Review of The Dry

The Dry

By

Jane Harper

When federal agent Aaron Falk returns home to attend a friend’s funeral, today’s headline and yesterday’s collide. Can Aaron confront the past as he attempts to determine what happened to his friend and his family?

Author Jane Harper has captured perfectly the rhythm of life in a small town, where you’re either born and bred or an outsider. When Aaron and his father left decades earlier, they left under a cloud, and in present day his arrival stirs up old memories and rivalries.

I wish I could give this debut novel six stars – it’s well written, with solid character development, enough plot twists to keep you guessing and so much atmosphere you can feel the heat and the drought.

I’ll definitely be watching for Jane Harper’s next novel.

Five stars.

Review -- Deception Island

Deception Island

by 

Brynn Kelly

HQN Books

 When Holly Ryan is mistaken for American heiress, Laura, by kidnapper, Rafe Angelito, her life takes a turn for the worse. Well rewarded for body doubling for Laura, who is supposed to be sailing the world solo, Holly thinks she has a solid re-set for her life. But first she has to survive her kidnapping and encounter with some real-life pirates, out to collect a big payday. Little do they know Laura’s father isn’t about to lay out any money to save Holly.

When Rafe’s son is taken and used as a pawn to control this sexy legionnaire, he kidnaps former con artist, Holly. Then he realizes the real socialite isn’t who he is sharing a deserted island with, and he is devastated by what may happen to his son.

Two desperate people with secret pasts and current secrets come face to face with danger and neither may make it out alive.  Tossed together by circumstances and attracted to one another, can they beat the odds? Can they defeat ruthless pirates who want to take everything from them? Can they trust the love growing between them? Can they find a future or will they pay the ultimate price on Deception Island?

4 Stars

Review -- The Semester of Our Discontent

The Semester of Our Discontent

A Lila Maclean Mystery

 by

 Cynthia Kuhn

Henery Press

When newly minted English professor Lila Maclean keeps showing up at the scenes of crimes at Stonedale University, suspicion is cast her way…until her cousin and fellow professor is arrested for murder. Lila decides she has to find out what is going on, now that the police believe the case is solved. A second murder keeps Lila in the crosshairs of the detective looking for the second killer, until another professor is arrested.

Her investigation puts her in the path of danger and when she comes face-to-face with the killer, Lila may not live long enough to clear her colleagues, let alone work towards tenure at Stonedale.

Ms. Kuhn has written an impressive debut cozy mystery. Her descriptions of academia and the stress of aiming for tenure hit the mark. And her writing style draws in the reader to see, hear and experience life on a campus. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the second installment of the Lila Maclean mystery series.

Five stars!