And that's not all there is...: 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Book Review: Superior Longing by Patricia Deuson

Superior Longing by Patricia Deuson is the first book in a new series featuring Sierra Nevada Moore, Neva for short. As Neva is preparing for the opening of Cooks Inn, a cooking school in California, she is informed that her Uncle Paul Beeton died from drowning in the frigid waters of Lake Superior. Neva goes to Crystal Cove, Michigan to stay at her Uncle's cabin and to settle his estate. While there she meets an interesting cast of characters who associated with her Uncle and soon realizes that her Uncle's death may not have been accidental after all.

Superior Longing is a strong first in a series. Neva is a well-developed protagonist and has drive and determination in uncovering the secrets surrounding her Uncle's death. In addition to the believable characters, the setting of Lake Superior had me hooked from the beginning. So, what happened to Neva's Uncle? Was it an accident? What are the secrets surrounding his death? Does Neva stay in Michigan or does she return to California and continue with Cooks Inn? Will she find the answers to her questions? What else will she uncover as she seeks resolve? All of these questions are answered in this suspenseful mystery that will surely keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend Superior Longing and I look forward to reading more in the Neva Moore Mystery series.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

Book Review: Close to Home by Jenna Bennett

Savannah's late. The kind of late that comes with midnight feedings and the pitter-patter of little feet. And while it's a circumstance that should make everyone happy - now she can finally settle down and marry Todd Satterfield, the way everyone's been hoping and praying! - it isn't Todd's baby. And Rafe, whose baby it is, didn't sign on for fatherhood.

Add in the murder of Savannah's sister-in-law Sheila, the trial of Sheila's friend Marley, and the disappearance of Rafe's twelve year old son David - the kid he never knew he had! - and things get complicated fast. And there is worse to come: When Rafe comes back to Nashville to help look for David, and learns that Savannah's pregnant, things do not work out the way Savannah had hoped. In the end, she's left with nothing she wanted and a whole lot of trouble she didn't, and for once, Rafe's not there to save the day.

Close to Home, the fourth book in the Savannah Martin Mystery Series, is by far my favorite one in the series. It pulled at my heartstrings due to the matters that Savannah has to deal with on the home-front. I found myself getting teary-eyed a few times, which only gives testimony to the powerful and well-developed characters that I have come to love and look forward to visiting again and again. In addition to dealing with heart-
breaking news and having matters of the heart tested, Savannah is determined to find out what happened to her sister-in-law and in doing so, her relationships - romantic, friendship, sibling, and parental, reach a deeper level. Close to Home is a definite five-star read.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Book Review: CHOKE

CHOKE is a fanstastic first in a series by Kaye George. Meet Imogene "Immy" Duckworthy, 22-year old mother of Drew, daughter of Hortense Duckworthy, and an aspiring PI. When Immy's Uncle Huey is found murdered and her mother, Hortense is taken in for questioning, Immy puts her PI skills in motion leading to an adventure that will have you laughing and turning the pages to cheer her on. Immy is a clever character that grows with the story and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the Immogene Duchworthy Mystery series. For more information on Kaye George and her other works visit her website at http://kayegeorge.com/index.html

FTC Full Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself and chose it for reveiw.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Book Review: Contract Pending

||||| Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say, and Realtor Savannah Martin is certainly learning the truth of that statement. It’s been a month and a half since Rafael Collier left town, after the robbery ring he was part of got broken up by the police, and although Savannah knows it would be hideously inappropriate—not to mention supremely stupid—to miss him, she wishes he’d come back soon. His grandmother’s ailing, the nurse he hired to take care of her has disappeared, and somebody is watching the house and following Savannah as she goes about the business of bringing her first real estate transaction to a close. But when Rafe comes back, things only go from bad to worse. Resident nurse Marquita Johnson is found murdered, and Metro Nashville Homicide Detective Tamara Grimaldi is asked to handle the case. It doesn’t take long for her to focus her interest, once again, on Rafe. As Savannah finally learns the truth about him, she finds herself in the path of a killer more ruthless than any she has encountered yet, a killer who won’t be swayed from his purpose and who isn’t too particular whom he has to go through to get to Rafe. Now Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield’s proposal, or taking a chance on losing her heart and her life by trying to help Rafe, as the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.

Contract Pending is another fantastic read by Jenna Bennett. It is the third book in the Savannah Martin Mystery Series. They just keep getting better and better. Savannah and Rafe? Savannah and Todd? Oh the surprises you will find in this mystery. If you like romance and mystery this is a series I highly recommend. Stay tuned for my review of the next one in the series. In the meantime check out Jenna Bennett's website at http://jennabennett.com/

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Book Review: Hot Property

||||| Hot Property is the continuation of A Cutthroat Business mystery series featuring Real Estate Agent, Southern Belle, and Amateur Sleuth Savannah Martin. The romance deepens and tensions are high and true to the title, this book is one Hot Property. Jenna Bennet has done it again and even better. Can you get better than fantastic? Well apparently you can in my book. When Savannah's friend is murdered after a string of robberies at open houses, Detective Tamara Grimaldi suspects Rafe Collier. Savannah is determined to find out who the real killer is and clear Rafe Collier of any wrong doing. I really enjoyed the humor, romance, sassiness, and class in this mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. It is a page turner not only for the mystery surrounding the robberies and the murders, but for the sparks that fly between Savannah and Rafe. Stay tuned for my review of the third book in the series Contract Pending.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Book Review: Paper Woman

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From the very first sentence of Suzanne Adair's historical mystery Paper Woman, I was hooked. Paper Woman takes place during the American Revolution where we meet Sophie Barton, aka Paper Woman, a 33 year old widow, who sets out to solve her father's murder while facing the harsh realities of war. Paper Woman is not only a learning experience, but an enjoyable, suspense-filled read that has the right mixture and perfect balance of history, romance, adventure and page-turning mystery.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Book Review: A Cutthroat Business

Jenna Bennett's A Cutthroat Business is a fantastic mystery starring Nashville, Tennessee real estate agent and Southern Belle, Savannah Martin.
A Cutthroat Business is a fun and sassy read filled with suspense and a touch of romance. When Savannah finds her co-worker, Brenda Puckett, one of the most successful real estate agents in Nashville, with her throat cut, Savannah sets out to find the killer. Along the way, Savannah develops a friendship with Brenda's daughter and reconnects with people she went to high school with - namely Rafe Collier - handsome, mysterious, and small town bad boy. I enjoyed this first in a series and highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that....

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Matters of the Heart

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Lalla Bains, Crop Duster and Amateur Sleuth has become one of my favorite characters. In A Dead Red Heart, the second book in the Lalla Bains Mystery Series, R.P. Dahlke weaves together suspense, mystery, romance, and a touch of humor for a fanstastic mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

Billy Wayne Dobson is obsessed with Lalla and has been warned by Lalla's boyfriend, Sheriff Caleb Stone, to stop harassing her. Lalla soon finds herself standing in a parking lot staring at her red Cadillac decorated with poetry written on paper snowflakes. Lalla decides to confront Billy Wayne without telling Caleb and finds Billy Wayne slumped over in an alley with a pair of scissors in his chest. Lalla tries to help him, but is only able to listen to his last words. In addition to clearing her name as number one suspect, Lalla is determined to find out who killed Billy Wayne and why.

A Dead Red Heart is on my list of favorites and I am looking forward to reading the next one in this series.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose to review it.

This review is also posted on Goodreads.com at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162951224 Kellie Rix and on BarnesandNoble.com under my Pen Name WlfWmn.

Flat-Out Fantastic

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When Julie Seagle moves away from home for the first time, to attend college in Boston, her living arrangements fall through and she is invited to stay with the Watkins family. The hero in this family is the oldest child, Finn. Thirteen year old Celeste has created a life-sized cardboard cut-out of her older brother, Finn and carries it around with her. The real Finn, as Julie has been told, is traveling the world. The middle child, Matt, buries himself in mathmatics and has taken on the responsibility of parenting, while the actual parents do their best to remain isolated from the harsh realities life can bring.

It is in this household that Julie gains a deeper understanding of family dynamics, sadness, healing, joy, romance, and Flat-Out Love. This story is a winner in my book. I laughed, I cried, and learned a little about myself along the way.

Jessica Park has written a beautiful story - a Flat-Out Fantastic read.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this e-book from the author and chose it for review.

This review is also posted on Goodreads.com at Kellie Rix http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162951279

Saturday, May 14, 2011

R. P. Dahlke's A Dead Red Cadillac is a mystery that will make you sit on the edge of your seat in suspense, laugh out loud at the splashes of humor, and maybe even shed a tear. It took a little bit to get into the story, but once there - which didn't take long, I was hooked. We are introduced to Lalla and grow to really like her. I especially enjoyed the relationship elements in this book. The relationship between a daughter and her father; a daughter and her mother; and a sister and her brother. I also liked the relationships between friends; and even a long awaited romance starting to bloom. A Dead Red Cadillac has a bit of everything you could ask for in a mystery. It keeps you guessing and turning the page to find out what happens next. It is a read that you can sink into and when finished you close the book and eagerly reach for the next in the series - A Dead Red Heart.

««««« This review was also posted on Goodreads.com at Kellie Rix and BarnesandNoble.com under Pen Name WlfWmn

Digital Editions

Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader

FTC Full Disclosure: I purchased this e-book and chose it for review.

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Love Lessons is a wonderful collection of short stories by Evelyn David. Each story shows us that love can happen when we least expect it and in the most unlikely places. Love Lessons also reminds us that love is expressed not only in words, but in our actions/gestures.

Meeting someone for the first time, reuniting with a high school sweetheart, picking up the pieces after a storm, brininging life into the world, and the love between a parent and a child - these are just some of the love lessons we experience when reading this wonderful collection.
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This review was also posted on Goodreads.com at Kellie Rix and BarnesandNoble.com under Pen Name WlfWmn

Copyright 2011 Evelyn David
Smashwords Edition
Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader

FTC Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of Love Lessons from Evelyn David and chose it for review.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

A tribute to my mother

It is now April 14th, a day when just three short years ago that my mother made her journey beyond the stars. In October 2006 she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that eventually spread througout her body even after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Among many things, my mother taught me the love of books, writing, and music.

I will never forget her smile, the warmth of her hand in mine, the humor she shared, her voice as she read a poem or a passage from a book, or when she would sing the songs she loved so much. I will never forget her hugs, the stories she shared, the laughter, her witty sayings, her great comebacks, her loyalty and dedication, her unconditional love.

I will never forget the times we argued and then would laugh at what was said. I will never forget our bookstore visits and book discussions over coffee. I will never forget her cooking, her garden, her handwriting, her spirituality, her wisdom. I will never ever forget that she instilled in me to always remember who you are and that this isn't all there is.

Violet Marie Fickel

My mother, my angel, my friend.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Update

I have updated my blog. Check out my Book Reviews page and my Book Review Policy Page. Since this blog is a work in progress at this time, please check back real soon for updates.

Below is the rating scale I use in my book reviews.

««««« Fantastic

«««« Great

««« Good

«« Okay

Friday, March 4, 2011

Another Challenge

I have taken up another challenge. This challenge starts April 1, 2011 thru September 30, 2011. For this challenge I have chosen Level 2: "I think I can do better" which consists of reading 7-10 cozy mysteries for the duration of the challenge. cozymysterychallenge.blogspot.com

Cruzin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2011

I have joined a Cozy Reading Challenge titled, "Cruzin' thru the Cozies". Check it out. I am aiming for 13 or more Cozy Mystery reads by December 31, 2011 in the Level 3: Super Sleuth category.

http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Welcome

Welcome to And that's not all there is... my first blog about books, and writing, with bits and pieces along the way.

Books - Cozy Mysteries, some self-help, spirituality, new age, biographies, fiction and literature.
Writing - beginning Cozy Mystery writer; journaling; poetry
Bits and pieces - life in general; family; spirituality; positive thinking; affirmations; creativity, thoughts; ideas; food; health; a mixture of this and that.

The above pretty much sums up the premise of this blog. Enjoy!