Tag: writers

REVIEW: A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump

REVIEW: A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Samantha really needed the distraction of the historic home tour. This was supposed to be her wedding day. But Greg had dumped her and moved away. Her friends had sweetly suggested her as a temp bartender for the tour. Not only did it give her plans for the night, but it also provided a way for her to use the bitters she had made up as wedding favors.

There was no way she could have predicted someone would use one of her drinks to kill a man.

When the widow names Samantha in a wrongful death lawsuit and it starts to impact her freelance writing gigs, the former reporter can’t help digging into the case. The question becomes whether she will solve it before someone else is killed.

Review

This was a great mystery! The whole “bitters” and cocktail mixing hook wasn’t a great fit for me. But the mystery itself is solid – an interesting set up, plenty of suspects and action, and some great twists along the way.

I liked Sam for the most part. She was little too wishy washy about her ex at times for my preferences. But I loved her quick thinking and her investigative reporting skills and instincts.

I was disappointed by the lack of an endearing group around her. Her “friends” never felt warm or emotionally supportive to me. Sam seemed to click better with a murder suspect than her so called friends. Maybe those relationships – and the love interest – will develop more in future books, but it was a gap I noticed in this book.

Cozy readers who love mixology – or who are looking for a unique hobby hook for their mysteries – should check out this launch for the Cocktails and Catering Mystery series.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good +

REVIEW: Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

REVIEW: Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Posted on by Jaymie

[There’s no YA review today – the book I had scheduled just wasn’t a great fit for me. Instead, enjoy this review of a new adult cozy mystery. I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Chapters Bed and Breakfast is playing host to Amanda Nobel, an author of romantic fantasy books, as well as a few of her fans. Amanda is looking for a respite from her hectic book tour, so her stay at Chapters is a secret. But she did agree to one signing event in town, a cooperative venture between Chapters and the local indy bookstore, Bookwaves.

Charlotte, the owner of Chapters, is doing all she can to make the author’s visit restful and relaxing, including staying on her guard for any sort of trouble. A year ago there was a murder, and Charlotte wants no part of that sort of excitement ever again!

But Charlotte isn’t going to get her wish. When the president of an Amanda Nobel fan group is murdered, Charlotte and her neighbor, Ellen, start asking questions and looking for clues to the killer. The woman’s troublesome ex-husband seems the most likely candidate, but he’s certainly not the only one who had it out for the woman.

Review

While I am a huge fan of Victoria Gilbert and her Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, I somehow missed reading the first book in this Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, Booked for Death (I have it on my e-reader.). But now I know I need to get back to it soon. The mystery here is solid, but there’s an intriguing side story about Charlotte’s neighbor that I wasn’t expecting. It really grabbed my attention. It gave the mystery a fresh spin from the usual formula.

I liked the series set up – the B&B, the writing/reading/publishing pieces, the perfectly sized cast. The mystery was well done with lots of questions. The pacing of the reveals was nice. I’m looking forward to picking up book 1 as well as watching for what might happen for these characters in the future. Don’t miss either of the author’s mystery series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

 

REVIEW: Going Off Script by Jen Wilde

REVIEW: Going Off Script by Jen Wilde

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Bex is finally in LA. She has put everything towards this for the last few years. She’s saved money, put up with crummy jobs, and researched and applied for jobs and internships. She’s done everything she could conceive of to make this happen. And now she’s here. She has an internship on her favorite TV show, Silver Falls, a show about werewolves and those hunting them down. She’ll be in the writer’s room, learning everything she can to eventually break into TV writing and production.

The showrunner is supposed to be writing a script for an upcoming episode, and so far he’s produced nothing. And this episode needs to be BIG – it needs to turn things up a notch. So Bex writes a script. The showrunner probably won’t use it – he’s been a jerk since Bex showed up on the lot. But she can show some initiative and some of her ideas. Bex’s script shows the female lead of Silver Falls getting a new love interest. A female love interest.

Bex is still wrapping her mind around her own sexuality and trying to figure out how to come out to her family and friends. But she understands how to write this relationship. And she knows Silver Falls, so she knows how to write well for these characters.

The showrunner decides to use Bex’s script. But when he “straight-washes” her storyline, Bex will have to decide how much she is willing to risk to see her story – and characters who share her sexual identity – on television.

Review

This story really came alive for me when everything started to fall apart. When Bex and her friends – both on and off the show – band together to fight the system and the individuals who want to silence them, I couldn’t read fast enough to see how it would all play out. It was fantastic!

There’s a thread of the story that’s about Bex’s personal development – her sexuality, her upbringing in a home with lots of love but little money, and her decisions about what to do with her voice and her opportunities in LA and on Silver Falls. The other thread is the “we’re not going to take it any more” rebellion. For me, that was the stronger thread. Since both have to work together, of course both were good. But the rebellion left me cheering and talking back to the characters of the book. I love when the underdog fights back.

I’ve read several books lately with gay romantic story lines in an effort to build my understanding of people and groups outside my own frame of reference. It’s been intentional. I think my faith calls me to love everyone, and I can’t do that well if people who are racially or ethnically different from me, or those with a different sexual orientation feel “foreign” or “other.” I strongly believe that my empathy and compassion grows as I know and understand people who think or live differently from me – and reading helps me do that. It helps me make better book recommendations, too, when I read widely.

If you love Hollywood stories, don’t miss this one. Even more, if you like stories where the oppressed/maligned stand up for themselves, be sure to check this one out.  If you are curious to try a gay romance (F/F), this one is fairly mild as far as descriptions of the couple’s physical relationship go (kissing, descriptions of romantic feelings, and a physical encounter that takes place off-page) – pretty standard stuff for YA heterosexual romances. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

REVIEW: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sarah Hollenbeck seemed to have it all. Her husband was handsome and successful – her high school sweetheart. From the outside, their life looked perfect. But the love was gone. Patrick was sleeping with anyone but his wife. Sarah hadn’t worked since college because she got married and focused on helping Patrick with his business and his image. Without him, what does she have?

The decision to write came a little out of nowhere, and her early poems were horrible. But over the course of 6 weeks, she poured herself and her angst over her marriage and divorce into a steamy story of love. And it was a hit! Two books later “Raine de Bourgh” is famous for her graphic, saucy romances.

Then Sarah meets Jesus. A conversation with a friend turns into a prayer to Christ. And Sarah’s life is suddenly on a new track. But how will she reconcile her old life – and current book contract – with her faith? And how can she tell the sexy widowed pastor at her church that she’s the author of these scandalous books?

Review

This was excellent from start to finish! The transformation of Sarah from the shallow, needy woman at the beginning to the strong, centered woman she becomes is inspiring. Her desire to do right by her new relationship with Christ is sincere. She’s still figuring things out, but she’s determined.

The characters in the story are people I would want as friends. Well, most of them. And the chemistry between Sarah and Pastor Ben is terrific. He’s not perfect, but he is devoted to her, to honoring God in their relationship, and he’s compassionate when the newness of her faith is apparent in the things they are working through.

The story was excellent. I cared about what happened to the people in the story. This is everything I want Christian fiction to be. Strong story, characters I care about, and a faith at the core that feels natural and authentic. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

REVIEW: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Tenley’s first book was a best-seller. An award winner. But she can’t get one word written for a follow up. With a famous father and great-great-grandfather who were authors, shouldn’t this be easier? Is she destined to be a one hit wonder?

In 1902, Birdie longs to throw off the expectations of her station. She wants to have her stories published and marry the man she loves. But the publisher she approached turned her down, and she never got her manuscript back. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her that will solidify her status in society for the rest of her life. But what about what she wants?

When Tenley heads to Florida to care for her estranged mother while she goes through chemo, she’s supposed to be writing her next book. Instead she takes steps that will draw her story and Birdie’s together across more than 100 years.

Review

This was terrific! First and foremost it’s a story of writers, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I adored Birdie. She showed great strength and determination as she made every effort to fight the destiny laid out for her. Her story was my favorite.

I empathized with Tenley. She’s lost. She doesn’t really know who she is. But she does the right thing in going to take care of her mom. And while they still had prickly moments, I loved watching them try to sort things out.

This is also a set of love stories (Jonas and his family are fantastic!! There are several laugh-out-loud moments of banter between Tenley and Jonas). And it is also a story of God who sings over both of these women, encouraging them to not be dismayed. This was absolutely lovely!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥