I’m moving on from my publishing disaster to share the books I read in September. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on each of them.
Remember when I told you about meeting this author, Ruby Sloane?
MY REVIEW:
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and it won’t be my last!
The saying comes to mind, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” But I won’t say anymore as I will not leave a spoiler.
FBI Agent, Leah Ellis heads a task force after the brutal murder of a Congressman. Along with her partner, Val, she begins the painstaking process of sorting out clues and documenting details.
Having worked with therapist, Dr. Tessa Lorde in the past for profiling, she doesn’t hesitate to call her in to help with this case. The FBI receives pressure from high up to solve this murder quickly.
Then bodies start dropping like flies. They have two things in common. They are all wealthy influential men and all their wives are part of group therapy headed up by Dr. Lorde.
One murder takes Leah to Texas as a victim is found murdered in his vacation home there. I loved this part of the story. Perhaps because I’m a Texan, or perhaps because the author portrayed the small town vibe and sheriff perfectly! I also loved that there were a few sparks flying between Leah and the handsome sheriff, Levi Rodgers. I hope he makes an appearance in future books.
I enjoyed all of the characters, their quirks, and demons. If you love a great mystery with these kinds of believable characters, you will no doubt enjoy this book. It is well written and filled with action. I read it in two sittings!
This is a complex and twisted mystery that took more twists and turns than a windy road. The author did a fantastic job of throwing in lots of red herrings.
MY REVIEW:
Sunny Knight is a character I won’t soon forget. She is quirky, snarky, and determined. She has been an investigative reporter in New Jersey until something happened that got her exiled to, as she put it, “hell on earth” California.
And on top of being send to Cactus City, she’s been demoted to weather girl. How hard is it to give the weather forecast? It’s going to be hot today and hotter tomorrow.
The area is known for producing dates, and I have to admit I learned a lot about that industry from reading this story.
The plot thickens when a woman is found murdered in a date orchard, and Sunny’s boss is arrested for the crime. While it’s true the two women often clashed, Sunny is convinced her boss is not capable of murder. It’s not long before she’s knee-deep in the investigation.
I enjoyed the other characters that round out the story. Ambrose made a bad first impression, but later redeemed himself. Nancy is the kind of lady you’d want for a next door neighbor, and Sunny’s canine companion, Angus, adores her. Jock is interesting, but Sunny’s sister, Zillah almost stole the show.
The setting, characters and storyline all kept me engaged. I laughed out loud at Sunny’s inner dialogue. That’s were we really see her quirky personality. I had no idea who the killer was until the reveal. The list of suspects was long, but the one responsible shocked me. Kudos to this author for writing an unsolvable mystery! I enjoyed it.
This is such a beautiful book written from deep wisdom and understanding about the many different aspects of life. One of the things I enjoyed the most about it is the easy conversational way it is written. I felt as if I were sitting across the table from the author having a cup of coffee. The author’s many unusual life experiences gave her insight into ways to navigate life’s ups and downs, relationships and spiritual understandings. And she shares these enlightening moments in a beautiful way.
Scattered throughout the book are “Gems of Wisdom,” such as: “Choosing to ignore an issue does not mean it doesn’t exist.” There are also poems written by the author, but the thing all of it has in common is true spiritual awakening and practical advice and guidance for living.
Anyone who is seeking a deeper spiritual relationship on their life journey will enjoy and benefit from this book. Not only is it filled with hard-earned wisdom, but also full-color photographs and images. The Garden of Inspiration section of the book contains uplifting and motivational quotes and poems along with gorgeous images. The reader will also find a personal journal in the back of the book for writing their own intentions, gratitude, thoughts and reflections. It is a beautiful book that I highly recommend.
MY REVIEW:
This book was not made to be “read” but to be “absorbed.” It took me nine days to read it, and certainly not because it didn’t capture my interest. In fact, quite the contrary. I needed time to digest it, to process all that it contains.
Theo is an unassuming man surrounded by mystery. He arrives in the small Georgia town of Golden for no apparent reason. In fact, it’s quite perplexing as to why this 87 year-old Portuguese man is there. Yet it isn’t until the end of the book, we find out. What makes his presence in the small town unforgettable is all the things he accomplishes in the year he lives there. He touches peoples’ lives in ways that could almost be called divine or saintly.
There is a coffee shop located in the center of town, The Chalice, that becomes the focal point for the story to unfold. What makes this coffee shop unusual isn’t just the perfectly brewed coffee, but the portraits that line the walls. Theo makes it his mission to purchase each portrait and bestow it upon the subject of the art, many of whom have never seen the portrait. Each encounter is unique. Some think the old man is crazy. But in his gentle and patient way, he gives each person the space to open up and share things they may have never told another human. He lets them known they are seen.
All the characters help shape this story and we see it all from multiple points of view. There is Mr. Ponder, Mrs. Gidley, Tony, Asher, Shep. Minnette, Ellen, Kendrick, Lamisha, Simone, Basil, and the list goes on and on of people whose lives where forever changed by knowing Theo.
It is truly a piece of literary art. The writing style is much in the same vein of Ernest Hemingway, and I’d venture to say this author has studied the writing master extensively.
With over 85,000 reviews, it’s obvious this story is meant to touch many lives from around the globe. In a world filled with hatred, this is a story of love, of acceptance, and of tolerance. It is a story that will linger with me the rest of my earthly days, and while I rarely read a mainstream author’s work, I’m so glad I took a chance on this one. I’m truly at a loss for the words to express the beauty of Theo of Golden.
**I SELDOM EVER PAY THIS MUCH FOR AN eBOOK, BUT I HAD SOME KINDLE POINTS THAT HELPED**
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