Review: Caught by Surprise

Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this delightful story. It is the 3rd, and you'd probably do best reading the first 2 before this one because the cast of characters is gigantic. So gigantic that you might get lost like I did.

We have two main characters (MC). Temperance and Gilbert who grew up together, went about their separate lives, and then were thrown back together by her evil-minded cousins. At least for most of the book they are evil-minded.

There is some great writing here as well as pretty good plot development. However, the problem is there are too many characters to wrap your head around if you didn't read the first 2 books. It felt like this book was the wrap up so there were lots of story threads that had to be knotted and woven back into the tapestry of the overarching storyline. In some places the thing is extremely predictable. In other places, the story is quite surprising and full of humor. There is a slight mystery going on in the background. But don't worry there isn't one strand or thread left undone.

I got to what I thought was the perfect ending and realized there were several more chapters. Again, this was for the first 2 books. This might be a good way to write to sell books. I don't know. There was quite a bit that didn't interest me.

However, from the very first page the reader is drawn into a delightful story about two people who do not know they love each other, lots and lots of money, parents killed in the Amazon jungle, evil cousins, and several eccentric, peripheral characters that give you a few belly laughs.

Received this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

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Review: Justice Betrayed

Justice Betrayed by Patricia Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very well written!

Love the premise of an Elvis week in Memphis. You don't really get a great feel for Memphis the town, but Patricia Bradley does an excellent job of characterizations. These are real Southern people in a big city (not like New York, but not small town, either). Believable characters in a stand alone story, even though it's the 3rd in the series. I didn't get lost or feel like I missed something, or even like I started reading in the middle. That is hard for a writer to do, and Bradley does it well.

Suspense is good, maybe not edge of your seat, but you find out as Dect. Sloane finds out, so you can detect along with her. I really like that. You've also got a nice romance that walks along with you. The romance isn't the main focus, but it is a nice sub-story that lends interest.

The mystery is good. Also rare these days that a mystery author plays by the rules. Nothing is held back for a "surprise" ending. If you pay attention, you'll know whodunit. But that doesn't detract from the story or the mystery.

One thing I don't like is for an author to get into the head of the murderer for a chapter or so. Why? There was really no point here, either. Motive for murder is totally different than the reason why someone is capable of murder (or even has committed murder before). Motive is a driving force. It's compelling and must be believable. Here motive is believable, but it is a little blurred. Yet, that blurring is rather compelling as well. Sorry for the mixed signals here, it's just that I'm waffling between the extra info and if it was really necessary to move the story along, or if it was kept because it was good writing and very suspenseful. Don't know. So you'll have to get the book and find out for yourself. If you form an opinion on it, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.

Received this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

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Review: Lost Solace

Lost Solace by Karl Drinkwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lost Solace is a good read. It isn't hard science. It has a lot of heart. Opal is a believable character, and the AI is quite fun. There is a great deal of tension and some scary parts. All good and woven well together.

One irritating factor is that we've got a mystery to the reader, but the MC Opal and the MC Clarissa (AI) know the answer. That just doesn't work for me. If the MC knows, then the reader should know. The people after Opal know. Everyone in the story knows what Opal wanted and needed, but the reader is left in the dark about it. That seems more like an underhanded ploy for suspense than good writing.

However, we are taken on a roller coaster ride with lots of action when the "bad" guys show up. Lots of suspense and tension when gravity does what comes natural to it. Plus there is the interaction between Opal and Clarissa that adds some pretty good spice to the stew.

Oh and the language is a bit rough.

Four of Five stars.
Received this book from NetGalley This is my honest review.

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Review: Burden of Proof

Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is one of DiAnn Mills' best novels ever. The tension, the characters, the stakes, the story take a grip on your heart and never let go.

What's great is these characters are believable, so much like real life characters. There's a little humor, a lot of suspense, some seemingly impenetrable mystery, and a desperate, handsome, loving father who is trying to figure out why it's all happening. He draws FBI special agent April into the fray--or rather his baby daughter does.

What's not to like about this story?

Romance is good.
Suspense is good.
Mystery is good.
It's a page-turner. So you won't go wrong by purchasing this book.

Five of Five stars.
(Received this book from Netgalley. This is my honest review.)

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Review: Brilliant Disguise

Brilliant Disguise by Mary Anne Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a good read, although it drags a bit in the middle. This is one mystery/romance that works well. The blend of it works well. However, telling the story from 2 main POVs limits the tension on the Whodunit part of the book. There isn't really enough given during the investigation to indicate Whodunit except at the very end. But it was done well because the reader finds out as the MC finds out. I hate it when a character finds out something but the author keeps it a secret to reveal at the end. That really bugs me.

So the characters are developed well. You care about what happens, although the beginning the MC has a basic mental breakdown that seems to evaporate almost immediately when the 2nd MC appears. Not quite, but almost. Not all that believable.

All in all, a good read.

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Review: Darkwater Secrets

Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Robin Caroll does a pretty good job of depicting New Orleans the way I know it. Daughter lives there with hubby who grew up there. The novel captures the flavors and people fairly well.

From the first page, I was captivated with the premise and story line. However, the romance part of it whines through the whole book. You know right off who is mooning over whom. But they just make cow eyes at each other without really noticing. I found that very irritating. It is very similar to the hash rehash that a lot of authors do when characters are trying to make a decision about something. You keep covering the same ground with them and it moves forward at the pace of glaciers, and about as interesting as watching ice melt.

However, the mystery is very good, and extremely intriguing. Well done, Robin, well done.

Got this book from Netgalley, and this is my honest review about the book.

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Review: Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man

Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man by Lynn Vincent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was incredibly impressed with the attention to detail and the wonderful narrative that just drew me in immediately from the first page. It is rather intensive, and there are several points of view that made it a little hard to follow at first, however after a few chapters it was easier. This is true history, not fiction, but written in novel-type prose. Excellent job authors! Thanks for the opportunity to learn about the Indianapolis!

Received this book from Netgalley for honest review.

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Review: Thief of Corinth

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a joy to read. I know quite a lot about 1st Century Roman culture and this is very authentic. No missteps, and what a joy, no modernisms. Yea!

Even though no modernisms, the dialogue and narrative are understandable, no Greek syntax. (Read an authentic translation of The Odyssey and you'll understand what I mean.)

Not only are the characters well developed, but they actually grow in maturity. That's very hard to do when writing. Most authors tend to develop characters with one voice and the character stays there. Here Tessa Afshar allows the first person voice to mature from teenage to full woman, to learn what is truly important in life. Also Justice (one of the MCs) has the maturity to hold back until the young girl matures. Great development plot point.

The plot is simple and complicated at the same time. There are numerous things going on, and quite a tangle that is unwoven in surprising ways. This is not a predictable romance. And the motives of the characters are as varied as the characters. Some surprising revelations happen.

I was enthralled.

No hash rehash of angst.
No character stepping out of character or being forced. Each flowed naturally on the page.
The pace is fairly fast, although there are some motives/actions of one or two characters that don't ring quite true, but I'll let you figure that out yourself.

Good reading. Wonderful faith truths woven through out. I recognized Dionysius the Aeropagite was a real person in 1st Century. I recognized the name, but Dionysius was a common name. Not until Ariadne found out her brother had been invited to become a Aeropagite did I know it was really him. Then I thought Justice might be the Christian Justice that helped Paul--not in this book though, although it still could be him.

[spoiler alert] I liked the way Paul healed the papa (forgotten his name). It was miraculous, but not walk on water miraculous. That fits so well into how some healings happened--Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus. No explanation, just a sentence in Ephesians.

Five of five stars. A worthy read

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Review: Goodnight Wishes!

Goodnight Wishes! by Leea Baltes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Leea did a wonderful job depicting this story. Plenty to look and and discuss.

Being a believer in Jesus and through whom all things were created, I hesitate to highly recommend this book because it trembles on top of the fence with wishes (hence the name of the story) and prayers of the mama mouse. The stars and moon do tell the mama that the blessings come from the one who created them, but most of the story is about wishing with all your heart, and blessings coming after wishing and doing as much as you can.

Without getting into deep theological reasoning here I can see how this book is perfect for those kinds of discussions that Christians want to have with their children even as young as three years old. It is sure to draw out questions as long as you make sure your child is getting the message you want her or him to hear.

This book can go either way... just a fun, sweet story with a wonderful happy ending, or a way to talk to your child about belief in God the Creator, prayers, and how blessings do come from prayers when faith is exercised.

I am going to read this to my granddaughter who loves Jesus with all her heart even at 3 years old. I am going to talk to her about the difference between wishes and prayers. I think it is a great discussion starter which is why I gave it 4 stars. If it had greater emphasis on God than on wishing on the moo, I would have given it 5 stars.

I really love the illustrations!

I received this from the author. No exchange agreement was made. This is my honest opinion.

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Review: Ashes of Glass

Ashes of Glass by E.J. Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A refreshing of the Cinderella story with a faith foundation. Very nice. Good writing, character development, and interesting intrigue. I quite enjoyed this novel. It is a fairly quick read, and isn't as predictable as it might seem.

You'll enjoy getting to know Ella, who is a scullery maid promoted to chamber maid. She is a very good girl with some very unsavory characters out to see to her harm.

I received this book from the author, and this is my honest review.

4 of 5 stars

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Review: When Hearts Rekindle

When Hearts Rekindle by Janet Syas Nitisk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had forgotten what it is like to hold a real paperback in my hands to read. This book brought back all those old (and tender feelings) of staying up late, and reading in my bed. Great memories.

This is a good romance, third in the series, but very stand alone. Didn't feel lost even once. It has a very interesting premise. Broken relationship creates need to get away and do something else. And that something else is going to nursing school and meeting a new fella, a fella that is good, kind, thoughtful and lovely to love.

Nursing school in the 1890s was extremely viable. At one point in the 1890s there were more women in the medical field than men. That is when medical schools started restricting registrations of women into the school, and that is when nursing school registrations swelled. The historical aspects of this novel are very good and accurate. So read on history buffs!

Nitisk does a great job of giving good reasons for the two main characters to fall in love with each other. That is something that isn't exactly rare, but it isn't exactly run-of-the-mill either these days. I was glad to see not only those reasons, but also a strong faith aspect in this novel. The characters have a lot of challenges to face, they grow, they grow up, they make mistakes, and they live life. I also like the way Nitisk uses anticipation to keep the pages turning. Of course, the build up to the climax gives you a blatant clue as to how it all turns out, but I won't go there--you need to read that for yourself.

There are some problems with the editing, though, typos and some grammar errors. I do mention those because being an editor these errors are like neon signs to me. They are story flow dams that need a blast of editing to break it all loose so the reader can hit the rapids.

I was talking to a publisher a few days ago, and he still has a disdain for indie published books. At the top of his list were these same kinds of errors. Anyone reading this and who is an indie author, please get your work professionally edited. It truly will lift you from being just a good writer to being a great writer.

Nitisk is a good writer. As you read, you can smell the dirt and grime, feel the heat and cold wind, smell the cigar smoke--that is good writing. Great writing is creating a wonderful river-like flow for the reader where you rush through the rapids, slow down through the deep water, and splash in the shallows. That's the kind of ride that keeps readers buying books

Four of five stars. This book is worth the money, and you'll enjoy the read.

I received this book from the author. This review is my honest opinion.

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Review: Sam: The Cat Without A Tail

Sam: The Cat Without A Tail by Gloria Lintermans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful illustrations, quite colorful and attention keeping!

The story moves quickly and with the interactions among the cats, it lightly delves into the realm of self-esteem and how others can make one feel unwanted because of differences. The story also touches on how differences makes you unique and suited for different achievements.

Really good story for discussing these complicated issues with young ones. I can't wait to read it to my grandchildren.

I also like how Gloria subtly points out using our skills to do for others helps put self-esteem in the proper perspective.

I read the eBook version and it works very well as an eBook read.

The author gave me this book, and my voluntary review is above.

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