Audio Book Review: Unseemly Pursuits: The Concordia Wells Mysteries Book 2 by K.B. Owen

This is a fun, engaging, character driven historical mystery series.
Unseemly Pursuits: The Concordia Wells Mysteries Book 2
Written by: K.B. Owen
Narrated by: Becket Royce

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
Series: Concordia Wells, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-02-15
Publisher: K.B. Owen Mysteries
Genre: Historical, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A deadly secret that won't stay buried....
It is the fall of 1896, and Miss Concordia Wells is hip-deep in the usual tumult of a lady professor's life: classes, clubs, student pranks, and the unending drama generated by the girls she lives with on campus. Complicating this normality is the new Lady Principal, whom the students have nicknamed "the Ogre". The woman seems bent on making Concordia's life miserable.
Events take a grave turn, however, when an ancient Egyptian amulet donated to the college mysteriously disappears, the donor is found murdered, and his daughter - Concordia's best friend - confesses to killing him.
Desperate for answers, Concordia unravels a 20-year-old secret, closely guarded by men now dead. But such secrets can be dangerous for the daughters left behind, including Concordia herself. Can she make sense of the mystery that has bound together their fates, before it's too late?
©2013 K.B. Owen (P)2015 K.B. Owen

Review:
Concordia is back to her normal duties as a lady professor but under a new Lady Principal who has been nicknamed “ogre” by the students. The woman clearly doesn’t like Concordia and takes away long time assignments and gives her secondary positions, such as moving her from director of the student play to assistant under a math teacher who has never had experience directing a performance. The continual insults from the Lady Principal take second place though to a theft of an Egyptian artifact recently donated to the museum. The donor is the father of Concordia’s best friend, Sophia. When he is found murdered the younger daughter is traumatized into silence by finding the bloody body. Not even the Police Detective believes Sophia when she confesses to the crime.

Concordia of course is intent on proving her friend innocent. She soon learns that the dead man had once been a partner of Concordia’s own father when they searched for artifacts in Egypt. Details that Concordia never knew and her mother continues to refuse to discuss. Instead, Concordia’s mother has gotten herself involved with a physic whose séance results in Concordia’s father speaking to her!

The Lady Principal is a character that you like to dislike, causing Concordia to seek help from the Dean and the President of the college. There is plenty of intrigue and multiple suspects as well as surprising twists. I enjoyed the friendship between Concordia and David which is continuing to grow, especially after a misunderstanding is cleared up.

This is the second story in the series and I recommend reading/listening to them in order to better know the supporting characters and the friendships and tensions that exist. I enjoyed this one even more than the first and it makes me want to hear more adventures/misadventures for Concordia. I recommend this to readers who enjoy character driven mystery.

Audio Notes: Becket Royce does another good job narrating this historical mystery. She manages the various voices with clear distinction. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I received this audio book from the narrator for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge and "U" in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Book Review: Keepsake for Eagle Cove by M. L. Buchman

If I was an effusive reviewer, which I’m not, I might gush about this one!

Keepsake for Eagle Cove
by M. L. Buchman

File Size: 1613 KB
Print Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Buchman Bookworks, Inc. (August 30, 2016)
ASIN: B01KR8OKQ4
Genre: Small Town, Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

-an Eagle Cove romance-
In the heart-warming conclusion to the Eagle Cove series:
Tiffany Mills hides a secret about the small Oregon Coast town of Eagle Cove. The line between her past and her present grows blurred. Until, with her life as a recluse threatened, she must defend her beloved homestead in the woods.
Devin Robison wants nothing to do with women, at least for now. He needs a summer as far away from his past as he can get. The opposite of Chicago? A renovation job on a remote Oregon lighthouse keeper’s cottage feels just perfect.
But when their pasts collide and their present unfolds, they both discover the Keepsake for Eagle Cove.

Review:
Tiffany Mills keeps to herself although she has a secret connection to the small town of Eagle Cove. Injuries from her past have made her extremely cautious around people so she has been taking her time becoming a true member of the community. Yet they continue to draw her in, treating her as a friend and accepting her silence until she is ready to share.

Devin has just come to town to found most everyone busy in a double wedding. He has escaped a bad experience in high society Chicago and is ready for some time in a quiet, unpretentious town. What he didn’t expect was to find is a beautiful, shy young woman who has as many talents as she has defenses. He is willing to give Tiffany time to warm to him but he isn’t beyond creating opportunities to spend time with her.

Tiffany begins to open up with Devin as the town folk watch carefully, simultaneously encouraging him while threatening to take him down if he hurts her. The town eccentrics, a Yurt dwelling (complete with goats) and the FlamEagle Festival add natural enchantment to an already delightful romance.

I loved this story from beginning to end. The author provides a warm depth as both main characters grow closer with their quiet strengths, sweet humors and warm chemistry. Other strong, and sometimes quirky, characters add charm to the community that wants to embrace, and protect, Tiffany. There are work and life details that enrich the story and are never boring. The small town dynamics are beautifully portrayed and the whole story is solid, charming romance. I was pleased that it didn’t need any heavy sex to make it appealing. There is fun banter among the town folk and a few gentle love scenes which were just perfect in my opinion.

I have enjoyed Mr. Buchman’s romantic suspense and at least one other small town romance (Where Dreams Are Born). This story clinches for me that his books should be on my automatic buy list. Although this is book 4 in the series it read fine as a stand-alone. I have not looked to see which characters were in the prior books but I am thinking their stories would be just as delightful. Readers who like engaging romance, and don’t need the steamy side, won’t want to miss this story.

I am thankful to have received this title from the publisher for an honest review. Release date 8/30.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
M. L. Buchman has over 50 novels and 30 short stories in print. His romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year” and twice Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” placing two titles on their “Top 101 Romances of the Last 10 Years” list. He has been nominated for the Reviewer’s Choice Award for “Top 10 Romantic Suspense of the Year” by RT Book Reviews and was a 2016 RWA RITA finalist. In addition to romance, he also writes thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife and is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing and receive exclusive content by subscribing to his newsletter at www.mlbuchman.com.

Sunday Post August 28 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 29, 2016

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I returned home on Wednesday night and the good news is that the twins are fine. The not good news is due to continued dizziness my husband had a sonogram done Thursday. They found that he has an aorta aneurysm in his abdomen. A CAT scan was done Thursday afternoon to confirm and to get measurements. They had to order the stint that is specially made to size. We are hoping the surgery will be as soon as possible this week as he is on low activity until the stint is put in.

My reading/listening was good with return plane time to make up for little time while playing with our granddaughter. I finished three books: one audio and two ebooks. I posted two reviews and did get in this week's usual memes.

I didn't get to visit at all this past week. I hope to get visiting this Monday.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post August 21 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 22, 2016.

• Sharing Beyond Books #266 Comment Giveaway August 23, 2016 (for 8/20). Open Worldwide. Ending 8/27/2016.

• Audio Book Review: Deceitful Moon: Manny Williams Series, Book 2 by Rick Murcer; Forensic Mystery Thriller; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 26, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/1/2016.

• Book Review: Quiet As They Come by Angie Chau; Asian American, Fiction; my rating 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #267 Comment Giveaway August 27, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/3/2016.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 28, 2016.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Second Chances - A "Chosen" Short Story
by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef
This short story is an intro to the series.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (Narrator)

Apocalypse Machine
Written by: Jeremy Robinson
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
I enjoyed this engaging story.
I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle

Keepsake for Eagle Cove
by M. L. Buchman
I loved this! 
Releases 8/30 and I will post my review then.  
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. Audible/MP3 (Narrator)

Tarah Woodblade: The Bowl of Souls Book 6
Written by: Trevor H. Cooley
Narrated by: Andrew Tell
I am midway and enjoying this good fantasy with magic, dwarves, gnomes, and an assortment of creatures.
I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom.
Publisher's Summary
The war is over, but there is a void of power that must be filled and no shortage of souls eager to fill it.
Tarah Woodblade was the best guide and tracker in the land, but she ran away from the war. She returns to Dremaldria expecting to be labeled a coward, but finds herself lauded as a hero. It seems a hero is needed too, because someone is hunting rogue horses....
©2013, 2015 Trevor H. Cooley (P)2016 Trevor H. Cooley

2. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Dead Lawyers Don't Lie: A Gripping Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 1)
by Mark Nolan
I am liking the writing and the primary characters (photo-journalist and police detective) as I start this.
I received this ebook from the author for an honest review.
A mysterious killer who calls himself The Artist is assassinating wealthy lawyers in San Francisco. When war veteran Jake Wolfe accidentally takes his picture during a murder, The Artist adds Jake to his kill list and he becomes a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse that only one of them can survive. How far would you go to protect your loved ones from a killer? Jake wants to leave his secret, violent past life behind him. But the reluctant, flawed hero can't ignore his duty and his personal moral compass.
This gripping thriller is full of suspense, plot twists and surprises. It features a cast of interesting characters, including several strong-willed women, two wise-cracking San Francisco Police Homicide Inspectors, one highly intelligent dog, and a philosophical killer who shares Jake's admiration for Van Gogh paintings but still plans to kill him anyway. As Jake gets closer to unraveling a merciless conspiracy, his life gets turned upside down and the danger level increases, adding to the growing suspense. This entertaining page-turner starts out as a murder mystery and then shifts gears into a high-speed action thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride to the riveting ending. A good read for those who enjoy mysteries, suspense, action and adventure, vigilante justice, unique characters, witty dialogue and a little romance too. Now on sale in over a dozen countries around the world. Be the first among your friends to read it.

3. Audible/MP3 (Narrator)

Mistletoe Mayhem: Dawson Chronicles, Book 1
Written by: Linda Bridey
Narrated by: Mary Ann Weathers
I am looking forward to listening to this one next.
I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom.
Publisher's Summary
In 1918, Sawyer Samuels is injured in The Great War and given a medical discharge. He's sent back to his hometown of Dawson, Montana, but it's a bittersweet homecoming. There is more to his discharge than he can tell most people. Shortly after coming home, Sawyer runs into Devon Dwyer, the woman who rejected his marriage proposal before he enlisted in the army. His feelings for her are as strong as ever, but after their painful parting, there's no going back.
Seeing Sawyer again drives home the point to Devon that her heart still belongs to him even though she's tried to move on. However, she knows the situation is hopeless. There's still too much anger and pain between them to reconcile - or is there?
Enter a group of their wily friends who have some tricks up their sleeves to push Sawyer and Devon to attempt to repair their broken relationship. As the Christmas season begins, chaos and mayhem ensue. Meanwhile, tensions in Dawson rise as suspicions rise and threaten the peace and wellbeing of their town. Can Sawyer and Devon recapture the love they once shared? Can the citizens of Dawson rise to the challenges and dangers that arise? Join the adventure and find out.
©2015 Linda Bridey (P)2016 Linda Bridey

July 30, 2016 - I am still one day behind but expect to catch up this week with Reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I will also be listening (sometimes) to the companion commentary online.

I only posted two reviews, which puts me at five to do.

I am still accepting new audio titles as I can always squeeze listening in!
I have been reading author titles so I am down to five.
My NetGalley shelf is at four since I added a title this week.
I am still hoping to read TBRs in September but I will have a few of the author titles to get in also. I am planning more TBRs for November when I will participate in Sci Fi Month 2016.

I am still working on additional releases at eTreasure's NetGalley page .

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one review book through NetGalley and one print book for a poetry tour in October.
I also picked up two Audible titles with credits.
Again, I didn't purchase any kindle titles. I didn't realize I picked up so many free kindle titles till I looked at the orders.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received one ebook through NetGalley: 
 
The Captive Heart
by Michelle Griep
This Christian, Historical Romance releases in October.

I received this book from the author 

for Poetic Book Tour Review on October 11, 2016:

Ergon Paperback

by George H.S. Singer

I am intrigued to read these poems and thoughts by a former Monk.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up my two July Audible titles last week and forgot to list them:

Blood in the Water: Destroyermen Series, Book 11
Written by: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: William Dufris
This series is an automatic buy for me even if I save it for a TBR next year... or not.

Warship: Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 1
Written by: Joshua Dalzelle
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
This looked like a space sci fi I would like.

Free

I added 63 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 28, 2016

Our Sunday School Teacher continued to summarize Romans, covering Romans 9 through the beginning of 11. The passages reveal the importance of Israel as God’s chosen people and special nation. With all the countries and people who hate Israel and the Jews why is it still here? Because God's hand of protection is still on His people.

Pastor started a new sermon series titled “BE”. The first thing lesson:
BE forgiven… and forgive.
1. We forgive because we are forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 5:23-25. Forgiveness has a very high importance.
2. God’s forgiveness sets the sinner free. Psalm 103:8-12 God sets our sin away, as far as east is from the west. Ephesians 1:7; Isaiah 1:18. The capacity to forgive comes from God. His power can break every chain and set us free.
3. God’s forgiveness renders the enemy’s accusations powerless. Why would you continue to believe a liar once you know he is a liar?

BE FORGIVEN!!
Forgive yourself and forgive anyone who may have offended you. We depend on each other as members of a unified body.

I was looking for a different song on Forgiveness but came upon this one:

TobyMac - Forgiveness

Verses for Today:
Psalm 103: 9-12 NIV
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God, thank you for forgiving and forgetting; help us to do the same.

Sharing Beyond Books #267 Comment Giveaway August 27, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

The overwhelming position (11 to 2) is that we like to start series with the first book if possible. However, 8 of us will read out of order if the book comes to us or we pick it up not realizing it is mid series. Two commenters will skip around or read in whatever order the books are available.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #266 comments is:#11 Marjorie who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. [I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol.] Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #267

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: Has a book ever made you want to learn something new? (eg. Archery from The Hunger Games or Tarot Card Reading from City of Bones)??

I do get inspired to learn new things from books I read. Sadly, I seldom get inspired enough to pursue the interest. When I was younger I was more likely to try some projects I read about. Now I am more likely to try to visit a location I read about. :-)

Image Found at Children's Book Quotes Pinterest page

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.

Comments in August were provided by: Elizabeth, Poetryinleaves, Birgit and Nikki. Random.Org pick is #3 Birgit.

Your turn to share: Nikki asks: Has a book ever made you want to learn something new? (eg. Archery from The Hunger Games or Tarot Card Reading from City of Bones)??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday September 3, 2016 at 5 PM central.