Victoria Laurie – Crime Seen

The fifth book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series, published September 2007.



Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, is having a hard time getting over a gunshot wound from her last case-especially because she didn't see the shots coming. Out of work and second-guessing her abilities, she tries to get back in the saddle by helping her boyfriend Dutch with some of his FBI cases. And soon enough, her intuition returns-with a vengeance.


Abby has been recovering from almost dying for three months now. All that time she has lived at her boyfriend Dutch’ small house, hiding away from life. Not doing anything psychic at all. She is afraid her powers won’t work as she had no warning at all her own life was in danger. What if that happens in the middle of a session? And to top it off, Dutch’ cat is making her life hell. And Dutch only laughs at that, but Abby is totally serious. The cat wants her out, and she wants to go back to her own place. She has been living out of suitcases for way too long now.
Then her friend Candice calls, that she is moving in with her grandmother, and wants to rent office space with Abby, as she is starting her own PI firm! Abby is glad, that office space has been vacant for too long now, and she can use the money. Candice also convinces her to join her in the gym every morning at 6 a.m. for a workout, to get back into shape. As she will be working as a PI together with Candice, she needs to be able to outrun the bad guys!
Dutch asks her to look at some of his FBI cases for him, as he is totally stalled on them. Abby tries, and gets some clues for him. Accidentally, there is also another case on the desk, something Milo brought over, and Abby sure gets the info on that one! The guy in prison for the murder, did not do it, even though he confessed to it. And now his parole is coming up, and Milo wants him to stay in prison for his full sentence. After all, it was his former partner who was killed. Milo still feels guilty about that, that he wasn’t there to prevent it from happening. So Abby decides to go investigating with Candice on their own, and present Milo and Dutch with the results. They sure won’t be happy with it.


Abby sure gets in some dangerous scrapes in this book! But I liked it, I can so get into Abby’s head at times, we could be sisters (except for the paranormal part of course). Dutch is great in this book, letting her heal in her own pace, but when she asks for his help in toughening up again, he is happy to oblige her. Only he stands behind his cat …
The mystery in this one was partly obvious (to me), and partly a big surprise for me. But Abby and Candice do a lot of good to people who really need it, even when Dutch and Milo are very angry with them, and they even have to spend a night in jail.

And the end of the book, oooo that was so good! The things Dutch does to get Abby back with him. If you are a sucker for romance, you need to read the last chapter.

9 stars.

New additions to my addiction

Two new books just fell on my doormat.

Catherine Coulter - The Valcourt Heiress. It has been years since I have read one of her historicals, though I love her FBI series very much.

And a book I won at RR@H NOvel Thoughts & Book Talk blog: Kate Hewitt - Zoe and the Tormented Tycoon. It is signed, and I will have to read it, or I should have let someone else win this. But according to Stella from Ex Libris, those books are sometimes hidden gems behind the awful title.

Ashley Gardner – A death in Norfolk – my first ARC Review

The seventh book in the Captain Lacey series, to be published November 2011.



September, 1817
Captain Lacey travels with Lady Breckenridge to his boyhood home in northern Norfolk only to discover mysterious happenings in and around the Lacey estate. The underworld criminal, James Denis, uses Lacey's visit to Norfolk as an opportunity to have Lacey deliver a message to a local squire. A simple task--but one that lands Lacey squarely in international theft and murder.


Captain Gabriel Lacey is travelling to his ancestral home in Norfolk, as his betrothed wants to see it. He hasn’t been there in 20 years, and has many unhappy memories of the place. His only happy ones are those of his mother, his father was a tyrant and a brute of a man, always punishing them. His father has been death the past 8 years or so, and the place is partly ruined already.
He has also been tasked by James Denis, one of London’s lord of the underworld, to bring a letter to one of his neighbours. And as part of paying his debt to Denis, he has agreed to deliver it. Brigadier Easton is not happy to receive it, he is sure his days are numbered. So Captain Lacey helps him to escape on a fishing boat to Amsterdam. The next day, Denis’ thugs are tearing down the house, looking for stolen paintings Easton was supposed to deliver to Denis. They are also prepared to tear down the Lacey mansion, as it is a great hiding place as it has been abandoned for years. Captain Lacey doesn’t mind overmuch, if only they clear up the debris as well. The house needs to be gutted down before it can be restored.

When one of Denis’ men is found murdered, and his number one man missing, Denis takes residence in Easton House, and tasks Lacey with the job of finding Mr. Collins. He does not want to believe that Collins murdered this other man. Which puts Captain Lacey in a difficult position. He is expected to be social at the house of Lady Southwick, where his fiancée, Lady Donata Anne Catherine St. John, Dowager Viscountess Breckenridge, is residing as well.
But he does owe Denis as lot, so he agrees to go search the countryside and the marshes for the man.

And then, there is a local mystery to be solved when stolen silver from the chapel is found inside the Lacey kitchen chimney. If miss Helena Quinn really did elope with her admirer, and took the silver to finance their life together, why hide it? And how come no one has heard from her since she disappeared 10 years ago? Or is this another one of those village secrets, that everyone knows of but no one speaks about?

Some unpleasant discoveries are also made when his mother’s diary is found. And Gabriel has to face them, and live with them.


Ashley Gardner is another penname for Jennifer Ashley and Allison James. I love the historicals and her shifter series by Jennifer Ashley a lot, they are very well written, and filled with humor and wit and strong heroines, and original plots. I also love the Stormwalker series by Allison James. Have not yet read her other, more “hot” series.
So I am a bit disappointed that the humor I have grown accustomed to, does not appear in this book. It took me a while to get immersed in the story, and I really regret that I have not read the other books in this series first (which are out of print, but available as ebooks everywhere). But I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book.
I do wonder and admire how one and the same person can write so many different toned books.

I did like Captain Gabriel Lacey. He at first appears straight laced, but that is not the thing in the end. He is a wounded war hero, with no means, but his lady set her sights on him, and she caught him. The few scenes between them are nice. Lady Donata is certainly strong willed, she is a widow with a young boy, Peter. Her husband treated her badly, and she is determined never to listen to another man again, or do something because if would make them feel better. As she is very rich, she can do whatever she wants. So to persuade her to do something, is not an easy job. Also, she smokes cheroots, and can beat him at billiards and crocket.
As befits a cozy, the personal relationship is not a focus point in the book, the mystery is. Captain Lacey is determined to find out what he is after. Not only where the missing Mr. Collins is, but also what happened at his house 10 years ago, and with Helena. Even though Denis orders him to focus everything on Mr. Collins, he won’t give up.
As a secondary character, there is his friend Lord Grenville, who helps with the search and with his carriage, when Captain Lacey gets too tired to walk or ride more. Their manservants are brothers, so do they know a lot of what happens even before they meet.
Then there is James Denis, one of London’s lords of the underworld. He certainly knows many things about what happens. He intrigues me, and he does tell some things about his own background. He is remorseless, and cold and determined. Also without a single friend.

The mystery part is very good, I certainly did not figure it out beforehand. Neither story that is.

8 stars.

Victoria Laurie – Killer Insight

The fourth book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series, published September 2006.



When a childhood friend of Abby's from Denver, Colorado, finds herself short one bridesmaid, it doesn't take a professional psychic to see the opportunity for a much-needed getaway. But one bridesmaid after the next is mysteriously flying the coop, and Abby's intuition tells her their final destination isn't pretty. With the wedding party falling apart and her gift of sight never quite so foggy, Abby has to save the date-and herself from becoming the next taffeta-clad target.


When Abby and her boyfriend Dutch break of their relationship on Valentine’s day, she is heartbroken. So when a childhood friend calls, and invites her over to Colorado for her wedding early, as she unexpectedly needs another bridesmaid, Abby agrees. A change of scenery will be great, and Dave can take care of Eggy, her miniature Dachshund, for her. Elly picks her up at the airport, and drivers Abby over to her great-aunt’s Vivian’s place to stay for the week. Abby is fine with that, she has always liked the old dear.
And wow, Elly’s brother Duffy sure cleaned up nicely! He is now a sheriff, and he sure needs Abby’s help. Abby soon senses that the missing brides maid did not just up and leaf, she is dead. She won’t bother Elly with the news, she is under enough stress already, a week before the wedding, and she is pregnant! Something nobody knows at the moment, but Abby. So Duffy asks her to keep quiet, and takes her with him investigating.

Abby also senses trouble ahead for Elly’s fiancée Eddy, and Elly is really upset about it. Then a second bridesmaid goes missing, she never makes it to the bridal shop for the fitting of Abby’s gown. At first no one is that worried, but when Abby sees her picture the next day, she is sure this one is also dead. So who is after those girls? And will Elly be safe? And what about the kidnapping Elly and Abby prevented the other day? This serial rapist, did he turn into a serial murderer? Duffy sure seems to think so, but the evidence is confusing at some points. And Abby just doesn’t know. Her senses seem to be a little bit on the fritz.
And although Duffy does console her, she still is heartbroken about Dutch. Why hasn’t he called her yet?


A lot of things happen in this book, which takes place about two months after the previous one. Their parents are still staying in Cat’s expensive guesthouse, and are driving her nuts. So she told them about the wedding, and they are determined to come as well, to meet up with their old friends. Abby sure doesn’t like that! Her parents have never accepted her, and to hear her own mother tell total strangers that she thinks her baby was switched at birth in the hospital, really hurts!
But Elly, Duffy and their parents are behind Abby, believing in her and her gift.
The book starts with Abby dying, so the whole book was a journey to that point. What happened, and who kills Abby? And why? And what happens after that? I know there are more books in the series.

So, another really good mystery, but I did have some idea of the who. The book was really full with suspense and action, and friendship that keeps. I liked Elly and Duffy and Vivian as the main secondary characters, and hope they will turn up again. This book really captured my attention, even more than the previous books, and I do believe they are getting better and better.

8,5 stars (because I did guess correctly).

Karen Hawkins – A most dangerous profession

The third book in the Hurst Amulet series, published October 2011.



Mysterious, elusive, unforgettable. The Hurst Amulet continues to lure lovers into peril as New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins spins her newest scintillating tale of danger and desire.

An Entrancing Thief
For beautiful, seductive Moira MacAllister, the stakes have become terrifyingly high. ?Her daughter has been abducted and a priceless ancient relic is the ransom. Moira must acquire it at any cost, even if it means confronting the man she once duped and left, a man who still doesn’t know she has a child … and that he is the father.
A Dashing Rakehell
Robert Hurst, an operative in the king’s service, has never forgiven the mysterious spy who seduced him into marriage and then disappeared without a trace. Now, as he pursues the onyx box that will save his brother’s life, their paths cross again. But Robert isn’t sure which he longs for more – to satisfy his lust for revenge or to quench his relentless hunger for this bewitching woman.
A perilous mission
When Moira reveals to Robert her long-kept secret, however, he realizes his burning desires must wait as a treacherous foe closes in, threatening all they hold dear … and their second chance at love.


This book continues where the second one ended, so for your maximum enjoyment, read this series in order. If you only care about the romance in a book, and not really the plotline, then yes, you can read it as a stand alone.

Having rescued the second onyx box containing a hidden treasure map for the Hurst Amulet, Robert is set out to find the third box. He knows who has bought it, and he will get it. He also wants to catch Moira MacAllister again, but the box is priority at the moment. She escaped only an hour after he turned her over to a colleague to be arrested. He knows she is after the boxes too, only he doesn’t know why. Why is she working for that snake George Aniston? It cannot be for the money, as she doesn’t need it and if she did, she could earn it much more easier doing whatever she likes to do.
Moira is blackmailed by Aniston to do what ever he wishes, as he has kidnapped her little daughter. And she will do everything necessary to get her back. But to trust the father, Robert Hurst, her husband, with that fact? That she just cannot do. She could not bear it if he would demand custody and take the child away from her. She hasn’t had many good experiences with men so far, so trusting one now is not easy. Her child’s life is at stake here.

Robert is an experienced government operative, with lots of resources at his hands, while Moira is an accomplished spy, who has to rely on herself, her wits and her beauty. It was so much fun to see the one outsmart the other time and again, but in the end they had to work together. And together they are unbeatable.
I loved Robert. He poses as a lazy dandy, wearing clothes with lots of lace, but underneath is, he is a very smart, and very fine figured man. He wants people to underestimate him, but he does underestimate Moira a few times as well. She will not be dictated to, she will get the box herself if Robert tries to leave her behind.
Moira certainly had an unusual childhood. When her mother got pregnant, her family threw her out, and when her mother died when she was five, she ended up in the workhouse with the other orphans. Until a gypsy woman picked her out to live with her as she missed her own daughter. So at a young age, she travelled all over Europe, learning languages and customs. Which was how she could pose as a Russian Princess for so long. And that was the reason their paths crossed. Robert was send to investigate her, and they fell in lust very quickly. But why she tricked him into marriage, he really could not understand. He has kept silent of that fact for years, not wanting to face the humility it will cause to get a divorce or annulment.

Hmm, bit rambling review I guess, but I am enthusiastic about this book. The best in the series so far. Both Moira and Robert are great characters, with his servants serving as secondary characters.

I do have one complaint though, it is never explained how Moira escaped when Roberts two servants were ready to tie her down … And I am really curious how she managed that.

A fastpaced book, with a great plot, a great romance and great characters. Yes, some nice love scenes as well, you can feel the attraction between them.

10 stars.

Victoria Laurie – A vision of murder

The third book in the Psychic Eye Mystery series, published December 2005.



Professional psychic Abby Cooper has invested in a fixer-upper, hoping to make a killing in the real estate market. But a killing of another kind puts her plans awry, as the ghost of a murdered woman and some troublesome poltergeists lead her into a mystery that stretches all the way back to World War II.


Abby and her boyfriend Dutch, who is now a FBI agent, had plans to go to Detroit for some well deserved vacation. Abby had even kept the whole month of February clear for that, and for furnishing her new house. But, faith had other plans. Dutch was shot in the rear, and Abby had to move in with him, to take care of him. In a platonic way, as the doctor has forbidden this kind of thing.
Abby, her sister Cat and her handyman Dave have started a new firm, buying houses, fixing them up, and selling them with a profit. Cat provides the money, Abby does the business part, and pays the mortgage, and Dave does the fixing upping. But unfortunately, their very first buy is a disaster. The place is haunted, and Dave is terrified when his own power tools attack him. He will not go back in there!
Dutch and Abby don’t know what to make of his story, and investigate for themselves. Seeing a dead woman beneath the basement stairs, and then having her disappear, is freaking enough, and Abby also smells cigarette smoke. There is more than one being in there, and they are not benevolent!
Abby is afraid of ghosts herself, and is not a medium or “ghostbuster”, so she asks her best friend for help, who can recommend someone to take care of the problem. But MJ has little time at the moment, and she wants Abby to find out what happened there first, and why the house is haunted. Abby gets little visions dating back to WWII. The previous owner was some kind of French war hero, big in the résistance, but the vibes Abby is getting, are not agreeing with that.

And so, between taking care of her boyfriend, who is extremely over protective of her, something Abby cannot handle at all, and finding out what happened all those years ago, Abby also has to deal with her sister. Apparently their parents have moved into her house, making Cat and her family live in the Four Seasons. Nothing can please their mother, and Cat feels like a 5 year old around her. And that while she runs a multimillion business and is mega rich herself!


Okay, I could only read a part of this book Sunday evening, and it gave me nightmares! Luckily, I read a little more yesterday and finished it today, so now I know what happened, it is not so scary anymore. But, well, I do scare pretty easily, so I am sure you all will have no problems enjoying this book.

A lot happens in this book, a wounded boyfriend, an escaped madman who is above genius level and has no conscience at all, a professor with a crush on Dutch, and an intriguing tale of history. I still like Abby, though at times she behaves like a little child, and she knows it. But then, Dutch also crosses the line. There is caring for, and being overprotective and confining and smothering. So they will have to work on their issues for a few more books I guess.
Of course, there is still Milo as a secondary character, and he is going for a new career. Wonder how that will go.
Dave is also a great addition to this series. I wonder when Abby will meet his “old lady”, and find out a little more about this biker lookalike, but teddy bear of a man.
On the bright side, Abby’s miniature Dachshund Eggy (because he loves eggs) and Dutch’ cat can get along just fine, so living together for real should not be a problem in that regard ;)

The plot was great, I did figure out some things before Abby did, but not everything. The suspense in the end was also fine, but I was also shaking my head at Abby for blindly rushing into things, without backup.

8,5 stars

New books to look forward to for November 2011.

October was a slow reading month for me, but I did discover an absolutely great book and a new series, which totally makes up for it. I have read 16 books and 6 novella's, and 8 where of my September list, which is a very good score.

Sherrilyn Kenyon – The Guardian – Dark Hunters 21
Marjorie M. Liu – Within the Flames – Dirk and Steele 11
Christine Feehan – Darkest at Dawn
Lynn Viehl – Nightshine – Kyndred 4
Cheyenne McCray – Vampires dead ahead – Night Tracker 5
Yasmine Galenorn – Courting Darkness – Sisters of the Moon 10
Sabrina Jeffries – To wed a wild lord – Hellions of Hallstead Hall 4
Catherine Coulter – The prince of Ravenscar – HC
Catherine Coulter – The Valcourt Heiress – Medieval Song 7 - PB
C.L. Wilson – The Winter King
Shannon K. Butcher – Razor’s Edge
Ilona Andrews – Fate’s Edge – Edge 3
Erin Quin – Haunting Beauty – Mists of Ireland 1
Nora Roberts – The next always – Inn Boonsboro 1