Collision Course by Jorgia Yates Book Review

terAbout the Book:

Serve his country or rescue his wife?

Federal Air Marshal Reese Donovan has sacrificed everything he loves to keep another 9/11 from occurring again.

After living apart from his wife, Verity, for a year, the last thing he expects is harrowing news that will force him to examine where his loyalty lies.

While he’s been busy keeping the skies safe, Verity narrowly escaped a deadly explosion.

To add insult to injury, the trauma has left her suffering from selective amnesia.

Verity believes she and Reese are still happily married.

With his wife depending on him to fill in critical memories before the bomber strikes again, Reese must lie to Verity while placing his faith in the private security team he holds responsible for widening the cracks in his marriage.

Unsure of who he can trust, and with time running out, Reese will face his greatest fear.

Prevent a terrorist attack or save the woman he still loves.

My Review:

I liked this Christian romantic suspense. The novel opens with instant action and suspense. The suspense is consistent and builds until the end. Yates provides a bit of a twist in the romance in that the couple is initially set to divorce. Temporary amnesia provides a basis for a rocky romance experience for both of them. There is a good balance of progress in the character relationships and action. The idea of a Christian based private security team is intriguing. (They still hack into systems.) The Christian faith message is clear and well done. The main characters are developed well and were quite likable. There were a few quirky support characters too.

The end of this novel suggests a sequel and I will be watching for it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Jorgia Yates writes swoony Christian Romantic Suspense with protective heroes and courageous heroines who constantly find themselves in sticky situations they need to shoot or smooch their way out of.

After meeting as two awkward teenagers in the nineties, Jorgia married the man her soul loved, and they have been blessed with two cherished children on the spectrum.

Due to pesky physical disabilities, Jorgia is limited in what she can do outside the home, so she lives vicariously through her characters' exciting adventures.

Jorgia Yates Inc., 378 pages

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through BookSirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Day After His Crucifixion by Merikay McLeod Book Review

About the Novella:

At last the women speak. While the crucifixion/resurrection event is traditionally told through men's eyes, The Day After His Crucifixion brings Yeshua the Nazarene's story alive through the testimony of women who knew him and followed his teachings.

Shocked by his brutal execution, these New Testament eye witnesses gather to comfort one another and remind themselves of how Yeshua set them free, bringing them life abundant.

Peter's mother-in-law, the woman with the flow of blood, the crippled woman bent double, the bride whose wedding feast was saved by Yeshua playfully changing water into wine, and several others gather to share food and tender memories of their beloved Promised One.

Through their words familiar gospel stories spring to life.

My Review:

This is a great novella. We are familiar with reading the crucifixion and resurrection accounts from the male perspective. This novella gives the many women involved a voice of their own. McLeod incorporates biblical accounts with her imaginative take on what some of the women might have experienced and felt. We really get a clear sense of the expectations for what the Messiah would do and then the ache and questions after the crucifixion.

Two of the women's stories really stood out to me. One was that of the woman caught in adultery. Wow. McLeod's imaginative backstory really puts a different take on that biblical event. Another woman's story of great impact was that of the mother of the boy with the few loaves of bread and fish from which Jesus fed thousands. McLeod imagines her thoughts kneading the bread, preparing food for her family. That her common labor for her family would be used by Jesus was just an amazing story.

I highly recommend this novella. It highlights how Jesus treated women, respecting them, never ignoring them and never turning them away. The Author's Note at the end is a good resource for identifying the Scriptures upon which McLeod's stories are based. There are also questions for deeper study so this novella would make a good personal or group study. It provides a new take on familiar stories yielding insights I never would have seen on my own.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

About the Author:

A Midwesterner by birth, Merikay McLeod spent most of her adulthood in northern California where she worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist and freelance writer. Her articles and stories have won state and national awards, Her freelance work has appeared in such magazines as Good housekeeping, MS, Sunday digest, Insight, The chronicle of Higher Education and many others.

Her walk with Jesus is expressed most accurately by the 23rd Psalm. She has long pondered Jesus' respectful treatment of women despite the surrounding culture's view that women were inferior. The Day After His Crucifixion is her first fiction book. 

Front Porch Publishing, 111 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novella through WOW Women on Writing. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones Book Review

About the Book:

California, 2011: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in the small seaside town of Coronado with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she left behind years ago. The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

London, 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band of the moment. Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.

Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones explores the chaos that the frenzy of fandom can provoke.

My Review:

This may be a novel for those who liked the music of the 1980s and the groupies of that time. It was not a book I felt was a compelling read. It felt more like a family drama than an engaging mystery or thriller. It took a long time for me to connect the dual time periods. The characters were done rather well but I did not feel any were really likable. I was never captivated by music as a teen so had a hard time understanding the earlier actions. The mystery aspect is good, keeping me wondering until the very end. But the end left things hanging.

This is the first novel I have read by this author. Her writing style is good but this topic just did not work for me.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

About the Author:

SANDIE JONES (she/her) has worked as a freelance journalist for more than twenty years and has written for publications including the Sunday Times, Woman’s Weekly, and Hello magazine. She lives in London with her husband and three children. The Other Woman was her debut novel and a Reese’s Book Club pick.

Minotaur Books, 316 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. Mine is an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Chicago Bank Robberies (The Motorbike Gang) by Matthew Pierre, Zachary Pierre Book Review

About the Book:

Join the exciting adventures of the Motorbike Gang, a hilarious club of 8 avid bikers, whose curiosity leads them through puzzling mysteries, crazy episodes, and thrilling quests.

The Chicago Bank Robberies is a fast-paced mystery story geared toward kids 10 and up. Jack Wesley, club leader of the Motorbike Gang, and his friends investigate a stranger after two suspicious encounters, first in their hometown, and then on a vacation to Chicago. They begin to find connections between the stranger and recent jewelry thefts, and then uncover a plot to rob a bank.

With action-packed chase scenes, cliff-hanging suspense, and the struggle between right and wrong, this intriguing mystery will keep the reader on the edge of their seat the entire time, all while teaching traditional family values.

My Review:

What a fun and entertaining adventure for young readers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The collection of kids with such different personalities makes the story really fun. There is not much that could be more exciting for a group of young people than identifying and following a possible criminal. But, as these young people find out, it can also be dangerous. There is a little suspense but nothing inappropriate for young readers. This is a great adventure book for Ages 10-14, especially those who aspire to solve mysteries and capture bad guys.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Pierre Books LLC, 221 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through BookSirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.) 

Someone Had to Die by Jack Luellen Book Review

About the Book:

There's always the one case that got away, the one with loose ends and a lack of closure that plagues those who investigate it.

For James Butler, a partner in a prestigious boutique law firm in Orange County, that case is the 1985 murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Though the murder occurred more than 35 years ago, James can't shake the nagging feeling that maybe the investigators missed something. The more James digs into this cold case, the more unwanted attention he gathers from powerful forces on both sides of the border who would prefer to keep the case closed.

Someone Had to Die follows a fictional lawyer as he digs into the true story of Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena's abduction and murder in 1985, drawing from and exposing interviews and facts never before published.

My Review:

This is a very informative novel about Mexico gangs. There is a great deal of recent history included. At times, the narrative stops for an insert of history. I almost felt like I was in a college class on the topic. I was not familiar with the murder of an agent upon which this novel is framed. There is some action but the book by far is more history and characters thinking and talking about possibilities than it is action. Much of the early part of the book speculates on the possible involvement of the CIA. The characters also investigate the various reports of the crime and the possible flaws in the initial investigation. About two thirds of the way through the book, James, the main character thinks, “Great Job, James. You've spent weeks to get absolutely nowhere.” (3895/5852) I kind of felt that way too. The last third of the book made up for it, however. It had a good deal of action and answered many questions, such as why James was so obsessed with this crime anyway.

This well researched novel is for readers who are interested in the recent history of gangs and cartels in Mexico. You'll receive lots of information on the topic.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Jack Luellen is a Denver, Colorado attorney with more than 30 years of experience. In practice, Jack has tried cases to courts and juries and has written hundreds of briefs, motions, and memoranda, to state and federal court, including federal courts of appeal and the United States Supreme Court. Jack first started working on the Camarena case in 1990 and has continued to investigate it in the years since. Jack is the proud parent of an amazing 9-year-old daughter. Connect with Jack at jackluellen.com.

Torchflame Books, 394 pages

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)