Review: The Liberty Bride

The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MaryLu Tyndall writes a fairly good story. The premise is very good, the characters are well-developed. The love is not forced or rushed. Motivations in this story are well done for the most part. However, once again, like others in this series, it is too modernistic. Why are authors running away from historical facts and historical realisms. It is so sad that we have to water down history so much in order for "younger" readers or rather "modern" readers to get into the stories. If you don't mind reading a modern romance set in historical Revolutionary War time, then this one is for you.

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Review: As the Tide Comes In

As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book. It was quite a different sort of read. Slowly, the plot opens up and you finally understand this young woman -- I really hate flashbacks, I mean really hate them -- finds her kin and accepts the challenge of raising them. Flash forward and we have a multi-generational cast of characters that, in my opinion, are too many to keep track of comfortably. However, the story is quite intricate, and if you are serious about it, you discover an unusual premise that is a bit refreshing even with flashbacks.

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Review: Haddie's Guild : Prairie Mystery

Haddie's Guild : Prairie Mystery by Peggy Ryan Hembree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a refreshing and quite extraordinary read and premise. So different than most murder mysteries and faith is interwoven. Nicely done. I'll be looking for more by Hembree.

The characters were very well done--each with his/her own voice, and no stepping on each other. Great editing job, too. Loved the characters--even the villains. Not overdone and very well done whodunit. Kept me guessing.

The love story is sort of different, too. We're in the middle of this one where Joe got scared of commitment then thought better of it. Sometimes it is nice not to have to go through the on again off again junk that most romances follow. Usually, I dislike the way most authors try to weave romance into mysteries or thrillers. This one is very well done. Great job, Peggy! I'll be reading more :)

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Review: The Patriot Bride

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was okay. While I like most of what I've read by Kimberley Woodhouse, this one didn't impress me that much. I am a stickler for history and when an author takes liberties with real history it is off-putting to me. The characters seemed a bit too modern for me to have actually taken place back in 1776. It just isn't a true historical fiction book in the real sense of the genre. The romance is disjointed and rushed.

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Review: Rattles, the Barn Cat Misfit

Rattles, the Barn Cat Misfit by Arlene White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My granddaughter, 4, liked the story well enough, but it didn't have enough pictures for her. It is a sweet story.

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Review: A Missing Madonna

A Missing Madonna by Cicely van Straten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an insightful look at Christianity in Uganda. I would recommend this read for lots of reasons. It is definitely written from a Catholic point of view and gives insights to the warmth and deep love of God of the Uganda people.

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Review: Stratagem

Stratagem by Robin Caroll
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great one from Robin Caroll.

She grabs the reader and won't let go. I live very close to New Orleans, and Caroll really gets NOLA. There is a great flavor about the city that a lot of authors try to capture but don't. Caroll does.

Story premise is very good. Murder of an ex-wife and multiple culprits have motive to do her in, especially her ex-husband. Just the kind of gumbo mix that gives a lasting taste and satisfaction.

I won't spoil it for you, but I double dog dare you to figure this one out before the end. It's a great puzzler.

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Review: Stuck in Manistique

Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time.

It's unique in premise as well as the myriad of characters, some quirky and some with definite depths that I look forward to exploring in later books.

One of my favorite things about this book is the way Dennis Cuesta deals with death. Mostly it is the death of people hardly known, or not known very well. An aunt dies and leaves all her possessions to her nephew. What's so dramatic about that? A lot, and you'll be so glad you picked up this book to find out why.

I'm giving it four stars because I wasn't thrilled with the beginning. It was rather boring. I put it down, and then went back to it because I said I'd review the thing. I thought it would be a skim through, but instead, it gripped me in throws of laughter and sadness and surprise and at times made me want to have a sit-down talk with a character or two to get them set on the right track. You'll figure out who I'm talking about when you read the book.

Lively characters move the story along. Some just float in and float away, but isn't that how people do when they stay at a bed and breakfast? No one actually stays for long, but somehow things happen and some people change their minds, some people actually see the real benefits of being stuck in Manistique.

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Review: Trauma Recovery - Sessions with Dr. Matt: Narratives of Hope and Resilience for Victims with Ptsd

Trauma Recovery - Sessions with Dr. Matt: Narratives of Hope and Resilience for Victims with Ptsd by Matt E. Jaremko
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a gutsy book. I say that because not many readers like creative non-fiction where scientific points are made then illustrated with fictional illustrations. I know because I wrote a book using that format and didn't seel many copies. But I didn't have the credentials that Matt Jaremko has illustrated with the alphabet behind his name.

I'm not a therapist, nor am I someone who can really judge well what will help most people as they recover from trauma. So many people deal with it in so many different ways. I am a Christian who always goes to the Great Physician for healing--but I have had therapy a couple of times in my life to deal with some terrible issues. That's why it is always a good idea to leave that door open.

One of the purposes of this book is to help people understand how therapy works, and how it can help them deal with post traumatic stress disorder.

This book takes several different situations in fictional form and tackles the handling of PTSD in each situation. Because the situations are so varied, anyone suffering from PTSD will find pearls of wisdom and insights. There are some very good helps/resources in the back for you to walk through the kind of therapy that is depicted in this book.

I liked the book. I really liked the laymen's presentation so I could understand what was being depicted. I was very disappointed that faith wasn't presented as a major part of the healing process--but I didn't clarify that aspect with Dr. Jaremko before agreeing to review this book. So, that wasn't factored into my ranking. I liked it, but I didn't feel a deep connection with any of the people in the group therapy. Maybe it was the way the characters were depicted. I don't know. Maybe because it is so very difficult to write non-fiction with fictional illustrations to bring home the point.

Don't let that scare you away from the book. It can definitely be helpful to anyone that has suffered, is suffering PTSD and to those who are close to a person suffering PTSD.

I received this book from Dr. Matt Jaremko. This is my honest opinion of the book.

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Review: Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales: A Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology

Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales: A Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology by H.L. Burke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pretty good read overall.

The first story nabbed my attention with the first sentence. Loved it and it is worth buying the book. It set a really high standard for the rest of the stories, and for the most part they all lived up to it. Just one story I couldn't get into so didn't finish it. But the rest were good. That is high praise because I'm not generally a fantasy fan.

You don't have to like cats to love these stories. I have always had a cat for a pet and now I have two. They keep me laughing all the time, and these stories have some great chuckles in store for you. Yep, a worthy buy.

I received my ARC from the authors in eBook format. This is my honest opinion :)

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Review: The Secluded Village Murders

The Secluded Village Murders by Shelly Frome
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm glad I didn't know that Shelly Frome is male before I read this book. I have sort of a prejudice against male writers trying to get inside female heads and making the character believable. Female writers trying to get inside male heads gives me almost the same shudders, but not quite.

Therefore, I was surprised when I went to review this book and there's a photo of the author! A professor no less. While there wasn't quite the kind of female introspection in this story as in stories written by females, I thought it was the stiff-upper-lip type of British through processing. I like that writing style so didn't think much of it. That's the only difference I can tell.

If you don't like British style humor, or British style mysteries, then you won't like this book. The humor comes from the characters, and they are quirky, and they are wonderfully developed. I've met people just like these, and it was clear from the outset that Frome understands elderly people very well. After seeing his photo, I now know why. There is a great small town flavor about this story with all the small town secrets and busybodiness, too. It is a wonderful combination.

The story drags in a few places, but don't skip them because you'll miss some important clues. One thing I like about this book is the reader is given all the clues necessary to solve the mystery. Another thing I liked is that I figured it out, but not too early.

A most satisfying read.

Five of five stars.



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Review: A Printer’s Choice

A Printer’s Choice by W. L. Patenaude
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This has a bit of a slow start. Instead of starting with the murder, we are with the one man who can reason with the human-like printers. Then we backflash and jump heads a bit. It isn't so much confusing but quite disturbing to the reading flow. I wasn't gripped by this story because the characters didn't seem full-blown, living color to me at first, so I didn't care about the murder or the man who was going to solve the mystery.

However, the story grows on you. If you keep at it you'll find some literary gems that lend a good flavor to this story. There's a brief moment when I was transported back to my college campus movie night, blankets on the grass, the smell of mosquito repellant and the strains of 2001 Space Odessy, and Hal's voice ringing into the night air. Those are the almost human Printers that brought that memory back.

This is more a study in human condition than a murder mystery, in my opinion. I wanted to read it because of the mystery. Found a different kind of story, and it was enjoyable, just different.

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

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