Review: Whiskers and Ciphers (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery Book 6) by DeAnna Drake

A corpse in the town’s fountain spells trouble for Rebecca Cuthbert, who, along with her talking cat, Aneksi, must uncover the killer and dangerous truths behind the cursed artifacts plaguing Citrus Grove.

The normally quiet community is buzzing with excitement as the local university prepares to host an academic conference on Egyptian antiquities that’s attracting scholars, collectors—and a few hidden agendas. Did a newcomer carry out this crime, or is the culprit closer to home?

With Detective Nick Devon at her side and her knack for connecting the dots, Rebecca finds herself once again in the thick of the investigation. With help from her resourceful grandfather and her clever feline friend, she is determined to unlock the secrets of a mysterious antique journal. But each new clue reveals a longer list of suspects, deeper suspicions, old enemies, and more threats.

Solving this puzzle may come at a deadly cost. Can she crack the case before the murderer strikes again?

 

My Review: 

Fast-paced and unpredictable.

 

As the town of Citrus Grove is bustling with visitors attending the university’s symposium on Egyptian antiquities, one of the visitors is discovered dead in the fountain at the park.  Rebecca Cuthbert and her immortal talking kitten, Aneksi, are hot on the trail to find the killer before someone else turns up dead.

This book had a lot of twists and turns and it was not easy to figure out who the killer was or their motive.  It is an exciting book that I just couldn’t put down.

Review: Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect Book 1) by Jill Sorenson

U.S. Marine Jason Reed survived wounds that should have ended him. Instead, he’s stepping into the streets of Last Chance, Texas, to honor a battlefield promise to his fallen comrade. Haunted by war and torn between duty and the cowboy life calling him home, Jason plans to check on widowed Natalie Luna and move on. But Natalie’s fragile beauty and fierce resilience kindle a hunger he can’t outrun. When a dangerous suitor threatens her, Jason’s protective instincts surge, compelling him to stay awhile.

Natalie is barely holding on, juggling two jobs and a spirited son who tests her every day. She has no time for a charming stranger, even one trading handyman skills for a place to rest his head. Yet Jason’s disruptive presence stirs a longing she can’t ignore. She wants him in her bed, and if he proves worthy, maybe more. But Jason is a man of secrets—dare she trust him?

Can Jason protect Natalie from danger and win her heart? Or will the truth he hides destroy their shot at love?

 

My Review: 

A heartfelt and emotional love story. 

I read this book in record time.  I was so drawn into the story that I couldn’t put it down.  Natalie and Reed’s story was an emotional roller coaster.  I enjoyed seeing them get close, but there were so many reasons they shouldn’t be together, including a secret Reed was keeping.  It was a long and bumpy road, but in the end, they got their happily ever after.

 

Review: Chasing Carolina Jessamine (The Southern Isles Book 3) by Laurie Beach

 

Sometimes, beauty’s not enough…

Carolina Jessamine Boone was created to be beautiful. At least that’s what she’s been told her whole life. So, why is she still alone?

Jessa has a good job at the island winery and is making an old Lowcountry bungalow into a home—she’s content, and certainly has no need for a man. But anonymous gifts left through an old milk door raise both questions and memories of the past. Were the gifts left by the suave outsider who has designs on not just her, but the winery itself? Could they be from the boy who broke her heart years ago? Or is she about to finally discover who her father is?

The more Jessa opens her heart, the more she puts herself at risk. But sometimes heartbreak is simply a nudge onto a new, better path.

 

My Review:

A beautifully written love story. 

This book is the perfect escape.  It is so well written that I could easily picture myself in the South Carolina lowcountry.  The book is filled with everything I was looking for, family, friendships, secrets and finding true love where you least expect it.  I couldn’t get enough of Jessa and Gates’s story.