The Color of the Season: a series of events changes one man's life forever

The Color of the Season is the seventh book in the The Color of Heaven series by Julianne MacLean. Josh Wallace, a Boston cop, is having the worst day of his life. He gets dumped by the woman who he thought was the one and he was ready to propose. Then he gets shot in the line of duty. While recovering in the hospital, he begins to have experiences that he cannot explain and is afraid to talk about, afraid it would ruin his career. Everything he once believed about his life shifts as he reunites with Leah James, a childhood friend he hadn’t seen in decades. As they talk about their childhood and their experiences since they last saw each other, a series of events opens the doors of his past and maybe even ones for his future as well. 

The Color of Heaven series has been emotionally moving and The Color of the Season is another great addition. Once I opened this book, I could not put it down. Picking up after the events of the previous book, picking up Josh’s perspective. He is angry and bitter from the break up, not knowing that his life was about to change in ways he could never imagine. I closed the book with feelings of awe. This story was so moving with deep emotions and drama. The twists and surprises I didn’t see coming kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I enjoyed this story as well. I highly recommend The Color of the Season as well as the previous books in this series. I highly recommend starting with The Color of Heaven. 

The Color of the Season is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Wordsmith: can love be stronger than familial duty?

The Wordsmith is the seventh book in the Emerson Pass Historical series by Tess Thompson. Adelaide “Addie” Barnes didn’t want to fall in love with him. He was too old, too English and too much her sister’s best friend. At least that’s what she tells herself as James West arrives in Emerson Pass to spend the summer with the Barnes family. What was worse, James is set to marry another woman at the end of the summer. Addie had grown into a beautiful and ambitious young woman who dreamed of becoming a published author. James must marry the daughter of one of the richest men to save his family from ruin and his own career. Duty pulls him in one direction; but his heart started to pull him in another. He has fallen in love with Addie and yet he knew he could not have her. Would he be able to walk away from the only woman he loves? And would Addie let him? 

The Wordsmith picks up four years after the end of The Musician. Addie is now a young woman with a heart filled with unrequited love. James was hoping the summer with the Barnes family would be his last great time before he married. Of course, summer is a time of change, of hope and courage. Addie and James’ romance was sweet. I felt for Addie as she was willing and ready to let James walk away because she thought it was what he wanted. I enjoyed watching James come to the realization that he loves Addie and yet doesn’t feel worthy of her. There were twists and turns with a few tears and gasps and a happy resolution that brought a smile to my face. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and it breaks my heart a bit that there is only one book left. If you enjoy clean, sweet historical fiction, you will enjoy the Emerson Pass Historical series. I highly recommend The Wordsmith. 

The Wordsmith is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Hello Goodbye: a shocking murder and closure to a deeply personal case

Hello Goodbye by Kay Bratt is the seventh book of the Hart’s Ridge series. The once tranquil small town of Hart’s Ridge is once again rocked to the core with a shocking crime which leaves two parents brutally murdered and three adopted children orphaned. With twists and turns, the couple’s seemingly perfect image is opened to secrets and possible motives. Deputy Taylor Gray throws herself into solving the case while dealing with turmoil in her personal life. First, Sam, her fiancé, is blindsided by the sudden appearance of a 12 year old girl, Alice, claiming to be his daughter. Second, there is a sudden development from a case from her personal past that could threaten her entire family. Even in a small town, there are secrets hidden in every nook and cranny, is the killer hiding among them? 

From the opening chapter, Hello Goodbye hits readers with a brutal crime and the mystery swirls to secrets, lies and the usual suspects. The case itself was intriguing and engaging. Will the killer be a surprise? Unfortunately, I found Taylor hard to like in this story. While she usually has a hardened exterior, with hidden emotions, I found her a little too harsh and a few times, I even commented out loud with “Yikes, Taylor.” I like Sam more and more with each book and I loved how he opened himself to the possibility of being Alice’s father and engaged in a relationship with her. Overall, Hello Goodbye was an engaging, roller coaster of a story which kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend Hello Goodbye as well as the rest of the Hart’s Ridge series. 

Hello Goodbye is available in paperback and eBook

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide: what does an old bank robbery and a new murder have in common?

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide by Tonya Kappes is the seventh book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. To celebrate the opening of the new Old Train Station motel’s grand opening, everyone is excited for the Hoe Down. The fun evening comes to an abrupt end when a sudden storm brings lightning and knocks out the power. And it always seems that Mae West finds herself in familiar territory as she discovers the body of Jay Russel, a local trainer. As she follows the clues and rumors of an old bank robbery and shady business deals, she discovers the motive for motive is much, much more dangerous. Can she discover the link between the murder and the rumors before it’s too late? 

How can one small town have so much crime? It seems to be normal for Normal, Kentucky. Luckily, Mae West and her Laundry Club friends are on the case. Despite the disapproval of her boyfriend, Sheriff Hank Sharp, Mae can’t help herself as her curiosity pulls her in. Even after one of her dearest friends is implicated in the murder, Mae knows she cannot stop until she finds the truth. This series is filled with fun, exciting suspense as Mae follows the trail with twists and turns as she, and readers, are on the hunt for the killer. If you enjoy a fun small town setting with a bit of mystery, I highly recommend Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide as well as the rest of the series. 

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Careful What You Wish: another addition to The Wishing Tree series

Careful What You Wish by Ashley Farley is the seventh book in The Wishing Tree series. Mary May has been adrift. Her husband left her, she has no children and she’s on the verge of losing her home. Now she has lost her housekeeping job. With no income, she has lost all hope that she can repair her family’s dilapidated home. As a sarcastic joke, she ties a wish to the town’s famous wishing tree. She never expected her wish to come true and come true in an amazing fashion! All of a sudden her maple tree sprouts hundred dollar bills resulting in thousands of dollars. As she makes the necessary repairs, she begins to go on a spending spree and gives herself a much needed makeover. Soon she realizes that it wasn’t money she truly needs but friends. As her wish becomes a blessing and a curse, she must discover the true meaning behind her wish fulfillment. 

I have been enjoying The Wishing Tree immensely which is why it hurts to not enjoy Careful What You Wish. The story didn’t seem to fit with the others. Despite being from the town, no one seems to know or recognize Mary which doesn’t jive with the small town atmosphere. While the other books had small overlap with each other, Careful What Your Wish doesn’t have a single character that I recognize from the other books. Not even Neva, the Curator of Wishes, fails to make an appearance. Even the magic of the tree seems to be out of place with the previous books. The wish fulfillment in this story had more of a supernatural/divine intervention feel than the others. Mary was a hard character to care for and sympathize with. Sadly, I was highly disappointed in Careful What Your Wish and only recommend it as a part of The Wishing Tree series. I wonder how this story will fit with the remaining stories. 

Careful What You Wish is available in paperback and eBook