Countdown - A Review

 

Countdown

by

Lynette Eason

A Review

God is in control.

It is a hard lesson to learn - both in real life and in the world of Raina Price. Raina had dated an abusive boyfriend a decade ago - and though she ran, he had promised to keep looking for her. And now it seemed he had finally found her. Finding her put not only her life, but the lives of many friends, in jeopardy. Was God really in control?

The story begins in California, and after a stop in Ashville, NC, has its climax in Colorado. The beauty of the land blends nicely with the characters and their stories, both individually and collectively. A mixture of adventure (Raina is a trained EMT), suspense, romance, and faith, the book kept drawing this reader back whenever there was free time available. 

I can easily give this book five stars and a desire to read more from this author.

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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 mine alone.  

Death By Food Truck - A Review

 

Death By Food Truck

by

Joi Copeland
Cynthia Hickey
Linda Baten Johnson
Teresa Ives Lilly

A Review

This book consists of four short novellas centering on the food truck rodeo held every summer near the beach of Birch Point Lake, Maine. Lucky Noodle was the home to Japanese cousine enjoyed by many. But then Mey Hirano’s abusive boyfriend showed up from Texas. He never did understand the word “No!”

Except the next day Paul is found dead and suddenly Lucky Noodles’ business takes a dive and finds itself in the middle of a murder investigation. The author weaves in the music of Mercy Me, Toby Mac, etc., providing an entertaining faith-based story.

DreaM Donuts provided, as the name suggests, donuts for the daily crowd. Glazed, sprinkled, frosted, and filled donuts were on the menu; but it was not clear whether the frosted or glazed chocolate donuts were the weapon of choice. 

The catch was that the local construction company did not have a good reputation and it looked like someone was out to get revenge. The result is another faith-based suspense that will hold the reader’s attention for two to three hours.

The third novella in this collection focuses on the Spudmobile = serving baked potatoes with all the toppings one could want. The store’s mascot was a “cross between Mr. Potato Head and Mr. Peanut” along with a menu of the daily offerings. 

The Spudmobile offered a unique service - delivery. But one of those deliveries goes awry and ends in a customer’s death. The question becomes “Who spiked the order?” 

The Crunchy Taco had won the honor of being the best Mexican restaurant in town four years in a row - and being a small town it was surprising that there were four restaurants vying for that honor. And a fifth was being proposed.  It looked like jealousy was a key factor in this last murder.

With four authors offering four stories, it is no surprise that the stories are somewhat uneven. However, taken as a whole, the book was a fun read. I enjoyed spending the summer in Birch Point Lake and getting to know the various venders that spent their days offering food to the locals and the tourists. It would have been nice if the various trucks had offered a favorite recipe to share. I give the book four-stars - good reading!

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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 mine alone.  

The Persistent Road - A Review

The Persistent Road

by

Tim Bishop

A Review

Doug Zimmer wasn’t mad; he was furious. He had just unjustly lost his job “with cause” and his wife, Ruth, had died after a short fight with cancer. All of this just before Christmas. The last thing his wife had asked for was that he take a trip - seven stops she had laid out, an eighth stop was yet to be determined.

He was traveling north along the coast of California along state highway 1 and then east toward Chicago. God was not going to make it an easy trip. Of course it was not all God’s fault. Doug’s decision to make the trip on a new recumbent bicycle was part of the problem. But God was also putting people who would challenge his faith (or rather his lack of faith) across his path adding to the challenge. Ruth had plenty of faith, but Doug had never understood and, now with the loss of his job and his wife, faith made even less sense. During the journey he hears one of the worst presentations of the Gospel ever given (Chapter 15) and one of the best (Chapter16). To this reader the contrast was meaningful, but to Doug it was less so. 

The author does a great job describing the setting as Doug travels up the coast and then East across the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. This part of the book would make a great movie with all the color and sights described along the way. Doug would have decisions to make - hard decisions.

This book is only the first of a series describing Doug’s journey - both on his bike and in life. I will look forward to more stories to follow. The book was a bit of a slow starter. With this minor distraction this reader gives the book a reluctant four-stars. Here’s looking forward to learning more of Doug’s life.

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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 mine alone.  

Double Indemnity - A Review

 

Double Indemnity

by

Robert Whitlow

A Review

Every reader has their favorite authors. Robert Whitlow is one of mine. Whitlow has written another legal thriller. 

Connor Grantham, pastor of the Rock Community Church, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation now suspected he had killed a member of the church. Connor, his lawyer, Liz, and his friends would need to locate the evidence to demonstrate his innocence and locate the guilty party. The process would also require Connor to undergo a spiritual transformation. God was using church members, nature, and His Own presence to accomplish that change in Connor’s heart - a change that would ultimately change Rock Community Church as well. 

 During the course of the book, we see God working in Connor’s relationships - both with God and with the people in Connor’s life. The result is a 5-star book worth taking the time to read and learn from. ______________ This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells - A Review

 Death Knells and

Wedding Bells

by

Eva Gates

A Review

The author has again added an enjoyable book to her Lighthouse Cozy Mysteries series. Lucy McNeil (née Richardson) had been married at a well-planned ceremony followed by a great reception. As one might expect in an Eva Gates mystery, the reception ended with a murder. The victim was not very nice, but even he did not deserve to die.

With plenty of suspects, it would take the Nags Head Police Department with the help of amature sleuth Lucy McNeil days of hard work to find the responsible person. The library located on the Outer Banks along the North Carolina sea shore offered it clues along with a memorable setting for a wedding and/or vacation. 

This reader’s attention was held in place - with multiple late nights trying to piece together the clues and find the right suspect. I have no problem giving the book 5-stars; I am sure others will as well. 

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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 mine alone.  

Montana Colld Case Conspiracy - A Review

 

Montana Cold

Case Conspiracy

by

Sharon Dunn

A Review

The book was a disappointing read. It felt as if the story continually repeated itself:

1. Try to kidnap protagonist

2. Break window (usually a car window)

3. Get away safely

4. Do it again

It left this reader wanting a plot that would allow one to follow the investigation and finally arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. Alas, it was not to be.

The book may be satisfying to some, but this reviewer can only give the book 2-½ stars.

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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 mine alone.  

Counter Attack

by

Patricia Bradley

A Review

Phame wanted revenge. Alex Stone wanted to live. Alex would soon become the newly appointed Chief Deputy Sheriff of Russell County, TN. Nathan Landry was the Police Chief of Pearl Springs, the county seat of Russell County. Together they would track down Phame and identify the drug dealers that had recently arrived in town - if they could survive each other.

As in the past, Patricia Bradley has written an enjoyable, exciting, and suspenseful tale that captivated this reader, The book moves between Chattanooga, TN, and Pearl Springs. Both sound like, except for the murders, a wonderful vacation destination. Counter Attack serves as the first book of a new series being written by the author.

The book easily earns the 5+ stars given it by this reader.  This reader will look forward to the next book in the series.

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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 mine alone.  

A Wealth of Deception: A Review

A Wealth of
Deception

 

Trish Esden

A Review

Southeastern Vermont is the home of a number of antique shops. It is also the site of a 10-year-old unsolved murder. Edie Brown, the manager of an antique store, finds herself in the middle of that murder as she seeks to discover the provenance of a collage created by an outsider - a relatively new artist arising outside the traditional art scene. 

Scandle Mountain Fine Arts and Antiques had been started a number of years earlier by Edie’s mother. Now her mother sat in prison charged and convicted of copying and selling forged works of art.  Scandle Mountain Fine Arts and Antiques’ reputation was quickly falling as was its financial stability. If Evie and her friends could prove the provenance of the collage, much of that reputation and financial problems might be corrected.  But could they do it before the Russian mob would kill Evie and friends.

The second book in a series focused on Evie and her store - this reader could not put the book down. LGBTQ+ friendly and full of lovely descriptions of the Vermont countryside, the book will make one want to take a summer or fall trip to the area. The characters seemed real, the art scene was of interest, and there was enough suspense and mystery to hold the attention of many. I give the book five-stars.   

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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 mine alone.  

Broker of Lies - A Review

Broker of Lies

by

Steven James

Steven James and Tyndale offer a well-written and interesting tale focusing on domestic terrorism - a story where it becomes, at times, difficult to discern who are the good guys and who are not. Though the story takes place in the present day, it has it roots in the fire that took Travis Brock’s wife’s life two years ago. No one knew the whole story, at least no one that was talking. Yet the pieces were starting to come together; but it would take time for the story to unfold.

The book started slow - this reader, at first, felt like he was reading something written by a high school student. However, by the end of the book, the story could not be put down. Including espionage, betrayal, and a bit (a very small bit) of romance, the book will appeal to a great many readers. I particularly liked Army Ranger Gunnar Bane - who is attempting to write the world’s next great romance novel. His character offers a strange mix of traits that fit well with the book.

Because the story started slow, I was ready to give the book 3-stars. By the time this reader finished the book, it became clear that it had earned the well-deserved rating given the finished story. The book had become a 5-star book that makes this reader look forward to the next volume in the series.

A Christmas Candy Killing - A Review

A Christmas Candy Killing

by

Chrstina Romeril

A Review

The author has written a fine coy mystery centered around a combination mystery bookshop/candy store. Alex and her twin sister, Hanna, ran the store located in the small Rocky Mountain village of Harriston, Montana. Alex, visiting an elderly friend, finds her dead - stabbed to death. The sheriff accusses another friend of the crime, bui A;ex is not so sure. She and a collection of friends and neighbors will spend the days before Christmas searching for the real killer while not being killed themselves.

It was fun getting to know the members of the Harriston community - both their strengths and their faults. The author drops enough clues for the reader to track the guilty party, without giving the culprit away till the book reaches its climax. When combined with the cany recipes, the book is well done.

Hopefully this becomes the first book in a new series - after all, “This is the first time there’s been a murder in Harriston in over a hundred years. What are chance of another … in our lifetimes.”  I give this cozy mystery four-stars.

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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 mine alone.  

Missing Pieces - A Review

 

Missing Pieces

“Elvis Has Left the Building” by Cynthia Hickey 

“The Puzzle King” by Linda Baten Johnson 

“A Puzzling Weekend” by Teresa Ives Lilly 

“Puzzle Me This” by Janice Thompson

A Review

The publisher has brought together four different faith-based cozy mysteries all centered on the theme of Jigsaw puzzles. Each was enjoyable and provided a few hours of fun reading.

For this reader the most enjoyable story was Janice Thompson’s “Puzzle Me This”. Set in the annual Camden Jigsaw Puzzle Show, Mariah was opening a new business - selling Jigsaw puzzles - but it seemed like it would be a failure from the start. First were the gunshots heard throughout the Camden Opera House, home to the show; then came the dead body found near Mariah’s booth; the first night ended with the missing, i.e. stolen, “Grindle Point '' antique puzzle valued at over $2500. That puzzle was the key to Mariah’s future success and now it was gone.

Mariah, working with other shop owners and Detective Casey Durham of the Camden PD, would follow (stumble on) clues which would lead to the guilty party. The clues not only guided Mariah and her friends, but they also provided tantalizing breadcrumbs for the reader, leading to a very satisfying conclusion. This final story, and the book, gets five stars.
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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 mine alone.

The Diva Says Cheesecake - A Review

 

The Diva Says

Cheesecake

By

Krista Davis

Do you like cheeecake? Do you like cozy mysteries? If the answer to these two questions is “Yes”, then you will likely enjoy this book.

Tate Bodoin has died. Sophie Winston, owner of Old Town’s most well-known cheesecake store, had found the body. Now Sophie was a suspect. To clear her name she would need to “help” find the real culprit.

Besides being a very readable cozy, the author also includes excerpts from two local advice columnists within the story and some tasty recipes (both cheesecake and more) at the end of the book. This reader would not try them all, but several are eye-catching and worth considering for a future treat. Between the cozy and the recipes, I give this book four stars.
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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 mine alone.

A Disturbing Nature - A Review

                                                   A Disturbing Nature

by

Brian Lebeau

A Review

Though I was looking forward to reviewing this book, I found myself discouraged as I read. The discouragement began with the lengthy “Acknowledgments” (3 pages). This was followed by a one page “Author’s Note”. The author’s note seems mostly unnecessary in that it focuses on the setting and timing of the novel - elements clearly covered within the body of the book.

The book itself was more a set of character studies than mystery - this reader found himself quickly losing interest. The well-written story may be of interest to some, but I can only give the book two-stars.
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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 mine alone.

Buried In A Good Book - A Review

 

Buried In

A Good Book

by

Tamara Berry

A Review

Sometimes an author does it exactly right. Tamara Berry has done just that. With the right amount of humor, the right amount of suspense, the right amount of romance, and the right amount of clues, Ms. Berry has put together a perfect cozy mystery.

Famous mystery writer, Tess Harrow, has come home for a change of pace with her teenage daughter to Northern Washington - Bigfoot country. She is struggling with her divorce, writer’s block, and teenage angst - would she survive the summer? Before the end of her first day home, she has to deal with body parts (literally) raining down on their temporary home.

As the back-page book blurb says, “... solving a real crime is a lot more difficult than writing about it …” Tess, her daughter, the local sheriff, and the town librarian, would have their hands full as they deal with an evil criminal, suspicious characters, and their own relationships. Here’s hoping for more in the series, the book receives five stars,
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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 mine alone.

Killer in the Court - A Review

 

Murder She Wrote:
Killer on the Court

by

Jessica Fletcher
Terrie Farley Moran

A Review

Jessica Fletcher is visiting her nephew, Grady, his wife, Donna, and son, Frank. It is supposed to be a relaxing break at the beach in Rockaway NY. And it is until Donna discovers her boss’s body lying on a tennis court - her boss’s dead body.

Though there is some initial suspicion that the Fletcher clan may have been involved. That is quickly resolved, but then it falls on Jessica working with the NYPD to eliminate the suspects and identify the guilty party.

The result is a relaxing cozy mystery that moves quickly to a satisfying conclusion. It did leave this reader with two concerns. First, Frank is the most well-behaved, well-mannered, ten-year-old I have ever met - somewhat uncharacteristic for a young man his age. Second, the book’s resolution comes about unexpectedly with few hints provided to the reader as to the guilty party. Even with those flaws, the book was an enjoyable story and well-worth four stars I am giving 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 mine alone.

Fatal Code - A Review

 

Fatal Code

by

Natalie Walters

A Review

The space race meets Los Alamos meets pseudocode in this modern faith-based thriller. Theoretical physicist, retired Iowa State professor, and grandfather of Elinor Mitchell has died - the book opens with his funeral. Unbeknownst to Elinor Mitchell, her grandfather has left behind the secrets to a decade old, unfinished, experiment from Los Alamos NM. Elinor had her own secret projects as well. And there were Russian, Chinese, and Industrial spies willing to kill for both.

Into the middle of this steps Kekoa Young, an Hawaiian cyber-expert working with SNAP, a defense contractor assigned to monitor the deepest secrets within the US and other Western governments. His current assignment is to build a relationship with Elinor to determine her commitment to the secrets she has access to - and the evidence suggests she is not as committed as she needs to be.

While most of the story takes place along the streets and areas around Washington DC, the story ends with a distant trip to Hawaii. It will be a difficult journey from the streets of the nation’s capital to the beaches of Hawaii - one that will threaten the lives of both Elinor and Keoka as well as their colleagues.

The book provided the suspense and thrills needed for a few Spring evenings. It deserves the five-star review I am giving 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 mine alone.

A Margin for Murder - A Review

 

A Margin for Murder

Lauren Elliott

A Review

What do you get when you mix a used bookstore owner, a dying library, and a crooked mayor? You get a dead body and a wrecked bookmobile inside a cozy mystery with a twist.

Add a biased cop and a romantic triangle and things get interesting really quick. Lauren Elliott has written an interest-holding story that takes the reader through the different communities of Cape Cod where we meet a world famous author as well as a number of eccentric characters that make the Cape home.

I could not put this five-star cozy down and recommend it to anyone looking for good clean fun and murder.
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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 mine alone.

Quantum Physics for Beginners - A Review

 

Quantum Physics
for Beginners

by

Sean Lawson

A Review

This book purports to be an introduction to quantum physics - it might better be described as an introduction to the vocabulary of quantum physics. The closest it comes to actually giving details on the subject is an equation on page one:

s-h/2p eV/h

But the author gives no explanation of its meaning or of the terms used.

At one point the author suggests that there are “plenty of free resources available … This essay will explore some of these sites …” but then does nothing to fulfill that promise. No citations, no web sites, no suggestions for further reading.

The feeling I had was that the author wanted his book reviewers to serve as editors, writing,

Dear reader, despite the efforts made in producing an acceptable draft of this manuscript, I would like to warn you that you may find some spelling errors, grammar and even some sentences that may be improved following your advice. I therefore ask you, if you find some errors, to let me know through the ********** app or by contacting me at ***********@gmail.com.

It is not my task as a reviewer to edit an author's work - a disappointing expectation.

Given the quality of writing and the usefulness of the book, this book is not recommended and is being given only one-star.
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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 mine alone.