Good Reads: With a Vengeance

With a Vengeance by Annette Dashofy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With a Vengeance is the fourth book in the Zoe Chambers Mysteries series. It is a well written and professionally edited full length novel.

Someone in the county is staging emergency scenes, luring in first responders, then shooting them. Police, fire and EMS responders seem to be fair game and everyone, including Zoe and Pete, are operating under incredible stress until the killer can be found.

I enjoyed the exciting and fast paced plot, but I felt as though they just sort of bumbled onto capturing the bad guy. I would rather have seen better investigative technique.

Zoe and Pete's romance is moving very slowly. I mean, like a snail's pace. She's rather stay with co-workers families than sleep in Pete's guest bedroom??!!

Overall, this was a good read with a few weaknesses. It ends with a HFN.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Marked Masters

Marked Masters by Ritter Ames
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Marked Masters is the second book in the Bodies of Art mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited full length novel.

Laurel and Jack have stumbled on to something extremely unusual; a forger is copying the work of other forgers. Plus Laurel is slowly uncovering some baffling information about her long dead mother. Jack is secretive, as he always is, and Laurel is finding it hard to trust him.

I am having such fun reading this series. The author is a polished writer and her style is intelligent. These books are fast paced and filled with intrigue on top of intrigue.

Marked Masters ends with a HFN and I look forward to reading more books in this series.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Scheduled To Die

Scheduled to Die by Alan Cupp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scheduled To Die is the second book in the Carter Mays mystery series. It is an extremely well written and professionally edited full length novel.

The beginning of this book just sucked me in and the plot wouldn't let me go. The transition from a perfectly normal, even fun, situation to horrifying was shocking (in a good way).

Characterization was so well done; the bad guy was frightening, the victims vulnerable, but ultimately strong and the Hero calm and determined. I would like to know more about Carter Mays though; his appearance and background are only lightly touched on.

Scheduled To Die can be read as a standalone, but reading the series in order will bring better understanding of the H. If you like mystery/suspense you will love the Carter Mays series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Bridges Burned

Bridges Burned by Annette Dashofy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bridges Burned is the third book in the Zoe Chambers mystery/romance series. It is a well written, professionally edited, full length novel.

Zoe finds herself embroiled in a series of murders and mysterious fires while working as an EMT. Her relationship with the chief of police, Pete, was moving forward until they disagree about likely suspects in the murder cases.

The plot is fast paced and the mystery interesting, but I thought that Pete's handling of the investigation and dealing with Zoe was unprofessional. It did add needed conflict to the plot.

Secondary characters were well developed and added diversity to the story.

Overall, I enjoyed Bridges Burned and I recommend it to mystery lovers. It ends with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Swan Dive

Swan Dive by Kendel Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Swan Dive is the third book in the Elliott Lisbon mystery series. It is a well written and professionally edited full length novel. While it could be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the series in order to have a full understanding of the characters and their motivations.

In her capacity as the director of the Ballantyne Foundation Elliott is attending a ballet, the Nutcracker Suite, when the lead ballerina is found dead in her dressing room. Elliot is tasked with assisting the police with their murder investigation and is soon embroiled in the world of dance, cooking competitions and botanical poisons.

The plot of Swan Dive is complex, circuitous and fast paced. Once I began reading I didn't want to put the book down. I was put off a bit by Elliott keeping so much evidence and information from the police. It bordered on obstruction.

The ending is a HFN and I look forward to reading future books in this series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: MacDeath

MacDeath by Cindy Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MacDeath is the first book in the Ivy Meadows mystery series. It is well written and professionally edited.

The heroine, Ivy (Olive), is a professional actress in a local, small performance of Macbeth. She pays her bills by holding down "real" jobs. When the leading man is found dead on opening night she is convinced that he was murdered. With the help of her private detective uncle, she sets off to solve the crime.

Sometimes the first book in a series can be hard reading because the necessary introduction of characters can bog the plot down. But Cindy Brown handled the challenge very nicely. The characters were fully developed and the plot moved along briskly.

I recommend MacDeath and I look forward to reading more books in this series.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Read: Devil in the Deadline

Devil in the Deadline by LynDee Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Devil in the Deadline is the fourth book in the A Headlines in High Heels Mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited novel.

The heroine, Nicey, is a reporter investigating a murder connected to the mob and a televangelist. It has been so nice to read a series where the main character grows and matures as time goes by. Nicey and her two love interests are constantly evolving.

This is a complex plot, but was presented in a clear and easy to follow way. It held my interest throughout and I always look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Devil in the Deadlines could be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series in order. It ends with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: The Red Queen's Run

The Red Queen's Run by Bourne Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Red Queen's Run is one of the most intelligently written and emotionally gripping mystery novels that I have read this year. It starts with a chilling reference to a real murder that took place in academia and then smoothly moves us into the fictional heroine's fears regarding her own co-workers.

When the heroine, Red, receives a phone call telling her of the murder of her boss, the Dean of Journalism, at the university where she works, she is horrified. She is named as his temporary replacement, soon finds herself trying to identify his murderer and in a relationship with the investigating detective. The plot is fast paced and gripping.

I highly recommend The Red Queen's Run to any mystery lover. It ends with a satisfying HFN. I look forward to reading more from this author.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Shadow of Doubt

Shadow of Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadow of Doubt is the first book in the A Carol Child Mystery series. It is a well written and professionally edited mystery novel.

Carol Child is a middle aged, divorced, single mother, radio news reporter with an FBI agent boyfriend. She is on the edge of being fired by her much younger boss, so when her next door neighbor becomes a murder suspect, Carol jumps in to solve the murder and get an exclusive news report for her radio station.

The first novel in a series can be a bit boring while the author establishes the characters, their backgrounds and the plot for the reader. I found this to be true of Shadow of Doubt, but once the background was established the plot became fast paced and interesting.

While a HFN was established at the ending the crime had not been completely solved which led to a very dangly cliffhanger. I look forward to reading future books in this series.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Death By Blue Water

Death by Blue Water. A Hayden Kent Mystery by Kait Carson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Death By Blue Water is the first novel in the Hayden Kent Mystery series. It is a well written and professionally edited mystery novel.

Hayden, a paralegal and frequent diver, wakes up one morning after nursing a migraine, soaking wet, in her bathing suit, at a marina and not remembering anything from the night before. Soon she finds herself the main suspect in a murder. Since law enforcement doesn't believe her story she sets off to investigate the murder and clear herself.

The plot was original and interesting and the character development was good, but what I liked best about Death By Blue Water was the author's ability to make each scene come alive. I could easily visualize the diving scenes, almost feeling as though I was there.

The only problem I had was that Hayden came off as being a bit unstable and, sometimes, not that bright. It was hard for me to view her as a competent amateur detective.

I recommend Death By Blue Water, especially if you like heroines that are amateur investigators. The book ends with a HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Finding Sky

Finding Sky by Susan O'Brien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Finding Sky is the first book in the Nicki Valentine Mystery series. It is a decently written and professionally edited novel.

Nicki is a widow, stay at home mother of two young children, has a degree in forensic psychology and is attending school to become a private investigator. Her dearest friend has been chosen to adopt a child by the unborn child's birth mother, but the teenaged pregnant girl has disappeared. Nicki agrees to find the girl, which puts her in the sights of a violent gang. While this plot definitely needs the reader to suspend their disbelief; it is original and fast paced.

Unfortunately, I found it difficult to connect with Nicki. Her thoughts seemed to bounce from subject to subject as though they were on speed. It was confusing and irritating. Top it off with her food snobbery and her obsession with sunscreen, which she shared with the reader repeatedly, and I was tired of her. I would have enjoyed reading more about her past and more thorough character development to help me identify with her.

I think that Finding Sky is a fast, easy and light read that most readers would enjoy. There is a small amount of romance entertained with the mystery. It ends with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Embellished To Death

Embellished to Death by Christina Freeburn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Embellished To Death is the third book in the Faith Hunter Scrap This mystery series. It is a well written and decently edited novel.

Faith volunteers to represent her grandmothers' scrap booking store as a vendor at a scrap booking conference. She is accompanied by her boyfriend and soon they witness a murder and become embroiled in a homicide investigation. This is a complicated and fast paced plot that kept me interested throughout the entire book.

Even though I had read the first two books in the story I found myself confused when faced with so many characters in the first chapters of this book. A bit more recapping of the characters and their history would have made Embellished to Death more of a standalone novel. As it is you would have to have read the entire series to fully understand the nuances in this book.

I enjoyed reading Embellished to Death and look forward to the next book in this series.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Lost Legacy

Lost Legacy by Annette Dashofy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lost Legacy is the second book in the Zoe Chambers mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited novel.

Zoe Chambers father died 27 years ago, the victim of a drunk driver. A more recent suspicious death and a visit from her cold mother and step father cause Zoe to begin looking into the real cause of her father's death. She is helped by her friend (and maybe love interest) the police chief.

I love the characters, even the evil characters, like Zoe's mom, are interesting. They have depth and are well developed.

The mystery kept me guessing up until the end. I used to work in law enforcement and it is obvious that the author did her research.

I highly recommend this series. The books end with a satisfying HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

Goodreads: Paw and Order

Paw and Order by Spencer Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Paw and Order is the seventh book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series. It is extremely well written and professionally edited.

Chet and Bernie leave Louisiana, headed toward Washington DC to reconnect with Bernie's love interest, Suzie, a reporter. Once in Washington they become embroiled in a murder mystery involving local police, federal agents and Russian sleeper agents.

As usual, Chet is a wonderful narrator of his and Bernie's detective work. I love how his dog eye view is described. Bernie is lovable and competent in his slightly bumbling, but endearing way.

The only problem I had with this book is with Suzie and Bernie's romance. Suzie comes off as judgmental and as operating under a double standard.

Paw and Order can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the whole series to fully enjoy the novels. This series is a joy and I strongly recommend it.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

Good Reads: Deadly Assets

Deadly Assets by Wendy Tyson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Deadly Assets is the second book in the Allison Campbell Mystery series. It is a very well written and professionally edited mystery novel with a touch of romance.

Once again Allison Campbell, image consultant, becomes involved in solving a mystery in order to save her assistant from prosecution and her business' reputation. Two of her clients have gone missing at the same time. As she becomes involved in seeking the truth about their disappearances she finds herself involved in murders, family drama and the Russian mafia.

Wendy Tyson's mysteries have a definite Gothic feel about them. These books are not light hearted reading, but tackle some of the darkness that can surround families, business and the justice system. This mystery had me guessing up until the end.

My one complaint is that the romances between the heroine and her ex husband, and the one between her mother in law and her assistant, don't ring true to me. There is a definite coldness in the writing about these relationships.

Deadly Assets can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend that you read the series in order to fully understand this book's nuances.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.