Also, I know the pop-up is a bit annoying but I hope you can help me by completing one survey each time you visit here. It helps a lot. If you want to contribute by sharing your books, you can e-mail me at support@bookslair.com. I hope you enjoy your stay here.
Announcement
I want to welcome Lynn and Jenny to the team. They will help me update this site on their free time. Thank you for offering your help. :) I have added new updates on the site, I hope you guys will enjoy it. I'm currently hooked on cozy mystery, that's why there are a lot of mystery books. I will add chick lit or romance tomorrow to make it up.
Also, I know the pop-up is a bit annoying but I hope you can help me by completing one survey each time you visit here. It helps a lot. If you want to contribute by sharing your books, you can e-mail me at support@bookslair.com. I hope you enjoy your stay here.
Also, I know the pop-up is a bit annoying but I hope you can help me by completing one survey each time you visit here. It helps a lot. If you want to contribute by sharing your books, you can e-mail me at support@bookslair.com. I hope you enjoy your stay here.
Unbound by Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Jocelyn Drake
Publisher: Eos (August 25, 2009)Language: English
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Format: .pdf
Not all hunters are bound by human laws . . .
Revisiting the paranormal realms they've made famous in their wildly popular fiction, New York Times bestselling authors Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Jocelynn Drake—plus New York Times bestselling YA author Melissa Marr with her first adult supernatural thriller—unleash their full arsenal of dark talents, plunging us into the shadows where the supernatural stalk the unsuspecting . . . and every soul is a target.
Get ready for the ride of your life—because the wildest magic has just been unleashed . . . and evil is about to have its day.
Review:
(4/5) - I love anthologies and short story collections! I think it's a great way to discover new authors, as well as get a quick taste of stories from some of my favorites. I try to make my "purse book" an anthology as they're easier than full length novels to read sporadically. They're also perfect for my lunch hour reads. This book was a little different for me as I'm already a big fan of all of these ladies, so no new authors to sample. But it is a great selection of stories, so I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers!
The first story is Ley Line Drifter by Kim Harrison. It features Jenks, my favorite pixie investigator from the Rachel Morgan series. Jenks gets a case of his own, helping a pixie family because their children are being magically attacked by a statue. Was nice to see Jenks and Bis, the teenage gargoyle, again. Rachel doesn't make an appearance, but Ivy has a cameo. Jenks handles things really well, and I think it did both Jenks and Bis good to spread their wings a little and act independently.
The next story is Reckoning by Jeaniene Frost. Good story about vampire bounty hunter Bones tracking two undead serial killers in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Always nice to see Bones again.
Dark Matters by Vicki Pettersson is the third story presented. It involves the agents of Light from her Signs of the Zodiac series, but before Joanna came into the picture. I really enjoyed it, but the ending took me a little by surprise. I didn't see it coming, but it made sense so I liked it!
Next up is The Dead, The Damned, and the Forgotten by Jocelynn Drake. This one features Mira, from her Dark Days series. I haven't read the series yet, but have several of the books in my TBR pile. A nice introduction to Mira and her world, involving the murder of a nightwalker in her territory. If Mira can't solve the murder, she may lose her territory and be sent back to the Council. Another good story!
Last but not least is Two Lines by Melissa Marr. Liked this one, but could have used a little more background as I'm totally unfamiliar with glaistigs. Eavan does not want to become a full glaistig, which apparently involves both murder and sex. Think those are the two lines that she does not want to cross, but it's getting harder and harder for her to resist. There is a sexy bad guy and an equally appealing good guy, as well as family pressure to just get on with it already. Not bad, but there was that confusion over glaistigs, which dampened my enjoyment a little.
All in all I'd say that this was a good collection of urban fantasy, so I gave it 4 out of 5.
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Back in Black (SBC Fighters Book 5) by Lori Foster
Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 320 pages
Format: HTML
Language: English
Paperback: 320 pages
Format: HTML
Never before published from the New York Times bestselling author
Gillian is a PR expert hired to smooth out the rough edges on hot- headed sports club president Drew Black. He's rough, raw and ready for any challenge Gillian throws his way. But which one's going to end up on top?
Gillian is a PR expert hired to smooth out the rough edges on hot- headed sports club president Drew Black. He's rough, raw and ready for any challenge Gillian throws his way. But which one's going to end up on top?
Review:
(5/5) - I loved this series with the exception of My Man Micheal. So, I'm so happy to see Back In Black. Very enjoyable. It has even made me want to re-read the earlier books in the series. So I have bought them to have on my Kindle. Great job Lori. I hope to see more from this series.
(3/5) - First off for anyone that is worried. Drew falls in love with a human and they both stay on Earth. Yes!! I am so please that with Back in Black Lori Foster brings back SBC. Drew is EXACTLY as he appeared in the other novels. He's crass, he's a sexist and he has a foul mouth. As for his love interest I didnt like that Gillian was a PR person sent to fix Drew's image. I felt like we've been there already with the life coach sent to Handelman in Hard to Handle. But I ignored that and forged ahead. Gillian is described as aggressive and professional-a career woman with her head on straight. Well that wasnt quite true since the minute Drew flirts with her she blushes and stammers. Of course he's hot so I allowed for this. I rated this 3.75 stars because I DID like this and I was relieved it wasnt like My Man Michael. I think Gillian is perfect for him and would have liked her character more if she hadn't been initially described a certain way while her behavior throughout the story was the complete opposite.
Also she is sent by the owners of the SBC to clean up Drew's image but other than one event she never really makes any strides with this. She talks about her plans but than other things in the plot (a stalker)take away from her ever putting these plans into place. Drew constantly keeps her off balance with his sexuality which I could have handled if she mentally acknowledged that she knew he was playing her. I knew it becuase the reader is given his point of view and we know he acts this way for hype and because the fans expect it while inside he's smart and saavy as a business man not the least bit disrespectful in his regard for women.
Finally, I feel like the ending was rushed and the stalker angle wrapped up in a way that was abrupt. The secondary romance took up pages that I feel like would have been better spent on Drew and more insight into his relationship with Gillian. Her character was cheated because of this I believe. All in all, it was great to see other characters, Drew is to die for and the SBC is on terra firma.
Also she is sent by the owners of the SBC to clean up Drew's image but other than one event she never really makes any strides with this. She talks about her plans but than other things in the plot (a stalker)take away from her ever putting these plans into place. Drew constantly keeps her off balance with his sexuality which I could have handled if she mentally acknowledged that she knew he was playing her. I knew it becuase the reader is given his point of view and we know he acts this way for hype and because the fans expect it while inside he's smart and saavy as a business man not the least bit disrespectful in his regard for women.
Finally, I feel like the ending was rushed and the stalker angle wrapped up in a way that was abrupt. The secondary romance took up pages that I feel like would have been better spent on Drew and more insight into his relationship with Gillian. Her character was cheated because of this I believe. All in all, it was great to see other characters, Drew is to die for and the SBC is on terra firma.
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Avenging Angels (Beaufort and Company 03) by Mary Stanton
Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
The series that's "a breath of fresh air for fans of paranormal cozy mysteries" (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
Law school hasn't prepared Bree to appeal cases for the dead. After inheriting her great-uncle's haunted law firm, she must now represent ex-banker O'Rourke, who supposedly killed himself after losing a fortune. But with a merry widow and evidence mounting, it's beginning to look like murder. So Bree and her team of angels begin to investigate. But Bree soon discovers that someone would rather see her deceased than debriefed.
Law school hasn't prepared Bree to appeal cases for the dead. After inheriting her great-uncle's haunted law firm, she must now represent ex-banker O'Rourke, who supposedly killed himself after losing a fortune. But with a merry widow and evidence mounting, it's beginning to look like murder. So Bree and her team of angels begin to investigate. But Bree soon discovers that someone would rather see her deceased than debriefed.
Review:
(4/5) - When Brianna Winston-Beaufort took over her late Uncle Franklin's Savannah law practice Beaufort & Company, she had no idea what she let herself in for as she works legal matters in the Celestial Court. Her clients are typically spirits and her assistance angels as she is the only mortal (and lawyer) who can enter 66 Angelus St.
Her current case is a suicide victim banker Russell O'Rourke who allegedly killed himself due to the recession leading to his bankruptcy and shame. Although she struggles with the lack of a law library on line, Bree knows the heavenly law about killing one's self. However, she with Sasha her angelic guard dog at her side and her assistant angels investigate only to find Russell's widow euphoric with his death. As she begins to wonder if Russell's is a victim of a homicide, someone wants Bree needing a lawyer defending her in Celestial Court before she learns the truth of how Russell died.
The latest Beaufort paranormal legal thriller is an engaging tale due to a strong cast starting with the lead attorney. The story line is fast-paced on earth and in court as Bree and company investigate the suspicious death of Russell as well as appeal his sentencing in the heavenly court. Although similar in tone to the previous two defending their lives entries (see Angel's Advocate and Defending Angels), fans will enjoy this still unique quirky angelic spin n the afterlife.
Harriet Klausner
Her current case is a suicide victim banker Russell O'Rourke who allegedly killed himself due to the recession leading to his bankruptcy and shame. Although she struggles with the lack of a law library on line, Bree knows the heavenly law about killing one's self. However, she with Sasha her angelic guard dog at her side and her assistant angels investigate only to find Russell's widow euphoric with his death. As she begins to wonder if Russell's is a victim of a homicide, someone wants Bree needing a lawyer defending her in Celestial Court before she learns the truth of how Russell died.
The latest Beaufort paranormal legal thriller is an engaging tale due to a strong cast starting with the lead attorney. The story line is fast-paced on earth and in court as Bree and company investigate the suspicious death of Russell as well as appeal his sentencing in the heavenly court. Although similar in tone to the previous two defending their lives entries (see Angel's Advocate and Defending Angels), fans will enjoy this still unique quirky angelic spin n the afterlife.
Harriet Klausner
(5/5) - This series by Mary Stanton is fun, entertaining and is a new twist on "paranormal" and legal fiction. Savannah lawyer Brianna Beaufort and her legal team of Angels go about defending souls who where perhaps given too harsh a sentence to purgatory and beyond. Having clients who are dead already makes the job that much more of a challenge!
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Defending Angels (Beaufort and Company 02) by Mary Stanton
Publisher: Berkley (December 2, 2008)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Being a lawyer has its challenges, but this is downright otherworldly. With a long list of ethereal clients who need her help, Bree's career choice is beginning to haunt her...
Brianna Winston-Beaufort is taking over her uncle's law practice in the most haunted city in the world -- Savannah. While renovations are made, Bree rents space in an old house located in the middle of an all-murderers' cemetery. Her first case comes from a local businessman, Benjamin Skinner, who somehow manages to call Bree hours after 44 his suspicious death.
Bree is mystified, but everyone around her thinks this is business as usual. Her landlady, her secretary, and even an attractive PI seem to know more about Bree's new practice than she does. Skinner needs their help to find his murderer and prove his innocence against the charge of Greed, which comes from the mightiest hand of the law -- the Celestial Court. And the verdict in this case could put Bree's life on the line, as well as her client's afterlife...
Brianna Winston-Beaufort is taking over her uncle's law practice in the most haunted city in the world -- Savannah. While renovations are made, Bree rents space in an old house located in the middle of an all-murderers' cemetery. Her first case comes from a local businessman, Benjamin Skinner, who somehow manages to call Bree hours after 44 his suspicious death.
Bree is mystified, but everyone around her thinks this is business as usual. Her landlady, her secretary, and even an attractive PI seem to know more about Bree's new practice than she does. Skinner needs their help to find his murderer and prove his innocence against the charge of Greed, which comes from the mightiest hand of the law -- the Celestial Court. And the verdict in this case could put Bree's life on the line, as well as her client's afterlife...
Review:
(5/5) - Imagine this: You are new in town, ready to take on your late uncle's law firm, and totally gung ho about it. You finally find a place to set up your temporary office. Unfortunately it is in the middle of a cemetery that has only murderers buried in it, and your landlady seems a bit eccentric but hey! At least the rent is cheap. You finally hire two intelligent assistants who seem to be relatively sane. Then voila, you receive that first call from someone (and not just any someone, mind you, but one of the biggest and meanest tycoons in the state) who wants you to represent them. The only problem is, when you immediately call him back, you find out that he's been dead for hours. What would you think?
Brianna Winston Beaufort (but please call her "Bree") thinks it is nothing more than a practical joke brought on by her ex-boyfriend. It just HAS to be. Either that, or everyone around her is completely crazy or it is just her that is losing it.
Bree has to figure things out before she goes mad with frustration. Who are these people she has surrounded herself with? Why are they telling her to take on dead people as clients? Why have her nightmares been coming back? And why is that painting of the cormorant coming to life? What secrets had her uncle been keeping from her about his clientèle? She begins to think that maybe it would be best if she did not bother taking on her uncle's firm.
Defending Angels has every element needed that makes for a great story. The words will captivate you while the story will haunt you. There were so many elements to this story that simply cannot be expressed without giving away too many details. Simply put this is a book that is going on my "must keep" pile.
Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Lyda
Brianna Winston Beaufort (but please call her "Bree") thinks it is nothing more than a practical joke brought on by her ex-boyfriend. It just HAS to be. Either that, or everyone around her is completely crazy or it is just her that is losing it.
Bree has to figure things out before she goes mad with frustration. Who are these people she has surrounded herself with? Why are they telling her to take on dead people as clients? Why have her nightmares been coming back? And why is that painting of the cormorant coming to life? What secrets had her uncle been keeping from her about his clientèle? She begins to think that maybe it would be best if she did not bother taking on her uncle's firm.
Defending Angels has every element needed that makes for a great story. The words will captivate you while the story will haunt you. There were so many elements to this story that simply cannot be expressed without giving away too many details. Simply put this is a book that is going on my "must keep" pile.
Reviewed at Bitten by Books Paranormal Fiction Review Site by Lyda
(5/5) - Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/09)
Brianna Winston-Beaufort thinks that she is lucky to find an inexpensive office for rent in a prime business area of Savannah. When she goes to see the property she discovers that the building is sitting next to a private, all-murderers cemetery. The landlord, Lavina, who lives in the building, also appears to be very eccentric. Strange things begin happening immediately. Brianna takes the space and obtains a client list that she has inherited from a recently-deceased relative. She also receives some gifts from a former professor who was very special to her. The gifts include a cell phone which has a message from a recently-deceased, publically-known man who wants to hire her.
Brianna discovers that she is to be part of an organization that will represent deceased clients who are trying to defend their way into heaven. She isn't too sure that she wants this job, but people and even animals come into her life to help give her support with her cases. She also uncovers some important secrets about her own past. She learns that in addition to her education, she also has special gifts that can help her with her cases and deal with the evil that she encounters.
I loved reading "Defending Angels" by Mary Stanton! It is a "Beaufort & Company Mystery," so I hope that there are many more books to follow in this series. Mary Stanton has developed a wonderfully unique idea as a basis for this paranormal murder mystery series. I really enjoyed that she included animals with special abilities in this book. She also did an excellent job of bringing the magic and mystery of Savannah alive to make you feel like you are really there. This is a must read for all fans of paranormal mysteries. It would also make a great book for a reader's group. It will definitely generate some fun discussions.
Brianna Winston-Beaufort thinks that she is lucky to find an inexpensive office for rent in a prime business area of Savannah. When she goes to see the property she discovers that the building is sitting next to a private, all-murderers cemetery. The landlord, Lavina, who lives in the building, also appears to be very eccentric. Strange things begin happening immediately. Brianna takes the space and obtains a client list that she has inherited from a recently-deceased relative. She also receives some gifts from a former professor who was very special to her. The gifts include a cell phone which has a message from a recently-deceased, publically-known man who wants to hire her.
Brianna discovers that she is to be part of an organization that will represent deceased clients who are trying to defend their way into heaven. She isn't too sure that she wants this job, but people and even animals come into her life to help give her support with her cases. She also uncovers some important secrets about her own past. She learns that in addition to her education, she also has special gifts that can help her with her cases and deal with the evil that she encounters.
I loved reading "Defending Angels" by Mary Stanton! It is a "Beaufort & Company Mystery," so I hope that there are many more books to follow in this series. Mary Stanton has developed a wonderfully unique idea as a basis for this paranormal murder mystery series. I really enjoyed that she included animals with special abilities in this book. She also did an excellent job of bringing the magic and mystery of Savannah alive to make you feel like you are really there. This is a must read for all fans of paranormal mysteries. It would also make a great book for a reader's group. It will definitely generate some fun discussions.
(4/5) - I am happy to have found a new cozy mystery. This one was written by Mary Stanton (Claudia Bishop). I have enjoyed her "Hemlock Falls" and "Casebooks of Dr. McKenzie" mysteries. Now we have a new series called "Beaufort & Company". This mystery centers around a woman lawyer named, Brianna Winston-Beaufort. Bree inherits her uncle's law practice in Savannah, Georgia. Little does she know, her first client will be a ghost. This ghost is a tough cookie. He wants answers as to who killed him and he wants the answers NOW! Bree has her hands full with some "unusual helpers" on the job ,to get the case solved. With the "company of angels" by her side, she delvers the goods. As Shakespeare wrote, "There are more things in heaven and Earth". This mystery definitely shows us more. An interesting concept to be sure. I am looking forward to the next installment in this mystery series.
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Angel's Advocate (Beaufort and Company 01) by Mary Stanton
Publisher: Berkley (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Money's been tight ever since Bree Winston Beaufort inherited Savannah's haunted law firm Beaufort & Company along with its less-than-angelic staff. But she's finally going to tackle a case that pays the bills representing a spoiled girl who stole someone's Girl Scout cookie money. But soon enough she finds that her client's departed millionaire father needs help too. Can she help an unsavory father/daughter duo and make a living off of the living?
Review:
(5/5) - How do the dead get justice? Do they contact a lawyer? In Mary Stanton's latest release, Angel's Advocate, we get a paranormal glance at the funny, and sometimes dangerous, side of lawyering for the Celestial courts.
When a 17-year-old girl decides to mug a Girl Scout selling cookies, the old Savannah family network kicks in. A young lawyer by the name of Briana Beaufort, Bree for short, is coerced by her aunt to take on the case as a family favor. Through twists and turns in the "Cookie Mugger" case, Bree gets tangled in a web wherein she finds herself with the real client--the teen girl's dead father who may have been falsely condemned to one of the lowest planes of Hell.
Working with Angels as your backup should be a walk in the park, but it's more like a walk in the cemetery for Bree, as she thinks to herself: "Well, let's see. In the past twenty-four hours, I've retained another dead soul as a client, dealt with a kid so screwed up she torments dogs, and discovered that yep, I'm being followed by a pair of corpses who've jumped through the barricades between this world and the next so they can take me on a permanent, highly unpleasant tropical vacation."
I giggled out loud as I met some of the quirky characters and shuddered at some of the spooky scenes, so it's easy to get involved in this book. I did get a little tired of hearing so many people tell the heroine how tired and unwell she looks, but the upsets in the plot kept me intrigued through to a surprising end. This new twist on mystery is sure to be a fun series to follow.
by Rhonda Esakov
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
When a 17-year-old girl decides to mug a Girl Scout selling cookies, the old Savannah family network kicks in. A young lawyer by the name of Briana Beaufort, Bree for short, is coerced by her aunt to take on the case as a family favor. Through twists and turns in the "Cookie Mugger" case, Bree gets tangled in a web wherein she finds herself with the real client--the teen girl's dead father who may have been falsely condemned to one of the lowest planes of Hell.
Working with Angels as your backup should be a walk in the park, but it's more like a walk in the cemetery for Bree, as she thinks to herself: "Well, let's see. In the past twenty-four hours, I've retained another dead soul as a client, dealt with a kid so screwed up she torments dogs, and discovered that yep, I'm being followed by a pair of corpses who've jumped through the barricades between this world and the next so they can take me on a permanent, highly unpleasant tropical vacation."
I giggled out loud as I met some of the quirky characters and shuddered at some of the spooky scenes, so it's easy to get involved in this book. I did get a little tired of hearing so many people tell the heroine how tired and unwell she looks, but the upsets in the plot kept me intrigued through to a surprising end. This new twist on mystery is sure to be a fun series to follow.
by Rhonda Esakov
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
(5/5) - Angel's Advocate is a welcome second Beaufort and Company paranormal cozy from Mary Stanton. Taking up where Defending Angels left off, Brianna Winston-Beaufort, attorney at law is working on a new case. Stanton deftly brings readers up to date in this excellent stand-alone story.
Bree returns for her sophomore case in beautiful Savannah, the most haunted city in the world. Still awaiting renovations to her main practice, Bree and her staff have settled in at their temporary office adjacent to the historic all-murderers cemetery.
A seventeen-year-old high school cheerleader stole $165.26 from a Girl Scout selling cookies in a mall parking lot. In plain site, Lindsay pulled up to the front of the mall, got out of the car, pushed the young girl, and grabbed the shoebox of money, taking off with her girlfriends in her daddy's Hummer. Unfortunately, a quick thinking kid in the parking lot filmed the whole scene on his cell phone and the dirty deed was soon all over the news.
Surprising everyone, including herself, Bree takes the case as a favor to her Aunt Cissy. Not only did the cheerleader attack the much younger Girl Scout in broad daylight, Bree soon discovers Lindsay is a member of the Probert Chandler family of Marlowe drugstore fame. With her beloved rescued dog Sasha by her side, Bree attempts to find a way to help the wayward teen.
In the meantime, her loyal staff, consisting of Ron and Petru, and Livinia, her landlady, uses their own special otherworldly skills to help Bree as only they can. Also making a return appearance is the hunky Lieutenant Sam Hunter.
Mary Stanton has delivered a smash hit as the endearing series continues to entertain. Her quirky cast of characters maintain an engaging realism certain to satisfy the most avid mystery lover.
Bree returns for her sophomore case in beautiful Savannah, the most haunted city in the world. Still awaiting renovations to her main practice, Bree and her staff have settled in at their temporary office adjacent to the historic all-murderers cemetery.
A seventeen-year-old high school cheerleader stole $165.26 from a Girl Scout selling cookies in a mall parking lot. In plain site, Lindsay pulled up to the front of the mall, got out of the car, pushed the young girl, and grabbed the shoebox of money, taking off with her girlfriends in her daddy's Hummer. Unfortunately, a quick thinking kid in the parking lot filmed the whole scene on his cell phone and the dirty deed was soon all over the news.
Surprising everyone, including herself, Bree takes the case as a favor to her Aunt Cissy. Not only did the cheerleader attack the much younger Girl Scout in broad daylight, Bree soon discovers Lindsay is a member of the Probert Chandler family of Marlowe drugstore fame. With her beloved rescued dog Sasha by her side, Bree attempts to find a way to help the wayward teen.
In the meantime, her loyal staff, consisting of Ron and Petru, and Livinia, her landlady, uses their own special otherworldly skills to help Bree as only they can. Also making a return appearance is the hunky Lieutenant Sam Hunter.
Mary Stanton has delivered a smash hit as the endearing series continues to entertain. Her quirky cast of characters maintain an engaging realism certain to satisfy the most avid mystery lover.
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Sleeping With Anemone (Flower Shop Mysteries 9) by Kate Collins
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
Format: LIT
Maybe Abby Knight shouldn't have chosen a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food as the venue for her protest against the corporation's harmful farming practices. But being bodily removed from the event won't stop her campaign. Nor will a burning brick thrown through her flower shop's window.
After she narrowly escapes being kidnapped three times, Abby calls in the big guns-her ex-Ranger boyfriend Marco and her friends and family. And then the stakes are raised by murder...
After she narrowly escapes being kidnapped three times, Abby calls in the big guns-her ex-Ranger boyfriend Marco and her friends and family. And then the stakes are raised by murder...
Review:
(5/5) - At a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food, Bloomers Flowers owner Abby Knight circulates a petition against the host firm opening up a dairy farm in which the firm uses bovine hormones to increase milk production by nine times. The hormones get into the milk people drink and harm the animals. Her efforts anger the company's district manager Nils Raand who has her removed from the exhibit hall.
Back at her florist shop, Abby finds a broach in a box or orchids she ordered from Hawaii. Her mother makes duplicates to be sold at the shop. Abby is missing an order of anemones that the vendor says he sent to her. Although she is annoyed over the mix-up she becomes frightened over the attempted kidnappings of her roommate Nikki, cousin Jillian and niece Tara. Kate and her lover former Ranger boyfriend turned private investigator Marco believe Nils is behind the terrorism crimes. A brick inside burning paper is tossed through the shop window. However, Kate reconsiders whether Nils is the culprit or someone else from Uniworld whose corporate values can be found in the sewage system though she also wonders why a large influential corporation would violently go after a minor league gnat.
Readers will thoroughly enjoy this amateur sleuth tale that uses family humor in between some dangerous escapades. The heroine is strong willed and at times resents Marco trying to protect her as she is no lilting violet. Their families want the duo married, another item that upsets her as she feels they should mind their business. Marco is a saint for putting up with the female Oscar the grouch. However what refreshes the latest Flower Shop mystery is the issue of whether hormonal induced products are safe in the long run vs. the immediate starvation around the world.
Harriet Klausner
Back at her florist shop, Abby finds a broach in a box or orchids she ordered from Hawaii. Her mother makes duplicates to be sold at the shop. Abby is missing an order of anemones that the vendor says he sent to her. Although she is annoyed over the mix-up she becomes frightened over the attempted kidnappings of her roommate Nikki, cousin Jillian and niece Tara. Kate and her lover former Ranger boyfriend turned private investigator Marco believe Nils is behind the terrorism crimes. A brick inside burning paper is tossed through the shop window. However, Kate reconsiders whether Nils is the culprit or someone else from Uniworld whose corporate values can be found in the sewage system though she also wonders why a large influential corporation would violently go after a minor league gnat.
Readers will thoroughly enjoy this amateur sleuth tale that uses family humor in between some dangerous escapades. The heroine is strong willed and at times resents Marco trying to protect her as she is no lilting violet. Their families want the duo married, another item that upsets her as she feels they should mind their business. Marco is a saint for putting up with the female Oscar the grouch. However what refreshes the latest Flower Shop mystery is the issue of whether hormonal induced products are safe in the long run vs. the immediate starvation around the world.
Harriet Klausner
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If Books Could Kill (Bibliophile Mystery 02) by Kate Carlisle
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Murder is easy-on paper.
Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is attending the world- renowned Book Fair when her ex Kyle shows up with a bombshell. He has an original copy of a scandalous text that could change history-and humiliate the beloved British monarchy.
When Kyle turns up dead, the police are convinced Brooklyn's the culprit. But with an entire convention of suspects, Brooklyn's conducting her own investigation to find out if the motive for murder was a 200-year-old secret-or something much more personal.
Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright is attending the world- renowned Book Fair when her ex Kyle shows up with a bombshell. He has an original copy of a scandalous text that could change history-and humiliate the beloved British monarchy.
When Kyle turns up dead, the police are convinced Brooklyn's the culprit. But with an entire convention of suspects, Brooklyn's conducting her own investigation to find out if the motive for murder was a 200-year-old secret-or something much more personal.
Review:
(5/5) - Kate Carlisle's second mystery novel is just as fabulous as the first! I loved it!
In If Books Could Kill, rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright goes to Edinburgh, Scotland to attend the Book Fair. A friend approaches her with an incredible find, what could be a book of heretofore undiscovered poems by Robert Burns and proof of a scandal that will forever shatter the world's view of Scotland's poetic hero. Someone wants to stop Brooklyn from authenticating the find - enough to commit murder. As the last person to see the victim alive, Brooklyn is the prime suspect. Now, in a foreign country, she must evade the police and the killer - and oh yes, the freemasons who have vowed to protect Robert Burns's name at all costs.
Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite writers, and Kate Carlisle is right up there with her. She's even given Brooklyn a delicious romantic foil in British detective Derek Stone. (Think a James Bond who wants just one woman. Sigh!)
In If Books Could Kill, rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright goes to Edinburgh, Scotland to attend the Book Fair. A friend approaches her with an incredible find, what could be a book of heretofore undiscovered poems by Robert Burns and proof of a scandal that will forever shatter the world's view of Scotland's poetic hero. Someone wants to stop Brooklyn from authenticating the find - enough to commit murder. As the last person to see the victim alive, Brooklyn is the prime suspect. Now, in a foreign country, she must evade the police and the killer - and oh yes, the freemasons who have vowed to protect Robert Burns's name at all costs.
Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite writers, and Kate Carlisle is right up there with her. She's even given Brooklyn a delicious romantic foil in British detective Derek Stone. (Think a James Bond who wants just one woman. Sigh!)
(5/5) - She works at the book arts center in San Francisco and is considered an expert in book restoration. Brooklyn Wainwright is also called upon to authenticate whether a book is genuine or a fake. Currently she heads to the world- renowned Edinburgh Book Fair where she will meet with friends and associates, teach a few sessions, and sit in on lectures.
Her plan implodes when she runs into her former boyfriend Kyle McVee who asks her to authenticate a book allegedly created by eighteenth century bookbinder William Cathcart containing never before published poems written by Robert Burns in which the renowned author infers he had an affair with Princess Augusta Sophia, daughter of King George III. Rumors have survived to the present that he got her pregnant, which, if true, would leave the British royalty with a nasty black eye. He also tells her he has received threatening letters and calls. That same day whiles Brooklyn is sightseeing, she finds the body of Kyle killed with one of her bookbinding instruments. The local lead cop suspects Brooklyn so to clear her name she investigates Kyle's murder.
As in the first Bibliophile mystery (see Homicide in Hardcover), Brooklyn finds the corpse of someone who was close to her at one time (a sub-genre hazard). The author's second cozy is a breezy fun read due to a taste of the city and false clues with dead end trails. Although in trouble with the law and who knows who else, Brooklyn keeps her sense of humor, mostly self deprecating as she finds even Princess Street dangerous. A terrific romantic subplot enhances her stay in Scotland that she hopes is not a lifetime event as she learns once again Books Could Kill to the delight of cross genre fans.
Harriet Klausner
Her plan implodes when she runs into her former boyfriend Kyle McVee who asks her to authenticate a book allegedly created by eighteenth century bookbinder William Cathcart containing never before published poems written by Robert Burns in which the renowned author infers he had an affair with Princess Augusta Sophia, daughter of King George III. Rumors have survived to the present that he got her pregnant, which, if true, would leave the British royalty with a nasty black eye. He also tells her he has received threatening letters and calls. That same day whiles Brooklyn is sightseeing, she finds the body of Kyle killed with one of her bookbinding instruments. The local lead cop suspects Brooklyn so to clear her name she investigates Kyle's murder.
As in the first Bibliophile mystery (see Homicide in Hardcover), Brooklyn finds the corpse of someone who was close to her at one time (a sub-genre hazard). The author's second cozy is a breezy fun read due to a taste of the city and false clues with dead end trails. Although in trouble with the law and who knows who else, Brooklyn keeps her sense of humor, mostly self deprecating as she finds even Princess Street dangerous. A terrific romantic subplot enhances her stay in Scotland that she hopes is not a lifetime event as she learns once again Books Could Kill to the delight of cross genre fans.
Harriet Klausner
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Homicide in Hardcover (Bibliophile Mystery 01) by Kate Carlisle
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (February 3, 2009)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT
Murder is always a bestseller...
First in the new bibliophile mystery series!
The streets of San Francisco would be lined with hardcovers if rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her mentor wouldn’t be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration.
With his final breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives her a priceless—and supposedly cursed—copy of Goethe’s Faust for safekeeping.
Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to the humorless—but attractive—British security officer who finds her kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice…
First in the new bibliophile mystery series!
The streets of San Francisco would be lined with hardcovers if rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her mentor wouldn’t be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration.
With his final breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives her a priceless—and supposedly cursed—copy of Goethe’s Faust for safekeeping.
Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to the humorless—but attractive—British security officer who finds her kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice…
Review:
(5/5) - Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled surgeon who uses her expertise with a scalpel to save the lives of her patients - patients with life threatening ailments of cracked, brittle leather, moldy paper and dried-up glue. The daughter of quirky, offbeat members of Guru Bob's Fellowship for Spiritual Enlightenment and Higher Artistic Consciousness, this very likeable heroine is passionate about her books but pretty much oblivious to everything else, including her hair, clothes and shoes, much to the frustration of her sexy, stylish best friend, Robin.
As the story opens, Brooklyn is at a museum reception enjoying a happy reconciliation with her life-long mentor, Abraham Karastovsky but her happiness ends abruptly later that evening when she discovers her mentor in an isolated workroom, dying from a gunshot wound. With his final breath Abraham presses the supposedly cursed copy of Goethe's Faust that he has been restoring into her hands and pleads with her to "Remember the devil." Suddenly, Brooklyn finds herself neck deep in the mystery surrounding Abraham's murder and the curse of Faust. Derek Stone, the handsome, all-business British security agent (think James Bond with attitude) assigned to protect the priceless copy of Faust initially believes her guilty of the murder but there are suspects aplenty and, when Brooklyn is asked to finish the restoration that was begun by Abraham, they start coming out of the woodwork. There's Ian, her former fiancée who is in charge of the museum exhibit that contains the Faust, Minka LaBoeuf, the thieving, conniving she-witch who has hated Brooklyn since college, Enrico Baldacchio, the sleazy book restorer who is always just this side of the law and, sometimes, on the other side. Even Brooklyn's mother isn't above suspicion. As Brooklyn works to restore the Faust she also turns amateur detective to ferret out the truth of Abraham's murder, trying to stay one step ahead of the delicious Derek and well out of range of the killer who now appears intent on eliminating her.
I always assumed that book-binding and restoration would be a dull, dry subject but the historical facts and bits of trivia sprinkled throughout this book were so fascinating that instead of being bored I found myself wanting to know more. The sexual tension between Brooklyn and Derek is palpable, growing stronger with each encounter but actual sexual interaction between the two is mild and, in fact, limited to a kiss. The potential for a deeper romance between Brooklyn and Derek is firmly established before the end of the book but Carlisle also tosses in a delicious twist that has me eagerly anticipating the next book in what I hope will be a long-running series.
As the story opens, Brooklyn is at a museum reception enjoying a happy reconciliation with her life-long mentor, Abraham Karastovsky but her happiness ends abruptly later that evening when she discovers her mentor in an isolated workroom, dying from a gunshot wound. With his final breath Abraham presses the supposedly cursed copy of Goethe's Faust that he has been restoring into her hands and pleads with her to "Remember the devil." Suddenly, Brooklyn finds herself neck deep in the mystery surrounding Abraham's murder and the curse of Faust. Derek Stone, the handsome, all-business British security agent (think James Bond with attitude) assigned to protect the priceless copy of Faust initially believes her guilty of the murder but there are suspects aplenty and, when Brooklyn is asked to finish the restoration that was begun by Abraham, they start coming out of the woodwork. There's Ian, her former fiancée who is in charge of the museum exhibit that contains the Faust, Minka LaBoeuf, the thieving, conniving she-witch who has hated Brooklyn since college, Enrico Baldacchio, the sleazy book restorer who is always just this side of the law and, sometimes, on the other side. Even Brooklyn's mother isn't above suspicion. As Brooklyn works to restore the Faust she also turns amateur detective to ferret out the truth of Abraham's murder, trying to stay one step ahead of the delicious Derek and well out of range of the killer who now appears intent on eliminating her.
I always assumed that book-binding and restoration would be a dull, dry subject but the historical facts and bits of trivia sprinkled throughout this book were so fascinating that instead of being bored I found myself wanting to know more. The sexual tension between Brooklyn and Derek is palpable, growing stronger with each encounter but actual sexual interaction between the two is mild and, in fact, limited to a kiss. The potential for a deeper romance between Brooklyn and Derek is firmly established before the end of the book but Carlisle also tosses in a delicious twist that has me eagerly anticipating the next book in what I hope will be a long-running series.
(5/5) - It was with trepidation that Brooklyn Wainwright attended the showing of the rare book collection at the Covington Library. The guest of honor, Abraham Karastovsky, was responsible for the collection's restoration and was also Brooklyn's friend and mentor up until 6 months ago, when she told him that she was leaving to start up her own business. However, all seemed to be forgiven, so it's heartbreaking when Brooklyn discovered Abraham dying, leaving Brooklyn with a priceless edition of Faust and last words a strange clue. Brooklyn, now responsible for completing his last assignment to restore the priceless - and reportedly cursed - volume of Goethe's Faust has to discover who murdered Abraham in order to save herself from both the killer and the British detective in charge of protecting the Library's collection. The frustratingly attractive Commander Derek Stone delights in taunting and tantalizing Brooklyn, so she believes that it's up to her to solve the mystery that may be hidden in Abraham's books. Plagued by a psychotic stalker and former rival for Brooklyn's boyfriend, Brooklyn has to dodge attempts on her life, a break-in, visits with her commune family, and Gabriel, mysterious man in black who's definitely no angel.
Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy this surprisingly (for a bibliophile mystery) spirited and sexy novel. While I've never been fond of mysteries that have the heroine lusting for the detective while he suspects her of being a murderer, Carlisle makes this work as Brooklyn is just as irritated with herself for her feelings. Booklovers will enjoy the minutiae of book mending and lovingly detailed descriptions of the beautiful edition of Faust, and mystery readers will revel in the plethora of quirky, hilarious characters. My one complaint is that the novel ended too quickly, leaving me wanting to know more about her five commune-raised siblings and new age Deadhead mother. Thankfully, the series looks to continue with Brooklyn leaving for Edinburgh for a new job, so here's to the hope that Brooklyn's hilarious adventures with her family continue. Pick up Homicide in Hardcover in paperback as soon as you can.
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Eggsecutive Orders (White House Chef Mystery 03) by Julie Hyzy
Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (January 5, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 352 pages
Format: HTML
Language: English
Paperback: 352 pages
Format: HTML
Chef Olivia Paras has too many eggs in one basket-and is feeling like a basket-case...
When NSA big shot Carl Minkus dies right after eating the dinner Olivia Paras's staff had prepared, all forks point to them. Now the Secret Service is picking apart the kitchen-and scrutinizing the staff's every move. The timing couldn't be worse with the White House Lawn Easter Egg Roll to prep for without access to a kitchen. Olivia must find the real culprit-before she cracks under pressure.
When NSA big shot Carl Minkus dies right after eating the dinner Olivia Paras's staff had prepared, all forks point to them. Now the Secret Service is picking apart the kitchen-and scrutinizing the staff's every move. The timing couldn't be worse with the White House Lawn Easter Egg Roll to prep for without access to a kitchen. Olivia must find the real culprit-before she cracks under pressure.
Review:
(5/5) - Julie Hyzy adds another strong cozy mystery to her White House chef series which began with State of the Onion(Anthony award winner). A guest (and special agent) has died right after a White House dinner. Was he poisoned? Suspicions point to someone in the White House kitchen. Executive Chef Ollie is forced to defend herself and her staff but Secret Service boyfriend Tom is getting in the way of Ollie's investigation. Can she clear her name, save her staff,keep her boyfriend and make sure that the annual Egg Roll goes on? Hyzy added in Ollie's delightful mother and grandmother to create a souffle that is equal parts mystery and comedy. Don't miss it!
(5/5) - After reading Ms. Hyzy's first two White House chef mysteries, I could hardly wait for this one, and I wasn't disappointed. Ollie is really coming into her own and taking charge of her kitchen - and her life - is this latest installment. Great characters, solid plotting, and a strong voice make for a fast, enjoyable read!
(5/5) - Julie Hyzy won the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best Paperback for her first White House Chef mystery, State of the Onion, but the third book in the series, Eggsecutive Orders, is also the best. That's no "eggsaggeration."
White House Executive Chef Ollie Paras should be on top of the world. It's time for her staff to get ready for the Easter celebration, the dinner and the Easter Egg Roll, and her mother and grandmother are finally coming to visit. She should be anticipating her family's visit to the White House, and the fun of Easter. Instead, on the morning her family is due to arrive, she's escorted to the White House by the Secret Service, and her entire kitchen staff is suspended from their duties. It's only then that she learns a guest died at dinner the night before. Until the cause of death can be determined, the food, and the staff, is suspect.
Her mother and nana came to visit Ollie, and she could look at the suspension as the perfect vacation time. But, she feels responsible for her staff and the kitchen, and she has a hard time sitting on her hands. But, it's not just her job and her staff that is threatened. Her boyfriend's job on the Presidential Protection Detail is also threatened, and Tom has been warned to keep an eye on Ollie, and prevent her from interfering in the investigation. But, when she becomes a target for a newspaper columnist, and her mother shows an interest in a man who is connected to the dead White House guest, it's just too much for Ollie. Somehow, she has to get back into the kitchen, and find a killer.
Although I enjoyed both of the previous books, and Ollie's work in the kitchen, it was refreshing to see her out of her element. By forcing Ollie to stay home, Hyzy added another element to Ollie's life. We met her family, enjoyed a little bit of Washington as she showed them around, and learned more about the personal life of Bucky, the irascible chef. There's also the fascinating "locked White House" mystery. Not too many people would have had access to the dead guest. Top it off with a climax at the annual Easter Egg Roll, and Eggsecutive Orders is another "eggcellent" mystery feast served up by Julie Hyzy.
White House Executive Chef Ollie Paras should be on top of the world. It's time for her staff to get ready for the Easter celebration, the dinner and the Easter Egg Roll, and her mother and grandmother are finally coming to visit. She should be anticipating her family's visit to the White House, and the fun of Easter. Instead, on the morning her family is due to arrive, she's escorted to the White House by the Secret Service, and her entire kitchen staff is suspended from their duties. It's only then that she learns a guest died at dinner the night before. Until the cause of death can be determined, the food, and the staff, is suspect.
Her mother and nana came to visit Ollie, and she could look at the suspension as the perfect vacation time. But, she feels responsible for her staff and the kitchen, and she has a hard time sitting on her hands. But, it's not just her job and her staff that is threatened. Her boyfriend's job on the Presidential Protection Detail is also threatened, and Tom has been warned to keep an eye on Ollie, and prevent her from interfering in the investigation. But, when she becomes a target for a newspaper columnist, and her mother shows an interest in a man who is connected to the dead White House guest, it's just too much for Ollie. Somehow, she has to get back into the kitchen, and find a killer.
Although I enjoyed both of the previous books, and Ollie's work in the kitchen, it was refreshing to see her out of her element. By forcing Ollie to stay home, Hyzy added another element to Ollie's life. We met her family, enjoyed a little bit of Washington as she showed them around, and learned more about the personal life of Bucky, the irascible chef. There's also the fascinating "locked White House" mystery. Not too many people would have had access to the dead guest. Top it off with a climax at the annual Easter Egg Roll, and Eggsecutive Orders is another "eggcellent" mystery feast served up by Julie Hyzy.
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