I didn’t read as many books this month as I normally do, but I did manage to finish my current WIP, so I call that a win. Here are the books I did read!
Rancher Staten Kirkland, the last descendent of Ransom Canyon’s founding father, is rugged and practical to the last. No one knows that when his troubling memories threaten to overwhelm him, he runs to lovely, reclusive Quinn O’Grady…or that she has her own secret that no one living knows.
Young Lucas Reyes has his eye on the prize—college, and the chance to become something more than a ranch hand’s son. But one night, one wrong decision will set his life on a course even he hadn’t imagined.
Yancy Grey is running hard from his troubled past. He doesn’t plan to stick around Ransom Canyon, just stay long enough to learn the town’s weaknesses and how to use them for personal gain. Only Yancy, a common criminal since he was old enough to reach a car’s pedals, isn’t prepared for what he encounters.
MY REVIEW:
Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas embodies the very essence of the heart of Texas. Staten Kirkland owns a ranch in the panhandle that includes the deep canyon where a hundred years ago, Spanish and Anglo traders negotiated with the Comanches for the return of hostages. The author does a great job of describing the setting, from the smells to the sights and sounds
But the way Thomas wrote this story reminds me of watching a spider weave an intricate web, one thin strand at a time. Each chapter is written from a major character’s point of view, and each character in the story has major life events happening simultaneously.
Quinn has loved Staten Kirkland since they were in school together twenty years ago. But Staten’s heart is closed after the death of his wife, followed by the untimely death of his son. Quinn owns a lavender farm and while she is an accomplished pianist, refuses to use her talent and it is shocking to find out why. Perhaps one of the most interesting characters in the story is Yancy Grey. He’s spent most of his adult life in and out of prison. Now he wants to be normal and has landed in Crossroads, Texas to start anew. No one has to know his past. When a retirement community hires him to fix up their dilapidated cottages, it is a huge turning point for him. Of all the characters, I found myself rooting the most for him. He was a good man, he just needed a chance to prove it.
As the story unfolds, Quinn and Staten have fallen into a comfortable routine that doesn’t have any requirements or promises. While they are lovers, they are first and foremost friends. What happens to shake them both out of their comfort zones is perfect. I won’t leave any spoilers, I will just say it is a piece of the web that is beautifully woven.
Lauren is just turning sixteen and being the daughter of the small town’s Sheriff has disadvantages. She is a beautiful girl and I loved her part of the story, as I did Lucas Reyes, an ambitious young man determined to make a good life for himself.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s so easy to picture it as a movie or a TV series, and I can guarantee it would be one I would binge-watch. If you love stories that are layered and multi-dimensional, as well as beautifully written, you will love Ransom Canyon! I highly recommend it!
Ralph Thyme, an addicted gambler and his wealthy grandmother’s only acknowledged heir, discovers he has an elder sister, Olivia, who was sold at birth. Suppose Olivia discovers her true identity and claims half the inheritance he craves? How far will he go to eliminate the threat?
Olivia escaped childhood sexual abuse. Despite horrific memories, nightmares, and fear, she is determined to save a stranger’s little girl from the same fate, and the solution she offers takes all her courage… and then some.DCI Croft investigates a heinous case of rape, murder, and mutilation. Next to die, are a private detective and his pretty daughter… and then another woman… and another. Can DCI Croft identify and capture a psychopathic killer hell-bent on eliminating anyone who stands in his way before he murders his sister… or is it already too late for Olivia?
MY REVIEW:
This story is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. It is a thriller and it’s intense. While it is totally fiction, it is also chillingly realistic. Ralph Thyme is only twenty, but an addicted gambler and sole heir to his grandmother’s large estate. At least that’s what he thought until he finds a diary entry written in his grandfather’s hand. He has a sister. Now, he must find her and eliminate her, because he will not share the inheritance with anyone. That is his motivation to begin a killing spree. Unfortunately for many victims, he keeps killing the wrong Olivia. DCI Gerald Croft is working overtime to catch this killer, but unfortunately, he keeps arresting the wrong men. The story unfolds multiple plots simultaneously. Sophia suffered child sexual abuse at the hands of her parents from the time she was a baby. She’s so damaged, she cannot tolerate a man being near her. But when she sees the same terrified and desperate look in the eyes of Mark Nicholl’s child, she cannot stand idly by and let the little girl suffer the same abuse that she did. DCI Croft has a difficult family situation, with a special needs child. He is torn between family and work. Ralph Thyme discovers, once he’s killed his first victim, that he enjoys it and even craves it. The author did a superb job of letting us inside his demented psyche. She also included BDSM, an interracial marriage, pedophiles, and graphic violence in the story. As I said, it is not for the faint of heart, but if you like a good thriller that will keep you turning pages, you will enjoy this cat and mouse chase between the killer and the detective. The book has a satisfying conclusion. |
I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.
Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges—how to get relative with the inevitable—you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”
MY REVIEW:
Often, when we think of celebrities, we see them as living privileged jaded lives. In Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey shows us how he started out in life at the bottom of the pile. Born into a highly dysfunctional family, he describes one scene he remembers when his mother and father got into a knock-down-drag-out fight in the kitchen, then wound up making love on the kitchen floor. They were divorced twice and married three times (the same two people). But Matthew learned what love looked like and what it didn’t. Of course, we know his somewhat Cinderella story and rise to fame and fortune, but what impressed me the most throughout this book was his incessant need and quest for spiritual enlightenment. He went to extremes to follow dreams (literal and perceived). The things he realized along the way are shared in a raw and honest way. Tidbits of wisdom mixed with common sense make this book more than a memoir or biography. It’s hard to define it. Is it a self-help book? Maybe. Is it a man’s journey from poverty to fortune? For Sure. Is it a roadmap for finding all the greenlights? I’d say so. But most of all, I’d say this is a book of raw and uninhibited inspiring honesty. That’s what I felt the most.
Here’s one of my favorite passages found on page 259: “An honest man’s pillow is his peace of mind, and when we lie down on ours at night, no matter who’s in our bed, we all sleep alone.” Truth! And this one: “We all have scars, we’ll get more. So rather than struggle against time and waste it, let’s dance with time and redeem it.”
This book is filled with stories, memories, confessions, life lessons, and spiritual wisdom. It gives lots of food for thought. I enjoyed it!
The Fever Field is a burial ground that is far older than the inhabitants of the Flowing Lands realize. We first saw it in the prologue of Journey 1, Forlorn Peak. Now we learn more about the place where ancient evil was buried and forgotten, until that moment in the prologue when it broke free.
On the cover of Journey 3, The Fever Field, Emlyn has turned to look toward Zasha. Much of this third installment is told from Zasha’s point of view. We’ll get better acquainted with the sisters in the Society of Deae Matres who traveled with Zasha. Also, we meet a tall, intriguing north-man and the most mysterious adherent of the Deae Matres.
The youngest of all the Society, Zasha encounters some resistance from the other sisters traveling with her. She also runs into trouble of her own.
Meanwhile, Emlyn’s uncertain situation with her family combines with the threat posed by the Brethren of Un’Naf. What is the greater danger, her loved ones, or the fanatics? In Journey 3, Emlyn’s circumstances reach a tipping point. There seems to be no good choice for her. How can she survive?
MY REVIEW:
In this installment of Emlyn’s journey, she manages to barely escape what would be a sure death at the hands of the Brethren. With the help of the silver-haired entity from her dreams, she makes it to the camp of Deae Matres. We learn more about the mission of the Deae Matres and more about Zasha. She is such a free spirit and deep thinker and she doesn’t hesitate to stand up to the older women. The fever field is an ancient burial ground and I am intrigued to know more about it and the purpose it serves in the story. There are lots of teasers in this part of the story. |
Previously, Journey 3, The Fever Field left Emlyn on the run. Will the Society of Deae Matres be willing to help? After all, in Journey 1, they rejected her father’s plea to take her away. Journey 4, The Old Road features Boabhan, the Society’s most enigmatic adherent. Emlyn finds herself in another kind of danger when the archvillain from the prologue of Journey 1, Forlorn Peak returns to the story in this installment. Plus, she still has not outrun the Brethren. Meanwhile, Emlyn isn’t the only one at risk. This Journey finds many of our friends in harm’s way. This Journey is notably longer than the others. Some parts of the story needed to be told together, in one volume. Come, be a part of the Journeys of Dead of Winter.
MY REVIEW:
In this fourth installment of the series, we learn more about some of the Deae Matres characters. I particularly liked Boabhan, always dressed in green and eyes sensitive to sunlight. While at times, she appears fragile, at other times, she has unimaginable strength. Add that she is a shapeshifter, and you have a fascinating character. Danger lurks both in this world and beyond the veil. In this segment, Emlyn comes face-to-face with Arawn, Mythical King of Hell, and he is terrifying. But she is safe with the Deae Matres and is experiencing unknown freedom for the first time in her thirteen years. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the mysterious staff and rune symbols as well as each member of the traveling party. I am looking forward to the next segments and going deeper into the story!
There looks like some tempting reads here Jan. Thanks. 🙂 x
My pleasure, Debby!
I’ve read and enjoyed Teagan’s episodes, Jan, (she’s a fabulous storyteller), but the other books are new to me. I’m not usually a fan of celebrity memoirs, but this one does sound interesting. What a scene in the kitchen, and I’m intrigued by his search for enlightenment. And congrats on getting through your WIP. That’s awesome. 😀
Thank you for stopping by, Diana. Teagan definitely falls in the category of a fabulous storyteller! I’m glad I could introduce some new books to you. Matthew’s book truly inspired me. It made me want to go in search of an adventure. 🙂
Oh yes. Adventure has to be high on our lists. I often think about the limited years I have left and I’d better get out there and enjoy them while I can.
I’ve only heard great things about Teagan’s series (no surprise, she’s a wonderful writer!) and love Jodi Thomas’s books, but Matthew McConaughey’s memoir interests me the most. He’s such a complex, talented man!
Thanks for the kind mention, Jacquie. Hugs.
I think you would find his memoir fascinating, Jacquie. I certainly did. And I agree with your comment about Teagan and Jodi. Both are fabulous writers! Thank you for stopping by!
Great selection of books with wonderful reviews, Jan! Shattered Life caught my attention. I’ve seen Matthew McConaughey’s book a lot lately and this is the first review I’ve read. I have some of Teagan’s books on my Kindle and have some catching up on reading to do. Thank you for sharing.
Whenever you get around to it, I hope you love them, Miriam. Happy autumn. Hugs!
I’m sure I will love them, Teagan! How have you been?
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi, Miriam. Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad some of the books caught your eye and glad to hear Teagan’s books are on your Kindle.
You’re welcome, Jan!
An interesting potpourri of books here!
Thanks, John. I appreciate you stopping by!
Great reviews, Jan 🙂 I have Sarah’s book on my TBR list and love Teagan’s Journey. I heard Matthew talk about his book and have been eyeing it.
Thanks for stopping by, Denise. I’m glad you enjoyed my reviews. Sarah’s book is definitely not for the squeamish, but a good story – perfect for the Halloween season! 🙂 Matthew’s book was very inspiring. It made me want to go on an adventure! 🙂
Denise, I’m so happy that you are part of the Journeys. Your reviews mean the world to me. Hugs on the wing.
Fabulous reviews Jan…what a varied list! Shattered Life caught my attention. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful, Balroop! I know that will make Sarah happy. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment!
Thank you for sharing your terrific reviews, Jan
My pleasure, John! Thank you for stopping by!
😊
I read Ransom Canyon quite a few years ago and really loved it. Jodi Thomas created a great batch of characters, all flawed in some way. Living here only 20 miles from the real Ransom Canyon, this series is especially dear to my heart. I love going out there and letting the wind whispers stories in my ear of the days when captives were traded, sold, or bartered away. I want to read Greenlights! Matthew McConaughey is an intriguing person and often uses humor to his advantage. I think he’s honest and raw in his deep-seated beliefs about life and doing the right thin even when it’s very unpopular. I hope he does run for governor. Texas needs him! The others look very good too. There must be lots of spirits hanging around ancient burial grounds. Great reads, Jan.
Thank you for stopping by, sister. I can only imagine the stories the winds in Ransom Canyon can whisper in your ear. We need to go out there the next time I come. 🙂 I think you would really enjoy Greenlights. It was inspiring for sure. And YES, if he runs for governor, he’ll get my vote! Love you!
Jan, it’s no wonder you love crystals and gemstones, because you’re a gem yourself. Firstly, congratulations of finishing your latest book! Woot!
I agree with those who have commented that you’ve read a lot of books this month. I don’t read quickly, so I’m totally impressed.
Thank you so much for being part of the Journeys. I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying them. Hugs on the wing!
I am all in for the Journeys, Teagan! Each segment takes me a little deeper. Thank you for stopping by and for the congrats!
What a collection of books. I’m drawn to the cowboy persona–self-sufficient, driven. I have wanted to read McConaughey’s book. This is the first review I’ve read of it. Thanks for sharing all of these.
Ransom Canyon is such a great read. I love how the author weaves the lives of these different characters together. I’m glad you enjoyed the reviews, Jacqui. Thank you for stopping by!
Great reviews and selection of reads and authors. Thanks for sharing, Jan 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Harmony!
Brilliant reviews, Jan. ❤️
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Colleen!
I did. Thanks, Jan. I find more books to read from our reviews. <3
Nice spectrum of books. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Thank you for stopping by, Craig!
An interesting selection of books. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure, Karen! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Fabulous selection, Jan. Matthew McConaughey’s book sounds like a refreshing compilation of thoughts from a Hollywood insider. Thanks for sharing all of these.
I really did enjoy it, Staci. It made me want to go have an adventure somewhere! 🙂
I didn’t know McConaughey was a spiritual person. That must be tough in such a big-lights, celebrity-filled career. I, too, am enjoying Teagan’s Journeys!
I didn’t know that either, Priscilla, but his book is inspiring. The methods he used in his search for enlightenment were a little bizarre, but I guess that’s what happens when you have plenty of money. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Thanks so much for being part of the Journeys, Priscilla — and for your support here. Hugs!
Still, you read 5 books more than I did 😂
Lol, Erika. Technically, I read six as I posted the review for Shadows of Pecan Hollow yesterday. Thanks for stopping by!
Ah, yes, that is right! I wish I could manage to read more. One day… lol
A lovely selection of books, Jan. I’ve only read Teagan from among these authors. I am just finishing Journey 7, and my, what a journey it’s been.
Right. I’m reading two segments each month, so slowly catching up. I’m glad you enjoyed the reviews. Thank you for stopping by and sharing!
My pleasure, Jan. I’m always looking for reviews of good books. I have to keep my Kindle filled up.
Thank you so much, Robbie. I’m very happy that you are enjoying this story. I appreciate you sharing this post too. Hugs on the wing!