Maids of Misfortune

MAIDS OF MISFORTUNE

M. LOUISA LOCKE

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Annie is a widow, a clairvoyant dealing in financial matters, and becomes a spy to find the murderer of a client. She is a lady who becomes a maid to solve the crime.

In her Victorian journey, Annie teams up with a lawyer named Nate. There are sparks of endearment between the two as Annie breaks all the norms of women in the late 1800s.

The supporting and involved characters round out an interesting plot seldom used in a mystery. Ms. Locke makes it work with entertaining conversations, detailed background, and writing that keep the reader wondering what comes next.

Purchase this page-turner: https://amzn.to/40PwAJc.

Only with You

ONLY WITH YOU

LEA COLL

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

Hadley is running away from her controlling, wealthy New Orleans father. Cades has shunned his family after the death of his soul mate.

These two characters meet under unusual circumstances in Annapolis, Maryland, Cade's hometown. They are neighbors; she is a lawyer, and he is a martial arts instructor and a construction company owner.

Their relationship begins with legal business and blooms into something neither anticipated. Both are running away from personal commitments: Hadley is not standing up to her father, and Cade is not letting go of his grief.

Ms. Coll brings them together in a compelling story with dialog that engages the reader. The plot and characters set up book 2 in this series, which reads like a novella.

It's a good Romantic read.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3PSwMCG

MOON RITUALS

MOON RITUALS: Harness Lunar Power for Manifestation, Healing, and Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Lunar Witchcraft for Modern Witches and Spiritual Seekers 

ANN WESTWOOD

Review by Author Roy Murry

The title of this book is A Mouth-Full. Let me boil Moon Rituals down for you: the book is a self-help exercise.

Although Ms. Westwood's prose is intriguing, many exercises are repetitive, especially when the moon's reflection on the earth changes. If the reader needs a crutch or system to improve their life, following and using the moon's waxing and journaling your activities may help you develop a bright future.

Over my adult seventy-six years, I have read many self-help books. Unless you care to use witchcraft or the moon to guide your life, I recommend you read the non-fiction The Power of the Subconscious Mind before this book.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3Cu2pPF

Holidays can be Murder

 

HOLIDAYS can be MURDER.

CONNIE SHELTON

Review by Author Roy Murry

HOLIDAYS is the first book I have read by Ms. Shelton. I am impressed with the story's setup. However, the mystery is easy to figure out - her neighbor's mother-in-law is killed.

The characters are well-developed for a series, and the main character, Charlie Parker, controls the action throughout the play. She finds clues while the detective in her company, her brother, is not involved.

Those follow-ups take Charlie in circles and lead her back to square one, where the answer lies. The adventure is enjoyable for the reader.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/42k8poK

Demon-Haunted World

THE DEMON-HAUNTED WORLD

CARL SAGA

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

If you have an INQUISITIVE mind, this discourse on science vs. the human race will make you want to read more of Carl Saga's analysis of the world around you. Unfortunately, he died in 1996, but fortunately, he left many works. Read COSMOS, as I did.

This book is not light reading for the beach unless you read one chapter, put the book down, and contemplate what you read. These 482 pages of controversial information are appropriate to today's events as they were when written.

USA Note: Our founding fathers "were self-sufficient, not requiring careers as politicians or lobbyists to make a living." Also..."Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers (Career Politicians) of the people alone."

With some gems of observation, such as the above, Mr. Sagan contends that Jeffersonian science is the way to defeat the world's haunted demons.

Read this book to expand your horizons.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/4252bJi

 

MOZZARELLA MURDER

MOZZARELLA MURDER

A Rolling Dough Pizza Truck

Mystery Book 1

R.M. MURPHY

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

Denny is starting a new life operating a pizza truck and snooping part-time. While picking up MOZZARELLA cheese at a friend's Cheese Shop, a famous man is found dead behind the counter.

Since he has time to spend and it is his old stomping grounds, he starts investigating. During his snooping, he meets old friends.

If I hear that puppy Yorkies are cute again, I will bark. Mr. Murphy overdoes the dog bit and does little character-building on the sleuthing.

This book is a short mystery. There is doubt about what is going on or who did it. Only one event the police overlooked reveals the truth.

It is a quick, somewhat enjoyable read, but as in book 1, it is not among the best. But if you love food, Yorkies, and cozy murder mysteries, this is for you.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3P7upeD

My First, My Last, My Only

MY FIRST, MY LAST, MY ONLY

A Granite Cove Novel

DENISE CARBO

 

Review by Author Roy Murry

 

This love story starts with a teenage kiss and ends with a new beginning. It is a Hallmark movie theme with a twist.

Fanny, her nickname, meets Mitch during a summer at the Granit Cove beach when they are teens. He only comes there in the summer for a few years and never returns.

Mitch becomes a star in Hollywood. Fanny finds her passion in cooking and owns a bakery/coffee shop in Granite Cove. Mitch arrives, and his agent purchases the two-story building where her shop is. She had a bid for the property because the second story is an apartment.

He moves into the apartment, and the affair begins: Love, hate, jealousy, mother problems, and other impediments arise to keep Fanny and Mitch apart. Until...

Extremely well-written. The reader may have tears at the end.

Purchase: https://amzn.to/3ZMADpe