Tag: #fivestarreview

Rosepoint Reviews – November Recap – Look Out, Here Comes the Snow and Ice

Rosepoint Reviews - November Recap

UGH! Not a fan of this time of year, the temps already plunging to the low teens with a “feels like” of 3 degrees. (Yeah, the Chicago wind.)

As I mentioned last month, in quick succession, we celebrated our daughter’s birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and if you celebrate Thanksgiving hope it was a good one and everyone is back home safe. All the cooking is getting to me and I’m beginning to check out the TV dinners in the grocery store. Problem with so many of those, of course, is all the stuff they put in the food, including Carrageenan (especially in pumpkin pie) and it really messes up my system. Of course, the CE loves his pumpkin pie and even homemade with evaporated milk contains the miserable stuff.

So, for me, Thanksgiving also kicks off the beginning of the Christmas holiday decorations. Usually have much of it done within a few days of Thanksgiving, but as our son is still here, I’m waiting a bit. It appears he’s got a house and will be moving out next week (it’s been a real struggle in a seller’s market). Of course, it’s also so cold I have no incentive to get the lights up outside either.

We celebrated Punkin’s first year with us. She’s beginning to blossom into a real dog, showing some personality. She’s doing better with potty time, adores her walks now with the CE and he is gradually allowing her more latitude, allowing her off-leash when they return to our yard. She takes in all the “messages” and then winds up to whiz into the house through the open door coming to a screeching stop and sliding on the laminate floor into her portable kennel.

Love those audiobooks at my local library, so many opportunities to listen to the books, otherwise, I’m busy morning to evening and don’t get that much reading time on my cell phone. Must admit they appear to be overtaking reading. Still, sources include NetGalley, as well as author and publisher requests and I’ve been mining Goodreads recommendations and blog reviews to find interesting books.

November reflected the blow to either reading or listening with only eleven titles. As always, links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase or source information.

Rosepoint Publishing - November Recap

Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll
Waking Up in Vegas by J E Rowney
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (audiobook)
A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany (audiobook)
Yesterday’s Paper: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger
Ruthless Tide by Al Roker (audiobook)
Dead Men Wag No Tails by Sarah Fox (CE review)
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (audiobook)
Omens by Kelley Armstrong (audiobook)
Sea of Death by Mark Nolan (buddy review with the CE)
The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (audiobook) 

Did you vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards for 2024? I wrote regarding the Choice Awards back in November. December 1 (that’s today!) is the last day to vote for your choice of the final round nominees. I see several of my reviewed novels made the final cut: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty for Readers’ Favorite Fiction, The Women by Kristin Hannah for Favorite Historical Fiction and Favorite Audiobook, First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston for Favorite Mystery and Thriller, and Murder Road by Simone St James for Favorite Horror. Let me know if you found one of your favorites among the finalists.

 

Favorite Book of the Month

We posted three five-star reviews in November: Summit’s Edge, Yesterday’s Paper, and Sea of Death.  Of course, each of these novels has radically different genres and Mark Nolan’s books are always a favorite. But then so are Jean Grainger’s and Sara Driscoll’s. The CE loves that Nolan’s books are fast-paced and action packed. I love that Grainger is pushing her boundaries with her historical novels and Driscoll’s books have my favorite dogs. Yeah, you’re right…it has to be:

Favorite for November – Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll 

 

Reading Challenges

My Reading Challenges page…Reading Challenges page—always something that keeps me from catching up that page. My Goodreads Challenge is at 122 towards a goal of 130 for 94%. If we can manage our usual monthly number, should just make it.

Welcome to my new subscribers! And I always appreciate those of you who continue to monitor, read, and comment on my posts. Hope this recap finds you well and looking forward to the holidays!

©2023 V Williams

Happy Autumn Sunday!

Sea of Death by Mark Nolan #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 8

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars 5 stars

We’ve not missed one book in this series and as it’s one we both enjoy, we chose this novel as another buddy read.

Book Blurb:

Sea of Death by Mark NolanAmerican covert operative Jake Wolfe cruises his motor yacht to Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and hunts for a rogue cartel assassin who will soon meet up with a narco submarine delivering military grade weapons to the Baja Peninsula. Jake’s mission is to find and capture the arms dealer, along with the supply of AK-47 rifles, armor-piercing ammunition, and rocket-propelled grenades destined for criminal gangs that will use them to terrorize local citizens.

Jake and his former war dog, Cody, search the city streets of La Paz and find shocking hidden criminal activity going on behind closed doors. When Jake shuts down one of the assassin’s trafficking enterprises, he sets off a war with the killer that can only end with one of them dead.

On this mission, Jake brings Dr. Sarah Chance, his girlfriend and Cody’s veterinarian, along for the wild ride. Although Sarah is in mortal danger every day, she wants to be Captain Jake’s First Mate on his motor yacht Far Niente and to help protect Cody.

Sea of Death is part of a series but may be read as a standalone novel.

My Review:

These are always fun to get into and never fail to deliver a fast, intelligent, and easy read.

This installment has Jake cruising in the Sea of Cortez with Sarah and Cody, his retired military K-9 on a mission to catch an assassin and a narco dealer delivering heavy-duty weapons to Baja. Jake is cooperating with Mexico, carries a US marshall’s badge, and connects with local authorities to help find the assassin, capture, and deliver the dealers and their cargo.

Sea of Death by Mark NolanJake is smart, combat experienced, and together with his equal on four feet and fur manage to stay a step ahead of his targets. These are multi-layered episodes and complex and there is always something to learn as they’ve been well researched.

Written simply, the storyline includes a sense of humor and emotion, balanced with a dollop of romance and travelogue experience. I do love Cody—such a special dog—and he can be formidable when he wants.

The installment is fast, can be violent, but rewarding as well and one could hope there might be these hardy individuals working to curb the influx of guns and drugs into our country—something both countries can agree on.

His Review:

Is there such a thing as a quiet cruise in the Sea of Cortez? With the large number of drug smugglers and opportunists, the answer is no. Cartels have become very sophisticated and they attempt to control all shipping through this area. This is the gateway to the very lucrative U.S. drug market.

Jake Wolfe is aboard his 60-foot motor yacht, Far Niente; parked at the marina in Cabo San Lucas. He has an agreement with the Mexican Government to assist in controlling the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. The drug dealers are well aware of his mission and there are multiple targets on his back; as well as bounties for the people who capture or kill him and put Far Niente out of business.

C E WilliamsMark Nolan’s writing style keeps the reader enthusiastically engaged and the book is hard to put down. With his girlfriend Sarah, along with Cody his retired service dog, they are usually only minutes ahead of his hunters. Each of the three characters has integral contributions to the outcome of the book.  This makes the read very enjoyable. 5 stars – CE Williams

 The duo of Jake and Cody (along with Sarah now) are engaging, intelligent, fast, cunning, and capable, but tender and generous at the same time! The CE read the last several and I figured it was my turn as I enjoy these action thrillers as well.  These can be read as a standalone and all are recommended.

We received a review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are our honest thoughts.

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Action Fiction, Assassination Thrillers, Action Thriller Fiction
ASIN: B0DLFX6YL4
Print Length: 322 pages
Publication Date: October 29, 2024
Source: Author 

Title Links:

Sea of Death – Amazon-US

Amazon-UK

 

Mark Nolan - authorThe Author: Mark Nolan is an Amazon bestselling novelist who writes exciting action-adventure thrillers about the reluctant assassin Jake Wolfe and his adopted war dog, Cody. Subscribe to his reader newsletter at marknolan dot com for updates, specials, and news. Click the FOLLOW button near Mark’s author photo, and Amazon will notify you when a new book is available.

 

#TuesdayBookBlog

Yesterday’s Paper: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

As storm clouds of war gather over Europe, Grace Fitzgerald in Ireland and Richard Lewis in the United States find their lives irrevocably altered by the looming conflict.

Yesterday's Paper by Jean Grainger

Ireland’s neutrality offers little shelter from the war’s far-reaching impact, and across the Atlantic, Richard witnesses a nation divided on intervention. Meanwhile, in sleepy Knocknashee, a twelve-year-old mystery surrounding a stolen child resurfaces, shattering long-held beliefs.

Fate seems determined to keep Grace and Richard apart, thwarting their plans to meet, and the vast Atlantic is not the only thing separating them. From the gentle green hills of Ireland, to the busy newspaper rooms of New York, from a London bracing for war to a Paris on the brink of invasion, “Yesterday’s Paper” continues the sweeping saga of Grace and Richard as they navigate love, loss, and the turbulent tides of history.

In this gripping tale of resilience and romance, the personal and the political collide, weaving an unforgettable tapestry of lives caught in the crosswinds of a world at war.

My Review:

Totally caught up in the story of Grace Fitzgerald, school teacher and now headmistress of Knocknashee, Cork County, Ireland, and Richard Lewis of Savannah, Georgia, USA, I couldn’t wait for installment two of the series and this doesn’t disappoint.

From Lilac Ink we learned Richard is the privileged son of a wealthy Savannah family, expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and instead would prefer becoming a journalist. His best friend Jacob Nunez is an aspiring photographer and together they have been scheming on a way to get to Europe to write stories and submit pictures for the home papers regarding Hitler’s growing intrusion into “neutral” countries.

Richard had become a pen pal of Grace, when in a fit of despair with her despicable sister Agnes, wrote her frustrations about the situation and enclosed it into a bottle which, thrust into the ocean, found its way to Georgia where Richard found it. He finds a way to bend the story to his political purposes and gains an editor who sends both he and Jacob to Europe.


Yesterday's Paper by Jean GraingerGrace had hoped she and Richard could meet in America when she accompanied Declan to New York, but they were two ships that passed in the night.

The author always manages to weave complex stories into her plots with multiple layers of interest and well-developed characters. Declan’s possible connection to family in America, meeting pen pal Richard, and the advance of Hitler and the entry to WWII are part of a focus brought forward from book one. A lot of research into the position of both countries, the growing fear of the people of Europe, and the stark differences in the lives of the people in both countries as well as the tension-filled atmosphere of France keep the reader flipping pages.

Will Grace and Richard ever meet up? Will Richard and Jacob make it home safely in the massive exodus of the Jewish community? What will happen to that piece of baggage left with them on the train in their escape from Paris?

After the death of Agnes and her indoctrination of Grace, can Grace ever come to peace with her appearance, put the onus of her gimpy polio leg behind her, and accept the advances of her newly recognized male suitors?

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Friendship Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction
ISBN:1915790778
ASIN: B0D27P1Y46
Print Length: 296 pages
Publication Date: November 10, 2024 Just released!
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK 

Jean Grainger - authorThe Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft engaging narratives. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in Irish history, including World War I, the 1916 Easter Rising, World War II, and the mid-20th century. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

©2024 V Williams

Going Dark by George K Mehok #BookReview #technothrillers

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

In the aftermath of 9/11, remnants of Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network quietly infiltrated the U.S. heartland, lying dormant for over two decades. On Thanksgiving Day, they strike—triggering a sinister cyber-terrorist plot poised to plunge America into unparalleled digital darkness. But it’s only the beginning.

Going Dark by George K MehokPaul Knox, a seasoned NSA cybersecurity expert and former Air Force communications officer, is thrust into a clandestine conflict spanning generations. As Knox delves into a complex web of cyber intrigue, he must confront both the mission’s high stakes and personal demons, including the unwitting involvement of his daughter, Emma, a brilliant MIT computer scientist who holds the key to the next-generation internet.

The narrative intertwines with the origin story of the Liberty Unit’s first member, John “Jack” Jouett. In 1791, Jouett embarks on a perilous mission to deliver a critical message from Thomas Jefferson to General Henry Knox, altering the Revolutionary War’s trajectory.

As the lines between past and present blur, Knox races against time to save his daughter and unravel mysteries that could reshape history. Going dark won’t be a problem for a man who’s spent his life tracking the “worst of the worst” on the dark web. But in this game, every move could be his last.

His Review:

The Revolutionary War is cleverly juxtaposed against the current world stage. The culprits are a brother of General George Washington and Hassan from Damascus who sees the United States and its citizens as the enemy of the Islamic world and worthy of the most painful of deaths. Struggles are very personal during any war, be it the Revolutionary War in America or the struggle of the Islamic Revolution against the Western infidels.

Going Dark by George K MehokHate is a basic element of any conflict. Hassan sees the Americans who are the root of his country’s struggles and should die for their interference in his country’s business. He even kills his younger brother sending him to his reward in heaven to illuminate the injustice of the struggles.

General George Washington is the leader of the American Revolution and is leading the Revolutionaries in battle against the British Dragoons at various locations. He is the target of an extensive effort by the British to eliminate the struggle by a group of revolutionaries who object to the lack of representation in Parliament despite being heavily taxed and levied.  King George III will entertain no delegation from “The Colonies”.

C E WilliamsThe plots are interesting and well developed. The action is fast paced and keeps the readers’ attention with suspense and questions. This is a fun historical read and a very well written dual plotted novel. 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.

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Technothrillers, Terrorism Thrillers, Historical Thrillers
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
ASIN: B0DG72F3KY
Print Length: 398 pages
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK   |   Barnes & Noble

 

George K Mehok - authorThe Author: George K. Mehok is an author, technologist, and entrepreneur with a distinguished career in designing software and leading high-performing teams in the financial services, telecommunications, and aerospace industries. His insights have been featured in prestigious tech journals and notable publications like the Wall Street Journal, CIO Review, and InformationWeek, covering wireless communications, cybersecurity, and data analytics. George’s expertise has earned him accolades, including Crain’s Business Magazine CIO of the Year award, and his work has been recognized in InformationWeek’s Annual Elite 100 ranking of the most innovative technology users in the United States. An avid storyteller, George weaves his real-world knowledge into gripping narratives, crafting thrilling plots that captivate readers. GOING DARK, the first in Mehok’s Liberty Unit series, combines his extensive technology background with historical intrigue, presenting a captivating blend of modern-day suspense and revolutionary-era secrets. When not reading or writing, George enjoys fly fishing and competitive US Masters swimming.

©2024 – CE Williams – V Williams

Happy Autumn

Darling Girls: A Novel by Sally Hepworth #AudiobookReview #mysteryactionfiction

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars 5 stars

Sally Hepworth can really write deeply flawed characters that come alive on the pages!

Book Blurb:

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling suspense of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

My Review:

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia grew up in a foster home at Wild Meadows, viewed from the outside as the ideal. A beautiful property, lovely home, and anything but a loving mother. Miss Fairchild is the epitome of the horrors of foster care.

Sisters by their shared experience, they manage to survive the dreadful conditions until they manage their escape. Close as any biological sisters could be, they are brought together in adulthood again following the discovery of human remains on the property. With their heads together, they revisit the possibilities. Who could the remains belong to? Law enforcement also wants to know and they are called back to be interviewed.

Are they withholding information or sharing a secret each has vowed never to divulge?

Darling Girls by Sally HepworthYes, the book will hook from the beginning and describe the background of each of the girls. The characters, both the girls and Miss Fairchild are very well developed. It’s easy to invest in the girls, root for them to survive the latest “discipline.”

There are twists and turns, flips between the present and the past. There were sub-levels of plot. There is a shocking disclosure in the conclusion. Psychological impact of the girls’ past is interwoven in their stories, the way each girl handled the situation, and their fit in the sisterhood. Miss Fairchild is a deeply flawed main character dealing emotional as well as physical abuse on her foster girls.

I read The Good Sister in June 2022 and loved it. This one hooked quickly and became a page-turning thriller, engaging, and fast paced. The narrator did a terrific job of driving the suspense. Recommended.

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

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Action Fiction, Action Thriller & Suspense, Domestic Thrillers
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0C3N8Z9FB
Listening Length: 9 hrs 6 mins
Narrator: Jessica Clarke
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Darling Girls – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

 

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Sally Hepworth - authorThe Author: Sally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate. Her latest novel, Darling Girls, was released in Australia in September 2023, and will be released in North America in April 2024.

Drawing on the good, the bad and the downright odd of human behaviour, Sally writes incisively about family, relationships and identity. Her domestic thriller novels are laced with quirky humour, sass and a darkly charming tone. They are available worldwide in English and have been translated into twenty languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her three children and one adorable dog. She has recently taken up ocean swimming (or to put it more accurately, ocean dipping.

©2024 V Williams

Happy Listening!

Death Stake by Andrew Mayne #BookReview #financialthrillers

Trasker Book 2 

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

The trail of missing coders leads a spy into an international underworld of treachery, double agents, and digital espionage in a propulsive thriller by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

Death Stake by Andrew MayneRetired intelligence operative Brad Trasker heads security at a remote aerospace facility when there’s a major breach. A photo of their top-secret AI-designed hydrogen engine has surfaced online. Trasker’s investigation into who did it soon leads to a start-up in Bangkok, where its three software developers have disappeared, along with nearly a million dollars in investment money.

Following their tracks, Trasker hits a dead end. The start-up’s HQ is a padlocked crime scene. No one—not the cagey locals, the mobbed-up gangs, or the Royal Thai Police—is keen on answering Trasker’s questions. But their message is clear: get out of Bangkok or die.

Hunted by assassins, Trasker is drawn into the same complex high-tech underworld of cryptocurrency, digital espionage, and betrayal that swallowed up the runaway coders. As the line between ally and enemy blurs, and the stakes become life and death, Trasker must navigate the dangerous intersection of modern intelligence and old-school spy games to survive.

His Review:

This book reads like a primer for espionage. With the advent of crypto-currencies, the world has been besieged by crooks who are very computer savvy. Getting into the system and emptying crypto accounts is resulting in billions of dollars in crypto-currency suddenly vanishing. The crimes are being perpetrated against some of the world’s foremost crime syndicates and they are not amused.

Death Stake by Andrew MayneA group of young American students have mastered the system of infiltrating these crypto accounts and emptying them. However, any computer hacker knows that using a computer always leaves a trail. Three of four young men are found brutally murdered in an apartment in Thailand and a fourth computer whiz is on the run and hiding. Trasker must find him before the owners of the accounts do.

I found this story extremely informative and educational. The monetary and crypto world has become so sophisticated that Harvard graduates have difficulty figuring out what is going wrong. The FBI, CIA, MI6 and other governmental agencies are searching for these criminal masterminds, but finding them brutally slaughtered is a waste of governmental resources.

C E WilliamsWho are the good guys and bad guys? The water gets very murky in this novel. The players are often not what they seem. Staying in a country like Thailand is not easy because their law enforcement agencies are sometimes as corrupt as the criminals. I learned a great deal as I read this book. Crime is not always by the criminals and law enforcement is often jaded and corrupt. Staying alive and trying to solve the crimes can be very difficult. I enjoyed this book and the can of worms it opens. 5 stars – CE Williams

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

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Financial Thrillers, Espionage Thrillers, Political Thrillers
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ASIN: B0CKJ9CN3P
Print Length: 311 pages
Publication Date: October 29, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK   |   Barnes & Noble

 

The Author: Andrew Mayne - authorAndrew Mayne is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose books include The Naturalist, a Thriller Award finalist and Black Fall an Edgar Award finalist Black Fall. He’s the star of the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week special Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver, where he swam alongside great white sharks using an underwater invisibility suit he designed and also was the star of A&E’s Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne. He currently serves as the Science Communicator for OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT and GPT-4.

@AndrewMayne
AndrewMayne.com

©2024 CE Williams – V Williams

Have a good one

Lilac Ink: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

The prolific pen of Ms Grainger has churned out another start to a can’t-miss new series with unique empathetic characters in an atmospheric village of the turbulent Irish coastline.

Book Blurb:

As the world teeters on the brink of war in 1937, two young souls separated by an ocean are about to discover a connection that defies logic and time.

Lilac Ink by Jean GraingerGrace Fitzgerald, a fiery-haired dreamer, longs to escape the confines of her windswept Dingle fishing village. Across the Atlantic, Richard Lewis, heir to a Savannah banking fortune, suffocates under the weight of societal expectations he can’t quite understand.

When their worlds collide through a twist of fate, Grace and Richard uncover a bond so profound it shakes the very foundations of their existence. As Europe inches towards chaos, they find themselves caught in a whirlwind of discovery, challenging everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.

From the rugged Irish coastline to the genteel streets of Georgia, ‘Lilac Ink’ weaves a tapestry of love, destiny, and self-realization against the ominous backdrop of impending global conflict. Grace and Richard must navigate not only their impossible connection but also the turbulent waters of family expectations, social norms, and their own conflicting desires.

This mesmerizing journey through time and place will leave you questioning the very nature of fate and the extraordinary power of human connection. In a world being torn apart, can two hearts, inexplicably linked, find a way to beat as one?

My Review:

Oh my goodness, I love the descriptions of the quaint villages of Ireland, the people who live there, and the immersive stories that Ms Grainger generates!

The new series finds Grace Fitzgerald under the tyrannical thumb of her older sister, Agnes. She has been there since her return from the hospital following a four-year battle with polio. She has been left with a gimpy, painful right leg and is at the mercy of her sister, the headmistress of the school where she works as an assistant teacher.

In frustration and despair one evening, Grace throws caution to the wind off Dingle Peninsula and discovers someone across the Atlantic shares much the same frustration with his own family, though his circumstances are pretty much 180 degrees from hers.

Lilac Ink by Jean GraingerAgnes is a scheming, nasty, spiteful woman bitter with the way her life turned after the loss of both parents and her sudden, unhappy role as Grace’s caregiver. It’s not that Grace isn’t grateful for the roof over her head, but…

Aside from Agnes and Canon Rafferty, who provide strong dastardly antagonistic roles, there are a number of wonderful support characters all given just enough development to engage. (When the time comes, they rally around Grace—I loved it.)

As with all of the author’s books, there is Irish and British history woven into the narrative, and as this book is set just pre-WWII, the tension of the country and its inhabitants. The storyline is a marvelous mix of storytelling, history, suspense, and that Irish sense of humor.

At this point, I’m sufficiently invested to anxiously await the next installment in her promising new series. Character-driven, I’ve got to see where they go and already placing bets, no money involved, as this author is always full of surprises.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest opinions. If you aren’t already a Grainger fan, now is a good time to check out her books.

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Book Details:

Genre: Historical Irish Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Friendship Fiction
ASIN: B0CYY51D7H
Print Length: 296 pages
Publication Date: July 23, 2024 Happy Release Day!
Source: Author
Title Links: Lilac Ink [Amazon-US]
Amazon-UK

 

jean Grainger - authorThe Author: JEAN GRAINGER USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

SELECTED BY BOOKBUB READERS IN TOP 19 OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS

WINNER OF THE 2016 AUTHOR’S CIRCLE HISTORICAL NOVEL OF EXCELLENCE

Hello and thanks for taking time out to check out my page. If you’re wondering what you’re getting with my books, then think of the late great Maeve Binchy but sometimes with an historical twist. I was born in Cork, Ireland in 1971 and I come from a large family of storytellers, so much so that we had to have ‘The Talking Spoon’, only the person holding the spoon could talk!

I have worked as a history lecturer at University, a teacher of English, History and Drama in secondary school, a playwright, and a tour guide of my beloved Ireland. I am married to the lovely Diarmuid and we have four children. We live in a 200 year old stone cottage in Mid-Cork with my family and the world’s smallest dogs, called Scrappy and Scoobi..

My experiences leading groups, mainly from the United States, led me to write my first novel, ‘The Tour’. My observances of the often funny, sometimes sad but always interesting events on tours fascinated me. People really did confide the most extraordinary things, the safety of strangers I suppose. It’s a fictional story set on a tour bus but many of the characters are based on people I met over the years. Little was I to know that it would end up as a six-book series…

[truncated]

Many of the people who have reviewed my books have said that you get to know the characters and really become attached to them. That’s wonderful for me to hear because that’s how I feel about them too. I grew up on Maeve Binchy and Deirdre Purcell and I aspired to being like them. If you buy one of my books, I’m very grateful and I really hope you enjoy it. If you do, or even if you don’t, please take the time to post a review. Writing is a source of constant contentment to me and I am so fortunate to have the time and the inclination to do it, but to read a review written by a reader really does make my day.

©2024 V Williams

#TuesdayBookBlog

12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington #BookReview #Crime & MysteryScienceFiction

12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

Brothers Cody and Drew Edwards and their gang of mischievous friends are looking for excitement in their sleepy little southern town through games of make-believe and even fake seances. It is only when they venture into a supposedly haunted coffin factory that they get more than they had hoped for. When they discover that lying in the coffins grants them paranormal abilities, they begin a mysterious journey involving murder, deceit, and greed along with the power to prevent one of the nation’s most devastating events. Determined to use their power for good, they realize that every action they take is accompanied by harrowing consequences. In this crucible of danger and discovery, family bonds and friendships are tested, and true strength of character is revealed. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but neither could their determination.

My Review:

Hoo boy! I opened a whole new genre for myself this time, not just a YA but a Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy. That’s a mouthful, huh? but this book, as weird as the plot is, plays with your mind, conjures visions, and reminds you even if not male, what it was like to be a youngster with boundless imagination.

I loved the boys, particularly the older boy, Drew. He was the perfect big brother to Cody but it was Cody’s POV that powered the storyline. Opening with the solemn funeral procession for Kennedy, Cody sets the stage for the modest beginnings of their youth with their grandmother while their widowed mother studied to become an anesthetist. A lovely property with neighbor kids about their age formed a powerful bond back when the kids played outside together until called for supper.

12 Coffins by Lewis PenningtonIt was a sad time for the nation and made a profound impact on the kids. So it’s perfectly plausible that the kids might incorporate the newly discovered “Fletcher and Son Coffin Company during the time the schools were closed in their daring plans. And, learning something about Drew, might also be possible, given his bravado, that Drew might challenge himself (with his neighbor gang as witnesses) to enter the building…late at night.

Not just Drew, there are more support characters you come to love, Mr. Merriweather for one (though the Capuchin monkey not so much). There are bad guys who are sincerely bad.

I can’t say too much more about the well-plotted and paced tale, just to say that it’s full of suspense, fun, and mystery. Sweet the clever and calm way he deals with his young and sincere brother with the brash idea.

The CE read The Memory Stones, the author’s time travel fiction back in June of 2021 and said, “The characters are engaging, endearing, and feel real” and I totally concur. A totally different kind of read for me, but a sweet one. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy this one, just let your inner child or imagination connect.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These opinions are my own.

Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Genre: Crime & Mystery Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy eBooks, Paranormal Suspense
Publisher: Silver Lining Publishing
ASIN: B0CYXSKD6F
Print Length: 322 pages
Publication Date: June 13, 2024
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK

 

Lewis Pennington - authorThe Author: Lewis Pennington graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina with a degree in Graphic Design and Marketing. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City where he began his career with the now-defunct Science Fiction Magazine Omni Magazine. After decades of navigating through the corporate marketing maze, he is now focusing on his next chapter in life–providing readers with inspirational fiction. Lewis and his family live in Asheville, North Carolina. [Goodreads]

Website

https://lewispennington.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/chrispennington

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