Audiobook Review: Only Good Enemies by Jennifer Estep

Only Good Enemies
Author: Jennifer Estep
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Series: Galactic Bonds (Book 2)
Publication: Audible Studios (July 18, 2023)
Length: 14 hours and 12 minutes

Description: New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with an action-packed new adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soulmates, slow-burning, and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

A woman on a mission...

My name is Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat, toiling away in obscurity developing brewmakers and other household appliances. But thanks to my seer magic and my own ingenuity, I’m now a Regal lady and the head of a successful corporation.

My mission? To destroy the Techwave, the dangerous group that has stolen my designs and plans to weaponize them against the Imperium. But when my mission takes an unexpected turn, I’m once again surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.

Further complicating matters is Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord whose fate is bound to mine. Kyrion doesn’t realize the two of us still have an unwanted connection that puts us both in grave danger...or does he?

A man surrounded by enemies...

My name is Kyrion Caldaren. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’ve been tasked with tracking down and destroying the Techwave before they seize control of the Archipelago Galaxy.

My other mission? Find a way to assassinate Lord Callus Holloway, the Imperium ruler who wants to take my psion power for his own. Holloway is also a threat to Vesper Quill, who haunts my thoughts, despite the broken bond and distance between us.

When I realize Vesper is in danger, my priorities change, and I vow to use all my telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities to help her. I will save Vesper from her enemies and mine—even if I have to burn down the whole bloody galaxy.

My Thoughts: The second book in the Galactic Bonds series begins with Vesper and Kyrion apart from each other. Vesper is consolidating her hold on her new corporation and getting used to the idea of being a Regal lady. She is also working to defeat the Techwave who is stealing her inventions and putting them to bad uses. 

Vesper knows that the bond between herself and Kyrion was not broken, but she doesn't want to be bonded to anyone who doesn't love her. She's had enough in her life of being the one left behind without care or thought. 

Kyrion is at home and wondering why thoughts of Vesper keep crossing his mind. He doesn't want a bond with her because he knows that Callus Holloway will only exploit it and steal their power. He also knows the Holloway regrets making Vesper a Regal lady and wants control of her corporation. 

When Vesper is kidnapped by the Techwave, Kyrion is ready to throw away everything else to rescue her. But Holloway has sent three additional Arrows to also "rescue" Vesper and return her to him so that he can use her. 

This was an entertaining science fiction adventure which combines a lot of romance with the more science fiction parts of the story. Vesper and Kyrion overcome their reluctance to embrace their bond and learn that they are stronger together and apart after embracing it. However, two against the universe are still long odds and a happy ending seems to be far in their future. 

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

Book Review: An Ace and a Pair by Blake Banner

An Ace and a Pair
Author: Blake Banner
Series: A Dead Cold Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Right House (August 10, 2017)

Description: He's a dinosaur...she's got a bad attitude. The Captain wants them gone, so she gives them the Cold Cases files. The one's nobody gives a damn about...

USA TODAY & Amazon 2-million copy bestselling author BLAKE BANNER is at his best in this mystifying crime series!

Detective John Stone of the NYPD has the best arrest record in the 43rd precinct. But he’s a dinosaur who belongs to another age. Detective Carmen Dehan has such a bad attitude that nobody at the precinct can stomach her. Captain Jennifer Cuevas wants them both out of the way and thinks they make a perfect pair. So she gives them the Cold Cases file – the cases nobody gives a damn about.

Ten years back Nelson Hernandez and his four cousins were playing poker in a dive at Hunts Point. Somebody came in, blew them away and beheaded and castrated Nelson, leaving his head and his balls on the table. There was no shortage of suspects, the Jersey Mob, the Triads from Manhattan, or the 43rds own bent cop, Mick Harragan. But nobody was ever charged, and the night of the murder Mick Harragan went missing with Nelson’s wife, Maria.

Now Stone and Dehan plan to find him – whatever the consequences…

My Thoughts: AN ACE AND A PAIR begins a new mystery series by Blake Banner. This police procedural begins a series. 

John Stone has been a NYPD homicide detective for more than 20 years. He has been very successful. But a new boss would like to ease him aside to bring in younger detectives who are more comfortable with modern techniques. John isn't willing to gracefully step aside. 

In the hopes of easing him out, his captain assigns him to working cold cases. He is also assigned a new partner. Detective Carmen Dehan has a bad attitude and hasn't made any friends in the precinct. 

The two decide that the first case they will work on is the unsolved murder of Nelson Hernandez and his four cousins who were murdered while playing poker. There are lots of suspects. Nelson was trying to take over the area and run the drug and crime activities. The Jersey Mob, the Triads, and another Hispanic mob all had reasons to want Nelson dead. And a dirty cop known to John could also have had a hand in it. He disappeared shortly after the murders. 

As John and Carmen look into the case, they are also building a strong working relationship. They uncover old witnesses and gradually put the pieces together. 

This was an entertaining mystery with fascinating characters and a nicely twisty plot. 

I bought this one November 3, 2018. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

The 6:20 Man
Author: David Baldacci
Publication: Grand Central Publishing (July 12, 2022)

Description: A cryptic murder pulls a former soldier turned financial analyst deep into the corruption and menace that prowl beneath the opulent world of finance, in this #1 New York Times bestselling thriller from David Baldacci.

Every day without fail, Travis Devine puts on a cheap suit, grabs his faux-leather briefcase, and boards the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan, where he works as an entry-level analyst at the city’s most prestigious investment firm. In the mornings, he gazes out the train window at the lavish homes of the uberwealthy, dreaming about joining their ranks. In the evenings, he listens to the fiscal news on his phone, already preparing for the next grueling day in the cutthroat realm of finance. Then one morning Devine’s tedious routine is shattered by an anonymous email: She is dead

Sara Ewes, Devine’s coworker and former girlfriend, has been found hanging in a storage room of his office building—presumably a suicide, at least for now—prompting the NYPD to come calling on him. If that wasn’t enough, before the day is out, Devine receives another ominous visit, a confrontation that threatens to dredge up grim secrets from his past in the army unless he participates in a clandestine investigation into his firm. This treacherous role will take him from the impossibly glittering lives he once saw only through a train window, to the darkest corners of the country’s economic halls of power . . . where something rotten lurks. And apart from this high-stakes conspiracy, there’s a killer out there with their own agenda, and Devine is the bull’s-eye.

My Thoughts: Travis Devine is a West Point grad who served honorably in the Army as a Ranger but left the service as a Captain when something happens that fills him with guilt. Bowing to family pressure, he gets an MBA and begins work for an investment company named Cowl and Comley. He has an entry-level analyst position and hates it. 

When a woman he knows - the woman who mentored his induction group - is found hanging in a broom closet at work, he receives a cryptic and untraceable email informing him of details about the death. After going to the closet and seeing her body, Travis is determined to find out what happened to the woman he could have loved. 

However, the death is just the first of the strange things that pull him out of the rut of his new job. He is recruited - under threat of imprisonment - to discover what is going on at Cowl and Comely since the government is sure that something hinky is going on there. 

And his friend's death is only the start of the deaths surrounding Cowl and Comely. With the help of his three roommates: a Russian emigre white hat hacker, a newly graduated law student, and a woman preparing to launch her new dating app on the world, Travis begins to look into the strange things. 

This was an excellent and fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. I liked it very much. 

Favorite Quote:

The people he'd seen from the train earlier were filtering out now. No doubt they had to get back to their fabulous homes and do fabulous things before getting up the next day to continue being fabulous. But maybe he was just being fabulously cynical and envious. 

I bought this one May 28, 2023. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig & Kate White

The Author's Guide to Murder
Author: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Kate White
Publication: William Morrow (November 5, 2024)

Description: Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead—under bizarre circumstances—in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists.

The prime suspects are Kat de Noir, a slinky erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction. The women claim to be best friends writing a book together, but the authors’ stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don’t quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious.

Why did the authors really come to Castle Kinloch? And what really happened the night of the great Kinloch ceilidh, when Brett Saffron Presley skipped the folk dancing for a rendezvous with death?

A crafty locked-room mystery, a pointed satire about the literary world, and a tale of unexpected friendship and romance—this novel has it all, as only three bestselling authors can tell it!

My Thoughts: THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER is the latest collaboration by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. The story takes place in Scotland and doesn't seem to miss any opportunity to explore Scottish themes - from plaid to whisky to accents. 

Three authors are at Castle Kinloch for a writing workshop. They have convinced their editor to send them so that they can write a story about the death of the notorious Naughty Ned who died at a house party in 1900. 

The three women are claiming to be best friends, but that assertion falls apart quite quickly since they are so different from one another and so prone to bickering. Kat de Noir writes paranormal erotica; Cassie Pringle writes a number of cozy series; and Emma Endicott writes detailed and annotated historical biographies of obscure women. But they do have one thing in common. Each was victimized by best-selling author Brett Saffron Presley who is renting the Castle and is the host (though an unseen one) of the writing workshop. 

When Brett Saffron Paisley is found dead, it is not leap for the police to center their suspicions on the three women. In fact, they briefly even doubt each other but then decided to work together to find out what happened to BSP and, incidentally, clear their own names. 

The story was filled with romance tropes. It also had interesting and well-developed characters in the three authors. The story was also filled with humor both in the characters of the authors and the estate manager with the pet sheep. 

This was a fun reading experience. Readers of romance and mystery will enjoy this one. 

Favorite Quote:

Kat has a theory that it was mutual incomprehension that fueled attraction; once you figured out who the other person was -- well, it didn't last long. 

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

ARC Review: Pike Island by Tony Wirt

Pike Island
Author: Tony Wirt
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (November 1, 2024)

Description: From the bestselling author of Just Stay Away comes a haunting thriller about a rising politician whose shadowy past threatens to end his career―and his future shot at the presidency.

What happens at the cabin stays at the cabin. Right?

Andrew Harrison “Harry” Leonard is destined for politics. Getting his start on the Rochester City Council, he quickly rose to become the youngest representative in Congress. Now the up-and-comer from Minnesota is on the brink of something big. If all goes well, he’ll be in perfect position to aim for the presidency.

Then a postcard arrives, blank except for the name on the address: Leonard. Harry hasn’t used that name since high school. Krista Walsh, Harry’s chief of staff, recognizes his old moniker, and when he dodges questions about it, she wonders what he’s trying to hide. She soon discovers the lake pictured on the postcard holds secrets too.

Krista’s investigation into Harry’s past uncovers the truth of what happened one fateful teenage summer. But as disturbing details come to light, how far will Krista go to keep Harry’s career―and her own―headed to the top?

My Thoughts: When a strange postcard arrives at the offices of Freshman Representative Andrew Harrison Leonard, his Chief of Staff Krista Walsh is concerned and puzzled. A picture of a lake in Minnesota leads to discoveries about the man she has supported since his days on the City Council in Rochester, Minnesota, to his current position and hopes to be with him until he is elected President of the United States. She thought she knew everything about Harry's past, but the postcard leads to new potentially damning information.

As Harry gradually doles out information to Krista, alternate chapters show what really happened at Cedar Lake the summer after Harry and his three best friends graduated from high school. And, the more Krista learns, the more she is concerned about Harry's political future and her own future too. 

This was an exciting and page-turning story. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. Fans of suspenseful stories will really enjoy it. I enjoyed it especially because the setting was a part of Minnesota that was familiar to me. I also liked the moral dilemma that Krista faced as she had to decide what to do about the new knowledge she gained about her boss. 

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? (October 28, 2024)

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.

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 another excellent fall week. Temperatures were pleasant. Most of the fall colors are gone here and the trees are looking a little bare. 

I had a great reading and listening week since I had to wait until Friday for more baseball games. The World Series has been exciting so far and I like that the Dodgers have a two-game lead. I'll be having a quiet Sunday as my Vikings played football last Thursday night and the next World Series game isn't until Monday night. Maybe I'll be able to finish my current audiobook while setting up posts for December on my blog. 

I've decided that December is going to be "read what you got in 2024" month and filled my calendar with (relatively) recent arrivals. Since as of today, I still have 147 unread 2024 titles, this seemed like a way to lower the TBR stack some. Of course, I have 2501 books in my To Read collection at LibraryThing some dating back to 2009, so I won't be making much of a dent. But a dent is a dent.

I'm looking forward to trick or treaters this week since Halloween is just around the corner. I also have an appointment for a blood draw later in the week. And I have all the end of the month things to do for my blog. 

My brother and I just did some meal planning for the week. We have today, Monday and Tuesday's dinners figured out. Then I'm on my own for dinners until his next day off on Saturday. There should be leftovers from our already planned meals unless I decide to get creative. 

Read Last Week

• Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney (Review; November 26) -- Fourth in the Cambridge Bookshop mystery series. My review will be posted on November 19.
• Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey (Kindle and Audible Plus) -- This is the second book in the Diana Tregarde Urban Fantasy series. My review will be posted on November 14.
• Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna (Audiobook; Mine since July 25, 2023) -- This is the third Stella and Lyndy historical mystery. My review will be posted on November 19.

• Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (Kindle and Audible Plus) -- This is the finale of the Diana Tregarde Urban Fantasy series. My review will be posted on November 21.
• Feuds edited by Mercedes Lackey (Review; November 26) -- This is the eighteenth anthology of Valdemar stories by assorted authors. My review will be posted on November 20.
• Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon (Mine since April 11, 2017) -- This is the first book in the Vatta's Peace science fiction series. My review will be posted on November 21. 

• Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose (Audiobook; Mine since January 10) -- The third Wrexford & Sloan historical mystery. My review will be posted on November 26.
• Into the Fire by Elizabeth Moon (Mine since February 5, 2018) -- The second and last book in the Vatta's Peace series. My review will be posted on November 26.
• Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell (Mine since July 16) -- This is the third in the St Kilda Romantic Suspense series. My review will be posted on November 23.

Currently

• Passions in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread)

Next Week

• The Secret of the Three Fates by Jess Armstrong (Review; December 3)
• Perfect Storm by Paige Shelton (Review; December 3)
• Hounded by David Rosenfelt (Mine since December 5, 2022)

• The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (Mine since September 6)
• The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn (Mine since July 12)
• The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch (Audiobook; Audible Plus)

Reviews Posted

• Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon (Audiobook)
• A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke (Review copy)
• Divine by Choice by P. C. Cast (Mine)

• Smash Cut by Sandra Brown (Mine)
• Sacred Ground by Mercedes Lackey (Audiobook; Audible Plus)
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (Mine)

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

Review:

• Perfect Storm by Paige Shelton (Review; December 3)

Bought:

• Cherish and the Duke by Meara Platt (Kindle; free after using Kindle Rewards)
• Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna (Kindle)
• Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose (Audiobook; Chirp for $2.99)

• Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna (Audiobook; Audible Credit)
• Rest in Pink by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Kindle and $1.99 Audiobook)
• One in Vermillion by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (BookBub for $.99 and $1.99 Audiobook)

What was your week like?

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society (Book 1)
Publication: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (April 1, 2008)

Description: For fans of Lemony Snicket and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, this first book in the bestselling, award-winning Mysterious Benedict Society series is not to be missed!

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Dozens of children respond to this peculiar newspaper ad and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children—two boys and two girls—succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it, they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

My Thoughts: This middle grade fantasy describes the adventures of four young orphans who are recruited by the mysterious Mr. Benedict for a dangerous mission to save the world. All four of the children are very bright and manage to pass a series of difficult tests.

Reynie Muldoon, Sticks Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire all have a variety of skills necessary to defeat the evil villain. Reynie is a great puzzle solver. Sticks remembers everything. Kate is daring and physically gifted. Constance is as contrary as her name and filled with stubbornness. 

The three are sent to a new school - the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened - to find out what its leader Ledroptha Curtain is up to. The kids have a variety of adventures including discovering secret tunnels and communicating with Morse Code. They also have to deal with the various students who are quite an odd lot. 

Fans of bright, brave kids having adventures in a fantasy world will enjoy this one. 

I bought this one January 6, 2010. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

The Friday 56 was hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. This meme is currently on hiatus but many of us are still including a sentence from page 56 or from 56% of the ebook. Anne @ Head Full of Books is picking up the slack until Freda is ready to return. I think this link will get you to the correct place. 

Beginning:

In a city called Stonetown, near a port called Stonetown Harbor, a boy named Reynie Muldoon was preparing to take an important test. 

Friday 56:

He found himself in a brightly lit room with pitch-black walls. 

This week I am spotlighting The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. It has been on my TBR mountain since January 6, 2010. Here is the description from Amazon:

For fans of Lemony Snicket and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, this first book in the bestselling, award-winning Mysterious Benedict Society series is not to be missed!

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Dozens of children respond to this peculiar newspaper ad and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children—two boys and two girls—succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it, they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

Audiobook Review: Sacred Ground by Mercedes Lackey

Sacred Ground
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Narrator: Katie Anvil Rich
Publication: Tantor Audio (August 22, 2023)
Length: 11 hours

Description: From the New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey comes contemporary fantasy Sacred Ground.

Jennifer Talldeer is Osage and Cherokee, granddaughter of a powerful Medicine Man. She walks a difficult path: contrary to tribal custom, she is learning a warrior's magics. A freelance private investigator, Jennifer tracks down stolen Native American artifacts.

The construction of a new shopping mall uncovers fragments of human bone, revealing possible desecration of an ancient burial ground. Meanwhile, the sabotage of construction equipment at the site implicates many activists—particularly Jennifer's old flame, who is more attractive and dangerous than ever. Worst of all, the grave of Jennifer's legendary Medicine Man ancestor has been destroyed, his tools of power scattered, and a great evil freed to walk the land.

Jennifer must make peace with the many factions and solve the mystery of her ancestor's grave before the world falls into oblivion.

My Thoughts: This story stars Jennifer Talldeer who is a private investigator and the granddaughter and apprentice of her grandfather who is a powerful medicine man. She's Osage and Cherokee. While she has many of the usual PI cases, her real joy comes from locating Native American artifacts and returning them to their tribes.

She is hired by an insurance company to determine whether the contractor for a new mall is hiding things that would make him uninsurable. Rod Calligan has a reputation for doing shoddy work. But problems at his latest site which include the explosion of one of his machines the killed four seems to be a step up. And when Native artifacts are discovered on the site, many of his Native American crew are refusing to continue work. 

Neither Jennifer nor her grandfather were aware of any Native burial site at that location and think that it was a cache that was discovered - a cache Calligan was planning to sell to the highest bidder. But things quickly take a turn to the paranormal when strange things begin to happen. Calligan had discovered the burial place and medicine bag of an evil spirit and the evil lives on and is trying to find a new place in the world. 

Meanwhile, Calligan is trying to accomplish an insurance scam by staging a series of "accidents" that will allow him to declare bankruptcy and get out from under a project he knows will be unsuccessful since he's already skimmed all the profit he can. He wants to cast blame for the failure on his Native American crew which brings in Jennifer's old boyfriend David Spotted Horse who has become an Indian Activist. 

This was a suspenseful mystery combined with lots of Native American mythology. I enjoyed it a lot. 

I bought this one from Chirp August 21. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Smash Cut by Sandra Brown

Smash Cut
Author: Sandra Brown
Series: Mitchell & Associates (Book 1)
Publication: Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (July 23, 2009)

Description: From #1 New York Times bestselling author of Seeing Red comes this thrilling novel full of jarring, cinematic twists and breathless suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat.

When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered, his family retains renowned lawyer Derek Mitchell to defend the victim’s nephew Creighton—although the police have not charged the young man with the crime. Wheeler’s mistress Julie Rutledge, who is also a suspect, believes that Creighton is the killer despite his rock-solid alibi, and she’ll do almost anything in her quest to prove his guilt—even ruin Derek’s career. But as Derek learns of Creighton’s darker side, especially his bizarre fascination with movie murders, the more he agrees with Julie’s suspicion. The clock ticks down to a shocking ending as Derek and Julie join forces to find the truth. Has Creighton begun re-enacting cinema’s goriest scenes and, if so, who will be his unwilling co-stars? They won’t know until the final Smash Cut.

My Thoughts: When millionaire Paul Wheeler is murdered in an attempted robbery in an elevator at a plush hotel, the consequences ripple out. Derek Mitchell, a renowned and high-priced defense attorney, is hired to protect the interests of Paul's family. His supposed mistress is also a possible suspect. 

But Derek has a connection with Julie Rutledge, the supposed mistress, the compromises his defense of Paul's brother, sister-in-law and nephew Creighton. Julie seduced Derek on an airplane coming back from France in the hopes of compromising him. 

When Derek learns who Julie is and after taking a strong dislike to Creighton, Derek switches sides, drops the Wheelers, and agrees to defend Julie despite not knowing if he can believe her when she says she had nothing to do with Paul's death. 

This twisty story has Julie keeping a lot of secrets but not nearly as many as Creighton. Creighton is an apparent golden boy who lives a charmed life and is obsessed with movies. He is also a complete psychopath which he has almost hidden from the world. 

As Derek and his investigator probe into Creighton's life, the hidden things begin to be revealed. However, it is a near thing keeping him from completing his murderous plans. 

This one was a complete page-turner filled with action, danger, twists and turns. 

Favorite Quote:

"Do you know what a smash cut is?"

"A smash...No, I don't know. What?"

"It's an abrupt edit. A sudden shift of scene. Used to shock the audience. Very effective. Lots of impact. Packs a wallop."

I bought this one August 18, 2009. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Divine by Choice by P. C. Cast

Divine by Choice
Author: P. C. Cast
Series: The Parthalon (Book 2)
Publication: Blackstone Publishing (March 2, 2023)

Description: Finally settled into her new world and role as the Goddess Epona’s Chosen, Shannon finds herself loving her life of luxury and service more and more each day. Her handsome husband is due to return from his travels soon, and the temple and its people have recovered from the terrible war months before. Even though the evil has been banished from the land and all is calm, Shannon can’t seem to shake the cloud of uneasiness (and nausea) she’s been feeling, even after she receives the wonderful news of her forthcoming bundle of joy.

But when a routine ride through the countryside turns dangerous, Shannon is once again pulled across the divide—back to the rolling green of Oklahoma. Sensing the darkness growing in her former world and driven by Epona’s steady hand, she must rely on the tempting and sexy Clint Freeman to help her defeat the all-too-familiar evil that lurks in the shadows before she can return to her real home—Partholon.

My Thoughts: Oklahoma high school English teacher Shannon is finally settling in on Partholon as the Goddess Epona's Chosen and wife to centaur ClanFintan. The war is over, but changes are still on the horizon. 

Shannon, now called Rhea, finds herself pregnant and feeling a growing sense of evil. When a trip to a local shrine finds her jerked back to the Earth she left behind, Shannon has to battle old evil in a new setting if she is ever going to get back to her new life. 

Even though it has been many, many years since I read the first book in this series, I was able to quickly adjust to the world and the mythology which is a combination of Scottish and Greek myths. This was an entertaining fantasy. 

I bought this one July 10, 2009, shortly after I bought my first Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon

Victory Conditions
Author: Elizabeth Moon
Narrator: Cynthia Holloway
Series: Vatta's War (Book 5)
Publication: Tantor Audio (February 3, 2009)
Length: 15 hours and 40 minutes

Description: For Kylara Vatta, it's not just about liberating the star systems subjugated by Gammis Turek and defending the rest of the galaxy's freedom. There is also a score to be settled and payback to be meted out for the obliteration of the Vatta Transport dynasty...and the slaughter of Ky's family.

But the enemy have their own escalation efforts under way - including the placement of covert agents among the allies with whom Ky and the surviving Vattas are collaborating in the war effort. And when a spy ring linked to a wealthy businessman is exposed, a cracked pirate code reveals a galaxy-wide conspiracy fueling the proliferation of Turek's warship fleet. Matching the invaders' swelling firepower will mean marshaling an armada of battle-ready ships for Ky to lead into combat. But a violent skirmish leaves Ky reeling - and presumed dead by her enemies.

Now, as Turek readies an all-out attack on the Nexus system - a key conquest that could seal the rest of the galaxy's doom - Ky must rally to the challenge, draw upon every last reserve of her strategic skills, and reach deep if she is to tear from the ashes of tragedy her most decisive victory.

My Thoughts: The conclusion to the Vatta's War 5-book series sees Ky Admiral of the combined fleet assembled to end the threat of the pirate Gammis Turok who has assembled a fleet of over 300 ships. Turok has also embedded spies in the major planetary systems who are helping him overthrow the existing governments.

As Ky deals with the loss of her first ship and most of its crew, Stella is dealing with rebuilding Vatta Enterprises and overseeing the manufacture of shipboard ansibles which will bring parity to Ky's fleet since the pirates already have them. Stella is also dealing with an adolescent tech genius ward who has fallen in love for the first time. Unfortunately, Toby's girlfriend's father is one of Turok's plants and a traitor to his planet. 

Rafe is dealing with ISC on his homeworld of Nexus II which is squarely in the sights of Turok's fleet. Rafe has a brain-damaged father who is still influential on the board of ISC and who is unreasonably prejudiced against any and all Vattas. His venom finds fertile ground since most of the board resents that Stella Vatta is manufacturing ansibles which leaves ISC's monopoly on communications in jeopardy. 

Ky has to pull together forces from various jurisdictions and convince much older ship commanders that she is the best one to lead the fight against Gammis Turok. 

This was a great space opera series and this volume a satisfying conclusion. 

I bought this one in paperback sometime before 2008. I recently bought the Kindle version and added the Audible Plus version to my Audible Library. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke

A New Lease on Death
Author: Olivia Blacke
Series: Supernatural Mysteries (Book 1)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 29, 2024)

Description: Death is only the beginning in Olivia Blacke's A New Lease on Death, a darkly funny supernatural mystery that introduces an unlikely crime-solving duo.

Ruby Young's new Boston apartment comes with all the usual perks. Windows facing the brick wall of the next-door building. Heat that barely works. A malfunctioning buzzer. Noisy neighbors. A dead body on the sidewalk outside. And of course, a ghost.

Since Cordelia Graves died in her apartment a few months ago, she's kept up her residency, despite being bored out of her (non-tangible) skull and frustrated by her new roommate. When her across-the-hall neighbor, Jake Macintyre, is shot and killed in an apparent mugging gone wrong outside their building, Cordelia is convinced there’s more to it and is determined to bring his killer to justice.

Unfortunately, Cordelia, being dead herself, can't solve the mystery alone. She has to enlist the help of the obnoxiously perky, living tenant of her apartment. Ruby is twenty, annoying, and has never met a houseplant she couldn't kill. But she also can do everything Cordelia can't, from interviewing suspects to researching Jake on the library computers that go up in a puff of smoke if Cordelia gets too close. As the roommates form an unlikely friendship and get closer to the truth about Jake's death, they also start to uncover other dangerous secrets.

My Thoughts: A NEW LEASE ON DEATH introduces an intriguing pair of detectives. Ruby Young is twenty and has just moved into a fully furnished apartment in Boston which happens to still be occupied by Cordelia Graves who died there of a drug overdose a few months earlier and is now haunting the place. 

When the guy from across the hall is shot and killed outside the apartment, Cordelia and Ruby decide to investigate the death. Cordelia was there when Jake's ghost appeared but couldn't convince him that ghosts were real before he passed on to elsewhere. Ruby walked onto the scene on her way to her latest job interview and had only seen Jake a few times in the hallway. 

The first obstacle to the pair working together is the issue of communication. While Ruby believes in ghosts, she can't talk to them and being thoroughly modern doesn't have a pen and paper anywhere. Since Cordelia kills electronics if she gets too close to them, she can't use technology to communicate. Poetry refrigerator magnets are one way to solve the problem but a frustrating experience for both of them. 

As Ruby investigates Jake's friends and many, many girlfriends, Cordelia investigates the local pawn shops to find out who pawned Jake's missing watch and along the way meets the only other ghost she's run into in Boston. He is a great help to the loneliness she's been feeling since her own death. 

This story was entertaining. It is the first in a new series by the author. 

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? (October 21, 2024)

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.

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

Other Than Reading...

I had a nice week. The weather was good, and the changing colors of the leaves made the view from my window excellent. My only complaint is that the days are getting shorter. It's dark by 6PM these days. There's still a couple of weeks before we set the clocks back at the end of Daylight Savings time which will help a little. 

I've been watching baseball as the season draws to a close. The New York Yankees have secured their place in the World Series. Later today I'll watch to see if the Los Angeles Dodgers will join them. Before that, I'll be able to watch the Minnesota Vikings who are undefeated so far this season try to keep their streak going by beating the Detroit Lions. 

Big news for me this week was reaching my Goodreads goal of 350 books. I upped the goal to 400 since there are better than two months left of this year. Last year I read 402 books, so the new goal is doable. I haven't actually met my goal since 2017 because I kept raising the goal when I met it. This year I may hold fast at my new goal and just see how far I manage to exceed it. I did get to 120% of my goal in 2016.

I have only five review books on my stack for the rest of 2024 and am tempted to just read them and schedule the reviews. I could because I'm about a month ahead on scheduled reviews. I probably won't though. I'll likely keep reading them as they are listed on my calendar. I do have room on my calendar to read a lot of my own books the rest of the year which might make a minor dent in my TBR pile which currently numbers 2505 books. 

Read Last Week

• A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley (Review; November 19) -- Second romance centered around three football players who are opening cupcake bakeries. My review will be posted on November 13.
• Storm Furies by Wen Spencer (Mine since August 6) -- Sixth book in the Tinker series. This was a reread.
• Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews (Mine since July 30) -- This novella stars a side character in the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and is filled with Andrews' take on Russian mythology. My review will be posted on November 12. 

• Rebel by David Weber & Richard Fox (Mine; Audiobook) -- Second book in the Ascent to Empire space opera series. My review will be posted on November 9.
• The Inheritance by Nora Roberts (Mine since March 6) -- Reread of the first book of The Lost Brides trilogy to refresh my memory.
• The Mirror by Nora Roberts (Review; November 19) -- Second book in The Lost Brides trilogy. Packed with great relationships, romance, humor and horror as Sonya and her friends try to find a way to break the curse on her new home. My review will be posted on November 14.

• Duck the Halls by Donna Andrews (Mine since March 22, 2023) -- Sixteenth Meg Langslow mystery. Christmas events are being disturbed by a prankster and then there's a murder. My review will be posted on November 12.
• The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews (Review; November 19) -- Finale of the Belles of London quartet of historical romances. My review will be posted on November 16. 

Currently

• Children of the Night by Mercedes Lackey (Mine; Audiobook)
• Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney (Review; November 26)

Next Week

• Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna (Mine since July 25, 2023)
• Feuds edited by Mercedes Lackey (Review; November 26)
• Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon (Mine since April 10, 2017)

• Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (Mine; Audiobook)
• Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell (Mine)
• Into the Fire by Elizabeth Moon (Mine since February 5, 2018)

Reviews Posted

• Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep (Mine; Audiobook)
• Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley (Review copy)
• Fondue or Die by Korina Moss (Review copy)

• Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux (Review copy)
• Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni (Review copy)
• The Raven Heir by Stephanie Burgis (Mine since May 29)

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

Review:

• Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro (Review; April 29)

Bought:

• The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetch (Audible Plus)

What was your week like?