Book Review: To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Book Description:

Seaside, England, 1886

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva's heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret.

One evening, Nathan arrives on her doorstep asking for a personal favor. Would Eva be available to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that Eva would also have to pretend they are courting in order for Nathan to avoid the many single women seeking his attention.

Though wary of the charade, Eva agrees. Spending a week with the two things she loves most--her detective and her camera--sounds simple enough. And if she wants to imagine that Nathan's pretend courtship of her is real, well, what's the harm in that?

But when a criminal from Nathan's past threatens revenge on the detective, Nathan must be extra vigilant to keep his mother and the rest of the partygoers safe. He confides in Eva, and as the two work together to solve the mystery and apprehend the criminal, they find that they might capture more than they expected--each other's heart. 

Rorie's Review:

You know those stories that you can just get lost in and can sit and read for hours and hours, not wanting to stop for those pesky real life things that you have to do? Well, this is one of those books. For some reason, I've always gotten a kick out of the "pretending to be in love" trope, but usually the characters don't actually like each other when they start the charade. That Eva and Nathan both secretly liked each other already was a fun twist to the story.

I enjoy a good romance, but definitely appreciate some mystery and suspense thrown in to keep things exciting. This author melds both storylines together masterfully. This is the kind of story that I don't want to end and wish there was more of it. Hopefully Charlotte will be getting her own story soon, so we don't have to leave this world behind for too long.

Andrea's Review:

To Capture His Heart is another great addition to the Proper Romance Series from Shadow Mountain. Allen has created a great group of characters, and it was fun to have the focus on Eva this time. She and Nathan "pretending" to like each other made for an entertaining story, and the mystery kept me on my toes. All of the characters were well-developed, and I couldn't help but be interested in what happened to them. It was a very fast read, and one I can see myself reading again. 

About the Author:

NANCY CAMPBELL ALLEN is the award-winning author of nineteen published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres, ranging from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Her most recent books, which include Regency, Victorian, and steampunk romance, are published under Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance brand, and the What Happens in Venice novella series is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology collection published by Mirror Press. She has presented at numerous conferences and events since her initial publication in 1999.

Her agent is Pamela Pho of D4EO Literary Agency.

Nancy loves to read, write, travel, and research, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She nurtures a current obsession for true crime podcasts and is a news junkie. She and her husband have three children, and she lives in Ogden, Utah, with her family, one very large Siberian Husky named Thor and an obnoxious but endearing Yorkie-poo named Freya.

Title: To Capture His Heart

Author: Nancy Campbell Allen

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 2022 

ISBN: 1639930515

Source: We received copies from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book | Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Counselor by Curtis Taylor

Book Description:

Travis Call, a financial counselor and a counselor in a bishopric, faces life in prison when his wife’s body is found in a shallow grave. He pleads his innocence, but many don’t believe him. With his best friend, Ross Keller, he begins the search for the real killer, only to find that true evil may be closer than he suspects. The Counselor establishes a new series in Latter-Day Saint fiction.

Andrea's Review:

It's been awhile since I've read a mystery, and I welcomed the change in genre. This is my first book by Curtis Taylor (that I know of), and it was an enjoyable read. The length was a little daunting, but it didn't take long to get sucked into the story. 

I really liked the main character. He was quite vulnerable, and not just because he was a suspect in his wife's murder. A single father trying to raise three-year-old twins definitely has his hands full (even with lots of help and support from the live in nanny). He also suffered from a debilitating illness that caused him many issues. But, with all his ups and downs the reader was shown over and over again that Travis Call had a good heart, and wanted to see justice done.

I was kept guessing for quite a bit of the story-I really do enjoy when a mystery keeps me guessing. I would gladly read the second book in this series.

Rorie's Review:

This story doesn't gradually ease into the heavy stuff, it throws it at you right at the very beginning. There are still a ton of questions, most of which aren't answered until the climax at the end of the book, but the author definitely keeps you guessing throughout. I did actually figure out who did it probably about halfway through the story, but with every new revelation, I would doubt my choice for awhile. 

I could have done without the very visual description given each time Travis puked though. That was a visual a really didn't need in my head. 

This story is kind of long, coming in right at 400 pages, but because it was so captivating, I was able to finish it in just a few days. This is my first time reading something from this author, but it won't be my last.

More About Aspen Books: 

Over its illustrious history, Aspen Books and its sister company, Gold Leaf Press, have published over 100 authors, including Pulitzer-prize winner Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, and New York Times best-selling authors Orson Scott Card and Betty J. Eadie. It has sold millions of copies in nearly 40 languages. Now, after a decade of dormancy, the celebrated publisher of such well-known bestsellers as “Embraced by the Light,” “The Burning Within,” and “The Touch of the Master’s Hand,” has been reconstituted and is publishing new works.

Aspen Books is being relaunched by Curtis Taylor, one of the original founders. The imprint is committed to publishing works from new and well-known authors for the general market as well as titles specifically for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since its relaunch, Aspen Books has published three new works: “The Counselor” and “A Grand Conspiracy” both by #1 New York Times best-selling author, Curtis Taylor, and the popular family game, Missionary: Impossible.

Title: The Counselor

Author: Curtis Tyalor

Publisher: Aspen Books

Published: October 2020

ISBN: 1952669014

Source: We received copies from the publisher. All opinions expressed are our own.  

Purchase: Amazon (aff)

Blog Tour: The Redgrave Murders by A.L. Sowards

The Redgrave Murders by A.L. Sowards

Book Description:

When her father is murdered, Evie must prove her boyfriend innocent and find the real criminal before he kills again.

Loss is inevitable, as Evie Hampton knows all too well. But despite losing her mother to cancer and her older brother to a war, she knows she's one of the lucky ones. After all, she still has her father, a distinguished professor of medieval history. And she has Gary Redhawk, the man she loves despite the emotional scars he carries from the Second World War--and despite her father's opposition to their relationship.

When Evie's car suddenly careens off the road, she chalks it up to poor maintenance or sheer bad luck making another appearance in her life. Little does she know a host of hardships is just beginning--the car was her father's, and the brake lines were deliberately cut. Someone wants them dead--but why? All fingers point to Gary, a man with a troubled past and no solid alibi, but Evie is unwilling to believe he's involved. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins to piece together a startling picture of deception and vice. But as she closes in on the truth, it is clear that someone is determined to silence her--and the next attempt on her life may be a deadly success.

Rorie's Review:

I have read a handful of A.L. Sowards' books and enjoyed them, but this one was just... wow! I think it was the mix of suspense and post-WWII history that made this story so captivating. There are a lot of books about WWII, but you don't hear much about the emotional trauma that those soldiers had to deal with after they came home. Gary not only had to deal with that, but the trauma that he suffered as a child as well. Even with all of that, he tried his best to be a good person.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Evie and Gary grow and develop. The romance was a good part of the story, but not the main part of it by any means.

The author did a very good job keeping me guessing until almost the very end on who the bad guy was. I did figure it out before the reveal, but only just. I also enjoy the little history blurbs that the author includes at the end of the book.

This is one that will go on my keeper shelf and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Andrea's Review:

I've really enjoyed every book I've read by A.L. Sowards. She is a very talented author and not only are her war-time novels entertaining, but readers get a good feel for what happened during those horrible times in history.

Sowards' latest novel, The Redgrave Murders, is a bit different from her other novels in that it takes place after the war is over. It was quite eye opening to read about the PTSD that some of the characters went through. It's more common now to hear about these issues, but it seems like it was pretty unusual to hear about it after WWI and WWII. I don't recall ever hearing my grandfathers talk about it.

In addition to PTSD, Sowards addressed interracial relationships and the prejudices in the late forties that people had against Native Americans. It was very interesting and heartbreaking to read about how Gary suffered as a child, as a POW, and as he tried to get a college education.

I really liked that I was kept guessing about the bad guy throughout the story. I thought Evie would have been more distressed by certain events than she was, but she plowed through and proved to be quite the detective.

I can see myself reading this again, and highly recommend it.

Tarah's Review:

Isn't the cover of this book eye catching? I love it. I feel like it captures the era the story is set in, and while it's beautiful it has a sinister feel, which captures the tone of the book extremely well. So, nice job to the cover artists on this one. My kids kept asking me questions about the cover and I had to keep responding that I didn't know! I hadn't read the book yet! Well now that I have I can say that this cover is perfect for the novel.

This was set in such an interesting time period. I haven't read many novels post WWII that discusses PTSD. How devastating to classify these men as psychoneurotic, and to just write them off because they were "crazy". Gary had an even more difficult time because he was Indian and was discriminated because of that as well, and had the crappiest childhood ever. Evie was wonderful to see a person as a person and judge them based on that.

You really feel for Evie and everything that happens to her during the course of the novel. She has to be really strong to combat everything and still remain standing, so to speak. The author creates feelings of doubt, and love, and suspense, and whew...I went through a myriad of emotions while reading this book. The "who done it" is artfully done, and she keeps you guessing throughout the novel.

I will definitely keep reading more from this author, and I will pass on this book to all my book reading friends.

Giveaway:

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Title: The Redgrave Murders
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: July 2019
ISBN: 1524409456
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for honest reviews.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Finding Anne de Bourgh by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Reviews * Giveaway

Finding Anne de Bourgh by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Book Description:

As heiress of Rosings Park, Anne de Bourgh’s health is of utmost importance to her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Thus, following the shock of a recent fire at Rosings Park, the young woman is spirited away to Brighton to take the cure. While her domineering mother is bent on healing her daughter’s sickly constitution to secure her a suitable match, Anne herself is far more concerned with sketching the flora and fauna of the lovely sea town. It is in pursuit of artistic inspiration among the flowers that Anne becomes acquainted with Mr. Owen Talbot, a charming man with whom Anne feels an immediate connection, notwithstanding their differing stations.

But despite their growing esteem for one another, the couple faces an insurmountable problem: Lady Catherine has set her sights on a rich, well-connected man for her daughter, and Mr. Talbot is simply too common. With their love in jeopardy, the couple soon faces far graver problems. There has been a murder in Brighton, and Anne is innocently drawn into an amateur investigation that ultimately traces its roots to her own family. With a frightening foreshadowing regarding the de Bourghs, Anne begins to question whom she can truly trust.

Andrea's Review:

Finding Anne de Bourgh was an unexpected delight. I avoid reading book descriptions right before starting a book (I don't want too much given away), so I really didn't know what to expect besides a Regency romance. I was pleasantly surprised to get a mystery, and thought it was well done.

The author noted that she is a Jane Austen fan and her intrigue with Anne de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice influenced her to write this novel. I'll admit that I hadn't given a second thought to Anne before this book. Her domineering mother always took the stage (next to the main characters) in Pride and Prejudice, but I enjoyed getting to know Anne in this novel. She definitely didn't fit the mold and much of the book involved her standing up for herself and coming out of her shell. I love the chance the author gave for Anne to shine, and find that it is a good lesson-we all have worth and value.

The Talbot family was very interesting, both with Lady Talbot's past and her hobby of solving murders. That was quite unexpected, especially for someone of her station. The closeness between her and her boys was endearing, and their quick acceptance of Anne showed the good people that they are.

If you've read Regency novels you're probably familiar with people flocking to sea side communities for "the cure" of sea bathing. The idea of having dippers (strong women who "dip" patrons in the sea) is quite foreign, but this is at least the second book I've read that had a focus on dipping, and it is very interesting.

This wasn't a fast read for me, but it was enjoyable. I was very surprised when the the main bad guy was revealed, and enjoyed that it caught me off guard. I would read more from this author.

Rorie's Review:

Never having read Pride and Prejudice, I wasn't familiar at all with the characters and events from that story that were referenced in this story, so I felt a bit lost at times. There were other times when I had to scroll back a few pages or chapters to try and figure out who a person was. I had a really hard time keeping track of all of the different characters in this story.

I had a really hard time connecting with Anne. She was, to put it very bluntly, nothing more than a doormat. She let her mother completely run her life and very rarely stood up for herself. As the story continues, she was able to find a backbone and assert herself more, but it took a really, really long time.


The story didn't really engage me, and I found my mind wandering a lot throughout. Maybe if I was familiar with Pride and Prejudice, I would have enjoyed this story more. The climax of the story was well-written though, and I did enjoy reading that part. Throughout the whole story, I was trying to figure out who the bad guy was. I had a few different people picked out and was happy to find out that I was right with one of them.
 
Tour Giveaway:


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Title: Finding Anne de Bourgh
Author: Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.
Published: May 2019
ISBN: 1524408336
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Whiteout by Brett Cain

Whiteout by Brett Cain

Book Description:

Long hours of driving on the frigid interstate have taken their toll. In a split second, Frank Sawyer’s car drifts and clips a passing van on the otherwise empty Montana highway. In the aftermath of the wreck, Sawyer encounters a gruesome scene: the van’s passenger did not survive. But it isn’t the crash that took his life—he’s been shot. Before Sawyer can assess what’s happened, he’s struck from behind. When he regains consciousness, he discovers that his attacker is gone, his car is missing—and the police have named him their prime suspect in the dead man’s murder.

The harsh winter weather bears down as the chaos unfolds, and Sawyer finds himself trapped in the small town of Cluff. And law enforcement is keeping him firmly in their sights, so there’s no possibility of escape. As he struggles to clear his name, Sawyer looks to the past for answers, becoming embroiled in a decades-old mystery that may hold the key to proving his innocence.

Andrea's Review: 

Whiteout was a huge, pleasant surprise. When I initially read the book description I was on the fence about reviewing it. But, I'm so glad I took the chance.

Sawyer goes by his last name (thankfully, because Frank makes him sound like an old man). I don't recall that it said his age, but he had just gotten home from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the average age for a returning male missionary is 20. But, I think it mentioned that he was older than that.

Sawyer is absolutely hilarious. I really wasn't expecting that, but his comments kept the story light in the midst of the suspense. He was so different from what I'd expect a recently returned missionary to be like. The author gave little hints here and there about Sawyer's past, but even at the end of the story there was still quite a bit of mystery to him. Sometimes that drives me nuts, but I felt like I got enough information for the particular mystery of the story to be solved, and I would love to have more stories about Sawyer and his adventures where I get to learn more about his past.

Whiteout has a Jason Bourne movie feel to it (which I'm a big fan of so it's no surprise that I enjoyed the book). With the returned missionary aspect, you might expect a religious story, but it's not at all. I think mention of that only adds to Sawyer being a moral person with a strong determination to right the wrong he stumbled upon.

I really enjoyed reading Whiteout and I can definitely see myself reading this one again. Debut author Brett Cain did an excellent job, and I hope he continues writing.

There is quite a bit of violence throughout the story, but the author presented it in a way that wasn't overly graphic.

Rorie's Review:

The writing in this book is well done. The story flows, there aren't any choppy, drawn-out or boring parts. That being said, I did NOT like the main character. He bugged me something fierce. I think part of the reason why is because we never really got to know anything about him, other than that he got in a lot of fights growing up, and was a recently returned missionary. Very little else was said about why he was the way he was. And he really didn't come across as the kind of person I would want to get to know better.

There were parts of the story where he did things that he most definitely would have been arrested for, and then he wasn't. Not even a slap on the wrist. I can stand some make-believe in books - they are fiction, after all - but those things just really turned me off to the rest of the story. I wish I could say that I liked the book, but I just didn't. I think this is the author's first book, so I'm hoping that in future novels, there will be more character development. Again, he does have a good talent for writing, I just didn't care for this particular story.

Tour Schedule:

*Jan. 28^th: http://mybookaday.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*Jan. 29^th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://empowermoms.net/

*Jan. 30^th:  http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/,

*Jan. 31^st: https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/

*Feb. 1^st: http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/ , http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Whiteout
Author: Brett Cain
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: January 2019
ISBN: 1524405841
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Havencross by Julie Daines

Reviews * Giveaway

Havencross by Julie Daines

Book Description:

When a shocking scandal involving her father spreads through London society, Elaine Cardinham and her parents are forced to retreat to their country home in Cornwall for refuge. But Havencross is no sanctuary for Elaine. She is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her brother—and the heartbreak she left in her wake all those years ago. It has been five long years since Gareth Kemp last saw Elaine—when she rejected his marriage proposal. Her reappearance convinces him of one thing: he has never stopped loving her. To put his feelings for her aside, he focuses his attention on the dangerous smuggling plaguing the Cornish coast. As Elaine attempts to run from her past, she ventures ever closer to a dangerous truth—and Gareth may be the only one who can save her from a deadly finish.

Andrea's Review:

Havencross was a perfect summer read. I was initially drawn in by the cover (it would definitely catch my attention at a bookstore or library), but my attention was held by the details that unfolded about the past.

The story was fast paced and very intriguing. Elaine's family flees London in shame, and hopes they've gone far enough to avoid the scandal. But being back at Havencross has its own challenges.

I really liked Elaine. We don’t get to know her parents well, but what we learn isn’t very favorable. It seems that the heartbreaking loss of Elaine’s brother years before really changed the family dynamic. And then there’s the lack of communication that drags the family down.

Gareth was a great character. He and his family seemed so down to earth and pretty much the opposite of Elaine’s family.

This was a very enjoyable, clean story that I would read again.

Rorie's Review:

I absolutely loved Eleanor and the Iron King, so I was excited to review the newest book by Julie Daines. 

Starting off, I am always amazed when I read about how much an entire family's social standing can be affected by one person's actions during this time period. I mean, maybe we do that to a small extent these days, but I don't think it's anything like it was back then. (At least I hope it isn't!)

This was a good book, but there wasn't anything that really jumped out at me as something that I loved. I was able to put this book down and not be anxious to get back to it and continue the story. That being said, I was completely surprised by who some of the bad guys turned out to be. 

This was the second book in a few week's time that involved smuggling along the coast. I didn't realize how big of an issue it was back then. It was pretty interesting learning more about it from both stories. 

While I didn't absolutely love this book, I still really enjoy this author's writing, and can't wait to read what she comes up with next.

Tarah's Review:

This book really hit the spot for me. I was thoroughly entertained the whole read, and will definitely be reading it again. I think it was probably because of the story. It was just a good story. The writing wasn't the best I have ever read, but the story makes up for anything that may be lacking.

I wasn't super surprised by the bad guy, but I loved the two main characters. Gareth is a keeper in my book :) I was surprised by the different mysteries that popped up, and I loved the mythological/supernatural (?) element to this book.

I'll be passing this book around to my reading friends, and I'll be reading it again pretty soon.

Tour Schedule:
 

*August 7th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://fireandicereads.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/

*August 8th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://empowermoms.net/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/

*August 9th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://rockinbookreviews.com/, http://thoroughlyhere.blogspot.com/ 

*August 10th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*August 11th: http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/,

 https://atransparentmom.com/, http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Havencross
Author: Julie Daines
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: August 2017
ISBN: 1524403326
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Heartbeat of the Bitterroot by Janice Mineer

Heartbeat of the Bitterroot by Janice Mineer

Book Description:

Jenna Clark always tried to bury her bleak beginnings in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, but a newfound secret about her father’s identity forces Jenna to dig up her past. While there, mysterious threats and dangers suddenly enter her life that bring about an unexpected man of her dreams–Michael Callahan. After a lifetime of running away from family and love will Jenna find the courage to confront her past and step forward into the future?

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Heartbeat of the Bitterroot, but as I started reading I was impressed. I was pulling for Jenna, and intrigued by the conflict and potential romance. The message seemed to be about Jenna finding herself and happiness even though she felt somewhat damaged by her upbringing.

As the story progressed I was somewhat overwhelmed by everything that was going on. The search for her real father, in addition to the disgruntled former employee, the threatening texts and situations, trying to decide where she wanted to be, plus a potential romance felt a bit like a soap opera. I wasn't sure which aspect I really wanted to follow, but all of it together was a bit too much for me.

The Heartbeat of the Bitterroot is a clean story with a good message.

Tour Schedule:

• June 12: Book Look Bloggers
• June 13: Kindle And Me
• June 14:
• June 15: Aurora Rescue
• June 16: Jorie Loves A Story
• June 17: Marcia Mickelson
• June 18: Rockin Book Reviews
• June 19: Katie’s Clean Book Collection
• June 20: Misty Moncur
• June 21: Singing Librarian Books
• June 22: A Bliss Complete
• June 23: Wishful Endings
• June 24: Literary Time Out || My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
• June 25: Head Over Books || Blooming With Books
• June 26: My Book A Day 

Title: Heartbeat of the Bitterroot
Author: Janice Mineer
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: June 2017
ISBN: 1462120296

Source: I received an eCopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon

Book Review: Safety in Blunders by Christy Barritt

Safety in Blunders by Christy Barritt

Book Description:

Hollywood sweetheart Joey Darling’s adventures and mishaps continue in the third book of the charming mystery series set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

My name is Joey Darling, and I’m a disgrace to imaginary detectives everywhere.

When actress Joey Darling discovers a mermaid tail with drops of fresh blood on it while hiking in a remote nature preserve, she knows something suspicious is going on.

As details surface, Joey realizes she’s dealing with a problem she has encountered one too many times: someone desperate for fame who falls victim to a predator. With the help of her neighbor Zane Oakley and the opposition of local detective Jackson Sullivan, Joey hunts for answers, unaware of the deadly net in which she’s about to entangle herself.

Joey knows she’s a fish out of water when it comes to cracking cases, but can she use her talent—acting—to help find the missing woman? Or will Joey end up swimming with sharks?

Review:

I've really enjoyed The Worst Detective Every Mystery Series by Christy Barritt. The third book in the series (out of five, I believe) is a great addition. Sometimes series can run dry, but I'm still very interested in Joey, her potential love life, and the mysteries she gets herself involved in while she's trying to find out where her father disappeared to.

Joey does tend to stick her nose in where she shouldn't, but in much of what we are introduced to in this series, her hand is forced. In this particular case, it was great seeing that she was very interested in helping someone to not fall to a predator as she had seen before in her line of work.

The setting and characters make for a very entertaining story. And the romance is great. It's clean and realistic with a slow and believable pace. She's got feeling for two men, but is fighting anything happening due to her recent heartbreak. 

There are intense moments with the mystery, but Barritt also keeps things light. The ending of this book was excellent and definitely has me looking forward to the release of book 4 in the series.

Title: Safety in Blunders
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: River Heights
Published: March 2017
ISBN: 1544816251
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
 

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Review: Reign of Error by Christy Barritt

Reign of Error by Christy Barritt

Book Description:

Sometimes in life, you just want to yell “Take two!”

When a Polar Plunge goes terribly wrong and someone dies in the icy water, former TV detective Joey Darling wants nothing to do with subsequent investigation. But when her picture is found in the dead man’s wallet and witnesses place her as the last person seen with the man, she realizes she’s been cast in a role she never wanted: suspect.

Joey makes the dramatic mistake of challenging the killer on camera, and now it’s a race to find the bad guy before he finds her. Danger abounds and suspects are harder to find than the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. But when Joey finds a connection with this case and the disappearance of her father, she knows there’s no backing out.

As hard as Joey tries to be like her super detective alter ego, the more things go wrong. Will Joey figure this one out? Or will her reign of error continue? 

Review:

I really enjoyed the first book in this series was was excited when I heard the author was coming out with the second book so quickly after the first one (I hate waiting a long time for a sequel to be released).

Joey is an interesting character. She gets involved where she shouldn't, but she seems very real. She has a good goal, but doesn't always go about it in the best way. There were times I wanted to shake her for not sharing information with the authorities, but it was somewhat understandable since she wasn't sure who she could trust and how everyone was involved with her father's disappearance.

I liked the potential for a couple of relationships presented in the last book, and those carry through this book as well. Sometimes the love triangle thing bothers me, but it didn't seem bad in this book because Joey is still getting to know Jackson and Zane. We get to learn good and bad about both of them, and it's sort of fun trying to decided who would be best for her.

The use of similes in this book was excessive, but it did keep the mood light in the midst of life threatening situations.

I had in my mind that I was not really close to finishing the book when it ended (the paperback I have had another 40+ pages of previews at the end), so the ending felt a bit rushed. The immediate issue in the story was resolved, but it was left open to solve a few ongoing situations.

I was happy to hear that the next book was just released, so it'll be nice to have very little waiting to find out what's in store for Joey.

Title: Reign of Error
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: February 2017
ISBN: 1543218571
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Review: Random Acts of Greed by Christy Barritt

Random Acts of Greed by Christy Barritt

Book Description:

Help me. Don’t trust anyone.

Do-gooder Holly Anna Paladin can’t believe her eyes when a healthy baby boy is left on her doorstep. What seems like good fortune quickly turns into concern when blood spatter is found on the bottom of the baby carrier. Something tragic—maybe deadly—happened in connection with the infant. The note left only adds to the confusion. What does it mean by “Don’t trust anyone”?

Holly is determined to figure out the identity of the baby. Is his mom someone from the inner-city youth center where she volunteers? Or maybe the connection is through Holly’s former job as a social worker? Even worse—what if the blood belongs to the baby’s mom?

Every answer Holly uncovers only leads to more questions. A sticky web of intrigue captures her imagination until she’s sure of only one thing: she must protect the baby at all cost. 

Review:

This was a very enjoyable story. Holly is a fun character and I was pulled into her situation right away.

This had a lot of emotion. Having a baby left on her doorstep didn't seemed far fetched at all given Holly's background with Child Services. Her detective work definitely isn't something your average person would do, but she and her best friend, Jamie, (who is a reporter) really make a great team.

I was uncertain about how her relationship with Chase was going to turn out, but I was happy with how things came about. It seems like Holly has made some good decisions for her future.

I did suspect one of the main bad guys early on, but new info kept being discovered that kept things exciting. 

About the Author:

Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush.

When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Title: Random Acts of Greed
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: Create Space
Published: June 30, 2016
ISBN: 1535021497
Source: I received an eCopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon

Review: Random Acts of Murder by Christy Barritt

Random Acts of Murder by Christy Barritt

Book Description:

When Holly Anna Paladin is given a year to live, she embraces her final days doing what she loves most—random acts of kindness. But one of her extreme good deeds goes horribly wrong, implicating Holly in a string of murders. Holly is suddenly in a different kind of fight for her life.

Only two other people know Holly was at the site of the murder, and one of them is the killer. Making matters stickier is the fact that the detective assigned to the case is her old high school crush and present day nemesis.

The clock is ticking as Holly is forced to play a dangerous game. Will Holly find the killer before he ruins what’s left of her life? Or will she spend her final days alone and behind bars?

Review:

I recently discovered Christy Barritt's Squeaky Clean Mystery Series. I haven't been able to get my hands on very many in the series yet, but Barritt writes such an entertaining story that I jumped at the chance to read her Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries.

I was intrigued by Holly Anna's story from the first page. When she is given less than a year to live, she decides she wants to do good with the time she has left. Her method of performing random acts of service is definitely odd (and illegal in the instance we find her in at the beginning of the book), but she really does have the best intentions. She bites off way more than she can chew and finds her life in danger.

Holly Anna is a great character. Not only does she have a good heart (even before her diagnosis she was making a difference as a social worker), but she's also likeable in her uniqueness. She likes to wear vintage dresses and drives a '64 1/2 Mustang. She is very close to her family and is an optimist. She comes across as a good, moral person, although a big dilemma in this story is not being honest about what she found. It's a tough situation because she's not fessing up in an effort to save the problems it would cause her high profile family.

The tension between Holly Anna and Detective Dexter (her old high school crush) really added a lot to the story too. This was a great ride. If you enjoy clean mysteries, definitely try Christy Barritt's books.

About the Author:

Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush.

When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Title: Random Acts of Murder
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: River Heights
Published: June 30, 2014
ASIN: B00LGNDJBM
Source: I purchased an eCopy as part of Fatal 5: Novels of Mystery and Suspense

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Book Review: Mysteries of Cove Fires of Invention

 

Book Description:
 
Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and invention is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity. Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they've ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on and quite possibly their very lives.

Rorie's Review: 

I tend to gravitate towards books like this one, where people are living in a dystopian society. I am always curious to find out how the society got to be where it is in the book - sometimes I'm frustrated because the author doesn't go into enough background detail to fulfill my curiosity, but I'm happy to say that did not happen with this book.

I can't even imagine having to live in a society where pretty much every choice is made for you and you are severely punished if you try to create things. I was immediately drawn into the story, and loved getting to know all of the main characters.

My oldest son also read the book and states "It was good! I want to read another one." He was really surprised to find out why they built a city in the mountain (so was I, actually.) This is definitely a book I will recommend to adults and children alike.

Andrea's Review:

I was initially drawn to review Fires of Invention because I thought my 11-year-old would probably enjoy it (which she did). But, I'm happy to say it's not just a book for middle graders.

I liked the characters and enjoyed the mystery. The idea of this society was very interesting. I was surprised about why it was created (very unique idea that I didn't see coming at all-the lie was much more believable). Several characters hearts were softened by the end of the story, which is something I always enjoy.

The resolution seemed to happen somewhat quickly after quite a lot of build up, but it was an enjoyable story. I am curious about what happens next.

If you enjoy clean, middle-grade books (or your children do), be sure to check out Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention.

Title: Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention
Author: J. Scott Savage
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: September 2015
ISBN:1629720925
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Portrait of Lies by Clair M. Poulson

Review * Giveaway

Portrait of Lies by Clair M. Poulson

Book Description:

It was a robbery gone bad, or so they said. For Detective Trey Shotwell, the murder of his mother, a prominent artist, was the catalyst for setting aside his own artistic aspirations to pursue a career in law enforcement—despite the opposition of his father, also a famous painter. When he agrees to attend an art auction featuring his father's work, the cruise ship locale provides the relaxation that Trey needs—and when he meets stunning fellow passenger Ariah Stanton, the undeniable chemistry they share is an unexpected bonus.

But the tranquil voyage quickly turns into a nightmare at sea. The Shotwell paintings have disappeared, and amidst the chaotic hunt for the thief, a murderer is free to roam the halls of the ship. Ariah finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and miraculously escapes the murderer—for now. But another victim is not so lucky...

The crime is eerily reminiscent of the death of Trey's mother so many years before. But this time, the young detective has the resources he needs to track the killer. As the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together, they paint the chilling picture of a sinister plot years in the making. In a manhunt that takes him from the high seas of the Pacific to the wilderness of Australia, Trey will stop at nothing to solve the crime and protect the woman he loves.

Rorie's Review:
 
I have always wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand, so I enjoyed that parts of this book were set in those countries, even though most of the story took place on the cruise ship.

My favorite character was probably Trey's friend, Hans. He was so energetic and fun-loving, you just couldn't help but like him.

Finding out who the bad guy was at the end was a complete shock to me. I always try to figure it out before it's revealed to the reader, but there was no way I would have guessed this one.

The romance between Trey and Aariah fell kind of flat for me. There just didn't seem to be a whole lot of emotion involved. I do wish that part of the book had been developed a bit better.

Tarah's Review: 

I've got to admit that most of this story fell pretty flat for me. The dialogue just wasn't there, and while I really enjoyed the premise of the story I felt like I was just being told a bunch of stuff. I didn't lose myself in the story. Instead, because of how many bad guys there are, I felt like I was constantly trying to figure out who was who, and not in a "who-done-it" way.

I did, however, enjoy the parts about Australia. There is a scene in the book with kangaroos and snakes, and if it was portrayed correctly the animal behavior was interesting.

Tour Schedule:

August 10th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
August 11th: http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://www.wishfulendings.com/
August 12th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/
August 13th: http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/
August 14th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Title: Portrait of Lies

Author: Clair M. Poulson
Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.
Published: August 2015
ISBN: 1680472445
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book

Spotlight: The Amelia Moore Detective Series by Linda Weaver Clark

Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in missing persons. Her cases have taken her to some very interesting places and put her in some dangerous situations, but she always solves the case. With the help of her partner, Rick Bonito, the business is flourishing.

The Bali Mystery: Amelia Moore Detective Series
ISBN-13: 978-1497327153

When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious and exotic island without telling a soul.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

The Shamrock Case: Amelia Moore Detective Series
ISBN-13: 978-1499537574

When Amelia is hired to search for her client’s grandparents, the case takes them to Ireland. Kate must learn about her heritage. Who are her grandparents and could they still be alive after all these years? Why did her parents leave Ireland suddenly and move to America? Is there more to this case than meets the eye?

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

The Missing Heir: Amelia Moore Detective Series
ISBN-13: 978-1500114596

Dell Murphy has passed on and left a fortune to his nephew. He wants his nephew to continue his work at the orphanage in Mexico, but there is one problem. Neal Woods is missing! If Amelia and Rick can’t find him soon, the fortune will be turned over to Dell’s brother and sister who intend to close down “Uncle Dell’s Orphanage.” If that happens, where will the children go?

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Author Bio:

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history and autobiography. She has traveled to seventeen states and given over 450 workshops. Clarke is the author of several historical sweet romances, a mystery/adventure series, a children’s book, and a cozy mystery series. She is also the author of an award-winning sweet romance, Melinda and the Wild West, for the “Reviewers Choice Award.” All her books are family friendly. Visit her website at http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com

Family Friendly Blog: http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com

Linda's Website: http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com

Purchase an ebook at http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lindaweaverclarke