Review: Echoes of Infamy

Echoes of Infamy by Shaina Steinberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Evelyn Bishop is the President of Bishop Aeronautical, whilst breaking ground on the site of her new factory a Japanese American man makes a fuss claiming that the land was stolen from his family. As a former WW2 spy for OSS, Evelyn and her husband Nick Gallagher (a former police detective turned PI) are keen to investigate - the last thing she needs is her company, which has many contracts with the US military, to be accused of shady dealing.

Nick and Evelyn's investigations uncover widespread fraud, while Japanese Americans were being rounded up and interned during WW2 someone was pretending to be the landowner and selling the land to an unscrupulous developer. The next thing they know the developer's dead body is found on their construction site. Could their client be responsible? Or given his business dealings could it be one of his other victims?

Meanwhile, Nick discovers a relative he never knew he had and Evelyn finds she may be nurturing a viper in her bosom at work.

I did not realise when I requested this ARC that it was the third in a series, I just loved the cover, however I don't think you need to have read the other two books to follow this one.

I liked the work politics aspects of this book, I also liked the murder investigation, and Nick's family troubles. I found the detail about the appalling behaviour towards the Japanese interns interesting, and similarly the witch hunts for homosexuals in the FBI. However, when all of this got put together it felt like too much and as a consequence I thought the discovery of the identity of the murderer was just too easy - almost as easy as if they had just confessed out of the blue. Also Evelyn and Nick felt too twenty-first century with their values (trying not to be specific because of 'things' that happen or try to suggest I don't 100% agree with those values - I just don't think it would have been the default back then).

This was sold as being for readers of Allison Montclair, Jacqueline Winspear, and Ashley Weaver, but I'm not sure its there yet. Anyway, it was pleasant enough and I would definitely read another book in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Romantic Hero

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Gertie Bickerstaff is a writer, she has written four successful books in a series about a small town in Texas, but since her boyfriend Henry said he wanted 'a break' she has had writer's block and her deadline is looming. Add that to the imminent anniversary of her sister Josie's death, and Gertie is at breaking point. In desperation she agrees to her neighbour's batty idea to perform a manifestation ceremony, in which Gertie wishes for help finishing her book, but also to get Henry back.

Unfortunately, what Gerties gets is a half-naked cowboy with an attitude appearing in her flat. The impossible thing is, he's the stock villain in her book series River Oakley, ridiculously good-looking lothario who tries to thwart Gertie's heroine at every turn.

Whilst River's appearance isn't exactly what Gertie was expecting, she assumes that he must have been manifested to help her win back Henry, after which her writer's block will presumably vanish and so will River. The trouble is the more Gertie gets to know River, the more she discovers he is not the two-dimensional character she wrote, he's funny, and kind, and muscular, with fabulous hair, and the cutest dimple. But he needs to return to his life, before a developer buys up land near his farm so romance is off the cards, or is it?

This took a while for me to get into and I could have done without Gertie's neighbour, but it was an enjoyable escapist read. I may have a question about travel between Texas and London but overall I would say a solid summer feel-good read.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Osric Mordaunt is an assassin, a member of the Fyren Order. A lifetime of blows has damaged his seith (a magical ability which is enhanced through study and initiation into a magical order and the bestowing of a brand on the palm once the student graduates), the only person who might (and only might) be able to cure him before he loses his ability and is culled by his own Order, is Aurienne Fairhrim, a member of the Haelen Order - sworn enemies of the Fyren Order.

Aurienne's Order is one of healing, and she is one of their best, they are currently battling a pox which is spreading quickly and only seems to affect children, particularly the poor. They have petitioned the various rulers of the Kingdoms but they have so far received little help in funding a vaccination to prevent the pox. Osric tries to persuade, trick, and threaten Aurienne to look for a cure for his sickness without success so in desperation he offers to fund the full twenty million thrymsas required to fund the vaccine.

Two sworn enemies forced to deal with each other in pursuit of a mystical cure (which may not exist), cue plenty of smutty innuendo, witty sniping, many many violent deaths, and a begrudging attraction.

I absolutely loved this, funny, engaging, with great characters. Just be aware that this is part one (of two) and therefore not everything is resolved. I have already requested the second book from NetGalley.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Murder on the Pilgrims Way

Murder on the Pilgrims Way by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Dolly is taking Pearl on holiday - but it's a surprise. They are staying at a recently renovated manor house owned by an Italian woman called Simona. She previously owned a similar establishment in Italy but had to sell it to pay off her ne'er-do-well husband Jake. Dolly and Pearl are two of the first guests of the Villa Pellegrini as it has been renamed, alongside several of Simona's close friends and her godfather Marshall, who happens to be an old friend of Dolly's. There's the rather brash Australian Lydia and her English fiancé Steve, former model Georgina, Dolly and Pearl, Simona's friend the slightly fey Anemone, close friend and wine buff Frank, and the staff Robert and his wife Maria.

Although initially charmed by the fabulous manor house on the banks of the river, Pearl is annoyed to discover that the weekend is billed as a weekend with celebrity chef Nico Caruso, as an instinctive chef herself, Pearl has no desire to be 'taught' recipes, especially by someone whose restaurant chain disintegrated in bankruptcy.

First impressions do not change Pearl's mind, Nico sweeps in and dismisses the dinner which Maria has spent all afternoon preparing, insisting that the guests eat something he has brought from Italy. Then later that evening after sparks fly (and not in a good way) across the dinner table the guests are interrupted by a very drunk Jake threatening to haunt Simona and never let her get away from him. After breaking a bottle of liqueur and hitting one of the guests Jake is laid out by Marshall's walking stick and left to sleep it off in the study over night. Unfortunately, the next morning Jake's body is found in the walk-in cold room, beaten around the head with a meat mallet he froze to death.

I enjoyed this until Pearl started her Columbo moment and decided that reading tea leaves would be a good method of identifying the murderer! Also I feel there was an unexplained conversation (or two) about not involving/telling the police that was never addressed or explained.

Anyway, I don't recall seeing this one as part of the tv series, maybe because of the spectacular leap of imagination that is required to identify the murderer based on the 'clues'.

View all my reviews

Review: The Shadow Step: A Detective Miller Novel

The Shadow Step: A Detective Miller Novel by Mark Billingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DS Declan Miller is a widower, his wife (also a copper) having been murdered. His step-daughter is a drug addict, not unusual in Blackpool, living rough and only occasionally deigning to call or meet Declan.

When a chance meeting in the park between a small-time drug dealer and a mild-mannered former squaddie just walking his dachshund ends up with the drug dealer tripping over his dog and falling into the pond he thinks nothing of it ... until the drug dealer turns out to be dead. Then a series of unfortunate events unfolds. Everyone thinks he killed the drug dealer, including the woman who controls all the drugs in Blackpool, and when his ex-wife's boyfriend is murdered in the front garden of their marital home it seems like he can't surely be innocent again?

This is the third DS Miller book, I haven't read the other two but I did read the final book in the Tom Thorne series (and my review upset my work BFF enormously) and I knew I enjoyed his writing so I jumped at the chance to read this ARC. Totally different, although also a detective who fights for justice - even if it means going against the establishment.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: May Day Murder

May Day Murder by Julie Wassmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Faye Marlow used to be a famous Hollywood actress, but not many people know she came from Whitstable and her real name is Frankie Marshall. Although her fame has waned that doesn't stop Pearl's friend Nathan from inviting her to open the town's May Day festivities, complete with a showing of one of her most famous films. But Faye's appearance has ruffled a lot of feathers, she was a bit of a heartbreaker when she lived in Whitstable and some of her former paramours appear to be falling under her spell again.

First Pearl gets asked to close the restaurant for Faye and her entourage to eat lunch, then to change the venue to the house she has rented for the festivities, then to make special canapes for the evening drinks event. Later Nathan calls Pearl, Faye's diamond ring went missing from the safe, then was found behind a cushion, then Faye herself goes missing ... only to wind up dead, murdered and tied to the Maypole.

These early books are difficult to review because I have seen them on tv so there aren't many surprises. However, I still feel the murderer had a very poor motive and I think others had a much better reason.

Also, I am getting a little irritated by how much Julie Wassmer loves Pearl. I thought the choice of actors for the tv series was strange having read the first book because both Kerry Godliman and Nigel Lindsay are almost exactly the opposite looks wise of the characters in the books but I think it was probably to make them feel more relatable and 'normal'.

Anyway, even knowing the vague story I struggled to see the clues that would lead me to the murderer.



View all my reviews

Review: Just a Highland Fling

Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Neelu and her mother moved to LA when Neelu was just a child and she has had limited contact with her father, a doctor in Aberdeen ever since a disastrous trip to Scotland when she was ten years old. But for some reason she's travelled to Scotland to attend his wedding, something she knew nothing about only a few weeks ago.

Stopping off at a pub after failing to find her hotel in the pouring rain Neelu encounters a charming desi man, the attraction is instantaneous and mutual, but they agree it can only be one night, no names, no pack drill right? Until they meet the next day at the rehearsal dinner and it turns out that Jacob knows her father and his bride-to-be very well indeed.

When things go wrong at the wedding Jacob blames Neelu, and the two of them end up chauffeuring Neelu's father around the Highlands looking for his runaway bride. Can a one-night stand change your life? Can family forgive the mistakes of the past? Is it too late to start again?

Loved this, loved Jacob and I loved Neelu too, wonderful romantic read.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: The Call-Up

The Call-Up by K.C. Carmichael
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Brandon Bouchard is living in the shadow of his gregarious older brother Ander who is the goalie for the Buffalo Blizzards, the team that have already won the Stanley Cup once, while Brandon is still playing college hockey. Then his big chance comes, six weeks before the end of the NHL season he's called up to play for the St Louis Mules. Only problem is ... its the team where Ryan Christianson plays, Brandon's crush when he was fourteen years old and Ryan was billeted with Brandon's parents.

Already apprehensive and scared that he will be sent back to the college team before he's even played a game, or worse that he screws up so badly that he's sent down in disgrace, things don't go well when the first thing out of Ryan's mouth is 'Baby Bouchard' - now he's got an embarrassing nickname straight from day one.

For his part, Ryan has worked hard to hide the fact that he is gay from his teammates and the attraction he feels to Baby Bouchard should be avoided at all costs ... shouldn't it? But with Anders telling Brandon to call Ryan, and telling Ryan to look after his baby brother it seems like family and the fates are bringing them together.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as The Kennedy Effect, maybe I subconsciously felt that calling him 'Baby' Brandon gave too much of a older guy/younger guy vibe when they are only a few years apart in age?

Anyway, lots of hockey stuff that went right over my head, a chance to see Connor and Gavin again, and the Mules are a great team. Can't wait to see what the hints at the end of the book could mean for the next book.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Caller Unknown

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 52%.

Simone is a successful London chef, her daughter Lucy is about to take a position at RADA and they have planned a road-trip/camping trip in Texas before she goes (Lucy was at a singing camp prior to this in Texas for a few weeks). However, in the middle of the first night Lucy is kidnapped. The next morning Lucy's kidnapper has some very explicit instructions for Simone to follow if she ever wants to see her daughter again. The bond between Simone and Lucy is strong, perhaps too strong on Simone's side, there is NOTHING she wouldn't do for her daughter, and that love is about to be tested. Despite her husband Damian's urging to call the police Simone decides to obey the kidnapper ...

I won't spoil what happens next but Simone ends up on the run.

I have absolutely adored Gillian McAllister's previous books and this was an auto request for me when I saw the ARC on NetGalley but despite several attempts I just can't get into it. Maybe because her previous books have had so many twists and turns I was anticipating either Lucy or Damian being behind the kidnapping (not a spoiler as I have no idea who the kidnapper was) and yet halfway in nothing much has grabbed my attention, other than thinking that Simone is actively making a bad situation worse.

So, with reluctance, and recognising that the book has already been published, I am giving up.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Review: Just Watch Me: A Rugby Romance

Just Watch Me: A Rugby Romance by Rosalind James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kane Mahuta, New Zealand Rugby Captain of the Blues and All Black is a widower with three children, his grandmother Maureen lives with him to help with the children.

Skylar Fairburn is a teacher (five year olds), she is a widow with three children and a cat, her grandfather Geoffrey lives with her to help with the children. Skylar (Miss Fairburn) is Kane's youngest daughter Georgia's teacher. When a distressing situation happens with a school rat at Kane's house he calls Miss Fairburn to explain the situation. Little does he know, shortly afterwards he meets Miss Fairburn at a speed-dating night he was dragged to by his sister, a journalist who wants to use him as a 'What Not To Do' humorous article.

When the two of them meet again, this time with Georgia in tow, the attraction is obvious, but relationships between teachers and the parents of children in their class are frowned upon. However, the two families are once more thrust together when it turns out Geoffrey and Maureen have been dating on the sly (having met while dropping off/collecting Kane and Skylar's children), and are now determined to both make it official and offload some of their responsibilities to have some fun.

If you ever watched the Brady Bunch, or the various films titled Yours, Mine, Ours, you can imagine the chaos and bickering that takes place when six children, two grandparents, two parents plus several of Kane's siblings are thrown into the mix.

This was just lovely, I loved Kane, I loved Skylar, the kids were appropriately sulky and delightful in equal measures, it was funny, there were some wonderful romantic scenes, there was drama and danger, a lot of toilet scrubbing (LOL), and some gorgeous holiday homes.

Another winner from the lovely Rosalind James.

I was fortunate enough to be sent an ARC by the author.

View all my reviews

Review: Be My Endgame

Be My Endgame by Zarah Detand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alex Beaufort plays for Liverpool Rovers as a midfielder, son of a Lord he is handsome and charming with a posh accent. He and his parents are at odds, his father thinks Alex should forget playing soccer, which isn't a suitable game for an aristocrat, and get involved in politics. Oh and his father thinks Alex's bisexuality is just a phase (probably to be interesting) and wants him to settle down with a suitable woman from their circles. Alex hasn't told anyone he is bisexual, not even his BFF Jeff, another Liverpool Rovers player, despite Jeff having a gay brother.

Lee Taylor, is Manchester Athletic's top striker, two years older than Alex, the son of a woman with mental health issues, he has had to step up and act as father to his two younger sisters from a very early age after their father walked out on them and his mother couldn't cope. While he was playing football in Italy he was in a relationship with a man, but since returning to the UK he hasn't felt comfortable divulging his sexuality to anyone other than his BFF Oliver, Manchester Athletic's goalkeeper.

The two men met at training camp just before Lee got called up to Manchester Athletic (BTW I guess for legal reasons they can't use the real club names but it really jars) and a chance remark was misinterpreted. Since then they have been adversaries.

When Lee, Oliver, Jeff, and Alex get called up to England's World Cup team for training, the coach's ethos is clear, the players must become a team and resolve all differences, so he forces Lee and Alex to room together and pair up for all one-on-one training sessions.

I have to say I really enjoyed this enemies to love sports romance. Great characters, good pace, lovely love story. I just loved Lee and Alex. Can't wait to read more by Zara Detand.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

View all my reviews