Ranch Ambush (Marshals of Mesa Point, Book One)

 

BARB HAN

How acquired: Harlequin Reader Service Subscription

First line: Can you ever go home again?

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I've only read one other book by this author, an older one published about ten years before this one, and I did not like it. I one-starred it, something I rarely do. So I've been hesitant to pick her up again, even though I have around ten of her books in my TBR. But boy, am I glad I took that chance. Sometimes I read a book from a new to me author and love it so much I grab everything I can find by them, and then I'm disappointed when the next one or two I read aren't nearly as good as that first one. I guess that can work in reverse!

RANCH AMBUSH was well written, and I loved both the hero and heroine. In love for a summer at sixteen, then separated about as many years, there's lots of angst as they both internally hash out their feelings when they see each other again and spend some time together. Plus Duke's grandparents both being in the ICU after a car wreck (which I'm guessing will play out over the course of the series), and the mystery of who is out to hurt Audrey. Considering all the plot, the story is still more character over action, which I am always here for.

Now I'm off to look for Book Two!

Synopsis from Goodreads: Fourteen years after the girl Duke Remington loved disappeared, the US Marshal comes home to discover that Audrey Newcastle is in mortal danger. Protecting Audrey, now a sheriff’s deputy, rekindles painful memories and unwelcome desire. But as secrets from Audrey’s mysterious past surface, Duke must find a way to earn her trust and stop a killer lying in wait to complete a final act of vengeance.

Murder on Mustang Beach (Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery, Book 2)

 ALICIA BESSETTE

How acquired: Borrowed from my local library.

First line: Running the Mustang Beach footpath was the sweetest kind of torture.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I think I liked this second book in the series a little better than the first book. Partly because I really liked the friendship that developed between Callie and Geri-Lynn, the caretaker of the Mustang Beach sanctuary. Geri-Lynn was a great addition to the cast of characters, and her love for and dedication to the mustangs made me appreciate her. Callie really needed a good friend, and while I had hoped during the first book that Officer Fusco would become one, it didn’t happen.

The story opens eleven months after the events of the first book, and Callie and Toby have spent a lot of time together, learning everything there is to know about each other. Toby’s one year self-imposed moratorium on romantic relationships is about to come to an end, and Callie is very much looking forward to having a first date and a first kiss. So of course a dead body is found in Toby’s martial arts studio and the heat – a different kind of heat – is on. And of course Callie can’t sit idly by and let the police solve the murder, so her investigative journalist skills are called upon once again as she begins her own investigation. And of course she puts herself in danger again.

I’m really hoping there will be a third book.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a killer stirs up trouble in the Outer Banks, amateur sleuth and bookseller Callie Padget is on the case, in a new beachside mystery from author Alicia Bessette.

Cattail Island in the Outer Banks is a popular destination for honeymooners and nature lovers alike. So it is a huge blow when the murder of a newlywed grinds the pre-summer season to a screeching halt. Bookseller Callie Padget launches her own investigation, after mysterious customer Geri-Lynn Humfeld, caretaker of the island’s protected wild horses, brings in an irresistible piece of information.

Determined to restore order and safety to her beloved hometown, Callie searches for answers—even as those answers cast suspicion on her soon-to-be boyfriend, Toby Dodge, whose martial arts studio was the scene of the crime. As she digs deeper, Toby becomes the police’s prime suspect. The truth raises troubling questions and sends her scouring the bookshop’s shelves for guidance.

Meanwhile, a well-loved member of the mustang herd—a pregnant mare whose anticipated foal is a symbol of summery hope for locals and visitors alike—may be facing dire circumstances. With help from Geri-Lynn, Callie unearths startling secrets surrounding not only the compromised mare, but the murdered newlywed, too. And when another body shows up, this time on isolated Mustang Beach, she must race against time to stop a killer from claiming any more innocent lives.

Smile Beach Murder (Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery 1)

 

ALICIA BESSETTE

Stats: Hardback, Berkley, 2023.

How acquired: Library.

First line: I ran for Smile Beach with the tangs of summer in my nose and an ache in my heart.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: The cover of this book caught my eye while browsing the shelves at the library, and while it looked maybe it’s a cozy mystery, which I’m not generally a big fan of, it sounded interesting. I’m not sure if it is officially a cozy, though it is tagged that way on Goodreads, but it didn’t really read like one to me. Or maybe I just enjoyed it so much compared to other cozies I’ve read.

Cattail Island seems like such a great place to live, filled with quaint sounding shops and quirky residents – but not so quirky to be caricatures. Callie’s mother died when she was young, under mysterious circumstances (ruled a suicide), and Callie left the island as soon as she grew up and hasn’t been back since. But now she’s been laid off from her job, and has moved back in with the uncle who raised her after her mother’s death. The fact that Callie is a reporter may also contribute to why I enjoyed this more than other cozies. When two deaths occur, Callie investigating seems more natural than for a pastry chef, or a cheese maker, for example. Though I will admit as it becomes obvious that someone seems to be gunning for her, I sometimes thought what the heck are you doing meeting this person in that place alone at night!

The first death that occurs after Callie’s return, in the same manner as Callie’s mother’s death, is a woman on a treasure hunt, which becomes an integral part of Callie’s investigation. But in between her snooping around looking for clues and information, she gets a job at the local bookstore (her duties include posting pictures and observations to the bookstore cat’s Instagram account), and she meets a man opening a martial arts studio, who offers her lessons in self-defense. Lessons that eventually come in pretty handy.

My only quibble with the book is that there are a lot of really short chapters. Like two to four pages long. And for some of those chapters it didn’t make sense for one to end and another to begin, it felt like they could have been combined into longer chapters. And I can’t even really explain why the short chapters were irritating, other than mentally disrupting the flow of the story maybe. But overall, I very much enjoyed the book, and I’m sad that there are only two books in the series.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From author Alicia Bessette comes an all-new mystery series featuring Callie Padget, a former reporter turned bookshop clerk in the Outer Banks who is pulled into a deadly web of secrets when a mysterious fall at a lighthouse echoes a tragedy from her past. 

When Callie is laid off from her reporting job, she returns to her hometown of Cattail Island and lands a gig at the local bookstore—the same one where she found comfort after her mother died. 

In fact, the anniversary of her mother’s infamous death is approaching. Years ago, Teri Padget tumbled from the top of the lighthouse. As islanders are once again gossiping about the tragedy, devastating news strikes: the lighthouse has claimed another victim. Eva Meeks, of Meeks Hardware. 

The police are calling it suicide, but Callie does not believe Eva jumped any more than she believes her mother did—especially because Callie knows that before her death, Eva had dug up a long-forgotten treasure hunt that could have put a target on Eva’s back. 

In Callie’s search for answers, she enlists the help of some beloved books and several new friends, including the handsome local martial arts instructor, Toby Dodge. But when another death rocks Cattail Island, Callie must face her fears alone. As she earns enemies in pursuit of the truth, Callie knows she will either uncover the killer or become a victim herself.

The Art of New Beginnings (Ragin' Moon Refuge, Book Three)

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats: Kindle edition, pub 9/28/25.

How acquired: Via BookSirens.

First line: The Greyhound was only a third full – Morgan’s first lucky break in years.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I think this third book is my favorite (so far) of the Ragin’ Moon Refuge series. Morgan is a bit of a departure from the typical romance story heroine. She’s just been released from prison after serving five years and needing somewhere to start over, she’s headed to Big Pine, Montana, a place she remembers from childhood visits with her grandparents. We don’t know why she was in prison until much later in the story, but the bits and pieces of her experiences behind bars that are shared with us along the way give us a little insight into her character, and I was rooting for her from the very beginning.

Gio, who we met in the previous books, befriends Morgan after she comes into his diner looking for a job. While he’s not in a position to hire her at the moment, he is able to give her some temporary work while one of his employees is out sick, which gives them the opportunity to begin getting to know one another. Morgan spends her first night in Big Pine camping in a small tent at one of the local parks, but when the second evening brings torrential rain Gio takes her to Ragin’ Moon, where she’s set up in one of the guest cabins.

Gio’s easy acceptance of Morgan’s secretiveness, and not saying anything initially and then not pushing her when he and his mother believe she’s given them a false name, stems partly from the fact that the refuge his family runs is used to being a haven for women in trouble, but I believe it was also partly just his character, his kindness and respectfulness. There’s no big plot twists, no imminent danger, no action scenes, and none of that was needed – I very much enjoyed just following along as Gio and Morgan’s friendship grew into feelings for each other. Not to mention the sweet little puppy Morgan rescued and smuggled aboard the bus that brought her to Big Pine!

While this is part of a series, each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with the first book, as they are all worth reading, and then move on to the Huckleberry Ridge series, which I like even more, and of course the author’s actual standalone book, Holding Out For Special, which was my introduction to her and which I just loved. Ms. Raine packs her books with wonderful characters, and the dialogues are well written, so the stories just flow across the pages. Can you tell I’m a fan?

*Received with thanks from the author/BookSirens and voluntarily reviwed*

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sometimes it's the shadows of our past that illuminate the path forward. 

After five years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, 30-year-old Morgan Mayfield is finally free—yet the life she once knew is gone. Once a celebrated artist, she's now branded a pariah in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. With nowhere else to turn, she heads for the one place where happy childhood memories Big Pine, Montana.

Armed with nothing but determination and a new alias, Morgan finds work at the Big Pine Bar and Grill and begins rebuilding her life. She never expects to cross paths with Gio Lascari, the charismatic owner whose steady kindness both unnerves and comforts her. Gio senses she's carrying secrets, but he also sees the courage behind her guarded smile—and he's drawn to it.

Just as Morgan begins to believe in second chances, the past she's been hiding from walks straight into her life. When a shocking encounter threatens to expose her identity and destroy everything she's rebuilt, Morgan must find the strength to face the truth ... and decide if she can trust Gio with the pieces of her heart.

A heartfelt, slow-burn clean romance about redemption, hope, and the healing power of love—set against the rugged beauty of small-town Montana.

Someone Else's Skin (DI Marnie Rome, Book One)

 

SARAH HILARY

Stats: Trade paperback, Penguin Books, 6/24/14.

How acquired: Birthday gift.

First line: They’ve cordoned off the house by the time she gets home.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I struggled a bit to get into this book. The author's writing style did not appeal to me at all. But eventually I fell into the rhythm, and it no longer bothered me. Much.

The lead, DI Marnie Rome, has some serious PTSD over her parents' brutal deaths, and while I gathered she attended some counseling afterwards, I still find it hard to believe that she was allowed to immediately return to work, and I believe she still needs a lot of counseling. DS Noah Jake, Marnie's partner in the current investigation, is the best character in the book, who Marnie could have treated with a little more respect regardless of her higher rank.

Also, speaking of Noah, it really bugged me that at one point early in the story he picked Marnie up at her house, but then just a few pages later Marnie was the one driving the car.

The plot got a bit convoluted, and a bit graphic and violent for Noah. But I did get very caught up towards the end, thus the book earning a higher rating from me than I anticipated in the beginning.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Five years ago, a shocking and bloody crime left Detective Inspector Marnie Rome’s parents dead. Not even her partner, Detective Sergeant Noah Jake, knows much about Marnie’s past. Though as one of the few gay officers on the force, Noah’s not one to over-share about his private life either.

By chance, Marnie and Noah are at the domestic violence shelter when Hope Proctor stabs her husband, Leo. It should be an open and shut case of self-defense, but none of the eight witnesses tells quite the same story. And the question remains: How did Leo get into the secure building? As the violence spirals, Marnie finds herself drawn into a place where the past casts long shadows and she must tread carefully to survive.

One More for Christmas

 

SARAH MORGAN

Stats: Trade paperback, HQN, 2020.

How acquired: Library.

First line: When Gayle Mitchell agreed to a live interview in her office, she hadn’t expected her life to fall apart in such a spectacular fashion in front of an audience of millions.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: Sarah Morgan is quickly becoming a favorite author. Like previous books of hers I've read, this was a wonderful character study, or rather, character studies. Samantha and Ella grew up with a tough love mother, Gayle, who single mindedly strove to raise them to be self-sufficient, eschewing anything that was not teachable or did not contribute to their education and betterment, including Christmas and Santa Claus. Five years ago, the last time the three of them were together, hurtful words were said, and the girls haven't spoken to their mother since. But now they are spending Christmas together, in Scotland, a working trip for Samantha to look over a family estate in hopes of recommending it as a vacation destination for her clients.

Samantha and Ella are of course easy to like, and the bond between them was enviable. The more we learn about their childhood, the harder it is to feel sympathy for Gayle. Or it should be. But as Ms. Morgan takes us into Gayle's head, it's easy to have empathy for her.

The plots of Ms. Morgan's books aren't complex, and yet the stories are. Relationships are at the core of this one, the relationship between the sisters, between the sisters and their mother, between Ella and her husband and daughter, Tab, between Gayle and Tab, and even between Gayle and Mary, the owner of the estate where they spend Christmas. And there's also a touch of romance for Samantha and a handsome Scotsman right out of the highland romances Samantha loves to read. Well, almost, with a little effort on his part!

Heartwarming and enjoyable family saga, with lots of lighthearted moments that made me smile.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For sisters Samantha and Ella Mitchell, Christmas is their most precious time of the year—a time for togetherness, love and celebration. Most of all, it’s about making up for everything their childhood Christmases lacked. But this year, they’ll be buying presents for the most unexpected guest of all—their estranged mother. It’s been five years since they last saw each other. But when their mom calls out of the blue and promises that this Christmas will be different, Samantha and Ella cautiously agree to spend it all together…

Gayle Mitchell is at the top of her career, but her success has come at a price—her relationship with her daughters. She never seemed to say or do the right things. Her tough-love approach was designed to make them stronger, but instead managed to push them away…until a brush with her own mortality forces Gayle to make amends. As the snowflakes fall on their first family celebration in years, the Mitchell women must learn that sometimes facing up to the past is all you need to heal your heart…

The Deadening (Olivia Callahan Suspense, Book 1)

 

KERRY PERESTA

Stats: Mass market paperback, Worldwide, 2024.

How acquired: Bought.

First line: The stiff bristles of the brush grew coppery as he scrubbed back and forth, back and forth.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I plucked this book off my shelf at random one day, where it had been sitting for a couple of years, and I was riveted pretty much from the very beginning.

Olivia narrates some of the chapters in first person POV, telling us her story as she recovers from a coma following a savage attack that she cannot remember. In fact, she awakens with amnesia, not recognizing or remembering her daughters, her mother, her estranged husband, her life. The rest of the chapters are in third person POV, giving us glimpses of other characters and what's going on with them, but leaving us in the dark about what exactly happened to Olivia.

Olivia's memory begins to return in little bits and spurts, and she and Hunter, the detective assigned to her case, slowly piece events together, which often just leads to more questions and surprising reveals in this intricately plotted story. And while this is not by any means a romance book, I liked Hunter and I liked that they did grow closer, leaving me with the impression that after I turned the last page their relationship would continue to bloom.

I'm now eager to find the second book in the series, and/or anything else I can hunt down from this author.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Discovered on the lawn of a Maryland hospital, bleeding and unconscious, Olivia Callahan is whisked into surgery. She floats in endless darkness. And when she finally awakes, she has no memory of what happened...or who she is. Then her medical tests are tampered with. The doctor's office is ransacked, and her file is stolen. 

She doesn't know the family who comes to claim her or the husband who wants to divorce her. And as her memories begin to return in flashes, she doesn't recognize the meek, compliant wife and mother she used to be. Set on bringing her attacker to justice, a braver, stronger Olivia fights to put together the scattered pieces of her past before a violent predator returns to finish the job.

Dear Santa

 

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT SOME MAY CONSIDER SPOILERS.

NANCY NAIGLE

Stats: Mass market paperback, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2018

First line: Dear Santa, it’s me, Chrissy, again.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: My least favorite Nancy Naigle. I struggled to feel empathy for Angela. Yes, it was sad that her business was floundering, and I felt sorry for her, but we were told more than once that she had resisted doing anything to bring her Christmas store into the 21st century, eschewing tech that may have helped increase her sales. And I liked Geoff well enough, but while treating his employees well, he was still a corporate man whose bottom line was sales and making more money and opening more stores. It wasn't his fault Angela was going out of business, though certainly his big box Christmas store, that also sold everything else under the sun, opening up in the small town of Pleasant Sands did contribute to Angela's declining sales. But I got really tired of Angela hating on him and blaming him for her problems.

I also became very angry with Geoff's mother. All his life he was angry at the father he never knew, who was never around, who had apparently abandoned Geoff and his mother, who never wanted to talk about him or answer questions about him. Not until she experienced a medical event did his mother confess to him that his father was the love of her life, was going to marry her, would have loved him and been proud of him, but died before he was born. Let me repeat that. His father DIED before he was born! How selfish and dishonorable of Geoff's mother to let him grow up believing his father was just out there in the world somewhere, not caring that he had a son, or maybe not even knowing that he had son. Oh I wanted to slap that bitch!

In the end Geoff made a grand gesture for Angela, but there wasn't necessarily any character growth, other than him realizing that he was ready to settle down in one place rather than move every year to oversee the opening of another chain of his store. Fortunately Angela came to her senses and admitted that it was wrong to blame Geoff for her business closing, and she landed on her feet, though it would have been nice if she did so on her own and not because of Geoff's grand gesture - and abundant money.

This review makes it sound like I hated this book, but I didn't. I did like it, and there were some really good parts. But I did not love it the way I've loved everything else I've read from this author.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. But the national chain that set up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.

Encouraged by her niece to ask Santa for help, Angela gives in and lets the words fly in a way that, if Santa were real, would no doubt land her on the naughty list. What’s the harm when it’s just a computer-generated response?

Geoff Paisley has been at his mother’s side running the mega-chain Christmas Galore for the last ten years. When his mother falls ill, Geoff promises to answer the town’s Dear Santa letters in her stead. Soon he realizes the woman he’s been corresponding with on Dear Santa is Angela. How could the woman that grates his every last nerve in person have intrigued him so deeply through those letters? 

When Geoff reveals that he’s her Dear Santa, will Angela be able to set aside their very public feud to embrace the magic of the holiday and possibly find true love?

The Twin's Bodyguard (Fresh Pond Security, Book Two)

 

VERONICA FORAND

Stats: Mass market paperback, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, 2025.

How acquired: From the author.

First line: For as long as Zoe Goodwyn could remember, she’d put the needs of her twin sister, Allison, first, even if it meant sacrificing her own needs.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I don’t usually like to read series books out of order, but I also know with Harlequin category romance series the books can usually be read as standalones, so when the author offered ARC copies of this, the second book in her Fresh Pond Security series, I jumped at the chance and was very excited to receive a copy. And while I subscribe to the author’s monthly newsletter, I will confess a little secret – I’d not ever actually read any of her books before now.

I’m happy to say that I was thoroughly impressed. It’s very well written, with fully developed and fleshed out characters. When we meet Noah, who other readers had already met in the first book, enough information about the events of that book was seamlessly woven into the narrative that I didn’t feel lost or wondering what I had missed. On the contrary, I was very intrigued by Fiona and especially Jason, who occasionally seemed like a bit of a jerk here, that I’ve already ordered the first book in the series and look forward to diving into their story.

But back to Zoe and Noah. We meet Zoe as she’s on her way to her sister’s apartment to check on her dog, and we quickly learn that Zoe has spent most of her adult life looking out for her twin. It’s obvious that Zoe is the nurturer in the family. When she is attacked in her sister’s apartment, Noah, who works for Fresh Pond Security, happens to be stationed outside the building doing surveillance, and rushes to her rescue. Thinking, of course, that she is Allison, a hard hitting television news journalist working on a corruption expose which has put her life in danger.

Allison. I didn’t much like Allison. She and Zoe may be twins, but they and their lives are worlds apart. Zoe is a schoolteacher, and is thoughtful and considerate. Allison seemed to be thoughtless and inconsiderate, walking all over Zoe. Indeed, at one point her selfish actions put Zoe and the others in even more danger. Of course we don’t get to know Allison as well or get inside her head the way we do with Zoe, but I very much admired Zoe. Noah’s boss wants her to impersonate Allison and go to the television studio, with Noah along pretending to be Allison’s boyfriend, so that Noah can do some covert spying/information tracking. Zoe is naturally afraid, and I really liked that her responses, her feelings and fear, were portrayed realistically for a civilian who does not have any training, security, self-defense, or otherwise. But she does have guts.

I loved Noah. He’d been sidelined to a desk job after taking a bullet on his previous assignment, and being out in the field, guarding Zoe and being active in this investigation, is his chance to prove himself. Close quarters and facing danger together often leads to attraction, but the author allowed their feelings for each other to build up slowly. Of course the events take place over a fairly short period of time, but the relationship still did not feel rushed.

The supporting characters were never wasted in this tense and engrossing story. Once the action ramped up it was nonstop, and for awhile it all felt pretty hopeless, as I had no idea what would happen next or how Zoe would survive. I was riveted from beginning to end.*Received from the author and voluntarily reviewed*

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For Zoe Goodwyn, dog-sitting for her twin shouldn’t be a life-and-death situation. But when she’s mistaken for her hard-hitting journalist sister, security specialist Noah Casey stops the kidnapper. And designates himself her bodyguard to keep her safe. Zoe knows the only way to catch the culprit is to use herself as bait—endangering her life and her heart. The heated attraction between Zoe and Noah is almost as overwhelming as the current threats, even with Noah vowing to protect her. But will this well-meaning mission lead to deadly consequences?