Lisa Henson
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! (And there's romance. Oh, hey, I'm a romance reader now. For reals.) For starters, the setting is just wonderful. My husband has told me about how much he enjoyed his time spent in Juneau, Alaska. He was up there for several weeks one summer doing an internship for his master's in museum studies. So Alaska has been on my bucket list of places for a while. And I am not a cold weather girl, but Warren's descriptions of the beauty of the Alaskan landscape almost make me willing to go there when it's cold.
The characters were likable (or not – looking at you, Idaho) and relatable. Life has left both Dodge and Echo struggling with issues of trust and the need to extend forgiveness. When their relationship imploded ten years ago, both were deeply hurt. Neither is sure they want to open up to the possibility of further pain, even though they clearly still have strong feelings for each other. I wanted so much to see them succeed, to work past their issues, with each other and with other people in their lives. I wanted to shake them when they were being stupid and stubborn. I wanted to give them hugs when they needed them.
There's plenty of tension in the story to keep it moving briskly. We see that tension between Dodge and his father right off the bat. The details of their conflict aren't shared right away, but Dodge's reluctance to face his father is clear. Echo has issues from her mother leaving the family when Echo was young. There's strife between Charlie, Echo's father, and one of the guides in town. There are rescue missions, potential wildlife poachers, man against nature scenarios, all stirring the pot in their own way. This is not a story that will lull you to sleep. In fact, I stayed up past my bedtime reading because I just couldn't tear myself away!
This story bills itself as Christian fiction, and it delivers. It makes me sad when books are categorized as Christian fiction and then have very little of faith in the story. Warren makes faith an integral part of her characters' lives. Not only are they struggling with trust and forgiveness and healing of broken relationships (romantic and family both) on their own terms. They also wrestle with seeking God, with coming back to God when they thought He had walked away from them. And at the heart of all of it is love.
“This was love. Love showed up. Love stayed. Love sacrificed.”
Not gonna lie, there were times I was wiping away the tears while I was reading. And I'm not a crier.
For those of you who hate cliffhangers, there is a BIG FAT ONE at the end of this book. All it did, though, was make me want to read the second book as quickly as possible!
Five stars for well-written action, a gorgeous setting that makes you want to go see it for yourself, characters I loved, and just the right touch of romance. If you like a book that's heavy on the action and adventure, that includes clean romance and Christian values and beliefs, Sunrise may be the start of your next favorite series. Go pick it up and give it a read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Surprise! I'm starting in the middle of a series again! That being said, I simply adore Lady Eleanor Swift.
Lady Swift finds herself pressed into service by Sir Percival, head of the royal police, to investigate the suspicious death of Lord Xander Taylor-Howard, a minor royal (eighteenth in line to the throne). Lord Taylor-Howard dropped dead in front of a crowd at the royal regatta, poisoned by the champagne he drank as he prepared to hand out awards to the winners. Turns out His Lordship was hiding a number of secrets, but which of them led to his untimely death? And who hated him enough to want him dead? His sister? An angry husband of one of the many ladies His Lordship dallied with? A Russian spy to whom he was providing information on the royal family?
Verity Bright crafts a delightful tale here. Eleanor – Ellie – is the type of lady I suspect I'd be – one not overly concerned with Keeping Up Appearances and Doing the Done Thing. Her so-called friend Tipsy has her work cut out for her, but she's determined to convince Ellie to forget about her fondness for Detective Inspector Hugh Seldon and “bag” some wealthy, titled man. Ellie is interested in none of it, and I applaud her for it! Tipsy was so over the top, she almost seemed a caricature, but I'm sure there were women like that, for whom snagging the “right” gentleman was all that mattered.
Clifford, Ellie's butler, would like to see her come more into her role as lady of the manor, and he encourages her to go along with some of Tipsy's “suggestions” (Tipsy is very pushy). But ultimately, he knows Ellie isn't ever going to fit entirely into the “proper lady” mold, and he assists in her investigation, often playing a pivotal role either in moving things forward or in keeping Ellie safe when she's poking into corners someone doesn't want poked in. I really like Clifford.
As with Tipsy, I find the Bright Young Things a bit shallow and kind of annoying. But they were a part of the time period, and they fit the setting of the story. Had Ellie taken up with any of that set, it would have been terribly disappointing!
The story has intrigue and action, tension and romance. I found myself wondering if Ellie would make it through this one unscathed! I'm anxious to read future entries in the series to see how the romance between Hugh and Ellie develops. It seems that they've made some progress on that front here, and I want to know how it turns out!
And oh, there is humor. The female servants at Henley Hall, the ancestral manor, make no secret that they all find Hugh dashing and handsome. The shenanigans they go through to lay eyes on him are quite entertaining. Gladstone, the family dog, is also a scene stealer. I want to give him skritches and pats and feed him treats, because he is a Very Good Boy! He also has a tendency to find the muddiest muck at the most inopportune of times, and it's hilarious.
Is this profound literature? No. But it is a light, witty, clever mystery that lets me escape into another time and place for a while. And can't we all do with more of those right now? It gets five stars from me.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley and Bookouture. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Alexandra Tarkington has been raised by her aunt since her mother's death. Her father left for parts unknown and returned only a couple of times a year to see his daughter. But when Alexandra needs to leave town because of a persistent and difficult suitor who won't take “no” for an answer, it is her father she seeks out.
Gabe Seymour is an investigator hired to look into the business dealings of Calvin Tarkington, Alexandra's father. Neither Gabe nor Alexandra knows who the other is when they hit it off on a stagecoach headed for Mesquite Springs, Texas. Calvin – now known as Mr. King – is building a grand hotel in Mesquite Springs. It appears to be a legitimate business venture, but Gabe feels certain there is chicanery afoot, if he can only track it down. But what will happen when Gabe's true purpose for coming to Mesquite Springs is revealed? And when it becomes clear that someone intends harm to Alexandra, can Gabe identify the culprit and keep Alexandra safe?
The Spark of Love is the third in Amanda Cabot's Mesquite Springs series. It's the first I've read, but I was able to follow the story just fine. Of course, now I must read the first two, because I want the backstory on all of the characters. But the reading of this one didn't suffer for me not having read the first two.
Alexandra is a marvelous heroine. In the 1850s, when the book is set, women were not really expected to be strong-willed, outspoken, and independent. Yet she sets out for Texas alone to avoid an unpleasantly persistent suitor. She is clearly intelligent and not afraid to engage in the fine art of verbal self-defense. And she wants desperately for her father to get past his narrow, rather archaic mindset and see that she is capable and has skills that she can use. She makes herself useful, both to her father at the hotel and in her new role as the local school's art teacher.
Gabe is a delightful hero as well. He may not be described as the most handsome man in the story, but we see that the prettiest face is not always the one that's most worthwhile. He's clearly taken with Alexandra, and he's a good sport, too. I love the part where Alexandra is giving the Gottlieb twins painting lessons, and Gabe just rolls with it when the twins call him out for his poor artistic skills (as only young childen can do).
The supporting characters are wonderfully drawn, some loveable, some despicable. The Hill Country setting that Cabot describes makes me want to go visit. And the mystery and suspense woven throughout made the book hard to put down!
I laughed, I cheered, I booed, I jeered, I even teared up a little sometimes. I'm sad that this is the last of the Mesquite Springs series. I just got here, and I don't want to leave! If you love historical fiction, clean romance, action, and suspense, you will adore The Spark of Love. I give it five shiny stars. The only thing that would have made it better was if it had included the recipe for that famous oatmeal pecan pie that was mentioned so often!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review 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.
This is the second in Dea Poirier's Detective Harlow Durant series. I haven't read the first, but didn't have any trouble reading this one as a stand-alone. Enough back story was filled in that I could make sense of it.
Here, she and her partner Lucas are called to Saranac Lake to investigate a grisly murder. A young woman's body has been found, burned almost beyond all recognition. Then a second. Then a third. Another detective, Chad, is already in the tourist town investigating a serial killer. Is this a second serial killer in the same area? Harlow and Lucas have got to figure out what's going on.
There were a number of unlikable people in this book, starting with the main character. Harlow Durant is a detective, a loner with a troubled past. She's constantly on the move, trying to stay ahead of her parents and anyone else who might unravel her history. There are very few people she trusts enough to let them know her story. Her partner Lucas is one person that she lets in. He knows the details of her dark past, and trusts and likes her regardless.
Harlow's parents are both detestable characters – her father is a serial killer (yes, you read that right), her mother is just abusive and horrible. Chad, a fellow detective, is a jerk. He's constantly needling Harlow, giving her grief about anything he can, and she returns the favor. The pawn shop owner from whom they're trying to get video evidence is just low-level sleaze. The common thread among the victims, a well-to-do gentleman, is hitting on Harlow every chance he gets. It's a grimy undercurrent to an interesting story.
That being said, even with all the characters you'll love to hate, it was still a very compelling read. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. The victims, though it was revealed that they had their own issues, were characters you cared about. They deserved justice, and I was cheering for Harlow as she worked to provide that for them.
And if you don't like cliffhangers, boy, you will not like the end of this book. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I read that last page. I didn't see it coming, and I've got to read the next book now!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and Bookouture. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Kelly Irvin has a real winner in Trust Me. I will say up front that it is Christian fiction, and her characters talk about and struggle with their faith openly. It's an integral part of the story. If that isn't your jam, then this may not be the right read for you (good romantic thriller though it is!).
Now, if you enjoy a story that includes faith and the ups and downs of living it out, read on! It's set in San Antonio, and while I'm a Louisiana girl, I lived in Texas for a bunch of years. It will always have a piece of my heart, and I love stories that are set there.
Delaney Broward lived through the trauma of discovering her brother Corey dead in his art studio ten years ago. Her boyfriend, Hunter Nash, went to prison for the crime. So imagine her shock when she not only finds her best friend, Ellie Hill, brutally slain (and gets herself attacked in the process), but learns that Hunter has been released from prison that same day. Hunter is quickly bumped up to the top of the suspect list for Ellie's murder, and Delaney doesn't know what to think.
Delaney lost her faith in God when Corey was killed and Hunter was convicted of the murder. Hunter found his faith in God within the prison walls, and through the assistance of the prison chaplain, he's found himself a job now that he's out. He's trying to convince Delaney that he's innocent of Corey's murder, both to clear himself and to restore her faith. She reluctantly agrees to work with him, and they go poking under some serious rocks and digging in some dark corners to uncover the truth, putting themselves in danger in the process.
Irvin writes believable characters. Hunter is intent on clearing himself, as you would expect an innocent man to be. Delaney is hesitant to open herself up to hurt, to letting the man she loved and lost back into her heart. Hunter's mother is an absolute jewel and responds to him the way I'd hope I would if it were one of my boys in a similar situation. His siblings are realistic, some good, some annoying as all get out. You can tell a lot of thought went into each character's personality and characteristics to make sure they fit their role in the story.
It's a well-paced story, too. The suspense builds and moves along at a good pace, without any bits that drag. It kept me guessing, too. I'd think I'd figured out the killer, and then something would happen that I didn't see coming, and I was back to square one. Then the big reveal had my jaw on the floor. It was stunning to me, and I love stories that can surprise me at the end!
The only thing that rubbed me wrong just a bit was the fact that Delaney let Hunter stay anywhere near her when he showed up unexpectedly at her house. I'm reasonably confident that, in that situation, I would have been all, oh, HAIL, no, and I am on the phone to 911 just as fast as I can be. Or maybe not. I've never been in that situation, after all, still attracted to the man convicted of killing my brother, and said man is swearing he didn't. I worked my way past it and enjoyed the book all the same!
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and the title is apt. The story focuses heavily on trust lost, and the process of rebuilding that trust. There's tension, and action, and danger, and romance, and humor, all of which combine to make this a five-star read for me.
This is Irvin's first Christian thriller, and I hope she writes more in this genre. I am here to read all of them! Scroll down and enter the giveaway, and you can WIN an autographed paperback copy!
Grant Price writes a cyberpunk dystopian tale that grabs you right off the bat.
“The man's blood was on her skin and now she would have to run.”
Mara Kinzig agreed to a stint in a dreamtank for easy money, because life in the city doesn't come cheap. But she wakes up to something other than what she bargained for. A dead man she doesn't recognize. A body that isn't the one she went to sleep in. And a second voice in her head that most definitely isn't hers.
She's desperate to figure out who she is, but she knows she can't stay where she is. The body has been discovered, the robotic bull cops are hot on her tail, and there's a price on her head high enough to make just about anyone who sees her turn her in. So she flees outside the city to the Vanguard, a mysterious group that may or may not exist. She's hoping that, if she finds them, they can help her survive long enough to solve both the mystery of the dead man and the mystery of who she is. Who is the dead man? Why was she framed for his murder? Who (or what) is the voice Mara has begun hearing in her head? Does she – does Mara – even really exist anymore?
Grant Price crafts an engrossing and slightly disturbing vision of a future Earth. The story is set in a future Berlin. Carbon credits are currency, and climate crisis has wreaked havoc. Technology is king, the wealthy call the shots, and the poor are human test subjects in every kind of scientific experiment you can imagine. The green infrastructure that was supposed to be society's salvation is a crumbling mess. The haves care only about having more, and the have-nots are disposable.
I get serious Blade Runner vibes from Price's story, with a touch of Firefly coming through in some of the jargon he uses. There's rather a lot of jargon included without much overt explanation, but I was able to determine the meaning pretty well from context. A couple of chapters in, and it all made sense to me just fine.
The world Price has constructed is incredibly detailed and well thought out. I could just feel the noise and overwhelm of the city as Mara tried to break free of it. I mean, the mental clutter of a world where the advertisements tailor themselves to your frequency – thinking about it makes my brain itch! The squalor of the underground, the unexpected open spaces Mara finds, I can see all of it in my mind's eye because Price puts it together so effectively.
His characters are well-constructed, too. No one, not even the most minor character, feels like an afterthought or a throwaway. Everyone in the story has a role to play, and they do so admirably.
The story moves pretty quickly, and that makes it a fast read. It's thought-provoking, because who knows but that our society couldn't end up like the one envisioned here. With its questions of environmental preservation, how to survive with limited resources, ethically and morally questionable technological procedures, and more, this is a book that really gives you pause to consider where our world may be headed.
Five stars for a dang good story. I want to know what happens next!
Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of this book by the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Check out my other reviews at http://www.theplainspokenpen.com.
I've always enjoyed Jill Eileen Smith's books, and The Prince and the Prodigal does not disappoint. If you're familiar with the story of Joseph in Genesis, you likely already know the outline – Joseph, the favored son, is sold to a caravan of traders by his older brothers, ends up as a slave in Egypt, and after many years, finds himself second only to Pharaoh, well placed to help his family survive a devastating famine. But you may not know much about Judah other than his name and the fact that he was one of Joseph's brothers.
Here, Smith fleshes out the scriptural account of Joseph, and she also provides an engrossing account of the life of Judah, his older brother. When you read the words on the page of your Bible, you get the gist of the story. Smith brings those words to life in vivid detail.
It had never occurred to me that perhaps Joseph didn't enjoy being the favored son. Here, he's portrayed as a young man who wants to learn from his father and grandfather and share the faith that is so important to them, but who's deeply troubled at the rift his father's affection for him causes between him and his brothers. Smith's writing made him a much more sympathetic character for me. He was more than just the snot-nosed favorite who seemed to lord it over his siblings by telling him about his dreams and how they'd bow to him someday.
And never once had it crossed my mind how Judah might have felt after he and his brothers made the call, first, to toss Joseph into a pit and leave him for dead, and then to pull him out of the pit and sell him to slavers. And then to go home and lie to their father about what happened after that? The guilt must have been crushing. It's no wonder he ran off and lived in Canaan for a good long while. He fled from facing his father, and ran from his father's God, too.
Smith draws a wonderful portrait of both Joseph and Judah doing their best to seek (or in Judah's case, find) God in the midst of their struggles. Joseph believes in God, but often can't fathom why God has put him in a foreign land, in a prison, in a situation where he isn't free to leave and go home. Judah has resisted the God of his father, yet God still finds him, even far from home, and restores the things that have been broken. The picture for both of them is of a loving God leading them through difficulty if they will just trust and follow and keep doing the next right thing. The story closes on a beautiful note of redemption and restoration, and I'll tell ya, I needed a tissue or two.
If you enjoy a good work of historical fiction with a clear emphasis on faith in and reliance on God, with well-written characters and a world described so well you feel like you could step right into the pages, you'll love The Prince and the Prodigal. Five stars from me.
Disclaimer: I received a review 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.
The Shattered Gate starts in a not-too-distant future on Earth. A man is attending a sporting event with friends, staying in touch with his girlfriend by phone. Everything goes pear-shaped when an attack of some kind begins and he finds himself enclosed in an unbreakable pod, being pulled away from Earth. Aliens have arrived...and they aren't here to help.
Fast forward 400 years to the planet Ceres. The 144,000 people snatched from Earth were taken there, to serve as a source of genetic material for the Cerans so that the Cerans could continue to survive on their home planet. Micah Trace is a descendant of the humans brought to Ceres. He has never seen the planet from which his ancestors hailed, and he is overwhelmed with a longing to travel there. But the people of Earth have never forgotten the Cerans' visit 400 years earlier. Can Micah reach Earth and open up communications with the people there before they shoot the expeditionary ship out of the sky?
The book raises interesting questions of bioethics and how we treat those different than us. The Hybrids, the ones taken from Earth, are viewed by some as worthy and vital to Ceran survival, and by others as little more than cattle, to be used when the Cerans have need. The Hybrids themselves are divided in what they want. Some want to be fully integrated into society on Ceres, and others feel the Hybrids should be separate, their own society on the same planet. There are Cerans who are favorable to the Hybrids, such as the king and queen, Artax and Hanani. Others, like counselor Sanballat and barrister Tobiah, are open in their disdain for the Hybrids. Both Sanballat and Tobiah are included in the mission to Earth, which made for some interesting reading. I'm curious to see if both maintain their unfavorable stance on Hybrids and on Earth in book two!
I love the characters in the story. Sanballat and Tobiah are just so deliciously nasty, you can't help but despise them. Garreous, the young scientific genius, is delightful, and his relationship with the princess Susa is sweet. Aquis, the hulking former sports star, is just a joy to read, and the relationships between Micah and his best friend Wes, and Micah and Eaton, another Hybrid who has traveled to Earth to observe, are well crafted.
One thing I'm not entirely clear on (and that may be my misreading rather than the author's lack of telling) was whether the humans pulled from Earth interbred with Cerans to strengthen the Ceran gene pool, or whether they bred only wtih other humans and served literally as replacement parts for the Cerans. I think maybe the latter, since Micah is described as half human. But if it is the latter, I'm not sure how there would be any half-humans after 400 years had passed. That's a relatively minor quibble, though.
All in all, this was an enjoyable sci-fi read with a premise I've not seen before. I'm looking forward to book two and, as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story!” This is a solid four-star read for me.
Once again, I find myself jumping into the middle of a series. Once again, doing so leads me to a whole new series and a new author to enjoy!
Flora and her companion, Jack Carrington, are off to Treleggan, Cornwall so Jack can do some research for his latest crime novel and Flora can get in some rest and relaxation. Those plans are sidetracked when Flora finds the landlord of the cottage they've rented dead in the cottage garden. A mystery needs unraveling, and Flora is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Flora Steele is a thoroughly likable heroine. She's intelligent, adventurous (sometimes too much so for her own well-being), and generally pretty outspoken. She barely knew Roger Gifford, but she's determined to see justice done for him, especially as it appears the local constabulary may not be doing such a great job. She and Jack work well together, and their banter is a lot of fun.
The story's setting is wonderful. I'd now like to go visit Cornwall, please. I want to eat the food and meet the people and explore all the historical sites. The plot was well laid out, too. Allingham would give us a possible villain, and then they'd be taken suddenly and thoroughly out of the running. I love it when stories take turns that keep me guessing!
As for characters, I particularly appreciated Mercy Dearlove and how Flora related to her. Mercy seemed not to be very well liked in Treleggan, but Flora moved past local prejudice and reached out Mercy when she thought Mercy might have useful information. I daresay there may have been good feeling toward Flora on Mercy's side, too. It's a good reminder that just because someone is different doesn't mean they're bad.
Murder at Primrose Cottage is an easy read, and an enjoyable one. The mystery isn't too easily resolved, the characters are well-written, and the setting makes me want to go there. I've found a new author and series to love. Five stars, because it's just that much fun!
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from Bookouture and Netgalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
This is the first book that I've read in Lisa Cutts' Belinda Penshurst series, but it won't be the last! I jumped at the chance to review this because I love M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, and I was not disappointed here.
Belinda has used her connections at Brabourne Gardens, a local zoo, to help her tenant and possible love interest Harry get hired on there as a security guard (unbeknownst to Harry). Harry's first day starts off with a bang, when a rather obnoxious zoo patron is found murdered. To make things even more interesting, Belinda's ex, Ivan, is unexpectedly in town, there to see what can be done about competing groups of protestors at the Gardens, one wanting to keep the elephants there, one wanting to see the elephants rewilded. Ivan keeps popping up in close proximity to the crimes, and he seems unusually interested in Estelle, the owner of the Gardens. Could he be the murderer?
Murder at the Gardens was a really fun read! The interaction and chemistry between Belinda and Harry is wonderful – I am totally Team Harry, not Team Ivan. Doesn't matter that they seem to be in different social strata (Belinda, who's come into some money and lives in an actual castle, and Harry, the former police officer), they just click. I was hoping Belinda and Ivan didn't get back together. (Spoiler: they didn't. Huzzah!) I also liked the fact that Belinda and Harry are a little older than the main characters in many books. I'm a little older than I used to be, and it's nice to read stories where the characters are close to my age.
Misdirection abounds. There are animals – sometimes on the loose, sometimes not. There's humor, and intrigue, and that spark of romance I mentioned previously. This book has a little something for everyone. The plot was just twisty enough that the murderer's identity came as a bit of a surprise.
Highly recommended if you're a fan of cozy mysteries, particularly those of the British variety. I can't wait to read more of this series!
Odd Birds is not my usual fantasy/suspense/cozy mystery read. It defies description, a little bit, in the best possible way.
Cosimo Infante Cano finds himself stranded in San Antonio, Texas, in a time where racial tensions ran high. He and Sara, his younger lover, planned to travel back to the United States from France, with her traveling ahead to prepare for his arrival. But when he reaches the house where he expected her to be, he learns she has passed away. His possessions were stolen on the trip, and now he finds himself in a place where he is looked upon with suspicion because of the color of his skin. He is basically destitute, and he just wants to find a way back home to France.
The language of the book is almost musical. It's an interesting parallel that Cosimo is an artist and the book reads like a painting. Layers build up, details may not make complete sense in the moment, but then it all comes together to a magnificent whole.
Cosimo was an odd bird, as the title suggests. He did what seemed to be the next right thing, not the next expedient thing. As an artist, he could have sold his work and made himself some money while he tried to recover what was his. Instead, he gave his art to people who had helped him as gifts. In a world where the mindset is so often “look out for number one,” Cosimo stands out.
The story is populated with other odd birds, as well, most notably the three library pages, Richard, Maddie, and Oscar. Ruthann, the bigoted, narrow-minded librarian charged with bringing the new hires into the library, does her best to discredit them and make them look bad. Yet, like Cosimo, they keep doing their best to do the next right thing, to find a way to be true to themselves and to be decent human beings.
Profound themes such as the pain of loss, overt racism, and dealing with change are handled delicately and with grace. Like a bird's nest, Perez weaves what appear to be disparate details and bits of information into a strong, beautiful whole. The ending of the book left me feeling like I was waving farewell to friends after a long, interesting journey.
Odd Birds may not be my usual reading fare, but it is definitely a book well worth your time. Five stars from me.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
The Catch is the third in Lisa Harris' US Marshals trilogy, and it's a fine way to close out a series!
The action kicks off from the first page and never lets up. Federal marshal Madison James and her partner Jonas Quinn are tasked with rescuing a judge from an active shooter situation at the courthouse where he is to hear a high-profile case. But things take a turn when they learn that the judge's wife has been murdered and the judge's son with his mistress is missing.
Not only is Madison trying to solve the murder and find the missing child, she's also trying to figure out who killed her husband five years ago. Solving that crime may be the only way she can close that chapter of her life and hopefully move forward into a life with Jonas.
Lisa Harris has a straightforward, easy to read writing style, and it works well for this suspenseful story. I never felt like the action lagged, and I never felt like there were any slow parts to the story. It moved along at a brisk pace.
Her characters are also wonderfully written. Madison and Jonas have this incredible chemistry, even when they're dancing around the relationship, neither sure how prepared the other is to take things to the next level. And Judge Saylor, he's a piece of work. Makes you wonder about the integrity of the judicial system if there are many judges like him on the bench!
And the story. It's full of threads that criss and cross and you might not be sure how it all interconnects – until you see it. Harris does a masterful job of crafting multiple plot lines and steadily weaving them together into a magnificent whole.
This book is billed as Christian fiction, but Harris doesn't thump you over the head with any Bibles. The faith portrayed here is an integral, natural part of the story, and the characters stay true to their beliefs.
The Catch is a heck of a read. I had a hard time putting it down. If you enjoy a good mystery, full of tension and suspense, with a lot of action and a clean romance, you'll like The Catch. Even if you don't think Christian fiction is for you, give this one a try. You might like it!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley and Revell. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Fatal Code is the second in Natalie Walters' SNAP Agency series. I haven't read the first, but after reading this one, you better believe I'm going to to grab it.
Buckle up, y'all! This book takes off right out of the gate and doesn't slow down. Elinor, an aerospace engineer, is grieving the death of her grandfather who practically raised her, hanging onto the journals he left her. But when she discovers some secret codes in the journals, she knows they're a puzzle she has to solve. Kekoa is part of the SNAP Agency, and they've been tasked with investigating leaks at the company where Elinor works. Everything seems to point to Elinor as the leak, and Kekoa is tagged to monitor her. As he gets to know Elinor, though, and finds himself rescuing her from hazardous situations, he can't reconcile what he's seeing with what the data is telling him.
I couldn't even tell you which character I liked more. Elinor is my kind of girl. She's incredibly intelligent, unabashedly nerdy, and a genuinely decent human being. And Kekoa? I want to hug him and hang out with his family and have some of those “ono grindz” they kept talking about. (I'm pretty sure that means tasty, tasty food. If only the book came with recipes....) He's smart, and he doesn't see himself as a protector, but he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep Elinor safe. They're both delightfully three-dimensional, and they aren't perfect. Elinor hesitates to let anyone get close to her. Kekoa is battling the guilt he feels over his younger brother's death several years earlier. They're all the more real and relatable by having to work through issues that their pasts have left them with.
And as I would expect in Christian fiction, both Elinor and Kekoa rely on their faith to help them in difficult times! Elinor often recalls “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” one of the hymns her grandfather would sing to her. I love having a good old-fashioned hymn woven into a story. Walters doesn't just pay lip service to faith in Christ. Her characters are living it out. The language is clean, and the romance is, too, and I appreciate that.
But don't think this is some precious, too sweet for words story. It is a butt-kickin' thrill ride of a suspense read. There are two mystery storylines to try to sort out – one, what the codes in Elinor's grandfather's journals mean, and two, who is leaking information on the top secret project and trying to case Elinor as the source. Walters does a great job in laying down hints and clues that take you first one way, then another, and in keeping the tension almost constant. I didn't peg the identity of the leak until she laid it out, and I do love books that keep me guessing until the end.
To sum up, if you love a clean slow burn romance, a good redemption story, and suspense that just never stops, get your hands on Fatal Code. Bonus that it let me learn about Hawaiian culture and nerdy tech stuff. It's a five-star read for me, and Natalie Walters has added herself to my favorite authors list.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
How could I not love this book? I mean, look at the synopsis! Time travel? Hurricanes? Yes, please! Ronnie Andrews has moved to Florida, and now she's facing a major hurricane in Charley. Her friend Steph is going to stay with her, but Ronnie bails on Steph when her troll of a boyfriend, Jeffrey, asks her to come to the lab where he's working on some weather-related experiment. He tempts her with the promise of a birthday surprise and says the lab will be much safer than her house.
BAHAHAHAHAHA no. No, the lab won't be safer. Unbeknowst to Ronnie, Jeffrey plans to use her as his human subject in a time travel experiment that needs the energy of the hurricane to power it. The special watch he gives her as her birthday gift, that he had custom made, has something to do with it, as do the drugs he slips into her birthday dinner. Ronnie starts feeling queasy, and when she heads for the bathroom, she finds her consciousness sucked from her body and transported into someone else's body, in England, in the mid-18th century. Talk about an unpleasant birthday surprise.
So, we establish right up front that Jeffrey is a horrible person. He draws Ronnie to the lab under false pretenses, drugs her, and sends her back in time without her knowledge or consent, to an era where women were little more than property. And sending her with the watch as her only link to getting back, in a time where a device like that would be seen as some kind of sorcery?! He's a creep and an idiot and is putting his experiment far above Ronnie's well-being. Some boyfriend. I hope she ditches him, assuming she makes it back to her time alive.
And that's debatable. Eighteenth-century England was not known for the rights it afforded women. Ronnie's physical body doesn't show up in modern clothing so as to clearly draw attention to herself, but rather she jumps into the body of one Regina Ingram, a la Quantum Leap. She's unable to convince Regina's brother Jack that she is his sweet, biddable teenage sister, and sure enough, she finds herself imprisoned on charges of witchcraft. A cousin, Mathias, falls for her, as she seems to do for him, and he tries to help her. I don't think he's who he seems, though, as his German accent is inconsistent and he falls out of 18th-century speech patterns at times. I'm curious to find out who exactly he is, because every time he tries to help Ronnie, it seems to make things worse.
There were some things about the book that stuck in my craw just a little. Early on in the book, there is one somewhat detailed sex scene between Ronnie and Jeffrey. That isn't my jam when it comes to reading. I'm okay with the adult action being implied and taking place offscreen, as it were, but I'd rather not read a description with any significant graphic details. If that's something that bothers you, be mindful. However, it is just the one scene, and you can skim over it without losing the thread of the story. And I realize that folks' definition of what constitutes graphic detail will vary.
Waters writes out Mathias' German accent. I found this distracting as I was reading, especially as it wasn't consistent. I would rather have been told where he was from and then mentally created his accent for myself. Then there was the fact that when Ronnie goes to the lab, she leaves her cat, Fluffy, at home. We have cats, y'all. We took them with us when we evacuated ahead of Hurricane Ida last year. If you're evacuating ahead of rough weather, never, never leave your furbabies behind. Ronnie thinks Jeffrey wouldn't want Fluffy at the lab, so that's why she walked away from her cat (that, and I think she was lured by him buttering her up and making her feel special for her birthday – in a hurricane). That should tell her he is not to be trusted.
But there are plenty of things I do like! Waters does a great job with her historical setting, including some pretty stout descriptions of bloodletting, prison conditions, and hanging. The story evokes strong emotion, and I am absolutely sucked in wanting to know what happens in book two. That's what a good story does, right? Stealing Time earns four stars for keeping me engaged, for good historical detail, and for making me care what happens to Ronnie next.If she stays with Jeffrey in book two, I swear to goodness, I may throw the book across the room.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Anna Weber is running from her past. She thinks she's found a place she and her twin daughters can safely settle, at least for now. That place is Comfort, Texas. She's making a life for herself. She's making friends she finally feels like she can count on. What she didn't count on is Jack Moses. Jack, a former NFL quarterback, finds himself having car trouble at the school where Anna has been hired to check the provenance of a piece of music that has been donated. He's more impressed with her than he expected when she isn't bowled over by his looks and charm and when she gets his car started back up in short order. Anna tries her best to ignore the attraction she feels to Jack, but that proves to be difficult! And when her past comes back to haunt her in vivid, living color, Anna worries that she'll lose the little spot she'd found to call home.
I big puffy heart love this book! Kimberly Fish has such a way with words. She makes you feel like you're part of the story, and the characters she creates are just almost as close as next door. Anna, for instance, is absolutely spot on as a single mom trying to protect herself and her daughters from a nasty operator from her past. Her longing to belong, to have some place to call Home, is palpable, as is her fear of letting others get too close. She has a select circle that she's opened up to a bit, but she's very hesitant to go beyond that. The more people who know any of her story, the greater the risk, as she sees it.
And Jack. Oh, y'all, I wanted to hug him! He's used to people being swayed by his star power, even though he's no longer on the playing field. When Anna doesn't roll that way, he's bemused. But not in a bad, stuck-up way, because he's really a good guy. He does his best to help others where he can, and if people being impressed by his football prowess makes that a little easier, well, so much the better. I love that he is just fascinated by Anna in significant part because she doesn't give two cents for his handsome face or his claim to fame.
The Greens, Joseph and LaDonna, are wonderful characters, too. You can tell they're good friends with Jack, the kind of friends that kick you in the pants when you need it, and LaDonna is just a treat. She welcomes Anna like Anna is one of their own already. I'm telling you, these will feel like folks you've known for years, or at least folks you want to know!
And I love that Anna is not what Jack expects her to be. She knows her way around the mechanics of a car. She can speak football fluently. She is not your typical pretty face. Likewise, Jack isn't what Anna expects, either. He's not just a former athlete who does nothing but capitalize on his name. He's not just a pretty boy thinking everything should always fall into place for them. Their interactions as they both try not to fall for the other are so much fun to read.
There's a fair bit of tension, too, when Anna's past threatens to become her present. She learns that she has finally found people who have her back, though, and she doesn't have to run anymore. I cheered at that part of the book!
Kimberly Fish has created a family that has chosen each other here, and I love it. That and the delightful second chance romance for Jack and Anna make this a must read. I want to get to know the other folks in Comfort now. This may have been the first book of Fish's that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last! Run out and get this if you enjoy a sweet, clean romance, a little bit of suspense, and a beautiful found family. All the stars from me!
I just love Lady Eleanor! She's taking a little R and R on the French Riviera, along with Clifford, her canine companion Gladstone, and her staff. Nothing is on the agenda except some fun and sun. She doesn't believe Clifford when he tells her that there's a dead body in the wine cellar of their rented villa. And she really can't believe it when the French police arrest none other than Clifford for the dirty deed.
Bless her heart, Ellie can't get away from crime-solving even on her vacation. The officer handling the case, Inspector Damboise, knows they don't really have anything on Clifford. His incarceration is largely at the behest of Mayor Lessard, who would rather see an innocent Brit take the fall than risk upsetting the boisterous American movie folks who are in town (and no doubt bolstering the local economy by rather a lot). After all, the dead man is one of those movie folks. Mayor Lessard doesn't even want word to get out that the man was murdered for fear of putting all Americans (and their money) off the idea of coming to his little seaside town. A deal is made. Clifford can go free, but only if Ellie finds evidence to prove who really committed the crime.
Inspector Damboise joins forces with Ellie and Clifford as they all work to solve the murder. There are seaside jaunts, lavish parties, and hair-raising twists aplenty as Ellie discovers that many people had good reason to dislike the dead man and even want him dead. Can she put the pieces together and identify the killer before Clifford is thrown in the clink for good?
Verity Bright has gifted us with another delightful read! Ellie is sharp as always, and even with the threat of prison hanging over his head, Clifford keeps his cool and does his best to keep Her Ladyship in line. They offer such a charming contrast to each other. Clifford, so proper and so mindful of doing things correctly. Eleanor, such a free spirit and so not bound by the expectations for her class and gender (she reminds me a bit of Phryne Fisher in the Miss Fisher Mysteries). In this story, though, we get a little peek at Clifford's backstory, and that's a lot of fun. Has our butler always been as buttoned up as we usually see him? How HAS he picked up so many diverse and interesting skills? Read and find out!
And my goodness, what descriptions of the Americans come to town! They rented out an entire hotel, threw over the top parties, and generally made spendy nuisances of themselves. After reading about those shenanigans, I could see why some Europeans might think of their American cousins in less than flattering terms. That's a lifestyle that just sounds exhausting to me.
The mystery kept me guessing, as each new clue that seemed poised to blow the case wide open invariably came to nothing, more than once. Bright does a great job of keeping multiple options open and then bringing them together in a flash of brilliance, just in time. I did miss Hugh Seldon in this book. He only made his appearance by telephone. I hope their time apart gave Ellie and Hugh a new perspective on their relationship, and maybe we'll see things progress a little more between them in the next book!
An engaging story, a beautiful setting on the French Riviera, lots of action, witty dialogue, interesting characters, and an ending that I didn't see a mile away. This would be a great summer read, and I highly recommend it for cozy mystery lovers!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
I loved Sunrise, the first in the Sky King Ranch series. When a book is that good, you wonder if the next in the series can live up to the high standard the first one set. In the case of Sunburst, the answer is a resounding yes.
Ranger Kingston is on a mission to rescue his brother Colt, who's been taken hostage by terrorists. He doesn't expect to find someone else that he knows among the people they're trying to free. Noemi Sutton was captured when she was on a humanitarian mission. She never thought she'd see Ranger Kingston again, and certainly not in the middle of nowhere, Nigeria.
Ranger and Noemi have a history of mutual attraction, but it ended on a sour note. Now, when they find themselves separated from the rest of the rescue mission, the only way they can possibly survive and get out of Nigeria is to pretend they're married. But when they find Noemi's family on her mother's side—and her uncle is an actual Nigerian prince who wants to do their wedding up right—can they maintain that facade?
Warren does it again. She creates a world where the characters are genuine, the action is enthralling, and the romance is ultimately sweet. Ranger and Noemi are almost maddening at times with their struggles to move past old hurts and take a chance on building a new relationship. But Warren shows us why they struggle, and that makes it easy to have compassion for them. Like any of us walking this earth, they have baggage and issues and fears, and they each have to work through those things in their own ways.
It was quite a surprise to have Noemi's family turn out to be actual royalty! Her uncle and the rest of her family members were just a joy to read about. Warren uses that part of the story arc to share a bit about Nigerian culture with the reader, and I loved it. I know very little about Nigeria, and I always appreciate the chance to learn something when I'm reading. I also loved that they just welcomed Noemi back, no hassle, no headache. She was family, and she was home, and that made my heart so happy!
As always, Warren does a masterful job of making faith an integral part of the story without beating you over the head with a King James Bible. It isn't a blind faith. It's a faith that sometimes wavers. The characters have to wrestle with God and work some things out. Noemi struggles to trust that God is with her, while Ranger wrangles with issues that go to the heart of who he thinks he truly is. But they ultimately find their faith strengthened by the trials they face, and we can find encouragement in that.
You can read Sunburst as a stand-alone; however, I highly recommend starting with Sunrise and seeing the entire story arc unfold. Susan May Warren has written another bang-up good Christian romantic suspense novel, and I eagerly await the third in the series!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Revell. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
In Northfall, Brian Lutterman returns to the world of Pen Wilkinson, a paraplegic attorney who doesn't let anything slow her down in her pursuit of justice.
“When a friend invites you to breakfast, you don't expect to be sucked into a vortex of evil. But, having encountered evil on several occasions in recent years, I can tell you that the experience, pretty much by definition, is like Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition: nobody expects it.”
Here, Pen is trying to steer clear of the freelance investigations that have previously put her in harm's way. While her boyfriend, James, had reluctantly accepted that she was going to get involved in dangerous projects, Pen knows it would be better for her to back away from them. She's anticipating returning to federal prosecution, awaiting final word on whether a position will open up for her.
Then Luke Reilly contacts her, asking her to look into the murder of a homeless man. Luke is on the board of the homeless shelter that had helped the dead man, Roger, and his girlfriend, Nella, and he fears that the police investigation is going nowhere fast. He appeals to Pen's sense of justice, to the fact that the police really aren't going to try that hard to seek resolution for Roger. And just like that, we hear the sucking sound of the vortex, pulling Pen in. But she's definitely NOT investigating.
What does billionaire Jake Conover have to do with Roger? That's something Pen would love to know, but Jake Conover is nowhere to be found. A photo of Jake with an older man, talking to a homeless woman, is Pen's only real lead. He turns out to be the elusive Leo Hurt. Who is he, really? How does he know Jake? What is his connection to all of this? And why is Jake's sister Chloe so determined to buy his company right now, and how far will she go to achieve her goal?
Lutterman gives us family tension, murders both old and new that cry for resolution, international bad guys, and people who are not what they seem. Pen finds herself with new questions at every corner, and she definitely finds herself at risk of bodily harm more than once. The tension is high and the action keeps on coming, right up until the end. This one had me biting my nails, reading as fast as I could to see what happened next!
So. Was this Pen's last investigation? Will she return to the relative safety of a desk job? You'll have to get the book and find out. If you love a good thriller, grab it and get to reading. You won't be disappointed!
It was Annie's father's last wish that she discover her heritage, and a small scrap of paper directs her to go to Galatea, so she sets out to the Italian island. Does she speak Italian? Not really. Does she have any idea what to expect? Not really. But she knows she may find out more there about her grandmother Mira, who disappeared after World War II.
Annie wears a bracelet that belonged to Mira. Not only is it a physical object connected to Annie's grandmother, but it also causes Annie to have visions. Mira's story is told through Annie's visions, and as Annie learns more about her grandmother, she also learns some unexpected things about herself.
The imagery in the book is wonderful! I can envision the island and its beauty, the creepy hillside cave that Annie and Salvo explore, the fishermen and the water and the cliffs. The writing is lyrical and easy to read, and since the book isn't terribly long, it just flew by as I was reading. And the sea reads almost as a living being, vital to the events of both past and present.
The story has a little something for everyone. There is suspense and tension as we see Mira's brother Gabriel bringing nothing good to the island, and as we wait to see if Annie will have the strength to break from her mother's suffocating negativity. There's romance – Mira and Lupo in the past, Annie and Salvo in the present. Annie and Salvo are just adorable. Annie's connection to Mira through the bracelet brings a touch of the paranormal and mystical to the story, as does the special bond shared by the Ayala women (is Annie one of those women? Read and find out).
And it's a dual timeline story! Y'all know I love those, and this one is nicely done. My only disappointment was that Mira's story seemed to take up so much of Annie's timeline. It felt like there was more to Annie than what we saw in between her visions of the past. But still, it was quite a good read, and the beauty of the words made up for me wishing I could have known more about Annie herself.
This is a solid four-star read, and it was nice to have a World War II historical fiction that didn't focus almost exclusively on the war and the events thereof. That was an unexpected and refreshing twist!
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of the book from NetGalley and Bookouture. All opinions are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
When Cassie Gwynne stumbles across the dead body of thoroughly unpleasant customs collector Chester Pence in the marsh, no one is terribly torn up about his untimely demise. What Cassie is upset about, though, is that her dear friend Mr. Hu has confessed to the crime. She is confident that he's innocent. But the official word is that, since they have a confession, no further investigation is needed. It's up to Cassie to unravel the truth.
Genevieve Essig has written another delightful entry in the story of Cassie Gwynne! Cassie puts her considerable skills of observation and deduction to work yet again to solve a crime, and she does a bang-up job. She has the help of family and friends along the way, as well as a handful of colorful characters about town, and things are resolved satisfactorily.
Essig does a great job giving us a vivid picture of Florida in the late nineteenth century. She paints quite the portrait of anti-Chinese sentiment and shows how easy it would be for a corrupt operator like Pence to turn people against the town's Chinese residents. Even people who might not have minded the Chinese folks who came to Fernandina started to give Mr. Hu and Mr. Green a bit of side-eye when Pence started throwing around his official weight with accusations of misconduct.
Not only is Cassie investigating this particular crime, but she's still trying to learn more about what happened to her father. Her brother Burt is in New York, seeing what he can find out and hopefully staying out of harm's way, but danger lurks for both Burt and Cassie. Has the Anti-Chinese Society followed Cassie to Fernandina, and if so, why?
In this book, we get more back story about Jake and Hughes as well as a jolly good mystery to solve. We meet Miss Victoria Phillips, an elegant young woman from Hughes's past, and Cassie finds herself wondering if she imagined Hughes's feelings for her. He doesn't seem to be pushing Miss Phillips away, and his mother, the daunting Georgiana DeVries, certainly seems to be encouraging Hughes in Miss Phillips' direction. There's an entertaining side plot involving Miss Phillips wherein we learn that she may not be what she purports to be, and we see a new side of Mrs. DeVries as well. It was fun getting to learn more about some of the not-quite-front-and-center characters in the story.
With Cassie Gwynne, Genevieve Essig gives us a smart, resourceful heroine, a mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, insight into the social issue of racial discrimination, and a little bit of romance, too. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, well-rounded read.
Murder on the Med is an enchanting cozy mystery set in the 1920s. Lady Dorothea (Dodo) Dorchester is on vacation in Greece with her family – her parents and her sister Diantha (Didi). Dodo has nothing more on her mind than hoping the introduction of her sweetheart, Rupert, to the family will go well. But things take a turn when an English woman is found dead at a tourist site that a group, including Dodo and her people, had just visited. How is the dead woman connected to the group? Could one of the group be the killer?
Often an amateur sleuth is an unwelcome presence in cozies. They frequently have to work around the police and are admonished to stay out of the way and let the professionals do their job. Not so in this story! The local detective welcomes Dodo's help and discusses the case with her regularly. I think that frees Dodo up to do more in terms of open investigating than we usually see in a cozy, and that's refreshing.
I love the Greek setting. The descriptions and details made me almost feel like I was there, and the period details seemed to be on point. You could tell Ms. Sutton did her research.
The plot kept me guessing, too. Mysteries where I don't figure out whodunnit early in the story are the best! Ms. Sutton used a couple of red herrings to great effect in concealing the killer's identity until time for the big reveal.
Dodo herself is a thoroughly likable character. She's upper class but not the least bit snooty about it. Her maid, Lizzie, met a man she liked in Greece, and it tickled me no end to see Dodo encouraging Lizzie to be happy. She wasn't worried about whether she'd have to find a new maid. She cared for Lizzie and wanted the best for her. That's a quality not always portrayed when you've got characters who are well to do.
All told, Murder on the Med is an enjoyable read. If you can't get away for a sun-drenched vacation anytime soon, go to Greece with Dodo. This book is perfect for devouring in one sitting by the pool! It's my first book by Ann Sutton, but it definitely won't be my last.
Sunflowers Beneath the Snow follows the story of Lyaksandro and Ivanna from 1973 to 2021. Lyaksandro is in an untenable situation. His cover as a spy for Ukraine has been blown. He is considering ending his own life to protect his wife, Ivanna and daughter, Yevtsye (Yevt) from the Russians. A way out is offered, but he must cut ties with his family completely and leave them thinking he has betrayed them in the most painful way possible.
Ivanna finds the strength to move forward, to provide for Yevt and herself under the harsh conditions of Soviet rule. In spite of their difficulties, though, Ivanna is a believer in the Communist system. As Yevt grows, she doesn't always agree with her mother, and she marries a man who shares her subversive beliefs. They have a daughter, Ionna, who shares a wonderful bond with her babusya Ivanna even as she grows into beliefs of her own and goes out into the wider world.
But this is not only the story of three women and the efforts they make to maintain family and some kind of stability in difficult times. It is the story of the Ukrainian people, fighting to throw off oppressive Soviet rule and bloom as an independent country. Ivanna clings to her belief in the Soviet system. Yevtsye insists that there is a better way, that Ukrainian independence is the path forward. Ionna actually leaves her country and sees for herself that there is more than the harsh reality of life under the shadow of the USSR.
And though they didn't share the same beliefs and sometimes fought over their differences, Ivanna, Yevt, and Ionna are all strong women who care deeply for their family. They adapt to difficult circumstances, find ways to keep their relationship in good order even when they disagree, and do what is necessary to keep moving forward.
Brown has clearly done her research, and the story she shares here resonates with today's headlines of war between Russia and Ukraine. I knew that Russia had previously invaded Ukraine, but I didn't know any of the details. I learned about it reading this story. I suspect there are people like Ionna, who were out of their country and now find themselves stranded, far from loved ones, unable to return. I can't imagine what a struggle that is, and Brown writes her characters in such a way that you feel the hurt they feel. The true story on which this book is based must be remarkably compelling.
Brown's writing style is easy to read, too. The pages flowed, and I stayed up reading until I dropped my Kindle on my face on more than one occasion. She covers sensitive political and personal topics – the reality of Soviet control, family members who disagree with each other, racism – with grace and flashes of humor, too.
The story portrays struggles, but also has a beautiful ending. I won't spoil it for you here. Go support the author – buy her book and find out for yourself! But it had me reaching for the Kleenex, I'll say that. I wouldn't say this is strongly Christian fiction, but faith in God definitely plays a role.
Five stars for a story that both packs an emotional punch and educates the reader about historical events. Well done, Teri Brown! I look forward to reading more of your books.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Tansy Hill and Dane Knudson are longstanding rivals. Tansy is convinced that Dane's charming good looks hide a heart that dances with glee every time he can do something to benefit his family's honey operation and get in the way of hers. And right now, they're both aiming to win the best honey award at the upcoming Honey Bee Festival. Can Honey Hill win and keep the business going?
The Sweetest Thing is a treat! Sasha Summers creates a lovely small town in Honey, Texas, and she populates it with characters you can love (and love to hate). Tansy assumes the worst of Dane based on their shared past, and Dane seems to delight in allowing her to make those assumptions, even as he finds himself attracted to her. They alternate between bickering and drawing closer, back and forth, and they're simply adorable even when they're infuriating. (Because I did occasionally want to reach into the book and shake them and tell them to get over themselves already!) It was fun seeing them thrust together to work with the Junior Beekeepers.
In addition to the competition for the best honey award, there is also multigenerational family drama. Dane is trying to keep Viking Honey going while his father hides out after his latest failed marriage. This includes trying to keep his younger brother, Liam, on the straight and narrow. Tansy's aunts, Camellia and Magnolia, each have a secret of their own. What happened between Camellia and Harald Knudson? Who is the red-haired woman seen with Magnolia, and why isn't Magnolia talking? The side stories in addition to the main plot really kept things buzzing.
Dane's brother Liam was an especially appealing character. I'm a boy mom. I know what teenage boys are like, particularly when their older brother is trying to keep them in line and they're interested in exactly none of it. Liam was just about perfectly drawn as a young man heading for a heap of trouble, and I loved that Dane didn't just give up on him.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of the details on beekeeping! I know very little about the care and keeping of bees, so all the information Summers included was fascinating to me. It was clear she'd done a lot of research, and if we had room, I might like to try keeping a hive or two of my own after reading the book.
A second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance, the tension of waiting to see whether Honey Hill will survive, some surprise plot points that I didn't see coming, and a fascinating look into the world of apiary care and management made this a solid four-star book for me. It's a quick, engaging read, and would be perfect for road trip reading or for reading while you're outside swinging in a hammock. The recipe for lavender-honey lemon poppyseed muffins is a tasty bonus. I can't wait to try those out!
The Sweetest Thing is a honey of a story! Buzz on down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy. You'll be glad you did!
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
After her family was brutally murdered before her eyes ten years ago, Leah Miller left the Amish community. The man believed to have committed the crime is thought to be dead. So why, as the tenth anniversary of the murders approaches, are Amish girls being killed? And why is their killer apparently setting his sights on Leah? Leah, now in law enforcement, will have to work with new chief Dalton Cooper to unravel the clues and solve the crime before the killer gets up close and personal with Leah herself.
MAN, this is a heck of a read! It's got suspense by the bucketful, as the killer continually taunts Leah and always seems to be one step ahead. The tension builds as the anniversary of her family's murders draws nearer and as the victims are increasingly closer to Leah. Alford includes the killer's point of view in the story, too, which helps keep the pressure on.
There's an element of romance, too, as Leah and Dalton develop feelings for each other. It's a little bit of an insta-romance, but not entirely, as Dalton has a connection to the case that he's reluctant to reveal. His personal interest gives him at least a little pause before he lets himself act on his interest in Leah. I found his personal connection fascinating, and thought it added a nice touch to the story.
Marge, Leah's adoptive mother, is battling dementia. I thought Alford did a masterful job of portraying the difficulties Leah faced trying to help an aging parent cope, as well as the pain Marge felt in her lucid moments, realizing her grip on her memories was slipping. I wanted to reach in and hug them both, because that's a rough thing to deal with.
As you might expect with a book where many of the characters are part of a religious community, faith in God definitely plays a role. Leah drifted away from her faith after her family was killed, and she struggles to find her way back. Dalton relies fairly heavily on his faith and has a fellow believer who he can talk to and be encouraged by. I do love a story where the faith portrayed isn't tacked on as an afterthought, but is an integral and important part of the characters' lives.
And lest you think I thought this book was perfect, there was one teeny-weeny thing that stuck in my craw just a little. When Leah learned of Dalton's personal interest in the case, she took it poorly. Understandably, she felt hurt that he hadn't trusted her with that sooner. Yet, in just a couple of pages, they're back on good terms, with very little said about the matter. This one thing felt super rushed to me and I would think that situation would play out differently in real life. In the grand scheme, though, that was but a minor blip on my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this was a great read. Lots of twists and turns, insight into the killer's thoughts without overly gory descriptions of crime scenes, characters who rely on their faith and each other, and just enough romance to keep it interesting. And I learned something! I had no idea there were Amish communities in Montana. I had to go look up St. Ignatius. Beautiful country up there. I'd love to visit.
Five stars to Mary Alford for a ripping good thrill ride of a book!
Beth Haldane is a young widow, raising her son and doing the best she can in the upscale Dulwich Village. When she lands the assistant archivist job at Wyatt's, a highly regarded prep school in town, she thinks she's finally turned a corner. But when she finds her new boss, Alan Jenkins, stone dead on her first day there, she fears her time as assistant archivist – and maybe her freedom – may soon be at an end.
This is a fun start to the series! Beth is earnest and hard-working and likable. I really felt for her when she worried (not without reason) that the investigation seemed to be focusing on her as Jenkins' killer. She knew that, even though she'd been officially warned off sticking her nose in things, she had to try to clear herself.
The characters are delightful, ranging from thoroughly likable to downright creepy, and as Beth pokes around, she learns that more than one of them might have had a reason to want Jenkins dead. Small towns hold secrets, and Dulwich is no exception!
I liked the not-quite-romance between Beth and DI Harry York. It wasn't an instant attraction/insta-romance, but there was absolutely a spark there. I hope they get to know each other better in future books.
The pacing was good, and I never felt like I was slogging my way through the book. Quite the opposite. I read past my bedtime to find out what was going to happen next. And the ending surprised me! When we first met the killer, I did not peg that person as the one who'd knocked off Jenkins.
With a great small-town setting, a murder that's not heavy on the gory details, a hint of romance, and a heroine who takes action to defend herself (even if she tends to leap before she looks), The Murder Mystery is a mighty fine cozy. I really enjoyed it, and I've got to keep on with the series. Five stars for a good escapist read!