Shattered by Dr. David Jeremiah and Sam O’Neal

 

Title:  Shattered

Author:  Dr. David Jeremiah and Sam O’Neal

Narrated by:  Roger Wayne

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 58 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com with a physical book review copy from @drdavidjeremiah @thomasnelsonfiction @TLCBookTours.  Thank-you!

What is the last action-adventure book that you’ve read or one that you would recommend?

Shattered starts right where book one, Vanished, ended and tells the story of what happens for the first three year after the rapture. The story continues to follow Dr. John Haggerty as he seeks vengeance for the loss of his wife and daughter.  It also follows Abigail who recognizes her own failures and has turned to Christianity. She is gathering the Christian believers still left that are now turning to God.  As the Antichrist takes over, will Abigail and John be able to stay true to God?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This book was an action-packed thriller.

·       The book contained a lot of Biblical prophecy and interpretation of the prophecies.

·       It has a different take on the rapture and prophesies than the popular Left Behind series and is worth reading to see this different story.

·       This is Book #2 is the Vanished series.  I enjoyed Book #1, Vanished.  You should read this series in order to know what is going on.

·       It was interesting to ponder in this book after the rapture when so many have disappeared, how will the world react?

·       It was an interesting look into misinformation and how evil can use misinformation to tell people that it was not the rapture.  People are already conditioned to listen to false information and believe it.  It’s a sad, but true commentary on our current state of affairs in the world and how it can be used for evil.

·       It was an intense story and not a happy one.

·       It was an exciting audiobook to listen to.  I liked the narrator’s voice.

·       This book ends on a cliffhanger.

Overall, Shattered by Dr. David Jeremiah and Sam O’Neal was an exciting end of the world thriller.

 

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

 

Title:  Lily and the Octopus

Author:  Steven Rowley

Narrated by:  Michae Urie

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 4 minutes

Source: Checked out in Libby from the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What is the last book that you read that left you with conflicted feelings?

Ted Flask has a special dog, a dachshund name Lily.  She has reached the end of her life and is struggling with a brain tumor.  This is the story of how Ted struggles with his life, the love for his dog, and the end of her life.

My thoughts on this book:

·       I read this book in June for the Page-turners’ Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library.  This book received a mix reaction from the club.

·       It was a unique book with the storytelling.  Basically, a man is trying to deal with the struggles of his life and his dog dying of cancer.  The octopus is Lily’s brain cancer.  Ted gives voice to the tumor, his dog, and has imaginary adventures.  It is hard to explain.

·       This book was a rough one for me.  My cat had just died the month before and I had just lived this experience with my own beloved cat.  It’s hard being an adult and having to see your beloved pets at the end of their lives.  There are hard decisions to make.  The book did shine at this point and really described how you feel at the very end of your beloved pet’s life.

·       At book club we thought this book should be classified as a mix of autobiographical fiction and magical realism.

·       The audiobook had a fantastic narrator who was the best part of the book.  I loved all of the voices he used and his great enthusiasm reading the story.

Overall, Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley had some strong points such a great audiobook narrator, and capturing the emotions of a beloved pet’s death, but I had a hard time reading this one.

With Enduring Tides by Jane Kirkpatrick

 

Title:  With Enduring Tides

Author:  Jane Kirkpatrick

Narrated by:  Christina Moore

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 21 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com with a physical book review copy from  @jane.kirkpatrick.3 @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite book that features friendship?

With Enduring Tides by Jane Kirkpatrick is a character driven story featuring many different complicated characters with interesting stories that is set in a beautiful location on the Oregon Coast.  It is based on real-life historical figures.  The story is mainly focused on Mary Gerritse, a woman trying to keep her family together while also searching for her own identity.  She delivers mail on horseback and has let her oldest daughter, Belle, stay with her grandparents.  When death and disaster hits the family, how will they make it through?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       There was an entire community of complicated characters that supported Mary and her family that had their own interesting stories.  I loved the friendships between these characters.

·       Who are you when you find out your parents lied to you your entire life?

·       Who stands by you when hard times hit?

·       This was a great story of women living on the frontier and how they make it work through a variety of tragedies.

·       Trigger warning:  R%^e.

·       The story was set in a beautiful location on the Oregon coast.

·       This is the second in the series, The Women of Cannon Beach, but it works as a standalone.

·       This book is set in the early 1900s.

·       It is based on real life historical figures that have been meticulously researched.  Mary Gerritse was a real-life woman who did deliver mail on horseback.

·       I like how the story showed both the highs and the lows of living on the frontier.

·       It includes indigenous people who lived in the area when the settlers arrived.

·       I read the first half of the physical book and listened to the second half on audiobook.  I enjoyed reading it both ways. 

Overall, With Enduring Tides by Jane Kirkpatrick is an interesting historical fiction novel with great complicated characters, interesting stories, and a beautiful Oregon coast setting.  With the 250^th anniversary of the United States around the corner, this is a perfect read to celebrate our history!

 

The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon

 

Are you in any clubs or organizations?  I am in the local Lions club which is a fun organization and makes a difference in our community. 

A group of Golden Age mystery writers meet routinely at the Marie Antoinette Suite at the Ritz.  They are called the Cloak and Dagger Club.  A new member named Lucy has just joined.  She recently published a new mystery novel, but she also has a history with another member, Frank.  They mysteriously broke off their secret engagement three years ago.  When one of the group is found murdered and another member is accused of the crime, will Lucy and Frank be able to solve the crime?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This book will be out July 14^th.

·       The Cloak and Dagger Club is a cozy historical mystery.

·       I liked how each member in the group was investigated, and the reader was able to learn more about the character and their secrets.

·       I was surprised to learn that this was a debut novel – it was a great debut!

·       I enjoyed the romance between Lucy and Frank which was forced proximity and second chance.  Their romance the first time around was friends to lovers.

·       Lucy was my favorite character.  She had written one mystery novel and used her skills to solve this crime.  She was plucky and relatable.

·       This novel seemed written for those that love books and writing books.

·       It was set in 1930 England.

·       There was no spice, but some swearing.

·       The mystery was predictable, but I enjoyed the journey to get to the conclusion.

Overall, The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon was an entertaining historical mystery.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @jackiereadsandwrites for the review copy of The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon.

The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton

 

Who is your favorite woman in history?

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton put together a collection of short biographies of inspirational women that includes pictures and personal thoughts.  I love history and have enjoyed reading about women in history since I first learned how to read.  One of my favorite women in history is Sojourner Truth as she made her final home in Battle Creek Michigan near where I grew up and I am inspired by her “Ain’t I a Woman” speech.  I appreciate her contributions to both the suffrage and anti-slavery movements in the 19^th century.  She is included in this collection.

My thoughts on this nonfiction book:

·       I loved this book.  It had biographies of some of my heroes in history (examples – Helen Keller, Marie Curie, etc.) and a lot of new heroes that I didn’t know about before.  I learned about a lot of new interesting women!

·       This was a hardcover book that is large and beautiful with glossy pages.  It was great to look at, but hard to read in bed at nights because of its size.

·       For each woman, Chelsea and Hillary took turns writing the biography of each women and including personal touches of why they thought the women were important from personal experiences such as being inspired by them growing up or meeting them in person.

·       The book included a nice diverse group of women with very different contributions to society and lived experiences.  It was very interesting.

Overall, The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton was an inspirational and interesting book.  It’s a great book to pick up and learn about a lot of different important women in history.  It’s also a beautiful book that can serve as a coffee table book or conversation starter.

Book Source:  Thank-you to #HistoryBuffsBookClub @History_In_Five and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.

The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency by Michael Hogan

 

Title:  The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency

Author:  Michael Hogan

Narrated by:  Will Close

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 14 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com with a physical book review copy from @michaelhogan100 @pegasus_books @greatreadsbookpromo.  Thank-you!

Do you have a favorite type of dog?  I love all dogs.  As an adult, my family and I have had a keeshond, beagle, and two mutts.  We have a pure breed and a rescue mutt usually at the same time.  I heartily approve of the addition of dogs to any story.

Charlie Boardman is walking his beloved dog, Ruby, in the small English town of Framstone, when they stumble across a corpse.  Charlie and his group of fellow dogwalkers investigate this case.  When a second body shows up and Charlie begins to receive threats, things get much more serious.  Will Charlie and the dogwalkers be able to solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this book:

·       There were nice short chapters which were easy to read. 

·       I started by reading the physical book, but I switched to the audiobook as I didn’t have much time this month to read the physical book at night.  I enjoyed the narrator and the book equally as a physical book or audiobook.

·       I liked the Hercule Poirot references in the story.

·       I enjoyed the concept, and it makes sense to me that dogwalkers would discover murder victims and would be in tune with the happenings in their village.

·       There was a great climax and conclusion in this story and a surprise twist at the end.

·       Charlie Boardman was a great main character.  He was a nice guy that can’t keep his nose out of solving this mystery.  I love his Staffordshire bull terrier, Ruby, who helps him with his investigation.

·       This was a debut novel.  I loved the world of the coastal English town and the great characters and would enjoy reading another novel in this series.  I looked it up and was excited to see there will be a second book called Death at a Dog Hotel.  I can’t wait to read it!

·       I loved the puns and jokes throughout the novel.  This was a fun book.

Overall, The Dogwalkers’ Detective Agency by Michael Hogan was a very enjoyable cozy mystery with great characters, setting, story, and dogs.  I can’t wait for the next book!

Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak

 

What country is your current read set in?

Charlotte is having a hard time writing her second novel after the surprise success of her first novel.  She is stunned when her basketball star husband leaves her and she finds out she was an adopted child, her birth mother has died, and she has a young tween sister who is orphaned in Italy.  Charlotte and her best friend Sloane, and Sloane’s brother Julian, travel to the Amalfi Coast in Italy to meet her sister, Lily. Will Charlotte and Lily be able to have a relationship?  What will happen to Lily?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this book in May for the April pick for the Brenda Novak Book Group. There are fun book club meetings on Facebook the fourth Thursday of the month.  I listen to the meetings afterwards when I can.

·       This novel was a contemporary romance and a family drama.  It also had found family and second chances.  The romance is friends to lovers.

·       I loved the description of the beautiful Amalfi Coast – I was ready to visit!

·       I felt so bad for Lily.  She had a rough life with her moving all around and constantly changing boyfriends.

·       The cover of this novel is beautiful.

·       The novel had characters dealing with heartbreak and troubles in life.  It showed how friends and found family can support you and how you can turn your life around.

·       My Great Grandma Kile would have called this a good story – it had a lot of drama, good characters, and a satisfying ending.

Overall, Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak was an enjoyable contemporary romance and family drama with good characters and setting.  It’s a great book if you are looking for a fun summer read.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray

 

What book series are you enjoying lately?  “A Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery” is one of my current favorite book series.  I eagerly await each book in this series.  The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray is the fifth book in the series.  While each book could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order to really get the character built-up, especially between Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy.

Mr. Jonathan Darcy and Miss Juliet Tilney had a disastrous London season for various reasons. This has forced the couple apart and they both struggle with how to move forward with not only their investigations, but their growing feelings for each other.  Opportunity arises when a murder takes place at Netherfield Hall where Jonathan is vising his aunt and uncle.  He asks for Juliet’s help and she uses her parents absence to make her way to Netherfield.  Her grandfather and uncle want her to use the opportunity to force Jonathan into marriage.  While the Jonathan and Juliet investigate the murder, they also must deal with their feelings for each other and what it means for the future.  As the murder victims pile up, will they be able to solve the crime and how to move forward in their relationship?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I really enjoy this series and seem to love each book even more than the previous book.

·       I enjoyed this mystery and how Jonathan and Juliet methodically investigate and solve it.

·       This series is set in the world of Jane Austen’s novels, and I love how favorite Austen characters make an appearance.  Claudia Gray writes the Austen characters so well and I love being in their world.  There are different Austen characters that pop up in each novel.  I think the regency historical detail is wonderful as well.

·       I really loved seeing the married Jane and Charles Bingley later in their life and still in love.

·       I loved seeing the forward movement in Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship.  They are a great couple!

·       Jonathan appears to be neurodivergent, and I love how he works through things to function in society.  Part of the great relationship between Jonathan and Juliet is that they love and respect each other for exactly who they are.

·       Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was wearing on my last nerves in this one.  I hope he gets a redemptive arc in the next novel.

·       The ending is a cliffhanger – I hope the next book is out soon!

·       This story is a historical mystery, slow burn romance, and an Austenesque novel.

Overall, The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray is a very enjoyable historical mystery with great characters set in the world of Jane Austen’s novels.  Come for the mystery and stay for the slow burn romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @claudia_gray @ireadvintage @greatreadsbookpromo for a review copy of the novel as part of the Great Reads Promo Book Tour.

A Glimpse of Heaven on Earth by Deacon David Scheuer

 

What book have you read lately that inspired you?

David Scheuer was living a happy life working for an architectural firm, married with children, when he felt called to be a Deacon.  In his book he detailed his experiences with God’s presence here on earth.

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was a very inspiring book.  It was a perfect read for me during the Lenten season.

·       Each chapter tells an inspirational real-life experience and ends with a biblical quote, reflection question, and a prayer.

·       This was a great look into the life of Deacon David Scheuer.  This was written by the Deacon of our local church.  It is inspiring to know of someone that is having these types of religious experiences.  It doesn’t have to be a remote far away person having this experience.

·       I drove by one church mentioned in this book for work lately and I was excited!

·       The book was a moving read. 

·       This would be a great book to read and discuss with a faith group.

Overall, A Glimpse of Heaven on Earth by Deacon David Scheuer is a great look into one man’s experiences with God’s presence here on earth, but it also inspires all readers to be open for their own “glimpse of heaven.”

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

Scent of Hope by Susan May Warren

 

Title:  Scent of Hope

Author:  Susan May Warren

Narrated by:  Brian Hutchison

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 9 hour and 57 minutes

Source: Audiobook Review copy from NetGalley and physical book review copy from @susanmaywarren @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo.  Thank-you!

What is the last book you read that was very entertaining?  Scent of Hope by Susan May Warren was a very entertaining story that made my yard work fly by this past weekend.

Harley Tatum is a private investigator in Alaska.  She lost her family when she was young and the one man she loved, Jericho, never returned home after enlisting in the military.  Jericho has finally returned home with his avalanche dog, Orlando, and they must work together to solve a mystery and rescue those they love.

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was great on audiobook.  Brian Hutchison was an intriguing narrator.

·       This story was action packed.

·       It is the second book in the Call of the Wild series.  I need to read the first book in the series.  This worked as a standalone.

·       This story was a second chance romance story, which is one of my favorite tropes.

·       I loved that Orlando was a Bernedoodle with a stressful back story of his own. 

·       Harley is a strong woman, but she only trusts herself and won’t ask for help.

·       Jericho likes to control every situation and can’t trust that Harley has her own skills.

·       This was a good Christian and inspirational novel. There were messages about loss, grief, forgiveness, and putting your trust in God.

·       There was great chemistry and depth of feeling between Harley and Jericho.

·       This was a clean read.

Scent of Hope by Susan May Warren was a great action packed second chance romance with mystery, suspense, dogs, and a great Alaskan setting.  I highly recommend if you are looking for an entertaining read.