A Dangerous Goodbye by Fliss Chester

A Dangerous Goodbye
by Fliss Chester

Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Released: August 20th 2020


Source: Rented through Kindle Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1944. While war rages in Europe, Fenella Churche is doing her bit in the green fields of England. But when she finds a letter addressed to her from her fiancé Arthur, she knows he may not be coming back from the war in France. Fen also realises that her darling Arthur is giving her all the clues she needs to find out what happened to him.

1945. With the war behind them and nothing left for her in England, Fen travels to the deceptively pretty French village where she thinks Arthur might be, but there’s no sign of him. She’s close to giving up when she finds his silver cigarette case and another letter full of clues. But when the local priest is killed, it’s clear someone wants to keep wartime secrets buried. If Arthur, a brilliant spy, was outwitted and betrayed, can Fen stay alive long enough to find out what happened to the man she loves?


My Review:
A Dangerous Goodbye is a mystery set in 1945 in France. This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Fen asked good questions, was observant, and was able to link the clues together to solve the mysteries. Whodunit was guessable based on the clues. I was pretty sure of whodunit from shortly after the murder (probably because I read more murder mysteries than Fen apparently has). The main characters were interesting, engaging, and had realistic reactions to events. Historical details like turns of phrase or details about the French resistance were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing.

There was no sex. There were only a few 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.

The Blacksmith's Bravery by Susan Page Davis

The Blacksmith's Bravery
by Susan Page Davis

ISBN-13: 9781602607965
ebook: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books
Released: November 1st 2010

Source: ebook rented from Kindle Unlimited.

Book Description, Modified from Amazon:
By age twelve, Vashti Edwards was orphaned and working her way west by way of saloons. In the mountain town of Fergus, Idaho, she has found faith and new hope in her friends from The Ladies Shooting Club and an employer who turned her saloon into a restaurant. But money is tight, and Vashti tries to get the job she’s dreamed of--as a stagecoach driver. Griffin Bane, local blacksmith and stagecoach manager, wrestles with his attraction to her--wanting to protect her while also wanting her to have her dreams. When a gang of outlaws target the stagecoach line, will The Ladies' Shooting Club come to their friends’ aid again, saving Vashti and Griffin to build a future together?


My Review:
The Blacksmith's Bravery is a Christian romance (with some suspense) set in 1887 in Idaho. This is the third book in a series. You can understand what's going on without reading the previous books. The main events in the previous books were not spoiled in this one.

The author wove interesting historical details about stagecoach lines into the story. The suspense came from the real threat of stagecoach robbers, making Griffin worry about Vashti's safety while at the same time admiring her enough that he wants to allow her to drive the stagecoaches if it can be done somewhat safely. Griffin also had to figure out how to raise a teenaged nephew who was giving trouble back at home. The main characters were capable, likable characters that supported each other.

Having read the series, I thought it was interesting that one character at the beginning wanted to influence the whole town. However, quiet and humble Hiram is really the man who changed the town through his influence. He supported his sister becoming a crack shot and teaching the other woman to shoot well. He didn't feel the need to put himself forward to shine in the shooting contest, allowing the women to gain some respect for their shooting. Following his example, at the end, even those who were good shots were more concerned about getting the job done than getting the glory. It was interesting how the whole town subtly but noticably changed throughout the series.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable 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.

Rising Danger by Jerusha Agen

Rising Danger
by Jerusha Agen

ISBN-13: 9781335401878
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired
Released: May 25th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Someone’s planting explosives on dams in the Twin Cities, and Bristol Bachmann and her bomb-sniffing dog must move quickly to find them before everything ends up underwater. That means relying on the dams’ supervisor—an ex-boyfriend Bristol never thought she’d see again. Hopefully Remington Jones has grown up from the rakish charmer she knew in her academy days. Because lives now depend on them.

It’s an environmental terrorist who wants the dams gone, and his bid to set the waters free has lethal consequences. When he sees Bristol and her K-9 working to stop him, he sets his sights on them. Can they protect the cities from devastating destruction before the clock runs out?


My Review:
Rising Danger is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Bristol and her bomb-sniffing dog were cool and confident in the face of danger, and they repeatedly faced danger in order to keep a large city safe. Bristol lost family members during flooding, and she doesn't trust God to care enough to keep anyone safe. It's up to her. She's determined to control everything she can to provide safety. This need to make people fit into her definition of safe dooms many of her relationships, like with Remington in the past. She won't forgive him for not living up to her standards but can't resist getting lost in his melty chocolate brown eyes. As he later realized, she was more in love with the idea of what he could be than with who he actually was.

Remington was irresponsible in the past, but he found forgiveness in Christ and changed. He's determined to prove this to Bristol. Unfortunately, he doesn't like his job, doesn't bring out the best in Bristol, and goes about proving how responsible he is by being irresponsible. (Which he realized by the end, where real change and healing happened.) As head of security for a bunch of dams, it's his job to increase the security after the bomb threats by convincing the owners to spend the money necessary to prevent bombs from being placed. Instead, Bristol's boss ended up doing his job because he wasn't. He escorted Bristol around to search for bombs (which someone else could have done) and tried to figure out who the bomber was because it would make him a hero if he did so before the FBI team.

The suspense was high due to the continual danger. Unfortunately, the author apparently didn't realize how damaging even a small breach in the dam could be due to the highly erosive power of fast-flowing water. The assumption was that the bomb would have to destroy a substantial amount of the dam when that's not actually the case. I liked the characters individually and how they developed by the end, but it was exasperating to see them initially attracted to each other for all the wrong reasons (like his need for approval). By the end, they both came to a better understanding of God's forgiveness and goodness. Through that healing, they became a better match for each other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Denied by Mary Keliikoa

Denied
by Mary Keliikoa

ISBN-13: 9781603817837
Paperback: 226 pages
Publisher: Camel Press
Released: May 11, 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
PI Kelly Pruett has a lot on her plate – working with clients at the detective agency and caring for her deaf daughter. If motherhood taught her anything, it’s that the best things in life are never easy, so, despite recent injuries, PI Kelly Pruett is eager to get back to work.

When a mommy-to-be hires Kelly to locate her estranged dad, Kelly is thankful for the straightforward missing-persons case. But as she rummages through the trash in search of clues, she uncovers gambling debts to gangsters… and a blood-soaked severed finger. With her investigation suddenly heating up, Kelly’s hunt takes a deadly turn when her quarry is found driven off a cliff to his doom. She’ll need more than her cop boyfriend’s help to expose the truth when the murderer sends her a cease-and-desist notice with an explosive ending.


My Review:
Denied is a suspense/mystery. This is the second book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the mystery of the previous book. However, the book description led me to have some wrong expectations about the book. Kelly's deaf daughter was a minor character who was mainly cared for by her ex, who seemed like a fairly nice guy. The puppy was just a pet, usually asleep on the passenger seat of the car. Until, suddenly, he was out sniffing out clues. It wasn't clear if the dog had some training or if this was simply an innate instinct for his breed, but it was rather unexpected at that point.

Kelly was a very human heroine, wanting to live up to a high ideal but feeling like she was failing. She's very determined and cares about others. She's quite competent in the sense that she asked good questions, was observant, followed up on clues, and even survived quite a few dangerous situations. But she also made some wrong assumptions and mistakes. She broke some laws and once suffered consequences for those actions. I initially understood her motivation for continuing to search for the truth despite the danger (threats, exploding cars, knives, etc.) to herself. I was baffled, though, by why she couldn't let go when a trustworthy detective said they would seriously investigate everything she had found, so she could now focus on staying safe (and being the good mom that she aspires to be).

There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. 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.

Eye for an Eye by Stephanie Black

Eye for an Eye
by Stephanie Black

ISBN-13: 9781524418182
Paperback: 80 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: May 17th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a family tragedy nearly destroyed Mallory Ingram, she's fighting to get her life on track. When her sister and brother-in-law open their home to her, Mallory is certain that moving across the country will allow her to focus on a hopeful future. That future looks even more promising when her enrollment at a local university connects her with the charming Darien Thomas.

However, when illegal drugs turn up at her sister's house, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly, she doesn't know who to trust. Mounting evidence of Mallory's guilt is straining the tenuous bond she has just begun to develop with her sister after years of living separately. Desperate to prove her innocence and keep the harmful patterns of the past from hijacking her future, Mallory reaches for Darien's help to discover the truth.


My Review:
Eye for an Eye is a short romantic suspense story. Because it's short, everything happened very fast and with little pause to rest. This created a strong suspense. Someone set Mallory up to look like an illegal drug addict. Even her family suspected her and urged her to get help or they'd go to the police. Darien supported her efforts to discover the truth of what's going on. He listened to both sides, not just accepting her word because he's got a crush on her. The romance happened pretty quickly, but he's supportive and helpful (and it's not like they're getting married at the end). There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this short story to fans of 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.

The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar by Liese Sherwood-Fabre

The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar
by Liese Sherwood-Fabre

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 314 pages
Publisher: Little Elm Press
Released: May 15th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The Holmes family plans to celebrate the Easter holidays in London until a tragedy during the 1868 Oxford-Cambridge Boat race puts Mycroft Holmes’ reputation on the line.

When Mycroft Holmes identifies a drowning victim, he is drawn into a situation that could destroy not only Lord Surminster's name, but his own reputation as well. If ruled a suicide, the lord’s assets will be returned to the Crown, leaving his mother and siblings destitute. Should that happen, the victim’s sister has threatened to drag Mycroft’s good name through the mire. Will Sherlock be able determine what happened before more than one family is destroyed?


My Review:
The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar is a mystery set in 1868 in England. It's the third book in a series, but it works as a standalone novel as well. The main character is a teenaged Sherlock Holmes, and the story shows how he learned to be a detective (mainly from his logical, medically-trained mother). I felt like the author did a good job of capturing the personalities of Sherlock and Mycroft as they developed toward the adult characters.

The author has deeply researched this time period. Historical details were woven into the story, bringing the setting and manners alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing. The characters were logical, asked good questions, and followed up on clues. I actually liked that Sherlock got a little sidetracked about the motive behind the events. While whodunit didn't come as a surprise and was guessable from the clues, the big reveal happened when the bad guys captured the Holmes brothers. This case was certainly a learning experience for them. I liked that the official detective on the case was also clever. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Aftermath by Terri Blackstock

Aftermath
by Terri Blackstock

ISBN-13: 9780310345978
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: May 11th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Criminal attorney Jamie Powell will accept the consequences for defending her lifelong friend, Dustin, when he’s accused of setting the bombs that killed dozens at a local political rally. But she hasn’t seen him since he aged out of foster care, and he’s always lived on the edge. As Jamie investigates his case and the people in his life, she realizes the facts coming to light could be devastating. Someone is setting him up...but proving it might hurt Dustin more than the accusation itself.


My Review:
Aftermath is a Christian romantic suspense. Dustin had a troubled childhood after his parents died, but he thrived in the Army and later created his own successful security firm. Only, someone has set him up as a clear suspect in a political rally bombing. He needs the help of an old friend who always believed in him and who's now a lawyer. Jamie fights to uncover the real culprit behind the bombing while protecting her client.

The suspense was created by the physical danger and emotional upheaval created by the bombing situation. The characters were interesting and reacted realistically to events. Jamie and Dustin worked together to prove his innocence and solve whodunit. They grew closer as they built upon their past friendship and acknowledged how much they cared for each other. While whodunit seemed like an obvious suspect to me and Jamie also suggested that person, it was understandable that Dustin needed further proof. I was frustrated, though, that Dustin didn't even try to not implicate himself when he found and was searching through evidence of the crime (and leaving his fingerprints all over it).

Some of the characters struggled to understand why God allowed some to live and others to die. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting 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.

In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem

In a Far-Off Land
by Stephanie Landsem

ISBN-13: 9781496450425
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House
Released: May 4th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
As the Great Depression hits the Midwest, Minerva Sinclaire runs away to Hollywood, determined to make it big and save the family farm. But beauty and moxie don't pay the bills in Tinseltown, and she's caught in a downward spiral of poverty, desperation, and compromise. Finally, she's about to sign with a major studio and make up for it all. Instead, she wakes up next to a dead film star and is on the run for a murder she didn't commit.

Only two unwilling men--Oscar, a Mexican gardener in danger of deportation, and Max, a too-handsome agent battling his own demons--can help Mina escape corrupt police on the take and the studio big shots trying to frame her. But even her quick thinking and grit can't protect her from herself. Alone, penniless, and carrying a shameful secret, Mina faces the consequences of the heartbreaking choices that brought her to ruin . . . and just might bring her back to where she belongs.


My Review:
In a Far-Off Land is a historical romance set in 1931 in America. It's loosely based on the lost/prodigal son parable in the Bible. It's not a mystery/suspense novel. While the story started with Mina waking up next to a murdered man, the story became a series of flashbacks. Much of the story was people thinking about or discussing or the characters telling the reader about the events that led up to that day. Very little action happened in the "current day" for about 75% of the book. Then a couple of characters discovered critical clues, quickly solved whodunit, and figured out what to do about it. The remaining story was about healing broken relationships.

While I enjoy historical fiction, I'm not really interested in detailed descriptions of every single piece of clothing that the characters wore beyond the initial setup of their style. Same for the detailed descriptions of the restaurants, houses, etc. So the pacing felt a little slow to me. I liked that the author included the relationship tensions created by the prejudice against Mexicans and the bastard status of Max. Anyway, the story was a depressing litany of how these realistic and complex characters made bad decision after bad decision, leading to sad and tragic outcomes. Mina was a thief, prostitute, liar, and selfish, but she came across as a sympathetic character even though I didn't relate to her situation or choices.

At the end, Mina received the profound mercy and grace of a father's unconditional love. This helped her to understand God's unconditional love when she felt like God had no time for the likes of her. There was no bad language. There were veiled references to sex (no detailed sex scenes). Overall, I'd recommend this story as long as you realize it's a slow, relational novel that shows God's love for the undeserving. It excelled at that.


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.

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

Never Miss
by Melissa Koslin

ISBN-13: 9780800738396
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: May 4th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile's life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him--and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there's no one they can trust--except perhaps each other.


My Review:
Never Miss is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Kadance and Lyndon respected each other's unique skills and trusted one another's judgment, so they worked very well together as an awesome team. While Lyndon was a genius scientist, he also knew how to fight well enough to back Kadance up. Each let the one best suited lead when their skill was needed and supported their actions. Because of their unique backgrounds and abilities, they both understood what it's like to not quite fit in and felt comfortable opening up to each other. Still, they had to work through some misunderstandings as they learned more about each other.

The suspense remained high due to several attempts to kill them and the pressure to uncover who's going to release the super Ebola virus at the State of the Union speech. The main characters were likable, honorable people who reacted realistically to the situations. I cared about what happened to them. I loved that Kadance really was intelligent and skilled and didn't suddenly, at the end, throw away her gun or something just so that the hero had a chance to rescue her.

The Christian element was a few references to prayer and Kadance asking Lyndon how an intelligent scientist could believe in the existence of God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I would recommend this enjoyable, exciting 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.

The Moonlit Murders by Fliss Chester

The Moonlit Murders
by Fliss Chester

ISBN-13: 9781838886479
ebook: 303 pages
Publisher: Bookouture
Released: April 21st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1945. Fen Churche books passage on a steam ship from France to America, excited to dance the night away in the glamorous ballroom and play games on deck. Then a diamond tiara goes missing, and Fen promises to find it when her friend Genie is accused. During the search, they find the body of a German passenger hidden in a lifeboat. Then Fen finds Genie, a young actress bound for Broadway, strangled in her own cabin. With no police on board, Fen decides to do a little snooping of her own.

Fen feels sure these dreadful crimes are linked. Through her sleuthing she meets light-hearted lieutenants returning from the war, charming stewards, and snooty first-class passengers. Can Fen solve the case before they dock in New York and the killer escapes for good?


My Review:
The Moonlit Murders is a mystery set in 1945 in France and on the ocean. This is the third book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Fen asked good questions, was observant, and was able to link the clues together to solve the mysteries. It seemed obvious from nearly the beginning who was the jewel thief, though I wasn't certain until the end about whether or not that person had a partner. Whodunit was guessable based on the clues. Each clue just made me more certain of who murdered the German. The clues weren't quite so clear cut about who murdered Genie. The main characters were interesting, engaging, and had realistic reactions to events. Historical details like turns of phrase or rationing were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing.

There was no sex. There were only a few 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.

The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

The Nature of a Lady
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780764237188
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: May 4th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
1906. Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.


My Review:
The Nature of a Lady is a Christian romance set in 1906 in England. Oliver's sister has gone missing. People keep delivering messages and objects to Lady Elizabeth because she's living in the same vacation cottage and both women have a similar look. However, Oliver's sister promised an archaeological find to some men who now think that Lady Elizabeth is their contact and is withholding their prize. They've already killed one boy to get their treasure. Libby and Oliver must find Beth before more people get hurt.

Libby and Oliver shared an interest in science and studying nature. Oliver encouraged Libby to learn more, sharing his knowledge with her. He also respected her intelligence and her courage during their efforts to protect and find his sister. She encouraged him to live up to his faith and forgive a longtime rival. All of the characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to the main characters.

Libby felt that science explained the world without a need for God. Oliver, a vicar, explained that learning more about God's creation didn't negate the need for God. He helped her to a sense of wonder at Christ's act offering salvation. Based on one sentence, it seemed like Libby still felt that the things she discovered using science should be used to reinterpret the Bible. I'd assert instead that the Bible helps us to properly interpret what we discover through science. After all, God knows how He created everything! There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable historical romance with a 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.