Nichole’s Blog

Ready for another book review?  Good!

When I picked up the first of this series, I was excited.  Two of my favorite things combined: mysteries and tattoos.  Some of that artwork is just beautiful, don’t you think?

Anyway, Karen E. Olson has created a series that I would describe as “hard-edge cozy.”  By definition, a cozy is the type of mystery where a non-legal-professional is the hero and most of the violence happens off the page.  A hard-edge mystery has stronger languange and what my mother would call “looser morals.”  Okay, so these are pretty generic definitions, but they work for me.

Anyway, Pretty in Ink is what I would call a “hard-edge cozy.”  Brett Kavanaugh is not a cop, but she has a hard-edge profession.  She is a tattoo artist.  In fact, she owns Vegas’s Painted Lady Tattoo Shop.

In this second installment of the Tattoo Shop series, Brett has been inking drag queen stars.  At their opening show, unfortunately, Britney Brassiers is hit in the chest with a champaign cork.  Britney survives, but dies soon after.

As if that isn’t enough, another drag queen soon dies.

Brett can’t let it slide, and vows to find out what’s going on.  She uses her employees at the Painted Lady and some information from her brother the cop to find the killer.

Because Brett owns a tattoo shop, and is a tattoo artist herself, there is an element of the hard-edge because of her profession.  Hey, no matter how nice the art can be, there’s still the perception of…well, seedy, for lack of a better word.  And Ms. Olson does a great job of displaying that possible side of the tattoo culture.

The characters are funny and well written.  The action is fast-paced and easy to follow.  If you’re looking for something a little rougher than your typical cozy, check out the Tattoo mysteries.

Blessings!

Nichole

Regular readers of this blog, if there are such people, will know I often read books based on the recommendations of my family and friends.  This one was suggested to me by my teenage daughter.

Understand, my kiddo and I have very different ideas when it comes to pleasure reading.  Her tastes run more toward literature and chick lit.  My taste, in case you haven’t noticed, run more toward the mystery genre.  (By the way, I’m fortunate enough to have a kid who really does enjoy reading and discussing the things she learns from books.)  Anyway, Weight of Silence was a book my daughter read and wanted me to read as well.

In the story Callie and Petra are typical 7-year-old best friends.  Even more, though, Petra is literally Callie’s voice.  Callie hasn’t spoken in years.  Not even to explain why she won’t speak.  Her reasoning is known to Callie and Callie alone.  In typical little girl logic, however, Callie’s silence means nothing to Petra.

One night a parent’s worst nightmare comes true — for both families.  The girls are missing.

In Gudenkauf’s debut novel, she keeps the suspense going in a way that the reader really doesn’t know what’s going to happen next.  The action was fast-paced and easy to follow, even though the novel uses multiple points of view.  Gudenkauf captures the feeling of the situation, as well as the emotions of the people involved in a way which seems realistic.  (Hey, she portrayed exactly the emotions I expect I would have if such a tragedy befell my family.)  The only criticism I have of the novel, is the multiple veiwpoints, though I’m not sure how Gudenkauf could have told the story as effectively using any other technique.

Gudenkauf also ties up all the “loose ends” of the story in a believable manner, so I don’t foresee a sequel to Weight of Silence.

In my opinion, the book is very literary, but Gudenkauf doesn’t speak “above” readers.  I don’t think she even tried to make it a literary novel.  There was a slight mystery in the story, but I wouldn’t classify the book in that genre, either.

If you’re looking for a well-written tale with a touch of mystery and a fair dose of the unexpected, pick up Weight of Silence.  I warn you, however, that you may find yourself so engrossed in the tale that hours slip by before you realize it.

Blessings!

Nichole

I was fortunate enough to meet Jan Burke at last year’s Mayhem in the Midlands.  It was there I purchased my first Irene Kelly mystery.  I’ve been a fan ever since.

For those not familiar with Irene, she is a newspaper reporter who ends up marrying a cop.  I think my kindred feeling for Irene has to do with our similar backgrounds.  I am trained as a journalist and that’s what I had planned to do with my life.  My father is a cop.  So was his mother.  Dad and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on the responsibilities of the media or the public’s right to know.

With Irene’s interesting relationship with husband Frank Harriman, I am reminded of conversations I’ve had with family members.

Anyway, Kidnappedis another in the Irene Kelly series.  In this installment, Irene has written an article about missing children.  The day the story hits the paper, bones are uncovered which reminds the town of a notorious murder-kidnapping case of six years ago.

Burke does a fantastic job of weaving the background story into the “present day” events.   Granted, in this novel she does do a section when the crime happens and then a “six years later” thing.  Still, she doesn’t give us all the information at the time of the crime and weaves the back-story into the book.  Like the other Irene Kelly mysteries I’ve read, Kidnapped is fast-paced and action-packed.

I will admit, however, that I haven’t read the series in order and I have missed a few leading up to Kidnapped.  Hey, the last one I read had Irene and Frank dating, I think!  One of the things I really enjoy about the series is that you aren’t required to read these in order.  Yeah, it helps, but I can tell you from her other works that Burke is able to weave in the details you need to stay up-to-date without rehashing things to boredom for those who have followed the story closely.

This series is edgier than some of the others that I’ve recently read.  If you’re looking for something with a little more action then your typical cozy, check one of Burke’s.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Blessings!

Nichole

Avenging Angels is the third in the Beaufort & Company series by Mary Stanton.  If you haven’t read this series, you’re seriously missing something.

Ms. Stanton has created a world where angels walk among us.  In her world, a team of angels assists in a profession that isn’t known for its connection to heaven — the legal one, specifically lawyers.

The premise of the series has to do with the idea of purgatory and the levels of Hell.  When someone dies, especially someone who may have been less than completely ethical when alive, they are tried for their sins. 

Bree is getting the hang of her unique clientel and the special abilities of her staff.

In this installment, Bree is trying to determine if Russell O’Rourke’s suicide was, well, suicide.  Both the widow and the originial police officer who investigated the suicide believe O’Rourke was murdered.  Thanks to a psychic connection, Bree believes she has to find the truth.

As I said before, this is the third in the Beaufort and Company series and Ms. Stanton has finished creating her world and building in the backstory.  This series is really living up to all the expectations I had for it.  However, while the story is a stand-alone, readers who haven’t read the first two books (or haven’t read them lately) will be lost and confused.  Do yourself a favor and pick up the first two before grabbing this one.  And you should grab this one. 

Blessings!

Nichole

When I first heard about this book by Kris Neri, I thought “WOW!  Something so similar to my novel, yet so different!!  How cool is that?”

And I was right.  What a great book!

The premise of the story is that Samantha Brennan, a fake psychic, stumbles upon a crime.  She decides that reporting the crime to the FBI would earn her headlines, and more business.  Samantha is resourceful, to say the least. 

Unfortunately for her, however, she meets a real-life goddess in the form of FBI Agent Annabelle Haggerty.  Annabelle can’t share her secret identity with her co-workers and finds a way to use Samantha’s scam for the greater good. 

This book falls right into the type of paranormal books I really enjoy – the type where the World is “realistic” and the characters are just a little different then normal.  Annabelle’s biggest struggle is working within the confines of the FBI bureaucracy.  She wants to make the world a better place by using her talents and gifts, she just doesn’t want to cause more problems for everyone involved.  And that includes other immortals and the mortals she is trying to help.

Ms. Neri told most of the story in first person from Samantha’s point of view.  Occasionally chapters were told from Annabelle’s viewpoint and those were clearly marked.

I really enjoyed this one and it reminded me of my own novel.  I truly hope that High Crimes on the Magical Plane is the first of a series featuring Samantha and Annabelle. 

Blessings!

Nichole

Something I really haven’t blogged much about is the fact that I love history.  I enjoy learning why something happened even more than what happened.  Why did the Civil War take place?  What caused the change in people to no longer accept the status quo?  That is one reason I do enjoy attending Renaissance Faires, even though there isn’t one close to where I live.

Because of that love of history, I was fascinated with the idea of a Renaissance Faire mystery.

I found this one available for my Sony e-reader and quickly downloaded it.  (There is something to be said for instant gratification, you know!)

This story takes place at a Renaissance Faire where the main character, Jessie, goes each summer.  As a history professor, Jessie spends the time apprenticing with different craftsmen.  When she works with a basket weaver, Jessie learns the art of creating beautiful baskets.  Unfortunately, a murdered man is found with strands of the basket material wrapped around his neck.

Jessie, convenced the master basket maker had something to do with the crime, does her best to solve the mystery and keep her friend out of trouble.  It doesn’t always work the way she wants it to, but in the end justice is served.

I enjoyed the novel — especially the premise that authors Joyce and Jim Lavene use for the series.  I’ve already purchased the second book (Ghastly Glass) and it’s sitting in the to-be-read pile.  I’m not sure how long the series will continue, as the Lavenes have multiple books out there, but a third novel is scheduled for release in Septemeber of this year.  I plan to grab that one when it’s available as well.

Blessings!

Nichole

I read the latest Abby and Ophelia novel with a heavy heart.  According to Shirley Daamsgard’s website, it’s the last contracted book in the series. 

Having said that, it was an amazing novel and I am sure that whatever Ms. Daamsgard has in store for us will be just as wonderful.

The Seventh Witch is the seventh in the Abby and Ophelia series.  This one finds the family headed back to the Appalachain Mountains, where Abby grew up.  The family reunion, which includes Tink, Ophelia’s parents, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, is a trying time for just about everyone involved.  Really, who can’t relate to family stress?

Ophelia really grew into her own with this novel.  She was more willing to stand up for herself and her beliefs than she’s been in past stories.  Rather then wait for trouble to find (and throughly side-swipe) her, Ophelia took the inititve to thwart trouble before it hit home.

As the story wrapped up, however, I had a few questions that didn’t seem to be answered.  What happens with Ophelia and Cobra?  How does Tink fair as she enters adulthood?  I’m not sure these questions will ever be answered, but I can always hope that there is another Ophelia and Abby mystery somewhere down the road.

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a “witchy” twist, you’ll really enjoy this series.  I hope whatever Ms. Daamsgard has planned in the future follows the same line.

Blessings!

Nichole

I really enjoyed this one.  Carolyn Hart’s novel, Ghost at Work, takes a feisty woman from Heaven and sends her to Oklahoma.  As a Nebraska girl at heart (Go Cornhuskers!), I only had a small issue with the Oklahoma setting.

Bailey Ruth has died and is learning the ropes around Heaven.  She finds a “want ad” for an advocate to return to Earth.  Bailey Ruth decides to apply for the position. 

The supervisor, Wiggins, isn’t sure Bailey Ruth is ready for the job, but time is of the essence and he sends her off.

Bailey Ruth is a very like-able character.  She freely admits that following rules isn’t always her first instinct.  Her heart is in the right place, but trouble seems to follow Bailey Ruth wherever she goes.  In fact, she often acts first and thinks later.

That one personality trait seems to get her in more trouble than any other.  Add to the fact, Bailey Ruth is sent right back to her hometown where the rector’s wife has found a dead body on the porch.  Because of the amount of time that has passed, the rector’s wife is actually a relative of Bailey Ruth’s, adding to her determination to help.

Ghost at Work was an easy read and extremely well written.  Ghost at Work is the first in this series, and Ms. Hart has other series already out there.  If her other works are of the same caliber as this one, I will have to add her other works to my “to be read” pile.

Blessings!

Nichole

Here is another book which doesn’t fall into the category of “Nichole’s Normal Genres.”  Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s also a romance and clearly falls into that category.

So why did I pick this one up?  Would you believe it was because of the main character’s name?  Cordelia.

And why would that name stick out at me?  Well, because I have a child with an amazing imagination.  When my kiddo was about 9 or 10, she would introduce herself as “Cordelia.”  I’m sure that had something to do with discovering Anne of Green Gables at about that time.

Anyway, the combination of the main character’s name and the back of the book blurb made me want to pick this one up.

Cordelia is the official wise woman for the Cornish piskies.  In that capacity, she is a seer, who often uses her skills to look into the future of people attached to the pisky court.  Her favorite to spy on, however, is the King’s brother.

Unfortunately, she didn’t see the trouble brewing.

When a portal to the Underworld is accidentally opened, the Welsh King of the Underworld kidnaps one of the King’s twin sons.  Cordelia must work with the King’s brother to save the boy.

I’ll admit I enjoyed the tale, even with the romantic elements that were far beyond what I normally read.  The action was fast-paced and the storyline was easy to follow.  For those of you who enjoy romance, I recommend this one.

Blessings!

Nichole

Have you ever picked up a book and thought “I might like this, might not.”  Maybe it’s in a genre that’s not your favorite.  Or the back of the book summary sounds good, but there’s just something about the cover that just doesn’t appeal to you.  But when you finish reading it, not only did you enjoy the story, but you suddenly remember you actually really like everything you’ve read by that author?

That’s what happens to me every time I pick up a Heather Graham novel.

I am always leery of her work because it’s filed in the romance section of the store.  At the same time, I’m drawn to her stories because of the fantastic way she weaves the paranormal into the story.  If I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m not a huge romance fan.  In fact, if you queried my husband, he’d likely tell you that I don’t have a romantic bone in my body.  Therefore, reading romance isn’t something I normally do.

Having said all that, I really enjoy Heather Graham’s books.  I think the paranormal aspects of the stories overshadow the romance sections.  In other words, there is more to the story then the stereotypical “girl meets boy/girl hates boy/girl needs boy to solve some problem/girl loves boy/they live happily ever after.”

And in Unhallowed Ground, Ms. Graham didn’t disappoint me.

In the book, Sarah McKinley has returned to her St. Augustine, Florida, hometown and has purchased the historic antebellum mansion she’s always loved.  During the renovation process, however, Sarah finds more than she bargained for.

There are skeletons buried in the walls.  Lots of them.

Now, this doesn’t freak Sarah out quite as much as it would me.  You see, this particular mansion did a stint as a funeral home around the time of the Civil War.  As a living history enthusiast, and an archeologist, Sarah understands the process her home must go through to be cleared for her to return.

Meanwhile, private investigator Caleb Anderson is in the area searching for a missing girl — one of two, actually.  Since the missing girls are the same “type,” there is some concern about a serial killer.

Sarah’s and Caleb’s separate investigations cross paths and the two find themselves drawn to each other and the overlaps in their various “mysteries.”

Ms. Graham spins a captivating yarn.  I enjoy the twists and turns she employs and even the romantic tension isn’t strained.  The characters are multi-dimensional and the pacing of the story (as well as the sense of place) are fantastic.  If you enjoy paranormal stories, but are tired with the excess of vampires out there, you’ll enjoy just about anything by Ms. Graham.  Don’t let the “romance” label put you off, there’s just as much mystery in the books as there is romance.

Blessings!

Nichole