Review: Shoreline Drive

dear readers, 


I was iffy about the first novel in the Sanctuary Island series (http://mynoveladdiction.blogspot.ca/2014/02/review-sanctuary-island.html)but had already said yes to reviewing book 2 so I went ahead and read it...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

SHORELINE DRIVE
(Sanctuary Island: Book Two)
genre: contemporary romance

4 STARS

Merry and Ella have decided to stay in Sanctuary Island - Ella with her new love Grady and Merry with their mother and new baby, Alex.  While she loves getting to know her mother she is not sure living together is the best situation.  Ben, the vet, who helped deliver Alex decides to strike a deal with Merry...is he marries him he will provide for her and the baby and give Alex all he needs.  Ben tells Merry he cannot have kids and Alex is his and his family;s last chance at a heir.  Merry accepts his proposal but can the two keep from loving one another?

After being disappointed with the first novel I was not expecting anything.  I just wanted to read the book to complete my obligations...but WOW, a complete turn around.  While the story is cliched and predictable you wanted to see how the characters evolved.  With the second novel the author focused on fewer characters - Merry and Ben's story and Taylor's story.  This allows the reader to connect with the characters in my opinion.

Yes, I will be continuing the series...Heartbreak Cove (expected date 2015).

love,
kris

Fear for Me is for Me! (Review)

dear readers,

I have only read a few books by Cynthia Eden but she is fast becoming a favourite!

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

FEAR FOR ME
(Book Two)
written by Cynthia Eden
genre: romantic-suspense, thriller, romance

4 STARS 

"She's the obsession two men share: one wants her love, the other wants her life. 
A shared passion for justice first brought Baton Rouge district attorney Lauren Chandler and US marshal Anthony Ross together--when each played their part in bringing down the infamous Bayou Butcher. The sparks flying between the two made it clear they weren't just a legal dream team. Then desire had to make way for duty, and what they had was done. But it would never be over.

Five years later, it's none other than the Butcher who gets things started again, when his shocking jailbreak reunites the lawyer and the lawman...and reignites their love. But this time, the pair is in danger of being permanently parted--by a killer with revenge on his mind, and Lauren on the top of his list. As a new wave of terror sweeps through the streets and swamps of Baton Rouge, one man will pit his boundless passion against another's relentless hate, for the life of the woman who obsesses them both." (From Amazon)

An amazing follow-up to the first book in Eden's romantic-suspense series.  The books are loosely tied together but can be read as standalone. Lauren is strong female character that gives Anthony a run for his money,  Fabulous chemistry between the hero and heroine and great suspense.

I will be reviewing Eden's Mine series in the next few posts.

love,
kris

Miss. Silver is on the Case! (Reviews)

dear readers,

As you know I love mysteries from the Golden Age so reading Patricia Wentworth's well-known series, Miss. Silver Mysteries was right up my darkly lit alley...

Miss. Silver Mysteries: Reviews
written by Patricia Wentworth
genre: mystery, suspense, noir, classic






GREY MASK

(Book 1)

4 STARS

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

Please see previous post:  http://mynoveladdiction.blogspot.ca/2013/08/grey-mask-book-1-miss.html

THE CASE IS CLOSED
(Book 2)

4 STARS

Geoffrey Grey has been convicted of his uncle's murder but his wife and wife's cousin think he is innocent.  Just before his murder Geoffrey's uncle, James changes his will to a nephew he has always disliked.  Upon telling Geoffrey that he no longer his heir the older man is found dead in a locked room with the knife in Geoffrey's hand.

Hilary, Marion Grey's cousin is heartbroken over the conviction and what it is doing to her cousin.  When on a train she is confronted with James's cook she begins to think there is more to the story than what was presented in court.  As the young girl gets deeper into solving the murder she also becomes a target.  Her ex-fiance hires Miss. Silver a P.I. who steps in to help.

This is the second novel in the Miss. Silver and I am hooked.  Unlike other novels from the era the knitting P.I. has a smaller role in the books,  She is often called on the case halfway through the novel.  The book focuses on the character involved in the novel.  If you like cozy mysteries, noir, old time radio programs this might be the novel for you.  

LONESOME ROAD
(Book 3)

4 STARS 

After a few close call accidents Rachel Treherne starts to believe her life may be in jeopardy and the killer may be one of her own family members or a close friend. She looks to governess turned private detective, Miss Silver to help unravel the mystery by staying in the Treherne mansion.  

Rachel's father has left his fortune to her and her desperate family members want more than their share and cannot wait till her natural death.  Then there is her maid who has an unnatural obsession with her and new neighbour who shows his interest in her.  Each day Rachel's suspicions get the better of her and hopes Miss. Silver can help her.

The thought of living with people who may be plotting your death is handled brilliantly by Wentworth.  This one had me guessing at first and then I sat back to see if my guess was correct.  

IN THE BALANCE
(Also published as DANGER POINT)
(Book 4)

4 STARS 

Miss. Silver is on the train returning from her holiday with her niece when a young lady stumbles into her compartment.  Right away she can tell the young girl is afraid of something and tries to get her to open up.  The young woman, Lisle overheard some women gossiping about her husband.  His wealthy first wife's death may have not have been accident and now that his estate is in jeopardy again will Lisle be next? 

A predictable but engaging mystery.  Like in Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca the new bride is frightened into thinking her husband is the killer of his first wife.  And, also like in Rebecca you will be at the edge of your seat wondering if the husband is misunderstood or a monster.


THE CHINESE SHAWL
(Book 5)

4 STARS 

Laura Fane has returned to London to collect her inheritance but it is not the happy moment she anticipated.  Her father was expected to marry a cousin but instead fell in love with Laura's mother.  Her father has left her everything including the estate that his jilted finacee occupies.  She wants Laura to sell her the place so she can leave it to her niece Tanis.  Laura os not sure what to do.

When Laura is summoned to visit Tanis' aunt Laura discovers Tanis is manipulated and will do anything to get her way, including blackmailing.   When Tanis ends up murdered Miss Silver is on the case and everyone is a suspect.

Another great mystery in the Miss. Silver series.  Randal March, Miss. Silver's former charge aids her in solving the murder.  I like the chemistry between the two much like Holmes and Watson.  The way they bounce off of each other makes the solution of the mystery much more enjoyable.

MISS. SILVER INTERVENES
(Also published as MISS. SILVER DEALS WITH DEATH)

4 STARS 

In an apartment building in London the tenants are a little more involved in each other's lives than they really know.  Meade Underwood's finace, Giles has been lost at sea and so she lives with her aunt and uncle miserable but then he returns but cannot remember much of past few years.  Meade's neighbour, Carola Roland a very beautiful and scheming girl announces she is Giles's wife.  Carola has also been seeing another man in the building, and may be a blackmailer.  So when the young beautiful woman is found dead in her apartment the whole building is a suspect. Enters Miss. Silver to help the police with this case.

This Miss. Silver Mystery had me guessing as I could not imagine anyone not wanting to kill the wicked Carola Roland.  The one thing I like about these mysteries is that police always works well with Miss. Silver.  They accept her talent and often look to her to help them.

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE 

(Book 7)

4 STARS 

Patriarch James Paradine invites his family over on New Year's Eve to confront them.  Someone has stolen blueprints and Paradine knows who and that it is one of his close family members.  He gives the thief until midnight to come clean.  A few minutes after the clock strikes twelve James Paradine is found dead and whoever stole the blueprints is the murderer.

Another case where everyone seems like a suspect until Miss. Silver steps in an unravels it all.  The mystery is great but the side stories and possible motives are what engages the reader to keep reading and have a ball doing so.

Please let me know if you have enjoyed this series when you get to it...as I know you will ;)

love,

kris

Lawhon Beautifully Revives An Old Case

dear readers,

By now you know I love a good mystery and historical fiction...add a true cold case story and it is the perfect night of reading...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS
written by Ariel Lawhon
genre: historical fiction, true crime, mystery, suspense

4 STARS 

Based on a true scandalizing case where 1930's Justice Joseph Crater seemed to disappear into thin air.  Ariel Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to weave an answer to Crater's disappearance.

We see Crater through the eyes of three women...his wife, Stella, who is the ultimate supportive trophy wife dressed in designer duds and lives her life according to society's rules...his mistress, Ritzi, a girl from a small town trying to become an actress but is only a chorus showgirl...his maid, Maria Simon, wife of a police detective trying to earn money to supplement their lives...each holds secrets of the man and of their own.

Thirty five years later Stella meets Detective Simon and finally offers him the truth..

Lawhon uses fiction along with facts to really make the story come alive. The writing and setting of the 1930s seemed quite realistic. It adds flavour to the setting and story.  The three women in this story each tell their story and Lawhon does a great job weaving their story together.  

Justice Joseph Crater

For more information about this case and what is fact from fiction please see wikipedia: 
//enwikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Force_Crater









love,
kris

Dirty Magic is SO Much Fun: Review

dear readers,

Looking for a GREAT new urban fantasy/paranormal series? 

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

DIRTY MAGIC
(BOOK 1: Prospero's War)
genre: paranormal, urban fantasy, suspense, mystery

4 STARS 

"MAGIC IS A DRUG. CAREFUL HOW YOU USE IT.  The Magical Enforcement Agency keeps dirty magic off the streets, but there's a new blend out there that's as deadly as it is elusive. When patrol cop Kate Prospero shoots the lead snitch in this crucial case, she's brought in to explain herself. But the more she learns about the investigation, the more she realizes she must secure a spot on the MEA task force. 
Especially when she discovers that their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier - on the same day she swore she'd given up dirty magic for good. Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should never say never." (From Amazon)

I have read the first book in Well's Sabina Kane series and really enjoyed it so when I saw she was doing another paranormal/ urban fantasy series I thought I would try it.  As expected the novel was well written and Kate Prospero's world was easy to slip into.  Although vastly different worlds this novel reminded me of JD Robb's In Death series.  Set in different times with different rules the one main similarity is a tough tortured female lead.  Kate is also a law officer like Robb's Eve Dallas but Kate is an underling trying to rise in the ranks yet the love and need of justice is there for both characters.  Wells set up this novel so perfectly I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series.

love,
kris

I Tried Staying Awake While Reading this Novel: Review

dear readers,

The following review is for Anna Hope's debut novel, WAKE.  Anna Hope is a British actress well-known for her role in Crime and Punishment.  From reading Wake you can tell that the author researched the era but forgets a bit of the heart of the story...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

WAKE
written by Anna Hope
genre: historical fiction, world war I, literary fiction

3 STARS

"London, 1920. The city prepares to observe the two-year anniversary of Armistice Day with the burial of the unknown soldier. Many are still haunted by the war: Hettie, a dance instructress, lives at home with her mother and her brother, who is mute after his return from combat. One night Hettie meets a wealthy, educated man and finds herself smitten with him. But there is something distracted about him, something she cannot reach. . . . Evelyn works at the Pensions Exchange, through which thousands of men have claimed benefits from wounds or debilitating distress. Embittered by her own loss, she looks for solace in her adored brother, who has not been the same since he returned from the front. . . . Ada is beset by visions of her son on every street, convinced he is still alive. Helpless, her loving husband has withdrawn from her. Then one day a young man appears at her door, seemingly with notions to peddle, like hundreds of out-of-work veterans. But when he utters the name of her son, Ada is jolted to the core. 

The lives of these three women are braided together, their stories gathering tremendous power as the ties that bind them become clear, and the body of the unknown soldier moves closer and closer to its final resting place." (From Amazon) 

I really wanted to like this novel but something about the writing kept me at an arm length.  The writing and characters remind me of 1940s novels which I really liked.  I also liked the realism of the soldiers' lives along with the families they left behind.  I gave it a three because as I said above I could not feel the novel and also at times I found myself drifting off as it did not seem to flow between characters that well.

love,

kris

Settle in with Some Cozy Classics: Reviews

dears readers,

Last weekend my boyfriend and I were in Toys R Us looking at Lego sets trying to relive our childhood...and then there they were to the right of the Lego aisle the classic collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! The next six days were spent collecting them to make up the set.  I know some of you may be thinking it is silly to get excited over toys from the past, but for you readers...

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

COZY CLASSICS: EMMA 
COZY CLASSICS: JANE EYRE
written by Jack and Holman Wang
genre: children's book, board books, classics

4 STARS

This board book is for children aged 0+ and shows highlights from the beloved classic, Emma by Jane Austen (or Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte).  There are 12 pictures featuring felt dressed dolls and words that will help children read.

Let's be honest the people buying this book will be Jane Austen and/or Emma (Charlotte Bronte and/or Jane Eyre) fans for themselves even if they let their kids borrow it at times ;) or that could just be me (when I have kids).  They are fun cute books.

Tell me you do not want to buy this for your collection!

Page from Emma

Page from Jane Eyre

love,
kris