Book Review: LAST CALL: A Janet Black Mystery by Libby Kirsch

Synopsis

An amateur PI. A town full of secrets. Can she uncover the truth before another body drops?

Janet Black is a hardworking bar owner determined to make her own way in the world. But when one of her regulars learns of a suspicious death in the family, she’ll have to put her business on hold to solve the crime. While local police chalk up the cause of death to an accidental overdose, Janet’s investigative intuition suspects more is at stake. But without an official PI license, she'll need to grab clues quick before she's caught.

When Janet discovers the victim has ties to a drug dealer and a hired escort, she worries she's in over her head. Especially when her prime suspect turns up dead. Can she protect the innocent and find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?

Last Minute is the second standalone book in the heart-pounding Janet Black Mystery series. If you like fast-paced suspense, blue-collar heroines, and stunning plot twists, then you’ll love Libby Kirsch’s maverick saga of suspense.

Buy Last Minute and pour yourself a tall glass of gripping mystery today!

Review

This is the first in the series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. It is well written, engaging, and has enough twists, turns, and action to keep your attention. Janet is mostly a strong female lead - she runs a bar, does some sleuthing on the side, and asks the right questions. There are some quirky characters, including Ike.  It doesn't help when her partner and boyfriend suddenly disappears and looks like a suspect. 

This was an enjoyable read. If you like a cozy mystery with a lot of suspects and awkward interrelationships, you'll enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to reading Last Minute.

AMAZON

Blog Tour and Review: A GENUINE FIX: An Allie Cobb Mystery by J. C. Kenney

Synopsis

Murder takes a page out of a killer’s playbook when literary agent Allie Cobb becomes her Indiana town’s number-one bestselling suspect …

Running the family literary business while preparing for her best friend’s wedding, chairing a park planning committee, and getting her rescue cat to bond with her boyfriend’s golden retriever doesn’t leave Allie Cobb much time for crime-solving. But when the guy who stood her up the night of her high school senior prom is killed and dumped in a pile of mulch, Allie’s suddenly the prime suspect.

It’s insulting enough that gambler, drunk, and all-around lowlife Georgie Alonso was found on the site of the memorial park honoring Allie’s deceased father. Now she’s fighting to clear her name and hold off a rush to judgment. But politics, decades-old secrets, and a slew of high-profile suspects make dangerous bedfellows as the eve of the park’s grand opening draws nearer. She’ll have to nab a killer soon, before her storybook life gets a bad ending. . .

Review

Allie's now running her father's literary agency and feeling good about it. Right up until Georgie Alonso is found dead. Everyone in town knows how much she resented him and she believes she is the prime suspect. Though told to stay out of it, she's determined to find someone or more with as good a motive for murder as her. Only digging up secrets can be hazardous.

This is an interesting story line, with the murder and Allie's investigation intertwined with the other aspects of Allie's busy life and small town politics. Her business as a literary agent adds a unique perspective, though, at least this time, there's not a direct connection with the murder. The reader is provided with background information on the relationships in Allie's family, the odd relationship with the Police Chief, and the town. This is the second in the Allie Cobb Mysteries and can be read as a stand alone. A cozy mystery for sure, with no profanity or graphic sex or violence.

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 

Amazon – B&N – Kobo

About the Author

J.C. Kenney grew up in a household filled with books by legends Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun, among many others, so it was no surprise when he found himself writing mystery stories. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a cat who is the inspiration for Ursula in the Allie Cobb Mysteries.

Author Links

Website – https://www.jckenney.com;

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JCKenney1;

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JCKenney1;

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/JCKenney;

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/j.c.kenney/


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: NEGATIVE EXPOSURE : Killer Shots Mysteries #1 by Lisa Thomas

Synopsis

Wendy Fairmont needs a reset button for her life.

When she's accused of murder and loses everything, Wendy moves back to her hometown to start over. But when she suspects the stain on her neighbor's floor is blood and not spaghetti sauce, she’s sucked into an investigation that has the neighbors turning up their noses.

Not only that, but her high school enemy is now married to the small town’s sheriff, and she’s determined to make Wendy’s life miserable. All this, as well as a stray cat who seems to read her mind, makes Wendy’s fresh start more like a dead end!

Negative Exposure is the first book in the Killer Shots Mysteries. If you enjoy a whodunit with plenty of twists and turns, you'll love this clean series with its snarky humor, quirky characters, and intriguing plot.

Review

Wendy has lots of baggage as she moves into her grandparents' home, not just in the moving van. And things are not going well, not for her or for Harold Attwood, recently deceased. Somehow the neighbors aren't quite as harmless as she remembers, and Jake is much hotter, but a bit secretive. Then, there's Cricket the cat, and her arch enemy from High School.

This was a fun read. I found myself smiling at some of the situations Wendy got herself in and at the other characters. The pace is steady with enough twists and a bit of personal angst for Wendy to keep it interesting. Adding to it all, it's not always clear who the good guys are. A good start to a cozy mystery series by Thomas. 

Killer Shots Mysteries

Negative Exposure

Freeze Frame

Picture Imperfect

Blog Tour and Review: LEFT FUR DEAD : A Jules & Bun Mystery by J. M. Griffin

Synopsis

On Fur Bridge Farm, Jules cares for rescued rabbits. But when a killer strikes, she’ll need a rabbit to rescue her . . .

Juliette “Jules” Bridge prides herself on the tender rehabilitation she provides for injured or abused rabbits on her New Hampshire rescue farm, but she has a very special relationship with one bunny in particular. Bun is a black-and-white rabbit who happens to have the ability to communicate through mental telepathy. Once she got over the shock, Jules found her furry friend had a lot to say.

One frigid March morning on their walk together, Bun spots a body. The police identify the frozen stiff as Arthur Freeman, aka Arty the Mime. Jules and Arty knew each other on the children’s party circuit, where he’d perform magic tricks and she had an educational rabbit petting pen. With Bun egging her on, Jules decides it’s time they hop to it and put their heads together to discover who silenced the mime. But their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole of more suspects and lies, while a killer sets a trap for them . . .

Review

Jules and Bun are interesting characters, and yes, Bun is a rabbit with a telepathic connection to Jules, and occasionally a few others. The whole rabbit rescue is a feel good bonus to this book. Only unfortunately, Jules stumbles on Arty's body and is worried she will be arrested. As the reader soon discovers, Jules is only a sleuth with Bun's prodding. 

Jules is not a very socially aware individual. Her whole life is centered on the rabbit rescue and ensuring the rabbits are well cared for with the help of her friend, Jess. Jess is finishing Vet school and will open a clinic on the grounds. To help with expanded service, Jules hires a new helper. Only someone doesn't want the rabbit rescue to be successful and that places the bunnies at risk. Jules is so isolated she doesn't readily pick up the clues without help from Bun. She is surprised and devastated when she does figure it out.

This was a fun read, and as someone who supports various animal rescue groups, I enjoyed the discussion of the educational and rescue aspects. The story is paced evenly with consistent action intermixed with setting the scene, not only for this, but future books in the series. 

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

J. M. Griffin is the bestselling cozy mystery author of sixteen novels, including the Vinnie Esposito series. She lives in rural Rhode Island with her husband and two very mysterious cats. Visit her at jm-griffin.com.

Author Links

Website – Facebook – Blog

Purchase Links 

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/02887792900/

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 8 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 8 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

July 9 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

July 10 – I’m All About Books – GUEST POST

July 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 10 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

July 10 – That’s What She’s Reading – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

July 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 11 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

July 12 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW

July 13 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

July 13 – Here’s How It Happened – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 13 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 14 – Brianne’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, EXCERPT

July 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

July 15 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

July 15 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

July 15 – Author Teresa Watson – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 16 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

July 16 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 17 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

July 17 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Book Review: BREAKING FREE: SEAL Team Heartbreakers #1 by Teresa Reasor

Today's review is a military romantic suspense for a change of pace...

Synopsis

When LIEUTENANT ADAM “HAWK” YAZZIE rescues ENSIGN BRETT “CUTTER” WEAVER during a mission in Iraq, his faith in his team’s loyalty is shaken. Someone in the team attacked Cutter and left him for dead. But who?

ZOE WEAVER races to her brother Brett’s bedside. He stood by her while she fought her way back from a devastating injury, and she’s determined to do the same for him. Though drawn to Hawk’s good looks and steady strength, she’s reluctant to get involved with a man in uniform. But with Brett lying in a coma, Hawk may prove the key to what happened to her brother.

Hawk is torn between loyalty to his men and his need to see justice done. When he tries to save a troubled teammate’s career, he unwittingly puts Zoe’s life in danger. Can he lead the rest of the team in a rescue operation to save her? Or will one of Hawk's brothers in arms destroy the woman he loves?

Review

Zoe is a physical therapist, in part due to an accident she had when she was 7 and leaves Kentucky when her brother, Brett, a Navy Seal is hospitalized in a coma in California. She's a military brat, and already lost her father to the military, and now her brother. And of course, no one will tell her what happened on the Seal mission.  Hawk, the LT of the Seal unit feels responsible for Brett's injury, especially since he can't figure out how Cutter (Brett) got injured. It's ruled an accident on paper, but there is a lot of doubt. And that means someone on the team hit Brett in the head and left him for dead. Everyone is suspect and Hawk discovers he doesn't know his team as well as he thought.

The tension is always present with additional twists and turns, heightened by the growing attraction between Zoe and Hawk. The pace is quick and charged emotions keep it that way. There is adult content, in my opinion handled well. This is the first in a series, and I've already added the 2nd one to my TBR list.