Summer Reading Recommendation: Mission To Murder

Mission to Murder

Lynn Calhoun

238 Pages

Summary:

Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More, has discovered that the old stone wall on her property might be a centuries-old mission worthy of being declared a landmark. But Craig Thomas, the obnoxious owner of South Cove's most popular tourist spot, The Castle, makes it his business to contest her claim. When Thomas is found murdered at The Castle shortly after a heated argument with Jill, even her detective boyfriend has to ask her for an alibi. Jill decides she must find the real murderer to clear her name. But when the killer comes for her, she'll need to jump from historic preservation to self-preservation.-- publisher

Summer has arrived! And while I am late with my own summer reading recommendations, I present you with a great one to start off! Mission to Murder will have you glued to your beach chair as you read on to see how everything unfolds. 

Mission to Murder is book 2 in Lynn Calhoun's Tourist Trap Mystery Series. I loved the first one, and was excited to rejoin my beloved characters to pick up where Guidebook to Murder left off. In this installment, Jill Gardner not only battles to prove her newly discovered wall is a historical relic, but also has to battle against one guy who is willing to play dirty so he doesn't have to share money. As you read, you will see just how far greed can drive a person. And in the case of Craig Thomas, is drove him far. However, after 2 unfortunate (but well deserved) shouting matches between Jill and Craig, he is found dead. Now Jill has to prove she shouldn't be suspect #1 on top of proving the authenticity of her wall.

It was fun to see the sparks still  flying between Jill and her boyfriend, detective Greg King. I love their relationship and the dynamic between them. Readers will get to see best friend, Amy, embark on two relationships. One will a character you can't wait to be rid of. The other, you can't wait to read more about. 

I hope you enjoy reading Mission to Murder as much as I do. I am anxiously awaiting the next book's release. If The Shoe Kills releases on Nov. 10, 2014) 

Diva

Diva

By: Jillian Larkin

306 Pages

The 3rd book in Jillian Larkin's wonderful Flappers series doesn't disappoint. Nor does it lack in drama. The action moves from Chicago to New York as the group tries to put the past behind them and forge new lives for themselves. However, they all learn that leaving the past in the past is far easier said than done.

Jerome is in New York working as a piano player at the coolies club in New York, The Chaise Lounge. Well he was until protesters cause such a fuss. In one night, Jerome becomes unemployed and abandoned on a country road when Gloria's Father dumps him there.

Gloria sits in prison awaiting her trial. However, the FBI have a deal for her: find out where Forrest Hamilton is getting his money from and get her freedom. She befriends the man, who quickly knows what's she's up to. But this job is anything than what she expected. She becomes friends with Forrest and does learn where he gets the money from- in a shocking twist of events.

Clara is still in New York and is still brokenhearted from her break-up with Marcus. Still writing her now famous column, Gloria is rapidly growing tired of the constant partying. Especially when it fails to distract her Marcus's new engagement. Can she let her ex marry a con artist, or can she save him the heartache? Can these two lovebirds find their way back to each other, or is the damage beyond repair?

Lorraine is still the outcast of the group. But, when she discovers that Marcus's fiance is a fraud she enlists Clara's help to expose her. The two forge an unlikely friendship with a mission at hand.

Book #3 was a page turner I didn't want to put down. Jillian Larkin does a superb job of taking you back in time to the world of Speakeasies, Flappers, & the roaring 20s. You grow more attached to your familiar characters while meeting new ones you won't soon forget. The ending is nothing short of dramatic and delicious. 

Summer Recommendation- The Book Of Lost Fragrances

This book is one that will have you forgetting you're on the beach, lake, or by the pool. In fact, this book will have you forgetting where you are. The Book of Lost Fragrances takes you on such an incredible journey as you follow the fate of an ancient piece of pottery with the remarkable ability to make you remember your past lives. Numerous people want it, for various reasons, and they are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. Who has it? Who gets it in the end?

You go throughout history on this mission. You meet Cleopatra, the Dali Lama, and many other people who's life has been affected by the fragrance in the pottery. When you start reading this book you open the gates to a world that knows no bounds. You will embark on a journey that will leave you breathless and entranced. Enjoy!

The Wedding Dress (Summer Reading Recommendations)

The Wedding Dress

By: Rachel Hauck

Recommended by: Betsey Brooks

I found it, the perfect book to take on vacation a trip or just to curl up with; it's a fascinating read. The story introduces you to the women whose lives are forever changed by a very unusual wedding dress. In fact the dress seems to be a gift meant for only these women. How the dress comes to each bride is a mystery.

The story starts with Charlotte Malone is the owner of an up and coming bridal shop. She has become engaged to Tim Rose after knowing him only a few months. Their wedding is coming up and she needs to find a wedding dress. the couple seem to be very busy and just don't get around to getting things done for their wedding. The engagement crumbles, but a strong bond continues between the two.  Life takes on a whole new purpose when Charlotte buys a mysterious old trunk with a lock that is welded shut. Charlotte begins the most wonderful adventure as she searches for the answers to the mystery surrounding the beautiful wedding dress  she finds in the trunk.

From the 1912 segregated city of Birmingham to the present day the stories of these amazing women will captivate you.  Emily, engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Birmingham, Taffy and ex slave seamstress with a gift from the Lord, Hillary married and widowed within months, Mary Grace a shop clerk  and Charlotte with an unknown father and no living family, are all linked together by the shimmering wedding dress. These women are smart, strong, courageous and not predictable. The twists and turns in their lives weaves a beautiful uplifting story.

This is a book I will buy and encourage others to purchase.  I think it is the kind of story one can read over and over, each time discovering something new. Thank you Ms. Hauck for such a refreshing inspirational story. I look forward to reading more of your books.

Summer Reading Recommendation

My newest Summer Reading Selection is.........
Summary:
Atlanta judge Rachel Cutler loves her job and her kids, and remains civil with her ex-husband, Paul. But everything changes when her father dies under mysterious circumstances. leaving behind clues to a secret about something called the Amber Room. Desperate for the truth Rachel takes off for Germany with Paul close behind. Before long, they're in over their heads. Locked into a treacherous game with professional killers, Rachel and Paul find themselves on a collision course with the forces of greed, power, and history itself.

The Amber Room was the first book by Steve Berry I read, but it wasn't the last. The book's title caught my eye because of research I had been doing on Russian Tsars at the time and the Amber Room was part of it. When I read the summary on the back of the book I was convinced I was holding a gem. I wasn't wrong... at all. I couldn't wait to read it and once I opened the book I never looked back. I was instantly hooked! I recommended the book to my Dad and he's been hooked on Steve Berry's books ever since.

For those of you who may not know, the Amber Room was a real room whose walls were made entirely made of gold panels. Catherine the Great was the first Russian Tsar to own it, and Nicholas II was the last. The room was dismantled and later disappeared. To this day no one knows where the panels are.

Steve Berry does historical suspense books SO well!! His research is amazing. Usually you can tell fact from the writer's imagination, but not so with this author! The settings he used and the way he describes everything in The Amber Room (all of his books, really) had me convinced he was there rather than pulling from his imagination. He blended history and intrigue and mystery effortlessly. During the action and suspense scenes I was on the edge of my seat. Several times I had to fight the urge not to skip ahead so I could find out what happened. (I didn't always win that fight.)

The characters were all believable and interesting. The bad guys, especially, were bad. More than once I was glad they were only characters and no one I would ever encounter. I enjoyed every setback they encountered. The good guys were not perfect, but likable. You knew the Rachel and Paul were flying by the seat of their pants, but I cheered with every step forward they made and got frustrated with every setback.

I can't tell you how how well done I felt the book's climax was written. It was amazing! You didn't get lost in unnecessary details or explanations. It was brilliantly done and well worth the wait!

If you enjoy reading adventures, suspense, and mystery give The Amber Room a try. It would make a great beach or poolside read. I loved living vicariously through the storyline and you may as well. Enjoy!!!

Summer Reading Recommendation

Welcome To My 1st Summer Reading Recommendation!!

Here I'll profile books I think would be great to

read during the summer! I hope you enjoy!!

No Angel

By: Penny Vincenzi

Celia is used to getting her way and she moves through life making difficult and often dangerous decisions. At 18, she falls in love with Oliver Lytton, scion of a prominent publishing family, and orchestrates a plan to marry him. In a few whirlwind years, Celia gives birth to 3 children, rises through the editorial ranks in the family business and takes in Barty, the daughter of an impoverished friend. Those who lives are also changed: Oliver's sister, LM, and an author, Sebastian Brooke, for whom Celia makes the most dangerous decision of all. -- edited version of No Angel jacket description

This is the first book in Penny Vincenzi's phenomenal Spoils of Time trilogy about the Lytton family. I have yet to read a description of the book that did it justice. I cannot rave about this book enough!! The plot is fast moving, engrossing, and well laid out. When I read it a few years ago, I remember thinking that something was happening on every page. The size of the book (over 600 pages) was a bit daunting for me, but once I started reading I quickly forgot about the amount of pages. The story was riveting from the first page to the last. Celia was a character I couldn't get enough of and didn't want to. I could not wait to see what was going to happen next! Having an up close look at the publishing world (it was practically it's own character) was just an added bonus.

It's rare for me to come across a book that I can't forget about once I finish and move on to another one. No Angel (and the series) was the exception. I vow to re-read this book again someday. It was beautifully written. I have read a few other books by Penny Vincenzi outside of the trilogy, but they weren't nearly as good. If you like family sagas, strong female characters, fast moving stories, and the publishing world you will enjoy this book! I LOVED this book and will read it again! I hope you enjoy it!!