A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness review

Title:  A Discovery of Witches

Author:  Deborah Harkness

Ch: 43 

Pg:  579

Series: All Souls

Genre:  Fiction Paranormal time travel

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Penguin books

 

 A Discovery of Witches has been one of those books that has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few years. Never finding its way to the top of the list even when the first season of the TV show came out, because quite frankly Twilight and the craze that came from that series kind of made me hate vampire fiction. But when author Rachel McMillan was raving about the book series and the show on Instagram during the last year, I decided to finally give the first book a try. And I am glad that I did. A Discovery of Witches isn't just a vampire book it's a book with a strong and determined young woman Diana Bishop who’s trying to hide who she is, and Matthew Clairmont who she's Diana for who she is and just happens to be a vampire.

 

While Matthew wants to protect Diana because that's just who he is and how he was raised, he also wants her to learn her to defend and protect herself. He wants to fight beside her not for her, which in my book makes him the perfect hero, and I'm looking forward the next book in the series. And the secondary characters just add to the story.

No Memes of Escape by Olivia Blacke review

 Title:  No Memes of Escape

Author:  Olivia Blacke

Ch:25

Pg:  320

Series: A Brooklyn Murder Mystery series book 2

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Berkeley

No Memes of Escape by Olivia Blacke is the second book in the A Brooklyn Murder mystery which I enjoyed more than the first one. Odessa though was a favorite in the first one as well. You just can't but love her quirkiness. The murder mystery involving the escape room was what kept my attention as it was something different in a mystery. And of course, the whole microbrewery and bookstore Odessa works at also helps. I look forward to the next book in the series as well as other books 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.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews review

 Title:  The Santa Suit

Author:  Mary Kay Andrews

Ch: 25

Pg:  224

Genre: Christmas romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

 

What got me to want to read The Santa Suit my first book by Mary Kay Andrews was this line from the back blurb " a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war."  Because I could relate to that little girl's Christmas wish. Because during the early nineties when the US was involved with Desert Shield that Christmas, I asked Santa to bring my dad home, I mean as a kid you think Santa's got magic you don't realize he can't tell governments what to do.  And what I got with The Santa Suit was a sweet Christmas story about small towns, second chances, new friends, and the start of a romance. To me this one was one of the first Christmas books that I've read in a long time that gave me Hallmark movie feels. This may be one that gets added to my Christmas books rereads. 

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) 

In The Company of Heroes by James Kitfield

Title:  In the Company of Heroes

Author:  James Kitfield

Ch: 21

Pg:  281

Genre:  Nonfiction

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Hachette Books

 

The Generation of young man who answered the call after Pearl Harbor was called The Greatest Generation. Many young men who went to war before they were even men.  But what do we call the generation of young men and women who came of age in a post 911 world. A Generation who were barely teenagers when those towers fell.  If you’re the author James Kitfiled you refer to them as the newest greatest Generation. And many ways they are as they are part of an all-volunteer military. Each of the 25 stories in this book are about men who earned the nation’s highest military honor. An honor you only get by going above and beyond the call of duty often putting they own life on the line.  To the date of the writing of this book there have been 3,526 Medals awarded. There's a reason many Medal of Honor medals are awarded posthumously.  The story that stands out the most to me is William Kyle Carpenter who though a Marine is basically a real-life Captain America who without regard to his own safely thru himself on a grenade to protect his buddy from the blast.  Which shows that our men in uniform are a special breed. These men understand the meaning of Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. because they have lived it.