BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting (Retired Assassin's Guide, book 2) - Naomi Kuttner

 

Assassin. Gardener. Reluctant cat adoptee.

All Dante wants is to be left alone in the small New Zealand town no one’s heard of. No drama. No bodies. No questions.

But then, of course, the orchid convention comes to town, and Dante is knee deep in suspects, intrigue, and red herrings.

On top of all this, Dante must navigate a mysterious woman from his past, cat issues, and the terrifying prospect of a first date.

And he has to do it while fighting his instinct to solve problems the old-fashioned way: permanently.

The ‘Retired Assassin’s Guide to Orchid Hunting’ is a cosy paranormal mystery with found family, ghosts, a grumpy assassin and a sunshine gardener.

Come for the murder, stay for the cat, the gardens, and the chaos.

What did I think?

Well this was a fun read.  I didn't realise it was book two in the series when I picked it up but it can definitely be read as a standalone as I really enjoyed it.

Dante is the retired assassin and although he's moved to Te Kohe in New Zealand to get away from his past, he remains very alert to threats and isn't ready to hang up his weapons just yet.  I loved Dante and his lack of social skills - he's not good dealing with people as he has usually been sent to kill them.  It certainly makes dating very challenging (for Dante) and very amusing (for the reader).

I didn't feel lost at all, having not read the first book, as I quickly got to know Dante and his very small circle of friends.  They're a bit like the Scooby Gang as they investigate a murder with their own unique set of skills.  The plot thickens when the orchid convention comes to town and it is clear that collectors will do anything to get their hands on the rarest orchids.  

It's such an enjoyable read with an intriguing murder and a fantastic cast of characters that I want to read more about.  With a host of shady suspects, it's impossible to predict and I couldn't read fast enough to find out whodunnit.  I didn't guess right of course but I don't mind being wrong when there's such a breathtaking conclusion to experience.

Unusual, unpredictable and impossible to put down, The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting is an incredibly charming cosy mystery that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Cobwebs in the Dark (Nighthawk book 3) - Rachael Richey

With NightHawk newly reformed and preparing for a world tour, Abi Hawk finds herself unaccountably insecure about the attention her husband Gideon, the band's frontman, will receive from groupies. In New Zealand for the first leg of the tour and a visit with Gideon's sister, they are faced with a new problem. An outrageous claim pushes Abi's insecurities to new heights, and it takes all their resolve to stick together and sort it out.

Meanwhile their daughter Natasha goes on an adventure of her own, one that places her in danger from an old adversary, forcing Abi and Gideon to summon all their combined strengths to rescue her.

What did I think?

I emitted a little squeal of excitement when I received an email from Rachael Richey, offering me a review copy of the next instalment in the Nighthawk series.  Having read Storm Rising and Rhythm of Deceit, I have been secretly looking forward to this next instalment.  Although you could read Cobwebs in the Dark as a stand-a-lone, you should really read the two prior novels to fully understand the history of Abi and Gideon, and also because they are brilliant entertaining books that you should not miss.

Rachael’s writing style flows so easily that she effortlessly moves from past to present, revealing just enough information each time and leaving the reader clamouring for more.  This ensures that the reader voraciously devours every page and constantly reads ‘just one more chapter’.

The Hawks are written with so much warmth that I felt as if I was a part of their family.  What I found so brilliant about this book was the almost ‘Back to the Future’ feel of it – all of the nearly moments when Abi and Gideon might have run into each other in the past.  I felt like Marty McFly spying on his parents where a tiny alteration to any moment in the past could have changed the course of their history.  It was quite sad how close they came to meeting again but who knows, perhaps they wouldn’t still be together if they had met back then.

It was interesting to learn more about Natasha’s history in this book along with another appearance of Psycho Simon - I couldn't read quick enough to find out what he would come up with next.

This was another treat from Rachael Richey - I feel like I'm part of the Hawk family myself.  I always feel a little sad when I finish one of the Nighthawk books but Rachael leaves a little treat in the last few pages - a tantalising snippet of the next book, so I know I'm going to be reading more soon!

I received this e-book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Published 17th Feb - preorder from Amazon

The Blue - Lucy Clarke

They had found paradise.  What would they do to keep it?

With a quick spin of the globe, Kitty and Lana escape their grey reality and journey to the Philippines.  There they discover The Blue – a beautiful yacht, with a wandering crew.

They spend day after languorous day exploring the pristine white beaches and swimming beneath the stars, and Lana drifts further away from the long-buried secrets of home.

But the tide turns when death creeps quietly on deck.

A dangerous swell of mistrust and lies threatens to bring the crew’s adventures to an end – but some won’t let paradise go…whatever the price.

What did I think?

This book was simply amazing, completely gripping and an absolute page-turner.  I’ve had it in my pile to read for quite some time and although I was interested enough to request a copy, other books seemed to pique my interest more.  How wrong I was to leave this little beauty gathering dust.  If you have it in your TBR pile, read it now!

I love books that flick back and forth between the past and the present so I knew that once I picked this up, I wouldn't be able to put it down.  You feel that all of the characters on The Blue are running away from something or perhaps simply trying to make a new start, either way they are all hiding secrets and you don't know who can be trusted.  You can feel the air almost crackling with tension; on the surface they all appear to be friends but underneath alliances are being made and it's only a matter of time before the weakest may get thrown overboard.

I was absolutely captivated by this story, I fell in love with the beauty of both The Blue and the scenery she sailed in.  I read it so fast as I wanted to know why Lana left The Blue, what happened to Joseph and whose body is now floating in the sea.  There was so much I didn't even see coming, even though the clues were there but I was just enjoying myself so much being swept along with the magic of The Blue.

This really is a stunning book, it is so vivid and written so beautifully that I felt I was part of the voyage.  I won't ever hesitate again in picking up another book by Lucy Clarke.

I received this e-book from the publisher, HarperCollins, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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