Fatal Frost

fatal-frost Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Defenders of Justice #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

When the marshal agency that is supposed to keep others safe has one of their own in jeopardy, they will stop at nothing to protect each other.

Mercy Brennan’s father might have been a law enforcement officer, just like her, but that is where the similarities end. She is a U.S. Marshal in St. Louis, Missouri and has been working with a joint task force that has put her back in touch with her father. He left her and her family when she was young and she still hasn’t forgiven him for the pain and hardship he caused them. He has been trying to work his way back into her life and she isn’t sure she can trust him. They both are fighting some of the most powerful gangs in the city and unbeknownst to Mercy, her father has incriminating evidence against some of these gang members. The gangs believe he hands this evidence off to Mercy and they come after her. Her boss assigns her to work with Mark St. Laurent, another Marshal who happens to be her ex-boyfriend. Mercy doesn’t know of the danger she is in and feels she is being treated unfairly, especially when she finds out the lengths her boss and Mark have gone to keep her out of the loop. As they leave town in order to stay safe, they are met with a freak ice storm that strands them in a remote location not knowing who they can trust. With the storm worsening and enemies drawing closer, can they make it out alive?

Writing a romantic suspense can be difficult. Depending on what the reader wants, you can easily have too much of one aspect or the other. Luckily, Mehl did a very nice job of keeping the suspense up and not letting the romance over power the story. This may be my favorite Nancy Mehl book so far. Mercy was a strong character even though she had some tough obstacles to overcome. Mark and Tally where good characters to pair with Mercy. There were a lot of characters to follow, especially when the gang members were added to the mix which made it hard to connect and keep up at times. I’m glad that this is the first in a new series. So many of these characters have potential to grow and I am curious as to who the next book will explore. I think the one thing I had a problem with was the pacing. So many of the pages were bogged down with the narrative tied in with the dialogue making it read much slower. If it had been spaced out with more dialogue and less narrative I think it could have been an even faster read than it was. With that being said I still read it quickly and enjoyed the story. Even though it is dealing with gangs and violence, there isn’t much that would make it unsuitable or need any warnings for readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Larger-Than-Life-Lara

lara Author: Dandi Daley Mackall

Publisher: Tyndale

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

This book that should be read by all young kids! It that tackles a difficult topic in a beautiful way.

Laney Grafton is a ten-year-old writing a story about what happens when her class gets a new girl who isn’t like everyone else. When Lara shows up in class, it is obvious from looking at her that she will be the target of bullying. She is larger than anyone these fourth graders have ever seen. Instead of letting the bullying beat her down, Lara surprises everyone and smiles through it all. Several of the kids go above and beyond with how harsh and cruel they are. Throughout it all, Laney stays quiet since she is being left alone for once. With crafty titles about storytelling and an overall extraordinary tale about a girl that is able to transform an entire class, Larger-Than-Life-Lara shows us the best and worst in every single one of us.

Bullying is such a horrible aspect of growing up that unfortunately almost everyone has to deal with at some point. Larger-Than-Life Lara tackles this subject in a unique way. By telling the story from Laney’s point of view, we see how everyone is affected in many different ways. This is a book that I think should be in all schools and read and discussed together. Kids of all ages could get so much out of this book. The way that Lara reacted to the treatment of the other kids shows how she is Larger than Life in more ways than just here size. We could all learn from all of the characters in this book, either in how to act or how not to treat someone. At times, the writing style seems a little odd but since the narrator is a ten year old it worked out really well. The book is short, less than 200 pages, making it an easy read. I finished it in one day. I hate to see the need for books like this, but it is needed now more than ever. So many kids are bullied in one way or another and being over weight is probably one of the hardest to deal with. Mackall did an excellent job setting up this story in a way that will make an impact with readers while also not being too lengthy and losing younger readers. Overall this was an excellent read that I will be high recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Storm

storm Author: Bonnie S. Calhoun

Series: Stone Braid Chronicles #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

With Glade gone and everyone out to get her, Selah is going to have her biggest challenge yet. All she has to do is stay alive long enough to complete her mission.

Selah has worked tirelessly to reunite her family, but in the blink of an eye it is all about to be gone. Out of the mountain they are surrounded in a world full of volcanic ash hiding the dangers beneath. With each day that passes, she finds herself growing weaker. Her abilities are diminishing as are the number of people trying to get her growing. Being a novarium is a heavy burden, not only in her abilities but also in the knowledge that many have given their lives to save her. Together they all work to continue the search in finding the Third Protocol to complete their mission. Their only clues consist of ancient artifacts and relying on Keepers to give her the clues to continue. With each step, Selah and her team wonder if they have made a mistake in who they placed their trust and if they can actually accomplish what they set out to do before it is too late.

As the Stone Braide Chronicles comes to an end, I feel satisfied yet still wanting more. There could easily be another novel to continue this story but with it ending here it can still be thought of as complete. I thought this entire series was well written and entertaining. For several moments of the story I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the outcome would be for Selah and her crew. When reading, I love to be on the edge of my seat and feel as if I am right there with the characters. That happened throughout much of this novel. Bonnie Calhoun has taken us, not necessarily to a new world, but to a new time in the world we know. The landscape is familiar with cities and landmarks that most will be familiar with but not what has happened in that land over time. Being able to provide those landmarks help me set myself in the place the story was working its way through. The timing is another story. I know it’s in the future but am still unsure how far into the future we are, even after this third in the series.

While I did have those positives, I have to be honest that there are a few negative aspects for me. The question of what the Sorrows are still bugs me. I don’t feel that that along with some of the technology they used and what Landers and Novarium are were fleshed out as much as I would have preferred. With that being said, I feel another story coming on, either a sequel or a novella from a few of the other characters point of view would be welcomed.

There is still some violence here but nothing gets too bloody that it would need to be kept away from squeamish readers. Overall I enjoyed this series very much and am sad to see it come to an end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Dear Mr. M

dear-mr-m Author: Herman Koch

Publisher: Hogarth

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

If you like to think while you read, you will love this book!

Mr. M is an elderly Dutch author who has written many books in his lifetime, but none have lived up to the hype of his early novel Payback. Written based on a factual account of a young teacher who coerced a young female student into a relationship. When she ended the relationship, he couldn’t fathom why she left him for the student he did and become obsessed with her. When the teacher and two students end up in a deserted vacation home during Christmas vacation, the teacher ends up disappearing without a trace, bringing the two students under suspicion of murder, but no conviction is ever made. People loved the book and even a movie was made from it. But someone from the story surfaces and begins writing to the author. The notes aren’t particularly amusing and could even be considered threatening. What if dear Mr. M got it all wrong?

This has definitely been one of the more thought provoking reads of the year! Told from five different viewpoints throughout the story with little to no warning of who is suddenly taking over the narration. It also switches between past and present without warning when changing sections of the book, so be warned. However, Koch is a master story teller as I had no idea the full story until I read the whole story. I was making conjectures throughout, but something always felt off. Something didn’t quite make sense until the last few pages put it all into perspective. The entire book makes it seem as though Mr. M is this washed up little talent author with the exception of two books: Payback which the book is centered on and then one about his ex-wife leaving him. But maybe this old dog of an author isn’t all that unintelligent.

The story is primary a narration being told to the reader. There is some dialogue in a few parts that takes place here and there, so it can be a little difficult to follow at times. There was some adult content included, both in harsh language and in implied sexual content. The book is mostly set in the Amsterdam area, which I admit to having little to no geographical knowledge of prior to this book, which is always fun to help expand my horizons. Overall an interesting read, but recommended for mature audiences due to the language and sexual content.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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Casting the Net

casting-the-net Author: Pam Rhodes

Series: The Dunbridge Chronicles

Publisher: Lion Hudson/Kregel

Release Date: February 22, 2014

Reviewer: Jennifer S. Roman

Neil Fisher is a new vicar at St. Stephen’s in Dunbridge and has his work cut out for him. In only his second year as curate, he has do deal with enough issues to make Peyton Place look tranquil. His overbearing mother Iris decides to come stay with him for an extended visit and insists on reorganizing his entire home to suit her needs, but of course under the guise that he “needs her help.” Not long after performing a christening for a desperately-wanted baby, he is forced to handle two devastating funerals of congregants. He breaks up with his steady girlfriend Wendy because he realizes he doesn’t truly love her, and she does everything she can to make his life miserable. His attentions quickly turn to Claire, the church gardener, who even though she is an Atheist, is a perfect partner for him. They have to deal with the fallout of a man of God involved with a woman who doesn’t believe in God while also untangling the messy lives of their followers. All in all, Neil’s second year with St. Stephen’s keeps him on his toes and often puts him into precarious and sometimes hilarious predicaments.

This is the second in the Dunbridge Chronicles, about the life of Neil as a curate and the many people of St. Stephen’s who welcome him as their leader. Of course, just because they go to church and are involved in the church life does not mean they are perfect; they need Neil’s help just as much as anyone else. Fortunately, Neil takes his ministry out and about and is always around his congregation. Whether it’s performing a baptism or wedding, or participating as a judge in a church-sponsored bake-off, or even spending time playing darts and drinking a pint in the local pub, Neil manages to entangle himself in the various tangled webs of those around him. He feels very unimportant and even lacks confidence in his skills, yet his people work out their problems, renew their faith, and increase attendance under Neil’s leadership. He relies heavily on Margaret, his co-pastor, for guidance and advice, but when something horrible happens to her, he successfully plows on doing the best he can.

This book is written about the life in the church, yet it provides many funny moments that will resonate with church-goers and non-church-goers as well. It doesn’t have one main plot but instead relies on the various veins of the many characters’ lives to carry the story through. It continues in another book, as a spurned Wendy decides to take matters into her own hands. This is a quick and charming read that will make people laugh and understand that nobody is perfect.

There is really nothing in this book that could be found offensive to readers, so anyone interested in a fun book about a church-going community will find it entertaining. There are some people cohabitating out of wedlock and one couple even conceives a baby that way, but there is no mention of violence, assault, or other objectionable behaviors. The book takes place in England and uses British terminology, so there may be some profanity that is not obvious to American readers, but it is mild if noticed. This should be a fun and easy read, so I recommend it for readers high school level and above.

Greek for Everyone

greek-for-everyone Author: A. Chadwick Thornhill

Publisher: Baker Books

Release Date: September 20, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A great resource to help decipher the original Greek context of the Bible!

As translators have published new language versions of the Bible, certain words chosen to convey the message may not have the same implications of the original Greek text. Furthermore, the context of the actual message can be misdirected and it loses its historical accuracy. My pastor often breaks down phrases in the Bible to the original Greek and then provides the original meaning behind the phrase. But what about when studying on your own? It is not easy to simply take a verse or phrase and try to determine what the original Greek text had. Not to mention that some Greek words and characters have multiple meanings. So how do we break down what we are studying to its root?

Fortunately, A Chadwick Thornhill has published a tremendous resource for helping anyone interesting in understanding Biblical Greek text. This book provides the reader with starting guidelines to understanding the language. Although this book won’t help one fully master the Greek language, it will definitely help the reader differentiate the meaning of Greek words through context as well as noun, verb, and supporting parts of speech placement. Most chapters are short and very direct. It is easy to navigate in case you are looking for help in a specific area. Definitely a great resource to have readily available on the shelf when breaking down scripture.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Al Capone

al-capone Author: Deirdre Bair

Publisher: Doubleday Books

Release Date: October 25, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Many have heard of Al Capone, but never the whole story as told here!

Al Capone’s name is one of the most recognizable in history. Even more so than some of the United States presidents and movie stars. It is recognized in several countries several decades after he died. Why is that? Why do people remember the name? How does it get past on? Why do children still play cops and robbers with the ringleader being Capone? Deirdre Bair dives into Capone’s life to explore who Capone really was. From the early years to his teenage years and onto his height as a gangster in Chicago onto his demise in Alcatraz. She explains how he was raised and why his parents immigrated to America only to discover that it was not all rainbows and unicorns as they had hoped. If you are interested in the whole story, not just snippets, then you should pick up a copy of this book.

I probably fall into the category that most people fit in when it comes to Al Capone. I know the name, I know about some of his time in Chicago, and I know he was sent to Alcatraz. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have picked up a copy of this book had it not been for a 2:00 AM program on PBS about speakeasies in the 1920s that had a large segment dedicated to Al Capone (all thanks to have a six month old little boy at the time). But that program really sparked an interest into learning more about who Al Capone was. Then as if by fate, this book suddenly popped up in a possible too read offer. Needless to say it was easy to pick it up and read it. I really appreciate all the history and research that Bair brought to the table. There were several parts of the book that enlightened me, but also made me understand Capone’s personality more. This is the first book about Capone that I have read, so I can’t judge it against any others, but I can sure pick up another book that Bair has written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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Chaos Comes to Longbourn

chaos-comes-to-lonbourn Author: Victoria Kincaid

Publisher: Victoria Kincaid

Release Date: July 2, 2016

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

If you love Pride and Prejudice and what might have beens, this is the books for you.

Mr. Darcy has been wrestling with his sudden thoughts about Elizabeth Bennett. In an effort to rid himself of the thoughts and the ball he is in attendance at, he decides to retreat to the library where he stumbles upon Elizabeth’s 15 year old sister Lydia, who is only partially dressed after she had been in a love session with someone else. When others arrive, Mr. Darcy is mistaken as an attacker and has no choice but to propose marriage. In an effort to ensure his friend Mr. Bingley doesn’t meet the same fate from Elizabeth’s older sister Jane, Mr. Bingley’s sisters talk him into leaving without the intention of returning. This greatly saddens Jane (and Mr. Bingley), but he leaves anyway. Soon Mr. Collins comes to call on a wife and selects Elizabeth, who promptly turns him down. He then turns to Jane, who no longer has any prospects, agrees to the marriage in a effort to save her family’s home.

Upon arriving home, Mr. Bingley learns that his mother is very ill and will likely not live long. She had hoped to meet the young Bennet girl he had wrote to her about and was even hoping they may already be married. Mr. Bingley tells his mother they are engaged and quickly returns to Longbourn to beg forgiveness of Jane and hopefully propose. Once he arrives, he finds out that she is now betrothed to Mr. Collins. He suddenly gets an idea that maybe he can propose to another Bennett girl in the meantime and after hearing his plan, Elizabeth agrees.

In a love rectangle gone mad, all four couples should never have been together. In fact, only three of the final couples are right for each other. The last couple are both insufferable. Even so, in the end, each gets their own. This was a fun, quick read that had some much play on the original Jane Austen story Pride and Prejudice. The characters all reminded me of the actual book, but some may have been a bit stuffier and more arrogant, if that is possible. For people that enjoy the what might have been, this will be a great book to read. Even if you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice, it is still worth it to pick it up and get a laugh.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Poetic Book Tours. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Initiation

lock-and-key Author: Ridley Pearson

Series: Lock and Key #1

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: September 20, 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Sherlock Holmes as you’ve never seen him before! A great introduction to the detective for a younger generation.

Sherlock Holmes is a well-known detective, but not as much is known about his youth. Here is a tale of how he begin his rivalry with his most famous enemy, James Moriarty, which is told from the viewpoint of James’s little sister, Moria. James grows up to be a ruthless villain, but what happened to lead him down that path? James is put into a boarding school where he winds up the roommate of a British know-it-all named Sherlock Holmes. Moria attends the school as well and becomes closer to Sherlock, Lock as she calls him, than her brother. Shortly after school starts, a treasured Bible that is supposedly the family bible of the Moriarty family goes missing causing James and Moria to be caught up in a school wide scandal. The school imposes mandatory study hall and lockdown until the bible is found. James has never known of his family to have such a bible here, but all of a sudden clues start turning up leading him on a search for what he thinks must be the bible. Sherlock helps his roommate and finds that things are not at all what they first appear, leading them to the discovery of a secret society within the walls of the school. With danger around every corner and mysterious dealings afoot, nothing will be the same.

Ridley Pearson has developed a knack for developing stories for that are like none out there. He reimagined the Disney villains and heroes for young adults to read and enjoy, and now has taken on a new direction for us to see Sherlock Holmes that is entertaining, fun, and so enjoyable. I have heard of Sherlock Holmes but the characters of James and Moira were new to me. I loved the way Pearson told the story through Moira’s perspective. It was different and gave a neat view of the story. At first glance you are think the story took place long ago, that’s what comes to mind for me when I think of Sherlock Holmes. Interestingly enough, it takes place in the present. The kids are attending Baskerville academy, a school that doesn’t allow cell phones, making all clues and information a little more difficult for kids and all involved in to attain. At first you might think that Sherlock and even James are the brightest of the bunch, but don’t count Moria out too quickly. She learns quickly from those around her and with Sherlock to teach her proper sleuthing techniques, she is sure to not be left out of all that is happening around her. Pearson has become one of my favorite YA authors. You can count on his stories to be entertaining with much to learn along the way. With this being the start of a new series, I can’t wait to see what is to come.

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Where Two Hearts Meet

where-two-hearts-meet Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Prince Edward Island Dreams #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 18, 2016

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Sometimes love happens when you least expect it with someone you would expect!

Caden Holt has been the executive chef at the Red Door Inn on Prince Edward Island since it opened. She loves her work and also that she has time to teach cooking classes to youth in her town. But all that may come to a screeching halt when she learns that the Inn is in financial trouble. Her boss (and best friend) Marie has just received a letter that they will be receiving a mystery guest at the inn who is a journalist for a bed and breakfast magazine that will review their stay and possibly put their inn on the cover of the magazine. Now Caden just has to figure out how to keep the mystery guest extremely happy throughout his or her stay.

Adam Jacobs is going on a forced sabbatical after his writing assignment in the Middle East resulted in the death of a young marine. Racked with guilt, his editor sends him to Prince Edward Island to rest at the Red Door Inn. But this is not what Adam had in mind. He is used to the hustle and bustle of Washington DC and doesn’t know if he will be able to actually rest, much less overcome his writer’s block. He eventually begins researching and begins to find connections between the church in Boston that hosted the young marine’s funeral and the owner of the Red Door Inn. What if his editor sent him here for a reason? Possibly to blow open a big story that no one knows about?

This was a really quick and fun romance read. It is the second in a series, but easily stands alone on its own. The two main characters are flawed, but easily compensate each other. Not to mention how insufferable one of the supporting characters was. Johnson did a really good job of setting scenery around the island to really bring the reader to the setting. There wasn’t much focus on the inn itself, but it is possible that it was created in the first book. Now I’m going to have to go read that one.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I’m looking forward to more tales from the Red Door Inn. If you enjoy clean romance novels that have some fun sprinkled in, then this one is for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.