Melodica

This book was not at all what I expected it to be. I have been excited to read this book for a while, thanks to #booktok, and I was a little let down. It was still a good read and quite enjoyable.

The policing could have been written better, but knowing what I know I see why Sheriff Stevens did a piss poor sloppy job with the investigation.

Adam was a sorry excuse of a man, spoiled and fucking selfish. He got everything he deserved. Sarah played her hand well and I'm a leave of at that.

I would have liked to see a deeper dive into the mistress's background around her allegedly murdering her husband.

Too many questions and not enough answers. I wanted more, but what I got kept my attention.

Here is book two in The Frean Chronicles, and it did not disappoint. This author has gotten me excited about YA Fantasy again, and I love that for me. In all seriousness, this was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it.


Jacs is back and she is the Queen of the Frea, but everything that glitter isn't gold. She may be queen, but she does not have the respect of everyone in the kingdom. She is having a tough time adapting to her role and becoming her own person as queen. And let's not forget she is young, so that is a lot of pressure on someone her age.


Conner is back, but unlike Jacs, he grew up in that world. Jac and Connor don't always agree completely, share the same experiences, or receive the same treatment, so it's hard for Connor to understand what Jacs is going through. When certain people mistreat her in the kingdom, and confide in him, it's like he wasn't hearing her. Connor really frustrated me most of the book.


This book is about a queen who went from fighting to the spot to be queen to the right to wear the title she earned. She shows the people of Frea what a true queen is. I cannot wait to see more from this series.

I just wanted to start by saying the Contest of Queens was a damn good read. This is one of the best fantasy reads I have read in a long time. Fantasy was one of my top favorite genres, but after a while it got old. You start to feel like they are all sounding the same, or the story line is similar, not this book.

All you feminists out there, I believe you will enjoy this book. We have two kids (teenagers) who become pen pals. They write in secret, because they are from two different worlds, and it would be frowned upon if they were caught communicating. They build a genuine friendship through these letters, knowing they could never be friends in the “real” world.


See, they live in a Queendom (land where women rule and are leaders), which is made up of two realms, the upper realm and the lower realm. Jacs is from the lower realm, and she is considered a lowerite. Connor is the prince of the upper realm, and he is considered an upperite, and a royal one at that. By Conner being from the upper realm and a royal, his friendship with Jacs is forbidden.


One day while the Queen visits the lower realm, she is killed. This tragedy ends the secret friendship between Conner and Jacs. The realms hold a contest to find the next queen, and Jacs decides to enter. She wants to make a change for her people, and she gives it everything she got. I truly loved Jacs' character, her growth and development was so enjoyable to read. By the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions that I hope will be answered in book two.

I am back with another debut novel, and it's another thriller. This is my new go-to genre, and like the other books I've been introduced to, this one is a winner. This is more of a medical mystery packed with a lot of action. There are no dull moments in this book, which I can appreciate.

So, we have Sarah, who may or may not have found the cure for Alzheimer's. My grandfather, rest his soul, had Alzheimer's, so I was immediately hooked. You know me, I got to make a personal connection somehow with every book. Typical fashion most of the board she reported her findings to does not think she has found the cure. However, someone out there believes she has the cure and will do whatever they have to do to get it.

This book is a banger of a read. Medical anything in books was never my cup of tea, but this book gave me a new perspective on it. It wasn't boring. This author is such a great storyteller, and the way he can capture your attention and keep it speaks volumes. Another highly recommended read.

his was a great read. The book pissed me off a lot, well mainly the main character did, but that's what made it interesting for me. It's not a good read if you aren't screaming at the book, is it?

The story is about Jenna, who was a journalist. She covered a major story about a serial killer, but before it was published, her Editor, Ryan, jazzed it up and leaked some private information. He shared the name of the woman pregnant with the serial killer's son. Tacky and unprofessional in my opinion, and it seems Jenna thought so because she quit.

She ended up getting married and had a kid. The journaling career somewhat took a backseat. She was not a character I liked, but that also made me enjoy the book. For instance, she seems to have it out for the serial killer's son. Mind you, the kid wasn't even born yet when dear old dad was sentenced to death. Yet in her mind, son of a serial killer, he must have the “serial killer gene” and that makes him automatically a killer. You can't help who your parents are, and I just feel like you should not be judged because of it.

Jenna is so smart, yet she's dumb as hell. She is awesome at her job, and in some instances, I thought she should try to be a detective, but that love life of hers, a complete failure. That husband of hers Zack, oh he's a piece of work. I didn't like none of the characters. I can't remember a time when I read a book where I despised almost every character.

I would recommend this book. It keeps you on your toes and makes you want more. It may piss you off a lot (or maybe that's a me problem), but that's what makes it great in my opinion. I want a book that can make me happy, and I want a book to piss me off. I was engaged all while reading the book. I find Joanna to be a fantastic writer.

The Novel Adventure of a Stewardess Wannabe Who Becomes a Flight Attendant

We have Sherri Van Ness, a nineteen-year-old girl from Kansas who wants to become a stewardess. What I loved about Sherri is that you could tell she was young, she still had that child-like innocence. Many times, authors write books about teenagers, and they're missing that childlikeness. For the most part, Sherri still possessed that.

The book begins with Sherri boarding a flight to head to her training class. She is offered a drink, which she excitedly accepts. Oh, the joy of being underage and not getting carded. Also loved how she considered twenty-seven and up “old”. Not too long ago (I'm 31) that was me, and now I'm fighting for my life, saying 30 isn't old. I don't know, I just found myself chuckling at that part.

The training kind of walks you through what it would be like to become a flight attendant. You go through flight mock-ups, observation training, learn to mix a few drinks, and safety procedures. It's intense. The other crewmates (classmates) are also interesting characters. I had some favorites and some that I did not care for.

Sherri also seems to have quite an adventure as far as her love life is concerned. I enjoyed that. She's young, figuring it out, finding herself, and there is nothing wrong with options. I liked her character. She is smart, sweet, and got some sass to her. This was a fun and entertaining read. Can't wait to see what else this author does.

We have reached the end of the What's Not trilogy. All the books in the series were amazing from start to finish. Valerie Taylor is an exceptional writer.

Brief recap: Mike and Kassie were married, but their relationship was not the greatest. Mike was verbally abusive and controlling. Kassie was having an affair with a younger man, Chris. Mike falls ill and breaks the news to Kassie who was trying to figure out a way to tell Mike she wants a divorce. Chris may or may not be Mike's son.

Mike and Kassie eventually file for divorce, but nothing is finalized. Mike is now seeing Karen, Chris's mom. Karen was a donor for Mike, gave him a kidney. Kassie ended things with Chris and is trying to focus on her career. I mean she drowns herself in her work. Somewhere along the line and with a little encouragement she reunites with Chris, overseas. Chris proposes to Kassie in Paris, but before they even celebrate Mike falls back ill. Since Mike and Kassie are still legally married, she rushes back home. Unfortunately, Mike passes away, but not before requesting an autopsy. He is not the father of Chris.

Here we are now, the final book. Chris, as we found out in book two, may have a child on the way. Kassie is now the CEO of Mike's company, Ricci and Sons, but she does not take the position. Chris's baby mama arrives in Boston, pregnant with twins. She ends up injuring herself and must stay in Boston. This is where it became a little too much for Kassie. I mean she is in her fifties, no kids, distinguished career, and then bam here comes her finance ex, pregnant ex at that. That's a lot for anybody.

She heads to Paris to accept the job offer she was trying to get back in the last book. She fits in nicely with the new company and the city. I wouldn't go as far to say that she's happy or fulfilled, but she's living in her moment. Kassie is finally putting Kassie first. I really love that for her. This series was an adventure, an emotional adventure. I am sad to see it come to an end, but I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Here I am again with another book in the Chris Matheson Cold Case series. I cannot say enough good things about this author. I love her writing style, and she delivered once again.

I just want to say I'm convinced Chris is just one unlucky guy. Either the universe is trying to tell him to fully retire, or he's just that good, and the bad guys will do whatever it takes to get him out of the way. We are back with another case, but this time Chris's badge is found on the dead body. The first thing that came to my mind is that they are trying to frame him for the murder. Makes sense, right?

We have John Doe, a murder attempt on Chris's life, and a cold case that may or may not be connected to Mr. John Doe. The Geezer Squad is back in action and will assist Chris in the case, as they always do. It's packed with action and may be one of my favorites so far in the series. It's a tie between this book and Ice.

Anytime Lauren drops a new book, I will be buying it. She is a phenomenal writer. The Chris Matheson Cold Case series quickly became a favorite and will be added to my yearly re-read list.

Another great read in the Chris Matheson Series. This is the first series I have read by this author, and I am excited to read more. She captivates you from the first page. The way she gives a character list with every book makes it easy to follow every time a new name pops up. Reading her novels really plays into my fascination with solving crimes without doing the dirty work. I'll put the book down and move on with life, but I still find myself thinking about the cases. That's how I know she is an author I will continue to read.

This time, we are solving quite a few cases. A family friend left her last dying wish to Chris, and that was to find out what happened to her late husband. There's also a plot twist: she is the woman who everyone thought died a few decades ago, or so she claims. That woman being Mecedes Livingston, a well-known author. Her wish is for her name to be cleared of any wrongdoing and for her legacy to go to her kids.

So now Chris must figure out what really happened all those years ago, clear the family friend's name, and pass on her legacy. Once again, he enlists the help of the Geezer Squad. I mean, why wouldn't he? We have murders, suspects, and a lot of action. It can be a little complicated, but solving a crime, especially decades old, is not easy. I highly enjoyed this book.

We back at with book two in the Chris Matheson Cold Case Files, Winter Frost. And this one is just as stressful as the last book, in a good way. Lauren Carr knows how to write a damn good mystery novel that keeps your attention from start to finish. I have been cranky at work because I'm too nosy, I can't put the book down. Chris Matheson never has a dull moment in his life. If it isn't one thing, it's another with this one.

Book two is about the mystery of his wife Blair and who killed her. Long story short, Blair was in danger and had to be given a new identity to hide from so bad people. She left behind a husband and three kids. Mind you, they all believed she died a few years back. I mean Chris is in a relationship and it's getting serious. Chris manages to save her from an assassination attempt, but it isn't enough. There are still more people out there who want her dead and someone succeeded.

The good old tried and true Geezer Squad is back. They have just stolen my heart. They are passionate, thorough, and honest. Chris enlisted in the squad's help in the mystery surrounding his wife, Blair. If you have read Ice, then you know what a ride that book was. Winter Frost gives Ice a run for their money. It can seem like a lot is going on, but it's not hard to keep up and follow along. I can see myself rereading this series every year, as it has become one of my favorites. I highly recommend it.

This book spoke to my crime-drama loving heart. Murder mysteries just do something to my soul, weird right. Lauren Carr is a brand-new author to me. I have had the pleasure of reading the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery series, and it was not disappointing. I loved how she listed the characters and gave a little backstory before jumping into the book. I found myself referring to it a lot every time a new character was mentioned. It was a helpful and well-used addition to the story.

Chris Matheson is a retired FBI agent who joined his father's book club. The book club is full of retired law enforcement officers who like to investigate cold cases in their spare time. They call themselves the Geezer Squad. On top of that, they assist Chris with solving a murder that happened over twenty years ago and Chris was a prime suspect. Left and right bodies are being dropped and Chris is in the middle of it all. I pulled my hair every time someone turned up. They were out to get my boy. Even the sheriff who is supposed to be Chris's best friend was trying to take the man down and pin it all on him.

Back to this murder that happened twenty years ago. Chris takes a girl to the prom and shortly after the prom she comes to Chris saying she's pregnant and the baby is his. Right as she is due to have the baby she goes missing and guess who takes the blame, Chris. At present this case still haunts Chris, and not only him but his family as well.

This was too much yet not enough and its only book one. I found myself wanting to email the author like Laura girl, slow down, but at the same time keep going. It's that good. My review on book two Winter Frost will be up tomorrow.

I've always wanted to go to the circus. I just wanted to throw that out there.

This book had me hooked from the first sentence. The author jumps into it and captures your attention immediately. We have siblings who will receive an inheritance by their birth mother, Angela (Angie) Hartley, but they must embark on a road trip, following their late mother's instructions to find out who she was as a person and the life she lived. Angie left a little over a million dollars to split between her three kids.

The three siblings: Jennifer (41), Jesse (39), and Jack (37). All three of them are battling with personal issues while on this journey. Jennifer is dealing with her cheating husband. Jesse is unemployed, homeless, and pregnant. Jack has anxiety issues.

The two sisters were raised together by their mother's older sister Carolyn and her husband, Jim. Of course, at the time, they believed Carolyn and Jim were their biological parents, who both passed away about 4 years ago. A couple years after Angie left her daughter with Carolyn, she had jack. Jack and Jesse share the same father, while Jennifer has a different one.

The book goes on with the siblings traveling across the south, meeting their mother's friends and reliving certain events in her life. The trip gave them a chance to learn a little about their past, who their mother was, why she did what she did, and form a bond.

The story of Amelie continues. The Doktor's Daughter was a little harder to read. It was a terrific book, but it pulled at my heartstrings. From the first page, you are smiling, and then boom, the tears. In my head, I'm thinking is this what we are doing Nancy, right out the gate? You must understand that I'm a sensitive reader, emotions on ten always.

Amelie is a brave young woman. Dealing with all that she has at any age isn't easy but imagine being a child and going through it. The strength and courage she possesses is admirable and beautifully written. Gigi, the younger sister, hurt my heart for her. She is such a sweet soul. I just wanted to gather these girls up and take them home. The mama in me kept coming out while reading this book.

Amelie discovers her father, now deceased, was a spy, and his death may not have been an accident. The people her father worked for approached her and asked her to do some undercover work to find out why her father died and what he knew. Her investigation into uncovering the truth wasn't easy, but she handled it well. Certain moments of the book, I was on the edge of my seat. She got the closure she needed and made it back safely, reunited with both sides of her family. She has lost a lot, but she has gained so much more.

I wanted the book to have a happy ending, I mean it did, just not the ending I'd hope for. This was, I don't want to say joy, because I did not feel joy reading this book, but it was a great book. It was a short read, so if you have an hour or two to spare, pick it up. Nancy is a fantastic writer, and I need to read her other books. This will also be on my kids' summer reading list.