Author: Tosca Lee

Series: Decedents of the House of Bathory

Publisher: Howard Books

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

There is not much I can say that will adequately portray how good this book is! Lee is a master storyteller has crafted the best story that I have read in a long, long time.

When Emily Jacobs wakes up one day with much of her memory gone, she tries to determine what happened to her and why she would ever want to be without her memories. Her search brings about the revelation that she is the descendant of a serial killer and is now being hunted.  She doesn’t know who she can trust.  Is it the good-looking guy she meets at the Food Mart who seems to know more about her past than she does?  If not him, who?  During her search she is drawn to the secret underground of Europe and the deep inner circles of three ancient orders: one trying to killer her, one trying to keep her alive, and one she has to save.  With every corner she turns, more secrets are revealed and more questions raised.  She is in a race to save those around her, even if she can’t save herself.

Tosca lee is a writer with a very rare gift. One who can craft a story in such a way that you have no choice but to devour every word and curse her for her brilliance.  This is easily one of the best books I have read in a very long time.  The story flies by with nothing slowing it down.  The characters are inexplicably drawn to one another that makes everything they do make sense without question.  The setting is unique, going from Maine, to Indiana, to the underground circles of Europe.  The characters, the descendant of a serial killer, very intriguing.  The time and effort it must have taken to make every aspect of this story tie in with the next makes me want to read it again and again if for nothing else than to enjoy a good story and show my appreciation for such hard work.  This is unlike so many of the novels out there that are just thrown together and put out there to be skimmed through and tossed aside.  I devoured every word and can’t wait to read it again and again and again.  The worst thing about this is the fact that I now have to wait for the next to come out, talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

Author: Steven James

Series: Blur Trilogy

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Curse, the conclusion to the Blur trilogy by Steven James, is a satisfying end to a great YA series!

It’s been nine months since Daniel Byers first started having Blurs and he is hoping they are over. He is preparing to attend basketball camp before starting his senior year of high school when he once again starts seeing things that he doesn’t know if they are real or not.  Images from his early childhood are coming back to haunt him, some more terrifying than all he has already been through since the Blurs started.  To determine the meaning behind his hallucinations, he is going to have to team up with others that show the same amazing talents as he does with his Blurs.  On top of figuring out the meaning behind his Blurs, they are going to have to work together to help save a young woman who has been abducted by a scientist obsessed with enacting his own strange sense of justice.  Just when you think you have things figured out, they take a very interesting turn.

Steven James is one of the best authors I have ever read and I love that he has given us a great YA series! It is hard to find good clean thrillers that can be recommended for a younger audience. Curse is the final book in this series by Steven James and it didn’t disappoint.  I am only disappointed in the fact that there isn’t another in the series to look forward to.  I can tell that this is the end to the series, but it also seems to be left open with more story to tell.  I don’t want to give too much away but the very last page answered some questions, but also left me wanting to know more about these characters and what might be next for them.  Daniel is a great main character, he’s popular and good at school and sports but doesn’t flaunt any of that and think he’s better than he really is.  One character that stood out for me was Mia.  If you are familiar with James’s Patrick Bowers series, she will probably remind you of Tessa, at least she did for me.  There were nice bits of humor mixed in with the tense moments.  I flew through this story and loved every page.  So many books are easy to skim and not miss out on much of the story.  Not here, every word is important and not wasted.  I’m sad to see the series end, but will be ready for whatever James writes next.  I highly recommend this to any and all who enjoy a great fast paced thriller with twist and turns throughout.

Author: Steven James

Series: Blur Trilogy

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: April 2015

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Another fantastic read by Steven James. Even more twist and turns than the first.

Daniel Byers is hoping things are back to normal for him. Until his blurs return and his dad mysteriously disappears. The key to finding his dad lies in deciphering his chilling hallucinations. Along with his missing father, he is trying to understand a new mystery from his blurs. A girl keeps appearing to him trying to tell him something and then bursting into flames. She is somehow connected to his family. He also talks to his mom and that only adds more questions to the mix. Why did she leave? What is she keeping from him? How is he going to find and save his dad? And can he answer all these questions before it is too late?

Steven James is one of the best writers out there. His second novel in the Blur Trilogy does not disappoint. The characters are relatable as well as appealing and the mystery they are trying to solve will drag you deeper with every page.  Breaking this story into parts adds another edge to the story making it hard to put down. The mystery of if someone is even real, or just imagined by Daniel and even imagined by his ancestors is so well written you can find yourself in his position. I love the way James can take a story, any story, and make the reader feel as if they are inside the characters head. One of the differences in this compared to the first in the series is breaking up and showing multiple points of view. We get to see more of the town and how other characters relate to Daniel and what he is going through.

The theme that the protagonist can also be the antagonist drives us to wonder if we can trust anything Daniel says or does. The stage is set at the end for the conclusion of the series that is sure to be more complicated and even more intense. Having a new YA out there without language or anything is refreshing. Even in his adult books James refrains from harsh language or sex. So few writers think this can’t be done without keeping the story moving. It would be nice if more could make this a habit.

Author: Steven James

Series: Blur Trilogy

Publisher: Skyscape

Release Date: May 2014

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fast paced thriller for teens by a master story teller. James knows how to tell a great story.

Daniel Byers is an all American kid living in a small isolated town in Wisconsin. When the body of a high school freshman is found in Lake Algonquin Daniel is shocked by how he is affected by her death.  Then he starts seeing things.  Everyone believes that Emily Jackson’s death was an accident but before long things start looking differently for Daniel.  At her funeral he has a vision of her and his world starts to come apart.  He is convinced that her appearance to him is more than just a dream or hallucination, Daniel begins to look carefully into her death and the more he looks the harder it is to distinguish what is real and what is fantasy.  Daniel confides in his friends but even that isn’t enough to keep him from questioning his sanity.  What is real and what is a Blur and how can he tell the difference?

Steven James is a master story teller. It doesn’t matter what story he is telling, it is always worth the time to read it.  When I heard he was doing a Young adult series I was excited, there are not nearly enough YA books out there that are worth the time it takes to read them.  James weaves a compelling story that will keep even reluctant readers turning the page.  The chapters are short which helps quicken the pace.  Every time you are ready to put it down you see how short the next chapter is and think it wouldn’t hurt to read just one more, which always turns into more than just that one.  There is no tricky language or anything that makes it confusing to keep going.  The main character Daniel is one of those kids that in high school everyone wants to be friends with but unless you are in with that group it rarely happens.  But here, James made Daniel popular yet relatable.  A little unbelievable at times but something nice to strive for.

With all the books out there it is hard to find a clean good read to recommend to kids but this one can be recommended without thinking twice about it. Even though you are dealing with finding who murdered a young girl there is never anything graphic or any harsh language that would be inappropriate.  Wish there were more writers like Steven James.

Author: Mary DeMuth

Publisher: Baker Books

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Feeling worthy is a feeling we all struggle with, which is one of the strongest arguments I can give for reading this book.

Mary DeMuth shares her heart and soul in this book about how all women want to feel they matter and are worth something. We can all feel joy knowing we are secure in God’s love for us and how he has placed us in the world to do amazing things.  This God that has given us life wants us to fulfill out potential.  Demuth dares women to believe that we as women are daughters of the King, always welcome in his presence.  In doing this she helps women discover a future where they know they are loved, feel strong, and are able to make an impact in this world.  Either with many or just one, it is an impact that needs to be felt.

I don’t normally read a lot of non-fiction. I decided to give Mary Demuth’s book a try.  I was fortunate enough to meet her at a conference and felt compelled to read this after listening to her speak.  I am glad I did!  So many points she wrote about resonated with me on a deep level.  The feeling of not being worthy is something I have struggled with at times and still do.  I want to feel good enough, I want to feel like what I have to write or say will mean something to someone, but that isn’t always easy.  That doubt niggles at me and makes me feel unworthy to say or write much of anything.  After reading Worth Living, I have a different way of looking at what I say or write.  It may not impact many but I can still have an impact on someone.  And if I don’t feel worthy to say what God is wanting me to say, then the impact I could have had on someone will go unheard or felt, which is not what God has planned.  I may never know how I will impact someone, but I still have to feel worthy to try.  Mary writes so honestly about her feelings; how she has tried, and is still trying, to overcome the feeling of being unworthy in a way that makes it feel as though I can really learn from this and relate to her struggles and use this to overcome my own.  The most important thing to remember is we are all loved by the Father and worthy in his eyes.

Author: A. H. Gabhart

Publisher: Revell Books

Series: Hidden Springs Mystery

Release Date: May 17, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A fun, cozy mystery that kept a smile on my face with the turn of every page!

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane enjoys the quiet town of Hidden Springs and doesn’t want things to change. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happens when he saves a man from jumping from the bridge into the lake.  The man tells him he is going to wish he would have let him jump, and they haunt him in the coming days.  He becomes the town hero and things only get worse from there.  Photos of a dead girl come to him in the mail and Michael becomes convinced she was killed by the same man he saved.  Hidden Springs is no longer the quiet town it once was with a killer now on the loose and one step ahead.  Everyone Michael cares about becomes a target and he knows he can’t protect them all.

I stumbled upon the first Hidden Springs Mystery and couldn’t have been happier with the book. When I found out there was going to be another mystery, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen.  The nice thing about this series is the stories are fun, cozy mysteries you can cuddle up with a blanket and enjoy the mystery.  There is nothing crazy, no gory scenes, no profanity and no graphic scenes to worry about, just the way this type of book should be written.  Hidden Springs is not your normal little town, it’s kind of like the town time forgot.  Up until the murder at the courthouse, nothing dramatic had occurred in the town, and that’s exactly how everyone in town liked it.  Gabhart does a terrific job of weaving the quirky characters together with the quant little town to make a fun read that is hard to put down.  I cruised through without thinking of much else.  The mystery of who the killer was and determining the motive never slowed the pace or the enjoyment.  Toward the very end as the identity of the killer was revealed, I had to smile at how well it was played out.  It wasn’t an out-of-the-blue revelation, I had it pegged before the reveal, but still enjoyed the characters reactions.  I’m not sure if there will be another in the series but I hope so.  It would be fun to see what else is in store for the little town.

Author: Anne Marie Miller

Publisher: Baker Books

Release Date: May 17, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A hard topic to tackle, but done so with the best information possible to adequately prepare parents and children for this difficult issue.

One of the hardest thing a parent can do is talk to their children about sex. Anne Marie Miller has become quite good at this while sharing her personal story and talking about the gift of sex from God to almost half a million young people.  She doesn’t sweep the hard topic under the rug.  She wants to equip parents with the information they need to feel competent in talking about sex with their kids.  And not just sex, she deals with the issues of pornography and sexual abuse all in an age appropriate way.  The most important thing she says is to keep the lines of communication open so that children know they can trust their parents with this talk, the fear they feel, and the mistakes they might have already made.  Throughout everything, she offers hope to worried parents that their children can grow up with a healthy biblical view of sex as a gift from God.

I have to give props to Anne Miller. This is an incredibly difficult topic to tackle and she does it with grace. She not only gives the advice on how to talk to your kids about sex and the other hard topics, she gives her own story as well.  There is so much here I never knew and am thankful to now have this as a resource.  Before reading this, I didn’t think of having any kind of talk of this nature with my five-year-old boy, but now I realize there are age appropriate words and phrases I can go ahead and start using with him.  It’s crazy to think about starting this talk at such a young age, but with the world we live in and the technology available to even the youngest minds it has become necessary.  With smart phones, computers, and internet access readily available, it is easier than ever for young minds to be tainted.  We as parents need to be ready.  Miller has done an outstanding job of getting together resources and advice from experts.  I highly recommend this to all parents to read and reread as the years go by.

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 17, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Dugoni is at his best when writing about Tracy Crosswhite and her heroic adventures! In the Clearing is superb and a nonstop thrilling read!

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is back and ready to tackle her toughest case yet. Ever since her sister Sarah disappeared, she has geared herself more towards solving cases that seem unsolvable.  She wants to bring closure to the families and friends of the victims.  Being one of the only females to graduate from the police academy, she finds it hard to turn down a request from her former protégé, Jenny who asks Tracy to help solve a cold case that involves the suspicious suicide of a Native American high school girl from almost forty years ago.  Jenny’s father was the officer who responded to the call and collected the evidence, which he knew didn’t lead to suicide but wasn’t able to prove it.  That didn’t stop him from continuing to collect more evidence and keep a file ready for the time justice would come for the family.  Tracy goes throughout the town and finds dark, well kept secrets hidden deep within the community.  Tracy wants to keep the promise she and Jenny’s father made to the victim’s family to find the truth, but as she digs deeper she worries she might just end up like the victim.

I have come to find there is not much better out there than Robert Dugoni, especially when he is writing about Tracy Crosswhite. These are so good that I went back and reread the My Sister’s Grave and Her Final Breath before I started on this one.  I don’t know how many more Crosswhite novels Dugoni plans to write but I hope there are many, many more to come. In the Clearing delves deep into the Native American ancestry in Washington State and Tracy finds herself out of her comfort zone.  In the first two novels, it was much more about her personal life, in one way or another, but not as much here.  There wasn’t much of a presence of Dan, her boyfriend in this book and I missed that.  I understand the lack of his presence, it really fit with the story, but I did miss the interaction between him and Tracy.  At times, the story was much more narrative driven than dialogue which for some stories would slow the pace, not with Dugoni.  No matter what the scene was, it went quickly and entertained to the fullest.  This is my kind of writing, fast, strong and full of characters that are believable in every action they take.  I have a very high standard for what I consider the best books and authors out there and Robert Dugoni is at the top of that list for good reason.  His lawyer series with David Sloane are good reads, but nothing compared to the Tracy Crosswhite series.  I await each new novel with great anticipation and devour it as soon as I can get my hands on it.  If you enjoy a good suspense thriller, this is one you need to read as soon and as often as possible!  I don’t often reread a book but can say with certainty I will be reading In the Clearing many more times.  Thank you Robert Dugoni for writing such excellent stories that keep me glued to the page and always wanting more.

For those that like a rating system, I give five stars for my favorite books. They have to be incredibly well written to get five stars.  I am thinking though of new category for the absolute best, which this falls into.

Author: Larry Bond

Publisher: Forge Books

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Mystery, suspense, and rogue nukes! A powerful combination that could easily be seen on the news tomorrow!

Even though the war with China is over, India is still fighting several battles against Pakistan. Out of nowhere, a nuclear bomb is suddenly set off at a terrorist headquarters in Pakistan.  The world quickly points the finger at India, who else would do it?  But why would India do it?  Dr. Joanna Patterson, the U.S. national security advisor, orders air and ground samples be taken and analyzed.  The results are staggering!  The fallout components aren’t typical of Indian nuclear weapons.  They appear to be manufactured by either Russia or China.  But this makes even less sense.  Dr. Patterson recalls a mission that was performed several years ago when she was aboard a submarine outside of Russia where they discovered a sunken barge that had several canisters.  Upon retrieving two of those canisters, she discovered they contained nuclear warheads.  After a conference with the Russian government, she learns that there are six missing warheads.  If one went off in Pakistan, where are the other five?  And what are their targets?

This book was packed with suspense and politics. This is the first book that I have read by Larry Bond and I know that there are other books that contain Jerry Mitchell.  However, for this to be a Jerry Mitchel Novel, I really felt that he was more in a supporting role for this particular story.  For the first 250 pages, he is only involved in a handful of chapters and it is more centered around his relationships with some of the other characters rather than on his line of duty.  Even when he does get more involved, he is still not the central character.  I’m guess I’m more used to characters such as Dirk Pitt, Jack Reacher, or Phillip Mercer, as they stay throughout the entire story.  Technically, there is not really a central character at all.  The story centers around four characters with some history in the previous books.  Even so, this book still read well on its own.  I mentioned that it was packed with politics.  I was grateful that it was include as it helped me catch up on the back story.  Had I been caught it, I believe it may have dragged on a bit.

I always enjoy finding new authors that intrigue me. I really enjoy naval stories and this is no exception.  I haven’t had much reading in the way of submarines, so this was a really good change.  Larry Bond has definitely interested me enough to find out more of what is happening in this series, as well as his other series.  I was very glad that he didn’t feel the need to lace the story with profanity or innuendo.

Go out and grab a copy! You won’t be disappointed.

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: September 2015

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The next Tracy Crosswhite story keeps you on your toes and aching for more.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite has returned to her post as homicide detective in Seattle after finding her sister’s remains and getting a retrial for her killer. Still reeling from the ordeal she is pulled into an investigation that almost ends her career and her life, a new serial killer now as the Cowboy is killing women in cheap motels in Seattle.  Tracy finds herself in the middle of the investigation as the killer leaves menacing messages for her. A task force is formed with Tracy taking point to try and solve the murders. Clues lead them to a decade-old homicide investigation that includes her captain Johnny Nolasco, who has never been on her side. The Cowboy is still on the hunt and Tracy wants to find the evidence to stop him before she becomes his next victim.

Robert Dugoni is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Last year’s My Sister’s Grave was by far my favorite book of the year. As soon as I knew there was going to be another Tracy Crosswhite story, I was anxious to get my hands on it. Dugoni has found a winning combination with Detective Crosswhite and her ability to solve horrific crimes. I have to say Her Final Breath was not as good as My Sister’s Grave but is still by favorite of the year so far. I think the thing that made this one not quite as good was it lacked the emotional aspect that made such an impact with the first. When Tracy was so consumed with finding her sister’s killer and getting justice, the story flew by without a second thought. At times this one brought a little of the emotional aspect when Tracy was being targeted but it didn’t hit as hard as looking for her sister’s killer.

Without a doubt, it is an excellent read and one that anyone who enjoys a good suspense thriller needs to add to their collection. The story flows smoothly without anything to take you away from the characters.  Several are easily liked while others are easy to despise.  I’m not sure if there will be another in the series, but I feel Tracy Crosswhite has more to say and more cases to solve and I for one would like to see her in action.