A Holland Reads: October 2019

October 21, 2019

Fan Mail by Daryl Wood Gerber - Review

I received this book free from the author. All opinions are my own

Book details

Series: An Aspen Adams Novel of Suspense (Book 2)

Paperback: 280 pages

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing (November 12, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1950461297

ISBN-13: 978-1950461295

Book description

Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber returns with a dark new novel of suspense . . .

An adoring fan and a string of murders: a demented show of love that leaves no one safe . . .

Local celebrity news anchor Gloria Morning is used to receiving declarations of love and praise in her weekly fan letters, but when a Lake Tahoe doctor is murdered and she gets an anonymous note telling her it was done for her glory, her appreciation turns to panic. Unsure of where else to turn, she enlists the help of novice private investigator Aspen Adams. No sooner does Aspen begin digging into who sent the macabre note than another murder occurs, followed by another note, and she soon realizes she’s up against a ruthless and deranged killer.

Working with scant clues and a puzzling array of potential suspects, Aspen is determined to unearth the elusive connection between the victims and her client. But as the body count grows and the murderer remains a mystery to both her and the police, Aspen discovers she’s gotten closer to the killer than she ever imagined, and now she must risk everything she holds dear to stop the killings, including her own life . . .

Meet the author Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award–winning and nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, the Cheese Shop Mysteries (as Avery Aames), and stand-alone suspense thrillers. Little known facts about Daryl are that she’s jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, has hitchhiked around Ireland by herself, and has appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote. She loves to read, cook, and golf, and has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

My thoughts

This book was even better than the first in this series (Desolate Shores). I am liking Aspen more and more and I like how close she is with her niece. I also like how her and Nick's relationship is progressing. It is nice that even though he does not want her to and gets upset with her for trying to solve the murders he lets her do her thing and even asks her opinion on the cases. This story had me on the edge of my seat at times. I thought I had it figured out and then my suspect ended up dead so I had to rethink things and it did end up being my second suspect. I hope this series keeps on going as I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

George Washington's Secret Six by Brian Kilmead and Don Yaeger - Review

Book details

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Sentinel; Reprint edition (October 18, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0143130609

ISBN-13: 978-0143130604

Book description

When George Washington beat a hasty retreat from New York City in August 1776, many thought the American Revolution might soon be over. Instead, Washington rallied—thanks in large part to a little-known, top-secret group called the Culper Spy Ring. He realized that he couldn’t defeat the British with military might, so he recruited a sophisticated and deeply secretive intelligence network to infiltrate New York.

Drawing on extensive research, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger have offered fascinating portraits of these spies: a reserved Quaker merchant, a tavern keeper, a brash young longshoreman, a curmudgeonly Long Island bachelor, a coffeehouse owner, and a mysterious woman. Long unrecognized, the secret six are finally receiving their due among the pantheon of American heroes.

Meet the authors: Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger

Brian Kilmeade cohosts Fox News Channel’s morning show Fox & Friends and hosts the nationally syndicated radio show The Brian Kilmeade Show. The author of two previous books about sports, he lives on Long Island.

Don Yaeger has written twenty-three books, including seven New York Times bestsellers. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

My thoughts

I really enjoyed this book and thought the author did a good job. It did not read like a normal history book it read like a novel. The author's attention to detail added to the story for me. He also gave some good theories on #355 that made sense. I will be looking for more books by these authors.

October 12, 2019

Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Book details

Series: Haven Point (Book 10)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: HQN; Original edition (September 24, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335504990
ISBN-13: 978-1335504999

Book description

Hearts are lighter and wishes burn a little brighter at Christmas…

Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn’t quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids…until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie’s laugh, the baby powder smell of Bridger and the feel of her husband’s hand in hers, Elizabeth worried that they’d moved on without her. That she’d missed too much. That perhaps she wasn’t the right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them.

But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they all trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the hurt of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning?

Meet the author RaeAnne Thayne

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

My thoughts

This is another great addition to the Haven Point series. I enjoy coming back to this town to hang out with the characters and see what they are up too now. I can't imagine going through what Elizabeth and Luke have been through. To lose your family only to find them again what an emotional roller coaster. I like how the author uses real emotions and tough situations in her books. Her books have heart and soul along with some depth to them. An enjoyable book.

October 11, 2019

Mumbo Gumbo Murder by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran - Review and Guest Post

Book Details

Mumbo Gumbo Murder (A Scrapbooking Mystery)

Cozy Mystery 16th in Series

Berkley (October 1, 2019)

Hardcover: 320 pages

ISBN-10: 0451489578

ISBN-13: 978-0451489579

Digital ASIN: B07M75KVSB

Book Description

A shocking murder strikes a sour note during Jazz Fest in the latest New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

It's Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and the giant puppets from the Beastmaster Puppet Theatre are parading through the French Quarter. Some are very spooky and veiled, others are tall and gangly, like strange aliens.

As the parade proceeds, Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, follow behind, down Royal Street and past the food booths. Suddenly, they hear a terrible crash from Devon Dowling's antiques shop. They rush inside to find Devon collapsed with blood streaming down the side of his face. Has he been shot? Stabbed? 911 is hastily called, and the police and EMTs show up. After the police examine Devon's body, they tell Carmela and Ava that their friend was murdered with an icepick. They're shocked beyond belief—and now Mimi, Devon's little pug, is left homeless.

Carmela and Ava are determined to catch the murderer, but the list of suspects is long. How long do they have before they find themselves on the killer's list?
About The Authors

Meet the authors - Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries

, Scrapbook Mysteries

, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries

. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries

- set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries

– a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries

- set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Webpage - http://www.laurachilds.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31 Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer awards,

Terrie Farley Moran is the author of the beachside Read 'Em and Eat cozy mystery series; co-author of Laura Childs’ New Orleans scrapbooking mystery series; and has published numerous short stories in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly Magazine and numerous anthologies. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren who reside in New York and Florida.

Terrie’s Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.moran.9 Blog: www.womenofmystery.net Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23186092-terrie-moran
Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this newest installment to this series. Although I have to say that Ava really annoyed me this time. I just wanted to tell her to grow up and be quiet for a minute. To me she acted like a snot at times. Of course I still love Carmela and her dogs. I hope that Carmela and Edgar get the wedding things figured out sooner rather than later. I just want them to have a happy ending. I thought Quigg was a little pushy but when is he not. I was very surprised at who committed the murder in this book. I would have never guessed this person. I had my eye on a couple of others but that did not pan out. This has been a long time favorite series of mine and I have enjoyed watching these characters grow. I also like hearing about the crafts that Carmela has lined up. I love the stores ideas. It would be fun to shop there.

Character Guest Post by Carmela Bertrand,

protagonist in Mumbo Gumbo Murder by

Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran

Welcome to New Orleans, my friends. To a city brimming with history, mystery, and rabble-rousing celebrations that seem to get bigger, badder, and more glorious every year.

I ought to know, because I live right in the middle of the Big Easy in a quaint little apartment in the French Quarter. My best friend, Ava Grieux, lives just across the courtyard from me. Her place (painted Pepto pink with lots of leopard accents) is on the second floor above her shop, Juju Voodoo.

My shop, Memory Mine, is down a few blocks on Governor Nicholls Street. It’s an adorable little place with yellow brick walls, sagging floors, and baskets filled with colorful scrapbook paper. We also carry a huge array of rubber stamps, cardstock, tempera paints, ribbons, tassels, beads, brads Paperclay, and colored pens.

Crafting is big here in New Orleans. You never know when someone will pop in and want to create invitations, make a paper theatre, stamp a velvet pillow, decoupage a frame, make a pair of earrings, create table decorations, or make a mask.

There’s another thing the Big Easy is known for – spooky goings-on. For some reason I’m always nearby when there’s a murder, hijacking, ghost sighting, exploding car, or strange above-ground cemetery occurrence. And because I’ve been blessed with the curiosity gene (yes, I know curiosity killed the cat!) I seem to get involved. Which bugs Detective Edgar Babcock, my sweetie du jour, to no end.

Take for instance the murder at Devon Dowling’s antiques shop that happened during Jazz Fest. His front window was stove in, priceless antiques trashed, and his adorable little pug Mimi left standing over his dead body.

Babcock warned me to not get involved. He said, “Carmela . . . don’t you dare!” I thought about that for about two seconds, then scooped up Mimi and decided to run my own shadow investigation. After all, Mimi saw the killer so she ought to be able to sniff him out, right?

Well, I don’t dare get into what happened next. Suffice it to say that there are more suspects than I can shake a stick at. I mean, there’s a penny-pinching landlord, a questionable young assistant, a fat cat art collector, a burglar named Sonny Boy, and the mysterious (but strangely attractive) president of the Vampire Society.

If you’re at all intrigued, why don’t you come along with me on my journey? Hear that mournful toot of a tugboat over on the Mississippi? Now gaze at the quarter moon hanging in a blue-black sky. Admire the old-fashioned gaslights glowing in the French Quarter. Then step this way and follow me down the dark but enchanting Pirate’s Alley. And help me spy on one more suspect!

All my best,

Carmela

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