"Murder in Cuba", by Dianna Hartman

A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery book #8

This cute story brings us to a land of classic car, beautiful beaches, salsa music and the best cigar in the world. Putting my thoughts together I swing my hips to the beat of the music now playing in my head...ok. I will cool it. Jack Trout, his friend Mike and their spouses set off on an exploratory trip to a Cuban island. Their dream of fly fishing the saltwater flats was quickly replace when a local constable ask to help to solve the murder of a British fly fishing guide. Jack fast becomes the main suspect...and the investigation starts...

What a different mystery this turned out to be. I love how the wives went about solving this murder, they used all the assets to discover what they wanted and they succeeded at every turn. Everything is so lively from the characters, the food, the music and Cayo (the cat). Cuba in this story is still frozen in time before the embargo on US citizens. On the streets of Cuba are old 50’s American cars, they only serve Cuban beer and local rum , but the food is out of this world and the people are warm, friendly and beautiful. The murder mystery is a soft one no graphic scenes to make us shiver but enough to leave a picture in our mind. The style is a bit stilted at time so is the narrative but in whole this story is quite captivating and I enjoyed passing time with it.

Ok I want a Mojito please

Fly fishing is the reason this group went to Cuba but this mystery gives us a trip to a beautiful place along with its culture and food and is easy to read, entertaining and unpredictable. Well-done.

"The Last Disciple", by John W Mefford

A Jack Whitfield thriller book #8

For those following this series we know that Jack is on the run and with his confidante Natasha they race across Europe hoping to find the truth about Jack’s past. While in Budapest his memory rocks him and together they must use any means to learn the truth. Would finding what really happened in his past free him from the disturbing images he has in his mind.....or his visions all fiction?...from then on we step into an unstoppable whirlwind and a massive roller-coaster ride.

This story has some exciting chases, maybe a bit over the top but it makes for a very exciting read. I love this series it is one of my best not only it is action packed it also provides us with unexpected twists and turns and outcome we don’t see coming. The plot moves so fast in this twisted story that I couldn’t help but flipping the pages at a raging speed. Oh yes I am repeating myself I say this with every story Mr. Mefford wrote and I probably will in the future also. This author has a knack for penning a story that keeps us on our toes and teases us in ways that we need to know what comes next. I love how Jack’s character is portrayed as a caring but also a deadly individual (two sides of a coin sort of). The narration is fast and furious just like the action.

Reading “The Last Disciple” I was off on journey of intrigues, discovery, subterfuge and death.....what a good read....

Another great addition Mr. Mefford keep them coming. Thank you for the hours of enjoyment

"One Last Shot", Susan May Warren

Alaska Air One Rescue book #1

Oaken Fox, a country music star, wants to boost his fan base and joins survivalist Mike Grizz’s new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness. It didn’t take long for tragedy to strike and have Air One Rescue on site, the experience was enough for Oaken call it quits but his producer has other plans for him...On the other side, Rookie EMT Boo Kingston is there to keep Oaken safe and is assigned to his training and safety.........and the story goes on when five women goes missing and Air One team uses all the skills to find them, Oaken needs to step up and be part of the team.

No lack of action in this one. If you like search and rescue activities in a mountainous environment you will be very happy with this story. We learn about ascender, carabiners, tension, knots and the many techniques used for a safe rescue. The narrative is very active I felt I was there with each step the characters took. The tension in vivid and intriguing in some ways, we never know what will happen next. Sure way to keep us turning the pages and interesting in the drama. Yes drama there is attraction between Boo and Oaken, tragedy: people getting lot or hurt, threatening others, you name it, you will find it here. What I like the best is the camaraderie played out between characters. They mess with each other and will go to no ends to help.

“One Last Shot” is all about ones last chance to start all over again, putting the past behind, forget and forgive and to look forward to a new beginning. Boo and Oaken’s characters show us how this is possible...

I received this ebook from Revell via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Vanishing Angels", by Melinda Woodhall

Book#1, in Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller series

Melinda no doubt has found her perfect formulae and is sticking to it when it comes to giving us suspenseful and intriguing stories. In this new series we find the same beat her other series have given us. A heroine with a painful past who may or may not be an officer of the law, gruesome murders to pick interest, a vicious predator to hate, exciting plot full of action to please us and she never forgets to set the stage in a small town and always ads icing on the cake by introducing a smart dog and why not an handsome man to boot.....oh yes, not forgetting a plot that holds attention from start to finish and characters to die for....awe another winner.

In a few words:

FBI Special Agent Bailey Flynn is hoping that she and her search and rescue dog Ludwig can make a fresh start and start a new life in Belle Harbor. It was not meant to be: a vicious predator is stalking the coastal town. The life of someone dear to Bailey was taken..... Bailey needs to put the past behind and track down this killer before he strikes again.....

I was pinned to this story and I zipped through it in no time. Well-said, Well-done

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"The Lies We Told", by Roberta Kagan

 Margot’s Secret Book #4

This is the final book in this wonderful series and it can be read on its own but I highly recommend you read this series in order in order to get the maximum pleasure of being immersed into the world of the characters. The stories are unputdownable.

In this last installment, Margot’s is a woman with a secret that could be deadly if uncovered. She becomes even more desperate when she meets Kurtis, a Nazi officer and soon finds herself entangled in a web of lies. Eventually she sees that be marrying Kurtis her hopes are that he will take care of her and that he will accept the child she is carrying as his own, ( of course he should never know the baby is not his). While in Berlin, her estranged sister, Trudy, has a dangerous affair with Peter, an SS officer. Their world clashes and all come to an end.

Although this story has much going on and you need to pay attention to follow all the coming and going. Of course if you read the previous installment it will be easier to put all the characters in the right place. Recurring characters have their own story and the few new ones add to the challenge of remembering them. Along the way we meet well known figures in history such Eva Braun and Hitler, and the usual Nazi conspirators. Along with these well-known personages we go to a party at Eagle’s Nest. So this story although fictional dabbles in some true events.

The story moves at a steady pace and is smoothly writing and very enjoyable to read. I loved this series and hate to see it end.

Well-said, well-done

I received this ARC from the Book Whisperer via Netgalley