The Cure for What Ales You by Elle Alexander review

Title:  The Cure for What Ales You

Author:  Elle Alexander

Ch: 29

Pg:  276

Series: A Sloan Krause Mystery book 5

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s press

The Cure for What Ales You by Elle Alexander is the 5th book in the A Sloan Krause mystery series and I have to say that it is my favorite of the series so far. I think do in part since it's the 5th book the characters and the setting are fully established and they feel like old friends. I also loved that the mystery aspect kept me guessing. The fact that an underlying thread through the previous books has tied itself up nicely. 

Though I think I would have loved this one in even more if I had read it during late spring early summer as that is when the novel instead of reading as I did in the fall. I do like the direction that the relationship between Sloan and Garrett is going. And as always, I look forward to the next book in the series. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 

 

 

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan review

Title:  Once Upon a Wardrobe

Author:  Patti Callahan

Ch: 24 Plus Epilogue

Pg:  292

Genre: Historical fiction  

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Harper Muse

I'm not going to lie I've not read any of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, to date I've only read one book by him A Grief Observed which I read in 2016 after losing both my mom and papaw in the span of six weeks. Lost and not knowing what to do I picked up A Grief Observed and read it in one day. I got so much out of it that I had planned to read more of Lewis's work though I couldn't bring myself to read the Narnia books as I thought they were books for kids. Though Lewis no doubt would say that that was foolish. 

 

And after reading Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan the second book I’ve read by her and the second book that features C.S. Lewis as a character and loving the story of Megs and George Devonshire. Megs in determined to find answers for her brother after he read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. And in her quest for answers, she becomes friends with Lewis and his brother Warnie and discovers more about herself than the answers she wanted about Narnia. And after reading this book I am now determined to actually read The Chronicles of Narnia because they just aren't books for kids, they are for adults too. 

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer review

Title:  The Matzah Ball

Author:  Jean Meltzer

Ch: 41 plus epilogue

Pg:  395

Genre:  Rom Com

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Mira

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer was one of those books I didn't know what I wanted or needed till I read it. Though I've long since wanted a Hanukkah rom com for a while. But I didn't know what I wanted in it. But When I saw The Matzah Ball by Jean Melter and read the synopsis. Rachel Rubinstein-Goldblatt is Jewish and the daughter of a Rabbi, but she loves Christmas and secretly writes Christmas rom coms. But what I loved most about this book was the fact that the heroine Rachel has a chronic health condition and while I don't have the same chronic condition as Rachel it's nice to see a heroine in a rom com with a chronic condition. Mickey is her best friend and he's been there for her the majority of her life and at times seems to be the only one who understands her. While Jacob Greenburg is her childhood nemesis and let's face it first love. And another thing that I loved about this one is there is no love triangle. 

 

I finished this one in two days and while I didn't want it to end, I was excited to find out what happened. I'm not going to lie I would love for this one to be made into a holiday rom com movie Hallmark take note. Just a word of warning there is language but otherwise it’s a clean rom com. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Lights Out by Natalie Walters review

 Title:  Lights Out

Author:  Natalie Walters

Ch: 37

Pg:  316

Series: The Snap Agency

Genre:  Christian Suspense with a hint of romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

 Publisher: Revell

For me Lights out the first book in The Snap Agency by Natalie Walters started a little slow. But after a few chapters I was hooked. I liked Jack Hudson from the start, but it took me a bit to warm up to Brynn Taylor. But once I did i realized she was an easy heroine to relate too.

Brynn is like most of us who were teenagers when 9/11 happened had their lives change and altered our future. Like Brynn my dad was affected by 9/11 but unlike Brynn’s dad who lost the career he loved my dad ended up on back-to-back deployments that burnt him out on the career he loved. So, this book hit me personally.

Lights out had the right balance between the suspense and romance, and I loved all the pop culture references. But can references to a movie that is 34 years be considered pop culture don’t get me wrong it’s my favorite movie ever and kind which I could see it the same way the characters in the book got to see it.

I loved the secondary characters and can’t wait for the next one in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley

Title:  Crosshairs

Author:  Patricia Bradley

Ch: 71

Pg:  373

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers

Genre:  Christian Romantic Suspense Christian

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley is the third book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, and I think it’s my favorite of the series. I loved Ainsley and Lincoln banter. I normally don’t like second chance romances but for some reason throw in suspense and mystery it works.

Lincoln as a former FBI sniper it’s dealing with PTSD and survivor guilt at least in my opinion. Which makes him a believable hero. Because no one is prefect everyone has flaws. Ainsley must learn to trust again all while trying to find a killer or killers before she becomes the next victim.

Lincoln might be former FBI turned Park Ranger, but he doesn’t step on Ainsley’s toes as an investigative service ranger as it’s her case. He knows she can handle it probably better than he can. He just wants to be there.

Crosshairs had the perfect balance of romance and suspense and mystery that kept me turning the pages. I look forward to the final book in the series coming out next year. And even though each book in the series is a standalone book I recommend reading them in order.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

December TBR

 To Finish

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

Hawkeye: Private Eye by Kelly Thompson

 

TBR Jar Pick: When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas

              Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Kindle TBR Pick: Away from You by Jess Mastorakos

Christmas with you by Jess Mastorakos

Mind the Gap by Erynn Mangum

 Of Mozart and Magi by Rachel McMillan

A Rainer Carol by Rachel McMillan

Christmas in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

Upon a Midnight Snow by Tari Faris

Mistletoe in Juneau by Dahlia Rose

 

Nonfiction:

Audio: Stockings and Spells by Nancy Warren

     Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer

 

 

Library: Hawkeye, Vol 1 by Matt Fraction

 

 

Bookclubs

     Work: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

     Personal:

Review books

Lights out by Natalie Walters

The Librarian’s Journey by Patty Hall Smith

TO Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M White

A Royal Christmas for the Marine by Jess Mastorakos

November Wrap UP

 I started the month with (62) unread books. So I am ending the month at books (62) unread books.

1. Promise Canyon by Robyn Carr (audio)

2. Game on: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich (library)

3. The Taking of Jemima Boone: The True Story of the Kidnap and Rescue that shaped America by Matthew Pearl (library)(nonfiction)

4. Yukon Justice by Dana Mentink

5. Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay

6. Wild Man Creek by Robyn Carr (audio)

7. Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr (audio)

8. Initium by Natalie Walters (kindle)

9. Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes (audio)

10.         Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley (netgalley) (owned)

11.         The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (netgalley)

12.         An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott

13.         The Heart’s Stronghold by Amanda Barratt (netgalley)

14.         Christmas in Paradise by Karen Barnett (kindle)

15.          Finding a Christmas Home by Lee Tobin McClain (netgealley)

16.         Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan (netgalley)