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.

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses by Jenny Hale (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Single mother Abbey Fuller loves her family more than anything, and doesn’t regret for a moment having had to put her dreams of being an interior designer on hold. But with her son, Max, growing up, when a friend recommends her for a small design job she jumps at the chance. How hard can it be?

Nick Sinclair needs his house decorated in time for his family’s festive visit – and money is no object. What he doesn’t need is to be distracted from his multi-million dollar business – even if it is Christmas.

When Abbey pulls up to the huge Sinclair mansion, she has a feeling she might be out of her depth. And when she meets the gorgeous, brooding Nicholas Sinclair, she knows that she’s in real trouble…

With the snow falling all around, can Abbey take the chance to make her dreams of being a designer come true? And can she help Nick to finally enjoy the magic of Christmas?"

My Thoughts:

I requested this one earlier this month as I was just in the mood for a holiday romance and thought this one sounded like a fun read.  This book was exactly what I expected it to be:  filled with feel good moments, cute, and light-hearted are all perfect but different ways that I would describe this book.  It was a great way to spend a few enjoyable evenings leading up until the craziness of the holidays.  I also fully admit to choosing this book over the thriller that I had been planning on reading in print.  Sometimes a girl just has to go with her reading moods, you know?  It was a good choice on my part and I easily found myself wrapped up in this Christmas romance hoping for a happy ever after. 

Abbey is a nurse who has always dreamed of being an interior decorator.  She finds herself with this huge chance to live her dream when it comes to being hired to decorate Nick Sinclair's mansion.  Nick is focused entirely on growing his business and is only having his house decorated to please his family.  He has very little interest in anything that has to do with the decorating of his house but that doesn't stop the sparks from flying between Abbey and him.  I really enjoyed how Abbey was able to pull Nick outside of himself for a little bit and get him to loosen up.  I loved her character and felt like I (as the reader) really got to know her throughout this book.  It was a bit opposite for me when it came to Nick.  I never really felt like I fully connected to his character as the story is only told from Abbey's viewpoint.  Nick was so determined and focused on his business for the majority of the book....he just felt almost inaccessible and I never really understood his character fully.  I loved the parts of the book where Abbey would show him how much more there is to life than just work.  Those parts were so fun to read about and provided some of the feel good moments that I had talked about earlier.  I just would have liked to get to know Nick more outside of his work, work, work mantra that he always seemed to have going on.  

All in all, this was a fun holiday read that I couldn't help but enjoy.  It sure did make me wish for snow on the ground though!  I was a bit jealous of the snowstorms they were getting as we ended up with a rainy but definitely not white Christmas where I live.  I couldn't help but love the way the author wrapped up this book- it lived up to my expectations perfectly!  I would easily recommend this to other readers who are looking for a good holiday romance.  It wasn't a perfect read for me but I did really enjoy it and would love to read more of this author's books.  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  A great read for a snowy evening!  (I just pretended there was snow on the ground where I live when I read it. LOL!)

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this books thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
 

Season for Desire by Theresa Romain (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Like her four sisters, Lady Audrina Bradleigh is expected to marry a duke, lead fashion, and behave with propriety. Consequently, Audrina pursues mischief with gusto, attending scandalous parties and indulging in illicit affairs. But when an erstwhile lover threatens to ruin her reputation, Audrina has no choice but to find a respectable husband at once.

Who would guess that her search would lead her to Giles Rutherford, a blunt-spoken American on a treasure hunt of his own? When a Christmas snowstorm strands the pair at a country inn, more secrets are traded than gifts—along with kisses that require no mistletoe—and Audrina discovers even proper gentlemen have their wicked side…"

My Thoughts:

I was in the mood for a great holiday read and found this book sitting on my kindle unread.  It had sat there way too long because this was honestly a delight to read.  I haven't read a ton of historical romances this year but each one that I've read was enjoyable with this being an easy favorite.  Set near Christmas time, Lady Audrina and Giles Rutherford are thrown together unexpectedly when Giles comes to Audrina's aid at the request of her parents.  They find themselves in a situation that neither truly wants afterwards where Audrina is forced to accompany Giles and his father on their hunt for a secret box that possibly contains their inheritance from Gile's deceased mother.  If that isn't excitement enough for you, Audrina is also caught up in her own scandal thanks to previous choices she has made and now needs to find a suitable husband or risk not being able to attend her own sister's wedding.  All of this combined into such a great read where I was never sure how everything was going to work out.  I had to just sit back and enjoy the ride that the author was taking me on which was completely worth it!

One of the things I loved about this book was all of the different characters.  Lady Audrina comes across as a bit haughty and spoiled at the beginning of this book but it isn't long before the reader begins to see a different side of her.  We also begin to learn the reasons behind this facade and I liked her character all the more for it.  The chemistry between Audrina and Giles was almost instantaneous and I found myself eager to see how it would all play out.  Really I managed to read this entire book in a matter of days because I just didn't want to set my kindle down.  The snowy setting of this book had me wishing for snow (and yes I am bummed as there still is no snow on the ground) on a constant basis.  Add to all of this the adventure that the characters found themselves on and you can basically figure out why I loved this book so much.  The author took a scenario that seemed completely improbably and made it work with such ease that I just fell into the story.  And the ending was just icing on the cake for me!  I loved it!  I loved the little surprises here and there which meant a better happy ever after for the main characters.  I loved how strong Audrina was and how much more confidence she had in her self worth by the end of this book.  I just loved it all and now want to read all of this author's books.  Does that tell you enough?

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful read for this time of the year and a really great romantic read!  I'm lucky that I have more of this author's books to look forward to which I've already added to my TBR list.  I loved that this author was able to wrap me up so completely in this story and make me wish that it wouldn't end.  I'm glad that I finally took the time to read this one- shame on me for waiting so long to read it!  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A delightful read that is just meant to be devoured in a day or two!

Disclosure:  I received my copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley (an embarrassingly long time ago).

 

Flipped For Murder by Maddie Day (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"In this freshly baked series, author Maddie Day lifts the lid on a small town in southern Indiana, where a newcomer is cooking up a new start--until a murderer muddles the recipe...

Nursing a broken heart, Robbie Jordan is trading in her life on the West Coast for the rolling hills of southern Indiana. After paying a visit to her Aunt Adele, she fell in love with the tiny town of South Lick. And when she spots a For Sale sign on a rundown country store, she decides to snap it up and put her skills as a cook and a carpenter to use. Everyone in town shows up for the grand re-opening of Pans ‘n Pancakes, but when the mayor's disagreeable assistant is found dead, Robbie realizes that not all press is good press. With all eyes on her, she'll have to summon her puzzle-solving skills to clear her name, unscramble the town's darkest secrets, and track down a cold-blooded killer--before she's the next to die..."

My Thoughts:


I've read more cozy mysteries this year compared to years past and books like this are the reason why.  I enjoyed this book for a variety of reasons but one of the best things about this book for me was the setting.  I love small town books like this where they are described in such a way that it makes me want to go visit for myself.  The author brought this town and her characters to life for me and I loved the book all the more because of it.  I wanted to have the chance to eat at Robbie's restaurant and try some of those delicious breakfasts that she makes.  What is it with me reading all of these mysteries with cooking themes?  It sure does make me want to brush up on my own cooking skills as they are pretty lackluster in comparison.  I was constantly hungry while reading this one which makes me laugh while saying that but really it is the truth!  I have a sweet spot when it comes to breakfast foods so this was my kind of cooking.

I also really enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed Robbie's Aunt Adele.  She just had that bit of spunk to her that I couldn't help but appreciate.  I wasn't quite behind Robbie's love interest but that was only due to there seemed to be something missing with their chemistry.  I just couldn't quite root for them like I expected to which leaves me curious as to how I will feel after reading the second book.  The mystery itself was done nicely with some good twists and turns.  There weren't that many suspects in my opinion but I still found myself guessing until close to the end of the book.  It was just overall a fun read that I couldn't help but enjoy.

All in all, I find myself very eager to continue on with this series and see what kind of trouble Robbie finds herself in next.  There was a sneak peek of the first chapter in book two at the end of this one and it left me itching to get my hands on it.  The setting and characters really brought this book to life for me and made my reading experience that much more enjoyable.  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A great beginning to this new cozy mystery series!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher from NetGalley. 

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is picked for an assignment with the Department of Covert Affairs, he’s stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn’t hurt a fly, much less take down a terrorist.

Ivy Halliwell isn’t your average covert op. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She isn’t thrilled to be paired with yet another military grunt, but Landon is different. He doesn’t think she’s a freak and he’s smokin’ hot.

Soon they find themselves facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines...and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore."

My Thoughts:

I can honestly say that I waited way too long to start this series because I really enjoyed this one!  Fast-paced and filled with suspense, I couldn't and didn't set my kindle down hardly at all while reading it.  I say this a lot with romantic suspense but I really don't read enough from this genre.  What I liked about this book was that it was romantic suspense combined with paranormal romance.  And what a combination it was!  From the very beginning I found myself caught up within the pages of this book and that didn't end until the very last page.  I found myself reading as fast as I could because the suspense at times just wouldn't let up.  And then add in that chemistry between Ivy and Landon and you will know why I had such a hard time putting this book down.

One of the things that I liked best about this book was the fact that Ivy had paranormal abilities while Landon didn't.  This gave Ivy an edge over Landon when it came to her abilities and that isn't something you always see in romance books but especially in romantic suspense. That isn't to say that Landon couldn't hold his own but it was in a different way and I just really appreciated that Ivy was the one with the special skills.  This book was one of those books that was just so completely readable and I flew thru the pages.  While it was the action scenes that caused me to read as fast as I could, it was the developing relationship between Ivy and Landon that I loved the most.  I liked that it wasn't instantaneous but the chemistry between the two was hot!  I couldn't help but get behind hoping for their happy ever after.  The ending left me intrigued as although this ended nicely there was enough left open to leave me very excited to get started on the next book!  Which I couldn't help but go ahead and load on to my kindle.

Overall, this was a great beginning to this new romantic suspense/paranormal romance series (I really don't know how to classify it) and left me eager for more!  I love books that pull me in so easily that I just don't want to stop reading and that is exactly what this book did to me.  The tension and chemistry were both well done.  I really can't complain at all other than to say I want more!  I want more books just like this that cause me to lose track of time and just read.  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A nicely done romantic paranormal suspense that left this reader unable to set it down!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley.  Thoughts are my own!

Blood Red by Wendy Corsi Staub (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"From New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub comes the first in a terrifying new series set in a small town with a sinister secret

The razor's gleaming blade slices effortlessly through skin and tendon, and he relishes the final anguished moments of his prey. There's only one thing he prizes more: their long, silken strands of red hair. But these women are merely stand-ins . . . a prelude to his ultimate victim.

Nestled in New York's Hudson Valley, Mundy's Landing is famous for its picturesque setting—and for a century-old string of gruesome unsolved murders. Rowan returned to her hometown years ago, fleeing a momentary mistake that could have destroyed her family. Life is good here. Peaceful. Until an anonymous gift brings Rowan's fears to life again.

The town's violent history was just the beginning. Soon everyone in Mundy's Landing will know that the past cannot be forgotten or forgiven—not until every sin has been paid for, in blood."

My Thoughts:

This book!  Oh my goodness but this book had me on the edge of my seat for the entire time that I was reading it.  I've read a lot of mysteries and thrillers this year but it has been awhile since I read one that focused on a serial killer (which always tends to creep me out more than other types of books).  Let me tell you that I was creeped out by this book from almost the very first page.  What made this book unique though is that there were actually parts of the book told through the eyes of the killer.  We knew who he was to a certain extent although we didn't know why he was so focused on Rowan or why he was doing what he was doing.  Those questions and the fact that Rowan didn't know what kind of danger she was really in ratcheted up the suspense level for me and made this book yet another one that I just didn't want to put down.

This book was both fast paced and intense which really helped to bump up my enjoyment level of this book.  Told from multiple viewpoints, all of the different storylines helped even more to make this book a page turner for me.  I cannot emphasize enough how hard it was for me to stop reading this one!   And the way that the author tied them all up to make for a completely intense, heart-pounding.....wow!  Just wow!  I feel like I had figured out a few pieces to the ending but there were enough surprises left for me so I couldn't complain.  I'm left completely excited to get my hands on the next book in this series?  Oh my goodness- it is going to be a series!  I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Overall, this was a book that I couldn't help but read as fast as I possibly could just because it was so intense.  It was dark, creepy, and gave me the shivers multiple times but yet I didn't want to stop reading.  This was the perfect time of year to read this book....I always crave thrillers when fall comes around.  And this fit the bill perfectly!  Easily recommended but with the warning...you might want to sleep with the lights on afterwards.  

Bottom Line:  A great read for this time of year!  

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this thanks to the publisher as part of a Pump Up Your Book tour.   

Bread of the Dead by Ann Meyers (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Trick or treat—and murder—are on the menu in this first in a new culinary mystery series

Life couldn't be sweeter for Tres Amigas Café chef Rita Lafitte, decorating sugar skulls and taste-testing rich, buttery pan de muerto in anticipation of Santa Fe's Day of the Dead bread-baking contest. That is, until her friendly landlord, Victor, is found dead next door.

Although the police deem Victor's death a suicide, Rita knows something is amiss. To uncover the truth, she teams up with her octogenarian boss, Flori, the town's most celebrated snoop. The duo begins to sift through long-buried secrets and to take full measure of duplicitous neighbors, but the clock is ticking and their list of suspects is growing ever longer. Just as the clues get hotter than a New Mexican chili, one of their main suspects winds up dead. Rita fears that the killer is dishing out seconds—and her order might be up."

My Thoughts:

This was such a fun read!  I loved it from beginning to end and found myself giggling at different times thanks to Rita's eccentric boss Flori.  She was a hoot!  I've read a bunch cozy mysteries this year (especially in comparison to years past) and she has to be one of my favorite characters.  I loved that I could never guess what she was going to do next.  She was a spitfire that wasn't afraid to do what she wanted and when she wanted to.  Really I just thought that she was great.  I also really enjoyed Rita's character.  She is a single mother dealing with a teenage daughter and a ex-husband who I wanted to drop kick multiple times.  It just rang true to me as there are so many women out there dealing with similar situations.  She didn't have all of the answers, her life wasn't perfect, but she was trying and I couldn't help but like her all the more because of it.  I just loved both of these characters and can't wait to see them again in future books!

The setting of this book was another of the things that really made this book stand out for me.  I loved how the author used the setting of the story to really add details throughout.  The different foods that Rita and Flori would make at the cafe....yum!  I would have loved to have tried them all!  What is it with cozy mysteries always making me so hungry?  They all seem to make me want to improve my cooking skills as well which I am sure my family would appreciate.  Ha!  This book really made me hungry though because Rita was constantly describing all of the yummy dishes that were made that were authentic to the area that she lived in which is Sante Fe, New Mexico.  The author did a really great job of describing the setting in such a way that you almost felt that you were there.  I've never been to New Mexico myself but I would love to visit after reading this book.  The mystery itself was nicely done and had me guessing until the very end.  I had my suspicions on the whodunnit part but it turned out that I was completely wrong.  I love when that happens!  I also really enjoyed Rita's character.  She is a single mother dealing with a teenage daughter and a ex-husband who I wanted to drop kick multiple times.  It just rang true to me as there are so many women out there dealing with similar situations.  She didn't have all of the answers, her life wasn't perfect, but she was trying and I couldn't help but like her all the more because of it.  The ending was nicely done and left me eagerly anticipating the next book in this series.  

Overall I really, really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author!  With two great main characters and a storyline that kept my attention throughout I couldn't ask for more.  Actually I could...that would be the second book in my hands right now.  LOL!  I managed to read this one in just a few short days as I just did not want to set it down.  Yet another new series for me to follow!

Bottom Line:  A great beginning to this new cozy series!  I want more!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher as part of a CBB Book Tour. 

 

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!

Second Life by S.J. Watson (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"She loves her husband. She's obsessed by a stranger.

She's a devoted mother. She's prepared to lose everything.

She knows what she's doing. She's out of control.

She's innocent. She's guilty as sin.

She's living two lives. She might lose both . . ."

My Thoughts:

This book!  Oh my goodness, this book put me through the wringer and then back again.  I'm not even sure that I can come up with a coherent sharing of my thoughts but I'm going to have to try.  Well if that isn't vague enough for all of you....let's start at the beginning, shall we?

I basically added this book to my TBR wishlist instantly and based off of the author alone.  I loved Before I Go To Sleep which is this author's first book oh so much, so reading this one was a must just based off that experience alone.  I didn't read a summary of the book.  I just added it to the reading wishlist and then jumped on the opportunity to participate in this blog tour.  In fact, I was kind of hesitant to include the Goodread's summary of this one just because I don't want to take away from others' reading experience in any shape of form.  I'm getting off track though.  With little to no expectations (other than very high hopes) I can tell you that reading this book was a roller-coaster of an experience that I won't be forgetting any time soon.  

This book was completely intense and this started very early on.  From almost the very beginning I began to realize that I didn't really care for the main character.  At all.  In fact, I was almost at the point where I wasn't quite sure if this was going to be the book for me and if I was going to be sorely disappointed.  I persevered though because the pages just seemed to keep turning so easily and I was curious.  You should know me and curiosity at this point when it comes to books.  I couldn't stop reading and all of a sudden I realized that now I'm utterly hooked and there will be no setting this book down.  In actuality, now I'm really enjoying this book and wondering how I could have ever thought otherwise.  The twists and turns were nonstop towards the end.  I flew through the last portion of the book reading nonstop and as fast as I possibly could.  And then that ending.  That ending that had me hating the book all over again.  I'm not even going to lie....I was completely annoyed with the way it all ended.  That has changed though with time as the more I think about it, the more I like it.  

This book was absolutely one of those thrillers where lesson learned is to expect the unexpected.  Ha!  Second Life is a page-turner, is both dark and twisted (which is just the way I like these kind of reads), and kept me guessing until the very last page.  I loved it even when I didn't.  I hate to throw comparisons out there but my reading experience for this one was so similar to when I read Gillian Flynn's books that I couldn't help but mention it.  This is going to be a polarizing read for some but for me it was completely worth the roller-coaster ride that I went on.  Highly recommended!!  Oh, and read this one just so we can discuss it, alright??

Bottom Line:  A reading experience that I am not going to forget any time soon!

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

The Wrong Man by Kate White (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Bold and adventurous in her work as one of Manhattan's hottest interior decorators, Kit Finn couldn't be tamer in her personal life. So, while on vacation in the Florida Keys, Kit resolves to do something risky for once. Flirting with Matt Healy--the rugged stranger she literally bumps into at her hotel--is one thing. Going back to his room after their date is another.

Instead, Matt offers to cook her dinner when they're both back in the city. But when Kit arrives at his luxury apartment ready for the date of a lifetime, who is the man who opens the door?

Kit's usually so good at reading people. How could she have been taken in by the deceptions of a con man? And why has he targeted her? Piece by piece, Kit realizes that this treachery goes a lot deeper, and gets a lot deadlier. Now the only way out is to expose the vicious puppet master who's turned her life upside-down."

My Thoughts:

 I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.  This level of enjoyment is what I have come to expect from this author as I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't like.  For me this was the perfect summer thriller that is just meant to be read by the side of a pool in the sunshine.  I can't say that I actually read the book like this (instead I read it on breaks at work and in between innings during my kid's baseball games) but I would have liked to.  It was a page turner that easily sucked me into the storyline and allowed for me to finish this one in a matter of days.  I found that I had a hard time setting it down and often needed to read "just a few more" pages before I could actually put my bookmark in.  

In this book Kit Finn is a successful interior decorator who has a fling with a stranger that she meets on a business/pleasure trip.  She soon finds out that he isn't the man that she thought he was and finds herself pulled into a dangerous situation that results in murder. While this book wasn't always believable (there were just too many people involved who seemed to want to harm her), it was a really fun read!  This is one of those books that keeps you reading just to see what is going to happen next.  I really, really enjoyed the parts of the book that were about Kit's job as an interior decorator.  It was fun to read about the different ideas that she had for some of her clients.  This wasn't the focus of the book by any means but it really added to the overall reading experience for me.

Overall I found myself enjoying this one immensely. I feel like if you are looking for a summer thriller this would fit perfectly with that!  It wasn't a perfect read by any means but for me it was the ease with which I got sucked into this book that made this a real winner.  A page turning thriller is always a good thing!  Easily recommended!

Bottom Line:  A thriller that just begs for you to sit and read in one sitting!

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

Crossing Danger by Colleen Helmes (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Shelby Nichols isn’t your average soccer-mom turned private investigator. She’s more on the quirky side with a little wild thrown in. That’s because a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head left her with the ability to read minds. This lands her in all kinds of trouble, and this time is no exception. Helping a reporter, Billie Jo, get the low-down on a case is just the tip of the iceberg. When her best friend’s niece goes missing, Shelby is pulled into a conspiracy that involves the police and the leader of a violent drug ring. Add to that a stranger in town with ties to the mob-boss she works for, along with a known assassin out to kill him, and Shelby is crossing danger at every turn. Will she find the answers in time? Or will this be her last adventure?"

My Thoughts:

A mystery series based on the fact that the main character can hear what everyone around her is thinking?  How could I possibly resist?  I couldn't and found myself instantly intrigued on how this unique ability would play out.  I love a good mystery series and just knew that I would enjoy this one based off this premise alone.  It was certainly unique and very entertaining! 

Shelby works as a private investigator but also helps out with police investigations when asked.  No one but her husband and a few select others knows about her ability to hear others' thoughts.  This means that she allows for everyone to believe that she has premonitions to help explain her knowing things she shouldn't.  Even though I started mid-series (this is the seventh book) I was easily able to immerse myself within the storyline, and the fact that I hadn't read those previous books really didn't matter a whole lot.  I know there are some details that I am missing but since I enjoyed this one so much I will just go back and start at the beginning.  In this book, Shelby finds herself caught up in a couple of different investigations.  Each one seems to be unrelated to the others and Shelby really has her work cut out for her.  I loved getting the chance to hear the other character's thoughts and really found it interesting as Shelby was constantly working to not give her true abilities away.  It was a balancing scenario and one that she didn't always do well.  It really added to the suspense as I wanted to see if anyone would be able to figure out her secret.

The mystery portion of this book was well done and kept me reading way later than I should have.  I liked that the author also portrayed Shelby's family life and responsibilities throughout the book.  It helped to show the constant balancing act as she tries to juggle her investigations and the needs of her family.  My one and only complaint with the book was that I didn't quite get her attraction to Ramos.  She has a husband that she clearly loves but yet there was some very strong feelings towards Ramos that I just didn't quite understand.  Maybe this comes from me not having read previous books but really that was the only part of the book that didn't work for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to read more from this series.  I liked watching Shelby work through investigations while trying not to give her true secrets away to others.  This book was both fast paced and fun to read.  I really just enjoyed this one as a whole and was left very excited about this series.  I can't wait to go back to the beginning and see how everything started very Shelby!  Definitely recommended to other mystery lovers who enjoy some paranormal thrown in.

Bottom Line:  A mystery series that has one of the most unique characters that I have ever had the pleasure to read about!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book as part of a Reading Addiction Virtual Blog Tour.  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!

Running Fire by Lindsay McKenna (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Temporarily assigned to the Shadow Squadron in a troubled region of Afghanistan, Chief Warrant Officer and pilot Leah Mackenzie is no stranger to conflict—even if most of her physical and emotional scars are courtesy of her vicious ex. Still, she's got a bad feeling about picking up a team of stranded SEALs. A feeling that's all too justified once enemy fire hits their helicopter and all hell breaks loose…

SEAL Kell Ballard's goal was to get the injured pilot out of harm's way and find shelter deep in the labyrinth of caves. It's a place of dark intimacy, where Leah finds unexpected safety in a man's arms. Where prohibited attraction burns brightly. And where they'll hide until the time comes to face the enemy outside…and the enemy within their ranks."

My Thoughts:

Romantic suspense is one of those genres that I always want to read more of but hardly ever do.  I love when it is done right and I cannot stop turning the pages.  While I went into reading this book assuming that it was going to be that type of read, what I found was a more slow burning romance that I couldn't help but appreciate for other reasons.  Running Fire throws the two main characters into a tough and intense situation where they are relying on only themselves to survive and get out of enemy territory.  Almost instantly they realize that there is also a deep attraction between the two of them.  But it isn't the danger that is keeping them apart from exploring their feelings.  Instead, it was Leah's past and emotional scars that they are forced to deal with right away.  The author did a really great job of not glossing over all of the horrific things that Leah went through with her first marriage.  For me it made what was growing between her and Kell all of the better.  At first I struggled with their instant attraction/feelings.  But then as I thought about it, it was really the intensity of their entire experience that brought those feelings out and they both couldn't help but to given in a little bit to their feelings for one another.  Sigh!  I liked that and I liked what they found together with one other.  It took its' time building as Leah needed for them to take it slowly and you don't see that enough in romance books in my opinion.  I liked that they didn't just jump right into a relationship even though they both wanted to.

I did have a few issues connecting to this book at times.  I think it was mainly because I wanted Leah to stand up for herself.  I don't even know if that is realistic with everything that she had gone through but I wanted it all of the same.  (The quirks of the reader, I know).  She left her ex-husband which shows she had some strong grit to her but she didn't always show it in the book.  I would have liked to see more of her stronger side and I think this caused me to not quite connect to the story like I had hoped.  I also expected this to have a bit more suspense to it which for me even despite the dire circumstances they found themselves in didn't happen until later in the book.  And then it really was a page turner and I needed to know what was going to happen.  

Overall, I thought that this was a good read even though I had a few issues with it.  I definitely want to continue on with this series and see what happens next.  I would love to see if Kell and Leah are included in future books as it would be nice to get a peek at their relationship as it continues to grow.  I think that romance readers will probably enjoy this one.  Recommended with a few hesitations.

Bottom Line:  A good read and I will be reading more by this author.

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

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult-sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?"

My Thoughts:

Wow!  I cannot begin to put into words how much I enjoyed this book!  Silent Scream was one of the most chilling thrillers that I've read so far this year.  I really just could not get enough!  This is by far one of the best beginning books to a new series and I am completely hooked.  D.I. Kim Stone is such a unique main character.  She does things her own way even if it means getting in trouble with the higher ups in the police department.  And the case and these dead girls really meant something to her and that was evident from the very beginning.  What made this book really stand out for me though was the way that the author used Kim's own history as a child and tied that into the current mystery that she is investigating.  Without giving too much away there were a few parallels that really allowed for me to connect to not only to Kim but also to hook into the mystery completely.  I was invested in this one and wanted to see it solved as soon as possible.  I loved how completely immersed in this book I found myself.  I say this a lot sometimes but I just could not put this book down (or in my case put my kindle down). 

I also really appreciated the fact that I didn't see the ending coming from a mile away.  Oh the twists in this book had me reading as fast as I possibly could.  Wow!  That's all I can say about this ending.  Just wow!  I set this book down needing more books to read by this author and completely anxious to continue on with this series.  In fact I credit this book to kick-starting my current obsession with thrillers and crime fiction that just doesn't seem to want to let up.  I NEED more books just like this in my life!  Happily enough, the second book in this series will be releasing soon and I definitely will be adding it to my shelves.  Or kindle.  Whichever I can get my hands on sooner at this point.  I'm pretty sure that it is obvious that I loved my entire reading experience for this book but if you need a little more convincing then here it is:  hands down I can basically guarantee that this one will end up on my top reads list for 2015.  It was just that good!

Obviously I loved this one as my review is basically one big gush fest!  I don't have any other criticisms other than wishing I already had the second book in my hands.  Ha!  If you are a fan of thrillers with plenty of twists then this is a book that is not to be missed in my opinion.  This book was dark, it was suspenseful, and really just everything that I look for in a thriller.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Creepy, page-turning, and oh so good!  Read it!

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

Dark Alchemy by Laura Bickle (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Geologist Petra Dee arrives in Wyoming looking for clues to her father's disappearance years before. What she finds instead is Temperance, a dying Western town with a gold rush past and a meth-infested present. But under the town's dust and quiet, an old power is shifting. When bodies start turning up - desiccated and twisted skeletons that Petra can't scientifically explain - her investigations land her in the middle of a covert war between the town's most powerful interests. Petra's father wasn't the only one searching for the alchemical secrets of Temperance, and those still looking are now ready to kill. Armed with nothing but shaky alliances, a pair of antique guns, and a relic she doesn't understand, the only thing Petra knows for sure is that she and her coyote sidekick are going to have to move fast, or die next."

My Thoughts:

I am on such a great reading kick lately and this book just added to that streak!  From page one I knew that I was in for a treat with this book and that feeling continued on until the very last page.  The author has created such an original setting to this book where the wild west meets magic and this combines into one of the most unconventional books that I have ever read.  I loved the fact that I never quite knew what to expect with this book.  Petra is the main character in the book and she is a completely grounded individual who doesn't believe in anything out of the ordinary.  She comes to Temperance in search of her missing father and encounters the unbelievable at every turn.  A coyote that seems to understand her and want to protect her?  Check!  Calcified skeletons that have died for no apparent reason?  Yup!  A drunk that gives out hints of the future and makes predictions while under the influence?  Double yep!  This book had it all and it was all of these different elements that really combined to make this book a very dark read.  It was a nail biter for me as I needed to know what was going to happen next.  Plus, very early on I realized that Petra was basically a magnet for trouble so reading as fast as I could to see what kind of trouble she would find herself in was a must!

I haven't even touched on the uniqueness that was Gabe and the other hanged men.  It was both awful and intriguing to read about and learn their secrets.  I'm telling you that this book blew me away with the entire storyline.  It is just so completely different from other books out there.  I couldn't get enough!  The ending of this book was very intense and left me wondering if this will be a part of a series.  Tell me that it is going to be part of a series because I need more!  The twists and turns kept me reading this book late into the night until I finally finished.  This is literally how I spent my Friday evening.  It was a good ending but I want more!  Because there were definitely a few questions that I had left unanswered so my fingers are crossed that there will eventually be a second book to look forward to!  Until then I'm planning on reading this author's other books to keep me happy!  

Overall, I just cannot say enough good things about this book!  It was unique enough that it is very hard to categorize it other than maybe a mix of urban fantasy, a few steampunk elements, and a western thrown all together?  I don't even honestly know that I can really classify it as urban fantasy when I think about it.  That's the best I can do but it is definitely worth the read!  The author has created a dark mix where magic plays a very deadly role at times.  It was a book with a very strong main character along with great secondary ones.  It was just an overall great read!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A book where I never knew what to expect and I loved every minute of it!

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

If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Cookie Chanel has opened her own vintage clothing boutique, It's Vintage, Y'All, in the charming town of Sugar Creek, Georgia. Always on the lookout for stylish second-hand steals, she attends the estate sale of deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when Charlotte's ghost appears before her--offering fashion advice and begging Cookie to find out who murdered her.

As the persistent poltergeist tags along and a possibly psychic pussycat moves into the shop, Cookie sorts through racks of suspects to see who may be hiding some skeletons in the closet. Do a clothing store owner and a disembodied socialite have a ghost of a chance of collaring a killer--or will Cookie's life be the next one hanging by a thread?"

My Thoughts:

This was such a fun read!  I really, really enjoyed this one and am left just waiting for the second book to release.  The waiting game, yet again.  It will be worth it though if the next book is as good as this one.  I enjoy cozy mysteries but honestly I don't read enough of them.  This book was a good mix of all the reasons why I enjoy this genre.  The focus of this book was more on vintage clothing than the mystery which I was completely okay with.  Because I don't always read cozy mysteries for the mystery portion but instead I usually read them for the characters.  Cookie is definitely a fun character to read about with a killer fashion sense.  Ha!  Then you add in a snarky ghost and a cat that communicates using tarot cards and this was a winning combination for me!  I loved the descriptions of all of the different clothing that Cookie was wearing or outfits that she had found.  I really loved the parts of the book where she was at estate sales searching for different clothing finds.  I would have loved even more details about those parts just because it was so fun to read about.  

The mystery itself was pretty cut and dried in my opinion although it took Cookie the entire book to figure out the killer's identity.  That was okay as it was enjoyable to watch her search for clues while trying to deal with her ghostly shadow.  The ending tied up everything nicely other than the author never fully explained what happened to Charlotte (the ghost) afterwards.  I wondered if she continued to follow Cookie everywhere or did she move on after getting closure.....maybe we will find out more in the next book!  I will definitely be grabbing the second book just to find out!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was left very excited about this series!  It was a fun read, easy to immerse myself into, and definitely hard to put down.  The characters were great and definitely original but really it was the vintage clothing that I just could not get enough of!  Cozy mystery fans need to give this book a try!  Recommended!

Bottom Line:  An enjoyable read and great beginning to this series!

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