"The Violets of March"

"The Violets of March" is the first novel by Sarah Jio, a Seattle author and journalist, but don't fear because she is already working on a second one!

I loved this book - not sure where I learned about it but I am so glad I read it!  It's set mostly on Bainbridge Island where Emily used to spend summers with her Aunt Bee.

Emily, who has written one bestselling book, is newly divorced and at loose ends in the New York home she shared with her husbnad, Joel.  Joel fell in love with someone else and her best friend, Annabelle, as well as her therapist encouraged Emily to take the month of March to spend time on Bainbridge Island with her Aunt Bee and recoup.

Bainbridge Island turns out to be just what Emily needs but it is not just recuperation.  She discovers a mystery from the past that she wants to unravel and, in doing so, discovers secrets from the past that impact her and her family.  This is a very well told story that unfolds beautifully!  pazt

"No Second Chance"

Harlan Coben's "No Second Chance" seemed very familiar as I was reading it so I know I've read it before but I forgot just enough to make it just as exciting a read as the first time!  What a story with plot twists!  Dr. Marc Seidman has been shot twice and his wife killed and their daughter kidnapped.  He goes from being a suspect to not being a suspect back to being a suspect - how is that possible when he was shot, too?!  Just when I thought I knew what was going on, everything changed!  If you love mysteries that keep you guessing till the end, read this!  pazt

"Threats At Three"

"Threats At Three" is the next novel in Ann Purser's Lois Meade Mysteries.  Although deaths do occur in this story, none are murders but there is plenty of sleuthing to be done and Lois Meade is just the one to take on the task with the help of her cleaning crew and Inspector Cowgill.

Derek, Lois' husband, is busy heading up the committee to raise money to "save our shed" for the community.  Lois (on the advice of her daughter,Josie) has taken on a new part-time cleaner, Paula Hickson.  Paula's husband has left her with a teenage son, younger twin boys, and a baby boy so she has her hands full but she wants to earn some extra money to support her family and has found child care so that she can work two days a week.  However, when her teenage son disappears, Lois puts all her efforts into discovering what happened.

Inspector Cowgill has a new assistant, Chris, and would probably retire if it didn't mean he'd see less of Lois.  If only his nephew would propose to Josie, he could become family and not need excuses to see her.

I found this story a little different than some of the other Lois Meade mysteries.  There are some characters with no redeeming features who are pressuring other characters to do their bidding.  Some characters I thought I'd have a hard time liking actually redeem themselves!  It's a good read and has enough suspense that it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next so I didn't want to put it down!  pazt