Book Review - XO: A Kathryn Dance Novel

XO: A Kathryn Dance Novel

By: Jeffery Deaver
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: June 2012
ISBN: 978-1439156377
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: June 2012

Kayleigh Towne is a young woman who seems to have it all; she's beautiful, talented, and a popular country singer whose concerts sell out in a nanosecond. Oh, yes, she also has her very own stalker, Edwin Sharp.

Edwin is an obsessed fan who is convinced that Kayleigh loves and needs him just as much as he wants the singer. He believes the form emails he's received from the star's marketing machine are actually personal emails written by her and is sure that her songs, particularly one called "Your Shadow" are written for him. While her lawyers have warned Edwin to stay away, he continues to follow Kayleigh.

Meanwhile, the young singer has grown progressively more nervous about her obsessed fan.
As the story opens, Kayleigh is in Fresno, California, checking out the stage of the Conference Center where her concert will be later in the week. Unfortunately, she can't get Edwin out of her mind and when she thinks she sees something, or someone, moving around in the shadows at the back of the hall, she grows fearful that it might be Edwin. When a stage light falls and just misses the young woman, she, and several members of her road crew, wonder if it was a freak accident or if Edwin somehow caused the light to fall.

Kayleigh is thrilled when her old friend, Kathryn Dance, an agent with the California Bureau of Investigation with a specialty in body language analysis, comes to town. They meet at a local cafe, along with several members of the road crew. Unfortunately, Edwin also shows up and, while not acting aggressive, he knows far too much about each and every person at the singer's table. Edwin is escorted out of the restaurant and Kayleigh tries to get on with her life and prep for her concert. But when her good friend, Bobby Prescott, is burned to death in a grisly "accident" that involves the same light that fell near Kayleigh, things go into overdrive.

Kathryn suspects Edwin is behind the murder but because the man is rather "unbalanced," her body language skills prove somewhat useless. She looks for clues while trying her best to protect Kayleigh and others close to the singer. But the body count continues to climb and Kathryn appears no closer to solving the murders. At points she is convinced that Edwin is the deranged murderer and then there are other times when he appears to be the victim of somebody else's evil plot. Which is it?

This is the third of Jeffery Deaver's novels to feature Kathryn Dance and it doesn't disappoint. There are plenty of plot twists and turns and just when you think you've figured out who the murderer is, Deaver fools you once again. The dialogue is tight and believable, the story flows well, and the suspense continues to build. If you love suspense novels that keep you guessing throughout, then check out XO, and see if you can figure out who is after the beautiful country singer before you get to that last page.

Quill says: Edwin is the killer, he isn't the killer, he is, he isn't... you'll be going back and forth trying to figure it out. And chances are, you won't figure it out!

Book Review - Cast On, Kill Off

Cast On, Kill Off: A Knitting Mystery

By: Maggie Sefton
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 2012
ISBN: 978-0425247594
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: June 1, 2012

Wedding bells would soon be ringing, but not for Kelly Flynn. Everyone was lamenting the fact that she and Steve Townsend had had a rather “sudden and dramatic breakup” the year before and they were anxious for them to get back together. Kelly was rather tentative and didn’t quite know what to think, let alone do. It would soon be Megan and Marty’s big day and everyone in “The Gang” was preparing for it. Kelly, Lisa, and Jennifer were Megan’s bridesmaids and their gowns had that wow factor they all wanted. Meagan’s sister, Janet, was the matron of honor, but she unexpectedly had a little problem. Megan was going to have to ask Zoe to alter her dress...like yesterday.

When Zoe Yeager was giving Kelly’s hem a final once-over, she was startled to notice some bruising on her face. Alarmed when asked about it, Zoe simply made a lame excuse. It was no secret that the lame excuse was Oscar, her drunken sot of a husband. Megan urged Kelly to let it go, but it wouldn’t be far from her mind...and neither would her memories of Steve. All the bridesmaids were knitting wedding shawls and in between number crunching for her accounts, she was going to be counting stitches. Mother Mimi, the owner of Lambspun, a knitting and fiber shop, was just the sort of company Kelly was up for.

The shop was a veritable gossip mill and soon it began to churn. Leann rushed into the shop after checking out a copy of Bridal Fashions, claiming that “Zoe was one of the winners in the wedding gown category...with my gown!” Groundless accusations were one thing, but it did look like Leann’s creation. An “exact replica” if Kelly’s eyes weren’t deceiving her. There wouldn’t be time to confront Zoe because she was heading to a women’s shelter. Unfortunately, she never did make it out of the Presbyterian church’s parking lot. She’d been shot “right in the middle of the forehead.” Detective Morrisson would be on the case, but Burt Parker and Kelly wouldn’t be far behind him. Little things were adding up and they soon discovered someone was lying, but who was it? Was that someone in the wedding party?

Kelly Flynn, an indomitable sleuth, is once again ready to unearth the secret to Zoe’s mysterious death. One thing I’ve noticed, and love about this series, is as soon as I opened up the book it was as if I sat down to revisit an old friend. Kelly is undoubtedly one of the most well-rounded, strongest protagonists to hit the scene in many years. Steve may be a “chick magnet,” but Kelly sure does attract anyone who is into chick lit cozy-style mysteries. She quietly goes about unearthing bits of information and, along with Burt, puts the pieces together to solve the the latest Fort Connor murderous conundrum. If you like a little romance with your murder, you’ll be hooked on Kelly Flynn!

Quill says: Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of java, and get ready to visit with Kelly, Steve, the Gang, and try to figure out whodunit in the latest "Knitting Mystery!"

Interview with Author Erin Sankey

Today we're talking with Erin Sankey, author of NaLee


FQ: I have to begin with where you came up with this particular story? Readers will note in the beginning of the book that you say “how I remember it in my mind’s eye.” Was this, perhaps, based on a dream? Or, was there a “real life” island that you were thinking of when writing?


I have always been a fan of mermaids, and I was always looking for a book like the one I wrote. I figured since no one else has written any thing like this, why can't I? I don't want to give to much of this trilogy away, but it told in the perspective of a grandpa telling his grandkids this story that takes place in the future and will be revealed in the 3rd book as to who it is.

FQ: YA has become the largest and bestselling genre since Mr. Potter began waving his wand and Bella & Edward fell in love. Are you a YA writer exclusively? Or, do you write adult fiction, as well?


I am thinking about being both since I have many stories that will please both young adults and adults alike, this is just the first to come in many more books that I want to write.

FQ: The YA world is SO filled with vampires and werewolves...are you a mermaid fan, specifically?


No, I love the mysterious vampire and all the traits he beholds, but I also have room in my story telling for many new mythological creatures that I feel need to be brought out and enjoyed by readers.

FQ: NaLee is a trilogy, so I was wondering if you could tell fans when Book II will arrive, the title, and perhaps any specifics about where NaLee is headed?


Book 2 is already out it is call Fire and Ice. I am still revising book 3 it will be out when these books take off and I have more fans begging for last book in the series.

FQ: I, myself, am a cover art fan - as are a great many readers. Did you design the cover yourself?

Yes I had the idea for the cover and I went to a local artist here in Chicago and had him design it for me.

FQ: Are there plans to perhaps focus on the legends of the sea such as Poseidon, etc.?


No, this book takes a whole other twist that brings a powerful message of saving the earth's oceans and all it beauty it gives us.

FQ: You seem to truly identify with NaLee. Readers always like to know if the characters an author “obviously” loves so dearly have more than a bit of themselves written in. Would this be true of your book? Because NaLee certainly captures the heart.


Yes, I picture myself to be her, to find such a wonderful island and way of life like I have written about in the book.

FQ: Do you have a favorite series? Or, a favorite fantasy novel that encourages you to write?


To be quite honest with you I do not read all that often. I tell stories more than I read, and I thought that I would share some of my talent and see what the readers of the world think.

To learn more about NaLee please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Book Review - NaLee

NaLee

By: Erin Sankey
Publisher: Xlibris
Publication Date: November 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4535-7700-4
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: May 31, 2012

Beginning with an accident that takes his parents' lives, Frances is at a loss of what will become of him. The funeral brings well-wishers and sympathetic eyes, but no answers. Frances has no idea what to do; his choice of homes are between a hypochondriac uncle, a musician cousin who is riddled with debt and a sister who has just begun a brand new life and, even though she’s loving, has far too many things on her plate. All of a sudden a limo pulls up in front of the house and an estranged grandmother steps out as elegant as the Queen and, in what seems like seconds, Frances’ life is completely and utterly changed.

Going to live with this slightly odd relative, Frances is whisked away to an island in the Atlantic located off the coast of Florida called Caytone Island. There, Frances is thrust into a life that includes everything from a butler riding around in a golf cart, a private jet, a private tutor, and even a pair of Macaws that patrol the property. Frances’ newfound relative is a very nice woman (and a character who is beyond memorable); even though she’s a bit pampered, she’s extremely funny and their egos seem to mesh well.

One day, as Frances is walking along the beach, he takes a spill, and when he wakes up he is staring into the most beautiful violet eyes he’s ever seen. Of course, the violet eyes are not the most unique trait when it comes to this stunning creature - it is the fact that the owner of them is an actual mermaid. Her name is NaLee, and from then on out, Frances begins the adventure of a lifetime.

With each new chapter, this author has the wonderful ability to introduce characters who cover a wide range of emotions. A man of the law who can literally jump off the page and scare you to scenes of dolphins' buried treasure, tales of pirates and ghosts…this one has it all. What readers will like most is watching Frances develop. Being a simple boy from Chicago who has gone through tragedy and who is desperately trying to overcome and find his own ‘path’ in life is hard enough, but to then watch him enter a world that is sparked by sheer serenity and magic almost makes it feel as if the reader is back with Mr. Potter and following yet another unforgettable tale of growing up in a world you won’t soon forget.

The only tough part comes from the formatting of the book. Unfortunately, this read does need an editor to clean up the dialogue and separate the characters from one another. For example, in one paragraph you will find an entire conversation between characters with no paragraph breaks which makes it hard, at times, to follow. However, the beauty of the land and the heartwarming story is very intriguing. In addition, we are looking at only Book I of the NaLee trilogy, so it will be fun to see how it all moves forward.

Quill Says: A very good YA story that simply needs a bit of polish.

READ THE INTERVIEW!

To learn more about NaLee, please visit the book's website at: www.NaLee20120.com

Book Review - Dark Soul

Dark Soul: A Jake Somers Mystery

By: Don Castle
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: April 2012
ISBN: 978-1-468-18497-6
Reviewed by: Cory Bickel
Reviewed On: May 2012

According to FBI agent Sharon Wooldridge, a “Dark Soul” is someone “so evil and so vile that he or she is beyond evaluating or dealing with under the normal rules of decency...this person must be handled just as someone would handle a poisonous reptile or a medical lab would deal with a dangerous drug.” (pg. 172). In Don Castle’s new novel, private detective Jake Somers finds himself in charge of capturing such a man and stopping his plans to destroy a neighborhood and the life of anyone who gets in his way.

The case begins with the unprovoked shooting of an African-American girl at a routine traffic stop in the upscale neighborhood of Bryan Point in Dallas, Texas. Jake hears of the shooting on the same day he is contacted by his former boss, Captain Huddleston of the Dallas Police Department, for a seemingly unrelated issue of problems with the department’s new communication system. At their meeting Huddleston also tells Jake about problems he’s been having with his officers, including accusations of racial profiling and bogus tickets issued at traffic stops, as well as the latest senseless shooting. He is also puzzled by a drastic increase in crime in the Bryan Point area. He asks Jake to check out the company installing the new communications system, owned by Terry Mancini. The job sounds like an easy one, but things get more complicated when Allison Tyler, intern at Mancini Systems and daughter of an influential property owner in Bryan Point, goes missing. Jake finds out that she is working for the FBI, who has had its eye on Mancini for a long time and suspects him of kidnapping her. A series of murders of police department members also appear to be the work of Mancini, but without any solid evidence, the law enforcement agencies have their hands tied. The discovery of some unexpected additions to the department’s communication system reveals the devious route by which Mancini hopes to carry out an elaborate plan driven by pure greed. As time runs out for saving Allison and stopping Mancini, Jake is elected to coordinate the offensive on this heavily secured company. But by taking on such a twisted individual, he may be risking the lives of those he loves most.

In Dark Soul, Castle packs a lot of intrigue into a relatively short story and still manages to neatly tie everything up. Despite some editorial problems and rather stiff dialog, the book is fast-paced and absorbing. Jake is the all-around good guy hero who rescues injured dogs and treats his girl and mother right. Castle adds in humor and some unusual twists on the typical police story, such as a stripper joining the police and FBI in a raid. The cooperation between law enforcement agencies that he depicts is refreshingly different from the usual macho territory fights of crime novels. And the unique methods that Mancini employs to carry out his plan offer originality to mystery lovers who think they’ve read it all.

Quill Says: Through a complex plot that keeps one guessing right to the end, Castle explores the unfathomable depths to which a Dark Soul will sink to satisfy his desires.

For more information on Dark Soul, please visit the author's website at: www.authordoncastle.com

Book Review - Sand Dollar

Sand Dollar: A Story of Undying Love

By: Sebastian Cole
Publisher: Sebastian Cole LLC
Publication Date: April 2012
ISBN: 978-0-985-11560-9
Reviewed by: Cory Bickel
Reviewed Date: May 30, 2012

The narrative of Sand Dollar weaves back and forth through the life of Noah Hartman to tell a story of the undying love of soul mates and the trials and rewards of following one’s heart. As the story begins, Noah is about to be married to Sarah, a beautiful young woman who has his parents’ approval and his trust and devotion. Just as Sarah is about to walk down the aisle, the ceremony is interrupted by Robin, the free-spirited but damaged girl who left Noah with a broken heart years before. She tells him that leaving him was a mistake and that she remembers her love for him. We are left with Noah standing uncertain between the two women, not knowing whether to choose his true love or the woman who is a reliable friend.

Next we see Noah at eighty, in the hospital for reasons he can’t remember. He tells Josh, a hospital orderly, the story of himself and Robin and the ups and downs of their relationship over the years. In his late thirties, although he seems to have it all – money, a fancy car, a house on the beach and a secure job with his father’s company, Noah feels trapped by his parents’ strict control of his life. He longs to break free and make it on his own, to live a real life and make his own mistakes, but isn’t brave enough to challenge his parents. The night he meets Robin at a dance club, he is enchanted by her free spirit and the two are instantly drawn to each other. Yet Robin has problems of her own that made it difficult for her to stay in a relationship. After finding and losing Robin several times, Noah, despite his heartache, is inspired by her to finally start his own business and live his own life. Although Robin never leaves his heart, he eventually finds some happiness with Sarah and the two arrange their wedding when she becomes pregnant. As Noah recounts the events of the wedding to Josh, he sees the course of his relationship with Robin with a new clarity, and the choice he made is finally revealed. Will Noah take this final chance to be with his true love?

In the tradition of Nicholas Sparks, whom Cole cites as his favorite author, Sand Dollar is a sentimental love story about finding and losing one’s soul mate. Cole metes out important information at a good pace, keeping the reader as baffled as Noah by Robin’s strange changes of heart, and carefully manipulates details to lead to a real surprise ending. Although he often simply describes the feelings of Noah and Robin, rather than fully developing key scenes to make the reader really fall for them and feel their emotions, both characters have enough charm to keep us interested in their fate. Anyone who has felt that they missed an opportunity for love and wishes for a second chance will find themselves relating to Noah. His quest to find the courage to live his own life is inspiring, and his struggles in this area will likely hit home for a lot of readers as well. Some really lovely and romantic scenes add to the story’s appeal.

Quill says: Sand Dollar is a touching romance with the hopeful message that it’s never too late to reconnect with a lost love, or to take a chance and follow your heart.

New Review - Deadly Policy

Deadly Policy: A Silver Sleuths Mystery

By: Mitzi Kelly
Publisher: Avalon
Pubishing Date: April 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8034-7473-4
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: May 30, 2012

I again have the honor of reviewing one of the best reads in the cozy genre. Deadly Policy written by Mitzi Kelly is the second book in Ms. Kelly’s Silver Sleuths Mystery series (the first is Classic Revenge). These books have a cast of characters seldom seen in mysteries; three very feisty ladies who made their debut in Classic Revenge and are better at snooping than most of the detective’s in today’s fiction.

In this particular book the ladies, Millie Morrow, an extremely stubborn 80-year old Pitt Bull of a mother and her two best friends, Edna Radcliff, a 65-year old and a very shy, gentle lady and Trish Anderson, a 45-year old who is very level headed and tries to keep Millie from going off the deep end. These women are indestructible when it comes to protecting someone who they love and Millie’s daughter is that someone. The insurance company that Michelle (Millie's daughter) works for has had to pay off on a series of car thefts on policy holders and it seems that Michelle is going to be dragged into a case of fraud as the authorities believe that the fraud is being run by an insider at the company. The three women go into detective mode, much to the distress of local law enforcement and kick it up a notch to go after their suspects.

As they swing into high gear, a body is found outside the insurance office where Michelle works. This complicates things for a while, and the ladies have to work a little faster. Even though Michelle wasn’t caught with a smoking gun, the case against her is growing. Millie and friends, including the Chief of Police, Henry Espinoza, are on it. Things don’t go well at first as Millie has a tendency to make a lot of enemies in a very short time. There's no doubt that this team of ‘Silver Sleuths’ will keep you reading and laughing as they work to solve this case. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even though it’s the second in a series, it definitely stands alone and the reader will be able to make a smooth transition into the next story.

Quill Says: All mystery/cozy/thriller readers will love this new book and especially the ladies over the age of 40 who can really show that they are still full of life. This is a keeper!! Don’t miss it.