5) Physical Education by Maggie Barbieri

The Blurb :

College English professor and sometime amateur sleuth Alison Bergeron would've been thrilled to hear that her husband, NYPD Detective Bobby Crawford, was leaving Homicide if that were the whole story, but it turns out that Bobby's next assignment is even worse---undercover.

As if worrying about his involvement in a case he won't talk about at all wasn't bad enough, Alison is forced to take over the women's basketball team at St. Thomas after the coach dies of a heart attack during a game. She may not know much about basketball, but she's no stranger to sleuthing, and it isn't long before she suspects that the coach's death may be more than unexpected but premeditated as well.

My Thoughts :

The Murder 101 Mystery series has been on my shelf for years.  It is one of those series that I just don't seem to be getting any further with and so it is on my 2016 Series Reading Challenge list.  With only two installments to go I know it isn't going to be a huge struggle but this series has been on my lists for a good few years and I finally want to cross it off.  It has helped that this one is available on Audible and so I picked it up this week to start the year off by getting some challenge work done!  Luckily it wasn't hard to listen to and I had my video game to play because this wasn't exactly a great read.

I won't say it was awful but it was pretty lame.  There was so much about this story that felt wrong and annoyed me.  I did think about giving up on it but with only one more book in the series I feel the need to finish it off.  I actually like the concept but the author really takes, even for a cozy mystery writer, a lot of liberties.

It would be silly to go into detail.  Let's just say that there was too much of Alison's thoughts instead of concrete evidence and real sleuthing.  There was also no way that most of the stuff that happened in this story would actually happen, for example, Alison being picked to coach the basketball team was way off.  Oh  but the worse aspect of it all was the marriage and step-daughters.  I won't even go there because I could rant forever.

So it would seem like listening to the last installment would be a bad idea but I feel a little OCD on this one and need to finish the series.  I can't let it go after six books and only one more to go.  I just hope that the last piece of puzzle is better than this one.

119) Death by Tea by Alex Erickson

The Blurb :

Mystery lovers have descended on Pine Hills for this year’s book club competition, to be held at Krissy Hancock’s bookstore café. But the killer in their midst seems determined to outwit all the armchair sleuths—and send Krissy to the remainder bin forever.

Just before two dueling book clubs are set to square off at Death by Coffee, one of the competitors turns up dead—bludgeoned with the silver teapot that was to serve as the prize. Suspicion immediately falls on Krissy, who was seen skulking around town in dark clothes on the night of the murder.

To clear her name and find the real killer, Krissy turns to an old flame, Officer Paul Dalton. But even Paul can’t ignore the trail of evidence that seems to point in her direction. And with Krissy’s personal nemesis, Officer John Buchannan, working overtime to pin the murder on her, it will take an amazing feat of detective work to close the book for good on an elusive killer. . .

My Thoughts :

After reading Death by Coffee, the first book in the Bookstore Cafe Mysteries, I decided to keep a look out for the next installment.  The debut in the series wasn't bad but it wasn't a done deal yet.  I needed more of the series to decide if I wanted to keep pursuing the series.  Death by Tea has made my decision easier but unfortunately it isn't in favour of the series.

Don't get me wrong, this was an ok read.  There was nothing too bad about it and I managed to read it to the end even if it did take me a little longer than it should have.  However there wasn't enough development in the series to make me feel attached to the series.  It wouldn't really bother me if there wasn't another addition to the series and I don't exactly 'get' Krissy.

The plot wasn't bad, the concept is ok but there is something missing.  If anything from this series so far would keep me coming back it is the fun and games Krissy has with her cat.  He makes things fun and shows a side of the authors style that I would like to see more of.

Worth taking a look at but not very captivating, this could be something but it fails to excite.  Not giving this a total thumbs down but a so-so.  Maybe, just maybe, I will come across another installment one day and give it a try but there are so many other series that are more addictive and thrilling on my Kindle that deserve my reading time more than this one.  Sorry!

60) Death by Coffee by Alex Erickson

The Blurb :

When Krissy Hancock and her best friend Vicki decide to open a bookstore café in their new town of Pine Hills, they decide to call it "Death by Coffee," after Krissy’s father’s most famous mystery novel. Little do they know how well the name fits…

On their very first day of business, Brendon Lawyer huffily takes his coffee…to the grave. It seems he had a severe allergy to peanuts…but how could there have been nuts in his coffee? And who stole his emergency allergy medication?

Fortunately, Krissy’s love of puzzles and mysteries leads her not only to Officer Paul Dalton, but also to many of her new neighbors, who aren’t terribly upset that the book is closed on Brendon. But one of them is a killer, and Krissy needs to read between the lies if she wants to save her new store—and live to see how this story ends…

My Thoughts :

I love a good cozy and the cover looked cute and the blurb sounded interesting so I decided to give this one a go.  Within a couple of pages I decided I could get to like Krissy, after all she is a cat lover.  However after a few chapters I was starting to see the cracks and knew my relationship with her was going to be a bumpy one.  As the story continued I was having a definite love/hate problem with the whole book.

There are lots of things to like about this debut.  There is coffee, books and cats.  The various characters, while not well developed, are nice enough and with some more work they could be a set of people I would like to read about.  The location is hardly appealing but then again the writer didn't really sell Pine Hills our give it much of a write up.  I couldn't tell you how big the place is supposed to be or if it is quaint or not.  I just know it has some shops with weird names...or so the writer points out.

The general concept is a good one.  A cafe/bookstore isn't anything new in the cozy mystery genre but it is one that works well and has a lot of appeal.  I didn't find myself comparing Death by Coffee with any of the other similar books out there so this is a plus point.  The murder mystery plot was fair but enough to keep me reading.  I didn't really feel very invested in finding out who killed Brendon Lawyer, who isn't a lawyer, but I was curious to see what the author did with the story.

Some light in the story was Krissy and her police officer.  Their first date was funny and it was nice to see them being all awkward and everything.  This was one of the reasons I wanted to keep reading.  Krissy was more likable when dating and spending time with Paul.  Also her neighbour offered some light entertainment but both these characters didn't get a big enough part for my liking.

So with the likable aspects out of the way I will now delve into the things that annoyed me or what some may call nit-picking.  The worst thing about this book was the time line.  Krissy has just arrived in town as Death by Coffee opens and she acts as if the place has been open for months.  The constant moaning about not having customers and that the place will fail was really pathetic.  Especially when she kept running off in her first week to try and solve a murder that technically had nothing to do with her.

Death by Coffee sounds like a lovely place but why would a part owner who has invested so much of her money into the place only arrived as it opens?  Why haven't the owners spent some time advertising the place? Doing special offers to get customers in the doors?  Or think about offering free Internet access before opening the business?  Why does Krissy think about decorating the place?  It has only been open a couple of days and didn't they do any work on it before opening?  Or was the place conveniently set up as a bookstore/cafe? This combined with the flaky attitude of Krissy made me wonder how the reader should believe she can solve a murder.  She can't even run a business!

Oh and the how and why of Krissy getting involved with the murder investigation was extremely poor.  She wasn't even a real suspect.  Nobody was.  She just kept poking and poking and spending all her time on that non crime instead of her brand new shiny business that she kept saying was failing but kept running away from each chance she got.  Pestering people she has never met before is obviously how Krissy likes to make friends when she has only been in town for one day!  Oh and what was even worse is that they actually gave her information!  I wish 'I just wanted to talk' worked for everyone investigating a crime because it is obviously a magic spell.

Lastly, why the rivalry from the local diner?  Sure it would make for good reading but Death by Coffee is a cafe selling drinks, a couple of cookies and books.  They aren't selling food like the diner.  There is no way that this place is going to hurt them unless they suddenly get a kitchen and cook.  It was an element of the story that was over the top and a waste of time.

In conclusion I have to say that there was a lot of things wrong with this debut but it somehow managed to keep me reading till the end.  Despite not completely understanding why Krissy gets so involved the murder mystery was interesting enough but it ended in a logical manner although there was a slight twist.

If I come across a second in the series then I would definitely give it a go.  I am intrigued to see where the author takes the story and if she manages to offer some more depth to the characters and concept.  It will also be interesting to see how Krissy manages to keep her business going, how her relationships fair and how she will get involved in another mystery.

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35) Muffin but Murder by Victoria Hamilton

The Blurb :

Muffin maker Merry Wynter hopes to find a buyer for the castle she’s recently inherited. But when she throws a party to draw interest, she finds someone who’s bought the farm instead…

Merry’s career as a New York City stylist has crumbled, but her passion for muffins has helped her rise upstate in Autumn Vale. Everyone in town loves the tasty treats. Still, she would like to return to her glamorous life. Besides, the upkeep of Wynter Castle is expensive, and Merry’s cup isn’t exactly overflowing.

So in order to bring some prospective buyers into the mix, Merry whisks together a spooky soiree and decorates the castle with dashes of fabric and a sprinkling of spider webs. Friends new and old are invited, and everyone has a blast. But as the revelers empty out, Merry notices one partygoer who isn’t leaving—or breathing. Now Merry must hurry to unmask a killer before her perfect plans turn into a recipe for disaster…

My Thoughts :

I remember liking the debut in this Merry Muffin Mysteries and was looking forward to this sequel.  However when I finally got around to sitting down with this one I instantly felt a little 'meh' about the whole thing.  The first chapters in the book were basically a rehashing of the first book with some new bits and bobs thrown in to confuse.  I kept going, waiting for the murder mystery, but the wait was a long one and I have to say I was tempted to give up.

The one good thing about this sequel is the concept.  It is a nice enough idea despite being a little unrealistic at times but most cozies are.  However there are so many little annoying things inside this second book that really make me wonder if I would read a third installment.  The muffin aspect isn't really that big and doesn't make much sense this time around.  I find it hard to believe that after inheriting this amazing castle that Merry hasn't explored it all.  Maybe she hasn't see all of the grounds but the fact that she went into the attic for the first time in this book was very weird and laughable.

I think the main pain in this book is the amount of characters.  I tried to keep them in their place and know who they all were and how they were connected but it was impossible.  Even the main characters who all seem to be living in the castle were hard to keep track of.  Either there was just too much information or the author didn't manage to explain things properly.  I am too confused to know for sure.

What else?  Well the sudden announcement that there was another probable heir was confusing.  Merry's dithering about it was also confusing.  I think the majority of people would insist on an instant DNA test.  Yet she decides to have people search for clues and interview people who knew her uncle.  A waste of time.  Oh and the party also seemed like a big waste of time.  I don't understand how one grown woman with so many supposedly clever friends around her can't come up with a better way to make money and keep the castle.

I could keep going but at the end of the day I finished the book despite the many problems I had with the story and characters.  The murder mystery plot wasn't that bad but all the twists and turns the author put in the book to make it possible and plausible really ruined the general concept and make things too complicated.

If there is a third book in the series I may read it.  I do like Victoria Hamilton's Vintage Kitchen mysteries and will definitely be catching up with them soon.

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18) The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston

The Blurb :

Lilith is the daughter of the sixth Duke of Radnor. She is one of the most beautiful young women in London and engaged to the city’s most eligible bachelor. She is also a witch.

When her father dies, her hapless brother Freddie takes the title. But it is Lilith, instructed in the art of necromancy, who inherits their father’s role as Head Witch of the Lazarus Coven. And it is Lilith who must face the threat of the Sentinels, a powerful group of sorcerers intent on reclaiming the Elixir from the coven’s guardianship for their own dark purposes. Lilith knows the Lazarus creed: secrecy and silence. To abandon either would put both the coven and all she holds dear in grave danger. She has spent her life honoring it, right down to her charming fiancé and fellow witch, Viscount Louis Harcourt.

Until the day she meets Bram, a talented artist who is neither a witch nor a member of her class. With him, she must not be secret and silent. Despite her loyalty to the coven and duty to her family, Lilith cannot keep her life as a witch hidden from the man she loves.

To tell him will risk everything.

My Thoughts :

I am a huge Paula Brackston fan and actually met the author in Cardiff one dreary Saturday morning.  It was a total accident but it was obviously meant to be because her books have been some of the best stories I have ever read.  So it is with a heavy heart that I have given The Midnight Witch only 2.5 stars when all of her previous books have been worth more than the top score of 5.  I even contemplated giving up on the book but I kept going till the end and am, in a way, happy I did.

Lilith is a strong female character trying to keep her life on the track she wants and not on the one everyone else wishes.  A witch who is unsure but determined about the role she has to play in the great Lazarus Coven she lives a life full of secrets.  Her mother is in mourning and has no knowledge of the paranormal elements of her family and Lilith's brother seems to be a magnet for trouble.  Lilith is engaged to be married but it is obvious that her heart doesn't belong to him.

Meeting Bram sets everything into motion.  There is more to the story but the romance that blossoms between the two is the catalyst for everything.  It is a nice story and sometimes an interesting one.  There are magical moments and there are devastating ones too.  There are lots of bits and pieces of the story that are fascinating and exciting but despite The Midnight Witch having everything it needed to be a powerful and five star read it constantly felt flat.

The historical setting of London before World War One is captured wonderfully but the Downton Abbeyness of it all is too over powering.  The Midnight Witch is an emotionally filled roller coaster but the characters don't seem to be on the ride.  The story constantly felt like it was missing something and I sometimes wondered if like in a film some scenes had been cut or shortened so the book wouldn't go on longer than allowed.

All in all this was a bit of a disappointment or I was expecting too much.  Maybe the lack of a Welsh element, which has been present in all of the previous books, is the reason for my so-so feelings about this book.  However looking over on Goodreads it seems that I am in the majority when it comes to my feelings about The Midnight Witch.  Not that this makes me feel any better.  I actually would have preferred to praise this book .

Alas!  I am not giving up on this author!  I eagerly await the next book, The Silver Witch, which is due out in April.  I see it is set in the lovely land of Wales (I may be a little biased seeing as I am Welsh) and I am sure the magic will be back with a five star review!

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138) Shopaholic on Honeymoon by Sophie Kinsella

The Blurb :

The new Mr and Mrs Brandon are on honeymoon, and Becky has big plans! They’ve got a whole year to explore Venice, learn yoga in India, sleep in little wooden huts in South America… maybe even see penguins in the Arctic. And of course they’ll need to buy just a few essential souvenirs along the way (everyone needs a set of Murano glass goblets, after all).

They’re not just tourists, they’re travellers. Becky is sure it is just the thing that Luke needs – time to unwind. He’ll come back a changed man… with all the good bits still intact of course.

But it soon becomes clear that Luke has different plans entirely. Can Becky help him let go, or will this little disagreement threaten their whole honeymoon?

My Thoughts :

There isn't much to say about this novella.  A free Kindle version the author has released for the fans so they can find out what Becky and Luke did on their Honeymoon.

Short, somewhat sweet, this isn't as funny and amusing as the full length novels.  It was a nice quick read and it was good to be back in Becky's Shopaholic world but it isn't much to write about.

A definite must read for fans of the series and not a bad choice if you are looking for something short  to read.  As I mentioned this is a free e-book so there is no wasted money just a free story that follows the couple on a nice trip to Venice.

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134) The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Blurb :

Three months after returning Magician Emery Thane’s heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder. Unfortunately, not all of Ceony’s thoughts have been focused on paper magic. Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn’t broken the teacher-student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness.

When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discover it…even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world. After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her powers…and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands.

My Thoughts :

The Glass Magician is hard to categorize.  It feels Young Adult and it is definitely Paranormal and a little fantasy.  However it is also slightly steampunk and historical.  A mix of many great genres rolled up together with a very original and unusual concept.  The first book was ok.  It didn't blow me away but it did have something about it that made me want to continue with the series.  However it also had a few things about it that bugged me.

I have to admit that some of the things that bugged me in the first book also got to me in this sequel.  The Glass Magician starts out with Ceony celebrating her nineteenth birthday but yet again I felt she acted much younger.  I really am not feeling the relationship between her and Emery which is basically saying it is ok to go after older men and it is alright to have a relationship with your teacher.
The plot is thrilling enough but I found I didn't care much for what happened next.  I had a sneaking suspicion that things would all end well and so I didn't worry about what happened in between.  Some of the violence and death involved did surprise me because in the first book I was under the impression that the author was scared to go that route and was playing safe.  This time around she really went for it and I felt sorry for a certain character who ended up being killed off.

As far as the concept goes, this trilogy is unforgettable.  I love the idea of all the magic that is portrayed in this trilogy so far and that's what kept me reading.   How the magic appeared, the history of it and how it fits into this world isn't really examined but maybe the third and final book will shed more light on that.  I think that a big hole in the telling of this original story.

When I read and reviewed the Paper Magician I saw that the Glass Magician was also available and decided to take on both.  I had already put the Paper Magician on my wish list after seeing a blurb about it somewhere and I have to say the cover also got my attention.   The Glass Magician is the second book in what is apparently a trilogy so now I am way over the halfway mark for this series and feel obliged to read the last installment.  In some aspects I am excited to see what happens in book three but on the other hand I wonder why I should bother when I have so many problems with the story so far.

Time will tell if I complete the series or not.  It certainly is different and well worth trying.  Don't let my moans and groans put you off because as a whole this series really does stands out and it would be a shame not to try it if the blurb interests you.

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115) Penumbra by Keri Arthur

The Blurb :

Agent Sam Ryan wants out of the Special Investigations Unit. She’s sick of the attitude from her partner, Gabriel Stern. She’s sick of the paperwork. Most of all, she’s sick of feeling lonely. But her boss isn’t about to let her go that easily. He gives Sam a choice: either stay stuck in her office or guard a clone replacement of Dan Wetherton, a government minister. Sam reluctantly chooses the latter—even though she suspects she’s being used as bait to draw out the SIU’s elusive nemesis.

Gabriel would like nothing better than to be on his own, without a partner to hold him back. Then he learns that Sam has been assigned to protect Wetherton—or whatever it is that’s replaced him. Wetherton’s clone could have come from only one place: Hopeworth, the military base that contains the secrets of Sam’s past. Determined to protect her, Gabriel is drawn into a fight against unspeakable evil. And all too soon, Sam and Gabriel discover that the connection between them is far more powerful than anyone could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts :

What a disappointment.  Not a good sentence to start off a review but it is the first thing that springs to mind and I have to get out there.  I was excited to see the Spook Squad being re-released after all this time and was really happy to finally get to read this trilogy by an author I have enjoyed for years.  The first two books were interesting, original and full of promise.  The suspense has been building since the beginning. Would they get together?  What is Sam?  So many questions unanswered and lots of mystery from the first two books could only be answered in this final installment.  And thats where the disappointment comes in.

It was pretty obvious as the story progressed that the story wasn't moving along fast enough.  Those questions weren't getting answered and more were appearing with nearly every move the characters made.  It was great writing, the story and plot full of everything you need and none of that romance, girlie feeling stuff and long decisions and conversations.  However as the book progressed I started to worry.  The ending would be a rush job.

So imagine my surprise when the story just didn't finish!  Sure there was a little closure but where is book four?  I mean there has to be another installment!  It wasn't over and I felt cheated.  A small epilogue with an attempt to end things happily but none of the joy of finding out how things really ended up how they did and basically a cliffhanger epilogue!  There were, imho, lots of unfinished business, questions and conversations.

How could this 'trilogy' get re-released without the author giving it a better ending or adding a fourth book to tie things up properly!?  A novella would also be welcome but it seems that is it for the Spook Squad and who cares if you spent all that time getting to know and like the characters.  It doesn't matter that the story was well written and unique because the ending just didn't happen.

Fans of the author will be happy to read this series and see how Keri Arthur has always managed to come up with original and compelling stories. Although I am sure, like me, anyone who reads this series will also feel cheated and annoyed by the quick unfinished ending that is an insult to the reader who has invested so much into the story.

103) Generation 18 by Keri Arthur

The Blurb :

A serial killer strikes every twelve hours. A vampire takes lives at random. At first glance, these tragic incidents seem unrelated. But Special Investigations Unit agents Sam Ryan and Gabriel Stern trace them both back to a military base known as Hopeworth. Is the murder spree part of a cover-up? And are the vampire killings less by chance and more methodical?

The investigation takes an eerie, personal turn when Sam discovers a connection between herself and the victims—and a clue to her own mysterious origins. With the violence escalating and the danger drawing closer to home, the stakes are raised and the mission changes from seeking justice to ensuring Sam and Gabriel’s own survival. And the one person who seems to hold all the answers—about Hopeworth, about Sam’s past—is a mystery man she isn’t sure she can trust. They share a psychic link through her dreams, and he once saved her life, but he may just be the greatest enemy humankind has ever known.

My Thoughts :

Generation 18 is the second book in the Spook Squad series and follows Memory Zero in being re-released after ten years!  Book three will release next month and finally Keri Arthur fans can cross the trilogy of hard to get hold of books off their wishlists.  Was it worth the wait?

While the series is paranormal it is also very Sci-fi. Based in the future and there is mention of futuristic gadgets but the Science Fiction is not too enough to put me off.  The Paranormal aspects are unusual but somewhat familiar with the author managing to keep it original and interesting .  Once again I had some trouble keeping up with everything in this strange futuristic Australia but it is easy to keep the gist of the story straight and the rest of the details fall into place at some point.  The style is typical Artur and after a while you can settle into the story and get sucked in.

The plot this time around seemed slightly long-winded and predictable.  Everything obviously has something to do with Sam's unknown past and this second installment makes a big deal of showing off what she could be and what she isn't.  Sam gets closer to finding herself some answers and I am sure that the third and final book will reveal all.  However this second part felt like it could have given up all the secrets and given Sam a chance to follow something else entirely in book three and maybe give her a book four and five to deal with other cases that do not relate to her personally.

The series is worth checking out if you are a fan of the author and didn't get to read this series the first time around.  The second book is due out next month and I already have a copy to read and review on my Kindle.  I look forward to finding out exactly what Sam is, what happened to her and if she and Gabriel will finally give in to each other.   I think there are some more secrets to come and I have a feeling that there are going to be some revelations that could make this a trilogy that was well worth taking the time to read.

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88) The Helena Diaries by Jana DeLeon

The Blurb :

Do you love Helena Henry?

Did you wonder what she was thinking during Trouble in Mudbug, or what she was up to when she was off-page in the novel?

If so, then this novella is for you. All of Helena’s thoughts and actions during Trouble in Mudbug, compiled in a diary for you to enjoy.

My Thoughts :

WARNING: This novella is a companion book to TROUBLE IN MUDBUG. You should not read this novella prior to completing Trouble in Mudbug. The novella contains major spoilers for the novel and would not make sense if read beforehand.

Believe the warning because this book would make no sense to anyone who has not read Trouble in Mudbug.  If you have already read the first book in the Ghost-in-Law series or maybe even further then think twice about reading this short story.  Usually I encourage fans to read these short stories that fit inbetween the ful length books but this one didn't really offer much to the series or my opinion of Helena.

A quick read this novella offers nothing new to the story or explain anything you can't read about in book one.  All this offers is a chance to see things from the otherside.  Helena's experiences as a ghost are amusing but nothing special stands out in her diaries.  After being really impressed by the first book I wanted to read this one to keep things in order.  However it was basically a recap of the story I had just finished.

Despite this one being a bit of a dud I already downloaded the second book in the series and already started listening to it.  The series really is fun and I recommend trying it but don't waste any money on this short piece.  Just nab it if it is free.

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48) Magical Misfire by Kimberly Frost

The Blurb :

During a small-town skirmish, Would-Be Witch Tammy Jo Trask foils a kidnapping plot with a spell that shrinks her nemesis, Jenna, to a doll-sized diva. When the reversal spells to restore Jenna’s size don’t work, Tammy Jo and gorgeous wizard Bryn Lyons are forced to turn to the ghost of a Victorian-era prostitute who haunts Galveston Island.

Since Sullied Sal only appears to tourists during the yearly celebration of Dickens on the Strand when Victorian food, fare, and fashion are once again the norm, Tammy Jo and Bryn join the festivities. Unfortunately, being squeezed into a corset is just the beginning of the trouble in store for Tammy—and the island—when Tammy Jo and Bryn seek the advice of the gaudy ghost.

My Thoughts :

I am a huge fan of the Southern Witch series and it has been a long time since a new addition to the series has been released.  So when I saw a new full length novel was due out this month and that there was a novella up for grabs, well I pre-ordered and bought them without thinking twice.

I was excited about Magical Misfire and maybe my expectations were a little high.  After such a long break between books (the last book came out in 2011!) maybe I should have taken the time to read the series again before even attempting this short story.  It wasn't badly written.  The plot wasn't that bad.  However I felt like I should have known what was going on from the beginning, like this was a continuation of a previous storyline, but for the life of me it wasn't ringing any bells and it just left me confused and frustrated.

Despite the disappointment I was happy to join up with Tammy Jo and Mercuito again and hope that the long awaited book #4 that is due out this month was worth the wait.  I also hope that the next installment is set back in Tammy Jo's hometown with me being able to keep up with what is going on.  Otherwise I fear my pre-order will be a waste of time because I will be forced to go back and start the series again from the beginning.

If you have never had the pleasure of reading this series then make sure you good.  It is good fun Molly Harper style and if you start at the beginning you can't go wrong.  Why there was such a long break between books is beyond me and I am sure there is good reason but hopefully it hasn't ruined the series but it really has been a great read until now.

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