Archive | Book Reviews RSS feed for this section

Mini-Book Review — Memory Lane

9 Apr

My husband and I are traveling to Maine in May. I always try to read books set where I am soon to visit, and remembered that Becky Wade has a series set on the Maine coast. The first book in her Sons of Scandal series is Memory Lane. Oh my goodness what a great read! I have no idea why I waited so long to read it, but I am glad my upcoming trip put it at the top of the TBR. The book’s premise is simple — an isolated island dwelling artist rescues a man with no memories from the sea. An uneasy friendship develops into more. But it is much more complicated that that! Main character Remy has chosen Maine to start afresh following a devastating trauma, and rich and famous Jeremiah Camden has a number of problems his mind has put out of reach. I loved the chemistry between the two — ooh how it sizzles! There are mysteries to be solved, past hurts to overcome, and faith to grow and strengthen. The supporting cast is fun, and book 2 features the second Camden brother, FBI agent Jude. I can’t wait to visit Maine in person, but first there is certainly more reading ahead with this fun series. (Please note: those who are sensitive to topics surrounding sexual abuse need to consider whether they want to read this book.)

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults

(I read an ebook from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

After surviving a trauma several years back, Remy Reed relocated to a cottage on one of Maine’s most remote islands. She’s arranged her life just the way she wants it, spending her time working on her wood sculptures and soaking in the beauty of nature. It’s quiet and solitary—until the day she spots something bobbing in the ocean.

Her binoculars reveal the “something” to be a man, and he’s struggling to keep his head above water. She races out to save him and brings him into her home. He’s injured, which doesn’t detract from his handsomeness nor make him any easier to bear. He acts like a duke who’s misplaced his dukedom . . . expensive tastes, lazy charm, bossy ideas.

Remy would love nothing more than to return him to his people, but he has no recollection of his life prior to the moment she rescued him. Though she’s not interested in relationships other than the safe ones she’s already established, she begins to realize that he’s coming to depend on her.

Who is he? What happened that landed him in the Atlantic Ocean? And why is she drawn to him more and more as time goes by?

There’s no way to discover those answers except to walk beside him down memory lane.

Travel to the rocky coast of Maine for “opposites attract” banter, witty humor, a fascinating mystery, and destiny-changing love. This sweet contemporary romance kicks off Becky Wade’s new Sons of Scandal series!

Becky Wade is a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas with their three children and one Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She loves writing sweet contemporary romances laced with sizzling chemistry, mystery, faith, banter, and humor. Her novels have been recognized with Carol Awards, INSPY Awards, and a spot in the Christy Award Hall of Fame.

Tags: ,

Mini-Review — The Nature of Fragile Things

3 Apr

My book club chose The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner as our April selection. This twisting novel full of secrets and deceptions features a point in time that triggers all things hidden to come to light. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a devastating natural disaster that is hard to wrap a mind around. The setting had to be daunting — the details that needed to be searched through and chosen to best depict the magnitude of the event. Meissner did a great job of putting the reader in the middle of the terror of the first moments and the determination needed to survive and rebuild. If the novel was just about the earthquake, Meissner would have done a creditable job. However, she weaves a story of three very different women brought together in unbelievable circumstances. And I’m, not talking about the earthquake. The first person, present tense narrator ( which is done extremely well) is Sophie Whalen, a recent immigrant from Ireland who comes to California for a new start. She seems to get everything she dreamed of until the night before the quake. As one of our members said, the book gets exciting from that point! I don’t want to share any spoilers — the book is rich in surprises you don’t see coming — so I’ll just say that the tangled stories of the three women kept me furiously turning the pages. There are themes of female friendships, mother love, and incomplete justice. I can’t recommend this book enough! Enjoy the historical context, the intertwining mystery, and the thought-provoking storyline. I look forward to our discussion of this book — it will definitely make for a great conversation.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin’s silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin’s odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn’t right. 

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved. 

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.

Susan Meissner is the USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print in eighteen languages. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, starred review Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, a Library Reads and Real Simple top pick; As Bright as Heaven, starred review from Library Journal; Secrets of a Charmed Life, a 2015 Goodreads Choice award finalist; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014. She is also RITA finalist and Christy Award and Carol Award winner. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University and is also a writing workshop volunteer for Words Alive, a San Diego non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk youth foster a love for reading and writing.

Visit Susan at her website: https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor/ on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/susan.meissner

Tags: , ,

Mini-Book Review — Some Like It Scot

26 Mar

I finally met Pepper Basham in person in January at the Turning A New Page Book Festival in Perry, GA. What fun it was to sit in on the two panels she was on, as well as, talking with her face-to-face! She is so sweet! And funny! If you are a fan of her romcoms you probably would have guessed that already. I also had the great fortune of receiving an ARC of her latest book, Some Like It Scot. It is a fun romp through the Scottish countryside with sheep, a hairy coo, and a swoony hero in a kilt. Main character Katie Campbell is a popular travel writer that has endeared her audience with misadventures. Katie is sweet, kind, and prone to harrowing near death experiences, with this trip to the Isle of Mull no exception. She is also burdened by family dynamics leading her to a flight response in her personal life. I loved Katie. She is a relatable character, even if you’ve never been chased by a cow or fallen off a cliff. 😉 She meets her dream man, but it is definitely not love at first sight for either of them — at least that’s what they tell each other. I really liked how the romance develops between the pair. There are plenty of zany situations and quirky, but lovable characters. I especially fell in love with Lachlan, a young boy wise beyond his years, and Mirren, a woman who nurtures Katie in ways her own mother never did. I also now want to return to Scotland to experience the misty lochs and quaint towns found on Mull.

Some Like It Scot was a quick read with lots of romance, but it also conveys godly wisdom for anyone reading it. It’s definitely a recommended read!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?

Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.

Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.

Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.

As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.

Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com.

Tags: ,

Book Review: Water Grave

21 Mar

Water Grave by Mitchell S. Karnes is a twisting mystery with some very dark elements. I liked the first person POV that helped reveal the truth about main character Det. Abbey Rhodes. Find out more below.

About Water Grave

Publisher: Wordcrafts Press (January 29, 2025)

Paperback: 280 pages

Six years ago, Hannah Leah Abelard needed a fresh start. She changed her name to Abbey Rhodes and enlisted in the United States Army as a part of the “Ever Vigilant,” 18th Military Police Brigade. They taught her how to be a great cop. Abbey moved to Tennessee three years later and joined Metro Nashville’s Police Department.

Now, in her third month with Homicide, Abbey is thrust into a case that may bring the walls she built crashing down around her, exposing a dark past she thought she’d left behind. A young pastor is found dead in the bottom of his baptistery and Abbey is forced to investigate the one place she swore never to return-the church. The case takes Abbey deeper into a tangled web of lies and secrets where the most dangerous ones may be her own.

About Mitchell S. Karnes

Mitchell S. Karnes is a Christian husband, father, and grandfather. He served in the church in multiple capacities, including pastor, youth minister, and education minister. Mitchell also taught English in middle and high school, also serving as a coach in wrestling and softball. He spends his time writing fiction in Middle Tennessee.

My Impressions:

Dark and twisting is the best way for me to describe Mitchell S. Karnes mystery Water Grave. To be up front, if you are triggered by books featuring abuse and/or seriously creepy characters, I would skip this book. But if you are intrigued by the dark side of the human mind, then this book is for you. Newly minted homocide detective Abbey Rhodes is called to the scene of a murder that dredges up all the secrets and hurts of her past. Wounded in significant ways by her family and church leaders, Abbey has attempted to put all the trauma behind her. But the puzzling case of the murder of a seemingly really great pastor, causes Abbey to face her demons head on. The case itself is very intriguing — lots of suspects with motives. As Abbey and her partner dig deeper they expose some very heinous things. The continuous slide into the depraved minds of some of the characters became a bit uncomfortable for me. But the spiritual journey that Abbey embarks on kept me going to the end. The depiction is raw and true-to-life. And not really tied up in a neat bow at the end — I am looking forward to walking with Abbey again!

While not for every reader, Water Grave is a good choice for those who don’t mind some darkness with a good bit of hope and redemption in their fiction.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the Kindle ebook from Amazon and a complimentary paperback from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

TLC review tour schedule:

Monday, March 3rd: @oilycaffeinatedmama

Tuesday, March 4th: The Bookish Dilettante

Wednesday, March 5th: @subakka.bookstuff and Subakka.bookstuff

Thursday, March 6th: Pick a Good Book – excerpt

Monday, March 10th: @ablueboxfullofbooks

Wednesday, March 12th: A Bookish Way of Life

Thursday, March 13th: @theliteraryescapade

Friday, March 14th: Girl Who Reads

Tuesday, March 18th: What is That Book About – excerpt

Wednesday, March 19th: @sarahs.bookish.reviews

Friday, March 21st: By The Book

Monday, March 24th: Reading, Writing & Pondering and @teaandbookstoo

Tuesday, March 25th: Write Read Life 

Wednesday, March 26th: @beastreader and Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, March 27th: @melissas_bookshelf 

Friday, March 28th: @nissa_the.bookworm

Tags: ,

Book Review: The Indigo Heiress

17 Mar

My book club is reading The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz this month. It uses the marriage of convenience trope of which I have mixed feelings. But I have to say that Frantz does it really, really well! I loved this book. Read about it and my impressions below.

Virigina plantation life is all she has ever known. 
But could the life she was meant to live be waiting on a distant shore? 

In 1774, Juliet Catesby lives with her father and sister at Royal Vale, the James River plantation founded by her Virginia family over a century before. Indigo cultivation is her foremost concern, though its export tethers her family to the powerful Buchanan clan of Glasgow, Scotland. 

When the heir of the Buchanan firm arrives on their shores, Juliet discovers that her father has arranged for one of his daughters to marry the Scot as a means of canceling the family’s crippling debt. Confident it will be her younger, lovelier sister, Juliet is appalled when Leith Buchanan selects her instead.

Despite her initial refusal, Juliet realizes that fleeing Virginia is her only choice after finding herself in the midst of a scandal. The ship just leaving the harbor for Glasgow is her only hope. But she will soon realize that being part of the complex and calculating Buchanan clan is not the sanctuary she imagined–and the man who saved her from ruin is the very one she must now save in return.

Bestselling, award-winning author, Laura Frantz, has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at http://www.laurafrantz.net.

My Impressions:

Laura Frantz writes novels set in the early days of America really, really well. And her latest novel, The Indigo Heiress, is no exception. Set in the final years leading up to the American Revolution it is set in both the Virginia Colony and Scotland. Main character Juliet Catesby is an independent thinker, yet Frantz portrays her as a true-to-life woman of her time. She fights for the enslaved, yet subjects herself to her father’s will. I liked this about the portrayal. It gave me a heroine to love and root for in her historical context. The story employs the marriage of convenience trope, and Frantz handled it in a believable manner, given Juliet’s penchant for going her own way. It didn’t hurt that the man she was to marry was extremely swoony. LOL! Their love story was certainly romantic, and they both grew in their relationship and faith. The political context of the book was secondary, but really interesting. I don’t think I have ever read a story that portrayed British loyalists in such a way. In other books they are usually one-dimensional traitors 😉 , but Frantz provides a realistic view of their choices. The novel also contains a good amount of intrigue and suspense that kept the pages turning. I really did not see the ending coming!

I really liked The Indigo Heiress and am looking forward to a wonderful discussion with my book club.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: ,

Book Review: Break My Fall

13 Mar

I always love a romantic suspense by Lynn H. Blackburn, but I have to say I think Break My Fall, book 2 in her Gossamer Falls series is my favorite by far. It checked all my boxes! Check out the book blurb and my impressions below.

She’s determined to make an impact in her community. 
He’s determined to make sure she lives long enough to do it.

Dr. Meredith Quinn always planned to return to Gossamer Falls to practice dentistry. Now that she’s back home, she’s made it a point to offer clinics to children and adults in nearby underserved areas. Unfortunately, those same areas are known to harbor drug traffickers, and Police Chief Grayson Ward suspects that local law enforcement is looking the other way.

After too many losses, Grayson has closed off his heart. But with Meredith in his life, he feels his walls crumbling, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. To keep her alive, he must keep her close, but that makes it impossible for him to retreat and rebuild. 

Will she be the one who finally helps him emerge from isolation? Or will this force of nature leave him shattered?

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!.

Lynn lives in South Carolina with her family. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for her newsletter at her website and following her on social media @LynnHBlackburn.

My Impressions:

Lynn H. Blackburn is a go-to author when I want a fast-paced romantic suspense novel to read. Break My Fall was no exception, in fact, it’s probably my favorite from this author. Book 2 in the Gossamer Falls series, it takes the reader back to the picturesque western North Carolina mountains. But the goings on in the neighboring county are anything but beautiful. Drug and human trafficking are the crimes that bring danger to Meredith Quinn, a dedicated dentist who travels to serve those in need. I loved this character! She’s determined and stands her ground, but has a sweetness and a yearning for a family of her own that rounds out her character. There’s also great chemistry between her and the Chief of Police. Fans of the romance side of romantic suspense are going to love their story! Attacks on Meredith begin right at the start and grow in intensity until the ending. Whew! What a ride! Neither the characters nor I saw all that would be coming their way. Blackburn doesn’t keep her characters safe. LOL! While the suspense storyline is twisting and turning, the faith message that runs throughout the narrative never wavers. I completely get trusting in God, but making my own plans. 😉 While Break My Fall can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting from the beginning of the series, including the novella that is part of the whole. The Quinn clan is wonderful, and Blackburn’s depiction of strong family ties is a bonus to these stories.

I can’t recommend Break My Fall enough!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: ,

Children’s Corner (+Giveaway!) — Barnaby The Runaway Sheep

12 Mar

If you are looking for a sweet storybook for your special young reader, then consider Barnaby The Runaway Sheep. Jesus often described his followers as sheep — vulnerable and dependent, but often going their own way. In this retelling of the Parable of The Lost Sheep, Barnaby loves his shepherds yet cannot get away from his own fears and ultimately distrust of their plans for him. Sound familiar? LOL! Author Maria Antonia makes this an easy to understand and relate to story for children ages 4-8. I can just hear my granddaughter asking why Barnaby wanted to run away from all the good things in his life. What a great book to teach trusting in God! The illustrations are detailed and colorful helping to keep the youngest of readers engaged. Perfect for the home library, Barnaby The Runaway Sheep would be wonderful nestled in an Easter basket.

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 4 — 8.

(I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Barnaby is a young sheep who loves life on the farm—but there’s one thing he fears: getting his wool sheared. As the dreaded clippers draw near, Barnaby’s fear takes over, and he runs away, embarking on an unforgettable adventure. 

Join Barnaby as he bravely flees into the unknown, seeking refuge in a dark cave. But with his wool growing thicker and his hunger gnawing at him, Barnaby soon realizes that freedom isn’t as sweet as he thought. He begins to miss the comfort of his home, the warmth of his flock, and the loving care of his shepherds. 

As the cold nights grow longer and loneliness settles in, Barnaby’s heart longs for the familiarity of his flock and the love of those who care for him. Just when he feels lost and alone, a familiar call breaks the silence. Could it be his shepherds searching for him? 

Filled with vibrant illustrations by Sayani Mukherjee, Barnaby the Runaway Sheep is a charming tale of courage, homecoming, and the unconditional love that awaits us all. This beautifully illustrated children’s book captures the essence of trust, faith, and friendship, making it a perfect addition to any family’s library. 

Why readers love Barnaby the Runaway Sheep: 

  • A relatable and courageous protagonist that young readers will love 
  • Beautiful, tender illustrations that bring the story to life 
  • A touching message of bravery, belonging, and the power of returning home 
  • Perfect for bedtime reading and Christian story time 
  • Inspiring themes of trust and faith, ideal for parents, pastors, and Christian educators

Maria Antonia learned to write her name at five years old and tried typing with an old manual typewriter at age eight. However, it was when she met the computer that she never turned back. Many years later, she still clickety-taps out her stories onto the screen, stories that have turned into picture books like The Christmas Elephant and Barnaby the Runaway Sheep. In addition to writing, Maria also enjoys sipping a nice cup of hot tea and capturing the world with her camera. She has lived in Sunny Spain, busy New York City, and currently resides in the Great White North of Canada.

Giveaway!

Author Maria Antonia is offering a copy of Barnaby The Runaway Sheep to one of my readers! To enter, just comment on this post. A winner will be chosen randomly on March 24. US residents only.

Tags: ,

Book Review — Of Love And Treason

24 Feb

I treated myself to a pleasure read for Valentine’s Day. I am so often reading for review or book festival vetting purposes that I find it hard to squeeze in a spontaneous selection. But this month I cleared my schedule of most reading obligations and chose Of Love And Treason by Jamie Ogle, a historical novel inspired by the real Valentine. I picked it up on the recommendation of a friend and am so glad I did. This book touched my heart and will easily make the best of the best list for 2025. Find out more below.

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

Jamie Ogle is a predawn writer, homeschool mom by day, and a reader by night. Inspired by her fascination with the storied history of faith, she writes historical fiction infused with hope, adventure, and courageous rebels. A Minnesota native, she now lives in Iowa with her husband and their three children, and she can usually be found gardening, beekeeping, and tromping through the woods. Learn more about Jamie at jamieogle.com.

My Impressions:

Romance fiction is generally on the nightstand around Valentine’s Day, and there are plenty of great books to read to capture all the love. But this year I decided to read Of Love And Treason by Jamie Ogle, a historical novel set in 3rd century Rome and inspired by the real Valentine. What a great choice! This novel won the much deserved 2024 Christy Award for historical romance. But lest you think this book is all hearts and flowers, let me tell you it is about the true meaning of love — putting others ahead of self. The book presents a fictional, yet credible, re-telling of the legends that surround the true Valentine. A Christian martyr, this pillar of the faith faithfully led a group of believers and defied the emperor’s ban on marriage. The story as presented by Ogle is a beautiful depiction of what Christ does for His church. I loved every element! The plot is well-crafted, the historical detail is just right, and the characters are ones to truly love (or hate in the case of the bad guys). They come across as real people with real struggles, doubts, and flaws. The faith message is beautifully and profoundly presented without being preachy. While the reader knows in advance that Valentine will be martyred, and that is presented in a realistic manner without too much graphic detail, the HEA comes from the hope that Christ gives every believer. Be sure to read the Authors Note, as well, for the story behind the story. I spent a good bit of my last book club telling anyone who would listen about this book. I wish it had been one of our selections, because there are so many things to discuss. So get a reading buddy and dive in. I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: ,

Mini-Book Review — I Think I Was Murdered

17 Feb

Based solely on the authors and not knowing anything about the book, my book club selected I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. I soon learned that the odd title was indeed spot on for this romantic suspense featuring bitcoin and AI. I am decidedly uninformed about both subjects, but the authors presented a plot that explains in chilling detail what each can involve. Main character Katrina lost her husband in a car accident a year before the book takes place. She has been talking to him through an AI app developed by the company she works for. Through it she discovers his death may have not been an accident, but murder. The book’s intriguing premise kept me thinking, while the fast-paced plot kept the pages turning. The fictional small town Northern California setting took me to a new fun place filled with Norwegian-inspired details. I started reading this book a few days after a trip to Norway, so that was an added bonus. There are plenty of surprising twists and turns that kept this novel from being predictable. The growing romance between Katrina and a high school friend was sweet. I Think I Was Murdered was a quick read that is perfect for a weekend reading escape.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

( I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted, and, as the company’s legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason’s email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has “talked” to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn’t really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it’s slowing her grief recovery, but she can’t stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don’t know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the Northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.

Bestselling authors Coble and Acker deftly combine a high-concept plot with gripping intrigue and closed-door romance in I Think I Was Murdered. Don’t miss it!

Tags: , ,

Mini-Book Review — After Anne

12 Feb

My book club read After Anne by Logan Steiner, a biographical novel centered on the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery author of Anne of Green Gables. This book is very literary-y 🙂 . It has a very complex structure — time periods mixed throughout combined with a series of flashbacks not dated. My book club felt that the structure interfered with the story, taking them completely out of the narrative. It is also more about Montgomery’s personal life, rather than writing life. She did not have a happy marriage, and the reader is treated to all the disfunction. A supremely successful author with a clergyman husband with mental illness combined with one very oppositional son made this a depressing read. I hate to say it, but no one in my group liked this book. I’m not sure the life of Montgomery could have been treated in any other way, but the writing style did nothing to make us want to continue reading a sad and tragic story. This one is for only hardcore Montgomery fans.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

A stunning and unexpected portrait of Lucy Maud Montgomery, creator of one of literature’s most prized heroines, whose personal demons were at odds with her most enduring legacy—the irrepressible Anne of Green Gables.

“Dear old world,” she murmured, “you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” —L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, 1908

As a young woman, Maud had dreams bigger than the whole of Prince Edward Island. Her exuberant spirit had always drawn frowns from her grandmother and their neighbors, but she knew she was meant to create, to capture and share the way she saw the world. And the young girl in Maud’s mind became more and more persistent: Here is my story, she said. Here is how my name should be spelled—Anne with an “e.”

But the day Maud writes the first lines of Anne of Green Gables, she gets a visit from the handsome new minister in town, and soon faces a decision: forge her own path as a spinster authoress, or live as a rural minister’s wife, an existence she once called “a synonym for respectable slavery.” The choice she makes alters the course of her life.

With a husband whose religious mania threatens their health and happiness at every turn, the secret darkness that Maud herself holds inside threatens to break through the persona she shows to the world, driving an ever-widening wedge between her public face and private self, and putting her on a path towards a heartbreaking end.

Beautiful and moving, After Anne reveals Maud’s hidden personal challenges while celebrating what was timeless about her life and art—the importance of tenacity and the peaceful refuge found in imagination.

Logan Steiner is a lawyer by day and a writer by baby bedtime. Her writing explores motherhood and the creative life.

After graduating from Pomona College and Harvard Law School, Logan clerked for three federal judges, spent six years in Big Law, and served for three years as an Assistant United States Attorney. She now specializes in brief writing at a boutique law firm. Logan lives in Denver with her husband, daughter, and the cranky old man of the house, a Russian Blue cat named Taggart.

Tags: ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →