Title: The Lovely Pines

Series: A BJ Vinson Mystery 04

Author: Don Travis

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Length: Novel (254 Pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (August 28, 2018)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Blurb: When Ariel Gonda’s winery, the Lovely Pines, suffers a break-in, the police write the incident off as a prank since nothing was taken. But Ariel knows something is wrong—small clues are beginning to add up—and he turns to private investigator BJ Vinson for help.

BJ soon discovers the incident is anything but harmless. When a vineyard worker—who is also more than he seems—is killed, there are plenty of suspects to go around. But are the two crimes even related? As BJ and his significant other, Paul Barton, follow the trail from the central New Mexico wine country south to Las Cruces and Carlsbad, they discover a tangled web involving members of the US military, a mistaken identity, a family fortune in dispute, and even a secret baby. The body count is rising, and a child may be in danger. BJ will need all his skills to survive, because between a deadly sniper and sabotage, someone is determined to make sure this case goes unsolved.

ISBN: 978-1-64080-122-6

Product Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Another case down for the books. A break in with nothing messed with, a dead vineyard worker, missing stolen artifacts, shootings and BJ is in the middle of it all. He was hired by the owner of the Vineyard and he wanted to find out what was going on. You add in that the worker was not who he truly was will be a big hit with some major tears, money in high demands and some big secrets have got BJ running all over.

I love how you see Paul in parts of the story but doesn’t really have anything to do with the investigation. He is a joy sometimes and damn hot. Wow the author does give you one hell of a description of the surrounding areas they go into, it tends to drive me in a different direction. I loose interest when there is so much detail. The characters as always are very entertaining and quite interesting. He is very loyal to his friends and family, but push him in the wrong direction and your ass is grass.

The secondary characters are always a big hit with these stories. They really help with the investigation. They also have some pretty easy quirks to like. I like how the mysteries were wrote in this one but will admit that I figured out parts of it before the end. It is still enjoyable to watch BJ interact with his clients, the suspects, other agencies and his friends. He is like a dog with a bone in some parts which gets a big hit from me.

Now for the downside as well written as it was, the murder itself was too neat and it didn’t come off the way three bullets would or should have. It shows a more violent type then what was really behind it. As I said above the story just had too much description in it to make it keep my attention throughout the story. Usually I get caught up in a story but this one had me skimming parts of the story just to get through it. However that is just my insight.

Other than my issues with the story it was well written, even paced and a fun read. I would recommend it and the previous titles in the series.

Title: Abaddon’s Locusts

Series: A BJ Vinson Mystery 05

Author: Don Travis

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Length: Novel (290 Pages)

Publisher: DSP Publications (January 22, 2019)

Heat level: Low

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 4.5 Hearts

Blurb: When B. J. Vinson, confidential investigator, learns his young friend, Jazz Penrod, has disappeared and has not been heard from in a month, he discovers some ominous emails. Jazz has been corresponding with a “Juan” through a dating site, and that single clue draws BJ and his significant other, Paul Barton, into the brutal but lucrative world of human trafficking.

Their trail leads to a mysterious Albuquerquean known only as Silver Wings, who protects the Bulgarian cartel that moves people—mostly the young and vulnerable—around the state to be sold into modern-day slavery, sexual and otherwise. Can BJ and Paul locate and expose Silver Wings without putting Jazz’s life in jeopardy? Hell, can they do so without putting themselves at risk? People start dying as BJ, Paul, and Henry Secatero, Jazz’s Navajo half-brother, get too close. To find the answer, bring down the ring, and save Jazz, they’ll need to locate the place where human trafficking ties into the Navajo Nation and the gay underground

ISBN: 978-1-64080-7181

Product Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: I would recommend reading this series in sequential order. It tells you about our sexy characters and gives you a bit more about their back ground. Also you will enjoy them quite a bit.

Jazz and his brother had helped B.J. on a case and was a dear friend. When his brother came to B.J. and wanted his help, B.J. had not expected Jazz to be a victim of human trafficking.

Jazz had been only looking for the one, the one that would love only him. It led him to many dating sites and to a man named Juan. The problem was Juan was deep neck in the world of selling young children and occasionally an adult. He was eighteen but looked like he was about fifteen or so. He was also very beautiful.

The lead went into many different directions all the way up to politician’s it would seem. They needed to find Jazz and then shut down the whole gig. The leader whom they call Silver Wings, is not only slippery but very deadly. To know more you need to read the book.

I came across this author when the first book came out in this series and lets just say he is one of my top mystery writers. This story was written about what truly goes on in our world, but the ending just so happens to be happy in the end. Well written and told with so much heart that it just draws you in and keeps you there. It gives you action, danger, murder, suspense and a few hot times for our two main characters. It actually gives you more than you could possibly ask for in a story.

Now on the downside, it is also a very long telling story. So I would suggest it on a cold winters day off with a glass of wine on the table besides you. For me I didn’t really like the fact that it came off so long and a bit over telling in parts, but the story itself rocks. Now even though I list it as gay romance it truly isn’t, it is more on the mystery than anything else. It has a much darker tone to it then the previous ones which one can expect from such a dark subject.

I can’t say that this one is a top favorite of mine, it is pretty high up there. I enjoyed the characters quite a bit and Jazz will be a favorite of mine, and I do hope to hear about him and his new guy in future books.

I enjoyed reading this story and would definitely recommend it.