Since their parents' death a few months before, Kate, Jillian and Rick have taken over their parents' inn, the Novel Inn. Unique because each guest roSince their parents' death a few months before, Kate, Jillian and Rick have taken over their parents' inn, the Novel Inn. Unique because each guest room is named and decorated for a different literary character, such as Horatio Hornblower, Elizabeth Bennett, Galadriel and others, the inn is nearly booked full as eight former cheerleaders come for a twenty-year reunion. Only, one doesn't show up. She disappears, but her rented vehicle is found abandoned on a side road. Rick, as a police officer, seeks the missing woman, joined by Jillian and Kate as unofficial helpers. The small police station is also searching for a group of antique thieves who have now killed a woman. When the missing cheerleader is found only to be kidnapped from the Novel Inn's parking lot, the search takes on a desperate aura.
Cliffhanger is a pleasant cozy with people who seem like normal individuals, a retired teacher, a former office worker and a police officer. The suspense stays high. Set on the Maine coast in an inn I'd love to visit, it's a plot-driven story with a strong faith element. It's clean. I've read several of Page's stories and look forward to reading more....more
A visit to her widowed mother's new home upends Beth Lowell's life when she opens a box in her mother Jan's guest closet with her name on it and discoA visit to her widowed mother's new home upends Beth Lowell's life when she opens a box in her mother Jan's guest closet with her name on it and discovers her life is not what she had always thought. Her beloved late father was not her birth father. Jan had not wanted Beth to know until Jan died. The two women irritate each other because Jan has always wanted to stay at home in Tyler, Texas, while Beth's job takes her around the world.
As Beth tries to fit finding her birth father around her job, Jan realizes that home in Texas isn't everything she had hoped for. Then there's a handsome, wealthy, young Englishman that Beth meets and dislikes in Nairobi who keeps turning up.
Catherine Palmer is a new author to me but one I hope to read more of. I'm not usually a fan of character-driven novels, but Palmer keeps the characterization lively and the plot interesting. Both women grow, which is good, because I liked neither of them at first. The characters are unique and the situation intriguing. ...more
When the vice-president's daughter tries to commit suicide after verbally attacking her father on a popular TV talk show, Secret Service agent Meghan When the vice-president's daughter tries to commit suicide after verbally attacking her father on a popular TV talk show, Secret Service agent Meghan Connors is assigned to her detail under exacting Ash Zinders, known as A2Z. Because of Lindsay's drug addiction and wild lifestyle, the vice president sends her to the ranch of a longtime friend and associate, to detox and to protect her from a drug cartel targeting her. Ash makes it clear from the start he does not want Meghan as part of his team and that he does not think women should be in the Secret Service. As dangers to Lindsay and the team escalate, Meghan seems to be the only one who can reach Lindsay who is desperately hiding something. Then the president resigns because of his cancer and Lindsay's dad becomes the president, so the target on his back, on Lindsay's, and on the team's gets bigger.
This was an exciting story. Lindsay is a developing character. Ash, thankfully, develops because he's quite unlikeable at first. Mills shapes the plot so that the danger seems overwhelming. She deftly delivers a satisfying conclusion to the plot....more
Although I'm not a big fan of romance stories, this sweet romance was heavy on suspense too, so it held my interest. It was engrossing.Although I'm not a big fan of romance stories, this sweet romance was heavy on suspense too, so it held my interest. It was engrossing....more
When FBI Special Agent James Waldren takes his four-year-old daughter, Lisa, to a civil rights march in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1965, he does not expectWhen FBI Special Agent James Waldren takes his four-year-old daughter, Lisa, to a civil rights march in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1965, he does not expect to endanger her life. He takes a picture of her sitting with a little Black girl. Then shots ring out, and a civil rights leader lies dead.
Years later Lisa receives a call from her almost estranged father James, now retired, asking her to come to Fort Worth to help him prove that the Black man accused of the murder of the civil rights leader did not commit it. After a big win as a federal D.A. in Boston, Lisa has some time coming. Her friend/boyfriend convinces her to go, if for no other reason than to make peace with her dad. She joins her dad and his private eye girlfriend in trying to prove the man's innocence before he can be executed, but someone is intent on preventing the truth from coming to light.
Snapshot is a fast-paced story that originated from a picture that her retired FBI agent father found of Lis Wiehl and a little Black girl sitting together at a rally that activated Lis's mind to wonder "What if?" It's fast paced. It deals with questions of justice, racism, and relationships. It mentions some discreet fornication. I don't remember bad language. It is friendly to people of faith.
When bubonic plague kills a man in two days rather than closer to two weeks on the reservations, an immunologist and two "flea hunters" start looking When bubonic plague kills a man in two days rather than closer to two weeks on the reservations, an immunologist and two "flea hunters" start looking for the mutant strains of fleas among the rodents. Catherine Pollard, one of the "flea hunters" doesn't return. Her aunt contacts retired Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn to try to find her.
Acting Lieutenant Jim Chee has another problem on the same day. He goes to provide backup for one of his officers, Ben Kinsman, in an eagle poaching case, only to find Kinsman dying and the bloody poacher standing over him. Chee arrests the poacher, but when Kinsman dies, a power-hungry DA determines to seek the death penalty. The poacher insists that he was only getting the eagle for a Hopi ceremony and that he did not attack Kinsman, but his lawyer, who might still be Chee's fiancée or maybe not, raises doubts in Chee's mind.
As Chee and Leaphorn help each other, their cases come together for a spectacular conclusion.
Hillerman's description of the reservations turns the setting into a character along with his distinctive human characters. The two plots begin separately, then intertwine. Hillerman is a master of the red herring and of page-turning suspense. There's some bad language but no open violence or sex....more
Violet Griffin, an airlines employee, sees her superior allow someone she believes to be carrying drugs to bypass inspection before flying. When she cViolet Griffin, an airlines employee, sees her superior allow someone she believes to be carrying drugs to bypass inspection before flying. When she calls best friend and drug canine officer Zach Jameson, the drug transporter attacks her. Because she interferes, the drug transporter hunts her down. Only the protection of Zach and others on the canine unit can keep her safe. But for how long? Especially since they are mourning the death of their leader, Zach's oldest brother, Jordan.
Violet tries to be the tough girl who can keep up with her best friend and his cop buddies, but unbeknownst to Zach, she has loved him since was a girl.
Act of Valor is likeable and exciting with a great buildup to the climax. Eddie is an adorable police beagle who can't be trusted with furniture when he's upset. Mentink does a great job establishing the characters' backstories, even Eddie's. The romance is a friend-to-lover trope. It's a fun read.
As Scarlet Wells finishes the artistic rendition of the face of the Coastline Strangler described by the only survivor, he bursts into the hospital roAs Scarlet Wells finishes the artistic rendition of the face of the Coastline Strangler described by the only survivor, he bursts into the hospital room, shoots the two women, and destroys the drawing. His shot grazes Scarlet's head, giving her amnesia. Jace Allen, Scarlet's former college boyfriend and a constable on the local police force, insists that Scarlet, on loan to Vancouver from Yukon, stay on the police task force until the murderer is caught. The CLS escalates his attacks against women and against the task force. He seems to have some connection to the police as he remains one step ahead of them.
The fast-paced story keeps you turning pages. It's an easy read for an evening or two after a busy day. This format makes the character development rushed, but it's fun to try to pick out the bad guy and figure how he's getting the information, almost before the police do....more
While fishing, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett and his two daughters, Sheridan, 12, and Lucy, 7, discover a dead moose that had been mutilated. Then JWhile fishing, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett and his two daughters, Sheridan, 12, and Lucy, 7, discover a dead moose that had been mutilated. Then Joe hears about cattle that have been mutilated on a nearby ranch, but one of the odd things is that the dead animals have not been scavenged despite being dead for more than a week. Another odd thing is that they can't tell how the animals died. As a game warden, Joe takes the problem seriously, but then two men die and are mutilated the same night. The governor demands a task force and authorizes Joe to be on it. Other task members include the local DA, Joe's enemy the local sheriff, a deputy, an FBI agent who blames Joe for his being stuck in Wyoming, and the next county's sheriff because one of the dead men was from his county. The only one who takes the problem seriously is Joe.
Meanwhile, Marybeth Pickett has started an accounting business which serves several small businesses which includes Logue Realty Company, owned by Lucy's best friend's parents.
Despite some of the language and some of the secondary characters' thoughts and actions, I enjoy the Joe Pickett series. The men remind me of the men I grew up with, men comfortable with hunting, fishing, and working with their hands. Plus Joe, like most of the men I grew up with, is a family man who adores his wife and daughters. I even like Joe's best friend, the odd falconer, Nate Romanoski, with his secretive background, his weird thinking, and his big handgun but who always has Joe's back.
Box's plots are fast-paced and usually include actual current issues, such as windmills, high tech versus nature, endangered species, drug cartels, and now mysterious cattle mutilations. I like that they are set in the country and small towns and seem very Western.
Box's characters are distinctive and some, like Nate, are unusual. Box especially develops Joe's character and his relationship with his family. Joe's not the best shot and he may not be as bright as some men, but he's a man of integrity and determination who cannot let a problem go until it's solved. ...more
Rachel Hartline's visit to her ex-husband's workplace to secure his signature on papers allowing her to sell their house precipitates attacks on her bRachel Hartline's visit to her ex-husband's workplace to secure his signature on papers allowing her to sell their house precipitates attacks on her by someone unknown. She sees her ex, Paul Hartline, removing a flash drive from his boss's computer. He then flees before the guard can reach them. Alarmed, Rachel tries to call him to return the flash drive or turn himself in. Following an attack on her, Rachel flees to Pennsylvania to the home of her Amish grandparents.
Detective Clint Morgan wants to believe that Rachel is a victim rather than a collaborator, but he has too many questions, and she seems still loyal to her ex. When he discovers attacks on Rachel, he tracks her down, but the attacks continue and Paul's responses are sparse and unhelpful.
This is another of Marta Perry's suspenseful Echo Falls stories. Rachel and Clint's characters develop well. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. Perry's characterizations of the Amish family members are distinctive and sympathetic. At times, I want to shake Rachel and suggest she slow down her interest in Clint as he has quite a temper. ...more
When veterinarian Amanda Curtis discovers that her recently killed mother, artist Juliet Curtis, never gave birth and that Juliet's brother may be ablWhen veterinarian Amanda Curtis discovers that her recently killed mother, artist Juliet Curtis, never gave birth and that Juliet's brother may be able to challenge Juliet's will, Amanda determines that she needs to find out who her mother was and where the adoption occurred. The only clue is that someone breaks into their den and breaks a picture frame of a waterfall, one of the few landscapes Juliet ever painted before Amanda's dog Barney chases him away. On the canvas Amanda finds a clue that leads her to Echo Falls, PA.
Amanda's friend and lawyer approaches a young lawyer, Trey Alter, in Echo Falls to help Amanda in what they hope will be an easy search. When the clue leads them to an obituary of a young woman from the town's most influential family, local town gossip mills build Amanda's search into a threat against the wealthy family's power. Then the harassment starts, and the danger builds, but Trey and a warm Amish family extend hands of friendship and more despite what it might mean to Trey's law firm or the family's safety.
Perry draws distinctive characters who are likeable or unlikeable. They are deep and well-developed. The plot line moved rapidly but did not feel rushed. There was no sex or bad language. I found it hard to put down and want to read the rest of the series....more
Hammack invented two unique characters for his protagonists. Retired police detective Steve Smiley is blind and has tremendous observational skills. BHammack invented two unique characters for his protagonists. Retired police detective Steve Smiley is blind and has tremendous observational skills. Because one of his closest friends from college has been found dead in his exercise pool under suspicious circumstances, he needs an assistant. Heather McBlythe is a rich girl cop with degrees in accounting and law whose father is trying to force into what he wants her to do. He gets Heather kicked out of the program for becoming an officer, so Heather takes on the role of Smiley's sidekick. The problem is that Smiley has too many suspects with motives for killing his friend.
The protagonists make the story fun, especially with the addition of Heather's cat. Smiley hates cats, but Heather needs a place to hide out from her father's detectives, and that means the cat does too. In exchange for asylum, Heather takes on Smiley's unusual work assignments. Smiley, especially, is quirky and devious. Heather is a woman of many skills, including assuming roles at Smiley's request. If you're looking for a fun "whodunit," you might want to give Exercise Is Murder a try. No sex, no bad language, and only one violent attempt in the story itself....more
Private Investigator MacKenzie Love and her partner Samantha Majors found the accused killer of Eleanor Davis's alibi before the book opens. For that,Private Investigator MacKenzie Love and her partner Samantha Majors found the accused killer of Eleanor Davis's alibi before the book opens. For that, their hometown has largely turned against them. To win back the town, Mac and Sam decide they must find the real killer. Mac's former chemistry teacher, the formidable Miss P, joins them. They also embroil Sam's brother, Police Detective Jake Sanders, in their investigation. The closer they get, the more they are intimidated and attacked.
The Case of the Innocent Husband was a pleasant, light read. Mac and Sam are distinctive. There were a few small things that didn't make sense to me, such as Miss P's not giving a solid reason for joining the detective agency gratis out of the blue and how Jake knew Miss P, but Sam didn't. Otherwise, it was fun, and the killers fooled me....more
Best-selling historical fiction writer Carolyn McClelland, known to her friends as Carrie, is having trouble with her latest novel despite the researcBest-selling historical fiction writer Carolyn McClelland, known to her friends as Carrie, is having trouble with her latest novel despite the research she's done on the Jacobite uprising in 1708. However, when she visits her agent Jane in Scotland, she passes the ruins of a castle, Slains, that draws her to it. Jane suggests that she move to Scotland to complete her research and add a heroine as the viewpoint character. As she does, she finds that the story explodes from her. She writes names, dates and places that she cannot remember in her research, only to find out that the facts are accurate. But she cannot tell her friendly landlord's two handsome sons what is going on inside her head.
Carrie had chosen one of her forbears, Sophia Paterson, as the heroine. Sophia becomes the main character of the second strand of this split-time novel. Her life has been rough and she's grateful, as an orphan, to be taken in by her distant kinswoman, the Countess of Erroll of Slains Castle. When she accepted, she did not know that the countess and her son, the Count of Erroll, are involved in the effort to return King James to the Scottish throne. They receive many conspirators, including Captain Gordon and Mr. Moray, who has a princely price on his head. Both men are handsome, and both are interested in Sophia, but powerful men spy for Queen Anne of England and will do their best to thwart King James's return. Amidst the deadly threats, Sophia must choose sides, even as her heart is making its own choice.
Kearsley is a powerful and elegant writer who drew me into her story easily. Her description made me see Scotland. Her characterization was powerful. She took me between the two timelines smoothly. My only concerns were a little taking of the Lord's name in vain and implied sex outside marriage. I appreciated that it was not graphic. She slips in a couple of good twists at the end, one I didn't see coming. ...more
I loved this book as much as the first book in the series. It was good to reconnect with Rose, the mentor of the Woolgatherers' Knitting Club at an asI loved this book as much as the first book in the series. It was good to reconnect with Rose, the mentor of the Woolgatherers' Knitting Club at an assisted living/nursing home facility. Rose had not wanted to move from her home of a lifetime to assisted living, but she found God had a purpose that has brought her much joy, teaching other residents to knit prayer shawls for hurting caregivers. I would love to be like Rose when I grow up, so I guess I'll need to find my needles and crochet hook.
This is mostly Rose's friend Jenny's story. Jenny flirts with the male residents and visitors but means no harm. Edna the grump takes exception to Jenny's ways, especially after Jenny convinces Sam to join their group. Sam visits his wife whose Alzheimer's has required her to be put in the nursing home. Each week he brings her flowers, but his wife Dorothy no longer recognizes him, calls him the Fat Man, and has formed a friendship with another man, Rafe.
The story made me chuckle and cry. I love the individuals who fill the story, especially Rose. Most of the characters are older people, but Mondragon brings in people of different ages and situations, such as the teenager whose beloved grandmother is disappearing due to Alzheimer's, the young couple with purple hair, a green mohawk, and a new baby who are nervously considering marriage and becoming a Christian family, and the young pre-med student who drives the nursing home van.
The Christian message of the book is for the church to reach out and love the hurting people around us. There's no bad language, violence, or sex, just a delightful read. ...more
Once Charity Alden returns to Boston from Valley Forge with her younger brother's body, she tries to find doctors and supplies to help the struggling Once Charity Alden returns to Boston from Valley Forge with her younger brother's body, she tries to find doctors and supplies to help the struggling patriots. She has met Major Adam Winslow, his son Nathan and daughter-in-law Julie while at Valley Forge and turns to Adam's brother Charles for help for the soldiers. Instead, she finds that Charles Winslow is a devoted Tory. His son Paul is even worse, a debauched drunkard.
When Paul offers to help, Charity meets him at a tavern where Paul gets her alone and tries to assault her. Quick-thinking Charity grabs a candle snuffer and strikes him in the face with it, leaving a long wound. She escapes.
On a trip to New York, Paul is pressed into the British navy after a fight which leaves him with a head injury that causes amnesia. He is given the name of Hawke by those who nurse him back to health. He has no idea that his family thinks he's dead.
I picked this up for a reading challenge. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed The House of Winslow series as it came out years ago. Morris's fast-paced writing takes us into the saga of the Winslow family from the Mayflower to at least World War II. The Saintly Buccaneer is the fifth in the series.
Morris develops his characters well. Charity is the fearless, headstrong daughter raised on her father's ships. Dan Greene is the somewhat lapsed Quaker Charity meets at Valley Forge, and Paul Winslow is the debauched young rich man whom almost nobody can stand, quick to drink, fight, and chase women. All are developing characters.
This is a Christian book. Paul's attempted rape of Charity and the scar he receives from it figure into the plotline. The language is clean. One of the things I appreciate in the story is the Christian characters determining not to be "unequally yoked."
Our family read some of this series together when our sons were teenagers. A homeschooling friend required her kids to read the series as a supplement to their history books. ...more
I found the start a little slow, but it became more suspenseful as it went on. I found Pierce difficult to like, especially when he was so lacking in I found the start a little slow, but it became more suspenseful as it went on. I found Pierce difficult to like, especially when he was so lacking in empathy with what his wife Zoe had been through growing up....more
While Jim Chee visits the Sacred Bridge and assesses his future, he discovers a dead body floating in Lake Powell. Because the park service has littleWhile Jim Chee visits the Sacred Bridge and assesses his future, he discovers a dead body floating in Lake Powell. Because the park service has little experience investigating what may be a murder, they ask his boss to lend him to them for the investigation. Chee discovers that the victim is the brother of a new acquaintance of Chee's and that he had some enemies. But did they hate him enough to kill him? Or did he die accidentally?
Meanwhile, Chee's wife Bernie witnesses a hit-and-run murder of a Chinese man on her way to work. The attack seems to be linked to a hemp farm on Navajo lands. Bernie's investigation takes her into undercover danger but threatens her mother with dementia and her sister too.
I enjoyed this story. Anne Hillerman did a great job maintaining the character of Jim Chee as created by her father, Tony Hillerman. I knew the culprit in the Chee subplot quite early. I found the Navajo traditions enlightening and fascinating. There was little, if any, offensive language. I look forward to reading more in the series....more
Moose Mulligan has hidden his attraction to waitress Tillie Young for over a year, but when she disappears after he asks her out, he gives up on the iMoose Mulligan has hidden his attraction to waitress Tillie Young for over a year, but when she disappears after he asks her out, he gives up on the idea that anything could ever work between them. Besides that, a lawsuit for the death of a woman whom his team could not rescue because of a blizzard and an unkept promise which could mean the end of Alaska Air Rescue One hang heavy on his heart.
When Tillie, beaten and terrified, shows up at his door, he and his team go into action to rescue her daughter Hazel from a former MMA champ who is Tillie's ex. Or is he? Some elements of Tillie's story don't add up. She has skills Moose can't explain. Big amounts of money are missing. The ex has connections to drug smuggling and other crimes. Moose gets accused of an attempted murder he didn't commit, and Tillie wants to grab Hazel and run.
Warren packs a lot of excitement into book three of Alaska Air One Rescue. She also develops her characters well, though there's some overlap in traits. It was a hard book to put down with avalanches, fights, kidnapping, and raids. Christian growth is a big part of the story. No sexual immorality occurs in the story and not bad language....more
This was a delightful, lighthearted cozy with a book-loving family of unofficial private investigators who own the Book Chalet in the small town of LaThis was a delightful, lighthearted cozy with a book-loving family of unofficial private investigators who own the Book Chalet in the small town of Last Word, Colorado. Ellie, our narrator, her older sister Meg, Meg's daughter Rosie, and Gram start pulling out their inner Miss Marples and exercising their little gray cells after a stranger who bursts into their book club meeting Saturday morning ends up dying in the gondola ahead of Meg and Ellie that evening. Murdered! Then their employee disappears, and a rockslide traps the killer in their town.
This was an enjoyable read with characters whose book club I'd love to be part of. I appreciated the close family relationships. Rosie was a likeable teenager. I don't remember any bad language and there was only a hint of a romance....more
Loading...
