WHAT ARE WE READING & REVIEWING IN AUGUST 2025? THIS WILL REMAIN UP UNTIL SEPT.5th

WHAT ARE YOUR READING PLANS FOR AUGUST?

CAROL'S PILE OF BOOKS FOR AUGUST.
🌹 -★
48/48
M/M ROMANCE BOOKS
🌹Bound to Two Bears - Kelex -4.5★
🌹Away Game -Ella Kade -4.5★
🌹Half a Cowboy - Andrew Grey-5★
🌹Manner of Death - L. A. Witt - 4.5★
🌹In the Eye of the Beholder- Dianna Roman -4.5★
🌹Hello Goodbye, Amore - Andrew Grey -5★
🌹Cursed - Morgan Brice -5★
🌹Old Ink - Ali Lyda -5★
🌹Hard Ink - Ali Lyda -5★
🌹Angel Ink - Ali Lyda -5★
🌹Bad Ink - Ali Lyda -5★
🌹Forbidden Ink - Ali Lyda -5★
🌹Vengeful Lover - Jocelynn Drake - 5★
🌹Final Lover - Jocelynne Drake -5★
🌹Forbidden Lover - Jocelynne Drake - 5★
🌹XOXO, Byron - A.W. Scott - 5★
🌹Losing HIs Daddy- A.W. Scott - 5★
🌹Unwrapping Hank - Eli Eston 4.5★
🌹As You Wish - Isobel Starling -5★
🌹One Week with His Stepbrother - Kelex - 4.5★
🌹One Night with the Boss - Kelex -5★
🌹Born to Stand Out- Kelex -4.5★
🌹His Stepdad Wears Leather - Kelex -5★
🌹Praising Haru - Colette Davidson -5★
🌹Can I Trust You? - Romeo Alexander - 5★ (25)
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BOOKS - OTHER GENERA
🌹The Shinning Skull - Kate Ellis - 5★ (August group read)
🌹Paws and Effect - Sofie Kelly - 4.5★ (August friend #2)
🌹The Ghost Writer - Julia Clark - 5★
🌹Nowhere - Allison Gunn - 5★
🌹Run for the Hills - Kevin Wilson - 4.5★
🌹The Method - Duncan Ralston - 3.5★
🌹Behind the Door - Mary San Giovanni - 4.5★
🌹Haunted: Devil's Door - Lee Mumford -5★
🌹No Good Tea Goes Unpunished - Bree Baker -- 4.5★
🌹The Haunting of Room 904 - Erika T. Wurth - 4.5★
🌹The Little Grave - Carolyn Arnold -4.5★
🌹Stephen - Amy Cross -5★
🌹Hunted - Darcey Cotes -4.5★
🌹The House on Abrigail Lane - Kealan Patrick Burke -5★
🌹Little Girl Missing - J.G. Roberts -5★
🌹The Killing Place - Kate Bold -5★
🌹The Jersey Devil - Hunter Shea -5★
🌹Tell Me What You Did - Carter Wilson -5★
🌹The Lost Ones - Anita Frank -5★
🌹Through the Midnight Door - Katrina Monroe -5★
🌹Toll - Cherie Priest 4.5★
🌹Because of the Rabbit - Cynthia Lord 5★
🌹The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins -4.5★ (23)
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In the Eye of the Beholder - Dianna Roman - (Illinois)
Broken Hearts Series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
Daniel Ellis trusts no one and he trusts love even less. His longstanding commitment to self-reliance backfires when a series of events finds an unlikely savior offering him assistance at every turn. How can the aggravating widower who's sat at the end of his bar the past few years be his "knight in shining armor"?
Daniel is a bartender with plans to one day own his own club. He's saving every penny that he can and has built up quiet a "nest egg", but nowhere near enough to realize his dream. He had originally planned on buying and taking over the bar he currently works at until the owner turned over the running of it to a relative.

Eric is a frequent customer at the bar where Daniel works. He's a widower who finds himself very attracted to Daniel. Since there is a twenty-two-year age gap, he feels this attraction is most likely impossible...but he continues to patronize the bar while sitting and staring at Daniel the entire time. Then one evening, something happens that finds Daniel in need of help...and Eric is immediately there to offer that help.

I loved Daniel's sassiness, even if it did become a bit over-whelming sometimes. The interactions between these two characters frequently causes laughter. Eric proves that he is able to deal with Daniel and is enjoying the job of doing just that. At the same time, you will wonder what could happen to Daniel if he isn't very careful with the good thing he has starting with Eric. Sometimes it appeared that Daniel was completely unaware...but when he is aware, it's not so much the age difference that bothers Daniel, but the differences in their lifestyles and bank balances.

There are several twists and turns in this story, and there is another book, Before I Saw You, before this one, that some of the characters that are in this one are also in that one. They frequent the bar from time to time...like Harper and Riley. These two together also add so much to Daniel and Eric's story. Both stories will grab and hold your attention from the very beginning. If you want a book that'll make you laugh, cry, sigh, smile, and become something you can relate to...then I highly recommend you read Until I Saw You before this one. While both books can easily be read as standalones, In the Eye of the Beholder is so much more if it's read after Until I Saw you.

The House on Abrigail Lane - Kealan Patrick Burke
Genera: Paranormal/Horror
5★
From the outside, it looks like an ordinary American home, but since its construction in 1956, people have vanished as soon as they go upstairs, the only clues the things they leave behind: a wedding ring, a phone...an eye. In its sixty-year history, a record number of strange events have been attributed to the house, from the neighbors waking up to find themselves standing in the yard outside, to the grieving man who vanished before a police officer's eyes. The animals gathering in the yard as if summoned. The people who speak in reverse. The lights and sounds. The music. The grass dying overnight...and the ten-foot clown on the second floor. And as long as there are mysteries, people will be compelled to solve them. Here, then, is the most comprehensive account of the Abigail House phenomenon, the result of sixty years of eyewitness accounts, news reports, scientific research, and parapsychological investigations, all in an attempt to decode the enduring mystery that is...THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE.

56 Abigail Lane is a place where people disappear. They can go upstairs but never come down. The account and the 60-year history of the house is so well documented that I had to check to see if I was reading a fictional story or a real-life documented account. The book has a very factual tone that, at times, will make you consider if these accounts had actually happened. That just adds to the eeriness of the house...as if it needed any more eeriness.

The accounts of what happened in Abigail house scared me...something that very few ghostly, eerie, nightmarish books are capable of. If you love horror, you need to read this book. If haunted house stories are your thing, you need to read this book. If you just feed on intriguing stories, you need to read this book. If you just like good solid writing you need to read everything Kealan Patrick Burke has written. To say this is a compelling read would be a gross understatement. Be sure to remember to keep your lights on and your doors locked.

I loved this from the book cover: Remember:"There is something very wrong about the house on Abrigail Lane. From what I can see, it's just a house, no different on the outside than all the others around it. It certainly doesn't radiate evil, but then, the devil is clever, and where better to catch the innocent sleeping but at home in their beds?"

The Killing Place - Kate Bold
Alexa Chase Series Book #6
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
When a witness in a witness protection program is killed, U.S. Marshal Alexa Chase assumes it’s related to the case. But when she hits dead ends and the mystery becomes far more complex, she realizes a serial killer may be at work. What is his pattern? Can she connect the dots in time?

Alexa Chase is a brilliant profiler in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and is very good at her job. She's haunted...haunted by all the serial killers that she's investigated and brough to justice, but she has now left this stunning career behind to join the U.S. Marshals. As a Deputy Marshal, Alexa, who is fit, and as tough as she is brilliant, can now immerse herself in a simple career of hunting down fugitives and bringing them to justice.

However, since her recent work was such a huge success, the FBI and the Marshals have decided to make their joint-task force a permanent one. Alexa, who is yet still reeling from her traumatic past and her PTSD from hunting serial killers, finds that she really has no choice; she will now HAVE to work with the FBI partner that she dislikes, and hunt down serial killers whose jurisdiction intertwines with that of the U.S. Marshals'. Alexa finds herself forced to confront the thing she dreads the most...entering the mind of a killer.

As Alexa gets deeper into the investigation, she realizes there are suspects literally everywhere, and she is running out of time. To make matters worse she no longer knows who can really be trusted. The only thing left for Alexa to do is to rely on her brilliant skills and enter the killer’s twisted mind before he can strike again.

It's a page-turning, harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured Deputy Marshal. It's packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and is driven at pace that will keep you turning pages.

Bound to Two Bears - Kelex - (Idaho)
Bear Mountain series Book #1
M/M/M Romance/Shifters
4,5★
Review #5,000
Newly dumped Carson Davies decides the vacation he’d planned to take his girlfriend on in hopes of fixing their troubled relationship is the perfect getaway he needs to clear his own head. A few days of solitude, hiking along picturesque Bear Mountain is just what he believes that he needs in order to move on. As soon as he arrives, he’s shocked by the sensual reaction he has to the two lodge owners. The twomale lodge owners. Carson has never been attracted to a man, and he fights it tooth and nail. Royce and Jared know he's their mate as soon as he walks in the door. They’re ready to claim what’s theirs, but know they need to be very careful. The man believes he's straight, but that’s the least of their problems. They’ll need to show him exactly what the are...their "inner bears" and hope it doesn’t send the man running for the hills.

This was a really short quick read that I have to say was entertaining. Carson Davies planned to take his girlfriend Deidra on a weekend getaway to Bear Mountain when she dumps him...he knew that their relationship has been over for a while. Royce and Jared are bear-shifters who own the resort. When Carson walks into the resort and both are hit with instant lust, and they both know that Carson is their mate...and they are ready to claim him. There is just one teeny problem...their fated mate, Carson, is straight: straight as an arrow....and he's never been attracted to a guy before, but every time he is around Jared and Royce, he's hit with lust so strong he can't hardly think straight. While in bear form the bears fight and Jared hurts Royce and Carson sees this and goes to help and that when he truly sees that these guys are really shifters and that HE is truly, their mate.

It was a good book. From Carson being confused about his feelings and then learning that shifters are real, to being, for the first time, attracted to men...it explained to Carson a lot of things that he had always wondered about. He always felt that there was something missing from his life and now he knows what it was. After returning home he realizes that he should have stayed with what he has started to think of as "his bears". But now he has to deal with Deidra who is trying to get back on his 'good side" when she found out that the guy she left Carson for doesn't want her after all, and now she's homeless. I thought, take her back and feed her to your new furry friends.

The book was well written. I'm not a big fan of shifter stories...especially in M/M Romances. Don't same sex couples have enough problems without worrying about fleas, more fish, and where the nearest berry patch is? In spite of that I will probably try another in this series just to see how the three guys are doing.

Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II
Becky Aikman
5/5 stars
I loved this book about the 25 women fliers in World War 2 who risked their lives for their country. If you like women's history you will definitely like this book! Non-Fiction

Paws and Effect -Sofie Kelly - (Minnesota)
Magical Cats Mystery series Book #8
4.5★
Resourceful librarian Kathleen Paulson needs the help of her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, to clear the name of someone close to her heart.
Kathleen is the head librarian at the public library in Mayville Heights, Minnesota. Her boyfriend, Marcus, is a police detective in the same little town. Some old friends of Marcus's from college have come to town to fight a proposed development next to the lake. Soon, one of Marcus's friends, Dani, is found dead and Marcus becomes a suspect.

Kathleen becomes involved to help Marcus who is good friend and someone she cares about. Marcus's father comes to help his son, but tensions soon build between the two of them and Kathleen is forced to tread a careful line to not lose a friend or cause any more controversary between the father and son. Kathleen has...or is "owned by" two cats, Owen and Hercules. If you didn't know before that this is fantasy, you do now, as we learn that she actually believes that these two cats want to "help her out". A bit more fantasy, but hey, this is a "cozy mystery"...not only do the cats seem to have a knack for leading Kathleen to clues, but they have some unbelievable "superpowers", as well. We learn that Owen can disappear at will and Hercules can walk through walls. Lock up the bottles of liquor folks. The mystery has some big ramifications since Kathleen's boyfriend had become the suspect.

I have confessed before that I, in no way, like cozy mysteries, but I adore cats or any other animal with two, four or even no legs...the eight-legged ones are "toast". Cats are such "old souls". The phrase "domestic cat" is an oxymoron. However, no matter what your feelings are for them... you have to love their antics, even if they are trying their darndest to kill you and bury your body in the litterbox. There is enough humor, excitement, and mystery in this little book to satisfy any cozy mystery lover. The 4.5 stars are all for Owen and Hercules.

Old Ink - Ali Lyda
Get Inked Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Tatoos
5★
"He’s way too young and he works for me … so why can’t I stay away"?
Channing has been in love with Reagan since he was 17 years old. After he turned 18 and before leaving for college Channing just "went for it" and tried to show Reagan how he felt...but was turned down flat. At the opening of this story, three-years have gone by, and Channing is home from college for the summer, and he wants to try and prove to the guy that stole his heart all those years ago that he did listen to him. Reagan had told him to go get some "experience"...live life and enjoy college... so that is what Channing has done...but no one he had tried to date had ever measured up to Reagan. Reagan had always been in his corner and had looked out for him when he as at his lowest. Coming face to face after those few years scared Channing, but the moment, they actually came face to face he knew that all the things he had felt 3-years ago, simply had to have been felt by both of them. He can see it in the way Reagan looks at him and he can feel it deep in his very bones. This time he is going to make sure that Reagan sees him for the man he now is and not the boy he had once been.

Reagan did very much want to see Channing, but at the same time he dreaded, seeing "the kid" that he always secretly thought of as "his", now all grown up. Channing was 21 now and was no longer the 18-year-old that Reagan had to literally force himself to stay away from. To make matters worse there is still, and will always be, that almost 25-year age difference between them. Reagan thinks that Channing needs to get out and live life; not be tied down to a man that is old enough to be his father. You know what they say about the "best laid plans of mice and men"? When face to face with Channing, Reagan was not prepared for all those same old tramped-down feelings to come rushing back and be obvious to everyone and not just to Channing. He had promised himself to keep things on the "professional" side with Channing... until.... until someone dared to put a heavy hand on what is now and had always been his. Reagan can no longer stay away.

The dynamic between these two was "off the wall HOT...and even though the subject is not my favorite... it's a good "age gap" story. They had that undeniably perfect "push and pull" between them, while still trying to navigate all these new things they were feeling. It seemed that their story wasn't ever supposed to have been easy, but it felt so right and so real. Reagan brought out exactly who Channing was meant to be, and Channing gave Reagan his "spark of life" back. There is drama, but not too much, and not for too long. It's just what the story needed, and I loved it. I'm ready to see another "Get Inked" couple find their happy place.

The Jersey Devil - Hunter Shea - (New Jersey)
Genera: Horror, Paranormal
5★
THE LEGEND LIVES...THE DEVIL AWAKES...THE BEAST MUST DIE!...Everyone knows the legend of the Jersey Devil. Some believe it is an abomination of nature, a hybrid winged beast from hell that stalks the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey searching for prey. Others believe it is a hoax, a campfire story designed to scare children. But one man knows the truth.
I grew up on ghost stories and other "scary Irish creatures" that, as kids, my Irish grandmother entertained us with. As a result, none of us were never truly scared, we just loved the idea of it all being real, and the worse the story was, the better. I was 10-years old when I and two of my cousins that were close to my age visited more family in New Jersey with my grandfather. He and our uncle took us on "The Adventure of Our Lifetimes" to the Pine Barrens, after telling us all about the "Jersey Devil" in all its glorious, (to us), dripping gory details. Oh...we were more than ready to see this creature. BRING IT ON!! Of course, we didn't see anything other than about a hundred trillion zillion boring pine trees...it was the middle of the afternoon, and no self-respecting "Jersey Devil" would make an appearance at that time of day...and my "kill-joy", level-headed grandfather was adamant that we were not under any circumstances, staying until it was dark! Bummer!

Hunter Shea gives us a bit of "Devil History" along with a blood cudgeling horror story to get us ready to meet the "Star of the Show". It seems that the Legend of the Jersey Devil dates back to a dark and stormy night in 1735 when Mother Leeds had just given birth to her 13th child. (13 kids...I wonder if she had thought about feeding her husband...no, we won't go there.) The midwives that helped her swore that she’d given birth to a demon. The "Jersey Devil" is supposed to stand on two goat-like legs complete with sharp cloven hooves. Its upper body resembles a dragon or snake with short arms ending in razor sharp claws, and a pair of massive bat-like wings to give it the gift of flight. The head is said to look like a horse or large goat with eyes that glow a fiery red in the dark. The native Lenape People called the area "Popuessing", meaning “place of the dragon”. Later the Dutch would call it "Drake Kill" or "Dragon Channel". Oh Yeah...10-year-old me would have diffidently wanted to see that!!

It seems that too many thrill seekers decide to explore the Pine Barrens at a crucial time in the Devil’s life and the Willet Family, who have a long-kept family secret regarding the Devil, want to be at ground zero, lock, stock and barrel, when this creature shows up again. I began to wonder if these folks were perhaps "one brick short of a full wall" as they began to prepare for the "meeting". They watched the news, they read the articles in the newspapers...they were taking it all very, very seriously. People began to arrive...it started with one person, soon it was several couples, added to by one group after another of stupid, foolish campers. Jersey Devil Smorgasbord" and 'Take-Out" Service had arrived! Soon, one after another they start to go missing and the body count begins to rise fast...a cryptid hunter, Norm Cranston, enters the Barrens ready for the battle of his lifetime. No one knows what is going on. It seems that after years of just a few random sightings, the Devil is now getting a bit sloppy. He’s allowing himself to be spotted a lot more, and he’s not doing a lot to hide his kills.

The Jersey Devil is a thrill ride of fun. Dismembered limbs are flying, and heads are rolling, literally. Blood and gore abound and nowhere is safe. And all this is even before the hunters even meet one of the decedents of Mother Leeds who is reluctant to help them despite, or maybe because of, the recent uprising of violent activity. I thought, finally someone with a little sense! I bet, if they had existed at that time... the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center would have been thrilled! "Visit New Jersey and be dinner".

If you are planning a trip to New Jersey and are tempted to take a stroll through the legendary Pine Barrens...read Hunter Shea's "The Jersey Devil" before you go and you may find that you are "smarter than you look" and change your mind. If not...well...it was certainly a pleasure knowing you.... you'll be sorely missed.

Cursed - Morgan Brice - (Georgia)
Witchbane Series Book #8
Cursed: M/M Romance/Supernatural
5★
The killer knows they’re coming for him. Can Seth and Evan save the next victim and shut down the dark witch, even when they’re cursed? Seth Tanner and Evan Malone head to Savannah, GA, to hunt the seventh of the coven members responsible for the death of Seth’s brother and so many other victims over the past hundred years.
Love this author and this series. it's one of the series that turned me on to M/M Romances...Witchbane and the Badlands series were the first of this genea that I bought and I've never stopped. Anyway...back to this addition to the series.

Seth Tanner and Evan Malone are off to Savannah, Georgia, to hunt down the seventh of the coven members responsible for the death of Seth’s brother (see book #1), and so many other victims over the past hundred or so years.

Seth and Evan fell in love when Seth rescued Evan from one of the witches, and they've been on the road together to stop the murders ever since. Their new relationship was, from the beginning, intense, and grew deeper with each new danger, giving them both another reason to survive and get vengeance for all the victims that they couldn't save.

Sterling Vernon is a prominent restaurant owner with a thriving group of businesses, and he’s the seventh witch-disciple with a new victim already in his sights. His reputation and wealth protect him, and his dark magic helps him evade any consequences. But like those before him, Vernon needs to perform the ritual to replenish his power...and do it soon. That is going to require a new sacrifice.

Paxton Miller is Vernon’s next intended victim. Vernon puts a killing curse on Evan to force a confrontation with Seth, it’s going to take all of Seth’s courage and cleverness, as well as help from their friends with supernatural abilities...(some of these friends with "abilities" are from other of Morgan Brice's other supernatural series and some are from past books in this series); anyway...the goal is to save Evan and Paxton and stop Vernon once and for all.

Cursed, like the others, is an adrenaline-packed supernatural thrill ride with plenty of paranormal suspense, hurt/comfort, hot nights, found family, deadly magic, immortal witches, determined hunters, haunted places, creepy ghosts, spooky chills, and sexy thrills, and featuring the evolving, and the established romantic relationship with these two special men.

The Haunting of Room 904 - Erika T. Wurth - (Colorado)
Genera: Mystery/Paranormal
4.5★
"Olivia Becente's psychic powers manifested at the time of the suicide of her sister, Naiche, has left her academic career to work as a paranormal investigator in Denver. Our heroine is a woman dispossessed: Indigenous yet lacking recognition by any registered tribe, distanced from her family after the loss of her sister, and severed from her previous professional ambitions. She also seems disconnected from her prior sense of herself; she had a plan for her future, and summoning spirits was not part of it."
This wasn't how she saw her life...this was her sister's life...her now dead sister. Still Olivia goes to wherever she's needed, whenever a call comes in.

Now she finds that she's about to become a "time traveler" when a series of cases takes her back to what happened during the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. Olivia begins to suspect the culprit is an ominous seance group, known as the "Sacred 36", and the sinister Stillwell family. The same cult might be connected to the suicides, not only of her sister, Naiche, but a string of other women who over the years, their bodies had all turned up on the same date... in the same room... of the same Brown Palace Hotel. It appears that the last member of Olivia’s family, her mother, might be the next victim. The supernatural riddle is about to explode.

The Haunting of Room 904 is a paranormal thriller that follows main character Olivia as she discovers her new supernatural skills. She is able to see and hear spirits. Olivia learns to cope with her sister’s recent death in unexpected and unconventional ways. After becoming a leading paranormal investigator, Olivia is called to explore a classic Denver hotel where strange and inexplicable deaths occur every few years. These ghastly hauntings, as well as her newly inherited ability to hear from the dead, help her discover the unknown that lies within her sister’s life and within her own.

While Native cultures greatly vary among different tribes, there is a belief in some tribes that the deceased can communicate with the living through visions and dreams. Some Indigenous practices also include certain rituals for the dead, such as smudging with sage. It is clear that this author has a great deal of respects for her own Native American ancestry and has explored and used some of these practices in this story. The opening paragraph can be described as gripping and enticing a depiction that is carried on throughout, and the use of language is imaginative. The story is entirely effortless to follow and could even be an easy read for most everyone. The Haunting of Room 904 may even reach a new generation of lovers of the supernatural and horror genera.

The chapters are simple and move fairly quickly, which might not be for every reader, but I really liked it. The hauntings are mild, which is a good thing for those who might not have the stomach for more graphic horror. Overall, the book is a great introduction to horror and is best suited for those who love both Native literature and "on the edge of your seat" thrillers.

This is a thrilling, and inspiring horror novel that is filled with educational information about the Indigenous beliefs and practices of the Native Americans. A very modern twist on the classic paranormal story, this is sure to become a "must-read". This is the first I have read by Erika Wurth, but I found that her writing is proof that she is indeed a master of her craft.

A Widow for One Year
John Irving
3/5 stars
This story surrounds Ruth Cole in three parts, as a child, then as an unmarried woman in 1990 and then we finally we see her in 1995. I liked this book, it is a bit too long but is still very interesting!
1998

Give the Boys a Great Big Hand – Ed McBain
Book on CD performed by Dick Hill
3***

First published in 1960, this is book number eleven in the 87th Precinct mystery series. During a downpour, a beat cop notices that a tote bag was left behind at a bus stop. He can’t get to the bus in time to stop it, so he opens the zipper case hoping to find identification. What he finds, though, is a severed hand.

McBain never mentions the city, though it seems to be a stand-in for New York. It’s a classic police procedural mystery that held my interest throughout. The detectives of the 87th precinct have their work cut out for them, but they pound the pavement looking for clues and suspects. McBain populates this unnamed city with a wide variety of colorful characters. There are several red herrings (both for the cops and for the reader), but the boys of the 87th precinct are nothing if not tenacious. They WILL get the guy or gal responsible.

I’ve read one of these books before, and thought I’d try another. I don’t think it’s necessary to read them in order (I certainly haven’t), and it may be difficult to find some of the older ones. The series began in 1956 with Cop Hater, and ended in 2005, when McBain died, with Fiddlers.

Dick Hill does a fine job of narrating the audio. His gruff voice is perfect for several of the precinct cops, and he even does a reasonable job of voicing the women.

Hard Ink - Ali Lyda
Get Inked Series Book #4
5★
I don’t have the best history with older men. When Mateo saw my last relationship implode, he was there to help. He saved me. Hopefully self-defense lessons will keep me from getting hit again. I can’t ask for more of my friend. Even dreaming of keeping him is wrong. But when my ex makes things difficult, Mateo steps up again. I don’t want a protector, but maybe it’s time to accept a little help. For the first time in my life, I want something real. What will it cost to keep the man I’m falling for?
The "Get Inked" series is centered around the tattoo shop, "Get Ink’d", and the men who work there. They all have "iffy" pasts, but have they've grown together into a strong and loving family. Most of them have spent time in juvenile detention, but Reagan, the very talented artist and owner the shop, is a true believer in giving everyone a second chance since he has survived his own struggles as a younger man. He takes the chance and provides them each a safe place to come to, a job, and a loving, supportive family-type environment, Reagan is credited, though he takes no public recognition, for saving the very lives of the majority of the men that work there.

This, the fourth book in the series, is the story of two more of the Get Inked crew...Mateo and Bryan. We met Bryan in the last book while he was yet in juvie...Bryan is 19 and is now out and determined to turn his life around with Reagan's help and encouragement He's been hired to work the front desk at the shop and hopes to start an internship to become a tattoo artist once he has finished school. He knows that he had been searching for security in some very dangerous places before Reagan found him and brought him into the shop.

If you have read the series in order, you will remember meeting Mateo in, I believe Book #1. Now he's almost 30, and one of the talented artists at Reagan's shop and he's also a part time art professor at the local college. He has some very serious doubts about being in a relationship with someone so much younger, but he feels connected to Bryan and finds that he can’t stop himself. Both men have been badly hurt in the past, and they both have serious issues with their mothers. They were both betrayed by the people who were supposed to love and protect them. At first, Mateo takes the role of the protector in their relationship, but when his mom comes storming back into his life, Bryan is simply "there for him" offering both comfort and protection, the same way Mateo supported him when he was involved in a scary stalker situation.

Bryan has to overcome his issues with trust...and take a chance to believe in Mateo and in their relationship. Mateo needs to understand that while Bryan is younger, he’s old enough and has "lived" enough to make his own choices about who he wants to give his heart to...who he wants to love. It was a good experience watching both of these men push their boundaries and honestly try to grow into better people, while knowing that their relationship will only be stronger for it.

This is book #4, and I have to say that this series, thus far, has been an enjoyable, engaging reading experience. It flows along nicely with interesting side characters, and only a minimal amount of angst. Each book has concluded with a "sneak peek" at who the next one of the crew is to find their life mate and "happy place".

Run for The Hills - Kevin Wilson - (California, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Utah)
Genera: Family Drama, Road Trip
5★
An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together.
What a clever idea for a book! When you first meet this family, who never knew they were not the only one that existed, you realize that they give an entirely new meaning to the word "dysfunctional family". There is indeed humor in the story, but there are also some valuable insights about what exactly makes a family and how, or if, they can all forgive the one person who has created the fracture in their lives.

Madeline is 30 something and works on a farm in Tennessee with her mother. Her father left the family 20 years earlier, and they have never heard from him again. Madeline is happy running the farm and is thrilled that the organic farm had been written up in several national magazines. She's kind a bit skittish around people and prefers to spend her time on the farm.

Then one day, a man, Rueben, shows up at the farm. He's in his 40s and explains to Madeline that they have the same father who left the family 20 years ago and was never heard from again. Rube, as he likes to be called, says that their father was an author and an insurance salesman. He had hired a private investigator to try to find out more about his father. As a result, he found Madeline (Mad). He tells her he's learned that their father has at least two more children that he had left the same 10 years apart.

There's Pepper who is 21 and a basketball star in Oklahoma, where their father had been a coach. Then Theron, who is 10, and his father, is a filmmaker, and had just recently left. Ruben invites Mad to come and travel with him to meet their half-siblings and then to go to California, where their father was thought to be now living. All of the half-siblings agreed, and they head out to California to find the man that could only give them each, 10-years of his life.

All four of them are "only children" so it wasn't easy to adjust to suddenly being part of a family instead of only being responsible for themselves. As their road trip continues, the four begin to act more like a family and to take care of each other. They don't know if they will find their father, and if they do, what kind of a person will he be? Will he answer the questions that each of them has for him, or will he just disappear again?

The characters in the book were quirky, but they quickly become very endearing. I was hoping that they would find their father and get answers to the questions that they had for him. There is a lot of humor in the story as the four of them made their road trip across the country and learned to live as a family. This was definitely very entertaining, sometimes funny, but always an enjoyable, cleverly written story.

Tell Me What You Did - Carter Wilson - (Vermont)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
She gets people to confess their crimes for a living. He knows she's hiding a terrible secret. It's time for the truth to come out...
Poe Webb is a podcaster that uses her podcast as a way for people to anonymously confess their crimes. It’s an interesting concept that gives the culprit an audience while at the same time bringing criminal acts out in the open. I thought from the start that this would be more 150% more dangerous than being a cop and arresting the murders...Who in their right mind would let someone live that knew their what they had done...that they had killed someone? I have to admit that it's a different, but interesting take on a murder mystery.

With technical assistance from her boyfriend, Poe has generated an extremely large following. The confessions range from something very banal to definitely crossing the lines into real criminality. Then a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, and she is forced to take a second look. Not only because he claims to be her mother’s killer, but because Poe knows something that no other living person knows.... she knows that her mother’s murderer is dead.... How does she know this with such a degree of certainty? The story was so well written that you will more than likely have several answers before reaching the conclusion. Good book.

No Good Tea Goes Unpunished - Bree Baker - (Florida, North Carolina)
Seaside Cafe Series Book #2
Genera: Cozy Murder Mystery
4.5★
My library reading group of senior citizens, which has grown by 6, so I now have 20, gave it 4.5 stars...I really don't like cozies, so I won't rate it.
Everly Swan caters a high-profile beach wedding where the groom doesn't make it to the altar before the wedding bells ring.
It's not what I would have read on my own, but it's what my library book discussion group of senior folks wanted to read for August...so...I will describe it as a quirky fun series. The ladies loved it...you would have thought it was "the second coming". I wasn't surprised...the 7 guys...not so much, or not at all. They did enjoy poking fun at it, so not a total waste on them. I promised the guys they can pick Septembers read.

What was supposed to be a beautiful seaside wedding turns into a nightmare when a murder rakes place and makes the bride an instant widow. We are kept guessing as to who actual murderer was and we were really surprised when the killer was revealed. The story was filed with lots of fast paced action, some fun humor, and a touch of romance, which the ladies ate up and the guys just...smirked. The ladies all said they read the entire book in one day and found it hard to stop once they started. The guys had...shall we say "different" ideas about the whole thing.

Even though I don't care for cozies, I thought that the story had a somewhat magical and "Gilmore girls" feeling to it. I think that is what makes this genus so addictive to my dear ladies. The guys are still laughing and making jokes about the killer's choice of weapons.... which I also thought was a bit comical. If you are a cozy mystery fan, this one is while worth your time.

Angel Ink - Ali Lyda - (California)
Get Ink'ed Series Book #7
5★
Being demisexual means attraction doesn't always come easy. And it has a way of knocking me off my feet. I can't want Joel. I'm pretty sure he's scared of me, and we're working together. It's a recipe for disaster. Too bad my emotions say otherwise. And once they start talking, my body starts listening. I've been screwed by love before. Is Joel worth taking the risk? There’s no need to get bent out of shape over one hot guy. Managing talent puts me in the path of plenty of attractive men, so there's no reason to freak out every time I see Kyzer. Besides being gorgeous, he's covered in ink and as intimidating as they come. You'd never know from looking at him how gentle he is. He's a client and no matter how much I want him, he's off limits. There are lines in this business that you can't cross. I know it's best for both of our careers. But what if throwing out the rules leads us down the path to happily ever after?
Our favorite tattoo shop is spreading its wings in this last book in the Get Ink'd series, which I absolutely hate to see end. Maybe with a new location Ali Lyda will find it in her heart to let these men have the same happiness that Reagan's guys did. Hope, hope, fingers crossed! We're meeting Kyzer who is one of the new tattoo artists for "Get Ink 'd's new location in Los Angeles, and Joel manages the place.

This was a really beautiful and powerful love story. These two guys seem to be very opposite on the surface, but it turns out that they are both Just men who have always put others before themselves. Joel is the "organizer" and the "fixer" for his family, for his friends, for his job, you name it...he's there. He thinks he has no time for a relationship.

Kyzer is a beautiful representation of a demi guy. He's a big gentle man who loves with all his heart... when he dares to love. He's been hurt before...left and thrown away, all because of who he is. Maybe this time could be different for both guys. Kyzer and Joel both feel the pull toward each other, but of course there are a few initial misinterpretations that happens before they get the chance to really realize what they mean to each other.

The story is told from both of their POV's. You get all the emotional "feels" and emotions that they are experiencing. This is a very descriptive and sensual story. It was really wonderful seeing these two build more than just a physical relationship. Kyzer knew not only what he was, but also what he wanted. Seeing Joel's struggle will help you to understand why he made the choices he made. You can't blame either of them for struggling with the changes, but you will have to love how in the end they made the right decision to take the chance. Like the other 6 books in this series, it was a fantastic read. I do so hope that Ali lets this series continue.

The Ghost Writer - Julie Clark - (California)
5★
June, 1975. The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she’s offered a job to ghostwrite her father’s last book. What she doesn’t know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it’s not another horror novel he wants her to write. After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.

Long-buried childhood questions surface as Vincent breaks his 50 years of silence regarding the murder of his siblings. However, his revelations must unfold through the hands of his estranged, and only child, a daughter, Olivia. We learn the intricate details of the story of family relationships, and that sometimes buired things should remain buried.

Vincent Taylor the author, essentially checked out of having anything to do with raising his daughter, Olivia. Deserted by her mother, all Olivia wants is to get far away, which she accomplished by moving overseas and later building a career as a ghostwriter. Facing financial challenges, she reluctantly accepts the offer to collaborate with her father on his story, however, returning to her hometown opens old wounds, especially when she discovers her father is an unreliable narrator and an expert at lying.

The story unfolds as Olivia sifts through her father’s memories, alternating with his perspectives from the past. Did Vincent get away with murdering his siblings? What exactly happened that fateful night? Vincent’s memories don’t quite match with written recollections and other memorabilia Olivia had found from 1975. You have to wonder, is he purposely lying or misrepresenting facts to try to evade the truth, or is he telling what he truly believes happened back then? There’s a lot of pressure for Olivia to complete the book quickly, but she’s needs to...is determined to, find the real truth.

It's a slow-paced tremendously twisty mystery, shifting between 1975 and the present, and narrated by Olivia, Vincent, and his sister, Poppy. It’s one of those books where you don’t know what or whom to believe, but it So good! It takes the reader on a suspenseful quest for the whole truth. Did he kill them or is he protecting a different killer...you'll have to read it to find the answer.

Behind the Door - Mary SanGiovanni - (Pennsylvania/New Jersey)
Kathy Ryan Series - Book #1
Genera: Science Fiction/Horror
4.5★
Some doors should never be opened . . .In the rural town of Zarepath, deep in the woods on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, stands "THE DOOR". No one knows where it came from, and no one knows where it leads. For generations, folks have come to "The Door" seeking solace or forgiveness. They deliver a handwritten letter asking for some emotional burden to be lifted, sealed with a mixture of wax and their own blood, and slide it beneath "The Door". Three days later, their wish is answered...for better or for worse.
This little town has a BIG secret: deep in the forest there is a "Door" which magically grants wishes. However, you must be very, very careful how you word your letter, otherwise the "Door" has a way of warping your wish. If you've ever read "The Monkey’s Paw" you will find this has a similar theme. We’re told about a couple who had lost two sons in the Vietnam War. They sent a letter to the "Door" wishing for them to be brought back...they were... but not for the better. Two mangled, shambling corpses turn up the next day on their doorstep. So, you know how this is probably going to turn out. If you are a true "dyed-in-the-wool", horror fan you will read on for every gory detail.

The author has created and given us believable, sympathetic and damaged characters. We have Kari, who used the "Door" to erase from her memory the loss of her daughter Jessica; Toby Vernon, a sad and troubled pedophile; and a hit-and-run killer with a guilty conscience. They all use the "Door" for their own personal reasons, or demons, with believable back stories constructed to explain the rationalization of their madness.

another major theme of the book is secrets, everybody in this town seems to have them. More often than not, the secret is the reason any particular character visits the "Door" to star with. In this small town nobody ever asks anyone else if they used the "Door", or their reason why. Of course, in many cases it is never obvious how the Door" was involved. Once when a pregnant teenager asks for her unborn child to disappear. It just did and nobody was even aware that she was pregnant. This is really a clever supernatural tale built on and around secrets, lies, guilt and in some cases, pure revenge.

When something goes wrong with the "Door", someone starts to investigate by digging into the town’s secrets. Once the granted start to backfire, there are some really good, outstanding scenes. You may even feel a bit of sympathy for the two pedophiles. Other residents who make a strong impression include the second child molester, Ed Richter, and the retired policeman, Bill Grainger, who has his own skeleton in his closet. Who doesn’t? Nobody in this story for sure!

It's a fairly short book. The only thing I really saw as its weakness was the ease in which Kathy solves the mystery. That's what gave the book a 4.5-star rating. There is excitement along the way, as the ghosts "come out to play", but the end was a bit of a disappointment...but that’s a minor quibble. It' was a nicely written and engaging supernatural tale.

Forbidden Ink - Ali Lyda - (California)
Genera: M/M Romance/ Enemies to Friends to Lovers
Get Ink'd Series Book #6
5★
I’m not a deadbeat.I didn’t know my kid existed before Milo showed up, but now that I do, I’m determined to keep my beautiful little Sofie in my life. Even if it means I need to spend time around her irritable uncle, Milo who pushes all my buttons
You will absolutely love Eryk and Milo! This intense enemies to friends to lovers romance had amazing chemistry between the two men as they worked out co-parenting on two different coasts.

Eryk is one of the tattoo artists at Get Ink’d who just found out that he has a two-year-old daughter, Sofia. Milo, who is Sofia’s uncle, assumes the worst about Eryk and starts out their relationship on the wrong foot.

Milo is an actor, that is so deep in the closet it’s a "bunker" (to from the book). There is so much to sort out in this story. So many almost mistakes that the two guys make while trying to care for and love this little girl. These men tried so hard to become what society expected them to be instead of being their authentic selves. They tried to deny all of their own wants and dreams, changing what they truly want to match what they think they are supposed or expected to do.

This story is a good one, as is all the ones before it. There are really some serious good as well as bad "feels" involved. The only thing that I found hard to believe was that the character of Sophie should have been a bit older than 2. The author had Sofie saying and doing things that no 2-year-old would ever have done...even a very bright one. In spite of that little glitch, this one and the entire series will diffidently go on my rereads.

Nowhere - Allison Gunn - (Virginia)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Horror
5★
A spine-tingling and twisty debut about a series of disappearances in a small, fundamentalist town and what one broken family must do to remain together as dark forces close in.
The Kenans are a family in crisis. The Dad, Finn, was behind the wheel for the car when the accident took their son. Mom, Rachel, has thrown herself into her work as the police chief of the tiny Virginia town they've moved to. She barely speaks to Finn, and she is harboring more than a few secrets of her own. The remaining daughters, teenager Charlie, and 6-year-old Lucy, are aware their parents’ marriage is in trouble since they aren’t exactly hiding it, and it’s taking a toll on the entire family's relationship with one another.

Rachel already has a lot on her mind when she and Deputy Jeremy Whitman, her only remotely competent officer, are called out to the scene of a grisly, horrific crime. At first, they want to call it a run-in with the local family of drug runners, but something doesn’t appear to be true about that story, and Rachel brings it to her superiors, but they don't care to listen and are entirely disinterested. Fortunately, she is able to call in a favor with an ex and get her evidence on the fast tracked for examination.

Then we learn that the local children have started hearing voices coming from the woods that surround the town. The voices are calling to them and beckoning them to come into the forest. If and when they do...because they're kids, so of course they do...but when they come out, they're "changed". they begin to urge other kids to join them. Some of the adults also begin hearing the voices as well and feel compelled to behave violently. The little community begins to spiral out of control, and the Kennan family find themselves smack-dab at the center of it all.

There are several times that Rachel and Finn might have been able to save themselves and their remaining children from what lies in wait for them, but both are so obsessed with their own drama that they can’t see the warnings blaring in their faces. Rachel especially is unwilling to consider that anyone other than herself could possibly be correct about anything, which makes her an incredibly unlikable character, even if the main causes of her behavior are somewhat understandable.

The author's lucid and evocative prose sets these scenes up so well, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere and effectively ratcheting up the suspense as the story progresses. The story is firmly rooted in Appalachian folklore and is one of the eeriest reads I have had thus far....and I've had some creepy ones. It is also shown by closer examination the ways that we harm ourselves and those closest to us when we close off our hearts and withhold forgiveness. Grace and open-mindedness are virtues, and we can exact a terrible toll when we allow ourselves, as this family and town did, to forget that.

The Soul Of an Octopus – Sy Montgomery
Book on CD read by the author
4.5**** (rounded up)

Subtitle: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness

Montgomery spent a year volunteering at the New England Aquarium to study and learn about octopuses. This is her memoir of that time, and it’s marvelous!

I had heard that octopuses are quite intelligent, and I had read the novel Remarkably Bright Creatures featuring a particular Giant Pacific Octopus. But Montgomery’s writing about her experiences really brought these animals and their very individual personalities to life for me. I am, frankly, jealous of her experiences and wish I had a nearby aquarium where I could volunteer and get to know the octopus(es).

Montgomery narrates the audiobook herself. I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job.

>25 BookConcierge: If you liked this one you might also like her book The Good, Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood.

Hello Goodbye Amore - Andrew Grey - (Italy)
5★
In college, Chase Anderson and his twin sister, Elaine, met Antonello Glorioso and became best friends. Chase fell in love with him―but so did Elaine, so he kept quiet. Then heartbreak happened: they graduated, Antonello returned to Italy, and Elaine died, leaving Chase to raise her son as his own. Returning to Florence to help run the family business had felt like Antonello’s only option. He did his duty to his legacy, but he’s been second-guessing that decision since he got on the plane. Still, he didn't know what he could’ve had until it shows up on his doorstep....and it's not alone
Take two men...one, a handsome American and the other a rich Italian, add one woman, who is the twin sister to the American, and you have trouble, looking for somewhere to happen. Antonello, Chase, and Chase’s twin, Elaine, were best friends in college. They were so close that they had decided to go into business together. Then Antonello is called...actually almost ordered, home to Italy. If you have been raised in an Italian household, you learn early on that you don't go against THE FAMILY! If they want you to come home, you just ask "when" and go buy a ticket. Meanwhile, Elaine has a baby. You have probably guessed who the father is already...but when she dies unexpectantly, Chase becomes the baby, Ricky’s, adopted father. A few years go by, and Chase is sent to Italy by his company for five months to oversee an important project and... fate rears its head again, and Chase finds that he's again working closely with Antonello. This turns out to not be a bad thing.

He was all ready to hate the man that he had once had a huge crush on...but Chase discovers that he simply...can’t. Especially when he really does understand why Antonello had to leave. However, there still feels that there's a lot to make up for. The two men begin to become closer, much closer, and Antonello realizes that he has been for a long time, hiding who he really is. He also knows that he needs to get out from under his mother’s dictatorial thumb. Of course, old habits are hard to break so doing this is not easy, especially when she discovers that the child...Ricky, is might actually be Antonello’s son.... her grandson.

These two men have to figure out how to live their lives together...with Ricky...and without bowing to the dictates of Antonello's mother. In spite of her, it's a wonderful story giving us a hot romance along with a satisfying, happy ending. I will buy and read anything that Andrew Grey writes...he is simply a wonderful author that can be counted on to always deliver, so it's not surprising that he's done it yet again!

Stephen - Amy Cross - (England)
Genera: Graphic Horror
★5
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: Please be warned that most of this story is so much more than just graphic horror. If you have never read a book warning in your entire life...BE SURE TO READ THIS ONE. They aren't just trying to sell you a book. Many reviews from die-hard horror fans have said that this was the most disgusting book they had ever read...yet they also said that it was very hard to put it down because of how gripping story was. But please be warned, some of the story will cause more than just TRIGGERS...it will provide long-lasting nightmares for some.

Some houses remember...some never forgive. When Beryl Seaton accepts a position as governess at the isolated Brooks estate, she expects little more than a lonely winter in the English countryside. But the moment she crosses the threshold, the house begins to whisper. Her young charge, Stephen, is silent and strange. The nursery is sealed. And no one will speak of the woman who held the position before her. At night the halls echo with quiet sobbing. Doors open on their own. Something watches from the shadows. As Beryl delves into the estate’s haunting history, she uncovers a truth more chilling than she ever imagined – a truth soaked in sorrow, sealed by silence, and clawing to be heard. What happened in that house refuses to stay hidden… and refuses to let her go. Even years later, Beryl will ask herself the same question: did she ever really leave?

There is a plethora of warnings in, and for, this book...I usually take them with a shrug and a grain of salt, I've found very few things that I can say actually affect, bother, or truly scares me, unless it involves cruelty to an animal...those I avoid like the plague. But believe me these warnings were not posted just in order to sell the book...although without a doubt, they probably did just that. I'm going to try very hard not to give anything away, which is almost impossible with this one.

If you are still holding the book in your hands and searching through it, chances are that you will come across quite a lot of discussions and reviews about "Chapter 28". This was a clever approach that I had never before seen...the author used the protagonist to "speak" to the readers and tell them to avoid the chapter and go on to the next one. It is a warning that those who are squeamish and easily disturbed, really, really need to heed. Of course I didn't, as I have said nothing much bothers me that's in print and not happening on my doorstep. My curiosity, as it was supposed to be... was piqued, and oh yes...I read Chapter 28. Take my word for it... you may not want to read this chapter 28, or this book for that matter...at least while eating or drinking.

Beryl Seaton was the perfect protagonist, and, in the prologue, she tells us that she is ready to write her story about all the events that occurred in Grangehurst, where she once worked as a governess for the Brooks family. She goes into a flashback, to the year 1899 when she had seen an ad for a governess position. She applies and meets Doctor Elliot Brooks who was not at all impressed by her during the interview. He dismisses her for the position until she on her way out and stops to offer help to a man who has had an accident. Her quick response to the catastrophe is what now impresses Dr Brooks, and he then decides to hire her.

Arriving at the estate, Beryl realizes that it is really isolated, huge and daunting. Doctor Brooks is welcoming at first, but he suddenly changes when she starts asking questions about the "Lady of the house", and the baby she's been hired to care for. Beryl goes upstairs to meet Mrs. Brooks and at first finds her odd but then finds her more friendly as she speaks with her. Beryl is especially eager to meet the baby. When the meeting takes place, she realizes why she couldn’t hear the baby crying before. This is the first, and the beginning, of the really terrifying parts of the story...and I'm not going to say why the baby or Mrs. Brooks becomes a couple of terrifying characters. I will tell you that if you get past "this meeting", the story will have you hooked. For here on Beryl is portrayed as the woman who looks like she needs someone's sympathy and protection...because SHE DOES! Her character takes an interesting turn from this point on.

In this story, no one and nothing are as they seem. You feel the deep unsetting that surrounds the people and the house. The author instills your curiosity as Beryl checks out her surroundings. Dr. & Mrs. Brooks are not what they appear to be and as the reader you will very quickly catch on to that. There is a clever twist in chapter 3, that will leave you absolutely stunned. Again, be warned that it is very uncomfortable and much more than merely morbid, but you can use it as a test to see just how far you want or can go before you decide to close the book. From the reviews that I have read about this one...you won't be the first one to do so. In spite of all the warnings, I'm glad that I stayed.... but I really don't EVER want to read this again.

Wiseguys and the White House: Gangsters, Presidents, and the Deals They Made
by Eric Dezenhall
4/5 stars
Interesting book about the gangsters who want their help with the Presidents and what they wanted to achieve with their help. He writes about FDR, Richard Nixon, LBJ, Ronald Reagen, John Kennedy, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Non-Fiction/ True Crime

Haunted: Devil's Door - Lee Mountford - (West Virginia)
Haunted series Book #2
Genera: Supernatural, Horror
5★
Halloween night, 1982. Many people were brutally killed or simply vanished at the Blackwater Hotel...formerly Perron Manor. The events of that night have always remained a mystery...until now.
This is the second book in the Haunted series. It takes us back in time to the 1980s, when the manor was turned from the Perron Manor to the Blackwater Hotel.

The manor has had a lot of history. There were always rumors that it was haunted. Rita Pearson has been invited, by her brother Vincent, to work at the manor. He is a close friend of the current owner, Marcus Blackwater. He was looking for a new position, so this could be just the solution that Rita, her husband Ray and daughter Chloe, were looking for.

Marcus is wanting to get rid of the name "Perron Manor" and turn it into a hotel but also to try and get away from the stigma, rumors and reputation that has surrounded the place, which when looking at it's history, is understandable. He thought that bringing in a family to run and oversee the changes was a good idea.

The remodeling starts to take place. To begin with, while this is happening, there seemed to be an "everything is okay feeling" to the place. But as soon as the hotel opens things start to take place and there is more stress...a LOT more stress. Sleep is interrupted; and odd smells and cold spots are everywhere. The staff try to explain it away as it being an old building, but they can't explain away the feeling that there is something else going on. "I know I wouldn't want to stop in this place" is the feeling that Ray is starting to get, plus it also makes him wonder just how safe his daughter is. It's affecting him and Rita also. They are becoming less of a couple and spend most of their time simply ignoring each other. Rita feels that she has something to prove so tensions are running out of control.

As these tensions between the family grow, so do the stuffy atmosphere and general eeriness of the house. The house is in some ways almost a character by itself. Then there are the “other” characters; the unreal, supernatural creepy ones. They have a “presence” obviously, and there is some indication that something else is also always going on underneath it all. Vincent is not much help, and he tries to push the feelings and the constant tension away in the background...almost unseen, but then we find that Marcus has become "the star of the show".

Everything that goes on in the book is headed toward what happened Halloween, 1982. This event gives you a creepy, spooky, climactic feel. It also then gives a lot more details that were missing from the first book. It sounds odd, but this flipping back and forth across two books shouldn't work, but it actually does. It worked so well, that I am definitely going to be reading the next book.

If you are a fan of supernatural, horror thrillers, mystery, occult and ghost stories.... then this is a fabulous story....one that I would definitely recommend. The books should be read in order, as it appears that this is one continuous story, so start with Haunted: Perron Manor, also by this author.

Vengeful Lover - Jocelynn Drake
Exit Strategy series Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery & Suspense
5★
Every assassin has an exit strategy – their ultimate plan for leaving that dangerous life and disappearing. They just never expect to live long enough to enact it. Gabriel Prescott was no different. But everything changed when he met fellow mercenary Justin Mallory. Now he’s racing across Europe with Justin to put to rest old threats before they can end both their lives. Of course, it will also mean coming clean to Justin about exactly who he is and who wants him dead. Gabriel can only hope that Justin will still want him when the truth comes out.
This one, book 2, sees Justin Mallory chasing after his new lover and fellow assassin, Gabriel Prescott. Gabriel left at the end of Book #1, Deadly Lover, promising to return to start their new life after finishing up his own loose ends.

The story goes right away into a fight for their still very new relationship, and a journey into Gabriel’s traumatic history with his dangerous family. With a lot of action and suspense. Drake’s story builds up on the homophobia that is present in, not all, but some Russian cultures and we see the tragic impact it has on the entire community, in this particular case...the children. It’s a theme that is revisited here and carried out in some of the future books.

I really liked this book and the relationship between Gabriel and Justin. It’s not by any means, a story that is finished. They still have much more work left to do not only on their relationship as they continue to grow...but also on their new home and partnership.

I don't want to give too much away but I think it's okay to say that this story introduces two new and important characters, whose entrance is dramatic as well as emotional.

The next book, that is the last book in the series is Final Lover which I am looking forward to. I would certainly recommend this series but be aware that this is a series that begs to be read in order so that the characters, the relationships and the events occur in a chronological order.

Side Note: There are two other books, same format, listed as part of the Exit Strategy series, but with different characters. I have them and have started one of them.

The Method - Duncan Ralston - (Montana)
Part of the Love Hurts Series
Genera: Suspense
3.5★
How hard will you fight for the one you love?
Frank and Linda's marriage has started to unravel...to come apart at the seams. When some old friends tell them about an unconventional couple's therapy retreat called "The Method" They jump at the chance to go there. They consider it the one last attempt to save their marriage and stay true to their vows...you know - the "till death do we part" one.
Linda and Frank Moffat are at a stalemate in their marriage, while out rock climbing with a couple of old friends the subject of a weekend marriage retreat comes up. Their friends, Trevor and Dillon swear by it, their marriage is stronger than ever since they were there, and they highly recommend this even if it is a tad unorthodox “method” of fixing a broken marriage. They figure they really have nothing to lose, so the Moffats eagerly sign up.

The retreat is at Lone Loon Lodge, which is smack-dab in the wilds of Montana. When the Moffat's arrive, they learn that only one other couple will be joining them. At first, all seems okay, except...there's always an "except"...except for the fact that the husbands and the wives each have their own individual rooms, and their cell phones are taken at the door, so there will be no distractions. So, with luxurious accommodations, views to die for, and hopefully a jumpstart in their marriage what could go wrong? Oh, we all know that something surely will.

While walking through the woods, one couple...the Moffats witness a murder. They know that they have to get help and try go back to the lodge without drawing attention to themselves. When they finally arrive, they find that the lodge has been overrun by a group with their own agenda....and it isn't good. This is a group of "Freedom Fighters" who claim that Dr. Kasper, the Director, had stolen their land and they are now taking it back... by any means necessary. As you can imagine, the Moffats soon find themselves fighting for their survival, and not knowing who to trust, they find they must work together if they have any hope of getting out of this alive.

The synopsis sounds pretty cut and dried, but no, it’s not that simple. There are so many different twists and turns that I wasn’t sure where this was going until the very end. It's intense and full of action and is definitely a fast-paced read...although like the Moffats...not what I expected and not exactly what I signed up for. It's not at all a bad story and it does have some good vibes... so...3.5 stars.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Stephen King
4/5 stars
Trisha was supposed to take a trail hike with her mother and brother. She ends up going off the trail when her mother and brother start fighting. She decides to use her favorite baseball player, Tom Gordon to keep us her spirits up. Will she hook up with her family or is she doomed? I really enjoyed this book! Horror

Little Girl Missing - J.G. Roberts - (England)
DCI Rachel Hart Series Book #1
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
★
How can a little girl vanish into thin air? Five-year-old Cassie Bailey’s mother tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. This morning she’s missing, her unicorn bedcovers are empty, and her parents are frantic.
Naomi Bailey reluctantly took a sleeping pill after having dealt with weeks of stress with no sleep. The next morning, five-years-old Cassie turns up missing. Naomi is wracked with guilt. She has recently split with her husband, Charlie, despite the fact that they had had a very strong marriage. This was due to a sensitive and heartbreaking incident that Naomi just cannot get past. Charlie is as devastated by Cassie's disappearance as Naomi is and insists on coming home while the police search for her.

You have to feel for them, for their heartache and fear, no matter if you are a parent or not. You'll spend the remainder of the story hoping for Cassie to be found safe, and for their marriage to heal itself.

We meet Rachel Hart who is the DCI on the case. This case is close to her heart, because when she was a child both she and her sister had been abducted. Quite naturally, Rachel puts her whole heart and soul into this case. Rachel considers several people as the suspects. It doesn't take her very long to see that things with Naomi and Charlie are not quite right and actually are quite tentative.

This is a fast-paced book that will keep you on your toes! I was really surprised at some of the twists and turns that the story took. Although discovering who had taken Charlie soon became easy to see, the motivation behind it wasn't and never was, at all clear. Although that was at times annoying, it did help to make the book that much more engaging.

This is the first book I have read by J.G. Roberts and also the first book in the DCI Rachel Hart series. I liked the character of Rachel Hart. She is a no-nonsense detective who leaves no stone unturned. Her past experience is touched on in this story, and we got to meet her sister. I'm looking forward to continuing this series.

Half A Cowboy - Andrew Grey - (Wyoming)
Genera: M/M Romance/Ranch Life
5★
Ever since his discharge from the military, injured veteran Ashton Covert has been running his family ranch—and running himself into the ground to prove he still can. Ben Malton knows about running too. When he takes refuge in Ashton’s barn after an accident in a Wyoming blizzard, he’s thinking only of survival and escaping his abusive criminal ex, Dallas. Ashton has never met a responsibility he wouldn’t try to shoulder. When he finds Ben half-frozen, he takes it upon himself to help. But deadly trouble follows Ben wherever he goes. He needs to continue on, except it may already be too late. Something about Ben makes Ashton feel whole again. But before they can ride into the sunset together, they need to put an end to Dallas’s threats. Ben can make a stand, with Ashton’s help—only it turns out the real danger could be much closer to home./i>
Ben Malton was working as a dancer at a club when he caught the eye of Dallas Remington, a man who promised to take care of him and give him everything he could ever want, if it seemed too good to be true...e knew it was. Ben lost his friends and his freedom and then discovered that Dallas was a major crime lord who loved causing fear in those around him...including Ben. When the opportunity came Ben ran but found himself in Wyoming, in the middle of a blizzard, with his car wrecked. He did manage to find a barn before he froze to death. Being a "city boy" he had no idea that he was sharing the horses' room.

Ashton Covert had been an MP in the military and when he returned home, he opened a security business with his friend Reg. During a confrontation with a suspect, he received an injury...an injury that cost him the use of his leg making him unable to continue doing the job he wanted. When he returned home to his ranch, he again finds himself limited to the point that he considers himself a "half a cowboy" that is even unable to ride a horse. Ashton, of course, discovers Ben hiding and sleeping in his barn. When he determines that he wasn't there to cause trouble he takes him back to his house.

The man half frozen and the man with limited use of his leg soon find themselves leaning on one another, only Dallas is out there, and Ben knows if he stays with Ashton, he will only bring trouble to him and his friends. Afraid to confess why he is running even though Ashton makes it very clear that he knows something is wrong, Ben is determined to leave. Leaving is harder than he thought it would be when he feels an attachment to Ashton and a sense of security he hasn’t felt for a very long time. Ben is welcomed by Ashton’s friends and his dogs who give Ben attention and unconditional love with lots of "doggie kisses", but can he stay when Dallas, a man with no compassion that wouldn’t hesitate to kill, is looking for him?

The fear of Dallas coming is only one of the problems Ashton has. A neighbor who is determined to buy the ranch is causing trouble. Ashton asks Reg to help secure the ranch. Ben is still determined to leave, and Ashton and his friends are determined to make him see that running is never the answer and that he will never be safe until he does something about Dallas.

A beautiful story by a wonderfully, talented author that I have read for many years. Actually, I believe he was one of the first M/M romance authors that I read...sorry Andew...but it was YEARS ago:) I have read and own most of Andrew Grey’s books and have loved them all. Every book captures my interest and warms my heart in so many ways. It is a genuine God-given talent that this author has that enables him to be able to write so many books and have each one better than the one before...but he can do it, and I hope that he will continue to do it for a long, long time to come. I still have space on my bookshelves:)

Final Lover - Jocelynn Drake - (Washington/Ohio)
Exit Strategy Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Two assassins meet, don’t kill each other, and fall in love. It’s happily ever after, right? Not so fast. Reformed mercenaries Justin Mallory and Gabriel Prescott have taken the big leap of living together. They’re even working together. But “one last job” has them taking a falsely accused man and his young son into their home for safe keeping. While dodging bullets and fellow hitmen out for the $27 million bounty, Justin and his G Love realize that falling in love was the easy part. Building a life together might be more than they bargained for.
Justin And Gabriel have bought a house and have settled down...well...settled down as far as these two will ever be. They still take contracts, but they're working on the side of the "good guys" now.

The book starts out with a rather humorous scene where our heroes are taking out killers, in all their glorious fashion, in order to get to a drug dealer they need to kill...if that sounds harsh to you, that's what they do...or rather did... all the while they're killing bad guys they're discussing the renovations they want to make on the second bathroom in their new house. This may seem to you as a tad "unusual"...but if this isn't your first read in this series you know that this is just "normal" for them and it sets just the right "tone" for the book. They once discussed the merits of meatloaf vs. chicken while taking out a cartel.

While our two heroes are also discussing putting an end to this contract, they get a call about a man in trouble. There’s a $27 million price on his head, he’s on the run with his six year old son, and his husband has already been killed. Someone very much does not want him to finish his revolutionary research in alternative energy. Gabriel and Justin need to find him, keep him and his son alive, keep away any other assassins and figure out who took out the contract, to serve justice and make sure the man and his son stay safe. All a days work to these two...beat of all they're doing it all>i>together.

As usual, Jocelynne Drake does a fantastic job of setting the scene and developing the characters. Even the secondary characters get a sufficient level of development to make you feel like they really are an integral part to the story. If you have read the second book, you know our guys talked about buying a house...well, in this one they have bought the house and they now have, not one, but two...two dogs and two cats with very definite personalities. I love what this author has done with our two sexy heroes. Her writing is so clever. As always the story moves along well and there is a good blend of action, humor, emotions and feelings...everything a good romantic suspense story should have.

Also, what we would expect are great actions scenes...it has them. Snappy dialog...check! Assassin soul searching and a fantastic ending....right on target. Still, I am a bit sad...I hate to see this series come to an end because I really, really love these characters. The ending was a good way to wrap things up...it tied up the loose ends and left us with a sense that Justin and Gabriel will continue to have a wonderful life together while enjoying their well earned "happy ever after". If you want to check these guys out, you absolutely need to read the books in order to completely understand and appreciate the characters and their back stories. I'm happy that I have the books nestled on my bookshelf...so I can revisit them any time I want.

Manner of Death - L.A. Witt
Genera: M/M Romance
4.5★
Detective Sawyer Villeray has his hands full. He’s got a mercurial partner whose personal life is deteriorating, a semi-estranged family whose drama he can never fully escape… and now a series of murders whose only connection is their sheer weirdness. A serious crush on the county medical examiner doesn’t exactly simplify things, but at least it’s fun.
Dr Bashir Radim is called to the scene of a violent death. At first it appears to be a horrible accident, but the more he looks, the more he believes it’s murder. He just has to convince the detectives of that when they show up. One of them is Sawyer Villeray, a charming former child actor who has made no secret that he is attracted to Bashir. The doctor has sworn off dating cops for all sorts of reasons, but the detective is very hard to resist. As the bodies pile up, the two men need to work together to figure out who the murderer is before one or both of them ends up as victims.

This is a classic crime drama but combined with a little romance. The mystery is a series of murders where the cause of death is not what it appears to be. There are a lot of twists and turns as the bodies begin to pile up, but in the middle of all that, Sawyer and Bashir manage to steal a few moments to get to know each other a bit better...but even their relationship is not without its own twists and turns. The chapters and the "Point of View" alternates between Sawyer and Bashir.

Dr Bashir Radim is a man trying to do his best to bring peace and justice to the people who come to him. We also get to learn more about him with his back story and as he gets to know Sawyer Villeray much better. We get a very convincing, and well-rounded picture of a man whose hard work has earned him a top position in his profession.

Sawyer is a little more reserved about sharing his past, but we eventually learn enough to understand why he is like he is. Like Bashir, Sawyer has managed to be very good at his job. The two guys together make quite a team, even if they don’t appear on the surface to be that compatible. The question quickly becomes...will our medical examiner and our homicide detective ever be able to have a compete date...one that is not interrupted by yet another murder?

Overall, it was a book with a pretty good mystery and interesting characters...but there were a lot of typos, and the ending seemed to be a bit too abrupt. I own and have read and reread almost every book this author has ever written, and I have never felt that an L.A. Witt book was anything less than a 5-star read...but there's a first time for everything. This one just didn't "feel" like the other shelf-full of her books that I own. I don't believe that most of that was her fault...it had nothing to do with the writing, or the story, but everything to do with whoever was in charge of editing the book before printing. I really love this author. She is the one that turned me on to M/M Romances a long, long time ago, and I will continue to look forward to new releases as well as owning and reading her books...so I will give it 4.5 well deserved stars.

Away Game - Ella Kade & Christopher Correia
Willow Bay Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/College Football
4.5★
The plan was to move away and never look back. Get away from him, out from under my father's disapproving stare, and start a new life in Willow Bay.
It was supposed to be my fresh start, but instead my past followed me. The one thing I desired and couldn't have...Weston Jackson. I hated how he made me feel things that I couldn't give into without turning my world upside down. I wanted to make him pay. For the way my father now looked at me. For the way I saw myself. But most of all... for wanting him the way I did.
Sports romances are not high among my favorites...not because I don't like the romance, but I'm not much interested in the sports part....in spite of that it seems that I have read a plethora of them recently:) I also have to admit that I have read some really well-done ones. These authors have put a really good book together here. The romance is mixed up with "enemies-to-lovers", college bullies and M/M romance. It has everything from heart-breaking times to inspirational reckonings.

I think the book has the ability to cause all the parents that read it to ask themselves this question: what kind of parent am I? Am I supportive? Do I always offer unconditional love? Am I proud and loving of my children, no matter what? Unfortunately for our main character, Finley (Fin) Huntington, the handsome wide receiver for his High School football team, these were not even close to the traits of his uber-rich, verbally abusive, judgmental and mostly absent parents. How can you love others, when you’re not sure yourself, even what love is or even looks like?

The treatment that West Jackson received was abysmal, yet the authors wrote it sympathetically when it’s read from his point of view. It took me a while to even begin to even slightly like this young man, but he burrowed past the defenses of West Jackson, who was entirely opposite of Fin. Wes came from a poor hardworking single parent family. His mother worked several jobs to keep food on the table for him and his younger brother. West played football also, but for a rival High School, opposite that of Fin's. His football talent was impressive. Their major difference though, was the unconditional love and acceptance they each received from their parents.

West was openly gay, and he knew that his family loved and supported him. When he and Fin ended up attending the same college, living in the same house...there were, shall we say "social challenges" that West especially faced. I had to admire the "pure soul" that Fin managed to dredge up from within himself much to everyone’s surprise including his own.

The key event that brought these young men though, was finding a mentor in the most unexpected place, the person who had himself, walked that same path and had suffered those same rejections. This was Wes and Fin's "make-or-break" time, especially for Fin. I loved the characters and how they each used their many differences to create something solid and binding for each of them.

Forbidden Lover - Jocelynne Drake - (Ohio, California, Alaska)
Exit Strategy Series Book#4
Genera: M/M Romance/Assassins
5★
There was a dead body in his bathtub. Dev was sure his days of assassins and danger were long over. Even if he did ache to see the sexy and secretive Kai again. What he needed to do was focus on raising his adopted son...but right now...there was a corpse in his bathtub.
We met both Devlin and Kai in the previous book in the series. Kai was the assassin sent to kill Devlin. Luckily Gabriel and Justin were there to help Devlin and talk to Kai. After learning that Devlin has a child and was an innocent man, he didn't take the hit.

Now a year later Dev is trying to put his life back together. It has been 3 years since his husband was murdered and a year since he had a price on his own head. Dev finds a dead body in his bathtub and calls the police, only when they arrive, the body has vanished. Kai comes to Dev's aid after a call from our two favorite assassin husbands, Justin and Gabriel.

There is something so very special between Kai and Dev. The spark ignited a year ago and it hasn't dimmed since. Kai will do everything he can to keep Dev safe. I loved how Dev wasn't scared of Kai and just saw him for the man he was. He's such a strong person and he's been through so much.

Kai, or "Ghost" as he is known in the assassin world, cares deeply for Dev and his son. He was such a kind and sweet man, which really surprised me. We learn about his past and what a truly amazing person he is. He's scared...not of dying, but scared that he isn't good enough for Dev.

Dev is a scientist and a widower, that lost his husband 3 years ago to an assassin. Jake, their son is adopted, and he has been through so very much heartache and grief the past few years. In spite of it all, Dev is a strong man, and he always tries to see people for who they are; it doesn't matter about their past. He thinks of the assassins that he knows, as being very close friends, and truly he believes that there is some measure of good in everyone.

These two men danced around each other for so long...so it made me happy when they both got their heads out of the sand and took the chance to build something special. They worked so well as a couple in spite of their differences.... differences that were pretty big. You can see that they really care for each other and the sexy times ???.... really, really off the chart...HOT!

The mystery part of the story was a little difficult to figure out. I had a fairly good idea about what type of person they would be...but i also was still surprised when it was all revealed. Considering "who" they were but wasn't surprised about how they knew Kai.

The ending was so perfect...especially when you take into account how different their lives were to begin with. I wanted them to get their "happy ever after" so I was really happy about Kai's decision in the end. He is one amazing and loving man, and this was a wonderful addition to the Exit Strategy series. One more, unless Ms. Drake wants to keep the series going...which would be perfectly okay with me!

XOXO, Bryan - A.W. Scott
M/M Romance/"Daddy/boy", Age Play
Part of Princess Pen Pals Series Book #2
5★
He'd been keeping a secret...Jasper was shocked when his brother Charlie came out to him. He had never thought about the appeal of being with another man before. But after hearing the news, he wants to know more. In order to do that, he has to break free of the mindset he's used to. Byron spends his days at a busy office job that he hates. The only relief he finds is when he can be his little self. When his friend, Princess Aster, mentions the way that he/she found his/her forever "Daddy", Byron decides he wants to give it a shot. If nothing else, he could possibly gain a new friend. A twist of events brings these two together through a pen pal program... the rest is...*chef's kiss*
One of the things I love most about these short stories is how real the characters are. Grayson is a fully functioning adult who holds a job but still likes to regress to Gracie or Gray, as a integral part of himself. The Shiloh character was the one who needed to find his place and name what his kinks are and that by itself endeared me to this book. The story doesn't just automatically assume that Shiloh wants to be a "Daddy".

I love A.W. Scott's writing style. She has once again proven to be a master...or I guess, mistress is more correct, of this story. It had everything a good "Daddy/boy" story should have. There was nothing missing, there's nothing extraneous, it was perfectly... just right.

While XOXO, Bryan, can easily be read as a standalone, knowing the side characters histories from the previous books will add to your reading enjoyment, so I do recommend starting at the beginning of the Princess Pen Pals Series with Aster's story.

Now Everybody Really Hates Me by Jane Read Martin
NP - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is one of my favorite children's books. Patty Jane has been sent to her room because she hit her brother Theodore (she says she didn't hit him - she only touched him hard) during his birthday party. She is never going to leave her room. But she will tunnel out of her room so she can go to Lisa's slumber party next week. She will use her pointy-toed shoes to tunnel. She will tunnel into Theodore's room and take all of his birthday presents, except for the clothes, which she hopes he gets a lot of.

I read this to five-year-old Kolbie. Seven-year-old Blakelee - who didn't want to be read to - said, "Hmmm. That sounds like me." Yep, Kiddo, it does.

Losing His Daddy - A.W. Scott
Coleman Ranch Series Book #6 (last one)
Genera: M/M Romance/Death & Healing
5★
POSSIBLE TRIGGER: The Death of a Major Character in the Series...Have a box of Kleenex handy...you may want to buy stock in the company.
He was my everything..." Gerald Grimes knew what it meant to live with a broken heart. After losing the love of his life, he worked hard to numb the pain with alcohol. When his drinking habit became too much and endangered everyone around him, he left what had been his world...his ranch world, behind for a chance to rehabilitate himself. He's determined to get his life back on track. Once he's continuingly sober, he knew going back to the ranch would only send him spiraling again. A call to a friend of a friend gets him connected with a new job, and maybe a new life, in the city. He had planned to start his life over, one good decision at a time. He just didn't expect his boss to be so gosh darn tempting.
In the first few pages we find that Gerald has been through a lot. Now the love of his life is gone...he's died, and to make it even worse...if that is even possible...no one...not one single person...knew that they had been in a relationship for years. Gerald goes "off the deep end". At first, he tried to drink the pain away. But that only made matters worse, so finally he checks himself into a rehab center. Once he was "mostly okay" to leave rehab, he was sure that he couldn't go back to the Coleman Ranch...the place that held so many precious memories...memories that he couldn't face yet...if ever...but he wanted to start his life over if that was possible...so he went to see his friend "Princess Aster". With the love and support of all "Princess Aster's" friends Gerald starts his new life. Princess Aster is a character like none other I have ever encountered before. "They" have a series all "their' own plus appearing in many other of A.W. Scott's series. Check "them" out...you'll soon love "them".

Along the way we meet Wes. Wes had been engaged but he soon finds out that his intended, Danielle, has been a very naughty girl...the lady from "Slut Hell". She has literally been sleeping, well not much actual "sleeping" was taking place...with everyone and anyone, even his hired staff....so he breaks off the engagement, packs up all his stuff and goes to a friend to ask for his help in hiring new people. Gerald was one of those lucky "new people". Both of their lives are transformed...Gerald gets a fresh new start, and Wes was the perfect support that Gerald needed on his way to recovery.

Be aware that this is not like the other 5 books in the Coleman Ranch series. This one is an extremely emotional read but, with enough tissues you will absolutely love every bit of it. Be sure to read Ali Scotts opening pages before the story begins. She has left her readers the 'gift" of her beautiful and very emotional insights, along with a little warning about how she wrote, and what she was feeling, while writing our last visit with the Coleman Ranch folks.

Personally, I have absolutely loved this series and do so hate to see it end. Rereads are diffidently on the agenda!!! Thank you, a thousand times Ms. Scott, for this and all the other wonderful adventures you have given us.

The Shining Skull - Kate Ellis - (England)
Wesley Peterson Series Book #11
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
Little Marcus Fallbrook was kidnapped in 1976 and was never returned home; his grieving family assumed the worst. Then, thirty years later, teenage singing star Leah Wakefield disappears, and DI Wesley Peterson has reason to suspect that the same kidnapper is responsible. But then Marcus Fallbrook returns from the dead. Meanwhile archaeologist Neil Watson's gruesome task of exhuming the dead from a local churchyard yields a mystery of its own.
As usual, DCI Wesley Peterson is the head of the police team dealing in a murder while his university friend, Neil Watson, is investigating a historical mystery as part of an archeological dig. This book gives us a third mystery, one from the more recent past. This one involves the kidnapping of a child that bears a striking similarity to the current kidnapping of a celebrity.

Kate Ellis is really good creating plots. The characters are always good, but this is not a series that the character's lives become a major part of the series. That said...you could certainly read this series out of order. You might miss a few references to events from earlier books, but you will in no way, be confused.

Wesley is a detective in a small town in England. This story is about two kidnappings that are thirty years apart. along with that is the discovery a 2nd skeleton buried in coffin that is being relocated. The first kidnapping, 30 years ago, is of Marcus Fallbrook. He was 7 years old when he disappeared and was never found.

The 2nd kidnapping is a young local teen celebrity, Leah, who is a singer. Some of the circumstances of Leash's kidnapping are similar to those of Marcus's. At the same time as all this is going on, Neil, an archeologist and good friend of Wesley's, discovers a 2nd skeleton in a coffin that he has been hired to relocate. The skeleton is that of a young teenage boy and dates back approximately 100 years. Both, closely parallel each other.

It's an enjoyable, well plotted story as is this entire series. You might sometimes lose patience with Wesley and Neil...but the mystery and their skill in solving these cases are well worth the reading time.

This was the August Group Read: (Mystery & Suspense group)

Hunted - Darcey Coates - (England)
Genera: Horror
4.5★
Her disappearance wasn't an accident. Her rescue will be a mistake.
Eileen Hershberger disappears while hiking in the dense Ashlough Forest. The police stops searching after a few days and Eileen is presumed dead. Unable to accept the fact, Eileen’s brother, Chris and three of his friends decide to look for Eileen themselves. Ignoring the advice of police officer Carla Delago, they enter the forest fully expecting that nature will be their biggest challenge. But the forest is the home of many things, and they may be walking right into a trap.

"Some small animal skittered past her, disturbing dead leaves as it ran. She stumbled away from it as her heart lurched. Behind her, a slow, scraping noise echoed between the trees".
I don't mind camping but the idea of camping overnight in a big, dark forest is a completely foreign idea. Why would anyone deliberately be in a place with no flush toilets, is beyond me:) I like the "idea" of more than the reality. I can't imagine being lost in all those big trees. In that scene, this story is extremely effective. The writing is almost alive. The reader can even start to feel everything from crawling bugs to smelling rotting meat, which by the way...is described in vivid detail.

I love Darcy Coates' books, but this one failed slightly by spiraling away from a potentially creepy haunting into an ordinary, everyday, human drama. There are many instances of scenes stretching credulity which takes the reader completely out of the story. The group of four main characters come across more as archetypes than actual human beings. Not to mention what every book has one of...the character that is so entirely unlikable that you hope the monster has him, or her, for lunch. The other characters were either blind or they really DID like the jerk, since everyone acted like he was great when they talked about him later. I didn't get why he had to even be in the story other than to add yet another obstacle for the search group. I wish the author had trusted the forest and its elements for the horror rather than relying on external factors to bring on the scares.

I didn't hate or dislike the book, after all it IS Darcey Coates...so overall, Hunted is a fast-paced thriller that starts out great but falters a bit at the end....so 4.5 stars.

>46 Carol420: Glad you generally liked it! I did, too, and gave it 4 stars. (But I'm often a tougher rater than others.)

>47 LibraryCin: I have been a Darcey Coates fan for more years than I can remember. I love her spooky stories.

Unwrapping Hank - Eli Easton - (Pennsylvania)
Genera: M/M Romance/College/Christmas
4.5★
Sloane loves a good mystery. He grew up as the son of two psychiatrists, so he finds most people tediously easy to figure out. He finds his way to Pennsylvania State University, longing for a rural experience, and ends up being lured into joining a frat by Micah Springfield, the hippest guy on campus. Nothing in Sloane’s classes is as intriguing as Hank Springfield, Micah’s brother and fellow frat house member. Hank looks like a tough guy, big muscles, tatts, and a beard, but his eyes are soft and sweet. He acts dumb, but he’s a philosophy major. He’s presumably straight, but then why does Sloane feel such crazy chemistry whenever Hank is around? And why does Hank hate Sloane so much? When Sloane is stuck on campus over Christmas break, Micah invites him to spend the holidays at his family's farm in Amish country Pennsylvania. It’s a chance for him to experience a true "Americana Christmas" and to further investigate the mystery that is handsome Hank Springfield. Can Sloane unlock the secrets of this family and unwrap the heart hidden inside the beefcake?

Sloane is the new guy; he just pledged the “Delts” at Micah’s urging. Micah is tragically hip and Sloane kind of admires the guy, so despite his misgivings, he pledges. Surprisingly, it’s not that kind of frat and it really is just a bunch of guys living together and having fun. But Micah has a brother that's a frat brother also, who didn't want Sloane to join. Why? Hank just doesn’t like Sloane. So, Micah puts Sloane and Hank together to plan the fraternity’s annual Christmas party. Close prosperity causes Micah, who was already intrigued by Hank, to really begin to fall for him. Hank, who didn't like Sloane to begin with, becomes more and more confused by all these feelings for Sloane, but he grudgingly begins to sorta, kinda like him until, by accident, Sloane begins to stir something physical in Hank, and Hank does NOT like that feeling, at all.

The party is a huge success, but now Hank and Sloane are back to square one. When Sloane’s parents freak out and leave him alone for Christmas, Micah offers their home for the holidays. Hank knows that’s the polite thing to do, the scared and confused Hank wants Sloane far, far away. Reluctantly, he concedes that Sloane should share the holidays with his family and not be left all alone.

Meanwhile, at the Springfield house, many strange facts about Hank start to come to light, and Sloane becomes even more intrigued and more infatuated with Hank. Micah stirs that pot by “acting” like he's attracted to Sloane, and Hank knows that this new emotion is jealousy. To make the whole thing even worse, even Hank’s mother pushes Hank toward Sloane. It takes the words of a gay man at a bar and a conversation with an old friend before Hank will finally admit that his feelings toward Sloane are more than just friendly.

It's a very hot, very touching scene in a barn, we get our "Happy for Now" that really looks a lot like it could be Happy Ever After for all the Christmases to come.

As You Wish - Isobel Starling - (Scotland)
Shatterproof Bond series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story! Declan Ramsay was set to be the best man at his brother's wedding in Scotland, sharing the best man duties with the bride's gay kid brother Sam. Sam was abroad finishing his studies so the best men communicated by email for more than a year and wouldn't meet for the first time until a few days before the wedding. But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to see he isn't a kid at all, but a striking, athletic blond man with gorgeous green eyes and a wicked sense of humor. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself. But is Sam Aiken all he appears to be?
It’s a wonderful look at one man’s journey to find what-and who-he truly wants after so many unsatisfying encounters with women, and another man’s attempt to find love and settle back into a normal life-if his controlling father will let him. I absolutely adored these characters. Sam is so lovable, bubbly and bright and outgoing-though at times hiding some bit of sadness that we don’t get to find out about until the absolute end of the story. And Declan…there’s just something about a person discovering his sexuality and breaking free of expectations that endears Declan (and other characters like him) to me from the start. The two together are intensely passionate and the phrase “explosive chemistry” was probably coined with their eventual pairing in mind.

Watching as Declan explored his sexual boundaries as he learns just what he needs and wants is emotional for the reader as well as Declan himself as he experiences it. He and Sam weave such a tight bond with each other, and as a reader I was just as devastated as Declan when their time together at the castle for the wedding comes to an end…especially the way it did.

I’m really glad the way things tied up at the end. No other ending would have been acceptable. It's another series that I am totally hooked on. Can’t wait to start in the next book. 5 stars and I can guarantee no matter how this series progresses from here that I’ll still be re-reading this one in the future!

The Little Grave- Carolyn Arnold - (Virginia)
Detective Amanda Steele Series Book #1
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
4.5★
It’s been five years since Detective Amanda Steele’s life was derailed in the path of an oncoming drunk driver. The small community of Dumfries, Virginia, may have moved on from the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, but Amanda cannot.
Amanda Steele and her family were in a terrible auto accident that left her husband and young daughter dead. Her survival left her empty and she distanced herself from her family; any joy, or interest, not even in her job as a local detective...all gone. So, when she is notified of the discovery of the killer's body in a motel a few days following his release from prison, she feels absolutely nothing. Nothing...not even his death will bring back her family.

Amanda is a severely damaged individual and the book is heavily seeped in dark, deep emotions, letting the reader totally understand and experience the depth of her loss, and the long-lasting effects of their demise. Five and a-half years may as well be yesterday as the pain is still raw.

In the meantime, she has learned to satisfy certain basic needs, one of which she’ll now need as her alibi in what was obviously his murder. The conflict of interest would eliminate her from any investigation, but she is given a cold case and soon the plot spins into a far more complex plot than the murder of the drunk driver who killed her family.

Believe me...this story does get complicated...and its only Book #1! What we do know about Amanda is that she is hurting and there's a lot of development yet to happen in what is a promising protagonist with a rookie partner...a partner that Amanda doesn’t want. The partner I believe is going to be good character, but he needs a little more "fleshing out". Trent...the partner's character was likeable from the first meeting. The thought processes behind the investigation, the interviews, and the extended research did a lot to lighten up the atmosphere of this story that has so many dark plots.

It's probably necessary to some degree, but the constant rehashing of Amanda’s pain only serves to slow things down somewhat. The development of new leads, and the narratives do nothing but bury the story in melancholy...if you can get past that...you will look forward to more of this series, however many of installments there may be. At any rate...this is a good, solid start that will only be benefited by additional characters.

Fairy Tale
Stephen King
3/5 stars
Interesting but very lengthy story about a young man, Charlie who meets Howard Bowditch who lives alone. Charlie ends up doing chores for him and he later finds out that Bowditch knows of a portal to another world! Horror

One Week With His Stepbrother - Kelex - (Mostly California)
Part of A Daddy Tales Series
Genera: M/M Romance/Daddy boy,
4.5★
JJ Whitehurst has made billions for his clients—and millions for himself—over the years. An unapologetic workaholic, he finds solace in his career. It’s easier to evade personal entanglements when he’s always working. Then along comes a forced vacation and the keys to his father’s Santa Monica beach house, neither of which he wants, and the terrifying thought of that much free time, alone, causes him to reach out for company. Rory McMillian’s first night as an escort brings him face-to-face with the daddy of his dreams. All six-foot-five and 200 pounds of muscle is made for sin. When his client can’t let go, one-night turns into one week… and by the end, an offer is made. Be JJ’s kept boy. The proposal is tempting yet Rory refuses. He won’t live as some shameful secret, no matter how drawn he is to JJ. Yet, as weeks pass, he can’t stop thinking of the opportunity he tossed aside. Fate steps in and compels the pair to face one another again, but circumstances have changed. They conceal their knowledge of one another and the simmering attraction they both still feel. But how long can they before their desire boils over?
JJ has been a workaholic and sacrificed a lot for his family and for the family business. He's in the closet, lonely, and resorts to an escort service for company. But he doesn't expect all the emotions and the instant connection he feels to Rory, who is sent to him for a night that becomes a week and then more.

I adored Rory. What a sweet guy who you just wanted to root for and hope that someone would give him the world. He stood his ground for the most part in knowing who he was and not sacrificing himself to be with JJ in any shameful or hidden way. Fans of lace will really enjoy this one. I also liked Rory's Mom and how much she loved her son unconditionally. I only wished there hadn't been so much made about them being "step- brothers" after their parents married...because they really weren't in anyway related; nor had they ever been, as they were both well into adulthood and had never lived as "family members". JJ's dad married Rory's mother long after both the guys were over 21, one was in his 30's and the other in his 40's. That bugged me enough to lose the story a half star.

There is a lot of back and forth and push & pull with one step forward two steps back, when it comes to JJ and Rory making it to their Happy Ever After. I really did love their final ending and the epilogue. It's a super sweet ending, but these two had to work hard to make it there! They made you want to tell them, "Hey guys...the name of the game is called Communication" for a reason!

If you're a fan of light "Daddy kink", (no age play), lace lingerie and satin, a little fun, a little taboo wordplay, then you definitely need to check this one out...well, actually this entire series.

The Lost Ones - Anita Frank - (England)
Genera: Mystery/Haunted house/WWI era
5★
England, 1917 - Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick – but she arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion. Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella – sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs – and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house. With the help of a wounded war veteran, Stella sets off to uncover Greyswick’s dark and terrible secrets. Secrets the dead whisper from the other side.
It's 1917 and our protagonist, Stella Marcham is suffering from depression following the death of her fiancé during The Great War. Although never specifically stated it is also likely that Stella has lingering post-traumatic stress disorder from both her time as a nurse during that same war and from her youngest sister’s death following a house fire several years before.

Stella's mental health is a crucial part of the story's plot. During this period of time, depression was not very well, if at all, understood. Most think that Stella’s condition is only hysteria. As a result, she faces repeated threats throughout the story from people trying to send her off to an asylum. She's not much better off when she goes to stay with her pregnant sister Madeleine at Greyswick Manor and the two women encounter many ghostly happenings. The consensus is "it's apparently just more hysterical nonsense from the feeble female mind". However, Stella knows better and together with Madeleine and the mysterious servant Annie, she is determined to uncover the truth behind a historical tragedy that still haunts the house.

The story has many of the elements found in any and most all haunted house mysteries. Unexplained noises in the night, footsteps and footprints when no one is there, objects that move on their own, a ghostly voice of a child, all stuffed into an anything but welcoming, country estate. All of these elements set the scene of Greyswick being a truly dismal and foreboding place. It's immediately clear that the house and those that inhabit it, with their disdain and unwarranted dislike for Stella, should be treated and approached with extreme caution.

Stella’s very sanity in question. The author parallels this by making sure that the reader questions if the hauntings are real or just the figments of an overactive imagination. Since the story is told from Stella’s point of view, we know that she truly believes everything she has experienced is real…but could there be another explanation for what is happening at Greyswick? Now we meet war veteran and paranormal investigator, Tristan. He is determined to find a rational and real-world reason behind every strange event that is going on. WWI could have been called a "simple little disagreement" compared to the battle of wills that begins between Stella and Tristan... and the investigation only tacks on another layer to this already detailed mystery.

I have never read this author before, but her writing style and narrative lead to a wonderfully twisting plot which spanned generations of Greyswick's past and present residents. The Lost Ones is a thoroughly enjoyable, goosebump producing ghost story which, at its core, focuses on the strength of family and the unshakeable bond between the two sisters.

I seldom recommend books unless I know the person's reading likes and dislikes very well...but I'm going out on the proverbial "limb" and say that I highly recommend this one to all readers who love their Halloween type reading any time of the year, along with a bit of spookiness and a wee gentle pull at the heartstrings.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir
5*****

What a fantastic, ingenious, cool book! It takes the fantasy trope of young people defying odds, living lives they really didn't ask for, riding on horseback, dealing with tragedy, and whirls it and twirls it and turns it on its ear.

Tahir uses several different narrators, each delineated by chapter, so that the chapter on Aiz is told from Aiz's POV and recounts her memories, her struggles in the streets of Kegar, while the chapters narrated by Quil recount his life and his struggles to become, well, the heir his aunt grooms him to be. And this changing view brings a freshness to their stories and helps explain why this book did not become stale in its tropes.

The Kegari have no resources of their own and turn to trading via their airships and alliances with other lands. The Jaduna are trackers and one of them, Sirsha, is on the trail of a foul thing that is killing children. And the Empire has existed with its nomads and cities and art for generations, and its guards, called Masks, wearing living steel on their faces that molds itself to their features. And all of the peoples are suddenly caught up in a war of Kegari against the Empire, and an imprisoned spirit is calling for release.

I will say that I put this book down for a couple of months while I re-read another YA trilogy, "The Queen's Quarter Knot" by Midori Snyder. I wanted to not have the "young girl living as a street urchin in a city that doesn't want her" motif going on simultaneously in two books so that it did not become stale. And that was a great decision for me, because when I picked the book back up halfway through, I realized the other deft way that Tahir was spinning her story. Or stories.

And the ending! I never saw that coming. It was a fastball coming straight from the pitcher's mound at 100+ mph! Zowie! While it's easy to say "I can't wait for the sequel," I also have to add I'll be happy to wait as long as the sequel is as good and readable as "The Heir" was.

Through the Midnight Door - Katrina Monroe - (Indiana)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Horror
5★
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: Depression, Anxiety, and Paranoia
Three sisters. Three keys. Three unspeakable horrors. The Finch sisters once spent long, hot summers exploring the dozens of abandoned properties littering their dying town―until they found an impossible home with an endless hall of doors…and three keys left waiting for them. Curious, fearless, they stepped inside their chosen rooms, and experienced horrors they never dared speak of again.
Once upon a time, the three sisters were close. That ended one summer when they were kids, as a terrifying encounter with a decaying house and its impossible hallway changed their lives forever. Each girl chose a door. Each girl was given an awful burden. Claire’s was perhaps the most viscerally felt:

Afterward, none of them want to talk about what happened in the house or what they saw or experienced. As they grow older, guilt and shame–some of it entirely unearned–push them further and further apart. But then Claire calls her eldest sister one night, saying she’s tired of the pain and is ready to put an end to it all. A frantic Meg races to the abandoned house to find her sister dead, swinging from a noose in a room at the end of that terrible hallway.

Neither Meg nor Esther can accept the verdict that Claire committed suicide. Driven by grief, they begin to investigate Claire’s life, both together and separately, as their own hurtful history causes them to lash out at one another. Meg, being more introspective but also more passive than her paranoid, impulsive sister, wonders why they’re really making these choices, especially when their inquiries could be putting another at-risk family through unwarranted agony.

As they begin to unearth what really happened to Claire, they discover, too, the solution to the mystery that festers at the heart of their family’s shaky foundation. Will the truth finally allow the sisters to grant each other absolution and grace? Perhaps just as importantly, will it allow them to forgive themselves?

The almost-physical manifestations of depression, anxiety, and paranoia in this book make perfect monsters for the sisters to battle, even as they find themselves solving far less supernatural crimes. Their prickly relationship, especially, reads so true to life. As an eldest child, I found myself rolling my eyes at Esther in the exact same way I would at my own middle sibling. Perhaps most gratifyingly, I, like Meg, came to appreciate her sister in the end.

While I had some minor issues with the plot, I did really enjoy the creepy atmosphere enough to give it a 5-star rating and recommend it to anyone that loves dark, creepy old houses and a really good mystery.

The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir
3 1/2 ***

For her historical research, and her idea to devote a book to these last 4 months of Anne Boleyn's life, I give Weir 4 stars. For her writing style I give her 3 stars, bringing my rating down to 3 1/2 stars. And for the love of all that is good in books, can there please be a map or two that shows, if not the City of London, at least a layout of the Tower of London at the time Anne Boleyn stayed there?

Enough ranting. This book fills a gap in British monarch history, in women's lives, and in pulling together the events leading up to her death. It started with a jousting tournament on May Day, where Henry VIII got up without a word and left his wife's side. And it evolved into a political intrigue that involved Thomas Cromwell pulling together a plausible idea, as long as one did not look too closely, that would allow the King to off-load a Queen who was no longer useful to him and whom he no longer loved, and marry a new woman.

Parts of this book that had historical brilliance were the miscarriages and stillbirths (probably 3) after she gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth. All of the fetuses were male, one was near term, and Weir brings in a scientific reason for this number of her, and Catherine of Aragon's many miscarriages: the possibility of these women having rhesus negative blood and the physical effect this has on any future fetuses. Another observation Weir notes at the end is how, if Elizabeth had not ascended the throne, her mother may well have been forgotten in the annals of history.

Weir also brings to bear the enormity of the trials and the burden that the defendants had to content with. Under Tudor law, they were not allowed a lawyer to contest the charges brought against them, nor bring any proof of their innocence. She entitles this chapter "Fighting Without a Weapon" and includes the speeches that were recorded during the trials.

But, unfortunately, Weir uses "he" to refer to one of 2 or three men involved in the activity of that particular paragraph, and loads too many commas and asides as she elaborates on a particular point to make the work flow. Further, her lack of continuity in naming the men caught up in this intrigue (with the exception of Mark Smeaton, the hapless musician) a well as the men and women who encouraged it, caused enough confusion and re-reading, and really pointed to a lack of editorial control over an otherwise brilliant author.

One Night with the Boss - Kelex - (Washington D.C.)
Daddy Tales Series Book#4
Genea: M/M Romance/Daddy, boy
5★
Kerrigan Marx is on the path to greater things. He’s recently graduated with his master’s degree in architecture and has an upcoming internship at one of the most prestigious architecture firms in D.C. The only downside is it’s not the path he chose for himself, but what he was expected to do by his father. With his Jeep packed and on the way to his new hometown, he makes a stop at a highway rest stop and indulges in a little one-night fun with a sexy stranger. Only to later learn his stranger is much more than he bargained for.

While Kerrigan (Kerri), is on his way to start the job, he never wanted in the field that he's really not good at, but his father wanted for him...we meet Cam who has been told to please do everyone in the firm a great big favor and please take a vacation. He's been grumpy and harsh now for over a year. His ex had walked out during that year and left Cam with feelings he was still having a hard time getting over. Kerri arrives at the firm...still feeling the pressure to do a job he that has no desire to do, even going so far as to not only get a degree in architecture but then accepting a job to do it...a job that he's not good at and never wanted to begin with....but his over-bearing father had his life all neatly laid out and tied up with a big beautiful bow.

On his way to that job at a firm in Washington D.C., Kerri stops at a highway rest-stop and sees a sexy older man. Giving each other a "once-over", a hello, they're soon together.... but it's just for an hour or so...they'll never see each other again...right...it's only a one-time thing. But of course, fate has other ideas. When Kerri shows up to his new job the next morning, guess who his new boss is?? Yelp...Cam...the sexy stranger that he was never supposed to ever see again...is his boss. However, it seems there might have been "more" from their casual meeting...feelings are shared, and they begin spending all their time together.

It was good to see Kerri and Cam begin to work together...to help Kerri realize that he didn't have to please his father or stay in a job he never wanted. He could be the landscape designer that he always wanted to be, and he wasn't obligated to anyone to stay in a profession that he was unhappy with and wasn't at all good at. Cam encourages him to back to school and get his degree in Landscape Design which was what he had always wanted to do and excelled at, thanks to his mother who he had always helped create beautiful flower gardens in their home since he was a child. Cam even hires him to do his yard.

We were made to wonder if their relationship would last longer than the three or so months that Kerri had to finish Cam's yard? Kelex's books always have happy people in the endings...so? You can be sure if the book is written by her that her characters are always given what they deserve. These "Daddy Tales" stories are fine to be read out of order.

Born to Stand Out - Kelex - (Maryland)
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Gap & Pet Play (a unicorn)
4.5★
Afraid to be vulnerable, Matt keeps his kink under wraps. A traumatic confrontation left him with deep-seated scars he’s not sure will ever heal. As a new relationship evolves, the worries only mount. Will he be once again deemed a freak and lose the daddy of his dreams? Every time Jack asks Matt to open up, he hits a brick wall. He’s determined to make their relationship work but doubts he and Matt want the same things. Their relationship can only grow with honest, loving communication—in and out of bed. Is Matt unwilling to put in the work? A trip to Pride Day reveals a glimpse into what Matt truly craves. If Jack opens that door, will it bring them closer, or send his boy galloping for the hills?
It's got unicorns and pink and purple and glitter! What more could you ask for? :) I'm not crazy about "pet play" stories, but somehow, I keep buying them, go figure???

I felt so sorry for Matt in the beginning. How could any parent, or anyone that claims to love their child, treat them the way that Matt's father treated him. No one should judge how another person chooses to express themselves, much less to tell them that they are is wrong. I've run into homophobic parents before...both in stories and unfortunately. also in the flesh...so I sincerely hoped, with all my heart, that Matt would find love and understanding, and life would work it's "unicorn magic" for him...and it does when he meets Jack...the man that will change his life forever.

The way they supported one another, encouraged one another in their wants and desires...just the way they "worked" was more than wonderful. No judgement...just unconditional understanding and love. This story won't be everyone's "cup of tea"...this is perhaps truer here than in other same-sex couple romances, but it was a great way to introduce a kink that some folks may not be familiar with or might not have encountered much, or at all, in their reading choices.

I always like it, no matter what sex the couples are, when authors show the couple putting in the effort to successfully make their relationship work, and Jack and Matt do a great job of that. They have great chemistry...wonderful support, and most importantly in any type of relationship, honest communication and understanding.

The Secret Book and Scone Society – Ellery Adams
2.5***

From the book jacket: The first in a new series set within a quirky small-town club where the key to happiness, friendship—or solving a murder—can all be found within the pages of the right book . . . Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain.

My reactions:
I really like Adams’ “Books By the Bay” mystery series and thought I’d give this one a try, though I was skeptical about the “comfort scones” and Nora’s ability to cure someone’s ills by recommending the right book.

Nora and her friends – Hester (who owns the bakery), Estella (owns the beauty salon) and June (who works at the spa pools) – form the society to read and discuss books that will help each of them get over past traumas and move forward with courage and grace. But they are immediately intrigued by the tragic death of a partner in a real estate development, and more so by the sheriff’s quick assessment that it was suicide. So, they decide to investigate.

That decision made little sense to me. They had no vested interest in the development or in this relative stranger to town. Yes, he’d spoken to Nora (who’d given him a book recommendation), and she’d referred him to the bakery so Hester could concoct one of her special comfort scones for him, but that was the extent of their involvement. Of course, once a second murder occurs, and one of their group gets arrested, they have every reason to continue looking for clues.

By the end of the book we’ve learned each of the women’s terrible secret, and there are a couple of promising romantic relationships. But I just got the feeling that Adams was trying too hard.

Still, I did really love all the book references!

Cris Dukeheart does a good job of narrating the audio book. She has a lot of characters to interpret and she has the vocal range to differentiate them, for the most part. (I had to pay close attention when three or four women were meeting together, to be sure I understood who was speaking.)

Update: 18Mar25 One of my book club buddies suggested this for our group so I re-read it. My opinion didn’t change much, though I did enjoy the discussion. The relationships between the four friends stood out more. But I also see that there is another secret that hasn’t been revealed. A ploy that I view as “forcing” readers to continue the series, and one that I hate.

Sun Dog Memory – Doug Armstrong
3.5***

From the book jacket: The girl is a dead ringer for his long-missing sister. And Jed Albright’s chance encounter with her outside a Cowtown depot draws the railway mail clerk into a perilous web of lies, treachery, and vengeance. Soon, he’s a man on the run with a price on his head.

My reactions
I was introduced to this work by my F2F book club; the author lives nearby and one of our members recommended this Depression-era saga. At heart it’s about a family of siblings who tried their best to make it on the Kansas plains but met with disaster. The oldest brother, Arthur, is a detective with the nascent FBI; Jed is a postal clerk on the railroad; Tim is still trying to work the homestead; their sister, Carrie, disappeared years ago and they’ve completely lost touch. Or have they?

Armstrong goes back and forth in time from 1930 to 1911. Times and conditions are tough in both timeframes, but we learn how the siblings came to the homestead and their efforts to make a go of it, and how their fate becomes intricately linked to that of the town’s wealthy railroad executives.

There’s a lot of intrigue here and the reader is just as clueless as Jed. I’m not sure that I ever figured out who was really behind all the treachery, and while I thought the family saga had a satisfactory resolution, the epilogue threw me for a loop.

It certainly held my attention, and I particularly liked the way Armstrong made the landscape and conditions (dust storms, blizzards, heat, etc.) part of the story. I also really liked Jed’s wife, Amanda, though she didn’t play a central role until half-way into the novel.

Toll - Cherie Priest - (Georgia)
Genera: Horror
4.5★
Take a road trip into a Southern gothic horror novel. Titus and Melanie Bell are on their honeymoon and have reservations in the Okefenokee Swamp cabins for a canoeing trip. But shortly before they reach their destination, the road narrows into a rickety bridge with old stone pilings, with room for only one car. Much later, Titus wakes up lying in the middle of the road, no bridge in sight. Melanie is missing. When he calls the police, they tell him there is no such bridge on Route 177 . . .
This is a disturbingly dark tale of the supernatural, tinged with gothic horror and eldritch elements. The story takes us to a tiny backwater town on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia called Staywater, where every thirteen years or so, someone always goes missing. Their disappearance is usually preceded by reported sightings of a mysterious "7th" bridge along the route on State Road 177, though of course, only 6 bridges exist according to any map ever printed.

On a spring day, Titus and Melanie are driving along 177 going to the state park where they will be spending their honeymoon, when they come across a one-lane rickety old bridge leading into only swampy darkness. The next thing that Titus knows, he is waking up on the side of the road, his SUV behind him is empty with its doors flung open, and Melanie is gone. He calls for help and the police tell him that they’re doing all they can to find his wife, Titus catches a ride to Staywater to get a room and wait. He can't sleep, so he goes out and ends up at the dive bar down the street hoping to drown his sorrows. The locals there tell him not to worry, that most likely his wife simply lost her way in the swamp while trying to look for help. It happens often enough to tourists and campers who come out this way, after all, and the police will certainly make sure Melanie comes home safe.

Oh, but these people know better. They all "feel" the shift in reality when it happens...and the last time it happened was thirteen years ago. They all know that "the swamp keeps what it takes", or rather, "the thing" that lives there does. The bridge has helped it claim another victim, and Titus will probably never see his wife again. No one knows this better than Claire and Daisy, two elderly cousins who have lived in Staywater their entire lives, watching it crumble and slowly die over the years. They thought they had put a stop to whatever was terrorizing the town, but apparently its connection to their world was stronger than they thought, and now the cousins have even more to lose. The two of them have been raising a teenage boy, Cameron, who was left on their doorstep as a baby. No one knows where he came from, but Claire and Daisy know that the thing in the swamp only takes outsiders. All they want is for Cameron to grow up and one day escape Staywater, but until the "problem" in the swamp is taken care of once and for all, they know that things will never be safe.

Toll was a better than average read...and certainly worthy of the 4.5 stars. I felt a little "let down" by some of the incongruencies, especially considering how much I loved Cheri Priest’s novel, The Family Plot. The ending here felt a bit rushed and didn't seem to live up to the suspenseful build-up that went on throughout the story. The horror element was certainly present, but I didn't feel that it was particularly "scary". Maybe I've read so many of these types of books that I'm now immune. To me it felt more like a mystery which absolutely did account for some excellent reading. If you are a horror fan this may be a good one for you...just don't get too close to that bridge.

Overall... I didn’t love it, but I certainly didn’t dislike it either. I just expected to find a little more in terms of answers, and horror

His Stepdad Wears Leather - Kelex - (California)
Daddy Tales Book #2
Genera: M/M Romance/Daddy, boy
5★
Running from his deeply conservative, religious parents, Noah Butler boards a bus to cross the country, praying the birth mother who abandoned him will open her arms in welcome. Once he steps off the bus near midnight, an aggressive stranger has him running for his life. Noah finds safety at the Village, a gay nightclub—the only place nearby open at that hour. Luckily, he still has that fake ID his best friend got him… and he looks older than eighteen. Inside the walls, he would be Christopher John Douglass and twenty-two—and he’d celebrate his birthday with the hot guy behind the bar.
This was a really good addition to the Daddy Tale series. I try to avoid stories with a lot of angst. This one had some but not a lot and it was mostly Brody. Noah balanced it out with his determination to make his "Daddy" see that they were meant to be together.

It was great to have a character that stood up for what he wanted but still cared enough to realize when something would negatively affect someone else. Noah and Brody made this story a 5-star read. All the kinky scenes in this were very good, and this book in this series is by no means an exception, especially the last one. All of that is wrapped up with a nice epilogue and a sweet HEA.

The story also goes on to remind us, that no matter what our sexuality is, or how we define ourselves, that everyone should strive to always be true to themselves and at least like the person that they are,

A Certain Age – Beatriz Williams
Book on CD performed by Adrienne Rusk, Mia Barron, and Barbara Goodson.
3***

Williams gives us a novel of romance, family secrets, and scandal in New York Society, set during the Roaring Twenties. The title refers to two things: the age of the era in American society, and a woman of “a certain age.”

Theresa Marshall is a married woman with a Fifth Avenue apartment, and a boy-toy lover, basically the same age as her grown son. Her family is an old, established one in NYC social circles, but they are without much money. (Theresa’s wealth comes from her husband.) When her brother, a confirmed bachelor, announces that he’s going to marry a young woman with wealth but no family history, Theresa asks her lover, Octavian, to research the girl’s family. And things get complicated once he meets the lovely Sofie.

I was not a great fan of Theresa; I thought Williams made her far too cold and calculating. Sofie, by contrast, was treacle-sweet. Still, it certainly held my attention, though I saw through the old murder mystery pretty quickly. Williams definitely gives the reader a sense of the era … speakeasies, flappers, bathtub gin, horse races, etc.

The audio is performed by three talented voice artists. Unfortunately, I don’t know which performer did which sections. They were equally good, and the change of voice did help with the changes in point-of-view during the novel.

If any of you might be concerned about me, please know that I haven't regressed to 4th grade level...three of my younger girls in my after-school group brought this book to our afternoon get-together and asked if the group could "please, please with many more pleases...read it". I was a bit surprised, but very proud of them, as even the teens, which comprises most of the group, thought that the bunny was cute and were happy to have the three girls read it to them...go figure! I should have known...they're all really kind and thoughtful kids...most of the time:) Anyway, they asked if I would, (more pleases), post their review for my "book friends" as they call all of you folks.

Because Of The Rabbit - Cynthia Lord
Genera: 4th & 5th grade Level
5★
On the last night of summer, Emma tags along with her game warden father on a routine call. They're supposed to rescue a wild rabbit from a picket fence, but instead they find a little fluffy domestic bunny.
Emma has been home-schooled up until the start of the 5th grade. She’s not quite sure how she's going to fit in at school, but she quickly makes friends with Jack, an autistic boy in her class. She wasn't a great, or even a very good friend to him until the end because she wanted so desperately to fit in with the other kids that she kind of ignores him. She, and her game warden dad, find a lost pet rabbit that she talks her parents into letting her keep until they find if there is an owner somewhere missing their pet.

The girls that brought the book in and wanted everyone to hear the story and the older kids that gladly listened to it, are mostly all LGBTQ kids. We have others that are not but just want to offer friendship and support...they're all a very special part of my life. My son didn't have anything like this group when he was in school, although he did have some wonderful friends and teachers. The kids all said that they thought that this was a beautiful story, but what I, the mom and educator, liked about it the most, was that it encouraged a discussion to take place among them, about inclusion and feeling accepted; of learning to be proud of who you are and the things that you enjoy...you don't need to change anything for anyone. So needless to say, we had a good book, a great time and a wonderful group of young folks.

Can I trust You? -Romeo Alexander
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Trust takes years to build but seconds to shatter.
I really love Romeo Alexander's books. It doesn't matter which of his series that you are reading, and I have read and own them all...you have a heartwarming experience with wonderful, unforgettable, characters. He writes stories that you just can't stop reading, with characters that may be morally on the gray side but still manage to pull on your heartstrings. My favorite is the "Men of Fairlake" series, a small town, where everybody knows but doesn't necessarily love everyone.

Here we meet another fantastic couple...Leon and Seb, who will catch your imagination right from the start. They were foster care kids who turned shady operatives for even shadier organizations. They meet again after being apart for years, but despite being on opposite sides, each one realizes there is only one side that actually matters; and that's being at the side of the one you love and being willing to do literally anything to keep them safe.

At first meeting, I found it difficult to really like Seb. He was closed off and seemed calculating. He assessed everything and everyone with a cold detachment. Leon was his "polar opposite"... a completely open book. You didn't ever have to wonder or guess about Leon. He was a skilled mercenary, but he has a "code" that he lived by faithfully, but that was not at all Seb's thing. As their story progressed, you can warm up a little to Seb, especially when he finally opens up showing us a completely different side of him...a side that only Leon could bring out. The back-and-forth communication between them was sometimes funny, witty and entertaining.

By the end, I couldn't wait to see how Romeo Alexander was going to give them their "Happy-Ever-After", and I have read enough of his books to know that his characters always get one...glad to say that I wasn't disappointed.

Leon and Seb will catch your imagination and your heart. Like all of this author's work, I thoroughly enjoyed every single page.

The Sardonyx Net by Elizabeth A. Lynn
4 1/2 ****

Trigger Alert - Torture, Sadism, Themes of Incest

And yet somehow, with a book that opens with the main character undergoing horrifying, sadistic torture at the hands of another main character, I was pulled into the world of this book. Or the otherworld, as the case may be. On the world of Chabad, in the Sardonyx Sector, Dana Ikoro tries to smuggle the illegal drug dorazine and is captured. Instead of a court and trial, he is handed over to Zed, scion of the Yago family, who run the illegal trade of dorazine as a drug to clear the minds and emotions of the vast network of slaves traded on Chabad every year. For Dana, his adventure has just begun.

Dana becomes the pilot and slave for the head of the Yago family, Rhani, older sister to Zed and Zed's first love interest. It is never explicit whether they engaged in physical incest, but the passion the two siblings felt for each other was never in question. When their mother finds them in the garden as teenagers, she suddenly separates them for the next few years and as a result, Zed's love for his sister becomes a sick and twisted sadism.

The story is gripping and told without shame or apology. Which, given the social standing of the Yago family on this world and the wealth and power they represent, is understandable. Dana finds himself a member of this household, all too aware that any infraction he makes in his new-found role will result in another round of torture. And he undertakes his new duties, becomes Rhani's bodyguard, and does everything he can to survive on a barren, treeless world where even the fruit has to be brought in by ship transport.

Again, the themes are harrowing, though they are an undercurrent to the book, and Lynn is such a brilliant writer that the story, and Dana's survival, are the main focus of this book.

The Nevaris Chronicles by Josh Hayes
5*****

Given that Peter Pan was my very first crush (he could fly!), I took a chance on reading this book. It helped that the author was there to explain to me that he took quite a chance on re-telling this classic story. And he re-told it in fine, flying style. And yes, there is Dust that allows the characters to fly! We also have the story told from the multiple POV of the beloved characters: Wendy, Pan (who is not a beloved character till the end), Michael, Bell, and twins Tim and Tom. Even Lily is here, a fierce warrior of the Crik. Hook is a psychopathic despot, something the Disney movie failed to convey.

The main protagonist, John, comes into this story from his airplane and is swept into some form of space vortex in the very first chapter. And finds himself on a planet full of flying skiffs and transports with buildings reaching high into the sky and lots of chaos and desolation below. There is some greenspace in this world (a far cry from the map of Neverland) though it is far beyond the inhabited areas.

This books works well in blending the characters from the children's story with a more modern and futuristic setting. Bell is the crafty techno wizard who loves to tinker and creates harnesses that channel the Dust and allow people to fly. Hook has a destroyed arm because of a fight with Peter, and he exacts his revenge by turning Peter into a mindless, hate-filled version of himself. The Crik are an interspecies humanoid who have travelled to Nevaris, but Hook drives nearly all of them off-planet. Wendy also came from Earth and is drawn to Pan's charisma and derring-do, and she takes over the Lost Boys when he is overcome by Hook's evilness. Oh, and the names of Hook's main flying ships are Revenge and Pride.

What also works well is the backstory that is told starting part way through for several chapters, and then continued a couple of times more. This catches up Wendy's story with what happened before, who Pan was (the Pan we all love and adore), how Michael joined in the Lost Boys, and the utter desolation and hopelessness of the people on this planet. The Regency is the government that has, by degrees, taken over leadership of the planet, and when Hook assumes control of the Regency it becomes an authoritarian, all-watching regime. What also helps this book for a more modern audience is the adult to near-adult age of the characters, and also that none of the Nevaris characters have ever heard of the book "Peter Pan" and do not understand the references. It helps with the crossover.