Sunday, August 30, 2020

The Sheriffs of Savage Wells


Paisley Bell is not like any other woman you are likely to meet in the town of Savage Wells. She carries a gun, arrests bad guys, and enjoys some friendly shooting competitions. She's hoping that her short, but successful career as temporary acting sheriff will be permanent. But, she has serious competition from Cade O' Brien, a famous sheriff. 

Paisley Bell won me over with her love for the townsfolk and wanting to see criminals brought to justice. At first glance, I saw a tough, quirky young lady with impenetrable walls she has built to protect herself. But, as I learned more about her, I saw how sweet and caring she was in taking care of her ailing father and helping people. There is a scene in the book that had me laughing as Cade O'Brien, a hands-down favorite for the sheriff's position sorts out a fight over a lady (who, unbeknownst to him, is of the livestock variety). 

Paisley Bell is not as confident as she allows people to believe, she has self-doubts about her abilities and her worth. She isn't sure that the town see her as a viable sheriff candidate and her previous failed engagement has left her wary of men. I enjoyed seeing Paisley gain quiet confidence in herself and learning to trust and love. 

About the Author:

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. 



Friday, August 28, 2020

A Question of Betrayal

 



Set in Europe with the rising power of Adolf Hitler and the weakened country of Austria, this fast paced political intrigue kept me guessing all the way until the end. I couldn't put it down and ended up reading way into the wee hours of the morning. 

I loved the plot twists and uncertainty that the story offered. Elena Standish changes throughout the book, proving her mettle as a new MI6 agent. The story adds details about her past throughout the book, which I expect when reading a well-crafter political thriller. No one is above suspect, even close friends and loved ones. 

This is the second book in the Elena Standish series and I hope there will be more. It was just  that good. 

Thank you to the author/ publisher for giving me a copy of this book. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and comments are my own.


The Blue Cloak

 



The recounting of the evil exploits the Harpes committed in the 1790's was difficult to read due to the crimes themselves, but it was also difficult to put down. The story was told with the focus of finding justice for the victims and their families. 

The perspective of Sally Rice's poor decisions and her association with these men was what made me want to keep reading. Would she ever be free of them? Would she become another victim in the wake of these two horrible men's deeds?

I appreciated Ms. McNear's thoughts at the beginning of the book to let readers know the struggle she had with writing about these crimes. While she does include some details, they are described to show us that, "they're [the Harpes] just in the fun of shedding innocent blood." The research that was cited at the end of the book was interesting and gave resources for further investigation.  

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for this ebook.  I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and comments are my own.

Photo courtesy of maxpixel.net



Wednesday, August 26, 2020

In Good Company

 


Jen Turano has hit the ball out of the park with this light-hearted comedic romance. Millie Longfellow is such an unconventional nanny that I found myself laughing at all of the crazy escapades that somehow seem to entangle her. This is the second book of three in the A Class of Their Own series. 

There Comes a Midnight Hour

Description:  Cloaked in the shadows at a midnight masquerade, a killer lies in wait. Dancers waltz to and fro—completely unaware of the dan...