Book Review: Portrait of a Gossip by Melanie Jackson

Hi all,

It is no secret that I am a fan of Melanie Jackson's novels so whenever I'm in the mood for a book that I know will be well-written, interesting and entertaining, I pick up one of hers. And believe me, she has many to choose from. With over 50 novels to her credit and more on the way, there is an array of novels by this talented author to choose from.

Melanie writes several series of books and I was first hooked with her Wendover House Mystery Series. After enjoying all of those, I picked up the first book in the Miss Henry Mystery Series, Portrait of a Gossip. I really enjoyed this novel and I will be sure to read the other two in the series (and possibly more if they come along!) Here is more about this novel and my 5 star review.

Portrait of a Gossip (A Miss Henry Mystery Book 1)

Melanie Jackson

 

Book Description:

Juliet Henry, water-color artist and retired agent of the NSA, wouldn't stack up her knowledge of the human heart against the great romantic poets, but she knows a thing or two about human avarice and stupidity. It comes as no great surprise when the small artists' colony of Bartholomew's Woods ends up with a dead resident. Harvey Allen was a professional gossip, hated the length and breadth of the state for his scandal-mongering in the press, and it seemed that one of Juliet's talented but idiosyncratic neighbors had finally had enough of his pernicious tale-bearing and decided to paint him out of the picture. Juliet may sympathize, but she also knows that once a person resorts to murder to hide a secret, chances are good that they may choose to kill again. Can she find the murderer before the killer paints the town red?

Move over Miss Marple, there's a new sleuth in town. If you are a fan of Ngaio Marsh or Agatha Christie you are going to love Juliet Henry and the residents of Bartholomew's Woods.

Buy on Amazon Kindle or in Paperback    

 

My 5 Star Review:

There is murder in the little artist village and ex-NSA agent turned painter Juliet Henry is trying to unravel the mystery overtaking their little community of artists. Could one of the artists in their village really be a murderer?

This is another wonderfully written novel by Melanie Jackson. I just love her writing style and the characters are so real they just jump off the pages. I adored the character of Juliet Henry - she is both intelligent and humorous. If you enjoy a good mystery full of colorful characters, you will enjoy this novel. Melanie Jackson is a literary treasure!

 

More Novels by Melanie Jackson

 

 

I hope you will try one or more of Ms. Jackson's novels - you certainly won't be disappointed!

Cheers,
Deanna

Book Review: Pieces of Hate by Melanie Jackson

Hi all,

Pieces of Hate is the fourth book in the Wendover House Mystery Series by Melanie Jackson. I have to admit – I'm hooked on this series. They are fun mystery/suspense books with a few ghosts lurking about. And although the stories are not lengthy, they are lush with interesting characters and unique story lines. Melanie Jackson is a very busy writer who publishes several books a year in several different series. This is great for those of us who enjoy her beautiful writing style and interesting stories. Here is the book description and my 5 star review.

 

Pieces of Hate

Melanie Jackson

Book Description:

'Never before did I believe that the dead would truly ryse up in judgment if not layd to rest in consecrated ground. But I have seen with myne own eyes, those drowned faces and barnacled bones walking out of the surf.' So wrote Nicholas Wendover (aka Halfbeard, the pirate). But the troubled ghosts did rise every decade and come looking for their stolen treasure, the specially minted coins created by an Aztecan wizard called Pieces of Hate. Unfortunately, Nicholas Wendover was no longer alive and able to reveal where the stolen treasure might have been hidden. It was left to Tess McKay to discover the last of the missing coins before Little Goose Island was overrun with vengeful ghosts.

 

My 5 Star Review:

A creepy, barnacle-encrusted chest washes up on the island and Tess McKay has to figure out what it is and why it has appeared. Stories of pirates, cursed gold coins and mass murder ensue as Tess digs up more information about her notorious family background at Wendover House.

This fourth book in the Wendover House Mystery Series by Melanie Jackson will not disappoint fans of this series. Ms Jackson is an expert at writing these mystery/suspense novels with rich, full stories that entertain and delight. She has a lovely writing style that enhances the stories greatly – it's so lyrical, descriptive yet intriguing. I recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a beautifully written, entertaining, fun set of mystery books.

 

Buy Pieces of Hate on Amazon   

 

Read my reviews of the other books in this series:

The Secret Staircase  

Twelfth Night 

On Deadly Tides  

 

I hope you will all check out these and other novels by Melanie Jackson.

 

Cheers,

Deanna

 

 

Book Reviews: Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot, Romancing Olive & The Secret Staircase

Hi all,

(This post was modified on 4/10/13 to reflect the republishing of Ann Swann's novel.)

I love to read and I read a lot! Before I bought my Kindle, I read every big-name author I could find that I liked and once I had read my way through all their books, I was stuck waiting for a new one. Luckily, owning a Kindle allows me access to many new Indie Authors that I would not have otherwise known existed. I've had the opportunity to read so many great books by talented authors who maybe don't yet have a huge following, but definitely should. So, I'd like to share with you three of my favorite books so far from Indie Authors. As I read new authors, I plan on sharing their books with you in the future. Here we go...

Cover by Tugboat Design

Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot by Ann Swann

Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot is meant for a younger audience but I really do believe that anyone age 10 to 110 will love this book. It is a beautifully written story that keeps you interested from the first page to the last. Author Ann Swann is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more books by her. Here is a description of the book:

Book Description:

What do you do when a phantom needs your help?

A small plane crashes into Jase's backyard, and before long, he realizes the ghost of the pilot is haunting him. Jase needs help to rid himself of this supernatural visitor. When he sees his friend, Stevie, entering the town's legendary haunted house, he's certain she's the one who will have the answer to his problem. But will she help him? Would you?

My 5 Star Review:

Stevie and Jase are 12-year-old kids with a problem - a ghost is haunting Jase's house.

It's the late 1960s and Stevie (a girl) is trying to find her place in the world in a small town in Texas. Her best friend has moved away and she is in desperate need of a friend. Jason-Lee enters. He sees Stevie go inside a decrepit haunted house and decides she is the person who is best suited to help him with his problem - a ghost! He begins to tell her his story of the plane that crashed in his parent's field and the ghost-man who is now haunting him. The trouble is, he doesn't know why he is being haunted and he needs help finding out. Stevie and Jase begin an adventure that uncovers some town secrets that have long been buried.

I just loved this book! Even though it is meant for kids ages 10 and up - I think any adult who loves to read would enjoy this story, too. The author, Ann Swann, has a beautiful writing style that you can't help but be impressed with as well as the knack for telling a great story. You get such a wonderful feel for the time period and the characters are so real you can believe they live next door to you. I don't care if you are 10 or 110 - this book is well worth the read. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.



Romancing Olive by Holly Bush

If you like romance novels, you'll love Romancing Olive. Holly Bush creates memorable characters who you will fall in love with before they even know they are in love. It is a time-period story, so expect the story to have the flavor of this time period. Here is a description:

Book Description:

In 1891, spinster librarian, Olive Wilkins, is shocked to learn of her brother’s violent death at a saloon gaming table and her sister-in-law’s subsequent murder, traveling far from her staid life to rescue her niece and nephew, now orphans. She arrives to find the circumstances of her brother’s life deplorable and her long held beliefs of family and tradition, shaken.


Accustomed to the sophistication of Philadelphia, Olive arrives in Spencer, Ohio, a rough and tumble world she is not familiar with, facing two traumatized children. Her niece and nephew, Mary and John, have been living with a neighboring farmer, widower Jacob Butler, the father of three young children of his own and a man still in pain from the recent loss of his wife.

Real danger threatens Olive and Mary and John while Jacob and his own brood battle the day-to-day struggles for survival. Will Olive and Jacob find the strength to fight their battles alone or together? Will love conquer the bitterness of loss and broken dreams?

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My 5 Star Review:

I absolutely enjoyed reading Romancing Olive. This book is the perfect women's fiction book. It contains the right blend of romance, drama and action which makes it difficult to put down. The characters are realistic and believable and the story is well-thought out. You find yourself falling in love with Olive, Jacob and the kids quite easily. Author Holly Bush did a wonderful job bringing the past alive and keeping each character in context to their time period. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Bush's work.

The Secret Staircase by Melanie Jackson

I love how Melanie Jackson writes! She has such a beautiful style that flows so smoothly that it makes reading a delight. And her stories are just fun to read! I enjoyed The Secret Staircase immensely and also enjoyed book two in the series, Twelfth Night. Here is a description of the book:

Book Description:

A strange inheritance leads Tess MacKay to an island in Maine. In her unknown relative's ancient house, she discovers that the sins of the past are very much alive and able to be visited on the children. Smugglers and pirates and an old curse are not just things of the past, but dangers and mysteries to be reckoned with today.

My 5 Star Review

I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Staircase by Melanie Jackson. Ms. Jackson has a beautiful writing style that makes you not only enjoy the story, but also appreciate the art of writing. Her characters are so well thought out that you feel like you know them personally and the story line is given to you in small doses until you can't wait to see what happens next. I just couldn't put this book down. The perfect blend of mystery, suspense and intrigue. I am now hooked on Ms. Jackson's books and cannot wait to read book 2 in the series.

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I hope you will try one or more of these books and enjoy them as much as I did.

Cheers,
Deanna