The Blue Diamond

Author: Leonard Goldberg

Series: The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes #6

Publisher: Minotaur

Release Date: June 14, 2022

The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes is back with her toughest case yet!

Two premier hotels in London had valuable items stolen out of one of the guest rooms over the past two nights, prompting hotel owners to request for added protection from Scotland Yard. But it is not until a third hotel has an item stolen that Joanna Watson, her husband, and father-in-law are solicited for their assistance. The Governor-General of South Africa is in London to visit the crown and has brought with him the famous Blue Diamond that was discovered as a gift. But even with the entire penthouse suite provided to the security entourage, the thief has somehow managed to break-in and make out with the diamond without anyone being aware.

As the Watsons go about observing to discover all the facts, another break in is committed at the same hotel. This time to a French Diplomat whose wife’s necklace and bracelet were stolen as well as his briefcase which contained a most important document that could be used to turn the war into England’s favor against Germany. With national secrets on the line, the Watsons must act quickly before the Germans can discover the military’s plans, but someone is willing to kill the Watsons to move the plan forward. Will they be able to stop them? Or is it the end of the line to the daughter of Sherlock Holmes?

This is one of those series that I can’t wait for the next installment every year! It always winds up on my “best of” list and the “looking forward to” list! The mysteries are always so intertwined that my brain keeps turning throughout the whole book trying to keep with Joanna and figure out who is the culprit. Just when I think I have it figured out, Goldberg throws in a curveball to keep me guessing right up till the end with Joanna reveals it all. I’ve read all the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series and have enjoyed each one. They can be read as a standalone or you can enjoy them one at a time throughout the series. There is some character growth throughout each book and I love seeing several repeat characters throughout each story and how they grow as well. Just a great mystery that all will love!

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

48 States

Author: Evette Davis

Publisher: Flesh & Bone

Release Date: June 7, 2022

Unique take on dystopian United States.

No one could have anticipated the attacks that would occur on United States soil. Multiple political assassinations took out much of the country’s leadership until the Secretary of State was the next in line for the presidency. After that, things changed rapidly. In order to become fully oil independent, the states of North Dakota and Wyoming were completely evacuated to be used solely for energy production, giving them the names Energy Territory No. 1 and No. 2. Congress was suspended. Millions were deported out of the county and immigration came to a halt. The county as we knew it, ceased to exist.

River Peterson works as a truck driver in Energy Territory No. 1. After returning from the Caliphate Wars, her husband took his own life, leaving her and her daughter with massive debt. There was little she could do beside take a job in this wasteland to pay everything off before she could return to Idaho to see her mother and daughter. One night on the way to her apartment, a man runs out in front of her truck. She can see that he is deeply wounded and makes the decision to take care of him. Unbeknownst to her, he is Finn Cunningham, the son of the President of the United States and is trying to prove the harm that the territories are causing the rest of the country’s water supply. When the dawn of a new threat arises within the borders of the county, River and Finn must work together to find a way to save their own families and countless others in the process.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a unique take on dystopian literature. This genre has become so common that it seems like authors either have the same ideas or someone is getting copied. However, Davis brings a fresh look with 48 States. Named so because two of the states are evacuated for energy production, this book dives into some of the darker areas of what could potentially happen to our country. I loved both River and Finn as the two main protagonists. They were cut from different cloths, but still so much the same. Both characters had some growth, which might have had to have some setbacks first. The villain was quite overplayed as well, but when you have an egotistical maniac on the loose, what do you expect. The story was interesting to read out and I thought it was well done. There is some language throughout and some implied sex, but nothing really graphic or over the top. Even so, I still recommend this book for mature readers.

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

Elysium Tide

Author: James R. Hannibal

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 7, 2022

A bit of a slow start, but when the story picks up speed, readers better be buckled up because it goes into overdrive!

Dr. Peter Chesterfield needs a break. He doesn’t want to take a break, but he is ordered by his boss to attend a medical symposium in Hawaii at the Elysium Grand hotel. Even while he is supposed to be on vacation, he ends up working when he pulls a woman from the water with a head injury. She ends up dying in his arms but whispers the word “hono” before dying. After her death, Peter teams up with local detective, Lisa Kealoha, to uncover the missing pieces to the case. Things take a turn for the unexpected the further into the case they go, and it isn’t long before they wind up in the crosshairs of some very dangerous men. Together they must try and solve the case before anyone else gets hurt, or worse.

Let me start with a confession, it took me over two weeks to read this book. Not because it wasn’t good, I just started it at a very busy time with lots going on and didn’t have much time to read. When I did read, I didn’t want to stop to do the other things I had to do. The story started a little slow but once it got going in really picked up the pace and held my interest the rest of the time. Peter and Lisa were great main characters, a little rough around the edges at times but had some great character growth and their dynamic when with each other was very well done. This was the second book in a row set in Hawaii I read by coincidence and this was by far the better of the two. I loved the beautiful setting, fast paced storyline, and fun characters. Even though it could have gone deeper into the Elysium aspect, I feel Hannibal did a great job with not going too far and losing the reader. My advice would be to pick this book up when you have plenty of time to devote to the story without interruptions. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy suspense, action and an overall great read.

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

The Resistance Girl

Author: Mandy Robotham

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 31, 2022

Very interesting story concerning the effect of the German occupation of Norway during World War II.

Rumi has had her fill of this war as the Germans have taken the one thing that mattered to her: her husband. After the Germans occupied Norway to “liberate” them, the Norwegians started plotting ways to get their country back. Now a vital member of the Norwegian Resistance, Rumi works as a smuggler to get agents and supplies across the North Sea. One night she is sent out to pick up two scouts and finds one dangling from a tree and the other badly injured. She learns the man in the tree is her neighbor’s nephew and part Norwegian. He is a radio transmitter and the Germans have been closing in on their broadcasting stations. As the two work together, then find they have more in common than anyone could imagine and work towards a common goal of freeing Norway even if they die trying.

I’ve always thought one of the best aspects of a historical fiction novel is when you get to learn something you knew little to nothing about. Such was the case with The Resistance Girl. While I knew that Germany had occupied Norway, I didn’t realize the extent that they did nor what the primary mission was for. I’m not going to reveal what it was, because they would take away the premise of the book, but I did have to go back and do my own bit of research for validation, and it all lined up. Terrific job!

The characters have a great story arc in this book and it is just fun to read about. There is a bit of Norwegian thrown in here and there, but nothing that context clues won’t help readers understand. There is a bit of language as well, but nothing that takes away from the story. If you love historical fiction concerning little known events during World War II, this is the book for you!

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

The Sweet Life

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Cape Cod Creamery #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 3, 2022

Sometimes you have to seize life by the moment to get your second chance!

Dawn Dixon and her mom Marnie could not be more opposite. Dawn is like her dad, very calculated and views the world as black and white. Marnie is a free spirit who feels that everyone should embrace their creative side as often as possible. When Dawn’s dad dies from a workplace accident, she and her mom grieve in their own way. Then they each face another battle: Dawn’s fiancé Kevin calls off their wedding and Marnie deals with breast cancer. Kevin tells Dawn to still take the honeymoon on Cape Cod since it had to be paid for in advance, so she and her mom go vacation on the Cape instead of celebrating her wedding. During the trip, Marnie makes an impulse decision to purchase a defunct ice cream shop on main street with hopes of starting a new chapter in her life. Dawn is flabbergasted and tries everything to get her mother to change her mind, but when it’s evident that things have already progressed too far, Dawn decides to help her mother at least for a time.

If you need a Memorial Day read, this book is for you. Not only is it set in beautiful Chatham, Massachusetts, but it is set trying to get an ice cream shop ready to open on Memorial Day weekend. This is a clean contemporary story that will give many readers the feels. Both Dawn and Marie have tremendous character growth throughout the book as they are both pushed way outside their comfort zones and learn that life can be lived and enjoyed differently. I also loved the way that Fisher tied in the Three Sisters Island series to the start of this book. I wonder if there will be some common characters make an appearance in an upcoming story?

This book really brings out the best in a community. Not just from a support prospect, but how both newcomers and natives can work together to achieve a common goal. Such a fun summer read!

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

On A Night Like This

Author: Lindsey Kelk

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release Date: January 18, 2022

A slow start and while not my favorite book of the year, it was an enjoyable weekend read.

Fran Cooper has had a rough time lately and has been wishing she could change her life. She gets a call to work as an assistant to a celebrity and after accepting the offer, they end up on a yacht in the Mediterranean with the rich and famous. The trip ends up crazy until she meets Evan, and the sparks start to fly. They live on different continents and have completely different lives but wonder if the sparks are more than just that, maybe they are soulmates! Can they make it work or is it destined to fall apart before they even begin?

This was a quick and funny book, but had trouble keeping my interest. There wasn’t anything in particular that I didn’t enjoy, just wasn’t my favorite. The story was written well, but unfortunately for me, it just didn’t keep me interested enough to stick with the story. The main character is funny but not relatable for me, other readers might really enjoy this character and story though. If you are looking for a romance with you the love story as the heavy premise, this is the book for you. Even though I had trouble staying into the story, it was still a quick read that I think many readers will enjoy, just wasn’t the right fit for me.

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

Average Boy’s Above Average Year

Author: Bob Smiley

Series: Adventures of Average Boy

Publisher: Focus on the Family

Release Date: March 8, 2022

Average Boy’s Above-Average Year is just the fun clean read that I have been looking for to give my boys to read for a long time. It is funny, cute, clever and clean with no content that I have to worry about my kids reading!

Adventures of Average Boy has been a longtime character from the Clubhouse magazine that follows Average Boy through the school year with all the hilarious ups and downs he faces. A middle-grade fiction to be both funny and clean without the potty humor or other vulgarities so frequent in the books these days is very rare. Readers will follow Bob (Average Boy) through the year as he works through the challenges of his youth group to stand up for God. With each passing day, Bob encounters kids at school that are set on making his life difficult no matter what. Will he be able to come out on top or continue his average streak?

Finding books for middle school boys that are filled with good moments and none of the negative the world has to offer is one of the most difficult things I have encountered as a mother. I know that the world is full of both great and horrible things and trying to navigate what to expose our kids to and how to handle what they are exposed to without our control is hard. There were several laugh out loud moments throughout the novel that didn’t have anything crude or the normal potty humor so many kids books include. I loved the way Smiley made these characters out to be funny and also relatable making the book a fun and quick read for all ages. I read it in a day and can’t wait to pass it down to my sons to enjoy as well.

When the Meadows Bloom

Author: Ann H. Gabhart

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 3, 2022

When the Meadows Bloom can fit into several categories: historical, romance, inspirational and contemporary. It’s hard to limit to just one, which makes it a great read for many to enjoy!

In the early 1900s, Rose Meadows is trying to recover from an illness that has put her in the hospital and away from her girls who have to be in an orphanage while she recovers. Her husband passed away during the influenza epidemic and she was never close with his brother, Dirk. It has been years since Dirk was badly burned in a fire and has since kept to himself for the most part. After hearing of the trouble his sister-in-law is in with being ill and away from her children, he comes to help and brings them back to his land in Kentucky. Having to navigate being at a new place and around family they have never spent much time around, Rose and her girls, along with Dirk, will have to learn new routines and find a way to bring light back into all their lives while healing.

Historical novels are not my normal go to reads but this one was on my shelf and I decided to give it a try. There isn’t much tension or fast paced moments in the book, but there are lots of sweet moments and great bonding moments between the family. Rose and her daughters have gone through a lot and are in need of a break, which they hope to get by moving to Meadowland with Dirk. The interactions between Dirk and Calla were probably the best for me, it showed a softer side of him which helped move the story along. This is the perfect book for those that love historical romances with inspirational moments that can be read in a quick few days. Ann H. Gabhart has become an expert in the historical romance department and readers will not want to miss this one.

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

The Master Craftsman

Author: Kelli Stuart

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 5, 2022

One of the best time-slip novels of the year! This should be on your summer reading list!

Karl Faberge has been charged with creating some of the most memorable sculptors during his time, many that have become known as the Faberge Eggs, which were produced for the Russian Tsar family during the late 1800s and early 1900s. But when Karl began to see the effect of the Tsar’s rule over Russia, he created one egg that hardly anyone knew about. The secret keeper of this egg was none other than Alma Phil, one of the best craftsmen of the House of Faberge.

Fast forward to present day, Ava Laine learns that her estranged father and famed treasure hunter Nick Laine has developed a fatal illness. Encouraged by her mother, Ava visits Nick and learns that there is one last treasure that he wants to find and hopes that she will do it for him. With little to hold her back, Ava, her mother, and her next-door neighbor team together for a wild trip to Russia in hopes of locating the missing egg. But they get more than they bargained for when they find out they are not the only ones after the egg.

This is one of the best books I’ve read all year! Not only was the historical fiction portion of the story super interesting, but the present-day mystery and treasure hunting aspect took the whole book to another level. I couldn’t decide which of the two stories that I wanted to read more and they pretty well blended altogether. Such a great story for anytime of the year. I’ll even read it again before this year is up!

I enjoyed getting to watch Ava’s character growth throughout the book. She went from feeling abandoned with a little self-centeredness to becoming a family member and genuine concern for others. I don’t know if Stuart has considered making this into a series, but I would be on board for any future installments. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

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

No Small Target

Author: James Tyler Brooks

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: May 17, 2022

A fast paced thriller that blew me away by a debut author. No Small Target is one to add to the To Be Read pile for thriller fans!

Jack Case thought he had left Hawaii behind until he gets a call from Kamakoa, his closest friend asking for his help on a case. When he arrives, Kamakoa is missing and Jack is now in charge of finding him and stopping a traitor from selling defense secrets to North Korea. Being back in Hawaii is hard, but nothing could keep him from being there for the only family he has left. As the search continues for Kamakoe, Jack must figure out who he can trust and with every turn the stakes are higher as the threats to those around him continue to grow.

For No Small Target being a debut novel, I am pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Just knowing what the story was going to be about intrigued me and made me want to read it; suspense novels are my go-to and this one did not disappoint! Jack Case was a great protagonist that had me hooked from page one. He had a rough past that was unveiled little by little making it more interesting for me as the reader. Not only were the characters well written, but the story itself and the setting really transported me and kept me engaged the whole time. I was a little worried at first with it being set in Hawaii because a few books I have read recently have had characters from there and they have been over the top annoying, so I was hoping that wouldn’t be the case here and it wasn’t. This is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to see what else comes from James Tyler Brooks.

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