Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Book Review: I'LL CALL YOU HOME (Enderlin Calling #2) by Sharon L. Clark

About the Book 

When her father is injured on the family horse ranch, Charlotte Trevino rushes home to Zearing, Texas, the small town she put in her rearview mirror years ago. Her brother and father insist that everything is under control, but the recent odd - and costly - run of bad luck on the ranch tells a different story. The books haven’t been in the black for months, they’re plagued by equipment troubles and supply chain failures, and their neighbors are selling their property to a shady businessman who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. But Charlotte refuses to give up and sets out to save the ranch, however she can. Despite being confronted by the painful past she tried to leave behind: her high school sweetheart, Jason Archer. 

Jason has a calm and comfortable life in Zearing. He works for his uncle as a respected financial analyst, takes care of his Alzheimer’s-ridden mother, and spends downtime with friends. But then one day the whirlwind known as Charlotte blows back into town and everything is turned upside down. He’s never forgiven himself for breaking her heart, but he’s never gotten over her, either. Determined to earn her trust once more, he offers to help save the ranch, and the lingering heat between them bursts into flame whenever they’re together. 

It soon becomes clear that her family’s trouble is far more than simple bad luck. When Charlotte starts to inch the ranch back toward financial stability, the bad luck turns to threats and near-misses, and the trouble draws closer to home. Jason is right by her side, lending a hand as they grow closer and closer. But secrets come to light and Jason is torn between the woman he never stopped loving and the family that has given him everything. As the danger intensifies, the question is no longer if Charlotte can save the ranch…but will she survive if she does.

Review

Charlotte has rarely returned home since leaving for college. Her return, her father in the hospital, and her first love affect her emotionally. Still, she's determined to save the ranch and the horses she loved. Then there's Jason. It's awkward and tense as more "accidents" occur immediately followed by pressure to sell.  

Charlotte is a great main character, a determined young woman who intends to save the ranch no matter what. She's dealing with conflicts, threats, and understanding what went wrong after high school graduation. Jason is also key to the story and not sure he can let her get away again. The story is well written and the pacing kept me reading. It's the second in the series, and it didn't matter that I hadn't read the first one. I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a good romantic suspense with second chances and a HEA for all.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 


About the Author 

Sharon L. Clark is a romantic suspense author hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, where she never outgrew her enormous imagination and continues to feed both her hopeless-romantic heart and her villain-wannabe brain. 

An avid reader from a very young age, Sharon still enjoys living vicariously through the heroines in adventure novels, falling in love again and again through romances, and getting the tar scared out of her now and again. After attending the University of Northern Iowa Sharon met her husband, Andrew, and together they have raised three pretty cool humans and a handful of dogs. It wasn’t until she was nearly an empty nester that she decided to focus on writing, and let other people see what goes on inside her head: the good, the bad, and the bizarre.

I’ll Call You Mine is her debut novel, but you can check out her short stories and other musings on her website or her social channels. She also has a collection of short stories and serials at Channillo. She is represented by Amy Brewer through Metamorphosis Literary Agency.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Book Review: DEADLY SECRETS AT BALLYFORD CASTLE (The Ariadne Winter Mystery Series Book 2) by Ellen Butler


About the Book 

From Paris runways to country manors, danger is always in fashion. When intrepid journalist Ariadne Winter leaves behind the glittering cafés and haute couture of 1958 Paris for the misty hills of rural Ireland, she expects champagne toasts and countryside charm at her cousin's engagement celebration. But amidst party prep excitement the festive mood at Ballyford Manor is shattered when a body is discovered among the ruins of the ancient castle grounds.  

The local inspector suspects an accident—but Ariadne knows better. 

Armed with her sharp wit and a reporter’s determination, Ariadne peels back the polished façade of the O’Connell family, uncovering simmering tensions and long-held grudges that refuse to stay buried. As she navigates a world of crumbling aristocracy, whispered scandals, and dark family legacies, Ariadne realizes someone will do anything to keep the past hidden — even if it means making her the next victim. 

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear, this stylish, atmospheric mystery captures the glamour and shadows of 1950s Ireland, blending intrigue, secrets, and a sleuth you won’t forget. 

Review

Ariadne's visit to Ballyford Castle for her cousin's engagement celebration in Ireland is marred first by tension within the fiancé's family, their insistence the wedding take place in the castle instead of America, and by the discovery of the caretaker's dead body. Ariadne, Julia, and Cormac are caught in the middle, with Julia's parents trying to keep the peace. 

The police initially call the caretaker's death an accident, only Ariadne's not so sure. She and Julia discover hidden passages that lead to the window ledge the caretaker "fell" from, only it's clear he was pushed. As they explore passages, someone scares them and they pick up clues to the killer. 

Butler's tale is well-written with unexpected twists and turns, well-developed characters with distinct personalities, and a well-paced plot. The point of view shifts from Ariadne (first person) to third person at times, providing a different perspective and furthering the story along. The resolution makes sense and is not a surprise, though I considered a few characters as the killer.  This is the second in the series and easily read as a stand-alone. Still, I think it's best to start at the beginning of a series to watch characters grow. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

Purchase Links


About the Author 

Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Multiple books in the series have hit #1 on Amazon bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism." 

Butler is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, 2018 Indie Reader Discovery Award, 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner. Butler started writing in the romance genre and won the The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award 2015 with her novel Planning for Love. Her 12th book Operation Blackbird, a Cold War Spy novel, was published in October 2022 and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.

Author Links 



 

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Book Spotlight: GRAVE WORDS (A Deadly Deadlines Mystery Book 2) by Gerri Lewis

 

Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery 
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series 
Setting – Connecticut 
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books 

About the Book

In the second installment of the Deadly Deadlines mysteries, obituary writer Winter Snow faces her biggest challenge yet when the body of a homeless man is found in a burning building and her best friend is the main suspect, perfect for fans of Eva Gates and Kate Carlisle. 

Winter Snow has had it! With her business in a death drought, her best friend Scoop implicated in a string of arsons, and an obituary listing Winter herself as deceased, her life is heating up. But just as she’s trying to cool things down, she receives her newest assignment: an obituary for Chester, a homeless man found in a burning building. 

Promising the local funeral home manager that she will have the obituary by the deadline, Winter is stonewalled at every turn, failing to discover Chester’s last name, or where he came from. When it is discovered that Chester was murdered and that the fire was set to cover it up, all fingers immediately point to Scoop. Not only is Scoop a person of interest in the arsons, he was also the last person to see Chester alive. 

As more nails are pounded into Scoop’s coffin, Winter’s uncle Richard hopes to help by inviting the notorious town gossips, The Nosy Parkers, to a neighborhood food fest. Unfortunately, the breadcrumbs they toss set murder in motion. 

More determined than ever, Winter must figure out the twists and turns of the case to clear Scoop’s name, putting her on a deadly deadline to solve the murder and avoid meeting the same grave consequences. 


Purchase Links 

About the Author

Gerri Lewis started her writing career as a newspaper columnist, feature writer, reporter and obituary writer for seven syndicated newspapers. If she were to write her own obit, it would go something like this with a little wishful thinking thrown in: Author of the popular Obituary Writer Series, The Last Word, A Deadly Deadlines Mystery, Gerri Lewis died at the age of 100, at the Ridgefield home she loved and the setting for many of her books. Gerri's accolades include numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the New England Press Association and Writer’s Digest. THE LAST WORD was a 2024 finalist in the Best Book Awards sponsored by American Bookfest and an honorable mention at the Los Angeles Book Awards sponsored by the LA Times. 

Throughout her career she has remained a go-to person in the community for obituaries, especially sensitive ones, because she said, “Capturing a loved one’s personality in an obituary is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the grieving.”  

Author Links 




Giveaway: Grave Words: A Deadly Deadlines Mystery by Gerri Lewis 






Monday, September 29, 2025

Book Review: DEATH BY BAGUETTE (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) by Jennifer S. Alderson

About the Book (from Amazon)

Paris—the city of love, lights … and murder? Join tour guide Lana Hansen as she escorts five couples on an unforgettable Valentine-themed vacation to France! Unfortunately it will be the last trip for one passenger… 

Lana Hansen’s future is looking bright. She has money in her bank account, a babysitter for her cat, and even a boyfriend. Regrettably she won’t get to celebrate Valentine’s Day with her new beau, Chad. Instead, she will be leading a lovers-only tour in France. Luckily for Lana, her best friend, Willow, and her partner, Jane, will be joining her. 

Things go downhill when Lana’s new boyfriend shows up in Paris for her tour—with his wife. Chad is not the website developer he claimed to be, but a famous restaurant critic whose love of women rivals his passion for food. 

After Chad drops dead during a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, a persistent French detective becomes convinced that he was poisoned. And the inspector’s sights are set on several members of the tour—including Lana! 

While escorting her group through the cobblestone streets of Montmartre, the grand gardens of Versailles, and the historic Marché des Enfants Rouges market, Lana must figure out who really killed Chad before she has to say bonjour to prison and adieu to her freedom. 

Review 

As with others in this series, Lana's trip to Paris is interesting, both because of the characters and the setting. Initially, Lana's concerned with the trainee joining her group; however, when she discovers her boyfriend Chad is one of her guests with his wife, she's glad for the help. Her two friends - one of the four couples, also provide support. Only Chad is killed and Lana becomes a suspect.

The story is well-paced with an easy shift from the relationships, the couples, and the murder to the popular sights and feel of Paris. Characters are well-developed and clue are sprinkled throughout. Another enjoyable cozy mystery that can easily be read out of order.


Books in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series: 
Book 1 – Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest Book 2 – Death by Baguette: A Valentine’s Day Murder in Paris Book 3 – Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam 
Book 4 – Death by Bagpipes: A Summer Murder in Edinburgh Book 5 – Death by Fountain: A Christmas Murder in Rome 
Book 6 – Death by Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Murder in Dublin 
Book 7 – Death by Flamenco: An Easter Murder in Seville 
Book 8 – Death by Gondola: A Springtime Murder in Venice 
Book 9 – Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik 
Book 10 – Death by Oxcart: An Independence Day Murder in Costa Rica 

About the Author 

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she lived in Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands.

Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery series, her Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and her Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. 

When not writing, she can be found perusing a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.


Monday, September 22, 2025

New Release: THE ITCH OF GREED (An Izzie Di Sante Mystery Book 6) by Christa Nardi

About the Book

A dark cloud hangs over baseball season in Rosedale when star pitcher Randy Kampton is taken out of the game for good. 

The DA is determined to pin the crime on Cole Rigley, a friend's brother and fellow pitcher, citing the fierce competition for a major league trade as his motive murder. Rigley's brother, asks Henry and reluctant restaurant owner Izzie Di Sante to help prove his innocence. Adding fuel to the fire, Kampton stole Rigley’s girlfriend months earlier. 

While Kampton’s pitching skills are universally acknowledged, no one, not fans or teammates, has a kind word to say about him, making for a long list of suspects. Rigley, on the other hand, is respected for his talent and team spirit. The wild card is another pitcher recovering from a car accident, whose open roster spot has all three men vying for the same prize. 

In Rosedale, loyalty to the minor league team runs deep, and Izzie’s digging into the players’ pasts draws resentment from fans, police, and management alike. When the team’s PR person is targeted after meeting with her, the threats become all too real. The closer Izzie gets to uncovering the truth, on and off the field, the higher the stakes, and the more dangerous the game becomes.

Read an excerpt:

An alert sounded on my phone as I entered Cenare, the Italian restaurant I owned with my sister Chloe. While Chloe was a foodie, I took care of the business side of things. 

Before our parents died, I freelanced as a journalist following homicides in New York City. I was committed to the restaurant and Chloe, but my passion was murder, so I kept the homicide alerts coming. Occasionally, if one sparked my interest, I took some time to search out my next story. Homicides provided a rush the restaurant business didn’t give me. 

I put my things down on the small table in the kitchen area and pulled up the message. 

“Breaking news! The Rosedale Thorny Bats will be hurting this season. Their best pitcher, Randy Kampton, died under suspicious circumstances. His body was discovered by the custodians in the Thorny Bats locker room early this morning. Stay tuned for details.” 

The announcement prompted me to check my other sources for unsolved homicides, although I’d never heard of the Thorny Bats or Kampton. I assumed if the man was a pitcher, the sport was baseball. It was spring and our guests or employees occasionally mentioned baseball. Growing up, Chloe and I spent most of our time in the restaurant. We lived and breathed Cenare. 

My escape was writing. I knew from experience that the death of those close to you changed your life. My stories focused on the impact of a sudden death – usually a homicide – on those left behind. I found less resistance from law enforcement when I focused on cold cases or those that were stalled. 

Most often, my casual interviews with those who knew the victim provided clues to the killer. Unfortunately, sometimes the killer targeted me. Having lived in New York City for five years, I was prepared for that, even in small town Pinewood, Maryland, where murders rarely happened. 

With the first ever murder in our small town a few years back, I clashed with the local police detective when the immediate conclusion was a burglary, and I disagreed. For the record, I was right. 

With the murder of an athlete, Kampton’s death would likely be quickly solved if the alert was any indication. Not finding anything else of note in the alerts, I went through my morning routine of checking income, paying bills, placing orders, and taking inventory. At least I used my degree in business management. I preferred taking care of those tedious tasks before anyone else arrived. 

As usual, Chloe arrived with a breakfast treat as I finished the accounting and started the inventory. 

“Good morning, Chloe. Those look and smell delicious.” 

“Thanks, Izzie. Help yourself. I got this idea in my head and combined ingredients from an apple brownie recipe and a cinnamon streusel cupcake. Ryan assured me they were more than edible.” 

With money from the estate and the restaurant, Chloe had completed her training at the culinary institute nearby. In and out of the restaurant, she often created dishes. Breakfast for me and whomever else wanted a taste tended not to be traditional Italian. For the restaurant, she kept with the family tradition and stuck to Italian dishes. 

I chuckled. “I don’t know how you can cook here all day and then try out new things when you get home.” 

“Well, Ryan brought some work home that he needed to get done like yesterday. Only he didn’t get the assignment until that morning.” She shrugged. “I got creative in the kitchen while he worked.” 

Since she and Ryan married a few months ago, she hadn’t been as creative with her morning treats, though I could always count on her to provide my breakfast. When she took a week off for her honeymoon, I had to fend for myself, usually stopping at the local bakery on my way to work. 

“It’s delicious! Not quite brownie and not quite muffin. Still very moist and I’m a sucker for cinnamon and apples. I’ll have to freeze some of these for the next time I see Henry. Now that he’s taken the detective exam and he may be working part time in Franklin, I hope to see him more often.” 

Henry and I had started off as friends and our relationship moved forward from there. He was always a willing assistant and backup when I pursued a story. Helping me out prompted him to pursue his detective credentials. 

“Speak of the devil.” 

I showed Chloe the phone, took the container of treats, and sat down at the table. 

“Hi, Henry. How are you?” 

“Good. I may have a case for you and wanted to give you a heads up. Do you have a few minutes?” 

I grabbed a piece of paper off the nearby printer. “Sure. What’s going on?” 

“You know the guy who always gives me a hard time about driving an automatic or having a family car? Phil Rigley?” 

“Dark hair, hazel eyes, not quite as tall as you, and maybe a year or two younger. A southern twang.” 

“That’s him. He called this morning, wanting my opinion. His brother, Cole, plays ball with the Thorny Bats. Cole contacted Phil this morning. Something about a player dying and the police interviewing everyone. Phil didn’t have many details, but he wanted me to look into it.” 

My phone pinged with an alert. 

“I caught one announcement earlier and then another just came in. A custodian found Randy Kampton, a pitcher for that team, dead this morning. It was a sports broadcaster the first time, the usual police blotter the second time. Nothing else. Where did the Thorny Bats come from? Is there a new major league team in Maryland?” 

“No. The Baltimore Orioles is the only major league team. The Thorny Bats is a triple-A minor league team out in Rosedale. The players are good and some eventually get picked up by a major league team. I played in college and a few of my teammates went on to the minor leagues. We lost touch but I may see if I can locate them.” 

“The news I caught indicated a suspicious death. Thorny Bats is a weird name for a team though.” 

“Minor league teams often have interesting names, usually related somehow to their location and often suggested by fans. Rosedale, thorns, and baseball bats – Thorny Bats. Makes perfect sense to me.” 

He chuckled. “Keep me posted. If it’s a homicide, Phil thinks his brother will be a person of interest. Both Cole and Kampton are pitchers, and Kampton stole his girlfriend.”

Excerpt from The Itch of Greed. Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.


About the Author 

Christa Nardi is the author of four mystery series, all featuring strong women sleuths. Her series are best characterized as “cozy” with an edge. While clean reads (no graphic violence or sex, no profanity), some of the characters and situations touch on sensitive topics. 

Christa is member of Sisters in Crime. When not reading or writing, Christa enjoys travel and playing with her dogs and granddaughters. She supports animal rescue and other efforts to help others.

Stay connected to Christa and upcoming books:







Monday, September 8, 2025

Book Review: HIDDEN CURRENTS (Lantern Beach Mysteries Book 1) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

You can take the detective out of the investigation, but you can't take the investigator out of the detective. 

A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks. 

Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise. 

Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good? 

 ***Hidden Currents is the first book in the six-book Lantern Beach Mystery series. Each book contains a standalone mystery, but there are overarching mysteries within the entire series.*** 

Review 

The "ice cream lady" in Lantern Beach living as Cassidy Livingston, is detective with a bounty on her head. She's in hiding and supposed to keep things low key. When a body washes ashore, she tries not to get involved - at least not in an obvious way, only she can't help but investigate. 

Christy Barritt's characters and setting are well-developed. The reader feels Cassidy's tug-of-war and she is very likable. Once she's all in, the pace picks up quickly, mixed with well-placed humor. This is a strong beginning to the new (to me at least) 6-book series. 

About Christy Barritt

USA Today has called Christy Barritt's books "scary, funny, passionate, and quirky." 

A USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold more than three million copies, one has been made into a TV movie, and another is being developed for a TV series. 

Christy's books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year. 

She's married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she's hilarious--but only when she's not trying to be. Christy's a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who's known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. 

Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs. For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.





Sunday, August 31, 2025

Book Review: MURDER PAYS A CALL (A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen

About the Book

Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now. 

When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone. 

Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch. 

As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call

Review 

With Keri's concierge business, she serves as a personal assistant to many in the community, including Fiona. More than a PA, Keri believes Fiona is her mentor and a friend. Unfortunately, when Fiona dies, Keri discovers the many secrets Fiona hid from her. And Fiona's not the only victim. 

The main characters are well-developed and Keri, as well as her friends Lora and Pam and others, create a support group of sorts to find the killer. There are multiple intertwined mysteries to be solved with a steady pace and surprises along the way. Even better, there's a hint of romance coming for Keri if she can organize her day so she has time for it. All in all, a great start for a new series by Nancy J. Cohen.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About the Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day mystery series and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards including her nonfiction title, Writing the Cozy Mystery, an Agatha Award Finalist. 

Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter and a frequent speaker at conferences and community events. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Nancy's contacts include:




Don't Leave Yet!

Calling all readers! Have you read all your beach reads over the summer? Looking for books to dive into this month? We’re celebrating books from all genres at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s eighth annual Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon. 26 books featured plus a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card