Karen R. (karen-writer) reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 5 more book reviews

The Thorn is the first of a three-part series by Beverly Lewis. I enjoyed this, and so many other books written by this author. she researches and gets to know Amish people, and then brings them to life in her novels.

The book is filled with the struggles of an Amish teen who is dealing with problems within her family and trying to help an adopted young man who never seems to fit into Amish life. At the same time, she becomes caught up in being courted by an upstanding young Amish man. But which way will her heart really go?

That question is not answered. That's why I'm reading book 2 now.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 1491 more book reviews

Odd little book told through the eyes of Grimalkin, the little Edinburgh house-cat who spent most of his nine lives as a ghost, skipping from one era to another and managing to be present at most of the key moments of the 20th century and a few of the 21st.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Kay M. (maydayzee) reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 758 more book reviews

Georgina left her home in San Antonio to run her 70-year-old grandmother's shop, The Tea by the Sea on the coast of Maine. These four stories are all set in the small town of Seaside. There is a lot of local color throughout the stories, which adds a folksy vibe throughout.

Petit Fours to Die For by Teresa Ives Lilly is a sweet cozy mystery with a love interest. I give it 4 stars.

Buns to Die For by Darlene Franklin is quite a complex mystery. Although, I had figured out who was guilty of murder, the final details were surprising. I give it 4 stars.

Scones to Die For by Cynthia Hickey is the third cozy mystery. It is more complex and is somewhat of a rom-com. I found it very entertaining. I give it 4 stars.

Crumpets to Die For by Linda Baten Johnson is the final story. I read several pages. There are so many different characters and people mentioned that I couldn't keep up with them all. I quit reading this story, which perhaps is a good one, but I couldn't stick with it. Therefore, I am giving the book as a whole 3 stars.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Ronda B. (froglet) reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 42 more book reviews

This book made the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus come alive. It is based on the Bible story, with the author adding what might have happened. Anyone reading the Bible knows that there is much more to the story of the relationship between the family and Jesus and all have probably wondered at some point in time what the background might have been. I have heard many stories about Mary and who she might be or not be in relationship to other Mary's in the Bible

I enjoyed how the author didn't make Martha the bad girl she is frequently depicted as. Most people make her seem less loving and a strict, uptight woman but the author portrays her as a loving person with hopes and dreams like the rest of us. Jesus helps her come out of hiding.

Heather Kaufman is new to writing biblical fiction but she tells a good story and sticks to the Bible accounts quite well.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Chuck C. (chuck-tennis) reviewed on 4/9/2025

As a baseball fan, this is a totally different perspective. Very interesting to see how the umpire goes about his work. This is a better page turner than any recent book. It is real. Some of the information I had an idea about it but this provides detail and better background. Loved it.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Janice R. (jan478) reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 113 more book reviews

good read

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Alice B. reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

he first ADRA directors to live in communist China tell a story of sticky situations requiring a great deal of diplomacy and amazing encounters where God put them at the right place at exactly the right time.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Alice B. reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

he three stories in this book were unique and quite interesting. I enjoyed the book so much that I decided that I would share it with my children. (We sometimes have read-alouds, even though two are in their teens and one is a pre-teen!) The main limitation of the first two stories is that the build up to the climax is too long. However, the climax of each of the first two stories is riveting. The last story was quite different from the first two, as it is set in a civil war. It was exciting from the start to the end! Although the author did not highlight the gruesome deaths, this story does include the horror of war (which I find difficult to read). Parents of younger children should be mindful of this fact.

As a Christian book, it was also inspirational and provided the values that I consider important for my family.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Alice B. reviewed on 4/9/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

Hardback book. Blank Prayer journal for you to take notes in. One Bible verse on eah page with notes to write in under Bible verse.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Cis H. (californiadreamin) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 283 more book reviews

Jessica Bruder spent three years on the road and for a time lived out of a van that she purchased in order to complete her research for this very important book. She exposes the difficult lifestyle of many older Americans who can no longer afford to own a home or pay outrageous rent. They follow the seasonal work that pays low wages and wracks their bodies with pain by working 10-12 hour days in sweltering heat, walking/running/squatting on concrete floors.

Bruder follows some of these workers, witnessing their camper lifestyle, seeing what low wages and small Social Security checks do to their lives. Very interesting, a little depressing. Very well written.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Cis H. (californiadreamin) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 283 more book reviews

Informative, very moving. As we experience protests through out the US, this book struck a sensitive spot.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Alice B. reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

The snow is coming down faster than train crew can clear it in a tiny town in the cascade mountains. Jeannie Pryor and the other passengers are trapped on the Seattle express train waiting for the horrific blizzard game six days past and Janie doesn't mind being stuck on the mountain because she stole some jewelry and some gangsters are after and they can't get her in the blizzard either train. Looks like an interesting story.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 933 more book reviews

Trap, Neuter, Die by Sharon Marchisello

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fascinating debut to this well-done new cat rescue-themed mystery series!

Trap, Neuter, Die is the first book in author Sharon Marchisello's new DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery series, featuring realistic and serious details related to the TNR program method for dealing with feral and/or community cat populations. When DeeLo Myer and her cat rescue mentor Catherine "Cat" Foster discover the body of a local cat enthusiast and bookstore owner while on the victim's property setting cat traps, they naturally are included on the police's suspect list. But when Cat is arrested by the local beat cop who has a grudge against her, DeeLo knows this is no time to pussyfoot around and starts her own investigation into the woman's murder.

Divorcee DeeLo Myer (Delores Diane Myer-Johansson) is new in the small Georgia community of Pecan Point, having moved there from California to look after her aging mother suffering from Alzheimer's when she makes the mistake of driving after imbibing that second glass of wine and ending up with a DUI on her record and community service to fulfill. Choosing to work off her hours with the Pecan Point Humane Society, she meets Catherine Foster, or Cat as she is universally known, to help with the TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Return) program to cut down the population growth of abandoned, stray, feral, and community cats. On her first night out setting traps, not only do she and Cat discover a murder victim, but DeeLo learns that Cat is the target of a vindictive local cop who uses the county's outdated animal control laws to harass her and thwart her good deeds. Along with her amateur investigation of the murder, the goal of changing those antiquated laws becomes an important aspect of the story.

This cozy mystery hits the ground running with the discovery of the victim, which occurs almost immediately. The fallout from the three women's (Azmina, Cat, and Deelo) personal lives makes an impact on the story's trajectory. There are a couple of possibilities for the motive behind the murder to consider and a number of suspects to eliminate before the final reveal, but the author subtly lays out the clues for sharp armchair detectives to note. While the cat rescue theme is not completely unique to the cozy mystery genre, its handling here is more professional and serious than previous works I've seen. In fact, the entire tone of the book is a bit more serious and dark than many cozies, but I mean that in a good and satisfying way. The storyline of DeeLo's mother and her niece Demi also offers some very frustrating realities to the main character's backstory and complex life.

I recommend TRAP, NEUTER, DIE to cozy mystery readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Karen S. (BoysMom) - , reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 933 more book reviews

Murder Strikes a Chord by Heather Weidner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A new cozy mystery to enjoy!

Murder Strikes a Chord is the first book in author Heather Weidner's great new cozy series, the Pearly Girls Mysteries. Its fun and comfortable-with-each-other main characters and lovely Blue Ridge Mountain setting provide a fresh combination for solving an intriguing murder. Cassidy Jamison and her staff of four 60-something women, the Pearly Girls, all friends of her deceased grandmother, have worked hard planning a multi-weekend music festival at her lovely outdoor events venue and are ecstatic that the first band to headline the event is The Weathermen, a popular band straight out of their youth. When Cassidy and Elvis, her chihuahua mix, find the body of The Weathermen's lead singer dead on the grounds the morning after their successful opening night, she realizes that his murder could have devastating repercussions, and not just for the reputation of her business. Roxie Matthews, one of the Pearly Girls, was the last known person seen with Johnny Storm the night before, putting her in the crosshairs of the local sheriff who's under pressure to solve the high-profile case.

Cassidy Jamison is a sweet young woman who returned home to Ivy Springs after the death of her beloved grandmother to take over her family's outdoor events venue, Celebration. With the help of her grandmother's close circle of women friends, she's managed to keep the business afloat and is continually brainstorming new sources of revenue that will make things a little easier on everyone. She readily jumps into amateur sleuthing to safeguard Roxie from the sheriff with a grudge and protect the reputation of her newly flourishing business. She's not alone in her endeavors as all the Pearly Girls lend their support, and there is an attractive deputy sheriff in the picture to watch for in the future.

The murder occurs fairly early in the story while the author is still building Cassidy's and the Pearly Girls' backstories and the fictional community of Ivy Springs, so readers learn about the place and people as the story progresses. As Cassidy witnesses a couple of altercations involving the lead singer leading up to his demise, there are a number of suspects to be crossed off the list before the killer is revealed.

I recommend MURDER STRIKES A CHORD to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy stories featuring rock music and musicians or settings in the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Alice B. reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

Anne Hamilton was so lonely. She could hardly keep from crying in all the cabins that lay between her home and the nearest settlement there were only boys and babies. She logged for her cousin Margaret and her old school friends back and get Gettysburg a satisfying story which conveys some of the loneliness, despair, and hardships of pioneer life.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 2783 more book reviews

I still read YA books, and Gary Paulsen's are some of my favorites. So after reading some heavy tomes, I decided to read these three Nancy Drew mysteries.

Nancy Drew goes way back. According to Wikipedia there were 175 Nancy Drew mysteries written between 1930 and 2003. But the name "Carolyn Keene" was used by all the different authors.

I have to admit reading only "The Wrong Track" in this three-story volume, as I found it disappointing. Hopefully that 1991 author only wrote a few Nancy Drew stories, as the story had plenty of flaws.

Here are a just a few :

Nancy needs to solve a mystery at a resort close to home. She decides to go undercover. Here is the text from the book: "Instead of Nancy Drew, teen detective, she was going to the resort as Nancy Drew, teen reporter..." Boy, I bet that will fool them. In fact, Nancy remarks a few chapters later that she thinks her undercover role may have been exposed. Gee, really? And the worst part was her father not only let her do this, he helped set up her undercover role with a sports magazine. Obviously, not only does her father not care about her safety, but he lets her do whatever she wants.

While at the resort, Nancy, sometimes alone and sometimes with her friends, breaks into people's room and offices and goes through all the drawers and files, sometimes taking papers. Is that something you want to teach your YAs as being okay? Fine! Let them start with your private papers. In addition, these are crimes.

Spoiler Alert: When Nancy finally figures out who has been trying to kill her, she receives a note from that person asking her to meet on a distant ski trail. Nancy knows that is dangerous, but she wants "to confront her suspect." Of course, just before her death, the "cavalry" unexpectedly arrives to save Nancy. You don't want your YAs to think taking chances like this are okay. Not in this day and age.

Yes, I know it is just a novel, But what lessons do you want your YAs to come away with after reading this?

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Donna C. (g-ma) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 3179 more book reviews

I think for me Jack Reacher has died and gone to book heaven

This is terrible, it makes no sense at the 200 page and I finally DNF--is it about a robbery? gold? just rambling on and on about NOTHING!

Brother Andrew is not the writer for this series as he can't seem to get a good storyline going and if Lee is helping him then he isn't doing a very good job either

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Michael B. (Ichabod) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 158 more book reviews

"These are hard times for art." -- Michelangelo writing to his father in 1509

In the opening of Laurent Binet's "Perspective(s)," a man only known as "B" discovers 176 letters in a 19th-century antique shop. These letters, written by notable figures like Michelangelo and Catherine de' Medici, center around the investigation of the murder of artist Jacopo da Pontormo in 1557 Renaissance Florence. While the focus of the novel is the murder mystery storyline, it also delves into the political and religious power struggles of the era.

Jacopo da Pontormo was found dead in the chapel where he had been working, stabbed with his own chisel and struck by his own hammer. He had been creating a series of frescoes, including a controversial depiction of "Venus and Cupid," in which the face of the nude Venus had been replaced with the face of Maria de' Medici, the daughter of the Duke of Florence. This scandalous artwork created an opportunity for exploitation, potentially to humiliate the duke and his family.

Art historian Giorgio Vasari was selected to investigate the case, and there was no shortage of potential culprits. Could it have been a rival artist, fueled by envy? An individual acting on behalf of the enraged duke? Or perhaps a religious fanatic, inspired by the decrees of Pope Paul IV, who vehemently opposed the "obscene" nudity depicted in art?

The letters are generally brief, and the pace progresses without getting bogged down in details. The area of "perspective" and some art theory is explored, but this is not a technical treatise on art history. The humor is quite prevalent, with the escapades of the renegade nuns being particularly comedic. It is also amusing to see the two-faced double-crossing among the characters. While this fictitious retelling of history is not a thriller in a league with "The Name of the Rose," it is a quick read and will compel you to check out the frescoes and architecture referred to.

"After all, there is only one noble thing upon this Earth, and that is art. Man is merely a fading stain on a wall."

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

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Robyn H. (byrd1956) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 48 more book reviews

I didn't realize until after reading a Housemaid book that it was a series. Of course, this most recent read was the first in the series; reading it does prove, you don't have to always read books in order to enjoy the read. As with the others, I read The Housemaid out loud to my husband, so we could both read the book. The story is a psychological thriller, and it did that to me; I kept worrying about what was happening to the characters and wondering who the real âbad guy' was. My husband is very âblack and white' and he felt quite a bit was overdone and unbelievable. If you like reading something that is not comforting, rather terrifying, and includes twists and turns you don't expect you may want to pick this one up.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Alice B. reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 3660 more book reviews

Customers find this book a clean, wholesome read that brings back great memories, particularly suitable for 10-14-year-old girls. They love the series, with one customer noting it's one of the best girls' series, and they enjoy the mystery content, with one review mentioning how it kept them engrossed and intrigued. Customers appreciate the characters, writing quality, and friendship themes in the book.

This book is old.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) - reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 688 more book reviews

Save Me, Stranger by Erika Krouse is a collection of 13 short stories. I like the occasional short story collection as a reset to my reading, and experiencing one in the first month of the year felt right - maybe I'll read one annually in January.

While the collection includes a story specifically named Save Me, Stranger, the concept was woven through most, if not all, stories. It was interesting to look for the theme in each. One ends on a cliffhanger that would be interesting to discuss with a group of readers.

Each story was unique and a tale unto itself, even though I had plenty of questions about what happens next to the characters in each. I read this via audiobook, and having a female (Blair Baker) and male (Adam Ewer) narrator alternate stories helped set each apart in my mind.

The stories have a wide range of settings, and I was very surprised to discover a story that takes place in my city of Omaha which is portrayed realistically in a less-than-positive light.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for pre-publication access to the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Regina C. (flyinggems) reviewed on 4/8/2025 + 473 more book reviews

Book 15 in the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries

Raine really wants to believe this stranger is a half brother but his past is very shady.

This is the book where Buck leaves and his new series starts.
Blood River Series
1. Unfixable (2021)
Welcome to Bethlehem (2022)
2. Unstoppable (2023)
3. Undefeatable (2025)

Raine Stockton Dog Mystery
1. Smoky Mountain Tracks (2006)
2. Rapid Fire (2006)
3. Gun Shy (2007)
4. Bone Yard (2012)
5. Silent Night (2011)
6. The Dead Season (2012)
7. High In Trial (2013)
7.5. All That Glitters (2013)
8. Double Dog Dare (2013)
9. Home of the Brave (2014)
10. Dog Days (2015)
11. Land of the Free (2016)
12. Deadfall (2017)
13. The Devil's Deal (2018)
14. Murder Creek (2020)
Angels in the Snow (2022)
15. The Judge's Daughter (2022)
16. Dead Man's Trail (2024)

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Cis H. (californiadreamin) reviewed on 4/7/2025 + 283 more book reviews

I hesitated to read this book because I don't generally enjoy stories about 1700's. I'm so glad I dove in, what a riveting, inspiring book. I couldn't put it down! Didn't get anything done over weekend, just enjoyed reading this masterpiece.

Martha Ballard is an experienced midwife in 1790's with many children of her own. She balances her home life, delivering babies in the surrounding towns, and even travels to other towns to testify in court. She's outspoken and strong, unusual qualities in women in that era.

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive writing of Ariel Lawhon. In many instances I felt like I could feel or smell the activities being described. I truly didn't want this book to end! If you read it, please read the Author's Notes at the end.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member
See more reviews of this book

jjares reviewed on 4/7/2025 + 3488 more book reviews

This is what a cookbook should look like; this little book explains what you want to eat to encourage wellness. The author provides a concise overview of healthy foods for weight loss and managing a healthy waistline.

Portion control, the importance of protein, fiber, and hydration in supporting weight loss, are all discussed. Then, there are sections on breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts.

Next is a thirty-day meal plan. The author provides healthy alternatives to the original ingredients featured in the book. However, the presentation is superlative. A full-color photo of the finished product is included, along with preparation and cooking times, serving sizes, nutritional information, and the health benefits of the meal. This is a beautiful, concise, and clearly written book, making it a valuable resource.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member

Nada A. reviewed on 4/7/2025 + 1418 more book reviews

I love the opening sentence, the idea, the presumed setting, the author's note, and some of the language of Dream Count by Chiamamanda Ngozi Adichie. Unfortunately, I struggle with the book itself. The stories of all the women focus on the men and their role in society and in these relationships more than the women themselves. I find myself putting the book down, reluctant to go back. I persevere, but I am sad, for I so wanted and expected to love this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/04/dream-count.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Share/Like this Review?
See all reviews by this member