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.

New to Me Writer

 

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

This book is based on the true story of Jessie “Kit” Carson, who travels to France in 1918 to join the CARDS, an organization of women dedicated to helping the devastated French people. Jessie’s job was to set up libraries to encourage the women and children of the French countryside.

The dual storyline also follows a NYPL librarian and aspiring writer in 1987 who has discovered Jessie’s story and wants to bring it to life.  She meets one of Jessie’s assistants and learns the rest of the story.

Both sets of characters are realistic, strong and grew through difficult circumstances. They made different choices than I would have and the author included a few scenes that I would have preferred not to read.

But overall, I enjoyed the book.  I am grateful to the publisher for the arc in exchange for this, my honest opinion.