Tag Archives: Amanda Quick

The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick – a Review

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The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick – a Review

 

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Description:
Being Madame Ariadne, Psychic Dream Consultant, wasn’t Prudence Ryland’s ideal gig, but it paid well which was reason enough to do the work—until she realizes that her latest client intends to kill her. But Prudence, a master at reinvention, finds a new job and home as far away as possible and is finally able to relax—which turns out to be a big mistake. Letting her guard down means being kidnapped and drugged and waking up in a bloodstained wedding dress in the honeymoon suite next to a dead man. With the press outside the hotel, waiting with their cameras and police sirens in the distance, it’s obvious she’s being framed for the man’s murder. Prudence knows who is responsible, but will anyone believe her?

It doesn’t seem likely that rumored crime boss Luther Pell or his associate, Jack Wingate, believe her seemingly outrageous claims of being a target of a ruthless vendetta. In fact, Prudence is convinced that the mysterious Mr. Wingate believes her to be a fraud at best, and at worst: a murderer. And Jack Wingate does seem to be someone intimately familiar with violence, if going by his scarred face and grim expression. So no one is more shocked than Prudence when Jack says he’ll help her. Of course, his ideas for helping her involve using her as the bait for a killer, but Prudence feels oddly safe with Jack protecting her. But who will protect Prudence from her growing fascination with this enigma of a man?

 

 

Review:

The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick is the 7th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.

We meet Prudence Ryland (our heroine) at the start, when she worked as a Psychic Dream Consultant, Madame Ariadne. When a customer comes into her store, her psychic ability gives her the vibe that this customer plans to kill her; when he makes his attempt on her, she manages to fight him off with her own powers, which causes the person to have heart failure.  Madame Ariande calls for an ambulance, and Prudence Ryland decides to drop this kind of work, and takes a job at the college library.  One night she is kidnapped, and wakes up next to a dead man, with her wearing a wedding gown with blood all over.  Prudence manages to escape, and calls Luther Pell in Burning Cove for help.

Prudence explains to Luther and Jack Wingate, who is a criminal consultant, about her kidnapping and murder threats, as well as her psychic dream reader ability as Madame Ariande.  Prudence and Jack get off on the wrong foot, he looks at her like a fraud; but Luther convinces them that together both of them can work well together, and find the people involved in trying to kill her or frame her for something she did not do. Jack, whose face was scarred from a fire, is very much familiar with violence, especially since he is creating a book to help police have clues on solving crimes.  Jack and Prudence slowly begin to work closely together, as he sets things in place to bait the killer; as well as protect her.   Their respect for each other grows, and a slow burn romance begins. There were many multiple antagonists, especially almost all members of the Dover Family. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, intense and suspenseful story that has a number of surprises and twists. The last half of the book was enthralling, as Prudence’s life was constantly in danger, and Jack was always there to protect her.  Prudence’s ability to not only read dreams, but to get people to reveal secrets, allowing for more surprises and clues.  I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

The Bride Wore White was a terrific addition to this series, with a bit of romance, great couple, and a paranormal element.  Despite their bad start, I loved Prudence and Jack together. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s.   I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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When She Dreams by Amanda Quick – Review & Excerpt

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When She Dreams by Amanda Quick – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Maggie Lodge, assistant to the reclusive advice columnist known only as Dear Aunt Cornelia to her readers, hires down-but-not-quite-out private eye Sam Sage to help track down the person who is blackmailing her employer. Maggie and Sam are a mismatched pair. As far as Sam is concerned, Maggie is reckless and in over her head. She is not what he had in mind for a client but he can’t afford to be choosy. Maggie, on the other hand, is convinced that Sam is badly in need of guidance and good advice. She does not hesitate to give him both.

In spite of the verbal fireworks between them, they are fiercely attracted to each other, but each is convinced it would be a mistake to let passion take over. They are, after all, keeping secrets from each other. Sam is haunted by his past, which includes a marriage shattered by betrayal and violence. Maggie is troubled by intense and vivid dreams–dreams that she can sometimes control. There are those who want to run experiments on her and use her for their own purposes, while others think she should be committed to an asylum.

When the pair discovers someone is impersonating Aunt Cornelia at a conference on psychic dreaming and a woman dies at the conference, the door is opened to a dangerous web of blackmail and murder. Secrets from the past are revealed, leaving Maggie and Sam in the path of a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to exact vengeance.

 

 

Review:

When She Dreams by Amanda Quick is the 6th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove. 

We meet Maggie Lodge, our heroine, who is a lucid dreamer, and has been drugged by her physic therapist, and manages to escape. Two years pass, with Maggie being an assistant to the famous advice columnist, Aunt Cornelia. With Cornelia away on a cruise, Maggie hires a private investigator, to help find out who is sending Aunt Cornelia blackmail threats. 

Sam Sage, our hero, is a former cop, and now a private eye; he accepts the job offer from Maggie, though he finds her dream escapades a bit weird. They begin to work together, as Maggie insists to be part of his investigation; along the way, Sam will learn more about these lucid dreamers, and the organization that is trying to prove that they are real.  Sam also gets to see first-hand, when Maggie has some visions, and a slow burn romance will begin between them. 

They both decide to go to Burning Cove to attend the conference on psychic dreaming, led by the leaders of the Physic Dreaming organization, as well as the man who tried to drug Maggie.  When someone impersonates Aunt Cornelia, all hell breaks loose, as a woman is found murdered, with a murder from the past opening the doors to another murder, with a ruthless killer on the loose.  Secrets are revealed, and Sam contacts Raina Kirk and Luther Pell (in our previous books) to help with his investigation. Sam is also concerned that Maggie’s life is in danger, as things escalate. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, intense and suspenseful story that has a number of surprises and twists.  I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you. When She Dreams was fast paced, enthralling, with a romantic couple whose chemistry was sizzling.

Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s.  I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

It struck him that being here with Maggie was different. Sam was comfortable standing in the alcove with her for a couple of reasons. The first was that she wasn’t asking him to become something he wasn’t. She had been concerned about the evening jacket only because she thought it constituted the camouflage he needed to go undercover for the investigation.
So, yes, she was enthusiastic when it came to telling him how to do his job, but he had no problem with that. He already knew how to do his job. He found it entertaining to have her instruct him in the art of investigation. Okay, it was also irritating. Why did it amuse him? One of the mysteries of the universe, probably. Make that one of the mysteries of Maggie Lodge.
As for the second reason why he was happy to stand here with her—well, he wasn’t sure what it was yet, but there was another reason, of that he was positive.
Her own camouflage this evening was entirely satisfactory, as far as he was concerned. She wore an emerald green number with short, fluttery sleeves. The dress was demure in front, cut low in back, and clung to her feline curves. The silky fabric flowed over her hips and stopped just short of her very nice ankles and green evening sandals.
Her hair was parted in the center and clipped back behind her ears with a couple of combs. It fell in soft waves to her shoulders. Her jewelry was limited to a pair of simple gold earrings and a tiny evening bag studded with gold sequins. Classy. He would have been content to stand in the alcove with her all evening, sipping champagne and studying the crowd.
Studying the crowd.
That was it—the second reason why he liked being here with Maggie. She was an outsider—an observer—like him. He wasn’t sure how he knew that, but he trusted his intuition. Maybe, deep down, they actually had a few things in common. But probably not.
“Guilfoyle may be a fake psychic selling dreams, but judging by the size of this crowd, it’s obvious he’s got a real talent for promotion,” he said.
Maggie sipped a little champagne but she did not take her attention off the people milling around the grand room. He knew she was searching the faces of those around them, trying to spot the woman who was posing as her employer.
“I told you, Guilfoyle has some interesting theories and techniques,” she said. “That’s why I originally planned to attend this conference.”
Sam watched Arthur and Dolores Guilfoyle play the role of gracious hosts at the entrance of the lobby. They made a handsome, glamorous couple. Dolores was a striking, sophisticated blonde. She wore a pale pink gown that glittered with what must have been a million pale pink sequins. Long pink gloves, a dainty pink bag, and a lot of jewelry completed the outfit.
Arthur had the dark eyes and the chiseled profile of a leading man. He deployed a polished charm that seemed to work as well on men as it did on women. His tailored black-and-white evening clothes fit his tall, lean frame with the perfection that could only be achieved with hand-tailoring. His dark, collar-length hair was brushed back from a dramatic widow’s peak and gleamed with just the right amount of oil.
In addition to the Guilfoyles, four attractive young people—two male and two female—circulated around the room offering champagne and a warm welcome. They wore name tags identifying them as dream guides. They all looked as if they had been borrowed from a movie studio for the evening.
“Do you think there’s something wrong with Guilfoyle’s eyes?” Sam asked in low tones.
“His eyes?” Maggie was obviously surprised by the question. “No, what makes you ask that?”
“I noticed a weird look in them when he kissed your hand.”
“Oh, right.” Maggie smiled. “Mr. Guilfoyle possesses what is called a smoldering gaze.”
“I thought maybe he had a vision problem. Does the smoldering thing work on you?”
“Under other circumstances, I might find it entertaining, but I have other interests at the moment.”

Excerpted from When She Dreams by Amanda Quick Copyright © 2022 by Amanda Quick. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

 


 

 

Author photo by Marc von Borstel
The author of a string of New York Times bestsellers, Jayne Ann Krentz uses three different pen names for each of her three “worlds.” As Jayne Ann Krentz (her married name) she writes contemporary romantic-suspense. She uses Amanda Quick for her novels of historical romantic-suspense. Jayne Castle (her birth name) is reserved these days for her stories of futuristic/paranormal romantic-suspense.

“I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names,” she says. “The answer is that this way readers always know which of my three worlds they will be entering when they pick up one of my books.”

In addition to her fiction writing, she is the editor of, and a contributor to, a non-fiction essay collection, Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. Her commitment to her chosen genre has been strong from the very beginning of her career.

“The romance genre is the only genre where readers are guaranteed novels that place the heroine at the heart of the story,” Jayne says. “These are books that celebrate women’s heroic virtues and values: courage, honor, determination and a belief in the healing power of love.”

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

https://jayneannkrentz.com/

 

 

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The Lady Has a Past by Amanda Quick – Review & Giveaway

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The Lady Has a Past by Amanda Quick – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly goes on a health retreat at an exclusive spa and disappears without another word. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and she is the only one who can track her down. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. The agency brings in a partner and bodyguard for her, but she doesn’t get the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected.

Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and Lyra can’t figure out why he was chosen as her partner. But it soon becomes clear when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn’t the only one in grave danger—Lyra is next.

 

 

 

Review:

The Lady Has A Past by Amanda Quick is the 5th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. Refresher: This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.  Burning Cove is a small resort town with many Hollywood stars or the very rich, but it seems that is it also a magnet for danger

Lyra Brazier, our heroine, has just started working as an assistant private investigator for Raina Kirk; she is sent on her first case, which turned into a nightmare. When Lyra meets the woman, who requested her to come to her home, she finds the woman being accosted by her husband in the pool.  When the mad man runs toward Lyra, she grabs the only thing she sees nearby and hits the man with a golf club.  When the police come, it seems someone (the wife) hit the man multiple times to make sure he was dead.  So, Lyra in her first case, has no idea if she killed the man or was it the wife.

We meet Simon Cage, our hero, who is on assignment for Luther Pell, and confronts a man who threatens to kill him for a book that is worth a lot of money; Simon manages to stay alive and get the book he needed.  After the case is over, Simon decides after visiting Pell, to stay in Burning Cove to take a vacation break.  It is at this time, that Raina Kirk (who is Luther Pell’s girlfriend, as well as owner of the detective agency), disappears. Lyra, Luther and Simon try to find clues where Raina has gone, and they learn she was heading to a resort, which has a famous health spa.  Simon and Lyra make plans to go to the hotel as newlyweds, to find Raina.

Lyra was a wonderful heroine, who not only was independent, but smart, bubbly personality, very inquisitive and her witty hilarious banter was pure fun, especially with Simon.  I loved how quickly Lyra was able to get people to talk, and learned so much from Simon on how to be a real detective; as well as seeing his paranormal ability to sense danger.   Simon at first didn’t know how to handle Lyra, but in a short time, he started falling for her.  Their romance started to heat up, as each began to learn more about each other, and their chemistry was great.

What follows is an exciting and intriguing story that has many surprises and twists. Lyra and Simon were great together, and when Luther joins them, they begin to learn the truths of what has been happening in the hotel and spa, putting people’s lives in danger. The danger escalates, as the three of them are desperate to find Raina, before someone kills her.   I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

The Lady Has A Past was a wonderful exciting, intense, enthralling suspenseful story, with a bit of romance, great couple, as well as having a slight paranormal element.  Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s.  I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Amanda Quick and Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of THE LADY HAS A PAST to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Close Up by Amanda Quick – Review & Excerpt

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Close Up by Amanda Quick – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer…

Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.

After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.

Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

 

 

Review:

Close Up by Amanda Quick is the 4th book in her exciting Burning Cove series.  This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the characters we met in the first two books have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.  Burning Cove is a small resort town with many Hollywood stars or the very rich, but it seems that is it also a magnet for danger.

We meet our heroine, Vivian Brazier, who is a freelance photographer, trying to create and sell artistic photographs to galleries; but in order to make money, she also takes pictures at crimes scenes.  Vivian manages to have a different take on scenes, and uses her expertise to sell these crime photos to the local newspaper, for a cover shot, which helps her make ends meet.  After being turned down on a her new artistic series that she offered the local gallery, and after her recent cover photo of a murder from the night before, Vivian receives a visit from a private investigator, who tells her that her life is in danger.

Nick Sundridge, our hero, is the investigator that has been hired to become Vivian’s bodyguard, with his dog, Rex.  Vivian at first doesn’t take him seriously. Why would anyone want to kill her?  She learns that Luther Pell, who we have known since the first book, received information that someone is planning to kill her, and he is the one who hired Nick to protect her.  

Vivian is a wonderful heroine, who is independent, mature, smart, savvy and with an excellent ability to see special secretive things in her photos.  Nick is also a great hero, as he also has a psychic ability that give him visions in dreams of what may happen.  Their romance was slow built, as each began to learn more about each other, and their chemistry was great; in so many ways, they made a great couple who also worked well together, as well as understanding each of their abilities. 

What follows is an exciting story that never lets up, with Vivian and Nick in the middle of all the action.         This intriguing story had a few surprises, which had me guessing until the end.  I thought Rex, Nick’s dog, was a wonderful partner.  I did like Vivian’s sister, Lyra and would love to see her get her own story.   I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

Close Up was a wonderful exciting, intense suspenseful story, with a bit of romance, great couple, as well as having a slight paranormal element.  Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything and the fun of being in the glamorous world of 1930’s.  I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Vivian Brazier was attractive but not in the traditional sense. Her features were too striking, too bold, too intriguing. Too compelling. The effect was definitely more than skin- deep. If she lived to be a hun¬dred she would still be a fascinating woman.
Her high-waisted trousers and black silk shirt emphasized her slim, graceful frame. A couple of combs anchored her whiskey-brown hair behind her ears, framing mysterious, unreadable green eyes. She watched him in a way that warned him she saw things other people never noticed. They were the eyes of a woman who viewed the world from a different dimension.
The smile she had given him when she had answered the door, polite and professional though it was, had sent a thrill of delight across his senses. Now he was aware of a deep, prowling curiosity; a need to learn more about Vivian Brazier.
“I don’t know this Luther Pell,” Vivian said.
Rex leaned forward far enough to put his head in the vicinity of Vivian’s right hand. She glanced down at him, frowning a little. Then she reluctantly gave him a couple of pats. Rex grinned a wolfish grin and inched a little closer to Vivian.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never met Pell, either,” Nick said. He paused and then decided there was no point keeping the truth from her. “He owns a nightclub in Burning Cove. There are rumors that he’s got mob connections.”
“That’s not exactly a resounding testimonial.”
“I know. But my uncle says Pell also has connections with the FBI and with a certain clandestine government agency. Evidently Pell used to run an intelligence operation during the Great War. All I can tell you is that Uncle Pete trusts him, and that’s enough for me to take this threat seriously.”
“Well, it’s not nearly enough for me to believe what you’re saying.”
“You’ve got every reason to be cautious,” he said. “But if you will call a homicide detective named Archer at the Adelina Beach police station, he will vouch for me.”
“Detective Archer knows you?” Vivian asked warily.
“No, but he knows Luther Pell. They both served in the War. Why don’t you go inside, Miss Brazier, and make the call? Lock your door. I’ll wait out here until you’re satisfied that I’m not dangerous.”
Vivian eyed him with a considering look. “Does this have some¬thing to do with the Dagger Killer?”
He had already figured out that she was a very smart woman, he reminded himself.
“That,” he said, “is a very interesting question. What makes you ask?”
“It’s not as if I’ve got a long history of people trying to kill me. My only experience in that regard occurred about three weeks ago. Now here you are on my front step telling me that someone wants me dead. It strikes me that if there is no connection to the Dagger Killer, we’re discussing an amazing coincidence.”
He nodded, pleased that her reasoning paralleled his. “Strikes me that way, too. But I don’t know the answer yet. Until I do, we should not leap to conclusions. Make the phone call, Miss Brazier. Then I’ll tell you what I do know.”

 

 

 

 

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Tightrope by Amanda Quick-Review and Giveaway

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Tightrope by Amanda Quick-Review and Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
An unconventional woman and a man shrouded in mystery walk a tightrope of desire as they race against a killer to find a machine that could change the world.

Former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn moved to Burning Cove to reinvent herself, but things are not going well. After spending her entire inheritance on a mansion with the intention of turning it into a bed-and-breakfast, she learns too late that the villa is said to be cursed. When the first guest, Dr. Norman Pickwell, is murdered by his robot invention during a sold-out demonstration, rumors circulate that the curse is real.

In the chaotic aftermath of the spectacle, Amalie watches as a stranger from the audience disappears behind the curtain. When Matthias Jones reappears, he is slipping a gun into a concealed holster. It looks like the gossip that is swirling around him is true—Matthias evidently does have connections to the criminal underworld.

Matthias is on the trail of a groundbreaking prototype cipher machine. He suspects that Pickwell stole the device and planned to sell it. But now Pickwell is dead and the machine has vanished. When Matthias’s investigation leads him to Amalie’s front door, the attraction between them is intense, but she knows it is also dangerous. Amalie and Matthias must decide if they can trust each other and the passion that binds them, because time is running out.

 

Review:

Tightrope by Amanda Quick is the 3rd book in her Burning Cove series. This story takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the characters we met in the first two books have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.  Burning Cove is a small resort town with many Hollywood stars or the very rich, but it seems that is it also a magnet for danger.

We meet Amalie Vaughn, our heroine and a famous trapeze artist, at the start, when she survived a threat against her life.  Amalie managed to save herself using her skills as a trapeze artist, and the accoster fell to his death.  Amalie moves to Burning Cove to get past that terrible experience and use her inheritance to open a bed n’ breakfast. When her first guest is murdered by a robot he was showing off to an audience, Amalie then fears the curse reputation will ruin her new venture; she is thrown into an intriguing adventure to save her B&B, as well as the new threats against her life.

Matthias Jones, our hero, is in Burning Cove at the request of Luther Pell (previous book hero) to help him solve the disappearance of new prototype cipher machine, which they believe is part of espionage. Matthias suspects that the man murdered was the one who stole the machine, and together with Pell, they will need to find it before the villain does.  They know that the murderer is someone from the past , a former operative, who has international ties, and no one knows what he looks like.  Matthias decides to move into the B&B, as he begins to care about Amalie and senses she is in danger. Both Amalie and Matthias will work together to look for the machine, and the threats against both of their lives. 

The romance between Matthias and Amalie is slow build, and mostly in the background, as the mystery takes center stage, with a lot of excitement and suspense.  I really enjoy seeing some of the characters from the previous books, such as Oliver, Luther, Irene & Raina.  I really liked Amalie and Matthias together, as they made a great couple, and they blended so well together. 

What follows is an exciting story that never lets up, with Amalie and Matthias in the thick of all the action.  I thought that Matthias’s ability to be a human lie detector was a major help in learning who to trust and who was truly the culprit.   This intriguing story does have a number of twists, that not only threw us off, but also kept us guessing.  I do not want to give spoilers, as so many things happen along the way, that saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

Tightrope was a wonderful intense suspenseful story, filled with secrets, betrayals, pulse pounding action, and a sweet romance. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything and the fun of being in the glamorous world of 1930’s.  I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Amanda Quick and Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of TIGHTROPE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick – a Review

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The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick – a Review

 

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Description:
After escaping from a private sanitarium, Adelaide Blake arrives in Burning Cove, California, desperate to start over.

Working at an herbal tea shop puts her on the radar of those who frequent the seaside resort town: Hollywood movers and shakers always in need of hangover cures and tonics. One such customer is Jake Truett, a recently widowed businessman in town for a therapeutic rest. But unbeknownst to Adelaide, his exhaustion is just a cover.

In Burning Cove, no one is who they seem. Behind facades of glamour and power hide drug dealers, gangsters, and grifters. Into this make-believe world comes psychic to the stars Madame Zolanda. Adelaide and Jake know better than to fall for her kind of con. But when the medium becomes a victim of her own dire prediction and is killed, they’ll be drawn into a murky world of duplicity and misdirection.

Neither Adelaide or Jake can predict that in the shadowy underground they’ll find connections to the woman Adelaide used to be–and uncover the specter of a killer who’s been real all along…

 

 

Review:

The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick is the 2nd book in her Burning Cove series.  This story takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the characters we met in the first book have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.

We meet Adelaide Blake, our heroine, from the start where she is in the process of trying to escape from an insane asylum.  Adelaide knows she must run for her life, and someone is trying to kill her.  Adelaide was locked up by her “husband” and the evil people in charge at the asylum, who were doing experiments with her and others using a hallucinating drug.   Months later, Adelaide (now Brockton) is working as a waitress in a tea room in Burning Cove, where she help creates various types of herbal tea that has become popular, since it helps people with health issues, hangovers, tonics, etc.  Burning Cove has many well known visitors, who spend time in the seaside coast, and the tea room has become a place to meet famous people. 

Jake Truett, our hero, finds himself visiting the tea room, and becoming attracted to Adelaide.  Jake keeps to himself, but he knows some of the people we met in the first book, but Jake also has ulterior motive, trying to follow someone he suspects of stealing something from someone close to him. 

Madame Zoolander is a former actress who is now a famous physic, and she also visits the tea room for one of Adelaide’s famous brews.  When Adelaide is invited to Madame’s show, she ends up taking Jake with her; during the show Madame makes a bold prediction that will come true the following morning.

What follows is an exciting story that never lets up, with Jake and Adelaide in the middle of all the action.  When a number of deaths happen, the danger and risks escalate, as they will begin to discover that much of this will coincide with her false imprisonment at the asylum.  This intriguing story is filled with blackmail, drugs, quack doctors, & physics, not to mention the ‘husband’ whom Adelaide never married (he wanted her inheritance), who was determined to find her and bring her back to the asylum.  Almost at every turn, Jake and Adelaide found themselves in grave danger by those trying to kill them. I will not give spoilers, as so many things happen along the way, that saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

I loved Adelaide and Jake together, as they were a sweet couple, and they blended so well together.  The slow built romance was so well done by Quick, not taking anything away from the tense exciting storyline.  I really enjoyed seeing many of those we met in the first book, such as Luther, Raina, Irene & Oliver.

The Other Lady Vanishes was a wonderful intense suspenseful story, filled with secrets, betrayals, pulse pounding action, and a sweet romance. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything and the fun of being in the glamorous world of 1930’s.  I suggest you read the first book to enjoy the setting of this series, but The Other Vanishes reads very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick – Review & Giveaway

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The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick – Review & Giveaway

 

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The Girl Who Knew Too MuchAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
When Hollywood moguls and stars want privacy, they head to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every need. It’s where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician—until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can’t let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago.

With Oliver’s help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past—always just out of sight—could drag them both under…

 

 

Review:

The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick is a mystery romantic thriller that takes place during the 1930’s in old glamorous Hollywood.  The story starts off with a bang, as we meet Anna Harris, who has discovered the dead body of her employer, with a message about a notebook and to “run”.  She manages to flee from the scene in New York to Hollywood, with a new identity.  Months later, we meet Irene Glasson, who is now a columnist for a Hollywood gossip paper. 

Murder seems to follow Irene, as the actress she was meeting at the Burning Cove Hotel was found dead.  Because she heard the footsteps of the possible killer, Irene jumps into the pool to escape.  It is here she meets our hero, Oliver Ward.  Oliver is the owner of the hotel, and a former famous magician, who due to an injury gave up that career and went into the hotel business.  Oliver takes an interest in Irene, and they will join hands to try to solve the murder.  When their relationship becomes a bit more than partners, Irene will eventually confide her past, running from someone who wants her dead.  Oliver is determined to keep a close eye on Irene, as he wants to protect her, as well as his hotel.

While interviewing actor, Nick Tremayne, Irene gets a scoop to enhance her career, only to have the powerful Hollywood conglomerates use everything in their power to cause her to lose her job, even to the extent of hiring people to stop her anyway necessary.   Those who have been looking for Anna Harris, will discover her new identity, which will double up on the threats to her. 

This was an exciting and fun mystery thriller, with a number of twists, and many dangerous situations that both Oliver and Irene are in the middle of.  The slow build romance between Irene and Oliver was nice, as I did like them together.  The nice thing about their romance was it as part of the story line, not taking away from the real story….the murder investigation.  I also liked some of the secondary characters in the book, especially Luther Pell.   The last third of the book was filled with action and excitement, and held my attention throughout.  The Girl Who Knew Too Much was another great story by Amanda Quick.  If you enjoy mysteries taking place in the 1930’s; in old time glamorous Hollywood, and excellent characters, then you should read The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Amanda’s Publisher is graciously offering a hardcover copy of THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from May 9-13, 2017

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Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Til Death Do Us PartAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description: 
Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials.
 
Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one of her clients, Trent doesn’t trust her. Scarred by his past, he’s learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an instant attraction threatens his resolve.
 
But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes clear that the danger may be coming from Calista’s own secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker…

 

 

Review:

Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick is a wonderful mystery thriller that takes place in Victorian London. Calista Langley, our heroine, runs a private respectable introduction agency from her house, to offer those who are alone in finding equal companions in the same situation.  Calista is being stalked, as she has received some creepy funeral  trinkets, such as a black wreath, black jewelry with her initials and a coffin bell.  Calista’s brother, Andrew and the long time servants fear for her, but she feels that going to the police will be no help.  She is also in the midst of rejecting a former suitor, who dumped her to marry a wealthy heiress, and now wants to pursue her again, even though he is still married. 

In the midst of this, enter our hero, Trent Hastings, who is a famous mystery writer.  Trent came to visit Calista, to check her out, as his sister is one of her clients.  After words were exchanged, he leaves only to come back the following day and apologize.  Trent discovers some of the trinkets and learns about Calista’s predicament.  She will turn to Trent for help and together they will embark on solving this mystery, which will turn out to be somewhat of a serial killer, and Calista seems to be the next marked victim.  This mystery was exciting, and at times scary, but the fun part was watching Trent use his skills as a detective from his writing and research.  A slow build romance will begin between Trent and Calista, but that is in the background with the mystery thriller totally in the forefront.

Amanda Quick does a fabulous job of creating so many twists and turns that changed our thoughts on the killer often.  Most of all, this mystery was so well written, and Quick (who is also Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle) puts us right in the middle of the investigation looking at the clues, and solving this mystery. I also loved the wonderful characters she has created; Calista, Trent, Andrew, Endura, even Mr. Pell, and some others.  Til Death Do Us Part was an exciting, edge of your seat thriller, a bit scary, and wonderful sweet couple that we rooted for.  I will say that the last 1/3 of the book was so exciting, suspenseful and tense, that I could not put the book down, not to mention more surprises.  This was a wonderful book that I wholly recommend.  Of course, you come to expect this from anything by the Quick, Krentz, Castle trio.  🙂

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

About The Author beige


The author of overAmanda Quick c Marc von Borstel(1) 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

You can learn more about Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle
at the following links:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

Excerpt beige

 

 

She belonged to him.

He was locked inside a cage the size and shape of a coffin. A dark thrill heated his blood like a powerful, intoxicating drug.When the time came he would purify the woman and cleanse himself with her blood. But tonight was not the time. The ritual had to be followed correctly. The woman must be made to comprehend and acknowledge the great wrong that she had done. There was no finer instructor than fear.

He huddled inside the concealed lift, listening to the sounds of someone moving about in the bedroom on the other side of the wall. There was a narrow crack in the paneling. Excitement sparked through him when he caught a glimpse of the woman. She was at her dressing table, adjusting the pins in her dark brown hair. It was as if she knew he was watching and was deliberately taunting him.

She was passable in appearance, but he had seen her on the street and had not been particularly impressed with her looks. She was overly tall for a woman and her forceful character was etched on her face. She was dangerous. It was all there in her unnerving eyes.

The woman rose from the dressing table chair and moved out of sight. A moment later he heard the muffled sound of the bedroom door opening and closing.

Silence.

He slid the cage door aside and opened the wooden panel. The wall sconce had been turned down low but he could make out the bed, the dressing table, and the wardrobe.

He moved out of the lift. The heady exhilaration he always experienced at such moments roared through him. With every step of the ritual he came closer to achieving his own purification.

For a precious few seconds he debated where to leave his gift. The bed or the dressing table?
The bed, he decided. So much more intimate.

He made his way out through the tradesmen’s entrance and slipped, unseen, into the gardens. The gate was still unlocked, just as he had left it.

A few minutes later he was lost in the fog. The weight of the knife in its sheath beneath his greatcoat was reassuring.

The ritual was almost complete.

The woman with the unnerving eyes would soon understand that she belonged to him. It was her destiny to be the one to cleanse him. He was certain of it. The connection between them was a bond that could be shattered only by death.

 

 

 

Giveaway beige

Amanda and her Publisher are offering a hardcover copy of TIL DEATH DO US PART to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from April 18-22, 2016

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