The morning after a party attended at her country store, Robbie goes down to begin her day and discovers the body of Erica, the party's honoree. She investigates on her own but lets the cops know what she finds. Robbie has theories. Some more farfetched than others. Other things are also happening in town. Robbie has a list of suspects but cannot narrow it down. Who did it? Also, what is that tool she found?

 

I love these characters. They are like a family almost (probably get along better than some.) Robbie's romance has hit the rocks. I feel bad for her. Not so sure what I feel towards Jim right now. I only hope there is no collateral damage from it. I'm getting to like Buck. He's okay. Wanda's rough around the edges. The story was good. I am no detective. Until it plays out at the end, I did not know who I was looking at for the murder. Am looking forward to reading the next book.

Robbie opens a country store/restaurant. She's having lot of problems getting it open with the mayor's aide, Stella, making it more difficult. When Stella is found murdered, the sheriff looks at Robbie. She did not do it and lets the sheriff know information she discovers from the present as well as the past. She comes into the restaurant one morning and finds a mess that will get her shut down if the health department knows of it. Who did it? Is it connected to Stella as so much of the past is? Will Robbie figure out the murderer or will she be the next victim? I liked this book. It is a good set-up for the series. I liked the characters, some more than others. Robbie is a strong woman who handles the setbacks in her restaurant and overcomes them as well as some of the people in town. The story was believable. I am no detective. I did not figure out who iw was. Good thing Robbie did as well as the explanation at the end. Looking forward to reading the next book.

Robbie opens a country store/restaurant. She's having lot of problems getting it open with the mayor's aide, Stella, making it more difficult. When Stella is found murdered, the sheriff looks at Robbie. She did not do it and lets the sheriff know information she discovers from the present as well as the past. She comes into the restaurant one morning and finds a mess that will get her shut down if the health department knows of it. Who did it? Is it connected to Stella as so much of the past is? Will Robbie figure out the murderer or will she be the next victim? I liked this book. It is a good set-up for the series. I liked the characters, some more than others. Robbie is a strong woman who handles the setbacks in her restaurant and overcomes them as well as some of the people in town. The story was believable. I am no detective. I did not figure out who iw was. Good thing Robbie did as well as the explanation at the end. Looking forward to reading the next book.

What the heck!?  You can’t be serious? I cringed a few times as I read this book, for the main characters were walking blindly.  They lived in fear, they were risking their own lives and the lives of their own children as they dodged not being caught and deported.  Sometimes I wondered if they even knew what complications lied ahead or if the thought of moving backwards was not option so they didn’t consider it.  I was hoping for the best and I feared the worse was headed their way. When would it ever end?

 

It was sweet when they fell in love and had their first child but when they decided to flee Columbia, the choices that had to be made and their actions totally changed the tone of the book.  They were headed to America, where a better life awaited them, didn’t it?  Entering America, they were beginning their new lives as illegal immigrants, earning money under the table, and “just surviving.”  When the couple started having more children, I was getting nervous.  More mouths, more responsibilities and additional individuals to hide.  The status of their children was now mixed and I wondered, how would that play out when it was time to go back to Columbia.

 

With the return date on their Visa’s coming up, the thought of returning home doesn’t sound like something they’re ready for.  Do they really have a choice? This was an eye-opening book, as the family makes some difficult decisions which places additional burdens on them.  This book covers a lot of hard topics including racism, alcohol, some sexual assault and animal abuse (small section).  It was definitely a book that got me thinking, a book that I’m glad that I read.   I received a copy of this book over a year ago from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.  

 

 

 

 

 

Wine Country King by Claire Marti

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Open a Claire Marti novel and your heart may never view love the same. From heartbreaking to heartwarming, emotions run deep. Wine Country King is a beautiful canvas of bountiful flavors. Jack and Campbell somehow manage to find the sweet spot between overly dramatic and scorching hot. With a sprinkling of humor and a a never-ending supply of heart, Marti delivers a feast of the senses that proves hard to resist.



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