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BOOK REVIEW: PICTURE-PERFECT BOYFRIEND by Becky Dean

KAREN SIDDALL — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:34:13 Z

Picture-Perfect Boyfriend

Becky Dean

Fun and flirty with an inspirational message to be yourself and pursue your dream, not the one someone else plans for you.

Picture-Perfect Boyfriend is the latest contemporary young adult novel by author Becky Dean, and it is as fun as it is supportive of its theme to be true to oneself. I enjoyed this story, with its fine mix of romance, comedy, mystery, and inspiration, so much that I was smiling the entire time I turned its pages.

High school senior Mackenzie "Kenzie" Reed is an engaging and relatable main character on spring break with her family on the beautiful island of Maui. She's spent the entire final school year conforming to her parents' ideal vision of how she should live her life. Kenzie wants to pursue photography, but her mother and father don't believe it is a viable career goal and want her to join them in their family optometry business. Worn down by their years of criticism of her differences and the trivialization of her aspirations and talent, she had decided to do things their way. Happily, the story heads elsewhere.

The premise of the made-up boyfriend materializing in person hooked me the moment I read the blurb, and the story did not disappoint. Jacob/Jake, himself presenting two faces, was fun, flirty, and an enigma for much of the book. I laughed over the Eddie Haskell vibes I got from his interaction with Kenzie's family members and was relieved to discover he wasn't the "Stepford" boyfriend. The mystery of his identity and how he came to be on the island was brilliant.

The Maui setting was the perfect place to release Kenzie's repressed desires and personality. The descriptions of the lush surroundings and the inclusion of so many interesting places to visit on the island will have readers wanting to book their own visit.

With its engaging characters and fun and brilliantly executed premise, I recommend PICTURE-PERFECT BOYFRIEND to readers of contemporary young adult fiction, especially those who like an island setting, family drama, and romance.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

BOOK REVIEW: ESSENTIALS OF MURDER (AROMATHERAPY APOTHECARY MYSTERY, #1) by Kim Davis

KAREN SIDDALL — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 10:27:49 Z

Essentials of Murder

Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery, #1

Kim Davis

The story wastes no time getting to the murder, and from there, it's constant action.

Essentials of Murder is the first book in author Kim Davis's Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery series, and the cozy craft-themed story features essential oils, reflexology, and a curvy, prodigal hometown daughter. With engaging characters and a small Southern California town that never met a rumor it didn't want to spread, I enjoyed the story from start to finish.

Main character Carissa Carmichael grew up in Oak Creek Valley, but left for San Francisco the day after high school graduation, never looking back until trouble came knocking almost ten years later. The daughter of the local chief of police, she returned home after being used in an illegal kick-back scheme by her wealthy boyfriend, who is now serving time in prison for his misdeeds. Trained in the use of essential oils and reflexology, she's days from the grand opening of her Aromatherapy Apothecary Shop in the touristy downtown when she discovers the body of the next-door shop owner's obnoxious son in her back room and immediately becomes suspect number one in his death.

The story wastes no time getting to the murder, and from there, it's constant action. The police detective in charge of the investigation has a hidden agenda and immediately latches onto Carissa as the main suspect. This fuels Carissa's need to solve the case and clear her name herself. The author deftly develops the small town of Oak Creek Valley from scratch as readers follow Carissa through her investigation, upsetting the status quo and angering many along the way. The suspects are many, as the victim was obnoxious, vindictive, and not well-liked. Even his mother had reasons to want him out of the picture. Clues are sprinkled throughout the narrative for clever armchair detectives to find, but I only developed a few strong suspicions myself. The story was entertaining, well-plotted, and fast-paced, and includes a touch of romance.

I recommend ESSENTIALS OF MURDER to cozy mystery lovers looking for a delightful protagonist, an interesting essential oil theme, or an amazing rumor mill setting.

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

BOOK REVIEW: FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME by Kimberly Packard

KAREN SIDDALL — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:33:29 Z

Feels Like the First Time

Kimberly Packard

An emotionally devastating breakup sends an aimless college junior 30 years into her future.

Feels Like the First Time is a warm and witty womens fiction novel by veteran author Kimberly Packard in which an emotionally immature young woman is suddenly thrust into her own life 30 years in the future. Its the Spring semester of 1996, and after a heated public argument with her father about her aimless college performance, Emily Murray runs to her musician boyfriends place to discover he and his band are packing up and heading for L.A., where a possible recording contract awaits. However, while she thought she would be part of that move, he did not and planned to slip away without an explanation. Devastated, she returns to her shared apartment, and in an emotionally impulsive act, shaves off all of her hair and blacks out. But rather than awakening to follicular mayhem, Emily comes to in a strange bed, with a gorgeous older man singing in the shower. Shes 30 years older, and its 2026.

Emily Murray is such a great character; I was in her corner from start to finish. Shes a fun, free-spirited girl with a sassy wit and a love for live music and her lead-singer boyfriend, Wick. Unfortunately, Wick is all about Wick, seeing Emily as only an accouterment to his current self-image as a struggling Austin, Texas, musician on his way to the top. He has no problem leaving her behind to pursue his big break in L.A. Emily, however, has had an emotionally undernourished childhood, the result of her suddenly single mother being thrust unprepared into the role of breadwinner when her marriage to Emilys emotionally and physically distant father breaks up. But when she awakens in 2026, she finds herself engaged to Dr. Craig Harrison, the complete opposite of the men in her earlier life. Hes understanding, supportive, and only has eyes for her and her wellbeing. Their chemistry is palpable, even as she initially thinks hes the product of her dreaming. But once she realizes shes living in her own future, she begins to back away from this warm-hearted man, who in reality is a total stranger. As she falls for him, she worries shes an imposter in her own life, living a lie, and she cant do that to this good man.

There are several pivotal supporting characters in Emilys life, in both timelines. There is the mysterious Astrid, the psychic Emily consults on a whim after her blow-up with her father, and who is still in business in her future. While Emily repeatedly returns to Astrid to beg for help getting back to her life in 1996, Astrid is actually a source of wisdom and good advice when Emily is considering her options and contemplating some suspect choices. There are also Emilys lifelong friends, Josie and Sofia, and her loyal and wise assistant in her therapy practice, Monique. The story really celebrates the power and value of strong, supportive female friendships. In the end, Emily, who has grown into a gifted therapist, must learn some personal lessons of her own before she can live the life she was meant to live.

I recommend FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME to readers of womens fiction.

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

BOOK REVIEW: ALIVE BY PROXY (PROXY LEGAL THRILLERS, #3) by Manning Wolfe

KAREN SIDDALL — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:30:35 Z

Alive by Proxy

Proxy Legal Thrillers, #3

Manning Wolfe

Quinton Bell defends a pro football player accused of murdering his agent.

Alive by Proxy is the third book in veteran author Manning Wolfe's riveting Proxy Legal Thriller series, and the suspense in this one is killer! Houston Wildcatter lineman, Marcus Hale, accused of murdering his agent one dark and stormy night, proclaims his innocence and retains Quinton Bell to defend him. But Quinton's past is just about to catch up with him, as someone who knows his true identity leaves him taunting notes and souvenirs, which soon escalate to more deadly hints. Quinton must decide whether to stay the course and do what he can for his famous client or cut and run for his life once again.

In this latest case, Byron Douglas has settled into his new persona as Quinton Bell, the identity and life of an old friend who died, and has built a thriving law practice with an eminently competent and dependable staff and loyal colleagues. He's moved into his work-in-progress fixer-upper home in Houston and regularly visits the Bell family home in Galveston, but he still feels like he's being watched. He's not wrong. With his anxiety pinging off the ceiling, he manages a thorough trial prep while convincing his client to come clean about the awful secrets he's keeping.

The descriptions of Houston are vivid and transport the reader to the humid, sauna-like city that is the largest in Texas. Quinton's trips to Galveston and, later, through north Texas to the casino across the Red River paint a picture of the state's size and the region's diversity. The long nighttime drive from Oklahoma south back to Houston captured the reality of the journey and the feelings of remote isolation and empty darkness.

The plot covers the defense's careful investigation of the murder before trial and the suspense of the courtroom proceedings. The author underscores the role of the defense attorney, regardless of the client's guilt or innocence. The appearances by the individual who is watching Quinton are creepy and full of tension. He so easily becomes invisible, able to quickly and quietly melt away out of sight. The author does a wonderful job building suspense throughout the story, and the scenes with the watcher had me on the edge of my seat.

I recommend ALIVE BY PROXY to readers of legal mysteries, thrillers, and courtroom dramas.

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

BOOK REVIEW: RIP THE SKY by Mark Packard

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:41:27 Z

Rip the Sky

Mark Packard

A deeply evocative story of choices made and unforgiven acts.

Rip the Sky by Mark Packard, a recently released work of speculative fiction, tells the life story of Billy Don Worster, a simple boy from a hardscrabble farm in the Texas Panhandle. Addressing tough subjects such as battlefield experiences, PTSD, alcoholism, and drug addiction, Billy's story is, at once, emotional, fantastical, and riveting.

The story is complex, as are the emotions drawn as Billy's struggles unfold. His generation of veterans had a very different service experience than those of previous wars or those that came after for several reasons: the absence of a deeply patriotic cause to enlist and serve, divided leadership, lack of support for the war by the general public, at least as depicted by the media, are a few. They were often reviled upon their return, not receiving the recognition and appreciation they deserved. Nor was the recognition and treatment for PTSD very advanced. Billy self-medicates with booze and weed rather than prescription drugs under his doctor's care. His fight with addiction will be lifelong and is a vivid and visceral storyline. His 30-day coin presentation just about gutted me.

Billy's war experiences and subsequent hallucinations and nightmares were frighteningly real; the action and descriptions of the settings were easy to visualize to the point of feeling like I was there. His life is tragically altered forever by what he went through and how he reacted, never forgiving himself for what he perceived as his failures. Billy's experiences also led to his ability to leave his body and fly to doors in the sky, opening to other worlds or versions of his life had he made different choices. The truth of this ability to fly is left ambiguous. Is it a manifestation of his psychological problems or a tumor? Or is it a special gift or curse? However, since he shares the ability with Judge Madeline Johnston, I am leaning toward it being an actual gift. Common threads link him and the judge: how they reacted to the adversity in their lives, the choices they made, the paths they took or avoided, and their capacity to forgive.

The story covers a lifetime and a full spectrum of human interactions: the horror of war; the goodness of people such as Butch Crowley and Rachel Wheeler; their capacity for meanness as shown by Judge Johnston's courtroom management, demeanor, and judgments; and greed as depicted by Delbert Reynold's and Stewart Thompson's despicable actions. It is a story readers won't soon forget.

I recommend RIP THE SKY to readers of speculative fiction who enjoy stories with science fiction and fantasy elements.

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

BOOK REVIEW: DEADLY GOLD RUSH (INDIE RETIREMENT MYSTERY, #2) by Landis Wade

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:37:32 Z

Deadly Gold Rush

Indie Retirement Mystery, #2

Landis Wade

A complex but compelling plot with engaging, lovable main characters!

Deadly Gold Rush is the second book in author Landis Wades gripping Indie Retirement Mystery series featuring the residents of a senior living community in Charlotte, North Carolina, who are trying to enjoy their lives but are kept busy solving one mystery after another. In this latest adventure, Harriet Keatons twin brother, Joey, is released from prison after serving 20 years for a crime he didnt commit. However, he soon finds himself behind bars again when the body of one of the men framed him all those years ago is found in the basement of his family home, and the floor above it collapses, revealing the dead man covered in gold coins. Harriet enlists the aid of her friend, Craig Travail, also an Indie resident and attorney, to help her brother, who knows more about the murder than hes saying.

With its complex, compelling plot and engaging, lovable main characters, I was absorbed in the story from start to finish. I enjoyed the retirement community setting, with its cadre of older, and sometimes more mature, characters and the many experts in various areas of knowledge among the group, some only a couple of years removed from the workforce and careers in those specialties. I enjoyed how many of the characters had evolved into free spirits, depending on the freedom granted them by their advanced age or their marginalization in society as the forgotten elderly. Several romances are blossoming, as well as a slow-burn romance between Harriet and Craig that I was definitely rooting for. And who knew North Carolina was the epicenter of a gold rush before Californias?

The plot moves steadily forward as Harriet, Craig, and their friend, Yeager, attempt to prove Joeys case while Joey himself steadfastly refuses to tell all he knows. The investigatory phase of the story gives way to a riveting courtroom drama as Craig and another Indie resident and former judge unite as Joeys legal defense team. Complicating life for everyone are a series of calculated financial shenanigans aimed at the Indie and the residents by the powerful Standish Corporation and their legal tool, Robert Elkins, who is out for revenge against the trio who caused him to lose his license to practice law in book one. I was glued to the story, wondering if they would be able to get to the bottom of things, find justice, and save the day for the Indie and their friends.

While this is the second book in the series, readers do not need to have read the previous one to enjoy it. Enough backstory is mentioned to set the stage for the present tale without spoiling the first book for those who are enticed to look it up.

I recommend DEADLY GOLD RUSH to fans of cozy mysteries with historical storylines.

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

BOOK REVIEW - ENCELADUS STATION: FOUNTAINS by Douglas Alexander

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:33:20 Z

Enceladus Station: Fountains

Douglas Alexander

A twisty tale of murder and corporate cover-up on a 22^nd-century lunar outpost of Saturn.

Enceladus Station: Fountains by Douglas Alexander is a twisty tale of murder and corporate cover-up at a frozen research outpost on one of Saturns moons. The combination of science fiction, mystery, and a near-future setting created an intriguing story that kept me reading until the satisfying, clever conclusion.

By the 22^nd century, space travel is routine, with humanity living, working, and visiting remote parts of the galaxy in only hours rather than years. Lt. Mark Grant is sent to the corporate research outpost on one of Saturns moons, Enceladus, to investigate the murder of one of the medical doctors stationed there. But on his arrival, hes greeted by the disturbing scene of yet another attack; this time in the Research Center, where scientists have been studying the moons precious water resources. The amount of blood pooled on the floor and smeared on monitors, keyboards, and access keypads of the locked facility indicates someone has been gravely wounded, yet the body has somehow vanished without a trace, and Dobson Pharmaceuticals, the corporate partner of the outpost, has suspiciously sent their own team of deadly clones to locate and eliminate the victim.

Part sci-fi, part action/adventure, and part riveting mystery and corporate cover-up, I was grabbed by the story from the start. The setting, an underground research facility on the outermost edge of our settled galaxy, is atmospheric with the seeping condensation on its walls and floors, constant cold infiltrating ones very bones, the dim to suddenly clinically bright lighting, decrepit behind the scenes maintenance passageways, and the ubiquitous presence of the Pricklies, small alien insect-like creatures labeled pest, yet clearly displaying signs of awareness and intelligence.

The story is told from multiple points of view, not just that of the investigating officer, Lt. Grant, which gives the reader insight into the many working parts of the plot. However, the shared perspective also seemed to prevent me from really connecting with Grant himself or his investigation. There is some emphasis on a couple of minor characters, perhaps as possible red herrings, but their presence is not followed up on, so the opportunity is not taken. Characters with critical involvement early in the book disappear and a secret meeting with shadowy operatives goes nowhere. A couple of characters change names from introduction to reappearance, such as Dr. Eric Harris, who is later called Jonas, and there are more typos and errors than I was comfortable with in a finished book. However, the resolution is excellent and serves up a well-done Agatha Christie drawing room-style reveal, with Grant gathering together all the players and presenting his conclusions.

I recommend ENCELADUS STATION: FOUNTAINS to readers of science fiction mysteries.

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

BOOK REVIEW: THOSE WHO SHALL DIE by Michael Bradley

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:53:38 Z

Those Who Shall Die

Michael Bradley

An absolute page-turner!

Those Who Shall Die is a new thriller by author Michael Bradley and quickly proved to be an absolute page-turner as someone stalks the five members of the mystery podcast, the Society of Fibbers. Secrets come to light that even the closest friends dont know about each other, and no one knows who they can trust as they dodge a killer and uncomfortable questions from the lead police detective and a local reporter.

What a great story! Told from multiple points of view, readers get an inside seat to the thoughts and experiences of the mystery writers as they try to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victim, while still meeting the looming deadlines for their next books and attending book signings and author appearances. The suspense builds rapidly, tempers flare, and relationships among the writing friends fray. I especially liked the mysterious black calling cards with cryptic quotes left for each target. There are secrets and plot twists that keep everyone on their toes. It was difficult to know who to trust or why the five had been targeted initially. I couldnt put this book down, reading it in one absorbing evening!

I recommend THOSE WHO SHALL DIE to readers of mysteries and thrillers.

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

BOOK REVIEW: THE LAST ORBIT by Lance Jepsen

KAREN SIDDALL — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:00:00 Z

The Last Orbit

Lance Jepsen

In a far-future universe where corporations control everything, including history, going along is the only way to stay alive.

The Lost Orbit is a new science fiction thriller by Lance Jepsen, set in a distant future where corporations control everything. Nicole Gordon is the pilot of the Tethys, a salvage ship held together by little more than hopes and prayers. With few resources, shes barely scraping by as she plies the Graveyard Orbit on the fringes of known space, looking for salvageable wreckage that others have overlooked or passed on, when she encounters an arkship, a huge, mythical spacecraft with its cargo still aboard and viable. But even the outer edges of space have corporate eyes and ears, and she soon finds herself fleeing for her life with one of the greatest secrets of her time by her side.

Nicole Gordon is a solitary soul, cynical, and suffering the aftereffects of a corporate memory wipe she underwent after a mission gone wrong three years earlier. Things that shouldnt be familiar to her are, and the mental manipulations done to her seem to be slowly reversing. Why this is allowed, other than the corporations are in charge, we do not know. Did she agree to having some technician physically drill into her head? Still, I enjoyed the action as critical memories continued to reestablish themselves and the mystery of her past was revealed.

Nicole is supported by interesting secondary characters such as her friend, Riya Bass, who arrives on the scene after miraculously capturing part of a distress signal. She is a talented communications expert, using available space junk and cobbled-together pieces of obsolete tech to make broken things work. Alton Virek becomes Nicoles companion as she flees the security forces of the corporation after she discovers their dirty secret hidden in the Graveyard Orbit. Dr. Imani Abut, not to be confused with another character, Jora Imanin, is a medical doctor whos seen it all while hiding on a derelict space station on the fringes of space for the previous 20 years. The characters are chased through off-limits space and treacherous debris fields by the corporate hunters, as they desperately attempt to get the word out about the corporations biggest lie of all.

While the plot grabs attention and the settings are atmospheric, the storys pace is hindered by constant description of every move, thought, and scene in a noir style. This treatment initially entertained me, but it quickly grew stale and disrupted the flow of the action. I really needed the author just to move it along. The author repeatedly used the same descriptions over and over again. All machinery and ship features groaned and moved as if they suffered from arthritis. The constant blaring of klaxons was accompanied by flashing red lights, always described as the color of a slaughterhouse or abattoir. Pilot Gordon experienced everything in her environment through her molars or the soles of her boots, and there was entirely too much hand-smacking of buttons, scraped knuckles, and bleeding on keyboards. I began to wonder if the basic story idea had been fleshed out using AI. Still, I wanted to know how the story resolved, so that is what ultimately determined my rating of 3 stars.

I recommend THE LAST ORBIT to casual science fiction adventure readers.

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

BOOK REVIEW: JANE WON'T QUIT by Eva Shaw

KAREN SIDDALL — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:03:36 Z

Jane Wont Quit

Eva Shaw

Engaging characters with edge-of-your-seat storylines.

Jane Wont Quit by Eva Shaw is a new, fun, non-stop story of romantic suspense that also tackles some very serious topics, such as child trafficking, child abandonment, kidnapping, addiction, and even the treatment of purebred show dogs once theyre no longer suitable for the ring. Pastor Jane Angieski, the temporary youth pastor at a Las Vegas megachurch, goes from the edge of depression and loneliness to a life full of surprises and a full house almost overnight.

As the replacement youth pastor at Desert Hills Community Church, Jane knows her time is limited; the regular minister is scheduled to return in a couple of months. But that doesnt stop her from getting neck-deep in the workings of the ginormous church, where in a space of a day, she gets a couple of new high-profile assignments. First, the churchs plans for its upcoming Vacation Bible School fall through, so Pastor Bob Normal places that one on Janes plate two days before kickoff. Jane, who is currently being scrutinized by the denominations guiding board after an issue at her previous church, cant refuse or complain; with her job already on the line, she cant afford to rock the boat. But only a day later, she is assigned the task of organizing a Dancing with the Las Vegas Stars-style fundraiser to raise money for a new youth center. Just like that, the work plate is full.

However, her personal life has taken a turn as well. Her 80-year-old grandfather, a former frontman for a popular rock band from the past, comes to Vegas and moves in with her as he works through a late-life crisis. Expanding the household further is the sudden emergency addition of Harmony Miller and her dog, Tuffy. When Harmony can no longer safely return to her foster home, Pastor Jane steps up to offer the girl a home while she waits for her father to be released from jail at the end of the summer. But the twists just keep coming!

Jane is fun, snarky, and a klutz, which doesnt help her with the ballroom dancing training at the local senior center. But she learns that sometimes success depends on who youre dancing with. Jane soon discovers secrets at the megachurch and that Pastor Bobs highly-touted dance sponsor, Delta Cheney, and her company, have a terribly dark side. Diverse storylines converge for a surprising and satisfying tale.

I recommend JANE WONT QUIT to readers of romantic suspense looking for something a little different but a whole lot of good.

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

BOOK REVIEW: TRAFFICKING IN MURDER (SYDNEY RILEY PROVINCETOWN MYSTERY, #11) by Jeannette de Beauvoir

KAREN SIDDALL — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 15:23:20 Z

Trafficking in Murder

Sydney Riley Provincetown Mystery, #11

Jeannette de Beauvoir

A gripping mystery ensues as Sydneys new acquaintances are marked for death!

Trafficking in Murder is the eleventh book in veteran author Jeannette de Beauvoirs compelling Sydney Riley Provincetown Mystery series featuring Sydney, the co-owner of an historic coastal hotel, her Homeland Security special agent husband, Ali, and her best friend and renowned artist Mirela Petrovna. When a travel show television producer goes missing while filming a segment at the Race Point Inn, Sydney is just as baffled as the womans coworkers. Although they had just met, the two women had connected and made plans for later in the day. But when Juliet Mills fails to turn up days after the show is wrapped, the worst is assumed. Meanwhile, a girl from a nearby Wampanoag tribe also disappears, coincidentally, the next story the missing producer was to feature this tribes upcoming pow-wow.

Sydney Riley, mentioned by name in a killers notes, is an engaging and sympathetic protagonist who, naturally, struggles with the implication that she is the reason people around her are being targeted. As she reviews her past involvement in cases that may have made her some enemies, readers get a quick look into the previous books in the series. There are an almost overwhelming number of individuals who could hold a grudge against her for uncovering their awful crimes. However, Sydney decides no one is going to look into her past to solve these new cases, so it is incumbent upon her to do it herself. Ali is understandably upset with her decision, and his emotional response to her looking into this latest murder leads to the first big argument of their marriage.

In this book, Sydney and Ali are staying up-Cape in Marstons Mill, where Ali is attending a training conference and looking into the young Wampanoag womans disappearance, as she may have been a victim of human trafficking. They are staying at their friend Margos home, cat-sitting a gruff tabby named Wally, while she is vacationing in Ireland. As Ali is away overnight a lot, Sydney invites Mirela to come up to help stave off her fears of the unknown noises she hears in the big, empty house, and Ali invests Mirela as backup for Sydneys inevitable investigating. The descriptions of the new settings are vivid and accompanied by interesting and tragic bits of history of the location and the Wampanoag tribe, whose descendants still live there.

The plot moves quickly, and the suspense builds as Sydney searches for clues and connections between the murder of Juliet Mills and the disappearance of Sky Taylor. The resolution is riveting and a very suspenseful finale for all their cases.

I recommend TRAFFICKING IN MURDER to suspenseful cozy mystery fans.

For this and other book reviews, visit Guatemala Paula Loves to Read at

https://guatemalapaula.blogspot.com/2026/06/virtual-book-tour-giveaway-trafficking.html

BOOK REVIEW: THE PAWN (THE LEMASTER FILES. #2) by John David

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:24:45 Z

The Pawn

The Lemaster Files, #2

John David

A complex, high-stakes tale of betrayal, lust, and money.

The Pawn is the second book in author John David's thrilling Lemaster Files series featuring Pete Lemaster, investigative journalist for Jacksonville, Florida's WJAX. When Jacksonville businessman Scott Wilkins is arrested at the Singapore airport for drug possession, drugs he claims aren't his and knows nothing about, his nephew contacts his old college friend, Pete Lemaster, to shine his investigative spotlight on the case. The penalties for drug convictions in Singapore are steep, with lengthy prison sentences and corporal punishment caning on the table, and the nephew is hoping the news coverage will get the US government to intervene. Scott, a frequent business traveler to Singapore, is well aware of the many public warnings about the prohibitions and is unlikely to have attempted to smuggle drugs anywhere, let alone there. Scott's story is compelling, and Pete and his girlfriend, Lt Rebecca Dawes, with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, go all in to try and figure out who put the drugs in Scott's carry-on bag and is trying to frame him in this particularly shocking way.

What a great story! Pete Lemaster is an engaging and entertaining character who is doing his best to uncover and report the facts of Scott Wilkin's situation. He and Rebecca are getting closer as romantic partners and work extremely well as an investigative team, even though their processes are often quite different. The presumptively innocent Scott is an unstoppable ladies' man, but, while charming, is shallow and completely focused on his own desires; character traits that had me doubting his story from page one.

The plot is well-paced, with Pete running a thorough investigation of Scott's movements up to his arrest as he tries to identify the people in Scott's life who would have such a grudge against him as to plan this kind of revenge. I enjoyed the newsroom's teamwork, the promise of coordination with the national network, and Pete's rivalry with the station's established anchor, Wes. While Pete and Rebecca didn't get to enjoy Singapore's sights and culture during their whirlwind trip, the details and descriptions of what they encountered and learned there were interesting. The deeper the pair dug into Scott's recent history, the faster the pages flew by, revealing a couple of plot twists I never could have imagined. Well done!

I recommend THE PAWN to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially those who enjoy journalist sleuths and international cases.

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

BOOK REVIEW: THE HONEYMOON HOMICIDES (SYDNEY RILEY, #10) by Jeannette de Beauvoir

KAREN SIDDALL — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:40:13 Z

The Honeymoon Homicides: A Provincetown Mystery

Sydney Riley, #10

Jeannette de Beauvoir

Exciting addition to the Sydney Riley series!

The Honeymoon Homicides: A Provincetown Mystery is the tenth book in author Jeannette de Beauvoirs humorous, cozy mystery series, which features former wedding planner turned hotel owner Sydney Riley. Sydney and her new husband Ali start their married life together with an uninvited guest dropping into their wedding.

The main character, Sydney, is an absolute magnet for mystery and murder, and this latest book brings both elements to the table in full force. Sydney is just as fun as she can be as she works toward finding answers, even when worried about the threats to Alis wellbeing. She is surrounded by a plethora of fine supporting characters that bring the story to life and provide the perfect platform for the authors signature wit and clever dialogue to shine.

The plot of this book literally hits the ground running, as they say, and the author keenly maintained my interest throughout with twists and added mystery. My pleasure with the story was greatly enhanced by the inclusion of historical tales regarding this part of Cape Cod, such as the German U-boats that roamed the coast during WWII and the actual existence of the dune shacks along the beach outside Provincetown and the related controversy.

Although this novel is well down the line in this long-running series, it can still be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I recommend THE HONEYMOON HOMICIDES to cozy mystery readers looking for a new series to jump on and fans of the previous books in the series.

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

BOOK REVIEW: SWORN TO COLLIDE (SWORN SISTERS, #4) by Maria Imbalzano

KAREN SIDDALL — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:43:03 Z

Sworn to Collide

Sworn Sisters, #4

Maria Imbalzano

Emotion-filled story that addresses realistic conflicts in a marriage.

Sworn to Collide is the fourth book in author Maria Imbalzanos womens fiction series, the Sworn Sisters, and is an emotion-filled story about conflicts between a couple that threatens the very foundation of their relationship. The Sworn Sisters are a group of long-time friends, and each book in the series features one of the women. Although part of the series, this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but the recurring characters bring a familiar feeling to each story.

Denise Dee and Ben Nelson have been together since high school, have been married for the past eleven years, and are raising three children. Dee halted her career when she became pregnant with their first child, always with the understanding that she would resume working at her fathers venture capital firm when the kids were older. Bens career has been successful with her support, with her moving the family so he could take promotions and advance up the corporate ladder. But when Dees father has a heart attack, her joining the firm sooner rather than later suddenly becomes critical. However, Ben surprises her with the news hes accepted a promotion, requiring them to relocate five states away to Boston, without talking to her first. With their adopted son, Bobby, midway through his junior year in high school, playing two varsity sports, and her hopes to help out her father, the move seems ill-timed, and Dee puts the brakes on an immediate move. But the long-distance marriage that follows soon starts to fray, and she doesnt know how to make everything work out so everyone stays happy and fulfilled, including herself.

This immersive story was definitely hard to put down as Dee and Ben tangle over their differing priorities: realistic differences that many other marriages also face. Told from Dees point of view, readers experience her growing frustration with Bens failure to see her as an equal partner in their marriage, an issue shes contributed to by acquiescing to all his earlier decisions for their future and by, perhaps, not being clear when voicing her needs and desires with him in the past. As is often the case, one spouses career path takes second place without a clear understanding of how that affects that person and how to achieve a satisfactory balance. The story is further complicated by the presence of third parties also interested in the outcome of their relationship for their own plans.

I recommend SWORN TO COLLIDE to readers of womens fiction.

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

BOOK REVIEW: RECIPE FOR MURDER (PINE COVE MYSTERY, #2) by Marla A. White

KAREN SIDDALL — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:55:12 Z

Recipe for Murder

Pine Cove Mystery, #2

Marla A. White

When Mel's love interest returns to Pine Cove, he's followed by a killer!

Recipe for Murder is the second book in author Marla A. White's cozy Pine Cove Mystery series set high in the California mountains and featuring retired LA detective turned innkeeper, Emmeline "Mel" O'Rourke. When former love interest Jackson Thibodeaux suddenly arrives back in town long after what was to have been a short two-week stay with his mother in New Orleans, he's not alone. While cooling his heels in the Big Easy, he'd signed up for a culinary school course and, midway through, had discovered a classmate deceased in the school's kitchen, and now someone was taking shots at him, too. He wants Mel to find out who killed his friend, Kaya, since the New Orleans PD closed the case as a suicide, and the scene he found in the kitchen doesn't add up to their conclusion. Meanwhile, Mel and local sheriff's deputy Gregg Marks had grown closer after Jackson left her hanging, and she's struggling to separate her feelings for the two very different men.

Mel is an engaging, likable main character who is trying to make a success of her second career as an innkeeper, after an on-the-job injury scuttled her first. Her family had pooled their resources to help her follow her new dream, but the old inn itself seems to be doing its best to make this as difficult as possible. She is supported in her new venture by her now friend and former cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, who's a great cook. She also has a growing affection for Mel's brother, Liam, a plumber, who keeps patching The Brook back up whenever something breaks. Joining them is Grandma O'Rourke, who mans the front desk and applies her mad computer skills to the research Mel needs to investigate her new unofficial case.

While business is looking up for the inn, especially with an upcoming music festival in town, the old girl's infrastructure springs a major leak. While Liam does what he can to make repairs and get the rental cottage that was affected back in service, Mel works to uncover the truth behind Kaya Woods' death and stop whoever has hunted Jackson all the way back to Pine Cove. The plot moves quickly as Mel's long-distance investigation yields more clues, and she tries to do the honorable thing by committing to pursuing a relationship with either Gregg or Jackson. While it was fun watching her decision-making, it was even more fun watching Poppy, Grandma, and cousin Gemma's reactions to her dilemma. The banter among the women in the story absolutely sparkled. There was some clever misdirection, a red herring or two, and plot twists that kept me guessing, but I really enjoyed the exciting reveal when it came.

I recommend RECIPE FOR MURDER to cozy mystery fans.

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

BOOK REVIEW: LIES TO FOREVER by Marlene M. Bell

KAREN SIDDALL — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:48:26 Z

Lies to Forever

Marlene M. Bell

Riveting domestic thriller with danger and a plot twist around every corner!

Lies to Forever by Marlene M. Bell is a riveting new domestic thriller set in eastern Tennessee and features a young out-of-work interior designer on the run from an unknown killer. With danger and plot twists around every corner, the story is a genuine page-turner!

April Manning is having a bad day. After awakening to an unexpected eviction notice on her door and a no-show bass at her interview to return to work at her former workplace, she decides to take her portfolio to his home, where hes supposed to be repairing a spa pump, only to find a murder scene. Bad enough, but the day isnt over yet.

April is a likable and engaging main character, as is her former coworker and beau, Hunter Ellis, who takes up her cause the moment she confides in him. (She had broken up with him over a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.) As the day goes on, she picks up a stalker who is on top of her every move, and both the homes she takes refuge in feel open, unprotected, and so remote. The cold, snowy Tennessee Smokies add to the strong impression of isolation and lurking danger.

The story is full of mystery regarding who is behind the attacks on April and why they are pursuing her. These questions are further complicated by hints that Aprils own mother, a woman who abandoned her to a neighbor 20 years earlier, may have a hand in things. However, the truth proves to be much more diabolical than even that!

I recommend LIES TO FOREVER to fans of domestic thrillers.

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

BOOK REVIEW: THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS EATERY by Gabe Reaume

KAREN SIDDALL — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:44:31 Z

The Brothers and Sisters Eatery

Gabe Reaume

Captivating tale of culinary collaboration and kinship in 1920s Chicago.

The Brothers and Sisters Eatery by Gabe Reaume is a warm and captivating tale of two disparate families in 1920s Chicago, drawn together by the fathers' love of cooking and sharing their special family dishes with others. Samson, the head of the Sanders family, is a former slave from Sugar Land, Texas, with a gift for creating mouthwatering barbeque. His wife, Sandra, is an equally gifted baker of hard-to-resist fruit hand pies. Massimo "Mass" Messina is an immigrant from Sicily, brought to the U.S. after years of coaxing by his wife's older brother, Carmine Basile, a Chicago businessman with ties to the Sicilian mafia. Mass's life revolves around the dishes he's grown up with and perfected, and he plans to bring them to his new home by opening a restaurant on his own, without his brother-in-law's help. Both men require capital to keep their families afloat while pursuing their dreams, and the unlikely pair meets when their lunch pails are swapped on the first day of their new jobs at the Chicago Armour plant.

Two passionate, determined men and two loving, supportive families form the foundation of this inspirational, satisfying historical fiction story about immigrant experiences in 1920s Chicago. The two fathers' love of cooking is the common thread that draws them together, but it is their kindness, humanity, shared experiences, and like-mindedness that cement their enduring friendship. I liked that the families shared these qualities and meshed so well as they worked toward their common goal.

The author presents a vivid picture of life in Chicago and the social climate at that time. The attitudes towards Blacks and immigrants are a reminder of the past and, for some, a mirror of current relations. The two men drew the former slaughterhouse workers' particular ire because they were hired as replacements for the strikers. The descriptions of the work, practices, and conditions at the plant were eye-opening.

However, the plot is not just about the two families' paths to collaboration as chefs and, eventually, restaurateurs. The descriptions of their meals, mains, sides, and breads all had me watering at the mouth and wishing the author had included recipes at the end of the book! Also, suspenseful twists involving individuals from both men's pasts threaten not only their dreams but also their lives and those of their families!

The fathers' shared love of cooking and their willingness and determination to persevere, doing whatever it took to keep their families afloat while they worked toward a better life and future, is a tribute to fathers everywhere who are quietly and persistently doing the same: the perfect story as Father's Day approaches.

I recommend THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS EATERY to readers of historical fiction, especially those with an affinity for immigrant stories, men overcoming great odds, or early Chicago settings.

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

BOOK REVIEW: THE GUILT OF OTHERS by Sara Burrell

KAREN SIDDALL — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:33:15 Z

The Guilt of Others

Sara Burrell

Riveting reading, with surprising plot twist upon surprising plot twist!

The Guilt of Others, a thrilling new mystery by author Sara Burrell, is an absolutely riveting tale, as one plot twist after another pummels their way to a satisfying conclusion. Told from multiple first-person points of view, the book opens with a shocking shooting at an elementary school and proceeds to lay out the backstories of each narrator, all with ties to the school and roles in the unfolding drama. However, while a terribly tragic event, it is the complex and surprising relationships between the characters that had me glued to the story from start to finish.

The story is revealed in engaging, alternating chapters, by one of the nine main characters; each person telling how they came to be involved in the shooting, until the lead investigator takes up the story as she tries to unravel what really occurred that day. The elementary school behind-the-scenes setting is full of the kind of drama found at most educational facilities, but doubly so because of the principal, a heinous, tone-deaf, and sexist man in both his professional and personal life. The author does an amazing job juggling the many diverse storylines involving him, staff members, students, and ancillary workers while masterfully guiding their surprising revelations for maximum effect. Consequently, this book will go on my list of those I wish I could read again for the first time!

I recommend THE GUILT OF OTHERS to readers of mysteries and thrillers.

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

BOOK REVIEW: ADVERSE REACTIONS by Deborah J. Lightfoot

KAREN SIDDALL — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:50:06 Z

Adverse Reactions

Deborah J. Lightfoot

With its riveting plot, engaging heroine, and cinematic narrative, I was all in from page one!

Adverse Reactions is a new Western/paranormal/dystopian novel by veteran author Deborah J. Lightfoot, and with its uniquely riveting plot, engaging young heroine, and cinematic narrative, I was all in from page one! This absorbing tale features a world where ordinary people are in charge and those with psychokinetic abilities are feared, identified, and eliminated. However, a reckoning is coming!

Teenaged Devin Perridin, a persistent syke (gifted with strong psychokinetic abilities but unable to intentionally control them yet), is taken from her home in Purity and sent by her parents to an asylum to be cured. But the cure is nothing less than physical and psychological torture that eventually breaks down her defenses, leaving her crushed, a zombie-like version of herself, unaware and uncaring of her surroundings. But as shes being transported back home, a sedated mess, her train is set upon, and she is rescued by a small group of men on horseback led by a powerful syke from a ranch hidden in the nearby mountains. Once there, she is physically brought back to health, and Sutton, the ranchs leader, attempts to re-ignite her broken psychokinetic gift, believing she could be a strong syke with the power to match his own and take revenge on the town of Purity. But as Devin heals, she begins to have doubts about the extent of Suttons vengeance and his sanity.

Devin Perridin is such an engaging, sympathetic main character, and the treatment she endured at the hands of the therapists at the Peaceful Hills sanatorium is horrific. She comes away from the facility a mental husk, and the story about how she slowly regains her faculties and then her special abilities is riveting. While Sutton views the young girl as a potential tool for his revenge, Angelina, the enigmatic housekeeper and my second-favorite character, sees her for who she is and supports her in regaining her mental and physical well-being. I also enjoyed the sweet relationship that buds between Devin and the young wrangler, Jack, who wants to be her knight in shining armor, willing to wait and let their feelings mature before making hasty commitments.

The various settings are established using vivid imagery that put me in the scene alongside the characters. Action sequences and locations are presented so cinematically that it felt like watching a movie in my head. I was completely immersed in the story and almost read the entire book through in one sitting.

I recommend ADVERSE REACTIONS to fans of dystopian fiction with western and paranormal elements.

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

BOOK REVIEW - MOTHER TONGUE: A MEMOIR OF TAIWAN by Linda Petrucelli

KAREN SIDDALL — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:00:00 Z

Mother Tongue

A Memoir of Taiwan

Linda Petrucelli

Warm, witty, and wonderful!

Mother Tongue: A Memoir of Taiwan by Linda Petrucelli is the warm, witty, and wonderful recounting of the authors time as a missionary in Taiwan in the 1980s. Reverend Linda Petrucelli, a well-spoken, highly educated Iowa pastor, had been seeking a church placement for some time without success when she heard that the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan was seeking female ministers. After applying and much waiting, she and her husband, Gary, were accepted, leaving everyone they loved and everything familiar back home in Iowa. They eventually arrived in the small island nation to discover that instead of working with indigenous youths in a remote posting, they were to remain in the city, and rather than learn to speak Mandarin, the official language of the country, they were to tackle the much more difficult Taiwanese, the dialect most of the population grew up speaking at home, but didnt want to speak in public.

What a fascinating and satisfying story! The author and her artist husband were both in their 30s when they began their first of two tours in Taiwan. She perfectly conveys their sense of being fish out of water from the moment they land in Asia, immersed in a culture so different from their own. Many of their experiences are humorous; however, you can clearly feel their loneliness, confusion, frustration, and a sense of being completely off-balance in their early days. The authors moments of success, even the smallest incidents, became causes for elation. The author perseveres, though, and finds her purpose, working to help and improve the lives of some of the neediest people. At the same time, she learns more about herself, her faith, and how she wants to live her best life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the settings and the people Linda met throughout her time in Taiwan. I loved the connections she made with residents, especially the random encounters that made such a big impression on her and helped her at just the right moments in her journey. While it sounds like a grand adventure, it takes a lot of courage to leave your home like this and venture into complete, 24/7 unknown territory. Well done!

I recommend MOTHER TONGUE to readers of memoirs, travel memoirs, and biographies.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through WOW! Women On Writing Book Tours.