Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble-Great Escapes Tour-Review/Character Interview

About the book 

From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.

A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.

From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

Interview with a character

Hello it is a delight to meet you Miss Lily.  I am so glad you could

spend a few minutes chatting today!

Have you ever been interviewed before?

          No, ma’am.  Well, not for a real interview.  I’ve been questioned before, but I’m not supposed to talk about that.  My mistress, Lady  Dunbridge said she was  happy that  you wanted to interview me and I could answer questions, but that because of our  situation  I must be discreet.

I am sure you have many things to chat about what with your arrival 

In NYC!  What was it like traveling so far? 

          The ocean is bigger than anything you’ve ever seen. And I didn’t get sick or anything.  But Mr. Preswick, that’s Lady Phil’s butler, didn’t give me time to do anything but learn how to be a lady’s maid.  I wasn’t a lady’s maid before that.  But  Lady Phil paid my way to America and I would do anything for her. 

I am sure it was quite an experience did you enjoy it?  What was 

The best part.  I am sure I would enjoy the dining!

          Oh yes.  The ship was  the largest I’ve ever seen.  With big  smoke stacks and  a whole bunch of levels.  We were on the top  level with the rich people, but once I went down to where the  poor people stayed.  That wasn’t nice.  Oh, but the dinners, even in the servants dining hall dinners were scrumptious.  More food than you could eat and all very fresh. Mr. Preswick said they were even served wine at the butler’s tables.

Since your arrival have you had an opportunity to visit any interesting places while in service to Lady Dunbridge.

          Lots. But some of them I can’t talk about.  We went to Belmont  Race track, it’s brand new and  beautiful. And we helped catch a killer, but I can’t talk about that, either. Oh and Bloomingdales. They have  an escalator that takes you from one floor to another.  And everything you could want to buy.  And we had ices on the street.  I really enjoyed those.

I understand your traveling together and the opportunity to work for Lady Dunbridge was a bit of a surprise can you tell us how that happened.

          Well, I guess I could.  I  was, for reasons of my own, trying to  hide in the ship so I could get to  America.  But  I got caught.  I would have paid but I didn’t have any money.  But Lady Phil saw me struggling with the customs men and stepped in to save me.  She paid my passage and since her own maid had  chickened out at the last minute,—really  who would be afraid to get on a ship?— she said I could be her lady’s maid. So, it all worked out.

I have never met a Lady’s maid.  Can you tell us a little about your duties to

Miss Dunbridge. 

          Well, I’m responsible for  getting her dressed and doing her hair, and keeping her clothes cleaned and  ready to wear.  And I accompany her often when she goes out, though I’m not sure if that’s what lady’s maids usually do.  We live at the Plaza Hotel so some things are different than if we lived in a big house. It has all the modern conveniences.  They send your dinner up on an electric dumbwaiter all the way from the kitchen in the basement.

Did you have a lot to learn?  Who was your instructor?

          Yes, an awful lot.  Mr. Preswick taught me everything on the voyage over. He was  really strict and sometimes I had to bite my tongue  not to talk back.  I’m glad I didn’t, because it’s the best thing in the world living in the Plaza with Lady Phil.

I am sure Manhattan is a interesting place.  Have you had  the chance to visit any special places?  

          Mr. Preswick and I sometimes go out to the Nickelodeons on our nights off. And we live right across the street from Central Park.  It’s beautiful and you can take a carriage ride to see all the sights.  I haven’t had a chance to meet  too many people yet. But that’s fine with me. We stay busy enough just the three of us.

I’ve heard that Lady Dunbridge is a bit of a sleuth!  Has she ever called on you to help her in an investigation? 

          Of course.  Me and Mr. Preswick are indispensible to her. There’s  this  policeman Detective Sergeant Atkins  who  is always  trying to get us  to stop, but there is this other  man, who is very mysterious.  Lady Phil calls him Mr. X because we don’t know his name and he’s always  showing up during an investigation, sometimes he’s in disguise just like Mr. Preswick’s  favorite  detective Mr. Sherlock Holmes. We’re not sure who Mr. X works for; I think Lady Phil likes Mr. X but I don’t know.  But that is one of the things I’m not allowed to talk about. Most of the cases we’ve been called in to investigate were very hush hush.

This has been such a nice little visit.  Thank you for taking The time to chat!  

          Thank you for having me. Can I go now?

Of course and thank you for sharing about your adventures!  Have a wonderful afternoon.  I hope we can meet again soon.

And others are saying 

This was a lovely book to read and I have certainly gathered Lady Dunbridge into a favorite sleuth category. I really loved the historical setting and moments in this book.
~Bibliophile Reviews

The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book

I view the delightfully independent and free-thinking Lady Dunbridge as the Edwardian English version of Victoria Woodhull, the 19th century American who advocated free love, founded a newspaper, and campaigned for the U.S. Presidency in 1872. Both were “quite the woman,” and both captured a certain spirit which now seems almost blasé, but for their times were truly “off the beaten path . . .

And I thought

This was a new kind of read for me.  But I enjoyed it. 
The historical setting was interesting.  Reading about the days of 
proper ladies and the setting in Manhatten was interesting. 
Although I am not sure most 'proper' ladies spend their time 
sleuthing.  But I am glad our Lady Dunbridge doesn't spend her time drinking tea. 
I enjoyed the characters and I took a special liking to the sweet maid Lily.  
I am looking forward to spending more time Lady Dunbridge and the characters.  Ask Me No Questions is a great start to a new series. 

I received a complimentary copy.
My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

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The Harvest Ridge Series by K.L. Ramsey-Review and Giveaway

Welcome to day 1 featuring book 1

Return tomorrow to see book 2.

You can follow the tour to read guest posts and more reviews. (see link below)

About the book

Taggert Harrison knows what he wants, and he wants Piper Flynn. She is the most stubborn woman that he’s ever laid eyes on. He has spent the last year begging her to go out with him. Every Monday morning, for the past fifty-two weeks, he has asked her out only to be rejected fifty-two times. He wants to give up, but he knows how good it could be, if he could just tear down her walls. Will Tag be able to help Piper get over her painful past to move on to a future with him?
Piper Flynn witnessed the horrific murders of her parents when she was just twelve. She grew up isolated and afraid to let anyone get too close to her for fear of losing them. When Tag asks her out, everything in her wants to tell him yes, but her past ghosts keep her from taking what she wants. Tag could be her first, in every way, if she could just free her heart from the walls that she has carefully built up around it.

Read an excerpt 

“I get it, being here with me isn’t what you signed up for. Honestly Piper, you are just proving my point for me.” Tag was pretending to busy himself with clues around the room, but Piper could tell that he was only going through the motions.
“What do you mean, I’m proving your point?” She grabbed Tag’s hand as he tried to pass her, effectively stopping him in front of her. Without his jacket, she noticed his tattoo sleeve that circled his lower arm. It was a scene of a forest with snowcapped mountains in the background. It encircled his entire forearm and seemed to perfectly fit who Tag was.
He gently pulled his hand from her grasp, “What I mean, honey, is that you have made your point. It may have taken me an entire year to catch on, but I get it. You’re just not into me. Message received, loud and clear.” 
Piper could hear her own breath catch. How could Tag think that she wasn’t into him? Just looking at him made her body react like it never had before. For so long, she’d wanted to just tell him that she’d go out with him, but she was also so afraid. She couldn’t let herself suffer another loss. She wasn’t strong enough. She guarded her heart like a sentry standing watch. She knew her limits and Tag pushed every one of them.
“How can you think that I’m not into you? You own a mirror, right?” Piper felt her own smile, unfortunately, Tag didn’t return her humor.
“This has nothing to do with the way that I look. You have turned me down fifty-two times.” She cringed at Tag’s words. “I like you Piper. I thought that you might like me too, but I guess I was wrong.” Piper could feel her head shaking, denying his words. “You don’t have to deny the truth. I was there every Monday, when I asked you out and you politely smiled and turned me down.”
“You just don’t understand, Tag. I can’t let you in. If you tear down my walls, what will I have left?” She felt her hot tears running down her face and she crudely wiped them with her shirt sleeve. Tag put down the clue that he was working on and moved slowly across the room to where Piper sat.
“Piper, you would have someone who cares about you. You would have a partner, maybe even love. But you will never find out what you could have if you don’t let me in. Just give me a chance, that’s all I’m asking.” Tag wiped away her tears with his thumbs, pulling her in to gently kiss her lips. Piper froze, not knowing what to do next. A part of her wanted to see where this all led but her brain was overloading her emotions.
She pulled away from the kiss, “Tag, I can’t.”

And I thought 

I was intrigued by the cover.  I was interested in the synopsis.  

As part of a series I was looking forward to getting to know the characters and look forward to seeing them in over installments.

Once you begin turning the pages this one is hard to put down. 

I enjoyed Tag and Piper's story.   Tag patiently tried to win Piper

over but her past kept her from making commitments. 

This was a fun read and a special story.  

I received a complimentary copy. 

My review will appear on Amazon and Good Reads.

Buy the book 

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Cover Reveal-The Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis

THE LEMON SISTERS

Wildstone Novel

Jill Shalvis

Rel June 18, 2019

Two sisters who just might be lemons in life and love… True or not, they know one thing -- you can’t run far enough to outpace your demons. And when long-dead secrets surface, they’ll have to overcome their differences and learn that sometimes the one person who can help you the most is the one you never thought to ask in THE LEMON SISTERS.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OVqEra
BN:  https://goo.gl/Q4wY5t
iBooks: https://goo.gl/3vMxjt
Kobo: https://goo.gl/eEU4ZY
Google Play: https://goo.gl/fJN5SD
Paperback: https://goo.gl/LMqu2d

Read 1st ch here: https://jillshalvis.com/books/the-lemon-sisters/#excerpt

Blurb:

When Brooke’s older sister, Mindy, shows up at her door with her three kids in tow, she barely recognizes her sibling who looks like she’s on the verge of a total breakdown. While adventurous, wanderlust Brooke was always the problem child, eager to slip free of Wildstone and its small town constraints, Mindy was the golden child, who never had a hair out of place or a GPA below 4.0. The Mindy that arrives at Brooke’s apartment however, is a far cry from the ever-perfect doctor’s wife.

Brooke’s further stunned when Mindy asks to trade places with her for a few days so she can pick up her pieces and put herself back together. What Mindy doesn’t realize is that Brooke is just as broken. Her sister needs her though, so Brooke takes the kids and returns to Wildstone.

But how does one go home after seven years away and what feels like a lifetime of secrets? It doesn’t take long for Brooke to come face-to-face with her past, in the form of one tall, dark, sexy mistake. But Garrett’s no longer interested, or so he says. Only his words don’t match his actions, leaving Brooke feeling things she long ago shoved deep.

The sisters begin to wonder if the childhood taunts were true, are they lemons in life? In love? True or not, they know one thing — you can’t run far enough to outpace your demons. And when long-dead secrets surface, they’ll have to overcome their differences and learn that sometimes the one person who can help you the most is the one you never thought to ask.

Spring Thaw by Lauren Carr-I Read Tours-Review

About the book 

In today’s hectic world, many whodunit fans don’t have time to get their mystery fix diving into a whole novel. Lauren Carr’s SPRING THAW AND OTHER MYSTERY SHORT STORIES is for these fans—but that doesn’t mean whodunit fans who do have time can’t dive in as well.

A novella, Spring Thaw features retired federal agent Chris Matheson from Lauren Carr’s newest bestselling cold case series. When his late father’s former friend is indicted for the seven year old murder of a church bishop, Chris renews old broken friendships to thaw out the cold case.

Featuring Mac Faraday from Lauren Carr’s popular Mac Faraday Mysteries, an estate auction turns into a deadly affair after Gnarly's antics cause Mac to purchase a gem of a dress, which isn't his color in Killing Bid. (Previously published in Lauren Carr’s BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Beauty to Die For features the Lovers in Crime, Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates in a race against the Angel of Death to clear the name of a dying woman's son, who was framed for murdering Miss Pennsylvania. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Countdown to Murder returns to the Lovers in Crime where Cameron and Joshua try to solve the murder of a young pregnant widow before it happens.  (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Mystery fans will see that every dog has his day, especially if that dog is Gnarly. In Lucky Dog, Gnarly helps Mac Faraday to solve the murder of a wealthy society girl.  (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Dog Loving Mystery Fans will get a special treat when they read The Gnarly Rehabilitation Program. In this Gnarly Mystery Short, Bert and Ernie learn the hard way that crime does not pay when they dog nap Gnarly. (Previously published as a bonus feature with A WEDDING AND A KILLING.)

Gnarly, the rambunctious German shepherd, is also features in Lauren Carr’s Christmas short, A Gnarly Christmas. It is Christmas day and Gnarly has been up to his old tricks again. Now he's in the dog house--or rather the boathouse--after stealing the Christmas feast! Moments after Archie and Mac leave Spencer Manor, Gnarly hears a call for help from Rocky, the Maltese down the street. Four assassins for hire have invaded the home of Rocky's elderly owners. While the home invaders wait for instructions from a mysterious caller, Gnarly must plot to stop them. Can Gnarly save Christmas with only the help of an 8-pound Maltese dressed in an elf suit? (Previously published as a single short story by the same name.)

And I thought

This one was fun.  Not only do we get a new Chris Matheson 

story but we get a collection of short stories featuring the characters from Lauren Carr's series.

Along with the Chris Matheson novella we get a couple short stories from The Mac Faraday Series,  and a couple from the 

Lovers In Crime Series,  and a few that feature one of my favorite 

characters Gnarly (Mac's dog)  from The Mac Faraday Series. 

There is also an excerpt from the newest release from another 

great one The Throny Rose series that features Mac Faraday's daughter Jessica and her husband Murphy who's dad is the main character in the Lovers In Crime Series. 

For the Lauren Carr fan you'll love this one that features many of our favorite characters. 

If  your new to Lauren Carr this is a great one to get acquainted.

You won't be disappointed. 

It's hard for me to actually choose a favorite because I love them all.   There are great plots with twists and turns and actually every book (not these short stories) have more than one plot making the reading really enjoyable and keeping the reader on the edge of the seat.  The characters draw you in and keep you hooked especially for this reader the dogs.   The fun began with Gnarly and Mac Faraday and continues with the newest series featuring 

Chris Matheson and his dog Storm. 

Each book is written as a stand a lone.  But be prepared where ever you jump in you'll want to read more!  

Spring Thaw with the collection of short stories was just as good as any of the previous books.  

I enjoy each one and I can't wait to read the next one. 

I received a complimentary copy. 

My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

And others are saying 

“Lauren Carr is a master storyteller who combines the humor of Janet Evanovich and the investigative skills of Patricia Cornwell. She is always at the top of my reading list."
- Sherry Fundin, Fundinmental

"Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!"
- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

"Lauren Carr's books are never boring, that's for sure. They entertain, give us a good mystery to dig into, keep the reader guessing, give us a few good laughs and make us eager for the next book. Warning: Lauren Carr's series are addictive, so be ready to read more than just one book!" 
- Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads

"She is an amazing author that draws you into the story, makes you fall in love with the characters (they feel like family!) and keeps you guessing right to the very end."
- Working Mommy Journal

"Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue.  And you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the end."
- Every Free Chance Book Reviews

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Spring Thaw and Crimes Past to read more reviews and visit other blogs click here. 

Purls And Poison by Anne Canadeo-Great Escapes Tour Spotlight

This is a spotlight post for The Great Escapes Tour

I have not read this book 

About the book 

When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend’s defense . . .

Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It’s bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.

When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.

The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who’s trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes . . .

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Yeast of Eden by Sarah Fox-Silver Dagger Tour-Review

 

About the book 

Winter has come to Wildwood Cove, and riding in on the chill is Wally Fowler. Although he’s been away for years, establishing his reputation as the self-proclaimed Waffle King, the wealthy blowhard has returned to the coastal community to make money, not friends—by pitting his hot and trendy Waffle Kingdom against Marley McKinney’s cozy pancake house, The Flip Side. Wally doesn’t see anything wrong in a little healthy competition, until he’s murdered in his own state-of-the art kitchen.
Marley isn’t surprised when the authorities sniff around The Flip Side for a motive, but it’s her best friend Lisa who gets grilled, given her sticky history with the victim. When a second murder rocks the town, it makes it harder than ever for Marley to clear Lisa’s name. Marley’s afraid that she’s next in line to die—and the way things are looking, the odds of surviving her investigatihon could be stacked against her.

And I thought 

A good fast paced read.  There are no shortage of suspects or of sleuths.  This one was interesting with a goodly number of characters in the cast.  Which made it a little daunting for me keeping up with everyone. 
It was fast paced in that the 1st murder happened just a few pages in.  
Marley the main character discovers the 1st suspect that actually discovers the body but the bad thing is the 1st suspect is her own chef.  And then there's a good friend that just might have had something to do with the murder.  And the suspects begin to come out of the woodwork then.   
There are some great recipes at the end and there is mention of some yummy eats throughout.  
I enjoy this installment of the Pancake House Mystery series. 
Sara Fox draws the reader in with a mystery that keeps the reader engrossed  and turning the pages. 

I received a complimentary copy. 
My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads. 

Read an excerpt

Chapter 1
My car’s headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the driving rain. The windshield wipers swished back and forth in a rapid rhythm as I carefully navigated my way along the deserted streets of Wildwood Cove. Normally I preferred to walk to work each morning, trekking along the beach so I could listen to the crashing waves and smell the salty air. Lately, however, I’d been making more use of my blue hatchback. Over the past several days the weather had been less than inviting, drizzling with rain if not outright pouring, and chilly enough that the occasional glob of slush splattered against my windshield along with the pelting raindrops.
The rain was supposed to let up in the next day or so, according to the weather forecast, so I hoped it wouldn’t be much longer before I could get back to enjoying my early morning walks along the shoreline. For
the moment, though, I was grateful for the warmth and shelter of my car.
When I turned into the small parking lot behind The Flip Side pancake house, I pulled up next to the only other car in the lot—a baby-blue classic Volkswagen bug belonging to The Flip Side’s chef, Ivan Kaminski. He arrived even earlier than I did each morning, as did his assistant, Tommy Park. It was barely six o’clock, but I knew the two of them would have been working for a good while already.
I shut off my car’s engine and grabbed my tote bag off the passenger seat, steeling myself for the upcoming dash through the pouring rain to the back door of the pancake house. As soon as I climbed out into the rain, I slammed the car door, ducked my head, and made a beeline for the slim bit of shelter provided by the recessed doorway.
Despite having spent mere seconds exposed to the elements, I had damp hair and droplets of water running down my face. I wiped them away with my sleeve and jiggled my ring of keys until I found the right one. As I put the key into the door, I caught sight of something white from the corner of my eye. A flyer lay plastered against the pavement, waterlogged and with a muddy footprint stamped across it.
I darted out of the shelter of the doorway and peeled the soggy paper off the ground. When I was once again out of the rain, I peered at the flyer, the exterior light above my head providing me with enough illumination to read by.
When I took in the bold black words printed across the saturated paper, my former good mood did a nosedive. I’d seen the flyer before. I’d seen several them, in fact, plastered all over town on utility poles, signposts, and community notice boards. I’d also received one in the mail. That one had gone straight into the recycling bin. This one I crumpled up in my hand as I unlocked the door, the words Wally’s Waffle Kingdom disappearing from sight as the paper scrunched up into a soggy ball.
Once inside, I unlocked the door to my office and tossed the scrunched flyer into the wastepaper basket. If I never saw another one, I’d be happy, although I knew the advertisement wasn’t the real problem. That was the Waffle Kingdom itself. The Flip Side had become a fixture in the small seaside town of Wildwood Cove, with many faithful customers who returned again and again to enjoy Ivan’s scrumptious breakfast creations. There were other restaurants and cafés around town, but none of them specialized in breakfast foods like The Flip Side did.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I’d never really worried about competition. Then Wally Fowler had moved to town—moved back to town actually, since he’d grown up here—and my mind had remained unsettled ever since. I wasn’t about to roll over and give up on the pancake house just because of some competition, but I couldn’t keep my niggling concern at bay.
If the Waffle Kingdom’s fare was as good as the flyer proclaimed (the best waffles EVER!) it wasn’t unrealistic to think that The Flip Side would lose some of its business to the new establishment. In the summertime, when tourists flocked to the small town, that might not be such a problem. There would probably be enough business for both restaurants during those weeks. But during the rest of the year? That could be a definite issue.
I’d been hoping to give each of my three full-time employees a raise in the near future. Now I was keeping that plan to myself, unsure if I’d be able to follow through. I’d have to wait and see what happened once the waffle house opened. As Wally and his flyers had been announcing to the whole town for several days, the grand opening of the Waffle Kingdom would take place next week.
It would take time to know the full extent of the effect on The Flip Side, so I was determined to carry on as usual. I just wished I could get rid of that ever-present worry lingering at the back of my mind.
With the wet flyer in the trash and my jacket hung on the coat stand, I ran a hand through my damp curls and made my way into the dining area. I flipped on the lights, and immediately some of the tension that had crept into my shoulders fizzled away. There was something so comforting about the cozy pancake house. Like the beach and the charming town, The Flip Side had easily worked its way into my heart, becoming a second home away from my blue-and-white beachfront Victorian.
Smiling, I glanced out the large front windows, seeing nothing but inky darkness and rivulets of water running down the panes.
Well, almost nothing else.
I walked quickly across the room to the front door, bone-chilling damp air hitting me as soon as I pushed it open. Staying beneath the awning so I wouldn’t get soaked, I approached the two white rectangles taped to one of the windows, spaced a couple of feet apart. When I got close enough
to recognize them as two more Waffle Kingdom flyers, I let out a growl of annoyance.
Ripping the flyers off the glass, I stormed back into the pancake house.
“Of all the nerve!”
Twenty-one-year-old Tommy Park poked his head out the pass-through window to the kitchen. “What’s up?” he asked.
I waved the crumpled flyers. “Wally the Waffle King strikes again.”
The kitchen door swung open and Ivan appeared. Tommy ducked away from the window and came through the door a second later.
“These were taped to the front window,” I said, waving the flyers again. Ivan grabbed one and glowered at the piece of paper. While an intimidating scowl was the chef’s typical expression, this one was far
darker than usual.
“He’s rubbing your nose in it,” he declared, crumpling the flyer as his large hand closed into a fist.
Tommy took the other flyer from me. “Totally not cool.”
“It’s one thing to open up a waffle house that will compete directly with us,” I said, “but it’s hitting a new low by plastering the ads all over the front of this place.”
“He’s trying to get under your skin.” Ivan tossed the crumpled flyer
toward the wastepaper basket, making a perfect shot. “But why? Does he really think annoying us will get us to close up shop so all our business goes his way?”
“Not going to happen,” Tommy said.
“Definitely not,” I agreed. “But why else try to aggravate us?”
“Probably for fun,” Ivan said. “Some people enjoy riling others up.”
“That’s true.” I’d learned that firsthand several months back when a bitter and vengeful woman had tried to make my life miserable.
“And I hear Wally Fowler’s a slimeball,” Tommy said. “I’m not sure anyone in town actually likes him.”
Ivan nodded his agreement. “Wildwood Cove would be better off without him.”
If enough people believed that, maybe I had nothing to worry about. The townsfolk weren’t likely to give the self-proclaimed Waffle King their business if they despised him.
“I guess it’s best to ignore him and focus on keeping our customers happy, like we always do,” I decided.
“Sounds like a plan.” With a flick of his wrist, Tommy sent the second flyer arcing into the trash can.
He returned to the kitchen and Ivan followed after him, his scowl as dark as ever. Was he more worried about the new waffle house than he was letting on? With his bulging muscles, numerous tattoos, and dark, intense eyes, Ivan wasn’t one to be easily fazed. But something in his face led me to believe he was taking the potential problem posed by Wally and his waffle house very seriously.
My worries tried to resurface, but I forced them back down, focusing on starting a fire in the stone fireplace to keep myself busy. The Flip Side would be fine, I told myself. It was a well-established restaurant, with a solid and loyal customer base that loved Ivan’s cooking and the cozy atmosphere.
Surely it would take more than Wally the Waffle King to destroy what we had here. After all, how much damage could one man cause?

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Secrets in Oak Creek by B.K. Stubblefield

About the book 

A small town with a dark secret. A new arrival in grave danger. Can she solve the mystery before she ends up the next victim?The best part of Emily's childhood may have been the time she spent with her quirky aunt. So when her favorite relative passes away, she drops everything to attend the funeral in the small town of Oak Creek. But she never expected to inherit her aunt's entire estate, including her massive black dog Bentley. Just as she starts to get the hang of small-town life, an unknown driver runs her off the road and sends her to the hospital.
As doctors tend to her and she makes a connection with a charming Oak Creek resident named Ryan, Emily racks her brain to figure out who would want her dead. When sparks start to fly between her and the Good Samaritan that sat by her bedside, they team up to solve the mystery. Digging into the crime starts to reveal a dark side to Oak Creek and long-held secrets nobody wants revealed. Emily and Ryan must uncover the truth before her assailant comes back to finish the job.

And I thought

Not what I expected.   I expected some suspense.  Maybe a little romance.  And just a good read.  A page-turner.  

Secrets in Oak Creek comes in as my favorite romantic suspense of the year!

What I got was way more.  Secrets in Oak Creek was more than a page turner.  I was turning the pages in the beginning.  And then 

half-way through I was on the edge of my seat.  

The main characters Emily and Ryan meet when Emily is injured in a car accident.  Which turned out to be no accident at all.  And Ryan and his friend saw the whole thing.  As they rush to help Ryan is begged by Emily to look after her dog.  And so a friendship that turns romantic begins. 

And then Emily finds that her aunt had been doing some sleuthing and collecting some information about illegal activities by some important towns people shortly before her death. 

I was surprised with the subject matter of the illegal activities which included dog fighting.  As Emily and Ryan dig they make it their 

mission to help the police to catch the criminals and put them out of business.  

Secrets in Oak Creek was a fast paced read.  There were not alot of characters to keep up with making it an easy read.  

Interesting I felt like Emily and Ryan hijacked the story. (the author discusses this topic in an interview over at Silver Daggers. Click here to read the interview) Not in a bad way.  In a way that they just made me want to finish the story to see what happens.  

I didn't get a feeling that Secrets in Oak Creek part of a series but I would like to see more.  I enjoyed the characters.  I enjoyed the 

story/plot.   

There was a little language Ryan tended to spout a bit when he was surprised about something.   There bedroom scenes are very brief and subtle.  

My MaMa would probably really enjoy this once too!

If your looking for a good suspense with some romance check it out!

I received a complimentary copy.

My review will appear on retail sites and Good Reads.

Read an excerpt

On impulse, she turns the car around and follows the now familiar lane, curious to take another look.
As she slows down, Emily surveys the farmlands on either side of the small country road. She deeply inhales the smell of corn bouncing weightlessly on the warm breeze. A childhood memory floats into awareness, taking her back to when she loved running through endless rows of corn. She remembers when she would stop running and then stand quietly between the rows—not moving, just listening. On some days, the warm wind would whisper her name, beckoning her mind to float to enchanted places in far-away, mystical lands.
She recalls the tingling of her spine when the wind rustles the stalks around her, telling a different story. With her heart hammering fast, she can barely catch her breath. Her feet are rooted to the ground, imagining the rows parting for a faceless shadow that is coming for her. When the spell finally breaks, and fear releases its icy grip, she runs, pumping her legs until she emerges unscathed from the field of corn, feeling safe once again.
Emily smiles at the memory of her childish games as her gaze sweeps the seemingly endless stretching cornfield that is adjoining the property she sees.
She slowly pulls her car to the shoulder and stops where she can view the home between the massive trees in front. Turning off the engine, she sits and watches the home for a few minutes.
You would have been a beauty once, she thinks along with a twinge of nostalgia.
Today, she can clearly see how it may have looked before, her gloomy feelings from just a few days ago replaced with visions of happier times. Windows now boarded up would have gleamed in the early afternoon sun, white wicker furniture on the front porch inviting visitors to sit a while. Lush green Boston ferns in ornate urns would flank the solid oak front door while children played a game of chase with a cute black and white dog. Yes, definitely a dog, she decides.
As if pulled by unseen strings, Emily opens her door and steps out onto the road. Just a quick look, a little bit closer. She hesitantly walks toward the overgrown gravel drive.
She tentatively steps on the drive, and the house comes into view from its side angle. A couple of steps lead up to what appears to be a service entrance. She heads to the front yard where the front porch is badly sagging, barely held up by the once stately Doric columns. A whiff of musty, stale air assaults her nostrils.
Disgusted, she turns away from the crumbling facade. Abandoned, apparently a long time ago—what a pity!
As she turns away, Emily is keenly aware of the eerie stillness around her. Just as the wind in the cornfield softly sighed such a long time ago, the old house seems to reach out, whispering an invitation to explore its long-forgotten interior.
Emily hesitantly steps up two concrete steps, halting on the small landing of the side entrance.
“Hello!” she calls out as she knocks on the door, cocking her head, listening closely. She doesn’t expect anyone to answer, but still. “Hello? Is anyone here?” she repeats. Ignoring her gut’s warnings that she has no business being here, she knocks a second time—and almost jumps as the door opens a small way, rusty hinges shrieking loudly, interrupting the quiet.
Her pulse races as she pushes her hand lightly against the door. She leans forward, glancing around the interior and is immediately assaulted by the same musty smell she had noticed earlier, only stronger.

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