Crave

Author: Tracy Wolff

Series: Crave #1

Publisher: Entangled Teen Publishing

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Fans of Twilight will not want to miss this series that is fun, engrossing, and a swoon worthy read. Like Twilight but oh so different and oh so fun to read.

Grace’s world turned upside down when her parents died and she is sent to live with her only other family in Alaska, a complete opposite environment from her home in California. When she steps foot inside the academy where her uncle is headmaster of the boarding school, she feels as lost as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. The place is filled with monsters of all kind and the one thing they have in common is their hatred for her. Upon her arrival, Jaxon Vega gives her a warning that if she won’t leave, she better watch her back. It doesn’t take long though for him to follow her every move and vow to do all he can to protect her.

There are several aspects of this series that have totally hooked me. I was a huge fan of Twilight when it came out and looking back now, I can say it isn’t the best writing, but the story is engaging and the characters pull you in. Same thing can be said for Crave, the story is very intriguing, and I love the references to Twilight. Wolff doesn’t just play it off like no one here has ever heard of the series, instead she very cleverly adds nods to the other famous YA Vampire series.

Grace comes into the scene with lots of baggage and trying to figure out how to move on with her life with her parents gone. The last thing she expects to find is all the fantastical things the academy holds within. The way it leads up to revealing who and what all is around her is done beautifully. The story slowly unfolds but at just the right speed to keep the reader’s attention. There is a lot to unpack here and one of the best aspects of the story is the ending with the three chapters from Jaxon’s point of view. This gave so much more to the story than having to only rely on the single point of view, but it also was a tease with only three chapters of the story done this way. Readers are left with a perfect cliffhanger ending that left me thirsty for more,

I am really happy I already have book two in hand and can start it right away and don’t have to wait for it come out, that would be torture. My only problem with the book is all the harsh language, especially with a target audience of teens and young adults I have a hard time with seeing some of those words. The story itself is good enough that I can overlook most of that and recommend to those that loved Twilight and enjoy a great read full of characters of all kinds.

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

Falling From Trees

Author: Mike Fiorito

Publisher: Loyola College

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Great collection of short stories that will make readers think about future!

Mike Fiorito crafts a series of short stories that contain both science fiction and speculative fiction. Most of the science fiction stories are geared toward space travel, in one form or another, or with alien presence. I like how the aliens in each of the stories are more altruistic than what they are usually presented as in books and/or movies.

The stories with speculative fiction center around climate change and the future of our planet. This trend has been increasing across the board as the genre seems to be leaving behind the traditional destruction dystopian stories for stories of weather impacts and how we as a race are going to manage those in the future. I found myself thinking about these events as it seems all too realistic and what I would do if the world suddenly changed. I think that is the mark of a good author when they are able to make you think beyond the story you are reading.

Some of the stories have some mild language, which makes this book more appropriate for older young adults forward.

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

The English Wife

Author: Adrienne Chinn

Publisher: One More Chapter

Release Date: June 23, 2020

Two stories full of secrets that can finally bring out the truth!

Ellie Burgess has kept her life in order with the way she wants it to be in London with the threat of war. She is studying art and engaged to her lifelong friend George. But after the war begins and her best friend is killed in a bombing, she feels that she must do her part and join the fire service. Her predictable love life also takes a turn when she meets a Newfoundlander named Thomas Parsons. She realizes that she loves George but has never been in love with him as she is with Thomas. She makes a decision that compromises every relationship within in her family and elopes with Thomas before he is sent off to war. After almost of year of no correspondence after he is taken a POW, Ellie has all but decided that Thomas has perished until she finally receives a letter from him back in Newfoundland. She packs up her belongings with their newborn son and heads across the Atlantic in a course that will forever change her life.

Sophie Parry is on a flight from London to New York for an interview with a prestigious architecture firm on September 11, 2001. When her plan is diverted to Gander, Newfoundland and she realizes that she is not getting to New York anytime soon, she decides to call on her Aunt Ellie that she has never known. Her mother hated her aunt and she never knew why. Could it be fate that brought them together now?

I love a book that manages to come full circle from beginning to end. There were quite a lot of little twists towards the end of the book, several of which were quite surprising. I loved reading both stories, and it took having Ellie’s backstory to really understand Sophie. I really felt for Ellie with all that she had to go through, but she was a trooper. I also enjoyed watching Sophie’s character get developed and grow with an understanding of what to live for instead of how she was living. There is so much going on in this novel that it would take a long time to unpack, but I feel that the reader should enjoy the gift that this book really is. There is a lot of Newfoundland slang throughout the book that is pretty easy to pick up on. This is the first book that I’ve read set there, but it seems like it would be a beautiful place to visit.

There is a little bit of foul language throughout the book, but it doesn’t overpower the story. Even so, I 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.

A Dance in Donegal

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Lovers of Ireland will absolutely love this book set in the Emerald Isle!

After her mother dies, Moira Doherty feels that she should leave her life in Boston behind and move to the village of Donegal in Ireland where her mother lived. Unfortunately, her mother’s past left behind an unwarm welcome. Will Moira be able to unravel the secrets and be accepted by the town?

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The setting and descriptions of Ireland could only be written by someone who has personally experienced them. Ireland is one of my favorite countries and favorite settings, especially since my heritage is mostly Irish. It was easy to hear the accent from the natives in the book with the way that the language was written and the Gaelic names of the characters. The story flowed well and the theme of trust was imminent throughout. Fair play tcha, Jennifer Diebel!

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

Black Coral

Author: Andrew Mayne

Series: Underwater Investigation Unit #2

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: February 16, 2021

The second book in the Underwater Investigative Unit series heats up with a fantastic opening, simmers a little in the middle to allow readers to catch their breath, and then concludes with a satisfying boil to make a tasty and delicious read.

Sloan McPherson has once again used her diving skills to help in an investigation and found more than she bargained for. At the bottom of a Florida pond, Sloan finds a van with four bodies inside that disappeared almost thirty years ago. Everyone involved in the investigation believe it was just a tragic accident, but Sloan sees something more and is convinced it was murder. More and more evidence surfaces linking more and more cold cases to the van. Sloan and her unit work to find the predator that has been on the lose for years and their investigation might have just reawakened the dormant monster more dangerous than any they have faced yet.

Black Coral had one of the best opening chapters I have read in a good long while. The suspense and tension were so thick I caught myself holding my breath at several moments. The middle fizzled a little bit with a slower pace, but the end was a satisfying conclusion that left me ready for more from the UIU. Sloan is a great and intense female protagonist and it was nice to see her tackle the hard jobs and moments and not let the men tell her she couldn’t handle it. Her relationship with her daughter brings a relatable element to her as a character and makes her not so stiff as when she is on the case. Most of the characters from the first book are back, and a few new ones to spice things up, make for a fun and mostly enjoyable read. There is a fair amount of language so it is not recommended for younger readers, but I do recommend for fans of suspense thrillers.

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

The Paris Dressmaker

Author: Kristy Cambron

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: February 16, 2021

Cambron shines with her new well researched release of the Women of Paris!

Germans have occupied France and Paris life is changing. Madison Chanel has been closed and many of the dressmakers employed there are now without a job, including Lila de Laurent. She finds a job with Nina Ricci and is summoned one day to the Ritz hotel where she meets her past friend and fellow seamstress from Chanel’s, Amelie. Amelie is destined to climb the social ladder and has taken up with the Nazi soldiers to elevate her status and offers Lila the opportunity to develop her own dresses for the girls staying at the hotel. Lila is drawn to the possibility of working there for the resistance as she can access documents left in the hotel rooms, especially if she can find information on her lost love Rene Touliard. When one of her operations goes wrong, she must flee if she wants to live.

Sandrine Paquet has been ordered to work for the Nazi regime categorizing art pieces stolen from their Jewish owners. She does what she can for her young son and mother-in-law, but hates being viewed as a collaborator when she has no choice. With her husband unaccounted for at war, she finds an opportunity to work quietly in the resistance to keep records of where the art is being shipped so that it can one day be returned. When she is called in to look at a dress, a Chanel gown no less, she discovers a message hidden within the seam hastily placed there by a dressmaker who had vanished from the social elite of the Ritz hotel.

As always, Cambron delivers a stunning work of historical fiction set within occupied France during the second world war. This is a bit of a deviation from her typical time slip novels, but still had two terrific stories that were interwoven together and destined to collide. She does such a great job of bringing little known history (at least in America) to life with her characters that makes readers go research the actual events for themselves. With intrigue, mystery, loss, sympathy, and action throughout, readers can’t help but be engaged throughout the entire story.

If you’ve never read a book by Cambron, this is a fantastic one to start with. Grab a copy and pull up by the fire because you won’t want to get up until you’ve finished! I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Messy to Meaningful: My Purse Runneth Over

Authors: Monica Schmelter, Rhonda Rhea, Kaley Rhea

Publisher: Bold Vision Books

Release Date: February 2, 2021

A fun, engaging book that kept me laughing and smiling with the turn of every page and an uplifted spirit.

Do you ever feel weighed down with extra baggage, both spiritually and physically? Whether you carry a backpack, purse, fanny pack or small clutch, we all have something that holds the things we need as we go throughout the day. Some of us have everything plus the kitchen sink while others get by with the bare minimum. What we carry with us can say a lot about us and what is going on in our lives and what we value. I make sure anywhere I go I have a book in my bag, you never know when a line might be long or stuck in traffic that could allow you to get a few pages in. We also have the baggage the world can put on us, feelings of failure and a lack of peace. Each of us need to find a way to let go of the things that won’t bring us anything good and fight for what matters to keep in our bags. When we have what we need in our bags, our purse will runneth over and we will feel full inside and out!

I’ve read Rhonda and Kaley Rhea several times before and knew that anything they teamed together to write would be on my shelf. Now, with the addition of Monica Schmelter, there was so much more to love and laugh about within the pages of the book. I love when you get a group of writers that can craft a story in a way that makes you laugh but also leaves an impression with you of what they are trying to teach you. Each chapter gives a lesson with humor, one of the best nonfiction tools for me. A lot of times nonfiction is very hard for me to get through, just doesn’t hold my attention, but with these books it is easy to let the pages fly and enjoy the lessons within. I recommend this book for all those struggling with what is right and best to keep in their “bag.” No matter how big or small the bag we carry may be, we all need the right tools to help us through the crazy times we are living in.

This is such a fun book that I believe many readers will enjoy it. Find it on Amazon!

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

The Future is Yours

Author: Dan Frey

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Mind bending and terrifying at the same time!

When two friends create a quantum computer that can access data one year into the future, their own future seems limitless. This device will be able to tell you anything from sports scores to stock market tips to if you will live for the next year! With a start-up on the rise and knowledge of what will happen, what could go wrong? Ambition, greed, and jealousy, that’s what!

This was an interesting approach for a futuristic quantum novel. It is told through a series of emails, text messages, future articles, and transcripts from a Senate Exchange Committee hearing. There is never any actual personal dialogue, but you just keep reading because you want to know what is going to happen next. It’s a little weird in that you can never really gauge a visual representation of any of the characters. Maybe a little from their backgrounds, but no descriptions are given throughout the book. You can easily develop emotions for the characters based on their behavior through their correspondence. Most readers will just loathe Ben by the end of the book, but he does have ambition. I’m not a huge fan of Leila either, but I get she was just trying to save face in a bad situation. I felt sorry for Adhi, but got frustrated with him at the same time. I really want to comment on the story arc and concepts that Frey used, but I feel like I would be giving something away and want readers to discover this on their own!

If you like futuristic novels of the like of Blake Crouch and Andy Weir, this will likely fit right in your wheelhouse. There is a lot of foul language throughout the book, so I would recommend it to mature readers.

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

The Orchard House

Author: Heidi Chiavaroli

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Two great stories that crossover in ways you won’t expect!

Taylor has had a rough go at life. Abandoned by her mother at a young age and left with her uncle. The uncle ends up going to prison and Taylor is placed in the foster care system. Then in 1995, she is adopted by her best friend’s parents and she now has not only a sister, but a family. Even so, she still feels like she is outside of their love and is more of a hindrance than a gift. But she and her new sister, Victoria, share a common interest: writing. Living in Concord, Massachusetts right down the street from Louisa May Alcott’s home, The Orchard House, makes many a young girl dream of writing. They have their ups and downs over the next few years, but one evening Victoria betrays Taylor in one of the worst ways she can imagine and there is no going back.

Just after the civil war, Johanna Suhre has become acquainted through letters with Louise May Alcott after Louisa used Johanna’s late brother John as the basis of her publication Hospital Sketches. When Louisa decides to go abroad to Europe for a time, she offers an adventure to Johanna to come stay at Orchard House in her absence to help take care of the house. While there, Johanna becomes smitten with the neighbor Nathan Bancroft who Louisa does not hold in high regard. Could this romance be the end of their friendship?

This is the first book that I’ve read by Heidi Chiavaroli, but WOW! I was hooked at the beginning and couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happened in both stories! It’s easy to get lost in one of the stories of a time-slip novel but it takes a very talented author to get readers to lose themselves in both stories. I loved how much detail she paid to each time period, not only the 1800s but even 1995 and early 2000s. It was fun to have the main character my own age for a change and reminisce about how things were back when I was in high school and college. A walk down memory lane for sure.

I related most to Taylor. I’ve haven’t had the rough beginning that she did, but it was so easy to cheer for her when she was wronged that you didn’t want her family to pull her back. In the end, it worked out for the best, but the process was a little messy, which made it real. I’ve known women like Victoria and those in her situation and it is really tough to deal with. It takes a lot of time and emotional withdraws to get someone through those times. I loved how the author was able to use those two stories to draw similarities, but it might be in such a way that readers won’t notice until is right upon them. She also managed to show the importance of faith and a relationship with God in a subtle yet very real way! Great story!

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

Cast the First Stone

Author: David James Warren

Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone #1

Publisher: TriStone Media

Release Date: February 9, 2021

The start of the new series by superpower writers Susan May Warren and James Rubart along with David Warren will knock the socks off readers! This will be at the top of my best of the year list without a doubt!

Rembrandt Stone left his career of being a Minneapolis Police Detective to be home with his wife and daughter and avoid the dangers the job brings. After his former mentor dies and leaves him a box full of cold cases and an old watch, Rembrandt is pulled back into a world from long ago, a world he thought he left behind. Not sure if it is a dream or some new reality, Rembrandt finds himself in his world from twenty years ago, back at the scene of the crime of the first cold case he opened from the box. If he can solve the cases that have haunted him for decades, maybe justice will be served. But at what price? Will it change just the past or will his future be changed as well?

This is a review I have had to sit and ponder on for a few days. The story was so good, so fast, and so great that I am dying to get my hands on the rest of the series. This is a spectacular time-travel story that deals with regrets, second chances, mistakes and how important it is to appreciate the things we have and to not only wish for what we don’t. As Rembrandt finds himself in the past trying to solve his old cold cases, readers see him struggle with trying to remember the details but also wondering how he got there. The raw emotion on the pages pulled me in and held me so tightly I had trouble doing anything else until I turned the last page. This is a story with relatable characters full of flaws, passion, and so much more.

Honestly, there wasn’t much about this story that I didn’t enjoy. I’ve read Susan May Warren and James Rubart for years. When I heard they were collaborating on a new series, I knew it would be epic, but I had no idea how great it would end up being. The story read so quickly it will be one readers can pick up and read in one sitting, If you have never read anything by Warren or Rubart this is a great place to start, and if you have read others by them, be prepared to be blown away with this new series. The fact that there are five more coming all this year makes me giddy. Books like this are the kind of escape we need with the crazy world we have right now. I recommend this book to all readers that love thrillers, time travel, suspense and all the things that make up a great novel.

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