Hello, and happy November!! I love the fall of the year. It’s my favorite time and I always feel energized. I’ve just returned from a book event for A Noble Bargain, at the Crossett Public Library in Crossett, Arkansas. Had a great turnout and gained new readers! A win-win. But the icing on the cake was getting to reconnect with my best friend from over 40 years who lives on Caddo Lake, AND a quick visit with Author, Joan Hall!
I read SO many great books in October! I’m thrilled to share them with you. As always, I only share 4 and 5 star reviews.
MY REVIEW:
While this is not my favorite James Wade book to date, it is true to his style and genre of writing. Mr. Wade has the unique ability to dig down deep into the darkest places of mankind and bring all that ugliness into the light.
I love the setting and time period of this story—East Texas during The Great Depression and in the middle of prohibition.
Jesse Cole is by far my favorite character. He fought in World War 1 and returned home a hero with a box full of medals. But he carries secrets and regrets that no one knows or sees, mostly regarding his brother, Danny, who committed suicide while Jesse was gone overseas. To do the right thing by his brother, he marries the widow and takes on the responsibility of his niece. In his mind, it’s the only thing for him to do. But he’s never stopped loving Adeline.
My second favorite character is the Texas Ranger, Amon, sent by his superior to the East Texas town to clean up a murder. Only, things are not as they seem. Corruption (which is also a standard theme in Wade’s stories) runs deep, not only with local law enforcement, but with the Rangers as well. He has a lot of decisions to make to protect his family and to resolve the bad blood between him and is father.
There is a strong family thread throughout the story and not in a fun or wholesome way, but in the darkest of the dark ways. Squirrel and Frog Fenley run the bootlegging business and have a long history of death and destruction following them. Zev Blakewell is the one character that gave me the shivers. With a black mask hiding his face and the horrors leftover from war for him, he is a cold killer. Well, that’s all I’ll share about the gist of the story. If you don’t mind getting down in the trenches with the darkness that exists not only in ourselves but everyone else, you will not have any trouble getting lost in this story.
MY REVIEW:
As Rachael (Rascal) Todd unraveled this mystery, it was like following a trail of breadcrumbs. What started out as insurance fraud and the explosion of an old hotel, morphed into murder and international conspiracy.
I enjoyed the characters in this story. Rascal Todd is an investigative reporter and she’s a good one. She has a nervous tic in the form of giggling. She is easy to like and is relatable. Her boyfriend, Terry is another character who is easy to love. He’s the perfect supportive boyfriend/bartender. But it’s Rachael’s cat, Bonkers, who steals the show and ultimately helps solve the murder mystery.
There are a lot of characters in this story and at times, I had to look back to figure out who was who. Another favorite character was an old man, Ozzie, who knew how to navigate the canals and locks like a pro. Most of the characters get a POV and sometimes I find that a little off-putting as a reader.
I learned a lot about boats and locks through reading this book.
It was easy to figure out pretty early on who the bad guy is in this story, but as I said, it was fun watching Rachael and the authorities follow the breadcrumbs. If you are a fan of mysteries in a historic setting, you will enjoy this story.
MY REVIEW:
For some reason, Amazon let me read this book on my Kindle even though it hasn’t released yet and I could find no purchase link to it. But, keep an eye out because it’s a great story!
I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read in this K-9 Companions series and this one is no exception. It’s great seeing some of the wonderful characters I’ve met in other books in the series and to meet new ones.
Hannah Simpson has escaped to Bluebell Canyon to start a new life where no one knows her or the tragedy she has endured. But the past has a way of following you no matter where you go.
Cody is one of the brothers who rescue dogs and train them to be service animals. He is dedicated to his work but his life has gotten more complicated. When his best friend died unexpectedly, he’d named Cody as guardian of his twin girls who are six. Cody faces huge insecurities about his ability to be a parent to these two girls, but is giving it his all.
When Hannah starts working as a teacher at the school where the children attend, their paths cross. The girls are determined to play matchmaker and it adds to the depth of the story.
As with all of this author’s books, this one is heartwarming. Learning to trust again, to lower the walls around the heart, is not easy and there are obstacles. But faith and honesty are two things that prevail. I loved everything about this story from the setting to the characters AND the dogs that play a big part as well. If you are looking for a lighthearted read, a way to escape from daily life, this book will take you into the small tight-community of Bluebell Canyon where you’ll fall in love with the characters—guaranteed!
MY REVIEW:
Lillian Milano has a gift. She has the ability to channel healing energy that leaves the medical community confused and astounded. But because of that ability, an organization with ulterior motives wants her. They want to experiment on her as they did on her mother, eventually ending her mother’s life.
Lillian has been in hiding for two years, but now her sister is gravely ill and won’t survive without a miracle. So, she risks everything to make sure her little sister lives.
Tristan King is a billionaire dealing with his mother’s fatal and uncurable illness. So, when he accidently witnesses Lillian healing a sick child, he’s drawn to her.
Lillian can’t believe it. She’s found a burner, just what she needs to heal her sister. But how to get Tristan to cooperate without revealing her secret?
A burner is someone with pure unbridled energy and that’s exactly what Lillian needs to access for the healing to be complete.
This story is SO good. It kept me up way past my bedtime. The author is a talented writer who drew me immediately into the story and kept me glued to it until the end.
This phrase is a good example of Amanda Uhl’s prose ability: He wiped his mouth on the plush white towel, then tossed it into the hamper, where he wished he could toss the remainder of his restless thoughts.
This is a wonderful paranormal romance that I cannot recommend enough. I would give it ten stars if I could!
MY REVIEW:
“Pilgrim: Volume 1” is a thoughtful collection of poems woven together with the word pilgrim. The blurb called “Pilgrim” small wisdoms, but it felt bigger to me as it touched on our journey through life. There are tiny illustrated feet that creatively guide us to the next poem. A quick but powerful read. Here are a few of the words that touched me:
Thought sound
listen pilgrim
do you hear
the stillness
even the sound
of a cicada
is embraced
in the silence…
Elemental alchemy
listen to the sound
of your inner self
when you contemplate
your transformation
you know
this too
is an elemental magic
Natural waiting
this is the nature of time
and what is a life
but time
spent
waiting
These are poems that are meant to be read more than once. I highly recommend this poetry collection!
MY REVIEW:
My, what a tangled web we weave! Imagine finding out that everything you believed about your family growing up was nothing but lies piled on top of lies.
That’s exactly what happened to Reagan. She has just lost the one person she loved and that loved her, her grandmother. And she didn’t just lose her grandmother. She was brutally murdered in her own home. That incident brings Reagan back to her hometown to tend to the funeral and the sale of the house she grew up in. What Reagan can’t possibly know is the mountain of secrets, lies and deceit that she will uncover one excruciatingly painful layer at a time.
Thank goodness for her best friend, Mattie, who is there to help Reagan through this difficult time. But it’s Aiden, Mattie’s ex-navy SEAL brother-in-law, who steps up to help protect Reagan as threats on her life emerge. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s drop-dead gorgeous. I loved the romance that bloomed between them, but a couple of times, I totally lost patience with Reagan as she made some not-so-good choices. In her defense, she is dealing with a lot and it would break even the strongest person.
I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say that the depth of the lies and deceit left me stunned. Ms. York did a fabulous job of unraveling the different facets and mysteries that abound in this story. The complicated family dynamics adds to the suspense. If you love a book full of unpredictable plot twists, mysteries that stretch all the way to Lebanon, and flawed characters, you will enjoy this story!
MY REVIEW:
This is the second book in the Legends of Madeira series but it is not necessary to read book 1 first. Although, I do highly recommend that you do as it’s a great story! There is enough backstory provided in this second book to give the reader a full experience.
First off, I love the little town of Madeira. The author does a great job of providing the reader a strong visual of the town AND its residents. The restaurants that the characters visit are described so well I can almost smell the food. And there is a plethora of characters who make the story feel like you are visiting old friends.
Connor Hughes is an ex-Navy SEAL who has returned to Madeira to heal from his wounds and create a life for himself. But his biggest motivation for returning is the beautiful librarian, Abbey. He has a lot to make up for.
Abbey has a gift. Her dreams are often premonitions. As she explores her past and learns more about her ancestors, new realizations open up for her.
Connor had discounted her premonitions years ago and it almost cost him his life. There are so many layers to this story—the parallel events and lives from the 1800s and Fort McKittrick, the revelations that unfold as the story progresses and the romance that grows and blooms for Abbey and Connor. I loved the mystery aspect of the story and did not guess the identity of the man intent on killing Connor until the very end. Kudos to the author for another compelling story! I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery with tons of layers!
That’s it for me. I hope you found a book you must have!!! Happy Reading!
Here’s a bit of Monday Inspiration:
I’ve heard a lot about Joan’s work but I’ve never read any of her books! I’ve had some downtime this morning waiting for our dumpster rental so I’ve been making a little list of things I’d like to do for myself, and reading is one of them! I appreciate your review, I think I’ll start with the Legends of Madeira series! Thank you!
You will not be disappointed, Jeanie! Thank you for visiting!!
You’ve been a reading fiend this month, Jan! So many wonderful authors, and I have several of these on my Kindle.
Thanks, Teri! I had a great month of entertainment. 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks so much for this wonderful review, Jan. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I’m happy to be included with the other authors here today,. Joan’s book in already on the pile. I don’t read as fast as you, but I’ll get to it. I’ll look for the K 9 Companions story when it’s released. It’s odd that you were able to read it, but having the review before the book is out can be a good thing. I hope it is.
That’s true. Even though Jill’s book isn’t up on Amazon yet, I could still leave my review on Goodreads and BookBub. I was happy to include your book in these reviews. I enjoyed the story. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow. So many great reviews. And a wonderful tour, too. So nice to see pics from your trip.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Staci! I’m glad you enjoyed the reviews.
You’ve been so busy, and you’re taking it on the road, too. I’m amazed at your energy.
Lol, Craig. I always say one of these days I’ll get too old to do all I do, but not today. 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
Hi Jan! Thank you for including your lovely review of GHCS with so many talented authors! I’m still scratching my head about the Amazon early release…strange. I’m happy you enjoyed the book. I love that you were able to meet Joan! xo
I loved getting to read the book early. I will try to remember to post my review to Amazon when it comes available. It was a joy to visit with Joan. Thanks for visiting, Jill!
You read some great books and I am looking forward to reading a few of them. You wrote great and very helpful reviews.
So glad you enjoyed the reviews, Thomas!
Wonderful to meet up with Joan, and terrific reviews Jan…♥
Thank you for stopping by, Sally. Yes, it was wonderful to get to visit with Joan.
I’m glad you had good results at thebookevent as well as seeing your old friend and Joan. Great reviews, Jan. Congratulations to James,Dan, Jill, Amanda, Frank, Joy, and Joan
Thank you for stopping by, John!
😊
Intriguing reads, Jan. Adding to my list. Enjoyed the bit of Monday inspiration, too. Have a wonderful week. xo
I am happy you found some new reads to add to your list, Mary. It was a great month of reading. I am happy you enjoyed the bit of inspiration. It seemed appropriate on election eve.
Sounds like a great month, Jan. How great to reconnect with your old friend and to spend some time with Joan. It’s always fun for me to read reviews of authors I’ve previously read. I read Bridge to Nowhere, and I’ve previously read books by Joan and Jill. (Haha. I almost wrote Jack and Jill.) 😊
Ha! Ha! That would have been funny. So glad you enjoyed the reviews and it was great getting to visit with Joan.
Wonderful reviews and travel fun! I loved Jill’s book, and Joan Hall’s latest is next on my Kindle. A big congratulations to each of the writers! 🌞
Thank you for adding your recommendation for Jill’s book, Gwen. And, I know you are going to enjoy Joan’s story. I appreciate you stopping by!
Hi Jan, thanks for sharing the great reviews. I also enjoyed pilgrim very much.
It was really an amazing book of poetry, Robbie. Thanks for adding your recommendation. I’m happy you stopped by!
Awesome reviews for some great books. So glad you got to see Jan Hall. I’m envious.
It was special for sure, Darlene. Glad you enjoyed the reviews. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review of Genuine Deceit, Jan! All the other reviews sound amazing. Congratulations to all the talented authors! Have a great week!
My pleasure, Joy! Thanks for stopping by!
You read Joan Hall’s book AND you got to visit with her; that’s cool. Oo, Guarding Her Christmas Secret sounds good. It’s on my TBR!
I do feel so blessed, Priscilla. Getting to read Blood Red Dawn AND visit with Joan was amazing. And, you are going to love Guarding her Christmas Secret. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy your event went so well and you got some visits in!
Thank you!!
I just started Red Blood Dawn last night. Loving it. Jills’ book arrived early, too, early too. I dove into it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Joy’s took was another good one, and I loved that cover. Pilgram was a fun one. I enjoyed the theme. Great reviews, Jan! Xo
Thanks for adding your recommendations, Denise. That was so strange about Jill’s book, but I’m glad we got to read it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Fantastic job on these great reviews, Jan!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Tim!
I am too, Jan. 😊
Kudos to you, Jan, howdy to Joan, and her latest book is on my TBR. So many good books and only so much time, and I’m eager to read more before lights out!
Well said, Grant! So many good books and only so much time. I’m sure you are going to love Joan’s latest. Thank you for stopping by!
Wow, all good books here that I need to grab! I’m really interested in The Healing Kiss. I love books where the character has an amazing gift. Sharon Sala has written quite a few of these kinds. I’m so glad you had a great turnout in Arkansas. I’m sure they loved you. And I’m glad you got to see Kay and Joan. Sorry you had to drive in that crazy downpour. That was a gulley washer!! Love you, Sister.
The Healing Kiss was so good. I think you’d really enjoy it, sister. And yes, Sharon Sala has written a few of those kinds of books that I also enjoyed. Thank you for stopping by and hope you have a great Monday!
What a collection. So many I’ve read or want to read. Jill’s and Joan’s are right at the top.
You will not be disappointed, Jacqui. I finished Joan’s book last night and loved it. It was so puzzling to me that Amazon let me read Jill’s book on my Kindle, but there is no purchase or pre-order link and it doesn’t release until November 26th. Someone messed up somewhere, but I’m thrilled I got to read the book! Thanks for stopping by!