Of Sword and Shadow by A.L. Sowards

Of Sword and Shadow by A.L. Sowards ISBN-13: 9781524413583 Paperback: 251 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: February 8, 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Greece, 1379. She is known by many names, none of them her own. In truth, she is an unnamed slave, nothing more than a weapon in the hands of her owner in his attempts to provoke political mayhem. When she encounters a handsome young man while on an assignment, she thinks little of him—until he attempts to take what she has stolen. But in her line of work, failure is not an option.

Gillen is intrigued by the mysterious woman who thwarts his mission. But when his path crosses hers again, his intrigue turns to gratitude as the thief he comes to call Eudocia saves his life. The two form a bond of friendship and join forces to wrest control from a group of ruthless rulers. But as their camaraderie blossoms into something more, Gillen and Eudocia must fight for love even as they wage war for a better future.


My Review:
Of Sword and Shadow is a romance and adventure set in 1379 in Greece. The characters were well-developed, complex, interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. Gillen's a Christian and a soldier who has sworn a vow to God to help the innocent, so he's doing what he can to remove bad rulers from power. Eudocia had never been valued let alone loved, but she began to see her worth and see herself as more than just a slave because Gillen treated her that way. She had to obey her master who warned her away from Gillen, but she was still hired to help with this political scheme and increasingly became a vital part of it. The adventure involved many suspenseful scenes of them using very creative ways to barely manage to get out of serious trouble. The historical details about the political takeover were woven into the story with many unknown details added by the author.

Eudocia was also introduced to the forgiveness and second chances offered by Jesus Christ. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting, 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.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna ISBN-13: 9781984848697 Hardcover: 432 pages Publisher: Delacorte Press Released: Feb. 9, 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else in this Northern village because of her Southern, dark-skinned mother, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital and trains for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself.


My Review:
The Gilded Ones is a young adult fantasy novel. Though somewhat dark in tone, this reminds me of the epic fantasies I used to read when I was young. The women of this empire are oppressed through a religion that says they will be accepted by their god only if they submit to men and follow many rules. Rules that Deka quickly learns are meant to prevent "demon" women from realizing their power. The men have been identifying these women as soon as they come into their power and then kill them. But they're difficult to kill and so may need to be killed multiple ways until they really die. This is the dark part of the story. Deka and the other women are exploited and are tortured to keep them in line even after they agree to fight for the Emperor. We're not really graphically shown the torture, but we're told that it happens and see how this mentally affects the girls.

Throughout the story, Deka and the other warrior girls start to uncover the many lies that they have been told about their role and their power. Some of the twists won't surprise longtime fantasy readers, but it's still enjoyable to watch the girls grow in strength, knowledge, and self-confidence as they uncover the truth. They envision a future where women and men are equals in opportunities and respect. This novel tells a complete story, but we're told about possible future battles that suggest a sequel in the future.

The characters were well developed, complex, and reacted realistically to events. They were likable, and I cared about what happened to them. The world-building created a land that was unique without getting bogged down in details unnecessary to the story. The mystery about why Deka is different and about who will die in battle added suspense. There were no sex scenes. There were a few uses of bad language (an evil man repeatedly called the women b**ches in one scene). Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, interesting fantasy. I look forward to future novels in the 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.

Trailing a Killer by Carol J. Post

Trailing a Killer
by Carol J. Post

ISBN-13: 9781335405005
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: February 9th 2021


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A killer with an explosive agenda and a K-9 and determined detective on the case.

In a hurricane’s aftermath, Detective Erin Jeffries is stunned when she and her search-and-rescue K-9, Alcee, uncover a collapsed building’s only survivor—her long-ago ex, Cody Elbourne. And it’s quickly clear that the disaster was no accident. Now only Cody can identify the man who set the explosives that killed his grandfather…and Erin must stop the killer dead set on silencing him.


My Review:
Trailing a Killer is a Christian romantic suspense novel. I liked that Cody never questioned Erin's abilities as a cop. When he resisted her suggestions on how to stay safe, it wasn't because he thought her incompetent or that he knew better but because he didn't like his freedom being restricted and financially needed to keep working. After she was proven correct several times, he was willing to follow her suggestions because he realized that the situation was serious and she could keep him alive. The romance started back when they were young, but they parted and had some really bad romantic experiences that put them off dating and marriage. As they got to know each other again, they realized what a relationship between them could offer might be worth the risk.

The main characters were thoughtful, likable, and reacted realistically to events. Suspense was created by multiple attempts to kill Cody while Erin's investigation kept hitting dead ends. Erin found strength and healing in God. Cody initially wasn't interested in religion, though he was curious about why Erin believed since she didn't need a religious crutch. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it.


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.

Endless Mercy by Tracie Peterson; Kimberley Woodhouse

Endless Mercy
by Tracie Peterson;
Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764232503
Paperback: 364 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: January 5th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Madysen Powell has always been a forgiving person, but when her supposedly dead father shows up in Nome, Alaska, her gift for forgiveness is tested. With the recent loss of her mother, she searches for answers, leaning on Granny Beaufort, a neighbor in town, who listens with a kind heart. Still, Madysen is restless and dreams of performing her music around the world. The arrival of a traveling show could prove just the chance she needs, and the manager promises more than she ever dreamed.

Daniel Beaufort arrives in Nome, searching for his own answers after the gold rush leaves him with only empty pockets. Still angry about the death of his loved ones, he longs to start fresh but doesn't have high hopes until he ends up helping at the Powell dairy making cheese. Drawn to the beautiful redhead with big dreams, will the promise of fame and a crush on another man take her from him before he even has a chance?


My Review:
Endless Mercy is a Christian romance set in 1904 in Alaska. It's the second book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous book to understand this one. However, it does continue the story of the entire family. Since there were so many point of view characters, the reader knew much more than each character. This could have been a story about Madysen choosing between a man offering her presents, flattery, and life as a star on the stage or the man who showed his love for her through his true friendship and helpful, hard work. Yet we know from the beginning that one is a con man who intends to use and abuse her, so it was more of a horror/suspense of, "don't do it!"

The family was full of grief, turmoil, and change, which was part of the reason why Madysen was tempted to leave rather than stay and struggle with forgiving those that hurt her. Daniel was angry at God and needed to work through why God allows bad things to happen. The characters were well-developed and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Though Madysen and Daniel said some hard words to each other, it was done out of caring and ultimately built the other person up. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I 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.

Crime of the Ancient Marinara by Stephanie Cole

Crime of the Ancient Marinara by Stephanie Cole ISBN-13: 9780593097816 Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Books Released: January 26th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Nell Valenti is settling into her role of transforming the Villa Orlandini into a superb farm-to-table cooking school, and the time has finally come for a full taste test run. But when Chef Orlandini prepares to reveal his top secret marinara recipe for the first time to a group of American gastro-tourists, Nell realizes she might have bitten off more than she can chew.

Nell begins to suspect that one of the tourists is actually a private detective sent to spy on her by her overprotective father, and the fussy foodies are noisy and disrespectful from the very start of the Marinara Mysteriosa workshop. Even worse, when one visitor appears to be poisoned by the famous marinara recipe, Nell will have to work fast to uncover a killer and keep a lid on bad press before her fresh start is spoiled for good.


My Review:
Crime of the Ancient Marinara is a cozy mystery. This novel is the 2nd in the series, and this story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous book. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one, but you may wonder why Nell likes Pete so much since he mainly acted stressed and jealous in this book.

Nell was often in awkward or mildly humorous situations (situational humor), but she didn't come across as incompetent. She felt like she had to solve the murder to save her job and the school. It was a clue-based mystery, and Nell poked around people's rooms and asked questions to find clues. Frankly, I thought whodunit was pretty obvious from the start, though there were two others who acted suspicious who also could've done it. I still don't like that Nell withholds evidence from the police. She could have taken a picture of the evidence for her own use rather than taking the original from the scene.

There were no sex scenes. 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.

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson ISBN-13: 9780785232957 Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: January 26th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Haunted by the assault she’s kept hidden over the past four years, Charity Halliwell finally has a chance to return home to the quaint village she left more than five years before and the happy life she wants so badly to reclaim. All she needs is time with her old friends and an opportunity to find a governess position, and she can leave the fear and guilt behind. But the family who agrees to her yearlong visit turns out to be a far cry from the one she thought she knew, particularly when her friend disappears and the one man she made certain would not be at the house is forced to return--the only gentleman who ever held a piece of her heart.

Piers Cavanagh was branded a coward when he failed to show up for a duel he arranged. He had his reasons, but disclosing them would hurt far more than life as a social outcast. With the mysterious disappearance of his sister, the strange nightly occurrences in the ruins of an old abbey, and the uncomfortable whispers of a secret organization, Piers must work with the last person he ever thought he would get the chance to speak to again—the girl whose heart he had no choice but to break.


My Review:
The Vanishing at Loxby Manor is a Christian romance (with a mystery) set in 1816 in England. Frankly, I want to know what happened to the maid that was sent for help in the prologue and who should've quickly returned with that help. Instead, she's mysteriously never talked about again even though her absence set off a complex sequence of events that deeply impacted people years later. But ignore that since it's otherwise a very good book.

Charity was assaulted several years ago (which was described very vaguely and as not having 'taken everything'). She feels like she can't trust men or welcome their attentions now and is ruined, though no one knows about it. She's very distressed when her friend, Pier's sister, insists on going out alone at night and completely disappears. She's determined to uncover what happened and find her friend. She works with Piers, the man she used to want to marry and learns to trust again. He has his own ruined reputation to deal with, called a coward because he won't to explain why he missed a duel. Both find renewed friendship and healing as they uncover all of the secrets of the past.

The characters were complex, reacted realistically to events, and I cared about what happened to them. The mystery was complex, and the main characters asked good questions about what was going on. As clues and truths about the past and present were uncovered, several people died as people attempted to get free of the deception and evil that entrapped them. Piers and Charity built each other up, worked well together, and based their romance on a long-standing friendship. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I highly recommend this enjoyable romance and 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.

Claw & Disorder by Eileen Watkins

Claw & Disorder by Eileen Watkins ISBN-13: 9781496722980 Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Kensington Released: January 26th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Expert groomer Cassie McGlone knows how to handle even the feistiest of felines, but their owners are a different tale! Around the quaint town of Chadwick, New Jersey, are two families in need of Cassie's help. Wealthy perfectionist Gillian Foster is orchestrating the restoration of her family's nineteenth century home and wants her purebred Himalayan, Leya, boarded at Cassie's Comfy Cats. Meanwhile, the elderly Tillmans are in dire straits, hoarding possessions and a clowder of cats in their run-down house. Perhaps Cassie can persuade the couple to surrender a few of their furry friends. Unfortunately, neither task is cut and dried...

Mrs. Tillman is mysteriously asphyxiated in the night, and suspicion falls on her husband--and their cats. Meanwhile, the Fosters host a banquet for the local historical society, and when one of their guests falls gravely Gillian is convinced someone is out to get her. After a second death occurs, it's clear a killer isn't pussyfooting around. Now it's up to Cassie to get these houses in order before disaster pounces again.


My Review:
Claw & Disorder is a cat-themed cozy mystery. It's the fifth 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 a clue-based puzzle mystery. Cassie asked questions and passed on possible clues and scenarios to the detective, who followed up on them. Neither of the mysteries were that difficult to guess, but they were more difficult to prove. The main characters were likable, interesting people who reacted realistically to events. When Cassie was not caring for the cats or solving mysteries, she spent time with her boyfriend and a new hobby of his...along with fending off an aggressive woman interested in him.

There were no sex scenes. There was a minor amount 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.