Book Review: Farryn's War by Christie Meierz

Farryn's War
Author: Christie Meierz
Series: Exiles of the Drift (Book 1)
Publication: Parania Press; 1st edition (September 22, 2015)

Description: A novel of love, vengeance, and a world re-opened to the stars.

The empathic Tolari of the Beta Hydri system shunned space travel for thousands of years, until the former ruler of Monralar, Farryn, tried to shake his people from their isolation—tried and failed, losing his honor in the process. Now an exile, he strives to put his past behind him by building his own criminal empire among Earth's colonies.

Only Farryn’s estranged lover Sharana—scholar, political analyst, and empathic sensitive—dares to follow him into human space, desperate to find out what has become of him, hopeful of convincing him that she never betrayed him. Unfortunately, Earth Central Security is watching, and when she falls into their hands, Farryn decides to rescue her – so he can kill her himself.

My Thoughts: After being exiled from Tolari Space after an attempted coup, Farryn is building a new life and empire of his own in human space. But when the bond-mate he believes betrayed him comes to look for him, he needs to save her from Earth's Central Command in the person of Adeline Russell.

Sharana is a scholar and empath and makes a perfect tool for Adeline who wants to capture Farryn and learn all of the Tolari secrets.

This was a fast-paced story. However, just a trigger warning, Adeline isn't at all opposed to torture to reach her goals. There are lots of examples of Sharana being tortured throughout the story. 

I enjoyed the worldbuilding in this story. The Tolari are interesting people with lots of interesting abilities including the ability to disappear. I liked the romance between Farryn and Sharana which really had to go through difficulties before things worked out.

Fans of space opera will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

Pallavi's voice dropped even lower. "Central Command." She clenched one hand on his shirt front. "They have her. They killed her bodyguards. My fault, I'm afraid."

"Who, Lady?" he asked. "Whom did they take?"

"Your bond-partner."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Farryn's War by Christie Meierz

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

TAU CET STATION, INNER RING, CHAIRMAN'S RESIDENCE

The dead nurse sprawled across a desk partly covered by medical monitors, pale hair green under their glow. Her charge, the Chairman of Central Command himself, lay ancient, withered, and unconscious in his life support bed in the middle of the spacious bedroom, but his life was safe -- for now.

Friday 56:

"The Monral is going to beat me senseless the next time I spar with him," he went on. "He cares about you, and I made this possible -- against my better judgment, I might add. So did it work? Did you find him? Tell me you did not just cripple yourself for nothing."

"I cannot sense anything more than a pace away, Bertie."

His eyes narrowed. "You fail to answer my question."

This week I am spotlighting Farryn's War by Christie Meierz. I got this one recently after watching a book launch on Amazon. Here is the description from Amazon:

A novel of love, vengeance, and a world re-opened to the stars.

The empathic Tolari of the Beta Hydri system shunned space travel for thousands of years, until the former ruler of Monralar, Farryn, tried to shake his people from their isolation—tried and failed, losing his honor in the process. Now an exile, he strives to put his past behind him by building his own criminal empire among Earth's colonies.

Only Farryn’s estranged lover Sharana—scholar, political analyst, and empathic sensitive—dares to follow him into human space, desperate to find out what has become of him, hopeful of convincing him that she never betrayed him. Unfortunately, Earth Central Security is watching, and when she falls into their hands, Farryn decides to rescue her – so he can kill her himself.

Book & Audio Review: Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood

Death at Victoria Dock
Author: Kerry Greenwood
Narrator: Stephanie Daniel
Series: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Book 4)
Publication: Poisoned Pen Press; Reprint edition (January 3, 2017); Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd (March 25, 2010)
Length: 177 p.; 5 hours and 27 minutes

Description: From the author of the bestselling Phryne Fisher Series comes Death at Victoria Dock, the next historical mystery featuring the wit and authenticity of Miss Fisher. When a terrible crime hits a little too close to home, Phryne will stop at nothing to seek out the truth.

Driving home late one night, Phryne Fisher is surprised when someone shoots out her windscreen. She alights to finds a pretty young man with an anarchist tattoo dying on the tarmac just outside the dock gates. Phryne does all she can to help, but soon realizes she holds death in her hands. He bleeds to death in her arms... and all over her silk shirt.

Enraged by the loss of the clothing, the damage to her car, and this senseless waste of human life, Phryne promises to find out who is responsible. These kinds of crimes simply don't happen in Victoria, Australia. But she doesn't yet know how deeply into the mire she'll have to go: bank robbery, tattoo parlours, pubs, spiritualist halls, and Anarchists. Then when someone kidnaps her cherished companion, Dot, Phryne will stop at nothing to retrieve her.

My Thoughts: The fourth Phryne Fisher mystery starts with a pretty young man dying in her arms. Phryne is determined to get justice for the young man. But to do so she will have to get involved with Anarchists who are planning a bank robbery.

Meanwhile, she is hired to find a young girl who had disappeared. The girl goes to the same school as Phryne's newly adopted daughters. As she searches for Alicia, she uncovers quite a number of unsavory secrets from her family.

This was another excellent entry in this series. 1928 is vividly realized and Phryne is an independent woman who sets her own course and lives by her own moral code. Phryne's maid Dot gets a nice part in this one when she is kidnapped and has to use her own ingenuity to prevent a future crime. 

Fun historical mystery engagingly read by Stephanie Daniel who does a great job with all the characters and with the pacing of the story.

Favorite Quote:

"You know how I feel about pretty boys -- there aren't enough of them in the world as it is -- we can't have people wantonly removing them. And I need new upholstery in the car. Someone is going to pay for that."

I bought this one January 3, 2021. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Murder of Madison Garcia by Marcy McCreary

The Murder of Madison Garcia
Author: Marcy McCreary
Series: A Ford Family Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: CamCat Books (March 28, 2023)

Description: Sometimes the truth doesn’t set you free―it gets you killed.

Detective Susan Ford notices a missed call on her phone from a number she doesn’t recognize, and when Madison Garcia, a woman with past ties to the town of Monticello, New York, is found stabbed to death the next morning, Susan realizes that Madison was the one who had called her. But why?

Susan teams up with her father, retired Detective Will Ford, to find the killer, and their investigation soon threatens to uncover Madison's family secrets―an inheritance, accidental death, money laundering, extramarital affairs, and family rivalries, just to name a few―and they don’t appreciate the Fords digging into their business.

As the investigation twists and turns, the Fords discover that Madison was planning to confess to a long-kept secret, but someone brutally silenced her. Everyone she knew is a suspect. Anyone could be her killer.

My Thoughts: This was an entertaining police procedural with a lot of complexity. 

Susan Ford, in the middle of a nasty summer cold/sinus infection, catches the case of the death of young woman. Coincidentally, or maybe not, the woman had tried to phone Susan just hours before she was murdered but didn't leave a message. 

Now Susan who is reluctantly including her father retired detective Will Ford has to figure out who wanted Madison Garcia dead. And there are loads and loads of suspects and possible reasons why someone would want her dead. 

Not only is Susan investigating suspects but she's trying to mediate between her warring parents who are no longer speaking to each other. 

Fans of police procedurals will enjoy this title. 

Favorite Quote:

A therapist once told me that my penchant for punctuality was probably an unconscious counterpoint to Mom's constant tardiness. She was wrong about that...it was totally conscious. I relished any circumstance in which I could behave conversely to my mother. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from the author. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Hotel of Secrets
Author: Diana Biller
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin (March 28, 2023)

Description: Diana Biller's Hotel of Secrets is chock full of banter-filled shenanigans, must-have-you kisses, and romance certain to light a fire in the hearts of readers everywhere.

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.

My Thoughts: HOTEL OF SECRETS was an entertaining historical romance with more than a touch of mystery. 

Maria Wallner is the fourth generation of Wallner women who have owned and managed Hotel Wallner in Vienna. She is very determined to restore the hotel to its past magnificence after the mismanagement of her mother who was more interested in her 30-year affair with a married man and the economic collapses of the past. She's not going to let anything stand in her way. Not sabotage from a rival hotel or attempts on her life or the fascinating new guest from America.

Eli Whittaker is searching for the person who is selling American codes and his only clue is a letter sent from Hotel Wallner. He isn't interested in romance but happens to be on hand when a couple of the attempts on Maria's life are made and he can't just ignore them. Nor can he ignore the fascinating Maria Wallner.

This story was filled with fascinating characters and all sorts of secrets. I liked the setting and really liked Maria. She was a determined woman who wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Eli was also interesting and became more interesting as his troubled past was slowly revealed. 

Fans of historical romance will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

He looked down at his feet, as if to verify that he was indeed dancing in the middle of the street, and sighed deeply, "I was afraid of this," he said, in a tone of deep resignation, "The madness in contagious."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Book & Audio Review: Sinister Magic by Lindsay Buroker

Sinister Magic
Author: Lindsay Buroker
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Series: Death Before Dragons (Book 1)
Publication: Self Published (February 28, 2020); Lindsay Buroker (May 13, 2020)
Length: 250 p.; 9 hours and 35 minutes

Description: I’m Val Thorvald, and I’m an assassin.

When magical bad guys hurt people, I take care of them. Permanently.

This doesn’t make me popular with the rest of the magical community—as you can tell from the numerous break-ins and assassination attempts I’ve endured over the years. But thanks to my half-elven blood, a powerful sword named Chopper, and a telepathic tiger with an attitude, I’ve always been able to handle my problems with aplomb. Maybe some cursing and swearing, too, but definitely aplomb.

That changes when my boss is afflicted with a mysterious disease, a government agent starts investigating me, and a godforsaken dragon shows up in the middle of my latest job.

I’ve taken down vampires, zombies, and ogres, but dragons are way, way more powerful. And it doesn’t look like this one is going to like me.

Worse than that, he wants to use his magic to compel me to do his bidding, as if I’m some weak-minded minion.

That’s not going to happen. I’d die before being some dragon’s slave.

But if I can’t figure out a way to avoid him, save my boss, and get rid of the government spook, I’m screwed. Or dead. Or screwed and dead. And that’s never comfortable.

My Thoughts: This beginning to a new urban fantasy series stars Val Thorvald, a half-elven assassin, who rids the Earth of law-breaking supernatural criminals. She runs afoul of a dragon who has come to Earth to capture those criminals and bring them back to their own dimension to face the Dragon Court and be rehabilitated.

When her boss is stricken with a magical form of cancer, Val needs to track down the Dark Elf who made the potion and find a cure before it is too late. However, with her boss away, a new young officer is in charge of the division who really wants to shut the division down and convict both Val and her boss of financial malfeasance. 

Val finds herself trying to elude the cops, find Dark Elves who were an unknown species to her, and keep out of the way of the dragon who wants her to become his bait to capture criminals. Luckily, she has some allies including a part-dwarf who makes magical garden statuary and a snarky tiger who comes from another dimension when she calls for aide. And she has her weapons including a magical sword and a gun that fires magical bullets. 

I really enjoyed this series beginning. Val is a great character who is dealing with a difficult job and who seems to have developed asthma from the stress of it. She has deliberately distanced herself from her young daughter and her mother in order to keep them safe but regrets what she sees as the necessity to be so alone. 

I enjoyed the narration by Vivienne Leheny. I look forward to reading more in this series. 

Favorite Quote:

"And try to keep them distracted. Keep saying arrogant things."

Zav looked over his shoulder, pinning me with his glare. "I do not take orders from law-breaking mongrels who do not acknowledge the supremacy of dragons."

"Yeah, say stuff like that." I gave him a sarcastic thumbs up. "You're a natural."

I bought this one February 5, 2021. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: The Prince Next Door by Sue Civil-Brown

The Prince Next Door
Author: Sue Civil-Brown
Publication: HQN Books; Original edition (November 15, 2014)

Description: When Serena Gregory's clothing-optional Caribbean cruise fell through at the last minute, the thrill-seeking dermatologist decided that helping Darius Maxwell, her mysterious new neighbor—who might or might not be a crown prince—commit a felony would be a worthwhile alternative. Yes, it would involve clothes—for the most part—but the risk of skin cancer would be drastically reduced. Not to mention she'd be helping to secure the future of an entire European country…that she'd never even heard of.

That's how Serena wound up over her head in trouble when she should have been next to naked in paradise—and risking her career and cold, hard jail time for a man she'd only just met!

My Thoughts: When dermatologist Serena Gregory's "clothing optional" cruise is cancelled, she is left to find some other exciting thing to do during her vacation. Her immediate attention is drawn to her new next-door neighbor Darius Maxwell who may or may not be the Crown Prince of a tiny country in the Pyrenees.

Darius is happy being an art dealer. He has no desire to be tied down in a small, poor country. But his mother who is an excellent schemer very used to trying to run her son's life wants him to take the job. In fact, she schemes with the delegates at the embassy in Tampa to convice her son that she has been kidnapped in order to force his hand. 

Darius has a plan. There is a painting from the 1500s that shows all the family trees in the country and could prove that he is not the prince they are looking for. The painting is in storage at a local museum. He plans to borrow it so that he can get a good look at it and prove his claim.

Serena is all in. After all, what could be more exciting than committing a felony? They recruit a band of quirky characters to aid them and begin planning. But others - including Darius's mother - have plots and plans of their own.

This was very much a slapstick heist story with some romance woven in. It was a nice romance.

Favorite Quote: 

"Aren't you worried about n=her?" Ariel asked.

"Ha! the only person who worries about my mother is God, and that's only because she wants His job. No, I'm not worried about my mother. Not by a long shot."

I bought this one sometime before 2008. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 20, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

We had an interesting week. Weather forecasters were predicting a rain/snow mix for Wednesday afternoon and into Saturday. Luckily, the predicted storm mostly missed us. We got a little rain and sleet Wednesday night, and it snowed some on Thursday but not nearly what was predicted. We got five inches of new snow on Thursday and 3/4 inch on Friday. Duluth has now had enough snow to reach the sixth snowiest since records began. That is 121.4 inches with a current snow depth of 35 inches. However, the drifts, and our backyard is full of drifts, are probably between five and six feet high. 

We got our taxes done on Monday. So that's taken care of for another year. I also paid the people who take care of our lawn for mulching, fertilizing, and weed killing even though I doubt anything will be possible until late April or May. It gives me some hope that eventually all the snow will be gone. 

Friday night my brother came home from work, and it sounded like he was driving a tank. He lost the exhaust system somewhere on his journey to and from work. He's been driving my car until he can get his in for work on the exhaust system. He wants to go to the same place he had work done previously and they aren't open on weekends. It looks like I'll have to do some driving so that I can bring him home after he drops off his car for repair. I hope he picks a nice sunny day!

I've been watching so much baseball. Beyond the Atlanta Braves Spring Training games, I've been watching the World Baseball Classic. Just three games left in the WBC but two of them are the same time I should be watching The Voice.

I'm almost to the half-way point in the In Death series. Then I'll have to switch off and actually read the books that I planned to read and put on my calendar. I haven't listened to an audiobook since I started my In Death reread. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

I have done brief reviews of the In Deaths that I haven't already reviewed on Goodreads.

• Origin in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 21)
• Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen (Review; April 4) -- Futuristic mystery in a dystopian future when all humans have gone blind and depend on Vidders to let them see. Someone has found a way to blur out people on the vidders so that they can commit murders. My review will be posted on March 28.
• Memory in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 22)

• Born in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 23)
• Innocent in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 24)
• Creation in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 25)

• Strangers in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 26)
• Salvation in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 27)

Currently

• An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly (Review; April 4)
• Promises in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 28)

Next Week

• Kindred in Death by J. D. Robb (In Death 29)

And Review books...

• Downfall by Mark Rubenstein (Review; April 4)
• A Wealth of Deception by Trish Esden (Review; April 18)

And "oldies" from TBR Mountain.,.

• Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco (mine since July 31, 2009)
• Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein (Mine since February 5, 2009)

And Audiobooks...

• Captive Star by Nora Roberts
• How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper

Reviews Posted

• Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews
• The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix
• Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

• A Mansion for Murder by Frances Brody
• The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian
• Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson (Review; April 25)
• Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen (Review; June 27)

Bought:

• Dragon's Instinct by Elva Burch (BookBub, $1.99)
• Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz (On Sale; $3.99 after using Kindle Rewards)

What was your week like?

Book Review: Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews

Magic Tides
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years (Book 1)
Publication: NYLA (January 17, 2023)

Description: Ilona Andrews invites you back to the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series in this exciting new long novella featuring Kate, Curran and Conlan, some familiar faces, some new friends, and all the special brand of chaos they create!

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 homefront.

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!

My Thoughts: Kate, Curran, and their son Conlan have moved to Wilmington for a new start in a new city and new house. Kate would like them to keep a low profile but when the nephew of their contractor is kidnapped, Kate decides to go to his rescue leaving Curran and Conlan to guard their new house.

It isn't as easy as Kate had hoped since first she runs into traffickers and then she has to deal with the People and finally has to deal with an ancient god. But Kate's knowledge and skills are enough to face all the odds and triumph.

Meanwhile back at home, Curran and Conlan along with some allies deal with their own share of troubles. 

This was a fun story with lots of magical action. I enjoy the worldbuilding which is based on myths from a wide assortment of traditions. It is good to catch up with Kate, Curran and Conlan. 

Favorite Quote:

Hi, honey, I accidentally exploded some kind of baby kraken in the Cape Fear River in broad daylight in front of a dozen witnesses. Yes, I do remember that I was the one who originally insisted on the lying low thing. Yes, I do recall that you said it would never work. No, it isn't funny...

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews

 Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

Ms. Vigue adjusted her bright red glasses and peered at me from her perch on the sofa of our second living room. We were in the middle of renovations, and the second living room was one of the four functional rooms in the entire place.

Friday 56:

The People were the answer to all those needs. Their bases performed community outreach, operated entertainment venues, apprehended loose vampires at no charge, and provided an opportunity for the terminally ill to sell their bodies to be infected with the Immortuus pathogen, which would turn them into vampires after death, for a substantial payout to their family.

This week I am spotlighting Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews. This spinoff from the Kate Daniels Urban Fantasy series is a recent arrival on TBR mountain. Here is the description from Amazon:

Ilona Andrews invites you back to the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels series in this exciting new long novella featuring Kate, Curran and Conlan, some familiar faces, some new friends, and all the special brand of chaos they create!

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 homefront.

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!

ARC Review: The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath
Author: Garth Nix

Series: Left-Handed Booksellers of London (Book 2)
Publication: HarperTeen (March 21, 2023)

Description: Return to the enchanting world of The Left-Handed Booksellers of London in this sequel by Garth Nix, bestselling master of teen fantasy, where once again a team of booksellers must fight to keep dangerous magic under cover before the stuff of legends destroys our world.

There is often trouble of a mythical sort in Bath. The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity that inhabits the ancient hot spring.

This time trouble comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger, requiring a desperate rescue attempt from his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, and art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.

The map takes the trio to a place separated from this world, maintained by deadly sorcery and guarded by monstrous living statues. But this is only the beginning. To unravel the secrets of a murderous Ancient Sovereign, the booksellers must investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths. If they do not stop her, she will soon kill again. And this time, her target is not an ordinary mortal.

My Thoughts: This story begins with a magical map discovered in one of the bookshops in Bath which leads to Merlin getting sucked into a pocket world. To get him back, his sister Vivien has to recruit art student Susan Arkshaw to use her newly discovered magical powers to get him back. 

They are successful but draw the attention of the magical being who created the map and who has a plan to live forever. Sacrificing Susan will make those plans a reality. The booksellers have until midwinter to find and stop this plan.

The story is filled with great worldbuilding and lots and lots of different magical beings. Susan has been trying to keep her distance because she very much wants to live an ordinary human life. But that is looking less and less likely to be possible if she keeps being a target. 

The story is back with adventures enough to keep anyone turning the pages. Susan's struggle and how she comes to terms with it adds a lot of depth to the story too. 

Fantasy fans will enjoy this engaging story.

Favorite Quote:

"We cannot risk another demi-mortal usurping or abrogating her powers," continued Una, speaking more loudly. "It is no different than a judicial hanging. Gwyre and Frances have murdered twenty-six people."

"Apart from the minor detail that there'll be no trial beforehand and we got rid of the death penalty in 1969," said Greene.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

Smolder
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Series: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter (Book 29)
Publication: Berkley (March 21, 2023)

Description: Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a Preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop something that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.

Anita Blake is engaged to Jean-Claude, the new vampire king of America. Humans think she’s gone over to the side of the monsters. The vampires fear that their new king has fallen under the spell of the most powerful necromancer in a thousand years.

In the midst of wedding preparations—including getting Edward, aka U.S. Marshal Ted Forrester, fitted as best man—Anita gets a call that the local police need her expertise at a brutal murder scene linked to a nationwide slaughter of vampires and humans, dubbed the Sunshine Murders.

But there is more than just a murderer to catch: an ancient evil has arrived in St. Louis to challenge Jean-Claude for his crown, his life, Anita, and all they hold dear. Even with Jean-Claude’s new powers as king and Anita’s necromancy, it isn’t enough; they must embrace their triumvirate or allow primeval darkness to spread across the country, possessing first the vampires and then the humans. Evil will triumph unless Jean-Claude and Anita can prove that love conquers all.

My Thoughts: The latest in the Anita Blake. Vampire Hunter series (book 29) has Anita planning her wedding with Jean Claude, dealing with her feelings about her family who may or may not attend her wedding, dealing with someone exposing vampires to sunlight to end their lives, and a new very powerful entity coming to St. Louis to take over Jean Claude's rule and all his people.

This story is filled with the usual complexity of Anita's love-life. She is part of a poly group, all of whom seem to be in need of or involved in therapy. Anita's therapy is helping her deal with her childhood abuses and the lack of self-worth they engendered in her. 

There was less of the blatant and egregious sex scenes that marred earlier books in the series for me. The one major sex scene happens as Jean Claude and Anita are fighting off the attack by the entity that wants to take over St. Louis. They need Richard's help to succeed because, without him, their power triad is just too weak. Richard has made quite a few personal changes since he was last featured in this series. He, too, has been to therapy to deal with his own issues about being a werewolf.

My main concern with this story was that it felt like only half of a novel. So many plot threads were left dangling. The issue with Anita's family is left unresolved. The Sunshine killings are left unresolved. Even the attack by the entity that wants St. Louis was left unresolved. 

Read this one if you are current in the series...and look forward to the next book which will hopefully have some answers.

Favorite Quote:

My chest hurt; brokenhearted in books and movies is reserved for romantic love, but all kinds of love can break your heart. My eyes burned, my throat was tight like I was choking' what the hell was wrong with me?

"It's okay, Anita," he said, voice low and soft the way you talk jumpers off ledges, "whatever you're feeling is okay."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: A Mansion for Murder by Frances Brody

A Mansion for Murder
Author: Frances Brody
Series: Kate Shackleton Mystery (Book 13)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (March 21, 2023)

Description: Old bones speak from the grave as a curse descends on Saltaire in acclaimed author Frances Brody’s thirteenth Kate Shackleton mystery, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear.

When Kate Shackleton disembarks at Saltaire station, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, she has no idea what to expect. A stranger, Ronnie Creswell, has written to say that he has urgent information about the past that will interest her, and he persuades her to make the journey to Milner Field, the grand house that is said to be cursed. But moments after Kate arrives at the lodge, a messenger brings devastating news to Ronnie’s parents: he has been found drowned in the mill reservoir.

Ronnie’s father suspects that this was no accident, and the post-mortem proves him right. Ronnie was murdered. Terrified and distraught, Mrs. Creswell refuses to stay at the Lodge a moment longer. But events take an even more shocking turn when ten-year-old Nancy Creswell, eyes and ears for her blind Uncle Nick, goes missing. An account of the fateful Saturday of Ronnie’s death arouses Kate’s suspicions, and further investigations could prove her right. But truth is never so straightforward at Milner Field. Uncle Nick spins an old story that could hold the key to finding Nancy alive—though the fabled curse may not have claimed its last victim yet. And only a set of old bones buried on the grounds will finally reveal the horrifying truth.

My Thoughts: When Kate Shackleton receives a letter from an unknown young man promising "a story about the past that I know will be of interest to you," Kate decides to make a visit to Saltaire and the Milner Field estate. 

Kate arrives at the appointed time only to find the police on hand informing his parents that young Ronnie Cresswell has been found dead in the reservoir under the woolen factory where he works. No one seems to know what information he intended to pass on to Kate.

When the head of the woolen mill speaks to her, he asks her to look into some industrial espionage that is threatening to put his mill out of business. Kate wonders if this information is what Ronnie had wanted to tell her. She and her housekeeper and her investigator decide to look into things. Things that might involve a long-standing curse on Milner Field and those who live in it. 

This story, set in 1930, is the thirteenth in the Kate Shackleton mystery series. It is the first I have read. I would not hesitate to read others. I enjoyed getting to know Kate, her housekeeper, and her investigator. I found the plot nicely twisty and with intriguing bits of history woven in too. 

Favorite Quote:

'He could be a madman,' she said, picking up the worn striped towel, 'or a prankster sending you on a wild goose chase.'

'Is it the season for a goose chase? Anyway, I've never been to Saltaire, and by all accounts Milner Field mansion is remarkable.'

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian

The Raven Thief
Author: Gigi Pandian
Series: Secret Staircase Mysteries (Book 2)
Publication: Minotaur Books (March 21, 2023)

Description: Multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian is one of the best locked room mystery writers working today. Her newest heroine, Tempest Raj, returns in The Raven Thief, where sliding bookcases, trick tables, and hidden reading nooks hide something much more sinister than the Secret Staircase Construction crew ever imagined.

One murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime.

Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj officially a part of the team―a classic mystery novel-themed home interior. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property―for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party.

The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance table―a circle of clasped hands that wasn't broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, Tempest must figure out what really happened―and how―or Ash will be cooking his delectable Indian and Scottish creations nevermore.

My Thoughts: The second Secret Staircase Mystery has Tempest involved in solving a real puzzle. When she is invited to a mock seance to remove all traces of their client's cheating ex-husband, she doesn't expect to find him appearing dead in the middle of the table where the seance was held when he was supposed to be fifty miles away at the time. When her Grandfather Ash is arrested as the murder's prime suspect, Tempest and her friends need to figure out what really happened and how Corbin Colt's body ended up on that table.

I liked the way classic mysteries from the Golden Age were woven into the story. I really liked the idea of a company that creates "magical' renovations complete with sliding bookshelves and hidden compartments. I liked the way Tempest used her background as a stage magician to figure out how the trick was done.

I liked the quirky characters and the strong family relationships among the Rajs. I'm curious to know if Tempest will find a romantic partner as the series progresses because there are two good suspects among her group of friends. I liked that the on-going thread begun in UNDER LOCK & SKELETON KEY which concerns the death of her aunt, and the disappearance of mother makes some progress in this episode. 

While I would recommend starting with book 1 to learn who these characters are, this book does stand alone quite well. 

Favorite Quote:

"That's the one thing I never understood about so many of those puzzle-plot classic mysteries. I love their clever plots, but there needs to be an answer to why someone would go to such effort."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller

Bones Under the Ice
Author: Mary Ann Miller
Series: Jhonni Laurent (Book 1)
Publication: Oceanview Publishing (March 21, 2023)

Description: Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field’ s Crossing, Indiana— and now she has her first murder case

Two days after a blizzard hits Field’ s Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni’ s first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni’ s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large— all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it’ s too late?

My Thoughts: This first-in-a-series thriller introduces Sheriff Jhonni Laurent who works in Field's Crossing, Indiana. After 15 years in the department and four years as sheriff, she is now faced with her first murder investigation.

Eighteen-year-old Stephanie Gattison was found buried under piles of snow left by a blizzard. At first, the assumption is that she got lost during the blizzard and died of hypothermia. However, two dents on her head soon lead to the conclusion that someone hit her and left her to die. 

Stephanie was an ambitious high school senior who worked two part-time jobs. She worked for the city scanning documents and for the local hardware store. She has a boyfriend named Dylan Martin and had recently had an argument at work with Theo Tillman. Both are potential suspects since she saw both of them the afternoon of the storm at the local water tower. 

The Martins and Tillmans had a long-standing feud. Both families farmed but the Martins were frugal and successful while the Tillmans were lazy and deeply in debt. Laurent is afraid that her investigation will acerbate tensions between the two families. 

Tensions are already high enough in town. Laurent is up for reelection in just a few weeks and her defeated opponent works as one of her deputies and is running again with the strong support of the local newspaper which is more known for vendettas than serious news. Laurent is also dealing with a letter she's recently received from the daughter she gave up for adoption thirty years earlier. 

Then the local banker is found dead in a suspicious accident and Laurent has another murder to solve.

I enjoyed this story. I liked Laurent as she deals with all the stresses in her life. I thought the plot was well done and the characters very realistic. I recommend it for all mystery fans. 

Favorite Quote:

"Then there's the alien theory." She pulled her mouse pad toward her and looked at her reelection opponent. "He thinks Vern saw an alien ship land at the water tower and thought Stephanie was an alien and shot her."

"You gotta give him credit for imagination," Greene said. "What are you going to do next?"

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 13, 2023)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was mostly a usual week. It did snow on Monday when I went to my car dealership to buy the car I've been leasing for the last three years. However, my brother drove his car to get there. That was all taken care of in about an hour. Now all I have to do is wait for the Title for the car to find its way to me from the State of Minnesota which could take anywhere from a week to a couple of months.

All week the weather guys were predicting a long-lasting snow event for the weekend. They were right. It started snowing at noon on Saturday and hasn't yet stopped at noon on Sunday. We broke the March 11 record for snowfall with 5.9 inches. Our road is impassable until the snowplows get to it because of the new snow and the snow drifts caused by the wind. We are a Priority 2 street and don't expect snowplows until the snow stops and all the Priority 1 streets have been plowed. So, my brother couldn't get to work today. 

We are hoping to be plowed out by tomorrow morning because we have appointments to have our taxes done at H & R Block at 11AM and 11:30AM on Monday. Since he's taken time off from work to make the appointments, we really don't want to have to reschedule. 

This has been a great week for reading and watching baseball. Not only Spring Training games but the World Baseball Classic have been keeping me busy. I also enjoyed watching the first two nights of The Voice. 

As for reading, my current review book is slow. It is a dystopian mystery and really hasn't grabbed my attention. I read the first 20% and took a break with another In Death book. Then I read a bit more and then read another In Death book. And did it again. I'm up to 60% but it may take me all of next week to finish it. On the other hand, I'm loving my In Death reread. I've now read the first 20 and am just beginning book 21.

I also spent some time this week planning my April calendar. I slotted in a lot of my older books from my physical TBR pile. I don't have very many review books being released in April. The ones being released on April 4 are on my March calendar. However, the three May 2 releases will be on the April calendar. It still leaves lots of room for my own books and audiobooks.

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• The Murder of Madison Garcia by Marcy McCreary (Review; March 28) -- Second Ford Family mystery set in the Catskills in Upper New York State. My review will be posted March 23)
• Farryn's War by Christie Meierz (Mine) -- Space opera set in Tolari Space. My review will be posted March 25.
• Rembrandt's Station by Christie Meierz (Mine) -- Space opera with an engaging MM romance. My review will be posted April 1.

• Fateful Words by Paige Shelton (Review; April 4) -- Latest in Scottish Bookshop Mystery series was entertaining. My review will be posted on March 28.
• Imitation in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; Reread)
• Divided in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; Reread)

• Visions in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; reread)
• Survivor in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; reread)

Currently

• Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen (Review; April 4) -- I'm at 61%
• Origin in Death by J. D. Robb (Mine; Reread) -- I'm just starting In Death 21. I'm up to 2005 releases.

Next Week

• An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly (Review; April 4)
• Downfall by Mark Rubenstein (Review; April4)

Reviews Posted

• Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado
• Encore in Death by J. D. Robb
• Hidden Star by Nora Roberts

• Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen
• Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt
• A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley (Review; May 2)

Bought:

• All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett (Book Perk, $2.99)
• Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb (BookBub, $1.99)

• Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology by L. J. Hachmeister
• Moira's Pen by Megan Whalen Turner (BookBub, $2.99)
• Murder Mystery Book Club by Danielle Collins (BookBub, Free)

• Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep (Kindle & $1.99 Audiobook)
• Turbo Twenty-Three by Janet Evanovich (BookBub, $1.99)

What was your week like?