HAPPILY EVER AFTER discussion
WHAT ARE YOU READING THESE DAYS?
>
What are you reading these days?
Here is my 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review of Written in Stone: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cozy Mystery
Book 10 in the Scottish Bookshop series
Set in Edinburgh, Scotland
Engaging, Fast read
Historical tie-in with the Picts
Here is my 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cozy mystery
2nd book in the Very Wong series
Entertaining, engaging, heartwarming, and funny, but with a dark and serious undertone
Found family
I feel like a slug this year. My romance reading is down--unless you count the re-reading I've been doing of favorite books in favorite series (the reading time of which I really can't afford!). Most of my new reads have been mysteries. So though I've read a few romances this year, what I've been reading are mysteries. Maybe I'll get back on track after I get the taxes done.
**
**
** From the Kari Lee Townsend series Kalli Ballas/Mind Reader
* A Touch of Malice
* An Inkling of Evil
* Mayhem on the Mind
**
**
From the Kari Lee Townsend series Sunny Meadows/Fortune Teller
* Murder in the Meditation
* Cruising Into Danger -- a crossover with the Kalli Ballas series
* Road Trip to Ruin-- a crossover with the Kalli Ballas series
**
From the Amanda Cooper (Victoria Hamilton) series Teapot Collector
* Shadow of a Spout
* The Grim Steeper
From the Cleo Coyle series Coffeehouse
* No Roast for the Weary
I updated my challenge page with my March (and early April) reads (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) with series information and mini reviews.
Here is my 3.47 rounded to 3 stars review of Pride or Die: A Novel by CL Montblanc:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
YA Mystery
LBGTQ+
Engaging debut young adult mystery
Teen angst / Bullying / Treatment of others / Irresponsible Adults
Solid mystery
Some plot twists
Social commentary
Some humor
Several serious topics explored
Here is my 3.69 rounded to 4 stars review of Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Horror, Mystery, Humor, and Compassion
2nd book in the Bless Your Heart series
Intriguing prologue
Dark, Clever, and Unsettling
Excellent characterization
Some disturbing details
Here is my 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review of Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cozy mystery
Great characters, wonderful atmosphere
Diane Kelly is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors
Engaging, clever, and entertaining with great atmosphere
Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime Thriller / Police Procedural / Arson Investigation
3rd book in the Sharp and Walker series
Also features Detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone
Twisty plot, fast-paced, compelling, suspenseful
Here is my 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review of Shadow of the Solstice: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by Anne Hillerman:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mystery
Book 10 in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series
Overall, this is a suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and compelling novel.
Great characterization / atmosphere / world-building
Historical adventure mystery set on the English cost in 1806 Dover.The Blighted Cliffs
by Edwin ThomasHere is my full 4 star review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.27 rounded to 4 stars review of Season of Death: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel by Will Thomas:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical Mystery
London, England in November of 1895
16th book in the Barker and Llewelyn series
Features two private enquiry agents
Sprinkled with humor
Great characterization and atmosphere
There's a podcast called Read Me Romance hosted by the authors "Alexa Riley." They chat a bit about romance reads (about a half-hour or so), then introduce the week's romance audio. I listen to some of the reads if the story sounds good but I know I won't download. I am not really an audiobook person, but I also may listen to the audio version of books by authors I read even if I've read the book.One of the best things is that I can listen to the books (usually an hour or so long--short) at increased speeds. I like doing this especially if I don't like the narration all that much but still want to "read" the story.
Anyway... I caught up with some Alexa Riley books, one of which I just listened to on RMR even though I read the printed version.
From thier Mittenville series:
01
** 02
** 03
* 01 A Cowboy Christmas
* 02 Winter Wrangler
* 03 Heartstrings (RMR) from the Valentine's Day anthology Pulling Heartstrings, I believe all four included stories were featured on RMR, but I just listened to Heartstrings.
Others, one of which was featured on RMR (I did not listen to it)
**
**
* Busting Nuts (RMR)
* Coach's Pet
* Stalker's Pet
I enjoy reading Alexa Riley, but would rate the different books from 2.5-3.5 stars.
Part of the lower rating is that the ones featured in the podcast are usually short (40-60 pages??) and the stories can suffer from lack of detail, etc. Such was the case with Heartstrings. I first met the character of Bronte in Winter Wrangler and so wanted to read her story. I was let down not so much by the overall story, but by the lack of detail--we don't really get background as to why Bronte fled the city only to be pursued by the over-the-top Marcus; there are threads left swaying that could have been used as a hurdle for the couple to overcome.... And, while I liked Bronte, Marcus comes across as an ass. I wish the written version had been expanded so I could root for the coupling more than I did. Also did not enjoy the audio.
By M.K. Moore & ChaShiree M. and featured on RMR
With Noelle: To Aspen With Love, Book 3; sweet story; audio pretty good; will most likely read the rest of the series.
By Sadie King and featured on RMR:
Mountain Man's Obsession; audio pretty good
Best line by Collette: "I spend a lot of my time people-watching. And by people, I mean Bear." Ha!
Then as if I had all the reading time in the world, I reread four books from the Mari Carr series Italian Stallions. Comfort reads with HEAs.
Read Me Romance: https://readmeromance.com/
Here is my 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review of The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mystery - Sleuthing along with a police investigation
8th book in the Nosey Parker Mystery Series
Great characterization, entertaining, solid mystery to unravel with humor sprinkles throughout the novel
Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of Cold Burn by A.J. Landau:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A. J. Landau is a pseudonym for authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.
Mystery
Action packed thriller
Book 2 in the National Park Thriller Series
Gritty, intense, and chiller
Great characterization and plenty of action
Here is my 4.57 rounded to 5 stars review of The Boomerang: A Thriller by Robert Bailey:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Political Thriller
Gritty and suspenseful high=stakes thriller
Thought-provoking and moving
Extraordinary, but flawed characters
Here is my 4.55 rounded to 5 stars review of South of Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime Thriller
5th book in the Colter Shaw series
Suspenseful, high-stakes, well-written, great characterization, extraordinary atmosphere
Here is my 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review of The Heist by Jack Du Brul:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical Thriller
14th book in the Isaac Bell series
Briskly paced
Centers around the beginning of the Federal Reserve Systerm
Mix of real and fictional characters woven into a fictional set of events
Over-the-top action at times, but engaging, suspenseful, and entertaining in this high stakes thriller
Here is my 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review of The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical Mystery
Regency Period
Features 2 financially independent 43-year-old twin sisters
Great world-building
Wonderful characterization
Slow-burn romance as a sub-sub-plot
A few real historical figures appear in the novel
Here is my 3.96 rounded to 4 stars review of The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical fiction
Standalone novel
Riveting, Intense, Heart-Breaking
Dual timeline
Well-researched
Here is my 4 star review of Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories by Paul Doiron:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime stories
Set in rural Maine
Collection of 8 short stories featuring Mike Bowditch and Charley Stevens
They cover a wide range of years in Mike's career.
Briskly paced, intriguing, sometimes quite dark.
Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of Toxic Prey by John Sandford:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thriller
34th book in the Lucas Davenport Prey series
3rd book in the Letty Davenport series
Part investigation and part action thriller
Suspenseful, thought-provoking, action-packed, compelling characters
I posted this in the freebies discussion, but thought I'd put it here just in case people don't find that board.From a newsletter received today...
NOTE: These are audio books.
🎧Stuff your Earbuds is HERE!🌟Download over 115 FREE romance audiobooks from fantastic indie authors. You might discover your next FAVORITE new author or narrator!❤️
𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://romanceaudiobookworms.com
Need to know which listening apps to download for the event? Here you go! ⬇️
🎧Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Spotify, Chirp, Nook and BookFunnel
💃Happy listening!
I'm not a big audio listener, but I'll be checking it out. Have fun!
Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical Mystery / Time Travel
Scottish Highlands setting
Suspenseful, entertaining
Great characterization and atmosphere
Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime Thriller / FBI
First book in the Sandra Vos series who was introduced in the 13th book in the Detective Amanda Steel series.
Successful Negotiator
Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and action-packed with compelling characters
Book #1 in medieval saga " The King's greatest Enemy", inspired by a real historical event : Lord Roger Mortimer's rebellion to King Edward II and his favourite Hugh Despenser.The story follows both the rebellion and the romance between a Lord Mortimer's valiant knight and his new wife.
In the Shadow of the Storm
by Anna BelfrageMy 4-star review here :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Karen wrote: "I posted this in the freebies discussion, but thought I'd put it here just in case people don't find that board.From a newsletter received today...
NOTE: These are audio books.
🎧Stuff your Ea..."
Hello!
I'm Tiziana, from Italy.
I never listened a book, even because it's simpler to me since I read in a foreign language, but I would like to try, it could be useful to improve my understanding of the English language.
So thank you so much for your kind and useful post ! :-D
Here is my 4.32 rounded to 4 stars review of A Hired Kill by Steven Konkoly:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thriller
Book 2 in the Garrett Mann series
Overall, this book was intense, suspenseful, action-packed and violent with compelling characters, high-stakes, and a story that is unsettling, gripping, and thought-provoking.
I feel that those who haven’t read book one will be somewhat lost, as no recap is provided.
Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Romantic Suspense
What an opening sentence!
Overall, this a well-written, intriguing, and gripping novel with an action-packed show-down that has well-developed and compelling characters.
Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cozy Mystery
Book 1 in the Ravansea Castle series
Set in the castle overlooking the village of Monkwell in Yorkshire, England
Filled with suspense, occasional action, and memorable characters, this was a fun read.
The atmosphere and world-building were great.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Haunting of Ashburn House (other topics)Turns of Fate (other topics)
Wild Instinct (other topics)
Prowl (other topics)
Remain (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Darcy Coates (other topics)Anne Bishop (other topics)
T. Jefferson Parker (other topics)
Colleen Coble (other topics)
Nicholas Sparks (other topics)
More...






https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Southern gothic horror / mystery
Chilling prologue
Flawed, disturbing, and eccentric characters, alarming events, a somewhat isolated location, and a bit of the paranormal
There’s a focus on both its history and the current situation of the town.
Dark, disturbing, compelling, and thought-provoking