REVIEW: The Broken Girls

The Broken Girls
Author: Simone St. James

Idlewild Hall. A school for girls. Some rebellious. Others illegitimate. All unwanted by their families. In the 1950s, four girls bonded over ghost stories about Mary Hand, a girl who supposedly froze to death on the grounds decades before. When one of them disappears, it starts a chain of events that will remain a mystery for more than 60 years. Flash forward to 2014....Fiona Sheridan wants to know the truth about her sister's murder in the 90's. Her body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall, a run down abandoned former school. Fiona's search for the truth becomes intertwined with memories and actions of three women, now elderly, and their search for justice.

I loved this book! It has a slightly supernatural edge to it and plenty of suspense. I don't normally like books that switch back and forth in time, but for this story it worked perfectly. Fiona's search for information about her sister's death opens up old mysteries surrounding the old school, even an old ghost story. I loved how came together with surprises and lots of suspense in the end!

I waited months in the online queue to listen to the audio book version of this story from my local library. Totally worth the wait!! I liked the characters, the setting and the plot. The story kept my attention from beginning to end. Nice steady suspense.

The audio book (Penguin Random House Audio) is just over 11 hours long and is narrated by Rebecca Lowman. Lowman has a nice voice and reads at an even pace. All in all, an enjoyable listening experience. I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire story.

This is the first book by Simone St. James that I have read. She has written several other suspense novels....I'm definitely going to be reading more!

REVIEW: A Dog Called Jack

A Dog Called Jack
Author: Ivy Pembroke

Jack is a dog. He used to live in a house on Christmas Street...but his family moved and left him behind. But don't worry about good ol' Jack. Now he belongs to everyone on the street. He visits all the neighbors up and down the street. They all feed, pat and love Jack. But the best part? Jack makes a huge difference to everyone on Christmas Street. By the time he's done wagging and working his doggie magic, the neighborhood will be transformed.

I love this book! My favorite character is the gruff curmudgeon, Bill Hammersley. He's determined to dislike the new neighbors the minute he sees the pink flamingo in their yard. But he learns a lot of lessons in this story....as do all the residents on Christmas Street.  A little abandoned dog brings a neighborhood together as a family. Just a sweet story!! As soon as I finished reading my digital review copy, I preordered a print copy of this book. It's going on my keeper shelf. I will definitely be re-reading this happy story many times!

Ivy Pembroke has written two other books about Christmas Street: Snowflakes on Christmas Street and A Wedding on Christmas Street. Romancey stories aren't my usual genre, but I loved A Dog Called Jack....so I'm going to read the other two books! Even I need a feel-good, happy story once in awhile! Perfect reads for cold winter nights.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. My dogs wholeheartedly agree with my review and give it a full four paws!**

REVIEW: Dead as a Door Knocker

Dead as a Door Knocker
Author: Diane Kelly

Whitney Whitaker is a property manager and carpenter in Nashville, TN. When one of her developer clients wants to off load a house, she jumps in to buy it, intending to fix it up and flip the property. The project is difficult from the start. First, bad wiring causes a fire, quickly followed up by Whitney finding a dead body buried in the flower bed. Her house flipping days might be over before they even really start!

I enjoyed this first book in the House-Flipper Mystery series. Whitney is an interesting and intelligent main character. Her cat has the cutest name ever -- Sawdust. I liked the setting, the background theme and the side characters in this new series. Cute, creative idea! I felt sorry for Whitney.....she wants to build her business, expanding into renovation projects....but gets waylaid by fire and dead bodies. Yikes! What a way to start a new business venture!

This is the first book by Diane Kelly that I've read. She also writes the Paw Enforcement and Tara Holloway mystery series. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. I like her writing style and the mix of humor and mystery.

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

REVIEW: Death by Committee

Death by Committee
Author: Alexis Morgan

Death by Committee is the first book in the new Abbey McRee Mystery series. The series is set in Snowberry Creek, WA. The author also has a contemporary romance series set in the same town.

Abbey McRee is recently divorced and starting her life all over again. She recently inherited her Aunt Sybil's victorian style home in Snowberry Creek. She moves in with her dog, Zeke. Along with the house, she also inherited her aunt's quilting group, a spot on the local senior affairs committee and a tenant, Tripp Blackston. When an enemy of her aunt's is discovered dead and buried under junk in a corner of the yard, suspicion falls on her deceased aunt and Tripp. Abbey is determined to clear her aunt's name and identify the murderer. It proves to be a dangerous quest!

All in all, a nice start to a new cozy series. The premise of inheriting a victorian home from an elderly relative is pretty tropey, but the story was still a fun read. I like Abbey as a main character. She's trying hard to start her life over after a failed marriage and endures the snarkiness of small town busybodies. Her pet mastiff, Zeke, is a great addition to the story as is her renter, Tripp and the rest of the side characters. The quirky members of the quilting group jump in to help Abbey investigate. Nothing like a feisty group of senior citizens to help ferret out a killer. The ending wasn't really a surprise, but there was enough twists, suspects and surprises in this book to keep my attention. I will definitely read more of this series.

The cover art is colorful and cute. It really caught my eye, and first drew me to read this book. :)

Alexis Morgan is the author of several romance series, even a paranormal one. I don't read the romance genre, but I will definitely read any cozies she writes. I like her writing style, the characters, background theme and setting for this new cozy series. Makes for an enjoyable, relaxing reading experience.

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

REVIEW: Love

Love
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrations: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Every year right after Christmas the commercialized Valentine's Day stuff appears in stores. Red and pink everywhere. Cute, mushy, suggestive. The word love splashed everywhere. But love isn't chocolates, cupcakes, bright greeting cards, stuffed animals or dinner out. It's so much more....

Stacy McAnulty's book about love shows that love is in everyday things....in our actions, words and caring for others. The illustrations carefully teach a lesson that love has nothing to do with a commercialized holiday....and everything to do with how we value those around us. Lovely book! I'm ordering a copy for my grand kids!

The Illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff are beautiful! Colorful, interesting and meaningful! The cover art pulled me in and got me to read this children's book. I'm glad I did....it really has an awesome message! I think my grand kids will really enjoy it!

This is the first book by Stacy McAnulty I've read. She has several others that Joanne Lew-Vriethoff also illustrated. I'm sure I will be reading and buying more!

**I voluntarily read a sample copy of this children's book. All opinions expressed are entirely myt own.**

REVIEW: Catching Murphy

Catching Murphy
Author: Wilson Ring

Murphy the Dog made national headlines when he ran from the scene of a traffic accident in Vermont in 2014. It took two years to reunite Murphy with his owner and catching the lost dog brought an entire community together.

A writer for the Associated Press, Wilson Ring diligently put out food and traps to catch the golden retriever and enlisted the help of many for two years. The dog hung around the outskirts of his property the whole time, evading traps and never letting anyone get near him. But Ring kept trying, until he finally managed to catch the lost dog. Catching Murphy is the tale of how one lost, confused dog brought together so many people.

I loved this story! I think I enjoyed it because I knew from the start that the outcome was a happy one. I can't stand animal stories that end badly.....it's that Old Yeller taint. But I remember the news coverage when the dog was finally returned to his owner. Happy ending! Yay!

I listened to the audio book version of this story. At just over an hour, it's an easy, enjoyable listen. Malcolm Hillgartner narrates. His voice is pleasant and he reads at a nice, even pace. I have partial hearing loss, but was easily able to hear and understand this entire book.

Catching Murphy is part of the Missing Collection from Audible/Amazon Originals. The Missing Collection gathers six true stories about people dealing and recovering from extreme loss or hardship. The stories are varied, but I've liked all that I've listened to so far!

REVIEW: The Judgment of Osiris

The Judgment of Osiris
Author: Theresa Crater

I have always enjoyed tales of Egypt ever since I watched documentaries about the pyramids and ancient Eqyptian history as a child. I'm getting ready to read a novel set in Egypt by this indy author, but decided to read this short story first.

The basics: An Egyptian tour guide accepts a strange gift from a rival guide. The contents take him on an unexpected trip to the underworld.

Owen is the perfect main character for this story. He loves Egypt....the people, history, relics, Gods....he loves it all. Then he gets the ultimate of tours....

I like the author's writing style. She doesn't over-tell or go into long unnecessary descriptions. She gives enough details to let readers' imaginations pull them into the story. Nicely done!

I have Theresa Crater's book, Under the Stone Paw, at the top of the queue on my Kindle. Definitely geared up to read it now! I loved the ancient Egyptian myth, history and setting in this story. Can't wait to get more in Under the Stone Paw!

**I voluntarily read a free copy of this short story provided to me by the author. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**