The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer

The Lost Manuscript
by Mollie Rushmeyer

ISBN-13: 9781335508423
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Released: August 29, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It’s not just Ellora Lockwood’s home that’s being emptied as she prepares to sell—her heart seems to be empty too. Since the mysterious disappearance of her beloved Grandma June and separating from her husband, Alex, Ellora has felt adrift. Then comes an invitation from Alex to teach history at a summer program at Alnwick Castle in England. He’s even found information about the location of a medieval manuscript that was her grandmother’s obsession before she vanished.

Warily, Ellora accepts Alex’s offer. Surrounded by lush English countryside and captivating history, she pieces together clues about the manuscript’s whereabouts. Could someone have been in competition with her grandmother for the manuscript? Ellora receives anonymous threats, but as she and Alex work together, she finds the courage to see this quest through, wherever it may lead…


My Review:
The Lost Manuscript is a Christian...romantic suspense? One of the major themes was Ellora and Alex deciding if they had a future together. They're still attracted to each other, but Alex didn't want children because he worried he'd fail them (like he failed his brother) and Ellora had a miscarriage of their child (which Alex didn't know about) and felt abandoned by Alex when she needed him the most. She discovered she wanted children, and she certainly wanted a loved one who didn't choose other things over her, like her parents and even her grandmother. Basically, these two complex characters needed to decide if they'd fight for their marriage rather than letting past hurts tear them apart.

One of the 'mysteries' was what happened to Ellora's grandmother, who disappeared while tracking down a historically significant, lost manuscript. However, rather than trying to trace Grandma's movements, they launched their own search for the manuscript, finding new information while also coming across traces of Grandma's search. Someone else also wanted the manuscript, and Ellora received several threats. The search was also dangerous at times, adding some suspense. As I'd figured out where they ought to search about halfway through, it felt like they took a long time coming to the same conclusion. On the other hand, they did stay on Grandma's track and found out what had happened to her.

Ellora and Alex decided that they needed to make God the steady foundation of their marriage if it was going to have a chance (though they had some trouble figuring out how to do this). There was no sex or bad language. Frankly, I never became immersed in this story, but I enjoyed what the author was trying to do with it. I'm looking forward to reading her future novels and would recommend this one.


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 Bookshop by Anita Davison

Murder in the Bookshop
by Anita Davison

ISBN-13: 9781785133060
ebook: 273 pages
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Released: August 22, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1915, London : Working in the old bookshop that her Aunt Violet mysteriously inherited, Hannah Merrill discovers her best friend Lily-Anne in the bookshop with a paperknife through her heart. With the discovery of a coded German message, and Hannah’s instinct that Lily-Anne’s husband is keeping secrets, and she determines to get to the bottom of it. Hannah is helped by her outrageous, opinionated Aunt Violet. They think they’re making progress until one of their chief suspects is found dead.


My Review:
Murder in the Bookshop is a mystery set in 1915 in London. The actual detective is smart and does his job well (yay!), but Hannah considered him the enemy because he asked her questions. She found the body, it was her knife, and she has a key for the bookshop, so it's reasonable for him to ask her questions, but she held a grudge because of it. He's a nice guy, and her aunt likes him, but Hannah criticized his every move.

Hannah had a temper, so she often got mad at people. She often thought how she'd like to slap a man for being mildly condescending. She had a talent for stumbling across clues, but not for putting them together. By the end, the detective had clearly strongly suspected a certain person for a while and managed to get a full confession out of that person. Hannah was completely surprised by it.

There were no sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of bad language. The historical details about London at the beginning of WWI were interesting. If the story was the detective and Violet solving things, I'd read the next book, but I didn't care for Hannah (who dominated the story) and prefer smart amateur detectives.


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 at the Elms by Alyssa Maxwell

Murder at the Elms
by Alyssa Maxwell

ISBN-13: 9781496736192
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: August 22, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1901: Back from their honeymoon in Italy, Emma and Derrick are adapting to married life as they return to Newport, Rhode Island and their duties at their jointly owned newspaper, the Newport Messenger.

The Elms, coal baron Edward Berwind’s newly completed Bellevue Avenue estate, is newsworthy for two reasons: it is one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity with no backup power system, generated by coal from Berwind’s own mines. And their house servants have gone on strike to protest their working conditions. Summarily dismissing and replacing his staff with cool and callous efficiency, Berwind still throws a musicale and invites Emma and Derrick. But the evening ends with an unforeseen tragedy: a chambermaid is found dead in the coal tunnel. A guest’s diamond necklace is also missing, and an outdoor worker has disappeared. Emma and Derrick help Detective Jessie Whyte to determine if the murdered maid and stolen necklace are connected.


My Review:
Murder at the Elms is a mystery set in 1901 in Newport. Emma was a horrible judge of character and was easily mislead by her own assumptions. She quickly jumped to wrong conclusions and held to those conclusions in the face of logic and actual evidence. Not that there was much evidence. Emma and Derrick only made headway by spying on other people's private conversations. At the end, Emma recognized a clue but didn't make the logical connections. However, whodunit thought she had it all figured out, so confessed all while getting ready to kill her. It was another character that saved Emma's life and solved the mystery.

Very little in this story was logical. For example, whodunit kept setting up complex schemes to make it look like other people were the prime suspects only to do things that undercut that impression, like dump a murder victim in an easy-to-find place after setting up a scene to make it look like they'd jumped off a cliff. The story also didn't feel historically accurate. For example, Emma continued working as a common newspaper reporter but the social-conscious, rich "cottage" owners didn't seem to care, inviting her (not as a reporter) to social functions and even basically letting her invite herself over to stay at their house. Emma faced no real consequences for her independent, non-conformist behavior. Finally, the author often picked the wrong word or one that gave the wrong impression. For example, a man grabbed a horse by the bit (which is mostly in the horse's mouth) when he probably grabbed the bridle or reins. I'd periodically have to stop to figure out what the author meant, so I never became immersed in the story.

This story was the 11th in the series. It started out with a rather detailed summary of Emma and Derrick's past and wedding, so it can be read as a stand-alone. It didn't spoil any previous whodunits. There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes, though married sex was implied.


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.

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White

A Beautiful Disguise
by Roseanna M. White

ISBN-13: 9780764240928
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: August 1, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father's death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch, he's intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.


My Review:
A Beautiful Disguise is a Christian romance with a mystery, set in 1909 in England. This story is a little more fanciful than previous books by this author: titled siblings with acrobatic training and a circus menagerie at their home in the country have to act as undercover private investigators to earn enough money to support themselves. Marigold has become jaded by all of the secrets they learn while on the job and feels like even the seemingly honorable Merritt must have some secrets he's hiding. (Besides being a government spy, he's happily just what he appears to be.) Merritt's involved with starting MI5, but he thinks his boss might be disloyal to England and investigates to discover the truth. He ended up needing to hire the help of The Imposters without knowing his interesting, new acquaintance--Marigold--is one of them.

The main characters were engaging, well-developed, and generally acted realistically. Marigold and Merritt got along well and built each other up. Marigold specializes in distracting people with her fashions so is disconcerted when Merritt actually sees and admires her. The suspense came from physical danger while spying and Marigold's need to keep secrets despite her growing relationship with Merritt. Historical details were woven into the story to create a distinct sense of time and place. While enjoyable, the ending reveal of whodunit and why got confusing. I'd guessed much of whodunit a good bit back, but the briefly stated motive didn't really make sense to me.

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

The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair

The Lady from Burma
by Allison Montclair

ISBN-13: 9781250854193
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: July 25, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the immediate post-WWII days of London, two unlikely partners have undertaken an even more unlikely, if necessary, business venture - The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. The two partners are Miss Iris Sparks, a woman with a dangerous - and never discussed - past in British intelligence and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family. Mostly their clients are people trying to start (or restart) their lives in this much-changed world, but their new client is something different. A happily married woman has come to them to find a new wife for her husband. Dying of cancer, she wants the two to make sure her entomologist, academic husband finds someone new once she passes.

Shortly thereafter, she's found dead in Epping Forest, in what appears to be a suicide though there is some doubt. At the same time, Bainbridge is attempting to regain legal control of her life, opposed by the conservator who has been managing her assets - perhaps not always in her best interest. When that conservator is found dead, Bainbridge herself is one of the prime suspects. Attempting to make sense of two deaths at once, to protect themselves and their clients, the redoubtable owners of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau are once again on the case.


My Review:
The Lady from Burma is a mystery set in 1946 in London. It's the fifth book in the series. It probably shouldn't be the first book you read in the series (like it was for me) because it focused a lot on Gwen's legal troubles and Iris' love life. The actual murder investigation didn't start until about halfway through, and the author gave the readers a strong hint at the very beginning about what's going on (the motive for murder). It didn't really feel like a mystery to me but more like a historical drama. Historical details were woven into the story to create a distinct sense of the time and place.

Iris was observant, smart, and came up with good, logical leads to follow up on regarding possible suspects. Gwen's the more intuitive partner, and she can also quickly spot when things don't match up and need looking into. But she's her own worst enemy. She acted on her insights in ways that weren't rational and only made things worse for her. I don't know if this is her typical behavior, but I have a hard time accepting her as an amateur detective even after she figured out critical clues. Gwen just seemed so easily overwhelmed and guided by her emotions even when she knew her actions weren't wise.

There was some bad language. There was sex (as Iris enjoys having sex even if she--a match maker--isn't looking for love) but no actual sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this as a historical but not so much as 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.

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel

The Starlet Spy
by Rachel Scott McDaniel

ISBN-13: 9781636096131
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Released: August 1, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 1943, Movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie’s homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the ‘Casablanca of the North.’ When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who’s subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the “all beauty, no brains” Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the misconception as her disguise. She’s tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Finn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive a world of deadly spies and counterspies.


My Review:
The Starlet Spy is a romantic suspense set in 1943, mostly in Sweden. The historical details drove the story and immersed me in the time period and location. The main characters were also engaging and had an interesting adventure.

Amelie's always cast as the dumb damsel-in-distress, but she wistfully wishes that someday she would be allowed to do her own stunts or help take down the bad guy. She's both nervous and excited by the idea that she can help the war effort as a spy but disappointed that she's to play the dumb blonde while doing so. She used her intelligence and intuition to solve the mystery of who had the missing suitcase but also realistically made some minor mistakes due to inexperience.

Finn's initially distressed by her willingness to run into dangerous situations (like a burning building) but soon realized that she had good reasons. She appreciated his support, and he was respectful and caring (in his own way). She slowly came to care for him through spending time with him but didn't fully trust him until she uncovered if he really was a double-spy or not. They were good for each other. The suspense was created by the danger involved in being a spy and her doubts about who could be trusted.

Amelie had moments were she felt that God was helping to guide her. There was no sex 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.

Countdown by Lynette Eason

Countdown
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800737368
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: August 1, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to do it.


My Review:
Countdown is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the 4th novel in a series, but it works as a stand alone novel. Raina was charmed by a serial killer who nearly killed her and who won't stop trying to find her to finish the job. When Raina sees a boy who looks just like her stalker, she knows the boy is in danger, so she risks her life warn him. She has to accept Vincent's help as he has the connections she needs to warn the boy. But the effort alerts her stalker to her location, and now someone's trying to kill her.

The main characters were engaging, complex, capable, and reacted realistically to events. They had personal issues to deal with in addition to stoping the killer. The suspense was high throughout as the boy was in danger and Raina was repeatedly attacked. Raina and Vincent were friends from the start, but Raina no longer trusted her romantic judgment about men and didn't want to put anyone else in danger. She accepted his help (and even thanked him) because she needed it, but it was hard for her to let Vincent know about her past and endanger himself to help her.

The Christian element was about perspective: when Raina felt God was doing a poor job of protecting them, Vincent pointed out how they were still alive and without serious injuries. They briefly talked about why God let bad things happen. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner

The All-American
by Susie Finkbeiner

ISBN-13: 9780800739362
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: July 11, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.


My Review:
The All-American is a coming-of-age story set in 1952 in New York. The story actually has two points-of-view: 16-year-old Bertha, who wants to play baseball professionally, and her 11-year-old sister, Flossie, who's a drama-queen who loves to read. Frankly, it sometimes felt more like Flossie's story than Bertha's, especially as the epilogue only explained what happened to Flossie and not the rest of the family. Flossie kept making comparisons between her life, with all it's unexpected disappointments and unfairness, with the novels she reads. She doesn't like sad novels.

The characters were likable and came across as real people who might really have lived though those events. The historical details were woven into the story and vividly brought it alive in my imagination. The main themes were women's baseball and how being accused of Communist leanings affected individuals and communities. Since this isn't a genre-typical story, I do rather wonder why talented-at-sports Bertha had to be portrayed as hopeless as a homemaker, even though she's trying.

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