JEFFERSON by Davidson Butler can be classified as both a biography and a history book. It is written in a manner that is easy to read and understand aJEFFERSON by Davidson Butler can be classified as both a biography and a history book. It is written in a manner that is easy to read and understand and is not just dry facts. I enjoyed the book which covers the life of Thomas Jefferson as both a person and a political figure.
I rated this book three stars because there is very little information about the author available and a list of sources is not given for the book. If those were available, I would likely rate it 4 stars. Assuming the book is indeed factual, I learned a lot about Jefferson's personal life and balancing his early political career with family needs including a wife that seemed to suffer from depression and was often sick as well as the death of multiple children. On the political side, I never realized the degree of animosity between Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. While the book covers his political accomplishments as an officeholder, Virginia assemblyman, Continental congressman, ambassador to France, Secretary of State, Vice President and President of the United States, it also covered his proudest accomplishments of authoring the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and becoming the father of the University of Virginia. Additionally, it showed how accomplished Jefferson was in other aspects of life including as an inventor, architect, paleontologist and much more.
This biography is compact and rather short, but was filled with a lot of information. It is slanted favorably towards Jefferson and against his detractors and opponents. It does show other themes such as regional differences, the power of the press, the origins of political parties and much more....more
MAGIC BITES is the first book in the Cozy Witch Mysteries series. Katamara (Katy) Wilson is a witch that does not practice much witchcraft and lives oMAGIC BITES is the first book in the Cozy Witch Mysteries series. Katamara (Katy) Wilson is a witch that does not practice much witchcraft and lives on the border of Not-So-Normal Town. She owns a sandwich shop and her "normal" husband is Chief of Police in Normal town. When someone turns up dead at the bowling alley Katy teams up with her best friend Eve to find the killer.
This was a fun cozy mystery novella that was a light, quick, and entertaining read. It contains no swearing or steamy romantic scenes. The cast of secondary characters include a ninja cat and a spirit that lives in a cookie jar. While there are some twists and turns, the murder was a little too easily solved. However, there is more depth in the novella than one might initially think. This includes themes of infidelity, deceit, lies, losing skills that one does not use, and much more.
Overall, this was a good start to a new series and I look forward to reading the next one. If you enjoy light and entertaining paranormal cozy mysteries, then this may be the book for you....more
CORAL REEF VIEWS by Vicki Delany is the third book in the Ashley Grant mystery series. The story takes place in the Caribbean on the Victoria and AlbeCORAL REEF VIEWS by Vicki Delany is the third book in the Ashley Grant mystery series. The story takes place in the Caribbean on the Victoria and Albert Islands. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me.
Ashley Grant is a paramedic that now lives and works in the Caribbean. Her Canadian parents visit her, but her recently retired father soon gets bored. He meets and makes friends with Paul McIntosh, another Canadian visiting the islands. When Paul disappears, Ashley’s father, Frank, is determined to find him and Ashley helps him.
Ashley, her boyfriend, and her parents are likeable characters, but there was not a lot of time for character development in this novella. However, their motivations seemed believable, with well-drawn and appropriate emotions and the plot was clear and well-executed. The prose was engaging and readable. The ending was satisfying, but not a surprise. I loved the cover and title, but it did not tie in to the story line.
Overall, this was a good book that was well-crafted and I would recommend it to those that want a short and concise, but entertaining amateur sleuth read.
Thanks to Orca Book Publishers and Vicki Delany for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
LIAR LIAR by Mel Sherratt is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale crime thriller series. The story takes place in England and the author brought tLIAR LIAR by Mel Sherratt is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale crime thriller series. The story takes place in England and the author brought this reader a gripping, intense and intriguing story.
When a young boy falls from a balcony, DS Grace Allendale and her partner DS Frankie Higgins are nearby on another police matter so they are quick to arrive, but no one seemed to see anything and the parents say it was an accident. Grace and Frankie work to find out the truth, but that is more easily said than done. Meanwhile other police-involved incidents happen in the area of the same block of flats.
What is going on? Are the events related or not? Who saw what and who is lying? The plot switches back and forth between two different timelines and this detracted a little bit from the overall flow. However, by the end of the book, it made total sense as to why the author did this. There are lots of twists and turns in this engrossing, shocking, and suspenseful book. Themes explored include murder, assault, family, gambling, deceit, lying, gangs, the criminal underworld, and much, much more.
The characters were compelling and three-dimensional with clear goals. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes and tension were high throughout most of the story making it a true page-turner.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy crime thrillers and police procedurals. It is the first book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to reading the first two in the series. This is an amazing “new to me” author.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and Mel Sherratt for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
TOXIC GAME by Christine Feehan is the fifteenth book in the Ghostwalker series. While it can be read as a standalone novel, the reader experience willTOXIC GAME by Christine Feehan is the fifteenth book in the Ghostwalker series. While it can be read as a standalone novel, the reader experience will be enhanced if these are read in order. The story line takes place in the Indonesian jungle and in Louisiana. This is a paranormal romantic suspense novel.
Dr. Draden Freeman and his GhostWalker team are on a rescue mission in the jungles of Indonesia. When he gets infected by a virus released by a terrorist group, he forces his team to leave him behind to avoid spreading the virus. Meanwhile Shylah Cosmo is on a mission to track the creators of the virus and remain unseen. When Draden gets hit by a lucky shot from one of the terrorists, Shylah helps him and becomes exposed to the virus herself.
The story hooked me from the beginning. Draden and Shylah are compelling characters that the reader can root for. They felt three-dimensional and gained depth as the story progressed. The internal and external conflicts were well defined and arose out of characterization and circumstance rather than feeling contrived or forced. The stakes and tension were high enough to make this a page turner.
While this novel had plenty of action, it was much more than that. While this is a paranormal romantic suspense story, there were no instant steamy scenes. They did not occur until about 75% through the book. Instead, the story line built up to those scenes in a way that fit the characters' circumstances. The novel also tackles several themes including hemorrhagic viruses, biological terrorism, greed, power plays, romance, and much more.
Overall, the author did a great job of worldbuilding. The writing was absorbing, compelling, and compulsively readable. The plot was suspenseful, appealing, thought-provoking and perfectly-paced. I look forward to reading the next book in this series....more
A SPELL FOR TROUBLE by Esme Addison is the first book in the An Enchanted Bay paranormal cozy mystery series. The story takes place in Bellamy Bay, NoA SPELL FOR TROUBLE by Esme Addison is the first book in the An Enchanted Bay paranormal cozy mystery series. The story takes place in Bellamy Bay, North Carolina and the author does a great job of world-building. Alexandra Daniels lost her mother when she was young and recently lost her father. She hasn’t been to visit her aunt and cousins in North Carolina since she was a child. Instead, she has focused on her career in risk management in New York. However, she decides to accept an invitation and visit her relatives and help them for a few weeks in their family business, an herbal apothecary.
Alex is a compelling character that is engaging and someone you can root for. Her goals were clear and proactive enough to influence the plot with believable motivations. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. I was immediately drawn into the story and the vivid descriptions of the seaside town gave me a great sense of the place.
There are a lot of themes woven into this story including murder, marital affairs, secrets, rumors, family rivalries, making wrong assumptions, the importance of family, and much more. While I guessed who the murderer was, there were several twists and turns along the way and one very large surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy this genre. It is the first book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to the next one. I liked how magic was weaved into the plot of this cozy mystery without overwhelming it. This was a solid start to a new series that was engaging and entertaining.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Esme Addison for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
HERO’S HAVEN by Rebecca Zanetti is the eleventh book in the Dark Protectors paranormal romantic suspense series. It worked as a stand-alone novel for HERO’S HAVEN by Rebecca Zanetti is the eleventh book in the Dark Protectors paranormal romantic suspense series. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me and is the second book that I have read in the series this year. However, I believe reading the previous books would likely add to a reader’s enjoyment of the novel.
The story takes place in several fantasy worlds as well as several western USA states including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Haven Daly dreams of a tormented man every night and thinks she can talk to him. During the day, she paints him and has even got a showing of her art in a gallery. Meanwhile, Quade Kayrs has experienced pain, torture, and isolation for lifetimes. He keeps his sanity through visions of a beautiful woman. Haven is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t easily succumb to heavy-handed protectiveness. Much to her amazement she is also an unusual blend of species making her a target for multiple groups. Meanwhile, Quade is dealing with new technology, family reunions, and a woman who won’t do as he demands.
The story had me hooked quickly and the tension and action as well as the romantic sparks did not let up throughout the book. The main characters are compelling and well developed with clear goals and motivations. The story delivers on the promise of its opening scenes and includes demons, vampires, steamy romance scenes, species hybrids, fae, humor, enemies, other dimensions, murder, kidnappings, brotherhood, vows, family, adoption, humor, the expected alpha males, and so much more.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy this genre. The plot was engrossing, fast-paced, action-packed, entertaining and thought-provoking. The world-building was intriguing and very visual. The ending was satisfying and intense. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Thanks to Kensington Books / Lyrical Underground and Rebecca Zanetti for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
TURNED by Julie Kenner is the third book in the Blood Lily Chronicles urban fantasy series. This is not the first book that I have read by this authorTURNED by Julie Kenner is the third book in the Blood Lily Chronicles urban fantasy series. This is not the first book that I have read by this author, but it is the first one that I have read in this series.
Lily Carlyle died and came back as an assassin for the light in a new body. However, her cover as a double agent is blown. She and her sister Rose who is also in a new body are about to die at the hands of a powerful demon. Will they both survive?
The story takes place in Boston and while it starts with what is a tense and should be an exhilarating scene, I just could not get fully engaged with Lily and her struggles. There are a lot of fight scenes in the book and the beginning and ending were stronger than the middle. I found my attention going everywhere except to the story I was reading.
Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. However, it may work quite well if you read the first two books in the series before attempting this one....more
THE VANISHING ANGLE by Linda Ladd is the fifth book in the Will Novak thriller series. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me and is only the second THE VANISHING ANGLE by Linda Ladd is the fifth book in the Will Novak thriller series. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me and is only the second book that I have read in the series, but I believe reading the previous books would likely add to a reader’s enjoyment of the novel.
The story takes place in several states along the east coast of the USA and in Quebec, Canada. Will Novak is a private detective that has sailed his boat up the Potomac River to meet his girlfriend Lori Garner for dinner followed by two weeks of sailing. Lori currently works at the Pentagon and both of them are veterans. However, Will is kidnapped, drugged and taken to a farm in Virginia; and this is just the beginning of the adventure.
The story had me hooked by the end of the first chapter and the tension and action did not let up throughout the book. The main characters are compelling and someone you can root for and they are well developed with clear goals and motivations. The story delivers on the promise of its opening scenes. Themes explored include espionage, drug trafficking, corruption, murder, lies, deceit, child abuse, child trafficking, abuse of power and much more.
Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy thrillers. The plot was engrossing, moving and thought-provoking. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Thanks to Kensington Books / Lyrical Underground and Linda Ladd for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
A MYSTERIOUS MIX UP by J.C. Kenney is the third book in Allie Cobb cozy mystery series. The novel takes place in Indiana. It worked as a stand-alone nA MYSTERIOUS MIX UP by J.C. Kenney is the third book in Allie Cobb cozy mystery series. The novel takes place in Indiana. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me, but I believe reading the previous books would likely add to a reader’s enjoyment of the novel. I rated this one 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4 stars.
In this story, Allie Cobb returns home from a book conference and is looking forward to time with her cat Ursula (Ursi), her boyfriend Brent and his dog Sammy. Brent managers the installation of genealogy departments in libraries around the state and volunteers at the local library as well. The librarian, Vicky Napier, has been Allie’s mentor since she was in school. Allie and Brent find Vicky almost dead on the library floor. Who would want to kill her when she is ready for retirement? Allie feels she has to find the culprit, especially when Brent is on the police suspect list. While trying to solve the case, she is also looking for an intern to help her in her literary agency and finds time to visit friends and family.
The writing is appealing and entertaining. Allie feels three-dimensional and has clear goals with believable motivations. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. There are several red herrings, but I did determine the real culprit ahead of the book reveal. Several themes are explored in this book including murder, the difficulties of running a small business, small town dynamics, friendship, family, and much more.
I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend this series to those that enjoy cozy mysteries that include small towns and pets. This is the first novel that I have read by this author, and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Thanks to Kensington Books / Lyrical Underground and J.C. Kenney for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
RIVER OF LIES by R.M. Greenaway is the fifth book in the B.C. Blues Crime series. The novel takes place mainly in North Vancouver, Canada. It worked aRIVER OF LIES by R.M. Greenaway is the fifth book in the B.C. Blues Crime series. The novel takes place mainly in North Vancouver, Canada. It worked as a stand-alone novel for me, but I believe reading the previous books would likely add to a reader’s enjoyment of the novel.
In this story, the North Shore RCMP brave the February wind, rain and cold to solve the murder of a young woman at the Riverside Secondary School as well as the disappearance of a young child during a dinner party. While Constable JD Temple focuses on the school murder, Constables Dave Leith and Cal Dion work the kidnapping.
The writing is engrossing and polished and I found myself mentally and emotionally involved with the characters in the story. There are a lot of characters that had very distinct flaws and a few that had virtues, but they all felt real and three-dimensional. The plot is complicated and had lots of twists and turns in this police procedural. As the story evolves, more layers are added to the mystery. Many themes are explored in this book including murder, relationships, drug use, deception, family, lying, secrets, custody battles over children and much more. While the school murder and the child’s disappearance are resolved in the book, there are other issues that are left open for future books. There are a lot of characters in this book and reading the series in order would likely help readers in this regard.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend this series to those that enjoy complicated police procedurals. This is the first novel that I have read by this author, and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
Thanks to Dundurn Press and R.M. Greenaway for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
WICKED COWBOY WOLF by Kait Ballenger is the third book in the Seven Range Shifters series. The novel takes place mainly in Montana and Idaho and the fWICKED COWBOY WOLF by Kait Ballenger is the third book in the Seven Range Shifters series. The novel takes place mainly in Montana and Idaho and the first chapter drew me into the story of Jared Black and Maeve Gray.
In this story the wolf shifters work as ranchers. Jared was cast out of his pack for a crime he did not commit. Now he is known as Rogue, a shifter known to be a criminal. Maeve wants to save her species from the vampires. The two enter into an uneasy alliance.
This book has plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. It also has several steamy and passionate scenes. The attraction between Rogue and Maeve was front and center throughout the book. However, there is also suspense, deception, adventure, battles and much more. The characters are compelling and someone you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional with believable motivations. Additionally, they reacted to events in a plausible manner. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of time and place.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy paranormal romance with some suspense and adventure. I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Kait Ballenger for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
ALWAYS GOODBYE by Ray Hecht is an autobiography using a comic format. This is not the type of book that I normally read, but it was well done. I ratedALWAYS GOODBYE by Ray Hecht is an autobiography using a comic format. This is not the type of book that I normally read, but it was well done. I rated it 3.5 stars. To me, this rating means it was a good book and well-crafted.
The book starts out with Ray’s parents and then quickly switches to Ray’s life from his birth in Israel to his life in the Midwest region of the USA to California to China and finally to Taiwan. The story is organized by year including 2019.
The first thing that struck me is the quality of the caricatures. The second thing was that this was an interesting medium to use for an autobiography. Upon reflection, I believe this format could be used for biographies of historical figures as well as artists, musicians, scientists and many others. If it was aimed at teens, it might get them interested in reading and learning when traditional biographies may seem staid and dry.
Themes explored in the author’s story include tragic mistakes, family, pop culture, drugs, isolation, travel, writing, dating, relationships, friendship and much more.
This story is not one that I will soon forget. The lows and highs that a person’s life can take came through extremely well in this format. I felt that some of the occasional bad language could have been toned down and was not needed to make the point. However, overall, the story is moving, fascinating and skillfully done.
Thanks to Ray Hecht for a copy of this novel and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
BLOOD & ASH by Deborah Wilde is a well-written urban fantasy detective book with a side of romance. It is book one in the Jezebel Files series.
This sBLOOD & ASH by Deborah Wilde is a well-written urban fantasy detective book with a side of romance. It is book one in the Jezebel Files series.
This story mainly takes place in Vancouver, Canada where some people have magic and others don’t. Ashira Cohen is the only female private investigator in Vancouver and she works on non-magical cases. When she takes on a missing person case, she feels it will be an easy case. However, she is attacked and hits her head. A hidden tattoo is revealed and, much to her amazement, she finds that she has supernatural powers. Added to this there are multiple abductions, an evil mastermind organization and a need to work with Levi, the leader of the magic community.
This book is described as a snarky urban fantasy detective series. I agree that it delivers on this, but it is much more than that. It has a strong protagonist, complex mysteries to be solved, likeable secondary characters, great world building and some steamy romance. The main characters are someone you can root for and they definitely have distinct voices. The relationships between the characters are believable. There is plenty of action as well as some humor to offset some of the darker scenes. The romance has potential as the series develops.
I recommend this fast-paced book to those that enjoy urban fantasies with both mystery and a bit of romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also want to check out this author’s Nava Katz series.
Thanks to Te Da Media / Xpresso Book Tours and Deborah Wilde for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
HEMS & HOMICIDE by Elizabeth Penney is a well-written cozy mystery. It is book one in the Apron Shop series.
This story takes place in and around BlueHEMS & HOMICIDE by Elizabeth Penney is a well-written cozy mystery. It is book one in the Apron Shop series.
This story takes place in and around Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris Buckley moved back to her home town when her grandfather was ill. With his death, she decides to stay home and she and her grandmother Anne decide to open a local store Ruffles and Bows to complement Iris’ online retail endeavor. She sells hand-made aprons and they are adding hand-made and vintage linens to the inventory for the store. While starting the retail space renovation a skeleton is found in the basement. Anne recognizes a scarf on the skeleton that belonged to an old friend. When a second body shows up in the store, Anne becomes a prime suspect.
Iris and Anne are both likeable characters and the secondary characters enhance the story and add depth to the story. The author did a great job in depicting the small town atmosphere without making the situations feel contrived. There are plenty of red herrings in the story line along with a fast pace. It was certainly an entertaining read. This book contains plenty of themes ranging from murder, family relationships, romantic relationships, small towns, business start-ups, friendship, and much more.
I recommend this book to those that enjoy cozy mysteries with a hint of romance. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I also want to check out this author’s other series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Elizabeth Penney for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
SECRETS AND DECEPTIONS by Lorelei Confer is a well-written romantic suspense novel and is book three in the Saddle Creek series. It worked well as a sSECRETS AND DECEPTIONS by Lorelei Confer is a well-written romantic suspense novel and is book three in the Saddle Creek series. It worked well as a stand-alone novel.
This story takes place in and around Saddle Creek, Wyoming. Avri Lawrence and Dillion Davidson were high school sweethearts. While Avri heads to college to become a lawyer, Dillion enlists in the military and leaves her broken-hearted despite his promise to return. He returns four years later and they are still attracted to each other, but both of them have also changed and both have secrets. However, when Avri’s life is threatened, she wonders if Dillion will help her.
Avri and Dillion are compelling and complex characters and definitely a couple you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and both had flaws and virtues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. The story has a lot of tension and several intense scenes.
Themes weaved into this novel include PTSD, picking up relationships after several years, feelings of betrayal and abandonment, trust, long-term friendships, communication, and much more.
Overall, I was fully engaged from the beginning and hoping for a happily ever after ending. Does it happen or do they go their separate ways?
I recommend this book to those that enjoy their romance with some suspense. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Thanks to Backlit PR and Lorelei Confer for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
1/21/2020 Update: It is now 2 weeks prior to publication and I can now post my review here.
THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE by Jonathan Kellerman is the 35th book1/21/2020 Update: It is now 2 weeks prior to publication and I can now post my review here.
THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE by Jonathan Kellerman is the 35th book in the Alex Delaware series. This is a favorite series of mine and this installment did not let me down.
Los Angeles Police Lieutenant and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware team up again when four people are found dead and strangely displayed in car at a vacant mansion in Bel Air. Multiple causes of death and a lot of twists, turns and blind alleys make for a great police procedural.
The story grabbed me right away and kept me turning the pages. The interactions between the characters are always great. In this case, several detectives also worked on the case and added to the depth of the plot. The characters felt real and three-dimensional. The characters acted in a plausible way.
This story was very complex and takes a look at the dark side of art, of homelessness, and of a demented mind. Other themes include revenge and violence. There are some graphic scenes depicted and there is some exploration of detectives dealing with the aftermaths of violence. The ending was dramatic and unexpected.
Overall, this was a page-turner that kept me engaged throughout. I recommend this book to those that enjoy great police procedurals and those that enjoy this series. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their growth over time.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books and Jonathan Kellerman for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review to come around 1/21/2020 (two weeks prior to publication per publisher's request)....more
COLD HEART CREEK by Lisa Regan is the seventh book in the Detective Josie Quinn series. This book worked well as a standalone novel for me, but the prCOLD HEART CREEK by Lisa Regan is the seventh book in the Detective Josie Quinn series. This book worked well as a standalone novel for me, but the previous books would likely add more background and show character evolution over time.
This story takes place in and around Denton, Pennsylvania. When a park ranger finds two bodies near Cold Heart Creek, Detective Josie Quinn and her boyfriend, Lieutenant Noah Fraley and many others from the Denton police force work the case. When combing the area, a third sleeping bag is found and the team is not only looking for cause of death for the couple, but looking for the third person that was camping with them.
Josie and Noah are compelling characters and someone you can root for. They felt real and three-dimensional and definitely had both flaws and virtues. Their motivations were believable and the secondary characters were well-rounded and contributed to the story rather than detracting from it. There were plenty of plot twists and turns as well as red herrings. While the romantic relationship between Josie and Noah was weaved into the plot, it did not detract from the story line.
Themes weaved into this novel include domestic violence, PTSD, a strange commune, murder, caverns, heat, rain, kidnapping and much more. This was a complicated case and Josie and the team had to cut through the lies in order to find the truth.
Overall, I was hooked immediately in the first chapter and the pages kept turning. The novel kept me engaged throughout. I recommend this book to those that enjoy thrillers, great police procedurals and those that enjoy this series. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and Lisa Regan for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
THE SEEKING SERUM by Frank L. Cole is the third and final book in the Middle grade children’s fantasy Potion Masters series. I rated this one 3.5 starTHE SEEKING SERUM by Frank L. Cole is the third and final book in the Middle grade children’s fantasy Potion Masters series. I rated this one 3.5 stars and rounded down to 3 stars. The only reason that I rounded it down is that this is the only book in the series that I have read and I was completely lost in the beginning of the book. There are terms and categories of people that are unique to this fantasy world that were not initially apparent. As the book goes on, the reader gains the necessary knowledge, but it was somewhat bewildering to someone that had not read books one and two.
Our main protagonist is Gordy Stitser, an eighth-grade student with the ability to make potions. He and his family are hiding since his evil grandfather stole the Vessel which is the source of power for all potion masters. So, this is a fight of good versus evil with Gordy and his school friends playing major roles in the effort for good.
The plot is interesting and the goals of the characters are clear. Their interactions and motivations are believable and well-drawn. The battle scenes are described well and are mind-boggling. The scenes progress in a compelling manner with effective transitions.
Overall, this book was unique and interesting and I enjoyed it. The mechanical inventions and potions not only played a major role in the story, but were original and even somewhat strange. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy this genre with the caveat that they read the series in order.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Frank L. Cole for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
THE BURNING ROOM by Michael Connelly is the seventeenth book in the Harry Bosch series and it still has the ability to draw me into the story and keepTHE BURNING ROOM by Michael Connelly is the seventeenth book in the Harry Bosch series and it still has the ability to draw me into the story and keep me engaged throughout the book. This is a well-written police procedural.
Harry is working in the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit, has about a year left until retirement and is partnered with rookie Detective Lucia Soto. A man dies from complications from a bullet ten years earlier and Harry and Lucy catch the politically sensitive case.
Both Harry and Lucy were compelling and well-drawn characters with clear goals. There was enough at stake and enough tension throughout to make it a page-turner for me. The plot twists were believable, but not totally unexpected. The scenes progressed in a realistic, compelling manner. Harry's softer side came through in his relationship with his teenage daughter. While the main story was resolved, there was a cliffhanger at the end of the book that I felt should have been resolved here rather than in another book.
I recommend this series to those than enjoy police procedurals.I look forward to reading more books in this series....more
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