Category: Adult Fiction Reviews

REVIEW: Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

REVIEW: Santa’s Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ]
(No kids or teen book to review today, so here’s a Christmas-y review to fill in!)

Summary

When he was in jail, Chris started a program where inmates could work with service dogs in training. When he gets out, he continues the work and starts helping at the Tara Foundation. He tells Andy that he was wrongfully convicted based on a lie. But the guy has recently come forward saying he would testify in secret to make things right before he goes into hiding.

Before Andy can set up the testimony, Chris says the guy has changed his mind. He’s furious. Before long, the lying witness is dead. And Chris is arrested for his murder. While Andy wasn’t attached to Chris’ original case, he’s determined to prove Chris’ innocence – of both crimes – and find whoever is truly responsible.

Review

Another fun Andy Carpenter case! I enjoyed how this one played out – I was starting to get worried about Chris’ chances for freedom. This is a tough case! But Andy and his team pushed through to a satisfying resolution.

If you’ve never read an Andy Carpenter mystery before, I feel like the stories hold together well so newcomers can drop in anywhere. My first Andy Carpenter book was a Christmas one, so I have a soft spot for them. What you might miss by starting here – and mainly it’s backstory for Andy and his team – shouldn’t keep you from enjoying the mystery.

I keep coming back to this series for Andy and his team – I love them! Andy’s sass fits my mood every time. And the mysteries always leave me satisfied. Some of my favorites have been Bury the Lead (book 3), Play Dead (book 6), The Twelve Dogs of Christmas (book 15 – my introduction to the series), and Holy Chow (book 25). Book 27, Flop Dead Gorgeous, will release in the summer of 2023. And a new K-Team book, Good Dog Bad Cop, releases in March. Be sure to check them out. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews

REVIEW: Round Up the Usual Peacocks by Donna Andrews

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Meg’s notebook-that-tells-her-when-to-breathe says she should be busy with wedding tasks for her brother’s big day. But she’s also gotten drawn into checking into some cold cases. Her nephew and a buddy started a true crime podcast and seem to have gotten some unwanted attention.

Meg has a few cases to check out – a cheating scandal, a missing singer, and a robbery-turned-homicide. The three cases have her chasing all around the community. Each case seems so cold she’s not sure there’s anything new to discover. But there must be something she is missing because someone wants these cases to just go away. And they’ll do anything to make that happen.

Review

What a wild ride! One of the things I love about this series is the antics of Meg’s family. And they are in rare form in this book. In fact, in telling a funny part to my husband I realized, for an outsider, this family is too ridiculous to be believed. But I love them.

The mystery was fun. Meg has three different cases to dig into. And each one initially seems like it’s too old, too cold, to make any headway. But in the end it all comes together. The ending was satisfying and enjoyable.

Series fans should pick this one up. I laughed out loud MANY times while reading. And I always enjoy time with Meg and the crew. Newcomers might find the family antics to be a bit too much without the history and context that makes them endearing. The mysteries can easily stand alone for new series readers. Hopefully you’ll find the family chaos fun enough to go back and pick up the earlier books in the series – it’s one of my favorites! Book 32, Dashing through the Snowbirds, is out now, and I plan to review that one soon.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

REVIEW: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Hannah’s work is her life which gets problematic when her mother dies and her boss forces her to take bereavement leave. And that’s complicated even more by her complicated feelings about her mother. And the fact that her boyfriend dumped her the day after the funeral.

But instead of getting a distracting new protection assignment far, far away from her ex and her grief, Hannah’s next client is two-time Sexiest Man Alive, Jack Stapleton.

Jack’s in town to help his mom go through cancer treatment. And he’s fiercely protective of her. Nothing can stress her out – like a bodyguard or talk of stalkers. So he wants Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend while she’s on duty. Whatever. How hard could that be?

Review

I have had this book on my wishlist since I first read the synopsis months ago. First, it has a fake relationship at the center – a trope that is like catnip to me. Then, the protective agent is the woman – awesome! And the plot is right up my alley as a reader.

I had high hopes for this – and it met every one. The characters are endearing (well, not Robby). The romance is sweet and cozy. And an unexpected bonus? This is HILARIOUS! I could not have asked for a more delightful reading experience.

Romance fans, fake dating fans – don’t miss this one! The minute I finished I was ready to flip back to the first page and start all over again. Another favorite for 2022.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

REVIEW: Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

REVIEW: Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases on November 15th.]

Summary

Leda picks up a new psychic detective case when a man comes to her travel agency looking for help to find his sister who has gone missing.

At the same time, Grady stumbles across a new case when his dog, missing for days at Mount Rainier, trots out of the woods with a human leg in its mouth.

Before either Leda or Grady can get very far on their cases, they discover a connection that puts them on the same path once again.

Review

Book 2 in the Booking Agents series is fantastic! This was so fun, a start-to-finish read for me. I easily fell back into the rhythm with these characters from book 1, Grave Reservations. The mystery was twisty and kept me guessing all the way to the end. And there were numerous moments that left me laughing out loud. The whole reading experience was delightful!

The slightly psychic hook for this series is wonderfully sketchy. It’s hit and miss for Leda but that makes it all the better for the reader as you watch her puzzle things out. The main characters in this are fun – and the extended group rounds things out nicely. I would happily spend more time with these characters. I hope there are going to be many more Booking Agents books in the future. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Photo Finished by Christin Brecher

REVIEW: Photo Finished by Christin Brecher

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After a day of losses, including her best camera, Liv Spyers uses an unexpected encounter and a moment of boldness to secure a high paying gig photographing a debutante ball. It’s a great place to show Regina Montegue what she can do with a camera. But the event also is a great place for someone to commit murder.

Liv finds the body – and Regina nearby covered in blood. With her new boss at the top of the suspect list, Liv’s new gig could be short-lived. But one of the reasons Liv is such a great photographer is her understanding of people and her observation skills. So she decides to put them to use to clear Regina’s name and save her new job.

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the “hook” of Liv’s photography and her photographer’s eye for details. It was a clever set up for a new mystery sleuth.

The case was super twisty. I had no guess whatsoever, so I was just along for the ride. The end of the mystery was satisfying, and the end of book was terrific.

I enjoyed the surrounding cast – a potential love interest, Liv’s family, and some new work friends. I will absolutely read more books in this Snapshot of NYC Mystery series! Cozy mystery fans should absolutely give this one a try!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

REVIEW: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Delilah is opening a new pizza restaurant in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. It was supposed to be a joint effort with her fiancé, Sam. But their frequent disagreements – she’s too critical and controlling, he’s too conflict- and work-averse – have boiled over until he broke things off. Right before the soft open for their restaurant.

Delilah’s day only gets worse when she finds her frail and aging aunt holding a gun next to her caretaker’s body, just feet away from her restaurant.

Delilah understands the reality of police investigations. They can drag on. And her fledgling business can’t afford that. She needs this restaurant to work, especially after breaking up with Sam who was her financial backer. Her staff are all desperate for the business to blossom. So Delilah will just have to help the police solve the case.

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the Wisconsin setting and the pizza joint in this series kickoff. (The book includes recipes, written in character, which was fun.) The characters here are great. The mystery is well done and kept me guessing.

There were parts I thought could be stronger – animosity toward the victim, rationales for some of his behavior, emotional punch to Delilah’s relationship situation. All of it was fine, but I wanted it to be bigger/stronger – more impactful.

The core group of characters are what made the book work for me. They would be what would bring me back for the sequel, Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust, due to release in spring 2023.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

REVIEW: Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves by Liz Ireland

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

April Claus is looking forward to having her friend, Claire, visit Santaland. Claire is still a little stunned at April’s life as Santa’s wife. But they have tons of fun activities planned for her vacation.

The first wrinkle is the reindeer strike. Not ideal a week before Christmas. Then there is a drone accident that ruined the ice sculpture contest.

And then there’s a murder.

One of April’s Santaland friends is arrested for the crime, so April has to get to the truth before the whole town turns on her friend and she spends Christmas in jail.

Review

I get such a kick out of this Christmas-themed mystery series! I love the setting, populated by elves, reindeer, and talking snowmen. The fantasy elements are more about the setting and characters than “magic,” but I enjoy this fresh take on a cozy mystery. The mystery here was good and kept me guessing all the way to the end.

I would have liked a bit more of the story anchored to April’s life as Santa’s wife and to the Claus family. But the full cast of elves opens up a lot of story ideas.

Series fans will want to pick up this new book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. Newcomers are probably fine starting here, although some of the setting elements and character history (like with Santa’s family) might take a little bit to make sense.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

REVIEW: Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Griffin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Theirs was a marriage of convenience. Emmeline offered to help William with his career in exchange for a whirlwind wedding to ensure she got to keep the family home. As the first to wed, she was guaranteed the house in the short term. To keep it, she needed to bear a child.

When that didn’t happen, Emmeline fed her family a series of… stories… about their son, Malcolm and daughter Flora, expecting (hoping) no one would ever find out the truth.

But now the family patriarch has called everyone to gather for his birthday. So Emmaline and Will need two children. Immediately. Preferably ones who know how to behave properly in society.

They have to settle for George and Rose, two orphans they take in on a “trial” basis. Once the family makes an appearance at the big birthday celebration, they should be off the hook forever more.

Review

This was an interesting story. Predictable in a lot of ways. There are no real surprises with this, except maybe the sheer number of lies the family resorts to over the course of the book. And the story is not really a romance in my opinion.

While William and Emmeline do discover a spark while they deal with her deception and their attempt to keep the house, most of it is conveyed in glances and internal observations for the two characters. It’s only a tiny piece of the larger story.

The salvation of this for me was how likable the children are – and Will and Emmie, too. And I especially enjoyed how the household staff responded to the situation.

If you like stories with endearing children and a ton of hijinks, you should definitely pick this up. If you are looking for a romance, this one may be a disappointment. Lower your expectations and focus on the family story instead, and you might get a kick out of this one.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns

REVIEW: Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maddy’s always been a bit pampered and spoiled. But being stood up at the altar has left her feeling determined to build a life she can be proud of, and to stand on her own two feet. And her late great-aunt Octavia gives her a head start.

Octavia left Maddy a house, a bakery, and a dog in her will. Maddy has to stay in Michigan and run the business for a year before she can take full possession. And no matter how many times her father, the Admiral, tells her she can’t do it and should just give up and return home, Maddy wants to make it work.

When someone is murdered in the bakery, Maddy teams up with Octavia’s friends – the Baker Street Irregulars – to find a killer.

Review

This was delightful! I loved the whole cast of characters. These are people I would want as friends. The baked goods at Baby Cakes sound divine. The “voice” for the book is fantastic. The relationship between Maddy and her dad adds a fascinating layer to the story. (I can’t wait for a book where he comes to town!) This is the sort of set up – the community and the characters – that will put a new series on my must-buy list.

The book ended abruptly with a few questions still unanswered. While jarring, my assumption is that those will be picked up in the next book. The mystery here was good, and I’m eager to test my guesses on those remaining threads. I will absolutely be picking up the next book, both to see how things play out, and also to spend more time with these characters.

My only complaint was the use of the expression “deaf, dumb, and blind” twice in my review copy. That phrase has been out of fashion for decades since society determined that using “dumb” for mute was inappropriate.  Hopefully that will be addressed in final edits.

Mystery fans who love endearing animal characters, recipes, and mouth-watering descriptions of baked good in their cozy mysteries should snap this up right away!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read

REVIEW: The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier

REVIEW: The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mercy Carr and her Malinois, Elvis, should be consumed with wedding festivities instead of reporting a dead body. But when the spa director at her grandmother’s destination wedding goes missing, Mercy says she’ll check things out. She gets more than she bargained for.

Pretty soon, it’s a toss up over which situation is more troublesome – the pre-wedding antics of the wedding party or the trail of violence that is centered around the resort. But Mercy and Elvis – and Troy and Sugar Bear – are on the case!

Review

This was outstanding!! Mercy and Troy are in a good relationship place in this one, and it sets a lovely tone for the whole book. The dogs are in excellent form here, as always. And the mystery is truly top notch. I even started taking notes, trying to put all the pieces together for myself. (Ended up about 50/50 on my guessing.)

I have enjoyed the Mercy and Elvis mysteries since book one, A Borrowing of Bones. For me, this is the best of the series (so far). In fact, I can say for certain that this will be one of my favorite books of 2022 when the year is done. This book has everything I love – great characters, brilliant plotting, and a quest that propels the characters and the reader forward. I read this start to finish in one day and enjoyed it all. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

♥♥♥♥♥+++* = Best of the best