Annalee Spain is restless in her theology professorship in 1920s Chicago while her father's murder goes uninvestigated in Denver. She knows no one is Annalee Spain is restless in her theology professorship in 1920s Chicago while her father's murder goes uninvestigated in Denver. She knows no one is likely to look into a poor Black man's death in this time and especially in her hometown overrun with the KKK, and her father's pastor has sent her a note encouraging her to come investigate. So she quits her position and heads out to Denver. But she doesn't even make it all the way there before people start trying to stop her. Permanently stop her. And if it weren't for a little orphan boy following her, they might have succeeded. Her young protector is also heading to Denver on fatherly business, his disappeared. As the two of them sneak into town looking for answers and evading those trying to stop them, they find themselves landing in a hornets' nest of potential suspects. Can they find any answers in a crooked town run by the KKK?
This mystery wasn't as much of a who done it as a mystery of motive and wondering how Annalee is going to get any justice for her father in such a town. Annalee is also dealing with a crisis of faith, even if she is a theology professor. She has to figure out if she can really trust God. There's also a little romantic interest thrown in in the shape of the local pastor, and then the side case of the boy's missing father. I've never read anything set in this time period of Denver and it was a bit surprising to learn that it really was one of the worst KKK hotbeds in America during this time period. I liked seeing things through Annalee's perspective. There aren't a whole lot of characters of color in Christian fiction, especially Christian historical romances, so this fills a huge hole.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss on page. A child born out of wedlock is part of the secrets uncovered, as is a woman having an affair. No details at all. A past murder is known of but not described, there's a death by stabbing on page and another by gunshot. A death of a child is mentioned but not shown. Racial injustice is a constant part of the story. Some characters drink as was customary of the time period (this is only briefly mentioned)....more
The former Recorder who lost her drone in an accident on Pallas is being transported to Consortium headquarters for the Eldest to rule on her future. The former Recorder who lost her drone in an accident on Pallas is being transported to Consortium headquarters for the Eldest to rule on her future. But on the way a virus wipes out huge amounts of the crew, and the survivors along with the former Recorder are sent back to the Thalassa to investigate the origins of the virus on Pallas and see if a cure can be created. The Elder who was on the virus-devastated ship is put in charge of the investigation, much to his horror, and a few other Recorders who were waiting for decisions on reclamation are given the choice to join in the investigation instead of being reclaimed. Though she is excited to see her friends who have become like family on Thalassa the former Recorder is not looking forward to the danger it could put them in from a virus, the bugs on Pallas (they still give her nightmares), or from the Consortium observing how they treat her. More than her own safety, though, the former Recorder is concerned about the other Recorders arriving (among whom is James, her childhood friend) who still have chips and are connected to drones that could be taken out by the things on Pallas and put their lives in danger. She needs to disable their chips without letting the Elder know she has tampered with Consortium materials.
This is exactly my cup of tea. It's the perfect blend of things going haywire on a space ship/station, space monster story, dystopia, topics to chew on, a cast of characters with lots of personalities (and trust levels), a bit of mystery, and futuristic tech. I spread out reading this as much as possible to just make it last longer. I would totally love to see Cathy McCrumb's Consortium world turned into a tv series about 20 seasons long. :) It's a fascinating place to hang out in. I really like the human rights issues explored, the personal growth the former Recorder continues to experience, and how meeting her changes others. And I loved the adrenaline moments on the virus-ridden ship and the bug-infested station. It takes a great author to be able to write the pulse-pounding moments and the mundane moments with equal excellence. I can't wait for the next book in this series. Re-read Jun 2024: I did the exact opposite of last time and tore through this for the 2nd read in less than 24 hours. Had to get my memory refreshed before diving into book 3. And it was just as fun the 2nd time around.
Notes on content: Language: It will mention that characters swear but doesn't write out the swears. Sexual content: No sexual content beyond a kiss or hug. Violence: There are some battles between humans and between humans and mutant bugs. Some wounds and fatalities are described in minimal to moderate detail. There's a virus that wipes out a huge number on a space ship, and also threatens the space station. Some of those deaths are described in detail and some are characters readers care about. Ethnic diversity: Cultural divides in this futuristic world are more about which part of space you grew up in than ethnicity. A variety of skin tones are mentioned and people's last names hint at long ago cultural ties. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Some characters are prejudiced against people from certain areas of this world and Recorders. There's all sorts of human rights issues involved in how Recorders are chosen, raised, and trained. All are handled tactfully....more
Recorder was given to the Consortium at birth to be raised for one of several public service positions. As a Recorder, it is her job to observe and arRecorder was given to the Consortium at birth to be raised for one of several public service positions. As a Recorder, it is her job to observe and archive events without interfering. To help her better fulfill her role, she has been bonded to a drone that also helps her to regulate her emotions and make sure she does not interfere, but just observe. Recorder has been sent on a mission with the crew of the Thalassa to retrieve records from the science station on the moonlet Pallas and see if there are any survivors. All that they know is a flu of some kind wiped out most of the population. They do not know if anyone made it into stasis in time to be saved, or if there is still power to maintain the stasis pods. Recorder has her own mission to retrieve the remains of Pallas' Recorder and her drone, in addition to the station data. Recorder knows that the rest of the recovery crew is anxious being around her. But she does not know each of their pasts with Recorders that has made them that way. As their recovery mission goes badly wrong Recorder is gravely injured and her drone is destroyed. She awakes back on the Thalassa totally lost without her drone. She must learn how to read and interact with other humans without a computer interface, and they start to realize Recorders are just as human as they are. They also realize that at least 1 person was murdered before the flu hit on Pallas. Time is ticking before they arrive back to where they must report to the Consortium. All of them have much to learn about what it means to be human, question what they always took for granted in the Consortium's ways, and solve a murder mystery.
I have to be honest, I went into this kind of expecting a cleaner Murderbot story. But Recorder is 100% human with tech connections that can be taken away. It is slowly revealed that it is more the way she was brought up and the way the Consortium has structured society that makes her seems so "other." In the end it reminded me more of The Giver in the societal issues, but also very unique. I really like the occasional flashbacks that not only flesh out the other characters and explain their personality, but also start building this more vivid view of what society is like in this world and why so many do not like Recorders, and just how twisted the Consortium is. I thought it was a good idea to have the murder mystery so you cared about the work Recorder was doing. I figured out the murderer pretty quickly, but I wasn't sure why for a while. This ended with a lot of resolution in personal relations and personal growth among the characters, but a huge, big, ginormous cliffhanger in the plot. And now I am very eager for book 2 to come out. I liked all the discussion potential the story contains, and I think this would make a great book club pick for book clubs. This was published by a Christian publisher, but the Christian elements are very subtly woven in. The society forbids talking about religion in public but through little hints you find out a couple of the characters practice Christianity in private and it influences their values. This is a very interesting world McCrumb has built and I can't wait for book 2 to come out. Re-read May 2024: I was about to dive into book 3 and then I realized, why not re-read the whole series before that? I don't often let myself have the luxury of re-reads when my TBR is threatening to turn into a tsunami, but this series is worth it. I also started the first chapter of book 3 and realized I could use a character refresher. There are so many characters that you get to know fairly well through the flashbacks, which is masterfully done, but there are a lot of people to keep track of. And even though I knew what was coming, McCrumb makes you care about the characters so much that I felt I was still very invested in the story the 2nd time around. I kind of wish someone (who would stay faithful to McCrumb's heart behind this series and the characters) would snatch up the rights and develop this into a series. I don't normally want my favorite books developed into movies or series, but I think this one would be great as a series. The cats, of course, would be the star headliners and it would be in their contracts they need to appear at least once per episode. ...more
A collection of comics featuring animals doing normal human things or just things to make readers laugh.
Liz Climo's comics are cute, simple, but very A collection of comics featuring animals doing normal human things or just things to make readers laugh.
Liz Climo's comics are cute, simple, but very good for a smile and an occasional out loud laugh. 90% of the comics are all ages appropriate, but there's just a few with language or about topics that make this collection more suited to teens/adults (it isn't usually that the topic is inappropriate for kids as much as they just wouldn't get the humor).
Notes on content: 3 minor swears. No sexual content. No intentional violence. One joke about being drunk....more
Peter Chesterfield is one of the Royal London Hospital's best neurosurgeons. He's also a jerk and a workaholic. When his sharp tongue gets him in trouPeter Chesterfield is one of the Royal London Hospital's best neurosurgeons. He's also a jerk and a workaholic. When his sharp tongue gets him in trouble, some friends with his best interests in mind send him to Hawaii to hopefully rediscover his humanity. There's also a medical symposium at the Elysium Grand hotel on Maui so he can visit those if he doesn't want to go to the beach on his forced vacation. Detective Lisa Kealoha is a local who very nearly ended up as a career criminal. She still feels like she has to prove she has earned her top detective spot, a feeling made worse by the way some of her co-workers are obviously gunning for her position. When a car theft ring case adds on some murders, Lisa has a sense that they might be dealing with some transplant mobsters from LA, which would be really bad news. Peter and Lisa's paths crash together when Peter rescues a woman from the waves while out walking on the beach at night. Thanks to his specialization, he knows immediately that the woman is a victim of a crime, and when he loses her in the ambulance he feels he owes it to her to help find who did this. Lisa isn't sure she can trust this British know it all doctor who was conveniently first on the scene, and he has a very annoying tendency of being one step ahead of her in the investigation trail thanks to his keen mind and his new friendship with the hotel doctor. Lisa can't decide whether to let them help or lock them up to keep them out of her hair. And the case is really getting to her as she feels more and more threatened by coworkers trying to one up her on top of the fact that the woman pulled out of the ocean by Peter was a kid she used to babysit. Meanwhile, Peter is starting to realize his colleagues may have had very good reasons to send him away to regroup. Is there any hope for him? Could this God that Lisa and the doctor talk about be real? One thing is clear, both of them will need some serious help to puzzle out this case and survive to tell about it.
This earned 5 stars for balancing a compelling mystery that I couldn't put down with memorable and diverse characters in a unique setting. This was a very well done mystery with lots of twists and turns (but they all made sense). Peter and Lisa are very memorable characters with their own personal issues to iron out on top of the case. There's some mild attraction but it doesn't get mushy and their relationship is not the main point at all. The focus is definitely more on Lisa's position on the force, Peter's spiritual and ethical condition, and the mystery of who is killing these people and why. I really liked the hotel doctor that Peter builds a begrudging (on his side) friendship with and who has known Lisa since she was a kid. There are a lot of other memorable side characters to flesh out the story. I also like the setting. Hannibal obviously did a lot of research on Maui, the local culture, local crime issues, local police force headaches, and how Christian Hawaiians balance their cultural heritage and Christian beliefs. The Christian elements were flawlessly woven into the story in natural ways so it felt authentic and not preachy. I devoured the whole book in one sitting because it was so engaging and I needed to find out who done it and if the characters were going to be ok. Highly recommended to contemporary Christian thriller/mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are some fatalities and injuries and surgeries, with some injuries a bit more described, though very clinically described (thanks to being in the doctor's head for some chapters). Past deaths of fathers in accidents and how that affected their children is part of the story. A past murder is mentioned. Car theft and gang activity is part of the story....more
From an aimless British 2nd son trying to find his way in Vancouver in 1912 to a grieving young woman in modern day New York to an author on tour all From an aimless British 2nd son trying to find his way in Vancouver in 1912 to a grieving young woman in modern day New York to an author on tour all over future Earth to a far future Moon colony, the story follows 4 people who have all had encounters with a strange anomaly that seems to bridge various places and times in a single moment. One man keeps reappearing in each timeline interviewing each person about their experiences with the anomaly. But why is he investigating it, what is it, and how is he in so many different timelines?
This starts off a little slow as you don't learn what is going on until you've gone to several different time periods and met these various characters. You slowly start to realize that the same guy keeps showing up in these different time periods and then you realize what the mystery is and then there's figuring out the answer plus how the guy got to being a time traveler. The author on tour appears to be a bit autobiographical for Emily St. John Mandel. She has a dystopia about a plague that becomes a best seller and she's going all over and is very tired and misses her family, but is profoundly touched when she hears what her book meant to people. Snippets of her talk on historical plagues like smallpox and how it spread from Europe to the Americas are included and as she's traveling a new flu is slowly turning into a current pandemic which eventually causes her to cut short her tour and shelter at home with her husband and daughter on the Moon colony for an extended period of time. I got the feeling that St. John Mandel's talks about her Station Eleven and the onset of covid were being channeled greatly into that part of the book. Which wasn't bad, it made those parts very vivid and memorable. And caring for that character becomes important for the plot of the story, so that worked well too. Once I figured out what the mystery was, I couldn't put this down and devoured the last 2/3 of the book in one sitting. It didn't feel quite as lyrical as Station Eleven, which I thought was wordsmithed beautifully, but the plot line of this felt very unique, she did the time travel well, and I liked the different timelines she included. Hand this to those who like cleverly crafted plots and time travel with light mystery.
Notes on content: Very, very rare mild swears and 3 strong swears. No sex scenes. There are couples of all sorts of gender combinations that show up along the way, but very little display of affection on page. The most I can remember is a peck on the cheek. There's a scene where one character disrobes outside to prevent carrying infection inside, but it was more practical than scandalous and brief. Deaths in pandemics past and currently are mentioned along the way. A shooting kills 2 people (happens mostly off page). A past suicide of a spouse is mentioned. One character survives a war that takes a limb and leaves them with PTSD; that character does describe seeing someone blown up nearby somewhat graphically. Some consumption of drugs and alcohol briefly mentioned....more
Rincewind is not happy at all that the Unseen University wizards have decided that a message asking to send "the great Wizzard" to the Counterweight CRincewind is not happy at all that the Unseen University wizards have decided that a message asking to send "the great Wizzard" to the Counterweight Continent means he should go. He's had enough adventures, but it is that or get stripped of his wizard title so off he goes. He arrives to find that there's a revolution brewing in the Counterweight Continent. The wall and culture that firmly keeps people in and outsiders out is standing strong, but somehow news of what things are like in Ankh Morpork have kindled flames desiring freedom for the peasant folk and Lord Hong is all too happy to fan those flames if he can take advantage of them so he can wrestle control and rid the land of the Emperor without getting his hands dirty. But he never bargained on Rincewind's relationship with Fate, a band of elderly barbarians, and the power of Twoflower's travel diaries.
So the Counterweight Continent and its revolution is obviously satire based mostly on the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The culture of the land is a farce based on Chinese culture with a little Japanese mixed in. The title comes from the blessing/curse "May you live in interesting times." This wasn't my favorite Discworld novel. How Rincewind always ends up going out of the frying pan and into the fire while inadvertently saving the day for everyone else is humorous. I could have done without some of the more suggestive parts of the barbarians bits. And I think Pratchett was trying to bring awareness to the lack of freedom in Communist countries for the average citizen even after a change in regime that was supposed to free them, but it sometimes bordered on making fun of bits of Asian culture at large which I wasn't comfortable with. I'd say overall this is a 2.5 so I'll round it up to 3 but I'd recommend over a dozen other Discworld books over this one.
Notes on content: Mild swearing all throughout (with some stronger British swearing). No sex scenes. The barbarians are constantly talking about maidens and raping and pillaging towns. There aren't any specifics, and they are getting an education on how that is not ok, but it gets uncomfortable when they are talking about such things even in roundabout ways. There is a battle with some fatalities, and there's a takeover of the palace with some fatalities, but most are hardly described though some heads rolling and people being squashed or stabbed and other such things are mentioned. Some characters consume alcohol....more
Brielle Adebayo's world is turned upside down when her grandfather on her deceased dad's side reaches out and invites her to come visit to learn aboutBrielle Adebayo's world is turned upside down when her grandfather on her deceased dad's side reaches out and invites her to come visit to learn about the nation she is next in line to rule. Brielle had no clue her father was the crowned prince of a small island African nation. He died before she really knew him, and her mother has evidently been very good at keeping the secret. Brielle gets a sub for her middle school classroom, gets her best friend to travel with her, and flies off to meet this royal grandfather she never knew existed. She arrives to learn that her grandfather is dying and she has just days to decide if she wants to claim her birthright or abdicate. And if she does choose to claim the throne there's a further stipulation that she has to marry a local man before her grandfather dies.
This definitely had elements that reminded me of The Princess Diaries, but in all the best ways. It is not that often that African settings come up in modern Christian contemporary romance settings or a diverse cast, so that was exceedingly refreshing. I also loved the way Toni Shiloh so naturally made Brielle's Christian walk an authentic everyday part of her life. She is constantly breathing prayers, trying to discern God's plan in all of the craziness that comes her way, and it just feels like she's a real person who loves God trying her best to follow Him, though she by no means has it all together (and wouldn't claim to). Another thing I really appreciated about the story was Brielle and her best friend's approach to learning the culture of Ọlọrọ Ilé. They don't march in like New Yorkers who know how things should be run. They try to genuinely learn the culture and Brielle learns the politics and tries to find out why, and though there are issues they both think need to be addressed, they try to go about it in ways that honor the local people and will realistically bring positive change. The romance elements were very sweet, clean, and felt believable. I think this will find a good audience among the teen and adult readers at our school looking for a feel good contemporary romance.
Notes on content: No language issues. Nothing beyond a kiss on page. It is hinted that a marry couple go on to do more after some kissing but no details. One of the husband prospects recommended to Brielle turns out to have kids from multiple women who live nearby (she quickly crosses him off her list of possibilities). One death from cancer in the present, and another death in an accident in the past mentioned....more
Veronica McCreedy is in her mid-80s and has suddenly realized she doesn't have much to show for her life. She searches to see if the son that was giveVeronica McCreedy is in her mid-80s and has suddenly realized she doesn't have much to show for her life. She searches to see if the son that was given up for adoption had any children, and she finds a grandson, but he's a bit of a disappointment. (Patrick isn't too thrilled with her either, showing up suddenly right after his girlfriend left him when he was most certainly not at his best.) After seeing a nature documentary about Adelie penguins, Veronica decides she's going to give her not insubstantial wealth to save them, but first she's going to go check out the operation down there in Antarctica. Despite numerous emails telling her she can't come and that the science station is no place for an octogenarian, Veronica has her mind made up, has her housekeeper help get her outfitted for the South Pole, and off she goes whether she or they are ready or not. In case something happens to her, though, she's sent a locked box to her grandson. And then decides he should read it before something happens to her. Patrick soon finds himself reading his grandmother's teenage diaries from WWII and learning why Granny is such a tough woman. Meanwhile, Veronica is being changed by her experiences in Antarctica with the scientists and penguins.
I got about halfway through this and then started skimming. The premise is sweet, but Veronica's war time experiences are awful and turned her into a bitter and manipulative old woman with walls up to protect herself from any possibility of future hurt. You definitely understand why she is the way she is but it isn't fun to read about. Patrick is a mess too. He has his own tragic background (that connects to Veronica's) and has no direction in his current life except weed and women. He works one day a week and the rest lives off of welfare. When Veronica gets sick and he goes down to Antarctica it brings about a lot of healing and hope for a better future for both of them, which is a touching ending but the road there was rough. I love penguins and all the details about living on a scientific base studying penguins was fun, and really the only reason I picked up the book. If you like books about strange experiences changing crotchety old ladies and directionless young men, and can stand to hang out with Veronica and Patrick till they get some redemption you may want to pick this up. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Notes on content: Mild swearing occasionally and at least one strong swear (not sure if there were more in what I skimmed over). No sex scenes but there are some heavy kissing scenes from WWII and you know Veronica is sneaking out from her school to sleep with a guy which results in a teen pregnancy. A later marriage ends when the husband has an affair. Patrick goes on a date and wonders where it will lead with some suggestive thinking written out. Deaths of penguins mentioned. Deaths in WWII mentioned. Patrick turns to weed and alcohol to drown his sorrows....more
Charlie Harris' daughter is in town for a semester teaching acting at the local college while she's between Hollywood gigs. It turns out so is her ex-Charlie Harris' daughter is in town for a semester teaching acting at the local college while she's between Hollywood gigs. It turns out so is her ex-fiancé Connor Lawton, who is also at the college as the writer-in-residence. Charlie is very relieved that his daughter dumped this playwright who is not very nice to anyone. When Connor turns up dead and Charlie's daughter finds the body, she is the prime suspect. Charlie also knows his daughter is hiding something. But he also firmly believes she wouldn't have killed the man. Can he figure out who did kill the unlikable playwright and clear his daughter's name?
This was definitely my least favorite in this series so far. Lawton doesn't die until halfway through the book, and by that time he has plenty of opportunities on page to show just how awful he is. The mystery is convoluted and the writing is clever, but it isn't necessarily a "fun" read.
Notes on content: About 4 minor swears and 2 moderate ones. No sexual content on page, but it talks about how one side character is a star in Hollywood only because of things she can offer male directors on the side and it states this in 2 rather crude phrases. It is mentioned that the dead guy was a womanizer who talked very degradingly to and about women, and it is mentioned he was having an affair with a married woman. Two nonviolent but disturbing deaths (one in the present and one in the past are described), and one throat slitting mentioned but not described. One character likes to smoke cigars, and alcoholic beverages are consumed recreationally throughout while the dead man had a serious drinking problem. The plot involves a child being locked in a cupboard by a babysitter in the past....more
Eunice Holbrook is rather put out behind her widow's veils when the newest client walks into the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. First of all, she hopeEunice Holbrook is rather put out behind her widow's veils when the newest client walks into the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. First of all, she hoped never to see the man again. Secondly, he is extremely stubborn, aggravating, and refuses to leave. Thirdly, he wants the agency to find Eugenia Howland, which is extremely inconvenient because she is Eugenia Howland and she isn't so sure she wants to be found. Especially by him. Readers and the rest of the Agency employees will spend the rest of the book figuring out why Eunice ran away from her old life and whether or not the truth really will set her free.
This adventure gets Turano's characters out of NYC for only the third time in the books of hers I've read. I do like the fresh setting. I listened to parts of this on audio and I couldn't tell if it was just the way the narrator read Eunice and Arthur or how Turano wrote them, but they kind of annoyed me in how they constantly argued. So this wasn't my favorite of Turano's books. It still did have its moments of classic Turano humor and made me laugh out loud a few times. Eunice's past involves a grandfather who was a nasty piece of work, which also bumped it down the enjoyment scale for me. I was quite angry with how he manipulated people's lives. Which I guess is a testament to Turano's writing that she can make me loathe a fictional character so much. There is good resolution to everything in the end, and the truth does set many free but it is quite a journey to get there. There's a lot of wrapping up of other side and main characters' stories from this series going on as we go and it almost felt like too much crammed in the edges (though I would have also complained to not have resolution to all of their stories). Not my favorite Turano adventure, but definitely different, a good touch of humor, and the mystery kept me guessing.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (There's presumption that someone is Eunice's grandfather's mistress but it comes out that that was all a ploy.) A past murder and shooting that resulted in an injury is related with some blood described. Present perilous circumstances arise, but everyone ends up ok. A lot of emotional and psychological manipulation and abuse by the grandfather is related....more
Intriguing premise and we don't have much Christian time travel out there, but the 1914 mom was so horribly manipulative it was seriously stressing meIntriguing premise and we don't have much Christian time travel out there, but the 1914 mom was so horribly manipulative it was seriously stressing me out and once it got to the forced wedding and wedding night I couldn't take it any more. I have too much other stress in my life. The Williamsburg pre-revolutionary war setting was interesting, the method of time travel was very unique, and I was wanting to see how the start of WWI impacted the character. I might revisit this later. We'll see.
Content notes [based on 1st 3rd]: Definite trigger warnings for the manipulative mom who almost kills herself to get her husband and daughter to do what she wants and then blackmails her daughter into a forced wedding, and then the drunk husband insists on wedding night activities. It wasn't super detailed though her distress was very much detailed.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
The mostly wordless adventures of Chewie, the Flerken, and her interactions with various Marvel characters.
This would have been 5 stars if some of theThe mostly wordless adventures of Chewie, the Flerken, and her interactions with various Marvel characters.
This would have been 5 stars if some of the plot lines had been easier to follow. With the extremely sparse text, some of these definitely require you having background information about the characters to get the humor or even what is happening, even though there are super brief intros to all the characters included (and can we just take a minute to appreciate the summarizing skills, one line intros that sufficiently sum up just about all the Marvel characters!). My 2 favorites were Chewie's misadventures at Doctor Strange's mansion, and Chewie's encounter with Rocket (or more specifically, Rocket's enticing tail). I was disappointed that Chewie and Nick Fury's interaction wasn't more emotive since they have a past.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There's some brief battles depicted....more
Laura Callaway is an orphan who was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle when a child, only for her blood relative Aunt to die shortly thereafter. Her UncleLaura Callaway is an orphan who was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle when a child, only for her blood relative Aunt to die shortly thereafter. Her Uncle has always been kind and welcoming but her new aunt treats her like an unwelcome guest, and not part of the family. Laura feels just as much of a castaway in Cornwall as the things she combs the beaches for that are washed up from the numerous shipwrecks. She has lived there many years, but is still treated like an outsider by most. She spends her time trying to find the owners of the found items, notifying the families of the dead to give them closure, and helping the local healer. When a man is found barely alive after a shipwreck, Laura helps nurse him back to health. But some of the things she's found in the wreckage indicates that at least one person on board the ship might have been a French prisoner of war. Can they trust this recovering man? Is he the enemy?
The settings in this story are what really make it stand apart. The Cornwall idiosyncrasies of smugglers and shipwrecks and the profit to be made off of shipwrecks and those who still speak the local Cornish dialect was interesting and something I haven't read about a lot before. Some of the story also takes place on the Jersey Islands, and I've only ever read one other book set there. And then there are bits that take place in Brittany which Klassen points out in the story had some historic ties to Cornwall, and I've only read a few books about Brittany. Anyway, all of those settings are very unique in their cultures and were interesting to learn more about. The plot itself felt a bit predictable and not quite up to Klassen's usual cleverness but it was still ok. Also, I'm always skeptical about relationships that form in crisis moments, as that may be a temporary strong bond but whether it will last in the day to day moments beyond the crisis is a big question. Read this one for the settings.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There's a knife fight on page, and the events during a ship sinking that resulted in numerous lives lost is recounted as is the recovery of the dead on shore. One man threatens to kill a barely surviving sailor and threatens the person who saves him. Another man just likes going around threatening everyone. One man ends up fatally shot in a scuffle (only minimally described)....more
Willow is reeling. Her grandfather and partner in their forensic genealogy consulting company just died. And then their house burned to the ground witWillow is reeling. Her grandfather and partner in their forensic genealogy consulting company just died. And then their house burned to the ground with her almost in it. Her ex-boyfriend, Austin, heard about her grandfather's death and came running in time to find her in the hospital after the fire, which he discovers is being investigated as an arson. Willow isn't sure about letting Austin back into her life given his reticence to fully open up about his past and feelings, but she needs his FBI agent experience to help her solve her grandfather's last case that has obviously put her in the crossfires of someone too. The weird thing is that it doesn't seem that crazy of a case. A woman dying of cancer hired Willow and her grandfather to find her daughter who was kidnapped as an infant out of the hospital 21 years ago. Can Willow and Austin crack this cold case and find out who would kill to keep this decades-old secret?
I like the premise of this mystery. There aren't many books featuring forensic genealogists. The mystery was rather complex too, and took many twists and turns. I understood Willow and Austin's baggage that they are both individually dealing with, but it made things between them a bit too melodramatic for my taste at times. The Christian element of this mostly involves characters praying as they face tough times. If you like twisty cold case investigations with a couple who are getting a second chance to work things out between them after they failed once before, then snatch this up. Also recommended for those who like exploring the Jackson Hole area of Wyoming where the trail leads them.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. Three killings by shootings are briefly described. One fatal hit and run very simply described, a house-destroying fire that causes lung distress is intricately described, a couple abductions and threats, a car crash causes a broken arm, some nonfatal gunshot wounds minimally described, grief and PTSD is being wrestled with a lot by main characters, abusive alcoholic father in the past comes up a lot, kidnapping of a baby, and a woman is dying of cancer....more
A collection of comics about transitioning from being in schooling to full "adult" life, and also just being an introvert, bookworm, and person livingA collection of comics about transitioning from being in schooling to full "adult" life, and also just being an introvert, bookworm, and person living with/around/near other people.
I really enjoy Sarah Andersen's subtle humor, and how she expresses everyday thoughts and experiences so honestly but humorously. Or how she points out just how ridiculous some circumstances are (like announcing how great a burger you eat if you did it live instead of via social media ...more
In modern Indiana Delaney Coleman is helping her family resolve her grandfather's estate. It has been pretty hard, and it becomes more difficult when In modern Indiana Delaney Coleman is helping her family resolve her grandfather's estate. It has been pretty hard, and it becomes more difficult when a family from Italy claims that some of his estate belongs to them. Delaney can't believe it. But it eventually turns out it is just one little suitcase with cherries on it they want, and they are going to pay for Delaney to personally bring it over to Rome. Very curious, Delaney agrees. In the years leading up to WWII Julia Bradbury was just making it big as a ballerina when war threatens. She wants to sign up to become a radio operator but her former ballerino co-star has signed her up to work as good will dancers without consulting her. She's soon headed for La Scalla, but she wants to be doing something more. Court is a man with no direction in the years leading up to WWII. He's returned to Indiana to help his dad only to find his dad has given up on him and his trouble-finding tendencies. Is there any redemption for a guy like him? In 1943 multiple lives cross at a hospital in Rome. Sacrifices will be made, lives will be lost while countless others will be saved and the ripples will echo down through history.
Cambron is an expert of tying together multiple story lines in one neat bundle by the end of the book. This one is a touching story of people who lacked direction and found it eventually with God's help, of God bringing together the right people at the right time, redemption, and a highlight of real doctors and a real hospital that helped save Jews in Rome during WWII at great risk to themselves. It was so interesting to learn of these clever and daring hospital workers who invented a plague to hide Jews right under the Nazi's noses in WWII. Recommended for Christian historical romance fans and WWII story fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. (One unwed pregnancy is a part of the story.) A failed marriage because of unfaithfulness is part of the story without any details. One past attempted but foiled assault is brought up. Deaths in WWII, some fatalities on page but minimal gory details. Two characters have drinking problems in their pasts....more
As WWII comes to the Netherlands we follow 4 women as they face what comes their way. Lena is a pastor's daughter who loves her quiet life on the farmAs WWII comes to the Netherlands we follow 4 women as they face what comes their way. Lena is a pastor's daughter who loves her quiet life on the farm. She knows she struggles to trust God with those she loves and wrestles with her own desire to order their lives herself. The war will cause her to confront her trust issues in ways she never dreamed of, letting her husband and children and herself get involved in the resistance efforts, and hiding people all over their farm. Ans is Lena's eldest and has always chafed under their little life on the farm and the dreary church they go to. She goes to the city of Leiden to work for Eloise Huizenga. Eloise suffers from melancholy and is haunted by her experiences in WWI. Ans' job is to be a companion to Eloise when her husband is at work at the university. In an effort to keep her melancholy at bay Eloise likes to go 110%, and keeps Ans hopping from one museum or cafe to another. In her rare down time, Ans meets a young policeman. But as the shadows of war creep toward Leiden Eloise's tenuous mental health is in danger, and Ans and her boyfriend find themselves being pulled in opposite directions. Miriam and her father decided it was time to leave Germany after her cousin Saul was beat up one night just for being a Jew. After months in a refugee camp, her father's professor friend in Leiden helps him find a position at his university. But Miriam has fallen in love with one of the other refugees in the camp, Avi. Will they be able to find each other again? While Miriam waits for news, Ans and Eloise help her settle in to her new city. But soon the Nazis she and her father ran away from move into their new country. How will each woman deal with their fears and anxieties and crises of faith during the war?
This was a rich read faith-wise. Austin has realistically portrayed what kind of wrestling with God women at various stages of their lives would do in the face of the Nazi invasion and the dangers to themselves and their loved ones. She has them wrestle with very relevant things for readers in any time, and causes you to really think about how much you trust God and what you do with your worries. I knew that many people who went into WWII had gone through WWI, but this had me contemplating just how traumatic that must have been for so many of them. We have people legitimately traumatized by 1 pandemic right now, while that generation dealt with not only a pandemic but a devastating world war and the loss of life with it, food shortages from that, then a decade later an economic depression, and then a decade later a second world war. I really, really can't fathom that kind of hardship. It had me realizing how blessed my generation and my parents' generation has been in much of the Western world. Which I knew as head knowledge before, but this story really helped sink in heart-wise. This is a moving and beautiful story of WWII.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. One lady becomes a prisoner and is forced to disrobe in front of guards (no description beyond stating that). Deaths in the war are mentioned, but none really described on page. The heaviness of the numbers of deaths in the past war and current war is conveyed. Primitive conditions of refugee camps and even more primitive/harsh conditions of Nazi prison camps are described. Eloise suffers from what they called melancholy at that time (a combo of PTSD & depression). She has medicine she takes, she has coping mechanisms that help, and Ans and her husband help her. It is represented respectfully, and with a lot of care and tenderness, especially for the time period (though not out of the realm of possibility for the time period)....more
Daphne Beekman is trying to solve her writer's block for her latest Montague Moreland mystery novel one night when she gets interrupted by an after hoDaphne Beekman is trying to solve her writer's block for her latest Montague Moreland mystery novel one night when she gets interrupted by an after hours visitor at the Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency. Fellow mystery writer Herman Henderson has come seeking help because he is pretty sure someone is trying to kill him. However, much to Daphne's frustration, he can't think of one single person who'd want to harm him. So she, Ann, and Pinkerton Agent Cooper have to go undercover at a days long party Herman's grandmother is throwing at her estate on the Hudson to play matchmaker where they'll see if they can root out who is out to harm Mr. Henderson.
You're never in doubt going into a Turano book who is going to end up with whom. The fun is seeing the mystery solved (which is very much NOT obvious at the beginning) and the hilarity that ensues along the way. This one also addresses women's rights and their agency during the turn of the century, with some applications to today. There are Christian themes woven throughout, and I loved the growth of several characters in trusting God that was incorporated very seamlessly. Daphne is a very fun blundering heroine to follow around. Turano had fun dreaming up scrapes for her to get into. The mystery kept me guessing for a good chunk of the book (though I did figure it out before Daphne & gang). And overall, a delightful romcom/mystery with Christian elements.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sex scenes. There is an attempted assault that is thwarted and one in the past also thwarted before anything can happen. Readers who are triggered by that, or domineering men and power imbalance relationships should avoid this one. It is dealt with very well, but it is talked about quite a bit at the end. There's some attempted violence and a fist fight, but the worst injury is a bloody nose. A past ship sinking that resulted in deaths is a big part of some characters' pasts....more
Ben Calix is sure he did nothing wrong in his latest assignments, even if the mission did go south, he was possibly exposed to the plague, and his conBen Calix is sure he did nothing wrong in his latest assignments, even if the mission did go south, he was possibly exposed to the plague, and his contact turned out to know his real name. But it wasn't anything bad enough for the Company to sever ties with him. But that is clearly what is going on as Ben goes from one contact to the next and finds out there's a price on his head, people he considered to be on his side are now trying to kill him, he's been framed for murder, and he is on the run trying to get answers with a neighbor who is too friendly for her own good and got caught up in his mess. Can Ben prove to the Company that he is still on the good guys' side and clear his name by figuring out what the Leviathan corporation has planned?
This read like a Bourne movie minus any swearing. I actually didn't even realize it had any parallels to Job until I read the author's note. Then I definitely saw the parallels, but they were so artfully and cleverly done they didn't jump out until thinking about it in hindsight. I did notice certain conversations with biblical principals or philosophical discussions that mirrored Scripture occasionally, but they were also cleverly woven in and didn't come off as preachy or anything. I could totally see this being made into a modern spy thriller. It kept you turning pages. There's a high action chase all across Western Europe into the US for the truth. There's just enough character building along the way, and enough mystery to keep you guessing. I enjoyed James R. Hannibal's middle grade that I've read, and it turns out he writes excellent adult fiction too. Highly recommended to those who enjoy spy thrillers, especially those who would rather not have any swearing or sexual content in their spy thrillers.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a few kisses. There are injuries and deaths along the way in the adventure from plague to gun shot wounds to frostbite to explosions. ...more
Loading...
