#bookseries – Page 12 – Rosepoint Publishing

A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany #AudiobookReview #AmateurSleuthMysteries

Year-Round Christmas Mystery Book 7

Book Blurb:

The slay bells are ringing in this festive seventh installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas mystery series, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Donna Andrews.

Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House–a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House–and Mark is the one standing over the corpse.

As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry’s help to clear her fiancé’s name in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead.

With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiancé to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky’s wedding may end up on the chopping block. It’s up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding–and her life.

My Review:

Not my first Christmas cozy with Vicki Delany, I previously listened to Silent Night, Deadly Night (Book 4 of the series). This one has another narrator and the storyline is only slightly annoying. Since hubby loves his Hallmark movies and they become overwhelming at Christmas time, I guess my tolerance for violins and sappy seasonal tales leaves me cold as fresh Christmas snow. Still, I feel that obligation to provide a Christmas novel.

This is the seventh installment and involves Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey. She and her intended Chef Mark Grosse will be moving into the historic Cole House. Scuttlebutt is that it’s haunted and has a tragic history. Well, that it does, and the house has been abandoned a long time.

Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House—it’s the fella laying claim to the property—and the problem is that it’s Mark who is standing over the deceased. (Is that one of his knives?)

In a town the size of Rudolph, there will be plenty of people who know the history and I love me a good haunted house story. Vicky is freaking and thinking she’ll postpone their wedding while Merry needs to take care of her own little retail establishment with Easter approaching.

Merry will support Vicky while they are working on solving the problems with the house, Mark being a person of interest in the homicide, and the personal lives of support characters. I always enjoy the inclusion of a dog and this one is fun. I had a difficult time becoming engaged with the main character but on the whole enjoyed this episode more so than the last.

Not really a Christmas story, a Christmas-themed town, and a very convoluted plot, rather slow to pick up steam. Also, I had a difficult time believing the person in the reveal—really?

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Animal Mysteries
Publisher: Tantor Audio
ASIN: B0D9YT76GL
Listening Length: 8 hrs 10 mins
Narrator: Dina Pearlman
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: A Slay Ride Together With You Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Year Round Christmas books for Crooked Lane, the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane.

Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.

Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll #BookReview #cozyanimalmystery

An FBI K-9 Novel #9

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, vie to rescue plane crash survivors from a Colorado mountain—and contend with a hijacker determined to escape justice.

As long as there’s hope of finding life, no mission is too dangerous for Meg Jennings and her colleagues in the FBI K-9 unit. But locating the wreckage of a hijacked private plane high in the Elk Mountains of Colorado is treacherous in a multitude of ways—some of them impossible for even a seasoned team to predict.

The plane, carrying the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals, crashed on a rocky peak and was cleaved in two. Perilous weather means the rescuers have to ascend on foot, with their dogs unleashed in case of falls. It takes hours to locate the wreckage, but miraculously, Meg and Hawk find a number of passengers and crew still alive. The hijacker also survived, and has fled into the wilderness with the CEO’s son in pursuit.

As soon as day breaks, the K-9 teams set out to find both men, and the dogs quickly pick up a scent trail. Meg has used her connections with an investigative reporter to learn as much as she can about the hijacker, hoping to use it when they apprehend him. But first, they must contend with the mountain’s savage fury and an adversary who will destroy as many lives as possible rather than face justice . . .

My Review:

I really don’t remember if I discovered this series with book one or came in somewhere and decided I needed to read the rest, but I have read all in the series and never get tired of the relationship between Meg and Hawk and the other handlers and their K-9s as well.

Each could be read as a standalone and each is unique in location and mission, sometimes including support characters within the K9 community or that of her fiancé Todd Wells. He is a firefighter/emt and is experienced in rescue.

In this episode, she is joined by fellow K9 handler Brian with his dog Lacey. They are sent to the Colorado mountains to search and hopefully recover survivors of a downed corporate aircraft carrying members of Barron Pharmaceuticals. It had been hijacked and it is unknown whether or not any survived, including the hijacker.

The first problem of course is the altitude, being known as the thirteen or fourteeners, those mountains exceeding 14,000 feet. (Hubby and I climbed Mt Fuji while in Japan and at almost 12,390 feet, as tall as I’d want to go. I can tell you, it’s cold up there. We hiked it by moonlight, all night, reaching the summit at daybreak.)

“A wise man climbs Mt Fuji once, only a fool climbs it twice.” (Japanese proverb)

Besides the inclusion of those beautiful service animals, the author always includes lots of info about the locations and specific missions. This one includes mountain climbing, of course, as well as weapons, high altitude illness, and preparedness.

The episode hooks you immediately with the hijacking of the plane and continues with a fast-pace through their climb, search, perilous conditions, definitions of the skill and associated equipment. Also, strategies and care of the animals in extreme conditions.

First, it’s a nail-biter finding the crash site which then extends into the search for the hijacker and the son of the CEO who’s followed the hijacker into treacherous upper wilderness. The suspense ramps up in intensity as the team begins feeling the pace, altitude, cold, and desperate conditions.

Hard put to name my favorite book of the series, not sure I could, but this one would definitely be in an upper position and heartily recommended.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Animal Mystery, Cozy Animal Mysteries, Police Procedurals
Publisher: Kensington Books
ASIN: B0CWB7VWSS
Print Length: 302 pages
Publication Date: November 26, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Sara Driscoll is the pen name of Jen J. Danna, coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries and author of the FBI K-9s and the NYPD Negotiators. After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on her real love—writing “exceptional” thrillers (Publishers Weekly). She is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and lives with her husband and four rescued cats outside of Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the latest news on her books, including the FBI K-9s, at http://www.saradriscollauthor.com.

Have a good week!

Rosepoint Reviews – October Recap – Welcome Holiday Season (or not)

Rosepoint Reviews-October Recap

October kicks off the end of the year for us, beginning with our daughter’s birthday in the middle of October and then Halloween of course, although we no longer celebrate the latter as much as we did when the kids were young, I still decorate. Seems like it then begins a mad dash to the end of the year and this year a presidential election here in the colonies—so glad to see the end of that!!

As much time spent in the spring setting up the yard, the gardens, and all things outdoors, it takes as much to clean it back up. Perhaps more so this year with tackling the veggie bed and cleaning up roots and dirt clods turned to cement. It was a disappointing year for a garden, veggie or flower.

Trying to recognize a full year with Punkin the Pom, I read several doggie genre books, adventure or service animals. A Pomeranian is meant to be a companion animal, of course, but she has no clue that’s her job. I am still finishing up a doggy theme book I’d hoped to include in October, the latest from Sara Driscoll, and ran out of time and will post that review in early November. As mentioned before…Punkin is still learning to be a dog. I guess eventually we’ll have to begin teaching her some commands. In the meantime, it’s sufficient to be working on housetraining. (Yeah, still.)

I continue to get books from NetGalley as well as author and publisher requests, and my local library, both ebooks and audiobooks. The review count for the month was fourteen, but I included both W Bruce Cameron’s novels in one post. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough (audiobook)
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (audiobook)
Echo by Tracy Clark
What Have You Done by Shari Lapena (audiobook)
Going Dark by George K Mehok (CE review)
Death by Jelly Beans by Susan Black
A Dog’s Courage and A Dog’s Promise by W Bruce Cameron (audiobook)
Late Checkout by Alan Orloff (CE review)
An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (audiobook)
The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt (audiobook)
Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton (audiobook)
Death Comes in Threes by Michael Jecks (CE Review)

Favorite Book of the Month

The CE gave Going Dark by George K Mehok five stars but we both listened to The Johnstown Flood audiobook in our travels to and from Arkansas in September and loved it. The research, details, and characters so well-fleshed the reader cares what happens to them in the flood. I’m going with:

Favorite for October – The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough

My Reading Challenges page…Reading Challenges page—pretty much status quo. My Goodreads Challenge is at 110 towards a goal of 130 at 85%.

Thank you new subscribers—welcome! I always appreciate those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. Hope this recap finds you well and looking forward to the holidays!

Have a great weekend!

The More the Terrier: Andy Carpenter Book 30 by David Rosenfelt #AudiobookReview #AnimalCozyMysteries

in Animal Cozy Mysteries

Book Blurb:

The next installment in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling Andy Carpenter series brings a lone pup to his doorstep, but when it comes to dogs, The More the Terrier.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He’s ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ’s mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can’t resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy’s own conviction in BJ’s dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

With equal doses of doggy humor and courtroom drama, as well as Andy Carpenter’s traditional humbug Christmas spirit, David Rosenfelt delivers another winner.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

My Review:

Another doggy series and one I adore from David Rosenfelt and Grover Gardner. No, Gardner didn’t help write it, but his familiar voice and the way he narrates Andy Carpenter keep you coming back for more. This is number thirty? No problem—I’m already looking forward to number thirty-one (except I hope we don’t have more of the Jersey mob in the next one),

Yes, it’s a popular and successful formula, but these characters all come together in each of their roles perfectly drawn and work beautifully. Even better, you could come in on number thirty as easily as number five as the author supplies the reader with enough background info to show you how they relate to the overall main character, Andy Carpenter.

Still, those of us who know and love Andy at this point remember that Laurie (his wife and ex-cop) still starts Christmas before Halloween, he’s still paying for (and threatening to cut them off) his buddies at their favorite haunt, and he still walks and talks to his dogs while pondering his cases. All except for Sebastian who he has finally acquiesced to allowing him to do his business without the long walks. Tara hasn’t rescued Andy lately, could still do so, but patiently listens to his arguments without comment.

In this episode, Murphy, a terrier, shows up at Andy’s door step one evening, a past rescue, Andy’s main passion. He remembers her of course and tracks down the mother and son who adopted the dog. Unfortunately, the son has been arrested for murder. Of course, Andy will take the case even as he vows to stop being a criminal attorney. These cases just keep popping up keeping him from fully retiring.

While you might think this formula could get old, it doesn’t for several reasons. I love the sarcastic sense of humor, the quick wit that keeps him on his feet both with dealing with law enforcement, other lawyers, and in the courtroom. That sharp mind almost misses nothing and when it does, niggles at him until he susses it out.

These stories are deemed cozy mysteries, but they far exceed the cozy concept with deeply complex and layered storylines and always keep you second guessing. Love the courtroom “dance” and I usually learn something new. In this case, the metaverse. Metaverse!!—really?

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Cozy Mysteries, Animal Fiction, Holiday Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0CWB2412M
Listening Length: 6 hrs 34 mins
Narrator: Grover Gardner
Publication Date: October 15, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The More the Terrier – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: David Rosenfelt, a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. “Open And Shut” was his first novel; “First Degree,” his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs.

Facebook
Website

The Narrator:

Grover Gardner’s narration career spans twenty-five years and over 550 audiobook titles. AudioFile Magazine has called him one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and features him in their annual “Golden Voices” update. Publishers Weekly named him Audiobook Narrator of the Year for 2005. His recordings have garnered 18 “Golden Earphones” awards from AudioFile and an Audie Award from the Audio Publishers’ Association.
http://grovergardner.blogspot.com/

Happy Autumn Weekend to you from Rosepoint Publishing

Late Checkout: A Mess Hopkins Novel by Alan Orloff #BookReview #amateursleuthmysteries

Book Blurb:

Motel proprietor Mess Hopkins is more interested in helping others than turning a profit, so he opens the doors of the Fairfax Manor Inn to those seeking refuge from a bad situation. But when his cousin Finn shows up in trouble, his world is rocked, because Mess had thought Finn was dead, having run away six years earlier.

Unfortunately, Finn was in the wrong place at the wrong time and saw the wrong thing—an incident with deadly consequences.

It’s up to Mess, his girlfriend/newspaper reporter Lia Katsaros, and buddy Vell Jackson to solve the crime before some bad men achieve their goal—killing the only eyewitness.
Mess’s frightened cousin Finn.

His Review:

Running a motel is not an easy task. Mess Hopkins expects to inherit one from his parents, but he has been left with the management task. Problem is, Mess is a very compassionate man and is a sucker for a sob story. The motel is barely staying afloat and continues to limp along.

Finn is his cousin who has been missing for years. He suddenly shows up after being a lost soul and his family is very irritated with him. Mess and Finn were best friends as youngsters and they are happy to be back together. Finn has declared that he is gay and also that he witnessed a murder. He is sure that the murderers are after him.

The manager that Mess hired to help run the motel is a character who really does all the work. He is continually admonishing Mess for his lack of attention to detail and also for letting rooms to vagabonds who are unable to pay.

Killers hunting for Finn and continual management issues keep this novel moving. Will mismanagement finally doom the motel? Will the killers catch up with Finn and eliminate the family problem? Will the rest of the family finally accept Finn for who he is and bring him back into the fold? Read this well-written novel and find out. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Note: The CE read and reviewed Sanctuary Motel last year and greatly enjoyed it. This series is well-plotted and moves smoothly through the storyline. Mess is an emotive character, garners empathy, and is easy to become invested in.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, Crime Thrillers
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0DGJY67Q2
Print Length: 310 pages
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Source: Author and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Before Alan stepped off the corporate merry-go-round, he had an eclectic (some might say disjointed) career. As an engineer, he worked on nuclear submarines, supervised assembly workers in factories, facilitated technology transfer from the Star Wars program, and learned to stack washing machines three high in a warehouse with a forklift. He even started his own recycling and waste reduction newsletter business. Now he writes fiction.

Alan Orloff’s debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD (Midnight Ink), was a 2010 Agatha Award Finalist for Best First Novel. He’s written two books in the Last Laff mystery series, KILLER ROUTINE and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (also from Midnight Ink), and writing as his darker half Zak Allen, he’s published three books: THE TASTE, FIRST TIME KILLER, and RIDE-ALONG. His novel, RUNNING FROM THE PAST, was one of the initial Kindle Scout selections.

His novel, PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT, won the 2019 ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original.

His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP, was a Shamus Award Finalist for Best First PI Novel.

HIs YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV, won both the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best Children’s/YA Mystery.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, WINDWARD, SNOWBOUND, LANDFALL, SEASCAPE, and MASTHEAD (BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES 2016 – 2020), THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL, GUNS + TACOS, and MICKEY FINN: 21st Century Noir, Volumes 1 and 3.

His flash fiction story, “Happy Birthday,” was nominated for a 2018 Derringer Award, and his story, “Dying in Dokesville,” won a 2019 Derringer Award.

His story, “Rent Due,” won the 2021 ITW Thriller Award for Best Short Story, and “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books) was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.

He loves arugula and cake, but not together. Never together.

Alan can be followed/stalked on Facebook (www.facebook.com/alanorloff) and Twitter (@alanorloff). For more info, visit http://www.alanorloff.com.

Have a great week!

A Dog’s Courage and A Dog’s Promise by W Bruce Cameron #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Book 2 (of 2), the sequel to A Dog’s Way Home (a hit movie) and Book 3 (of 3) from A Dog’s Purpose (another major motion picture stemming from A Dog’s Journey.

Without looking more closely, I thought I was getting Book 2 and 3 of the same series. Apparently not. Which one did I prefer?

A Dog’s Courage

Book Blurb:

Bella was once a lost dog, but now she lives happily with her people, Lucas and Olivia, only occasionally recalling the hardships in her past. Then a weekend camping trip turns into a harrowing struggle for survival when the Rocky Mountains are engulfed by the biggest wildfire in American history. The raging inferno separates Bella from her people and she is lost once more.

Alone in the wilderness, Bella unexpectedly finds herself responsible for the safety of two defenseless mountain lion cubs. Now she’s torn between two equally urgent goals. More than anything, she wants to find her way home to Lucas and Olivia, but not if it means abandoning her new family to danger. And danger abounds, from predators hunting them to the flames threatening at every turn.

Can Bella ever get back to where she truly belongs?

A Dog’s Courage is more than a fast-paced adventure, more than a devoted dog’s struggle to survive, it’s a story asking that we believe in our dogs as much as they believe in us.

A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books

My Review:

Unfortunately, this one is narrated by a woman who over-dramatizes pretty much everything. After I started the audiobook, I remember I’d started it before and DNF. This time I tried finishing the novel as the plot is interesting and it’s well-paced. The plot mirrors an often repeated problem in the mountains, that of forest fires, and just how quickly they can explode from tree-top to tree-top incinerating everything below.

This is the story of Bella, once a lost dog apparently doomed to repeat the experience and this time with the addition of the cubs and the fire. How the dog handles the cubs and her connection to the felines is engaging, suspenseful, and gratifying borne of her independent and wild experience before. The thought processes of the dog, the POV, often seem as authentically from the canine herself. Oh yes, and I liked that the main character was a female this time.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Family Life Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B08KYJRQ27
Listening Length: 10 hrs 18 mins
Narrator: Ann Marie Lee
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: A Dog’s Courage [Amazon]

>——————-

A Dog’s Promise

Book Blurb:

A Dog’s Promise continues the story of Bailey, the good dog whose journey started in A Dog’s Purpose (the international hit film) and continued in A Dog’s Journey (soon to be a major motion picture in May 2019). This time, Bailey is joined by Lacey, another very special dog, who helps Bailey fulfill his promise over the course of several lives.

This charming, wise canine soul brings joy, laughter, and comfort as he unites a family fractured by life’s inevitable obstacles. The love and loyalty of these two memorable dogs shows us the incredible power of hope, truth, and unending devotion in this moving audiobook by award-winning author W. Bruce Cameron.

My Review:

This is the story of Bailey who is joined by Lacey, his soul mate. This one is narrated by a man who does an admiral job of being the main character’s POV.

This one threw me when the main character dies about a third into the book. Then he begins as a puppy again and passes about two-thirds into the book, and, you guessed it, becomes a puppy again, each time with a new name but essentially the same characteristics, even some of the memories, particularly scent memories. Each time he finds his purpose as an adult and it’s during this memory of previous jobs that the humans in his life discover a possible connection. Some skepticism, but perhaps arguable points.

I liked the human characters in this book, a diverse cadre of people, although I did tire of the animosity between the brothers. The life span of the dogs takes the main human characters through years of life until all the threads are neatly brought together in conclusion, as I correctly assumed they would. After all, it’s a feel good book.

Book Details:

Genre: Animal Fiction, Family Life Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B07THCL254
Listening Length: 10 hrs 48 mins
Narrator: William Dufris
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: A Dog’s Promise [Amazon]

The Author: W. Bruce Cameron is the New York Times bestselling author of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, The Dog Master, and the A Dog’s Purpose series. In 2011 he was named Columnist of the Year by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He lives in California.

Summary

Both books are good although I found the inner dialogue of the dog in A Dog’s Courage a bit more intelligent using more thought processes than in A Dog’s Promise. Bailey and his successive soul brought into those dogs a more simple thought process, immediate gratification, concentrating on food first and his lady-love Lacey second. Also, the plot appears to meander a bit, sometimes losing the main thread before ascending into the next mini-drama.

No clear winner here. Preferred the male narrator of Courage, but the storyline of Promise. Plot for plot, each reader might find their preference—animal driven or (human) character driven.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

#ThrowbackThursday

Death by Jelly Beans by Susan Black #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 5

Book Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik discovers the Bainbridge Department Store Easter Bunny slumped over dead and obnoxious swimwear buyer Sue Ellen Magee is arrested for the crime. Despite her differences with the nasty buyer, Holly is convinced the Queen of Mean didn’t do it. The wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to nail the real killer. But the trail has more twists than a pretzel and more turns than a rollercoaster. And nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.

My Review:

Oh my stars, I did it again—accepted another cozy mystery (yes, me), cleverly reeled in by the cover and the request by Holly Schwartz for Susie Black. This is that one, you know, with the unlikely protagonist, Holly Schlivnik. Nothing boring about Holly! She lives in a houseboat while being a President of Mermaid Swimwear. (Yes, and there are interesting bits of marketing strategy included.) She also has Siggie, the dog with all the answers, if you know how to interpret them appropriately.

Once again, dialogue can be refreshingly sharp, Holly doesn’t always apply a filter. Still, she seems to have that sixth sense in these matters, albeit at times difficult to grasp. Once again, she meets the Yentas daily, including Queenie Levine. Her bestie, Assistant Medical Examiner Sophia Cutler MD (also known as Snip) is good for a laugh.

Need I say there is a raft of remarkable support characters? This time the crew put their heads together to solve the mystery of the death of the department store Easter Bunny when Sue Ellen (aka the “Queen of Mean”) is arrested for the crime. Okay, granted she wasn’t exactly a favorite among the industry, but Sue Ellen? No way!

I did note in Book 4, Death by Cutting Table, the number of references to Nancy Drew. I didn’t see as much of that this time, but a new one popped up, “Thank the Goddess.” Where did that come from and why?

On the whole, I enjoy this wacky series, the main characters and those around her. The narrative generally stays on track, although there are some twists and red herrings, still some involvement in the romance interest this time, although she is reconsidering it. The novel moves with a good pace and is well plotted, and I always appreciate a good dog involved in the storyline. Additionally, there are always a few tidbits to learn.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuths
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Inc
ASIN: B0D12LQBXL
Print Length: 207 pages
Publication Date: September 4, 2024
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Susie Black biography

Named best US author of the year by N. N. Light Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

#TuesdayBookBlog

Going Dark by George K Mehok #BookReview #technothrillers

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

In the aftermath of 9/11, remnants of Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network quietly infiltrated the U.S. heartland, lying dormant for over two decades. On Thanksgiving Day, they strike—triggering a sinister cyber-terrorist plot poised to plunge America into unparalleled digital darkness. But it’s only the beginning.

Paul Knox, a seasoned NSA cybersecurity expert and former Air Force communications officer, is thrust into a clandestine conflict spanning generations. As Knox delves into a complex web of cyber intrigue, he must confront both the mission’s high stakes and personal demons, including the unwitting involvement of his daughter, Emma, a brilliant MIT computer scientist who holds the key to the next-generation internet.

The narrative intertwines with the origin story of the Liberty Unit’s first member, John “Jack” Jouett. In 1791, Jouett embarks on a perilous mission to deliver a critical message from Thomas Jefferson to General Henry Knox, altering the Revolutionary War’s trajectory.

As the lines between past and present blur, Knox races against time to save his daughter and unravel mysteries that could reshape history. Going dark won’t be a problem for a man who’s spent his life tracking the “worst of the worst” on the dark web. But in this game, every move could be his last.

His Review:

The Revolutionary War is cleverly juxtaposed against the current world stage. The culprits are a brother of General George Washington and Hassan from Damascus who sees the United States and its citizens as the enemy of the Islamic world and worthy of the most painful of deaths. Struggles are very personal during any war, be it the Revolutionary War in America or the struggle of the Islamic Revolution against the Western infidels.

Hate is a basic element of any conflict. Hassan sees the Americans who are the root of his country’s struggles and should die for their interference in his country’s business. He even kills his younger brother sending him to his reward in heaven to illuminate the injustice of the struggles.

General George Washington is the leader of the American Revolution and is leading the Revolutionaries in battle against the British Dragoons at various locations. He is the target of an extensive effort by the British to eliminate the struggle by a group of revolutionaries who object to the lack of representation in Parliament despite being heavily taxed and levied. King George III will entertain no delegation from “The Colonies”.

The plots are interesting and well developed. The action is fast paced and keeps the readers’ attention with suspense and questions. This is a fun historical read and a very well written dual plotted novel. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Technothrillers, Terrorism Thrillers, Historical Thrillers
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
ASIN: B0DG72F3KY
Print Length: 398 pages
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: George K. Mehok is an author, technologist, and entrepreneur with a distinguished career in designing software and leading high-performing teams in the financial services, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. His insights have been featured in prestigious tech journals and notable publications like the Wall Street Journal, CIO Review, and InformationWeek, covering wireless communications, cybersecurity, and data analytics. George’s expertise has earned him accolades, including Crain’s Business Magazine CIO of the Year award, and his work has been recognized in InformationWeek’s Annual Elite 100 ranking of the most innovative technology users in the United States. An avid storyteller, George weaves his real-world knowledge into gripping narratives, crafting thrilling plots that captivate readers. GOING DARK, the first in Mehok’s Liberty Unit series, combines his extensive technology background with historical intrigue, presenting a captivating blend of modern-day suspense and revolutionary-era secrets. When not reading or writing, George enjoys fly fishing and competitive US Masters swimming.