Tag: Alaska

REVIEW: Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler

REVIEW: Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

River Lane’s fledgling career as a producer and director depends on getting this documentary right. But the residents of Moose Springs, Alaska, couldn’t be less cooperative. She can’t get the permits she needs to film, and the townspeople keep selling her out to local law enforcement who runs them off every time.

Easton Lockett thought he was offering to help a stranded tourist when he offered River a ride. How could he possibly know he was “ruining the shot?” But the actress-turned-director is captivating. Before he knows it, Easton is leading River and her crew on a climb of Mount Vail for their documentary.

No matter how many times Easton warns the group about the dangers of the climb, reality will catch River and her group off guard. And the challenges they face could push each of them to their limits.

Review

This was so awesome! There’s more suspense in this book with the frozen mountain climbing adventure than in the previous books in the series. But there’s also a sweet budding romance that’s delightful to watch. And  SO MUCH HUMOR! This is one of the few series labeled “romantic comedy” that actually delivers on that promise for me. This book made me laugh, out loud and often!

I think newcomers could start with this book, which is the third in the series, without much trouble. There are references to the couples from the other books, but I think readers can enjoy this without having those connections. But after reading this, I think you’ll want to read The Tourist Attraction (♥♥♥♥♥) and Mistletoe and Mr. Right (♥♥♥½).

Easton has been something of a mystery in the earlier books – the burly, silent mountain man. But now that he’s had a book of his own, I think he and his twin sister are my favorite characters in the series. I loved him with River, too. There’s a lovely lack of lying or secrets in this story, which can make for great conflict in a book, but also gets old for me. The mountain in this book makes for plenty of conflict all by itself.

This is a must-read series for me. While book 2’s characters didn’t click for me like in book 1 and this book, I still love the Moose Springs setting and the community in the whole series. And when I feel the need for a laugh, I know this series will always deliver. Be sure to check out the Moose Springs, Alaska series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan

BONUS REVIEW: Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke has been managing the family diner – The Bear Claw – in Elkview, Alaska, for about a year. Her main cook, Oliver, is a chef who trained in Paris. She has a circle of staff and friends who pitch in any time a tour bus threatens to overwhelm the smallish diner. And locals and tourists alike love the food, from the mooseloaf to the “grilled cheese extravaganza” to the cherry cheesecake mousse.

Charlie and Oliver were having something of a verbal tug-of-war over the diner menu. He wanted to remove the mousse from their offerings. She wanted to add chocolate to their signature bear claws. Sure, they had argued, and he had stormed off. But that was just what it was like sometimes when working with Oliver. When Oliver doesn’t return, Charlie calls in other staff to cover, figuring Oliver’s pout will be over soon. But no one at the diner is prepared for the news that Oliver was murdered.

Charlie’s shouting match with Oliver makes her a suspect, although not a serious one. But knowing how overloaded Alaskan law enforcement tends to be, Charlie and her friends decide to help track down a killer.

Review

This was fun! I loved the Alaskan setting as well as the diner. Both gave an opening for interesting characters and events in the story. I enjoyed Charlie and her sleuthing partner, Chris. The relationship with law enforcement in this book is fun. Trooper is willing to let Charlie and friends help as long as they are smart and careful. The deputizing routine is a hoot, especially in the end.

The cast of characters working in the diner were fun. Their camaraderie reminds me a little of the Bakeshop series crew in the early part of the series when we were getting to know everyone. I’m eager to see how this crew develops over time. There’s lots of potential for future stories and character development in this group. And Charlie’s relationship with her cat, Benny, was sweet, with some clever and unique twists that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The mystery was good. I had a suspect in mind super early on, but it was the wrong one. But I latched onto the right one about 2/3 of the way through the book. It was satisfying to watch the reveal come together in the end and find out I was right.

This was a great series kick off. Cozy mystery fans should not miss this one. Fans of culinary mysteries should add this to their TBR piles. There are two recipes included at the end of the book. Book 2, Fishing for Trouble, will be releasing later in 2020.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: From Alaska with Love by Ally James

BONUS REVIEW: From Alaska with Love by Ally James

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

It started on a whim. Sara heard a radio announcement about sending letters to deployed soldiers. After a particularly upsetting family event, Sara decides to do something kind for someone else and composes a letter. If it lets her vent a little, and her crazy life amuses someone else, all the better.

Gabe has been in the military for a long time. He’s structured his whole life around it. The most long-term relationship he’s had is the one with his dog, Trouble, because a military life can be hard on a family. When someone hands him the letter, his first instinct is to give it to one of the younger, newer guys. But they received so many letters this time, there were plenty to go around. So Gabe gets Sara’s letter.

They exchange emails and then texts. Sara’s are funny and self-deprecating. Gabe’s messages are brief, but honest. And over the course of many months, a relationship grows. When Gabe returns to the States for awhile, he hopes they can meet in person. Sara wants that, too. But is she ready to put herself first for once, or will she let the family who have come to see her as the maid, babysitter, caretaker, and financial planner for their lives convince her their needs are more important than her heart?

Review

This was good! I was thoroughly frustrated by Sara’s family. They used her and had no qualms about doing so. And when she pursued something she wanted for herself, they resented her, punished her, and even bad-mouthed her to her beloved niece. It was infuriating. It was mostly sorted out by the end, but it was aggravating along the way.

Therefore, it was extra delightful when Sara followed her heart and let her family deal with their own dysfunction. Trouble the dog was a fantastic icebreaker for Sara and Gabe, and so, so sweet. I enjoyed the Alaska part of the story the most.

There were a couple frustrations. Structurally, there were moments where Sara’s letters to Gabe were repeated verbatim in the book. The reader saw the letter as Sara was writing and then again when Gabe read it. Definitely not a deal-breaker for enjoying the book, but it was a curious formatting choice. Also, the book description online doesn’t match the story. I was expecting this six-week deadline or timeline that Gabe convinces Sara to give him. That never happens. So my expectations didn’t line up with the story I read. But I was happy with how things went in the book, so other than a curiosity, it wasn’t a big issue.

Contemporary romance fans, especially those who like great animal characters, should check this one out. (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Every Body on Deck by G. A. McKevett

REVIEW: Every Body on Deck by G. A. McKevett

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Savannah, Dirk and the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency are hired by a famous mystery author. Natasha Van Cleef has been receiving threatening notes. She’s about to do a promotional cruise to Alaska. She wants Savannah and her team to protect her and her entourage on the cruise. The whole team is thrilled to enjoy an Alaskan cruise. Savannah’s Granny and Dirk’s parents even join them for the experience.

Once on the ship, though, Natasha is resistant to Savannah’s presence. She refuses to keep protection around her at dinner and pushes the team to leave her alone for most of the next day so she can enjoy being with her husband and a long massage.

But when Savannah and Dirk arrive to find Natasha and her husband missing and another threatening note, it seems the author needed Midnight Magnolia Detective Agency’s protection more than she thought.

Review

This is the 22nd book in this series that I have enjoyed for ages. They can be enjoyed out of order – the mysteries easily stand alone. But part of the fun of the series for me is the team, and they have grown and changed over the years. It is fun to experience that evolution in series order.

Savannah and Dirk are great characters – smart and good at their jobs. They make an interesting couple. There’s plenty of banter as she’s a Southern belle and he’s a little more rough around the edges. I love Savannah’s family (at least the ones in this book) and the larger role her granny and brother have had in recent books.

The mystery was good. I didn’t get a great feel for the author and her entourage as they weren’t around much in the story. I didn’t have a strong feeling for them – either worry over what happened or a good sense of the suspects. But I enjoyed the twisty investigation and the overall solution in the end.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥