Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 2677 more book reviews

Good book. Clarissa and her illegitimate half-sister, Izzy, came to London to find husbands. Izzy's story was the previous book in the series, The Rake's Daughter, which gave the girls' background. This one has enough information to provide a good picture of their backstory to read it as a standalone. Izzy and her husband, Leo, also Clarissa's guardian, are off on their honeymoon, leaving Clarissa to navigate the Season without Izzy's support. Clarissa is shy but sweet and not beautiful, which doesn't bode well for a successful husband hunt. Unfortunately, she is also an heiress, which makes her a target for fortune hunters. Clarissa wants what most people want - love and happiness. She also has two requirements - no fortune hunters or rakes, and there must be love. Her father was both, and she wanted nothing to do with a man like him.

Lord Randall, Race, is her guardian's best friend. Leo asked Race to take Clarissa riding occasionally because her chaperone doesn't ride. Race is happy to do so and looks forward to spending time with her. He fell hard for her when she stood up for Izzy in front of Society without caring about her reputation. But he has the reputation of being a rake so she wants nothing to do with him, even though he stirs her senses like no one else ever has. Unfortunately, Clarissa's self-esteem is so low that she can't believe a man known for being with beautiful women is genuinely interested in her.

I ached for Race. He has it bad for Clarissa and nothing he does will convince her that he wants her for herself, as she is. He gets tongue-tied when trying to tell her of his feelings, and she consistently misunderstands what he tries to say to her. Another man is paying attention to her, and Race is determined to win her. I loved how Race came to her rescue when the other man turned out to be the worst kind of cad. I loved that scene so much.

I was very frustrated by Clarissa and her refusal to see past Race's reputation to the man he is. I understood her attitude toward rakes, but he proved himself in so many ways. I loved that she finally dared to share her concerns with him and, by doing so, got everything she could hope for. I loved Race's promise to be open and honest in his answers and how she finally believed in him. The ending was terrific; I can't wait to see them in future books.

In an interesting twist, Clarissa made an unexpected discovery when she went to an orphanage to hire a new lady's maid. She found a young girl, about fifteen years old, who looks like her sister Izzy. Clarissa is sure that she has found another sister. Zoe is wary and reluctant to trust that it is true. I enjoyed watching Clarissa try to convince Zoe that she belongs in the family. I understood Zoe's wariness. I liked the compromise they settled on in the end. I look forward to reading Zoe's story next.

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Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 2789 more book reviews

It's been my experience most books covering the entire Civil War give scant space to the battles in what is now West Virginia. As a result, this book filled in a large hole in my knowledge about that early-War conflict. The author does a very good job covering the military and political struggles of both sides. He covers the actions of the top commanders and the low-ranking soldiers, as well as the civilians. I was very interested in how the severe weather impacted military actions. The author also covers the politics that resulted in the creation of a new state---West Virginia---out of an existing state, which was technically unconstitutional.

As with any book I read, I have some disagreements with what the author states. These disagreements are based on what I have read about the war and the personalities over decades. But they were so few here they are not worth mentioning.

I did enjoy reading his comments about Union General McClellan who claimed credit for a victory he wasn't even near or supported. Unfortunately, this made him an early hero and pushed him to prominence and inflated his ego. Any well-read Civil War buff knows the problems that later caused for the Union. I also found it interesting Confederate General Lee launched a major assault on a Union position and, when that failed, he simply renamed it a "reconnaissance." He also did that in July 1863 when, after invading Pennsylvania, he was defeated at Gettysburg. When he retreated, he renamed his invasion to a "raid."

Civil War buffs will be surprised to learn the first Union solder killed in the war was not Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a friend of President Lincoln, as we are so often taught, but a lowly West Virginia private. An early battle in this area was also the site of the war's first amputation.

Highly recommended.

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Regina C. (flyinggems) reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 477 more book reviews

I just could not get into the book. I gave it about 100 pages and just was not liking either character. I skimmed/ skipped over the rest of the book.

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Kelly O. (KellyWilloughby) reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 224 more book reviews

Such a great story! Based in a sad and horrible time in the history of America when people were treated poorly. The story of a Mother that would do whatever it took for her children.

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jjares reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 3493 more book reviews

Julie Sinclair lost her brother and parents about five years ago. Recently, suspicious rumors have surfaced that the Sinclairs were traitors, selling British secrets to the French and Napoleon. Julie lives with her great-aunt Beth but is disconcerted about the newspaper rumors. She decides to speak to Mr. Burnham, the person her father was going to visit when he died. However, when she arrives, Julie is hired as a lady's maid to Mrs. Burnham and her daughter.

The author intelligently comments several times on the unsuitability of a lady working in service at another family's home. This is essentially the problem with this story. If Julie were caught by society doing such a thing, even for the most valid of reasons, she would be ostracized, and no gentleman would marry her. However, Julie does it anyway.

This mystery plot line moves slowly. Of course, Julie must become part of the household before she can do any sleuthing. However, I found the story unlikely and unrealistic. Overall score = G+.

The Sinclair Society Series
** 1. Regency Rumors (2022)
2. The Debutante (2023)

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Jude G. (blissmountain) reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 57 more book reviews

i adored this book. take me through words to remote islands and you've got me, hook, line and sinker! john, ivar and mary compose the main characters in this book about vulnerability, home and heart. what i loved best was how all three of these people, steeped in their convictions, found many ways to shift, grow and connect. this is lovely armchair adventure, set on the northern coast of scotland, on a desolate island that is truly teeming with life. the ending touched me deeply.

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/25/2025 + 941 more book reviews

Under the Gulf Coast Sun by Skip Rhudy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A quick trip back in time to the beginning of a new young love.

Under the Gulf Coast Sun is a lovely historical romance by author Skip Rhudy and features the young adult surfing culture of mid-1970s Port Aransas on the Texas Gulf coast and the beginning of one made-for-each-other couple's relationship. Connor O'Reilly and Kassie Hernandez had met the previous summer when she and her family were vacationing in his hometown of Port Aransas. Hitting it off, they'd kept in touch when she and her family had returned home to Midland through heartfelt letters, sharing their hopes and dreams as they completed their senior year in high school. When summer returned, so did Kassie, an event that the shy, inexperienced surfer boy Connor had dreamed about all year. Now faced with the reality, he's filled with self-doubt that this beautiful girl whom every guy in town wants would want him, believing instead that she is out of his league.

What a good story! Connor is a genuinely nice guy and falls hard for Kassie. But with his recent history, the departure of his mother with a lover to pursue her own dreams, which didn't include her only son, he's got trust issues. Watching other guys hanging around and trying to catch Kassie's eye is particularly difficult for him.

Kassie, whip-smart and with a full-ride scholarship to UC San Diego in hand, is certain Connor is different from other guys, interested in her for their common interests and not just for her hot physical attributes. However, his differences could be a two-edged sword, and she worries that her interest in him could divert her from her plans for the future. Thankfully, they eventually talk about their concerns, but not before there is a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING that causes a course correction on their journey to a HEA.

Told from multiple points of view, readers are privy to the inside skinny on the characters' thoughts, feelings, and true motives. There's a bit of repetitive "is she really into me" thinking on Connor's part, but that seems to be a result of the emotional fallout from his mother's actions. Kassie both abhorred and enjoyed the attention her physical appearance attracted, but she was only 18 years old when navigating through this.

The plot includes a lot of interesting descriptions and discussions of surfing, surfing legends of the era, and Connor and Kevin's work aboard the crew boat. Connor's time in the Gulf is suspenseful, and I thought the author did a great job of not telegraphing how this scenario was actually going to work out. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The story has a lot of humorous moments as well, many centered around Kevin Stamford, but the party at the very beginning of the book had me laughing out loud.

Set as it is in the mid-1970s, these characters would have been my contemporaries, so I could relate to a number of things mentioned. Women's roles were still in transition, and Kassie's father's warnings about what she could expect as a woman in a university science program were accurate. Even the assumption that women would naturally consider higher education at that time would have been false. But other aspects of the "historical" (really?) setting were fun and nostalgic, such as the music, the lower drinking age, and no cell phones, to name a few.

With its engaging characters, authentic descriptions, realistic dialogue, and suspenseful plot, I recommend UNDER THE GULF COAST SUN to readers of historical fiction and romance.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 941 more book reviews

Relentless by Michael Maloof

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fantastic debut for this thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher!

Relentless is the first book in author Michael Maloof's thrilling new series featuring former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, and what a debut it is! With its honorable and sympathetic protagonist and breathtaking plot, this book needs to be on the top of every thriller lover's wish list!

The main character is Kate Preacher, a former CIA analyst who left the business when a mission went horribly wrong. As a result of the mission, though, she met her husband and the love of her life, Jake Church, a retired SEAL and now owner of an elite executive protection firm. Kate now uses her vast technological skills to support litigation at a downtown Richmond, Virginia, law firm. At times, those skills satisfyingly end up helping the little guy but, for the most part, assist in protecting the assets or reputation of the firm's wealthy, high-profile clients who have something to hide. Lately, she's been second-guessing her career choice and what her future holds, but a deadly terrorist attack in Paris ultimately takes the decision out of her hands. Kate is a dynamic character, going from crippling grief to fully harnessing every skill and tactic in her repertoire to follow up on what Jake was secretly investigating and tracking down those responsible for the Parisian café bloodbath. She's smart and determined and swallows her pride in calling on all her old connections for favors, even those she swore she'd never deal with again. I quite literally ached for what Kate had experienced in her past and for all she was going through in the present.

The story opens tragically and violently, establishing an atmosphere of dark, brooding menace always lurking in the background. The resulting sorrow is interrupted by adrenaline-fueled action sequences that had me gasping, and scenes of military honors, traditions, and ceremonies had me trying to hold back tears. The plot thickens with unexpected twists and turns and high-tech shenanigans. Still, with both Kate's and Jake's backgrounds, an amazing array of creative and envy-inducing technological and tactical hardware is available to Kate for her to fight back. The story was mesmerizing, and I didn't want to put the book down. My only regret is that there isn't a prequel detailing the Syrian mission.

I recommend RELENTLESS to readers who enjoy thrillers with international connections, technological creativity, and capable, strong female protagonists.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 941 more book reviews

Unstoppable by Michael Maloof

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This thrilling and intricate follow-up to the series debut will keep readers glued to their seats and begging for more!

Unstoppable is the second book in author Michael Maloof's exceptional Kate Preacher Thriller series, building on the intrigue and, perhaps, even surpassing the intensity of the series debut. Kate Preacher, although still reeling from her husband's murder during an armed attack on a Parisian café, is determined to get to the truth, expose those responsible, and extract her own vengeance. Kate's husband warned his killer that she would be unstoppable, but so are the thrills readers will experience from this story.

Only days have elapsed since Jake Church was gunned down by a long-range sniper's bullet, but that is enough time for his widow, former CIA analyst Kate Preacher, to gather her resources and head back to Paris to prove her theory that the brutal café attack which took Jake's life and made him a national hero was no terroristic act but a calculated assassination when he got too close to the perpetrators involved in a high-level and powerful international crime coalition. Even after having read the previous novel, I was still thrilled by her tactical skills, knowledge, and the digital forensics used in the story. Key characters from book one return to lend their considerable expertise while surprising new allies and hidden antagonists enter the picture. The loyalty and determination of Jake's former team members are on full display and, at times, evoke gut-wrenching admiration.

The plot is fast-paced as the story hits the ground running, and the action and intrigue are unrelenting and non-stop. Dangerous secrets, hints of unknown agendas, and shocking plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat as Kate got ever closer to her goal, and those working against her tried to stop her or, at a minimum, manage her discoveries and limit the consequences. When loyalty, friendship, and her concern for another character's safety take Kate from Paris to an emerging African country, the stakes rise when evil intentions become clear and broaden to affect even more innocents, and storylines cleverly converge.

While this is the second Kate Preacher novel, the author subtly weaves in enough backstory for readers new to the series to read this book as a standalone. I recommend UNSTOPPABLE and the Kate Preacher Thriller series to thriller fans.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

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Lenka S. reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 843 more book reviews

SPOILER ALERT !!!!!

The writing was very engaging and kudos to the author for keeping the book interesting and quite well written. I didn't skip any pg even if the switched at birth sister 2 that lived with the humans was very 2 dimensional.

The story did had a few issues though. If all the ghosts have to look forward to is wandering aimlessly until their souls fracture and evaporate, and joint the earth to be recycled, why would anyone want that in the first place, or ever be willing to go back to it? Not exactly any kind of afterlife to speak of. Though philosophically it voiced that what many people think is a real possibility. We r a part of something bigger. We impart our experiences and r recycled.

Japanese Shinto religion didn't seem to have an afterlife of any good sort. Sora was so frightened of death because she experienced it briefly and felt what would happen to her spiritâit would have no place and would eventually fragment so she would be lost. The only people who got a reward after dying were the ones whose souls the kami put into other beings so they could continue to live in some fashion. There's nothing there for her or any other human to look forward to, nothing to enjoy or value.

Next question: Why and HOW did Omori turn into a demon able to lend his power to other ghosts? WHERE did his power come from? I got why he became a demonâbecause of the way his family died. But how did that translate into his being a gateway to call other ghosts back? No other creature, deamon or mini god had been able to do that.

Only the End-Ending... the ending was so ummmm cheap? I mean the crescendo was working up to.... WHAT? The Sage first claims a girl of great power will save all. And insists its the REAL DAUGHTER and basically kicks the human living 18 yrs on the mountain out as worthless trash. Then she sees things go south and re-evaluates that it could be the human saving their buts. Then she amends, that she really dont know and water cleanness all. (Water doesnt show at all.) Human daughter walks up to mountain and tells the bad-ass-mafia-boss (now all-powerfull-unbeatable-super-deamon) his wifey and kiddos love him and he goes all soft, walks down from the mountain Palace in front of the Magical Daughter kneels and and begs her to dispatch him (kill him). End. But I must say it is true... I did not see it coming. but WTH

Other then this the book is really wonderful read. Even with this ending 3 stars.Would have given 5 if the ending was more creative).

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Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 1255 more book reviews

This book had been on my radar since it first came out a couple of years ago (2023). When I saw a copy at the library, I decided to check it out and I was glad I did! I've been a King fan for years ever since reading Carrie and 'Salem's Lot back in the 70s. I really enjoyed his Mr. Mercedes trilogy along with The Outsider and If It Bleeds which all featured Holly Gibney, the singular young woman turned detective. So I was anxious to read this one with Holly as the titular character and focal point of the story.

In this one, Holly is still running the private investigative office, Finders Keepers, when she gets a call from a distraught mother, Penny Dahl, whose daughter has gone missing. This novel takes place in 2021 when the second wave of COVID is prevalent. Holly's mother has recently died from the disease and her partner, Pete, is also sick with it so Holly is reluctant to take on the missing person case. But Penny's desperation is enough for Holly to at least take a look. As she delves into the case, she finds that other people in the same vicinity have also disappeared over the past few years. Are the disappearances related? And how could a pair of married octogenarians who are ex-professors and live in the neighborhood, be a possible focal point for the case? Can Holly match wits with this couple?

As usual, King kept me turning the pages and surprising me with what was really happening to the victims in the novel. In this one, Holly's character is fully developed including a look into her backstory. And the evil in the novel is shown in a very unexpected way related to old age and dying. This one did include a lot of King's political points of view but I didn't feel it distracted from this very compelling and outstanding novel. Hopefully, we haven't seen the last of Holly Gibney!

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Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 941 more book reviews

The Organ Broker by Deven Greene

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Provocative and haunting!

The Organ Broker is a provocative and haunting dark thriller by author Deven Greene and explores the moral issues involved with harvesting the organs of death row prisoners after execution. Crystal and Derek Rigler formed and led the grassroots organization known as STOP (Stop Transplants of Organs from Prisoners), a group opposing the practice on ethical grounds. While the handsome and charming Derek is the face of the growing movement, his wife Crystal is the hidden soul of the group, planning and organizing their activities and crafting the inspirational speeches Derek gives voice to. Many members of the young Texas-based group oppose the death penalty as well but support the legitimate process by which organ donations are matched with the neediest recipients. However, a journalist who supports their work has uncovered an ugly truth about the prisoner organ donation process; they do not follow this equitable system but rather are siphoned off to the sick friends and family of the wealthy or political cronies. To Crystal and Derek, the morality of the situation is black and white, or at least it was until their daughter falls ill and is in desperate need of a liver transplant, with her time running out.

Crystal Rigler is a very relatable character: a wife in a bad marriage and a mother caught in a no-win situation. Derek is a narcissistic man-child out to fulfill his own selfish desires, working the system and conning his wife with his lies about everything he's doing. Crystal knows he's cheating on her; he's practically flaunting his infidelities with their young female volunteers in her face, yet she still tells herself she loves him when she contemplates divorce. She knows she's being played and continues to put off deciding to change her life for the better.

The plot slowly reveals the state of the Rigler marriage and the magnitude of Derek's betrayals, and just when you think it couldn't get any worse, it does. Watching their relationship was like watching the proverbial trainwreck; I couldn't look away, nor could I put this riveting book down. The stakes get astronomically higher with the discovery of Cordelia's impending liver failure and the choices they will have to make to save her life.

With its engaging, sympathetic female main character, despicable, morally bankrupt villain, and desperate choices, I recommend THE ORGAN BROKER to thriller readers who enjoy stories with a medical theme or moral dilemmas.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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Rachel G. (roach808) - reviewed on 4/24/2025 + 209 more book reviews

Other than the fact that all the women look like they have whiskers, I enjoyed the drawing style and it made lots of sense to do it in black & white only.

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Paula G. (Paulathegreat) reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 155 more book reviews

This book is incredibly, but subtly dishonest. For example, Rutherford bends over backwards to explain that Darwin had nothing to do with eugenics. However, history and the writings of the original eugenicists debunk this. Charles Darwin was not a eugenicist and warned against using his theory for eugenics. However, sadly, eugenics is a logical conclusion of evolutionary theory. When you deny this you are being ideological rather than factual.

Rutherford takes other liberties with the truth for equally ideological reasons. He is an unreliable narrator.

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Robin M. (robinmy) - , reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 2147 more book reviews

Lt. Sam Holland and her team are sent to investigate the murder of Ginny McLeod. Everyone knew Ginny. She has been in the papers lately after bilking twenty million dollars from her friends and family in a Ponzi scheme. Her husband and two children claim that they knew nothing about her schemes and didn't know what happened to the money. They also have alibis for the time when Ginny was murdered. Everyone hated Ginny after she took their money. With so many suspects, Sam has the impossible job of finding the killer.

Sam had her work cut out for her. No one liked Ginny. Most of them were happy that she was dead. I never picked out a suspect in this one.

This is the last book in the Fatal Series. I'm kind of relieved that this series is over. I started out loving the series, but I've been having a hard time with the lead character and her attitude. The mysteries have been solid, but I don't like that we must rehash the other things that have been going on in Sam and Nick's world book after book. Yes, we know that Sam loves being a mother, and it just kills her if she can't get home at night to tuck "the littles" in bed before they go to sleep. Yes, we know that Nick doesn't like his job as VP and is just waiting for his term to be up before going back to civilian life. Yes, we know that Sam doesn't think she needs any type of secret service protection, but the fact that she actually tries to lose them is just ridiculous. Anyway, this series is done and I'm not planning on continuing with the spinoff series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

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Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 1165 more book reviews

I was disappointed in this Superromance because it was more about the hero's ex-wife who was experiencing domestic violence than it was about the hero and the heroine. It seemed repetitive and unrealistic to me. The nurse character didn't give us much hospital excietment and the "recluse" seemed to always be out driving around.

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Karen S. (MKSbooklady) reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 1028 more book reviews

A fascinating look into the early days of our country. A midwife who knows more than most doctors is faced with a growing dilemma. I liked that she didn't allow herself to be pushed around by the men in the town, and that her husband understood what she needed to do, and gave her love and respect.

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Cheryl (boomerbooklover) - reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 448 more book reviews

This is a reprint of a 1930's history of the trail by a man who wrote it based on his research and memories. Includes detailed information about life on the trail, cowboys, lawmen, Indians,traders,and others, many of whom the author knew, or had met during his lifetime. Several maps and photos.

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Teresa C. (nessy) reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 7 more book reviews

This book is full of nonsense and bigotry. If that is something you enjoy reading, then it is for you. One can conclude that there is only one way to go and that way is socialism for America. There is nothing I can say about this book that is positive, but I can suggest that anyone that believes it as a good truth should go live in a socialist country. You will change your beliefs.

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Susan S. (sulock) - reviewed on 4/23/2025 + 90 more book reviews

Book 2 is as well written as the first in this 2 book series. The land of fairy is complicated and the transplanted earth born woman the King has brought over is acclimating. But there are twists and turns and the land itself is changing her. The Wild Hunt and the land and the people she came to help are all mixed into this adventure. Well worth trying to find these books.

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Michael B. (Ichabod) reviewed on 4/22/2025 + 160 more book reviews

You're Disenrolled

The Passage Rouge Indian reservation in Wisconsin is holding an election in a few days. The narrator, Mitch Caddo, is the campaign manager for Tribal President Mack Beck and also the brains behind his administration. Mack is facing a strong challenge from Gloria Hawkins, a well-known "Indian county celebrity." As the election nears, Mack resorts to some unscrupulous tactics, putting Mitch in a moral dilemma.

Mack and Mitch have been tight since childhood and they each have strengths that complement the other. Mitch describes Mack as ceremonial and focused on appearances, "He is the look," while Mitch sees himself as the one with substance. Mack is seen as a true fixture on the reservation, whereas Mitch left to earn a law degree from Cornell. Mack is seen as authentic, while Mitch has been called a "J. Crew Indian," implying that he is a preppy and assimilated version of a Native American, one poised to drift away in time.

Early on we see that Mitch is no saint, either. Guilt and a sense of fair play do not prevent him from using bogus Facebook accounts to anonymously question Gloria's bloodlines and tribal enrollment status. Just planting these seeds of doubt regarding her identity could sway a few dozen votes.

The Tribal Council has the power to banish, to "disenroll" individuals from the reservation, such as criminals and drug dealers. On the eve of the election, Mack leverages his influence over the council to banish Gloria's primary financier, Joe Beck. He sees this action eliminating Gloria's influence from the reservation.

The novel's story takes place in a tight-knit community with approximately 5,000 people. The close relationships between characters, such as Joe Beck who mentored Mitch and adopted Mack and Layla, add complexity and intensity to the plot. The suspense is further heightened by the romantic history between Layla and Mitch, which remains unresolved. Despite the intricate web of relationships, they are clearly defined and contribute to the overall tension of the narrative.

So, there is romance, political corruption, riots, and a plot-changing tragic death all within a tight six-day window, with the election providing a deadline to the plot. Even with flashbacks, things move at a brisk pace. Most of the characters are pretty well-defined. Mack, in particular, is striking in his audacity. He just believes he can rise above the consequences his actions are going to result in... or that Mitch will find a way to bail him out.

Mitch is the flaw here. He knows Mack is incompetent, he still backs him. He backs an unethical administration, one that even renders him disposable at one point. He knows he is not the man Joe hoped he would be and not the man Layla believed him to be. He is not even sure how "Indian" he is or should be. While Mitch cannot find his identity, the surrounding characters overshadow our narrator.

While the election circus frames "Big Chief," the text explores the concept of identity. Can the candidate Gloria lay claim to reservation membership? Is Mitch a res Indian or that J. Crew Indian? The idea is challenged that blood quantum or council decisions can determine belonging and inclusion. We are looking at a community tearing itself apart.

"Big Chief" is a fascinating look at an aspect of reservation life I had never considered. This is a fictitious reservation and set of circumstancesâ and the less said about any reckless and ruthless politicians...

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Alice B. reviewed on 4/22/2025 + 3673 more book reviews

Trixie, her brother and the Bob Whites leave New York and go camping with their Idaho building cousins and get to know them and why they are fascinated with the mountain territory in the valleys in Idaho. They find out that there's a possibility that a Sasquatch might be in the area. Should the builders leave? Should they be afraid and miss trask is there what will be her reaction?

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Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 4/22/2025 + 692 more book reviews

In The Wandering Season, readers accompany Veronica Stratton on a literal journey of self-discovery after her infant adoption is publicly acknowledged. While dealing with a recent breakup and pondering her relationships with her beloved parents and sister, she goes on a month-long European trip to visit the countries of her ethnic origins. Will she find far more than she ever anticipated?

I enjoyed wandering the globe with Aimie K. Runyan as my tour guide while listening to the audiobook narrated by Caroline Hewitt. Several times I thought the plot was headed in a predictable direction, but Ms. Runyan always surprised me, enhancing my connection to the story. I like touches of magical realism in novels, but those in The Wandering Season felt abrupt until I understood that they were components of Veronica's heritage.

Read this if you enjoy:
- a unique twist on the 'surprise DNA results' trope
- descriptions of delicious food and the sources of the ingredients
- traveling from the comfort of your favorite reading chair
- touches of magical realism that provide glimpses of earlier eras

Thank you to Harper Muse and Uplit Reads for the review copies of this novel. All opinions are my own.

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Regina C. (flyinggems) reviewed on 4/22/2025 + 477 more book reviews

Second book in the Blood River Series/ A Buck Lawson Mystery

Holiday week is here and Buck is just trying to manage the Holiday with the limited staff he has when a baby goes missing. Will his investigation lead to a major clean up of the town?

Blood River
1. Unfixable (2021)
Welcome to Bethlehem (2022)
2. Unstoppable (2023)
3. Undefeatable (2025)

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Edwin V. (VaughanFamily) reviewed on 4/22/2025 + 5 more book reviews

22 APR 2025 (Tue.) @ ~ 03:30 P.M. EDST We acquired the book to send to a family friend who is recuperating from serious surgery. Long ago, I had read the book and later had recommended it to my wife while she was recuperating during a hospital stay. It is very well-written and entertaining; written by two of the eleven surviving Galbraith children ("Mary, next to the oldest, died of diphtheria in 1912"), it describes the interesting upbringing of eleven redheads by the two devoted parents: Frank, the first motion-study engineer, and his wife, Lillian, who assumed the role of breadwinner (and motion-study engineer) after his death - and their "houseman-cum-butler",Tom. After I provided it to our friend, I took, from our bookshelf, its sequel, "Belles on Their Toes". which describes their life after their father's death, and re-read it with pleasure. It is well worth acquiring both books and reading and re-reading them again and again.

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