Book Review: Death by Diploma (Kelley Kaye)

Death by Diploma

by: Kelley Kaye

Genres: Mystery (Cozy)

Emma Lovett leaves her philandering husband and crosses the country to begin her teaching career at a high school in Pinewood, Colorado.There, she meets Leslie Parker, a fellow teacher given to quoting Shakespeare to fit all situations, and the two become fast friends.

Arriving at work early one morning, Emma discovers the body of the school custodian, a man who reminds her of her late father. When the police struggle to find the killer, the ladies decide to help solve the murder. Their efforts lead them to a myriad of suspects: the schizophrenic librarian, the crude football coach, the mysterious social studies teacher, and even Emma’s new love interest.As Emma Lovett discovers the perils of teaching high school, she and Leslie learn more than they ever wanted to know about the reasons people kill.

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

Death by Diploma is classified as a "cozy mystery," which is a term that I had to investigate.  It turns out that "cozies" are books that downplay/put a humorist twist on sex and/or violence.....this book definitely fits the category.  

This one starts out really slow, which means that I almost gave up on it several times.  Emma and Leslie are awesome main characters, but Emma's sometimes HORRIBLE southern dialect drove me insane.  **Note to non-southern authors:  you can't "write" an accent.....it doesn't work.....it isn't close to accurate......and it leaves readers with a bad taste in their mouth (especially those of us who grew up in the south).** 

Once the plot got really interesting (about halfway through the book) I was hooked.  The dedication that the teachers had, to solve the murder of the school custodian, was admirable.  This is the kind of mystery book that didn't give things away until the most perfect moment.  So, although things started out slow, this "cozy" novel was worth the read!

As always, all of the good stuff is listed below.

Until next time.......

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Book Review: The Husband (Dean Koontz)

The Husband 

by Dean Koontz

Genre: Murder, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

With each and every new novel, Dean Koontz raises the stakes--and the pulse rate--higher than any other author. Now, in what may be his most suspenseful and heartfelt novel ever, he brings us the story of an ordinary man whose extraordinary commitment to his wife will take him on a harrowing journey of adventure, sacrifice, and redemption to the mystery of love itself--and to a showdown with the darkness that would destroy it forever. 
What would you do for love? Would you die? Would you kill? 
We have your wife. You can get her back for two million cash. Landscaper Mitchell Rafferty thinks it must be some kind of joke. He was in the middle of planting impatiens in the yard of one of his clients when his cell phone rang. Now he's standing in a normal suburban neighborhood on a bright summer day, having a phone conversation out of his darkest nightmare. 
Whoever is on the other end of the line is dead serious. He has Mitch's wife and he's named the price for her safe return. The caller doesn't care that Mitch runs a small two-man landscaping operation and has no way of raising such a vast sum. He's confident that Mitch will find a way. 
If he loves his wife enough. . . Mitch does love her enough. He loves her more than life itself. He's got seventy-two hours to prove it. He has to find the two million by then. But he'll pay a lot more. He'll pay anything. 
From its tense opening to its shattering climax, The Husband is a thriller that will hold you in its relentless grip for every twist, every shock, every revelation...until it lets you go, unmistakably changed. This is a Dean Koontz novel, after all. And there's no other experience quite like it.




A little cliche, but still a roller-coaster of emotions and suspense. Dean Koontz definitely knows how to keep readers on the edge of their metaphorical seats.

The Husband is a good example of someone who will do anything to save the one they love. Whether it be stealing money, grand theft auto, or murder.

It was difficult to keep up with, sometimes. The characters were constantly moving forward in the plot, but it was good at keeping you interested in what they were doing.

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Book Review: Amelia's Children (Greta Cribbs)

Amelia's Children

by: Greta Cribbs

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery

In 1985 Amelia Davis is brutally murdered in the woods outside of Laurel Hill. Her killer is never caught. Thirty years later, David Jenson comes to town on what he calls “personal business”, though he won’t tell anyone what that business is. Could he have some connection to the town’s most infamous cold case? 

Sarah Hathaway has just returned to her hometown in the wake of a failed acting career. When she meets David she is immediately drawn to him, but it is the mystery of what exactly brought him to Laurel Hill that keeps her up at night. Determined to find the answer, she embarks on a journey into the unknown that will change her life forever. Along the way she discovers truths about Amelia’s death that prove more sinister than anyone ever could have imagined. 

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I'm always hesitant when I pick up a book that falls into the paranormal genre.  I am a firm believer that there can be too much paranormal content in a book, and I have a really hard time wrapping my head around some of the craziness that can be found in the majority of the books in this particular genre.....which means that I tend to avoid anything labeled as "paranormal" like the plague.  On the rare occasion that I pick one up, I force myself to wait until I've reached the end to decide which way my review will go.  Sooooooo, here it is. 

Amelia's Children was GREAT!  In fact, I have no doubt that having read it will make me a little less hesitant when the time comes for me to pick up the next paranormal book on my TBR list.  David Jenson's "personal business" takes readers on a wild journey back in time, as well as, answers questions that no one in Laurel Hill ever thought they'd get resolved.  I know that I say this often, but this was one of those books that are hard to put down.  Life would be so much easier if I could figure out a way to pause real life so that I could spend a little more time emerged in awesome reads like this one.

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Book Review: Daddy's Little Girl (Mary Higgins Clark)

Daddy's Little Girl

By Mark Higgins Clark

Genre: Mystery (Crime, Murder), Contemporary, 

Suspense 

Ellie Cavanaugh was only seven years old when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was murdered near their home in Oldham-on-the-Hudson, a rural village in New York's Westchester County. There were three suspects: Rob Westerfield, nineteen-year-old scion of a wealthy, prominent family, whom Andrea has been secretly dating; Paul Stroebel, a sixteen-year-old schoolmate, who had a crush on Andrea; and Will Nebels, a local handyman in his forties.


It was Ellie who had led her parents to a hideout in which Andrea's body was found -- a secret hideaway in which she met her friends. And it was Ellie who was blamed by her parents for her sister's death for not telling them about this place the night Andrea was missing. It was also Ellie's testimony that led to the conviction of the man she was firmly convinced was the killer. Steadfastly denying his guilt, he spent the next twenty-two years in prison.

When he comes up for parole, Ellie, now an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, protests his release. Nonetheless, the convicted killer is set free and returns to Oldham. Determined to thwart his attempts to whitewash his reputation, Ellie also returns to Oldham, intent on creating a Website and writing a book that will conclusively prove his guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying and heretofore unknown facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery, she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

Gripping and relentlessly compelling, Daddy's Little Girl, a portrayal of a family shattered by crime, reflects Mary Higgins Clark's uncanny insight into the twisted mind of a killer and is further evidence of why she is America's favorite author of suspense.

The first three or four chapters were boring, you didn't really get any information about anything that was going on. After those, you get down to the nitty-gritty and find out all the details you'd been waiting for.

Once you get down to it,  I thought the book was extremely interesting. It was one of those books that holds your interest; you just don't want to put it down. It was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful toward the end.

Overall, the story really wrapped up nicely. There weren't any loose ends that I could think of. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone 16+ who enjoys action-packed crime thrillers.

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Book Review: The Marijuana Project (Brian Laslow)

The Marijuana Project

by Brian Laslow

Genres: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense

THE MARIJUANA PROJECT a novel about medicine and morality aka "a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds." 

Sam Burnett, a savvy security expert, is hiding in the catwalk of a medical marijuana production facility he has been hired to protect, caught in a surveillance plan he never thought he’d face. 

In fact, Sam, a conservative family man who travels the country as a highly sought after security expert, doesn’t even approve of marijuana and wonders why he’s still working there. 

Over the course of two years designing, implementing and operating the entire security program for MedLeaf, Sam faces one moral conflict after another. 

Does he favor using medical marijuana to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, easing anxiety and providing pleasure? 

Or does he see it as an invitation to more serious drug use, mental instability and irresponsible, even dangerous behavior? 

You could call it a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds. 

At first, Sam realizes that medical marijuana needs to be protected from ending up in the wrong hands and that taking the job means he can be home much more than before. 

But even the positive things Sam learns about medical marijuana are at odds with his religious upbringing and his conservative views about drug use, legal or otherwise. 

When his son’s best friend is killed in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of medical marijuana, Sam reaches his breaking point and takes matters into his own hands, which leads to a potentially dangerous confrontation with his employers and a group of unknown provocateurs. 

In the end, he must decide if he can personally continue to participate in the protection and perpetuation of this industry. Sam Burnett’s dilemma is similar to that of millions of Americans. His story will resonate for all those struggling to make sense of this changing landscape in our society.

I was intrigued when I initially read this books blurb.  My stand on medical marijuana is the complete opposite of Sam's, and I couldn't wait to envision what it must be like on the other end of the spectrum. 

Sam, a security genius, is a firm believer that marijuana (medical or otherwise) shouldn't be something that is legally sold.  His moral belief is put to the test when he is offered the opportunity to provide security for MedLeaf, a medical marijuana grow facility.  Sam takes us for an unforgettable ride on his moral roller coaster.   

The Marijuana Project was phenomenally written.  Brian Laslow included enough information, to ensure that the readers didn't get lost along the way.  If you're looking for an exciting read, one that shows real moral struggles, then this could possibly be the book for you!
  

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Book Review: Halversham (R.S. Anthony)

Halversham

by: R.S. Anthony

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

With his mother dead and his father jetting off on yet another business trip, fifteen-year-old Andy Monaghan can't stand the thought of spending summer alone in the city. Instead, he seeks a few weeks of solace in the place his mother loved the most: the rural town of Halversham where his father was raised.

No sooner does Andy arrive in Halversham than he hears of strange incidents occurring in town, including a few too close for comfort. Before long, Andy is reluctantly reeled into a chain of events that quickly darken the rose-colored glasses he's been wearing for his mother's beloved country getaway.

Finding out who's responsible for Halversham's many tragedies becomes Andy's main priority. As he reconnects with his father's family and dives deeper into the mysteries surrounding the town, he finds that even his own may not be safe from trouble. Is he willing to  risk everything to  uncover the truth of Halversham's dark secrets, and protect the people he loves?

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING REVIEW**

Oh my goodness, guys. This book was so amazing.

Honestly, I was slightly bored in the beginning, but only because I'm feeling like reading a fantasy book, but I was so surprised by it. As soon as I woke up after finishing it I made my mom sit down with me so I could tell her all about it.

The author's writing was spectacular, even though I felt like she may have described some things in such a way that you forgot that you were in the 21st century, but it spoke to the feel of Halversham.

Other than that...holy cow, this book completely flipped me around. I don't even know what to say to stop myself from spoiling anything -- I've written this review three times!

Okay, all you guys need to know is that you MUST read this book. It is SO, SO, SO worth it. You'll get chills, and be sick with disgust (at the characters, not the author), and just be amazingly shocked and confused...Just read it.

As always, links can be found below.
Have an awesome Tuesday! Keep your noses in the pages, and I'll blog you lovelies later!

p.s. Do you see our awesome new signatures?!?! I made them in several colors and I just love them.

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Book Review: Murder and More (Gerald Darnell)

Murder and More

by: Gerald Darnell

genre: Mystery

Carson’s feud with a local crime reporter continues, and then suddenly the husband of his client is brutally murdered - a husband he’s been hired to investigate. Mysterious characters weave a web of blackmail and suspense, while leaving Carson with more clients than he can handle.
The Memphis police have warned Carson to back off, but an employee of a friend is missing from a murder scene and he’s determined to find her and the killer.
Follow Carson to New Orleans, Humboldt, Memphis and Florida where he chases numerous suspects trying to track down a missing person and the killer he’s been hired to find.
Enjoy this unusual adventure for Carson Reno, as he struggles to solve the case of ‘Murder and More’.

**WE RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

Murder and More perfectly sums up this piece of work, by Gerald W. Darnell. The main setting was 1960's Memphis, and I can honestly say that I felt like I was transported to the 60's each and every time I picked it up.  The pictures included, of the referenced places and cars, was an added bonus.

Carson Reno, and his no nonsense attitude, was a strong (and extremely likable) main character. Throughout the book, there was a lot going on, at pretty much every turn of a page....making it hard to follow at times, but after every couple of pages everything ended up making sense.

This mystery novel kept me on the edge of my seat, had me guessing, made me laugh, and had me saying "wow" more than a few times. It was definitely a nice change to my typical reading. Give it a chance....you won't regret it!

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Book Review: A Secret to the Grave (Jane Blythe)

A Secret to the Grave

by: Jane Blythe

Genre:  Suspense, Crime, Mystery

A suicide.

A secret.

To the grave.

That was the promise that ten girls made many years ago, and now the time has come when they will be forced to make a choice. Keep the secret and lose their lives, or reveal it and risk the lives of others.

Detective Parker Bell has just returned to work after shooting dead a killer, when he and his partner land the case of a young woman abducted by a man who has left a list of clues pointing to nine other women he plans to kill.

Throughout the course of the investigation Parker meets Tessa Micah, a potential victim and the most interesting, striking, infuriating woman he has ever met, she awakens something inside of him that he thought was long dead.

When Tessa refuses to shed any light on why she is in the sights of a serial killer its up to Parker to find the madman before he can bring his plan to fruition, leaving ten dead women in his wake.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

One word, to describe A Secret to the Grave, would be exhilarating.  Seriously, this book kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire ride.  I found myself making predictions, (and doing some serious assuming) as I turned the pages, but in the end I was left virtually speechless.  Jane Blythe managed to stay a step ahead of her readers, by creating a thriller that was anything but a boring read....and as of date, there are currently four more books in the Detective Parker Bell series.  Needless to say I'm far from done with this author, or this series.  

As always, you can find all of the book/author related good stuff at the end of this review.

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Book Review: Where Death Is a Hunter (Christopher Stookey)

Where Death Is a Hunter

by:  Christopher Stookey

                                                                      Genres:  Mystery, Thriller

Hannah Fâtier is a thirty-two-year-old physician fresh out of residency training. She’s just started her first job as an anesthesiologist at Deaconess Hospital in San Francisco, she’s bought a new home, and she’s engaged to be married.

In short, life is good for Hannah--until, one morning at work, tragedy strikes. A patient under her care dies unexpectedly during a routine operation. An investigation into the case reveals the cause of death to be a basic medical error committed by Hannah. Wracked with guilt, Hannah falls into a malaise of depression and self-reproach. Yet the more she ponders her alleged “error,” the more she realizes that something about the way her patient died doesn’t add up. Digging deeper into the records of the case, Hannah discovers a number of puzzling inconsistencies. She begins to suspect that someone has framed her for a medical mistake she never made. But who would do such a thing and why? And, more importantly, if there was no medical error, then why did her patient really die that morning on the operating table?
Where Death Is a Hunter is a medical mystery dealing with hospital death, betrayal, one doctor’s self-doubt, and the search for redemption.

**WE WERE GIVEN A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

I am usually not the type to typically enjoy, or even crack open a medical thriller, but I was asked to post a guest review and thought I'd give a new genre a shot.  Although it took a few chapters to really grab my attention this book was well worth reading. After the first few chapters of introduction and build up to the plot, I found my eyes were no longer moving across the words on the pages methodically, but instead I was transported to the world of the main character, Dr. Hannah Fâtier. I found this book to be very well written, and was excited to learn that the author has another book of the same genre. I will definitely be reading it next, and I recommend this one as a must read for anyone, especially those who love a good medical thriller.

The only negative thing I could find about the book is the title, which even after reading the book, still does not seem to fit the story.

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