The Victor

Author: Patricia St. John

Publisher: Kingsley Press

Release Date: September 17, 2011

An interesting take on Christian historical fiction that middle grade readers will enjoy.

Philo is worried about his family. His sister, Illyrica has been possessed by a demon causing their family lots of stress. When he and his younger sister hear stories of a prophet from Nazareth that has been healing the sick, they hope their sister can be healed. When they mention the prophet’s name around their sister, she goes into a fit of rage. When things are at their darkest, Philo runs away but no matter where he goes, he hears of the amazing work the Jewish prophet is doing and all his miracles.

I picked this book up at Baker Book House on a family trip and just read it. An interesting fictional telling of Jesus and the miracles performed during his short time on Earth. This is a short and quick read that is probably most appropriate for middle school or high school age kids to read and fully understand. I was able to read this in a single day and thought the writing was well done and an interesting way to tell a story like this.

Charm

Author: Tracy Wolff

Series: Crave #5

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release Date: November 8, 2022

The fifth book in the Crave series is another great read that fans of the series will not want to miss!

What happened during the missing four months while Grace was stone? After coming to Katmere Academy, Grace finds that nothing in her world is as it seems. Now, she is surrounded by Vampires and any and all dangerous creatures she always thought were myth, the most dangerous of all is Hudson Vega. Somehow Grace ends up trapping Hudson and herself in her mind while she is stone. They are trapped together for months, but time doesn’t run the same while trapped in stone. The longer they are together, the more frustrated they become with each other while also growing closer. How are they going to get out and back to their family members and will they be able to do it before it’s too late.

For anyone that has read the Crave series, it is easy to fall in love with these characters and the story created. Tracy Wolff has crafted a world that fans of Harry Potter and the Twilight universe will love, and this latest installment will give readers an inside look at what happened when Grace and Hudson were trapped inside her mind. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but enjoyed the time spent reading it. While I did enjoy it, I wouldn’t say it was my favorite in the series; to be honest, it could have cut out two hundred pages and been just fine. Those two hundred pages caused it to drag some in the middle and had me skimming the pages at times.

The story of what happened with Grace and Hudson while she was stone is something that readers of the series have been wanting to know for a while now. The dynamic between these two is sensational, so much tension driving the story forward that it is hard to not fall in love with what you are reading. I did miss the other characters from the previous novels that added to the dynamic. Even though this series is marketed to teens and young adults, I would not recommend this to younger readers because of the sexual aspects and language. For older more mature readers this will be great addition to a fantastic series.

Everything is Just Beginning

Author: Erin Bartels

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 17, 2023

Bartels delivers yet another unparalleled story about friendship, conflict, and healing.

On New Years Eve of 1989, the world is changing and possibilities seem endless. But for Michael Sullivan, its just another reminder of how his life is turning out. After being kicked out of his band and apartment, he ends up sharing a room in his uncle’s trailer across the road from a sprawling mansion of a talented music artist and producer. His uncle shares his name and goes by Mike, so when Michael stumbles on an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party at the mansion and his uncle on an extended road trip in Vegas, Michael decides to test fate and go see how the other half lives. While at the party, he meets Natalie, daughter to the music legends who live in the mansion. Through this chance encounter, he learns more about music, more about this family, and more about himself than he could ever bargain for.

I love that Erin Bartels usually releases her novels around the start of the year because she sets the bar for what I expect of the year! Each book is so different from the rest that you can’t help but be pulled into each new story. Michael and Natalie’s story is just so good that you’ll want to read it again and again. Set in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan in 1990 brings back so many memories of life and music during that time, I just loved it.

As with most of her novels, the emotion is raw and laid out bare for all readers to see. It deals with some heavy things that people deal with today, not just 30 years ago. It is so easy to connect with her characters and have them draw you into their story so that you feel more like a participant than an outsider. This will easily be one of my favorite books of 2023!

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

Treasure State

Author: C.J. Box

Series: Cassie Dewell Novel #6

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: September 27, 2022

Took a little bit to get going, but once the story picked up steam, it never slowed down!

Cassie Dewell has been working as a private investigator and loves what she does. Her newest case has her on the hunt for a missing private investigator and a con man who could be behind his disappearance as well as stealing fortunes from several women. As she is looking into this case. she is contacted by a man claiming to be the mastermind behind a treasure hunt that has already cost five people their lives. Cassie finds herself in Anaconda, Montana with clues to who could be behind all she is investigating. Each clue brings about another strange twist in the case and Cassie finds herself in danger before all is solved hoping she can make it home and help find a treasure.

I didn’t realize this was the sixth book in the Cassie Dewell series when I started it. Even though I hadn’t read the others, I was still able to really enjoy this story. The start of the book was a little slow but once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. The story was fun and intriguing with the double mystery Cassie was investigating. I loved how all the pieces came together by the end, it all played out just perfectly and left me feeling great about the story and the way Box set it all up. Now that I’ve read this one, I am eager to go back and read the others in the series. Cassie is a great protagonist with a set of skills that helps her in solving her cases, she has enough flaws to make her a believable character though. This was a fun mystery without the fluff or other aspects that can make a book boring and hard to get through. I recommend this one to readers that enjoy suspense, mysteries, and a great fun setting.

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

The Lost Melody

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 4, 2022

Surprisingly entertaining with a dark premise that kept me glued to the pages.

Vivienne Mourdant’s father has just passed away and to her surprise he leaves her in the care of an adult ward she never knew about. Vivienne is a concert pianist and her life changes with this new revelation. The Hurstwell Asylum is where she is headed to see about the woman to whom she is now in charge. The picture she sees is very familiar to her from dreams she had as a young child. Not sure what is real and what is actually a dream from her younger years, she starts to think maybe she is the one in need of the asylum.

Of all the historical romance novels I’ve read lately, this one is one of the best with the added mystery and suspense. For some this might be a hard topic dealing with history and asylums and the hardships that were imposed during that time. The way that Politano brought about this hard topic and used faith at such hard points was perfectly written. Vivienne is not only dealing with the death of her father but also the news of what she is now in charge of and how she is going to be able to deal with that. Not only would that be tough now but being set in the time it is for a woman to deal with all of that is even more difficult. Politano wrote all of this in such a way that the reader will not want to take a moment’s break to put the book down until finished.

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

Beyond the Wand

Author: Tom Felton

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release Date: October 18, 2022

Best known for his portrayal as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, Tom Felton shares his life’s lessons so far!

You might think that Tom Felton is your typical childhood actor that enjoyed fame and fortune after the Harry Potter films, but it’s not all that you might imagine. Tom is the youngest of four boys who kept him extremely grounded throughout this early acting journey. His upbringing was a bit different being in England than of America and he found out at an early age that just because you’ve done film or commercials, literally no one cares. Fortunately for Tom, out of the four main actors for Harry Potter, he was the one that was able to lead a somewhat normal life. But that can take different forms when you want to fit in versus being unable to fit in. There is a lot of wisdom this young man has had to learn the hard way and it is worth sharing.

I love reading memoirs and autobiographies in general because it gives me a look inside of what people have done in their lives. Sure, I know Tom Felton from his on screen films, but I have no idea what he is like as a person. His personal trajectory shows a lot of “character growth” as he first meets the other actors/actresses for Harry Potter and his initial behavior compared to his behavior after having been around some distinguished actors who share their wisdoms. I think the most interesting part was discovering that he is almost opposite the Draco Malfoy character and how in tune with Emma Watson he is. You think you know a guy, but until you learn about them, you have no idea!

Blood of the Sons

Author: Vincent B. Davis II

Series: Consentino Crime Saga #2

Publisher: Thirteenth Press

Release Date: August 30, 2022

Picking up where Sins of the Father left off, Davis gives readers the ending they wanted, but not expected!

Sonny Consentino and his brothers want nothing more than to avenge their father. Trouble is, they have no idea who killed him. Now tied up with an Italian crime boss, they work to hold their territory while capturing others throughout New York.

So, I really want to give more of a synopsis of this book, but it would just give it all away if I did. I think this book is equally divided between Sonny and his brother-in-law Buster. While the first book was Sonny’s origin story, this one was Buster’s but with a continuation of the first book mixed together. There are some significant twists in this book that is likely to blow readers minds, especially at the end. What a great work. I highly recommend reading the first book before you jump on to this one!

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

Anything But Plain

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 4, 2022

Amish fiction that fans of Suzanne Woods Fisher will not want to miss!

Lydle Stolzful is the bishop’s daughter, and no matter how hard she tries, she is not like the other Amish girls. She doesn’t want to leave her family or the church, but she doesn’t feel like she can stay either. While between jobs, she works with the local doctor at the front desk. Taking the job gives her time before getting ready to leave and say the hard goodbye to those close to her. Nathan Yoder has told Lydle he loves her, but she and his father tell him she is not good enough for him. That along with other reasons are why she feels the need to leave.

Amish fiction is a unique genre that is not for everyone. It takes a little different frame of mind, especially if you prefer more suspense and high paced action in your novels. However, every so often, there is an author who can craft a story set within Amish parameters that makes it read more like a straight contemporary novel. Without action based suspense, Fisher makes the story more suspenseful in other ways. While this isn’t my typical go-to type of novel, I have found that Fisher is one of the best at writing these books and finds ways of making the story and the characters interesting in such different ways than I am used to in the other novels I read. I did find myself smiling by the end of the novel as all the pieces came together and the story wrapped up just perfectly.

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

The Rose and the Thistle

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 3, 2023

A historical romance that will hit all the right buttons for fans of the genre.

In 1715, an English heiress with a powerful family runs off to the Scottish Lowlands to avoid the enemy. While there, she finds herself thrown into temptation and pulled by her heartstrings in unimaginable ways. When difficult circumstances throw Lady Blythe into hardships unexpectedly, things get interesting very quickly.

Historical romance is a genre that can hit the heartstrings of readers and this one did a good job of living up to my expectations. These books take a little longer for me to read because I enjoy researching the time periods to see how much research the author did as well. As usual, Frantz does an amazing job of portraying the period accurately as I’ve come to expect in all of her books! The romance arc was nice and well written where I was able to see the characters act in a way that was believable and kept the story moving along. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy historical romance; however, if it’s not what you enjoy this won’t be the book for you.

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

All the Lost Places

Author: Amanda Dykes

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: December 13, 2022

Readers will enjoy not one, but two amazing stories surrounding the history of Venice, Italy.

One evening, a baby boy floating in a basket is discovered by a guildsman in the canals of Venice. Only a few meters away from fate turning him over to an orphanage, young Sebastian is raised by five artisans. As he grows up, he fears he will never discover who he truly is until a chance encounter on an island changes his life forever.

Many years later, Daniel Goodman is given the opportunity to turn his life around after some bad choices give him a prison sentence. Now a free man, but saddled with personal guilt that keeps him paying penance to those he hurt, he is tasked to go to Venice, Italy to discover the full translation of the Book of Waters as well as sketch many of the historical artifacts for a man’s vision to bring part of Venice to California. Upon his arrival in Venice, he meets Vittoria, the local bookkeeper, who assist him in both his personal and professional journey.

This is the first book that I have read by Amanda Dykes and she amazed me from the beginning of the book to the end. I couldn’t decide which story I loved more, that of Sebastian or Daniel. And once the stories collided, it simply took off. I love to read about well-known places that I’ve never been or expect to visit except through my mind’s eye. My favorite character by far was Vittoria. She was such a gust of wind that I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep up with her, but soon discovered we were kindred spirits. I love it when a book has that ability. I recommend this to readers who enjoy Italian history and just an overall great story!

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