Amelia Rivers, a member of the Lost Night Files podcast team, hires private investigator Gideon Sweetwater to catch the stalker who has been watching her. Amelia suspects the stalker may be connected to the shadowy organization responsible for the night that she and her two friends lost to amnesia—a night that upended their lives and left them with paranormal talents.
Gideon suspects that Amelia is either paranoid or an outright con artist, but he can’t resist the chemistry between them. He takes the case despite his skepticism. For her part, Amelia has second thoughts about the wisdom of employing the mysterious Mr. Sweetwater. She is wary of the powerful attraction between them, and deeply uneasy about the nightmarish paintings on the walls of his home. She senses they were inspired by his own dreamscapes.
Amelia knows she doesn’t have time to find another investigator, and Gideon is forced to reckon with the truth when he disrupts what was intended to be Amelia’s kidnapping. Now the pair is on the run, with no choice but to return to the haunting ruins of the old hotel where Amelia’s lost night occurred. They are desperate to stop a killer and the people who are conducting illegal experiments with a dangerous drug that is designed to enhance psychic abilities. If they are to survive, they will have to trust each other and the passion that bonds them.
SHATTERING DAWN (The Lost Night Files Book #3) by Jayne Ann Krentz is the final paranormal romantic suspense book in The Lost Night Files trilogy. In this story, the third member of the Lost Night Files podcast members meets her HEA match, and all the dangling plotlines of the trilogy are resolved. While this can be read as a standalone romance, I feel it is much more enjoyable reading the trilogy in order.
Amelia Rivers wonders if she is going mad as her enhanced paranormal powers increase and are not under control. She has difficulty sleeping and has become terrified of the dark since her lost night with her two friends at Lucent Springs. She believes she is being stalked, and it may be tied to her lost night. She hires Private Investigator Gideon Sweetwater. Amelia is not sure if Gideon is right for the job, and Gideon has his own reservations, but he is intrigued. While both need to learn to trust the other, they are also wary of the chemistry between them.
Gideon Sweetwater feels an attraction to Amelia, but is skeptical of her story, until he disrupts a kidnapping at her apartment building. Amelia takes Gideon back to Lucent Springs, outside of San Diego to look for more clues and information, but there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on Amelia. What they did not count on was Gideon and his Sweetwater heritage.
Amelia and Gideon are so much fun as the H/h in this book of the trilogy. Amelia does not let the Gideon get away with his alpha tendencies as they learn to trust each other and their paranormal talents. I also enjoyed that Gideon was a Sweetwater and how he was a link between many of the other “Jayneverse” series and trilogies. The romance plot is fast paced with danger at their heels and both their physical and paranormal chemistry is explosive. The story’s suspense plotline is palpable throughout with many twists and surprises. All the intertwining subplots over the entire trilogy are tied together in this book and come together in a satisfying conclusion.
I highly recommend this entertaining and fast paced finale to The Lost Night Files trilogy!
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About the Author
Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively. Jayne currently lives in Seattle, WA.
When a prominent Sacramento businessman is killed and his wife injured in a brutal home invasion, Detective Emily Hunter and her partner, Javier Medina, are called to investigate. At first glance, it seems like a crime of opportunity gone horribly wrong, but Emily soon finds there might be more to both the crime and the dead man.
The high-stakes investigation also comes at a time when Emily is caring for her mother, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s, and Emily struggles to balance her job with her personal life. The city’s political elite seem to want the case solved quickly, but darker forces want it buried.
Could there have been a motive behind the attack, making it more than a random home invasion? Emily uncovers clues that cause her to reconsider her understanding of the crime. A deadly game of greed and deception pulls Emily deeper into the shadowy world of gang violence and retribution. She has to walk the razor’s edge to identify the killer—without becoming the next victim.
FACE OF GREED (A Detective Emily Hunter Mystery Book #1) by James L’Etoile is a gritty, intricately plotted, and fast paced crime thriller/police procedural set in Sacramento, California. This is the first book in a new series by this author with a pair of detectives that I already know I am going to love to follow in future books.
Detective Emily Hunter and her partner, Detective Javier Medina are called to the scene of an apparent home invasion. They find the husband, a prominent Sacramento businessman, is brutally murdered and the wife injured, but alive. As they begin their investigation, they are hindered by political interference and the pressure for a quick resolution and a widow who seems to be not that upset by the murder of her husband.
With the death of the dead man’s lawyer, Emily and Javi soon find themselves embroiled in a case full of dirty money and cops, greed, gangs, and violence. Can Emily untangle the evidence before either herself or someone she loves wind up dead?
This story pulls you into the investigation and the lives of Emily and Javi to the point that I could not put it down. Emily is an intelligent and tough protagonist who doggedly follows the clues and walks a fine line at times, but while seeming to stretch it at times, there is always a reason, and she does not cross it. Emily is also dealing with a mother who has dementia and is no longer able to care for herself. Emily’s partnership with Javi feels realistically written and occasionally adds humor to the otherwise intense story.
Mr. L’Etoile’s writing is smart, realistic, gritty, and immersive. The crime plot is twisted and continued to surprise me. I always love this author’s books, and this one was no exception. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, River of Lies.
I highly recommend this crime thriller/police procedural!
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About the Author
James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, and director of California’s state parole system. His novels have been shortlisted or awarded the Lefty, Anthony, Silver Falchion, and the Public Safety Writers Award. Face of Greed and Served Cold are his most recent novel. Look for River of Lies and Sins of the Father, coming in 2025.
Major social themes weave through his work, including the world of human trafficking, black market organ transplants, homelessness, domestic terrorism, immigration policy, political corruption, and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Dowager Countess of Stratton, Clarissa Ware, née Greenfield, has just presented her younger daughter to the ton, and the rest of her life belongs only to herself. She returns to Ravenswood, intending to spend the summer alone there. But the summer has other plans for her.
Born a gentleman, Matthew Taylor has chosen to spend his life as the village carpenter. Growing up, he and Clarissa were close—dangerously so, considering his family’s modest fortune. As a young man, he never would have been a suitable match for the daughter of the wealthy Greenfields. Clarissa married Caleb Ware, the Earl of Stratton, so Matthew married another, though he was widowed soon after.
Now everything is different—Clarissa has already lived the life expected of her by society. And Matthew is as attractive and intriguing as he was when they were young. As their summer friendship deepens into romance, they stand together on the precipice of change—essentially the same man and woman they remember being back then, but with renewed passion and the potential to take their lives in an entirely new direction.
REMEMBER WHEN: Clarissa’s Story (A Ravenswood Novel Book #4) by Mary Balogh is a historical, mature, second chance at love story in this continuing Regency romance series featuring the Ware family. This novel is easily read as a standalone romance, but I have enjoyed reading the series in order.
Clarissa Ware, the Dowager Countess of Stratton, returns to Ravenswood for the summer for the first time without any of her children or other obligations. She is turning fifty and feels adrift in her personal life. Six years a widow, all her children grown, and her daughter-in-law assuming all the duties of being the Countess of Stratton, she wishes for solitude to decide on her future, but fate intercedes.
Matthew Taylor was born a gentleman and second son of landowners but is spending his life as the village carpenter and master woodworker. As a young man, he was a neighbor of Clarissa’s family and they were the closest of friends from childhood to seventeen years of age, but he knew he would never be suitable for her, and she accepted the proposal of the Earl of Stratton.
When Clarissa seeks out her old friend, they discover the attraction is still there. Clarissa has always upheld all expectations from society and her family. Can their renewed friendship and mature attraction overcome society’s restraints and family concerns and turn into something more?
I always look forward to returning to the Ware family of Ravenswood. This mature romance did not disappoint, and I was very happy that Clarissa finally found herself, not just what was expected of her. This is a slow burn romance due to the time period, society’s rules, and the side plot which has Matthew having to resolve his own old family issues to move on. That said, there is also a bit too much repetition especially in the beginning of the story, but I feel the romance and HEA are satisfying overall. I am looking forward to reading more of the remaining unattached siblings’ stories in the future.
An enjoyable historical, mature, second chance romance addition to this series.
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About the Author
Mary Balogh grew up in Wales and now lives with her husband, Robert, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has written more than one hundred historical novels and novellas, more than forty of which have been New York Times bestsellers. They include the Bedwyn saga, the Simply quartet, the Huxtable quintet, the seven-part Survivors’ Club series, and the Westcott series.
A small-town Oklahoma Christmas would be charming if single dad Chandler Cochran wasn’t being called into the principal’s office to deal with his son’s antics. The instigator behind young Sam’s misbehavior? Little Della-Mae, Izzy Adams’s daughter. The same Izzy who has just taken a job decorating Chandler’s family ranch for the holidays! And even though she and Chandler are pulled together to deal with their children’s misadventures, the bubbly mom and her sweet daughter are adding light and warmth to the stoic cowboy’s world.
Will trouble turn into an unexpected gift this Christmas?
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Elise’s Thoughts
Cowboy Santa by Melinda Curtis, set in an Oklahoma small town around Christmas, is a good holiday read. The male lead is single dad Chandler Cochran who is basically raising his second-grade son, Sam on his own. It seems Sam is prodded to do certain things by the female lead, Izzy’s daughter, Little Della-Mae. Izzy and Chandler are pulled together to deal with their children’s misadventures. Chandler Cochran is a no-nonsense single father who is the manager at the Done Roamin’ Ranch, and his little boy Sam is a precocious and mischievous. When Chandler meets single mom, Izzy Adams, in the principal’s office at the school, he isn’t surprised that her daughter Mae is in trouble, too, and Chandler blames Mae, because after all, Sam wouldn’t get into trouble without encouragement. Chandler wants everything to stay just as it always has while Izzy wants him to be willing to try new things.
As with all the author’s cowboy books readers will enjoy the journey of Izzy and Chandler on how they realize there is a definite attraction. Of course, they are pushed along by their two children who decide to play cupid. People will enjoy the interactions between the children as well as the input of strong-hearted and loving Mary, Chandler’s mom who is recovering from cancer.
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Author Interview
Elise Cooper: The idea for the story?
Melinda Curtis: I wanted to do an enemy to lovers’ book. Then it evolved that the children were in league with each other.
EC: How would you describe the female character, Izzy?
MC: Bubbly, a rule follower, resilient, reliable, courageous, and in somewhat of a shell. This was her coming of age book where she came into her own.
EC: How would you describe Chandler?
MC: Grounded, pragmatic, obstinate, stoic, someone who likes predictability and the word ‘always.’ The past seems to be holding him back and at times he is vulnerable. He was the older brother type to his foster brother cowboys. I enjoyed going into his character in more depth.
EC: What about Chandler’s son Sam?
MC: He is a charmer, a talker, spunky, and can be sassy.
EC: What about Izzy’s daughter Mae?
MC: Delicate, she can be the mastermind in her and Sam’s endeavors. Together they work in cahoots. Both she and Sam come from divorce parents. They get into mischievous at times. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with and are smarter than the average 2nd grader.
EC: What was the role of divorce in the story?
MC: One the divorcees wanted to put their career over raising a child, while the other tried to buy his child’s love and had all his priorities wrong. The original marriages were not the right person for Chandler and Izzy. Neither was helpful in the raising of the children.
EC: What about the relationship between Izzy and Chandler?
MC: They both try to ignore their feelings. They change the conversation when they do not like where it is going. They appear confused and in a funk. She takes him outside his comfort zone. They thought they were fine without romance until they realized that finding the right person is special.
EC: What about getting a dog?
MC: I wanted to have something a little bit playful. As a parent and grandma, I know there are times that the children trap someone into getting them things. I wanted this to be a sweet piece that is true to life. Every child should have a dog.
EC: Mary, the beloved foster mom, has cancer. Please explain
MC: It has been an ongoing thread. Even though I was asked not to write any dreaded diseases, but it is realistic. I understand how grief can get in the way of romance, but it does happen in life and does affect someone’s everyday life. Everyone tends to rally around the person and remember how important life is, something we tend to forget when our noses are in our phones all the time. I wanted to write a healthy powerful way that the characters must deal with the experience.
EC: Next books?
MC: There are six more cowboy books in this series. In spring The Cowboy Wedding Proposal will be published. And another one out in the summer.
There will be another round in the Kentucky Blackwell series.
THANK YOU!!
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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.
The first in a new cozy Christmas series where the 12 annual Competitions of Christmas in the, close-knit town of Noel, North Carolina are underway! This year horse breeder, and newcomer, Jordyn Banks decides to take on the resident Christmas tree decorating champion, who happens to be her handsome next door neighbor.
Barrel racer Jordyn Banks is thrilled to discover affordable land for sale in charming Noel, perfect for breeding her horses. But that’s not all. A nomad with no family—other than her beloved Quarter Horse, Star—she also hopes to find a home within the close-knit Appalachian Mountain community. Yet Jordyn didn’t bargain on inheriting a controversial Fraser Fir—or falling for a handsome single dad whose adorable little girl tempts her to dream of being far more than a property owner . . .
Since losing his wife in childbirth six years ago, Nate Reed has devoted himself to their daughter, Roxanna, and built up their thriving Frosted Firs Ranch. For nine years straight he’s won Noel’s contest for the most perfect Christmas tree for the Town Square. It’s a tradition he began with his late wife. But this year, Jordyn Banks is determined to harvest her Fraser Fir and compete—meaning Nate will finally be challenged—in more ways than one . . .
Throughout the event, Nate can’t help noticing that Roxanna is dazzled by Jordyn’s strength, beauty, and quirky sense of humor. Soon enough, Nate is falling for her, too. But can a feisty wanderer ever really settle down? Is Nate ready to open his heart to someone new? And is it possible that sometimes love does grow on (Christmas) trees? . .
EVERGREEN CHRISTMAS (Frosted Firs Ranch Book #1) by Janet Daily is a heartwarming cozy holiday contemporary romance that features a young women looking for a place to call home. It also introduces us to the town folks of Noel, North Carolina and their traditional Christmas Challenge headed up by the four Noel Nanas. This is the first book in a new series, and I am looking forward to more to come.
Jordyn Banks has retired from barrel racing and with her quarter horse, Star, she wants to start a horse breeding and training farm. She found the perfect small ranch in Noel, North Carolina. What she does not expect is to immediately become a part of the Noel Nanas’s plans for winning the annual Christmas Challenge.
Nate Reed is a widower and father of six-year-old, Roxanna “Roxie”, who owns the Frosted Firs Ranch next door to Jordyn. He has devoted his life to raising his daughter and winning the Christmas Challenge in memory of his late wife. No one tempted him in his personal life until this red-headed beauty moved in next door. Roxie is taken with her new neighbor also and is determined to help and include her in every activity in the challenge, but Nate is afraid to let someone else into his and Roxie’s lives.
Who will win the Christmas Challenge this year?
I enjoyed this charming holiday romance that leaves you feeling warm and satisfied inside. Jordyn is a wonderful protagonist full of love for everyone she meets, which is surprising considering her upbringing. Nate is bullheaded and had me wanting to knock him on that head a time or two but is still a good man in the way he has built up his business and taken care of and raised his daughter. The Nanas were funny and wonderful even with all their meddling. This is a cozy romance with no sex scenes, but plenty of romance and romantic angst. I also liked that Jordyn and Nate were honest and discussed their feelings and did not play games.
I recommend this enjoyable cozy holiday contemporary romance with memorable small-town characters to curl up with on your favorite chair on a cold winter day.
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About the Author
Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they “retired” to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
In this collection of four heartfelt novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness–and love–remain elusive.
In An Apology in Bloom, wedding florist Jaime Harper is on a meteoric rise, working for an event company led by a successful and way-too-handsome boss. When a letter arrives from her past mentor with an offer too good to pass up, will she stay or head back to her hometown?
In A Bouquet of Dreams, Claire Murphy has always dreamed of owning a flower shop, and when her employers hint at retirement, she believes her moment has arrived. But first she must confront her past–and the man who caused her to flee her hometown years ago.
In A Field of Beauty, Tessa Anderson has found an acre of farmland to start her flower farm and forget the past. She’s grateful for the help of two men–her boyfriend, Tyler, and a quiet soil specialist named Dawson. But as the farm finally starts to bloom, Tessa will discover something that challenges everything she’s built.
In A Future in Blossom, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa return to their hometown, finally ready to face each other and their beloved mentor, flower shop owner Rose Reid. As they unite to pull off an extraordinary wedding, amid the flurry of preparations they just may find their way to forgiveness.
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Elise’s Thoughts
A Year of Flowers by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a heartwarming read. In this collection of four novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness and love remain elusive. The novellas follow the three former friends, Jaime, Claire, and Tess as they take a journey from leaving their sanctuary of Rose’s Flower Shop in Sunrise, North Carolina, as teenagers, to returning years later. Each story explores their reflections on the past of what happened that fateful day that chose them to leave, and why they are returning.
The first novella, An Apology in Bloom, has wedding florist Jaime Harper on a meteoric rise, working for an event company led by a successful and way-too-handsome boss. When a letter arrives from her past mentor with an offer too good to pass up, she decides to head back to her mentor’s flower shop.
The second novella, A Bouquet of Dreams, has Claire Murphy confronting her past, needing to start over, and realizing the best place to do it is to return to the flower shop she worked in as a teen.
The third novella, A Field of Beauty, has Tessa Anderson buying an acre of farmland to start her flower farm and forget the past. There is a bit of a love triangle between Tyler, her boyfriend, and Dawson, her business partner.
In A Future in Blossom, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa return to their hometown, finally ready to face each other and their beloved mentor, flower shop owner Rose Reid. As they unite to pull off an extraordinary wedding, amid the flurry of preparations, they just may find their way to forgiveness. This final story ties everything together, revealing Rose’s mentorship and the events that drove the friends away.
Each novella is rich with details about flowers and floral competitions. But the real theme of the books is its focus on friendship that has fragility, heartbreak, and repair. Romantic relationships are present, but friendships take center stage, showing how misunderstandings can break people apart with hope and forgiveness bringing them back together. Each story was compelling, and all were tied together in the fourth novella by an underlying mystery which would only be solved when the women returned to the North Carolina flower shop to meet up with Ruth again.
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Author Interview
Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?
Suzanne Woods Fisher: It is a collection of a four-part novella centering around flowers. Each novella was released separately over a course of the year with the fourth one part of this collection. I wanted to show how flowers have a universal appeal where everyone loves them. I even put this quote in at the beginning of the book, “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
EC: Novellas versus novels. In the “Ice Cream” themed books, it did not take center stage like in these flower books. Why?
SWF: The flowers are the theme that kept the girls connected even though their lives took them in three different directions. Flowers was still the focus of their lives. With the ice cream books the characters had other things going on.
EC: How would you describe Liam, the featured male in novella one?
SWF: He is a planner, creative, kind, accessible, optimistic, humorous, a good listener, and romantic. Plus, he has a Scottish accent.
EC: What about Jamie?
SWF: She wants to be validated, southern, sweet, easily intimidated, nervous, guilt-ridden, and obsessed with Liam. She lacks a great deal of confidence and does not realize how talented she is.
EC: What about the second novella’s female lead, Claire?
SWF: Restless, capable, vulnerable, sarcastic, direct, opinionated, has a temper, lonely, and has trust issues. She felt rejected, hurt, and rebuffed by Chris Reid.
EC: Why the symbolism for different flowers, is it true?
SWF: Yes. Yellow roses mean that someone wants you as a friend. Yellow carnations mean rejection, red roses romance, two-tier carnations mean parting… This comes from the Victorian Age in England. It is subtle way of sending a message to someone. Now there is not that much attention paid to the language of flowers. I put in this quote, “Flowers are not merely tokens of beauty. They have meaning and purpose. Things are not what they seem.” We still hold on to some of the language because most people see red roses as love.
EC: How would describe the second novella’s male lead, Chris Reid?
SWF: Stubborn, charming, angry at times, grief stricken, admirable, and spiritual. A reformed juvenile delinquent.
EC: How would you describe the third novella ‘s female lead, Tessa?
SWF: Determined, a hard worker, jealous, can be aloof, and was naïve. There is one scene where she is out in the dirt with dirty overalls and fingernails. Her gorgeous looks got her into trouble, yet here she feels beautiful. Beauty is not something that is looked at, but something that is felt.
EC: What about her soon to be fiancé Tyler?
SWF: He is a chauvinist, takes advantage of her, self- absorbed, articulate, well groomed, politician personality with a silver spoon upbringing. He wants Tessa to be a trophy wife. I intentionally attributed the same quote to him that her neighbor told her.
EC: How about her partner in the flower business, Dawson?
SWF: Hard worker, helpful, knowledgeable, and uses compost. It is a huge part of farming where the waste breaks down into the soil. He and Tessa seem to ignore their feelings or do not realize their feelings. Unlike, Tyler she feels she can always be herself with him. He does not seem dazzled by her and is at first just a friend.
EC: How would you relate the three women?
SWF: Jamie was the artistic one, Claire the managing type, and Tessa was the supplier. They worked in harmony and inspired each other.
EC: The florist who owned the shop, Rose Reid, what was her role?
SWF: She was the mentor of the three. She really invested in them to bring out the best in them. She saw something in them that they did not even see in themselves. She was very hurt when they left her. She was a more of an aunt to them.
EC: Next books?
SWF: Capture the Moment is contemporary fiction, the first in a series, set in the national parks, coming out in early May. I young woman Kate Cunningham, a zoo photographer was given an offer by a National Geographic editor, to take a unique picture of a Grizzly Bear in the wild. There is a poacher in the park that is after the same bear. Both Kate and the poacher want to shoot it.
In October the second of the Amish doctor books will be published. These are hybrid Amish because there are a lot of non-Amish characters. It is titled A Hidden Hope. “Dok’s” practice has been everywhere since the local news wrote a story on her. To help, her husband gets the idea to send in an application to a program that will send two medical school graduates. She must mentor two residents with all book knowledge and no people knowledge.
THANK YOU!!
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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.
