A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello

 

When murder provides a welcome distraction…

 About the Book:  After living out of state for the past ten years, event planner Maeve Cleary reluctantly returns to Hampton, NH, a charming beach community where she was raised. Living in her childhood home an iron-willed mother, Maeve struggles to rebuild her dismal financial situation while recovering from the destruction of her engagement to a nationally recognized news correspondent. Confronted by best friends, nosy neighbors, and unwelcomed relatives—who all seem to know what’s best for her—the discovery of a corpse outside her mother’s music school provides Maeve with not only a distraction but a reason to get out of bed and keep moving.

 Our Review:  Who, after suffering brutal disappointment, doesn’t want only to hide in the same and wallow in their grief? Who hasn’t been forced to rely on the kindness of others while recuperating from devastating blows to their ego? And who hasn’t suffered the well-meaning, unwelcomed advice and guidance with a smile and grace? Meet Maeve Cleary—a young woman every cozy mystery lover will recognize, then root for. Adding to this mix is a charming beach locale with cleverly named businesses, owned and operated by a host of unique, interesting characters, any one of whom had good reason to murder the thoroughly unlikeable victim. Author Piscitello hits every high note with this delightful story—we look forward to the next Music Box Mystery.    

 Based on a scale of 1-5, A Sour Note merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Vampire's Retribution by M. Flagg

 

Terrifying. Michael Malone, a mystically enhanced vampire, destroys three immortal sorcerers and takes on their vengeful army of hell-beasts in an unprecedented battle. Poisoned and captured, his body is exsanguinated and left to rot in a cell beneath the city. Guided by the heavenly entity known as Helena, he spins a fantasy full of deep love and devotion to the one woman he treasures and his mystically-human, very troubled son. Helena focuses Michael’s fading mind through emotional twists and unexpected turns, through passionate highs and very realistic lows.

 Our Review: This novel, with its complicated plotline and multi-layerd characters is seasoned throughout with the author’s talent for lush descriptive phrasing as well as intense emotion. Fans of vampire fiction will love this one.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Vampire’s Retribution merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

The Twenty-One Year Contract by L. B. Griffen

 

Coming of age in 1960s London.  

 About The Book: orphaned as a young teenager, Kathleen Gray struggles to find her own way in the world, including learning more about her birth mother. But the laws governing release of information on adoption are strict. Kathleen, now Kate, learns to make a family of her heart—and eventually finds what she’s been looking for all along.  

 Our Review: The Twenty-One Year Contract is more than a coming of age during the turbulent 1960s. It is more than traveling the road of sex, drugs and rock & roll. It is a story of a hard fought battle for self-reliance, self-awareness and friendship.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Twenty-One Year Contract deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Venus Rising by Tammy D. Walker

 

Mystery on the high seas.

 About the Book: While hosting an author event aboard The Cullinan Diamond, a luxury British ocean liner as it travels from London to New York City, librarian Amy Morrison  unravels the mystery of a sixty-year old painting, a memoir by the artist the publisher won't allow anyone to read, and the whereabouts of the artist after she goes missing. 

 Our Review: The setting of a luxury ocean liner where passengers expect all the amenities due them for their wealth and status is a perfect background for this charming cozy mystery. After a somewhat slow start, the pace picks up and the heroine, Amy Morrison, begins finding her spirit and gumption, things take off. Fans of cozy mysteries should love this one.

 On a scale of 1-5, Venus Rising merits a 3.5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews