The last four are a doozie

"The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley" by Jeremy Massey is definitely worth the read.  Paddy is a widower whose world is completely engulfed by his grief. He has buried himself into his work as an undertaker at a funeral home in Dublin when he meets Lucy, a new widow that is using the funeral services for her husband.   The two form an instant bond sharing their mutual mourning when Lucy falls dead.  This triggers a string of rather unusual and dangerous events involving mortuary accidents and the local mafia. 
This is an incredibly well written and riveting novel.  The author makes funeral home rituals and practices actually quiet interesting.  The action and romance keeps the reader reading well into the night unable to put the book down.  I give it four and a half stars.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review from www.firsttoread.com. 

Never a bride

"Always a Bridesmaid" by Melinda Curtis is a spin-off book from the Christmas Kisses collection and part 2 in the The Bridesmaid Series.  Nicole is a master baker who is providing the desserts for Tiff, the runaway bride's wedding.  Nicole believes she is suffering from the Siberian Curse.  Where she involuntarily becomes invisible to men that she finds attractive.  Sean is a chef that is also working the wedding.  Though he is attractive, his high and mighty attitude prevents Nicole from finding him desirable.  Sean, however,  wants to partner with her in the business to expand his restaurant.  He uses the "curse" to his advantage and tries to teach Nicole how to win a man.  Of course he falls right into his own trap. 
In the usual Curtis fashion, this is a witty, romantic, well-written novel.  I love her sense of humor and her characters.  This is a very quick read and rather short novel.  Perfect for passing the time or living romantically vicariously through her characters.  Four Hearts!  I received this e-book for free from the Sweet Team in exchange for an honest review.

X Files

In October of 2013 I began to watch the X Files.  It started as something to do while eating lunch at my desk at work, but evolved into a sort of obsession.  I watched it every day.  Well, I took a break here and there, but mostly every work day I watched it.  I even watched the movies, but only as they came out with the series.  I plugged in The Lone Gunmen when it was aired into the proper place.  I have finally finished the series.  I have now started on the books.  There are 5 I think.  I am not into graphic novels so I won't read them.  If you are interested there are tons of those.  When X Files was originally on, I worked evenings, so I didn't watch it, except when I got home they showed reruns.  But they weren't in order.  So though I liked it and it scared the crap out of me while all alone late at night watching, I didn't really get into the whole conspiracy thing.  I didn't make much sense out of order.  Eventually they quit syndicating it, so that was that.  No Netflix, so no watching.  Now with the wonders of technology, I can watch as I please.  I feel a little weird now with no episodes to watch.  Guess I'll have to start over. 

deadly echoes review

"Deadly Echoes" by Nancy Mehl is the second novel in the Finding Sanctuary series.  Sanctuary is a town in Missouri that has a Mennonite influence and is a safe haven from the world.  Sarah is a young teacher whose parents were murdered when she was a child and spent the majority of her childhood in foster care.  Her sister, Hannah, who has recently reunited with her, has also been murdered in a similar fashion.  Sarah then takes over the care of Hannah's 10 year old daughter Cicely and the search for the killers of her parents and now sister. 
Sarah is an extremely naive character.  Though she is told over and over to be cautious, she still continues to tell everything she knows about the murders to pretty much anyone who asks.  All the while talking about how she needs to be cautious.  Where this can get annoying, let's face it; that's what most people would do.  However, it doesn't do much to hide the killer from the reader.  Not a lot of mystery here.  However, the storyline between Sarah and Cicely as they form a relationship is extremely realistic.  Cicely can really cut a person to the quick.  I like how the author has a no holds barred account of their relationship.  Good read.  I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House. 

Infinite exiles

"Exiles" by RJ Larson is Book One in the Realms of the Infinite series.  Though it is a book one, it coincides with Larson's Books of the Infinite Series.  I have not read the first series, so I spent the first couple chapters a little confused.  I would recommend reading the first series before starting this one.  I have Prophet and it is on my TBR list.  It just got bumped up the list.  In Exiles, Araine is a Atea follower who has found scrolls with scripture written on them.  Doubting the existence of Atea, Araine quickly grows to love the word of the Infinite, what Larson's characters calls God in the two series. Araine is being peddled off to a man of high ranking by her parents in order to boost their status.  Following a betrayal, she is taken into slavery.   Nikaros is a follower of the Infinite, but is taken from his family by Atea believers for a ransom.  The two young people form a union of sorts and help each other in the courts of their slavery. 
This novel is a Christian Fantasy.  It is told in a whole new way of exploring where Christian fiction can go.  Larson sets her mind wide open.  Fantasy readers out there will love it.  I received this book for free in exchange for a review from www.bookfun.org.