P.A. Wilson's Blog, page 6
March 2, 2015
Finding Southern Comfort by Barbara Lohr: Book Review
In this book, which is subtitled as a prequel to the Windy City Romances, a Chicago girl gets involved as the nanny for the daughter of a Savannah gentleman. It seemed like a bit of a trite premise, but Barbara Lohr delivered a cute and heartwarming romance. 
Harper is down on her luck and broken hearted when she shows up at the door ready to entertain at a children’s party. It’s a bit late, but that’s okay, sometimes the games are played at the end. Finding herself the attraction at a bachelor party, she has no choice but to give it her best go because it’s the only way to make her rent.
Everything goes wrong, but it does lead her to apply for the position of Bella’s nanny.
I recommend the book to people who like romance with a little heartbreak on the side.
RATING: 
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February 23, 2015
Ghost-in-law boxed set by Jana DeLeon: book review
A nice package of linked romances. In Mudbug there’s something stinking and it’s not the swamp. Maryse wants to find the cure for cancer that was lost when the witch woman died. The problem is the plants don’t always stay in one place. And then there’s the little problem of her dead mother-in-law haunting her. Helena was an awful person in life, and death hasn’t improved her attitude. Someone is trying to kill Maryse, and the hot new scientist in the office is disrupting everything. 
Sabine and Raissa’s stories round out the trilogy.
I recommend these books to people who like a some heat with their mysteries.
RATING: 
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February 16, 2015
Full House by Shelley Singer | book review
In this mystery, we start with a bunch of people causing a racket by building an ark. Their leader, the new Noah, has disappeared, but the last thing he said was ‘speed up the flood is coming sooner’. Jake Samson takes on the case and follows clues while entertaining his visiting father and stepmother who have an interesting take on his work, his love life, and his neighbor. 
Singer gives us a full view of Oakland California and paints a warm picture of Jake’s friends and acquaintances.
I recommend this to anyone who likes a mystery that comes wrapped in interesting, if odd, characters and a lot of suspects.
RATING:
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February 9, 2015
Burned Too Hot by Ann Voss Peterson | book review
This is the second book in the Val Ryker series. A small town detective is hiding a big secret – MS. She is facing a firebug, a serial killer, and a search for a missing child. All the while she’s trying to deny her feelings for David Lund and her current symptoms.
Now she has to find a missing child, and protect her niece from the man who claims to be her father. At the same time, the firebug keeps burning buildings, each one more deadly than the last.
The series is definitely a thrilling read. The characters are all a little damaged, but relatable. My only regret is that next book is only coming soon.
If you like a thriller set in an isolated town in winter, you’ll love this one.
RATING:
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February 2, 2015
Bubba and The Dead Woman by C.L. Bevill | book review
A bit of a slow start, but well worth persevering. If you read my reviews on a regular basis, you know I like mysteries that are populated with slightly crazy characters. This one has plenty of that, and a big pile of southern charm. 
Our hero, Bubba is not one to get mad easily, but he’s also not prepared to take the rap for a murder he didn’t do – well, as long as his mother didn’t do it either. The story ambles through Bubba’s attempts to find out who killed the dead woman found on his property, and to find out who is haunting his mother’s mansion. Maybe the same person?
I recommend this to readers of Ben Rehder. I’m certainly going to be getting the others in this series.
RATING:
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Bubba and The Dead Woman by C.L. Bevel | book review
A bit of a slow start, but well worth persevering. If you read my reviews on a regular basis, you know I like mysteries that are populated with slightly crazy characters. This one has plenty of that, and a big pile of southern charm.
Our hero, Bubba is not one to get mad easily, but he’s also not prepared to take the rap for a murder he didn’t do – well, as long as his mother didn’t do it either. The story ambles through Bubba’s attempts to find out who killed the dead woman found on his property, and to find out who is haunting his mother’s mansion. Maybe the same person?
I recommend this to readers of Ben Rehder. I’m certainly going to be getting the others in this series.
RATING:
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January 26, 2015
NonCompliance: The Sector by Paige Daniels | book review
I find post apocalyptic and dystopian stories fascinating. The hope that is found in the misery always makes me feel optimistic. Paige Daniels has done a great job in creating a world where grit, humor, and love coexist in a believable way. 
If you don’t agree to have the government chip installed, you get sent to the sector a place run by mobsters, regardless of the presence of the magistrate. Shea lives in the sector, works in a bar, hacks the systems, and hates her job. When the boss’s right hand man starts collecting the protection money, she doesn’t think anything of it. Then Danny starts making trouble and Shea knows a turf war is on the way.
It was time to take a side. And then things change.
RATING:
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January 19, 2015
Taking The Fall by Laney Monday | book review
What happens when an Olympic athlete moves to a small town? Murder, love, betrayal, and a lot of spiteful behavior. Brenna and her sister Blythe decide to move to a small town when Brenna’s leg heals from the latest injury that gets in the way of winning gold.
The plan is to turn a ballet school into a judo dojo. Teaching kids the sport she loves makes Brenna happy. Well, until the local journalist gets killed, and her sister’s hairbrush is the weapon. And one cop is determined to lock up Brenna or Blythe, and another cop seems determined to get Brenna to fall in love with him.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a cozy mystery with a couple of feisty women who won’t let the world take care of things when they can just as easily solve the problem. Although the easy part may not be true.
RATING:
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January 12, 2015
Die Laughing 2 collection | book review
I don’t usually enjoy collections, unless they are by the same author. I have to admit that I didn’t read the full description before I bought. It turned out to be a good thing because I liked the stories in this collection. I’m not sure about the laughing part, though. Some of the stories are a bit grim.
Here’s the rundown by story.
GONE THE NEXT, BY BEN REHDER 
A complex story about child abduction, revenge, betrayal, and new beginnings. We follow Roy as he gets entangled with the search for a young girl who is abducted. Roy is a videographer - he films people who are committing insurance fraud. He isn’t a private investigator, he assures everyone. When he sees the girl, the police don’t believe him, but the kidnappers might be on to him. (5 stars)
LAST CHANCE LASSITER, BY PAUL LEVINE
Lassiter doesn’t fit in with the fancy law firm. He’s not prepared to suffer fools, or defend a wife beater. It’s time to launch his own practice – just because his office is in a parking garage doesn’t mean he’s not up to the job. His first case is complicated with the repercussions of his resignation and the fact that the opposing lawyer is his old boss. (5 stars)
CLIENT, BY PARNELL HALL
Sometimes getting a case to solve isn’t the windfall it seems. When he’s offered a good fee to follow a spouse, Stanley reluctantly agrees because he has bills to pay. Two problems, Stanley has no confidence in his abilities, and the client is a bit hard to contact. Murder, secrets, and misdirection all lie in Stanley’s future. (4 stars)
RADIO ACTIVITY, BY BILL FITZHUGH
Being a radio DJ just as radio seems to be dying scares Rick. Taking a job in a small southern town seems like the last step in a long slow slide. The station manager is a jerk, but that seems par for the course. Trying to find out what happened to the last DJ is where Rick takes a dangerous step into corruption, murder, and love. (5 stars)
CALABAMA, BY STEVE BREWER
In this story there aren’t any good people. Northern California is a nest of hillbillies, drug lords, and the entitled rich. Eric doesn’t belong with the rich even though he married into money. He doesn’t belong with the hillbillies either, even though he is dragged there after surviving a freak car accident. Seemingly carried along with everyone’s plans, Rick thinks he’s finally found a way out. A little criminal activity couldn’t hurt, right? (4 stars)
OVERALL RATING:
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January 5, 2015
Mapleton Mysteries by Terry Odell | book review
I’ve been wondering how to deal with series books, having reviews for each book seems redundant. I came up with this idea for when I’ve read the first few books. Let me know if it works for you.
The Mapleton Mysteries are cozy stories set in a small Colorado town just outside Denver. The main characters are the sheriff Gordon, the diner owner Angie, and a family comprised of two elderly grandparents Sam and Rose, their ward Meggie, and grandson Justin. As we all know, small towns everywhere are populated by people with secrets they will kill to keep hidden. As with all cozies, the success of the story lies in the characters first. Terry Odell does a great job of giving us people who have both strengths and faults that are believable.
Deadly Secrets
Sam and Rose don’t talk about their past, but now it might be coming back to destroy the life they’ve built in Mapleton.
Justin is acting weird, Meggie is attacked and it all revolves around a secret that might be a lie.
Deadly Bones
Now the secret is solved life should be good. Until a dog digs up a bone on Sam and Rose’s back lot, it is. 
Now Sheriff Gordon is tracking burial sites and still fighting for control of the investigation with the ‘help’, his own team, and the mayor
I recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers.
Rating:
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