THE MATCHMAKER'S LONELY HEART by Nancy Campbell Allen

THE MATCHMAKER'S LONELY HEART by Nancy Campbell Allen. What a fantastic roller coaster of a ride. The surly detective and the unassuming young lady who maneuvers her way into a murder investigation, only to be trapped in the middle more than she'd like. The way Amelie and detective Michael's relationship develops is fun to see, and it really is a hold onto your seats as the murderer is brought to justice.  

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Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe - a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club. 

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband - Harold Radcliffe - of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE by Sarah M Eden

THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE by Sarah M Eden. What a wonderful addition to the penny dreadfuls books. I loved getting to know Brogan better, and his sister. Vera was a perfect match and the way they worked together to solve the issues presented them. I loved how they strengthened each other when needed, and I loved how Brogan learned how to step forward too. Loved this one and can't wait for the next one.

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Vera Sorokina loves reading the penny dreadfuls and immersing herself in tales of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her own days are filled with the often mundane work of running the book and print shop she owns with her father. The shop offers her freedom and an income, and while she is grateful for the stability it brings to her life, she often feels lonely.

Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland, but has lived in London for several years, where he's built a career as a penny dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. But with no one to share his life with, he fears London will never truly feel like home.

When Brogan and Vera's paths cross, the attraction is both immediate and ill-advised. Vera knows from past experience that writers are never to be trusted, and Brogan has reason to suspect not everything at Vera's print shop is aboveboard. When a growing criminal enterprise begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera must work together to protect the community they've both grown to love. But that means they'll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.

CHAMPION'S QUEST: THE DIE OF DESTINY by Frank L Cole

CHAMPION'S QUEST: THE DIE OF DESTINY by Frank L Cole. This is a series that I want the rest of it up front so I don't have to keep waiting for the next installment. It was such a fantastic adventure. I have never been a fan of role playing games, so to have an entire book based around that concept had me rolling my eyes. I take back the eye roll and than some. Lucas and his team had some big defining moments. To see them figure the game out as they went as well as work together as a team was so much fun to take part in. I can't wait for the next one and can't recommend this enough for anyone who loves a great adventure.

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Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.

When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch. They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.