#Review - Blind Bake by Denise Grover Swank #Cozy #Mystery

Series: Maddie Baker Mystery # 1
Format: Kindle, 428 pages
Release Date: February 20, 2022
Publisher: Independently published
Source: Amazon
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Contemporary

A month ago, I quit my job and finally left my commitment-phobe boyfriend (seriously Steve, seven years is long enough to know if I’m the one). Then I moved back to my hometown of Cockamamie, Tennessee, to take care of my newly widowed Aunt Deidre.

Somehow, I’ve stumbled my way into a murder investigation. Like literally. I tripped. And now the detective thinks I might be the murderer. Okay, so I told the newly deceased old fart off, but he deserved it. That doesn’t mean I’m the killer.

And the idiot detective? Sure, he’s insanely hot, but it just so happens he’s the grandson of my grandmother’s nemesis. I’m sure he’s holding thatt against me.

My best friend thinks Detective Noah Langley should be holding his body against me, but I wouldn’t consider it if he was the last man on earth.

So now my life’s a complicated mess. I need to clear my name, make sure my aunt with dementia doesn’t wander off again, and find the killer since the Cockamamie taxpayers seem to be wasting their money on Detective Langley’s salary.

Oh, and I really need a job.

Blind Bake is the first installment in author Denise Grover Swank's Maddie Baker Mystery series. In this book, the author has two main characters: 34-year-old Maddie Baker, and 37-year-old Detective Noah Langley. A month ago, Maddie, who used to be a librarian at a Middle School, returned to her hometown of Cockamamie, Tennessee (not a real town) where she left 18 years ago after her mother was brutally murdered by an unknown suspect. 

Two months ago, Maddie's Uncle died and she moved in with her Aunt Deidre who is suffering from early state Dementia and can't be left alone. Maddie needs an income to pay her bills so she is working as a barista at the local coffee shop and also working in her off hours as an Uber driver. One night, Maddie picks up a passenger who is not only rude, but also carrying a smelly paper bag. After a verbal tirade for the way he treated her, Maddie has no idea that her life is going to change.

Detective Noah Langley is looking for a new start after having his life nearly cut short in Memphis. He was a successful detective in the city, known for his dedication and closing his cases. But a bad judgment call ended up with him suffering a bullet wound. Noah's experience has made him a bit jaded, and nervous that he might have to reach for his gun again in order to stop someone. Noah is known for closing cases and solving mysteries, which is exactly what they need in this Cockamamie town which is apparently filled with corrupt and incompetent cops.

Just as he is settling in, he is lead detective in a murder case for a man known as Martin Schroeder. The same man who Maddie gave a ride to. The same man she argued with. Noah becomes interested in Maddie after it appears that she is not only involved somehow, but she seems to be everywhere where Noah's investigation happens to take him. For Maddie, the case brings back really awful memories of her own mother’s murder eighteen years ago, a murder that was never solved. Both Noah and Maddie are searching for the answers and not only to the murder of Martin Schroeder.

*Overall, this is an entertaining story. I liked Maddie, and I wanted to hug her at the same time. She has known loss like few of us will ever experience. She tried to change her life, only to have to return home where she runs into one of the persons who tried hard to ruin her back in High School. Getting caught up in a murder investigation would have scared most people, but Maddie stands and delivers one of the best scenes in the book when she teaches Noah a thing or two about self-defense. She also reaches out to the homeless community with kindness. Something that melted my heart. I liked Noah, and I could understand how he ran cold at times. I liked his partner Lance Forrester as well. They make a great team, and Lance isn't afraid of getting a shot or two in on Noah, especially when it comes to Maddie. As for the mystery as to whom was responsible for Andrea Baker's murder, we will have to wait until the author is ready to reveal the persons identity.

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#Review - Little Girl Vanished by Denise Grover Swank #Mystery #Suspense

Series: Harper Adams # 1
Format: EBook, 385 pages
Release Date: June 20, 2023
Publisher: DGS
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Mystery / Suspense

With a friend’s child missing, and the police failing, disgraced ex-detective Harper enlists the aid of a former crime boss to untangle a mystery that strikes too close to home.

Disgraced, ex-detective Harper Adams is perfectly content wallowing at rock bottom. She’s lost her job, house, and reputation, and it only gets worse when she’s forced to move back home to Jackson Creek, Arkansas, the one place she swore she’d never return.

But everything changes when she gets chilling news. A childhood friend’s daughter is missing…and it’s eerily reminiscent of Harper’s sister’s kidnapping and murder two decades ago.

Not her business.

Except with the police fumbling the case at every turn, Harper realizes she might be the only one who can save the girl.

And she might need the help of James "Skeeter" Malcolm a former crime boss to do it. 

Little Girl Vanished, by author Denise Grover Swank, is the first installment in the authors Harper Adams series. 36-year-old Harper Adams is a former detective in Little Rock who shot and killed a suspect 4 months ago who shot at her first. Because no weapon was found, Harper was charged with second degree murder. She lost her job, her home, her reputation, and everyone truly believes that she got away with murder after being found not guilty. Harper was forced to move back to her home town where she currently takes up space in an apartment over her parents garage.

Harper is by all accounts, an alcoholic who has lost the reason for living. 20 years ago, her younger sister was kidnapped at gun point, and later murdered. The police believe that Harper could have done more to save her sister, including the Chief of Police who is still on the job. Enter James "Skeeter" Malcolm a former Fenton County crime boss who allegedly first appeared in the authors Rose Gardner Investigations. For most of the story, Malcolm is more of a thorn in Harper's side than a person who she could find any connection to. 

So, when there appears to be yet another kidnapping just 2 short weeks after Harper returned home, trouble once again appears to be following Harper where ever she goes. What's even more suspicious is that the kidnapped girl, Ava, is the daughter of Harper's sister's best friend Vanessa Peterman. With her sisters kidnapper and apparent killer behind bars, could this be a copycat? Could the kidnapper be sending Harper herself a message that she should have been the one taken, not her sister? As for Malcolm, he's basically a thorn in everyone's side including Chief Larson who wants Malcom behind bars. 

Someone, it appears, is going to great lengths to make it seem as though Harper is not only a murderer, but she's not wanted in Lone County. That includes Harper's own mother who seems especially sad to see how Harper turned out. I am going to differ from most reviewers so I beg your indulgence. I think Harper has severe case of PTSD that has not been healed. The more she drinks, the more she ignores the fact that her life was destroyed in a moment's notice and now it appears that someone wants to finish what they started 20 years ago. 

Fact is that I did not read the authors previous series with Malcolm in it so I don't know his past, nor does the author address it fully in this book which is fair. In this book, he is the bad guy who tries to do good, but has numerous people trying to take him down. Malcolm, however, may be Harper's only ally whether she wants him around or not. Harper has to find Vanessa's daughter quickly or face another shocking loss of life that may shatter what hope she has of finding happiness.  

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#Review - Silver Staked by Shannon Mayer, Denise Grover Swank #Urban #Fantasy

Series: The Blood Bourne # 1
Format: Kindle, 374 pages
Release Date: March 1st 2017
Publisher: Hijinks Ink Publishing
Source: Amazon
Genre: Urban Fantasy

My name is Leah, and I am a Cazador. Trained to hunt and kill vampires over 300 years ago, my training became essential once I became one of those monsters.

The underbelly of the supernatural world has begun to bleed into the human world and journalist Rachel Sambrook, is asking too many dangerous questions. Unwittingly, she's revealed a conspiracy I had hoped would never become a reality; using vampire blood for human experiments.

As I attempt to contain her, she's by my side as the truth of just how deep the darkness goes is exposed. Unfortunately, the consequences have also brought forth the creatures that hide around every corner; thirsty for flesh.

The only question remaining is which one of us will survive the inevitable bloodbath​ ahead?

SILVER STAKED was previously released under the title "Recombinant"

Silver Staked, formerly released as Recombinant, is the first installment in co-authors Shannon Mayer & Denise Grover Swank's The Blood Borne series. This story features two main characters: Lea is a Cazador aka Vampire Hunter. She was a vampire hunter turned into a vampire and now she hunts her own with hopes she can eliminate every single last one of them. Rachel Sambrook is a fiercely aggressive freelance journalist who covered Iraq conflict before stumbling into the story of a lifetime. Sometimes stories really do knock on your door by the most unlikely of sources.

We get a dual POV set up for Silver Staked with each chapter alternating between Lea and Rachel. Glimpses of their lives before they met each other are scattered here and there. We are introduced to a world of vampires and hunter. The story is set mostly in New York City where it appears as though something major is happening right under the noses of its citizens. Lea and her helper Calvin, who is human, have been killing vampires for 50 years. Lea feels a pull towards New York City where someone appears to be throwing down a challenge for her to come and stop them if she can. What's worse, is that the Vampire Council seems to be working with someone to lure Lea into a trap so that they can use her to create more unstoppable monsters.

Risky Rachel who is willing to rush into danger for a good story, stumbles onto the fact that it appears that 7 people have died in what's being called Vampire Murders. But, when her best friend Derrick arrives, Rachel jumps feet first into the action without understanding the consequences or danger she is facing. Derrick claims that the US is conducting medical experiments on unwilling prisoners and those who won't be missed. What's worse, is that Rachel's Ex, Lt. Sean Price, also shows up at her door warning her to stay out of whatever Derrick is involved in for her own good. After meeting with Lea, Rachel ends up deep in conspiracies that might go up to the farthest reaches of the government. But, don't count out Rachel. She's fierce, she's been trained in self-defense, and the use of firearms. She's not one who will easily give up. 

Shannon Mayer and Denise Grover Swank have combined their talent for storytelling seamlessly creating a new, be it dark, urban fantasy series with great potential. They have built a convincing world with many layers and secrets combined with a well developed cast of characters hiding secrets of their own. Government conspiracies, genetic engineering, edge of your seat action, monsters, and of course vampires, combine to create an excellent first installment in what is hopefully going to be an amazing series.

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