Bubba Done It A Dreamwalker Myster by Maggie Toussaint

Publisher: Gale Cengage Learning

May 2015

ISBN: 9781432830670

Pages: 308

Contemporary, Mystery

Sinclair County, Georgia

Baxley Powell is a consultant for the police where her dreamwalking talent for talking to the dead helps solve murders.  It also makes her pet-sitting and landscaping businesses take a back seat.

While Baxley is riding with the sheriff a stabbing call comes in via a 911 call.  When they arrive at the scene they find the knife is still in the victim’s chest.  The victim is the bank president and with his last breath he whispers “Bubba done it.”

Sinclair County, Georgia, unfortunately is full of Bubbas, four of them.  Each one also has ties to the victim. Baxley dreamwalks only to find that the dead banker is forbidden to talk to her.  Now Baxley must search among the living. The top suspects are a crack-head evangelist, a politically-connected investor, a down-on-his-luck fisherman and even worse Baxley’s brother-in-law who was also the high school sweetheart of the dead man’s ex-wife.

Baxley finds more connections between each suspect and the victim as she digs for answers. With Baxley’s brother-in-law keeping company with the victim’s ex he also manages to raise suspicions about his involvement.

Baxley need to find the killer because if she doesn’t her brother-in-law could go to jail which would let the real killer to get away with it.

This is a fun mystery that keeps taking turns that will have readers guessing just who is behind the murder and why they did it.  While readers could read this as a standalone it would be greatly enhanced if they read the first book before this one.  Just as readers think they have it figured out another clue comes to light that will have them wondering if they are on the right track or not.  The story doesn’t let up until the very end.  This is series that will have mystery readers wanting to read the books and eagerly awaiting the next one.  The characters are well written and add a lot to the story.  This is one series definitely worth checking out.

Received a review copy

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Ship of Dreams

Ship of Dreams by Rebecca Helfin

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

February 2015

ISBN: 978-1-61935-706-8

Pages: 254

Contemporary Romance

Laura Armstrong is an advertising diva that is after the Imperial Cruise Lines account.  It would be the biggest account of her career. It would also be the next step in her Life Plan of becoming the most powerful woman in advertising. As a bonus winning the account would prove her father wrong.

Nathan Maxwell is a sexy southern gentleman that is after the same account. Though his reasons are completely different.  If he gets the sizeable account he will be able to save his family’s farm from foreclosure. The farm is also the only stable home his sister has ever known.

Nathan and Laura are both doing a clandestine reconnaissance mission and end up on the same ship in the middle of the Mediterranean.  Mt. Vesuvius isn’t the only thing that could erupt while they are there.

Nathan will either sink her ship of dreams before it leaves port or will show that the way to love will be the way to smooth sailing.

This is the second book in the series and while it can easily be read as a standalone readers will get a lot more enjoyment reading the books in order.  This is proving to be a fun series that will tug at readers heartstrings and have them wanting the next book now.  The characters are complex and interesting and make for a book that pulls the reader in until the very last page.  It will also have readers hoping everything works for Nathan and Laura and that they get their happily ever after. It also has nice cameos from some memorable characters from the first book. 

Received a review copy

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Sinner's Grove

Sinner’s Grove by A.B. Michaels

Publisher: Red Trumpet Publishing

September 2014

ISBN: 978-0991508938

Pages: 460

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

California

Jenna Bergstrom is a San Francisco artist that made a startling discovery when she was fourteen that caused an estrangement with her family. Her loneliness was later sharpened by a tragedy. Now her grandfather, who is ailing, needs her help and expertise to re-open an artists’ retreat that was once famous and that is owned by her family that is located on the Northern California coast. There is just one problem.  She will have to face the ex-love of her life, architect Brit Maguire.

Brit once spent a magical time with the girl of his dreams, seven years ago, only to see her completely disappear from his life. Now he is working on the biggest project of his career and she is back helping. Brit can’t afford the distraction Jenna is proving to be no matter how deep his feelings still run.  The renovation at Sinner’s Grove is going terribly wrong.  Enemies bent on destroying Jenna’s grandfather’s dream are closing in as Jenna and Brit struggle against the passion they feel for each other.

With the danger increasing Jenna discovers what true love and true family is really all about. Though she may have discovered it too late.

This a great romantic suspense that keeps the reader turning the pages just so they can find out what is happening at Sinner’s Grove and who is behind it all.  The story is almost like two stories in one as history and the present are perfectly blended to make for a wonderful story that readers will find hard to put down. The characters are flawed and relatable and make for an intriguing book. The story comes alive for readers with every word that they read.  It will also pull at the readers emotions and pull them in until the very last page.  This is the first book in a series that if the other books end up as good as this one will make for an unforgettable series that readers will want to re-read over and over.

Received a review copy

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH