Susan's Review of In The Air Tonight by Marie Force

The strong characters, suspenseful storyline and the small town setting immediately drew me into Marie Force's In The Air Tonight.

Denise, Blaise and Houston were strong, relatable and believable characters. I could relate to the teenage Blaise-the small town atmosphere, the peer pressure and how she internalized her experience. What she saw never left her—she was put in an untenable position.

Blaise’s decision moves the storyline forward and impacts every character in the novel. Houston makes the decision to contact Denise knowing that if she wanted justice; his relationship with his brother, friends and his standing in the community would never be the same. Everything would change—and it did.

The novel is fast paced and the suspense builds with each chapter. The chapters are told from alternating POVs which helped me gain insight into the characters thoughts and actions. The author perfectly captured the small town vibe and the high school popular kid mentality.There several unexpected plot twists throughout the story which kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story made me stop and think several times about what I would have done if I were Blaise. Would I have been too afraid to speak up? Would I have had the courage to speak up? Loved that the author explored the actions vs consequences theme this novel.

If you are looking for a suspenseful novel set in a small town filled with secrets - pick up a copy of In The Air Tonight!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book provided by the author

Fragile by Lisa Unger - Audio Version

 Fragile

by Lisa Unger

Audio Version

The Hollows is a mystery series that belongs in a mystery 

lovers collection. The Hollows is a small town just a ways 

from New York City. I think the location must be what 

makes it kind of like a small town but also crazy like

most big cities are. Maybe it's something in the water. 

Each story brings out another little bit of the town. 

The characters are fun and scary and genuine. The whole

town is so real it feels like you could plan a road trip. 

But maybe don't go alone. 

The thing with a small town is secrets are never really

very far gone. They will always be just below the 

surface. Even years and years later. The only thing that

changes is someone just happens to look in the right

place.  Places don't change much over time in a small 

town. So it's all right there. Waiting for someone to look. 

So who is going to look?? 

Lisa Unger has introduced a wonderful town with

great characters. You just never know what you will 

find. Who will surprise you the most? 

Review by Lisa Hutson

The Hero by Robyn Carr - Audio version

 The Hero

by Robyn Carr

Audio Version

The Thunder Point series by Robyn Carr is 

so good. I have read and listened to it before. 

Now, I am at it again. Thunder Point sounds 

like the most wonderful place. I can see it all

 in my head. The people. The town. The beach.

The new houses going up. The new bait shop. 

On and on. The thing about Book 3 is the title.

                                          It's called The Hero. But there are so many heroes. 

In every book from the series. But especially this one. 

And young mother trying to survive big mistakes. 

A prior military man that will always feel like he owes. 

A widower that is in over his head with feelings and

challenges but he still finds his way. 

There are others.

I try to never put spoilers in my reviews.

But I will say these things......

Therese Plummer is a terrific narrator. 

You will never have a dull moment in Thunder Point. 

And if you are anything like me, you will want to 

move to Thunder Point every time you read 

another part of the series. 

I bought my copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson

Susan"s Review of Slay Bells Ring By Nancy Robarts Thompson

It’s one thing to write a mystery, but when your daughter is the suspect — you solve it.

Wedding planner Jenna Bell doesn’t panic when the groom is a no-show to the ceremony – even though he is her former high school sweetheart and this wedding is the small town’s event of the year. However, when he turns up dead and she is falsely accused… well, yeah, now it’s the time to panic.
Jenna’s mother, Maddie, puts her cozy mystery writing skills to use to try to clear her daughter’s name, stepping on by-the-book Chief of Police Jackson Bradley’s toes in the process. No matter how enticing he finds her, he doesn’t want this writer-turned-amateur-sleuth interfering with his murder investigation.
With nearly all of Hemlock, North Carolina, picking sides and the town’s own Gossip Brigade churning out the rumors, Maddie discovers the mystery isn’t very cozy when it hits this close to home.



<

Slay Bells Ring is the first book in Nancy Robarts Thompson’s new cozy mystery series. The novel features Maddie Bell and her daughter Jenna. The close relationship between Maddie and Jenna drew me into this fast- paced mystery which is set in Hemlock, North Carolina.

Jenna Bell has returned home to start an event planning business. She shares an office with her Mom who runs a bridal shop. Loved that Maddie wrote cozy mysteries and had a crush on the town’s new police chief. Loved the mother- daughter conversations which showed how much they cared for each other. The author’s dialogue between Maddie and Jenna is spot on; at times their conversations are laugh out loud funny, caring and thoughtful in nature—all of the elements of a real mother daughter relationship.

Slay Bells Rings has all of the elements of a novel that I adore. It is set in a small town, filled with fun characters (think Gossip brigade!), entertaining dialogue, friendship, love. Slay Bells Ring has a bridezilla, a reluctant groom, two corgis, a missing Rolex and a murder!I have been a fan of Nancy Robarts Thompson books for several years. I love the characters and the small town settings in her novels. Am so glad she decided to write a cozy mystery and can’t wait to see if Maddie and Chief Bradley go out on a date, if Jenna and Ian have a friends to lovers relationship, and to learn more about Val and Alicia.

To keep my review spoiler free, I am not going to reveal who was murdered or whodunit. I loved how they story played out. Each detail, each fact added to the big reveal. Nancy Robards Thompson does a fabulous job balancing the intrigue and keeps the reader in suspense. I will admit that I did not figure out the identity the killer.

If you are looking for a fun, enjoyable read filled with fabulous characters-pick up Slay Bells Ring!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book Purchased on Amazon

Luke by Emily March - Audible version

Luke

by Emily March

Audible Version

 

Book one of the Brazos Bend series.

 

Maddie has had more than her share of trouble in her

time. She found Brazos Bend. Just the place to settle

down. Have a calm business. Do her work and make

friends. Make a life.

 

How in the world can things go so bad so fast?

 

Luke was all ready the yearly fishing trip with his

brothers. He looks forward to it and nothing,

absolutely nothing will keep him from this

annual family bonding time.

 

How in the world can things go so bad so fast?

 

 

Luke finds a strange woman with a strange story

on his boat. She was looking to find someone.

But she found herself in the wrong place at the

wrong time. Luke is going fishing. Meeting his

brothers. He is not, not going to Brazos Bend.

 

What is that saying about life being what happens

while you make plans? So much for their plans.

Can Maddie find a way out of the unwitting mess

she is in? Can she do it alone? Because Luke is

determined not to help her. Can Luke go fishing

knowing there is someone that could probably

help? Someone in need of help?

 

Narration is done by Jeffrey Kafer. This is a high

action romantic story, well done by a mans voice.

Jeffrey Kafer has a deep mans voice and style that

perfectly suits this kind of story. I think he did

a terrific job.

 

Luke runs just over 9 hours long. And there

wasn't a boring moment in the whole thing.

I will continue on with the series. There are

more brothers after all.

 

I bought my copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson

 





Swept Away by Robyn Carr - Audio version

Swept Away

by Robyn Carr

Audio version

 

Again, Robyn Carr. Fabulous author. I cannot even

imagine where all these characters, names, places &

storylines live in her head.
The heroine is Jennifer Chaise. She grew up with a very

unpredictable mother. Hand to mouth most of the time.

No place or anyone to count on. Jennifer took care of

her mother. As a grown up, she was determined that

she would not live like that ever again.

 

Swept Away is her story. It's how she made her way.

So she would never again be without or hungry or afraid.
Something Jennifer did not count on. The loneliness.

Feeling alone. Having no one else in the world to 

depend on. 

Perhaps most of us take it for granted. Having family,

friends, community, church, school, etc. To be

surrounded by people that we build relationships with.

It's a wonderful love story and you will be cheering

for Jennifer. When the story starts, you will be surprised

at that. But I promise you will.
Make time for this one. And if you are an audible story

fan, you are in luck. The narrator in this story is

Therese Plummer. She is a very popular story teller.

Because she does a great job.

 

This story was originally published as

Runaway Mistress.

I bought my copy of Swept Away from Aubible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson

  



Back in the Game by Lori Wilde | Review

Back in the Game

by Lori Wilde

Kindle version review

Book one of the Stardust Texas series.

Rowdy is a hot, sexy guy as well as a great baseball player. He decides

in a fit of anger to write his life story. He hires Breeanne to be his ghostwriter.

Rowdy cant figure her out. He is attracted to her. But Breeanne is not his

typical woman. Breeanne is not anyones typical woman.

"She reached up, snatched her glasses from his hand, stuck them

on her face, sank delicate hands on her hips, and glared at him.

The look landed in his belly, unspooled, spread fresh heat,

switching his body into a five am bakery, all ovens turned on high.

Nothing like this had ever happened to him. Instant chemistry?

Yeah sure, plenty of times, but this was something else, something

indefinable, and mysterious. Something freakin' primal.

He wanted her."

She has grown up in hospitals. With a very supportive family

of parents and 3 sisters. Breeanne is finally ready to start

living like a normal 25 year old. Of course, she has no idea 
how to do that.

Between the two of them, its pretty clear neither knows 
how to handle the situation. 
As Breeanne encourages him to open up to her about his life,

he falls in love with her. Rowdy is trusting her.
 He is coming to terms with

the issues left over from his career. But Breeanne insists 
she is content to

have a physical relationship with him. She does not want anything

permanent. Rowdy realizes it would be his biggest mistake ever

to let Breeanne go. Rowdy also figures out he needs her families support,

if he is going to convince her to take a chance on him.

I have read and enjoyed Lori Wilde's stories before. Her writing is

fun and the characters are real. They always have plenty of romance.

Because this is the first in the series, you get to meet the family.

They are an interesting group. Like typical families, they are used to

Breeanne being the sickly one. Needing lots of physical attention. They

are learning that she is healthy now. And they must let her make her

own decisions, even if they will hurt.

Rowdy is just beginning to accept that his career is over. And he

has to move on. Without holding onto the anger and bitterness.

I recommend this story if you like family and small town romance

and maybe a little touch of magic.

Review by Lisa Hutson

I bought this kindle edition on Amazon

Trouble When You Walked In by Kieran Kramer

They sat in silence for at least three seconds, but she couldn't bear it. What if he was thinking about her? He probably was. She was the only other person there. What kind of thoughts was he thinking? Sexy ones? Scornful ones? Pitying ones?
"Are you thinking...anything right now? She asked him.

He took a healthy sip of champagne. "Yep."

"Like what? What's on your mind?"

"You dropping your robe and getting in the water while I close my eyes. You telling me when I can open them again."

"Oh." She could do that. She set her glass down. The champagne fizz was going to her head already. She pushed back her robe, felt the icy air on her breasts, tummy and back, and slid down into the welcoming heat of the water. 

"You are thinking about something," he said.

 "Why do you suppose that?"

"When you got into the water"--his voice took on a husky quality---"you forgot to tell me to close my eyes."
 
Five pages in and WOW I knew that I loved this book! Kieran Kramer pairs a shy librarian with a charming football coach in Trouble When You Walked In. Cissie Rogers has not gotten over her fourth grade crush on Boone Braddock. All of the woman in Kettle Knob fantasize about Boone. And why shouldn't they? He's handsome, charming, the high school football coach and the town's mayor. Boone stops by the library to tell Cissie that her library is going to close and merges with another library.

Cissie decides to fight town hall and together with her loyal patrons, friends and her Nana, holds a sit-in! Yes, a sit-in!  Loved these pages as they showcased Cissie's devoted and endearing  library  friends and the honest banter between Cissie and Boone. Cissie and Boone's chemistry sizzles off the pages! Their relationship changes direction when Cissie decides to run for mayor against Boone. Can their romance survive the election? National news interviews? Boone's disapproving parents?  

Ms. Kramer excels at creating a slice -of-life novel with characters that resonate with the reader and an emotional storyline that tugs at your heart. I enjoyed reading Cissie and Boone's love story as it unfolded during the novel. Both characters had to overcome their insecurities and take a leap of faith in the relationship. I loved both characters-- Kieran Kramer has the ability to create southern heroes who effortlessly charm their way into their heroines' and reader's hearts! Fingers  crossed  that the author writes another novel or two set in Kettle Knob!!

If you are looking for a smart, sexy contemporary novel with humorous dialogue and unique characters --pick up Trouble When You Walked In --it's fabulous!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by author Kieran Kramer.

Video created by Kieran Kramer.

Baby On His Doorstep -- A Return to Harmony Novella -- by Cindy Kirk

Baby On His Doorstep  by Cindy Kirk

Second chance romances are my favorites! There is something so special when you read about two people who cared deeply for each other in the past, then resolve their differences and become friends. I love to read about how mature couples work through tough situations together because they trust and can communicate together. It's so heart warming and rewarding.

Contemporary author Cindy Kirk has written a superb 125 - page novella which provides a slice of small town life in Harmony, Idaho. Ms. Kirk's characters have very real issues to deal with and sort through. Forgiveness, trust, and faith are key elements in this wonderful story.

Callie Goodhue returns to her hometown to teach grammar school. On the first day of summer vacation she bumps into her former flame; Dr Eli Webster. Callie and Eli were close friends in high school and their friendship ended abruptly in college. Callie is not too pleased that Eli has moved into her neighborhood. 

There are unresolved feelings for both Callie and Eli. Things get a bit complicated when a baby girl is left on Eli's porch with a note stating that Eli is the baby's father! Yikes! I found the ending of the story didn't go as I expected but, I enjoyed the resolution.

Please spend an afternoon in Harmony with these wonderful characters! You will meet some characters that might remind you of your sister, best friend or husband! 

Lady Celeste has a scoop!

Cindy Kirk is releasing two more books set in Harmony: Love at Mistletoe Inn on November 25th and his Runaway Bride on December 6th.  

Reviewed By Susan Gorman 

The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins--Audio Version

My daughter smiled and rolled her eyes at me the other day as we were getting into my car. I was getting ready to listen to my audio book during our hour long drive back to her college dorm.

"Mom", she said. "Why do you read romance? Do you really believe in all that happily ever after stuff?"

The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins is the perfect example of why I enjoy reading romance books.   The Perfect Match provides a slice -of - life  look into the lives of the Holland family. Blue Heron vineyard is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. The vineyard has been owned and operated by the Hollands through several generations. I loved how four generations of the Holland family are portrayed in the novel; from Grandmother Goggie to teenage niece Abby. Lots of laugh- out- loud family conversations. Goggie made me laugh each time she and Honor visited the retirement home for movie night. Great honest and witty dialogue between Goggie and her peers. The Perfect Match also deals with several family issues such as caring for an elderly relative, teenage angst, pressures at work, dating and the desire to be married and have a child.

Our heroine, Honor Holland is the marketing manager for her family's vineyard.  Honor is 35 and her biological clock is ticking very loudly. She's been in a relationship with Brogan Lane for 17 years. Honor wants a baby and asks Brogan to marry him. Instead of accepting Honor's proposal, he dumps her. Goggie arranges a blind date for Honor with a friend's nephew, Tom Barlow, with disastrous results. Tom, a college professor with an interesting past and an almost step-son, needs a green card to stay in the United States.

***************************************************************************************************************************
The Perfect Match--Series: Blue Heron, Book 2 Unabridged Audio Book
Written by: Kristan Higgins
Narrated by: Amy Rubinate
Length: 12 hrs and 12 minutes

Great narrator, excellent job with expressing the emotion in Honor's voice. Loved how the narrator switched effortlessly to Tom's British accent and the teenage defiance in Charlie's tone. The audio is over 12 hours long which made it great listen during my work week commute. I never noticed the traffic!

  

Who will be Honor's Perfect Match?
Will photographer and sometime boyfriend Brogan realise that he loves Honor?
Does Tom have feelings for Honor? If they marry will it be for love or for a green card?
Or will Honor live at the Vineyard with her little dog Spike?

This is the first book by Kristan Higgins that I have had the pleasure to listen to and read. I synched my Iphone to my Ipad and alternated listening and reading to the story. I read the story through to its conclusion. Great contemporary read which will leave you smiling and will remind you to cherish your family. Am planning to purchase Jack's story In Your Dreams when it is available at the end of the month. 

Reviewed by Susan Gorman.