First off, can I just say that I totally missed the ball with what a brilliant title A Vanishing Act is for a story about 1940s Hollywood and a missing actress? Just sayin'. Totally flubbed it there, but whoa... Edwina Kiernan has transported her writing a hundred years into the future from her Continue Reading
Book Reviews
World War II Had Really Scary Events Right Here at Home
I didn't want to read On My Honor last night. Not that I haven't been looking forward to reading it for a couple of months, but I was in the middle of a hair-raising mystery and frankly wanted to finish THAT. Okay, so I'm selfish and a bit stupid. Because this book has some mystery of its own... and Continue Reading
Crazy Things Happen When Science, Greed, and Love Collide in This New Book
The cover drew me in at first, even before I read the synopsis. It had that White Collar vibe, and the tagline, "if you can't invent it, steal it," only served to make me jump at the chance to review it. Who wouldn't? note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission Continue Reading
Could Your Favorite Books Contain Secrets You Didn’t Know About?
The Bookshop of Secrets. The cover grabbed me almost as quickly as the title did. I mean, come on. What could be better? Then I got an early copy from the publisher and read it like a crazy woman. Here's a hint. The inside... the inside is even better than the title and the cover combined. For a Continue Reading
I Loved This New Release the Minute I Saw It
We all have them--those authors who are insta-buy authors. A book goes up for preorder and bam! SOLD! Michelle Griep became one of those with the first book of hers that I read. If I recall correctly, I gave that book stars in dog years just so I could do more than five. So is it any wonder Continue Reading
Remember When ADHD Was So “New” No One Believed It Existed?
When I chatted with Suzanne Woods Fisher about her last book on Because Fiction Podcast, she mentioned her next Amish book and just listening to her talk about what she had planned reminded me again what I love about her Amish fiction. Amish fiction isn't my favorite, but when an author does it Continue Reading
Tales of Bravery and Resilience in Difficult Times Always Inspire Readers
I've loved Dutch resistance stories since the night I watched The Hiding Place at a junior high lock-in and discovered it was first a book. I've read a few since then, so when I learned that Lauralee Bliss wrote a book about the smuggling of children out of Amsterdam (one of my favorite stories!), I Continue Reading
This Book Is My Most Unexpected (and Loved) Read This Year
Just a note about this review of Adorning the Darkness by author, songwriter, and musician Andrew Peterson. While this book focuses on the areas of the arts, it can feel like it only applies to people who are "artsy" or are "creatives." That word "only" is important. That's how it can feel. It's Continue Reading
Some Books Grip Your Heart So Hard You Can’t Escape (and don’t want to)
Have you ever seen a book, fallen in love with the cover or the synopsis, bought it, and let it slowly get buried until you forgot about it? This book is why you go find those gems and read them. Today. In fact, if this is one of them, you should ignore this review and just go grab that book and get Continue Reading
Who Knew A Promise Engraved Two Centuries Ago Could Endure?
When I saw A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma, I had zero doubt that I wanted to read it. I mean, come on! The Alamo (I remembered!), split-time novel, and Liz Tolsma. A triple... YEAH! Add to those the fact it's part of the Doors to the Past series, and there's no doubt that this would be a great Continue Reading
What Happens When the Past Rears Its Ugly Head and Murder Ensues?
Back in Episode 62 of the Because Fiction Podcast, I talked to Dana Mentink about her newest series, the Shake Shop Mysteries. Mentink's first book in the series, Pint of No Return featured Trinidad Jones as the newest resident of Upper Sprocket, Oregon--and an ad-hoc sleuth when not creating her Continue Reading
Is There Anything Better Than Finding a Fabulous New Author?
Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense for you. Is There Anything Better Than Finding a Fabulous New Author? This is my first Heroines of WWII book... but it won't be my last. Now. I wasn't confident going into this book. I knew Continue Reading
