Saturday, September 24, 2022

Millstone of Doubt by Erica Vetsch #BlogTour #BookReview #Regency #Suspense #MillstoneofDoubt


 

Millstone of Doubt (Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries #2)Millstone of Doubt by Erica Vetsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source:  Received to Review
Genre: Regency Suspense and Mystery

Book DescriptionA Bow Street Runner and a debutante in London Society use their skills to find the killer of a wealthy businessman, but the killer’s secrets aren’t the only ones they will uncover. 

Caught in the explosion of the Hammersmith Mill in London, Bow Street runner Daniel Swann rushes to help any survivors only to find the mill's owner dead of an apparent gunshot--but no sign of the killer.


Even though the owner's daughter, Agatha Montgomery, mourns his death, she may be the only one. It seems there are more than a few people with motive for murder. But Daniel can't take this investigation slow and steady. Instead, he must dig through all the suspects as quickly as he can because the clock is ticking until his mysterious patronage--and his job as a runner--comes to an abrupt and painful end. It seems to Daniel that, like his earthly father, his heavenly Father has abandoned him.
Lady Juliette Thorndike is Agatha's bosom friend and has the inside knowledge of the wealthy London ton to be invaluable to Daniel. She should be in a perfect position to help with the case. But when her trusted instructor in the art of spy craft orders her to stay out of the investigation, Lady Juliette obeys. That is, until circumstances intervene, and she drops right into the middle of the deadly pursuit.


When a dreadful accident ends in another death on the mill floor, Daniel discovers a connection to his murder case--and to his own secret past. Now he and Juliette are in a race to find the killer before his time runs out.


My thoughts: Erica Vetsch is a "new to me" author. Millstone of Doubt is the first book that I have read of hers and it won't be the last. I look forward to reading the first book in the series The Debutante's Code. I could understand and keep up without reading the first, but I could tell I was missing important information and character development.

Lady Juliette Thorndike was born into a family of spies for the crown. Her uncle is her mentor and superior in the art of deception. Juliette is pulled into a case when her dearest friend's father is murdered. Her sidekick and love interest, Daniel Swann, is trying to unravel the clues and find the murderer. There are many suspects and I loved traveling with the characters, trying to figure out who the villain was. The suspects range from Luddites, and con artists, up to members of the aristocracy. The story is non-stop action from the first to the last page.

This story "keeps you on your toes" and turning pages. I am very grateful for the opportunity to read this book.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Online Purchase Links:





About the Author: Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Sinister Secrets ~ A Suspense Collection #BlogTour #BookReview #Giveaway #Suspense


 

Sinister Secrets: Three Suspense NovellasSinister Secrets: Three Suspense Novellas by Traci Hunter Abramson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Suspense Anthology
Source:  I purchased a kindle copy.

Book Description:  Prepare for heart-pounding danger in Sinister Secrets, featuring short stories of suspense from three of your favorite writers: Traci Hunter Abramson, Paige Edwards, and Clair M. Poulson. With all the thrills and chills you’ve come to expect from these best-selling authors, this must-have compilation will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Traci Hunter Abramson: Secrets of St. Augustine

FBI Special Agent Doug Valdez is in France looking for money launderers. The last thing he expects is to find a young girl fleeing for her life or the deadly game of cat and mouse that ensues.

Paige Edwards: In Plain Sight

Jaclyn Girard was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and now she’s caught in the middle of a deadly investigation. With danger mounting, she must work alongside FBI operative Cody Ackert if she hopes to survive.

Clair M. Poulson: Hounded

Recently retired Army Ranger Renn Huitt has found the perfect job. Working for Bob, a private investigator nearing retirement, should be easy. But Bob has put a lot of people behind bars—people who hold a grudge. And now they are coming for him




My thoughts: I am a huge fan of suspense and this collection of novellas did not disappoint.

Secrets of St. Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson ~*5 stars*

Greedy private school administrators wreak havoc when they decide to take money from helpless children. I loved FBI agent Doug Valdez and his family. Their compassion, love, and willingness to provide shelter and protection to Layla made them my heroes as her world fell apart. The book was action from the start of the story until the very end.

Hounded by Clair M Poulsen ~ *4 stars*

Renn was former military and has entered the PI business. He is excited to begin his new job working with Bob Lyman. His first day on the job was probably more intense than he had hoped. Between shots fired through the windows of the office, searching out homeless people, and some very bad dudes, his work is cut out for him. He works well with others and is hot on the trail of the villains. There is a ton of action happening in this story.

In Plain Sight by Paige Edwards ~ *5 stars*

Jaclyn works four jobs. She happens to find herself in trouble on her way to work when she becomes a witness to a drug deal. Fortunately for her, undercover agent Cody Ackert is quick thinking and tries to shield her from danger. The situation gets out of control and agent Ackert is racing against the clock to keep her from harm. I loved the romantic tension and the action that is from the first to the last page.

If you are a suspense lover, this collection is a great way to pass the time. I could see the drama playing out in my head! Paige Edwards and Traci Abramson are two of my favorite authors of this genre. You can't go wrong when they are penning the pages.




Online Purchase Links:



About the Authors:




Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She is a seven-time Whitney Award winner and has written more than thirty bestselling novels. For more information about Traci, click here: https://linktr.ee/traciabramson





Clair M. Poulson was born and raised in Duchesne, Utah. His father was a rancher and farmer, his mother a librarian. Clair has always been an avid reader, having found his love for books as a very young boy.

He has served for forty years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For the past twenty years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others.

In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.

Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Sunday School teacher.

Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-three children. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.

Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.



Paige Edwards has received a Readers' Favorite Book Award, and is a Forward INDIES, Carol, Silver Falcion, RONE, Swoony, and Whitney Awards Finalist of inspirational romantic suspense. Due to her deep British roots, Paige’s books are often set in the UK, and she hops the pond whenever she gets the chance. She is styled the Lady Paige Edwards when in Scotland, but her favorite title is Grandma. When she needs a break from writing, she serves as president of her area's Interfaith Community Council, is fond of digging in the dirt (what some might call gardening), biking battlefields, and kayaking the lake. Paige loves to connect with readers through her website authorpaigeedwards.com. Be sure to follow her on BookBub for the latest on sales:). [https://tinyurl.com/5n7euw68]

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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Critical Consequences by Clair M. Poulsen #bookreview #suspense

 


Critical ConsequencesCritical Consequences by Clair M. Poulson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: LDS Suspense

Book DescriptionA Suspense NOVEL

As a member of the coast guard, Mike Weaver is guided by a single objective: to locate and protect those in need. So when his cousin Martie and her new husband disappear, Mike has no doubt that he possesses the skills necessary to find out what happened. What he doesn’t anticipate is that the truth he seeks is buried deep within a tangled network of greed and deceit.


When Mike’s past violently collides with his investigation, he is forced to accept help from virtual strangers—Angelia and her family anticipated a quiet family picnic in the mountains, but when they encounter a wounded Mike, Angelia and her father, with his military background, spring into action. When they discover that Mike’s search for his cousin has a surprising connection to their family, they join his dangerous hunt for answers. Search and rescue is in Mike’s blood, and with the help of his unconventional team of investigators, he’ll stop at nothing to bring his cousin home safely.


My thoughts:  An accidental death and unrelated murders start this book off with a bang. This book has three plot lines in which Mike Weaver finds himself entangled. There is so much going on, but somehow it works. The stories transitioned well and I was able to keep everything straight.

Mike Weaver is a good guy, but there are people set on murdering him. He knows too much about their illegal activities. The reader gets to take a road trip with him as he travels across the country unraveling the web of deceit and lies. He also has a few murders to get to the bottom of.

The story is action-packed from the beginning to the end. Clair M. Poulson does a fantastic job at bringing everything to a great conclusion. I only wish that there was a little bit more on the potential love interests. Maybe he can bring back the characters in another story so the romance has closure.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.





Online Purchase Links:





About the Author: Clair M. Poulson was born and raised in Duchesne, Utah. His father was a rancher and farmer, his mother a librarian. Clair has always been an avid reader, having found his love for books as a very young boy.

He has served for forty years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For the past twenty years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others.

In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.

Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Sunday School teacher.

Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-three children. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.

Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.

Monday, September 5, 2022

One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo #bookreiview #childrenspicturebook #lockdowndrill




One Thursday AfternoonOne Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review
Genre: Children's picture book

Book Description:  When Granddad picks Ava up from school one Thursday afternoon, she's quiet. She doesn't want to talk about the lockdown drill that has stirred up her worries. How can she be so afraid in a place that has always felt so safe?

Granddad doesn't talk much either; he just offers creativity and companionship. And with his gentle encouragement, Ava begins to sense that although the world can be scary, it is still a beautiful place.

With tender insight, One Thursday Afternoon sheds light on how an unpredictable world can make a child feel, reminding us that big fears can become smaller when we take time together to look, listen, and create. An author's note about the story's real-life inspiration and recommendations for how adults can help children overcome fear is included.


My thoughts: I love the concept of "One Thursday Afternoon". Ava was frightened after a school lockdown drill. Her grandpa picked her up from school and patiently waited until she was ready to talk about it.

I work in an elementary school. The day after I finished this book there was an email thread about students who were concerned about an active shooter in the school. We will also have our first lockdown drill tomorrow.

I believe this book can be a valuable resource for students, parents, educators, and counselors.

Source:. I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.




Online Purchase Links:


About the Author:  Barbara DiLorenzo’s first picture book was Renato and the Lion, which received a starred review from Booklist and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild selection, and a CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. She is also the author and illustrator of Quincy: The Chameleon Who Couldn’t Blend In, a finalist for the Crystal Kite Award. Her forthcoming book, One Thursday Afternoon, will be released by Flyaway Books in September 2022 and was inspired by her own experience during an active lockdown at an elementary school. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, she has taught at the Arts Council of Princeton, the Michener Art Museum, and the New York Institute of Art + Design. She lives with her family in central New Jersey and is represented by Rachel Orr of the Prospect Agency.
www.barbaradilorenzo.com