Books I've Read ~ Reviewed
Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor
By Roseanna M. White
This is a perfect Christmas read. The author based the tale on the original Nutcracker story with some liberties that I believe made it a joy to read.
Based in the Edwardian era in England, the story has all the charm you can possibly imagine. Of course Lady Mariah has problems to overcome, including a Danish lord who has his sights on her to become his wife. There is conflict between him and the heir to her step-father’s estate, Cyril Lightbourne, a gentleman Lady Mariah has loved since they were children. The lady fears her dreams of living at Sugar Plum Manor for the rest of her life are about to vanish since Cyril is apparently courting another woman.
The descriptions of the scenes are well done, as are the characters. Roseanna M. White has done it again. This book is a keeper to be read again next Christmas.
Mistletoe, Malice and Murder
A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery
By Bruce Hammack
This story was very good. Smiley and McBlythe have a detective agency. Steve Smiley is blind and relies on his female partner Heather McBlythe, a wealthy woman in her own right, to guide him. Steve is a former cop, and Heather is an attorney. Steve has special talents that enable them to solve cases, such as his acute senses.
The PIs are called in on a case where a rich oil baron who’s on his last leg, living in an elite section of Houston, Texas with his money hungry family, predicts someone in his family is going to die. The prediction comes true.
The PIs learn of a long standing feud between the oil baron’s family and a neighboring family. To make things stickier, the son of one of the families is engaged to marry the daughter of the other family.
This was a real page turner with lots of humorous moments. Just the kind of books I love to read.
Since I live in the Houston area, the setting was familiar to me. I liked the mystery, the humor, and the way the story was told. Being a writer myself, I would have had a slightly different ending, but it wasn't my story to tell. LOL
Well worth the read. I'll be reading more from Bruce Hammack.
The Forge
by Chris Fabry
I received this book as a gift. The reading was very slow at the beginning and in spots along the way. I had trouble with the shift from a memoir style of writing to a normal fiction omniscient style almost every time the chapter changed. It was almost like reading someone’s diary.
The story is Christian contemporary fiction about a young man growing up without a father and the trials he and his mother face. Not a lot of suspense, mystery, or romance, which is my preferred reading, and somewhat predictable. I’d give it a 3 star.
One Silent Christimas Night
A Festival of Carols Novel
By Scott R. Rezer
The story runs smoothly through two timelines, involving people from picturesque Pocono Falls and France into a Christmas tale I’ll remember for a long time. Maybe prompting me to read it again every holiday. I loved the way the author brought these two story lines together, one in current times and the other during WWII.
The emotions were well drawn out in the characters and I could cry and laugh along with them. The story kept my interest all the way to the end, an end with a surprise. I love those kinds of stories. Well worth the read.
An Elegant Façade
Hawthorne House series
By Kristi Ann Hunter
It's in the Hawthorne House (standalone) series. Good story, but I'm glad I read the first one in the series first. Made more sense. I was able to jump over the plot holes, knowing what had happened before.
The Gardener’s Daughter
King’s Crossing
By Lisa M. Prysock
I found the storyline okay, if you are interesting in a simple love story about a royal and a commoner. But I also found it tedious to read with the endless lists, descriptions, history, and details not really needed for the plot. These things could have been eliminated without any disruption to the plot and the enjoyment of the story.
Just when I’d really get interested in what was going on, up popped one of these interruptions that took me completely out of the story.
An Uncommon Courtship
by Kristi Ann Hunter
This is the second book by Kristi Hunter I've read. The story started out slow, but after a few paragraphs, picked up with the flow and I started to enjoy it.
This was an unusual read, an unusual story for regency romance. At least compared to most I've read. The style was different as well. The story was written mostly in character thoughts with not as much dialogue as I'm used to and enjoy.
Gradually, I was emersed in the tale. It got better and better, until I was really looking forward to getting into the next paragraph to see what would happen.
The ending of this story was also unusual, and I really enjoyed it. I like unusual endings.
Finding Frankie
by
Michelle Kidd
What can I say... She has a way with words. I love the way this girl writes.
Some time back, I read Michelle Kidd’s first novel, Timeless Moments. Her writing style was wonderful. Since then, I’ve been waiting for her next book to come out and was so happy when she introduced Finding Frankie. I contacted Michelle Kidd and asked if I could purchase an autographed copy directly from her.
Tonight, I read the final page of Finding Frankie and was sorry to see the story end but very satisfied with the ending. I’ll not tell you what my favorite parts were or about what happened in this tale because I wouldn’t want to spoil the story for you.
Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed in the plot, the twists and turns, nor in the characters that she developed. Wonderful characters you’ll fall in love with, cry with, get mad at, and who will stir up so many more emotions from you.
Now I’m looking forward to her next book in this historical standalone series about lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
A Nobile Masquerade
by
Kristi Ann Hunter
I have added another author to my list of favorites.
Kristi Ann Hunter.
Her novel A Noble Masquerade was absolutely wonderful. I loved it.
The characters were exactly what I would expect of real people in the regency period, and Kristi Hunter’s writing was next to perfect. Loved the phrases she used and the way she handled her character’s emotions.
Which of us hasn’t held a secret we hope will never be discovered and bring embarrassment to us? Lady Miranda Hawthorne’s secret is not only discovered, but it’s discovered by the one person she most wanted to keep it from.
This story has suspense, laughter, mystery, and romance all over it. There are a few surprises to entertain us as well. And lots of danger.
Well done, Ms. Hunter. I’ll be reading more of your stories.
Lost Harbor
By
Jackie Zack
Jackie Zack has done it again. This fourth book in the Katy Russell Mystery series is just as entertaining as the first three. This time, reporters Katy and Nick are stuck on an island with no way to get off. Communication takes a nosedive, and the ferryboat captain is found dead. Suspense and mystery abounds. Even a bit of romance.