Running on Empty

 In Sandra Balzo's Running on Empty, the first installment in the Main Street Mystery series, this debut takes you straight to the heart of the matter in the deep south. It all started for AnnaLise Griggs that she received a call about her mother's "mental" problems. So during a weekend stay, she left her cushy job as a police beat reporter in Wisconsin and traveled to Sutherton, North Carolina. Things have changed for AnnaLise ever since she left her hometown--her former boyfriend Chuck is now a police chief and had came out as gay, her best friend Bobby is the mayor.  While she untangled her mother's issues, she became privy to some sordid secrets about Dickens Hart--a rich land develop who's having some monetary problems--and needed someone to ghost write his memoirs for a big cash out amount. And when a Japanese visitor named Ichiro Katou visited them to learn about the United States, he ended up in the river. With two dead bodies and one possible attempt on Dickens's life, and one on her own, it was up to AnnaLise to discover the truth on who killed them and why... when it boiled them to a matter of DNA... and a trunk filled of family secrets, right down to the end.

 This was a pleasant and an easy read to take in one setting. And this is one of Sandra Balzo's earliest mystery novels that spanned two titles. I do enjoy getting to know AnnaLise and her eccentric mother Lorraine "Daisy" Griggs in  Sutherton, North Carolina. She does have a knack to get to the heart of the matter and delve right into business even if she ended up clearing her mother's--or her best friend's--name. I loved that her job was a police beat reporter for the newspaper and knew how the police worked for their investigations. I do love the idyllic scenic settings for Sutherton, which had a Southern small town feel for the location, with all the idiosyncrasies that made it unique and special. I did feel sad for Ichiro, who was looking for answers, and ended up caught in a ghastly mess.  The theme of the story is there's no place like home, anyhow you slice it.

If you love a quick and light read to  breeze through with some charming suspense, non-stop action, plenty of drama, and a spark of intrigue to keep you hooked, Running for Empty is right up your alley. 

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The Baby Group

 In Caroline Corcoran's the Baby Group, this thriller is so twisted and creepy that it'll leave you at the edge of your seat. Scarlett Salloway thought she had the perfect life in Sowerton, England. Married to a great guy, had an adorable baby girl named Poppy, working in a posh job, managed a CheshireMama blog. But it all shattered when someone leaked a video of her having sex with two guys to everyone including from family, friends, and her coworkers. Not everyone knew about that hidden secret including her three friends from her NCT group. That shock slammed her hard since it reminded her of her past, when she made a lot of horrible mistakes before she changed her life. It was up to her to figure out who exploited her dirty little secret real fast. It already caused a strain in her marriage and forced her to quit her job. When she sought her NCT friends for help as her world fell apart, it made her question everything and everyone around her, even when she shut down her blog and pulled the plug. If that wasn't enough, someone's been texting her husband dirty lies about her and throwing her perfect life into a tailspin, while he's been seeing someone from the gym. In the end, it's up to Scarlett to salvage everything if she could and put an end to this madness before it consumes her with a shocking explosive twist in the end.

 This was a terrific nail-biting thriller that sent me chills and goosebumps. I really cared about Scarlett and how she tried to have the perfect life and a great support group with her three NCT friends. And I've thought her name Scarlett is a perfect choice for the female lead character, since it has nothing to do with the color, but it reminds me of the "Scarlet Letter" in some way.  I did thought Ed was cold and not so compassionate, when he's been keeping a secret to himself. Told from her POV, we really got to see what happened to her world from her eyes as it fell apart at the seams, left, right and center. I did love the Sowerton and Cheshire areas in London for the dual locations and how it took it places with gripping scenic settings. The themes are the story is to keep your private life private and be careful to whom you've entrusted your secrets to.

If you love heart-stopping thrillers with non-stop drama, plenty of twisted suspense, lots of action, and a whole lot of shivers to go around, you'll be hooked into  reading the Baby Group today.

 

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Buttercream Bump Off

 In Jenn McKinlay's Buttercream Bump Off, the second installment in the Cupcake Bakery Culinary Cozy Mystery, this delightful cozy has a great storyline that'll be a treat to you. It all started for Melanie Cooper, when her mother Joyce acted excited about going on a date with a handsome man named Baxter Malloy, a millionaire. But on the date, something goes awfully wrong... he ended up dead and Mel's mother believes her new dress is cursed since it caused her death. And she's the police's prime suspect. It's up to Mel to solve this mystery to clear her mother's name while her bakery hosts a class on cupcakes along with a contest. Meanwhile, Mel has to do with the situation consider Tate's feelings for her best friend Angie, while the heat isn't on for her and Joe's love life. The closer she gotten the truth on who killed Baxter, the more endangered she would be to discover the culprit was closer that she thought and right under her nose. 

I continue to love this Cupcake Bakery Culinary Mystery series and follow Melanie Cooper's story. I loved how she cared about helping her mother out in a pinch and running of business of her own with her best friend Angie. I loved how Tate quoted movie quotes for the dialogue scenes which shows how movie savvy he is and not so geeky. I hope he would soon tell Angie how he felt after all this time. I loved how the trio worked to solve a mystery and a bakery together at the same time. I do think Mel and Joe would make a great couple. I loved the Phoenix area for the location and the idyllic scenic settings inside and outside the bakery. The theme of this story is don't get sucked into a scheme and watch your money.

If you love great culinary cozy series that features some yummy recipes you can make at home with non-stop action, great drama, plenty of intrigue, and sparks of delicious twists to keep you enticed, Buttercream Bump Off is the perfect cozy for you. 

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The Runaway

 In Lisa Childs' The Runaway, the first installment in the Bane Island romantic suspense trilogy, this would keep you hooked on a wild and twisted journey. It all started for Rosemary Tulle when she received a phone call from her half-sister Genevieve in Maine. That propelled her to search for her in Halycon Hall, formerly known as Bainesworth Manor, where bad things happened to young girls. During a winter storm, her car had trouble driving across the bridge when she met Sheriff Deacon Howell who encouraged her to go home since it was too dangerous for her. When she reached the hall, she's been denied entry since she wasn't on the list. So she needed to figure out a way to help her get to the truth...and that was Whittaker Lawrence, someone she met at a party twenty years ago. But the real truth was Genevieve was Rosemary's daughter she had given up for adoption to her own mother and step-father. While she searched for the truth on who fathered her child, it sent chills across her spine when someone's been wanting to take her out multiple times. The closer they get to the truth on who's been killing people on the island, it makes her more desperate to find out if her daughter's dead or alive and to find out if she has a future with Whit in the end.

This is a ground-breaking start to this trilogy series. I cared about Rosemary and what she had to endure when she was a teenager and now as an adult: so much heartache and a ton of pain. But I loved her passionate and her devotion to keep searching for her, no matter what anyone else told her, no matter how heart-breaking the truth was in the end. I cared about Whit who stood by Rosemary's side and wanted a chance to be with her. I loved the Bane Island Maine location set during the winter with bone-chilling scenic settings and heart-stopping narration. The dual themes for the story are love can move mountains and don't let greed get in your way. 

If you love jaw-dropping romantic suspense novels with tons of drama, plenty of non-stop action, plenty of intrigue, and hints of romance sprinkled through, you'll love The Runaway.

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Ocean Light

 In Nalini Singh's Ocean Light, the 2nd book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity, and the 17th installment in the series, this newest edition will take you on a whole new world of the future. Kaia Luna grew up as an only child as a water changeling to shift into a dolphin. She cooks for her cousin for the BlackSea Alliance that lives on the ocean. Bowen Knight works for the humans and has two weeks to live. Both Kaia and her cousin Attie helps heal him and puts him back together with a mechanical heart and performing a very dangerous experiment that might cost him his life or to stop psychic invaders to mess with his head. In that short time period, both Kaia get to know each other better, while they deal with dangers from the past and the unknown like a traitorous mole in the midst and Kaia's mate Hugo who goes missing for weeks. The chemistry brews between them to make an unstoppable bond. But when she goes missing from her dive, it's all in the name of love to bring her back alive and to discover a remarkable future together on land and in water. 

I absolutely loved and adored this newest edition to this futuristic paranormal romance series. I cared for Kaia, who dealt with so much when she was little and as an adult now. She's passionate to cook and help her rival/enemy recover from his wounds. Though she'd found him intolerable in the beginning, they do mesh well throughout the story and found Bowen as her true sole mate. And I loved how Bowen cared for Lily, his adoptive sister, who cared and worried for him while he was injured with a dangerous life-threatening brain surgery that could go either way.  They do make a great couple. I loved the futuristic outlook in Italy on land and on sea for a magnificent location for the series and for the story alone with mesmerizing scenic settings. The theme of the story is that opposites attract since love can move mountain and heaven and earth.

If you love wonderful paranormal romance with a whole new take of our world in the future with non-stop action, plenty of intrigue, lots of suspense, and sparks of hot romance, Ocean Light is the book for you.

 

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High-Priority Asset

 In Juno Rushdan's High-Priority Asset, the 5th book installment in the Mills and Boon Heroes/Colton 911 romantic thriller series, this novel would leave you hanging at the edge of the seat. Isabel Vargas is an art gallery owner in Southern California and the niece of a prominent drug cartel kingpin. Her world had been turned upside down by an elusive stalker and an attempted mugging. That's when US Marshal Horatio "Dutch" Haas came in onto the scene. He's been assigned to get close to Isabel and find out what she knows about her uncle. People's lives counted on him to take him down since everything was at stake. Ever since she met Dutch, she relied and trusted him with her heart and keeping her safe from her stalker fiend. Little did she know, they would be in the midst of a drug war and she was their main target. As Dutch and Isabel grew closer together, the tables have turned to tell her the truth and face the facts on her uncle's past. The climax is mind-blowing and so intense, you can cut it with a knife. 

This was a fantastic romantic thriller that would have you at the edge of your seat. I cared for Isabel who was torn about family loyalty and following her heart, when she knew she had done the right thing. I loved how she wanted to make a name for herself and away from her uncle's dirty illegal affairs with the art gallery. I loved how Dutch was torn in the same predicament as Isabel's, only it was based on his task for his job. He had to do what he had to save lives and take a boldly noble chance with no guts, no glory. The location of Southern California had pitch perfect scenic settings to catapult there in the heat of the moment.  The theme is to take risks, no matter what the cost. 

If you love heart-pounding romantic thrillers with non-stop action, plenty of smoking hot romance, lots of suspense, and steamy drama, this is the right book for you. Check out High-Priority Asset today! 

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A Rumor of Bones

 In the late Beverly Connor's A Rumor of Bones, the first installment in the Lindsay Chamberlain Questionable Remains archeological mystery series, this debut is off to a fantastic start. If you're a big fan of Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan thriller series and Kathy Reichs's forensic archeology thriller series, you'll enjoy this one for sure. Lindsay Chamberlain is an archeological expert at the Merry Claymoore archeological site in Southern Georgia. It all started for her and her crew when they dug up and unearthed bones of a little girl who mysteriously died a few years ago. Then later on, she discovered more shocking clues of another missing little girl's disappearance that happened around the same time. While the sheriff calls in the family to identify her remains, she works on reconstructing the skeleton and sifting for clues to what happened to her. During the Burial 23 site, they discovered a half-century old murder of a missing person. And when word came out, it caused Lindsay and her crew some difficulties to disrupt their digging while Lindsay dealt with old feelings for her dance partner, Derek Bellamy. As more strange occurrences pop up between them and for her, it all reads to the greatest mystery of them all... leading to a dysfunctional rich aristocratic family and its matriarch with a fitting ending. 

This mystery was a pleasant to read and real fascinating to learn about archeology and various tools they use to dig at the sites. I would say it's very educational as well. I cared about Lindsay and how she handled her site crew while dealing with a couple of mysteries that share the same link that even goes back to the hand of time. I also worried about her stretching it out too thin when she had two men who wanted to share her attention. So what's a woman like her got to do in this love triangle? I've found the Merry Claymoor setting at the Jasper Creek archeological site in Georgia very natural and compelling to take you there at the same place they were at to find those hidden artifacts. The theme is you may bury your dead, but secrets have a way to resurface to the top.

If you love nitty-gritty page-turning mystery to keep you in suspense from start to finish with non-stop action, plenty of suspense, mind-blowing sparks of intrigue, and lots of shocks, A Rumor of Bones will keep you up all night and then some!

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Espresso Shot

 In Cleo Coyle's Espresso Shot, the 7th installment in the Coffeehouse Culinary Cozy Mystery series, this newest tale would whet your appetite with a fine cup of java. It all started the week of Clare's ex-husband wedding preparations to Breeanne Soummer in New York City, when a look-a-like stripper ended up shot outside the bachelor party--the same party Clare and Matt witnessed in cold blood. That's when the NYPD came in and informed them that her name was Hazel Boggs. While Clare dealt with Bridezilla herself with the wedding details, it was up to Clare to do some snooping on who wanted Breeanne dead and why. She started from her office and worked her way into her personal life when more attacks and problems arose like woodwork. She sifted through the truth for the answers like gold, while her relationship to Detective Mike Quinn steamed up in her private life. As she handed the intricate details for Breeanne's reception, she became closer to danger when she discovered the cold-blooded truth that Breeanne wasn't the main target, but her ex was for a shocking reason, before they could say "I do" in a twisted ending.

I always enjoyed Cleo Coyle culinary cozy mysteries that featured a coffee house for a theme. I did care for Clare who had gotten into the thick of solving another mystery, running a business, and trying to keep it together with her love for Mike. I loved how she took charge and lived large to get down to the heart of the matter in a timely manner. I also loved seeing Joy, her daughter, make a welcoming appearance in the series too. Her ex-mother-in-law Madame Allegro is always a hoot. I loved the NYC backdrop from the Village Blend and elsewhere with pitch perfect scenic locations. And the coffee recipes are always to do for too.  The theme of the story is your past actions might lead to present and future consequences.

If you love a heart-warming culinary cozy with a spark of romance, a scoop of brewed action, a heap of mystery and intrigue with hot non-stop action, Espresso Shot is the one for you!

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A Piece of Cake

 In Trisha Ashley's A Piece of Cake, this romantic comedy will make you laugh out lead and leave you in stitches. And it's perfect for a very light read to read in one sitting. Kate is a professional baker and helping her best friend Laura plan the perfect wedding cake for her wedding to Harry. But she's through with men and wants to focus on her professional bakery. Six months ago, she had a rough time with pro footballer Wes. But during Laura's wedding, things didn't off with a hitch when her cake ended up being part of a crisis. Then she glanced at Wes and decided to give Wes a second chance and gave a good laugh for a sweet ending. 

This was a delightful short story to read for this short review.  I cared about Kate and how she wanted to help Laura with her wedding cake though she wanted to focus on her professional baking career first. I also loved that Laura nudged Kate to give Wes a second chance. Though he's a pro athlete, I do like the opposites attract trope that came into play for this charming story. Even in the midst of a crisis, she did have a good laugh and some fun with Wes. I loved the English countryside for the locations and the scenic settings. The theme of this story is to give somebody a second chance.

 

If you love a quick witty quick read with some sparks of humor and a spark of romance with some non-stop action and drama, take a bite from A Piece of Cake today! 

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