Review: A Wrench in the Works

Title:  A Wrench in the Works
Author:  Kate Carlisle
Series:  Fixer-Upper Mystery #6
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Format:  ebook
No. of pages: 304
Published: November 6, 2018
My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Contractor Shannon Hammer has to dig through murder suspects in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Eaves of Destruction and Once Upon a Spine.

Don't miss the Hallmark Movies & Mystery Originals starring Jewel, based on the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!

Shannon Hammer's younger sister Chloe left Lighthouse Cove after high school to make it big in Hollywood. And she did it! For several years now, Chloe has been the co-host of a popular home repair show on the Do-It-Yourself Network. Now, after ten years, Chloe returns to Lighthouse Cove with her crew and co-host to film several shows featuring her sister Shannon, along with some special mini-segments on Victorian style and design.

But Shannon realizes quickly that things are not exactly blissful in TV land. Her sister's handsome co-host is being stalked by someone who turns out to be his estranged wife, Erica--who also happens to be the executive producer of the show. Erica's got a knack for stirring up sticky situations and when she's found dead, Chloe and the entire crew are under suspicion.

Shannon soon discovers the real reason why Chloe was so eager to move away from Lighthouse Cove all those years ago. Can Shannon figure out if that ten-year-old secret is connected to Erica's death? And can she track down the real killer before her beloved sister becomes the next victim?

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Sisters Shannon and Chloe Hammer are glad to be back together after Chloe left their hometown of Lighthouse Cove for Hollywood. Both of their lives are quite on track. They are both involved in home improvement and Chloe has a job on a home makeover show. Shannon is delighted that Chloe’s show is going to be doing a renovation of a house in Lighthouse Cove. The sisters are very much looking forward to working together.

Plans go horribly awry for more than one reason. Before things even get off the ground, Chloe has something very important that she is reluctant to share with Shannon. Shannon and Chloe are excited to begin the project. The crew visits the house where the renovation is to take place. To their surprise and horror, Chloe discovers a dead body. The entire crew is under suspicion, including Chloe. 

Shannon makes it her aim to clear her sister’s name. After all, it has been a very busy year for Shannon as this is not the first dead body she’s come across. While identifying the murder is of top priority, Shannon realizes that Chloe is more than just a suspect, she may actually be in danger.

This was a quick read and it was rather fun watching Shannon work hard at being an amateur detective. Although a horrible argument between Chloe and the murdered person was heard by herself and several others, Shannon is positive about her sister’s innocence.

A Wrench in the Works is a delightful cozy mystery and the characters are fairly well rounded. Of course, Shannon is primary, as this story was delivered from her first-person perspective. There are a few twists and turns along the way. There were a couple of scenarios that didn’t appeal to me, but I still found this to be a quick and enjoyable read.

When I requested this book, I was not aware that it is the sixth book in the Fixer Upper Mystery  series. Despite not having read the previous stories, A Wrench in the Works did quite well as a standalone. I would love to not only read the previous titles in the series, but to check out Kate Carlisle’s backlist. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that she is an excellent author.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and First to Read for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 

PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT:

***This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected copy proof*** Copyright © 2018 Kate Carlisle Chapter 1 Two months earlier “Shannon!” I turned and saw my friend Jane Hennessey waving at me from halfway down Main Street. She ran to catch up with me, despite the fact that she was wearing a lovely dress and high heels. I guess when you owned the Hennessey House Inn, the most elegant world-class inn in Lighthouse Cove, you had to dress the part. “Hi, Jane.” I set my toolbox down on the sidewalk and gave her a quick hug. “You look so nice. Where are you headed?” “I’m swinging by Lizzie’s shop to pick up Mac’s latest thriller and then we’re going to have lunch at Emily’s. You should come with us.” “What a coincidence,” I said, gazing up at the clear blue sky. It was early fall and the weather was warm and sunny with a slight breeze. Perfect for walking along the town square. “I was just on my way to Emily’s to fix a stopped-up sink. I’ll walk with you.” I surreptitiously brushed my hand over my mop of curly hair, hoping to swipe away as much sawdust as I could. “But I should probably pass on lunch. I’ve been working at the old Parton mansion all morning, redoing the staircase. I’m covered in wood shavings.” “We’re used to seeing you like that,” she said with a grin. “Emily won’t mind. We’ll just hose you down before we go inside.” “That’s so sweet.” Our friend Emily Rose owned the popular Scottish Rose Tea Shoppe on Main Street, facing the town square. She made the absolute best sandwiches and tiny delectable pastries. My mouth began to water just thinking about them. And that settled it. “I’d love to join you if you’re sure I’m not interrupting anything.” She laughed. “Since our whole point in having lunch is to talk about Chloe’s visit, you won’t be interrupting anything and you should definitely be there.” I cocked my head in confusion. “You and Lizzie are talking about my sister?” “Yes, Shannon,” Jane said with infinite patience. “You know she’ll be here in two short months, right?” “Of course, but . . .” “And you know she asked me to help book the hotel rooms for the crew and the production staff, right?” “No.” I picked up my toolbox. Jane slipped her arm through mine and we strolled toward Lizzie’s bookshop a half block away. “I hadn’t heard that.” “Well, she did and I’m thrilled to do it. But it’s going to take some jockeying and planning, as you might imagine.” “I believe it.” Chloe was the co-star of Makeover Madness, a popular rehab and design show on the Home Builders Network. I was thrilled with her success and overjoyed that the show was coming to Lighthouse Cove to feature some of our beautiful old Victorian mansions. And I was pleased to hear that my best friends were jumping in to help make the visit a success. “But what’s Lizzie doing?” I asked. “Is she helping you make reservations?” “Oh no. I can do that on my own. But Chloe was hoping that Lizzie will stock her new book and maybe host a book signing while she’s in town. So a few of us decided to get together to work out all the schedules and logistics.” “My sister, the superstar,” I murmured. I still couldn’t believe that Chloe had recently published her very own book on home rehab, design, and décor. She had sent me an advance copy and it was gorgeous. Her accomplishments had far exceeded everyone’s expectations—including her own—and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of her. Jane squeezed my arm. “She really is a star. And besides, she’s our hometown girl. We’re all excited to see her again.” “Me, too.” I meant it. Especially since my little sister rarely came home anymore, except for the occasional holiday. And even then, she would sneak into town for a day or two and be gone before we’d even had a chance to catch up on old times. Chloe had left town ten years ago, the summer after she graduated from high school. It had been her dream to make it big in Hollywood, and she’d been determined to do whatever it took to make that happen. She had started out as a lowly office go-fer and in her spare time she worked for a local theater company building sets. And after a few years . . . it happened. She was discovered in that theater, not as an actress but as a carpenter. A producer hired her for a bit part on a DIY Network show and from there she went on to hit the big time as co-host of Makeover Madness. With her innovative ideas and her talent as a contractor, she helped turn that show into the highest-rated program on the network. It didn’t hurt that she was smart and talented and beautiful, but viewers loved her most of all because she had the best sense of humor and absolutely loved her job. And now, besides being a TV star, Chloe would soon be a bestselling author. Did I mention how ridiculously proud of her I was? Who would’ve thought that hanging out on construction sites with our dad all those years ago would turn out to be so profitable for both of us? I’m Shannon Hammer, a building contractor specializing in Victorian home renovation. My hometown is listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation because of its hundreds of Victorian-era houses and buildings, so it made sense that Chloe would eventually bring her television show back home to Lighthouse Cove. She and her producers planned to shoot a series of episodes featuring major rehab jobs on Victorian homes. And the best news of all was that Chloe wanted me to work on the houses with her. Me! I was beyond excited. But that didn’t mean I was totally on board with Chloe allowing Jane to do all this heavy lifting for her staff and crew. Had my sister gone so completely Hollywood that she didn’t think about the “little” people anymore? That didn’t sound like Chloe at all. I wondered if maybe she was just overly stressed and pressed for time. “I guess I’m still confused,” I said to Jane. “Chloe’s producers usually arrange all the travel details. Why did she ask you to do it?” Jane smiled. “She didn’t really ask. She just called to get some information on hotels and the next thing I knew, I was on the phone with her executive producer, Bree Bennett, who wanted to hear all about Hennessey House. How many rooms we have, our rates, what meals and amenities are included, you know. We worked out a few specifics and I told her I’d take care of everything else.” I frowned. “Everything else?” “Her staff and crew are going to need a lot more rooms than I have available, so I offered to take care of booking the Inn on Main Street for them.” I nodded slowly. “That makes sense. You’re kind of an expert in that regard.” “I am,” she said with a confident smile. Jane had been the manager of the inn for five years before she opened her Hennessey House, a massive Victorian mansion left to her by her grandmother. “And then Bree called back for more info and I happened to mention that Emily’s catering company could provide pastries and coffee every day. And then Chloe called to ask about the book signing, so that got Lizzie involved. And then Emily reminded me that Gus has a limousine service if anyone on the show wanted to use it. And, well, here we are.” Jane and I had gone to school with gorgeous Gus Peratti, the best auto mechanic in town and the guy who had won Emily’s heart. I smiled, feeling better knowing that Chloe wasn’t running our friends crazy. Not personally, anyway. And besides, nobody here seemed to mind. At least, not so far. I would have to make sure that once the production people arrived, they didn’t steamroll Jane, Lizzie, Emily, and everyone else in town. “So you managed to get the whole gang involved. I’m officially impressed.” “And we’re all going to get credit on the show. Isn’t it wonderful?” “That’s very cool,” I said. “I just hope you’re not too busy to handle all this extra work. If it starts to feel like Chloe’s imposing on you . . .” “She’s not.” Jane laughed. “It just feels that way to you because she’s your sister. I, on the other hand, am totally psyched. It’s sort of like I’m working in showbiz, you know?” I chuckled. “Showbiz-adjacent, anyway.” “Close enough,” she said breezily. “Besides, Chloe is so sweet.” Sweet? Chloe? I loved my sister, but that was not a word I would normally apply to her. Smart, savvy, a little snarky, sure. But sweet? I wondered just how thickly she’d laid on the sweetness. On the other hand, my friends weren’t exactly naïve. Especially Jane, who had known Chloe her whole life. If she and the others didn’t want to do the work, they wouldn’t have volunteered. Still . . . I glanced up at Jane, who was two inches taller than me—and had been since first grade when we were the two tallest kids in class, a fact that had bonded us for life. “If you feel like you’re about to freak out from all the demands, just call Chloe and tell her to get the producers to take over. They’re used to doing this kind of stuff. And I can help, too. With . . . whatever.” “No way would I dump my work on you,” she said adamantly. “First of all, you’ve got your own arrangements to take care of, right?” True, I thought. I was supposed to scout out three or four run-down Victorian houses ripe for rehab. The producers would come to town in the next week or so and choose a few of them to be featured on the show. Chloe also wanted me to line up four or five other smaller interior jobs that the two of us would tackle for the show’s website. And in the meantime, I had a bunch of ongoing jobs that would start to get backed up as I spent more time working on the TV show projects. “And second,” Jane continued, “I’ve got a ton of people offering to help me. This is going to go off without a hitch.” Famous last words, I thought. “We’d better knock on wood.” “Very funny,” she said, lightly elbowing me in the side. “Yeah, I’m just kidding. It’s going to be great.” But as we passed one of the many sycamore trees that grew along Main Street, I reached out and knocked on the thick brown wood trunk. Because why tempt fate? Two weeks later I met with Wade Chambers, my head foreman, at the site of one of the first houses on my Chloe list. I was already waiting by the tailgate when he climbed out of his truck and together we pulled the extension ladder out of the back. “They picked the Bloom house for the show?” he asked. “It’s one of the four they’re going to decide on,” I said as we lugged the ladder up the walkway. “I really hope they choose it because it’s got great bones. The final result would be beautiful.” “You’re right,” he said, gazing up at the three-story tower. “It’s got all the Victorian elements and it would be perfect for the show. As long as it doesn’t crumble and fall down between now and the time Chloe gets here.” “It could happen.” In its heyday, this Queen Anne Victorian had surely been one of the more stately jewels of Lighthouse Cove. With its traditionally asymmetrical roofline, multiple gables, rounded front tower, and wraparound veranda, not to mention the overabundance of gingerbread trim, the home was a true classic. But it had been deserted for at least twenty years and, like Wade said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the place collapse at any moment. “I ran into Margaret Bloom at the market,” I said. “She begged me to put in a good word. She told me she’s spending every day in church, lighting candles and praying that the house gets chosen for Makeover Madness.” Wade chuckled. “I’m not sure it works that way.” Margaret still owned the house that had been in her family for six generations, but when she got married, she moved into her husband’s home, a beautiful Eastlake-style Victorian over on Ivy Hill north of the town square. She had kept her maiden name of Bloom just as her three sisters had done since the Blooms had long been one of the most prominent families in Lighthouse Cove. “She told me they can’t spare the money to refurbish both of their houses and according to the terms of her father’s will, she can’t sell this one. She’ll have to pass it on to her kids eventually, but meanwhile, it’s falling apart. She’d be thrilled if Chloe and the producers choose it. That way, she can get the work done for free.” “It definitely needs help,” Wade said, glancing at the veranda. “It’s kind of a disaster and that’s a damn shame.” “Disasters are exactly what Chloe asked me to find for the show,” I said with a grin. “She told me to come up with some real stinkers.” He chuckled. “Then she’ll be very happy with this place. So what are we doing here?” “I’ll show you.” I lifted the front of the ladder up. “Let’s go around to the side.” Wade grabbed the far end and we carried the heavy ladder around the side of the house to the point where the wraparound veranda ended. “Let’s set it up right here.” “I guess I shouldn’t complain that so many of the old houses are falling apart,” Wade reasoned as he helped lean the ladder up against the side of the house. “It keeps us gainfully employed.” I grinned at him over my shoulder. “You got that right.” “Okay, I assume you’re the one climbing up there.” He grabbed hold of the railings. “I’ll keep it steady for you.” “Thanks.” I stared at the ladder, looking all the way to the top. I wasn’t afraid of heights but this thing stretched up thirty-two feet. Even my most macho crew guys were a little daunted by the climb. My throat was suddenly dry. “That’s a long way up.” “And it still won’t reach the peak of the gable,” Wade said, pointing up at the decorative wood pieces tucked under the peak of the roof. “We’ll have to get the boom lift out here if Chloe wants to restore those gable carvings.” My construction company owned a two-man boom lift with a basketlike platform and a fifty-two-foot articulated arm, the kind of thing the telephone company used to reach the highest electrical poles. It was an expensive piece of heavy equipment that my father had won in a poker game a few years back from the owner of our local hardware store. True story. Because of Dad’s good fortune, we were happy to rent it out to other contractors when we weren’t using it ourselves. “For now,” I said, “I just want to get close enough to check out the dentils along the eaves.” Taking a fortifying breath, I slowly climbed thirty-some feet until I could reach out and examine the closest square wooden molding. But as soon as I touched the first one, my fingertips went right through the rotted wood. I tested a few more spots along the eave and found them all as badly damaged. “I was afraid of this,” I shouted down to Wade. “We’ve got to get these repaired before Chloe shows up.” “Why?” “Because the wood is rotten.” “But that’s part of the deal, isn’t it? It actually looks kind of cool in a disturbing sort of way.” Was he smoking something? “No, it doesn’t. It looks plain old creepy. Decrepit, faded, and sad.” “Exactly,” Wade shouted cheerfully. “Chloe will love it. She’ll want to get some close-up shots of the rot first before we get to work making it beautiful.” I sighed. He had a point. “But I hate to think that people watching the show will believe that the houses in Lighthouse Cove are dilapidated and mangy.” Wade snorted a laugh. “Why would they think that? Lighthouse Cove is famous for the hundreds of beautiful Victorians we have here.” “Right, so why would we want to show off all the ugly parts?” “Because if they see all this rotting wood and peeling paint, they’ll think we’re freaking geniuses when we make it all shiny and pretty again.” I gazed down at him and nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. Guess I’m just nervous about the whole television thing.” I stared up at the offending dentil and sighed again. “Okay, we’ll leave them for now.” “Good. Ready to come down?” “Not yet.” I pointed up at the main gable rising thirty more feet above me. “Look at those gable brackets. I can see the worm holes from here. And the carvings are falling apart. They’ll need to be filled and sanded and then painted.” “Yup,” Wade agreed. “But after the film crew gets here. Chloe loves stuff like that.” I frowned because he was right. “How is it that everyone knows my own sister better than I do?” “I watch her show,” he said with a shrug, clutching the ladder as I studied the weathered wood siding. “It’s really interesting and Chloe’s great. I always learn something new.” I didn’t respond, just made a point of scratching off a bit of peeling paint. Wade started to laugh. “Do you even watch your sister’s show?” “Of course I watch it,” I said, properly outraged. “I mean, usually.” I huffed out a breath. “Okay, fine. I record them so I can watch them anytime I want.” “Uh-huh. Better watch a few episodes before she gets here.” “I will,” I groused. I would never admit out loud that watching my sister’s TV show made me feel a bit inadequate. I mean, we were both contractors and basically had the same job, only she did hers on national television. It was weird. Despite being proud of her, I guess I was a little jealous, too, which was just plain silly. I took another minute to check out some water damage I noticed under the eaves of the veranda, then began the climb down. “I would love the chance to restore this house to its former glory.” Wade scraped at a patch of peeling paint. “You and me both.” We retracted the extension ladder and carried it back to Wade’s truck. Once it was secured, he took his tablet out of his backpack. “Do we have a schedule yet of the work we’ll be doing with Chloe while she’s here?” “I’m expecting the producer to come to town this weekend. I’ll show her each of the houses and she’ll make the decisions on which houses we’ll work on and in what order. And once we’ve nailed down those details, I’ll get together with you and Carla and finalize a schedule for the crew. According to Chloe, they plan on using some of our guys.” “I hope so. That would be a kick.” “At the very least, I’ll see if they’ll let our guys work on the smaller projects we’ve got lined up.” “Do you know what those are?” “Yeah. Chloe’s been in touch with one of her high school friends to expand a closet. Freddie Baxter wanted to add on a new bathroom and Mac wants to build a deck on the side of his house.” “Off the kitchen?” “Yes. The northern exposure will be perfect in the summer. I was going to do the work anyway, but if Chloe wants us to do it for the show, that would be great.” “Oh, yeah. Right by the ocean, they’ll be able to get lots of great shots of the waves and the beach.” “And the lighthouse.” “Awesome,” he said, and climbed into his truck. “Keep me in the loop.” I grinned. “Always.” Present day After arriving home from work tired, drywall-mud-caked, and downright grungy, I jumped into the shower. I hadn’t even dried my hair when my dog, Robbie, began to bark frantically and made a beeline down the stairs and straight for the front door. “All right, all right,” I said. Throwing on a T-shirt and sweatpants, I followed him down and opened the door in time to see a sleek black limousine come to a stop in the driveway. “Looks like the queen has arrived.” I walked down the front steps just as my sister stepped regally out from the backseat of the limousine. She wore jeans and a bejeweled denim jacket, and her long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, making her look like a teenager. At first glance, the two of us didn’t look related at all. But if you looked beyond our hair color, you’d see that we were obviously sisters. When Chloe turned sixteen she decided to become a blonde and never looked back. I had always been happy with my wavy red hair, despite its occasional similarity to an unruly mop. I grinned and felt my heart stutter in my chest. It had been too long since she’d been home. Hurrying down the walkway, I grabbed her in a hug. “Come here, you. Gosh, you look so great! I can’t believe you’re finally here.” “I can’t, either. We’re going to have so much fun.” She held me at arm’s length. “How do you keep getting more beautiful?” And then she pulled me close again. “In case you hadn’t noticed, my hair is a wet mess.” “And yet you still look fabulous. I should hate you.” I laughed. “We’re definitely related. I was just thinking the same thing about you.” She smiled. “Aren’t we lucky?” “And just a little full of it.” Still laughing, we both turned as Gus Peratti jumped from the driver’s seat. “Hey, Shannon.” “Hi, Gus. Haven’t seen you in forever.” I gave him a quick smooch on the cheek. “Thanks so much for taking care of Chloe.” “Not a problem.” He jogged around to the open trunk and began pulling out at least a dozen various suitcases, a hanging wardrobe bag, and several large duffel bags. “Did you bring enough stuff?” I asked. She smoothed her hair back. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m very important.” I chuckled and pulled her close. “God, I’ve missed you.” Chloe wrapped her arm around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder while Gus loaded up on suitcases and traipsed up the steps and into the house. “Is everything okay with you?” I asked her. “Wonderful,” she said a little too emphatically. “I’m just so glad to be here.” Chloe stared up at the house we had grown up in. Like so many of the homes in town, it was a Queen Anne Victorian with the usual charming affectations. I had painted the entire house white with touches of sky blue trim a few years ago, which was a big change from the previous multiple-color style of dark browns and blues with forest green trim and a splash of beige here and there. I had also replaced the clamshell shingles covering the top half of the house with horizontal wood siding that matched the rest of the exterior. It gave the house a clean, tidy look that I loved. “It looks so peaceful,” Chloe whispered. She couldn’t have given me a better compliment. “I hope you like it.” “I love it.” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait, did you replace the bay windows?” “I did.” Originally there were three narrow sash windows that I replaced with a gracefully bowed, single piece of glass. “Wow. That’s a showstopper.” She climbed the ten steps up to the front porch and walked over to study the bay window up close. “The glass itself is curved. How did you do that?” “It was tricky but I found a glazier in Eureka who rose to the challenge.” Tricky was one way to put it, I thought. Pain in the rear would be more accurate. “Gorgeous.” “Thanks. That means a lot.” And it reminded me that Chloe hadn’t been home to visit in over five years. Oh, we talked on the phone or Skyped every other week or so, and Dad and I had traveled south to see her a few times. To this day, I still didn’t know why she didn’t come home more often. Maybe she would finally open up to me on this trip. I could only hope. Gus came back out, grabbed two more large bags plus two smaller bags, and easily walked back up the front stairs to the door. “We’d better help,” I said. “Good idea.” We jogged down the steps to the car. I grabbed a duffel bag and a couple of the smaller totes. Chloe picked up the last three shopping bags and we followed Gus into the house. “Where would you like these?” he asked. “Oh, just leave them here and we’ll take them upstairs eventually.” “A couple of these bags are really heavy,” Gus said. “Let me take them upstairs for you while you two get reacquainted.” He was going above and beyond the call of duty, but that was what friends were for. “Thank you, Gus. Chloe’s room is down the hall, the third door on the left.” “My old room?” Chloe said. “Do you mind?” “Absolutely not.” She clapped her hands together. “It’ll really feel like I’m back home. Actually, I’m getting a little emotional just thinking about it.” I grinned. “That’s only fair since I’ve been freaking out for weeks in anticipation of your arrival.” “Why?” Chloe looked surprised. “The show is going to be a blast. I’m so excited you’re doing it with me.” “I’m pretty excited, too. Also scared to death, but I’ll snap out of it.” She gave a light shrug. “If we screw it up, we’ll just do another take.” “You make it sound so easy,” I said with a laugh. “It will be.” Gus made two more trips upstairs and then took off, but not before Chloe tried to tip him. He politely refused. “Your company made us a very generous deal while you’re in town, so tips are not necessary.” “Then how about if we take you and Emily out to dinner later this week?” I said. “That sounds perfect. Good to meet you, Chloe.” He winked and strolled out the door. Chloe waved, then sighed. “God, he is a beautiful man.” “That’s the consensus. And Emily sure thinks so.” “He told me he went to school with you, but I don’t remember him.” I laughed. “How could you forget him?” “I have no idea.” She shook her head and stared at the door where Gus had just departed. “I guess I was a little self-absorbed in high school.” “Weren’t we all?” I led the way into the kitchen and while feeding Robbie and my pretty orange-striped cat, Tiger, and cleaning their water bowls, I told Chloe the story of Gus and Emily and how the ghost of Mrs. Rawley brought them closer together. “That is so amazing,” she said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “So the ghost led you to the wall where she’d hidden her diary?” “Yes. It was pretty bizarre to see paint cans flying through the air and the chandelier swinging all on its own.” “Oh my God, you’re giving me goose bumps.” She rubbed her arms briskly. “Will you tell that story on the air?” “You really want me to?” “I do. That’s exactly the sort of thing that viewers love to hear, especially when it’s connected to an old home like this story is.” I took a breath to fortify myself. This whole showbiz thing was new to me. “Okay, I’ll do it.” “Great.” She pulled out her phone and began to type. “I’m just making myself a note.” Robbie finished his nibbling and scurried over to the table, where Chloe patted her knees in invitation. The friendly Westie immediately jumped onto her lap and settled in for some petting, scratching, and stroking. Not to be outdone, Tiger curled herself around Chloe’s ankles and made herself at home on top of her shoes. “I love your little creatures,” Chloe murmured. “They love you, too. Do you have any pets?” “No. My old boyfriend was allergic, or at least that’s what he always told me. Now that’s he’s gone, maybe I’ll get a cat.” “You should. It’s nice to come home to someone who’s absolutely thrilled to see you.” She laughed. “It probably helps that you’re the one feeding them.” “That’s the bargain we’ve struck. I feed them and they love me.” She put her elbow on the table and rested her cheek in her hand. “I could use some unconditional love.” As if on cue, Robbie turned and licked her chin. Chloe laughed and gave Robbie’s ear a soft scratch. “Thank you, Robbie. See, that’s what I’m talking about.” “So, speaking of your old boyfriend . . . what ever happened to Joe? You never really said.” She gazed at me. “He turned out not to be the dreamboat I described when I first met him.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s my own fault.” “But you lived with him for two years.” “We had fun for a while. I thought we would get married. I love his parents. I still miss them. But you know, when the guy you’re living with turns around and gets another girl pregnant, it’s usually a sign.” “Ugh. A really big sign. What an idiot.” “It’s okay. I’m too busy to have a relationship.” I sat down across from her, anxious to change the subject to something a little less upsetting. “So, it’s almost five o’clock. Do you want to unpack?” “Not really. Do you mind if we just chill out for a little while?” “Do you want to take a nap?” “God, no. But I would love a glass of wine.” “We are definitely related.” I opened a bottle of Pinot Noir and poured two glasses, and then we walked back to the living room to relax. Tiger and Robbie followed, naturally, and we all settled down on the big comfy couch. “So tell me about your life,” I said, after waiting for her to swallow her first sip of wine. “The show is going well, I know. And you always look so smart and beautiful, even when you’ve got paint on your hair.” She groaned. “You saw that episode, did you?” “Yes.” I had finally managed to binge-watch three seasons of the show and while I would never admit that little fact, I was prouder than ever that Chloe was my sister. She was truly talented. “That same thing happened to me a few years ago and it took weeks to get the paint out. Now I never paint a ceiling without wearing a hat. Which isn’t easy with this head of hair.” She waved her hand at me. “That’s another thing you should mention on the show. Any little details or stories or advice. The viewers love it.” “Speaking of viewers, you know you’ve got a lot fans in town. I hope you’re ready for the adulation.” She laughed. “It never gets old.” I scrunched a pillow and leaned back into the cushions. “It feels like forever since I saw you last. So tell me everything. The show is incredibly popular and your book is selling like crazy, that has to feel good.” “The book.” She shook her head in wonder. “I’m in shock over how well it’s doing.” “I’m so proud of you.” I smiled at her for a long moment. “Never mind that I’m consumed with jealousy.” She laughed again as I’d hoped she would, but then she sobered. “I feel bad for not calling more often, but it has been sort of a whirlwind. My head still spins at the thought of all those personal appearances. I just got back to the show last week and now we’re on the road again.” “Was your crew happy to see you? I hope everyone is treating you well.” “They are the best. Everyone’s so supportive.” “Good. I remember when you first started on the show, you said that Blake Bennett was really nice and helpful to you. Is he still? Was he happy about your book?” Blake was Chloe’s co-star and one of the producers of Makeover Madness. He was married to Bree, the executive producer. “Oh, yeah, Blake has been totally supportive. I asked if he wanted to help with the book and he said, no way.” She chuckled. “He figures I can do all the work and if the book is a hit, it means more people will watch the show.” “I guess he’s right.” I swirled my wineglass. “Oh, speaking of Blake, I met his wife Bree last month when she was up here scouting for locations. She was, um, nice. A very interesting woman.” Chloe’s smile tightened. “Seriously? Nice?” The last thing I’d wanted to do was diss Chloe’s boss, but Chloe obviously knew me too well. “I guess she was a little full of herself.” “That’s more like it.” She gave Robbie an absent scratch. “Don’t get me wrong, Bree can be nice when she wants to be. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very often.” My gaze narrowed. Okay, I might not see my sister often, but I could still read her expressions and emotions fairly easily. “What do you mean?” “Nothing really.” Chloe shrugged and reached for her wineglass. “Except that right before I left the studio this morning, she fired me.” Excerpted from A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle is a native Californian who worked in television production for many years before turning to writing. It was a lifelong fascination with the art and craft of bookbinding that led her to write the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder.

Her first book, Homicide in Hardcover, debuted in February 2010, followed by If Books Could Kill, The Lies That Bind, Murder Under Cover, One Book in the Grave, Peril in Paperback, A Cookbook Conspiracy, The Book Stops Here, Ripped from the Pages, Books of a Feather, Once Upon a Spine, Buried in Books and The Book Supremacy. She also wrote a Bibliophile e-novella, Pages of Sin, available in e-format only.

With the publication of A High-End Finish in November 2014, Kate launched the Fixer-Upper Mysteries featuring building contractor Shannon Hammer, who specializes in Victorian home renovation and repair. The series is set in Lighthouse Cove, a seemingly idyllic town with many dark secrets hiding under its floorboards. This Old Homicide, Crowned and Moldering, Deck the Hallways, Eaves of Destruction and A Wrench in the Works continue the series. Three of the Fixer-Upper Mysteries have been brought to the small screen by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Kate's television credits include numerous game shows, music videos, concerts, and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show, most notably as a member of the girl group, The Whispers. They didn't sing, exactly, but spit water on the host of the show.

Kate also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing in Southern California where she lives with her perfect hero husband.

Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She is the proud recipient of the Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier awards, and her first Bibliophile Mystery received a Best First Mystery nomination from RT Book Reviews. Kate loves to travel and read and drink good wine and watch other people cook.

Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill. If you're wondering why, here's the real scoop.

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BLOG TOUR - Before She Falls

I am pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour for Before She Falls by Dylan Young.

DESCRIPTION:

Kimberley was a beautiful young girl with the world at her feet.

Before she fell.

Before she was gone.

When Kimberley Williams jumps off Southdown Cliff, her family and the close-knit community are shocked. What would make her take her own life when she had so much of it left to live?

Detective Anna Gwynne is assigned to the case after it becomes clear that someone made Kimberley jump. Someone had been sending Kimberley messages, saying they would tell everyone her secret…

Then Anna realises there are others, all being sent the same messages, all with their lives at risk. To find the truth she will have to confront her own past, the lies she’s told about her childhood and the demons hidden there…

Can she save these innocent lives?

What is the secret they’re all dying for?

An absolutely gripping thriller that will hook you from beginning to end. If you love Val McDermid, Angela Marsons and Robert Dugoni, you won’t be able to put down Before She Falls.

BUY LINKS

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2yMRTiw

iBookstore: https://tinyurl.com/y7bw9tcn

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/ycojzwvj

Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/y7gvpyxb

MY REVIEW:

Title:  Before She Falls
Author:  Dylan Young
Series:  Detective Anna Gwynne #3
Genre:  Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  338 Pages
Date of Publication:  November 1, 2018
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

When Louise Griffiths sees a woman while walking her dog, she immediately senses that something is wrong. For one thing, there is a lost, hopeless expression on the girl’s face. To Louise's incredible shock, the young woman runs towards the sea and suddenly jumps in the water.

It is now five months later and DI Anna Gwynne is assigned the case of the apparent suicide of a sixteen-year-old girl. The very girl that the woman had seen previously. The young girl was named Kimberley Williams. Anna is horrified that the police have learned that due to her social media and Internet activity she may have been involved in a suicide game. This horrid game is responsible for the deaths of 130 young people.

This case comes close to home for Anna. When she reaches her boss he lets her know that a previous case that she worked on will give her great insight as to what happened to Kimberley. Anna is none to pleased to have to deal with serial killer Hector Shaw again. 

As the investigation takes off, Anna and her team are led to two dead bodies. Evidence proves that all three murders are connected. Are more young people destined to become victims? Not if Anna has anything to say about it. Her new case is certainly going to keep her very busy. As it is she has a dog and a lover in her life. And, as if things aren’t tough enough, her past comes before her, front and center. Her family dynamic is off-kilter. 

Anna is a seasoned detective and leaves no stone unturned. Her professional relationship with the brutal serial killer reveals the cause for his terrible killing spree. Will Anna be able to use what she is forced to learn from him to stop the deaths? Meanwhile, Anna must contend with the peril social media can cause. This definitely made me stop and think for a moment. 

From the very start this was a very intriguing story. I found it to be rather unique, connecting a disgusting game to the deaths of young people, as well as Anna’s knowledge of the serial killer and his motives. As an extension, the serial killer is connected to the case at hand. Before She Falls is a chilling, one-sitting read. It is full of twists and turns, and certainly has a shocking conclusion.

This is the third book in the series. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to read the previous stories, this did well as a standalone. The previous books in the series are The Silent Girls and Blood Runs Cold.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT:

Prologue September Depending on the tides, Louise Griffiths either walked the beach or up along the cliff path at least twice a week, rain or shine. She always parked in the Dunraven Bay car park and dressed accordingly. Today, the tide was in and so the beach was out of bounds. It was late September, the day cold and blustery, and Louise wore an anorak, hat and gloves. Toby, her energetic cocker, preferred the beach because the cliff top meant he’d have to stay on a lead. Louise had read lots of horror stories about dogs chasing birds and jumping off viaducts and mountainsides in pursuit. Southerndown Cliff was two hundred and ten feet high when you reached the top. It wasn’t worth the risk. Toby would just have to wait until they reached the other side and the river mouth to run amok. Unlike Toby, Louise preferred the cliff path. Though it flanked the Bristol Channel, this far around it was an almost west-facing coastline and open to the Atlantic. It made for a bracing stroll, and more often than not, Louise would stand at the very top and wonder at the view. To the south, she’d look out across the channel towards England. Below, at the bottom of the cliff, was the beach, though the rocky limestone shelf and the lack of sand barely qualified. Still, it made for a spectacular landscape that went a long way towards explaining why this spot was such a popular location. The sharp easterly whipped up the surf and Louise took a handkerchief to her running nose before turning back towards the path to continue her walk, through the second car park at the top of the rise and out on to open common. There was someone else approaching on the path and Toby looked up, his tail already in overdrive, ready to greet a fellow walker. A smile formed automatically on Louise’s lips and her brain formulated a greeting: a mutual appreciation of nature and the weather that had become her standard gambit over the years. But it froze halfway as the girl came closer. No, strode closer, because there was a determination about this walker that, as she neared, seemed out of place. She would have seen Louise. There was no way of avoiding that, but there was no happy reciprocal smile on her face. As she neared, the girl put her hand up to her forehead and kept her face lowered so as not to make eye contact. Louise was no psychiatrist, but she’d taught at a local comprehensive for almost fifteen years, so she knew when things, with girls especially, were wrong. ‘Are you OK?’ Louise asked. The query triggered a reaction. The girl looked up briefly. Louise flinched and felt something, a mixture of shock and alarm, ripple through her. It wasn’t only the girl’s lost, hopeless expression but the large mark on her face that made Louise start. A dark stain like the curved rays of a black sun, obtrusive and obvious, designed to startle. The exchange of looks lasted the briefest of seconds before the girl passed by on a spur that left the main path and headed towards another viewpoint. ‘Hello,’ said Louise to the girl’s back, her voice taut and urgent. But the girl took no notice. She walked on to where the land began to fall away, where earth started to crumble. ‘Hello?’ Louise said again, but she got no further. The girl hesitated, half turned and let out one shuddering sob before swinging back to face the sea and, without warning, running towards the edge of the cliff where she dropped, like a stone, into the void. Something imploded inside Louise and she fell to her knees. Toby barked, unnerved by the strange emotions he sensed, but his voice was drowned out by another’s. Louise’s anguished wail was lost amidst the sound of the gulls and carried off by the wind into an uncaring sky.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dylan Young grew up in a mining village in South Wales before boarding a train for university in London. A career in the NHS followed, but the urge to write never went away. Three dark psychological thrillers for Random House emerged in the late nineties, two of which were made into BBC films. Over the last decade, under different pseudonyms, he’s written children’s books and an adult contemporary fantasy series. But his liking for crime (writing) never died. Book 1 in the Detective Anne Gwynne crime thriller series, The Silent Girls, and Book 2, Blood Runs Cold, are available now.

Author Social Media Links:
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Stacking the Shelves #8

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page! - tyngasreviews.com.

I've got eleven books to show you today, out of my complete stack....

(click the book covers to be taken to the Goodreads links)

October 2018 Wrap Up

Review: Someone to Care

Title:  Someone to Care
Author:  Mary Balogh
Series:  Westcott #4
Genre:  Historical Romance
Publisher:  Berkley
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages:  356 Pages
Date of Publication:  May 1, 2018
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Once the Countess of Riverdale, Viola Kingsley throws all caution to the wind when adventure calls in the form of a handsome aristocrat...

Two years after the death of the Earl of Riverdale, his family has overcome the shame of being stripped of their titles and fortune—except for his onetime countess, Viola. With her children grown and herself no longer part of the social whirl of the ton, she is uncertain where to look for happiness—until quite by accident her path crosses once again with that of the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr.

Marcel Lamarr has been a notorious womanizer since the death of his wife nearly twenty years earlier. Viola caught his eye when she herself was a young mother, but she evaded his seduction at the time. A prize that eluded him before, she is all the more irresistible to him now although he is surprised to discover that she is as eager now for the excitement he offers as he is himself.

When the two defy convention and run away together, they discover that the ties of respectability are not so easily severed, and pleasure can ensnare you when you least expect it.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

They met once before. She was married with three children. Although they shared a powerful attraction, she told him to go away, and that he did. Now, it is fourteen years later, and Marcel Lamarr, who is now the Marquess of Dorchester, cannot believe his eyes when he spies Viola Kingsley, who at one time was the Countess of Riverdale. Viola endured an entirely unhappy marriage and Marcel is widowed with two children. He led the life of a rake for years, while she played her role more than dutifully. They are now both around the age forty, but the connection is just as powerful.

Their paths crossed because they both had problems with their carriages. They were waiting at a small inn during repairs. Marcel does not let the opportunity to talk with Viola pass him by. He was traveling with his brother, and his carriage is ready rather quickly. Determined to not lose this opportunity, Marcel sends his brother on, and then he approaches Viola.

For twenty-three years Viola was married to the Earl of Riverdale. Upon his death, facts immediately proved that it was an illegal marriage. Viola and her children lost everything - their titles, wealth, home, and even their dignity. Unbeknownst to Viola, the Earl was married to someone else when he wed her and had a daughter from that union who inherited everything. It has been two years since her life was turned upside down, and quite a bit has happened. Viola is completely overwhelmed. She flees. She just needed to get away and acted rashly.

Marcel makes what might seem like a ludicrous suggestion to Viola - running away together for a time. Although it may seem rather impulsive, and quite scandalous, surprisingly, she agrees. Their chemistry is incredibly intense. Will it lead to a happy future for them? 

At some point in this wonderful story there is a change of events that is rather humorous and a bit exciting. However, I cannot convey what transpired because it would be a serious spoiler. One thing that I have especially enjoyed about this series is that each title is truly special to a significant point in the story. It was a great discovery to see how the title Someone to Care is so relevant.

This, as with the other stories so far, is a very sensitive read. Both Viola and Marcel are excellent characters, each with serious baggage and angst. Despite the excess of family members and the sometimes overwhelming drama, I found this to be a truly compelling read.

As this is the fourth story in the Westcott series, fans of Mary Balogh will no doubt be familiar with many of the family members and circumstances from previous stories. This book certainly would do just fine as a standalone, but I am rather certain that it would be far more enjoyable if it is read as part of the series.

Series list:

*Someone to Love (2016)

  - review link: https://robinlovesreading.com/2018/10/review-someone-to-love.html

*Someone to Hold (2017)

- review link: https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/10/review-someone-to-hold.html

*Someone to Wed (2017)

- https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2018/10/review-someone-to-wed.html

*Someone to Care (2018)

*Someone to Trust (2018)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I grew up in post-war Wales as Mary Jenkins. It was in many ways an idyllic childhood even though Swansea, my home town, had been heavily bombed during the war, rationing was still on, and material possessions were few. If anyone knew how to stretch a penny to do the work of two, it was my mother.

My sister, Moira, two years older than I, was my constant playmate and soul-mate. We both have a hard time convincing people who did not know us then that we were almost inseparable yet never quarrelled. Our few dolls became our family. They had names, personalities, histories. We used to lie awake in bed at night–until our mother would call up, promising dire consequences if we did not stop talking–inventing stories about our dolls’ antics. On summer days Mam would construct a tent out of blankets, string and clothes pegs attached to the clothesline and the garden fence, and we would play “house” all day. The neighbours must have cringed when we took our dolls for walks in the strollers Dad made for us, complete with solid–and excruciatingly noisy–wooden wheels.

Moira and I both used to fill notebooks with stories. We read voraciously–especially every book of Enid Blyton’s we could get our hands on when we were younger, the classics when we were a little older. We both used to say that we wanted to be authors when we grew up, though the word we used then was authoress. We both fulfilled our dream, though we both financed it with careers as high school English teachers.

Much more about this talented author can be found on her website at: http://www.marybalogh.com.  

Review: The Amish Teacher’s Gift

Title:  The Amish Teacher’s Gift
Author:  Rachel J. Good
Series:  Love and Promises #1
Genre:  Inspirational Romance
Publisher:  Forever
Format:  Amazon Kindle
No. of pages: 384
Published: April 24, 2018
My Rating: 5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A Teacher's Love

Widower Josiah Yoder wants to be a good father. But it's not easy with a deaf young son who doesn't understand why his mamm isn't coming home. At a loss, Josiah enrolls Nathan in a special-needs school and is relieved to see his son immediately comforted by his new teacher, a woman whose sweet charm and gentle smile just might be the balm they both need.

With seven siblings to care for, Ada Rupp wasn't sure she wanted to take on teaching, too. But the moment she holds Nathan in her arms, she realizes she'll do all she can to help this lost little boy. Plus, it gives her a chance to spend more time with Josiah. Falling for a man in mourning may be against the rules, but his quiet strength is the support Ada never knew she needed. And, together, they could have the loving family she'd always hoped for.

Nineteen-year-old Ada Rupp will be teaching at a special needs school. First job. Feels hardly qualified. 

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Josiah Yoder is reluctant to have his six-year-old deaf son start school. Young Nathan has terrible tantrums whenever Josiah gets close to him. How will Nathan manage in school when Josiah cannot even communicate with or even control him?

Ada Rupp is nineteen years old and is overwhelmingly responsible for her seven younger siblings. Furthermore, she is about to begin her new job as a teacher in the special needs school that Nathan will be attending. Although Ada has a deaf brother, she has no other training with special needs children.

Both Ada’s and Josiah’s stories are heartbreaking. Ada’s mother has recently passed away and something has happened to her father. Nathan is a widower and his son is absolutely terrified of him. They both have devastatingly stressful situations and must now work alongside one another for Nathan’s sake. A problem quickly occurs when the two are drawn to one another. Josiah is still in mourning and Ada has a sensitive secret that bans her from courting.

Only at 6% and I wanted to bawl. I managed to hold myself back but continued reading with a huge lump in my throat. Upon extension we learn much more about Josiah’s and Nathan’s delicate relationship as well as Ada’s wonderfully warm connection to her siblings.

Problems occur on many levels for Ada and Josiah. She has her job and her siblings which are of primary concern and he has got to figure out how to properly father his son. Ada agrees to help Josiah learn sign language, but their chemistry is palpable and they both experience extreme conflict, both internally and externally.

I have never read an Amish love story before, but what a great way to start! While reading the acknowledgments at the beginning of the book, readers will discover how the author did the extensive research that went into in creating this amazing story. She not only developed a fine inspirational romance, but there was wonderful information gleaned to see how she was able to write of the children in the story and make their needs and development incredibly genuine.

When I received the ARC of the second book in this series, The Amish Midwife’s Secret, I definitely wanted to read this story first. I am incredibly happy that I chose to do so, and I read this wonderful story from cover to cover in just a few hours. Ms. Good is an extremely skilled author with the talent to draw the reader into the story. Let me tell you, I read the second book immediately after this one and was just as impressed. Review to follow.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. A former teacher and librarian, she completed her MA from Vermont College while raising five children. She is presently an MFA student at Hollins University. In addition to having more than 2300 articles and 40 books in print or forthcoming under several pseudonyms, she also juggles freelance editing and illustration careers.

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Review: An Unwanted Guest

Title:  An Unwanted Guest
Author:  Shari Lapena
Genre:  Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:  Pamela Dorman Books
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of pages:  290
Published:  August 7, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away.

It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing - maybe even romantic - weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off all electricity - and all contact with the outside world - the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.

Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead - it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, everyone starts to panic.

Within the snowed-in paradise, something - or someone - is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm - and one another.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

A group of twelve. Ten guests and two employees. The visiting group of ten include friends, couples and some complete strangers. They all head to a small inn for a weekend getaway. Everything seems perfect at first. It is an old-fashioned place with large older rooms, lovely fireplaces and much more. At the very beginning of this story I kind of wished I could be a part of this small group. Well, no, not really. Good thing.

Remember And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie? Although it has been decades since I read the Christie title, I remember it clearly. Perhaps because I read Pressure by Betsy Reavely earlier this year. Suffice it to say that this book by Shari Lapena and these two others mentioned follow similar plot lines. These are all excellent books with completely different settings and, quite obviously, different characters. I mentioned the other two titles because of what happened in this book here.

Shortly after all the guests arrive, while the weather has begun to take a bad turn, they suddenly lose power and telephone service. The weather has become completely inclement with only two staff to serve the guests. Before long one of them turns up dead and it first appears to be an accident. However, another guest is obviously murdered and it is then realized that the first guest was indeed murdered.

It is apparently obvious all that at least one of them is a murderer. So they establish a plan to try and find clues to see who could be responsible for these murders. With no ties the outside world due to the weather, they have no choice but to try and discover the murderer in order to prevent any more deaths from occurring.

Will they be safe in numbers, or will the danger continue to threaten each and every one of them? They all watch each other and make assumptions. I did exactly the same. 

An Unwanted Guest is a very quick read. If you likes suspense with tons of questions and very little answers, as well as very questionable characters, then this is certainly the book for you.

Yes this is a very brief review. I did not mention any of the guests names. I did not mention the staffers names. What I hope I did was to arouse your interest in this absolutely engaging read. I promise that you will be happy that you read it and that you will find it just as thrilling as I did. I will mention one more thing, the chilling conclusion definitely caught me off guard. 

I totally was engrossed in Ms. Lapena‘s writing style and I look forward to catching up on her backlist and also reading future books written by her.

Many thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and to Edelweiss for this ARC for review in exchange for my honest opinion. 

PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT:

Chapter 1 Friday, 4:15 p.m. The road curves and twists unexpectedly as it leads higher and deeper into the Catskill Mountains, as if the farther you get from civilization, the more uncertain the path. The shadows are deepening, the weather worsening. The Hudson River is there, appearing and disappearing from view. The forest that rises on either side of the road has a lurking quality, as if it might swallow you whole; it is the forest of fairy tales. The softly falling snow, however, lends it all a certain postcard charm. Gwen Delaney grips the steering wheel tightly and squints through the windshield. She’s more one for grim fairy tales than picture postcards. The light is going; it will soon be dark. The snow coming down makes driving more difficult, more tiring. The flakes hit the windshield in such profusion that she feels as though she’s stuck in some kind of relentless video game. And the road is definitely becoming more slippery. She’s grateful that she has good tires on her little Fiat. Everything is turning into a white blur; it’s hard to tell where the road ends and the ditch begins. She’ll be glad when they get there. She’s beginning to wish they’d chosen an inn a little less remote; this one is miles from anywhere. Riley Shuter is silent in the passenger seat beside her, a ball of quiet tension; it’s impossible not to pick up on it. Just being with her in the small car puts Gwen on edge. She hopes she hasn’t made a mistake bringing her up here this weekend. The whole point of this weekend away, Gwen thinks, is to get Riley to relax a little, to take her mind off things. Gwen bites her lip and stares hard at the road ahead. She’s a city girl, born and bred; she’s not used to country driving. It gets so dark up here. She’s becoming anxious now—the drive has taken longer than planned. They shouldn’t have stopped for coffee at that cute little antique place along the way. She’s not sure what she expected, suggesting this weekend getaway, other than a change of scenery, a chance to spend some quiet time together, with nothing to remind Riley that her life is in ruins. Perhaps that was naïve. Gwen has her own baggage, less recent, but she, too, carries it with her everywhere she goes. But she’s decided she’s going to put that behind her for this weekend at least. A small luxury hotel deep in the country, good food, no internet, pristine nature—it’s exactly what they both need. Riley watches nervously out of the car window, peering into the shadowy woods, trying not to imagine someone jumping in front of their car at any second, waving them down. She clenches her hands into fists inside the pockets of her down jacket. She reminds herself that she’s not in Afghanistan anymore. She’s home, safe, in New York State. Nothing bad can happen to her here. Her career has changed her. Seeing what she has seen, Riley is so different that she hardly recognizes herself anymore. She glances furtively at Gwen. They’d been close, once. She’s not even sure why she agreed to come with her this weekend. She watches Gwen concentrating fiercely on the winding road up the slippery incline, heading into the mountains. “Are you okay?” she asks suddenly. “Me?” Gwen says. “Yeah, I’m fine. We should be there soon.” In journalism school, when they were both at NYU, Gwen had been the steady, pragmatic one. But Riley was ambitious—she wanted to be where it was happening. Gwen had no taste for adventure. She’d always preferred books, and quiet. Out of journalism school, unable to find a decent job at a newspaper, Gwen had quickly parlayed her skills into a good corporate communications position and had never seemed to regret it. But Riley had headed to the war zones. And she’d managed to keep it together for a long time. Why does she do this? Why does she keep thinking about it? She can feel herself starting to come apart. She tries to slow her breathing, the way she’s been taught. To stop the images from coming back, from taking over. David Paley parks his car in the shoveled parking area to the right of the hotel. He gets out of the car and stretches. The weather made the drive from New York City longer than expected, and now his muscles are stiff—a reminder that he’s not quite as young as he used to be. Before grabbing his overnight bag from the back seat of his Mercedes, he stands for a moment in the thickly falling snow, looking at Mitchell’s Inn. It’s a three-story, graceful-looking structure of red brick and gingerbread trim, encircled by nearby forest. The front of the small hotel is open to view, with what must be a rather grand lawn underneath all the snow. Tall evergreens and mature trees bereft of leaves but draped in white seem to encroach on the building from a short distance away. In the front, an enormous tree in the middle of the lawn extends its thick branches in every direction. All is covered in a pure, muffling white snow. It feels quiet here, peaceful, and he feels his shoulders begin to relax. There are large, rectangular windows spaced regularly across all three floors. Wide steps lead up to a wooden porch and double front doors decorated with boughs of evergreens. Although it is still daylight—barely—the lamps on either side of the doors are lit, and soft yellow light also spills from the windows on the ground floor, giving the building a warm, welcoming appearance. David stands still, willing the stresses of the day—and the week, and the years—to recede as the snow falls gently on his hair and tickles his lips. He feels like he’s walking into an earlier, more gracious, more innocent time. He will try not to think about work for an entire forty-eight hours. Everyone, no matter how busy, needs to recharge once in a while, even—perhaps especially—a top criminal attorney. It’s rare for him to be able to fit in any downtime at all, much less an entire weekend. He’s determined to enjoy it. Friday, 4:35 p.m. Lauren Day glances at the man next to her, Ian Beeton. He’s driving his car expertly in rather challenging conditions, and making it all look easy. He has a disarming smile, and he turns it on her now. She smiles back. He’s nice-looking, too, tall and spare, but it’s the smile that first attracted her to him, his laid-back charm that makes him so appealing. Lauren rummages through her handbag for her lipstick. She finds it—a nice shade of red that brightens her face—and applies it carefully while looking in the mirror on the visor in front of her. The car skids a bit and she stops what she’s doing, but Ian straightens the vehicle skillfully. The road winds more steeply now, and the car has an increasing tendency to swerve as it loses traction. “Getting slippery,” she says. “No worries. Nothing I can’t handle,” he says and grins at her. She smiles back. She likes his self-confidence, too. “Whoa—what’s that?” she says suddenly. There’s a dark shape in front of them to the right. It’s a dull day, and with the snow falling so heavily it’s hard to see, but it looks like there’s a car in the ditch. She stares keenly out the window as they pass by the vehicle, and Ian looks for somewhere to stop. “I think there’s someone in that car,” she says. “Why don’t they have the hazard lights on?” he mutters. He pulls over slowly to the side of the road, careful not to slide off the road himself. Lauren gets out of the warmth of the car and plunges into several inches of virgin snow, which immediately falls inside her boots, stinging her ankles. She can hear Ian getting out of the car, too, slamming the door. “Hey!” she cries down to the motionless car. The driver’s door opens slowly. Lauren clambers down the incline carefully, sliding as she goes. The ground is uneven and she finds it hard to keep her balance. She reaches the car and grabs on to the door with her left hand for support as she peers into the front seat, illuminated by the open door. “You okay?” she asks. The driver is a woman close to her own age—around thirty. She appears a bit shaken up, but the windshield isn’t cracked and she’s wearing a seat belt. Lauren looks beyond the driver to the woman in the passenger seat. Her face is pale and sweating, and she’s staring straight ahead, as if Lauren isn’t even there. She looks like she’s had a dreadful shock. The driver glances quickly at her companion, and then turns back to Lauren gratefully. “Yes, we’re fine. We went off the road just a few minutes ago. We were wondering what to do next. Lucky for us you came along.” Lauren feels Ian come up behind her and peer over her shoulder at the two women inside the car. He smiles his charming smile at them. “Looks like you’re going to need a tow.” “Great,” the driver says. “Where you headed?” Lauren asks. “Mitchell’s Inn,” she answers. “Well, isn’t that lucky,” Ian says. “That’s where we’re going, too. Although I don’t think there’s much else out here. Why don’t we give you a lift, and you can arrange from the hotel for someone to come get your car out?” The woman smiles with relief and nods. She’s obviously glad to be rescued. Lauren doesn’t blame her. You could freeze to death out here all by yourself. But the woman with her doesn’t react. She seems to be in her own world. “You have any bags?” Lauren asks. “Yes, in the back.” The driver gets out of the car and struggles through the deep snow to the back of the vehicle. Her passenger now seems to snap out of her trance and gets out on the other side. The driver opens the hatch as the woman appears beside her. They each grab an overnight bag. Ian reaches down and offers all three women a hand up to the road. Even with help, it’s an awkward climb. “Thanks so much,” the driver says. “My name is Gwen, and this is Riley.” “I’m Lauren and this is Ian,” she says. “Let’s get in the car. It’s so cold.” She casts a furtive glance at the woman named Riley, who hasn’t said a word. She wonders what’s up with her. Something about her definitely seems off.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

SHARI LAPENA  is the internationally bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House. She was a lawyer and an English teacher before turning her hand to fiction.

She lives in Toronto.

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