Lisa Henson

I don't even remember how I stumbled on the White Knights series, but I am so glad I did. I've been anxiously awaiting this, the third entry in the series, and boy, has it EVER been worth the anticipation!

In this book, we see Angel and her team - I know, a team! - putting the skills they've learned at UTOP to a real-life test. Angel's father is still in the wind, and the bad guys decide that his family would be the perfect bait to draw in Ethan Sinclair. When Angel and Gwen are out of reach, they kidnap Angel's mother. Angel, Wally, Frankie, and the rest of the team have to rescue her. And if they go to the police, she's dead.

I have loved this series from the get-go. Sure, it's YA, and I'm well past that stage of my life. But Ms. Moffett does a wonderful job of writing characters that are relatable and interesting no matter your age. I wasn't as tech-savvy at Angel's age as she is because we didn't have the tech. But I was a geek girl (still am), and reading a book with geek girls kicking butt makes me giddy with delight.

Through the series, it has been a treat to see Angel learn and grow. Starting out, she was a one-woman show. She didn't need anyone. But she's learned differently. It was fun seeing how the team worked together, making use of each of their strengths to get things done. Bonus: I love all the spy stuff. So exciting! And yeah, the adrenaline rush waiting to see how a tense situation plays out is also a lot of fun.

You CAN read this one alone, but I really don't recommend it. Start with White Knights and go from there to get the full story.

Ms. Moffett is now on the short list of authors whose books I will actually preorder (which is shorter than the list of authors whose latest I'll buy without even reading to see what it's actually about). I'm anxiously awaiting the next White Knights book.

It took me a bit to warm up to this book. Initially, I didn't realize it was based on a true story. But once I picked up on that tidbit and did a little research into what happened, the story became much more engaging to me.

At the heart of the story is the unlikely friendship that develops between Hedwig Bercu (Hedy), an Austrian Jew who was working as a nanny on the island before the Germans invaded, and Dorothea Le Brocq Weber (Dory), a resident of the island who married an Austrian conscripted into the German army.

At the time of the German invasion of the Channel Islands, there were very few Jewish people remaining there. Most had already fled. But Hedy remained, and even though she was identified as a Jew, she was able to get a job as a translator, working for the Germans. Still, being a Jew during World War II was a precarious situation. Hedy's ethnic identity becomes widely known when she is found to have been stealing fuel coupons, and the Germans are on the hunt for her. It is only through the valiant efforts of Dory and of Hedy's German lover, Kurt, that she is able to survive.

I thought Hedy was needlessly callous toward Dory when they first met. Hedy and Anton were friends before Dory came into the picture, and Hedy appeared to make no bones about her dislike of Dory. Her attitude seemed a bit harsh, but I guess it's not unexpected from someone who struggled to trust anyone. Still, it made Hedy something of an unlikeable character at first.

Ms. Lecoat has clearly done her research, and one thing that really drew me in about the book was the description of the absolute privation that comes in wartime. A fair bit of historical fiction touches on that topic, but doesn't really go into detail. I could almost feel Hedy and Dory's hunger pangs and exhaustion as they tried to find something, anything to eat.

Overall, I found this to be a story worth the read. It gets four stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

This is a different twist on the superhero genre. Jamie and Zoe both wake up in bland apartments with no memory of who they are, where they are. Jamie becomes the Mind Robber, a supposed villain who uses his powers to rob banks but doesn't really want to hurt anyone. Zoe becomes the Throwing Star, a supposed vigilante using her powers to fight crime when she isn't using her super speed to excel at her job making food deliveries.

Both Jamie and Zoe want to know who they are, where they came from, who they were before their memories were taken. They both go to the same memory loss support group, and events unfold in such a way that they learn the other's identity. Then they face a choice. Zoe is supposed to be a crime fighter. Does she turn the Mind Robber in? What about Jamie? Does he mind-stun Zoe and flee before she takes him down? No. Instead, they choose to work together to try to find out the truth of who they are, how they came to have these powers and lose the lives they had before.

This was a really good, wholesome, enjoyable book! Sure, you've got two people with superpowers, “good” versus “evil.” But that isn't the heart of the story. The heart is the relationship that develops between Jamie and Zoe. It's nice to see two characters who become friends, no underlying sexual tension, no budding romance. Sometimes that romance thing can really get in the way of a good story.

I think Jamie was my favorite. He's just so quirky and endearing, and he's got a cat named Normal who's really not. He justifies his bank robbing as a means to an end. He just wants to get away from it all and live somewhere that he can relax on the beach, and he's not really a bad guy...is he? (Spoiler: He isn't.)

I recommend this book if you like a good superhero story, or just a good “enemies to friends” story that doesn't have a romantic undertone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/MIRA for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I'll let you in on a secret. I, an English major in college and lifelong avid reader, have never read Pride and Prejudice. But I didn't let that stop me from jumping at the chance to review Pudge and Prejudice. Texas? High school? The 80s? Yes, please!

This book, y'all. Elyse was such a relatable character to me. I wanted to reach in the pages and hug her, like I wish I could go back and hug my high school self. I didn't have the horde of siblings, but I, too, didn't conform to societal norms of teenage beauty. I didn't have the boys ringing my phone off the wall or clamoring to ask me out. They were more interested in copying my homework than going on a date. Elyse, she and I, we are kin. I felt her indecision about Billy Fitz. “I like him. Maybe he likes me? No, he could never like me. And I don't really like him, not really. It's better that way.” I understood when she convinced herself that really, there could never be anything there. And I CHEERED when she gave Katie Berg what for after nosy Katie tried to dictate Elyse's social life according to Acceptable High School Standards. I wanted to jump in the book and give her a big ol' high five and a hug.

A. K. Pittman has gloriously channeled small town Texas and high school angst and drama. Football is king, and the quarterback is the king of the team. Having some boyfriend is better than no boyfriend (looking at Lottie and Collin here, and Lottie's very pragmatic view of social realities). And I laughed out loud at the description of Homecoming mums. I'm not a Texas girl by birth (shh, don't tell anyone), and the first time I saw a mum was when I was in college. I was stunned by the confection of flowers and ribbons and stuffed animals and all kinds of doodads and baubles that girls actually wore. (This was in 1986. I think they've gotten more elaborate since then – I swear there are some that actually need their own flatbed trailer to carry them.)

The book is also faithful to life in the 80s. No cell phones. Kids had curfews and rules. Families shared a telephone and a television. Learning to drive and earning the use of the family car was a rite of passage. Parents could send their kids to the store unsupervised. The DJ dedication! Man, that took me way back. It made me nostalgic for my own youth.

Now, never having read the inspiration for Ms. Pittman's work here, I can't tell you if the characters were faithful to Jane Austen's telling of the tale. What I can tell you is that this is an engaging story that made me laugh, and rage, and gave me all the happy tears at the end. It was well worth my time to read, and I would enthusiastically recommend it for readers from junior high on up who enjoy a clean romance, a trip back in time, and a wonderfully crafted story. I hope to read more of Ms. Pittman's work, and she may have inspired me to pick up the original Pride and Prejudice.

Hang onto your hats when you open the cover of All the Cowboys Ain't Gone, because you are in for one heck of a ride! Lincoln Smith is living in the wrong time. He longs for the days of the Wild West, when his now-missing father was one of the best Texas Rangers out there, when there were wide-open spaces, when the cowboy was king. His mother makes sure he gets a proper education, but he longs for a life of adventure, far from the clutter and noise of modern machinery. After his heart is broken, he aims to head off and join the French Foreign Legion, as any adventurous young man would.

I've always been a fan of the Indiana Jones movies, and Lincoln has a touch of Indy about him, with a little Clint Eastwood for good measure. He gets into some crazy scrapes, and the story includes hidden passages, a hermit in the desert with a message for him, a crocodile-worshiping cult, and of course, some good ol' fisticuffs. It might seem like Lincoln has better luck than is reasonably possible, but that's part of this book's charm! You just suspend your disbelief, jump into the story, and enjoy.

The good guys are good, the bad guys are clearly bad – no question about who you want to be cheering for. There's a little sparkle of romance with a strong-willed ambassador's daughter. After all, it wouldn't do to have our hero's heart broken for good. The latter part of the book brings a twist that I DID NOT see coming, and it was glorious. I might have actually teared up a bit when I read it.

And I think a story like this might be just what we need right now. In a world that's gone mad over the past year or so, a rootin' tootin' gun-slingin' cowboy with a zest for life and a thirst for the epic is a bright spot whose antics we can laugh and cheer and gasp over, simply because it's fun.

Five shining Texas-sized stars from me!

This was my first venture into Vicky Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, and it won't be the last. Very satisfactory reading!

The story opens with Gemma Doyle explaining to Lauren Tierney that no, she is not a consulting detective, and she can't help Lauren find her cat. One things leads to another, Gemma does find Lauren's cat, and Lauren thinks Gemma is the best thing since sliced bread. Shortly thereafter, Lauren is again asking Gemma for help - this time, in proving her mother innocent of murder.

I simply adore Gemma! For starters, she owns a bookstore. That right there makes her my kind of people. Also, she calls it like she sees it. I imagine she's seen as somewhat abrupt by people who don't know her well (and maybe sometimes by those who do). But her slightly prickly exterior hides a genuinely caring heart. She tries her best not to get involved here, either in finding Lauren's cat or in clearing her mother, Sheila, of murder. But events seem to conspire to pull her in, and so she investigates to the best of her ability.

I haven't read the entirety of the series, so maybe I'm missing some backstory on Gemma and Ryan. I can see where he might want her to keep clear of investigations so he can do his job, but sometimes he seemed more callous toward her than the situation would warrant. That rubbed me the wrong way. Gemma can do better. And Estrada is just plain ugly to Gemma, even when Gemma is trying to be kind. I don't really care for mean girls, and Estrada is one. She gets my dander up every time I read her name on a page.

It was fun seeing Gemma's relationship with Lauren start to grow. Should the storyline ever allow for Gemma having children of her own, after seeing her with Lauren, I think she'd be a good mom. And it was fun getting to know Mrs. Ramsbatten. It would be a treat to live next door to her.

I'd love to see more of Gemma's Uncle Arthur. He sounds like quite a character. I'll have to start at the beginning and see if we get to know him other than knowing that he's off traveling someplace exciting. And I hope we get to see more of Jayne and Andy and their budding relationship. They are so cute!

This was a delightful read, with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing just about until the big reveal. Four stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't actually like.

All hail Queen Ellery! After reading the fourth entry in her Secret, Book, and Scone Society series, I can say that it remains one of my favorite mystery series ever. Can I give this book ten stars? So, so good.

Ink and Shadows finds Nora and her friends welcoming a newcomer to Miracle Springs. Celeste and her daughter, Bren, open a new store selling CBD products and Bren's handcrafted jewelry. Trouble starts when Nora's Halloween window display featuring strong female characters draws the ire of a local conservative values group. The group targets shops they find disreputable, including Miracle Books and Celeste's shop, Soothe.

More trouble follows when Celeste's daughter, Bren, winds up dead behind Nora's house. Before she died, she left a seemingly old paper filled with esoteric drawings and symbols under Nora's doormat. Bren's death is declared an accident, but Nora knows there has to be more to it than that. Celeste has mentioned secrets. Her own? Bren's? What does that mysterious paper have to do with anything? Did those secrets lead to Bren's death? Can they be unraveled before more harm is done?

Ms. Adams' writing is so engaging! She pulls you into the story, makes you feel like you're there. She does an excellent job of writing characters that you'd want to get to know. I love Nora, and June, and Estella, and Hester. I want to hug them all. I want to have dinner and talk books with them. They reach out to Celeste when she's hurting, when other women in the town have targeted her in the name of “family values.” They circle the wagons when one of their own needs it. I want friends like that.

This story touched on some fascinating topics, and one of them, rare books, introduces us to a friend from Nora's past. Roberta Rabinowitz – Bobbie – was Nora's college roommate. When Sheriff McCabe needs help learning more about the page that Bren left under Nora's doormat, Nora directs him to Bobbie. Bobbie doesn't just provide useful information – she shows up in Miracle Springs. I love that we get to meet her, and I hope we see more of her in future books.

I want to give a special shout-out to June. She is a take no prisoners and take no sass kind of woman. When she sees ways she can address the targeting of Miracle Books, she doesn't hesitate to speak up. She doesn't beat around the bush about anything. I approve!

I was a little disappointed that we didn't see Nora and Sheriff McCabe – Grant – move toward something more than friendship. The potential is there. When we see an uglier side of Jed's personality (under stress, to be sure, but still, ugly), I thought maybe...? But no. Not this time. In a future book, perhaps. A girl can hope.

I will be anxiously awaiting my next visit to Miracle Springs! When it's available, I will grab book number five in the series, no questions asked.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is intriguing - an alternate history where the Roman Empire never fell, but survived to present day and beyond. But it didn't hit on all cylinders for me.

First, Cassandra is supposedly a young adult - she celebrates her 21st birthday in the book. But she often comes across as a whiny, immature teen who wants her way no matter the consequence.

Second, the insta-romance with Devyn. He comes to her notice in class one day, and suddenly, BAM! He's all she can think about. Never mind that she's already promised to Marcus. Once she acknowledges Devyn, that's it.

Third, the Empire apparently has no qualms about using mind-altering drugs to “persuade” its citizens to do what's right. The bridal tea that Cassandra drinks, the cuffs put on the “happy” couple at handfasting - talk about the illusion of free will. And really, you would expect an empire to use some form of manipulation to keep their grip on power. But how, then, does the older generation learn about and buy into this kind of control if everyone is so happy to be a citizen of the Empire? Is there some point at which they're initiated into the secret society of Those Who Know so that they can “guide” their children in the right direction? Or is it just Cassandra and Marcus's parents who are in the know, because the Empire wants an as-yet-unspecified something from their children?

Fourth, THE ENDING. Sweet mother of pearl, that ending. The story started kind of slow, and it kind of grated on me in some ways, but I did get sucked in about halfway through. I really wanted to know what happened. All this build-up to who Cassandra may be, what Devyn might be to her, can she break free from the life that's been planned for her by others, and...WHAM. That. Ending. If I'd been reading a hard copy, I might have thrown the book across the room. I get that the author wants to leave the reader wanting more, but this seems to take that idea to extremes.

I think Ms. O'Connor has great potential. I'll read the second book in the trilogy if for no other reason than to find out what happens next. I'd love to see a little more maturity from Cassandra, a little more attention to historical detail (if this is the Roman Empire, they aren't going to talk about Hades - he was Greek, y'all), and more than just a titular nod to the Arthurian legend that comes to mind when I hear “the once and future queen.” That would elevate her work considerably in my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and One Chapter More for an advance review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I have long been a fan of Rita Mae Brown's work. I love the setting, the characters, the animals. Out of Hounds is no exception.

The book is set in present day, opening in February 2020. Sister Jane, as Master of the Jefferson Hunt, is starting to prepare for the closing of the fox hunt season. But soon there's a new topic of interest – the theft of high-dollar artwork, paintings of women riding sidesaddle. At first, it appears to be simply a thief with exquisite taste. But then dead bodies start showing up, and when Delores Buckingham, a retired foxhunter, also ends up dead, Sister is on the hunt for a killer.

This is not a full-throttle, high-speed mystery. It's a slow burn of a story. The characters are, for the most part, middle-aged and older, with the gentility of old Virginia society. They act with decorum even in difficult situations, and the story unfolds largely through dialogue. Sister is more a hunt master who happens to be inquiring about a crime than a private eye or homegrown sleuth.

There is also a lot of detail about foxhunting. I find it fascinating, because it is completely out of my realm of experience. Brown thoughtfully includes a cast of characters at the beginning, identifying all players, both human and animal. This is helpful, because there are a lot of characters. Maybe more human than animal. I enjoy reading about how the hounds pursue their prey (no prey is actually killed, in case you were wondering) and how the hunters care for their hounds and horses. If you aren't big on that kind of specific detail, this may not be the best read for you. I loved it.

I also found it fascinating that Brown weaves very current events into her story. The COVID lockdowns started as she was writing, and she uses that as part of the story. This is the first book I've read that has done that, and I feel like she used it to good effect. It's interesting to see how she wrote the characters' perception of current happenings.

Five stars from me, and I'll read just about anything Rita Mae Brown writes from now until forever.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance reader copy. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I knew nothing about Belle Gunness before I saw this book offered on NetGalley, but it sounded interesting, so I requested it. And interesting it is.

Belle Gunness was a serial killer whose murderous spree stretched from 1884 to 1908. Born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storseth, she grew up in Norway, living an impoverished life as the daughter of a tenant farmer. After suffering abuse at the hands of men – her father, a local boy who got her pregnant – she vowed that she would have better, and she would not be subject to men's torment.

She immigrated to America, following her sister Nellie, where she rechristened herself Bella, or Belle. The story is told from the viewpoints of both Belle and Nellie, and this gives us the chance to see not only Belle's thought process, but Nellie's. Nellie swings from convincing herself that everything is fine to being certain that something is very wrong with Belle, that she'll have to act against her own sister. Honestly, I kind of wanted to smack Nellie for dithering so much and not doing something about Belle, but I can also see where she would have been terrified to actually try to stop the horrors unfolding.

Belle's difficult formative years apparently impacted her deeply and brought out the worst in her. She is a difficult character to feel any kind of empathy for. She is grasping, greedy, always wanting more than what she has. She marries a good man, but that isn't enough for her. She wants children and finds a way to acquire them (there really isn't another word that fits), and she does love them, as best as she is able. But Belle's desire for the good life, the best life, leads her to do horrible, brutal things.

This book isn't for the squeamish. Belle's murder methods aren't gentle. She used a cleaver to dismember her victims for easier disposal. It's not unnecessarily graphic just for shock value, but there's really no nice way to write that.

It just boggled my mind as I read to think that all these men could vanish and have their disappearance go basically unquestioned, at least at first. In most instances, people seemed to take Belle at her word that the men had been there, but had gone on somewhere else. But then, I reminded myself that this was before the age of internet access and quick communication, that no one could log in and check these men's credit card activity or phone records. But still. For a woman to be able to kill that many people, dispose of them, and then be able to get away with it for as long as she did is mind-blowing.

Ms. Bruce did her research, and the book is well-written. It isn't an easy read due to the subject matter, but it is a fascinating look at an intriguing historical figure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I've previously read and reviewed Melinek and Mitchell's first Jessie Teska mystery, First Cut. When I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Aftershock blog tour, I jumped on it. I do love a good forensic mystery. I devour books by Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Jefferson Bass. Were I going back to school, I might go into forensic science. That's how fascinating I find the whole field.

The book opens when Jessie, recently promoted to deputy chief, is called to the scene of what appears to be a construction accident – a man crushed by a load of falling pipe. But what she's seeing doesn't match up with what allegedly happened, and she isn't going to let it lie. The deceased turns out to be a big-name architect who made himself a nuisance on the site, and there are a lot of people who could have wanted him dead. As she's trying to find evidence to support her theory that this was a homicide, San Francisco is hit by a big earthquake, and the medical examiner's office is up to its eyeballs in corpses.

Jessie isn't one who goes along to get along. She has a history with the investigating officer, and she doesn't trust that he's going to do his job and follow up on what she's telling him. So she does her own sleuthing, putting herself in harm's way as someone doesn't want the truth to come out.

I like Jessie. She is a take-no-crap woman doing a tough job and doing it well. Sometimes she makes impulsive decisions that don't always work out, and I can relate to that. I've said that “it seemed like a good idea at the time” will be my epitaph.

Melinek and Mitchell have once again done a bang-up job of writing an excellent procedural that just sucks you in. I love the details of the activity in the morgue. (I took a Law and Medicine class in law school – we got to observe autopsies. It was cool! I'm weird like that.) I used to be a prosecutor, so the details of the court hearings remind me of those days. And there were enough changes of direction to keep me guessing as to who the killer was almost up until the big reveal.

Another thorougly enjoyable read, and I look forward to more Jessie Teska.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I love a good ecclesiastical mystery. Father Brown, Alison Golden's Reverend Annabelle Dixon, Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael, I read them all. (The Father Brown TV show was pretty awesome, too.) And now, I can add Episcopal priest Hope Taylor to the list.

This book was DELIGHTFUL. I could not have enjoyed it more if there were two of me to read it twice. Hope gets off on the wrong foot as the new pastor of Faith Chapel Episcopal Church when she shows up for her first day on the job, finds the body, and ends up as a suspect right off the bat. Even worse, she has the audacity to be...a WOMAN.

The corpse, one Stanley King, shows up early on, and Hope doesn't remain the prime suspect for long. Everybody in town seems to have had an axe to grind with the decedent (or the King, as he liked to be called). His children, Todd and Samantha. His brother-in-law, James. Marjorie, the old guard of Faith Chapel, and no fan of either Stanley or Hope. So lots of people had reason to not mourn his passing. But who actually struck the killing blow?

Ms. Walker does an admirable job of laying down trails that make you think you've figured out whodunnit and then going another way, and she does so while giving you a vivid picture of life and people in a small town. Hope is an extremely likable character. You get snippets of her thought life as she talks to herself, usually after she's committed some unintentional social faux pas. That made me feel like I knew her a little better, and like she'd be someone I'd sit down with for coffee and pie at Suzie's (although Hope would have tea).

And one thing I truly enjoyed about this book was the faith aspect. Not only is it clean in the sense that there's no swearing, no 18+ themed material, it also has a main character who actually talks about her faith. Sure, she's a pastor, so we know she has faith. But it isn't shuffled off to the side or implied. Hope talked about times where she held off on a decision or action and God confirmed what she'd thought to do. I find that positively refreshing!

A lot of people may have the notion that “Christian fiction” doesn't always make for great reading. Perish that thought here. Hope, Faith & a Corpse is a cracking good read, well written, set in a believable world, with characters that are just like the folks you might see in your hometown. I hope Ms. Walker has more of Apple Springs and Pastor Hope to share with us - I'll be first in line to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

The premise of this book is intriguing. For one week every seven years, rebellious Greek gods are forced into mortality, and the descendants of ancient bloodlines have the opportunity to kill them and take their power – and become the hunted seven years later. (Although if I think about that real hard, if the mortals who seize power and become gods are then the hunted, is it still the original rebellious gods who are on the hot seat? Maybe not....)

Modern day New York City and ancient Greek gods and goddesses. It's an interesting juxtaposition. I've seen it described as Greek mythology meets the Hunger Games, and I can kind of see that. Lore is the last of her line, as her family was brutally killed in the last Agon. She is a hot mess of conflict, y'all. She wants out of the fight entirely. But she wants revenge on the man who killed her family. She doesn't really know what she wants. But when a seriously wounded Athena, last of the original gods to survive, shows up on her doorstep and asks for Lore's help in going after her family's killer, Lore takes the opportunity.

The early part of the story was almost enough to make me give up on it. It was a lot of information without a real framework in which to fit it. The glossary helped, though, at least with keeping the families and the characters straight.

And once you got past that first bit, it got better. Sure, Lore was conflicted, but she's also a teenage girl. How many of us really knew our own minds when we were teenagers?

There's a little bit of romance with her childhood friend Castor, but it isn't the main focus of the story. Had it been left out and had they stayed friends, the storyline wouldn't have suffered. There are some entertaining fight sequences, but it was a little bit of a stretch to me to think that all of that devastation would take place in New York City and there would be no real comment on it.

Lots of action, plot twists, and a main character for whom you can't help but feel a little sympathy make for a very readable story – once you slog through the setup. A good choice if you're a fan of YA fantasy and into mythology.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the advance reader copy. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't really like.

I've read several historical fiction novels set during World War II, but I've never read one that focused on the French Resistance. Lana's War does that, and it's fascinating!

Lana is on her way to the convent where her husband, Frederic, teaches. She has wonderful news to share. But things take a horrible turn when he tries to defend a Jewish girl from the Gestapo and is shot dead for his efforts. Lana is devastated, and her misery is compounded when she loses the baby that she never got to tell Frederic about.

When Lana is offered an opportunity to work with the French Resistance, she decides to do what she can to help others. As the daughter of an Russian countess, she is in a unique position to mingle with the Russian expatriate community on the Riviera - a community that happens to rub elbows with a lot of high-ranking German solders, including the man who shot Lana's husband. She poses as the mistress of Guy Pascal, a wealthy Swiss businessman. Guy is also part of the Resistance, and he and Lana are to work together to help Jews escape the clutches of the ever-persistent Germans.

I can't imagine being put into a situation where I had lost my husband and then had to pretend to be another man's lover just a few months later. That's what Lana had to do. Not surprisingly, her relationship with Guy was a little strained at first. Her impulsiveness early in the mission doesn't help. She befriends a Jewish woman, Sophie, and her daughter, Odette, with almost no thought to the fact that it might draw unwanted attention from the Germans. To say Guy is unhappy with this would be an understatement.

But they work past the rough beginning, and Lana soon uses her assets to an advantage, attracting both the attention of Captain Von Harmon and Alois Brunner, the man who killed Frederic. She and Guy, working together, are able to capitalize on the Germans' interest, distracting them from raids and allowing the Resistance to move boatloads of Jews out of the Riviera to safety in England.

Several moments in this book had me holding my breath as I moved from page to page. The tension was palpable as a game of German cat and Resistance mouse progressed. There were near misses and sticky situations, and it made for an engrossing story.

The descriptions of the French Riviera and high society there were just luscious. It sounds like it would be lovely to visit when there isn't a war going on! And relationships seemed to fall into place rather quickly, but I understand that the urgency of wartime puts a new perspective on things. The budding romance between Lana and Guy adds a little lightness to a heavy time, and Lana's heart for others motivates her actions, even when they sometimes seem to be the wrong ones.

My only gripe was the ending. I'm not saying whether it's a “happily ever after” or not, just that it didn't go in the direction I initially expected/hoped for. But again, in the context of war, and in the context of the characters being who they were, it makes a kind of sense.

Four stars for a fascinating story and a different point of view on the World War II era. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader copy.

I love a good space opera. When I read the description, it called to mind Joss Whedon's Firefly, and I thought, oh, heck yes, I must read this! It also interested me because I've realized that my reading material is sometimes lacking in diversity, and it's good to expand one's horizons. So, space opera, female protagonists (and antagonists), broadening my reading universe - all good things. I was excited to get started!

The actual reading, though, didn't hook me quite as much as I'd hoped. It took a good chunk of the book - maybe 25-30% - for the story to really grab hold of me. The early portion focused on giving the reader a lot of information without doing a great job of using that information to build and develop the setting.

Once I got past that first part, the book was more engaging and read much more quickly. It had some fairly standard sci-fi tropes - the evil corporation looking to take over a vulnerable planet while trying not to look like a villain, the criminal with a heart of gold, artificial intelligence. It also had a lot of ripping good battle scenes, if those are your jam.

The characters were also interesting, for the most part. I was particularly intrigued by Kennedy, the AI who can apparently take human form. I would have liked to know more about her and her sisters, who were apparently not in human form. What's their backstory? And I won't give away what happened, but there were some parts of the story that just made me tear up.

But some things I didn't really understand. What was with the sickness that we read about? Why was exposure to the Emissaries deadly for humans? If Vissia was sick and going to die, why wasn't she a candidate for revivification? It would have been nice to have those questions answered more fully. Is Ms. Leicht going to write a sequel? Maybe so. If she does, I might read it.

And if you're looking for diversity in your cast of characters, you'll find it here. Gay, non-binary, people of color, they're all here. The only thing I found distracting was that Rosie's pronouns were they/them, and in scenes where Rosie's point of view was used as well as the point of view of any other group of characters, it sometimes became a bit muddled to figure out to whom “they” or “them” was referring.

Persephone Station gets three and a half stars from me. The story itself gets three stars, and I bump it up a half-star for Ms. Leicht's excellent creative use of the English language. She does turn an entertaining phrase! It might be worth picking up if you're a sci-fi fan and can handle finishing a book and feeling like there are loose ends still hanging.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

This was my first visit to Ashland, Oregon with Jules, but it won't be my last! This is the twelfth in Ellie Alexander's Bakeshop Mystery series. I didn't know all of the backstory, but I was able to glean enough information from this book that I didn't feel too lost.

I love a good cozy mystery, and Alexander hits the cozy nail on the head with this one. Jules is a likable protagonist, and the food theme in cozies is one of my favorites. Here, Jules' friend Laney lets her know about an available space in Ashland's Railroad District. After some consideration, Jules and her crew move ahead with opening Torte 2.0, a second location that will serve ice cream, iced coffees, and other cool treats. The renovation is put on hold, however, when The Wizard, a local colorful character, ends up dead. Who could have killed him, and why? In addition to sorting out where she and Carlos stand and getting the new space ready, Jules has to investigate the mystery.

This was a lot of fun to read! The recipes and descriptions of all the treats were positively drool-worthy, and I wish I lived in Ashland and could really go to Torte to try some of them. The mystery was an engaging one, with clues and hints, but not so many as to give away the ending too early.

In addition to the food and the crime to be solved, the story also looked at several relationships. Carlos has come to Ashland and left the high seas behind, but Jules fears he misses the cruise ship life more than he loves her. I adore the Professor and his relationship with Jules' mom. I'm probably more of an age with those two characters, and they just make me smile. And Lance, who is apparently something of a playboy, not much for settling down, may have been stricken by Cupid's arrow at last. A story with richly drawn relationships, whether longstanding and comfortable or brand-new, is always a treat to read.

Whether you're new to the series or all caught up already, this latest addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series will satisfy your craving for a good cozy read! I'll definitely be reading the first eleven to get myself up to speed. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy.

At the end of Thief of Spring, the first book in the duology, Hades is trapped in Tartarus and Persephone finds herself stepping into his role. Queen of Night picks up where Thief of Spring left off, with Sephy desperate to rescue Hades.

This book, y'all, Katherine Macdonald weaves fae elements and traditional Greek mythology together to tell a story that just grabbed me by the heart. Hades - Luliver - is a broken boy, hurt by those who were supposed to love him. We get a look back at all the times Sephy met him as a child, and it's clear that she was his anchor to anything good and kind and true. Sephy is perfectly imperfect. She doesn't instantly master her new abilities. She isn't superwoman, remaining stoic in the face of adversity and her true love's absence. She struggles to learn to control her powers. She misses Hades and has to find ways to persevere even though sometimes she'd just like to curl up and cry.

And I really liked getting to see more of the minor characters in this book. I love Sephy's dad. Everything he did, he did for love of Sephy and her mother. Seeing him in the same space with Sephy's mother and learning more of their backstory was wonderful. And Libby? My goodness, she is a delight! She jumps right into the underworld scene and gets busy learning how to make heads roll. She doesn't let being human slow her down in the least. That's a best friend - one who'll follow you to the Underworld and not ask why.

This was well worth the read, and I really liked the combining of two familiar things - fae and myth - to make something new and delightful.

My thanks to Booksprout for an ARC of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've heard people compare it unfavorably to The Night Circus. It's been long enough since I read The Night Circus that I didn't compare the two. I can see where this book might not be everyone's cup of tea. It winds, and twists, and folds in on itself, and sometimes you might have a hard time seeing where it's going. But as with any proper story, all is revealed in due time. Morgenstern's style of writing just sings, and I am happy to be carried along on the song. I guess I'm one of those people who loves literature and reading and story, so this book was most definitely my cup of tea!

My review in one sentence: I read this book in 24 hours.

But in case that was insufficient to tell you how amazing I thought the book was, let me expound.

Josie Quinn didn't expect to find a dead body in the swimming pool when she went to see her brother at his job on the campus of the local college. But find one she did, and unexpectedly, it's a championship swimmer. Drowned. How does that happen? Others might want to rule it a bizarre and unexpected accident, but Josie doesn't think so. The problem is proving her theory that foul play was involved. But when other seemingly unexplainable incidents start happening, Josie knows she's got to get to the bottom of things.

Josie is a likable character - a tough, dedicated detective who's trying to learn how to let others get close to her. She's good at her job and when she thinks she's right, she doesn't back down. She isn't such a hardnose that she lacks empathy for the people she's trying to help, but she will push to get the information she needs.

But we don't see the story unfold only from Josie's point of view. The killer's thoughts are interspersed throughout the book, too. I found those little tidbits to be absolutely fascinating. And even with insights into what was on the killer's mind, I didn't see the big reveal coming until it hit me upside the head. I'd think, okay, I've got it figured out, and then there was a sudden shift, and I found myself right back in the dark. Well done, Ms. Regan. Well done!

This was the first of Lisa Regan's Josie Quinn series that I've read. I got enough backstory to follow along with no problems, but now I've got to go read books one through nine to catch up!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Fourteen-year-old Aaron is paralyzed due to a rare form of meningitis. His parents have moved him to a nursing home for care, and everyone around him thinks he's in a vegetative state. But Aaron is very much alive inside his immobile body. He sees his parents coming to visit less and less often, and he sees the strain in their relationship. He gripes about the nurse leaving the same thing on the TV all the time. But he can't communicate with anyone until he gets a new roommate. Solomon, a jazz musician, is in the early stages of dementia, and somehow he can hear Aaron's thoughts. And not only can Solomon communicate with Aaron, Aaron gets pulled into Solomon's retreats into his past.

I'm not sure what I really expected when I picked up this book. Whatever I thought it would be, it is so much more. Johan Twiss writes with such wonderful turns of phrase. He captures both the attitude of a teenage boy stuck in a prison not of his own making and the crusty exterior and heart of gold of an elderly Jewish man who's somewhere he doesn't really want to be. And this story takes us so many places! We see Aaron's relationship with Sarah, Solomon's granddaughter, grow and take shape. We get a tour of history through Aaron's travels in Solomon's dementia dreams. And the characters are so believable, so well written. They felt like friends. I cheered as people started to realize that yes, Aaron could hear and could think and was still there. This story made me laugh, and gasp, and roll my eyes, and want to hug the characters. Well done, Mr. Twiss.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance review copy from BookSirens and the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

This was actually the first of Kate Carlisle's Fixer-Upper Mystery series that I've read. I want to go read the entire series now, just to see the whole story unfold! However, I was able to get sufficient backstory in this book to have a pretty good feel for where things stand.

Shannon Hammer is about to embark on an ambitious project. The Gables, a former psychiatric institution, is being remodeled, and her friend Jane has enlisted Shannon to remodel one of the buildings as the new Hennessey Hotel. Shannon's significant other Mac has also decided to invest in the project. But not everyone in town is excited about the new development. There are protestors, the former doctor in charge shows up (and boy, she's a piece of work - it is all about her, her, her), and someone tries to help Shannon to an untimely demise. Thankfully, Shannon is not the dead body in the story, but she does find one. Who killed him, and why? And is everyone really who they appear to be?

I really like the characters in this book! The chemistry between Shannon and Mac is a lot of fun, and I love that Niall has a history of tossing cabers with his buddies. That's a nifty detail. I could have done without mean girl Whitney - I'm not sure she really adds anything to the story. But that isn't enough for me to knock down my rating. This was a delight to read. Now, if you're someone who likes the mystery/dead body to pop up right off the bat, this may not be your cup of tea. Shannon and her crew don't find the corpse until about 2/3 of the way into the book. I enjoyed all the set-up, though. I was fascinated by the description of how she evaluated the renovation and the work that would need to be done.

Five stars, and now I've got to go read all of these books.

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Halvor Cullen (Hal) is a genetically engineered soldier, referred to as a “vat.” His former commanding officer, Tyce Bernon, is a “nat,” or natural born person. Ty is now Hal's captain on the Loshad, and they make their living as salvagers. Hal isn't one to back down from a fight, and the book opens with him jumping in to rescue a woman from a couple of guys who are up to no good. The woman, Vivi, is a tecker, and as their ship doesn't currently have one, Ty offers her a job as part of his crew.

Ms. Smith does a good job of writing an entertaining story. There are a lot of pretty standard sci-fi elements here – alien lifeforms considered to be evil, a scrappy crew of misfits, an ominously looming government trying to squash a rebellion. But they work well together, and the use of those standard elements makes this a story that's very approachable for the less seasoned sci-fi reader.

The story also isn't afraid to touch on heavy subjects. For instance, the treatment of vats – they're considered to be basically expendable once they've completed their military service. They're also programmed by the military to experience the titular “rush,” which basically puts them into combat mode and makes them very aggressive. A lot of nats don't trust them, don't like them, don't want them around. But Ty doesn't see Hal as “just” a vat. Hal is his best friend, and he will fight for Hal's well-being, even when it means saving Hal from himself. There's also the Mudar, the feared aliens who supposedly came intent on destroying humanity. There is more to them than what our heroes initially know, and once they've made contact with a Mudar, they realize that just because the government condemns an entire species as evil doesn't make it so.

This was a fun read. There's a touch of romance, lots of action, and tech toys aplenty on board the Loshad. Good guys versus bad guys. An epic quest is hinted at as the story closes, and I hope this means Ms. Smith will revisit this universe. My only question: who was actually trying to kidnap Vivi at the beginning of the story? If that question was satisfactorily answered, I missed it.

If you're a regular sci-fi reader, The Rush's Edge is delightful. If you're new to the genre and want to give it a try, The Rush's Edge is a good place to start. Either way, read with confidence!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Angry Robot. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't actually like.

Viridian Dreams opens with Ezra struggling with disappointment when the college he just knew was going to accept him doesn't. He doesn't see how he's going to accomplish anything in life, he feels like his parents are distant and disinterested in him, and he's in a funk. Unexpectedly, he finds that he's passed through a portal into an entirely different place. He learns that he's on the world of Chromvah with the Kidemer, or guardian angels, responsible for watching over and aiding humankind. But there's a problem - the gateways that allow the Kidemer to move between Chromvah and Earth have suddenly disappeared. What's the problem, and can Ezra help?

Ezra doesn't start out believing in God. But gradually, through the time he spends with the Kidemer, he realizes that yes, there is a God, and yes, that God is very much interested in him. The book focuses on the power of prayer to accomplish God's purposes, as Petra, the girl on Earth with whom Ezra can communicate, must rally people to pray to help fight against the forces of evil. The book also has a strong message of redemption and salvation.

The pacing was fairly quick, but overall, the book had a gentle feel to it. The Kidemer see things from a much longer perspective than humans do, and I think the author effectively conveyed that sense of peace. The tension built as Ezra and Petra worked to help the Kidemer trapped on Earth, but that didn't destroy the overall sense of calm.

Very refreshing to see a work of fiction written from an overtly Christian perspective that isn't a romance!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't actually like.

They Call Me Gomer is a modern retelling of the story set forth in the book of Hosea in the Bible. Hosea, a prophet of God, marries a prostitute at the Lord's direction, and his marriage to her mirrors Israel's relationship with God.

The story is told from Gomer's point of view. Go-Go, as she is called by those close to her, seems destined for a life of trouble from the get-go. Her family life has its issues, and even at a young age, she yearns for the streets - dangerous men, loose women, drugs aplenty, and the promise of the luxe life. Hosea Felix, or Zee, as she calls him, is different. He is a young man with a strong faith, and he is drawn to Go-Go in spite of her fast ways. Go-Go longs for him, too, but she keeps chasing what she sees as the life she really wants. Even after she and Zee are married, home and family isn't enough to hold her, and she keeps doing the things she wants but knows she shouldn't do. She can't even be sure Zee would want her back after the things she's done.

The author does a good job of drawing the reader into Go-Go's world. Go-Go doesn't necessarily WANT to do bad things. She just can't STOP herself. Just like Gomer in Scripture, she dashes after men who are nothing but bad for her and flouts her marriage vows repeatedly. The man she really thinks she wants is her sister Rah's husband, Jeri, and Jeri is rotten to the core. He may do nice things for Gomer and her family, but he has his own agenda. Gomer may have to learn that the hard way.

Like the book of Hosea, this is a story of rebellion and redemption. Go-Go is a character you alternately want to shake and to hug. Her actions are driven by the hurt, broken little girl hiding deep inside, and she just doesn't know how to change, even when she realizes that she should, even when she wants to. Zee's love doesn't fail, though. He remains faithful, even when Gomer is faithless. When she returns, he loves her enough to set boundaries and expect her to abide by them.

I love how the author weaves Scripture into her story. It's a part of the narrative, not a thump over the head. This book really was a joy for me to read, and once I got into it, it was tough for me to put down. I love retellings of Scripture, and this one does not disappoint. Hopefully you'll read it and be inspired to open the Bible and read the story of the real Hosea and Gomer.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Jess, Mo'Books, LLC. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

Aspen Adams is going back home. Her sister, Rosie, feels serious guilt over the deaths of their parents. She has asked Aspen to use her investigative skills to find out what happened. So Aspen goes back to the Bay Area to unearth the cold case and a whole lot of memories, and in doing so, she stirs up someone - someone who doesn't want her to figure out what happened.

This was the first of Daryl Wood Gerber's Aspen Adams books that I've read. It's different from her cozies, but oh, so good. I got enough of Aspen's backstory that I didn't feel lost, but I'd like to read the earlier books now to get the whole picture. The story moved quickly and held my interest, and the characters were believable. And while this isn't a cozy mystery, it also isn't what I'd call a gritty crime thriller. It's a well-written, engaging mystery with a fair bit of suspense, and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Must read all the Aspen Adams books, and I hope Ms. Gerber has a lot of these books left to write!

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't actually like.