Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly review

Title:  Batten Down the Belfry 

Author:  Diane Kelly

Ch: 24

Pg:  304

Series: A House Flipper Mystery Book 4

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s

 

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly is the 4th book in the A House Flipper mystery series and I enjoyed it. Though I enjoyed the flip more than the mystery. I though Whitney's idea of turning for the old church and rectory into venue and restaurant (not a spoiler as it's on the back blurb) since they are so close to Nashville was brilliant. I love the relationship she has with her close Buck who's almost like a brother to her. And just like with previous books in the series I love the chapters from Sawdust's point of view (Whitney's cat). I'm looking forward to the next one.    

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart review

Title:  The Master Craftsman

Author:  Kelli Stuart

Pg:  401

Genre:  Dual Time Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

    The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart is a dual time treasure hunt novel set in the present and Imperial Russia. Ava Laine’s estranged father Nick sends her on a treasure hunt for a possible missing Faberge egg. As Faberge made Easter Eggs for the Romanov family up to the Revolution. Rumor was Faberge entrusted the egg to his most trusted craftsman’s Alma Pihl.

    They get a team together that includes Nick back home in the states Ava as well a Zak the computer and Xander the muscle. I’m not going to lie I was worried that we were going to have a love triangle, but this book was my action and adventure than love story.

    Ava was a bit a tough hit to tough nut to crack and I found her saying she was full of historical facts enduring as I am as well. This book gave me National Treasure vibes and Indiana Jones vibes. And I loved the references to both Star Wars and National Treasure in the book.

    Even though I figured out the twist because of a quote that reminded me of the movie The 355, it didn’t take a way from my enjoyment of finishing the book. I loved visiting Russia in the pages of the book. As well as diving into her history, as understanding Russia history can help to understand current event.

The Master Craftsman was a fast read I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. And it’s lead me to learn more about the Faberge Eggs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour  I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

 

The Catch by Lisa Harris Review

 Title:  The Catch 

Author: Lisa Harris

Series: US Marshals Book 3

Chapters: 37

Pages: 352

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell

 

The Catch is the third book in the US Marshals series by Lisa Harris. And while the Marshal case for each book is different. The main suspense line and romance subplot is through all three books so it’s important to read them in order. As the main suspense thread doesn’t get tied up till this one.

Since this is the third book in the series it’s hard to talk about plot without spoiling the whole series. But since this one involves a missing child I found it to be the most suspenseful and stressful of the books. But still good. I ended up finishing it in two days. It would have been one day if things like food and work didn’t need to happen. But it was a book that could easily be read in one day.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon review

Title:  Sea Glass Cottage

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor

Genre: Christian contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher:  Revell

 

Once again readers are back in Hope Harbor with Sea Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon. Not only is the town charming but the residents are as well, especially Charlie the taco guy. Who always seems to know the right advice to give at the right moment?   I loved visiting with some of my favorites in this one, but I also loved meeting Jack Colby and Christi Reece, these two share a past. Jack's not ready to forgive her, and Christi's' determined to prove she's changed. But when another surprise shows up from Jack's past that leads them to work together might just be the thing that brings them back together. 

 

I love Irene's contemporary's more than I do her suspense because not only does she create life like characters she creates towns that you just want to visit. What I love the most about Irene's books are the faith content throughout the story as well as the happy ending at the end. You just don't know how you’re going to get there even with her Contemporaries.  She doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. And I for one was happy to hear that we are getting at least three more Hope Harbor books. Yay.  I hope you enjoy Christi's and Jack's story as much as I did. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Bridesmaid by Jess Mastorakos review

Title:

 The Bridesmaid

Author: Jess Mastorakos

Ch: 25 plus epilogue

Pg:  258

Series: The Brides of Beaufort book 3

Genre:  Rom Com

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Indie

    The Bridesmaid by Jess Mastorakos is the newest book in The Brides of Beaufort series. Layla’s story and she’s been a bridesmaid seven times but never a bride. She’s gun shy after having her hurt broke by Marine Zac Miller three years earlier.

Who just happens to be back in Beaufort with a son in toll. He wants a second chance but Layla’s not so sure. He’s got his work cut out for him. But luckily for him Ms. Hattie’s willing to help.

Layla was an easy character to relate too, as I too have been a bridesmaid seven times. I loved her relationship with her twin Lyndi who I did actually relate to as a fellow book worm and photographer. While Layla as an artist reminds me of my sister. So I love stories with close sister relationships. And I’m a sucker for second chance romances. I loved this one and each book in the series gets better than the previous one. I can’t wait for the next one.

 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the author I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Josh and Gemma make a Baby by Sarah Ready Review

Title:  Josh and Gemma Make A Baby 

Author:  Sarah Ready

Ch: 31

Pg: 366

Genre:  Women’s Fiction with romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC

 

Don't let the cover fool you Josh and Gemma make a baby by Sarah Ready is not a typical rom com.  Though it has humor, comedy and romance I would not classify it as a rom com or even your typical romance. As it deals with deeper issues that rom coms don't normally tackle.  But Sarah Ready does it with tack and humor.  Gemma has given up on finding Mr. Right but she still wants a baby, so enter her brother's best friend Josh.  Both go into the arrangement without planning on being anything more than friend’s famous last words.  

 

I've seen other reviews were readers were saying that Gemma was going through wasn't realistic and it was over the top. I found it realistic and believable and not over the top.   But we live in a society where women get shamed for their infertility even from their own family. Gemma was easy for me to relate to. Not the inferably part or the IVF at least not yet, but I can relate to the Endometritis diagnosis and her reaction to it. Not every woman relates to endo the same way but like Gemma I related to   my diagnosis with humor it was the only way I could process it.  So it was nice to see it handle that way in a book. (Though not everyone handles it that way).   And I could see myself doing something similar to Gemma if I was in her shoes. All in all a good book that had me laughing and in tears.  And Rooting for both Gemma and Josh. 

 

A few steamy scenes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker review

 

Title:  Lucky Leap Day 

Author:  Ann Marie Walker

Ch: 25 Plus Epilogue

Pg:  315

Genre:  Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

 

It's a rom com involving a Leap year proposal gone wrong and a total misunderstanding that might actually be the best thing that happened to two people.  I loved the banter between Finn and Cara. It gave me Leap Year (the movie) vibes but this book was so much better.   But Penny the great aunt figure who's not really a great aunt who's great at knocking sense into people was probably the best part of the book.  As well as the two dogs.  I do plan to read more by Ann Marie Walker in the future. 

A few steamy scenes. 

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson review

 Title:  Run, Rose, Run

Author:  Dolly Parton and James Patterson

Ch: 96

Length:  10:26:15

Genre:  fiction hint of mystery

Rating: 4.5 stars

 

I have to say that I would read anything that Dolly writes. We technically I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Dolly and a full cast. I love full cast audiobooks every main character gets its own narrator which adds to the story. And even though it's also written by James Patterson it doesn't read like a James Patterson it reads like what I think a fiction book written by Dolly would read like.  Annielee was my favorite character though Ruthanna Ryder was a close second as the retired Country queen,  Ruthanna's character reminded me so much of Dolly and I can't help but wonder if Dolly did that for a reason.  And of course any good country story like any good country love song needs a hero, enter Ethan Blake the Army Captain turned songwriter.  The book does start out a little on the slow side but quickly picks up.  

 

Run, Rose, Run has been optioned for a movie and that's something I'm looking forward to, and to me there's only one person who could play Ruthanna Ryder and that's Dolly herself. 

 

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner review

 Title:  Crying in H Mart

Author:  Michelle Zauner

Ch: 20

Length:  07:27:0

Genre:  memoir

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Knopf publishing group

 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner came out in 2021 and I put it on my list to read because of the title, but when it was talked about on the podcast  What should I read next with Anne Bogel I knew that the subject matter wasn't something I was ready for at the time.   I thought I was ready for the subject matter when I started listening to audio earlier this year.  But it was still an emotional read as any book about losing one's mother would be an emotional read.  I listened to the audiobook read by the author herself which adds to the emotion to me the audio book enhanced my experience.    The reason the title drew me in last year was because I could relate to the title not the H mart part but the crying part like the author herself there have been times I found myself crying in a store since losing my mom.  Though it's only happened in the grocery store once.  The time that stands out the most to me was the just before the mother's day the year after we lost her I was standing in the card section of the store in front of the mother's day cards bawling like a baby.  And like Michelle says in Crying in H mart grief comes in waves. 

 

There were two quotes that stood out to me the most from this book because I relate to them both so much, the first being “It felt like the world had divided into two different types of people, those who had felt pain and those who had yet to.” ― Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart.  And “For the rest of my life there would be a splinter in my being, stinging from the moment my mother died until it was buried with me.”― Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart. Because that quote summed up how I also feel about losing my mom.   

 

Crying in H Mart is one of the books that you need to be in the right head space and right emotional space to read, and while I want to recommend the book especially the audio to everyone, I can't. If you've recently last a parent especially a mother I recommend waiting.  Or if a loved one is going through cancer treatment or has lost the battle wait. I thought being almost six years since I lost my mom I could handle reading/listening to this one, and I was still a sobbing mess by the time I finished this one.

Pleading the Fish by Bree Baker review

Title:  Pleading the Fish

Author:  Bree Baker

Ch: 22 Plus 3 epilogues

Pg:  336

Series: Seaside Café Mystery series book 7

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

 

Pleading the fish is the seventh and final book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery series by Bree Baker, and while I'm sad to see the series end it ended on a great note. And the series wrapped up nicely. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to a great series. And while I will miss Everly butting in on Grady's cases because she can't help herself and Aunt Clara and Aunt Fran's meddling and Denver's sweet child antics. The series ended at the right time. However I have to say that it would make an awesome tv series. 

 

I have to say having three epilogues from three different point of views from three different times was genius.  And I look forward to see what else Bree Baker comes up with. 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan review

Title:  The Mozart Code 

Author:  Rachel McMillan

Ch: 45

Pg:  354

Genre:  Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

 

Rachel McMillan has done it again. In The Mozart Code made me feel like I was in post war Vienna. I’ve always loved Vienna you can’t be a classical music lover and not love Vienna I loved getting to know Sophie and Simon better and it was nice seeing Brent and Diana again.

Rachel just has a way of bringing cities to life, and The Mozart Code she brought Vienna to life making it a character alongside Simon and Sophie. Sophie’s strong and resourceful and handy with a gun, but she’s also stubborn and feminine as well. Simon knows this and it’s what he admires most about her. Plus, I just love nerdy heroes and Rachel writes them the best. He’s a hero who knows the heroine can slay her own dragons, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be there with her.

Don’t let the setting and time period fool you it’s primarily a love story with only a hint of mystery.

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

 

The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams review

 Title:  The Storyteller 

Author:  Kathryn Williams

Ch: 28 Plus Postscript

Pg:  353

Genre:  Contemporary YA

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Harper Teen

 

While I didn't love this one at first because Jess got on my nerves for all the stupid crap she was doing. But after awhile I started to like it more. Because I liked it because it was an Anastasia retelling with actually being an Anastasia retelling. Because while it played into the myth it still stuck to the facts of history which is something I haven't read before. So I liked that aspect of it.  And Jess started to grow on me as the story progress mainly because you could see her grow as a person as the story progress and as she researched her summer project and researched her family.  As well as getting to know Evan. 

 

First Line Friday

 Hosted by Reading is my Superpower

Chapter One 

"Simon Barre had left his best revolved back at his family estate near Wilmington, Sussex, along with the Barrington Surname." 

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich Review

 Title:  The Recovery Agent

 Author:  Janet Evanovich

Ch: 26

Pg:  297

Series: Gabriela Rose Book 1

Genre:  Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Atira

 

The Recovery Agent introduces readers to Janet Evanovich's newest heroine Gabriela Rose. And is the first book in the Gabriela Rose series.  Gabriela has the humor of Stephanie Plum but when it comes to abilities she's more like Evanovich's heroine Kate O'Hare in the O'Hare and Fox series. And the book itself reads like a modern day female Indiana Jones and I love that. As Indiana Jones is one of my favorite movie series.  I have to say that The Recovery Agent is one of my favorites of Evanovich recent books. And like all of her books you've got interesting sidekicks and at least one relative that's slightly off their rocker and it this one its grandma Franny who could give Grandma Mazer a run for her money. I am looking forward to the next one in the series. I think I have a new Evanovich series. 

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

April To Be Read

 April To Read 

To finish 

The Viscount who Loved me by Julia Quinn

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zaunker 

Flirtourautos by Erin Mallon

To Read 

Forgotten Book April: Night Bird Calling 

April Showers/Flowers: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James 

Genre Surprise: Dual Time: Behind Love’s wall 

Must Reads: The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillian 

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Review Books: The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart 

The Catch by Lisa Harris 

Seas Glass Cottage by Irene Hannon 

Shadow Loyalty by Roseanna M White

March Wrap Up

 

I’m starting the month with (71) unread books Bought (1) book(s) Got (1) book for review Won a (1)book in a giveaway Got my owlcrate book(1) Got books for gifts () which brought my total to (74). Read (1) owned books. () DNF’d book Read () Kindle books I own DNF’d kindle book (). () DNF’d series () finished series.  So I am ending the month at books (73) unread books. (50) unfinished series and hoping to get back on track with the whole read 5 physical books before I buy anymore.   Read 17 books

 

Meet me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman

Batten Down the Belfry by Diana Kelly

With Love from London by Sarah Jio

The Seven Husband’s of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Red Widow by Alma Katsu

A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnet

Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker

Captain America Sam Wilson Vol 1

The Betrayal of Anne Frank By Rosemary Sullivan

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

The Maid by Nita Prose

The Planner by Jess Masotorkas

Malicious Intent by Lynn H Blackburn

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Josh and Gemma make a baby by Sarah Ready

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon