Lost Lake
Another engrossing Gemma Monroe mystery begins at Lost Lake in Colorado. Sari is reported missing during a camping trip with her boyfriend Mac, her best friend Ally, and Mac’s cousin, Jake. Detective Gemma Monroe is called to investigate. After questioning the three she concludes, “one of them is lying. WhichContinue Reading
What Would Cleopatra Do?
Wondering how to deal with an annoying baby brother? Think What Would Cleopatra Do? 18-year-old Cleopatra married her 12-year-old brother so she could rule Egypt. Once her subjects got used to the idea, she basically erased her brother’s name on all historical and legal documents and took all the powerContinue Reading
Skeleton Makes a Friend
Skeleton Makes a Friend is another fun romp with Georgia and her animated skeleton Sid. Adjunct Professor Georgia gets a summer job teaching writing to high school students in a prestigious, but rundown, New England college. The job comes with a three bedroom cabin perfect for Georgia, her teenage daughter,Continue Reading
Suicidal: Why We Kill Ourselves
Theories abound, but few conclusions are reached in the interesting, but ultimately disappointing, Suicidal: Why We Kill Ourselves. Recently, there has been a spate of celebrity suicides: Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain and Avicii (Tim Bergling). Despite having an outwardly successful life, these people, and many others over the years feltContinue Reading
Past Tense
Jack Reacher is idly looking for his father’s past in small Laconia, New Hampshire in Past Tense. There are two tales in this book: Jack’s search for his family and a young Canadian couple’s stay in a creepy motel. Both occur in Laconia so it is obvious the two talesContinue Reading
Wrench in the Works
Charming characters in a unique setting enliven A Wrench in the Works, the sixth Fixer-Upper Mystery. Sisters Shannon and Chloe grew up working in their dad’s construction company. Shannon took over her dad’s company when he retired. Chloe moved to Hollywood and stars in a fixer-upper show. Chloe decides toContinue Reading
Laws of Brand Storytelling
Filled with countless examples of great brand storytelling featuring brands familiar to everyone, the Laws of Brand Storytelling helps any business tell their story in the most efficient and effective way. The twenty-nine Laws of Brand Storytelling are grouped into six categories: Protagonist, Strategy, Discovery, Story-making, Channel, and Engagement. TheContinue Reading
Book Giveaway of Family Trust
Enter this book giveaway to grab a paperback copy of Family Trust by Kathy Wang. Family Trust is Crazy Rich American Asians set in San Francisco rather than Singapore. My review is here and now you have a chance to win your own copy. Giveaway begins November 1, at 12:01 A.M. PDT and endsContinue Reading
Yule Log Murder
Three novellas in bestselling cozy mystery series all involving yule logs and set in the Christmas season are told in the Yule Log Murder. The Yule Log Murder is part of the Lucy Stone series. An assistant on a movie shoot is killed while transporting a yule log. It includesContinue Reading
Winter Riddle
Part Game of Thrones, part The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and part Viking mythology, Winter Riddle is a thinking person’s fantasy. And it’s hilarious! At the North Pole, Volgha the Winter Witch is just trying to live an introverted life. However, her younger sister took over the kingdom,Continue Reading
United States of Murder Inc Vol 1
With mob rats, mob war and President Kennedy’s killer, the United States of Murder Inc Vol 1 starts a new mafia graphic novel series off strong. Valentine becomes a made man in the mafia like his father and grandfather before him. With his cousin Dino, he is sent to D.C.Continue Reading
Nightmare Before Dinner
The Nightmare before Dinner includes recipes used in the famous Beetle House restaurants in New York and Los Angeles. There are chapters for sauces, appetizers, soups/salads, entrees, and desserts. Most look more tasty than scary though they do have clever names like Edward Burger Hands, Silence of the Lamb Chops,Continue Reading
Scarlet Book One
Scarlet is convinced the world is broken in Scarlet Book One. Scarlet and her boyfriend, Gabriel, are hassled by bad cop Gary Dunes. When he feels up Scarlet, Gabriel punches him. When Gabriel is shot by Dunes and framed as a drug kingpin, Scarlet vows revenge. But revenge doesn’t satisfyContinue Reading
The Flash: Starting Line
The Flash: Starting Line is a great value. It includes comics 0-12 plus the first annual for less than $25 on paper and even less digitally. These episodes of The Flash hold up well. The drawing is bright with beautiful coloring. The plots are great. I’ve never read some ofContinue Reading
Family Trust
Stanley is dying. All any of his family are concerned about is whether he has set up a Family Trust and named them as trustees. Stanley is the domineering and occasionally abusive father of Kate and Fred. Their mother and Stanley’s ex-wife, Linda, is concerned that Stanley will leave hisContinue Reading
Séances are for Suckers
Séances are for Suckers is a humorous take on old school romantic mysteries like The Moonspinners by Mary Stewart. Ellie is the youngest of a set of triplets. On her eighteenth birthday, her mother is killed and her sister descends into a vegetative state. Her brother is an elementary schoolContinue Reading