The Crack in the Lens

If you love historical fiction in the USA, you'll love this one set in San Marco, Texas. In the 1890s, we're introduced to two German red-haired brothers, Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer and Otto "Big Red" Amlingmeyer. We watch them travel across the USA, solving mystery along the way with the Holmes method, based on Sherlock Holmes. Otto's a novelist, and Gustav tag along for the ride. There's tons of humorous moments in this historical mystery that separates them from the rest. When they enter the wild west, it's up to them to solve an old murder, when the town's against them, for stirring up the hornet's nest. We watch them fight against evil and get them out of trouble. They're caring brothers, through thick and thin. I clearly cheered them on. You get hooked on them and their adventures through the west and midwest.

Blood Men

When you read Paul Cleave's novels, you're thrown into the dark world of Christchurch, New Zealand, and its city of crime. In Blood Men, we're introduced to Edward Hunter. A typical family man who loses everything with a tainted bloodline. We enter his world and see how his world crumbles like a cookie. We meet the people he meets and how it lost it all. In a race against time, he takes Christchurch by storm, when he demands answers and revenge. This is dark, hard core and a bit gritty. Hold onto your seat belts and watch how his world is engulfed in flames. This is a real page turner.

The Perfect Temptation

This is an excellent historical romance. This one has something different than all other historical romances don't have. Besides being set in London, this deals also with Indian cultures and has Indian characters. This makes it special and the novel much better. Here, we care about Alexandra Radford, who cares for the king's son as his tutor, and has a special connection to the Indian king himself. We learn so much about her and her life here, especially when she hires and meets John Aiden Terrell. Both of their worlds collide and takes a different turn, when things heat up between them. We also learn about his life as well, and what they have some things in common. This is an excellent one about romance and culture clashes. An excellent read.

The Tale of Holly How

This is another delightful installment in the Beatrix Potter mystery series. Reminiscent of Dr. Doolittle with the talking animals, it adds a tiny bit of fantasy to it. This is the second mystery she solved. For those who like less gore in their mysteries, this is a light one for you. There's a lot of drama in Beatrix's world, even for the ladyship too in her own home, when there's talk of a new head teacher. Three events happen in Holly How around the same time. An easy and delightful read.

Black Out

In Black Out, Lisa Unger enthralled us with another heart-pounding thriller. In this one, we were introduced to Annie Powers, a wife and mother, who had a secret life. And not everything was what she seems. We discovered her turbulent past life in flash backs, when she was known as Ophelia March. Somehow we watched how it trickled back in her past, when she broke down and cracked at the surface. Terrible headaches, bad memories, flashbacks and nightmares return. Everything she knew and trusted changes. We were delved into her psyche and watched how she tried to hold it together, when she fell apart, until it left her no other choice, no other way out, to confront her past and move on her life, before she blacked out for good. This dealt with you on an emotionally, physically, and spiritual level. This sucked me right into her world, when she told her story. It would do the same for you.

In this thriller, I really began to feel strong caring feelings for Ophelia aka Annie. When she had those painful headaches to block out with, I cringed and gritted my teeth for her. I really didn't want to see her in so much pain. I hated when her past life resurfaced to bring her back into the void. In three parts, you would care for her as well.

Embrace yourself with this nail-gritting thriller! Grab a copy today!

The Lake House

Although this novel took me longer to read, on and off, it's also difficult to classify it under genres. I kept it as mystery, since I didn't read When the Wind Blows, and since Patterson writes mysteries. But it does have sci fi/fantasy elements in it, the mad science appeal of Robin Cook's Mutation and horror elements a tiny bit of Dean Koontz. So it's a combination of this and that. Maybe I should've read When the Wind Blows first. When I do read that book, maybe I can understand it better. This is a weird tale of a bird-human hybrid of six children from a dangerous DNA experiment in a hospital and their mad DNA experimentation. We're introduced to Kit and Frannie and the six bird children, mainly from Maximum aka Max's POV, when they fight evil forces and the press and the people who want them dead. Beautiful scenery in crisp chapters, but a bit bizarre for me. I almost gave it a two-and-a-half scene, but there's no half-stars here.  I really felt for Max and Frannie and their own struggles. So it's about so-so for me.

Chosen to Die

If you loved Left to Die, you would enjoy the second installment in this Alvarez/Pescoli romantic suspense series. This continues from the first, when we're knee deep into the Star-Crossed Killer murderer and why he targeted his victims. Here, Detective Pescoli's one of the victims. We root for her and her survival to life, during that wintry holiday season in the Montana mountains. We're in her psyche and the killer's, when Regan's family falls apart, and people are on the hunt for the shocking twist and turns in store for them in the end. And we never saw it coming! Very descriptive scenes to connect with Regan and Selena.

Hide

In Lisa Gardner's Hide, the 2nd installment in the D.D. Warren thriller series, it happened two years later their first case. D.D. Warren and Bobby Dodge were investigating a new case that dealt with mass graves. He was now a detective and  D.D. a sergeant, who have had ancient history with each other. There were plenty of drama here. We were introduced to Annabelle, someone who'd been hiding and living on the run from something or someone all her life. And when her past did get caught up with Bobby's newest case, it was time to re-evaluate her life and the secrets. We really do get inside Annabelle's and Bobby's lives here, see how closer they were to the danger and the people they meet, right to the end.

This thriller had sent chills and literally goosebumps up and down my spine. This would send you on a careening amusement park ride with plenty of surprises in store for the readers.  I continued to care about DD and Bobby, while I became concerned about Annabelle's life. I loved the Boston location and settings for this series, which painted the perfect picture for it. Great drama, intense non-stop action with intrigue and mystery along the way.

There's no reason to hide behind the book? Check it out today!

Lucky Charm

If you love a great contemporary romance series, you'll love this Lucky trilogy. This one has great drama, suspense and plenty of romance. We're introduced to the Corwins, who were once cursed in love and fortune years ago. Each  men had their share of misfortune. Derek's one of them who gave up his high school sweetheart. He's a down-to-earth caring man--he loves his pre-teen daughter and his family. When Gabrielle, his former flame, comes into town, sparks heat up again, when they defy the odds of a superstitious curse. Instantly, you see the chemistry between them--it haven't faded. And this time, they would make this works. We can see how Gabby's close to her parents, her best friend, and how she's devoted to her work. It's a good start for this trilogy.

Grave Sight

This series has a good balance for paranormal fans and perfect for cozy fans. Not too gory with ghosts, this one sets up a great series of mysteries. Harper Connelly, and her half-brother, Tolliver Lang, are in Sarne Arkansas, when asked to visit someone's grave and how she died. But things go from bad to worse there. Treated like pariahs, we see how Harper and Tolliver are treated in a mixed bag of emotions, especially for Harper, who was once struck by lightning at a young age. When they discover the truth behind the other murders, people are after them and causing them a boat load of trouble in family secrets. We really get involved into Harper and her relationships Hollis and Tolliver. I rooted for her in every twist and turn. And so would you.