Lisa Henson

I adore Auntie Poldi! I'm not quite as old as she is, but it is refreshing to see a middle-aged heroine who hasn't lost her sass and zest for living.

Poldi moves to Sicily, ostensibly to die. Her husband has passed away, and she's depressed. She finds a little house close to her family, and she reckons on drinking herself to death. But Auntie Poldi's father was a police officer, and she's inherited some of his investigative skills. When Valentino, a handsome young man who's done some work around her house, goes missing, Poldi wants to find out what happened.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Poldi's nephew, a struggling writer who stays with Poldi from time to time. He makes an interesting narrator! The story is also full of all kinds of detail about Sicily, and now I'd really like to visit.

There is a blurb at the beginning of each chapter that gives the reader a hint of what's to come. I really like that technique. The blurbs are hilarious, as is the writing in general.

And Poldi herself is an absolute joy. She is a mature woman who knows what she wants. When she wants to solve a crime, nothing will stop her from investigating. She charges ahead like a ship under full sail. And when she decides she fancies local investigator Vito Montana, well, nothing will stop her there, either. Even though she moved to Sicily thinking her life was over, it's the start of a whole new set of adventures for Poldi. Maybe she's not quite so ready to shuffle off this mortal coil after all.

Brava, Donna Poldina! You are an inspiration to us mature women everywhere, and I look forward to reading more of what you get up to in Sicily.

In The Patron Saints of Nothing, Jay, a Filipino-American teenager, learns that, back in the Philippines, his cousin Jun has been killed. No one will speak of Jun's death, his family didn't give him a funeral, and even though Jay is a fairly typical self-involved teen thinking of not much more than video games and what college he'll attend, he knows this isn't right. He and Jun had been closer when they were younger, communicating regularly through letters, but over time, Jay had stopped writing. Against his parents' wishes, he goes to the Philippines to visit his distant family and to see what he can learn about what really happened to Jun.

This story touches on some deep topics. The lengths to which family will go to protect their secrets or maintain control of a situation. How difficult it may be to really know even those closest to us. The harsh reality of Philippine President Duterte's war on drugs. It was enlightening, as I'm not familiar with the culture of the Philippines or events occurring there.

I felt for Jay, trying to get to the bottom of a puzzle his family (both in the U.S. and the Philippines) didn't want him digging into. Mr. Ribay does a good job illustrating the conflict Jay felt at various times, the conflict of going against his family's wishes, of trying to maintain calm under his uncle's domination, of figuring out what really matters in life.

Thanks to BookishFirst for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.

The Frost Eater is the first in a new trilogy from Carol Beth Anderson. I had the privilege of beta reading it, and if you're a fantasy/YA lover, you're going to want to run get this one. Right now. Go on, pre-order it.

Nora is a princess and an only child with the gift of frost eating - she eats ice and does magical things with it. She's being raised to rule one day, but it's kind of a lonely life. While traveling through the kingdom with her father, she meets Krey. Krey is a frost eater AND a feather eater. In addition to his powerful frost eater magic, he also gains the power to fly when he consumes feathers. His magical talents convince the king (after some persuasion from Nora) to give Krey a royal apprenticeship.

Krey's got an ulterior motive for accepting the apprenticeship. His girlfriend, Zeisha, supposedly signed on as an apprentice. But he's never heard from her, never been able to contact her, and he can't believe she'd cut him off completely. He's hoping the apprenticeship will give him access to information that will allow him to find Zeisha.

Nora and Krey become friends, and Nora agrees to work with Krey to find Zeisha. One of the royal guards, Ovrun, is Nora's friend (hoping for more, but knowing it can't happen), and he also signs on to help. (I want to see what happens with Nora and Ovrun's relationship. Please don't tell me nothing can happen because she's royalty and he isn't. I think they're my favorite couple in the story.) The three don't know the dangers they'll face, or how far some people may go to keep power and keep secrets. They do know, though, that they must find Zeisha to save her.

I read the beta version of this book. Even though it wasn't in its polished final form, it was an amazing story. I love the universe Anderson is building here. Its history is referred to in such a way that it makes you want to know what comes before this story.

There are several moments in the story where the tension was so thick, I found myself holding my breath. There is attraction, and adventure, and relationship, and danger from unexpected sources. And if you like magic worlds, hold onto your hats. This one's got it. And as if magic wasn't enough, there are DRAGONS.

Another review I read said you'd be chomping your toes to get to the rest of the trilogy. That pretty well describes how I feel! I can't wait for the next book to come out!

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

In the Bible, Barabbas was the criminal released by Pontius Pilate. This surprising twist (surprising to Barabbas, at least) was part of God's eternal plan, in which Jesus Christ was crucified in Barabbas' place to serve as the perfect sacrifice to save people from their sins. But beyond the mention of Barabbas' name and lawbreaking status in Scripture, most people know very little about the man.

I Was Called Barabbas is M. D. House's fictional account of the life Barabbas could have gone on to live. The Day, as Barabbas refers to that life-changing period when he was unexpectedly set free, is not the focus of the story. Of course it is talked about - without it, there would be no story for Barabbas to tell. But the tale told here is of his life after that day.

As a Jewish rebel, Barabbas had put a Roman target on his back. When he goes back home after his release, he struggles to find a way to just live his life. To his shock and amazement, he marries a beautiful woman named Chanah, and he takes up work in the family tentmaking business. The women in Barabbas' life are disciples of Jesus, and they introduce him to leaders in the faith. But Barabbas can't see how Jesus' sacrifice could ever be meant for someone as unworthy as him.

That is the heart of this story. Barabbas believes he is too far gone for anything to save him, and he struggles to believe that God would even hear his prayers, much less care about his salvation. I enjoyed the author's perspective on a story that hasn't been contemplated much, and his imagined telling of what Barabbas went on to do and experience after The Day.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book through Reedsy Discovery. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

Nick Fischer is a former Marine trying to make it as a private investigator. He's hired to protect Javier Sosa, a Mexican businessman in town to meet with Marcus Lopez, local attorney and gubernatorial candidate. When Sosa is shot, Nick can't leave it to the police to solve the crime, because the shooter was aiming for him, too.

He's also trying to solve the mystery of a young woman found floating in the San Antonio River. The police said she drowned, ruled it an accident. Her mother isn't convinced, and hires Nick to take on the case.

I've always heard it said that you should write what you know. George Lee Miller is described as a former cowboy and Navy corpsman who lives in Texas. I lived in Texas for a time, and I'm pretty sure Miller knows Texas. He writes as someone familiar with the environment he's describing and the types of people that inhabit it, and it makes the story that much more believable and enjoyable. Reading this book made me miss Texas and want to move back.

In addition to making me a bit homesick for my second home, Not Forgotten was a compelling story. You've got a guy looking to make his own way in the world, not wanting to be dependent on the schmooze-and-booze world of law and politics that his girlfriend is encouraging him to enter. He's trying to make the connection between an oil baron, his spoiled grandson, a crooked politician, and the dead woman in the river, and he's trying to do it before Javier Sosa's killer takes him out of the picture. There are death threats and betrayal, attempted hits and near misses standing in his way, but Nick Fischer doesn't give up.

I like Nick. He's an interesting protagonist, and Not Forgotten left me wanting to read more of his adventures. (But I hope we don't see Sylvia in the picture any longer. She's not right for him.) This is an excellent start to what I hope is a long-running series, and I look forward to the next installment.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

The Soul of an American President focuses on faith as demonstrated in the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower. It is a relatively short book (212 pages, not counting end material), but an engaging book that's well worth reading. I enjoyed learning more about how this President grew in his faith and about how it guided his decisions. It was particularly interesting to me to see that, although his life often looked like it was taking some odd twists and turns, the things he went through were to prepare him to lead. It was refreshing to read about a President not afraid to be guided by his faith and not afraid to live out his faith publicly.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

When Summer Solstice (yes, her real name) crosses the Shimmer, the boundary between Fae lands and human lands tainted by magic, she finds her life turned upside down. For the crime of taking fruit for her hungry family, she is sentenced to serve as a human shadow to a Fae. She will be required to protect whatever Fae she's selected by from the darklings, monsters that used to be human and can only be killed by humans wielding iron weapons. Will Summer survive the Selection? Will Summer survive the Fae?

It's just like high school. Mean girls, new friends, a love-hate relationship with the hottest guy in school (who is way, way, way out of Summer's league). Except there are Fae, and there's magic, and there's Summer's assigned pixie, Sapphire - a mouthy pixie who has issues respecting boundaries and who likes to hit the brambleberry wine just a bit.

This was a really entertaining read. I found it just the tiniest bit slow to get into, but once Summer encounters the Winter Prince on the other side of the Shimmer, BAM! It was off and running. I haven't read a whole lot of the academy books making the rounds right now, but I'm glad I read this one. I'm very curious to see where things go with Summer and the Winter Prince. Bring on the next book in the series, please!

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

Burning is the prequel to After the Thaw, a new series from Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine. I had the opportunity to read an advance copy, and I would like to read the entire series RIGHT NOW.

Burning takes place in Askala, what used to be Alaska, before catastrophe struck on a global scale. Icecaps have thawed and the sea is now toxic. Askala is home to a small population of survivors, connected to what they call the Outlands by one bridge. It's not an easy life, and for those who are selected in the Proving to serve and protect, to lead, it's harder still.

We meet four young people in the story, Callix, Amity, Magnus, and Mercy. Callix and Magnus are brothers. Callix is older, but jealous of Magnus, who seems to have everything break his way. Amity feels everything deeply. Mercy is noticed by few, but she notices much. We see them put into positions where they have to make hard choices and live with the consequences of those choices.

The story is a quick read. It doesn't give the entirety of the setting, but illustrates clearly that Askala is a hard place to live - the world, or what's inhabitable, is a hard place to live. It's a place that doesn't allow the luxury of doing what you want, but sometimes forces you to do what you must.

The characters are well written, and they act like what they are - teenagers. Sometimes they do the right and noble thing, and sometimes they don't. I have a teenager. I see that from him on a regular basis.

I'm not (yet) familiar with a lot of Ms. Sloan's work, but if y'all have read my reviews, y'all know how I feel about Ms. Catherine's Kingdoms of Evernow series. I am thrilled to have the chance to read more of her work, and Burning has me really looking forward to the entire series. The ending - well, I don't know what's coming, but I can see the potential for some major, major conflict. Bring it on.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

I'm a fan of the Artemis Fowl books, so I was excited to have the chance to read The Fowl Twins. I read it with my 10-year-old (who's a perfectly good reader, he just likes to have mom read to him at bedtime).

It didn't disappoint! Myles and Beckett Fowl are twins, but not nearly identical. Myles is a genius with a slight criminal bent, much like his older brother Artemis (only smarter, it would seem). Beckett is...well, let's just say he has his own unique view of the world (which is a good thing). They're off on a new adventure with a toy troll and Lazuli Heitz, LEP specialist. This adventure includes capture by (and escape from) a super-secret organization, pursuit by a duke on a slightly deranged quest for eternal life, and hijinks aplenty. It was a lot of fun to read with my son, and we're anxious for the next installment in the Fowl Twins' shenanigans.

Just a heads up: this is middle-grade fiction, but the reading level is pretty stout. My son is an advanced reader, and there were words in this book that he didn't know. (Teaching moment for the win!) But he knows them now. And how do we all learn things we don't know? By encountering those things/words and asking questions. So don't steer clear of The Fowl Twins just because Myles uses a fair amount of three-dollar words.

Thoroughly enjoyable for both mom and son. We recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from Bookish First. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

I hate that I finished this book. Why, you ask? Because it's Heidi Catherine's last entry in The Kingdoms of Evernow, and that means the series is over! There's no more of it to read! WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

The Angels of Evernow is a worthy ending to a marvelous series. In this book, Princess Lily of Forte Cadence is in the kingdom of Feldspar, where she's been since she was kidnapped. She was one of the children forced to work in the mines, digging for precious stones for the Queen. Then one day, the King plucked her from her work to be daughter to the Queen, her precious Angel. Lily lives in a lighthouse that serves as the Queen's bejeweled palace, isolated from everyone and everything except the King and Queen. Although she goes by the name Angel, she has never forgotten who she is and where she comes from, and she yearns desperately to return home.

In the other four kingdoms, there are some having visions of Lily, and they know she needs help. We see Micah (sister of King Jeremiah, Forte Cadence), Raphael (the Alchemist of Wintergreen), Azrael (the Sands of Naar), and Pip (Princess Philippa of the Bay of Laurel) and her Guardian, Griffen, join forces and set out to rescue Lily. Each of them will play a vital role in the quest.

The five Kingdoms of Evernow each relate to a particular sense, and Feldspar relates to the sense of sight. Lily and Raphael see each other through visions. The stones the children mine glitter and shine, appealing to the sight (but they're kind of hard and uncomfortable to touch, showing us that just because something is pretty doesn't mean it's gentle or good).

I won't tell you all of the story. Heidi Catherine does a far better job of that than I could ever hope to do. I will say that this book, this series, is well worth the read. We see characters overcome hardship, battle insecurity, learn their true worth, and find out what family really means. There's action and intrigue and romance. There is at least one twist to the plot that I didn't pick up on ahead of time. And I will say this: there was more than one point in the story that had me in tears, and I am not a crier. Ms. Catherine weaves a powerful spell with her words, and that spell bring out some mighty strong emotions. I am so pleased to have had the chance to read her work, and I'm sad because there is no more of this series to read. I feel like I'm saying goodbye to friends.

Read The Angels of Evernow. Read the entire series. It is so, so, so good. I would give it ten stars if that were an option.

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

Stamped Out is the first book in Tonya Kappes' new Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series. The main character and amateur sleuth in this series is Bernadette Butler, widow and USPS mail carrier. Her job gives her a lot of opportunity to know the folks in Sugar Creek Gap and to keep her finger on the pulse of the goings-on in town. In this book, her friend Mac Tabor is involved in a development deal where he is going to purchase the country club. The people of Sugar Creek Gap are set against it. Mac and the country club's majority owner, Chuck Shilling, have a public throwdown over Chuck's reconsidering the deal, and when Chuck ends up dead, Mac is the prime suspect. Can Bernadette help her friend and ferret out the real killer?

As always, Ms. Kappes' writing is full of southern charm. I love that she writes genuine, relatable characters in a small town setting. I grew up in a small town in the South, and I feel like I could walk into her books and make myself at home. And as always, the story takes some twists and turns before you finally figure out whodunnit. I really like that Bernadette is a more mature sleuth. I'm getting to be a woman of a certain age, and it's lovely reading about characters in my generation.

If you like a good cozy read with lots of Southern color, Stamped Out is for you!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't like.

It has been my privilege to be on the launch team for the Fresh Start Bible. I've been reading the digital copy, and I really enjoy it. Obviously, nothing can be added to God's Word. But the articles and answered questions are super helpful in providing fresh insight and new ways to see how Scripture can apply to my life. I can't wait to get a physical copy!

It has been my privilege to be on the launch team for the Fresh Start Bible. I've been reading the digital copy, and I really enjoy it. Obviously, nothing can be added to God's Word. But the articles and answered questions are super helpful in providing fresh insight and new ways to see how Scripture can apply to my life. I can't wait to get a physical copy!

It has been my privilege to be on the launch team for the Fresh Start Bible. I've been reading the digital copy, and I really enjoy it. Obviously, nothing can be added to God's Word. But the articles and answered questions are super helpful in providing fresh insight and new ways to see how Scripture can apply to my life. I can't wait to get a physical copy!

I did not know that I needed a steampunk Western in my life. But In My Time of Dying is a rip-snorting good read. Elizabeth Dee doesn't know she has powers, but when Mr. Methuselah comes into her life and says he needs her help, she's about to find out. Her protector for this mad journey is a man who can't seem to die, or even be harmed. This trip is nothing like the Wild West I knew about - plenty of wild and a whole lotta weird. It's a fun read, and I look forward to the second book in the series.

I did find enough errors that I felt like the book could have benefited from another round of proofreading/editing. It didn't make the book unreadable, by any means, but I did find it somewhat distracting. I freely admit, I am a grammar/spelling/punctuation nerd (I do copyediting as a side hustle), so I may notice things that other people wouldn't. Your mileage may vary.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSirens. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

It has been my privilege to be on the launch team for the Fresh Start Bible. I've been reading the digital copy, and I really enjoy it. Obviously, nothing can be added to God's Word. But the articles and answered questions are super helpful in providing fresh insight and new ways to see how Scripture can apply to my life. I can't wait to get a physical copy!

In The Veil of Trust, we see Brynna maturing and growing into her role as queen (even if she isn't yet on the throne). She's learned, and continues to learn, some hard lessons. She realizes that she can't save everyone and she can't be on the front lines of every fight. She may yet have what it takes to reclaim her throne.

And Elisha is a joy. If she isn't a force to be reckoned with by the end of the series, I'll be surprised. I think she's my new favorite character in the series.

Other than Brynna's newfound maturity, this book also accomplishes the important goal of building an army to help her take back Forcadel. Before, it was Brynna and a handful of people. Now she has a trained fighting force at her command. Her task, while still significant, becomes a lot more likely with some firepower on her side. Of course, we don't yet know whether it will be enough to overcome whatever Ilara has up her sleeve (because we know she's up to something - she is thoroughly nasty, with no redeeming qualities that I've yet seen).

As with the rest of the series, there's action aplenty. There are twists and turns and unexpected surprises. I can't wait to see what the fourth book brings!

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

War Girls is set on a future Earth, torn by war and devastated by radiation. Onyii and Ify are sisters, not by blood, but by shared experience. They live in a camp of War Girls, girls who are part of the rebel faction of Biafra. War is raging between Biafra and Nigeria, and these girls have no other home. Onyii and Ify long for a free and independent Biafra, a life where they can live in peace. But for now, they must fight. The girls are enhanced by different types of tech, and they are assisted by droids using nanobot technology. They use every resource they can to protect themselves from the radiation that permeates the atmosphere.

When the War Girls' camp is located and destroyed by Nigerians, Onyii and Ify are separated. Each thinking the other is dead, they go on to very different lives. Ify lives in Nigeria, one of their best and brightest minds, with what appears to be a glorious future ahead of her. Onyii still fights for freedom, and she makes a name for herself as the Demon of Biafra, the most devastating military weapon Biafra has. But the day is coming when each will learn that the other lives, and that will change everything.

I knew almost nothing about the Nigerian War when I read this book. Part of the author's stated intent is to bring more awareness to that period of history, and it was very interesting to learn about. I'd like to know more.

The story itself is jam-packed with action. There are battles and betrayals, secrets revealed and relationships reconciled. There is also some interesting commentary on what makes us human and what family can really mean. There were some sections where the story got a bit muddled and hard for me to keep straight, and I had to go back and reread a handful of times to make sure I understood where things were heading. But it was good enough to hold my attention throughout, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bookish First. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't like.

This is the ninth book in Tonya Kappes' Camper & Criminals series, and I think it's the best one yet. The book can be read as a stand-alone, as there are no cliffhangers at the end of any of the books in the series, but you have a better understanding of the characters if you start at the beginning of the series and read straight through.

Shay Moon and her wedding party descend on the campground, with Shay set on having the Southern wedding of her dreams right there in Normal. Come to find out, her father is Tom Moon, the man behind Moonbucks Coffee. Not only was he a part of Mae's past life in high society, he also has a history with one of the residents of Normal. Not a good history, either. He's got his own agenda, and what Tom Moon wants, Tom Moon is used to getting. Sparks fly, secrets come to light, and before you know it, someone ends up dead, killed with one of the knives from Gert Hobson's coffee shop. Gert is the prime suspect, but Mae and the Laundry Club ladies are on the case to help their friend.

As with the rest of the series, the book is full of colorful characters and Southern charm. We learn more about Gert in this story, and we see more of Mae's life before Normal brought to light. And if she isn't paying attention, by the end of the story, it's clear that Mae REALLY means a LOT to Hank. Someone please tell me there will be wedding bells for those two before the series ends!

And don't worry that you'll figure out whodunnit before the end of the book. There's always a twist, and boy, is there ever a twist here. I did NOT see it coming!

This is another fun read from Ms. Kappes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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

I have long been a fan of Juliet Marillier's work. I was very excited to have the opportunity to read Harp of Kings. Liobhan and Brocc are brother and sister. They are in training, hoping to join the elite warriors of Swan Island. Both have musical talent, but Brocc is the more compelling musician. Liobhan is a warrior through and through. Dau is also competing for a spot on Swan Island. When the story opens, he is at odds with Brocc and Liobhan. He thinks Liobhan doesn't deserve a place there, because she has the audacity to be female, and so that must mean her attentions will be divided somehow. And Brocc doesn't deserve a spot because of that musical talent he's got.

The three trainees are sent on a mission to the kingdom of Breifne. On Midsummer Day, a new king will be crowned, and the legendary Harp of Kings must be part of the ritual. Problem is, the Harp of Kings is missing. Those in power are trying to keep this hush-hush, and the Swan Island team is going in undercover, their mission to retrieve the harp before the coronation.

The story is compelling, yet not necessarily fast-paced. The world Marillier creates is a Celtic world, with druids and fae and uncanny creatures, and it has a bit of a dreamlike quality, even when the events in the story are action-packed.

We see our three main characters face challenges through the course of the story, and we learn more of their backstory. Liobhan in particular wrestles with the fitness of Rodan, the crown prince, to become king. She sees in him a disaster for the future of Breifne, and in her mind, fulfilling the mission, returning the Harp of Kings to allow him to be crowned, seems an awful lot like failure. Brocc - let's just say there's more to him than meets the eye. He must decide what direction his future will take. Will he return to Swan Island and pursue the path of the warrior, or is he better suited for another role? And Dau's backstory is just heartbreaking. It was good to see hints of the man he can yet become.

At the end of the book, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

“When I was a young girl, I made the choice to follow Jesus. But then for years my understanding of sin far outweighed my understanding of God's grace.”

Debbie Lindell captures my experience perfectly with that sentence. I grew up in church. There every time the doors opened. Became a Christian at a fairly young age. But for years, I didn't really grow closer to Jesus. I prayed, sure, but deep down, I trusted myself more than I trusted God. I didn't think I could really talk to Him.

In She Prays, Lindell blows that thought process to smithereens. In gentle, compelling language, she talks about just what it is that God did to give us access to Himself - the lengths He went to. She writes like a friend talks, and shares truth because she genuinely wants the reader to hear and understand it. And once her words started to sink in, that started to reshape my understanding of prayer.

I was privileged to read a digital copy of this book, but I like it so much, I'm going to need a physical copy to read and re-read.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.

Grace lives with her mother and brother in the sequestered community of Haven Valley, Tennessee. They moved there ten years ago when their leader received a message that they needed to hide and follow strict rules in order to be saved from the Furies that were coming. As the story opens, Grace is helping her brother, Jamie, explore outside the boundaries established for their safety. She is terrified, but helps him anyway. Jamie in particular is questioning whether the boundary is needed, whether the Furies still exist. He speaks up in their assembly one day, and when Grace supports him, they are both sent outside the boundary to come back with proof, one way or the other. Jamie is horribly attacked, and becomes more vigilant than ever in insisting that their boundary, their fear, keeps them safe. Grace, though, begins to question more than ever.

Grace's father, Ben, questioned from the start. He left the community and has been living outside the boundary. He travels with a boy, Eli, and he is dying. He is desperate to make his way back, to see his children before he dies. He tells Grace that Eli is there to show them the truth. But what is truth?

Ted Dekker teams up with his daughter, Rachelle, to write this book. As with every other Dekker story I've read, there is the story you read with your eyes. And as always, it's a thrill ride. There is tension, there is excitement, there is danger lurking, and it's a heck of a read. It did seem to slow just a little in the first third, but after that, I could hardly put it down.

There's also the story beneath the story, the one you read with your heart. The theme of fear keeping us safe is prevalent in this tale. Fear keeps us from being burned by the fire, keeps us from racing out in to traffic, keeps us from doing something stupid that will bring us harm. But when taken to extremes, fear also imprisons us, becomes a god unto itself, and blinds us to the truth. Grace had to face her fears in many forms, and she could not do that in her own strength. So it is with us. We can't fight our fears alone, but with the power of God's light and love, we can face them and conquer them. This book is a marvelous reminder of that truth.

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

Niasa is a Valkyrie. It's her responsibility to retrieve the souls of the dead to become einherjar in Odin's army. Niasa is different, though. She's the only Valkyrie to be born in Valhalla rather than brought there, and she has her own ideas about how to help Odin's army. She tends to do her own thing when retrieving souls, looking for those who seem to have more to offer than brawn rather than just fetching her assigned target.

Unfortunately, Niasa's tendency to buck the system gets her in hot water with Odin. She's put on probation and sent on one more mission, with the threat of a trial and possible banishment from Valhalla hanging over her head. But is Niasa's problem one of her own making, or is she being set up?

It took me a little bit to really get into this book. It seemed to start slowly to me. But once I was hooked, I was HOOKED! I really felt for Niasa. She kept getting herself into trouble, but she had the best interest of Odin and his army at heart. She really meant well. And with Gus, it looks like her actions may finally pay off - if they can survive and get back to Valhalla, and oh, yeah, if she isn't tried and sentenced to eternity in the Gap.

Once it starts, the action really doesn't slow down much. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see if Niasa and Gus will survive, wondering why Niasa was the only one who seemed to notice changes in humanity each time she returned to Midgard, hoping they'd make it back to Valhalla. There's some tension between Niasa and Gus, too, that's a lot of fun.

If you like a good, generally fast-paced fantasy read, pick up Time Magic. I enjoyed it enough that I've got to get the next one in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSirens. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't like.

I haven't finished Lean Out yet, but I will. It's an eye-opening read on why the structures that women are expected to fit into in Corporate America just aren't working.

Any woman who has ever worked in a corporate setting knows the drill. Want to lead? Be more like a man. But then we're penalized for being “too aggressive”. So, the system expects us to act one way to climb the ladder, but then holds it against us when we try to move up. And what about those of us who have no desire to be management, but who find ourselves on a “move up or move out” path?

Orr speaks to these situations with personal anecdotes and solid research. She explores the reasons why the current system isn't helping to close the gender gap, and why it actually does women in the workplace more harm than good.

I'm looking forward to reading the entire book, and I expect I'll read it more than once.

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

Amy Matayo has done it again with The Aftermath, the second in her Love in Chaos series.

Riley Mae likes what she's doing. She gets the chance to spread a little sunshine with her cupcakes and goodies in Springfield, Missouri. She likes adding personal touches for each of her customers, and she faces the world with a smile on her face and her hair dyed bubble-gum pink. All that changes in an instant when her town is devastated by a tornado.

Chad Gamble is the insurance adjuster who comes into town to take stock of the damages. He's used to living in his brother Liam's shadow and seeing good things happen...to other people. He never gets the girl or wins the prize, he just tries to do the right thing.

Neither of them know it, but they both carry a lot of hurt due to their life experiences. The tornado and its aftermath bring them together, and as sometimes happens, sparks fly in unexpected places. Can they work through the baggage of the past, pain inflicted on them by others, to find their own happy ending?

This book, y'all. Romance is not my normal jam. I'm a sci-fi/fantasy/mystery girl. But I enjoyed The Waves so much, I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of The Aftermath. And it does not disappoint. Ms. Matayo writes real, relatable characters that seem like people you could know in real life. They aren't perfect, they don't always say and do the right thing. They mess up, and they struggle to redeem themselves. You want to hug them, and you cheer for them, and you want to smack them. Ms. Matayo's words create a world that you become part of when you read her books.

And I can so relate to Riley Mae. When she says, “So many are hurt, and all I want to do is bake something”? YES, girl. I understand that desire to provide comfort through food. I love Riley Mae. I also like that we get to see more of Chad in this book. We first met him in The Waves, and he was kind of a whiny prat, not really very likable. If you've read The Waves, I think you'll understand (and like ) Chad a lot more after reading The Aftermath.

The Aftermath is a quick read, and a worthwhile one. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series!

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