[3.5 stars] Whiskey Rebellion (Addison Holmes Mysteries #1) by Liliana Hart

3.5 stars, 1.5 heat

Whiskey Rebellion has been sitting on my tbr pile for, well, ages. I finally dove in! Yay me! And while a little over the top in places it was so much fun!

The Gist: Addison has her eye on a new place-- her apartment is being condemned. And the girl LOVES her creature comforts. Which means...she needs money. Pronto. If she's gotta play stripper to pay the bills...well, she's gotta do what she's gotta do. *nods* Finding a dead body her first night might put a stop to that real quick, though.

4 stars-- Fatal Frost (Dewberry Farm #2) by Karen MacInerney

Note: I accidentally deleted 6 months of the blog so this is a repost. All comments on the original posts were unfortunately lost. Sorry! 

Nice mysteries, interesting set up, great narration. Fatal Frost was a fantastic time.

The Gist: Someone is intent on being a Grinch. The ladies in town are receiving nasty letters accusing them of all kinds of things and two of those ladies, well, they wind up dead. Even worse? One of Lucy's good friends is being accused of the murders.

4 stars-- A Bone to Pick (Widow's Island #2) by Melinda Leigh

Note: I accidentally deleted 6 months of the blog so this is a repost. All comments on the original posts were unfortunately lost. Sorry!

Ooh yes. A Bone to Pick was a nice mystery that kept me guessing and left me even more curious about Widow's Island.

The Gist: An artist has been killed and naked paintings uncovered in his studio? Well they make for lots of potential suspects. They sure do.

4 stars-- Close to the Bone (Widow's Island #1) by Kendra Elliot

Note: I accidentally deleted 6 months of the blog so this is a repost. All comments on the original posts were unfortunately lost. Sorry!

Close to the Bone was my first time with Elliot. And, oh, yall, I enjoyed it! I picked it up because I have been loving Melinda Leigh. They co-write this series and Leigh writes book 2. So a new author to try. And she was fun!

The Gist: Cate's been sent home to the island she grew up on to recuperate after being shot on the job. But during her down time...bones are found and with no one able to travel to the island she's called up to work the case. One that might be quite personal depending on who's bones they turn out to be.

4 stars-- Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) by Denise Grover Swank

Note: I accidentally deleted 6 months of the blog so this is a repost. All comments on the original posts were unfortunately lost. Sorry!

I picked up Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes on a whim and, yall, oooo I had a real good time!

The Gist: Rose has had a vision of her death. And...she has no idea why this guy is trying to kill her. She's a good girl who's been sheltered. No way she's done anything to get herself on his radar. But her life quickly falls apart and she decides if she's gonna die...well she's gonna do EVERYTHING she's ever wanted to before it happens. If the hot guy next door wants to help with that? So be it.

4 stars-- Sleep Like a Baby (Aurora Teagarden #10) by Charlaine Harris

Yall. This is one of my favorite series from back in the day. And getting more of them 10+ years later.. yeeee! Gimme! Things are never calm for Aurora and Robin. A new baby, a missing babysitter, a stalker from the past? Oh, my! Not to mention family drama and some local crazies? Whew boy! Lot to handle when you're a new mama like our Roe. And it was such a good time!

I could not put Sleep Like a Baby down!

4 stars-- Every Crooked Nanny, To Live and Die in Dixie & Homemade Sin by Kathy Hogan Trocheck

  

I picked up my first from Kathy Hogan Trocheck aka Mary Kay Andrews when browsing audio books at my library. They had cute covers and I was up for some mystery so... I jumped in. And had a blast!

Audio Files-- The Heist & The Chase by Janet Evanovich/Lee Goldberg

Oh this series was fun! Fox and O'hare follows and FBI agent heroine and...the con man she's been hunting for years. Who are now having to work together as a team to tackle off the books missions the FBI can't officially get involved with. Fun banter, captivating characters, a little danger and adventure. A fantastic time all the way around. 

3.5 star-- The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

 Amanda Quick! I've loved her books basically since I started reading. She's always got such interesting characters and nice mysteries. This one was a bit of a departure from her norm... it's set in 1930s Hollywood. Oo!

It was pretty fun. These two quotes just gave me a little smile. He may have found some of her ways a spot exasperating...

Audio Files-- Smitten Book Club (Smitten #3) Anthology

Smitten Book Club was my first time with the narrator, series, and all four of the authors-- Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter and Diann Hunt. And I had a good time with them. Sweet, heartwarming, and a charming look into a small town. 

3 stars-- Beauty and the Wiener (A Rescue Dog Romance #2) by Casey Griffin

Beauty and the Wiener was pretty cute. A dog groomer who's found herself accused of dognapping show dogs weeks before a big competition. And the bartender who many think might be her accomplice. A little mystery as they try to find the pups, a little romance as they get closer. A whole lot of cute pups. Pretty cute, indeed.

3.5 stars-- When All The Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

Ahh Jayne Ann Krentz. A favorite of mine. I just can't resist her books and with such a gorgeous cover...I was in. When All The Girls Have Gone was a very nice murder mystery and what I hope will be the kick off to a new series.

Audio Files-- Wicked Appetite, Wicked Business, & Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich

A little silly, a spot outrageous, and a whole lotta fun. Full of dynamic characters, crazy adventures and a touch of woo-woo these were mysteries that had me craving more. I couldn't not listen to these fast enough and seriously lamented the fact the series isn't finished. lol I decided to do a 'series' review since I binge listened to the series.

Audio Files-- W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton

W is for Wasted (Kinsey Millhone #23) by Sue Grafton

The Story:

If you haven't read this series it's pretty fun. It's set in the 80s but being written currently. So no cell phones, internet, etc. It's kinda trippy sometimes but a good time. Kinsey is an investigator and always getting pulled into strange cases. This time a dead homeless man that somehow has ties to her and may have been linked to a shady medical program. I always enjoy Kinsey. She's blunt and has a bit of a give-no-fucks attitude but she cares for those people who are in her circle and for finding the truth. The mystery was decent and while not too difficult to figure things out it was still fun watching it all piece together. On the romance front a few past love interests make appearances but nothing romanticky happens. Just passing story points and characters. Maybe one day she'll find her guy. The story did drag a little bit but I'm not sure if that was the story or having done it on audiobook since this is my first time reading one this way.

4 stars-- All the Little Liars (Aurora Teagarden #9) by Charlaine Harris

Woohoo! One of the first series I picked up when I started reading was the Aurora Teagarden mysteries and it quickly became a favorite so I was freaking thrilled to see All the Little Liars. And it was a good time. I loved being back with Aurora!

The quick of it is that things are going pretty good with Aurora and her family. Her stepbrother is settling in, she's pregnant, she and Robin are married. Things are good. Until they aren't. Starting with her brother disappearing without a clue along with three other kids in town.

3.5 stars--Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Mystery, romance, intrigue. Krentz rocks them all. Secret Sisters was everything I love about her books. Easy romances, strong characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. I fell in love with her books years ago--totally binged on them--and it was so fun getting back to the swing of it and falling in with her characters again.

The quick of it is that 18 years ago Madeline and her best friend went through hell. And the adults in their lives covered up a murder and then everyone dispersed. But now, 18 years later, someone has brought the dark secrets they all kept back to life and is coming after everyone who knew the secrets.

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris

There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.

Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular—and very wealthy—clients dies during a reading.

Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight…

Type: Mystery/Paranormal
Heat: N/A
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Oooos I'm loving me some Midnight, Texas and the crazy people who call it home. A little mystery, a huge wallop of paranormal-ness, curious new arrivals to the town and a squeal-able guest appearance from another series made for an entertaining time as Day Shift slowly uncovers the secrets of it's residents.

The quick of it...or, maybe not so quick of it since there was a LOT happening in Day Shift is that Manfred's client died during a reading and he's been accused by her son of stealing from her which has brought all kinds of attention to Midnight. Attention NONE of the residents are all that thrilled about since they all have secrets and people they're hiding from. On top of that a young boy has been left in the town's care who has some strange things happening to him and a corporation has restored the local hotel and moved in elderly residents--which brings about all kinds of questions and suspicions. There's just a lot happening in this little town that's got everyone feeling very nervous.

Midnight Crossroad (Midnight, Texas #1) by Charlaine Harris

Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.

There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).

Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...

Type: Mystery/Fantasy
Heat: N/A
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Amazon | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

Harris was one of the first authors that got me into reading a few years back and I devoured pretty much everything she wrote but it's been a while since I read hers. I was a little nervous going into Midnight Crossroad but knowing Manfred was in it...I had to jump in. And I liked it quite a bit. It was an interesting mystery about a very odd town, it's people and all of the things they're hiding.

Atonement (Beartooth, Montana #4) by B.J. Daniels

"Just what I expect from Daniels... intriguing characters, exciting mystery and just a wonderful story that pulled me in, kept me excited and left me completely satisfied." ~herding cats & burning soup

Protecting the citizens of Beartooth, Montana, is never an easy job. One year later, Sheriff Dillon Lawson still feels guilty that he couldn't save his twin brother, Ethan. But the biggest test of his bravery comes when Tessa Winters arrives, claiming to be pregnant…with Ethan's baby. At first, Dillon can't decide if this beautiful woman is a con artist or a victim. If Ethan didn't die in that car crash, then where is he—and why is he hiding?

Now, Dillon is prepared to do anything to uncover the truth…anything except admit his growing feelings for Tessa. But with violence threatening, Tessa and Dillon must trust in each other to save not only themselves…but also Tessa's unborn child.

Type: Mystery, very light romance
Heat: 1.5 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM | Goodreads

When I'm looking for something I know I'm just gonna love one of the ones I reach for is BJ Daniels. She's just a comfort read for me. And Atonement filled that niche perfectly with an excellent mystery, danger and a couple sweet romances to top it all off. And. Not gonna even lie. I petted him just a bit when the UPS guy handed him over. *nods* That is one damn gorgeous cover.

New York to Dallas (In Death #33) by JD Robb

Twelve years ago, Eve Dallas was just a rookie NY cop when her instincts led her to the apartment of Isaac McQueen, a man she discovered to be a sick murderer and pedophile, who was keeping young girls in cages.

Now a homicide Lieutenant, Eve is one of the most distinguished officers in the city—and then she learns that McQueen has escaped from jail. Bent on revenge against Eve and with a need to punish more "bad girls" McQueen heads to Dallas, Texas—the place where Eve was found as a child, the place where she killed her own abusive monster when she was only eight years old. With Eve and Roarke in pursuit of McQueen, everything is on the line and secrets from Eve's past are about to be shockingly revealed.

Type: Mystery Romance, Slightly Futuristic
Heat: 2.5 out of 5
Rating: 4.5 out of 5


Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM |Goodreads

33 books into the In Death series and JD Robb continues to impress the hell out of me and leave me excited for more. I love the world she's created, the characters and finding out a little more about them--I'll admit it's my comfort series and one I can't get enough of and New York to Dallas? It was a little different than the rest of the books in the series--starting with the title, how things played out and the location since this time nearly the entire book took place outside of New York--and it was incredible.