The Grave Artist by Paula Lynn Johnson

Book Blurb:
16-year-old Clare can't stop drawing the bizarre, winged skulls she calls "Sammies". Her psychiatrist assumes the compulsive drawings are just expressions of Clare's grief over her father abandoning her. But then Clare discovers that her Sammies are exact matches for the Death's Head on the grave of Samantha Forsythe, a teen who reportedly fell to her death over two centuries ago.

Before long, Clare's drawings morph into cryptic writings that urge her to uncover the truth behind Samantha's death. Together with Neil -- the friend she might be falling for -- Clare scours the local history for clues. She finds that, although Samantha was engaged to a wealthy landowner, there were whispered rumors of her involvement with a younger, biracial man.

Riversong by Tess Hardwick

Book Blurb:

Author Tess Hardwick assembles a colorful cast of endearing small-town characters and takes you on a journey that will make you believe in the possibilities of life - even in the face of overwhelming adversity and unimaginable grief .Lee Tucker is the kind of woman you find yourself rooting for long after the last page is read. When her husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother's dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee's resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband's debt as her business blooms.A surprising mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food, Riversong entertains while reminding you of life's greatest gifts.

Edwina Downs by Wendy Altschwager

Book Blurb:

The powerful Thornton family have owned this magnificent property: 'Edwina Downs', for over a hundred years. Robert and his wife Lavinia live a very wealthy prestigious life as socialites.

Robert is a ruthless and manipulative businessman, often engagingin exploitation and blackmail to expand his empire.

Robbie together with Maggie, takes over the management of the property. Following a freak accident, Robbie offers his mate Jake the position of the new overseer, and inadvertently the two discover Robert Thornton's devious past.

For those who live and work at Edwina Downs, life is never dull....Things are not always as they seem, and life throws up new challenges...

Everyone has a secret... Especially those looking for love..

Blood Born by Kathryn Fox

Book Blurb:

For pathologist and forensic physician Dr Anya Crichton, the death of a gang rape victim hours before she is due to give evidence at trial is a double tragedy. The violent Harbourn brothers, the girl’s accused attackers, now look like they will escape prosecution. But the Harbourns’ trail of destruction doesn’t end there. When two sisters are brutally assaulted and one of them is killed, Anya begins working round the clock to catch the Harbourns and nail their ringleader, the deviously clever Gary. With the help of Detective Kate Farrer and the surprise involvement of star litigator Dan Brody, she begins to discover just how twisted this family really is, and what they’re capable of. In Dr Anya Crichton’s most difficult case yet, she must piece together the evidence before a killer’s attention is turned on her…

Optical Delusions in Deadwood by Ann Charles

Book Blurb:

Someone is spreading rumors around Deadwood that Violet Parker likes to chat with dead folks.

With her reputation endangered, her bank account on the verge of extinction, and her career at risk of going up in flames, Violet is desperate. When the opportunity to sell another vintage home materializes, she grabs it, even though this "haunted" house was recently the stage for a two-act, murder-suicide tragedy.

Ghost or no ghost, Violet knows this can't be as bad as the last house of horrors she tried to sell, but sexy Doc Nyce has serious doubts. Her only hope of hanging on to her job is to prove that the so-called, ghostly sightings are merely the eccentric owner's optical delusions.

A Blogger's Tale - a.k.a. Why do I blog?

As a participant in Terri Giuliano Long's Celebrating Bloggers Blog Hop I was asked to write a little piece about why I blog about my book reviews and why I support authors, especially independent authors. Oh! And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter drawing at the bottom of this post for the chance to win great prizes!

Crazy in Paradise by Deborah Brown

Book Blurb:
When Madison Westin, the main character, inherits her aunt’s beachfront motel in the Florida Keys, or so she thinks. Tarpon Cove is not your typical sleepy beach town: Seduction, drunks, ex-cons and fugitives are not the usual fare for someone looking to start a new chapter in their life. Wrestling control of the property from both the lawyer and the conniving motel manager will be no easy feat. But Madison likes living on the edge so she feels right at home. Bullets fly, a dead body turns up, a kidnapping and blackmail. Madison really has to learn not to leave home without her Glock or it could get her killed.

My review:

I'd rate this book 4 of 5 stars. It is chock full of quirky characters, our heroine is fun and relatable if a little slower on the uptake than I might have expected. And it was an enjoyable read - great as a beach or holiday read. Lots of light fun.