Guidebook to Murder

Guidebook to Murder
By: Lynn Cahoon
160 Pages

Summary:

When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill--along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit--especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case--and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . . --Publisher Description

I love  a good cozy mystery and Guidebook to Murder was just that! I have found a new series to visit, full of new characters I call friends.

Jill Gardner has just inherited Miss Emily's house and money. Being South Cove's resident grump, Miss Emily wasn't loved by many. In fact, the city council has been after her property for years. The City Council wants to tear down her house to make way for a retail store, she isn't willing to give it up. The fight has turned nasty and involved threatening letters. Now a big city developer is involved, and playing hard ball. So when Jill finds Miss Emily in her bed, dead, foul play is her first thought. but is it the right one?

There may be more to Miss Emily's property than a run down house. The rumor is that it's built on the same property as an old mission once lied. Could a gold coin fortune also be there?

Jill struggles to get the house renovated before her deadline. However, numerous people complicate her mission. Miss Emily's only living relatives were a greedy nephew and his even greedier wife. Neither were pleased to learn they got nothing from her estate of any monetary value. The town Mayor is a shady character, as is the people he deals with.

Everything takes a dramatic turn when Jill's best friend, Amy, goes missing. A regular to surf trips. was her disappearance a planned trip, or did something else happen? Can Jill  get all the answers she needs, and still run her beloved book/coffee shop, Coffee, Books, and More, before her Aunt Jackie takes over completely?

This book was a great introduction to this new series. It got to the point of the story quickly. You had fun meeting the characters- both primary and secondary. The action was on balance with the story. The only downside I saw in this particular book was that it seemed, at times, like you were reading a book in an already established series.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next installment of this series. The first chapter is included at the end of Guidebook To Murder, but I'm trying hard not to read it now. I'd rather have the whole book to read at one time. I think cozy mystery lovers will embrace this series.

Blossom Street Brides

A Spring Break Recommendation!!

Blossom Street Brides

By: Debbie Macomber

336 Pages

Reviewed By: Betsey Brooks

Summary:
...wedding bells are ringing in the tight-knit community that gathers around A Good Yarn, a store in a pretty Seattle neighborhood. Knitters come to the store to buy yarn and patterns but somehow they leave richer in friendship and love.

Lauren Elliott has waited years for her long-term boyfriend, Todd, to propose, yet he seems more focused on his career than their relationship. When Lauren learns that her younger sister is pregnant before she herself even has an engagement ring, she feels overjoyed yet disheartened. Knowing she can’t put her future on hold, Lauren prepares to make a bold choice—one that leads her to a man she never dreamed she’d meet.

Newly married to her second husband, Max, Bethanne Scranton is blissfully in love. But with Max’s job in California and Bethanne’s in Seattle, their long-distance marriage is becoming difficult to maintain. To complicate matters, Bethanne’s cunning ex will do anything to win her back.

Lydia Goetz, too, is wonderfully happy with her husband, Brad, though lately she worries about the future of A Good Yarn. As she considers how to bring in business, she discovers that someone has beaten her to the punch. Baskets of yarn are mysteriously popping up all over town, with instructions to knit a scarf for charity and bring it into Lydia’s store. Never before has her shop received so much attention, but who hatched this brilliant plan? ---- Publisher's Summary

Debbie Macomber's new books "Blossom Street Brides" takes us to Blossom Street where old and new friends work, shop, visit and help each other with life's ups and downs. It is spring and love is in the air along with quite a few sparks and a tear or two. 

It all started with a beautiful baby blanket featured in the window of Lydia Huffman's yarn shop, "A Good Yarn".  Lauren Elliot has made two major decisions. First she will make the baby blanket as a gift for her younger, married, pregnant sister. Second is to end the three year relationship with the handsome television news man Todd Hampton.  

Bethanne Scranton wants to make the beautiful blanket for her very first grandchild and keep her ex-husband from breaking up her happy new marriage. 

As the women gather in the yarn shop they learn that someone has started a wonderful community project using the yarn from the Lydia's yarn shop, but she says she knows nothing about it. The story takes an interesting twist when two bikers drive into town, park in front of the yarn shop and hurry inside.

Oh the enjoyment you will have as you settle into a comfortable spot with "Blossom Street Brides". Whether you are new to Debbie Macomber's books or have enjoyed them for years this book will be pure delight. Enjoy!

Merry Humbug Christmas

Here at Miss Book Lovers, we are not above throwing in a Christmas book when it's Spring. We're silly that way. Plus, this was like no other Christmas book I've read, so I had to share it.

Merry Humbug Christmas

Sandra D. Bricker

297 Pages

Summary:

Best friends, Joss and Reese have a rather unusual Christmas tradition: join forces to do whatever is necessary to avoid everything having to do with Christmas. Each has their own reasons why the holiday season is one they wish to not enjoy. However, this several years long tradition has come to an end. One friend just got engaged. Their stories unfold within the 2 novellas: Once Upon A Jingle Bell & It Came Upon A Midnight Deer.

Sandra D. Bricker is great with characters. She has a knack for making them so life-like. You quickly forget you're reading about characters in a book. Instead, you feel like you're interacting with friends. It all makes for delightful reading. Joss and Reese were no exceptions. Joss was my favorite of the two, but both were fun getting to know.

Once Upon A Jingle Bell tells Joss's story. She finds out Reese has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, and so the joint cruise they had planed on taking to avoid Christmas this year is no longer happening. Not one to let something like that detour her plans, Joss goes on the cruise without her dear friend. However, she quickly learns on her arrival that the cruise she booked had been cancelled. She's now found herself put on the 12 Days of Christmas Fun Cruise, and she's one of the few not having fun. But God isn't done with her just yet. Not only does she meet a group of fellow cruisers, but she also meets Patrick. This handsome man with the Irish accent becomes her partner in dodging Christmas. But, is it just a cruise fling?

It Came Upon A Midnight Deer has Reese on her way to meet her new fiance's family. Damien didn't grow up with vegan parents who had tofurkey at the Christmas table. No, his family is quite different from Reese's. Will they all get along?

Sadly, I wasn't able to finish the second novella. My Kindle had technical problems, but I'm sure readers will have as much fun with Reese and they did with Joss. I look forward to seeing what happens with Reese.

I would definitely think of putting this on your holiday reading list for next year. (It's never too early to start making that, is it?) Sandra's books are fun to read.

An April Bride by Lenora Worth

What would you do if the man you were supposed to marry, came back from his deployment and couldn't remember you? That's what Stella was going now going through. 

Stella met Marshall when they were in kindergarten. They had gone all the way through school together and attended the same church. They'd been high school sweethearts who'd always planned to be married someday. While Marshall was deployed, Stella was in charge of the wedding preparations and wedding showers and everything involved in between. Marshall was to arrive home exactly a month before the wedding, but when he came home she quickly realized that he lost his memory. So what's a girl to do? They decide they would keep the wedding on as planned and would try and work it out. He goes back to his normal life and tries to remember the girl who is supposed to marry, and although he has some flashbacks which are a good thing, he also has some flashbacks/nightmares that scare him. Marshall is a good man and I liked him. He tries so hard to remember the past and the good times he had with Stella. He knew he was meant to be with her even though he can't remember how they fell in love. Even though I thought Stella was a little selfish at times and more concerned with herself, I ended up liking her in the end. I couldn't imagine being in his position! So it comes down to this - do Stella and Marshall go through with their wedding even though they both have some reservations about it?

I really enjoyed this book, it was both short and sweet. I have a soft soft for those serving our country and I can totally relate to this book since I'm sure this has happened to many couples. I look forward to reading more of the year of weddings!

Third Degree by Julie Cross

Summary:

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

When I first read the summary, I was thinking "hmm this seems like an interesting read!" Sure enough, I was right! The way Julie wrote this storyline was captivating and I couldn't put the book down. She truly placed you right in the middle of the story and I feel like I could visualize everything that happened.

Isabel Jenkins is a 19 year old prodigy. Being adopted at 5 years old, she was homeschooled the majority of her life. She has graduated medical school and is hoping to find residency at the local hospital that her heart surgeon of a father works at. It turns sour for her when she realizes she isn't accepted into any residency programs because she failed her emotional readiness test. The doctor insisted she experience some of the "normal" things 19 year olds do to help her with this until she can retest 6 months later. She decides to enroll in college where she meets her RA Marshall Collins (and boy did Julie do a fabulous job at his descriptions! I could visualize him perfectly, including every inch of his sculpted body!) Coincidentally he knows Isabel, Isabel's mother was his teacher at one point in his life! He decides to help her with her lack of social skills; in the meantime, she helps him in return with other issues he is dealing with. There is a shocking detail which emerges and it definitely leaves you feeling a wave of emotions!

I honestly couldn't put this book down! Although I had a hard time gripping the fact that a 19 year old was acting WAY above her age, I got over that fact as I was reading the book and I saw that she starting loosening up and acted a little more like her age. Maybe I was a little jealous too?! Who wouldn't want to start making $$$$$$ at only 19 years old? Cross's writing style was a pleasure to read! I had moments where I was cracking up with laughter: both at Izzy's awkward moments and at the other characters in the book. I look forward to the opportunity of reading another one of Julie Cross's books in the future!

Reclaiming Home by Milou Koenings

Ella Martin's always done what she should. But has she lost touch with what she wants?

When she gets the call that her father and stepmother have been injured in a freak accident, coming home to Green Pines to take care of them isn’t really what she’d planned. She’s spent her life getting away from small-town Green Pines. If ever there was a dying community in need of Ella’s expertise in neighborhood revitalization, though, this is it.

She’s willing to give a shot at saving Green Pines, but things get complicated when billionaire real-estate developer Covington Black moves in up the road. Sure, she’s got a crush on him – who wouldn’t? But he’s just taken out an injunction to keep her from picketing his construction sites, so when he starts romancing her, he must be up to something. Whatever game he’s playing, she knows he’s only going to break her heart.

Covington Black knows what he wants. He’s seeking solace in the only place he’s ever been truly happy – his grandfather’s farm in Green Pines. He’s got big plans for the place and he’s looking for a partner to share his dreams with. He wants to believe Ella’s the one, and yet it seems like falling for her is the one thing he shouldn’t have done.
Honestly I was very excited to read this book, reading the summary I knew I was hooked! However, the day before I started this book I lost someone very close to my family so when I first started on this book and first read that the main character's dad was in the hospital, I had a hard time getting into the book. But I was a trooper and kept on reading and I'm glad I did!
Ella reminds me so much of myself it's not funny. She is a determined girl who likes to do what's right! After coming home and learning that her town was slowly shrinking with less jobs and companies shutting down, she takes it upon herself to start rebuilding it and revitalizing her town again! Along the way she meets Tony Black who runs a real estate corporation of his own with many employees. She first meets Tony when her dad was involved in an accident in which Tony feels some responsibility for it. Tony decides to pay for her dad's bills and they meet while she was visiting her dad, and he was visiting his brother. Their relationship builds slowly, assumption and miscommunication occurs, and a plot twist thrown in by a member of Ella's family some disruption, but the ending was worth it!

Reclaiming Home was a very sweet read! I loved how Milou conveys the spirit of hope in the characters, I would definitely recommend this book!    

The Midnight Rose

The Midnight Rose
By: Lucinda Riley
496 Pages

Summary:
In the heyday of the British Raj, eleven-year-old Anahita, from a noble but impov­erished family, forms a lifelong friendship with the headstrong Princess Indira, the privileged daughter of Indian royalty. As the princess’s official companion, Anahita accompanies her friend to England just before the outbreak of WorldWar I. There, she meets young Donald Astbury—reluctant heir to the magnifi­cent, remote Astbury Estate—and his scheming mother. 

Ninety years later, Rebecca Bradley, a young American film star, has the world at her feet. But when her turbulent relationship with her equally famous boyfriend takes an unexpected turn, she’s relieved that her latest role, playing a 1920s debutante, will take her away from the glare of publicity to a distant cor­ner of the English countryside. Shortly after filming begins at the now-crumbling Astbury Hall, Ari Malik, Anahita’s great-grandson, arrives unexpectedly, on a quest for his family’s past. What he and Rebecca discover begins to unravel the dark secrets that haunt the Astbury dynasty . . .  Publisher Summary

**** We apologize if our review sounds vague. We tried to give you important

story information without giving the details away. ****

Lucinda Riley is an author that we at Miss Book Lovers get all excited to read. We know that we are going to read a remarkable story that will takes us on an unforgettable journey. Not one of her books has let us down. We have eagerly devoured each one, and anxiously await her next creation. The Midnight Rose does not disappoint in these regards. We couldn't put the book down. We're pretty sure we burned calories with all the jaw dropping the story has you do. This captivating story gives you a front row seat to the royal life in the Indian culture. Lucinda makes you feel like you are right there as the story unfolds. You are really immersed in the Hindu culture for a good portion of the book. 

The book centers around Anahita Chavan's life. As she celebrates 100 years, she senses her time is ending. However, she still doesn't have a solid answer to the question her children and grandchildren have spent their lives hearing about: did her first born son really die, or not? Anahita leaves solving this family mystery to her great grandchild, Ahri. On their last visit, she gives him her life story that she wrote for her long lost son she is sure never died. Like everyone else, Arie doesn't put much stock into it. However, years later, with his own life in a brokenhearted shreds, he begins to read the story. His mission is now to find out what really happened to Anahita's son. This journey takes him to England, and Astbury Hall.

Rebecca Bradley has also found herself on the sprawling grounds of Astbury Hall. She's one of the numerous actors there to shoot a film. Looking forward to the break from her own life struggles, the last thing Rebecca plans on doing is getting to know the estates's owner, and getting swept up in a mystery. She, Arie, and an odd Lord Anthony Astbury look to find out what really happened to Anahita, and her son.

Related to the Indian royal family, Anahita is taken in by the Maharaja of Cooch Behar family. She and their daughter, Indira, having already formed a kinship with one another, they treated Anni as their own. The two friends were sent to England for school and found safety on the Astbury Hall estate when war breaks out in 1911. While there, Anni helps Lady Astbury's daughter, Selina, give birth. She makes lifelong friends with the children, but Lady Astbury doesn't like her. When romance forms between Anahita and Donald, Lady Astbury's son, they know their future isn't going to be easily obtained. Sadly, they are right. Their time together is surrounded in secrecy and takes a devastating turn when a wife and son are added to the mix. An unfortunate death leaves an infant orphan, but changes the lives of everyone else, as well.

Everything comes to an exploding head when a dinner between Lord Astbury and Rebecca goes horribly wrong, leading to the most shocking plot twist within the book's pages. Secrets, old and new, come to light as all the pieces of Anahita's life are brought together. 

The Midnight Rose is another Lucinda Riley masterpiece. Once again, readers will be glued to the book. You will be anxious to see what happens when you turn the page. What you think will happen, and what does happen are all too often different. And, oh, the ending!!! Lucinda Riley has done it again!!