The Decision by Christina Rost

 

Trying to escape her grief Ava goes on a mission trip to Uganda that has disastrous results. Locked away in a small village Ava has no hope of rescue. Blake is on a mission when he is captured and tortured then thrown into a room with Ava. As Ava nurses his wounds their bond strengthens. Are either of them ready for the feelings they develop while captive? 

WOW! This one was good ya'll!!! It was exciting, dangerous, full of emotions and definitely full of romance. All of the things that make for a good story that kept me entertained and anxious to see what happened next. I highly recommend! 

 

Rip Tide by Lisa T. Bergren

 

Taking up where Estuary left off Luci and Nico return to the Forelli's with a healed Ilaria. Barely escaping from an enemy in their time only to be once more confronted with enemies from a far more harsh time in history. As the Forelli's seek to find Sir Ercole and bring him to trial some of their family are being held captive and face certain death if he is not found. Will they be able to find enough witnesses to speak for the Forelli's or has their enemy done a perfect job of framing them?

I love love love this series! Luci and Giulio's romance is sweet and so romantic. I mean seriously who wouldn't fall for some big, beautiful knight who is totally gaga over you? Tiliani's desire for a man she cannot have is sad yet frustrating as well. The epic battles were stressful and had me closing the book a few times only to have to pick it up again to see what happens next! There were laughs, there was danger, there was love and there was hate. But at the end of the day there was family and that is what Luci and Nico have been looking for. A place to belong. If you enjoy a good time travel series then I highly suggest this series. You won't be able to put it down! 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

 

This is the 5th book that I have read from the mystery book puzzle that I did over the winter:

I normally try to avoid books that have an occultic theme or satanic and demonic overtures so this one was a bit of a struggle to read. Thankfully it had a clear good vs. evil theme and at this point good won out. There are other books in this series but I think I will probably give them a pass even though I did feel invested in the characters by the end. There is definitely a cliffhanger with the understanding that evil is coming to wreak havoc on the earth. If you enjoy a thriller that pits good against the evil spirit world then give this a try. 

Fatal Domain by Steven James

 

Travis Brock, Gunnar Bane and Adira Halprin are once again racing to save the United States security from terrorists bent on breaching that security to create havoc. This time the terrorists are after the Project Symphony prototype. This could allow them to have access to all of the FDA security information. The head of this terrorist group is a woman billionaire that thinks using any means(including terrorism) is alright as long as it is for the greater good. Travis and his team are out to stop her. 

Author Steven James writes an exciting story that keeps the reader moving along as fast-paced as the characters in the story. Fatal Domain was an action-packed read from start to finish. Sometimes the action was so intense that I had to put it down for a few minutes to wrap my head around what was happening! Now that's a good read! This is the 2nd book in the Travis Brock Thriller series and I can't wait until the next in the series. As with the first book Broker of Lies this one left us with another cliff-hanger. If you enjoy thriller's and strong characters you should give this a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Shadow of Hope by Susan Sleeman

 

Ava is being framed for a murder she didn't commit. Now she is being stalked and her life threatened. Now on the run Ava has signed up to take Shadow Lake Survival's deep immersion course to learn skills to survive off grid. But the person stalking her has caught up with her there so now she must reveal her secret. Can she trust Micha  and the team to help her and not turn her in? 

The Shadow Lake team have quickly endeared themselves to me! I've enjoyed each of their stories and have looked forward to each one. Micha is a former Marine so that kind of endeared him to me to begin with as my husband is a former Marine. They are a special breed and I have a big soft spot for them! Micha and Ava make a great couple and I love how fast they grow in their affection for each other. Of course neither one of them want that, but sometimes God has better plans for us! I love how fast-paced the author keeps the story moving. There is no lagging and no getting bored or settled. The spiritual lessons are always a part of the story, but not preachy. They always deal with real insecurities, real hurts, real disappointments, and always always the characters find they can turn to the Creator God who cares more than anyone else and trust Him to bring about the best possible outcome to their situation. I highly recommend the Shadow Lake Survival series and know that you will like the other books in the separate series that brings other characters into the fold. 

The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum

 

I find non-fiction books like this very interesting and informative. This book started in the 1920's and worked through the 1930's. It introduced the duo of chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler who pioneered forensic chemistry and helped solve many murder cases and poisoning cases in 20th century New York. It was a very interesting read and I enjoyed reading all of the real-case stories that are peppered throughout. I also enjoyed learning about certain poisons and how people used them. 

To Slip the Bonds of Earth by Amanda Flower

 

We hear about Orville and Wilbur Wright, but we don't often hear about their sister Katharine. In To Slip the bonds of Earth Katharine must help her brothers find the lost plans for their flying machine. In order to do that she must solve the mystery of a murder while also navigating a very male dominated society that sets no value on a single woman, especially a strong-willed one like Katharine. 

I've really enjoyed author Amanda Flower's books. Which means I've really enjoyed her novels with "real" people in them. Her Emily Dickinson Mystery series and now this Mystery in the First Days of Flight featuring the Wright brothers and their sister Katharine. I love how the author incorporates history into the mystery that she is telling. I found the mystery in To Slip the Bonds of Earth solid and believable. I enjoyed learning a bit about Orville and Wilbur, but I especially enjoyed Katharine's character. There were a few quotes throughout the book that I found interesting or harsh or downright ticked me off! The first one is,

"Miss Wright," Randolph said, "When I want your opinion, I will ask for it. I can see why you are an old maid. No man would put up with the constant second-guessing you seem determined to inflict on everyone around you. If you do ever marry, you would surely send your unfortunate husband to an early grave." 

Ouch! I found that a bit harsh and was thinking seriously did men talk to women like that? But it truly fit in with Randolph's character!

"I could give her a whole host of reasons why Latin was an important language to learn. It helped students master English, for one."

I liked that one because I think the same can be said about reading, it helps a person get a grasp of the language and teaches them new things. I loved that teacher-side of Katharine's character. She truly cared about her students learning.

"Every woman had her secrets, including me."

I loved that last line of the book! Even though she was living in a male dominated society she was able to be herself and keep her own council. 

To Slip the Bonds of Earth was entertaining and educational and very well researched. I enjoyed it tremendously and am hoping that we will see more of Katharine and her brothers. 

The Curious Case of the Templeton-Swifts by Benedict Brown

 

This is book 6 in the series but they seem to not have to be read in order as each story can stand alone. I didn't feel like I was coming into the middle or anything and a small background was given so I didn't feel like I had missed anything in the character development of Christopher and his famous grandfather Lord Edgington. 

Lord Edgington kidnaps his grandson from his school and they are off to solve another mystery. Lord Edgington has received a plea to come help an elderly man who thinks someone in his family is trying to kill him. Could it be his new much younger wife? Or could it be his staff? Or could it be one of his 3 children? Unfortunately neither Christopher nor his grandfather are able to prevent the dastardly deed from happening, so now they truly do have a murder to solve!

I enjoyed the book and I will eventually go back and start at the beginning to see where it all started. Again, I didn't feel like I missed anything, but normally I like to start at the beginning of a series. I liked the humor that was dispersed throughout the story and I enjoyed the characters. The mystery kept me guessing for awhile and that was fun. A quick read that keeps the reader involved and entertained. 

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

 

This was my 4th book to read in the Mystery puzzle books: 

I read it years ago and of course have watched the movie. Still creepy, but I must admit not as creepy as the first time I read it when I was much younger and less jaded! ha! The character Hannibal Lecter is unforgettable. The relationship he forms with Clarice is interesting. The twisted head games he plays keeps the reader on edge. His ability to kill without even raising his pulse is unfathomable. A truly gripping story for anyone that loves horror/mystery/psychological thrillers. 

 

If The Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer

 

I loved this twist on the classic tale Cinderella. Samantha Dearing's father is trying to find a match for her much to Samantha's dismay. On the night that her father throws a ball to introduce her to all of the eligible bachelors an intruder breaks into her father's study. What kind of thief though would stop to save a person from drowning? The only thing that identifies who the intruder could be was that he left a boot behind. 

Asher's family has been kicked out of the house they were living in by Samantha's father. But that hasn't stopped Asher from rescuing Sam when someone tries to kill her. Who is trying to kill Samantha, and why are they trying to kill her? As far as she knows she hasn't any enemies. Will Asher be able to figure out what is going on before another attempt is tried to rid Samantha from this earth? 

I loved the story and loved the relationship that Asher and Samantha developed. I also loved how Samantha had her world rocked by talking to her father and finding out his motives behind his actions rather than assuming she knew what he thought and why he did things. I loved how that relationship developed. Eli Dearing turned out to be a wise man and I liked his character too. I love author Karen Witemeyer's writing and her books so I definitely highly recommend IF THE BOOT FITS. 

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus

 

Five students in detention. One dies. Now the other Four are being investigated for murder. Four young people who's lives are turned upside down by the events that follow. Did one of them kill their fellow student? 

As if high schoolers don't have a hard enough time finding their place among their fellow students add in a murder and this was quite a story. Lots of angst, lots of drama, lots of relationship issues make for a YA novel that will draw the reader in and keep the pages turning until the case is resolved. I found the characters interesting and true to form for the high school caste system that involves those who are popular and those who are not. I do intend to read the other two novels in this series to see where the author goes next. 

This was a book on the mystery book puzzle that I challenged myself to read for this year:

Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower

 

Shiloh has a booth at the Cherry Farm Market. The first time that the Bellamy Farm has ever been able to participate in the cherry festival held each year. Of course where Shiloh is it seems that murder soon happens! Meanwhile, Shiloh and her cousin are in the midst of a battle over the treasure that Shiloh found on her side of the Bellamy Farm. But when her cousin is a suspect in the murder Shiloh is determined to clear her name no matter what is going on in the family. 

This is book 4 in the Farm to Table series. I really like a cozy mystery. I like Shiloh's character. I also kind of like the fact that two guys are liking her and she is eventually going to have to choose one. I'm not normally for the love triangle, but I'm finding that both interests have their potential! Shiloh steadily whittles away at the clues and solves the murder. There were twists and turns along the way, but the murderer was not obvious and the suspects were many. I'm enjoying this series and thought that this book was a quick and entertaining read. I snuggled under my heated blanket and read it in a day! 

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

 

So at the beginning of this year(2024) I put together a puzzle:

I decided I wanted to read all of the books represented in this Mystery book puzzle. This is the second one I have read.

REVIEW

Alienist: a psychiatrist who assesses the competence of a defendant in a court of law.

In a way I guess I would call The Alienist a psychological mystery. The characters were:

An Alienist

A Reporter

A woman secretary

Two police detectives

The goal is to find out who is killing young children of the streets of New York City. Using Dr. Laszlo Kreizler's unorthodox technique of building a psychological profile of the killer John Moore(the reporter), Sara(the police secretary who wants to be the first woman police officer) and the two police detectives put together a profile that leads them right to the killer. Unfortunately there are hurdles to jump before the killer is caught. For he must be caught and not killed so that Dr. Kreizler can study him! But difficulties come from other avenues as well. There are powers that be that do not want the killer caught because it would be detrimental to their hold on their criminal activities. From crooked police officers, to mob bosses, to even the religious venues, all have a reason for the killer to continue doing his evil deeds. As the bodies mount and Kreizler, John, Sara and the detectives get closer the danger to themselves and those they are closest to mounts. Will they be able to stop a killer before he strikes again or before one of them gets hurt beyond repair? 

Soooo, an interesting story. That kind of drug on and on! Four hundred and eighty-eight pages to be exact! Whew! I enjoyed the way they built a psychological profile of the killer. The steps they took to find who was behind the murders. I liked some of the "real" characters that were represented, Theodore Roosevelt as the police commissioner, along with some of the mob bosses that were popular in "the day." The description of the seedy sides of New York City with what we would call child trafficking nowadays was interesting and also sad. I found the ending a bit unsatisfying, but for the most part it was a good read. 

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

 

Christian O'Brady does security for his family business. When a string of art thefts calls their business into question Christian is determined to find out who is behind the thefts. Andi Forester is an insurance investigator called in to determine who is behind the heists. Both Andi and Christian have questionable pasts that they would prefer to leave in the past but it seems that others are bent on discrediting them. 

I really enjoyed this first in the Jeopardy Falls series by Dani Pettrey. The suspense kept me turning the pages, my heart racing to find out how it all would turn out. I loved both Andy and Christian's characters. Andi was a strong woman accused of doing something she didn't do. Christian was a polite man with demons of his own to fight, but it didn't stop him from helping others, being kind and serving the Lord. I loved both of them together. They worked well together and bounced ideas off of each other well. The romance between the two was sweet and passionate! The secondary characters were also well-developed and I'm hoping will all get their own stories. A great start to the series and I am looking forward to the next installments.

Cold Silence by Susan Sleeman

 

Captain Travis Chapman is assigned to investigate the theft of a top secret project that Dr. Claire Reed and her team are working on. It looks like it was an inside job and Travis must go and find out who is responsible. The problem is that Travis and Claire used to be an item. But Claire threw him over for her job. Can he stand to be around her once more without allowing his feelings for her to resurface?

This is a prequel to the Cold Harbor series. As always the suspense and romance are signature Susan Sleeman. Meaning they were both intense and satisfying! Not only is Travis sent to investigate who could have stolen the project, but he also is to provide protection for Claire. They work well together and I enjoyed their characters. I enjoyed seeing the Veritas Center and Blackwell Tactical in their early years. On my TBR I would love to re-read all of the series that started right here. I love the spiritual lessons each character learns in each book and I definitely love the romance along with the suspense that keeps me on the edge of my seat. I definitely recommend Cold Silence as well as the books that come after if you are a romantic suspense fan. 

Double Take by Lynette Eason

 

Over a year ago Lainie Jackson's fiance' tried to kill her. Lainie knows that that night he died. Now Lainie and others are seeing him! And it seems he is bent on finishing what he started!

James Cross has come back to his hometown and is working with the local police department. When he gets shot Lainie is the one to help him when he gets to the hospital. Lainie has always had a crush on James. Being the brother of one of her best friends nothing ever came of that crush. But now James is determined to protect Lainie from whoever is trying to kill her. 

Seriously, from the first page Double Take grabs you and throws you into a suspense that literally makes you want to keep reading until the end. I didn't want to put it down, it had me from the get-go. I loved both James and Lainie. I love their struggle with their faith that keeps them hanging on to the Lord even though both of their family lives seem to be gripped with issues. James and his father have been estranged for years and Lainie's parents have their issues that keep her tied up in knots. But both of them help each other to strengthen their faith even though they struggle in those relationships. The suspense was excellent and as I've already said it kept me turning the pages to find out exactly what was going on! I can't wait for the next book in this new series because I am definitely a fan of book one! 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

 

So I challenged myself for 2024 to read all of the books that were represented on this puzzle that I put together in January:

Gone Girl was the first one that I chose to read.

My Review

Well, at first this had me interested and engaged. By the end I was just thinking can we wrap this thing up already? I found it a cross between Rebecca and that old movie War of the Roses. Could two people destroy each other any more awfully? Ugh! Because I kept reading I gave it a 4, but honestly it just leaves a totally bad taste in my mouth and regret that I hung in there for the whole thing!

Sorry that this is less than a rave review, but it is how I felt when I finished it. Disappointing for sure. 

Holmes Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 

Three previously unknown private investigators open their business in an old bread factory. They manage to solve crimes that the police are unable to solve. With their link to their namesakes they are the perfect crime-solving trio. 

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. Of course I was interested in this read when I saw the names! I found the book to be interesting. Three investigators with unique abilities in solving crimes. They also have connections that have others wondering where this trio has come from. I love their mysterious backgrounds. While they seem to be a Wonder Trio they are also a flawed trio. Especially the men. It seems that Marple is kind of the glue that holds them all together. The negatives of the story for me were the drugs, sex and language. But there's help to be had for the drugs, the sex is not graphic and the language is sparse. I'm not sure if this is going to be a series, but I kind of hope it is because I'd read the next book to see if we learn anymore about Holmes, Marple and Poe's pasts.