August Wrap Up

I started the month with (35) unread books. Brought (1) books.  Got my owlcrate book (1) Book of the month (1) Got (2) book for review which brought my total to (40). Read (5) owned book. DNF’d (3) So I am ending the month at books (32) unread books and hoping to get back on track with the whole read 5 physical books before I buy anymore.  

I read a total of (17) books and thanks a lot to audiobooks.

To Finish

Cherokee Summer by Susan Antony DNF’d

Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day

 Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

TBR

TBR Jar Pick: Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green

              Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Audio Pick: The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Nonfiction Pick: A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff

Classic Pick: Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery  

Kindle Pick:  Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Review Books: Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

              A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

              Back Roads to Belonging by Kristen Strong  

Possible book: In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson

Kindle own: 0/2 
Physical owned:4 /4 

buy: audio membership 

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson (owned)

Murder on Cape Cod by Maddie Day (owned)

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffths

Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (owned)

The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth by Leonorad Goldberg

 Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green (owned)

Criminally Cocoa by Amanda Flower

Reading behind Bars by Jill Grunenwald

Pride, Prejuidce and Poison by Elizbeth Blake

Back Roads to Belonging by Kristen Strong (owned)

Down in Flames by Cheryl Hollon

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton (audio)

Mike’s Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner (audio)

Strangled Eggs and Ham by Maddie Day

Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower

Back Roads to Belonging Review

Title:  Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding your Place and Your People 

Author:  Kristen Strong 

Chapters: 19

Pages: 203

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Rating: 5 stars

I'm not going to lie the first thing that drew me to this book was the title, Back Roads to Belonging.  As someone who prefers to drive the backroads when going someplace instead of the highway or the interstate you never know what you're going to find.   I thought I would give this book a try, a book that shows you a third to find where you belong when faced with the choice of the popular way to do whatever to be noticed or the remaining still there's the backroads way. 

This  book explains that you can remain in Christ and slowly relax into the role that God has for you. That is as unique as you are.  This book was perfect for me as I've always been the one standing on the sidelines not sure where I fit in knowing that it's not the main road, but not knowing how else to get to where God wants me to go, but just like with actually driving there's a back road to that place as well.  God can you use our scenic routes and detours to get us to the backroads to get us there. As well as being content and relaxed in the place you are today. 

Backroads to Belonging will be a book that I pick up, again and again, to read different chapters and parts when there's something unique to my situation at the time. I but I did get a lot from this book reading it cover to cover this time. However, each reader will get something different from it when they read it. As everyone reads a different book no two readers read the same book. 

I look forward to reading other books by this author. 

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

Wed, Read & Dead review

Title:  Wed, Read & Dead

Author:  V.M. Burns

Series: Mystery Bookshop #4

Chapters: 16

Pages: 263

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Wed, Read, & Dead is the fourth book in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M Burns.  Samantha Washington's bookshop is doing great and she's still writing.  But now she not only has to plan a wedding but solve a murder and find the real killer otherwise the groom's going to have to say I DO behind bars.   I love all the characters in this series especially the sassy grandma who packs a pistol. She reminds me so much of my own grandmother who's gone now.  I love the two dogs in the story they tend to remind of my friends dogs.

This cozy mystery set around a bookstore owner, writer and amateur detective is something that nerdy little me used to dream about as a child.  The book is only 16 chapters long you can pretty much finish it in one day if you've got a couple of hours to read. It's a fast read for a cozy.  I would recommend this one for anyone who loves cozy mysteries, books, and bookstores. 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.

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings review

Title:  Southern Sass and Killer Cravings

Author:  Kate Young

Series: Marygene Brown Book 1

Chapters: 40

Pages: 361

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 3 stars

While this wasn't my favorite cozy mystery ,  think I'm getting burnt out on cozies set in the south  as well as those involving food and restaurants  it was till a pretty enjoyable read.  It was also a pretty fast read as well. I found myself quickly turning the pages because I just had to find out how the book ended and who donit.   I didn't even figure out who did it so when the book revealed who did it,  I was shocked.   

I guess the reason I didn't like it was I couldn't believe how not close the two sisters were.  I couldn't image not being close to my sister I'm mean weren't aren't best friends but we are pretty close.  But for someone else it may be their next favorite book. I would recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries, especially those that like  mystery with food and restaurants.  

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 (820) pages this week.

Finished

Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green

Reading Behind Bars by Jill Grunenwald

Criminally Cocoa by Amanda Flower

Reading

Pride, Prejudice, and Poison by Elizabeth Blake

Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower

Non-fiction reading

Classic

Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery

Audio on the Way to Work

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Getting ready to read

The Express Bride by Kimberlery Woodhouse

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate

Call it What you Want by Brigid Kemmerer

Blind Trust by Laura Scott

Down in the Flames by Cheryl Hollon

Murder’s No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher

Book reading for bookclub at work

Reviewing

Back Roads to Belonging by Kristen Strong

A Redesigned Life by Tracy Steel Davis

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry winfrey

Reviews Posted this week
Vow of Justice review
A Glitter of Gold review
Her Oklahoma Rancher Review
Review of Superman: DawnBreaker
Murder in the City of Liberty review

Murder in the City of Liberty Review

Title:  Murder in the City of Liberty

Author:  Rachel McMillan

Series: Van Buren and DecLuca Mystery book 2

Chapters: 21

Pages: 325

Genre: Historical Mystery

Rating: 5 stars

Murder in the  City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan is the second and final book in the Van Buren and DeLuca series I believe.  I loved getting more of Reggie and Hamish story.  Hamish is one of my favorite heroes of literature and a big reason why is because he's not a perfect hero he's own the nerdy side and he's learning to deal with his anxiety. I love that Rachel wrote him as a character that had anxiety, but still a person his condition wasn't all he was.  

The baseball aspect of the story was great I loved that both Nate and Hamish were baseball fans.  I know a little bit about Boston and the Red Socks, from being a baseball fan myself. Growing up I loved hearing stories from my great grandpa about going to baseball games in New York but he wasn't a Yankee's fan instead he was a Dodgers fan  to the point when the team left New York he was still cheering them on. 

I have to say I loved how the book ended and that certain realized that what they really wanted was right in front of them the whole time.  

This book is great for fans of historical mysteries and fans of classic 1930s movies.  I always I look forward to the next book by this author. 

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 Superman: Dawnbreaker

Title:  Superman:DawnBreaker

Author:  Matt De La Pena

Series: DC Icons book 4

Chapters: 289

Pages: 289

Genre: Comic book heroes, retellings

Rating: 2 stars

 Superman and Clark Kent have always been my second favorite DC  superhero Wonder Woman is my favorite DC superhero and favorite super hero in general.   Superman is my second favorite mainly because of  nerdy farm kid Clark Kent.  So I wanted to love this book and unfortunately I didn't love it.  It happens to be my least favorite of the DC Icons series.   But there was parts of the book that I loved. The fact that its set when he's a teenager who's learning about his powers and how to control them.  The fact that's its set in Smallville was giving me flash backs to my pre-teen and teenage years and the TV show Smallville about a teenage Clark Kent.   I pictured the actors from that show when I was thinking about what the book characters would look like. 

Even though I didn't like the book I am glad I read it to be able to finish out the DC Icon series and see this view of Clark Kent and Superman. 

Her Oklahoma Rancher review

Title:  Her Oklahoma Rancher

Author:  Brenda Minton

Series: Mercy Ranch

Chapters: 16 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 280

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Her Oklahoma Rancher by Brenda Minton was like all Love inspired books  a quick read for me. I finished it a day.  I loved all of the characters in the story. I am a sucker for military heroes in fiction because they are also heroes in real life.  Eve Vincent though fictional  is not only a female veteran she’s also a wounded warrior.  But it's been my experience that there is no such thing as an un wounded military member. They all carry scars and burdens, some are physical some aren't.   

What I love about Brenda's Mercy Ranch series is that she shows what happens to our military man and woman after they come home.   People like to pretend that that doesn't happen.  Brenda tells that side with grace. 

The growth that both Eve and Ethan go through show that even though you go through something horrible and heartbreaking  beauty, grace and a future can still be found even if it's not the way you pictured it. 

I look forward to the next story from Mercy Ranch. Like all Love inspired books  there is a happy ending.   I would recommend this book to readers who don't mind crying and those that like their romance on the PG side. 

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.

A Glitter of Gold review

Title:  A Glitter of Gold

Author:  Liz Johnson

Series: Georgia Coast Romance book 2

Chapters: 21 plus epilogue

Pages: 368

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4 stars

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson is the second  book in the Georgia Coast Romance series but can be read as a standalone. This book follows different characters than the first book.  Anne Norris has moved to Georgia and started a walking history tour of the city but she's running from her past.  Carter Hale a museum director and the black sheep of his family but still wants to make the name Hale proud.  When the hilt of a sword brings them together and leads to a possible shipwreck. Anne agrees to help Carter find the ship but he must leave her name out of the media he makes the promise to do but later will find himself not sure that he can help that promise.  

Mistakes that Anne made in her past has her questioning rather or not she deserves  to have a future.  Carter doesn't think he should plan for wife or kids until he  meets his goals in life. Neither was looking for love or a relationship but can the quest for a shipwreck and  a journal from past show this two what they really want and who writes their story.

This book was a little show starting out that it took me a bit to get into at first, but after a few chapters it picked up and before I knew it  I wanted to know what was going to with not only the shipwreck but what if anything was going to happen between Anne and Carter.   The main theme of this book is grace, but more importantly God's Grace. Which is something that  both  Anne and Carter need to learn.  I loved the historical mystery of the shipwreck and the amateur genealogist in me loved the fact that someone in the story had genealogical ties to the shipwreck. It gave the final touch to make the story come full circle.     

I would recommend this one to fans of Christian fiction, those who love sweet stories, and a bit of mystery in their comptnary fiction. 

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. 

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

Vow of Justice

Title:  Vow of Justice

Author:  Lynette Eason

Series:  Blue Justice book 4

Chapters: 21 Plus epilogue

Pages: 336

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Rating: 5 stars

Vow of Justice is the fourth and final book in the Blue Justice series. We finally get oldest Brother (I believe) Linc St. John's story. The FBI agent brother, who's been burned before when it comes to romance. When his partner and the woman he is falling in love with Allison  Radcliffe is killed  Linc wants to go after her killer even though he's suppose to be on medical leave.  But all it's what it seems.  Linc will have to put his feelings aside to bring a killer to justice before someone he cares about truly does become the next victim. 

All in all this book was a nice wrap up of the series, though I still wish Derek had gotten his own book as well.  But I did enjoy getting to visit back with the St. John family in which pretty much almost all members of the family are involved in some form of law enforcement, law, or medical basically jobs that allow them to serve the public. I mean with a dad who's a lawyer and a mom who's the Police Chief it doesn't seem like  these siblings would have chosen any other career let a lone a life on the wrong side of the law. 

This book like the first three books that are Izzy's, Chole's and Brady's stories and the novella that is Ruthie's give me Blue Blood vibes.  I love books about the blue family. It stems from me being a blue family myself.   The seen in the epilogue is adorable and to me the perfect way to end the series. 

Even though each book in the series is technically a standalone because it focuses on a different sibling I recommend and encourage reading them in order because if not you will spoil endings of other books in the series.  The order is  Oath of Honor, Called to Protect, Code of Ethnics the novella, Code of Valor and finally Vow of Justice. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian  suspense , Christian Romantic Suspense, a good law enforcement novel or the TV Show Blue Bloods. 

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. 

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

Reading this week

I read a total of (1,382) pages this week.

Finished

Mystery Ranch by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Stuffed Bear Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson

The House at Sea’s End by Elly Griffths

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth by Leonorad Goldberg

A Love Letter Life by Jeremy Roloff (audio)

Reading

Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry winfrey

Non-fiction reading

Reading Behind Bars by Jill Grunenwald

Classic

Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery

Audio on the Way to Work

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Getting ready to read

The Express Bride by Kimberlery Woodhouse

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Love and Other Mistakes by Jessica Kate

Songs of America by Jon Meacham

Book reading for bookclub at work

Reviewing

Back Roads to Belonging by Kristen Strong

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

You'd Be Mine review
The Rest of the Story Review
Becoming the Dark Prince review