Every Trick in the Book by Lucy Arlington

Every Trick in the Book is the second installment in the Novel Idea cozy mystery series.  In this outing, the Novel Idea Literary Agency is sponsoring a festival where fledgling writers can meet with the agents to pitch books and attend seminars to learn what it takes to be a successful author. 

On the first morning of the festival, Lila Wilkins (our mystery solver and main character) meets Melissa Blume, an editor from New York, who could be Lila's twin.  When Melissa is murdered, Lila sets out to find out what happened. 

The first installment in this series is not as entertaining as the first book, Buried in a Book, but it was entertaining and I am liking the minor characters.  Although the murderer is known to the reader early on in the book, the reason why will keep you guessing especially after a second woman is killed.   I look forward to the next installment. 

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake

I'm just a little envious of Heather's Blake real life friends, because she must be a real kick to hang around.  I mean anyone who can make up characters like Carly Bell Hartwell, her over-the-top quirky family, hunky ex-fiance' cop, and her married to the town minister best friend, must be able to find the fun no matter what the circumstances. 

Carly is the owner of a magic potion shop in Hitching Post, Alabama.  When Carly find a local lawyer dead on the floor of her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from being a popular town healer to suspect number one in the minds of the town folk.  As she works her way through all the clues and suspects, she finds that she may not be over the broken engagement and that Dylan may be back in town to take up where they left off. 

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber) is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers.  I'm pretty sure I've read all her books; starting with Nina Quinn, landscaper extraordinaire (admittedly my favorite), Lucy Valentine, matchmaker and finder of lost objects (and people), and Darcy Merriweather, with her newly discovered talent of wishcrafting.  They are all well written and you just never know who the culprit is until Heather is wrapping up the story.   

The Magic Potion Mysteries are definitely going on my TBR list and if you like cozies, you're going to love Heather.  

The Reckless Engineer by Jac Wright

I was given an advanced e-book copy of The Reckless Engineer by the author and asked to honestly post a review.  Before I do that, I have a small rant.

What the feck is up with people posting negative reviews of books they haven't read, because they don't like the subject matter, characters, and/or the author?  Are you twelve?  Did the mean girls in high school pee in your cornflakes?  Did your parent forget to teach you common decency?  Seriously people, it's embarrassing.

Okay, I feel better.  Now on to my review. 

The Reckless Engineer is the story of Jack Conner, the cheating husband of Caitlin McAllen, the only daughter of a very wealthy Scottish oilman.  The story opens with Jack's phone call to Jeremy Stone because Jack has been arrested for murdering his current mistress, Michelle, and Jack needs a solicitor.  Jeremy is not an attorney, but he shares a suite of offices (and receptionist) with Harry Stavers, solicitor for the rich and famous and Jeremy's best friend from college

As Harry works on Jack's defense, Jeremy investigates what happened and tries to untangle the mess Jack has put himself and his family in by having multiple affairs with women at work. The action follows Jeremy to the McAllen English estate and Scotland where Caitlin's family still lives and works.

The premise of the book is very interesting and the mystery is solid.  Jeremy who is an engineer by trade, attempts to find the murderer before Jack is convicted and sent to prison.  Jeremy is also trying to keep his engineering firm solvent, reconcile with his ex-wife, be loyal to Jack's ex-wife and his current wife, and keep a good working relationship with the McAllens, who have hired him to run the company in Jack's absence.

The mystery is good, but the engineering stuff was over my head and not as interesting to me as a good murder mystery.  I could do without Jeremy's attempts to reconcile with the ex-wife, in fact, I could have done without that part of the book, because I thought it didn't fit well with the whole premise of the book.   Of course, as this is the first installment in a series, I feel sure that the relationships will be fleshed out and the reader will learn much more about Jeremy's relationship with his ex and why he is having such a hard time letting go. 

Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio

Swift Justice is the first in the Swift series about former air force investigator turned  P.I. Charlie Swift.  Charlie has a small private investigation firm with a silent financial partner.  When her wealthy, silent partner leaves his socialite wife, Gigi shows up ready to work.  Unfortunately for Charlie, Gigi knows nothing about investigation and is a bit of a klutz.  

I love Laura DiSilverio's series (there are two).  Her characters are funny, quirky (but not too quirky), and end up solving the mysteries, sometimes in spite of themselves.  Usually I can solve the crime before the middle of the book, but this one kept me guessing until the last couple of chapters. 

Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

This is the fourth book in the six book (for now) Lucky Harbor series and I thought it was so much better than the last one (number six) I read.  This is Mallory's story.

Mallory Quinn is a nurse at the Lucky Harbor hospital and she wants to start free clinic for those in need.  She is the town good girl (although I'm sure there must be more than one).  One evening she joins her friend Amy at the diner for chocolate cake.  There is a freak ferocious windy and snowstorm, which causes a tree to fall on the diner, thereby knocking out the power and several windows.  Amy and Mallory are hiding with their soon to be third best friend, Grace, behind the counter, when Mallory hears a noise at the door and goes to investigate.  Caught in the branches of the fallen tree, is Ty (quintessential bad boy/Mr. Wrong), the Mysterious Cute Guy, new to the town. 

Ty is an ex-Navy Seal recovering from a catastrophic injury suffered when the plane (or it could have been a helicopter, I forget) his team was riding in crashed over the ocean.  Ty was the only survivor.  Now he is banged up once again.  Mallory etal,  rescue him and get him in the ambulance, where he is taken to the hospital and patched up again. 

The next time we see Ty is at the auction to benefit the free clinic, he is supposed to be Mallory's date, but he does not remember what happened during the storm.  Unfortunately, the whole is expecting him to be Mallory's date.  Will they, won't they, you be the judge.  Will Ty go back to the Seals?  Will Mallory's clinic be a success or a failure?