Review: Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson

About the Book

Speaking the truth can be a dangerous thing.

Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette . . . and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.

The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.

Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.

Amazon / Enclave Publishing / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a fun story! The gripping first line is one of the best I’ve read. I was hooked and enjoyed every second of this fantastic debut novel.

I really liked Cressida. Her curse of having to tell the truth made for some awkward moments, but I loved seeing her resiliency and bravery, especially when facing dangerous situations. She was endearing and easy to root for.

There was danger, intrigue, and subterfuge! It was such an exciting read! There were many surprising twists and turns. I was shocked on multiple occasions, wondering if that really did just happen!

From Cressida’s time at the academy to her first mission and through to the satisfying conclusion, this whole book was an absolute joy to read. This debut novel is going on my favorites shelf. I'm looking forward to more from this talented author.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Review: Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

About the Book

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance!

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I had ridiculously high expectations for this book. I loved the first two in the series and have been so eager for Max’s story. Y’all! This book exceeded all of my ridiculously high expectations! I loved it so much!

Max and Sloan have history. A complicated past. Things did not end well between these former friends and business partners. They’re back in each other’s lives now that Sloane is in Groomsport looking after her teenage niece Ivy. While her niece’s parents are away, they rented a garage apartment for Sloane and Ivy to stay in. The garage apartment on Max’s property! Sparks fly from the very beginning, and I was so there for it! Their banter was great! They had me laughing and smiling all throughout the book.

Ivy was a very likable character. Even though she could be a bit impulsive at times, she had a good head on her shoulders. I loved the supportive and loving bond between her and Sloane. And I was very intrigued by the mystery of trying to find her biological father.

I was glad to get closure to Fiona’s story. I was rooting for things to work out for her.

I also enjoyed the mystery behind the missing tiara.

This was such a great second chance, enemies to more romance. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I’d definitely recommend reading the series in order, though. While Max and Sloane’s romance stands alone, there are threads from the first two books that are tied up here.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

My Thoughts on Memory Lane - Book 1

    https://rusticreadinggal.blogspot.com/2023/02/review-memory-lane-sons-of-scandal-1-by.html

My Thoughts on Rocky Road - Book 2 

    https://rusticreadinggal.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-rocky-road-sons-of-scandal-2-by.html

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Uneasy Street by Becky Wade. Happy Valentine's Day! And Happy Release Day to Uneasy Street! I adored this book! I'm hoping to have my review up tomorrow, so, if you're interested, come back and check it out. 

About the Book

Christy Award Hall of Fame Author

Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance!

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

I’ve waited four years for this day, and it’s finally here.

Friday 56

Max hadn’t moved. He’d remained where Sloane had left him on the patio, his vision taking in data but his brain registering none of it.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Crime and Cat-astrophes (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery #4) by DeAnna Drake

About the Book
Did the professor get what he deserved, or is murder on the prowl in small-town California?

As a late-summer heat wave scorches the sleepy town of Citrus Grove, the suspicious death of a notoriously unpopular professor puts Rebecca and her talking cat, Aneksi, hot on the trail of another cursed artifact and a killer.

Police Detective Nick Devon, her dashing new flame, is following the rulebook in his investigation, but the Cuthbert Exotic Antiques manager is trusting her instincts as she follows the clues. With her grandfather distracted by an unexpected visitor—who may not be what he seems—and Aneksi rekindling a bond with a long-lost sibling, Rebecca knows she’s on her own to search for the ancient scepter that may hold the key to the dead professor’s medical miracle…and the reason behind his demise.

In this twisty tale of hidden motives, intensifying danger, and a dash of magic, Rebecca must rely on her wits—and, hopefully, Aneksi’s sharp claws—to solve the case before she becomes the cunning murderer’s next victim.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was another great addition to the series! While it’s book four, it works perfectly fine as a standalone. I don’t think you’d have any trouble jumping into the series here.

Another Egyptian relic stolen from Grandpa Stirling’s collection pops up and causes trouble. Rebecca and the gang work together to get it back before it causes any more damage.

The mystery was really good. I never could figure out who the guilty party was. I kept jumping from suspect to suspect and was surprised by the final reveal.

I loved meeting Aneksi’s sister Khepeset and hope she makes an appearance in future books. They’re quite the duo!

This book was a ton of fun! I loved revisiting these characters and meeting some new ones too. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I can’t wait for more! Especially after that ending!

I received a copy of this book via BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

4.5 STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Ambush (A Sanctuary Novel Book 1) by Colleen Coble

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Ambush (A Sanctuary Novel Book 1) by Colleen Coble releasing March 4.

About the Book

The first book in the riveting Sanctuary Series from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble, where a young woman will do anything to uncover the truth of her parents' murder--even work alongside the man who once broke her heart. Perfect for fans of Allison Brennan and Dani Pettrey.

Paradise Alden's childhood in Nova Cambridge, Alabama, was idyllic until the night her parents were murdered. Since then, life has left her scarred. The abuse she suffered in the foster care system, her first love's betrayal, and the jaguar attack that nearly destroyed her career have led to an unshakable distrust--in men, in God, and maybe in even in herself.

After fifteen years, returning to her hometown is a last resort to finding her life again. She's hoping the wildlife refuge where she's accepted a veterinarian job will be the perfect place to heal from her recent traumas and unlock her memories about the night her parents died. But the day she arrives at The Sanctuary, a body is discovered on the grounds. And soon, a series of deadly events threatens not only her future, but the man who, despite all odds, still makes her pulse stutter. Arson, a shooting, a break-in, and multiple instances of animals being freed from their enclosures all point back to him, but Paradise knows Blake Lawson isn't responsible. Not the man who has been helping his mother manage The Sanctuary these past six months and care for his stepbrothers in the wake of their father's death . . . even if his betrayal years ago cost her everything.

Someone dangerous is lurking beneath the town's moss-draped trees, and Paradise refuses to let another murderer disappear into the shadows.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: The Secret of Moonrise Manor: A Raven Gallows Mystery by Stephanie Bearce

About the Book

Wednesday Addams + Sherlock Holmes = Raven Gallows—a curious girl who uses her budding skills as a mortician and a scientist to investigate a mysterious death at her small town’s haunted hotel.

Raven Gallows lives in a funeral home and is determined to become a famous detective. Her first case is one close to home—find the truth surrounding her mother’s puzzling death six years ago.

When a mummified man is discovered behind a wall at the Moonrise Manor Hotel, Raven is shocked to see that the body is clutching her mother’s gold and silver locket.

Raven gathers her friends—Cosmina Wilde, who thinks she can talk to ghosts; Miles Farnsworth, who works at the haunted hotel; and Eric Wong, who possesses unparalleled computer skills—and sets out to learn the identity of the mummy. As they follow the clues, they discover more than they bargained for, including a stash of stolen art and a legend of a secret society.

The Secret of Moonrise Manor is a story about family, friendship, and the courage it takes to pursue the truth.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This middle grade mystery was a ton of fun! It’s full of wonderful characters and features a puzzling mystery set in the charming town of Sassafras Springs. One of my favorite parts was all the Edgar Allan Poe references and quotes! So clever!

The characters were wonderfully weird and quirky. Raven was likable, if a little hardheaded. I appreciated her curiosity and her love of all things science. Her friends were also very likable. Cosmina, her best friend who talks to ghosts; Miles, the new boy in town; and Eric, who’s great with research. I enjoyed seeing them all team up and use their unique skills to try to solve the mystery.

Speaking of the mystery, I thought it was really good. They found a mummy at Moonrise Manor, which might have a connection to the mysterious death of Raven’s mother. I had my suspicions about who the guilty party was and why they did it, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure until the reveal.

I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading more books following this group of mystery-solving friends.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FOUR STARS

The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly

About the Book

The Great British Baking Show meets a cozy mystery with a contemporary romance and a Regency-era twist.

"Connolly, known for romances, ably opens this new ro-mystery series, crafting a slow, charming, sweet fall and filling the case with details of baking, estate living, and reality TV filming." --Library Journal

When Claire Walker is selected to be a contestant on the immensely popular cooking show, Britian’s Battle of the Bakers, she is thrilled. She can’t wait to spend eight enchanting weeks baking at the picturesque estate of Blackfirth Park. She can almost smell the fresh pastries wafting through the air as she and her fellow contestants use historical equipment to bring pre-1900s recipes to life. If she can win the fifty thousand pounds, she’ll be able to ditch her teaching job and launch her baking career.

The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, is the custodian of Blackfirth Park and an eligible bachelor. With his family’s income dwindling, he reluctantly agrees to host the entire production team, but he refuses to participate since he’s had enough of single women who see him as nothing more than a potential conquest. But when a contestant is found dead soon after filming begins, Jonathan is forced to get involved. To make matters worse, the baker’s death is eerily similar to the legendary death of the tenth Viscountess of Colburn two hundred and fifty years earlier, which sends rumors racing through the estate.

Even as suspicion falls on some of the bakers, a decidedly different kind of heat begins to simmer between Claire and Jonathan. If they are to have any hope of a future romance, they must first solve the mystery before the show gets canceled or someone else falls prey to the Blackfirth Park ghost.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Claire lands a spot on Britain’s Battle of the Bakers, but things take a nasty turn when a fellow contestant is murdered.

I love baking shows, in particular The Great British Baking Show, which this book's competition takes inspiration from. I thought it was a really fun idea for a novel. Add in a mystery, and I was doubly intrigued.

I will say that it had a bit of a slow start. Once the mystery began, though, things picked up, and while I did have a little trouble connecting to the story, I ended up enjoying it.

The baking scenes were fun and made me so hungry! And I liked Jonny. He was a classic but lovable grump.

I loved the setting of Blackfirth Park and was very intrigued by the history of the manor. Though, I wish that history would’ve been explored a little more in depth, along with the legend of the murder of Lady Coburn.

The mystery was intriguing. The "who" was fairly obvious, but the "why" surprised me. If you're looking for a sweet cozy mystery, give this book a try. It's the start of a series, and I'm curious to see where that will lead.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

THREE STARS