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Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
But it did drag a bit in some places, so I didn't feel I could give it 5 stars.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Exciting and fresh with an unpredictable new young assassin.
Bazaar by Miles Joyner is a thrilling and unpredictable story of a deadly game of murder by bid. Ultra-skilled executive protection firms are on the alert! A new online, high-stakes app combines gambling with a murder-for-hire bidding system that anyone with the guts can join, and the first hit on the son of a Nigerian diplomat, accomplished in the middle of Washington, D.C., is a tragic success. Now, the fledgling protection firm, Raptor, with founders and siblings Yemi and Karen Uzunma, are in a cat-and-mouse game against a surprising new foe as he goes after their new make-it-or-break-it client: the diplomat himself.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and I was torn between rooting for the characters on both sides of the target: Raptor and their crew and Aaron Williams, the surprisingly adept young killer. I wanted Karen and Yemi's group to excel while at the same time hoping for Aaron's success and a way out of the situation caused by his father's shocking death at his own hands.The plot is fast-paced, with a shocking murder occurring soon after the story begins. I was caught completely off guard by the unexpected opening, and I was hooked for the duration of the tale. The death pool with a twist was riveting and unique, and Aaron Williams is a surprisingly relatable antagonist, displaying a genius and aptitude for the horrific work. His backstory is compelling, and he was easy to get behind, even with his actions being murder.
I recommend BAZAAR to thriller and mystery readers.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.




Ripley was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel in 1956. In 1957, the novel won the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière as best international crime novel. The novel is also on the list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die which was another motivation for me to read it. It tells the story of Tom Ripley, a young man struggling in New York City, who is approached by Herbert Greenleaf, a wealthy shipping magnate, to travel to Italy to try to convince his son, Dickie, to return to their family in the U.S. and join the family business. Ripley knew Dickie marginally but agreed to the proposal which would be financed by Greenleaf. Dickie had taken up residence in a small Italian village with his girlfriend Marge. Dickie agrees to let Ripley stay with him after he tells Dickie about his father's mission to get him to return to the U.S. But as Tom and Dickie bond, Marge gets left out and Tom decides to try to benefit from Dickie's wealth by killing him and assuming his identity. So will Tom be able to get away with murder and reap the benefits?
As stated in 1001 books: "Tom Ripley is one of the great creations of 20th century pulp writing, a schizophrenic figure at once charming, ambitious, unknowable, devoid of morality, and prone to outbursts of extreme violence. His behavior could be a symptom of mental illness and as a manifestation of ambitions and repressed homosexual desire." Overall, I enjoyed this novel and found it very compelling. Tom Ripley goes to extremes to try to be like Dickie Greenleaf and will stop at nothing to accomplish this goal. A really good psychological thriller. Highsmith actually wrote four sequels to this novel which feature Ripley and at some point I would like to read these. I also need to watch the 1999 film version with Matt Damon as Ripley which I have somehow neglected up till now. And I'll also be on the lookout for Highsmith's other noir novels.


Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Science & Math
Book Type: Paperback




Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Paperback
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An exciting, suspenseful, and, ultimately, heartwarming story of finding one's self and one's soulmate.
Time Traveler's Playlist by David Homick is an exciting, suspenseful, and, ultimately, heartwarming story of a young man's pursuit of his one true love (and classic 70s rock and roll music.) I was honestly captivated by this tale from start to finish.
The hunt for legendary Aztec gold on his family's farm leads 22-year-old Angus Walker to a hidden cave with a mysterious portal to the past. Mustering his courage, he passes through the portal and finds himself in Denver, Colorado, in the year 1978, where the muscle cars and land yachts of his dreams proudly cruise the city streets, and the classic rock music that he collected in his time period are new releases here. He also falls head over heels for the dynamic female lead vocalist and bass player of a rising local band, who knows more than she's letting on about Angus's unconventional mode of transportation to the 70s.Angus is the wonderful protagonist of the story, a sad-sack, self-prophesying loser in his own time of 2024; he seems to fit in with life in 1978, coming close to being one of the cool kids. In his time, he has a good 'ride or die' friend in Walter "Waldo" Hastings, a fellow misfit in high school due to his high IQ and dedication to academics, and Ozzy, a lovable stray black lab named after the infamous, original frontman for Black Sabbath. Both Waldo and Ozzy are endearing, and each time Angus returned home to 2024, I worried whether his actions in the past would negatively affect either of these characters -- because changes occurred!
While Angus may have succumbed to the negative talk and bullying in his formative years, he regularly shows perseverance and courage throughout the story. He stands up to the bullies. He confronts Lars and Sam head-on when necessary. He talked himself into entering the portal. He pursued his soulmate and then sacrificed everything for love.The plot is fast-paced, and the transitions between time periods are clear and easy to follow. The descriptions of the rugged and remote Utah farm and 1978 Denver are vivid, creating the perfect backdrops for the ensuing action. I thoroughly enjoyed the song title chapter headings, which not only foreshadowed the coming direction of the story but were tunes contemporary to the time. The selections were so perfect that I compiled them, along with additional songs mentioned in the narrative, into a fun, nostalgic new playlist.
I recommend TIME TRAVELER'S PLAYLIST to fiction readers who enjoy time travel tales of romance.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback


Author:
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
Book Type: Paperback
Young Murdo stepped up and was successfully managing things - until the church steps in to assist. After being displaced, Murdo and his mother move to the estate of family friends - where the childhood friendship with the daughter blossoms. But alas, a greedy clergy steps in again and young Murdo has had enough. He leaves on a ship of Norse warrios and a trio of monks to find his father and brother to bring them back to reclaim their home. Through his longer than expected journey to Jerusalem via Constanople and Antioch, Murdo grows in confidence, wisdom, and leadership.
A rousing tale in the style of Lawhead - a sprig mystery, a dash of romance, unexpected herosim, and characters who are more than they expected. As usual, not everything is as it seems. And the biggest, unexpected mystery of all, a hidden, ancient organization that shapes world history. [5/5]


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Romance
Book Type: Hardcover


Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback


Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
The Duchess of Beaufort has formally hired Miss Tiffany Woodall as her head librarian, meaning the woman can be herself and leave her disguises behind. Miss Tiffany is also teaching 6-year-old Duke of Beaufort (Beau) until a proper governess can be found.
As she leaves her home, Bristle Cottage, to go to Astwell Palace, she trips over the body of a dead man, half covered in the snow. She recognizes that it's Mr. Bernard Coram, a former footman at the palace. Found in front of her home, she is named the prime suspect by the justice of the peace. In an effort to clear her name, she learns that on the night of his death, Mr. Coram was involved in a fight at the local pub, but also that he was blackmailing the love of her life, local bookseller and constable, Samir Lathrop. Soon, it is Samir who is arrested. Tiffany is going to need all the help she can get to prove his innocence. A new arrival in town adds to the drama. The Lady Librarian has her hands full. Can she find the real killer? Or will Samir hang for a crime he didn't commit?
Like in the first book of this series, A Novel Disguise, Ms. Larsen's characters come alive within these pages. They are diverse, coming from all classes, and Miss Tiffany Woodall interacts with them all. She beams as she teaches her young charge, really making learning fun. She is comfortable in her new position, and a new friendship blooms when she needs a friend most. She thought she knew where her relationship with Samir was going, but new developments, and he being accused of murder, could mean she may never get her happy ever after.
I really enjoyed the author's descriptive writing style, especially when Tiffany, her friend Thomas, and others traveled around the countryside trying to find the answers they needed. It's always great to have a friend with power and the right connections to help move investigations along. Through the author's words, I felt that I was right on the scene, whether it be at the palace, in the kitchen or library, the church, the pub in town, or the blacksmith shop in a town up the road.
I loved the way Tiffany fostered young Beau's love for books. The palace library was âsadly lacking in children's literature,â and she was determined to fix that by adding several books, including fairy tales. They were reading Gulliver's Travels, complete with dressing up as pirates with swords to search for hidden treasure and with mathematical pirates' problems to solve.
Ms. Larsen packs a lot into this well-plotted and well-written book. It is filled with twists and turns, a very satisfying reckoning, and a delightful final chapter and epilogue.
What we didn't know when this book was released was if there would be a book 3. I can now report that there is, but the release is unique in that A Poetic Pox is being released first as an audiobook/CD on July 22, 2025, and will be released in other formats a few months later.
Once Upon a Murder is a captivating and entertaining story filled with a smart and loyal protagonist, a motley cast of supporting characters all caught up in an intriguing mystery, that includes the perfect amounts of romance and humor. To enjoy this book to the fullest, I believe you have to read A Novel Disguise first, as Once Upon a Murder picks up right where it leaves off. Then you will be ready when A Poetic Pox hits stores.


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Jarrod Jarvis is a former child star who found his first corpse 20+ years ago. He was then able to crack the case on a group of real-life Hollywood murders. He now lives in Palm Springs, where he is still grieving the loss of his husband Charlie, who was a police detective. Jarrod fills his time writing and directing plays for the local theater group. Their daughter, Liv, does not know a lot about her father's interesting past, but she recently graduated with a degree in criminal justice. She was closer to Charlie than Jarrod, and Jarrod wishes they could be closer now.
Liv hasn't launched her own career; instead, she is trying to help Zel, her filmmaker boyfriend, launch his own. He has pitched her an idea for a documentary about finding the surrogate her fathers used to facilitate her birth. She doesn't think she is ready to go there, but he is heavily pressuring her to at least take the first step. Before Liv has any time to think, he blindsides her with a meeting face-to-face with the woman who gave birth to her. Later, when she goes back to call it quits with the project and their relationship, she finds Zel lying on the floor in a pool of blood, his head bashed in. Freaking out she calls her father.
Now, together they will combine his experience with her recently acquired skills to track down the killer. It isn't long before Liv realizes how little she knew about her boyfriend and that so many people are happy that he's dead. While this investigation may bring Jerrod and Liv closer, they need to be aware that there is a killer out there who could take great pleasure in getting rid of both of them.
Lee Hollis has introduced a great father-daughter duo with layers who develop strongly throughout the story. It's been almost 10 years since Jarrod lost Charlie, and his friends are pushing him to put himself out there romantically, and you can feel his struggle. Liv lost Charlie when she was just thirteen, and her dads never talked much about her birth and the woman who helped them. Now, it is forced upon her, and it is much more complicated than she thought. Jarrod's good friend, a former first lady, has always been there for him. He also has two best friends in George and Leo. They are a huge hit, the favorite gay couple of the older ladies at the local gym's Forever Fit exercise class. Charlie's brother Brody, a former WWE wrestler, comes to town, a kind, lost soul down on his luck, as usual, but Jarrod will never turn him away. Liv has been friends with Maude since she and Jarrod moved to Palm Springs after Charlie died. Maude tries to get Liv out to have a good time and willingly volunteers to help Liv with a little sleuthing. All of these characters are unique and cleverly crafted.
The author has penned a very intriguing mystery entwined with unexpected family drama and an abundance of suspects. The victim pushed my buttons from the start, pushy and narcissistic, he was after dirt that could get him noticed and make him famous, and freely stole the ideas of others without a care. Politicians, Hollywood elite, and his girlfriend were fair game for the many projects he was pushing on a daily basis. Well, he pushed someone too far. Jarrod and Liv's investigation had them questioning a lot of people, even some they were close to, and I was thrilled to tag along. After many twists, turns, and hurt feelings, the culprit is finally revealed, putting Jarrod in desperate circumstances, followed by an exciting chase.
This story is much more than a mystery. It's a study of family dynamics. Some totally dysfunctional. Some are in flux. Others are finding their way back and moving ahead. Grieving when you lose a loved one is hard, and I appreciated how the author realistically handled this topic. I didn't expect to get so invested in these characters in what appears to be a standalone novel.
My Father Always Finds Corpses is a complicated and compelling mystery, lighthearted and funny, but it tugs on your emotions. Strong, diverse, eccentric characters pull you into the story, and they don't let go after the story ends. I hope this book is a huge success and the author and publisher spin it into a series. I have not had enough of Jarrod, Liv, and their friends.




Author:
Genres: History, Sports & Outdoors
Book Type: Paperback
At least I now know how the Virgin Islands got that name. Thank you, Saint Ursula.


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback
Ground Rules partners, Sage and Harley, have teamed up with brothers Tierney and Shay Doyle of Doyle's Oregon Whiskey to create a canned Irish coffee. The product is set to launch at a celebration over the July 4th weekend on the Doyle's beautiful property in the âColumbia Gorge with a view of the mighty Columbia River.â Twenty local companies have set up booths, several food carts are serving a variety of festival foods, and the Ground Rules coffee cart has a prime spot. There are cornhole tournaments for youth and adults and a Connect Four tournament for the children. The drawing events are the bands performing on the stage in the meadow.
Things start out so well until Sage sees her rival, Left Coast Grinds owner Mark Jeffries, walking toward her. He has been trying to take down Ground Rules since they opened. He was not invited to be part of the event, but to get around the rules, he is sharing a tent with another vendor. This leads to a huge argument with Harley and Mark escorted out of the area by security.
After the event ends for the night, Sage, baristas Kendall and Sophie head for the Ground Rules Subaru. There, they find a very dead Mark Jefferies creating a huge brouhaha. Sage knows Harley will be the prime suspect after the public altercation, but the man had his share of enemies, some Sage has seen at the festival. With a little help, she hopes to ground the investigation to a halt by finding the killer, but it just may be, the killer will find her first.
Oh, this was a great story with a victim who really needed to go.
Sage is a strong protagonist. She is passionate about coffee and her coffee business, but she really comes alive around her family and friends, especially Bax and Niko. The wedding is coming up fast, and they make such a cute family. Niki is an inquisitive little man, and so cute with his satchel containing âall his gearâ and sometimes his cape to help Sage investigate or work on his comic book. He has been writing and illustrating for many months. Harley spent a lot of time hiding from the police, but she can roast and blend those grounds brilliantly and works mostly behind the scenes to make the business a success. Sage's dad and lawyer brother came to have fun at the festival, but also to be around for whatever Sage and Harley need. Kendell and Sophia are terrific baristas who can hold down the fort when Sage goes sleuthing. I enjoy the core group of characters Ms. Duncan has created for this series. She has surrounded Sage with strong people who have grown throughout the series.
She has also plotted out a solid mystery, with several suspects and Sage going the extra mile to keep Harley from ending up behind bars. A tragic event made the case even more important. There were some great twists, and while they weren't alone, I did have the guilty party near the top of my list of suspects. Sage had a little help getting all the clues together, but she had a real A-Ha moment when the final clue fell into place. She did notify Detective Ortega, but Sage unexpectedly got up close and personal with the killer. She had to think on her feet if she was going to survive and be sure to have proof in case she didn't.
Fans will love the final chapter . . . no spoilers here.
Fatal Brouhaha is a delightful whodunit with caring characters, and a top-notch main plot twisted together with interesting subplots that held my attention from beginning to end. The festival sounded like so much fun with the games, music, food, and drink. It has me in the mood to check out some upcoming fairs and festivals here without the dead body, of course.
I highly recommend the entire series, and believe starting from the beginning is best, so you can get to know the characters from the start.


Author:
Genres: Arts & Photography, Biographies & Memoirs, Humor & Entertainment
Book Type: Paperback


Unfortunately, when he realizes Cherish is the perfect person he had in mind, he realizes he likes her very much for himself. The rest of the story is about how this triangle plays out. I have two points I did not like about this story. First, the constant reminder that Galwain was one of the Silver Dukes, who would not marry. Second, the author constantly mentioned that Galwain was "ape-like" or "apish," which doesn't fit with a duke, or any aristocrat. I was offended by the name being called, much less that she sprinkled it throughout the book. It seemed as if the author had to make the book long enough by constantly padding the story with these two refrains.
Silver Dukes
**1. Cherish and the Duke (2024)
2. Moonlight and the Duke (2024)
3. Two Nights with the Duke (2025)
4. Snowfall and the Duke (2025)


Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
i loved the main character of esme/jane, so flawed and raw and real. and so damn smart. and her friend lionel is a lovely supporting character in the book. i also found the ending a nice surprise.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Emotionally evocative and character-driven dive into what makes and takes a family.
Higher Love, a sequel to author Joanne Kukanza Easley's I'll Be Seeing You, continues the story of Lauren Eaton, where the results of her past actions suddenly thrust themselves into her present. However, the skillful and steady insertion of background information brought me up to date and prevented me from feeling like I'd missed out. Readers who have not read the previous book will easily be able to read and enjoy this one as a standalone.
At 62 years of age, Lauren Eaton, with her porcelain skin and vibrant head of mahogany curls, could readily pass for a much younger woman. She absolutely doesn't look or feel her age, that is until her biological granddaughter shows up on her doorstep looking for her âreal' granny. Faced with the evidence of an almost forgotten past, it was like looking into a mirror, and there was no denying the relationship whatsoever.Recently orphaned Stephanie Babcock Kingston had run away from her haughty and insular Boston grandmother's home when threatened with boarding school. It was only after her mother's death that she discovered that Evelyn Cabot Babcock wasn't her biological grandmother and had kept the truth from her and her mother their entire lives. Fleeing to Austin and Lauren, she hoped to build a new, fresh life in Texas.
Told from the dual, alternating points of view of Lauren and Stephanie, the plot is deeply emotional and expressed in such a compelling manner that time seemed to melt away for me. Both Lauren and her granddaughter have a lot of catching up to do, clarifications to make, and trust to build. Both are struggling with their own demons. Lauren is 25 years sober, and readers gain an authentic glimpse into her struggle to maintain sobriety, serving as a poignant reminder that the fight is a lifelong one. Her new-found granddaughter has a recent history of self-harm to overcome. Stephanie is finally able to grieve her father's earlier passing and her mother's sudden death from a tragic accident while vacationing in Belize. Together with Lauren's new husband and truly great guy, Brett, they slowly come to terms with the past, overcome new challenges, and focus on creating a new future as a family.With its strong and, I suspect, lasting emotional impact, this story is for readers seeking character-driven tales of tragedy, pain, self-determination, and the healing power of love.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.



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