Thursday, October 16, 2025

BLOG TOUR - The Son-in-Law



DESCRIPTION:

“Mom, meet my fiancé.” I look at the man standing next to my daughter and my heart starts pounding. I know him. He is the only person who knows all my secrets.

I play nervously with the white tablecloth in the restaurant my daughter Lise picked out. I want to make a good first impression on her fiancé. I watch as the door opens and a man in a crisp white shirt enters holding my daughter’s hand. The moment I see his face my blood runs cold. Why has he found me?

Lise slips out to take a call, leaving me alone with the man who could tear my family apart. Gavin smiles as he says the words that I hoped he never would: “You know why I’m here and what it will take to make me leave.”

My world starts to spin as my past and present collide. He’s been lying to my daughter about who he really is. But I will do anything to keep her safe.

Because only I know what my future son-in-law is capable of, how far he will go to get what he wants. But he underestimates how far I will go to protect my daughter. Which one of us will make it out alive?

The Son-in-Law is a completely addictive psychological thriller, perfect for fans ofThe HousemaidThe Perfect Marriage and B.A. Paris

BUY LINK:

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS: 

Title:   The Son-In-Law
Author:  Ellie Monago
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   General Fiction
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   398
Date of Publication:   October 13, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

The tension was palpable from the very first page! Lise was brimming with excitement as she introduced her fiancé, Gavin, to her parents. However, Diana’s heart sank completely. Who was Gavin, and why did his presence leave Diana so bewildered?

Diana has a history with Gavin. In fact, he was Lise’s teacher not all that long ago. Their relationship went beyond a parent-teacher dynamic; it was deeply intertwined. However, it took a dark turn when Diana revealed a shocking secret to Gavin during their tumultuous time together. She believed her secret was safe, as she never anticipated seeing Gavin again. Fear, doubt and mistrust now plague Diana.


Lise assures her parents that nothing inappropriate occurred between them while she was in school. But now, Lise seems utterly enchanted with Gavin, while Diana is losing her grip on reality. Should she diligently keep that dreadful secret hidden, or will her focus shift to protecting Lise? This is a crucial question, as Diana doesn’t trust Gavin.


The drama escalates! Lise is in the dark, Diana is gripped by fear, and Gavin holds all the cards. As is common in many novels, this story unfolds through a dual timeline narrative. Readers gain a good understanding of the events that transpired between Diana and Gavin. Moreover, Diana’s secret finally comes to light, at least for the reader. Will this revelation spell the end for Diana if Gavin chooses to disclose it? Gavin seems to be relishing the suspense, keeping Diana’s secret at bay.


This story is incredibly captivating. The interplay between Diana and Gavin is filled with intense emotions, and there’s an intriguing aspect of Gavin that gradually unfolds. Similarly, as Diana yearns to protect Lise, I found myself instinctively reaching out to protect her as well. Ellie Monago masterfully crafts Diana and Lise in such a compelling manner, while Matt is portrayed in a rather despicable light, adding to the drama’s intensity. This one-sitting read is one that will linger in my mind for a while.


Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Monago is a novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail.

If you would like to reach out to Ellie, she can be contacted at elliemonago@gmail.com.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Ellie Monago here:https://bookouture.com/subscribe/Ellie-Monago


Wednesday, October 15, 2025

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - And to All a Good Bite

Title: And to All a Good Bite
Author: 
David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter #32
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle and Audiobook ARC
No. of Pages:  304
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Length: 6 hrs 19 mins
Date of Publication:  October 14, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter investigates a murder that left a dog stranded in And to All a Good Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in David Rosenfelt's bestselling series.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter can't wait for Christmas. He doesn't care much about the season, unless it's football season. Andy's excited to finally relax and watch the games. But when there's a murder related to an old case in Paterson, New Jersey, Andy puts the games on pause. 

Two years ago, a gas leak in an office building led to a tragic explosion that killed seven people. Jeff Wheeler was there to pick up his girlfriend and ran into the building to help. All he heard was the barking of a dog, Rufus, and was able to save him. The pup was the sole survivor and Jeff was named a hero. Initially, Rufus went to the Tara Foundation since his owner had died in the accident. But Andy met Jeff and liked him, respecting his courage and allowed him to adopt Rufus. Since then, Jeff and Rufus have formed an unbreakable bond.

The accident never sat right with Jeff. He believed that one of the building owners was responsible for the tragedy. Now that owner has been murdered and Jeff is arrested for the crime, Rufus is left with Jeff's sister, who begs Andy to take the case. Andy remembered Jeff's tremendous bravery and with the lingering Christmas spirit, decides to help reunite the two.

With David Rosenfelt's signature humor and hijinks, it's time to close this case for good and bid it a good night.


MY THOUGHTS:
 
Despite his grumpiness, Andy Carpenter eagerly anticipates Christmas and relishes the opportunity to relax in his recliner, engrossed in the scheduled basketball games. However, his planned peaceful holiday is abruptly interrupted by a phone call from Carol Hendrickson. Carol, the sister of Jeff Wheeler, who adopted Rufus from Andy’s Tara Foundation, urgently seeks Andy’s assistance. Jeff is facing serious charges of first-degree murder. Carol firmly believes in her brother’s innocence, and despite initially considering taking a break, Andy is immediately drawn into the investigation.

This case proves to be challenging. The explosion that claimed the lives of Jeff’s girlfriend and her boss presents significant obstacles in uncovering evidence that could prove Jeff’s innocence. As Andy and his team diligently work to solve the case, Andy’s exceptional narration by Grover Gardner adds depth and intrigue to the story. Gardner’s portrayal of Andy’s quick wit is impeccable, as he has consistently done in every book of this series. I eagerly await the release of book 33, eager to see who Andy’s next case will be.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am a novelist with 27 dogs.

I have gotten to this dubious position with absolutely no planning, and at no stage in my life could I have predicted it. But here I am.

My childhood was relentlessly normal. The middle of three brothers, loving parents, a middle-class home in Paterson, New Jersey. We played sports, studied sporadically. laughed around the dinner table, and generally had a good time. By comparison, “Ozzie and Harriet’s” clan seemed bizarre.

I graduated NYU, then decided to go into the movie business. I was stunningly brilliant at a job interview with my uncle, who was President of United Artists, and was immediately hired. It set me off on a climb up the executive ladder, culminating in my becoming President of Marketing for Tri-Star Pictures. The movie landscape is filled with the movies I buried; for every “Rambo”, “The Natural” and “Rocky”, there are countless disasters.

I did manage to find the time to marry and have two children, both of whom are doing very well, and fortunately neither have inherited my eccentricities.

A number of years ago, I left the movie marketing business, to the sustained applause of hundreds of disgruntled producers and directors. I decided to try my hand at writing. I wrote and sold a bunch of feature films, none of which ever came close to being actually filmed, and then a bunch of TV movies, some of which actually made it to the small screen. It’s safe to say that their impact on the American cultural scene has been minimal.

About fourteen years ago, my wife and I started the Tara Foundation, named in honor of the greatest Golden Retriever the world has ever known. We rescued almost 4,000 dogs, many of them Goldens, and found them loving homes. Our own home quickly became a sanctuary for those dogs that we rescued that were too old or sickly to be wanted by others. They surround me as I write this. It’s total lunacy, but it works, and they are a happy, safe group.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Review - You Belong Here

Title
:   You Belong Here
Author:  Megan Miranda
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Publisher:   Simon & Schuster
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  341
Date of Publication:  July 29, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A decades-old secret that drove a mother from her hometown now threatens her college-bound daughter in this twisty new thriller.

Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition. Her roots there were strong: Beckett’s parents taught at the college, and she never even imagined studying anywhere else—until a tragedy her senior year ended with two local men dead, and her roommate on the run, never to be seen again…

For the last two decades, Beckett has done her best to keep her distance. Then her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to Wyatt College and earns a full scholarship, and Beckett can only hope that her lingering fears are unfounded. But deep down she knows that Wyatt Valley has a long memory, and that the past isn’t the only dangerous thing in town…
Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Ghostwriter Beckett Bowery thought she’d left Wyatt Valley for good but her daughter Delilah had other plans when she applies for and is accepted to college there. Having won a full scholarship to Wyatt College is good for her daughter, but there are far too many ghosts that Beckett will soon be contending with.

This engaging read takes place in multiple perspectives, that of before and now and that of Beckett and Delilah’s perspectives. Beckett is soon overcome with fear and fear when she cannot reach Delilah, thus necessitating a visit to her hometown. With incredible tension, shocking twists and turns that just might give the reader pause, this latest book by Megan Miranda was an excellent read.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger. She has also written several books for young adults, including Fracture, The Safest Lies, and Fragments of the Lost. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

Come Find Me is her newest book for young adults. Her next adult suspense, The Last House Guest, will be published on June 18th, 2019.



Review - The Killer She Knew

Title:  The Killer She Knew
Author Nichole Severn
Series:   Leigh Brody FBI Mystery #3
Publisher:  Storm Publishing 
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  328
Date of Publication:  February 14, 2025
My Rating:   Stars
DESCRIPTION:

The girl’s blonde hair fans across the ground like a halo, her soft brown eyes staring blankly up at the stormy sky. Leigh’s heart beats painfully in her chest as she takes in the scene. Is this her fault? Could she have saved this girl?

When the body of twenty-one-year-old Alice Dietz is found in the courtyard of her alma mater, FBI agent Leigh Brody feels as though a nightmare has come to life. Eighteen years ago, another girl was killed in the same way as Alice. And Leigh gave a false alibi to protect the man she loved from murder charges. She believed his claim of innocence, until he vanished from her life…

Has he resurfaced after all these years?

Haunted by the mistakes of her past, Leigh is determined to uncover the truth. But as a hurricane cuts off all communication lines, another student goes missing, and the case becomes a desperate race against time. Leigh won’t let another girl down, even if she has to tear this campus apart in her search. But can she dig deep into her painful memories to find the final clue before another innocent life is lost?

A pulse-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the explosive end. Perfect for fans of A.J. Rivers, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh


MY THOUGHTS:

FBI Leigh Brody’s past has resurfaced, haunting her as she grapples with finding Alice Diettz’s killer while maintaining a healthy relationship with her adopted daughter. Leigh has always excelled at maintaining professionalism, but the uncanny resemblance between Alice’s murder and a case she solved 18 years ago deeply concerns her. This gripping and fast-paced read by Nichole Severn delves into Leigh’s world, exploring the tension between her professional duties and her personal life.

This third installment of the series is an absolute page-turner. Nichole Severn masterfully balances the intricate cases Leigh handles with glimpses into her private life. The suspense surrounding the series titles is always thrilling, but I particularly enjoy seeing characters’ softer sides. The fast-paced drama in this book makes it an excellent addition to the series, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Nichole Severn writes mind-twisting suspense and bullet-proof romance with strong heroines, heroes who dare challenge them, and cases you won’t be able to forget.

She graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Psychology, is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a founding member of the Addicted to Danger Facebook group, and volunteers for non-profits focused on supporting mothers.

She resides with her very supportive and patient husband, as well as her two demon spawn, in Utah. When she’s not writing, she’s constantly injuring herself while weightlifting, finds herself in over her head with DIY projects, or escaping deep into mafia romance and romantasy reads.

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Review - Irish Parade Murder

Title
:   Irish Parade Murder
Author:  Leslie Meier 
Series:  Lucy Stone Mystery #27
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Kensington Books
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of pages:  208
Published:  February 4, 2021
My Rating:   Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Lucy Stone's late-winter blues usually vanish by the time Tinker's Cove goes green for its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. There's just one wee problem that not even the luck of the Irish can fix--murder!

After returning from her father-in-law's funeral in Florida, Lucy can almost hear the death knell of her part-time reporter job the instant she meets new hire Rob Callahan. He's young, ambitious, and positioning himself to become the Pennysaver's next star reporter. Adding insult to injury, Lucy only gets assigned the local St. Patrick's Day parade once Rob passes on the story. But before beer flows and bagpipes sound, Rob becomes suspected of destroying more than other people's careers...

It's a shock when Rob is suddenly charged with sending a corrections officer from town to a fiery death. Contrary to the evidence, Lucy seriously doubts her office rival committed murder, and she's willing to follow that nagging hunch into the darkest corners of the community if it means shedding light on the truth...

As an unnerving mystery unfolds, a strange woman reveals news that could change everything for Lucy and her family. Troubles in her personal and professional life are colliding, and Lucy comes to realize that she'll sooner discover a four-leaf clover than confront a killer with the gift of the gab and live to tell about it...

In this 27th book in the Lucy Stone series we have another delightful read in one of my favorite series. In this installment, Lucy has a lot on her plate as usual. Not only is she grieving her father-in-law's recent passing, there is someone claims that they are connected to the family. As far as work is concerned, Lucy is feeling displaced by a snappy young reporter named Rob. Always able to get assigned good stories as a newspaper reporter for the town's small newspaper. Rob apparently gets a choice piece.

Life and its distractions notwithstanding, everything stops for Lucy when there is another murder in Tinkers Cove and right about the time of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade. Navigating her mother-in-law as she deals with being a widow, an interloper in the family, and a young reporter looking like he might want her job, is all a bit much as Lucy works hard to find the town’s latest murderer.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I started writing in the late ‘80s when I was attending graduate classes at Bridgewater State College. I wanted to become certified to teach high school English and one of the required courses was Writing and the Teaching of Writing. My professor suggested that one of the papers I wrote for that course was good enough to be published and I sent it off to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine’s Department of First Stories. I got $100 for the story and I’ve been writing ever since. The teaching, however, didn’t work out.

My books draw heavily on my experience as a mother of three and my work as a reporter for various weekly newspapers on Cape  . My heroine, Lucy Stone, is a reporter in the fictional town of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, where she lives in an old farmhouse (quite similar to mine on Cape Cod!) with her restoration carpenter husband Bill and four children. As the series has progressed the kids have grown older, roughly paralleling my own family. We seem to have reached a point beyond which Lucy cannot age–my editor seems to want her to remain forty-something forever, though I have to admit I personally am dying to write “Menopause is Murder!”

I usually write one Lucy Stone mystery every year and as you can tell, my editor likes me to feature the holidays in my books. Of course Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and my newest mystery “Eggnog Murder,” is included in an anthology with two other Christmas novellas by Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis. I’ve long been a fan of the classic English country house mystery, and was a faithful watcher of “Downton Abbey,” so I couldn’t resist trying to write one. I think I succeeded rather well, if I do say so myself, with “British Manor Murder,” which came out in October, 2016.

My books are classified as “cozies” but a good friend insists they are really “comedies of manners” and I do enjoy expressing my view of contemporary American life.

Now that the kids are grown — we have five fabulous grandchildren — my husband and I are enjoying dividing our time between Braintree and Cape Cod, along with our cat, Sylvester.

Find Her:  Goodreads / Twitter / Web 


Sunday, October 12, 2025

BLOG TOUR - Her Cold Heart


DESCRIPTION:

As snow falls over the small town of Kearny, the body of a young woman lies on the frozen ground. Her unblinking eyes stare out across the mountain top, and a wave of crimson-red blood seeps into the white blanket where she rests.

When residents discover a body on the slopes of a popular ski resort, Detective Delaney Pace and Sheriff Leo Palmer are first to investigate. Delaney scans her surroundings, and among the panic-stricken crowd she spots a man fleeing through the trees.

Delaney and Leo race after the suspect, following the tracks he left in his wake. But when the pair are separated, Delaney makes a heart-stopping discovery: a make-shift graveyard at an abandoned lodge deep in the forest. Immediately she knows there are more victims—and Leo’s radio has gone dead…

With the sheriff missing and the risk of more lives being taken, Delaney works fast to capture the twisted killer. But her mission grinds to a halt when a ghost from her past sends her a chilling message: Do as I say, if you want to see Leo again.

Desperate to save the man she loves, Delaney faces the shocking realisation that this whole thing was planned. She knows who’s responsible—and how dangerous they are. If she follows the orders she could lose her life, but if she doesn’t, she could lose Leo. Will she catch the killer in time? Or will she pay the ultimate price?

This totally unputdownable and absolutely nail-biting crime thriller from a USA Today bestselling author is perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Mary Stone and Rubert Dugoni.

BUY LINKS:

Title:  Her Cold Heart
Author Pamela Fagan Hutchins
Series:   Detective Delaney Pace #6
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   405
Date of Publication:   October 9, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Her Cold Heart is a fast-paced, heart-stopping read, filled with tension that never once lets up, page after page. 

As a deputy sheriff and as a mother to two teens, Delaney Pace doesn’t get much down time. However, now that she and Sheriff Leo Palmer are officially dating, she takes the chance to go skiing with him and her girls. However, their time together turned out to be nothing like they planned. Just before getting on the ski lift, Delaney briefly spoke to a young woman. In the next harrowing moments, a shot rings out and that same young woman has been shot. Killed instantly.

Of course Delaney and Leo are instantly in professional mode. They jump on snowmobiles, hoping to find the shooter. Just as they just might be closing in on the shooter, the pair are separated. What then ensues for Leo is a horrifying experience, one that never seems like it will end. Delaney’s search pivots. Yes, she wants to find and stop the killer, but her desperation turns to finding Leo. It certainly won’t be easy and the death of the young woman is only the first of several. 

Time is definitely of the essence and the fear and concern that Delaney experiences is palpable. Where is Leo? Why has he apparently vanished in thin air? While desperately searching for him, a bigger picture begins to unfold, making it apparent that it might be a recovery mission instead of a rescue mission, and this breaks her heart every step of the way.

What a thrilling book in an exhilarating series! I binge read this series from book one and have loved seeing Delaney’s life and story unfold. There is a continuing story arc that seamlessly blends into this latest installment in the series. This made this book, like all the ones before it, impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today bestselling and Silver Falchion Best Mystery winning mystery/thriller/suspense author (and recovering attorney and investigator) who splits time between an off-the-grid lodge on the face of Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains and a rustic cabin on Maine’s Lake Mooselookmeguntic with her husband, kids and grandkids, rescue pets and sled dog, and draft cross horses.

Writes for Bookouture and independently.

Host of Crime & Wine: Novelist Chats with Pamela Fagan Hutchins.


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Friday, October 10, 2025

BLOG TOUR - The Baby on My Doorstep



DESCRIPTION:

I thought my sister was killed a year ago. But now her baby is on my doorstep…

I’m drinking a glass of wine in my quiet, empty house, listening to the silence and wondering if I will always be this lonely… And then I hear the knock.

When I open the door, I can’t believe what I see. A small bundle, pink fists waving weakly under a patterned blanket, gorgeous deep blue eyes blinking up at me.

A baby.

I rush to pick her up, clutching her tightly. Who can she belong to? Why would someone abandon her at my door?

I call the police, and social care. But I could never have predicted what happened next. Because when they run DNA, the baby is related to me.

She’s my sister’s child.

But that’s impossible. My sister was murdered a year ago.

Wasn’t she?

A completely gripping and unputdownable thriller from the bestselling author of Not My Mother that will keep you gripped from the first page to the final shocking twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley and Gillian Flynn.

BUY LINK:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0FH1292Q1social

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Title:   The Baby on My Doorstep
Author:  Miranda Smith
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  296
Date of Publication:  October 7, 2025
My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

“He killed her that night, and it’s possible my argument with her was the first fallen domino in a series of unfortunate events. I’ll always blame myself for that.”

Divorce pending. Overwhelmed with loneliness and consumed with the disappearance of her sister. The happiness and contentment she once experienced vanished in an instant. These are the challenges Emily is grappling with. One evening, a persistent knock on her door sparks her curiosity and fear. Her anxieties are heightened.

That’s the thrilling opening in Miranda Smith’s latest book. The knock on Emily’s door? A baby. An actual baby is on her doorstep, and all Emily could hear before opening the door was footsteps rushing away. She immediately calls the police, who take the appropriate action and take the baby to be checked out. However, that’s not the end of Emily’s encounter with the baby. The baby will return. Emily is clueless about caring for a baby. Despite her impending divorce, she reaches out to her husband, Byron, for help.

This unexpected distraction diverts Emily from her pursuit of the man she believes was responsible for her sister Erin’s disappearance. Emily had been convinced from the beginning that her on-and-off boyfriend, Adam, was the culprit, even her sister’s murderer. Despite her relentless efforts to prove Adam’s guilt, her immediate attention shifts to the baby.

Prepare to be surprised, thrilled and shocked as you read The Baby on her Doorstep. This fast-paced book seemingly transitions from Emily’s sister to the situation involving the baby. I couldn’t put this book down! We understand why Emily is suddenly responsible for the baby, but there are some chapters in this book that will no doubt be utterly compelling for the reader. Wow! That is all I can say at this point. If you haven’t read this book yet, head over to your online bookstore and add it to your immediate reading list.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.