Christa Nardi's Blog, page 63

Book Review: THE SWEET SMELL OF MURDER (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery) by Cindy Bell

Synopsis

Ally Sweet is happy to be returning for a short break to the small town where she grew up. She is planning on using the time off to get over her messy divorce and she is looking forward to spending time with her much-loved grandmother and relaxing making chocolates and anything chocolaty.  

But then… the delivery driver for her grandmother’s chocolate shop is found murdered. The detectives investigating the crime have a prime suspect, Ally’s high school sweetheart, Brent. Ally believes that Brent would never murder anyone, so with the help of her trusted feline friend, Peaches, she tries to uncover the truth.

The search for the killer leads Ally straight into the line of danger. Will she be able find the murderer before she becomes a victim herself?

Triple Chocolate Muffin Recipe Included!

Review

As a chocolate lover (aka chocoholic), I couldn't resist this series. THE SWEET SMELL OF MURDER is the first in the series and introduces Ally Sweet and her grandmother, as well as Ally's high school sweetheart. The small town atmosphere and strong family ties make for a light, albeit idealized, setting for a murder. As with many, the story has some predictability, but it was a fun, quick read with chocolate, romance, and mystery that could be enjoyed by readers from teenagers to seniors. Nothing to offend any age reader. I hope to try out the recipe, but was glad the whole book wasn't filled with them.

AMAZON

Book Blast: BODY OF THE CRIME by Jennifer Chase

We're so excited to be hosting Jennifer Chase's BODY OF THE CRIME Book Blast today!  Please leave a comment to let her know you stopped by!

About the Book:
Title: BODY OF THE CRIME
Author: Jennifer Chase
Publisher: JEC Press
Genre: Crime Thriller
Three grisly murders linked to five old cold cases, dubbed the Flower Girl Murders, pushes detectives to their limit to find a clever and extremely brutal serial killer, leaving a California town demanding justice. The District Attorney’s Serial Special Task Force retains the help of the reclusive Dr. Chip Palmer, a forensic expert and criminal profiler, to steer them in the right direction.
Palmer is known for his astute academic interpretations of serial and predatory crimes, along with his unconventional tactics that goes against general police procedures. He is partnered with the tough and beautiful D.A. Inspector Kate Rawlins, a homicide detective transplanted from Phoenix, and the chemistry ignites between the team—turbulent and deadly.

The Flower Girl Murders leaves three homicides, five cold cases, two seasoned detectives, three suspects, and one serial killer calling all the shots. The investigation must rely on one eccentric forensic scientist to unravel the clues to solve the case. But at what cost?Body of the Crime is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt:

THE DENSE PINE AND OAK trees made a semi-circle pattern in the forest. Dried leaves blew in the breeze, swirled around like unique pieces of confetti, cascading downward, and finally resting on the ground. The isolated location seemed serene and picturesque, which lent to the stark contrast of the woman’s dead body.Her long brown hair hung straight and spilled down over her shoulders and slender body. Each strand appeared to have been carefully washed and combed precisely in place. The unknown woman wore a light blue button-down sweater that remained in an orderly fashion with every button fastened, and it was pulled down to cover her belly. Her arms gently placed over her chest, each finger laced next to the other. Tucked carefully underneath her hands was a stem with a pale pink flower that looked like a daisy, now wilted. The victim’s fingernails scrubbed clean, and her hands lacked any jewelry or identifying marks.Upon a quick glance, it seemed that she was merely daydreaming. Looking closely, her fixed dull eyes gave the undeniable lifeless gaze. The relaxed expression on her face seemed almost contrived and had a peculiar quality to it—even a ghostly facade. From the waist up, the woman looked like she had taken a nap after a morning of running errands or after coming home from a luncheon with friends. The woman was in a carefully posed position that told the story of an organized killer who was in complete control, but that was where the structured behavior of the murderer abruptly stopped.In a disturbing contrast, the horrifying viciousness of what was left of the bottom half of the body was the aftermath of a long, torturous assault from someone completely out of control. It suggested a perpetrator who lacked any impulse control and mental stability. 
About the Author
Jennifer Chase is an award-winning author and consulting criminologist.  She has authored six crime fiction novels, including the multiple award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook.Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics and a Master's degree in criminology.  These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.
Visit Jennifer Chase’s website.
Connect with Jennifer on Facebookand Twitter.  Media Contact: Dorothy Thompson Pump Up Your Book P.O. Box 643 Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336 Email: thewriterslife@gmail.com

Blog Tour: TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE (A Tourist Trap Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon

Tea Cups and Carnage (A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Cozy Mystery7th in SeriesLyrical Underground (June 7, 2016)ASIN: B015BCRWQG
Synopsis:

The kettle’s about to boil over . . .

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .
Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name—without getting herself in hot water.

Review:Jill has her hands full between her Aunt, a missing deposit, a festival, library event, and her business. Enough to keep her busy, but when someone is killed, she can't help but try to figure who did it and how it relates to Kathi, the ex-pageant queen. Greg tries to discourage her and the local seer of sorts tells her not to make any decisions about relationships. There's a wild motorcyclist giving motor clubs a bad name and the cranky antique dealer, and somehow Jill knows these are all connected.

There are subplots and many relationships, with twists and turns, some leading to dead ends. Characters are well developed and I hope there is more story on Toby, Sasha and Nick. Those who like a bit of romance with their mystery will not be disappointed.  Although part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone. 
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and two fur babies.




Author Links
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon

Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon

Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor

Website – http://lynncahoon.com/

Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Purchase Links
Amazon  Nook

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Book Review: WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU (A Lauren Beck Crime Novel) by Donna Huston Murray

Synopsis
Lauren Beck’s friends, phone, home, credit and credibility are gone, severed with surgical precision by an enemy intent on framing her for murder. Is it one of the insureds she was hired to investigate? The fellow employee she upstaged? Does the daughter of her landlady and dear friend, Corinne Wilder, hate her even more than she thought? Whoever targeted her should beware. A former cop and cancer survivor knows how to fight for her life.
Review
Lauren Beck is trying to get her life back after being told she is cancer free when her friend, the person who supported her through her fight for cancer doesn't make it. That's bad enough but Corrine's daughter receives a call that accuses Lauren of killing her mother and police officers Lauren worked with before the cancer are now investigating the death and Lauren as the prime suspect.
Lauren just keeps fighting, but there has to be some mastermind behind the events that follow as her credit is affected, her bank account wiped out, and she has nowhere to turn. Fighting for survival before keeps her going despite odds against her. 
The plot is well-developed with twists, turns, and complex paths that Lauren investigates. I look forward to reading more in this crime series. 
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review as part of this blog tour. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
AMAZON

Blog Tour: Guest Post by FRANKIE BOW, author of the Cursed Canoe...

Today it's my pleasure to have Frankie Bow, author of THE CURSED CANOE andother books, as my guest.

Let’s talk about campus murder mysteries.
I love reading them and writing them. What is it about academia that makes it such a compelling setting for murder? I have some ideas.

Clashing agendas. Professors want to enlighten the world with their teaching and their research. Like Christa’s psychologist sleuth Sheridan Hensley, they focus on searching out the truth. Administrators, on the other hand, need to keep the dollars flowing in, and the legislators and trustees off their backs. This may require some skillful editing of the truth:

“Our position is, yes, Mister Yamada, your wonderful idea for a Golf Course Management major is going through, and before you know it, we’ll be putting out graduates who are ready and willing to work at your resort. And also, no, Senator Kamoku, of course we’re not considering offering a major in golf as a taxpayer-subsidized sop to our most powerful trustee. The very idea.” (From The Invasive Species)

Different worldviews. Naturally, everyone on campus agrees on striving for “excellence.” It’s in the University Strategic Plan, after all.




Unfortunately, not everyone has the same definition of “excellence.”

“Dr. Rodge,” as he tells his students to call him, doesn’t give midterms or final exams, assigns no homework, and gives A's to everyone who signs up for his Human Potential class. I can’t force Rodge to “maintain academic standards worthy of our university” (Hanson’s words) or “teach a real college class and knock off that feel-good bull****” (Hanson’s contemporary, Dr. Larry Schneider). As long as Rodge shows up when he’s supposed to and stays out of trouble with the students, there’s not much else I can do. Especially not when the Student Retention Office keeps nominating him for the campus-wide teaching award every year. (From The Cursed Canoe)

Imbalance of power. Students may feel powerless, but to the administration, they are customers.

So true... and now let's talk about THE CURSED CANOE:

The Cursed Canoe: A Molly Barda Mystery2nd Book in SeriesCozy MysteryPrint Length: 338 pagesPublisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press (February 23, 2016)ASIN: B01C5JYVXA
Synopsis
Professor Molly Barda investigates a mysterious paddling accident, and realizes it isn’t just business majors who cheat to get what they want. Whether it’s moving up in the college rankings, getting a seat in the big canoe race, or just looking out for themselves, some people will do whatever it takes-including murder.

About the Author, Frankie Bow
Like Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining.

In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

Author Links

www.frankiebow.com

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Frankie_Bow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankie.bow.1

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/frankie-bow/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7809288.Frankie_Bow

Purchase Links

Amazon – B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: LIKELY SUSPECTS (Alexis Parker Book 1) by G. K. Parks

Synopsis

Leaving the Office of International Operations seemed like a great way to avoid bureaucratic hassles, red-tape, and murderous psychopaths. Unfortunately, things don't always work out the way they should.

Meet Alexis Parker, former OIO operative, currently trying to make a name for herself in the private sector. With a limited job history, the state of the economy, and her own internal struggle concerning her competence as an investigator, Alex is forced to take the only job she is offered.

Enter eccentric, playboy, CEO James Martin. Martin Technologies is a multi-million dollar corporation that James Martin has nurtured from the ground up with his workaholic tendencies. But now that Mr. Martin's life is being threatened, what's a guy to do besides hire an attractive, feisty, former federal agent to be his new security consultant and personal bodyguard.

As Alex attempts to navigate the minefield of potential suspects, she gradually begins to uncover an underlying conspiracy that has been brewing at Martin Technologies for almost half a decade. Anyone could be involved, making all of Martin's closest friends, acquaintances, and employees possible suspects. What starts out as a single death threat quickly morphs into a plot to overtake his entire company. Once the pieces start to fall into place, things begin to explode, both literally and figuratively for Alex, as the physical danger looms ever more menacingly overhead. This outwardly simple case quickly becomes something neither Alex nor Martin ever imagined as the situation continues to escalate rapidly out of control. It will take all of Alex's training and instincts to be able to track down the criminal mastermind and stop the assassination plot before it's too late.

Likely Suspects is the first full-length novel in the Alexis Parker series. It's a witty page-turner, containing sharp dialogue, three-dimensional characters, and nonstop action that will keep readers intrigued until the very end.

Review
When Alex takes the job with Martin Industries, she does so with reluctance but with a sense that her previous colleague must think something is going on and the threats are not just part of James Martin's eccentricity. Alex does her job and she's good at her job, but Martin is not always the most cooperative of clients. As the story unfolds, Martin's idea of having Alex appear to be his latest fling rather than a security consultant doesn't sit too well with Alex.  Then there's his older secretary who warns her off, the other executive who hits on her, and the increasing severity of the threats. 
As promised in the synopsis, the story moves quickly and the pace escalates to match the level of danger to Martin and Alex. Although Martin initially comes off as egocentric as well as eccentric, his personality gains depth and by story end, I liked the man. The character of Alex is well-developed as well. I especially liked Marcal although he is a minor character but important. If you like suspense with romance, then as the body count rises, you will like this book. This is NOT a "clean read" and if you are offended by profanity you will not like this book.   
For me, the major downside is that there are at least 9 in this series, not to mention 3 prequel novellas! My ever growing TBR list is groaning!
Prequel Novellas (Available as boxed set as OUTCOMES AND PERSPECTIVES before Alexis leaves the agency and goes solo)
ASSIGNMENT ZEROAGENT PREROGATIVETHE FINAL CHAPTER
Books in the Alexis Parker Series
LIKELY SUSPECTS   AMAZON LINKTHE WARHOL INCIDENTMIMICRY OF BANSHEESSUSPICION OF MURDERRACING THROUGH DARKNESSCAMELS AND CORPSESLACK OF JURISDICTIONDYING FOR A FIXINTENDED TARGET

Book Review: ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED by Victorine E. Lieske

Synopsis

Madison Nichols, aspiring actress, is floundering. Her rent is due and she needs a job. Desperately. After getting a tip about an open position, she rushes to Jameson Technologies and meets CEO Jared Jameson. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, she is put in the awkward position of pretending to be his girlfriend. Not the job she was applying for. And when she finds out Jared lied to her to get what he wanted, she decides to get back at him. In front of his family.

Jared is stunned when Madison announces they are getting married. She pushed her revenge too far. How can he tell them it’s all a lie? And when his sick aunt asks them to be married before she dies, Madison comes up with a hair-brained plan to hire an actor and stage a fake wedding.

What they both don’t know is Jared’s father has found out about the fake wedding. And he’s got his own hair-brained plan.

This is a sweet romance, appropriate for any age.

Review
Madison is a bit impulsive and emotionally fragile, but she has good heart. She's out of a job and following the advice of a friend shows up to interview for a job that doesn't exist. Jared is looking for the person he has arranged to pretend to be his girlfriend and assumes that is Madison. He convinces her to go along with him to the family gathering with the possibility of a job later on. He then admits the job doesn't exist. She goes along with the charade to a point - afterall, she is an actress - and she needs to pay the rent.
Her attempts to get even with Jared backfire when she finds that she likes his family and doesn't want to deceive them. The ending is predictable, but there are humorous moments along the way and the story is well-written. Those looking for a light and fun romance that could be shared with teens or parents will enjoy this book. It was just what I needed in between reading mysteries.
AMAZON

Book Review: MURDER BY THE GLASS (A Wine Lover's Mystery Book 2) by Michele Scott

Synopsis

Life is sweet for Nikki Sands. She’s toasting her new job at Malveaux Estate in Napa Valley and balancing a love triangle with a neighboring winemaker and her boss, vineyard owner Derek Malveaux—the catch of the county. And tonight, Nikki will be on the arm of Napa’s golden boy at a Sonoma mansion for the wedding of the decade… 


Nikki’s friend Isabel agreed to cater the wedding—before she learned that the groom was her cheating lover. After the ceremony, Isabel asks Nikki to bring the obnoxious bride another glass of wine. But Nikki finds the new wife sprawled on the floor—murdered. Since the dear departed made enemies easily, there’s a bushel of suspects—many of them close to Nikki. Now, it’s up to her to get to the bottom of what may have been a killer bottle of wine.

Wine Pairings and Recipes included.

Review
Nikki plays sleuth when she's the one to find the victim and many of her friends and acquaintances are potential suspects. The problem is that sometimes asking questions and such only adds to the suspicion. Scott keeps the story moving with a few twists and the advances and retreats of her two suitors. Personally, I liked Derek. The story is well-paced if not suspenceful. As an added bonus, there are recipes and wine pairings.
This is the second in the Wine Lover's Mysteries, but is the first one I've read. I had no trouble following along - definitely can be read as a stand alone. This was a good read at the end of stressful day. Of course, now I'll have to go back to MURDER UNCORKED and find out how Nikki ends up at Malveaux Estates. 
AMAZON

Book Review: TO KILL A LABRADOR (A Marcia Banks and Buddy Mystery Book 1) by Kassandra Lamb

Synopsis
Marcia (pronounced Mar-see-a, not Marsha) likes to think of herself as a normal person, even though she has a rather abnormal vocation. She trains service dogs for combat veterans with PTSD. Then the ex-Marine owner of her first trainee is accused of murdering his wife, and Marcia gets sucked into an even more abnormal avocation–amateur sleuth.

Called in to dog-sit the Labrador service dog, Buddy, she’s outraged that his veteran owner is being presumed guilty until proven innocent. With Buddy’s help, she tries to uncover the real killer. Even after the hunky local sheriff politely tells her to butt out, Marcia keeps poking around. Until the killer finally pokes back.
Review
The ex-Marine with PTSD and the murder of his wife set the stage for Marcia to somehow feel responsible not only for the therapy dog she trained, but for Jimmy as well. There are twists and turns and characters are not always as they seem initially. 
Marcia's curiosity and outrage at the stereotypic response to the veteran lead to some interesting interactions while working with Buddy's despondence over his change in placement, her continued training of Lacy and Max, and the surprise alligator in her house. Then there's the hunky local detective and Marcia's hesitancy to engage in the possibilities there.  
Well-written, with well-developed characters make for an enjoyable read on many levels. TO KILL A LABRADOR is bound to capture the interest of many.  
AMAZON LINK

Book Review: MENDED HEARTS (New Beginnings #2) by Mandie Tepe

Synopsis:

How do you rebuild your life when you refuse to be a victim anymore?

Gracie Laurent had gone from happy-ever-after, with her childhood sweetheart, to a nightmare. In the blink of an eye, her world had crumbled and she’d retreated to the bosom of her family. After letting them care for her, she realized she didn’t want to be the weak person she’d become any longer. Deciding to go out on her own and start a whole new life, she rediscovered the music she’d missed and found a love she never dreamed possible . . . with someone from her past she never expected to find.

A hero at a crossroads . . . looking at an uncertain future

Luca “Sonny” Ionescu loved his life as a Navy SEAL. After being injured in Afghanistan, he’d been shipped home and was facing the biggest challenge of his life. What would he do if he weren’t able to recover enough to rejoin his SEAL team? How could he rebuild his life into one as satisfying as the one he’d been living? A phone call from a childhood friend out of the blue gives him a mission and a new purpose—a reason to focus on someone other than himself. It also leads to a brand new love and a life more fulfilling than he could have ever expected.

An old threat resurfaces putting their future at risk.
Is their love a strong enough foundation to hold up the new life they’re building?

Review:
Gracie Laurent is starting her life over, confident her ex-husband is incarcerated.  She's following her dream to be a singer. Luca's fighting to keep his dream of being a SEAL after being injured on his last mission. Little did Luca know that the sister of his best friend from high school was singing in a local bar or that she was even more beautiful than he remembered. No one knew Gracie's ex would be released. 
Both Gracie and Luca are dealing with change and stress of change. They're both fighting and support each other. This is a wonderful story that captures the tensions of families of the military and their tight knit community, as well as the protective response of family members when one of them is victimized. Well written and uplifting with enough tension to keep it going. 
This is the first one in the series I've read, but I'll be adding the others in the series to my TBR list.
Direct Link to AMAZON