Book Spotlight: CALL IN FOR MURDER: A Neon Desert Novel by Tammy Barker

Call In For Murder: A Neon Desert Novel 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting – Nevada 

Independently Published 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 19, 2025 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages 

About the Book

Call-in radio host Ashley Compton is Las Vegas’s best friend when it comes to giving relationship tips to strangers. But when a repeat caller is found murdered after exposing her woes on the air and accepting the challenge to put up or shut up, Ashley questions if her homespun advice was the catalyst for the murder. 

Afraid of losing her job and destroying her reputation, Ashley heads to the seedy side of Las Vegas to snoop around. There she encounters shady dealings: lies, gambling, adultery, and potential criminal activities. When her two-timing and felonious suspects spout glib excuses to justify their behaviors, she digs deeper and is threatened, injured, and gets what she dishes out: advice she doesn’t always like. 

Can Ashley’s sleuthing skills catch the killer, or will she end up just another crime statistic? Can she save her career, or will she be put on the Do-Not-Call list? 

Purchase Links 

Amazon Digital ~ Amazon Print ~ B&N Print

About the Author

Tammy Barker is a serious, by-the-book Washington DC government accountant by day and a wildly imaginative fiction writer by night. She writes contemporary traditional amateur sleuth mystery novels and historical pulp fiction short stories. Her other loves include reading anything, restoring or refurbishing vintage items, small home repairs, cooking and baking, classical piano, and wishing she lived during the 1940s and 1950s. 

You can contact here at these sites:

Webpage ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram  

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Book Review: BROKEN SECRETS Book 1 by Jasper Trey

About the Book 

He inherited a ranch he didn’t want. She showed up with answers he didn’t ask for. 

Noah Hodges walked away from a life in the lab to raise his daughter in peace—but his grandfather’s death drags him back to a ranch that feels like a trap and a coded diary that refuses to stay quiet. He doesn’t have time for secrets. Or for the sharp-tongued city woman determined to unravel them. 

Cecilia Buriss never expected a grocery run to put her face-to-face with a man who clearly doesn’t want the truth. But the symbols in his grandfather’s journal don’t feel accidental—and the deeper she digs, the harder it is to stop. 

He’s a single dad trying to protect the only stability his daughter has ever known. She fills silence with words—especially when she’s afraid of what might surface. 

Neither of them planned to fall in love. But buried secrets don’t stay buried. And uncovering the truth may force Noah to choose between the past he’s avoided—and the life he’s fighting to protect. 

Review

Noah inherits his grandfather's property and the home built for his grandmother, already deceased. The dig is, he has to live on the property or lose his inheritance and the trust fund for his 12 year old daughter, Dalia - and the property is worth a lot. He meets Cecilia, a city girl, and isn't interested in relationships, just meeting the conditions of the will. 

Only Cecilia introduces Dalia to Haley and helps with Dalia's adjustment. Noah finds his grandfather's diary and shoves it in a drawer. Cecilia finds and starts reading it, discovering codes. Eventually she convinces Noah to read it and along with Danielle, the attorney, they decipher the code and unravel the secrets hidden within - at the very end. A slow start, but a satisfying ending. Romance plus mystery. A clean read (no spice/heat on the page). A new author to me, and I'll be reading more.

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 Link 

AMAZON 

About the Author 

Jasper Trey is a part-time Math teacher and yoga instructor, but a full time mother and wife. She loves being outside and helping her husband with the farm. Writing allows her to live so many different lives all of her own making! Come live life in someone else's shoes with her.  Everyone deserves a little happy ever after in their life, sometimes its through a good story and sometimes its just your life that you are living. Find some happiness everyday! Jasper also authored the Protect the Crown Romance series. You can contact her:

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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. 

AMAZON

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:

Facebook ~ AmazonAuthor ~ Website ~ Instagram

Goodreads ~ Twitter/X ~ BookBub

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Don't miss the Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon!

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. 

Book Review: INHERITANCE Book 1 by Nora Roberts

About the Book

Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts—a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations. 

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him… 

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about—and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth—and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light. 

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease—and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” 

It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it… 

AMAZON

Review 

Sonya quickly finds herself loving the manor, haunted or not. She imagines living there much longer than the 3 months stipulated in the will. Only to do that, she has to convince her artistic friend, Cleo who being from New Orleans believes in the supernatural and curses. Clearly a curse is in place for seven brides destined to live in the manor have all died on their wedding day.

Not surprisingly, this tale is well-written with a combination of humor and wit, along with the witchy woman who has stolen all the brides' wedding bands, and suspense. In order to break the curse, Sonya needs to find all seven rings. As she and Cleo, along with Trey and his friend go through various room, set up the studio for Cleo where Uncle Collin had his studio, they discover paintings by Sonya's father. Even Sonya's mother is impressed by the manor and the paintings. Now, all that's left is finding the rest of the rings.

Although I am not usually drawn to the paranormal, the presentation of the ghosts, down to the little boy who plays catch with Sonya's dog, is well done. Now to move onto books 2 and 3 to find out how it ends! Yes, it is a cliffhanger.

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 

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.

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Book Spotlight: BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS : THREE DOG MYSTERIES by Jann Franklin

Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries)

 Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting – Louisiana 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (February 20, 2025) 

Language ‏ : ‎ English 

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 238 pages 

About the Book 

Ro Bergeron’s grandparents raised her to be, well, helpless. She can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive. When Ro inherits her childhood home, she decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. Running a business catering to people is a big undertaking for thirty-two year old Ro—let alone pets too—yet with faith she is confident she can handle it. She even has her first guests booked for the coming weekend! 

But when her meddlesome great aunts find the opportunity to solve a local murder too irresistible, Ro’s new life as a business owner is turned upside-down! As Min and Win Rascoe indulge their sleuthing skills, a reluctant Ro and her enthusiastic house guests are drawn into the mystery. Will the Rascoe sisters and their unconventional team solve the murder before Ro’s high school crush Detective Jason Charbonnet? Can Ro master the skills of cooking and hosting? 

Will life for Ro in the tiny town of Belle Bayou ever be the same?

This book is the first of the Three Dog Mystery Series. 

Purchase Link – Amazon

About the Author 

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in northwest Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents. 

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. 

Author Links 

Webpage ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Instagram 

GoodReads ~ BookBub 

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Book Review: CHOCOLATE MAGIC CAFE (A Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Olivia Swift

About the Book

Create your own magical moment! Grab a coffee and maybe some chocolate while you dive into this cozy mystery! 

Magda Caraganic already is a successful chocolatier. When she inherits an old stable from her aunt, she decides to convert it into a chocolate shop and café. The best contractor to help with the conversion is the man she has argued with since she was fifteen. 

The work sparks off spirit activity marked by the appearance of a mysterious ghost cat. Magda’s beautiful Birman cat, Crystal, starts to act strangely. What can it all mean? 

This is a story of friendship, friendly ghosts, cats, chocolate and true love. 

Review 

This was an interesting and fun read. Magda is a hardworking chocolatier determined to make the barn she inherited into a business, rather than making her chocolates in the small space she has. Her friend and her brother support her, and she can deal with Sam, the man she has argued with since she was 15. Only there's the black and white cat that walks through the barn door and the shadow of a woman... If you're into paranormal, this one has it all, including a makeshift seance. 

Swift does a wonderful job of weaving the various pieces together, including enlightening Magda on family history. There's tension, a bit of humor, and the plot flows seamlessly. Only reader beware, with all the descriptions of the truffles and the cheesecake, you may want to have some chocolate nearby. 

As of this post date, the book is available for $0.99! It is the first in a 7-book series.

AMAZON

About the Author

Olivia Swift loves writing cozy mysteries! Her stories are inspired by her varied interests…gardening, spirits, crystals and so much more. Of course, there must be a romance or two in her books and a happily-ever-after ending! 

Growing up in a small English village, Olivia is only too familiar with the various characters that make up a community. There is always an event, drama, or mystery amongst the village folk. . Only a few years ago, Olivia and her husband chose to take an early retirement and moved to the Aquitaine region of France.

Author Page

Book Review: CREAM CARAMEL AND MURDER (Holly Holmes Cozy Clinary Mystery Series Book 2) by K. E. O'Connor

About the Book:

With its stunning turrets and beautiful rose gardens, I always thought Audley Castle was perfect, set in the idyllic English village of Audley St. Mary. It’s a place I love to call home. But behind the trimmed hedgerows, stately gardens, and birdsong, a killer is waiting… 

After being forced to close my charming café in this quaint little village, I'm thrilled to get a job in the Audley Castle kitchens, making divine treats for visitors and serving the Audley family who live in the castle. 

The joy fades when I take my beloved dog for a walk, and he leads us to the body of a family friend, Kendal Jakes. Seemingly caught in the act of tampering with evidence by the castle’s security team, I become the number one murder suspect! It’ll take more than my skills with a piping bag to solve this crisis. 

As fingers get pointed at me, I have no choice but to take matters into my flour-covered hands and clear my name. As I snoop, I discover old rivalry, jealousy, and long-standing grudges. 

Having mastered the art of creating a perfectly fluffy souffle, I’m known for my determination to get things right, and I won’t rest until I uncover the truth about this murder. Even if doing so puts me in the killer’s line of sight. 

Review 

The castle setting is superb and Holly is not only a great pastry chef, but a wonderful, if somewhat naive main character. Her cafe closed, she takes a job at the castle and makes friends with Lady Alice and Lord Rupert. When one of Rupert's visiting friends is killed, Holly is cast as the killer and they rally behind her while she continues sleuthing - despite the admonitions of the head of security. The memorial garden is very inviting. 

The primary characters are well-developed and hard to forget. The pace is steady and the ending is somewhat of a surprise. Throughout the book, Holly is baking sweets and trying to fix an old bread recipe. They all sounded delicious! With vivid descriptions and hints of romance amidst the murder investigation, this one has the hallmarks of a cozy mystery.

AMAZON

About K E O'Connor 

K.E. O'Connor is the author of the Witch Haven mystery series, the Crypt Witch cozy mysteries, the Lorna Shadow ghost mysteries, the Holly Holmes baking mysteries, the Zee Town paranormal cozy series, and the Old Sarum mystery series, along with other titles available if you cast the right spell. She can imagine dragons, taste cookies when they aren't even there, and hear the crack of a witch's broom at a hundred paces. 

K.E. (the K stands for Karen) lives in the United Kingdom (it isn't very united, but that's a mystery for another time) among the mystical stones and fairy creatures of Somerset. She graduated from the Universities of Southampton and Reading, where she received degrees in Archaeology and Cognitive Evolution (both highly entertaining to take part in, but with the career options of a ground witch's toe bone.) This is the second in the series but easily read as a stand-alone. 

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Book Review: PERIL IN PINK (Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries) by Sydney Leigh

Peril in Pink (Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries) 

Cozy Mystery 

1st in Series 

Setting – Hudson Valley, New York 

Publisher: ‎Crooked Lane Books (March 19, 2024) 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning. 

Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in this sparkling debut mystery. 

It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. 

As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect. 

After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder. 

With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled. 

 

REVIEW

Jess, Kat, her brother Nate, and his wife Sara have their hands full with the grand opening of the Pearl B&B, decorated in pink. The Pearl is full and thaat should mean success and a celebration for Jess with a detective on the police force. Only, the man who broke her heart, Lars, volunteered to give a free concert as part of the opening. Hence, the place is packed and busy. 

Along with Lars and his step-father Bob, who nobody likes, two of the girls (now women) who picked on Jess in high school and made her life miserable arrive as well. Kit tries to help, Sara is a bit odd, and everyone is telling Jess not to fall for Lars again. Then Bob is killed and Lars is the primary suspect. Jess has mixed emotions but doesn't believe he's the killer. 

With all the conflict, the roadie, the sister-in-law, the bullies from high school, a second musician who actually does perform, and a myriad of other characters, there's something around every corner to keep the story going and keep the reader guessing as to the killer and the real motive is. Definitely a great start to a series, and a B&B should provide fertile ground for more to come.

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 ~ Bookshop.org ~ Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Sydney Leigh spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes modern cozy mysteries and thinks about murder. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021. She does a blog post once a month on The Stiletto Gang. 

Author Links 

Website ~ The Stiletto Gang ~ Facebook  

Twitter/X ~ GoodReads ~ Instagram    

 

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Book Review: ICE - A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery Book 1 by Lauren Carr

Book Title: ICE (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #1 by Lauren Carr

Category: Adult Fiction, 364 pages

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Release date: February 26, 2018

Content Rating: PG-13 Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn, few and far between. No F-bombs.)

"Lauren spins an amazing web of lies, murder, and love that will have you on the edge of the your seat...I love the way Lauren spun this novel - I could not put the book down! I had to know what happened to Sandy and her unborn child how this disappearance was tied into a string of other murders. I never saw the end coming but it was perfect and suited the novel. A definite must read novel! 5-Star Review by Carla at Working Mommy Journal

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Sandy Lipton and her unborn child disappeared, the court of public opinion found young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and his family has never lifted.

With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the clues are getting hot!

REVIEW

Chris moved home, burnt out with the FBI, and moved in with his mother. Chris is a widower with three daughters and his mother helps with caring for them. In an effort to get Chris out of the house and back involved in the community, his mother encourages him to join the book club his father enjoyed. Just a group of old geezers reading crime books. The group isn't sure of Chris because of his age - he's not an old geezer - but they were friends with his father. He's accepted when he seeks their help in finding out what happened to Sandy Lipton.

Chris is a likable main character, determined to see justice for Sandy Lipton and clear his name once and for all. The story unfolds with old friends who still hold a grudge for Chris' success. To his surprise, the girlfriend from high school who ghosted him so many years ago, also has moved back home. As Chris and his friends collect information through various channels, tension heats up. 

This is a great start to a new series featuring Chris, his family, the rekindled romance, and his small town. The characters are well developed and the story moves at a good pace. It was hard to put down - so I didn't. Another late night reading a great book. I always enjoy books by Carr and this one did not disappoint. 

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. 

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon  ~  Audible  ~  BookBub  ~  Add to Goodreads

MEET THE AUTHOR

Selling over half a million books worldwide, Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries - thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns! 

Book reviewers and readers alike rave aboout how Lauren Carr seamlessly crossed genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions.

She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

website  ~  blog  ~  facebook  

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Book Review: STICKY INHERITANCE - Maple Syrup Mysteries by Emily James

About the Book (from Amazon)

Knowing the truth… …is sometimes worse than believing the lie. Especially when murder is involved. 

When Nicole’s uncle dies and she inherits his maple syrup farm, she thinks it’s time to leave her career as a criminal defense attorney behind for a life that allows her to stay far away from murderers and liars. For half a day at least. 

Her uncle’s suicide looks like it wasn’t a suicide at all. The local police chief doesn’t want to reopen the case. Murder’s bad for business in a tourist town, after all. The handsome county medical examiner—who’s exactly her type and all wrong for her—is willing to help. 

But that means returning to the world of justice that Nicole hoped to leave behind forever. When the truth’s a sticky thing, it’s hard to know what’s worth risking your life for.

Review

Stanley Dawes disappointed the family when he gave up a lucrative career to run a maple syrup farm. Although many in the family would have nothing to do with him, he kept in touch with his niece Nikki (Nicole), a criminal defense attorney. He tells her how much happier he is, away from the criminal element and stress. When he's found dead, the family lets Nikki handle everything. He's left her the farm and the expectation is she will sell it and return to her law office in short order. 

Only Nikki doesn't think her uncle committed suicide. As she puts her criminal defense and investigative skills to work, she has to deal with the police who like the idea of suicide over homicide, and the very people who work on the maple syrup farm. Only she's in search for the killer and delays any plans to return "home" to the law office.  

This is well-written, with a few quirky characters and a likable main character in Nikki. The pace is good and the plot has the occasional red herrings and twists. It is the first in the series and my first read by Emily James. A clean, cozy mystery with a female sleuth to keep you interested. If you're a cozy mystery fan, you're sure to enjoy this one. I know I've just added a few books to my TBR list.

AMAZON

About the Author (from Amazon)

Emily James grew up watching TV shows like Matlock, Monk, and Murder She Wrote. (It's pure coincidence that they all begin with an M.) It was no surprise to anyone when she turned into a mystery writer. She writes books with quirky characters and a touch of romance. She keeps them clean because she wants her books to be the kind you could share with your teenager or your mother. 

If you'd like to know more about Emily or send her an email, check out her website: authoremilyjames.com.

Book Review: POISONED IN PROVENCE (A Nina Brown Paranormal Cozy Mystery) by Cat Green

Synopsis 

Provence: A magical start to bright new life… 

 …garnished with buttery croissants, café au lait, and a delectable French chef. 

But when murder is on the menu, will she be the next victim? 

Still reeling from a romantic betrayal, 22-year-old Nina travels to Provence, France to oversee her magazine’s chef competition. Kitchen heat sends her swooning into the arms of a scrumptious French contestant Jacques, a tasty Crème Brûlée of a chef she’d love to nibble. 

As Jacques gives Nina a tour of his family’s historic caves and magical gardens, secrets waft through the lilac-scented breeze. Secrets that come to light when the head judge shrieks “poison” during the competition’s climax. 

Can Jacques be the culprit? Will Nina prove her creamy cuisiner’s innocence and discover the real culprit before it’s too late? 

Poisoned in Provence is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny cozy mystery, packed with quirky characters, mouth-watering cuisine, and the adorable fashionista French Bulldog, Jasper. You'll devour this delicious, cozy romance. Because in the warmth of French Country kitchens, love magic blazes bright.

Review

Nina and her good friend, Holly, travel to Provence for a chef competition. She's excited to replace her boss as a judge with hopes her article on the competition will move her career forward. Provence is a small town with a chef of its own - Jacque has the restaurant across from the hotel and attributes his success to the spices he collects from this grandmother's secret garden.

Nina immediately feels her life is going to change. Although she has suppressed her "gift," being in Provence she has visions once again. She has to keep her feelings under control, though, as one of the other two judges is poisoned, not once, but at each of the three events. Unfortunately, Jacques is the prime suspect.  

Nina, Holly, Jacque, and others all have unique personalities. Don't forget Jasper, the fashionista-driven dog. This was an enjoyable read. It is well paced. The paranormal aspect is subtle and fits when it appears. This is the first in the series, with the second, Silence in Salem, scheduled for an August 2022 release. 

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.

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Blog Tour and Book Review: ONE OF US (A Tower District Mystery) by Lorie Lewis Ham

 

Synopsis

At 35, children’s book author Roxi Carlucci finds herself starting over again after her publisher drops her book series. With no income, she has to pack up her life on the California Coast, along with her pet rat Merlin, and move in with her cousin, P.I. Stephen Carlucci, who lives in Fresno, CA. The one redeeming factor is that Stephen lives in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno.

Stephen talks Roxi into helping out with a community theatre production, which is also a fundraiser for a local animal rescue. Little did she know that someone would be murdered during a rehearsal, and that she and Stephen would be hired to find the killer. The killer has to be one of Roxi’s new acquaintances since the theatre was locked at the time of the murder, but no one seems to have a motive. How can they solve a murder without a motive? Could the local gossip website hold any clues? Can they stop the killer before they strike again?

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Leave a comment - one lucky commenter will win a digital copy of One of Us.

Review

Roxi moves in with her cousin to decide on the next chapter in her life. She's worked for Stephen before but is not thrilled with the idea of Fresno. Not her favorite place. He's helping with the theater company and she agrees to work with the mousy stage manager. The very first night she's there, an argument breaks out between the director and an actor over an issue with the script. The next day the mousy manager is found dead. 

Well-written, Ham walks you through the twists, turns, and surprises that face Roxi and Stephen as they work with the local police to solve the murder. In trying to come up to speed with what's happening, Roxi discovers the local gossip website. Is who is talked about important? Or maybe who's missing? 

This is the first in series and the stage is set for Roxie and Stephen to be solving more murders in the Tower District. There might even be a possible romance blooming. If you like a good mystery with some quirky characters (and don't forget Merlin), you'll like this one. I've added the next to my TBR pile.

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 Lorie Lewis Ham

Lorie Lewis Ham lives in Reedley, California and has been writing ever since she was a child—her first stories were about her stuffed animals. Her first song and poem were published when she was 13, and she has gone on to publish many articles, short stories, and poems throughout the years, as well as write for a local newspaper. Four out of 5 of her previously published mystery novels feature gospel singer Alexandra Walters and are set in the San Joaquin Valley. Those books were inspired by the many years she spent traveling and singing gospel music with her family. 

One Of Us is the first in a brand new mystery series set in the Tower District of Fresno, California featuring podcaster and part-time detective Roxi Carlucci. Lorie has also been the publisher of the online magazine Kings River Life for the past 11 years (kingsriverlife.com), and of its sister website KRL News & Reviews (krlnews.com). She also launched a mystery podcast called Mysteryrat’s Maze (mysteryratsmaze.podbean.com) 3 years ago which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors, including the first chapter of this book. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and all of the other usual places. You can learn more about Lorie on her website mysteryrat.com and find her on Twitter @mysteryrat and Facebook. Another way to keep up with Lorie’s writing is to subscribe to her newsletter—you can find info on doing that on her website.

Lorie has been married to Larry for 30 years and they have 2 grown children—Jayce and Joseph Ham. She currently has 5 cats (Merlin, Sam, Dean, Sidney, and Willow), 4 dogs (Lestat, Huey, Xander, and Phoebe), and a pet dwarf rabbit (Sherlock). For many years, she worked in pet rat rescue and has had many pet rats of her own over the years. 

Author Links 

Website - https://www.mysteryrat.com/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lorie.ham/ 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mysteryrat 

Purchase Links 

Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound -  

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Book Review: CATCH A FALLING STAR Eden Mysteries Book 1 by Laurel Heidtman

Synopsis

Missing treasure, criminals, cops, co-worker hostility, and the surprise appearance of an ex-lover — definitely not what mystery novelist Kate Rawlings expects when she accepts a summer teaching position at her alma mater in the peaceful college town of Eden, Kentucky. 

Michael Mabry was Kate’s lover in college, but did she ever really know him? Thirty years later, he’s on the run from his partners in a Chicago museum heist in which a valuable ancient Indian artifact called the Shooting Star was stolen and two people killed. Michael escaped with the Star and his life, but he needs money to get out of the country. After so long, Eden should be the last place anyone would think to look for him, but his partners and an insurance investigator with his own agenda are hot on his trail. Kate finds herself suspected of involvement in the heist, but when a murder occurs in Eden, she also finds herself suspected of murder.

Review

A mystery novelist, still involved with her college sweetheart, Kate can acknowledge Michael is not marriage material. Still, she doesn't grasp the extent to which he has engaged in illegal activities for the past thirty years. And she never questioned his disappearances and reappearances. Add in the professor, the insurance investigator, the police chief, and Kate's best friend who is head of college security. The last pieces are the others who Michael wronged so many years ago and the people he crossed when he disappeared after the botched heist of the star.

The pace is good and though it is apparent that Michael is the con and Kate the victim, the addition of the mob and other personalities add the suspense and round out the story line. This was a well-written mystery, with twists and turns. As the first in the series, Kate is positioned to be involved in additional mysteries, and perhaps, a romance.

AMAZON

Book Review: THE DIVINE DEVILS by R Weir

Definitely not a cozy mystery. . . 

Synopsis 

Two teenage siblings in peril.

A mysterious group with an agenda to abduct them.

The mother Paige Hawkins reaching into her past seeking divine intervention.

The call going out to former US Marshal, Hunter Divine. An erstwhile lover who broke Paige’s heart. A man whose current existence is leaping from job to job and bed to bed. Hunter taking the case hoping for salvation in his futile life.

Can Hunter and his team prevent the kidnapping by an enemy with vast resources? The foe’s endgame is to leverage these kids for their own vengeful desires. Hunter and his team toe the line between virtue and vile. Drawing on wit, brawn, halos and pitchforks the ‘Divine Devils’ will scorch the earth to protect these kids. Even if it costs them…their eternal souls!

Hunter Divine and his team - Willing to move heaven and hell to get results!!

Review

Hunter Devine left the US Marshal as the fall guy when a case went south. Since then, he and his friends. each talented in their own way, have been helping people with problems. Now he's faced with one that is all that more important because of his history with the client - Paige. She's one of many women he's left behind, now married with one daughter, Olivia, and a son Deion. Neither of them take the situation seriously when it's apparent someone is trying to kidnap them. A prime suspect, is Isiah, Olivia's father who she's never met. Hunter and his team do everything they can, without a clear motive. 

There are twists, turns, and speculation. Hunter has to pull on his remaining friends to get the job done. It helps he's told to spend whatever is necessary, but it's clear some soul-searching is going on as well. The story is well-paced and the outcome is not obvious. This is the first in a new series for Weir. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Divine Devils. As noted above, this is definitely not a cozy mystery. 

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.

AMAZON