Book Review with Featured Author: Run Dog Run by Kathleen Kaska

Run Dog Run by Kathleen Kaska

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Rose Press, February 28, 2022

Setting:  Texas

Genre: Mystery Romance

Length: 272 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

After five years in Africa, researching the decline of elephant populations, Kate Caraway’s project comes to a screeching halt when she shoots a poacher and is forced to leave the country.
Kate and her husband, Jack Ryder, flee to a friend’s ranch in Texas to recuperate. But before Kate has a chance to unpack, her friend’s daughter pleads for Kate’s assistance. The young woman has become entangled in the ugly world of greyhound abuse and believes Kates is the only one with the experience and tenacity to expose the crime and find out who is responsible. On the case for only a few hours, Kate discovers a body, complicating the investigation by adding murder to the puzzle. Now she’s in a race against time to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Kate-Caraway-Animal-Rights-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B09NJWJQ3X

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/run-dog-run-kathleen-kaska/1125918071

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/run-dog-run-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kathleen_Kaska_Run_Dog_Run?id=uExgEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34579089-run-dog-run

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/run-dog-run-by-kathleen-kaska

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Run Dog Run by Kathleen Kaska. I voluntarily agreed to read and review and leave an unbiased review. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Run Dog Run is a fast-paced novel with compelling characters and a suspenseful plot. Ms. Kaska hold her secrets tightly, keeping me guessing and wondering who the villain is of this tale. The pacing pulled me into the story from the start and held me captivated until the end. 

 

The primary protagonist is Kate Caraway. She’s recently returned to Texas after spending five years in Africa with her husband, Jack Ryder. She quickly becomes involved when her niece asked for her help in fighting for animal rights. A nearby rancher and senatorial candidate may be abusing his racing greyhounds.  Kate is fierce when it comes to fighting for defenseless animals. I admire her determination to find the truth.

 

The mystery is enthralling. Ms. Kaska threw me off the track several times, just when I thought I knew who was behind the murder and mayhem. She builds the tension and suspense to a crescendo until the villain is revealed. The dark moment is truly dark indeed!

 

If you enjoy a mystery with intriguing characters and an action-packed tale, then you will love Run Dog Run as much as I did. I look forward to reading the next book in this amazing series. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Kathleen Kaska is the author of The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which has been updated and reissued by Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and released on November 1, 2020. She is the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars.

Kathleen is also the author of two awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Classic Triviography Mystery Series. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus-books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the country's largest book group. Her latest Sydney Lockhart mystery, set in Austin, Texas, is Murder at the Driskill. A Two Horse Town, Kathleen’s second mystery in the new Kate Caraway animal-rights series, was released by Black Opal Books in December 2018. Murder at the Menger and Eagle Crossing will be out in 2021.

When she is not writing, she spends much of her time with her husband traveling the back roads and byways around the country, looking for new venues for her mysteries and bird watching along the Texas coast and beyond. Her passion for birds led to the publication The Man Who Saved the Whooping Crane: The Robert Porter Allen Story (University Press of Florida). 

Kathleen was the writer, editor marketing director for Cave Art Press. Her collection of blog posts was released in August 2017 under the title, Do You Have a Catharsis Handy? Five-Minute Writing Tips. Catharsis was the winner of the Chanticleer International Book Award in the non-fiction Instruction and Insights.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://kathleenkaska.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenkaska

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KKaskaAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathleen-kaska

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/178776.Kathleen_Kaska

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan

The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan

 

 

Publisher & Release: Thomas Nelson, March 15, 2022

Setting:  1946-1947, Vienna, Austria

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 367 Pages

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

No matter how you might try to hide in a war to escape your past, it is always close at hand.

Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.

Simon Barrington, the illegitimate heir of one of Sussex’s oldest estates, used the previous war to hide his insecurities about his past. Now, he uses his high breeding to gain access to all four allied quarters of the ruined city in an attempt to slow the fall of the Iron Curtain. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment he met her, and a marriage of convenience to save Simon’s estate has always kept her close. Until now, when Sophie’s mysterious client in Prague forces him to wonder if her allegiance to him—and their cause—is in question. Torn between his loyalty to his cause and his heart, Simon seeks answers about Sophie only to learn that everything he thought he knew about his involvement in both wars is based on a lie.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mozart-Code-Rachel-McMillan-ebook/dp/B08BYZ8VNJ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mozart-code-rachel-mcmillan/1137257379

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-mozart-code-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_McMillan_The_Mozart_Code?id=tdTtDwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Mozart-Code-Audiobook/0785253416?qid=1647308391&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=E2FQTATM34FY6M4VFK8R

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54350812-the-mozart-code

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-mozart-code-by-rachel-mcmillan

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book by publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Mozart Code is a well-researched novel set in the aftermath of WWII. As the British and American fight Russia’s determination to spread communism across eastern Europe. Austria is teetering on the edge and must be saved. The characters are intriguing, and the plot is complicated. 

 

Unfortunately, the tale is so enmeshed in historical details in the first half of the book and told without enough emotion, I almost gave up on it. I’m glad I continued reading. The second half of the book is much better. The pacing picked up and drew me into the story, and I became vested in the characters.

 

Sophie Huntington Villiers is a complex character. Her parents only see her as a pawn in their game, wanting her to marry someone who would raise their social standing. Her grandmother made her vow to never give her heart. That caused her to deny her love for Simon.

 

Simon Barrington is our hero and spymaster of this tale. He’s loved Sophie for years and when they marry, he means every word he pledges, but he realizes he must not let Sophie know. I enjoyed his emotional struggle.

 

The romance between Sophie and Simon is strong, and I wanted them to find their happy ending. However, this novel is not supposed to be a romance, but historical fiction with plenty of espionage and suspense. For me that fell short until the last quarter of the book. I’m a true lover of history and have become entranced with WWII novels, so I’m surprised I didn’t become drawn into that aspect of the book. 

 

If you enjoy well-researched historical fiction set in the aftermath of WWII as the allies race to stop Russia from increasing their stranglehold on Europe, then The Mozart Code may be the book for you. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

Rachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, The Three Quarter Time series, The London Restoration and The Mozart Code. Her non-fiction works including Dream Plan Go: A Travel Guide for Independent Adventure and A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always reading.

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachkmc1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachkmc

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-mcmillan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14165949.Rachel_McMillan

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young

Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Rose Press, February 21, 2022

Setting:  1913 & present Day

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 260 Pages

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Tess Burton is always up for an adventure. She's risked her inheritance to open Divine Vintage, a clothing boutique. While modeling an elegant gown from an Edwardian era trousseau, her mind is opened to a century-old murder. Visions—seen through the eyes of the murdered bride—dispute local lore that claims the bridegroom committed the crime.
Trey Dunmore doesn't share Tess' enthusiasm for mind-blowing visions, yet the appeal to clear his family's tainted legacy compels him to join her in exploring the past. Aided by the dead woman's clothing and diary, Tess and Trey discover that pursuing love in 1913 was just as thorny as modern day. As the list of murder suspects grows, the couple fears past emotions are influencing, and may ultimately derail, their own blossoming intimacy.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Divine-Vintage-Sandra-L-Young-ebook/dp/B09NGP2W9R

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/divine-vintage-sandra-l-young/1140776337

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/divine-vintage-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sandra_L_Young_Divine_Vintage?id=RNxeEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60019967-divine-vintage

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/divine-vintage-by-sandra-l-young

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. Nothing has influenced my rating or opinion of this book. 

 

Divine Vintage is a well written novel involving characters from the past and present. The heroine has recently opened a vintage clothing shop. Esther DeLeon and her cousin’s son come into the shop because she is hosting an anniversary tea and style show at Carver House, her home, to benefit the local homeless shelter. That starts off this enjoyable story.

 

Ms. Young brings the Edwardian era to life through vivid descriptions of the clothing and style of that time. She weaves a fantastical tale by using a woman’s clothing and her diary to smoothly transition from the present to the past. The pacing is decent, but it does pick up a great deal in the second half of the novel. I’m not a huge fan of paranormal novels, but I enjoyed this one.

 

Tess Burton is the heroine of this story, and I liked her character. She’s the typical 21^st century heroine who is independent, intelligent, and driven to succeed, but she also has a softer side that comes through as she explores the romantic possibilities that come her way.

 

Trey Dunmore is the hero, and he exhibits great characteristics from the start as he squires around Esther and does her bidding by modeling for the style show. While he’s attracted to Tess, he behaves as a perfect gentleman which is in tune with the past, making his character fit into the story extremely well.

 

While this is definitely a romance centered around Tess and Trey, it has more substance than one typically finds in contemporary romance because of the paranormal aspect and the mystery the pair go about solving to remove the blemish on Trey’s ancestors. I enjoyed them as a couple and wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy contemporary romance with a twist of paranormal involving events from the past, then you will love Divine Vintage as much as I did. I believe this is Ms. Young’s debut novel, and she’s written a lovely romance with delightful character and an intriguing plot. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Sandra L. Young’s love of vintage fashion inspired her to write her debut novel, Divine Vintage. She’s gathered an impressive collection spanning the late 1800s to 1980s, wearing pieces onstage through years of performing in community theater. She also sports it out on the town for special occasions. To round out her love of the arts, Sandra sings with a trio, a praise band, and at karaoke nights. She draws from these experiences in her writing, as well as her work focus in communications and nonprofit management.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://sandrayoungauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.gleim.50/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slyoungauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sandra-l-young

Book review with Featured Author: The Magnolia Palace by Fiona davis

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

 

 

Publisher & Release: Dutton, January 25, 2022

Setting:  New York City, 1919 & 1966

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 349 Pages

Rating:  5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Magnolia-Palace-Novel-Fiona-Davis-ebook/dp/B093GB94J3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magnolia-palace-fiona-davis/1139361231

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-magnolia-palace

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Fiona_Davis_The_Magnolia_Palace?id=XyYrEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57891877-the-magnolia-palace

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-magnolia-palace-by-fiona-davis

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Magnolia Palace. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel, and nothing has influenced my rating and opinion.

 

The Magnolia Palace is set-in two-time periods, 1919 and 1966 at the Frick Mansion in New York City. It follows several women, and several characters are based on individuals who were park of the Frick family. The pacing is decent, but it speeds up dramatically in the last half of the book. Ms. Davis has clearly done a great deal of research of the time-period and of the Frick family, making the novel an excellent read.

 

In 1919, Lillian Carter, AKA Angelica. She is the primary character, along with Helen Frick. She stubbles into the role of secretary for this woman and Lillian becomes a pawn between Helen and her father, Henry Clay Frick. Lillian’s tale is a sad one and I had empathy for her.

 

In 1966, a young model is at a photo shoot in the Frick mansion and accidentally gets locked in, along with Joshua Lawrence, an intern for the Frick mansion. I enjoyed the scavenger hunt the two undertake and liked both characters. While there is definitely an attraction between these two, the story is centered on the mystery of the scavenger hunt.

 

Ms. Davis handles the transition from one time-period to the other seamlessly without confusing the reader. Her descriptive writing adds a great deal to the overall enjoyment. She also manages to tie up the significant sub-plots. I would have enjoyed finding out more about Lillian’s escape from the Frick mansion and how the organist helped her.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction filled with individuals who lived in the era it covers, along with a fascinating mystery to solve, then you will love The Magnolia Palace as much as I did. I’m so glad I agreed to read this excellent novel. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Davis and look forward to reading others by her. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

FIONA DAVIS is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, THE ADDRESS, and THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and the Oprah magazine. She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and she's based in New York City.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.fionadavisbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FionaDavisAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FionaDavisBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionadavisauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fiona-davis

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14903705.Fiona_Davis

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant

Home for a Cowboy Christmas 

by Donna Grant

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, October 26, 2021

Setting:  Montana

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 319 Pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived for this cowboy in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant's next novel, Home for a Cowboy Christmas.

Tis the season—for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She’s on the run after witnessing a crime. But when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will think to look–Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she’s stuck with a handsome cowboy as her bodyguard…and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe. 

Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it’s still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there’s something about Emmy he can’t resist. She stokes his passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to keep her safe.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Home-Cowboy-Christmas-Donna-Grant-ebook/dp/B08R2L9QN5

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas-donna-grant/1138664954

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Donna_Grant_Home_For_a_Cowboy_Christmas?id=kScQEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56421330-home-for-a-cowboy-christmas

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/home-for-a-cowboy-christmas-by-donna-grant

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Home for a Cowboy Christmas by Donna Grant. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Home for a Cowboy Christmas is another emotionally charged romance with compelling characters and an intriguing plot. There’s even a nice amount of suspense. The pacing pulled me in from the start to the finish.

 

Emmy Garrett is our heroine, and she’s gone through a terrible ordeal. She’s running for her life, and when the US Marshall takes her to the hero for protection; she’s grateful for his succor. Her fear practically jumps off the page. 

 

Dwight Reynolds is the hero, and he has many of the characteristics I most admire in a male protagonist. He doesn’t hesitate to take Emmy in, although it could likely put him in jeopardy, along with his employees, if the villain finds her. 

 

The romance develops fast but, when a male and female spend every waking moment together and the attraction between them crackles with plenty of fire, it’s not surprising. I could easily see them falling in love and having it last.

 

If you enjoy romantic suspense with engaging characters and a plot that pulls you in, then you will love Home for a Cowboy Christmas as much as I did. I always know I’m in for a sensual journey and plenty of high emotion. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://donnagrant.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/donnagrant1/_created/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-grant

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Desert Flowers - Lily by Judith Keim

The Desert Flowers-Lily by Judith Keim

 

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Quail Publishing, October 14, 2021

Setting:  California

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Length: 291 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Three talented women are brought together by a man they all love, becoming his Desert Flowers, who work together to save his hotel from being ruined by the company buying it…

When Lily Weaver is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, and to come to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. For five wonderful years, she was his assistant at the hotel until he kindly told her their relationship was getting too serious, and he helped her find other work. With her organizational skills and attention to detail, she’s his perfect choice to oversee the details of the sale to help make a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property. Unappreciated in her job with a law firm in New York State, she’s eager to leave it and the cold weather to head for the desert. Her only regret is leaving her sister and three-year-old niece behind. Lily arrives at Alec’s house to find two other women summoned to help him. Rose Macklin was once the social director at Alec’s hotel, and Willow Sanchez is like a daughter to him. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels. As Lily forms her friendship with the other women, she becomes intrigued with the man the hotel company has put in control of the transition. Brian Walden is a war veteran who has never married and is someone who Lily finds, to her delight, she can talk to about most anything when they meet up for early morning walks. Disaster strikes them both as they’re falling in love. Lily ends up having to raise her niece, and Brian is left with a son he never knew he had. It seems only natural that they turn to one another for help, and Lily wonders if this is as Alec might have planned all along. A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way. Be sure to read the other upcoming books in the series: Lily, Willow, and Mistletoe and Holly Other series written by Judith Keim are receiving a lot of love: The Hartwell Women Series, The Beach House Hotel Series, The Fat Fridays series, the Salty Key Inn Series, the Chandler Hill Inn series, and the books in the Seashell Cottage Collection.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Desert-Flowers-Lily-Sage-Book-ebook/dp/B08YB884SD

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-desert-flowers-lily-judith-keim/1138982456

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-desert-flowers-lily

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Judith_Keim_The_Desert_Flowers_Lily?id=BAEiEAAAQBAJ

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57377659-the-desert-flowers---lily

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-desert-flowers-lily-the-desert-sage-inn-series-book-2-by-judith-keim

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Desert Flowers – Lily by Judith Keim. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Desert Flowers – Lily is another well written women’s fiction book by Ms. Keim. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The author’s descriptions of the setting also helped to keep me engaged.

 

Lily Weaver is the female protagonist, and she is a strong character, which she shows throughout the story. Her love for her misguided sister is unconditional, and her protectiveness for her adorable niece is touching. When she meets the hero, I enjoyed her willingness to let it play out.

 

Brian Walton is the hero, and he has many of the qualities I want in a male lead. When he learns he has a son, he accepts the responsibility, although he’d never wanted to become a father. He’s a man I could admire.

 

The romance between Lily and Brian goes smoothly, both accept the other as they are, not trying to change them. While there are very few conflicts for them to overcome, I enjoyed their love story.

 

The central theme of this novel is the strong bound between Lily and her sister. No matter that her sister keeps making bad decisions, she never truly deserts her, even though she does attempt to use tough love. I could feel her heartbreak when Monica makes the final decision to meet her abusive ex which ultimately leaves her three-year-old motherless. Lily shows her strength when she readily accepts custody for her niece.

 

The willingness of Lily and Brian to work together as a team as they form a family for his son and her niece is heartwarming. Other readers may find the lack of true conflict less than what they enjoy, I liked the low angst between them and felt it showed the chance of an abiding love that would stand the test of time no matter what fate or life had for them.

 

If you enjoy women’s fiction with a strong romantic element with engaging characters, then you will love Desert Flowers – Lily as much as I did. Ms. Keim always delivers a novel that is sure to grab me from the start. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

I’ve loved stories and reading from the time I played “Librarian” with my sister as a young girl. Living in a relatively small town in upstate New York, reading became a way to experience the world in a way I couldn’t otherwise do.

Many a hot, summer afternoon was spent reading, sprawled on the front-porch “glider”, escaping to a time and place far from there. My mother was an avid reader, some might suspect to keep her sanity while raising three active children – especially when my brother was doing experiments with his chemistry set! 

Books were always present – being read, ready to go back to the library or about to be discovered. Information from the books was shared in general conversation, giving all of us a wealth of knowledge. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to the idea of writing stories early on.

I particularly love and write novels about women who meet unexpected challenges with strength and find love along the way. A child or dog in the story is a plus. 

As J.S. Keim, I’ve written middle-grade fantasy stories for kids. I especially like to write about kids landing in unexpected places, meeting characters real and fantastic, and learning to see the world in a different way. 

A hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes, Ms. Keim writes heart-warming stories. Her books are based, in part, on many of the places she’s lived or visited and on the interesting people she’s met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many, loyal readers love. 

Presently, I lived in Boise, Idaho with my husband and our two dachshunds, Winston and Wally.

 

Social Media:

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