Reading This Week

Finished

Letting Go of Gravity by Meg Leder

Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

Sisterchicks on the Loose by Robin Jones Gunn

A Study in Treason by Leonard Golderg

Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II by Jane Dismoere

Reading at home

Then There was you by Kara Isaac

Kindle Reading

Called to Protect by Lynette Eason

Reading at Work

A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckely

Non-fiction reading

Princess Margaret by Christopher Warwick

Classic

Audio on the Way to Work

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Getting ready to read

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

The Unbinding of Mary by Miriam McNamara

Reviewing

Read and Gone by Allison Brook

Shelved Under Murder by Vicotira Gilbert

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Devotional reading

When God Calls the Heart by Brian Bird

Did not Finish

Furyborn by Claire Legrand (DNF)

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Stalking Jack the Ripper

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper 

Author: Kerri Maniscalco 

Pages: 326

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper book 1

Genre: Teen historical fiction steampunk 

Rating: 4 stars 

In Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco we meet Audrey Rose Wadsworth a lord's daughter in  Victorian England.  She's not your typical Victorian girl she doesn't care about needle point and learning how to be a wife. She's more interested in the art of forensic medicine. A skill that she is slowly learning at the side of her uncle. She dresses as a boy to attend his lectures at the university.   It's there that she meets one of his students Thomas Cresswell who is close to her equal in book knowledge and skills. 

Then her uncle is asked by the police to help investigate the Jack the ripper killings.  Audrey wants to help  her uncle and first refuses and she goes behind his back almost gets killed and is rescued by Thomas.  Something he won't let her live down.   

Stalking Jack the Ripper puts a new spin on the Jack the Ripper story that I didn't think was possibly but yet we have Stalking Jack the Ripper.  As the Jack the Ripper murders remain one of the criminal justice systems biggest mysteries, because till this day they really don't know who did it.  I loved that Audrey Rose was a woman a head of her time.  That I would like to think that if they had had women police officers, detectives doctors, medical examiners and  forensics that weren't in its infancy they may have caught Jack the Ripper in the Victorian times. I look forward to the next book in the series.  

Review of Thief of Corinth

Title: Thief of Corinth 

Author: Tessa Afshar 

Chapters: 33

Pages: 400

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Biblical Fiction

Rating: 5 stars

     Thief of Corinth is the newest book by Tessa Asfhar. The Second book set in Corinth with the missionary Paul as an important character though not the main character. This time the heroine is fictional rather than a Biblical person. This story features not one but two honorable thieves. It gives it a bit of a Robin Hood feel. Ariadne flees Athens, but she’s not running away in her mind she’s running home to Corinth and her father Galenos. Once back she discovers her father’s secret the secret that tore her and her brothers away from their father. He’s a thief but an honorable one. Ariadne is left with three choices turn her father in or join him, or lie to protect them both. When they both are almost at the end of their ropes they meet a man named Paul, who will introduce them to Someone far greater.

I have to say that Thief of Corinth is one of my favorite books by Tessa Asfhar.  Her books just keep getting better and better. She is my go to author for Biblical fiction. Ariadne is my favorite heroine since Ariadne is truly fictional Tessa had more creative licenses with her story she didn’t have to stick with what was already written about her.  To me Ariadne is the most relatable of Tessa’s heroines.  

One of my favorite quotes from the book can form chapter 3, “In the shelter of my father’s love, tears came freely.” While this scene is dealing with an earthly father, it is a reminder that our Heavenly Father’s love allows us to express our tears and other emotions just as freely.  Another favorite quote came from chapter 23 “That is what father’s do, Ariadne they see how far you have come and cheer you, so you will learn to go the rest of the way.  Father’s lead you so far but then you have to learn to go the rest of the way on your own.

All I can say is that if you've read Tessa's previous novels you need to pick this one up. Or if you like Biblical fiction this one is a winning. Every time I read one of Tessa's books it like a part of the story is something that I am going through at that time and it encourages me in that season as well as reminding me to pick up my Bible more.   I wasn’t a fan of Biblical fiction till I discovered Tessa’s first novel Pearl in the Sand and I was hooked Tessa’s writes Biblical fiction in a way that makes you want to pick up your Bible and dive into that as well. 

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

Review of Santa Fe Mourning

Title: Santa Fe Mourning 

Author: Amanda Allen 

Pages: 288

 ies: A Santa Fe Revival Mystery book 1

Genre: cozy mystery 

Rating: 4 stars 

Santa Fe Mourning by Amanda Allen is the first book in the A Santa Fe Revival Mystery series.  Madeline Vaoughn-Alwin goes west after losing her husband in WWI as a way to grieve to also put space between her and her wealthy New York city upbringing.  She settles in New Mexico and tries her hand at being a painter.   

When one of the people who work for her is found murdered and the police don't  act like the  crime is worth solving she takes it upon herself to solve the crime. 

I've read other novels set during the 1920s complete with flappers but never one set in New Mexico during this time period.  Which was a welcome change. Ms. Allen did her research because she was able to bring 1920s Santa Fe to life and give the characters a life of their own.  I look forward to the next book in the series. 

Review of The Hope of Azure Springs

Title: The Hope of Azure Springs 

Author: Rachel Fordham 

Chapters: 22 plus epilogue 

Pages: 331

Genre: Christian Historical fiction 

Rating: 4 stars 

 Em orphaned and alone ends being brought the Azure Springs by kind strangers after being shot and left for dead. It's Azure Spring's Sheriff Caleb Reynolds must figure out who she is and rather or not she's a danger to the town.  

What Em finds in town is to hard to believe; a place to belong. But Eliza a young woman who is jealous of the attention that Em is getting from a young suitor does everything in her power to make Em feel uncomfortable, uncomfortable enough to want  to leave. 

The Hope of Azure Springs is a debut novel from Rachel Fordham and I hope it won't be the last.   The title of the book says it when it comes to what the book is about; its about hope and learning to trust the One who can give the ultimate hope.  Both Em and Caleb her two scared individuals rather physical or emotional scars running from the pains of the past. 

I enjoyed that while there was a bit of a romance in the story the novel didn't give all of its focus to it, but also focused on the friendships and family relationships in the town.  I enjoyed the way that the novel came full circle with the ending.  I look forward to future books by Rachel Fordham. 

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.

August TBR

August to finish

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

When God calls the heart: Devotions from Hope Valley by Brain Bird

City of Lies by Victoria Thompson

A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg

August TBR

Five Days Skye by Carla Laureano

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Sisterchicks on the Loose by Robin Jones Gunn

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Review of Don't Forget Me

Title: Don't Forget Me 

Author: Victoria Stevens 

Pages: 360

Genre: teen 

Rating: 4 stars 

In Don't Forget Me by Victoria Stevens Hazel Clarke finds herself moving half way around the world from England to Australia to live with a father she's never met. The whole time she can't get her mother off her mind.  She's determined that it is only going to be temporarily just until she turns 18. She didn't count on meeting Red and his twin Luca.  Now she's not so sure what she wants to do. 

Don't Forget Me is a teen novel that deals with the typical teen issues as well dealing with family problems and the issue of early onset Alzheimer's. Which seems to me that, that is something that most teens don't have to deal with. Though the novel deals with a tough subject Victoria Stevens handles it well with the seriousness it deserves with just enough humor to remind readers that it is alright to still find the joy in life. That even when you’re going through a hard time life is still worth living.  

     While Don't Forget Me is a novel dealing with tough issues on the whole it is a novel about family and friendship and living life to the fullest. One of the important lessons I got from this book is that even though you move on and life goes on you don't have to forget the people that where important.  As well as the question of what's worse losing someone to death or losing someone because they can't remember who you are? The thing is neither one is any worse than the other. There's no way to balance that one out. They are both horrible in their own way and there's no comparing the two. 

I would recommend this book to older teens and up. There are somethings in the the novel that might not be suitable for everyone.