Jekyll & Hyde: Winter Retreat, Consulting Detectives #2 by Tim Major

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

The Jekyll & Hyde detective agency must solve a locked-room mystery in this festive installment of the series. A tribute to classic Golden Age crime novels which is perfect for fans of Stuart Turton and Lucy Foley.

Henry Jekyll and Muriel Carew infiltrate a Christmas artists’ retreat to investigate a series of death threats. Though the country manor is filled with festive cheer, stage rehearsals and jolly games, its colourful guests harbour dark secrets. Henry’s transformations into the brutish Edward Hyde are more frequent than ever, and Edward is as likely to create new problems as he is to aid the investigation. When a murder is committed onstage, heavy snow prevents the arrival of the police… which means that only the Jekyll & Hyde detective agency can solve the case.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved Winter Retreat! It's the second book in Tim Major's series, Jekyll & Hyde, Consulting Detectives and it is fantastic! In fact, I think it's even better than the first book. The writing is top notch, the characters are unforgettable, and the story itself is unputdownable. A country manor, an artist's retreat, heavy snow, and murder make for quite the whodunit mystery. Throw in an unlikely trio tasked with solving the case and you have an excellent crime novel to snuggle up with. I know I enjoyed settling down with my copy of the book and a huge cuppa on a chilly morning - it made for the perfect start to my Sunday. 

Winter Retreat is the perfect cozy mystery! Chock full of clever twists and turns, this story will have you guessing every which way. Plus, the dynamic duo turned trio of Muriel, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde, makes for quite an intriguing and chaotic relationship. And, the story is captivating right from the start and just so fun to get caught up in. I mean it, this series is a delight. I don't want to share anymore about it, because I want you to check it out for yourselves. It is a must-read and I just know you will fall in deep. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Forsaken And The Fated: The Hollow And The Haunted #2, by Camilla Raines

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

In this thrilling sequel to The Hollow and the Haunted, Miles and Gabriel find themselves ensnared in a web of dark magic beyond their wildest imaginings. Time is running out to change their future, and the dead are hungry...

Perfect for fans of atmospheric queer fantasy romance, including The Raven Cycle, Cemetery Boys and Sixteen Souls.

With Gabriel missing and the death premonition still unbroken, Miles and Charlee race to work out where he is. Armed with the grimoire, they might stand a chance of breaking the curse on Gabriel's family and preventing his death—but only if they can find him.

Miles's parents are furious to learn he's been helping Gabriel—and they don't even know the half of it. Miles is sure understanding the feud between their families is key to lifting the curse. Plus, he'd like them to get to know the boy he's hoping he's maybe, sort-of dating.

With new premonitions changing everything they thought they knew and the dark power of the grimoire whispering in their ears, Miles and Gabriel are running out of time. Both their lives are on the line, and danger might be closer to home than they realize…

my thoughts:

Love, love, love the sequel to this awesome duology by Camilla Raines. The Forsaken And The Fated is the followup to The Hollow And The Haunted and it is terrific! I absolutely LOVED falling back in with familiar and beloved characters, Miles, Gabriel, and Charlee - who once again find themselves mired in DRAMA. I'm talking teen angst issues - school, romance, friendships, family, and of course, the paranormal. Life and death stakes are unfortunately turning out to be the norm for these teens and they do not shy away from confrontation, which makes for a thrilling and emotional story. I enjoyed every minute spent with these characters and their story - what a treat!

I would happily recommend this fantastic duology to anyone and everyone looking for their next great reads - you won't want to miss out! Make sure to grab a copy! Happy reading!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: The Belle of Belgrave Square: Belles Of London #2 by Mimi Matthews

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

A BookBub Best Romance of 2022

A London heiress rides out to the wilds of the English countryside to honor a marriage of convenience with a mysterious and reclusive stranger.

Tall, dark, and dour, the notorious Captain Jasper Blunt was once hailed a military hero, but tales abound of his bastard children and his haunted estate in Yorkshire. What he requires now is a rich wife to ornament his isolated ruin, and he has his sights set on the enchanting Julia Wychwood.
 
For Julia, an incurable romantic cursed with a crippling social anxiety, navigating a London ballroom is absolute torture. The only time Julia feels any degree of confidence is when she’s on her horse. Unfortunately, a young lady can’t spend the whole of her life in the saddle, so Julia makes an impetuous decision to take her future by the reins—she proposes to Captain Blunt.
 
In exchange for her dowry and her hand, Jasper must promise to grant her freedom to do as she pleases. To ride—and to read—as much as she likes without masculine interference. He readily agrees to her conditions, with one provision of his own: Julia is forbidden from going into the tower rooms of his estate and snooping around his affairs. But the more she learns of the beastly former hero, the more intrigued she becomes…

my thoughts:

Beauty and the Beast vibes run all through this story and I LOVED it! The Belle of Belgrave Square is the second story in Mimi Matthews popular series, Belle of London. And let me just say it is fantastic! I loved this book to bits!!

Okay, so what is the story about? Well, its about Julia and Jasper. She's a young lady who does not enjoy the London social scene thanks to gripping social anxiety. Plus, she'd rather be reading or riding her horse. Jasper was a military hero, but now he's a recluse with a bad reputation. He needs a wife. So, Julia proposes to him. She figures that if Jasper can agree to allow her the freedom to just be - meaning reading and riding - then she handle being his wife. He readily agrees to the proposal on the condition that she never enter the tower room on his estate or snoop through his affairs. Talk bout a match made with conditions, right? Well, of course things don't go as planned. Jasper is enchanted with Julia and she finds herself intrigued by him. The more they get to know each other, the more their feelings turn romantic. Will this husband wife find love? 

Mimi Matthews has written a terrific new story to add to her series and I think it is the best one yet. I just loved the top notch writing, the slow-burn feel of the story, and the romance which made me swoon. Such a wonderful read!

I would happily recommend The Belle of Belgrave Square to fans of Mimi Matthews and and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one! Make sure to check it out!

GIVEAWAY:

1 winner (selected at random by Rafflecopter) receives a paperback copy of The Belle of Belgrave Square, signed and annotated by the author with personal comments, underlining of her favorite lines, and other highlights by Mimi Matthews. 

Terms & Conditions:

Giveaway hosted by Mimi Matthews. No Purchase Necessary. Entrants must be 18 years or older. Open to US residents only. All information will remain confidential and will not be sold or otherwise used, except to notify the winner and to facilitate postage of the book to the winner. Void where prohibited. Giveaway is open from 12:01 am Pacific time 10/03/22 until 11:59pm Pacific time on 10/30/22. 

The winner will be announced on Mimi's blog on 10/31/22.

To enter click on this link: The Belle of Belgrave Square

Good luck!!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The House at Saltwater Point: A Lavender Tides Story by Colleen Coble

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love!! This book was such a treat to read! I loved the suspense, mystery, and spot of romance that was thrown in to add a bit of spice to the story.  And, what a story!

Ellie aka Hammer Girl flips houses and her career is taking off.  Her partner in crime in home renovation is her sister's ex-husband, Jason (which is weird considering that her sister is not on good terms with him).  Anyhow, life is rolling along quite nicely for Ellie, until her sister, Mac, goes missing.  The only evidence left in her disappearance is the blood that is found on her boat.  So, what happened to Mac? Did Jason kill her? Did she fall overboard? Is she really dead? Where is she? So many questions fly through Ellie's head as she teams up with the Coast Guard officer (Grayson) that is in charge of investigating Mac's disappearance.  He seems to believe that Mac was involved with a drug crime ring and has faked her own death. Ellie thinks that is beyond ridiculous, until she begins to uncover some truths about her sister that make her question just how well she knew her.  Yikes!

Colleen Coble has written another terrific installment in the Lavender Tides series - this is book number two, but can be read as a standalone.  I am just loving getting to know this beautiful town and its unforgettable residents. The writing is top notch and the story is fast-paced, suspenseful, and unputdownable.  I enjoyed getting caught up in all the drama and trying to figure out what really happened to Mac.  So many untrustworthy characters had me on the edge of my seat. I just loved staying up til the wee hours reading and reading all about Ellie and Grayson. Talk about a must-read mystery series!

I would happily recommend this book to fans of Colleen Coble and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book to bits!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The House at Saltwater Point

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!