Review: Devil's Moon

Devil's Moon (Border Nights - Book 2) by Amanda Scott

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 416
ISBN-10: 1455556661
ISBN-13: 978-1455556663

(Received for an honest review from Forever)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Amanda Scott on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads

Books in the Series:

Border Nights

1. Moonlight Raider
2. Devil's Moon

Coverart: 

Excerpt from Devil's Moon, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

A WARRIOR'S PROMISE

The last place Sir David "Devil" Ormiston expected his moonlight chase of a horse thief to end was in a lady's bedchamber. He is shocked to find that the raider he has pursued is no man, but a defiant beauty in disguise-and the woman he's vowed to protect at all costs. Face to face with a girl Dev thought he knew, the ever confident, marriage-resistant knight may learn that he is defenseless against the desirable woman she has become.
A LADY'S SECRET

Lady Robina Gledstanes will do anything to keep her family's land out of the hands of her greedy kinsmen-except willingly submit to the handsome, cocksure Devil Ormiston. Dev's help may be just as dangerous as the threats lurking outside her castle. But when enemies scheme to steal the castle's treasure, Robina must risk losing something even more precious-her heart.

Thoughts:

Devil's Moon is another great historical romance from author Amanda Scott. This story is second in the Border Nights series and takes readers to the border lands between Scotland and England at a very traumatic time in the history of both countries. Scott has a way with writing about this time period. She uses her vast knowledge of the times and customs to give readers a very detailed and alluring novel. Devil's Moon is about more than just two people falling in love... it's about family and loyalty and protecting your heart as well as you hearth. A great addition to the series!

Amanda Scott is soooo very good at writing historical romance. She is what I would call a master. She uses the historical background to give the story authenticity. Scott did her homework for this series and it shows. Every description about the political climate and times is precise and detailed. The little things make all the difference in this one and she makes the story seem like a real account of what happened instead of fiction. A hallmark of a good author.

Robina is a heroine after my own heart. She is a stubborn one and she does not see any reason to get married. She loved her older twin brother very much but his death in battle has left her in a precarious situation. She must care for her younger brother until he comes of age to rule as laird of the clan and she must keep the suitor and raiders at bay. I admire the Highland spirit and I think Robby personified that strong, resilience that the Highland people were known for. A wonderful character.

Devil Ormiston was Robina's brothers best friend. They have known each other for years. But things are different now. Her brother is dead and she can't help but blame Dev for his death. On top of that he is only just now starting to see her as a woman and not the girl he grew up with. I loved Dev's determination to protect Robina and her home. It may have been a dying promise to her brother when it began, but it becomes much more than that. I felt like Dev was such a good example of a hero. He doesn't want to rule over Robina, he wants to help her. I found him intriguing and quite sexy.

Bottom Line:

The romance takes center stage in this one, because of the strength of Scott's ability to write good solid characters, but the historical aspects of the story were so necessary. I thought Scott got as close to fact as possible without going over the line. This story is fictional but it was so remarkably realistic that it was easy to forget at times that it didn't take place in history. An all around enjoyable story from a great author. Can't wait for the next one. 

Devil's Moon is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Amanda Scott is the author of over 62 romance novels and the recipient of the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award. She lives in Folsom, California, outside of Sacramento. She is a fourth-generation Californian.

Review: The Diamond Conspiracy

The Diamond Conspiracy (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences - Book 4) by Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Ace
Genre: Steampunk
Pages: 368
ISBN-10: 0425267326
ISBN-13: 978-0425267325

(Received for an honest review from Ace)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Philippa Ballantine on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Tee Morris on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences website

Books in the series: 

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

1. Phoenix Rising
2. The Janus Affair
3. Dawn's Early Light
4. The Diamond Conspiracy

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, The Diamond Conspiracy, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

For years, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has enjoyed the favor of Her Majesty the Queen. But even the oldest loyalties can turn in a moment…

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately.

But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself..

Thoughts:

The Diamond Conspiracy is the fourth book in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. This is really great steampunk writing. Readers who love the genre, not only get an alternative London in this series, but also some great cameos from political and literary notoriety. Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris blend remarkably well in their writing style and give readers a very cohesive and fun story. A great addition to the series!

Steampunk isn't for everyone, but if you like it and understand it, this is a great series. The concepts that make up the steampunk genre are on center stage here. Readers get to learn about a lot of interesting steampunk gadgetry and experience an alternative to the London they know and love. One that is more sinister and more entertaining. There is an element of fun about this series that pervades it, but it also has those dark undertones that make you feel all creepy at times.... love that feeling in a book!

Books and Braun are back with another adventure in this addition of the series. They are just learning how to deal with their new found relationship status. In the last book, they decided to stop fighting their attraction and just go for it. I love them as a couple, but I wondered if it would take anything away from how they worked together. I shouldn't have worried Ballantine and Morris, made it seem natural and it was fun. I liked how they weren't sure what to make of it. LOL.

I absolutely loved learning more about Wellington's past. He tends to remind me of an eccentric Sherlock Holmes at times and I wanted to know more about him. I was really captivated by this part of the book. He is an archivist... not exactly the kind of person you would pick to be a crack shot with a rifle. We know that his childhood was not the best, but we learn so much more that explains why he is how he is here. Just great writing. I can also tell that it will play a big part in future books.

Eliza was, as usual, a joy to read about. I enjoy her intelligence and her savvy intuitiveness. The Ministry of Seven, the child informants that Eliza counts on, has gotten themselves into a mess and it's up to Braun and Books to save them... and the entire empire. I love the large scope of these books. It's always do or due. Save the cheerleader, save the world kind of stuff. It gives each adventure an epic feel. I think that's what I love most about steampunk.

Bottom Line:

This is another great book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurences series. I really enjoy steampunk so it was right up my alley. Why do I love it? Because it's not paranormal... it's not exactly romance... it's not really a mystery... it's new and different and oh so very refreshing. I think Ballantine and Morris understand what readers of steampunk novels want and they show it here. Strange gadgets, Victorian London turned upside down and some amazing characters. Loved this one!

The Diamond Conspiracy is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Authors:

Philippa Ballantine: New Zealand born fantasy writer and podcaster Philippa (Pip) Ballantine is the author of the Books of the Order and the Shifted World series. She is also the co-author with her husband Tee Morris of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels. Her awards include an Airship, a Parsec, the Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice, and a Sir Julius Vogel. She currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and a furry clowder of cats

Tee Morris: Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. Tee then released in 2004 The Case of The Singing Sword: A Billibub Baddings Mystery which was earned him honors from ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards. It was in 2005 when his idea -- podcasting a novel -- established him as a pioneer in the Social Media movement, becoming the first author to podcast a book in its entirety. That experience led to the founding of Podiobooks.com (with Evo Terra and Chris Miller), the premier site for podcast literature. 

Tee took his collaboration with Evo Terra to print in Podcasting for Dummies (featuring Chuck Tomasi in the Second Edition), and penned other social media titles including All a Twitter (Que Publishing) and Sams Teach Yourself Twitter in 10 Minutes (Pearson Education). Other non-fiction titles Tee has contributed to include BenBella Books's Farscape Forever: Sex, Drugs, and Killer Muppets, the Complete Guide to Writing fantasy series from Dragon Moon Press, and BenBella Books' So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

In 2011 Tee Morris returned to his first love -- fiction -- alongside his wife, Pip Ballantine, with Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel (Harper Voyager). This title went on to win the 2011 Airship Award for Best Steampunk Literature, and was a finalist (the only steampunk to make the final round in any category) for Goodread's Choice Awards under Best Science Fiction of 2011. 2012 saw the release of The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel (Harper Voyager). The sequel was also a finalist in Goodreads' Choice Awards Best Science Fiction of 2012, and went on to win Steampunk Chronicle's Readers Choice of 2012 for Best Steampunk Literature. In 2013, their companion podcast Tales from the Archives received a Parsec Award for Best Podcast Anthology. Also in that year, Tee and Pip successfully funded via Kickstarter the anthology Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and The Ministry Initiative, a FATE-core RPG from Galileo Games. 2014 will see the release of Dawn's Early Light: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel (Ace Books). 

He can still be heard podcasting short fiction with Tales from the Archives, and alongside Pip on The Shared Desk at theshareddesk.com. Find out more about his work and his life at teemorris.com and ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com.

Review: The Courtesan Duchess

The Courtesan Duchess (Wicked Deceptions - Book 1) by Joanna Shupe

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 142013552X
ISBN-13: 978-1420135527

(Received for an honest review from Kensington Zebra)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Joanna Shupe on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from The Courtesan Duchess, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Can a bold-faced lie lead to everlasting love? One by one, the impetuous heroines in the Wicked Deceptions series intend to find out, each in her unique way...
 
How to seduce an estranged husband--and banish debt!--in four wickedly improper, shockingly pleasurable steps...

1.  Learn the most intimate secrets of London's leading courtesan.

2.  Pretend to be a courtesan yourself, using the name Juliet Leighton.

3.  Travel to Venice and locate said husband.

4.  Seduce husband, conceive an heir, and voila, your future is secure!

For Julia, the Duchess of Colton, such a ruse promises to be foolproof. After all, her husband has not bothered to lay eyes on her in eight years, since their hasty wedding day when she was only sixteen. But what begins as a tempestuous flirtation escalates into full-blown passion--and the feeling is mutual. Could the man the Courtesan Duchess married actually turn out to be the love of her life?

Thoughts:

Joanna Shupe brings readers the first book in her Wicked Deceptions series, The Courtesan Duchess. Readers who love historical romance will find this one enchanting. What do you do when you husband runs away after he says "I do"? That is the question this book answers in a fun and sensual way. Shupe's attention to detail is meticulous and she brings the period into vivid focus. The characters are multi-faceted and full of surprises. This is one of the best I've read this year and the genre. Reader's won't want to miss it.

There was just something about this book. This was first experience with Joanna Shupe's writing and I was captivated. Shupe gives readers a rather interesting premise for this book. The groom runs away from the bride and the bride hatches a plan to seduce him. Add in some advice from a lady of the night, a title in peril and danger around every corner and you've a formula for success. This was a really amazing book. Shupe drew me in and didn't let me go. 

Historical romance is one of those genres that has to get under your skin. A lot of the titles are set in England, as is this one, and the general storylines are very similar. It takes a creative and talented author to put a new spin on it and Shupe certainly does that with this book. It was refreshing and very original. I liked very thing about it. The characters were so life like and entertaining. I just wanted to know more an more about them and Shupe didn't disappoint.

Julia is tired of being left alone. She has a husband, but he doesn't really know anything about her or want to be with her. What would you do? I'm not sure I would impersonate a women of ill repute, but that could possibly work... LOL! I does in this story in a magical way. When Julia goes undercover as a courtesan, she takes all the pressure off Nick. He doesn't have think about what it will mean to his title or anything else. He just has to sit back and enjoy the ride. The problem comes in when Julia realizes that she really does like him. I thought she was just a joy to read about. Strong, independent and definitely resourceful. But most of all she was sultry and sensual and very passionate. There are some very hot moments in this one... bring a fan and a cold drink!

Nick was an interesting hero. He wants nothing to do with his estate and title. He wanders the country gambling and womanizing. I had a little bit of a hard time understanding why he was so disillusioned at first, but he is totally captivated by Julia and that was endearing. I understood his feelings of betrayal when he found out that he had been played, but he hurt her too, when he left. I didn't think he had the right to blame her completely and I was glad when things turned out all right for them. I liked Nick, but I loved Julia.

Bottom Line:

This is a really good book. Once you start it, you won't want to put it down. It's unique and different in a genre that is saturated with the same kinds of stories. Shupe makes her characters simply jump off the page. I liked the lead couple and found a lot of comical moments in the secondary cast. I thought the setting was drawn perfectly and really can't find anything that I didn't like. Nick turned out to be a sweetheart, even though I didn't want to like him in the beginning and Julia was a blast through and through... Read this one, I know you'll like it.

The Courtesan Duchess is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Joanna Shupe has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. While in college, Joanna read every romance she could get her hands on and soon started crafting her own racy historical novels. In 2013 she won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart® Award for Best Historical. She now lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband. Visit joannashupe.com.

Review: Force of Attraction

Force of Attraction (K-9 Rescue - Book 2) by D.D. Ayres

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Macmillan
Imprint: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1250042186
ISBN-13: 978-1250042187

(Received for an honest review from St. Martin's Press)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

D.D. Ayres on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the Series:

K-9 Rescue

1. Irresistible Force
2. Force of Attraction

Coverart: Click on the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series

Excerpt from Force of Attraction, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

"Incredible! You'll be on the edge of your seat?to see if the heroine can make it out alive."--Catherine Coulter, New York Times bestselling author on Irresistible Force

The only thing more powerful than fear is desire…

A seasoned K-9 officer with the police in Maryland, Cole Jamison has left her old life behind her. With a new home and a new partner--a protective canine named Hugo--Cole is ready for fresh challenges. A crucial position on an important drug task force is exactly what she wants…until she discovers her gorgeous, infuriating ex-husband will be the DEA agent in charge.

FORCE OF ATTRACTION



Agent Scott Lucca may be a pro when it comes to undercover assignments, but this job is daunting even for him. Posing as a happy couple on the dog competition circuit means he and Cole need to get a lot closer than they've been in years. Playing a live-in couple should seem like a walk in the park compared to tracking a brutal criminal, but suddenly nothing could be more dangerous than the passionate fire they've rekindled...

Thoughts:

Do you love dogs? How about second chance romances? If so... then D.D. Ayres' new book, Force of Attraction will be right up your alley. Force of Attraction is the second book in the K-9 Rescue series. Ayres is a pro at writing romantic suspense. Her stories will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and smiling from ear to ear. There is a good balance between action and romance in this novel as well as fully developed characters, even the canine ones! A great addition to the series.

D.D Ayres must love dogs. Her non-human characters are always exceptional. I loved Hugo in this one and thought Ayres did a wonderful job of bringing him to life. He doesn't have any magical powers but he is still a superhero. I think Ayres had a really good idea using canines in this romantic suspense series. I think they are an integral part of a lot of police departments and it's nice to see them get a leading role in a series. 

Cole was a strong woman. I liked her from the very first page. She changed her life, got a new job, even a new nickname. Not something that comes easy to anyone. When she is suddenly thrust back into the past, working with her ex-husband, she shows a lot of strength of character and I thought Ayres wrote her perfectly. It's never a walk in park giving someone a second chance. Cole didn't take the easy way out and walk away. She laid her heart back on the line with someone who had hurt her badly before... now that's a different kind of courage.

I liked Scott too. He is the kind of character that makes you redefine your definition of hero. This is a guy who gave up everything including his marriage to serve and protect. Undercover work is probably really difficult and easy to get lost in. I liked the fact that Ayres shows us that this hero wasn't perfect, he was real. His feelings for Cole never wavered and I was so glad that she gave him a second chance to do it right. Great character. Great chemistry.

The action in this one was superb. I was practically biting my nails. He bad guy was really bad. He had this eeriness about him that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up... LOL. Now that's a villain. The balance between the romance and action was excellent. I think there was just enough of each part to keep this book from being pretentious or seeming contrived.Nicely done!

Bottom Line:

If you are a romantic suspense fan and love dogs, this just might the perfect series for you. The action and the romance are well balanced and I the thought Ayres did a great job with these characters. Hugo was a favorite of mine and I thought the dog show angle was interesting and fun. This was just a good story that I think a lot of romance and suspense fans will love.

Force of Attraction is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag! 

About the Author:

D. D. Ayres loves men in uniforms and dogs, making the K-9 Rescue Novel Series with St. Martin's Press a dream come true. She currently lives in Texas where she's at work on her next novel.

Review: The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor

The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor (MacGregors Highland Heirs: Book 3) by Paula Quinn

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 1455519499
ISBN-13: 978-1455519491

(Received for an honest review from Forever)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Paula Quinn on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series:

MacGregors Highland Heirs

1. The Seduction of Miss Amelia Bell
2. The Wicked Ways of Alexander Kidd
3. The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor

Coverart:

Excerpt from The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor, courtesy of the author's website

Synopsis:

A LADY'S MISSION . . . 

Known for her beauty and boldness, Abigail MacGregor must preserve her clan's dangerous secret: that her mother is the true heir to the English Crown. If the wrong people find out, it will mean war for her beloved Scotland. To keep peace, she embarks for London, unprepared for the treachery that awaits-especially from her wickedly handsome escort. He is the enemy, but his slow, sensuous kisses entice her beyond reason . . . 

A WARRIOR'S TEMPTATION

General Daniel Marlow, loyal knight and the kingdom's most desirable hero, would rather be on the battlefield than transporting a spoiled Highland lass. But Abby MacGregor is unlike any woman he's ever met, in a ballroom or in his bedroom. Captivated by her daring spirit and seduced by her lovely innocence, Daniel must choose between betraying his queen or giving up the woman who would steal his country-and his traitorous heart.

Thoughts:

Paula Quinn brings readers the third book in the MacGregor's Highland Heirs series, The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor. This is a story of the turbulent pasts of both England and Scotland. Readers who love historical romance can't wrong with this one. Quinn's characters are well drawn and intriguing, while the premise of the book is complex and riveting. Secrets, betrayal, an assassination attempt, all of these things and more come into play in this novel. Quinn is on a roll with this series and this is the best book yet.

Having read the other two books in this series, I was excited to review this one. Paula Quinn has what it takes when it comes to historical writing. She uses her imagination liberally and comes up with something that is not only entertaining, but historically plausible. It didn't happen this way, but could you imagine if it did? Quinn could and did. Loved it! 

Quinn has done her homework with this one. Being of Scottish descent means I take it seriously when a writer takes on a story involving the Highlands or Scotland in general. I want there to be a certain amount of authenticity in the writing. It's one thing to write about the Regency period that has been thoroughly saturated. Any good historical writer that is worth his/her salt could probably come up with something good, without a lot of research. Tackling the Highland spirit along with the difficult relations between England and Scotland, that's a little more ambitious and Quinn does it with style here.

I loved Abigail. She was a true Highland lass. She was strong, courageous and independent. And she was stubborn as an ox... LOL! She had some sass to her and it was no wonder Daniel was stunned by her. Just a wonderful character and very well written. It was interesting seeing her grow and change throughout the book. Fall in love tends to do that to you. Daniel's change was incredibly gratifying as well. Going to from a Jacobite Killer to a Jacobite lover in one fell swoop. Great characters, with great chemistry. Quinn knows how to write a good love scene and fans to like books more on the romantic side get a great balance with this book. Lots of political intrigue and lots of lusty encounters. That's Scotland for you!

Bottom Line:

The best part of the book for me was the fact that not only Abigail but the rest of the MacGregor's have a part to play in this story. I also liked the whole Queen of England play in this novel. I wanted a lot of romance and I got it. I wanted a lot of mystery and political espionage and I got that too. Quinn is word master. Her skills at bringing her characters and the scene to life were simply magical. You gotta read this one... it's just that good!

The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Paula Quinn is a New York Times bestselling author and a sappy romantic moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen. She lives in New York with her three beautiful children, six over-protective chihuahuas, and a loud umbrella cockatoo. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She's a faithful believer in God and thanks Him daily for all the blessings in her life. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings.

To date, four of her books have garnered Starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. She has been nominated as Historical Storyteller of the Year by RT Book Reviews, and all the books in her MacGregor and Children of the Mist series have received Top Picks from RT Book Reviews. Her work has also been honored as Amazons Best of the Year in Romance, and in 2008 she won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for Historical Romance.

Review: The Dead Play On

The Dead Play On (Cafferty & Quinn- Book 3) by Heather Graham

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Harlequin MIRA
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Paranormal
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0778317730
ISBN-13: 978-0778317739

(Received for an honest review from Harlequin MIRA)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Heather Graham on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the Series:

Cafferty & Quinn

1. Let the Dead Sleep
2. Waking the Dead
3. The Dead Play On

Coverart: Click on the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series

Excerpt from The Dead Play On, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Play a song for me…  

Musicians are being murdered in New Orleans. But Arnie Watson apparently died by his own hand. When Tyler Anderson plays the saxophone he inherited from Arnie, a soldier and musician who died soon after his return, he believes he sees visions of his friend's life—and death. He becomes convinced Arnie was murdered and that the instrument had something to do with whatever happened, and with whatever's happening all over the city… 

Tyler knows his theory sounds crazy to the police, so he approaches Danni Cafferty, hoping she and Michael Quinn will find out what the cops couldn't. Or wouldn't. After all, Cafferty and Quinn have become famous for solving unusual crimes. 

They're partners in their personal lives, too. Quinn's a private investigator and Danni works with him. When they look into the case, they discover a secret lover of Arnie's and a history of jealousies and old hatreds that leads them back to the band Arnie once played with—and Tyler plays with now. 

They discover that sometimes, for some people, the line between passion and obsession is hard to draw. Only in uncovering the truth can they hope to save others—and themselves—from the deadly hands of a killer.

Thoughts:

The Queen of paranormal romantic suspense, returns with the third book in the Cafferty and Quinn series. Heather Graham's books always have that little touch of the paranormal in them and The Dead Play On is no different. This time it is in the saxophone of a dead Jazz player. Graham writes about the jazz scene in the city New Orleans like someone who has lived their all their life. She is able to give this book a dark, but sultry atmosphere that pervades it and gives the reader that chills down your spine kind of feeling. A great addition to this series!

New Orleans is one my favorite cities to read about. It has this Old World kind of feeling mixed with the influences of Voodoo and Creole. Everything from the accents of the people to the traditions and rituals is dark and inky. Like you are seeing on part of what is really happening. It strikes me as a place of secrets and Heather Graham is sooooo good at bringing it to life. Whether it's the ghostly aspect of things or the mysterious aspect. Whether it's the music or the mayhem, Graham knows how to write this town. 

In The Dead Play On, Graham delves deep into the musical history of the town. Drawing on the legends and stories passed down from musicians and players to give the reader a mystery that will captivate them. I loved the way Graham takes the reader into the Jazz atmosphere and makes them want to feel the music as much as listen to it. Arnie was a Jazz saxophone player and when he died, his spirit seems to reside in his horn. What an interesting idea to base a mystery on. I liked the fact that it had to do with musicians and the music of New Orleans. Very well done!

When Tyler, Arnie's best friend plays the sax given to him by Arnie's mother, something strange happens. Everyone thinks that Arnie died of a drug overdose but Tyler sees something completely different when he plays Arnie's horn. He sees the way he really died and he knows that this horn has something to do with the deaths of the other musicians in New Orleans. I loved the whole back story for this one. It was ingenious really. The killer looking for the horn almost driven by it to kill. I thought it was very well written, but most Heather Graham books are. 

Tyler appeals to Cafferty and Quinn to help him prove to the authorities that Arnie's death was a murder. Cafferty and Quinn have some expertise at crimes that are little out of the ordinary. I love the way these two characters work together. They play off each other and they aren't afraid to say that a crime has a supernatural element to it. They believe Tyler and it's up to them to prove it. I like the fact that there are two investigators with this series. Reminds me a bit of Scully and Moulder. LOL! Love it!

Bottom Line:

Another amazing book from Heather Graham. She is one of my favorites. The paranormal elements don't beat the reader over the head, they are subtle and intriguing. I don't know that I believe in ghosts or spirits or the essence of a person being left in their musical instrument, but I do believe in Heather Graham's ability to make me wonder if maybe that could be possible. A great book, you won't want to miss!

The Dead Play On is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She's a winner of the RWA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. For more information, check out her websites: TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, eHeatherGraham.com, and HeatherGraham.tv. You can also find Heather on Facebook.

Review: MIdnight Crossroad

Midnight Crossroad (Midnight, Texas - Book 1) by Charlaine Harris [Reprint]

Publication Date: 03/31/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Ace
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0425263169
ISBN-13: 978-0425263167

(Received for an honest review from Ace)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Charlaine Harris on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from Midnight Crossroad, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

The #1 New York Times bestselling author who created Sookie Stackhouse and her world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, “is back with a vengeance” (Tangled Web) with this first book in an all-new trilogy—and inviting readers to an even darker place on the map… 

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

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

INCLUDES AN EXCERPT FROM THE NEXT NOVEL IN THE SERIES, THE DAY SHIFT

Thoughts:

Charlaine Harris brings readers the first book in a spin off series, featuring one of the character's from Harris' Harper Connelly series. Midnight Crossroad introduces readers to a small Texas town, aptly named, Midnight with a cadre of eccentric inhabitants. With names like, Chuy, Fiji, Bobo and Rev readers with eclectic tastes are sure to find it entertaining. This isn't your grandma's small town story though, there are extremists, vampires, psychics and a few witches thrown in for good measure. An interesting new book, from a great author.

I'm not entirely sure what I expected with this one. Charlaine Harris is one of my paranormal favorites. She cashed in big time with the Sookie Stackhouse books and I think she was looking for that same kind of special formula with this book. A menagerie of quirky characters, a small town with some mystique and a hero/heroine that readers would fall in love with. I'm not sure that the cast of Midnight Crossroad was really able to pull of the same kind of excitement that the Sookie Stackhouse books did, but I think there is potential here. 

The characters in this book were definitely on the eccentric side. We have seen some of that before with Harris, take the character of Lafayette for instance, but it was a little more extreme in this one. Not just a few of the characters are offbeat. They all are. Even, Manford the character that crosses over from the Harper Connelly series, is not a normal sort of character. Even though the characters in the Sookie books were vampires and fairies and things like that they had some normalcy to their lives. This bunch not so much. I think the characters kept everything a little too close to the vest. I wanted to know more about them and what drove them and motivated them. I wanted to feel a part of their lives and I think that was what was really missing for me here. I still liked them. I found them intriguing. They had some interesting problems. But they didn't grab you quite so hard, as previous characters by this author have done. 

Having said that, I think Harris will probably divulge a lot more about the characters as the series progresses. She may have her reasons for writing this the way she did. In fact I'm sure she does. I want to know more about this town. What makes Midnight, Texas so desolate. It's practically a ghost town and what makes the people who live their tick. Why do they stay? What motivates them. 

The mystery aspect of the story was a bit of a slow start. What happened to Bobo's girlfriend? Was she dead? Was she alive? I was really surprised that we don't find out the answer to that very important question until well over half of the book has gone by. I had the curiosity necessary to keep on reading to find out, but it wasn't the same breathless kind of read I was used to from Harris. I wanted one of those mysteries that kept me on my toes and make me really think. No so much with this one. 

Bottom Line:

I know I know I shouldn't compare this series to one of the most beloved urban fantasy series out there, but knowing Harris is the writer of both, my expectations were high. I won't say I was completely disappointed or that I won't read the next one, because I will. I love Harris and I love her writing, so it's a given I'll keep on loving it. But I think this book was a hiccup. I think she was trying a little too hard to give readers what they wanted and not writing just for a sake of writing. This series can evolve and I look forward to seeing where it goes. 

Midnight Crossroad is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Charlaine Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse fantasy/mystery series; the Aurora Teagarden, Harper Connelly, and Lily Bard mystery series; and Midnight Crossroad, the first Midnight, Texas novel. She has lived in the South her entire life.