WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN FEBRUARY 2023?

What Are You Going to Read in February?

Carol's February Reading List - (But I'll also take the chocolate)
💘 - ★
43/43
💘 Deductions - Lyn Gala - 5★ (Pick A Winner)
💘The Plague Maiden - Kate Ellis - 4.5★ (Group Read)
💘Firefly Lane - Riley Hart - 5★
💘Unstable Connections - Nicky James - 3.5★
💘Mist and Marrow - Mary Calmes - 5★
💘You are Cordially Invited - Jay Hogan - 4.5★
💘The Fire - May Archer - 4.5★
💘The Night - May Archer - 5★
💘Aisle Be There - Charlie Cochet - 5★
💘Firefly Lane - Riley Hart - 5★
💘Nothing Special - A.E. Via - 3.5 ★
💘Moving On - Felice Stevens - 4★
💘The Real Thing - Elle Keaton - 4.5★
💘 Arctic Heat - Annabeth Albert - 5★
💘Domination- Jodi Payne & Chris Owen - 5★
💘Submission - Jodi Payne & Chris Owen - 5★
💘Discipline - Jodi Payne & Chris Owen - 5★
💘Bondage - Jodi Payne & Chris Owen- 5★
💘Dyed and Gone to Heaven - Aimee Nicole Walker -4★
💘Chasing Mr. Wright - Aimee Nicole Walker - 5★
💘The Rhythm of Us - Aimee Nicole Walker - 5★
💘Surrender Your Heart - Aimee Nocole Walker - 5★
💘Power Exchange - A.J. Rose - 5★
💘Safeword - A.J. Rose - 5★
💘Life Lessons - Keje Harper - 4★
💘Dan's Hauntastic Haunts Investigates: Goodman Dairy - Alex Silver -3★
💘The Stranger - Harlan Coben - 4★
💘Dark Angel - John Sandford - 4★
💘What’s Done in Darkness - Laura McHugh - 4.5★
💘Hearthstone Cottage - Frazer Lee- 4.5★
💘Night Train -Thomas F. Montelone - 4★
💘The Changeling Garden - Winifred Elze - 2.5★
💘Give It Back– by Danielle Esplin - 4.5★
💘A Change of Seasons - Khurram Elahi - 3★
💘Wednesday's Child - Peter Robinson - 5★
💘No Strangers Here - Carlene O’Connor - 5★
💘We Hear Voices - Evie Green - 3★
💘The End House- Michael Robertson Jr. - 5★
💘Nanny Needed - Georgina Cross - 4.5★
💘First Blood - Angela Marson - 5★
💘The Searching Dead - Ramsey Campbell - 5★
💘The Last Line - Robert Dugoni - 5★
💘Ghost Canyon - Anthony M. Strong - 3★
💘Wendigo - Vaughn C. Hardacker - 5★

The Fire - May Archer - (New York)
Love in O'Leary series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5 ★
Jamie Parker Hoffstraeder is gorgeous, cocky, and totally irrational. He also broke my heart when he left town eleven years, four months, and twenty-eight days ago. Not that I’m counting. I don’t mind admitting it: I was young. I got burned. I learned my lesson. But the guy swaggers back into O’Leary like he owns the damn place and suddenly I’m expected to welcome him to my town — to my life — like nothing’s changed? Yeah, that I mind. It’s only a matter of time until he’s gone again. And there’s no way I’ll give him a chance to take another piece of me when he goes.

Parker Jameson Burke is the most arrogant, infuriating human on the planet. He’s also taller, broader, and impossibly hotter than he was before I left town. But, whatever. It’s fine. I can handle it. Coming back to O’Leary was supposed to be like coming home. I hadn’t realized that there’s no statute of limitations on how long your first love and former best friend is allowed to hate your guts, or how much bad luck can befall a person in a short time. But I can handle that, too… or at least pretend to. When Jamie and I are thrown together in a blizzard, though, everything changes in the space of one single, scorching night. Suddenly, I’m dreaming of a future I can’t have, and he’s stuck in a past he can’t let go. It feels like we’re playing with fire... And this time I’m the one who’s going to burn.

Parker and Jameson’s second chance best friends to enemies to lovers forced proximity is a "swoony" story. What better place to reunite than this little town of O'Leary, New York. It sounds as if it would just be the perfect place to live. Yes, it's quirky, nosy and small, but the people that live there love one another, are always there and willing to help, and it's always fun. Parker and Jamie's story is filled with a variety of emotion that the reader will experience along with them. There's love, drama, silliness, pain, regret and redemption, but eventually loads of happiness. Parker and Jameson have flaws but are really trying to just do their best as fallible humans. They were best friends as teenagers who fell in love and then broke up when Parker went off to college and never came back. After a decade Parker does return to O'Leary and opens a bar. Jameson works as a cook in the diner and has spent the last year trying his best to really hate Parker. This book begins right after Parker’s bar burns down in book 3, There is a delay in the insurance payout, and he has nowhere to stay, so he decides to leave town, perhaps for good. Fate steps in the guise of a blizzard that forces Parker and Jameson to deal with their past and finally restart their journey...together. There is a little bit of everything here...sweetness, sexiness, hilarity, healing, redemption, and so very much love. May Archer makes the reader feel all these things. I have read al this series and have one more...which is sad, but I will reread. I wish place like O’Leary really existed somewhere in this world.

Arctic Heat - Annabeth Albert - (Alaska)
Frozen Hearts series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Owen Han has a fresh lease on life—he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail… Ranger Quilleran (Quin) Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an entire Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should. As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other…while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

I usually spent a great deal of the cold winter months indulging in my favorites with rereads along with the new to me reads. Annabeth Albert is always an author that I find to be worthy of a reread. I have read and reread almost everything available by her. The Frozen Hearts series is a favorite of mine and they always have a happy ending. Owen and Quill were made for one another from the start, despite Quills fighting tooth and nail to ignore Owen. Owen was perfection personified and did everything in his power to just be his Quill's friend with the hopes of something more. Imagine Quill's surprise when the person he was supposed to be partnered with through the winter had to withdraw... and you guessed it...was replaced by Owen. Now what is he supposed to do now? Owen certainly had an idea or two, or three for him. Sometimes in "opposites attract" situations, it almost feels as though one character has had a personality transplant somewhere along the way and we weren't aware of it, but...not in this one. Quill remained somewhat taciturn and reserved and Owen remained bubbly and outgoing. Eventually they somehow managed to meet in the middle enough to make a perfect, safe space for both of them. In a nutshell... it's steamy! Sweet and sad but as all of Annabeth Albert's offerings...simply wonderful. It's my favorite of this short 3 book series.

Ghost Canyon - Anthony M. Strong - (Nevada)
John Decker Supernatural Series Book #7
Genera: Mystery Suspense Thriller/Paranormal (Shapeshifters & Werewolves)
3★
In the darkness they wait, patient, hungry...They are found huddled together in a frontier mineshaft. Three mummified corpses sitting near a vein of gold so rich it would have made them wealthy. Yet they never tried to leave. Instead, they sat down and starved to death rather than walk out. When Robyn Miller inherits her father's share of an old ghost town in Nevada that has been in the family for generations, she decides to pack up and make a new life by creating a one-of-a-kind wedding venue and tourist attraction. Eager to put her plans into action, she hires a trio of geologists to survey the crumbling gold mine so that she can start offering tours. But only one of them makes it out alive, and he brings with him a tale of mummified corpses and seams of gold. He also tells of a creature deep in the tunnels. A beast with glowing red eyes that attacked them, killing his companions and almost murdering him.The local police, unable to find answers, call in the FBI, who in turn ask CUSP for help. When John Decker arrives in the remote mining town, he finds a terrifying adversary that dates all the way back to the Gold Rush, and an ancient legend come to life.

The latest adventure of John Decker is not a disappoint. It tells the story of a ruthless creature that lives in old abandoned mine-shafts. It's a brilliant tale of how both greed and meddling with supernatural forces results in death and disaster. The storyline is strong and moves at a perfect pace keeping you engaged and wondering and waiting for what comes next. If you enjoy supernatural stories this book is diffidently for you. I've read several of Anthony Strong's books and have to say that I love his writing. He writes believable stories, that just might exist at the edge of our knowledge of supernatural events and creatures and our hope that they only exist in our vivid imaginations. This series can be read as standalones.

The Night - May Archer - (New York)
Love in O'Leary series Book #5
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
One night in Vegas I gave him my heart… one day later, he broke it. Look, I’ve never claimed to be a nice guy. I don’t do pretty words, I don’t give polite smiles, and I refuse to be sucked into the sappy bucket of sentimentality that is Christmas in small-town O’Leary. Smiling neighbors, overly decorated trees, a town parade, a Santa contest? Ho ho no. I do shifts as a firefighter, and I go home alone.I fell into the trap once — that stupid night in Vegas — of believing there was more out there for me. I took a chance on a guy with magical green eyes and a gorgeous smile. The next day, Liam McKnight was gone. He took my heart with him… and left his wedding ring behind.Except now my once-upon-a-time husband has reappeared with a kid in tow, and there are carols, lights, and cookies everywhere I turn. And worst of all? The spark between us burns brighter than ever, because whatever happened in Vegas definitely didn’t stay there. Liam came to town looking for an ending, but what’s building between us feels an awful lot like a beginning. Too bad it’s going to take more than a dozen interfering O’Learians to convince me to take a second chance on heartache, on love… on us

I just loved Gideon and Liam’s "fa la la-ing" second chance story. (You'll have to read the book to find out what "fa la la-ing" means:) It’s one of those stories that you dive in and have to stay completely absorbed in until the very last word. I read this one in day because I just couldn't leave these two sweet guys and Liam's little daughter out in the cold...literally. Another blizzard turned out to be just what these two stubborn guys needed. How I do love this little town and the people that live there. I did think that what happened in Vegas was a bit odd and really couldn't see it happening...but who knows. I would have thought that Laim would have tried to contact Gideon and explain...but then I guess that "all's well that ends well" fairly much describes all that really matters. Another good one Ms. Archer.

The Real Thing - Elle Keaton - (Washington)
West Coast Forensics Series Book #5
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery
4.5★
As deeply as he craves his own fairy tale happily-ever-after, resort owner Cody Prescott doesn't have time for a relationship. That doesn't stop him from crushing on most men on Piedras. Luckily for him, they're emotionally unavailable or already taken, so he doesn't have to worry about getting attached.
Wade Buckner, the island's handiest handyman, is tired of waiting for Cody to wake up and realize Wade is the man for the job. He's ready and willing to rescue Cody from just about anything, even questionable hotel guests. The Harvest Feast is the kick-off for the resort's one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary and they have a full house. But something sinister is afoot at the resort, something that even his knight might not be able to rescue Cody from.
Are they trying to kill him, put him out of business, or both?

Cody is a lump of sweetness that is far too rare a find. He is being tried now... an out-of-control thunderstorm, several actual murders, an attempted murder, a kidnapping, lots of steam, and not all on the good side, along with a hidden attraction and humor...all happening in Cody’s hotel...and he is not happy about it AT ALL. Furthermore, he is not putting up with it...not for one more minute. The hotel is full of guests and Cody is dealing with something that he had once thought a good idea...the Harvest Feast, as well as the Historical Societies and a wedding with the wedding planner from Hell. Wade, the resort’s handyman is interested in and wants Cody just as much as Cody wants him, but neither one is aware of the other's feelings, that is until things start to get weird and complicated. This is the fifth book in the series, and unless we fans can convince Elle to write #6, it will probably be the last in this series. it can be read as a stand-alone but it is definitely worth reading the entire series.

Chasing Mr. Wright - Aimee Nicole Walker
Fated Hearts Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Grayson Wright is a man who knows how to do many things but fixing the toxic relationship with his long-time boyfriend isn’t one of them. A surprise birthday party to rekindle their old spark sounded like a great idea until Gray is the one who receives the shock of his life. Chase Rivers is unlucky in love and draws every loser, liar, and cheater like a magnet. After giving up on finding love, a night out with Mr. "Right Now", will lead him to the doorstep of his very own Mr. Wright. Too bad Chase didn’t have homewrecker and party crasher on his dating-disaster bingo card. If Chase and Gray’s first meeting was a fluke, then what were the second and third? Why does every path seem to lead them back to each other? Is it bad luck, a sick joke, or is it fate? Buckle up for a bumpy ride as these two men travel down a broken road of heartache and discovery.

I liked Grayson (Gray), and Chase from the start even if their first meeting almost became their last. This story for the most part is a sweet and adorable romance for Chase and Gray. In spite of the unusual way that they met and that it took a little while for them to each get over the circumstances, Gray was determined to make it up to this sweet man and takes his efforts to win Chase very seriously. This is a good one when you’re in the mood for an instant love, low angst, super sweet, perfect match romance.

Deductions - Lyn Gala
Aberrant Magic Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Paranormal/Mystery
5★
Darren is proud of his work on the FBI's magical Talent unit. However, his own lack of magic means he can never be with Supervisory Special Agent and Shaman Kavon Boucher. The shamanic magic poses a real danger to any mundane who gets too close, so Darren tries to hide his attraction and keep a professional relationship at work. That resolve begins to crumble when a new man sets his sights on Kavon and Darren can't control his resentment. Now they have a brutal new case of a suspect targeting magical adepts. Darren tries to keep focused on that crime, but when he starts to show signs of his own magic, he hopes that maybe he can not only be a more effective part of the team but also a real partner to Kavon. He might have a second chance at love if only Kavon can learn to trust his new and unpredictable magic that has changed the rules of the magical game.

I started reading this author about a year ago and I always found that the characters and the world's that she creates are both beautiful and complex. Darren Oberton is the only mundane member of the team. He doesn't have a single ounce of magic in his entire body, so he is the go-between his teammates and the outside world. I liked him right off. He was real, humorous and intelligent. He was accepted by and an important part of the team, performing the tasks that only a non-magical could. He might be considered "the glue" that held the team together. Kavon Boucher is the team leader... and one of the strongest shamans known. He is direct, volatile...but rude and abrasive. He does a good job of keeping everything under control. He is a someone that can be relied on...professionally that is. I didn't grow to like Kavon very much. He didn't have to be such a bully. His attitude towards Darren was simply unfair and uncalled for. Otherwise, the book is excellent. The magical world is, well...magical and Darren and Kavon together are also "magical. Kavon just needs a lesson in good manners but appears to be a decent person and he is very much in love with Darren and has pride in his team. The murder and hunt for the killer is well-thought out and well written. Overall, the story has a thrilling chase that that has council politics, magical storms, spells and team dynamics that makes this a very good read if you can suspend your disbelief and go with the story.

Wendigo - Vaughn C. Hardacker - (Maine)
Genera: Horror/Mystery & Suspense
5★
Algonquin legend tells of the Wendigo, an evil spirit sent to punish mankind. It can possess a person and turn them into a monstrous creature consumed by a need to eat human flesh. For John Bear the Wendigo was merely a scary story his grandfather used to tell him. That is, until a man is found dead in the deep northern woods of Maine, butchered like an animal and with his heart cut out. And the only tracks they can find are massive footprints that couldn’t possibly be human. Now, John is sure that what is stalking the inhabitants of their remote outpost is a Wendigo, even if no one else believes it. He must stop a monster he once thought was nothing more than a tale to warn children.

It's not exactly the "Ghost Story Junkie's" usual fare...but it was well worth my time to read. It's one of those books that once you pick it up you just can't bring yourself to put it down. The author, Vaughn Hardacker, is new to me but I believe we may become "good old friends". He has created a background for his story of northern Maine in winter...a frigid, bitter environment that is home to the relentless, savage wendigo...a creature that stalks humans as its primary food source. The creatures diet bears a curse though, seems that the more the wendigo eats, the more it craves. John Bear, a lone wildlife warden and, a Canadian Algonquin Indian, knows and understands the truth as well as the fiction of the creature. As the torn, ravaged bodies begin to pile up, the warden seeks a means to stop the slaughter. It's a chilling supernatural thriller. A scary tale of legend and myth, with the grim realities, graphic violence, and a game warden facing his greatest fear. The Maine woods are full of stories like this especially when you read about all those hikers that have disappeared there. Fun story to read at night with the lights on and the doors tightly locked, but you may not want to take it with you on your next camping trip.

Rhythm of Us - Aimee Nicole Walker - (Florida)
Fated Hearts Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
5★

Xavier Cruz, an enigmatic musician, has come home after eight years of touring with his band. Haunted by past decisions, he's lost himself and his ability to create music. Every day is a struggle to recapture them both and forgive the mistakes he's made. Healing and rediscovering the melodies all around him again are his only objectives, but Bennett St. Clair has other ideas.
Ben, a playboy ad executive, can't stop thinking about the mysterious Xavier, and the strength of his attraction shakes him to his core. He's lived a life devoid of affection, love, and romance, but watching his two friends fall madly in love has left Ben yearning for his own special someone. His heart wants Xavier, but his brain urges caution. Ben recognizes a fellow wounded soul when he sees one. A relationship is out of the question for both men, but a no-strings affair wouldn't hurt anyone. Famous. Last. Words.

I’ve really liked both books from the "Fated Hearts" series that I have read thus far. This time we learned more of Xavier and Ben's story. Xavier is a musician who hasn't made very good life choices...and had recently returned home after leaving a very abusive relationship with his band’s Manager. He has a family and friends that will lend him the support he so sorely needs, which includes Chase and Gram along with the man his heart has ached for since his last visit home...Ben. Ben works with Chase, and he has had feelings for Xavier, who is Ben's foster brother, for some time. Xavier arrives home a total mess, and Ben proves to be exactly the man Xavier needs. Both men are damaged, but they find that they can help each other heal. A really sweet story about love and happiness in spades.

The Stranger - Harlan Coben - (New Jersry)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
4★
The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. Their identity is unknown. Their motives are unclear. Their information is undeniable. Then they whisper a few words in your ear and disappear, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world...Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life. Then he runs into the stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne's deception and realizes that if he doesn't make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

After meeting "The Stranger" in a bar, Adam's life changed in a flash. A young, white, skinny, geeky-looking guy in a baseball cap told Adam a MAJOR secret about his wife (Corinne). Adam's gut was telling him that the stranger's words had a ring of truth to them. Now, Adam is forced to deal with something he never imagined. The stranger claims that the proof was in what seemed to be a harmless credit card charge, which Adam was able to find... then he confronts his wife, and she doesn't deny it. When they agree to meet for dinner to discuss it, she doesn't show up, but sends Adam a text asking for some time apart. Adam understands her needing time but what about their two boys, ages 16 & 12? Adam now wonders where she would go, but he has no idea and he's not sure if he should involve the police. This isn't like her. she is no longer answering her phone or texts. Finally, he focuses on the identity of "The Stranger". I wondered why he didn't do this to begin with. He finds that The Stranger is someone who finds terrible secrets about a people via the web, then that person has two options...to either pay to have the secret kept or choose not to pay & have the secret revealed. Was it a simple case of blackmail or something far more sinister? Adam soon finds himself tangled in something far darker than his wife's deception. I have always liked Harlan Coben's books, but I didn't like the outcome of this one...hence the 4 stars.

Domination - Jodi Payne & Chris Owens - (Illinois)
Deviations Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/BSDM
5★
Dom Tobias and Sub Noah are back, learning more about each other and their relationship, and testing the boundaries of what they can and can’t handle, both together and apart. Tobias works at becoming more comfortable and finding his balance as a full-time Master again. His work brings out the true submissive in Noah, who faces some of his greatest fears, and his greatest secrets, finally confessing to Tobias about a terrible time in his past. But Noah is not the only one who has a rough time. Tobias breaks down and shows Noah he's not all Dominance, too, which sends shockwaves through their romance, leaving them to wonder if they can hold onto their balance together. Dominations is a deep exploration of the BDSM scene, with secondary characters who enhance the story and a central romance that has the reader rooting for Tobias and Noah to work through their obstacles and come out stronger.

The book nor the series, nor the subject is for everybody. I absolutely love these 2 main characters, Tobias, a veterinarian and Noah, a police officer. Where the first book of the series was not focused so much on submission but more on two people meeting, getting to know each other and getting accustomed to one another's needs and expectations, This, the second book, dwells deeper on the nature of their relationship. Dominants are not always strictly dominant and submissives are not always only submissive. I was pleasantly surprised at how "ordinarily and delightfully human" these two guys were portrayed to be. The authors depicted feelings and reactions which are very believable in a situation which most readers have never experienced, or wish to experience, yet are still curious. If an author can cause a reader to believe in the characters and their reactions in a situation which is unfamiliar then the author has done a really good job. This is the kind of book which makes most of those unexpected situations believable and realistic. Tobias and Noah are fast becoming one of my favorite romantic couples. Their love for each other is yet on the side of new but seems to be boundless. This will certainly be on the re-read list.

Dark Angel - John Sandford - (California)
Letty Davenport series Book #2
Genera: Mystery/Suspense
4★
Letty Davenport’s days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas—and her incredible skills with firearms—draw the attention of several branches of the US government and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group’s California headquarters. While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them and has ulterior motives that place their mission—and their lives—in grave danger.

I liked Letty a bit more in this one than I did in the first book, but she has a long way to grow before she's anywhere near as good as her father, Lucus Davenport, who has been a favorite of mine for years. The National Security Agency (NSA) brings her in for an undercover operation to track down a well-organized cell of hackers known as "Ordinary People". The NSA tells her the hackers are nosing around natural gas distribution systems and they think the group intends to shut down the natural gas supply of a northern city in a ransomware attack which could, in the dead of winter, cause civilian fatalities. The NSA wants Letty to hook up with one of their computer specialists and to protect him as he tries to infiltrate the hacker cell to identify as many of them as possible so the agency can avert the attack. Letty still works as an investigator for the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, although her real boss is Senator Christopher Colles, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. While Letty suspects the NSA reps aren’t telling her the entire story, she accepts the assignment when Colles asks her to take it. They soon learn that there is much more about the operation than the NSA told her and Baxter when they signed on. It isn’t long before they discover the NSA has pitted them against a far more dangerous adversary than a bunch of computer nerds, and their actual mission has nothing to do with keeping someone from shutting off natural gas supplies. Letty is a strong female lead character for this series, and she is so much like her father even if she was adopted. John Sandford's "Prey" series will always be my favorite because of the Lucas Davenport character and Lucas's friends and fellow agents, but I think this series will eventually be equally s good. I really didn't like anything about the first book in the series, mainly because of Letty's "better than anyone else" attitude and it read as if aliens had taken over John Sandford's body to write it, but I did more enjoy this one.

Surrender Your Heart - Aimee Nicole Walker - (Washington D.C.)
Fated Hearts series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
Audio Narrated by Connor Brown
5★
Secrets and fears—everyone has them. Some more than others. A heavy secret brought Liam Connelly to DC, but it isn't the only reason he stays. Hired to tend bar at Bottoms Up, Liam finds himself drawn to his enigmatic boss like a moth to a flame. Fear of rejection and guilt combine for a nasty cocktail, and the only person he trusts with his truth turns out to be a man who's harboring secrets of his own. Jack "Dragon" Murphy dedicated his life to serving his country, but PTSD forced him into early retirement. Jack set out to build a new dream, and Bottoms Up becomes his solace from the inner turmoil caused by a secret he's been hiding for over twenty years, a truth challenged by a deathbed confession and his late grandfather's journals. When the two men join forces to bring closure to Jack's lost hero, they'll learn more about life and love than they bargained for. When their truths are laid bare, will they surrender their hearts to one another or forfeit their chance for a happily ever after.

The same characters wander in and out of this one just as they did in the first two books giving the story a feeling of coming home and meeting old friends. Liam and Jack were adorable. I have read some reviews that believe they came together a bit too quick...but they both knew what they felt and waht they wanted and needed. Jack was still grieving for his grandfather who had been such a huge part of his life and Liam listened and encouraged Jack to remember his grandfather every single day. When going through his grandfather's things, Jack found a picture and a journal from 1944 that told a story of a love that was forbidden in that time, between his grandfather and a man that served in the army with him. Jack and Liam's search for the man leads them to Vermont to a nursing home and an elderly patient with advanced Alsheimer's. This part of the story is a real heartbreaker, but it shows just what kind of a man Jack was and reenforced the fact for Liam that he could always trust Jack with his heart. It's a magnificent, heartwarming part of, and a perfect ending to this 3- books series. Adding to the wonderfulness of the story was the deep, warm, beautiful voice of Connor Brown. If you haven't ever listened to Connor Browns beautiful voice...you will be in for a real treat! I would recommend anything that he reads.

You Are Cordially Invited - Jay Hogan - (New Zealand)
Aukland Med Series Book #5
Genera: M/M Romance
Audio Narrator: Gary Furlong
4★
There's a wedding in the air at Auckland Med, but Reuben wonders if they'll survive the stress long enough to say, 'I do'. Cam is directing the entire operation with his combat eyeliner in place, whilst the wedding party is doing its best to ignore him. The pressure is mounting and the cracks are beginning to show. There's a bachelor party to survive...The paparazzi to outrun...A wedding outfit to confirm...A rugby game to win...A jerk of a father to cope with...A stunning opportunity to consider...A relationship to untangle...And a shocking event that could derail everything. With the universe conspiring against them, Reuben and Cam will have to summon every scrap of belief they have in each other to make it to their vows.

I used this one for a challenge to read a book with "family drama". This one wrote the book on family drama. There was almost way TOO MUCH! To be honest Cam and Reubens' story was my least favorite of the series, but it was great to be back with this group of friends and see my many of my favorite couples again. This is filled with Reuben and Cam experiencing some fun times with friends, some life-changing decisions, and scenes that do not disappoint. Our character's stay true to who they are but grow together in their relationship without losing what makes each of them unique. There was a lot of ups and downs, some heartache, some very intense moments, but through it all there was an emotional connection between them that was sometimes scary, but so very beautiful. There was a hint of perhaps more of this series, so I hope we get to visit them again soon.

Dan's Hauntastic Haunts Investigates: Goodman Dairy - Alex Silver
Genera" M/M Romance/Paranormal
3★
When ghosts reach across the veil, Daniel Collins is there to tell their stories. Dan is a vlogging ghost hunter. He has devoted his life to documenting paranormal activity. In his converted van, he travels around the country exploring haunted sites. He loves the thrill of filming restless spirits. Chad Brewer, skeptic, works for an insurance company. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but watching Dan’s vlog is his guilty pleasure. The cute vlogger is accident prone. He has Chad’s work extension on speed-dial. The two talk whenever Dan gets hurt during an investigation, a frequent occurrence. When Chad loses his job for approving too many claims, Dan offers him a position as his personal assistant. The pair sets out to investigate a haunted dairy barn for the vlog’s next video series. The catch is that they must live and work together in Dan’s tiny traveling home. As the paranormal activity at the haunted dairy ramps up, so does the romantic tension between the two men. Can the love between a skeptic and a social media sensation conquer a vengeful ghost?

Anyone that has read my reviews for the past dozen or so years, knows that I love a good ghost story and I also read a truckload of M/M Romances so this being of both genera's I thought, "okay...why not"? Two for the price of one. I had a few reservations, but it started off fairly well. Both characters were likeable, especially Dan. The flow of the book was easy, so no problems there. For me the issue I had as I got further into it was, I simply seemed for some reason to lose interest in the story. Dan came across as somewhat of a fraud. He says he’s all about helping ghosts find closure and move on, yet he has zero skills as a medium...not even the basic ones. How can he help them move on without the ability to contact or communicate with them? Does he just show up and hope that the ghosts do also and then just wish they will magically leave the place they are haunting? He even calls a well-known medium who rather harshly judges him, to help and then Dan himself says he "feels like an imposter"...and he then ignores her advice. This should have just been called a paranormal book that happens to feature two guys...one that is gay, and one is Trans....which, by the way was handled very well. However, that aside, the romance was almost nonexistent, except that each chapter started out with them "thinking" about one another and how they each felt... but it was mostly all the reasons why they COULDN'T be together. They did go on one semi date. I gave it 3 stars as it had the bones of a really good story and did start off with my interest piqued but ultimately it just couldn’t hold that much interest in the end. I'm not sure if I will try this series again.

First Blood - Angela Marsons - (England)
Kim Stone Series Book #
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Police Procedural
5★
A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She's about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer...
When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded woodland area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene. Searching the victim's home, Kim finds a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man's own sister seem relieved that he's dead? As Kim begins to unearth the shocking truth about the victim, a disturbing resemblance is spotted with the recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. Both these men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women's shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could the shelter be the key to cracking this case? With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behavior is already fracturing her fragile new team. Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger.

It has been a long time since I read a Kim Stone Book. This one shows us a great deal more of Kim's life before she became a detective and also her early days on the force. Kim is a no-nonsense character and that alone often makes her unpopular with her teammates. Unpopular has never bothered or stopped her from doing brilliant police work solving difficult cases. This case they are handed is a brutal one and the motive for murder is not immediately apparent. Just how sympathetic we should be towards the victim is not immediately known either, but it is still an "edge of your seat" story...especially the opening chapter, which sets the scene right away, putting the reader at the scene of the soon to be brutal murder. We are allowed to see the aftermath, and that is quite enough believe me. This is the first case that Kim has worked with this particular team, and it is also Keats first time as the pathologist working alongside Kim. The case turns out to be complex and the author packs a lot into these first few pages to give us a clear picture of how all forces at play do or don't fit together. Kim calls the case "kinky" and she's far from wrong and she believes it is linked to other cases. The motive soon becomes clearer. There is a large suspect pool that keeps us constantly changing our mind. While this is a dark and deadly case...it's high on thrills, intrigue, mystery and tension.

A Change of Seasons - Khurram Elahi -
Genera: Drama
3★
Possible Triggers - Depression, Fears, Life struggles
John Winters hoped things would get better. But an unfortunate turn of events led him down a terrifying slippery slope in more ways than one. Reminiscing about his childhood, he rediscovered memories that would come back to haunt him. All he wanted was to find warmth and hope. In his race against time, John was forced to face his affliction and combat his fears. As he struggled, an unlikely Saviour came in the form of a close friend, providing at least some solace and understanding. The question was whether it was too little, too late.

It follows John Winters as he goes through and then recovers from a heart operation, touching on his past, present, as well as what the future holds for him. The story ventures into the dark depths of a man’s mind. Once he’s had the operation, he starts to notice some changes in himself which he struggles to adapt to. With this struggle slowly comes torment and he needs to find a way to unleash this torment. To be honest...I struggled to finish this one. There was so much unnecessary mental torture taking place. A whole chapter about John's feeling of killing a spider...another of his simply walking through a park. I know what the author was trying to get across to the reader, but it was too "weighty" for lack of a better description. The writing is overly descriptive ... but as you keep reading, you start to understand that this may be because John is beginning to "over-notice" more things as his life slowly becomes lonelier and less and less interesting, so the smallest details in life mean and become so much "more" to him. The book has a lot of triggers. Overall, I have to describe it as a dark story about a man’s unfortunate and dark journey into a deep depression and loneliness that takes him from his very best to his very worst. I didn't know how to rate this one, but finally decided on a 3-star rating. The writing was beautiful if you can overlook all the depression, but it just wasn't my type of book...but I'm sure that others may/will find it fascinating.

Mist and Marrow - Mary Calmes - (Illinois)
Breaking Tradition series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/Paranormal
4.5★
Linden Van Doren is in a strange position. He’s an emancipated omega holding down two jobs, so he should be out from under anyone’s thumb but in reality, there are still weird lupine rules to follow. For instance, if an alpha wants to court him, he’s not allowed to say no. If that same alpha asks for his hand in bonding, however, as there’s no contract that anyone holds but him, he can certainly say no to that. And would. He trusts no alpha to keep their word even though they’re the only ones who could make his dreams come true. It’s all very confusing and a bit ridiculous but until all omegas are free to do whatever they want with their lives; his odd circumstances are the norm. He’s also doing his very small part to help others—and that just became a problem. Wade Massey is a homicide detective with the Chicago PD. He’s partners with Avery Davenport, which puts him in close, continual contact with Avery’s friend, Linden Van Doren. Wade isn’t sure what it is about Linden that drives him nuts. And annoying the hell out of the stunning omega should make Wade want to stay away from him. The problem is, he can’t seem to do that. Besides, Linden needs a keeper. Wade has never actually met anyone who needs someone looking out for them more and really, no one but Wade can be trusted to do it and keep their hands off the tantalizing man. When the FBI comes knocking because omegas have gone missing, Wade finds out that Linden has been far more active in the fight to help other omegas than he imagined. When both men are drafted to help, they are suddenly thrown together in a situation where, for once, neither of them can walk away. Wade’s been great at making excuses and Linny’s been fantastic about hiding his feelings. None of that works anymore. Linden knows he wants Wade—he knew the night the possessive human carried him out of hell—but loving someone who can never return his feelings is stupid and Linden’s finished with that. Wade’s never been attracted to a man before and perhaps it’s not desire or lust, but simply his protective instincts gone wild. If neither of them can be brave, there’s no hope for the future. But perhaps just winnowing through the mist of confusion down to the marrow where the truth lies will set them both free.

Mary Calmes is one of the first M/M authors that I ever read. I love her characters and her writing style in everything that she has written, especially her "Matter of Time" and "Marshalls" series...two of my favorites that have been reread several times. This story follows a very different shifter culture than we usually find. It is intriguing, but sometimes barbaric in nature with the treatment of the omegas. Linny and Wade make such a perfect and amazing couple from the start as they work out how to combine their human and lupine relationship. As usual, Mary Calmes has skillfully given us a story that engages not only the mind but the heart as well. This is book 2 in the series and though I often read out of order, this series seems to be more in need to be read in order to see the advancement of the characters which overlap...so if you wish to get the most of these characters read Muscle and Bone first.

Submission - Jodi Payne & Chris Owen - (Illinois)
Deviations Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/BSDM
5★
Tobias Vincent is a big animal vet, and also skilled and seasoned Dom. City beat cop, and sub, Noah desperately needs to find a man to help him work through a block but has yet to find someone who can take him where he needs to go. Through a series of encounters in the world of bondage and discipline, Noah reveals why he has trouble trusting, and why he needs such a firm, steady hand. Tobias is confident he can help Noah, but he has trouble letting himself love. Still, Tobias can't resist Noah's charms, and the two of them set about making a scene for themselves, one that works for them and their unique set of challenges. They learn to love, but how will they stay together while they explore each other’s secrets, in an environment where all is laid bare, and emotions run high?

Again, I warn that the subject laid out in this series is not for everyone. I don't understand the "whys" of the lifestyle, but I will fight to defend anyone's right to live it if they wish to. That being said...Tobias and Noah need one another like they need air. They meet in the club on the night of Tobias's birthday. The club owner, a personal friend of Tobias's, sets them up knowing that Noah needs someone like Tobias. There's an immediate almost electric connection between the two & Tobias, not wanting to put undue pressure on the sub, reluctantly gives Noah a way to contact him if he so chooses. The rest, as they say, "is history". Tobias had just ended a relationship with another sub, Phantom (Phan), who he still has feelings for. He gave him up because he knew that the young sub needed someone with more time to devote to him than Tobias had. Phan reappears throughout the remainder of the books in the series, so we haven't given up on him. Noah's courage was admirable when he entered a contract with Tobias after such a short period of time and watching him grow was simply beautiful. You could feel Tobias' pride when Noah achieved a task or overcame an obstacle. You really came to understand the depth of Noah's feelings as he grows closer to Tobias and Tobias to him. They are a really fun couple that really love one another. I'm glad I bought the entire series so I can continue on with them.

Searching The Dead - Ramsey Campbell - (England/France)
Book 1 of the Three Births of Daoloth trilogy.
Genera: Horror
5★
1952. On a school trip to France teenager Dominic Sheldrake begins to suspect his teacher Christian Noble has reasons to be there as secret as they're strange. Meanwhile a widowed neighbor joins a church that puts you in touch with your dead relatives, who prove much harder to get rid of. As Dominic and his friends Roberta and Jim investigate, they can’t suspect how much larger and more terrible the link between these mysteries will become. A monstrous discovery beneath a church only hints at terrors that are poised to engulf the world as the trilogy brings us to the present day

I have read many of Ramsey Campbell's books and have never been disappointed. This was certainly no exception. Set in 1950’s England, it centers around a young boy, Dominic Sheldrake who attends a Catholic school, and his two best friends Jim and Roberta, "Bobby". Dominic is a young writer whose stories includes his two best friends in a series of adventures. He calls them "The Tremendous Three". These friends play right into the role of detectives and not just on the pages that Dominic writes. The conflict starts after Dominic discovers that a teacher at his school, Christian Noble, has formed his own church declaring that he has the ability to bring back the dead. Dominic persuades his friends to help get to the bottom of Noble’s activities. Not an easy task as he must do this while dealing with lots of backlash from his strict Catholic teachers and parents. There is also the start of budding romantic feelings toward Roberta, whom he and Jim are beginning to notice is developing into more than just their friend. He also works through insecurities over his budding writing career and how others do, or will, perceive it, all while struggling with the realization that his faith in God is starting to wane. However, he is not stopped from seeking answers, particularly after discovering that his teacher, Christian Noble has been including his two-year-old daughter in his dark and questionable activities. As with anything that Ramsey Campbell writes, the descriptions are eerie with a constant sense of dread right around the corner or in the next paragraph. These characters are so real to life and so much more can be read between the lines as on them. I thoroughly enjoyed this nightmare tale and have ordered the next book in the series, Born to the Dark

Unstable Connections - Nicky James - (Canada)
Valor & Doyal series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Police Procedural
3★
Missing children are reappearing, and ties to a thirty-year-old cold case can’t be ignored. Between his shaky, brand-new relationship with reformed office playboy Detective Aslan Doyle, his sister’s case going from cold to hot overnight, his father insisting on being involved, and his boss breathing down his neck, Detective Quaid Valor is on edge. The stress of the case is impacting Quaid’s whole life. He isn’t eating or sleeping, and every time he and Aslan are together, he is overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, which threaten to ruin the one good thing he has. Aslan’s patience seems unending until something happens to turn his life upside down too. Can their relationship survive the personal and professional pressures they’re facing, or will it crash and burn? Between media rumors and unstable connections, Quaid and his team need to work quickly to piece together a complicated case before more children fall victim to their unknown serial kidnapper. Maybe once everything is solved, Aslan and Quaid will have time to work on their rocky relationship and find stable ground once again.

I wasn't as into this one as I was with the first two books in the series. It focuses on some of the past cases intertwined with the present day one.
The mystery of Quaid‘s sister Juniper and her disappearance are suddenly connected with the mystery of the present missing girls. I enjoyed the further development of Quaid and Allan’s relationship. I found Quaid getting on my nerves on my nerves with his trust and jealousy issues. I understand the background his feelings are based on, but still, he needs to spend less time jumping to unfounded conclusions. Asian spends a lot of his time putting Quaid back together. With all that I still enjoyed it. I thought this would be the last in the series since the mystery in this story was the conclusion and revelation of what happened to Quaid's sister...but I see there is a fourth book out there.

The Plague Maiden - Kate Ellis - (England)
Wesley Peterson Series Book #8
Genera: Mystery/Suspense/Police Procedural
4.5★
A stir is caused in Tradmouth when a letter arrives at the police station claiming that the man convicted of murdering the Vicar of Belsham is innocent. DI Wesley Peterson already has his hands full with threats made to local supermarket chain, Huntings - the last thing he needs is an alleged miscarriage of justice to investigate. Meanwhile, Wesley's friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, uncovers a medieval plague pit at a site near Belsham church earmarked for Huntings' new superstore. As Wesley's investigations continue, he begins to suspect that the vicar's murder, the disappearance of a woman and the threats to the supermarket may be linked in some way.

This was my Mystery & Suspense group's March group read on LibraryThing. It's always fun with friends that have different opinions, but all agree that reading is loads of FUN!!! In all the books in this series a modern mystery is always investigated by DCI Wesley Peterson and the local police, while his friend Neil, sorts through a historic mystery that is tied to his local archeological work. Much of this book deals with a cold case for Wesley. The cold case was not unsolved, but new evidence comes to light when a witness provides a convincing alibi that may exonerated the man who had been imprisoned for the murder. One of the main strengths of this series is that there are almost always multiple on-going investigations. This one has someone who is poisoning food on the shelves of the local supermarket. The multiple investigations hold your interest and keep Wesley and crew busy, and the pacing is quick enough to keep you turning the pages. The premise of intertwining the historic mystery with the present-day mystery may be a gimmick, but hey, it works! This series is one that can be read out of order, but you see the growth of all the characters much better if you read them in order. My only negative comment is that someone needs to tell Rachel that her unprofessional romantic dithering is unprofessional and becoming tiring.

Firefly Lane - Riley Hart - (North Carolina)
Briar County Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
The attraction is instant, the friendship not far behind, but between Holden’s initial relationship status, family complications, and the two of them wanting different things, they’re a disaster waiting to happen…only it doesn’t feel that way, not with how much time they spend talking, laughing, and eventually, tumbling into bed, a field, or the back of a truck together. The closer they get, the more Holden realizes that just being fine isn’t enough, and Roe begins to see that his life isn’t as complete as he thought. Now, if they could only sort out the rest of it…did I mention that they watch movies in the company of goats?

Roe is one of the most thoughtful, nice and understanding men I’ve ever read about. He’s the only openly gay man in Harmony, but after spending some time in DC, he knows Harmony is where he belongs. His family, his son Wyatt and his best friend Lindsey are some of the most important people in his life and he’ll go out of his way to do anything to make them happy. He’s happy with his life, his shop and his family, but he’s missing someone to share his life with. On The other hand, Holden doesn’t like small towns at all, but when his sister calls him for help, he finds himself leaving Atlanta to make the trip to Harmony, NC. After years of no communication, he’s dedicated to helping his sister and his nephew to get back on their feet, make them feel loved and taken care of and rebuild their relationships. He’s a protector at heart and is determined to leave his family behind feeling more secure when the summer is over. From the first time they see each other, Roe and Holden have an immediate chemistry. Even though they start out as friends, that chemistry slouches around under the surface until it’s finally the right time for both of them to open up about their feelings. It was good to have characters that were open about their communication, feelings, dreams, pasts, everything. They were mature men in their 40's and their relationship reflected that. There was never a time in the story that it could be questioned, even when some outside drama reared its head. I hate when characters are obviously supposed to be together and then the author sees fit to have them apart and miserable for better than half the book. The story really delves into the concept of family, highlighting that while Roe and Holden’s families didn't necessarily fit the stereotypical mold...and there’s nothing wrong with that...no matter if it's reunited family, biological family, extended family, friends that are family...it’s all about the quality of the relationships and the support, not what it's called. Firefly Lane is a really sweet "friends to lovers", small town, slow burn romance with almost no angst.

What's Done in Darkness - Laura McHugh - (Arkansas)
Genera: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
4.5★
Seventeen-year-old Sarabeth has become increasingly rebellious since her parents found God and moved their family to a remote Arkansas farmstead where she’s forced to wear long dresses, follow strict rules, and grow her hair down to her waist. She’s all but given up on escaping the farm when a masked man appears one stifling summer morning and snatches her out of the cornfield. A week after her abduction, she’s found alongside a highway in a bloodstained dress - alive - but her family treats her like she’s tainted, and there’s little hope of finding her captor, who kept Sarabeth blindfolded in the dark the entire time, never uttering a word. One good thing arises from the horrific ordeal: a chance to leave the Ozarks and start a new life. Five years later, Sarabeth is struggling to keep her past buried when Investigator Nick Farrow calls. Convinced that her case is connected to the strikingly similar disappearance of another young girl, Farrow wants Sarabeth’s help, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it, even if that means dragging her back to the last place she wants to go - the hills and hollers of home, to face her estranged family and all her deepest fears.

It's the story of an overly religious family and how as a result of some of their beliefs deprived their children of what is perceived as a normal childhood. The story opens with the character of Sarabeth, at 17. She's working at her family’s roadside farm stand and trying to process the news from her parents that she finds disturbing. They had earlier promised that she would be free to make her own choices about her life when she turned 18...but she is told she is now to be married. Sarabeth will never be in control of her own life and readers soon learn why. Sarabeth's family has not always adopted this hard line nor have they always followed the teachings of the Holy Rock church, which takes everything literally with no wiggle room whatso ever. No more movies, cable television, the internet or public schools. Sarabeth and her siblings are literally prisoners without bars. Just prior to her eighteenth birthday, she is brutally accosted, abducted, imprisoned, and then finally, dressed in only a bloody slip, released. Her abductor is never caught. Five years later, living in the city, Sarah...she no longer goes by Sarabeth... is trying to survive. Employed at an animal shelter, she is barely coping until one day she receives a phone call from an investigator wanting to interview her about what happened to her five years before. Another girl has gone missing, and the officer believes that this new case and Sarah’s cold one, are related. Reluctantly, Sarah agrees and, thus, sets out on a journey to rediscover her roots and the malignancy that grows within. It's a compelling and dark, dark read that is steeped in secrets, some benign and others, deadly.

The Changeling Garden - Winifred Elze - (Brazil)
Genera: Horror/Fantasy
2.5★
When Annie and Mark and their five-year-old son, David, move into a grand old Victorian house surrounded by a jumble of gardens, they are not prepared for the terrifying adventure that awaits them. Little David demonstrates an immediate affinity with the plants, who protect as well as play with him. Annie soon discovers a mysterious birthright and extraordinary powers of her own. And the entire family becomes involved in a fantastic ancient feud that is rooted in the garden, but quickly takes on global implications. The Changeling Garden is an amazement. Domestic events become frightening as familiar plants conspire to heal or kill, or even to infiltrate the minds of an entire community ... while a jungle thousands of miles away prepares to reclaim its rights to the very planet on which it lives.

It's a horror fantasy that tells the story of a big, unusual garden in tune with the Brazilian rain forests and the vanished Mayan civilization. Annie, Mark, and five-year-old David move into an old Victorian house sold to them with a clause that they must adhere to... that they keep up the garden and not sell it to the bank for paving over into a parking lot. When the bank makes a big offer, Annie refuses, though Mark wants to sell. Meanwhile, several women in the community are murdered by someone using arrows and have their hearts torn out. Mark, often away on business when the murders happen and an archer in college, falls under his wife's suspicion. Meanwhile David starts communing with the garden...yes it actually talks to him. Of wait...things get stranger as Annie finds herself entering the mind of an owl. She also grows fearful of biker Harley Baer, who from the start is a flat-out villain who hangs around their home wanting to rent the old garage apartment. Is Harley the murderer or simply the golem for the spirit that wants to destroy the planet, starting with paving over the garden? Now we have Mariah, an herbalist with a book belonging to her family and going back countless centuries, filled with magical plant information. A friendly Mayan priest arrives by astral means to protect Annie and David from the monstrous Toltec spirit...and so on. Although a thinking garden that speaks for the rain forest and is inhabited with Indian spirits has its merits...there is absolutely nothing ever "real" here...way, way too much unbelievable things happening and nothing really ever explained. Too many grisly murders...including the family's teenage baby-sitter...and none of it ever attracts the journalistic invasion that would be expected. The dialogue simply urges the story along without reflecting the emotional responses the deaths would seemingly evoke. It's the authors first book...and I really hated to only come up with 2.5 stars for it. Some scenes would have worked it they had been more developed and scarier. Overall...it was a captivating idea, but I just couldn't find enough of anything to make it work.

Life Lessons - Keje Harper - (Minnesota)
Life Lessons series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery
4★
Mac's three goals: keep Tony safe, catch the killer, don't come out. Tony Hart's a dedicated teacher, though he's not much older than his high-school students. Between his profession, a few good friends, and plenty of books, he's content with his quiet life. Then the murdered body of another teacher falls into the elevator at his feet, and Tony's life becomes all too exciting. Jared MacLean is a homicide detective, widowed father to a young daughter, and deeply in the closet. But from the moment he meets Tony's blue eyes in that high school hallway, Mac can't help wanting this man in his life. Mac's not out ― can't afford to be out ― but Tony makes him want the impossible. Mac isn't the only one with their eyes on Tony, though. As the murderer tries to cover their tracks, Mac has to work fast or lose Tony, permanently.

Tony is an English teacher who has the misfortune of ending up with a fellow teacher laying at his feet with a knife in him. Mac is the detective assigned to the case, who is so deep in the closet he may have hangers dangling from his ears. Closet or not it doesn't stop him from be attracted to and wanting Tony. Then Tony is targeted by the killer. Mac works extra hard pulling out all the stops to protect him while trying to solve the first murder before there is a second. The story has a lot of twists, and I didn’t figure out who the killer was until very close to the end. Tony and Mac soon learn that tomorrow is never guaranteed so if you meet the right person, just go for it. How can that be wrong?

Nanny Needed - Georgina Cross - (New York)
Genera: Psychological thriller/Suspense
4.5★
When Sarah Larsen finds the notice, posted on creamy card stock in her building’s lobby, one glance at the exclusive address tells her she’s found her ticket out of a dead-end job—and life. At the interview, the job seems like a dream come true: a glamorous penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC; a salary that adds several zeroes to her current income; the beautiful, worldly mother of her charge, who feels more like a friend than a potential boss. She’s overjoyed when she’s offered the position and signs the NDA without a second thought. But in retrospect, the notice in her lobby was less an engraved invitation than a waving red flag. For there is something very strange about the Bird family. Why does the beautiful Mrs. Bird never leave the apartment alone? And what happened to the nanny before Sarah? It soon becomes clear that the Birds’ odd behaviors are more than the eccentricities of the wealthy.
But by then it’s too late for Sarah to seek help. After all, discretion is of the utmost importance.

Sarah didn't remember the old saying "if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is". I don't know about other readers but when I am presented with a story with this amount of psychological suspense, I like to work on figuring out the bad guy or gal...this one didn't let me guess near long enough...I knew the twist about halfway through and that took a lot of the fun out of reading the book in the first place so that is why it got 4.5 stars instead of 5. I did love the writing, the great characters, and the very disturbing storyline. The short chapters made this a quick, fun read.

Wednesday's Child - Peter Robinson - (England)
Inspecter Alan Banks series Book #6
Genera: Mystery /Suspense/Police Procedural
5★
It was a crime of staggering inhumanity: a seven-year-old girl taken from her working-class Yorkshire home by an attractive young couple posing as social workers. Chief Inspector Alan Banks feels certain little Gemma Scupham is dead, yet the motive for her kidnapping remains a mystery. No ransom is ever demanded, nor could Gemma's tortured, guilt-ridden mother afford to pay one. And when the body of a young man is discovered in an abandoned mine, slain in a particularly brutal fashion, a disturbing perplexing case takes an even further sinister twist drawing Banks into the sordid depths of an evil more terrible and terrifying than anything the seasoned investigator has ever encountered.

A young woman has had her 7-year-old daughter taken into custody by a pair of social workers, only to realize later that they have actually abducted the little girl. Some mother we are dealing with here. Seems that this glowing example of motherhood had never really warmed up to the child to begin with, so it was no surprise that she is reluctant to report the crime to the police. Eventually Inspector Alan Banks is called to investigate. Then an unrelated crime, a vicious murder, gets his intention. The question becomes are they unrelated? This is one of my long-time favorite series, partly for the well-drawn characters, partly for the complex plots, and of course for the setting in the Yorkshire Dales of Great Britain. Wednesday’s Child (the name derives from the rhyme, said child being “full of woe”) contains all those qualities, plus some interesting insights into Inspector Banks and his superior officer, Superintendent Gristhorpe. It isn't particularly necessary to have read the previous novels in the series to enjoy this one...but each one is a special treat.

The Last Line - Robert Dugoni -(Washington)
Genera: Murder Mystery/Suspense/Police Procedural/Short Story
5★
Newbie Seattle detective gets an education in corruption in a short story that explores Detective Castigliano’s origins in the Seattle PD by Robert Dugoni, the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series. His old life in the rearview, Del Castigliano has left Wisconsin to work homicide for the Seattle PD. Breaking him in is veteran detective Moss Gunderson, and he’s handing Del a big catch: the bodies of two unidentified men fished from Lake Union. It’s a major opportunity for the new detective, and Del runs with it, chasing every lead—to every dead end. Despite the help of another section rookie, Vic Fazzio, Del is going nowhere fast. Until one shotgun theory looks to be dead right: the victims are casualties of a drug smuggling operation. But critical information is missing—or purposely hidden. It’s forcing Del into a crisis of character and duty that not even the people he trusts can help him resolve.

I've read all of Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite novels, but this is a 53-page novella that I only recently come across. It's a story that is set in the 1990s and introduces many of the characters that have become old friends in the longer books. What I enjoyed about this is that it very quickly goes from "new detective" on the block to a much darker and bleaker tale of someone arriving in a city where many secrets live and thrive. Helping achieve this is Del, a bright but personally bruised new Detective seeking a fresh start. He comes across as honest and bright and initially the group he joins seems welcoming but the potential murder by drowning of two unnamed men seems a little too convenient to wrap up very quickly. He meets another officer, Vic Fazzio, and they bond with a common sense of doing the right thing and also a shared Italian American heritage. This friendship produces some warmth in a story that is cold and not just through Robert Dugoni’s description of Seattle in a bone shivering winter...but a wider story where it suddenly feels we are in deeper waters as the facts get unearthed by Del’s patient examination of witnesses and clues. That feeling in particular really makes the story work and always impressed when a crime author also attends to the issue of the police service itself not always making a place better. If you've never read any of this series this is a good, short story to begin with.

Aisle Be There/Runaway Grooms - Charlie Cochet - (Florida)
Runaway Grooms Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Comedy
5★
They say your wedding day is the beginning of your happily ever after. But I’m pretty sure they never stood on a sweltering Florida beach getting ready to promise forever… only to change their mind at the last minute and be assaulted by a crustacean while fleeing the scene. Once upon a time, I was a respected Navy officer. A guy who made a career out of managing chaos. Now, I am the chaos, a groom on the run from my ex-fiancé and his dad’s goons. Oh, and the guy driving the getaway car? That would be my ex-boyfriend, Jett. Gorgeous. Brilliant. A guy I couldn’t help falling in love with twelve years ago. The guy I realize I’ve always loved. Did I mention he’s also a famous rock star on a sold-out summer tour? This situation has disaster written all over it. But if I can manage the chaos, maybe I’ll get my happy ending after all.

OMG! What a fun, hilariously entertaining book. I never laughed so much at the characters in a book as...well...forever. Charlie Cochet has written this with her usual wit, snark and humor, making this a great read from start to finish. Gage is a former Navy logistics specialist who is terrified of crabs so how in the world did he wind up wearing a suit made of seashells complete with a live hermit crab for his wedding? Chaos ensues as he runs away from his groom and straight into the arms of his lost love. Jett is a talented rock star trying to fill his late father’s shoes. Believe it or not in spite of the crab and the crazy suit...this really is a touching love story. Watching both Gage and Jett finally come into their own and realize just how much they have to offer to the other is so satisfying. Oh...and no crabs died in writing this story:)

Dyed and Gone to Heaven - Aimee Nicole Walker - (Ohio)
Curl up and Dye Mystery series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery
4★
Gabe and Josh’s romantic dinner date to celebrate love and life takes a shocking twist when a man who’s presumed dead enters the restaurant. What Gabe learns that night and the days that follow sends the homicide investigation down a road full of sharp twists and dangerous turns. Josh is finally living the life he's always wanted. He has a man who loves him just the way he is and an exciting new career opportunity. All of that feels threatened when a mysterious neighbor moves into the neighborhood. Josh is convinced his presence is more than a coincidence and questions what fate has in store for the happy couple. Can Gabe find the balance between work and love or will his focus on justice put their harmony in jeopardy? Can Josh continue to overcome his insecurities or will they overshadow the beautiful life he’s building with the man he loves?

Josh and Gabe while on a romantic double date with Adrian and his wife Sally Ann, Gabe sees what he believes is a dead man walking into the same restaurant. After asking the waiter the man's name, Gabe does some investigating and finds the man's life only started two years ago. During the investigation of Nate's murder several more murders happen, all with the same MO. The mystery actually started in book#2 and finally has it's conclusion here. Josh and Gabe...what are we going to do with these guys, Gabe the cop and Josh the beauty stylist? Their slightly goofball romance began as them being one step from enemies and then transformed into a hesitant love. In this book?... they light up every chapter. We learn things from alternating points of view some with humor, some with love and others with some really torrid stuff. The plot is complicated than the last two books because there are so many suspects and another gruesome murder in this small Ohio town where Gabe is lead detective in a crime spree and Josh keeps half the town's ladies and some of the men. He's happy with his crazy salon and I love his incredibly funny foul-mouthed parrot. Don't even try to figure mystery out...just read and enjoy your time with Josh and Gabe.

Hearthstone Cottage - Frazer Lee - (Scotland)
Genera: Paranormal/Horror
4.5★
Mike Carter and his girlfriend Helen, along with their friends Alex and Kay, travel to a remote loch side cottage for a post-graduation holiday. But their celebrations are short-lived when they hit and kill a stag on the road. Alex s sister Meggie awaits them in the cottage, adding to the tension when her dog, Oscar, goes missing. Mike becomes haunted by a disturbing presence in the cottage, and is hunted by threatening figures in the highland fog. Reeling from a shock revelation, Mike begins to lose his grip on his sanity. As the dark secrets of the past conspire to destroy the bonds of friendship, Mike must uncover the terrifying truth dwelling within the walls of Hearthstone Cottage.

We begin by following a group of young adults who’ve recently graduated from university and are introduced to Alex, his girlfriend Kay, Mike and his girlfriend Helen, as they travel to Alex’s parent’s cottage. Hearthstone is known to have a history, which Mike is soon to find out. Throughout the author introduces a level of creepiness that oozed right off of the pages. This was diffidently a positive...but at times was also a negative for me. Every time it felt like things were really heating up, the creepiness would overtake everything and then we'd have a subdued finale. I just kept hoping that things would have been allowed to build and to really come to the big conclusion that the story kept promising. The main character, Mike, was an annoying character. I kept wishing for something to get him. It would have been fine with me if whatever was haunting or possessing the cottage either ate him for lunch or rendered him speechless to just shut him up. Or Lee Frazer could have traded Mike for Meggie's dog. Okay...bad me. We are also eventually to meet Alex’s artsy, vegan sister. I liked her and found that this worked out nicely and helped to increase some tension within the group. The biggest reason I gave this a 4.5 star instead of a 5-star rating, was that the author had Mike’s character stuck in an alcohol/pothead state for way too much of the story and with a shift in the startup that involved his girlfriend, he became a literal wet blanket. The setting of this book was phenomenal. I love Scotland. It's where my grandfather was from. Overall, I really did enjoy this story and it came so close to being an outstanding read. What can I say? Blame it on Mike.

The End House - Michael Robertson Jr.
Genera: Horror/Paranormal
5★
If these walls could talk … they’d scream. Struggling writer Declan Scheider wakes confused and alone in the old house’s cold and empty bedroom, but his panic quickly subsides when he sees the moving truck parked out front, and he remembers that the old house is actually his family’s new home. More memories begin to flood him. Some feel right, some feel … off. Not his own. And as he explores the house, it’s more than memories he begins to feel creeping out of the shadows. He swears he’s seeing things, hearing things that aren’t really there. Things that at first, he blames on the howling wind and the house’s creaking old bones, but eventually begin to feel much more real, as if Declan is never quite alone. When he finds the book bound in worn black leather, he hopes reading will help calm his flailing thoughts. But the stories about the house that the mysterious book has to offer only deepen Declan’s confusion and paranoia, until the line between what is real and what isn’t completely disappears. Where is he? Who is he? He thought he knew.

If you are like me, "The Ghost Story Junkie", and you like a story that will scare you out of your mind...just go to Amazon and with one click you can be scared to your heart's content. At first, it's a little hard to tell if the events that are happening are in "real" time, or if they are the events that are transpiring when Declan is reading the black journal...by the time Declan reads the second story, it becomes much easier. After Declan moves into the house, he soon finds that he's found a lot more than he bargained for. The entire story is full of eerie happenings and unexplained, goose-bump producing happenings. I loved this line from the book ..."Something isn’t quite right with this quiet little house in the woods…..but the coffee is great!" It's just one of those books you have to read in one sitting.

Moving On Felice Stevens - (New York)
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
When his roof caves in, Sean Lovett thinks things can't get any worse. Until he loses his job, adding yet another bump in the rocky road of his life. None of his so-called friends can—or will—help. And asking a favor from his abusive ex? Hard pass. Luckily, his sister comes to the rescue and offers him a great apartment—in the city, no less—until he can get back on his feet. Sweet deal. Until a gorgeous man unlocks the front door and strolls right in with a grumpy attitude and a claim that his boss—who happens to be Sean’s brother-in-law—promised him the same apartment. Former NYPD detective Tristan McDermott hasn’t stopped running since the death of his best friend. After almost two years of living in his own personal hell, he returns home to New York, hoping he can move on, but guilt still follows his every step. He's grateful to have the perfect apartment until he can settle into a place of his own. But there’s a cute guy already living there. And only one bedroom. And no way is Tristan leaving. He’s staying put. Sharing the space is tough, but Tristan can ignore sweet Sean and his sunshiny smiles. Kind of. Except Sean's brother-in-law asks Tristan to keep an eye on Sean so he doesn't make any bad decisions. Uh oh. Keeping an eye on Sean is easy. Keeping his hands off him is much, much harder. And sleeping together...well, that isn't a bad decision. Not when it feels so good. Right?

Tristan and Sean...these two couldn't be more different from each other but they couldn't be more perfect for each other either. There was quite a bit of tension going on between them for a good portion of this story, but as they say..."resistance is futile". There was also a fair amount of back and forth that happened because of the aforementioned resistance and both men had experienced a fair amount of tragedy before their paths crossed. It felt like they were meant to meet and be what the other needed at just the right time. Felice Stevens seems to always write from her heart giving us a beautiful love story with a happy ending.

Give It Back - Danielle Esplin - (Washington)
Genera: Mystery/Suspense Thriller
4.5★
This novel follows three characters: Lorraine, Lexy, and Ella. Lorraine: Not long ago, Lorraine lost her husband to another woman. She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it's just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare. Lexy: Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn't come for the child...she came for something else. Ella: When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine. But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine's story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is. Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won't go home anytime soon but also that she'll never look at others the same way she did before.

First that I have read by this author but if this one is any indication of her writing, then I will certainly be on the lookout for more. If you are the type of reader that likes everything laid out smoothly then you are going to be pulling your hair out by the third of fourth chapter. The book is a bit like a runaway roller coaster ride. It's filled with twists, turns, bumps and hiccups, but it lost a star because of the ending which seemed unbelievable based on the events that had taken place previously. I don't usually remember or pay much attention to lines that make up a story past the time that the cover is closed but I love this line enough to write it down and include it in the review...because it not only spoke to me personally but set the tone for the characters in the book. “Have you ever loved someone so much that even when they chip pieces away from you, you still try to give them what's left? I know I have … I know I do”.

Nothing Special - A.E. Via - (Georgia)
Nothing Special series Book #1
Narrator: Aiden Snow
Genera: M/M Romance/Police Procedural
3.5★
Detective Cashel "Cash" Godfrey (God), is big, tattooed, and angry so people typically keep their distance. He's fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six-foot-four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn't expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis "Leo" Day. Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He's proud, out, and one bad-ass detective. Together, Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta's ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks. When Cash saves Leo's life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does...something special. But Leo fears he'll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash's heart.

I seldom find a book that is borderline, like, dislike for me, but this one might be it. The sad thing is that there is so much about the book that is almost good. Aiden Snow did a fantastic job of reading it. That voice could melt steel. The plot of the story was good, and I loved Leo and really thought that he deserved someone more "together" than "God" was. Actually "God" was a total mess. His brother and mother hated him and called him a murderer, he was short tempered with his fellow detectives.... ranted and stormed his way through most of the story... not a very endearing person...but Leo, bless him, loved this mess and just hung in there. The timing of everything in the story was really a work of fiction. I know that it was to move the story along...but my husband worked 30 years as a detective with a police department and he complained every day it seemed that they couldn't even get a lawyer to answer his phone the first six times they called much less show up at the jail an hour later...the lawyers arrived in an unusual timely manner in this story. I guess overall, I did like the story itself and I do intend to read the remainder of the series, but I just wish that the lead character had been more "human" before almost the last portion of the story. I also found the multiple couples pairing a bit overboard happening as early in the relationships of both partners as it did.

Safeword - A. J. Rose - (Missouri)
Power Exchange Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/BDSM/Mystery
5★
Everywhere Detective Gavin DeGrassi looks he’s reminded of his attack by the Breath Play Killer. It’s in the house he lives in with his partner and Dom, Ben Haverson. It’s in the sympathetic yet pitying looks he receives from his fellow detectives when he returns to the force after a year-long hiatus. It’s in the suffocating coddling of his entire family, and the relentless reporter demanding an exclusive of his ordeal. Most of all, it’s in his lack of submission to Ben, who isn’t convinced Gavin’s recovered enough to trust the power exchange between them. The miraculous recovery of two teen boys from a twisted kidnapper gives him heart, and Gavin's determined to prove he can handle anything despite increasing strain between him and Ben, painful nightmares, and panic when anyone touches him. But his next case is too close for comfort: a friend and colleague found raped and murdered in a fate chillingly similar to what could have been his own, and this killer isn’t stopping with one cop. As the body count rises and taunting souvenirs are being hand-delivered to Gavin, he faces a frustrating lack of leads, a crushing need to prove himself, and a sinking suspicion the imprisoned kidnapper’s reach is further than originally thought. A miasma of uncertainty and fear threaten to suffocate him when he asks a question with which he’s overwhelmingly familiar: what happens when a victim is pushed too far?

A.J. Rose has managed to find the perfect balance between a good and heart-stopping mystery, a gripping love story and some very hot scenes. I loved the first book in the series, Power Exchange. The characters from that book are continued into this one. After the ending of the first book where Gavin and Ben had nearly been killed by the character known as "The Breath Killer", it was hard to not get immersed in Gavin’s continuing pain, and Ben’s total helplessness when he tries to lighten that load for the man he loves and the strain that it is putting on their relationship. “How could I give my whole self to him if I no longer recognized who I was?” When Gavin and his partner Myah are put in charge of the investigation of the brutal murder of a fellow police officer, I saw so many ways in which this could be devastating to Gavin’s recovery. The love and connection between these two men only grows more intense in the face of all that might destroy them and slowly Gavin is able to let go of his demons one by one. This story is as much a mystery as it is a love story. I can't stress enough that the mystery in this book is good, well plotted, thrilling, but also heartbreaking. I solved the mystery about the same time as Gavin and Myah did.

No Strangers Here - Carlene O'Connor -(Ireland)
Irish Vet Mystery Series Book #1
Narrator: Emily O'Mahoney
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
5★
On a rocky beach in the southwest of Ireland, the body of Jimmy O’Reilly, sixty-nine years old and dressed in a suit and his dancing shoes, is propped on a boulder, staring sightlessly out to sea. A cryptic message is spelled out next to the body with sixty-nine polished black stones and a discarded vial of deadly veterinarian medication lies nearby. Jimmy was a wealthy racehorse owner, known far and wide as The Dancing Man. In a town like Dingle, everyone knows a little something about everyone else. But dig a bit deeper, and there’s always much more to find. And when Detective Inspector Cormac O'Brien is dispatched out of Killarney to lead the murder inquiry, he's determined to unearth every last buried secret. Dimpna Wilde hasn’t been home in years. As picturesque as Dingle may be for tourists in search of their roots and the perfect jumper, to her it means family drama and personal complications. In fairness, Dublin hasn’t worked out quite as she hoped either. Faced with a triple bombshell—her mother rumored to be in a relationship with Jimmy, her father’s dementia is escalating, and her brother is avoiding her calls—Dimpna moves back to clear her family of suspicion.

I'm rather drawn to books that are set in Ireland having grown up with an Irish grandmother and hearing about her beloved country my entire life, so was excited to visit County Kerry with this one. I found it to be a well thought out and very well written story with some unusual twists. DI Cormac O’Brien, who’s new to Dingle, must depend on the locals for insight when the body of racehorse owner Johnny O’Reilly is found on a beach along with 69 black stones spelling out the words "Last Dance"...O'Reilly was 69 years old also. "Last Dance" was one of O’Reilly’s horses that was killed in a road accident more than 25 years earlier. It's clear that O’Reilly was murdered somewhere else, and his body brought to the beach in a boat. That much trouble in itself said to me that this was not a random killing...this was personal. The only disturbance to the beach scene was a child's footprint, but this of course, was not done by a child. We soon learn that the O’Reilly's and the family of Eamon Wilde, their veterinarian, have a long history and some of it could have led to murder. Eamon shows signs of dementia...his wife, Maeve, used to go dancing with O'Reilly and now reads tarot cards. Their son, Donnecha, serves as caretaker of O’Reilly’s yachts, is known to be a bit on the wild side. It’s their daughter, Dr. Dimpna Wilde, that Inspector O'Brien finds the most interesting. She is a talented veterinarian, small, beautiful, and a widow. Her husband killed himself after swindling hundreds of people out of their life savings. Now she is unable to pay her bills and has had her assets seized...so she has only recently returned to Dingle to help in her father’s practice and try to extricate her family from a murder charge. Dimpna’s past is about to be torn wide open, revealing various crimes, including her rape by Johnny’s son Sean O’Reilly, and the revelation that what she remembers is not always the truth. My husband became interested at my rambling investigating skills and became involved in trying to solve this one...he spent 30 years of his life solving real crimes, but even he had no real success with picking out the murderer in this one...but to his credit he did uncover the motive for the crime. He said the revealed culprit didn't fit the proposed motive and probably would have been overlooked if this was reality... but hey, this is fiction, so all's well that ends well. Overall...a really good mystery that we had a lot of fun with.

We Hear Voices - Evie Green - (England)
Genera: Science Fiction
3★
Kids have imaginary friends. Rachel knows this. So when her young son, Billy, miraculously recovers from a horrible flu that has proven fatal for many, she thinks nothing of Delfy, his new invisible friend. After all, her family is healthy and that's all that matters. Soon Delfy is telling Billy what to do, and the boy is acting up and lashing out in ways he never has before. As Delfy's influence is growing stranger and more sinister by the day, and rising tensions threaten to tear Rachel's family apart, she clings to one purpose: to protect her children at any cost - even from themselves.

I'm not really a fair one to review this book. I'm not a fan of Science Fiction. I won't describe it as anywhere near terrifying or horrifying, however it was engaging and eerily familiar because it takes place amid a pandemic, climate change devastation and people hoping for a new beginning on a different far-away planet. Elsewhere a large developer has created a highly regimented, communal living/working utopia with "Big Brother" overtones and a doctor is secretly trying to rehabilitate children who recovered from illness and suddenly began hearing "voices" in their heads. Rchel and her son, Billy are one of those that is relocating. Although her life is far from perfect, Rachel is grateful that she and Billy were spared. She's even willing to overlook his newfound imaginary friend "Delfy", who appeared in Billy's head shortly after his recovery. Rachel's acceptance doesn't last long. Soon, Delfy seems to have taken control...telling Billy what to say and do and even more frightening things. Billy realizes what's going on, but he says he's powerless to stop Delfy or ignore her commands. The story takes you on a complete and utter journey into the depths of the horrors and shock of the human mind and its stronghold on a person’s capacity of free will.

Night Train - Thomas F. Monteleone (New York)
Genera: Horror
4★
Under the subways’ roar, out of the deep, wet caves, comes the fury from Hell to be met by an unlikely troupe ready to save the lives and soul of their city. In the bedrock beneath New York, beautiful news reporter Lya Marsden and hard-bitten detective Michael Corvino enter an eerie maze of abandoned tunnels, searching for a train that vanished with all aboard—over half a century ago. But under the concrete maze of skyscrapers and tourists, below the peep shows and the penthouses, within the clammy darkness, and around the next turn—an unholy evil waits to disgorge violence and blood.

Reminded me of a 1980's horror movie...which was okay since I watched my share of them. This story has every horror element you can imagine from serial killers to the paranormal and somehow it all works. Parts of it are not going to be for the reader that is squeamish, but otherwise if you like being scared by things they are everyday happenings that you take for granted...until you don't...then this one will do it for you. I just have to say that I'm really, really glad that Michigan doesn't have subway tunnels:)