The Illusionist’s Apprentice - A Review

The Illusionist’s Apprentice

by

Kristy Cambron

A Review

Fairytales can take many forms. This one takes the form of an historical cozy mystery set in the years following the First World War. But also woven between its pages are flashbacks to Wren Lockhart’s troubled childhood and her adventurous teen years. Along the way we meet Harry Houdini and we get to make brief visits to the Palace of Versailles in France. We also get a glimpse of the classical collection of tales found in W. Jenkyn Thomas’ “The Welsh Fairy Book”.

Wren Lockhart watched her mother die and always blamed herself for not preventing her sister’s causing the death. It would take 30 years for her to discover the truth and to find the freedom to forgive herself and learn to love and trust another person, while a variety of vile characters would try to destroy her life and heart along the way.

The book was part cozy mystery, part history (I enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book), and part adventure.  The hint of faith and romance add value to the book for many readers.

For the reader looking for a fairytale wrapped in modern colors, this book might just fill the bill.

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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.

Deep Extraction - A Review

Deep Extraction

by

DiAnn Mills

A Review

A romantic thriller starring a FBI agent, a dying FBI agent that will not admit his failings, and a U S Marshall that is nearly ready to give up, all contribute to a non-stop thrill ride that has all the makings for a great Hallmark-Mystery movie.

The central characters are broken people needing God’s grace in their lives. Some will find it, others will not - but it is offered to all. None of them are entirely who they seem at first glance and it will take the touch of God’s hand for each to move forward from the place in which they are stuck. The bombing of an oil drilling site and the death of its owner appear to be connected - yet the connection is not as obvious the as law enforcement officials working the case would like. And they would need to risk their lives to put together the puzzle that would answer all their questions.

This is Book Two of a series - but the books have little connection between them other than the formation of an FBI task force composed of broken people. It is this lack of connection that I least appreciate about Diann Mills’ books. She begins to develop the characters, but we do not see them in the series' sequels. I do like the stories; I do like the characters; but I want to learn more about them and see them continue to develop through two or three additional novels. I can always hope.

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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.

Whispers in the Reading Room - A Review

Whispers in the
Reading Room

by

Shelley Bray

A Review

I don’t think I have ever read a book that left me with such mixed emotions. The author presents a beautiful picture of how God can take broken lives from a variety of backgrounds and transform them into something of value and worth. At the same time, the author reminds us that we cannot judge a book by its cover or a man by his coat.

The story takes place in the weeks and months following the closing of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Lydia has the responsibility of running a local “Reading Room” in the Chicago community. Thus begins this mystery. I would call this a “mystery embedded in a romance” (which I find a bit uncomfortable reading), rather than a “romance embedded in a mystery” (which is more to my liking). But the four main characters have all strayed from their faith - when fate (i.e. God) brings them together.

Though Sebastian Marks is a man of mystery, the true mystery does not begin until the 50% point (using Kindle’s measurement) of the book. The death of Lydia’s ex-fiance will force each member of their small group to rethink friendships, beliefs, and behaviors. And because of this, the book is much more about relationships than about the mystery.

The book is well-written, by a skilled writer. Her ability to weave the history of the era (and forcing this reader to search Google to discover more) is always a sign of a good book. Though the author seems to confuse the three fires that destroyed the remains of the World’s Fair site over a year’s time into a single event, the story was alive and real.

Bottom line - I enjoyed the book. I wish there had been less romance, but then i am male and thrive more on the excitement than on the romance. Would I recommend the book? Yes - for everyone, but for some more than others. If you like a mix of history, mystery, and romance, you will enjoy “Whispers in the Reading Room.”

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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 are mine alone.