November Knight by Debbi Migit Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: November Knight (Justice Montana Series Book Three)

Author: Debbi Migit

Genre: YA

Release date: November 28, 2023

When kidnappers take her friend, Sierra Gallagher, Jess Thomas is determined to find her. But a simple clue reveals a threat Jess never saw coming, plunging her into a life-threatening confrontation.

Meanwhile, former Army Ranger Levi Cooper is now a valuable task force member searching for the missing girls. But when he encounters Sierra, Levi discovers he has another mission.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is an action packed novel for high school age readers. There is lots of suspense, some of it caused by decisions made by the young heroines. Jess and her friends are a brave group and go after bad guys without enough backup and get in trouble themselves. But it is the commitment to deep friendship that causes the girls to be willing to brave danger. I was impressed with the faith message contained in this book. Just when the situation seemed impossible to survive, and there were a number of them, the girls would be reminded, “But God.” What a great faith message.

The narrative is written in alternating first person. While the person is identified at the beginning of the chapter, a few pages in I became unsure as to whose viewpoint it was. The narrative is also present tense. Those are two aspects of Migit's writing style that are not my favorites. I also have a pet peeve of starting a chapter with a dream and not identifying it as such. Migit did that too in this novel.

Even though there were a few aspects of the narrative style I did not like, Migit's plot development is engaging. I blew through this book, the plot and action drawing me in. The ending left me wanting more so I will be watching for the next in the series. Even though there were references to events in the earlier books, I felt this one read quite well on its own. This is certainly a good novel for high school age readers.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Award-winning author and speaker Debbi Migit lives in central Illinois, surrounded by pumpkin patches and cornfields. Her first book, Child of Promise, is the true love story of a family formed through adoption. After ten years of infertility, Debbi and her husband Phil were just months from adopting when God said, “Not this way.” Child of Promise is the story of audacious faith resulting in multiple miracles. It encourages readers to remember their own promises and believe again.

Debbi has won multiple awards and contests, writing stories that are filled with faith and hope. She loves to share personal anecdotes about God’s faithfulness, infusing her talks with authenticity and humor. Debbi and Phil are the adoptive parents of Alex, Ethan, and Kate. The God-ordained spacing of their children offered the unique opportunity to parent a teen and two toddlers–at the same time. This is the season Debbi fondly calls the TNT years!

Debbi’s hobbies include reading, writing, and avoiding arithmetic. Her favorite color is turquoise, and she collects Trixie Belden books and typewriters. If playing Candy Crush was a paying gig, she would be rich.

Debbi’s Justice, Montana series begins with September Shadows, released in February, 2021. After the mysterious death of their parents, Jess Thomas and her sisters are determined to stay together and make a new life for themselves, which includes faith-testing danger, adventure, and romance.

October Outlaw was released in the fall of 2021, followed by November Knight in November 2023.

The series will conclude with December Dreams, and January Justice in 2025

More from Debbi

November Knight features a real-life abandoned gold mining town located in Bannack State Park near Dillon, Montana. Bannack appears in all of the Justice, Montana books, but it is an exciting part of November Knight. Read more about the history of Bannack here: https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/montana/bannack/

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18

Texas Book-aholic, September 19

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 21

Stories By Gina, September 22 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 24

Artistic Nobody, September 25 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, September 26

Cover Lover Book Review, September 27

Guild Master, September 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 28

Pause for Tales, September 29

Lily’s Corner, September 30

Cape & Castle, September 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Debbi is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of November Knight!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5443

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(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.)

Ronnie by Jennifer Lynn Cary Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Ronnie

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet Romcom

Release Date: June 12, 2024

She’s literally stuck in her engagement…

…He’s trying to keep her there.

But when you take the couple out of Texas, is the romance lost too?

Ronnie Webb has broken her engagement to the love of her life, Carlos (Cal) Garcia, or would have if the stupid ring would come off her finger.

To find the space to get over him and the rest of what is going wrong in her life, she leaves her dad’s Texas ranch to visit her aunt and family in Kokomo, Indiana.

But hanging out with the Weather Girls, especially with their cardinal in the sycamore legend sending out strong vibes, Ronnie’s love life may not be as dead as she thinks.

Carlitos can’t believe the letter Ronnie left him right before Christmas—his last one at home before his enlistment starts. However, his broken wrist might just be the break he needs to get Ronnie back before it’s too late.

But what does this native Texan know about mid-western Hoosier romance?

And can he learn, or is this the end?

Ronnie: A Sweet, Quirky Romantic Yarn is book five in the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. Inspired by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ 1960’s song of the name, this charming tale with a bit of western influence finishes off 1972 and brings you into the New Year in Kokomo, Indiana.

You will enjoy this sweet and wholesome romcom with a touch of western flavor because everyone dreams of their own cowboy romance.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This novel is a romance containing many relationship issues. The initial event causing so much trouble was Cal making a life changing decision without talking it over with Ronnie, his fiancée. She, of course, has some serious concerns when she finds out about the decision but not from him. What follows is a cascading deluge of communication issues and misunderstandings. The novel takes place during the Vietnam war and highlights the toll that war took on relationships.

I had a little trouble liking Cal. He seemed to be a bit of a hothead and controlling. There was so much tension at times between him and Ronnie I wondered if preserving the relationship was worth the effort. This is a romance so we know the obstacles will somehow be overcome. Cary includes a little humor from time to time, lightening the relationship drama a bit.

This novel is in the Weather Girl series and those women play a large role in the plot. While the novel can be enjoyed on its own, reading the Weather Girl novels will help in understanding all the action here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author

Historical Christian Romance author, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

More from Jennifer

In the first chapter of Ronnie, Carlitos comes home to his mom making his favorite, Pozole. It is a Mexican soup, and the first time I had it was at my neighbor’s house. She has given me her recipe and permission to share it with you all. Two things to keep in mind: first, she and I had to work to translate this from Spanish to English. We did our best, but if you don’t understand something, just give it your best shot—or ask me. I might be able to figure it out. Maybe. 😉 Two, she usually makes big batches of this, and she cut it back for a “normal” size. So feel free to adjust as needed.

Most of all, though, enjoy!

Pozole Recipe by Araceli Estrada (my amazing neighbor and friend)

Ingredients:

For meat pot-

4 lbs. of bone-in pork loin

½ white onion–diced

1 head of garlic—clean off the paper

2 bay leaves

1 T oregano

1 T ground cumin

1 T powdered chicken bouillon

1 large can of hominy

For chili sauce-

10 chili pods

10 Ancho chilis

10-15 black pepper corns

4 cloves of garlic

For garnish—

Shredded cabbage

Diced onion

Sliced radishes

Chopped cilantro

Chunked avocado

Lime wedges—to squeeze over

Directions:

Place in a Dutch oven, the pork loin, the half onion, the head of garlic, the bay leaves, the oregano, and cumin. Add enough water to cover up to ¾ of pot. Bring to a boil and then heat. Simmer for 2 hours stirring often and skimming off the foam.

Slice open chilis and remove seeds and membranes. In a second pot, add chili pods and Ancho chilis. Cover with water and bring to a boil. After two minutes, turn off heat and allow chilis to rest in hot water for at least ten minutes. The chilis should feel soft and pliable.

Remove from water and put into blender with black peppercorns, 4 cloves of garlic, and a cup of water. Add water a little at a time, careful to not add too much. Puree until smooth. Then pour through a strainer into the meat pot.

Strain the hominy and add it plus the chicken bouillon to the meat pot. Salt to taste. Allow to simmer while preparing the garnishes.

Set garnishes out so guests can choose. Serve with warm tortillas.

(From Jenny: Not sure home much this will serve, but it is so good!)

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 18

Blossoms and Blessings, September 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 19

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 20

Artistic Nobody, September 21 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 22

Guild Master, September 23 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 24

A Reader’s Brain, September 25 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 26

Back Porch Reads, September 27 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 29 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, September 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 1 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5444

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(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.)

Bearly Evident by Lois Schmitt Blog Tour Book Review

 

BEARLY EVIDENT

by Lois Schmitt

September 9 - October 4, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Kristy Farrell Mystery

 

When a body is found in the Happy Place Animal Sanctuary, wildlife reporter Kristy Farrell is on the case. She soon discovers this was no accident. It was MURDER!

Five people were present at the sanctuary when the death occurred. As Kristy digs deeply into the victim's past, she uncovers dark secrets affecting each of these five suspects--powerful motives for murder.

Meanwhile, life is anything but calm on the home front. The best friend of Kristy's widowed mother is a victim of a pyramid scam. Kristy, assisted by her veterinarian daughter, is determined to expose the fraud although it may be at great personal risk.

Back at the sanctuary, things are spiraling downhill. Wolves escape and another body is found. With the bad publicity, the sanctuary may be forced to close. And a killer is still on the loose!

Despite being thwarted at every move by her nemesis, the blustery Detective Wolfe, Kristy uncovers a major hole in the alibi of a key suspect. But as she gets nearer to closing in on this killer, it looks a if she might become the third victim.

My Review:

This is a fun mystery. Kristy is an engaging heroine and amateur sleuth. She does her investigating by talking to people and digging deeper than the police do. The more she investigates, the more people she uncovers with motives for murder. This is a cozy mystery but there is a little bit of suspense near the end. Schmitt added a subplot that dealt with a Ponzi scheme, giving Kristy even more to investigate. It is fun to have Kristy's daughter, Abby, help her. There is a good balance of the investigation and Kristy's ongoing personal life.

I have enjoyed this series. Schmitt's writing style is good. Since Kristy writes for an animal magazine, each novel revolves around some animal theme and is an entertaining and a fun mystery, especially for animal lovers. While I missed the very first in the series, you can read my reviews of the other earlier novels: Something Fishy and Playing Possum.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Encircle Publications
Publication Date: September 4, 2024
Number of Pages: 280
ISBN: 9781645995609 (ISBN10: 1645995607)
Series: A Kristy Farrell Cozy Mystery, 4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Encircle Publications

BEARLY EVIDENT

I started back for my appointment with the sanctuary’s business manager when I heard voices coming from behind a desk. I recognized one of the vices. I snuck behind to look and listen.

“I know you want her job, and to tell the truth, I’d much prefer you,” Nick Lamonica said.

“Why can’t you fire her?” asked the other man. I couldn’t see his face, but he wore orange leather boots.

“Be patient,” Nick answered, “She may be gone sooner than you realize.”

A woman’s scream pierced the air.

Nick and the man in orange boots sped off in the direction of the scream. I raced after them.

The screams had come from Gina Garone, the sanctuary director. She pointed to one of the animal habitats. Spread across the grass was a body.

Hovering over the body was a mountain of fur with fangs.

Bella the bear.

***

Excerpt from Bearly Evident by Lois Schmitt. Copyright 2024 by Lois Schmitt. Reproduced with permission from Lois Schmitt. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

A mystery fan since she read her first Nancy Drew novel, Lois Schmitt combines a love of mysteries with a love of animals in her series featuring wildlife reporter Kristy Farrell which includes Monkey Business, the first in the series, Something Fishy, 2nd runner-up for the Killer Claymore Award, and Playing Possum, Silver Falchion Award Finalist. Bearly Evident is the fourth in the series, but each book can be read as a stand alone.

She is a member of several wildlife and humane organizations as well as Mystery Writers of America and the Long Island Author's Guild. Lois worked for many years as a freelance writer and is the author of Smart Spending, a consumer education book for young adults. She previously served as media spokesperson for a local consumer affairs agency and often incorporates consumer scams into her books. She also taught at Nassau Community College.

Lois lives in Massapequa, New York with her family which includes a 120 pound Bernese Mountain dog. This dog bears a striking resemblance to Archie, a huge dog of many breeds, featured in her mystery series.

For latest news on Lois visit :
LoisSchmitt.com
Goodreads
Instagram - @LoisSchmittMysteries
Facebook - @LoisSchmittAuthor

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

Click here to view Bearly Evident by Lois Schmitt Tour Hosts 

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

Enter Now for Your Chance to Win!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Lois Schmitt. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

Can't see the giveaway? Click Here!

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Partners in Crime Book Tours.

(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.)

Memorize What Matters by Josh Summers Book Review

About the Book:

12 proven strategies to help you memorize the Bible faster and easier! Go beyond the simple "repeat over and over" method of memorizing Bible verses and learn the techniques backed by science and used by memory athletes all over the world.

Sometimes Bible memory can feel like a chore and is especially frustrating when you forget what you spent all that time working on. But what if there was a way to teach your brain better ways to internalize God's Word?

In Memorize What Matters, you'll learn:

• 5 Types of Bible Memory: Discover the different types of Bible memory that go beyond just memorizing an individual Bible verse!
• The Understanding Pyramid: Avoid the biggest obstacle most memorizers have when it comes to retention by taking advantage of the Understanding Pyramid.
• 12 Proven Memory Strategies: True to the title, you'll learn a number of new strategies such as the First-letter method, the Visual Outline method, the Mind palace method, the spaced repetition method and more!
• Unexpected Benefits: Get excited about the unexpected benefits of Scripture memory that you can expect after implementing these strategies.

Not Just Theory...Practical Tips

The tips and advice offered in Memorize What Matters aren't just theoretical. Josh has practically used the methods in this book to memorize over 10 books of the Bible word-for-word, with the goal of memorizing the entire New Testament.

In addition to this personal experience, he as interviewed over 50 people on the Memorize What Matters podcast to learn the unique ways in which people approach Bible memory. Now you can benefit from this shared body of knowledge to improve your own memory and deepen your understanding of the Word.

My Review:

Summers begins his book with his own experience where he realized how important it was to have Scripture within. He was under pressure when no books nor digital devices were available. His spiritual support came from Scripture he had memorized.

But how do we hide Scripture in our hearts? Summers gives a number of creative and practical ways to do that very rewarding task. I prefer visual learning and my favorite technique is the memory or mind palace. But there are many other practical suggestions so there is a technique for each person. He also gives great ideas for reviewing and keeping the verses we have learned in the forefront of our mind. He also suggests celebrating with others with the verses memorized.

There are plenty of resources for Scripture memory beyond this book. QR codes are included leading the reader to Summers' two podcasts on YouTube and other resources.

This is an excellent book full of practical ideas for memorizing passages of the Bible, whether one verse or an entire epistle. I highly recommend it.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

About the Author:

Josh Summers was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and never considered the idea of writing until he started traveling the world. In 2006, he and his wife set off for an adventure around Asia that aroused a passion for photography, filmography and, of course...writing. Over time, Josh has become known for a unique style of travel writing that is extremely personal, empathetic to the reader and very easy to follow. His blogs and videos reach millions of travelers each year and have inspired countless travelers to venture out beyond their comfort zone. You can find out more about Josh and his ministry at https://www.joshsummers.com/. 

Go West Media, 190 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. 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.)

Insensible Loss by Linda L Richards Blog Tour Book Review

INSENSIBLE LOSS

by Linda L. Richards

September 9 - October 4, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

The Endings Series

 

Her life is over . . . yet somehow she carries on

After attempting to sever all ties to her life as a hired assassin, a woman struggles to understand who she has become. She knows she doesn't want to kill again--but it proves to be a difficult habit to break, particularly in a world where people are after her and those she loves most.

Adrift and disconnected, she meets an old woman: Imogen O'Brien, a world-famous artist who has spent the last three decades living a hermit-like existence on a rustic desert estate in a national forest. Imogen invites her to stay and work for her, offering mentorship in return as the woman deepens her own interest in art.

What quickly becomes apparent is that elements of Imogen's past are shrouded in danger, sorrow, and darkness. Rather than growing as an artist, the former hitwoman soon finds herself enmeshed in a dangerous mystery with strands that stretch decades into the past.

Praise for Insensible Loss:

"Deception, loss, and the past all collide in this propulsive thriller. A skillfully crafted plot combined with memorable characters makes Insensible Loss a must read."
~ James L’Etoile, award-winning author of Face of Greed and the Detective Nathan Parker series

My Review:

This novel is part of a continuing saga and I don't think it will make much sense out of the context of the previous novels. Richards' writing style concentrates on the interior of the main character, the nameless female contract assassin. While there is some action and a quick suspenseful scene near the end, the novel is mostly character thought and internal development. It is a novel for readers who like a deep dive into the mental state of an individual.

The plot centers around the heroine perhaps finding a new way of life and involves attachment theory. She stumbles upon a woman, a famous painter now a recluse, and an attachment is formed. The ensuing action seemed a little far fetched to me and I am not sure, now having finished the novel, that I understand what really happened and why. The twist in the end of that experience was certainly a surprise. I don't understand the painter's motive or what she was trying to accomplish and I do wish Richards had explored more of the reasoning in that area.

I do like this series and since the final part of the novel seems open ended, I'll be watching for the next book. I have become engaged with the nameless main character and am interested in seeing how her life will continue to evolve.

 My rating: 4/5 stars.

While I missed the very first novel in the series, you can read my reviews of the next two: Exit Strategy and Dead West.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Published by: Oceanview Publishing
Publication Date: September 17, 2024
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1608095148
Series: The Endings Series, Book 4 | Each is a Stand-Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

I am gazing into an abyss. When I plant my feet on the edge of the cliff, all I see is a canyon yawing below me. I see the canyon, and my feet, tightly laced into trail runners. Below and beyond my tidy feet, red rock can be seen everywhere, edges softened by millennia, but deadly still. And steep.

Arcadia Bluff. It has a gentle sound, this location. But the reality is anything but gentle. A rough rawness that would seem to be able to accommodate anything one pitched in that direction. Wild west. There’s that, but also more. The secrets of an earth so raw and new, it doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up.

It happens that the physical landscape matches what is going on in my heart, but this is mere coincidence. And anyway, everything is connected.

I am in a remote part of one of the largest national parks in the United States, and I am all alone, but for my dog.

Again, aside from that dog, I feel as if I have been alone for my whole life, but that isn’t true. What is true: everyone I’ve ever loved is dead. Some of them by my hand.

But all of that was before. Here is now.

I stand on Arcadia Bluff and the canyon below my feet seems to careen out endlessly. The aforementioned abyss. The red rock, dotted by trees and even the occasional cactus, seeming to sprout from the rock at odd angles, because the perpendicular drop doesn’t support normal growth.

In the distance, far below me, I see a sliver of silvery blue. Maybe it’s a river or the edge of a lake, but when I look straight down, between my feet, I see nothing but rock and cactus and peril. It gives me a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach to look down, so I try to avoid doing that.

We drove in my old Volvo to get here, the dog and I. The car is dear to me. I’ve had it a long time and it performs elegantly. Like a tank. An elegant tank. It is a premium car, or it was, but now it is ancient. In good condition, but unremarkable, one of the things about it that I’ve always cherished: it has never drawn comment. And no one would suspect that under the trunk’s false bottom they would find two Bersa Thunder 380 handguns and a whole lot of cash. The car is now my home, my armory, and my bank. Who needs anything more?

Well, maybe I do. But never mind. The journey, that’s the thing.

To get here, the path we traveled in that old Volvo is a forestry road. The road is marked on maps as little more than a trail. It is unpaved and unremarked. And putting it that way—the path we traveled—makes it sound like a destination. It wasn’t that. It is just the place where, for the moment, we have ended up. When this moment is complete, we’ll travel some more. Maybe come to something else. It’s what we have now, this life made of almost nothing. As you will have guessed, this state of near nothing didn’t happen overnight.

A while ago I left behind the hollowed-out shell of the life I had created. The sham. The farce. The life in which I lived while I processed all of my grief.

Tried to process all of my grief.

Do you know what I discovered? You don’t process grief. It lives inside you, waiting for you to trot through the minefield that is life. Waiting for you to make just that one step and the grief explodes back into your face. If you were to process it—like cheese, like peanut butter—at a certain point it would be smooth and glossy and perfectly digestible. Consume it and forget it. But grief isn’t like that. It waits around because all it actually wants is to bite you in the ass.

I sound bitter. The tonic in a vodka drink. I don’t mean to, but there you are. Sometimes what you feel overrides everything you know.

After I left said reconstructed and hollowed-out life, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was basically—entirely?—homeless. My dog. And me. Homeless and aimless. I had my car. Several handguns. A few small things that I had come to treasure. And a whole whack of cash. The cash was necessary, because this is what I no longer possessed: any form of identification or credit cards. Or anything that said I was a person at all. I had simply disappeared. You mostly can’t do that forever.

A myriad of small things will trip you up. You can’t travel by air. You can’t book a motel. You can’t call an Uber. Or bank. When you start to think about it, there are more things you can’t do than what you can. After a while you need a landing spot. And you need a plan.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here goes another run.

Once upon a time—like a fairy story—I was a mom. A wife. A cornerstone of my community. I had a house. A pebble-tech pool.

A minivan with leather seats and televised communication. I had all of the accoutrements of suburbia, right down to the suburb. Tree-lined streets that I traveled to get to my job and take my kid to his school. I had attractive but not fiendishly manicured lawns. A home. That’s what it was. My husband, my son. Me. We were a family. We had a home.

One day there was an accident. People were killed. My child. Ultimately my husband, too. I was unexpectedly alone. All I had was a whole bunch of mortgaged crap I hadn’t even dreamed of wanting in the first place. After a while of being alone and having no money, I needed a new job and I started taking contracts to kill people.

You see how my narrative breaks down right there? I mean, everything was going along well, from a storytelling standpoint. I’d engaged your sympathy. Maybe even your interest. And then— boom!—I blow all that goodwill with a simple revelation. Yes. Killing people. For money. What kind of nice lady does that? No kind, that’s what. But it let’s you know at least part of why I run.

And so here we are. Standing on the edge of a cliff. And I’m not expecting to jump.

CHAPTER TWO

Lately I’ve noticed that I have become afraid of the dark. It doesn’t make sense to me. I am aware of no new trauma that might have led to this condition. Nyctophobia. I have read about it. I have googled, as they say.

I’ve “done some research.” So I know a little about the condition that currently plagues me. I’ve read that it is fairly normal or, at least, not uncommon. I’ve read, also, that fear is healthy. In our natural state, I guess, fear is what keeps us alive and safe.

For months, I have found myself waking from peaceful slumber and moving to instant terror when the dark is encountered. The dog smells the fear, or at least that is what I guess. When I wake in this way, I can hear him rustling about as he comes to me. He lays his muzzle on whatever part of me he can reach: my hand or my arm or even a bit of toe. And he’ll stay there like that, breathing quietly, until my demons have passed, or I turn on a light.

Usually, I turn on a light.

There are things you can do, that’s what I’ve read, as well. And there is evolved language around it. You can deal with your triggers or work at desensitizing yourself to darkness. This sort of healthy self-examination has never been my forte, and so after a while, I come up with my own solution: I begin to sleep with the light on. It keeps the demons at bay.

All of this would probably be of more concern if we had a home anymore, the dog and I. But we don’t. As I said, we are traveling, no destination in mind other than a vague and distant future that at present has no shape.

Every day, we cover many miles in the Volvo. The forestry roads in Arizona’s Cathedral National Park seem endless. The park itself seems endless, as well. We keep traveling, only occasionally surfacing for fuel or other supplies. We do that at small gas stations either within the park or just on the outskirts. Places that take cash and don’t ask questions. Then we delve right back into the depths of the park. We just drive and drive and drive, stopping only for calls of the body, as well as those infrequent times when I run out of steam. At those times, since we are out—literally and actually—in the middle of nowhere, I just stop the car, then pitch the small tent that lives over top of the false bottom of the trunk. And then I try to rest.

The closest I ever get to actual rest is when the dog settles down somewhere near me, then gets to snoring peacefully. Something about that sound is hypnotic to me. I’ll surf behind it until, sometimes, falling under the spell of the simple, primal cadence, I fall asleep. In and out, in and out. I float away on a column of dog snores that lead to core sleep, when my subconscious scrambles to make up for time lost.

In the morning we pack up and head out again. Where are we going? Why? I don’t have answers. I don’t even have questions. All I know is that everything is behind me. I’m not hopeful about what is in front of me, but it’s better than going back.

Everyone knows that you can’t go back.

***

Excerpt from Insensible Loss by Linda L. Richards. Copyright 2024 by Linda L. Richards. Reproduced with permission from Linda L. Richards. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

Linda L. Richards is the award-winning author of over a dozen books. The founder and publisher of January Magazine and a contributing editor to the crime fiction blog The Rap Sheet, she is best known for her strong female protagonists in the thriller genre. Richards is from Vancouver, Canada and currently makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona. New for 2024: INSENSIBLE LOSS, the fourth book in the Endings series featuring a reluctant hit woman struggling towards the light. Linda’s 2021 novel, the first in this series, ENDINGS, was recently optioned by a major studio for series production. Richards is an accomplished horsewoman and an avid tennis player, and is on the National Board of Sisters in Crime.

Catch Up With Linda L. Richards:
LindaLRichards.com
Goodreads - @lindalrichards
BookBub - @linda1841
Instagram - @lindalrichards
Threads - @lindalrichards
Twitter/X - @lindalrichards
Facebook - @lindalrichardsauthor

 

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Partners in Crime Book Tours.

(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.)

Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver Book Review

About the Book:

London 1918: Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil?

Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing captain, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club.

When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady’s luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona’s wedding plans.

To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona’s journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona’s wedding vows? Or will she finally say “I don’t” to the charming devil?

With humour as sharp as a judo chop and suspense as tight as a wedding corset, Poison in Piccadilly invites you to matrimonial mayhem that will have you saying “I do” to laughter and “forever more” to page-turning suspense.

My Review:

I have enjoyed this series although I have been a little frustrated at Fiona not being able to make up her mind in whether she loves Archie or Fredrick. But there is a wedding planned in this novel so that should settle the issue. Or maybe not.

There is a mole at MI5. There are plenty of hints that it might be Archie. Can Fiona trust him? It seems Kitty has the key to the problem inside her but with amnesia, she is no help in Fiona making the right choices.

There is a bit of repetition in this novel as Fiona goes over the facts she knows and muses what they might mean. There is plenty of action too, however, as Fiona uses her disguises to go undercover to determine the person who gave Kitty the memory destroying head wound. And then there is a murder Fiona must investigate too.

This is an entertaining and fun novel. Much of the relationship interactions are founded in earlier novels and would be best understood by reading them first although this book does read relatively well on its own.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of earlier books in this series: Chaos at Carnegie Hall, Covert in Cairo, Mayhem in the Mountains, Arsenic at Ascot, and Murder in Moscow.

About the Author:

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade kids’ series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the four-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, inspired by those trips to the Green Hills Library.

Currently, Kelly is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime.

When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

Boldwood Books, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. 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.)

Murder at Midwinter Manor by Anita Davison Book Review

About the Book:

Escaping the city doesn’t mean escaping the criminals…

1916, Midwinter Manor: Desperate for a Christmas weekend break from war-torn London, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet take Bartleby the cat and themselves off to visit Hannah’s sister and her husband, the Earl of Atherton, in their beautiful country estate, deep in the English countryside.

Hannah’s sister has filled the house with relatives, friends and merrymakers, and everyone’s excited to have a Christmas to remember.

But then, when a fellow-guest’s body is found in the library – apparently bludgeoned to death – and a precious ruby is stolen from another guest, it appears that it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons.

With the house snowed in, and the rural police force completely incapable of finding a single credible suspect, Hannah and Aunt Violet realize that once again it’s going to be down to them to get to the bottom of it.

Because whoever’s behind the crimes must be at Midwinter Manor… And if they’re not found, who knows what their next ‘gift’ will be?

My Review:

I like this cozy mystery series. The historical setting of WW I is presented well. It was a horrible war and some who witnessed devastation were overwhelmed, as is one of the characters in this novel. Shell shock was just beginning to be recognized and Davison gives a good account of one troubled by it. Others were so intimidated by the casualty reports they would do anything to keep from being conscripted.

The characters are what make this cozy mystery so entertaining. Aunt Violet is quite the woman, especially when she is speedily driving her car. I could just see Hannah hanging on for dear life. The relatives they visit are much more of the stately upper society style. It is interesting to see how Hannah's wealthy relatives relate to their servants and friends. There is even an incompetent policeman trying to solve the murder.

This novel reads well on its own even though it is part of a series. There are a number of characters, however, and understanding who all of them are may require reading the previous books in the series. This is a good novel for readers who love historical cozy mysteries.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in the series: Murder in the Bookshop and Murder in the Library.

About the Author:

Anita is the author of Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books. Also available are the five Edwardian Flora Maguire Mystery series.

Boldwood Books, 280 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. 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.)