At Home on Marigold Lane

   In this blog post, I reviewed Debbie Mason’s At Home on Marigold Lane, the fifth installment in the Highland Falls contemporary romance series, this beautiful romance novel captures a second-chance romance with the best friend’s brother trope perfectly in this lovely love story. It would make your heart sigh and weep with tears of joy. It all started for Brianna MacLeod, who had escaped a violent husband and tumultuous marriage, and had also struggled with the pain from a terrible fall she had almost died from, a year ago. She couldn’t sleep at night and didn’t feel good about herself. But when she ran into her ex-fiance from a decade ago, Dr. Caleb Scott, at the grocery store, it brought up painful memories of their broken engagement. If it wasn’t for Cal and his wife Raine, they helped save her life. But this old flame didn’t die hard for Cal, when he was stuck in a marriage of convenience with Raine, and dealing with his moody step-daughter Izzy.  While he helped Bri deal with her medical issues, he couldn’t help wondering what ifs with her, and have a second chance. But they needed to put it on hold until they received the funding for a new trauma center–things couldn’t be harder than it looked and seemed in that small town. While they tried to keep their burning feelings under wraps, it became harder to do until someone found out and exposed them. Caught between a rock and hard place, Bri couldn’t deal with the heartache until she needed time for herself to sought things out and tell Cal how she felt about their happy ending.

This tear-jerking contemporary romance will put your heart on an emotional roller coaster ride and pull your heart strings. I instantly cared about Bri and how she would deal with her pain and how she could be more dependent on herself. I also how she re-bonded with Em, Cal’s sister, to make amends and be best friends again.  I also adored Cal, who had a full plate on his hand, while he kept his emotions in check. He wanted to do the right thing for the trauma center and Izzy, when he needed to put Bri first and foremost to get the happy ending they deserved. The picturesque autumn landscape of Highland Falls was lovely for the scenic settings along the Blue Mountains Region. The theme of the story is fight for love and those who believe in you. 

This beautiful contemporary romance is amazingly wonderful. I rated this book, five out of five stars for no reason. If you love a contemporary romance that has the best friend’s brother trope, plenty of romantic action, and lots of drama to make your heart weep, add At Home on Marigold Lane to your TBR list.. This book is recommended for Hallmark Channel fans, and for fans of Kristan Higgins, Kristen Hannah, and Kate Meader along with many others.

Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas

    In this blog post, I reviewed Sarah Robinson’s Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas, the first installment in the Heart Lake contemporary romance series, this debut is so moving and heartfelt, it tugs your heartstrings. Magnolia “Nola” Bennett returns home to Heart Lake, Michigan, to take care of her late grandmother’s Gigi’s estate, during the Christmas season. She has plans to sell her home, known as the Castle, before she returns to Chicago. But not everyone’s happy to see her, especially her childhood crush on her best friend’s brother Tanner Dean. He irritated the hell out of her in the past. Tanner wasn’t thrilled to see Nola return home and hear about her plans. He worked so hard in his father’s company, ever since his father hurt his back. When they face each other, they learn about each other more and have fun hanging out with each other during the festivities. Little did they know, they realized they were meant to be each other and have a future together before it might be too late.

This Christmas-themed heartfelt contemporary romance is a tear-jerker and so deeply profound and moving. I instantly cared about Nola and how she would put her consulting talents to good use. I also adored Zander and Becca and Rosie, who are always a hoot. And I also cared for Tanner’s hopes and dreams to build a future for himself.  The picturesque winter-time landscape of Heart Lake was lovely for the scenic settings and the Midwest location. The theme of the story is home is where the heart is, to follow your hopes and dreams.

This enchanted contemporary romance is wonderful to read and experience all the feels. I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love a contemporary romance that has the best friend’s brother trope, plenty of dramatic action, and lots of romance to make your heart sigh, grab a copy of Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas. This book is recommended for Hallmark Channel fans, and for fans of Robyn Carr, Debbie Mason, Jill Shalvis, and many others.

All the Dark Places

    In this blog post, I reviewed Terri Parlato’s All the Dark Places, this domestic thriller is twisted and full of suspense to keep you on the edge of the seat, guessing and gasping, straight to the end. It all started for Molly Bradley when they celebrated her husband’s Jay’s 40th birthday, which later came to a tragic end as she discovered his dead body in the garage. Fresh on the scene, Detective Rita Myers from the Boston PD were on the case, and headed to the suburb of Graybridge. But that wasn’t the worst of it, when they discover a necklace that belonged to a missing person, and the connection to their family home. Then someone knew her dark deep secrets from her former life and name by calling her and writing letters, having her tinkering on the edge. For Rita Myers, she’s on the hunt to find out the truth and learn hidden secrets of Molly’s closest circle of friends. As Molly faces her demons dead-on, Rita gets closer to the truth before it would be too late for her to encounter the darkness. 

This bone-numbing domestic thriller will leave you hooked on every turned page. I cared for Molly, when we’ve gotten to know about her past, and how she would face the future alone.  She had been through quite enough and deserved a break. I also liked Rita, who was tough-as-nails attitude, and harbored old feelings for her old flame, FBI Joe Thorne. The dual locations of Mountclair and Graybridge Massachusettes were cryptic and deeply enchanted for the scenic settings. The dual  themes of the story are to face the fears and keep deep rooted secrets buried to the ground.

This compelling domestic suspense is full of surprises and red herrings, straight to the end.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love a domestic thriller that makes you second-guess your spouse or friends with non-stop dramatic suspense, goose-bumping action, and lots of gasping twists, All the Dark Places deserve a place on your TBR read. This book is  recommended for domestic suspense thrillers from Cara Reinard, Shari LaPena, and thrillers like One of Us is Lying.

Written in Bone

    In this blog post, I reviewed Simon Beckett’s Written in Bone, the 2nd installment in the Dr. David Hunter forensic mystery thriller series, this novel will leave you breathless and give you bone-chilling goosebumps. It all started for David Hunter, who finished one case and longed to be with his girlfriend Jenny. He’s also a widower, who also lost his daughter, due to his dangerous job, he just wants things to be right. When he received a call from his boss to go to Runa, a small town in the West Islands in Scotland, to look at a burnt corpse that was found in the cottage. When he died, he teamed up with an ex-detective, a young officer, and the lieutenant, they worked together to put together the pieces of this puzzle. But nothing’s all what it seemed when David worked to identify the woman without a SOC team, due to the storm. He’d gotten to know all the residents and viewed them as possible suspects, when a killer lurked in the midst, sabotaging the investigation, and throwing a monkey wrench to keep his tracks hidden and identity unknown. When it came close to home to one of their own, it became more than personal for them. It was up to David to find out who’s the true culprit before it was too late with a stone cold climax.

This compelling forensic mystery thriller is twisted and will keep you at the edge of your seat for every turned page. I cared for David on how he would handle this most complex and twisted murder case. The location of Runa, Scotland, was picturesque for a village island town with mesmerizing scenic settings. The theme of the story is revenge and dirty little secrets don’t mix well together with greed. 

This enthralling forensic thriller will keep you up all night with the light on.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love a terrific plotline with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of twists and turns that’s filled with suspense, and red herrings to keep you guessing, Written in Bone should be added to your to-be-read list. This book is  recommended for fans of Tess Gerritsen, Iris Johansen’s Eve Dallas series, Kathy Reichs, and Patricia Cornwell.

Must Love Weiners

    In  Casey Griffin’s Must Love Weiners, the first installment in the Rescue Dog contemporary romance series, this delightful debut is perfect for all dog lovers alike. It has a sprinkle of humor and intrigue, all wrapped up in one book. For Piper Summers, she worked hard for her money to get through vet school and to pay the rent. She worked three jobs as a telegram girl, taxi driver, and a pizza delivery girl, and tried to keep her beloved Doxie, Colin, a secret from her landlord.  But when she delivered a telegram to a prestigious investment company, she had  given a more than wide impression on CEO, Aiden Caldwell. Down in her luck and lost two jobs, he offered her a job walking his Doxie Sophie while he worked. Of course, she would take the job, since Colin’s in love with Sophie as close friends with her. While they walked the dogs and got closer together, she came across some unwanted threats that did more damage than good to the rescue center, and then her home.  After a kiss, she wanted to be his partner rather than his girlfriend. But with fledging doubts about his secrets about the shelter, she didn’t know about trusting him, until she discovered the real culprit who had been hounding her revealed itself.

This  charming contemporary romance is enchanted and tickled some places in the funny bone. I cared about Piper and how she would do a lot to make ends meet and wanted to make it on her own. Colin and Sophie were a foot, Aidan was a nice piece of eye-candy.  The location of San Francisco was wonderful with gripping scenic settings to set the mood and the theme for her story. The theme of the story is it’s never too late to ask for help and rely on others to lend you a hand.

This delightful contemporary romance is intriguing and compelling.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love heart-warming contemporary romance novels on rescue dogs and cats with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of suspense, and exciting romance, Must Love Weiners is right up your alley. This book is recommended for those who love rescue dog stories from Alana Martin, Jill Shalvis, Jenn McKinlay, and Kelly Moran.

The Giver

    In  this blog post, I reviewed Lois Lowry’s The Giver, the first installment in the Giver YA dystopian series, this timeless classic is compelling and a fascinating read. For Jonas, he’s just a 12-year-old boy who lived in a community where you have to obey orders in school, in society, and also at home. Some words you can’t speak of or feel. It wasn’t allowed. At the Ceremony, he waited for his turn to be given a societal role and duty like a chosen career. At the end, he was shocked he was passed over for some reason. Later, he learned that he was given the most coveted role of being the Receiver in training in the Giver. And there, he began his training with the Giver, an old man who shared with him memories of the past to feel love, experience colors, and learn pain. During this apprenticeship, he learned more about the role and the Giver himself. But when it became enough when the newchild Gabe was to be Released along with a weak twin, he asked the Giver about Release and how to change society’s rules. They planned how he could break away to escape to Elsewhere. Throughout it all, he would risk it all to make change and to find freedom in a whole new world.

This  gripping YA dystopian is tailor-made for all ages for this coming-to-ages story. I cared for Jonas and the dangerous role that had befallen upon him. He had to endure it all and keep it as a secret between him and the Giver, who was weak and old. The futuristic location is mesmerizing and enchanted like anything you read in an ordinary and strict world. The theme of the story is that it takes one person to change the world, one step at a time, to learn about feelings that we all experience as memories from the past. 

This amazing YA dystopian novel is intriguing and compelling.  I rated this book, four out of five stars for no reason. If you love YA dystopian novels that focus on a new version for the future, and is filled with non-stop dramatic action, plenty of suspense, and exciting page-turning tension, the Giver is a must-read for you. This book is recommended for those who love dystopian novels like the Handmaid’s Tale and other futuristic novels that scintillate the mind.

Mint Chocolate Murder

    In  this blog post, I reviewed Meri Allen’s Mint Chocolate Murder, the 2nd installment in the Ice Cream Shop cozy mystery series, this delicious new tale will keep you suspense with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end. For Riley Rhodes, a former CIA librarian, and proprietor of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop, she’s been invited to a festival by Maud Monaco at the legendary Scottish Moy Mull Castle in Penniman, Rhode Island to serve her delicious ice cream. At first everything went okay, until she witnessed an argument between famed photographer Adam Blasco and one of her team members. When he was supposed to attend his art show at the gala, he didn’t show up, and his protegee Vye had to step in for him. Later, his body was discovered in a hidden dudgeon in the castle. Now it was up to Riley to sleuth around Adam’s past and the secrets of the castle’s historical background.Before she knew it, her life wound up endangered when she’s literally toe to toe with the real culprit in a real cliffhanger ending.

This captivating cozy novel is as compelling and delightful as the ice cream recipes. I cared for Riley, since she looked out for her best friend Caroline, and her co-workers at the ice cream shop. She had a nose for sleuthing and for digging into the nitty gritty truth. I really liked the picturesque small town of Penniman, Rhode Island for the location and its majestic scenic settings. The theme of the story is be careful and watch your step, since your past might sneak up on you.

This intriguing cozy mystery is enchanted and fascinating to read.  I rated this book, three out of five stars for no reason. If you love culinary cozy mysteries with dramatic action, plenty of, heart-stopping suspense, and lots of twisted turns, Mint Chocolate Murder is a delicious story for you to enjoy. This book is recommended for those who love culinary cozy mystery authors like Joanne Fluke, JoAnne Carl, Jessica Beck, and Hallmark movies.