Book Review: "Key Lime Murder" by Joann Fluke

Book Description:

It promises to be a busy week for Hannah Swensen. Not only is she whipping up treats for the chamber of commerce booth at the Tri-County fair, she's also judging the baking contest; acting as a magician's assistant for her business partner's husband; trying to coax Moishe, her previously rapacious feline, to end his hunger strike, an...  more »d performing her own private carnival act by juggling the demands of her mother and sisters.

With so much on her plate, it's no wonder Hannah finds herself on the midway only moments before the fair closes for the night. After hearing a suspicious thump, she goes snooping -- only to discover Willa Sunquist, a student teacher and fellow bake contestant judge, dead alongside an upended key lime pie. But who would want to kill Willa and why?

Now Hannah needs to crank up the heat, hoping that Willa's killer will get rattled and make a mistake. If that happens, she intends to be there, even if it means getting on a carnival ride that could very well be her last...

Book Review:

This is the 9th in the Hannah Swensen series.  I started reading this series when it seemed I needed something to tide me over in between my "Stephanie Plum" addiction. =)  This series is a good series to do that with.  It is a good series - I can go a few months in between reading thise, but I still enjoy them a lot.

Just like the Stephanie Plum series, Hannah likes two men.  She goes back and forth on who she likes, but hasn't made a decision.  To some, that is a turn off.  I am used it it after 19 Stephanie Plum books. 

This book takes place in the summer time during fair season, so there are a lot of yummy recipes in this book. 

As usual I could not figure out 'who dun it.'  It was a book that was hard to put down becauses I wasn't sure what would happen next.

If you like mysteries (not gory) - give these a try.

Happy Reading!!!

Book Review: "Three Sisters" by Susan Mallery

Book Description:

After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life -- buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the wo...  more »rk. Andi's new future may be coming together, but the truth is she's just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora's box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he's right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she's lost herself, and she's in danger of losing her entire family if things don't change.

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one another has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she's not so sure. Now it's time for them to move forward, with or without one another.

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they're really made of: laughter, tears, love and all.

My thoughts:

This is the second book in the "Blackberry Island" series.  Although it is part of a series, it could very well be a stand alone book.  The characters from the first book "Barefoot Season" were not mentioned until at least 1/2 or 3/4 of the way through. 

As with almost all of Susan Mallery's books, I LOVED it!!!  The three characters in the book were so different, but as you got to know them, they were really alike.  At times the book was depressing with the issues but I still kept going as I knew I would continue to like it and I did.

Boston - I was rooting for her healing...

Deanna - I was rooting for her marriage and her personal healing...

Andi - I was rooting for her to start her business and her 'hunky' contractor. 

I can't wait for this series to continue.

I have said it more than once - if you haven't tried Susan Mallery - you need to - LOVE LOVE LOVE her writing...

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: "When Lightning Strikes" by Brenda Novak

Book Description:

Welcome to Whiskey Creek -- Heart of the Gold Country!  — Simon O'Neal's causing trouble again.  — And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.  — Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name  for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster  of A-list clients, including the bigge...  more »st box office hit of all -- sexy and unpredictable Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list -- and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.

Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody  of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image.  He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him  off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek....

Gail's the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife -- reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because he's too hard to like.  It's because he's too hard not to love! 

My thoughts:

This is the first in a series based in Whiskey Creek.  This is also the first I have read by this author.  Or it has been awhile since I don't remember reading anything by her.

This book probably could be considered the typical romance book.  You knew what was going to happen in the end, but you read it anyway.  I enjoyed the book anyway.  I loved the writing.  I did keep wanting to keep reading just to see what would happen next.  Sometimes I was right - others I was not.

I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: "Good Girls Don't" by Victoria Dahl

Book Desciption:

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman -- or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break-in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems -- starting with the fact that his part...  more »ner Simone is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father. The last thing he needs is a nice girl like Tessa getting under his skin.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tensions could tear her tight-knit family apart.  In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath.

My thoughts:

I have read romance - I have read some pretty 'intense' romances to put it midly.  There are a few words I don't think need to be put in books and this one had them.  I made it about 4 chapters and am done.  The rest of the series will now be posted on PaperBack Swap.  Couldn't finish...

Happy Reading!!

Book Review: "The Accidental Bride" by Christina Skye

Book Description:

Love can find you in the most unlikely of places...   — When her friends order her to take a vacation, celebrity chef Jilly O'Hara is skeptical. She may be overwhelmed by her sudden success, but a trip to the mountains is not her idea of fun. Especially when a snowstorm forces her to fill in for an absentee bride in a lavish te...  more »levision wedding taking place at the resort. But then the ruggedly handsome make-believe groom arrives....

Walker Hale has kept to himself since his return from active duty -- but the next thing he knows, he's reluctantly playing along with the wedding charade. Even this jaded loner isn't immune to Jilly's quirky charm...or her beauty. But Jilly has to return home to Summer Island, leaving Walker to decide if the feelings between them were something more than pretend.

This is the second book in the "Summer Island" series.  Her first being "A Home By the Sea."  I loved that book and I loved this one as well.  This one focused on Jilly.  She is a workaholic who is forced to take a break and relook at her life due to a medical circumstance.  There were plenty of times I was smiling while reading and it was definitely one of those 'can't put down' books. 

This is a great series.  I am loving all the contemporary books I have read by her.  I am not a historical reader, but she also writes those. 

I highly recommend this author and series.

Happy Reading!!
Patti

Book Review: "Late Edition" by Fern Michaels

Book Description:

Teresa “Toots” Loudenberry has a knack for finding adventure, even when she’s not looking for it. But ever since Sophie convinced her friends to start holding regular séances, life in Los Angeles is getting a little too dramatic even for Toots’s tastes. When Ida receives a message from the beyond suggesting that he...  more »r late husband was murdered, a spooked Toots decides it’s time the Godmothers left LA for her hometown of Charleston…

Meanwhile, Mavis has been acting suspiciously, mailing packages in bulk and refusing to divulge what she’s up to. She should know by now that Ida, Toots, and Sophie will never let secrets rest or ignore a friend in need. And when the Godmothers discover that whoever killed Ida’s husband has plans for Ida too, they’ll do what they do best—rally together, concoct a daring plan, and show the world there is no match for these formidable friends…\

My thoughts:

This is the third book in the "Godmothers" serices by Fern Michaels.  I have read the other two - "The Scoop" and "Exclusive."  These books are good - they aren't ones that you immediately want to keep reading - it is ok to take a break in between.  =) 

This book had a lot to do with seances and ghosts - I am not into paranormal and almost wanted to put it down, but trugged along.  It wasn't THAT heavy in the paranormal, so I was ok with it.  I will wait a bit to read the next one just in case.  I need a break.  =)

If you are looking for a new non-romance series - give this a try. 

Happy Reading!
Patti

Book Review: "Only His" by Susan Mallery

Book Description:

Wedding bells are ringing in Fool’s Gold, but not for Nevada Hendrix. Her triplet sisters are engaged, and even her mother has a more active love life than she does. Determined to make a fresh start, she applies for her dream job, only to discover that her new boss is her first love. Maybe she could overlook the fact that they’ve see...  more »n each other naked, but she’ll never forget the way he broke her heart.

Tucker Janack agrees to Nevada’s “business only” ground rules. After all, love is a trap that the construction millionaire has avoided his whole life. But when great business partners turn out to be so much more, every rule gets broken. Will either of them be willing to try again...or will their past get in the way?

 My thoughts:

This is book 6 in the ongoing "Fool's Gold" series.  This one focuses on the triplet Nevada Hendrix.  Nevada and Tucker go way back.  Nevada applies for a job thinking she is going to interview with Tucker's dad.  Nope.  It is Tucker himself.  The sparks are still there, but she can't get past how he broke her heart. 

Given the right place the right time - they get together, but Tucker is a temporary resident of Fool's Gold - or is he?

Not my favorite but still a great book from Susan Mallery!

Happy Reading!