A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan

Being Midas' daughter wasn't a bad thing until he turned her to gold...

Blink and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published August 14th.

She may be a princess but everyone is afraid of her.  She spends most of her time hiding in her room being lonely.  Her uncle keeps trying to find her a husband but that's not going well.  Then she meets one who doesn't fear her.  She  should wonder why...

She goes on a quest to get her father's gold back (he will die without it) and thinks she might have found someone to spend her life with only to find everyone had lied to her.

The princess has to grow up fast or she may die.  Everyone wants the powers they think she has.  She does not but they don't care.

This is an interesting look at an old fairytale with a new twist.  I'm hoping the princess does find a happy ever after.  She deserves it.

A Necessary Murder Book Two in the Heloise Chancey Mysteries by M.J. Tija

It starts with a little girl murdered in the outhouse.  Then men begin dying of a slit throat.  What's going on?

Pantera Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can buy a copy now.

As more men die, Heloise's mother gets more upset.  She's afraid her nephew might be the killer.  Heloise has several suspects but then they end up dead.

The cause for the retribution lays in the past and it takes some digging to get to the truth.  Heloise almost ends up dead herself.

This was a good mystery even if the deaths were grotesque.  You can try to bury the past but it doesn't always stay that way...

Stranger in Town by Cheryl Bradshaw

A missing child sends a tingle up everyone's spine.  Especially when they were just next to Mom and now they are missing.

Kobo Writing Life and Net Galley gave me the opportunity to read this story for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

There is a common reason these two girls were grabbed but it's not apparent.  With a PI and a local sheriff snooping around, they find clues and they move closer to a solution.  Will they be in time?  

This read keeps you glued to every page hoping for a happy ending even when you know better.  You might be surprised...

Murder of a Lover by Faith Martin

Working on cold cases isn't as exciting as working on live ones but it is rewarding to solve them.  Hillary is good at what she does and she views a ten year old closed case as just another case to find a missing piece...

Joffe Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can get a copy now.

He was a young college student who was obsessed with sex.  He slept with everyone, boys or girls, didn't matter to him.   So who stuck a pair of scissors in his gut?

As Hillary asks questions and tries to set the scene in her mind, she has a stalker after her.  He's secondary to her but he probably shouldn't be.  

She solves this case but will she solve the next one?

Good Luck With That by Kristen Higgins

They became fast friends at a fat camp when they made plans to be thin and do things fat girls can't.  But one of them does not have that much time...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published August 7th.

When one of the three dies, she gives them copies of those long ago goals and asks them to complete them.  She makes them promise.

While this is a good look at what you can do to yourself with old tapes of the past, it's also a look at what you can do if you make up your mind to just try.  Try to set aside the past, create yourself a new future.  What is, is.  It's hard but it can be done.

They find themselves facing ghosts from the past, dealing with secrets they didn't know, and finding hope for a future they couldn't see before.  Never give up.  This is a story of hope and love.

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

Her brother has always been a bully and mean but she's been able to avoid him.  Now the King is is ill and he's appointed him sheriff.  With him ruling the lands, everything will go to chaos soon...

Clarion Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published August 7th.

She runs with her friend from childhood and a pregnant girl from the village.  The forest is more friendly than the castle.  She tries to leave the past behind but it won't leave her alone.  Soon it becomes a battle between her and her brother.  He has more warriors and money, her people are devoted to her.

It's a hard, tough battle with no one winning outright until the end.  Her life has totally changed.  Here's hope for a bright future!

Keepers: Project Earth Book Two by Brenda Cooper

Lou is an environmentalist who wants to save wolves and other wildlife.  Her sister is a city girl.  They are working together to keep the peace and make the remaining world and people get along.  Not everyone shares the same goals.

Pyr Science Fiction and Fantasy  sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thnk you).  It will be published July 10th.

Lou wants to save everybody but she can't.  Her sister wants to save those she loves but nobody can escape death.

This is an interesting look at a dystopian future.  Who's right, who's wrong?  As each holds their ground, things still stand.  To go forward, things must change.  

Each group has its points but there's going to have to be some compromise.  Think it will happen?

Unloaded 2

There might not be any guns, but there is plenty of death...

Down and Out Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 16th.

Here's a list of authors:

Chris Holm, Laura McHugh, James Ziskin, Steve Cavanaugh, Terry Shames, Dave White, Bill Crider, Alex Segura, Dana King, James R. Tuck, Kris Calvin, Andrew Case, Jay Stringer, Jon McGoran, Lori Rader-Day, Michael Kardos, Josh Stallings, John Rector, Lili White, Nick Kolakowski, Scott Loring Sanders, E.A. Amar, Sara Paretsky, and Eric Beetner.

These are mean stories of power and greed grinding out the weak.  Spouses and lovers die with no remorse.  Those who fail their jobs don't get another chance.  This is a dog eat dog world.

There is no happy ever after here.  Some of the victims were pathetic, some deserved what they got.

I was glad to reach the end and gather my breath.  This not a fun read, you're warned.

A Hint of Hydra by Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski

All she wants to be is a master chef in her own restaurant.  So how did she end up in the middle of a scientists and elf fight?

Aladdin and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 10th.

She kills all sorts of poisonous alien animals to cook with various sauces and side dishes for unique flavors for her customers.  She's an apprentice, but she's learning.

When the scientists come up with robots who don't quite behave well, things start getting weird.  The elves take over part of the human population.  Those who don't give up and do what they are told disappear or end up dead.  What's going on?

The more she learns, the worse it gets.  And, all of a sudden, the scientists want her.  It's not her fault and it's not good... 

Caught in Time by Julie McElwain

They came to investigate damage at the local mill; they found murder...

Pegasus Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).   It will be published July 3rd.

The mill owner tries to blame the Luddites, but Sophie and the duke don't agree.  The mill owner has his own secrets, there is more going on at the mill than should be and no one wants to answer any questions.  As they keep chipping at the edges, the truth starts to emerge.  But it's dangerous.

It's a good thing Sofie and the duke protect each other, they have no friends here.

This is a good look the history of Luddites and the beginning of factories.  More money for the owners doesn't help displaced workers...

Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray

She can't believe it when she tells him of her pregnancy and he walks away.  Then he tells her parents she's lying.  Now she's staying with relatives she doesn't know and getting ready to raise a baby on her own...

Avon Inspire and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 24th.

Sadie has done what she was told since childhood.  She has no sense of independence.  But she's going to have to grow some backbone.  This home has problems, too.

I always think of the Amish as strict and god-fearing, but I didn't associate wrong-doing with them.  Unfortunately, greed has gotten to them, too.

Luckily, Sadie has a young man interested in her and he's willing to come to her defense.

Just when things look the most helpless, they turn around.  Hang on to hope and move on.

The Wild Dead by Carrie Vaughn

Set in the future after wars and economic and social failures, this is a tale of what's left of humanity and how they deal with their problems.  There are still some left with integrity.

John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 17th.

It started with an argument over restoring an historic home.  It ended with murder.  Teeg wants to walk away and leave it because it's out of their jurisdiction.  Enid wants to know why it happened.  The answer is buried and no one wants to dig it up.  She doesn't give up.

She ends up searching alone and almost dies.  After days of questioning she gets her answer but it's not pleasant.  Of course, neither is murder.

This is a warped look at how society protects itself and how your own self can unravel under pressure.  It was an interesting read.

 

The Rhino in Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser

This is a fun read with lots of laughs.  Nick is twelve and wants to live his own life.  He wants to be batboy for a day, but competition is on a Saturday and he has to work...

Margaret K. McElderry Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 10th.

They do their ball practice in the zoo and if they hit the ball too hard, it ends up in the rhino enclosure.  Uh oh...

I played next to a cattle pasture with a nasty bull in it.  He made it his job to guard that ball.  I was the only one brave enough to retrieve it.  Nick and I had something in common.

Nick, in desperation, lies to his father for the first time.  How's he going to live with that?

The rhino is a kick, he likes to pick on Nick.  The team has a plan to get even with Pete.  And they have acquired a new female player.  I wonder where things will go from here...