Category: fiction

Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower

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Book One in A Piper and Porter Mystery Series

Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mystery, #1) 5 STARS

Amanda Flower is an author that I will read anything she publishes. Throw in the fact that this is a Hallmark published book, well that just sweetens the pot.

I adore that, finally, a sleuthing protagonist in a cozy mystery is a licensed PI. Darby Piper’s world is about to change when the tables turn and she goes from being the investigator to the investigated. When all the clues of a murder are pointing straight to her, she has to sleuth like she has never sleuthed before to clear her name and save her business. With the time and evidence against her and the help of an unlikely partner, Darby must solve this once and for all before she goes to prison, or worse, becomes the next victim.

I figured out the who early on but had to wait for the clues to develop to piece together the why. It was a good plot and I hope to see this on Hallmark Mysteries and Movies.

I cannot wait for the next installment of this series and to see how new partners and a possible love triangle plays out.

I had a digital copy (from Netgalley) and the audio version narrated by Laura Faye Smith.

The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor

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The Paper Girl of Paris 5 STARS

I came across this book on a New Releases’ Post for May 26, 2020. I adore novels with dual timelines and I enjoy Historical Fiction, so I was immediately intrigued. This has the typical plot; person of today finds letter or photograph leading to some past unknown. This story sucked me in from the beginning.

A good portion of Historical Fiction novels center around WW II. While I understand the importance and interest, I prefer the stories to be more about the people than the war itself. I found this novel to be more of a “behind the scenes” story. This was more of a coming of age story with a historical past and a dash of mystery. Maybe because it is in the Young Adult genre, I just found it to be refreshing.

Sixteen year old Alice and her parents travel to Paris after finding out her deceased grandmother left her an apartment, an apartment that has been locked for more than seventy years. When she unlocks the apartment, she also unlocks secrets about her family’s past. Alice, along with her new “friend” Paul, set out on a journey to find the missing pieces of her grandmother’s past. Alice finds out a lot about history, her broken family, herself, and a little bit about love.

I would recommend this book to Historical Fiction lovers of all ages or anyone interested in a Coming of Age story with a historical past.

I had the audio version of this book narrated by Liza Seneca. She was a great narrator and did a fantastic job with all the accents.

Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab

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Book Two of the Cassidy Blake Series

Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake, #2) 4 STARS

I found this series by chance and felt like I just needed a break from my regular reads. It was exactly what I needed. The books are short, one sitting reads but jam packed with entertainment.

Cassidy Blake is just your everyday teenager, well except that her parents are paranormal inspectors who have actually never seen a ghost, they just write about them. The irony of the situation is that ever since her near death experience, Cassidy has been able to not only see ghosts, but communicate with them. As a matter of fact, her best friend Jacob is the ghost that saved her life.

In the first installment of the series, The Blakes have been offered a television deal to visit and report on the most haunted cities in the world. Their first stop, Scotland. While there, Cassidy meets someone with the same abilities who teaches her why she has them and what to do with them.

In this, book two, The Blakes travel to Paris. While exploring the catacombs, Cassidy seems to have inadvertently released a ghost, well not just any ghost, a poltergeist. With the poltergeist getting stronger and causing mayhem throughout the city, she has to find out what she can do to get this ghost to respond to her and move it along.

Very entertaining story. This was written for a younger age group but there is enough history and suspense to keep you entertained at any age.

I enjoyed this story through audiobook format. I am looking forward to wherever Bridge of Souls, book 3, brings us. Expected publication is some time in 2020.

You Can Thank Me Later by Kelly Harms and Narrated by Lauren Fortgang

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“Life may not have the happy ending you planned, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy in the end.” –Me

You Can Thank Me Later: A Novella (Audible Audio) 5 STARS

This a free Audible Original listen for the month of November. I picked it solely based on the fact that it had something to do with Thanksgiving and Family. I did not read the synopsis of the plot and went into this blind.

I adored this listen. The emotional roller coaster you take in this just over 3 hour audiobook is intense. I didn’t get out of the first 3 chapters without ugly crying and sobbing. Some ask, why would you want to read, listen, or watch something that is going to make you cry like that? I ask, what is wrong with crying? It is a healthy emotion, just like happy. I like to feel, and feel is exactly what this story made me do. It is packed with real, raw emotions that some have had to deal with in real life.

Although this story is packed with emotion, it also shows that there is life after loss and how to deal with it and in one case, how not to deal with it.

Plain and simple, this story is about love, family, loss, pain, growth, coping, and starting over. Life may not have the happy ending you planned, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy in the end.

I plan to look up Kelly Harms, author, as well as the narrator, Lauren Fortgang. I highly recommend.