Jill Shalvis is a go-to for me. I can always count on her to be smart and sexy and fun. This book is no exception. Loved it. I think the one thing that kept me from going five stars isn’t a criticism of her or her writing but more that her characters are becoming more and more damaged. I struggled alongside Sadie, whose issues go beyond your typical low self-esteem or “damaged by past relationships.” One of the things I love about Jill’s books is the relatability. We are all that idiot sometimes. Sadie was a step farther. With that being said, I love Ms. Shalvis’s quirky characters and still enjoyed the story.

When Estelle Bolz asks River to find her missing son, River does her best. Estelle’s sons have been like brothers to River, but there’s a lot more to this story than meets the eye. The more River finds out, the more trouble she unleashes not only on the Bolz family, but on herself.

Secret identities, people who aren’t what they seem, and a plucky caterer who wants to see the best in everyone, Maggie Toussaint scripts a cozy mystery that showcases the unique landscape and sense of community found in coastal Georgia and its barrier islands. Stick around to the end, where readers are treated with some of River’s signature recipes! The first in Maggie’s new Seafood Capers series, cozy fans will look forward to River’s subsequent adventures.

Poppy is delightfully curious, to distraction. I was amazed at how Ms. Quinn was able to write a story about a woman essentially in prison, nowhere to go, nothing to do, and make it interesting. Excellent read the I would highly recommend.

I struggle with nonfiction, but needed to do the research. After a typically dry beginning, the book became more like sitting in a favorite lecture with a compelling speaker. Really enjoyed it and he makes his points well.

The next in the Mapleton Mysteries finds Chief of Police Gordon uncomfortable with administrative duties. When the head of the civilian patrol is found dead, Gordon wants to do something, but he has to trust his department to do their jobs. In an ironic twist, he holds the clues when the killer wants to have some “fun” with Gordon.

Disclaimer: I was given this book to review. If I hadn’t, I might not have finished it. It might help to know I’m not a big fan of cozy mystery.

The first chapter is a litany of food and no story, a confusion of who is what. But I soldiered on.

By the third chapter we had our missing person and from there the story grew. My overall impressions- the actual story was good. I enjoyed the progression and the mystery. Elliot (and why do the women in this book have boy names?) came across as not too bright. For a PI in training, she lacked some basic everyday knowledge, and when she had the final piece of the puzzle from the missing person, she lacked the deductive reasoning to put it together until the dramatic climax.

Hot and cold? Sorry, that’s kind of how it struck me. So yes, the story was good, but three stars is as good as it gets.

Stick around for the happily ever afters

I love reading Kristan Higgins. I especially love her romances. The women’s fiction books are harder for me, and that why this is only 4 stars.

Kristan writes such three dimensional characters. You see them, they become your friends. While reading this book was a lot slower than some of her others, I still fell in love with the characters and was rewarded with a satisfying resolution.

Two contrary sisters, picking up where their contrary mother and aunts left off, embark on a trip to help the family business out. But there is so much more going on in Sugar Lake, mm-hmm! Lots of sass and lots of fun.

How do you overcome scandal? With an even bigger scandal.

Erica has written yet another well-crafted book. There is some suspension of belief that the characters wouldn’t recognize each other sooner, but I was willing to play along. A satisfying conclusion to a fun story.