Wow Five Stars for The Mason’s Mark!

Who to trust? The policeman, the handsome Senator, or the secret agent? Claire Wilding must decide and soon, before the murderer strikes again.

Marta Moran Bishop gave me a glowing review of The Mason’s Mark: Love and Death in the Tower!

 

Here’s a quote: “The Mason’s Mark: Love and Death in the Tower by MS Spencer, is a brilliantly told, well-researched crime novel that kept me glued to my seat.”

 

Here’s the review link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1XT7K2GEZO1JP

 

Five Stars for Mrs. Spinney's Secret!

 Five Stars for Mrs. Spinney's Secret

Casi McLean enjoyed Mrs. Spinney's Secret so much she gave it 5 stars! Here's a quote:

"Begin with well developed characters who live in a quaint coastal town in Maine, throw in an invasion of rich Hollywood actors and producers, a dash of quirky humor, some ghostly mishaps, a kiss of romance, some strange attacks, and a unique mystery storyline…stir gently and––voila––a wonderful book chocked full of entertaining hours of reading pleasure."

You can read the full review at these links:

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3121028212

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5075432142

Amazon (as Kindred Spirit) :  https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3N683AIJBN1KA/ref=cm_cr_othr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B08P886V99

Five Stars for The Mason's Mark!

Five Stars for 

The Mason’s Mark: Love & Death in the Tower!

Inge-Lise Goss has written a wonderful review of The Mason’s Mark. Here’s a quote or two:

“The Mason’s Mark offers an enticing suspense, a hot romance, and an intriguing crime filled with unexpected twists and turns.”

And:

“This is a well-crafted, unique suspenseful romance with black ops and shadowy characters. The author has cleverly threaded Claire and Gideon’s personal struggles with a page-turning, gripping mystery. Both Gideon’s and Claire’s formidable matriarchs added a nice touch to this great read. Highly recommended!”

Read the whole review here:

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4276064301

(Lilly) https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2QZ0JVMNDU23X

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5014864905

 

5-Star Review for Flotsam & Jetsam!

 

All hail Danna Wilberg’s wonderful 5-star review of Flotsam & Jetsam: the Amelia Island Affair! Here’s a bit of what she said: “The setting, history, and storyline are detailed, intriguing, and entertaining. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a fun, and interesting mystery!”

You can find the full review here at Goodreads and Bookbub.

Starting July 15 the Summer Fling Reader Challenge--Parties, Prizes, & Palaver!

Coming soon!

The Summer Fling Reader Challenge will run from July 15 to August 15. There will be games, takeovers, and prizes galore. Lots of interaction with the select group of authors. There are four segments (romance, paranormal, mystery, sweet to dark). If you join the challenge, you can read books from any of the categories at any time. Once you’ve finished one & posted the review, you can request another.

Mine is the third: I Know What You Did Last Summer is for mysteries, romantic suspense and thrillers. While most posts, games, and parties will be on the Reader page, my takeover will be on the Event page. Don’t worry—it will be easy to find me! It will run from July 30 to August 4. Be sure to drop in!

Here’s the Facebook link to the Reader Challenge group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/364535027526617

 

My featured book is Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine.

Quirky romance, a murderous stalker, a mysterious map, cruciverbalists, and treasure—all in the oldest city in North America—what more could you ask for?

My review of Danna Wilberg's Broken Promises

 

Borrowed Time by Danna Wilberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like serial killers, psychics, and well-written, fast-paced prose, you’ll love Dänna Wilberg’s book Broken Promises, Book 1 of her series Borrowed Time. But I warn you: it’s not for the faint of heart.

Blurb:
Imagine being shot, thrown into a pool, and left for dead, but by some miracle you survive—only to be tormented by visions of young women being murdered…When Suzanne Cash’s dead fiancé, Jack, appears during her near-death experience, she credits him with saving her life. But he keeps reappearing, insisting she revisit her past, leading her to question her sanity his motives. Why would he lead her into the lair of a serial killer? And what is his connection to the victims? Detective Sam Metzger takes her under his wing and is drawn into the mystery, while falling in love with his protégé.
***
Wilberg deftly intertwines Suzanne’s psychic episodes with the real life chase after a serial killer. She switches from mystery to suspense halfway through, and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end.
I’m not usually a fan of serial killer stories, partly because the focus is often solely on the psychology of the killer. Broken Promises is more complex. There are threads of budding romance, of dealing with new psychic powers, and of the power of emotional connection to the love of your life, even from beyond the grave. I think my favorite character is Jack. The mystery of his motives Wilberg kept for the very end. Bravo.


View all my reviews

Reviews for Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine

 Wonderful reviews for Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine!

Hidden Gem is available for review on NetGalley through May 15. Get a free copy. I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s a taste from a few reviews:

Colleen Mooney: “There are lots of twists and turns with romantic involvement along with funny characters. You don’t want to miss this one!”

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4684819613

Mark Love: “This book has it all. There’s mystery, intrigue, romance, clues, misdirection and a cast of characters that you’d expect to be peeking over the back fence…”

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2073817453

Ell9677: Real-life mystery meets fiction in this delightful tale, and a dash of romance is sprinkled in.”

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3FD5UZMXUY5WC/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B09QJHCB4V

Lois: “This book had me laughing and trying to sort out the red herrings from the genuine clues at the same time”

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4691259798

 

Hidden Gem is available for review on NetGalley until May 15. Grab your copy now! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/253660

 

Five Plus Plus Stars for Hidden Gem!

Five Plus Plus Stars for Hidden Gem!

N. N. Light loved my book! This is my first review for Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine, and it’s a doozy. Here’s a quote:

“Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine is a romantic adventure rolled up into a mystery that is one of the best books I've read this year. It has all the components I crave in an unputdownable read and then some. M.S. Spencer writes an addictive mystery with quirky characters, a treasure hunt, all taking place in one of the oldest cities in America.”

You can read the whole review here:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/hidden-gem-the-secret-of-st-augustine-br

Another 5-Star Review for The Penhallow Train Incident

Here’s another of several wonderful reviews for The Penhallow Train Incident, this one from Roxx T:

 

“Spencer's characters are delightful. Quirky, twisted, humorous, engaging, all the hallmarks of characters you will come to love. And set into a tale that pulls in so many varied strands that you could be forgiven for thinking the tapestry will never show itself. But it does, and in so doing, unveils a story that is imaginative and colorful. Guaranteed to keep you chuckling as you flip the pages.

A story you won't want to miss, with a conclusion you simply didn't see coming!”

You can read the full review here:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2VJZ9R9HF0A4C

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4572095092

https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2211851036

Five Stars for Thursday’s Children, a Memoir

 

Thursday’s Children, a book by an old friend, Elisabeth Pendley, is an unexpectedly compelling memoir of a young teacher at a disadvantaged elementary school in the South in the 1960s. Thursday’s Children left me distressed but hopeful. It is a fascinating window into that transitional period between segregation and integration, when blacks and whites—confronted with an upheaval in the old order—treated each other with suspicion, if not outright hatred. It is also a story of how a closed environment can be corrupted by indolence and lack of accountability. The author gives us individual portraits of each of the children—their problems and their progress. You find yourself rooting for this or that child to break through the incredible obstacles to success. Also interesting is the picture given of the manner in which human beings react to very difficult circumstances—some with apathy, some with anxiety, some with courage. I recommend Thursday’s Children to anyone wishing to understand more clearly the origin of some current prejudices that have persisted—and the effect those prejudices can have on children’s lives.

Find Thursday’s Children here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thursdays-Children-betrayed-defended-continues/dp/0578863812

My Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4282928554

Want Some Florida Mystery--Flotsam & Jetsam Free for Review on NetGalley all April

Flotsam & Jetsam: the Amelia Island Affair, in available for review the month of April on NetGalley. Sign up & get your free copy today! 

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/155307

Blurb:

Who's littering the park with corpses?

State Park Rangers Simon Ribault and Ellie Ironstone are used to dealing with messy campers and ravaging raccoons, but when three bodies wash up on the beach, they mobilize all their powers of deduction. Who are they and how did they get to the shore of Amelia Island? Are they connected to the secretive League of the Green Cross? Or linked to a mysterious Jamaican drug ring?

Ellie, new to Amelia Island, must penetrate a close-knit community if she wants to find answers to the mystery, all while deciding between two rivals for her affection: Thad, the handsome local idol, and Simon, the clever, quirky bookworm.

Simon, for his part, will have to call on his not-so-well-honed romantic prowess to lure Ellie away from Thad and at the same time use his wide-ranging research skills to solve the case.

The pirate's sunken boat

#FlotsamAndJetsamTheAmeliaIslandAffair #NetGalley

I’d love to hear what you think!

Winter Games Reader Challenge All Month Long-with Orion's Foot & Prizes Galore

“As he started to climb down, a twig snapped below them. They froze.

Something’s being dragged through the underbrush.” 

Monsters, murder, and mysteries lurk deep in the Amazon in M. S. Spencer’s Orion’s Foot.

Orion’s Foot is featured at Winter Games Reader Challenge.This is a month-long reader challenge, featuring up to 60 bestselling & award-winning authors, with an amazon review average of 4.0 or higher!

$200 GRAND PRIZE gift card will be awarded to the one who reads and posts Amazon Reviews for the most books. Additional prizes which may include swag, print books, and gift cards. will be awarded to other reader participants, including ones with the most reviews on BookBub and/or Goodreads, and the reader who attends and participates in the most Host Parties during the event.

There will be Raves—times to interact with a few authors at a time—on Mondays and Wednesdays during February. I’ll be on Rave 2, so get your questions ready! This is the Facebook link to the Rave Cave:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/478763399723698/

A grand finale scheduled after the reading portion of the event ends will be where readers will receive their prizes.

She wishes on Orion’s Foot—and gets mystery, murder, myth, and romance.

My book offered for review is Orion’s Foot: Myth, Mystery, and Romance in the Amazon.

Searching for a legendary monster deep in the Amazon, scientists confront murder, living fossils, fanatics, and romance.

If you didn’t get to sign up to be a reader, you can still catch the reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub!

Here's a list of all the wonderful authors:

Here's the group again: https://www.facebook.com/groups/478763399723698/

Another five stars for Orion’s Foot!

Alicia Dean loved Orion’s Foot: Myth, Mystery, and Romance in the Amazon!

Blurb: 

Petra Steele has just been left at the altar when her brother invites her to the Peruvian Amazon. Before she even sets her suitcase down, she's confronted with a dead man. In a research station peopled with a quirky assortment of scientists, she is drawn to Emory Andrews, a man with a secret past. Murders, secrets, and mysteries ensue, all in the deeply romantic, sizzling jungle.

 Here’s a snippet:

“Orion's Foot is a unique, compelling, fast-paced read… I love how the author was able to use elements of the setting in every aspect of the story, from the murders to the romance.”

Read more on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R26796YP89HW02/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1509227776

Or at Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3141490190?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Two More Five Star Reviews for Flotsam & Jetsam!

Three corpses strewn across the sand. Who are they and how did they get to Amelia Island?  State Park rangers Simon Ribault and Ellie Ironstone must find the answers while contending with a secretive group called the League of the Green Cross. Are the deaths linked to it? Or could they be tied to the colorful history of the island, which was won and lost eight times?  Mucking up the investigation is the crucial question—who will Ellie choose: Thad, the handsome local idol, and Simon, the clever, quirky bookworm?

Here are two more fabulous five-star reviews for Flotsam and Jetsam: the Amelia Island Affair.

Jody writes on Bookbub:

A realistic and intriguing murder mystery set in a national park. Loaded with mystery, snarky dialogue, and drama in some very vivid scenarios. First time reading a book by this author and was pleasantly surprised. Well written and great characters.

Here’s the link: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/200742681

And Kindred Spirit writes on Amazon:

This is the first book I’ve read by M. S. Spencer and I’m so impressed. Not only does she craft a mystery that kept me reading, her richly drawn characters, realistically flawed, had me laughing out loud as they drew me into their stories.

I love Spencer’s realistic and intriguing storyline. I’ve been to Amelia Island, so visualizing the setting pulled me in further. What a delight! Don’t hesitate to read Flotsam and Jetsam: The Amelia Island Affair. I highly recommend you pick up a copy.

Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RO0ZGE15174UH/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07JKTXYJC

OMG A Great 5-star Review for Spencer’s Whirlwind Romance!

In the aftermath of a hurricane, jelly maker Lacey Delahaye finds herself marooned on an island on the Gulf coast of Florida with a mysterious man. They are immediately drawn to each other, but before Armand can confess his identity, they are kidnapped and taken to a tiny island in the western Caribbean. There, Lacey finds herself faced with pirates, fanatical ideologues, and palace intrigue, not to mention the advances of three men, only one of whom she loves.

Tootling around, I came across this enthusiastic review from John Cretcher for Whirlwind Romance. Here’s part:

“I think I could make jelly from her recipes. Fast, exciting, and plenty of romance. I have purchased a second book that I am just starting.”

He’s referring to the recipes which head every chapter for jelly made from native Florida plants. Try some!

Here’s the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3F4XZJ2WDKN7Q/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01HLSSS3Y

Buy Whirlwind Romance here:

Wild Rose Press 

Amazon

Bookstrand

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Google

ITunes

Walmart

Indigo

New Five-Star Review for Flotsam & Jetsam!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I just found a fabulous five-star review for Flotsam & Jetsam: the Amelia Island Affair right there on Amazon!

KC writes:

 "Spencer must have a magic wand that makes all of her characters so good. Sometimes they stumble a bit, especially when it comes to interactions with others but that's what makes them so believable. This tale is no exception. And the mystery keeps you guessing all along the way. Makes you want to wander into the park to see what else may be going to happen. A very good job."

Thank you KC!

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R20IIMGCRALH71/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07JKTXYJC

Great Review for The Penhallow Train Incident

GREAT REVIEW FOR THE PENHALLOW TRAIN INCIDENT!

"A good book, engrossing and entertaining....The plot is well developed, the characters fleshed out and the mystery keeps you guessing."

In the sleepy Maine town of Penhallow, a stranger dies on a train, setting off a chain of events that draws Rachel Tinker, director of the historical society, and Griffin Tate,  retired professor, into a spider’s web of archaeological obsession and greed. Before Rachel can unlock the soft heart that beats under Griffin’s hard crust, they must find the map to the Queen of Sheba’s tomb, and solve not one, but three murders.

Check out the review here:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/137006

Pit and the Passion at NetGalley June 1-15

Hurry! Hurry! The Pit & the Passion: Murder at the Ghost Hotel, is available for review at NetGalley for the next two weeks:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/134918

A deed, an oath, and a promise

At midnight, in the darkness of a deserted hotel, comes a scream and a splash. Eighty-five years later workmen uncover a skeleton. Who does it belong to, and how did it get to the bottom of an old elevator shaft? To find out, Charity Snow, ace reporter for the Longboat Key Planet, must team up with Rancor Bass, best-selling author. Although his arrogance nearly exceeds his talent, she is surprised to discover a warm heart beating under his handsome exterior.

While dealing with a drop-dead gorgeous editor who may or may not be the villain and a publisher with a dark family secret, they unearth an unexpected link to the most famous circus family in the world.

Get your free copy to review while they last!

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/134918

Pit & the Passion Available for Review Now!

Reviewers, it's your lucky day! The Pit and the Passion: Murder at the Ghost Hotel, is available for review on NetGalley. But you have to hurry: it's only there for two weeks (June 1-15). Get your free copy now! 

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/?text=the+Pit+and+the+Passion

Here's the story:

At midnight, in the darkness of a deserted hotel, comes a scream and a splash. Eighty-five years later, workmen uncover a skeleton in an old elevator shaft. Who is it, and how did it get there? To find out, Charity Snow, ace reporter for the Longboat Key Planet, teams up with Rancor Bass, best-selling author. A college ring they find at the dig site may prove to be their best clue.

Although his arrogance nearly exceeds his talent, Charity soon discovers a warm heart beating under Rancor’s handsome exterior. While dealing with a drop-dead gorgeous editor who may or may not be a villain, a publisher with a dark secret, and an irascible forensic specialist, Charity and Rancor unearth an unexpected link to the most famous circus family in the world.

Great Review for Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders

The grainy black and white photograph showed the marina in front of the Torpedo Factory. The sky was dark, and a few dots of light flickered from the riverboat moored at the dock. In their refracted glow, the boats appeared to dip and sway. A lone figure wearing a hooded sweatshirt leaned into the back of a launch at the end of the dock, too far away to make out his face.

 From a great review by Heidi W. on NetGalley:

“The Artful Dodging is a fun well paced hot romance with the right amount of mystery.  The characters are off beat allowing readers into the world of M.S. Spencer.”

https://www.netgalley.com/book/162586/reviews

Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders, by M. S. Spencer:

Brooding on both the death of her husband and the four needlepoint stockings she has to finish,  not to mention two mysterious murders, Milo Everhart is distracted by the handsome man standing in the pub doorway.
Tristram Brodie, hard-driving lawyer and former Marine, is focused on his plan to convert the Torpedo Factory Art Center into a box store. He is drawn to the beautiful woman watching him, but blocking the road to romance is his proposal to gut her beloved studio.

As Milo and Tristram edge closer to love, they must find a way to overcome not only their differences but also the still painful memory of her loss.