The Half Sister

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones. New York: Minotaur Books, 2020. 290 pages. **** 

Kate and her sister Lauren each had their own relationship with their father. Since his death, their relationship is strained for a number of reasons; Lauren is happily married with children while Kate and her husband are trying desperately to have a child. Sunday lunches at their mother's house have become uncomfortable and are about to be changed forever by a stranger's knock at the door. Who is this young woman and why does she claim to be their half sister? Kate doesn't believe her story and yet Lauren begins to recall inconsistencies in her parent's past. Did their father have a child by another woman? Does their mother know?

I put everything on hold when I sit down to read a Sandie Jones novel. I am lucky enough to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and want to enjoy every minute of it. The Half Sister does not disappoint. At some point, I thought I had it all figured out and was prepared to be smug about the ending. Was I ever wrong! Very entertaining and surprisingly enough, the second psychological thriller novel this week that I have read about half sisters. (Sister Dear by McKinnon) Each unique and equally entertaining. Jones gets better and better with each book and is a master at building the suspense and then-- that added twist. I look forward to future novels and recommend this one.


Other books by Sandie Jomes:
The First Mistake
The Other Woman - her debut novel

SANDIE JONES has worked as a freelance journalist for over twenty years, and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, Woman’s Weekly and the Daily Mail. She lives in London with her husband and three children. The Other Woman is her debut novel and a Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club pick.

#thehalfsister #psychologicalthrillers #sistersfiction

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery Book #3) by Dianne Freeman. Kensington Books, 2020. 288 pages. ****

Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, married the man of her mother's dreams and she is determined that her sister will not do so. While Frances' husband was dashing and handsome, he was also feckless and a philanderer.  When Lily insists that the wedding to Leo must happen sooner rather than later, Frances needs a venue far away from prying eyes. Risings, George Hazleton’s family estate in Hampshire, is a perfect choice, and soon Frances, her beloved George, and other guests have gathered to enjoy the estate and get to know each other. When a series of accidents occur, Frances is thrown into the role of sleuth and left wondering if someone is conspiring to stop the wedding. Mr. Treadwell, Leo's best man, seems to have his eye on Lily and has his own reasons for staying so close. Throw in the mother of the bride who is disappointed in the choice of groom and chaos ensues.

This lighthearted mystery filled with danger and romance is delightful!  This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the other two. Dianne Freeman has captured England in the late 1800s. A time when wealthy American mothers were marrying off their daughters to impoverished, but titled British aristocracy. The upstairs - downstairs descriptions were reminiscent of Downton Abbey complete with snobbery and humor. The mother of the bride tries right up to the wedding day to convince her daughter to marry better than Leo. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy the strong female characters of Frances and Aunt Hetty.

I received an ecopy for a review.

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder, won both an Agatha Award and a Lefty Award and was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. She spent thirty years working in corporate accounting and finance and now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona.
For more information about Dianne Freeman, https://difreeman.com/about/

#mystery #cozymystery

Her Shallow Grave

Her Shallow Grave (Detectives Kane and Alton Book 9) by D.K. Hood. Bookouture, 2020. 134 pages. ****

Black Rock Falls is a popular winter ski town until someone decorates the trees along the Glacial Heights Ski Resort slope with body parts.  Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy Dave Kane can't believe their eyes when they see the discolored frozen arms and legs. What makes it even more alarming is when the Medical Examiner decides they are from two different female bodies. When no one is reported missing, Jenna turns to the homeless shelter in town to find the identity of the missing women. Jenna is more determined to find the killer when macabre snow sculptures turn up in town to scare the locals and the tourists. Dave  has his hands full when he stumbles upon a kidnapping in progress and saves a woman from her abductors. The victim is so grateful that she is convinced  Dave loves her and begins to stalk him. Is there a serial killer in town or is someone passing through and dropping bodies? Is Dave's admirer fanciful or does she have a sinister purpose for showing up wherever he is? Time is running out for the next victim.

I received an ecopy for a review. 

This is the 9th book in the series started in 2017. I have not read any of the other books and it doesn't seem necessary to enjoy this thriller. The plot is well-developed and creates a balance between the subplots within the story. The suspense builds when Jenna and Dave have a few suspects to consider, any one of them could have transported and stored frozen bodies. Gruesome and enthralling, a perfect escape from present day reality. Now I have to find time to read the first 8 books in the series.

D.K. Hood is a USA Today, Amazon, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of crime, mystery and psychological thrillers. Born in London and traveling extensively before she settled in Australia, she is best known for writing the “Detectives Kane and Alton” series of psychological thrillers. She currently publishes her novels with Hachette, which she has asserted is a dream come true since she has always had a love for books from a young age. Her debut novel was “Don’t Tell a Soul,” a crime thriller that was an Amazon USA bestselling title, the first of the Detectives Kane and Alton series. For more information on D.K. Hood and a list of the books in order, https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/d-k-hood/

#mystery #psychologicalthriller

2020 Monthly Color Challenge - June

June - Bluebird

The pattern for this month's block may be found on Patterns by Jen's Blog. This is block #6 and we are halfway through this year's challenge. 2020 is my third year participating and it has been so much fun!

I am going for a bold look in this color quilt, so this blue is perfect!

I love the way that the bugs line up on this strip, however, once sub cut, 

they have a totally different look!

Charley likes this block best!

Don't forget to link your block during the last week of June to be eligible for some great prizes from our Sponsors. Details on Jen's Blog.

Check out this month's bloggers:
Patterns by Jen
Quilty Creations by Fawn
Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Katie Mae Quilts
Purple Moose Designs


#2020monthlycolorchallenge #juneblock #bluebird