This was kind of a letdown for me. I was really excited to read Mitch McDeere’s further adventures, but nothing about this seemed to work.
We start off in 2005 with Mitch as a high-powered lawyer in New York, which is puzzling since he left that life at the end of The Firm, escaping the country with $10 million. Then the book seems to be going in an interesting direction when he gets a death penalty case in Memphis. However, that is short-lived to say the least, and suddenly Mitch is in Libya dealing with a kidnapping.
It was all too strange and disjointed for me. It felt like Grisham wrote a book about a kidnapping in Libya, and then threw Mitch McDeere in as an afterthought to bring in more readers. I felt kind of cheated. This was no real continuation of The Firm, and readers who are also expecting that will be as disappointed as I was. If you decide to spend money on the book, at least you will know what to expect, and I feel that’s my responsibility as a book blogger.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
To celebrate its new cover, the ebook of Blackjack by Gail Meath is free all day today (Oct 7, 2023) on Amazon! Click on the cover to get it free now. It’s free for today only, so be sure to pick it up while you can. Although it is the fifth book in the Jax Diamond series, it can be read as a standalone.
Here is a reposting of my review of Blackjack:
This is the fifth book in the Jax Diamond series, and it might be my favorite one yet. We learn a lot about Jax’s childhood in this one, and new characters arrive on the scene. Laura is performing on Broadway but still finds time to investigate, especially when she feels that Jax is in trouble. And my favorite bad guy, Orin Marino, makes an appearance, using his cash and connections to help Jax.
The characters, established and new, just shine in this book. I won’t mention the name of my favorite new character as it’s sort of a spoiler, but she is clever, accomplished, and fun. That being said, I can see right now you don’t want to cross her, either! I hope we see a lot more of her in the future. There are, as usual, a lot of “bad guys” on the scene, and some of them will surprise you. Ace, Jax’s canine sidekick, is as smart as ever and is always available to save the day. The book is set partly on a high-class, luxury 1920s steamship, and the description of that setting portrays the decadence well. The mystery is complex, nuanced, and true to the previous books. The surprises keep coming, and the reader will be captivated to the end.
This series is entertaining and addictive, but the author also always shares intriguing tidbits of history from the 1920s. It is historical mystery writing at its best.
The most recent was Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, which is set in a school for dragon riders. Whether you like fantasy or not, it’s so good. There are a lot of “F” bombs, but I enjoyed it anyway and could NOT put it down.
When Harry Potter was still being written, I would go to midnight release parties and stay up into the early morning reading the book.
Whenever Jodi Taylor has a new book out, I will stay up late reading.
And those are just a few examples.
How about you? What book has inspired you to stay up late?
I love anything set in the Autumn, especially if it’s in the Smokies. I can’t think of a specific book I read in the Fall every year. There are specific books I read in the winter, at Christmas, and in July, but not the Fall.
My favorite read this Fall has been Fourth Wing, which is a smash hit that I just discovered. I’m sure it will be among my favorite reads of 2023. There is more language (F bombs) and sex than I prefer, but the story, world, and characters are so good that I loved the book anyway. Book 2 comes out in November, so I’m looking forward to that.
How about you? Do you have any specific books you read in the Fall?
Top Ten Tuesday is sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is: Reading Goals I Want To Accomplish Before the End of the Year.
Here are my Top Ten Reading Goals For The Rest of the Year
I want to get 30 days ahead of the books on my Netgalley Shelf. I’m only about a week ahead right now.
I would like to get the number of books on my Netgalley shelf down below 20. I’m doing better. I have 23 right now.
I have four books to read by December 15th for Historical Novels Review so I must get those done.
I also have to read three books for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year panel by December 15th.
After reading #3 and #4, my new goal is to not take on too many more books for December.
I want to finish all my current Christmas books before the month of December.
I want to put aside time during Christmas week to just read for pleasure. Too many deadlines
I would like to make my Goodreads challenge goal of 125 books. I’m already at 95.
I want to spend more time doing my Bookstagram reviews. I have neglected them for too long.
I need to get caught up on reading and commenting on the blogs of others. That is something I enjoy, but sometimes I don’t have enough time to read them all.
Do you have any reading goals before the end of the year?
Two women—a century apart—embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.
In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.
In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
BOOK REVIEW
In 2012, Gwen is sent to Longdale Manor in England by her grandfather, who is also her boss, after she makes a mistake at work. Her job at Longdale is to help the owner and her grandson evaluate valuable antiques for sale. If she fails, she may lose her job, grandfather or not. While at Longdale, she is determined to try and find her father, whom she has never met. Then she finds a journal at Longdale that was written by a young woman in 1912.
In 1912, Charlotte Harper is already deep in grief after her father’s death. But then she is sent further reeling when she discovers that he has betrayed them all, as well as leaving them in dire financial straits.. Her family temporarily relocates to a sheep farm after having to sell their house., As Charlotte struggles to protect them from her father’s mistakes, her anger against him grows. At the same time, a certain shepherd begins to steal her heart.
This Christian novel does a fantastic job of tackling the topic of forgiveness. Both Charlotte and Gwen are dealing with forgiveness in different ways, and their revelations on the topic will be very helpful to the reader. For example, Charlotte says in her journal: “I’ve learned forgiveness is just as much for my benefit as it is for the other person. It’s like giving up my right to hurt someone back and letting God handle the justice of the situation as He sees fit.” For anyone struggling with forgiveness, this and other guidance will be a light in the tunnel. It also shows the importance of writing down the things you have learned. As with Charlotte and Gwen, the wisdom you have gained may help someone a hundred years in the future.
The characters are immediately relatable and likable. The different struggles of Gwen and Charlotte make for compelling reading. The romances are sweet and do not take over the story. This is enjoyable, helpful Christian fiction that I recommend to all.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Austenprose Book Tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
AUTHOR BIO
Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and the Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal.
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