Can You Solve These Murder Mysteries?

by Donna Huber

I've always loved a good mystery but since joining a mystery book club, I've been reading even more mysteries. I've recently read 3 different, but equally fun murder mysteries.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli ~ a Review

by MK French

Zarya is the only one able to save her home from the dark magic spreading throughout the land. Rabin is sure the king is able to help, but Zarya had only known of Abishek as someone eager to steal her magic or kill her. The tie between Zarya and Rabin begins to fail, and Abishek offers to help. Shadow armies are gathering as ancient magic is breaking loose. Everything that Zarya has ever loved is on the line, and she must face the darkness within.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Witch Who Trades With Death by C. M. Alongi ~ a Review

by MK French

The cruel and immortal Emperor Yamueto controls all witches in his empire. When Khana kills one of his favorite courtiers with magic and discovers the secret to his immortality, she makes a deal with Death herself. She flees the empire for a small mountain town filled with warriors. Though she heals the sick and injured, the people ostracize her because of that magic. Khana fights back against the emperor, but every deal with Death takes another piece of her soul. The more she gives away, the more she turns into the very monster she’s trying to destroy.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

2 Books for Women's Fiction Fans

by Susan Roberts

Looking for something new in women's fiction? Check out these two books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley ~ a Review

by MK French

Gillian visits her friend Violet Claybourne at the family estate. The entire trip goes sideways once she's implicated in a tragic accident. Unfortunately, keeping herself free will mean framing her best friend for murder.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

“The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.  Was it an accident or was it murder?”

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa Rogak ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

What are you reading for Women's History Month? I love learning about women in history but I usually choose biographical fiction as it is more entertaining than nonfiction history. If you feel the same way, then I have a recommendation on a nonfiction history book you need to read.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

4 Romantic Tales with Happily Ever Afters

by MK French

I have a round-up of some of this month's romantic tales. I've chosen a historical fiction, a romantic comedy, a contemporary romance (with a hint of the supernatural), and a paranormal romance. Pick your preferred genre or try them all!

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Lennon Carter’s life is falling apart.

Then she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic hidden in a secret pocket of Savannah. Lennon has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion, the ability to wield her will like a weapon, using it to control others and, in rare cases, matter itself.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Come Fly With Me by Camille Di Maio ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

It’s 1962, the dawn of the jet-set era. Hope takes flight for two Pan Am stewardesses navigating an adventurous new life in a novel about love, friendship, and escape.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Nolanverse: Exploring the Greatest Illusion in Movie History: An Unauthorized New Analysis of The Dark Knight Rises by Robert E. Eliot ~ a Review

by MK French

The Dark Knight Rises concludes Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy of movies, and its conclusion inspired a lot of discussion regarding its meaning and what happened. Fans around the world discussed their theories behind it online, and now we have a new analysis of the movie. It isn't authorized by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan, who wrote the script, and provides a new way of looking at the film.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance by Riley Black ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

Fossils plants allow us to touch the lost worlds from billions of years of evolutionary backstory. Each petrified leaf and root show us that dinosaurs, saber-toothed cats, and even humans would not exist without the evolutionary efforts of their leafy counterparts. It has been the constant growth of plants that have allowed so many of our favorite, fascinating prehistoric creatures to evolve, oxygenating the atmosphere, coaxing animals onto land, and forming the forests that shaped our ancestors’ anatomy. It is impossible to understand our history without them. Or, our future.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

Historical fiction inspired by the story of groundbreaking paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey, Follow Me to Africa is a sweeping, dual-timeline story of intergenerational friendship, a meditation on the beauty of the natural world, and a celebration of the women who pave the way for those to come.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay ~ a Review

by MK French

Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, Eddie for short, is an aspiring playwright hoping to make it big in London’s theater world. Repeated rejections make her suspect it's her name and not her plays that are the problem. Hugo Lawrence Smith is stifled by his law degree and wants out. He and Eddie become friends and plan to use Hugo's name on Eddie’s play. When her plays are successful, they can expose the theater world for its racism and hollow clout-chasing. This plan soon spirals out of control, leaving Eddie and Hugo wondering if their reputations and friendship can survive.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

In the cozy town of Redwood Grove, Annie Murray’s Valentine’s Day plans take a sinister turn when a beloved pillar of the local community is found dead at her Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

3 Young Adult Fantasy Novels You Have to Read

by MK French

If you love young adult fantasy novels, then you will want to add these books to your list of books to read.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A thrilling story of Christie’s legendary rival Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a murder, and the power of friendship among women.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Murder on the Cornish Coast by Helena Dixon ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Cornwall, 1937. Kitty Underhay has been called to investigate some fishy goings-on in the beautiful coastal village of St Mawes. The body of Lady Cordelia Hedges’ beloved father was found floating in the sea, and shortly afterwards Cordelia herself was almost killed…

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

Alice tirelessly works her way up to be a #1 tennis champion, all while maintaining a growing career trajectory editing the Wonder Women in History comic. She enjoys her hard-earned success with her loving husband, her steadfast coach, and her dear friends—many of whom are famous and well-connected.

But then her world falls apart.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

A Tiny Piece of Blue by Charlotte Whitney ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A heartwarming historical novel following a homeless young girl as she struggles to survive during the Great Depression.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

5 Books for Presidents' Day

by Donna Huber

One of my favorite classic holiday movies is Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby. If you've watched the movie you know that they celebrated both Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday. In 1968, the Uniformed Monday Holiday Act moved many federal holidays to Mondays to create a three-day weekend. The third Monday, which fell between Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, was chosen to celebrate both and became known as Presidents' Day. Now it celebrates the legacies of all presidents. As today is Presidents' Day in the U.S. here are a few books to read to learn more about U.S. history and the lives of these men who have led the country.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. 

Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is a true American icon.

Alice strives to have it all.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Crimson Road by A. G. Slatter ~ a Review

by MK French

Violet Zennor was trained to fight and kill for nearly thirteen years and hoped she would be free of it when her father died. He planned to send her into the Darklands after the Leech Lords and the stillborn brother that had been brought there soon after his birth. Violet plans to refuse and escape, but assassins are after her and a prophecy predicts that her stillborn brother is key to the Leech Lords escaping. Now she must clean up the mess her father made.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Book a Date With a Romantic Novel

by MK French

Love is in the air and there are plenty of romantic stories coming out this month. Whether you are looking for a rom-com, a paranormal romance, or a romantic fantasy you'll want to book a date with one (or more) of these novels.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Umbrella Maker's Son by Tod Lending ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A powerful and unforgettable novel of survival against all odds and the remarkable power of love, in which a Jewish teenager in World War II Poland fights to save his life and find the young woman who holds his heart.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

After nearly losing the election to a geriatric but wildly popular donkey named Maurizio, newly installed Mayor Delizia Miccuci can’t help but feel like the sun has finally set on the rural Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. Tourists only stop by to ask for directions, Nonna Amara’s cherished ristorante is long shuttered, and the town hall is disgustingly overrun with glis glis poo—even Postman Duccio has been disgraced. All that’s left is Bar Celebrità, a rustic establishment where weary locals gather to quibble over decades-long disputes, submit their poor stomachs to bartender Giuseppina’s volcanic espresso, and wonder what will become of the place where together they’ve spent their entire lives.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.i

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Les Normaux by Janine Janssen ~ a Review

by MK French

Sébastien recently moved to Paris hoping to get away from home and learn magic. He made out with a really hot vampire to forget his family troubles, then discovered Elia is his new neighbor.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Medici Return by Steve Berry ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

Cotton Malone is on the hunt for a forgotten 16th-century Pledge of Christ — a sworn promise made by Pope Julius II that evidences a monetary debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries, now worth in the trillions of dollars.  But collecting that debt centers around what happened to the famed Medici of Florence — a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago.  Two more things also hang in the balance.  Who will become the next prime minister of Italy, and who will be the next pope.  Finding answers to all three proves difficult until Cotton realizes that everything hinges on when, and if, the Medici return. (Goodreads)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook for an honest review.

I'll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

When her estranged daughter asks to hear the one story she doesn’t want to tell, a woman spins lie after lie to protect her perfect life in this gripping novel.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Two Non-Romance Novels to Read This Month

by MK French

With Valentine's Day being this month we are usually inundated with romance novels. But not everyone is into that genre so today I'm featuring a couple of books for those not wanting to read romance. The first one is a horror novel in the vein of Lovecraft and the second one is a horror-tinged space adventure.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

An unflinching exploration of betrayal, forgiveness, and the healing power of a second chance.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

She Doesn't Have a Clue is a cozy mystery rom-com mashup. Kate Valentine is invited to the wedding of her ex (who also happens to be her editor) which is taking place on an isolated island off the coast of Seattle. When there is an attempted murder of the bride, she is the prime suspect in the eyes of the guests (after all the scene is identical to the murder in one of her books). In the midst of trying to solve the mystery, she hooks up with the guy she has been in love with since she worked as a ghostwriter for his books. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera ~ a Review

by MK French

Aurora Montalban Wright runs an underground women's clinic in 1889 Paris and begrudgingly accepts protection from the new Duke of Annan. Apollo César Sinclair Robles is new to the aristocracy, and at least half of them are waiting for him to make a mistake. He feels Aurora would be his perfect Duchess, but she doesn't agree. Apollo brings Aurora to the French Riviera when they're threatened, and hopes that he can convince her what they have is real.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace, and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

2 Historical Fiction Novels to Read

by MK French

There are two great (there are probably more but these are the ones I read) 20th-century historical fiction books coming out this month that you will want to add to your TBR list.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

2 Entertaining Novels You Will Want to Read

by Donna Huber

Do you ever read outside your comfort zone? I occasionally dip my toe in genres that I think aren't really my thing just to see if my tastes have changed. After all, there are foods I wouldn't touch when I was a kid but love now (and vice versa). Two books that I recently read were on the edges of what I normally read and I have to tell you I really enjoyed them. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

 

A poignant and inspiring tale about resistance, friendship, and the dangers of propaganda, based on the real story of the Nazi "show camp" Theresienstadt.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

She's out for justice. But the arsonist she's tracking is out for retribution.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Out of Your Mind by Jorge Cham and Dwayne Godwin ~ a Review

by MK French

Author and online cartoonist Jorge Cham and neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin dive into complex questions about consciousness, personality, memory, emotion, and perception. The chapters here highlight what we do and don't know about the human brain.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Death in Diamonds by S. J. Bennett ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

1957, England. Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in postwar Europe, trying to repair friendships with foreign governments. Advised by her father's old courtiers, the Queen suspects that they may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her public appearances: that much she is sure of.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Sandy Island Series by Ashley Farley ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Ashley Farley, author of southern women's fiction, started a new trilogy late last year and the final book comes out this week. The Sandy Island series features strong women facing life changes and the importance of having a community of women to support you. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton ~ a Review

by MK French

The rural Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino is slowly fading away. There aren't many tourists, the restaurants are closed and town hall is filled with refuse. Bar Celebritàis the last place where villagers gather to gossip and drink. A few miles away, local truffle hunter Giovanni Scarpazza just found the largest truffle ever seen, possibly worth six figures in particular international circles. No one is sure if this will be a gift to the village or a curse.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Catching Up on Novels I Missed

by Donna Huber

One of my "resolutions" for the year is always to make a dent in my backlog of review books. My library system purchased several audiobooks that I had on my list. So I've been steadily making my way through them and finding a few true gems that I want to make sure you haven't missed.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr ~ a Review

by MK French

Mackenzie Clyde is a Silicon Valley lawyer, used to fixing things for her clients. The latest problem is the murder of a tech startup's CEO, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will. Mackenzie’s boss was a primary investor in the company and now wants her to help solve the crime. This leaves her helping the FBI, guiding the agent in charge through Silicon Valley. Secrets are revealed and the true stakes are discovered. But this is still an opportunity, and she's determined to come out ahead.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao ~ a Review

by MK French

Celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. Meneka is trained in these skills and is used as a weapon for Lord Indra, the king of heaven. She craves her freedom, so when a mortal threatens Indra's supremacy, she strikes a deal—if she can seduce Kaushika, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. When Meneka meets him, however, everything she has known changes. She isn't sure if she can overthrow Kaushika, and must choose between her duty and love.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke's half-mystery, half-romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffell ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

All the Water in the World is told in the voice of a girl gifted with a deep feeling for water. In the years after the glaciers melt, Nonie, her older sister and her parents and their researcher friends have stayed behind in an almost deserted New York City, creating a settlement on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History. The rule: Take from the exhibits only in dire need. They hunt and grow their food in Central Park as they work to save the collections of human history and science. When a superstorm breaches the city’s flood walls, Nonie and her family must escape north on the Hudson. They carry with them a book that holds their records of the lost collections. Racing on the swollen river towards what may be safety, they encounter communities that have adapted in very different and sometimes frightening ways to the new reality. But they are determined to find a way to make a new world that honors all they've saved. (Goodreads)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Walkers of River's Edge Books 3 - 4 by Nan Reinhardt ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Last year, I reviewed books 1 and 2 in The Walkers of River's Edge series. If you like small-town romance novels then this is a series you will want to read. Now is a great time to catch up as the 4th (and final) book comes out this week.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews.