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The Desk from Hoboken

Genealogy Mystery, #1

by

M.L. Condike

 

Try NOT being surprised when delving into family history!

 

The Desk from Hoboken is the debut novel in M.L. Condike's riveting new Genealogy Mystery series, in which long-buried family secrets threaten the present. Who knew research into family history could be so fascinating … or so dangerous? 

The main character, RaeJean O'Leary Hunter, is an accomplished and skilled forensic genealogist with numerous successes to her credit. She accepts what she thinks will be a straightforward case of research to provide primary source documentation of the identity of the 180-year-old remains of an unknown female: her first commission after a tragic personal loss. Despite the red flags that indicate someone doesn't want old secrets uncovered, she's dogged in her pursuit of the historical records that may contain the proof she needs. I liked that, for the most part, she plays things safe and narrows the windows of opportunity the villains have to cause her harm. However, they had a lot of luck on their side, and she still gets in trouble. She also calls on contacts to provide backup to help lessen her risks. Her struggle with her recent loss was affecting, and I really felt for her and Sam. 

The plot is complex and intriguing, expanding as the scope of RaeJean's research hits one brick wall after another, only to open up another avenue of inquiry. I enjoyed her travels to locations that played a pivotal role in her subject's life, the story she was trying to build, and reading about her research methods. 

I enjoyed the desk's connection to the investigation into Mary Rogers's identity and fate. The supernatural aspect was appealing, and I wanted more every time this came up. I look forward to further books in the series to see how the spirits associated with the desk fit in. 

You would think that this story would be all about sitting in various library basements squinting at fragile, crumbling, hard-to-read records, and there is some of that, but for the most part, you would be wrong. This well-paced story includes a lot of face-to-face investigation and questioning of descendants interspersed with edge-of-your-seat, heart-pounding action. I recommend THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN to mystery readers who enjoy a historical cold case theme, genealogical research, and a touch of the paranormal.

*Read my review for Book Two of the series, The Doll from Dunedin, HERE!

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Will’s Race for Home

by

Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

An exciting and inspirational historical middle-grade adventure story.

 

Will’s Race for Home is a new historical middle-grade adventure story from author Jewell Parker Rhodes centered around the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. Twelve-year-old William Samuels and his father, George, set out for Oklahoma from their home in Texas, where they are sharecroppers on another man’s cotton farm, to participate in the upcoming land rush. At stake is a 160-acre piece of farmland they can call their own. Along the way, they face danger from many directions: rattlesnakes, a treacherous river crossing, and, worst of all, from their fellow man. However, Will also comes to know and understand his emotionally distant father, a man of few words and agonizing secrets buried in his past. 

I absolutely fell in love with this book and its young protagonist from the first page. Will Samuels easily mirrors the thoughts and feelings of any boy, as does his yearning to gain his father’s approval and love. Not only does the journey allow him to connect with his reserved father, but it also opens his eyes to a world from which he’s been mostly sheltered his entire life, living in deeply rural southwest Texas. Young readers will identify with Will, his hopes and dreams, and his love for his family and the mule, Belle. 

The author features the historic Oklahoma Land Rush, which occurred on April 22, 1889, and the descriptions of the Samuels’s journey, the time, and settings are vivid and evocative, putting the reader smack on the trail with Will, George, and their new friend and former Union soldier, Caesar. The story gives readers an idea of what it meant to be a sharecropper and the difficulty of ever getting ahead under the system. 

Occurring a little over 20 years after the end of the Civil War, the story relates the tensions still in existence between those who supported opposite sides of the conflict: for many, the war was never over. Will’s mother, Anna, his father, George, and their friend, Caesar, put names and faces to the men and women who had been enslaved from birth, only gaining freedom after the start of the war, and illustrates realistically what that meant for them going forward. 

This is not the first book I’ve read from this author, and her stories and writing continue to be an immersive experience, no matter the topic. Her writing style is warm and easy to read, and the chapter lengths are perfect for younger readers. With its exciting and suspenseful story and engaging, relatable characters, I recommend WILL’S RACE FOR HOME to middle-grade readers and for use as a read-aloud book in the classroom, in an afterschool program, or at home. 

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

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Paradise on Fire

by

Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

Exciting and immediately absorbing; I loved it!

 

Six inner-city teens from the East Coast are flown to California to participate in a summer Wilderness Adventure. The main character, Addy, has never been out of the Bronx and, much like the other city kids, is anxious about the whole trip. Addy is an orphan; her parents died years earlier when she was a little girl, and her grandmother, Bibi, came from Nigeria to take care of her. Addy still has nightmares of losing her mother and father, of the fire, and of needing to know how to escape. Bibi had signed her up for this summer Wilderness Adventure; Addy just wanted to stay home. 

Arriving at the Wilderness camp, Addy and the others quickly fall into the routine for the summer program. From the very beginning, Addy realizes that the wilderness, the forest, and the outdoors call to her very soul, and Leo, the camp owner, instinctively sees her as a kindred spirit. Along with Ryder, Leo's dog, the three bond as they begin to systematically explore and map their wild surroundings and record the environmental changes they find - changes to land and animals resulting from never-ending climate change. Leo teaches Addy about maps, topography, and other wilderness skills, and they talk about her returning to continue her studies and work there in the summers to come. 

But with the end of summer, the Wilderness Adventure comes to a close, and the teens and their two college-age camp counselors head out for one final challenge, a 3-day hike with overnight tent camping. They've prepared well for this all summer long; however, nothing could prepare them for what they encounter on their first night out. 

I loved this book! With interesting young leading characters, all with their own issues and fears, the story evolves, and the tension steadily increases until you find yourself smack in the middle of some honest-to-goodness pulse-pounding action. I almost thought I was breathing the fresh air and, later, choking on ash and embers. The characters were so very engaging that I was much affected as things unfolded. The story easily and totally absorbed me from start to finish. 

In addition to the exciting story, the very serious themes of climate change, ecological degradation, and the need for environmental protection came through the action. These concepts with consequences are presented simply and straightforwardly so the youngest readers will understand, and older ones will not feel it's too preachy. 

Paradise on Fire is an unforgettable adventure story that is perfect for middle grades, high school, and readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. 

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

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He.

by

Gregory Pakis

 

This waking nightmare of erotic horror delivers as promised!

 

He. is a short erotic horror novel by Gregory Pakis featuring married couple Val and Lester, who have recently moved into a new apartment building and begun attending a series of swingers parties held in a private home nearby. Although they have yet to join in the “play” there, they are intrigued but just not comfortable or titillated enough to participate yet. But then, Val receives a cryptic cellphone text directing her to a particular spot in their apartment’s garden, where she discovers a note with a single-word command on it: “Initiate.” 

The narrative is mostly from Val’s perspective. It allows the reader access to her intimate thoughts of curiosity, confusion, and desire as she follows later messages and experiences several dream-like sexual experiences at the hands of the seductive mystery man who sent them. As she leans into the pleasures he provides, she yearns for his approval of her reactions to his ministrations, all with the support of her husband Lester, who is slowly edged out of the action and into a spectator’s role. Adding to the mystery is a detective looking into the disappearance of a young man, who is somehow linked to a local underground sex club called “Stealth X,” which Val believes has relocated to the apartment next door to her and Lester. 

The story is definitely adult material (NSFW), the action is vividly and graphically portrayed, and the demarcation line separating Val’s reality and dream life quickly disintegrates. The denouement is tense, and it is immediately followed by an ending that left much unexplained. I was left needing to understand better. Trigger warnings for all of the sexual situations and body horror.

 I recommend HE. to readers of erotic horror.  

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

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A Perilous Premiere

Stone & Steele, #1

by

Gail Meath

 

Fun and frothy and a solid murder mystery to boot!

 

A Perilous Premiere is the first book in author Gail Meath’s fun and frothy yet seriously solid mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, and this name-dropper of a murder mystery sets a delightful tone for what’s to come. After fashion designer Vivian Steele’s husband, George Ramsey, is gunned down before her very eyes in an assumed robbery gone wrong, she naturally looks to the police for answers. However, they show no interest in trying to find the murderer after an initial, lame attempt, so she decides to call in old favors from people in her past to reignite the investigation. While her actions yield results, they don’t supply the answers she was looking for nor the revenge she craves, and before she can regroup, another murder occurs with evidence planted to make her look like the killer. 

Vivian is a sweet and talented woman with a smart mind and an even smarter mouth. She berates herself emotionally for having been blissfully unaware when her husband’s true nature comes to light. Still, she’s compelled to bring his murderer to justice. She is joined by wealthy playboy Preston Stone who is investigating the case of an unbelievably valuable coin collection, and Vivian’s husband is one of the small number of possible suspects. 

The plot is fast-paced as the pair, first separated and eventually as an unwilling team, follow up on the few clues they uncover during their investigation, some of which are lifted straight out of the crime scene before the police make an appearance. The case of theft and then murder is full of twists sprinkled with the sightings of celebrities from the early Golden Age of Hollywood. (Viv’s best friend is Carole Lombard!) The author packs in historical figures and events with those of a more fictional vintage, and the fun mingling of fact and fiction really makes the book a lot of fun. But along with the fun and froth, there is one heck of a good, complex tale of murder, mayhem, and misdirection. 

I recommend A PERILOUS PREMIERE to readers of historical cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy old movies and Hollywood history.

 

For this and more of my book reviews, visit Boys' Mom Reads!

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The Last Bookstore on Earth

by

Lily Braun-Arnold

 

YA dystopian tale with a twist!

 

The Last Bookstore on Earth is a new YA dystopian/speculative fiction novel from Lily Braun-Arnold, and it offers a fresh twist on the plethora of end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it tales. While Liz, the main character, has suffered the loss of her family, friends, and the life she knew (like everyone else in the story), she retreats to the only place of safety she knows left standing (the local bookstore where she had an afterschool part-time job). She creates a little beacon of “normal” for others as she continues to open the store daily, offering book recommendations and a place to leave messages. However, as a repeat of The Storm looms on the horizon, the bookstore faces a much more imminent threat. A small group of organized survivors are out for revenge against her new partner, and they’ve tracked their prey to the bookstore’s doorstep. 

Liz Flannery is the unusual protagonist of the story. She and her twin, Thea, were only a few weeks away from heading off for their first year of college when The Storm arrived, changing everything. Liz was the only one in her small family to live through it and suffered the burden of survivor’s guilt and more. When circumstances allowed, she fled to the familiar safety of her workplace and the comfort and companionship of another coworker who apparently had the same idea. 

Liz, escaping her grief and guilt, is content with the setup and begins to feel a responsibility to maintain the facsimile of normal operations for the occasional survivor who happens upon the open store. Eva, though, chafes to escape the claustrophobia of the routine and her feelings of responsibility for Liz, and she abruptly abandons her. Locals and transients alike express their gratitude and appreciation for the continued existence of the story and their ability to leave messages there for friends and loved ones and trade supplies for what they need, which keeps Liz from ever having to forage through the rubble and death of her New Jersey hometown. Their generous offerings, though, isolate her further and keep her from understanding just how much the world outside the bookstore has changed for the desperate. 

The plot just gets established when rumors that another storm is headed their way. Customers leave messages for those coming behind them and urge Liz to evacuate; the store was greatly damaged in the first storm and is unlikely to withstand another. But Liz sees a solution to leaving her safe place in the appearance of Maeve, a drifter about her age, who breaks in one night looking for shelter and salvage and claiming to be able to make the necessary repairs to the building. Maeve, having started her journey in New York City, knows how much life has devolved and has had her run-ins with some of the more organized survivors. She’s tougher and more aggressive than the passive, polite Liz, but they eventually form an attachment and help each other work through the past year of trauma and scramble to prepare for the coming storm. 

The author can certainly tell a mesmerizing tale! I read this in one enjoyable evening with no regrets after staying up way past what was prudent in order to reach the finish. The story’s pacing kept me engaged, and I needed to see what happened next. The vivid descriptions of the settings created strong visuals, placing me in the scenes firsthand. Characters are well-developed, and I felt sympathy for even those I didn’t particularly care for or agreed with their actions. I was delighted by the premise, a bookstore all to oneself, but in a Twilight Zone-style twist, staying open for business as usual as the society around it collapses, creating a little island of “normal” and a haven of familiarity, comfort, and even, safety for those left behind. Liz’s collecting the stories of the survivors willing to share them with her was an absolute bonus. 

I recommend THE LAST BOOKSTORE ON EARTH to readers of young adult post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, especially those who enjoy a positive LGBT, however low-key, representation. 

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

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River of Lies

Detective Emily Hunter Mystery, #2

by

James L’Etoile

 

Intriguing murder mystery full of surprising twists and turns!

 

River of Lies is the second book in James L’Etoile’s Detective Emily Hunter Mystery series, and it is a compelling story of abuse of power, fraud, and murder. Sacramento, California, like many large communities, is struggling with how best to help a growing homeless population with a limited budget and residents who are swiftly running out of patience and compassion. However, as one by one, large riverside encampments go up in flames, it appears someone may have decided to solve the problem in their own way. When the body of an unidentified murder victim is found among the ruins of one of the camps, Detective Emily Hunter and her partner, Detective Javier Medina, are assigned to the case. 

In this second outing for the detective team, the pair quickly realizes there’s more to the arson and murder than meets the eye. The body proves to be that of the disgraced and ousted former mayor John Stone, the mover and shaker behind ridding the city of its homeless problem and revitalizing their impromptu campsites into a high-profile and high-dollar linear riverside development of retail, residential, and exclusive commercial occupancies. There is considerable money at stake and considerable pressure from the new mayor’s office to wrap up their investigation. There is also some uncharacteristically prompt and suspicious cleanup of the homeless camp crime scenes by perpetually overburdened city departments, tasks that would normally take weeks to implement but effectively make them available for the lucrative redevelopment project. 

Emily is one sharp cookie and is deep into the investigation while worrying about her mother, who is quickly succumbing to Alzheimer’s. Consequently, she’s struggling with the accompanying guilt over having to relocate her mother to a memory care facility from her current failed assisted living situation. She’s found strong support in the form of love interest Officer Brian Conner as well as her work partner’s mother, Lucinda Medina, a former caregiver herself. The relationship between Emily and Javier is still a thing of beauty. They make an effective working team, are got-your-back friends, and their banter is a delight. 

The plot moves quickly with the detectives hot on the trail of those involved in torching the homeless camps and figuring out who murdered the former mayor. However, the closer they get to the answers they need, suspects go missing. A witness to one of the camp attacks and possibly Stone’s murder remains hospitalized and unconscious while her eight-year-old daughter, with secrets of her own, waits in a children’s group home, yearning to be reunited with her mom. There are plenty of clues and suspects, and the twists in the plot are absolutely unexpected. I was mesmerized by this increasingly complex tale all the way to its surprising resolution. 

I recommend RIVER OF LIES to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoy excellent police procedurals. 

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

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Jury Duty Is Murder

by

Kate Damon

 

Engaging characters, clever plot, and a compelling and thrilling mystery!

 

Jury Duty Is Murder is an excellent and entertaining new mystery by Kate Damon featuring a unique group of unexpected amateur sleuths cast straight from The Island of Misfit Toys. After passing their guilty verdict, the jurors in a high-profile criminal case begin to die off one by one, all under "accidental" circumstances. The deaths do not go unnoticed by the surviving members of the jury, four of whom band together to find the suspected serial killer when their request for help from the police is disregarded. Part The Thursday Murder Club vibe, part And Then There Were None, I was glued to this story from start to finish! 

While the main characters couldn't be less compatible or more different from each other, they'd all endured a major shared life experience: 120 days sequestered from their lives and loved ones while performing their civic duty as jurors for a big, highly contested trial involving a famous sports figure. They'd argued and gotten on each other's nerves for four months but also forged a deep bond. Each came away changed from how they went in. 

The plot moves quickly and is told from the alternating perspectives of the four main characters: CeeCee, Harold, Helen, and Alex. Each is struggling with where they are in life; the temporary interruption of the trial magnified those issues, bringing their problems to a head. I was rooting for each one of them immediately. The situations they get themselves into had me laughing but there are some poignant, real-life moments as well. 

Their investigation is enjoyable, and tension builds as they scramble to stop the killer before they can strike again. I couldn't help but compare this quartet to the more gifted and copacetic members of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, a similarly mismatched group, and I like them all the same for their squabbling and gradual evolution into ride-or-die friends. Here I am on the last day of 2024, and this may be my absolute favorite book of the year. 

I recommend JURY DUTY IS MURDER to readers of mysteries and thrillers.

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

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Royal Scandal

Royal Blood, #2

by

Aimée Carter

 

It's a full-on private war as someone in the royal circle is determined to destroy Evan and, perhaps, the monarchy itself!

 

Evan Bright, the illegitimate daughter of the king, is being targeted by a press corps fueled by the tasty yet false tidbits slipped to them by an anonymous source. Apparently, when the perpetrator is not satisfied with the social media chaos and family drama that results, Evan starts experiencing "accidents" that put her life and those around her in danger. 

Royal Scandal is the second book in Aimée Carter's exciting YA series, Royal Blood, and this time; it's a full-on private war as someone in the royal circle leaking sensitive information to the media about the tumultuous goings on in the royal family. As relationships crumble and new alliances develop, Evan desperately tries to protect her family and loved ones from their hidden persecutor. 

Evangeline "Evan" Bright, the illegitimate daughter of the king and much-maligned by the media, is still struggling to find her place in the royal family. I enjoy this fish-out-of-water character and her continued attempts to fit in, even with the family members who have been horrible to her. Because of her past, she's socially awkward and clumsy but improving daily under the guidance of Kit, Tibby, Jenkins, and Maisie. I was glad to see the two sisters grow closer and establish an understanding of each other. Her nemesis, Benedict of York, had been banished from the royal presence due to his actions in book one, but family politics and the need to present a united front to the media soon saw him back in the fold to create more havoc. 

The plot grows more complex as Evan's mother, Laura, joins them at Christmas, and the adults in the immediate family decide to pursue the real loves of their lives. But as news of the new liaisons is leaked, the media has a field day. It is easy to compare the fictional tale to the history of Britain's royal family and gain a more sympathetic view of what they endure on a day-to-day basis and for an entire lifetime. 

As the story unfolds, there is one mishap involving Evan after another, and it is quickly determined that these are no mere accidents. Tension mounts as her unseen stalker multiplies his efforts to discredit her, and the attacks turn deadly. The story is one twist after another, and I did not want to put the book down. There is a cliffhanger ending that left me shocked that I wouldn't have the much-needed resolution to the story! While this is the second book in the series, and there is some backstory given so that this book can be read on its own, I feel the two should be read in order. 

With its action-packed plot and relatable main character, I recommend ROYAL SCANDAL to young adult fiction readers and fans of the previous novel in the series. 

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

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Scandalous in Huntington Beach

Love Is a Beach, #3

by

Melody DeBlois

 

Rich and satisfying secret baby and a second chance at love story.

 

Scandalous in Huntington Beach is the third book in author Melody DeBlois’s Love Is a Beach women’s fiction series, and it features the single father of a surprise secret baby. Senate hopeful Bennett Browning is surprised to discover he’s the father of a baby girl when his former girlfriend, Rachel, passes away. Wanting to do the right thing and be the perfect father to this tiny being he never even knew existed, he’s still woefully unprepared for the day-to-day of caring for an infant when Social Services hands the baby over. But like a miracle, Emma Kuan, Rachel’s older sister, offers to act as nanny to her newly-discovered niece, and the immediate emergency is quelled. But as Bennett and Emma spend time together, bonding over their shared grief for Rachel and love for baby Madelynn Grace, life takes an unexpected turn for them all. 

The main characters, Bennett, Emma, and Madelynn Grace, absolutely stole my heart! Strangers to each other on page one, they slowly form a new family (and puppy makes four) from their starting point of an expedient business arrangement as their life priorities change. You can’t help but hope for the best and their relationship to become a love match. 

The story, though, is more complex and nuanced than initially imagined. Both Bennett and Emma have complicated pasts as children, and trust issues must be overcome before they can create a new life with new dreams. They experienced setbacks and breakthroughs that had all my emotions engaged on their way to their HEA. 

I recommend SCANDALOUS IN HUNTINGTON BEACH to readers of women’s fiction, contemporary romance, especially those who enjoy a satisfying second-chance romance or secret baby theme. 

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