Series: Webb's Glass Shop Mystery, #3
Publisher: Kensington
Published: June 28, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 320 pages

I read the first book in this series, Pane and Suffering, because it was a cozy mystery set not too far from me, in my home state of Florida. I have kept reading the series, because the author does not only a fantastic job of capturing the uniqueness that is St. Petersburg and the entire Suncoast area, but also telling an first rate story.

Our story revolves around Savannah Webb, glass artist and owner of Webb's Glass Shop.  Occasionally, we see things from Homicide detective David Parker's viewpoint, but that is usually when explanations need to happen that Savannah wouldn't have access to. It's a great way of keeping us, the reader, informed and up to date, as well as seeing how things are progressing from the official law enforcement view.

The romance that I had predicted in book one, is really coming alive between Savannah and her work neighbor Edward.  More of the neighborhood is explored, especially as Savannah has opened up a new venture, Webb's Studio, nearby to cater to artists needing space to create. As the characters move around the town and surrounding area, the descriptions are so distinctive, that I could almost smell the salt in the air.

If you are like me, and enjoy reading cozy mysteries in part for the slice of small town life they typically explore or for the many wonderful hobbies and crafts that are described, this would be a great series to explore. This was another wonderful addition to a series that has been top notch and I gave it 4 stars.

Kensington and Netgalley provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

When a treasure hunt leads to deadly plunder, it's up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb and her trusty investigative posse to map out the true motives of a killer...

It's the dog days of summer in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Webb's Glass Shop proprietor Savannah Webb has an eco-friendly plan to help locals escape the heat--a recyclable bottle-crafting workshop taught by reticent store manager Amanda Blake. Turns out, the class is a bigger smash than expected, thanks in part to a pair of staggeringly old bottles brought in by snorkeler Martin Lane...

Linked to a storied pirate shipwreck, the relics definitely pique Savannah's interest. But intrigue turns to shock when Martin's lifeless body washes ashore the next morning, another glass artifact tucked in his dive bag. With cell phone records connecting Amanda to the drowning, Savannah must voyage through unchartered territory to exonerate her colleague and capture the twisted criminal behind Martin's death...

    

Series: Kelly Jackson Mystery, #2
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Published: June 7, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 192 pages

The first book in this series, Murder at Redwood Cove, was a fabulous four star read from a debut author. The combination of a scenic setting, colorful characters, and a unique plot-line served to capture my attention and brought me back for more.

At the end of book one, Kelly Jackson, temporary manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast became the permanent manager with her decision to settle down in the area.  She has just barely returned from her parents home in Wyoming, loaded down with a horse trailer full of her things when she heads over to Resort Internationals other local property, Redwood Heights to assist with doing an inventory in preparation of it's sale.

While she is there, a guest falls down some stairs and swears that she was pushed.  When the same guest ends up murdered the very next day, suspicion falls on everyone who was in the mansion at the time.  And with a recent spate of jewelry thefts at the mansion, everyone is suspect and on edge wondering if the two crimes are connected. Kelly has to call on the Silver Sentinels to help her sort through historical paperwork, find missing suspects and  work to find the guilty party or parties.

I really don't want to spoiler anything too badly, but I just have to say that I was completely fooled by the thief. There were plenty of hints dropped, but I didn't put it together until after Kelly explained. The murderer was a bit of a surprise; I was almost all the way there when they exposed themselves as the killer.  Wooboy, what a moment that was! The reveal was so clever and unexpected that I had to go back and reread it a couple times to make sure that I had it all correct. 

Though this book gives us a bit more background on Kelly, as well as the Silver Sentinel individuals, it still defers much of their history to be discovered in coming books. I had a marvelous time in the town of Redwood Cove and can't wait to see what happens next. A great read, I gave it 4 stars.

Netgalley and Kensington Books provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play...

It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade...and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

    

Series: Country Store Mystery, #2
Publisher: Kensington
Published: May 31, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 304 pages

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Flipped for Murder, enough to give it 4 stars. The idea of an old country store and restaurant, quaint with age and a homespun feel, just gives me this warm glow. I know it's the wrong part of the country and not completely accurate, but I can't help picturing a cross between Luke's Diner in Star's Hollow and Cracker Barrel whenever I picture the interior. It gives me that same small town, everyone's welcome, homey vibe.

Robbie's restaurant is well on it's way to becoming a local landmark. She is catering a private welcome home party for the daughter of a local couple. The daughter is returning home after the death of her husband, Robbie's love interest's twin brother. (Don't you just love small town dynamics?) But Erica, the daughter in question, not only shows up over a hour late to her party, but starts several arguments and is quite the drama queen. But Robbie is beyond shocked when she wakes up the next morning and goes out to find Erica dead on the floor of her store propped up next to the pickle barrel.

For this investigation, the state police are called in and some new characters are added to the mix of the ones from book one.  There is a bit of romantic drama for Robbie, as the new state police detective is the former love of Jim, Robbie's boyfriend. I had a pretty good idea of whodunit, and was ultimately rewarded with being 100% accurate. The side plots added a provocative twist to the story, and I had a hard time putting the book down. I confess, I would have consumed this in one go if life had allowed. This was another great read and I gave it 4 stars.

Netgalley and Kensington provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business…

In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans 'N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer's brother, but she doesn't appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie's store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious--even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie's friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order…

    

The Undoing

Call of Crows, #2

Shelly Laurenston

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: March 29, 2016
Number of pages: 400

A risk worth taking…

No one would ever accuse Jace Berisha of having an easy life—considering her husband… you know… killed her. But that was then! Now she fights for mighty Viking gods with the spectacular and vicious Crows.

But things are turning very bad, very quickly because a vengeful, ancient goddess has come into the world with just one thing on her mind—ending it. And the only way they can hope to stop her is if the Crows join forces with their one-time enemies, the Protectors. A Viking Clan created to do nothing but kill every Crow they see.

Thankfully, Protector Ski Eriksen is a peace loving kind of guy. Because the woman he is desperately trying to get close to is the beautiful and not-very-chatty Jace. Battling Nordic clans? Unkillable goddesses? Jace’s mean-spirited dog? None of these things would ever get in the way of a true Viking!

I love how the Crows all pick on and tease one another. The dialogue between the ladies are so wonderfully snark filled, that I had a really hard time picking just one. This is one where Kera and Erin are trying to help Jace sneak out of the Bird House past Rachel, who is trying give Jace another lecture on controlling her rage.

Quote: 
They all slid to a stop when they realized that Rachel was there. She was just turning toward them when all three dove into the nearest closet. Clinging to each other like terrified orphans, they watched Rachel stomp by through the crack in the open door. When she disappeared, they let out a breath and Kera began to ease out the door just as Annalisa was walking by. She frowned at the sight of them huddled in the closet, but before she could say a word, Kera mouthed, Rachel, and pointed.

Annalisa smirked. She wasn’t a big Rachel fan, either. She suddenly pushed Kera back into the closet and stood in front of the door.

Rachel reappeared, stopping in front of Annalisa and looking her over. “What are you doing?” she finally asked.

“Just thinking about my day. What are you doing?”

“Trying to find Jace. Have you seen her?”

“Trying to find her? Why? Is it because she’s Albanian?”

“I’m trying to... wait... what?”

“You hate her because she’s Albanian?”

“I don’t hate—”

“Is it just Albanians you hate, or is it all East Europeans?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wow. I had no idea you were like this.”

Another sister-Crow showed up. “Like what?”

“Rachel hates Eastern Europeans.”

“I do not!”

“So you hate all Europeans? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No!”

“My God, Rachel.” The other sister-Crow shook her head, disgust on her face as she walked off. “I’m really disappointed in you.”

“Wait...” Rachel glared down at Annalisa.

“Jesus Christ.”

“So you hate the Christian God, too?”

“Oh my God! Shut up!”

Rachel stormed off, calling after the sister-Crow who’d been so disgusted with her, and Annalisa opened the closet door. “Anglo guilt... it’s so my favorite thing.”

Review: 

I am a huge Shelly Laurenston fan. I admit it straight up. Her books are one of the few that have made it to my "keeper" shelf.  I get her books in multiple formats even. Why? Because 1) I want them for my keeper shelf and 2) I also want to read them as soon as they come out... if not sooner.  And I have read them all multiple times. (Well, I still haven't finished Hunting Season, but everyone is allowed to have that one that just doesn't do if for them, right?)

I spent quite a bit of time during this book geeking out about the cross over with her other series. That's right - Shifters. Can you believe it?! Grizzlies and African Wild Dogs specifically (two of my personal favs). But there was also a nod to her Dragon Kin series under her pseudonym G.A. Aiken, specifically to Dagmar "The Beast" Reinholdt from book 3. I can't remember grinning so hard seeing all my favorites coming into place in one universe. Woo Hoo!

The story picks up not long after The Unleashing.  This time, the focus is on quiet Jace and one of the Protectors (Owl), Denski. These guys are totally bad ass, yet all about the books. (Think the library in Beauty and the Beast... you know the one.) They don't fight with weapons, not because they can't, but because their hands and feet do enough damage to not warrant using weapons. Plus, they wear glasses when they aren't fighting, to help them adapt so that others don't notice their unique owl eyes. (Can I add one of these guys to my Christmas wish list?  Seriously. I promise to be extra good the rest of the year...)

This book is full of the trademark Shelly Laurenston snark, wit and over the top personalities that we have come to know and love. There was plenty of action, both with bad guys and the typical family in-fighting. There were huge pranks and petty squabbles. But most of all, it was fun. I had a fabulous time getting into Jace and Ski's heads and can't wait to see what's up next for my new favorite series. This was another fantastic 5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review the book.

Kill Without Mercy

ARES Security, #1

Alexandra Ivy

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Zebra
Date of Publication: December 29, 2015
Number of pages: 368

From the hellhole of a Taliban prison to sweet freedom, five brave military heroes have made it home—and they’re ready to take on the civilian missions no one else can. Individually they’re intimidating. Together they’re invincible. They’re the men of ARES Security.

Rafe Vargas is only in Newton, Iowa, to clear out his late grandfather’s small house. As the covert ops specialist for ARES Security, he's eager to get back to his new life in Texas. But when he crosses paths with Annie White, a haunted beauty with skeletons in her closet, he can't just walk away—not when she’s clearly in danger…

There’s a mysterious serial killer on the loose with a link to Annie’s dark past. And the closer he gets, the deeper Rafe’s instinct to protect kicks in. But even with his considerable skill, Annie’s courage, and his ARES buddies behind him, the slaying won’t stop. Now it’s only a matter of time before Annie’s next—unless they can unravel a history of deadly lies that won’t be buried.

I started reading Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series back when it came out in 2007. The series was sexy and fun, and I had a good time with it, but with one thing and another, I have fallen a few books behind. (Although I did mange to read the two novellas staring my favorite little gargoyle.) So when I saw that the author had a new non paranormal series coming out, I had to take a look. Didja see that cover? Plus, how often are you going to find true badasses in Iowa, for goodness sake? That alone had me taking a closer look.

This started out as the typical ex-military turned security group, with some variation to keep it fresh and current, romantic suspense novel. Intro the guys, zoom in our hero and then meet the heroine and next set up their initial random meeting. Isn't it funny how after reading enough of this genre, you can tell the basic road map of the journey that the author will be taking you on? It's the details that make or break the story. And can I just say that the details totally and completely made this one, at least for me.

I just kept being surprised with the twists and turns in the story. I'd think I had a handle on the direction of things, and *bam* we'd take sharp 90 degree turn. This kept me in the moment and not skimming ahead.  I really enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next and being surprised with where the author took the story line.

The series story arc was introduced early, we had a chance to get to know all our heroes, and I have already started my book boyfriend crush on one of guys. Here's hoping his story is late in the series, since that will give me more time with him all to myself. ;) The story grabbed my attention and kept me involved right till the very end. I had to give it 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Zebra/Kensington for the opportunity to read and review the book.