Category Archives: Mystery

Review: The Prophet – Mira – Amanda Stevens

April 23, 2012

Expected Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: amandastevens.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3, Graveyard Queen
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

My name is Amelia Gray. 

I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I’ve broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back. 

In order to protect myself, I’ve vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar. 

Now I’m faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

What Worked For Me:

  • Devlin. Oh Devlin. *sigh* I adore John, and I was so happy to have him back as a major character in this novel.   Haunted by his past (literally), John can’t let go of his guilt in regards to the death of his wife and his precious daughter.  Complicating matters is his estranged relationship with Amelia, a murder that Devlin might be under suspicion for, and complicated dealings with the arcane.
  • As always, Amelia is my favorite character in the series.  She has some very tough decisions to make in this book, each with the potential for serious consequences, and while we get a little more insight into her powers, there’s still plenty left unknown for future novels, without leaving the reader feel as though the story were incomplete.
  • That ending was incredible! *whew* I’m fairly certain I was holding my breath for almost the entire climax of the story, and some of the twists were absolutely fantastic.
  • While not everything is sunshine and roses for Amelia and Devlin, I was left with a much more optimistic feeling in general at the end of this story than I had been with the two previous novels.
  • One thing I really appreciated about this novel is that the romance was much stronger than it had been in previous novels. Sure, Amelia had a “love interest” of sorts in the other books, but there was never really any sense of anything really progressing on that end.  The Prophet, however, finally has Devlin opening up and Amelia making some very difficult choices in order to really advance their relationship.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • If anything, I think my one complaint would be that The Prophet wasn’t as creepy as The Kingdom was.  Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of ghosts and danger and surprising twists and arcane weirdness. There just wasn’t quite as much of a “spookiness” in New Orleans as there was in Asher Falls, no matter how many ghosts and terrifying witch doctors Amelia may run into.

While I do feel that the Graveyard Queen series is best read in order, I’m not sure how much of that stems from my immense enjoyment of the series and how much of it is really the feeling that new readers wouldn’t quite “get” it. While old fans of the series will relish the plotline deeply involving not only John but also both his ghosts and his history, I do think newcomers will be able to easily follow along, though of course they won’t get the benefit of having witnessed the developments in both John and Amelia’s lives.

As a very solid member of Team Devlin, this book absolutely thrilled me. Not only was there the same arcane mystery, complete with plenty of twits and red herrings, as I’ve come to love from this series, but Devlin played an enormous part in the story — possibly even moreso than in The Restorer if that’s possible.

The final chapters of this book left me breathless, and I’m anxiously awaiting future installments in the Graveyard Queen Series.

A very solid 5/5 Stars.

Graveyard Queen Reading Order:

 

Also posted in Contemporary, Horror, Paranormal Romance – 2 Comments

Review – The Kingdom – Mira – Amanda Stevens

March 26, 2012

Expected Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Harelquin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: http://www.amandastevens.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, The Graveyard Queen
Series Best Read In Order: Probably, but might work well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town… 

My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I’ve been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I’m coming to think I have another purpose here. 

Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I’ve discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

What Worked For Me:

  •  One thing that Amanda Stevens never fails to do is scare the pants off of me.  The “creepy factor” of her books has me hiding under the blankets while simultaneously marking my calendar for when I can expect a new book in the series.
  • I also adore the setting in this story. Still set in the lush South, The Kingdom moves away from the city of New Orleans and instead takes us to Asher Falls, North Carolina — a tiny town set in the mountains of the Carolinas, complete with plenty of folklore, unfriendly townspeople, and plenty of history.
  • The Twist! Well, all of the twists actually.  So much is explained in this book while still leaving so much a mystery, and the many twists and turns the story takes makes it impossible to put this book down.
  • One of my favorite things about this book was the suspense and how it played into the paranormal.  One of Ms. Stevens’ many talents is scaring the fire out of her readers without relying on cheap tricks, and I don’t recommend reading this book while home alone at night.
  • I’m not usually a big fan of first person point of view, but I’ve noticed with this series that after the first few paragraphs, I don’t realize that it’s written in first person any more.  I love how in this series, the first person POV serves to draw the reader in and allows us to experience everything just as Amelia does, which adds immeasurably to the sense of mystery and horror of the story.
  • While not a traditional romance in the least, and not even having what I would consider to be “traditional” style love-scenes, there is still enough chemistry and tension between characters to keep things quite interesting for romance fans.
  • There were quite a few developments in Amelia’s own personal life as well, which any fan of the series will more than appreciate.
  • I was also quite pleased with the ending as well. No spoilers, but things worked out very satisfactorily, while still leaving plenty of openings for a sequel.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I’m solidly Team Devlin, so I wasn’t thrilled that there was another love interest brought into this novel, despite things having been left so up in the air with Devlin when we last saw him.

I should probably start this review off with how much I adore this series.  The Restorer is the first book I ever rated as 5-Stars on this blog, and The Kingdom is more than I could have hoped for in a sequel.

One thing that is difficult for me, however, is to accurately categorize any of the books in this series.    There’s romance, certainly, but no traditional “happily ever after”, nor are there any traditional “love scenes”, though some sensuality and eroticism does play a part in each book. There’s mystery, but there are such strong horror and paranormal elements that I don’t think that’s really the correct designation either.  There is a strong female protagonist who uses her paranormal powers to fight evil, but this series is quite different from any “urban fantasy” story I’ve ever read.

While I would suggest that any newcomer to the series first pick up The Restorer, simply because it not only introduces Amelia and her ability, but sets the stage for much of the action in The Kingdom, I do think that this book could stand well on its own.  There is enough history given that I think new readers will be able to get a general feel of the background needed for this book, and the plot of The Kingdom is more than enough to keep any new reader engaged.

The utterly creepy atmosphere of Asher Falls, the terrifying interactions with the ghosts and the townspeople, and the beautifully crafted mystery all came together to remind me exactly what I love about this series. No matter how deep my love for Devlin, and despite the fact that he didn’t make an appearance in this one,  I do believe I might have even enjoyed The Kingdom even more than The Restorer, and I don’t say that lightly.

Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful horror, spooky ghost stories, and family intrigue.

A resoundingly spooky 5/5 Stars.

Also posted in Paranormal Romance – 0 Comments

Review – Double-Crossing – Astraea Press – Meg Mims

March 4, 2012

Expected Release Date: August 9, 2011
Publisher: Astrea Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.megmims.com/
My Source for This Book: Won In A Contest
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, Double Series
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

A murder arranged as a suicide … a missing deed … and a bereft daughter whose sheltered world is shattered. 

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey. 

As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust—the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. 

Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?

What Worked For Me:

  • I really enjoyed Lily.  Stubborn, opinionated, and honestly, a bit naive, she was also quite intelligent despite her impulsiveness.
  • I liked Charles quite a bit. I felt bad for him with Lily’s hesitance to marry him, and yet his own character grew quite a bit over the course of the story as well, with his decision to travel to China becoming less and less certain as time passes.
  • Ace was delicious. Handsome, rugged, and tough as nails, he’s also unapologetic about his life as a gambling drifter. What I enjoyed the most, however, is that we’re never quite sure if he’s a hero or a villain.
  • The mystery in this story was fantastic. While I admit I had suspected what turned out to be the truth, there were enough twists and red herrings to make sure I was never absolutely certain of the culprit.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I hate to say it, but I’m simply not a fan of “inspirational” romances.  Mind you, this is a minor point for this story, because Lily’s faith was something subtle and integrated rather than “preachy” like so many inspirational stories tend to be, but even so, it’s really not my thing.
  • I was a little saddened by the lack of Happily Ever After as far as the romance goes. While I understand that there will be a sequel, I still tend to prefer that my heroines find lasting love in a single novel.

I’m not usually a big fan of “mystery” novels, but I admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. While this story was far more focused on the mystery than the romance, and was very light on the sensuality, I have to admit that this added some delicious chemistry to the few kisses Lily did get.  I cannot wait to read the sequel when it is published, even though I suspect any action (if it occurs at all) will be behind closed doors.

Overall, a very enjoyable post-Civil War era mystery/suspense; highly recommended for fans of historical mysteries with a (PG-rated) romantic twist.

4/5 Stars.

Also posted in Christian, Historical – 1 Comment

Review: Dreamscape – Siren Classic – Rose Anderson

October 22, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: August 16, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Imprint: Siren Classic
Author’s Website: http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the Author
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Unable to deny his own translucence, Dr. Jason Bowen determines his lack of physical substance could only mean one thing-he’s a ghost. Murdered more than a century before, Jason haunts his house and ponders the treachery that took his life. When Lanie O’Keefe arrives with plans to renovate her newly purchased Victorian mansion, Jason discovers, ghost or not, he’s still very much a man. Despite its derelict condition and haunted reputation, Lanie couldn’t be happier with her new home, but then she has no idea a spirit follows her every move throughout the day and shares her captivating warmth at night. Jason soon discovers he can travel through Lanie’s dreams and finds himself reliving the days before his murder with Lanie by his side. It took one hundred and twenty years for love to find them, but there’s that insurmountable little matter of Jason being dead.

What Worked For Me:

  • I really liked Lanie’s connection to the house, which is explained in greater detail as the story progressed.  The mere fact that she’d always felt a connection with the house and had dreamed of owning it since she was a little girl helped add a feeling of destiny to the story, especially when it became apparent that she would be both accepting of and fascinated by Jason’s presence in the house she’d purchased.
  • I really enjoyed the “historical” perspective, when Lanie and Jason were both experiencing the last few weeks of his life together in her dream, as well as the angst caused by their relationship developing in both the real world and Lanie’s dreams.  The whole idea of being able to possibly change history by dreaming about it was fascinating, and I found myself entranced with Jason’s human life.
  • The love scenes were deliciously erotic, with plenty of chemistry between Jason and Lanie.  There was one scene in Lanie’s dreamscape, in Jason’s office, that was particularly tasty.
  • I also greatly enjoyed the villains of this story.  Cathy and Richards were made perfect antagonists, both incredibly self-centered and greedy, and Bertha with her plain features and growing jealousy added a wonderful level of darkness to the story.
  • The twist in the end was awesome.  I do think that some readers will be taken aback by it, but I for one thought it helped to make a perfect ending, and helped to explain (and in some cases, excuse) any particular quirks that occurred earlier in the novel.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I admit there was a definite squick factor in the beginning when Jason first realized he could touch Lanie. You see, I’m so not big on things like the heroine being seen nude without her knowledge or consent. It’s a huge turnoff for me. And to have Jason touching her in her sleep? Yeah. Creepy.  That said, it didn’t really bother Lanie, and in the end that’s a very important distinction in my mind — the majority of my distaste at that sort of thing stems from the embarrassment the heroine feels (or would feel if she knew) at those instances. So, while this sort of thing would normally cost a story a full star in my final rating, I found that even though it made it hard for me to submerge myself in the story at first, I wasn’t really bothered by it in the end.
  • I wish that some of the transitions between the “real life” scenes and Lanies “dreams” had been a little smoother. There were several occasions where it took me a moment to be certain that the narrative was back in the dreamscape, which could be a little disorienting.  To be fair, this could be a formatting issue where horizontal rules did not translate into the Kindle version I received, so it may not be an issue for every reader.

This one got off to a bit of a slow start for me.  I was initially quite bothered by Jason’s spying on Lanie while she was in the bath or dressing, and I really didn’t like the idea of him touching her in her sleep, and so it was hard for me to really get into the story at first.   However, things started to pick up quite a bit once Jason was pulled into one of Lanie’s dreams, and as they grew closer, the earlier misstep of his voyeurism became much less important to my overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, this both a very tasty and fascinating read.  The duel perspectives that stemmed from the fact that this story was both historical and contemporary, without being a true “time travel” romance, really made me feel as though this story got the best of both genres, and the murder mystery only drew me in further.

The romance between Lanie and Jason was sweet, and the sensuality was absolutely delicious, adding a delightful level of eroticism without overshadowing the love story.  I admit that I did tend to appreciate Lanie’s dreams more than her waking hours, simply because it was fascinating to see Jason not only “reliving” the weeks before his death, but actually changing things and helping to solve the mystery that surrounded the entire murder plot.

A very delicious and intriguing 4/5 Stars

Also posted in Paranormal Romance – 2 Comments

Review: Claim of Innocence – Mira – Laura Caldwell

August 22, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: August 23, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: www.lauracaldwell.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes
Series Best Read In Order: YES
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

It was a crime of passion—or so the police say. Valerie Solara has been charged with poisoning her best friend. The prosecution claims she’s always been secretly attracted to Amanda’s husband…and with Amanda gone, she planned to make her move.

Attorney Izzy McNeil left the legal world a year ago, but a friend’s request pulls her into the murder trial. Izzy knows how passion can turn your life upside down. She thought she had it once with her ex-fiancé, Sam. Now she wonders if that’s all she has in common with her criminally gorgeous younger boyfriend, Theo.

It’s Izzy’s job to present the facts that will exonerate her client—whether or not she’s innocent. But when she suspects Valerie is hiding something, she begins investigating—and uncovers a web of secret passions and dark motives, where seemingly innocent relationships can prove poisonous… 

What Worked For Me:

  • The mystery was wonderful. So here I am, reading a long, and maybe just about halfway through, I figure out the twist. And sure enough, as the story progresses, there’s more and more evidence that I’m right. Then there at the end, *BAM*, I was right, but that was just the tip of things, and the truth is much more convoluted. Loved it!
  • I was surprised as to how much I liked Izzy. Sure, she seemed a bit flighty at times, but I loved how she was able to shine int he courtroom even when being blindsided by they prosecution.
  • I had forgotten how much fun a legal drama could be to read, and I was very happy to see the court proceedings receive so much detailed face time.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I didn’t initially realize that this book was part of a series, and I think the story suffered for me because of this. There was way too much previous history that had obviously been covered in previous novels, and while Ms. Caldwell did a really nice job of summarizing things for new readers, I still think that you would do yourself a disservice to read this book without having read any of the previous ones.
  • On a similar note, I wasn’t really digging the love triangle, especially having not read the first books. Though, to be honest, I’ve thumbed through the blurbs on the author’s website (which really, really needs to be reorganized btw), and it seems that Izzy can’t seem to settle on a guy throughout the entire series, so… Not really my thing.
  • While it certainly made the work memorable, the jumps in point of view were quite disorienting at first. While most of the story is told first-person by Izzy, at times the POV jumps to a murderer, someone you think is a murderer, and whichever random character Ms. Caldwell wants to give you narrative for.   I “got used to it” by the end, but I never really warmed up to the style.

Overall, this wasn’t actually the type of story I typically seek out. While the mystery was incredible — tons of nuances and hints to pick up on, as well as some very lovely unexpected twists — I wasn’t happy with the romance aspect.  There’s a love triangle, Izzy’s mom and stepfather are having problems, and the romance just plain wasn’t my cup of tea.  Plus, the shifting POV was incredibly disorienting in the beginning, which took a lot away from the reading experience.

That said, I did enjoy reading it.  As I said, the mystery itself made the book worth reading, and it is for that reason that I’m giving it a very solid 3.5/5 Stars, despite the disappointing romantic aspect.

Also posted in Contemporary, Not A Traditional Romance – 0 Comments

Review: Snowball in Hell – Carina Press – Josh Lanyon

April 7, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page
Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.joshlanyon.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Los Angeles, 1943

Reporter Nathan Doyle had his reasons to want Phil Arlen dead, but when he sees the man’s body pulled from the La Brea tar pit, he knows he’ll be the prime suspect. He also knows that his life won’t stand up to intense police scrutiny, so he sets out to crack the case himself.

Lieutenant Matthew Spain’s official inquiries soon lead him to believe that Nathan knows more than he’s saying. But that’s not the only reason Matt takes notice of the handsome journalist. Matt’s been drawn to men before, but he must hide his true feelings-or risk his entire career.

As Nathan digs deeper, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay one step ahead of Matt Spain-and to deny his intense attraction to him. Nathan’s secrets may not include murder, but has his hunt put him right in the path of the real killer?

Previously published, newly revised by author.

To start off this review, an important point should be made. This is not a traditional romance, in the sense of Happily Ever Afters. It is much more of a mystery novel, with Nathan and Matt’s romance playing a beautiful subtext to the whodunit behind Phil Arlen’s murder.

Josh Lanyon is probably my favorite m/m writer of all time. His mysteries are thoughtful, entertaining, and incredibly well-written, and his ability to write romances that are both realistic and incredibly sweet always have me clamoring to snag his newest releases.  Snowball in Hell was no exception, even though it isn’t your standard “romance novel” fare.

Set during WWII, this is the first m/m romance I’ve read that was set in a time where not only was homosexuality dangerous from the standpoint of having to worry about hate crimes and prejudices, but it was also dangerous in the sense that it was illegal.  If Nathan and Matt’s predilections had been discovered, they would’ve faced jail time, or worse, being committed to an insane asylum for “treatment” which included ice baths and electroshock.  While part of me knew of course that this sort of thing had happened in the past, it’s a new experience entirely to be subjected to these very real fears right along with the heroes of  a story.

What worked for me:

  • The mystery of Phil Arlen’s kidnapping and murder was very intriguing.  Several twists and turns kept me guessing until the end, though I did have a correct theory once or twice even if I wasn’t certain about the culprit’s identity until the Big Reveal.
  • I really liked that Matt had been married previously, and that his marriage was a good one. Too many times in romances, the previous spouse is made into a villain, or at the very least, the relationship is painted as an unhappy one. Matt, however, was very much in love with Rachel, and was devastated by her death.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something missing in the consummation of the two lovers in this story. It could be the fact they both referenced it using the F-Word, rather than “lovemaking”, though I’m still not certain.
  • I didn’t particularly care for the fact that Nathan had sex with other men, especially after he and Matt had shared Christmas together.  I understood how it fit in with his personality and the situation that he found himself in, but even so, I didn’t enjoy reading about it.

While there was no traditional HEA persay (and how could there be, in a time when the two lovers could be incarcerated or tortured for their love?), there was still a feeling of hope for them at the end.  Sure, as a card-carrying member of the HEA Club, I would’ve loved to have seen all of their problems solved and for them to live together and raise a dog or something, yet I was still as satisfied with the ending as I possibly could’ve been for a m/m story set in this time period.

Overall, a very intriguing mystery, with just enough romance and lovemaking to satisfy the romance junkie in me.

4/5 Stars

 

Also posted in GLBT, Historical, Not A Traditional Romance – 0 Comments