Review ~ The Blood King (Inferno Rising, Book #2) by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks #PNR #Dragon #Phoenix @EntangledPub

Book Details:

Publication Date : August 25, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara
ASIN : B084V1ZBPC

Amazon: https://amzn.to/31xud0l

About the Book:

Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne at all costs. And now, with war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle. Luckily, the fates have dropped Skylar Amon right into his lap.

Except he may have met his match.

The feisty Amon sister has no fear — of him or any other dragon shifter — is brash, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.

Skylar also has no intention of sticking around. She doesn't believe in the whole destined mates thing and believes all dragon kings to be dangerous. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she'll put up with Ladon... temporarily.

But the fates have other plans. And when Skylar disappears in the middle of a battle, Ladon will burn down the world to find her.

My Review:

The Blood King is a perfect example of one of my favorite romance tropes: enemies to lovers. The fact this story is also full of paranormal shifters, specifically dragons, makes it even better.

Skylar Amon is one of a quadruplet of phoenixes, a rare occurrence since there's only supposed to one phoenix at at time. Hidden from the Rotting King of the Red Dragon Clan and each other, Skylar has finally located one of her sisters, Kasia. Skylar manages a stealthy entrance to the Blue Dragon lair only to find her sister is mated to a Gold Dragon. Dragons are supposed to be their enemy. Rescuing Kasia takes an unexpected turn when Kasia doesn't to be rescued and Kasia's mate, Brand, heartily agrees. Kasia and Brand are such a cute couple and the author makes their love and affection shine from the pages. The relationship does not impress Skylar and she's even less impressed with the feelings she's starting to have for Ladon Ormarr, king of the Blue Dragons, also known as The Blood King.

Ladon doesn't understand his attraction to Skylar. It goes long beyond just needing to secure her as a mate because she's a phoenix. Skylar is stubborn and doesn't want to be claimed or chained to a mate who only wants her for who she is and the powers she has. She's willing to take one for the team, however, if it means putting the Rotting King down permanently. As the war between the various dragon clans heat up, so does the chemistry between Skylar and Ladon. When everything is all said and done, Skylar may not be able to just up and walk away from the one man who burns her from the inside out and fires her up like no one else.

Amazing, this book is simply amazing. I read the book in under 2 days and I have a full-time job and a family. Oops, sorry guys, didn't mean to neglect you. The chemistry between Skylar and Ladon is off-the-charts hot, from the minute Skylar stepped out of hiding and through all the stubbornness, suspense, and drama this paranormal romance brings to the table.

I love the author's writing style, conversational and easy to follow. The pacing of the story is perfect, not too fast, not too slow. There aren't any boring or dull spots, as the author created 3-dimensional characters and a 3-dimensional world. I was engrossed in this book from the very beginning and was drawn in by the action, romance, snark, and strength of both Skylar and Ladon. Abigail Owen is now one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to dive into more of her books.

Yes, I was provided a copy of this book to review but my thoughts, opinions, and praise are my own.

My Rating:

Visit the Author's Website:

https://abigailowen.com/

ARC Book# Review: The Haunting on Palm Court by Stephanie Edwards ~ An Isle of Palms Suspense ~

Book Details:

Publication Date : September 1, 2020
Print Length : 253 pages
ASIN : B089QXJHPV
Publisher : Stephanie Edwards Writing Services

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YvpJp8

About the Book:

After Blake Nelson catches her abusive fiancé, Parker, with another woman, she seeks serenity at her late grandmother’s beach cottage. He follows Blake to the island and attempts to kill her, but instead, he dies in an accident while fleeing the police. His malevolent spirit returns to the cottage to finish what he started.

The haunting intensifies when Blake reconnects with her first love, Clint. Will Blake discover how to banish Parker before it’s too late?

My Review:

Blake has been in an abusive relationship with Parker for a while. He verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive to Blake and is the type of person who hurts her then tries to buy her forgiveness. When Blake catches Parker in a compromising situation with another woman, Blake doesn't think of the repercussions, she just flees Tennessee to her late grandmother's cottage in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. The author does a great job showing the reader what Parker's abuse looks, sounds, and feels like and Blake's reactions to the treatment. I felt her sadness, horror at his actions, and loneliness. Finding Parker cheating was the best thing to happen, it gave her an excuse to leave, to preserve herself, to clear her head. 

Parker is able to track Blake to her late grandmother's cottage and tries the unimaginable. He accuses her of being there with someone, then tries to kill her. She's able to get help but Parker disappears. Constantly looking over her shoulder, Blake's worries are over when Parker is killed while eluding police. She mourns for the man Parker could have been and the life they could have had but the relief is also very pronounced. Knowing she can now move on with her life, Blake rekindles her youthful romance with Clint. Parker, however, has other plans. 

The location and setting really drew me to the story. I vacationed in Isle of Palms a couple years ago and I love to read books set in either the state I live in or in places I've been fortunate enough to visit. I just wish there were more descriptive passages about the cottage, the town, when there were trips to other cities. The characters, while enjoyable, lacked some depth. There were some inconsistencies and missing dialogue and events between thoughts or scene shifts. The premise of this book is amazing. The Haunting on Palm Court is a wonderful mixture of romance, suspense, thriller, and paranormal genres. The combination of genres pulled me in and kept the story interesting.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

 

Release Day ARC Review - The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn @AveryFlynn @EntangledPub

Print Length: 233 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B086J3T31K
Amazon

I can’t believe I have to go home to Nebraska for my sister’s wedding. I’m gonna need a wingman and a whole lot of vodka for this level of family interaction. At least my bestie agreed he’d man up and help. Too bad he had to catch a different flight than me. Then his plane got delayed. And finally—because bad things always happen in threes—instead of my best friend, his evil twin strolls out of the airport.

If you looked up doesn’t-deserve-to-be-that-confident, way-too-hot-for-his-own-good billionaire in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of Will Holt. He’s awful. Horrible. The worst—even if his butt looks phenomenal in those jeans.

Ten times worse? My buffer was supposed to be there to keep me away from the million and one family events. But Satan’s spawn just grins and signs us up for every. Single. Thing.

Fine. “Cutthroat” Scrabble? I’m in. I can’t wait to take this guy down a notch.

But somewhere between Pictionary and the teasing glint in his eyes, our bickering starts to feel like more than just a game…



The Wedding Date Disaster is another excellent book by Avery Flynn. Her books are sassy, romantic, filled with a taste of strife, and fun. 

Hadley Donovan is headed to Nebraska for a week to prepare for her younger sister's wedding. Her family is a lot to take so she asks her best friend Web to accompany her. When Web's plane lands in Denver shortly after her's, Hadley can't wait to see him. What better way to spend a 5-hour road trip to her family's ranch than with her bestie?! Except, as her tall, good-looking friend swaggers across the airport toward her, Hadley realizes is isn't Web - it's his identical twin brother, Will. The evil twin, the twin that Hadley can't stand. Now she has to figure out how to survive the week with not only her family but the nuisance in the best looking pair of jeans and cowboy hat ever. This week is going to be a nightmare.

Will knows that Hadley is just playing with her brother, trying to figure out some way to latch on to all the Holt money. When Web is unable to fly to Denver to meet Hadley, Will volunteers. What better way to keep Hadley away from Web and prove that she's just like all the other golddiggers, right? Eventually, the chemistry between them changes from hatred to something else and Hadley and Will fight against it until it's no longer possible to deny. When they open up to one another the truth in Hadley's past made me emotional for her loss and how that loss set her up and made her the person she is today. Finally discussing her past trauma also allowed her to open up and be truthful with her family. She is not all put together and successful like they think she is. In fact, she's currently the exact opposite, but she put on a brave face and tried to fake it-til she made it.

Will also has a traumatic past concerning an ex-girlfriend. His experiences with the ex are why he's the way his is today. When you have a lot of money, people who say they are your friends and love you, come out of the woodwork. He and Web have worked extremely hard to keep Holt together, profitable, and successful. His ex stomped on his feelings and his heart and now Will assumes all women who show him and Web any sort of attention are just out for their money and their name.

The Wedding Date Disaster may be classified as a romcom but it is so much more. The author took two imperfect characters and made them completely perfect for each other. There are tears, judgments made, assumptions to boot, but there is also family, truthfulness, love, and joy. And let's not forget about PawPaw!!

One of my favorite romance tropes, this book is one of the best enemies-to-lovers book I have ever read. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Book #Review ~ Besting the Billionaire by Alison Aimes @alisonaimes @EntangledPub ~ (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2)

Book Details:

Print Length: 262 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence
Publication Date: January 15, 2018
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B0786Q1YWT

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2FhwioD

About the Book:

Billionaire Alexander Kazankov always wins. But he didn’t count on high-heeled, drop-dead sexy Lily Bennett getting in the way of his latest deal. She’s a distraction he doesn’t need, not when he’s so close to making things right for his family.

Lily may walk and talk like a Southern piece of fluff, but she’s been underestimated before. She's determined to succeed—and no entitled, arrogant asshole, especially the too-gorgeous-for-his-own-good-kind, is going to get in her way.

Oil meet water. Gasoline meet spark. It’s all out war as these two enemies go toe-to-toe in an ugly, take no prisoners battle to prove they’re the right choice to be CEO of the same company. All too soon playing dirty in the boardroom leads to playing even dirtier in the dark. It’s destined to end in personal and professional disaster. So why the hell can’t they stop?

Each book in the Billionaire Bad Boys series is STANDALONE.

Everything about this book worked for me. 

Hot Russian - check 

Feisty Widow - check

Fight over CEO of a company that means something to both of them - check

Unbridled Passion - check

Alexander Kazankov never loses and his latest deal is one he's been working on for years. A deal he will stop at nothing to finish. The acquisition of Winslow Industries from the Winslow family has been on Alexi's radar for years. After the death of patriarch Russel Winslow, Alexi in now preparing to go head-to-head with Russell Winslow's widow, Lily Bennett.

Lily is a lot smarter than anyone has ever given her credit for. She might have a cringe-worthy past but it should not define who is now. Unfortunately, there are those in the world who love to reveal the mistakes, tragedies, or other private matters that are no one's business. I'm not talking about illegal actions, I'm talking about poor decisions, choices that seemed okay at the time but maybe weren't really, or associations with less-that-desirable companions. Lily is bound and determined to run Winslow according to her deceased-husband's wishes. Except, Lily has way more against her than for her, including the children of Russell, wary board members, and hot Russian businessmen. The only way to come out on top is to prove she's exactly who Winslow Industries needs.

I really enjoyed this book. The glass ceiling is real and this book takes it on. Lily encounters several board members who subscribe to the good ole boys club. Their attitude and connections make it harder for Lily to obtain the number of votes necessary for a CEO. She's consistently trying to outmaneuver Alexi, while simultaneously pushing aside her attraction for him. Of everyone she deals with concerning the board, Alexi is the only one who doesn't hold her being a woman against her. He realizes just how strong and capable she is and how shrewd and cunning she will be as a CEO.

Besting the Billionaire is engaging with strong character development, and impressive world-building. The author's writing style is clear, concise, and conversational with perfect pacing, and likable characters. I highly recommend this book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Contemporary#Romance #Review ~ Served Hot (Best Revenge #2) by Marie Harte @MarieHarte @EntangledPub

Print Length: 202 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Publication Date: November 13, 2017
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B076PPXJ6W

Twelve years ago, geeky Dexter Black blackmailed Maya Werner into a prom date, and she was shocked when she had a good time. But for a strong-willed, hot-tempered artist who’s used to having the upper hand, that night has never sat well with her.

Fast forward to the present, where Maya indulges in weekly wine night with friends and ends up pledging to get revenge on Dex. Except the nerd she remembers has transformed into a hot, sexy Marine who has the audacity to blackmail her again.

Dex is back in town with one goal in mind: to win the girl of his dreams. His strategy? Keep her off balance enough until she melts into the passion between them. But when a misunderstanding stokes old hurts, Maya backs away, and Dex has to go with a contingency plan: pour on the charm until he gets what he wants—Maya, forever.

Maya and Dex have a complicated history. Back in high school, Dex blackmailed Maya to get her to go to prom with him. Which, of course, was a problem for Maya. Fast-forward 12 years later and Dex is back in town and Maya has never forgotten his manipulation. Except, Dex has always held a spot in Maya's heart, whether she admits it or not and Maya has been the only one for Dex. Now that he's back in Bend, it's time for them to stop avoiding each other. Let the games begin!

Served Hot is a steamy story filled with great characters and a lot of sex. The chemistry between Maya and Dex is off the charts, believable, and rolls between them in waves. Unfortunately, the past history rears its ugly head, mostly in the form of Selena Thorpe, and Maya jumps to incorrect conclusions. Dex and Maya's story is about lost love, redemption, and facing your past before you can live in the present, or look forward to the future. Maya has baggage and Served Hot forces her to face her past head-on. Emotional is an understatement about this book. 

All of the characters from book 1 are back. Ann and Riley are supportive of Maya but don't hesitate to call her out when necessary. Jack and Anson fulfill their roles, as necessary. All 6 characters are likable and written well. Another great story in the Best Revenge trilogy.

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

**Story contains light BDSM

Contemporary #Romance #Review ~ Served Cold by Marie Harte @MHarte_Author @EntangledPub ~ Best Revenge, Book #1

Print Length: 202 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Publication Date: November 13, 2017
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B076PBX5BP

Amazon

Ann Weaver knows getting ditched by Jack Bloom back in high school was for the best. He may have been her first, but she’s twenty-nine now and way over him. When a night out with friends—and a couple of glasses of wine—starts them all talking about regrets, Ann decides it’s time to confront the past. Luckily, hers has recently moved back to town, and he looks just as good as ever.

There’s something different about Jack, though. He’s funny, kind, and amazing in bed—but he’s also sweeter than she remembers. Soon Ann starts to forget she’s in it for revenge.

Jack is older and wiser now, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes for a chance at a future with very grown-up, gorgeous Ann. But once Jack learns about her motive for rekindling their romance, he has to decide if love can push through the lie.

Each book in the Best Revenge series is a STANDALONE story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Served Cold is the first book in a standalone three-book series about revenge by Marie Harte. Ann Weaver and Jack Bloom were a couple back in high school when a series of unfortunate events caused a break-up. Having both gone their separate ways, Ann stayed in Bend while Jack left. Now Jack's back though and Ann is still hurt by the events in their past. After a night with Maya and Riley, the trio decide it's time to exact revenge on Jack.

Jack's PhD is allowing him to be choosier about where he teaches and does research, so he has decided to move back to Bend. When he picks up his nephew from school, he's surprised to learn his teach is Ann Weaver, the one who got away. He remembers the incident in high school differently than Ann does and he's still trying to figure out why he wasn't good enough for her.

What ensues is a truly combustible reunion between Ann and Jack that has the reader rooting for them. At the same time, though, also wondering, if the pasts they each remember have scarred them so badly, why it took so long for them to talk about the truth. I know, I know - as my husband would tell me when I ask a question like that about something we are watching - if Ann and Jack discussed this earlier there would be no book (or movie or tv episode). 

The story was cute and I enjoyed Ann and Jack together. Maya and Riley are awesome best friends, and Ann is lucky to have them. Served Cold is the starting point for the trilogy and I love how the author weaved the stars of the other two books through this one. Not much, but enough to know who the couples will be and what happened in the past causing them to butt heads. 

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

**Story contains light BDSM

Cozy Mystery Review: Third Time's a Crime (A Love Or Money Mystery #3) by Diana Orgain

Book Details:

Series: A Love or Money Mystery (Book 3)

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 3, 2017

ISBN-10: 0425271706
ISBN-13: 978-0425271704

View More About the Book on Amazon
Add to Goodreads

About the Book:

POOL YOUR RESOURCES...

After two hit reality TV shows brought ex-detective Georgia Thornton into America’s living rooms, audiences can’t get enough of her quest for love and justice. Now producers have come up with an all-new show set in a haunted castle in Golden, California. Georgia and nine other contestants will need to solve the mystery of a young woman who disappeared at the castle in 1960.

Except there’s one rather substantial problem waiting for everyone when they arrive: a groundskeeper is found drowned at the bottom of the castle’s empty pool. Now Georgia and the other contestants will need to work together, because there’s a different sort of game afoot—and it’s not one they can afford to lose...

My Review:

Georgia and Scott are now part of a new show set in a haunted California castle. All the contestants will be trying to solve the 1960 disappearance of a young woman. As the production begins and each person is sent out on a quest, the body of the groundskeeper is found dead in the empty pool. Between the squabbling of the contestants, the red herrings, and the intentional misguiding, something foul is afoot. The contestants and the crew must work together to figure out who among them is involved before another life is lost.

I'll be honest, Third Time's a Crime is not my favorite of the three. There was too much drama between Georgia and Scott, especially since this appears to be the final book in the series. The mystery itself was fine. I enjoyed trying to figure out exactly what was going on and how the death of the girl from 1960 tied into the death of the groundskeeper. The author certainly did a good job rounding all of that out.

The author presents a solid mystery with solid characters. While this is book 3 of a series, a reader could hop into the series with this book and not be completely lost. I do, however, recommend beginning the series with book 1. It's too bad there isn't a 4th book.

Review copy courtesy of my local library's interlibrary loan program.

#Romance Review ~ Her Royal Protector (Johari Crown, Book #1) by Alexandra Sellers @EntangledPub

Print Length: 156 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence (May 27, 2014)
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Sold by: Macmillan
Language: English
ASIN: B00K48BOF8
Amazon

Aly Percy is her family's ugly duckling, and she's never been allowed to forget it. So she knows better than to imagine that Cup Companion Arif al Najimi's blue gaze holds anything but contempt for her as a woman, or ever will. But if he's offering to show her just how wild one night with him can be, wouldn't she be a fool to turn down his charity? She may never get another offer like this one.
Arif al Najimi isn't sure why he's dreaming about the little scientist who's so determined to take crazy risks for the sake of her research into the endangered turtles of his country. But as luck would have it, he's going to get the chance to do a little research of his own…into the question of why Aly believes her own negative publicity about how desirable she is—and how hard it will be to convince her of the truth.



Her Royal Protector is a cute romance complete with an exotic locale, a royal hero, a heroine with low self-esteem, and a little bit of suspense. Olivia Percy is a scientist working on a thesis that requires the monitoring and evaluation of the Johari turtle. Their conservation numbers are low and her research may help deduce the reason for the decline. After making a complete fool of herself at the fundraising dinner, all Aly wants to do is get to her boat and get to the turtles. When her research companions can no longer join her, her first instinct is to stop the research then she decides to do it all alone, in waters she knows nothing about. When Cup Companion Arif al Najimi demands she move her research equipment to his yacht and not proceed on this trek alone, at first Aly declines. When Arif al Najimi indicates she will not be allowed to go without him, and indicates there may be an accident with her boat, she relents.

Their relationship gets off to a weird start. Aly is attracted to him but judges him as harsh and too good looking for someone like her. Let's just say her rotten father tanked her self-esteem to the point of annoyance in her character's inability to look beyond a mirror. As they work together, both Aly and Arif have developed some off-the-wall conspiracies about one another. Their attraction really is cute, though. Once they get beyond the no trust issues, Aly and Arif soften and then their chemistry really rocks the boat.

There is a bit of suspense and drama that add to the story. I wish the turtle research would have been expanded on a bit more. I felt Aly and Arif's over-dramatic thoughts about each other became an exhausting main focal point. I did like their bantering, it make their interactions a bit more interesting. Aly confronting her father's unfair treatment of her (unfortunately not directly with her father, though) helped improve her opinion of herself, as did Arif's assurances. 

Her Royal Protector is a cute romance that doesn't take much time to read.

I was provided a copy of this books to read a long time ago and I apologize that I'm just now getting to the book.

Urban Fantasy/New Adult Book Review ~ A Stream of Darkness by Avery Kilpatrick @avekilpatrick ~ Crymsen Crescent, Book One

A reformed killer, a dragon agent, and a lone shifter must work together to investigate four abductions…

A Stream of Darkness
Crymsen Crescent
Book One
Avery Kilpatrick

Genre: Urban Fantasy, New Adult with a dash of romance

Publisher: Avery Kilpatrick

Date of Publication: July 31, 2020

ISBN: B08DQRLCNC

ASIN: 9798645700447

Word Count: 62,358

Amazon

Cover Artist: Warren Design

About the Book:

I've always had a close relationship with death.

Six years ago, I was the Renegade, the Wolf of Eden, terrorizing the streets of a small town in Mississippi. Now, after a plea deal that saved my life, I work for the police as a consultant and unofficial cop.

Obsidian Moon, the Underworlder police agency, isn't doing anything about the disappearances of four college women. It falls to my shoulders while I'm stressing over my college assignments and the new transfer who thinks testing my control is a great pasttime.

Then there's him. The mystery shifter who danced with me at a club and reminds me of home. And he seems to be more than just a random stranger who walked up to an ex-murderer and danced rather than fight.

But I have bigger concerns than two sexy men on my tail as a stream of darkness hangs over Paradise Grove.

The opening of a new series, A Stream of Darkness, will have you guessing at every turn and turning the pages to learn more.



Where do I start with this review?! How about with A Stream of Darkness was amazing! I had very high hopes for the book and I was not disappointed. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. I started this book and could not put it down. Drawn into the mystery, I was as perplexed as Luce was as she dug deep into the case of missing women. When an evil presents itself, Luce finds herself going up against a rogue organization thought to be using ancient rituals to cause havoc.

Amid the danger and mystery the author weaves in a dragon pulling Luce's pigtails and a mysterious stranger Luce is uncharacteristically drawn to at a club where her friend Izzy works. The potential love triangle was subtle and perfectly crafted through the book. The chemistry between Luce and her men is evident and much stronger with one than the other. The relationships the author created are quick yet realistic. Like Luce, I also fell hard for one of the book boyfriends and am happy with how everything turns out.

The author created wonderful characters, well-developed, and likable. Her world building was descriptive and vivid, allowing me to visualize the story. I enjoyed getting to know these new characters, the new supernatural realm the author created, and follow the adventures of Luce, Izzy, Ari, Casimir, and the rest of the cast of characters. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Cozy Mystery Review ~ The Ghost and Mrs. McClure (Haunted Bookshop Mystery #1) by Alice Kimberly @BerkleyMystery

Print Length: 276 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 3, 2004
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
ASIN: B001QWDRV0

Amazon

Penelope Thornton-McClure manages a Rhode Island bookshop rumored to be haunted. When a bestselling author drops dead signing books, the first clue of foul play comes from the store's full-time ghost-a PI murdered on the very spot more than fifty years ago.

Is he a figment of Pen's overactive imagination? Or is the likable, fedora-wearing specter the only hope Pen has to solve the crime?

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure is the first book in the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries by Alice Kimberly, a pseudonym for Cleo Coyle (a husband-wife writing team). Penelope Thornton-McClure is running bookshop with rumors of being haunted. When, during a popular author’s books signing, said author falls over dead, foul play is suspected. When the resident ghost, a former PI murdered in the bookshop, presents himself to Penelope, he informs her that the death of the author was definitely suspicious.

Pen is picking up the pieces of the shattered lives of herself and her son after the suicide of her husband. She’s in a constant battle with her deceased husband’s family on how and where to raise Spencer, her son. They continually infer that she is not the one who should be raising their son’s child. Add in the murder of a popular author in her bookshop and her in-laws jump right on the tragedy. If that wasn’t bad enough, Penelope is now hearing and seeing the ghost of Jack Shepard, a PI who was murdered in that same space way back in the 40’s. If I were Penelope, I’d be losing my mind.

Pen, however, takes her in-laws, the murder, and her resident ghost in stride, as best she can anyway. Spencer is a strong child. His father is dead, his grandparents are continually trying to entice him to come live with them, and now his mother is dealing with a murder in her shop. I love his relationship with his mother and how he refuses to be persuaded against her by his grandparents. The author does a great job writing Jack as a true character from the 40’s, from lingo to clothing choices. He and Penelope get along well and I enjoyed their interactions. This is a great start to a new series, and I look forward to reading the next book.

I obtained a copy of this book to read from my library’s interlibrary loan program.