The Treasure Hunters Club - Tom Ryan

When I was young I loved maps. (And I still do). I would trace the lines on the map, marking the final destination. I kept also kept copious lists of places that my family's station wagon drove through. And yes, I dreamed about finding a map to a treasure chest. I'm still looking - and I've found a treasure in Tom Ryan's new book - The Treasure Hunters Club.

There is so much to love in this book. I loved the setting by the sea, and the town of Maple Bay. The legend of the pirate's booty draws in quite a few tourists. As well as a number of permanent residents.

Ryan tells this wonderful tale with three main characters - Peter, Cass and Dandy (she's my favorite!). Each of the three have their own voice. There's a wealth of supporting players from the present and the past. 

Who's telling the truth? Who are lying? Is the legend of the pirate plunder true? 

Ryan kept me on my toes the entire way to the final ah hah! There's a twist that is epic! Things did not turn out as I had thought they would. And I adore being wrong! 

Get comfy in your favourite reading spot - you're not going want this one down. Bravo Tom Ryan!

Know Your Newlywed - Elena Armas and Hillary Nussbaum and Heather Taylor

I love audio books and I often pair one up with - cleaning the house, doing laundry, or maybe just a quick rest on the couch with my eyes closed.

Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor and Elena Armas made it very hard to get back up off the couch with their audio book  - Know Your Newlywed!

 

Do you remember watching game shows that had newlyweds for contestants? And the prizes might have been a kettle or a fridge? This new version boasts a prize much larger than that! And that's what prompts Javi and Cleo to apply. Javi and Cleo are characters that you can't help but like. I had my fingers crossed for them! A wonderful rom-com plot ensues. 

I've often said that I get more immerged in a tale when I listen to it. The was definitely the case with Know Your Newlywed. I loved the two leads, Tyler Posey and Mary Mouser. Their voices were perfect for the characters. Posey has a little gravel in his voice that really works for the character and his nature. He doesn't rush. Mouser easily captures her character with a faster pace of speaking. Her voice matches the character. The supporting cast is one of the largest I've ever listened to. I really liked that - I never had to guess who was speaking. A large cast presents a richer listen for me. Everyone spoke clearly and was easy on the ears. And another nice detail was the background noises - telephones, clapping, horns, and more.

An excellent presentation of a excellent and fun rom-com! Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of Know Your Newlywed.  

4 hours and 54 minutes

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge - Nancy Naigle

Yes, another seasonal read! Nancy Naigle takes us to Christmas in Chestnut Ridge.

Sheila is our lead character - and her life is not what she wants. She's successful in business, but not in love. Her best friend has moved to Chestnut Ridge and  insists that Sheila come to her new home for Christmas. She reluctantly agrees.

Well, Chestnut Ridge celebrates Christmas in a really big way! There's some great ideas scattered throughout the book. These celebrations are all tied together by a large group of supporting characters. Including Tucker, the town's Fire Chief and all round beloved good guy.

So, what do you think might happen next? Uh huh, Tucker and Sheila hit it off. The sparks fly - but will they ignite? 

Naigle really does a nice job of portraying the community, its' values and caring for all members of their town. 

I like comfort reading when the snow starts, twinkle lights appear, Christmas cookies abound and so much more. This was a classic Christmas tale. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Christmas in Chestnut Right. :0)

The House Hunt - C.M.Ewan

I liked C.M. Ewan's premise for his new novel, The House Hunt. Something so everyday as a realtor holding an open house is the starting point. When the realtor is late, the homeowner takes her place...

The book bounces back and forth between two viewpoints - that of Lucy and her husband Sam. I really like this style of story telling - I need to know what is going on with each of them.

Ewan has a dark imagination. There are a few 'over the top' machinations, but just go with it. It's hard to put this one down! If you like thrillers, this one's for you. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The House Hunt.

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Well hello Scott Westerfeld! I was quite happy to spend the weekend with you. Wait, that's not quite right...I spent the weekend listening to the audiobook of Uglies. I loved it!

I am a big fan of dystopian fiction. It's always intriguing to see what an author has created in their version of the future. In Uglies, Tally is looking forward to her 16th birthday - as that's the day she gets her surgeries - to be pretty. And then all she is to do is have fun. Her friend Shay doesn't want to "be pretty" and she leaves the enclave to see what's out there...

This was the setting I was keen to hear more about. I always take the time to mentally draw the settings and compare to our world and the path we're taking. 

The characters are well drawn and engaging. Tally will keep you on your toes as the story unfolds. I quite liked David who lives 'out there'. There's a great supporting cast. And though I had partially guessed what might happen next, I couldn't stop listening. And when I listened the last chapter, I just wanted to get my hands on the second book!

I chose to listen to Uglies and that was a great choice. The narrator was Brianne Tju and her performance was perfect. Her 'teen' voice is believable. Her speaking is clear and easy on the ears. She has easily captured the action, emotions and the tenor of Westerfeld's work with her voice. I've said it before, I feel more immersed a story when I listen. This was the case with Uglies. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt.  An easy five stars. 

(Uglies is now available on a streaming service. Brianne Tju plays Shay in the film.)

Dead Tired - Kat Ailes

Dead Tired is the second book in Kat Ailes' Expectant Detectives Series.

I read the first book and quite enjoyed it. Dead Tired revisits Alice and her mommy/amateur sleuth friends. The babes are growing up and are mobile now. And the moms are looking for a few hours of catch up sleep. Why not chain themselves to trees in an eco protest?! Yes, they got a few winks...but there's an extra body when they wake up - one that's quite dead.

Ailes is a fun writer. She has a small child and I imagine she draws on her own experiences for these books. Alice is a great lead character and I liked her. The supporting cast are a mixed bunch and it makes things much more interesting.

Dead Tired is a cosy murder mystery. All the pieces are there - a small village, quirky players, a dog named Helen, enthusiastic amateur detectives, and a police dept that Alice thinks needs some help. There are lots of red herrings along the path to the final aha moments. Another fun, light hearted read from Ailes. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Dead Tired.

A Midwinter Murder - Verity Bright - Cover reveal!

"Homemade baubles, reindeer-shaped cookies and snowy walks across the rolling moors… but Lady Swift’s festive plans are ruined when a body turns up!

Winter 1924. When Lady Eleanor Swift unexpectedly finds herself a guest of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, she’s determined to enjoy Christmas with all the trimmings at his sprawling manor house. And that includes kisses under the mistletoe and cozying up by the fire with her fiancé, dashing detective Hugh Seldon.

Instead, the season of goodwill turns frosty as she finds the Duke’s studious secretary, Mr Porritt, dead in the storeroom. Clasped in his chilly hand is a golden pendant in the shape of a rose. The Duke denies ever having seen the necklace before. But Eleanor can see the lies in his eyes… Did it belong to his mysteriously absent wife?

Hugh and Eleanor must ditch relaxing with hot cocoa in favour of interviewing the Duke’s holiday guests. Every suspect has a secret they’d kill to keep: the socialite with the false name, the Sir with a questionable inheritance and the husband hiding a crack in his marriage.

As the blizzard outside rages, Auldwyke Hall becomes cut off. Trapped by the snow, Eleanor and Hugh must skate around the increasingly secretive Duke to unwrap the identity of the killer. But does the answer to the secretary’s murder lie with a ghost of Christmas past? And when an attempt is made on the Duke’s life too, they realise the killer is closer than they think…

A gripping and twisty Golden Age murder mystery set in a country house on the Yorkshire moors, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss!" 

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.