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Title: Jingle Bell Bark (A Melanie Travis Mystery)

Author: Laurien Berenson

Genre: Murder Mystery

Form: Hardcover (my copy)

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

Jingle Bell Bark ~ Book Description:

Holidays are just around the corner. And Melanie Travis, a special needs tutor at a private school (Howard Academy), just wants to have a ‘dull moment’ for Christmas or, at least, days before. But she’s a very busy woman. Being a mother to an eight-year-old boy (Davey), a teacher, an owner of two wonderful Standard Poodles, Faith and Eve (Eve’s currently entered in a dog show), engaged to a great guy named Sam (who has three poodles of his own), it’s highly unlikely to happen. Plus, she has Aunt Peg. Enough said. (You’ll know what I mean once you read the book.)

As if the above mentioned were not more than enough to fill Melanie’s days already. Her son’s school bus driver, Henry Pruitt, liked and trusted by everyone in the neighborhood, disappears. Soon, she and her friend, Alice Brickman, will find out that Henry’s dead – under “suspicious circumstances”. And Henry’s house is left with two Golden Retrievers, Pepper and Remington, that are now lonely, confused and abandoned. Of course, Melanie just can’t ignore the two lovely dogs. She finds them a home. Where? To her Aunt Peg, of course, who also loves dogs, “breeder of Standard Poodles par excellence”, and, now, determined to find out what really happened to Henry.

This only means that Melanie will be helping as well – whether she likes it or not. Aunt Peg always needs her help. Join Melanie Travis and the rest of the characters as they let you into the world of raising and showing dogs, while solving a murder mystery.

Book Review: ‘Jingle Bell Bark’

“I’ve learned a lot about Standard Poodles on this one. It’s rather fascinating! The murder mystery is quite engaging.” – My Book and My Coffee

This is the 11th book in the Melanie Travis murder mystery series. I haven’t read the others yet but I do have “Doggie Day Care Murder” (15th book) on my TBR pile. And I am actually hoping to read the first one in this series as I think it’ll be worth it and fun!

If you are not a dog lover, I should warn you now that this book may not be for you. Now, I don’t have a dog of my own at the moment, but I see myself as a dog lover. It’s hard not to love them, actually. In this book, I’ve learned a lot about poodles. The author, Laurien Berenson, made sure that her protagonist, Melanie, mentioned necessary and educational dog facts as she narrated the whole story. I think these facts will help readers to understand and appreciate certain scenarios in the story. And clearly, I don’t know much about dogs, especially poodles, as most of the facts mentioned here were really new to me. Like, did you know that a poodle ‘in hair’ can only be patted in very specific places? I’ll let you discover the rest. I’ll also tell you now that two of the chapters here are solely dedicated to the dog show where Melanie’s Eve, Peg’s Zeke and Sam’s Tar are all entered.

If you are looking for a light mystery novel, then you should definitely give 'Jingle Bell Bark' a go. For me, it doesn’t matter if the book is a light or 'hardcore' mystery. The important thing is it did make me guess. It made me think. I kept on thinking who killed Henry. He is well-liked by everyone, so how come? And who will want to kill him? Or did he pay a price for being liked by everyone? As they investigate, they will find all sorts of unexpected things, especially from Henry’s past. And the ladies in Henry’s life.

What do I think about the characters? Aunt Peg, you’ll find her very influential (sometimes, too influential), but you’ll definitely love her. Melanie Travis – no questions. I do love her character. Sam (the fiancé) and Bob (the ex-husband), I’m thrilled about these two. Davey (the eight year old son), I find him really adorable, and he shared Oreo cookies to someone that he hasn't even met before, so yes, I totally adore him! Oreo cookies addict here ;) Henry’s two daughters, Oh, if I could strangle them, I would. I really would. Hah! (Effective characters, indeed). Alice Brickman (one of her best friends), Frank (Melanie’s brother), Bertie (Frank’s wife), and the rest of the characters are also wonderful.

All in all, I would recommend this book to you guys given that you love a good light mystery, an amateur sleuth fan, and of course, a dog or pet lover.

Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson is available in Paperback ~ Price: $7.00

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Guest Post by Devon

I don’t really accept guest posts at the moment, but I can’t really say no to dear hubby, right? Haha. To be honest, I'm very thankful as he really is supportive of what I do. He doesn’t have a website yet (he does have a Tumblr account though), but he is an avid reader just like yours truly ;) Anyway, here is Devon’s book review of Robert Ludlum’s ‘The Ambler Warning’. FYI: Devon is his pen name. - ARA

Title: The Ambler Warning

Author: Robert Ludlum

Genre: Spy Thriller

Form: Paperback (our copy)

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

The Ambler Warning Book Description

On Parrish Island, off the coast of Virginia, lies a psychiatric facility. Far from prying eyes, it is a government-run hospital for former intelligence employees in possession of highly classified information. Former Consular Operations agent Hal Ambler is one of these patients whose mind is filled with secrets of state--and is considered such a security risk that he is kept heavily medicated and closely watched. But there's one critical difference between Ambler and the other patients--Ambler isn't crazy. Now he must find a way to escape the facility, find out who put him there, and uncover the truth of who he was…and why someone is willing to risk everything to see him dead.

The Ambler Warning Book Review

Robert Ludlum welcomes us yet again to another thrilling escapade of spies and underground organizations in this novel. The main character here can be the next David Webb AKA Jason Bourne of the Bourne series.

The story starts in a psychiatric facility in Parrish Island, off the coast of Virginia where Former Consular Operations agent Hal Ambler is being treated or simply being kept against his will. I guess knowing too much secrets of the United States caused some good men like Hal; their lives and their sanity especially when someone decided that you are to be considered a very high national security risk.

Crazy as you may find it, but in this novel; the crazy who’s not a crazy will find all possible ways for him to find his sanity, his old self and the reasons why he’s now being kept in this facility and finding himself in great peril, will push you to the edge of your seat.

Will Hal, armed with his “Intuition” (Intuition for Hal is his power to distinguish lies from truth) and training of “not to die easily”, survive and be the hero we expect from Ludlum’s characters? Did he finally find the partner he wants from the beautiful nurse, Laurel Holland, who came to his aide when he needed help most? He always believed that there’s always an opportunity in every mishap, like bad luck was just the flip side of good luck. Can this be true in his current situation?

Be forewarned … Start this novel in the morning when you already had breakfast, make it heavy and ready your snack/s ahead of time because you may find yourself in a non-stop reading frenzy until you finished the whole story. A must read for all Ludlum fans, or any spy thriller aficionado.

The Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum is available in Mass Market Paperback - $8.79

The Ambler Warning Audiobook is also available for FREE with your Audible Free Trial

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Title: The Pact

Author: Jennifer Sturman

Genre: Mystery / Chick Lit

Form: Paperback (my copy)

Publisher: Red Dress Ink

'The Pact' Book Description:

What do you do when one of your close friends is about to marry a ‘nefarious troll’? No, he’s really not a troll, nothing supernatural or mythical about this one, just really wicked.

Rachel Benjamin and her friends are not all pleased with the upcoming wedding of Emma Furlong (their friend) and Richard Mallory (the nefarious troll). And no, it’s not because of the unflattering bridesmaid’s dresses that they are about to wear the next day. It's because of Richard - they hate him. Why he managed to be hated by all of Emma’s friends is for you to find out.

So when the groom-to-be was found dead, floating face down in the pool the morning of the wedding, no one is really upset – in fact, most of them are relieved. Is it suicide (highly unlikely) or murder? If it’s murder, it automatically makes almost everyone a suspect – including Rachel and her friends.

A decade ago, Rachel and her girl friends decided to make a pact – one that will keep each other safe from appalling and undeserving men – by any means necessary. Will that promise lead to murder? Only one way to find out. Join Rachel as she does some digging of her own, an investigation that will not only get tricky but will present some very interesting leads…

Book Review: The Pact

“I didn’t expect _____ to be the killer on this one. I love a good puzzle and mystery – Very appealing plot!” – My Book and My Coffee

First of all, when I first saw this book, just from reading the title ‘The Pact’, I thought that it is a romance novel. I was so happy when I saw the book tagline – “Weddings can be murder”. I knew I had to buy it, and I did. And I am not sorry that I ever did.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance novel, too.

The Pact is actually the first book in the “Rachel Benjamin series”. It was an easy read for me, and I definitely love the plot. I do enjoy a good mystery, and this book has it, with a dash of romance which adds to the book’s ‘want-to-read-more’ factor. I was hooked, curious about who really ‘dunnit’. I wanted to know if Emma’s friends or one of them really did take the pact too far. And if so, who’s the culprit? I also wanted to know if it was Emma’s love interest, Peter (the nefarious troll’s best man). The whole mystery is really appealing, and I applaud Jennifer Sturman for that.

Jennifer Sturman created some really cool characters here, especially Rachel and her girl friends. Rachel Benjamin’s character, an investment banker, did well as an amateur sleuth. Although, I would sure love to know more about the other characters. Just a little ‘juice’ will do to make the friendship and the whole mystery more interesting than it already is. But then I know that this is not how the story was crafted, which is really okay by me. I still love the story, and would recommend for you guys to read it if you’re up for an easy, fast-paced chick lit mystery.

Download Kindle edition here: The Pact by Jennifer Sturman

~ Kindle Price: $2.99

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Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson is available in Paperback ~ Price: $7.00

Download Kindle edition here: The Pact by Jennifer Sturman

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