Trendy but Fascinating Story

 

Nearly Beloved by Kendra Broekhuis

Dylan Turner has just lost her father.  And then the results of her DNA test come in, with some surprises.  Her life is turned upside down, her mother isn’t answering her questions and so she takes off to find answers on her own. 

The author has tapped into a vein that many about-to-be-thirty readers will identify with.  Her main character works at Trader Joe’s, lives alone with 2 guinea pigs, is distanced from her mother, and spends much of her time on her phone googling to find the answers to her life’s dilemmas.  Throw in her recent foray into the world of DNA, and you have a very trendy novel.

Her “Captain” is a lovable guy who may or may not find Dylan attractive.  He is also kind and attractive and supports her as she delves into her past.

In addition, I found the description of Dylan’s father fascinating, especially as Dylan parses out the truth about him and his narcissism.

The plot contains some twists which surprise the reader.  I was torn between wanting to finish the book and NOT wanting to finish the book so I could prolong the time with Dylan.

This book was  unusual but was  a story that many young adult readers will resonate with.  I am grateful to the publisher for this arc, in return for this, my honest review.

 

Wall Street Thriller

 

The Lies We Trade by Kristine Delano

Meredith Hansel, portfolio manager of a prestigious Wall Street firm, should be riding high on her success, but her life is falling apart.  Her home has been vandalized, her marriage is falling apart and her teenaged daughter is in trouble. Her job is in jeopardy and perhaps even her family’s lives are at stake. Betsey, her coworker, has been fired but keeps reappearing trying either to threaten or warn Meredith.  She must sort through the debris to look for clues as to what is happening and why.

This book was unusual in that it covered the life of a woman working on Wall Street.  Because of that, there were some parts of it that went over my head.  Still, the action was fast-paced and contained enough drama to keep me reading to try and figure out what would happen next. 

It was a very clean read and had some elements of faith, especially when Meredith remembered her grandmother’s example.  As the story resolved, faith played a bigger part in Meredith’s life.

I am grateful to the publisher for this complimentary arc in exchange for this, my honest review.

 

Unusual story with lyrical writing

 

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

There is much to like about this book:  the unusual setting and topic, the quirky characters, the unusual storyline, the plot twists that keep the reader guessing, the lyrical writing.

I totally enjoyed this book. It is infused with hope and unconditional love despite some desperate circumstances the characters experience.  Readers looking for a clean romantic read with imperfect characters who live out Christian principles, and a beautifully written story, should grab this book.

  I am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary arc in return for this, my honest review.

Intriguing Historical Fiction

 

The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee

This novel takes place in Oak Ridge Tennessee, the secret city during World War 2.  It covers 2 time periods, in the 1940’s and the late 1970’s. For her doctoral dissertation, Laurel wants to research what life was like in Oak Ridge during the time her Aunt Mae lived and worked there.  Aunt Mae believes that some secrets are best left buried and refuses to talk about her experiences.  But secrets have a way of coming to light and what will happen to Aunt Mae when they do?

There were many things to enjoy in this book.  The story was intriguing because of the setting and the plot.  The ending was unpredictable and kept the reader engaged.  The characters were likable.  It was well-researched and despite a technical subject, it was easy for the reader to comprehend. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am grateful to the publisher for the arc in exchange for this, my honest review.

New Biblical Fiction by Jill Eileen Smith

 Dawn of Grace by Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith’s books are ones that I pick up whenever possible.  She makes the Bible character come alive to the reader through detailed research and great thought regarding their motivation.  The same was true of this book about Mary of Magdalene.

I was viewing The Chosen while I read this book and much of what Smith proposed in her novel dovetailed with how the writers of the Chosen saw Mary. The book brought  her thoughts, feelings and love for Jesus alive for me.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story and imagining what it would be like to follow Jesus during his time here on earth.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary arc of this book in return for this, my honest opinion.

Great beach read!

 

What Not to Do on Vacation by Rachel Magee

Cora, Bianca and Savannah are spending a month at the beach at their family’s traditional vacation spot to honor their mother’s last wish.  Oldest sister Savannah has planned lots of summer bucket list activities, but the one activity not listed is to prevent youngest sister Bianca out of her plan to marry her fiancé whom she met online but has never met in person.  Of course, the plot becomes knottier, but I don’t want to spoil the story.

This story has lots of witty banter, some family and relationship drama, and lots of laughs plus a great setting.  Never mind that it isn’t unpredictable.  It is a great beach read and has a happy ending with an important lesson that all the sisters learn.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend who enjoys a clean and witty romcom.  I am grateful to the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Robert Whitlow's newest legal thriller

 

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

Joe Moore is serving a prison sentence for killing 2 innocent people while under the influence of meth.  He has come to terms with his guilt, accepted God’s forgiveness and begun to minister to his fellow inmates.  God is using him greatly to influence the other prisoners.  When his aunt decides she wants to re-open his case to see if he can be released early from prison, he isn’t sure what to think.  As the story proceeds, events begin to accelerate, and forces begin to conspire to keep Joe’s case closed. 

 This book held some unexpected surprises and plot twists, but it ended in a very satisfying manner.  The characters were worthy of admiration:   Joe, Ray and Deshaun for their faithful Christian witness in prison and Paige and Ryan for their spiritual journeys.  Even though Robert Whitlow’s writing style (and legal thrillers in particular) is not my favorite, I found much to like in this book. Readers who want to read a clean, suspenseful story will enjoy this book.  I am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary arc in return for this, my honest review.

 

 

 

Latest of Charles Martin's Keeper series

 

The Keeper by Charles Martin

This book, number 4 in the Keeper series, was full of surprises.  It does contain the same cast of characters as the previous book, with the addition of a few new ones.  It rehearses much of the last book to refresh the reader’s memory about the end of Bones’ life.  I found that helpful because it had been awhile since I had read the third book.  But the surprises take your breath away!  And the author keeps the door open for more stories in the series.

Readers who enjoy some action-packed adventure with a true hero—one worthy of admiration—will be glued to this book.  I am grateful to the publisher for the arc in return for this, my honest review.

Ellen Skrmetti's laugh out loud book

 

Hey Jesus, It’s Me by Ellen Skrmetti

Ellen talks to the reader about important parts of life in the south.  She covers topics like hot flashes, growing up southern, southern funerals, and unspoken prayer requests.  This is a quick, entertaining read and clues in us northerners about some of the things we’ve always wondered about our southern counterparts.  If you want a funny, laugh out loud read, containing a kernel of southern truths, this book is for you!

Connlilyn Cossette's latest book in The King's Men series

 

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette

The King’s Men book #2

This book tells Zevi’s story.  He was a boy that was kidnapped by the Philistines and later adopted by the Champion of Ashdod.  He is a soldier fighting for Israel, rising through the ranks to distinguish himself in King Saul’s men.  On his quest to conscript more soldiers for the army and to gather artisans for Saul’s court, he must return to his hometown.  He is drawn into a perfumer’s shop and is captivated by the scents and the artisan, Yochana.  This chance meeting changes the course of both of their lives.

I really enjoy the writing style of Connilyn Cossette.  This is the second book with these characters and I appreciated learning more about their histories. The characters are so well-drawn that I missed them when the book ended.  I also enjoyed learning more about life during the early history of the nation of Israel.

Even though this is the second of the books in this series, the author gives enough background information that this book can be read and appreciated on its own, but for the most enjoyment, the first book, Voice of the Ancient should be read first. Readers who enjoy biblical fiction will find much to enjoy in this series, as Connilyn Cossette does much research to give the reader an authentic experience in the history of the nation of Israel.  I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this, my honest opinion.

Cute picture book on the president's day

If Otis was POTUS by Slater Harry

 As a retired second grade teacher, this is a very child-friendly way to explain what life is like for the president.  The little dogs are cute, the rhyming text is fun although maybe a bit contrived in some spots, and the illustrations are warm and fun.  The real-life pictures of the dog characters at the end add a very special feature that kids will love.  I can easily imagine reading this to a classroom to illustrate how our president works to get things done for our nation.  And of course, the flea infestation easily corresponds to another national emergency in the recent past. I am grateful to have received this arc in exchange for this, my honest review.

Charming Novel about an Octogenarian

 

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

This book was easy to love.  Frederick was an endearing character who finds himself near homelessness when he stumbles into Bernard’s life, literally. 

The writing was humorous, even laugh-at-loud funny.  The characters were lovable.  Frederick’s attitude toward his new life and good fortune are refreshing.  He changes the lives of people around him by loving them well.  In short, there was much to enjoy about this book.

The reason I gave it four stars instead of five was due to the language.  It was a bit cruder than I would have liked, but I understand that is a personal preference.  I do think the author could have achieved the same effect without the four-letter words.

If you are a fan of lovable characters, clever plots, happy endings, and funny situations, you will enjoy this book.  I am grateful to HarperCollins Publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Novella by Lynn Austin

 

Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin

This novella takes up where Ms. Austin’s last book, All My Secrets, published in 2024, left off.  I really enjoyed learning how Addy and Howard were adjusting to married life.  Their little family expands to welcome some orphans in need of temporary home.  Addy and Howard do their best to help them find their missing father, who may be working as a sailor.  As they prepare for the holiday and work to find Jack and Polly’s missing parent, both Addy and Howard learn important lessons about love and trusting God.

The characters are lovable and determined.  I admired Addy’s tenacity and determination to be a good wife.  Howard is creative and loves Addy well.  Each character grows and develops in a realistic way.

The plot is neatly tied up at the end of the book with some interesting possibilities for the characters’ futures and a couple of surprises the reader will enjoy.  I am grateful to the publisher for this book in exchange for this, my honest review.

New to Me Author

 

It’s All Relative by Rachel Magee

Helena is a high school teacher who considers it a good day if she arrives at school early enough to review her lesson plans for the day.  Her best friend Landon is a history teacher and soccer coach at the same school.  She wrangles him into tagging along as her plus-one on a wedding week celebration for her mom and her new step father.  The ground work is laid for lots of comedy and some surprises.

The narrator makes this story zing!  I really enjoyed listening to it.  The plot twists, although not unexpected were fun.  I loved how the characters developed over the course of the story.  The epilogue answered many of my questions and gave the story closure.

Even though this was published by Thomas Nelson, the content was not explicitly Christian, but was very clean and enjoyable, even for teen readers.  It was the kind of story that I was comfortable reading without having to filter any content.

I am grateful to Thomas Nelson for this very enjoyable audio book in return for this, my honest review.

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

 Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

Josephina runs her own event planning business in a small town that has snubbed her because of an issue with her father’s construction company which has sullied her family’s reputation.  She has been dumped by her boyfriend and needs a change, so she takes a job as a project manager for an elderly gentleman who has bought an island to refurbish the lighthouse.

The setting immerses the reader in the outer banks of North Carolina.  Small towns and marshes and the sea provide the backdrop for the mystery that sweeps up Joey, Finn, the grandson, and Walt, the grandfather.

The characters are interesting and revealed slowly by the author.  I especially enjoyed Joey.  Although all of them have their flaws, they grow and learn and give each other second chances. 

There is a bit of romance laced throughout the story, both in the past and the present, but not too much for a reader like me who prefers just a little of it.

This was a captivating story and I am grateful to the publisher for the opportunity to read it in exchange for this, my honest review.

New Novel by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

 

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

A grieving widow learns through an AI chatbot that her dead husband thinks he was murdered.  This sets her on a quest to find out how and why. 

The novel has some mystery, romance, and suspense as well as some unique features.  The AI chatbot and bitcoin mention captured my attention.  The Norwegian village and restaurant added a charming element.  And of course, not everything is as it seems, which adds some unexpected plot twists.

 Even though Colleen Coble has partnered with Rick Acker, I found the storyline and characters to be true to her former books.  If you are a fan of hers, you will love this new series where she partners with Rick Acker.  I am grateful to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for this, my honest opinion.

Audio book review

 

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

This audio book was delightful.  The narrator really added to the story.  The plot was cute, but still thought-provoking.  The characters were very personable and quirky, especially Kelsey and Georgina. My go-to genre is Christian fiction.  This book was not overtly Christian but was clean and I didn’t have to filter out any non-Christian elements.  The ending was perfect as all the threads came together in a very satisfying way.  This was the first time I had read anything by the author, but I will make it a point to read her books from now on.  I am grateful to the publisher for the privilege of listening to this audio book in exchange for this, my honest review.

Grief Examined

 

After Annie by Anna Quindlen

Annie was a wife, mother, best friend and nursing assistant at a retirement home.  She was dearly loved by all her family and friends and they are lost without her.  This story details their loss and their healing.

I believe that this book would be very cathartic for someone who had lost a mother, wife or best friend.  The struggle Annie’s children, husband and best friend faced was very real.  The emotions they felt were so well captured by the author.  It made me think that the author had lost a person dear to her.

Despite the debilitating grief the characters experienced, there was definitely hope for healing.  None of them forgot Annie, but continued to treasure her even though life carried them on.

  I enjoyed this book and am grateful to the publisher for this copy in exchange for this, my honest review.

 

Art, Royalty, and a Secret World-wide Society

 

The Crown Conspiracy  by Connie Mann

A secret world-wide team of women who are flawed, talented and dedicated to helping women and children in need, work to find the missing portraits of the Princess Johanna and her children.  Meanwhile, other women are going missing.  Sophie and her newly discovered Speranza group must find her friend Lise and the missing women and solve the mystery of the 3 portraits.

This book contains a swiftly moving plot, uniquely talented characters, a European setting and royalty, which combine to keep the reader engaged.

I enjoyed this book and am grateful to the publisher for the complimentary arc, in exchange for this, my honest review.

Sequel to Steven James' Broker of Lies

 

 Fatal Domain by Steven James

Travis Brock, redactor for the Department of Defense, discovers that parts of his past have now returned to haunt his present.  He and his newly formed team must determine why a terrorist group wants to steal some very valuable military technology.  As they dig deeper, the conspiracy grows larger sweeping from a refugee camp in Uganda to the doors of the Pentagon and involving a pharmaceutical giant, as well as a villain from a previous book.

  As Travis struggles to know who to trust, he must also come to grips with his past while grappling with forgiveness.  His budding relationship with Adira is put to the test.  At the same time, the author puts a new villain in place and sets up a new challenge for Brock, Adira and Gunnar.

This book had a good mix of action and pondering.  The characters were further developed by this story and I could easily see another book in the series.  I would likely read another book because the characters were intriguing, and the conclusion left me wondering.

This is the second book of the series and would be better understood by reading the first, Broker of Lies. I am grateful to the publisher for this book in return for this, my honest review.