Book Review - City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

 

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is about a detective who travels to a remote city in Alaska after a severed hand and foot is discovered. Amy, a local teenager, discovers  the washed up limbs on the shore of her small town of Point Mettier, Alaska. Cara Kennedy is a detective from Anchorage but she decides to investigate the case. Cara has her own motives for wanting to investigate the case, even if it means visiting the isolated place that can only be accessed by a tunnel. 

As Cara is claustrophobic, the environment really affects her and she can’t wait to finish her investigation and leave. However, a blizzard causes the tunnel to close for the foreseeable future. Cara is stuck among the 205 residents who all live in the same high rise building. The residents are acting oddly and they don’t trust outsiders. They try to protect their own and look out for each other.

 

She teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski to investigate the crime. Things take a turn for the worse, when a local drug gang from a nearby native village descends on the residents. Cara is caught in the middle and doesn’t know if she can trust the residents as she investigates. There are two things she does know: everyone is hiding something, and someone is willing to kill to keep the secrets hidden. 

 

I thought the book was a fast paced and interesting read. The book was narrated by three different female characters: Amy, a local resident who discovered the body; Cara, the detective ; and Lonnie, a young woman with anxiety and eccentric behaviors who also resides in Point Mettier.  The characters were interesting and all flawed but they would stop at nothing to protect themselves and their loved ones. I like that the book was narrated by each character because it gave us a wider view of the broader story than we would have gotten if we just read the story from Cara’s point of view.

 

The story spent a lot of time fleshing out each character and introducing a lot of different story lines. At times, it was hard keeping track of the different character and story arcs. I felt that the book ended with a lot of questions that were left unanswered. I believe that the author is planning for a sequel, otherwise, the ending is very disappointing. The author did leave a hook and opening for the readers to guess where the sequel might be about but I wish that a few of the questions were answered in this book too.

Book Review - The Retreat by Elisabeth de Mariaffi

 

Maeve Martin needs a new start and she arrives to the High Water Center for the Arts with the intention of starting her own dance company. The lodge is a beautiful retreat that is nestled between the Rocky Mountains. She is a mother of two and a retired performer who is trying to piece back together her life after her violent marriage. She is happy to rediscover herself as this is the first time she is on her own in years. Maeve feels that she can forget about her past by being surrounded by the beautiful landscape.

As Maeve starts practicing her routine, an avalanche traps her and six other guest in the lodge. They have lost all connection with the nearby town including power and the only road into town. At first, everyone tries to get along and pass the time. However, as the storm rages on, tensions start to run high indoors. They feel that help is coming and they just need to hold on.

Then a tragedy occurs and one guest perishes and then another shortly follows. Maeve must come to terms about how little she knows the people she is stuck with it. Will she be able to survive the storm if the darkness is already near her?

 At first the book started off interesting and then it became a boring hot mess. The book lagged and barely had any story and the ending felt like it was unrealistic and rushed. The motive behind the murders seemed trivial at best. I felt like the ending left more questions than it gave any answers. This was a disappointing read for me and I am in no rush to read other books by the author.

Book Review - Voices in the Snow (Black Winter, #1) by Darcy Coates

 

 

Clare remembers being out in the cold and being surrounded by snow. She remembers seeing abandoned cars and toys scattered among the road. She recalls seeing dark shapes in the snow and being afraid. And then she doesn't remember anything afterwards.

Clare wakes up in a strange gothic home. She has no recollection on how she got there. The stranger tells her that she was in a car accident and he found her in the snow. Clare feels unsafe and wants to leave but, there is a vicious snowstorm trapping them in the house.

The stranger seems kind but, Clare doesn't know if she can trust him. He told her that they are alone but, she keeps seeing and hearing things. She feels that something is watching them in the woods.  She feels that she is being hunted and she is on edge. She fears that she might not be safe anywhere.

This novel is a departure from her normal horror house stories. Personally, I like her haunted houses stories more. This book is beginning of the series and it looks like you will need to read all the stories to get the full story. The book had creepy elements but, I felt like something was still missing. The characters didn't seem believable. I am not sure I would read the other books from this series.

Book Review - Brunch at Bittersweet Café by Carla Laureano + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Melody Johansson tries to find the positive in every situation. However, seven years after she moved to Denver, she feels like she is stuck in a rut. She is a classically trained baker and pastry chef but, she is currently working in a mediocre chain bakery. Her love life has stalled after a string of disastrous relationships. When the handsome and charming pilot Justin Keller knocks on her door during a snowstorm, Melody finally feels her luck might be changing.

Justin is impressed by Melody and her positivity. However, the last thing he wants is a relationship after his own romantic failures. He feels his job is demanding and stressful to have meaningful relationships and connections. Plus, he plans on moving across the country to Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.

Justin and Melody against better judgment decide to give their budding relationship a try. They find themselves bonding over their career choices and shared love of adventure. When Melody suddenly comes into a windfall she realizes she can finally live out her dream of opening her own bakery-cafe with her best friend. However, she finds herself stuck with an impossible choice. Should she give up her dreams of owning her own store or give up her chance at love?

This was the second novel in "The Saturday Night Supper Club" series but, I found each novel could be read as standalone. This novel focuses on Melody and her journey to accomplish her dreams and finding love. I enjoyed Melody and Justin's search to balance their love life and dreams but, found it to be a bit slow in some parts. Overall, a solid second novel to the series.

 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**  

About the Book

Title: Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe
Author: Carla Laureano
Genre: Christian Romance

Release date: February 5, 2019

Publisher: Tyndale

Baker and pastry chef Melody Johansson has always believed in finding the positive in every situation, but seven years after she moved to Denver, she can’t deny that she’s stuck in a rut. One relationship after another has ended in disaster, and her classical French training is being wasted on her night job in a mediocre chain bakery. Then the charming and handsome private pilot Justin Keller lands on the doorstep of her workplace in a snowstorm, and Melody feels like it’s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.

Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he’s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country—an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.

Against their better judgment, Melody and Justin find themselves drawn together by their unconventional career choices and shared love of adventure. But when an unexpected windfall provides Melody with the chance to open her dream bakery-café in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she’s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she’s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.

About the Author

 

Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carla is giving away a grand prize package of a macron baking mat, a macron book, and a paperback copy of Brunch at Bittersweet Café!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/db0f/brunch-at-bittersweet-cafe-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Review - Christmas at Grey Sage by Phyllis Clark Nichols

Photo Credit - Amazon

Maude and Silas deck out their adobe house with all the holiday trimmings that delight and thrill family and friends alike. Christmas at The Thornhills' Gray Sage Inn is always a day to remember until a tragic accident occurs. Now, Silas and Maude go on vacation during the holiday to escape the painful holiday memories. When Maude's best friend, Lily asks her to open the inn during the holidays for a group of eccentric travelers, she was hesitant to agree.

When the group of travelers arrives, they are surprised that Grey Sage Inn isn't decorated with Christmas decorations. After a snowstorm hits Santa Fe, the guests find themselves stranded and try to make the best out of the holiday as possible. Will Maude and Silas be able to heal and appreciate Christmas again?

The novel started with Maude's appreciation for Christmas; going into detail about her favorite decorations, traditions and moments. Then we get to meet the group of eccentric travelers and from there we find out why Silas and Maude don't celebrate Christmas anymore and the backstory of each traveler. I found the first few characters really boring and halfway towards the book, it finally picked up, but by then I was already over reading this book. It is a nice cozy reading novel for readers who loves Christmas stories, but this wasn't really my cup of tea.

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

Book Review - Beneath Copper Falls by Colleen Coble

Photo Source - Amazon

Dana Newell works as a 911 dispatcher and sees her fair share of people in trouble and in need. She is known for remaining calm under pressure and seeing the best in everyone. However, when she meets her brother's friend, Garrett, she falls head over heels in love only to find out he has an abusive streak. Determined to leave him and to start new, she moves to her hometown, Rock Harbor to stay with her brother, Chris. While Rock Harbor seems like a small idyllic town, it harbors more deadly secrets and danger than Dana accounts for. Will Dana be able to escape her abusive fiance? Will Dana be able to love again?

This was the second book I have read by the author and I like this novel better over her earlier work, Mermaid Moon. Both of her novels are filled with mystery, thrills and deception while being fun and interesting to read. The characters were well developed and realistic. However, I found some parts of the author's writing to be confusing especially when it came to describing the death of Dana's parents, first it was described as a fire and then it was described as drowning. Since, she had two sets of parents, it would have been easier for the reader if there was a way to differentiate the two parents. Later in the book, it makes more sense but you still needed to utilize some deduction. Overall, an enjoyable book but the confusion with the parents was annoying and made me enjoy the book less.

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