Lisa Henson
It's another day at the office for Detective Mika Pensive - until Mary, the precinct's artificial intelligence, or AI, tells her that there's an android, or “toaster,” in the building. Not only that, but the toaster is being brought in as Mika's new partner. To say she's unenthused is putting it mildly. Mary as the eyes and ears and brains of the department is fine, but Mika believes cops and androids don't need to partner up. She'd rather go on a date with boorish Richard than get to know the android Leo.
So Mika and Richard zoom off to the Greek island of Hydra for a sun-drenched weekend of classical architecture, sparkling seas, pristine beaches - and a visit to a little town called Clonesville, where all the residents are clones of one Doctor Morgan. Richard wants to see an exhibition there by the artist Xhristina, a favorite of his who uses clones of herself in her works. And imagine Mika's surprise when Leo shows up on Hydra, too. He starts nosing around Xhristina's exhibition, asking questions about conscious clones, which are illegal, and gets suspicious when her answers are evasive. Mika calms Leo down and keeps him from arresting Xhristina on the spot, but the damage is done. An angry Richard zooms off in a huff, exclaiming that their date has been ruined.
That leaves Mika and Leo to explore the island. Mika has no intention of ever considering Leo her real partner, but figures she may as well get to know him, as she'll still see him at the precinct. One of the clones in Clonesville offers his services as a guide, and they're off. A murder and a mystery ensue, and Mika and Leo are up to their eyeballs in it.
I love Mika. She's a no-nonsense protagonist who swears in Chinese - giving it shades of Firefly (my favorite TV show ever). She is determined not to like Leo, but Leo is just so much more...human than she expected. The book is a quick read, so the relationship develops quickly enough that I had to suspend my disbelief a little, but Mika and Leo are just so darn cute together! And it was fascinating seeing Mr. Rossis' take on just how human Leo could be. He felt emotions, he responded to what he felt - not at all what the word “android” usually conjures.
Although the story was set several decades in the future, the focus wasn't on technology, other than Leo. The mystery to be solved and the relationship that could develop between human and toaster was what the story was all about. The pace was fast, the story was engaging, and the cast of characters was varied and interesting (and now I want an AI like Mary - she was my favorite). I normally read sci-fi without a side of romance, but A Heaven for Toasters is one book I'm glad I picked up.
You might think that, after three books, the fourth book in a series might start to lag a little. Not so with The Guardians of Evernow. Heidi Catherine has a positive gift for creating amazing worlds and populating them with real, relatable characters. It just keeps on getting better with each book I read! I would give this one ten stars if I could.
The Guardians are the army of the kingdom of The Bay of Laurel. They're strong and courageous, attributes enhanced by the tonics the kingdom's herbalist, Ariel, prepares for them. The king wants his son, Tate, to have an heir that will embody the strength of the Guardians, so he selects a female Guardian for Tate to marry.
River has been raised a Guardian. She knows it is her duty to protect the kingdom, and she knows she'll be called upon to marry another Guardian and strengthen their bloodlines. But when she is chosen to marry the Prince, she sees her future taking an unexpected - and not necessarily wanted - turn. Can this ever be a true marriage, to someone she doesn't know?
Tate and River are smart enough not to force their relationship, and Tate is smart enough to know he doesn't want to be the kind of king his father is. But what they don't realize at first is that there's someone who aspires to take control of the kingdom, and who won't stop at turning the tonics, the Guardians' source of strength, against them. Edison, Ariel's son, doesn't want to be the next herbalist after his mother. He wants more. So very much more.
Each book in The Kingdoms of Evernow series deals with one of the five senses, and The Guardians of Evernow deals with taste/eating. We see the king's gluttony. We see a gentle handling of the difficulties of eating disorders with Tate's sister, Pip. We see the tonics, something consumed, used either to strengthen or to kill.
And we see the power of relationships, and what happens when they go bad. Tate and River give each other room to get to know each other before pushing to consummate their marriage, and it grows into something beautiful. The relationship between Tate and Edison, and Pip and Edison, was cut off when they were young, and Edison took it poorly. That shaped his future, his vision of how things should be, and he played on those old feelings when it suited him, misusing a past relationship.
The story is told partly in flashbacks, and I found this to be a very effective technique. It allowed the author to reveal at least one very significant plot twist that made me gasp aloud. I also really like how each successive story intertwines with characters from previous stories. It's fun to see how the characters from the different kingdoms relate to each other. With that character crossover here, I cannot WAIT to get my hands on book 5!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance reader copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Another page-turner from Jacqueline Pawl! Heartless picks up where Merciless left off. Mercy, Tamriel, and Calum, along with a squad of soldiers, head for Cirisor, where it is believed they can find a cure for the plague that has stricken Sandori. Tamriel knows that Mercy was sent to kill him and is barely speaking to her - never mind the fact that she burned all her bridges with the Daughters when she killed two of them. And she can't tell him the truth about the contract on his life.
Things don't really get much better once they reach Cirisor. The Cirisian elves have no reason to trust humans, given humans' disdain for and mistreatment of them. But they appear willing to take Mercy in as one of their own, if only she is willing.
This book is a humdinger! We jump back into the world of Merciless, replete with incidents and “accidents”, hints and allegations. There is tension - between Tamriel and Mercy, between Mercy and Calum, between elves and humans, between the right choices and the wrong ones. There is intrigue, an unexpected evil, and betrayal. Secrets are revealed and alliances are built. And we get to go along for the ride.
When I read Merciless, the use of third person present tense was a little distracting at first. This time, that caused no such issues. We learn more about the main characters, and the book leaves off in a spot where I have GOT to have the next one in the series to find out what happens next. Ms. Pawl does an excellent job of continuing to flesh out this universe and develop her characters into multi-faceted, and fascinating, people. Well done!
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.
Another wonderful visit to the farm with Bash and Beamer! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these books with my son. Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows doesn't disappoint. It's almost April Fool's Day, and pranks abound. Even Uncle Rollie gets in on the fun (and come on, who did we think Bash learned his pranking ways from?). But Uncle Rollie doesn't think Bash can out-prank him. Little does he know, Bash has come up with a way for the cows to give chocolate milk.
On top of that, there's a robber on the loose, Bash and Beamer have a tankful of pollywogs just waiting to grow into frogs, and Mary Jane has a goat that's desperately in need of painting. Shenanigans abound, as well as lessons about life and friendship and how to show others the love of Jesus. Delightful reading all around, and I wish there were more books in the series.
Another delightful addition to Tonya Kappes' Camper & Criminals series!
Things are hopping in Normal. Folks are in town to go looking for the stash of silver that legend says was hidden in the areas by John Swift. Mae, Queenie, Mary Elizabeth, Abby, and Hank's granny Agnes set off with some more experienced treasure hunters just to see what they might find. Little do they know that they'll encounter not one, but two bodies, and that Mae's adoptive mother Mary Elizabeth will be the prime suspect for the murders.
This story has laughs and twists aplenty, just like I've come to expect from Ms. Kappes' books. The Laundry Ladies are a hoot, and things in Normal are never normal. Agnes is an absolute jewel. I hope we see more of her in future books! And just when you think you've got the mystery figured out, it takes a left turn and goes somewhere you didn't expect. This is a fun, quick read, perfect for a little dose of southern charm and whodunnit.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
The second book in the Bash series is just as delightful as the first!
A blizzard has blown through, and Ray is at the farm with Bash until the roads clear enough for Ray's parents to come get him. Bash determines that he and Ray are going to harvest the fruit of the Spirit - you know, love, peace, patience, joy, self-control, and so on. So they go out looking for opportunities to put some fruit into their basket. Shenanigans ensue.
Lauren Rodriguez and her family have moved to Ohio following the death of her father. When her mom's car ends up in a snowbank, Ray and Bash and Gulliver J. McFrederick the Third (the rescue hog) get Lauren, her brother Tyler, and her mom to safety and warmth at the Gobnotters' farm, and the community lends them a helping hand. Lauren is grieving her father's death, and Ray can't seem to say anything right to her, no matter what he says.
Strange things are afoot in the chicken coop, and Ray is determined to figure out what's going on. Bash thinks Mary Jane is pranking him. Mary Jane thinks Bash is pranking her. Ray just wants to solve the mystery.
Once again, Bash has a good heart but sometimes lacks common sense. Shenanigans ensue. We see superpowered supersleds, a snowball catapult with a very unique feature, and a cow wearing Aunt Tillie's Sunday dress, among other things. This was another that I read out loud with my ten-year-old, and we were just guffawing at times.
This is Christian fiction, and faith is an important component of the story. Lauren struggles with why God let her father die. That's something that many of us may have wrestled with, and it's written in a way that kids can relate to and understand. As a new Christian, Ray has to trust Jesus to help him explain why he believes to Lauren. And the kids learn an important lesson when it comes to cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Sometimes you just plant the seed and let it grow.
I love these books. They remind me that even when life is hard and doesn't turn out like I planned, it can still be an adventure, and God can still work it together for my good. On to book three, Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows!
Book 2 of the Wingfeather Saga takes off right where Book 1 ends, and I do mean takes off. It is a rocket ride of adventure and tension and excitement, and worthy of binge reading.
The Igiby children know now that they are really the Wingfeather children, the jewels of Anniera. Janner, the Throne Warden. Tink, the High King. Leeli, the Song Maiden. And Nia is Queen. That brings burdens that each of them must shoulder. Janner is a wonderfully drawn teenager. He loves his headstrong, willful brother, but loses patience with the jams he has to pull Tink out of. After all, his role as Throne Warden is to protect the King. Tink struggles with the position he finds thrust upon him. He has never known his father, and he has no one to teach him how to manage the responsibilities of kingship. Never mind that he currently has no kingdom to be responsible for, Tink is constantly reminded that he is the king and must act accordingly.
In the course of trying to make their way to the Ice Prairies, Janner and Tink are separated, first from the family, and then from each other. Can Janner find Tink? Has Tink made an irredeemable choice? Will either (or both) of them find their family? What awaits them in the Ice Prairies? The story answers these questions in epic fashion, and we also get some insight into Podo's past.
I love these books. There is good and evil, and battle between the two. There is doubt, and resolution into faith. There is love and family and so much more. I've seen some reviews that describe these books as intense, and they are. But my 11-year-old is loving them, and so am I. They're great for reading aloud, or for reading to oneself.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley (and boy, am I glad I did!). All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Curse Breaker jumps right in where Oath Taker left off and takes the reader on another fast-paced adventure. Haven and the group of Solis she's been traveling with continue to fight their way through the Ruinlands to get the things they need to break the Curse. It seems like nothing can ever be easy for them, and Haven is trying to master her hybrid magick while they fight one battle after another. And she is determined to save Bell, no matter what it costs her.
In this book, we get a bit more insight into both Archeron and Stolas. We learn that they aren't just what they appear to be on the surface, and I enjoyed getting to know more about them. Bless Haven's heart, she has feelings for both of them. I'm curious to see how the love relationships play out in book three. We also learn more about Bell and about the prince who was responsible for bringing the Curse down in the first place, and we learn more about the Noctis and the Shade Queen from Bell's point of view.
Action, tension, attraction, a tragic true love story, and twists and turns you don't see coming. That's Curse Breaker, a smokin' good read and an excellent continuation of the Kingdom of Runes series. The third book cannot get here fast enough for me!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Shea has somehow gotten himself hired as the new IT guy at Harvard's medical library. He has Pathological Problems with Authority and is constitutionally unable to tell a lie. So when he plans to steal a prized artifact, the skull of Phineas Gage, he can't help but tell everyone he knows of his plans (but he swears them all to secrecy, so that's okay, right?).
When the skull actually turns up missing, Shea knows it's just a matter of time before they're onto him and he finds himself in handcuffs. This book is Shea walking through the events leading up to that day with a group of co-workers that seems to grow by the moment. This book may not be for everyone. If you like your stories told in a straightforward fashion, without quirky humor and off-the-wall characters, give this one a miss. But I found it delightful, and now I'm going to have to go read the The Rise of the Blue Bandicoot to finish off the story. (Yes, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm reasonably sure the author did that on purpose to encourage us to read the second book. I'm good with that.)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from BookSirens. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
There are books that like to tell you how to make your life better without giving you any real (or realistic) idea of how to accomplish that. Then there's The Lemonade Life. Zack Friedman has written a gem of a book that gives the reader actual steps to take to produce sweet lemonade from the lemons life invariably throws. His premise is that, while we may not be able to control people and events around us, we can control our actions and responses. And it's there that the ways to turn your life into lemonade come into play. Now, just because the steps, or switches, are written down doesn't mean it's easy to take these steps, just that they're written out for you to follow and work into your life and routine. I'm looking forward to putting the book into practice, and I will come back and read and re-read and highlight it. It's that good.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
In Literature(R), the written word has been taken over by the corporate world and reduced to a method of transportation. Billy's job as a journalist takes him on a tour of Gripping Tails, the company about to release a new transit line. He catches management's eye, and he's offered a very lucrative job. I use the term “offered” loosely. After he leaves to consider this job offer, Billy is followed by some pretty hefty muscle, either trying really hard to convince him to take the job or to kill him, take your pick.
You see, Billy is “Lit” - he's a reader. And reading is illegal in his world. Are the powers that be at Gripping Tails on to him? Do they know about his habit?
It took me a little bit to get into Literature, but once I did, it was a fascinating read. Guillermo Stitch has created a dystopian/sci-fi world where reading is wrong, creativity is stifled, and books - lovely, glorious books - are reduced to use as a mundane function of everyday life. I liked Billy. I could relate to Billy. He's just a guy, trying to get along, doing what he has to in order to survive (and sometimes that's right, and sometimes that's wrong). It all came together for me near the end of the book, and that was the point at which I loved Literature.
Minus one star for the appalling text speak used for communication between Billy and his girlfriend. Of course, if you live in a world where reading is discouraged, I guess it makes sense that many people wouldn't know how to spell.
This was a quick read, and one I'm glad I picked up.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book through BookSirens. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno is not your mama's business book. I'm pretty sure my mama wouldn't have had a business book at all, and if she had, it wouldn't have been giving her tips on how to break out of the mold that so often seems to be set for women.
This book is a quick read, one that feels like chatting with a friend. It's not stuffy, and Ms. Moreno shares her own experiences in starting businesses and finding ways to build her brand successfully. I think I'm maybe not the target demographic, being as I'm a mom who works outside the home already. But I am looking for ways to build a side hustle into something more, and this book gave me a lot to think about in that regard.
If you've got an idea for a business, a dream that you can't shake from your mind, read Boss Up! Maybe it's time to take a chance on yourself and make that dream fly.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
The cover of this book is eye-catching. The description is also very intriguing - the use of computer software to communicate with the dead? Let's read!
Winter and her parents moved to Mexico seeking a cure for her mother's illness. The treatment was unsuccessful, and after her mother's death, Winter and her father are drowning in grief, pain, and loneliness. Winter's father has a computer program, Fractalistic, that he says can let them see and talk to Winter's mother. Can this work? Or is her father losing his grip on reality?
At its heart, this story is about memory, about our perception of things and how we can lie to ourselves to protect ourselves. Gerardo Delgadillo spins this tale with believable characters and wonderful place descriptions. I've never visited Mexico, but I could envision it through his words.
Sometimes relationships seemed to develop a bit faster than was realistic, but it wasn't a distraction from the story. The book went one way first (or at least I thought it did), and then flipped in a direction I didn't expect. It was a worthwhile read.
I review semi-regularly at bigfatfblog.wordpress.com.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Heidi Catherine knocks it out of the park with the third book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series. In The Empress of Evernow, Rani is the future empress of the Sands of Naar. Her father is but a figurehead, and the Chairman of the Board governs with a brutal hand. Rani is now of age to participate in her first siring, a passionless process carried out with the hope of conceiving children to replenish the kingdom's diminishing population.
Touch is outlawed in the Sands of Naar. It was supposedly banned years ago to prevent the spread of disease, but it's gone far beyond that. Children are conceived, birthed, and raised with the bare minimum of physical contact, and never skin touching skin.
When the Chairman insists that he will be the one to participate in Rani's first siring, the Emperor is powerless to stop him. Rani, appalled at the prospect, takes matters into her own hands and flees into the desert. Even knowing she faces the very real possibility of death in the burning sands, that is preferable to staying where she is.
Aarow lives in a secret colony underground, made up of Reborns - those who have escaped and made a way to survive in the desert. He knows there's a way to live without being under the Council's domination, that touch doesn't kill. He rescues Rani, and convinces her that there is a way to free those in the city. They must start a revolution.
This is such a good book! Each book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series deals with the misuse and abuse of a particular sense, and in this book, it's touch. Imagine a world without high fives, without hugs, without lovers' embraces, without a mother's gentle hand. That's where Rani lives. At the start, she is quiet and reserved. But the thought of allowing the Chairman to try to father a child on her is the straw that breaks the camel's back, so to speak. That moves her to action. I loved seeing her become a passionate advocate for her people.
The book is part of a series, and there is some crossover with other books in the series, but this can be read as a stand-alone work. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I can't wait for book 4!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Lindsey thought she knew who her father was. But when she finds a photo of her mother with a man she doesn't recognize, dated nine months before her birth, she realizes that the man who raised her wasn't her father after all. She wonders what kept the man in the photo from coming back to her mother, and she sets off to find out more about him. She learns that his name was Steve Nathan, and he was an American operative in the Vietnam War. Missing, presumed dead.
Nate has grown up knowing who his father was - Steve Nathan, an American who died in the war. While his childhood in California with his mother Mai wasn't always easy, he knows it's better than what he could have had in Mai's home country of Vietnam as a “half-breed”, of mixed race. He and Mai have a successful restaurant business, and he goes back to Vietnam to meet his family there and pursue possible business connections. He also knows there's more to his father's story than Mai has shared with him, and hopes to have a chance to learn what she's not saying.
Nate and Lindsey meet up by chance in Vietnam, and when Nate mentions his father's name, Lindsey realizes he is her half-brother. Nate invites Lindsey to his family's celebration of Tet, a Vietnamese holiday, and they decide it's time that family secrets come to light.
I will not tell you all of the plot. Mary Marchese tells this story, and she does it admirably. What I will tell you is that this story is the kind that will linger long after the last page. The descriptions of Vietnam, the country and the culture, are both engaging and enlightening, especially to a reader like me, who isn't very familiar with the country. After reading this book, I think I might like to go visit there. Lindsey and Nate were easy to envision in my mind's eye as I read, and while Lindsey is an adult for the entirety, it was delightful to see Nate grow up over the course of the book. The story's focus is primarily on the mystery of Steve Nathan, but there's also some suspense and a little romance.
While I was a bit put off at first by the use of present tense for Lindsey and past tense for Nate, I soon realized that this made it easier for me to follow whose narrative I was reading. It certainly didn't distract from the pleasure of the story. And the ending. Oh, wow. I didn't expect the ending, and it was very well done. I liked the way Ms. Marchese brought the story of Steve Nathan full circle. When I'd read the last word, I just looked at the page for a moment or two, because I was unable to walk away from it. Truly, this is a gem that ranks among my favorite books this year.
I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes a well-told story about love, loss, and family secrets.
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.
There's mystery afoot in Whispering Falls. A group of Audubon Society birdwatchers has descended after learning of a sighting of the elusive Spangled Smoky Momoko. The rare bird sighting also attracts Adam Vedder, a zoologist with a zoo specializing in exotic animals, hoping to capture the Spangled and breed it in captivity. June is sensing something about misfortune. Madam Torres, her crystal ball, keeps chirping, and Mr. Prince Charming, her godcat, has brought her a bird charm. And what is this about a crow flying at midnight?
While the birdwatchers are camping out, looking for the Spangled, Adam Vedder is found dead. All of the birdwatchers, plus a beloved Whispering Falls resident, fall under suspicion. Oscar has 24 hours to solve the crime or else the mortal police will have to be called in. He and June are up against a deadline as they try to figure out who is responsible for Adam's death. Luckily, they've got some help from the other residents of Whispering Falls.
I really enjoy the Magical Cures Mystery series, and this book was no exception. Ms. Kappes spins a lively yarn that hooked my interest and made this a very quick read. June and Oscar are adorable, and the other residents of the town are so quirky, it's just delightful. I wish I could visit Whispering Falls for real!
Anna Kate has come back to her mother's hometown of Wicklow, Alabama to bury her grandmother and settle the estate. Granny Zee owned the Blackbird Cafe, and her will requires that Anna Kate stay in Wicklow and run it for two months. Anna Kate thinks she'll do what the will calls for, sell the cafe, and return to Boston to pursue her plans for medical school. Wicklow and the blackbirds have other ideas.
This story is positively radiant. It calls to mind the writing of Sarah Addison Allen. I loved it as much as I loved The Night Circus. There are magical elements - the blackbirds being a bridge between the living and the dead, bringing messages to those who eat a slice of Blackbird Pie - but the characters are what make the story sing. I grew up in a small southern town, and these all feel like people I know. The grumpy old gentleman, the talkative town know-it-all, the haughty Southern matriarch, the loner who keeps to himself but has hidden depths. They are real and relatable and make this book one that is hard to put down.
The book has so much to offer. Magic, mystery, romance. But most of all, it's about relationships - what it takes to create them and keep them, and how to heal them when a past kept hidden has broken them. The story sounds so intriguing, my husband wants to read it, and this is usually not his thing at all. Give it a read. You won't be sorry, and if you're like me, you'll hate to see the book end.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from BookishFirst. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Cohen Marah finds his father Calvin, nearly dead, in the embalming room of the family's funeral home. Is Cohen responsible? If so, in what way? As he waits in the hospital for his father to die, Cohen must deal with a rush of emotions and memories brought to the surface by this traumatic experience.
Shawn Smucker takes us back to Cohen's childhood to explore a son's relationship with his father, first as a child, then as a man who sees his father's flaws. Life has happened, often in unpleasant ways, and as Calvin lingers on the threshold between life and death, Cohen feels terribly distant from him. The story of Cohen's past comes forth in memories and emotions, interwoven with his present.
This was not a quick read, nor was it always an easy read. But once I was drawn into it, it was hard to put down. Cohen struggles with questions of faith, of feeling like God is distant from him or even gone, while he tries to resolve his complicated feelings for his father. While I'm not a son working through a complex relationship with my father, I have had my own difficult times of wondering why God doesn't seem to be present anymore. That's heavy stuff.
“Maybe that's the problem with fathers and sons - they lose each other.”
The tale told here is one of struggle, loss, and ultimately redemption. Light will find its way to us through the darkness, and so it is with Cohen.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Emma Lovett has moved to Colorado to get away from her ex-husband. She's ready to start a new life there as a teacher at Thomas Jefferson High. With her fellow teacher and new bestie Leslie, she's learning the ropes and getting to know people. And when the school custodian is found dead, the new dynamic duo has a mystery to solve.
My husband is a teacher, so while I haven't taught myself, I've heard a lot about the educational environment. Kelley Kaye does a good job of depicting characters that fit their setting. The librarian who's just a little obsessive about his books. The coach who's more concerned with his athletes' ability to play than their grades. They all ring true.
The mystery is engaging. There are lots of little twists and turns, and Emma and Leslie have to follow them all, since the detective in charge is a bit of a dolt (and not terribly good at what he does). And it wasn't one I figured out quickly, either. I was surprised at the outcome - and I love a good surprise in my mysteries.
I was an English major in college, so I just adore the use of Shakespeare quotations. Makes me want to go back and read some more of the Bard's finest. And Emma and Hunter are too cute for words. So you've got mystery, humor, and a little romance - what more does a book need?
For the most part, Ms. Kaye's writing is a delight. It flowed smoothly, and there weren't a lot of things that gave me pause. But the written spelling of Emma's Southern accent grated on my nerves after about two pages. I'm a Southern girl. I know what we sound like. I didn't feel it was necessary to use “Ah” and “Ah'm” every time Emma says “I” or “I'm”. It was visually and mentally distracting, and I do hope Ms. Kaye sees fit to let go of that stylistic quirk in her future books.
Good read, not too easy to figure out - if you enjoy a nicely done cozy mystery, pick up Death by Diploma!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Lena is running for her life.
That's how we meet her in The Magic of Fireflies. She's desperate to escape the fate that befell her mother, and as much as she would love to stay at Galen Cottage with Thomas Blackburn, she can't risk putting him in danger.
Lena travels to the Virginia Colony as the companion of Mrs. Millner. They settle in the area of Pungo. They begin to build a life there, and Lena is hopeful that her past can remain hidden. However, it looks like her worst fears are coming to pass after the newly arrived cousin of the positively malevolent Mrs. Kent turns out to be Idella Tench, someone from Lena's past life. And when her friend Grace Sherwood is accused of witchcraft, Lena fears that her secrets may be revealed and that she, too, may be in danger.
J. M. Taylor has written a well-researched, engaging piece of historical fiction with The Magic of Fireflies. Read my full review at https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the-magic-of-fireflies-j-m-taylor
I started backward. I read book 3 first. I was able to follow pretty well without having read the first two, so it can be done, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning.
Mercy is supposed to save her mother, the Soul of the Sun, so her mother can save the earth. But Mercy has been kept from learning about her true powers since the Seekers, evil creatures looking to stop the Soul of the Sun and Mercy's entire family from fulfilling their mission, killed her twin brother Milo.
In Ring of Fire, Mercy finds herself coming into her power at the solstice on her sixteenth birthday. Her mother has intended to protect Mercy by keeping her in the dark about what she can do. Now that her powers have awakened, some nasty folks are afraid of her and will do anything in their efforts to stop her. Mercy has to learn to use her powers to their full potential, or the human race will be doomed.
This was a well-paced read, and the characters were developed nicely. Several of the characters are teenagers, and they interact just like you'd expect teenagers to do. The story kept me engaged, and the ending was satisfactory. Now I have to go read the first two....
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't really like.
Carol Beth Anderson does a remarkable job at weaving powerful stories from 150 words or less. The stories cover a range of topics - horror, love, fantasy. Each one is a delectable bite of imagery and emotion. Since this is a collection of micro-fiction, it is a quick read. But it will stay with you long after you've read the last word.
Emma Lee Raines owns Eternal Slumber, one of two funeral homes in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky. She's also a “Betweener” - she can communicate with the spirits of the deceased in order to help solve their murders and allow them to cross over. In A Ghostly Suspect (eighth in the Ghostly Southern Mysteries series, but my first to read), we learn that things have been quiet on the Betweener front for a while. Emma Lee has had some time to grow her business at Eternal Slumber. But then Emma Lee's psychic, Debbie Dually, comes to visit her, acting very strangely, insisting that Emma Lee admit that she can see dead people. When Debbie is found dead not far from Eternal Slumber, and her spirit comes to visit Emma Lee, it makes sense. Emma Lee has to help solve Debbie's murder, before the police pin it on her!
This is a fun book! It works well as a standalone. Even without having read others in the series, I was able to get enough of a sense of the backstory for things to make sense. And I do love the characters in Tonya Kappes' books. They're so very Southern, and they are my people. Emma Lee is a hoot. She's always skating right on the knife edge of getting herself into some serious hot water, but manages to pull herself (or have herself pulled) out of harm's way. And Granny. Have mercy. I want to go visit her, because she is a riot. She's got the men running themselves in circles over her!
The book has a little bit of everything - tension and high stakes, humor, romance, and twists and turns to keep any mystery lover happy. I didn't see the ending coming, for a fact. And that's my favorite kind of mystery, the one where I don't realize what's going to happen until BAM! It does. If you're a cozy mystery fan, you'll want to give this one a read.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Heidi Catherine has done it again with The Alchemists of Evernow! This is the second book in the Kingdoms of Evernow series, and so far it's a series well worth reading.
The story tells us about Wintergreen, another of the Five Kingdoms of Evernow. The Alchemist has learned the secret of controlling people by means of scent, and Jasmine is one of many women in his thrall. When the Alchemist captures Jasmine's brother Raph, she must wake up - and she must seek help from Ari, the heir to the throne of Wintergreen. Ari is on a mission of his own, trying to solve a family mystery, but he agrees to help Ana. Can they save Raph, solve Ari's mystery, and break the hold the Alchemist has over people?
Heidi Catherine does a wonderful job of fleshing out another of the Five Kingdoms of Evernow. The first, Forte Cadence, addressed the power of the spoken word. Here, Wintergreen looks at the impact of the sense of smell. It is through the fragrant elixirs and salts he creates that the Alchemist wreaks havoc and gains power. Scent can heal or wound, kill or cure.
The world of Evernow is vividly imagined, and the characters are well written. Raph is a precocious boy who sees more than people may realize. Jasmine is a strong, caring young woman. Ari has a good heart and wants to do the right thing, even when it isn't easy. The Alchemist is wonderfully creepy and dislikable, but even he isn't just a one-dimensional bad guy.
Don't start these books unless you have time to dive in, because you will not want to put them down! The Alchemists of Evernow is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I'm ready to visit the other three kingdoms!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Cadie McCaffrey has made up her mind, on her 30th birthday, that she doesn't need a man. Then she meets Will and falls head over heels. But, four years later, she's wondering if their relationship is actually heading anywhere. She convinces herself that Will doesn't love her enough to want to marry her, so there's no point in them continuing to date. On what she thinks will be their final date, things happen, a line is crossed that both of them said would not be, and it just goes south from there. She can't get him out of her life fast enough after that.
However, she and Will still work together, and still run into each other despite Cadie's best efforts to avoid him. Will does love Cadie in that “forever” way. He wants to be the man she deserves. He's determined to get her back, and he's got some help from Cadie's best friend Darby and his ex-athlete co-workers. But will he succeed?
I'll tell you straight up, this is not my usual fare. I don't watch rom-com movies, and I don't normally read romances. But this one sounded cute, so I thought I'd give it a shot. And it was a sweet book, with humor and tension and romance, and I'm glad I read it. Both Cadie and Will are characters you can relate to – if you haven't felt like they have, you've had friends who have. There were times I wanted to hug them both and times I wanted to smack them both. Ms. Turner has written a very engaging story that moves quickly and keeps the reader involved.
My recommendation: If you're looking for a good beach read, or a sweet romance that leaves out the graphic details, this is your book. Read with confidence!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.