We got between 3 and 4 inches of snow this weekend. Since we live on a gravel road, we’re basically snowed in, but Doug’s out there snow blowing because we are headed to Johnson City tomorrow to close on our house there! I’ll be so glad when that is finished.
Next week I will review Find Me in the Stars by Jules Larimore, Saving Madonna by Kate Bristow, and possibly other books.
BOOK HAUL
I have really stopped requesting so many books on Netgalley. A lot of books come to me via The Historical Novel Society, such as the three below: The Four Queens of Crime, The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets, and A Lady Would Know Better. These are unedited pictures of the books next to me on my desk. I changed lamps recently, so the green lamp is the most recent.
I also got a wish granted on Netgalley, which is rare, so I’ll be reading The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly.
My Netgalley shelf is down to 16, which is low for me, and some of them aren’t due until May and June. I plan to keep the shelf to less than 10 going forward.
Miranda Quinn is back in the courtroom working as a legal aid attorney when she’s asked to represent Lennon, the daughter of a high school friend currently serving time in prison. Still struggling with guilt from the role she played in her friend’s downfall, Miranda agrees to help.
The former assistant DA has given up a lucrative career as a legal talk radio host to better serve her community. In her spare time, she volunteers as a counselor for at-risk teens. It’s challenging but rewarding, at least until the young women begin to mysteriously disappear. As Miranda struggles to find out who is responsible, it becomes clear that Lennon is in danger as well. As the police piece together Miranda’s clues, they realize they’re dealing with a much larger and farther-reaching organization than they had expected.
Miranda has faced her share of adversaries, both in and out of the courtroom. To expose the sex traffickers preying on the group of girls she has sworn to protect, she’ll need to keep her eyes and ears open. But to save the one young woman who needs her most, she’ll have to open her heart.
She’s in for the fight of her life.
BOOK REVIEW
Miranda meets Lennon, who is charged with stealing a package of frozen lobster, in a courtroom. They are connected by Lennon’s mother, Charlene, a childhood friend of Miranda’s who still blames her for her descent into drugs and subsequent prison sentence. Miranda’s big crime was kissing Charlene’s crush while in high school. Feeling unnecessary guilt and a responsibility for Lennon, Miranda represents her in court and finds out about a much bigger problem–Lennon’s friends are going missing.
This is an excellent continuation of the Miranda series. I enjoyed Miranda’s relationship with Lennon. Miranda reads as almost like an aunt to Lennon instead of “estranged friend of her mother.” Lennon is a smart young woman who has been through a lot, is living in the system, and is easy to root for. The difficult subject of sex trafficking is explored honestly, and while the reader is shown a culprit early on, there are many layers and levels to this thriller. The vulnerability of those in foster care is an important point in this story. The characters are all well-written, and I felt like Lennon walked straight into my heart. Readers should check out this touching and thrilling novel.
In addition to downloading this book from Kindle Unlimited, I also purchased the audiobook, which was narrated very well by Penny Coffeen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a full-time basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. Three more novels followed before Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical novel featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Miranda Fights is the third book in the Miranda Quinn Legal Twist series. Olmsted enjoys writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after. When not writing, she loves being on the water, especially in a kayak. She is well known for her blonde brownies, and coffee is her love language. For more, visit her on Facebook and Instagram
PURCHASE LINK
*Click the image below to purchase on Amazon. **Kindle Unlimited subscribers may borrow this for free.
WWW Wednesdays asks three questions: What Are you Currently Reading?, What Did You Just Finish Reading?, and What Will You Read Next?. Thanks to Taking On A World of Words for hosting WWW Wednesday.
MY CURRENT READ
This one should be ready for Indie Weekend. Book Description: Miranda Quinn is back in the courtroom working as a legal aid attorney when she’s asked to represent Lennon, the daughter of a high school friend currently serving time in prison. Still struggling with guilt from the role she played in her friend’s downfall, Miranda agrees to help.
The former assistant DA has given up a lucrative career as a legal talk radio host to better serve her community. In her spare time, she volunteers as a counselor for at-risk teens. It’s challenging but rewarding, at least until the young women begin to mysteriously disappear. As Miranda struggles to find out who is responsible, it becomes clear that Lennon is in danger as well.
WHAT I JUST FINISHED
LIGHTS, CAMERA, MAYHEM by Jodi Taylor: This is Jodi Taylor’s Christmas novella this year. Not really a Christmas story, but released on Christmas morning, this one was so much fun. St. Mary’s is hosting the filming of a movie! Chaos begins from there as somehow our disaster magnets end up in Troy–with the leading lady. I read it on Christmas morning and then just listened to it again recently on Audible.
WHAT I’M READING NEXT
Here is the book sitting on my desk as I type this:
1938, London. The four queens of British crime fiction, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, are hosting a gala to raise money for the Women’s Voluntary Service to help Britain prepare for war. Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote has loaned Hursley House for the event, and all the elites of London society are attending. The gala is a brilliant success, despite a few hiccups, but the next morning, Sir Henry is found dead in the library.
Detective Chief Inspectors Lilian Wyles and Richard Davidson from Scotland Yard are quickly summoned and discover a cluster of potential suspects among the guests, including an upset fiancée, a politically ambitious son, a reserved but protective brother, an irate son-in-law, a rebellious teenage daughter, and the deputy home secretary.
LIFE UPDATE
The view this morning is almost heavenly. I stood outside long enough to snap a picture. It’s 23 degrees. We had just a little bit of snow Monday, and the mountains are tipped with a beautiful frost.
I am slowly (very slowly) transitioning away from my couch potato phase of retirement. I have Netflix and Chilled to my heart’s content. We watched all of the TV series Bones, and are just finishing up Star Trek Voyager. Next we will watch Doc Martin. I have also been reading/editing/reviewing for the Historical Novel Society quite a bit.
I am venturing out on the icy roads today to run errands. Wish me luck!
Thank you to That Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday. The topic this week is “Best Books I Read in 2024.”
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These are in no particular order, but one standout is Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon. It is an absolutely haunting true story of how the author lost everything during the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia, but the memories of her mother’s recipes kept her going through starvation. It describes her struggles as a Cambodian refugee in Thailand, and how she used what she knew about food to survive. You won’t soon forget this sad but amazing story.
All of the above books were fantastic reads for me. If you click on the covers, you will find my review for each book on this blog, except for Find Me In The Stars and O Little Town of Bethlehem. The links for those two will take you to my review on The Historical Novel Society website.
Question of the Day: What books stood out for you this year?
**This is a review I did for the November issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. You can see it here on the Historical Novel Society website, as well as below.
In 16th-century Florence, Leonardo da Vinci meets Lisa del Giocondo, whose husband has commissioned a portrait of her. They begin a close relationship as Leonardo works on what will become possibly his greatest masterpiece. In 20th-century Florence, a nun, Valentina Amati, becomes the custodian of a box of letters written between Leonardo and Lisa. As the Nazis approach, Valentina tries to safeguard the precious letters, which her convent has protected for 400 years. But as she attempts to prepare for the Nazi threat, Valentina finds that she is also haunted by a relentless demon from her own past who will not stop until all she holds dear is destroyed. Also in 20th-century Italy, Meira and her parents, who are Jewish, are facing persecution from the Nazis.
This dual-timeline novel works on all levels. Both timelines support each other seamlessly, and the storylines and characters are balanced and make sense. The life of Leonardo da Vinci is well researched. The relationship between Leonardo and Lisa is fictional, but fascinating, and the author makes it utterly believable. The reader is also given an intriguing glimpse of the art world during the Florentine Renaissance, and we get to meet Michelangelo and see evidence of his difficult personality. The World War II Florence timeline is just as strong. Valentina is an incredibly brave and resilient woman, and her story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Meira’s part in this book appears separate at first, but instead it is another layer that makes the complete work even more powerful. I felt transported to both periods of history and enjoyed the incredible stories in each one. Captivating, engrossing, and compelling. Highly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(From the Author’s Amazon page): I’m Belle Ami, and if you’re reading this bio, then you may be a lover of historical fiction, historical romance, time travel thrillers with romantic elements, and romantic suspense because that’s my passion, and that’s what I write. I’m a #1 Amazon bestseller of THE GIRL WHO KNEW DA VINCI, THE GIRL WHO LOVED CARAVAGGIO, & THE GIRL WHO ADORED REMBRANDT – Books 1, 2, and 3 in the compelling OUT OF TIME SERIES—art thrillers with a time-travel twist.
Be sure to pick up a copy of my brand new historical fiction novel MONA LISA’S DAUGHTER, I believe this is my best book to date. A truly unique look at the maestro Leonardo da Vinci!
Historical Romance is a genre I’ve just begun to write, and I love it! My publisher, Dragonblade, is the cat’s meow when it comes to historical romance. There is no publisher better or more supportive. My release of LUCK OF THE LYON (Lyon’s Den Series) is quite a romp filled with challenges for my star-crossed lovers. I’m stoked to hear from my readers what they think of this new addition to my oeuvre. Be sure to drop me a note and let me know how you enjoy this book, because there are more historical romances coming! View the rest of Belle Ami’s Bio on Amazon.
This weekend, we’re supposed to get possibly TWO inches of rain. That’s a lot of rain. They’re saying it will be the worst storm since Helene. In case we lose power, I’m posting this early.
Summary of 2024:
I did a lot less book reviews due to so many life changes. I am going to post a Top 10 Books of 2024 list next week.
2024 was a big year of change, from working in Germany, to retiring, moving, and Hurricane Helene, to getting used to having so much free time! Not that I’m complaining.
I have been a reviewer for Historical Novel Society for the past few years, but in 2024 I became an editor for them. I was a temporary Indies editor, and now I’m a permanent Small Press Editor. We’re all volunteers, so there’s no pay involved, but I get to work with some great small presses. That’s been really fun and exciting.
I have been spending the last couple of weeks getting caught up on my Historical Novel Society reviews, but I plan to do a bunch of reviews next week.
I hope you have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
What are you looking forward to in the coming year?
Being a blogger and now editor for the Historical Novel Society, I get so many free books I don’t really put any on my Christmas wish list. So instead here are books I am looking forward to reading, in no particular order.
1. Out of Time by Jodi Taylor: Book 6 of the Time Police series by Jodi Taylor will be out in October 2025, and I can’t wait.
2. A Fashionably French Murder by Colleen Cambridge will be out in April 2025. It is Book 3 of the “An American in Paris” mystery series, in which Julia Child is a supporting character.
3. Tomato Sandwiches are Eaten Over the Sink: Sean Dietrich, the author of Kinfolk, which was my favorite read of 2023, released a collection of his columns and short stories in October 2024 that I’m looking forward to reading.
4. The Forget-Me-Not Library: Heather Webber, the author of small-town fiction with a touch of magical realism, has a new one coming out in November 2025. I discovered her books late, and I’m still catching up on the ones that are already out there.
5. Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild. What happens when your secrets came back to haunt you? This will be released in June 2025.
6. A Bloody Banquet by Gail Meath. This is Book 2 of Gail’s already popular Stone and Steele Mystery series, which is set in 1930s Hollywood. It will be out in October 2025.
7. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. The trials and tribulations of the mother of the bride before her daughter’s wedding. This will be released in February 2025.
8. Stone Certainty by Simon R. Green. I enjoyed the first of Green’s Holy Terrors series, and I’m looking forward to book 2.
9. Splinter Effect by Andrew Ludington: Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward travels through time on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. This will be released in March 2025.
10. The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve. What would you do if you could spend an hour in your past? Four strangers in the beach town of Ventura, California are about to find out.
I’m extending Indie Weekend into Monday in order to share a wonderful new release for you! Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors promote their books. You can help too by sharing this post with all of your social media followers. Also, if you read this book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and everywhere else you review books. Let’s all work together to promote Indie authors and help them succeed. Below is a review of the fourth book in Louise Bélanger’s wonderful Your Words Christian poetry collection, Your Words Your Love.
This is a wonderful collection of Christian poems that really speak to the heart. It is easy to see that these poems are written with love, and God’s love is made evident in every one. Each poem could also be described as a short story. One of my favorites, LOVE, tells a very personal story from the author’s life. Absolutely gorgeous photos, all taken by the author, accompany each poem.
Another poem, A CALL TO WAR, is about spiritual warfare and praying to the Father for others. The phrase “put on your armor,” evokes Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the armor of God, which includes righteousness, truth, readiness, and faith.
Nature is prevalent in this collection, and not just in the beautiful photos. An animal is used in another one of my favorites, PORCUPINES. God’s love of all of his creation really shines through. This collection with introduce God to those who haven’t met Him, and if you already know Him, it will bring you closer to Him than ever before.
Written with love and brimming with hope, this collection will bring comfort, joy, and inspiration to the reader.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Louise Bélanger is an artist and a gifted storyteller, both with words and photography.
Her inspirational poetry will transport you in her world where there is hope and trust in a loving God. Her faith is strong, and it will strengthen yours.
Her nature photographs will remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. From delicate flowers to breathtaking scenery.
Click the image below to see Your Words Your Love on Amazon
Click the image below to see the entire Your Words collection on Amazon.
BEFORE YOU GO
Remember, if you choose to read Your Words Your Love, please leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites that allow book reviews. If you are hesitant to write reviews, remember that they do not have to be long or fancy. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will help the author so much. Thank you in advance.
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors promote their books. You can help too by sharing this post with all of your social media followers. Also, if you read this book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and everywhere else you review books. Let’s all work together to promote Indie authors and help them succeed. Below is a review of Darlene Foster’s Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones.
This is another wonderful adventure in the Amanda Travels series by Darlene Foster. This time, Amanda visits the Scottish Isle of Arran. As always, readers of all ages will learn from Amanda’s experiences. This time, we visit a sheepdog trial, the famous standing stones, and Brodick Castle. Then Amanda rescues a mysterious woman dressed in old-fashioned clothes who seems to vanish afterward. Was she the ghost of Morag, the long-missing girl from Machrie Moor? Amanda’s friend Leah is also along for the trip, but is worried that she hasn’t heard from her father.
As always, I enjoyed Amanda’s adventures and learned a lot about this little island in Scotland. The mystery is well-constructed and fun to figure out. The history and culture of this part of Scotland are so well described that the reader feels as if they are there, exploring a castle or participating in a ceilidh (A Scottish social gathering). The combination of mystery, travel, and adventure is what makes the Amanda books so enjoyable. If you can’t travel in person right now, you can still journey with Amanda through these wonderful books. Readers of all ages will love them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, traveling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When not traveling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia. http://www.darlenefoster.ca
Remember, if you choose to read Amanda in Scotland, please leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites that allow book reviews. If you are hesitant to write reviews, remember, they do not have to be long or fancy. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will help the author so much. Thank you in advance.
Hi everyone! Below are some mini reviews of two Christmas books: A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber and The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson.
Hailey Morgan had always planned to have a career in music. When her longtime boyfriend Zach let her know three years ago that he didn’t consider her talented enough to succeed, she tearfully let him go, but the doubt that he created has plagued her ever since.. Now he is back and wants to be a part of her life. To make it worse, her mother has invited him to Christmas dinner! Offered an escape to a cabin in a small town in Oregon, Hailey takes advantage of a chance to rekindle her songwriting and possibly start a new life.
This is a sweet, happy story that will transport you to the Christmas season. There are some outcomes that seem a little farfetched, but I was willing to set that aside and soak in the Christmas spirit. This is the kind of story that you can read by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. Recommend.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Madison has returned home to her family’s Christmas tree farm, which she co-owns with her sister, Addie, after a fire. She is met with a property in decline and a sister who doesn’t seem to want her there. To make things worse, her old crush is living nearby. Despite Addie’s lack of interest, Madison takes on an ambitious project to save the farm before it is too late.
This is a sweet family Christmas story. The ending is very predictable, but it’s a nice, easy read during the holiday season. Light up the tree, curl up with this one, and soak in the Christmas spirit.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
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