As the country gears up for war, changes come quickly to small-town America.
The Last Perfect Summer by Karla Stover is a close-up view of an earlier time as war comes to a fast-changing America. Louise Tanquist, the adopted daughter of a successful Tacoma modiste, is building her own life and following her dreams of opening a photography studio by working for and learning all she can from the owner of a local business. But as the war that will become known as World War I gains momentum, life speeds up, new technologies and innovations are everywhere, and Louise is swept up in the changes and what they bring to her life and hometown.
Louise is an engaging, truly likable heroine, with solid hopes and plans to achieve them. A thoroughly modern young woman, she is involved in her community and the efforts to assist in the ongoing European war when President Wilson announces the United States is joining the fray. Life, as she knows it, is about to change forever.
The plot moves steadily forward as tragedy visits. The author’s attention to detail, physical and emotional, and the historical reconstruction of the time and place is an absolute marvel as the story is dotted with real people and actual places – an absorbing and satisfying creation of historical fiction.
I recommend THE LAST PERFECT SUMMER to readers of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in pre-World War I America and the early Pacific Northwest.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.
Historical Cozy Mystery 4th in SeriesSetting - 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
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?
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cozy Mystery 8th in Series Setting - Redemption, Wisconsin, in the 1990s Publisher: Love-Based Publishing Publication date: March 25, 2026 Page count: 200 pages PaperbackISBN: 9798893510393 ASIN: B0GNZPYN1L DigitalASIN: B0FHQHXNGR
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.
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.
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.
The Last Perfect Summer by Karla Stover
