The String Review

Title:  The String

Author: Caleb Breakey

Series: Deadly Games book 1  

Pages: 320

Genre: Suspense, Psychological thriller

Rating:  4.5 in general3.5 stars (for me)

I enjoy reading suspense books but with The String by Caleb Breakey I discovered that I am not really a fan of those suspense books that bleed over into Psychological thrillers. But that's okay because not every book is for every reader.  I believe this book was the first book in a while that kept me up all night for two reasons, I wanted to finish it in one sitting, because even though I didn't enjoy the book it was a fast paced read.  The other reason being it sort of gave me a slight nightmare.  I think mainly because I am such a visual reader. I can picture the setting a book in my mind to point that it's almost like watching TV. 

That being said the book is well written, plotted in a manner that allows the story to flow quickly; allowing a reader to read it in one sitting.  However, I wouldn't recommend reading it at night or when your home alone.  Even though I didn't love it I know that readers who love psychological thrillers will love it. Even those fans who don't read Christian fiction will still enjoy the read.  I'm still willing to give future books by this author a try though anymore psychological thrillers of his I plan to approach with caution.    My rating is due to personal reasons based on the reaction I had to the book it kind of freaked me out. However, for readers in general and the writing, voice, and plot of the novel I would give it 4.5 stars. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through as 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.

The Noble Guardian review

Title:  The Noble Guardian

Author: Michelle Griep

Series: The Bow Street Runners book 3

 

Chapters: 32 Plus epilogue

Pages: 319

Genre: Christian historical Romance 

Rating: 4 stars

The Noble Guardian is the third and final book in the Bow Street Runners series.  I enjoyed this one more than the second one in the series but not as much as the first.  I did enjoy this series about the bow street runners pretty much the forerunners to the London police department.  

Abigail Gilbert thinks she's leaving a loveless home for something better but she's in for a surprise.  Captain Samuel Thatcher is looking forward to his upcoming retirement when he agrees to see Abigail safe to her betrothed.  But along the way danger lurks at every turn testing both in more ways than one.  Both will have to learn to trust God and that His ways are not our ways.  

To me this felt a bit like a Cinderella story.  In which Abigail leaves a bitter step mother and a loveless home with a picture of what prince charming looks only to discover that sometimes princes charm can be found in unlikely places. 

I am looking forward to the next book from Michelle Griep and would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, the late regency period and England. 

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.

Reading this week

I read a total of (2,521)pages this week.

Finished

The Guide Dog Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Mystery of the Lost Village by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Mystery of the Purple Pool by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen

Murder in Galway by Carlene O’Connor

The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum

The Mystery of the Haunted Boxcar by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Reading

Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Carrie by Stephen King (read long with my sister)

Non-fiction reading

Classic

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read

Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day

Second Impressions by Pepper D Basham

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Book reading for bookclub at work

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths

Reviewing

The String by Caleb Breakey

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

 Castle on the Rise review

The Secrets of Paper and Ink Review

Sweet on Review

Sweet on You review

Title:  Sweet on You

Author: Becky Wade

Series: Bradford Sisters Romance book 3

Chapters: 27 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 381

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Rating:  5 Stars

  Sweet on you is the third book in the Bradford Sisters Romance and we finally get Britt and Zander's story.  Which I've been waiting for since book one.   Zander's been a favorite character since the beginning. A rough around the edges nerd who's been in love with his best friend. Britt took some warming up to.  It took a while for Britt to grow up even though at twenty-seven she's been an adult for a while.   

Both Britt and Zander have things to deal with in their past. Things that they have to let go of in order truly embrace what God has in store for them. Like the first two books in the series there is a mystery that Zander and Britt get involved in.   Britt mainly because she doesn't want Zander to have to deal with it on his own.   

I can always count on Becky Wade to deliver a sweet romance that’s not too sweet.  Though this one deals with actually sweets. Britt has her own chocolate shop.  Becky's book are great if you like sweet romance that isn't sickly sweet.  Though most of her heroes start out slightly rough around the edges. 

The Secrets of Paper and Ink review

Title:  The Secrets of Paper and Ink

Author: Lindsay Harrel

Chapters: 46 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 326

Genre: Christian Contemporary fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, dual time period

Rating: 5 stars

        Sophie Barrett discovers when she goes back to work, that she hasn't completely healed from an abusive relationship.  Her friend and boss encourages to take a vacation and heal. So she escapes to Cornwall, England. Where she finds herself staying above a bookshop. Every bookworm’s dream.  The shop is owned by Ginny Rose an American who followed a guy to Cornwall we can guess how that one ends. 

While staying in the bookshop Sophia discovers a journal over two hundred years of Emily Fairfax.  She's determined to find out if Emily was real and help Ginny save the bookshop she most certainly doesn't plan on falling in love.  

I enjoyed this one which has me wanting to pick up the first book by this author that I stopped.   I love this dual time novel in which the lives of Ginny and Sophia are effected by Emily's. Not to mention I loved how Sophia favorite book series and author play a big role in the story. 

This is a sweet contemporary novel that is a good read if you just want to curl up one day with a book and a cup of tea. 

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.

Castle on the Rise review

Title:  Castle on the Rise

Author: Kristy Cambron

Series:  Lost Castle Series book 2

Chapters: 35 plus Epilogue

Pages: 372

Genre: Christian Fiction, Christian Historical Fiction, Dual Time period

Rating: 5 stars

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambroon Is a book set in Ireland through two years ago. Told from the point of view of three different women. Maeve in the 1790s. Isabel during the Easter Rising and Laine in the present day. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would because I ended up DNFing the first book in the series but I may end going back and reading the first book.  I didn't stop reading because of anything wrong with the book, it was just some of the family stuff the heroine was going through hit too close to home. 

I enjoyed the three different time periods from the point of view of three very different heroines, whom of which are shaped by Ireland and her struggles.  Maeve in the 1790s finds herself becoming more Irish and English as she understands and begins to see their cause as her own.  Isabel during the Easter Rising who sides with the Irish over her own English family.  I think many American's reading a fiction book about a country fighting for Independence view it though rose colored glasses, because of our own war for Independence. But the Easter Rising was more violent and bloody on both sides than was ours with fighting in the streets and bombs.  Innocent people being killed it wasn't as clear cut to who was right or wrong as most might think.  

Being in Ireland finally allows Laine to start finding her footing again. And maybe a fresh start.  Most of the present day story takes place between a castle and an Irish pub.  Which some may find offensive or take issue with that. Especially since a character and her daughter are staying about a pub. But in Ireland pubs are a way of life.  From dinner with friend and family to a place to go and enjoy music.  Pubs are pretty much the Irish equivalent to a family restaurant everyone's welcome. 

After enjoying this one I plan on going back and reading the first book in the series, the one set in France.  And the upcoming novel set in England.  I know want to go back and read the rest of Kristy's books. 

I would recommend this book to the readers who enjoy dual time period novels and history. As well as books set in Ireland. 

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.

Reading this week

I read a total of (2,371)pages this week.

Finished

The Sunday Philosophy club by Alexander McCall Smith

The Dead of the Dead Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Hundred-Year Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Heartbreaker’s by Ali Novak

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

Wed, Read & Dead by V.M. Burns

Burning Sky by Lori Benton (audio)

Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk

You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn

Becoming the Dark Prince by Kerri Maniscalco

Reading

Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Campbell Allen

Non-fiction reading

Classic

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read

Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony

Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day

Murder in Galway by Carlene O’Connor

Carrie by Stephen King (read long with my sister)

Second Impressions by Pepper D Basham

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Book reading for book club at work

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffiths

Reviewing

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

The Last Woman in the Forest by Diana Le Becquets (for now. I may come back to it in the fall when I’m more in the mood for suspense and  thrillers.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Reviews Posted this week

With this Pledge Review

Title:  With this Pledge

Author: Tamera Alexander

Series: Carnton Book 1

Chapters: 43 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 448

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

If anyone can get me to read a book American Civil War novel its Tamera. I’ve haven’t read a book of hers that I didn’t like. Outside of novels about the America Revolution I tend to only read non-fiction book about war. As most authors tend to Sugar coat it. Or show only one side of the war. 

Tamera doesn’t do that with this one. She shows the horrors of war without shocking you as well as showing what the woman and children went through.

What makes this novel so real and heart wrenching is that is novel is based on a real place, a real family the McGavocks and their home Carnton which was turned in to a field hospital after the battle of Franklin. Their governess Elizabeth "Lizzie" Clouston is soon turned into a nurse.  Reading this novel has me wanting to visit Carnton. Much like I did with Belmont and Belle Meade after reading Tamera's previous novels set in Tennessee. 

Captain Roland Ward Jones a confederate sharpshooter is injured in the battle, but Lizzie makes him a promise she somehow manages to keep.  As a sharpshooter and a rebel one at that he's hated by the union. Mainly because sharpshooters hide and killed troops without them knowing.  But both sides used sharpshooters they were the forerunner of our modern day snipers.  So I would say this book is one of Tamera's darker and more graphic books in the terms of war and violence.   

I loved the slow burn romance of the hero and the heroine. This is the first historical fiction that the main couple were both based on historical figures though lesser known that most. I like my historical fiction with a romance. Not a romance with a hint of historical fiction and Tamera does a great job at that.  The romances in her books add to the story they don't take away from that.  

I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, Tamera’s other books as well as fans of Lori Benton, Laura Frantz (though it is a different time period than these two.)  Jocelyn Green and Roseanna m white. 

Review of Sherwood

Title:  Sherwood

Author: Meagan Spooner

 

Chapters: 15

Pages: 470

Genre: Retellings/ Legends

Rating: 4 Stars

I've always loved the story of Robin Hood.  Apart from being one of my dad's father stories and movies I was hooked on the animated Disney movie in which Robin is a fox (A literal fox.) and the animated cartoon called the Adventures of Young Robin Hood.  Not to mention all of the movies and even a BBC show.  But my favorite character has always been Marian.  TO me Marian's always been tough and can match Robin with a bow. But most adaptions don't show that.  I've only seen a cartoon and a TV show her as more than a damsel.  That was why I was excited for Meagan Spooner's new book even though I didn't really like her Beauty and the Beast retelling. 

     Sherwood by Meagan Spooner is a Robin Hood retelling with female Robin Hood. It was an enjoyable read. Even though I didn’t like the ending I do love reading about a strong and able Marian.  I would never have seen that ending coming and even though it’s not who I would have put her with, even the circumstances it works.  You don’t often get that in retellings, but to me Marian’s always been tough but other retelling you get a Marian that is a damsel in distress. In this book you get Marian picking up the bow and becoming the outlaw. 

If you like any version of the Robin Hood story and you also like retellings, I recommend picking this one up. 

Romanov Review

Title:  Romanov

Author: Nadine Brandes

Chapters: 40

Pages: 341

Genre: Historical fantasy, retellings 

Rating: 5 Stars

 Anastasia the animated musical was one of my favorite movies as a child. I loved that movie and image my surprise and shock   in world history class in middle school when I learned the truth. 

So when I saw that Nadine Brandes who wrote Fawkes a retelling about the gunpowder plot I knew that I had to pick this one up.  And I am glad that I did because I loved this one.  

Nadine stays true to the true story of the Romanov's up to a key point and then adds her own twist to the story.  Giving a new life and story to Anastasia who goes by Nastya in this version.  Faith and the love of family plays a huge part in this book and that what I loved. 

Just like with Fawkes Nadine weaves a bit of fantasy into your historical fiction to make it different than any retelling of the Anastasia you've read before.    

I can't wait to see what Nadine comes up with next.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loved the Anastasia musical. As well as those that loved Nadine's previous books. 

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.

Reading this week

I read a total of 1,234  pages this week.

Finished

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Warrior of the wild by Tricia Levenseller

Reading

Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk

You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn

 The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

Non-fiction reading

Classic

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Audio on the Way to Work

Burning Sky by Lori Benton

Getting ready to read

Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony

Blind Trust by Laura Scott

Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day

Murder in Galway by Carlene O’Connor

Carrie by Stephen King (read long with my sister)

Book reading for bookclub at work

The Sunday Philosophy club by Alexander McCall Smith

Reviewing

Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Murder in an Irish Pub

Title:  Murder in an Irish Pub

Author: Carlene O’ Connor

Series: Irish Village Mystery 4

Chapters: 33

 

Pages: 304

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

As A garda (Irish cop) now Siobhan can now legally stick her nose in to murder scenes. However, it doesn’t mean that she out of danger now.  If anything it seems like trouble finds her easier now.  With this being the fourth book in the series it was nice to see how much most of the characters had grown and changed.  It’s always nice to read a cozy mystery set in another country.

This one is great for fans of amateur detective turned police.

I also suggest reading the books in series order. 

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 Loch Ness Papers

Title:  The Loch Ness Papers

Author: Paige Shelton

Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery book 4

Pages: 320

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

The Loch Ness Papers is the fourth book in the Scottish Bookshop mysteries by Paige Shelton.  Delaney Nichols has finally settled in to her new life in Edinburg. Her parents and brother are coming to visit. 

But then Delaney meets a Loch Ness Monster enthusiast and sweet old man who is then accused of killing his nephew. She’s convinced he didn’t do it and she’s determined to clear his name.

The Loch Ness Papers was another great installment in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series. And as always I loved the Scottish setting. The myth of the Loch Ness monster added into this one gave it a nice touch. 

This cozy series is perfect for cozy fans who like a little bit of travel in their mysteries.  I look forward to the next one. I also suggest reading the books in series order. 

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.