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Murder the Tey Way (Golden Age of Mystery Book Club) by Marilyn Levinson – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Murder the Tey WayMurder the Tey Way by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder the Tey Way is the second book in the Golden Age of Mystery Bookclub, and it was as good as the first one.

Lexie Driscoll has found herself embroiled in yet another murder mystery. Her sister, Gayle, whom she hasn’t seen in years, shows up, and she is terrified. She witnessed her boyfriend being killed, and she now lives in fear. She is confident the killer is now coming after her. Not long after Gayle’s arrival, they discover a dead man in Lexie’s backyard. After getting the story from her sister, Gayle flees again.

As she becomes involved in this investigation, she also discovers her bookclub members have secrets, and then a member of her bookclub is also murdered. Are the two murders connected, and what are the members of the club hiding?

As with the first book, the twists, turns, and pacing make it a great mystery. There is also some added romance. Lexie finds herself torn between two men who are completely different from one another, yet both could give her a life she yearns for. However, she has her own issues with commitment to work through. She fears making a grave mistake again, making it hard to trust anyone. I also enjoyed the references to Josephine Tey.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and to seeing what new crime our favorite professor will be involved in.

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Ghosts of Alda (The Obscured Throne Trilogy Book 2) by Russell Archey – Review by Christina Ford

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Ghosts of Alda (The Obscured Throne Trilogy Book 2)Ghosts of Alda by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I began this series in book two and was lost, so to really enjoy and understand I had to leave this book and start with the first. I am so glad I did because this is one of my new favorite series and will give all of Russel Archey’s works a chance, hoping he dazzles me like he did with this series.
It began in book one with a tear in the sky that allowed a much darker world to leak into Alda. Book two is a continuation of the chronicling of the dying world told from all different characters. There is so much dread and adventure in this series that you can’t shake it from your mind just because it is finished. I only wish I had book three out because I keep reliving my favorite tales and impatiently waiting for more.
This is one of my new favorite authors in my already favorite genre – a rare find!

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The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan – Review by Christie Mitchum

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The Girl Who EscapedThe Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan was a riveting, action-packed novel that takes off from the very first page!

Angie is a normal college student on Spring Break in South Florida with her three friends. They are enjoying a night out when things go horribly wrong when a man abducts the four of them. Angie is the only one who escapes. Thinking she is safe when she literally crosses paths with a policeman, she finds herself going from being a victim to a suspect. This was only the beginning of a story full of twists and turns. Nothing is what it seems! There are so many layers to uncover within the 318 or so pages.

The book was told from the point of view of different characters, even one of the baddest characters gives the book a voice…which I thought was fantastic. His chapters give insight into what the detectives and FBI agents haven’t discovered yet and what actually motivates him to do the evil things he does.

If the plot didn’t have me hooked, Cody, the IED-sniffing war dog, sure did! He was a great character, along with his owner, Jake. These two characters have their own books, The Jake Wolfe Series. Angie and Brenda were strong female leads as well!

Mark Nolan is a new writer to me, and I am looking forward to reading more books he has written and getting to know Jake and Cody better.

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Kiss a Thief by Marina Hanna – Review by Christie Mitchum

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KISS A THIEFKISS A THIEF by Marina Hanna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kiss a Thief is a fast-paced contemporary romance with some mystery and angst thrown in! Once you begin the first few pages, buckle up because it is going to be a fast, bumpy, but thoroughly enjoyable ride!

Our story opens up in an art gallery where Mia works for the boss from hell. She is just paying her dues, hoping one day to open her own gallery. In walks the sexy billionaire Dylan Knight who captures her attention when she sees him admiring a piece of art. What begins as a sexy flirtation turns to lust and then much more! Yet, their road to happiness will be full of bumps, and I found myself rooting so hard for this couple, hoping they would get their HEA.

I was expecting a steamy romance, but what I wasn’t expecting was the great suspense and adventure which just added more layers to the book. Without spoiling anything, that little twist added trust issues for both characters, and that, in turn, added more layers and made the characters multi-faceted and complex. If you are looking for a quick, sexy read with some suspense, give Kiss a Thief a try!

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Kiss a Thief by Marina Hanna – Review by Christie Mitchum

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KISS A THIEFKISS A THIEF by Marina Hanna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kiss a Thief is a fast-paced contemporary romance with some mystery and angst thrown in! Once you begin the first few pages, buckle up because it is going to be a fast, bumpy, but thoroughly enjoyable ride!

Our story opens up in an art gallery where Mia works for the boss from hell. She is just paying her dues, hoping one day to open her own gallery. In walks the sexy billionaire Dylan Knight who captures her attention when she sees him admiring a piece of art. What begins as a sexy flirtation turns to lust and then much more! Yet, their road to happiness will be full of bumps, and I found myself rooting so hard for this couple, hoping they would get their HEA.

I was expecting a steamy romance, but what I wasn’t expecting was the great suspense and adventure which just added more layers to the book. Without spoiling anything, that little twist added trust issues for both characters, and that, in turn, added more layers and made the characters multi-faceted and complex. If you are looking for a quick, sexy read with some suspense, give Kiss a Thief a try!

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Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies Book 7) by Toni Aleo – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies #7)Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Toni Aleo is one of the reigning queens of hockey romance, and she lives up to all of the hype and wonderful reviews she gets from her readers. I’m so glad I discovered her several years ago.

Now, it’s Evan and Callie’s turn to share their story with us, and what a beautiful story it is. Evan has come home to Nashville after retiring from the NHL. He is taking the time to focus on his mental health. Now, he finds himself surrounded by women gymnasts instead of hockey players. He has just begun his job as the athletic trainer for the gymnastics team. Callie and Evan’s paths have crossed before, as Callie’s sister is married to a hockey player, but they have never really had the opportunity to get to know each other.

When Callie sees him jogging one day with the hockey team, she decides she is going to take her chance with him. Her lust soon turns to something deeper when she discovers that he is struggling with feelings of worthlessness and being a failure. Both of them are soon on the path to finding out what true love really is and how it can truly save you…hence the perfect title of this book, Saved by Love!

I admired both Callie and Evan. I could totally relate to both of them. Evan feels like a failure for leaving the NHL because of his family’s legacy in the sport. He feels as if he is letting them down, especially his father. Who hasn’t felt at times that we have disappointed those we love? I know I have felt that way myself, even though I may not have. It was the same for Evan. I admired his tenacity and his focus on his mental health and his commitment to ridding himself of those feelings of worthlessness and failure.

While Cassie wants to make everyone she is around to feel the love and support that she has from her sister and brother-in-law, she still struggles with trust because of her family’s past issues. She hasn’t been able to let someone in to share those deep feelings of uncertainty and fear. Somehow, Evan is able to do just that!

While I loved the characters, both the main characters and secondary ones, I loved the story even more. Aleo always dives deeply underneath the surface and tackles important issues which make both the characters and story more realistic and relatable. Aleo never disappoints and that is what puts her on top of my list of favorite writers.

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Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies Book 7) by Toni Aleo – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Saved by Love (Bellevue Bullies #7)Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Toni Aleo is one of the reigning queens of hockey romance, and she lives up to all of the hype and wonderful reviews she gets from her readers. I’m so glad I discovered her several years ago.

Now, it’s Evan and Callie’s turn to share their story with us, and what a beautiful story it is. Evan has come home to Nashville after retiring from the NHL. He is taking the time to focus on his mental health. Now, he finds himself surrounded by women gymnasts instead of hockey players. He has just begun his job as the athletic trainer for the gymnastics team. Callie and Evan’s paths have crossed before, as Callie’s sister is married to a hockey player, but they have never really had the opportunity to get to know each other.

When Callie sees him jogging one day with the hockey team, she decides she is going to take her chance with him. Her lust soon turns to something deeper when she discovers that he is struggling with feelings of worthlessness and being a failure. Both of them are soon on the path to finding out what true love really is and how it can truly save you…hence the perfect title of this book, Saved by Love!

I admired both Callie and Evan. I could totally relate to both of them. Evan feels like a failure for leaving the NHL because of his family’s legacy in the sport. He feels as if he is letting them down, especially his father. Who hasn’t felt at times that we have disappointed those we love? I know I have felt that way myself, even though I may not have. It was the same for Evan. I admired his tenacity and his focus on his mental health and his commitment to ridding himself of those feelings of worthlessness and failure.

While Cassie wants to make everyone she is around to feel the love and support that she has from her sister and brother-in-law, she still struggles with trust because of her family’s past issues. She hasn’t been able to let someone in to share those deep feelings of uncertainty and fear. Somehow, Evan is able to do just that!

While I loved the characters, both the main characters and secondary ones, I loved the story even more. Aleo always dives deeply underneath the surface and tackles important issues which make both the characters and story more realistic and relatable. Aleo never disappoints and that is what puts her on top of my list of favorite writers.

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Body Checked (Astoria Bay Thunder Book 2) by CJ Cartwright – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Body Checked (Astoria Bay Thunder #2)Body Checked by C.J. Cartwright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Body Checked is the second book in the Astoria Bay Thunder series, and as with the first book, I loved it!!!

This time Bridger and Tia are sharing their road to HEA with us. They were introduced to us in the first book. Bridger is a teammate of Levi’s, and Tia is Brynn’s best friend. The fireworks between them were evident in the first book. Now, we get to see what was really happening that weekend of the calendar photo shoot. Levi and Brynn obviously weren’t the only ones having extra fun.

Bridger and Tia are both trying to change the course of their present lives due to mistakes in their pasts. So, hooking up wouldn’t be such a great idea, but the sexual chemistry is just too much to resist. They agree to a no strings, purely physical fling for just the weekend. Who knew the pull would go much deeper than just sex? Would they be able to overcome their pasts to have a happy future together?

Both Bridger and Tia made some really bad decisions in their pasts, and both are still paying for them, although Tia’s situation is more sinister. Both are complete opposites of Levi and Brynn, but they had the same kind hearts as their teammate and best friend. I really enjoyed getting to know them better. They were both complex and complicated, and I loved how Cartwright peeled back each layer with perfect timing.

Cartwright does indicate that parts of the storyline correlate with the first book, but there is also a good bit of the story that occurs before and after that weekend. In addition, it was interesting witnessing the weekend through their eyes. As with the first book, the author completely pulled me in and I was under her spell until the very last page. Looking forward to more in the series!

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Power Play (Astoria Bay Thunder Book 1) by CJ Cartwright – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Power Play (Astoria Bay Thunder #1)Power Play by C.J. Cartwright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m a sucker for second chance romances, and I LOVED this one by CJ Cartwright!

Levi and Brynn were once star-crossed lovers, and they were destined for a wonderful life together. But, circumstances and some manipulation by others, ended their romance ended ten years ago. They were just young two kids on the cusp of adulthood. Despite the heartbreak, they both thought that first love would diminish with time, but when the two inadvertently meet again, they quickly realize how very wrong they were. As they spend time together, and those old feelings flare again, could this be a new start for them?

Brynn and Levi are the type of characters I fall for hook, line, and sinker. Brynn has been looking for her own freedom for a long time, just not from her ex-husband, but her family as well. None of them believed she could be independent and follow her dreams. Despite all of that, she proved them wrong. I admired her perseverance and determination to achieve her goals.

Levi, himself, had a tough life but in a different sense than Brynn did. But, just like her, he was determined to make his dreams of becoming a pro hockey player a reality. Both had such wonderful hearts, I could really see why they were so perfect together.

My favorite books are those that completely capture your attention, the ones that you can’t stop reading until you reach the end, but hate telling the characters good-bye. I loved the story that Cartwright gave me. It was the perfect balance of steam and an emotional romance, complete with a great cast of secondary characters.

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Victoriously Yours (Titans of Manhattan Book 4) by Anise Storm – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Victoriously Yours (Titans Of Manhattan #4)Victoriously Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

~4.5 STARS~

As always, Anise Storm has done it again! I always say she can’t outdo herself, but she always proves me wrong!

Let me begin by saying, I was NOT A FAN of Jonas Courtland at the BEGINNING of the book. Saying I disliked him is a very mild understatement. He took a dare not even thinking or caring how it would affect the girl, Mackenzie, who had fallen in love with him in high school. He completely broke her. I wanted to throw him off the roof myself.

Fast forward a decade later…Jonas is a hotel developer and still a playboy, but now he lets women know up front that they shouldn’t expect anything from him. He has no desire to settle down. Mackenzie has worked hard to get herself in a healthy place, and now she has an opportunity of a lifetime, scoring a job as a chef in one of Jonas’s hotels. She just doesn’t know it’s one of his, but when they both see each other again, the fireworks begin!!!

Mackenzie is determined to win the coveted position and maybe even give Jonas a little bit of payback, but in love and war, things never go as planned. Just as these two find redemption, a secret is revealed that will not only derail Mackenzie’s dreams of becoming a famous chef, but she and Jonas may lose what they worked so hard to rebuild.

As I read more of the book, my feelings for Jonas began to thaw, much like Mackenzie’s did. For me, that is the mark of a talented writer, when he or she can make their readers feel what their characters do. My heart broke for Mackenzie, and Storm addressed the issue of mental illness with such love and sensitivity. Looking forward to the next installment in this emotional series!

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Imperfectly Yours (Titans of Manhattan Book 2) by Anise Storm – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Imperfectly Yours (Titans of Manhattan #2)Imperfectly Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What a raw, emotional read from Anise Storm! It is my favorite of the series so far!

I liked this book for so many reasons, but it was a bit different in that Anton and Elsa were already together and had their fairytale romance in the beginning, before life threw them a curveball and that fairytale started unraveling.

Elsa was Anton’s real estate agent trying to find him a penthouse, and it was pretty much love at first sight. Elsa couldn’t believe that one of Hollywood’s sexiest actors was in love with her, but she threw caution to the wind and reached for her happily ever after. All she wanted now was to give him children. Then, life would be perfect. But, everyone knows that life is never perfect, and these two are getting ready to discover that in a most painful way.

Neither one of them was perfect, even though Elsa was raised to believe she could create the perfect life by being the perfect wife. Think about it, her husband is in an industry that creates that illusion. When that dream of hers is crushed, she falls hard and makes some choices that threaten the very soul of her marriage.

Storm ripped my heart out at times. Elsa’s pain was palpable. I could feel it deep in my bones. At times, I was angry at Anton for using his job to run away from their problems, but people deal with tragedy in all different sorts of ways. As Storm tore my heart to pieces, she tenderly put it back together again. Wonderful, emotional story!!!

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Conveniently Yours (Titans Of Manhattan BOOK 1) by Anise Storm – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Conveniently Yours (Titans Of Manhattan, #1)Conveniently Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the book that started it all and made me fall in love with Anise Storm!

I always love a good fake romance book, and this one exceeded my expectations. Caspian is a man of great privilege, and he can have anything he wants at his fingertips. Yet, he has worked hard in his uncle’s company, hoping one day to take over. Unfortunately, that may be coming quicker than he wanted when he discovers his uncle is dying, and to top it off, he has thrown a wrench in his plans. He wants Caspian to settle down and get married if he wants to inherit the company. In addition, he has to stay married a year. Caspian desperately needs someone to marry him for convenience not love.

Paisley is in dire straits. She is broke, and her mother is in a coma. She has no clue what she is going to do to get out of the darkness she is in. As luck would have it, that light at the end of the tunnel comes in the form of Caspian. The two have a chance encounter at the hospital and recognize each other from childhood. As they catch up with one another, Caspian thinks he has found his perfect wife, even if for just a year.

Caspian, like most of his other friends, wants no emotional attachments. He has no intention whatsoever of developing feelings for Paisley. And, that is why it was so enjoyable watching her bring him to his knees.

Storm was a new author to me, and I’m so glad I discovered her. Her books are well-written, and she does a great job of balancing steam and emotion. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series.

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Seductively Yours (Titans of Manhattan Book 3) by Anise Storm – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Seductively Yours (Titans Of Manhattan, #3)Seductively Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Seductively Yours by Anise Storm is the 3rd book in The Titans of Manhattan Series. It’s now Mason’s turn to share his story of falling in love unexpectedly, and as usual, Storm makes it unforgettable.

Mason, like his friends, is enormously sexy and successful. He owns one of the hottest clubs in Manhattan. Life is pretty good for him. He has any woman he wants, and he has plenty of them, just never ones who work for him in his club.

Rhyann has stars in her eyes, moving to New York with dreams of becoming a dancer. She is well on her way to realizing that dream since she just managed to secure a place at Blackburn Dance Academy, but her illusions start to dim when she realizes she needs a job to be able to afford to stay at school. Her scholarship money only goes so far. Thankfully, her roommate helps her find a job in Mason’s club.

Mason and Rhyann have no idea of the surprise that awaits them…she happens to be the hot hookup and latest one night stand from a few nights ago! Awkward indeed since neither one of them can forget that night! He’s drawn to her but knows he can’t break his own rules, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her.

As with Storm’s other novels, this isn’t just about the sex. There is a lot of substance going on underneath the surface. As the two fight their feelings for one another, Rhyann experiences something that threatens to upend not only a chance with Mason but a chance to finally realize her dream she has worked so hard for.

If you love your books with raw emotion, sexy alpha males, and a determined heroine, you can’t go wrong with this one.

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Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater – Review by Christie Mitchum

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IllegalIllegal by K.J. Gillenwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater is a heart-pounding, riveting read! Once I started reading, it was impossible to put down.

Selena finds herself alone in Mexico, the country she was born in but doesn’t remember living in. She grew up in Arizona, thinking she was an American citizen. That was just one lie her mother told her. Her goal is to do what she needs to do to get back to her life in the US. Little does she realize that everything she knew about her life was a complete lie which puts her life in grave danger. Thankfully, a chance encounter with handsome stranger, Wyatt, saves her life in one instant. Now, they both are in a fight for their very lives, thus putting them on a journey of not only survival but truth and quite possibly love!

Wow! As I wrote in the earlier paragraph what a riveting read! Gillenwater did a phenomenal job of balancing romance, suspense, and drama! My heart went out to Selena. Everything she thought she knew about her life was a complete lie. I’m not a reviewer who likes to bring politics into reviews because I read books to escape things in the news, but this one really made me think alot about the children who have been essentially raised in the US and know nothing about their birth country and suddenly finding themselves facing deportation. It was obvious she was a foreigner in Mexico too. As the author wrote the following passage, my heart just broke for her.

“Or was she American? What exactly made someone American anyway? A look? An experience? A certain length of time living in the US? These questions had been ping-ponging around in her mind for a couple of weeks, and she had no answer?”

Not only was this a journey in discovering who she really was, but now she had no idea who the strangers were who were after her, and whoa, when she discovered who she really was, what a shocker for her!

Wyatt has quite a dark past himself…a dark childhood, and he is learning some things about himself as well in his quest to keep her safe all while falling helplessly and hopelessly in love with her.

There was nothing I didn’t like about Selena and Wyatt’s story! They were complicated and complex characters who just kept growing and evolving. The suspense and twists kept me turning the pages as well! If you are looking for a great romantic suspense with some great human lessons within the pages as well, this one is a winner!

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Everything to Me (Playing for Keeps Book 2) by Lauren Fraser – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Everything to Me (Playing for Keeps Book 2)Everything to Me by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everything to Me by Lauren Fraser is book 2 in the Playing for Keeps Series. I haven’t read the first book, and fortunately, it can be read as a complete standalone!

It is one of my favorite genres, a best friend’s sister sports romance. Their chemistry gave me butterflies, and their romance gave me all the feels. One thing that was quite different to me, but in a very good way, was that Fraser wasted no time in these two acting on their feelings for one another, of course, more lust in the beginning but it doesn’t take long for the feelings to develop.

I loved both Kendall and Pete. Kendall wasn’t just beautiful, but she was also independent and intelligent. She knows what she wants both professionally and personally. However, there was a softer side to her. She was very vulnerable in love for Pete, and Fraser did a great job of showing that.

While Pete had the typical reputation with the ladies, he really was a softie. He used his talent and wealth to help others in any way he could. He valued his friendships, especially with Kendall’s brother, and it was so much fun watching him fall in love with Kendall.

While this is a genre that can be overdone, Fraser made it fresh and witty. For instance, there was steam and spice, but that wasn’t the gist of the story. She focused more on the emotional attachment between Kendall and Pete rather than it just being about the sex. It was a perfect combination of the two. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to discover this new author. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy Book 1) by Rowan Rossler – Review by Christie Mitchum

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy, #1)The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler is the first book in the Hustler Trilogy. It is a strong start to what promises to be a wonderful series!

This is the story of Vandana and Morgan. Vandana is half of a successful PR company, and Morgan is a wealthy and talented yacht designer from Monaco. He is in desperate need of some positive PR if he wants to land a very lucrative deal with a Saudi Prince.

Vandana appears to have it all–talent, money, and a marriage made in heaven. As they say, not all things are as they appear, even if you are a PR guru. Not many people know, but her life has just imploded, leaving her heart shattered. The job with Morgan seems to come at just the perfect time. She needs this not just for professional reasons but very personal ones as well. She is a survivor, and I loved that about her, yet Rossler also showed us her vulnerable side as well.

Morgan is a woman’s dream of a man, but he does have a playboy reputation, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. However, something about Vandana intrigues him, and spending time with her makes him yearn for more than just a fling. As with Vandana, Morgan is so much more than his good looks and wealth.

The synopsis of the book just scratches the surface. There is so much more than a romance going on between the pages of this sexy romance–many, many secrets that kept me turning the pages! One of my favorite things was the changes and growth of the characters. Ironically, the name of Morgan’s own yacht is Liberte which means “freedom.” In the end, not only do Vandana and Morgan find their own individual freedoms, but some of the secondary characters do as well.

The Cruiser was a fantastic, intelligent romance with great characters and a great setting. I’m looking forward to the other two in the trilogy.

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy Book 1) by Rowan Rossler – Review by Christie Mitchum

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy, #1)The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler is the first book in the Hustler Trilogy. It is a strong start to what promises to be a wonderful series!

This is the story of Vandana and Morgan. Vandana is half of a successful PR company, and Morgan is a wealthy and talented yacht designer from Monaco. He is in desperate need of some positive PR if he wants to land a very lucrative deal with a Saudi Prince.

Vandana appears to have it all–talent, money, and a marriage made in heaven. As they say, not all things are as they appear, even if you are a PR guru. Not many people know, but her life has just imploded, leaving her heart shattered. The job with Morgan seems to come at just the perfect time. She needs this not just for professional reasons but very personal ones as well. She is a survivor, and I loved that about her, yet Rossler also showed us her vulnerable side as well.

Morgan is a woman’s dream of a man, but he does have a playboy reputation, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. However, something about Vandana intrigues him, and spending time with her makes him yearn for more than just a fling. As with Vandana, Morgan is so much more than his good looks and wealth.

The synopsis of the book just scratches the surface. There is so much more than a romance going on between the pages of this sexy romance–many, many secrets that kept me turning the pages! One of my favorite things was the changes and growth of the characters. Ironically, the name of Morgan’s own yacht is Liberte which means “freedom.” In the end, not only do Vandana and Morgan find their own individual freedoms, but some of the secondary characters do as well.

The Cruiser was a fantastic, intelligent romance with great characters and a great setting. I’m looking forward to the other two in the trilogy.

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Finding Melodie and The Wedding Special Boxset by Laura Rossi – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Melodie Boxset (Melodie #1-2)Melodie Boxset by Laura Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finding Melodie and The Wedding Boxset by Laura Rossi was an enjoyable romantic comedy! It was an entertaining romance and the perfect blend of sweetness and spice with some really great humor sprinkled throughout the book.

Can I just say how much I loved our heroine, Melodie, aka Pixie! She really was like a magic fairy who sprinkled magical dust into the lives of those she loved and cared about. Her quirkiness and happy outlook complemented good guy, Isaac, aka Office Boy. I loved how she helped him remember the joy of living and how he gave her the security and trust she craved.

The first book, Finding Melodie, tells the tale of how Melodie and Isaac fell in love. It’s somewhat a friends-to-lovers and fake relationship romance. The story itself is sweet with some dashes of spice. The book opens with her telling us how she has been crushing on Issac or as she calls him, Office Boy, for many months. When he acknowledges her for the first time, it isn’t in the way she was hoping. However, she doesn’t realize at the time that this is the first step towards her own HEA.

The second book, The Wedding, opens with their engagement and not long after, Melodie, meeting his parents which is quite memorable and hilarious. Let’s just say our Pixie’s magic dust does not work with Isaac’s mother AT ALL! The events leading up to the big day made me laugh but also made me angry at some of the characters. Rossi nails the stress of wedding planning and future in-laws. As with the first book, multiple characters narrate the book which gives readers more insight to their personalities.

I enjoyed the way the writer wrote in both books. It was like the characters were casually talking to me over coffee about how they came to fall in love and all the hilarious and at times, painful and frustrating events leading up to their wedding. I was quite sad to tell them good-bye. And, Rossi gave us one more little surprise, a sneak peek into the story of Melodie’s parents, Agatha and Stephen. I cannot wait to read that one!!!!

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Finding Melodie and The Wedding Special Boxset by Laura Rossi – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Melodie Boxset (Melodie #1-2)Melodie Boxset by Laura Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finding Melodie and The Wedding Boxset by Laura Rossi was an enjoyable romantic comedy! It was an entertaining romance and the perfect blend of sweetness and spice with some really great humor sprinkled throughout the book.

Can I just say how much I loved our heroine, Melodie, aka Pixie! She really was like a magic fairy who sprinkled magical dust into the lives of those she loved and cared about. Her quirkiness and happy outlook complemented good guy, Isaac, aka Office Boy. I loved how she helped him remember the joy of living and how he gave her the security and trust she craved.

The first book, Finding Melodie, tells the tale of how Melodie and Isaac fell in love. It’s somewhat a friends-to-lovers and fake relationship romance. The story itself is sweet with some dashes of spice. The book opens with her telling us how she has been crushing on Issac or as she calls him, Office Boy, for many months. When he acknowledges her for the first time, it isn’t in the way she was hoping. However, she doesn’t realize at the time that this is the first step towards her own HEA.

The second book, The Wedding, opens with their engagement and not long after, Melodie, meeting his parents which is quite memorable and hilarious. Let’s just say our Pixie’s magic dust does not work with Isaac’s mother AT ALL! The events leading up to the big day made me laugh but also made me angry at some of the characters. Rossi nails the stress of wedding planning and future in-laws. As with the first book, multiple characters narrate the book which gives readers more insight to their personalities.

I enjoyed the way the writer wrote in both books. It was like the characters were casually talking to me over coffee about how they came to fall in love and all the hilarious and at times, painful and frustrating events leading up to their wedding. I was quite sad to tell them good-bye. And, Rossi gave us one more little surprise, a sneak peek into the story of Melodie’s parents, Agatha and Stephen. I cannot wait to read that one!!!!

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Reunion in the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction Book 4) by Nicole Flockton – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Reunion in the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction, #4)Reunion in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a delightful and emotional read!

Reunion in the Outback is book 4 in the Welcome to Bunya Junction series. I have not read the others in the series, but despite that, I had no problem following the story. I feel like it can easily be read as a standalone.

I love a really good second chance romance, and this one did not disappoint. It actually stood apart from so many others in the genre. The writer gave me something different. This is about a couple, Yolanda and Michael, who have been together for many years and were happily married until a scary medical emergency threw their marriage into turmoil. Neither she nor Michael are sure they can ever find their way back to one another.

Michael and Yolanda were wonderful characters. They were both complex and complicated. Flockton did a great job of continually adding layers to them in each chapter with both Yolanda and Michael each telling me their story. Both of them are also keeping very important secrets from each other, but that was a symptom of their marriage at that point. I so wanted them to find their way back to each other. They loved each other so much, but doubts kept creeping back in, so they would take two steps backward for each step forward. However, I was very pleased with the ending.

Flockton is a new writer for me, and I can’t wait to read more from her, especially the earlier books in the series. It was a gorgeous story about love, loss, separation, reunion, and the importance of family.

 

Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young – Review by Christie Mitchum

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Divine VintageDivine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Divine Vintage is a delightful and different sort of read! Sandra Young has woven a tale of mystery, a bit of the paranormal, and romance that will keep you reading way into the night.

Tessa has used her inheritance from her grandmother to finally realize a long-held dream of opening a clothing boutique that specializes in all things vintage. On her opening day, she crosses paths with Trey Dunmore whose family has a long and somewhat scandalous past that includes a murder suicide. She somehow gets drawn into modeling a gown from the murdered woman’s, Phoebe, trousseau, and she soon sees visions that call into question of who really murdered her. Maybe it wasn’t her newlywed husband after all. This is the beginning of a mystery that just might end with Tessa’s own HEA.

What makes a great read for me are several things….a good plotline, a good pace, and great characters. This was a great combination of all three! The plotline was quite enjoyable! The mystery mixed with the paranormal not only thickened the plot but made the story click along at a great pace!

All the characters helped connect me to the story as well. Speaking of the main characters of Tessa and Trey, they were very likable. I was amazed at Tessa’s ability to connect with the items that induced her visions. It wasn’t just on the physical level but also at the emotional level. She helped connect the two storylines….hers and Phoebe’s. Tessa was a free spirit, much like Phoebe. She very rarely questions her ability. Trey, on the other hand, is pretty skeptical and at times questions his feelings for Tessa. Oh yes, there is that magnetic pull between them. However, he wonders if it is because of their shared visions or are the feelings genuine? Thankfully, Trey doesn’t let me down. Despite his reservations, he really is a great support to Tessa and is a great leading man.

The secondary characters of Esther, Jake, Phoebe, Edward, Nick, Stephen, and Victor really are characters in their own rite, and really do add depth to the story. Young also adds a side plotline of homelessness that does indeed connect everything.

If you like historical fiction, you will also enjoy Divine Vintage. The author really does transport you back to the turn of the 20th century, I could clearly see myself in the gilded ballrooms and glamor. This is a great pick if you like mystery, paranormal, romance, and historical fiction!

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