Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

Road to riverdale volumes 1-3

Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day

Wonder Woman 77 by Marc Adnreyko vol 1

Wonder woman 77 by Marc Andreyko vol 2

The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman

Fire and Ice by Mary Connealy

Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon

More than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

George the Hero Hound by Jeffrey Ebbeler

Currently reading

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Non-fiction reading

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and Howthey Rescued Each other by Craig Grossi

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Classics

Audio on the way to work

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

Books reading for school

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Reviewing

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of The Cat of the Baskerville's

Title: The Cat of the Baskerville's 



Author: Vicki Delany 



Series: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery book 3



Pages: 304



Genre: Cozy mystery 



Rating: 5 star

 In The Cat of the Baskerville's the third book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries by Vicki Delany Gemma Doyle no relation is sucked into helping her friend Jayne will an afternoon tea. To celebrate not only the town's theater putting on  The Hound of the Baskerville but Sir Nigel a famous theater actor who's cast as  Sherlock Holmes. However the tea doesn't go as planned and Sir Nigel ends up dead.  At first the lead female detective is convinced that Gemma is the prime suspect as   she is the one who found the body.  But the other detective who just happens to Gemma's ex isn't convinced. 

 Gemma just has a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As well as seeing things and clues that others have a habit of missing including the police. Which has become a sore spot between her the detectives, and besides no evidence points to her. Instead the police have their eyes set on Jayne's mother Leslie as the prime suspect.  Leaving Gemma  and Jayne no choice but to figure out who the real suspect is. 
The Cat of the Baskerville's isn’t your typical cozy mystery as Gemma isn't' really an amateur sleuth, she processes facts and clues much like Sherlock Holmes would do. It's what allowed her to solve two previous cases before the police. The first one to clear her name, the second to clear a friend’s name.   
The Cat of the Baskerville's just like the first two in the series kept me guessing from the beginning page to the last page.  Normally when I read mysteries I am able to figure out who done it before the end, not with this series. I personally like that in mystery, it keeps the surprises and the twist and turns going till the very end.  I can't wait to see what the next book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries by Vicki Delany has in store. 

I received a  copy of The Cat of the Baskerville's by Vicki Delany   from the publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading the past two weeks

Reading this week

Finished

When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer (owned, audio)

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell

Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O’Connor

The Single Woman: Life, Love and a Dash of Sass by Mandy Hale

Amongst the Roses by Meghan Gorecki

Sweet Briar Rose by Lena Goldfinch

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

Counterfeit Courtship by Christina Miller

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O’Connor

Betty and Veronica by Adam Hughes

Road to Riverdale Vol 1 and Vol 2 Vol 3

Currently reading

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon

Non-fiction reading

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and Howthey Rescued Each other by Craig Grossi

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

Classics

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Audio on the way to work

Books reading for school

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Reviewing

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Oath of Honor

Title: Oath of Honor

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Blue Justice Book 1

 

Chapters: 36 plus epilogue

Pages: 359

Genre: Christian Suspense/ Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

In Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason the first book in the Blue Justice the entire novel literally lasts a total of six days. Though the novel moves at a fast pace you don't lose anything from the story. Isabelle St. John comes from a law enforcement family, with all of her brothers in law enforcement and one sister. With her mom being the chief of police for their town.  Oath of Honor takes places in a fictionalize version of Columbia South Carolina.   The novel gave me a bit of a Blue Bloods feel but with the Christian faith added in. 

But then Isabelle's world comes crashing down around her, her partner is murdered and she barely makes it out, she's saved by an unlikely source.  She then discovers a member of her own family  may be responsible.  She then decides to try to solve Kevin's murder on her own, but Detective Ryan Marshall Kevin's older brother and the man she's had a crush on for years will not let her work the case alone.  Isabelle's trying hard to protect her heart from getting broken.  But someone else is also trying very hard to protect Isabelle's heart as well as his. Ryan also wants to protect Isabelle's life no matter the cost.

I've read many books by Lynette's books before but Oath of Honor is my favorite book of hers so far.  I loved Isabelle's faith and determination and how much she loved her family.  Ryan's nature to protect those he loves above all else.  My favorite character though wasn't human instead it was Isabelle's dog Mozart a miniature Eskimo Spitz.  Mainly because I had one as a children and they are lovable and loyal dogs. Another thing that I liked about Oath of Honor is that while there was some romance in the story it wasn't the whole story.       I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Chloe's story.  As well as reading about the rest of Isabelle's siblings in their own stories especially Isabelle's twin.  

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.

Review of the Indigo Girl

Title: The Indigo Girl

Author: Natasha Boyd

Pages: 343

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 3 Stars

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd is based on the life of Eliza Lucas who his left in charge in her father’s plantation under the belief that when her brother comes of age it will his. Eliza is determined to prove to not only her but her plantation manger and suitors that even though she is a woman she is able to run a plantation.  She decides to start raising Indigo plants to make Indigo dye, even when those around her tell her that South Carolina's climate is not suitable for the plants.   The fact that this piece of historical fiction is based on a real person and history it's hard to tell anything about the story or the person without giving any of the plot and story away.  

Natasha Boyd brings Eliza's world and her family's struggles alive.  Eliza is pretty much left to run the plantation on her own, because her father after putting her in charge of all three plantations leaves to go back to the British Military in the West Indies. Her mother's health isn't suited for the climate of South Carolina let alone running a plantation.  Even had she be able her mother wouldn't have done it.  As business and plantation aren't something that females should concern themselves with.  Eliza Lucas truly was a woman a head of her time. 

Students of American history will know how Eliza's story turned out. A Certain Army's coat color in the American Revolution owes its coloring to a certain young lady. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would, however I didn't love it.  But I will read other books by Natasha Boyd in the future. 

Review of Amongst the Roses

Title: Amongst the Roses

Author: Meghan M. Gorecki

Chapters: 36

Genre: Christian Historical

Rating: 3.5 stars

With Amongst the Roses by Meghan M. Gorecki I didn't know what I was going to think when I finished reading the book. I've never really liked books set during the Civil War. I think it's because of the whole damsel in distress they imply about women during that time period. I don't think that was how women actually were during that time.  Having read Wrapped in Red a Christmas novella by Meghan previously I knew how she writes and was willing to give this book a chance. 

I will say that Amongst the Roses isn't your typical Civil War book, for one thing it takes place in the North Pennsylvania   to be exact. The Northern setting gave a different view of the war.  We get the story from three points of view; Margaret Bryant, Connor Doyle and Adam Doyle two Irish brothers who find themselves enlisted in the Union Army though only one of them wanted to enlist.   I enjoyed Connor’s and Adams view, and reading how the Irish still had it in the United States even after many Irish families had been in the US for close to twenty years by this point.  I will admit that I wasn’t fond of Margaret or Maggie as Connor and his sister like to call her. Mainly because of the way she acted at the beginning of the novel, but by the end of the novel I was rooting for her.  But her growth as a character is what makes the book worth reading.

     I do like that in Meghan’s novel the battlefield scenes aren’t describe in graphic detail which is different from most war novels.  Amongst the Roses is a Christian Historical novel that takes a realistic look at the American Civil War. However as a warning to readers it is bittersweet but then most war novels are.  The cliff hanger at the end has me ready and excited for the next book in the series.   

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

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

By The Book by Julia Sonneborn

Santa Fe Mourning by Amanda Allen

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (audio)

Currently reading

When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Non-fiction reading

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and Howthey Rescued Each other by Craig Grossi

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

Classics

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Audio on the way to work

Books reading for school

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Reviewing

Amongst the Roses by Meghan Gorecki

Sweet Briar Rose by Lena Goldfinch

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret by Anne Edwards

Reviews Posted this week 

True to you

Title: True to you

Author: Becky Wade

Series: Bradford Sisters Romance book 1

 

Pages: 373

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     True to you is the first book in the Bradford Sisters Romance by Becky Wade. Nora Bradford is a genealogist who loves researching people's families and helping them find answers. Former Navy SEAL John Lawson needs to find his birth family in order to find out about his inherited condition.   True to you was a sweet story and an even sweeter romance. 

     Even though I miss the Porter series I loved this first book in the Bradford Sister. Nora has become my favorite heroine of Becky's. Not only is Nora a genealogist and I believe librarian she's a booknerd. Who loves BBC drama's a girl after my own heart.  I have to say we need more needy heroines in fiction.   Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Review of Sweet Briar Rose

Title: Sweet Briar Rose

Author: Lena Goldfinch

Chapters: 19 plus epilogue

Pages: 230

Genre: Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Sweet Briar Rose is the newest book by Lena Goldfinch. It is a sweet western winter romance that while not Christian fiction it is a relativity clean read.  This western romance has a bit ofSleeping Beauty feel with a western twist.  Which I loved despite Sleeping Beauty not being my favorite fairy-tale.  What surprised me most was that Emmett Southerland the hero of the novel was that he was the romantic one in the story.  Rose is the more practical of the two, but then she has every reason to practical.

In Sweet Briar Rose the ties to Sleeping Beauty are subtle if you’re not careful you almost miss it.   The Story flows beautifully and moves at a steady pace.  I was able to finish this beautiful story in one sitting.  That's the thing with Lena's books you just know that as soon as you pick it up it's going to be beautifully written.  Emmett was everything a book hero should be caring, patience, considerate, understanding and handsome.  Boston Emmett's dog that immediately takes a liking to Rose was another wonderful touch. 

I would recommend Sweet Briar Rose to anyone who likes a sweet historical romance.   Keep in mind that it is not Christian fiction but it is a clean read. 

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

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Of Murder and Man by Lynn Cahoon

When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke

Claws for Concern by Miranda James

Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

Currently reading

By The Book by Julia Sonneborn

Santa Fe Mourning by Amanda Allen

Non-fiction reading

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and Howthey Rescued Each other by Craig Grossi

Royal Sisters: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret by Anne Edwards

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

A Passionate Hope: Hannah’s Story by Jill Eileen Smith

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke

When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

Classics

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Audio on the way to work

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

Books reading for school

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Reviewing

Amongst the Roses by Meghan Gorecki

Sweet Briar Rose by Lena Goldfinch

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

February Wrap Up

February Wrap up 

In February I read a total of 21 books and 5348 pages.  Listened to one audio book read an owned e-book. Did alright on my reading challenges.   Other than a kindle book didn’t read any owned books this month. But didn’t buy any either. Other than  OWlCrate.   At the start of the month my owned TBR was at 40 with my OwlCrate box it is at 38 because I did read three  owned physical book. 

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson 

Wonder Woman, volume 4: godwatch by Greg Rucka

The Legend of Wonder Woman: Origins by Renae De Liz 

Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason 

Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton 

Batman: NightWalker by Marie Lu (Owned Physical book)

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (owned physical book)

A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green 

Retribution by Lynette Eason 

Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery (owned physical book)

Say You'll Remember me by Katie McGarry 

American Panda by Gloria Chao 

A Prairie Girl's Faith: The Spiritual Legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Stephen W. Hines

OF Murder and Man by Lynn Cahoon 

Hearts on the Line by Karen Witemyer (audiobook)

Klondike, Do not Eat Those Cupcakes! By Amanda Driscoll 

The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delany 

Claws for Concern by Miranda James 

When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke (owned e-book)