Saturday, April 04, 2026

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: A Staged Death (Lady Librarian Mystery, #4) by Samantha Larsen

 

A Staged Death
A Lady Librarian Mystery
by
Samantha Larsen


About A Staged Death

 

A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries

Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series Setting - 1787, Bath.
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: March 31, 2026
Listening Length: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0GCGRPKHW

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A cozy historical mystery set in the 18th century—perfect for Bridgerton fans!

1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.

Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.

If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?

©2018 Samantha Larsen (P)2026 Dreamscape First
Click to Purchase!


About Samantha Larsen


Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, having tea parties, and chauffeuring her four kids. She teaches World Literature at Brigham Young University. Her young adult fiction books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and her historical romances are published around the world. She also writes murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen that Publisher’s Weekly called “wildly enjoyable.”




Tour Participants


March 31 - Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
March 31 - Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
April 2 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 2 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
April 2 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
April 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 3 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
April 4 – The Editing Pen – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
April 4 – Carla Loves To Read - REVIEW
April 5 – Connie’s History Classroom - REVIEW
April 5 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 6 – Hall Ways Blog – REVIEW
April 6 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!


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Friday, April 03, 2026

Book Blast: The Last Fairy Witch (The Women of Midsummer, #3) by Jean M. Roberts



 

THE LAST FAIRY WITCH

By Jean M. Roberts


Historical Fantasy

Publication Date: March 31, 2026



SYNOPSIS



Hannah Heronstone appears to have everything—a devoted husband, a beloved child, and a thriving business built on ancient herbal knowledge. Yet beneath the calm surface of her life, something old and malevolent stirs. A disturbing encounter with a friend from her husband’s past awakens Hannah’s suspicion that a coven of dark witches is gathering near Wentworth Manor. When Hannah, Peter, and Johannah journey to Ireland, her fears take terrifying form as she comes face to face with an unspeakable monster. A fairy offers her aid—but in a land where truth is slippery and magic demands a price, can such a creature be trusted? And where, across legend and time, can she find the Last Fairy Witch?

Centuries earlier, Eithne is a young Irish slave whose gift for healing marks her as something more. Trained by a druid, her growing power cannot be hidden for long. Sent to the sacred stronghold of Rathcroghan to become a Bandrui, Eithne finds herself caught between two suitors—a gifted bard and a handsome prince—while a darker force watches from the shadows. A ruthless witch who will stop at nothing to destroy her.

Separated by centuries but bound by magic and fate, Hannah and Eithne must each risk everything to confront the darkness rising in their worlds. To save those they love, they must cross through time itself—or lose all they hold dear.



The Last Fairy Witch is book three in The Women of Midsummer Series. 


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BOOK TRAILER

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Jean M. Roberts makes her home outside of Houston, Texas. Her experiences as a military brat, a serving Air Force officer, and wife of an Air Force pilot have left her with a love of travel, history and a sense of adventure. THE LAST FAIRY WITCH is her 11th novel. She writes historical fiction, historical fantasy, and cozy murder mysteries set in a fictitious Texas town. When not writing, she loves to garden, cook, read and dream of her next book. 




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Thursday, April 02, 2026

Book Tour & Giveaway: Ghostly Returns by Stephanie Hansen


Irish folklore meets small town USA



Ghostly Returns
Ghostly Howls Book 2
by
Stephanie Hansen


Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Romantasy



Irish folklore meets small town USA

Strange visitors have appeared in Ethel, their clothes and mannerisms jarring against the familiar rhythm of the coastal town. The woman in Orla and Dave's spare room speaks in archaic phrases and marvels at electric lights, while the silent man staying with Molly and Cormac carries a translucent device that glows with symbols no one recognizes.

As fog rolls in from the sea, bringing with it the now-familiar whispers and cold spots that signal another haunting, the four friends realize they must unravel the temporal mystery before them. The clock tower strikes at midnight, and both past and future hang in the balance.

*Contains mature themes, open door sex scenes, and mature language.

 

Amazon * Apple Books * B&N * Kobo

Books2Read * BookBub * Goodreads




Three years ago, the small town of Ethel, VA, was rocked to its core when the lighthouse became a beacon for something ancient and hungry. Every year since then, we’ve cast a protection spell, tying knots in rope while visualizing a protective shield, at the weathered tower a week before Samhain, our voices carried away by the salt-tinged wind. This year’s no different.

Cormac’s slender fingers intertwine with mine as we approach Orla and Dave across the grassy shoreline. We’ve managed to mostly heal from the toxic tendencies of the past—the jealousy, the competition, the midnight arguments that left scorch marks on the walls. Magical abilities complementing each other have a tendency to do that, like puzzle pieces finally finding their fit.

The mid-October sunlight glints off Cormac’s long, blonde hair, turning each strand into spun gold against the blue sky. We don’t meet here at night anymore, not since the shadows began to move independently of their owners. She gently squeezes my hand in reassurance, slight crow’s feet crinkling around her eyes with a smile that blooms one of my own in return. She tries to continue her broody exterior by wearing a scuffed leather jacket with silver buckles, but her face is too full of light these days to continue the façade.

“It’s about time you two showed up,” Orla says as she wraps me in a hug, her dark curls tickling my cheek. Her automatic soul-possessing ability takes hold straight away, a warm honey-like sensation flooding through my veins. I feel her anxiety—sharp and metallic—and she feels mine. While hers is about the treacherous events three years ago, mine is about the small velvet box burning a hole in my pocket, holding a moonstone ring for Cormac.

I know she’ll say yes; I hear Orla’s thoughts echo in my mind like a whisper in an empty room. To assuage her anxiety, I push forward images of Cormac and me from earlier in the morning. We’d stayed in bed, all consumed with passionate kisses and bodies moving in rhythmic dance together; sheets twisted around our ankles, the taste of her still on my lips.

Okay, okay, you’re excused for being late, Orla sends through the connection, her mental voice tinged with amusement. Then it’s gone as Dave, tall and broad-shouldered in his flannel-lined jacket, gently pulls her out of the hug. He complements her power as Cormac complements mine, his deep voice carrying over the crash of waves against the shore.

“Did you actually expect them to be on time?” he asks her, his breath visible in the chilly air.

Orla looks at me, her eyes sparkling, and we snicker like schoolgirls sharing a secret.

“Some of us know how to keep a woman in bed,” I goad Dave, watching his cheeks flush crimson.

Before he can respond, Cormac says, “Guys, I think you should come over here,” her voice tight with tension.

She’s rounding the other side of the lighthouse, her boots crunching on the path. I jog over to her, worried she might be in danger, the wind whipping my hair across my face. Once I’m next to her, I’m struck with frozen terror, my breath catching in my throat. As Orla and Dave’s footsteps catch up, I try to count the sleeping bodies sprinkled around the remnants of a bonfire.

Sprawled across the damp autumn ground lies a peculiar assembly of slumbering figures—some adorned in woolen cloaks and flowing medieval gowns; others draped in shimmering flapper dresses and tweed vests and flat caps. The incongruous sight sends a chill down my spine, conjuring memories of that haunted night years ago when phantoms in pheasant feathers and tarnished armor materialized from the mist. Could history be repeating itself? I draw Cormac closer, my fingers tightening protectively around her shoulder. A bitter wind sweeps through the clearing, rustling crimson leaves and stirring the strange visitors from their dreams.

“Oh, halloo,” calls a woman with cascading silver-streaked hair that catches the morning light. Deep laugh lines frame her eyes as she rises gracefully to her feet, brushing debris from her embroidered skirts. Her button nose crinkles above heart-shaped lips as she smiles warmly. “I’m Marie. We weren’t expecting anyone so early.”

“You’re days early for Samhain,” Orla informs her, her voice carrying across the clearing.

“Samhain!” exclaims a younger woman with stylish curls and bright eyes. She leaps up, clapping her hands together with enthusiasm, silver bracelets jingling at her wrists. “I’m Florian. I absolutely adore a proper shindig.”

Another woman glides forward, her tweed vest firmly hugging her body. She loops her arm possessively around Florian’s slender waist and extends her other hand, adorned with bangles that glint in the early light. “Kiersten,” she offers, her voice melodic but guarded.

“Molly, and this is Cormac,” I reply, mirroring Kiersten’s protective gesture by drawing Cormac against my side, feeling her warmth through her leather jacket.

“Might there be lodgings available in your village?” Marie inquires, her eyes scanning the distant rooftops visible through the thinning trees.

“Not anywhere that could accommodate a gathering of this size,” Dave responds, his weathered hands resting on his leather belt.

A tall woman with anxious eyes approaches Orla hesitantly. A man with sandy blond hair clutches her trembling arm as she nervously smooths out her skirt. Dave and I don’t miss her flinch with his touch, juxtaposing their closeness. It resurfaces memories from when Dave and Orla couldn’t touch. “Hello, I’m Claudia,” she murmurs, “and may I present Alex?” Her delicate fingers twist together nervously while Alex soothingly rubs her goosebump-covered arms.

“Orla and Dave,” Dave announces, nodding curtly. When Alex extends his hand to Orla, Dave intercedes and shakes his hand, so Orla doesn’t have to.

“Um, Orla,” Alex interjects, his deep voice surprisingly gentle. “Pardon our intrusion, but might Claudia ask you something rather personal?”

“Of course, what troubles you?” Orla asks, leaning forward with interest.

“Do you perceive others’ thoughts when you make physical contact?” Claudia whispers, her pale cheeks blooming with a rosy flush that spreads to the tips of her ears.

“Perhaps we should escort this assemblage to our homestead,” Dave interrupts, clearing his throat. “We have several spare rooms. Not sufficient for everyone, but certainly preferable to camping outside.”

“We’d be eternally grateful,” Marie responds, casting a concerned sideways glance at Claudia’s distressed expression. “A proper rest would benefit us tremendously after our... unusual journey.”




Ghostly Howls
Ghostly Howls Book 1




Irish folklore meets small town USA

A heartbroken half banshee, a cockle selling soul possessor, and a town haunted by mysteries…if they don't find the killer, Orla and Molly might die before finding their soulmates.

Orla and Dave's love has been unrequited for as long as they can remember. Cormac and Molly are used to drawing outside the lines. None of them are prepared for the new ghostly neighbors.

In a town that's always ostracized them, can Molly and Orla finally use their powers openly in order to save the citizens?

*Contains mature themes, open door sex scenes, and mature language.

*Don't miss the YA series also by Stephanie Hansen - Altered Helix & Replaced Parts







Stephanie Hansen is a PenCraft and Global Book Award Winning Author as well as an Imadjinn finalist. Her debut novella series, Altered Helix, released in 2020. It hit the #1 New Release, #1 Best Seller, and other top 100 lists on Amazon. It is now being adapted to an animated story for Tales. Her debut novel, Replaced Parts, released in 2021 through Fire & Ice YA and Tantor Audio. It has been in a Forbes article, hit Amazon bestseller lists, and made the Apple young adult coming soon bestsellers list. The second book in the Transformed Nexus series, Omitted Pieces, released in 2022. Her debut spicy paranormal romance, Ghostly Howls, released 2023. Her debut historical magical realism, Armored Hours, released 2024. The Armored Hours sequel, Guarded Time, was released in 2025 and the Ghostly Howls sequel, Ghostly Returns, released in 2026. She is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community, so she tries to incorporate that into her fiction.

 

Website * Facebook * X (Twitter) * Instagram * TikTok * BookBub * Amazon * Goodreads



Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Arson, Old Lace, and Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, #8) by Michele Pariza Wacek

 

Arson, Old Lace and Murder 
(Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
by
Michele (PW) Pariza Wacek


About Arson, Old Lace and Murder

 

Arson, Old Lace and Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)

Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting - Redemption, Wisconsin, in the 1990s
Publisher: Love-Based Publishing
Publication date: March 25, 2026
Page count: 200 pages
Paperback ISBN: 9798893510393
ASIN: B0GNZPYN1L
Digital ASIN: B0FHQHXNGR

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Charlie Kingsley is not a private investigator. She makes and sells custom teas out of her home. Which is why she initially refused to look into a recent case of a bar that had burned down. 

Yes, it was tragic that the owner's body was found inside. But this is an arson case, and what does she possibly know about arson? 

Except...one of the waitresses is missing.

Who's pregnant.

Who everyone thought was having an affair with the owner of the bar. 

How can Charlie say no to the owner's widow? And when Charlie accidentally finds the pregnant waitress, things start to take a strange turn. And suddenly, Charlie finds herself thrust into a decades-old mystery that haunts Redemption to this day. 

A mystery that could very well cost Charlie her life. 

Meet Charlie. Also known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

Click to Purchase!


About Michele (PW) Pariza Wacek

 
A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and still visits regularly, but she herself escaped the cold and now lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

While each book is a standalone, you may find it more enjoyable to read the books in order, which is:

The Murder Before Christmas
Ice Cold Murder
Murder Next Door
Murder Among Friends
The Murder of Sleepy Hollow
Red Hot Murder
A Cornucopia of Murder
Arson, Old Lace and Murder
Masquerading as Murder (coming 2026)

Other books in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series include:
A Grave Error (prequel)
Loch Ness Murder
A Wedding to Murder For
Three French Hens and a Murder
A Room For Murder
Margaritas and Murder
Secret Santa Murder (coming 2026)


Review

5 stars!

Charlie is drawn into a deadly case of arson, murder, and revenge. 

Arson, Old Lace, and Murder is the eighth book in author Michele Pariza Wacek's always-intriguing Charlie Kingsley Mystery series, where a deadly case of arson draws Charlie into the affairs of the clannish 1888ers, the direct descendants of the children left behind when every adult in Redemption mysteriously disappeared in a single night. While Charlie is delivering a tea order to her one client who lives in a part of town almost exclusively inhabited by 1888ers, she discovers a local business ablaze, with a young woman trapped inside. After rescuing her and hearing that a man was still in the building, Charlie returns to make another attempt, but it's too late. In the meantime, though, the survivor, who is well along in pregnancy, disappears with Charlie's coat and the money from her wallet. Shockingly, the police officer on the scene is completely uninterested in locating the young mother-to-be, or in investigating what is obviously a case of arson. The following day, after the local paper reports Charlie's actions at the fire, the wife of the man who perished comes to hire her to investigate his murder. 

Once again, Charlie Kingsley is at the center of a baffling crime that Officer Brandon Wyle doesn't want her investigating. However, this story is unique in that even her friends are adamantly opposed to her involvement, except for pseudo-detective and retired high school English teacher, Mildred Schmidt, who is eager to assist. 

Charlie hits a brick wall with every clue she pursues, and even the young woman who had pulled the disappearing act is unwilling to tell what she knows. In an interesting twist, Wyle is warned off asking questions about the case by his superiors and is forced to encourage Charlie to dig up something so concrete that the case can no longer be swept under the rug. The barriers to the official investigation into anything related to the 1888ers are unknown, but whatever they are, they are closely guarded secrets. 

Charlie and Wyle's relationship is off-kilter and uneasy, and I'm becoming less and less an advocate of their pairing as time goes on. I don't feel like he supports her or truly respects her as a smart and capable adult. It's time she explores other options. 

The story maintains a brisk pace as Charlie does her best to pry information from anyone who might shed light on the secrets of the 1888ers and an even more insular group, The Forgotten. The resolution was surprising, but it made sense. 

While this book is the eighth in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. However, for the best experience, read a couple of the previous books in this or the related series by the author. I recommend ARSON, OLD LACE, AND MURDER to readers of cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy paranormal elements in their stories.


Tour Participants


March 23 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
March 23 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
March 24 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
March 25 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
March 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 27 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
March 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
March 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 30 – Sarandipity's – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 31 - Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW
April 1 – Because I Said So – REVIEW
April 1 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read- REVIEW
April 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 2 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
April 3 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 4 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!


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Book Review: The Throwback (West Coast Mystery, #2) by C.S. Cowan

The Throwback: A West Coast MysteryThe Throwback: A West Coast Mystery by C.S. Cowan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Complex and compelling, a riveting mystery of murder, betrayal, and revenge.

The Throwback is the second book by author C.S. Cowan in her riveting West Coast Mystery series, a series tied together by its Canadian Sunshine Coast setting rather than recurring characters, so it works perfectly as a standalone. This entry features a mystery writer, Skylar "Skye" Whelan, who returns to her small coastal hometown of Sechelt after her financial advisor husband is revealed as a conman who's bilked his senior citizen clients out of their retirement funds. Skye plans to focus on her next novel and keep a low profile, but finds herself drawn into a decade-old disappearance that someone doesn't want her meddling in.

Skye Whelan is a wounded soul after her husband betrays his clients, and the victims and the public find it hard to believe she wasn't in on his scheme. She dropped her married name and returned to Sechelt, hoping to fade from the limelight and the public's memory. Still, her notoriety keeps following her. The discovery of bones at a local construction site brings her to the attention of the new RCMP supervising detective, Staff Sergeant Noah Rimes, who replaced her father in that position on his retirement from the service. There is an immediate connection between her and Noah, but her unfortunate past colors their budding relationship.

Noah has a complicated and tragic past as well. His career move from Vancouver to this small coastal outpost is an attempt at a second chance at life. He's settling in but is concerned about whether he will fit into the slower pace of his new jurisdiction. However, he is soon facing a baffling rash of petty break-ins and incidents of vandalism, when he really needs to focus on the newly uncovered murder.

Along with strong characters, the story is complex, featuring twists and turns everywhere and some seemingly unconnected subplots. There is a storyline involving two inept young criminals that is particularly absorbing, and their unexpected relevance to the bigger picture really had me fooled. However, while the narrative included understandable, easy-to-follow flashbacks, a couple of scenes in the present-day timeline seemed out of order. While these instances made me question what I had previously read, they didn't affect the plot's trajectory. For example, an injured pet is rushed to the vet, only to reappear next, frolicking on the beach with a neighbor's dog, with no mention of the medical emergency. A chapter or so later, the emergency incident comes back up, and the dog is recuperating, not yet up to any frolicking. Still, the story returned to page-turner status, keeping me reading and engaged until the final reveal.

I recommend THE THROWBACK to readers of mystery, suspense, and thrillers, especially those craving an intriguing West Coast Canadian setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Book Review: She Thought I Knew (West Coast Thriller, #1) by C.S. Cowan

She Thought I Knew: A West Coast ThrillerShe Thought I Knew: A West Coast Thriller by C.S. Cowan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With its deceptively intricate plot and engaging main character, SHE THOUGHT I KNEW had me hooked from start to finish.

She Thought I Knew is the first book in author C.S. Cowan’s new West Coast Thriller series featuring Simon Fraser University criminology professor Dr. Maeve Rosetti. Maeve returns home to her roots to support her estranged sister when Kathleen’s 15-year-old daughter, Jessica, goes missing after sneaking out of the house to attend a local dance. With time running out for a happy resolution, Maeve must confront the demons of her past to help bring her only niece home.

The plot for the book is robust and full of intriguing secondary storylines: the death of Maeve’s husband, the old hurt standing between the two sisters, and their father’s unsolved disappearance when they were young, to name a few. But even more tangles are in store for readers as the story progresses. The author cleverly eeks out clues but reserves just enough detail to obfuscate the truth behind Jessica’s disappearance. I was certain I had this one figured out, only to find out I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The story focuses on the impact on the missing girl’s family and the subsequent unfolding of family secrets. Maeve and Kathleen’s estrangement runs deep, and there is a walking-on-eggshells tension, which extends to include Kathleen’s husband, Doug, whenever the two are together. The appearance of Doug’s best friend, reporter Hank Jensen, was like a breath of fresh air in the highly emotional atmosphere. He and Maeve worked well together as they talked to possible witnesses or checked out leads to Jessica’s whereabouts. One aspect I liked about the plot’s very foundation is that Maeve lets the police do their job. She is the first to draw a line between her profession and that of the trained investigators, and everyone adheres to and respects that distinction. What she does uncover is that there are consequences to our actions, some immediate and some that manifest themselves long afterward.

The author’s writing style was comfortable and easy to read, and I was absorbed into these characters’ lives from the start. The story is smartly paced, with twists occurring as new clues to Jessica’s disappearance start to taper off. The setting on the Sechelt Peninsula’s Sunshine Coast was unique, providing a lot of possibilities to figure in the search: populous Vancouver and rural west Canada, tourist hotspots, lonely stretches of beach, and mountainous areas, with drifters, “Coasters,” and the indigenous people all present and available for plot twists.

With its deceptively intricate plot and engaging main character, I recommend SHE THOUGHT I KNEW to mystery and thriller readers and those who enjoy Canadian settings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Puerto Rico Payback (Ray Ramage, #2) by Jack Heape

Puerto Rico Payback: A Ray Ramage Novel (Ray Ramage Series Book 2)Puerto Rico Payback: A Ray Ramage Novel by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Riveting geopolitical thriller pitting the US against Chinese incursions into the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico Payback is the second book in veteran author Jack Heape's thrilling Ray Ramage series, and this time, the "retired" naval intelligence officer's unique instincts and special skills are needed in Puerto Rico. Ray is tasked with uncovering suspected wrongdoing in San Juan's busy seaport, which could have far-reaching impacts on the balance of power in the strategically critical Caribbean. Ray has been recuperating on his yacht, moored in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, since his experiences in the Virgin Islands months earlier, and he's almost relieved when he gets the call from now-Director of Homeland Security Cynthia Clarkson that he is needed for an off-the-books mission in Puerto Rico. He allowed himself to be talked back into action to 'return a favor,' but his life in luxury was getting a bit stale. However, once in San Juan and embedded in his cover story role, he soon realizes that the problem he's there to investigate is just the tip of a much bigger scheme, one that may have ties to his previous operation in the Virgin Islands.

Ray Ramage is a likable and accomplished operator who gives off plenty of the classic men's action series vibes of characters like Matt Helm, but with the modern-day sensibilities and knight-errantry of a Jack Reacher. Monied and living on a yacht with a private captain and crew, including a chef, and a personal assistant holding down the fort in Charleston, Ray is mobile and ready to move at a moment's notice. His situational awareness makes for exciting on-the-fly action that occasionally incurs collateral damage, which Ray carries in his head and heart, repeatedly rethinking his actions and riddled with guilt. However, Ray and his hand-picked veteran support team plan their operations to the nth degree, accounting for a variety of alternate scenarios. Still, they can't cover every possibility, and the plot's twists and turns provided big surprises.

The San Juan setting provides a unique and colorful backdrop for the fast-paced action. With the author's vibrant descriptions, the wonderfully sun-drenched location comes alive with vivid sights, the sounds of salsa music, and the scents of the local cuisine. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are the names of actual places that those familiar with the city will recognize and that those who are not will hope to experience for themselves one day.

The action is nonstop as Ray and his local contact, Ruth Ramos, infiltrate operations at Zoros Integrated Shipping Services, ground zero and pivot point in the suspected Chinese takeover. Their adversaries are heavy hitters working both inside and outside the company, including Rita Acosta, the firm's own security director; Miguel Rojas, an evil assassin Acosta's brought in as an enforcer for her local misdeeds; and a behind-the-scenes Chinese mastermind and Acosta's play caller. While the Chinese link remains hidden, Acosta must deal with Ray's daily presence on-site in his role as a 'security consultant' and is immediately suspicious of his probing questions. Rojas also operates from the shadows, but vignettes from his past reveal his motivations for his life choices. His skills and planning acumen make him a perfect nemesis. I enjoyed the fun subplot of what was going on back home on the yacht between Jay, the captain of the Two Deuces, and an unusually territorial and aggressive seagull that had launched its own takeover.

The author's writing style is compelling yet easy to read. At times, there was a tendency to repeat facts unnecessarily, which seemed to occur in consecutive chapters. One quibble I had with the plot was that Ruth Ramos, a major character involved in Ray's infiltration of Voros, drops out of the action for noticeable blocks of time, only to reappear later without comment. As she is part of Ray's cover story, she is also long overlooked by his adversaries.

Although this book is the second in the series and can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, there's not much backstory or introduction provided for many recurring characters. Readers may have to figure out relationships from context clues alone. For the best enjoyment of the series, I suggest reading the books in order.

I recommend PUERTO RICO PAYBACK to readers of action-adventure and geopolitical thrillers.



View all my reviews

Monday, March 30, 2026

Book Blitz: The Guilt of Others by Sara Burrell


The Guilt of Others
by
Sara Burrell

Mystery
Publisher: Seacoast Press
Publication Date: February 25, 2026
Page count: 332 pages


SYNOPSIS

The Guilt of Others opens with the sound of a gunshot in an overcrowded office. But who was shot—and who pulled the trigger—remains a mystery. Told through the intertwined perspectives of multiple characters, each harboring secrets and scars from past and present, the story slowly unravels the emotional and psychological web of trauma, secrets, and buried motives binding them together. With nine suspects, three possible weapons, and a detective whose instincts are starting to betray her, the search for the truth unearths secrets no one was prepared to face.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Sara Burrell grew up in Mableton, Georgia. She is a graduate of Young Harris College and The University of Georgia. Sara is in her twentieth year of teaching and is currently a teacher at an elementary school in Georgia where she is the gifted program coordinator for third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Her husband of 18 years, 2 children, 2 hound dogs, and 2 cats provide plenty of adventure and excitement to her already-busy days. Through all that, she also writes books. The Guilt of Others is her second novel. Her first, Newsworthy, released in 2023, was praised for its suspenseful plot and surprising twists.


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