Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere

Masking for Trouble

by 

Diane Vallere

Blurb: 

Halloween conjures up big business for Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, but this year, the holiday comes knocking with serious trouble. Venture capitalist Paul Haverford plans to rezone historic downtown into a glitzy commercial area which would push out local business. Margo is set on saving her family’s store, especially after a nasty run-in with the chain-store tycoon, but after Haverford’s body is discovered during a spooky party at the derelict Alexandria Hotel, Margo finds herself dressed as the police’s prime suspect.

Anxious to clear her name, Margo begins hunting down anyone who might have wanted Haverford dead. Between all of his malicious maneuverings, the murdered mogul had buckets of people anxious to see him gone. Now, Margo will have to use every trick in the book to find a cloaked killer—before someone else winds up wearing a death shroud...




Amazon link




My review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere is part of the ‘Costume Shop Mystery’ series and follows costume shop proprietor Margo Tamblyn who is trying to prove to her father that he made a good decision entrusting her with his life’s work. Unfortunately, her love of dressing up and her creativity may not be enough to save her from the predations of someone who is determined to change their quaint and personable town to a lucrative soulless tourist trap.

This cozy mystery is a great view of the challenges of running a costume shop around Halloween. I loved the puns sprinkled throughout the story as well as the imaginative costumes, and found myself chuckling at the name “Disguise Delimit” every time I read it. The descriptions in the story would be easy to follow to make your own version even without the nice instructions at the end of the book. This is a great example of a cozy mystery that keeps the icky murder aspect from being overwhelming while taking the reader on a madcap ride that provides plenty of red herrings and eccentric characters. There are some books that are just fun to read, and this is definitely one of them.

I haven’t read the previous story in the series, but the recap was sufficient to set the stage for some of the events in this tale while piquing my curiosity about previous events. The almost-romance is a little strange for me as I never did figure out if it was a cultural issue or just another eccentricity but I definitely enjoyed the small-town atmosphere and the wholehearted embrace of the creativity and entertainment of dressing up and Halloween in particular.

A copy of this title was iven to e for review

All I Want by Jill Shalvis (review) ADULT title

I've been on a small town romance diet for the past couple of weeks or so, and this one was one of my favorites!



4.75 out of 5 stars

All I Want by Jill Shalvis is part of the ‘Animal Magnetism’ series and centers around Zoe Stone, who is trying to be happy that her siblings have found their perfect mates but is dealing with her staggering debt and her lonely and dilapidated house.  She is somewhat content with her Bernese Mountain Dog, Oreo, and her career as a pilot, but her inability to effect repairs around the house and her dissatisfaction with her dating life has led her to trying blind dates…which leads to the unconventional introduction to her brother’s friend, Parker James.  Parker has plenty of challenges in his own life, not least of which is the thirst to avenge the death of his colleague by taking down the leader of a major poaching ring.  

I love contemporary romances that combine humor, passion, and a bit of danger, and this story fits the bill delightfully.  This is the kind of book that you are likely to be embarrassed to read in public because of your tendency to burst into laughter at inopportune times, but you can’t put down because you want to know what is going to happen next.  Despite the fact that it is part of a delicious series, it can be read as a stand-alone title, although the glimpses of characters from the previous books will undoubtedly make you want to read their stories if you haven’t yet had that pleasure.

Small-town romances have the advantage of a small pool of characters who tend to know each other, with plenty of history between them and meddlesome interactions.  The charm of being able to feel the warmth and caring that is characteristic of this environment is a testament to the talent of this author, and it is always wonderful to visit the town of Sunshine, Idaho and catch up on the doings of its inhabitants.  I love the interaction between the fierce (lol) guard dog, Oreo, and the irrepressible kittens, and the beauty of Parker’s relationship with his beloved younger sister, and I constantly giggled at the repair attempts that seem to be such a challenge to Zoe.  The touching descriptions of the love that she has for so many of the beings in her life really bring her to life for me and the intensity, focus, and compassion that Parker displays makes him an irresistible hero to me and their reluctant romance kept me enthralled and rooting for them.  There’s so much to enjoy in this story, find a comfy spot, a tasty libation, and enjoy the trip to Sunshine!

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

A few of the other titles in this series incude:

          

Busted by Shiloh Walker (spotlight, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

Busted

This book is part of series, The Barnes Brothers, but each book is self-contained, written to stand on its own.

Blurb:

Like his brothers Zach and Zane, Trey Barnes thought he had found the love of his life. But fate had other plans. A widower who’s had to raise his five-year-old son on his own, Trey has not allowed himself to be with another woman. Until he meets Ressa Bliss at—of all places—a children’s library program. The beautiful librarian is wonderful with his son, Clay, but every time Trey even considers asking her out, he is tortured by guilt.

Fate is indeed fickle. When the two meet again at a conference, this time the attraction is too powerful to resist. But is their connection and passion strong enough to survive Trey’s deep inner torment? 

Snippet #5

Fuck this. Trey pushed away from the wall and turned, half stumbling toward the bed.

If it all fell apart, well, he might as well enjoy it as much as he could before then.

He bumped into something on the way to her bed, swore. Did it again and then swore again, tearing his mouth away from hers only to have her catch his head and try to draw him back. Three boxes, a suitcase and a desk the size of a postage stamp turned the room into an obstacle course. Shifting his grip on her, he edged around the desk, a box—her teeth caught his ear. “You’re taking too long.”

He grunted as he reached the bed, slowly lowering her to her feet. 

“Sorry.” Holding her eyes, he reached down, catching the material bunched around her waist, dragging it up. “Can we do away with this?”

“Let’s.” She turned, presenting her back and sweeping her hair out of the way.

Catching the tab of the zipper, he dragged it down, watched as it the material spread open. Lust slammed into him as flesh was revealed. The band of her bra, the same bright murder red she’d slicked across her lips, interrupted the smooth skin of her back. But that wasn’t the only color.

Flames.

Twining around elegant, scrolled print. It started at her nape and ran down the line of her spine.

Desperate to see more of her, he shoved the material down over her arms. It caught at her waist, bunched there and he shoved it lower until it hung over her hips. She went to wiggle out of it but he caught her waist, eyes locked on the tattoo. And despite how his cock throbbing, despite the need that had his hands all but shaking, he found himself smiling, almost charmed.

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Previous books in the series:

                                                  

Still the One by Jill Shalvis (review)

4.5 out of 5 stars


Still the One by Jill Shalvis is part of the captivating ‘Animal Magnetism’ series and features the very prickly and handicapped Darcy Stone, sister to pilot Zoe and veterinarian Wyatt. A.J. Colton, the passionate and sexy Navy veteran and physical therapist, has coaxed, bullied and inspired Darcy to stand on her own two feet again, but he has trouble with the idea of asking her for help even though he expects her to reach out to him when she needs to. Their relationship is fraught with land mines and obstacles, including past and present hurts, but both know the value of working hard to get what one wants—although they are not sure that they both want the same thing!


This is a delicious contemporary romance story that is part of a wonderful series peopled with an intriguing combination of characters. Darcy hasn’t been the most personable character in the series thus far, but one can’t help admire her determination and perseverance, no matter how prickly her personality. It was wonderful watching her go after what she thought was important and heartwarming to see what she was putting her efforts into, helping others.

I love series that allow you to get a glimpse of characters who have become important to you during their own time in the spotlight and the camaraderie and care and concern displayed by both the male and female factions in this town is a delicious component of this series, even as one can’t help but laugh at the snarky comments exchanged by those who know each other’s foibles and how best to take shots at each other. There are wonderfully heated scenes of intimacy but just as importantly, there are emotional and intense interactions that make these characters memorable and familiar as they deal with insecurities and challenges that can only be overcome with determination and a little help from friends and family, something we can all identify with. The characters continue to evolve in this delightful series and there are enough secondary characters who deserve their own time in the spotlight that I am hopeful for many more stories in this town.

© Night Owl Reviews 

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review. 




Other titles in this series (I haven't read them all, but definitely have them on my TBR mountain)

                   





My review for "Then Came You" is at this link

Unbinding by Eileen Wilks (review)

                                  


Unbinding (World of the Lupi) by Eileen Wilks is an exciting tale in the ‘Novel of the Lupi’ series that is a fantastic urban fantasy/paranormal collection. This particular story spotlights the Queen of Winter’s former Hellhound, Nathan, and his mate, Kai Tallman Michalski, who is still learning how to use her mindhealing talent. Their sojourn on earth is abruptly interrupted by inexplicable occurrences that gradually point to the dismaying conclusion that someone is determined to punish or kill one or both of them...and even the formidable protection afforded by her familiar, the chameleon Dell, and the support of the Nokolai clan may not be enough to fight off this particular enemy.


This is one of my very favorite paranormal series because it is so densely textured with fantastical beings and melds various pantheons with such grace and dexterity. Understandably, someone new to the series may become a little lost by the interconnections among the various characters, yet still mesmerized by the beauty of this universe and the intensity of the action taking place. Ideally, it is advisable to read the series from the beginning but I suspect that one can infer a lot of the information through hints that are scattered throughout the story and at least follow the main themes.


One of the most appealing facets of these stories is the unquestioning loyalty that allows each character to risk the most dangerous of tasks and have faith that someone or someones will be there to guard and support. The mystical tie that the various beings feel for each other, whether it is the clan of lupi to their Rho, Kai and her familiar, Dell, or between mates such as Nathan and Kai or Benedict and Arjenie, gives them an intense relationship that is always remarkable and heartwarming to observe. I love the contrast between the rigid formality and hierarchy inherent in pack life, and the wild cards provided by the humans (and other beings) who have become important to the lupi. This particular story is a bit intense to read, given the physical and sexual torture that is being wrought on various characters, but quite a roller-coaster ride of magic, adventure and machinations, with a fascinating twist of FBI involvement and a brief cameo by the Elder Sam (a dragon) and the Navaho people. Another fun read that blends magic and pragmatic concerns in a mesmerizing story. 


© Night Owl Reviews 

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.  (but, I usually have this author on auto-buy!)

Ghost Layer by Robin D. Owens (Review)

                                          

Ghost Layer by Robin D. Owens is the sequel to the imaginative Ghost Seer and continues the adventures of Clare Cermak, who is still coming to terms with the inheritance from her late aunt, both materially and psychically. She is also adjusting to having Zach Slade in her life, while he struggles to deal with both her power and his own admitted as well as unacknowledged issues. They are both hired by Rickman Security and Investigations to deal with the ghost of J. Dawson Hidgepath, who is plaguing multimillionaire Dennis Laurentine, but the assignment turns out to be more dangerous than anticipated and Clare will need the support and assistance of both Zach and her guide, the phantom dog Enzo with his intermittent ‘Other’ knowledge, if she is going to survive to grow into her psychic gift.


This entertaining paranormal tale combines an intriguing mystery that gives new meaning to the term ‘cold case’ with a spine-chilling twist of having a ghost provide many of the pertinent clues. The effervescent ghost labrador, Enzo, does his best to facilitate Clare’s progress in assisting needy ghosts but he also has rules he is circumscribed by which affect his interactions, so it is fun to watch him be a dog, a liaison for the ghosts requiring help, and a conduit for the ‘Other’ who has a definite agenda for Clare. The connection that has formed between Clare and Zach has its ups and downs, which adds to the realism of a developing relationship. There are both fascinating revelations about what Clare and Enzo are able to do as well as an interesting change in Zach’s attitude about his shortcomings and abilities. What a creative series that gives a different twist on the concept of ghosts and haunting, especially for a self-admitted chicken such as myself who isn’t terribly fond of scary ghosts. These tales combine humor, paranormal elements, and romance in a winning combination. I look forward to many more stories from this version of the world, especially as both Clare and Zach become comfortable in their respective roles and with one another, not to mention the warm fuzzy feeling that a dog can supply...even if he is incorporeal!

© Night Owl Reviews 

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.  


First in the series:



My review for Ghost Seer is at this link.