Wednesday, July 23, 2025

A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler

 A Family for the Cowboy Cop

Book Summary

To catch a thief? Or to capture her heart?

Denver detective Jase Virtue has one assignment: return to his hometown of Violet Ridge, catch an escaped bank robber, go back to Denver. Staying at Cassie O’Neal’s farm isn’t part of the plan. But the single mom and her two young children need protection—even if she is the robber’s half sister and suspected accomplice. Bonding with the O’Neals, and a sweet little hen, has Jase wondering if he can truly trust Cassie. Because she makes him long for the home and happily-ever-after he never thought he deserved.

My Thoughts

A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler is a charming story. I enjoyed getting to know Jase, Cassie, and Cassie’s children.  We also get to catch up with Jase’s family (from the first two A Violet Ridge Novels).  I enjoyed the humor in the story.  I had to laugh when Blossom, one of the hens, took a liking to Jase.  I liked Cassie’s farm and what she was trying to accomplish.  I do not know how she managed to get so much done on her own (I would have been worn out by lunch).  Trust, forgiveness, family, and love are some of the themes in the story. The first couple of chapters were a tad long, so the story had a   slow start.  Once I got past those chapters, the story picked up. I liked the tension in the story courtesy of the escaped criminal (had me wondering what would happen next).  A Family for the Cowboy Cop is the third A Violet Ridge Novel. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  I am looking forward to reading the next A Violet Ridge Novel

Blossom, a Speckled Sussex

Giveaway

Visit @justreadtours on Instagram for a chance to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle!  You will need to Like, Save, and Share their post regarding A Fafmily for the Cowboy Cop.  Follow the author @tanyaaglerauthor and @justreadtours.  Tag a friend (up to three per post).  Visit each hosted post of the tour for more entries (schedule at @justreadtours). The complete details are on @justreadtours posting.  Good Luck! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on July 30, 2025.)

Family for the Cowboy Cop comes out July 29 and it can be preordered from Amazon* and Harlequin.  The first two A Violet Ridge Novels are The Triplets' Holiday Miracle and Saving the Rancher.  The fourth A Violet Ridge Novel comes out November 25 and it is The Cowboy's Christmas Match (I cannot wait to read it).  If you follow Tanya Agler on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for dropping by today. I am off to rest.  I am experiencing severe back pain (part of my fibromyalgia) and, according to the doctor, rest is the best medicine.  It gives me an opportunity to catch up on my reading.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.



Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Codebreaker by Jay Martel

 Codebreaker

Book Summary

This original, interactive thriller from debut author Jay Martel follows a brilliant teenage girl as she races across D.C. to decode the clues her father left behind, which may just be the key to saving the country from a devastating tragedy.

Mia Hayes has peaceful plans for the summer—find a part-time job at a coffee shop and work on her college applications. Those plans are shattered one night when government agents arrive unannounced at her home seeking something they believe her father has taken. When the dust settles, her mother is dead and her father is gone, a fugitive on the run.

Three weeks later, and still reeling from her father’s betrayal, Mia spends her seventeenth birthday at a protest in the heart of D.C., where she meets Logan, a rebellious and charming hacker. Just as she’s enjoying her first happy moment since the night her world exploded, a voicemail from her father arrives to upend everything she believed about her family, her past, and what really happened that night three weeks ago. Even more, the voicemail hides another encoded message inside which, once Mia solves it, sets her and Logan off on a mission from her sleepy suburb straight into the heart of the federal government.
With the same agents now hot on their trail, Mia and Logan must navigate their way through American history’s most iconic sites and uncover its most well-hidden secrets to reveal the truth about her family and stop a deadly attack.

In this non-stop thrill ride, the reader has the chance to test their own codebreaking skills alongside Mia, lending an exciting interactive element to this page-turning thriller packed with action, romance, and life-changing revelations.
My Thoughts

I found Codebreaker by Jay Martel to be an intriguing tale.   Mia Hayes looks forward to her birthday scavenger hunt each year.  Unfortunately, this year’s hunt has nefarious people hot on Mia’s trail and she does not know who she can trust.  I liked Mia who is smart and has a knack for solving codes.  I liked the different codes featured in the story and that a brief history of each one was provided (it was done in a way that made me want to learn more).  I enjoyed the interactive element where I can attempt to solve the code before the solution is revealed (some were trickier than others).  
The mystery had twists and turns.  Some bends can be anticipated (the author left a few too many breadcrumbs) while others were a surprise.  Logan and Mia made a good team.  There were times, though, when their dialogue made me cringe.  The story does contain minor foul language (I wish there were none since it is listed as a young adult novel).  Codebreaker is a young adult novel, but I enjoyed it (action, mystery, codes—I’m in).  I was surprised to learn that Codebreaker is the author’s debut novel (bravo).  I was sorry when Codebreaker ended. Codebreaker is a compelling tale with scary scavenger hunt, aggressive agents, curious codes, a helpful friend, memorable monuments, and a noteworthy conclusion.
Codebreaker is available from Amazon*.  If you follow Jay Martel on Amazon, they will send you an email when their next book comes out.  Thank you for stopping by today. I will be feature A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler tomorrow.  It is the fourth A Violet Ridge Novel.  I have a gift related question for you today.  Have you ever received a gift and it did not work (you put the batteries in and nothing happens)?  How do you tell the sender (no gift receipt included)?  The last thing I want to do is upset the sender, but the item has some major issues.  The situation is touchy because the last gift that was received from this individual was sent back (that one had a gift receipt--we did not know they would email the individual).  Any suggestions (please)?  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care, stay cool (there has been a heat advisory every day), and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Library of Congress

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Library of Congress -- A look at some of the books housed there

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Library of Congress -- Main Card Catalog (a small portion of it)

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts

Death of an Ex

Book Summary

Delia Pitts expertly writes about family, race, class, and grief in her mysteries. Vandy Myrick captured readers' and critics' hearts in Trouble in Queenstown. She returns in Death of an Ex, where Vandy tries to piece together what brought her ex-husband's life to an end.

Queenstown, New Jersey, feels big when you need help and tiny when you want privacy. For Vandy Myrick, that’s both a blessing and a curse. Now that Vandy’s back in “Q-Town,” her services as her hometown’s only Black woman private investigator have earned her more celebrity—or notoriety—than she figured.

Keeping busy with work helps Vandy deal with the grief of losing her daughter, stitching the seams, cementing the gaps. The memories will always remain, and they come crashing back to the surface when her ex-husband, Phil Bolden, walks back into her life. Promising everything, returning home, restoring family. Until she answers her door to the news that Phil has been murdered. And Vandy decides Phil is now her client.

It’s hard to separate the Phil that Vandy knew from the one Queenstown did. She sees him—and their daughter—in Phil’s son, who attends a prestigious local high school. She sees the layers of a complicated marriage with his wife. She sees all of Phil’s various roles: parent, husband, businessman, philanthropist. But which role got him killed?

My Thoughts

Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts is the second book in The Vandy Myrick Mysteries. The author does provide a lot of background information at the beginning for those who did not read Trouble in Queenstown.  The author, though, I was expecting a cozy mystery, but Death of an Ex is definitely not cozy.  I tried several times, but I was unable to get into the story.  It takes a while for the story to get moving.  The pacing is slow (the snails were waving as they passed).  I am not a fan of Vandy who is beyond messy (the author does warn readers). She is  annoying as well.  I liked that we get to see a middle-aged woman who is lively and vibrant.  

The author shows the attitudes and behaviors of some wealthy (and entitled) individuals towards education.  They feel their money will grease the wheels for the little darling to get into a prestigious university (sound familiar).  The mystery may appear complicated, but identifying the guilty party is a cinch.   I knew the identity of the guilty party before the murder took place. Vandy uses her private investigator skills to uncover secrets and zero in on bad guy. There are many improbable elements to the whodunit.  The reveal was unrealistic.  I found myself rolling my eyes often (which gave me a migraine and made my eyes hurt).  I’m sorry, but Death of an Ex is not my cup of tea.

Death of an Ex is available from Amazon*.  The first book in The Vandy Myrick Mysteries is Trouble in Queenstown.  You can find Delia Pitts' other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, July 22 with Codebreaker by Jay Martel.  I wanted to let you know that my mother had a lovely 80th birthday.  She loved all her gifts, and she has a couple more to come (it is her birthday week).  I also learned an important lesson.  If you do not want a relative to learn about a big purchase, do not post a picture of it online (oops).  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Wayward Girls by Susan Wigg

 Wayward Girls
Book Summary


In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nunslocked awaymerely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.

Mairin free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.

Angeladenounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.

Helenthe daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.

Odessacaught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.

Denisesentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.

Janicedeeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty layexcept when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.

Sister Bernadetterescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.

Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.

My Thoughts

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a compelling tale.  The story goes from 1968 to the present day.  The author captured the late 1960s when men were being drafted for the Vietnam War, Catholic schools were popular, nuns could do no wrong, communes popped up in the countryside, and unwed pregnant girls brought shame to their families.  I thought the story was well written with realistic characters. I liked the main character, Mairin O’Hara who was spirited and determined.  I felt for the girls and the horrible atrocities that they suffered.  I was shocked that parents would stick their children in this “school” (a Magdalena laundry) and then never visit them. 

What the girls suffered was heartbreaking. The author did a terrific job at handling these traumatic topics.    I like how the girls became friends and helped each other.  We get to see how childhood/teenage experiences shape their future.  I did feel that a smidgeon of the dialogue ventured over the line into cheesy while some felt a tad forced. I liked the movie and book references in the story.  The ending was realistic.  Wayward Girls is a fascinating narrative with a protective big brother, best friend with bad news, loads of laundry, a dark closet, a wild ride, a frantic call, and friends forever. 

Wayward Girls is available from Amazon*.  You can find Susan Wiggs other novels here.  If you follow the author on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for dropping by today.  On Thursday, July 17, I am featuring Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts.  It is the second A Vandy Myrick Mystery. I am off to run a couple of errands.  My mother's 80th birthday is tomorrow, and I have a couple more items to pick up (her cake request for example).  She is enjoying her birthday week where she gets a gift a day (I spoil her).  What are you currently reading?  I just finished A Family for the Cowboy Cop by Tanya Agler.  It is the third A Violet Ridge Novel.  I hope that you have a special day.  Take care, stay cool (it is so hot and humid), and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Rage by Linda Castillo

 Rage
Book Summary

In this gripping installment of the Edgar Award winning series, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a brutal double murder that takes her into the dark underbelly of society and exposes the dangers of Amish lives gone wrong.

Summer has arrived with a vengeance in Painters Mill, and a macabre discovery by three Amish children brings the quiet to a grinding halt. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder arrives on scene to find the dismembered body of 21-year-old Samuel Yutzy, a local Amish man who owned a successful landscaping business. What twisted individual murdered him in such a sadistic way?

The investigation has barely begun when, miles away, a second body is found, stuffed into a barrel and dumped in a ravine. The deceased is 21-year-old Aaron Shetler, Samuel Yutzy’s best friend. What could these two young Amish men have been involved in that led to such violent ends?
With a heat wave bearing down, Kate learns quickly that, for reasons she doesn’t understand, no one is willing to talk about what happened to the men. Just as she begins to fear the case may be hopeless, a mystery woman comes forward and reveals that fun-loving Aaron and Samuel had recently befriended some very unsavory charactersindividuals who may have ties to a larger, more sinister, black market.

To solve the case, Kate must delve into the most sordid corners of her community, but when she gets too close, the killers target Kate herself. Will the secrets simmering beneath the surface of Painters Mill take another life before she can expose the truth? Or will Kate be the final victim?

My Thoughts

Rage by Linda Castillo takes us back to Painter’s Mill, Ohio where Kate Burkholder has an appalling murder case on her hands.  Rage is the seventeenth A Kate Burkholder Novel.  While Rage can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order.  It will allow you to get to know Kate and her backstory.  I thought Rage was well-written with developed characters.  The story has action, mystery, police procedures, suspense, and more.  Kate and her team along with John Tomasetti (Kate’s husband and an agent with BCI), Sheriff Rasmussen, and other law enforcement officers are working to unravel this case.  I could not believe the violence (it was described in detail).  

Kate finds herself in danger more than once (proving what a strong and courageous woman she is).  The mystery is complex with twists, turns, and shocking secrets.  I like the relationship between Kate and Tomasetti (they are perfect for each other).  The author’s descriptive writing transported me to Painter’s Mill where it was hot (I would not want to wear one of those Tyvek suits in that heat).  I found myself staying up late to finish the book (and my mother still yells at me to close my book and go to sleep). In addition to the violence, the story also contains foul language.  Rage is a twisty story with gripping suspense, gritty tableaus, police procedures, astonished Amish, a resilient leader, a supportive spouse, amazing action, and an exciting conclusion.

Rage is available from Amazon* as well as othe rmajor booksellers.  You can find the other A Kate Burkholder Novels here.  If you follow Linda Castillo on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, July 15 with Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander

 

About Exposing Lethal Secrets

 

Exposing Lethal Secrets 

Inspirational Romantic Suspense 

3rd in Series 

Setting - California desert and Florida forest 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Love Inspired Suspense 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2025 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages 

 goodreads badge

This bodyguard and his K-9 will do anything to uncover the truth.

Stumbling upon a burning car and rescuing an injured woman wasn’t on bodyguard Caleb Miller’s vacation itinerary—nor were the gunmen who open fire on them. But Olivia Delaney has no memory of who she is or how she got there, only that she is under threat. Vowing to protect the woman in danger, Caleb and his K-9 go on the run with Olivia. As they work to stay a step ahead of her pursuers, they must untangle her past together…before her family’s deadly schemes bury them both.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

About Deena Alexander

Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena's love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn't sleep through the night, and she now works full time as a writer and a freelance editor.

Author Links

Webpage: http://deenaalexander.com/index.html 

Blog: http://deenaalexander.com/blog.html

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DeenaAlexanderA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20382104.Deena_Alexander

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deena-alexander

Newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/492177/92188784823633445/share

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deena-Alexander/author/B08C1VKZFZ

My Thoughts

Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander is an action-packed tale.  My attention was captured immediately, and it was held as I kept reading to find out what would happen next.  I liked the main characters, Olivia and Caleb, as well as Caleb’s K-9 partner, Ranger.  I cannot imagine what it must be like to suffer amnesia (I don’t believe forgetting why you walked into a room counts).  Feelings develop between Olivia and Caleb (only natural) as they fight to survive the men after Olivia.  There is an inspiring thread of faith woven throughout the story.  The ending left me smiling.  Exposing Lethal Secrets is a thrilling tale with an incriminating thumb drive, ruined R&R, missing memories, evading bad guys, a protective canine, trust troubles, and proceeding with a plan.

Exposing Lethal Secrets is available from AmazonBarnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Google Play. Deena Alexander has Missing at Christmas coming out October 28 (I cannot wait to read it).  You can find Deena Alexander's other novels here.  Would you like to win a $25 Amazon gift card?  Click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Rage by Linda Castillo (talk about a page turner).  It is the seventeenth A Kate Burkholder Novel.  I am off to work on one of the projects on my lengthy to do list (my mother made a list for me :-).  Don't forget about Amazon Prime Days!  A great time to get good deals (knock some items off your Christmas list--I like to get it done early or get a little something for yourself).  I hope that you have an uplifting day. Don't forget to enter the contest. Take care, stay cool (it is so hot), and Happy Reading!

 

Kris

The Avid Reader

 

Tour Participants

 
July 1 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 2 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 4 – OFF July 5 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
July 5 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT 

July 7 – Christy's Cozy Corners - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 8 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
July 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT


July 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
July 12 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 13 – Carla Loves To Read - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 14 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 15 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

July 15 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

 Accidental Murder

Book Summary

From nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber comes a riveting new suspense!

When Kayla Macintyre discovers her twin sister Ashley brutally murdered, grief quickly gives way to terror—because Kayla was the real target. A case of mistaken identity fools the police into thinking she’s the one who died, and Kayla seizes the chance to disappear into her sister’s glamorous life as a supermodel. It’s a dangerous gamble for a tech-savvy, adrenaline-chasing computer repair specialist with zero fashion sense.

But the lie buys her time—and a shot at the truth.

As her clients and friends begin turning up dead, Kayla suspects the killer’s motive lies buried in the digital trails she’s been hired to clean. To stay alive, she must dive into the shadows of her clients’ secrets, unravel a conspiracy, and stay one step ahead of a killer who’s finally realized he missed his mark.

Time is running out. The next mistake could be fatal.

My Thoughts

Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber is an intriguing tale.  The story is well written with a peppy pace.  The mystery is well plotted. Kayla must stay vigilant if she wants to discover the truth and stay ahead of person trying to kill her (I bet Kayla wishes she had paid more attention to fashion—fake it till you make it). There is danger, nefarious activities, a missing friend, secrets, a conspiracy, cyber talk, and more.  I enjoyed the mystery (I love solving them).  There are hints that will lead to the guilty party (if you pay close attention).  Accidental Murder is a stimulating story that had me up until the wee hours, so I could see how the story concluded.  

Accidental Murder is available from Amazon*.  Daryl Wood Gerber has Murder by the Millions coming out on October 28.  It is the second book in A Literary Dining Mysteries. You can find the Daryl Wood Gerber's other novels here. Thank you for stopping by today.  

I'm sorry that I had to cut things short last week. I am finally starting to feel a little better.  It turns out that I was having an allergic reaction to cobalt.  I had been given a shot of B12 by my rheumatologist, and I had started taking B12 to help boost my energy levels.  When itching and a rash developed on all my limbs, I did a little research into B12.  I learned that it contains cobalt which I am allergic to along with other metals.  I wish that it had stated on the bottle that it contained cobalt.  Instead of boosting my energy level, it created a fibromyalgia flare up.  The itching and rash are finally starting to subside (thank heavens).  Please return tomorrow when I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for Exposing Lethal Secrets by Deena Alexander.  Don't forget that Amazon Prime Days start today.  There are some great deals (a great time for me to complete my Christmas shopping).  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!



Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.