REVIEW:Bending the Paw

 Bending the Paw
Author: Diane Kelly

Officer Megan Luz and her trusted K-9 partner Brigit are back in the 9th Paw Enforcement mystery! I love this series. Megan is a feisty, intelligent main character....and Brigit is capable and loyal! They are a well matched team! The plots are always entertaining and a nice mix of background story, investigation and humor. 

This time, Megan and Brigit are called to a bloody crime scene. Despite all the gore and an obvious hint at a murder, there is no body. The duo also investigate some home repair scammers. 

I love the fact that this series doesn't just have the point of view of the main character. Brigit gets to make her opinions and thoughts known, as do the bad guys. I don't usually go for POV flip-flopping, but in this series it really works! This newest book in the series kept my attention from start to finish. The story develops at a nice pace, and there are several side plots woven in as well. Never a dull moment! 

I enjoyed this newest book, and look forward to the next! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Curses are for Cads

 Curses are for Cads
Author: Tamara Berry

I have to admit that I accidentally requested this review book. It's book #3 in the Eleanor Wilde Mystery series. I am usually a book-series-must-be-read-in-order sort of person....so it was a departure for me to jump into a cozy series at book 3. While it did take me awhile to figure out the characters and their history....I did get sucked into the story and the humor pretty easily. And now I can backtrack and start at book 1! 

The basics: Eleanor is a fake medium. She visits clients homes, and puts on a real performance of ridding them of whatever spirits or demons might be plaguing them. For a price. In the end, she justifies her fakery because the client's feel more secure with their homes evil spirts "exorcised' and she has the money she needs to live. Win-Win, right? This time, Eleanor and her boyfriend are asked to visit a castle to search for cursed gold. 

The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The plot moved at a nice pace. There was lots of action, humor and twists to keep things moving. I like the characters and the premise. The story is just entertaining and fun! Perfect relaxing cozy read! 

I'm definitely taking the time to go back and read this series starting at book one! This is the first book by Tamara Berry that I've read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book! 

**I voluntarily read this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Panic Broom

 Panic Broom
Author: Sara Bourgeois

Things are looking up for Brighton Longfield. She's had a lot to contend with since coming to Coventry. But she's confident that things are getting better. Her personal & love life are both coming along nicely, and she's made some great friends. After dealing with a witch feud, murders, a shapeshifter....what else could possibly go wrong?

Zombies. Necromancy. More murder. 

Life in Coventry is definitely never boring! 

Panic Broom is the 5th book in the Wicked Witches of Coventry series. The series is entertaining....a nice mix of cozy mystery, paranormal and humor. I like the characters, the setting and the plots. I needed a lighter series to enjoy, and this fits that perfectly! 

I listened to the audio version of this story. The audio is just shy of 3 hours long -- a nice, quick listen! Rebecca Mitchell does a great job as narrator. All in all, an entertaining listening experience. 

Sadly I have come to the end of the available audio books for this series....so switching over to ebook format. That means no more binge listening. I zipped through the first 5 books in this series within a week. The stories were fun to listen to....so I enjoyed them one after the other during my daily commute and while doing household chores. :) Slowing down now, as I can only read print/ebooks in the evening or on weekends....but that's ok! 

There's also a spin-off series -- The Kitten Familiar Mysteries -- that can be read after reaching book 10 of the Wicked Witches of Coventry series (got the reading order directly from the author on her Facebook group). Can't wait to start that series too! 

I really needed something fun, light and entertaining to read because 2020 is just being a real b. This series definitely fits what I was looking for! 

On to the next book -- Sweep Stakes! 

REVIEW: One By One

 One By One
Author: Ruth Ware

As I listened to the first part of this book, I found myself sympathizing with one character so much that it pulled me out of the story. Long ago....in a freshly-divorced nightmare of a life....I took a job where I felt like a fish out of water. I attended seminars and events feeling like I didn't belong in this throng of horrid people. They came to seminars to sleep with each other, get drunk, act like completely over-indulged jerks (one woman sent her plate back at a restaurant we went to THREE times...not because something was wrong with the food but because she decided she wanted something else. In the end, she picked at a dessert instead, while loudly complaining and having another drink or two.) Add in the uncomfortable and incredibly expensive clothing, fake social exchanges, dog-eat-dog power plays and catty exchanges with women in similar positions (any woman in a professional position has had those encounters and understands exactly what I mean).....I exited stage left and moved on with my life as quickly as possible. The weight on my shoulders was immensely lighter and the sunshine brighter the minute I walked away from that nightmare.....    I didn't belong. And didn't want to belong.

Liz. A former employee of Snoop (an app that allows you to listen to the music people you follow are enjoying in real-time) is at a retreat with execs of the company. Beautiful location. Lovely food. Completely uncomfortable and anxiety-ridden situation.

I sympathized with her totally from page one. Warily though -- as this is a Ruth Ware novel (see what I did there? ha ha)

Things rapidly go downhill (and not just because they are at a ski chalet). After disagreeing on a proposed buyout of Snoop, an avalanche traps them at the chalet. One by one, a murderer begins picking them off....

Interesting story. I like Ruth Ware's books and Imogen Church is a fantastic narrator. All in all, the suspense was good. The plot kept my attention most of the time. The second half of the book dragged a bit for me, and I have to admit I skipped a few chapters because the story was just taking too long after I knew the killer's identity. I do understand wanting to place readers inside the head of a killer, but I felt I was just in there a bit too long. So.....I just moved the audio ahead a bit and jumped back in at the moment of confrontation. 

An enjoyable listen, despite the dragging. I can't wait to see what Ruth Ware publishes next!

REVIEW: Untold Mayhem

 Untold Mayhem
Author: Mark Tullius

It took me awhile to get through all 24 stories in this story anthology. Not because they weren't good -- but because I wanted to take my time and enjoy just a couple tales at a time. 

I  love it when I come across a collection of horror stories that are as varied as this one. Every story was different.....some atmospheric and violent, some gory, others just downright creepy. While I liked some of the tales more than others, there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy. 

This is my first venture into horror by Mark Tullius. I'm definitely going further down this dark path -- I like his writing! 

I listened to the audio book version of this story collection. Great listening experience. All the narrators were talented. I love horror stories on audio -- just adds an extra dimension to the creepy experience! 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Greyfriars Reformatory

 Greyfriars Reformatory
Author: Frazer Lee

Emily has mental health issues. Her dissociative disorder and its behavior issues lands her in a reformatory. Not just any institution....but Greyfriars Reformatory. Creepy place. Creepy staff. Creepy secrets.....

This story is so atmospheric! I could almost place myself on that rickety, horrible bus riding to Greyfriars with the girls. This story would make an awesome movie! 

I'm not going to say much about the plot -- no spoilers. This is definitely a story that is better with absolutely NO prior knowledge of events. Don't read reviews....don't read blurbs --- read the book!!!

This story kept my attention from start to finish. Creepy atmosphere. Great character development. Excellent suspense. And lots of twisty goodness! Loved it! 

This is the second book I've read by Frazer Lee. Hearthstone Cottage is also a very good, suspenseful story. I'm definitely going to read more -- I like Lee's style! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Portal

 The Portal
Author: Russell James

Allie Layton returns to Stone Harbor. She expects her return to be a great place to restart her life away from the pressures and rat-race of LA and Hollywood. Scott Tackett -- part of her past -- is there, too. He now runs his father's hardware store. Just as it appears they are going to rekindle their old friendship, a strange man comes to the island. Joey Oates. He's more than just dark, creepy and disturbing....he might just be the devil himself. And, he's there to finish a ritual that was interrupted 300 years ago. A ritual that will open the portal to hell.....

Oh my! This book definitely kept my attention from start to finish. The characters, plot and descriptions are well-crafted. This story has some rather disturbing elements and touches on some heavy topics -- rape, death of children, etc. But....if the devil was present tempting an island of unsuspecting people in preparation to open the gate to hell....bad, bad things would go down. So, definitely disturbing....but not overdone. 

This is the first book by Russell James that I've read. I'm definitely going to read more! This story creeped me out! Very entertaining!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No deals with the devil were made in the writing of this review. Honest.**