Category Archives: Rated B

May 14, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller

Title: Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller
Maple Falls Series Book One
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She never wanted to come back. He never wants to leave. The town of Maple Falls has plans for them both.

Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good.

But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having.

With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home.

Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and your business.

Review:

Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller is a wonderful novel about family, healing and love.

After high school, Riley McAllister left Maple Falls, AR to move to New York with high hopes of taking the art world by storm.  Ten years later, she has not had her big break but she is not giving up on her dream. But when her feisty, beloved Mimi breaks her leg and needs her help, Riley hops on the next plane back to her small home town. The last person she expects to pick her from the airport is her teenage crush Hayden Price. He also left town but after an injury put an end to his major baseball career, Hayden returned to Maple Falls. He is working in his family’s hardware business and coaching the church softball team. Riley is still drawn to Hayden, but will she overcome her fears and explore the possibility of a relationship? And will she give up the Big Apple for small town life?

Riley’s life as a child with her mother was incredibly chaotic. Even after moving in with Mimi as a teenager, Riley found it difficult to let herself make friends. She is close to Mimi and she loves her grandmother’s friends, but she struggles with accepting offers of friendship with women her age.  Riley is also extremely guarded and finds it hard to allow Hayden into her life. But as they agree to just be friends, Riley is surprised when she relaxes enough to allow their feelings blossom into a tentative romance. But how will she react when she must face her past?

Hayden was also interested in Riley when they were teenagers. But he did not have the time for a romance since he was single-mindedly focused on pursuing his baseball dream. His years of hard work paid off only to be dashed by a career ending injury. Putting his disappointment behind him, Hayden is rebuilding his life in Maple Falls. Hayden still feels a spark between him and Riley and he knows he will have to tread very carefully with her. He does not know much about her life before moving with his grandmother, but he has no trouble reading Riley’s “keep away”. Hayden is willing to take as much time and patience as he needs to nurture his fledgling romance with Riley. But will his own baggage get in the way of their burgeoning romance?

Hooked on You is a very enjoyable novel with a charming cast of characters. Despite the passage of time, Riley’s dysfunctional past prevents her from getting close to anyone. Hayden recognizes how wounded she is but he does have a few issues of his own. Their relationship unfolds gradually over time, but Riley pulls away whenever she feels emotionally threatened. Maple Falls residents are absolutely delightful but the town itself is in need of some TLC. This first installment is a sweet introduction to Kathleen Fuller’s Maple Falls series that readers are going to absolutely love.

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Filed under Contemporary, Hooked on You, Kathleen Fuller, Maple Falls Series, Rated B, Review, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

May 7, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke

Title: Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke
Publisher: Text Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Elle Castillo once trained as a social worker, supporting young victims of violent crime. Now she hosts a popular true crime podcast that focuses on cold cases of missing and abducted children.

After four seasons of successfully solving these cases in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Elle decides to tackle her white whale: The Countdown Killer. Twenty years ago, TCK was terrorizing the community, kidnapping and ritualistically murdering three girls over seven days, each a year younger than the last. Then, after he took his eleven-year-old victim, the pattern—and the murders—abruptly stopped. No one has ever known why.

When Elle follows up on a listener tip only to discover the man’s dead body, she feels at fault. Then, within days, a child is abducted—a young girl who seems to fit suspiciously into the TCK sequence halted decades before. While media and law enforcement long ago concluded that TCK had suicided, Elle has never believed TCK was dead. She had hoped her investigation would lay that suspicion to rest, but her podcast seems instead to be inciting new victims.

Review:

Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke is a riveting mystery about a true crime podcaster’s attempt to identify a long dormant serial killer.

Elle Castillo’s true crime podcast, Justice Delayed, has become more popular with each season. Her newest podcast features a serial killer dubbed The Countdown Killer “TCK” who went dormant twenty years ago.  His first victim in 1996 was a twenty-year-old woman and each girl he kidnapped afterward was always a year younger.  TCK went dark after his final victim, an eleven-year-old girl, escaped. Although the police have worked on the case sporadically over the years, their efforts yielded no new evidence. Elle has put a lot of hours into the case and with every episode, Justice Delayed draws more listeners.

It appears Elle’s hard work has paid off when she is contacted by someone who claims to know TCK’s identity. Unfortunately, the tipster is murdered before Elle arrives at to meet him. Frustrated but certain she might be getting close to finding TCK, Elle is soon in a race against time when a young girl is kidnapped. She is certain TCK is responsible but her friend, police Commander Ayaan Ridwaan, is skeptical. Undaunted, Elle continues pursuing her theory, but the stakes become much higher when another young girl is taken.

Elle is happily married to Hennepin County Medical Examiner Martin Castillo. He is very proud she has solved cold cases because of her podcast. He is quite supportive of her work, but he cannot help but worry for her safety. Elle tends to become overly involved as she tirelessly works around the clock tracking down leads and following new evidence. She is entirely fixated on the TCK case and she is stressed and exhausted after the tipster’s death and the young girl’s kidnapping. Martin and Ayaan fear Elle has developed tunnel vision as her obsession grows. If TCK is the person responsible for the girl’s disappearance, Elle knows she must act quickly before he takes another victim.  With time running out, will Elle finally find the one thread that will unravel the mystery of TCK’s identity?

Alternating between the podcast episodes and events in the present, Girl, 11 is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery. Elle is an intense woman who is on a mission to crack the TCK case but her obsession soon clouds her judgment. She is also less than reliable as she comes up with wild theories without evidence to back up her ideas.  Elle is initially a valuable asset to Ayaan as she assists in the kidnapping case. But Ayaan fears history is repeating itself as Elle becomes less clearheaded and more erratic during the investigation. With a shocking twist and jaw-dropping turn, Amy Suiter Clarke brings this clever debut to suspenseful conclusion.

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Filed under Amy Suiter Clarke, Contemporary, Girl 11, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, Text Publishing

April 27, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas

Title: Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas
Honey Creek Series Book Two
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The charming and uplifting new novel from the legendary author of dozens of unforgettable romances! Travel to the small town of Honey Creek where ties run deep and happiness is just around the next river bend…

Marcie Latimer longs to run away from Someday Valley—especially since her ex-boyfriend spun a web of lies that almost led to tragedy in neighboring Honey Creek. Little wonder so many locals have turned their backs on her. But not Brand Rodgers. The quiet cowboy comes to listen every time she sings at Bandit’s Bar, offering a glimpse of safety and calm that Marcie’s rarely known.

After Texas Ranger Colby McBride saved Honey Creek’s mayor, Piper Mackenzie, from a fire, she claimed him with a kiss. That was five months ago, and Colby still isn’t sure where they’re headed. Piper loves her town—but does she love Colby? And is he even ready for what comes next?

Pecos Smith, Honey Creek’s emergency dispatcher, is grateful to have a new bride he adores and a baby on the way—even if one vital piece of the puzzle is missing. But as trouble comes stalking through the valley, lives will cross surprising paths. And Marcie, who’s always felt that a forever love was out of reach, might discover that Someday is the perfect place to find it .

Review:

Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is a sweet, homespun, romance. Although this newest release is the second novel in the Honey Creek series, it can be read as a standalone.

Marci Latimer has been down on her luck ever since her previous boyfriend’s arrest and conviction. She is living in an unsafe area but it is close to the bar where she sings on weekends. Marci’s car is currently out of commission so she has not followed through with the plans she has been making for her future. After a group of drunken bar customers try to hurt her, she and local cowboy Brand Rodgers form a friendship that  quietly grows into something deeper. The threat of flooding in nearby Honey Creek provides an unexpected opportunity that could help her get back on her feet. With one of the men who tried to attack her threatening her, Marci decides it is time for her to stop being so timid. With Brand’s assistance, she is prepared for whatever comes her way.

Marci loves spending time with Brand but the taciturn cowboy does not reveal much about himself. They enjoy quiet evenings together and he makes her feel incredibly safe and cared for during their time together. Brand is very supportive of Marci’s recent decisions and he will do anything to keep her out of harm’s way.

In nearby Honey Creek, farmer, widower and father of three Jesse Keaton is suddenly smitten with bakery owner Adalee. He makes up excuses to see her but he does not see any way he can ask her out. Between working his farm and caring for his children, Jesse has very little free time. Needless to say, he is taken off guard when Adalee appears to be attracted to him as well. But is there any chance they will be able to see where a relationship between them might go?

Honey Creek Mayor Piper Mackenzie is still involved with a long-distance relationship with Texas Ranger Colby McBride. But their time together is very limited due to both of their demanding careers. Piper is excited about Colby’s upcoming visit but their severe lack of communication is becoming a huge problem. Will Colby find a way to salvage their fractured relationship?

Picnic in Someday Valley is a heartwarming romance with a wonderful, downhome cast of characters. The various characters are vividly developed and very easy to like. The various story arcs fit together seamlessly as their lives begin to intersect.  The different  romances are marvelous to watch unfold as the couples figure out how to make their lives fit together. With a hint of suspense, Jodi Thomas brings this small-town romance to a heartfelt conclusion. Old and new fans of the Honey Creek are sure to love this newest installment.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Honey Creek Series, Jodi Thomas, Picnic in Someday Valley, Rated B, Review, Zebra Books

April 23, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

Title: The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 256 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A woman being held captive is willing to risk everything to save herself, her unborn child, and her captor’s latest victim in this claustrophobic thriller in the tradition of Misery and Room.

On an isolated farm in the United Kingdom, a woman is trapped by the monster who kidnapped her seven years ago. When she discovers she is pregnant, she resolves to protect her child no matter the cost, and starts to meticulously plan her escape. But when another woman is brought into the fold on the farm, her plans go awry. Can she save herself, her child, and this innocent woman at the same time? Or is she doomed to spend the remainder of her life captive on this farm?

Intense, dark, and utterly gripping The Last Thing to Burn is a breathtaking thriller from an author to watch.

Review:

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean is a riveting yet bleak novel.

Thanh Dao and her sister Kim-Ly arrive in the UK with big dreams. While Kim-Ly works in Manchester, Thanh “Jane” has been sold to Lenn and lives on a pig farm in the Fenlands. Nearly eight years later, the only thing that keeps Jane going is the thought that her sister will soon be free of the “debt” she owes.  As for Jane, she lives a lonely existence with Lenn who controls absolutely every aspect of her life. But when she becomes pregnant, Jane never stops searching for the opportunity to escape from her captor.

Over the years, Jane has tried to escape so she knows what will happen if Lenn catches her. She bides her times and continues to outwardly acquiesce to his demands. But Jane makes sure to tell herself the truth every time she loses a piece of herself to Lenn. She spends her days doing housework and cooking for Lenn while she dreads the nights he takes her upstairs to the front bedroom. After she realizes she is pregnant, Jane knows that she cannot raise her child in captivity.

The farm is isolated and no one is aware Jane lives with Lenn. He spends his days working in the fields and he has very exacting standards for everything within the walls of his rundown home. Lenn follows Jane’s every move and he punishes her when he catches her out. With Jane in danger of losing her very identity, she waits for the perfect opportunity to escape his evil clutches.

The Last Thing to Burn is a suspenseful, character driven novel. Jane is the easy to empathize narrator of this heartrending story that delves into the seamy world of human trafficking. Jane’s desperation to escape is apparent with each turn of the page. The story is well-written with a grim setting that springs vividly to life. With increasing tension, Will Dean brings this haunting novel to a stunning conclusion.

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Filed under Atria/Emily Bestler Books, Contemporary, Rated B, Suspense, The Last Thing to Burn, Will Dean

April 20, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone

Title: Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Contemporary, Psychological, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating:B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

With the startling twists of Gone Girl and the haunting emotional power of Room, Mirrorland is a thrilling work of psychological suspense about twin sisters, the man they both love, and the dark childhood they can’t leave behind.

Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband Ross.

But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone—El?—has left Cat clues in almost every room: a treasure hunt that leads right back to Mirrorland, where she knows the truth lies crouched and waiting…

A twisty, dark, and brilliantly crafted thriller about love and betrayal, redemption and revenge, Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about the power of imagination and the price of freedom.

Review:

Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone is an intriguing psychological mystery.

Identical twins Ellice “El” and Catriona “Cat” grow up in a household with just their mum and granddad. Their old Victorian house has an unusual passage to a place the imaginative sisters call “Mirrorland”. In Mirrorland, they have grand adventures on the high seas and the old West. Inside the house, their mum reads darker fairy tales and stories to them. But, when the sisters are twelve years old, they go into care after they are found at the local harbor. El and Cat remain close until old childhood friend, Ross MacAuley comes back into their lives. After El and Ross decide to marry, Cat leaves Scotland for the United States where she remains until her brother-in-law lets her know El is missing. Cat immediately returns and waits in vain for news about El who is presumed to have died in a boating accident. She stays with Ross who, by an odd twist of fate, now lives in her old childhood home. With memories assailing her at her turn, she is forced to look at her childhood through a different lens as she attempts to convince everyone El is still alive.

Cat initially views her long ago past through a haze of nostalgia.  She looks fondly back on her and El’s various escapades but a hint of uneasiness runs underneath the surface. Cat has an unnerving ability to forget upsetting pieces of her history so she does not know what to believe when she begins receiving unsettling notes and emails. The only time she feels truly safe is with Ross and although he is El’s husband, he was her one-time boyfriend. Cat is still attracted to her brother-in-law but should she completely trust his version of events?

After Ross and his mum move into the house next door, he is a frequent visitor to Mirrorland. Cat is immediately smitten but she can be a little shy so it is sometimes hard to capture his attention. The sisters can be cruel on occasion as they join forces against him during some of their adventures. As they are reunited in their late teens, Cat is delighted that she and Ross spend time together as a couple. But she gives him up without much of a fight and cuts off all contact with him and El once they announce their engagement.

While the mystery surrounding El’s disappearance is interesting, the first third of the story is a little slow-paced as Cat gets caught up in reflecting back on her childhood.  These passages are long and a bit confusing because it is impossible to tell what is real and what is not. It is not until the storyline focuses mainly on the present that the pacing picks up. Cat is a fascinating woman but she is a somewhat unreliable narrator. And since El is mainly seen through Cat’s memories, it is difficult to know if her portrayal of her sister is accurate.

Mirrorland is an eerie mystery with an atmospheric setting. The plot is very imaginative but the pacing is a little uneven. The twin’s play area is somewhat creepy and Cat comes to realize that her memories are not quite accurate. Ross is initially devastated over El’s disappearance but some of his behavior is eye-brow raising. With very clever plot twists, Carole Johnstone brings this suspenseful mystery to a pitch perfect conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Joanne Johnstone, Mirrorland, Mystery, Psychological, Rated B, Review, Scribner, Suspense

March 29, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Tell No Lies by Allison Brennan

Title: Tell No Lies by Allison Brennan
Quinn & Costa Thriller Book Two
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The unsolved murder of a young activist leads to the discovery of much darker crimes in New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan’s latest compelling thriller to feaure the young, edgy detective Kara Quinn and the loner FBI agent Matt Costa. This time they work to uncover possible ties to a high-stakes cartel in the Southwest desert.

Something mysterious is killing the wildlife in the mountains just south of Tucson. When a college intern turned activist sets out to collect her own evidence, she, too, ends up dead. Local law enforcement is slow to get involved. That’s when the mobile FBI unit goes undercover to infiltrate the town and its copper refinery in search of possible leads.

Quinn and Costa find themselves scouring the desolate landscape, which keeps revealing clues to something much darker—greed, child trafficking and more death. As the body count adds up, it’s clear they have stumbled onto much more than they bargained for. Now they must figure out who is at the heart of this mayhem and stop them before more innocent lives are lost.

A Quinn & Costa Thriller

Book 1: The Third to Die

Book 2: Tell No Lies

Review:

Tell No Lies by Allison Brennan is a multi-layered mystery. Although this latest release is the second installment in the Quinn & Costa Thriller series, it can be read as a standalone.

FBI Special Agent Matt Costa and the rest of the Mobile Response Team are currently working on a murder case in Arizona. The death of Emma Perez appears to be tied to a copper mining company that might be dumping toxic waste. Agent Michael Harris is working undercover inside the company.  Agent Ryder Kim is posing as a college student so he can surreptitiously meet the other agents. LAPD Detective Kara Quinn is on loan to the team and she is working undercover in a local bar. Zach Heller is digging for information that will hopefully provide them with the details they need to put the pieces of this puzzle together.

Costa is working with Joe Molina, the son of the owner of the Southwest Copper Mine. Joe is uncomfortable providing inside information to the FBI. But he wants to prove his father’s innocence.  Joe makes no effort to hide his interest in Kara, so she agrees to spend  a day with him in hopes of learning new information. Harris is finding it difficult to lie to the workers he is befriending but he continues hoping he will overhear incriminating details from plant employees. Zach believes he might have discovered the key that will break the case wide open, so he feverishly works around the clock to prove his theory. Before her death, Emma confided her suspicions about the toxic chemicals to Frank Block, who dismissed her concerns. He has taken time off from work to see if he can locate  the toxic waste site. When their main suspect is murdered, will Costa, Kara and the rest of the team find Emma’s killer?

Tell No Lies is a complex mystery with several twists and turns. The pacing is initially a little slow, but the story soon gathers speed. The storyline is well-developed with story arcs that are quite interesting. Each of the regular characters is likable with realistic strengths and weaknesses. Matt and Kara’s relationship takes a personal turn but their blossoming romance is quite understated. With a shocking plot twist, Allison Brennan brings this intriguing mystery to an edge of the seat conclusion. Fans of the genre will enjoy this newest addition to the Quinn & Costa Thriller series.

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Filed under Allison Brennan, Contemporary, Mystery, Quinn & Costa Thriller, Rated B, Review, Suspense, Tell No Lies