Riesling Retribution

Riesling Retribution

Ellen Crosby

4 out of 5

After a tornado barrels across the Montgomery Vineyards, Lucy soon discovers a skull in the muddy trench left in the wake of the destruction. Unfortunately, it's not just any skull. With so many things currently going on, Quinn and Chance, a new addition to the Vineyard, are at odds, an apparent thief after any credit card they can get their hands on, and Civil War aficionados reenacting the 1861 Battle of Bull's Bluff on her property, this is truly the last thing that she needs. Lucy must once again dive back into the family closet and soon sets out to discover which "skeleton" this is.

Could Lucy's much beloved father really have been responsible for the death or is that just want people to believe about man that the town loved to hate, or does this mystery go deeper?

In this rich blend of southern charm and lovable characters, Crosby once again brings to life the day in and day out conflicts that Lucy Montgomery must deal with in an attempt to bring a well bodied wine to the table.

Though this book could be read as an independent, it's best to start at the beginning to fully understand Lucy, her injury and her deep need to bring back the vineyard to it 's once pristine condition.

Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Little Giant of Aberdeen County

Tiffany Bakers

4 out of 5

The cover is what draws you to this book, but the story of Truly Plaice is what keeps you turning the pages.

Truly is put forth as part behemoth, part witch, part Cinderella. When her mother was carrying her, their small town took bets as to what the size of this baby boy was going to be, but the surprise was on them when a larger than life girl was born. Small towns seem to garner small minds which caused a rather painful childhood for Truly who had to live in the shadow of her older sisters beauty.

When Serena unexpectedly vanishes, Truly finds herself taking care of her nephew in the house of her brother in law Doctor Robert Morgan, a former childhood tormentor, who now continues to subject her to criticism and medical experiments. But she loves her nephew Bobbie and because of that love, she will put up with whatever Bob-Bob Morgan can come up with.

Though the book takes place in the early 1960's, the issues that Truly faces are very much current day topics - war, euthanasia and the most important, what is beauty. Truly, with her band of misfits leads a rather unique life, a life that in it's way is very fulfilling, even with it's potholes and disappointments, Truly is inspiring.

To me, this book had a slight fairytale feel, you had the good, the bad, the evil and the ugly. They just weren't necessarily who you thought they would be when you first started reading the book.

Trial by Fire

Trial by Fire

JA Jance

4 out of 5

I really enjoy this series. I just wish that Leland Brooks would be included more. His character is a hoot, but then again, who wouldn't love a rhinestone wearing butler that has a knack for being in the right place at the right time with exactly what you need.

Since Ali no longer has a nine to five job she appears to be a woman of leisure, that is until she is approached to be a media consultation for the Yavapai County Police Department. It sounds intriguing, so why not, she has nothing better to do.

On her first call out, she is brought face to face with a raging fire in the Arizona desert and the near lifeless body if an older woman who has been pulled from the charred structure. As a media consultation it is now her job to keep the pack of reporters away from the apparent arson and a domestic terrorist group called ELF. But of course with Ali, it becomes more then just a job, she is introduced to Sister Anselm, also known as the Angel of Death, and between the two of them, they are on a mission to find out the identity of the fire victim and to find out what lead up to this attack.

As the story unfolds, Jance allows the reader to come up with their own ideas of guilt and innocence until the final moment when the truth is revealed and what lead that person to make the choices that were made. Families have secrets, departments have leaks and maybe in the long run, Ali will let go of her fears and jump without first looking around to see who is watching her.