
Books I've Read ~ Reviewed

Pistols and Poinsettias
A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery
By Bruce Hammack
Okay all you writers who love to read mysteries. This one is for you. Set in Miami at a writer’s convention. Rivalry, murder, missing people, theft… what more could you ask for. And detectives Smiley and McBlythe are right smackdab in the middle of it when they are requested to be a part of the teaching sessions. Lots of research went into this one, judging by the details of the story. As an author, I loved it.
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells
A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery
By Bruce Hammack
I am thoroughly enjoying this wonderful series of mysteries by Mr. Hammack. They are stand alone, but I’ve been reading them in order. He has a way of putting you right there into the scene. Yes, there are some mistakes, but nothing to keep you from enjoying the story. The situations are unique, and the characters are believable.
A Lady at Willowgrove Hall
Whispers on the Moors – Book Three
By Sarah E. Ladd
Cecily has been given a great opportunity to become a lady’s companion and thereby becoming a lady herself. But her background is as far from being a lady as could be. Can she keep the secret of her shame from her past? Especially when she runs into a part of her past shame.
Nathaniel wonders about the new lady at Willowgrove Hall. Attracted to her as he may be, he feels she’s hiding something. But then he’s hiding his own secret.
Another wonderful story from this author. You can feel the tension surrounding the characters. I love stories like this.
The Headmistress of Rosemere
Whispers on the Moors – Book Two
By Sarah E. Ladd
Another great story by this author. Lots of suspense and intrigue. A page turning adventure you’ll want to get to the end of but won’t want the enjoyment of the story to end. Can’t wait to read the next one in this group.
Just a Little Miracle
A Verdeville Novella
By J.L. Salter
What a fun story.
Somewhat predictable, but that didn’t take away from the fun of reading the story. I was a little disappointed in some of the undesirable words used in this story that could have been dispensed with, but J.L. Salter has done it again. A fun tale.
The Heiress of Winterwood
Whispers on the Moors
Book One
By Sarah Ladd
Excellent Regency story.
I love historical romance, and when you add suspense to it, it can’t get any better. Ladd has combined these genres into a wonderful story of romance, suspense, and edge of your seat reading. Wonderfully written story. Just picked up the next two in the collection.
Exercise is Murder
A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery
By Bruce Hammack
Just what a good mystery should be.
Great mystery. Mr. Hammack is a pro at spinning a good tale that will keep you reading long after you should have put the book down for the night. And what a unique PI duo. Makes the reading even more fun.
Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor
By Roseanna M. White
This is a perfect Christmas read. The author based the tale on the original Nutcracker story with some liberties that I believe made it a joy to read.
Based in the Edwardian era in England, the story has all the charm you can possibly imagine. Of course Lady Mariah has problems to overcome, including a Danish lord who has his sights on her to become his wife. There is conflict between him and the heir to her step-father’s estate, Cyril Lightbourne, a gentleman Lady Mariah has loved since they were children. The lady fears her dreams of living at Sugar Plum Manor for the rest of her life are about to vanish since Cyril is apparently courting another woman.
The descriptions of the scenes are well done, as are the characters. Roseanna M. White has done it again. This book is a keeper to be read again next Christmas.
Mistletoe, Malice and Murder
A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery
By Bruce Hammack
This story was very good. Smiley and McBlythe have a detective agency. Steve Smiley is blind and relies on his female partner Heather McBlythe, a wealthy woman in her own right, to guide him. Steve is a former cop, and Heather is an attorney. Steve has special talents that enable them to solve cases, such as his acute senses.
The PIs are called in on a case where a rich oil baron who’s on his last leg, living in an elite section of Houston, Texas with his money hungry family, predicts someone in his family is going to die. The prediction comes true.
The PIs learn of a long standing feud between the oil baron’s family and a neighboring family. To make things stickier, the son of one of the families is engaged to marry the daughter of the other family.
This was a real page turner with lots of humorous moments. Just the kind of books I love to read.
Since I live in the Houston area, the setting was familiar to me. I liked the mystery, the humor, and the way the story was told. Being a writer myself, I would have had a slightly different ending, but it wasn't my story to tell. LOL
Well worth the read. I'll be reading more from Bruce Hammack.
One Silent Christimas Night
A Festival of Carols Novel
By Scott R. Rezer
The story runs smoothly through two timelines, involving people from picturesque Pocono Falls and France into a Christmas tale I’ll remember for a long time. Maybe prompting me to read it again every holiday. I loved the way the author brought these two story lines together, one in current times and the other during WWII.
The emotions were well drawn out in the characters and I could cry and laugh along with them. The story kept my interest all the way to the end, an end with a surprise. I love those kinds of stories. Well worth the read.
An Elegant Façade
Hawthorne House series
By Kristi Ann Hunter
It's in the Hawthorne House (standalone) series. Good story, but I'm glad I read the first one in the series first. Made more sense. I was able to jump over the plot holes, knowing what had happened before.
The Gardener’s Daughter
King’s Crossing
By Lisa M. Prysock
I found the storyline okay, if you are interesting in a simple love story about a royal and a commoner. But I also found it tedious to read with the endless lists, descriptions, history, and details not really needed for the plot. These things could have been eliminated without any disruption to the plot and the enjoyment of the story.
Just when I’d really get interested in what was going on, up popped one of these interruptions that took me completely out of the story.
























An Uncommon Courtship
by Kristi Ann Hunter
This is the second book by Kristi Hunter I've read. The story started out slow, but after a few paragraphs, picked up with the flow and I started to enjoy it.
This was an unusual read, an unusual story for regency romance. At least compared to most I've read. The style was different as well. The story was written mostly in character thoughts with not as much dialogue as I'm used to and enjoy.
Gradually, I was emersed in the tale. It got better and better, until I was really looking forward to getting into the next paragraph to see what would happen.
The ending of this story was also unusual, and I really enjoyed it. I like unusual endings.
Finding Frankie
by
Michelle Kidd
What can I say... She has a way with words. I love the way this girl writes.
Some time back, I read Michelle Kidd’s first novel, Timeless Moments. Her writing style was wonderful. Since then, I’ve been waiting for her next book to come out and was so happy when she introduced Finding Frankie. I contacted Michelle Kidd and asked if I could purchase an autographed copy directly from her.
Tonight, I read the final page of Finding Frankie and was sorry to see the story end but very satisfied with the ending. I’ll not tell you what my favorite parts were or about what happened in this tale because I wouldn’t want to spoil the story for you.
Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed in the plot, the twists and turns, nor in the characters that she developed. Wonderful characters you’ll fall in love with, cry with, get mad at, and who will stir up so many more emotions from you.
Now I’m looking forward to her next book in this historical standalone series about lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains.



A Nobile Masquerade
by
Kristi Ann Hunter
I have added another author to my list of favorites.
Kristi Ann Hunter.
Her novel A Noble Masquerade was absolutely wonderful. I loved it.
The characters were exactly what I would expect of real people in the regency period, and Kristi Hunter’s writing was next to perfect. Loved the phrases she used and the way she handled her character’s emotions.
Which of us hasn’t held a secret we hope will never be discovered and bring embarrassment to us? Lady Miranda Hawthorne’s secret is not only discovered, but it’s discovered by the one person she most wanted to keep it from.
This story has suspense, laughter, mystery, and romance all over it. There are a few surprises to entertain us as well. And lots of danger.
Well done, Ms. Hunter. I’ll be reading more of your stories.




Lost Harbor
By
Jackie Zack
Jackie Zack has done it again. This fourth book in the Katy Russell Mystery series is just as entertaining as the first three. This time, reporters Katy and Nick are stuck on an island with no way to get off. Communication takes a nosedive, and the ferryboat captain is found dead. Suspense and mystery abounds. Even a bit of romance.
