Saving Euphoria by C. Becker, reviewed by Diane Scott Lewis

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Hailey Langley is grieving over the loss of her husband Mark. Mark dies in a gruesome fire after being targeted by a drug cartel he was investigating. Hailey struggles with caring for her teenage children who are sad or rebelling. A former partner at the Special Crimes Agency where she worked comes back into her life. Will love blossom, or is her hurt too deep?

Mistrust and strange happenings are all around her. The story moves slow at first then picks up speed as Hailey develops odd neurological symptoms, smells strange cologne in her house, and starts to trust no one. Who is lying to her? Is her husband really dead? Is David, Mark’s best friend and partner, or the handsome landscaper, Santino, friend or foe? The author unpeels shocking revelations as Hailey races to find out the truth. And what about Mendoza, the Columbian man who threatens all of them in his quest to turn the drug Euphoria into the next cocaine. Or does he simply want the daughter he didn’t know he had? Part of the story is even told from his POV.

There are a few inconsistencies and jumping to conclusions, but the tense plot kept me reading. I recommend reading the first book in the series, Finding Euphoria, to fill in some of the blanks. So many threads are left dangling there should be a third book. A riveting read.

Diane lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty dachshund. 

To find out more about her novels, check out her Amazon page:

DianeScottLewis

Review TO ENTICE A SPY-Diane Scott Lewis, by guest Holly Schwartz

 

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A Riveting Page Turner

Set in the time of the French Revolution, To Entice a Spy is cleverly written from the English point of view. The tightly written plot follows the exploits of the headstrong, resourceful English widowed Countess Eseld Trehearne and her childhood love Baron Robert Penhale as they both work separately and unbeknownst to one another to root out a French spy disguised as an English aristocrat intent on financially supporting the revolution in France by using ill begotten British funds. Experienced historical fiction author Diane Scott Lewis did her homework and it shows. She embeds readers in the story from the first page on with her remarkably in-depth descriptions of the times. Readers are swept into the story and become a part of it by experiencing the architecture, fashions, foods, drinks, smells, sights, social mores, and sounds of England in the 1790s. Lewis has penned a deftly plotted tale that weaves ribbons of mystery and romance into a historical event and makes it come alive. The tautly written story is driven by love, loss, trust, betrayal, family ties, and the inner strength one must summon to face adversity created by both human fallibility and fate. The story moves at a comfortable pace with flawed, but believable characters who drive the plot. Readers find themselves rooting for the protagonists from the beginning to the end of the tale. The characters evoke strong emotions in readers right from page one. This reader found herself wanting to hug Eseld and Robert on one page and throttle them on the next. Lewis creates a huge conflict with a backstory to keep readers turning the pages to see how it all turns out. Part romance, part mystery, part thriller, and a part second chance at love; To Entice a Spy will capture the imagination of readers who enjoy a passionate love story fueled by human frailty, intrigue, and suspense. This terrific book has more than earned the five-star rating this reader has given it. ~Susie Black~

BOOK REVIEW French Ghost - Corrine LaBalme, reviewed by Diane Scott Lewis

 

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If you think this is a ghost story, like I did, you're in for a surprise with this lively romp.

Ghost writer, Melody Layne, travels to Paris to at the request of famous French movie star, Charles-Henri, to write his memoir.

She trades apartments and finds herself in a gorgeous place with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

She's spending the advance and looking forward to the additional money when tragedy strikes.

Charles-Henri dies in a drowning accident while filming a movie.

Now she has no job and no prospects. Unless she can write a serious biography about this man and not a "as told to."

Melody soon discovers that no one of the actor's acquaintance liked him, in fact, most loathed him. 

At the funeral she meets a surprising legitimate son of the actor that no one knew about. Carlos hated his father for deserting his mother after their rushed-together marriage. But he asks Melody to continue in her research into Charles-Henri's past.

Carlos needs to find a kindness, some goodwill, in his father, or his ill mother won't accept the huge inheritance. Carlos needs that money to care for her in her last years.

Melody's plight is amusing as she digs deep to find someone who can praise Charles-Henri. And was his death really an accident? Complications abound, and then she finds herself attracted to Carlos. The writing is lively and the story moves quickly. The attraction between Carlos and Melody feels real-though there's plenty of bumps in the road. Other obstacles, one dire, soon close in. 

Melody is a resourceful heroine who is easy to like. Carlos is enigmatic and full of secrets. A fun mystery wrapped in a romance. This is the beginning of a series, so maybe the cliffhanger ending will be expanded on. Well worth the read. Enjoy!

Diane lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty dachshund. 

To find out more about her novels, check out her Amazon page:

DianeScottLewis

She Wakes the Night-Darcy Carson, reviewed by Diane Scott Lewis

The Sixth installment in my book reviews from small and medium press authors is a treat to read.

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Trell is a healer just returned to her homeland after intense study. She is young and eager to learn more.

After a spell from a wizard she thought loved her left her stuck as a tree for a thousand years, Trell is in-tune with nature, and leery of love. She travels and mind-speaks with her protector, Torkel, a dragon who floats above her in a cloak of invisibility.

In the Market place, she saves an Untouchable, a leper-like being, from being stoned. The man, Gren, is forever grateful and insists on traveling with her as she journeys to learn more about healing. But is Gren telling the truth about himself, or does he have more sinister motives?

Trell is confused by Gren's seemingly healthy being which he hides under rags. And he refuses to allow her to examine him. He is actually a prince who needs to bring Trell and her dragon to his kingdom so he may rule once his father dies. 

To complicate matters, they are both attracted to one another. Will Gren tell her the truth and will that cause Trell to flee?

Even if you don't care for fantasy, this book is definitely worth a read. Carson's prose is lyrical, her descriptions beautiful. You'll be drawn into a magical world of dragons, trees that speak, and plants that cry out when plucked without permission. 

I was immediately charmed by the prose and magical creatures, plus the two main protagonists.

Trell and Gren are compelling characters with depth. Trell is kind-hearted and pragmatic in her search for medicines. Gren is on a mission, but his guilt at tricking her, plus his attraction to her, cause his motives to shred. Will they find love together, or face dangers that will tear them apart? You'll root for them both.

Highly recommended.

This is Book 3 of the Dragons Return Series and I recommend you read the first two to follow Trell's adventures.

Diane lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband and one naughty dachshund. 

To find out more about her novels, check out her Amazon page:

DianeScottLewis