Category Archives: Rated B

June 29, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: K-9 Hideout by Elizabeth Heiter

Title: K-9 Hideout by Elizabeth Heiter
K-9 Alaska Series Book Four
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense, Mystery
Length: 199 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

Dirty cops, hidden identities and a deadly stalker…

Police handler Tate Emory is thankful that Sabrina Jones saved his trusty K-9 companion, Sitka, but he didn’t sign up for national media exposure. That publicity unveils his true identity to the dirty Boston cops he took down…and brings Sabrina’s murderous stalker even closer to his target. With their covers blown, Tate will risk his life—and his guarded heart—to save Sabrina from a fatal end.

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

Review:

K-9 Hideout by Elizabeth Heiter is a fast-moving, suspenseful romance. This newest release is the fourth installment in the K-9 Alaska series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Sabrina Jones has been in Desparre, AK for six months and she is is beginning to feel safe. She has finally relaxed her guard just a bit but she still keeps to herself. But once Sabrina realizes the stalker she has been outrunning has caught up with her again, will she go on the run again?

Tate Emory and his K-9 partner Sitka are a common sight around town. While Sitka has not needed all of the skills she has learned, she puts them to good use once Sabrina goes to the police. And after it becomes obvious that her stalker remains threat, Tate and Sitka do everything they can to protect her.

K-9 Hideout is a well-plotted and engaging mystery. Sabrina and Tate are very resourceful and know how to protect their secrets. But even in a small town like Desparre, danger has a way of catching up when least expected. With unexpected twists, Elizabeth Heiter brings this tension-filled mystery to an exciting conclusion. Old and new fans of the K-9 Alaska series are sure to enjoy this latest installment.

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Filed under Contemporary, Elizabeth Heiter, Harlequin Intrigue, K-9 Alaska Series, K-9 Hideout, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Romance, Suspense

June 28, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Title: A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor
Maggie D’arcy Mysteries Book Two
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 426 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the follow up to the critically acclaimed The Mountains Wild, Detective Maggie D’arcy tackles another intricate case that bridges Long Island and Ireland in A Distant Grave.

Long Island homicide detective Maggie D’arcy and her teenage daughter, Lilly, are still recovering from the events of last fall when a strange new case demands Maggie’s attention. The body of an unidentified Irish national turns up in a wealthy Long Island beach community and with little to go on but the scars on his back, Maggie once again teams up with Garda detectives in Ireland to find out who the man was and what he was doing on Long Island. The strands of the mystery take Maggie to a quiet village in rural County Clare that’s full of secrets and introduce her to the world of humanitarian aid workers half a world away. And as she gets closer to the truth about the murder, what she learns leads her back to her home turf and into range of a dangerous and determined killer who will do anything to keep the victim’s story hidden forever.

With the lyrical prose, deeply drawn characters, and atmospheric setting that put The Mountains Wild on multiple best of the year lists, Sarah Stewart Taylor delivers another gripping mystery novel about family, survival, and the meaning of home.

Review:

A Distant Grave by Sarah Stewart Taylor is an intriguing mystery which takes place in Long Island, NY and Ireland. This second release in the Maggie D’arcy Mysteries series can be read as a standalone.

Detective Maggie D’arcy is looking forward to a trip to Ireland with her daughter Lilly. She is eager to reunite with her Irish boyfriend Conor Kearney and introduce Lilly to his son Adrien. However, not long before she leaves, Maggie and her partner Detective Dave Milch are assigned to the murder of an unidentified man at the South Bay Harbor. Maggie and Dave track him to a hotel in the vicinity and learn his name is Gabriel Treacy. With his phone and laptop missing, they have no idea why he is in NY or why he was murdered. Although they are making incremental progress, her boss, Marty Cascic gives her the go ahead for her trip.  Much to Conor’s dismay, his reunion with Maggie turns into a working vacation as she tracks down information about Gabriel. Maggie is soon embroiled in another murder when Treacy’s solicitor Noel Thomason is killed during a break-in. Is there a connection between the two deaths?

Maggie and Lilly are extremely close but her daughter has been withdrawn ever since her ex-husband’s suicide. Hoping the Ireland trip will help Lilly, Maggie is relieved when Marty allows her to take her vacation as planned.  She is hoping Conor will understand when she spends some of her time investigating Gabriel and Noel’s murders. Maggie uncovers some valuable information along with some puzzling details that she is certain might be instrumental in solving both killings. In the meantime, Lilly, Conor and Adrien are connecting with one another and Maggie is thrilled to see her daughter laughing and smiling again. But her vacation comes to an abrupt end when D.A. Jay Cooney demands she return to Long Island to resume working on the case.

Maggie and Dave’s search the killer is a bit slow moving as they continue tracking down leads and trying to locate  people that are linked to Gabriel. They also do some under the radar sleuthing based on information that Maggie uncovered in Ireland. She is a little unnerved by the feeling that someone is watching her. With the killer always one step ahead of them, will Maggie and Dave find the murderer before it is too late?

A Distant Grave is an exciting police procedural with a marvelous cast of characters. Maggie is extremely intelligent with excellent people skills and keen instincts that prove to be invaluable throughout the investigation.  The storyline is engaging and quite clever.  The various settings spring vividly to life which makes them very easy to visualize.  With incredible plot twists, Sarah Stewart Taylor brings this brilliant mystery to an edge-of-the-seat conclusion. Old and new fans are to enjoy this newest addition to the Maggie D’arcy Mysteries series.

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Filed under A Distant Grave, Contemporary, Maggie D'arcy Mysteries, Minotaur Books, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Sarah Stewart Taylor

June 25, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Maps for the Getaway by Annie England Noblin

Title: Maps for the Getaway by Annie England Noblin
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

If you love Susan Mallery, you won’t want to miss this novel of three high school friends who find themselves emotionally fractured when tragedy strikes, so they go on a road trip they’ll never forget and rediscover what made them “best friends forever.”

It was the road trip of their lives . . . and they did it without a map.

When they posed for a photo at their high school graduation, they vowed they’d be friends forever, but teenage promises are so easily broken, and now, thirty years later, they’re practically strangers.

Cici—stuck in a rut, married to a cheating husband.

Genie—caring for her ailing father but never getting any thanks.

Kate—everyone knows people who look perfect on Instagram are not.

And Laurie—the most successful of them all—now tragically gone.

So, to celebrate Laurie’s life,  three former friends in a 1962 red Lincoln Continental convertible take the road trip of their lives—encountering male strippers, a boy band that has seen better days, crazy motel rooms, adopting a so-ugly-it’s-cute stray dog…and discovering that it’s never too late to live the wild life.

Because, sometimes, to find yourself you have to get away.

Review:

Maps for the Getaway by Annie England Noblin is a wonderful novel of friendship, new beginnings and self-discovery.

Although they have very different family lives, Cici, Genie, Kate and Laurie are best friends from the moment they meet.  And yet, twenty years after their high school graduation, their only communication is the occasional text. But when they learn of Laurie’s unexpected death, they reunite for their dear friend’s funeral.  Afterward, they make an impetuous decision to take a road trip to Las Vegas to attend their favorite teenage boy band’s reunion concert. Cici, Genie and Kate learn each other’s secrets as they laugh, cry and sometimes get angry, during their journey.

Kate is a lawyer whose long hours away from home have led to her recent divorce. Although not surprised, she is hurt their sons decided to live with their father.  Kate has always projected a happy home life, so she has kept quiet about her divorce. Will she tell Cici and Genie that she is now single?

Cici is married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of two teenage daughters. Up until now, she has turned a blind eye to her husbands philandering. But when she sees him with his latest girlfriend, Cici reacts in a very unexpected and public way that goes viral in their small town.

Genie is a kindergarten teacher and she lives in her childhood home. Until recently, she was taking care of father who has Alzheimer’s. But when his condition worsens, Genie has no choice but to move him to an Alzheimer’s unit. Their relationship has always been fraught, but Genie does not let this get in the way of continuing to care for him.

Although Laurie is now gone, she is with her friends in spirit as they make their way from MO to Las Vegas. Genie is a planner who presents a strict schedule for them to follow on their road trip. Unused to taking time off, Kate is a little surprised that she is able to leave work behind. Cici tries to use the time away to come to terms with the end of her marriage. During their trip, they end up in some laugh out loud situations as well as poignant discussions about their lives past and present.

With chapters alternating between different points of view, Maps for the Getaway is a marvelous friendship novel that will resonate with readers. The characters are well-developed but it takes a little time for their individual voices to become distinct. The road trip is interesting with Cici, Genie and Kate finding themselves in some very unusual but funny situations as they unexpectedly meet unique people along the way. Annie England Noblin brings this heartwarming novel to a very uplifting conclusion.

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Filed under Annie England Noblin, Contemporary, Maps for the Getaway, Rated B, Review, William Morrow Paperbacks, Women's Fiction

June 22, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Bones of Hilo by Eric Redman

Title: Bones of Hilo by Eric Redman
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From Hawaii’s Big Island to the wilds of Washington’s North Cascades, a novice detective uncovers a hoard of ancient secrets at the heart of a grisly murder.

A young, inexperienced detective from the wet, working-class side of Hawaii’s Big Island, Kawika Wong faces an uphill battle to gain the respect of his more seasoned colleagues. And he has the chance of a lifetime when Ralph Fortunato, the Mainland developer of an unpopular resort on the island’s tourist side, is found murdered on a luxury golf course, an ancient Hawaiian spear driven through his heart.

With the other detectives desperately trying to solve another string of grisly killings, Captain Terry Tanaka has no choice but to send Kawika to investigate. As Kawika joins forces with his father and girlfriend to help read the signs and make sense of the ritualistic murder scene, they uncover a cache of secrets reaching far back to the Island’s ancient past. And the journalist who found the body has her own theories about Fortunato’s demise–but do they line up with the evidence?

On a perilous journey that stretches from the Big Island to Washington State and back, Kawika finds danger at every turn. But he still has much to learn about Hawaii, and about the rugged terrain of the North Cascades. And he’d better learn it fast, because his instincts may not be enough to catch a killer who’s closing in even faster.

Review:

Bones of Hilo by Eric Redman is a fascinating mystery which takes place on the Island of Hawai’i.

Detective Kawika Wong grew up on the Mainland but he is now a detective on the Big Island. He is  inexperienced and wants to prove himself so he is to solve the case his boss just assigned him to. Ralph Fortunato is an American real estate developer who was murdered with an ancient Hawai’ian weapon.

Kawika has sharp instincts but sometimes has trouble finding evidence to back up his theories. He becomes intimately involved with the woman who found Fortunato’s body. This decision complicates his personal life and Kawika hopes it does not lead to professional trouble as well. Just as he is a little headway in the investigation, Kawika barely escapes death at the hands of an unknown person. In an effort to protect him, his boss sends him to the Mainland where Kawika finds unexpected information about the deceased. But will these new details help identify Fortunato’s killer?

Kawika is a personable young man who is working hard earn his co-worker’s respect. He is intuitive and follows his hunches. He is not making a lot of progress in finding out who killed Fortunato, but he is tracking down every lead. Fortunato’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Cushing appears to genuinely shocked when Kawika informs him of Ralph’s death so he is not high on the suspect list.. A Native Hawai’ian group wants to stop the development from proceeding, but do they have anything to do with the murder? And are Kawika’s discoveries about Fortunato’s business dealings on the mainland relevant to his death on the Big Island?

Bones of Hilo is an engrossing mystery that is rife with interesting Hawai’ian information. Kawika is a multi-faceted character whose flaws do not lessen his appeal. The murder investigation moves at a steady pace as Kawika hunts for Fortunato’s killer. The Big Island springs vibrantly to life and provides an beautiful backdrop for the novel. With unanticipated plot twists, Eric Redman brings this intriguing mystery to a surprising conclusion.

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Filed under Bones of Hilo, Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Eric Redman, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense

June 21, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Revival Season by Monica West

Title: Revival Season by Monica West
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Coming of Age, Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The daughter of one of the South’s most famous Baptist preachers discovers a shocking secret about her father that puts her at odds with both her faith and her family in this “tender and wise” (Ann Patchett, author of Commonwealth) debut novel.

Every summer, fifteen-year-old Miriam Horton and her family pack themselves tight in their old minivan and travel through small southern towns for revival season: the time when Miriam’s father—one of the South’s most famous preachers—holds massive healing services for people desperate to be cured of ailments and disease. This summer, the revival season doesn’t go as planned, and after one service in which Reverend Horton’s healing powers are tested like never before, Miriam witnesses a shocking act of violence that shakes her belief in her father—and in her faith.

When the Hortons return home, Miriam’s confusion only grows as she discovers she might have the power to heal—even though her father and the church have always made it clear that such power is denied to women. Over the course of the next year, Miriam must decide between her faith, her family, and her newfound power that might be able to save others, but, if discovered by her father, could destroy Miriam.

Celebrating both feminism and faith, Revival Season is a story of spiritual awakening and disillusionment in a Southern, black, Evangelical community. Monica West’s transporting coming-of-age novel explores complicated family and what it means to live among the community of the faithful.

Review:

Revival Season by Monica West is an engrossing coming of age novel that is written from the perspective of the fifteen-year-old daughter of a Black evangelical, faith-healing preacher.

Miriam Horton is very devout, obeys her parents and completely idolizes her father, Samuel. Their family is well-respected and they are all very involved in her father’s church. Every summer, Miriam, her brother Caleb and their younger sister Hannah join their parents on their yearly revival tour. This summer’s revival is off to a strong start but that changes after Hannah witnesses a violent altercation between her dad and a man who casts doubts on her father’s faith healing ability. They continue on the tour but attendance continues to plummet as word of her father’s violence spreads.

Once they return home, Miriam is surprised no one seems to know what happened and Samuel carries on like nothing is wrong. As for Miriam, her viewpoint of her father is forever altered and she begins to question much of what his teachings. She has come to doubt his faith healing ability and this opinion is confirmed when she accidentally heals her best friend, Micah. As word spreads of her newfound skill, Miriam is desperate to keep her father from finding out. As Samuel becomes more volatile both at church and home, Miriam grows increasingly frightened for her family’s safety.

Miriam’s entire perspective about her father, her parents’ marriage and her faith change dramatically after she witnesses her father’s violent temper. She does not know if she can trust him and she is dismayed by her mother’s complete acquiescence to her husband. Once Miriam realizes she has the gift of healing, she knows how dangerous it is for Samuel to know. But as their family circumstances alter, Miriam contemplates the unthinkable as she grows more and more angry at her father.

Revival Season is a well-written novel with a fascinating storyline. Miriam is a multi-dimensional character whose faith in her father is destroyed which leaves her questioning her life. Her mom is mostly subservient but she does show a different side of herself to her daughter on occasion. Samuel cannot accept blame for his mistakes and he makes no effort to hide his anger at home.  The novel moves at a brisk pace and Monica West brings this thought-provoking novel to an abrupt conclusion.

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Filed under Coming of Age, Contemporary, Fiction, Monica West, Rated B, Rated B+, Review, Revival Season, Simon & Schuster Inc

June 18, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry

Title: The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry
Kate Hamilton Mysteries Series Book Three
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In Connie Berry’s third Kate Hamilton mystery, American antique dealer Kate Hamilton’s spring is cut short when a body turns up at the May Fair pageant.

Spring is a magical time in England–bluebells massing along the woodland paths, primrose and wild thyme dotting the meadows. Antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is spending the month of May in the Suffolk village of Long Barston, enjoying precious time with Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. While attending the May Fair, the annual pageant based on a well-known Anglo-Saxon folktale, a body turns up in the middle of the festivities.

Kate is even more shocked when she learns the murder took place in antiquity shop owner Ivor Tweedy’s stockroom and a valuable Chinese pottery jar that she had been tasked with finding a buyer for has been stolen. Ivor may be ruined. Insurance won’t cover a fraction of the loss.

As Tom leads the investigation, Kate begins to see puzzling parallels between the murder and local legends. The more she learns, the more convinced she is that the solution to both crimes lies in the misty depths of Anglo-Saxon history and a generations-old pattern of betrayal. It’s up to Kate to unravel this Celtic knot of lies and deception to save Ivor’s business.

Review:

The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry is an interesting mystery set in a quaint British village. Although this newest release is the third book in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series, it can be read as a standalone.

Kate is manning Ivor Tweedy’s antique store in Long Barston while he undergoes much needed surgery. She is also enjoying her time with her long distance significant other Detective Inspector Tom Mallory who is unfortunately tied up working an important case. While attending the May Fair, the festivities come to a shocking end following a murder. Kate is stunned to discover the victim was attacked in Ivor’s storeroom and a valuable pottery jar has been stolen.  When she is hired to value the victim’s expensive and expansive art collection, Kate notices some troubling inconsistencies. Will she and Tom unmask the killer?

Kate owns an antiques business in the United States and she is well-versed in antiquities. So, filling in for Ivor is no hardship. What she does not expect is for a customer to bring in a rare and expensive pottery jar for her to sell on consignment. The client is a little mysterious and Kate feels a bit uneasy about the woman. Trying to focus on what the sale would mean for Ivor, she pushes aside her doubts.

Kate has been involved in two other murder cases so she promises Tom she will stay out of this latest murder investigation. Of course, she does pass on her observations to Tom when they arise. Kate continues valuing the victim’s estate, but she becomes very curious about some of the discoveries she makes.  Despite her best efforts to remain on the sidelines, Kate cannot resist looking into some of the things that are troubling her. Will she discover any new information that might identify the murderer?

Kate is an amiable woman who never expected to fall in love after her husband unexpectedly passed away. Since she lives in the United States and Tom in England, she never believed their relationship would become serious. Although they have spent limited time together, Kate (reluctantly) admits to herself she is in love with Tom. But is there any future for them together?

The Art of Betrayal is a clever cozy mystery with a wonderful cast of characters. The village is a lovely setting that is quite atmospheric. The storyline is interesting and while initially a little slow, the pace soon picks up steam. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Connie Berry brings this engaging mystery to an exciting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series are going to love this newest addition.

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Filed under Connie Berry, Contemporary, Kate Hamilton Mysteries, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Art of Betrayal