A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

 

I'm not going to lie, this one was hard to get through! But I finished it! Honestly, at first I thought I was going to have to set it aside, but I truly wanted to finish what I had started. I had a hard time grasping what was happening at the beginning of the book. I'd think oh, I see, and then I'd be lost again. I even resorted to reading different synopses on the book so I could get a better handle on what was happening. By the end, which was sad and yet kind of beautiful, I grasped more of what was going on. What I am finding as I read these classics is that the writers of those time periods wrote characters that were very passionate and not afraid to show that passion to others. In this story Lucie shows her love and affection for her father who had been a prisoner for years. Lucie is portrayed as the perfect daughter and wife, almost a saint! The story takes place during the French Revolution. Admittedly I do not remember studying about this and had no clue what it was about. But once I read up on what the book was about things began to make sense. By the end I was following along nicely. The end...Oh my goodness. I even had a couple of stressful moments! The story was of love, vengeance, and self-sacrificing. I'm sure so much more, but this was my uneducated take on it. 

Two of the most famous quotes lines that most people recognize were the first lines of the book and the last lines of the book:

"It was the best of times,

it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom,

it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief,

it was the epoch of incredulity,

it was the season of Light,

it was the season of Darkness,

it was the spring of hope,

it was the winter of despair"

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Such a sad ending, yet a noble ending for one character. 

This is the fourth book I have read mentioned in the book On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior. A Tale of Two Cities is in the chapter JUSTICE. A couple of quotes from that chapter:

"When the justice system becomes a form of entertainment, it surely is unjust."

"But excessive anger distorts justice, turning it into vengeance."

"It is not mere injustice that brought about the Revolution, but excessive, inhumane, and prolonged injustice."

"The novel's vision exposes the truth that prolonged systematic injustice inevitably bears the bitter fruit of violence."

A Tale of Two Cities is marked for reading by the grades 5th through 12th. I totally couldn't see any of those ages picking up this book and becoming engrossed in it. As I said at the beginning, I had a hard time trying to figure out what was going on and I'm a reader of classics and other literature. But, it might have been easier to understand if there had been a discussion group or class setting to hash out everything that was going on, so maybe, just maybe those grades might find the book interesting in those settings. 

Now for some lighter reading before I start the next book...

Theft of the Magi by Miranda Atchley

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This holiday season, the halls are decked with thievery.

It’s Christmas, 1922, and Fiona Clery has visions of festive celebrations filled with family and friends dancing through her head. Yet when a string of thefts occurs within her apartment building, the chill of winter puts a damper on her yuletide plans. One by one, various items go missing from her neighbors’ flats. With the help of her friend Max Gillespie and her roommate Rose Ellington, Fiona investigates the thefts. Soon she believes she has the mystery figured out, yet when things take a turn, all her ideas are called into question.

And as Christmas day approaches, Fiona and Max struggle to find gifts for one another. Money is tight and both wish they could find just the right present. Under Rose’s guidance, each believes they’ve found the perfect gift, though it will come at a price.

MY REVIEW:

I enjoyed reading this Christmas story and the author's nod to O. Henry's story The Gift of the Magi. Fiona once again puts her skill for solving mysteries to good use. I love her willingness to help her neighbors and her generous heart. If you love to read Christmas stories right before the holidays then I encourage you to check this story out. It isn't a full-length novel, but perfect for a quick Christmas read just in time to get you in the mood for Christmas. While it may not be necessary to read the first two books in the series, you might want to check them out as all of the characters in this book are fleshed out more deeply in the first two full-length novels. Oh, and once again I have to point out the cover art on this series! I love it!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miranda Atchley is a history enthusiast and complete bookworm whose passion for books and times gone by have compelled her to write several novels, one of which was a finalist for an indie writing award. When not writing at her home in Arkansas’s Ouachita Mountains, Miranda loves getting lost in a good book, spending time with her dogs, watching period dramas, and learning about her favorite period in time, the 1920s. Visit her blog at: mirandaatchley.blogspot.com

FOLLOW MIRANDA

Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Once Upon A Punchline by Holly Schindler

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Amazon description:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

you were a child. And fairy tales were delightful stories that insisted life wasn’t scary and overwhelming, but magical and sweet. Oh, there were happy endings galore—not to mention plenty of helpful godmothers and wands locked and loaded with life-changing sparkles.

Come on—admit it! That was pretty great.

Now, you’re an adult. And let’s admit this: adulthood isn’t quite as swell as you’d once hoped it would be.

What if you could explore this (ahem) more mature era of life through the same rose-tinted magical lens of a fairy tale?

Once Upon a Punchline is a humorous collection of stories—a little bit parody, a little bit fable, a little bit allegory—and a whole lot of laughs, all aimed at poking fun at the silliness in this era of life called…

adulthood.

MY THOUGHTS:

I found Once Upon A Punchline to be very humorous. I loved how the stories, written in fairytale style, had a lesson to learn. They were entertaining, humorous and thought-provoking.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

In the story Freewheeling:

"The thing is, we're all meant for something." 

I loved this story because it reminded me of a passage in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 12:14-27. In Freewheeling Spoke Ann is a spoke in a bicycle wheel. She decides to jump off one day and finds how disastrous that is and how much she is needed on that wheel and how much she needs the others. Just as in the Bible passage, we all have a gift and everyone is different but we are all one body. 

"We're meant to be together." 

I loved Spoke Ann's discovery that we all have a job and we are meant for community. A great message in the story!

In the story The Flyover:

"Don't you know the greatest love affair most people have is with stuff?" 

A sad truth! This is a story of people mourning the loss of things. Very sad, but pretty truthful.

In the story of To Be Frank:

"That's how it always goes. One day, you're in your prime, and the next__The old man gestured toward the hill, the crest of which was now behind Frank." 

Ack! Before we know it we are "over the hill" Sigh...FACT!

In the story Princess Karen and the Ogre:

"The thing was, Princess Karen was afraid" 

Ahhh, the crux of why some people act the way they do...fear. I loved this story even though I hate the calling of someone a "Karen." I happen to have a sister named Karen and she is the least "Karen" that I have ever met. But, back to the story...Karen has slowly become a demanding and cranky and ugly princess and doesn't even know it until she meets an ogre apparently stalking her. I love the lesson that this Karen learns.

In the last story Once Upon a Punchline part 2:

"So many others had agreed with her that waiting in the tops of family towers was actually as useless as wearing glass slippers (they chafe, in case you were wondering, creating blisters the size of ox testicles)."

This made me laugh! 

"I don't know about you, Esperanza said, but I have no grudges against men. Why, my own royal family has plenty of not-half-bad princes. There still have to be more than just a few males out there who do, in fact, have an intrinsic value far greater than being gator food." 

I liked the fact that there wasn't a big "men-bashing" scene in this story. The princesses that decided to be on their own didn't hate men, they just chose a different life than other princesses. 

FURTHER THOUGHTS:

All in all Once Upon A Punchline was entertaining, educational and a delight to read! I think that maybe Princess Karen and the Ogre may have been my favorite of all the stories. I enjoyed the lessons and the word pictures of real life. A fun read!

It's a Mad, Mad Murder by Cindy Vincent

 

Maddie Montgomery is a famous mystery writer, mother of two and a widow. Now she is going to have to be an indie author. But no worries, her son has her covered on that front. When Maddie's overly-secretive neighbor Spencer Poe asks Maddie to look into another neighbors mysterious death Maddie can't help herself. Poking here and there Maddie discovers that her neighbors are not all sweets and sunshine! Dealing with jumping into the dating world again, solving mysteries in her writing and in real life, being harassed by her HOA, and keeping a constantly starving teenaged son well-fed, Maddie rolls with the punches and gets the job done.

I truly enjoyed It's a Mad, Mad Murder. I loved the humor of the main character and her ability to stand up for herself. Go Maddie! I enjoy when an author has pets in their stories and Maddie's cats Ellery and Agatha were perfect for offering comfort and an ear to listen. I was surprised at the who-done-it reveal but it was perfect!  I can't wait to read more about mysterious Mr. Poe! I really am going to enjoy this series!

Marriage Can Be Mischief by Amanda Flower

 

I love The Amish Matchmaker Mysteries! I especially love Millie and Lois! They are at it again trying to solve a murder. This murder occurred 40 years ago and of course the Sheriff has no interest in resurrecting the crime. I hope that we learn soon why he is so against the Amish. Millie's goats are up to their normal antics! They make me laugh. I love Amanda Flower's cozy mysteries because they always make me laugh along with bringing some anxious moments when the killer is just about to be revealed! A great addition to the series and as always, I'll be waiting for the next one!

Goodness and Mercy by Debbie Viguie

 

What a thrill ride! I mean un-put-downable. Except I had to keep putting it down because I was so stinkin stressed out! Author Debbie Viguie sure knows how to write suspense. And not just a scene here and there, she keeps the readers heartbeat and blood pressure raised until the very end. And I'll tell you what, I finished the book this morning, but I am still hanging out with Joseph, Geanie, Mark, Traci, Jeremiah and Cindy trying to process, calm down, and figure out what the heck is going to happen next! 

The series is winding down and things are starting to come together, but there are still many loose ends and many questions of who can be trusted and how do the pieces all fit together. Plus I am hoping that ultimately we will get to see Cindy and Jeremiah get married, but I'm afraid they are going to have to survive more attacks and more murders and maybe even betrayal. Five more books to go and as much as I hate waiting for one to come out, I know that when they do they are going to be excellently written and full of excitement! 

Night Prey by Susan Sleeman

 

Malone is at her high school reunion. She has too many bad memories of high school to be there. Especially where Junior is concerned. But when Junior tells her that he has some information about her parents' death Malone is curious and goes to meet him in a separate ballroom. Just as she is about to hear the information Junior has, someone guns him down and conveniently frames Malone for the murder. Ian is at the reunion also. A crush that Malone had when she was in high school. He is now a police detective which suits his personality of being her rescuer in high school. Now Ian has to arrest Malone for murder. Can the two of them prove that Malone didn't kill Junior? Was the information that Junior wanted to share about her parents the cause of Junior's murder or was there more going on in Junior's life? 

Night Prey is the last book in the Nighthawk Security series. While Malone isn't exactly a member of the Byrd family her brother is married to one so in Peggy Byrd's mind that makes Malone family! Malone has been featured in other Nighthawk stories and it was so good to have this book dedicated to her story. I loved how once again the Veritas Center and the Nighthawk gang surround one of their own and provide their services. Both Ian and Malone had pasts that had prevented them from becoming close to anyone they ever dated. Neither of them were prepared to act on the attraction they had for each other. I liked them as a couple but I did want to have a "sit down" with them and give them a "come to Jesus" talking to! Thankfully Peggy Byrd did that to Ian and got him thinking! Night Prey also had some exciting scenes of danger and suspense and the conclusion definitely surprised me. As always the characters had spiritual lessons to learn about trusting God with their fears, doubts and insecurities. I always love to see how they ultimately run back to the Lord and get back on track. A great conclusion to a fantastic series! Bring on the next series Susan Sleeman! I can't wait to read more about the Steele family!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

This is the third book represented in the book On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior. It is in the section of temperance. If you have ever read The Great Gatsby you know that he was not in any way temperate. He lived a life of overindulgence and partying. Then he died. A sad existence for sure. I have never seen the movie and this is my first time reading the book. I found the writing a bit vague in places. I gather that was intentional. The book was published in 1925 and set in 1922. So I didn't understand some of the references. I found the party life-style led by Gatsby and his hangers-on to be vapid and a waste of time, energy and money. I never totally understood exactly how Gatsby got his money to live this life-style but I think that was the intention of the author. There were allusions to underhanded and illegal dealings as well as sexual encounters that were never detailed but assumed. This was a fairly short read and it is told from the perspective of a neighbor turned sort of friend. Not a very uplifting story, but probably a cautionary tale of too much indulgence.

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

 

Cate Reilly is a detective in St. Louis County. She swore after her one and only time under cover that she would never do it again. But now it seems that her boss thinks she is the only one that can go undercover as a teenaged girl at an all-girls school and find out what happened to another girl and her boyfriend. Cate is less than happy about her assignment and even more so when she meets the new Spanish teacher to the school Mr. Martinez. Zeke just happens to be the only man that Cate has ever loved. Unfortunately Zeke left her for his career 8 years ago and Cate has never trusted another man with her heart since. Zeke is undercover for his own case at the school. Will they be able to maintain a professional relationship while their two cases collide? 

Labyrinth of Lies was excellent! It was exciting from start to finish. There were so many layers to it that it kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. There was a lot of danger and a lot of romance so it definitely kept this reader interested. I loved the characters as well. Zeke and Cate were perfect together and their ability to ferret out clues and maintain their undercover status was fun to read. I admired Cate's ability to protect herself and her resourcefulness when it came time to save the day. This was a fantastic second book in the Triple Threat series and I am definitely looking forward to reading Grace's(the third Reilly sister) story. 

Check out my review of the first book in the series Point of Danger

Murder at the Picture Show by Miranda Atchley

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lights. Camera. Murder.

On an autumn evening in New York City, amateur sleuth Fiona Clery and her partner Max Gillespie attend the picture house for the premiere of a silent film shot in their city. The night is filled with excitement and glamor…until the star of the film, Sylvie Boscombe, is murdered. Unable to sit back with a killer on the loose, Fiona pursues the case, leading her across the city, from opulent neighborhoods, to film sets, to the underground speakeasies Sylvie frequented. When a man she believes to be innocent is arrested for the murder, Fiona’s search becomes all the more urgent. Can she solve the case before it’s too late?

Meanwhile, Max gets a shocking surprise about his past that could offer answers to questions he has long held. And Fiona makes a discovery regarding her missing sister that could blow the case wide open.

MY REVIEW

When Fiona Clery sees movie starlet Sylvie Boscombe die right before her eyes at Sylvie's movie premier Fiona knows this is one case she is going to have to solve. Especially after Sylvie's co-star is accused of the murder. Fiona just knows that Vincent Trudeau is not a murderer and she is determined to prove his innocence. 

Murder at the Picture Show had several twists and turns that surprised me as I read. There are a lot of changes going on for Fiona and her friends Max, Rose and Ian. We learn a little bit more about Fiona's sister Siobhan. There is danger lurking because of Fiona's poking around into things that someone would like to be left alone. There were some exciting/dangerous scenes for Fiona that had her friends fearful for her propensity to hunt up clues. Once again Fiona proves herself adept at ferreting out the who-done-it and definitely has me interested in what comes next for her. Oh, I need to mention the cover! Isn't it absolutely lovely?! And it goes wonderfully well with the first book in the series DEADLY PEARLS, which you'll want to read first because I think it will give you some good background into the characters in this second book of the series. 

Check out my review of DEADLY PEARLS

**I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author, all opinions are my own**

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miranda Atchley is a history enthusiast and complete bookworm whose passion for books and times gone by have compelled her to write several novels, one of which was a finalist for an indie writing award. When not writing at her home in Arkansas’s Ouachita Mountains, Miranda loves getting lost in a good book, spending time with her dogs, watching period dramas, and learning about her favorite period in time, the 1920s. Visit her blog at: mirandaatchley.blogspot.com

CONNECT WITH MIRANDA

Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive a Kindle download of Murder at the Picture Show. Must be 18 or older to enter.

Copy and paste the link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/393c8dbf6

Pamela: Or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

 

Pamela, Or Virture Rewarded was written in 1740. So taking that into account I can give a little leeway to the way it was written. Relationships and women's roles in society were much different than they are now. This is the second book that is mentioned in the book On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior. A book that was gifted me by a fellow reader. My goal after reading that book was to read all of the books mentioned in it. I can tell you that authors that wrote back in the day were very wordy! AND LONG-WINDED! Pamela was over 400 pages long and I can't say that I liked it all that much. But I persevered because I really wanted to find out how it all ended. Pamela was a servant in a rich man's home. She was servant to his mother but when his mother died he became the master. He set his eyes on Pamela and tried over and over to seduce, compromise etc. Several times he even tried to force himself on her. Pamela was a young woman of 16 and determined to maintain her virtue. The master was determined to not marry so he wanted Pamela his way. Throughout the first part of the book we learn about his trickery in trying to get Pamela alone. All Pamela wants is to be sent home to her poor parents with her virtue intact. The master sends her away to her parents she thinks, but in reality he is kidnapping her and locking her away with some loyal servants of his in order to try and wear her down. Pamela tries several ways of escape but to no avail. Then the master comes and tries a different tact to win Pamela. He declares his love and that he is a changed man. So the second half of the book is their love growing for one another and their eventual nuptials. Hence Pamela is rewarded for her maintaining her virtue. I looked up the year Pamela was written because we all know that such a relationship nowadays would not be considered healthy. I had to laugh while reading a couple of times when the master's sister kept calling Pamela a hussy, and the like. Never did the man get frowned on for his behavior. And he was the one that was the hussy! Pamela maintained her purity throughout the story until they were married. Pamela's virtue entailed more than her purity, she was upright, treated all people well, kind-hearted, fair, loving etc etc. Pamela was everything that was good in a person. The master became a very loving husband to Pamela which shows he mended his ways as a young rake. But to me so far removed from the 1700's I think no thank you to the whole affair! 

The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman

 

DESCRIPTION

She’s sweet & cozy mysteries. He’s fun & cozy flings.
Till a deadly secret reveals not-so-cozy things.

          Twenty-five-year-old Molly Stewart—ex-Navy nurse and former evidence technician for the Charleston Police Department—has been burned by love. So when her friend, Pastor Chase Griffin, begs her to move to scenic Lake Loon to be a nurse and companion for Miss Lilly, his elderly landlady, she jumps at the chance. The secluded and cozy cottage on a clear mountain lake seems the perfect place to heal from her fiancé’s betrayal as well as indulge in one of her greatest passions—cozy romance. First with reading them by the bookcase and then hopefully, if dreams come true, writing and solving them one day as an author and detective. But when Miss Lilly’s estranged great nephew shows up, it’s no mystery as to why he and Molly butt heads. Because it only takes one stolen kiss—while she’s sleeping, no less—to discover he’s an even bigger player than the ex-fiancé who broke her heart.

          When international playboy and Irish soccer star Brec McGill learns his long-lost great aunt is in a coma from a drowning accident, he rushes to her side. Not only is he anxious to reconnect with his only living relative he spent summers with as a boy, but her cottage on Lake Loon, Georgia is the perfect respite to heal from game injuries and escape a tabloid scandal. At thirty-three he’s disillusioned with the game, his fiancée, and life in general, craving nothing but a little peace and solitude to get his head on straight. But when he discovers his aunt’s cottage is not only inhabited by a crusty Aunt Lilly he hasn’t seen in years, but a pretty prude of a nurse as well, his plans take a nose-dive in the lake. Because suddenly it appears not only was Aunt Lilly’s accident no accident … but somebody out there wants to see them all dead.

MY REVIEW

Julie Lessman writing a mystery?! What?! I had my doubts that the "Kissing Queen" could pull it off, but I tell ya, there should never have been a doubt where this author is concerned! She can write y'all!! With 50% focus on romance and 50% focus on mystery The Secret of Emerald Cottage was a very entertaining/exciting read. Not only did my pulse get racing because of the steamy kissing, but a couple of suspenseful scenes had me holding my breath in anxiety, racing through the pages to find out what happens. I loved Molly and Brec as a couple. I loved Molly's desire to uphold her relationship with the Lord even through her attraction to Brec who wanted nothing to do with Him. I loved the message of "The truth shall set you free" throughout the whole book. As always, the message of redemption, forgiveness, and grace from the Father above was written throughout the story and made the characters struggles and triumphs relatable. For those that are used to Julie Lessman's romance novels I urge you not to hesitate grabbing this one! You will not be disappointed!

CONTEST!! 

Want to win a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of The Secret of Emerald Cottage (or choice of Julie Lessman's books), a character named for you or a loved one (great birthday/Christmas gift!) in her next book, A Hope and a Prayer, which releases early next spring and a signed paperback of that book? Just head on over to JULIE LESSMAN’S BLOG for all the details and GOOD LUCK!

Trace of Doubt by DiAnn Mills

 

Shelby is just released from spending 15 years in prison for murdering her brother-in-law. Planning to start her life all over again and live peacefully Shelby moves to Valleysburg, Texas. Right from the moment she hits town things start going wrong. When a local officer sets his mind to running Shelby off she knows life is not going to be easy. Add to that FBI Agent Denton who has made it his life work to find out where Shelby may have hidden the embezzled money that disappeared when her brother-in-law was killed, has shown up in town to hopefully see Shelby slip and find the money. Shelby just wants to live her life after she has served her time. Her family no longer want anything to do with her and now someone is determined to end her life. Shelby has a secret that she is determined to take to her grave, but revealing that secret may just save her life. 

Have you ever enjoyed the first part of a book only to have the second part of it fall apart? Unfortunately for me that is what happened in this book. I really enjoyed the first part of the book and thought it had great potential, but the second half just started going awry for me. I found the relationship between Shelby and Denton rushed and unrealistic. From the get-go I couldn't stand officer Hughes and I found that the Sheriff's lack of taking him off the force after so many instances of misbehavior very annoying and against character if he cared for law and order the way he claimed. The "who-done-it" was predictable for me and had me shaking my head that it took the characters so long to figure it out. So while there was some excitement in the story, to me there were just too many things that didn't work and too many character inconsistencies to make this an enjoyable read for me. 

**I received this book for review from Netgalley. All opinions are my own**

 

Ruby's Story by Holly Schindler

 

If you all have read The Ruby's Place Christmas stories then you have got to read Ruby's Story! Y'all! I absolutely loved it! This is the first in the Ruby's Regulars series and I can tell you right now that I am looking forward to this series! I fell in love with Ruby's Place and that love is just continuing in this new series! I am totally invested in this story and the characters for sure! 

Here are a couple of favorite quotes:

"Each time they planned to meet at Frankie's, Timothy would come early, leaving behind that card. A small white tent right in front of the chair he always pulled out for her, with "Ruby's Place" written in perfect, elegant cursive." I cannot tell you how romantic that was to me when I read it! I mean total sigh worthy! I was loving the story to begin with, but this is where I totally fell in love with the characters!

"I lose my enemies each time I make them my friends." I can't even tell you about this because I don't want to give spoilers away, but trust me, it is significant and it is truth! 

"Miracles---even tiny ones---were built for Christmas. And so the tradition of the Christmas Eve celebration at Ruby's Place begins. I absolutely love how the author tied in Ruby's story with the Ruby's Place series.

"She'd never quit believing that Ruby's Place was utter magic" And neither will I dear reader! 

If you are looking for some excellent Christmas reads then I am telling you look no further! Grab the Ruby's Place series which is now a collection entitled RUBY'S PLACE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION and be sure to check out my reviews:

Christmas At Ruby's

I Remember You

Sentimental Journey

The Gift That Is Ruby's Place

Night Watch by Susan Sleeman

 

Erik was hurt by Kennedy leaving him 6 years ago. But when her sister calls and asks him to check on Kennedy he goes right over. What he finds is someone has broken into her home and Kennedy is nowhere to be found. Twice burned by women, Erik has no desire to get into a relationship with another one. Especially the one who broke his heart first. But he can't seem to help himself falling all over once he sees Kennedy. All of those old feelings rise to the surface. But does he want to risk his heart again? Kennedy has never stopped loving Erik, she never wanted to leave him like she did but her family secret would have meant living a lie and Kennedy just couldn't do that. Now she is determined above all else to find out who killed her mother and even if it hurts her heart to be around Erik she knows she needs he and his brothers help. Not just to forward the investigation, but to keep her safe. Will they resurrect their feelings for each other only to have Kennedy have to leave again? 

Erik, the baby of the Byrd clan, has never talked about why he and Kennedy broke up. I found that admirable. I liked that he got his chance to prove himself to his brothers. They all tend to baby him and it did grate on his last nerve! Also his mom was a bit more overbearing in this one but I liked how Erik realized that he was fortunate to have both parents still alive to baby him. I admired Kennedy sticking to her resolve to find out how her mom died when nobody else believed that her mom was murdered. As always, the action scenes were exciting and nerve wracking in their intensity. So that is it for the Byrd family, but there is one more book coming in the Nighthawk Security series and that is Malone's story. We got to see her a bit in this book and were introduced to some intrigue in her life so I am definitely looking forward to reading her story. I am loving how the Cold Harbor and Truth Seekers series are continuing on in these spin-off series! If you are into romantic suspense then I definitely recommend that you check these books out. You will not be disappointed I guarantee!

Holy Hot Mess: Finding God in the Details of this Weird and Wonderful Life by Mary Katherine Backstrom

 

I've been watching MK's facebook video's for awhile and have been looking forward to her book coming out. MK has a love for  all people that is infectious! I loved getting to read some of her life stories in Holy Hot Mess. I loved that each chapter of her book is a testimony to her faith. I also loved her message of we need to give ourselves and others grace. MK has had some knocks in life but yet she doesn't sugar coat her story, she's real. That's another thing she stresses in her book, being real. I love that she shares that through God and through seeking help when needed, through trusted relationships and community is how a person can get through this messy wonderful life. Keep doing you Mary Katherine! 

Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason

 

Ava Jackson has had to live a lie since she was 15 years old and found out her father's secret. Now her father is dead and his past is haunting Ava. When families are being murdered Ava is a connection she needs to understand in order to keep herself and her family safe. Caden Denning works for the FBI. He and Ava have been friends since they were children. Now it is up to him to keep her safe. Ava has always kept herself aloof knowing that she would probably never marry. After all, when one marries she figures there should be no secrets. Ava knows that she needs to share her secret with Caden, but can she trust him with something that will put him in danger as well? 

I think this is my favorite book of the Danger Never Sleeps series. It was exciting and romantic and perfect! I loved Caden and Ava's characters. I loved how strong Ava was and how she was able to protect herself. I also loved that Caden let her be a strong woman but also was there to help her when she needed him. A perfect ending to the series and once again shows why Lynette Eason is a favorite author of mine!

Funny You Should Mention That by Holly Schindler

 

I really enjoyed this book with several short stories that all blend into one. A glimpse into small-town life with everyone lined up at the local filling station waiting their turn to buy a lottery ticket for the big jackpot. As with any small town, everyone has a story to tell and they are all pretty entertaining. Author Holly Schindler has a way with story-telling that draws the reader in and makes you feel like you are right there in the setting. This is the second book in "The Funny Thing Is" series. Check out my review of the first book Funny Meeting You Here. If you like short, fun and heart-warming reads I suggest you pick up these two books. Honestly you will be glad you did! I guarantee it!