Book Review: Coiled by H. L. Burke

This is a wonderfully engaging fairy tale.
Coiled
by H. L. Burke

File Size: 4134 KB
Print Length: 235 pages
Publisher: Uncommon Universes Press LLC (June 15, 2017)
ASIN: B0713VTDB3
Genre: Adaptations, Fairy Tale, Retellings
My Rating: 4.75 0f 5.0

As the ugly twin to a perfect sister, Princess Laidra lives her life in the shadows—until her parents offer her as bait for a giant serpent.
Her escape attempt leaves her shipwrecked on a secluded island with only one inhabitant: Prince Calen, who lives under a curse. If anyone looks upon him, he turns into a giant serpent. Speaking to him in the darkness, Laidra sees past the monster to Calen’s lonely soul, and she determines to free him from the magic’s hold.
But if Laidra can’t break the curse in time, Calen will become a mindless creature of scales and fangs forever.
A YA mythology/romance that retells the myth of Eros and Psyche with adventure, magic, and true love.

Review:
Princess Laidra and her twin sister, Ellea, were cursed at birth. Ellea is beautiful but her beauty is enhanced by her acts of cruelty to others, such as crushing a small bird. Laidra has the gift of healing but with every healing touch she becomes uglier with moles and wiry hairs on her face and body.

Laidra’s mother insists she cover herself with a cloak and hood and forbades her from healing. But Laidra still helps the servants when they are ill or innocents who are injured. Since she knows she is already hideous she finds her worth in healing and helping others.

In another empire Prince Calen and his twin brother, Volen, suffer from a different curse. Volen becomes a monster serpent if he is left alone with no one to see him; Calen becomes the monster when anyone sees him. Their father chose to protect Volen by assigning him guards to be in his presence at all times while Calen was sent to a private island with a servant who is invisible and doesn’t trigger the curse.

Volen and the King think that perhaps the curse will be cured, or at least ‘fixed’ if Calen murders (eats a princess) or if Volen marries one. They have planned to take Laidra to abandon her to Calen or they will marry Volen to Ellea.

Laidra escapes and comes to Calen’s island where he rescues her from the waves. Now Calen and Laidra develop a friendship as they talk and share music together, but never look upon each other. Could either of them risk committing the other to a life long tie if the curse isn’t cured for either or both?

Meanwhile the man/god who started the curses is surprised by Laidra’s play in events. He wants to continue to punish his old enemies. But perhaps the other gods will step in to allow the young people to change their undeserved fates.

I really found this a charming fairytale. It is a story of evil intentions and good souls facing obstacles. There is sorrow, fear, character growth and love. The writing is clean and a good blend of description and character building although there were a few scenes that didn't seem to have complete follow through. I am not familiar with the Eros and Psyche mythology that this is based on so it does make me curious about that story. It also made this story 'new' to me. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good fairy tale with curses, magic and love.

I received this from NetGalley and it was the final read in my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: The Rancher's Christmas Song by RaeAnne Thayne

This is another charming Thayne Christmas romance.

The Rancher's Christmas Song 
(The Cowboys of Cold Creek)
by RaeAnne Thayne

File Size: 2274 KB
Print Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition (November 1, 2017)
ASIN: B06XZN6DLC
Genre: Clean, Holidays, Sweet Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Keep a song in your heart this holiday season…
Music teacher Ella Baker’s plate is already full. But when single dad Beckett McKinley’s wild twin boys need help preparing a Christmas song for their father, Ella agrees on one condition: they teach her to ride a horse. She’s hoping that’ll help mend her strained relationship with her rancher father; it certainly has nothing to do with the crush that’s lingered since her one and only date with Beck.
It isn’t disinterest spurring Beck to keep his distance—if anything, the spark is too strong, with Ella reminding him of his ex-wife. Soon what started as an innocent arrangement is beginning to feel a lot like family. But with the holidays approaching, Beck and Ella will have to overcome past hurts if they want to keep each other warm this Christmas…

Review:
Ella is a music teacher who spent summers on her father’s ranch before returning to the town as an adult to help care for him. She loved the ranch and would love the opportunity to learn and manage the business. Unfortunately, Ella had suffered a severe injury as a child on the ranch and her father can only view her as fragile and needing protection. He believes she will return to her mother’s big city environment as soon as she can. Meanwhile, the neighbors, particularly Beck, help run the ranch.

Beck and Ella are cautious of each other. Beck’s first wife was a city girl and could not manage ranch life, even leaving her twin boys behind when she left Beck. Beck isn’t ready to trust another city girl.

Beck’s twin seven-year-old boys are a handful as everyone, including Ella, knows. They ask to join the Christmas program and then ask a very special favor from Ella. As she directs the program and works closer with the boys, she begins to defend them and begins to warm up to their sometimes intimidating father.

I really liked the strong, sweet chemistry between Ella and Beck. Their growing attraction could certainly have benefitted from some open communication but that is part of the story conflict of course. This read quickly as, once again, Ms. Thayne delivers a heartwarming, clean romance that is a delight to read at holiday time or anytime. I do recommend Ms. Thayne’s books to romance readers who enjoy clean, wholesome and heartwarming stories.

This is another Christmas read from NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Sugar Pine Trail: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point) by RaeAnne Thayne

This has fun characters and a fun romance.
Sugar Pine Trail: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne

File Size: 3039 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (October 1, 2017)
ASIN: B071CJZ1H6
Genre: Clean, Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

An unlikely attraction brings comfort, joy and unforgettable romance this holiday season!
Librarian Julia Winston is ready to ditch the quiet existence she's been living. She's made a list of new things to experience, but falling for Jamie Caine, her sexy military pilot neighbor, isn't one of them. Julia's looking to conquer life, not become the heartbreaker's latest conquest. But when two young brothers wind up in Julia's care for the holidays, she'll take any help she can get—even Jamie's.
Happy to step in, Jamie reveals a side of himself that's much harder to resist. Not only is he fantastic with kids, he provides the strength Julia needs to tackle her list. She knows their temporary family can't last beyond the holidays, but the closer she gets to Jamie, the more she wonders if things could be this merry and bright forever…

Review:
Julia appears to be a quiet and seemingly unexceptional young woman (by her own assessment). She is a caring and conscientious librarian and a good friend. She has agreed to help a friend by allowing her brother, Jamie, to rent an upstairs apartment in the big family home she has inherited.

Jamie is a sexy pilot who turns the heads of most women in town. Jamie tends to foster carefree relationships. He has a past experience that caused him to believe he doesn’t deserve to have a true relationship with any ‘good’ woman. Julia tries to be immune especially since she doesn’t want to be heartbroken as his next conquest.

Julia finds two young boys in the children’s section of the library. She sees them there several days and makes friends by sharing her lunch with them. One day she insists on taking them home in the cold weather and learns that they are living alone. Julia ends up fostering the two boys and is glad when Jamie steps in to help.

The boys, Julia and Jamie become close during the Thanksgiving and days leading up to Christmas. Jamie begins to see the beauty under Julia’s quiet exterior. When he accidently finds her ‘bucket list’ he decides to help her fulfill some of those dreams. Julia sees a caring, family side of Jamie and wonders if maybe there could be ‘kisses under the mistletoe’ like she put on her list.

Ms. Thayne has the ability to create real characters and carry them through warm, and sometimes obstacle ridden, scenarios. I enjoyed the push and pull between Julia and Jamie which was set off nicely with the addition of handling two young, frightened but adventurous boys. Both characters have a certain fragility to get beyond if they want to find a happy Christmas together.

I enjoy Ms. Thayne’s writing which makes for warm and easy reading. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet to sensual, small town romance.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Gift From The Stars by James Gunn

This is interesting, hard science fiction with the requisite element of irony.

Gift From The Stars
by James Gunn

File Size: 903 KB
Print Length: 154 pages
Publisher: Reputation Books (December 30, 2013)
ASIN: B00FM2RFM2
Genre: Hard Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The age-old question about alien existence and human contact is explored in a new way in this collection of six novellas, previously anthologized in ANOLOG magazine. When disillusioned aerospace engineer Adrian Mast buys a book at a remainder sale, the last things he expects to find in its appendix are alien spacecraft designs. With the help of the bookstore owner, Adrian tracks down the author—only to find him in a mental institution anguishing over the intentions of the aliens who sent the designs to him. By bluffing a bureaucrat intent on thwarting their progress, the two friends continue their quest for the stars and go ahead with the spacecraft designs. Having successfully launched their ship 15 years later, the questions that remain are: What were the intentions of the aliens? and Is mankind ready to face what's out there?

Review:
This is an interesting look at man’s quest to reach and explore the stars. It did not strike me as six novellas but as a continuing work.

Adrian Mast is a disillusioned aerospace engineer who left his ‘going nowhere’ job and opened his own consulting business. He comes upon a strange book at a local bookstore he likes to browse. The title is “Gift From the Stars” and in the appendix are what Adrian believes to be viable spacecraft designs. He questions the bookstore owner, Frances, about the author and publisher and her research reveals more mystery.

Adrian and Frances set off to find the author whom they locate in a mental institute. Peter is brilliant but paranoid as a result of his view of the alien ‘gift. Adrian and Frances trick a government bureaucrat into pursing the ‘alien’ plans for a remarkable energy source. The result ushers in a worldwide era of peace with free energy. From there, Adrian and Frances, joined by a young woman who was sent as a spy but becomes caught up in their quest, continue the goal of building the spaceship. They pull together a small team who build the ship and head into space. Although they hope to find the aliens they think invited them through the gift, they are a little surprised when they discover that Peter has programmed the computer to take the ship on the alien path. Along the way they are caught in a wormhole time warp which they have to escape. When they arrive to the apparent destination, there are many other ships, but no welcoming committee. Again they must explore to uncover the puzzles of the mysterious planet.

The story is engaging although a bit strange. It has a certain believability and kept my interest. The ending might be considered a bit of a letdown but it seemed an appropriate ‘landing’ for the author’s apparent purpose. The author manages to present differing views of man’s fear and boldness when faced with the possibilities of exploring space. Through the adventure there are different reactions, reluctance and dreams. I felt the ending left me, the reader, contemplating my feelings about the opportunities and experience of space exploration. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy hard science fiction with an appropriate amount of irony and humor.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley and Alphabet Soup Challenges.

Book Review: Welcome to Outcast Station by Jeanne Adams, Nancy Northcott

I enjoyed the characters and stories in this mystery pair.
Welcome to Outcast Station
by Jeanne Adams,‎ Nancy Northcott

File Size: 1094 KB
Print Length: 312 pages
Publisher: Rickety Bookshelf Press (August 31, 2017)
ASIN: B072M8D373
Genre: Colonization, Mystery, Sci Fi, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Welcome to Outcast Station
Even outcasts deserve a shot at redemption.
~
The Accidental Plague by Jeanne Adams
Outcast Station is a backwater, but for BVax Scientist Ravinisha Trentham, any posting is better than washing dishes. Ravi is top in her graduation class, but only Outcast would hire a McKeonite. Someone on the station wants her dead, but when a plague breaks out, Ravi may be their only hope. If the murderer gets to her first, everyone will die.
The New Badge by Nancy Northcott
Deputy Marshal Hank Tremaine crosses the wrong person and lands at Outcast Station, the armpit of Terran space. His hostile boss promptly assigns him to a backcountry murder. Solving it will help redeem his reputation and get him posted somewhere more civilized. But failing to find the killer will bury his career once and for all.

Review:
These are two distinct stories set in a edge of space station that is looked upon as an outpost for the castoffs of employees. If you aren’t considered good enough, come from the wrong class or wrong people, or maybe have messed up on a prior assignment then this is the place you are likely to be sent.

In The Accidental Plague, the protagonist, Ravinisha, is a top of her class scientist who can’t get hired due to prejudice against her planet race. Fortunately, there are several officers at Outcast Station who look beyond the past and see her strong potential. The scientist whom she will follow gives Ravinisha the first warm welcome she has had in her young life. He shows her the ropes and even takes her sightseeing a bit. Ravinisha is also welcomed and accepted by the Station enforcement officers and several others.

But there are those who want her gone enough to vandalize her room and threaten her. There is also a sly offer made to cut her in on a smuggling ring. Ravinisha is coping with these issues when a feverish and deadly epidemic strikes across the station. Can Ravinisha find a cure before the station becomes a floating tomb?

I really enjoyed these characters and became invested in their well-being. There are small clues to pick up on the mystery which was nicely plotted and presented. I would love to read more about Ravinisha and her friends on Outpost Station.

The New Badge brings a new enforcement officer into town as a punishment from a boss with whom he conflicted. Deputy Marshal Hank Tremaine is actually a properly detailed investigator, but his forthright approach isn’t appreciated by everyone. He is assigned to a murder case in an outlaying area and it seems clear his new boss is going to make Hank’s redemption difficult.

Hank is determined to perform his job with precision, but he encounters obstacles in the form of sloppy work from his co-workers with discrepancies and deficiencies in the evidence. Next thing Hank knows his shuttle vehicle is sabotaged and he and a local officer are lucky to survive the crash. When Hank recovers from his injuries the chief hands him a wrapped-up case with an arrest based on witness testimony.

Hank and the locals are sure that the arrested suspect is innocent, and it sure looks like someone wants to close the case before Hank can uncover anything more. He is caught in a hard place because he will have to disobey his chief (and risk getting a better job posting) if he continues to pursue the investigation. Too bad it just isn’t his nature to walk away when the facts don’t add up.

I liked Hank’s character and enjoyed this mystery investigation. He really had to work around ineffective staff and corruption to solve the case. I would like to read more by this author too.

I was a little disappointed that the characters of the stories didn’t overlap. Still I was engaged by both stories. I recommend this to mystery and sci fi fans.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and was part of my November Sci Fi Month.

Book Review: Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train by Kevin Hearne

This is a very fun quick mystery story.

Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train
by Kevin Hearne

File Size: 560 KB
Print Length: 120 pages
Publisher: Subterranean Press (November 30, 2017)
ASIN: B076JB7YKH
Genre: Animals, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Oberon the Irish wolfhound is off to Portland to smell all the things with canine companions, and, of course, his human, ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan. The first complication is an wolfhound Orlaith and Boston terrier Starbuck unmistakable sign of sinister agendas afoot: a squirrel atop the train. But an even more ominous situation is in store when the trio plus Atticus stumble across a murder upon arrival at the station. They recognize Detective Gabriela Ibarra, who’s there to investigate. But they also recognize the body—or rather that the body is a doppelganger for Atticus himself. The police, hampered by human senses of smell and a decided lack of canine intuition, obviously can’t handle this alone. Not with Atticus likely in danger. Oberon knows it’s time to investigate once more—for justice! For gravy! And possibly greasy tacos!
Alongside his faithful Druid, Oberon and the other loyal hounds navigate by nose through Portland to find a bear-shifter friend with intel, delicious clues at the victim’s home, and more squirrels. Always more squirrels!
But will our hungry band of heroes be able to identify the culprit before someone else is murdered? Will there be mystery meat in gravy as a reward or tragedy in store for the world’s (or at least the Pacific Northwest’s) greatest dog detective?
Like its predecessor The Purloined Poodle, the latest of Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries, The Squirrel on the Train, is not to be missed by fans of Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.

Review:
This is a fun, easy adventure with Oberon, the Irish wolfhound who keeps company with Iron Druid, Atticus. Atticus is taking Oberon and his friends, wolfhound Orlaith and Boston terrier Starbuck, on the train to Portland where they can have a run. Initially the dogs are distressed because there is a squirrel on the train. The dogs are convinced that all squirrels have an evil plan against dogs and humans.

They all get distracted when they get to the station and find a body that looks an awful lot like Atticus. Detective Gabriela Ibarra, who has worked with Atticus before, is there to investigate. Since Atticus isn’t official to help, he and the dogs join in unofficially with the dogs using their noses to hunt down clues.

The story is told from Oberon’s doggy brain, acknowledging that he doesn’t understand time where 10 minutes might be 10 hours or years for all the dog knows. And of course they get distracted by food, not to mention the squirrels.

This made me want to pick up the series where I left off (at Book 5). If you have never read this series I recommend it for fun and excitement. This is just a short side story but could be read to get a feel for the characters and a taste of the author’s writing. It should give a reason to smile.

I received this from NetGalley. This qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Always Gray in Winter by Mark J. Engels

This is a fun action tale.

Always Gray In Winter
by Mark J. Engels

File Size: 723 KB
Print Length: 219 pages
Publisher: Thurston Howl Publications (October 1, 2017)
ASIN: B0763ZP2R7
Genre: Military Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

A distant daughter. A peculiar device. A family lineage full of secrets. When werecat Pawlina Katczynski finally resurfaces, her location previously unknown to anyone close to her, the reunion is short of welcomed. Instead, she finds herself thrust tooth and nail—tooth and claw—into a feud between opposing werecat clans as her family and their enemies reignite a battle that has raged for years. Always Gray in Winter invites the reader to join the feud and see if blood is truly thicker than water...

Review:
Werecat Pawlina and friends had left the service after a disastrous ambush. Lenny, her romantic interest, was traumatized by the brutal, strange attack. He isn’t aware of Pawly’s secret. Pawly was sure that she would bring more trouble on family and friends so to protect them, she took off on her own and went under the radar. She resurfaces in a battle with another young woman whose speed and agility surprise even Pawly. Several friends and her brother show up and kidnap her to get her home.

Meanwhile, her opponent, Hana, returns to her handler/”Papa”, Mawro, on ship. They are out to capture a mysterious invention that has been designed to help others of their kind – humans who appear as werecats in their aliuran form.

Pawly and her family travel to Europe to rescue their inventor relative when they hear about the attack on him. Along the way they run into two government agents, one of whom is Lenny. He is shocked and dismayed to finally see Pawly again.

Pawly’s Polish clan and Mawro’s North Korean clan clash and face off on opposite sides while trying to keep their presence a secret from the humans. They do have a few friends who have become family or work allies who help to keep the secrets.

I enjoyed the characters and the fast-paced action with fights and near escapes. There are some political and strong military elements. The story moves along well although the differences are not made totally clear. The author uses flashbacks to show the history of the two families but I still had some confusion as to the motivations.

I often listen to ebooks on my 2nd generation Kindle. The difficulty I had in this read is that there is no noticeable break between scenes. I checked the sample available at Amazon and it shows a space between the scenes. This is only reflected as a paragraph symbol for the version I read.

This did remind me of an anime, which was the intent of the author. I recommend this as a fun read to readers who like anthromorphic action sci fi.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge. I read this during #hohohorat and also for #RRSciFiMonth.

Book Review: The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

This is a nice small town, family and romance story.

The Christmas Room
by Catherine Anderson

File Size: 1377 KB
Print Length: 428 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399586318
Publisher: Berkley (September 26, 2017)
ASIN: B01NAU2NLU
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Second Chance Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The beloved author of the Mystic Creek series gifts readers with a novel of homespun holiday cheer, as two families discover the joy of hope and redemption....
Widow Maddie McLendon has uprooted her life to move to Rustlers Gulch with her son and grandson. But as a brutal Montana winter looms on the horizon, contractors have yet to break ground on their new house, leaving them to live in a makeshift camp of trailers, tents, and sheds....
Since his wife died six years ago, millionaire rancher Sam Conacher has been content to wallow in his grief alone while keeping a tight rein on his twenty-six-year-old daughter. But now the girl has gone and fallen in love with his foolish new neighbor’s no-good son....
Maddie and Sam will never see eye to eye on anything, until a near-tragedy gives them a true glimpse into each other’s souls. And as the first snowflakes begin to fall, they’ll discover that an open heart is the biggest gift of all....

Review:
Maddie, a famous mystery author, her thirty-five year old son, Cam, and sixteen year old grandson, Caleb, are living in a motor trailer and a ‘camp’ of sheds and tents while they wait for their homes to be built on their property. Their grouchy neighbor, Sam Conacher, has nothing but abusive comments to make about the ‘trashy’ neighbors. Then again, Sam hasn’t had much good to say about anything or anyone since his wife died several years past. He has ostracized friends and employees so that he no longer has enough help to properly manage his ranch. Sam’s twenty-six year old daughter, Kristin, helps to manage the farm, and she is stuck close to home as Sam frightens away any possible suitor by shredding the reputation of the man.

Kristin sees Cam at a local pub and invites him to sit with her. They start a nice rapport before Cam realizes who she is. Cam is trying to build a new real estate business in the area and his career and family are at risk. Cam tries to step away but the draw between Kristin and Cam keeps pulling them together.

When Sam learns that Kristin has been sneaky out to see the 'hillbilly', no good neighbor, Sam arrives at the trailer to confront Cam. Instead he ends up facing a fierce mother, Maddie, who isn't about to let a narrow minder, curmudgeon speak badly of her family. Their next encounters don’t go much better. It takes a rescue and accident to change the dynamics but that doesn’t mean things will run smooth.

There is plenty of conflict balance with nice, warm family connection. I was saddened by the long train of deception that was practiced in a misguided sense of care. On the other hand, I appreciated the turn around that moves those who suffered loss to a point where they could trust and love again. The Christmas Room itself was a lovely surprise and brought the story to a warm conclusion. There is a gentle measure of faith and a big dose of love that pulls the characters together. This was a nice flowing romance and the second romance is a bonus. I recommend this to readers who enjoy second chance at love romances.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig

I did enjoy this complex, Christian military suspense

Crown of Souls
by Ronie Kendig

File Size: 8885 KB
Print Length: 482 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 5, 2017)
ASIN: B071NJBKFZ
Genre: Christian, Military, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

"Kendig has out done herself."--RT Book Reviews on Conspiracy of Silence
Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator.
Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier.
Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.

Review:
Cole’s nickname is “Tox”, short for Toxic, because of his past. Even though he has proven himself in his successful service to his country, there are memories that he hasn’t let go. His name has been cleared of an accusation, but that doesn’t help a lot since the public, including his parents, believe he is dead. He continues to operate with a special ops team under instructions of selected superiors.

The team is enjoying some down time and Tox is spending time with Haven, a woman who loves him and brings light to his life. He doesn’t feel worthy of her and thinks she will hate him if she ever finds out about his past secrets. A sniper shot takes Tox in the shoulder and at first it isn’t clear if the shot was meant for him or Haven. The investigation reveals that the bullet was a message from an old friend and prior team member, Alec.

Soon they discover that Alec has gone rogue and is on a vendetta to destroy men who were enemies of the state and those who obstructed their capture in the past. Further investigation shows that it is not just Alec having gone off the deep end, but apparently he is using an ancient relic, a crown, that is corrupting his mind. The team must find a way to stop Alec before he kills those Tox loves, and many more. Just as importantly, they must get control of the crown so it doesn’t fall into the hands of anyone else.

Ms. Kendig creates a rather involved, complex plot that moves from present day danger to the legend of the crown in ancient, 1170AD Syria. The first jump back in time was a bit confusing but then it became apparent that the author was establishing the history of the crown and the Christian Knight whose mission was to retrieve it. I enjoyed the history and it added to the mystery to be unraveled by Tox and his team.

One problem I had was the author’s inconsistency in us of character names. In one paragraph Tox might be referred to as Tox, Cole and/or Russell. There were other characters where this occurred too and it was confusing to follow especially since I was letting Kindle read to me.

I found the mystical legend to be an interesting vehicle from a Christian author. I am not totally settled on how I feel about the supernatural elements in the story. I have the sense that reading the earlier book in the series may have made this a little easier to follow. Still, I like Ms. Kendig’s strong, intense writing style. I enjoyed the comradery and loyalty of the team, the tension in the romance and the danger and suspense of the plot. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy military suspense with romantic and supernatural elements.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

I was drawn by the cover (note the cat too) and enjoyed this sweet, fun cozy mystery.
Twelve Slays of Christmas: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery

by Jacqueline Frost

File Size: 2061 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2017)
ASIN: B06XWDL7YW
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

When Holly White’s fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime—exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly’s family tree farm.
When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly’s father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn’t help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn't watch out, she'll end up on Santa's naughty list in Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s jolly series debut.

Review:
Holly has returned home after her fiancé broke up shortly before their Christmas Eve wedding. Her spirits begin to rise as she helps out on her parents’ tree farm, Reindeer Games, and in their historic small-town, Mistletoe, Maine. Tourists are already gathering as the farm prepares for one of its biggest events, the annual Twelve Days of Reindeer Games. Unfortunately, the town’s grouchy Historical Society president and enforcer, Margaret Fenwick, is found dead in a sleigh at the gates of the farm, closing it before the event can open.

Sheriff Evan Grey is quick to look at Holly’s father and the Reindeer Games staff because of the location and murder weapon. Holly knows it couldn’t be her father and is pretty certain it isn’t anyone else on staff. She has to hunt up alternate suspects quickly so the Sheriff will reopen the farm.

As Holly makes inquiries around town she learns that Margaret had been issuing tough restrictions to many folks so there are quite a few people who might have been angry with her. Sheriff Evan warns Holly to stop especially when someone starts issuing warnings to Holly. The first warning is disturbing but then the threats escalate. But Holly is onto a solid trail if she can only figure out where it leads before the murderer sneaks back to keep her quiet.

I liked Holly and Evan right away. Their dialog is “peppered” with bad metaphors and challenging banter. Neither is rushing into any feelings but it is nice as his protective instincts, and her sense of security, grow. There are plenty of quirky characters to join in the holiday activities, including Holly’s aloof cat, Cindy Lou Who, and another cat that joins the group mid-story. The setting has the touch of Christmas Magic and the mystery moves along with light relief in between the threats and clues until the climactic scene when the murderer is revealed.

I enjoyed the fun characters, light romance, and easy read. This reminded me of the Hallmark Christmas Movies. :-) I recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, Christmas (and cats). I’ll look forward to reading more about Holly, Evan and Mistletoe.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It adds to my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book 2) by Katie Ruggle

I like this author for fast-paced action, sweet romance between likeable characters – and canine characters too.
On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book 2)
by Katie Ruggle

File Size: 2103 KB
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 5, 2017)
ASIN: B01ND1K3M6
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Small Town
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

An Amazon Best Book of the Month
“Vivid and charming.”—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series
Injured in the line of duty,
His orders are simple:
Stay alive.
But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe.
The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new life. There she becomes Grace, a dog kennel employee desperately trying to avoid attention—especially from dangerously attractive K9 Officer Hugh Murdoch.
Because Hugh is tall, dark…and nothing but trouble.
Hugh is anxious to get back in the field after an act of heroism left him warming the bench.
Until then, he and his K9 partner Lexi spend their hours teasing the town’s mysterious newcomer. But when their simmering attraction is nearly cut short by a sniper’s bullet, Hugh’s mystery woman must come clean about the secrets she keeps…
Or both of them will pay the price.

Review:
Kaylee is attending a socialite dinner with her almost “Disney Prince” boyfriend when a wrong turn has her uncovering a crime situation. She manages to escape the last-minute grab of the dinner host but is afraid to go home. A friend helps her get out of town, hidden in the small town of Monroe, CO, where she is known as Grace and must find any job to make a living.

Hugh has been injured and is supposed to be recovering and staying out of the field. But ‘cop mode’ runs in Hugh’s blood and he has a hard time sitting home, even under orders that he is not allowed on scene or at the station. Hugh is really stressed since the force is trying to catch a drug smuggler who keeps sliding through his small town of Monroe.

Hugh meets Grace and, besides being stunned by her good likes, he is immediately suspicious and tries digging for the truth. Grace tries to avoid Hugh but they are like magnets drawing together. After several near-death events, Grace reveals her past thinking that the dangerous bad guy has found her. Hugh still thinks the attempts are against him, not her, but he isn’t about to let her problem rest either.

I liked Kaylee/Grace and Hugh right away. The beginning is fun and quickly moves into high adrenaline action. The story has some crazy moments and there are character actions that caused the reaction “what are you thinking?”. I like the other officers, including the canine characters. The ending seemed a little rushed and I would’ve liked a little more detail on the bad guy’s activities. Also, there were a few incidents of unnecessary (IMHO) ugly language. Still, all in all, I completely enjoyed the fast-paced story and strong romantic chemistry without overdone sexual aspects.

I am always comfortable picking up a Katie Ruggle title as I am confident I will get a good story that includes danger, action and sweet romance. I may have to go back and read the other stories in this series so I don’t miss anything. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy a good romantic suspense that is full on action and nice romance.

This type of phrasing (location 2899) had me chuckling:

“In fact, the love semitruck was tumbling down the mountainside at high speed with no brakes, about to run her over, flatten her on the pavement and leave its Hugh-shaped tire tracks all over her heart.”

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Star Hero: A Star Series Novella by Susan Grant

This is a fast, sexy read.

Star Hero: A Star Series Novella
by Susan Grant

File Size: 2459 KB
Print Length: 124 pages
Publisher: Susan Grant (September 7, 2017)
ASIN: B074TRBZSY
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi, Space Marine
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

First he had to rescue her. Then he'd try to win her back.
A Marine serving in the galactic frontier, Lieutenant Lukas Frank has a lot in common with a street dog named Bang-Bang; they both started off as scrappy orphans fighting to survive--and beat the odds. Things change when Bang-Bang leads Lukas to starpilot Captain Carlynn Riga. The tough war hero learns what it means to surrender--his heart. Lukas's struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, threaten to tear the three of them apart, but nothing threatens them more than when Carlynn goes missing in action. Now the rugged, emotionally scarred Marine and his K-9 partner must find Carlynn and bring her home, or risk losing everything he has finally found worth fighting for.
(Expanded from the novella "Stray", originally published in the Pets in Space 1 Anthology)

Review:
Lieutenant Lukas Frank is deemed a hero although he feels he let many die when a space station exploded around him. His new assignment has brought him to a rough planet where he quickly adopts an orphaned street dog he names Bang-Bang. Bang- Bang is actually an intelligent species with the capacity to learn words, loyalty and use other skills to help his human. Bang-Bang lead Lukas to starpilot Carlynn and their lives are changed forever.

The relationship between Lukas and Carlynn is warm and immediate. But Lukas still suffers from flashbacks which he refuses to discuss. Carlynn is frustrated and decides that taken an assignment of planet might push him to open up. The botanical trip she pilots is supposed to be uneventful. Unfortunately, the initial intel on the planet failed to learn about all the predators. When Carlynn’s ship goes missing, Lukas knows he has to rescue her… and rescue himself.

The characters are wonderfully likeable, including Bang-Bang. There is a nice plot for the novella which kept my attention. The romance is hotter and the language is bolder than I like but I was glad that it was an addition to the storyline and not the sole purpose. I would read more in the series if it wasn’t quite so steamy and brash.

The writing is nicely done and I enjoyed the characters, the world building, even though brief, and the danger. I recommend this to readers who enjoy space military with language and romance that is on the steamy side.

I received this through NetGalley and it adds to my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson

This is an engaging fantasy with strong history and clockwork elements.
The Clockwork Dynasty
by Daniel H. Wilson

File Size: 3835 KB
Print Length: 322 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (August 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01LXFO711
Genre: Clockwork, Fantasy, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

An ingenious new thriller that weaves a path through history, following a race of human-like machines that have been hiding among us for untold centuries, written by the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse.
Present day: When a uncovers a terrible secret concealed in the workings of a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll, she is thrown into a hidden world that lurks just under the surface of our own. With her career and her life at stake, June Stefanov will ally with a remarkable traveler who young anthropologist specializing in ancient technology exposes her to a reality she never imagined, as they embark on an around-the-world adventure and discover breathtaking secrets of the past…
Russia, 1725: In the depths of the Kremlin, the tsar’s loyal mechanician brings to life two astonishingly humanlike mechanical beings. Peter and Elena are a brother and sister fallen out of time, possessed with uncanny power, and destined to serve great empires. Struggling to blend into pre-Victorian society, they are pulled into a legendary war that has raged for centuries.
The Clockwork Dynasty seamlessly interweaves past and present, exploring a race of beings designed to live by ironclad principles, yet constantly searching for meaning. As June plunges deeper into their world, her choices will ultimately determine their survival or extermination. Richly-imagined and heart-pounding, Daniel H. Wilson’s novel expertly draws on his robotics and science background, combining exquisitely drawn characters with visionary technology—and riveting action.

Review:
June learned to love old trinkets from her grandfather. He had a special relic that she inherited upon his death. Now June is an anthropologist specializing in ancient technology and making old clockwork pieces work. Her services have been funded by a special company but each time she reaches a new destination it appears that someone has been one step ahead, taking the relics and sometimes destroying the evidence.

The most recent stop at an ancient monastery reveals a beautiful clockwork doll. It is missing its innards but June is able to jerry rig power to get it operating long enough to write a secret message before the building begins to collapse around them. Suddenly her guide announces that her funding has been withdrawn and her job is over.

Soon the guide and June are facing attack by a dark man with super human strength. June tries to escape but it doesn’t look good. Then another super human man steps in between. June isn’t sure if he is trying to save her or also trying to take her family relic.

The current day events alternate with events from history beginning in 1709 and moving forward. These chapters introduce and follow a clockwork man, Peter, and his child-like beautiful ‘sister, Elena.’ Peter and Elena were created for a specific purpose and centered with an internal “word” that shapes their actions. Peter seeks Justice in all things while Elena pursues logic. Although they have a close relationship it is strained by their different goals.

I really enjoyed the automated characters, particularly Peter who shares the story lead with June. The history detail that is shared is fascinating. Parts of the story were a tad slow but these are offset by good action and intrigue. There is a dark tone and images that brought thoughts of the Terminator.

The plotline runs with a metaphysical twist as it moves to a tense and explosive climax. I thought the writing was crisp and the story creative. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clockwork or cyborg stories with great historic detailing.

I received this from NetGalley and it adds to my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear, Illustrator Esme Shapiro

This sweet story, with lovely illustrations, delivers a nice message of friendship.
Yak and Dove
by Kyo Maclear (Author), Esme Shapiro (Illustrator)

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover: 56 pages
Publisher: Tundra Books; Ill edition (September 19, 2017)
ISBN-10: 1770494944
Genre: Animals, Children, Friends
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Sometimes the unlikeliest friends form the greatest friendships. A funny, charming picture book from a dynamic duo.
Friends Yak and Dove are complete opposites. Yak is large and Dove is small. Yak has fur and Dove has feathers. Yak is polite. Dove is ill-mannered. Yak likes quiet. Dove likes noise. One day as Yak and Dove list their differences they come to the conclusion that maybe they aren't meant to be friends. In the hope of finding a new best friend, Yak holds auditions. But when a small feathered contestant sings Yak's favorite song, the two begin to think that maybe they are alike after all . . .
Yak and Dove whimsically captures the highs and lows of friendship through the three interconnected tales of two very different friends.

Review:
Yak and Dove are close friends in spite of their many differences. Yak is big, furry and polite. Dove is small, feathered and abrupt to the edge of rudeness. The pair see twins and wonder what it would be like to be so close and connected. Suddenly they are challenging their own friendship and decide they are not well suited as friends after all. Marmot helps Yak audition for new friends but in the end Yak and Dove remember all they share and care about. This portion of the book is fun, the message meaningful and the illustrations are full and lovely.

The book then becomes confusing as it moves to what seemed to me to be unrelated, and disjointed additional stories. At that point it lost my attention as well as the attention of my four year old granddaughter. The book would have been better without the strange jump and could have been shortened which would fit the intended audience even better. I can recommend the first portion of the book but am sorry I was lost on the remainder.

I received the ebook through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley challenge.

Book Review: Resurrection America by Jeff Gunhus

This is a tense, engaging post-apocalyptic thriller.

Resurrection America

by Jeff Gunhus

File Size: 4240 KB

Print Length: 374 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0998217719

Publisher: Seven Guns Press (June 5, 2017)

ASIN: B06ZYTZYSC

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

USA TODAY bestselling author Jeff Gunhus. 

In the near-future, the world order has deteriorated after America's exhaustion from endless foreign wars causes her to pull back within her borders. Her enemies and allies alike pursue their own interests, grabbing resources, erecting trade barriers, and launching opportunistic wars. The American Century is a distant memory.

Sheriff Rick Johnson thinks he's left behind the problems of the greater world, retiring from the Marines to become the sheriff of the little town of Resurrection, Colorado. His relationship with Dahlia, his childhood friend's widow, has given him new purpose, along with the responsibility of being a father-figure to her young son. Life isn't perfect, but it's better than he ever expected it would be after seeing the horrors of war. But when helicopters and armored vehicles filled with soldiers in hazmat suits unexpectedly quarantine the town, Sheriff Rick Johnson feels like the nightmares of the outside world have followed him home.

While the town follows martial law, Rick isn't buying the official version of events from the military that a virus has been released into the air. As he investigates, the cover story unravels and he discovers the military's presence and the salvation they offer isn't what it seems. Soon he and his ex-flame, scientist Cassie Baker, are entangled in a plot so evil that it could only be bourn from the absolute extremes of nationalism and madness.

There are men in Resurrection who are willing to do anything to see America restored to her former greatness, even if the rest of the world must be destroyed to make it happen. But Rick Johnson is a man willing to do anything to protect the people he loves. And he's a force to be reckoned with.

Review:
Rick is a former marine who has settled as Sheriff in the small town of Resurrection, Colorado. He suffered enough in war and his is glad to have an easy-going job and hopeful of building a relationship with an old friend’s widow, Dahlia, and her young son, Charlie. When Rick gets a strange radio call from his deputy which is cut off, he heads up the old mine road to check on him. Instead of finding his deputy, Rick finds a large fence closing off the mine and a man, Keffer, who offers him $10,000.00 to keep quiet for three days. Rick isn’t interested in the bribe but is willing to stay quiet for the extra millions the man assures will be forthcoming to the town from the secret entity that is reopening the mine with robotic assistance.

The town is hosting thousands of visitors to a festival that weekend when an alarm sounds, a helicopter hoovers overhead, tanks appear in the streets and snipers appear with guns aimed at the crowd. A warning issues from the loud speakers that the town has been exposed to radiation but that the men are there to issue a live-saving inoculation. No one understands what is happening and Rick really doesn’t believe the story, especially when he sees and hears actions inconsistent with Keefer’s explanation.

Rick tries to challenge Keefer, but even his friends think he has had a PTSD episode and is delusional. Getting locked in his own jail cells with his ex-wife, a biochemist from the company that previously worked the mine, is the only thing that might give them a chance to save Dahlia, Charlie, the community and visitors. Keefer’s proclaimed goals are to save America and restore her position as a superpower. Sadly, the extent of his plan moves into madness and extremism.

This is a rather scary scenario and gets more alarming as the secret lab and the expected use of the captured citizens is revealed. One can hope that the science is only fiction although somehow I think the possibility might exist in the future. A few scenes do stretch believability but that’s why they call it “fiction”. That didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the fast moving, suspenseful plot. The primary characters are well developed and I liked the relationship between Rick and those he loves. There is good action and an ironic twist at the end. I recommend this to readers who like apocalyptic tales that have a different storyline.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll

I enjoyed this action story with Christian and Native American spirit elements.
Weaver's Needle
by Robin Caroll

File Size: 1568 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 163409994X
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (June 1, 2017)
ASIN: B01MZGB73X
Genre: Christian, Mystery. Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Two recovery specialists.
One murder.
A hunt for the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine becomes a race of survival.
Former Army MP Landry Parker fell into the recovery specialist role quite by accident—to help her ailing father. Now that she’s on her own, she is determined to prove herself and honor her family legacy.
After being shot in the line of duty, former police officer Nickolai Baptiste became a recovery specialist, and he’s good at his job—maybe even the best.
A potential client pits Landry and Nickolai against one another to find the Dutchman’s Lost Gold Mine map that was stolen from her murdered husband, and the potential payday is too enticing to pass up. The trail takes them from New Orleans to Weaver’s Needle in Arizona where legend claims the mine is hidden. Landry and Nickolai are no strangers to adventure, but the unlikely partners quickly discover there’s someone after the treasure and there are those who want to ensure the lost mine in Arizona’s Superstition Mountain stays lost forever.
Can Landry and Nickolai work together despite their distrust of each other to save the legend before more innocent lives are lost? Will they find the real treasure isn’t the gold, but something more valuable. . .true love and understanding?

Review:
The blurb lays out the scenario so I won’t repeat it. Landry and Nickolai are competitors following separate leads to find the map. There are two associates of the murdered business magnate that may be trying to help the search…or not. Others living near the mine have taken advantage of the newest information and someone wants them to drop the search. When verbal threats turn to deadly accidents, Landry and Nickolai decide to collaborate by sharing their clues.

Nickolai feels he has failed to protect his family, especially a much younger sister who needs special medical attention. He soon finds himself trying to protect Landry even as she tries to resist their mutual attraction. Landry is a Christian and knows that she should not be drawn to a man who is not a believer.

Nickolai has some dream visions that convince him to continue the search to locate the map, if not the mine, before more innocent lives are taken. Their determination has them stepping directly towards a killer as they draw closer to the mystery of the mine.

I really like the idea of a treasure map/treasure hunt. The first half of the story is a bit slower but the action picks up well in the second half. There were interspersed scenes of a Native American (Apache) going on a dream journey to become a guardian shaman. Although this might be considered against the Christian message, I didn’t take it that way.

I enjoyed the nicely developing connection between the two strong characters, Landry and Nickolai, and appreciated that Landry was hesitant to rush into a relationship with an unbeliever. This is an easy read and I recommend it to readers who enjoy Christian mystery with a clean romance.

I received this through NetGalley. It adds to my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Wolf Hunt (SWAT Book 6) by Paige Tyler

This is an engaging shifter story with strong passion and a good plotline.

Wolf Hunt (SWAT Book 6)
by Paige Tyler

File Size: 1634 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1492642347
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 6, 2017)
ASIN: B01MQPZGPV
Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Werewolves
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

A STORM IS BREWING...
Remy Boudreaux is back in his hometown, New Orleans. He's there with three of his fellow Dallas SWAT officers for a week of training with the NOLA PD. On the eve of a tropical storm, Remy and his buddies prowl the French Quarter. One tantalizing scent captures Remy's senses, forcing him to follow until he is face to face with Triana Bellamy—his beautiful high school crush.
After reconnecting, Remy and Triana are close—very. Remy struggles to keep things casual. Ever since his partner—and first love—was killed on the job, he's kept women at a distance.
But when a mysterious wolf pendant ropes them both into danger, Remy's protective instincts kick in. He may have to reveal his true self...and hope Triana accepts him.

Review:
Remy is a Dallas SWAT officer visiting in New Orleans, his home town, for cross training with local cops. No one knows that the four Dallas men have special skills and they have to be careful not to expose their true wolf natures. Remy hits on an enticing scent and pulls his team mates along the night club route as he seeks out the source. Remy is surprised when his nose leads him to his high school crush, Triana.

Triana is a forensic lab tech who is in town to visit her mother. She is thrilled to see Remy as she had a crush on him too. The chemistry between them flares quickly even though Remy has convinced himself he doesn’t want to get too close to any woman since he suffered the loss of a partner whom he had fallen in love with.

Triana’s mother is being pressured to sell her husband’s special wolf pendant. Although she has told the buyer’s agent that she doesn’t have it, he won’t take no for an answer. Thugs return to put more pressure behind the request but they are surprised when Remy steps in to handle the threat. Although they retreat, the threat hasn’t disappeared.

Remy and his team are called upon to assist in a drug raid that leaves a lot of unhappy cops. Meanwhile, a tropical storm is bearing in on the city but these issues raise less havoc than the conflict Remy faces from trying to resist his natural instinct to protect Triana, especially since he won’t admit he could love her.

The story is full of action and steamy passion. It reads quickly and is engaging. The characters are likeable and although the romance is a bit hotter and the scenes a bit more prevalent than I care for, they don’t overshadow a strong plotline. The author does a good job of connecting Triana’s parents’ past with the current situation.

This is the first story I have read in this series and I enjoyed it even as a standalone. I am guessing that the earlier stories are of the other SWAT members finding and protecting their “true mates”. Since I enjoy a good shifter story now and again I will be keeping Ms. Tyler and this series in mind for future reading. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a passionate shifter romance with a strong story.

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

Book Review: How to Charm a Beekeeper's Heart by Candice Patterson

This is a charming, inspirational romance.
How to Charm a Beekeeper's Heart
by Candice Patterson

File Size: 1428 KB
Print Length: 400 pages
Publisher: White Rose Publishing; 1 edition (October 28, 2016)
ASIN: B01BB7R9HC
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Weddings are the last thing beekeeper Huck Anderson wants to be associated with, considering his past. So when he inherits a building occupied by a bridal boutique, he aims to evict the failing business and open a sporting goods store. That is until his tenant ends up being Arianne Winters, a woman he's indebted to from a mistake made years ago. When a life-threatening injury derails Huck entirely, Arianne offers a compromise to keep her boutique and her life out of bankruptcy—she'll aid in his lengthy recovery if he'll allow her to remain in his building. But nursing her adversary proves challenging when her adolescent crush resurfaces. Amidst a battle-of-wills, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, providing opportunity to overcome their pasts and start anew. Will this confirmed bachelor consider holy-matrimony, or will Huck's choices sting them a second time?

Review:
This is a sweet, second chance romance. I loved the bee facts shared at the end of each chapter in tips and quotes.

Arianne was the brain in high school who helped Huck, the jock, get through his tests. She’d always had a bit of a crush on him but suffered a heart blow when he stood her up for prom. She moved on to a safer, saner romance in college, married and had a daughter. Sadly, her husband walked out before the child was three. Arianne has been struggling to make a living at her bridal boutique while raising Emma and taking care of her 25-year-old sister who can’t seem to find herself… or a job.

Huck inherits a building from his uncle and determines he will evict the bridal shop tenant and open a sporting goods store. That plan isn’t so easy when he learns that the tenant is the girl he wronged in high school. Huck has secrets and issues from his past that have made him a loner. He doesn’t do “relationship” although he is willing to spend a few weeks with a woman who isn’t looking for any long-term romance. Huck wants to get away from Arianne as quickly as he can. This plan doesn’t work either when he suffers a serious accident and Arianne steps forward to take care of him during his rehabilitation in exchange for allowing her time to move the bridal shop.

Huck finds himself enjoying the company of Arianne and adorable Emma. He is even willing to share his bee farming with them. Even though he is willing to encourage Arianne to pursue her dreams, he doesn’t think he is worthy of her love. Arianne continues to struggle with her business and her sister. She isn’t sure she can handle the pain of an unrequited love and she doesn’t want to risk hurting Emma with another man who would most likely abandon them. Still, she might not be able to keep her heart from falling for the man she has always fantasized about.

I really enjoyed these struggling characters and watching as they wrestled with their past pains and lost dreams. Ms. Patterson does a nice job showing their growth and allowing the romance to grow, even through their fears. Emma adds a precocious and sweet character.

The writing is nicely handled with nice descriptions, smooth delivery, and easy flow. I really enjoyed how Arianne’s strong faith, and Emma’s child’s faith, are shared, by little graces and even in flaws, so that Huck begins to long for an unconditional love he has never known. The story is engaging and the characters’ journeys are believable and heartwarming. I recommend this to readers who enjoy inspirational, small town style, second chance romance.

I received this from NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Love Takes Two by Patrice Moore

I was drawn by this cover and enjoyed this sweet romance between injured parties.

Love Takes Two
by Patrice Moore

File Size: 639 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 8, 2016)
ASIN: B01CB1BV8K
Genre: Contemporary, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Single mom Molly Jenkins relocates to a small mountain town in hopes of removing her young son from bad influences. But Ken is caught in an act of vandalism on their neighbor’s ranch, and the no-nonsense owner informs Molly her son needs a man’s strong hand to keep him in line. Having been raised by a tough-to-the-point-of-cruel father, she doesn’t want her son to be guided by men like that. She believes he needs nothing more than security and lots of mother-love.

Nathan Jones knows what it’s like to be raised without a father, and he disagrees with the coddling Molly gives her son. His own upbringing led him to make some poor choices, and he wants to keep Ken from making similar mistakes. It is a complicated tangle of emotions and past hurts that prevent Molly and Nathan from agreeing, but can they come together to keep Ken from going down the wrong path…and maybe find their own path to love on the way?

Review:
Molly Jenkins was abandoned by her boyfriend and her overly strict father when she became pregnant at a young age. She struggled as a single mom to get through college and try to provide a decent life for her son, Ken. Now Molly is stymied by her sulky, twelve-year-old son who is making bad choices and leaning toward negative influences. Molly takes a job with a small-town school in Colorado hoping to remove Ken from serious trouble.

Before they can settle into their new home, Ken is caught throwing rocks on the neighbor’s ranch. Nathan confronts Ken and marches him home to announce his punishment will be to work off the harm he has done. Molly is wary, but agrees that Ken has to make up for the damage.

Nathan grew up without a father and was in trouble as a teen until his mother abandoned him to a boy’s ranch. Nathan doesn’t believe in love due to his mother’s abandonment. Nor does he believe in mother’s coddling as he is insistent that every growing boy needs strong male discipline to learn proper respect. Molly takes affront to Nathan’s attitude thinking he is insulting all the single mom’s that have worked so hard to raise good children.

Molly and Nathan butt heads, not only over Ken, but over Molly’s proposed project to open a community center for teens in the small town. Although Molly can’t deny that Ken’s behavior begins to improve under Nathan’s strong guidance, this doesn’t resolve the other conflicts between Molly and Nathan. It takes time for a loving family to help them to begin to soften their stubborn stances.

Ken witnesses a scene that triggers his rebellion again and the slow growing friendship between Molly and Nathan is challenged. Can they manage to find mutual ground to help Ken before he ends up in jail?

This is an easy read as the writing moved along well, although I noted several grammatical errors which may have been fixed before publication. The thirtyish characters were extreme in their opposite views but this made for the conflict that they had to work through. There is a puppy element so the cover was accurate to draw in a reader. I enjoyed the story and I recommend this to readers who enjoy small town romances with more mature (not YA or college) characters.

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

Book Review: AFTERLIFE by Marcus Sakey

This was interesting but strange; not really my cup of tea.
AFTERLIFE
by Marcus Sakey

File Size: 2950 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1477848401
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (July 18, 2017)
ASIN: B01NGT8YVM
Genre: Thriller, Ghosts, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Soon to be a major motion picture from Imagine Entertainment and producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.
Between life and death lies an epic war, a relentless manhunt through two worlds…and an unforgettable love story.
The last thing FBI agent Will Brody remembers is the explosion—a thousand shards of glass surfing a lethal shock wave.
He wakes without a scratch.
The building is in ruins. His team is gone. Outside, Chicago is dark. Cars lie abandoned. No planes cross the sky. He’s relieved to spot other people—until he sees they’re carrying machetes.
Welcome to the afterlife.
Claire McCoy stands over the body of Will Brody. As head of an FBI task force, she hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. A terrorist has claimed eighteen lives and thrown the nation into panic.
Against this horror, something reckless and beautiful happened. She fell in love…with Will Brody.
But the line between life and death is narrower than any of us suspect—and all that matters to Will and Claire is getting back to each other.
From the author of the million-copy bestselling Brilliance Trilogy comes a mind-bending thriller that explores our most haunting and fundamental question: What if death is just the beginning?

Review:
Brody is an FBI agent working under the direction of his boss, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Claire, who is also his lover, behind the scenes. Their FBI unit is pursuing a serial killer who always seems to be one step ahead of the authorities… as though the killer has insider knowledge.

Brody and a team follow a lead to an abandoned church. It appears to be a false lead until Brody looks out a broken window and sees a man on a balcony watching him. The building explodes and Brody wakes up without an injury but he soon faces three derelict types who clearly wish him harm. He learns that he is in a world that is similar to his “real” life but more like an echo or ‘shadow’ world.

Claire gets a vision that directs her to track down the killer. Events unfold that put her into Brody’s world. But the killer is there too and he is extremely powerful in the shadow world. Brody and Claire want to be together but their nature to protect others compels them to face the powerful evil. They don’t fully think it through which propels Brody on another unexpected path.

I can’t describe too much in this story without leaking into spoilers. Early in the story I felt like I was reading a horror rather than a thriller. The story did get deeper and offers an unusual view of life after death as well as offering a view of how evil develops and grows. The story is engaging although I felt there were inconsistencies and certainly I don’t agree with the after-death scenario. I did like the strong love connection, the moral good and the key elements that made the difference between evil and good.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as The Brilliance Trilogy which I would rather see in film than this book. This is more sensational and apt to be a bit controversial. The writing is good and the story moves along well. Although I wasn’t enthralled, I would recommend it to readers who like dark thrillers and are willing to look at an alternate view of death.

I received this through NetGalley by invitation from Little Bird Publicity. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.