Threads of Suspicion - Dee Henderson (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2)

Genre:  Christian Fiction, Suspense

Pages:  432 pages


Publishing Date:  May 2, 2017


Rating:  2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

There was *a lot* going on in this book.  So much so that at times I lost track of cases and characters, and I think the characters lost track of their own thought flows.
Evie Blackwell and the Missing Persons Task Force she's been assigned to is on their first official cases.  Five cases; 5 task force members.  Evie is for some reason paired up with David Marshal even though they are working different cases.  All the other task force team members work solo and only pop up occasionally.
There are task for members, crime suspects, crime victims, witnesses, friends, love interests, famous people, security, hairdressers...just a lot of people and names to keep track of.  And so many story lines:  crimes for the task force, arson for not the task force, romantic ties, friendships, God, music, fan obsession.
I think this book just tried to do too much.  And I think I'm settling into the idea that Dee Henderson writes relationship novels not suspense novels.  As usual, Henderson brings in characters from her other stories and series.  On that note, I think it's time to reread the O'Malley series - her best work, in my opinion.

P.S.  Hate the cover.

True to You - Becky Wade

True to You by Becky Wade
            (Bradford Sisters Romance #1)

Genre:  Fiction; Chick Lit; Christian Romance

Pages:  368 pages

Publishing Date:  May 2, 2017

Rating:  2.5 out of 5 stars (It was okay.)

Synopsis from Goodreads:
After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he's diagnosed with an inherited condition, he's forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. 

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John's already dating someone and Nora's not sure she's ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they're seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another.

My Thoughts:

I had read the novella to this book and loved it.  It was written completely in epistolary form giving the background of the Bradford sisters parents.  So when I saw the first book was available as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley, I requested and received a copy.

Nora is the middle Bradford sister.  She runs a historical village and helps people with genealogical research.  That is how she and John become connected.

There are many story lines present:  the genealogical search, Nora’s only transformation, dealing with individual characters’ backgrounds, even the two other Bradford sisters’ potential and past romances. 

The spiritual aspects were well done; presented through the natural character development and thoughts.  This did make it a pretty introspective novel.  Many truths were presented in an understandable way.

Wade tried to keep the epistolary feel of the novella going with having texts or Facebook messages at the end of each chapter.  This seemed a little clunky to me at times.  At other times, they were a great addition.

It was a quick, easy read.  I wouldn’t say it was really absorbing or super engaging though. 

There was a surprise I didn’t expect.  So that really earns it a 2.5 instead of a straight 2.

A lot of the issues I had with the book – the very speedy romance ramp up and the not quite edgy but almost emotions and scenes – made a lot more sense when I read the author info and learned Becky Wade wrote secular romance before turning her pen to Christian romance.  So if you’re a reader who likes secular romances, I think you’d enjoy this book more than I did.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Runion - Fanny Flag

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction; Historical Fiction

Pages:  347 pages

Publishing Date:  November 5, 2013

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads


Goodreads Summary:
Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughters and is looking forward to relaxing and perhaps traveling with her husband, Earle. The only thing left to contend with is her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry. Lenore may be a lot of fun for other people, but is, for the most part, an overbearing presence for her daughter. Then one day, quite by accident, Sookie discovers a secret about her mother's past that knocks her for a loop and suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself, her family, and her future.
Sookie begins a search for answers that takes her to California, the Midwest, and back in time, to the 1940s, when an irrepressible woman named Fritzi takes on the job of running her family's filling station. Soon truck drivers are changing their routes to fill up at the All-Girl Filling Station. Then, Fritzi sees an opportunity for an even more groundbreaking adventure. As Sookie learns about the adventures of the girls at the All-Girl Filling Station, she finds herself with new inspiration for her own life.

My Thoughts:

This is a hard book for me to decide on a star rating.  For the first portion of the book, I was thinking one, maybe one and a half, stars.  I just was having a hard time getting into the narrative, seeing the connections, and being invested in the characters.  Especially Sookie, she just annoyed me.  The filling station doesn’t even show up until you’re quite a bit into the novel…much less the “all-girl” part.

But I am glad I stuck with it.  Around the middle the story really picked up.  Plus, I started seeing character growth/change in Sookie that made her character more relatable. 

The narrative jumps back and forth between contemporary and history.  I will say the history storyline was far more intriguing to me.  It has sparked some additional reading that I want to do around that time period on topics that were introduced. 

So I would say, the novel taken as a whole, is probably a solid 3.  I liked it.

Love Story - Karen Kingsbury

Love Story by Karen Kingsbury

Genre:  Christian fiction; Christian romance

Pages:  368 pages

Publishing Date:  June 6, 2017

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads – liked it

Synopsis from Goodreads:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes a new book featuring fan favorite family the Baxters.
Decades ago, John and Elizabeth Baxter lived a love story that is still playing out in the lives of their adult children and grandchildren. But few of them know the exact details of that love story or the heartbreak that brought the two together.
Now in high school, Ashley Baxter Blake’s oldest son, Cole, must write a family history paper for a freshman English class. He decides to interview his grandfather about that long ago distant love story.
At the same time, Baxter family friend Cody Coleman has asked his girlfriend Andi Ellison to marry him. The planning and upcoming wedding touches the heart of Bailey Flanigan, who once was Cody’s best friend. Bailey has news of her own, but is it right for her and her husband, Brandon, to attend Cody’s wedding?
As school ends, Cole presents his report on the love story between his grandparents John and Elizabeth Baxter. It is a tale that touches the hearts of the entire family, and one that causes Cole to better understand his own beginning.
Whether you’re meeting the Baxter family for the first time or finding them all over again, Love Story will stir your heart and remind you of the power of love and family.


My Thoughts:

I heard about this book and thought, “Finally!  I finally get to learn about John and Elizabeth Baxter’s back story.  How they met, fell in love, and raised this incredible family.”  So I immediately jumped on Net Galley (since the book doesn’t come out until summer) and requested an advanced reader copy.  As soon as my kids were in bed that night, I started reading.

And was somewhat disappointed.

The first quarter of the book didn’t address John & Elizabeth’s story at all.  It focused on the relationship issues between Cody and Andi.  Which I expected to be a part of the overall story based on the synopsis copy.  But it was literally the first 25% - all of it - and then more throughout.  In fact, I would probably say this story was more about them than the Baxters.  Also, while I’m on the subject of the synopsis copy, it’s not accurate.  At the start of the book, Cody and Andi are no longer engaged.  So there is no planning or upcoming wedding for Bailey to have her heart touched by. 

And now that we’re on Bailey, let’s transition there.  First, I love all the Baxter and Flannigan series characters.  I’m invested in them and like to see where they are in their “lives.”  However, Bailey’s character and pregnancy and story line again took away from the story I really wanted:  the love story that began the Baxter family in the first place. 

I love the characters.  I love the stories that Karen Kingsbury tells about her characters.  I love the messages of hope and redemption that infuse her stories.  I guess I just wish her books would return to being more focused.  In the original Baxter series, I became attached to the characters because each book focused mainly on introducing and exploring one character at a time.  The other characters were there but not the focus.  That feel has been missing from her last several Baxter/Flannigan books.  And I miss it.

Like the book, this review hasn’t focused much on John & Elizabeth’s love story.  That’s because I don’t feel like that was really a big part of the story this time.  It was embedded, yes.  It was told, yes.  But it wasn’t explored.  Expounded.  I think I would have preferred a novella just of their story, even if it was still told through the device of their grandson’s school project.

That being said, I still believe it’s worth the read for anyone who has read the Baxter tales in the past.  Just don’t expect too much from John & Elizabeth; the focus is definitely elsewhere.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit www.mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com

My Not So Perfect Life - Sophie Kinsella

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Genre:  Fiction; Chick Lit

Pages:  400 pages

Publishing Date:  February 7, 2017

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads



Synopsis from Goodreads:

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.
Ok, so the real truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers.
But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?
Until her not-so perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.
Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams? Or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman with everything – have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems.
And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?


My Thoughts:

I received notice of Sophie Kinsella releasing a new book via a NetGalley email.  I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the books I’ve read by her.  This book was not one of the exceptions.

So the synopsis on the back of the book doesn’t quite give you a clear picture.  This book was so much better and more nuanced than the copy would lead you to believe. 

Katie, like most of Kinsella’s protagonists, is insanely likeable.  She is trying so hard yet so not there (achieving all she hopes)…like so many of us in real life.  Okay, maybe that’s just me.  I couldn’t help but root for her throughout the book, even as she’s a bit self-sabotaging at times.  The cast of supporting characters are great as well.  Unique and relatable in some way, each of them. 

The story moves along quickly.  This was a fun book to read.  I pretty much stayed up way too late one night to finish it.  However, one thing I found unique about this book compared to the author’s previous reads is that there is a level of depth to it.  Yes, it can still be just a fun, fluff read.  But Kinsella is saying something more about image and appearance and social media.  As a reader, I appreciated it. 

Definitely recommend it. 

4 out of 5 stars.  Would have been 5 but for the language and sexual references.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Only Daughter - Anna Snoekstra

Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So this book was interesting. The main character was intriguing. Her motivations and impulses.
The story was definitely suspenseful and fast-paced. I didn't really figure it out until it was revealed. Then everything fell into place. So that's the best kind of suspense.
Some of it you had to suspend a little disbelief for, but I'm okay with that.
There is language and animal cruelty; a bit too much of each for my taste.

Because You're Mine - Colleen Coble

Genre:  Christian Fiction; Suspense

Pages:  336

Publishing Date:  January 10, 2017

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Alanna has been plagued by tragedy. So it should come as no surprise that in the beauty that surrounds Charleston, all is not as it seems.
When her husband is killed by a car bomb while their band is on tour in Charleston, Alanna doesn’t know where to turn. Her father-in-law is threatening to take custody of the baby she carries, but the one thing she knows for sure is that she can’t lose the last piece of Liam she has left.
Their manager offers her a marriage of convenience to gain her U.S. citizenship and allow her to escape her father-in-law’s control. It seems like the perfect solution . . . but her doubts begin almost as soon as she arrives at Barry’s family home, a decaying mansion surrounded by swamp.
To make matters worse, Liam’s best friend survived the car bomb. She’s never really liked Jesse and now she can’t seem to get away from him. When he takes Liam’s place in their band, it’s almost more than she can bear.
But then things start happening. Things that could easily cost Alanna her life—or the life of her unborn child. Are they merely coincidences? Or is there something much more sinister at work?


My Thoughts:
I received an email from the publisher inviting me to review this book via NetGalley.   I have had Colleen Coble on my radar for awhile but had yet to read any of her books.  So I took this opportunity.

I was looking forward to a good suspense book.  In that way, I was disappointed.  The book was very light on actual suspense…I knew what had really happened and whodunit pretty much from the get go.  Still, it was interesting to see how Coble got her characters to the same point. 

The dialogue took some getting used to as several characters and even some of the narrative was written in Irish brogue.  I think the characters were engaging but could have used more dimension and introspection.  They seemed to jump and react solely based on what was happening in their environments without any real thought to what else could be going on.

The book had a pretty even pace.  I was never lost nor did the story seem to drag.  I also appreciated the epilogue at the end to bring some closure. 

There are supernatural elements both of God and of banshee.  The author is not pushy in her approach.  Alanna, in particular, seems to be a lot like I can tend to be in my God relationship:  turning to Him when things are bad, and I don’t know what more to do in and of myself.  I think in that way, she was very true to life.  Or maybe just to my life and flaws. 

I read very little to offend a conservative reader.  The mentions of a banshee might turn off some; I took it more in a superstition kind of way.  Also, Jesse was a character of questionable morals at times – mentions of drinking and an assault.  However, nothing was explicit in any way.

Some of the characters and story lines were dropped mid-way.  Like Barry’s nanny.  I would have liked to hear more of her story.  And Grady’s.  But I do understand they weren’t central to the main tale. 

Again, while I didn’t find the story to be suspenseful at all, it was an interesting read.

3 stars out of 5.  It was okay.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.