Book Review: Blink by K.L. Slater

This is a thriller with a well laid plot and good twists.

Blink
A psychological thriller with a killer twist you'll never forget
by K.L. Slater

File Size: 1463 KB
Print Length: 328 pages
Publisher: Bookouture (February 16, 2017)
ASIN: B01NBF30MU
Genre: Psychological Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger … because of you?
Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.
But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.
Toni’s mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter.
A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister.

Review:
This story has an unusual pattern as a primary character is in a coma. She is alive inside but unable to let the doctors know that she is alive and trying to communicate. No one knows who she is but she can think; so she thinks about the history of what happened and why beautiful Evie disappeared.

Toni lost her husband to a war accident when their daughter, Evie, was only three and half years old. Toni slowly lost all their and her friends over the next eighteen months. She finally has moved to a small house in her mother’s neighborhood. Mum has been a big help even if that help sometimes seems intrusive. But Toni knows she is struggling and needs the help of her mum and maybe more. She is glad that Evie will be starting school soon and Toni decides she needs to find a job to help pay for the bills that have been piling up.

Harriet, who will be working with Evie in school, has stopped by to meet Toni. Harriet and mum don’t quite see eye to eye, and they both are clearly seeking to exercise control.

Toni is lucky to find a job but now she must deal with a resentful, insecure and jealous boss as well as coping with the opposition of her mother. Adding to her stress is the fact that Evie, picked up from her first day at school by Mum, has come home unhappy and unwilling to talk about it. After just a short time Evie disappears and three years later the story picks up with the coma patient.

The backstory is told through what appear to be memories of the coma patient as well as Toni’s point of view. And occasionally a journal entry by a ‘watcher’. There is a long section that covers day to day activity, introducing the characters who have contact with Toni and Evie. This got to be a bit drawn out for me as I was ready for the story to move on. When it finally gets to the crisis there are some twists that had me looking back at the beginning to see what clues I missed and noting the intentional misdirections.

The author lays out a good plot that includes at least three potential threats. The story has trauma, madness, greed and other motives revealed near the end. It had me shaking my head, wincing at behaviors, and shuddering at deliberate bullying and cruelties. I can recommend this to readers who like family drama with strong suspense.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Wild Horse Springs (Ransom Canyon) by Jodi Thomas

This is a fun contemporary romance with the plus of a mystery and touch of danger.

Wild Horse Springs (Ransom Canyon)
by Jodi Thomas

File Size: 2546 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (February 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01GZVCUBO
Genre: Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

In the heart of Ransom Canyon, sometimes the right match for a lonely soul is the one you least expect
Dan Brigman may not lead the most exciting life, but he's proud of what he's achieved: he's a respected lawman, and he's raised a bright, talented daughter on his own. But finding a lone, sparkly blue boot in the middle of a deserted highway gets him thinking maybe the cowgirl who lost it is exactly the shake-up he needs.
After losing her baby girl, Brandi Malone felt like her soul died along with her daughter. Now singing in small-town bars to make ends meet, she's fine being a drifter—until a handsome sheriff makes her believe that parking her boots under his bed is a better option.
College grad Lauren Brigman has just struck out on her own in downtown Dallas when a troubling phone call leads her back home to Crossroads. Her hometown represents her family, friends and deepest hopes, but also her first love, Lucas Reyes. Will Lauren's homecoming be another heartbreak, or a second chance for her and Lucas?

Review:
This is a fun, easy read, small town romance. Dan is a great character who brought smiles to my face from the very first pages.

Dan is a respectable lawman whose wife walked out on him years ago. At least he had his wonderful daughter, Lauren, to watch over, raising her on his own and even allowing her to study and work at the sheriff’s office. Dan hasn’t had much to do with women since. When he finds a sparkly, fancy cowgirl boot in the road he wonders what it would be like to meet the kind of wild woman who would wear those boots. He tracks her down and finds Brandi Malone mesmerizing the locals with her singing in a local tavern. It is lust, if not love, at first side.

Thatcher, a young man who has been adopted by the town as an abandoned boy, has been accused of shop lifting and assault. He didn’t steal the groceries but was really returning them. But he did punch the grocer and he is not going to tell the sheriff the rest of the story. Lauren gets word that Thatcher is in jail and feels she must come home to watch over him and get matters straightened out. Because things look dicey, Lauren calls on the one lawyer she is sure she can count on, at least for law, if not for commitment. Lucas is a successful lawyer but was Lauren’s cowboy, high school sweetheart before college and life took them on separate paths. There is still a strong ember between them but they are both a little gun-shy feeling abandoned by the other.

Cody Winslow is haunted by his last gun fight as a Texas Ranger. He has not been able to out run his demons and nightmares. Riding hard along the canyon at night he ends up thrown from his horse into the canyon. Lucky for him, Tess, a park ranger, and her handful of 5 and 6 year old campers, find him and get him aid. Now Tess is taking charge of his house while he is healing in the hospital and Cody is thinking he might have something to live for if he can just keep hold of this bossy, strong minded woman.

All three character lines converge as the book progresses and drug thugs try to kidnap Thatcher from jail. Thatcher is actually protecting a little girl but didn’t want to tell Dan about it until it was clear the child is in more danger.

I have read historical romances by Ms. Thomas and enjoyed them a lot. She writes with reasonable, well flowing plots that include a little mystery, a good dose of humor, likeable characters and sweet to sassy romance. I was, of course, rooting for the HEA for Dan and Brandi, Cody and Tess, and Lauren and Lucas. The relationships that resolve are sweet and heartwarming. I recommend this as a fun romance for readers of contemporary romance and for mystery readers who like romance.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley; it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller

This is a lovely read!

The Elusive Miss Ellison
by Carolyn Miller

File Size: 3953 KB
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (February 27, 2017)
ASIN: B01NBTFSWC
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational, Regency
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Handsome appearance counts for naught unless matched by good character and actions.
That's the firm opinion of not-so-meek minister's daughter Lavinia Ellison. So even though all the other villagers of St. Hampton Heath are swooning over the newly returned seventh Earl of Hawkesbury, she is not impressed. If a man won't take his responsibilities seriously and help those who are supposed to be able to depend on him, he deserves no respect from her. In Lavinia's pretty, gray eyes, Nicholas Stamford is just as arrogant and reckless as his brother--who stole the most important person in Livvie's world.
Nicholas is weighed down by his own guilt and responsibility, by the pain his careless brother caused, and by the legacy of war he's just left. This quick visit home to St. Hampton Heath will be just long enough to ease a small part of that burden. Asking him to bother with the lives of the villagers when there's already a bailiff on the job is simply too much to expect.
That is, until the hoydenish, intelligent, and very opinionated Miss Ellison challenges him to see past his pain and pride. With her angelic voice in his head, he may even be beginning to care. But his isn't the only heart that needs to change.
These two lonely hearts may each have something the other needs. But with society's opposition, ancestral obligations, and a shocking family secret, there may be too many obstacles in their way.
Fans of Georgette Heyer, Lori Wick, and Julie Klassen will enjoy the spirited exchanges between the bluestocking minister's daughter and the bruised war hero as they move past pride and presumption to a humbled appreciation of God's grace and the true strength of love.

Review:
Miss Ellison, a country minister’s daughter, is the heart of kindness and service in her community. That doesn’t mean she is meek as she is strong willed and tends to be outspoken. At “three and twenty” she has a few local gentlemen interested in her but she has no interest in them. She figures she will end up an old maid like Aunt Patience, her mother’s sister, who moved in to take care of them when her mother died. Lavinia’s mother died of a tragic accident when Lavinia was only nine. She has never forgotten the wealthy, reckless neighbors who raced their horses and caused her mother’s death. Now the brother of that reckless boy has inherited Hampton Hall and returned to take charge over the estate. Lavinia is not impressed by his handsome good looks and arrogant airs but she is prepared to approach him with her list of grievances on behalf of the estate tenants.

Nicholas Stamford, a former army Captain, never expected to become seventh Earl of Hawkesbury. Still, he is glad for the chance to get away from the eager mothers and daughters in London. They see him as a good catch and they do not realize that he will have to marry for money to rebuild the treasury that has been depleted by his father and brother. Nicholas doesn’t initially recognize Lavinia as the young girl who lost her mother that dreadful day many years ago. He has apologized to her father but finds it difficult to give an apology to the very prickly Miss Ellison.

The two start off at odds, rubbing each other the wrong way, but it is clear they are drawn to each other’s intelligent wit. Lavinia’s caring nature impacts Nicholas more than words might. As his household cares for her when she suffers illness, he slowly begins to turn his heart to the people of his estate and village, and to the God that has provided so much for him.

Lavinia knows she isn’t in the Earl’s league and shouldn’t allow her heart to dream of anything developing even though the Earl seeks her out to share her company. When Nicolas’ high maintenance mother arrives at the Hall with prospective bride in hand she makes it quite clear that Lavinia would never do for her son. Lavinia mishears a statement and is told some gossip that shatters her reluctant dreams.

Lavinia’s Aunt decides to step in to change matters when it becomes apparent that Lavinia has lost her sparkle. Aunt Patience has surprises to reveal that will completely change Lavinia’s life... but not her servant's heart.

I totally enjoyed these characters and the slow growth of friendship and affection. The obstacles were obvious but I was sure there would be a way around them. Even Lavinia notes at one point that “Our Father has good plans…” The faith comments and messages are shared beautifully and naturally in the discussions. The story shares a message of forgiveness and grace that warmed my heart. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a gentle historical romance and who would be warmed by faith lessons shared and learned.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: When the English Fall by David Williams

This is well written, insightful and engaging.

When the English Fall
by David Williams

File Size: 1687 KB
Print Length: 255 pages

Publisher: Algonquin Books (July 11, 2017)
ASIN: B01JKHTN8I
Genre: Dystopian, Religious, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

A riveting and unexpected novel that questions whether a peaceful and nonviolent community can survive when civilization falls apart.
When a catastrophic solar storm brings about the collapse of modern civilization, an Amish community in Pennsylvania is caught up in the devastating aftermath. Once-bright skies are now dark. Planes have plummeted to the ground. The systems of modern life have crumbled. With their stocked larders and stores of supplies, the Amish are unaffected at first. But as the English (the Amish name for all non-Amish people) become more and more desperate, they begin to invade Amish farms, taking whatever they want and unleashing unthinkable violence on the peaceable community.
Seen through the diary of an Amish farmer named Jacob as he tries to protect his family and his way of life, When the English Fall examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?
David Williams’s debut novel is a thoroughly engrossing look into the closed world of the Amish, as well as a thought-provoking examination of “civilization” and what remains if the center cannot hold.

Review:
I was immediately drawn to this when I noted the genre and blurb. I have been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic stories and find some are more realistic than others. This one could happen and is different because of the setting and characters.

This story is told in the form of diaries found on an Amish farm outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Jacob, the father of the family, shares of the struggle his family has been experiencing. Their 14-year-old daughter, Sadie, has been suffering from seizures, mostly nightmares, but not always at night. Sadie doesn’t understand either but she thinks she has had a strange premonition ability, knowing things before they actually happen. During her trance episodes, she has been muttering “they fall, they fall” and speaking of “Jimmy” although there is no Jimmy in the community.

Jacob’s diaries reflect how the people of the Order “are never really apart, as much as we choose to set ourselves different from the world that surrounds us.” He explains how the Amish people live simple lives, focusing on their faith and trust in God. They avoid many modern conveniences, such as televisions and phones and most equipment that relies on electricity. They use horses and buggies or wagons rather than vehicles and they farm using mostly older, nonmechanical equipment.

A night comes when there are flashing lights in the sky and Sadie notes that “they fall”, like angels falling. A young man rides from farm to farm delivering news. The word spreads that a solar flare has occurred which has taken out the power grid that the “Englishers”, as they call those not of the Order, rely on. At first there is no immediate impact on the Amish communities but it isn't long before the military arrives to take food to the nearby towns.

All too soon the looting and violence of the English towns begins to encroach into the peaceful community. How will the pacifist people respond to the theft and violence? How do they protect themselves? I really like how David Williams handles this dilemma with beautiful writing and insight into the Amish community. It is realistic and fitting. This is a quick read and I would like to read more. I recommend this to those who are interested in the Amish people and how they might react when a disintegrating society starts to bring its ills into their territory. 

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and "W" in Alphabet Soup Challenge. 

Book Review: Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne

This is a really lovely reading experience.

Serenity Harbor: A Heartwarming Small Town Romance
(Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne

File Size: 2078 KB
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (July 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01MT0PANG
Genre: Small Town Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

In the town of Haven Point, love can be just a wish—and one magical kiss—away…
Computer-tech millionaire Bowie Callahan is about the last person that schoolteacher Katrina Bailey wants to work for. As far as she can see, he's arrogant, entitled and not up to the task of caring for his young half brother, Milo. But Kat is, especially if it brings her closer to her goal of adopting an orphaned little girl. And as her kindness and patience work wonders with Milo, she realizes there's more to sexy, wary Bo than she'd ever realized.
Bo never imagined he'd be tasked with caring for a sibling he didn't know existed. Then again, he never pictured himself impulsively kissing vibrant, compassionate Katrina in the moonlight. Now he's ready to make her dream of family come true…and hoping there's room in it for him, too…

Review:
RaeAnne Thayne has a wonderful writing style that creates realistic and likeable characters facing real life challenges. The reading is easy and warm making this move along at a quick pace.

Katrina struggled with illness that made her childhood difficult. She got better in her teenage years and discovered boys about the time they discovered her. She has made some poor choices in men and life since. But her last bad choice brought her to a life changing experience. Katrina discovered a special child in Columbia, Gabriela, whom she is determined to adopt and bring back to America.

Kat has returned from Columbia for three weeks to attend her sister’s wedding. Only Kat’s best friend, Samantha, supports her plan as even her mother doesn’t believe she has changed her flighty ways. Sam points out her latest interest, the newest, handsome bachelor in town, Bowie. Kat has no plans to look at any man while she is focused on adopting Gabi. But Kat realizes that Bowie is struggling with a young boy about to throw a tantrum. Kat manages to distract the boy and learns that Milo is Bo’s autistic, five-year-old half-brother.

Bo has struggled to overcome his own childhood being raised by a young, single mother who could barely care for herself. Now he has accepted guardianship of a half-brother he has just met. Bo knows nothing of handling children and being faced with one who has autism and doesn’t speak has really set his world spinning. Fortunately, Bo made a fortune as a computer tech genius so he can afford good care to help Milo. Since the specialist he has hired as a nanny won’t arrive for three more weeks, Bo offers Kat an outrageous sum to help take care of Milo during that time.

Initially Katrina wants to avoid the all too handsome man but she can really use the money to help with adoption expenses. She agrees to sit for Milo and a day or so later finds herself moving into Bo’s home so she can be there morning and evenings as Bo works late. This puts Bo and Katrina in close proximity trying to resist the chemical attraction that flares along with the growing respect for each other.

Bo has never known stability and love and he doesn’t know how to convince Katrina to stay with Milo … and him. Katrina doesn’t want to be distracted by a temporary fling when she must stay focused on her ‘daughter’. The tension expands as these two dance around their blooming feelings.

I really enjoyed the warmth and charm of this story. I was touched by Bo’s tenderness for Milo and Kat’s caring approach to Milo and Gabi. There is extra conflict added by the expectations and concerns of Kat’s mother, by Sam’s crush on Bowie and by the long-distance adoption efforts. This is part of a wonderful series but can be read as a standalone. It is delightful reading and I recommend it to readers who enjoy small town romance and the special children portrayed in this gem.

I received this through NetGalley for review as part of Little Bird Publicity Tour. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

AMAZON KINDLE $3.99!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne loves words. Her love affair started as soon as she learned to read, when she used to devour anything she could get her hands on: cereal boxes, encyclopedias, the phone book, you name it! She loves the way words sound, the way they look on the page and the amazing way they can be jumbled together in so many combinations to tell a story.

Her love of reading and writing those words led her to a fifteen-year career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and editor.

Through it all, she dreamed of writing the kind of stories she loved best. She sold her first book in 1995 and since then she’s published more than 40 titles. Her books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews.

RaeAnne finds inspiration in the rugged northern Utah mountains where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

Book Review: Dear Heart: The Courting Letters by Judith Pinkerton Josephson

This is a charming dual romance.
Dear Heart: The Courting Letters
by Judith Pinkerton Josephson (Author), Kirsten Josephson (Illustrator)

File Size: 24426 KB
Print Length: 258 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0996719962
Publisher: eFrog Press (October 20, 2016)
ASIN: B01M0FYT3O
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

In 2010 teacher Lisa Anderson has almost given up on love after a failed, longtime relationship and Internet dating disasters. In a cluttered attic, she discovers an antique writing box labeled “Courting Letters.” Untying the beribboned packets inside, she finds tattered envelopes, their contents penned more than a century before. As Lisa begins to read, she learns that in 1907 in Ipswich, England, the authors, Gertie and Fred, meet. Just as their friendship deepens into something more, Fred and his family emigrate to America in search of a better life. Hopes for the budding relationship fade. Long months pass. Then a letter from Fred to Gertie arrives. The two begin a dance of written words, but the romance is fraught with obstacles, not the least of which is the Atlantic Ocean. Separation and distance also conspire against Lisa when her intriguing new beau must return to his native Spain. Dear Heart: The Courting Letters weaves a tapestry from two intersecting love stories. Will the threads hold or pull apart?

Review:
Lisa Anderson is a school teacher in her mid-thirties. She has mostly moved on from a longtime relationship that ended with her beau saying something like ‘I’m not interested anymore’. Lisa’s mother has recently died so Lisa is cleaning out her mother’s house to prepare it for sale. Lisa finds an antique writing box in the attic that is full of “courting letters”. Lisa doesn’t recognize the names of the writers but she soon becomes enchanted with their courtship through letters.

Gertie and Fred met in England near the turn of the century. Fred moved to Chicago to help find work for his younger brothers and himself. He was sad to leave Gertie behind but he had a duty to take care of his family. Still, he had never met anyone like Gertie and he couldn’t help but write to her, sharing his sentimental musings keeping her advised of his activities.

Gertie was a young woman of 35 who spent her years helping in the family business. After her father died, Gertie helped her frail mother take care of their home as a boarding house. Gertie had thought a relationship was developing with Fred but then he announced he was moving to America. Gertie is ensnared with Fred’s sensitive prose and sharing through his letters. She has boarders who show interest in her but she still has dreams of Fred. Gertie must decide if she should accept an offer of marriage rather than continue to wait for Fred who has never spoken for her hand.

Unexpectedly Lisa meets a good-looking man and they discover common interests and mutual attraction. Things are developing nicely until he stops coming by and calling. He doesn’t answer her calls either. Lisa tries to overcome her new disappointment. Meanwhile, Lisa is sure there aren’t gentle, poetic men like Fred anymore and she wonders who this couple were and what happened to them.

This is a sample photo from the 

collection of Francis Frith at francisfrith.com.

The letter courtship is charming and the story shares wonderful word images of the times and places. There are lovely illustrations along with postcards and photography of the settings shared which add to the interest. This is not an action story but it has a gentle, quaint charm in the presentation through the letters. I enjoyed Lisa’s struggles and triumph in romance too. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet, gentle romance.

I received this title through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: The Sleepwalker: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian

This psychological mystery pulls you to the twist at the revealing conclusion.
The Sleepwalker: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian

File Size: 1066 KB
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (January 10, 2017)
ASIN: B01FPGY5TK
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Room comes a spine-tingling novel of lies, loss, and buried desire—the mesmerizing story of a wife and mother who vanishes from her bed late one night.

When Annalee Ahlberg goes missing, her children fear the worst. Annalee is a sleepwalker whose affliction manifests in ways both bizarre and devastating. Once, she merely destroyed the hydrangeas in front of her Vermont home. More terrifying was the night her older daughter, Lianna, pulled her back from the precipice of the Gale River bridge. The morning of Annalee's disappearance, a search party combs the nearby woods. Annalee's husband, Warren, flies home from a business trip. Lianna is questioned by a young, hazel-eyed detective. And her little sister, Paige, takes to swimming the Gale to look for clues. When the police discover a small swatch of fabric, a nightshirt, ripped and hanging from a tree branch, it seems certain Annalee is dead, but Gavin Rikert, the hazel-eyed detective, continues to call, continues to stop by the Ahlbergs' Victorian home. As Lianna peels back the layers of mystery surrounding Annalee's disappearance, she finds herself drawn to Gavin, but she must ask herself: Why does the detective know so much about her mother? Why did Annalee leave her bed only when her father was away? And if she really died while sleepwalking, where was the body?
Conjuring the strange and mysterious world of parasomnia, a place somewhere between dreaming and wakefulness, The Sleepwalker is a masterful novel from one of our most treasured storytellers.

Review:
Lianna is a young college student home during summer break when her mother disappears one night. Her beautiful mother, Annalee, is a sleepwalker who has had dangerous walks in her sleep before. Neither the search party nor the police have found a body and Lianna and her younger sister, Paige, don’t want to believe their mother is dead. But time keeps passing.

A day or two into the investigation Lianna meets Gavin, a 30ish detective who happened to know Annalee through a sleepwalker treatment program. He admits that he met Annalee outside the program for coffee and to compare notes. Lianna is drawn to Gavin but not sure if she can trust his attention and their attraction. Could his connection with her mother have been more than casual?

Lianna stays home from college while she runs the household trying to make things as normal as possible for her father and sister. She begins to secretly date Gavin. She doesn’t want her father to know and Gavin agrees to secrecy because of his connections to the case. Lianna continues to probe into her mother’s past and presses Gavin for details. Along the way she looks with suspicion upon her father, her neighbors, husbands and wives, as well as Gavin.

The story is written from Lianna’s first person voice which is done well. The reader is drawn into her turmoil, loss, puzzlement and confusion. The author weaves in details about parasomnia and the phenomenon of sleepwalking by means of discussions and journal entries from a sleepwalker.

I liked the writing style although, since I tend to like stories with action, this one was a bit different as it moves more slowly in a social, emotional drama mode. Still, the author does a good job at hooking the reader as I was invested in wanting to know what happened. There are some tense moments and a (possibly foreseeable as there are clues) twist at the point of reveal.

Readers who find family dynamics interesting should like this. I also recommend it to readers who enjoy a more psychological mystery.

I received this from the Publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review and Giveaway: Infinity (Horizon) by Tabitha Lord

This is another exciting installment -strong writing and plot make it engaging.

Infinity (Horizon)
by Tabitha Lord

File Size: 1041 KB
Print Length: 269 pages
Publisher: Pronoun (June 6, 2017)
ASIN: B072BGNC4N
Genre: Space Opera, Genetic Engineering
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

In the second installment of the award-winning Horizon series, Dr. Caeli Crys returns to her war-torn world to fight for those she left behind.
Almagest, Caeli’s home, stands on the brink of revolution. Long hidden from the rest of the galaxy, the once-peaceful planet suffers under a regime that grows more violent and oppressive by the day. Marcus, Almagest’s dictator, is building an arsenal of alien weaponry by selling empathic children into slavery. A resistance has risen, but they are outmanned, outgunned, and in hiding.
Joined by Commander Derek Markham and his elite squadron of operatives, Caeli embarks on a dangerous mission to find the Resistance, rescue her captive people, and save her civilization from destruction.

Review:
This sequel picks up shortly after the end of Horizon. Derek and his team get intel that one of Caeli’s people, the Novali, has been sold in a space market. The intel reveals that Almagest is now trading with space opportunists and the use of these empathic people could be a fierce weapon…for good or evil depending on who controls them. This could endanger more than just Caeli’s home planet.

Derek’s commander agrees to allow Derek to take a team to Almagest to determine the extent of the problems. When the team arrives they soon discover the resistance struggling to face a cold winter with limited supplies. There are still contacts within the city but Marcus, the brutal dictator, is pushing hard to find rebels while arranging trades of ore and Novali to further his military growth.

The team must find new shelter as Marcus is sending planes out to locate and destroy their current camp. Caeli is already suffering PTSD and is emotionally injured again when not everyone makes it safely to the new location. The team plans a daring raid to take control of a supply train. The plan runs into a few hitches but does result in desperately needed food supplies for the resistance.

The team and resistance leaders realize they have to move soon as Marcus closes in. Derek decides to go undercover to approach Marcus so he can get a better picture of the situation. Although Caeli has been glad to see familiar faces, some events are triggering the PTSD that impacts her effectiveness at crucial times. There are more losses and betrayals before an all-out confrontation brings the rebels face to face with Marcus’ troops.

This story jumped into action and continued along at a good pace. Emotions ran on a roller coaster with sorrow and anger followed by joy and hope; then dropping again to more anger, sorrow and fear. The relationship between Derek and Caeli is strong and touching. I liked the inclusion of characters from the first book and there are some new characters I like and hope to see in the next book(s).

The author uses historic journals to explain how the Novali people came to be which was interesting once it became clear what this was. A simple tie in through the current day characters explaining they were reading the journal would have made this technique clearer. I liked the plot progress and the resolution on the planet. Then the author adds a last page hook of suspense to set up the next book. Hope it isn’t a long wait! I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good space opera with action, suspense and warm romance elements.

Buy the Book:
​Amazon  ~  Kindle
Add to Goodreads

I received this from NetGalley for tour review through iRead Book Tours. This qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Check out my review of book 1:
Horizon.

Buy the Book:
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Prizes: ​
Win one of 5 prize packages that contains: Horizon (Book #1) and Infinity (Book #2) by Tabitha Lord and a $10 Amazon gift card (open to USA only - 5 winners)(ends 7/22/17)

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Book Review: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads

This is 'gritty' but wonderfully suspenseful and romantic.
Hunt the Dawn (Fatal Dreams Book 2)
by Abbie Roads

File Size: 1643 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (December 6, 2016)
ASIN: B01JASIXSI
Genre: Suspense, Supernatural
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

"Dark and delicious."—Kerrelyn Sparks, New York Times bestselling author on Race the Darkness
Out of darkness and danger
You can't hide your secrets from Lathan Montgomery-he can read your darkest memories. And while his special abilities are invaluable in the FBI's hunt for a serial killer, he has no way to avoid the pain that brings him. Until he is drawn to courageous, down-on-her-luck Evanee Brown and finds himself able to offer her something he's never offered another human being: himself.
Dawns a unique and powerful love
Nightmares are nothing new to Evanee Brown. But once she meets Lathan, they plummet into the realm of the macabre. Murder victims are reaching from beyond the grave to give Evanee evidence that could help Lathan bring a terrifying killer to justice. Together, they could forge an indomitable partnership to thwart violence, abuse, and death-if they survive the forces that seek to tear them apart.

Review:
Lathan is a man who has always been sensitive to others – more than he wants. His olfactory glands are stronger than normal and he can smell the emotional memories of those around him. In a crowd that can be overwhelming and it creates difficulties on individual interactions too. Although his ‘gift’ is frowned on by many, and even makes his parents uncomfortable, the skill has come in handy as he consults with the FBI.

One night as Lathan is riding his motorcycle home he comes upon a car and truck by the side of the road. He smells the fear and anguish of the young woman trying to escape an attacker and steps in to face off with the attacker.

Evanee is trying to make enough money to get out of town and away from her abusive stepbrother, Junior. She shouldn’t go off with a stranger but she must get away from Junior. Evanee is accustomed to having nightmares but having ones that put her in touch with murder victims is new – and frightening. During each nightmare episode, the victim reaches out to her and a dark presence makes her take a token.

Lathan calls in the FBI and they begin to tie together the clues and the bodies to a serial killer known as the Strategist. Lathan has never had a woman focus on his eyes instead of the tattoo on his face. He is awed to have a woman respond to him as honestly as Evanee does. He can’t stop her nightmares but he is determined to keep Evanee safe from her Junior and the Strategist. And both come after her.

I liked the strength of Lathan and Evanee from the very beginning of the story. They both had harsh childhoods and, even as survivors, they are emotionally vulnerable. The author created a relationship with depth and steamy chemistry. There is language and graphic brutality which is why I say this is “gritty”. But Ms. Roads creates wonderfully believable characters and a finely crafted plot, with twists, that carry the story beyond any “grittiness” for me. I may well go back and pick up book 1. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy strong romantic suspense with a supernatural twist.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge, Mount TBR and “H” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Book Review: The Invisible City (The Stolen Future Trilogy Book 1) by Brian K. Lowe

This is a fun time travel sci fi full of creatures and daring adventures.
The Invisible City (The Stolen Future Trilogy Book 1)
by Brian K. Lowe

File Size: 2316 KB
Print Length: 399 pages
Publication Date: December 13, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B00D69LF9C
Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Tracking German soldiers through the muddy trenches of France, Captain Charles Clee stumbles onto something amazing--a secret archeological expedition from the far future. Discovered and trapped, he flees through their time machine and finds himself stranded nearly one million years in the future. Clee falls in love with a beautiful woman whose family has befriended him, but when she is taken from him by one of Earth's alien overlords, he finds himself the enemy of the one of most powerful men in the world. In his quest to rescue her, he is startled to learn that a working time machine may still exist somewhere. With that machine, he could return to his own time and save his men from certain annihilation, but to do so would mean abandoning his quest. Torn between love and his duty to the men who served under him a million years past, pursued by the merciless assassins of the Time Police, Clee faces war, slavery, and fantastic beasts in a race against time itself--knowing that whatever the outcome, he must lose.
Brian K. Lowe is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Review:
Captain Charles Clee is an American who choose to face war in France. One morning he was preceding his men into a dangerous situation tracking German soldiers in the rainy, muddy trenches. He follows a man into a cave and inadvertently stumbles into another world… or at least another time! He learns that he has stepped through a time machine and discovers himself far in the future. Clee finds a people whom he initially can’t understand. But he is befriended by a family and falls in love with a young woman. The family helps him create a cover so he can search for the time machine while trying to avoid ‘time cops’.

Clee has to maneuver among a tyrannical alien race, the Nuum, and his troubles increase when his new love is taken by one of the powerful Nuum overlords. Although Clee wants to find a way to return to his own time, he is intent on saving his kidnapped love. His friends provide him with a powerful tool in the form of a holographic library he can carry with him – as long as he isn’t caught with it since possession is illegal. Before he can set off on his adventure he gets caught up in a rebellion and gets shanghaied.

Clee has to escape one perilous situation after another. Along the way he picks up a speaking gorilla, Timash, as a friend and companion. After escaping from a T-Rex they make another friend, Maire, who appears to be a fierce female warrior but turns out to be something else as well.

I must admit that at one point the travels (airships and hovercrafts) and dangers (giant spiders, dinosaurs, and more) made me think of the old tales of Sinbad. Further along I was reminded of spy tricks akin to Mission Impossible escape magic. I appreciated Clee’s friends who help save him when things looked bad. There is plenty of action and several twists that made it a fun adventure to the end.

The story is well written in first person voice of the hero Clee. He is an affable fellow with a strong, optimistic view and logical, if sometimes impulsive, nature. I also liked the literary references to Jules Verne and Shakespeare which would be works known to Clee. This is the first novel I have read by Mr. Lowe and I would be interested in more adventures for Clee and his friends. I recommend this to readers who enjoy engaging science fiction adventure.

I received this in 2016 through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and Mount TBR.

I was drawn to the cover from the NetGalley version. Apparently the cover has changed as it now appears on Amazon with this cover:

What do you think? Do you prefer one cover more than the other?

Book Review, Feature and Giveaway: Horizon by Tabitha Lord

This sci fi has a different plot, intrigue and romance.
Horizon
by Tabitha Lord

File Size: 1001 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing (March 27, 2017)
ASIN: B06XZ1VJR7
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Caeli Crys isn’t living—she’s surviving. On the run after the genocide of her empathic people, she witnesses a spaceship crash near her hidden camp. When she feels the injured pilot suffering from miles away, she can’t help but risk discovery to save his life.
Commander Derek Markham awakens stranded on an uncharted planet. His co-pilot is dead, his ship is in ruins, and he’s only alive because a beautiful young woman is healing him with her mind.
As Derek recovers, Caeli shares the horror of her past and her fear for the future. When Derek’s command ship, Horizon, sends rescue, Derek convinces Caeli to leave with him. But his world is as treacherous as hers—full of spies, interplanetary terrorist plots, and political intrigue. Soon the Horizon team is racing to defend an outlying planet from a deadly enemy, and Caeli’s unique skills may just give them the edge they need to save it.

Review:
Caeli is a healer and a sensitive empath. She is one of the few remaining of her gifted people after a split off race on her planet attacked and destroyed her community. They took the children to be brainwashed and a handful of survivors to use for their skills and as a cover-up to the truth. Caeli had begun to settle in working with the Doctor and hospital staff at the new community. She was asked to join an underground rebellion group who are seeking a way to overthrow the vicious leader who destroyed her own society and frightens many of this community.

Caeli is distressed when the brutal dictator, Marcus, pulls her in to read the mind of a suspected rebel … or watch as he is tortured, then killed. She cannot reveal her friends so she must go on the run so her skills cannot be used again. While hiding out in her secluded cave, she sees a spaceship crash and senses the injuries and distress of the occupants. She is able to rescue Derek, Commander of the attacked ship. She heals him and they develop a bond as they dodge her enemy and wait for his force to rescue him. Although her people never thought to leave their planet., Caeli agrees it will be safest to go with Derek for the time being. That is until Derek’s new mission seeks Caeli’s special skills in order to act quickly to prevent a terrorist attack.

Caeli has to adjust her mind to using her skills for other than healing and without permission of the subject. But she recognizes the cost of failing to give aid when she can. Now she is part of Derek’s special undercover team having to cope with monstrous, evil men while trying to save lives.

From the very beginning I like Caeli’s helper and ‘survivor’ personality. She goes through terrible trauma but, with the help of others, is able to rise and use her skills for good wherever she finds herself. She does not let revenge take over but wisely bides her time trying to find another solution.

The author fills in Caeli’s backstory with alternating chapters as she shares her history with Derek. Derek is a likeable character and the interaction between the two is handled nicely. There is clearly a connection that moves them closer but details are ‘kept behind doors’. The story moves at a good pace and kept me interested. My only disappointment is the few foul words that the author scattered in the story as though she felt they were needed. In my opinion, they were not needed and were disruptive – especially since the random entries were from a female character. Other than that, I enjoyed the book. There are a few questions left open such as Caeli's reaction to reading the mind of the enemy and what is happening back on her planet. I look forward to the next book, Infinity (review to post June 20).

I received this through NetGalley for aniRead Book Tours review. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Meet the Author:

Tabitha currently lives in Rhode Island. She is married, has four great kids, two spoiled cats, and lovable lab mix. Her degree is in Classics from College of the Holy Cross and she taught Latin for years at an independent Waldorf school, where she now serves on the Board of Trustees.

Tabitha’s debut novel, Horizon, won the Writer’s Digest Grand Prize for Self-Published Fiction in 2016, and was named finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and National Indie Excellence Awards. Infinity, the second book in the Horizon series, will be released in June 2017. Her short story “Homecoming” appears in the anthology Sirens, edited by Rhonda Parrish and published by World Weaver Press, and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is also a senior editor for www.BookClubBabble.com.

Visit her blog at www.tabithalordauthor.com where she discusses favorite topics including parenting, teaching, and her writing journey.

Connect with Tabitha: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Tour dates: May 22 to July 14, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There are a few, moderately explicit sex scenes, genocide, rape, and moderate language.)

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Add on Goodreads

Book Two:

Book Details:

Book Title: Infinity by Tabitha Lord
Category: Adult Fiction, 304 pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Release date: June 6, 2017
Tour dates: May 22 to July 14, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (violence, non-explicit sex, language)

Book Description:
In the second installment of the award-winning Horizon series, Dr. Caeli Crys returns to her war-torn world to fight for those she left behind.

Almagest, Caeli’s home, stands on the brink of revolution. Long hidden from the rest of the galaxy, the once-peaceful planet suffers under a regime that grows more violent and oppressive by the day. Marcus, Almagest’s dictator, is building an arsenal of alien weaponry by selling empathic children into slavery. A resistance has risen, but they are outmanned, outgunned, and in hiding.

Joined by Commander Derek Markham and his elite squadron of operatives, Caeli embarks on a dangerous mission to find the Resistance, rescue her captive people, and save her civilization from destruction.

Buy the Book:

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Book Review: Bookburners by Max Gladstone, Mur Lafferty, Brian Francis Slattery, Margaret Dunlap

This is a fun read - a squad fighting magic by confiscating the books that let the monsters out.
Bookburners
by Max Gladstone, Mur Lafferty, Brian Francis Slattery, Margaret Dunlap

File Size: 2920 KB
Print Length: 800 pages
Publisher: Serial Box (January 24, 2017)
ASIN: B01N0SKM0F
Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Magic is real, and hungry. It’s trapped in ancient texts and artifacts, and only a few who discover it survive to fight back. Detective Sal Brooks is a survivor. She joins a Vatican-backed black-ops anti-magic squad—Team Three of the Societas Librorum Occultorum—and together they stand between humanity and the magical apocalypse. Some call them the Bookburners. They don’t like the label.
Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in a fast-paced, kickass character driven novel chock-full of magic, mystery, and mayhem, written collaboratively by a team of some of the best writers working in fantasy.
Originally presented serially in 16 episodes, this omnibus collects all installments of Bookburners Season One into one edition.

Review:
This book tells the tales of a squad known as the Bookburners. Thank goodness they don’t really burn books – well at least Team 3 doesn’t. They capture the magical books that allow monsters, usually evil and harmful, out to hurt the world.

The reader first meets Detective Sal Brooks when her brother shows up at her home with a strange book. The next thing Sal knows people are knocking on her door looking for her brother. The strangers burst into her apartment and she experiences a warp in time as her brother vanishes. Sal joins ‘the team’ to find her brother and soon learns that things are much stranger than she knew.

The team is based out of the Vatican and consists of a Menchu, a priest, Asanti, an archivist, Liam, a computer whiz, Grace, a fierce monster fighter (with secrets) and now Sal, an observant and determined detective. Actually, they all have secrets from their pasts that resulted in them being selected or recruited to Team 3. There are other teams who may be called in if Team 3 can’t contain the situation or if there needs to be clean up after Team 3 captures the book and shuts down the demon it contains.

The book consists of 16 Episodes which were apparently originally released in serial form. Combining them made this a bit long (at least for me) but I liked reading all of the adventures together. The episodes tell different assignment adventures running chronologically. There are four authors but the episodes flow well together. Although several of the monsters are very strange, there were only two episodes that I found really bizarre. One of those was a trip into a very strange ‘hellish’ realm.

I really liked the characters, whose traits, quirks and vulnerabilities are revealed though the assignments with each getting a time when their strengths are ‘showcased’. The interactions of the team add engagement beyond the monster fighting action. I found myself rooting for them to work things out together and to overcome the enemies within their own organization. This is a bit zany but a lot of fun. I recommend it to readers who like monster hunting adventures served up with humor.

I received this title through NetGalley. It qualifies for 2017 NetGalley Challenge, 2017 Mount TBR and “B” in Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Fake by Twist Phelan

This is a fast-paced, engaging thriller with an interesting female protagonist.
Fake
by Twist Phelan

File Size: 1479 KB
Print Length: 228 pages
Publisher: Virage Press (May 30, 2016)
ASIN: B01GEY1HGQ
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Finn Teller Corporate Spy Mystery #1
Have you ever thought about buying a counterfeit product? Maybe a watch or a handbag for fun? After you read FAKE, the first book in Twist Phelan's series featuring Finn Teller, corporate spy, you'll think again.
From Thriller Award-winning author Twist Phelan comes "a new and capable heroine you'll want to see again" (Jan Burke, Edgar® Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author). FAKE, the first book in Phelan's new series featuring corporate spy Finn Teller, shines a light on the netherworld of counterfeit goods.
An assignment with a Milan fashion house leads Finn to an undercover investigation of a train wreck in Croatia—scene of her most tragic professional mistake and home to terrorists still out for revenge. The hunter becomes the hunted and the stakes skyrocket as Finn must win a race against the clock to stop the spread of a deadly African pandemic and escape with her life. FAKE is a page-turning mystery that will keep you guessing up to the end.
"Full of character and good storytelling!" –Michael Connelly, Edgar® Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author

Review:
Finn, a corporate spy, is a tough cookie with some painful guilt baggage. She solves a case in a Milan fashion house which gets her assigned to investigate a train wreck in Croatia. She doesn’t want to return to Croatia which is the place of a mistake she feels she made a few years earlier. But her skills are needed, the client wants her specifically and the boss says “go”.

The train wreck is only part of the investigation as the real problem is that it was carrying a special antibiotic for an African plague. The pills on the train were discovered to be fake when found at the train wreck. Finn is interviewing and investigating both angles of the case but soon is dodging bullets. The attacks on her might be tied to her current investigation or might just as likely be tied to the case she feels she bungled. Either way, she needs to move quickly to save herself and try to help the victims of the plague. Can Finn expose the villains before they or the terrorists take her out?

This has a realistic plot and a fast action ride. I liked how the details were uncovered and the spurts of danger and race to escape made for page turning attention. Finn is a strong character with her own flaws and vulnerabilities. The author interspersed chapters describing the prior event that impacted Finn so hard and left her with enemies in the area. I appreciated that the book moved at a quick pace without compromising on the suspense.

This is the first story I have read by Ms. Phelan but I hope to read more. I may have to try the other series since it involves a female business lawyer. I do recommend this to readers who enjoy a good, fast-paced thriller.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for 2017 NetGalley Challenge and Mount TBR.

Book Review and Giveaway: Free Space by Sean Danker

This is not as intriguing as book one, but face-paced and enjoyable.

Free Space (Admiral)
by Sean Danker

File Size: 1537 KB
Print Length: 313 pages
Publisher: Ace (May 2, 2017)
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
ASIN: B01KGZVXC2
Genre: Sci Fi, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

In the follow-up to Admiral, the intergalactic war has ended and hostilities between the Evagardian Empire and the Commonwealth are officially over, but the admiral is far from safe. . . .
I’d impersonated a prince, temporarily stopped a war, escaped a deadly planet, and survived more assassination attempts than I could conveniently count. After all that, there shouldn’t have been anything simpler than a nice weekend with a charming Evagardian girl.
However, some corners of the galaxy aren’t as genteel as the Empire, and Evagardians aren’t universally loved, which is how I ended up kidnapped to be traded as a commodity.
Their timing couldn’t have been worse. I'm not at my best, but these people have no idea whom they're dealing with: a highly trained, genetically engineered soldier in the Imperial Service who happens to be my date.

Review:
The Admiral, an assassin and disguise expert, and Salmagard, a highly trained, genetically engineered soldier, saved each other in their first adventure. Now they are hoping to enjoy some ‘down’ time. Unfortunately, the Admiral is poisoned even before they meet for their date. And that’s just the beginning of their troubles.

They pick up a carrier to do some sightseeing and meet two Imperials, Sei and Diana, when they share the ride. The car is diverted and the four end up kidnapped. Admiral and Sei are separated to be traded while the women are retained for other uses. But their captors do not know what they’ve gotten themselves into as Salmagard and Diana will find a way to escape and go after their dates.

The Admiral and Sei are sold at auction and shipped off site. They awaken on a planet where the people are living in an old earth style community. It appears to be a religious cult led by a man who clearly, to the Admiral’s view, has nefarious plans. The Admiral doesn’t know how he is going to get himself out of this predicament.

This sequel to Admiral kicks off with a good hook and keeps on moving at a fast pace. The cult world is a bit strange and confusing but it provides a backdrop of thought as Salmagard begins to see that her strict training may not have provided all she needs to know of reality and politics. Neither side is full of all the “right” as clearly there are those who abuse power no matter what side they supposedly serve. And in the end, most will serve their own purposes rather than honor the loyalty that may have been expected.

The intrigue and mystery in this was not as intense as in book one. This fills out more of the backstory for the Admiral and Salmagard and I liked the new characters, Sei and Diana. Although this story is almost completely focused on the kidnapping and escape, I did enjoy the fast-paced action and the continued irreverent and pragmatic attitude the Admiral displays even when facing death…again. This made for a fast, fun read. The rather abrupt ending leaves an opening for new intrigue which I hope would be more apparent in the next book.

I received the title through NetGalley. It qualifies for 2017 NetGalley Challenge, Mount TBR and “F” in Alphabet Challenge.

GIVEAWAY:

One PRINT COPY from the publisher - US Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the Author's website and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) May 13, 2017. Winner will be announced in the Sunday Post on May 14, 2017.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Book Review: Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead by A.P. Martin

This is an engrossing, and thought provoking, story of espionage during WWII.
Codename Lazarus: The Spy Who Came Back From The Dead
by A.P. Martin

File Size: 982 KB
Print Length: 365 pages
Publisher: Troubador (July 15, 2016)
ASIN: B01IKY3UD6
Genre: Espionage, WWII
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Spring 1938 and Great Britain is facing potentially lethal threats: the looming war with Germany; the fear that her Secret Service has been penetrated by Nazi agents and the existence of hundreds of British citizens, who are keen to pass information to her enemies.
John King, a young academic, is approached by his Oxbridge mentor to participate in a stunning deception that would frustrate Britain’s enemies. As King struggles to come to terms with the demands of his mission, he must learn to survive in a dangerous and lonely ‘no man's land’, whilst remaining one step ahead of those in hot pursuit.
Adapted from a true story, ‘Codename Lazarus’ takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Hitler’s Germany, across the snowy peaks of Switzerland to the horrors of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz, before reaching a thrilling and decisive conclusion, from which none of those present emerges unscathed.

Review:
John King is a graduate student who is completing two years of research in Heidelberg, Germany. As he and friends gather to commemorate his last days in Germany in 1933, he is saddened that one of his best friends has joined the SS - the Schutzstaffel, paramilitary, surveillance forces under Hitler. His friend, Joachim Brandt, rejects John for socializing with other friends who are Jewish. Joachim becomes angry that John does not show proper deference or respect to Joachim’s new uniform and life choice. From this point on the lives of these young men are on different paths.

John helps two half-Jewish friends, Rachel and David, to leave Germany to find careers in Britain while being helped by John’s parents. He later finds their parents in need of rescue and tries to arrange to get them out of Germany to safety.

A few years after returning to Britain, John is asked to return to Germany under the guise of ‘security research’ interests, while observing what he can of German activities. This work expands as John is asked to fake his own death so that he can become an intelligence operative infiltrating the German intelligence network in Britain.

The story describes the covert training that John is given and the planning for his accidental death. It then moves to his experiences as he steps into the role of a German Abwehr agent leading several sympathizer cell groups. The story pace picks up in the last quarter. John’s former German friend, Brandt, who has been undercover in America, is reassigned to Britain. His activities set him on a collision course with John's world. David, the other friend whom John helped move to England, has become a cop tasked with investigating the meager leads to a cell leader known as “Lazarus”. David is pulled in to help find German infiltrators and his path weaves towards Brandt and John’s tense confrontation.

The history is interesting with strong detail of physical settings, as well as social and political sentiments. The author does a good job describing the devastation and fears, first at battle scenes at Dunkirk, and again during the German bombing of London and surrounding communities. The author also portrays the impressive strength and resilience of the British people. The detail makes this story very engaging, if a bit slower in pacing. There were a couple of awkward point of view shifts and stronger editing might have helped to move the story through better action. I was wrapped in the intense climax when the book abruptly ended, leaving me with several questions.

This is a worthwhile read, especially for history buffs interested in life-like details of the earlier years of WWII. I also found the portrayed thought processes of the German and Russian sympathizers interesting as it made me more aware how citizens could betray their country with justifications of different political ideologies, including fascism, communism and socialism.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for NetGalley Challenge, Mount TBR and “L” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Book Review: Ivy in Bloom: The Poetry of Spring... by Vanita Oelschlager

This is a lovely way to share classic poetry with children.
Ivy in Bloom:
The Poetry of Spring from Great Poets and Writers from the Past
by Vanita Oelschlager (Author),
Kristin Blackwood (Illustrator)

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Vanita Books (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0980016277
Genre: Children, Poetry
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Ivy In Bloom captures the weariness of a young girl tired of a long winter. ""I stare out the window,"" she says on the first spread of brown and gray, ""looking for birds or flowers / or even warm showers / but I don't see any such thing."" But then Spring comes when ""March is out of breath snow melting to flowery waters and watery flowers spring rose from its wintry rest."" And Ivy's ""heart dances with daffodils."" As these words also dance across each spread, Ivy's world erupts into a riot of color. Ivy In Bloom introduces the poetry of Dickinson, Longfellow, Browning, Wordsworth, Frost and others. Excerpts from their writings, as seen through Ivy's eyes, will open up poetry as a way for children to express their own feelings about the changing of seasons. This book includes longer excerpts and brief bios of each author.

Review:
This lovely story opens with Ivy inside a somber room, frustrated by the gray smudge of winter. She is looking forward to the colors of spring! She goes out on a cold, cloudy March day and sees the signs of winter still around her. She is even anxious for puddles and finally April comes and “Spring arose from its wintry rest.” Ivy's world comes alive with color.

Somehow I thought there would be poems shared with whimsy illustrations. Rather than full poems, and more appropriately for children, there are one or two lines or phrases enhanced with delightful illustrations. The lines are familiar and some I knew the poet. (Several of the poets are mentioned in the blurb.) Thankfully, at the back of the book the poems and poets are shared with the line from Ivy’s world highlighted. This makes the book a fun way to share classic poetry with younger children.

The fully illustrated pages are wonderful – not overly complex but full of energy and fitting to the text. Most of the poetry lines blend smoothly although one or two seemed a bit forced. Still, it is a delightful experience and learning tool. I look forward to sharing this with my granddaughters. I recommend this to others who would like to share the joy of poetry with children.

I think late winter and early spring is a good time to read this.
I received this from NetGalley. This qualifies for my NetGalley and Mount TBR Challenges as well as "I" for Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: Ashes by Steven Manchester

This is a fascinating view of family issues and, more importantly, life choices.
Ashes
by Steven Manchester

File Size: 5134 KB
Print Length: 272 pages
Publisher: Fiction Studio Books (February 21, 2017)
ASIN: B01NBWB1FT
Genre: Family Issues
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Please see the Book Feature and Giveaway Post for more information about the author and a chance to win this book.

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.
At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, ASHES puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.
GRAND PRIZE WINNER, 2017 LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL
WINNER, GENERAL FICTION, GREAT NORTHWEST BOOK FESTIVAL

Review:
Jason and Tom Prendergast are brothers who don’t see that they have much in common except an abusive father whom they both consider an SOB. Their father, who raised the boys, has died and left a letter for them that they can only claim if they join together to take his ashes across country. They must provide picture proof to the attorney to be entitled to open the letter. Both men are reluctant as they are middle aged men who have been estranged for years – once by a childhood betrayal which was compounded by an adult betrayal. Yet their curiosity compels them to proceed.

Jason is a tough prison guard who takes no guff from anyone. Tom is a college professor who appears to have a meek, passive-aggressive nature. Although neither brother is initially very likeable, the author uses the road trip to reveal the depths of the characters, their emotional barriers and vulnerabilities; their dreams and disappointments in life. The men have matured through different career paths but they discover that each has strengths the other doesn’t have and they have a common tie in their love and caring for their children.

Family drama is not my usual book selection. (As a former divorce attorney, I have seen my fair share of dysfunctional families.) I selected this story for review because I was curious to see how the author dealt with the theme. Kudos to Steven Manchester as he made this drama engaging and relatable.

I was impressed how Mr. Manchester slowly showed the brothers their common core and their unique strengths. I was fascinated by the many issues that were subtly addressed through the journey: police profiling, truckers, child custody, volunteering to help others, relational religion versus liturgical religion, the meaning of honor in life and the most important legacies of life.

There is a good bit of gritty language and a few crude scenes – both not my favorite reading. On the other hand, there is wonderful phrasing and an excellent portrayal of lives that may hit close to home for many. I’m not sure if it is too much of a spoiler but I feel compelled to share one lesson that I loved that was expressed in this story. The brothers discover, as they share their memories and current situations, that we make the choices how to live our lives despite our parents, spouses or careers. We can choose to do right or wrong and we can choose to be angry and bitter or move on and find our own happiness.

I like that the characters surprised me at times. The end of the journey and its aftermath have an emotional surprise and impact. I recommend this to readers who do enjoy family drama and especially to readers who might have estranged family members. This story provides a perspective that is worth reading.

I received this from the author and Providence Book Promotions in December 2016. It qualifies for 2017 NetGalley, Mount TBR and “A” in 2017 Alphabet Soup Challenges.

Another book I enjoyed by Mr. Manchester: The Thursday Night Club: A Tale of Christmas Spirit.