#Goodreads – Page 2 – Rosepoint Publishing

A Walk Among Heroes by James McDevitt #BookReview #MilitaryAviationHistory

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Step into the heart of history with A Walk Among Heroes, a sweeping tale of courage, sacrifice, and enduring love that transcends generations. This powerful World War II novel takes you on an unforgettable journey through the lives of ordinary men and women who became extraordinary in the face of unimaginable challenges.

Through the eyes of T.J., a young soldier returning from World War II, and Smitty, a World War I ace haunted by the ghosts of his past, the story weaves a rich tapestry of interconnected lives shaped by war, hope, and resilience. Anchored by a love story that defies time, the novel masterfully bridges two world wars, exploring the bonds of family, the weight of duty, and the ultimate cost of heroism.

A Walk Among Heroes isn’t just a novel—it’s a testament to the power of love, memory, and courage in the face of humanity’s darkest hours. This beautifully crafted tale will inspire and resonate with readers long after the final page is turned.

His Review:

Serving our country to many is a calling and to others a demand. During the Vietnam War the government reopened the draft and avoiding the war was not an option. It wasn’t for me either.

The first night was an introduction to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, listened to until four in the morning. Staying awake during the recording was impossible for most of us. The next step is the swearing in and then boot camp. After being pretty well scalped, everyone looks the same. Bonds are formed with people you would never associate with under ordinary circumstances. The completion of tasks requires teamwork. Staying alive also requires teamwork and you soon learn to rely upon your brothers in arms.

This book visits the bonds that are formed when the people next to you may hold your future in their hands. This is particularly vital when you are moving forward with people shooting at you. Having someone to think about and love back home gives you a goal to strive for staying alive.

James McDevitt provides a very clear picture of the brotherhood of men in arms. It is a testament to someone who has served and watched someone take a bullet to save the life of a fellow soldier. The pain that their sacrifice causes lives with the survivors for the rest of their lives.

The narrative places you in the middle of the chaos, the boredom, the experience of one who’s been there, seen it, done it—and authentically conveys the emotions. A very thoughtful read and highly recommended to those who enjoy action-packed spell-binding stories. 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Military Aviation History, World War II History, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN-13: ‎979-8992459807
ASIN: B0DT25MG9P
Print Length: 304 pages
Publication Date: November 11, 2025 – Just Released!
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: James McDevitt is a firefighter, an infantry officer, and author with a passion for crafting stories that capture the courage, sacrifice, and connections forged in the crucible of war. With two deployments to Iraq, and one deployment to Syria, James draws on his firsthand experiences to create gripping, heartfelt historical fiction. His debut novel, A Walk Among Heroes, blends authentic detail with timeless themes of love, loss, and resilience, inspired by true events and a deep respect for history. When he’s not writing, James enjoys woodworking, playing guitar, and jiu-jitsu. He currently resides in Alabama with his wife, Lindsey, as they prepare to welcome their first child. Connect with James on social media or through his website to follow his journey and upcoming projects.

#SundayRead

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger #AudiobookReview #bookclub #TBT Banner

Goodreads Choice Award nominee (Also Goodreads Choice Award nominee 2023 for Best Mystery & Thriller

The selection for the October read of the Y Book Club was This Tender Land. Not the first experience with this author as I read Iron Lake last year, the kick off to his popular Cork O’Connor series. The book club meets once a month (except for December) and is very popular.

I must admit that Krueger is an extraordinary storyteller and it’s only nitpicky that I don’t feel a five star.

There might be a bit of déjà vu reading the plot line, that feeling of familiarity, borrowing from a couple masters perhaps, except that it’s not, creating a plot line of its own. The narrator is a twelve-year-old and the author does an exceedingly good job at standing in the youth’s shoes, at times mature beyond his age, and then a gentle reminder by his decisions and actions—no—he’s only twelve.

It’s the depression. The loss of Odie’s mother and then his father lands him and his brother Albert in an orphanage—not a white orphanage—one meant for the transition of Native Americans to white society. It’s cruel. Depressing. And unfortunately, historically accurate.

And it’s the cruelty that forces Odie to a wretched act forcing him and his brother, along with mute Native American Mose, and little girl Emmy to flee. Possessing knowledge of the capture and return or disappearance of previous attempts, they elect to catch a local river (rather than the train) with hopes it’ll take them far away from the brutality of the orphanage and it’s owners.

The epic novel follows them through the experiences of their venture down the river where they meet a whole world of people, the good and bad, in their bid to find their home, now a destination to St. Louis and a surviving aunt.

It’s a multi-layered plot, complex, alternately heart-wrenching and joyous. Even the support characters are so well developed and engaging, you’ll want to know what happens to them.

A breath-taking conclusion, however, may not answer all your questions. Are there some you must decide for yourself? Perhaps. For the most part, it’s satisfying, and though it leaves an impact, allows you to close the chapter and the tale.

An epic saga working on becoming a classic. Many thanks to our local well-stocked library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Book Club Thoughts

The publisher provides pointed questions for discussion at the book club, ably kept on topic (for the most part!) by the moderator. Some of the questions this time, however, just didn’t jive with our own areas of lively interest, with points of view generally in agreement.

We all found it amazing that a twelve-year-old could or would proceed with maturity sufficient to survive in a world heavily poverty stricken and starving. Of course, there was little question that thrust into the world at large these days, a child of twelve, virtually without any resources, would not find the same level of success.

Items specifically examined were:

►The individuals in the vagabond group: Odie’s older brother the oldest, Emmy, the girl, and the youngest.

►The sad state of those Native Children being torn from their families, their way of life, even their languages.

►Those who managed to hang on to their properties, farms or ranches, but without any resources to manage them.

►Revival tents and the level of religious fervor as well as the money generated.

►Hoovervilles—the hopelessness generated by the loss of everything and the lack of governmental intervention.

A look back at a sad time in this country beautifully laid in prose, emotion, well-developed characters, and atmospheric scenes. Well-paced, engaging, and thoughtful. I can recommend this novel. Narrated by Scott Brick who brings a special kind of emotion to the narrative.

Book Club and my star ratings

Book Details:

Genre: Indigenous Literature, Coming of Age Fiction
Publisher: Recorded Books

Narrator: Scott Brick
ASIN: B07S85YLDY
Listening Length: 14 hrs 19 mins
Publication Date: September 03, 2019
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Raised in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, William Kent Krueger briefly attended Stanford University—before being kicked out for radical activities. After that, he logged timber, worked construction, tried his hand at freelance journalism, and eventually ended up researching child development at the University of Minnesota. He currently makes his living as a full-time author. He’s been married for over 40 years to a marvelous woman who is a retired attorney. He makes his home in St. Paul, a city he dearly loves.

Krueger writes a mystery series set in the north woods of Minnesota. His protagonist is Cork O’Connor, the former sheriff of Tamarack County and a man of mixed heritage—part Irish and part Ojibwe. His work has received a number of awards, including the Minnesota Book Award, the Loft-McKnight Fiction Award, the Anthony Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, and the Friends of American Writers Prize. His last five novels were all New York Times bestsellers.

“Ordinary Grace,” his stand-alone novel published in 2013, received the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition for the best novel published in that year. “Manitou Canyon,” number fifteen in his Cork O’Connor series, was released in September 2016. Visit his website at http://www.williamkentkrueger.com.

The Narrator: Scott Brick (born January 30, 1966, in Santa Barbara, California) is an American actor, writer and award-winning narrator of over 800 audiobooks.

Brick studied acting and writing at UCLA before embarking on his professional career in 1989.

In 1999, Brick began narrating audiobooks and found himself a popular choice for top publishers and authors. After recording some 250 titles in five years, AudioFile magazine named Brick “one of the fastest-rising stars in the audiobook galaxy,”^[1] and proclaimed him a “Golden Voice,” a reputation solidified by a November 2004 article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Publishers Weekly then went on to honor Brick as Narrator of the Year in 2007 and 2011. To date, he has won over 50 Earphone Awards, two Audie Awards and a nomination for a Grammy Award.

He opened his own audiobook recording studio and publishing company, Brick By Brick Audiobooks, with the goals of streamlining production and ensuring consistency throughout his body of work. [Courtesy Wikipedia]

The YMCA Book Club

Soaring Above by Amanda Hughes #BookReview #HistoricalWorldWarIFiction

Bold Women of the 20^th Century Book 2

Book Blurb:

For readers who like historical fiction with a bit of a love story. This is a stand-alone book.

1904-Tethered to Earth, Sabina Rys is consumed with longing. Throughout her life, she has looked to the sky, envying the birds their freedom and their opportunity to be soaring above.

Although performing as an aerialist in vaudeville is thrilling, she yearns for something more. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced into burlesque. Thrown into a world of predators and reprobates, it takes years to escape, but once she breaks free, she can pursue her dream to be an aviator of lighter-than-air machines.

When an ambitious, charismatic man named Julian Bach sees Sabina’s talent, he offers her a job flying Allied agents across enemy lines in WWI. It is perilous and terrifying work, and equally grueling is smothering her growing attraction to him. But Julian is not interested. And does it even matter? She may not live beyond tomorrow anyway.

Join Sabina Rys as she pursues her dreams and Amanda Hughes as she sweeps you up into the gripping tempest of Soaring Above.

My Review:

Wow, I missed those bold women that Ms Hughes writes about so eloquently! It’s been a while, and I’m delighted to review the latest in the Bold Women series—this one of the early 20^th Century who blazes new contrails in the sky.

Sabina comes alive on the page from the first chapter. She’s a bull-headed young woman, knows her talent, and performs it very well as an aerialist with her family until an unfortunate accident ends her days on the trapeze.

But only temporarily. After a few side trips into Vaudeville and burlesque, she is forced to seek new employment by joining the service in WWI France—any chance at getting into the air—and she’s there, using her knowledge of her favorite little flying machine introduced to her from her wing walking days.

Her expertise at mechanics on the planes in WWI France places her in the hazardous position of flying agents behind and out of enemy territory. Loved the support characters she is introduced to, as well as the man with whom she can’t deny interest. The characters are well developed as are the scenes within the military. It’s easy to picture a cavernous aerodrome or hear the strains of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” and “Over There.”

“She knew what she lacked in marksmanship; she made up for in flying…”

Sabrina and Julian, who watched her progress from mechanic to expert flyer, suggests a new way to use that flying talent after the end of the war when women were no longer accepted in the service of flying. A fascinating twist on the old “when one door closes, another opens.” Not the first in the narrative, but a brainchild that gets the mind spinning.

“There is only one constant and that is change.”

And yes, the relationship between Sabrina and Julian is a tough one. There is enough push and pull to keep it real. Both are singularly independent, strong willed and passionate in their idea of duty and use of their gifts, and it’s that passion that keeps the sparks flying.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War I Fiction, World War I Historical Fiction
ASIN: B0FMKHMPD7
Print Length: 292 pages
Publication Date: August 28, 2025
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Amanda Hughes Bestselling Author of the Bold Women Series

Amanda Hughes splashes the pages with gritty adventures and love stories about audacious women through the centuries. Her page-turning tales will keep you on the edge of your seat as you take wild rides through dramatic and dazzling periods of history.

Bold Women of the 17th Century
Bold Women of the 18th Century
Bold Women of the 19th Century
Bold Women of the 20th Century

Bestselling and award-winning author, Amanda Hughes is a “Walter Mitty”, spending more time in heroic daydreams than the real world. At last, she found an outlet writing adventures about bold women through the centuries. Well known for her genre-busting books, she is the winner of the Gems National Medal for Writing, featured in USA Today and is nominated for the 2017 Minnesota Book Award. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and when she isn’t off tilting windmills, she lives and writes in Minnesota. Don’t miss these page-turning novels for readers who like historical fiction with a just bit of a love story. All of her books are stand-alone and can be read in any order.

The Bold Women of the 17th Century: The Firefly Witch Book 1, The Sea Bandits Book 2, Painting with Fire Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 18th Century: Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry Book 1, The Pride of the King Book 2, The Sword of the Banshee Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 19th Century: The Grand Masquerade Book 1, Vagabond Wind Book 2, The House of Five Fortunes Book 3

The Bold Women Series of the 20th Century: Beneath a Blazing Sky Book 1, The Looking Glass Goddess Book 2, The Image Seeker Book 3

Interested in her new books or need more information? Go to http://www.amandahughesauthor.com

Rosepoint Recommended-5 Stars

The Gift from Aelius by Michael Colon #BookReview #Post-ApocalypticScienceFiction

Book Blurb:

In the not-too distant future, A191, a Codex with artificial intelligence, feels like a misfit in Paradise, a walled city in the middle of an endless desert where humans imprisoned his race long ago. He’s not like the others of his kind; he longs to meet humans and make peace with them so man and Codexes can be reunited in the world. These thoughts and feelings are not allowed in Paradise; he risks banishment to the desert by the Overseer A. I. who rules by fear and force. Complicating matters, A191 has a glitch in his programming that conjures up a human boy named Aelius who tells him to go to Old Haven where he will find freedom. However, he’s drafted into a rebellion against the Overseer, and as Paradise enforcers close in with orders to terminate him, he escapes the city to wander the desert in search of humans. The journey reveals the truth about his existence, the Overseer’s lies, and the consequences of mankind’s untethered technology.

His Review:

Could the beginning of the decline of mankind be at hand? This is an ongoing theme in this book by Michael Colon. The book explores the development of various robots and other artificial life forms. The central character is a robot who does not follow the norms or codes of society. He and others of his generation are policed by robotic law enforcement that looks to eradicate any non-conforming life forms in society.

The Utopia of the story has an assembly of police groups who arrest the aberrant bots and then disassemble them. Piles of dismembered parts litter various areas in the city. Of course, with every attempt at weeding out the undesirables, further deviants continue to surface. Squads of the robot police scour the cities for those who do not conform to their laws. (Sounds very similar to some of the problems around the world with wars between societies.)

My appreciation for the story is enhanced by the development of some of the current technologies being utilized for the benefit of mankind. The reduction in various industries of manual labor being replaced by automated systems is the foundation of the scenario in this tome. Read and enjoy this topical, controversial contemporary narrative. 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: FourStars

Book Details:

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: TWB Press
ISBN-13: 978-1959768739
ASIN: B0DLJCC1SL
Print Length: 188 pages
Publication Date: October 29, 2024 – Just released!
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Kobo

Autumn reading time

The Intruder by Freida McFadden #AudiobookReview #PsychologicalThrillers

#2 this week

Book Blurb:

There’s someone at your front door—should you let them in? Find out in a riveting new thriller from global sensation and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid, Freida McFadden!

Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey’s cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she’s a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She’s young. She’s alone. And she’s covered in blood.

The girl won’t explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.

In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.

My Review:

I love books with a creepy factor. This one checks that box, though maybe not entirely for the reason you are thinking.

I’m beginning to worry about McFadden’s mind though, she appears to excel in the sick and twisted. At the beginning of the book, it can be assumed Casey is a normally intelligent person, but then she lets a young girl into her cabin in the woods during a massive storm who’s cover in blood. (Yeah, I know, don’t get me started.)

You only think that the girl has a secret. That’s because you are still sifting through the first two-thirds of the book. You have to wonder why a young woman with a decent education and a formerly appropriate job is out of work and in the woods. The back and forth gets you closer to the truth.

The girl with all the blood? Yeah, we’ll get to it. Interesting character development here, but can you allow yourself to lend sympathy with either character? Maybe not. The men, peripheral, support characters give you just enough background to think, “run, Forest, run.”

You might have caught on to the author’s tricks, her twists. The novels are well plotted and paced, engaging and entertaining. Might be compelled to just keep reading. But what you absolutely know you can count on is that one last zinger (really, you expected that?), the one you may not have seen coming. Good for you. This one caught me by surprise.

Again. (Kudos to the narrators for keeping the suspense going.)

Yeah, I’m beginning to catch on, having read two recently, The Housemaid’s Secret and The Boyfriend in August this year. There’s just something about watching a train wreck…

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thrillers, Domestic Thrillers
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
ASIN: B0F94KB253
Listening Length: 8 hrs 19 mins
Narrator: Joe Hempel, Patricia Santomasso, Tina Wolstencroft
Publication Date: October 7, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)

Title Links:

Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: #1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Sunday Times, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a physician who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages.

Freida lives with her family and cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

To hear Freida talk about herself more in the third person, check out her website freidamcfadden.

Halloween

Allied Flames: The Knocknashee Series Book 6 by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog #WWIIHistoricalFiction

The Knocknashee Story

in Historical British & Irish Literature

Book Blurb:

After years of letters and missed chances, Grace Fitzgerald and American journalist Richard Lewis have finally confessed their love. Though the world is at war, their bond feels certain and unshakable. But when Richard and Jacob’s plane is shot down over occupied France in 1943, Grace’s world is thrown into turmoil.

Invited to Savannah by Richard’s family, Grace is drawn into their refined yet uneasy world—a stark contrast to her humble life in Ireland. With Richard missing and every sign pointing to tragedy, Grace refuses the luxury of despair. Some things are simply to be borne.

Amid secrets, divided loyalties, and the unrelenting shadow of war, Grace must summon all her quiet strength to endure what cannot be changed. Love may not conquer fate—but it can outlast it.

Allied Flames is the sixth book in the bestselling Knocknashee Series

My Review:

After the apparent loss of Richard in Book 5, Grace goes into deep grieving, embarrassingly more so than the loss of her late husband. Everything, including Richard’s own family, who have invited her to Savannah to join their memorial, points to his irretrievable loss.

But if that is true, why can’t she shake the feeling that he is not well and truly gone? (Isn’t it the hope we all hold that it can’t really be true and we’re simply waiting for proof?)

But devastated or not, she must go on, and does so grudgingly with the help of friends and the community. Wrestling with the invitation to the memorial, she is determined not to go and finds herself doing it anyway. Richard’s family lovingly accepts her into their fold while her (ex-) father-in-law seeks his daughter and her adopted family in a separate thread.

(Yes, it’s a complex story with a number of threads and though Book 6 is beautifully written and compelling, you would probably do best to start with Book 1 if you haven’t already.)

The characters have all earned a place in your heart at this point, and it’s gratifying to be able to follow their lives and those of the village inhabitants. Meanwhile, the author paints a grisly picture of war-torn France and the desperate situation there. Can’t say much more than that. You’ll understand when you read it.

A Grainger book breathes the myths, history, and Irish lives into her emotional and heart-filled narrative’s characters. She is quite the storyteller—maybe it’s that ingrained Irish blarney?—and her stories are compelling and enriching.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this installment of the series. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction, World War II Historical Fiction
ASIN: B0FCLD5RC3
Print Length: 335 pages
Publication Date: October 13, 2025
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is 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 characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. 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.

I appreciate you!

Every Last One by Carolyn Arnold #BookReview #womensadventurefiction

A totally gripping and heart-stopping FBI mystery thriller (Sandra Vos Book 2)

Book Blurb:

Tucking her daughter into her hospital bed, Gail sent up a silent prayer. Her daughter’s heart is failing and without this life-saving operation she will die. But soon her peace is shattered when a nurse races into the room: “Lock the doors, close the blinds. The hospital’s in lockdown. We have a shooter.”

As a top negotiator for the FBI, Special Agent Sandra Vos is skilled at talking hostage takers down. But when four gunmen storm into Founders Hospital, plunging it into lockdown, she knows just how many lives depend on her.

With a total communications blackout and every aspect of the attack carefully planned out, it appears to have been an inside job. But when a surprise call comes from a victim trapped inside, Sandra realizes the situation is even worse than she imagined. A four-year-old girl is scheduled for life-saving heart surgery. If doctors can’t get to her by tonight, she will die.

With more pressure to bring this incident to a swift end, gunfire rings out, and it’s clear the hostage takers are prepared to kill to get what they want. But just when Sandra thinks all is lost, she learns the hostage takers’ motive is very personal.

Can Sandra use this information to urge them to surrender? Can she even meet their demands? With the clock ticking and countless lives at stake, this will be Sandra’s most heartbreaking negotiation yet.

My Review:

Not a detective or investigator, the story centers around Sandra Vos, a negotiator with the FBI. This is a high-stakes negotiation in that it appears there may be more than one perp and the hostages are the patients and staff of a hospital.

This is not her first rodeo, having been proven a successful negotiator before. The hospital goes into lockdown and they quickly realize there is no communication in or out of the facility. She must determine, somehow, how to get communications back up, who to speak to, and if possible determine the number and location of the hostage takers.

Of course, in many of these situations, there is one responsible for taking it down without violence and those in police authority who would rather just storm the building. In these circumstances, however, there is a too large possibility of catastrophic collateral damage. Say, for instance, the four-year-old girl who was to receive a heart transplant that day.

So what is the motivation of the hostage takers? A wrongful death? Crushing medical debt without recourse? And aren’t all the hostages already in extremely precarious positions?

The team must first identify who is holding the power—anyone holding power. Get them to talk. If more than one perp, what is their common ground?

While I wasn’t overly engaged with the protagonist, I enjoyed the contributions made by the team, each with a niche, supplying valuable intel. The patients as well as staff made for interesting characters and there is almost no lag in the storyline pace.

It’s a well-plotted narrative with a few surprises, although somewhat predictable. The tension ramps up as the hours tick by without solution. In this case, there is emotional engagement with the antagonist(s) as well as the protagonist and the underlying motivation is one most of us can understand.

It’s been a while since either the CE or I have read one of Ms Arnold’s books, the last being The Silent Witness in another series and we both enjoyed those. If you’re a fan, you’ll no doubt enjoy this one as well, and although the second in the series, could be read as a standalone. This novel releases next month!

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

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Women’s Adventure Fiction, Serial Killers, Kidnapping Thrillers
Publisher: Bookouture
ISBN: 978-1836180593
ASIN: B0F8VGV7ZV
Print Length: 318 pages
Publication Date: November 18, 2025
Source: Publisher and Netgalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: To keep current on author news, sign up for Carolyn Arnold’s newsletter through her website.

Book Series by Carolyn Arnold:

Detective Madison Knight
Brandon Fisher FBI
Detective Amanda Steele
Sandra Vos
Matthew Connor Adventure
Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Follow Carolyn Arnold on social media:

Facebook: Author Carolyn Arnold
Twitter: Carolyn_Arnold
Instagram: authorcarolynarnold

Relax, it's Sunday

I Know How This Ends by Holly Smale #AudiobookReview #FamilyLifeFiction

Book Blurb:

If you knew how your life would turn out, what would you change now?

The second brilliantly uplifting and thrilling novel from the multi-million bestselling author of Geek Girl and Reese’s Book Club Pick Cassandra in Reverse.

Margot Wayward is in manically gleeful self-destruct mode. Following the implosion of a ten-year relationship, she’s wilfully derailing her successful career, joyfully taking down men on dating apps, and living in total chaos.

Until one day, when Margot has a vision of herself with a man she’s never met before. She doesn’t believe in fate. But when Margot meets single-dad Henry, the vision comes true: exactly as she’d foreseen it.

As her future continues to reveal itself, a glimpse at a time, Margot realises she knows exactly what’s going to happen, and when. And there’s nothing she can do to change any of it.

So Margot has to decide how to live, how to love again, and how to be herself… Because if you can’t change your destiny, how on earth do you live your present?

My Review:

Determined to prove to her friends that she’s not totally crushed or ended by her devastating end to a ten-year relationship that was to have made her a wife, Margot has subscribed to a dating service.

By the time she is at date #16, she’s seen them all, the tricks; the guy who shows up not looking at all like his app pic, and the married ones looking for a fun fling to name just a couple. After all, she has a list of positives she’s looking for and a huge male ego isn’t on it.

So she’s down to counting red flags and begins numbering them as soon as the guy shows up. I love how she separates truth from fiction and puts them in their place!

Margot is a thirty-something, sharp, witty, independent main character. She is a meteorologist who left her position after the breakup to create a successful podcast. She is sharply critical and outspoken, but she loves her grandfather and checks in with him often. Doesn’t like cats, but discovers one can be a pleasant pet. And has a loving and close friendship group.

And then the magic happens. The novel introduces just a bit of magical realism, more than déjà vu, a vision. She’s had them before. He’s definitely not on her approved list—so why does he make her heart flutter? Laugh?

If you’ve read my reviews very often, you no doubt know I’m not big on romance. This is more than that. It’s a story of love, loss, destinies. It’s an intriguing and compelling read, the dialogue between characters bitter-sweet, frank, and realistic.

And, of course, I’m always up for a bit of magical realism! This one checked a box I usually avoid. Predictable—but not. Twists you don’t expect. Disappointed at one point then buoyed by another. If I can recommend it, you just might love it. (<half star F words)

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Family Life Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
ASIN: B0DK44Z7TY
Listening Length: 11 hrs 15 mins
Narrator: Alix Dunmore
Publication Date: August 12, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Holly Smale has been writing stories since she was four years old: constructing her own books from cereal boxes and a lot of sticky-tape, then forcing family readers to give her glowing reviews by standing in front of the television.

Her path to publication included teen-modelling, factory-work, PR, teaching in Japan and a chaotic stint as the world’s worst waitress, along with a BA in English Literature and an MA in Shakespeare from Bristol University. She uses neither of these qualifications on a daily basis, but still brings them up at parties.

Her debut children’s novel, GEEK GIRL, became the No.1 Young Adult title in the UK and won the Waterstones YA Book Prize, selling 3.4 million books in 30 languages. It is currently in development with Netflix.

At the age of 39, Holly was diagnosed as both autistic and dyspraxic. She writes and speaks passionately about neurodiversity and a lot of random topics she’s not really qualified to talk about yet does anyway.

Her debut adult novel, THE CASSANDRA COMPLEX (UK)/ CASSANDRA IN REVERSE (US) is out now, and is a Reese’s Book Club Pick, a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and the Aardvark Book Club pick.

She lives in Hove, England.

Happy Thursday!