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.

How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley

 

Where is your current read set?

Rumors have filled the local village after Freya MacLeod’s father’s death.  Some rumors think her late father left a treasure to be found.  This rumor has caused treasure hunters to swarm the area.  Other rumors state that she and her sisters are witches.  When Freya and her sister Sorcha are accused of murder, her brother-in-law’s friend, Callum, whisks her away to his castle to save her.  Will the two find love?  Will Freya be able to return home?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a historical romance set in Scotland in the 18^th century.  I love reading stories set in Scotland and in this time period!

·       I liked the back story of Callum’s father fighting in Culloden and how it impacted their family.  Callum finds himself betrothed to a woman he admires but does not love as one of the consequences.

·       This is the second book in the Cairncross Castle book series.  I did not read the first book in the series about the first sister, Cat, but this book worked fine as a standalone.  I do think the first book probably gave more details on the treasure hunt and would be worth going back to read.

·       This is the second MacLeod daughter, Freya’s, story.

·       This story had plenty of adventure and some mystery.

·       There was a lot of chaos at the start of the story, and I had to figure out what was going on.  Freya seemed to hide in the shadows, but she had a lot of great growth throughout the story.

·       Freya and Callum had great chemistry.

·       This was a forced proximity story.

·       The story was mostly slow burn, but there are a couple of open-door scenes towards the end of the novel.

·       There are miscommunications as part of the romance, which always annoys me in stories.

·       I am interested to read the next book in the series and get Sorcha’s story.

Overall, How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley was a fun historical romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you @kensingtonbooks @btc_books @annabradleyauthor @tlcbooktours for a review copy of the novel as part of the TLC Book Tour.

The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green

 

What catches your eye on book covers?  I loved the blue dress of the character on the cover of The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green.  I thought it was very striking and eye catching.

Ivy Malone works for the New York historical society as a librarian.  Society matron, Adeline King, reveals her history to Ivy in order to preserve it.  When this explosive story gets published without Ivy’s approval, two men appear and say they have claims to Adeline and want to know her true identify.  Are these men telling the truth and how can Ivy keep Adeline safe?

Ivy is also having problems with her cousin Gina as she tried to immigrate from Italy.  She is detained at Ellis Island and Ivy employs the help of immigrant services to help get the paperwork issues solved.  As difficulties arise, who can she trust?

My thoughts on this project:

·       This story is set in the 1920’s in New York City.

·       I loved the deep look into immigration problems of the 1920s, many which still exist today.  People tried to keep the Italians out as they were the unwanted immigrants of the time. They take advantage of the immigrants to make money off them directly or by forcing them into prostitution.

·       There was a great overarching theme – do you believe that people can change to be better people?  Do you deserve forgiveness after a life of crime?

·       This is the last book in the “On Central Park” series but can be read as a standalone.  Each book is the story of a roommate.  Characters from the previous books appear.

·       I liked Gina’s story escaping from fascist Italy.

·       I really enjoyed the great multilayered characters in this story.

·       There was a great romance in the book between Ivy and Tom as well as mystery and suspense.

·       This was a clean read and inspirational.

·       It really showed the power of friendship and family.

·       This was one of my favorite reads in April.

·       There are great discussion questions at the end for book clubs.

·       There was also a great author’s note at the end on the real historical details and the sites one can visit in New York City that are in the book.

Overall, The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green was an inspiring historical fiction novel about second chances.  I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

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

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

 

Title:  False Witness

Author:  Karin Slaughter

Narrated by:  Kathleen Early

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Length: Approximately 18 hour and 39 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

What book has gotten a mixed reaction in your book club lately?

False Witness was my April pick for the Rogue Book Club and it got a mixed reaction, although that is with myself being the only person that read the entire book.  One other person liked it and was almost through it, and another couldn’t get into it.  That was it for readers of this book at book club.  I am hoping the one person finished it so that we can have a good discussion about it as there was a lot to discuss in this book!

Leigh Collier is a defense attorney at a fancy law firm in Atlanta.  She is currently separated from her husband Walter, but they both work together to co-parent their beloved daughter Maddy.  One night she gets called to work on a case for a man from her past which brings up a lot of traumatic memories involving her estranged sister Callie.  Why did he come back into their lives after all this time and how can they move forward?

·       I have greatly enjoyed Karin Slaughter’s books in the past which is why I picked this book. It did have a very jarring start with a traumatic prologue involving the r%3e of a teenage girl and a murder.  This is what was very off putting to one book club member, but it was a very shocking way to start the story and made me want to figure out what the heck was going on.

·       I liked the references to one of my favorite novels, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

·       This book looked into the underside of life with drugs, abuse, r%3e, etc.  It was hard topics to read about.

·       It also explored the relationships between parents and children, between sisters, and between spouses.  What would you be willing to do to save your family?

·       There was grief for past bad decisions and the life that could have been.

·       I loved Dr. Jerry.  He is an old vet who employs Callie as a vet tech.  He is so understanding and caring.  I loved when he finally let Callie know that he knew what was going on and still cared for her.

·       There were great multi layered characters in this novel.

·       It was interesting that living through the Coronavirus Pandemic with the masks, quarantine, etc. is a part of this story with the book coming out in 2021.

·       The story really made me think about justice and whether some of the bad people in this world get justice.  When is it okay to take justice into your own hands?

·       The ending was perfect.

Overall, False Witness by Karin Slaughter was a gritty thriller that delved into tough topics, justice, and what one is willing to do to project one’s family.  I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook.

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

 

Title:  Daughter of Egypt

Author:  Marie Benedict

Narrated by:  Bessie Carter, Suehyla El-Attar

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Length: Approximately 11 hour and 47 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

What part of the ancient world would you like to learn more about?  I love reading about ancient Egypt, but I would also like to read more about ancient civilizations in South America. 

Lady Evelyn Herbert shares her father, Lord Carnarvon’s love for archeology and Egyptian artifacts.  She has a lifelong passion to find the tomb of the first female Pharoah, Hatshepsut.  Will she be able to find the tomb?  Hatshepsut was the first female Pharoah.  What was her pathway to the throne?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This was a dual narrative novel with Lady Evelyn’s narrative taking place in the 1920s searching for Hatshepsut’s tomb and Hatshepsut’s story in 1486 BC as the first woman Pharoah.

·       I loved the Easter egg of Ernest and Grace Seton and their travels in Egypt in the 1920s.  They are the parents of Anya Seton, a historical fiction author that I have loved my entire life.

·       I enjoyed that the story included the perspective of the Egyptians.  Was it right for the English and others to take the Egyptians treasure and artifacts to other countries?

·       Hatshepsut’s story seemed forced into this book.  Lady Evelyn was on the King Tut expedition which is a very exciting story on its own.  I feel like Hatshepsut deserves her own book!

·       There were also Easter eggs for Downtown Abbey.  Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, his daughter Evelyn, and hi associate archaeologist Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb.  It was a mostly intact tomb, the likes of which had not been found for quite some time.

·       I had been obsessed with the King Tut discovery when I was a kid.  I did not remember Evelyn being a part of the discovery.  I enjoyed learning about her now.

·       The real-life Evelyn Herbert is the basis for character in two movies I enjoy – The Mummy and Stargate.

·       I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook and liked that two different narrator were used for the two different characters that were telling the story.

Overall, Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict was a fascinating dual narrative historical fiction novel.  This was one of my favorite reads in April.

Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller

 

What literary hero would you like to meet?

Emma-Jane (EJ) Bennett and Jordan Knight are life long best friends.  When EJ quits her job to work full time on her dating app, Dream Match, Jordan is happy for her but misses working with her.  As he realizes his feelings are more than friendship, will EJ come to the same conclusion?  Especially with the handsome and rich Eric Churchill turning her head…

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the second book in the Silver Teapot series.  I loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to see what happen next.  The next book, Not Very Sensible, comes out in October 2026.

·       Just like her inspiration, Jane Austen’s Emma, EJ frustrated me greatly at time with her decisions.  She was a very driven person which I related to.

·       Jordan was an honest guy, and he tries to get EJ to do better.  I like that he admits to his mistakes and asks for forgiveness.

·       I loved all the Austen references in this book.

·       This is a Christian and inspirational contemporary romance.

·       I enjoyed the Australia setting.

·       I liked the over arching theme of what is important in life?  Friends and Family?  Riches and knowing rich and famous people? 

Overall, Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller was an entertaining contemporary romance with Jane Austen flair.  I enjoyed it.

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