Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair review

Title:  Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Author: Emma St Clair

Chapters:30 Plus epilogue

Series: Appies # 5

Pages: 418

Genre: Hockey Rom Com, Rom Com, Sports Rom Com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Indie

There’s only one rule that hockey players are smart enough not to break don’t date the coach’s daughter unfortunately Van’s not that smart. Van ends up being the get away driver for Amelia the runaway bride and coach’s daughter. He might be the bad boy of the Appies but there’s more to him than meets the eye.  And in Runaway Bride and Prejudice you get to peel back the layers and find Robbie not Van. I have to say he’s replaced Felix as my favorite Appie

Better Late than Never by Jess Mastorakos review

 Title: Better late than never

Author: Jess Mastorakos

Ch: 22 plus epilogue

Pg: 302

Series: Love in Charlotte Oaks books 5

Genre: Rom com

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: indie

Just when I think I know which hero from Love In Charlotte Oaks is my favorite, I get thrown a curve ball. First it was Riley and then we got broody Travis. But now we have loyal sometimes to a fault and slightly grumpy Adam Wilson. The Oldest Wilson brother former Marine and town cop. I’m pretty sure him and Travis are tied for favorite with Riley being a close second.

Then we have Paisley Stevens, former music manager turned Charlotte Oaks 911 dispatcher. We first met Paisley in No Place Like Home, the first one in the series. Yes, the books, even though each is a standalone, need to be read in order. I admit I didn’t like Paisley at first but in this one I loved her. And as a fellow big sister she’s easy to relate to.

Paisley and Adam’s relationship may be my favorite of the series. I love their banter. Their banter throughout the series as the one couple we’ve seen grow and change throughout the whole series. Another reason to read in order. So, you don’t miss anything. So needless to say, I loved these two older siblings butting heads and get more of their back stories of why they are the way they are. Yes, this one has flashback chapters. And of course, this one also features everyone’s favorite matchmaker goat Gertie. And I also enjoyed seeing a character with my name even she was only a secondary character. 

The Contract by Jess Mastorakos review

Title:  The Contract

Author:  Jess Mastorakos

Ch: 25 plus epilogue

Pg:  231

Series: The Brides of Beaufort 5

Genre:  Contemporary romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: self

 

The Contract by Jess Mastorakos is My big Fat Greek wedding but with Marines with one of my favorite troupes and I loved it. Zoe and Chase are both Marines and friends with very different families. Chase is a surfer from Hawaii turned Marine with a slightly dysfunctional family. But Zoe comes from a large Greek family who wants her to have a traditional Greek life. Both their family’s issues lead to them listing to advice from a friend they end up in a marriage of convenience.

Marriage of convenience is one my favorite troupes, but it tends to only work in historical fiction. But Jess proves if done right it works in contemporary romance as well. I loved meeting Zoe’s family but importantly I loved following Zoe and Chase from friendship to what might be. And I loved that I got a Greek family like one of my favorite movies but with a Marine my all-time favorite hero both in books and real life.

 

 

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.

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower review

 Title:  Crimes and Covers

Author:  Amanda Flower

Ch: 28 Plus Epilogue

Pg:  304

Series: A Magical Bookshop mystery book 5

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 5 stars

 Publisher: Crooked Lane books

 

Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower is the fifth book in the A Magical Bookshop mystery series and it's the book I been waiting for since I started this series.  Though I liked how the book ended I do hope it's not the end of the series and Violet's mystery solving. I loved this book and series because of the bookshop setting and the little bit of romance. I am one of those cozy readers who enjoys a bit of rom com with my mysteries.  I look forward to the next book by Amanda Flower and hopefully the next book in the A Magical Bookshop Mystery 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.

 

The Cure for What Ales You by Elle Alexander review

Title:  The Cure for What Ales You

Author:  Elle Alexander

Ch: 29

Pg:  276

Series: A Sloan Krause Mystery book 5

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s press

The Cure for What Ales You by Elle Alexander is the 5th book in the A Sloan Krause mystery series and I have to say that it is my favorite of the series so far. I think do in part since it's the 5th book the characters and the setting are fully established and they feel like old friends. I also loved that the mystery aspect kept me guessing. The fact that an underlying thread through the previous books has tied itself up nicely. 

Though I think I would have loved this one in even more if I had read it during late spring early summer as that is when the novel instead of reading as I did in the fall. I do like the direction that the relationship between Sloan and Garrett is going. And as always, I look forward to the next book in the 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.

 

 

 

Black Canary Breaking silence by Alexandra Monir

Title: Black Canary Breaking Silence  

Author:  Alexandra Monir

Ch: 23 plus epilogue

Pg:  384

Series: DC Icons book 5

Genre:  Comic characters retelling

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Random house books for young readers

 

Black Canary Breaking Silence by Alexandra Monir is the 5th book On the DC Icons series and I have to say it’s my favorite of the series. Which surprised me as Black Canary was never on my radar as a DC character. But Dinah Lance was awesome in this one. A book that looks at Gotham in a future without Batman and heroes. A Gotham in which women are second class citizens.

But Dinah not going to be silent she’s going to fight back with the help of friends new and old. I’ve also haven’t been and Oliver Queen fan mainly because of the TV show but in this book we get the Oliver Queen we deserve along with the awesome librarian Barbara Gordon.

If this is the end of the DC Icon series then it was an awesome end.

Closely Harbored Secrets by Bree Baker view

Title:  Closely Harbored Secrets

Author:  Bree Baker

Ch: 27

Pg:  339

Series: Seaside Café Mystery book 5

Genre:  cozy mystery

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Source Books

 

Closely Harbored Secrets by Bree Baker is the fifth book in the Seaside Cafe mystery series. I enjoyed being back in this small coastal North Carolina town. This one was the first book in the series that I didn’t figure out The Who done it. And like always my favorite characters are Everly’s great aunts Clara and Fran.

 

 

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. 

A Deadly Edition review

 Title:  A Dealdy Edition 

 Author: Victoria Gilbert 

Series: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery book 5

Chapters:30

Pages:359

Genre: cozy mystery 

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

Publisher: Crooked Lane books

 

     A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert is the 5^th book in the A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. This was one of my favorites in the series. I loved that I didn’t figure out the who done it before the end. This one kept me guessing until the very end. And the sweet scene at the end really wrapped up the story.

 

 

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.

There's A Murder Afoot review

Title:  There’s A Murder Afoot

Author: Vicki Delany

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery

Chapters: 22

Pages: 336

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher:  Crooked Lane Books

     There’s a Murder Afoot by Vicki Delany is the newest installment in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Series, and this one takes place in London. The first one in the series to take place across the pond. And with this one it’s easy to see that the main character Gemma Doyle who happens to share a name with the creator of Sherlock Holmes she’s meant to be a modern version of Sherlock Holmes expect she’s female.

     I have to say that this one is my favorite of the series so far, and it’s due in part to the London setting. Reading the mystery made it seem like the reader was indeed in London. As this is the 5^th one in the series I do recommend not reading this one first, I recommend starting with the first book Elementary, She Read.

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.

Review of Murder in the Reading Room

Title:  Murder in the Reading Room 

Author:  Ellery Adams 

Series: Book Retreat Mysteries book 5 

Chapters: 17 plus epilogue 

Pages: 320

Genre: cozy mystery 

Rating: 4 stars 

Murder in the Reading Room is the fifth book in the Book Retreat Mysteries series by Ellery Adams.  In this one Jane finds herself traveling to North Carolina and the Biltmore Estate in order to find her missing boyfriend. However, doing so will not only put Jane in danger but her sons and the library in danger as well.  Because the man who captured her boyfriend knows about the library and wants something from it.  Out of all of the books in this series so far this one was my least favorite, but I still enjoyed this one a great deal. Jane is a character that is easy to relate too.  Her boys are typical boys always trying to get into misfits.  With the fins there is more than meets the eye, and that's the way it’s supposed to be. 

With Murder in the Reading Room I did not see any of the twist that happened coming and I loved that.  I don't really enjoy mysteries in which I can easily figure out the twist.  And even though I didn't like this one as much I did love ending, an ending that lets you know there's another book coming in the series.   I do recommend reading this series in order, to me they can't be read as standalone books you end up missing information that you get in a previous book or you end spoiling yourself about something that happened in a previous book.  Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. 

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.

Review of Sconed to Death

Title:  Sconed to Death 

Author:  Lynn Cahoon 

Series: Cat Latimer Mystery book 5 

Pages: 320

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Sconed to Death by Lynn Cahoon is the fifth book in the Cat Latimer Mystery series and its time for another writers retreat.  Cat doesn't need to get sucked into another murder, but alas she does and this time the prime suspect is the owner of the bakery. With whom Shauna kind of has bad blood with.  Cat agrees to ask around even though her uncle the town police chief and Seth want her to stay out of it.  Just can't help it.  Cat a writer and retreat owner by trade just can't seem to stay away from solving mysteries.   

With it being a writer's retreat series you get to meet all kinds of crazy characters which keeps the stories interesting and moving right along. These cozy are always a quick read.  Even though each mystery is a standalone it is best to read the mysteries in order so to get all the little details you get as you go along and not risk spoiling yourself for previous books.  

Perfect for fans of most cozy mysteries. 

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.

Something Read, Something Dead by Eva Gates review

Title:  Something Read, Something Dead

Author: Eva Gates

Series: Lighthouse Library Mystery book 5

Chapters: 28

Pages: 320

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Something Read, Something Dead is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Series by Eva Gates. Lucy Richardson thought that she was just going to be planning her cousin's wedding. Instead she finds herself trying to solve a murder and clear her cousin's name.  Otherwise there's not going to be wedding. 

Just like the first books in the series I love the library set in a lighthouse along with the resident cat Charles, every library needs a cat and ever cozy mystery heroines needs a sidekick. Charles the cat happens to be Lucy's.   Even with this being book five in the series the mysteries still have a mystery to them.  Leaving the reader guessing till the last chapter who the bad guy is.  

I do recommend reading this books in order even though each mystery is a standalone, you lose the character and relationship development if you read them out of order.  These books are perfect for anyone who loves cozy mysteries, cats, and libraries. 

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.

Review of The Cumberland Bride

Title: The Cumberland Bride

Author: Shannon McNear

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower book 5

 

Chapters: 35 plus epilogue

Pages: 256

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance

Rating: 5 stars

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear is the fifth book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, and my favorite of the series so far.  Shannon McNear is a new to me author as I haven't read anything else by her before. But The Cumberland Bride won't be the last.  She has three novella's I can't wait to dive into.    This book is set in 1794 on the wilderness road the war for independence has been won and Kentucky is officially a state going on two years when the Gruener family travels from Tennessee to land in Kentucky led by guide Thomas Bledsoe. Kate Gruener's father has warned her away from the handsome scout.  Kate a writer and storyteller at heart, wants to know Thomas story. That leads them both to find themselves in a dangerous situation on the Kentucky frontier.  

After living with the Shawnee for two years Thomas Bledsoe doesn't feel like he fits in either world. Has plans to never fall in love because he doesn't want to "leave another woman to cry over him."  But then he meets Kate Gruener and his plans start to fall apart. I was glad to see that the author showed how the Shawnee were, that a lot of their captives were actually adopted into the tribe.  That just like with the settlers some were good and some not so much. Very few novels I've read take this approach. 

  As I said this was my favorite of the series so far, I think part of the reason is the time period and the setting of my beloved Kentucky. But also unlike most colonial novels the story and characters reflex on my family's journey from the east to Kentucky in the 1700s.  On my mother's side an ancestor was captured by the Shawnee at least according to family legend. However on my father's side we had a German soldier who fought on the side of the Patriots and for his service was given a land grant in western Kentucky. So a bit of the story was personal for me.  I have to say that Thomas Bledsoe has found his way to my favorite book heroes list. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction with hints of romance, fans of Laura Frantz's books as well as fans of Lori Benton's books and Michelle Griep. 

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

Review of Shattered at Sea

Title:  Shattered at Sea

Author: Cheryl Hollon

Series: A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery book 5

 

Chapters: 25

Pages: 264

Genre: cozy mystery     

Rating: 4 stars

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon is the 5th book in the A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery in which Savannah is doing glass blowing as part of a cruise. In which her boyfriend Edward and some of his family including his cousin Ian are a part off.  Getting back into glass blowing shows Savannah just how much she missed glass blowing.  But then Ian disappears at first the the ship's security thinks that it was suicide. But then Edward becomes the prime suspect. But there's no body.

Savannah is determine to not only find Ian but prove Edward's innocence. She may have solved 4 previous mysteries but she's never done without her team or on the high seas. 

Shattered at Sea expect for a few chapters is completely set on the ship. This one was the fastest paced of the A Webb's Glass Shop.  I finished it in one setting I am looking forward to the next book in the 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.

Review of Death Over Easy

Title:  Death Over Easy

Author: Maddie Day

Series: Country store mystery book 5

 

Chapters: 49

Pages: 304

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in the Country Store mysteries by Maddie Day, Robbie Jordan has finally gotten her bed and breakfast part of her restaurant and country store up and running. Just in time for the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in Beanblossom  to bring in customers. The Bluegrass Festival in this book is based on an actual festival I believe by the same name.  I actually been to it.  

Robbie has sworn off solving murders but yet another one seems to have landed in her lap, and it is sort of personal because her boyfriend Abe happens to be a suspect.   And to top it all off her father and step-mother are visiting from Italy.  Robbie is in a race to find the killer before she or someone she loves becomes the next victim. 

Like with all of the previous Country Store mysteries I enjoyed this one as well.  I love reading about the trouble that Robbie and her friends get into.  Though I believe South Lick is a fictional Southern Indiana small-town. I can picture the town and the surrounding area in my mind as I am reading.  As  I grew up just across the river  from southern Indiana in Kentucky I'm familiar with  the area.  Reading these books are like taken a mini vacation.  Death Over Easy is a quick and enjoyable cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. 

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.

Review of The Reckoning

Title:  The Reckoning

Author: Marylu Tyndall

Series: Legacy of the King's Pirates

 

Chapters: 32

Pages: 330

Genre: Christian Historical fiction, Christian Historical Romance Pirates

Rating: 5 stars

The Reckoning is the fifth book in The Legacy of the Kings Pirate series by Marylu Tyndall.  Morgan Shaw is a girl in the 21st century that somehow finds herself on a pirate ship in the Caribbean. Rowan Dutton believes that he has to be pirate in order to make up for what he put his sister through.  As a modern girl Morgan's not making it easy on Rowan.

It's to believe that two people born basically three hundred years apart would ever find common ground. But the banter between Morgan and Rowan is one of the things that make the story.

I love pirate novels and time travel. So I was thrilled when Marylu Tyndall my favorite author of pirate story had written a time traveling pirate novel.  But not only was that it part of my favorite series of hers.  I enjoyed this novel it's my favorite book of The Legacy of the Kings Pirate series. While I can't pick a favorite pirate hero of Marylu's Morgan is my favorite heroine. 

Review of The Princess Spy

Title: The Princess Spy

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: Fairy tales book 5

 

Chapters: 32 plus epilogue

Pages: 293

Genre: Christian fairy tale retelling, Christian romance, teen

Rating: 5 stars

The Princess Spy was a retelling of The Princess and the Frog. Which was one fairy tale I never really liked. But I loved this retelling. Colin the hero of this novel is the grandson of the hero of The Merchant's daughter and Margaretha is the younger sister of the heroes from The Captive Maiden and The Fairest Beauty.

In The Princess Spy the princess moves a little bit beyond the traditional fairy tale role. To the point that in many ways she becomes a hero in her own right.  Proving that she's more than a pretty face.

I enjoyed this book and there was a scene in chapter eight that reminded me a bit of The Princess Bride. Melanie's books keep getting better. I can't wait for her next book.  

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. 

Review of Married by Christmas

Title: Married by Christmas

Author: Karen Kirst

Series: Smoky Mountain Matches book 5

 

Chapters: 27 plus Epilogue

Pages: 285

Genre: Christian Historical Romance Love Inspired Historical

Rating: 5 stars

Married by Christmas is the fifth book in the Smoky Mountain matches. This time its Caleb O’Malley’s turn for a chance at happy ever after. The only problem is he doesn’t think that he deserves to be  happy not after what he did to his best friend. Causing him to call off  his engagement to Rebecca Thurston.

When a Snow storm causes an injured Caleb to be nursed by Rebecca Thurston the town of Gatlinburg insist that they marry to protect Rebecca’s reputation.

I enjoyed all of the Smoky Mountain matches books but I was looking forward to Caleb’s story. Since the firsts books Caleb’s been seen as the black sheep of the family. Married by Christmas gives light to Caleb’s story and you finally start to understand him. I cannot wait until the next book in the Smoky Mountain Matches series.

I was given an e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.