Review & Giveaway: Business Casual by B.K. Borison

Business Casual (Lovelight Farms #4) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: July 16th  2024 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 37min

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Benjamin D. Walker

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Nova Porter and Charlie Milford don’t have time for a relationship, but a one-night stand with someone you’ve been flirting with for months isn’t something either can resist! However, Nova doesn’t realize Charlie is staying for the month to help farm-sit while Stella and Luca are on their honeymoon. It’s impossible to restrict their attraction to one-night only.

 

I adored both Charlie and Nova! He was sweet, silly, and so caring! Nova was also caring, striving to get her business off the ground, not only for herself, but to prove to Beckett (her older brother) his sacrifices weren’t in vain. I loved their flirty banter, texts and sexy encounters!

 

Business Casual was like a Hallmark Movie with spice! Lots of well-done spice! So thankful there was no third act breakup!

 

B.K. Borison’s writing is beautiful, vividly bringing every gorgeous detail to life: the setting of Idlewild and Lovelight Farms, trees, flowers, the bakeshop; I wanted to visit and soak up all the beauty! It sounds so picturesque!

I alternately listened to and read an e-copy of Business Casual and recommend either version. Pippa Jayne has a lush, dreamy voice, and Benjamin D. Walker's voice brought out Charlie's personality perfectly. I enjoyed how they alternately performed the back-and-forth text messages, too! 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Two opposites decide to test their chemistry with one steamy night together. But will once be enough?

Nova Porter isn’t looking for love, and she certainly has no explanation for her attraction to buttoned-up, three-piece-suit-wearing investment banker Charlie Milford. Maybe it’s his charm? Or maybe it’s his determination to help her fledgling business however he can. Either way, she’s distracted every time he’s around. With her new tattoo studio set to open in her hometown of Inglewild, she doesn’t have time for frivolous flirtations. 

In an effort to get Charlie out of her system once and for all, Nova offers a proposition. One night. No strings. They’ll kick their uncomfortable attraction to the curb and return to their respective responsibilities. But their explosive night together scatters their expectations like fallen leaves. And with Charlie in town as the temporary head of Lovelight Farms, Nova can’t quite avoid him. 

And Charlie? Well, Charlie knows a good investment when he sees one. He’s hoping he can convince Nova he’s worth some of her time.

I'm giving away a copy of the first book in the Lovelight series: Lovelight Farms to one lucky reader! The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win! Good luck!

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Review: Liar's Point by Laura Griffin

 

Liar's Point (The Texas Murder Files #5) by Laura Griffin

Publication Date: May 21st 2024 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 9hrs 26min

Narrator: Teri Clark Linden

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

As with Laura Griffin’s past stories in this series, Liar’s Point was an engrossing combination of crime procedure and romance, that I breezed right through!

 A jogger discovers a woman dead in her car, which appears to be an overdose. However, it turns out the woman was murdered. Nicole and her partner Emmett, as well as all the Lost Beach police force come together to find the killer.

I’ve been eager to read Nicole’s story since Midnight Dunes and Deep Tide where she contributed significantly to nailing down the killer. Nicole and Emmett have been circling around each other with chemistry and attraction brewing between them, so I was pleased to finally see them paired.  

I really enjoyed getting back to Lost Beach, Texas, as I’ve gotten to know the small, tight-knit group of detectives and their families.  Nicole is a persistent detective with good instincts, and I was thrilled to see her recognized as such. Her determination, constantly following up with the witnesses, and pursuing the evidence is what ultimately solved this case.

The story is part of a series, but it’s not necessary to read the previous stories to enjoy this one, as each features a separate couple and mystery that’s wrapped up by the end.

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of Liar’s Point narrated by Teri Clark Linden. I’ve enjoyed many stories narrated by her! She expertly performed both male and female characters, bringing Nicole and Emmett, as well as the other characters, to life!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two homicide detectives must separate the puzzling truth from a growing web of lies while investigating a murder victim’s friends and lovers in Lost Beach, Texas.

Detective Nicole Lawson is fed up with her job and nonexistent love life. Her first date in months gets cut short by an urgent call from the chief of police. A body has been discovered at Lighthouse Point, and the medical examiner finds an array of strange clues. When the death is ruled a homicide, the news quickly reverberates through Nicole’s beachside hometown.

The Lost Beach police department swings into high gear. Leading the investigation is Emmet Davis, a veteran detective who is Nicole’s fiercest rival at work and also the man she has secretly harbored feelings toward for years. With Emmet calling the shots, Nicole sets out to search for leads, starting with the enigmatic yoga instructor who first discovered the body. Nicole is certain the witness knows more than she’s revealing and may even hold the key to unlocking the case.

When another person turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Nicole sees a bizarre pattern, but no one believes her theory. Under the gun to solve the case, Nicole must put aside her tumultuous feelings and work closely with Emmet to figure out who is targeting her beloved hometown . . . before she becomes a target herself.

About the Author

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.

Review & Excerpt: The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin

 

The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin

Publication Date: October 24th 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 334

Audio Book Length: 8hrs 26min

Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Jack Bruner has been searching for the West Campus Rapist for years. He’s long believed the perpetrator would escalate his crimes from rape to murder, so when the murder of a young woman matches the WCR’s MO Jack becomes even more desperate to catch him. Unfortunately, this criminal has been very careful about leaving an evidence trail. This is where Rowan comes in. In his desperation, Jack asks her to help find the killer’s identity.

As a forensic genealogist, Rowan can trace DNA back through a particular family tree and pinpoint the killer’s identity. She’s worked with the police in the past, but she was disturbed by the cases, and became burned out. Now Rowan tries to only take private cases where a person is trying to find out about or locate relatives for many different reasons. However, when she finds out that Jack is working to find the West Campus Rapist, she agrees. Rowan attended the college where the WCR attacked and assaulted a fellow student, and the event left a mark.

This case felt true to life, and it’s a crime that’s been committed over and over. Women, of course, are the targets. I was eager for this guy to be caught and brought to justice! I was on the edge of my seat as the story played out worried over the next potential victim!

I loved The Last Close Call! Laura Griffin features exciting new methods of solving crimes in her mysteries, like Rowan’s profession.  I find forensic genealogy fascinating, especially since it’s become such an important tool in solving real life crimes like the Golden State Killer. But The Last Close Call was more than just following clues to find a killer.  Jack and Rowan were both likeable and relatable characters, thrown together under dark circumstances. Although neither were looking for love there was an immediate attraction, instant chemistry, and I was fully on board with their romance!

I alternately listened to and read The Last Close call and recommend either version! Stephanie Németh-Parker’s performance was a wonderful, both female and male characters. I enjoyed her subtle Southern accent. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4.5 Stars

Excerpt:

Book Description:

A talented genetic analyst and a detective who's haunted by an elusive cold case team up in the new standalone romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Forensic genealogist Rowan Healy has made a name for herself by helping investigators trace the family trees of violent criminals who have eluded justice for years. But the pressure of police cases left her burned out, and she's shifted her focus to helping adoptees find their biological parents.

Austin detective Jack Bruner has spent his career successfully tracking down vicious criminals--with the notable exception of the West Campus Rapist, a meticulous offender in Texas who has never been identified. When the latest two victims come to light, Jack sees his target is escalating his violent behavior--and only with Rowan's help does he stand a chance of cracking this case.

Moved by Jack's dedication and the brutal details of the attacks he lays out, Rowan agrees to help. When her ground-breaking DNA research sheds new light on the criminal's background and helps them zero in on a search radius, Rowan and Jack must race against the clock to find a ruthless killer who's growing bolder the longer he evades the law.

About the Author

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.

Review: Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison

 

Mixed Signals (Lovelight #3) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: August 1st 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10 hrs 16 mins

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Julio Maxwell

Source: Publisher & Library lend (audio)

Rating: ★★★★¼

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Layla has had to watch as her two good friends, Stella and Beckett have found love, and while she’s happy for them, she’d like her chance to find someone special, someone who will cherish her. However, her dating history has left a lot to be desired! Things are about to change when she runs into Caleb Alvarez after a date-gone-bad and he takes her home.

Caleb’s dating history has also been less than stellar, so he suggests they date each other. He’s been crushing on Layla from afar, but somehow his suggestion is taken as an experiment in dating rather than the truth that Caleb has always wanted a chance with Layla.

I’ve really enjoyed all three Lovelight romances, but Mixed Signals is my favorite to date in the series! There was just something so lovely about this couple and the drama was minimal. Layla and Caleb’s chemistry was palpable. Theirs dates fun and hilarious!

As with the first two books, B.K. Borison’s writing was beautiful and gave the story a dreamy quality! I felt like I absorbed every sight, sound, and scent! I was happy to catch up with Stella and Luca and Beckett and Evie. I love how they were so ready to jump in and help or slash a tire (a task Stella was all too eager for, lol) if needed! I’m so in love with Beckett’s utter failure to resist adopting any animal in need!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy. Pippa Jayne’s voice is soft and rich, perfect for this series! Julio Maxwell was wonderful as Caleb. I listened at 1.75x normal speed. A definite recommend!

4.25 Stars

Book Description:

A small-town baker learns to raise her expectations for love with some help from a handsome local teacher in this sunny romantic comedy.

Layla Dupree has given up on love. She’s waded through all the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently, owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite Layla’s best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution. After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple one month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his romantic game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red-hot, and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s mocha fudge brownies.

Review: In the Weeds by B.K. Borison

 

In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison

Publication Date: July 4th 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10 hrs 46 mins

Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Dean Anderson

Source: Publisher & Library lend (audio)

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Evelyn St. James has come to a crossroads in her life. Her job as a social media influencer started out as sharing beautiful things in life, but it’s grown out of control into something that doesn’t bring her joy anymore. She’s never home and feels unmoored. At her best friend’s suggestion, she reflects back to the last time she found “her happy” and that was in the quaint town of Inglewild. Coincidentally, the same place where her two-night stand, Beckett Porter, resides. Evie decides to go back to Idlewild to unplug and reevaluate her life there.

Beckett and Evie spent two lusty nights in Maine, but she left without a goodbye or any contact info. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. He had no idea she was a famous influencer until she showed up at the farm as part of a social medial campaign/contest Stella had enrolled in (back in book one, Lovelight Farms). Evie left then, too, without a goodbye so he’s resolved to forget about her and move on until she shows up again.

In the Weeds was a slow burn romance full of longing, and a little angsty at times. I wished they communicated more. It would’ve avoided needless hurt, but it all worked out.  I did love the chemistry between Beckett and Evie, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, falling a little more with every day that Evie stayed. So much to love besides their romance too! Otis the duck, the adorable kittens and just everything about the farm!                                                                                                                                          

B.K. Borison’s writing is magical and gave the story a dreamy quality at times. Every touch, glance, and sense came through so I could feel the characters the attraction sparking between them, the longing, heady and intense. When traveling to a beautiful place I try to absorb every sight, sound and scent. Taking it all in, appreciating it and I felt Inglewild come to life in that way through her gorgeous writing!

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to an audio version. Pippa Jayne’s voice is so lovely, and I enjoyed Dane Anderson’s performance as well. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4 Stars

Book Description:

A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy.

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck. 

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on.

But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Audiobook Review: Magic Tides & Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews

 

Magic Tides & Magic Claims (Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years 1 & 2) by Ilona Andrews

Publication Date: July 10th 2023 by NYLA

Pages: 158 (Magic Tides) 240 (Magic Claims)

Audio Book Length: 12 hrs 21 mins

Narrators: Hillary Huber & Michael Glenn

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I was thrilled to find out we were getting more stories in the Kate Daniels world! Magic Tides and Magic Claims are the newest installments. Kate Daniels is one of my all-time favorite UF series! Ilona Andrews is such a talented writing team, so I was all smiles diving back in!

With Magic Tides Kate and Curran have moved to Wilmington to get away from the Pack and have a more normal kind of life for their family.  They wanted a place where no one knew them, their powers, their history. Of course, when someone is in trouble Kate can’t deny help. Especially when it’s their son Conlan requesting the aid for one of his friends. The friend’s cousin has been kidnapped by The Red Horn, a nasty criminal gang. When Kate finds out the details she decides to go and get him back. The father, Tom, is more than a little skeptical of Kate’s abilities, but has run out of options. However, his opinion changes as he sees Kate in action. And, oh boy, was it fun to see Kate in action again! Even when she’s embarking on a mission on the fly, she’s still several steps ahead of any opponent.

Magic Claims makes it evident that Kate, Curran, and Conlan won’t be able to stay under the radar, or avoid the responsibilities that come with the power they have. They all feel such a duty to those in need and both were born to lead. With Magic Claims, there’s an evil power demanding tribute from the town of Penderton in the form of human sacrifices. The deadline is coming for another payment, so the leaders reach out to Kate and Curran to help. Another exciting story and the end hints at more stories to come. I’m so excited!

f you haven’t read the Kate Daniels series, you need to drop everything and start it! You’ll love Kate, a smart badass heroine and her Beast Lord hero! The plots are riveting, with action, mystery, danger and romance! I’m so happy to get anything more in this world!

There’s been one narrator for the series up until these two novellas. She was the voice of Kate to me, so of course I was worried to find out there would be a new narrator. When Hillary Huber was picked (I was part of the group voting) I was ecstatic because I knew Ms. Huber would make a fantastic Kate! Love her rich voice, gravelly voice, and her comedic timing is perfection! She’s taken on the role splendidly! Michael Glenn, a new-to-me-narrator, slipped right into the role of Curran and made him come alive in all his alpha glory! I highly recommend the audio! I listened at my usual 1.5xs normal speed. 

5 Stars

Book Description:

In Book #1, MAGIC TIDES, Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the home front.

It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she's never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!

In Book #2, MAGIC CLAIMS, Kate and Curran have just settled into their new home and their “low profile,” when a local businessman approaches them with an offer they can’t refuse. A mysterious evil has spawned in the nearby forest and is holding a defenseless town hostage. The “ransom date” is rapidly approaching.

It’s exactly the kind of fight the Lennarts can’t resist, not for the prize the town offers, but for the people who will surely die if they ignore it. If they succeed, they’ll be rescuing an entire community and can build a strong new base for their family and the Wilmington Pack. If they fail...well, fail is a four-letter word.

Nothing comes without a price. Now Kate must decide if she has what it takes to pay it.

Audiobook Review: The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

 

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

Publication Date: March 28th 2023 by Dreamscape Media

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 6min

Narrator: Angie Kane

Source: Publisher via Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Sloane Parker works as a librarian and loves the way books can lift your soul and transport you to other places. Sound familiar? Despite the fact she’s engaged, you can tell she feels a little alone in the world, still battling grief over losing the one person who truly got her, her sister.

Arthur is a grouchy old man who basically terrorizes the library staff, and they’re all terrified of him, except for Sloane. They spar over books which was hilarious, and Arthur starts showing up every day at the same time, a little after Sloane arrives. Until one day he doesn’t show up. Sloane’s worried for him so against her manager’s express orders she looks up his address and finds him very unwell.  

Sloane ends up caring for Arthur, even though he acts like he doesn’t need or want her help and along the way they end up picking up friends, a ragtag sort of group, all with a connection to either Sloane or Arthur, all dealing with issues, a bit sad and lonely just like Sloane and Arthur. They form, albeit reluctantly, a book club.

The Lonely Hearts Book Club was a fitting title and I just adored the story! There was a lot of humor that had me laughing out loud despite some of the heartbreak each character dealt with. They find friendship, camaraderie, and solace with each other and it made my heart soar with joy! There was a promise of romance in there, too.

I listened to an audio copy and enjoyed Angie Kane’s narration.  Her comedic timing was great, and the melancholy felt by the characters came through well in her performance. I recommend the audio. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

4 Stars

Book Description:

Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely...but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.

Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.

Review & Excerpt: Deep Tide by Laura Griffin

 

Deep Tide (The Texas Murder Files #4) by Laura Griffin

Publication Date: April 25th 2023 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 352

Audio Book Length: 9 hrs 13 mins

Narrators: Terri Clark Linden

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Leyla Breda is a successful entrepreneur at Lost Beach with her coffee/bake shop hopping and now expanding into catering she’s a busy woman. Her life is thrown upside down when a woman is found murdered behind her shop in a back alley. However, she has more than just her brothers to rely on. Sean Moran, her brother’s friend, also in law enforcement, keeps showing up when she’s at her lowest. There’s an immediate attraction between the two, but Leyla’s has rules about getting involved with non-residents as they have a lot of tourists. At some point they go home and she’s not about to be a vacation fling.

Sean Moran is in Lost Beach for his friend’s wedding (Leyla’s brother) but also because of an ongoing investigation into a rich tech mogul with ties to a criminal cartel. Rumor is a deal is going down soon and Sean’s there to intercept it. The murder of the girl outside of Leyla’s coffeeshop has Sean’s red flags going up as there are some suspicious details that might mean it’s related to his investigation. He didn’t count on meeting Leyla, though. Although she continually rebuffs his romantic proposals, he’s drawn to her over and over. Unfortunately, her questions on the case put her in danger.

I’ve been a fan of Laura Griffin’s police procedural/romantic suspense stories for quite some time, but Deep Tide was a little slow going. It was entertaining but didn’t have the intensity or threat of danger throughout that some of her other stories had until the very end. There was a lot of time spent with Nicole, one of the Lost Beach detectives, and she wasn’t the love interest. Maybe this is a setup for a story focusing on her and Emmett in another case? I feel there wasn’t as much time spent with Sean and Leyla together. Even so, I wanted them to overcome any obstacles and find a way to be together. Even with some of these issues, I’d still recommend Deep Tide to mystery/romantic suspense fans. The other books in the series are really good, as well. Particularly Flight and Midnight Dunes which are my favorites so far.

I alternated between an e-ARC and audio copy of Deep Tide and I recommend either. The audio, narrated by Teri Clark Linden, was excellent. I’ve enjoyed several books by her and love her voice, accents, and performance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

3.5 Stars

Excerpt:

Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of white lights, drinking the couple’s booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand.

Leyla Breda.

Her formfitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head.

Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.

Instead, he walked over to Leyla.

"How's the champagne?"

She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.

"It's good." She held up her glass. "You didn't have any?"

"Nope. Can I get you a refill?"

She smiled. "What, are you a waiter now, too?"

He stepped closer. "I'm Sean Moran, by the way." He held out his hand. "We never actually met."

"Leyla Breda." Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope.

"Joel's little sister," he said.

"That's me."

He turned toward the water so he wouldn't be tempted to stare down the front of her dress.

"I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier," she said. "Things got really hectic."

"Looked like you had your hands full."

"So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?"

He looked at her. "Joel."

She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. "And you know him from . . . ?"

"Work."

She frowned. "Here?"

"No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together."

"Oh. That was a while ago."

"Yeah."

"So . . . the vice squad, then?"

"Yeah. Mind if I sit down?"

"Not at all."

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn't like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.

"So, how long have you been a caterer?" he asked.

"Hmm . . . let's see. I guess it's been about three weeks now." She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. "Why? Can you tell?"

"Not at all."

"Right."

"Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy."

"Just a little." She rolled her eyes. "We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed."

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He'd discovered it was a turn-on.

Book Description:

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she's deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it's a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he's immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla's connections in the local community and Sean's skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean's carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

 

Review: Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

 

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Publication Date: March 28th 2023 by St. Martin's Griffin  & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 416

Audiobook Length: 13hrs 31min

Narrator: Carlotta Brentan

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Maria Wallner is trying to keep her hotel running while turning it back into the dazzling gem it used to be. Not an easy task since her mother ran it into the ground, focused more on her love affair than the hotel or even her daughter. But sabotage and attempts on Maria’s life hinder her efforts.

Eli is sent from the US to Vienna to find out who leaked top secret codes. A suspicious letter was sent from the Hotel Wallner and so he goes there in an undercover mission to investigate. The codes aren’t the only mystery, though. When Eli saves Maria’s life he is compelled to find out who’s behind the attempts to kill her and rule Maria out as a suspect in the espionage plots, as well.

Hotel of Secrets was magical! The writing beautifully described an old world, glamorous Vienna. Maria and her tribe of friends and family were so much fun. Maria is independent and resourceful, forever working out a solution to the many problems that hinder her goals of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Loved that even though she had a mission, she didn’t forget her family and friends.

Eli was focused and methodical in his job and investigations. It was refreshing that Eli was the inexperienced one in the romance department, but that didn’t stop him from using his attention to details and focus into research and he was a quick, thorough study! Maria and Eli’s romance was fun, open, and honest, but also very passionate and sensual! It was spicy, but not overdone. Also enjoyed Eli’s relationship with Maria’s brother, Mac and the French spy, Claude. They were a hoot!

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version of Hotel of Secrets, and I highly recommend either version! Carlotta Brentan narrated the story, and her accents were lovely! Her performance definitely enhanced this captivating romance! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

5 Stars

Book Description:

During ball season, anything can happen, even love.

It’s ball season in Vienna, and Maria Wallner only wants one thing: to restore her family’s hotel, the Hotel Wallner, to its former glory. She’s not going to let anything get in her way - not her parents’ three-decade-long affair; not seemingly-random attacks by masked assassins; and especially not the broad-shouldered American foreign agent who’s saved her life two times already. No matter how luscious his mouth is.

Eli Whittaker also only wants one thing: to find out who is selling American secret codes across Europe, arrest them, and go home to his sensible life in Washington, DC. He has one lead - a letter the culprit sent from a Viennese hotel. But when he arrives in Vienna, he is immediately swept up into a chaotic whirlwind of balls, spies, waltzes, and beautiful hotelkeepers who seem to constantly find themselves in danger. He disapproves of all of it! But his disapproval is tested as he slowly falls deeper into the chaos - and as his attraction to said hotelkeeper grows.

Review: The Devil You Know by P.J. Tracy

 

The Devil You Know (Detective Margaret Nolan #3) by P.J. Tracy

Publication Date: January 17th 2023 by Dreamscape Media & Minotaur Books

Pages: 304

Audio Book Length: 7 hrs 12 mins

Narrators: Abby Craden

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Evan Hobbs a famous, wholesome type of actor is found dead in a beach cliff landside the day after a faked video showing him as a child molester. Is it an accident, suicide, or murder? Detective Margaret Nolan and her partner, Al Crawford are called to the scene to figure it out.

The blurb makes it sound like Evan’s agent, Seth Baum, is part of the investigation into the death of Evan, but while we do get his POV he’s not part of the investigation. He’s what you’d expect an agent in that cutthroat business in Hollywood, but he was one of the more likeable of the array of unlikable characters here.  The workings of the entertainment business featured in this case. The lengths people will go for fame and fortune is unsettling.

Sam Easton was also part of the story, but not featured in the investigation at all. There was some movement in his personal life, but to be honest his story wasn’t of much interest to me. Margaret’s personal life, her romance with Remy was on the backburner, but I didn’t mind that either, because I was more invested in the mystery anyhow.

I do enjoy a good police procedural, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous Monkeywrench series. Still, it was an entertaining mystery. I did figure out the main plot but there was a surprise at the end I wasn’t expecting!

I alternately listened to the audio version and read an e-copy. Abby Craden is a performer I’m familiar with and I enjoyed her performance of both male and female voices. I listened at my usual 1.5-1.75x normal speed.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

Los Angeles has many faces: the real LA where regular people live and work, the degenerate underbelly of any big city, and the rarified world of wealth, power, and celebrity. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan’s latest case plunges her into this insular realm of privilege, and gives her a glimpse of the darkness behind the glitter.

The body of beloved actor Evan Hobbes is found in the rubble of a Malibu rockslide a day after a fake video ruins his career. It’s not clear to Nolan if it’s an accident, a suicide, or a murder, and things get murkier as the investigation expands to his luminary friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, Hobbes’ agent is dealing with damage control, his psychotic boss, and a woman he’s scorned. But when his powerful brother-in-law is murdered, he and Nolan both find themselves entangled in a scandalous deception of deadly proportion that shakes the very foundation of Hollywood’s untouchables.

 

Audio Review: Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs

 

Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs

Publication Date: September13th 2022 by Dreamscape Media

Pages: 304

Audio Book Length:  8hrs  33min

Narrator: Petrea Buchard

Source: Publisher & Libro.fm

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Lexi has no desire to return to her infamous filmmaker father-in-law’s mansion, Pinecrest Estate, in the Florida Keys. There’s a terrible history there, from an accident while filming his blockbuster horror flick, to the disappearance of Lexi’s husband just a year earlier, there’s bad, scary memories connected to the mansion and her father-in-law. But when Lexi’s teenage daughter does a bait-and-switch in order to work on a new slasher movie being filmed at Pinecrest, she has no choice but to go. Especially, with a category 4 hurricane headed there.

The story alternates telling the past, how Lexi ended up on the original film, met and fell in love with her husband, and the tragedies that ensued, to the present with Lexi desperate to get to her daughter and stay alive.

Always the First to Die was a fun mystery that had a slasher-movie feel to it, complete with yelling at the heroine “don’t go in there” moments! I enjoyed how it all turned out. An ode to all the 80s slasher/horror flicks, fun mentions of ones like Aliens (one of my favorites that scared the heck out of me at the time!) and more.

It’s my first time listening to Petrea Buchard and I really enjoyed her performance of all voices, male and female! I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.

4 Stars

Review & Excerpt: Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin

 

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin

Publication Date: October 25th 2022 by Berkley & Dreamscape Media

Pages: 368

Audio Book Length: 9hrs 17min

Narrator: Julia Atwood

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Attorney Ava Burch finds herself embroiled in a cold missing person case when she stumbles upon an abandoned campsite during one of her Search and Rescue volunteer jobs with her dog, Huck. Something that immediately catches Detective Grant Wycoff’s attention. While the condescending Sheriff gives Ava the brushoff, Grant connects the dots to a woman gone missing two years earlier. While Grant doesn’t want Ava inserting herself into the case, he can’t help admitting that her find and research have helped make long strides in solving the case.

While trying to piece together the clues, Ava’s targeted by someone unknown and it’s unsettling, but she can’t let the case go as she finds there are bigger things at play.

Even though there’s a mutual attraction and pull, Ava’s hesitant. Seeing her mother always coming in second to the job makes her wary to start up anything with anyone in law enforcement, but she’s having trouble resisting him and they keep getting thrown together through this case. Grant is determined to change her mind and they have amazing chemistry!

I’ve done a lot of hiking and backpacking so I found the Search and Rescue feature really interesting and of course, if there’s a lovable dog I’m totally in!  Huck was adorable and smart, and I loved the relationship he had with Ava and Grant!

I was immediately sucked into Vanishing Hour and listened to the whole book in one day! All the twists had me eager to find out what happened to the missing girls, and I was on the edge of my seat with every bit of danger Ava faced. The ending was a real nail biter! Another win for Laura Griffin! Definite recommend!

I alternated between reading and listening to an audio copy. Julia Atwood’s performance was really good! She performed with a subtle Texas accent that felt authentic to all the characters and she performed both female and male character parts wonderfully! I listened at 1.5x speed normal speed.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

When a cold case in Texas leads to a sinister string of disappearances, a newcomer to the small town helps the deputy sheriff to piece together the clues in this new romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin.

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas, and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog Huck discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she’s perplexed but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Deputy Sheriff Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker—with her designer jeans and expensive car— who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her discovery on the trail, he sees there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Ava’s discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

Excerpt:

 

Missing children are an emergency. Always. Their little bodies are less able to regulate temperature, so they're especially vulnerable to exposure. And in a place as vast and rugged as Silver Canyon State Park, additional hazards abounded: rattlesnakes, coyotes, hundred-foot cliffs. Even the anemic little creek that Ava had been following was terrifying. A child Noah's size could drown in a bathtub.

Ava glanced up at the relentless sun that sucked moisture out of everything beneath it. She looked ahead at Huck, who trotted back and forth in front of her in his zigzag pattern. He was working the wind, as he'd been trained, tirelessly sniffing the air with his powerful nose, which could pick up anything with human scent on it, from a candy wrapper to a dropped article of clothing.

So far, nothing.

Ava checked her watch. Two long hours since she'd left the trailhead. Sweat stung her eyes, and she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. She paused beside a boulder and dropped her pack on the dusty ground to retrieve one of her water bottles. Huck needed some, too, but right now he was intent on his work.

She took a lukewarm sip and scanned the scrub brush lining the canyon wall. Young children had a tendency to wander aimlessly until they found a place to curl up for a nap. Some would even hide from search teams, afraid of getting in trouble for being lost. So Ava had been incessantly scanning pockets of brush.

Huck halted in front of her, his nose lifted in the air. Ava froze and watched. But then his head dropped down and he resumed his zigzags. Ava tucked the water bottle away and pushed off the boulder to continue her trek.

She watched Huck, amazed by his energy. Even in this heat, he loved working, and when he had his vest on, he didn't have an off switch. As he bounded around in front of her, she thought of the other teams, especially the canine one. She was surprised they hadn't found something close to camp.

Of course, the parents had been there, which might have been a problem. Frantic parents threw off a lot of scent, which could have overpowered Noah's smell and possibly confused the dog. Also, the temperature rising in the canyon could have wafted the scent up, well above the dog's nose. Yet another challenge here was that young children didn't throw off as much scent as adults. And still bodies-ones that were either asleep or unconscious-threw off less scent, too.

So there were all kinds of factors in play, especially in a park this size.

Ava checked her watch again and sped up her pace, unable to shake the feeling of dread that had been settling in her stomach as the hours ticked by. Scanning the canyon wall, her gaze caught on something beige and triangular.

A tent? No.

A tarp. She climbed onto a boulder for a closer look. About halfway up the slope of the canyon was a sand-colored canvas tarp that had been stretched taut to create a patch of shade. It looked like a primitive fort-just the sort of thing that would attract a kid's attention, and her pulse quickened as she climbed closer. Nearing the tarp, she spied a small yellow tent tucked in the shade beneath it.

She glanced around for Huck, but he was sniffing along at the base of a rockslide.

Grabbing hold of a juniper tree, Ava levered herself onto the ledge. She ducked under the tarp and paused a moment for her eyes to adjust. The little tent was unzipped. Hope ballooned in her chest as she pulled back the flap and poked her head inside.

Her hope disappeared as she scanned the interior. No sleeping child curled up in the dimness. The air was utterly still, and everything was coated with a thin layer of dust, as though no one had been there in weeks, maybe months. A pile of gear in the corner included a cookstove, a hiking boot, and a blue bedroll with a carabiner clipped to it. Attached to the carabiner was a black key fob.

A chill snaked down her spine. Who would leave their car key out here? The fob seemed odd. Ditto for the hiking boot. Where was the other one? And where was its owner?

On impulse, Ava took out her phone and snapped a couple of pictures. As part of her SAR training, she'd learned to document crime scenes. She couldn't pinpoint why, exactly, but that was what this felt like. She ducked out and snapped a shot of the exterior. A faint bark pulled her attention back to the mission. She couldn't afford to get sidetracked, even though this place felt creepy. She put her phone away as she skimmed the surrounding area for the missing boot, or any sign of the boot's owner. She glanced up the canyon, looking for evidence of a fire pit or any other camping equipment.

A soft whimper had her turning around.

Huck sat beside a rock pile, his ears pricked forward and his gaze fixed on hers. Ava's heart skittered. This was his sit alert letting her know he'd found something.

"Show me," she commanded, and he sprang into action, bounding across the creek bed. She climbed down the rocks and jogged after him, frantically searching the clumps of trees. Huck darted around a giant prickly pear cactus and behind a line of mesquite trees. Amid the fluttering green leaves, she caught a flash of red.

"Please, please, please," she murmured.

Huck disappeared beneath the brush and barked. Ava spied a small white sneaker and a pudgy leg.

Huck danced in a circle, drunk on success and eager for his reward.

"Good boy, Huck! Good boy! Good boy!" She filled her voice with praise, even though her heart had lodged in her throat. The little body wasn't moving. Oh God.

About the Author

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award.