An Improper Proposal by Davalynn Spencer

Historical Suspense

An Improper Proposal

Davalynn Spencer

4 stars

When a mail order bride and a rancher who has given up on love are thrown into a

dangerous situation, God makes amazing things happen even in the face of tragedy. Written in the third person limited point-of-view, we follow the two main' characters in this moderate to fast-paced, exciting, page-turning tale of love and heartache, showing the real struggles of what Frontier life in the West was like back in the 1800’s. This is book 1 of 2 in the Front Range Bride series that will stay with you well after the book is over. The author ties everything up but leaves us wanting more, by providing no epilogue, in anticipation of what is to come with book 2. Recommended for those who love a historical romance with a bit of mystery thrown in. 

Mail-order bride Mae Ann Remington has traveled a long way to get married, only to have her intended shot and killed shortly after meeting. Rancher Cade Parker is in the bank during the shooting and offers his assistance with the burial of Mae Ann's intended. Cade offers to pay her way back home since her purse was stolen but she has no family or home to return to and has a “business proposition” she throws at Cade. All she wants is a stable, safe environment to call her own and, if Cade chooses to accept, she will do her best to provide a wonderful home with good food. He feels inclined to accept her "business proposition" but is taken aback when emotions run hot. As it becomes apparent that someone or ones want to harm her, will they figure out what is going on before it is too late?

(WILSON CREEK, Apr, 278 pgs, $7.99)
Reviewed by Jenny Falcone

Series: Front Range Brides

978-0998951201 (Amazon)

April 2,2018

Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum

MURDER MOST FERMENTED

Author(s): 

Christine E. Blum

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Mystery, Amateur Sleuth

Published:

April 24 2018

Publisher:

Kensington

Halsey and her trusty canine sidekick, Bardot, are at it again. Blum opens this second installment to the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery series with our main character’s dog digging in a newly acquired garden plot and discovering a body. Murder Most Fermented can be read as a standalone or as a second installment. This addition to the series lays out the plot, setting and character descriptions more completely than book one, leading to a better read. We are re-introduced to everyone from book one and some new characters as well. Many twists and turns, lots of movie references and the surprise ending make for a great read.

Bardot has unearthed another body and under the watchful eye of the neighborhood spy and her cop nephew, Halsey and the Rose Avenue Wine Club take it upon themselves to figure out this new murder before the police arrest Halsey for the crime. Her dog-training, emergency-rescue boyfriend has had too much of her shenanigans after he’s called in to provide bail for her in the middle of the night. Will she back off to keep him or will she stay true to herself and discover the true murderer before it is too late? (KENSINGTON, May, 256 pp., $7.99)

Reviewed by: 

Jenny Falcone for RT Book Reviews

See Her Run by Peggy Townsend

SEE HER RUN

Author(s): 

Peggy Townsend

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Mystery, Suspense

Published:

June 1 2018

Publisher:

Thomas & Mercer

In the first book of the Aloa Snow series, Townsend opens with an athlete literally running to her death — then it’s ruled a suicide. See Her Run is fast paced with many surprising twists that make this a page-turner. When you think you know who the killer is, this book will prove you wrong, building up the mystery and leaving you on the edge of your seat until everything comes crashing down at the conclusion. See Her Run is truly a novel you will not want to miss.

Aloa Snow is a former well-known investigative reporter who made a mistake when her mom was dying in the hospital; now she can not find a job to save her house. Michael, the young boy Aloa's family took in after his father killed the rest of his family, is now a big shot and needs Aloa to help him with a case the police have deemed a suicide. The last thing Aloa wants is to hear from the boy who stole her heart and disappeared without a word for 10 years. The paycheck is the only reason Aloa agrees to jump headfirst into a dangerous investigation that the police tried to cover up. Will she be able to save herself? Or will she end up silenced like the girl she is investigating? (THOMAS & MERCER, Jun., 268 pp., $15.95) 

Reviewed by: 

Jenny Falcone for RT Book Reviews

Full Bodied Murder by Christine E. Blum

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Mystery, Amateur Sleuth

Published:

November 28 2017

Publisher:

Kensington

Blum opens the first novel of her new Rose Avenue Wine Club series with the main character having just left her marriage and moving with her dog across the country. Written in the first person point of view, the perspective is limited to what Halsey knows, which leads to some characters feeling underdeveloped. While more is learned about them along the way, there are loads of different characters in this novel, which may confuse readers —readers will have to pay very close attention and take notes.

Annie "Halsey" Hall is welcomed into her new neighborhood by being invited to a wine club run by the residents on her new block.  She enters the first house she comes to with the door open and stumbles onto a murder scene. Now she is a suspect and the police are focusing on her, so Halsey takes it upon herself to play detective and begins looking at everyone a bit closer — even those in the wine club who have decided to help her find the murderer. Some strange things are happening on and around her block ... will she straighten it all out before the police decide that she is the killer?(KENSINGTON, Dec., 320 pp., $7.99)

Reviewed by: 

Jenny Falcone for RT Book Reviews

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones

SHADOWSONG

Author(s): 

S. Jae-Jones

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical

Published:

February 6 2018

Publisher:

Wednesday Books

Jae-Jones has created an enthralling storyline in this sequel to her debut, Wintersong. This is a coming-of-age novel and written in the first person limited point of view. The story takes place six months after the main character returns to "the world above." It’s best to read this as the second of a duology, though it is detailed enough to be read as a standalone. You will laugh, cry, be shocked and even annoyed! Shadowsong perfectly ties up all the loose ends but leaves the reader wanting more. You will not want to miss this amazing tale; prepare to stay up late just to see what happens next.

Liesl and her sister have heard tales all their lives about the Goblin King and the Underground. Liesl has retrieved her sister from the Underground after her abduction by the Goblin King. Joseph, Liesl's brother, is stuck in a faraway land after the death of his mentor. Liesl and her sister receive money from a mysterious, music-loving benefactor to travel to Joseph. The old laws broke when Liesl returned from the Underground, causing chaos and the Wild Hunt to walk above. Will Joseph thank or turn on Liesl for keeping the whole of his existence secret? And can Liesl save her brother, plus the austere young man she met and the world above before the Wild Hunt finds her? (THOMAS DUNNE, Feb., 400 pp., $18.99, 15 & Up)

Reviewed by: 

Jenny Falcone for RT Book Reviews

WHISPERING PINES by Scarlett Dunn

RT Rating:

  

Genre:

Inspirational, Historical Romance

Published:

July 25 2017

Publisher:

Zebra

Dunn writes this enthralling, mostly fast-paced suspense in the third person omniscient point of view, giving the reader a clear knowledge of the characters’ thoughts and actions. There are many unexpected twists and turns throughout. This book leads the reader to strong emotions and opinions. We feel happy, sad, scared, annoyed and irritated, just to name a few, some at the same time. There are points where we sympathize with one character and not the other, and then reconsider when we get more information. We wonder, along with the female main character, which information is accurate. Recommended to all who love a good romantic mystery.

SUMMARY:

In this first book of the Langtry Sisters series, we meet Rose Langtry, who has been sent away, along with her two sisters, to receive schooling and is now returning after five years. She returns to two brothers who don't know what to think of her now, and don't much care if she lives or dies, even at the hands of one of them. On her journey home, Rose stumbles upon Morgan, her very tall, imposing, intimidating neighbor, trying to hang her brother for stealing animals from his spread. Due to the shortage of staff at the Sheriff's office, Morgan and some other men have been deputized into service. She remembers Morgan as having a grudge against her brother, and pleads with him to let her brother go, thinking that Morgan is out of line and telling lies. Against Morgan's better judgement, he releases Rose's brother, which leads to many negative ramifications. Rose vows to find out the truth of her brother, and Morgan, whether she likes it or not, while Morgan takes it upon himself to try to protect Rose. (ZEBRA, Jul., 352 pp., $7.19)

Jenny Falcone

9781420144482

July 25, 2017