Thursday, September 24, 2015

Death of the Couch Potato's Wife (Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by: Christy Barritt

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Welcome to Boring, Indiana, home to patio cookouts, homeowner dues, carpeted lawns, and neighbors so welcoming they’re dying to meet you — literally.

City slicker turned suburbanite housewife Laura Berry isn’t taking well to life in her new neighborhood. She moved to follow her husband’s dream, and now she can’t tell if she’s clinically depressed or just bored half to death. But Boring becomes anything but when Laura discovers her neighbor Candace Flynn face up on a sofa with her hand buried in a snack bag. With a healthy dose of neighborly suspicion and street smarts, Laura sets out to find Flynn’s killer, but her curiosity becomes desperation when the killer targets Laura.

Someone is determined to stop her from digging deeper into the murder, but Laura is just as determined to figure out who’s behind the death-by-poisoned-pork-rinds.

MY THOUGHTS:
This was such a fun mystery about a city girl who moves to a small town and her next door neighbor is murdered. She decides that she wants to try to solve the murder. I love Christy's squeaky clean series so it was fun to read another of her mystery books. This one will have you guessing until the end! My favorite line from this book..."I understand that sometimes life takes you in a different direction than you'd planned, and you can either pout about it or make the best of it."As always Christy's books are awesome!

All Hallows' Eve Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology Book 13)


AUTHORS: Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Lisa Mangum, Jordan McCollum, Elana Johnson,

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance
**Amazon Top 10 in Gothic Romance**
**Amazon Top 25 in Mystery & Suspense**

Another addition to the popular Timeless Romance Anthology series. ALL HALLOWS' EVE is not to be missed. Romance, thrills & chills. Need we say more?

In Sarah M. Eden’s mysterious novella OF GHOSTS AND GARDENS, if Enid Pryce has one downfall, it’s that she talks to the ghost in her garden, which doesn’t make her too popular among society’s elite. In fact, she returns to her home in Wales after a Season in Bath with not one offer of marriage. Deeming herself a failure at the nearly-spinster age of nineteen, she is pleasantly surprised when an English gentleman shows up in her garden, apparently intent on finding out more about the ghost. Burke Kennard, grandson of an English marquess, quickly becomes utterly charmed by the young Welsh woman, but the ghost in the garden is more likely to push them apart than pull them together.

In Annette Lyon’s enthralling story IT’S YOU, when Charlie and Anna both see the ghost of Nanny Mae, they think they’re losing their minds. Anna tries to find out more about the ghost and uncovers a decades’ old family secret. One that separated two people in love. Now, the ghost of Nanny Mae must set her wrongs to right. As Charlie and Anna explore the past, and the truth of what happened, they discover that the mistakes of the past might lead to love of the future.

In SOPHIA’S CURSE, a suspenseful novella by Heather B. Moore, Joan grows up in an abbey in France, believing that she is an orphan. A chance encounter with the foreboding owner of a neighboring estate, alters everything she’s understood about her parents. She discovers she’s an integral part of changing a decades-old curse, and that her life, as well as the handsome and intriguing Simon Rousseau’s life, are both in danger unless she makes an enormous sacrifice that will change the course of her dreams.

In Lisa Mangum’s haunting story THE SIRENS’ SONG, we meet recently widowed Oliver, the lead physician on a luxury cruise liner traveling to Greece. He hopes that the change of scenery will help ease his grief over his deceased wife, Cate. After falling overboard, though, he is captured by a siren and taken to a mystical island. Through the sirens' song, Oliver is able to relive his memories of Cate—both the good and the bad—as long as he gives away his memories of her. But can he sacrifice his best memory in exchange for one last chance to say good-bye?

In Jordan McCollum’s thrilling novella THE MAN OF HER DREAMS, homicide detective Alexandra Steen dreams about real murders before they happen, seeing the crime through the eyes of the killers. But the dreams never contain enough clues to save the victim before it's too late. Then one dream ends before a murder occurs—in a place she knows. She finds herself racing against time to prevent the deadly act, only to discover that the intended victim is a man she thought she’d never see again. Seven years might have passed since her breakup with Nick, but the years haven’t changed her feelings for him. Now, she must convince Nick that her dreams are real and find a way to prevent his death.

In Elana Johnson’s chilling story THE GHOST OF MILLHOUSE MANSION, Naomi knows her crush on Colt Jennings is unreasonable. When he invites her to his reclusive mansion to restore an old wooden rocking horse, Naomi can’t resist accepting the job. The more time Naomi spends touring his home, the more interested she becomes in Colt. Until she sees a man in the library who vanishes into thin air. She thinks she’s losing her mind until Colt tells her about the ghosts he’s been seeing for years.

MY THOUGHTS:

Of Ghosts and Gardens: Sarah Eden 
This was such a cute story of a ghost trapped I between worlds and no one has ever tried to figure out why. When Burke comes to town wanting to see the Ghost, he doesn't plan on building such a quick relationship with the family that lives in the house with the Garden where it resides. Enid and Burke finally figure out the Ghost is trying to tell them something and make it their mission to find out what. It was a great story with a happy ending! 

It's You: Annette Lyon 
This was an interesting twist on why a ghost would remain in between worlds. It was a great story though and I liked the instant friendship that Charlie and Anna formed. Sophia's Curse by: Heather B. Moore This novella was full of surprises. Two families suffering from a curse on All Hallow's Eve with no obvious end in sight. Usually a crush from afar stays just that. Not in this case....I liked it. It was a great addition to the set! 

The Sirens' Song by Lisa Mangum 
Wow this novella was so different from anything I have read. It was definitely an interesting one with lots of twists. I don't want to give up too much of the story but I was happy with the ending and that he didn't lose what what most important to him. All in all it was a good story! 

The Man of Her Dreams by Jordan McCullum 
Life thru the eyes of murderers, that is some creepy stuff. A dream Alex has leads her to her long lost love. Can they give it a second chance, even with possible murderer in the way? This was a fun story even if that thought creeps me out lol 

The Ghost of Millhouse Mansion by: Elana Johnson
I loved the twists in this story. Not what I expected at all. I thought this was a great ending to this set of novellas. A historical mansion haunted by those gone before. I think this one was probably my favorite of the set. A must read!

All in all this was a fun set to read with Halloween approaching!

NOTE: I was given this book by the Authors in exchange for an honest review!

Monday, September 7, 2015

Mending Hearts by: Kimberly Krey

** ATTENTION** TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF MENDING HEARTS, ROUGH EDGES (book 1 of the Second Chances series) IS JUST .99 cents FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY (regularly 3.49)

*Though Mending Hearts is part of a series, this book, like each of Kimberly Krey's novels, stands alone.

A couple on the verge of divorce decides to give their marriage one last try. But will they be able to get past the issues holding them back?

"A heart-warming romance," Jamie Brook Thompson


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Candice is through with married life and all it entailed:
infertility, an adoption gone wrong, and the death of
her husband's twin brother. Now that they've been
separated for nearly a year, Candice is finally ready
to set Logan free. But when he steps back into her life,
Candice begins to have second thoughts. Even
though she hasn't fully healed from the heartache
she endured over their married years, she can't
fathom the thought of losing him a second time.

Can Candice let go of past hurts and give Logan a
second chance, or will her fears keep them apart?

Logan has spent the months of separation giving
Candice the space she needed. But when he
discovers that Candice is about to file for a divorce,
he decides he better take action quick. He didn't spend
the best years of his life with this woman, only to let her
slip away. Yet just when the opportunity comes
again - his chance to finally make things right -
an entirely new force threatens to tear them apart.
Will opposition keep the heart-broken couple from
getting back together or will they have the strength
to break through the barriers, no matter
what their future might bring?

MY THOUGHTS:




I love this second chance series. Sometimes there are things worth fighting for. Candice and Logan had a rough time in their 10 year marriage. They got caught up in trying to have a baby and they forgot that keeping their relationship with each other is just as important as one you would want with your child. Even if you don’t have a struggling marriage it is important to remember to be there for each other. You should always keep the lines of communication open. You should not be afraid to share your feelings with one another. That is everything that this book covers. I love the way Kimberly has them build their relationship and trust back up with each other. She is able to write about romantic moments without smut  and  when she is writing a love scene she does it tastefully. I love all of Kimberly’s book and can’t wait for the next one!



Note: I was given an advanced copy of this book by the Author, in exchange for an honest review.