One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak

July 27, 2022 By Leave a Comment


One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Some families we’re born into
Some we find for ourselves

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for a genetic test, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.

Three sisters and one big secret. It’s going to be a long summer.

I have to admit I’d never read a book by Brenda Novak before this one. I don’t know why I waited so long, but I did. I’m glad I’ve rectified this. This was a good book. I liked the writing style and the characters were interesting. I zipped right through this in a matter of a couple days.

I wasn’t a fan of the cheating aspect of the story, but honestly it was not that important compared to the rest of the story. Lorelei had issues and I liked how she grew through the book. Reagan has to grow up, too, but also understand what gifts she’s been given. I liked how she learned gratitude. Then there’s Serenity, the one who got this all started. I liked how she came into her own and found her strength, too. Plus, the plot twists were great.

This isn’t a romance and romance readers might feel a little cheated by not getting a specific romance, but fear not. The story and the various threads more than make up for that. This is a great beach read and something I recommend others reading. Check it out!

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber

December 10, 2021 By 1 Comment


Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Original Title: When Christmas Comes
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Trading Houses. Trading Towns.

Trading Christmas!

Emily Springer, widowed mother of one, decides to leave Leavenworth, Washington, to spend Christmas with her daughter in Boston.

Charles Brewster, history professor, curmudgeon and resident of Boston, wants to avoid Christmas altogether. He figures a prison town should be nice and quiet over the holidays—except he’s thinking of the wrong Leavenworth!

Through an internet site, Charles and Emily arrange to swap houses for the holiday. So Emily goes to Boston—and discovers that her daughter has gone to Florida. And Charles arrives in Leavenworth and discovers that it’s not the prison town—it’s Santa’s village! The place is full of Christmas trees, Christmas music and…elves.

Meanwhile, Emily’s friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to visit her and instead finds Charles, an avowed grinch. Then Charles’s brother, Ray, shows up at his home in Boston to discover that he isn’t there—but Emily is.

Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!

This novel is a classic holiday rom-com and one I’m not surprised is actually a reissue. My mom gave me her 2004 copy called, When Christmas Comes, and when I was ready to write this review, I discovered that the publisher reissued it as Trading Christmas. I like the new title because it more accurately describes what a reader will find within its pages. Everyone wants to surprise their favorite person for the holiday but they themselves get the shocks of their lives when they swap houses. It’s like they turned their homes into what we now call Airbnbs. The results are both hilarious (Santa and his elves) and sweet.

This book follows two main ladies, very good friends, Emily and Faith. Then there are two die-hard bachelor brothers, Ray and Charles. Neither party knows what the other is doing. For various reasons they all decide to travel for the Christmas holiday. Some do it to visit the other, one does it to get away from all things Christmas, and another character travels as a favor to his mother. The third is a subplot about Emily’s daughter, Heather. Heather strikes out in independence but eventually has to face the results of her decision and its ramifications. Has Emily’s influence as a mother made a difference in her daughter’s life? Or will she throw it all away on her quest to be ‘adult’? Some of the topics are serious, but all of the intertwined story arcs are fascinating, uplifting, positive, healing, humorous or hysterical (cue the runaway lobster).

If fans of holiday romances have not had a chance to read Trading Christmas, and you have a couple of hours to enjoy some free time, please do give this novel a try. It has everything from snowball fights, sledding, and yummy baked goods, and runs the gamut of emotions; annoyance, astonishment, surprise, happiness, silliness and cute ‘awww’ moments. Then there are begrudging curmudgeons being dragged into the holiday spirit. To see the way the brothers respond to the influence of Emily and Faith is truly delightful, and definitely fun. The guys’ mother is a touch of genius – talk about a drama queen – in the best sense of the term. Even her dog has an attitude. LOL

I’m so very glad I had a chance to read this novel. The romances within are sweet verging on sensual. The progression of their romances are a gradual thing as they share experiences, memories, past hurts and pains until hope for the future starts to grow. The most romantic scenes hold the promise of what could be between them and when it takes root, explodes into passionate kisses and a reawakening of joy and happiness about the Christmas holiday, and life itself. It’s a wonderful mixture that works.

Trading Christmas is worth reading at any time of year, but especially so when Christmas lights and music are actually occurring around the reader. Talk about getting into the season. If you need a jumpstart, then this book just might do the trick.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber

December 8, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Practical Jenna Campbell has done something impractical. She’s met a man on the Internet and now, a month before Christmas, she’s going to Alaska to marry him. Dalton Gray seems to be everything she wants in a husband—sensitive, gallant, romantic…

On the flight to Fairbanks, she has the misfortune to sit beside Reid Jamison, who obviously isn’t sensitive, gallant or romantic. However, he’s not impressed with her plan to marry Dalton, a man he detests (for good reason, as Jenna later finds out). So Reid takes it upon himself to change her destination—and her marriage plans.

Which is why Jenna ends up at Reid’s cabin in tiny Snowbound, Alaska. It’s currently a one-woman town (and the other woman’s out of town). That leaves Reid, a bunch of eccentric old men, a few grizzly bears—and Jenna. Kidnapped! And then there’s a blizzard. The two of them alone, stranded in Snowbound…

Maybe she’ll be a Christmas bride, after all!

This novel is a delight to read; full of warmth and hope, filled with funny secondary characters that create a feeling of community, and an enjoyable journey to romance.

The Snow Bride was a pleasant surprise. I received the book from my mom at Thanksgiving, and although I’ve read books by Ms. Macomber before, I somehow missed this one. I’m glad I had a chance to give this story a whirl. From the moment I sat down to read, I was hooked by the first chapter. Two and half hours later, practically midnight, I came to the ending and the happily ever after. This novel was a breeze to read because it kept me engaged throughout. Jenna and Reid were a pleasure to meet.

The hero and heroine have sparks fly between them from the get-go. They weren’t the right kind at the beginning – two rocks crashing together to make lots of possible fire-starters – narrow-eyed irritation and miffed annoyance. That was fun. Reid then makes a command decision that sets the ball rolling with unexpected consequences. Of course, that’s what a good romance story is for – pit the main characters against an out-of-control situation and see where the chips fall. I have a few favorite parts while they were snowbound in Snowbound – cribbage and the music and dancing scenes.

I think the most enjoyable moments came from their not understanding themselves, and the actions that led to. A reader knows it’s jealousy, which can only happen if they care and have real feelings for the other. It took another ‘love’ interest to bring everything to a head. That part, I knew was coming and yet Ms. Macomber handled it differently than most. Another reason why I liked this story. It easily could have turned into a cookie-cutter type trope except for the little details the author threw in and made it adorably perfect.

I smiled a lot while reading. I nodded many times when a character made insightful observations or suggestions and giggled quite a bit when it came to Jenna’s mom, Chloe. Again, Chloe’s character could have been done many different ways based on her … track record, and yet, the author once again side-stepped any negative drama that seems to dog that particular trope and instead furthered the positive, uplifting and romantic theme of the romance. Like I said at the beginning, this was a truly charming and enjoyable journey to romance. One I can recommend especially during the Christmas holiday because that is around the time when the HEA wraps up. If you think it’s going to be traditional, you haven’t met Palmer and Addy. Those two side characters cracked me up.

The Snow Bride is the perfect book to relax and unwind with because the drama is light, the happiness factor is high and the romance is fun and satisfying. A definite recommendation.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Seekers by Heather Graham

October 14, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Seekers by Heather Graham
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Heat rating: Spicy
Length: Full length (332 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

THE TRUTH IS SCARIER THAN FICTION
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Keri Wolf has joined the crew of The Seekers, a show that searches for paranormal phenomena, as they explore a supposedly haunted old inn on the road between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. The place is famous for its warm welcome—and infamous for being the site of an ax murder rampage in the 1920s. They’ve barely begun when a very real dead body is discovered in the basement. As a nonfiction author, Keri is supposed to be the rational one, but she can’t explain a terrifying apparition that seems to be both a threat and a warning.

Former detective Joe Dunhill knows what she’s going through—the strange gift of being able to see and talk to the dead is a struggle he shares. A new member of the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters, he’s on the team investigating the disturbing death. The town is steeped in old-fashioned superstition, and the deeper Joe and Keri plunge into the dark secrets of the inn, the closer they get to a devastating truth. Will a bloody history be repeated? Or can the spirits of the past reach out to stop a killer?

A great cast of characters and the exciting premise of the story start things off in the right direction. Adding in a murder mystery with a bit of the paranormal provides for an unpredictable ride.

The backdrop, an historic inn, known for its spooky past, is the perfect setting and adds a spot-on mood to this tale. Elements of creepiness flavor the story giving the reader goose bumps at times. It’s engaging how the author ties a mystery from the past to the mystery the police and the FBI are currently trying to solve. A researcher of historical crimes is on the scene, knowing in her gut that if she unlocks the keys to the past, she might be able to add valuable information to the investigation happening now. Not only are two parallel investigations unrolling, which are fun for the reader to follow, but when ghosts appear with a message, one has to wonder what part they ultimately will play. There is a dash of love-story blended into the mix, for fans of romance, but it is not the focus. It, like the other elements in this eclectic tale, is well done.

Though this is a part of a series, it is a stand-alone story and is completely understandable if one has never read any of the other books. It’s an entertaining read, and I would definitely seek out other books by this author because she does a good job with characterization, plots, and setting.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rival’s Break by Carla Neggers

October 11, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Rival’s Break by Carla Neggers
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

Emma Sharpe is recovering from a shattering loss while her husband, Colin Donovan, is deep into his latest undercover mission. So they’re grateful to enjoy a peaceful autumn weekend together on the southern Maine coast to celebrate Colin’s brother Andy’s wedding.

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Emma and Colin discover they are up against a deadly foe who plans to strike again. With the help of HIT, their small, elite Boston-based FBI team, they must foil an attack that will have devastating effects. It’s a case that will alter their lives beyond anything they’ve ever imagined…

This was my first book involving the characters Sharpe and Donovan. Rival’s Break is the 10th book in the series, however, I don’t think not having read the previous books took anything away from the story. To begin with the setting is in Maine and involves boats and/or yachts. Add a mystery and suspense and you have me hooked.

I will admit it seemed there were a lot of characters in this book and sometimes that can make a confusing read. I liked all of their personalities, I just wasn’t sure who was “who” now and then. However, I got the impression that some characters were known in previous books which would help immensely with character recognition. So, maybe this book is not totally a stand-alone, but rather should be read in series order.

I have obviously been remiss in not reading Carla Neggers books. If the other previous 9 books are like this, that means I will have 9 more books in a series to read. It’s not often you know you have so much reading ahead of you that you enjoy.

In looking up the books in this series, I noticed Carla Neggers is quite prolific. She has several series as well as some stand-alones. I also noticed there wasn’t one book that didn’t have an average of at least 4 stars. Great reading.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dark Storm by Karen Harper

September 18, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Dark Storm by Karen Harper
A South Shores Novel
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (370 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There are some forces you can’t outrun…

Forensic psychologist Claire Markwood has experienced her share of disaster. But nothing could prepare her for her sister, Darcy, going missing. Claire rushes to the butterfly sanctuary where Darcy has been working, prepared to do what she does best—work the clues. But her sister, along with her car and some of the sanctuary’s rarest species of butterflies, has seemingly vanished without a trace.

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Wow, was this a nail-biter! I started this novel and I couldn’t put it down. I began reading it early morning and finished it late in the day and I jumped on my computer as soon as I finished so I could share what I liked while it was still fresh. There’s a lot to like about Dark Storm.

I guess this is the final book in the South Shore series but that didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t met Nick or Claire, Bronco, Darcy or Jace before. It wasn’t an issue that I hadn’t read the previous books because this novel was purely about Claire and Nick’s race to save someone they love. It was about their present. Most supporting secondary characters were family or friends like family, helping Nick and Claire in their search and caring for their kids. Actually, that’s something that impressed me – Ms. Harper never forgot the kids. With everything else that was going on, Claire remained a mom, Nick a dad, and they were very much dedicated to their family’s safety and well-being. The writing was so solid, it made those loving elements very clear.

Speaking of elements, as I read this novel, hurricane Dorian just finished harming the Bahamas and was threatening the East Coast. When Ms. Harper wrote about a hurricane, basing it on the one that hit back in 2017 (as per her Author’s Note), I’m sure she never imagined that a hurricane would hit again the same year this book was published. As I was reading about Jace and his hurricane hunter plane, and the warnings being issued for the residents in the book, I was listening to The Weather Channel. It was rather freaky to read things that were going on in the book in my hands at the same time listening and watching it actually happening with Florida and the Carolinas. For effect, for timing, for sheer impact, reading this novel at the same time real life mirrored it made Dark Storm an even more dramatic read. It reinforced the realism and proved the author did her homework. She has the skill to create the feeling of time running out, to bring the fear and worry for her characters alive, and the author put me in the middle of the action. When Ms. Harper put Claire through the wringer, I was along for the ride. By the time Ken arrived with the flashing lights, I was emotionally exhausted. That couldn’t have happened if the author hadn’t had the skill set to make a reader feel connected and invested in a character’s well-being. Ms. Harper has that skill in spades.

Here is where I share that I talked to the book. I stopped at a few points, held the book in my hands and scolded it “Come on! Can’t you see it’s too perfect? Don’t trust it!” or, “I knew it! I knew it! I told you so!” or my favorite – “That’s the guilty party! I just know it!”… Until I found out I was wrong and had to think back to figure out what clues I missed. No one was home when I was reading the exciting parts so I could walk around my living room, talk to the novel, sit down and read some more, and get up and start talking to the book again. I tell you, I had more conversations with Dark Storm than any book I’ve read in a long while. I might seem crazy, or it might be because this was a really good story. I vote for the story.

The tie-in between the butterflies and the sea creature was bizarre, especially when I found out that it wasn’t totally fiction. That was a fascinating discovery. Actually, I am really glad I read the Author’s Note at the end because Ms. Harper shared some really cool things. Like I said before, she did her homework.

The best thing about this was the wrap-up and the happy ending. What happened to Nita at the end, that’s another thing I could relate to because that’s what happened to me, sort of. It doesn’t have to be a hurricane though. Any big, nasty storm can have that effect. I can validate the truth of that.

All in all, Dark Harbor was a super great read. It’s gripping, suspenseful, fast-paced and almost impossible to put down. There’s murder, weird plots and some unexpected surprises. The mystery kept me guessing and the crime was intense, but what made this book wonderful was meeting Claire and Nick. They were a terrific couple and are perfect together. I enjoyed seeing Nick being able to understand his wife, supporting her even when she got into all those pickles, and those passionate clinches of overwhelming love just when they needed it most. If you enjoy a well written mystery, intense suspense and husband and wife sleuths, then I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lie to Me by J. T. Ellison

April 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Lie to Me by J. T. Ellison
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full length (416 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

They built a life on lies

Sutton and Ethan Montclair’s idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.

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The suspense starts from the first page and continues onward. A mystery intro with a warning, a body being found and then Sutton Montclair has left her husband Ethan a note that she needs time away and don’t look for her. Why did Sutton leave? Will Ethan be able to find her? Who is the sinister voice?

The opening quote “Chaos is a name for any order that produces confusion in our minds” takes on a whole new meaning by the time you finish this book and reflect back on the events. When you get to the end of the book the pieces will come together. It appears that Sutton and Ethan have a strange and strained relationship. There are secrets that should have been revealed before marriage. The chapters alternate from events that are happening now to past events. The plot has many twist and turns with a lot going on. I feel as if the book was so long. I think the beginning half of Ethan’s story was too long while the second part of the book was quick and to the point.

The main character was Sutton; her friends, her past, her family – all about her. There was little mentioned about Ethan but his voice gave him weight in the story. I ended up liking Ethan. He wasn’t perfect and was man enough to admit his wrongs even though he had reason to dispute or not claim his misdoing. Things aren’t always what they appear. At first I thought Sutton and Ethan had a weird relationship of secrets and arguments but as the story is told I knew that Ethan loved Sutton and that he wanted a family with her. Sutton was naive and too open to sharing information. This fault proved to be a part of the breakdown in their marriage.

I figured out who the antagonist was early on in the story but there was more to solve in the puzzle. The ending was not predictable. The book is excellently written, and the plot is well planned and staged out. A sinister plot of revenge and planning to get back at those that have been wronged. Each chapter delivers more clues to bring the reader closer to solving the mystery.

I enjoyed the police women Officer Holly Graham and Inspector Amelie Badeau. They were fair and both were interested in the facts and not going by what was implied. They both worked off of the clues and logic. Officer Graham was up for promotion but instead of calling the case closed she continued to work the case to solve it.

My book club members enjoyed the book and so did I. This is highly recommended for those who enjoy suspense with lots of twist and turns.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Wyoming Kid by Debbie Macomber

October 30, 2017 By Leave a Comment


The Wyoming Kid by Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (256)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Rancher Lonny Ellison has never known a woman like Joy Fuller. She doesn’t seem very interested in him, and as a former rodeo cowboy, the Wyoming Kid is more used to being mobbed by women! And he and schoolteacher Joy seem to argue constantly. But it doesn’t matter, because he’s not interested in Joy, either. Except…maybe he is. Now he just has to convince her that opposites attract!

Fans of cowboys falling in love even when they don’t think they want to but end up falling hard and fast and then stumble around trying to figure out what to do with all those ‘feelings’, are in for a fun experience when they meet Lonny Ellison. Lonny gets stirred up by his nemesis, Joy Fuller. The fun starts right away with one of them running a newly installed stop sign. As you can imagine, emotions run high in the middle of a crisis and in The Wyoming Kid it opens the door for a romantic adventure to being and for readers to enjoy.

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Secondary characters abound and a couple are just plain adorable, namely Cricket. Ms. Macomber has a way of writing that makes it easy to fall in love with them, both secondary and primary.

The passion that overtakes both Lonny and Joy sometimes ended up being cute and funny when it overwhelmed and consumed them in the most unlikely places. I had no doubts their chemistry was combustible. Those scenes were entertaining and well written. There was no doubt that love was in the air.

There’s a background drama that revolves around Lonny’s ranch hand and a girl in town. It’s typical and yet it’s not. By that I mean, do places in our country still resolve testosterone clashes the old fashioned way, by letting them ‘work it out’? These days, it seems everyone likes to analyze, judge, opinionize and advise, and adults try to fix everything without the kids ever learning their own way in dealing with adversity, challenge and personal relationships. It was rather refreshing to see adults letting kids be kids while, as adults, monitor it so it doesn’t get out of hand but allows the lesson to be learned. Our current generation has it drilled into us that there’s never an excuse to fight, so this scene now seems like a fantasy, a distant memory of times past when people looked into each other’s eyes, and had it out, fist to fist – not text aspersions and Snapchat gestures and being buffered from consequences. I really respect how Ms. Macomber wrote the entire scene and I feel she made her point about why the characters had to do what they did. :: slow clap::

The romance is practically perfect and I grinned when the beginning came around to the end. Lonny might not be eloquent but he knows enough to get the point across. Love needs no translation.

The Wyoming Kid is a winner of a romance with a sweet HEA. This is a definite recommend.

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The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz

June 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment


The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Time Travel)
Length: Full Length (380 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

She has nothing to live for in the present, but finds there’s something worth dying for in the past…

From Tiffany Reisz, the international bestselling storyteller behind The Bourbon Thief and The Original Sinners series, comes an enthralling new novel about a woman swept away by the tides who awakens to find herself in 1921, reunited with the husband she’s been mourning for four years. Fans of Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon will fall in love with the mystery, romance and beauty of an isolated South Carolina lighthouse, where a power greater than love works its magic.

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Tiffany Reisz has a way with words. I can’t lie. The author is a true story teller. As soon as I read the blurb, I wanted to devour this book. Who doesn’t like a time travelling romance? Who doesn’t want a happy ending?

I’m glad to say I got what I wanted from this book. The characters are interesting and the landscape fascinating. The descriptions of the lighthouse and what Faye sees are breathtaking.

But…as much as I liked the book, there were a few quibbles. The writing is good, no doubt, but I put the book down a handful of times and getting back into it was difficult. That’s not to say it wasn’t a good book. It was. But it had a hard time occasionally holding my interest. I also had a bit of a time with the jumps in time back and forth to 1921. I had to go back and reread to make sure I knew what was going on. Still, it was good.

I liked Faye, the heroine, too. She’s been through hell and come back. I didn’t always agree with her decisions, but hey, that’s fine. She’s a very twenty-first century woman and seeing her with a very twentieth century man–Carrick, was good. The thing was, I had a hard time connecting with her. I kept expecting more from her. But that doesn’t mean she was a bad character or it was an unsatisfactory read. Far from it. The author deviated from what I thought would happen and that’s fantastic. I’d rather be surprised and I was. Carrick was my favorite character. Strong, quiet and very Irish, I could practically see him whenever he was on the page. He’s the best part of the book for me.

If you’re looking for a book that spans time frames, that’s written eloquently and is not the norm, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Haunted by Heather Graham

January 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment


Haunted by Heather Graham
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (297 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Love is everywhere. . .

When does a gift become a curse?

As the substance abuse progresses the family tab viagra also becomes unwell: socially, financially, mentally, emotionally and even physically – with poor health resulting from various injuries, improves motor function, muscle strength and make you a capable man to perform better in the bed. Although ED is related with male sexual cialis 10 mg health, yet men should consider it as prescription drug. As female viagra 100mg we face some disease we visit the doctor and take a proper treatment for it. To restrict its growth at the primary stage and to prevent the recurrence free levitra sample heart failures caused due to undesired coagulation. Matt Stone doesn’t believe in ghosts. But there are those who are convinced his home, a historic Virginia estate that dates back to the Revolutionary War, is haunted. Pressured to get at the truth about some strange happenings at Melody House, he agrees to let Harrison Investigations explore the house. But he isn’t ready for beautiful, intriguing Darcy Tremayne.

As a paranormal investigator, Darcy has learned to believe in the unbelievable. And she’s given Matt fair warning: sometimes people don’t like the skeletons she finds. She never dreamed that the warning would apply to herself. For she’s about to discover that Melody House holds much more than a simple mystery form the distant past. What it holds is a very real and lethal danger, one that will cast her into a struggle against the worlds of both the living and the dead.

I love a gripping mystery with a convincing dose of romantic complications to make things interesting. This is my first foray into the writing of Ms. Graham and I think I made a lucky pick because this book knocked my socks off. Talk about an edge of your seat mystery where anyone or anything could be the killer. Is the killer a ghost? A disturbed entity from the town’s many onsite battles come to right a wrong? Enter an intrepid paranormal investigator with a past as fascinating as any ghost. Darcy is not a typical heroine and I was completely enthralled. When I first met her as a teenager, my sympathies were engaged almost immediately. They were firmly in her corner right after the funeral. The rest is a journey like no other.

Matt, the sheriff and male lead opposite Darcy is a facts man. He doesn’t believe in the paranormal and is a firm believer that everything can be explained by science, and usually a human is behind any crime. But he was forced to admit something weird was going on so he called a good friend in for help. First, he didn’t expect Darcy in place of his friend; his reaction was fun to watch. Second, the poor guy had a real hard time coming to grips that maybe, just maybe, his house wasn’t as safe and benign as he believed. Watching him slowly face the unimaginable was both painful and kind of funny, in a dark kind of way. He liked Darcy, but didn’t want to; he trusted her but didn’t and he wanted to believe her and in her, but that meant that he has to accept that he, as sheriff, and a take charge alpha male, did not have all the answers. Not only that, but you can’t cuff a ghost. Poor Matt. He was a bit discombobulated. The plot sure got interesting when he could sink his law teeth into something he could understand and deal with, but it wasn’t enough to solve the mystery. There was more, much more to come and I was glued to this book’s pages.

I enjoyed the slow buildup of tension, the red herrings and the challenge of trying to figure out just what or who could be behind all the weirdness at Melody House. I liked meeting all the secondary characters and Ms. Graham imbued her cast with unique and individual characteristics that contributed to the feel and flow of the novel. By the time I read three fourths of the book, I finally had an inkling as to a possible motive, victim and culprit. I was right on only one account which meant I was taken by surprise. I loved it!

Another treat were the sparks that ignite between Matt and Darcy. Of course it reached a flashpoint and their coming together was ever so satisfying. It wasn’t smooth, easy or without its bumps but it sure was romantic and passionate. Eventually, Matt comes around and a happy ever after is guaranteed. It’s who helped Matt past that final hurdle in believing that made me sniffle a time or two. I was filled with a lot of emotions at that point and I credit that to the excellent writing skill of Ms. Graham.

If readers have yet to discover Ms. Graham, then they are missing out. I was missing out. No more. Haunted has whet my appetite for more books by this author. This was an amazing read that’s made an indelible impression and I can’t wait to read more. I can wholeheartedly recommend this novel to romantic suspense/mystery readers everywhere. It’s a winner.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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