Monty's Book Reviews

Winter Gets Hot by David M.Hamlin 5 Stars Pages: 296 Published: 6 Dec 2017 Publisher's Blurb Winter in Chicago journalist Emily Winter is the first reporter on the scene of a gruesome murder in the offices of CARD, a civic organization that investigates corruption in City Hall. Although she has proven herself to be a skilled reporter with at least one headline making story to her credit, her new TV boss assigns her to a more “ladylike” beat—lifestyle and feature stories. Determined to overcome the sexism that inhibits her career, Emily works her way into hard news coverage, including the story of the murder at CARD, but she faces major obstacles on all fronts as she pursues the killer. As the case twists and turns, Emily navigates the city she loves, relishing Chicago’s architecture, neighborhood restaurants, culture and her beloved, if hapless, Chicago Cubs. Will she uncover the murderer and bring justice for those who depend on hard-working journalists to write the stories that

Touchfeather  by Jimmy Sangster Publisher's Blurb Katy Touchfeather is a carefree, red-headed, airline stewardess who is actually a top British spy. She’s lethal, seductive, and as ruthless as any double-O. HTouchfeather by Jimmy Sangsterer latest assignment is to track down a scientist suspected of selling secrets to the Russians. It’s a high-stakes, global escapade that takes an unexpected violent turn that shatters her life…and ultimately pits her against a billionaire industrialist with terrifying intentions. Katy Touchfeather is a part-time air hostess and full-time spy. When she is given a mission to keep tabs on an english scientist on his trip abroad she inadventently fall in love, and that's where the problem starts. Review Written in a fun, easy to read style which screams of the 1960/70's with it's un-pc language and outdated views, this is no Ian Fleming and Katy is no 'Jane' Bond but it has it's own likable charm and I'd be quite hap

That's Paris: An Anthology of Life, Love and Sarcasm in the City of Light  by Vicki Lesage Publisher's Blurb If you've ever traveled to Paris or dreamed of setting foot on its cobblestone streets, you'll enjoy escaping into this collection of short fiction and nonfiction stories about France's famed capital. From culinary treats (and catastrophes) to swoon-worthy romantic encounters (and heartbreaking mishaps), this anthology takes you on a journey through one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Visit this cosmopolitan metropolis through the eyes of Parisians, Francophiles and travelers who fell in love with the city and still hold a piece of it in their hearts. That's Paris is a glimpse into living, loving and laughing in the City of Light. So fasten your seat belts and prepare for landing - you'll be arriving soon in Paris through the pages of this humorous and heartwarming book! Review      I wasn't quite sure what to expect from an ant

A Really-Truly Princess  by Amanda Kastner 5 Stars Publisher's Blurb   When Rosellen receives a book of fairy tales as a birthday gift, she decides to use its stories as a guide for her own life. From enchanted frogs to lost slippers to hundred-year naps, Rosellen wants to be a really-truly Princess just like the ones she reads about in her book. Follow Rosellen through five fairy-tale inspired escapades as she discovers that real life problems can't always be solved in story-book style--even if you are a Princess! Review This is a delightful book full of fairy tales about princesses and the story of a really-truly princess and her adventures. It retells classic fairy stories and relates them to a 'real' princess who reads the tales and uses the lessons learned in her everyday life. In addition to the nicely written stories the illustrations are done in black and white to allow the kids to colour them in which increases the enjoyment of the book. Although aimed at yo

The Liars' Asylum  by Jacob M Appel The collection of eight short stories are all loosely related to unrequited love in one form or another. The stories are well researched and written in an easy style which make then entertaining reading. Each one is thought provoking and leaves you pondering on where the story would go if it was to continue to look at the lives of the central characters. Each one is a snapshot into the life of one character and doesn't always finish with a conclusion to the problem at hand. These are not short stories with a twist in the tail like Jeffrey Archer or Roald Dahl and they are not romantic love stories but each one is finely crafted and a joy to read.

Rainwater by Sandra Brown Hardcover 247 pages Publisher's Blurb Ella Barron, a single Texas mother, built a careful life running a boarding house in the Depression-era cotton South. But when a mysterious stranger takes a free room, he also takes Ella’s careful life apart. In the tradition of Gone With the Wind comes historical romance in the Dust Bowl. Ella runs her Texas boarding house with the efficiency of a ship’s captain and the grace of a gentlewoman. She cooks, cleans, launders, and cares for her ten-year-old son, Solly, a sweet but challenging child whose busy behavior and failure to speak elicits undesired advice from others in town. Ella’s plate is full from sunup to sundown. When a room in her boarding house opens up, the respected town doctor brings Ella a new boarder―the handsome and gallant Mr. David Rainwater—but Ella is immediately resistant to opening up her home to this mysterious stranger. Even with assurances that Mr. Rainwater is a man of impeccable c

Miz Scarlet and the Imposing Imposter  by Sara M. Barton 3 Stars Pages: 257 Published: 02 December 2013 Publisher's Blurb When the Wilson family is hit with a financial Ponzi-style fraud, losing everything but the old family manse, they get creative and turn their home into a small inn. The Four Acorns Inn sounds like a good idea, except for one thing -- someone is out to ruin them anyway possible, and that includes murder. As if that's not bad enough, Scarlet Wilson's love life keeps tanking, no matter what she does. Pretty sad when the elderly ladies have a better romantic life than the forty-something innkeeper. Is she cursed when it comes to men, or is there something more sinister going on? Better known as "Miz Scarlet", the feisty former teacher finds she's up to her eyeballs in questions when someone posts a threat in the garden. Who's in danger and why? What does it have to do with the Jordan family, who disappeared without a trace? When Miz