Category Archives: Mystery

Audio Book, Contemp. Romance, Mystery, Part of a Series, Review, Witches

#Review – One Tequila (The Althea Rose Series Book 1) by Tricia O’Malley

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From a NY Times & USA Today Bestselling author comes a laugh-out-loud magical mystery set in small-town Tequila Key.

Tequila Key is just like any other small town and I’m just like any other small town psychic. Scratch that. Tequila Key is a world onto itself and some people might think that I am one crayon short of the box.

And, if we’re being totally honest, Tequila Key is just like any other small town – if that town boasts a voodoo priestess and a few white witches for flavor. Turquoise blue water and the best margaritas this side of Mexico make it hard to leave.

I’m Althea Rose, co-owner of Luna Rose Potions & Tarot Shop, and I’ve just stumbled into a love triangle while trying to save my best friend from being accused of murder.

See? Just like any other small town.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Fun mix of humor and magic with just the right amount of mystery and suspense and the perfect pinch of a love twist.

I listened to One Tequila via Audible while I was sick. Needless to say, I needed a pick me up. When I read the synopsis, I knew it was right up my alley.

At first, it seemed to move a tad too slow for me. But in full disclosure, I don’t do well with audiobooks as I generally prefer to read over listen. However, I was always left with just enough that I kept wondering what was going to happen next. I had to keep listening. Althea had me hooked. She had herself in the middle of quite a mess. If something could happen to her, it was going to happen to her. And her friends, witchy and the norms, made the story all the better. The ending had a twist that I did not see coming and had me literally saying OMG. I laughed at places I probably shouldn’t have and found myself fully enjoying One Tequila!

I am looking forward to seeing what other shenanigans Althea Rose and her friends can get into!

 

Tricia O'Malley profile image

A NY Times, USA Today, and WSJ bestselling author, Tricia O’Malley’s infectious joy in writing romance with an added dash of magic has touched hearts around the world. With over three million books read, O’Malley’s stories have been translated into several languages and enjoy a devoted following. Tricia lives in the Caribbean with her handsome Scotsman. An avid scuba diver, Tricia spends much of her time underwater dreaming up new stories while photographing the beautiful sea life. She discovers her inspiration on the go – and you’ll find her books set in beautiful settings with characters who deserve a happily-ever-after. To see some of her underwater or island life photos visit her on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.triciaomalley.com

 



Mystery, Paranormal, Part of a Trilogy, short story, Vampire, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #ya A Snap of Fate (A Snap of Magic 3) by Danielle Keil

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Being a witch is no longer as fun as Cecilia Chevalier thought it would be.

So far, all it’s done is cause problems. Not only when her magic misfires, but between people she loves.

She just found out her best friend is really a villain. And the new kid is not only a vampire, but her protector. Witchy business is confusing.

Now, she’s on the run, having to leave her home, her friends, and her grandfather behind as she and Xavier venture out to safety…

… and to her mother.

Along their journey, they meet new people, find out more secrets, and suddenly, everything changes again.

Then there’s Xavier, who ends up being more than just her protector. And Cecilia isn’t all that mad about it.

She has decisions to make, magic to use, and more family secrets to discover.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219632296-a-snap-of-fate

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DHYHMMTY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_351_o01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Cecilia has found herself waking up in a unfamiliar place no idea how she got there then all of a sudden she remembered the events that happen her best friend and Xavier were fighting, the gate in the cemetery it was all coming back to her vampires are real, she’s a witch, and her best friend was a hunter and she had no idea any of this was possible let alone happening around her. Her whole life was full of secrets and the biggest of all her mother is alive. With trying to navigate her new life CC thinks or hopes she finally knows the truth to everything or at least, until she finds herself looking at a stranger who happens to look just like her. Life is crazy and when you just learned all of this it’s even crazier in just a blink of an eye or a snap of a finger in CC’s case, but she’s learning that she’s unstoppable in the best way possible or is it. this was such a cute and fun ending to this short series.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Cliffhanger, Mystery, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #shortstory #ya A Snap of Secrets ( A Snap of Magic 2) by Danielle Keil

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Cecilia Chevalier has been a witch for all of a week or two and her entire world has flipped upside down.

The bad news? Her best friend’s mother refuses to let them hang out anymore. Her grandfather tells her to stay away from him, too, which is even weirder.

The good news is she’s getting her magic under control. Sort of.

Then, there’s a new kid at school, Xavier, who is dark and mysterious and no one knows a thing about him. Except, he seems to know a lot about Cecilia.

Ezra tells Cecilia to stay away from Xavier.

Xavier tells her Ezra can’t be trusted.

Ezra has been her best friend for years. He knows all about her being a witch and has even dug up more crazy family history.

But Xavier tells her a secret that changes everything.

In the end, she knows there’s only one person she can trust—herself.

Maybe she’ll just let the boys fight this out themselves.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219632360-a-snap-of-secrets

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DHV3WS89/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_351_o01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

CC just had her life turned upside down and when she needed answers, her grandpa left for a few days and now there is a mysterious new student that seems to know more about her then she does. Xavier appears to be the person that holds the key to Cecilia’s past and her newfound witchiness. His touch helps the pain go away, now her best friend isn’t allowed to be around her and when he’s near her, her body feels like it’s on fire. this is something she never seen coming and now she’s having to figure it all out on top of trying to be a normal teenager. Will CC get the answers she’s been waiting for or will she still be in the dark. Also, you won’t see that ending coming till it smacks u in the face. I’m so invested in CC life now I feel like I’m right there next to her going through it as well.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Cliffhanger, Mystery, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Review, Shifters, Vampire, why choose, Witches, Wolves

#review #seriesstarter #whychoose Tender Thorns (The Ivy Institute 1) by Albany Walker

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Nestled in the shadows of the Mori Forest lies The Ivy Institute. It may look like something out of a fairytale, but if the rumors are true, it’s where nightmares reign.

The only way to get into the elite facility is by invitation and, once received, it’s impossible to refuse.

They were never supposed to know I existed, yet here I am, walking toward the only place that might be more dangerous to me than where I grew up.

Secrets shroud the institute and its inhabitants, but I have secrets too. Secrets that will get me killed… or worse.

I guess I’m about to find out.

Tender Thorns is a dark academia why choose romance novel intended for mature audiences.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206876665-tender-thorns

Amazon https://amzn.to/4czkx7f

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

Last week I received my invitation to The Ivy Institute to train with all the others like me or so I’m told, my father got greedy and used me as his cash cow. I was almost unstoppable so when I got my invitation I was dreading it. al the Ivy Institute we were the elite from witches, vampires, shifters, healers and almost any kind of supernatural being you could think of now I was one of them, at my new home where I hope I would learn about my powers and hopefully survive. in a new place where I’m granted privacy and respect, I’m not sure what to do with it but I’m hoping they too aren’t taking advantage of me. this was a great read it started out a little slower for me, but I had just finished a different genre, so it took me a while to get into it but once it picked up for me it was fantastic as usual.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.

Cops/Detectives, Mystery, Part of a Series, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriesstarter Mostaccioli Murder (Jade Summer Mystery 1) by Nicolette Pierce

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Murder with a side of mostaccioli.

Jade returns home to Chicago after being wrongfully fired from her dream job. When she had left a decade ago, she had made two promises to herself. One, never ever work for the family restaurant again. And, two, never ever see Logan, her cheating ex-boyfriend, again.

Unfortunately, when the restaurant delivery driver is found murdered, Jade assumes his position. The detective assigned to the case is none other than Logan.

As Jade comes to term with her new life at the restaurant, clues surrounding the murder develop. Jade receives odd delivery orders and threatening messages. Suspects appear in a thrilling mystery that Jade must solve or find herself as dead as the driver.

To save herself and the family business, she must play nice with the detective. But how can she play nice when she vowed to never speak to the jerk again? To solve the case, the pair must put their past aside.

Will Jade solve the murder before it’s too late? Can she move past her feelings for Logan? Get your copy of Mostaccioli Murder and find out.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55428437-mostaccioli-murder

Amazon https://amzn.to/3wZEa9m

Review by Twinsie Dee

I bought this book and her is my honest review

Jade came home for a vacation from her advertising job or at least that’s what her family thinks, is the reason shes home. actually her life is down teh drain, her fiance used their condo to ahve afterhours meetings with his assistant alone and no clothes, and she lost her job. but while shes home she needs to fake that everything is fine and she is so happy at work and she just needed to come home to help the family out at the restaurant while her dad is in the hospital, but honestly thats all she has going for her right now. one thing she didnt want to have going for her was finding the body of the delivery driver dead in the garbage area behind the restaurant. Now not only was she in the middle of her own crisis of life she found herself in the middle of a murder investigation, because she found the body. How will Jade over come this to get her life back together all with the unknown help of her family members, friends oh and 1 ex boyfriend who happens to be the lead dectitive on the case. oh this book was so good, Mr. Lee will have you laughing out loud, cant wait to read the rest of this series.

Best-selling author Nicolette Pierce started out as a daydreamer. Truly, she could never be a teacher’s pet due to the number of times she had to be scolded to pay attention. When she received an assignment to write a story, suddenly life made sense.

Nicolette daydreams in Wisconsin with her husband and son. In her free time, she adores finding treasures for her little free library, annoying her family, and finding unique places to vacation. Her husband still won’t forgive her for having to sleep surrounded by camel dung. She’s not sorry.

The three things that are consistant in her work: 1) A mystery. 2) A woman trying to get through life without injury. 3) A hot guy looking to be a hero. Level of heat depends on the hero. A couple of them are quite naughty. Level of hilarity is from ha-ha to ROFL.

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

#mystery #thriller #family #horror – Home is Where the Bodies are by Jeneva Rose

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From New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and You Shouldn’t Have Come Here comes a chilling family thriller about the (sometimes literal) skeletons in the closet.

After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before.

While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.

Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Angie

Home is Where the Bodies are by Jeneva Rose

I purchased this audio book.

I was scrolling on TikTok when I saw a post about this book.  The cover was amazing, but ya’ll did me dirty with this recommendation.  I read the blurb, and I was sold.  I mean it sounded like a book I would devour.  I knew there would be some thriller/mystery aspects and they aren’t usually my favorite, but I was all in because a friend keeps telling me I need to give mystery/thrillers another shot.  I was ready to love this book but that is not what happened.

When I started this book, I knew there would be world build and character building, so I settled in.  However, I felt there were so many spots where it was just 10 minutes of describing things…things I really didn’t care about or need to know.  I got bogged down with allllllllll the descriptions/details.  I honestly felt like 10 chapters could have been cut because it was almost a filler of sorts with all the descriptions.

The beginning story line was great.  I mean who killed Emma and where did Brian go plus why???  I was really wanting to get to the bottom of this especially after what mom spills in the first chapter. Again, I feel like it took forever to get to the bottom of the plot/story.  I feel like there was so much stuff and nothing really happened until chapter 40 of 48.  Then the story flew by and was over

I do think marketing the book as horror is completely not true. Seeing horror is what made me jump but there wasn’t anything really that was horror except a little girl is missing and presumed dead.  But that isn’t really “horror.”

I did like the book at the end when everything started to shake out but it took me 2 weeks to read this book because I kept putting it down and would read something else.  Would I reread?  No.  Might I try another book by this author as it was my first?  Maybe.

eneva Rose is the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage, One of Us is Dead, The Girl I Was, You Shouldn’t Have Come Here & Home is Where the Bodies Are. Her work has been translated into more than two dozen languages and optioned for film/tv. Originally from Wisconsin, she currently lives in Chicago with her husband, Drew, and her English bulldog, Winston.
Want to be a part of Jeneva Rose’s exclusive reader group on Facebook? You can join here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/jenev…

Cops/Detectives, Mystery, Review, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – Tempered Beats (Getaway Chronicles) by Michel Prince

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Blowing Hot Sand Studio has created a respite for those suffering from PTSD. The glass blowing studio in Denver evolved to host a tightknit community of veterans looking for an adrenaline rush and a bit of danger in an otherwise safe environment.

Quieting the demons plaguing them for long enough they can return to enjoying life, not just surviving it. When Specialist Paul Castor is found dead a group that had already lost too much now is trying their best to not fall back into darkness.

Detective Lisa Donald has enough problems relating to others, now she has to walk the line with well-trained soldiers on hair triggers to get to the truth. Her pragmatic style has many questioning her sanity.

Can she discover who turned molten glass into a deadly weapon? Or will she be too disoriented by reflective colors to see the danger beyond the shimmering glow?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I honestly don’t even know where to start with this review, SOOOOO you should probably just stop reading my review and scroll on up to one-click the buy now button. However, if you are still here, I will do my best to explain how much wow is in this story. The short version and very high level about the book is that glass blowing is being used by some amazing veterans for therapeutic purposes and one of them is murdered. The journey that Lisa goes on to learn about these veterans and the rush they are after in an attempt to quiet their demons is one that I won’t forget for a long time. Let’s face it, we all have our demons and things from our past that we want to stay there, some are definitely more traumatic than others, and some of our bodies and brains react differently to these traumas. While the story never goes into great detail about what these veterans have experienced, while reading about their triggers and how they handle life really touches you deeply. I felt so many incredible emotions throughout the story as Lisa was working to solve the homicide.

“Demons and nightmares plague these guys even when they are awake. Making these items in a high-risk way takes them from the memories because you don’t have the space to let your mind wander.”

“A perp’s a perp, and here, the want to break them down to give me the answe3r to the ultimate question wouldn’t be satisfied with the number forty-two.”

This was an absolute page turner! With every word, line, page, and chapter, I needed more. Even when I thought I knew exactly what happened, I didn’t. And when I did figure it out, I couldn’t figure out the motive. The author did an amazing job of making me feel like I was right in the middle of the story beside Lisa working on the case. I had all sorts of FEELS going on throughout. I highly recommend it!

Ok, now that you are at the end of my review, go on back up and one-click Tempered Beats!!! You won’t regret it!

Michel Prince profile image

USA Today Bestselling author, Michel Prince, graduated with a bachelor degree in History and Political Science. Michel writes young adult, new adult and adult paranormal romance as well as contemporary romance.

“Ms Prince writing is like summer breeze caressing your body, slow and sultry.”-Amazon review of First and Ten.

“Michel Prince is a wonderful author with a real talent for writing.”-Amazon Review of Triple B Baking Co.

“Prince explores in her novels is interracial romance and friendships. Prince pokes fun at stereotypes, but never allows stereotypes to guide her plot. The focus is on creating two strong, independent characters who can stand on their own, but complement each other as a couple.”- Amazon Review of Silly Girl

“One Last Sunset is a well written story by the awesome Michel Prince that left me wanting to learn more about the rest of the Long family.”- Amazon Review for One Last Sunset.

“I could not put it down, and will definitely be looking for more from this Author.”-Amazon Review of Silly Girl.

With characters yelling “It’s my turn damn it!!!” She tries to explain to them that alas, she can only type a hundred and twenty words a minute and they will have wait their turn. She knows eventually they find their way out of her head and to her fingertips and she looks forward to sharing them with you.

When Michel can suppress the voices in her head she can be found at her son’s games in a variety of sports. She would like to thank her family for always being in her corner and especially her husband for supporting her every dream and never letting her give up.

Michel has been awarded Elite Status with Rebel Ink Press in 2013, the service award for her local RWA chapter Midwest Fiction Writers 2013, 2014, won 2015 Sweetest Romance from IREA for Chrysalis, a 2022 finalist for the Minnesota Book Awards for The Amalgam and was a PAN member of RWA. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, and new puppy.

Kidnapping, Mystery, Review, short story, Suspense

#review #shortstory #short #mystery Red X (Run on Red short) by Noelle W. Ihli

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A short story from RUN ON RED by Noelle W. Ihli.

Learn what happened to Ava Robles.

Fair warning: This short story contains spoilers for RUN ON RED.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123892935-red-x

Amazon https://amzn.to/3T0qnaR   (buy run on red and get this short story at the end)

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

if you read Run on Red you will know that the girls found the body of the missing girl Ava Robles, they solved the crime but now we get to find out how and why she got in the crawlspace the way she did. Ava was a new recruit to a sorority on campus and at a crazy college bonfire when she takes a breather before leaving one of her new sisters car she was met by a sister’s brother, they start talking and he takes her back to his truck they are drinking and making out, he’s got to be safe right I mean she knows his sister, but Ava couldn’t be more off on her gut feeling.

Noelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).

She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she’s not plotting her next thriller, she’s scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).

Dark, Kidnapping, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Review, Standalone, Thriller

#review #thriller #standalone Run on Red by Noelle W. Ihli

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A rural country road. No cell signal for miles. A terrifying game of cat-and-mouse.

By the time Laura and Olivia notice the headlights tailing them through the hills, it’s too late. What seems, at first, like a case of road rage quickly unfolds into a heart-pounding chase—and a battle for survival.

Who are the men in the truck? What do they want? And can Laura and Olivia outrun—and outsmart—them long enough to call for help, even if it means taking their chances in the hills on foot?

As their situation grows more perilous, the girls realize that the real terror has only just begun. But flight won’t save them from their pursuers. If they’re going to make it home alive, they’ll have to fight.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61381555-run-on-red

Amazon  https://amzn.to/3HDUQVA

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Olivia and Laura were on their way to a bonfire out in the middle of nowhere going on backroads, twist, turns and hills. Olivia was getting car sick in the old beat-up Volvo that Laura’s sister let them take for the night. Olivia noticed a truck following super close to them and was able to grab the plate number and text it to her bestie you know to be safe in her true crime mind you can’t be careful enough in a time like this, well this wasn’t because they were in the middle of nowhere she did it all the time so they didn’t think too much of it but she wanted them to have a lead just in case something bad were to happen to her. next thing the truck passes them and sits in wait blocking them from their path and now the girls were in their very own Dateline episode that they didn’t want to be in, with 2 mask men coming towards their car what happens next you will never see coming. What do these guys want to hurt them, or possibly kill them, what did they do. So many twists, turns, and gut retching pain that will have you on the edge of your seat till the last page.

Noelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).

She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she’s not plotting her next thriller, she’s scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).

Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Thriller

#Review – Georgia’s Forsaken (The Romy Files Book 2) by Shelly Small

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Six months. Romy couldn’t believe it. She has been in Savannah for six months. Work has kept her busy and trying to build a relationship with her father. Time just slipped away from her. Everything is going well with no problems….
That is until Romy goes out with her new team for a welcome party, which lands her in the ER and being pulled into another nightmare.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Romy has an unfortunate accident but luckily her new team is right by her side. Romy’s only family is her father, Chase, who has recently been released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Romy is alone and hasn’t even found a place to live in Savannah yet. However, that has to wait. She hurts herself and has to rely on her team for assistance all while navigating new visions to uncover a nightmarish crime. I do like how the author doesn’t just give Romy all the information within the visions to allow Romy to just  show up and bust the bad guy. The visions only give snippets and there is investigative work that has to be done to solve these. One small thing that bothers me a bit, and it could be some ignorance on my part, but Romy is referred to as being an empath and that is why she gets these visions. I feel like empath is being used incorrectly here and perhaps she is more of a medium (or something similar), but it is not a deal breaker as the stories have been great. I look forward to continuing Romy’s stories.

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Growing up in a military family, Shelly Small mostly lived on the west coast. She was also in the military herself. Although she has only lived in 7 different states, Shelly has traveled across the country and has been to most of the 50 states. Most of that traveling is due to marrying a military man. He is now retired and they live in Wisconsin. Shelly also has two children.

Most of her life has been reading books and about 5 years ago started doing what her husband dubs “her hobby” began her own editing company. From doing that, she has met some fabulous authors and has since wanted to bring to others – Words and Worlds Unmasked.