The Secret of the Lost Pearls by Darcie Wilde

The Secret of the Lost Pearls
by Darcie Wilde

ISBN-13: 9781496738011
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: February 2nd 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a “most useful woman,” Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing.

Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany’s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany’s disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead.

But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief—and who is a killer.


My Review:
The Secret of the Lost Pearls is a mystery set in 1820 in England. This is the sixth book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Rosalind asked good questions and collected information. She's clever, but many of the people involved lied to her, making determining the truth more difficult. Whodunit (who stole the pearls, who killed Nora's husband) was guessable near the end but wasn't obvious. The characters were interesting and reacted realistically to events. Historical details were woven into the story and helped bring the time period alive in my imagination.

There was no sex. There was occasional use 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.

Wilderness Hunt by Lisa Phillips

Wilderness Hunt
by Lisa Phillips

ISBN-13: 9781335587442
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: December 27th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When a plane carrying a federal witness crashes in the Montana backwoods, Officer Kelly Wayne and her K-9, Nico, track it down—and discover Ethan Harrigan injured with amnesia. Now with the mafia on their trail, Kelly must protect the man she thinks ruined her career. But nothing’s as it seems, and trusting the wrong person could get them all killed.


My Review:
Wilderness Hunt is a Christian romantic suspense novel. When Kelly was removed from an undercover assignment gathering evidence against a mafia boss, she moved to a rural area in Montana to become a K9 officer. Determined to prove her worth, she and her K9 set out to find a plane crashed in the wilderness carrying a federal witness. To her surprise, it's the police officer that she worked with undercover. The bad guys think he's not only a vital witness but knows the location of some missing mafia money. His brother Ethan was also on the plane along with at least one corrupt federal marshal. So all of them were wandering in the wilderness, hunted by thugs who want the money. Then it got even more complex. Kelly and Ethan had to sort it all out.

Ethan didn't know who to trust except Kelly, who's only worked to rescue him. Since she was involved in the undercover case, she's also in danger. Lots of people were out to hurt them in pursuit of the money, including some people who ought to be protecting them. I appreciated that Kelly was a competent cop the entire story, though she was injured and needed Ethan to help watch her back. Ethan's an ex-marine, so he's able to help protect them when his concussion wasn't messing with his skill. They generally got long well and appreciated each other's skill and support. They came to care about each other and wanted to try at a relationship after the current suspense was done. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd 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.

Laurel's Dream by Pepper D. Basham

My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream
by Pepper D. Basham

ISBN-13: 9781683227793
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books
Released: January 1st 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Journey into the Blue Ridge Mountains of 1918 where Laurel McAdams endures the challenges of a hard life while dreaming things can eventually improve. But trouble arrives in the form of an outsider. Having failed his British father again, Jonathan Taylor joins is uncle's missionary endeavors as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse. Laurel feels compelled to protect the tenderhearted teacher from the harsh realities of Appalachian life, even while his stories of life outside the mountains pull at Laurel's imagination. Faced with angry parents over teaching methods, Laurel's father's drunken rages, and bad news from England, will Jonathan leave and never return?


My Review:
Laurel's Dream is a Christian romance set in 1918 in the Appalachian Mountains. Laurel dreamed of saving up enough money to go to college, become a teacher, and come back to teach the local people. No outsider teacher stayed around or really understood the local culture enough to make an impact.

Jonathan left England to teach at the school because of his father's deep disapproval of him. He encouraged Laurel to develop her writing and storytelling skills as well as her dream of becoming a teacher. He dreamed of finishing his medical education so he could better serve the local's medical needs. But an accident leads to what appears to be the end of both their dreams.

The characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. The historical and setting details immersed me into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. Laurel struggled with why God would apparently deny her dream since she just wanted to help others. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen

The Sisters of Sea View
by Julie Klassen

ISBN-13: 9780764234262
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: December 6th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When their father's death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers convinces her sisters to open their seaside home to guests to provide for their ailing mother. Emily and Georgiana agree, but Viola, who wears a veil to cover a scar, detests the idea.

Determined to stay together, the sisters begin the new venture. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family. Meanwhile, the new situation exposes Viola's scars--both the visible and those hidden deep within--and her cloistered heart will never be the same.


My Review:
The Sisters of Sea View is a Christian romance set in 1819 in England. While three sisters had potential romances going on, this was mainly Viola's romance. She was born with a cleft lip and faced prejudice for it until, after several torturous surgeries, she finally had the lip fixed with only a scar left. But she's mentally scarred, too, so she wore a veil and avoided going out rather than face rejection. She chose to read to invalids to earn money, and her first client was a military man who was terribly burned while saving a friend from a fire. Viola quickly learned to look past his physical scars (though his attitude needed adjusting), yet she couldn't believe that others could do the same toward her. She (and the client) had to struggle through these issues and find the courage to face the world without hiding.

Historical details were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The characters were engaging, varied, and acted in realistic ways. I cared about what happened to them, including people staying at Sea View and the reading clients. They faced challenges and grew in character. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Shot Caller by Jen J. Danna

Shot Caller
by Jen J. Danna

ISBN-13: 9781496727916
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Released: August 31st 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
On Rikers Island, tensions always run high, especially in the Enhanced Supervision Housing unit. The ESH is home to Rikers' most dangerous offenders, many of them members of rival street gangs. When Gemma Capello and her team get word of an uprising at the ESH, they know how much is at stake. Gemma also has her own unresolved feelings to deal with--this is the first case she and Detective Sean Logan have worked together since a siege at City Hall that ended with the hostage taker's death.

Built to hinder escape, prisons are also especially difficult for a tactical team to invade. That's a last resort for Gemma, but the longer the inmates remain in control, holding corrections officers hostage, the greater the risk. Gemma begins negotiating with Kill Switch, a young, aggressive member of the Filero Kings gang and the inmates' spokesman. She can tell the stress level is escalating inside. That may give her team some advantages, but it soon leads to a brutal act of retribution--and threats of more to come.

Navigating assumptions on all sides, Gemma desperately tries to stop the body count from rising. But with disagreements and volatility increasing all around, the only certainty is that the next misstep may be a fatal one.


My Review:
Shot Caller is a suspense novel. It's the second book in a series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. The whole book was a negotiation between Gemma (working with the NYPD hostage negotiator team that she's a part of) and the inmates who took over a prison unit with officers taken as hostages. She tried to save every life, but there were several rival gangs vying for control, making the situation even more difficult. The suspense was high throughout as Gemma negotiated with men who were already in a disciplinary unit (so they didn't like or trust authority figures) and some were serving life sentences (so what's to lose?). The author did a great job of creating an intense, sustained suspense as to what would happen next!

The characters were interesting, acted in realistic ways, and I cared about what happened to them. Gemma is an awesome character. She's very competent at her job, is respected by her co-workers, and values life very highly. There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Into the West by Mercedes Lackey

Into the West
by Mercedes Lackey

ISBN-13: 9780756417369
Hardback: 496 pages
Publisher: DAW Books
Released: December 6th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Baron Valdemar and his people have found a temporary haven, but trouble could follow on their heels at any moment, and there are too many people for Crescent Lake to support. Those who are willing to make a further trek by barge on into the West will follow him into a wilderness depopulated by war and scarred by the terrible magics of a thousand years ago during the Mage Wars. But the wilderness is not as empty as it seems. There are potential friends and rapacious foes....and someone is watching them.


My Review:
Into the West is a fantasy. It's the second book in a series, and you'll better understand this book if you read them in order. This book also spoiled events in the first book.

Unfortunately, about a third of this book could have been cut or briefly summarized without changing the story, and the pacing would have been a lot better. The beginning dragged as we're told in people's thoughts (not shown, but told) how the people have been making do and using every last bit of resources with nothing to waste. We're told again and again the details about how every part of an animal was used for food, arrows, condoms, etc. We're not just told that they made winter clothing, we're given details about how it was sewn together. Details about how the manure left behind was handled and how a quick-growing grass spell worked (though this changed by the end, when dung wasn't apparently needed any more and even the rain was diverted). The author obviously put a lot of thought into the logistics of how to move thousands of fictional people in a magical world, but I just found this boring. Just say they made winter clothing, not half a page detailing how, especially as it didn't turn out to matter how they did it.

The Baron wasn't very interesting or realistic, either. Despite the first few sentences, he didn't really seem to struggle to change his ways from Empire ways to fully noble and self-sacrificing. He rarely made mistakes (though we're told why about halfway through) and everyone loved him (or got kicked out of the group). He gave himself pages-long lectures about how a wise leader acts. He and others thought about every last detailed reason why certain actions were or weren't allowed (like not letting the tow horses eat while working). He had a full conversation with one group of people and then went to a new group and repeated that full conversation. Things were just repeated a lot. When he negotiated near the end, he made everything extremely complicated in his thoughts, and I just gave up and skimmed that section rather than try to follow his reasoning.

However, Delia's sections were fun as she learned to use her skills and grew into a responsible adult. The sections with the fights against the odd, magical creatures were interesting as the characters had to think fast and experiment to see what would work. There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of 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.

Meriden Park by Julie Daines

Meriden Park
by Julie Daines

ISBN-13: 9781524422431
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: December 5th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Following her childhood rescue from the gutters of Calcutta, Mary Grace has lived an astonishing rags-to-riches tale. The childless Wellings raised the half-Indian orphan with love and care, allowing her to grow into a beautiful and refined woman. But upon Mr. Welling's death, Mrs. Welling takes Mary home to England, to Meriden Park.

Despite her genial nature, Mary is received with suspicion by the villagers. For his part, however, Mr. Robert Markham is intrigued by the curious new beauty in town. Determined to make her acquaintance, he offers Mary a bargain: a hot cross bun for a kiss. She offers her hand for the kiss. The first of many encounters between Robert and Mary, their friendship blossoms into love during long walks in the privacy of Sherwood Forest. But the shadows of the forest hide a sinister secret, one Mary fears Robert might be a part of. As the mystery of the recent string of murders creeps closer and closer, Robert and Mary are drawn into a dangerous game. Unless she can unearth the truth, the couple risks losing one another forever.


My Review:
Meriden Park is a romance set in 1812 in England. Robert's enamored with the tales of Robin Hood, and he's trying to bring down a villain of his own who uses Sherwood Forest for smuggling. Robert's friends have been murdered after telling him of their suspicions but before proof could be found. With no land or money of his own, plus a bad heart, he can only offer Mary his admiration and friendship.

Mary's kind and polite to all but felt safe enough with Robert that she expressed her opinions. Usually, she's very aware that her origins mean that she doesn't fit in even with the correct manners and dress. She feels helpless as her one source of love and support, Mrs. Welling, is in poor health and she suspects that Robert's involved in something dangerous.

The main characters were likable, and Robert and Mary built each other up. When with Robert and later to help him, Mary came out of hiding behind her "mask." She discovered by the end the number of people she'd befriended and inspired along the way. Historical details were woven into the story to provide a distinct sense of the time and place. There was no sex or modern bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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.

Murder In The Basement by Anthony Berkeley

Murder In The Basement
by Anthony Berkeley

ISBN-13: 9781728261249
Trade Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Released: December 6th 2022

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Anthony Berkeley, one of the most influential crime writers of the 1920s and 1930s and founder of the prestigious Detection Club, returns to the reading public. Murder in the Basement was first published in 1932.

When newlyweds move into a new home only to discover a corpse in their basement, a grueling police investigation begins to identify the victim. When avenues of inquiry peter out, Chief Inspector Moresby follows a tenuous lead to amateur criminologist Roger Sheringham, who has been working in a school south of London. In need of evidence of any kind, Moresby picks through Sheringham's satirical novel about his colleagues at the school, convinced that the colorful cast of teachers hides the victim—and perhaps their murderer.


My Review:
Murder In The Basement is a mystery set in 1932 in England. This novel is the 8th in the series, but you don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one. This story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books. The first part of the novel described the finding of the body and the investigative steps taken by Chief Inspector Moresby to first identify the victim and then the murderer. While all the clues pointed toward one person, there wasn't enough proof to win the case in court.

Roger temporarily worked at the school that the victim was tracked back to and contributed to the investigation by describing the people and their relationships. By the end, Roger decided that he had to know what really happened for his personal satisfaction. He described his version of what happened to someone who knew more about the crime to see if he'd confirm it. I assume we're supposed to accept this scenario and feel satisfied, but I didn't like that neither man cared about justice. I also felt like whodunit was portrayed as too passive to "seize the chance" or plan such a detailed murder and another character better fit the clues.

I liked the writing style and found the characters interesting, but I read mysteries because I like having the real murderer go to jail at the end. There were a few of uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. 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.

City of Fortune by Victoria Thompson

City of Fortune
by Victoria Thompson

ISBN-13: 9780593440575
Hardback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: December 6, 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme to give young Irene and Cal a first-place finish...if they'll accept the prize.


My Review:
City of Fortune is a historical set in 1919 in New York City. This is the 6th 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. 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.

Elizabeth is a reformed con artist married to Gideon, an honorable lawyer who refuses to lie. Elizabeth and her family has learned how to use his honesty to help in her right-a-wrong cons, and Elizabeth's friends were more than happy to be a part of the fun. The reader isn't told the plans before they happen, so there's an element of mystery and suspense. But we see events as they happen and know the overall goal, so it's fun guessing how the cons are going to go. It was very entertaining and humorous.

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.

Still Waters by Sara Driscoll

Still Waters
by Sara Driscoll

ISBN-13: 9781496735065
ebook: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Released: November 29th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win the associated dog trials. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.

The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight...


My Review:
Still Waters is a K9 suspense. This book is the seventh in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book mentioned who some bad guys were in previous mysteries, but I doubt it'll spoil those stories even if you memorize their names.

The main characters were likable, interesting, and reacted realistically to events. The high suspense came from the danger of Meg losing her job, her heart dog (Hawk), and maybe even going to jail. Even knowing that no author would actually do this to her main character, it felt like a true danger. I cared about the characters enough that I was tense. Good job! There was also some physical danger from searching in a wilderness area. The SAR dogs tracked down bodies and crime scenes while others on Meg's team researched the suspects so that they could logically sort through the information to discover whodunit.

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.