Mercury Retrograde by Laura Bickle (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Something venomous has come to Temperance …

It's been two months since Petra Dee and her coyote sidekick Sig faced off against Temperance's resident alchemist, but things are far from quiet. When an Internet video of a massive snake in the backcountry of Yellowstone goes viral, a chase for the mythical basilisk is on. Monster hunters swarm into the area, and never one to pass up the promise of discovery, Petra joins in the search.

Among the newcomers is a snake cult on wheels―the biker gang Sisters of Serpens. Unlike some, the Sisters don't want to kill the basilisk―they want to worship it. But things get complicated when the basilisk develops a taste for human flesh that rivals the Sisters' own murderous skills.

Meanwhile, the alchemical tree of life is dying, and the undead Hanged Men of Temperance who depend on it know the basilisk may be their last chance for survival.

With time running out for everyone around her, Petra will be forced to decide who survives and who she must leave behind in this action-packed sequel to Dark Alchemy."

My Thoughts:

I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that this book was coming out!  I had previously enjoyed Dark Alchemy (the first book in this series) so much and had my fingers crossed that the author would be writing a sequel.  So you can imagine my surprise and excitement when I got wind of this book.  This series is so completely original and is just different from everything out there!  I find it a treat to read and this has been my experience with both books in this series.  I should say that you need to start off by reading the first book in this series because events in this book are a continuation from book one.  Not all of it which means new readers could start with this book if they wanted but I just feel like they would be missing out a bit.  And personally I feel like that this is such a great series and shouldn't be missed!  I love how the author takes the impossible and makes it possible with these books.  I just cannot emphasize enough how fresh and unique these books are.  It is a mish mash of genres in the best possible way:  a mystery mixed in with fantasy along with some steampunk elements and a western feel all rolled into one.  I love it so much for all of these different reasons (and these are the same things that I loved about book one)!

In this book Petra once again finds herself caught up in a heap of trouble as she attempts to help investigate the mysterious deaths of a family that have died for no apparent reason.  She is looking at the geological features of the area trying to determine if a hot gas spot is the reason behind these deaths or could it be the mysterious snake that was sighted in the area.  Almost instantly things start to go wrong and Petra is forced to search for answers while trying to keep herself out of danger.  I found myself immersed in this book immediately after starting it....it was just that easy to fall back into the world that Bickle had created in Dark Alchemy.  I loved that we had the chance to meet up again with all of my favorite characters from the previous book.  I especially loved that this book delved more into the mysterious hanged men and their fate after the way that things had ended in book one (trying not to spoil anything here so sorry if I'm being too vague).  This book was just as fast paced as the first book and just as hard to set down.  Basically I just loved this book as much as I did the first and am now a huge fan of this series!  And the ending- what an ending!  I loved that we got some answers but I also really loved the set up for the next book.  There is going to be a next book!!!  I cannot wait!

Overall, I just cannot say enough good things about this series or about this book!  I hope that other readers are reading and loving this series as much as I have.  Trust this author to take you on a wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.  Now I'm just going to have to patiently wait and wish for the next book in this series.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Such a great follow-up to the first book in this series!  I cannot recommend it enough!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss.

On Thin Icing by Ellie Alexander (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"It's the dead of winter in the sleepy town of Ashland, which means no tourists-and fewer customers-for Jules Capshaw and her bakery. But when she's asked to cater an off-season retreat for the directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, business starts heating up...until Jules finds a dead body in the freezer.

 Someone at the retreat has apparently iced the bartender, a well-known flirt with a legendary temper-that is, before a killer beat him to the punch. Then, from out of nowhere, Jules's own ex-husband shows up at the shop-and soon becomes a suspect. With accusations piling up higher than the snow-and thicker than a chocolate mousse cake-Jules has to think outside the (recipe) box to find the real culprit...and make sure he gets his just desserts."

My Thoughts:

This series is fast becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series to follow!  Last year I read all three of the books in this series and each one was such a fun reading experience.  What I love about this series is how focused they are on baking and food in general.  It makes me SO hungry while I'm reading at times because the descriptions of food are just amazing!  If I could bake and cook like Jules does, well that would be just amazing.  Sometimes I truly feel like I am reading more for the food and descriptions of Jules' cooking rather than the mystery itself.  I also really appreciate in this series that Jules doesn't have her life figured out.  She isn't perfect and is kind of at a turning point in her life.  Actually all of the characters in this series are pretty great which is one of the reasons why I love this series so much!  Great characters, yummy food descriptions, and suspenseful mysteries are why these books are clear winners for me.  I just can't seem to get enough!

One of the things that I really loved about this book was the setting.  I loved how the author used a winter snow storm and a mountain lodge to give this book such an isolated and creepy feel to it.  I read this book during a snow/ice storm of our own and it just fit in so perfectly with this time of year.  This book felt darker and more suspenseful than the previous two books thanks to the setting.  I just loved it!  The mystery portion of this book was well done and I wasn't able to figure out what was going on until the very end.  I also liked that in this book we finally got to meet Jule's estranged husband Carlos.  We have been hearing so much about him since the very beginning and now it was interesting finally getting to see him and Jules interact with one another.  I can't honestly say how I feel about him at this point.  I actually am more a fan of Thomas (Jules' ex-boyfriend) so I am very, very curious to see what happens in the next book!  The ending of this book tied up everything quite nicely and left me eager for book four.  I especially love how the author includes recipes at the end with some of the different recipes that Jule's has made throughout the book.  I just need to get some confidence and try one of them!!! 

Overall, this was another great addition to one of my favorite cozy mystery series!!  I'm super excited that another book will be releasing in 2016....I just need to get my hands on it as soon as possible.  I'm hoping that we will get more resolution to Jules and Carlos' relationship in the next book.  And many more delicious recipes of course!  These books are just so much fun and are such great reads.  I cannot recommend them enough!  I feel like you should start with book one Meet Your Baker just so that you get the full reading experience but really these books could be read on their own.  Cozy mystery fans and mystery readers in general should really give this series a try!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Another standout read from one of my favorite cozy mystery series!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley as part of a CBB Book Tour. 

 

Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Dr. Kay Scarpetta is working a suspicious death scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts when an emergency alert sounds on her phone. A video link lands in her text messages and seems to be from her computer genius niece Lucy. But how can it be? It’s clearly a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost twenty years ago.

As Scarpetta watches she begins to learn frightening secrets about her niece, whom she has loved and raised like a daughter. That film clip and then others sent soon after raise dangerous legal implications that increasingly isolate Scarpetta and leave her confused, worried, and not knowing where to turn. She doesn’t know whom she can tell – not her FBI husband Benton Wesley or her investigative partner Pete Marino. Not even Lucy.

In this new novel, Cornwell launches these unforgettable characters on an intensely psychological odyssey that includes the mysterious death of a Hollywood mogul’s daughter, aircraft wreckage on the bottom of the sea in the Bermuda Triangle, a grisly gift left in the back of a crime scene truck, and videos from the past that threaten to destroy Scarpetta’s entire world and everyone she loves. The diabolical presence behind what unfolds seems obvious - but strangely, not to the FBI. Certainly that’s the message they send when they raid Lucy’s estate and begin building a case that could send her to prison for the rest of her life."

My Thoughts:

Wow!  I have no words for this book other than just wow!  This book took my high expectations (after reading and loving Flesh and Blood earlier this year) and shattered them!  It was seriously that good and I basically had a bookish hangover for two days after finishing this one.  Depraved Heart will easily make my top reads list for this year just based off of the reading experience alone!  It was one wild ride and I found that I flew through the pages of this chunky novel with ease.  I don't even feel like I am doing justice to sharing just how good this book is yet.  

One of the things that made this book stand out for me so much was the paranoid feeling that it gave me.  I cannot even begin to explain how unsettled this book made me feel while reading it.  The author does an amazing job of giving hints of different things but not really giving anything away so that the entire time I was reading this one I felt uncertain.  Uncertain as to what was happening, uncertain as to who was telling the truth and definitely uncertain of who Kay Scarpetta could actually trust.  It gave me the same feeling as when I read a novel with an unreliable narrator, except that this time it wasn't that I couldn't trust the narrator but instead I couldn't trust everything/anything that was happening.  There always seemed to be a secret or reason behind the things that were happening that Scarpetta had to figure out on her own.  Key main characters that I've come to trust from reading previous books even had me questioning their motivations and actions.  It was a heart pounding reading experience and I couldn't get enough!  Without giving too much away I thought that the ending was well done although I sure do wish that I had my hands on the next book right now!  I'm hoping to ease the wait by catching up with the rest of this series since I seem to be reading them all completely out of order now.  

Overall I cannot even seem to coherently put into words how good this book really was!  I couldn't put this one down and flew through the pages.  Even when I would stop reading it, I found myself still thinking about it and trying to figure out what was really happening.  I need more books just like this in my life because this was a reading experience that I won't be forgetting about anytime soon!  I am completely hooked on this series and cannot wait to read more.  Highly recommended with the warning that you won't be able to get anything done while reading this one.  Don't say I didn't warn you!

Bottom Line:  A five star read for me.  Enough said!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book blog tour.






 

Thrill Me by Susan Mallery (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool's Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports.

Now ten years later, Maya's been hired to promote her hometown's new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward!

Although Del's not the type to hold a grudge, he's determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He's a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya's kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all…"

My Thoughts:

What a perfect read for the dog days of summer where I just needed something to sweep me away from everything!   Despite being in back to school prep mode for the kiddos, I easily finished this book in two days as I just could not set it down.  This isn't my first foray into this series.  Awhile back I read the first Fool's Gold book and really enjoyed it but then never continued on with the series like I had planned to.  Since there are eighteen books in this series so far, I read this one completely out of order but it didn't effect my reading experience one bit!  In actuality, this was the perfect change up to my reading as of late which has been very heavy on thrillers and mysteries.  This book was exactly what I needed as I just fell into the romance that was developing once again between Del and Maya.  And what a romance it was!

The chemistry between these two characters was instant from the very beginning of the book.  Of course this was to be expected a bit as they had a history with each other.  I really loved though that despite their shared history, this felt like something completely new and unsure of itself.  Neither character had forgotten what had happened to end their original relationship which helped to keep a distance between them for parts of the book.  Basically I was rooting for them from the very beginning which is what you want in a good romance, right?  There are some really great secondary characters in this book as well and I have to admit that I completely adore Eddie and Gladys.  They are two older ladies that host their own television show which includes some pretty funny scenes whenever they are present!  My only complaint with this book was that I found the conflict between Del and Maya a bit predictable.  Did it take away from my reading experience?  No.  It just wasn't a big surprise and really I'm not sure that it was meant to be.  The draw for me here was really the romance between these two and if they would be able to overcome everything to find love.  And I will just say that it was a perfect ending!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to yet again get back to this series!  I have so many books to look forward to which leaves me very excited (and shaking my head at my series addiction).  This was a great summer read and left me craving more books just like this!  I won't be waiting this long again to visit Fool's Gold.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A romance that I couldn't help but adore!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts are my own!

A Pattern of Lies by Charles Todd (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"A horrific explosion at a gunpowder mill sends Bess Crawford to war-torn France to keep a deadly pattern of lies from leading to more deaths, in this compelling and atmospheric mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of A Question of Honor and An Unwilling Accomplice

An explosion and fire at the Ashton Gunpowder Mill in Kent has killed over a hundred men. It’s called an appalling tragedy—until suspicion and rumor raise the specter of murder. While visiting the Ashton family, Bess Crawford finds herself caught up in a venomous show of hostility that doesn’t stop with Philip Ashton’s arrest. Indeed, someone is out for blood, and the household is all but under siege.

The only known witness to the tragedy is now at the Front in France. Bess is asked to find him. When she does, he refuses to tell her anything that will help the Ashtons. Realizing that he believes the tissue of lies that has nearly destroyed a family, Bess must convince him to tell her what really happened that terrible Sunday morning. But now someone else is also searching for this man.

To end the vicious persecution of the Ashtons, Bess must risk her own life to protect her reluctant witness from a clever killer intent on preventing either of them from ever reaching England."

My Thoughts:

I am well and truly hooked on this series now after finishing this book!  If I can be honest I even enjoyed this one more than An Unwilling Accomplice and I was basically singing that book's praises my entire review.  But I'm getting off track a bit.  One of the things that I enjoy most about these books is that the authors actually base their storylines on actual events that have happened.  There was an actual fire that took place at a gunpowder works factory that the authors used to base this story off of.  Obviously this is fiction so they made everything work how they wanted to but I loved the author's note at the end of the book that gave those details and shared how they came up with story.  This book was also a bit more fast paced for me as Philip Ashton's life and well being were on the line.  I was worried about how everything was going to end and this made me read this book that much faster.

One of the other things that I really enjoy in these books is just reading about Bess's everyday life as a nurse on the war front.  I found all of these details so completely fascinating and they made my reading experience that much more satisfying.  I'm also completely intrigued by Simon who plays a part in both of these books.  I feel like there is the potential for Simon and Bess to develop a romantic relationship with each other.  Hopefully he continues to play a prominent role in this series and we get to see more of him!  The mystery itself was nicely done and kept me intrigued throughout the book.  I especially liked how the authors played with the idea of a mob mentality when it came to the idea of Philip Ashton being guilty.  It added to the suspense quite nicely!  The ending caught me by surprise and had me flying through the pages to see how everything would play out.  I loved it and was left ready for the next book in this series as soon as I turned the last page. 

Overall, I am officially hooked on this series!  I would be bummed that I don't have the next book in my hands except I have the earlier books in this series to look forward to still.  I'm going to be on the search for more historical mysteries to check out after loving these books so much!  If you enjoy quiet mysteries that focus on the characters and details, then this is a series not to be missed.  For me I've enjoyed both of my forays into this series and will be adding these authors to my must read list.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A mystery that kept me engrossed until the very end!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts are my own!

Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Dr. Kay Scarpetta is about to head to Miami for a vacation when she notices seven pennies on a wall behind their home. Is this a kids' game? If so, why are all of the coins dated 1981 and so shiny they could be newly minted? Then she learns there's been a homicide five minutes away. A high school teacher was shot with uncanny precision as he unloaded groceries from his car. Yet no one heard or saw a thing.

Soon more victims surface. The shots seem impossible to achieve, yet they are so perfect they cause death in an instant. There is no pattern to indicate where the killer will strike next. First it was New Jersey, then Massachusetts, and then the murky depths off the coast. There she comes face to face with shocking news that implicates her niece, Lucy—Scarpetta's own flesh and blood."

My Thoughts:

This was a thrilling read that I won't be forgetting about any time soon!  From page one of this book I was utterly hooked and that didn't end until the very last page.  And that last page!!!  But I am getting ahead of myself.  I was originally trying to listen to this series on audio.  As we all know I have no self control and jumped at the opportunity to read this book.  I am so glad that I did because just wow!  This book was suspenseful, it was dark, it was fast-paced....basically this was everything that I look for in a thriller!  I just couldn't read this one fast enough!  It took some getting used to as I am reading this one completely out of order (I believe there are 22 books in this series so far) so things have changed some since the second book.  Okay, actually things have changed a lot but that didn't detract from my reading experience at all.  Instead I know now that I have many more good reads to look forward to that will show me more of how the characters have gotten to the places that they are at in their lives.  I can't wait!

In this book though, Scarpetta finds herself caught up in the midst of multiple cases that seem to have a few disturbing similarities.  From the moment that she finds the seven pennies on the wall outside of her house I just knew it was going to be personal.  It was a feeling that I had and because of this there was an extra level of tension for me while reading as I tried to figure it all out.  I wasn't sure who she could trust and there were just so many questions that I didn't have answers to.  Even those who are closest to her seemed to have secrets that they weren't sharing.  I cannot emphasize enough just how intense this book was for me while I was reading it!  I was completely sucked in!  For the majority of the book I was just trying to keep up with everything that was going on while also trying to figure it out for myself.  The last section of the book was spent reading as fast as I possibly could trying to see how everything would end.  I cannot tell you how many times I had to stop myself from peeking at the last few pages just because I didn't want to wait any longer.  I needed to know everything was going to be okay!  I resisted (barely) and it was well worth the wait!  Although that last page left me completely at a loss for words.  I NEED the next book right NOW!!!  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  It could easily make my top reads list for this year based off the intensity factor alone!  This book was a page turner and those are my favorites!  I am left wishing that I had book twenty-three in my hands but until then I think I will work on catching up with all of the other books I have missed.  Maybe that will satisfy me and make the wait seem less awful?  A girl can hope!   Highly recommended but be warned you aren't going to want to put it down!!

Bottom Line:  A thrilling read that had me flying through the pages!  

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher as part of a Partners in Crime Book Tour.  Thoughts are my own!

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Welcome to Torte-a small-town family bakeshop where the coffee is hot, the muffins are fresh, and the cakes are definitely to die for...

It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon-'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.

Then, just as Jules dusts off her Bavarian Chocolate Cake recipe and cinches up her apron, the corpse of a fellow contestant is discovered-death by buttercream. What began as a fun, tasteful televised adventure has morphed into something of a true-crime detective show for Jules and everybody else on set. Who could have killed Chef Marco, and why? Can Jules sift out the killer before someone else gets burned?"

My Thoughts:

This is such fun mystery series and I really cannot get enough of it!  It sure does make me hungry while reading it though!  Ha!  Seriously though, all of the descriptions of all of the yummy treats and coffees that are made at Torte have me craving sweets and iced coffee.  I would absolutely love it if we had a shop just like this near where I live!  Or if I could bake like Jules does.  That would be even better!  One of my favorite things about this series is all of the details that go into Jule's work at Torte and her baking experiences.  I love that we get to see the struggles of making the shop a success and that everything isn't just perfect all of the time.  In fact, it is the closeness that Jules and her Mom have while working together that really makes this series feel so real to me.  I'm invested in the characters and want for them to be happy.  With Jules it means wanting to continue to read and see what she is going to decide to do with her life.  Right now she is at a crossroads between going back to her husband and moving on.  I'm eager to see how this all plays out and I really love that Jules has taken her time in figuring everything out.  It comes across so realistically as in real life you don't find answers like this instantly.  It takes time to figure out what you want and I feel like that this really adds another layer to this book.

The book is also a fun read and completely light-hearted at times which provides the perfect contrast to all of the serious stuff.  I loved how once again the mystery was meant to be a complete whodunnit with tons of possible motives/culprits!  I spent my time reading and changing my mind on who the possible killer was.  The book is fast paced and I love how with this book the author changed everything up by throwing Jules into a baking competition.  As this is one of my daughter's favorite kind of shows I could just imagine it all too easily.  The ending left me with some questions that I'm hoping we get answers for in the next book.  

Overall, I really just can't get enough of this series!  I find that I'm already itching to get my hands on that third book!  This is a cozy mystery series that I can easily recommend but start with the first book so that you get the full experience.  Recommended but with a warning that you are going to be hungry while reading- don't say I didn't tell you so!!

Bottom Line:  A new favorite cozy mystery series for me!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a CBB Book Tour.  Thoughts are my own!

That Chesapeake Summer by Mariah Stewart (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Jamie Valentine is the wildly successful author of self-help books advocating transparency in every relationship. But when her widowed mother passes away unexpectedly, Jamie discovers her own life has been based on a lie. Angry and deeply betrayed, she sets out to find the truth—which may be in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay. Cutting her most recent book tour short, Jamie books a room at the Inn at Sinclair’s Point, just outside St. Dennis.

The death of Daniel Sinclair’s father forced him to take over the family inn, and his wife’s death left him a single parent of two children, so there’s little room for anything else in his life. His lovely new guest is intriguing, though, and he’s curious about the secret she’s clearly hiding. But in the end, Jamie and Dan could discover the greatest truth of all: that the search for one thing just might lead to the find of a lifetime—if you keep your heart open."

My Thoughts:

I love the cover of this book!  Doesn't it just make you want to sit outside in the sun and read?  This really was a great summertime read that I couldn't help but adore.  I've read another book in this series a year or so ago and have meant to get back to this series every since.  This book reminded me exactly why as I got to visit and fall in love all over again with Chesapeake Bay.  Now this is a town that I want to go visit!!  I've read this series completely out of order (starting in the middle and then now a few books behind that) and I can honestly tell you that it hasn't affected my enjoyment of these books in the slightest.  I'm sure I'm missing some of the character's back stories but that just means I have something to look forward to.  I found myself easily immersed yet again into the lives of the residents that live in this small town.  And now I can't wait to read other books and get back to it once again!

In this book, Jamie comes to Chesapeake Bay in the hope of finding answers to questions she never really knew that she had.  I'm deliberately being vague here so I don't spoil anything for other readers, but suffice it to say that she comes to this small town with the hopes that she will come to terms with everything surrounding her mother's death and the secrets she has uncovered.  The story really focused on Jamie and her trying to come to terms with finding that everything that she thought she knew was based on a lie.  A lie when her entire career has been centered around how important the truth really is especially when it comes to relationships.  I loved watching Jamie struggle with all of this....it really helped for me as the reader to connect with her.  I liked that there weren't always easy answers because that is real life.  She knew with both of her parent's being dead that she wasn't going to get all of the answers that she wanted and needed.  Her coming to terms with that and moving on felt very real to me.  The relationship that developed between Jamie and Dan was sweet but a bit rushed.  They start off disliking each other (this is my favorite type of romance) but for me their developing romance just felt secondary to the rest of the book.  I liked it but for me that wasn't what kept me reading.  Instead it was Jamie finding the answers to some of her questions in Chesapeake Bay that was what really compelled me to keep turning those pages.  And the ending really tied the storyline up perfectly for me!

Overall, this was a really great summertime read that I enjoyed.  Will I wait this long to visit once again Chesapeake Bay?  No!  I love the small town feel of these books and found myself wishing that I could actually visit a place just like this.  Especially with that ice cream shop!  It sounds delicious.  This is one of those books that you could read in one afternoon by the pool and it would entirely be worth it.  I would recommend this series to women's fiction fans easily.  This is part of a series but in my opinion you can read them in any order.  I can't wait to read more!

Bottom Line:  A pleasurable read that made me wish I had read more from this series sooner!

Disclosure:   I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher.  Thoughts are my own!

Demon's Vengeance by Jocelynn Drake (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Jocelynn Drake continues her successful urban fantasy series, Asylum Tales, with Demon’s Fury, set in a world where elves, faeries, trolls, werewolves, and vampires walk free among humanity.

Powerful warlock and tattoo artist Gage has managed to escape the magical Ivory Towers who terrorize the rest of humans and monsters – but at a price. Now he must join forces with his nemesis Gideon to stop an unknown entity who is using old magic to commit gruesome murders. And if that’s not keeping him busy enough, an investigator recruits Gage to help her track a killer … who might be targeting tattoo artists."

My Thoughts:

I'm starting with my overall thoughts on this series as a whole because I read them back to back.  I absolutely loved this unique urban fantasy series and am sad to see it end.  It was a completely engrossing reading experience filled with twists, turns, and everything else that left me wanting more.  Really.  I want more.  More Gage and his world filled with dark wizards and witches.  More of the other supernatural creatures that inhabit his world and make it one of the most unique worlds that I've read about in urban fantasy.  I'm a bit sad to not have more books to look forward to but it was overall an amazing reading experience and I would read these again in a heartbeat!

For me this was a really great way to tie up many of the different threads that the author created within the first two books.  Gage is caught up yet again in way too many things and actually the summary I shared is meant just for the first part of this book.  The book is broken into three separate sections but they all tie together so nicely that really it felt like just one book to me.  I love how the author isn't afraid to really put Gage in situations that almost seem hopeless for anyone else.  The reader is really given the chance to see what he is made of and I loved that we were shown different sides of the situation as Gage struggled to find the answers.  There was a darker side to Gage in this book then we have seen but I really understood it after all that he has been through.  He was ready and willing to fight for what he wanted and that really sums up his personality brilliantly.

Books like this are why I read and love urban fantasy so much!  I flew through the pages of this one on my kindle and didn't want to put it down.  In fact, I was avoiding putting it down as much as possible just so I could read one more page.  The ending of this book was done really well in my opinion although I still think the author could write one more.  Pretty please one more?  I would love to see Gage's adventures continued myself.  It was wrapped up pretty well but left open enough for the reader to decide on how a few things must have ended.  I liked that even when I wanted more.  Really that is what a book is supposed to in my opinion!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the series overall!  I have lots more to say as I haven't yet shared my thoughts on the first two books but I will be doing that very soon.  I just ran out of time on posting the reviews before this one.  This is a series that is not to be missed for urban fantasy fans and I really, really recommend reading them back to back like I did.  It really allowed for me to fully immerse myself in this dark and magical world that Drake has created.  I just am sad that I won't be going back any time soon.  Oh well, that is what rereads are for, right?  Recommended but with the addition that you should really read this series in order.  So start with Angel's Ink!

Bottom Line:  A great and satisfying conclusion to this urban fantasy series.  I'm sad to see it end!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a Pump Up Your Blog book tour through Edelweiss.  Thoughts are my own!

Slayed on the Slopes by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"After talking her way into a job writing for Portland's Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed may now really be in over her head. Actually, about 8,000 feet over her head. . .

She's at Mount Hood's remote Silcox Hut, covering the the seriously hardcore Ridge Rangers-- Oregon's elite high-altitude rescue team--during their four-day winter training. Sure, Meg beefed up her outdoor skills over the summer . . . but she's still hoping to cover the event with some hot chocolate by the cheery fireplace. Then, during a sudden blizzard, she swears she hears gunshots. No one stranded in the hut believes her . . . until self-absorbed Ridge Ranger Ben Rogers is found outside in a pool of frozen blood. Meg's now got to find this killer quickly . . . before cabin fever does them all in!"

My Thoughts:

Can I just start off by saying how much I loved this book?  This book solidified my love for this series with ease and now I'm left impatiently waiting for more!  I really enjoyed Scene of the Climb so I went into reading this one with very high hopes.  Happily enough I enjoyed this book just as much, if not even more than I did the first book.  What more can you ask from with a mystery series?  Not much more than that in my opinion!  Meg is back and better than ever as she manages to get herself caught up in a whole new set of outdoor experiences.  The mystery was compelling and made the book hard to put down.  But what really stood out for me in this book is how the author uses the setting to really add to the book as a whole.  I loved the fact that I learned a little bit about Oregon thanks to this book and the author's descriptions.  I would love to go visit the Timberline Lodge myself and get the chance to go skiing in the mountains.  The fact that this lodge was used in some of the filming for The Shining movie (which I learned thanks to this book) makes me want to visit even more!  It was these little details that really brought this book to life for me!

The author also continues on with the storyline from book one in regards to Meg's father and his mysterious death in this book.  Let me tell you that I am completely intrigued at this point!  I need to know the truth behind it all and am looking forward to finding out more of the answers in future books.  Really at this point I will be grabbing book three as soon as I can get my greedy hands on it!!  I am also really enjoying the chemistry that is growing between Meg and Matt.  Sorry if that is a slight spoiler to some of you.  I am just impatiently waiting for them to both realize that they are basically meant to be.  Ha!  (But seriously I hope they figure it out soon!)  I did manage to guess the killer with this book but there was so many other twists and turns going on that it really didn't matter.  I still loved this book from beginning to end!  By the end of this book I was left wanting more yet again and really wishing that I had my hands on the third book.  Ugh!  The waiting game when you find a great series....I do know already that it is going to be well worth the wait!

All in all, this was a really great follow-up to Scene of the Climb and I am now a huge fan of this author and her books!  Her ability to use the setting of this story to allow for me to feel like I was there along with Meg in the wintry cold helped to make this book an instant winner for me.  I still have a lot of questions in regards to the death of Meg's father which has me pining for the next book.  Plus, I'm absolutely sure that Meg is going to find herself in another crazy situation and I can't wait to read all about it!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A cozy mystery series that shouldn't be missed!  Read it!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher as part of a CBB Book Tour.  Thoughts are my own!

 

The Kill Shot by Nichole Christoff (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Jamie Sinclair’s father has never asked her for a favor in her life. The former two-star general turned senator is more in the habit of giving his only child orders. So when he requests Jamie’s expertise as a security specialist, she can’t refuse—even though it means slamming the brakes on her burgeoning relationship with military police officer Adam Barrett. Just like that, Jamie hops aboard a flight to London with a U.S. State Department courier carrying a diplomatic pouch in an iron grip.

Jamie doesn’t have to wait long to put her unique skills to good use. When she and the courier are jumped by goons outside the Heathrow terminal, Jamie fights them off—but the incident puts her on high alert. Someone’s willing to kill for the contents of the bag. Then a would-be assassin opens fire in crowded Covent Garden, and Jamie is stunned to spot a familiar face: Adam Barrett, who saves her life with a single shot and calmly slips away. Jamie’s head—and her heart—tell her that something is very wrong. But she’s come way too far to turn back now."

My Thoughts:

The Kill Shot was just as explosive and page turning as I had hoped that it would be.  (Page turning as in finger tapping since this was an e-read.  LOL!)  In all seriousness though, I had really high hopes for this book after enjoying the first book so much.  This follow-up was just as fast paced and intense as the first book and I found myself having a hard time putting it down.  What I love about this series is how this author includes details of military life within her books.  Added to that was the fact that for the majority of this book Jamie is abroad in Europe.  I absolutely loved all of the details that the author included to bring London to life.  As I've never been, it was those details that really pulled me into this book and allowed for me to immerse myself within it.  I could picture the different places that she was describing and it allowed for me to live a bit vicariously through Jamie and her adventures.  What fun!  This book was quite a ride and although I managed to figure out a few of the twists early on, for the most part I was kept in suspense which is just the way that I like it.  I am very eager to continue on with this series and see what kind of trouble Jamie finds herself in next!

My one and only complaint with this book is that I felt that Jamie missed a few important details that she shouldn't have.  As a security consultant, I felt like there were a few irregularities (trying not to share spoilers here) that really she shouldn't have missed when she is supposed to be so good at her job.  It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book but I just felt that for her to be as good as she is portrayed to be....well, she should have caught on a bit faster to what was going on big picture wise.  This is just my opinion though and I do realize that the fact that she didn't led to a more thrilling experience for me as the reader.   So there is that.  Just worth mentioning as it might bother others more than it bothered me.

Overall this was a great reading experience for me, and one that I enjoyed from the first page to the last.  I love how the author is able to create such a sense of place in her books so that I feel like I am experience everything right along with Jamie.  I'm very eager to get my greedy hands on the third book as these books seem to be getting better and better.  What kind of craziness will Jamie find herself in next?  Who knows but I do know that I will be there to read about it!  Easily recommended but especially to other mystery lovers.  You don't have to read the first book before reading this one but I would recommend it just so that you get the full reading experience.  Plus, you will understand more why I am such a huge Adam Barrett fan!  

Bottom Line:  A nail bitingly good read!  I need more!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this books thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour.  Thoughts are my own!

Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive."

My Thoughts:

Second books can either make or break my love of a series.  This one easily cemented my love for this series and ensured the fact that I will be reading the rest of the books (hopefully sooner rather than later).  One of the reasons that I am now such a huge fan of this series is thanks to the main character Gin Blanco.  She is so unapologetic about the things that she has done and I find it completely refreshing.  Gin is a take charge kind of character with her own idea of what is right and wrong.  Those personal morals lead her to get involved in this case where she is trying to help a family being terrorized for the property that they own.  It was fun to see characters from the previous book all make an appearance in this story although I will admit that I do not understand Gin's attraction to Donovan Caine.  He is too wishy-washy, doesn't see any shades of grey, and is definitely not good enough for Gin in my opinion.  I have no idea why she seems to be so hung up on him.  That being said, I was very excited that there were also some new characters introduced in this book that I would like to see more of.  

One of things about this series that has me the most intrigued is Gin's history.  Without sharing too many possible spoilers, we know now that Gin doesn't know why her family was killed or who was behind it all.  This mystery has played a part in both books in this series so far, and after the things we learned at the end of this book I think it will play a very important role in the next one.  I'm excited about that!  I've loved all of the questions and the way that author has slowly been giving us tidbits here and there.  It has me very eager to read the next book and see what will happen next.  Especially since I think that Gin is just really learning some new things about her elemental powers.  She has lots of untapped potential and I have a feeling that these powers are going to continue to grow.  This is all speculation on my part but I'll be finding out hopefully soon when I pick up Venom (the 3rd book).  

All in all, this was a really great read for me and I had a hard time setting it down.  I am so glad that I finally took it down off of my shelves and read it because it left me eager for more.  If you are looking for a fast paced urban fantasy series then you should definitely give these books a try.  Just make sure you start with Spider's Bite as this is a series best read in order.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  I need the next book ASAP!  That is all :)

Disclosure:  This was off of my own shelves paid for by me.  Used bookstore find, maybe?  I can't really remember but yay for finally reading it!