In Celebration of Summer Reading - Jenna Bennett

Yes, I know - I've been addicted to series this summer. I can't help myself! I hate when a book ends... I almost always want to know "what happens next?" That was certainly the case with Jenna Bennett's Savannah Martin Mysteries series. Murder, mystery, drama and... Rafe. Oh, Rafe. The bad boy. Don't you just love a bad boy with a mushy center? Of course, there's also Todd, the man Savannah "should" want to be with. But what fun is there in doing what you're supposed to do? Being who everyone thinks you should be?

Not much fun at all, am I right?

I highly recommend this series! It's fun and addictive. And I'd go ahead and buy the bundle if I were you ($9.99 for the first five books). There's also Contingent on Approval (Savannah Martin Christmas Novella 5½ - only $0.99) and Change of Heart (#6) available in the series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Description (From Amazon product page):

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs...

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS - book #1
Everyone has warned Savannah that real estate is a cutthroat business, but she doesn't think she's supposed to take the warning literally... until she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the man her mother always warned her about.

HOT PROPERTY - book #2
When Savannah’s friend Lila Vaughn turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Savannah's old school mate Rafe Collier becomes a suspect. It's up to Savannah to figure out what really happened before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.

CONTRACT PENDING - book #3
Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield’s proposal, or taking a chance on losing her life - and her heart - by trying to help Rafe, when the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.

CLOSE TO HOME - book #4
Between the murder of Savannah's sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila's friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe's twelve year old son David, Savannah has her hands full... and that's before she realizes she's pregnant.

A DONE DEAL - book #5
When Alexandra Puckett asks Savannah's help in getting rid of her father's fianceé, Savannah jumps at the opportunity to get her mind off Rafe Collier and the new woman in his life. But when someone starts gunning for Savannah, all bets are off.

CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL - book #5.5
It's the morning after the events of A DONE DEAL, and Savannah is looking at Rafe Collier, a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, a economy sized box of condoms (one of which plays Christmas carols), and the rest of her life... but first, there's Christmas dinner with the Martins to get through. Between Margaret Anne at her most poisonous, the ugliest Christmas sweater the world has ever seen, and yet another engagement ring under the tree, Savannah has plenty to worry about, not the least of which is whether Rafe will still want to stick around after dessert.

CHANGE OF HEART - book #6
It’s late February, just two months after Savannah Martin and Rafael Collier finally worked things out between them, and Rafe is already sneaking out of bed in the wee hours. Catching fellow realtor Tim Briggs rinsing blood from his hands in the office sink makes for a welcome distraction, and when Tim disappears just as one of his clients is found dead in a nearby park, Savannah throws herself into the investigation with abandon. But even the murder mystery taking place right under her nose can’t completely distract her from worrying about personal problems. Has Rafe changed his mind about their relationship, or is something else going on? And what are the chances of Savannah coming out of this latest debacle with her life – and her heart – intact?

Happy Reading!

~Heidi

In Celebration of Summer Reading - Ann Charles

Post number two in my Celebration of Summer Reading series is dedicated to Ann Charles and her Deadwood & Jackrabbit Junction Series', who now has another fan -- ME!

My love affair with this author (okay, I may be overstating a tad... I haven't actually met the author. But I am in love with her books) began with the Deadwood Humorous Mystery Series, so I'll focus on those books first.

I started with Nearly Departed in Deadwood and read the entire series (to date) in a weekend. Fun, well-written and the characters simply come alive! There's mystery and romance, humor and heartwarming moments and... ghosts. I love ghosts!

And the setting was original (at least, it was for me) and brought to life vividly. Now I want to visit South Dakota (words I never considered saying before). I liked the fledgling Realtor angle as well... I spend many weekends poking around model homes and open houses (I'm nosy), so it was fun to do it without leaving the my back patio.

There are four books in the series so far (in order): Nearly Departed in Deadwood, Optical Delusions in Deadwood, Dead Case in Deadwood, Better off Dead in Deadwood, as well as Seeing Trouble and Boot Points - both short stories. I can't wait for more! Go - buy them all now!

Miss Charles also has another series set in Jackrabbit Junction, Arizona. As an Arizonan, it was fun to read about an area of the state I haven't spent much time in. And the characters, mystery and romance in these books were just as addicting!

The saga begins with Dance of the Winnegabos and Claire being assigned to keep her grandfather out of trouble when he and his posse visit the Arizona desert to find new wives... with an intro like that, how can you resist finding out what happens next?

But then she finds a human leg bone and a partner in crime solving (and maybe romance) with a sexy geotechnician related to the owner of the struggling RV park she is temporarily calling home... and the fun really begins.

There are two books in the series so far (in order): Dance of the Winnebagos and Jackrabbit Junction Jitters, with a promise of a mid-2013 release of The Great Jackalope Stampede. I can't wait! And I guarantee you'll be hooked, too.

Happy Summer Reading!

~Heidi

In Celebration of Summer Reading - Terri Reid

I have been neglecting my blog recently, but now that my latest book is done I wanted to do a series of recommendations for summer reading. Throughout the next few weeks, I will be highlighting some of the fantastic books I've read in between edits and rewrites (and when I'm just procrastinating). 

I'm kicking off the celebration with Terri Reid's Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mysteries. From the first page of this awesome series, I was hooked. I read what was available back-to-back and can't even begin to express how impressed I was: with the writing, with the characters and, especially, with the fun plots. 

As a word of caution, I must state that these books are HIGHLY addictive -- and there are TEN of them so far -- so be prepared. I missed more than one deadline of my own because I had to know what would happen next.  

BTW, these are clean books - no gratuitous sex or curse words. Just thought I'd mention it, in case that's what you're looking for. I usually shop in the sinner's section, but clean can be a nice change of pace -- not that you notice it with these books, you're too caught up in the story.

Now, go download Loose Ends (Book One) for only $0.99 and enjoy hours of wonderful entertainment!

Loose Ends (book One) Description from Amazon product page:

Dying is what changed Mary O’Reilly’s life. Well, actually, coming back from the dead and having the ability to communicate with ghosts is really what did it.

Now, a private investigator in rural Freeport, Illinois, Mary’s trying to learn how to incorporate her experience as a Chicago cop and new-found talent into a real job. Her challenge is to solve the mysteries, get real evidence (a ghost’s word just doesn’t hold up in court), and be sure the folks in town, especially the handsome new police chief, doesn’t think she’s nuts.

Twenty-four years ago, a young woman drowned in the swimming pool of a newly elected State Senator. It was ruled an accident. But now, as the Senator prepares to move on to higher positions, the ghost of the woman is appearing to the Senator’s wife.

Mary is hired to discover the truth behind the death. She unearths a connection between the murder and the disappearance of five little girls whose cases, twenty-four years later, are still all unsolved. As she digs further she becomes the next target for serial killers’ quest to tie up all his loose ends.

Other books in the Mary O'Reilly Mysteries Series (descriptions from terrireid.com):

Good Tidings (Book Two)

Black Friday – the official opening of the Holiday Shopping Season and Patrice Marcum is stuck in the middle of her local superstore with a crying infant, a near hysterical desire to just abandon the diapers and milk she desperately needs, and the snowstorm of the century dumping a half-foot of snow on the parking lot outside.  She needs a miracle.
The little old lady seemed sweet, but there was no way Patrice was going to leave three-month old Jeremy with a stranger.  She looked outside at the snow-covered parking lot and saw yet another distressed shopper’s cart topple over in the drifts.  The old lady sensed her distress and volunteered to call a store employee to help watch over Jeremy while Patrice got her car.  The older gentleman, wearing a store badge with the name “Ron,” seemed too good to be true.  What could be safer?
Less than five minutes later, after brushing the snow off the van and driving across the crowded and snow-packed parking lot, Patrice pulls up in front of the store.  Jeremy is not there.  Pushing back panic, she rushes into the store and looks around. Jeremy is not inside either.  She pushes through the line at Customer Service, the associate calls Ron on the intercom, and issues a Code Adam.  When Ron appears and he’s only seventeen years old, Patrice realizes the worst. “Oh God!  They’ve taken my baby!”
Mary O’Reilly, Private Investigator, is decorating her office for the holiday season when the newly installed bell over her door jingles.  She looks over to see a six year-old boy standing next to her desk.  His name is Joey Marcum and he wants to hire Mary to find his baby brother.
Mary nodded. “Okay, Joey, but I’ll want to work with the police on this one. Do you have any problems with that?”
Joey paused. “No, I guess you can talk to them.”        
“That’ll be helpful.”
“But you can’t tell my mom you’re working for me,” he said, “Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.”
Joey shrugged. “I don’t think she’d understand, seeing that I’m dead, you know.”

Never Forgotten (Book Three)

Bradley crept forward between the tall narrow aisles created by the shelves.  Just before he reached the corner he heard a thump, the sound of a body hitting the floor.  He rushed forward into the corner of the room.
The desk was empty.  The chair was pushed up against it, neatly awaiting its usual occupant.  No one was in the corner.  No one was there to make the sound.  No one…alive.
A cold chill ran down his back. He really wanted to leave the room.  Instead, he moved closer.
He walked to the window and looked outside.  Snow fell softly on the rooftops in the city of Freeport.  It was Christmas Eve, a night of peace and miracles.
“Go home.”
He jumped around. The voice was just behind him.
Even before he turned, he knew no one would be there.
He rubbed the back of his neck, still cold from the breath that carried those words.
The curse had killed another Law Enforcement Officer in Stephenson County, this time it struck on Christmas Eve.  Nearly a dozen good men had died in the past four years and they all had the same unexplained symptoms.  And Mary knew Bradley was next.
Click here to buy Never Forgotten

Final Call (Book Four)

Stanley peered up into the shadows above the stage.  There was a colorful blaze of fabric amidst the burgundy curtains and canvas backdrops. He moved closer, trying to get a better view from a different angle.
“Hey, what’s this play about anyway?” Stanley asked. “Is it a Western?”
“No, it’s a drama,” Rosie replied.
“How come you need a dummy hanging from a rope?”
She looked over quickly. “No one gets hanged in the play.”
“Sure looks like it. Up there.”
Rosie looked up to where he directed and saw the caftan and silk pants ruffling in the slight breeze of the theater twenty feet over the stage.
“Oh, sweet heavens! Stanley,” she screamed. “That’s Faye!”
Faye McMullen was murdered in cold blood at Winneshiek Theater and Mary O’Reilly and Police Chief Bradley Alden have to discover who done it before the murderer gets the chance to get rid of the prime witness… Mary O’Reilly.

Darkness Exposed (Book Five)

Jeannine appeared in the room across from Mary.  Her face was streaked with tears and she was visibly trembling.  “Mary, I remembered,” she cried. “I remembered and it was awful.”
The time has finally come for Mary to investigate Jeannine’s murder. As all clues point to someone in Bradley’s old neighborhood, Mary and Ian move in to the former Alden residence and pose as newlyweds to set Mary up as bait for the killer.  With Stanley and Rosie at their side, they expose the darkness hidden in the depths of Bradley’s old neighborhood.
Click here to buy Darkness Exposed

Natural Reaction (Book Six)

The last few students climbed through windows, black smoke billowing out of them. The teacher turned to his student. “I’ll let you down first.”
“But Coach, whose going to help you?”
“Hey, you’re my best fielder, I expect to jump right into your arms,” he said. “Just promise not to whip me over to Smith for a double play.”
The young man, his face streaked with soot, grinned at his coach. “Yeah, Coach, I promise.”
He took the young man’s hands in a tight grip and slowly lowered him out the window. When he had extended his reach as far as he could, he let him go.
The student fell into the evergreen boughs, the prickly needles scraped his arms, but the branches kept him from hitting the ground. He rolled off the bushes and jumped up as fast as he could. He turned his eager face up to the window. “Okay, Coach,” he called.
The explosion violently blew the windows out of the building. Screaming students darted across the lawn, barely escaping the shards of glass raining down on them. All of the students except Stevo, who still stood below the gaping hole in the wall, oblivious to the blood running down his face and arms. “Coach, Coach,” he screamed. “I’m here, Coach. Coach, I’m here.”
Mary O’Reilly investigates the death of a beloved high school coach while she tries to overcome the repercussion of solving Jeannine’s murder.

Secret Hollows (Book Seven)

The man smiled at Timmy. “That would be nice of you. Why don’t you lead the way?”
Timmy moved past the man and started back up the hill. He heard the whoosh of something moving quickly through the air, but it hit him before he had time to react. He felt the impact against his head and his whole body flew sideways through the air. Landing in the dense ground cover, his face was momentarily buried in loose dirt, pine needles, dried leaves and twigs. Lifting his head, he took a deep breath and started to scramble away on his hands and knees. A strong hand caught him by the neck and pushed him back into the dirt.
“Sorry, Timmy, I can’t let you go now,” the man whispered. “You’d tell.”
Timmy Beck, Fireman Mike Richards’ boyhood friend, was killed twenty years ago, but everyone in the town is sure they caught the right man…or did they? Why is Timmy’s ghost still haunting Lake Le-Aqua-Na?
Mary, Bradley, Ian and Mike investigate and find the true murderer may be much closer than they had ever expected.

Broken Promises (Book Eight)

Clarissa yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Will I ever meet an angel, Daddy?” she asked, as she snuggled into her pillow.
He leaned over and kissed her on her forehead. “I’m sure you will, sweetheart,” he said. “You just have to watch for them.”
She nodded sleepily. “Night Daddy, I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered, to the already sleeping child.
A fierce feeling of protectiveness struck him as he watched her sleep from the doorway. There is no way anyone is going to take her from us, he vowed silently. Not while I’m alive.
The trial for Gary Copper has begun, but was there another murder in his past? One that would change the future for Bradley’s daughter? And as Rosie and Stanley prepare for their wedding, they both have some ghosts in their own closets they will have to deal with.

Twisted Paths (Book Nine)

Gloria Foley turned off the light in the hallway and made her way slowly upstairs to bed. She paused at the doorway of her daughter’s bedroom and shook her head. It had been such an emotional day for all of them. She prayed she would have the strength to get them both through these treacherous teenaged years.
Slowly turning the knob on the bedroom door, she quietly opened it to check on her sleeping child. Through the narrow opening, she could see the bed was still made and no one was sleeping on it. She opened the door wider and saw the shadow on the far wall and her heart clenched. Screaming, she flung the door open and ran to the figure hanging from the thick electric cord suspended from the ceiling fan. “No,” she screamed, as she tried to lift the inert body up to relieve the pressure against her neck. “Nooooooo!”
The ghost of a teenager who committed suicide twenty years ago is haunting her family’s home. Can Mary link that death to the serial suicides of the girls who bullied her when she was alive?
And with Gary Copper still on the loose, Mary and Bradley are faced with the challenge of keeping the newest member of their family safe and sound.

Irish Mist – Sean’s Story (A Mary O’Reilly Short Story)

What would you do to win a game of hide and seek? After all, as the oldest child in the family, Sean O’Reilly had a reputation to uphold. Besides, the things his grandmother said about the woods beyond her fence line were just fairy tales. Stories to frighten children into doing what’s right. Or were they?
Author’s note: As I was working on Book 10, I realized that there was a story I needed to tell that would be important, not only to Book 10, but to the next series I’m planning on writing.

Veiled Passages (Book Ten)

A famous mystery writer drowns in a hotel bathtub… an accident or foul play? His ghost thinks it was murder. His mystery writer colleagues want to help Mary solve the case. Gary Copper is still on the loose and gunning for both Bradley and Mary. And, in between all of the murder and mayhem, Mary and Bradley are trying desperately to finally walk up the aisle. Will they ever become husband and wife?

Happy Reading!

~Heidi

New Release - Flirting With Secrets - Assassins Anonymous - Step Three!

It's here...

FINALLY!

After more edits and rewrites than any author wants to admit to, Flirting With Secrets is out in the world. A huge thank you to everyone who has been patiently waiting for the finished book... thank goodness this is a series, because I had a really hard time putting this one to bed -- Kayla's story is far from over and she's been taking me in a million directions lately. Luckily, I'm having a blast bringing her adventures to life and Flirting With Fame is well on its way!  

Happy Reading!
~Heidi

Read on for a short sample of Flirting With Secrets:


Loose ends.
   The words bounced around relentlessly inside my throbbing skull. The pain was worse than a Slurpee brain freeze and only slightly better than an exploding aneurism. And through it all I was contemplating loose ends. Why was the phrase so frigging important?
   Ugh, who cared? I hadn’t felt this brutalized since waking up in a hospital with few memories and a hole in my chest. What the hell was going on?
   I pried open my crusty eyes, confused and disoriented when they revealed nothing but more blackness. Oh, God! Was I blind? My hands flailed at my sides, trying to discern my surroundings by touch. I was in a bed – that much was for certain. A pretty comfortable one, too. So I was definitely not in a hospital – or a coffin, which had been my second thought and the cause of a minor panic attack.
   I felt something warm and soft beside me and experienced a slightly naughty thrill of anticipation, temporarily overriding my distress.
   Dmitri?
   Further exploration determined the body next to mine was not that of the sexy Greek arms dealer I had hoped it would be. That is unless he’d shrunk to half his size and grown boobs since abandoning me. Tying up loose ends… that’s why the words were running through my brain. Dmitri’s cryptic note had been our last communication in… months. I didn’t even know if I should be concerned or angry. There was no “normal” for an ex-assassin who falls for a semi-reformed criminal.
   On second thought, normal didn’t matter. Over three months without even a text? He was damn lucky he wasn’t beside me right now or else he’d be in for an unwelcome awakening of the getting-the-shit-beaten-out-of-him variety. Schmuck.
   “Claire?” Even the soft, questioning whisper made the brittle synapses firing pain missives throughout my skull revolt. I needed drugs. Or a machete to cut my head off with.
   I gave the body beside me another shake when I received no response. “Claire? What’s going on?”
   The sheets rustled as the body stirred. “Are you up, honey?”
   Even stranger. That sound a bit like… “Mom?”
   What was my mother doing in bed with me? I tried to pull my thoughts together, to remember the events leading up to what was either an on-going brain hemorrhage or the queen bitch of all hangovers. Hmmm. My last memory was of a going away party...

BUY NOW!

It's Official, Liliana Hart Rocks! Whiskey Rebellion & Whiskey Sour were Incredible Reads!

I'm starting to sound like a bit of a fan-girl here, but I love finding a go-to author for reliably fabulous reads! After finishing the first two books in the J.J. Graves Mysteries series, I decided to check out Ms. Hart's Addison Holmes Series. Yay! LOVED Whiskey Rebellion. Humorous romantic suspense is the ultimate escape from reality in my opinion and this book hit all the sweet spots! Devoured it at the expense of my own writing... which I tend to do anyway as I'm wrapping things up, so I can't actually blame her.

Addison Holmes is my favorite type of heroine - self-deprecating, intelligent, irreverent and real. She's an every-woman type of gal and I was completely wrapped up in the events of her fictional life as I read this book.

And then there's Nick... yummy!

Read it! I can guarantee if you normally like my recommendations that this one will soon be a favorite of yours, too.

Description from Amazon:


My name is Addison Holmes, and I teach history at James Madison High School in Whiskey Bayou, Georgia. You might be under the assumption that my life went to the dogs when my fiancé left me at the altar for the home economics teacher, or when I got notice that my apartment building was going to be condemned, or even when I was desperate enough to strip to my unmentionables to earn some extra cash. The truth is that I'm pretty much used to disasters following me around on a daily basis, but I could have gone without finding my principal dead in the parking lot of a seedy gentlemen's club.

After the initial shock of finding my first dead body, which included throwing back shots of Jack Daniels like it was water, I decided to take stock of my life. I was in a desperate situation and if the school board ever found out I'd been a stripper, even a bad stripper, I'd be jobless as well as fiancé-less and homeless. Fortunately, I had a friend who felt sorry enough for me to give me a job doing some surveillance work at her detective agency. Not to mention the fact that I was now able to stick my nose into other people's business for a good cause, find a murderer, and pick up helpful tips from an incredibly attractive detective.

Of course, as soon as I realized there was a second book in this series, I immediately downloaded it. And... Whiskey Sour is another home run! Only this time Addison is intentionally solving crimes instead of stumbling across them (oh, she still stumbles - wouldn't be Addison if she didn't, but she's getting better:)).

And to ratchet up the OH, YEAH factor, we get to meet Matt Savage. Can I get a HALLELUJAH?  Yummy factor times ten. Addison can have Nick... I want Matt. The new love triangle is expertly handled and I loved every minute of it.

Again, read it! A great continuation of a fabulous story. Either can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them both, in order - I'm obsessive like that.


Description from Amazon:

Addison Holmes is at it again. When priceless Russian gems are stolen on their way to Savannah and the courier is murdered, all the clues lead back to an escort service that seems above reproach. But looks can be deceiving.

Throw in a sexy detective and a dangerous FBI agent, and Addison finds out very quickly that she's in way over her head. But nothing is going to stop her from getting her man.



Happy Reading!
~Heidi

Need Something to Read While Waiting for Flirting with Secrets -- Assassins Anonymous Step Three? Try The Housewife Assassin's Handbook by Josie Brown...

Okay, as an author of humorous assassin stories, I admit when I bought this book I'd hoped it would suck... I'm twisted that way... **said tongue-firmly-in-cheek** But it didn't so I have no option but to recommend :-).

The Housewife Assassin's Handbook by Josie Brown is an entertaining read! I was surprised when I stumbled across this book because I really didn't think there was anything similar to my Assassin's Anonymous series (naive, I know). Fortunately, Josie Brown's character comes at the dilemma from the opposite angle (thank goodness!) -- a housewife who becomes an assassin, not an ex-assassin exiled to suburbia and trying not to kill anyone. Phew - Different, but just as fun.



I love the idea of a housewife trying to keep her secret life, well, a secret. Not easy to do while being a single mom to three, what with keeping up appearances and all! I love the mix of action, romance and reality woven throughout this story. I feel confident that if you're a fan of the AA series, you'll want to read these books, too. I stopped at book one (because I didn't want to subconsciously plagiarize anything), but I have a feeling you will want to read all of them. And since the first in the series is only $0.99, it's a bargain for full-length entertainment! Try it and be sure to let me know what you think!

Description (From Amazon):


Murder, suspense, sex--and some handy household tips.

"Secrets, sex, money and scandal! Josie Brown is truly entertaining reading." -- Jackie Collins

IN BOOK 1: THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN'S HANDBOOK:

- EVERY DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE WANTS AN ALIAS: Donna Stone has one...and it happens to be government-sanctioned.
- BUT DONNA EARNED IT THE HARD WAY: Her husband was killed the day she delivered their third child.
- TO AVENGE HER HUSBAND'S MURDER: Donna leads a secret life: as an assassin.
- BUT ESPIONAGE MAKES FOR STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: And brings new meaning to that old adage, "Honey, I'm home..."

Also in this series:

Happy Reading!
~Heidi

**UPDATED** LOVE THIS SERIES!!! The J.J. Grave Mysteries by Liliana Hart

**UPDATED TO INCLUDE BOOK 2**

Wow! I mean, I really enjoyed this book! Loved the main character, J.J. Graves. Adored the love interests. Got wrapped up in the mystery and thrills...

Plain and simply, Dirty Little Secrets is a fabulous read! I could wax poetic about all the little details, but really, you should just buy it! And quick -- as it is currently only $0.99!!!

Seriously, if you are a fan of mystery, romance, humor and suspense, you will not be disappointed in Dirty Little Secrets. I'm already on to A Dirty Shame, Book 2 in the J.J. Graves series and I can't read fast enough. Love it!!! (Finished! See below.)

Description (From Amazon):

J.J. Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work...

She's not only in the mortuary business, but she's also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice.

The murders are piling up...

When a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he's so well known for.

Passions are rising...

J.J and Jack discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of her own—secrets that make her a perfect target in a deadly game.

I just finished reading A Dirty Shame, the 2nd book in the J.J. Graves Mystery Series and just had to add it to  this post. Another fantastic read!

Jaye is back, a little worse for wear but getting her life on track. I don't think I can say whether I enjoyed the mystery or the romance better in this book because they work so well together. And, once again, Liliana Hart kept me guessing until the final pages in regard to the true identity of the enemy. Great plot!

My only complaint -- Book 3 isn't out yet! And the cliffhanger is just... mean ;-). Get writing, woman! I need to know ASAP how this is going to play out! What happens next? All I know is book three is on my auto-buy list!!!

Read this series! You won't be disappointed.

Description (From Amazon):


J.J. Graves is back in Bloody Mary, but she's a long way from feeling at home. Between her physical scars from being the target of a murderer and the emotional scars left by her parents, she doesn't know who she can trust. But death doesn't stop for anyone.

The first murder is grisly. The second even more so. And though things are shaky between them, she and her best friend, Jack, have no choice but to join forces and find the killer. Because the life of someone they love dearly hangs in the balance.



Happy Reading!
~Heidi

Looking for a Free Romantic Read That's Actually Good?

I don't read too much romance anymore, but something about the cover of Waking up Married caught my eye. Oh, it might have also been the price - FREE... but probably not. I've pretty much given up on the virtual freebie aisle. The good ones are too far and few between. Waking up Married, on the other hand, was actually a very cute read.

I had my doubts. But a few pages in and I was hooked. Actually, a few pages in, I thought, "No wonder it was free - it's only the first few pages." But I was wrong. Whoever put the ebook edition together made it appear it was nothing more than a sample. Not true. Swipe a few more pages forward and, what do you know, the actual book appears. Yay!

And then I couldn't put it down. The premise is actually kind of eye-rolling -- a handsome, successful guy does a favor for a stranger and the next thing you know, they're married... and he wants it to stay that way. I know, right? But somehow it works. And then some. I really enjoyed these characters. Found them extremely well rounded and likable. A highly recommended read by me -- even if I'd had to pay for it.

Description (From Amazon Product Page):


From USA TODAY bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly comes WAKING UP MARRIED, a free book in Harlequin's brand-new contemporary romance collection—Harlequin KISS.

Her first thought: "Who are you?"

It's the morning after her cousin's bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she's in a stranger's penthouse having woken up with something else as well—a funny, arrogant, sexy…husband!

Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible—been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter…no, Connor Reed and she's gone from first meet to marriage in one night!

Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor's shocking bombshell?

"I don't want a divorce."

~ ~ ~

Happy Reading!
~Heidi

Reviewing the latest by the Queen of Chick-Lit - Notorious Nineteen

Okay, don't get me wrong - I'm a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum books. HUGE! But... I really want something new to happen. Although it does appear Stephanie is leaning toward a life with Joe Morelli, (not my choice, but I'm a rebel) Notorious Nineteen is just another frustrating look at Stephanie fumbling along trying to scare up some cash with petty criminal bounties. If there isn't some movement in the storyline, I may eventually give up as so many of her other reviewers have stated.

Fine. That's a lie. I'm no quitter, but wouldn't it be nice to have an end in sight? Just tell us - how many more books do we have to buy until the end? I always enjoy the stories. They're funny. Comfortable - like catching up with an old friend. But if Stephanie was my friend I would have slapped her silly by now. And, has anyone kept a running total of how many cars she's destroyed? Like I said, I love this series, but having something new happen would probably give me an instant orgasm after nineteen books of foreplay - and that's not even counting the "Between the Numbers" that have come out.

Notorious Nineteen is actually an improvement since the last few. A little more "meat" to the story, in my opinion. And when Twenty whatever comes out, I'll be first in line. But I'm not holding my breath for a resolution...

In conclusion - as ever, I highly recommend Notorious Nineteen. Janet Evanovich always delivers on a nice break from reality. At $12.99 a pop, they're not cheap entertainment if you're a voracious reader, but it's nice to have the collection to fall back on while waiting for the next installment. If you enjoy chick-lit, anything by JE is a solid choice.

Description (from Amazon Product Page):


New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . . .


Happy Reading!
~Heidi

*I am not a professional reviewer. The opinions expressed here are my own and given from a reader's perspective.

Magical Mysteries! The Stacy Justice Mysteries by Barbra Annino

I actually read Opal Fire by Barbra Annino over a year ago (you can read my original blog post/review here, but I'll copy/paste below, edited for current pricing, etc., to save you some clicks). I remember enjoying the book very much and don't know why it's taken me so long to get back to the series. Now that I have, I'm anxious to read the rest... even though I have to wait for the fourth one to be released... get writing! I want more ;-)

What a fun, witchy series!!!

~ ~ ~

Original review of Opal Fire:
If you love Cozy Mysteries and Paranormal, you will love this book. Opal Fire is the debut novel in a new series by Barbra Annino and I'm so glad I found it. It has a little bit of all my favorites: Paranormal, Romance, Mystery,  the humor of Chick-Lit, and, of course, WITCHES. Another great addition to my witchy library.

Opal Fire is currently $4.99 on Amazon. Have fun!

Description: (from Amazon's product page)

Stacy Justice is just your average green-eyed, redheaded, twenty-something witch who would rather focus on her job as a reporter than practice the crazy magic her grandmother and great-aunts are into. She’s perfectly content to spend her free time hanging with her cop boyfriend and her gassy Great Dane and helping her cousin Cinnamon run the Black Opal bar. But when the Opal goes up in flames, Stacy may need that magic after all.

The blaze was arson—and Cinnamon is the prime suspect. Determined to clear her cousin’s name, Stacy digs deep into the crime and makes a shocking discovery amid the rubble. It’s clear someone wants her dead—and she’ll have to dodge everything from angry motorists to exploding chickens to survive. It’s time to dust off her so-called magic skills. But will they be there when she needs them?

With its strong, sexy heroine and her razor-sharp wit, and its collection of eccentric small-town characters, Opal Fire introduces a bewitching new mystery series.

~ ~ ~

Bloodstone is book 2 in The Stacy Justice Mysteries series and I loved it! Some of the highlights: Ivy - I absolutely adored her spunk and the journal entries were HILARIOUS (especially her ever-changing signature line). Thor - who wouldn't love Thor though - he's awesome! The Geraghty Girls - especially Lolly... having to ply her with liquor to get her to function somewhat normally? Fantastic!

What could I live without? Some of the history was a bit tedious and kind of dumped all at once. Pet peeve? No, but I'm trying to be impartial here, so I don't get accused of being a sock puppet ;-) - I had to come up with something I didn't love!

Bottom line: Read it! You won't be disappointed!

Description: (from Amazon's product page)

All Stacy Justice wants to do is recover from the bizarre couple of weeks she’s had—a whirlwind kicked off by the arson attack on her cousin’s bar, the Black Opal. But just when life should be settling down, a fourteen-year-old girl named Ivy appears on Stacy’s doorstep, claiming to be her sister. Ivy says their mother’s life is in danger and insists that the family’s magic is crucial to saving her. Sure, Ivy has Stacy’s fiery red hair and green eyes—but is she really her sister? And can the secretive teen be trusted with magic?

Then a man is found dead at Stacy’s grandmother’s bed-and-breakfast, and she has no choice but to see where Ivy’s story leads. Strange warnings appear at every turn, including the disappearance of the family’s Blessed Book, and it seems someone is out to kill Stacy—again.

Picking up where Opal Fire left off, the second book in the spellbinding Stacy Justice series dazzles with even more magic, mystery, and mayhem—revealing the dark secrets of the Geraghty clan.

~ ~ ~

Now we're almost up-to-date. The final book of the series so far is Tiger's Eye. I really enjoyed the twists in this book. Never saw them coming and yet, when they were revealed I went, "Aha! That makes sense." I'm also glad the spirit animals were continued in Tiger's Eye as they add new life to a theme that is expected - ghosts. And the introduction to "mini Thor" was a fun and interesting twist. I highly recommend this book and the others that come before. 

Great job!

Description: (from Amazon's product page)

Stacy Justice is looking forward to a lazy summer of hot dogs and beer; swims in the lake with her Great Dane, Thor; and hanging with her rekindled old flame, Chance. But when she gets a creepy anonymous call hinting that her father’s “accidental” death fourteen years ago was actually a murder, she’s too unsettled to relax. Stacy has blamed herself for his death all along—in fact, it’s the reason she’s fought so hard against being a witch. But who’d want to kill an innocent small-time newspaperman?

That’s the question on Stacy’s mind when she casts a spell that goes horribly wrong. And between the white tiger that keeps appearing out of thin air, the body in the lake, the feisty razor-toothed Chihuahua, and the gun-toting maniac, she suddenly has her hands full once again. But solving the mystery of her father’s death is Stacy’s number-one priority…and avenging it, if necessary, is a very close second.

Continuing the thrilling Stacy Justice saga, Tiger’s Eye drives the reluctant witch deeper into the mysteries of her family’s past…and the darker regions of her soul.

~ ~ ~

The wrap-up: The Stacy Justice Mysteries are an auto-buy for me. While the price has gone up since the debut of the first novel (which I'm only mentioning because I'm sure a few of you will notice, as I did), it is still less than I would have been paying when bookstores and grocery store checkout aisles were my only options for the latest reads. 

**Tiny side rant** In fact, I may be digressing here, but even though I'm thrilled to find a great book in the freebie section or even one priced at $0.99, there is simply too much sludge at those prices to risk wasting my time. **End of rant**

If you're up for a series with hours of entertainment at a great price, don't hesitate to pick up this series. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting book four and you will be too. Pinky-swear.

Happy Reading!
~Heidi

Fun Read - A Fine How-De-Do by Lisa Scott

Light and fun, A Fine How-De-Do by Lisa Scott is a great beginning to the new Willowdale Romance Short Stories collection! Perfect for those of us who crave a great story, but don't have much time in our busy schedules for a full-length novel. If a quick shot of romance is what you're after... read Lisa Scott!

Amazon Book Description:

It’s been a bad month for Tonya Garcia. After her beloved nonna died, her boyfriend's only sympathy involved big plans for spending her inheritance. What was she doing with that skinny-legged jerk, anyway? Now that he’s out of the picture, Tonya needs a new start and with the help of a dartboard decides Willowdale, North Carolina is the place.

The move from the Big Apple to this hole in the wall isn’t as easy as she figured, though. On her first day in the tiny town, she gets a speeding ticket from a hot cop and a warning from the locals not to open a new beauty salon like she’d planned. The only saving grace is the chicken and biscuits at The Jelly Jar diner, a new friend desperate for a decent 'do, and the police chief who might be interested in her for all the wrong reasons.

Can Tonya find new love and a new life? Or was her ex right—that she’ll be running back to him in New York?

This is the first short story in the Willowdale Romance series. Try short story #2, "A Little Hanky-Panky," and #3, "A Perfect Setup." Lisa's first novel in the series, No Foolin', is now available.

I really enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend A Fine How-De-Do, or anything else Lisa Scott writes, to romance readers everywhere. Besides, at $0.99 how can you pass it up?

Happy Reading!
~Heidi