Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

 Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

4 Stars

Thank you to Dana Mentink and thank you Harlequin for providing a gifted copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is a fun cozy, historical mystery! It's set in 1905 at a grand hotel in San Francisco with a daily duck parade - its unique and stands out among the crowd. I liked the unique cast of characters, especially Saul as he was starting over after being a former convict. The ducks cracked me up. Nice faith thread. 

Saul, Henry and Kitty were a dynamic trio who really bring the story to life. Funny and lighthearted to me - very cozy vibes. Kind of leans like classic mystery too, which was good change of pace compared to other cozies. I read a lot of modern cozy mysteries, so it was cool to have a historical one. 

If you enjoy lighthearted historical mysteries with eccentric characters and a very memorable cast of ducks, this might be one to try! 

content: no language, clean romance, cozy mystery but few mentions of body parts in the murders

✨Synopsis✨

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UpZxfz
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Act Of Valor by Dana Mentink

   

    

Act of Valor by Dana Mentink 

4 Stars 

I really enjoyed this love inspired romantic suspense! Any book with a beagle is going to be a win in my book! Action packed, good characters I connected with, a sweet romance, tender faith moments, friends to more, a great dog, what more can I say? 

I usually like the love inspired books with dogs, they always seem to be the best. The rest of the series is on my radar for sure. 

The dog moments were fun, especially the hilarious scene when Eddie was tearing apart her couch! We have always had beagles in our family so I am biased. :)

I also love when the love inspired reads have friends to more trope because I always connect to the characters so much easier. :) Loved Zach and Violet's connection.

Thank you to Harlequin for a gifted copy of the audiobook to listen to for review. All thoughts are my own.

About the Book:

Airline employee Violet Griffin encounters suspicious passengers and is pushed into the crosshairs of a drug smuggling operation. NYPD officer Zach Jameson and his drug detection beagle, Eddie, work to keep Violet safe and catch the bad guys. Zach refuses to lose his friend...and the woman he is falling for...especially after the loss of his brother.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death of loved one, grief, action scenes with guns and mild violence, mention of sibling death

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Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

Book Review: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink 

3 Stars 

Book 1 in the Elements of Danger Series 

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, high-stakes Christian romantic suspense, this one certainly delivers. The plot immediately throws you into danger, with a volcanic eruption, a mystery baby, and a woman with no memory trying to piece it all together. The tension never lets up, making it a definite page-turner.

That said, the romance aspect fell a bit flat for me. It leaned heavily into “trauma bonding,” / "trauma romance" with Kit and Cullen forming a connection during extreme circumstances without much time to genuinely get to know one another. Their relationship felt rushed, with a sudden kiss that didn’t feel entirely earned given how little groundwork was laid. It left me wishing we’d had a chance to see who they were outside of the crisis they were enduring and wanting them to have time to know each other outside of the trauma before jumping into a loving relationship.

Still, the action-packed storyline and the unique setting of an active volcanic zone kept me engaged. Dana Mentink knows how to write suspense and I appreciated the clean, faith-based elements woven throughout. While the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me and didn't really stand out... this is a quick, adrenaline-fueled read for fans of survival-driven suspense reads with a light romance thread.

Thank you to Revell for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7673102957
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618557
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EWJTkp

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