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A Pawsome Summer for Murder

Samantha Davies Mystery, #7

by

S.A. Kazlo

 

A murder during a charity fishing tournament nets a number of suspects.

 

A Pawsome Summer for Murder is the seventh book in author S.A. Kazlo’s fun, cozy mystery series featuring Samantha Davies, her friends, family, and pet dachshund, Porkchop. While participating in a charity fishing tournament to benefit the local animal shelter, Sam hooks a big one. However, what she reels in is the body of a local woman who had been protesting the catch-and-release event, advocating on behalf of the fish. With the unique discovery of the victim’s body and quirky characters, many of whom become possible suspects in the woman’s murder, even readers new to the series will be able to follow the story and enjoy the mystery. 

The main character is divorcee Samantha Davies, who is now engaged to the town of Wings Falls, New York, lead police detective Hank Johnson, which is convenient since she has frequently been involved in several recent murder investigations. Sam is sweet and determined to help get to the truth behind Luna Wheeler’s death. She is assisted by her cousin Candie and dachshund sidekick, Porkchop. The story was an entertaining and quick mystery, perfect for a laid-back evening with a book. 

I recommend A PAWSOME SUMMER FOR MURDER to cozy mystery enthusiasts and dachshund lovers. 

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

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Vacations Can Be Murder

A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England

(Volume One)

by

Dawn M. Barclay

 

A fun, informative, and useful guide to true crime persons, places, and events in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

 

The first volume of Dawn M. Barclay’s Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England appears to be a pretty comprehensive and useful tool to devise any number of trips to the country’s northeast for a true crime-themed holiday. Focusing on the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, the author provides background information on the region’s dark, criminal past, both recent events and those from long-forgotten eras, renowned and little-known outside the area. 

The author offers suggestions for places to stay, haunted restaurants, true crime or ghost tours in the vicinities, and related places to visit while in the area, such as cemeteries, courthouses, jails, and prisons. However, one of the most valuable resources is the suggested itineraries with maps from someone who’s already made the trips to help travelers get the most out of their trip to the area, a wonderful asset whether you’re familiar with the area or not. One of my favorite sections for each state, though, is the list of books featuring the different highlighted stories, so you can read more in-depth about those that interest you most before you go. The book is so well done; I hope the author continues to create many more guides that target different areas of the country. 

I recommend VACATIONS CAN BE MURDER to true crime fans who would like to plan a trip to see some of the more notable locations of past crimes. 

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

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Raven’s Wrath

Task Force Raven Origins Novella

Task Force Raven, #0.5

by

Sam Stone

 

Unrelenting action and pulse-pounding excitement as a Green Beret mountain warfare specialization team engages deadly Haqqani fighters in Afghanistan’s Shok Valley.

 

Raven’s Wrath by Sam Stone is a pulse-pounding military thriller about a Green Beret mountain warfare specialization team on a recon assignment in Afghanistan’s Shok Valley. The novella lays the groundwork for the relationships and shared experiences of the team members for the author’s upcoming Texas-set Task Force Raven series. 

Captain Jake Baylor and his brothers-in-arms are ambushed by a large, organized force of Haqqani fighters while on recon, traversing the mountainous passages of the Shok Valley. While gravely outnumbered and not in the best defensive position, the team is holding its own, but in order to make it out alive, they must somehow turn the tables, making their hunters the ones who are hunted.

Jake Baylor is a born warrior and leader whose natural skills are honed by intense training. He’s also a true son of Texas with generational roots in the state going back to Sam Houston himself. I liked how Houston’s history is woven into Baylor’s with the hand-me-down war tomahawk and the use of Houston’s Cherokee moniker of “The Raven” for his present-day descendant. Jake is all business and keeps the welfare of his command in mind, even as he must make life-and-death assignments.

While action-packed and heart-poundingly exciting, the descriptions of each man on the team to the cinematically envisioned desert-to-mountain settings are amazingly detailed and realistic without slowing the story down one iota. I could almost feel their surroundings and smell the fumes of destruction and the results of their fighting. 

The foreshadowing of the danger ahead on the team’s mission gave me eerie prickles on the back of my neck as Jake and Turner both sensed something was “off.” Their nighttime trek on foot toward the Haqqani stronghold was riveting, edge-of-your-seat suspenseful. The Special Forces team is absolutely resolute in the face of the onslaught by opponents who are persistent but with ill-placed determination. Sergeant Joe Garza comes by his nickname of “Joker’ honestly and has some stellar quips to alleviate a little of the tension throughout their ordeal. Considering this is just the introduction, I can hardly wait for the meat of the series to get underway. 

I recommend RAVEN’S WRATH to readers of military thrillers. 

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

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The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

by

Grace Lin

 

Imaginative merging of modern-day adventure and Chinese folktales for a warm and wonderful children’s story.

 

In The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon, author Grace Lin uses a fascinating combination of Chinese folktales to create a fresh and exciting children’s adventure story featuring a young stone lion cub named Jin, Lulu, a little lost girl, and an ancient dragon trapped in the body of a worm. Jin must overcome his fear of getting in trouble and his guilt of being in the wrong to save his stone spirit family and the Gonshi community when he causes the Sacred Sphere his father safeguards to roll out of their world and into that of the humans. 

The main character, Jin, is much like his human counterparts of the same age: interested in his own pursuits, pleasures, and interests, many times inconveniencing his parents and others due to being thoughtless or irresponsible. He’s disinterested and dismissive of his father’s stories of the past, responsibilities, or parental instructions until he finds himself accidentally shut out of his world and stuck in the human one, where he finds he longs to return to his family once again. When he discovers the damage the loss of the Sacred Sphere puts in motion, he must gather his courage and sacrifice his own desires to make things right again. His gradual growth and understanding of his choices are a poignant tale, one that even young children will recognize and consider. 

Jin is assisted in his journey by Lulu, a young girl trying to reunite with her mother, who is also undergoing her own revelations. Worm, the dragon trapped in this tiny, unassuming form, is probably the most fanciful of all the creatures in the book and has some of the best lines as he reveals his story and joins with the young ones to reset the balance in the world before it is too late. 

With its magical setting, mythical creatures, and suspenseful plot, I recommend THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON to upper-elementary and middle-grade readers and for reading aloud to include younger listeners. 

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

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A Stone Cold Murder

Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery, #1

by

Kris Bock

 

Her uncomfortable psychic ability puts her on the trail of a killer.

 

A Stone Cold Murder is the first book in author Kris Bock's cozy new Reluctantly Psychic Murder Mystery series featuring a young woman with a touchy ability. When Petra Cloch relocates to Bonneville, New Mexico, to take a job as the curator of the rock and mineral section of the Banditt Museum, she expected it to be a fun but out-of-the-way spot to put her interest in geological specimens to use and make a living. But on her very first day, she discovers her predecessor may have been murdered right there in her new office and not from the reported car accident following an unexpected heart attack. 

Petra is a nice young woman with a burdensome secret; she can feel someone's past emotions when touching their belongings. While this particular psychic ability is not unheard of, this is the first book that really considers how this would actually affect its bearer's practical daily life, both positively and negatively. I swiftly became sympathetic to Petra's uneasy adaptations and her sad and lonely past. 

The plot is well-paced, and Petra's reaction to her first handling of potential evidence of murder reveals her startling ability very effectively. Her new coworkers were quite a quirky group of individuals, and I was progressively more hopeful she would find an ally and friend among the bunch. I enjoyed her menagerie of cats, ferrets, and rats, and my mind immediately jumped to where in the world she would find a landlord who would tolerate so many pets without bankrupting her. Her reason for keeping her ability to herself was reasonable, and I understood her reason for personally investigating Reggie Heap's death on her own. The author includes fun bits about the mineral samples and the museum as well. The author's writing is easy to read, and I was so engaged with the story that I read it from start to finish one evening. 

I recommend A STONE COLD MURDER to cozy mystery readers, especially those interested in psychic elements, museum settings, rocks, and minerals. 

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

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To Shield the Queen

Ursula Blanchard, #1

by

Fiona Buckley

 

Engaging main character thrust headlong into the political machinations of Elizabeth I’s court.

 

To Shield the Queen is the first book in author Fiona Buckley’s (pen name of Valeria Anand) long-running historical mystery series featuring Ursula Blanchard, a widowed mother of one and a lady in service to Queen Elizabeth I. Set in 1560, early in Elizabeth’s long reign, Ursula is summoned to court after the death of her husband, Gerald (a love match), to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the young queen. The court is awash with rumors of Elizabeth’s relationship with her Master of Horse, Sir Robin Dudley, a married man with a critically ill wife whom he keeps sequestered in the country. When speculation escalates, hinting that Dudley may be trying to hurry his wife’s imminent death along so he can pursue a marriage with the queen, he and Elizabeth send Ursula to attend the ailing Amy Dudley and safeguard her from any such evil assistance and hopefully quell the rumors. However, on her arrival at the country estate, Ursula finds there may actually be some truth behind the rumors. Still, it’s unclear to her whether Sir Robin is aware of what may be underway on his behalf, but she’s suspicious. 

This first book in the series is a riveting tale once all the heavy lifting of establishing the time, place, and characters is complete. It feels like it had to have been a massive task, with so much known or speculated regarding the intrigue during Elizabeth’s reign, all the historical figures involved, and the intersection of factual and fictional storylines. Halfway through the book, I was still wondering when the mystery would start, but it definitely does, and the action never lets up from that point on. 

Ursula is a likable character, and her personal story is a tragic one, beginning with her illegitimate origins, a cruel childhood at the hands of self-righteous relatives, a runaway marriage, and the sudden death of her beloved young husband. But she is a survivor, strong and determined not to be a victim ever again. An astute observer of human nature, Queen Elizabeth recognizes Ursula’s potential value and her deep loyalty to the crown and puts her to good use. 

A romantic relationship evolves with Matthew de la Roche, a newcomer to the court, who aggressively presses his suit with the young widow, even following her, uninvited, to Amy Dudley’s bedside several days’ ride into the country. While it felt like their feelings for each other were a bit rushed, their courtship really extended over a couple of months. I’m anxious to see how this all plays out, considering what occurs between the two as the story unfolds. The descriptions of the settings and life in 1560 are vivid and really put me in the story. A number of secondary storylines develop along the way and are left unresolved, but they are mentioned in the resolution as the basis for Ursula’s next moves in future books in the series. 

I enjoyed listening to the Hoopla Digital 2005 Blackstone Audiobook edition narrated by Nadia May but it took me a good length of time to sync my understanding with her fast pacing, pronunciation, and accent. As the characters who are speaking change, she does a good job of altering her voice to add some discrimination. However, her speaking voice is just enough different from my region that I had to readjust to her voice every time I began listening. While I wouldn’t search out additional titles this narrator voiced, I wouldn’t not listen to her again, and it doesn’t appear she narrates any more of the books in this series. 

I recommend TO SHIELD THE QUEEN to readers of historical cozy mysteries.

 

For this and other book reviews, visit Boys' Mom Reads!

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Goats Afloat

by

Lezlie Evans

Illustrated by Julia Patton

 

Whimsical and amusing retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff with a HEA for everyone!

 

Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans is the whimsically amusing tale of a family of goats in a story with elements similar to the familiar, old fairytale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. In this updated version, the goat family has expanded to five, and there is a wonderful happy-ever-after in store for all involved. 

Told with rhyme and rhythm, rather than the possibly frightening and confrontational meetings set on the bridge pitting cunning goats against an evil troll, this is a fun story with goats on a mission to celebrate Granny Goat’s birthday at her home some ways away. Worried about the troll who lives under the bridge, which is on the only footpath to granny’s house, the goats hatch a plan to bypass it entirely and travel downriver by canoe, carrying with them a tall and delicious-looking but very unstable and wobbly birthday cake. The suspense around whether that cake is going to make it is very much a part of the fun. The young troll is very interested in what the goats are up to, but in a curiously longing fashion, as if he’s sad at being left out of the coming celebration. With a girl goat and boy goats, some less athletic and others more physically coordinated in the group, this little story has five goats of varying characteristics and abilities for children to consider and relate to, and all the characters are adorable. 

What would a children’s picture be without gloriously colorful images to help tell the tale? This one is filled with cute and engaging illustrations by Julia Patton, and it has lots of fun details to examine with each and every reading. Children and the adult guiding them through the story will delight in trying to locate the shy troll hiding on every page as he follows the goats’ progress down the river in their canoe. 

The book would be perfect for bedtime reading or reading aloud and sharing in larger group settings. With its variety of characters, detailed illustrations, and sweet story with its surprise ending, this book could attract interest and provide entertainment over multiple readings. I recommend GOATS AFLOAT for children of all ages and for sharing at home, in the classroom, or after-school program settings. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.

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Killing Johnny Miracle

by

J.K. Franko

 

Complex and clever, and I didn't want to put this book down!

 

Johnny Miracle thinks he’s got it all… and he’s in love, just not with his wife, Mary. He wants a divorce and he’s got leverage. Johnny knows her deepest, darkest secret. He’s going to use that to take everything: her vineyard, her money, and her priceless family heirloom. He’ll do whatever it takes to get it all.

But, as Grandma Nellie used to say, “No man, no matter how smart or strong, can compete with a motivated woman.” Mary is a motivated woman, she’s got her own agenda, and it doesn’t include losing. She’s going to kill Johnny. To get away with it, she needs a plan and an alibi. And she thinks she has both.

Killing Johnny Miracle is the new complex and clever crime thriller by native Texas author J.K. Franko; one that, had I had the time and stamina, I would read entirely in one sitting – it was that good! Great characters, family secrets, murder, infidelity, mobsters, and a stolen Monet painting all have a hand in making this such a wonderfully robust tale. 

The author uses multiple points of view, multiple timelines, and two distinct and seemingly unconnected storylines to tell the story of why Johnny Miracle needs killing. This sounds like a lot to juggle, but the author nails it. Twists and turns in both stories kept the pace hopping and me riveted to the pages, wondering what would happen next and how this was all related. I literally gasped aloud at one reveal, one that I felt I should have figured out long before I had to be told! I was completely absorbed in this book, and yet I never dreamed how everything would finally and gloriously come together. 

I loved Mary Miracle and her relationship with her grandmother, and knew Johnny was up to no good from the start, from the title alone. (Justified.) Abby is a great "ride or die," and Ruby Yi and Kong were definitely favorites of mine. 

I loved the Hill Country setting outside Fredericksburg and will forgive the author for saying the Four Seasons was in the "town" of Las Colinas, which is a common mistake. (It's in Irving, and Las Colinas isn't a town; it's just a nice subdivision.) I'll assume the street name change of Byron Nelson Way to Bryson Nelson was a choice for some reason. Thanks for choosing my hometown as a setting. 

With its mesmerizing plot, I recommend KILLING JOHNNY MIRACLE to readers of crime fiction and Texas-set tales and those who enjoy clever stories, great dialogue, and characters who need killin'. 

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

 

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The Victorian Locket

Galveston Historical Mystery, #1

by

Elefair King

 

An intriguing ghostly mystery infused with the history of the coastal city and the devastating 1900 hurricane.

 

The Victorian Locket is the first novel in author Elefair King’s intriguing Galveston Historical Mystery series and tells the story of the South Texas coastal town’s devastating 1900 hurricane and its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America. Recent widow Sarah Anne Law, a long-time visitor and new resident to the island, discovers an old locket hidden in a well-concealed hidey hole in a bedroom fireplace. While her old Victorian house appears to be home to at least two benign ghostly inhabitants, the locket seems to bring with it a more aggressive spirit. Intrigued and concerned, Sarah is compelled to look into the history of her home and the locket, convinced murder is part of its past. 

Sarah, known to her friends as Sam, is an intrepid researcher determined to uncover the stories of the past. Still grieving the death of her spouse, she has relocated to the city of her childhood memories and adult retirement dreams, purchasing a 120-year-old Victorian home and escaping the everyday places she shared with her lost love. Along with her feline companion, who proves to be a good indicator of the presence of the unseen and validates her owner’s own impressions, Sam is much more accepting of the weirdness going on in her home than I would ever be! I literally feel the cold just thinking about the spirit related to the locket. 

The plot moves between the past and present as the story of the locket comes to light and how the spooky happenings in Sam’s home are related. The story goes into great detail about the Big Storm of 1900 that destroyed the vibrant, thriving town of millionaires that was Galveston at the turn of the century. Sam’s explanation of why there are so many spirits still tied to the island was interesting and one that I’d never heard before. 

With its mesmerizing mix of historical fact, mystery, and supernatural fiction, I recommend THE VICTORIAN LOCKET to readers of historical mysteries who enjoy a bit of the woo-woo in their stories. 

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

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Busting Loose

Busted, #4

by

Vanessa M. Knight

 

Charming and suspense-filled with a lot of heart.

 

Busting Loose is the fourth novel in author Vanessa M. Knight’s Busted series, featuring the lives and loves of a close-knit group of gal-pals who operate a detective agency in Chicago. Each book focuses on one of the women in the friends’ group and the relationship that leads them down the path to their happily ever after. 

Each of the previous books could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, and this one is no different in that regard. This time around, it is forensic accountant Leticia ‘Leti’ Ramirez’s turn in the hot seat along with her office nemesis, Kevin Lane, who happens to be the brother of her best friend and majority owner of the Busted Detective Agency, Maggie Lane. Initially, this couple is like oil and water, and the banter between the two is absolutely stellar. But when Leti draws the attention of an unknown bad guy, presumably from one of the cases she’s working on, the beneath-the-surface attraction between Leti and Kevin simmers over. The chemistry is fire! However, the romance soon takes a backseat to the case Leti is investigating, and with a narrow miss here and there and the steadily building suspense, I wasn’t about to put this book down until I’d read every page. 

I recommend BUSTING LOOSE to romance readers, especially those who enjoy enemies-to-lovers or workplace romance plots. 

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