A Christmas Wish by Engy Neville

Genre: Adult, Romance

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Goodreads

Amy McKinsey is living her dream. In Manhattan. Working for one of the most popular lifestyle magazines in the country. Dating the perfect man, Richie Hendricks, III.
Her charmed life couldn’t be better. Christmas was gearing up to be everything she hoped for and more.
Until everything falls apart.
The dream job becomes a battle to the death when her old nemesis—and former boss—joins the team, determined to ruin her. Worse, her perfect man all but disappears when he’s forced to take over the family business.
What else could life possibly throw in her path?
In this touching and inspirational story, Amy must learn that true happiness lies in unexpected places, and only she can forge her own destiny. 

Reviews

This held a lot more promise than I thought when I first began this book. I don’t read a lot of  romance books because so many of them are too mushy for me. This had that Hallmark feel once I got into it. In the beginning I was frustrated with the main character Amy. She took a giant step and moved from one coast to the other leaving behind a cheating boyfriend and an abusive employer to arrive in New York City and her dream job.  Then when she is asked out by a really dreamy guy she suddenly thinks that she isn’t worthy of someone like Richie.  I figured she would be a lot stronger with her relationship. I do understand the trust issue when your feet have been knocked out from under you.    What kept me reading, especially after her past shows up on her doorstep was the growth that I saw in Amy.  She redeemed herself. The things that irritated me were things that I saw in my own self. It hit too close to home. I realized when faced with a challenge we can move forward if we remember our past to help us become stronger instead of letting it hold us back.  I would definitely recommend this book.

Coming Soon - The Shaker Murders by Eleanor Kuhns

ISBN-10: 0727888374

ISBN-13: 978-0727888372

Severn House

Hardcover: 240 pages

February 1, 2019, $28.99

Genre: Mystery

Series: Will Rees Mysteries (Book 6)

A peaceful Shaker community is rocked by a series of bizarre accidents, but is there more to them than first appears?

Fresh from facing allegations of witchcraft and murder, travelling weaver Will Rees, his heavily pregnant wife Lydia and six adopted children take refuge in Zion, a Shaker community in rural Maine. Shortly after their arrival, screams in the night reveal a drowned body … but is it murder or an unfortunate accident? The Shaker Elders argue it was just an accident, but Rees believes otherwise. 

As Will investigates further, more deaths follow and a young girl vanishes from the community. Haunted by nightmares for his family’s safety, Rees must rush to uncover the truth before the dreams can become reality and more lives are lost. Yet can the Shaker Elders be trusted, or is an outsider involved? 

Other books by Kuhns:

1. A Simple Murder - 2012
2. Death of a Dyer - 2013
3. Cradle to Grave - 2014
4. Death in Salem – 2015
5. The Devil’s Cold Dish - 2016

Author Bio

Eleanor Kuhns is the 2011 winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel. A lifelong librarian, she received her Masters from Columbia University and is currently the Assistant Director of the Goshen Public Library in Orange County New York.

Website URL: www.eleanor-kuhns.com

Blog URL: www.eleanor-kuhns.com/blog

Facebook URL: www.facebook.com/Eleanor-Kuhns

Twitter: #EleanorKuhns

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/eleanor-kuhns-36759623

Look for a review of this book closer to the publish date.

Flying Jenny by Theasa Tuohy

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction
Source: I purchased a copy

I love historical fiction. One thing that will make me love a book of this genre is when the story has so many details that I read with a pad and pen. I need to look some of this information up to find out if it is truth or just told so well it feels like truth. The story is set during the 1920's.  Women have had the vote for a while. Now they have stepped out  to try to find their place in the world. We find two women stepping into a world that is dominated by me. Jenny is a pilot who loves the freedom of flying for the fun of it. Women have begun to step into the pilot's seat for different types of challenges, endurance and speed challenges as well as stunt flying.  Laura is a reporter in New York. Due to her bohemian background, she has had to find her own way in the world since she was a small child. She meets Jenny while covering a story where a pilot is going to fly under the major bridges in New York City. That is when Laura realizes the pilot is a woman.  There worlds collide in many ways.  I felt more like I was reading a biography than a historical fiction book.  The whole thing was so well written I felt like I was a third character in the book just observing.  I had not heard of this author before. I will definitely look for more by them.  A very interesting book that I would recommend.

Tormented by Susan Clayton-Goldner

Genre:  Adult, Murder, Mystery
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a murder mystery of the highest caliber.   Father Anthony has been devoted to serving God and his church until he meets Rita Wittier. He tries everything to stay faithful to his vows.  He finally tells Rita how he feels about her. Rita is found dead by her daughter. When police first suggest it was a suicide her daughter is sure it isn’t. She is so sure that she convinces Father Anthony how much her mom loved her and that she would never kill herself.  The problem is Father Anthony is now one of the suspects along with several of Rita's family member. This story is so full of secrets that carry the story along.

Susan Clayton-Goldner has done it once again. She has created a storyline and characters that you really care about. She has put so many twists in it that I didn’t figure it out on my own.  I love when an author keeps me second guessing until the end.  This is the third book I have read by this author.  I highly recommend it as well as her other books. If you are looking for an author who can write and keep you on the edge of your seat then you have found her.

Murder at the Bus Depot: A Blue Plate Café Mystery by Judy Alter

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

If mystery is your go to reading genre then you must check out Judy Alter’s series.

Her characters are well developed, the setting feels like any town you may have visited or gone through at one time. There is enough mystery here to carry you through from beginning to end.

The main character Kate Chambers operates a small café in the town of Wheeler, Texas. It is a town that is quaint but on the verge of losing some of it’s vital businesses.  Enter Dallas developer Silas Fletcher. He wants to help revitalize the town starting with the old bus depot. The bus depot was the site of a 30 year old unsolved murder. Kate isn’t thrilled with Silas’ plans for the old depot so she tries to save it because of its historical significance.  Enter another murder.  Kate decides that if she is going to save her town and keep its quaint charm then she is going to have to find the murderer on the loose.

This is the fourth book I have read by Judy Alter. However, this is the first one I have read of this series. It held up as a stand-alone book even though it was part of a series.  However, now I need to go back and read the first three in the series. From the time I was small mysteries were my favorite genre. As an adult who teaches middle school, I am more in tune with middle school mysteries than adult mysteries. So, when I come across an author who writes wonderful adult mysteries I want to shout his/her name from the top of the world, or at least from my blog. Please pick up a copy of this wonderful book. You will find the characters as charming, and the mystery as engaging as I did.

Swimming Between Worlds by Elaine Neil Orr

Genre:  Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book set in the early sixties to have been written today.  This book looks at segregation during the sixties. Although we no longer have segregation, or not to the extent we once had it, we still have racial issues.  As much as we want to ignore it this problem is still here. The story is told through multiple perspectives.  Tacker goes to Nigeria to help build schools.  He is considered a minority in Nigeria and learns what it is like to be discriminated against.  He returns to the United States still passionate about Africa and wants to help make a change.  He goes back to work for his father’s grocery.  When he lets an African American into the store; and the kid is attacked, Tacker decides he needs to do something.  Tacker has reconnected with Kate a girl from his high school. They have differing views on the racial situation. Tacker is able to change her mind.  The lives of these three people intersect so seamlessly.  Some of the racial tension could have come right out of our own newspapers.  This is the first book I have read by this author. I am glad I was offered the opportunity to read and review it.  Please take a moment and check it out. You really won’t be disappointed.

GUTS by Janet Buttenwieser

Genre: Adult, Memoir

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Most of us face one major incident in our life if we are lucky. Imagine that you not only have a serious illness but you have also had to suffer a loss and infertility. For a lot of people I know having to deal with just one of those things would be enough to turn their life upside down to the point that they couldn’t deal with it.  Here we have a woman who has faced so many issues yet through her story we find hope. Janet Buttenwieser’s memoir shows true courage. When faced with and treated for years for a mis-diagnosed illness, Janet pushed on. Beside her all the way was the man who would eventually become her husband, Matt.  What stood out to me so much was the true love he showed for her. When finally properly diagnosed and needing a colostomy bag, Matt didn’t shy away he continued to take care of Janet and encourage her. I’ve known two people with colostomy bags and both of them had spouses that embraced and encouraged them. 

Janet’s best friend Beth taught her how to live life to the fullest. She is the type of friend you need who teaches you how to stand up for yourself.  Her passing strengthened Janet even though I don’t think she realized it at the time.  All of us need a friend like that in our lives.

Then there are the children who came into Matt and Janet’s lives. I would love to see where they are today and how their lives have changed. I would venture to say that their lives are so much richer because of who their parents are.  If there is one lesson to be learned from this memoir it would be to learn to live life to the fullest no matter what your circumstances.  I really enjoyed this book. It is an emotional read.  Janet is one of those people who is able to weave words and feelings together to create a painted masterpiece.  I highly recommend this book.

Connect with Janet

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Genre:  Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Source:  I received a copy from Netgalley to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I am an eclectic reader. There are several things that will draw me to a book. First and foremost is if a book is a mystery. Check, this one is. Are there supernatural undertones? Check again.  This book also has multiple points of view and we bounce back and forth between time periods. 

We are taken into 1950 and a place called Idlewild Hall in Vermont. Idlewild is a boarding school. This seems to be a school where girls are place when their parents don’t want them around. Considering the time period these girls were shipped off or hidden away so they would not be an embarrassment for their parents.  Four of the girls become very close friends,  and then one mysteriously disappears. 

We are then transported to 2014.  The thread that connects the past to the present is the school. In the 1950s when one of the girls goes missing the head of the school figures she has run away. This just shows how little the school administration feels about their charges.  Her friends don’t believe that she ran away.  They think she was murdered.

In the present time Fiona Sheridan, a journalist gets involved when someone decides to reopen the school. She is going to do a story on the place. Her connection? Twenty years before, her sister’s murdered body was found on the school’s grounds. Her sister’s boyfriend has been in prison all these years, convicted of her murder. Fiona never believed that he killed her. She is determined to find out what really happened. You just know that this is not a good idea.

If I had to choose one of the time periods as my favorite it would definitely be the past. The author made me care so much about the girls that are considered broken.  Oh, did I mention the school has a ghost called Mary Hand? What is her backstory? This is what adds that exceptional creep factor. For some reason I seem to start these books at night and then can’t put them down until I finished them. The problem with this one is that is was just creepy enough to scare me whenever I heard a noise.   It has been a while since I’ve read a book that has so captivated me. I have not read any of her other works but that will definitely change.  There is something about the Gothic period set against the present time that seems to work.  I can’t recommend this book enough.  You definitely must read this book. I just wouldn’t recommend you read it at night or when it is stormy out, unless you want to have your pants scared off.

This book comes out March 20th. Be prepared.

To Save a Race by Kandi J. Wyatt

Genre:  Adult, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Christian

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

When Duke Callon divorces his wife and decides on an uncanny way of choosing his next duchess, Arianna's left with little choice. Faced with the intricacies of politics, Arianna struggles to find her place. Just as she thinks she has her footing, a decree, issued with the blessing of her husband, calls for the extermination of her entire race. 

A young innocent girl, a capricious duke, and a decree that will change everything. What will it take to save a race? 

My Thoughts:

I love everything Kandi has written so far.  However, out of all of her books her Bible based stories, set in an alternate time have become my favorite. In her newest book “To Save A Race” we have a steampunk version of the Biblical story of Esther. Arianna is a young girl who had lived with her uncle Marcos. Realizing she needed more ladylike training. For this reason she now lives with Lady Hemma and Lord Praus. Her uncle works for the Duke. She thinks it would be wonderful to be in the castle. The Duke divorces his wife and then eventually decides he wants to get married again.  He decides to screen the eligible women over a two month period. Each girl who passes the screening gets a night of dinner and sleeping with the Duke. This is of course appalling to Lord Praus and his son Kenden.  If a girl is engaged before the Duke makes this decree official then they are out of the running. Lord Praus wants to protect his daughter Pasha and his charge Arianna from such a fate. Kenden is willing to marry Arianna to protect her from this. Her uncle is content to let Arianna make the choice for herself.

If you know the story of Queen Esther from the Bible you will recognize it in this story. Kandi has once again taken a familiar story and put it in a different setting and been successful.  I loved the depth the story line takes. There was all the familiarity from the Bible with a fresh steampunk vibe. She creates characters that you love to hate. They were so realistic that at one point I wished I could grab the Duke by the collar and shake some sense into him. This is considered an adult novel. However, since it is such a clean read this is one I will place on my shelves at school. Young adults are looking for books with a touch of romance that is not so overpowering it makes them want to throw up. There are many themes, the biggest of which is love conquers all. These are themes that teens can and want to explore in a safe manner.  I can’t think of a better book to accomplish this.

Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young

Genre: Adult Thriller, Suspense

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

We are constantly hearing of students getting into trouble with social media. Every year at the beginning of the school year we show our students a training video about the proper use of technology. How it is not to be used for bullying or sexting. 

This author tackles this issue in a manner that parents really need to understand.  Graylin Alexander is a very good student.  Someone has sent him a naked picture of one of his classmates. Before he can show it to anyone or tell anyone about it he is summoned to the principal’s office where he finds the police waiting to question him.  His parents have trained him well. Even though he repeatedly tells them he is not supposed to talk with them without a parent present they continue to question him. He is promptly arrested.

As much as he is pressured to take a plea deal, he refuses. This is one tough kid. He is not going to go down for something he didn’t do.  His lawyer is determined to find out the truth. Along with this issue his lawyer’s team has just added Angela Evans.  These two attorney’s have issues of their own. However, they are determined to work together to figure out a solution to Graylin’s legal problems. 

I loved this book which kept me reading non-stop. Because lawyer Angela Evans’ boyfriend is facing issues from his past, and was mentioned because of the even that took place in the author’s previous book I had to go back and read that book as well.  You won’t be disappointed in this author’s work. I’ve managed to convince two of my teachers to try out this new to them series.  I love finding new authors and this is one I recommend.

Other books in the Dre Thomas Series

Buying Time

Anybody’s Daughter

About the Author

Pamela Samuels Young is an attorney and award-winning author of eight mystery novels. Her most recent courtroom drama, Abuse of Discretion, tackles a troubling sexting case that gives readers a shocking look inside the juvenile justice system.

Her thriller, Anybody’s Daughter, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction and was a Top Ten pick by In the Margins, the best books for at-risk teens. Pamela formerly worked as Managing Counsel, Labor and Employment Law, for Toyota and spent several years as a television news writer and associate producer. The former journalist and retired lawyer is also a natural hair enthusiast and the author of Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide.

Pamela received her bachelor’s degree from USC and also earned graduate degrees from Northwestern University and UC Berkeley School of Law. The Compton native is a frequent speaker on the topics of child sex trafficking, online safety, fiction writing, and pursuing your passion.

To read excerpts of Pamela’s books, visit www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com. Pamela loves book clubs! To invite her to your book club meeting via Skype, Facebook Live, FaceTime, Zoom, speakerphone or in person, visit her website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.

The Marker by Diana Savastano

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Suspense

Source: I purchased a copy

The book starts off in the middle of action. A battle is going on and Dr. Bradley Taylor, a doctor during the war is treating the injured. Although he is a Confederate, he upholds his oath and treats men on both sides.  He gets shot in the back and his friend drags him into the woods where he dies. Several valuables are taken from him. As he lays dying he has a vision of a woman with a grave marker in her hands.  We then switch to present day. Jennifer Beasley works for a magazine in New York. She is being sent to Florida to interview several people for a story. She insists on doing the story only if she gets two weeks of vacation afterwards. While in Florida, she stops at an antique shop to purchase a gift for her father’s birthday. She finds a unique marker from the civil war period.  She is told the seller’s son found it at a Civil War graveyard in Louisiana. She starts hearing voices and seeing things. Once she is back in New York, her cousin who was raised by her dad brings a friend who makes several predictions about the marker. Jennifer has another vision where she meets the ghost of Dr. Bradley Taylor.  This spurs her on to Louisiana to the gravesite where she meets Dr. Bradley’s ghost again. She interviews him and gets information she needs to help him. She learns he is in a Union graveyard when he is a Confederate soldier. She calls on all of her friends, makes some new ones, and even finds true love and danger as she tries to keep her promise to help Dr. Bradley.  This was full of so much mystery. She uncovers, lies, betrayal, murder as the book progresses. I read the book in less than three hours, it was that good.  Highly recommended to anyone who loves thrillers, suspense, and mysteries.

Off the Grid: My Ride from Louisiana to the Panama Canal in an Electric Car by Randy Denmon

Genre: Adult, Nonfiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review.

Talk about courage, these men, Randy Denmon and Dean Lewis, have it. I would never attempt to do what they did. He and a friend took an electric car, a Tesla S and drove it from Louisiana to the Panama Canal. What terrified me were the very things they had to worry about. A lot of these countries have drug lords. They also had to worry about to deal with policemen who did things their own way. For me the scariest thing was not knowing where they were going to be able to get electric to power their car. They took all kinds of plugs and extension cords. The Tesla sits real low to the ground. This was also a problem for them. They were not always driving on real smooth roads.  There were treacherous mountain roads. There were roads full of potholes, bumps, and other problems like volcanoes.  The book, for all of the issues they faced is very upbeat due to Randy’s attitude/sense of humor.  As much as I loved the book and knew things had to turn out okay, since they made it back to write the book, I worried for them and their safety the entire time.  This was definitely different from what I usually read. That is probably why I enjoyed it so much. I could live through their trip without having to do the physical traveling, from the safety of my own home.

The Strange Ways of Providence in My Life by Krystyna Carmi

Genre: Adult, Memoir

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Once I started this book I couldn’t stop reading it.  At times it was difficult to read.  The fact that someone as young as Krystyna was when she went through all of these terrible events survived is a testament to her faith.  Raised a Jew she was interested in her Catholic friends religion. She kept her knowledge secret. This and her mom’s statement that “God protects  orphans”, helped carry her through this hardship.  For those who want to read  a clean cut memoir that takes them from point A to point B smoothly, you need to know that this doesn’t happen in this book.  I believe that is why I enjoyed it.  It reads like someone who is telling a story and remembers it in bits a pieces. The author has done an excellent job of putting things in chronological order. However, It is obvious that there are gaps in her memory. This makes it seem even more authentic. We remember things  and then what we remember triggers another memory. However, we don’t want to interrupt our story so we throw that thought in and tell our audience we will discuss it in more detail later.   So many people who have survived the Holocaust came out bitter.  No life was not easy and was not fair to the author. However, she took the lessons learned and used them in a positive way to shape her life.

We teach about the Holocaust in our eighth and ninth grade English Language Arts Classes.  This is definitely a book I will put on my shelves at school. It is another voice added to so many. Yet this is told in a manner my students will definitely be able to understand.  I highly recommend this book.

Author Bio

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Ears For Murder by Sue Owens Wright

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The setting in this story is phenomenal. The way the main character describes the forest before a large part was cut down gives the feeling that you are out in nature.  I love the main character Beanie, a Native American woman. She lives in the woods with her dog, a basset hound named Crusher.  She is not happy that the woods around her is being destroyed. However, there is a bigger problem. While baby-sitting her daughter’s dog Calamity she takes the dogs for a walk in the woods. She makes a horrific discovery. One of the men cutting down the tree’s found chained to a tree and he has an arrow in his neck. She doesn’t want the local Native Americans being blamed for this.

The sheriff likes to crack jokes that tend to be a little racial.

The book is well written and the plot line flows so smoothly.  I guessed throughout the entire thing as to who the murderer truly was.  This is a well written mystery.  This is the fifth book in her series and  I ha e decided I must definitely read the other books in the series. This is a book I highly recommend.

Author Bio

Sue Owens Wright is an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction. She is an eleven-time finalist for the Maxwell, awarded annually by the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) to the best writer on the subject of dogs. She has twice won the Maxwell Award and earned special recognition from the Humane Society of the United States for her writing. She writes the acclaimed Beanie and Cruiser Mystery Series, including Howling Bloody Murder, Sirius About Murder, Embarking On Murder and Braced For Murder, which is recommended on the American Kennel Club’s list of Best Dog Books.

Her nonfiction books include What’s Your Dog’s IQ?, 150 Activities for Bored Dogs, and People’s Guide to Pets. She has been published in numerous magazines, including Dog Fancy, Mystery Scene, AKC GAZETTE, Fido Friendly, The Bark, and Animal Fair. Her work also appears in several anthologies, including PEN Oakland’s “Fightin’ Words,” along with Norman Mailer and other literary notables. Her newest novels are The Secret of Bramble Hill and Ears for Murder.

Website URL: www.sueowenswright.com

Blog URL: http://dogearedbooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/sue.o.wright

Ears for Murder buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Ears-Murder-Beanie-Cruiser-Mystery-ebook/dp/B075FMVHMW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507068917&sr=8-1&keywords=ears+for+murder

The Secret of Bramble Hill buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Bramble-Hill-Owens-Wright/dp/1626945861/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485128293&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=the+secret+of+bramble+hill+weight

High Child by J.T. Bishop

Genre: Adult, Thriller, Science Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Gifted with unique abilities, Royce Fletcher struggles to find his place in the world. Living a solitary life in the woods, he finds his quiet existence disrupted by unexpected visitors. Visitors he would prefer to avoid.

Despite his attempts to protect himself, Royce finds himself caught up in an unexpected romance, a local murder investigation, and a destiny he has little interest in pursuing.

The more he tries to pull away, the more drawn in he becomes, until he must face the demons that refuse to go away. Demons that risk more than just his life, but all that he holds dear.

High Child is the fifth book in J. T. Bishop’s award winning Red-Line saga. Following the events in Curse Breaker, High Child is a fast-paced, page-turning, suspense story that will keep readers guessing until the end. If you like a fun read with compelling characters and unexpected twists, then pick up High Child today!

My Thoughts

This was a new author for me. This is also the fifth book in the series. I was able to follow along just fine. I loved the setting in this book.  This author does and awesome job keeping the tension going throughout the story. I was drawn in from the very beginning.  Royce is a man who has several abilities. Gus is his friend and knows about those “gifts”. The book starts out with a murder. It then switches to two people trying to blend in to a culture they are not familiar with.  Add to this mix the sheriff’s son who had been dropped into Royce’s lap while his father searches for the person who murdered the young girl.  I love a good mystery. This is a great one. It held my attention all the way through. It left me frustrate at times. Just about the time had the secrets figured out I learned through a twist that I had not really figured anything out. That is the sign of a good author.  Really can’t wait to read the other books in this series.

Author Bio

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Born and raised in Dallas, TX, J. T. Bishop began writing in 2012. Inspired by a video that theorized the meaning of the end of the Mayan calendar, J. T. began the Red-Line trilogy. The video surmised that the earth was the central hub of activity for extraterrestrials thousands of years ago. J.T. didn’t know whether that was true or not, but it did spawn an idea. What if those extraterrestrials were still here? Two years and a lot of work later, the first three Red-Line books were complete, but she’s not done. The Red-Line saga develops as she continues to write new books.

Website URL: https://jtbishopauthor.com/

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/jtbishopauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtbishopauthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judybishop99?trk=hp-identity-name

Buy link for High Child

https://www.amazon.com/High-Child-J-T-Bishop-ebook/dp/B073NYDS2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504896979&sr=8-1&keywords=high+child+t+bishop

Buy link for Curse Breaker

https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Breaker-Red-Line-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01LX290GS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498784518&sr=8-1&keywords=curse+breaker+bishop

Jingle and the Magnificent Seven

Genre: Adult, Suspense

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Synopsis:

When Jingle Bell, Santa’s SEIC Santa-Elf-in-Charge) for Southeastern operations of the SBI (Santa Bureau of Investigation) is assigned to recover the naughty list from a rogue elf, he finds himself in need of human partners. He recruits Nep Thomas, a PI in Coral Lakes, Florida. But the problem grows as Jingle, aka Rocky, discovers that his adversary, Rime, is dealing with Abdul Abaddah, a Mid-East terrorist recruiter and financier. More support is needed. Soon, Rocky’s group grows to a magnificent seven, but they face a dirty dozen. Only when the dozen has been neutralized – without serious injury – can Rocky bring Rime to justice.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book.  It started out very humorously. Nep Thomas first meets the elf who sets him on the path to track down a rogue elf, on a south Florida beach.  I thought the banter between Nep and his on again off again girl Cassie was funny. He invites her over for crepes at Rocky the elf’s insistence. Where she didn’t believe the story in the beginning she is the one who first believes. One of the other things I liked was the conflict in the story. A rogue elf steals Santa’s Naughty-Nice List with the intent to sell it to a terrorist.  Not only does he steal the list, he sabotages the computer system so Santa has no backup list. The rag-tag team that is assembled to accomplish this mission was wonderful.  There was the suspense and the humor in just the right dose to keep the story moving forward.  I may need to check out other books by this author.

About the Author

Randy was born and reared in Williamston, North Carolina, a small town in the northeastern part of the state. From there, he says he inherited a sense of responsibility, a belief in fair play, and a love of country. As a career US Army officer, he had the opportunity to learn, travel, teach, and hone talents inherited from his parents. Following retirement, he worked in other ventures for the US Government. Every job has in some way been fun. Even the dark days of Vietnam had their light moments, and he cherishes the camaraderie that was an integral part of survival in that hostile world.

At an early age, Randy discovered the town library and the librarian. She was a wonderful lady, who loved to introduce children to books. She engendered in him a love of the written word. Then, one day many years later, he sat at his computer and began to type. About a year later, he had a tome as long and heavy as WAR AND PEACE (or so it seemed). Giving himself every benefit of the doubt, he will simply say, "It stunk." But the seed was planted, and he continued to compose and continued to learn. 

Today, he has short stories in several anthologies, and a growing list of novels to his credit. As a prolific reader, the reads across several genres and takes that into his writing. He has written mysteries, thrillers, an historical, and two fantasy/mystery/thrillers featuring a Santa Elf. The count is now at fourteen and growing. He is a regular contributor to Happy Homicides, a twice annual anthology of cozy short stories. He also has a series of short stories featuring a cattle-herding burro. Wherever his imagination will take him, he follows.

Randy writes because he enjoys it and smiles because life is fun. Learn more about Randy and his work at www.randyrawls.com.

Mistletoe and Murder by S.L. Smith

Genre:  Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads

Auld Lang Syne with a Twist

As Collette Hammond orchestrates an elaborate New Year's Eve wedding reception for her brother in St. Paul's historic Union Depot, she never anticipates the evening might end in her own mysterious death. She collapses just before midnight. A fresh needle mark suggests narcotics. St. Paul police detectives Pete Culnane and Martin Tierney are called away from their holiday celebrations to investigate, launching a trip through a labyrinth of intrigue and deception.

My Thoughts

Collette Hammond is a recovering drug addict. On the night she hosts a wedding reception for her brother she is found dead and suspected of drugs again.  It was as if she led separate lives. People didn’t really know her. As Pete Culnane and Martin Tierney are two detectives who investigate wht looks like an overdose only to find a few surprises. They soon learn it was not due to her using again.  This is a great mystery. It flows smoothly.  Things are tied up neatly at the end. I’ve not read the first three books in the series yet.  It was not hard to follow the action having not read the first three. They work as a stand-alone book.

About the Author

A lifelong resident of Minnesota, S.L. Smith was born in Saint Cloud and attended Saint Catherine University in Saint Paul. The tall iron fence surrounding the campus provided a sense of security for this small-town transplant. Over the next four years, she grew to love the Twin Cities, in part because of the Minnesota Twins and her love for baseball. After graduating, she rented an apartment a few miles from Metropolitan stadium and rarely missed a home game.

During her thirty-two years with the state department of public safety, she worked with law enforcement and fire officials at the state, county and municipal levels. Those interactions assisted her with writing mysteries, but were just the starting point. Without the help of a friend who spent thirty-five years as a cop, she might never have ventured into writing police procedurals. He contributed to her understanding of the perspectives of her two protagonists, Pete Culnane and Martin Tierney. Thankfully, this friend is still a resource. He proofreads each manuscript and performs a reality check on the law enforcement aspects.

Publishing family memoirs helped fine tune her research skills, and taught her to contact everyone involved. She used that tactic on the first Pete Culnane mystery, Blinded by the Sight, and included those who assisted in the acknowledgments. That paid rich rewards as she worked on books two, three, and four in the series. An investigator in the medical examiner’s office provided a foot-in-the-door with the head of homicide at the Saint Paul Police Department, and with a retired investigator (detective).

The Saint Paul Fire Marshall and an emergency medicine physician patiently and graciously answered her questions. Taking it a step further, I spent four days at the State Fair, while working on Murder on a Stick. While there, I spoke with law enforcement and fire officials. I questioned at least fifty food vendors, and an information booth volunteer. A ticket booth supervisor gave me the lowdown on their procedures. True to form, I was bent on getting the facts right. If I didn’t know the answer, I researched it.

Smith’s books are set in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The protagonists, Pete Culnane and Martin Tierney, are two Saint Paul detectives. (The Saint Paul Police Department calls them investigators.) They’re close friends, but as different as parchment and newsprint. Their banter provides humor in the novels.

All three include a social issue. In Blinded by the Sight, it’s homelessness. For book two, Running Scared, it’s the impacts of a failing marriage on the kids. Book three, Murder on a Stick, addresses a plight faced by many of the elderly. Smith is a member of Sisters in Crime (an organization that supports mystery writers). She divides her time between Minnesota and Florida, to care for her mother.

http://slsmithbooks.com

The Deftly Paradox

  

Genre: Adult, Science Fiction 

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love meeting people who have creative minds.  This author definitely has one.  The idea of a society putting all of their faith in decision-making into the hands of a machine is actually terrifying to me.  I say this because a machine begins with man. Even if the artificial intelligence is capable of learning, you know there has to be a glitch at some point. Then we become man vs machine.  As I was growing up we had sci-fi movies that would give scenarios like this and it was never good.  I have to say this book goes above and beyond.  You have two sides of the issue a machine that has decided to wipe out an entire planet and people who believe in this machine. Then you have the side that has taken a step back and decides that the machine doesn’t necessarily know what is best. They will risk everything to stop it. Because of what I am teaching in school right now my mind began to draw parallels. My English 1 class is reading the book “Night” by Elie Wiesel. One question the students kept asking was how people could just blindly follow Hitler?  They also wanted to know why those who knew it was wrong didn’t step up?  It was the same with this book.  People in both cases reached a point where it was easier to blindly follow.  Those who decided to do something, willingly took the risk, knowing what the cost could be.

The characters were well developed.  The worldbuilding was wonderful.  I was there. That is why it seemed so realistic and possible to me.  In this day and age with technology being ramped up the way it has it makes you wonder if we will ever be stupid enough to turn our world over to a machine? Just asking.

I definitely recommend this book to all science fiction lovers.

30 Red Dresses by Johan Twiss

Genre:  Adult, Realistic Fiction, Thriller

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was a phenomenal book. The main character is an author. His books don’t sell well in the United States. However, Cambodia can’t seem to get enough of him. While on a book signing tour in Cambodia a natural disaster occurs.  He and his translator Munny trying to survive find themselves in an area they really should not have ventured into. However, this turns out to be a most fortunate occasion for the other main character, eight year old Veata.  She calls  him her giant. When their paths cross, lives will be changed forever.  This book takes you into one side of human trafficking.  The writing was so smooth that I had to keep reading from beginning to end. I was right there fearing for the characters in this book. I found myself reading faster to find a resolution. There were so many things I hoped for.  The ending was very satisfying.  I found myself talking to my students about this book since we have been discussing “causes” and how horrible people can be to each other. I think this would make a wonderful book for high school.  I will not only recommend this book to everyone I meet, I will remember it and its message for a long time. This is one of those stories that just sticks with you.  I absolutely loved it.

Read about the author here.

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