​THE NEON LAWYER by Victor Methos 

After reading this book, all I can say is WOW! I am not going to summarize the story. The author has done that on the book jacket. This book grabbed me from the first page—a small girl being kidnapped by a sexual predator—then a janitor being sworn in as an attorney—and those two story lines meet.

The author does not depict a reader's customary expectations of a practicing attorney. Instead we meet a character who rides a bicycle to work out of necessity and who wears second hand suits. And while this character could be boring, he's not. He is passionate about law and justice, but not necessarily as defined by state statutes.

This is a character driven story. The plot is firm and believable, but the character of Brigham Theodore is what makes this book amazing. He grows and flourishes, and the reader gets to see it all happen. The other characters display the author's disdain for prosecuting attorneys, judges, and functionaries of the court system. The judge is allowed to redeem himself. The villain of the story, a politically driven ADA, represents all those who, because they have money and power can twist the law to serve their purposes.
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For an exciting and satisfying read enjoy The Neon Lawyer.

When this thriller begins, we are immediately plunged—in chapter one—into a nasty domestic conflict. Which is followed in the next chapter by a change in location and characters and a new plot line, equally compelling.

We have two women—strong and determined—who face different challenges. One, the Native American sheriff of a Washington State community, is doubted by many of her constituents because of her heritage and her gender. The other, a voiceless victim of mutilation and abuse, struggles to rebuild her life as her face and body have been rebuilt and to wreck vengeance on the perpetrator of her sufferings.

I was riveted throughout this book as the two plots expanded and merged. Even when unable to read because of other demands, the story remained on my mind. Tightly woven, the plots advance with characters whose stories are meted out in measured revelation. There are no slow spots where I was tempted to set the book down.

I expect I will read this book a second time. Knowing there are happy endings awaiting me, I will be able to read more slowly and appreciate the fine writing, the well-knit phrases, and the clever revelations.
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I was sent an ARC by the publisher; but the fact that the book was free to me did not influence my review.

​SECRETS OF THE TULIP SISTERS by Susan Mallery

This is a complex entertaining story of a family challenged by abandonment and divorce. The sins of the parents were visited on the Murphy sisters when they were teenagers, but the pot comes to a boil after they reach adulthood.

Mallery tells an intricate, interwoven tale of anger and bitterness between the sisters, Kelly and Olivia, how they find their way back to each other, and the influence of the men in their lives. The book further expands the relationship between their divorced parents, Jeff and Marilee. The character development is strong. I appreciated that the book illustrated that May/December romances are possible. All three romances have happy endings. And the wicked witch fails to spoil those happy endings.

The external plot moves the story along, but doesn't overpower the character plots. The setting is well done. I could easily visualize the scenes and how the characters moved through them. I like learning about tulip farming and tiny houses.

I sincerely believe that Ms. Mallery should find another publisher. I read the library edition, 410 pages, hard copy. I won't even discuss missing commas. At times, it made determining who was doing what almost impossible. The book's editor should learn that a comma is used to separate two independent clauses joined by 'and' or 'but'.  

Additionally, there were outrageous typos. Eg. in chapter 2 "…pulling your to-hundred-square-foot tiny house…"; or in chapter 8 where the sister, Olivia is being referenced, but the other sister's name, Kelly, appears instead; and in chapter 26 referring to Olivia's age, "…and there I was all of twenty-3o."  
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I might be persuaded to overlook errors of this nature in a self-published e-book, but they are inexcusable in a book that lists for more than $25.00.

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This book is Krentz fast-moving suspense at its best.

An improbable pair find themselves searching for a serial rapist. There are plenty of clues so the reader can determine the identity of the bad guy. Since our hero and heroine don’t have access to the information the reader does, we follow them as they search first for identity and then proof.

Character development moves the heroine from an insecure activity director at a senior citizens’ residence to self-assured determined adversary. Our hero has the credentials for the job, but he comes with baggage. There is a subtle secondary romantic plot. But the book is first and foremost a suspense novel.

There is a delightful secondary character, Ethel Deeping, who adds color and humor to the book. Watch for her.

If you enjoy suspense novels with twisted turns and surprising conclusions, this is a must read.

THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH by Amanda Quick

This is a period piece that takes place the early 1930’s. It is not the best book this author has ever written, but it isn’t bad. On a scale of one to five, I would rate this at three and one-half.

It was slow getting started. I had difficulty keeping my mind in the correct time period. While reading, I would slip into contemporary mode, until some telltale would bring me back to the correct decade.

​Once the story finally gets started it is a maze of crimes, suspects, red herrings, and, of course, risk for the heroine. Hang in there and be prepared to slog through the first few chapters. Once the book takes off, it is fun to watch the characters develop. 

​The romance is understated, there are no bodice ripping sex scenes, which is fine by me. My imagination is excellent, I don’t need a play-by-play of what happens in the bedroom. I recommend this as a lazy afternoon read.

​I borrowed this book from my local public library.

​Four stars for DEVIL IN SPRING by Lisa Kleypas

​A Victorian romance that takes place in England in 1877, this book stands out because of its attention to historical accuracy. The book highlights the progress of this period. Sterile medicine, delicate procedures and surgeries, indoor plumbing, the struggle for women’s independence are all part and parcel of this story. I received a painless education about the time period.

The characters are well defined with strong motivations. Neither the hero nor the heroine are likely to be confused with other romance characters in other stories. The romance itself isn’t especially unique. The couple meet, their relationship is fraught with challenges, they marry, and live happily ever after. What makes this book singularly readable is the author’s pacing and descriptive abilities.

This story has more graphic sex descriptions than are absolutely necessary. I would rate this a five star if not for the overly descriptive bedroom scenes. I borrowed this book from my local library.

This is a book about second chances. We are introduced to people who find, in the coastal town of Miramar Bay, the opportunity to reflect on the past and more forward in new and better directions. The characters are multi-dimensional. They have flaws and weaknesses, but we want to encourage them to seek resolution. But they also have strengths and good intentions. There is conflict, suspense, and sweet romance. Written by a male author, with the main point of view that of a male character, the book presents a delightful contrast to female dominated romance genre.

The plot is somewhat predictable. I was not surprises to learn the identity of the villain, and how and why he was in opposition to the heroine. But the book is not intended to be a mystery. This novel stands alone and has a satisfactory conclusion.
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This is the first book by Davis Bunn that I have read. It won’t be the last. I borrowed this book from my neighborhood public library.

COME SUNDOWN by Nora Roberts - release date June 6, 2017

COME SUNDOWN is stand-alone offering, not part of a trilogy. In my mind this is a plus. The reader can begin on page one and know that the entire story is complete when reaching THE END.

In traditional Roberts’ fashion, this is a sweeping romance. We follow three couples to happy endings. Suspense and tension are introduced with a kidnap victim held in bondage for a significant length of time. The question is whether this victim will ever be rescued. I will admit to being disturbed by the dark aspects of this plot. But accept the necessity for realism. Roberts is to be congratulated for her accurate portrayal of the sovereign citizen movement.

Further complications occur with a grudge-holding deputy sheriff, and the murders of local women. At no point in the book did I find myself wishing the pace to quicken, nor did it need to be slowed. The book is a compelling page-turner.

With a large cast of characters, Roberts has done a terrific job of clearly defining who is who and where each fit into the saga. The characters are distinct. The individuals each have explicit flaws and virtues, and personal histories.

One of the best features for me is how Roberts handles sex scenes. Too many authors today feel it necessary to give physical blow-by-blow descriptions of what happens in the bedroom. Roberts involves the reader in the emotions of the characters, not the physical aspects of who does what.
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I can easily give this a five-star review. I received an ARC asking only for an honest review. My review would have been the same had I purchased the book or borrowed it from the public library. This is a book I will read more than once.

I loved this book. I didn't necessarily expect to because it was free, and all too often free books are second rate. Not so with Ticket to Paradise. I would gladly have paid for this book. The writing is professional. The story is engaging. The characters are well defined, with identifiable problems. Even the secondary characters actively contribute to the plot. And the plot is unique. I read hundreds of books, mostly romance, every year, and I've not come across one with this particular plot idea. Yes, there is sex, but based on much of what is out there, the sex scenes in this book are relatively mild. So, if you are looking for hot erotica, this is not the book for you.

After I read this book, I read the negative Amazon reviews to see what peoples' objections were. I was surprised at the reviewers who complained about all the swear words.  The few I found in the book were so mild I couldn't believe the comments. Hell is a word that is found in the Bible, so is damn. Do these reviewers refuse to read the Bible because these words appear. And would the negative reviewers have preferred the word feces to the word shit? If these words offend you you probably shouldn't read my reviews.

Ticket to Paradise is a charming love story with a rating of mild on the chili pepper scale.

I read for entertainment and Montana Cherries kept me entertained and provided education as well.

I loved the second chance love story; the family dynamics, the portrayal and drama when secrets are revealed. The book is an easy read while at the same time challenging the reader to absorb the depth of the different characters. This book can be read on various levels. The choice is the reader's. If one just wants a shallow romance, it can be read at that level. If a reader wants to examine the psyche of complex characters, that option is available.

I was unfamiliar with Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome and found myself prompted to research the topic after finishing this book. Be certain to read the author's notes at the end of the book for in depth sources to provide insight.

I did not know that there are cherry orchards in Montana so I visited the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers' website and found the information provided in Kim Law's book to be an accurate portrayal of the area.

So, I award kudos to Kim Law for taking the time to research and get the details correct. It is always a pleasure to read a book authored by a professional.