Every Little Thing: missing persons in paradise and one member of the Gray family decides to confront the past she has been running from

Every Little Thing is the twelfth book in the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. Taylor Gray and her family travel to Cabo San Lucas for the fairytale wedding of Ellis’s daughter, Madison. Everything is perfect in the picturesque beach resort. However, the next morning, the bride and her maid of honor have gone missing, virtually without a trace. With the local police being no help, Taylor and her family investigate on their own. Will they find Madison and her best friend alive? Back in the States, Lucy is on the run. Wandering from state to state, trying to outrun the past, her memories and the voices in her head. However, the further she travels, the more she realizes that she will never know healing and peace if she keeps running and she heads to the one place she never wanted to see again. Will Lucy finally find the peace she has been longing for? 

I opened this book with anticipation. The Hart’s Ridge series digs deep in the stories that we only hear about on true crime shows. Each story has a heart-gripping event that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. In Every Little Thing, Taylor and her family find themselves  diving deep into the seedy side of paradise and the determination to bring home the missing women. Lucy’s storyline was about confrontation. I knew we hadn’t heard the last of this situation, I don’t want to give it away, but I loved that Lucy is a lot smarter than her family thinks she is and finds a way to put her mind at ease and bring an end to the shadow that has stalked her. If you haven’t read the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly recommend starting with book 1, Hart’s Ridge. If you are a fan of the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly, highly recommend Every Little Thing. 

Every Little Thing is available in paperback and eBook

Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping: competition and jealousy ends in murder and kidnapping

 Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping is the twelfth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. Mae West has found a home in the small southern town of Normal, Kentucky. Despite her rocky start, she has become a beloved member of the town and her efforts to help the rundown Happy Trails Campground thrive have paid off. And her efforts are being noticed. The campground is in the running for the Campground Hospitality Award of the Daniel Boone National Park, but she has been offered a vacant seat on the park’s committee. To add to her efforts, she has organized Paddle Fests and a kayak competition which brings champion and Olympian kayaker Bryce Anderson to Normal. Everything comes crashing down when Bryce is discovered dead. When his death is ruled a homicide, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies once again put their sleuthing skills to use to find a killer. 

How many times can the reputation of the Happy Trails Campground and Normal be in jeopardy? A few times in fact. Once again, a murder linked to the campground throws a monkey wrench into the thriving plans. Mae immediately jumps into action and discovers a twisted trail of clues and a long list of suspects. This mystery kept me on my toes and I wasn’t sure who the killer was until the reveal. I enjoyed how Mae, despite her sleuthing reputation, stays humble and her motivation is simply to help Normal to continue to thrive. It’s not her fault that murders seem to happen in and around her campground. Overall, I enjoyed Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping. It was a nice addition to the series and I look forward to next adventure in Normal. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping as well as the rest of the Campers and Criminals series. 

Kickbacks, Kayaks, and Kidnapping is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Wishes of Home: a heartwarming story of love and home

Wishes of Home by Barbara Hinske is the twelfth book in The Wishing Tree series. Readers first meet Pam in book five, Workout Wishes and Valentine Kisses, as her relationship with Steve blossoms from childhood friends to colleagues to romance. In Wishes of Home, Pam and Steve are still going strong, although her past hurts from her ex-husband finds herself doubting her relationship with Steve. In this story, Pam furthers her talent for remodeling and home décor. What started as a hobby takes her on an unexpected path. With her boyfriend, Steve Turner, at her side, she is filled with more confidence. But when their relationship hits a rough patch, will her dreams come tumbling down? Meanwhile, a young girl’s wish from the Wishing Tree touches Pam’s heart and she is determined to fulfill this wish. Has she taken on more than she can handle? Can she fulfill her own wish as well as this young girl’s wish? 

Wishes of Home is a sweet, wonderful story. There are heartwarming moments and a few tears. When Pam is filled with doubt about herself and her relationship with Steve, instead of talking with him, she ghosts him. Thinking the relationship is over, Steve doesn’t know where to turn. But the residents of Linden Falls aren’t going to let Pam and Steve ruin their relationship because they are perfect for each other. It is a story of communication, even if it could be hurtful and tough. Communication is key. There was one piece of information that Steve thought Pam knew, thinking small town everyone knows, but not realizing that she does not. It adds to the old saying “Assuming makes an ass out of you and me.” Overall, I enjoyed this story. It has been a great addition to The Wishing Tree series. I highly recommend Wishes of Home as well as the rest of The Wishing Tree series. 

Wishes of Home is available in paperback and eBook.