REVIEW: Macrame Murder

Macrame Murder
Author: Mollie Cox Bryan

Cora Chevalier and her sidekick, Jane Starr, return in Macrame Murder, the third book in the Cora Crafts Mystery Series. This time, Cora and Jane travel to Sea Glass Island to teach crafting classes at a resort. They are both looking forward to just teaching classes at this retreat, not running it like they do for their own craft business in Indigo Gap, NC. But, this idyllic island crafting retreat quickly goes wrong. The body of a local woman is discovered on the beach. Unfortunately, Cora's boyfriend, Adrian, quickly becomes the main suspect in the killing. He admits that he dated the woman, and that she broke up with him three years earlier. Cora and Jane realize they need to discover the true murderer before Adrian faces murder charges for a crime he didn't commit. When a second body is discovered, they realize that they could all be in serious danger.

I like this series. Cora and Jane are great as main characters. They have flaws and issues, but work through their challenges. Both women are independent, intelligent and feisty. Strong female characters -- love it! The mystery moves along at a good pace, with snippets about various crafts (macrame, sea glass jewelry, knitting, crochet, etc) sprinkled in throughout. At the back of the book are craft patterns for CD/DVD Coasters, macrame friendship bracelets and sand candles. The mystery plot is believable for the most part. There was one instance where I had an eyeroll moment -- the way one body is discovered just seemed a bit silly to me. But hey -- it's a cozy mystery. Sometimes you have to suspend reality and just enjoy the story.

I've enjoyed every book in this series so far. And I will definitely continue reading each book as it comes out!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website at: http://molliecoxbryan.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Murder Wears Mittens

Murder Wears Mittens
Author: Seaside Knitters Society

Sea Harbor, Massachusettts is the home of the Seaside Knitters Society. Society member Cass Halloren is at the laundromat one night when she notices children's clothing has been added to the dryer with her lobster nets. She waits until a boy comes to retrieve his clothing -- jeans and a girl's school uniform. He jumps on his bike and leaves quickly without the clothing, obviously afraid of her...or of something anyway. Cass and her knitting friends track down the kids and return the clothes. But something is wrong....the kids seem to be alone. Where is their mother? The mother turns up the next day, injured. Her head injuries explain why she was away from home all night....but it doesn't explain why her bicycle is discovered at the scene of a brutal crime. Someone bludgeoned a local elderly woman to death with her walking stick....and the children's mother must have been at the scene. The knitters band together to investigate and find out what happened to Dolores Cardozo.

This is the first book in the Seaside Knitters Society series.....but, this series is a continuation of the Seaside Knitters series that has 11 books. I have to admit that I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the prior series. For the first couple of chapters I felt a bit lost until the story really kicked in and I wasn't trying to figure out who was who anymore. :) The book is well-written. The mystery is interesting, and the characters are quirky and engaging. A reader could jump in at this book and not be completely lost, but I think reading the prior series would make the characters a bit more understandable and familiar. There is a list of characters at the very beginning of the book that gives a bit of background.

The front cover is awesome! There is a knitting pattern for socks at the end of the book as well! :)

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.sallygoldenbaum.com/ 

REVIEW: Assaulted Caramel

Assaulted Caramel
Author: Amanda Flowers

Bailey King lives in New York City, working as assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates. She learned to love chocolate and making candy from her Amish grandfather. When she receives a phone call that her grandfather is very ill, she drops everything and rushes to Ohio. When she arrives, she discovers her Daadi is not only having health problems but he's also being pressured to sell his candy shop to a local developer, Tyson Colton. Several other Amish business owners have been pressured by Colton as well. Bailey is so upset that night she can't sleep. She wanders down to the candy shop from her grandparents upstairs living quarters, only to discover something horrific -- Tyson Colton's dead body bleeding all over the store's kitchen floor. Immediately Bailey finds herself the main suspect in the murder. How can she prove her innocence, make candies for a local wedding, and make it back to NYC in time to find out about an important job promotion?

I loved this book! It is hands-down the best cozy I've read in a long time! The setting and characters are interesting and engaging (except for one annoying woman I wanted to throttle....but I was supposed to hate her. ha ha). The mystery was well-paced, exciting and had plenty of suspects and surprises. I was reading an advanced readers copy on my phone.....I stayed up til 2 am to finish it, reading in bed. I felt like a kid again reading under my covers with a flashlight. :)

I am not surprised at all that I loved this book. Amanda Flower never disappoints me. I enjoy her Magical Bookshop series too! She also writes the Living History Museum mystery series and the India Hayes series. Assaulted Caramel is the first book in the new Amish Candy Shop cozy series. A second book in this series, Lethal Licorice, will be coming out in February 2018. For more information on the author and her books: check out her website at http://www.amandaflower.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Futility or The Wreck Of The Titan

Futility, or The Wreck Of The Titan
Author: Morgan Robertson

Morgan Robertson

For years I have heard about this book. Many say this fictional tale about the sinking of a great ship, the Titan, mirrors the wreck of the Titanic in 1912. This fact is astounding because the book was written in 1898, 14 years before the Titanic sank after striking an iceberg. Robertson said the similarities were not because of clairvoyance on his part, but due to his knowledge of sailing and ship building trends.

The book was re-released in 1912 following the Titanic sinking, causing some to say Robertson was cashing in on the disaster. There were a few minor changes made in the 1912 re-print. For example, the weight of the Titan was increased in the 1912 version to better match the size of the Titanic. But, large changes in plot were not made. The coincidences between the fictionalized story of the Titan and the real life sinking of the Titanic are eerie. Both ships are British and quite opulent.  Both sank in April in the Northern Atlantic after striking an iceberg on the starboard side. Both sank near midnight and had too few lifeboats. One notable difference: The fictional Titan only had 13 survivors, whereas 705 passengers aboard the Titanic survived the accident.

Despite being intrigued by the rumors surrounding this book for years, I never took time to actually read it.

Until now. And I'm so glad I did!

Of course, the language and writing style is dated, but Futility is still an enjoyable read.  The book is short and a quick, exciting read. Despite the many similarities to the Titanic disaster, I think this is a wonderful adventure story that should be judged on its own merits.

The basics: John Rowland is a sailor down on his luck. He was demoted from an officer's position due to drinking and is sailing on the Titan as a common sailor. The ship is sailing from America to Ireland. On the first night at sea, the ship strikes another vessel, cutting it in two.  Taking little to no damage herself, the Titan continues on its way, not stopping to attempt to save anyone from the sinking vessel. Officers on the Titan immediately start damage control.....looking for anyone who might have seen the accident and bribing (or threatening) them into silence. Rowland refuses to be bribed and says he will report the actions of the officers as soon as they reach port. The officers plan to discredit him before they reach port given his history of drunkenness. However, before they can attempt more than drugging the man into a stupor, the ship violently strikes an iceberg, listing and sinking almost immediately. Only 13 people make it off the ship alive. Rowland is stranded on the iceberg with a little girl, the daughter of a former love interest of his who happened to be a passenger on the Titan with her husband. Rowland braves a polar bear attack and extreme cold while stranded at sea -- and wily attorneys, stock holders, insurance companies, and even reporters after they are rescued. What an exciting story! The antiquated, larger than life, adventure story style Robertson uses to weave his tale reminds me a lot of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan books. While I was doing some research before writing this review, I found out that Burroughs was actually inspired by Robertson's writings! :)

So, although the story is similar to the Titanic disaster, most of it is completely different. It is still eerie that the ships are so alike. But as Robertson stated himself, it isn't because of anything supernatural but just a coincidence stemming from his knowledge of shipping, trends in shipbuilding and sailing. Read this story for the joy of adventure and the sea, not from a need to relate it to the Titanic disaster.

As in most larger-than-life old school adventure tales, this story is not realistic. I don't believe anyone on a ship would be oblivious to the fact it collided with another vessel, cutting it in half. The story relates that most of the passengers were asleep and not awakened. Not possible. The iceberg that Rowland and the little girl are stranded seems to be huge....much larger than possible, really. And I doubt a polar bear would be on an iceberg 900 miles off the American coast, but I could be wrong. I'm not a polar bear or iceberg expert. In this instance, I just chose to suspend reality and go with the flow. It's a very testosterone-y, macho, man-against-the-elements-and-evil-assholes kind of story.....and if Robertson wanted a polar bear to be on a huge freakin' iceberg in the middle of the North Atlantic, then so be it. I'm all for it! Sometimes you just have to enjoy the adventure and forget about how things really work. :)

As it is in the public domain after nearly 120 years, the full text of the novel (and also the book The Pirates, also by Robertson) is available for free online here: https://archive.org/details/wrecktitanorfut01robegoog    Look for the Download Options heading and pick what format you'd like to use. I loaded a copy onto my Kindle App on my Iphone and PC quite easily. There are many websites that list the similarities between the two ships, information on Robertson, and about the construction and sinking of the Titanic. I found a nice comparison of the book to the Titanic sinking here: http://www.historyonthenet.com/the-titanic-futility/ . There are also some nice links to Titanic facts at the bottom of that page.

Robertson wrote more than 100 books and short stories before his death in 1915. Unfortunately, most people are only familiar with Futility. After reading this one story, I'm going to find more by this author and enjoy some more adventures! The Grain Ship and Where Angels Fear To Tread & Other Stories Of The Sea are available for free through Project Gutenberg.

REVIEW: Titanicat

Titanicat
Author: Marty Crisp
Illustrator: Robert Papp

Since the sinking of the Titanic more than 100 years ago, tales of superstition, heroism and tragedy have surrounded that fateful maiden voyage. The story of the ship's cat and her litter of four kittens had a more happy ending, for the kitties and a superstitious young sailor. This tale is based on their story.

The illustrations in this children's book are just stunning! Such vibrant colors! A friend who knows I enjoy stories about the Titanic told me about this book. She bought it for her niece, and knew I would love the story and beautiful pictures inside. I checked it out from my local library's digital site. So glad I did! The story is short and sweet...perfect for a primary grade student.

Jim Mulholland signs on to be a cabin boy aboard the Titanic. Among his jobs is caring for the ship's cat, a beautiful calico. He discovers the cat has four tiny kittens as well. He keeps track of them until the ship reaches Southampton. One day he can't find the cat...then he spies her going down the gang plank carrying a kitten in her mouth. Jim finds one kitten left, and grabs it. He's forced to jump off the ship to reunite it with its family. The ship sails off without him. At first he is angry with the cat for making him miss the voyage to America, but he is grateful days later when he learns that the ship sank with great loss of life. The beautiful, former ship cat, saved his life, and the lives of her kittens.

The book is 38 pages long with many color illustrations throughout. Perfect length for young readers, or for reading out loud to them. There is no description of the sinking or deaths...the main characters are off the ship before the disaster. The attention is focused on the cats and the boy, with only a mention that they avoided the accident by leaving the ship early. So, it isn't too morbid for kids. The story is great, but the illustrations really make the book special. Robert Papp's drawings are wonderful!

Marty Crisp has written several children's books including a related one, White Star: A Dog on the Titanic. Robert Papp has illustrated several books and wrote one himself, Spooktacular Special.

REVIEW: The Rejected Writers Book Club

The Rejected Writers Book Club
Author: Suzanne Kelman

I absolutely hate DIY projects. If there is a way to fall off a ladder, spill an entire can of paint on myself or otherwise cause harm.....it will happen to me. With my son turning 13 this summer, it was definitely time to update his room. It's been the same two shades of blue since he was 3 -- the last time I gathered up the courage to paint the walls in there. Before I could come up with an excuse to not do it, I took my son to the local home improvement store and let him pick out his colors. Dark red with a medium tan for the trim. Brushes, little plastic paint cups, wooden stir sticks, plastic drop cloths, holy water, first aid kit....brought it all home and prepared for slow torture. I am decidedly NOT Bob Villa.

I had to find the perfect audio book to keep me company while I tried to complete this painting project without hurting myself, or destroying anything. I chose The Rejected Writers Book Club.

So glad I did! It was the perfect choice!

Silly, light-hearted and fun, this book was wonderful to listen to as I painted the walls (and myself) red and tan. I looked like a murder victim who fell into melted chocolate ice cream -- but I was smiling! So I figure that's a win!  (And I didn't spill any paint! a few drips here and there...but no large Ooooops moments)

The audiobook version of this novel (Brilliance Audio) is narrated by Tanya Eby. I have hearing loss and at times I have trouble understanding female narrators. But, Tanya's voice is clear and her pace is perfect. I didn't have any trouble understanding her. Her tone and inflection was perfect for this humorous, fun book. I soon lost myself blissfully in the story as I worked for hours painting out my son's childhood, morphing his room to a teenager lair.

The basics: small town librarian Janet Johnson is invited to a local women's book club meeting. When she gets there, she is surprised to find that the group is centered around rejection letters from publishers. Every member has had their writing rejected for publication....most multiple times. They have a special book filled with these rejection announcements. They proudly meet each time another is received. Just short of the 500 letter mark (which they plan to celebrate with a big party), disaster strikes. Their leader, Doris, has her book accepted for publication! Oh the horror! They beg for Janet's assistance to get the manuscript back. Janet, who is heading to San Francisco to help her pregnant daughter, tries to refuse...but it just so happens that the publisher they need to contact is located in San Francisco. The ladies embark on the most ill-fated road trip ever......car trouble, rock slides, and many troubles await them as they fight to save their fearless leader from the horrors of publication.

Now, there were just too many pitfalls in this trip for it to seem even remotely realistic. But, I don't care. The story was just hilarious and fun to listen to. I don't give a hoot whether it was realistic or not. It got me through hours of painting  with a smile on my face! Sometimes you just need a simple, funny story -- and for me, this book was perfect. I loved it! Janet Johnson is a fun, slightly snarky, main character. And the group of ladies are all quirky and fun. Add in the silly things they have planned to get the manuscript back (including chaining a member to a toilet until they get what they want) is just complete zany fun.

The Rejected Writers Club is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. I can't wait to read book 2: The Rejected Writers Take the Stage. :) Suzanne Kelman has also published a book of verse, Big Purple Undies. For more information on the author and her writing, check out her website: http://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com/

Podcast Spotlight! Levar Burton Reads

When I started this blog, I called it My Interdimensional Chaos because I enjoy so many diverse things that I didn't want it to get bogged down into one subject....if the title implies chaos then I could flit to whatever topic I wanted. But, alas, it did get bogged down into one thing over time.....book reviews.

So before I have to revoke my license for chaos, I've decided to branch out a bit.

Let's talk about Podcasts!

I love them!

My phone gets used more for listening to audio than for phone calls or web surfing. I'm always listening to podcasts. I listen while I'm driving, doing housework, before bed.....great entertainment! There are so many topics available! I started out with Old Time Radio, then horror, history, book discussions, true crime....there is a podcast for everything! Even how to clean your house properly (my husband probably thinks I need that one...ha ha)

I have a few favorites, so each week I'm going to feature a different podcast. I'm always on the lookout for new things to listen to, so if you have a favorite, always feel free to comment or message!

My first Podcast Spotlight is Levar Burton Reads.

How many remember this?




Levar Burton read to my son all the time! He loved that show! I recorded episodes to VCR tape so that there was always a story from Levar before bed. :)

I was SO excited when I found out he had a podcast -- reading short stories for adults! YAY!! Talk about instant download.....I subscribed to the podcast at the speed of sound almost. :)

Listen to some of the episodes here: https://art19.com/shows/levar-burton-reads
It's also available in all the usual places: Stitcher, Apple Podcast, iTunes, etc etc.

Each week Levar reads a piece of short fiction (chosen from a variety of genres).  It's just like Reading Rainbow for adults! The production value is high and the stories are primo! Episodes run about 30-45 minutes, perfect commute length. And it's not filled with long minutes of ads or Patreon begging. The episodes are sponsored....but the ads aren't annoying or intrusive.

Give it a listen! You won't be sorry! :)

REVIEW: Trixie Belden - The Secret of the Mansion

The Secret of the Mansion
Author: Julie Campbell

I first discovered this series when I was about 12 years old or so. If I remember correctly, my sister gave me the first two books for my birthday, and from there my Trixie Belden collection grew to fill my small bookcase. I absolutely loved this series! I think I identified with Trixie a bit....but the sometimes pesky, cute kid I had to deal with was my nephew and not my little brother. :) I remember wishing I could have picnics in the woods, ride horses and have adventures like Trixie, her brothers and friends.

Flash forward about 3 decades (lol) and I hadn't thought of Trixie and Sleepyside, NY for a very long time. I found an old copy of a Nancy Drew book at the thriftstore...and that got me thinking about all those Trixie adventures I read as a kid. I did a little searching and found the first 3 books in digital format on the NC Digital Library (big thanks to my small local library for expanding their offerings with this awesome site!). At first I was a bit afraid to start re-reading them. Would the books be too dated or too simple for me to enjoy them again as an adult? I didn't want to ruin my fond memories of Trixie, Honey, Brian, & the rest of the gang.

Finally, I worked up the courage to load book 1 on my kindle and start reading.

Immediately, I was in heaven.

Yes, the story is simple. And, yes, the verbage is a bit dated (who says dungarees anymore?), but I didn't care! My old friends were right there on the pages.....for 30+ years they had been waiting for me to return and enjoy their stories again!

Book one is actually the start of a 2-part story (The tale starts in book 1, and finishes in book 2, The Red Trailer Mystery.) It's a great introduction to Trixie, her family and friends. The basics: Trixie discovers that a new family has bought the large manor house located near their farm. She meets the girl who lives there, Honey Wheeler. It's summer and the girls quickly become great friends. The Beldens other neighbor, Mr. Frayne, is a grumpy old man, who lives in a crumbling mansion overgrown with weeds. The kids learn Mr. Frayne is ill and in the hospital. He isn't expected to survive. As kids will, they go poking around Frayne's house, wanting to get a look inside just once when the unfriendly old man isn't around to chase them off. They discover a boy hiding there. Jim, Mr. Frayne's nephew, is hiding at the house, having ran away from his stepfather. The kids start searching for the stash of money Mr. Frayne is rumored to have hidden on his estate somewhere. Jim is Frayne's heir, but he's hiding from his mean stepfather. He hopes to find the money and use it to attend college and be free of his stepfather for good. The kids have many adventures together while searching for the money and exploring the woods.

I had just as much fun reading the first book again as I did all those years ago! I'm definitely going to re-read the series, or at least the first 3 books (which is all the local library has available right now). As they add more of the series in digital format, I will read more of their adventures. It's nice to see the updated covers! The books I had as a girl looked like this:

I like the updated art better. It's more colorful and shows both girls. Very nice! But I still have my memories of an entire bookcase filled with matching beige books....all the 80's style covers. When I was leaving for college, I sold my entire set of books at a garage sale to a girl who was so excited to get to read them! I hope she enjoyed them and then passed them on to another girl! I got many, many hours of joyful reading from them!

The first six Trixie Belden books were written by Julie Campbell (Tatham). She then passed the series off to a series of authors, although they were all published under the penname Kathryn Kenny. The series was published from 1948 - 1986. It remained out of print until 2003, when the early books in the series were reprinted by Random House Publishers. It looks like they reprinted up to book 15, so quite a few books in the 39 book set remain out of print. Looks like I'm going to be hunting up a lot of used books to read the whole series! It will be worth it -- these are great books! The stories are simple (similar to Nancy Drew) but enjoyable. Sometimes it's nice to just relax and read an interesting, but uncomplicated, story. :)

On to book 2!! :)

REVIEW: Drop Dead

Drop Dead
Author: Lorna Poplak

Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada gives an outline of the death penalty in Canada from 1867 to 1976, when the death penalty was abolished in Canada. There has been debate in Canada about re-establishing the death penalty after serious, hard-hitting cases like the Paul Bernardo murder case. In the 109 years of Canadian capital punishment, 704 Canadians were hanged. 703 hangings were for various crimes like murder, rape, burglary, etc., and 1 for treason.

I am a bit surprised at how engaging, interesting and thought provoking I found this book by Lorna Poplak. She presents stories of the condemned, information on the job of executioner, backgrounds and history of famous executioners, plus the science and art of properly hanging a prisoner without undue suffering. The book also provides thought provoking insights on related issues such as public vs private executions, the debate on the death penalty as crime deterrent or sanctioned revenge killing, botched hangings, executing women, and wrongful convictions.  The book is not ghoulish and does not delight in the history of death by hanging. Instead, it presents balanced information on the practice using historical fact and leaves readers to make their own conclusions about the death penalty.

I enjoyed this book. I am still unsure about my opinion of the death penalty. On the one hand, I believe that justice should fit the crime. But on the other hand, does anyone have the right to take a human life? I'm not sure what the correct answer is.

Anyone interested in the death penalty debate, Canadian history, criminal justice and related topics will enjoy this book. I found it fascinating. The topic is discussed respectfully, without undue gory details or any disrespect towards the condemned or court/law enforcement officials. Drop Dead is a very thought provoking book! I'm glad I read it!

**I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book from Dundurn via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Dog Dish of Doom

Dog Dish of Doom
Author: E.J. Copperman

Kay Powell is a theatrical agent representing animal actors. Her biggest client is Bruno, an intelligent and talented dog. His owners, however, leave much to be desired. They are annoying. Irritating enough that Broadway Director, Les McMaster, wants it written into the dog's contract that he doesn't have to deal with Trent and Louise. Just as Kay is feeling optimistic that Bruno will be cast as Sandy in the new revival of Annie, his owner Trent is murdered. His body is discovered face-down in Bruno's dog dish with a rather large knife sticking out of his back. Between her parents holding auditions for a senior citizen center show in her living room and a client's owner dead in a water bowl, Kay is not having the best week. When it appears that Bruno might be somehow central to the motive for the killing, Kay steps in to investigate, with the help of her parents (despite her vehement objections to their involvement, of course).

This book is a great blend of humor and light-hearted, cozy mystery. I absolutely adore Kay's parents. They are hilarious and really add to the flavor of the book. Kay is a great main character. She's funny, intelligent, and manages to handle chaos quite well. I guess you have to handle chaos if you represent animal actors!

This is a great start to a new series! Dog Dish of Doom is definitely full of E.J. Copperman's usual wit and humor. I always end up laughing out loud when I read one of Copperman's books. Always an enjoyable story!

E.J. Copperman is a pen name of author Jeff Cohen. He is the author of several series, including the Haunted Guesthouse series and the Asperger's Mystery series (which Copperman/Cohen co-writes with himself -- yes, he co-authors a book with himself...love it!) For any reader who likes well-written, humorous mysteries, I recommend any of his books. For more information on the author, check out his website: http://www.ejcopperman.com/

REVIEW: The Vessel of Ra

The Vessel of Ra
Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump

Lucy and Octavia are born into the Klaereon family. For centuries their family has been bound to a contract to fight demons imprisoned in the abyss by King Solomon. At birth, a demon attaches to each child born to the family, acting as a familiar or companion until the child's 16th birthday. On that day, a battle ensues. If the Binder wins the battle, the demon is returned to the abyss to be summoned only for magic or, if evil, the demon can be banished. But if the Binder loses the battle, the demon takes control, using the Binder for its own purposes.

Lucy is seen as weak. Octavia is strong. The family is afraid that Lucy will lose her fight with Ra, and that the demon will be free to unleash its evil on the world. So, Octavia is trained to kill her sister on the day she is to battle Ra. Things go horribly wrong however -- Octavia is possessed by Ra and Lucy is murdered. Lucy comes back from the dead, determined to save her sister from the clutches of Ra.

This book is exciting and interesting! At the beginning, I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out what was going on and why....but as the story unfolds and more details revealed, I was totally hooked! I don't want to reveal too much of the plot in this review so there aren't any spoilers. All I'm going to say is that the plot, characters and setting of this book really impressed me. Very enjoyable fantasy novel!

The cover art is gorgeous! And the colored illustrations inside the book were awesome, too! This book will release from Curiousity Quills Press on September 12, 2017!

The Vessel of Ra is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. I can't wait to see how the rest of this series unfolds! For more information on the author, check out her website: https://cathschaffstump.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiousity Quills Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Bout of Books 20!

I haven't participated in a read-a-thon for more than a year. It's time! I am slowly getting crushed under the huge TBR of review books I have accumulated....and it's time to clear some out! So, in the interest of clearing out the tbr and enjoying some great books, I'm in for Bout of Books 20!

I don't enjoy those high pressure hurry and finish read-a-thons where people post they've read 40 books and listened to 25 audiobooks in the first 24 hours -- not humanly possible people! So I enjoy Bout of Books...it's just a fun time, with lots of people talkin' about books and enjoying themselves!

Still time to join up before things get started on 8/21/17! Join us!

Bout of Books 20

REVIEW: Death Shall Come

Death Shall Come
Author: Simon R. Green

In this 4th Country House Murder Mystery, Ishmael Jones and his lady side-kick, Penny, travel to the Cardavan House. The Cardavan family has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Held under tight security, the collection has a new exhibit -- the mummy of Cleopatra. Not the Cleopatra of Marc Anthony fame....the first Cleopatra....a much earlier ruler lost to time. Ishmael's boss, The Colonel, is married to Chloe Cardavan. He asks Ishmael to accompany him to the house for the unveiling of the mummy. The trip isn't because The Colonel believes in the curse attached to the mummy, but because he feels George Cardavan might be involved in underhanded dealings to acquire his antiquities. He wants Ishmael to pose as an antiquities expert so he can get a feel for the goings on at the family estate and protect the family from harm if George is in over his head.

After the mummy is revealed, the deaths start. The Cardavans are being picked off, one by one. Are they being stalked by a reanimated mummy? Or is the killer simply a crazed human being?

I love this series! Every book is seriously creepy and different enough to keep the adventures fresh and interesting. Death Shall Come is a quick read at just over 150 pages -- but Simon R. Green sure packs a lot of action into such few pages!

I like how Ishmael and Penny work so well together. Where one is weak, the other is strong. Penny isn't afraid of Ishmael's....peculiarities.....and he is quite happy with her human-ness. I liked the plot of this book -- who doesn't love a scary mummy tale? I'm glad I read this during the day time and not at night! Lots of action, suspense and horror.....just a fun creepy read!! This series has not disappointed me yet!

Simon R. Green is the author of several sci-fi/fantasy series including the Nightside series. For more information on the author and his books check out his website: http://simonrgreen.co.uk/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Mask Of Shadows

Mask of Shadows
Author: Linsey Miller

Sallot Leon is a thief. But Sal wants more from life. After robbing some nobles, Sal finds an announcement that there will be an audition to replace The Opal, one of four powerful assassins that work for the queen. They are represented by four jeweled rings the Queen wears on her left hand - a Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst and Opal. But, auditions to be part of The Left Hand are fights to the death, and only those who prove themselves worthy can participate.

I enjoyed the action in this book. The plot was exciting, and kept me reading. The pace was on target -- fast enough to keep the action going, yet suspenseful enough to add some urgency to things. I also enjoyed reading a book with a nonbinary MC. Sallot is gender fluid, but that was not a main, forced focus of the plot. It's part of the character....part of who Sallot is. The character isn't portrayed as melodramatic or conflicted about life. The book isn't written like the MC was an added "hey look I'm adding in a diverse character!'' forced plot point. WOOT!! That made me extremely happy. I felt that it was done perfectly. Better than other books I have read that seem to want to toot horns and march around trying to prove they are publishing a diverse book. This book is diverse, but not at the cost of the plot or focus of the book. It was a natural part of the character. Loved it!

My one issue with this book is......it has been done before. The plot, that is. There are so many stories about fight-to-the-death tournaments -- Hunger Games being the main one that popped into my head. It's one trope that really has been done to death. I really wanted the plot to be something new and fresh....something to wow me. But, it really is sort of a re-working of things I've already read. A mix of that, and a bit of this.....nothing new. I was a bit disappointed. Not that the action, characters and story weren't good -- this is a good book. I just wanted something, anything really, that jumped out at me as belonging only to this story. Besides Sallot being nonbinary, the rest was pretty much recycled.

So, I'm really middle-of-the-road on this one. I enjoyed it. I thought the MC was outstanding and well done. But, I am left a bit disappointed. That, however, is just my opinion.....many others really love the plot and don't share my feelings. So, read the book and form your own opinion.

This is Linsey Miller's debut novel. A second book is due out in 2018. I'm definitely going to read the second book to see how the plot and characters progress!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.**

REVIEW: The Spirit of Grace

The Spirit of Grace
Author: Terry Lynn Thomas

Sarah Bennett returns home to her father's house after spending most of a year in a mental asylum. She has no memory of the night her mother died after falling down the stairs at Bennett House. Some believe that she killed her mother, but Sarah knows she didn't. She hopes coming back home might jog her memories and help her remember what happened that fateful night. Unfortunately, she finds immediately on her return that home just isn't the hospitable place it used to be. Sarah is shocked to find that her father has remarried, and her stepmother obviously doesn't want Sarah in the house. When another family member is murdered, suspicion once again falls on Sarah. She knows she has to remember what happened to her mother and prove she isn't a murderer twice over. Her investigation brings to light the identity of the murderer, but also some closely guarded family secrets. Soon, Sarah finds her life in danger, and she must fight to finally clear her name.

I listened to the audiobook version of this first novel in the Sarah Bennett Mysteries series. The audio version is narrated by Lillian Yves. Her voice is pleasant and easily understood, and she read at a moderate pace. I have partial hearing loss and sometimes have difficulty understanding female narrators, but I had no problem understanding this audiobook. A very enjoyable experience!

The Spirit of Grace is well-written and suspenseful -- a great start to a series! Sarah Bennett is a strong female character. She finds it difficult to re-establish family relationships and life in general after a year in an asylum. She steadily gains strength and confidence in herself as the story progresses, and fights to regain her life. She faces family secrets with courage, and doesn't let shocking developments weaken or defeat her.

All in all, an enjoyable ghostly suspense tale! There are 3 books in the Sarah Bennett Mysteries series. I definitely plan to read them all -- I already have book 2 waiting in the wings for me to post this review!

For more information on Terry Lynn Thomas and her books, check out her website: http://terrylynnthomas.com/

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audiobook on Audible.com. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. **

REVIEW: The Lighthouse Keeper

The Lighthouse Keeper
Author: Lily Night

I'm always on the lookout for a good ghost story. The premise of this story definitely intrigued me. An artist, Laura Carlisle rents a cottage on the sea. Soon she starts seeing a mysterious girl in white who seems somehow tied to the lighthouse up on the nearby cliff. The lighthouse is being renovated by new owner, Ben Winscombe. Turns out Laura and Ben are both seeing the ghost. Trying to discover the identity of the spirit, they uncover a tragic tale of deceit and murder, hidden for decades.

The Lighthouse Keeper is a quick read, at 68 pages. The story is interesting and I enjoyed it, but it needs editing. Repeated words and phrases, typos and some flow problems need just a few tweaks to improve its readability. But, the few rough spots did not hamper the story. It's still a spooky, interesting read! As a lover of almost all things ghostly, I have more positive feelings about this story than negative. The second half of the book where the suspense really started coming to a head was better written, and really sucked me into the story.

The characters could have been a bit more developed, but in a quickly developing ghost story this might hamper the quick, exciting suspense of the plot. In this instance, I think the story was more important than the characters.....so I wasn't looking for missing detail.

All in all, an enjoyable story. The ending is perfect. This would be a 4-star novelette if it had some professional editing. Just needs some tweaking in places. Great premise, and nice suspense in the last half. I'll give it a strong 3 star rating.

Lily Night is also the author of Elixir, a vampire story set in Las Vegas. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.lilynight.com/

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this story provided by BookBuzz.net via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Miss Seeton's Finest Hour

Miss Seeton's Finest Hour
Author: Hamilton Crane

This book is a departure from the usual Miss Seeton novel. Instead of a lively tale of the elderly, retired Emily Seeton solving mysteries, Miss Seeton's Finest Hour jumps back in time to 1940. She's 29 years old, living with her mother, and helping in the British war effort. In spare moments when she isn't involved with the local canteen, Miss Seeton ventures out to draw. Her artwork, however, lands her in hot water, as a few of her drawings seem to show advance knowledge of military plans. Someone reports her as a possible fifth columnist. After a meeting with her, a local major is sure she isn't a spy, but he isn't quite sure what she is....how could such a quiet young girl figure out the things she sketches in her drawings? But he's determined to put her mind to work for England! Miss Seeton finds herself working in a Spitfire factory as a "war artist." She is to sketch things she sees at the plant and try to ferret out the cause of recent sabotage at the factory. When things escalate from faulty wiring in aircraft to serious accidents and murder, Miss Seeton finds herself in danger!

I loved this peek into Miss Seeton's past. The story not only shows what she was like as a young woman, but also explains a bit about her talent for knowing impossible things. It also sheds a bit of light on the reason Emily Seeton is a spinster. I liked the portrayal of war-time England.....girls carrying gas masks to work in a plane factory, sky lights pulled out and boarded over, windows taped and draped with blackout material, rationing and fear of spies. The plot was believable and not melodramatic. A very enjoyable read!

The Miss Seeton series has 22 books. The first five books were written by Heron Carvic, with the rest penned by Hampton Charles (Roy Peter Martin) and Hamilton Crane (Sarah J. Mason). Farrago's re-release of this series has brought it back to life! For the first time in 20 years, there will be a new Miss Seeton novel this year! Miss Seeton Quilts The Village will release in September!

I am so glad I found this series! I am a huge fan of similar characters like Miss Marple, Mrs. Pollifax, and Jessica Fletcher. Miss Seeton seems like an elderly version of Columbo....appearing a bit bumbling, feather-brained and scattered when actually she sees things quite as they are and expresses it in her art. The difference is that Miss Seeton knows things, but doesn't always realize or understand what she knows. Being an avid mystery reader since 1977, I am not sure how I missed this series. But I'm so glad to be reading it now!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Farrago via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Pearl Harbor Murders

The Pearl Harbor Murders
Author: Max Allan Collins

In his Disaster Mystery series, Max Allan Collins takes a major event in history and wraps it in a fictional mystery, placing a famous person in the midst of the turmoil. The Pearl Harbor Murders is the third book in the series. The first two mysteries occurred on the Titanic and at the scene of the Hindenburg disaster. The Titanic mystery introduced me to a mystery writer I hadn't heard of before: Jacques Futrelle (who actually died in the Titanic sinking). Since then I have enjoyed many of his detective stories! The Hindenburg mystery featured creator of The Saint, Leslie Charteris, investigating a murder on board the famous airship before it exploded. (Charteris was not on the Hindenburg when it exploded, but he was a passenger on its earlier maiden voyage). I loved both of the first books in the series....so I quickly moved on to The Pearl Harbor Murders.

The basics: Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs is on the island of Oahu with his son in December 1941, enjoying the Hawaiian sun. Two days before the Japanese attack on the harbor, a young Japanese singer, Pearl Harada, is found murdered. She had requested a meeting with a local Naval officer, but was killed before it could take place. Burroughs believes the girl had information about Japanese spies in Hawaii, but was silenced before she could tell what she knew. Just as Burroughs and local detectives start seriously delving into Harada's murder and the possibility of espionage, the Japanese attack. With ships burning in the harbor and bullets raining from the sky, Burroughs and his son must figure out who killed the singer and who helped the Japanese military plan their attack.

There is truth in the plot of this book. Edgar Rice Burroughs was actually on the Island of Oahu during the attack in 1941, and helped patrol the harbor after it was over. He became the oldest war correspondent during World War II after the US entered the war. The author was outspoken about the events, even writing a letter containing his eyewitness account of the attack. He addressed the letter to: Whomever Gives a Damn. Needless to say the man had cast iron balls and the attitude to go with them. But what do you expect of the man who created Tarzan?!

Here is a link to the text of his letter: http://www.erbzine.com/mag10/1023.html

I enjoyed The Pearl Harbor Murders. It was a bit slower paced than the first two books, but once the story got going, it was great! The Disaster Mystery series does not make light of the actual historical events, and many actual facts are included in the story. The mystery portion of the plot is fictional -- but the plot was believable and mixed well with actual historical events.

All in all, an exciting and interesting book. The mystery had enough possible suspects and suspense to keep me listening intently through this entire audio book. Dan John Miller narrated. His voice and pace were perfect, making it an enjoyable listening experience.

I have read many books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but I did not know that he was in Hawaii at the time of the Japanese attack. I have a new respect for the man after learning what he did to assist during the aftermath and about his work as a war correspondent.

Burroughs wrote nearly 80 books. Most were in the adventure and science fiction/fantasty genres. His most famous characters are Tarzan and John Carter of Mars.

Max Allan Collins is an award winning author and has written many books about detectives and criminal investigations including several CSI stories and the Nathan Heller series. For more information about the Disaster Mystery series and his other books, check out his website: http://www.maxallancollins.com/blog/

REVIEW: Tracker's Canyon

Tracker's Canyon
Author: Pam Withers

Tristan Gordon did everything with his dad -- hiking, climbing, swimming, tracking -- just about any outdoor adventuring activity they mastered and loved. But, one day eight months ago, his father disappeared in Swallow Canyon. Searches were conducted but no body was ever discovered. The insurance company won't pay out without proof of his father's death, and Tristan's mother sinks deeper and deeper into depression and mental illness. Depending on the generosity of an uncle to keep them afloat, Tristan juggles school and trying to help his mother. He resents the presence of their new age obsessed housekeeper, who also is the caregiver for his mother while he's at school. He wishes the money his uncle spends on her salary could be used for groceries and more important things than the weird spiritual mumbo-jumbo she uses to calm his mother.

Tristan feels called to track his father in Swallow Canyon to find out what happened. But he knows that just the mention of him going climbing into a canyon will be enough to tip his mother over the edge.

After months of avoiding canyoneering, Tristan gets invited on a trip down into the upper portion of Swallow Canyon. The group is being led by a 19 year old girl, the new guide for a local adventuring company. He enjoys his day out, but wonders why he was invited on the trip.

The housekeeper, Elspeth, keeps telling him that he needs to go down into the canyon and retrieve something, anything that belonged to his father. She says a token from his dad is all it will take to bring his mom out of the fog and back into living. As they run out of money and other options, Tristan realizes that he needs to venture into Swallow Canyon to find answers about what happened to his father. But what will he find? And will it really help his mom?

This book is a quick, exciting read! Perfect for middle-grade to adult readers. There is a little bit of language, but nothing that bad. Nothing any teenager wouldn't say in the same situation. The adventuring, canyoneering theme is really interesting and suspenseful. The plot also delves into the confusion and life-altering effects of mental illness, grief and loss. Tristan is just a kid, but he's dealing with so much trying to keep his mother going while worrying about buying groceries and keeping their family going. It's an adventure story and a coming of age tale.

A lovely book! I got pulled into the story quickly and didn't want to stop reading! The story is well written, moves along at a perfect pace and has enough suspense to hold a reader's interest.

Great book for kids and adults alike (I'm nearly 50 years old and I loved the story!), especially those who like the outdoors and adventuring! It really made me want to put on my hiking books and hit the trails here in western NC!

Pam Withers has written 18 adventuring books for young readers. She lives in Vancouver. For more information on the author and her other books, check out her website: http://www.pamwithers.com/pw/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Dundurn Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Paws and Effect

Paws and Effect
Author: Sofie Kelly

Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two magical felines, Hercules and Owen, return in Paws and Effect, the 8th Magical Cats Mystery.

Kathleen meets three of her boyfriend Marcus' old college buddies. They are environmentalists and in town to stop a proposed development just outside Mayville Heights.  When one of them turns up dead, evidence initially points to Marcus as the killer. Kathleen knows he didn't kill his friend, but she has to investigate to prove it. Who killed Dani and why is the murderer trying to frame Marcus?

I enjoy this series! Kathleen is an excellent main character. She is independent, witty and intelligent. Hercules and Owen are cats of distinction, each with a bit of magic. Owen can become invisible and Hercules can walk through solid walls. Kathleen is a very capable amateur sleuth, putting her research and people skills to good use. With a little help from her two feline sidekicks, she always manages to solve the case.

Paws and Effect is an enjoyable read. The mystery moves along at a steady pace, with plenty of suspects and plot twists. The ending was exciting and believable. All in all, another great visit with one of my favorite fictional librarians!

Sofie Kelly is a pseudonym for YA author Darlene Ryan. She also writes under the name Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat Mystery series -- another favorite of mine!)The next book in the Magical Cat series, A Tale of Two Kitties, comes out in September 2017. I can't wait to read their next adventure! For more information on the author, check out her website: http://www.sofiekelly.com/

REVIEW: Picture Miss Seeton

Picture Miss Seeton
Author: Heron Carvic

Miss Emily Seeton is a retired art teacher who seems to magically thwart criminals and evil-doers armed only with a trusty umbrella, grace under pressure, and her drawing talents. She is naive yet incredibly observant and astute. Miss Seeton definitely reminds me of Miss Marple, with innocent, unintentional humorous antics added. I absolutely adore her!

Picture Miss Seeton is the first in the 22-book series. The book was originally published in 1968 by Heron Carvic, who wrote the first 5 Miss Seeton books. The remaining books were authored by Hampton Charles (pen name used by Roy Peter Martin) and Hamilton Crane (pen name of Sarah J. Mason). I had never heard of the Miss Seeton books before the re-release of the series by Farrago. The first 3 books are available separately, or can be purchased together as an ebook set.

In this introduction to the series, Miss Seeton attends the opera. After the performance while still lamenting over Carmen's tragic end, she comes across a young man being rough with a woman. Rapping him with her umbrella, she intends to tell him off about his behavior -- young men just shouldn't accost women in the street, after all! But, as he knocks her to the ground, Miss Seeton discovers he did more than just smack the girl around a bit. As police officers and others gather to help her up, they find that the girl is dead. She's been stabbed to death. The perpetrator runs away into the night. The police are concerned about Miss Seeton's safety as the crook made off with her purse containing her address and keys, until they learn she is moving from London to a nearby village the very next day. As will happen in villages, word gets around about the heroic actions (or possibly her villainous intentions and nefarious criminal past, depending on which person is telling the story) of Miss Seeton. It might all have ended there if the village vicar didn't get tongue tied and blurt out Miss Seeton's location to the media. The criminal element follows Miss Seeton to her new home, and more run ins with evil creeps follow. She is spied upon, nearly shot, kidnapped, gassed, and almost drowned before it's all over! The police can't help but laugh as Miss Seeton miraculously uses her umbrella, laundry soap and her unfailing luck and wits to escape all attempts to do her in.

This book is just a delightfully fun story! At 224 pages, it's a relatively quick read. I love Miss Seeton as a sweetly clueless amateur sleuth, who just seems to come upon the facts without even realizing it. The supporting characters, especially the police, are left following behind, often laughing, at the miraculous ways Miss Seeton dispatches justice.

From murdering teenagers to shady lawyers, Miss Seeton rises to the occasion and triumphs in often hilarious ways. Thanks to Farrago, I have the next two books waiting on my Kindle. I can't wait to see what Miss Seeton gets herself involved in next!

Off to start reading book 2, Miss Seeton Draws The Line. :)

REVIEW: Laura Ingalls Wilder - A Biography

Laura Ingalls Wilder - A Biography
Author: William Anderson

I first read the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder in grade school. Growing up in a small Kansas town, I loved reading stories of the prairie and pioneers. I remember imagining what it must have been like to travel in the back of a covered wagon, and to be a homesteading pioneer family. Many, many children (and adults) have happily had those same thoughts, ever since the first Little House book was published in the 1930's.

I remember several family vacations where we drove hours out of our way to visit Ingalls and Wilder family homestead sites and museums. It was always worth the drive. We would all gather around the displays and point out possessions we remembered from the books. Seeing photographs of the family was amazing as well. It made the pioneer era seem so close...and yet so far away. A time gone by, but remembered fondly.

I still love her books. Her writing is simple, but strong, conveying the strength, determination and love her family had for each other and the land.

William Anderson's biography of Laura shares details about her family, each of their home sites, facts about their friends and neighbors, and the challenges they faced. At 232 pages, the book is a quick read, telling the history of the Ingalls and Wilder families in a charming, informative way. There are several black and white photographs and illustrations as well. I enjoyed learning about Laura's later years writing magazine articles, newspaper columns and her books. That was a portion of her story that was new to me.

I enjoyed learning more about her childhood and young adult life as well. I had forgotten how many times Laura's family moved due to financial hardship, natural disaster or other reasons. It must have been hard to pick up and leave everything behind so many times. Reading about Laura's life definitely brought back all the warm feelings I have for this family. I spent many hours as a child reading their story, and it was nice to revisit old memories.

This book would be a great read for anyone who enjoys the Little House books, young and old. It's a quick read, but very well written and informative.

William Anderson has written several books about Laura Ingalls Wilder including The Little House Sampler and The Little House Guidebook. For more information on the author and his books, check out his website: http://www.williamandersonbooks.com/

REVIEW: Wrong Side Of The Paw

Wrong Side Of The Paw
Author: Laurie Cass

Big changes are ahead for Librarian Minnie Hamilton and her lovely cat Eddie in Wrong Side of the Paw, the 6th book in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. One thing remains the same though....Minnie is a magnet for dead bodies. Wherever she goes....one seems to appear. This time Eddie discovers the body of a Chilson, Michigan builder. Dale LaCombe's lifeless body is found in the bed of a pickup truck. Unfortuantely, his daughter Leese is driving the truck. She immediately becomes a murder suspect. Minnie knows Leese didn't kill her father, so she and Eddie are back on the case to find the killer.  Turns out that lots of people had reasons to dislike Dale Lacombe....but who hated him enough to kill him?

This cute series has been my favorite since book #1. Minnie Hamilton is a likable main character with intelligence, spunk and ingenuity. Eddie is, of course, a very charming cat that chimes in with his signature "mrrr'' often. And I enjoy all of the side characters: Minnie's aunt, her BFF kristen, the other library employees (except for the constantly horrific directors they keep hiring lol), and her pal Rafe with the constant never-ending DIY remodeling project.  This book was a bit more serious than the previous ones...but there are some big shifts coming for several characters. So this book was not only a mystery but also development in the characters and dynamic for the series. I'm not usually big on change (I will totally admit that)....but I enjoyed this book. The changes are good ones! It will be a nice refresh for the series. Not giving any spoilers....you will have to read the book! :)

The mystery was a good one....it progressed at a good pace and had a number of suspects and plot twists. But, I do have to admit that the perpetrator was a bit obvious in this one. I figured out who it was....just not the whys or how until the plot developed a bit further. I didn't mind though....the book was an enjoyable return to my favorite cozy characters. Nice to see their lives developing and changing a little.

The cover for this new book is awesome as usual. Very colorful with the bookmobile in the background and Eddie showing his Cattitude. :)

I do hope that in the next book they have a better library director. Ugh. :)

I can't wait for book 7 now! :) Mrrr!

Laurie Cass also co-authors the Victorian Square series with author Lorraine Bartlett. For more information about Laurie and her books, check out her website at http://catmystery.com/

REVIEW: Jane Austen At Home

Jane Austen At Home
Author: Lucy Worsley

2017 marks the 200th anniversary of  Jane Austen's death. Historian Lucy Worsley's new book, Jane Austen At Home, gives us a peek into her home life and family relationships. Austen's life was not one of excitement, but a life lived within the constraints of society. Worsley does not fictionalize or sensationalize, but gives facts and details about Austen's life in a witty and engaging style.

This is the first book by Worsley that I have read, but I have watched several of her historical documentaries. Her wit and humor make history interesting and accessible. I found her book to be much the same.  Some of the events in Austen's books mirror challenges or hardships faced by her and her family. I find I have a greater understanding of her writing and characters after reading this book. I can't imagine living within the constraints of Georgian society. An unmarried woman could face huge financial and property issues...not to mention the difficulties faced by female writers. The fact that Austen faced these challenges and produced several books that remain widely popular after 200 years is astounding and beautiful.

It took me several days to finish this book because I read it a little bit at a time. I enjoy historical non-fiction in small bites, rather than gulping my way through it all at once. I think this is why I enjoyed this book so much....rather than reading it quickly and getting bogged down in all the detail, I took it slowly and savored my time in the Austen household. It was so interesting learning about what actual life was like for Austen and other women of the time period.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in history and Austen's writing! I hope that Worsley does a documentary or series on this topic as well!

Worsley is the author of several books on history including The Courtiers, The Art of the English Murder and If Walls Could Talk. For more information on her books and television documentaries, check out her website here: http://www.lucyworsley.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Among the Dead

Among The Dead
Author: J.R. Backlund

Rachel Carver left the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation after a particularly rough case ended in the shooting of an innocent woman. Rachel just couldn't stomach her superiors' efforts at covering up the incident, so she quit. A former colleague contacts her asking for help solving a murder case in western North Carolina. The small mountain town just isn't equipped to investigate the case, and it's going to be too long before the state can send investigators. The case turns out to be much more than just a killing. As the case becomes more complex and officers are killed, the state steps in and takes over. Rachel stays at the request of local law enforcement to continue investigating on her own. What she discovers is a shocking and sinister plot, perpetrated by someone they never would have suspected.

I live in western North Carolina, so the setting for this book is what got me interested at first. It didn't take long for me to become completely engrossed in the story. Rachel Carver is an intelligent, strong and skilled main character, although she has flaws. But that just makes her more believable and human. She makes some mistakes along the way -- like rekindling an old relationship with a local officer. I definitely enjoy a great suspense novel featuring a fiercely independent and intelligent woman as the main character. The action is fast paced with a lot of suspense. The plot is believable and engrossing. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop!

The cover art is gorgeous!

This is a promising start to a new series. I look forward to the next book!! I will definitely keep reading!

Among the Dead is J.R. Backlund's first book. He is currently at work on the second book in the series. Check out his website: https://www.jrbacklund.com/

**I voluntarily read this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Cat About Town

Cat About Town
Author: Cate Conte

Maddie James returns to Daybreak Island off the Massachusetts coast for her grandmother's funeral. She grew up on the island but now lives in San Francisco where she owns a juice bar. Planning to only stay on the island a few days to visit with family and friends, Maddie is perplexed when she discovers a local businessman, Frank O'Malley, is trying to force her grandfather to sell his house, even resorting to threats. Rescuing a stray orange tabby cat helps distract her from O'Malley's nonsense for awhile....until the kitty discovers his dead body. Who murdered Frank O'Malley? And who keeps leaving information about cat cafes for Maddie to find? Does someone want her to stay on the island?

I adore the idea of cat cafes! So I knew I just had to read this book! Loved it! A great start to a new cozy series! Cat About Town has a nice mix of humor and mystery. The mystery is engaging, and not entirely predictable. I like Maddie James as a main character .... she is intelligent and has spunk. The side characters are nicely developed and interesting, adding some depth to the story. JJ, the lovely ginger rescue cat, is awesome, of course. I was a bit skeptical about a former stray and adult cat adjusting immediately to being on a leash though.....I think in reality most adult cats would balk at a leash and require some time to get used to it. But.....it is a cozy mystery.....and a cat on a leash is just darling. So...I'm willing to suspend reality and just relax.

I am a bit weary of the budding love triangle cozy trope though. Maddie has a couple local men showing interest in her in this first story......just hoping this doesn't become a major plot point. Too formula. And....I'll be honest....the MCs never seem to choose the one I like best in these situations....or they end up marrying some other character that pops in from out of the blue, leaving both men in the lurch. Bleck. Just skip the love triangle.....and focus on the kitty cafe, IMHO. :) \

I enjoyed this light-hearted cozy mystery and look forward to more books in this series! The cover artwork is just darling!

Cate Conte is a pen name used by the author Liz Mugavero, author of the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://lizmugavero.com/wp/