Rosepoint Publishing

The Mountains Wild: A Mystery by Sarah Stewart Taylor- #Audiobook Review – #ThrowbackThursday

Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

In a series debut for fans of Tana French and Kate Atkinson, set in Dublin and New York, homicide detective Maggie D’arcy finally tackles the case that changed the course of her life.

Twenty-three years ago, Maggie D’arcy’s family received a call from the Dublin police. Her cousin Erin has been missing for several days. Maggie herself spent weeks in Ireland, trying to track Erin’s movements, working beside the police. But it was to no avail: No trace of her was ever found.

The experience inspired Maggie to become a cop. Now, back on Long Island, more than 20 years have passed. Maggie is a detective and a divorced mother of a teenager. When the Gardaí call to say that Erin’s scarf has been found and another young woman has gone missing, Maggie returns to Ireland, awakening all the complicated feelings from the first trip. The despair and frustration of not knowing what happened to Erin. Her attraction to Erin’s coworker, now a professor, who never fully explained their relationship. And her determination to solve the case, once and for all.

A lyrical, deeply drawn portrait of a woman – and a country – over two decades – The Mountains Wild introduces a compelling new mystery series from a mesmerizing author.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

My Review:

This is a story told in a dual line 23 years apart. The storyline is told by Maggie, who in 2016 travels to Ireland after their call to her uncle regarding new information on the disappearance of her cousin Erin, missing since 1993.

Not like Maggie didn’t do this in 1993 when Erin first went missing, but this time she goes back with her experience as a mature and successful, well-known Long Island police detective. Things have certainly changed in their quaint Irish community and the descriptions of the countryside and people provide a colorful mind video.

Of course, having been to Ireland before, Maggie fondly remembers Connor, with whom she was not at the time destined to complete a romantic affair. This time, she’s left behind a daughter with her ex in the US in the hope of finally getting to the truth.

Turns out, the mystery is a slow burn while Maggie sifts through clues and in the meantime relates lovely little tidbits about the area and the people. Character-driven with obligatory twists. The switching of timelines, however, listening to the audiobook while multi-tasking can be confusing.

The reader/listener does get to know Maggie and really, she didn’t grab me. Nor, for that matter did Connor, and I was a bit appalled at her cavalier attitude toward her ex. Connor’s situation is a great deal more serious with his ex.

She is constantly mistaken for her cousin, which I thought stretched credibility. She is there as a civilian but tends more the detective than the relative. She discovers layers of coverup, backstory no one wanted.

Perhaps, in part, because I was listening, not reading, I missed a few of the loose threads tied in conclusion (although I must say, the narrator did a great job). It, as the rest of the low-key narrative, slipped in explanation for me and the episode ended. Maybe I missed something? I felt like it and wasn’t wholly satisfied.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: International Mystery & Crime, Police Procedural Mysteries
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B082VMB63Q
Listening Length: 10 hrs 49 mins
Narrator: Marisa Calin
Publication Date: June 23, 2020
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The Mountains Wild [Amazon]

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

The Author: Sarah Stewart Taylor grew up on Long Island and was educated at Middlebury College and Trinity College, Dublin. She lives with her husband and three children on a farm in Vermont where they raise sheep and grow blueberries.

Sarah is the author of the Sweeney St. George series and the Maggie D’arcy series. The first Maggie D’arcy mystery, THE MOUNTAINS WILD, was nominated for the Dashiell Hammett Prize and was on numerous Best of 2020 lists. The new Maggie D’arcy novel, A STOLEN CHILD, will be out on June 20, 2023. [Bio and photo – Goodreads]

Follow her at http://www.sarahstewarttaylor.com/

The Narrator: Marisa Calin grew up in Bath, England, trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and is an Audie, Odyssey, Audiofile Earphones Award winning and SOVAS nominated audiobook narrator. She’s had an Audible Best Audiobook of the Year, an Apple Books Must-Listen audiobook of the month, starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, and books on YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks of the year list. You can listen to extracts of some of those books here.

She wrote, produced and appears in her first feature, A Million Happy Nows, with her company, Perfect Features, which went on to win nineteen awards on the festival circuit, including Best First Feature at Outfest. Find more at amillionhappynows.com.

Her debut Young Adult novel, Between You & Me, published in 2012 by Bloomsbury, was named a Kirkus Reviews’ Best Book of 2012, recieved a Kirkus star for “books of exceptional merit”, was selected for the American Library Associations’ 2013 Rainbow Book List of quality books with authentic LGBT content, and was chosen as a Kobo dazzling debut.

She lives in New York City. [Courtesy Marisa Calin website]

#ThrowbackThursday

Iwo, 26 Charlie by P T Deutermann – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

World War II Navy #10

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

T. Deutermann is a contemporary master of World War II military fiction: writing about the lives, deaths, dreams, fears, and combat experiences of sailors and soldiers, generals and grunts, captains and snipers, pilots and submariners, who served in the Pacific theatre war against Japan.

The island of Iwo Jima was the epic land and sea battle that produced one of the iconic images of WWII: the Marines raising the American flag on Mount Surabachi, an active volcano that was the site of intense hand-to-hand combat. In this gripping novel, Deutermann follows a young gunnery liaison officer, Lee Bishop, who during the ferocious battle for the island is pulled from his station aboard the USS Nevada to serve on-shore as a spotter, calling in coordinates for the ship to target with missiles.

But Bishop is completely unready for what he will witness and experience: a literal hell, during which 26,000 Americans are killed in a fight to the very last man, which culminates in the blistering, sulphurous tunnels of Surabachi itself, where an entire platoon of Marines is held captive. Iwo, 26 Charlie is a dramatic, utterly authentic novel by an award-winning writer.

His Review:

One of the most iconic images of the battle of Iwo Jima and World War II is the raising of our flag on Mount Suribachi. This is one of our country’s proudest moments during the war in the Pacific. This achievement took a lot longer than the citizens of our country knew. Most battles the U.S. Marines fight are in concert with the U.S. Navy. This is one of those stories.

There is a rivalry between these two branches of the U.S. military and also a bond of brotherhood. Lieutenant Lee Bishop goes onto the island with the intention to assist in firepower from the naval bombardment to “soften up” the island prior to the marine’s landing effort. The Japanese had prepared the island for the war with a myriad of caves and fortifications to thwart any attempt to occupy the island.

Lieutenant Bishop goes in to assist in fire control and direction to destroy the Japanese fortifications. His call name is IWO, 26 Charlie. The Japanese are extremely adept at killing any spotter who comes onto the island. The life expectancy of a spotter is estimated at 24 hours. The Japanese come out at night and kill anyone who is not fully awake or vigilant.

The USS Nevada has a myriad of weapons systems including 14-inch guns. Their fire control includes a rudimentary analog computer. Grids are utilized to give accurate coordinates for the placement of the ordinance. Most shells fired at the island were the 5-inch and 8-inch explosive types. The effect on the Japanese emplacements was generally minimal due to the excellent design and construction of the emplacements.

Anyone interested in the history of the Second World War will find this novel both interesting and amazing. I could not put the book down and I am sure most history buffs will have the same problem, which is a very one to have when reading! 5 stars – CE Williams

Last year I read The Last Palatine and found it absolutely riveting. I’ll be looking for anything released by this author going forward. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, WWII Historical Fiction, War Fiction
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
ASIN: B0BQGFM2HK
Print Length: 288 pages
Publication Date: November 28, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Peter Deutermann was born in Boston in 1941. His father was in the Navy, so he subsequently lived all over the United States and also in Argentina. He graduated from the naval academy in 1963 and served in the navy for 26 years, rising to the rank of Captain. While in the navy, he published one textbook on naval operations and several professional articles in navy-oriented journals. He held three commands: a Swiftboat in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, a guided missile destroyer in the Atlantic Fleet, and a destroyer squadron based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His last tour of duty was as the division director for chemical, biological, and radiological weapons arms control negotiations on the staff of the Joint Chiefs in Washington, DC.

He retired from active duty in 1989 and began his fiction-writing career. He has published twenty novels since 1992, all with St. Martins Press, including the just-released World War II navy novel, entitled The Commodore, and the Washington thriller, The Red Swan. He has completed his 21st novel, entitled The Iceman, a World War II navy submarine story, scheduled for publication in August, 2018. See all the books on his website at http://www.ptdeutermann.com

In addition to a BS in naval engineering, Mr. Deutermann holds an MA in public administration from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He is also a Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He is married and has two children. Mr. Deutermann and his wife of 50 years live in Rockingham County, in the Piedmont of North Carolina, on their family pony farm.

#TuesdayBookBlog

The Water Tower by Amy Young – #BookReview – #crimethrillers

Book Blurb:

Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career—until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death.

At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

His Review:

A bright young student is found dead at the bottom of the town’s defunct water tower. Josie, one of the town’s high school teachers, found her during one of her sleepless nights’ sojourns. Was she a victim of foul play or a suicide? Josie seems to recall someone on the tower at the time of her death, but one of the town’s most influential citizens, the girl’s father, has the investigation curtailed!

Josie had left her small hometown to become a celebrated thespian in the Hollywood Hills environs. She returned to her hometown to teach high school and become reacquainted with her former classmates. She is well-liked by all of her students but is devastated by the apparent suicide.

How could the girl’s father not want the truth about his daughter’s death?

This story has many intriguing plot twists which kept me on my toes and flipping pages. I felt I needed a scorecard to keep track of the male interests in Josie’s life. Her entanglement in the death of the student pushes her beyond the normal pressures of everyday life. Can her life be in danger because of her desire to know the truth about the student’s death and the possible subsequent coverup? Read and enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thrillers, Murder Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher: Level Best Books
ASIN: B0BT3T8M1C
Print Length: 290 pages
Publication Date: June 20, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Amy Young is an author, comedian, and actress. Growing up in Bay Village, Ohio, she could most often be found with her nose buried in a book, and was particularly fond of Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, and The Babysitters’ Club. Amy always had a flair for the dramatic and has worked as an actress in many stage productions and, during her decade living in Los Angeles, a few TV shows and movies. When not writing, Amy enjoys reading thriller and mystery novels, drinking red wine, and binging on reality TV shows with her husband and many, many cats. She currently resides outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

Enjoy your day

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain – #AudiobookReview – #FlashbackFriday

Book Blurb:

In The Silent Sister, Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over 20 years later, her father has passed away and she’s in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now?

As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality, in this engrossing mystery from international best-selling author Diane Chamberlain.

My Review:

The author loves to write about secrets and I must admit, they do create interest. In this case, there are multiple secrets.

Riley MacPherson’s father died recently and she returns home to clean out and dispose of all his belongings, the collections, his house. The problem is, she stumbles upon something that has her stopped in the middle of the work to sort out what appears to be a contradiction regarding the death of her older sister when she was a toddler.

There are few she can talk to regarding what happened all that time ago, and even her brother (suffering from PTSD) is loathed to discuss it nor help with the cleanup. She does manage to glean some clues, however, and begins the slow and steady climb to the truth.

This is one where you know or can predict the secret or secrets and just wait for the main character to figure it out. Of course, there are those who push the other side, the RV people, her brother, who balances out nicely with those who would help, although the two who were supposed to help with the house were just annoying.

I had a little difficulty with the family dynamics and wondered if it could really ring true. The stories of the sister and the explanation for her suicide were an obvious diversion and a rather weak one at that but didn’t do much to cover what was really suspected. The conclusion steamed in, explained everything and was quietly swept under the rug. Yeah, not wholly satisfying.

I listened to Big Lies in a Small Town in 2021; absolutely loved it and thought the growth in her storytelling is evident. I downloaded a copy of this much earlier audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Women Sleuth Mysteries, Women’s Fiction, Suspense
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B00NP9394C
Listening Length: 11 hrs 39 mins
Narrator: Susan Bennett
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: The Silent Sister [Amazon]

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

The Author: Diane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 27 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.

Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.

More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.

Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole.

Please visit Diane’s website at http://www.dianechamberlain.com for her event schedule and for more information on her newest novel, Big Lies in a Small Town, as well as a complete list of her books.

Rosepoint Reviews – May Recap – Early Taste of Summer!

Rosepoint Reviews - May Recap

May presented us with an unintended two-week break from the blog. While we were planning our trip to Texas, I had scheduled ahead as much as I could and took my old laptop to fill in spots I normally posted. Last time I used the laptop, it was extremely slow, huffing and puffing, sounding like it was preparing for take-off. I guess it did as I was not able to get into the administration of the blog.

Luckenbach TX We met up with our old Navy buddies of 54 years, first in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then to their home in the upper eastern part of Texas, portions known as “the Hill country.” OMG, so beautiful! Not the Texas of my memory at all. Green hills, monster oaks hundreds of years old, wildflowers everywhere. And so much to see and do! Fantastic hosts, Ted and Kitra packed in a full schedule and we enjoyed great food and in Luckenbach, a downhome country band. So much fun! (We missed Waylon and Willie though.)

May then obviously took a hit with reading and reviewing only ten books. (As always, links below are to my reviews that include purchase info.)

Rosepoint Publishing May Reviews

Closer by Sea by Peter Chafe (CE review)
Snapshot by Don Keith and George Wallace (CE review)
When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
Washington by Ron Chernow (audiobook)
Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan (CE review)
Flop Dead Gorgeous by David Rosenfelt
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (audiobook)
A Line in the Sand by Kevin Powers (CE review)
Lock ‘N’ Load by Tee O’Fannon

These included historical fiction, cozy mystery, literary fiction, and (gasp!) romantic suspense! Sayyy what?!

Favorite Book of the Month

While I greatly enjoyed Flop Dead Gorgeous (the author always a favorite) and I gave it five stars partly owing to the surprise in conclusion, we’ll have to give Snapshot, a CE review the nod for May.

Book of the Month for May—Snapshot.

Blogger Post

I did little blog-hopping in May but always appreciate the thoughtful and varied posts of Carla at Carla Loves to Read. I thoroughly enjoy her reviews, meme posts, and am dazzled by her signature graphics. If you haven’t found her yet, now is the time.

My Reading Challenges page… I have 60 books of a goal of 145 in Goodreads (one book ahead of schedule) and holding a 98% feedback ratio in NetGalley. Behind on the others again but hope to have the page and challenges caught up shortly.

With the crash of a laptop used only for out-of-town trips now, I began a search for a cheap replacement, and after seeing Kitra’s Kindle Fire (she also reads—a LOT) and the extent of its capabilities, I began thinking in terms of a tablet. During our motorcycling years, we learned to travel with just a trunk and saddlebags that fit on the back of the bikes. We have traditionally traveled light. I needed something light.

I looked at laptops, the size, and the price. Goodness! Then the tablets: I liked the size, the weight, and the price. However, they just won’t do Photoshop—hoping I can get by with Canva. Also, having old equipment and old versions of Word—which I paid for years ago and have managed to use in successive PC’s, have now discovered it’s subscription only—except for those tablets 10.1” and below.

It’s been a bear figuring out how to get the tablet, an Android (Samsung) set up to my liking. I need a class for this! I finally figured out how to get Office Word on it. But it won’t open a document without asking for an upgrade to Office 365—the subscription. Has anyone tried to download and use a free version of Word on a tablet?

The year is going too fast! Welcome to new subscribers and thank you, as always, to those who read and comment. I love hearing from you!

Lock ‘N’ Load by Tee O’Fannon – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Federal K-9 Book 1

Book Blurb:

Crack CIA analyst Trista Gold is a whiz with the computer, but not so much with people. She hides behind her job, analyzing top-secret code and making recommendations on national security. She doesn’t need a man in her life. But she will, very soon….

CIA K-9 officer Sgt. Matt Connors suspects that beneath Trista’s uptight appearance, there’s a sexy woman itching to cut loose. But he doesn’t dare act on his attraction. He’s a loner and always will be. Keeping away from Trista is a must-do directive. Until he doesn’t have a choice….

During a routine assignment, Trista stumbles across a cryptic exchange. She doesn’t think much of it…until someone tries to murder her – twice. Both times, Matt had been there to save her. But now she has to hide. And her new bodyguard, Matt, and his K-9 are the only hope she has against the powerful forces that want her dead.

My Review:

Well, yucky! Eck. Obviously a sucker for a cover with a dog and the promise of a working K-9 in the story and I’m hooked again, despite the initial trepidation of the glossy guy with an obvious six-pack under that sweaty t-shirt. I knew better but signed up anyway. That’s on me.

Of course, the blurb sounded interesting as well. A CIA analyst, Trista Gold knows a computer inside and out. She can surf with the best, analyzing top-secret code, but apparently as brilliant as she is, didn’t understand her hacking was being hacked. Until that is, there are repeated attempts on her life. Oops.

Enter super sexy, way over-the-top CIA K-9 officer Sgt. Matt Connors in all his glorious 6’ and hyper-studly knighthood with the dog. He’s so HOT. Trista is panting. But tiny, mousey Trista knows he couldn’t possibly be interested in a mouse like herself, so she’ll pant in silence. Might be a good thing cause he has issues. BIG issues.

Oh, good grief. How did I get myself into this?

Let’s see: She’s terrified of dogs, but he has one. No prob. He’ll introduce the dog to her and she’ll come to love it. He has six buddies, all studly and super HOT, and ALL have dogs. No prob. She has come to love dogs.

The cop is breast obsessed (and she has a couple) which turns him into a HOT beast who has to fight himself to stay away from her. Not. The reader gets a graphic description of his bodily reaction to her. Gross. But he sees the inner beauty in her that he’ll bring out and she’ll become everyone’s tiny but blond curvy darling (no doubt unpinning her bun and removing her glasses).

Did they ever stick to business and figure out who is trying to kill her? Could it possibly have been in connection to her job? Nah. Gotta be something else, huh? Does the dog get to do his thing and rescue the damsel in distress? Oh yeah. And what of the other HOT guys—all 6’ and gorgeous examples of manhood. Will this thirty-something mouse lose her virginity and turn into an accomplished vixen between the sheets?

UGH. Who cares?

I received a copy of this book from my local library that in no way influenced this review. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.

Rosepoint Rating: Two point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Espionage Thrillers, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: CreateSpace
ASIN: B07CWRYKPV
Print Length: 372 pages
Publication Date: May 28, 2018
Source: Local library selection
Title Link(s): Lock ‘N’ Load [Amazon]

The Author: Tee O’Fallon is the author of the Federal K-9, K-9 Special Ops, and the NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee served as a federal agent and police investigator for a 28-year law enforcement career, giving her hands-on experience that she combines with her love of romantic suspense and action-packed thrillers. When not writing, Tee enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and kicking back with her Belgian Sheepdogs, Loki and Kyrie. In the summer, Tee can be found anywhere there’s a boat and calm water. Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website https://teeofallon.com where you can also sign up for Tee’s newsletters at https://teeofallon.com/subscribe/.