Thoughts On . . . Foul Play at the Fair by Shelley Freydont

Foul Play at the Fair 
by Shelley Freydont

Series: Celebration Bay 
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9780425251553
Release Date: September 2012 
Genre: cozy mystery 
304 Pages

format available: ebook, mass market paperback 

Author's website | Facebook 

Grade: B

Book Blurb
New York City event planner Liv Montgomery is burned out, sick of the bridezillas, the mad men, the desperate housewives, the anything but sweet sixteens. So the job of event organizer in the small, rural town of Celebration Bay, sounds like a little piece of heaven.

With the success of the Harvest on the Bay Festival, life is sweet, all apple crisp and homemade jams, cider donuts and pumpkin pies. But things hit a sour note when an itinerant entertainer is found dead, pinioned by an antique apple press.

Motives pile up higher than a bushel of apples and Liv must navigate her way through a maze of secrets, lies and Yankee taciturnity to find the killer before the Harvest on the Bay Festival heads for Foul Play at the Fair.


My Thoughts

New-to-me author but I love cozy mysteries and I needed a fall themed book. Plus, how do you resist a town with seasonal celebrations? [reminds me of another series that I love *cough* Fool's Gold *cough* ;-)]. Later I'll need a Halloween one. This series is perfect.

I feel for Liv. New in town, doesn't know the history of anyone, and she's been told that the previous event planner can hold a grudge for a long time. If her first festival is a success, things should go easier for the next festival.

Too bad there is a murder at one of the places they've advertised!

back to reading . . .

"We're in big trouble here, buddy," she said, absently pulling his ears with her free hand. "Big trouble. And I don't have a plan."

"Arf."

"I know. I always have a plan. Plan A, plan B, even sometimes a plan C. Best-laid plans, contingency plans . . . ."

Well, I guess that's what makes a great event planner but it isn't a great deal she's hoping to catch. She's hoping to catch a murderer!

I'm loving the quirky characters in town. I like the loyalty but am also having trouble with it. It's got to be rough to prove you can help when the locals close ranks on you.

back to reading . . .

I don't really have much interest in event planning and purchased this cozy because it was a Fall setting. That being said, I've loved the little tidbits of a event planner's life that show up. Liv is at a huge potluck and is told she needed to take a little of everything so no one felt slighted. She then mentions that she doesn't know how to eat a full plate standing up, just cocktail food. Later, she's going for a run and weather is mentioned. AccuWeather is her home page because the "appearance of complimentary umbrellas or the sudden raising of waterproof tents had saved more than a few events in the nick of time". This is so true but those of us at the event may not even think about all the things the planner has to think about and juggle just-in-case-options.

I'm still wondering what Janine, the previous event planner, will get up to to discredit Liv.

back to reading . . . 


The next holiday is Halloween but book two is Christmas. I've got a couple of reading challenges that need a Halloween themed book. The question is, do I read the theme I need or next next book in the series? ;-)

FYI: Book 1.5 is Cold Turkey and it is a Thanksgiving foot race theme (with a dead body) so I've still got a Fall title!



Disclaimer: This was a private purchase but the review is not written any differently than if I had received a complimentary review copy. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of the author and amazon.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2015

Finished Reading . . . #77: Breaking the Devil (NSFW)

Breaking the Devil
Bailey Bradford

978-1-78184-315-4
Total-e-Bound
2013
127 pages
ebook
Age range: 18+
 
male/male romance
source: private library

Grade: B


Mack has a fight ahead of him if he wants to break the red-haired devil who’s haunted him for so long…

Mack Wilson gave his heart and virginity to the only man he swore he’d ever love. Justin threw that love back at him a day later, mocking Mack and his feelings. Mack never got past it, or Justin’s abandonment. Justin left the day after he and Mack made love, and over a decade later, Mack gets the shock of his life when he’s watching a wild, beautiful untamed red stallion throw a hell of a hissy fit in the corral. The horse reminds him of Justin. Mack is still raw from the pain, never having got past it.

Then Justin is there, ripping away the bandages of their past and pulling all the hurt and anger out of Mack, refusing to let Mack run him off. Refusing to let Mack go.

Mack hates Justin—doesn’t he? Or will he listen to Justin and give a chance to try to make amends? Can he make amends, when there’s someone waiting to tear them apart—again?

~*~*~

The heartache and the anger leaches off the pages. The love, sex and understanding come through just as strong. There is a fabulous twist and another one out of left field.  My only complaint is there isn't enough of the horse in the story but that may be my cowgirl-heart speaking.

I'm hoping this is the start of a series.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Outdo Yourself
m/m romance
ebook
Monthly Mix-up Mania

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Finished Reading . . . #70: Chasing the King of the Mountains (sexy)

Chasing the King of the Mountains

International Men of Sports
T.A. Chase and Devon Rhodes

978-1-78184-364-2
Total-e-Bound
July 2013
140 pages
ebook
Age range: 18+ (maybe 16?)
 
romance (sports/cycling) male/male
source: private library

Grade: B


Pascal Durant, one of the best mountain riders in the cycling world, was about to finally win his first polka-dot jersey denoting him King of the Mountains in the Tour de France. Then he suffered a horrific accident that left him unable to complete the race. In his forties and fighting chronic injuries, he knows he only has one more shot at the top.

Laurent Desrochers, an internationally known reporter, hears about his dear friend’s crash and watches a moving viral video of Pascal, bloodied yet unbowed, congratulating the winner. When Pascal tells him he’s going to do the Tour one last time, Laurent decides to convince his network to let him follow Pascal on his quest.

Friends for a decade, they had never thought of the other as more. Pascal’s focus on his sport and poor taste in men has never produced a long-term relationship. And Laurent’s constant travel causes a rift between him and his fiancé Jan that proves insurmountable.

Laurent finally realises his ideal partner has been in front of him all along. Can he pull Pascal’s focus from his goal long enough for him to know he’s being chased...and let Laurent catch him?

~*~*~

I love the way the authors were able to bring the excitement of race to the page. There were lots of interactions with team members as well as support personal. The story isn't drawn out or technical as it is fast as well as soul searching. Pascal does a lot of introspective thinking while waiting for the starting gun. The friendship of the two men is like your favorite sweatshirt. The slide into lovers as smooth as silk.

You know this is a happy-ever-after kind of book but the will he or won't he excitement is still there. And the ending of the book was perfect.

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Read-a-Latte
Let Me Count the Way
Outdo Yourself
ebook
M/M Romance
Men in Uniform
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Where are you reading?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Quick Thoughts on #2 . . . (clean read)

The Missing Monarch
Reclaiming the Crown #4
Rachelle McCalla
9780373445066
224 pages
Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense
September 2012
ebook (and print)
Love Inspired Suspense

Grade: B
source: private library

Six years ago Crown Prince Thaddeus abandoned his new bride and went into hiding. His motive was to protect his country and his family from a ruthless tyrant. But when his estranged wife tracks him down, Thaddeus knows it's time to make a stand. Restore the royal line. And reclaim the crown. Yet just as he learns about the family's new addition—his and Monica's son—little Peter becomes a target. In a deadly game of power, Thaddeus must choose between the country and heritage he's been raised to defend…and the woman he never could forget.

~*~*~

This is a Happily Ever After for the Whole County kind of book.

Five-six years ago the was an explosion during the Royal Family's motorcade. The first three books explain what is happening, the trouble everyone is having trying to protect their tiny Christian country from a madman with the brains and money to defeat them. A man who wants to rule and doesn't like to lose.

While this is book four, it has been long enough since I read the others that I'm sure you won't be disappointed. You'll miss the journey the others had to make but you shouldn't feel lost in the story.

I'm happy to note that the author has not abandoned the county and I'm looking forward to reading more.

Oh, I mentioned it was a clean read. The whole country was based on Christian values, they pray frequently during the series and in this book, the kisses happen between husband and wife. No going behind doors either. Just Kisses.

Other challenges this works for:

Contemporary Romance
A-Z (M)
Genre/Sub-Genre
Let Me Count the Ways
Mt TBR - An Embarrassment of Riches
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks
ebooks
I Double Dog Dare You
Romantic Suspense

purchased Dec 2012 so it counts as a tbr book. Finished Jan3

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Thoughts on ... Chasing Perfect

There was an interesting post on Facebook the other day. Something about investing more of herself in the lives of the characters in her stories than the real people in her life.

Color me guilty on that one. The is another small town that I've fallen in love with. Even better? Ms Mallery has a a website that really brings the town to life. check it out, here.

Chasing Perfect is the first in a series but we're dropped into a thriving community. Sure there is a shortage of men but the characters and their lives are already fully developed. Charity, the new City Planner, is the new girl in town and that's just how it feels. We're introduced to the town and the people as if we've just moved in. We jump into the middle of their lives, catching up with the ins and outs of feuds and relationships as we go. Just like the new girl in town. Guess I'm stressing that but it felt so real.

There are several twists on our way to happy ever after (this is a romance) and several hints of stories to come, last count: 9.  I wanted to say this was a quick read but it did take me most of the day. The thing is, Chasing Perfect kept me interested enough to finish in one day, despite real life's interference. The story left me satisfied but hungry for more.

Grade: B


Disclaimer: This is a book from my personal library. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of Barnes and Noble, Amazon and the publisher.


Chasing Perfect
by Susan Mallery

Publisher: Harlequin
Series: Fool's Gold
Mass Market Paperback
April 2010
18+ (I'd let my 9th grader read this)
Contemporary Romance
376 pages

availability: hardcover large print, mass market paperback, audio, and several ebook formats

Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Book Depository, Powell's Books, and as always ~ check your local bookseller

to visit the Author's website, click here


Product Description:

Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.

Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer—everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs—someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Christmas Haven by Hope White

Just so you know, I have a weakness for Christmas books and so far I've never been disappointed with a Christmas book from Harlequin.

Still not disappointed. ;)

Pay attention to the publisher of this one. This is from Harlequin's Love Inspired imprint so if scripture references or prayer disturbs you, this is not the book for you. I didn't find them to be a distraction (sometimes I do) and most of the prayers were internal. They were a small part of the story, just enough to give you the feel of the characters' character :) without being over the top.

The suspense kept me engaged until it became edge-of-your-seat, the romance was gentle. Julie and Morgan were high school sweethearts until she left their sleepy town ten years ago. No big gush of I-love-yous or mushy scenes. Most of the time Morgan is trying to out-stubborn Julie to keep her safe. The first kiss was on page 102!

There were a couple of coincidences, such as Julie's old boyfriend still being single, a police officer sheriff in her home town, and gosh darn, he just happens to be on the same ferry as her headed home after being in the city. To tell the truth, they happened so smoothly it wasn't until later that I went, 'hey'.

Grade: B....loved it, share with friends and hope you get it back.


Disclaimer: I purchased this book for myself. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of publisher


Christmas Haven
by Hope White

publisher: Harlequin - Love Inspired
ISBN: 978-0-373-44466-3
date published: Nov 2011
format: Mass Market Paperback
genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
pages: 221 plus 14 discussion questions
ages: personal guess... 12+ (clean suspense, drug use mentioned, two kisses)


Product Description:

His to Protect
Shock is police captain Morgan Wright's first reaction to seeing his former sweetheart, Julie Burns. But concern soon follows. The lovely social worker left Port Whisper behind years ago. Why is she back...and what's got her so scared?

Her hometown was the only safe place Julie could turn to after witnessing a kidnapping. She didn't count on trouble following her. and she certainly didn't expect to run into Morgan, or to feel that old love rekindle. Morgan wants to help her, and she wants to let him - but now that danger has intruded on her safe haven, everyone's at risk....

Challenges
Harlequin/Silhouette (holiday in the title)
Romantic Suspense
Read & Review
50 States (Washington)
Where are you reading? (Washington)
(TBR-purchased in 2011)
Mt. TBR
Read Your Own Books
The TBR Double Dare
Off the Shelf

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012