Book Review - Ice by Lauren Carr + Giveawway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Years ago, Sandy Lipton was a young unwedded pregnant woman who disappears one night Everyone believes it is Chris Matheson, a young man she fancies and they were fighting the same night before her disappearance. Fast forward a few decades later, Chris is now a retired FBI agent who is still haunted by his past. He relies on fellow retired law enforcement officers to help assist solving the cold case but when more dead bodies turn up, will Chris finally be free of suspicion?

 When reading this novel, I noticed there was a key detailing the list of characters in the order of appearance. At first, I didn't think it was needed but I am glad the author included it because, with many overlapping murders and the number of characters, it got confusing very quickly. I did enjoy the story but I didn't like some of the characters and felt that the conversations were a bit unrealistic. For example, Chris's mother, Doris calls women "tramps" when she doesn't approve of them or their behaviors but yet when it was noted that Doris conceived Chris out of wedlock no one commented on her "tramp status" or how she started dating again after 8 months after her husband has passed. Overall, it was a decent book and I would be open to reading other works by the author.

**Disclosure - I receieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Details:

Book Title:  ICE by Lauren Carr
Category:  Adult fiction, 380 pages
Genre:  Mystery, Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Cozy
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  February 26, 2018
Tour dates:  April 2 to 30, 2018 
Content Rating:  PG (It's a murder mystery and there is mild violence. Very mild swearing no F-bombs. No on-stage sex scenes.)

Book Description:

The clues for a close-to-the-heart missing person’s case heat up when Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on the cold case.

When Sandy Lipton and her unborn child disappear, the court of public opinion finds young Chris Matheson guilty. Decades later, the retired FBI agent returns home to discover that the cloud of suspicion cast over him and his family has never lifted. With the help of a team of fellow retired law enforcement officers, each a specialist in their own field of investigation, Chris Matheson starts chipping away at the ice on this cold case to uncover what had happened to Sandy and her baby and the clues are getting hot!

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

About the Author:
Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
​Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

​Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

Photo Credit - Amazon

Matt Wainwright has the best laid intentions, but is constantly sabotaged by the thoughts in his head. Matt is in love with his best friend, Tabby but he has a hard time articulating his feelings into words and actions.  He feels only comfortable  in Mr. Ellis's English class where he can write to express his inner thoughts and feelings.

If everything worked the way that Matt planned that he would be dating Tabby. Except, life doesn't work like that for Matt. Instead, Tabby falls in love with Liam Branson. An unfortunate accident causes Matt to be sidelined and without the ability to express his feelings even in his English class. Will Matt be able to get out of his head and work through his feelings?

I thought this was going to be a romantic comedy where the best friends either fall in love or they let each other be with other people. However, I was drawn how this wasn't like many other YA romance novels I have read. It had a touch of humor while being realistic enough that you can feel each the character's pain. My only qualm is that Tabby's two love interests both never stuck up for her when she was being made teased. We have read in the backstory that Tabby usually sticks up for Matt, but it seems that her love interest, Liam would be the one to defend her. 

It was a very interesting read and I can't wait to read other works by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**