I Can’t Believe it’s Almost July!

What with the Covid Virus screwing up everyone’s lives and minds…. Let’s face it, how many of you are keeping track of the days?  I get up, run my errands and take care of the house.  I call my kids to check on all ten grands and then go back to reading a book, walking around the .88 mile track at a nearby park or just watch tv.

I hope that all of you are doing well and staying safe. This month I’m offering a few new to me authors and genres (not a fan of thrillers). So without further ado, here’s the July list for your edification.

Nora-A

 

July 2020: 

A Dram Before Dying – Lucky Whiskey Mystery #2 – Julie Zazimer (pud date unkown)

Week of July 1^st to 11^th.

 ^{Mums and Mayhem – A Magic Garden Mystery #3 – Amanda Flower}

^{Side Trip – A Novel – Kerry Lonsdale}

^{A Design to Die For – Hampton’s Home and Garden Mystery #5 – Kathleen Bridge}

^{Nacho Average Murder – A Country Store Mystery #7 – Maddie Day +}

^{Dr. Seuss’s Every Voice Counts – Make Yourself Heard – Dr. Seuss}

^{White Out – A Thriller – Danielle Girard}

^{Crooked Paths – A Chautauqua Murder Mystery #7 – Deb Pines}

^{The Key Lime Crime – A Key West Food Critic Mystery #10 – Lucy Burdette}

^{Explosive Situation – True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn – Terri Reed}

^{Murder in a Scottish Shire – New Series – Traci Hall}

^{Little Bookshop of Murder – A Beach Reads Mystery #1 – Maggie Blackburn}

^{Of Mutts and Men – A Chet & Bernie Mystery #10 – Spencer Quinn}

^{Late Lunch With Llamas – Magic Tree House #34 for young readers – Mary Pope Osborne (author), AG Ford (illustrator)}

^{The Lost and Found Bookshop – A Novel – Susan Wiggs}

^{Texas Forever – The Tylers of Texas #6 – Janet Dailey}

^{Immortality – The Immortals #4 – Maggie Shayne}

Lady Anne and the Menacing Mystic – A Lady Anne Mystery #4 – Victoria Hamilton

The Babysitter – A Novel – Nancy Bush

Crushing It – A Contemporary Novel – Lorelie Parker

All Our Summers – A Yorktide, Main Novel – Holly Chamberlin

Booked for Death – A Booklover’s B&B Mystery – Victoria Gilbert

The Other Sister – The Family Secret Series #2 – Donna Hill

Still Life Painting – A Paint and Shine Mystery #1 – Cheryl Hollon

Murder at Blackwater Bend – A Stella and Lyndy Mystery #2 – Clara McKenna

Witch Hunt – First in a Spellbinding New Series – Cate Conte

A Fatal Fiction – A Deadly Edits Mystery #3 – Kaitlyn Dunnett

Tea and Treachery – Tea by the Sea Mystery #1 – Vicki Delaney

You’re Next – A Novel – Kylie Schachte

Hawk – First Came Maximum Ride – James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

Desolation Road – Torpedo Ink Novel – Christine Feehan

Christmas in Bayberry – A Small Town Christmas Romance from Hallmark Publishing

A Design to Die For – A Hampton’s Home & Garden Mystery #5 – Kathleen Bridge

Unconquerable Sun – The Sun Chronicles #1 – Kate Elliott

Let the Guilty Pay – Bartholomew Beck Suspense Mystery #1- Rick Treon

 

Week of July 13^th.   

A Walk Along the Beach – A Contemporary Novel – Debbie Macomber

Jest Right – The Xanth Novels #43 – Piers Anthony

Peace Talks – New Dresden Novel #16 – Jim Butcher

The Lost Girls of Devon – A Novel – Barbara O’Neal

Thing Outside the Box – A Novel – Justine Avery & Liuba Syrotiuk

Cajun Justice – A Stand Alone Thriller – James Patterson & Tucker Axum

The Relentless Moon – A Sci-Fi Novel – Mary Robinette Kowl

 

Week of July 20^th.

Handbook for Homicide – Booktown Mystery #14 – Lorna Barrett

The Solace of Bay Leaves – Spice Shop Mystery #5 – Leslie Budewitz

The Glass Queen – The Forest of Good and Evil #2 – Gena Showalter

The Black Cat Breaks a Mirror– Bad Luck Cat Mystery #5 – Kay Finch

Speaking of Murder – Lauren Rousseau Mystery #1 – Edith Maxwell

Three Treats too Many – A Sarah Blair Mystery – Debra H. Goldstein

Quantum Shadows – A Novel – L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Uranus – A Sci – Fi  Novel – Ben Bova

I Come with Knives – Malus Domestica #2 – S. A. Hunt

Paris is Always a Good Idea – A Novel – Jenn McKinlay

 

Week of July 27^th.

From Beer to Eternity – Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery #1 – Sherry Harris

Spells for the Dead – A Soulwood Novel #5 – Faith Hunter

Night Shift – A Helping Hands Novel – Annelise Ryan

Death of a Wicked Witch – A Hayley Powell Mystery – Lee Hollis

Murder outside the Lines – Pen & Ink Mystery #3 – Krista Davis

Witches and Wedding Cake – A Magical Bakery Mystery – Bailey Cates

Tea & Treachery – A Tea by the Sea Mystery #1– Vicki Delany

Knot of this World – A Quilting Mystery – Mary Marks

Cherry Cheesecake Murder – A Hannah Swenson Mystery with Recipes – Joanne Fluke

It Cannoli be Murder – Italian Chef Mystery #2 – Catherine Bruns

Golden in Death – Eve Dallas #50 – J.D. Robb

My Highland Rogue – A Highland Fling Novel – Karen Raney

Searching for Love – The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hills – Oak Falls #6 – Melissa Foster

Wicked Witch –  – Lee Hollis

Murder at Crossways – A Gilded Newport Mystery – Alyssa Maxwell

Piece by Piece – An Amish  Novel – Laura Bradford

What the Heart Wants – A Novel – Audrey Carlan

Miss Janie’s Girls – A Novel – Carolyn Brown

Searching for Love – A Romance – Melissa Foster

What the Hatmaker Heard – A Missy DuBois Mystery – Sandra Bretting

The Suicide House – A Rory Moore/ Lane Philips Novel #2 – Charlie Donlea

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder – Husband Hunters #3 – Diane Freeman

Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits – A Mahalla Jackson Soul Food Mystery #4 – A.L. Herbert

Coached to Death – New Novel (PB) – Victoria Laurie

1^st Case – A Novel – James Patterson

A Shot of Murder – Lucky Whiskey Mystery #1 – Kathleen Bridge

Still as Death – Lucky Whiskey Mystery #2 – Julie Kazimer

 

 

Today is Valentine’s Day! So I’m Gifting You With March’s Newest Titles!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.  I have a really nice batch of March title’s to tweak your reading interest.  I have some new to me authors that I hope you will enjoy as much as I did in finding them.

As always, this list is as multi-genre as I can make it.  AUTHORS – If I don’t have you on my list it’s because either you didn’t give me advance notice or I wasn’t able to find it in time to post.

Nora-A

March 2020:

Week of March 2^nd.

Lavender Blue Murder – A Tea Shop Mystery #21 – Laura Childs

The Killing Fog – The Grave Kingdom #1 – Jeff Wheeler

The Billionaire in Boots – The Princes of Texas – Julia London

Defending Zara – Mountain Mercenaries #6 – Susan Stoker

Lethal Game – A Ghostwalker Novel #16 – Christine Feehan

Coconut Layer Cake Murder – A Hannah Swensen Mystery #25 – Joanne Fluke

The Sea of Lost Girls – A Novel – Carol Goodman

The Moonglow Sisters – Lori Wilde

The Prince and the Wedding Planner – The Bartolini Legacy #1 – Jennifer Faye

Second Chance for The Single Dad – A Clean Romance – Carol Ross

My Fair Latte – A Café Cinema Mystery #1 – Vickie Fee

Bayside Escape – A Bayside Summers Novel – Melissa Foster

 

Week of March 9^th.

Smoke Bitten – A Mercy Thompson Novel – Patricia Briggs

A Murderous Relation – Veronica Speedwell #5 – Deanna Raybourn

Easter Hair Hunt – A Bad Hair Day Mystery – Nancy Cohen

Credible Threat – Ali Reynolds Mystery #15 – J.A. Vance

My Way to You – Creek Canyon #1 – Catherine Bybee

Gone by Midnight – Crimson Lake – Candice Fox

Dovetail – A Novel – Karen McQuestion

Yours in Scandal – Man of the Year #1 – Lauren Layne

This Book is Alive – Living Book #1 – Justine Avery & Daria Yudina

A Season to Love – Season of Northridge #2 – Rebecca Heflin

The Queen’s Bargain – A Black Jewels Novel – Anne Bishop

Love Hard – Hard Play #3 – Nalini Singh

Death on the Page – Castle Bookshop #2 – Essie Lang

Nobody but You – A Novel – Jill Shalvis

Matzah Ball Surprise – A Novel – Laura Brown

 

Week of March 16^th.

A Conspiracy of Bones – Temperance Brennan Mystery #19 – Kathy Reichs

Crush the King – Crown of Shards #3 – Jennifer Estep

Bayside Fantasies – Bayside Summers #6 – Melissa Foster

The Sea Glass Cottage – A Heartwarming Novel – RaeAnne Thayne

The Boy From the Woods – A Novel – Harlan Coben

Smoke Bitten – A Mercy Thompson Novel – Patricia Briggs

 

Week of March 23^rd.

Pivot – A Novel – Alexandra Ivy and Rebecca Zanetti

Of Mutts and Murder – Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #6 – Bethany Blake

A Fatal Yarn – Knit and Nibble Mystery #5 – Peggy Ehrhart

Death of a Blueberry Tart – Hayley Powell Mystery #12 – Lee Hollis

Gone With The Whisker – A Bookmobile Mystery #8 – Laurie Cass

Can’t Hurry Love – A Contemporary Novel – Melinda Curtis

Dead in the Doorway – A House –Flipper Mystery – Diane Kelly

Sexy Love: Sexy Novella – The Sexy Series #4 – Carly Phillips

Across the Way – The Neighbors Series #3 – Mary Monroe

Stone Cross – An Arliss Cutter Novel #2 – Marc Cameron

Voice with No Echo – A Jimmy Vega Mystery #5 – Suzanne Chazin

Fearless – A Novel – Fern Michaels

Murder at the Mena House – A Jane Wonderly Mystery #1 – Erica Ruth Neubauer

The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice – A Furever Pets Mystery #1 – Alex Erickson

Killer Take All – A Duff MacCallister Western – J.A. & William W. Johnstone

A Hill of Beans – A Chuckwagon Trail Western #3 –  J.A. & William W. Johnstone

Sandblast – A Taskforce Epsilon Thriller – Al Pessin

Badger to the Bone – The Honey Badger Chronicles #3 – Shelly Laurenston

Sleuth on Safari – Traveler Cozy Mystery #1 – A.R. Kennedy

The Sunday Potluck Club –  The Sunday Potluck Club #1 – Melissa Storm

So Close to Home – A Dakota Adams Novel #3 – Galen Surlak-Ramsey

No Questions Asked – Lexi Carmichael Mystery #12– Julie Moffett

Hers to Tame – NOLA Knights – Rhenna Morgan

Murder at the Taffy House – Cozy Capers Book Group #2 (B&N ONLY) – B&N exclusive – Maddie Day

Bears Behaving Badly – BeWere My Heart #1 – MaryJanice Davidson

The Pursuit of Pankera – A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes – Never before released book – Robert A. Heinlein

Wolf’s Curse – Otherworld YA Duology #2 – Kelley Armstrong

The View from Alameda Island – A Paperback Novel – Robyn Carr

The Highland Rogue – A Lords of the Highland Novel – Amy Jarecki

 

 

 

February and St. Valentine’s Day… The perfect time for a new read.

Greeting all,

As always my list is multi-genre. Each month I search out new authors to add to my list so that you have even more choices.  So let’s get to it.

Nora-A

February 2020:

Week of Feb. 1^st.

Golden in Death – An Eve Dallas Novel #50 – J.D. Robb

Museum of Desire – Alex Delaware Mystery #35 – Jonathan Kellerman

A Divided Loyalty – Ian Rutledge Mystery #22 – Charles Todd

Missing in the Mountains – Fortress Defense Mystery #2 – Julie Anne Lindsey

Alone in the Wilds – Casey Duncan Novel – Kelley Armstrong

The Third to Die – A Novel – Allison Brennan

The Museum of Desire – Alex Delaware #35 – Jonathan Kellerman

Blackbird Rising – The Witch King’s Crown #1 – Keri Arthur

Colton First Responder – The Coltons of Mustang Valley #4 – Linda O, Johnston

Always the One – Meet me at the Alter – Tara Randel

Long Lost – Masters and Mercenaries: The Forgotten #4 – Lexi Blake

 

Week of Feb. 10^th.

A Crafter Quilts a Crime – A Handcrafted Mystery #3 – Holly Quinn

Killer Thriller – Ian Ludlow Thriller #2 – Lee Goldberg

Sisters by Choice – A Blackberry Island Novel – Susan Mallery

Above the Bay of Angels – A Stand Alone Historic Mystery

– Rhys Bowen

 

Week of Feb. 17^th.

The Last Passenger –Charles Lenox Mystery Series #13 – Charles Finch

The Patterdale Plot – Lake District Mystery #9 – Rebecca Tope

Summer Secrets – Wildflowers – Jill Sanders

It’s a Wonderful Midlife Crisis – A Good to the Last Death Mystery #1 – Robyn Peterman

 

Week of Feb. 24^th.  

BeWare My Heart – MaryJanice Davidson

Dressed up 4 Murder – A Sophie Kimball Mystery #6 – J.C. Eaton

His Unexpected Amish Twins – Unexpected Amish Blessings – Rachel J. Good

Coconut Layer Cake Murder – Hannah Swenson #25 – Joanne Fluke

Death by Chocolate Frosted Donut – A Death by Chocolate Mystery #3 –Sarah Graves

On the Lamb – A Kebab Kitchen Mystery #4 – Tina Kashian

A Silent Stabbing – A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery #5 – Alyssa Maxwell

Eternity Springs – The McBrides of Texas: Tucker – Emily March

Murder Makes Scents – A Nantucket Candle Shop Maker Mystery #2 – Christen Brecher

Here Comes the Body – A Catering Hall Mystery #1 – Maria DiRico

Dressed up for Murder – Sophie Kimball Mystery #6 – J.C. Eaton

An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen – A Louise Falk Mystery #3 – Liz Freeland

Who’s Dead, Doc? – A Jules & Bun Mystery #2 – J.M. Griffin

Death With a Dark Red Rose – Writer’s Apprentice Mystery #5 – Julia Buckley

The King’s Justice – Maggie Hope Mystery #20 – Susan Elia MacNeal

British Murder – English Tea Murder #17/ Lucy Stone #23 – Leslie Meier

Murder in an Irish Cottage – An Irish Village Mystery #5 – Carlene O’Connor

Dead Ringer – Mattie Winston Mystery #11 – Annelise Ryan

Pies Before Guys – A Pie Town Mystery #4 – Kirsten Weiss

Imaginary Numbers – InCryptid #9 – Seanan McGuire

A Highlander in a Pickup – Highland, Georgia #2 – Laura Trentham

How to Love Your Elf – Embraced by Magic #1 – Kerrelyn Sparks

The Darkest Kings – Lords of the Underworld #15 – Gena Showalter

Gone at Midnight – The Mysterious Death of Elissa Lam – Jake Anderson

Coconut Layer Cake Murder – A Hannah Swenson Mystery – Joanne Flake

Rope Burns – Those Jensen Boys! #5 – J.A. Johnstone, William W. Johnstone

Tucker – Eternity Springs, The McBrides of Texas – Emily March

The Burglar in Short Order – A Bernie Rhodenbarr Novel – Lawrence Block

 

 

 

An Historic Mystery to Entrance and Entertain You

The Anatomist’s Apprentice

By Tessa Harris

Copyright January 2012

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

In eighteenth-century England, the murder of Sir Edward Crick sends a torrent of gossip breezing through Oxfordshire; although, aside from his sister, Lady Lydia Farrell, few mourn the young man. When Lady Farrell’s husband becomes the prime suspect in the murder, she enlists the help of Dr. Thomas Silkstone–an anatomist and pioneering forensic detective–to solve the murder and prove his innocence.

Though Dr. Silkstone studied medicine in England under the foremost surgeon in the region, his unconventional methods and unfamiliar field of study have made him an outsider. Still, he agrees to examine Sir Edward’s corpse, but the keenest blade he will use is his intellect. He must determine both the cause and motive of this suspicious death in what will be the first of many cases.

This is the first book in the new “Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mystery” series.  I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it when I saw the notes on the list of offerings for the month. But being an enthusiast of Period Mysteries I just knew I would have to delve into it and see what the author could do with the subject matter.

Dr. Silkstone is a pioneer in what is today called Forensic Pathology.  The science of the body and finding out how and why it died.  He is an American Colonist studying under the tutelage of the very well know surgeon Dr. William Carruthers. In fact Dr. Silkstone is his premiere student,  whose skill with the scalpel was the envy of all the other students.

When a strange woman (who introduces herself as Lady Lydia Farrel) appears at his apartments asking for his assistance in the investigation of her brother’s death and the possible killer being her husband, Dr. Silkstone accepts her request and arranges to go to Oxfordshire and meet with the Coroner before the inquest and offer his services.

This heinous murder has a plethora of possible killers, and the death was caused by devious and at the time undetectable means, truly a challenge to Dr. Silkstone’s skills and abilities.  He will single handedly be inventing the skills to detect and prove the means of death.

While enjoyed the mystery involved very much, I did feel that the story dragged in a few places. I hope in the future the author will try to tie things up a bit more neatly, bringing the causes, and the people involved to a less dragged out conclusion.  All in all it was a challenge to my mind and I recommend this book to lovers of medical and forensic mysteries.

FTC Full Disclosure: I was sent this book by the publisher who asked only for a fair and impartial review.

A Truly Amazing Adventure Story

The Beads of Lapis Lazuli

By: Doris Kenney Marcotte

Copyright: September 2011

Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc.

 

Katheryn Marshall is just an everyday Cincinnati housewife and mother-until she purchases an ancient strand of lapis lazuli beads on holiday in Crete. That’s the start of a two-year obsession with ancient Minoan civilization, culminating in an unfinished novel about the culture’s greatest mystery of love and desertion. But as she delves deeper into the myth, Katheryn finds holes in the story that she refuses to accept, preventing her from completing the book. And what happens next could rewrite history-even as it stretches her marriage to the breaking point.

Now, against the vehement wishes of all those around her, Katheryn is about to drop everything to embark on a fact-finding mission that will take her to a deserted island in the middle of the Mediterranean. Along for the ride is Jake Deupree, a renowned psychic who helps archeologists locate important excavations. But as they hone in on their goal, it’s Katheryn who experiences odd premonitions. And neither of them is prepared for what their mission will uncover-and what it will uncover about themselves.

The Beads of Lapis Lazuli is part mystery, part psychological drama as it mixes history, obsession, and the paranormal for an exhilarating read. Bridging time and space, it is about seeking truth and taking control of our lives. And it is about discovering the unknown strength within us-that housewives can also be heroes and adventurers-as we write our own personal stories.

 

What do you get when you mix an everyday housewife who is an avid sailor, a surprise trip to Crete to avoid bad sailing weather and a Lapis Lazuli necklace?  You have all the ingredients necessary for an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones or Laura Croft.  Katheryn Marshal has always been interested in the Minoan civilization. Her interests have driven her to write a book answering the questions that remain about the Myth of Ariadne and Theseus.

Katheryn has been planning a return trip to Crete to look for more information but it seems that everyone around her is doing their best to keep her from going. Finally she just buys her ticket and plans to leave on her own.  She had read a short article in the paper about a man who helped a group of French Archeologists. He was a well known psychic who helped them select a new dig site. His success rate was unbelievable. She heads off to meet Jake Dupree and see if he can help her decide where to look and which island is the actual site.

Katheryn and Jake head off to Crete and from there, her adventure takes on a life of its own.

I love the stories of Ancient Greece and Rome. The pantheons of Gods and Goddesses, the heroes and heroines entertained me as a child and still hold me enthralled to this day.  Ms. Marcotte has produced a story of ancient love, paranormal adventure, history of a lost culture and an extremely must read book.

FTC Full Disclosure:  I received this book from the author who only asked for a fair review.

Murder in Burnt Orange is Blazing Hot!

Murder in Burnt Orange

By Jeanne M. Dams

Copyright September 2011

Publisher Perseverance Press

 

Hilda Johansson, formerly a housemaid and now a lady, is pregnant with her first, longed-for child–but she’s miserable in the scorching Indiana summer heat in 1905. Since she’s making everyone else miserable as well, her family encourages her to look into some current local crimes to take mind off her discomfort. No one thinks she’ll actually be able to solve matters of labor unrest, arson, and train wrecking, especially since custom forbids her even leaving the house. But they reckon without Hilda’s quick mind and stubborn determination to see the job through–even when the crime wave turns into murder, and touches her nearest and dearest.

 

Hilda is not happy. In fact she hot, tired, restless, crabby, touchy, and making everyone in her house unhappy also.  Hilda is six months into her first pregnancy (and a/c hasn’t been invented yet) and just can’t sleep or get comfortable.  Her mother and her aunt Molly decide that what she needs is something to take her mind off her body and put her brain to use solving a mystery.

At first her husband is happy to go along with this since Hilda won’t be going out of the house, sticking her nose into things.  The plan is for her to do all the brain work and have her “Baker Street Irregulars” help her out.  Her mother and Aunt Molly also will keep their ears open for information that will help her solve this problem.

The “problem” is a series of train accidents that are unexplained and done purposely by person or persons unknown for purpose unknown at this time.  Innocent people have been hurt and killed. The reason the problem is brought to her attention is that members of the family travel on the trains to get back and forth from South Bend to Indianapolis.

We’re going to be involved with Unions, Union Busters, Gangsters, and Pinkertons. How will it all turn out you ask?  Well you’ll just have to read the book.

Jeanne M. Dams’ can be found at her website http://www.jeannedams.com/

FTC Full Disclosure: This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes that I would review it.

Leah and the Bounty Hunter- a total bulleye

Leah and the Bounty Hunter

By Elaine Levine

Copyright August 2011

Publisher Zebra Historical Romance

To Leah Morgan’s mind, the last thing her hometown of Defiance needs is another gunman stalking its dusty streets-especially one as sweet-talking and fine-looking as Jace Gage. Despite her warnings, the infuriating man seems determined to meddle in her life and risk his own, all for a town that can’t be saved and a heart she locked away long ago.

Professional bounty hunter Jace Gage has cleaned up plenty of corrupt towns in his lifetime, and he knows he can handle whatever Defiance’s thugs have to offer. But the town’s most lawful citizen is another story. Beautiful, willful and exasperating at every turn, Leah is the one person capable of bringing the ruthless gunslinger to his knees-and capturing his desire with a single kiss…

Jace and Leah are thrown together during one of his jobs.  He is being paid by the U.S. Marshal’s office to capture or take out the Sheriff of Defiance. After of course he finds out where the sheriff is hiding the gold he’s stolen from the various shipments passing through his area.

Jace is riding leisurely into town when he sees what appears to be a young man being attacked by two ruffians.  Not one to normally get involved he continues watching the scene play out.  When the young person’s shirt is ripped open Jace realizes that this is in fact a girl or young woman and decides to step in.  As he approaches he sees the young woman knee one attacker while ordering her wolf (yes, I said wolf) to attack the other guy.

This was Jace’s introduction to Leah Morgan, who is another reason he’s in town. He’s been tasked by some friends to protect her while he’s there.

I’ve never been a fan or a reader of Historical Romance, not even Western ones. This book took me totally by surprise. It’s local, the time frame, and the cast of characters brought me back to the TV westerns and Western movies I watched back in the 1950’s.

Very nicely done.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received this book from the publishers, who only asked for a fair review.