The Memory House by Mary Alford

 Book Description:  When grief counselor Elise Warren inherits Coldwater Hollow, the crumbling Victorian estate of her estranged father, she expects to settle his affairs and finally leave the past behind.

Instead, she finds hidden journals, secret recordings, and evidence that her father’s controversial psychological treatments may have harmed more than they healed.
As Elise digs deeper, fragments of her childhood begin surfacing—memories of a frightened girl named Ivy, whispered warnings from her long-missing mother, and a darkness lurking beneath the house itself.
But the more Elise uncovers, the less she trusts her own mind.
Someone has been inside Coldwater Hollow.
Someone is watching her search for answers.
And someone desperately wants one missing piece of evidence to stay buried.
Because if Elise remembers what really happened twenty years ago, she may discover that the greatest mystery was never what happened to Ivy.
It's who Ivy was.

My Thoughts:  Mary Alford is a stunning writer.  I've never read anyone else's books who have SO much in them.  

This is like no other book that I've read from her.  

This story is a psychological thriller that is full of surprises.

It's a quick read, coming in at 206 pages.  Of course, as a reader you'll want to keep reading because it's a captivating story.

I honestly could not put all the events together.  I didn't see some of the evidence pointing to the culprit.

Elise is a great character as is Reid. 

There is no spice in this thriller.  And it's not a scary read.  It's also not an action read but my.oh.my this story keeps you on your toes.

The question throughout the whole story is "Who is Ivy?"  

If you love thrillers and a great mystery you'll love this new story! 

It's not an expensive book get it on HERE for $6.99

I received a complimentary copy from the author. 

The opinions in this review are my own.

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

Light from Distant Stars: A Novel by Shawn Smucker

  

Book Description:  When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect.

Over the next week, Cohen's childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Did he kill his father?

My Thoughts:  There are times when I begin reading a book and wonder, "What am I missing?"  This is such book.
I just could not understand what the author was saying in this story.  I was lost from page one.
Now if you're the type of reader who enjoys dystopia or "christian" science fiction, well, you may enjoy this read.
The story centers around the father of Cohen Marah.  Actually the story seems to be about the father...but, then again, I'm clueless about the story.  Just didn't get what was going on.
The author knows how to write, it is the story itself that I had trouble with.  Yes, I get that there was child abuse and the man wanted to let go of the ugly things.  However, the story part just never got to me.

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Revell
• ISBN-10: 0800728513

Snowbound Escape (Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit, 8) by Dana Mentink

 

Book Description:  To rescue a witness…

this K-9 team must face a killer and a storm.

After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?

My Thoughts:  I was so excited to get this book.  Dana Mentink is one of my favorite authors.  I read the whole book the same day I received it.  I was just going to read one chapter but the story grabbed me and pulled me in and I just couldn't let go.  

This is a true large print Love inspired Suspense read.  I love this size.  I like the way it holds well in my hands.

I love rescue missions.  So when Officer Tanner Ford and his sweet K-9 partner need to track and locate Mara Gilmore the witness to the crime, it becomes a clock ticking rescue. 

As the real murderer closes in on Mara Tanner and Britta rescue Mara but now they're all on the run trying to outwit a fearless bad person.

All of this running and keeping ahead of a criminal mind takes place in the Pacific Northwest.  It was interesting to read about snow and survival.

Excitement at its best!  Such a wonderful read.  Don't miss it! 

Buy it HERE  Two sizes to pick from plus Kindle

Fun Friday!

 

Suspense at its best....coming this month

 

Some memories fade.

Some are buried.

And some may never have belonged to you at all.

When Elise Warren inherits Coldwater Hollow after her estranged father’s death, she returns to the mansion where her childhood memories begin—and abruptly end. But someone inside the house knows what happened there.

Someone who calls her by another name.

If you enjoy chilling family secrets, unreliable memories, old houses, and psychological suspense without supernatural elements, you’ll want to read The Memory House by Mary Alford.

https://amzn.to/3NhHYKY

#TheMemoryHouse #MaryAlford #PsychologicalThriller #BookRecommendation #MustReadSuspense

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

We did this wonderful fish Charcuterie board with fish, tortillas, 

onions, fresh veggies...it was wonderful!

It's HERE! the fantabulous book by Dana Metink

 

Someone appears to fall from a penthouse window, but there is no body to be found.

Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink is available now in print, ebook, and audiobook formats. Check into the Grand Mallard Marquee and join an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths as they search for a killer roaming the hotel’s lavish corridors.

Harlequin:
https://harlequin.com/products/murders-in-the-marquee/

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYXQT2R3/

Order from Bookshop.org

#DanaMentink #MurdersintheMarquee

A Royal Christmas {A Christmas Novella} by Melody Carlson

 

Book Description:  Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

My Thoughts:  The Christmas reads are beginning to make their way on the shelves and it's so nice! And this book is a beautiful hard back book.  It's a keeper!

Melody Carlson always pens an interesting story. She's one of my favorite authors.  

A Royal Christmas has all the feels and the love that comes with a Christmas story.

As much as I enjoy a good mystery or suspense read I like a great story that has love and imagination in it too.  This story makes for a nice break from all the suspense.

I like Adelaide. She's not only smart but beautiful as well.  She's down to earth but would like meeting her Prince Charming.  

When Adelaide receives the letter telling her she's a direct descendant from a King of a small area in Europe not only is she skeptical but she just doesn't believe it.

Then she receives an invitation from the king and lo and behold, she's on her way to royalty.

I loved this story!  Such a great start to the holiday reading!

A Deadly Business {A Mia Quinn Mystery} by Lis Wiehl. An oldie but goodie!

  

An oldie but goodie!

Book Description:  A prosecutor of violent criminals. A detective on a dangerous beat. When these two pros take on an off-the-books case, the line between professional and personal becomes perilously blurred. 

When a twenty-two-year-old convict walks into the courtroom, his eyes confirm what Mia Quinn already guesses: he blames her for his conviction. In seconds, he knocks her to the ground and holds a razor blade to her throat. While she manages to escape without injury, it's just one more reminder that Mia's job prosecuting Seattle's s most dangerous criminals is far from low risk.  

As a single mom, the last thing Mia wants is for her work to follow her home or discover that it already has.

Now Detective Charlie Carlson is suggesting the very thing Mia doesn't want to believe—that her accountant husband’s deadly car accident was no accident at all. When Mia and Charlie encounter resistance to reopening the case, they take the investigation into their own hands. And they find much more than they bargained for.

Was Mia's husband more than an accountant . . . and less than an honest man? As the truth becomes more shocking and the case grows more complex, her husband's killers take note of Mia . . . and her children. How far will this prosecutor go to learn the truth about her husband—and how far will she have to go to protect her family? 

My Thoughts:  Oh.Be.Still.My.Heart!  I have waited (it seems like forever ) for the next Mia Quinn mystery.  And here it is!  

Mia is a prosecutor.  And usually her job is stressful and full but today when that twenty-two-year old walks into the courtroom Mia senses/knows that he blames her for his predicament.  Uh!Yeah! She did the crime!    Honestly these criminals make one SO angry.   As the reader can tell this is a one great suspense read!  I was SO angry at the criminal . . . a good sign that an author brings out emotion in the reader.

Mia is a single mom because her husband was killed in a deadly car accident.  But now Detective Carlson telling her the one thing she really doesn't want to hear.  Her husband's accident was probably not an accident!  And to top.it.all.off!  Her husband seems to have been into some shady dealings.

Poor Mia! She is a single mom who wants to blend into the woodwork.  She doesn't want these criminals to know that she has a family and where she lives.  

This is one of Lis Wiehl's best books!  The suspense is, well for a lack of another word, suspenseful! {smile}  One of those I'm looking over my shoulder as I read in bed at night!  Yeah!That good!

• Series: A Mia Quinn Mystery (Book 2)
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595549048

Fun Friday!

 

Murders In The Marquee by Dana Metink

 Book Description:  n 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

My Thoughts:  I absolutely love stories authored by Dana Metink.  

This story Murders In The Marquee is an absolute delight.

The main characters, Saul, Kitty and Henry are quirky, humorous, serious and most off all determined.

Saul Niffler is astonished that he has a job at the Marquee.  However, as he nears the Marquee he is astonished to see a body fall from the upper part of the hotel. When he reaches the Marquee he looks for the body but lo and behold there is no body!

Saul decides to go see about his new job.  He is once more astonished that it's not quite the job he envisioned.  

Then enters Kitty and Henry into the picture and the trio Saul, Kitty and Henry in-between working at the Marquee are determined to find out why there was a body falling from the Marquee.

Kitty can be funny and serious at the same time.  I love how she says to Saul and Henry, "She waved them to be quiet.  Now was not the moment to stand on propriety.  A detective never allowed that kind of thing to impede investigation."

And you're going to love the ducks!

This is a fantabulous story and if you like cozy mysteries you're going to love it.

I received a free review copy of this book from [Publisher/NetGalley]. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own and I am disclosing this per FTC 16 CFR Part 255.

You can buy your copy at the following online stores:

Harlequin: https://harlequin.com/products/murders-in-the-marquee/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYXQT2R3/ B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murders-in-the-marquee-dana-mentink/1148658665 Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/murders-in-the-marquee-a-historical-cozy-mystery-with-a-trio-of-amateur-sleuths-dana-mentink/4fe7385d3af405f9?ean=9780369785251

WOW (Warm Oven Wednesday)

 

A summer charcuterie board:

Hummus with lots of veggies and cheeses with a variety of crackers .  

Then add fresh fruits!

The Chase (US Marshals Book #2) by Lisa Harris

 

Book Description:  US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse. For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse. From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option. 

My Thoughts:  Oh, my, STARS!  I waited and waited for this book to come out.  And it did not disappoint.

I did read book #1, The Escape and I'd recommend that the reader read book 1 to understand the dynamics.

All the right ingredients, a pinch of romance, a mixture of suspense and a wonderful story that brings the reader to a place of wanting the next chapter.

Lisa Harris is one of my most favorite authors, especially in the suspense arena.

How I loved US Marshal Madison James and, well, there's Jonas Quinn.  All man and ready to help nab the bad guys.

But it's the suspense, the action and good vs. evil that really make the book.

And the setting is the San Juan Islands.  Yeah, so nice and so dangerous.

It's quite an interesting story how a bank robbery goes haywire but it's not about the money.  That's the interesting part...who puts their life on the line to rob a bank but it's not about the money?!?!

What story!  What adventure! What suspense!  It's a wonderful read!

• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800737318
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800737313

Murders In the Marquee by Dana Metink....coming soon

 

Letters of Comfort {Book 2} by Wanda E Brunstetter

 

Book Description:  Doretta Schwartz used to be so happy and passed her positive attitude along to friends in several letters she wrote each month. But that all changed the day she learned of her fiance's death and a heavy weight of depression fell upon her. Feeling empty, she puts away her letter writing and won't even respond to calls from friends. William's twin brother, Warren, is also grieving his loss, while at the same time, trying to be supportive to his parents and Doretta. Doretta responds to Warren's friendship, but is he just becoming a replacement for the once-in-a-lifetime love she lost?

My Thoughts: I enjoy reading books penned by Wanda Brunstetter.  These books in the Friendship Letters are not only fun but interesting since letter writing seems to have become a lost art.  

The only "issue" Had with this story was the name of the main character, Doretta.  I kept wanting to call her Dorito. I kept asking myself could this be a real name?  Oh, my!

Once I got past the name I enjoyed reading about Doretta and her story.

Dorreta is a happy person and then one day her fiancé passes away. She feels her joy slip away as well as her letter writing.  What is there to write about?

Unbeknownst to Doretta William is also mourning his loss.  

William takes the first step and reaches out to Doretta in friendship since they are both grieving.  Grieving is difficult and takes a strong person to overcome his grief in order to comfort another.  This is William.

The letters are quite interesting and spur me to begin writing letters once again since they mean so much to others.

*This book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing*

Fun Friday!

 

Another new read!

 

New Read!

 Grab a cuppa and this book!  

Coming soon to Amazon and your favorite retailer:

Harlequin: https://harlequin.com/products/murders-in-the-marquee/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYXQT2R3/ B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murders-in-the-marquee-dana-mentink/1148658665 Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/m...

 

New Book

 

This is one story you don't want to miss!