Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams review

 Title:  Murder in the Cookbook Nook

Author: Ellery Adams

Series: Book Retreat

Chapters: 20 Plus epilogue

Pages: 336

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating:4.5 stars

Publisher:  Kensington

 

Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams is the 7th book in the Book Retreat mysteries and they just keep getting better and better. As Jane finally feels like she has settled into her role. But this one was different previous books in the series as Storyton Hall was hosting a cooking show in which the rivalries lead to murder or so it seems. Now Jane and the fins must solve this murder while protecting Janes' family, guests and cook show host alike. 

 

I enjoyed seeing Jane in her element as well as seeing more of the twins and the village of Storyton.  The villagers as well as the hotel staff are starting to feel like family and I guess that's what happens with a cozy mystery series the more you get into the series.  I look forward to the next one 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.

 

 

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le review

 Title:  A Pho Love Story

Author:  Loan Le

Chapters:50

Pages: 406

Genre: YA contemporary, own voices

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

 

I listened to A Pho Love Story by Loan Le on audio and I have to say that listening to it added to my experience.  Hearing the Vietnamese words spoken out loud if not my native speakers at least by narrators that spoke the language.  I also loved that there were two narrators one for Bao's point of view and one for Linh's point of view. To say that this is a YA Romeo and Juliet like story because their parents own competing restaurants would be a disservice to the book.

 Because A Pho Love Story   is so much more, it's a coming of age story as well as a family saga in YA form. Not only do Bao and Linh have to discover were they fit in in their own families while having their own dreams for the future but their families past will also play a part.  If you read this do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook you won't be disappointed. 

The Last Bookshop London by Madeline Martin review

Title:  The Last Bookshop in London 

Author: Madeline Martin

Chapters: 21 plus Epilogue

 Pages: 320

Genre: Historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher:  Hanover Square Press

 

I'm not going to lie I hadn't planned on reading The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin when I did. My original plan was to wait because I wanted to take a break from WWII fiction and read something lighter. But readers and authors opinions I toss were raving about this book, so I went ahead   and read it, and I'm glad I did. Even though this book is set during WWII its focus is on the Home front of London and the blitz. Which isn't a WWII fiction I've read before, so it was a change of pace. 

 

 Grace Bennett takes a job that she thinks is only going to be temporary at a bookshop. But the bookshop ends up changing not only her life but the lives of everyone around her.  This book had me laughing, and crying and celebrating with Grace. Not to mention this book gave me one of my favorite type of hero a slightly nerdy hero who brings books to a date instead of flowers. I don't know about Grace but that would be a way to my heart. 

 

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 Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal review

 Title:  The Paris Betrayal

Author: James R. Hannibal

Chapters: 71

Pages: 348

Genre: Christian Suspense, Christian thriller

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Revell

 

Wow this wasn’t what I was expecting. The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal. It was outside by normal reading wheel house. But was not disappointed and I will be picking up more of the authors books in the future.

 I was hooked from page one and didn’t want to put it down. If I didn’t have to it down to go to work and sleep I would have literally read it in one sitting. The Paris Betrayal gave me James Bond vibes. A clean version of James Bond and I loved that. I want more of Ben Calix and the team. The ending wrapped up the storyline but left it at least in my opinion open for sequels which I wouldn’t say no to.

 

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.

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin review

Title:  Never Miss

Author:  Melissa Koslin

Ch: 43 

Pg:  368

Genre:  Christian Suspense

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: 5 stars

 

I was hooked from page one of Never Miss the debut novel from Melissa Koslin. Though the publisher says it’s suspense to me it reads more like a psychological thriller. Kadance Tolle is a former CIA sniper Lyndon Vaile is a researcher studying possible man made virus. After saving him Kadance is determined to not only keep him alive but help him.

This book had some of my favorite things in literature a strong and compatible heroine and a slightly nerdy hero who is more than meets the eye. Who knows the heroine can take care of herself and just wants to help and support her in whatever way she needs.

Kadance was an easy character to relate to because like Kadance my father also taught me how to shoot but unlike characters in the book he never went against the oath. A favorite part was when Kadance was technically hustling the guys at the shooting range but hey it wasn’t her fault they didn’t think she could shoot just because she was a woman she didn’t lie she just didn’t correct them.

Keep in mind if you want to read this one keep in mind it’s more of psychological thriller than suspense. But I am looking forward to the next book from Melissa Koslin

I received a complimentary copy   from the publishers as part of a blog tour. I was not required to provide 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. 

First Line Friday

 Hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

Chapter One

"Sarah Jeane Rogers,' She muttered,."Elizabeth Jeane Jones." Which ID to use this time? "Eenie meenie minie moe.." 

The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M White Review

 Title:  The Nature of a Lady

Author:  Roseanna M White

Ch: 27

Pg:  384

Series: The Secrets of the Isles

Genre:  Christian Historical fiction,  Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

 Publisher: Behtany House

 

The Nature of a Lady is different from Roseanna’s previous books  but I still enjoyed it. Though I have to say it did start out a little slow, but by the fourth chapter I was hooked. I loved the character of Lady Elizabeth Sinclair but then I’ve always been a sucker for heroines who aren’t exactly society’s normal and Roseanna never fells to deliver those heroines. And the hero Oliver what can I say I love slightly nerdy hero. They are the best. And enjoyed seeing a clergyman as a hero as you don’t see that that often.

But more importantly I loved the threads of friendship in the book. Of the friendships forged in unlikely places.

As with all of Roseanna’s novels the faith element it woven through the story from beginning to end. The mystery element of the story kept me on my toes and turning pages to find out what happened.

I loved the ending and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy   from the publishers. I was not required to provide 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. 

About the Book 

The Nature of a Lady

the Secrets of the Isles, 1

1906
Lady Elizabeth “Libby” Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn’t favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage’s former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished. 

Oliver Tremayne–gentleman and clergyman–is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he’s happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth’s summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it’s the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can’t quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.

To purchase 

Amazon  Barnes and Noble   Christian Book Bethany House Publishers Roseanna's Shop (Signed copies)

About the Author 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Blog  Facebook Pinterest Instagram Twitter Website 

First Line Fridays

 Hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

Prologue 

19 July 1645

The Waters around Scilly 

"He was a prince at sea."

Chapter one 

5 June 1906 

Penzance, Cornwell, England 

"More Beauty than Lady Elizabeth Sinclair had ever thought possible beckoned to her-a turquoise sea, blue sky wisped with soft white clouds, birds cartwheeling though the air, islands studding it all with the promise of life she'd never had the opportunity to examine up close.  

Release Day of The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M White

 

Happy Release Day to The Nature of  a Lady by Roseanna M White  Join @roseannamwhite in celebration of The Nature of a Lady! Enter the giveaway and join the fun here: https://bit.ly/2PJ8bVc #thesecretsoftheisles #thenatureofalady

 https://bit.ly/2PJ8bVc @roseannamwhite #thesecretsoftheisles #thenatureofalady

May TBR

 

To Finish: Murder on Wall Street by Victoria Thompson

          The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Second Chances: A Marine, His Dog and Finding Redemption by Craig Grossi

TBR Jar: In A Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem

Kindle TBR Jar: Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin

              End Game by Rachel Dylan

Nonfiction: Blood and Treasure Daniel Boone and the Fight for America’s first frontier by Bob Drury

Classic: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Audio: Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Library: Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker

To Review: The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M White

          Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

          The Paris Betrayal by James R Hannibal