Category: Dana Mentink

2020 Favorite Books (Giveaway)

1/4/2021

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Favorite Books From 2020

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2020.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2020 Reviews

Top 20 Print Christian Fiction Books

Honorable Mention
The Raven by Mike Nappa
The Major's Daughter by Regina Jennings
One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

Secular Fiction

May contain elements of faith but are not strictly 'Christian' fiction

Top 10 Love Inspired Books

Honorable Mention
Her Cowboy Till Christmas by Jill Kemerer
Amish Country Kidnapping by Mary Alford
Wilderness Sabotage by Heather Woodhaven

Top 10 E-Books

Dangerous Deceptions

Honorable Mention
Reviving The Commander by Nadine C. Keels

Top 10 Fiction Audiobooks

Christian & Clean Reads

Top Dramatized Audiobooks

Honorable Mention
The Sacrifice by Karin Kaufman
A Glazed Finish by Eryn Scott
Love In Lead by Kari Trumbo

Top 10 YA Books

Christian & Clean Reads

Honorable Mention
Fated by Kaylin Lee
The Secret Of The Wooden Lady by Carolyn Keene
A Curse Of Gems by Brittany Fichter

Top 5 Non-Fiction Books

Christian and Secular

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Historical Duo

Contemporary Duo

I'm giving away winner's choice of the Historical Duo or the Contemporary Duo
Both sets contain Print copies.
USA ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

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Book Review - Secrets Resurfaced by Dana Mentink

8/22/2020

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Secrets Resurfaced
Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book 4
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

Searching for the truth
could get them killed…

When new evidence surfaces about a tragic boating accident that put her ex-boyfriend’s father in prison, private investigator Dory Winslow’s determined to look into it. But now someone’s dead set on silencing her. And working with Chad Jaggert—the father of her secret child—may be the only way to survive the treacherous truth about the tragedy that once tore them apart.

ISBN-13: 9781335402868

The past has come back to bit them...

Wow! I seriously think Secrets Resurfaced may just be my favorite book in the Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series. Dana Mentink always delivers spine-tingling suspense with twists and turns that keep you guessing and that's what keeps me eagerly anticipating each new release.

I loved Secrets Resurfaced and had a great time trying to figure out just who was behind it all. I did come pretty close to figuring it out, but not all of it. Dana Mentink really had my emotions engaged in the story and its characters. Like the hero in the first Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book I kinda didn't like Chad for awhile but he finally grew on me. Darcy and her daughter, however, I liked right off the bat.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Whether it's romantic comedy or romantic suspense every book from Dana Mentink is a winner in my opinion and I've enjoyed every one that I've read. Secrets Resurfaced was no exception and I would recommend it to any Love Inspired Suspense fan.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Secrets Resurfaced by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Audiobook Review - Desert Desperate by Dana Mentink

4/21/2020

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Genre:
Romantic Comedy

Desert Desperate
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

The Arizona desert is lovely in August.
If you’re a cactus.

If you’re not green and prickly it’s like standing in the bottom of a volcano hoping your SPF 15 will do the trick. So how does Simone Greevey, a twenty something e-zine editor from San Francisco wind up wearing a duck costume in sweltering Seepwillow, Arizona? In Desert Desperate, Simone loses her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop and runs to the arms of her eccentric aunt, owner of the Ruddy Duck trailer park, a hundred miles from nowhere.

There she meets Chaz Tagliola, a guy who doesn’t know Jimmy Choo from Jiminy Cricket, a man with a passion for God and the one thing Simone has tried to forget about for the decade since her father’s death. Before her suitcase is unpacked; Simone’s aunt disappears, leaving Chaz and Simone to lead a five day junior high school Bible study camp. Bug lightings? Hot dog roasts? Cactus jam recipes? It’s a whole new world for a San Francisco girl. Throw in a mysterious park tenant and a breathtaking natural discovery and the stage is set for Simone to learn a divine lesson that will rock her world in a big way.

ASIN: B01BLUL3O4

City girl meets desert trailer park...

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Oh, boy! What a cute story! I laughed. I shook my head. And just plain enjoyed this audiobook. While I'm more familiar with Dana Mentink's romantic suspense novels I have read some of her rom-coms, of which Desert Desperate is a charming addition. The heroine is what we'd call today a hot mess. She gets dumped by her fiance in front of a Sunday school classroom full of pre-schoolers and loses her dream job to a friend, so she heads to Arizona...in the middle of summer...to stay in a trailer park. What else could go wrong? Well, before she can find faith, find herself, and find romance, pretty much everything goes...duh-uh-duh...south. And that's where all the fun comes in!

As I mentioned I listened to this book in audio. The sound and production were good. The narrator was pretty good, she didn't always hit the emotional inflections spot on but I did think her voice was an excellent match for Simone. And, hey, if you can narrate a book that, unabridged, comes in at just under 12 hours you deserve some kudos.

Anyway...Don't forget the moral that can be taken from this zany tale, you should never head to the desert without an umbrella, oh, and SPF 15 just ain't gonna cut it...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Desert Desperate by Dana Mentink a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Cold Case Connection by Dana Mentink

3/7/2020

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Cold Case Connection
Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book 3
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

Hunting down old leads
puts a murderer on their trail.

Convinced his sister’s death wasn’t an accident, private investigator Sergio Ross is determined to catch her killer. But with all the clues hinting at a connection to another unsolved murder, he has to join forces with Helen Pike—a woman linked to both deaths—to find the truth. Can they follow the cold evidence trail to get justice…before they become the next victims?

ISBN-13: 9781335402639

2 dead...is there a Cold Case Connection?

Well, I really shouldn't be surprised. After all, Dana Mentink is right up there on my list of top favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors. But, boy did I get involved in Cold Case Connection! I loved Helen right from the start but I got so mad at some of Sergio's attitudes that I stewed over them even when I wasn't reading the book! Though,I have to be honest and say that when I wasn't reading didn't happen very often. I pretty much read right on through because I couldn't put it down. One of those reasons, was, of course, because I just HAD to know if my guesses as to the killer's identity were correct. And one of them was, but wasn't, I had the right clue and the right person but not for the reason I thought. Dana Mentink really did a great job leading her characters, and readers, on one wild ride of danger and romance!

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Cold Case Connection is the third book in the Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series and it can be read standalone but I don't recommend missing any of these exciting stories. I've enjoyed all of them so far and I know I am eagerly anticipating the next book...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Cold Case Connection by Dana Mentink a 4 Bark rating.

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2019 Favorites (E-Books)

1/9/2020

3 Comments

Favorite E-Books From 2019

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite
e-books read and reviewed in 2019.
You can find all of those reviewed and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2019 Reviews

E-Books

Shorter Stories
under 200 pages

Non-Fiction

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

3 Comments

2019 Favorites (Print)

1/9/2020

0 Comments

Favorite Print Books From 2019

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2019.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2019 Reviews

Fiction

Secular Fiction

We are excited to start reading and reviewing in the
new year and hope you will be joining us for...

0 Comments

2019 Reading Year In Review

12/31/2019

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Reading Year In Review

Goodreads Reading Challenge
Goal: 75 books
Started: January 1st
Completed: June 19th

« First Book Completed

Last Book Completed »

Fiction: 151*+ Non-Fiction: 1 Other: 0
Print Books: 94 E-Books: 58*+ Audiobooks: 0

« Shortest Book

Longest Book »

Total Number of Books Read: 152+
Total Pages Read: 38,939
Percentage Of Challenge Completed: 203%

See My Book List

*Read the same e-book twice in 2019.
+Read a boxed set that contained 6 individual (e-)books.

Review Stats

Total Number of Reviews: 117

Fiction: 117 Non-Fiction: 1
Print Books: 78 E-Books: 40*+ Audiobooks: 0
CDs: 0 Movies: 0 Other: 0

* Indicates there may have been more than one book in a single review.
+Read a boxed set that contained 6 individual (e-)books.

« First Review

Last Review »

for sticking with us in 2019!

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Book Review - Deadly Christmas Pretense by Dana Mentink

12/30/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Deadly Christmas Pretense
Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book 2
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

A cowboy to her rescue...
but she's not who he thinks she is.

Posing as her sister for Christmas is the only way to save her, but Maggie Lofton needs help--even if it means working with her twin's cowboy ex-boyfriend, Liam Pike. But between the bull's-eye on her back and the dangerous connection she's forming with Liam, Maggie's mission is harder than expected. Will their tenuous partnership be enough to shield her when the killer closes in?

ISBN-13: 9781335232465

The Cowboy and the Cook, in danger, and in love...

Wow, another exciting Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book! I probably say this every time but I think this is probably my favorite series from author Dana Mentink. Book two in the series, Deadly Christmas Pretense, was great! It had thrills, chills, and even a few spills!

If you are into flawed heroes this is the book for you. If there were a dictionary definition I would think Liam's name would be somewhere in the examples. But I liked him, he's also protective, loyal, and a decent guy. Maggie has spunk, she's willing to do whatever it takes to save her sister, and she's exactly what Liam needs.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Deadly Christmas Pretense is a prime example of why Dana Mentink is one of my top favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors, her romantic comedy is good, too, by the way. Anyway, this was an enjoyable read, perfect for reading during the holiday season, like I did. If you love tense romantic suspense, and cowboys, set during Christmastime, this is the book you need to read...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Deadly Christmas Pretense by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Danger On The Ranch by Dana Mentink

8/15/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Danger On The Ranch
Roughwater Ranch Cowboys book 1
Love Inspired Suspense
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

A Roughwater Ranch Cowboys story

After putting his serial killer brother in prison, former US marshal Mitch Whitehorse chooses a solitary country life--until his brother escapes. Now Mitch's former sister-in-law, Jane Reyes, needs protection...for herself and the toddler she's kept a secret. Mitch still isn't sure of Jane's innocence in his brother's crimes, but to keep his nephew out of a killer's grasp, trusting her is his only option.

ISBN-13: 9781335232168

Will a killer destroy everything...?

Danger, check. Romance, check. Intrigue, check. Family, check. A truly psychopathic killer, check. Once again author Dana Mentink ticks all of the required boxes for a thrill-a-minute edge-of-your-seat pulse-pounding romantic suspense novel. Plus, on top of all that, you also get cowboys. Tell me, what more could you ask for?

Despite the fact that I kinda disliked the hero at first, it took me some time to warm up to him, I think Danger On The Ranch is one, if not the, favorite Dana Mentink book that I've read so far. I couldn't seem to put it down and read far into the night, far later than I should have.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

With Danger On The Ranch the author is off to a good start in her Roughwater Ranch Cowboys series. I definitely recommend it to fans of Love Inspired Suspense and I, for one, can't wait for the next book in the series.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Danger On The Ranch by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Act Of Valor by Dana Mentink

7/14/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Act Of Valor
True Blue K-9 Unit book 2
Love Inspired Suspense
by Dana Mentink

-From Goodreads-

She saw something she shouldn't have...
A True Blue K-9 Unit story

When airline employee Violet Griffin encounters several suspicious passengers, she's thrust into the crosshairs of a drug smuggling operation. NYPD officer Zach Jameson and his drug detection beagle, Eddie, can tell this is no small-time threat. Someone's gunning for Violet, and after recently losing his brother, Zach refuses to lose her, too...especially now that she's gone from friend to the woman he's falling for.

ISBN-13: 9781335232076

Will she let him protect her....?

Dana Mentink is by far one of my favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors and I read any of her novels that I can get my hands on, whether it's a standalone book or part of a continuity series like Act Of Valor happens to be.

Act Of Valor is a nail-biting tale of danger right from the start. Readers, and the characters, are dropped into the action from the first chapter and you are kept on the edge of your seat from there until the end. Speaking of the characters, Zach is the quintessential tortured hero and Violet has tough exterior and gentle heart, but it was the homebaked-gourmet-organic-treat-eating Beagle, Eddie who captured my heart. What can I say, I'm a sap for a cute dog in uniform...

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Author Website

Dana Mentink's contribution to the True Blue K-9 Unit series was an excellent one and a book I definitely enjoyed. Now I just need to read to the rest of them and find out about the overarching mystery...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Act Of Valor by Dana Mentink a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Mini-Review - Shield Of Protection by Dana Mentink

7/2/2019

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Shield Of Protection
True Blue K-9 Unit book 0.5
Love Inspired Suspense
by Dana Mentink

Protecting and serving in the Big Apple

An exciting prequel to the True Blue K-9 Unit series

Her uncle’s business practices have put a target on April Reed’s back. He’s gone into hiding, and April’s the only link the drug runners have to him. NYPD K-9 Unit officer Declan Maxwell and his dog, Storm, will do anything to keep her safe. With danger stalking them, they’ll race to save her uncle without losing their lives in the process.

ASIN: B07FKQN2JS

My Review

Danger lurks...all around them...

Shield Of Protection is the first prequel that I've read for any of the Love Inspired Suspense series and it was a real treat as it's written by one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. Dana Mentink starts off the book, and series, with a real bang and paves the way for what I know will prove to be a heart-stopping K-9 series that is sure to appeal to dog-lovers and suspense fans....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shield Of Protection by Dana Mentink a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge

6/25/2019

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2019 Reading Challenge

Jasmine has completed her goal of reading 75 books in 2019!

hide

79 of 75 (100%)

view books

So, I completed my Goodreads 2019 Reading Challenge today! Well, actually it was more like almost a week ago, but... I wound up finishing 8 days earlier this year than last year. Not too bad, considering how busy I've been!

I am by no means done with reading for this year, couldn't stop even if I wanted to, which I don't, so check back at the end of the year to see my total stats for 2019 and whether I break last year's record of 163 total books logged into my Goodreads Reading Challenge.

2019 Stats

Goal: 75 books.
Started: January 1st
Completed: June 19th

Number of Books Ahead of Schedule: 40

Total Pages Read: 17,893

Fiction: 75 Non-Fiction: 0
Print Books: 44 E-Books: 31 Audiobooks: 0

First Book Completed (starting the challenge):
Flights Of Fancy by Jen Turano

Midway Book In The Challenge:
The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Final Book Completed (finishing the challenge):
Harbor Secrets by Melody Carlson

Longest Book (most pages):

Boxed Set
Wish Upon A Christmas Star by Kit Morgan, Allie Pleiter, Danielle Thorne, K.D. Garcia, Jessica L. Elliott,
Rachel A. Andersen. 682 pages.

Single Book
The Coffee Club Mysteries by Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink,
Candice Prentice, Janice Thompson. 448 pages.

Oldest Book:
The Cherokee Trail by Louis L'Amour
(1982)

Newest Book:
Wander Canyon Courtship
(July 1st, 2019)

This one isn't even released yet!

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2019 Birthday Celebration - This Or That Interview with Dana Mentink + Giveaway

2/13/2019

3 Comments

Protecting and serving in the Big Apple
An exciting prequel to the True Blue K-9 Unit series

Her uncle’s business practices have put a target on April Reed’s back. He’s gone into hiding, and April’s the only link the drug runners have to him. NYPD K-9 Unit officer Declan Maxwell and his dog, Storm, will do anything to keep her safe. With danger stalking them, they’ll race to save her uncle without losing their lives in the process.

ASIN: B07FKQN2JS

This Or That Interview
with author Dana Mentink

#1. Cats or dogs? It’s dogs for this family. Those of you who follow me on social media have already met Junie the Wonder Dog. She’s eleven pounds of trouble in a fur coat, but we love the little pencil eating stinker! She’s rescued through a local shelter.

#2. Print or E-reader? Print. I will confess here that I brutalize my books, dog eared, folded pages, scribbling, you just can’t get that hands on experience with an ebook!

#3. Cake or Cookies? Why discriminate? I am happy to eat either one. Feel free to send dessert offerings along to my P.O. Box. Ha!

Junie the Wonder Dog

#4. Early Bird or Night Owl? I am embarrassed to say I go to bed as early as I possibly can get away with, and then I’m up at the crack of dawn. Since I haven’t slept through the night since roughly 1989, I am always ready for bed before the sun sets. Seriously. Party girl right here, huh? I teach third grade as well, so you have to be awake, alert and enthusiastic when those little feet cross the threshold! (See below to experience my pillow obsession problem.)

#5. Introvert or Extrovert? I am basically an introvert, but I can choose to be an extrovert when the occasion demands.

#6. Historical or Suspense? Suspense. I find that my attention span has gotten smaller and smaller as I age, so I need a good, fast paced suspense to keep my turning pages. Throw a ton of description at me and I’m struggling, so suspense fits me right now.

#7. Green or Pink? Green. Kermit the Frog is one of my biggest role models, so...

Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I’m thinking about this one...

It pains me, really pains me, the way we judge each other and jump so quickly to being offended. Sadly, I have noticed that we Christians can be crushingly judgmental, even of our brothers and sisters in the faith. I repeat this scripture often to remind myself that I’m forgiven, marred and scuffed as I am, and I need to extend that forgiveness to others as much as I can. We’re in this together!

-Dana Mentink-

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over thirty five titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Barbour Books, and Harvest House. Dana was thrilled to be a semi-finalist in the Jeanne Robertson Comedy With Class Competition. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle.

You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com,
on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authordanamentink/ and Instagram (dana_mentink

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Giveaway: Dana’s next release, Shield of Protection, is a prequel novella to kick off
the upcoming Love Inspired Suspense continuity True Blue K-9 Unit.
She will be giving away a digital copy of that novella, as well as a “readers choice” ebook.
The winner can hop onto Dana’s website or her Amazon author page and select a book of their choosing.
https://www.amazon.com/Dana-Mentink/e/B001JRXHXK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 Comments

E-Book Review - The Coffee Club Mysteries by Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, Janice Thompson

2/2/2019

1 Comment

Genre:
Mystery

The Coffee Club Mysteries
by Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig,
Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, Janice Thompson

-From Amazon-

Six Mysteries Are Brewing in Small-Town Kansas

The coffee shop on the corner of First and Main in Oak Grove, Kansas, seems to attract a series of mysterious events. Or perhaps it is the six women who frequent the shop for book club who are magnets for trouble. . . .

Morgan Butler, owner of the Coffee Perk, finds a project worker hanged at her shop.

Penny Parson finds a gun in one of her beehives.

Evelyn Kliff discovers a dead church meal organizer.

Jo Anderson shares hazelnut coffee creamer, sending a woman into anaphylactic shock.

Harper Daggett is being stalked for an antique jade owl she bought.

Baker Jeanine Gransbury’s charity event money goes missing.

Join them as they unravel six unexplained events that have the potential to ruin business and spoil friendships if not handled with care.

ASIN: B07HYTLBS8

6 determined women, 6 mysteries to solve...

When I saw that The Coffee Club Mysteries had a lineup of six such amazing authors I knew it was a book I seriously wanted to read. Years ago I would have probably bypassed this book because it is a novella collection but a classic children's author changed my mind about short stories and novellas and I've read some pretty great stuff since.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Darlene Franklin

Elizabeth Ludwig

Candice Prentice

Cynthia Hickey

Dana Mentink

Janice Thompson

The Coffee Club Mysteries was great! Kind of like reading a mini Hallmark mystery movie series it had all of the elements of a good whodunit. Murder, theft, betrayal, frame-ups, and even a dash of romance in some of them. The stories segued almost seamlessly, showing the true talent of the six very different authors, Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, and Janice Thompson. Another really cool thing about the book is that main characters are a wide variety of ages, from late twenties to mid seventies, so there is bound to be at least one for every reader to relate to.

While this collection can be read in several sittings, each novella took me about an hour or so to read, I found myself reading it in larger bites. Hey, there's nothing better than a good a mystery on a cold winter day when you'd much rather be inside. I loved The Coffee Club Mysteries and I would definitely recommend it to fans of any or all of these authors.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Coffee Club Mysteries by Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Elizabeth Ludwig, Dana Mentink, Candice Prentice, Janice Thompson a 4.5 Bark rating.

1 Comment

2018 Favorites (Print)

1/6/2019

0 Comments

Favorite Print Books From 2018

Here is a list of Tell Tale Book Reviews' favorite books read and reviewed in 2018.
You can find all of these reviews and many more by visiting our Book Review List page

2018 Reviews