The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator’s Search for the Unexplained by Stanley Milford, Jr.

 

Do you believe in the paranormal such as aliens, bigfoot, ghosts, other supernatural beings?  I am always curious.

Stanley Milford Jr. grew up in multiple worlds with a Navajo father and Cherokee mother.  He learned native culture and traditions but also grew up in the white world.  As an adult, he became a Navajo Ranger serving the very large (27,000 square miles) area of the Navajo Nation.  Along the way he had many encounters with the paranormal.

My thoughts on this book:

·       I really liked the Navajo creation story and myths that were interspersed between each chapter.

·       There were great pictures of Stanley Milford Jr. throughout his life as well as sketches of paranormal creatures.

·       I found this book to be very interesting.  Milford takes a police perspective to each investigation.  He can determine some are hoaxes, while others have no apparent explanation.  He had an interesting theory that there could be interdimensional travel happening to explain strange appearances.

·       It was interesting that one witness was able to get trail cam footage of a bigfoot and that the DNA analysis of the hair fibers came back inconclusive for the type of mammal.

·       Milford had a LOT of area to cover with not many rangers.

·       The book had an interesting discussion about how perhaps some areas see more paranormal activity than others, such as Gettysburg.

·       Milford was in a few documentaries on paranormal activity and now I want to see them.  He was on Unsolved Mysteries and Beyond Skinwalker Ranch just to name a couple.

·       This book was a good mix of memoir, native mythology, and paranormal investigations.

·       It was a quick read with a good index.

·       It was nice that Milford was able to listen to and help those who “regular” police would typically dismiss with their paranormal experiences.

Favorite Quotes:

“Overall, I found that treating people like fellow human beings instead of being badge-heavy always resulted in more compliance.  I was a member of the community, and that’s how I conducted myself on the job.”

“That’s what was different about paranormal cases as opposed to my usual, everyday ones.  These cases made me wonder What If?  They sent my mind whirring in all directions.”

Overall, The Paranormal Ranger was a very interesting memoir of a Navajo Ranger and his investigations into paranormal activity.

Book Source:  Review copy from William Morrow Books. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Starlets by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: The Starlets

Author:  Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne

Narrated by:  Gail Shalan

Publisher: Harper Muse

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 17 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Harper Muse & NetGalley.  Thank you!

Do you have a favorite epic movie from the golden age of Hollywood?  Gone with the Wind is my favorite epic classic movie.

In the summer of 1958, Vivienne Rhodes, has traveled to the Italian island of Tavalli, to star in the new epic movie, A Thousand Ships, about Helen of Troy and the Trojan War.  She is surprised to discover that she will not be the star, but her nemesis, Lottie Lawrence will be the star.  Lottie “stole” Vivienne’s fiancé and Vivienne is still reeling from the heartbreak.  Vivienne and Lottie inadvertently discover a murder on the island and are soon on the run.  Will they be able to find help and solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read about half of this on audiobook and half in the physical book.  I enjoyed both media formats and read this book quickly.  The narrator was engaging.

·       The storyline moved very quickly and kept me on my toes.  I really wanted to know what was going to happen.

·       I loved all the nods to real Hollywood movies and stars from that time period.  I love classic movies and old Hollywood.

·       I enjoyed how the two women were enemies, but were able to put aside their differences, get to know each other, and work towards a common goal.  They became friends by the end.  I loved how their relationship developed.

·       The characters were great.  I loved Vivienne and Lottie, but the other characters on the set were fun and interesting as well.  The villains were very dastardly.

·       I liked the adventure too as the two women fled through Europe. There is a scene involving Ben Hur and a race car that I will never forget.

·       There were great moments of humor in the book as well.

Overall, The Starlets by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne was a fast-paced historical fiction novel set in the golden age of Hollywood with unforgettable characters.  I loved it and highly recommend it!

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

One perfect island. Two rivals. A star-studded cast. But underneath the glitter, disaster is brewing.

Summer, 1958. Vivienne Rhodes thinks she’s finally landed her break playing Helen of Troy in Apex Pictures’ big-budget epic, A Thousand Ships, an anticipated blockbuster meant to resurrect the failing studio. Naturally, she’s devastated when she arrives on the remote Italian island of Tavalli and finds herself cast as the secondary character, Cassandra—while her nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Lottie Lawrence, America’s supposed “sweetheart,” is playing the lead role instead.

The tension on set, though, turns deadly when the ladies discover that members of the crew are using the production as a front for something decidedly illegal—and that they are willing to kill to keep their dealings under wraps. When the two women find themselves on the run and holding key evidence, Vivienne and Lottie frantically agree to work together to deliver the proof to Interpol, hoping to protect both their lives and their careers.

Staying one step ahead of corrupt cops and looming mobsters, the archrivals flee across the seas. Their journey leads them into Monaco’s casinos, Grace Kelly’s palace, on a road trip through the Alps—even onto another film set, before a final showdown back on Tavalli, where the lives of the entire cast and crew hang in the balance. Vivienne and Lottie finally have the chance to be real heroines—to save the day, the film, maybe even each other—but only if they can first figure out how to share the spotlight.

ADVANCE PRAISE

“A spry and suspenseful crime novel set just after Hollywood’s golden age”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A sheer delight! This fast-paced caper is fresh, fun, and exactly the escape readers need right now.” — Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

AUTHOR BIOS

Jennifer Thorne is an American author of books for adults and young readers who writes from a nineteenth-century Cotswold cottage in the medieval market town of Minchinhampton alongside her husband, two sons, and various other animals.

Born in a small town in Tennessee, Jenn grew up bouncing between her parents’ homes in various other states and countries, with books as her constant companions, before returning to New York as a teen to study drama at NYU. Though acting had been her lifelong dream, she found that she was more fulfilled by writing performance vehicles for her friends than acting in them herself. After a move to Los Angeles, she detoured into writing and never looked back. Connect with her online at jenniferthorne.com.

Lee Kelly is the author of City of Savages, a Publishers Weekly "Best of Spring 2015" pick and a VOYA Magazine "Perfect Ten" selection; A Criminal Magic, which was optioned and developed for a television series by Warner Bros.; The Antiquity Affair, co-written with Jennifer Thorne; and With Regrets.

Her short fiction and essays have appeared in Gingerbread House, Orca, and Tor.com, among other publications, and she holds her MFA degree from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. An entertainment lawyer by trade, Lee has practiced law in Los Angeles and New York. She currently lives with her husband and two children in New Jersey, where you'll find them engaged in one adventure or another. Connect with her online at leekellyauthor.com.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Title: Bright Young Women

Author:  Jessica Knoll

Narrated by:  Sutton Foster, Imani Jade Powers, Corey Brill, Chris Henry Coffey

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 58 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you!

Do you like true crime stories?  Bright Young Women is a historical thriller that tells a fictionalized version of the killings involving Ted Bundy.

In 1978, a serial killer attacks a sorority at Florida State University killing two and severely wounding two others.  The sorority president, Pamela Schumaker briefly sees the killer when she goes to investigate a sound.  Will she be able to help put the killer behind bars?

Tina Cannon has been looking for her friend Ruth since she disappeared.  She feels her disappearance has something to do with the serial killer.  Will she be able to find out what happened to Ruth?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I thought this novel was very interesting.  I liked how the story focused on telling the victims story rather than focusing on the killer.  This is a fictional account of the Ted Bundy murders and trial.  It shows how the press and public made Ted Bundy a “sexy” character and imbibed him with smarts and charm that he did not possess.

·       A Florida judge called Ted Bundy a “Bright Young Man.”  The title of this book is a play on this.

·       I had a feeling of dread while reading this novel.  This eventually turned to hope by the end of the novel.

·       I also felt frustrated while reading the novel.  Tina and Pamela were often dismissed because of being women or because of relationships they had in the past.

·       The story is told through multiple point of views which I enjoyed.  The audiobook had different narrators for the different point of views which I thought really added to the audiobook experience.

·       The story also is told in the past in the 1970s when it was experienced as well as in the present as Pamela and Tina work to uncover what happened to Ruth.

·       I thought the overall message on how a crime is portrayed by the media may be vastly different than reality was very powerful.

Overall, Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll is a historical thriller that tells the story of the victims that are often behind in the media portrayal of a crime.

The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Emilia Fox

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 26 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Do any “famous” people live in your neighborhood?  The children’s author, Patricia Polacco, lives in my hometown of Union City, Michigan.

I read The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side by Agatha Christie last month for #ReadChristie2024.  #ReadChristie2024 has a theme this year of through the decades.  January – March were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1920’s, April through June were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1930’s, July through September were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1940s and 1950s, and October through December were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1960s and 1970s.   The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side was published in 1962 and features Miss Marple. 

Movie star Marina Gregg has moved into Miss Marple’s neighborhood.  The neighborhood is excited when she holds a fundraiser for the local community.  Heather Badcock is excited to meet her idol and tell her a story, but she dies immediately afterwards.  As the murder is investigated it appears that Marina Gregg was the target.  Will Miss Marple solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel is firmly set-in post-war England.  St. Mary’s Mead is growing with new neighborhoods and a grocery story.  The new people have changed the make-up of the community.

·       I liked how Miss Marple is in her 80’s with a nurse and the nurse drives her crazy.  Miss Marple still wants to be about and about solving murder mysteries. 

·       The characters in the novel were great.

·       I was not sure how to feel when the novel had Miss Marple and another lady discussing Hollywood orgies.  That is something I never thought I’d hear Miss Marple talking about.  I think it was Christie’s attempt to make the novel more modern.

·       It was interesting how some of the Hollywood aspects are still true to life.  Marina, the star, has had many marriages.  She always wanted a child but was unable to have one.  She has heard that if you adopt a child, you may be more likely to have a child.  She adopted three children, and then abandoned them a few years later when she was pregnant with a biological child.  The adopted children were taken from their families, raised in privilege, paraded before the press, and then forgotten.  It was cruel.

·       I enjoyed this mystery and its twists and turns.  I thought I had this mystery solved, but I was wrong.

·       I loved the audiobook narrator, Emilia Fox.  She had a nice British accent and great character voices.

Overall, The Mirror Crack’d From Side to Side was another great Agatha Christie mystery.

Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  Elephants Can Remember

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Hugh Fraser

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 5 hours and 36 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Do you like to read more than one book at once?  I am usually reading a physical book, ebook, and audiobook at the same time.

I read Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie last month for #ReadChristie2024.  #ReadChristie2024 has a theme this year of through the decades.  January – March were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1920’s, April through June were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1930’s, July through September were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1940s and 1950s, and October through December were books published by Agatha Christie in the 1960s and 1970s.   Elephants Can Remember was published in 1972 and was the last novel written to feature Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver.  Curtain:  Poirot’s Last Case was published after this but was written in the 1940s.  This is the December selection for #ReachChristie2024, but my hold came in October so that was when I read it!

Author Ariadne Oliver is at a literary luncheon when a strange woman, Mrs. Burton-Cox states that her son Desmond is engaged to Ariadne Oliver’s goddaughter, Celia.  She wants to know, did Celia’s mother kill her father or did her father kill her mother?  Both were shot with a revolver, found between them, with both of their fingerprints, and none other on them.  This sparks Ariadne’s curiosity, and she starts to investigate the cold case.  Will she be able to solve it using other’s memories from twelve years ago?  Will her friend, Hercule Poirot, be able to help her out?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I like how Ariadne is the primary investigator in this novel with help from her friend, Hercule Poirot.

·       The phrase “elephants can remember” comes up a lot.  People state it discussing how elephants remember everything.  This novel deals with memories and how they play into being interviewed, and oral testimony.

·       Always trust the dog, the family dog bit Celia’s mother the month before her death.  Why?  I liked that the mystery was partially solved by the actions of the dog.

·       This book features twins.  I always like when twins are in a mystery.

·       This book again brings up adoption and “real parents” and “real kids.”  This type of language made me uncomfortable.

·       This time I did mostly figure out the conclusion, but I still enjoyed the journey and explanation from Hercule Poirot.

·       Hugh Fraser is a great narrator for Agatha Christie’s novels.

Overall, Elephants Can Remember was an interesting Agatha Christie mystery dealing with memory set in the 1970s.

Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

Title: Across the Ages

Author:  Gabrielle Meyer

Narrated by:  Rachel Botchan

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 56 minutes

Source: Audiobook Purchased from Audible. Thank you @gabrielle_meyer @bethanyhousefiction @austenprosefor the review copy of the paperback version of Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer.

If you could pick, would you rather live as a pirate in the 1700s or as a young lady in Minnesota in the 1920s?  I think I would pick Minnesota in the 1920s if I lived somewhere with modern plumbing.

Caroline lives in both 1727 and 1927.  She will live a day in 1727 and fall asleep. When she wakes up again, she is in 1927.  She has lived two lives as she nears her twenty-first birthday.  In 1727, she runs away from a forced marriage on her grandfather’s plantation in South Carolina and joins a ship as a cabin boy to try to find her mother.  When her ship is captured by pirates, she finds herself now an unwilling pirate.  She starts to have feelings for the captain’s adopted son whom she serves. Will she find her mother?  Will she find love with a pirate?

In 1927, Caroline is the daughter of a prominent minister who is a leader in the prohibition movement.  She feels the weight of being the “perfect daughter” on her shoulders.  Her two brothers are living lives of sin involving adultery, prostitutes, and running illegal alcohol.  Caroline wants answers on why she travels through time, but looking for these answers with her childhood friend Lewis brings them into dangerous situations.  Will Caroline find the answers she seeks, and will she find love with Lewis?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the fourth novel in the Timeless series.  I have read books 2, 3, and 4 now and I’ve really enjoyed them.  I still need to read the first book.  You can read this novel as a standalone, but it is fun when characters from the previous novels pop up in this story. 

·       It’s a fun love triangle to have the two different men in two different timelines and lives.

·       The two different time periods in this novel, the 1920s and the 1700s are equally intriguing to me. 

·       I liked how Caroline met famous people in the 1920s such as Charles Lindburgh and Ernest Hemingway.

·       I loved the descriptive detail of Caroline’s clothing in both timelines, but especially the 1920s.

·       The book had a great theme of redemption in both timelines.

·       This is a clean read.

·       The novel had a great historical note at the end that described the real history as well as sources to read more about it.  I had not idea that St. Paul was a “sanctuary city” for gangsters in the 1920s.

·       It was fun when Caroline in the 1920s visited real Minnesota landmarks that I have visited such as the Como Park in St. Paul.

·       There is a great sneak peak at the next novel in this series, Every Hour Until Then, which will be released in May 2025.

·       The audiobook was riveting and great listening experience.  The narrator had a wonderful voice brought the story to life.

Overall, Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer was a great historical time travel romance set in two fascinating time periods, the pirate age in 1727, and the roaring 20’s in 1927.  I greatly enjoyed it and the rest of this series, and I highly recommend it.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

Caroline holds a deep secret. Living in 1727 and 1927 simultaneously, each night she goes to sleep in one life and wakes up in the other. In search of answers to her unique existence, Caroline stumbles upon a letter from her mother hinting at her own experiences as a time-crosser, sending Caroline on a daring quest to uncover the truth. In 1727, Caroline disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins a ship sailing for the Bahamas, her mother's last known location, where she crosses paths with a ruthless but handsome pirate and is caught in a web of secrets, deception, and unexpected alliances.

In 1927 St. Paul, Minnesota, Caroline grapples with her other life as the daughter of a renowned preacher. Her two older brothers have fallen prey to the corruption rampant during Prohibition, and Caroline struggles to keep their involvement hidden to save her father's career. As her search for answers about her time-crossing leads her to the dangerous yet exciting world of speakeasies, Caroline enlists the help of a childhood friend who is now a police officer. But with her family's future at risk and their loyalties tested, Caroline faces a life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

AUTHOR BIO

Gabrielle Meyer (GabrielleMeyer.com) is an ECPA bestselling author. She has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she's a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope.

 

Katherine by Anya Seton

Title: Katherine

Author:  Anya Seton

Narrated by:  Lorna Bennett

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 29 hours and 50 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

  Do you still have any fall color in your area?  I still have a couple of trees in my yard that are slowly turning color, while most other trees are bare at this time.

 Katherine by Anya Seton is a historical fiction classic.  It tells the story of Katherine Swynford, and her love affair with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of the King.  This story is set during the 14^th century and the ripples of their love would affect the royal family for centuries to come.

 My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this book as part of the Back to the Classics Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library for our October read.  I had previously read this book around twenty years ago for my classics book club in Milwaukee.

·       Anya Seton is one of my favorite authors, but it has been a while since I’ve read one of her novels.  She writes unique historical stories that capture my imagination.

·       In Katherine, Seton paints a vivid picture of life in 14^th century England.  I felt like I was there.

·       The black death was brutal.  Katherine comes across a castle where the inhabitants are infected.  Instead of running away, she goes into danger to help.  Besides the black death, there is also the peasants’ revolt later in the novel.  She lived through very tumultuous times.

·       Katherine is a virtuous woman who does not give into the Duke’s affections until the death of her husband.  They IMMEDIATELY get together at his death, which seemed rushed to me.

·       The first half of the novel is Katherine’s early life, her marriage, having her first children, and it ends with her husband’s death and her getting together with the Duke.  The novel then skips forward a few years at this point and the second half of the novel covered a longer time period.

·       I kept pondering, what choice does Katherine have in any of this?  I realized at one point that Katherine really has little say if John of Gaunt wants her as his mistress.  She realized this in the book right after I did.  She tries to leave and go back to her own land, but she is roped back into being with the Duke.

·       Religion and faith play a big role in Katherine’s life even though she is most famously known as a mistress.

·       The fact that John of Gaunt eventually married Katherine and legitimized their children really showed to me that there was true love in their relationship.

·       I listened to this very long audiobook while traveling for work last month.  I found it very engaging, and it made my drives seem very short.

Favorite Quote: “Why does the whole world smell of blood and fire?  Why?”

Overall, Katherine by Anya Seton is a masterpiece of historical fiction and paints a vivid picture of the medieval life of an extraordinary woman.

 

A Truth Revealed by Tracie Peterson (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite fall food?  I really love butternut squash.

Laura Evans has grown up attending schools after her mother’s tragic death.  Now a young woman, she reunites with her father, Granite Evans, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  She hopes that she will be able to develop a relationship with her father.  Laura meets and is drawn to Wilson (Will) Porter.  Will has traveled west to be a pastor to the Shoshone tribe, but after a tragedy, he is not sure about his faith and whether he should continue his ministry.  What caused the tragedy?  What secrets does Granite Evans keep?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The plot of this novel was intriguing and kept me reading too far into the night.  There were a few mysteries and storylines that I really wanted to see resolved.

·       I really enjoyed the western setting, and that Granite Evans owned a store.  I loved all the descriptions of the store.

·       A Truth Revealed is a very Christian novel, which I liked.  Laura is very faithful and attends church.  She is working on bringing her father, who no longer believes after the death of her mother, back to church.

·       Will’s mother and sister are murdered on their way to live with him by what appears to be an Indian attack.  This shakes Will’s faith.  Will he be able to regain his faith and move on with his life?

·       The secondary characters that attend church with Laura or work at her father’s home are also interesting and complete the Cheyenne community.

·       I enjoyed the sweet romance between Laura and Will.

·       This was a clean read.

·       This was the third novel in The Heart of Cheyenne series.  These novels all took place in Cheyenne.  I have not read the first two novels, but I had no problems with reading this novel as a standalone.  I do want to go back and read the first two novels.

·       The story takes place not too long after the Civil War.  Will Porter is a veteran.

Overall, A Truth Revealed by Tracie Peterson is an intriguing Christian historical romance set in the old West that deals with the themes of forgiveness and returning to your faith.  This was a great read.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House Publishing as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 BOOK DESCRIPTION

In the midst of darkness, only faith and love can illuminate their path forward.

Laura Evans, a spirited young woman with a deep-rooted faith in God, returns home from college to her father--unaware of his dark secrets. Determined to live by her faith while respecting her father's contrasting views, Laura's world shifts when she crosses paths with a devoted preacher.

Wilson Porter is driven by a calling to work with the Shoshone people but faces constant delays from government officials. Then tragedy strikes, shaking his faith and causing him to question everything he once believed. As Will and Laura's tentative friendship grows into something more, they are ensnared in a web of dark secrets and injustices. Together, they're confronted with a daunting question: Will their shattered lives leave them with an uncertain path forward--or can love withstand it all?

AUTHOR BIO

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than six million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana. Learn more at TraciePeterson.com.