Category: Contemporary

Review: The Knife Before Christmas by Kate Carlisle

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Christmas, Contemporary, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

The Knife Before Christmas (A Fixer-Upper Mystery Book 11)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Fixer-Upper Mystery #11
Publication Date: 10/22/24
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 287

Christmas is rapidly approaching in picturesque Lighthouse Cove. Nothing says that better than finding out what delightful and exciting surprise event Bill and Lillian Garrison have dreamed up for the Garrison Hotel. Each year’s event seems to top the last, and this year is no exception. They have purchased a beautiful, fully functional carousel to put under a giant circus tent that will also hold various gaming booths, rides, etc. just as a regular carnival would – and it is all open to the public. Shannon Hammer and her crew have been hired to make it all come together. The job goes smoothly and delightfully – until one evening during a special event when the lights go out – all of them – and when Shannon turns the breaker back on, there is a body – a very dead body.

With Sheriff Bill and his crew investigating – and another body turning up – things are getting heated. Will the murderer strike again? Will all of the Christmas festivities have to be canceled? With no clues, will the murderer be caught?

I was quickly sure who would be the victim or the murderer, but it was still interesting to find out which—and why. The mystery was a bit slow starting, but that was okay because the focus was on the Christmas festivities, the carnival project, and other local activities.

This was a lovely, quick, fun read with an interesting mix of characters, events – and crimes. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

On By TracyIn Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Time Travel, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Wedding Witch (The Ex Hex, #3)The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Grave’s Glen, #3

Release Date: October 8, 2024

After a spell goes horribly wrong and his best friend Declan is lost, Welshman and powerful witch, Bowen Penhallow dedicated himself to finding a way to reverse it. It has been ten years, and he is no closer to an answer, but he does have a plan, which will require the exclusive services of the best “Acquirer” he has ever worked with – TLB Acquisitions, Ltd. He sets up a meeting and is astounded to learn that the “T” of TLB is a gorgeous American woman, Tamsyn Bligh.

Tamsyn agrees to an exclusive contract with him, and she makes it clear that she doesn’t mix business with pleasure, but she also can’t resist a kiss under the mistletoe! And so, begins their relationship, for the next year they work together without meeting. As the Yule holiday approaches, Bowen makes plans to join his brothers and their significant others for the holiday in Georgia, leaving Tamsyn with time on her hands, time she decides to put to good use. Never expecting their paths to cross at a wedding in Wales or being sent back in time to 1957. Together they will have to work together to make their way back to 2024 and hopefully find their own HEA along the way.

I loved, loved, loved this book and finished it in a day! This is a new-to-me author and a genre that I rarely read – I love paranormal/fantasy romance, and I usually tend to choose historicals over contemporaries, but the blurb for this book caught my attention (which is saying a lot as I am not a fan of time travel) and I am so happy I requested it! This book pulled me out of a reading rut and sold me on a new sub-genre! This book has it all; mystery, witches, spells, grumpy/sexy hero, a vivacious/feisty heroine, witty dialogue, great secondary characters, second chances, steamy love scenes, surprising revelations and finally a very happy ending complete with an epilogue. This was the third book in the series, but I hadn’t read the previous books (but now I want to!) and had no trouble understanding the relationship between the characters, so it could easily be read as a standalone title. I really enjoyed the book and will be checking out the previous books and watching for upcoming books – Highly recommended!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *