I prefer it when authors keep the “bad guy” a mystery, even in a suspense, so I was a little disappointed to “meet” the bad guy in the prologue. UntilI prefer it when authors keep the “bad guy” a mystery, even in a suspense, so I was a little disappointed to “meet” the bad guy in the prologue. Until . . .
I discovered I didn’t have a clue who the person actually was in the present!
I love being kept guessing and Pat provided enough possibilities to keep me on my toes. She also had some great secondary characters, including the heroine’s polar opposite grandmothers, as well as, a sweet, mentally challenged young woman whose adoration of Elvis inadvertently entangles her in the mystery, which takes place during Elvis week in Memphis and begins with the death of a tribute artist.
I really enjoyed delving into this cold case mystery. The heroine, Kelsey Allen is a unique security specialist and an art conservator and the story rI really enjoyed delving into this cold case mystery. The heroine, Kelsey Allen is a unique security specialist and an art conservator and the story revolves around a murder and thefts at the Pink Palace Museum, which really sparked my interest. I can tell Bradley did her research too!
Kelsey is a bit of a prickly character that took me a couple of chapters to warm up to, but Bradley gives us plenty of insight into her past, which helps us understand what drives her and makes the work cut out for her romantic interest all the more challenging and interesting. I was ridiculously pleased to have deduced (or maybe guessed :-P ) the culprit early in the story. But I sure didn't see the twist coming! It has a great surprise ending. ...more
I really enjoyed Bradley’s last series and this introduction to the new “Cold Cases” series is equally promising. Bradley incorporated more investigatI really enjoyed Bradley’s last series and this introduction to the new “Cold Cases” series is equally promising. Bradley incorporated more investigators/sleuths in the case than we typically get to see. Some even enjoyed scenes from their own point of view. It made for an interesting multi-faceted book, although occasionally it meant the reader was hearing similar information two or three times and I found myself flipping back to find out who already knew something and who didn’t. On the flipside, I am now really interested in all of these characters and hopeful that future books in the series will spotlight each in turn.
Bradley does a great job of showing the reactions of family members coming to terms with learning the man they’ve believed guilty of their loved one’s murder for the past eighteen years may be innocent, as well as facing truths about her they couldn’t believe. While I didn’t love the heroine Andi, I did find her actions believable given that she was under the influence of too many painkillers. It is a good wakeup call to how easily and quickly addiction can happen. By the end Andi does start to see the folly of her choices and I like that Bradley doesn’t make Andi “all better” unrealistically quickly to tie the ending in a neat bow. Hopefully we’ll glimpse Andi’s continued growth in future books, especially with the positive influence of Will, who I really like.
This would make a good book club book as it presents several issues worthy of discussion. The book itself doesn't really delve into the spiritual side of them, but it offers a great springboard from which to launch the discussion...more
This unique and engaging romance does a great job of both highlighting the plight of abused and powerless women in the early 1900s (which in many waysThis unique and engaging romance does a great job of both highlighting the plight of abused and powerless women in the early 1900s (which in many ways is not so different from today) and of the struggle of many—men and women alike—to counter and overcome the negative messages instilled in them as children. ...more
This is a fun historical romantic mystery set in 1910 Toronto, featuring two female sleuths who aspire to be like Holmes and Watson, with personalitieThis is a fun historical romantic mystery set in 1910 Toronto, featuring two female sleuths who aspire to be like Holmes and Watson, with personalities to match. There are so many unique and whimsical things about this story that made it engaging. The mystery didn't draw me into the story as much as the girl's lives and historical information. I especially enjoyed the unique extras that added to the historical feel of the story, from the cleverly constructed quotes of imagined how-to books of the period to the occasional footnote that gave readers a little inside information. I’m looking forward to the next instalment. ...more
I'm impressed with debut author Jessica Patch's diversion skills. I like a little mystery in my romantic suspenses and Jessica has more than one twistI'm impressed with debut author Jessica Patch's diversion skills. I like a little mystery in my romantic suspenses and Jessica has more than one twist I didn't see coming. Her ending definitely surprised me, which is always fun. Her heroine's unique occupation also made for some fun kick-butt jeopardy scenes. ...more
I Always Cry at Weddings could easily be a movie. Sara’s novel is set in NYC and begins with the heroine canceling her upcoming wedding. Since I visitI Always Cry at Weddings could easily be a movie. Sara’s novel is set in NYC and begins with the heroine canceling her upcoming wedding. Since I visited NYC for the first time this past summer, I had lots of fun re-visiting it through the story. This is not your typical romance. In fact, for a good part of the book, I wondered if it was a romance. Not to say it wasn’t interesting reading. It was! Sara’s done a great job of showing Ava making tough choices. Ava is a woman who abandoned the values she’d been raised to live by, but who admirably doesn’t take the easy route out when she comes to her senses and realizes she’s not living the way she wants to live and is not really in love with the man she’s supposed to be marrying.
Many women couldn’t walk away from a man with as much going for him as her fiancé for fear of never finding someone else, let alone never recovering financially. So from the outset, I admired Ava’s courage. There were times when I wanted to knock her up the side of the head for subsequent choices, as realistic as they were for a young woman struggling to find her way. The characters are fun and there are great twists. ...more
This is a great story! I had the pleasure of reading A Dream for Love while visiting the story’s setting—Martha’s Vineyard. What fun to experience theThis is a great story! I had the pleasure of reading A Dream for Love while visiting the story’s setting—Martha’s Vineyard. What fun to experience the places along with the characters. And the characters—Laurel, Ryan, little Gracie, and Laurel’s sister—are so wonderfully developed.
At the beginning, I wondered how the hero could possibly become a man I’d want the heroine to end up with by the end of the story, but I soon found myself falling for him right along with Laurel and her daughter. It was an interesting glimpse into the inner life of a movie star who’s lost his way. Best of all, there’s a good dose of pending jeopardy and suspense that kept me glued to the page to the very end. ...more
Warning, this book will keep you up late, reading! I thoroughly enjoyed Patricia Bradley’s latest installment in her Logan Point romantic suspense serWarning, this book will keep you up late, reading! I thoroughly enjoyed Patricia Bradley’s latest installment in her Logan Point romantic suspense series. It was fun to catch up on what’s happening in the lives of characters I met in the previous books, but if you haven’t read her previous novels, it won’t detract from the story in any way.
This is a compelling read about a woman who finds the courage, more than two years after her abduction, to help the police catch her abductor. I like how Patricia showed in well-placed glimpses into Robin’s backstory just how long and hard a journey that was. It convinced me that she’d agree to the police’s plans, even though I sure wouldn’t! (As an aside, the serial kidnapper that the hero and heroine are trying to catch is not sexually assaulting the women, which I was glad about. He was scary enough, and I really liked the root of his motivation that was slowly revealed. I found it very believable.) Not far past the halfway point, I was pretty confident I’d figured out who the bad guy was, and I’m ridiculously pleased to have been right.
But I have to say that in the last few chapters, Patricia did an awesome job of messing with my head and making me second guess myself. I enjoy books that keep the bad guy a mystery so the reader can vicariously enjoy figuring out whodunit along with the characters. The romance and the internal and interpersonal challenges the hero and heroine were each working through complemented the suspense plot nicely. Looking forward to the next book! ...more
I always thoroughly enjoy Karen Witemeyer’s historical western romances and A Worthy Pursuit is no exception. The characters are wonderfully developedI always thoroughly enjoy Karen Witemeyer’s historical western romances and A Worthy Pursuit is no exception. The characters are wonderfully developed, from the intelligent, independent and musically-talented school teacher, Charlotte Atherton, and the three uniquely gifted children she takes into her care when their school closes, to the rugged tracker Stone Hammond hired to find the little girl Charlotte’s secretly whisked away and return her to her grandfather. I love the interactions between this little girl and Stone, and the fun twist of how she knows so much about him. Karen’s writing is lively and fresh, the plot unique, and the romance nicely done. Karen has a gift for adding a nice mix of humorous touches and heart-fluttering romantic interludes in the midst of non-stop action....more
This is a fabulous historical romance with a time travel element. I have to admit that I was skeptical before starting this book, because of the time This is a fabulous historical romance with a time travel element. I have to admit that I was skeptical before starting this book, because of the time travel element. I don't read fantasy and the one other time travel book that I'd attempted to read never held my interest. But I'm glad I didn't let that dissuade me. I loved learning about Martha's Vineyard and the Shenandoah and wow, the author really had me believing the whole time travel thing is possible. The book kept me up until 4:15 am. Need I say more!...more
Pat once again delivers a wonderful, keep-you-guessing romantic suspense. And don’t worry, if you haven’t read the first in the series. This is a stanPat once again delivers a wonderful, keep-you-guessing romantic suspense. And don’t worry, if you haven’t read the first in the series. This is a standalone novel that will give people who have enjoyed book one the added fun of seeing what some of its characters are up to now.
Pat also does a fabulous job of making the Mississippi setting come to life. As a Canadian who’s never traveled to the deep South, it was quite a vivid experience. One particular scene involving snakes even haunted my dreams!
Now, as you probably guessed from the description. This is a secret baby story. While I often have a difficult time sympathizing with a heroine who keeps her child’s parentage a secret from the father, and admittedly there were a couple of spots that I wanted to knock Leigh upside the head for not finally coming clean, for the most part, the fast-paced scenarios compelled me to suspend judgment and read on to see how the Lord might change her heart. But this aspect is the reason for my 4, rather than 5 star rating. ...more
I adore Karen’s feisty heroines and noble heroes and Full Steam Ahead did not disappoint. The romance has a little slower start than previous novels, I adore Karen’s feisty heroines and noble heroes and Full Steam Ahead did not disappoint. The romance has a little slower start than previous novels, (it seemed to me), but once it picks up steam, watch out! This author knows how to write romance. My chest still hurts from all the dips and swells she put my poor heart through. I love how she weaves the story of the hero’s quest for safer steamboat technology into so many fitting analogies. She gives all her characters such depth that they occupy my thoughts long after I close the book. Don’t miss the boat on this great escapade!...more
I’ve been looking forward to Blake’s story ever since I finished Melissa’s debut book Made to Last. I love how she’s deepened his character as he comeI’ve been looking forward to Blake’s story ever since I finished Melissa’s debut book Made to Last. I love how she’s deepened his character as he comes home to face the demons of his past head on. Autumn is the perfect complementary character to play off him as she still needs to learn the one thing he did manage to learn in all his years away. The author’s voice is fun and energetic, like her characters, and whisked me thoroughly into her story world into the wee hours of the morning. A great inspirational romance....more
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