The Horror of Being Committed to a Mad House in 1887

Edyth Foster was a lively young woman who preferred fencing and riding her velocipede to more feminine pursuits. She felt she was protected and able to indulge her choices because at twenty-five she was to inherit the large fortune bequeathed to her by her deceased parents. Unfortunately for Edyth, her uncle, who until her twenty-fifth birthday controlled her fortune, recently married. His new wife, loathe to give up the life afforded by Edyth’s money, finds a loophole in the will that allows the uncle to retain the fortune if Edyth is found insane and committed.

In 1887, some doctors were willing to certify a patient insane for money. This allowed husbands and other relatives to rid themselves of inconvenient female relatives. Edyth is committed to Blackwell Island an asylum on the East River between Manhattan and Queens. There Edyth meets Nellie Blye who is undercover doing a story for Pulitzer.

The description of conditions in the asylum is chilling. It’s even more so when you realize that women were actually subjected to these conditions. I thought the author did an excellent job showing the horrors of Blackwell Island. The scenes are based on the book written by Nellie Blye, Ten Days in a Mad-House.

The story is historically accurate, thrilling, and there’s even a delightful romance. If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is a good one.

I received this book from Barbour Books for this review.

Truth, Lies, and Murder at and Elite Girls' School

The Goode School is for those privileged young ladies born to wealth and position to train for leadership positions in the world. That is what parents and even the dean of the school would like to believe, but there is a darker side of troubled teenagers, secret societies, and an honor code that doesn’t stop the girls from committing dangerous acts and lying about them.

The opening scene is chilling. In the early morning of a Virginia day, the students wake to find a classmate hanging from the arch of the entrance gate. Her face is so mutilated that it takes time to identify her. Who would do such a thing and more important, why?

This is a suitably chilling psychological thriller. As we’re introduced to the girls, we realize that all is not as it seems. Ash, a new student from England, is talented and beautiful. Her parents are dead and she’s there on a scholarship sponsored by the dean. It all sounds very normal, but immediately she tells us how much she likes to lie. It’s the first hint of the serious troubles infecting the school.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with lots of twists, this is a good one. The lives of the students, parents, and teachers are intertwined in sinister ways it’s hard to guess. The setting is realistic, not surprising because it’s based on the author’s years at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Because of the author’s familiarity with the setting the hidden tunnels and haunted arboretum are quite realistic.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Justice for Ordinary People

The setting is the other face of Los Angeles where homelessness is common, many children experience foster care, and abuse and crime abound but often there’s no justice for ordinary people.

Jazz and Joaquin, her brother, are products of the foster care system. Jazz, much older, was able to escape their abusive foster mother, Carol, but Joaquin is still trapped. Although not living in the same house, Jazz keeps track of her brother. This is important because he’s diabetic and needs insulin regularly. Carol’s latest fad is believing that God will heal him, so she tries to keep Jazz from bringing him the needed medicine.

Jazz feels enough rage to kill. Then she receives a blocked phone call offering to help her get justice by killing Carol, but there’s a catch. She must kill a stranger to help someone else.

As Jazz struggles with what to do, we meet others whose justice is meted out by strangers. The plot makes for a pulse pounding thriller as anonymous murders terrorize LA, and the police can’t figure out what’s happening.

In addition to being an exciting thriller, the character are great. You can’t help but love Joaquin and Jazz. She’s a tough, but loving character. You want them to get away from Carol’s influence, but at what price for Jazz?

If

you like thriller’s that have a message and great characters, you like this book.

A Family Miracle at Christmas

Seven years ago Elizabeth, Luke’s wife, disappeared. Some townspeople whispered about foul play. Now an ambitious district attorney is planning to file charges against Luke for her disappearance and apparent murder. Luckily, an FBI agent and friend of Luke found Elizabeth. Now all Luke has to do is bring her back to town to prove his innocence. He’s been a single father for seven years and can continue, but seeing Elizabeth stirs old emotions.

Elizabeth is conflicted. She was severely depressed when she ran away thinking she couldn’t cope with her family and wasn’t good enough for them. Then a serious car accident wiped her memory and left her with lasting physical problems. She now remembers her family, but how can she go back?

This story focuses on severe depression and how it can affect a person’s perception of themselves and others. One criticism I had of the book was that the author waited so long into the story before explaining why Elizabeth ran away and how traumatic it was for her. I suspect it was done to build suspense, but I think the story would have been stronger if the truth had been revealed earlier.

Luke is a very strong character. He’s put up with so much, but he still loves his wife and family and wants to bring them back together. The children were a welcome addition to the story. However, I thought Cassie was bratty and rude to her mother for too long. Still, it’s typical of young girls to be resentful when absent mothers return to the family.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Family Crises Surround a Christmas Wedding

Maggie is looking forward to having her family back together for Christmas at Honeysuckle Cottage near Oxford when her impulsive daughter, Rosie calls and upends the family’s plans. She’s getting married at Christmas in Aspen, Colorado in the US. Of course, Rosie wants her parents there. The problem is that Maggie and Nick are waiting for their divorce to be final. Maggie can’t bear to tell the family at the wedding, so she asks Nick to pretend they’re still together.

Katie, Maggie’s older daughter, is a busy ER doctor in Oxford. She’s working too many hours and struggling with an incident that happened at work. She immediately thinks Rosie is making a mistake and is determined to stop the wedding. Rosie, herself, is nervous. She made an impulsive decision to marry Dan. She does love him, but what if it was too quick. She knows she’s impulsive and sometimes it doesn’t work out well.

This is a lovely, heartwarming story of a family overcoming their problems and coming back together at Christmas. The setting at a gorgeous lodge in Aspen is perfect. It’s a wonderful spot for a wedding and healing hearts.

Maggie is a strong character. She wants to hold the family together, but is she making the right decision to divorce Nick? I didn’t care for Katie. I thought she was too sanctimonious and take charge. Luckily, she grew over the course of the story.

This is a great romance in the spirit of Christmas.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Finding What You Truly Desire at Christmas

Dr. Erika Sheraton, a driven, general surgeon, has nothing in her life but her surgery practice and research. She has few social skills and drives people away with her brusque manner. When the hospital board mandates a two week vacation for her, she literally doesn’t know where to go. Finally, she decides to visit Cassie, her best friend from her childhood. Cassie lives in Wild River where Erika grew up. It’s been a long time, she hopes Cassie will take her in, but what will the reunion be like?

Reed Reynolds, Cassie’s brother, is a search and rescue team leader. He remembers Erika from one night when they were lost in the mountains, and he held her because she was afraid of the dark. Now that she’s back he sees the same stuck-up brat he remembers, but there was that one night when she seemed human.

The romance between Erika and Reed starts from the moment they set eyes on each other, fueled by a few cranberry-vodka cocktails. It gets pretty steamy at some points, but when Erika returns to Anchorage, Reed wonders if they can hold a long distance relationship together.

For me, the best part of the book was the exciting description of search and rescue in the mountains. This is the first book in the Wild River Series, and I hope the focus continues to be on search and rescue work. Erika was a good character, but Reed stole my heart. he was so brave and he cared so much about Erika. If you like steamy romance with a great setting, this is a good one.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Christmas Means Giving

Olivia Berg has dedicated her life to the charity founded by her grandmother. The charity has been helping Pine River families in need for generations at Christmas, but now there’s a shortage of funds. It’s worse because Hightower Enterprizes, usually a major donor, is cutting back this year. Guy Hightower thinks this is an appropriate move. Hightower is having financial problems. He doesn’t see why Olivia can’t understand this.

Olivia can’t understand because to her giving is the most important part of Christmas. Then fate throws them together. Guy's car breaks down near Pine River, he’s delighted to be rescued by a pretty young woman until he finds out it’s Olivia. He can’t let her find out who he is.

When Guy can’t get a room at the inn, Olivia offers him a place to stay. Getting to know Olivia and her father, Guy finds he quite likes her, but he’s keeping a secret of who he is.

This book has a good story line, but I found the characters lacking. Olivia is overbearing and curt. Guy seems to find her attractive, but the relationship didn’t ring true to me. Plus he keeps letting the secret of his identity go on for what seems too long.

I did like the focus on the importance of giving, but I thought Olivia’s character could have done a better job of making the point if she had been less abrasive.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Finding Your Heart at Christmas

Ellie Bell has been a widow for several years. It’s been difficult raising her daughter, Amelia, alone, but this year the mist of grief is lifting. She wants to make a real Christmas for her daughter. She also wants to move on. She wants to kiss a man under the mistletoe, dance, and have fun.

Caleb Dalton has been Ellie’s salvation. He was Clint, her husband’s best friend, and although Ellie doesn’t know it, he’s always loved her. As Christmas approaches, Caleb is also thinking of moving on. He’s bought a ranch of his own. If he moves there he won’t be as close and suddenly Ellie realizes how much she depends on him and will miss him. The scene is set for Christmas magic and acknowledging love.

This book is part of a series about the Daltons. The characters have a long history with each other which forms part of the background in the early chapters. It’s not difficult to catch up, but it takes a bit to keep the backstory straight.

Ellie and Caleb are struggling with acknowledging how they feel for each other and that they’ve felt this way for a long time. I was glad to see them finally getting together. However, one of my favorite characters is Amelia. She’s such a happy little girl. You want to have Caleb and Ellie get together so she can have her perfect family.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Forgiveness and Starting Over at Christmas

Tobias Richardson is trying to get his life in order. He spent thirteen years in prison for shooting a boy when he was a teenager. Now he’s back in Silver Springs. He has a job and his brother’s family is supportive. Still, it’s hard because some in the town are not ready to welcome him back.

Having a meal in the local diner he sees a woman with sad eyes. Harper Devlin is spending Christmas with her sister. She’s trying to move on from the marriage she thought would be forever. She supported her rock star husband when he was struggling to get noticed. Now he’s famous and wants to walk away from Harper and their two children.

Tobias and Harper become friends and could be more, but each is struggling with a problem. Tobias is afraid he’ll lose her if he tells her about his background. She’s torn because while the divorce is almost final, her husband is now talking reconciliation.

This is a heart warming story and the Christmas season is a perfect backdrop for two people who are trying to start over. Harper is understandably torn between her husband and the relationship she’s developing with Tobias. I thought her struggle was very realistic.

I could understand Tobias not wanting to broach his past when he’s unsure of where he stands with Harper, but it felt like it went on too long. Both are excellent characters. You can’t help but wish them well. I loved the ending. It pulled the story together perfectly.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

A Love Story Infused with Sadness

It’s 1936, nine-year-old Alice has been sent to Blackwood, her grandparents estate, while her mother, Selina and her husband, Robert, are on a trip to Burma to see Rupert’s mines. Blackwood is a cold, deteriorating place. Alice is lonely. She misses her mother dreadfully. Then a wonderful thing happens. Polly, the maid who cares for her, gives her a letter from her mother that sets her on a treasure hunt to find out who she is.

In 1925, WWI was over and Selina was one of the bright young things. After the war, they couldn’t get enough of parties, booze, and silly treasure hunts through London. Selina’s mother wants her to marry and marry well. The Lennox family is struggling after the war, but Selina isn’t interested in pleasing her mother and marrying Robert Carew, the man her family has chosen for her.

On one of the treasure hunts, Selina meets Lawrence Weston. He wants to be a photographer, but to earn money he paints pictures of the war dead, sons, husbands, and fathers, to give the family a keepsake. Without meaning to, Selina and Lawrence fall madly in love. She thinks maybe she can make this work, but tragedy strikes and she settles for the safe option, marring Robert.

This is a story that will make you laugh and cry. The settings both London and Blackwood are well done and historically accurate. They make the time periods come alive. Selina’s story is tragic. She was almost able to achieve her heart’s desire, but lacked courage. I loved Alice. She is a sturdy little girl trying to cope with an atmosphere she doesn’t understand. Polly was a perfect companion for her. She cared for the child, but didn’t try to take the place of her mother.

This isn’t either a romance or an historical novel. It’s an emotional story of people faced with love and tragedy growing and changing. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

An Edwardian Christmas Celebrated with Murder

The Pennyfoot Hotel is again open for business and beautifully decorated for the Christmas season. Cecily Baxter hopes it will be a Christmas to remember and even more hopes the curse is off the hotel. Unfortunately, the last hope is dashed when one of the maids finds the body of a man in the laundry room with a woman’s scarf wrapped around his neck.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, a note in his pocket suggests that he was meeting with one of the maids, a very young girl that Cecily had high hopes for. Now she has a double reason to solve the mystery: protect the girl and clear the name of the hotel.

If you enjoy Edwardian mysteries this is delightful. I loved the detailed description of the decorations and of the hotel itself. There are a plethora of suspects and Cecily does a masterful job of pulling apart their alibis. She makes a great sleuth, very tenacious and smart.

Although this is the fourth book in the series, I found it easy to get to know the characters and follow the mystery. I thought the author did a good job of filling in background without pulling away from the story for long descriptions of the characters role in the Pennyfoot saga.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Beautifully Illustrated, Scholarly Look at the Middle Ages

Illustrated books and illuminated manuscripts are used to show how people in the Middle Ages looked at the world. The most interesting aspect of this work is the global character. Many studies of illuminated manuscripts and other illustrated books focus on Europe. This study looks at South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The book covers map making as well as all types of books from scrolls to folded books. It does an excellent job of discussing a variety of cultures and how people viewed themselves.

The book is a series of essays by a variety of experts. Being a scholarly book, the essays are often dense with words not commonly used in everyday discourse. However, I didn’t find the book hard to read, and the ideas made it worth the effort.

The illustrations are probably the best part of the book. They are not all full page illustrations because many focus on a small part of the original picture, often in the margins of the books. While not precisely a coffee table book, it is one that you can enjoy just looking at the illustrations and reading selections from the essays.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder at the 1939 World’s Fair

Elizabeth “Biz” Adams, a photographer, and her colleague, Ralph Kaminsky, a reporter, are at the l939 World’s Fair in New York City reporting on a robbery. Instead they encounter a murdered young woman found in the Aqucade’s pool with a nylon stocking around her neck. Elizabeth snaps a photo as the police arrest Joey Dorman, a young hot dog vender. He’s terrified and says he’s innocent.

Elizabeth’s photo makes the front page, but she can’t forget the frightened look on Joey’s face. She’s convinced he’s innocent, and she and Kaminsky set out investigate. When Kaminsky is injured, Elizabeth decides to continue alone.

The World’s Fair is a perfect setting for this cozy mystery. The author does a good job of describing the marvels on display as well as bringing in the tense atmosphere as the world careens toward war. Elizabeth is a perfect heroine for this era. She comes from a wealthy family. Her mother wants nothing more than to see her married, but Elizabeth wants to make her own way.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a good series. The books have serious mysteries to solve, but keep any illicit sexual encounters out of the story line.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Master Thief and His Greatest Crime

An enormous statue by a famous modern artist is stolen from Nesselrode Plaza at it’s dedication ceremony. It couldn’t be done, but Riley Wolfe did it. It was a great accomplishment, but now he’s bored. He wants to do something to top his achievement, but it has to be grand, something to enlarge his already prodigious reputation.

Riley settles on stealing one of the Crown Jewels from the Persian Empire. It would be a lunatic idea to steal it in Iran, but they’re coming to New York City where they will be displayed in a private museum protected by the latest electronic devices, the Black Team, and heavily armed Iranian guards. It’s impossible, but that’s what attracts Riley.

The story follows Riley’s careful planning and the execution of his scheme. I enjoyed the irreverent way Riley talks about his mark. However, it does leave you with a myriad questions about his moral development. He loves stealing from the fabulously wealthy, but just because people are in the .1 percent doesn’t make them less human beings.

The book is a great thriller, fast paced and cleverly written. The story is told from several points of view, although Riley’s predominates. His sections are in first person, the others in third person. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. This is apparently the start of a new series. I’m looking forward to future books.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Love Affair Leads to Murder

Nora Holliday, a food blogger, is at a convention. Josh Landon, an orthodontist, is at a different convention at the same hotel. He’s taken care of Nora’s children so it seems harmless to have a drink together. However, the drink and conversation last much too long and then, even though they’re not that kind of people, they’re having an affair.

Josh’s wife Gwen, seems like a lovely person on the outside. She and Josh appear to be the perfect couple, but then she’s found in the Landon’s yard with her head bashed in. This puts a great deal of strain on the family, but also on the Nora and Josh relationship.

I liked Nora and Josh. Affairs are wrong, but I couldn’t help wanting them to be together because their partners were so bad for them. Gwen was a self-centered bitch. She certainly made the perfect victim. Abby, Gwen and Josh’s daughter, was a hard character to figure out. She was home from college having suffered a romantic disappointment. However, her response to the trauma seemed out of proportion to the injury.

The setting was well done. Lovely suburban communities like Shoreham while serene on the surface often are a seething mass of discontent and anger.

I thought the book was well done. The identity of the killer is hard to figure out. I felt it was almost an anticlimax after so much emotion surrounded the affair between Nora and Josh.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

An Email Hack Leads to Embarrassing Revelations and Murder

The entire faculty and student body of Aldrich University, an almost Ivy League School, is thrown into a panic when the school’s email system is hacked and the data exposed on a searchable database. Some people worry their secrets will be revealed, others search the database avidly hoping to discover dirt on their friends and associates.

Kit Manning, daughter of the president of the University and a university fund raiser, is married to handsome Dr. Greg Strasser. Her emails aren’t a problem, but it becomes apparent that Greg has been involved with numerous women, one underage, The hack takes a serious turn when Greg is murdered in his home during the major fundraising event of the year.

The story is told from multiple points of view by people who were damaged by the revelations, had something to hide, or wanted to use the information to undermine others. Lynn, a member of the fundraising team, hates the fact that Kit is the favored one in the department. She’s very catty and will do anything to get her own way. She’s an amusing character because she’s so unashamedly self-centered.

The story is full of twists, just when you think you’ve figured out the murderer, a new fact crops up. The only problem is that it puts the reveal very close to the end making the end of the book feel rushed. However, it was a good mystery with well drawn characters and an interesting setting.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Modern Retelling of Little Women

Retelling cherished stories in a modern setting often doesn’t work. This is the case with Meg and Jo. The author tries to be true to the character of the original March sisters, but that’s hard to do in a modern setting. For me it didn’t work well.

Meg is a stay-at-home-Mom. She has two adorable twins and a handsome husband who does his best for the family. Because John, her husband, works so hard, Meg feels that she must do everything at home. This leads to secret resentment and an attitude that makes her resist well meaning offers of help. I though her character was far removed from the original Meg.

Jo still wants to be a writer, but the economy isn’t good. She loses her full-time writing job in New York and is barely staying afloat working as a food blogger and prep cook. She desperately wants to maintain her independence and doesn’t want her family to know how much she’s struggling.

When the girls’ mother becomes seriously ill they have to find a way to keep up the farm work as well as their families and careers. For Jo, this means coming back to Bunyan, North Carolina. The girls’ father is no help. He is portrayed as totally wrapped up in counseling veterans and generally unavailable to the family. I felt the inclusion of his character detracted from the story more than added to it since he was so peripheral and yet still there.

I think the author tried to do justice to the original story. However, as I said in the opening, it’s very difficult to transpose characters between time periods and keep the feel of the original story. It was an interesting try, but for me, it wasn’t successful.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A North/South Civil War Romance

After the Battle of Chickamauga, wounded Yankee soldiers are brought to the home of Pearl MacFarlane and her father. The MacFarlane’s have very little, and they’re mourning the deaths of three of Pearl’s brothers in battle. For these reasons, Pearl does not want Yankees in her home. However, she has no choice.

Relying on her faith in God, Pearl accepts the challenge of caring for the men and finds that although Yankees, they are regular people. Josh Bledsoe, a soldier from Ohio, draws her in spite of her aversion. He has lost a hand and is struggling with his antipathy toward the South in much the same way, Pearl is to

the North. Still, the pair are drawn together.

In this story, there are no plantations and dashing cavaliers. The MacFarlands are farmers. They don’t own slaves and don’t believe in it, but they do believe in the rights of their state, Tennessee, and that’s what they fight for. I though the author did an excellent job of bringing these people to life. It highlights the fact that not all southerners were fighting to preserve slavery. For many, it was loyalty to their homes and their state.

Pearl and Josh are characters you can understand. Each has their own loyalties when they meet, but as they get to know each other, they begin to understand the other’s point of view and to respect it.

This is one of my favorites from the Daughters of the Mayflower series. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from Barbour Books for this review.

A Technothriller That Could Happen Today

A devastating cyberattack cripples the US just as President Focillo is set to announce the creation of a cabinet level group, Net Force, to deal with the cyberthreats posed by all the non-secure device in the US. She knows that the nation’s number one threat will undoubtedly come from cyberattacks, but she has not been able to persuade Congress or the skeptical intelligence agencies of the seriousness of the threat.

This is a very detailed look at cyberattacks. It is closely written, packed with information, but it is easy to read because the author keeps the technical detail at a manageable level for the average reader. The plot is complex with plenty of action and the cast of characters very large. However, I found it easy to follow. The major characters are threaded through the action with chapters devoted to scenes

in other countries and organizations.

One of my favorite characters is Kali, she appears in the opening of the novel. She’s young, but she has an obvious skill in cybertechnology. She’s tough, able to cleverly use judo to disable a strong man. She also wants to maintain her independence.

The setting moves through various countries. Each area is well described. You could almost be there and the characters are well developed so you feel as if you know them. My only real criticism is that the ending felt unfinished. I suspect that’s because another book is planned.

If you enjoy technothrillers, this is a good one. It’s long, but it keeps your interest.

I received this book from Harper Collins for this review.

Unable to Escape, Milo is Forced Back to Spying

Recovering from a gun shot wound to the stomach received at the end of “The Nearest Exit” Milo Weaver is glad to be back with his wife and stepdaughter. He values his family even more after his latest foray into the murky world of espionage and the Department of Tourism.

At the end of the last book, the Chinese infiltrated the Department of Tourism and killed 33 agents. The department was almost wiped out. Milo’s friend and former boss, Alan Drummond, was head of the department, and he can’t let the assassinations go. He disappears on a mission and Weaver has to go after him.

This book has a very complex plot and is not as readable as the previous books. It takes concentration to keep all the characters straight. I think the author does a good job with the moral problems Milo faces in this book, however, the rationale for the action is sometimes murky. I was disappointed in the ending. The resolution was never really clear. If you enjoyed the first two books, you may want to finish the saga with this one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder, Blackmail, and a Mole in the Department of Tourism

Milo Weaver’s chance to have a life working as an administrative bureaucrat in the CIA was blown after his last case. Now he’s back as a tourist in the CIA, but he has to prove his loyalty. In this second novel, Weaver is handed a complex case involving the murder of a young girl, blackmail of a German spy, and the suspicion of a mole in the Department of Tourism.

This is not the exotic world of romantic spies like James Bond. This is a dirty world where compromises are made rather than arrests. Instead of a clean distinction between good and evil, it’s a murky world of expedience. Loyalty is questionable and agents are expendable.

There is more violence in this book than the first book. There is also more character development. There is moral ambiguity and Weaver is faced with choices he doesn’t want to make. There is plenty of suspense and twists, but the major factor is the arena in which these flawed characters operate.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Spy Who Thought He’d Retired

Milo Weaver has retried from his black ops job to an administrative desk job. At least he thinks he has. He has a wife and stepdaughter, and a brownstone townhouse, but then the past comes back to haunt him.

Milo was once a Tourist, an undercover operator who travels from place to place with no home or identity to follow espionage leads. He thought he was done with that, but when one of his old cases comes alive, he finds himself back undercover.

This is more a psychological spy novel than a book with lots of action and violence although there is some. I thought the author did a good job balancing violence with drawing the characters. There are plenty of exotic locals and the story is filled with twists. It’s a good entertaining read.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Neurosurgeon Faces the Ravages of Death and The Renewal of Hope

Dr. W. Lee Warren is an Iraqi War veteran, a neurosurgeon, and a man of faith. Dealing on a day-to-day basis with the tragedy of people diagnosed with the virulent brain tumor, gioblastoma, he sadly thought, “I’ve seen the end of you”, when an MRI showed the presence of the deadly tumor he knew it would change their lives.

This book is filled with the stories of people who were diagnosed with gioblastoma. Some had very short lives, others lived longer, some had great faith, other approached death with fear. The stories are not easy to read. They remind all of us, including Dr. Warren, that we will face death. Perhaps the character I found most haunting was a young woman, pregnant with her first child, who was diagnosed with an advanced brain tumor that had migrated to the rest of her body. Although knowing that she could try treatments to prolong her life, she feared they would hurt the baby, so she opted to do what she thought was best for the baby, hoping to live long enough to deliver the child.

At the end of the book, Dr. Warren faces a crisis of faith when his son dies. Now he knows what it’s like to come through the darkness with renewed faith and hope.

The book is easy to read because the characters are believable. The author is able to bring us into his world to see bravery, fear, faith and hope. I recommend this book for the way it highlights the role of faith in dealing with crises.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for this review.

A Thirty-Year-Old Murder Challenges the Bellandini Sisters’ Sleuthing Skills

Quinn and her boyfriend, Tucker, plan a fire pit as a Christmas present for his aunt Lela. While digging in Lela’s backyard to prepare for the fire pit, Quinn’s spade hits a human skull. The body has been there a long time and it turns out to be a young girl who vanished decades ago.

Unfortunately, Lela has a history with the girl and the police find the evidence strong enough to arrest her. Tucker can’t believe his aunt is guilty and wants to hire a private investigator, but Quinn and her sister, Delilah, decide to exercise their sleuthing skills and find the killer themselves. After all, it’s pretty tame running a B&B in Savannah, Georgia.

Then the girls’ parents are implicated and the plot becomes more complex. Plus they have even more reasons to solve the old crime.

I love the characters in this book. Quinn and Delilah are typical sisters, but their personalities fit together well to make them an invincible team. Tucker seems a little too sensitive, but it makes a foil for Quinn’s more take charge attitude.

Savannah is an excellent backdrop for this old mystery. The cast of characters is amusing and quirky. It’s a fun read and the mystery will keep you guessing. This is the second mystery featuring the Bellandini sisters, and it doesn’t disappoint.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

A Story of Survival and Political Intrigue

Seventeen-year-old Jinx is trying to settle into her new family with a step-sister, Mackenna, and Toby, a stepbrother. Jinx’s father is a computer genius and survival fanatic. He is also associated with the Opposition, a political party currently in power after ousting the Spark. The political divide leads to violence which becomes personal for Jinx, Mackenna, and Jinx’s little brother Charles.

The siblings are inside a store when explosions rock the area and fire breaks out in the store. Jinx has to use all the survival skills she learned from her father to get herself and her siblings to safety. This involves trying to get to her missing father while being pursued by an agent from the Opposition.

The characters Jinx and Mackenna are faced with a frightening task. That they tackle it with fortitude and learn how to act together makes the story more than just a chase scene. They are characters teens can identify with. Charles is an adorable character. He’s fascinated by all sorts of living things. He’s also a trial because he adores sweets although his type 1 diabetes makes it dangerous for him to eat them.

The underlying political drama makes a good background for the girls struggle to get to safety. There are plenty of twists and the action is non-stop. I recommend this for teens who enjoy adventure stories.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Mansions, Famous People, History and Scandal

Mar-a-Lago conjures up opulence, fame, and scandal, as does Palm Beach itself. The history of Palm Beach began with Henry Flagler in 1895. Flagler’s contribution was to build a railroad down Florida to Key West. In addition, he built famous homes along the coast of Florida and hotels like The Breakers. His two marriages set the stage for eccentricity and scandal.

Perhaps the best known of the mansions, particularly today is Mar-a-Lago, built by Marjorie Merriweather Post and E.F.Hutton. They lavishly furnished their home as an opulent estate where Marjorie ruled for many years. Today the estate is owned by President Trump. It seems fitting that the home should continue to play a role in US history.

In addition to the famous people, we learn about their architects, designers, valets, butlers, and other servants. This is a well researched look at a place famous for wealth and privilege. It’s also a place were scandals occurred behind the high walls of the mansions.

The book is well-written but so full of detail it sometimes bogs down. I thoroughly enjoyed both the history of the area and the stories of the famous inhabitants. If you like history seasoned with titillating bits of gossip, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder on the Homefront in WWII

Poppy Redfern wants to help the war effort so her grandfather, who brought her up, sends her to London to be trained as an Air Raid Warden. Back in her village, Poppy is ready to assume her duties. She’s been in London and feels capable of walking the village alone at night, but her grandfather insists that she have an escort.

The War Office has taken over the farmland and house owned by Poppy’s family for an airfield for the American Air Force. Not everyone is happy to have the Air Force invading the village. Tensions escalate when two young women who were involved with Air Force officers are found murdered. The murders make Poppy’s grandfather even more sure that she needs an escort. Poppy wants to solve the crimes and gets support comes from Griff, an Air Force officer, who likes her and helps her in looking into the murders.

This is a delightful WWII mystery. Many WWII tales center on London so it was refreshing to get a peek at what it was like on the homefront. Poppy is very independent. I thought she was a great character. I also liked Griff. Poppy was attracted to him, but couldn’t quite decide whether is was a good thing to do.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Hidden Story of WWII Espionage

During WWII a number of individuals in Great Britain sympathized with the Nazis and were eager to supply secret information to them. This is the story of Eric Roberts, a bank clerk, who as Jack King formed these traitors into a network that supplied him with information that he passed to MI5.

Roberts was known a something of a daredevil, but was very personable and able to attract people to him. He had done some spy work for MI5 before the war and wanted to get back into the game. He got his chance and was able to infiltrate Fascist and Nazi groups. He became a leader, Hitler’s man in Britain, and was able pass on information that the traitors were trying to send to Germany. Information on Bletchley Park, a secret radar named Windows, and other to secret plans that would have severely hampered Britain’s war effort were among those Jack intercepted.

The book is exceptionally well researched. The author did an excellent job of digging deep into the past and bringing to life episodes that were classified until 2014. Sometimes the book reads like a thriller. At other times it gets bogged down in a tremendous amount of detail. Even minor characters are introduced with their full histories. If you love history, you enjoy these excursions. However, it does interfere with the flow of the narrative.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Story of Hope

Rosie Collins, imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit, finds solace in training service dogs. One of the dogs she trained goes to Meghan Custer, a wheelchair bound veteran, who feels confined until her service dog, Shark, helps her find independence. Both women struggle with feelings of being imprisoned either behind high walls of an actual prison, or a prisoner of a damaged body.

Rosie gains an early release from prison and gets a job near Dogtown, On the Massachusetts coast near the town of Gloucester, where she is helping to restore a crumbling mansion. She’s doing well until her history comes out.

Meghan’s life changes completely when with her service dog, Shark, she finds that she can live on her own and rebuild her independence. She connects with Rosie through Shark and the women become friends.

I loved this book. Rosie and Meghan are strong women who face and overcome obstacles. It was emotionally gripping to see them finding hope and the role their dogs played in their growth. The setting is perfect for the story, particularly as Rosie learns more about Dogtown, a town where women lived alone with their dogs for protection.

I didn’t particularly like the chapters where the dogs shared their opinions. I felt it was distracting from the women’s stories. However, that’s a small criticism. I highly recommend the book.

I received this book from Macmillan for this review.

Amusing Tales of Trying in a World Not Made for You

A tiny head and short arms couples wit a large body are not ideal for living in the modern world, but T-rex keeps trying to hang wallpaper, pull the plug after a bath, or chop down a tree with an ax or chainsaw. I love the illustrations in this book. T-Rex looks so serious trying to do all the things that are difficult for him.

This is not really a children’s book, but children will enjoy it. Adults will pick it up and be amused. It’s also a good book to share with your children in a read-aloud setting.

I enjoyed the book. It would make a good Christmas gift, or just a fun way to tell someone you’re thinking of them.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

Comics for the Technology Age

This is the third installment of Reza Farazmand’s Poorly Drawn Lines Series. The cartoons feature the same characters that have grown familiar to readers of the series.

The comics are a great way to take a quick break and laugh about the absurd problems the characters face in the technology age.

I thoroughly enjoyed the new batch of cartoons. You can open the book anywhere and enjoy the author’s insights about friends, enemies and other life challenges. The cartoons are short, but the sentiments are pithy.

I recommend this book as a treat for yourself, or a Christmas gift.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Coloring Challenge from Kerby Rosane’s Animorphia

This reduced size book contains extremely detailed drawings from Kerby Rosane’s Animorphia. Although the book is a reduced size version, the drawings are lovely and the paper is heavy.

In addition to the artist’s drawings, he invites readers to try their hand at filling the pages with their own art.

This book would make an excellent low-cost Christmas present. Whether you want to try your hand at decoration or just enjoy the art, the pictures are wonderful and can be removed from the book and framed.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

More a Self-Help Book than a Cookbook

Although the title says this is a holiday cookbook, and it does cover the major holidays, it’s more about inventing holidays as background for giving suggestions about food and presenting a philosophy of life. Some ideas come off better than others. Seeing what it’s like to have children by duct taping a watermelon to your abdomen is one of the weirder ideas.

I was unfamiliar with the background for this book. It’s an offshoot of Hannah’s successful YouTube videos. I think some of the holidays would work better on the screen. However, the pictures in the book are colorful and often amusing.

Recipes are rare, at least ones I’d be tempted to cook. Some recipes for Thanksgiving might be worth a try like garlic mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. However, it seems that most recipes are really for talking about life and Hannah’s philosophy.

The book is fun to read, if you don’t take it too seriously.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Genealogist Solves a Family Mystery

Although she doesn’t ski, Jill accompanies her friend Kris to the slopes. Since this is the Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines there’s plenty of good snow. On the slopes, Kris encounters Tucker. He’s skiing like a maniac. Then they meet up with him again at the ski shop where he tries to pay for new boots for Kris.

Tucker is obviously troubled. When Jill and Kris get him to talk, he tells them that he carries a letter from his grandfather that he fears opening. Since his troubles appear to stem from a family situation, Jill agrees to run a genealogy search to see if it will highlight any problems.

I loved the genealogy part of this book. We see Tucker in the present troubled by things that happened in the past. The book is structured so that the story of the past is also told and we can get a glimpse of the terrible secret bedeviling the family.

Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. There are some parts of the past of Jill and her father, Nolan, that need to be understood, but they can be gleaned from the story. The characters are likable. Jill and her father are particularly sympathetic. Although because of the chapters on the past, we know approximately what the secret is, the author does a good job of keeping the suspense building.

If you enjoy romance, mystery and secrets from the past, you’ll like this book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder at a Planet-Saving Conference

Shannon Hammer, a contractor who specializes in restoring old houses, is particularly pleased to get a commission to restore the old farmhouse that will be the home of her friend, Marigold, and her fiance, Raphael Nash, a retired tech billionaire. In addition to the farmhouse project, Rafe wants Shannon’s team to construct a conference center. It’s supposed to have environmentally friendly buildings and be the site of a planet-saving conference.

The project has a short timeline because Rafe wants to showcase his green building technology. The site is ready on time and the conference goes on as scheduled. Shannon finds the participants an interesting mix of odd-balls and serious technologists. All is going well. The five-hundred people in attendance seem to be enjoying the site and the presentations until Rafe’s ex-partner is found dead. Now Rafe is the primary suspect and Shannon and her partner, Mac, need to help the police figure out what happened.

This is a fun read. Shannon and Mac engage in amusing banter. I found Rafe an attractive character. The descriptions of his conference center are well conceived. If you enjoy renovation and construction, the process of building the center is well described.

The background in eco-friendly technology is interesting, but sometimes veers into parody. Still, it’s fun to meet the strange characters responsible of the ideas. Altogether, this is a fun book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Threat to Religious Freedom in America

One of our most important freedoms as Americans is religious freedom. Our country was founded by groups fleeing their homelands because of religious persecution. They wanted America to be a place where they could practice their religion without fear.

Today many Christians believe their religious freedom is under attack from abortion rights to gay rights to the Muslem religion. The discussion of these problems in the government and news media sometimes leave Christians feeling that it’s a hopeless case to continue to keep the country moral. Although sometimes the prospect is discouraging, the author presents a number of ways Christians can be proactive in dealing with the secular community and telling others why religious freedom is important.

This is a book that all Christians should read. One point that struck me forcefully is that the government, and particularly the courts must balance a number of freedoms in making decisions. We cannot have things all our way. A second point I felt was very important and one that it’s hard to keep in mind when we live in an affluent society where so many of our needs and wants are met is that Jesus told Christians to be like him. This did not mean that they would not be persecuted or that they would not suffer. Part of being a Christian is keeping your faith through the difficult times and trying to see another’s point of view.

I highly recommend this book. It is an encouraging look at how to hold to your religious beliefs through this period of cultural change.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for this review.

Seaside Murder Complete with Spies

Lady Hardcastle has finally, much to Flo’s delight, decided to take a holiday by the sea. Flo is looking forward to strolls on the boardwalk, ice cream, Punch and Judy shows, and donkey rides on the beach. However, when they check into the hotel recommended by their neighbor, they are struck by the strange behavior of the other guests. Each guest is seated at a separate table, and they’re all foreigners.

There is one Englishman who the ladies get to know. Doctor Percival Goddard, a rumpled, absent-minded scientist is looking for a seat at dinner. All the tables are taken, but Lady Hardcastle invites him to join them. They enjoy each other’s company and continue on to drinks after dinner. Goddard is on his way to a conference and has scientific information with him in a trunk.

The next morning the ladies are shocked when Goddard doesn’t appear. This is only the first of several unfortunate occurrences, including murder. It gets Lady Hardcastle and Flo back into the game in spite of Lady Hardcastle’s brother warning her off.

I enjoy this series primarily because of the clever repartee between Lady Hardcastle and Flo. They are characters you can’t help liking, and they attract other interesting characters in their exploits. The scenes from Edwardian England are well done and give the novels a realistic background.

This was not my favorite of the series. I felt the bumbling chasing of spies was a little too campy. The plot is not that hard to figure out, although there is an interesting twist at the end. If you enjoy a romp through the British seaside in 1910, this is a fun read.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Principles for Achieving Your Goals

Whether becoming rich or achieving some other goal is what you desire, this is a useful book. Written in 1937 the book is still applicable today. The premise of the book is that you can use your mind and emotions to become rich. The author suggests that this is a secret and gives a number of biographical sketches to prove his point.

The book tells of a number of great men: Dale Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and others who used the principles to become fabulously wealthy. Interestingly many of the people in the book did not achieve ultimate success until after they were forty. This may have to do with finally acquiring the discipline to bring your energy to bear on your goal.

Although this book was written many years ago, the advice is applicable today. Having a goal and the persistence to work for it, are time tested ways to achieve success whether it’s riches or some other equally desirable outcome.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who wants to achieve a worthwhile objective and is willing to work for it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.