Review- Ties That Bind

Ties That Bind

by Carolyn Arnold

Available at Amazon   http://amzn.to/ncwkZs

Available at Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62102

Also at Goodreads   http://bit.ly/o6EC4q

      This book a first in the Madison Knight series by Carolyn Arnold is a beginning look at the police detective and what makes her tick. As the story progresses we see the woman Madison Knight is and the lengths she goes for justice. Madison Knight is a kick –ass, hold no prisoners police detective. She has intelligence, attention to detail, charm and hard headed determination.  Madison Knight is driven bound to her job and justice for the murdered victim. She like a lot of people has to fight bureaucracy and hierarchy just to do her job but if I were the victim I’d want Madison Knight on the job. The story was solid interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat while it took me on a roller coaster ride to its conclusion.

There’s only so much an author can tell about their character in one book so I look forward to reading more of this character in future books.

Those who enjoy the Castles series on television, the Kinsey Millhone books by Sue Grafton, or the much heralded Prime Suspect books by Lynda La Plante, which were made into a BBC series, will enjoy this strong take charge woman. They will also enjoy the Author’s attention to little details about police procedures making it a more authentic experience.

five stars out of five

Review- Reunion

Reunion 

(available at Amazon http://amzn.to/pZFVVV  ) 

Smashwords  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44678

By Jeff Bennington

            Mr. Bennington gets in the mind of a teen bent on revenge in this novel. He gives life to the teen and the motives behind the killings. It starts as all books do, at the beginning, the catalyst event, the shooting twenty years before. The slow build up to the killings is so intense and so well written your stomach begins to hurt .After the initial killing, we see what happened to the students that survived .As the reunion approaches, we discover the survivor’s reactions, and the secrets behind them,

          Mr. Bennington’s skills as a writer are evident as the build-up to the reunion continues throughout the book. The brilliantly weaved story defines the characters and makes them engaging .If you are a fan of Stephen King, you’ll certainly enjoy this book. It has the same spine tingling kind of thrill. This book is a fast paced paranormal thriller that you will not be able to put down until the conclusion.

***** 5 out of five stars

Review- By A Thread

By A Thread  
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/pc2pmj 
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57299


by Marty Beaudet 


    This book is a tour de force thriller of gripping action. This writer really knows how to research a story and give it accuracy.
    
    It begins with the seeds of terrorism. We start with a prisoner of Gitmo being released but blackmailed to work for the CIA with threats to his family. We see his wife who doesn’t have a clue where he has been; struggling to feed her children and translating for her country to feed her children and fight terrorism. Both are being manipulated by the very government they are so loyal to simply because of their native land. As we delve into the novel we get to know the main character Kevin a missionary of the Mormon Church posted in Germany. Kevin an innocent raised in the Mormon faith he has never been allowed to think of his own sexuality. He is confused and hiding from himself as who he really is goes against church doctrine. Kevin is approached by the CIA to spy on a terrorist suspect Jasim Shammari whom Kevin has met in his missionary duties. Kevin finds himself falling for the suspect and must choose either the suspect or his country and religion. The story really takes off from there as we find out the president has been killed and the vice president is dead. Who is really behind those acts of terrorism it seems in the novel that the seeds of terrorism are insidiously beginning to germinate in the youth and in desperate people’s lives that are blackmailed by unscrupulous people. However is the real culprit Al Quaida or is something more sinister at play? Does someone want to seize the power of the presidency of the United States for themselves? Could they have engineered all to size that power? Really nail biting suspense and heart-pounding chases as you turn the pages wondering what will happen next. I truly enjoyed this well-crafted story of intrigue. This author is a new favourite of mine and I look forward to anything else he might write.

5 out of five 

*****

Book Review: Draugr (Northern Frights)

 


Draugr (Northern Frights) 
by Arthur Slade
Available at Amazon http://ow.ly/1uQcKA

     I was a big reader of Grimm’s fairy-tales when I was a child I loved the scare that you would get from them.  I also loved family tales and legends so this book Draugr (Northern Frights) [Kindle Edition] by Arthur Slade intrigued me despite the fact that it was written for a younger audience.

     The young characters in the book Sarah, Michael and Angie are visiting their grandfather in Manitoba, Canada. Their Grandfather whose homeland was Iceland likes to spin tales of family legends from Iceland. He tells them of a family member coming back from the dead for revenge. The three American children are mostly scoff at the story but the next day it is like the legend is coming true they see a ghost child and darkness settles over the town and their lives. Their grandfather is worried and demands that they cut their two week visit short and go home immediately. He arranges for them to go home that next morning. While they are all ensconced in the living room sleeping something breaks into their grandfather’s home and steals him away. Sarah summons all her strength from herself and her ancestors to disregard edicts from adults find and put her own in jeopardy to save those who are closest to her.

       I truly enjoyed reading this book as it invoked the feelings I had reading those Grimms fairy-tales for the first time. This is an excellent thriller for young adults or young readers who are ready for something more. It will arouse the young readers delight in reading with its fast paced story and frightful tale.

**** *

5 out of five
Available at Amazon http://ow.ly/1uQcKA

Review- In search Of Lucy

In Search of Lucy (available  at Amazon http://amzn.to/mVdqMf 
 Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/50303

by Lia Fairchild

     In Search of Lucy, Lucy is struggling with left over issues from her childhood. She raised Katie protected and mothered here over the years but Katie left for her own family life in Texas and left Lucy behind. Lucy was left bereft and empty nested especially as her addicted mother abandoned her too leaving nothing but debts. She had no education nothing but memories of her sister and the pain of her childhood to keep her company. Lucy lives in limbo suffering the sins of the past. Her estranged sister Katie calls her to ask the ultimate sacrifice she needs Lucy to save her again by giving her a kidney.

     This book is rich with feeling as the author takes you on Lucy’s journey of ups and downs to find herself and learn to move on from the past that holds her back. I enjoyed this book so much. The story was rich with lots of detail to make it feel real and alive. It felt like stepping through the pages as I read and into Lucy’s head.What an inspiring, uplifting book. I couldnt put it down to its conclusion

5 stars out of five

*****

Review-Sacred Secrets, A Jacody Ives Mystery (Jacody Ives Mysteries)

Sacred Secrets, A Jacody Ives Mystery (Jacody Ives Mysteries) [Kindle Edition] Available at Amazon  http://amzn.to/w1MTO0 

Author Linda S. Prather & Charles, Jr. Prather 

  Jacody Ives has a secret and is well suited to solving the crime that haunts his sleep. He seeks absolution in solving what haunts him. Katie O’Connor is a woman who has been living with the knowledge she was at death’s door since she was a child but the door is opening wider and she hasn’t much time. An accident gives Katie the life she’s always wanted but the heart is a bridge to the killer and Katie’s past. Jacody’s and Katie’s lives are about to intersect with a psychic bond involving a serial’s killers actions, his victim haunting them both.

In the book Jacody states ”It all boils down to secrets who was hiding what and why?” Isn’t that what every good mystery is about and this one is definitely a better than average mystery.

This is a suspenseful story with intricate layers woven with great care and detail to make an exceptional read. I truly enjoyed this stunning mystery as the author drew me in and made me identify with both of the main characters. It reminded me of some of Tony Hillerman’s books with its mysticism and mythic legends woven into the story. Readers who enjoy his books would certainly enjoy this one. This book was one I could stop reading until its conclusion. I look forward to reading the prequel to this book The Gifts and any other material from this author.

*****

5 stars out of five
"The Gifts" available at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Jacody-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B003U4WVQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314574332&sr=1-1

Book Review:The Good,The Bad and the Undead

The Good,The Bad and the Undead
By Kim Harrison
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/rK2qSy
I have to start off by saying these books Kim Harrison are totally addictive. I read the book directly after this and because I did without reading this one I was slightly puzzled by the storyline.so when I found this book I was pleased so I could understand the story better.
     Without giving out too much of the story Rachel is a witch who use to work for a government agency and now she has gone on her own to work as a bounty hunter.She lives with a Vampire and a family of Pixies(one of which is Jenks who works for her)in a converted church and runs her bounty agency out of there. Living with a vampire who is trying to reform is difficult because as you know Vampires drink of blood and not drinking blood for them it is like resisting chocolate.Jenks is fun and free spirited and he and his family are an interesting brood for this book. 
In this book Rachel is drawn back to work as a consultant for the government agency she once worked for, to find someone who is killing Ley-Line witches.Rachel views and  guilt of crimes are dismissed as prejudicial and without proof by the stuffed shirts at the government agency who only operate by the book but when they throw Rachel into the mix she must find the killer before the killer strikes her and her family.A truly fun read for anyone that loves the paranormal books.
5 stars out of five

Review- Cage of Bone

Cage of Bone

By Leanne Beattie 

Available at Goodreads http://bit.ly/kWJkKJ

 also at Amazon

 http://amzn.to/jQLdEJ on kindle

        This book is a deep look at the pain that death and suicide wreaks as well as the havoc on love ones. It also deals with the systemic impact of loss and how this influences each of the family members but especially the protagonist sixteen year old Ronnie.

        As someone who has lost a sister (not to suicide but to cancer) I read this book with open eyes knowing how I felt when my sister died wondering if the author could capture those feelings. I have to tell you this author made me feel all of those emotions again as we follow Ronnie through her journey of grief and more.  A poignant story of love, life, and loss of a sister, this book is the journey of someone who is hurting wounded and needing help but can’t ask for it. I enjoyed this carefully crafted story and its intricate layers from Leanne Beattie and look forward to anything else she’d care to write in the future.

This book is a must read for teens and adults coming to grips with loss.

***** 5 stars out of 5

What Alice Forgot

I was lucky enough to win this book from Penguin Group Canada

Published by G.P. Putnam books

What Alice Forgot
Available at http://amzn.to/uxHyc3 

By Liane Moriarty

       Alice Love has an accident and when she awakes she believes that it is ten years before. Alice is surprised by all the changes that have taken place in those ensuing ten years. She doesn’t remember her children her friends and relationships with others have changed in ways she can’t understand. The true innocence of Alice is endearing and sweet and makes you enjoy the protagonist even more.

     This book is a rollercoaster ride of emotions as we follow Alice’s journey to learn about the changes and where she goes from here. This book grabbed from the first page. As I followed along Alice’s journey and felt every emotion she felt. This gripping novel was exciting and thought provoking as you think about yourself and your own journey of the last ten years and where that has taken you how would you adapt to this happening to you?Where would your mind go? What would you do to fix the present?Would you want to?

This book has everything that you could want in a novel a character that you can identify with, difficult situations that the character must deal with and fascinating people surrounding her. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read.

***** 5 stars out of five

Review -Bury Her Deep

Bury Her Deep
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/unEnRd 

By Catriona MacPherson

       Bury Her Deep is the second book in the Dandy Gilver Series. Dandy Gilver is a wealthy farmer’s wife or so it appears to the outside world but the war and economy has altered their financial situation and Dandy has found a source for earning a little pin money. She has become a detective a secret she keeps from her husband Hugh by allowing him to think she is acting the society wife doing her husband proud by representing him in charities and the like. Dandy is approached by Hugh’s good friend and minister to solve the mystery of the Dark Stranger in a small village. The minister believes that the newly formed Women’s rural institute maybe the target of these attacks as all the woman have been at these meetings. The villagers like a lot of small villages keep to themselves and do not welcome strangers and their questions. Dandy has difficult getting to the heart of the mystery as the women who were attacked don’t want to even discuss it. When they do some of them raise the spectre of witchcraft being involved, Dandy dismisses it but then has to ask herself if she really has all the facts.

      While the story of this book sounds interesting and compelling, I had trouble delving into this book simply because I could not like the protagonist Dandy. I found Dandy an unlikeable character and because of some of the dialogue being in Olde English found myself struggling to understand what was happening in the book.That said Ms. Macpherson is an interesting writer and I may try another in the series and see if I like that better.

*** 3 stars out of five

Review- Larceny and Old Lace –A Vintage Magic Mystery

Larceny and Old Lace –A Vintage Magic Mystery

Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/sgxUvN 

By Annette Blair

This is the second Vintage Magic mystery.

        In Mystic Falls, Connecticut Madeira Cutler (also known as Mad or Maddie) is renovating the old funeral parlour that centenarian Dolly Sweet has given her. The former funeral home will be her new business, Vintage Magic. It will be her dress shop for timeless classics and designer originals. She’s gotten more than she bargained with the funeral home as it comes with the ghost of Dolly’s sweetheart, Dante Underhill and the former owner of the funeral home and a quilt wrapped with mysterious bones. Madeira crosses paths with her childhood nemesis Detective Sergeant Lytton Werner as the discovery of the bones delays the opening of her new shop. Lytton has no idea that all Maddie’s information comes from psychometrics (the touching of object and the ability to see the owners) and Maddie doesn’t want him to find out. Delaying the opening comes at a financial cost but Aunt Fiona, the chairman of the White Star Circle of Spirit, Southeast Connecticut Chapter comes through. Aunt Fiona is, as Maddie's mother was, a witch and she offers to hold the Circle’s Halloween day, costume ball that evening sponsored by the Circle and pay for the lighting on the top floor. Maddie is more than willing to accept as this will help start her business.

      Maddie would love to have her boyfriend FBI agent Nick Jaconetti help but he’s off saving the world as usually but at least he’s available by phone for records. As Maddie finds out the bones may belong to a thirty year old mystery she’s more than ready to delve into the mystery. Maddie and (her best friend since childhood)Eve delve into the mystery to save a friend from suspicion of a mysterious fire and death at the playhouse across the street from Maddie’s new business. The characters are rich and vibrant slowly building and introducing them to the reader allowing the reader to learn about them and their lives and making you want to know more. The mystery itself is interesting ,compelling and a really good read.

4 out of five stars

Review -Death Of A Snob

Death Of A Snob


Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/tieGBi 1
Category: Murder Mystery

By M.C. Beaton

If you’ve never read a Hamish Macbeth mystery you should. They are fun interesting a great take on life in the rural of Scotland. The author also writes the Agatha Raisin series which I also find amusing and captivating

 In this book the sixth in the series it’s Christmas, Hamish is sick and feeling sorry for himself. His mother phones and says he can’t come home for Christmas as his aunt is visiting and she (the aunt) dislikes Hamish for something that happened when he was young. Hamish feels this is unfair but can’t say anything so he finagles a invite to an acquaintance of Priscilla’s. The acquaintance Jane Wetherby feels she’s in danger that someone is trying to kill her. Hamish feels she’s really not in danger but when he’s offered room, board, and food he jumps at the chance to go to her Scottish island health farm. Arriving on Ellencraig, he feels that tingle he gets when something is wrong. The locals are not thrilled with Jane Wetherby and neither are some of her hostile Christmas guests who are barely civil. When one of the guests gets killed Hamish must find out what’s really going on.Hamish in his personal life is his usual clueless bachelor self.

A captivating mystery with characters who come to life in a cozy mystery you’ll curl up to read.

*****5 stars

Review: A Vengeful Longing

By R.N. Morris

Category Mystery,Suspence

Available at Amazon  http://amzn.to/w3kcFc 

This is the second in the series however I have not read the first A Gentle Axe after reading this book however I’ll have to find that book and read it. . A doctor brings home a fancy box of chocolates for his wife and son an unusual gift on such a hot afternoon. Within an hour, both mother and child die a poisoning death, and the doctor is immediately arrested, suspected of poisoning. Detective Porfiry Petrovich  a character from Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment comes alive once again in this book as he too seems to succumb to the heat and concedes that the doctor must have done it. More murders happen and a strange coincidence seems to be tie the three murders together but how to prove it? Porfiry is forced to go into the darkest part of the city and face unimaginable horror and cruelty to solve this crime. Porfiry is a character much like Sherlock Holmes who determines the essence of the crime picks it apart and then puts it back together to find the answer.

 The writer R.N. Morris has captured the essence of Russia of the nineteenth century. This book is an interesting and a compelling read. I must read “A Razor Wrapped in Silk” the next book in this series which came out in May last year as I found this book so compelling

****`  4 1/2 stars out of five

Review: Poppy Done to Death

Poppy Done to Death

By Charlaine Harris
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/v7T7yL 

Category: Mystery

In book eight in the series Aurora “Roe” Teagarden is finding a little happiness she settled down into her job at the library and is dating mystery writer Robin Crusoe. However all good things must come to end and this is no exception as Thanksgiving looms Roe has an unexpected visitor in her half -brother Philip who has run away from home  (who met his sister in the last book) and is sure she would be good place to escape from his parents. Added to that she is trying to get to know her new stepbrothers and their wives better so Poppy is happy to put in a good word for her step-brothers wife Poppy in the exclusive Uppity Women’s Club. Roe and her other sister-in law are waiting for Poppy’s inauguration ceremony when she doesn’t show they go to find her. There at Poppy’s home they find her dead. There are a number of suspects because Poppy had an open marriage. Roe decides to use all the skills she’s learned from all the dead bodies she’s found to find the killer which brings her back into her former boyfriend the detective’s circle. The two then have to put aside their differences to find the killer.

N.B. This book is good and gives some closure to some of the story of Aurora however when reading it I was not aware that this was the last in the series. I keep hoping that Charlaine will revisit this series as I love Aurora Teagarden.

**** 4 stars out of five

Book Review: Ghouls Gone Wild(Ghost Hunters Mysteries number 4)

Ghouls Gone Wild(Ghost Hunters Mysteries number 4)

Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/sbBIP1 

Category: Paranormal Mystery

By: Victoria Laurie

       This is the fourth book in the Ghost Hunter series featuring M.J. Holliday and her sidekick Gilley. I had read her first book in this series but managed to miss the others I’ll have to catch up on them later.




         In this the fourth book in the series M.J. is forced to honour  the contract she and Gilley signed  and go to Scotland to participate in a reality show Ghoul  Getters ,with a fellow medium Heath Whitefeather. This is not at all what M.J wants Stephen seems to be so distant and she is starting to rethink their relationship. He works when she’s sleeping so she hardly ever sees him and going far away is not going to help matters. 


        M.J is faced with something she’s never faced before a century old witch Rigella. Rigella is said to haunt the village of Queens Close haunting the descendants of the village and killing them every hundred years. As M.J. battles the witch who controls the hundreds of dead souls there she is confronted with the evidence that Gilley is a descendant of a Gillespie who lived in the village and therefore at risk but the witch has come back early so who is controlling the witch? As they fight to find the culprit M.J. finds herself drifting further away from Stephen and a new closeness with her medium partner Heath Whitefeather.


        This book is a scary thriller of psychic attacks, physical attacks from the beyond and a a personal behind the scenes controlling what is really going on..It is violent in parts but how else can the writer display the fear that all in the book have of the witch Rigella. Interesting characters and in fact I liked Heath so much better than Stephen who I knew from the first book. This book is actually a notch above her first book in the series “What’s a Ghoul to do?” An interesting paranormal mystery read.
This book is actually a notch above her first book in the series “What’s a Ghoul to do?” An interesting paranormal mystery read.

**** 4 stars out of five

Review: The Mesmerist's Apprentice

The Mesmerist's Apprentice 
Category: Mystery
Available at Amazon   http://amzn.to/s9XdH3   

By L.M .Jackson                        

           In this second book of the series Sarah Tanner is still trying to hide a less than respectable past. She’s made a good life for herself working hard to be respectable and is not about to let anyone take that away from her. She's feisty resourceful and truly love-able as she seeks her way in this Victorian world running a tearoom to make ends meet a young patron claims the pies contain horsemeat. Sarah is devastated her business is her means to make ends meet and continue her respectability

     Her former love Arthur De Salle comes to ask a favour of her she finds she cannot refuse. His father is dying from a stroke. A nurse who has been seen in a house of ill repute holds sway over his father and Arthur’s mother. Arthur wants Sarah to investigate how this woman is mesmerizing his mother. As she seeks to solve that mystery her past and future collide as she realized the two cases are linked and Sarah is placed in grave danger.

This is a gripping tale that paints a realistic picture of Victorian times and the plight of the poor and the concerns of the wealthy. What a great twist that both concerns should cross each other .

 **** 4 stars out of five

Review: The Alpine Advocate

Category: Suspense, Murder, Mystery

Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/tDtZj6 

By Mary Daheim

I’ve enjoyed reading this series the Alpine series for quite awhile by somehow I missed this particular book in the series. Luckily for me I found a copy of the 2004 book recently and was able to read it.

     In this book Emma is running her newspaper the Alpine Advocate as in all the other books. Emma and the Sheriff Milo Dodge have gotten together but it is very casual and even Emma is not sure where that relationship is going. Her son Adam hasn’t been home in months form school and she’s missing him as he is spending the summer with her brother Father Ben. She’s worried that she’s losing him possibly to his father Tom who had betrayed Emma so badly. Ed Bronsky is still annoying Emma with his ridiculous hilarious schemes as well. To top of all the other stresses in Emma’s life things aren’t going so well at St. Mildred’s Catholic Church Emma’s church either. The traditional members are fighting with the non Catholic members over the direction the School is taking. The new principal is not focused on religion and guiding her young charges but has her own agenda and power struggles in sight as she favours a private school agenda. With an election underway tempers are rearing and Emma is worried when one of the most vocal advocates for the catholic system, Ursula O’Toole Randall winds up dead. Emma hates to think that a member of her church or town would kill Ursula but someone has. The number of suspects who have motive for killing this woman are coming out of the woodwork as Ursula (who has just  returned to Alpine)has being acting superior to most of the town. Emma decides to help solve the mystery, while covering the story, along with her side kick Vida Runkel (who treats her like a daughter).

A fun humourous read with many things going on at once, Mary Daheim weaves a story that is once suspenseful and seeded with humour. I enjoyed this book that I had missed in the series. It was as all of the series are, interesting and the story deeply rooted in the characters. A truly enjoyable read.

**** 5 stars out of five

Book Review -Dark Side of the Morgue

Dark Side of the Morgue
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Morgue-Spike-Berenger-ebook/dp/B002K6DYSC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314408490&sr=1-1
By Raymond Benson


This is the follow –up to A Hard Day’s Death.
Category: Mystery
Spike Berenger is a Rock n’ roll detective; he himself is a musician and although he doesn’t do as much of it any more he likes to keep his hand in by specializing in protecting musicians and if a little playing comes in so much the better. Spike is lured in once more to solve a mystery a thirty year old mystery which may involve a dead woman but is she dead? There are many winks to musicians of the past .Spike is a normal person in difficult situations and he uses all the information to solve the mystery.
I found myself waiting to find out what Spike would do next. People who read Richard Crais may enjoy this writer’s deeply human characters with their flaws and all.


**** 4out of 5 stars

Review - Nature of the Beast

Category: Heart pounding suspence action, mystery and hot romance


(Available at Amazon 
http://amzn.to/rtGsdN


on Kindle 
Nature of the Beast

By Jodi Langston

           Nick has come through a battle and won. He is in love with Kathy and he wants it all marriage and a child. Nick gives an ultimatum to Kathy and when Kathy balks he starts over as a sheriff in the wilds of Minnesota to catch a serial killer. Nick is moving on with Angie Reynolds a hot sexy woman who wants him and doesn't want to make him over.As Nick tries to move on with an amazing new woman Angie his past in Kathy comes back to haunt his future.The serial killer then finds his new target.
           What follows is non -stop action and romance an mystery. And what's good romance without turmoil? Readers of Robert Crais will admire and enjoy the deeply flawed but intensely moral character that is Nick, the brooding Detective/Sheriff. Nick is charming and sweet but also has a hard edge to him. As the reader you can't help falling in love with this character as he walks the hardline between good and evil and tries so hard to keep a moral stance.
    Read this book you'll truly enjoy its hot steamy love scenes, the suspense and action that take place in Nature of the Beast; to the heart pounding conclusion of the book. In this authors hands it's truly a journey you'll enjoy taking.
I can hardly wait to read  Jodi Langston's next book The Ties That Bind.


*****   5 stars out of five

Book Review-Homicide in Hardcover: A Bibliophile Mystery

Book Review-Homicide in Hardcover: A Bibliophile Mystery
Available at Amazon http://amzn.to/tE0TSh
By Kate Carlisle


Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled book restorer.She is obsessed with the restoration of books that even her own appearance comes last next to book restoration.
Brooklyn is at a museum reception enjoying a happy reconciliation with her life-long mentor, Abraham Karastovsky when that all ends later that evening in his death in a workroom.
With his final breath Abraham presses the supposedly cursed copy of Goethe's Faust that he has been restoring into her hands and pleads with her to "Remember the devil."
Now Brooklyn finds herself  deep in a mystery to save her reputation and her own neck .The British security agent Derek Stone (a James Bond type) assigned to protect the book (who at first believes her guilty of murder) gets in her way in Brooklyn in her search for the suspects when she is asked to finish the restoration that was begun by Abraham.Ian, her former fiancée who is in charge of the museum exhibit that contains the Faust, Minka LaBoeuf, a thieving, enemy who has hated Brooklyn since college, Enrico Baldacchio, a sleazy book restorer who skirts the law. Even Brooklyn's own mother isn't above suspicion. Brooklyn works to restore the book, uncover the truth and find the killer before the killer comes after her.
I thought I woud find the detailed descriptions of book restoration boring instead I found it interesting and I was amazed by the information given in the novel.The mystery itself  is fascinating and builds into an enjoyable conclusion. The growing relatonship between Derek and Brooklyn and the tension made for the reader really enjoying the deeping relationship between these two.Though it is limited to a kiss you can see how this relationship could build in other books in this series. All in all a excellent read.


*****  5 stars out of five

Review-Baked to Death(A Simon Kirby Novel)

Baked to Death(A Simon Kirby Novel)
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Baked-Death-Dean-James/dp/0758204884/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314407342&sr=1-6
By Dean James


Gay vampire Simon Kirby-Jones is working on his latest historical romance novel and fumbling relationships. Simon has to decide whether or not to court his research assistant Sir Giles when his former lover (who made him a vampire and then dumped him) comes back into his life. Tristian wants something and Simon is sure it's Simon he wants.Simon is  unsure what he, himself wants as his burgeoning feelings for his assistant are coming forward yet he still feels something for Tristian. As Sir Giles puts forward his medieval re-enactment that takes place next to the manor one of the re-enactors to the position of the crown is poisoned.Simon begins to wonder what is behind the murder and whether Tristian is really behind it.To protect himself and his position hiding as a vampire Simon looks into it. Together with Giles, and with the backing of the handsome and newly out of the closet police detective Robin, Simon investigates.
This mystery has a good solid story but a little more character development would have helped as we don't real see the love interests as clearly as would like to although that could be because this is book four in the series and I hadn't read the books before. A interesting take though on a gay vampire hiding in English society as a writer. I enjoyed reading it.




*** 1/2   Three and half stars out of five




.

Review -Bury Her Deep

Bury Her Deep
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Ashes-Bones-Emma-Fielding-Mystery/dp/0060554673/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314407003&sr=1-1

By Catriona MacPherson

       Bury Her Deep is the second book in the Dandy Gilver Series. Dandy Gilver is a wealthy farmer’s wife or so it appears to the outside world but the war and economy has altered their financial situation and Dandy has found a source for earning a little pin money. She has become a detective a secret she keeps from her husband Hugh by allowing him to think she is acting the society wife doing her husband proud by representing him in charities and the like. Dandy is approached by Hugh’s good friend and minister to solve the mystery of the Dark Stranger in a small village. The minister believes that the newly formed Women’s rural institute maybe the target of these attacks as all the woman have been at these meetings. The villagers like a lot of small villages keep to themselves and do not welcome strangers and their questions. Dandy has difficult getting to the heart of the mystery as the women who were attacked don’t want to even discuss it. When they do some of them raise the spectre of witchcraft being involved, Dandy dismisses it but then has to ask herself if she really has all the facts.

      While the story of this book sounds interesting and compelling, I had trouble delving into this book simply because I could not like the protagonist Dandy. I found Dandy an unlikeable character and because of some of the dialogue being in Olde English found myself struggling to understand what was happening in the book.That said Ms. Macpherson is an interesting writer and I may try another in the series and see if I like that better.

***      3 stars out of five

Review- Ashes and Bones: An Emma Fielding Mystery

Ashes and Bones: An Emma Fielding Mystery
Category:Suspense, Mystery
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Ashes-Bones-Emma-Fielding-Mystery/dp/0060554673/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314407003&sr=1-1



By: Dana Cameron


Archaeologist Emma Fielding has a position at a respected university, a beautiful home in New England, and a devoted husband then she begins to receive anonymous deliveries of gifts and flowers to her family and friends.Then there are behind the scene secret, sadistic acts which are perpetrated to destroy her reputation, her character, and her career.


Someone is going after her in a malcious campaign to terrorize Emma and she is certain she knows who it is but no one believes her even her own husband, simply because everyone belives this person is dead. Is he really dead or is he playing agame of cat and mouse that he is winning?Could it be another unknown enemy? Can Emma find out enough clues to defeat this person before he commits the end game?


A gripping tale of spine tingling suspence that will keep you on the edge of your seat.As Emma battles an enemy she isn't quite positive who he or she is. I loved this book it really held my attention as I couldn't put it down as it skipped from one terror suspence moment to another.


***** 5 out of 5

Review - A Journeyman to Grief

Author:Maureen Jennings


If you haven't read the Detective Murdoch Mysteries before you might want to begin at the beginning book

1. Except the Dying (1997)
2. Under the Dragon's Tail (1998)
3. Poor Tom is Cold (2001)
4. Let Loose the Dogs (2003)
5. Night's Child (2005)
6. Vices of My Blood (2006)

A Journeyman to Grief



Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Journeyman-Grief-Maureen-Jennings/dp/0771043406/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314406795&sr=1-1
By Maureen Jennings


A Journeyman to Grief is the seventh in the series in which Maureen Jennings tells the tale of turn of the century Toronto from the prospective of Detective Murdoch her protagonist. This story is an amazing story of grief betrayal revenge and salvation.A deeply gripping story that will make you grieve for the inhumanity of man against man and feel the sorrow of bitter tears. A gem of a book and worth reading more then once.


***** 5 stars out of five

Review- Truly Madly

Book Review: Truly Madly

Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Truly-Madly-Novel-Heather-Webber/dp/0312946139/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314406610&sr=1-1

Paperback

By Heather Webb

     Lucy Valentine’s family has a secret that has kept their family in the matchmaking business for centuries .When Lucy father has a heart attack with his mistress on the beach it brings bad press and ill health to her father. Lucy’s parents want her to step in and save the family business while they go away together and Lucy’s father recuperates. The only problem is Lucy doesn’t have the gift that all Valentine’s have hers has been corrupted with an electrical shock when she was young. She can only find things people lost. Lucy is overwhelmed but takes over the family business. When a client she touches reveals a missing ring on a corpse Lucy is propelled into a murder mystery and a new romance with the handsome P.I. Sean who works in the same building. As Sean and Lucy delve into the mystery Lucy wonders if maybe this talent isn’t so bad after all?

      Truly Madly is a humorous fun romp into the paranormal. It also a look into a young woman’s finding of herself .A very captivating, enjoyable story.

***** 5 stars out of five

Review: The Corpse Wore Tartan (Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mysteries)

Review: The Corpse Wore Tartan (Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Corpse-Wore-Tartan-Kaitlyn-Dunnett/dp/0758238797/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314405969&sr=1-1

By Kaitlyn Dunnett

       Liss has started getting comfortable in a relationship with Dan the co-owner of the newly renovated hotel, The Spruces. Dan is a hard working craftsman and has used his craft to spruce up the hotel and bring it back to its former glory. Liss is working as a hotel liaison for the Scottish contingent that has come to the hotel for Robert Burn’s day celebrations while stocking the hotel gift shop with merchandise from her Scottish emporium .

       Dan is counting on this weekend to make his hotel a success and bring in more business. Liss is working hard to make the guests Scottish stay a success but the leaders of the group staying are difficult to work with. Eunice Mac Millian and Phil her husband and his twin brother Phineas are sniping at other members of the group as they act like the hotel and others are not treating them like the royalty they believe they are. When a storm brews and they are all trapped at the hotel.one of the members of the party are found murdered and it’s up to Liss and her

          Ms. Dunnett has created a story not unlike an Agatha Christie novel .She weaves enough clues for the reader to follow along and try to solve the crime. An excellent read

**** 4 stars out of five

Review- Torpedo Juice

Torpedo Juice



Category: Action, Mystery ,Suspence and Humour
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Torpedo-Juice-Tim-Dorsey/dp/0060585609/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314404876&sr=1-2


Author: Tim Dorsey


This is the seventh book in the extremely funny series.


Serge A.Storms returns in this book.He's trying to reinvent himself and fly under police radar.Unfortunately this is Serge we are talking about he attracts criminals well committing crimes to help people as he puts it .Serge gets married but is his bride what she seems? And what is going on with the mysterious car with the tinted windows? For mindblowing action and humour you have to read this book.It is quirky and fun to read. I sat there chuckling throughout reading the book.It is addictive though so if you read this one you'll want to read all the books before this.


***** 5 stars out of five

Reviews- Not One Clue

Not One Clue



Category:Mystery
Available at Amazon http://www.amazon.ca/Not-One-Clue-Lois-Greiman/dp/0440244781/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314404751&sr=1-1


Author: Lois Greiman


Christina Mc Mullen is enjoying her new career as psychologist but those around her are worried because when Christina counsels she tends to involve herself in her clients lives. In this book Christina is counselling a client who needs to face his past but it's his past that is overlapping into Christina's life.To make matters worse, Christina's best friend, Hollywood actress Laney Butterfield, is getting creepy mail from what sounds like a stalker even as she is planning her wedding to a man that Christina doesn't particularly like.And Christina’s neighbor desperately needs her help to rescue her runaway sister from an abusive husband. Christina is able to juggle lots of things but this is lot for anyone even her. This mystery has a hot romance and is fast paced. Don't blink or you'll miss the ending.


****  4 out of 5 stars