Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay

Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay ISBN-13: 9781939023001 Trade Paperback: 270 pages Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing Released: May 15, 2013

Source: Review copy from the author.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
After a daring rescue goes awry, Laine Harkness and her friend Eshana flee to the tropical south of India…and headlong into their respective pasts.

Laine takes a nursing position at a plantation in the jungle, only to discover that her former fiancé is the owner. Eshana, captured by her traditional uncle and forced once more into the harsh Hindu customs of mourning, doubts freedom will ever be hers again, much less the forbidden love that had begun to flower.

Amid cyclones, epidemics, and clashing faiths, will the love of the True Master give hope to these searching hearts?


My Review:
Captured by Moonlight is a historical romance novel set in 1921 in India. It's the second in a series. You don't have to read the previous book to follow this one, but this book revealed how the romance of the previous one turned out.

This story had two romantic pairs, but each character had their own issues to work through before the romance could truly happen. They also encountered physical danger from the weather, animals, disease, and other humans. The historical and setting details helped to bring the story alive in my imagination. I'd recommend this novel foremost to fans of suspenseful historical novels as the author did a good job with this.

The characters were varied and interesting. Laine felt she had every right to know things and go places that Adam clearly wanted to be kept private. She'd go off in a huff when he wouldn't give in to her. While she was generally nice, there were times I didn't like how Laine treated people.

I occasionally wondered at the motive behind an action, like when Eshana was determined to return to the mission even though doing so would put her life in danger. A dead person can't help the mission, but she wasn't willing to wait for things to die down.

The Christian element was how various characters surrendered their life or plans to God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of historical novels.


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.

Thin Ice by Irene Hannon

Thin Ice by Irene Hannon ISBN-13: 9780800724535 Trade Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Revell Released: Jan. 5, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail--addressed in her sister's handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he's coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive, who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game or the target of a sinister plot?


My Review:
Thin Ice is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the second book in a series, but you don't need to read the first novel to understand this one. This novel didn't spoil the storyline of the previous novel.

The focus seemed more on the romantic attraction than the case, and very little progress was made on the case until near the end. The suspense came from physical danger to those involved.

The heroine started out very careful when talking about the case, but she got sloppy as time went on despite the danger. She was also reluctant to provide names of who might be doing this and stops trying (rather than grasp at tenuous connections) when those don't generate leads. While she's a sweet gal who thinks the best of everyone, it came across to me as if she cared more about the FBI not bothering her acquaintances than her sister's rescue.

The Christian element was shown more in how the characters treated people and acted than through discussions about God. There was no sex or bad language. Though not my favorite novel by Hannon, I'd still recommend this enjoyable and 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.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton

To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton ISBN-13: 9780425277256 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Jan. 5, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Star City, Utah, is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble?

When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for?


My Review:
To Helvetica and Back is a cozy mystery. The mystery was mostly "why does someone want the typewriter" since the police were having trouble identifying the murdered man. Clare tracked down the history of the typewriter and any clues relating to it. Her best friend, a police detective, focused on the murder. Both had new romances going on at the same time.

The main characters were engaging, interesting, and generally nice. Their interactions brought out the humor found in life and solid friendships. The mystery was clue-based, and Clare solved the typewriter mystery by using those clues. The story ended as a suspense with a confession from whodunit solving the murder. The suspense scene came about from accidentally crossed paths and purposes, and I liked that it was "heroines to the rescue."

There was a very minor amount of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


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


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy

Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy ISBN-13: 9780425262405 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Released: Jan. 5, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But things are about to really heat up for Ollie.

News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing she is now a target.

When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush to action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts.


My Review:
Foreign Éclairs is a suspense novel. It's the ninth in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil previous whodunits (though it did spoil previous events).

A terrorist with a bomb-sized grudge is determined to kill Ollie, her boyfriend, and the President's family. Under constant watch by friend and foe, Ollie (and the good guys) need to find a way to trap the terrorists to stop their killing spree.

The characters were likable, and they dealt with realistic issues alongside the suspense: the need to find and hire a kitchen co-worker, and a president's son who is having trouble making friends in Middle School. The suspense mainly came from the physical danger.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this well-written 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.

Lizzie and the Lost Baby by Cheryl Blackford

Lizzie and the Lost Baby by Cheryl Blackford ISBN-13: 9780544570993 Hardcover: 192 pages Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Released: Jan. 12, 2016

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

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Cheryl Blackford's debut novel is set in England during World War II and told from the dual perspectives of ten-year-old Lizzie, a homesick girl evacuated from bomb-blitzed Hull to the remote Yorkshire valley, and Elijah, a local gypsy boy. When Lizzie discovers an abandoned baby, will she be able to find the baby's parents? And if she does, can she and Elijah overcome prejudice and fear to return the baby to its rightful mother?


My Review:
Lizzie and the Lost Baby is middle grade fiction. The author grew up in the city of Hull, in England, and sets the story in an area that she's visited. This knowledge of the area helps to make the story feel realistic. The story is aimed at tweens (ages 9-12), so it's a quick read. It provided a look at what it was like for the children evacuated from the cities in WWII to protect them from bombing and what it was like to live with a stranger.

The main characters were Lizzie and her younger brother, who are evacuees, and Elijah, a gypsy boy. Each faced a moral dilemma relating to the "lost" child. Are they willing to expose secrets and stand up to adults to do the right thing? I liked the characters and the setting, and I found the story interesting. I think it's more a type of book that tweens would read once rather than become a repeatedly read favorite, but it's well-written and should appeal to tweens that are interested in history and other cultures (like the gypsies).


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.

Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima ISBN-13: 9781629533810 Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Crooked Lane Books Released: December 8, 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When a young girl is found dead in the mountains outside Timber Creek, life-long resident Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, are assigned to the case that has rocked the small Colorado town.

With the help of Cole Walker, local veterinarian and a single father, Mattie and Robo must track down the truth before it claims another victim. But the more Mattie investigates, the more she realizes how many secrets her hometown holds. And the key may be Cole's daughter, who knows more than she's saying.

The murder was just the beginning, and if Mattie isn’t careful, she and Robo could be next.


My Review:
Killing Trail is a K9-detective mystery. Officer Mattie Cobb is learning to trust her dog and pick up on what he's telling her. Since she's going to run the local high school's anti-drug program, she also has to move beyond her past as a foster kid and rebellious teenager. Cole Walker is very busy with his veterinarian practice which has led to his wife leaving him and their daughters. Add to that pain, his teenage daughter's friend has been murdered. He struggles to be there for his daughters while dealing with his own pain.

The characters were realistic and likable. Robo is a well-trained working dog who loves his job, so don't expect a "cutesy dog." The author clearly put a lot of effort into getting the K9 and vet parts correct. These details made the story feel real without slowing the pace.

The crime was a clue-based, puzzle mystery. About halfway through, I had two strong suspects. Mattie soon picked up on the more obvious one. I could understand why she didn't suspect the other one despite various clues also pointing that way. The story keep my interest to the exciting, action-packed end as I wanted to see how it all played out.

There were no sex scenes. The was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, interesting 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.

Rend the Dark by Mark Gelineau, Joe King

Rend the Dark by Mark Gelineau, Joe King ISBN-13: 9781944015022 Paperback: 78 pages Publisher: Gelineau and King Released: Oct. 15, 2015

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, My Take:
The village of Groveland Down is safe from the dark creatures of legendary times. A Warden investigating recent disappearances expects to find human bandits as the cause. He spots the signs of something far worse, though: creatures of nightmares that can hide among humans by wearing our skin. He calls in the Order of Talan, whose warriors can clearly see or sense the Demons of the broken night.

Ferran and Mireia use their abilities to hunt these Demons to protect humankind. They willingly face death to protect strangers who don't always believe the Demons still exist. Evil lurks in or near the village, yet Ferran and Mireia can't spot any Demons among the villagers. The monsters are horrible enough in their true forms, but not knowing when evil might strike might be worse...


My Review:
The authors designated this story as both fantasy and horror genre. I don't normally read horror stories, but I liked their other stories so much that I decided to give this short story/novella a chance.

Rend the Dark is a high-suspense fantasy with a dark, monster theme and heroic characters. The suspense was built through ever-increasing danger and the character's reactions to facing the horror of the Ruins (demons, monsters). The world-building was worked naturally into the story so the reader understands what's going on but without slowing down the action or breaking the tension.

The characters were developed enough that we can understand why each reacted to the situation the way they did. Their reactions differed and showed each as an individual. Though faced with a dangerous and overwhelming situation, they each find--in their own way--their courage and a reason to fight on.

There was no sex or bad language. There was some gore, but the sense of horror was conveyed more by the characters' reactions than by dwelling on gruesome descriptions. Overall, I'd recommend this quick read to fans of monster stories and darker-themed, high-suspense fantasy.


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.