Audiobook Review: Lake Silence by Anne Bishop

Author: Anne Bishop

Narrator: Alexandra Harris

Title: Lake Silence

Series: The World of the Others #1, The Others #6

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

Format: Audiobook

Published: March 6, 2018

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible) 

Summary: 

In this thrilling and suspenseful fantasy, set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Others series, Vicki DeVine and her lodger, the shapeshifter Aggie Crowe, stumble onto a dead body . . . and find themselves enmeshed in danger and dark secrets.

Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others–vampires, shapeshifters, and paranormal beings even more deadly. And this is a fact that humans should never, ever forget . . .

After her divorce, Vicki DeVine took over a rustic resort near Lake Silence, in a human town that is not human controlled. Towns like Vicki’s have no distance from the Others, the dominant predators that rule most of the land and all of the water throughout the world. And when a place has no boundaries, you never really know what’s out there watching you.

Vicki was hoping to find a new career and a new life. But when her lodger, Aggie Crowe–one of the shapeshifting Others–discovers a dead body, Vicki finds trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man’s death on her, despite the evidence that nothing human could have killed the victim. As Vicki and her friends search for answers, things get dangerous–and it’ll take everything they have to stay alive.

Review:

Yayyyyyy re-reading is always fun ;)

Here we shift over to Vicki DeVine and her crew. Human laws do not apply in the territory controlled by the Others. Between vampires, shapeshifters....and other paranormal that are even more deadly.....humans should not forget where they are on the food chain. After her divorce, Vicki wins a rustic resort as a settlement near Lake Silence. Vicki wants a new life and a new career, but when her lodger Aggie, a shapeshifter, discovers a dead body Vicki will find herself in trouble instead. The detectives want to pin the man's death on her even though the evidence clearly shows something non-human killed him. As Vicki and her new friends search for answers, things get dangerous and more intense. There is a group of humans that can undo the new friendship built between humans and non-humans in the area. 

LOOOOVE Vickie. She is soooo sooo sweet. F that ex of hers for what he did to her. In some ways I love her more than Meg. Maybe it's because Vickie is just a plain ol' human and has no powers but she is so resilient. 

Julian and the cop are adorable. 

Aggie is a darling. I honestly love all the crows. 

The sproingers are cute but creepy. I love them.

I like this world but I hate the humans here. They are so dumb and arrogant. I mean....they are here in this world too, but I feel like after all the events of the past books they would smarten up for a generation or two. But alas, there are still groups who think they are better and smarter and stronger than the Others and Elders. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Fools. 

The mystery was fun. The action was great. It is a slight slow-build before everything explodes, but it was still intense watching everything building. There isn't a boring part to be seen here. 

The narrator is simply a gem. Perfect voices for everyone. Man, woman, shifter, non-shifter....all great. 

All-in-all, I love this even more after re-reading. Such a great series. I can't wait to have time for the next one!!!! 5 stars of course. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Intense

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #48

- Cloak & Dagger #21

Blodeuedd's Wednesday Review: The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

Series: Harbinder Kaur (#4)

Format: 352 pages, Paperback

Published: July 18, 2024 by Quercus Publishing

Crime/ from the  Library

Do I remember these people from PSmurders? No, not really, but that did not matter since this is fully their book.

Natalka and Edwin have a detective agency and they are contacted by someone to solver a murder. But things gets complicated, many authors seem to have died. And I had no idea what was going on or who had killed someone. I would be a lousy detective and die at once.

Edwin was this charming older man, Natalka is Ukrainian with a drive. Her boyfriend Benedict who also helps out, used to be a monk. They are quite the trio. This is in the Harbinder Kaur series but she is not in it a lot, they call her up for help but this is their story.

A good book. I could not guess anything

Natalka and Edwin, whom we met in The Postscript Murders, are running a detective agency in Shoreham, Sussex. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated, longing for a big juicy case such as murder to come the agency's way. Natalka is now living with dreamer, Benedict. But her Ukrainian mother Valentyna has joined them from her war-torn country and three's a crowd. It's annoying to have Valentyna in the tiny flat, cooking borscht and cleaning things that are already clean. To add to Natalka's irritation, Benedict and her mother get on brilliantly.

Then a murder case turns up. Local writer, Melody Chambers, is found dead and her family are convinced it is murder. Edwin, a big fan of the obit pages, thinks there's a link to the writer of Melody's obituary who pre-deceased his subject.

The trail leads Benedict and Edwin to a slightly sinister writers' retreat. When another writer is found dead, Edwin thinks that the clue lies in the words. Seeking professional help, the amateur investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, to find that they have stumbled on a plot that is stranger than fiction.

TMST: Ideal Book Boyfriend

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

10/15/2024: Who is your ideal book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Oh boy. I feel like I have a lot! But I can't remember all of them. Were they not truly my soulmate-book boyfriend then? 

I know for sure I have been in love with Captain Wentworth from 'Persuasion' for a very long time. He is slightly grumpy and a romantic at heart. He is a gem. Sure he holds a grudge, but I wouldn't be like Anne ;) 

Another one that has stuck with me for a while is Darius from 'Princess' by Gaelen Foley. He is charming and cunning and tough. But he has a weakness for his love. He would make me swoon. 

They may not be perfect for me, but I do adore those complex men. LOL

Book Review: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

Author: Laurie Gilmore

Title: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Series: Dream Harbor #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Cozy mystery, Chick Lit

Format: ebook

Pages: 286

Published: August 30, 2023

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

A spicy small-town romance,

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

Review:

I had a couple of friends suggest reading this recently and it is simply perfect for October. I decided to try my library but the wait for this was 7 weeks!!!! EEEE too long, so I used my digital reward points I have been saving on Amazon to buy the ebook of this. Yayy. 

This is a small town and Jeanie is excited to start her new life after her aunt gifts her the Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Dream Harbor will give Jeanie a fresh start away from her dull desk job and hectic life. She meets a lot of folks, but there is something about Logan. He is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. However, Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and they can't stop thinking about each other. At the same time....weird stuff keeps happening. Jeanie will have to figure out who or what is going on.

This was simply perfect for the fall season. It made me want to eat all of the pumpkin glaze donuts we got from the cider mill. Nommmmm! 

I loved Jeanie. She was simply so adorable. Logan? He was okay. He annoyed me a little bit with his inner monologue. Yes, yes. I'm sorry your ex sucked but please.....talk to a therapist or something. Jeanie OBVIOUSLY is 1000000% better and ADORES YOU! *shakes fist* Once he got out of his own way I found him tolerable. 

Hazel and Annie were very endearing. Loved them. 

The mystery felt lacking to me. I wish they would've beefed that up a bit. Jeanie didn't seem as concerned as she should've been LOL. I know I would've been on a warpath!!!

The love was sweet and when we FINALLY got to the spicy bits it got really good. It took eons (I blame Logan). 

All-in-all, this was an adorable book for the fall. Very sweet love, a cute town, and entertaining banter. This would make a good Hallmark movie. I do wish the mystery bits were beefed up a bit though. I do want to read book 2 someday! I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Sweet