Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 377- Cry Wolf by Maggie Shayne, Wishes and Wellingtons by Julie Berry

Cry Wolf by Maggie Shayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is great to see Brown and de Luca again. It is also unexpected as the series seemed to have come to an end. Not so as the two work together to find out what and why a young boy is missing. Both Brown and de Luca are in top form. There is the missing boy, the famous mystic and of course Rachel who is not a you know what. Nice mix of characters, plot and action and as always a twist at the end.


Wishes and Wellingtons by Julie Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do you do with a foul-tempered djinni. If you are Maeve Merritt you take two of your friends on a adventure and turn enemies hair green. Then you have one wish left and that leads to more trouble than you ever expected. I loved how Maeve grew as she had to work out how to save people, keep her djinni, and be true to her friends. This was a fun adventure and coming of age story where all well that ends well for Maeve and friends.

Jayne Entwistle brings the character alive in this fun story.

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Stacking The Shelves - November 26, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

For Review:

Skeletons in the Attic (Marketwise Mystery #1) by Judy Penz Sheluk

Purchased:

The Emperor's Arrow  by Lauren D. M. Smith

Oklahoma Starshine by Maggie Shane

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Lauren D.M. Smith

Look Back Wednesday - November 9, 2016

LOOK BACK WEDNESDAY IS A FEATURE HERE ON THE BLOG.  THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD BOOKS I HAVE REVIEWED ON GOODREADS SO I DECEIDED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME FROM THE PAST.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING BOOKS POSTED ON MY GOODREADS MYSTERY SHELF.  EACH REVIEW IS A DIRECT POST FROM MY GOODREADS REVIEW.  THIS MONTH I AM FEATURING PARANORMAL MYSTERIES.

Sleep with the Lights On by Maggie Shayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here is the Beginning of Sleep With the Lights On (Brown and De Luca #1)

"He watched the body sink in slow motion through the murky green water. Tears blurred his eyes, obstructing his view, but he wiped them away," From the Prologue

"If the bullshit I wrote was true, I wouldn't have been standing in the middle of a beehive where all the bees were cops - not one worker bee in the hive, either - trying to get someone interested in finding out what had happened to my brother." From Chapter One

The Prologue was so creepy I wondered if I could stand to read the book; then I got hooked and could not put it down. It is a paranormal mystery/romance and the start to a new series featuring Rachel de Luca and Mason Brown. After I finished reading Sleep With the Lights On I immediately went to NetGalley to get Wake To Darkness the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 35 - The Watchmaker's Daughter by C.J. Archer, Oklahoma Moonshine by Maggie Shayne, Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

The Watchmaker's Daughter by C.J. Archer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Do you believe in magic? That is the big question in The Watchmaker's Daughter. Wonderful characters and interesting world building The back story is slow to build allowing each character time to develop. The end was a little abrupt but it does lead into the next book.




Oklahoma Moonshine by Maggie Shayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great start to a new series. The McIntyre Men are related to the Brands of Oklahoma and they fit right in. I loved seeing the characters from the Oklahoma Brands as a part of the Oklahoma Moonshine story line. The plot is interesting, the characters great and romance first rate. Looking forward to the next book in the series.



Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book I got from Amazon Vine. This is a nice followup to book one in The Scorpius Syndrome. Much of the back story and world building is in book one so I recommend reading that book first. Shadow Falling can stand alone but I think you might be a little lost if you read it first. Great characters, interesting action, building tension and of course a romance. There is a great cast of characters to carry the story. Here's hoping that the action and story line are as exciting in the next book in the series.

Stacking the Shelves - February 7, 2015

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

I am still reading the Texas Brands series by Maggie Shayne.  This week I purchased The Lone Cowboy (book #5) in the series.  This one was a little different.  It featured a long lost and presumed dead cousin.  It was a little off the wall but fun.

I also received books from two different authors in return for a review. I reviewed a book by Dale Cozort a few years ago and she asked if I would like to try Snapshot.  It sounded interesting so I said yes.





I have been following Erica Ridley's Dukes of War regency series and she just sent me an ARC of the next book The Captain's Bluestocking Mistress.  If you are a fan of regency give The Viscount's Christmas Temptation (a prequel novella) a try.  It is free on Amazon.  If you like it try the first book in the series.

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:


"Not so long ago Emerald Flat, this very spot, was littered with painted tepees."

23% on my Kindle:

"Right, magic. When Turtle talked about magic I didn't argue , but I did not buy it either."

From Badlands Bad Boy, The Texas Brands by Maggie Shayne. This is book three in the series. I got hooked on the series when I downloaded book one free on Amazon.

Stacking The Shelves, December 6, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

This was a busy week in the book department.

From Amazon Vine:

A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders

The Strangler Vine by M.J. Carter

Purchased:

Coming Home by Jack McDevitt

Universal Alien by Gina Koch

Vacant by Alex Hughes

Free on Amazon:

The Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne

Deadly Secrets by Terry Odell

Her Dakota Man by Lisa Mondello

A Kiss for Luck by Grace Burrowes

Jamen's Yuletide Bride by Rebekah Gainer
Christmas at Copper Mountain by Jane Porter

Deadly Obsession (Brown and de Luca #4) by Maggie Shayne

Mystery

From Goodreads:

A cold-blooded killer with a burning obsession…

Rachel de Luca has a bad feeling about the new woman in Detective Mason Brown's life, the nurse taking care of him after he's injured in the line of duty. She'd like to think it's just jealousy, but intuition tells her it's something more, maybe something dangerous.

Mason knows Rachel's wary of commitment, and asking her to stay when he's in this condition would be the worst thing for their relationship. Then they receive chilling news that drives everything else from their minds.

Mason's psychotic sister-in-law has escaped from custody, putting her sons — the nephews he's raising — in the crosshairs. When his house is burned to the ground, he and Rachel are relieved that there are no bodies in the smoldering rubble, but now his nephews are missing and the clock is ticking.

As Mason and Rachel try to find the boys, she senses a new and unexpected danger stalking them. Soon, everyone close to Mason is in deadly peril — Rachel more than anyone.

Deadly Obsession is another great mystery for Rachel and Mason.  In the last book Mason told Rachel he loved her and she did not respond.  She knows that she does but just can’t seem to say the words.  For the first part of the book she is having the internal dialog about why she does not just say it.

That dialog really tells a lot about Rachel and how she is changing.  While someone is trying to get rid of Rachel and the boys she is realizing how much they all mean to her. The plot has fires, escapes, kidnapping, and injury - all leading to a thrilling conclusion.

My only complaint; the epilog sounded like this would be the last Brown and de Luca book (I have since found out it is).   If so Shayne wrote a great ending, if not I am always ready to visit with Mason, Rachel and family again.

Harlequin MIRA published Deadly Obsession by Maggie Shayne in 2014

I received a free ARC of Deadly Obsession from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Innocent Prey (Brown and de Luca #3) by Maggie Shayne

Mystery

From Goodreads:

To save innocent lives, they'll have to risk their own.

Self-help superstar Rachel de Luca and Detective Mason Brown have finally given in to their overwhelming attraction to each other, but neither of them is ready to let physical passion turn into full-blown romance, so they carefully maintain an emotional distance. Then a judge's daughter disappears, and Mason has a terrible sense that it's connected to the most recent case they solved together: the abduction of Rachel's assistant.

The discovery of a string of missing women—all young, all troubled—seems like a promising lead. But there's no clear connection between the missing girls and the high-profile young woman Mason is trying to find. He realizes that once again he'll have to rely on his own well-honed instincts and Rachel's uncanny capacity to see through people's lies in order to catch a predator and rescue his captives. But can they do it before Rachel becomes his next victim?

Brown and de Luca are off on a new mystery.  

This time the mystery has nothing to do with Brown’s brother and sister-in-law.   Instead young women are disappearing and they are asked to help.  The story highlights not only the mystery but also the evolving relationship between Mason Brown and Rachel de Luca.

The plot leaves plenty room for tension, danger and romance.  Rachel finds that her powers have not disappeared.  In fact she is NFP while helping solve the case.  (Read the book to see what NFP stands for).  She still is relationship shy even as she and Mason are together more and more.  Mason is almost as confused about their relationship as Rachel.  The two are one of the more entertaining couples in the mystery world and I am looking forward to the next book, Deadly Obsession due November 25, 2014.

Harlequin published Innocent Prey by Maggie Shayne in 2014.

I received an ARC of Innocent Prey from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

Stacking the Shelves, September 13, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

I went a little crazy with the review copies this week. I just had my list down to a very manageable few then this long list became available.  I guess a very manageable group just is not for me.

Deadly Obsession by Maggie Shayne

Call of the Dragon by Euanne Adams

A Hero for the Empire by Christina Westcott

Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

Generation 19 by Keri Arthur

Penumbra by Keri Arthur

Rock Courtship by Nalini Singh

Christmas at Seashell Cottage by Donna Alward

A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway

Christmas Brides by Suzanne Enoch, Alexandra Hawkins, Elizabeth Essex, Valerie Bowman

The Governess Club: Sara by Ellie MacDonald

Stacking the Shelves, August 23, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

Only one review book this week and five used books from one of my local non-profit stores.

Used:

Kinsmans Oath by Susan Krinard
Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl
The Maverick's Christmas Baby by Victoria Pade
Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shayne

For Review:

The Fortress in Orion by Mike Resnick

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56, August 22, 2014

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56.

 Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

"I need you to kill someone."

Page 56:

"Taking a seat, she sipped her drink, then set it down, picked up the tarot cards and began to shuffle as she thought about opening herself to messages from spirits."

From Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shayne. This was published in 2007. I picked it up at our local non-profit store this week. I am reading Shayne's latest series. I have not read any of her previous works so when I saw this one I decided to give it a try. I haven't started it yet. I have so many books on my TBR pile that this added one more.

Stacking the Shelves, July 5, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

From the Library:

The Collector by Nora Roberts

Dirty Magic by Jayne Wells

For Review:

American Craftsmen by Tom Doyle

The Garden of Stones by Mark T. Barnes

Innocent Prey by Maggie Shayne

Night of a Thousand Stars by Deanna Raybourn

Purchased:

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X) by Richelle Mead

Treasured (Secret of the Loch ) by Candace Camp

Wake to Darkness (Brown and De Luca #2) by Maggie Shayne

Mystery/Thriller
 

What Goodreads Says:

"Stranded with a murderer...
Rachel de Luca's uncanny sense of perception is the key to her success as a self-help celebrity. Even before she regained her sight, she had a gift for seeing people's most carefully hidden secrets. But the secret she shares with Detective Mason Brown is one she has promised to keep. As for Mason, he sees Rachel more clearly than she'd like to admit...
After a single night of adrenaline-fueled passion, they have agreed to keep their distance—until a string of murders brings them together again. Mason thinks that he can protect everyone he loves, including Rachel, by taking them to a winter hideaway, but danger follows them up the mountain.
As guests disappear from the snowbound resort, the race to find the murderer intensifies. Rachel knows she's a target. Will acknowledging her feelings for Mason destroy her...or save them both and stop a killer?"

Wake to Darkness has a great deal of tension.  Like Sleep With the Lights On it is still focused on Eric Brown’s suicide and the people who got his organs as transplants. Mason Brown and Rachel de Luca are again thrown together because of a killer.  This time instead of the killer being someone who received a transplanted organ from Eric the victims are recipients of his organs.  That puts Rachel in the killer’s path.

I loved the interaction between Mason and Rachel and this time there are the members of each ones extended families in the mix.  This is a well written thriller that keeps the tension at a peak through the story.  I thought I thought knew who the killer was but I just could not see why they had a reason to hunt people down like they were.  That threw me off for much of the book.  There is also the tension between Mason and Rachel as they try to ignore the attraction they feel and just concentrate on the murders.

If you like a lot of tension with some off again on again romance thrown Wake to Darkness is a good choice.  It is OK as a stand alone but is much better if you read Sleep With the Lights on first.  There is a novella that is set in-between the two books if you want to get more of Brown and De Luca.

Mira published Wake to Darkness by Maggie Shayne in 2013.

Book Beginnings November 29, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My book this week is a free book from Maggie Shayne.  I just read and loved her Brown and De Luca series and when a book from the Texas Brand series was free on Amazon I could not resist.  It has the danger that the Brown and De Luca series has but it is not quite as intense.  Here is the beginning of Texas Homecoming by Maggie Shayne.

"Luke stood at the graveside of his best friend and mentor, the man he'd always wanted to emulate, and waited for the others to arrive - but they never did." 

Stacking the Shelves, November 2, 2013

Some of the Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves.

From Amazon Vine:

Sleep With the Lights On by Maggie Shayne

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman

The King's Hounds by Martin Jensen

From the Library:

Silver by Rhiannon Held

Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross

The Red Plague Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

Library Used Book Store:

Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr

Won:

Cat's Wolf by Leanne Crabtree

Wolf Claimed  by Leanne Crabtree

Book Beginnings, November 1, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My Book Beginning this week is from Sleep With the Lights On by Maggie Shayne.  Here is the Beginning:

"He watched the body sink in slow motion through the murky green water.  Tears blurred his eyes, obstructing his view, but he wiped them away,"  From the Prologue

"If the bullshit I wrote was true, I wouldn't have been standing in the middle of a beehive where all the bees were cops - not one worker bee in the hive, either - trying to get someone interested in finding out what had happened to my brother."   From Chapter One

The Prologue was so creepy I wondered if I could stand to read the book; then I got hooked and could not put it down.  It is a paranormal mystery/romance and the start to a new series featuring Rachel de Luca and Mason Brown.  After I finished reading Sleep With the Lights On I immediately went to NetGalley to get Wake To Darkness the next book in the series.  (I love being pre-approved by Harlequin)

Here is what Goodreads says: 

Through the eyes of a killer

Rachel de Luca has found incredible success writing self-help books. But her own blindness and the fact that her troubled brother has gone missing have convinced her that positive thinking is nothing but bull. Her cynicism wavers when a cornea transplant restores her sight. The new eyes seem to give her new life, until they prove too good to be true and she starts seeing terrifying visions of brutal murders crimes she soon learns are all too real.

Detective Mason Brown's own brother recently died, leaving behind a horrific secret. In atonement, Mason donated his brother's organs, though he's kept the fact quiet. Now he wants to help Rachel find her brother, but when he discovers the shocking connection between her visions and his own brother, he suddenly has to do everything in his power to save her from a predator who is somehow still hunting from beyond the grave