This was a really good book with a great storyline. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The only thing I didn’t like was the changing of the person who was talking. You had to look to see which character was talking. Other than that it was a great story.
Literature & Fiction
Shocks at Shipley Academy
Twins torn apart. A terrible secret hidden in a school’s past. Follow two children as they try to uncover the truth and, finally, bring a family together.
I did not like this book and I honestly don’t believe a teenage would like it. The book was poorly written.
I won this book in exchange for a honest review.
Jackson
This is a great read. I started reading the book thinking it was going to be about a mother being taking out of the Jackson mental hospital in Louisiana. She was indeed taken from the hospital and had some major mental problems but the book was about a mother and her daughters in Jackson, Mississippi during the school desegregation.
Jody Luther is a 15 years old. She is in high school, has a job, takes care of her younger sister and deals with her mentally ill mother. If that is not enough it was happening during the civil rights movement in 1970.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
Murder in the First Edition
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Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott is the third book in Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. While the book wasn’t a page turner it was a easy and enjoyable read. Yes, there was a murder but it will not have you hiding under the bed. You get characters who are likable and a murder to solve. All the time you are trying to find out who the murderer is and which man Addie is going to pick.
I would like to thank Lauren Eliott, Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Secrets of Lost Stones
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I was surprised that The Secrets of Lost Stones was Melissa Payne’s first book. It was great. The kind that keeps you up all night reading just one more chapter. It has everything; mystery, drama and spirits to keep you awake. You would never think this is the authors first book.
Jess and Star are both damaged from the past and trying to heal. Lucy, a little old lady who is known as “the witch of Pine Lake”, takes them into her home. None of them know how they are connected.
The book was well written. The characters were believable and the end was a total surprise. I never saw it coming.
I also want the thank Netgalley, Lake Union and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review. All opinions are my own.
Three, Four … Better Lock Your Door
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Three, Four … Better Lock Your Door is a very good book. It is not a book that you can’t put down but it is good. It will hold your attention.
Rebekka is a news reporter out to find a killer, along with her friend/photographer, Sune. She gathers as many facts as she can on the murders and the victims trying to solve the mystery. Even though there were hints to who the murderer was it was still a surprise when the identity was revealed.
The location of the book was in Denmark but it could have been in any city or town in the United States. That was no problem reading the book. There were several murders but they were not disturbing.
I liked the book and recommend it.
I also want the thank the publisher and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
Spring House
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I want to thank NetGalley, Mary Ellen Taylor and Montlake for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
This book has it all, romance, mystery, family history and lots of secrets. It was written in current time and the past. At first I thought it would be hard to read but it was a very easy and enjoyable book. The fact that it was the second book in a series wasn’t a problem either. If anything it convinced me to read the first book, Winter Cottage.
While Megan is renovating a house she finds letters written by Diane during the early 1900’s. Diane’s mother died when she very young. Her father sent her to live with a Mrs. LeBlanc, a shady woman who took Diane to France. The letters reveal the story of her life.
At the same time she was reading the letters Megan was dealing with problems and changes in her own life. There is a dead man, a live man, a teenager, a best friend, a baby and a busybody almost mother in law.
This is a really good book. I highly recommend it.
A Matter of Will
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I want to thank NetGalley and Little Bird Publicity for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review/opinion.
A Matter of Will is not the type of book that I usually read. In fact, I thought I would not like it. The beginning gives you the idea that the book will be all about the stock market and a broker. While Will is a broker the book is a mystery and somewhat thriller.
The book is the story of a naïve and struggling broker on Wall Street, his attorney girlfriend, seedy Sam and a she-devil named Evelyn. The story takes several turns and is full of adventure, subterfuge, romance, collusion, murder, profiteering and a little bit of stupidly. To be honest, there was a lot of stupidly. Put all that together and you have a good book.
I am going to stop at that. Anymore from me, you will not need to buy the book. That would be a shame because it is a good book.
All Eyes on Me (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 1)
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I would like to thank the publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
While I enjoyed the book and it was a good story there were parts that did not seem to be believable. There was too much that would never happen in the real world. The police would never hire PI’s to investigate a murder, especially a high profile case or allow the PI’s to conduct a press briefing on their behalf. There were some places that I was thinking they should just get on with it. The scene in the casino was a complete waste of time and no way believable. If the author had stuck to the murder and who did it the story would have been better. The idea was great.
The end was good. I never saw that coming and it was a surprise. However, it could have been a little shorter. The walk around the neighborhood could have been cut in half.
At the end, I was glad I read the book.
At Home in Mitford
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Oh my gosh, this book… will restore your faith in humanity. I like to read it once in a while just to clear my mind of all the bad stuff of this world and get lost in a little innocent hamlet with the village parson and the quirky townsfolk. The thing is though, Jan Karon can WRITE. She’s a really amazing writer and never resorts to cheesiness. It is actually very funny, clever and uplifting. Get it, you will love it!
This is a tightly woven tapestry of village life in a not so fictional town in the western hills of North Carolina. Some live in quiet desperation, some are living large and out loud, and some are just trying to live.
This is an exploration of cultural cross pollination as seen through the eyes of Father Tim, an Episcopal Priest. There are secrets, hidden agendas, nefarious characters, bad actors, and all are in the need of reconciliation with God. In some cases they achieve the elusive redemption by “looking in the mirror”.
This is a great read for non-believers as well as mature Christians with a committed faith journey.
Have great joy in the journey.
This is really a review of the entire Mitford series which I have re-read too many times to count.
If you’re looking for gentle wit, a bit a sarcasm, likable characters, lovable dogs (a few cats), great story lines including some nice love stories, as well as great spiritual messages without it becoming preachy, you will love reading about Mitford and Father Tim.
Although Ms. Karon handles some pretty serious issues such as alcoholism, depression, and child abuse, it’s done without rubbing the reader’s nose in it. There’s no bad language, the strongest exclamation being “blast!”. Her books are G rated when it comes to sex. It’s clear when the characters are physically attracted to each other but you don’t follow them into the bedroom.
As the characters are developed over the course of the series, the books get better and better. In fact, when I first read the last two in the series, I immediately went back to the beginning and read them again because they were so good! 🙂 I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.
Shiloh to Canaan Book Nook 