#bookreviewer – Page 136 – Rosepoint Publishing

Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown #BlogTour #BookBlast #Giveaway

I am super excited today to provide a book blast at my blog stop for Tandem Demise: A Cycle Path Mystery by Duffy Brown on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. This is book 3 of 3 in the series and if you haven’t done yourself a favor recently, check out one of my new favorite cozy authors Duffy Brown. She really knows how to write a delightfully engaging mystery. Follow the link below!

Book Details

Tandem Demise: A Cycle Path Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Independently Published (October 28, 2018)
Paperback: 298 pages
ISBN-10: 1729374786
ISBN-13: 978-1729374788
Kindle ASIN: B07JRB373X

Book Blurb

Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles

Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money.

To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets.
With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself.

Giveaway

I don’t know how to offer the Giveaway, but a participating book blaster can offer up to two of these tote bags at their stop. Find one of your favorite book bloggers below and find their Giveaway. Tell them I sent you and good luck!

About the Author

Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She is a National Bestselling author and now conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own. She has two series the Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah along with rescue pup Bruce Willis and the Cycle Path Mysteries set on Mackinac Island with judgmental cats Cleveland and Bambino.

Author Links:

Website – http://www.duffybrown.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com

Purchase Link – Amazon

Thank you for visiting my stop on the tour and please visit the other stops listed below (especially if you’d like to try for a tote bag!)!

Tour Participants:

BOOK BLAST TOUR PARTICIPANTS

DECEMBER 3

The Book’s the Thing – SPOTLIGHT*

Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT

Rosepoint Publishing – SPOTLIGHT*

Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

The Montana Bookaholic– SPOTLIGHT*

Varietats – SPOTLIGHT

Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

The Ninja Librarian – SPOTLIGHT*

Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT*

DECEMBER 4

The Avid Reader – REVIEW

StoreyBook Reviews– SPOTLIGHT

Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

Bookworm Cafe – SPOTLIGHT*

Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

Carla Loves to Read– SPOTLIGHT*

Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT*

Melina’s Book Blog – SPOTLIGHT*

Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT*

Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW

The Power of Words – SPOTLIGHT*

A Holland Reads– SPOTLIGHT

fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT*

Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Lori’s Reading Corner – SPOTLIGHT

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to participate in this super book blast!

A Midwinter’s Tail by Bethany Blake #BookTour #BookReview

A Midwinter's Tail by Bethany Blake

I am so delighted today to provide a review for you at my blog stop for A Midwinter’s Tail by Bethany Blake on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.

Book Details

A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496717333
ISBN-13: 978-1496717337
Digital ASIN: B07B7C8XQY

Book Blurb

To bark or not to bark . . .

Professional pet sitter Daphne Templeton loves the holidays in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. And nothing gets her into the spirit more than the town’s annual Bark the Halls Ball. The whole community will be there to wag their tails, especially this year’s special guest—Celeste “CeeCee” French, founder of a national chain of pet care franchises, who’s returning home to announce plans for a bright new flagship store.

But not everyone’s celebrating CeeCee’s homecoming. Daphne’s friend Moxie Bloom, owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for people and their pets, has plenty to growl about. So when CeeCee is found face down under Sylvan Creek’s town Christmas tree, stabbed with a distinctive pair of professional-grade pet shears, suspicion lands squarely on Moxie. Despite Daphne’s promises to Detective Jonathan Black, she quickly reprises her role as amateur sleuth. Ably assisted by her basset hound sidekick, Socrates, she must hurry to prove her friend’s innocence before a killer barks again . . .

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!

My Review

It’s Christmas time in beautiful Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania and pet sitter Daphne Templeton is gearing up by providing lots and lots of treats for the community yearly event Bark the Halls Ball. She will be taking her basset hound Socrates and accompanied by BFF Moxie and possible romantic interest Detective Jonathan Black. It is a very pet-friendly town and she is a proud owner of storefront Lucky Paws Pet Sitting Service and Flour Power. She also has a surly black Persian named Tinkleston, whom she calls Tink.

At the annual showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a successful local graduate, CeeCee French, comes back to town to make the announcement that she will open a large outlet of her pet supply franchise in town. The announcement is shocking and not met with a lot of excitement and she is later found murdered and left under the town Christmas tree. As the owner of the Spa and Paw, it is Moxie who is the first person of interest and as the well-plotted and even paced story is laid out, several others later as well all with equally plausible motives.

This is an amazingly well projected anthropomorphic narrative with Daphne frequently speaking to her animals and their obvious telegraphed responses. I’ve often looked at my own Bichon Frise and thought I knew looking into those eyes just what she was thinking and sure I knew her response as well. We’ve often commented, she may not speak English, but she certainly has no problem communicating. In this case, Daphne certainly had a dog whispering touch with those animals left in her care.

I enjoyed the well-developed characters and although this is apparently the fourth in the series had no problem following the protagonist or the support characters. Also noted the many cliffhanging chapter endings, necessitating the reader jump to the next chapter. I did, however, have a small problem with Moxie and Sebastian, her white rat allowed a bit too much freedom. Additionally, I am not usually a fan of romantic tension in a well-executed mystery.

I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley for a book tour and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review what appears to be a delightful cozy mystery series with some engaging characters. Recommended for the younger set who enjoy a cozy mystery they’ll have to work to solve and then may not guess correctly.

About the Author

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

Author Links

Webpage BookBub Twitter Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound BookBub

Thank you for visiting my stop on the tour and please visit the other stops listed below!

Tour Participants

November 26 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

November 26 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 27 – Here’s How It Happened – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

November 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

November 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 28 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

November 29 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

November 30 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE, GIVEAWAY

November 30 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

December 1 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW

December 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

December 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

December 3 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW

December 3 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 4 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW

December 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

December 4 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 5 – Melina’ Book Blog – REVIEW

December 5 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 5 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this cozy mystery!

Rosepoint #BookReviews – Welcome December – November Recap

Welcome December-November Recap

Oh my gosh! I got SOOO busy I totally spaced on getting out the recap for October. I got in some great reads in October and November, however, including cozies, crime fiction, paranormal, psychological thrillers, and even some sci-fi! I posted a total of twelve reviews for the November–as well a couple spotlights. Definitely ramped up the book tours and have greatly benefited by utilizing NetGalley almost exclusively as I achieved my 100 Reviews Badge!

Still learning whatever I can about Instagram and bookstagram, though obviously have a long way to go. Since I pretty much shoot from the hip, there is little in the way of actual scheduling other than the night before (wink, wink). It’s not a business–it’s for fun. And it is. I’ve seen some amazing technology and would love to pass it on, but “regramming” is also something I’ve yet to learn. (Another app download? — not when my poor ole Galaxy 5 is already maxxed.)

My book reviews for November (many of which included Giveaways):

A Different Kind of Reunion by Joanne Guidoccio

If you missed any of my full reviews, just click the link below.

Nov 2 – A Different Kind of Reunion by Joann Guidoccio (Spotlight)

Nov 4 – Yeast of Eden by Sarah Fox

Nov 6 – Thread Herrings by Lea Wait

Nov 7 – Harvest of Secrets by Ellen Crosby

Nov 9 – House of Ashes by Loretta Marion

Nov 11- Murder in Her Stocking by G. A. McKevett

Nov 13- A Vintage Death by Mary Ellen Hughes

Nov 15- The Darkness Prequel Tour by C. S. Duffy (Spotlight)

Nov 16- A Cold Brew Killing by Lena Gregory

Nov 18- Murder at Harbor Village by G. P. Gardner

Nov 20- Purls and Poison by Anne Canedeo

Nov 23- Zephyr by Andrew Cooke

Nov 25- Love You Gone by Rona Halsall

Nov 27- The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn

At this point, I’ve achieved my personal goal for Goodreads of 100 reviews. I’ll need one more for the NetGalley Challenge of 75 reviews, but missing Q (currently reading Quantum Marlowe), J, W, and X for the Alphabet Challenge. There are three books scheduled so far for December and none of those will fill the missing letters. If you fail to add the #NGEW2018 tag for the reviews, are they still included in the tally?

How are you doing on your challenges? Anyone have a J, W, or X book for me?

A big thank to all my new followers and as always so appreciate you who continue to read and comment! Thank you!

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56–HELLO Friday!

Book Beginnings-Friday 56

In October I began participating in Book Beginnings who is hosted by Gillian at Rose City Readers. Every Friday you have the opportunity to share the first sentence of the book you are currently reading. Include the title of the book and the author’s name. You may wish to share your impression of the book to date as well. Also please share your post with Mister Linky on her blog site. This week I am spotlighting The Midwinter’s Tail by Bethany Blake.

“The weather outside was beyond frightful, with near-blizzard conditions pummeling the quaint, pet-friendly town of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania, and burying the surrounding Pocono Mountains under a thick blanket of fine, icy snow.”

(Because there is a natural tie-in to The Friday 56, it is common to combine the two.)

The only rules are for participation in The Friday 56 is to grab a book, any book or the one you are #currentlyreading, turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader, and find a sentence (or a few, but don’t spoil it!), post it, and then add your post URL to the Linky on the host site Freda’s Voice – there yah go! How’s that for easy!

Preview-Friday 56

Friday 56:

“As Fidelia drove away, and I helped Snowdrop and Socrates into the truck on a dark and gloomy evening, I hoped that my afterlife–at least as portrayed on a high school stage–would be downright dull.

“Yet, deep in my heart, I doubted that would be the case.”

So what am I thinking?

I’m a sucker for doggy or kitty related cozy mysteries, no surprise I’m sure to anyone who noticed my last Book Beginnings/Friday 56 was The Long Paws of the Law. I am enjoying The Midwinter’s Tail so far and will be posting my review here on the book tour scheduled for Sunday, December 2, 2018.

In the meantime, curl up with your little fur buddy and read!

Love You Gone by Rona Halsall – a #BookReview

Title: Love You Gone by Rona Halsall

Genre: Psychological Thriller-Suspense, Literary Fiction

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: November 15, 2018

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

288 Pages

Book Blurb:

‘Hello? Police? My husband and our children… they’re gone.’

When Mel arrives at the holiday cottage in the Lake District, she expects to find the heating on and her husband Luke and the two children waiting for her. Maybe a bottle of wine open…

Instead, there is just a note on the side, saying they’ve gone out for a walk.

But they aren’t back several hours later, and Mel knows something is wrong. Really wrong. When a search doesn’t find them, she has to confess to the police that her marriage isn’t all that it seems.

Even if that risks her own secrets being revealed…

My Review:

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know I am seldom at a loss for words. But this book…where do I even begin?

Okay, wait…

Love you Gone by Rona Halsall We are talking about a psychological thriller that hooks you immediately, and whether or not you think you know where this is going, you’d be wrong. Oh yeah, I was burning some serious cell phone battery, because once you get started reading, it is very difficult to put down.

The thing is…it starts off with Luke’s POV and then switches to Mel’s and you’re left wondering what happened. First, she seems hopeful, excited even, then as the evening wears on emotional, wrought with anxious nerves over the lapse of time in which she’d fully expected her hubby and two children back to the holiday cottage they’d rented for a getaway and a chance to “sort” things out. Uh oh…Your first clue and maybe not a good sign? But is she really a reliable narrator?

Because. The book is divided into parts (there are always two sides to the story–right?), and it isn’t until you’re into the book that you really begin to get a glimmer that this may be a whole other scenario than the originally posed of a missing man and his kids. Off on a hike. Lost? Whoa! Maybe not and the rug has just been pulled out from under your feet.

In addition, to the change of narrators are jumps in time. Yes, you can buy that as it is a way to understand how we got to this point. And it isn’t pretty. It’s heart-wrenching. Luke is working on putting his life back together and the two kids are his. Mel is pushing her biological clock and Luke. The little girl and boy are at a very tender age. Young. Vulnerable.

Lies, misdirection, twists, changes of POV and time stamp. Little by little more secrets come out, dished in very small helpings. Support characters offer some hope, and most are sympathetic, engaging, well-developed. Luke’s parents are aging and their health is not the best. His mother, always a strong woman, is battling a debilitating disease. Cousin Ted just adds stress and tension. You want to volunteer to beat him up (or I could do it!). But then Luke; gees! is he ever going to man-up or not?

The pacing of the well-plotted narrative is swift. No commercial breaks–forget it. It’s a race to the conclusion, and it’s beginning to look like everything will work out. Maybe you can take a breath now. Or maybe not, but it does make sense, huh?

And then, WHAM! The final twist. Like a boxer, down for the count. Did NOT see that one coming! (But then I’d been playing catch up from the beginning.)

Loved the book, opened up a new premise for me, although several elements pushed some disbelief. Questionable activity and the argument for or against that one, a tough call. And I had a little problem with Luke’s mother’s attitude at the end. There were some edit misses, but really this is such a fast and furious read you tend to barrel right over those.

I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley after reading Shalini’s review. (Thank you, Shalini!) I really needed a good psychological thriller to get my reading excitement back on level. Totally appreciated the opportunity to read and review and can recommend for any reader looking for something off-track, fast, and thought-provoking. This is one that will resonate after the last page!

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five of Five Stars

The Author: Rona’s debut psychological thriller, Keep You Safe was released in August and her second novel, Love you Gone will be out on 15th November 2018. She lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs, and three guinea pigs and has been a bookworm since she was a child – now she’s actually creating stories of her own it feels like a dream come true.

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she’s plotting how to kill off her next victim.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

To find out more about Rona’s novels, go to http://www.facebook.com/RonaHalsallAuthor or follow @RonaHalsallAuth on Twitter.

Zephyr by Andrew Cooke – a #BookReview

Title: Zephyr by Andrew Cooke

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Page Publishing Inc

Publication Date: July 31, 2018

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

ASIN: B07G372XTW

399 pages

Title and Cover: Zephyr – Cover conveys protagonist

What makes you continue to read a book when everything is screaming at you, “just DNF” it? Not like this is the first book I’ve attempted to read that took me some time to either make the decision to give up or continue to read. Usually, I am rewarded with a book (and an author) that may very well be a diamond in the rough. This could that diamond, and I did end by enjoying it, but rough is one way to describe it.

And Warning: This narrative includes crude street language and graphic scenes. Continue reading “Zephyr by Andrew Cooke – a #BookReview”

Purls and Poison by Anne Canadeo #BlogTour #BookReview #Giveaway

I am so delighted today to provide a review for you at my blog stop for Purls and Poison (A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery) by Anne Canadeo on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. Scroll down to enter your chance to win the Giveaway!

Book Details

Purls and Poison (A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496708636
ISBN-13: 978-1496708632
Digital ASIN: B079KT54BW

When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend’s defense . . .

Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It’s bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.

When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.

The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who’s trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes . . .

My Review

I’m a big knitter at heart, so seeing the title and blurb sold me on signing up for the opportunity to read this little cozy. (Well, I must confess to messing with some crocheting as well, but knitting is my fav.) The idea of a group of lady knitters, best friends, sitting around with a glass of vino, trying to solve a murder mystery definitely piques the interest, huh? Well, obviously, these are not the ladies you’d normally imagine in a knitting group.

This particular entry to the series has Suzanne as a prominent character, although Maggie imparts some wisdom as well. The group consists of Suzanne, Maggie, Dana, Lucy, and Phoebe. Each has their own backgrounds, stories to tell, and fields of expertise. Suzanne is an upper-level real estate agent, dealing in better homes, and apparently has some serious office competition in Liza Devereaux. Liza is very good at what she does and manages to take a client and a sale from Suzanne that would have earned her a douzy commission. They fight, publicly, big time.

After meeting with her Black Sheep Knitting group (and mellowing out some), she is ready to offer an apology only to be the one who discovers Liza’s body. Suzanne is naive and easily admits to having the big fight with Liza. Suzanne has an amazingly sweet, understanding, and patient hubby in Kevin, and Maggie has a significant other in Detective Charles Mossbacher. It is Charles along with his partner Frank who take the emotional Suzanne in for questioning. She is also her own worst enemy and opens her mouth one too many times until one of her group finds her an attorney.

I particularly appreciated Maggie, the owner of the knitting shop. She has attained an easy-going manner in life and created a successful business with a good head on her shoulders. I also liked Lucy. Charles is a good guy just trying to do his job. The ladies are trying to do theirs–not for the first time apparently.

The well-plotted storyline moves along at an even pace. The knitters do an impressive job of creating donated baby and toddler items. The group enjoys each other’s company and exchange ideas and offer encouragement and backing to Suzanne and it’s a pleasure to partake, even if vicariously, in their get-togethers. There are red herrings, diversion of possible perps, investigated and dismissed or pursued. The dialogue is easy and natural and the conclusion swings in unexpectedly, though not wholly a surprise.

(Unfortunately, once again, I’ve come in at the second in the series* and get the feeling I may have missed some important developing going on in the first of the series. So you might wish to begin with the first.)

I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley for this book tour and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, crafting hobbies including knitting, and women sleuths.

*[Goodreads note: Starting with book #9, the series changed publishers and are published with a slightly different series name of “A Black Sheep & Company Mystery,” but they are a continuation of the Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries series.]

Giveaway

Sign up for your chance to win one of (3) Autographed Copy of Purls and Poison (A Black Sheep & Co. Mystery) by Anne Canadeo (U.S. Only) in this Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Anne Canadeo is the best-selling author of more than 30 books, including the Black Sheep & Company Mysteries, and as Katherine Spencer, the Cape Light and Angel Island series. She somehow manages to write a lot, despite many and much-loved distractions — such as digging up the garden, hanging out with her dog, trying new recipes, drinking copious amounts of mint tea, eating chocolate and volunteer work in the community. She lives in Northport, NY, a village on the Long Island Sound very much like the settings of her stories. Anne loves to hear from readers. Answering their messages is definitely another favorite distraction in her day.

Author Links

Website: annecanadeo.com
Facebooks: www.facebook.com/AnneCanadeoAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/annecanadeo

Purchase Links
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Powell Books

Thank you for visiting my stop on the tour and please visit the other stops listed below!

Tour Participants:

November 8 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 8 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – GUEST POST

November 9 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 10 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

November 11 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 12 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 15 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 16 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 18 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST

November 21 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this cozy mystery!

Murder at Harbor Village by G. P. Gardner #BlogTour #BookReview

I am so delighted today to provide a review for you at my blog stop for Murder at Harbor Village by G. P. Gardner on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.

Murder at Harbor Village (A Down by the Bay Mystery, Book 1)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Lyrical Underground (November 13, 2018)
Paperback: 216 pages
ISBN-10: 1516109007
ISBN-13: 978-1516109005
Digital ASIN: B079WM9X29

Book Blurb

Young retiree Cleo Mack is trading in academia for a second act in Harbor Village, a community for active seniors in coastal Alabama. But someone in this picture-perfect coastal town is burning the candle at both ends . . .

It’s love at first sight when Cleo arrives in Fairhope, Alabama, after taking early retirement from her longtime position as professor of social work. Touted as “the nicest town in the world,” Fairhope is home to an eclectic community of retirees. Harbor Village boasts classes in painting, pottery, and photography, not to mention being a buyer’s market for husbands. It seems an ideal place to make new friends and rediscover life. Until a dead body is found in the pool.

When the victim turns out to be the unpopular director of senior living, Cleo is named acting director. Now she must rely on her well-honed people skills to uncover a killer in a place where short-term memory isn’t what it used to be, and age is just a number. And if Cleo keeps snooping around, her number may soon be up . . .

My Review

So nice to have a protagonist of (almost) retirement age, albeit a social work professional at an Atlanta university, who is offered an incentive for early retirement. Cleo Mack is weighing possibilities when she discovers Fairhope, a beautiful iconic Alabama coastal town, and is almost immediately drawn in by friendly local Nita Bergen, a resident at Harbor Village, touted as an active senior community with an ideal mix of activities, services, and opportunities for meeting and engaging with others of the same generation.

In short order Cleo is sold and finds herself clearing her desk at the university, arranging for an estate sale of her belongings, and accepting Apartment No. 8 keys at Harbor Village along with a promised part-time position as Resident Services Manager, as she’ll still be juggling finances. But it seems even before she can fully settle into her cozy little apartment, the corporate bigwig, Lee, whom she met just briefly, is discovered in the pool. Jaime, the curt Director of Assisted Living, was showing her around when Lee made sure she met the new assistant. Lee appears to have drowned but is quickly determined to have been murdered.

Jaime is immediately “kicked upstairs” and is out of there leaving Cleo thrust into the unlikely position of Executive Administrator in Jaime’s place. It doesn’t take long before Cleo begins to dissect the situation, discovering there were a lot of problems just under the surface of what appeared an idyllic situation. Along with realizing the enormity of her employment situation, she is dealing with the apartment cat who has decided it was time he came home and inspected the new occupant, along with complex discrepancies that include missing rental deposits and painkiller meds in the skilled nursing section of the community.

Dealing with her daughter and her ex, Travis McKenzie, Cleo discovers a shocker, that he is part owner of the complex (as well as others under the same umbrella) and Lee was his new bride. Lee used to drop in the complex on an infrequent basis and was universally disliked by everyone. There is a whole host of interesting and colorful support characters (including Nita’s husband), and I loved the author’s sense of humor in naming them…Patti (Wagon), Police Chief Boozer. There is no confusion with characters. The discovery of the calico provided a sub-plot in learning the name of the feline who turned out to have a perfectly charming name as well.

The well-plotted storyline goes into some detail with outlining a schedule for running the community, discoveries such as the number of units and those rented legitimately, all the employees and their roles, the layout of the different resident and support buildings, and the services provided (or lacked) that needed to be addressed. The logistical plan for fact-finding worked seamlessly into the subtle search for the antagonist, although the who was not really a surprise. The conclusion was weaved in a restrained and delicate delivery.

I received this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley for this book tour and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. This is a debut in a new series and sets a promising stage for some delightful retirement community adventures. I’m interested in seeing these characters grow (particularly Patti). Recommended for those who enjoy a cozy mystery, beautiful geographic setting, and cantankerous and quirky characters.

About the Author

G P Gardner - author Born and raised in Alabama, G. P. Gardner earned BS and MA degrees in Psychology from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) and an MBA from Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL). She also attended the University of Georgia (Athens, GA), where she studied biopsychology and primatology. But her heart belongs to Talladega College—an HBCU and the first educational institution in Alabama to admit students without regard to race—where she taught business. Her writing life began with short stories, some of which were published in regional literary journals and some of which won prizes. She enjoys the classic mystery writers as well as contemporary whodunits but reads widely. She is a knitter and once owned a knit shop in Fairhope, AL. She studied mystery writing with Terry Cline, another Fairhope resident. Murder in Harbor Village is the first in her series about social worker Cleo Mack. You can visit her at gpgardner.com.