Tag: Mystery

Double Mocha Blues

Jocelyn “Joss” Miller, a twenty-something barista, works at Sugar Creek Cafe, a hip coffeehouse with deep ties to the local arts and music community. Joss is finally feeling like she’s found her purpose as her recently launched podcast soars in popularity. With her family’s blessings, Joss produces a special tribute to her grandfather.

What seems like a step towards healing instead sets off a firestorm of reactions in the community. There are a few who would rather not be reminded of how Joss’s grandfather had been murdered years ago. When the staunchest protester is found dead, Joss becomes the number one suspect.

My Review:

An intriguing start to a new spin-off series. Joss was a secondary character in the ‘Eugeena Patterson Mysteries‘ and her exuberance and quest for justice couldn’t be contained so she wrangled her way into her own series. There was a little bit of a disconnect because of the carry over of characters and Joss’s back story. I’ve only read the first Eugeena Patterson book so I hadn’t met Joss yet. So, it kind of felt like I was starting in the middle of a series, but not enough to diminish my enjoyment of ‘Double Mocha Blues.‘ And, of course, now I need to back track and catch up with Eugeena because a lot has happened in that good lady’s life!

A cozy mystery with an edge. The cozy elements — coffee shop, small town hominess, supportive friends and family — create a comforting balance to Joss’s cold case investigation of her grandfather’s murder decades ago — a racially motivated hate crime. Her podcast stirs up old hurts and resentments…and a new corpse. As a potential suspect, Joss has the incentive to do some sleuthing of her own.

A classic set up for a cozy mystery and Moody does it well. Loved Joss’s tenacious, feistiness and the deep loyalty she feels for friends and family — the whole community really. She’s definitely not a sit-on-the-sidelines kind of gal. Much to the frustration of a certain detective who doesn’t quite know what to make of her. Happy sigh. I do so love a befuddled detective love interest!

Really enjoyed this first book in the Joss Miller Mystery series and am anxious to dive into the second book soon since there’s a nice teaser about what cold case is up next for Joss’s podcast and it sounds so interesting!

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

Bells are ringing and alarms are sounding in Donna Andrews’ latest cheery addition in the New York Times bestselling Meg Langslow series.

Meg’s sister-in-law, Delaney is pregnant. Since her due date is on or around Christmas Day, this is putting a bit of a damper on the usual holiday festivities. Meg and Michael are NOT hosting the usual house full of relatives and parties. Instead, Meg, along with her mother, her grandmother, her cousin Rose Noire, and her good friend Caroline, are militantly doing everything they can think of to keep Delaney quiet and healthy. All the relatives are farmed out to friends and neighbors; all the parties are being held somewhere else, and while Delaney is bored and mutinous, she’s doing well, and they’re managing to maintain a serene, peaceful environment for her . . . until a body is found in Meg and Michael’s yard.

The body turns out to be an attendee at Presumed Innocent, a nearby conference that Meg’s grandmother has organized. Some of the attendees want to learn how to exonerate a friend or family member who has been unjustly convicted, while the rest are avid true crime aficionados. And since the dead guy has been very vocal about his belief that most actual and would-be exonerees are guilty, guilty GUILTY!, nearly everyone at the conference dislikes him. But would any of them hate him enough to kill him? And can Meg still keep Delaney calm in the middle of a murder investigation, all while trying to catch the killer?

My Review:

Grinning madly while humming ‘Rockin’ Around the Chickadee’ with all the festive exuberance I can muster in the middle of an August heatwave. This latest Meg Langslow edition (#36…and may they keep coming forever!) is the perfect blend of murder and mayhem…and festive good cheer.

Thrilled to be back at the Caerphilly Inn (the hotel manager is one of my favourite secondary characters in this series) and there’s all the drama and hijinks you’d expect from any event organized by Meg’s family. And of course, it ends in murder and then the fun really begins!

A cast of familiar characters made this read feel like a homecoming of sorts. The twins are in their early teens now (gasp!) and seemingly immortal (yay!) Grandfather is as irascible as ever. Chief Burke has his hands full trying to solve the murder before Christmas and, naturally, Meg is on hand to do her own sleuthing.

And the piece de resistance is the way Donna Andrews weaves the warmth of the holidays and the spirit of Christmas giving into the story.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by the amazing Bernadette Dunne who will forever be the voice of these characters for me. I have the whole series in my audible library largely because of her stellar performances and I re-listen to the whole series every year. Donna Andrews and Bernadette Dunne are the best kind of cozy pairing ever!

My thanks to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this novel.

An Uncommon Grace + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

A moving and inspirational novel about the power of faith, family and above all, love, as a young Amish man must turn to his Englisch neighbor for help after a devastating tragedy.

Grace Connor, a military nurse formerly stationed in Afghanistan, hopes that moving to a farm in rural Ohio will help her recover from the ravages of war.

Levi Troer finds his pacifist beliefs challenged when he discovers his stepfather has been killed and his mother wounded by an unknown intruder. Levi and Grace are thrown together when she comes to his family’s rescue and saves his mother’s life. A deep attraction develops — even though a relationship between them is strictly forbidden.

Levi belongs to the most conservative and isolated of all Amish sects — the Swartzentruber Amish. Even before meeting Grace, Levi had begun to question some of their teachings. He has considered leaving, but knows he will be banned forever from contact with his younger siblings and widowed mother — who need him to survive. He is torn between his love for Grace and his responsibility to his family.

Grace considered leaving her beloved farm and reenlisting rather than continuing to live near the man she loves but cannot have. Levi must confront the Bank if he pursues Grace. And a murderer must be caught. When lifelong allegiances are tested, can love and justice prevail?

My Review:

published in 2012

Captivating from the very first page, An Uncommon Grace made me think as much as it entertained.

First things first — you have to get past the misleading cover. I’ve never seen such a misrepresentation of a book before! Who is that woman looking off into the distance and why is she on the cover of Grace and Levi’s story? LOL. Grace is obviously not Amish and this book is just as much about Grace and her family as it is about Levi’s and his.  In fact, if you aren’t into Amish fiction, I’d wager that you’d still find this a compelling read on so many levels.

One of the most fascinating part of this book is the glimpse Miller gives us into the strict Swartzentruber Amish order. The story is peppered with so many interesting facts and comparisons with the Old Order Amish that is usually featured in fiction.

The addition of a murder mystery along with the complicated relationship that slowly develops between Levi and Grace makes this  the kind of read you just won’t want to put down. Miller’s characters become living, breathing people with minds and hearts of their own. Grace’s grandmother is an incredible rock for both of them — a genteel lady with a quick sense of humour and deep understanding of the Savior’s love.

As Levi struggles to make sense of the sudden upheaval in his life, Grace finds herself drawn into a chaos of her own. Both ardently support their families, willing to sacrifice anything for those they love. In a perfect world, they would be perfect for each other — but perfection doesn’t come in this life and their journey isn’t an easy one. Miller has spun an emotional tale that I soon won’t forget…and hopefully you won’t either because you’re sure to want to read it now too, right?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Uncommon Grace, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 17 2024.

An Irish Bookshop Murder

An utterly gripping cozy crime murder mystery

Meet Ireland’s newest darling she’s a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case! 

After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbors drops dead! 

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbors hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the judge—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighborly knitter who killed him? 

Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.

Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?

My Review:

I read a lot of cozy mysteries…A. Lot. And I have some fave tropes and settings but I go hyper crazy for two. Ireland and bookstores and, eeeeepppp, this first Mercy McCarthy novel features both! Plus, Mercy is a mystery author too! I’m gobsmacked and silly-giddy and super excited because this series is off to a great start!

There’s a wee bit of an edge to this cozy mystery, with the sisters’ backstories adding a somber note through layers of grief and overcoming. The author still delivers all the beloved elements of a cozy mystery though. The quaint Irish village, quirky neighbours and just the right amount of captivating descriptions so that I could picture myself right there with Mercy and Lizzie.

There’s the classic cozy mystery murder along with a host of potential suspects to keep things interesting and it’s complicated enough to give my sleuthing armchair a fair workout. Mercy is an avid investigator, though clumsy at times. What she lacks in finesse, she makes up for in determination and grit. Much to the chagrin of a certain detective (I’m experiencing heart palpitations at the potential romance vibes.) In fact, I might be a tad obsessed with these characters now. Hoping we won’t have long to wait for the second ‘Mercy McCarthy Mystery‘ to release! Love when I get invested in a story like I did with this one!

I listened to the brilliant audio edition of ‘An Irish Bookshop Murder’ narrated by Kimberly Wetherell who did such a wonderful job with the Irish accents and had me thinking in lilts the whole time I was listening to this book. Loved it soooo much and would highly recommend the audio.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

The Winged Tiara + Giveaway

After a hasty wartime marriage and an even quicker divorce, two jewel thieves risk it all to obtain the grandest prize of them all, the last Valkyrie tiara, but their hearts may have something else in mind.

It was a match made in champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up and divorce papers were issued just in time to ring in the end of the Great War. Jewel thieves and ex-lovers Jasper and Esme find themselves circulating among the elite of British aristocracy where the diamond-lined pockets are ripe for picking. But when the last Valkyrie tiara ever created becomes the talk of the season neither will stop to obtain it, not even when they inadvertently find themselves in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse where their lives are suddenly at stake.

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski’s latest novel combines her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous atmosphere, and sweeping romance in a story readers are sure to be thinking about days after turning the final page.

My Review:

That gorgeous cover sets the stage for the classic black and white movie vibe in this story. I’m a visual reader — where I see things playing out in my mind as I read — and ‘The Winged Tiara’ was like ‘watching’ an old movie reel. Loved that campy feel.

The author stays true to the opulence of a post-war/pre-war European elite. I couldn’t relate to a lot of it — especially the drinking morning, noon and night — but who am I to argue with historical accuracy?! And I could totally understand the frenzied ‘live loud’ mentality after enduring the deprivation of four years of war. So, do the hero and heroine make great choices I can identify with? Definitely not all of the time, but this is fiction after all, and I was all in for the hijinks and banter right through to the end.

A beleaguered soldier and a war weary nursing assistant impulsively marry in the frenzied celebrations on Armistice Day. She sneaks away the next morning and they don’t meet up again until four years later — under the most unusual circumstances….they are both jewel thieves after the same prize!

Bwahahaha! This was such a fun cat-and-mouse romp across Europe! Professional adversaries with a romantic history (albeit a brief one) make Jasper and Esme intriguing opponents. And the way they keep one-upping each other is hysterical. I didn’t know who to root for! But there’s something more sinister afoot and adventure turns to danger and then…wow…that ending!!!!

A thoroughly enjoyable read…well, listen, since I got to appreciate Ann Marie Gideon’s wonderful narration for the audio book. She captured the personalities of these characters beautifully and pulled out an arsenal of accents for the varied supporting cast. So. Much. Fun.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the The Winged Tiara, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 24 2024.

Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor

Random Retro Read

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder. 

Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.

Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. As Heather digs, she finds a mysterious journal that belonged to a woman she never knew and it contains clues that lead to the truth about a mysterious drowning decades ago. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history. 

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways. Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

My Review:

published in 2015

I’m feeling a bit pensive and sad after finishing this novel. It’s an amazing story but not everyone gets a happily ever after. Three generations of women in the same family, all repeating the same mistakes and it just hurt to see how easily history can repeat itself.

It starts with Heather in present day and then flashes back in time, first to Maggie and then to Libby. Melanie Dobson is a genius at connecting the separate stories in a dual timeline novel, slowly giving her readers tiny pieces of the puzzle but not nearly enough to prevent a few earth shattering “aha” moments.

So, I was captivated and compelled to non-stop listen to ‘Shadows of Ladenbrooke’ (great narration by Nancy Peterson. Highly recommend the audio book.) Family history and mystery, a second chance romance and the very real, raw, messiness of broken people doing their best. I definitely need to follow this read up with a rom/com to lighten my spirits!

Resort to Murder + Giveaway

When Emmy Cooper’s life in Chicago is turned upside down, the young interior designer retreats to her family’s lake cottage resort in the beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods for a much-needed break. Hoping to clear her mind and gain a fresh perspective, she looks forward to enjoying the slower pace and the crisp, clean pine air at her beloved Cooper’s Cove Resort with her family, dogs, and her best friend, Whitney.

Unfortunately, her homecoming isn’t as calm as she’d hoped when Emmy finds out a ruthless development company is relentlessly pressuring Lake Covington property owners, including Emmy’s family, to sell their land so they can build an extravagant, modern resort that would ruin the quaint esthetic of the area. And things only get worse when Emmy finds the dead body of one of the developers floating in the lake—murdered!

Suddenly the police are involved, and since Emmy’s father was leading the fight to stop the shady development from getting approval, he’s quickly painted as the prime suspect. Now it’s up to Emmy to prove her father’s innocence, save the reputation of Cooper’s Cove, and find out who would resort to murder.

My Review:

Okay — first of all — cutest cozy cover ever!!! I feel like I can walk right in, nudge that little Yorkie over a wee bit and settle down for a sublime reading session! And that pretty package absolutely reflects all the delightfully cozy details you expect from a cozy mystery. 🙂

Retreating from personal drama, Emmy has returned to her family’s lakeside resort to regroup, only the peace and quiet and familial support she craves goes by the wayside when she finds a dead body on the property! Suddenly her quiet retreat turns into police investigating her father and the family’s livelihood in jeopardy. What’s a daughter to do but put on her deerstalker hat and go sleuthing?!

‘Resort to Murder’ is a fabulous debut novel! Annie McEwen has an engaging writer’s voice and a compelling story to tell. I love the Cooper family dynamics (such a cozy draw) and Emmy’s besties, Whitney and Marcus-with-the-mullet are a hoot! Their investigative skills aren’t quite finely honed, but what they lack in finesse, they make up with enthusiasm. And the cottagey resort setting is so appealing! (and perfect for a summer read.)

The well crafted plot kept me guessing (though I got there in the end. Yay me!) and I really like the way our amateur sleuths played nice with law enforcement. The detective on the case was a long time friend of Emmy’s dad and I liked his compassionate approach to the investigation. Of course our plucky heroine is too impatient to wait for the police to do their thing and a new literary amateur sleuth is born!

And — eeeeep — there’s a sweet romance brewing with a teen crush all grown up and that makes my romance lovin’ heart sooooo happy!

And — double eeeeeppppp!!! — the second book in the ‘Northwoods Mystery’ series is already out. ‘Dead, White and Blue’ (these titles!!!!) is definitely going to make it’s way onto my summer reading list.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Resort to Murder , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 20 2024.

Truth Be Told + Giveaway

Denver’s newest detective. A garden’s deadly secrets.

On a lovely June night in 1924, amateur detective Annalee Spain is mingling bravely at a high-class political fundraiser in the lush backyard garden of famed political fixer Cooper Coates, one of the wealthiest men in Denver’s Black neighborhood of Five Points. When Coates’s young daughter discovers a pretty stranger dead in her father’s garden shed, Annalee is thrust onto the baffling new case just as she’s reeling from another recent discovery―a handwritten letter, found buried in her own garden, that reveals the identity of her mother.

Not ready to face the truth about her hidden past, Annalee throws herself into solving the mystery of the young woman’s demise. With the help of her pastor boyfriend Jack Blake, her orphaned buddy Eddie, and her trustworthy church friends, Annalee follows the clues to three seemingly disconnected settings―a traveling carnival set up downtown, a Black civic club, and a prestigious white seminary on the outskirts of Denver. Intriguing advice also comes from a famous, real-life Denver visitor. But is Annalee on the right track or just running in circles, fleeing from conflicts racing in her heart?

In a taut, heart-gripping narrative driven by secrets, romance, and lies, Annalee must unravel a case with higher stakes than she imagined―one where answers about a lovely woman’s death point to truths and tensions still throbbing today.

My Review:

This series just keeps getting better and better! I love the way we’ve seen so much growth in Annalee over these three books. She is more sure of herself, clearer in her purpose, more resolute in her faith. And she needs to be all that and more as she faces some of the toughest situations she’s experienced since arriving in Denver.

The author incorporates historical facts with unflinching honesty. No sugar coating here as Annalee seeks justice for an unknown murder victim. Racism, violence and corruption brings danger at every turn…and from unexpected places. It’s brutal and confounding – especially as Annalee is confronted by the social bigotry within her own Black community.

This is the kind of story you feel your way through. It’s impossible to be a detached observer. I lived every heartbreaking, infuriating and gut-wrenching moment right along with Annalee and Eddie and Pastor Jack and Mrs. Mason and all the people I hold so dear. And, oh my goodness, the cameo appearance of a revered historical figure who counsels Annalee and brings such hope….I got goosebumps!!!

The mystery is complex but Annalee is relentless and has the backing of loyal friends and unexpected strangers. It’s layered in tragedy and deceit, perpetuated by legions of ‘good people’ who chose to do nothing while atrocities were committed. A mystery with history and heart — the kind of novel that changes a reader for the better by the time she reaches the end.

I listened to the excellent audible edition narrated by Zakiya Young. She brought such energy and enthusiasm to the story and enhanced my ‘reading’ pleasure that much more. She has narrated the entire series so far and these books will definitely be ones I listen to again. Keeper shelf material for sure.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Truth Be Told, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 13 2024.

Between a Flock and a Hard Place

Readers will flock to New York Times bestselling author Donna Andrews’s next installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.

Meg’s neighbors, the Smetkamps’, have won a makeover for their old home from Marvelous Mansions, a flashy, yet dubious company, focused on making historic homes more “modern.” The company already several days into its makeover of the Smetkamps’ house, and tensions are running high–not only between the officious, demanding Mrs. Smetkamp and her neighbors, but also between her and the renovation crew. Meg, who is trying to keep the peace and prevent the makeover crew from trampling on every clause of the county’s building code, arrives at the Smetkamps to find that Caerphilly’s resident flock of feral turkeys has moved into their yard–or been relocated there by someone who wanted to cause them trouble.

The turkeys are huge, territorial, cranky and aggressive – and impossible to move! Meg does what she can to calm down the irate neighbors and help the makeover crew make progress in spite of the turkeys. She comes up with a plan to gather a group of turkey wranglers to snatch them early in the morning. But when they arrive, they find the body of Mrs. Smetkamp in her backyard. Someone stabbed her, and then tried to make it look as if she was attacked by one of the turkeys, but Meg, the Chief, and the Sheriff are not fooled. Together, they must figure out what really happened to Mrs. Smetkamp…and what to do with all these turkeys!

My Review:

I adore Meg Langslow. I love her wild and whacky family, her quirky neighbours, the town of Caerphilly with all its Southern charm and the sheer madcap mayhem that ensues in every book. And, of course, there’s murder. I mean, really, what more can you ask from a cozy mystery? Oh — and the pun-y titles! The books are worth collecting just for those titles alone!

In fact, I am so enamoured with this series that it’s become an annual reread, well, re-listen, for me. I divide the books by 12 and read…er, listen, to 2 or 3 a month (saving all the Christmas books for last, of course.) This is my fourth year and I’m still as enchanted as the first time I met Meg and company!

I contribute some of my fascination with all things Langslow to narrator Bernadette Dunne. She has become the voice, well voices really, of this series, bringing distinctive qualities to each character that are consistent with every book! And her comedic beats are priceless. I get the feeling that she is getting just as much enjoyment out of the story as I am and that feeling is contagious…hence my compulsion to revisit each book every year. A brilliant author/narrator team!

‘Between a Flock and a Hard Place’ is #35(!) and held me gleefully spellbound all the way through. Lots of familiar characters — and I love how Grandfather is still going strong though he is well over 100 now. Spike too, he’s too ornery to die. 🙂 Absurd situations that seem downright normal for Caerphilly kick off a rollicking riot of twists and turns, high drama, and lots of laughs. And the way the town pulls together in times of adversity is inspiring! Just all kinds of feel good, heartwarming hilarity – the perfect cozy mix!

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

Refuge on Crescent Hill + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow and give her time to decide what to do next. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother, who she hasn’t talked to in years, has passed away and “home” is an empty mansion 150 years old. Not exactly the comfort Camden was looking for. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?

When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, some of those memories start to creep back and Camden wonders if her grandmother’s bedtime stories might actually be true. What really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? How was her grandmother involved? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town―and her life―forever. 

My Review:

published in 2010

If you like the hint of a Gothic vibe (aka classic Phyllis A. Whitney) then ‘Refuge on Crescent Hill’ is the read for you. So atmospheric right from the opening page with Camden in desperate straits, heading to her childhood haven and the warmth of her grandmother’s arms. Only her grandmother is dead and the ‘home’ she remembers is a decaying mansion as broken as she feels.

And the house is either haunted or invaded by someone other than herself though no one takes her seriously. And there are so many secrets! Decades of them, all surrounding Camden’s family. And strangers eager to buy the house and the land…some for altruistic reasons, some for nefarious ones. And the town watching every move Camden makes. Sooooooooo scrumptiously mysterious. Layers of villainy to unmask and family history to uncover. Plus a light romance to swoon over. The perfect escape read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the Refuge on Crescent Hill, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 22 2024.