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

A Dream to Trust - Stella Jane Phillips, reviewed by Diane Scott Lewis

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Tara Wilson checks into an old hotel in Creekside with her two young children. She hides the fact she's running from an abusive ex-husband just released from prison. New home, new schools, Tara can barely hold it together for her kids. She meets Patrick, a divorced man with a grown son. Both are damaged people. Tara especially doesn't know if she can ever trust again. The hotel is haunted with ghosts from its past. Ghosts who take an interest in the new residents.

Patrick is a lawyer who invites Tara to open her own office in his building. They become friends, but can it ever develop into more?

Ghosts flit in and out of the story. And Tara is not disturbed or frightened. Her background touches on abusive relationships and the plight of a single mom. A woman who must run to protect her children. Her oldest son is wary, her daughter too young to know what is happening. Tara is a gentle, caring mother who is braver than she realizes.

Patrick is lonely and a decent guy, reluctant to push his interest on Tara. He strives to form a closer relationship with his son.

Can Tara ever trust Patrick, or any man after her experience with her ex? And will her children accept a stepdad? The romance is sweet, and develops at a believable rate, but the tension is light. What you think might happen never does.

Sometimes the ghosts' actions parallel what is happening with the main characters, but a hundred years earlier. Often this leads to Tara and Patrick reconsidering their decisions.

Recommended for those who like sweet romance with a sprinkle of fantasy.

Book 3 of 3 in the Creekside Dreams series; reading the others should give you more background on the ghosts.

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.

To purchase SHE WAKES THE NIGHT AMAZON

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

 

Book Review TWISTED LIES, C. B. Clark, by Diane Scott Lewis

Continuing my spotlight on small and medium press authors, today's book review is on TWISTED LIES by C. B. Clark.

Athena suffered a childhood tragedy while living on a remote island. Her parents sailed off and never returned. She drowns her pain in alcohol, struggles to stay sober, and even manages to become a lawyer. To hide from the scandal of her vanishing family, she changes her name and moves far from Vancouver where the event happened. She blames her parents' possible death/disappearance on the island's owner Angus, a man who always gave her the creeps.

That's why she's shocked to learn that Angus has died and left her all his money and business.

Russ was adopted by Angus at a young age after his parents are killed in a car crash. He's angry to learn that his supposedly loving 'father' has left his estate to Athena.

When the two first meet, it's instant attraction, until Russ realizes she's the woman who has stolen his inheritance.

Finally, together, they decide to find out why Angus left her the property, and what really happened to her parents.

The romance starts out a bit over the top, and Russ goes from zero to sixty in caring about Athena, a woman he shouldn't trust. But it is a Romance.

The mystery kept me guessing, with many twists and turns, and I was compelled to keep reading to find out what really happened.

Clark deploys the senses with lush setting details and vibrant smells. I felt I went where her characters traveled. Descriptions are excellent.

Romance readers will love Twisted Lies.

To purchase Twisted Lies, click HERE

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

Hometown, Wendy Rich Stetson, reviewed by Diane Scott Lewis

 

The fourth in my series of small to medium press book reviews. This is a sweet romance with a hunky Amish man as one of the love interests. Enjoy.

HOMETOWN is full of folksy charm as Tessa fixes up her parents' house after being fired from her teaching job due to budget cuts. 

At the local market, she notices a tall, handsome Amish man. He and his niece sell Tessa's favorite dessert, whoopie pies. His sister, bitter Nora, also bakes delicious pies. And Tessa will require her help, soon.

Tessa has also met the local doctor, Richard, who is definitely interested in her. 

After she hires the Amish man, Jonas, to build a gazebo in her family's back yard, their attraction grows. Now she's torn between two men, one who lives in a different world.

Author Stetson writes with assurance, the emotions of her characters richly explored, detailed nuance throughout. They all have secrets from their pasts that skew their present. I found Richard too pushy from the onset, and Jonas sometimes not strong enough, but he's still a great character. Will he leave his community to forge a life with an outsider? Or should he stay and support his sister and niece after their tragedy?

Amish life is explored as Tessa finds it fascinating and limiting. Should she go with the sexy doctor who offers her a high-level life?

I loved fey Rebecca, Jonas' niece, who dances with fireflies. The late night drive through a storm baffled me since there was no emergency, though it made for great drama.

All the characters rang true for me and I vastly enjoyed this novel. Highly recommended for those who like their romances well-written and sweet.

To purchase Hometown, click HERE

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