"Big Lies In A Small Town" by Diane Chamberlain

Buy "Big Lies In A Small Town" on Amazon- Jan 14 2020: click here!


"This mural was supposed to be for the Edenton Post Office. But Anna Dale went crazy or something-I can't remember exactly what my father told me. She lost her mind while she was working on it, thus the finished product was never installed. My father's owned it for decades and he wants-wanted- to hang it in the foyer of the gallery."

In 1940 a young woman wins an art contest. Anna leaves New Jersey for a small North Carolina town, in order to paint a mural on a post office wall. What she finds will not be what she expected.

Now it’s 2018 and someone has come to the states woman’s prison to offer Morgan a deal. She can leave her prison sentence behind if she agrees to restore that mural for a late well known artist.

The story is told between Anna, and what she encountered during her time in Edenton, N.C., and Morgan’s current work on the mural. What Morgan does uncover, as she restores Anna’s mural, is a story covered up by lies, secrets of the past of this small town.

"Anna Dale, though...She'd been excited by the mural. She'd wanted to do a perfect job. Her heart had been in it then something happened. It must have been something truly terrible to turn this pretty girl into...what? A mentally ill artist who mysteriously vanished from the art world?"


What happened to Anna back in 1940? What will happen to Morgan when she discovers the truth? Why did the late famous artist, Jesse Williams, choose her of all people for this job? She was in art school when her life derailed, but not qualified in restoration. Morgan is on a deadline to have that mural restored. The pressure of having to meet the deadline is so strong. Much is at stake here.

I found the story captivating from the first chapter. With a few wonderful surprises written seamlessly into the story line. Unique weave of the past and the present. I loved the characters of both Anna and Morgan. Two strong women from different times. The book was better than I expected, which is always a wonderful thing.


Thank you Diane Chamberlain, Netgalley, and St. Martins Press 
#netgalley #bigliesinasmalltown #dianechamberlain #st.martinspress

"No Longer Flighty Fanny" by Jessica Spencer

Buy "No Longer Flighty Fanny" on Amazon: click here

"She fanned her anger. It became her shield and her strength. She blamed her mother for not bothering to caution her about the dangers that could befall a girl. She blamed her father for turning a blind eye and letting her gad about on her own. None of what happened was her fault! It was her parents and her sanctimonious sisters who were to blame! She took much better care of the strays she picked up."

This is the third book in the “Sisters by Marriage” series. I have enjoyed this change of pace from my regular genre of serial killers and the police who chase them. These are called “Clean Regency Romance” Books. There’s plenty of drama and family entanglements. Relationships are built and destroyed, as in any time of life. The books may be read in any order, and are clearly understandable from one to the next.

This story leads with a young girl named Fanny. Her home life is hard, and she seeks escape where she can. Unfortunately at a young age she was taken advantage of, and it will continue to damage her life. One of several evil men refuse to go away, and takes it upon themselves to ruin her reputation. Denying her any chance at happiness.

Fanny has found love, Andrew. Unfortunately Andrew gives into the rumors, and Fanny is forced to return to her family. There her father intervenes forcing her into an arraigned marriage. Andrew, heartbroken, also tries to come to terms with it. He sails away from London to Boston.

Circumstances change when Fanny becomes a widow, and Andrew decides to pursue Fanny once again. Does she still love him? He knows he was wrong. Andrew is going back to London to find out where they stand. Rumors persist and the damage has long followed her. Can she open her heart?

A very pleasant read. A step back in time.

Thank you Jessica Spencer

"A Stranger on the Beach" by Michele Campbell

Buy "A Stranger on the Beach" on Amazon July 23rd: click here


"The night after I first saw Aiden on the beach, my twenty year marriage fell apart. I swear to God, nothing had one thing to do with the other. It was a total freaking coincidence, the worst coincidence of my life."...….

Caroline and Jason have built a beautiful beach house. Wanting to show it off, and mix business with pleasure. Caroline is hoping to give her career as a designer a restart. Jason’s not necessarily as committed to their twenty year marriage as Caroline.

Then he appears. Aiden. “A Stranger on the Beach,” just outside their new home. Is it a coincidence that Aiden comes into Caroline’s life at the same time as her life comes crashing down? As Aiden slides into Caroline’s life, he has no intentions of giving up what he sees as having hit the jackpot. A rich, lovely, beautiful woman. What’s not to love? The chip on his shoulder is going to be a heavy weight to bare.

Caroline may realize just how many mistakes she’s making with her choices, and Aiden. Allowing a stranger into her life may be regrettable. Not everyone has her best interests at heart. Her marriage isn’t something she just wants to throw away. Her judgment is clouded by heartbreak. If she does want her husband back, Aiden may have other plans.

The one night stand, told by both Caroline and Aiden, proves they are not on the save wavelength at all. It was pretty unnerving for Caroline. It could drive Aiden over the edge of a thin line he already walks. Their encounters are uncomfortable, even for the reader. You want to yell at them to get away from each other.

Someone may end up dead and someone has secrets. Maybe no one is telling the whole truth. It became a little predictable early on. It was still a suspenseful story from start to finish.

Thank you Michele Campbell, Netgalley, St. Martins Press

"Blindsided" by Kate Watterson

"She had to get a grip on herself. There was no doubt about it. It had all been bad enough: her unplanned abrupt flight from Indy, the roundabout and unfamiliar route, the onslaught of the horrendous weather, and then having to place her trust in some strange man...but when the room had suddenly gone black, it had shaken her to the very core."....

Dirk murdered Cadence’s friend Melissa back when they were in high school. She made an accusation, but he wrangled his way out of it. Years pass, and an accidental run in with the accused killer starts a renewed fear in Cadence.

Is the killer stalking her now? Thinking she can put distant between her and Dirk, she is putting herself into more danger. Caught up in a blinding snowstorm and rescued by a stranger, can she trust him? Should she keep running? Where would she go in this storm? Has the killer followed her? All questions that will cause Cadence to doubt every move she makes.

From the other point of view, Mick has rescued a stranded woman and taken her into his home. She appears to be lying about things. Can he trust her? What is she running from? Are they both in danger now? Trapped in Mick’s home, a story unfolds giving the reader a view into their past. Can anyone really be trusted? Cadence and Mick will be “Blindsided” by the truth.

The book goes back and forth with a secondary storyline of those on the hunt for a killer. The man who murdered Cadence’s friend is out there somewhere. Will he be caught so that Cadence can return home safely? The snowstorm provides for a chilling backdrop to this story. I’ve always been fascinated by Mother Nature’s events.

The storms ends and the real danger begins. Someone has been in Cadence's home. An intense suspense from start to finish. I wasn’t sure who to trust. In the end a tad predictable. Well written, great characters.

Thank you Kate Watterson, Netgalley, and Crooked Lane Books.

Buy "Blindsided" on sale July 9th on Amazon! click here:
#netgalley #blindsided #crookedlanebooks #suspense #drama #amreading #snowstorm

"Killer Lawyer" A Jake Wolfe Novel Book 3: by Mark Nolan

Buy "Killer Lawyer" now on Amazon: click here!

"He and Cody rode the elevator down, went to the parked Jeep, and got inside. Jake turned on some music, "Long December" by Counting Crows. Listening to the lyrics, he though of people he cared about who'd gone into hospitals and died there."


Jake Wolfe is back for Book 3 in this series. Life has changed for Jake. From a photojournalist, to investigator, and now a lawyer. The war veteran is trying to lead a quiet life on his boat, with dog, Cody. The CIA requires just a little more from him. Working for the good guys will come with a hefty price.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the dog. He just adds to Jake’s life in a way that no one else can. You can’t help but love Jake and Cody’s connection. Cody’s vet Sarah? The one Jake took to in the last book, is she still part of their lives?

This story brings us to a serial killer that has managed to draw Jake into his tangled mess. Creating a situation that Jake, and those he loves, may not be able to survive. Putting his investigative skills back into use as a U.S. Marshal may save his life, but will it get him out of this mess? With Cody by his side, Jake is on the hunt for the man nicknamed the “Random Killer.”

Jake is out to help as many people as he can. The character feels genuine. He’s not in it for the glory, he’s in it to genuinely make the world a better place. He’s one of the good guys, and everyone he comes in contact with is better for it, except the criminals. I can see this series continuing for many more books.

Will Jake and Cody find the “Random Killer” before he finds them? Will Sarah decide if Jake is the man for her? Cody has his own little side story going on. You’ll have to read this book to find out! I absolutely love this series!

Thank you Mark Nolan

"Cold Hard Cash" (Book 3 in the Bridgette Cash Mystery Thriller Series) by Trevor Douglas

Buy "Cold Hard Cash" now on Amazon: click here!


"Bridgette studied the photo board of the two bodies in the cave as she waited in Ray Warner's office. As she looked at each image, she was drawn back to that afternoon less than a week ago when she was ferried out to the island by boat. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she recalled the dank, claustrophobic conditions of the watery tomb."......


Detective Cash is back in Book 3 of this “Bridgette Cash Mystery Thriller.” This time Bridgette is investigating two bodies found in an underwater cave.

There’s still some disharmony in the office for Bridgette. The story about her personal life follows her into this book, and picks up where Book 2 left off. Once again she doesn’t let the “powers that be” rattle her. I like this about her character.

Assigned a new partner after the death of her last one, can she work with this one? He’s already been someone she’d rather not deal with. Now she’s temporarily stuck with him, and successfully avoiding him, while she looks into this new case.

When Bridgette discovers the ties between the victims, she’s sure she can solve this. On the other hand, if only she could solve who is behind the shooting the night she was attacked. Does it have to do with her mother’s death years before? This is the common thread through out this series. Will it finally be solved? Bridgette desperately needs answers for her own peace of mind. What if the past and the present were somehow related? A unique storyline that has made for an intriguing book. Which ever case it is, past or present, Bridgette, once again needs to be looking over her shoulder.

I enjoyed the first 2 books in this series, and was just as captivated by this addition. Bridgette continues to grow as a strong female detective. Definitely one of my favorite series!


Thank you Trevor Douglas

"The Rumor" by Lesley Kara

"Rumors are like seeds, scattered on the wind. There's no telling where they'll land, but they will. Settling in cracks and crevices, the roots take hold. The seeds sprout. It doesn't matter if they're true or false. The more times they're spoken, the faster and stronger they grow. Like weeds, waving in the air."...…

Joanna doesn’t mean any harm. One day while picking her son up from school she overhears some comments that she will come to wish she’d not repeated.

Rumor has it that someone who had committed a murder as a child, is now grown and living amongst them. Is it true? Can repeating gossip cause that much trouble? Joanna is about to learn a lesson.

Joanna is curious and determined to find out. If not for the safety of her son, but the safety of her hometown. Unfortunately, that same determination may just put her family in danger after all. Joanna’s investigating may bring the killer once again into the light.

I couldn’t put it down. Was the killer really in the same town after all this time? You can’t call on the past without some consequence. With more than one stunning twist I didn’t see coming! What happens when Joanna has to face her worst fears? The killer, or the person being accused of being that child killer, will want to seek their own revenge.

What a great ending. A cleverly crafted story from start to finish!


Thank you Leslie Kara, Netgalley, Random House Publishers, Ballantine Books. 

Buy "The Rumor" on Amazon, available June 18th: click here!

"Those People" by Louise Candlish

“Darren Booth? No, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. He’s made our lives a misery from day one. He’s the proverbial neighbor from hell-and I say that as someone who’s genuinely tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean, who wants to fall out with the guy next door? It destroys your life.”......

Welcome to Lowland Way, a neighborhood in the London area. Where everything is going along quite well, at least until Darren and Jodie move in. Without regards to anyone, they’re are now the worst neighbors. We can all probably relate to that at one time or another.

There’s a shocking death. Amongst the horrified neighbors some truths start coming to light. Maybe it’s no longer as wonderful as it was. Everyone has a story to tell about “Those People” on the corner. Are they true? Or maybe they’re trying to keep the inquiring eyes off of themselves.

The tale is told back and forth between the neighbors after the death over at the Booth house. Relationships begin to spiral out of control under all the pressure.

The further I got into the book, the more unraveled the neighbors were becoming. Everyone was beginning to be suspected. I liked the characters less as I went along. The ending was quite fitting for this bunch.

Thank you Louise Candlish, Netgalley, and Berkley Publishing Group.

#netgalley #amreading #psychologicalthriller #domesticthriller 

Buy "Those People" on Amazon June 11th: click here

"We Were Killers Once" by Becky Mastersman

“Anyways, we drove up to the Clutter ranch after dark and parked within view of the place, waiting for the lights to go out. The kid was still in the back seat.”......


In 1959 there was a crime that would become the center stage of Truman Capote’s movie, “In Cold Blood.” A family murdered by two cold blooded killers. The killers were caught and executed. There was also another unsolved murder at that time of another entire family in Florida, the Walker family.

This story takes us on another road of that horrific time. An alternate take on what could have happened. What if one of the executed men left a confession behind of a third man and another dead family?

A hidden written letter to the prison chaplain may just come back to haunt former prisoner Jerry Beaufort. Jerry is out, and would like nothing better than to find out about cold cases and DNA evidence. What man wants to go back to prison on a murder charge? He’d like to get his hands on whatever it is that could link him to those murders.

The chaplain has moved on, and is now a married to a retired FBI agent. Carlo and Brigid are trying to enjoy this peaceful time in their life. The past is haunting. Jerry is out there, and the only thing standing between him and that letter is Carlo and his wife. This is the fourth book in the “Brigid Quinn” series, and my first read by this author. I found it well written, and definitely intriguing.

An alternate look at what could have been a truth. We will never know for sure. I always find true crime a hard story to read. This isn’t just a book. Two real families died. Could there have been another killer? Could they have also killed the Walker family? Thought provoking.

Thank you Becky Masterman, Netgalley, and St. Martins Press

Buy "We Were Killers Once" on sale June 4th!: click here!