Death At High Tide - A Review

Death At High Tide

by

Hannah Dennison

A new author for me that has written the perfect cozy mystery including an old, somewhat deprecated, hotel; an old, mostly abandoned, lighthouse; and a cat who sees far more than many of the key players in the story. 

It has been a rough month for Evie Mead. Her husband had died with a heart attack, he had died bankrupt, and she almost inherited the Tregarrick Rock, a hotel set among the Scilly Isles - at least until someone pointed out that they were known as “The Isles of Scilly--or Scilly, but [were] never called the Scilly Isles”. Situated off the coast of Cornwall in Southern England, they provided a wonderful spring vacation site for tourist. Evie and her sister decide to take a brief respite while they wait for Evie’s husband’s estate to be settled. While there two murders occur - and they are the prime suspects!

The story is well-written though it moves a bit slower than this reader might hope. The first 50% of the book is focused on setting up the characters and setting for the story. The tides play a major role as they move in and out in their daily rhythms. And the cat, wait until you hear what he has to say!

It was a pleasure to read this book and comes highly recommended.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Civil Terror:Wateborne - A Review

Civil Terror:

Waterborne

by

J. Luke Bennecke

The water, the food chain, had been poisoned and they were trying to kill the person who could fix the problem. The big question, then, who is “they”?

Jake Bendal had designed a system that could produce clean water from the Pacific Ocean waters off the coast of California and cheap and safe energy using Molton Salt Reactors which recycled the salt from the waste created while purifying the ocean’s saltwater. A win for many, but “they” wanted to put a stop to it by creating a virus that changes the sperm that would create the next generation of children and would destroy the next year’s crop production - a virus that was spread through a poison found in the freshwater coming from Jake Bendal’s facilities that created both freshwater and clean/safe energy.

The book was a good story from the very beginning. Part of a series, the book can almost be read alone - yet by not reading the earlier book in the series and missing the next book in the series, this reader felt like he was missing parts of the story. I will be watching for the next book. Part 1, Civil Terror:Gridlock was published in 2018. No hint as to when to expect book 3 of the series was provided. I am hoping that I will not have to wait for the two to three years that separated book 1 and book 2.

For the reader looking for his or her next thriller, J. Luke Bennecke’s Civil Terror:Waterborne would make a great choice.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Beauty And The Beast - A Review

Beauty and the Beast

Written by Jessica Gunderson
Illustrated by Thais Damião

The author and artist have created a nicely done graphic novel designed for 2-7 year old children (i.e. Pre K-3rd grade). This 32+ page book not only presents a simplified version of the familiar story but also provides some guidance for the child in how to read a graphic novel and aids that could be used by teachers or parents to enhance the reading experience. 

Though the story and presentation was a bit less than I, as an adult reader, might want; the book is just about perfect for the young reader. The pictures are large and colorful. They lack some of the detail seen in more typical comic books, but would be eye-catching to the child. The vocabulary is also appropriate for the young reader - though, as one might expect, the pre-reader would need help in getting through the book. I could easily see buying a copy for my granddaughter who is mentoring 1st grade or my grandson who is entering kindergarten - both would enjoy having a copy in their own hands.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Relative Silence - A Review

Relative Silence

By
Carrie Stuart Parks

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom,
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future
to a known God.”
              [Carrie Stuart Parks]

Carrie Parks' latest book started off slow, feeling like I was reading a high schooler’s stilted initial attempts at storytelling rather than a work coming from an experienced and accomplished writer. The book ended on a different note - I could not put it down as Piper Boone and her group of close friends managed to survive the night living through a Cat-4 or -5 hurricane. The author came through with a winning romantic, faith-based, suspense, thriller.

The prologue opens with Piper sending her three-year-old daughter off with her father to spend the day boating and visiting the South Carolina mainland; by the end of the day, her daughter was missing; and by the end of the week, she was declared dead. Chapter one opens 15 years later with a serial killer shooting the patrons of a small South Carolina café, killing Piper’s high school friend and two other lunch diners. From there the story introduces the reader to other participants in Piper’s life and history. We are introduced to a dysfunctional family that can only begin to recover with the unmerited grace of God. Forgiveness will need to be asked and to be given if healing is to be part of this family’s future.

The book has a great deal to teach about those themes of grace and forgiveness - both human and divine. It was well worth my time, and I was glad to be able to read it.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

1-Minute Bible Guide 180 Key Ideas - A Review

1-Minute Bible Guide
180 Key Ideas

By
George W. Knight

George Knight has written 180 devotionals focusing on 180 key theological words that are central to the Christian Faith. Though the author at no time suggests that his list is complete - the chosen terms are important to understanding the theological ideas of our faith.

The terms are not presented in any kind of theological order; instead, the author has chosen to present his list in alphabetical order.  The first five entries are:

1. Abiding
2. Abomination
3. Adoption
4. Adultery
5. Advent

The last five entries are:

176. Witness
177. The Word
178. Work
179. Worship
180. Wrath

Each entry consists of a key verse used to begin the discussion. The devotional material then follows, often incorporating additional scriptural support helping the reader to better understand the topic. Finally, most entries end with a “Learn More” section provides a number of scripture selections for the reader to look up on his or her own.

Sadly, at least in the Advanced Readers Copy I received, there is no scripture index or keyword index to find additional places a concept might be mentioned in the book or another concept that might be supported by a given scripture. Alas, no citations are provided for ideas or concepts that are discussed - making the book suitable for devotional use, but less so for the basis of scholarly word or theological studies. It is this lack of indexing and citations that makes this a 3-½ star book. 

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Don’t Keep Silent - A Review

Don’t Keep Silent

By
Elizabeth Goddard

A history that goes back five years - whether it be the stalker, the roommate, or the romances - provides the backdrop to a story that does not stop. The prologue begins with an escape from a secluded mountain cabin and ends with an abduction to the same cabin. An abduction from which Rae had to escape.

Elizabeth Goddard presents us with a well-written faith-based, romantic, suspense, thriller. This reader was moved to feel for the characters as he read. The Rocky Mountains, just outside Yellowstone National Park, provide a scenic winter backdrop for this adventurous story with skiing, helicopter rides, and rugged snowmobile rides. The reader could ask for little more - unless it would be more stories featuring Rea and Liam. Liam still has to determine his future and this reader would like to see Zoey’s knowledge lead to more convictions and adventure. 

Though the book is faith-based, some will find the faith content lacking. But for most who enjoy faith-based, romantic, suspense, stories, the book will be satisfying. ______________

This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

The Crushing Depths - A Review

The Crushing Depths

by

Dani Pettrey

“It’s easy to regret the past or choices
we’ve made. But living in the past
only gives people who’ve hurt you more
power over you. It’s best to forget
them and move forward,
never looking back.”
[Dani Pettrey, Crushing Depths]

Its NCIS. No, it’s the Coast Guard, so it must be CGIS. A well-written plot focusing on a stalker seeking to harm a Coast Guard Medic and a series of suspicious accidents aboard an offshore oil platform provide the core of this newest piece of suspense from acclaimed writer Dani Pettrey. The excitement is spell-binding and holds the reader’s attention from the first page to the end. This reader did not want to put it down - though he had to, he had to sleep.

Dani Pettrey’s thrillers are not only full of suspense, but also romance. Now, I do like watching Hallmark movies with my wife, but there were too many romantic relationships in this newest book - some dating from a decade ago and others just starting to make their appearance in this 350+ page book. Following one relationship at a time is difficult enough (ala Hallmark), but trying to track 4 or more couples with relationships at different stages in the midst a single story is a bit more complex.

This book belongs in the local public library (my wife tells me it is already in ours), the shelf of the church library, and is worth being read by anybody that enjoys a good, faith-based, romantic, thriller.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.