G.B. Ralph

Another excellent installment with my newest busy body amateur sleuth Addison Harper. These books are delightful reads and I’m very much looking forward to the fourth book.
There is, thankfully, more of Sergeant Jake Murphy in this book and how Addison and his relationship progresses. Addison cooks Jake dinner, which is, honestly, a testament to G.B. Ralph’s writing skills. I’ve never read a cooking scene infused with so much drama, tension and anxiety. I was on the edge hoping along show more with Addison that he did well and triumph in the end. It felt like a showstopper action scene.
Anyway, many of our favorite characters are back like Mable and Lynne and a host of new delightful folks are introduced. show less

Arthur and his friends are at the driving range. Richard is so crude that Arthur is embarrassed that he drives the ball so hard he loses his balance, falling down, and knocking himself out. When he comes to, Gabriel, a worker at the driving range, is leaning over him waiting for the paramedics. The paramedics say that Arthur has pulled muscles and needs someone to check on him. Gabriel volunteers to check on him. He comes the next day and brings groceries to make breakfast. He flirts with show more Arthur but Arthur is unsure if he's flirting or not. Is Gabriel flirting? Is Arthur attracted?

I like Arthur and Gabriel. Arthur has just come out and is unsure how to act. Gabriel has been out and is different from Arthur's other friends. Richard is over the top. Jared is not so bad. I liked that Arthur finally decided to tell his friends he was gay. His rehearsal was a riot! His neighbor, Patty, is a pain. She is nosey as well as overbearing about introducing her nice to Arthur. Arthur finds peace with Gabriel.

I look forward to seeing where their relationship goes so I want to read the next booksl. show less

Fun mystery mostly set in a small town in New Zealand. It is first in a new cozy series and is charming in the way that the locals all (well, most of them) seem to accept him although the reason he is there is to claim an inheritance from a great-uncle he had never had any contact with and planned to return to his busy life in the Big Smoke. The uncle's lawyer is a cantankerous old thing who winds up murdered in his office. Guess who found the body. Things move alon fairly slowly as more show more supporting characters appear and are developed. Including the attractive police sergeant who repeatedly tries to discourage this unwilling amateur detective from getting further involved. Excellent read with hints at romance and lots of incidental humor.
Philip Battley is excellent in his narration and delineates the characters very well. Despite his not having and Aussie/Kiwi accent he is the perfect narrator for this new series. show less

Introductions to the Rise and Shine series. Arthur is not out to his friends. Each Sunday they meet and go to the gym. After the gym, they go to brunch where they rag on each other. He knows it is just a matter of time before they turn their attention on his love life.

I liked Arthur. His fear is holding him back from telling his friends he is gay. He fears their reaction. It is keeping him back from finding the man of his dreams at the gym or elsewhere. I liked this story and look forward to show more reading the rest of the series. show less