Musings by Erin

  When it comes to genres, my first love is suspense. I enjoy the thrill of a good edge-of-your-seat suspense novel. During the pandemic, suspense novels increased my anxiety and I put them on the back burner for a bit, but I've noticed my appetite for a good thriller is back, so I was so excited that Steven James is starting a new series this year. James is one my favorites, a go-to suspense author that I will read everything and know that it will be good. This new series is off to a stellar start with Broker of Lies and I can't wait to see what happens next! Here's a bit about the book: The man who knows all our secrets has a secret of his own. When Travis Brock, a high-level Pentagon redactor with an eidetic memory, finds a clue to solving the tragic arson that took his wife from him, he risks everything to find the truth--and chances losing himself in the process. With a terror attack looming on the horizon and a pair of assassins on his tail, Brock drops off the grid a...

  When looking for contemporary stories with depth, wonderful character development and humor woven throughout, I look no further than Nicole Deese. Her stories are always beautifully written, deal with heavy topics in a "not-so-heavy-feeling" way, and bring delightful characters to light that you can fully relate to and fall in love with. This book is no different. Not only does this book speak to the author's first-hand experience with grief, but it also speaks to her experience with the publishing industry. I enjoyed having that inside look, along with a thoroughly enjoyable story line. Here's a little bit about the book: As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony--two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not...

  When looking for romantic suspense with a touch of gothic horror, Jaime Jo Wright is a go-to author. In a class all her own, her books are filled with mystery, suspense and generally terror. Known as an author whose books you can only read with the lights on, her books keep you turning pages. This one is no different, though I didn't find it to be as intense as some of her others. If you enjoy thrilling books that keep you up at night and shine a light in the darkness, this is one you will want to read! Here's a bit about the book: In 1865, orphaned Daisy Francois takes a position as housemaid at a midwestern Wisconsin castle and finds that the reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress inside hides more than the harrowing tales in her novels. With women disappearing from the area and a legend that seems to parallel these eerie circumstances, Daisy is thrust into a web that may threaten to steal her sanity, if not her life. In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the gran...

  Jocelyn Green is a relatively new-to-me voice in Historical fiction, but after thoroughly enjoying her Windy City saga, I've sought out her past work and any new releases. She blends history with intrigue, mystery and romance seamlessly and pulls you into her story in a way that you get lost without knowing how. This book focused on the craze of all things Egyptian in the 1920s after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, as well as Prohibition. There were so many twists and turns that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next! Here's a little bit about the book: For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations. The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague o...

  When in the mood for a fun contemporary romance novel that has wonderful character development and a fabulous story line (usually with a mystery involved), I know I can count on Becky Wade. Her latest release is the first book in her new series "Sons of Scandal". This one felt a bit more intense than some of her other books I've read, but it still had the great qualities I've come to know and love in Becky's books.  Though she's been traditionally published for most of her career, she switched paths with this book and published this one independently. Due to that, I had better access to get some questions answered about the book! Here's how that conversation went: * What inspired the story line for this book/series? I had great fun writing romances about the Porter Brothers in my first series. I haven't done brothers since and was eager to tackle another trio of brothers. I was also eager to set a series in Maine because I love that part of the count...