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Mystery Review – ‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas

Sunday, December 24th, 2023

‘Twas the Bite Before Christmas by Andy Carpenter

Review by JJares

 

I don’t care how many lame jokes and impossible situations defense lawyer Andy Carpenter gets himself into; it is always a fun read. I love being swept along with the reluctant Andy (whining all the way). It is a Christmas party at the Tara Foundation when Pete Stanton calls Andy and tells him to come outside. They want Andy to bring out one of the celebrants, Bobby Klaster. Andy knows him by another name and is confused.
Years ago, Bobby was in a gang that turned to murder. He exited the gang by testifying in the trial and joining the Witness Protection Program. I was stunned to learn that the state WPP is wimpy; they relocate the person within the same state, only giving him a new identity. Federal WPPs are moved to another state with more perks than the state model.
Bobby is accused of murdering a former gang member. Of course, the gun is found in his home, along with blood in his car trunk. When the police discover Bobby’s past, they look no further for a suspect. Crime boss Joseph Russo, Jr. appears, helping Andy and his case. Of course, the plot moves predictably, but I don’t care; I love the crazy dogs, especially the Basset Hound. Marcus Clark is in full swing with his fists while Andy cowers in the background.
This is a long-running series about a reluctant lawyer and his dog foundation. Sit back and enjoy another wild story with Andy and all the usual suspects. The laughs start on the first page and continue till the end.

 

 

 

 

 

Fantasy Review – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries: A Novel

Tuesday, October 24th, 2023

 

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries: A Novel by Heather Fawcett

Review by Melissa B. (dragoneyes)

 

An expert on faeries, Emily Wilde sets off to a small town in Norway in search of the Hidden Ones. It is one more step in the completion of her encyclopedia of faerie lore. Unfortunately, once there, Emily finds she doesn’t fit in well with the townsfolk and it is becoming harder and harder to do things on her own. When her academic partner shows up unannounced, she is not sure if she should be grateful or angry. For one, he does bring an entourage of people to help get the fire going and make the place cozy. Not only that but the townsfolk adore him. Yet, Emily knows he is just there to take all of the credit.  Even so, she decides to grin and bear it. Which is a good thing because she ends up doing something quite irrational and will need Wendall’s help to save the day.

This book was full of enjoyment. I was caught up in the story from the beginning. Things only got better when the fair folk showed up as well as Wendall. There were times that I laughed out load but there are also some slightly dark times. It ended up being a great mix. There was even romance thrown in. I can be the first to tell you that most romances make me do an eye roll but this one was quite light-hearted and gratifying. I am very excitedly waiting for the next book in the series.

Contemporary Fiction Review – In a Book Club Far Away

Tuesday, July 27th, 2021

In a Book Club Far Away

In a Book Club Far Away by Tif Marcelo

Review by Mirah W. (mwelday)

As a Navy spouse who has dealt with moving every couple of years, making friends in new locations, and being a member of various book clubs, this book called to me. In a Book Club Far Away centers on the lives of three friends: Regina, Sophie, and Adelaide.  While stationed at Fort Fairfax, they become incredibly close and help each other through deployments and personal challenges.  When a secret is exposed, there is a fracture in the friendship and their trust in one another is broken.  Adelaide needs Sophie and Regina years later when she faces a medical emergency and emotions and hurt come back to the surface when they are all together again.

When I started reading, I was immediately pulled in and enjoyed the pace of the novel; however, about half way through, I felt the pace slowed and found myself drifting.  The author differentiates between the characters very quickly, which I liked. I felt I understood their differences and also what brought them together. However, it seemed things stalled as the author delivered the background of why their friendship initially broke down years before the current events that have brought them back together. I liked this book and the references to other books in popular culture, but I wish the momentum would have carried all the way through and that the ending didn’t feel quite so rushed.

In terms of my connection with the characters, I understood their feeling of distance when getting to know new people.  As a military spouse, this has been my struggle for many years.  As a more introverted person, connecting with others at each duty station is a real challenge. I felt Marcelo adequately expressed that, but I thought it could have gone deeper and avoided some of the stereotypes of what it means to be a military service member or spouse.

I read Marcelo’s novel over two weekends and I was interested in the characters and what the outcome would be. I am giving In a Book Club Far Away 3.5 stars for readability and character development, but I felt the pacing and lack of military stereotypes would have helped bump up my rating.

 

 

 

 

Historical Fiction Review – The Lost Apothecary

Thursday, June 24th, 2021

The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Review by Mirah W. (mwelday)

It was hard to determine a genre category for The Lost Apothecary.  Shifting from past to present, Penner weaves together the lives of 21st century historian Caroline and 18th century apothecary Nella.

Nella’s mother was a well-known apothecary with a little shop off Bear Alley in 18th century London.  After the death of her mother, Nella begins to run the shop herself. Later she is fueled by her own loss and heartache and becomes known for helping women who are the victims of oppressive men. By developing poisons that are easily-disguised, Nella gives strength, freedom, and hope to the women who request her services.

Caroline has arrived in England angry and confused after learning of a betrayal within her marriage.  During what is supposed to be a romantic getaway for her and her husband, Caroline is alone and trying to decide on how to move forward.  She crosses paths with Bachelor Alf and his mudlarking group and decides to see what historical objects the River Thames might provide to distract her from her real life.

Caroline finds a glass vial while mudlarking and she is taken on a journey of discovery into the mysterious apothecary and shop. The reader learns more about Caroline, Nella and Eliza, the young maid of a wealthy woman who demands Nella’s services.  Nella and Caroline’s stories of betrayal bythe men they love are paralleled in the story and their reactions to those betrayals change the course of their lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Apothecary.  I thought it was a unique story (I’ve never even heard of mudlarking before, but I’ve learned it really is a thing and it seems so very interesting) with characters who were complex and relatable.  The sense of magic and mystery come together to provide an engrossing tale and I am not surprised this debut novel by Penner became a New York Times bestseller. I highly recommend this vivid and rich novel when you want to lose yourself in the pages of a good book.

 

 

 

 

Historical Fiction Review – Titans

Thursday, July 23rd, 2020

Titans

Titans by Leila Meacham

Review by Mirah W. (mwelday)

Meacham has created a literary enjoyment with Titans!  A novel about how family secrets can bring both heartache and redemption, Titans is an emotional and bittersweet journey.

Texas in the early 1900s is on the edge of discovery.  Oil has been found and methods of locating deposits and extracting it from the land are being developed.  Some homes are getting telephones and there is talk of a motorized conveyance replacing horses for travel.  In the Dallas/Ft Worth area, three families will come together as long-held family secrets are slowly exposed.

The Gordons are building an empire with their cattle ranch. Their adopted daughter Samantha is their joy and she has given up her dreams of an advanced education to be more involved with the family ranch. The Holloways have a wheat farm and their son Nathan has a deep connection to the land. Nathan is looking forward to the day he can run the farm and has a close relationship with his father.  Trevor Waverling is a wealthy manufacturing businessman who is no friend to either family, but he is about to meet Nathan and set everyone on a course of change.

Meacham weaves together the lives of these three families with a deft hand and the way the plot comes full circle offers a satisfying and thorough conclusion. Filled with complicated family histories and challenging family relationships, Titans delivers on several levels and I give it 5 stars.  The plot is well thought out and developed, the characters are not predictable but they are relatable, and the way the story comes together is seamless.

 

 

 

Nonfiction Review – The Rural Diaries

Wednesday, July 8th, 2020

The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm
The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton-Morgan
Review by: Mirah W (mwelday)

I am not quite sure how The Rural Diaries came up in my suggestions, but I am so glad it did! Hilarie Burton-Morgan is an actress best known for her roles in One Tree Hill, White Collar, and is the darling of holiday movies on networks like The Hallmark Channel. While I am a fan of her work, I have not followed her career closely and wasn’t even aware she had written a book until I saw a post about The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm on Instagram. I thought the synopsis sounded fun so I got a copy and I honestly thought Hilarie’s book was a pure delight to read.

In The Rural Diaries, Hilarie is open and charming as she takes the reader through the ups and downs of her marriage, having children, creating their dream farm, losing loved ones, and finding purpose in her community. She delves into the parts of life that can be complicated and challenging. She honestly addresses her Hollywood experiences that resurfaced during the Me, Too movement. Dispersed throughout her story are asides with recipes, renovation and gardening tips, and beautiful personal photos.

One thing  I was not expecting was the kinship I would feel to Hilarie as she told her story. Who knew there was someone else out there who could love Lonesome Dove as much as me? So much so that she would name her son after one of the main characters, Augustus. I mean, she had my heart with that. And the naming of Mischief Farm, while the perfect name for her family, has a connection to a beloved pet that actually made me a little teary. (I’ll leave that story as a mystery in the hopes that you’ll pick up a copy of The Rural Diaries for yourself.)

The Rural Diaries really does come across as a love letter, which is how Hilarie describes it. It’s not a love letter in the sappy, unrealistic way; it is a love letter that is honest, messy, funny, and tender. I give this love letter 5 stars.  I enjoyed Hilarie’s story, I found her to be forthright and tough, and I was disappointed when I reached the end.

 

 

 

Fantasy Review – The Empire’s Ghost

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020

The Empire's Ghost: A Novel

The Empire’s Ghost by Isabelle Steiger

Review by Mirah W (mwelday)

I don’t often read fantasy adventure novels, but I was looking for a new series and the synopsis for The Empire’s Ghost was unlike anything else I’ve read so I decided to give it a try and I am glad I did!

The Empire’s Ghost is an epic fantasy adventure that centers around various kingdoms seeking control over neighboring lands, but with magic and cunning rulers, who will have the upper hand and who will be victorious? As I read, I became partial to Prince Kelken, who is the underdog in this story, but who knows if I will still like him later in the series.

The imagery is quite exquisite throughout the novel and the locales seem to become characters themselves.  There are a lot of characters to remember, especially since characters are referred to by more than one name or title, but after sticking with the novel, they became clearer in my mind and I could picture each one in every scene. The characters slowly reveal more and more about themselves as the novel progresses to provide more depth and understanding to their choices and actions. Magic and the use of magic is a thread throughout the plot, but does not control or distract from the plot.  The ending is definitely not a conclusion but, rather, an opening to another book set in this epic world.

I am giving The Empire’s Ghost 4 out of 5 stars. My reasons for the 4 star rating are primarily the amount of time it took for me to get invested in the novel and the difficulty I had following some of the intricacies of the plot.  The second half of the book definitely seemed to come together more solidly than the first half.  The action was easier to follow and the characters easier to delineate. I think a multi-faceted novel like The Empire’s Ghost would have benefited from a map and character list/tree at the beginning to give the reader some perspective. For a debut novel, I think Steiger created an amazing story with memorable characters. If you are looking for a sweeping, epic fantasy to transport you to a different world, The Empire’s Ghost is the novel for you.