contemporary - No Apology Book Reviews

Interview with Anna J. Stewart (Hunting Colton’s Witness)

October 11, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Hunting Colton’s Witness by Anna J. Stewart is part of a series where each book has different stories written by different authors. In this book, the heroine, Vivian Maylor, becomes Detective Nate Colton’s key witness. He is attracted to her from the get-go. His determination to keep their relationship purely professional falls apart after an attempt on her life almost succeeds. With help from his newfound Colton family, Nate is hoping to keep Vivian …

Review Roundup Autumn 2024 – Part 2

October 17, 2024October 8, 2024

Another quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Autumn 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: If I Stopped Haunting You Author: Colby Wilkens Series: n/a Thank you to Colby Wilkens, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was okay. Not well balanced, and the characters had to work to be likeable, especially Pen. I don’t care what race, gender, ancestry, etc, you are, if …

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

October 8, 2024

Title: The Whispering Night Author: Susan Dennard Series: Luminaries #3 MUCH thanks to Susan Dennard, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Love love love love LOVE this trilogy! I relistened to the first two before venturing into this one and it was no hardship. I like them more every time. I adore down-to-earth bespeckled Winnie and her strong arc, I love Darian and Andrew and Mom …

Interview with Daryl Wood Gerber (The Son’s Secret)

October 4, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Son’s Secret by Daryl Wood Gerber is not the type of story her readers are used to. Instead of gardens, tea shops, and fairies flying around, she has ventured into suspense and mystery. This story explores the complex mother-adult son dynamic. Parents will relate to the main character understanding the fine line between being hovering to being supportive and caring. Plus, the anxiety that every parent goes through when their children do not …

Interview with Yasmin Angoe (Not What She Seems)

September 28, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe is a very suspenseful domestic thriller that will keep readers on their toes. The plot has the heroine, Jac Brodie, leaving home when she was twenty-two years old. She comes back after a family tragedy, where she must confront her tortured past―and a new danger in town that no one seems to understand but her. After years of self-exile, Jacinda “Jac” Brodie is back in Brook Haven, …

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

September 22, 2024

Title: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer Author: Maxie Dara Series: S.C.Y.T.H.E. Mystery #1 Much thanks to Maxie Dara, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. The title’s misleading; to call it a guide implies the MC has killer-catching experience, but it’s quite the opposite. She has no idea what she’s doing. It’s a bit of a slow burn because Kathy’s a very reluctant heroine, but once Conner …

Interview with Fiona Barton (Talking to Strangers)

September 20, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton is the second book in the series. This one involves three women out for the truth, all will be narrators in the story. Police detective Elise King is assigned to investigate the murder of local hairdresser Karen Simmons. Before her death, Simmons ran a singles group called the Free Spirits, and King immediately sets her sights on the men Simmons was dating. The author humanizes the detective by …

Interview with Lisa Childs (Last Mission)

September 6, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Last Mission by Lisa Childs is the finale to the Hotshot Heroes series. Those who like the characters will be saddened that they will not be able to read any more stories about them. In this one the hero is Mack McRonney, retired from military Special Ops. After his brother and sister were targeted by the saboteur, he decides to go undercover to find the culprit, working for the Hot Shots. Also, trying to …

Interview with Joanna Schaffhausen (All the Way Gone)

August 30, 2024

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper All the Way Gone, the fourth book in the Detective Annalisa Vega series, delves into the world of sociopaths, wondering if there is such a thing as a good one. The plot has newly minted private investigator Annalisa Vega hired by Mara Delaney who insists that some sociopaths are beneficial to society. Mara has even written a book titled The Good Sociopath centered around Chicago neurosurgeon Craig Canning, surgeon. But Mara is now concerned …

Review Roundup Summer 2024 – Part 4

August 25, 2024

A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: The Sorority Author: Nancy Bush Series: n/a Thank you to Nancy Bush, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve seen Bush’s name around for a long time but never got around to trying her work, so when I saw this galley I thought it was time to give her …