so much since his first appearance on the page. He's overcome the debilitating effects of PTSD and the nightmares that had plagued him since his tour in Afghanistan. As a result, he's become much more stable and reliable. He's just a good man. While he's still somewhat impulsive in his investigations, his unpredictability makes for exciting reading and a sense that anything could happen next. 

One plot thread concerns the universal interest of property owners and community members in general. What do you do when an undesirable business comes into town and wants to be your neighbor? It's one thing if the company talks your neighbors into selling them their property, but what about the holdouts? What if the business can convince the local government to compel the holdouts to sell through eminent domain? 

In this story, the business (a casino) is aggressive in its land acquisition and PR campaign, selling the community and the town council on the economic benefits the town stands to gain from the business opening there. But strange accidents (fires) and other occurrences (damaged equipment, fences, and animals gone astray) suspected of being the handiwork of Riverdale Gaming henchmen, specifically Finn Rafferty, bring in a sinister level of danger that Dillon and Sheriff Ziggy Scott must unravel. Add in an attempt on Jenn's life, a couple of murders, and kidnapping, and what could have been just an ugly and tragic real estate caper blazes across the pages with riveting, non-stop action and edge-of-your-seat suspense. 

I recommend FIRE AND RAIN and the entire RAIN MYSTERY TRILOGY to mystery readers who enjoy lots of action and excitement featuring an imperfect, flawed hero but a hero, nonetheless. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Rain Dance

Rain Mystery Trilogy, #2

by

David Homick

 

Another stellar entry in the Rain Mystery Trilogy!

 

After solving the mysteries of his missing younger brother and his father's murder, Dillon Bishop and his mother left Bradley, Texas, in their rearview mirror for the Red Valley Ranch in Redfield, Colorado. The ranch is home to the woman Dillon thinks may be "the one," Jenn Myles, and for him, home is where the heart is. 

Their arrival surprised and pleased Jenn, but Dillon also had a shock waiting. The young boy he'd saved from the rubble of an Afghani village was there. Jenn had gotten close to the child while overseas and had gotten him into the country. She was in the middle of arrangements to adopt Alex. But that wasn't all. Jenn had inherited the ranch equally with her cousin, Seth McDonald, and Seth made it clear he thought Dillon, his mother, and Alex didn't belong there. 

Not to be run off from the woman he loved, Dillon pitched in on the ranch, ready to do whatever it took to fit in. But as the days passed, little things about Uncle Roy's final days and death failed to add up. And when secret deals that Seth made behind Jenn's back with a large, commercial marijuana-growing conglomerate come to light, something Roy had wanted nothing to do with, Dillon starts to dig into the truth behind Roy's death. It quickly becomes clear that someone doesn't like it. 

Rain Dance is the second book in author David Homick's exciting Rain Mystery Trilogy, and it is another riveting page-turner of a story. This go-round, Dillon Bishop and Jenn Myles investigate the final days before her Uncle Roy's death and have a number of possible culprits for a murder that's been covered up as natural causes. Each suspect muddies the waters by adamantly pointing the finger at another candidate. 

Dillon is still showing signs of recovery from the PTSD that had plagued him since Afghanistan: Colorado had been good for him in addition to the Rain Dance tea provided by the shaman, Leota, in book one. His apprehension about becoming a father (adoptive) and formalizing his relationship with Jenn was thoughtful and understandable, and I liked that he was working on both. On the other hand, Jenn still has some secrets to explain, and I will anxiously await the final book in the trilogy for those revelations. 

This author's writing style continues to hit all the right notes. The dialogue throughout and Dillon's inner voice are perfect. The plot is intriguing, as Dillon and his pal, Cooper Hill, follow the money and outsmart the bad guys. It's a clever, well-thought-out investigation. 

Readers are introduced to Dillon's new stomping grounds of Redfield, Colorado, and the small town brings with it some fresh new supporting characters. Hattie Scott is a quirky and lovable throwback to the 60s, as is Charlie "Buck" Owens. I was midway through the story before the penny dropped and I realized his nickname. (But of course, that's what it would be!) I hope both return in the next book. Alex is a wonderful addition to the family that is forming, and I really liked his storyline. With the inclusion of Alex, the horse rescue setting, and Dillon's inner monologue, I am somewhat reminded of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series, only grittier and more serious. 

With its compelling plot, engaging characters, and bold-as-brass tactics of the bad guys, I was thoroughly absorbed into another stellar mystery by David Homick. I recommend RAIN DANCE to mystery readers who enjoy a solid plot with an intelligent investigation or a Colorado setting that makes you feel like you're right next to the characters. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.