Gone, Kitty, Gone by Eileen Watkins

Gone, Kitty, Gone by Eileen Watkins ISBN-13: 9781496722973 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Kensington Released: December 31st 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With her new van, Cassie has expanded her Comfy Cat business to include mobile cat grooming. Next stop: a cat expo at a hotel just outside her hometown of Chadwick, New Jersey, where Cassie will give a grooming demo using shelter cats to encourage adoption while her veterinarian boyfriend Mark will offer a program on cat care and health.

The highlight of the expo will be a major cat show featuring pop sensation Jaki Natal. Almost as famous as his owner is her pet Gordie, a Scottish fold, who's become a social media darling. But then adorable Gordie goes missing and a security guard is found murdered. While the cops are more interested in solving the murder of a human, Jaki insists Cassie help expose the catnapper and return gorgeous Gordie to the fold.


My Review:
Gone, Kitty, Gone is a cat-themed cozy mystery. It's the fourth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones.

This was more of a suspense than a clue-based puzzle mystery. Cassie and her friends mainly stayed on the lookout for the missing cat and asked some questions that helped the owner remember who might steal her cat. The friendly detective did most of the actual investigating of leads, though Cassie did end up being critical to discovering whodunit and the cat. Cassie and her friends were nice people who cared about others.

There were no sex scenes. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable cat-related mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

To Die To Sleep by Stephanie Black

To Die To Sleep by Stephanie Black ISBN-13: 9781524409135 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: November 1st 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Natalie Marsh is heading for Ellsberg Keep, an exclusive mountain resort that promises to provide the tranquility she desperately needs. She’s eager to relax and to reconnect with her estranged cousin Lily, who works as the Keep’s nurse—a reunion that begins abruptly when an accident on the winding mountain roads lands Natalie in the infirmary in the care of her cousin. They have little time to bond over childhood memories, however. Everything is thrown into chaos when the owner of the Keep is rushed to the medical wing, wildly delusional and raving about a murder plot.

Despite Lily’s care, the owner dies. Is his death simply an accident, or are his frenzied suspicions true? Determined to help Lily cope with the loss of her patient—and the accusations that she’s to blame for his death—Natalie searches for answers and is swept into a mystery that grows more puzzling as frightening hallucinations torment the dead man’s son. When a staff member who asks too many questions disappears, it is clear that this idyllic resort harbors someone with deadly intent—and Natalie may not survive to uncover the truth.


My Review:
To Die To Sleep is a suspense novel. Natalie is injured when she stops to help someone on the side of the dangerous, winding road leading up to the resort. Before long, the owner is dead and some people question if the death might've been murder. A winter storm cuts off all outside help, and things grow more dangerous as more people go missing or turn up dead.

Natalie investigated to help clear her cousin's name, and she asked good questions that uncovered a tangled past. There were enough clues that I was able to guess whodunit very early on, but there were soon enough confusing/conflicting clues that I began to question my guess. Natalie and her boyfriend had to survive until they discovered whodunit and whodunit was arrested by the police (when they finally made it through the snow storm). Natalie and her boyfriend were kind, engaging characters, and I cared about what happened to them.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Murder, She Encountered by Peg Cochran

Murder, She Encountered by Peg Cochran ISBN-13: 9780525479741 Kindle ebook Publisher: Random House Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
New York City, 1939. A rising star at the Daily Trumpet, Elizabeth “Biz” Adams has been sent to the World’s Fair to cover a robbery. What she stumbles upon instead is a dead woman, dumped into the Aquacade’s pool with a nylon stocking wrapped around her neck.

Elizabeth snaps a photo as the police arrest Joey Dorman, a gentle young hot dog vendor who made no secret of his obsession with the murder victim. The fear and confusion evident on Joey’s face are haunting. Elizabeth vows to prove his innocence—or his guilt—with her partner at the Daily Trumpet, Ralph Kaminsky. Meanwhile, her romance with Detective Sal Marino is heating up, and Elizabeth is more determined than ever to follow her heart.

But when Kaminsky ends up in the hospital, Elizabeth is forced to continue the investigation on her own. And as she tries to narrow down the long list of suspects, she discovers a secret some would kill to protect.


My Review:
Murder, She Encountered is a mystery set in July 1939 in New York City. It's the third book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

The author included interesting historical and setting details, especially about the Worlds Fair. Elizabeth and her reporter partner were observant and asked a lot of questions – often questions more suited to a detective than a reporter, though. They uncovered a lot of motives, but not a lot of clues. But as the critical clues were uncovered, Elizabeth was able to figure out whodunit (and whodunit is guessable). Conflict is building in her relationship with the handsome detective, though, since she withheld information from him in order to get an exclusive article on the front page of her newspaper.

There was no sex. There were only a couple uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman ISBN-13: 9780764233951 Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other.


My Review:
Seconds to Live is a Christian romantic suspense novel. I've enjoyed this author's previous books, but she unfortunately hit every one of my major pet peeves in this book. Taylor's very devoted to her job of protecting witnesses, and she's willing to stand up to others to make sure they stay safe. This put her in conflict with Sean, who needed her witness to help track down a hacker that broke into the witness protection database and threatens the safety of all of the witnesses in the program.

Though they were supportive friends online, they're in constant conflict once they meet and try to work together. They want to get along, but he's under a lot of stress and their personalities clash. He's impulsive. She likes to plan. They never really became a good team as they kept hurting each other by their actions. They're also both devoted to their jobs on opposite coasts. The author did such a good job of convincing me that they could never be a couple that the quick turnaround at the end didn't work for me. They suddenly convinced themselves that their physical attraction and intense kissing meant their different personalities will complement each other instead of continue to create conflict. But I just don't see their relationship actually lasting as they still had many issues to work through.

Sean and Taylor were very distracted by each other's physical appearance and presence, but the rest of the team seemed rather dense considering they were supposed to be a top team. At 71%, they said, "we should have known that Phantom would do something like this." Well, I certainly had guessed that a long time ago. This happened several times, and the twists were not surprises me.

Any respect on my part for Taylor also took a nosedive after 91%. The author mentioned several times that she had her gun ready and loaded, but then she didn't take an opportunity to use her gun to save her witness. Instead, she irrationally, impulsively threw herself into danger so that the manly, capable hero – Sean – could save everyone. Why can't she be capable, too, not just a good babysitter for petulant witnesses?

Both Taylor and Sean had major trust issues that they had to overcome, including trusting God with the future. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen

The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen ISBN-13: 9780764218194 Paperback: 448 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the senior partner isn't satisfied with Bow Street's efforts and asks Benjamin to investigate. He's sent to a remote island on the Thames, and he finds himself falling for the main suspect—a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?

On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear keeps her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee's murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man's death. Or is it a memory? She had been furious with him, but she never intended...this. Isabelle doesn't know who to trust among those who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Can she even trust her own mind? While they search for the truth, secrets come to light and danger comes calling.


My Review:
The Bridge to Belle Island is a historical romance/mystery set in 1819 in England. Benjamin loses a case because he trusted a beautiful woman. Then one of the partners is found murdered, which further threatens the firm. Benjamin's mentor sends him to subtly investigate Isabelle, but he greets her by basically accusing her of murder. She's a very kind and compassionate woman who continues to forgive his suspicion, but they couldn't really grow to love each other because of his continued distrust. I could see them becoming friends, but I had trouble accepting the romance, especially when she had several supportive, interested men around.

The story focused more on relationships than on uncovering clues, but I knew who the murderer was before half of the book was done. I could understand why Benjamin and Isabelle didn't see it, though.

Isabelle struggled with an intense fear of leaving the island, and several men who cared about her were trying to help her overcome this fear. She also had to forgive several people for wrongs done in the past and needed forgiveness as well. Benjamin occasionally prayed to God about his worries and for guidance. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Krista Davis

The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Krista Davis ISBN-13: 9780451491688 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: November 26th 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
America's favorite dog comes to pet-friendly Wagtail for some rest and relaxation, but Holly quickly discovers that this perfect pup is a total scamp who takes every opportunity to run off and misbehave. During an outdoor treasure-hunting game, the star dog and Trixie, Holly's beloved Jack Russell terrier, stumble across a dead body. Holly has more than murder to worry about, though, when a man shows up after reading an article featuring Trixie in a magazine and claims that he is the dog's rightful owner. Holly will need to prove that she is her pup's only parent and catch a killer to restore peace to her pet-loving happy place.


My Review:
The Dog Who Knew Too Much is a cozy mystery. It's the sixth book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones. There's a lot for Holly to handle as local dogs have been disappearing, a Hollywood dog and fellow actors show up for a vacation at her hotel, and a visitor claims that Holly's dog is actually his dog.

The Hollywood actors drew a lot of attention and added drama, but it was a local woman who turned up dead. Several of the visitors knew her a long time ago, but it's not clear why any of them would murder her now. Holly asked questions and observed people, then passed on clues to the detective. The mystery was complex enough that whodunit was guessable but not obvious. The characters were interesting and engaging. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Murder, She Wrote: A Time for Murder by Jon Land

Murder, She Wrote: A Time for Murder by Jon Land ISBN-13: 9781984804303 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: November 26th 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Two timelines converge. Young Jessica Fletcher's life couldn't be more ordinary. She teaches at the local high school while she and her loving husband, Frank, are raising their nephew Grady together. But when the beloved principal dies under mysterious circumstances, Jessica knows something is off and, for the very first time, investigates a death.

Present-day Jessica is interviewed by a woman who later turns up dead. She turns out to have links to Jessica's very first murder case. With nothing but her own instincts to guide her, Jessica embarks on a quest to find out what really happened all those years ago and who's behind these murders.


My Review:
A Time for Murder is a cozy mystery. This is the 50th book in the series. You don't have to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this one doesn't spoil the whodunit of previous novels.

The book had two mysteries: Jessica's first murder investigation which occurred 25 years ago and one that was happening currently. The old murder was told a bit at a time, explaining the clues as Jessica spotted them. Whodunit was a strong suspect, but I couldn't be sure until the final clues that Jessica revealed as the murder was arrested.

The current murder case was connected to that old case because the murdered man's daughter was investigating that murder when she was killed. The characters bantered with each other as they traveled around asking questions and tracking down clues. The current case was solved more by a sudden insight than with clues and evidence, though I did guess whodunit as a possibility.

I enjoyed the book until the unbelievable, adventure-movie-style ending. Jessica is apparently a superwoman in disguise, and we didn't know it. The ending was also left so that we don't know if whodunit is actually arrested, which I didn't find satisfying. There was no sex. There was one use of mild bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey

Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey ISBN-13: 9781984803887 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: November 26th 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
England 1912. Danby Hall is the only home Lady Cecilia Bates has ever known. Despite the rigid rules of etiquette and her mother the Countess of Avebury's fervent desire to see her married off, Lady Cecilia can't imagine life anywhere else. But now, with an agricultural depression sweeping the countryside, the Bates family's possession of the hall is suddenly in peril.

A possible solution arrives in the form of the imperious American heiress Annabel Clarke. The Earl and Countess of Avebury are determined that Cecilia's brother, Patrick, will win Annabel's hand in marriage--and her fortune along with it. The Bates and their staff arrange a grand house party upon the heiress's arrival. Then a guest dies after sipping from a glass meant for Annabel, and the police suspect Patrick. Cecilia sets out to find the culprit, with help from Annabel's maid, Jane, and Jane's curiously intelligent cat, Jack.


My Review:
Lady Takes the Case is a historical mystery set in 1912 in England. I enjoyed the main characters, but there were so many loose ends and vague explanations that I was left baffled and unsatisfied by the end. For example, they found several suspicious bottles (and other apparent clues) that were never explained. The woman that showed up at the very end never explained where she had been. A character who was drunk in one scene managed to shoot an arrow with superb accuracy just minutes later. A room that was at the opposite end of the hallway suddenly was described as across the hallway at the end of the book. And even the characters were confused by whodunit's reasoning and motive for the crime.

Lady Cecilia and the servant Jane were kind, engaging characters. The cat started out acting more like a dog, but it did act catlike by the end. The cat hardly played a role until the very end. Cecilia and Jane asked questions about potential motives. Since whodunit was pretty obvious from the very start, the middle of the story involved more descriptions of clothing and party activities than of the investigation. There were a number of historical errors, like the police leaving their critical evidence behind in room being used during a party, where anyone could meddle with it. There was no bad language. There was no sex.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Brewed Awakening by Cleo Coyle

Brewed Awakening by Cleo Coyle ISBN-13: 9780451488879 Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi awakens on a bench in Washington Square Park, she has no idea she's been missing for days, or that her friends and family have been frantic with worry. Now that she's back, everyone is overjoyed, including a handsome NYPD detective who claims to be her fiance. But to Mike Quinn's crushing distress, Clare doesn't remember him, or much of anything about the last fifteen years of her life.

Clare's missing memory is tied to a crime she witnessed. An acquaintance of Clare's elegant employer--and fellow member of an exclusive Gotham circle known as "The Ladies Who Brunch"--invited Clare to her posh hotel to sample gourmet wedding cakes. After their indulgent tasting, they headed to the parking garage, where a camera captured a masked figure with a gun confronting the hotel heiress with Clare looking on. Did the kidnapper take Clare, too? The camera went dark, just like Clare's memory. Soon authorities grow suspicious. Is Clare really a victim?

To clear her name, Clare must find a way to reclaim her memories and rescue the heiress before this high-stakes crime ends in tragedy. Otherwise, instead of walking down the aisle, Clare may find herself perp-walking to prison as an accomplice to kidnapping and murder.


My Review:
Brewed Awakening is a cozy mystery. This novel is the 18th in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books.

This is yet another mystery where someone with amnesia is a witness and needs to remember what happened. However, the authors focused on how this affected her relationships with the people she still knew and the people she ought to know, including her fiancé. I enjoyed this character development. Suspense was created by the relationship tensions and from the danger of someone trying to harm her because she is a witness. This didn't stop Clare from helping her handsome detective to investigate an old murder and a current kidnapping. They asked good questions and yet whodunit still came as a surprise to me.

There was some bad language. There were no graphic sex scenes; any sex was fade-to-black style after they started to kiss. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Holiday Homecoming Secrets by Lynette Eason

Holiday Homecoming Secrets by Lynette Eason ISBN-13: 9781335232519 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: December 3rd 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A friend is missing and presumed dead, and detective Jade Hollis is determined to track down the killer. To do that she must team up with private investigator Bryce Kingsley—who doesn’t know he is the father of her child. But she’ll have to put personal secrets aside because the killer will strike again to keep the truth from being exposed.


My Review:
Holiday Homecoming Secrets is a romantic suspense novel. Detective Jade and ex-soldier Bryce end up working together when a mutual friend is murdered. When Bryce was injured by an IED, he cut off all contact with Jade and many of his friends. He doesn't know that Jade had a child from the night when they went too far because she was upset about a death in the family. Jade doesn't know how to tell him about his child since he's repeatedly stated that he doesn't want to be a father because he doesn't think he'd be a good one. They work together to figure out who the murderer is, and it may be the corrupt cop that their journalist friend was trying to track down.

Bryce and Jade were kind, honorable people. Bryce was able to respect that Jade was the detective and running into danger was her job, but he also worked to protect her when that didn't interfere with her job. Since the killer repeatedly attacked Jade, she did need some help to survive long enough to solve the case.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders

Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders ISBN-13: 9781632868398 Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Released: Dec. 3, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 1851, private detective Laetitia Rodd gets an urgent request for her services. Jacob Welland is a reclusive, rich gentleman dying of consumption, and he wants Mrs. Rodd to find his brother, who has been missing for fifteen years.

Joshua Welland was a scholar at Oxford, brilliant, eccentric, and desperately poor when he disappeared from the university. Friends claim to have seen him since, in gypsy camps and wandering around the countryside. Mrs. Rodd travels to Oxford and begins to search for the wandering scholar. But as she investigates, Mrs. Rodd discovers something dark-and extremely dangerous-lurking in the beautiful English countryside.


My Review:
Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar is a mystery set in 1851 in England. This is the second book in the series, but it works as a stand alone. Laetitia seemed rather dense in this book. She believed people who were lying to her and otherwise assumed people were as good as she wanted them to be. She muddled around trying to find a person who was hiding from danger, totally missing why he didn't trust her (though I easily guessed). I was suspicious of whodunit early on, but she didn't seem to realize the significance of some of the things she learned. In the end, it was the Detective that figured out whodunit, though Laetitia realized he was right when he pointed it out. I don't know that I minded her denseness except that it didn't seem true when people kept saying she was a good detective.

Laetitia was well-meaning and had some progressive views, but she generally reflected the current (1850s England) culture. Historical details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of time and place without slowing the pacing. I appreciate that the author did enough research to get those historical details accurate. There were no sex scenes. There was a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery, but I liked the first book better.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock ISBN-13: 9780310332596 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: November 5th 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting.


My Review:
Smoke Screen is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The characters are well-developed and react realistically to events. The main characters are engaging, and I cared about what happened to them. The hero and heroine supported each other and brought out the best in each other.

The hero was hurt saving a family while his team was fighting a wildfire. He returned home to recuperate even though the town has labeled him the suspected-arsonist son of a murderer. His father has just been pardoned and is determined to prove who really did the murder so he can completely clear his name. Though the hero can't think of who else would have killed a pastor, he helped his father look into what happened all those years ago. The true killer felt threatened by this investigation and worked to at least ruin the hero's reputation to stop them from investigating.

The heroine's ex-husband immediately remarried after the divorce and now is suing for full custody of the children. To win the court case, his lawyer and father are determined to catch her every bad moment and verbally demolished her. She struggled with drinking to deal with the stress and depression of how the ex-husband's family treats her and the kids. The hero reached out to help her and give her hope.

Both main characters learned to trust God to bring about justice even when it looked like there was no hope. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs

The Body in the Dumb River by George Bellairs ISBN-13: 9781492699569 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Dec. 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Jim Teasdale has been drowned in the Dumb River, near Ely, miles from his Yorkshire home. His body, clearly dumped in the usually silent ('dumb') waterway, has been discovered before the killer intended -- disturbed by a torrential flood. With critical urgency it's up to Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard to trace the mystery of the unassuming victim's murder to its source, leaving waves of scandal and sensation in his wake as the hidden, salacious dealings of Jim Teasdale begin to surface.


My Review:
The Body in the Dumb River is a mystery that was originally published in 1961 and is set in England. Inspector Littlejohn followed up on obvious (and less obvious) leads and questioned many people. He slowly uncovered what happened until he was finally able to put it all together (with details filled in when whodunit confessed). There were clues and the reader can guess whodunit, but the mystery was somewhat complex which made identifying whodunit more difficult. The characters were interesting and varied. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

No Man's Land by Sara Driscoll

No Man's Land by Sara Driscoll ISBN-13: 9781496722478 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Kensington Released: November 26, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
For Special Agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 companion, Hawk, exploring the ruins of a deserted building is an exciting way to sharpen their skills without the life-or-death stakes they face as part of the FBI's Human Scent Evidence Team. But deep in the echoing rooms of an abandoned asylum, Hawk finds the body of an elderly woman. The victim couldn't have made her way into the derelict building on her own. Before forty-eight hours pass, Meg learns of more cases of elders found dead in neglected urban structures.

There's not enough evidence to link the deaths--yet. But Meg scents a pattern, and when she gets word of another senior gone missing, she and Hawk don't hesitate. Meg is sure a murderer is hunting the elderly, and she can prove it if she can just find a connection. It will take the expert coordination of her whole team, along with help from Clay McCord and Todd Webb, to uncover the means, let alone a motive.


My Review:
No Man's Land is a suspense/mystery. This book is the fourth in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This novel did spoil a previous mystery's whodunit, though.

The characters were engaging, interesting, and reacted realistically to events. Meg and her K9 partner mainly focused their efforts on racing to save the next victim from within ruined buildings. The danger to everyone from the buildings and from the killer kept the suspense high. Her team found clues and eventually figured out who the killer was, but Meg's role was mainly to discover the initial body and track down subsequent victims.

There was some bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen

Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen ISBN-13: 9781984805805 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: November 5th 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Summer 1942. The world has been at war for three long and desperate years. In the remote English village of Little Buffenden, the Redfern family's house and farmland has been requisitioned by the War Office as a new airfield for the American Air Force.

The village's Air Raid Warden, twentysomething Poppy Redfern, spends her nights patrolling the village and her days writing a novel of passion. It is a far cry from the experience of the other young women in town: within days, two of the village's prettiest girls are dating American airmen and Little Buffenden considers the "Friendly Invasion" to be a success.

But less than a week later, Doreen Newcombe, the baker's daughter; and the popular Ivy Wantage are both found dead. Poppy realizes that her community has been divided by murder, and the mistrust and suspicion of their new American neighbors threatens to tear this town, already grappling with the horrors of war, apart. Poppy decides to start her own investigation, but she might very well become the next victim.


My Review:
Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders is a mystery set in 1942 in England. The main characters were engaging, likable people. Poppy reacted realistically to events and grew as a person. The mystery was clue-based, and whodunit could be guessed. However, I was surprised to realize that I had stopped trying to guess whodunit by the end. Poppy would discover an alibi for certain people only to discover that alibi wasn't valid after all, or she would discover a clue that turned out to be less helpful than expected in narrowing down whodunit. For example, one murder happened while the USA airmen were confined to the base, so they seemed to be in the clear. But then she discovered that people could have gotten out after all. So I stopped guessing. Still, it was an interesting mystery and fun to see Poppy investigate and solve it.

There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this very interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death in Room Five by George Bellairs

Death in Room Five by George Bellairs ISBN-13: 9781913099152 Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Agora Books Released: Nov. 14, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
This is not Scotland Yard, Inspector. This is France… This trip to the French Riviera isn’t what anyone signed up for: while Littlejohn loses his vacation, another man loses his life. When Alderman Dawson, the victim of a deathly stabbing, calls Littlejohn to his deathbed, the inspector is left with no choice but to investigate. With twelve suspects in play and motives dating back to WWII, this might be one of his toughest cases yet. More bodies are turning up and the French police are unwilling to investigate.


My Review:
Death in Room Five is a mystery that was originally published in 1955 and is set in France and England. The characters were described with a humorous touch, especially as the British vacationing in France thought the French behaved oddly. They didn't want to cooperate with the French police, so Inspector Littlejohn was taken from his vacation in France to question the suspects and determine whodunit.

Inspector Littlejohn followed up on obvious leads and questioned many people, slowly uncovering possible motives and actions until he was finally able to put it all together. There were clues, and the reader can guess whodunit, though I was never completely sure I was right since there were several strong suspects. The mystery was more complex than I expected.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Blind Search by Paula Munier

Blind Search by Paula Munier ISBN-13: 9781250153050 Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Minotaur Books Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for nine-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking.

Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.


My Review:
Blind Search is a mystery/suspense novel. It's the second book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous novel.

The characters were engaging, complex, and acted in realistic ways. The mystery was complex since things were happening at the same time which may or may not have been connected: two murders, illegal hunting, gun smuggling, and more. Mercy and her talented service dog, Elvis, were hired by her billionaire neighbor to track down clues and protect their only witness, an autistic boy who isn't talking about what he saw. She worked with U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue dog since he had the right to investigate and arrest when it came to several of their leads. The suspense remained high since several people were after the boy and other suspects simply didn't want to get caught doing other illegal activities.

There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to people who enjoy canine mysteries and suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr

The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr ISBN-13: 9780764234910 Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel creates a select group of men who will count down the calendar to the arrival of Israel’s promised king. Centuries later, as the day nears, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city. Searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can’t forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.


My Review:
The End of the Magi is a Christian historical novel set in Babylon in 537 BC and then around the birth of Christ (5 BC) and his death. The prophet Daniel tasks a group of Hebrews among the magi with accurately counting down the days to the appearance of the Messiah-King. Myrad was adopted by one of these magi and taught about the Hebrew beliefs and the prophecy. When his adoptive father and many other magi are killed at the command of a Roman concubine determined to rule as queen, he gathers his father's money and papers and flees. His clubfoot makes it difficult to travel quickly or hide his identity. He bargains what he has for what people want most and gains their help. In the process, he travels with several magi to witness the birth of Christ. However, the count won't be complete for another 30 years, and the Hebrew magi are determined to be there at the announcement of their Messiah-King.

The characters were complex, likable people who reacted realistically to events. The story was very suspenseful from start to finish due to the danger to Myrad and the people with him. God's hand was seen subtly working events so that Myrad and his companions not only survived but affected the major political and military events happening around them. Their lives were changed by the events they witnessed and participated in. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this exciting biblical adventure.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters ISBN-13: 9780800735333 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Revell Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason--to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth--and the next big story--is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and Vivian finds herself fighting for not only answers but also her life. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called The Watcher force Vivian to confront the secret of her past and decide what she really wants in her future.


My Review:
Deadly Deceit is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the second book in a series. You don't need to read the previous book to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the previous book.

Vivian is a kind, caring woman who pursues the truth and is willing to put herself in danger to help others. But after her father abandoned her family, she avoided forming close relationships. Ryan was also abandoned by his father, and he's reluctant to leave his mother and sister to pursue his own dreams. When Vivian's boss dies and a blackmail video is exposed, they both work to discover who is blackmailing people with their dirty secrets. Suspense was created by the relationship tensions and from the race to stop the blackmailer before more people got hurt.

Ryan felt that Vivian helped him become a better person, but at the first difficulty, he assumed that she was pursuing a story for glory when she was actually helping to protect someone. This caused conflict in the relationship. Although this ultimately strengthened the relationship as they worked through the misunderstanding, but it made me not like Ryan as much because he so easily assumed the worst about the woman he supposedly loves.

There were a few prayers to God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima ISBN-13: 9781643851358 Hardcover Publisher: Crooked Lane Books Released: November 12, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker to the scene, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn't kill Nate--it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the family of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate's widow, and the people who work on the ranch. Then they receive an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator. Mattie begins to understand the true danger that's enveloping Timber Creek.


My Review:
Tracking Game is a K9-detective mystery/suspense. It's the fifth in a series. You can follow this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries. It's another satisfying, suspenseful mystery with the Timber Creek police (and friends).

Robo is a talented, well-trained working dog, and it's always fun to see him "on the job" with Mattie. The main characters were likable and had depth and complexity. Events had a realistic impact on them, and they had to (maturely) deal with relationship struggles at the same time as they dealt with crime. The crime was a clue-based mystery, and whodunit wasn't obvious until the last clues were uncovered at the end. Suspense was created from physical danger and relationship conflicts.

There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

City of Scoundrels by Victoria Thompson

City of Scoundrels by Victoria Thompson ISBN-13: 9781984805652 Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: November 5th 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Elizabeth Miles finds herself in a position no con can help her escape. Her beloved fiancé, Gideon Bates, is awaiting his turn in the draft to fight in the Great War. Elizabeth is finding it hard to think of anything else, but Gideon has thrown himself into his work, preparing wills for soldiers before they ship out. Corporal Tom Preston is part owner of Preston Shoes, a company that is making footwear for the army, so he has a rather large estate. He needs a new will, however, because he has just been secretly married to a woman whom his family would never approve. He wants to make sure she and their unborn child are provided for if he does not return.

When Tom is later reported killed, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the new will has gone missing after Tom's bride revealed her identity to his family. Unless the new will is found and validated, the original will, which leaves everything to Tom's brother, will prevail and the wife and child will get nothing. If Tom's new bride survives, that is. Some terrible threats have been leveled against her, and Elizabeth and Gideon must figure out a way, legal or not quite, to secure Tom's fortune for his wife and child while saving her life in the process.


My Review:
City of Scoundrels is a historical suspense set in October/November 1918 in New York City. This is the third book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the previous novels.

Elizabeth is a reformed con artist engaged to marry an honorable lawyer who refuses to lie. He's also honorably willing to be drafted and go to war, which terrifies Elizabeth. The 1918 Flu epidemic hit right as they're pulling their con, adding more suspense to the uncertainties involved in pulling off two complex cons. Her family sure enjoys conning rich, evil people and are starting to see the point of doing it to help women left poor through injustice. It was entertaining to guess just how the con was going to be pulled off. The historical details were woven into the story to create a sense of the specific time and place as well as bring the story alive.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this entertaining historical novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter

A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter ISBN-13: 9780764230776 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.

Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle.

As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history right lead to a future together?


My Review:
A Pursuit of Home "A Pursuit of Home" is a Christian romance set in 1816 in England. This is the third book in a series. It can be read as a standalone, but reading the previous stories and/or "A Noble Masquerade" will help you to better understand the depth of the relationships. I've been eagerly awaiting Jess's story, and she has a surprising backstory. A brother that she thought had died along with the rest of her family has appeared to claim the throne of a small, nearby European country. To prove that he's the true heir, Jess must decipher an old diary in her possession with the help of an art history expert and together they must track down an ancient artifact. But Jess isn't the only one who wants the proof needed to become king.

The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Jess and Derek didn't seem like a good romantic match, yet they brought out the best in each other once they started to understand one another. There was suspense and humor in the disguises and in their attempts to avoid danger. Jess learned that you don't only go to God when you can't handle things by yourself. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert

Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert ISBN-13: 9781492699538 Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Released: Nov. 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The woman was young, French, and on trial for murdering a man said to be her ex-lover and the father of her dead child: an English major who had been one of the great heroes of the French Underground Resistance during the war. Mr. Macrea, hired to be her attorney on the first day of the trial, must find a way to prove her innocence in only one week. And he must dig deeply into the past to prove it.


My Review:
Death Has Deep Roots is a mystery set in England and France and originally published in 1951. A young French woman is on trial for the murder of an English war hero that she met while working for the French underground resistance in World War II. She switches attorneys right before the trial starts, so we get the details of the trial while also following the adventures of the people trying to find proof that she had no motive to murder the man. The police evidence could as easily apply to others in the hotel, after all. There's a mystery that occurred in the past that the culprits want to keep hidden, so the investigators are in danger. The mystery was clue based and could be guessed, though it turned out to be more complex than I originally suspected. It was an enjoyable mix of courtroom drama and suspense.

There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie

The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie ISBN-13: 978-0062074119 Paperback: 272 pages Publisher: William Morrow Released: 1961; June 2011

Source: Borrowed from the library.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When an elderly priest is murdered, the killer searches the victim so roughly that his already ragged cassock is torn in the process. What was the killer looking for? And what had a dying woman confided to the priest on her deathbed only hours earlier?

Mark Easterbrook and his sidekick Ginger Corrigan are determined to find out. Maybe the three women who run The Pale Horse public house, and who are rumored to practice the “Dark Arts,” can provide some answers?


My Review:
The Pale Horse is a historical mystery set in 1961 in England (though it was written as a contemporary mystery). The usual Agatha Christie sleuths don't show up, but I liked Mark and Ginger as they were likable, realistic, courageous, and generally sensible. They were a good team.

The detective, Mark, and Ginger weren't stupid and were able to pick up on leads (and dangers) quickly. The mystery was a clue-based puzzle mystery with some suspense. I correctly guessed the murderer from nearly the beginning and the subtle clues did point that way, but there was enough uncertainty to make me eagerly read to the end.

There was no sex. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intriguing mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Soldier's Christmas Secrets by Laura Scott

Soldier's Christmas Secrets by Laura Scott ISBN-13: 9781335232441 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a plane crash leaves special ops soldier Hawk Jacobson with amnesia, all he knows is that the plane was sabotaged and he has a target on his back. His survival depends on letting everyone—including his wife, Jillian Wade—believe he’s dead. Until gunmen come after Jillian and the daughter he never knew existed. Can Jillian help him regain his memory in time to expose a killer?


My Review:
Soldier's Christmas Secrets is a Christian suspense novel. Hawk has fairly permanent amnesia after surviving a crash, but he knows that someone is after him because of an illegal gun deal that he witnessed. He can't remember who was involved and who to trust. After years of trying to regain his memory and track down the truth, his wife is attacked and he saves her life. She didn't know that he survived, so his appearance comes as a shock. She's busy taking care of their young daughter, so she generally left the fighting and decisions up to him. However, she did help solve the mystery and wasn't just a warm body to keep safe.

Hawk and his wife have to decide if they still want to be married since Hawk has changed so much (and so has his wife). The suspense came from the danger to Hawk and everyone involved in the mystery. The characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason ISBN-13: 9780800736460 Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Revell Released: November 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Four novellas in one!

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

Lethal Conspiracy
When Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together.


My Review:
Protecting Tanner Hollow is a collection of four romantic suspense novellas. The main characters were likable, and I cared about what happened to them. The suspense was created by people trying to kill the heroine. The heroes were kind, caring, supportive, and protective. The heroines didn't do anything stupid to bring on the danger, so it was simply a matter of staying alive long enough to figure out who was attacking them. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense collection.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber

A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber ISBN-13: 9780399181399 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books Released: October 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the holiday season begins, Laurel McCullough could use some good news. She and her husband, Zach, have been praying for a baby that seems more and more like an impossible dream, and they've had to move in with her beloved grandmother, Helen, who's having trouble taking care of herself. But when Laurel contacts a local home-care organization for help, there are no caregivers available.

Then Mrs. Miracle appears at her door. No stranger to lending a helping hand to a family in need, Mrs. Miracle reveals herself to be nothing short of a godsend. Helen's even convinced she's an angel! Still, Laurel has to admit that Helen has become noticeably happier and more engaged, decorating the family Christmas tree and setting up the nativity with Mrs. Miracle's companionship. In the meantime, Laurel and Zach begin to encounter curious signs, all pointing toward the arrival of a special baby.

My Review:
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas is a Christmas novel. It's the eleventh book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. Angels come (some in human form) to fulfill the prayers of Helen about Laurel and Zach having a baby. The main angel, Merkel, arrives to be Helen's caretaker for a few weeks. She lets Helen know that she's an angel and that her prayers about a baby will come true in the next few weeks. Laurel has lost faith in God due to the disappointments they've faced, and she refuses to talk about trying again to adopt a baby. Zach still believes they could adopt a baby someday, and he knows how happy that would make Laurel. Laurel is heartbroken and angry that Zach still wants a child, and she feels that Zach must want a baby more than her.

The characters reacted realistically to events, and I cared about what happened to them. Fans of angels-posing-as-humans-and-manipulating/guiding-humans stories will probably like this one a lot since the characters and their struggles were well-written. But the angels made mistakes, and it's implied that it's left up to the angels to figure out what to do to guide the humans to their happy ending. The angel and Helen talked about heaven and angels, but little of the angel's claims were actually from the Bible. (Though some of this is filling in fiction where the Bible doesn't specifically say something.) There was no sex or bad language. I'd recommend this novel to fans of feel-good Christmas stories.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser

When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser ISBN-13: 9780764234446 Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: October 5, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
There is one story that novelist Josephine Bourdillon shirked from writing. And now she may never have a chance. Trapped in her memories, she lies in a coma.

The man who put her there is just as paralyzed. Former soldier Henry Hughes failed to complete the kill. What's more: he never received full payment--funds that would ensure a life-saving surgery for his critically-ill son.

As detectives investigate disturbing fan letters, a young but not-so-naïve Paige Bourdillon turns to her mother's turbulent past for answers. She was young during The Awful Year, when her mother received a fan letter that devastated her from a woman claiming that Josephine's novels had caused her daughter to commit suicide. Were there secrets hidden by her parents that might reveal who hired the assassin?


My Review:
When I Close My Eyes is a Christian fiction with three point-of-view characters: Josephine, an author that struggles with depression, Henry, the assassin that came from an abusive background, and Paige, Josephine's teenage daughter. Since Josephine was in a coma from the assassination attempt, we mainly got her viewpoint through flashbacks of her life from 1968 up to the present.

Josephine wrote impactful novels showing people who dealt with difficult circumstances who found hope through forgiveness and trust in God. Henry began to read Josephine's books after his assassination attempt went wrong. Though there was some mystery about who hired Henry, the focus of the novel was more about if Josephine really believed in the grace that she wrote about since she struggled so deeply with depression. The main characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to them.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews

A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews ISBN-13: 9781733056922 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press Released: October 22, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s been three years since Laura Hayes’s father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family’s failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.

Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He’s returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it’s all the fault of Laura Hayes—a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.

From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once again outweigh the demands of his heart?


My Review:
A Convenient Fiction is a romance set in 1860 in England. This is the third book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. Alex wants a sense of belonging, which he thinks he can find by marrying into a long-standing family with an estate. Laura believes he's looking for a loving family to belong to, which she can provide. Especially since she needs a husband in order to save what little wealth her family still has. Instead, she's asked to be the chaperone as Alex courts her friend, an heiress with a wealthy estate.

The author has deeply researched the time period and woven this information into the story, creating a distinct sense of time and place. The characters were complex and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to the characters. Alex never really behaved badly during the story, though it's suggested he did before it began. There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this story, especially if you enjoy accurate historical aspects in your fiction.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart

Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart ISBN-13: 9781328736529 Hardcover: 355 pages Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Released: September 17, 2019

Source: ARC review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the fifth installment of Amy Stewart’s clever and original Kopp Sisters series, it’s the spring of 1917 and change is in the air. American women have done something remarkable: they’ve banded together to create military-style training camps for women who want to serve. These so-called National Service Schools prove irresistible to the Kopp sisters, who leave their farm in New Jersey to join up. When an accident befalls the matron, Constance reluctantly agrees to oversee the camp—much to the alarm of the Kopps’ tent-mate, the real-life Beulah Binford, who is seeking refuge from her own scandalous past under the cover of a false identity. Will she be denied a second chance? And after notoriety, can a woman’s life ever be her own again?

In Kopp Sisters on the March, the women of Camp Chevy Chase face down the skepticism of the War Department, the double standards of a scornful public, and the very real perils of war. Once again, Amy Stewart has brilliantly brought a little-known moment in history to light with her fearless and funny Kopp sisters novels.


My Review:
Kopp Sisters on the March is a historical novel set in 1917 in America. It's the fifth book in a series, but it works as a stand-alone. The Kopp sisters were real people, and Constance Kopp was New Jersey's first female deputy sheriff. However, the 1917 events in this book were fictional as the author doesn't know what the sisters were actually doing at this time. Much of the book focused on another real woman, Beulah Binford, with flashbacks about her life and the scandal that made her famous.

The author worked interesting historical details into the story, especially about the National Service Schools. The characters acted realistically, were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. There was some suspense as certain women wanted self-defense and other practical training but had to sneak around to get it. There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Mistaken Reality by Traci Hunter Abramson

Mistaken Reality by Traci Hunter Abramson ISBN-13: 9781524409418 Paperback: 312 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc. Released: October 1, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hadley Baker can’t believe her boyfriend finally invited her on a fancy hotel dinner date only to break up with her in public. Even more unbelievable is the moment FBI Agent JD Byers finds her crying in the women’s restroom and demands she evacuate. Seconds after JD ushers Hadley outside, an explosion shatters the building.

JD didn’t anticipate seeing Hadley, the beautiful schoolteacher, again after he saved her from the hotel attack. But soon after her ex-boyfriend became a lead suspect of the hotel bombing, the man turned up dead—and now it seems that Hadley herself is a target. Determined to keep her safe, JD shelters Hadley as they join forces to put together the pieces of the perplexing case. When they discover the horrifying truth behind her ex-boyfriend’s nefarious work, Hadley realizes her life is far from the only one being threatened.


My Review:
Mistaken Reality is a romantic suspense novel. It's not listed as part of a series, but it has characters from the Saint Squad series and the Guardian series (and maybe others--this is the first book I've read by this author). While Hadley and JD were the romantic pair, characters from other novels were point-of-view, main characters: Kelsey and Noah, Kade and Renee, Brent, Seth. We're given enough background to understand this novel, but I got the feeling that I would have enjoyed the novel more if I'd read the previous stories featuring these characters.

The story was suspenseful, especially the human trafficking rescues. Hadley didn't seem very upset about her boyfriend and moved on quickly to JD, which bothered even her. It just seemed too fast and emotionally easy to be realistic. I liked the main characters and cared about what happened to them. Many of the characters were of the Latter-day Saints church, so there was some prayer and blessing mentioned. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel, though mostly to those who have read some of the related series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate

The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate ISBN-13: 9781984804105 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: October 8, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Hayley Burke has landed a dream job. She is the new curator of Lady Georgiana Fowling's First Edition library. The library is kept at Middlebank House, a lovely Georgian home in Bath, England. Hayley lives on the premises and works with the finicky Glynis Woolgar, Lady Fowling's former secretary.

Mrs. Woolgar does not like Hayley's ideas to modernize The First Edition Society and bring in fresh blood. And she is not even aware of the fact that Hayley does not know the first thing about the Golden Age of Mysteries. Hayley is faking it till she makes it, and one of her plans to breathe new life into the Society is actually taking flight--an Agatha Christie fan fiction writers group is paying dues to meet up at Middlebank House. But when one of the group is found dead in the venerable stacks of the library, Hayley has to catch the killer to save the Society and her new job.


My Review:
The Bodies in the Library is a cozy mystery set in Bath, England. The heroine started out insecure and a push-over, but she transforms into a bolder, firmer heroine after reading her first mystery. Yup, she's never read a mystery and yet was made curator of a mystery novel society. Though she mentally complained about having nothing to do, she resisted actually reading the books she's supposed to be an expert on. But about halfway through, she finally read one, became a fan, and immediately tried her hand at solving the mystery.

To be honest, only the dry humor of the detectives and the encouraging best friend kept me interested until the heroine transformed into a sleuth. I liked that she appreciated when someone was concerned about her safety. She asked good questions, though she's still learning how to do so more subtly. This was a clue-based mystery, and I was able to guess whodunit before the reveal.

It's implied that a ghost helped the heroine, but I'm not sure how large of a role this ghost will play in future stories. There were no sex scenes. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

If Death Ever Slept by Rex Stout

If Death Ever Slept by Rex Stout ISBN-13: 9780553762969 Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: Bantam Released: 1957; 1995

Source: Checked out from the local library.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Millionaire Otis Jarrell hires Wolfe and Goodwin to prove his daughter-in-law is stealing his business secrets and selling them to a competitor. Archie Goodwin will pose as Jarrell's new secretary to be on the spot and assess the situation. But Jarrell's revolver is stolen and used in a murder, and Wolfe must find the truth behind Jarrell's ill-behaved family.


My Review:
If Death Ever Slept is a mystery set in 1957 in New York City. Archie Goodwin always has a humorous view of events which makes the mystery fun to read. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. I guessed some aspects correctly, but whodunit did end up surprising me. Bad assumption on my part. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this to fans of humorous historical mysteries.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.