Fiction Review: Le French Book – “Foul Play in Vouvray”

2019 is starting off right – another new Winemaker Detective release! Ah, Cooker and Co., how I’ve missed you.

“Foul Play” is a perfect combination of the quick-paced, puzzle-solving plots that we saw more of at the beginning of the series, and the detailed delving of the characters from the more recent books.  I might even dare to say this is my favorite book in the series so far, just from a pure reading standpoint! I couldn’t put it down!

This time Benjamin and Virgile are caught up neck-deep in the mystery, in addition to all the other people and wines demanding their attention. We get to see several different sides of Benjamin, as well as more of his internal thoughts and processes. I LOVED the banter between the two men in this book. Benjamin is really pushing Virgile to step out from the title of ‘assistant’ and become the “indispensable right-hand man” (his words!), Benjamin knows he can be. I’m very excited to see where the next books take Virgile. 

I often wonder if the authors are purposefully tantalizing their readers with all the beautiful, decadent food they describe, page after page. I know I am ALWAYS hungry after finishing one of these lovely titles. Perhaps, as social media plays such a big part to the plot of “Foul Play”, we readers should start posting “Post-Book Meal” pictures on Instagram, to let the authors know they’ve won, once again. 

This was a delightful read, and I can’t wait for more!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher

 

Fiction Review: Morgan L. Busse’s “Mark of the Raven”

This book was superb! The world-building, the lore-crafting, the character creation were all expertly executed, topped by a great plot. The large cast of characters and shifting points of view transitioned seamlessly throughout the story, never losing or breaking the reader’s attention.

And now I’m hooked. There are so many unanswered questions, so many narratives crossing each other – I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series. I feel like the author brought us to the edge of this sweeping lake, and next book is going to push us off to plunge into everything this tale wants to tell.

This was pure enjoyment to read. You should definitely get a copy!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

Fiction Review: Thomas Locke’s “Recruits”

This was a fantastic read. I greatly enjoy the fact that while Mr. Locke’s plots move at a brisk pace, his ability to world-build, and make scenes come alive, never wavers or suffers. The reader is pulled deep within the story, and resurfaces at the end of the book asking for more.

I have read different takes on “twins” in stories. Often, those stories suffer for emphasizing either their sameness, or stark individuality, respectively. This was one of the first books where I’ve seen twins on the page that reflected my experience of twins in life. I became invested in Sean and Dillon’s relationship with each other and with those around them. It all felt real, and progression we see between them, natural. It was a highlight of the book for me.

I am so eager to dive back into this world and see what new adventures and mysteries await. I highly recommend you do as well!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley.

Fiction Review: Jill Williamson’s “King’s War”

To put it simply – this is a darn good book.

I received this book for review, but it turned into a read of pure enjoyment. Getting to finish the adventure we started with Trevn, Hinck, Grayson and everyone else two books ago was a high point of my reading list this summer. 

This book is hefty, I had to read it several times to catch everything. But this is one of those works you WANT to re-read and re-read, and will get satisfaction from every time. Great stories are like that. And Ms. Williamson does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged moment by moment. She does not overly telegraph what will come next, and even when you have an inkling, she delivers in ways you don’t see coming. 

I love books with an allegorical bent to them, and the allegories Ms. Williamson weaves were rich, layered, and well-written. In all, this book is an excellent read and I can’t wait to experience more from this author!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

Fiction Review: Thomas Locke’s “The Golden Vial”

Legends of the Realm is a series I have enjoyed immensely and even purchased as gifts for others. When this, the third installment was published earlier this year, I was counting down the days until I could get my own copy. And all I can say is I want more, more!

I love Locke’s writing style. His depth of scene pulls the reader headlong into the book, allowing them to experience the story right next to the characters. His pacing when it comes to dialogue is also very well done, allowing for more natural-feeling conversation than I usually find in other works.

Mysteries and riddles that were introduced in the first two books are explored more in “The Golden Vial”, but there are still answers to be had, and a final victory to be won. I look forward to the next installment, whenever and however it comes!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

Fiction Review: Columbkill Noonan’s “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”

….in which a Victorian detective goes around yelling at Asgardians.

As much as that quick elevator pitch makes me smile, it doesn’t do this book justice. While this is a fun, jaunty read, the reader is immersed in a depth of setting and plot that proves the author has definitely done her research. Think of it like a fine painting or great photograph. While the focus is on the subject in the foreground, without the fullness of the background scene, it would just be a flat, one dimensional moment. Authors will do reams of research, and it is tempting to dump all of that on top of one’s plot in the excitement of writing – “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds” is a great example of how to highlight your story with the best bits, enhancing overall.

The story was fun to puzzle out, and there were many moments that made me laugh aloud, or stop and re-read a particularly witty moment to whomever was near, to share the fun. I enjoyed getting to know Barnabas and Wilfred, and look forward to going back and reading their first adventure, and will eagerly await all those to come!

This post is a stop on the promotional blog tour hosted by

There is a rafflecopter giveaway as well, which you can enter here.

I received a review copy of this work from the author.

Fiction Review: Le French Book – “Minced, Marinated, and Murdered”

 

 

The French love their food – nay, they delight in it. There is so much tradition, history, and depth to be explored and enjoyed, why wouldn’t they?

“Minced, Marinated, and Murdered” is set in Lyon, a premier culinary destination for anyone travelling the region. I loved how as Laure and Paco tour the area’s chefs for her article, the reader gets to enjoy the history of the town and its people, as well as the food.

And oh, the food. The authors take the time to sit at the table with their characters and savor each course the server brings. The reader can smell, hear, and see the nuances of each dish through their expert descriptions. The respect and love for this region and its culinarians is infused throughout every chapter.

This book, the first in the new Gourmet Crimes series, reminded me what I love so much about French writing, and particularly, Le French Book translations. The style and focus of French authors is so different from my own experience, but that’s what makes these works such fun to read. I’m hearing your own tales, about your own hometowns, in your own words. That, plus a well crafted story with misdirects and layers to unfold comes together into a work I must recommend!

Today, February 20 is the launch of the book! If you order today, you get some amazing bonus content from the authors and publisher! Click here to learn more.

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher

 

Fiction Review: Hamilton Crane’s “Miss Seeton Quilts the Village”

As of September 7th, a brand-new Miss Seeton story is available! 

This book is jam-packed. Numerous plot-lines dance about each other, weaving a story that takes a couple of readings to fully unravel. And in true “Battling Brolly” fashion, Miss Seeton is somehow entangled in each goings-on, and yet remains blissfully unaware the whole time.

Miss Seeton is nobody’s fool, so it has always amused me greatly how her incessantly polite look on life can make so many people misunderstand her, or how she can be so unaware, yet her subconscious-led art can turn out so many vital clues. The authors who have crafted the series over the years have done a wonderful job of keeping this unique quirk alive and fresh for the readers. 

This new title is two decades removed from the previous book in the series, and yet we pick up right where we left off with all the people of the town, and they are just as fun to read as ever. I’ve always liked how, even though it’s the “Miss Seeton” series, the author(s) give us POV from all characters therein. Getting a perspective outside of Miss Seeton’s rounds out each story, and allows us to enjoy her antics even more. 

I liked how the plot dealt with several layers of history – how different events can be interpreted, and how one family, or one village can impact those around them in ways unexpected. You can’t rush ahead while reading this one, there’s a lot to process!

I hope this publication is indicative of more to come!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

Fiction Review: Leena Clover’s “Gone with the Wings”

This review is a stop on the Great Escapes Blog Tour for “Gone with the Wings”.

If you could smell the story inside books, you would be able to smell “Gone with the Wings” from across the bookstore when you walked in. And it would make you very hungry! Meera’s family dynamics are centered in the kitchen, and the author does a fantastic job of setting a plate for the reader and making them one of the group.

I’ve not read many cozy mysteries set in Oklahoma, so I was eager to see what Ms. Clover did with her setting. I really enjoyed that she took the time to show the reader the diverse landscape that one can find throughout Oklahoma, and how much pride the residents take in where they live. It was a very refreshing depiction!

The story itself is fast, moving quickly, but not rushed. I liked how there were several different layers going on, and when the reader thinks they’ve got one figured out, something happens in another area that will upend their assumptions. A quick read, but a jam-packed one!

The best part of the book, for me, was watching how Meera’s family interacts, and getting invested in their lives. Ms. Clover has deftly laid the set-up for the books to follow, and I believe it will be a series to enjoy!

Be sure to enter the raffle HERE for a chance to win your own copy of “Gone with the Wings”!

Fiction Review: Le French Book – “Requiem in Yquem”

I said this in one of my earliest Winemaker Detective reviews, and it still holds true: Don’t read these books while you’re hungry!

The food, the wine, the landscapes, the people. The authors of the Winemaker Detective series have an almost unreal ability to bring their books to life, to pull on all of the reader’s senses and plunge them deep into the story. It’s simply amazing.

Requiem is an amazing Winemaker Detective book. Granted, they all are, but this one stands out. It feels like the very first of the series – the banter, the emphasis on the food, the wine, and just the fun of reading. I loved seeing Paul William again, and many other characters from previous works. There were many subtle references to previous adventures, to whet the appetite of those who may just be joining the series, and it all tied the work together well.

Add in a plot that keeps twisting on the reader, just when they think they’ve figured it out, Benjamin’s always trusty one-liners (“Don’t forget your wife’s birthday”), and the relationships that make this group so much fun, and it all creates a book I can’t wait for everyone to pick up!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher