Review and Giveaway: How to Catch a Cat

How to Catch a Cat (Cats and Curios - Book 6) by Rebecca M. Hale

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 
ISBN-13:

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Rebecca M. Hale on the WEB: website, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series:

Cats and Curios

1. How to Wash a Cat
2. Nine Lives Last Forever
3. How to Moon a Cat
4. How to Tail a Cat
5. How to Paint a Cat
6. How to Catch a Cat

Coverart:

Excerpt from How to Catch a Cat, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of How to Paint a Cat, there are choppy waters ahead...

A serial killer with a peculiar penchant for City Hall interns is on the loose in San Francisco, and it’s up to me—and my two cats, Rupert and Isabella—to put a stop to the spree. Unfortunately, worrying about my uncle Oscar’s failing health and assisting with the interim mayor’s America’s Cup regatta doesn’t leave me with much opportunity to chase down clues.

Could the key to apprehending the killer be found in San Francisco’s sailing history? The first European vessel to pass through the Golden Gate contained a familiar cast of human—and feline—passengers as well as an elusive killer who used a similar murder weapon. Will the past catch up to the present in time to crack the case?

Thoughts:

Rebecca M. Hale returns to her Cats and Curios series with her latest book, How to Catch a Cat. Rupert and Isabella are back with another adventure, this time centering around the sailing history of San Francisco. Hale's unique way of writing might be a little confusing for some, but she always creates a tale that is complex and satisfying and this one is no exception. The unnamed main character is trying to find a killer in her own time and one in the past, which takes the reader on a journey through time as well as through a good mystery. Readers who love this series will find this one irresistible. 

This series is a mystery within itself. The idea that the main character is never named in the series, took a little bit of getting used to. At first I found that hard to digest, but the idea has grown on me. It is a really unique concept and Hale certainly makes it work for her in this series. Readers are fascinated as much by Rupert and Isabella's "person" as they are by whatever is going on in the story. I wonder every time I read one of the books in this series, if we'll ever really find out her name. 

I loved the sailing history theme of this addition to the series. Hale always does her homework and ensures that no two books she has written are anything alike. Her themes are distinctive and often take the reader into areas they never considered before. San Francisco is obviously a sailing town. I have to wonder how much of the historical stuff that Hale gives us in this book is based on real fact. It makes me want to go beyond the book and do a little research of my own. That's a hallmark of a good author. 

Essentially, the lead character, along with her uncle and her two cats are trying to pinpoint not one but two killers, separated by time. The present day killer's nickname is the Knitting Needle Ninja due to her choice of weapon. It was a little hard to distinguish whether you were in the past or the present at times and it was one of those books you had to really think about and concentrate on. But I think that was part of the beauty of it. I didn't want a mystery I could solve easily. I wanted to work for it and Hale delivered on that aspect.

Bottom Line:

Rupert and Isabella once again steal the show. We still don't know the main characters name and Uncle Oscar is still alive unbeknownst to most of the characters in the book. This was a somewhat complicated tale that took a lot of twists and turns. I loved the sailing history. I liked the fact that you had a mystery within a mystery to solve and the way the story skipped from the past to the present. A very unique and satisfying addition to this popular series.

How to Catch a Cat is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

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

About the Author:

NY Times bestselling author REBECCA M. HALE worked for almost ten years as a patent attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area before taking time off to write her first novel, HOW TO WASH A CAT. She is now the author of nine Penguin titles and a growing list of ebooks released under her own imprint Green Vase Publishing. She writes fiction, typically in the form of quirky mysteries that reflect her travel experiences and the people she meets on her journeys.

Rebecca lives in Western Colorado with her feline writing associates, that is, when she's not off researching future books set in San Francisco, the Caribbean or wherever else her wandering spirit takes her.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of How to Catch a Cat by Rebecca M. Hale.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 9th.

1. Please leave a comment. Have you ever done any sailing? Tell us about it.

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered (Rough and Tumble - Book 3) by Crystal Green

Publication Date: 03/17/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 260 (print)
File Size: 983 KB
ASIN: B00F9F0U2O

(Received for an honest review from InterMix)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Crystal Green on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Rough and Tumble

1. Rough and Tumble
2. Down and Dirty
3. Hot and Bothered

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

Excerpt from, Hot and Bothered, courtesy of the author's website

Synopsis:

On the dusty outskirts of Vegas, there’s a down and dirty saloon where all sorts of lethally charming—and genuinely dangerous—men carouse to seduce the women who happen to venture inside on their way to and from Sin City.

Despite the many women he’s bedded over the years, Gideon Lane has never been able to get Rochelle Burton completely out of his head. He certainly never expected to see the city girl again, now a successful author, all grown up in all the right places and asking for his protection.

After their disastrous night together, Rochelle was determined to put Gideon—and the things he made her want—far behind her. But when an obsessive fan expresses their anger over her latest book in a disturbing way, Rochelle’s overprotective cousins insist she hire the best bodyguard the Rough & Tumble saloon can offer.

Both Rochelle and Gideon intend to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when the threat to Rochelle puts them in close quarters , Gideon can’t help wanting the chance to prove that some things are better the second time around…

Thoughts:

Author Crystal Green brings readers the third book in her Rough and Tumble series, Hot and Bothered. This is a second chance romance set in and around, Sin City. Readers looking for a unique setting, intriguing characters or something to get them all hot and bothered need look no further. This book has a cowboy sort of essence about it that will make readers think of handsome heroes with big hearts and they won't be disappointed. Green develops some wonderful characters that will warm the heart and make a reader swoon now and then. A good addition to the series.

This is my first book from Crystal Green's Rough and Tumble series. I think I misinterpreted what the book was going to be about from the cover and the blurb to some extent, but that was a happy mistake. I had this notion that it was basically a western romance and it wasn't really that kind of book. It was unique for a lot of reasons. The hero isn't really a cowboy, so to speak, but a bodyguard for hire and a very good one at that. Just outside of Las Vegas there was a definite call for that kind of work. The heroine is a author, which was a nice call by the author. Readers love authors and that was nice with this one. 

Gideon was what I would call a player. He had a lot of different women and he doesn't settle down at all. But I honestly thought that was all a front to some extent. He had feelings for Rochelle a long time ago and when she left, he was afraid to get close to anyone. He uses that swagger and over confident attitude to keep real feelings away. I liked watching him come undone when he and Rochelle have to work together again. She needs protection and he is protecting kind of man. The fact that he was a bodyguard was a natural fit for the character. He made a sexy hero. 

Rochelle was an author with a fair amount of success, but she managed to ruffle a few feathers along the way and now she needs a bodyguard for her upcoming book tour. Since Gideon is one of the best she is forced to see him again and it's very quickly apparent that the sparks are still there. I liked Rochelle, she was smart and sassy and she was also lonely. I was nice to see her get a second chance with Gideon. I thought the author did a good job of coming up with a great way to put them back together again. 

Having said that, I did love the characters, but there were a few other things about the book that I didn't like as much. For me the pacing was way off. The first half of the book was slow to start and hard to read at times because it just didn't seem to be going anywhere. The lead characters danced around each other and the danger that Rochelle was facing. I felt like I had to drag the action out of the book. Somewhere around the half way mark the story started to pick up and it finished strong, but you really have to stick with it. To say this one has a slow start is probably an understatement.

I liked Gideon a lot as a character, but I did think there was a pretty big discrepancy in the kind of person the author wanted us to think he was and the kind of persons his actions were showing us in the early part of the book. I don't think you have to sleep with everyone  of the opposite sex who has a pulse to prove that you are good in bed or that you are irresistible. It is also not necessary to prove you are a real man, or whatever. I just think that was a little much for my tastes. A hero needs to be a hero and it took me a few minutes to figure that out with this one. 

Bottom Line:

I liked this book. I had a hard time getting started because of the slow beginning. I also thought there was a bit of a disconnect between who the hero was and how he presented himself. Beyond that it was a very good second chance love story. I liked watching Gideon change into that man I wanted him to be, but I think he could have been there from the beginning. Rochelle was great, but she did have a penchant for cold feet. All in all it was a good effort, just maybe not the best this author can do. I'm going to read the other books in the series to see if my opinion might be a little skewed just from this book. As always take with a grain of salt, read it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Hot and Bothered is available NOW from your favorite digital bookseller.

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

About the Author:

Crystal Green is a RITA nominated romantic fiction author. She is the author of Down & Dirty, Rough & Tumble, and the Vampire Babylon urban fantasy series writing as Chris Marie Green.

Review: The Warlord's Wife

The Warlord's Wife (Sons of the North - Book 1) by Sandra Lake

Publication Date: 03/17/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 284
File Size: 876 KB
ASIN: B00JV0YW8G

(Received for an honest review from InterMix)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Sandra Lake on the WEB: website, twitter, goodreads

Synopsis:

A stunning historical romance from debut author Sandra Lake transports readers to 12th century Sweden, where a powerful Viking lord will discover a fierce heart cannot be taken by mere force.

Lida was married to the love of her life for just two months when she became a widow. Pregnant and disowned by her late husband’s family for suspected infidelity, she was forced to return to her family in shame. Eight years later, uninterested in the prospect of finding another husband, she finds herself the unwilling object of a marriage contract with a powerful warlord. In a day, she is wed, bed, and put on a ship headed for Tronscar; an unknown icy stone and steel fortress.

Jarl Magnus is pleased to have taken a strong wife who, however stubborn she may be, will surely produce sons. However, he is less pleased with his wife’s additional baggage—a young daughter. But despite himself, Magnus falls for the daughter just as hard as the mother, and Lida’s heart is warmed to see the cold, serious Jarl move surprisingly fast into the role of stepfather.

When enemies attack Tronscar, Jarl Magnus’s nerves of steel waver, as the warrior fears his love for Lida will weaken him. But when his family is threatened, he’ll go to war to protect them, discovering along the way that they have the strength to protect themselves.

Thoughts:

Debut author Sandra Lake takes historical fiction to new heights with her first book in the Sons of the North series, The Warlord's Wife. Readers who enjoy historical fiction but are tired of the same old offerings will find this book a refreshing change. Lake gives readers a look into the Viking culture and history like they've never seen it before, through the eyes of a young woman, touched by tragedy. The Swedes that Lake writes about are a strong and noble people who brave the cold and inhospitable North to raise there families and live their lives. A great new series!

Sandra Lake went back to her roots in writing this novel. Being from Sweden she had a unique perspective that translated well in her first novel. The Warlord's Wife had an authenticity and realness that readers don't always find in historical fiction. Readers who are tired of the ton, will love the great white North. I thought Lake did a fantastic job of showing the setting and making the reader aware of the kind of people it takes to live in this kind of environment. The historical background was well researched and well written.

Being a debut novel, I generally expect a few hiccups and that was the case with this book as well. There were moments when the pacing was a little off, some spots read very quickly, with lots of action and things going on, while other parts of the story drug a little bit and moved too slowly. I think that's just one of those things you learn along the way. I'm sure that Lake will perfect her timing and balance as she matures as a writer.

I also felt like there were some issues with the intimacy between the characters. I realize that Lida has had a difficult journey in her life and that she isn't sure she wants to be the Jarl. But once they began to get closer I expected a little more from the romantic scenes. I wanted it to be about more than producing a male heir. It was, but it didn't have that feeling that some romances give you. 

That being said, there were a lot of things to like with this book as well. I loved the interactions between both Lida and her daughter Katia, and the Warlord and Katia. It was easy to see that the Jarl had not been taught the value of women, other than to produce children. It was amazing to watch how he transforms throughout the book. He becomes that hero that you want him to be. He had a great journey and I think Lake did a great job with character development.

There was a lot of action in this book centering around the fact that the Warlord's family was not satisfied with his choice in a wife and were quick to cause trouble at every turn. I liked the back and forth between the family members and Lida and her husband. I was glad to see him take her side and be that man he needed to be. 

Bottom Line:

This was a good book. I liked it a lot. It was a break from Regency England in the historical romance genre. Which made it unique and refreshing. The historical background was amazing and the author did a superb job with characterization. I did stumble a bit with the pacing and I felt the romance was slightly lacking, but there is a lot of potential here and I think readers are going to want to watch Sandra Lake as she matures as a writer. A very good start to a new series!

The Warlord's Wife is available NOW from your favorite digital bookseller.

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

About the Author:

Sandra Lake was born somewhere in the wilds of Sweden. Surrounded by shirtless, blond men, she learned to sail, swing a sword and skin a bear when she was only three--wait no, that was Davy Crockett...

The real Sandra was raised in rural Canada. (close enough to Sweden) She married her childhood sweetheart (who is blond and on occasion shirtless). They are currently living happily-ever-after along with their kids and unruly husky in Quebec, Canada.

Review and Giveaway: A Wee Murder in My Shop

A Wee Murder in My Shop (A Scotshop Mystery) by Fran Stewart

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425270319
ISBN-13: 978-0425270318

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Fran Stewart on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from A Wee Murder in My Shop, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

Hamelin, Vermont, isn’t the most likely place for bagpipes and tartan, but at Peggy Winn’s ScotShop, business is booming…

While on a transatlantic hunt for some authentic wares to sell at her shop, Peggy is looking to forget her troubles by digging through the hidden treasures of the Scottish Highlands. With so many enchanting items on sale, Peggy can’t resist buying a beautiful old tartan shawl. But once she wraps it around her shoulders, she discovers that her purchase comes with a hidden fee: the specter of a fourteenth-century Scotsman.

Unsure if her Highland fling was real or a product of an overactive imagination, Peggy returns home to Vermont—only to find the dead body of her ex-boyfriend on the floor of her shop. When the police chief arrests Peggy’s cousin based on some incriminating evidence, Peggy decides to ask her haunting Scottish companion to help figure out who really committed the crime—before anyone else gets kilt…

Thoughts:

Fran Stewart brings readers the first book in her new Scotshop mystery series, A Wee Murder in my Shop. This book is about all things Scottish. From a buying trip to Scotland to the 600 year old Scottish shawl. Many cozy mysteries have a paranormal element but it isn't usually a Scottish Highlander transported across time. Stewart has created an interesting cast of characters and provides a mystery that will have readers guessing all the way to the end. A great new series!

I love Scotland. I love everything about it and this series hit the spot for me. I could just imagine the little shop in Vermont and how it could give off the atmosphere and small town charm that you might find in a Scottish village. I thought Fran Stewart did a great job of making her Scottish theme seem authentic and realistic. If I can't live in Scotland, I want to live in Hamelin. A great setting.

The 600 year old Scottish shawl that Peggy buys for herself on her buying trip to Scotland came with it's own resident ghost. "Dirk" is a great character, but I would have preferred Peggy keep his original Scottish name. I think that took a little bit away from his credibility as a 14th century Scottish ghost. It seemed a bit contrived, but was the only thing I didn't like about the character. He was obviously curious and learning to deal with the 21st century and that made for some interesting moments and of course Peggy going around talking to thin air might have raised an eye brow or two, but all in all Dirk was a hit with me and will be with other readers as well.

The mystery in this one centers around the death of Peggy's ex-boyfriend and the arrest of her cousin, Shoe for the deed. Stewart doesn't give the reader a plethora of suspects in the case, but there is motive. I liked the idea of the smaller suspect pool. It made me a as a reader concentrate a little harder on the clues because it was harder to figure out which one of them could have done it. This wasn't one I figured out right away and that was a good thing. Stewart did drop a few clues that only a good sleuth would have picked up on and I was quite surprised at who actually killed, Mason and why. 

Bottom Line:

This is a great new series, especially for readers who like Scotland and legends and artifacts that deal with Scotland. I thought Stewart gave us a great paranormal character in "Dirk", though he could have been handled a little better. I think we will see great things from him in the future of the series. I loved the smaller suspect pool and the way that Stewart cleverly put in tidbits and information that not every reader would get. A great new book in a great new series!

A Wee Murder in my Shop is available NOW from your favorite bookseller

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

About the Author:

Fran Stewart is the author of the Biscuit McKee Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Atlanta Writers Club, and the National League of American Pen Women, and lives simply in a quiet house beside a creek on the backside of Hog Mountain, Georgia, with various rescued cats. She sings (alto) with the Gwinnett Choral Guild, knits, reads, gardens, volunteers in her grandchildren’s school libraries, and manages quite happily without a television set.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Wee Murder in my Shop by Fran Stewart.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 8th.

1. Please leave a comment. What is your favorite thing about books with a Scottish theme?

2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: Tryst

Tryst by Alex Rosa

Publication Date: 03/17/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: InterMix
Genre: New Adult
Pages: 333 (print)
File Size: 961 KB
ASIN: B00LMGLYFQ

(Received for an honest review from Intermix)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, itunes, Kobo

Alex Rosa on the WEB: website,twitter, facebook, goodreads

Synopsis:

In this sensational New Adult debut by Alex Rosa, boyfriends are too much trouble. So what’s the harm in a little fun?

With an abusive relationship behind her, Skyler moves out of her Orange County apartment, changes her phone number, cuts ties with her friends, and moves in with her brother Josh, a talent agent with a spare room in his incredible house in Hollywood.
Josh is happy to take Skyler under his wing, but he has one rule: she can’t sleep with his roommate, Blake. That’s fine by Skyler. She doesn’t want a man in her life right now—and certainly not cocky Blake who’s with a different girl every night. But his all-American boy charm and his ripped model physique are difficult to refuse. Josh will never know if no one ever tells him. And a little secret now and then never hurt anyone…

Thoughts: 

Sometimes you find love when you aren't even looking for it. That's what happens in Alex Rosa's debut new adult novel, Tryst. Friends with benefits can get messy and it does for Blake and Skylar in this coming of age novel about two people who don't want a relationship but end up with one anyway. There is a lot to love about this complicated and emotionally tangled story. Shhhh! Don't tell Josh!, That's Skylar's brother who pretty much let her move in with him with one stipulation, don't mess with Blake... uh-oh!

This was a really fun romp. Rosa draws readers in with the breezy, beautiful Skylar. She is a pre-med student, a soccer player and a risk taker. She wants something new and different in her life. So she decides to move to Hollywood to live with her brother. She was a sassy character who had a lot of spunk. I liked her from the first page. She was just a girl who wanted to have some fun. Getting into a relationship under her brothers nose was maybe not the smartest move. But it definitely proved to be interesting. A very good character all the way around.

Blake was what I would call an enigma. He acted very open and accommodating with Skylar. He didn't want a serious relationship, neither did she. It was the perfect set up. But Blake isn't exactly what he seems, there is a whole lot more to this hero than meets the eye. I didn't realize how much he was holding back at all until it started to come out in the wash. He was a complicated, dude. But I like that in a good hero.

One of my favorite parts... Skylar's relationship with her brother. He would make a perfect hero for Rosa's next book in my opinion. Josh was caring and he understood that Blake might not be ready for someone like Skylar. But you know how it goes, do they ever listen when you tell them stuff like that? There interactions were a lot of fun to read.

Bottom Line:

A very good debut. I think Rosa captured the spirit of new adult writing. This was a story about two people who had big dreams and a lot on their plate. Friends with benefits seemed like a good option, but fate intervened. Rosa does a great job with character development and creates a fun and energetic atmosphere. I'm looking forward to where she goes next with this. 

Tryst is available now from your favorite digital bookseller

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

About the Author:

When Alex Rosa isn’t scouring city parks or cafes to write, she is most likely trying to convince her friends to join her on her next adventure. A sufferer of wanderlust, she is always looking for a new mountain to climb, a canyon to hike, or a plane to board. Her résumé consists of coroner, zoo worker, and most recently executive assistant, but she finds her home amongst words, whether it is in books or in film. Her obsessions are on the brink of bizarre, but that’s just the way she likes it.

Review: Rising Fire

Rising Fire (Stone Circles - Book 1) by Terri Brisbin

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0451469070
ISBN-13: 978-0451469076

(Received for an honest review from Signet)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Terri Brisbin on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads

Excerpt from, Rising Fire, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

What if the standing stones and stone circles across the old Celtic world had a secret origin and use?
What if some opened into another world?
What if the goddess of fire was trapped beneath one? 

Lovely and innocent Brienne of Yester has always been able to manipulate fire, but when her powers suddenly surge, the simple life she once knew explodes.

Handsome, fearless, and commanding William de Brus has been summoned by the king to investigate a nobleman rumored to have powers linked to the fabled fire goddess. When he chances upon Brienne, his desire for her is immediate. But as his mystical quest unfolds, William realizes that she is at the center of it—for Brienne possesses the very power he has been sent to vanquish....

As their attraction deepens, William attempts to free Brienne from the dark force beginning to control her—even when his duty demands that he treat her as an enemy. With emotions flaring, fire rising, and evil threatening at every turn, can the two lovers survive the coming battle and save all of humanity?

Thoughts:

Terri Brisbin starts readers off with the first book in the Stone Circles series, Rising Fire. And it starts with a bang! Readers looking for a unique storyline that follows the stories of and legends of the Old Celtic gods will love the background and setting. Brisbin creates an interesting world that will draw readers in and hold on tight. Our hero is between a rock and a hard place when he falls for the woman he is supposed to be exterminating. A great new book in what might prove to be a great new series.

Wow! That's about all I can say. I was really interested in this one from the start. Being of Scottish origin, I love stories that delve into the old Celtic legends and faith. I am always interested to see if an author really did their homework on the background and Terri Brisbin did not disappoint. Her creativity is pretty amazing with Rising Fire. She takes some of the old tales but still adds her own spin to the story that makes it something completely new and different. I loved the seven bloodlines controlled by the seven gods. Just an amazing premise for a paranormal series.

The two main characters are in a bit of fix. Brienne of Yester is such a beautiful and creative character. She has a kind grace about herself. She carries herself in a way that exudes her power. She has always been able to control fire to a small extent but lately it's gotten a bit out of control and a lot stronger. Now she finds herself wanting to know more about it, as well as, Chaela the goddess of Fire, who may be a part of her bloodline. She is a character that readers will be easily drawn to, with a kind of charisma that is often hard to capture in the written word.

William is a faithful servant of the King. He is loyal to King and country no matter what the consequences. But what happens when a man who is so driven to protect his King is given an order he desperately does not want to follow? I thought William's dilemma was really difficult because not only is the King his King, but he is also his estranged father, but the woman he is to destroy might be the love of his life. As a character he was charming and debonair, but he was also trustworthy and honest. A real hero in my opinion.

Bottom Line:

This is probably one of my favorite paranormal reads of the year so far and that's saying a whole lot. If you are in the least bit interested in Celtic mythology this is a must read. If you are love books and television shows like Outlander this is definitely a new series for you. I can't recommend this one enough! You gotta read it. Soooo good!

Rising Fire is available NOW from your favorite bookseller

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

About the Author:

Terri Brisbin is a USA Today bestselling author and a three-time RWA RITA® finalist. She has sold more than 1.8 million copies of her historical and paranormal romance novels, novellas, and short stories in more than 20 languages in 25 countries around the world since 1998. Her current and upcoming romances will be published by Harlequin Historicals and New American Library (NAL). Terri's also re-released her earlier works, too. Visit terribrisbin.com for more info about Terri, her works and upcoming events.

Review and Giveaway: Dying for a Cupcake

Dying for a Cupcake (Devereaux Dime Store Mystery - Book 4)

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 0451418891
ISBN-13: 978-0451418890

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Denise Swanson on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series:

Devereaux Dime Store Mystery

1. Little Shop of Homicide
2. Nickeled and Dimed to Death
3. Dead Between the Lines
4. Dying for a Cupcake

Coverart:

Excerpt from Dying for a Cupcake, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

When Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair hosts a cupcake contest at her five-and-dime store, she discovers that someone is just dying to win... 

Kizzy Cutler finds it so delicious to be back in her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri, that she seems to have forgotten why she fled twenty years ago. For now, she’s excited to kick off her new line of cupcakes with a competition, which Dev has agreed to host in her shop. But before the first yummy cupcake is even baked, Kizzy's assistant Fallon dies from a mysterious ailment.

While the medical examiner attempts to discover what killed Fallon, Kizzy declares that the show must go on. However after Kizzy escapes several near misses, Dev is convinced that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for the Cupcake Queen. Is the secret from her past so dark someone still wants to kill her for it?

With a list of not-so-sweet suspects, Dev’s in a race against the timer to solve the murder before someone else gets iced…

Thoughts:

Denise Swanson is a pro when it comes to cozy mysteries. Her, latest book, Dying for a cupcake is the fourth book in her Devereaux's Dime Story Mystery series with features a strong female lead character that is looking for more than your average clue. Dev Sinclair has a keen eye when it comes to solving crime and in this latest installment of the series, it's all in the cupcakes. With a mouthwatering theme and a little bit of murder, this a great addition to the series!

Swanson never disappoints when it comes to a good mystery, but in this case readers get that and a whole lot more. Not only is there mystery and suspense in Dying for a Cupcake but readers get the added bonus of a little romance and a whole lot of amazing cupcakes. Yummy, yummy! I liked the premise of the story and since my daughter wants to own and operate her own bakery one day, this one hit a sweet spot for me. Swanson set up the novel carefully and allowed the theme to permeate the book. A great idea for a cozy.

Dev is once again, a very clever heroine. I loved watching her get down to the business of investigating. She looks at all the possibilities and draws so much from those around her and clues that maybe most sleuths would never find. I always feel with her that readers are getting a much different perspective than in most cozy heroines. Much like Swanson writing, Dev is unique and surprising. I liked the touch of romance in her life this time and can't wait to see where that goes.

Kizzy is back in town but apparently not everybody is glad to see her. I liked the whole bad girl returns to town after a long hiatus, theme Swanson has going on. Readers are instantly trying to figure out what she did. Why she left. And most importantly, why she came back? There were questions on top of questions but Swanson did a good job of keeping her writing on point. The suspects start to mount and things really get out of hand, but I loved every minute of the chaos.

Bottom Line:

If you haven't tried Denise Swanson's writing, what in the world are you waiting for? Swanson's unique style and flippant sense of humor give this book and the others in the series, a refreshing and lightness that isn't often found in the genre. I like a little romance with my mysteries and I got that too, with this one. There's a lot to like for many different kinds of readers. Swanson does a great job with her latest offering!

Dying for a Cupcake is available NOW from your favorite bookseller

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

About the Author:

Denise Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River Mystery series and Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery series. She worked as a school psychologist for twenty-two years before quitting to write full-time. She lives in Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr, and their cool black cat, Boomerang.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Dying for a Cupcake by Denise Swanson.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 7th.

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