Our Adoption Story, Book Review

Our Adoption Story: The Story of How We Met Our Baby, is a book for adoptive parents to fill out, so that each one can tell the story of how they met their baby.

This book has guided prompts to help the adoptive parents fill in the blanks, so that they can write their own adoption story, and also share information about their baby, such as how meeting their baby came about, things they did the day that they brought their baby home, things they did to prepare ahead of time for bringing their baby home, etc.

Some pages also include little images to help out with the written prompts, as a fun way for the parents to personalize their story.

There are also pages that include a simple picture frame to add a picture to help depict what that page is about.

The inspiration behind this book:

My husband and I became adoptive parents decades ago. It was before the internet, so most exchanges of information were done locally, and or reading magazines, finding a group, etc.

When a couple becomes adoptive parents, things can happen rather quickly. Adoptive parents can find out that they are 'expecting' their baby anywhere from a day, to weeks, or months, before their baby is ready for adoption. It can be a whirlwind to prepare and get things ready for the day, for this new bundle of life to enter their lives. Some perspective adoptive parents can also be on a waiting list that can take even longer.

We actually found out about our potential baby around a couple of weeks before the baby was to be born. We didn't know for sure which gender we were 'expecting', but we at least had an idea. We purchased baby clothes, a crib, a dresser that included a changing table on the top. We waited to see what formula the hospital was feeding our baby, before purchasing baby formula. We also purchased diapers, both cloth and disposables.

The day came and we were both excited and nervous. But all of that changed once our baby was handed to us.

We had already made an appointment with a local pediatrician; our first stop before arriving home was with with the pediatrician. There, the doctor showed us how to change the baby's diaper, take her temperature, and gave us other new parent information.

Some time after that, I joined a parenting group, where I could take our baby. The new parents could learn about being parents. That was a great learning experience; it was very helpful. I also noticed that the new moms also talked a lot about their pregnancy and birthing stories. There was no one in the group on that particular day of the week, that I could relate to. But I did hear about another adoptive mom that went to that parenting group on a different day of the week, that wanted to start a play group for adoptive parents. Yay!

There ended up being five of us adoptive moms and five babies in our adoption play group. We all had different adoption stories. And we all had a learning curve; there were many similarities to new moms of any type, learning how to be a mom, but also things that were unique to us, as adoptive moms.

After all of this, I decided to write a story, just for our child, for her to be able to read and know some basic background about our adoption experience and information about her.

I wrote our story on index cards, and included pictures from magazines to help explain whatever, and pictures of us and her as well. I wrote answers to questions that might arise, using simple words. It became a favorite book for us to read together.

After many years, the idea came to me to make something that other adoptive parents could easily fill in and personalize, so that they could share their story with their baby.

This paperback booklet measures 6 by 9 inches and is 24 pages long. It is simple to fill out, and add photographs to. It will be a lovely, informative book for when the child is young, and also a wonderful keepsake for years to come.

Our Adoption Story - to be filled in by the adoptive parents. Check price.

Let me know in a comment below, if you think a similar booklet would be a good idea for adoptive parents that adopt a toddler or an older child. Thank you.

Update: Thank you for your comments. I will be designing three more adoption story books; one for toddlers, grade school children, and teens., each of which will include sections for the child to have some input.

Cheryl Paton

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Smuggler's Cove ~ A Book Review

Who doesn't like a book title that just kind of grabs your attention?  Add an author that has so many books under her belt that have been best sellers and you have my attention.  

I was in a funk with my reading preferences and needed a change of pace!  

While I love reading, lately my personal life has made sitting and reading a wish that was not going to come true.  But, and here's the truth, I needed something to lift me out of the dark places that I was in.

A good story with characters that have grown and changed with all the curve balls life can sometimes throw at you, was what I needed!

Fern Michaels hit all of these points for me with her first book in the Twin Lights Series, Smuggler's Cove!

Madison and Lincoln are living a good life filled with every good thing you could think of.  Their mother has sheltered them most of their lives even though they are privileged, they are not your typical spoiled rich kids.  This works in their favor when their father is arrested and jailed for insider trading and fraud.  Madison uses her keen sense of style to carve out a path in the fashion world as an editor for La Femme magazine.  Her younger brother Lincoln goes into wealth management with a keen eye to doing the "right" things with money!  Especially after witnessing the mayhem and hatred people had after his father's arrest and conviction.

Madison and Linc have left the past behind and worked hard to shed themselves of their father's image.  Both change their names and go on to be very successful in their new reality.  It wasn't easy, but both of them are happy with the work ethics and their lives as they work hard to be anything opposite to what their father was.

They now learn that their uncle (their dad's brother) has passed away and left them the marina at Smuggler's Cove. 

Madison and Linc are hoping for a beautiful place that they can quickly sell and divest themselves of this marina.  Neither one of them knows anything about fishing, clamming or anything else to do with boats.  This is out of their scope of knowledge and selling it seems to be the right thing to do.  That was until they arrived at the marina to find a dilapidated dock, some fishing boats and not much else.

Now I've set the background for you and it's time for you to get the book and read what happens next!  Let's just say that all their plans are turned upside down and with it their lives will take a whole new direction.  You will enjoy finding out all the ins and outs that Madison and Linc navigate as they make decisions that will have some lasting effects.

Smuggler's Cove is a great story that will have you turning pages to find out all the comings and goings in a little place on the Navesink River!  

You have to mark your calendars for Smuggler's Cove as it will be released in August of this year. I was given the pleasure of a sneak preview of this book through my NetGalley membership!  

If you like reading books before they are published you can join NetGalley or any of the other sites for keen readers!  You would find more information about that in one of my earlier reviews right here!  Calling all Bibliophiles!

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Book Review- Washed Up on Sea Oaks Beach

 

Do you enjoy a good cozy mystery, that takes place on the beach and includes lots of dogs and fun characters?  If so, you will not want to miss Karen C Whalen's latest book Washed up at Sea Oaks Beach.

Book Summary

Anytime I am looking for a cozy mystery with lots of fun engaging characters, Karen C Whalen books just fit the bill!  I loved her latest book Washed up at Sea Oaks Beach.  

In this book she brings back all of the wonderful characters we met in the first book of the Sea Oaks Beach series. I really enjoyed following the latest adventures of Breanna, Roscoe, Ty and other friends and residents of the small beach town of Sea Oaks Beach.  They are a great group of characters that really pull you into the story.

Like the title implies, this book starts off with a body being washed up at the beach.  Roscoe and Breanna are walking along the beach when they see a woman laying on her side in a shallow tide pool.  She is in a black wetsuit and Roscoe immediately tries to revive her while Breanna calls for help.  It turns out she is dead, and they find her surfboard nearby.  As they are looking around Breanna sees something out in the ocean and wonders if it is another person.  Roscoe sees it too and goes out to get what turns out to be a dog on a surfboard.  The dog, a Chocolate Lab is rescued and brought to the animal shelter where Breanna volunteers.

As the story progresses, Breanna fosters the dog and is determined to try to find out who his people are and to try to get justice for the woman who was found murdered.  I won't spoil it by telling you more, but I highly recommend this book.  It is one I couldn't put down.

Amazon Link

Washed up at Sea Oaks Beach and all of Karen C Whalen's books can be found on Amazon.  Here is a link Washed up at Sea Oaks Beach

More Reviews of Karen C Whalen Books

Karen has written three different cozy mystery series.  They are the Dinner Club series, the Tow Truck Driver mysteries, and the Sea Oaks Beach series.  Here are some links to other reviews I have done on her books.

Everything Bundt the Truth

Murder at Sea Oaks Beach

Booty in the Backseat

Stiletto to the Pedal

Friends Come to Call

Toes on the Dash

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Evie Woods' New Novel of Self-Discovery, Secrets and Second Chances

Recently I had the opportunity to read an advance review copy (ARC) of author Evie Woods' newest novel, The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris, which was just published yesterday on April 8, 2025. I enjoyed it so much that I couldn't wait to share my book review here on Review This Reviews.

Image made with AI on Canva

A Life in Transition

Evie Woods’ The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris is a delicious blend of hope, heartbreak, and intrigue. It's the story of Edith, an Irishwoman seeking a fresh start after her world is upended by the loss of her mother to cystic fibrosis. Having spent years as her sick mother’s caregiver, Edith is left feeling lost and unsure of what comes next. Working as a waitress and trying to comfort her grieving father feels unfulfilling and she is desperate for a change.

Not the (Rue de) Paris She Was Expecting

In an uncharacteristic burst of spontaneity, Edith impulsively applies for an assistant manager position at a French bakery on the Rue de Paris. She is swept up in dreams of a glamorous new life in the romantic City of Lights, but reality has other plans.

Instead of the bustling metropolis, Edith discovers too late that the bakery is located on the Rue de Paris in Compiègne, a sleepy, picturesque village an hour's train ride outside the city. Definitely not the "Paris" she thought she had signed up for.

Cold Shoulders and Mysterious Rules

The bakery is beloved by locals for its mouthwatering breads, pastries and sandwiches, but Edith quickly senses that all is not as it seems. Her new living quarters are tiny and shabby. The bakery's proprietress, elderly but spunky Madame Moreau, is gregarious with customers but curt and chilly with Edith. The locked basement where the actual baking happens is strictly off-limits, and Edith is forbidden to see or meet the mysterious, nameless baker. A teenage boy named Manu, the bakery's only other employee, won't say much to her, either.

Struggling with these unwelcoming co-workers and strange rules, as well as her limited grasp of the French language, makes Edith feel lonely, isolated and out of place. She wonders whether her impulsive move to France was a terrible mistake.

Finding Connection in Unexpected Places

Despite her loneliness, however, Edith is determined to try to build a life in Compiègne. She decides to get a sassy French haircut and forms a close friendship with Nicole, the daughter of the hair salon owner. She also gradually befriends a few of the bakery’s regulars, including Geoff who gives fascinating tours of the village and the historic Forest of Compiègne, where in 1940 the French signed a humiliating armistice with Nazi Germany.

Nicole invites Edith to hear her husband Johnny play jazz at the local club. Edith is attracted to a handsome Englishman at the bar but is too shy to strike up a conversation, so Nicole does it instead and then introduces Edith to him. Hugo is charismatic and well-spoken and he and Edith feel an immediate spark, but he is a photographer who lives and works in Paris. Fortunately, he comes to Compiègne frequently to visit his mother, who has Alzheimer’s and is in a nearby care facility.

Hugo's and Edith's burgeoning long-distance relationship is kept alive through his periodic, brief visits interspersed with sweet postcards. Meanwhile, Edith spends much of her precious (and scarce) spare time with Nicole, Johnny and their family, who "adopt" the foreigner and try to make her feel at home in her new hometown.

Just as Edith starts to feel as though she might belong in Compiègne after all, however, everything threatens to unravel.

Secrets, Betrayal, and a Family Legacy at Risk

As her French improves and she becomes more involved in the day-to-day operations of the bakery, Edith's  curiosity about its mysterious past grows. When she finally uncovers the truth about the bakery’s secretive history, operations and financial struggles thanks to Manu's eventual confidences, she’s faced with a new heartache: discovering that the man she’s falling for is one of the people trying to force Madame Moreau to sell the bakery, her family’s precious multigenerational legacy.

Can the bakery—and Edith's and Hugo's relationship—survive? You'll have to read this intriguing novel to find out.

Layers of History and Humanity

Author Evie Woods adds depth to the story with historical themes, including the Nazi occupation of France and the impact of racial discrimination. These elements tie into the bakery’s mysterious past and add emotional resonance to what might otherwise be a lighthearted narrative.

She paints the story with rich, sensory details: the scent of buttery croissants wafting through the air, the hum of jazz spilling from a smoky club, the warmth of fresh friendships blossoming in unexpected corners. She also doesn’t shy away from weightier themes, like loss, betrayal, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life. Edith’s journey isn’t just about solving the mystery of the bakery—it’s about rediscovering herself and finding the strength to fight for what matters.

Final Thoughts

The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris is a heartfelt and satisfying novel that blends personal growth, romance, and historical intrigue. With vivid setting details, believable characters, and a steady unfolding of mystery, it’s a story about healing, second chances, and the power of community. If you enjoy novels that balance charm with depth, this one is well worth the read.

I read an advance copy of the Kindle edition courtesy of the author and NetGalley, but I enjoyed it so much that I plan to purchase The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris audiobook as well. It is also available in paperback.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Evie Woods' books.

N/A

Evie Woods' New Novel of Self-Discovery, Secrets and Second Chances, a book review by Margaret Schindel

Read More Book Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

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BOOK REVIEW Edge of Madness: A Post -Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Edge of Collapse Book 2)

Noah is a small town police officer whose wife disappeared five years ago. He is spending a father-son day on the slopes with young Milo when the ski lifts just stop. Expecting to be rescued, the group of people on that section of the lift wait until they can wait no longer. If they are able to return to Fall Creek the struggle for survival will continue.

Author Kyla Stone had me hooked with Book 1 of in the Edge of Collapse series. A woman named Hannah had been held hostage in a remote cabin for years and is suddenly released when an attack on the United States causes the collapse of the power grid. The door pops open. Traumatized and permenately injured, Hannah is determined to find her way home despite the winter blizzard. She is fighting for her life and her freedom and is determined to return to her husband and son.

Edge of Madness: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Edge of Collapse Book 2)

Edge of Madness: A Post -Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Edge of Collapse Book 2)

Noah and his young son Milo survived being trapped and forgotten on the ski lift when the nation's power grid goes down and the snowstorm begins. Noah finds a way to get them and others down from the lift and the three of them are able to return to Fall Creek.

The town is in chaos. With no way to communicate with the outside world, the little town hunkers down and tries to find the best way through this disaster. Many of the residents are without sufficient food, medicines, water, and heat and they depend on the town council to provide for them. The battle for limited resources begins.

Quinn is a 16 year old girl that was also stranded on the ski lift when the grid went down. Quinn is a bristling, snarky teen who really doesn't care for many people outside of Gramps and Gran. She recognizes the cop. And she remembers his wife, the lady who went missing all those years ago. The lady seemed nice when Quinn saw her in the neighborhood. Quinn warms up to, and begins to trust and love, Noah and Milo.

My thoughts

The story is told from Noah and Quinn's alternating point of view. Author Kyla Stone does this beautifully. More of my thoughts about Author Kyla Stone's writing in my Book Review: Edge of Collapse: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller. I binge-read the entire 7 book series and have found a new favorite author.

Some who reviewed this series complain of the sudden ending of Book 1. While it was a little jarring, I now think it was brilliant. Hannah is still battling for her life and trying to get home. Noah, Milo and the other residents of Fall Creek are trying to survive this sudden and complete power grid shut down. Everyone is suddenly and completely cut off from anyone outside of their physical location. I was engrossed in the immediate battle for survival happening in Fall Creek with Hannah still in the back of my mind. 

on Amazon

on Amazon

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The Wild Coast by Lin Anderson - Book Review

A Remote Shoreline – a Lethal Killer…..

Book #17 of 18 in the Rhona MacLeod series of crime novels set in Scotland.

Lin Anderson, a Scottish author, is known for her bestselling crime series featuring forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod. The series takes place in Scotland.  Dr. MacLeod’s home base is in Glasgow, but she is called out to crime scenes all over Scotland.

Synopsis of The Wild Coast

The Wild Coast: A Twisting Crime Novel That Grips Like a Vice Set in Scotland (Rhona MacLeod)

Summertime has brought vacationers to the West Coast of Scotland for camping and hiking along the coastline.  Suddenly, campsites are becoming crime scenes when lone visitors disappear. 

A young woman (Callie) sets her camper up near the seashore and meets the family camping in the next  site. The family’s two children, Orlando and his little 4-year-old sister Lucy, are fascinated by the woman’s kayak as she prepares to take it out to the water. She promises to give them a ride in the kayak the next day. 

The following morning, little Lucy seems to have disappeared. When her mother, Francine, and her brother go to see if she had wandered over to Callie’s camper, they find the door unlocked and blood and vomit inside the camper. Panicked, Francine calls the police and a search begins. Lucy is finally found standing near a site which looks as if it could be a grave, but she is in a fearful state and not speaking.

When the police determine that the site is indeed a grave, Forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is brought in and as she and her assistant, Chrissy, unearth the body and carefully collect evidence to analyse, they are disturbed by a bundle of twigs crafted into a stickman and left in the victim’s mouth.

With young Lucy safely back with her family, a search begins for Callie. Not only does she appear to be missing, but a similar stick man had been left in her camper. The police and forensic scientist Rhona suspect that the body and the missing woman are connected.

Back in Glasgow, Rhona and Chrissy continue analysing the evidence collected at the gravesite and from the missing woman’s camper while the police continue searching for Callie. Then another young woman who had stopped for an overnight camping trip on the coast disappears.

Meanwhile, rumors of sexual assault offenses by police officers are circling in Glasgow centered around a popular club.  Then the body from the gravesite is identified as a Glasgow girl who had been reported missing two months earlier.  When it was discovered that the girl had disappeared from the very same Glasgow nightclub, the police and Rhona MacLeod are convinced all these events are connected. Do the children from the camp, Lucy and Orlando, have some of the answers? 

All the while a young woman’s life is on the line and the clock is ticking . . .

Summary

As lone visitors disappear from the wild coast of rural northwest Scotland, campsites are becoming crime scenes. Rhona MacLeod and her assistant Chrissy, working with the Glasgow police, search for the lethal killer. A tense and chilling crime novel with a surprise ending. 

*The Wild Coast book review was written by Wednesday Elf

 

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Book Review of Syndicate by Felix Francis

A Dick Francis Novel

Felix Francis returns with another intriguing mystery set in the world of horseracing, just like his father, Dick Francis did. With Felix growing up in the British racing world due to his dad once being a jockey, followed by a long career of writing horseracing mysteries, race horses and the world they inhabit, makes a natural setting for these stories. 

Synopsis of Syndicate

Syndicate (A Dick Francis Novel)

This novel’s main character, Chester Newton, is an organizer and manager of racehorse syndicates.  Being a member of a syndicate allows one to co-own a racehorse and experience the enjoyment found in the racing world without the complete expense involved in buying the horse and paying for its training. The joint enterprise of a syndicate makes owning a racehorse financially feasible for many more fans of the sport. 

Running racehorse syndicates, such as those Chester has done for the past twenty years or so, involves quite a lot of work and can be a high-stakes way of life. The successes of the horses on the racetracks can be filled with high-reward; losses can be disappointing.  But it has never been dangerous, until the evening after a fantastic win at the Epsom Derby when his daughter Amanda disappears from the family party.  

After several frantic and terror-filled hours, Amanda is found safe, but with no memory of what happened to her. Then Chester discovers that someone is trying to take over one of his syndicates by force. He begins to receive threatening calls from someone with a squeaky voice telling him how to run his horses by threats of serious harm to him and his family. Not just Amanda’s life, but also those of his son James and his wife Georgina. 

For the first time, Chester’s life is not just about horse racing or the money at stake, but the lives of his loved ones. 

Summary

As the reader learns about the world of British racehorse syndicates, author Felix Francis leads us on a thrilling race to the end to discover who is behind all the threats. 

Related Reviews of books by Dick & Felix Francis: 

• Book Review of Straight
• Reviews of the First Three Books in the Sid Halley Series
• Continuation of the Sid Halley Book Series
• Crisis by Felix Francis
• No Reserve by Felix Francis
• Iced by Felix Francis

For More Book Reviews, Check Out
ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Syndicate written by Wednesday Elf 

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Book Review- At the Edge of the Orchard

 

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and Tracy Chevalier is among the authors in this genre that I enjoy reading.  Her careful research and delightful way of pulling you into the story make her books real page turners.  At the Edge of the Orchard was a fascinating tale that I found myself unable to put down.

Book Summary

James and Sadie Goodenough leave their home in Connecticut to head out west.  When they get to Ohio their wagon gets stuck in the muddy 1830's black swamp area.  They decide to claim some land in this area and settle down to growing apple trees.  If they plant 50 trees within 3 years, they can claim the land for their own.  James is enthralled with apple trees, that remind him of his home in Connecticut, while Sadie is more interested in the apple jack that they can produce.  She can use it as an alcoholic retreat from the tough times that visit them, including deaths of a child to illness in many years.  Their children are helpers on their farm from a very early age.

The next part of the book skips to 15 years later when the youngest son Robert is wandering through the Gold Rush in California.  He is haunted from his past and the family he left behind when he was only 9 years old.  He does find some peace working with a naturalist and helping him to gather saplings and seed of the majestic redwoods and sequoias to send to gardeners in England.

I found the book to be very interesting and really appreciate the care the author takes in describing the historical settings in the novel.  The characters are delightful, and you find yourself pulled into their lives.

I have read several of Tracy Chevaliers books in the past and have never been disappointed.

About the Author

Tracy Chevalier was born and grew up in Washington DC.  After attending Oberlin college in Ohio, she moved to London in the mid 1980's.   Her first novel was Virgin Blue in 1997 followed by The Girl with the Pearl Earring in 1999.  She is currently working on her 12th book.

She does a lot of research for each book and one thing she likes to do is put herself in some of the situations she writes about.  She tried painting for one book, stitching for another and for At the Edge of the Orchard she spent some time among trees, including the redwoods and sequoias in California.

Link to Book on Amazon

At the Edge of the Orchard, along with Tracy's other books can be found on Amazon.  Here is the link: At the Edge of the Orchard

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Ian Fleming's The Penguin Complete 007 Centenary James Bond Book Collection Review

Here for your review is a popular set of books that celebrated the 100th birthday or centennial of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books. Called The Penguin Complete 007 James Bond Centenary Collection, it came attractively packaged in a red box with a cut out in the form of 007.

James Bond Fact Files said, “Every so often in the sea of marketed mediocrity perpetrated in the name of James Bond 007, something of worth is produced which is not only a joy to behold and own, but in time will also become a desirable and much sought-after collectable.”

This series definitely fits that description. The books were paperbacks with new and interesting vintage-style covers and this release made the books exciting for new and old readers alike. Many years later, these books are indeed desirable and a sought-after collectable.

The set included 14 books as shown here on this list, presented here in alphabetical order:

Casino Royale
Diamonds are Forever
Doctor No
For Your Eyes Only
From Russia with Love
Goldfinger
Live and Let Die
Man with the Golden Gun, The
Moonraker
Octopussy
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Spy Who Loved Me, The
Thunderball
You Only Live Twice

It was a wonderful way to gift the whole set, perfect for anyone who loved the stories or for an introduction to the series. My dad was gifted a set around the release date, which I believe was 2008 here in Canada. The books would still make a wonderful gift set but they are long out of production and as mentioned above, much sought after. For those who don't know, this means that the sales price has risen. Dramatically.

If you are, however, a really big fan and want to add the set to your collection or if you are just curious, you can find The James Bond Centenary Collection here on eBay or sometimes here on Amazon. Occasionally, you will even see a new, sealed set on the resale market. However, you will have to have deep pockets to add it to your collection today.

The picture of the row of books shown above was kindly provided by eBay seller Bushido_108. Check out all of the great sets of books he has in store for you here, on eBay.

See you
At the bookstore!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

MORE READING:

Gift Ideas for Dad

Steve Berry's The Amber Room Reviewed

The Man with the Golden Typewriter by Ian Fleming

Discover Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection

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Book Review: Edge of Collapse: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Kyla Stone

The Edge of Collapse series is a binge-worthy, 7 book set in the post-apocalyptic genre. After the attack on the US, knocking out the power grid, communications, planes, vehicles, and most everything that is modernized, the big picture focus for everyone is to shake off the confusion and try to survive. Edge of Collapse Book One narrows in on a much more personal level. This national crisis presents Hannah a slim opportunity to escape her captor years after her abduction. Hannah's broken, pregnant body is no match for the sociopathic predator but her need to return to her son is strong. This moment is her only chance to return home.

Hannah is a devoted mother to a beautiful 3 year old son and was living a good life in a small Southwest Michigan town. She loved her husband, Noah, but they had been having some minor bumpy spots in their marriage. Then Hannah suddenly disappears.  Of course, everyone had their theories. Maybe her husband murdered her. Maybe she just ran away. Perhaps she was dead. People who knew her well knew that she would have never left her child. Regardless, the years passed without her return.

Now. Maimed and nearing the end of her pregnancy, the locked door of her basement prison unlatches. Hannah has tried to mark the days, months, and years in chalk marks on the wall but she is not sure of what month it is. She is sure that it is winter and brutally cold outside. Trying to push past her physical difficulties, paranoia, and panic attacks she intends to leave. Doing so means entering the forested area during a snowstorm with no idea where she is and how to get back home.

Edge of Collapse series Book One by Kyla Stone on Amazon

Gavin Pike is a hunter. A hunter of humans. Shortly after he put her in the basement, and during the time she was still trying to actively defend herself, he brought a photo to her on his next visit. A photo of her son and her husband in his Fall Creek patrolman uniform, standing in front of their home. This monster knew where her family lived. And knew her husband enough to obtain a current photo. With that unspoken threat, Gavin Pike had effectively ended her desire to physically fight back. A county correctional officer, Gavin wore a uniform and carried a badge that he often used to obtain things, power, and women. 

Liam is a sullen, loner Veteran who lives in an isolated cabin in the forests of Michigan. He had been visiting his twin brother and pregnant sister-in-law when the attack occurred.  With cars crashing and planes falling from the sky, Lincoln and Jessa die. Liam's sole focus is to return to his cabin as soon as possible.  During his trek toward home, in a remote wooded area, he encounters a pregnant women who hysterically screams at him to stay away from her. Liam is initially relieved to obey her and continue on his journey alone.  

But Liam is a good guy despite his stoney exterior. And he returns to retrieve her. Which places him directly in a predators sights. A predator who views killing others as a game which he always wins.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the dog. The monster, Gavin Pike, keeps a large guard dog chained up at the cabin. Presumably to keep Hannah from being discovered in the rare event someone would come to the remote cabin. Terrified of being bitten, but empathetic, Hannah releases the huge Great Pyrenees from it's own prison. And, as guardian dogs do, this dog decides to actively protects his family. 

Author Kyla Stone paints a vivid picture of the conditions and the risk. The chapters are written in the voice of each individual character, telling their own version of the events. She does this beautifully.  Other reviewers use phrases such as "unputdownable", "intense", and "nonstop action". These phrases are often over-used in book reviews but in this case, the praise fits.  I have difficulties feeling as though I adequately describe the really good writing of others. If you are at all curious, I hope you will consider reading the reviews others have written about Edge of Collapse: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller, Book One. If this isn't your usual genre, don't be put off. This story was more Silence of the Lambs with Buffalo Bill than a doomsday prepper's guide to beans, band-aids, and bullets. 

One final thought, fans of the Reacher series on Amazon and of the author will enjoy these characters; flawed good guys fighting against bad guys. If you aren't familiar with Reacher, you might want to take a peek at my Reviewing Reacher The Book and the Amazon Series  

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell

Book Review of Book 28 of 28 in the Kay Scarpetta series.

Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990 while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. 

During that same time period, I was working for a Medical Examiner in Mid-Missouri and found the whole subject of the work of medical examiners fascinating and interesting. Thus, Postmortem appealed to me. After reading it, I immediately became a fan of author Patricia Cornwell. As a matter of fact, during that time my boss attended a medical examiner meeting on the East Coast and actually met Patricia Cornwell. 

Cornwell has written several series, but her most well-known one is that featuring Kay Scarpetta, a Medical Examiner in Virginia, as the main character. This is my review of her latest book in the series, Book #28 ~ Identity Unknown. 

Synopsis of Identity Unknown

Identity Unknown (Kay Scarpetta)

The plot begins as Dr. Kay Scarpetta is summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body. She is devastated to learn that the victim is a dear friend; well-known astrophysicist, Sal Giordano. 

The  murder scene is very strange. The body appears to be atypically red and is found lying within a crop circle of petals. Examination of his fatal injuries indicate that he was dropped from a great height from an unidentified flying craft. 

The subsequent autopsy and investigation reveals suspicions that include an otherworldly force or perhaps something Giordano himself was involved in. 

Kay Scarpetta, along with her niece and her husband (both who work for the Secret Service) search out an explanation closer to home, which is possibly far more evil. 

Summary

Outstanding storytelling, with characters who feel like family after twenty-eight books in the series, Identity Unknown is an excellent addition to the Kay Scarpetta Series. I highly recommend it to fans of the series and of author Patricia Cornwell.

Related Review:

• Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell

For more Book Reviews, Check Out

ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Identity Unknown written by Wednesday Elf

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Book Review of Everything Bundt the Truth

 If you enjoy cozy mysteries, good food and interesting people, this book is for you.  This book is the first of the series of dinner club murder mysteries.  In 2017 it won a first-place award in the suspense novel category.  In March, the author is having her dinner club mystery series re-released.

Book Summary

This book introduces us to Jane Marsh, a recent widow who really wants to recapture a full life.  One of her first ventures is to host and try to join an exclusive dinner club.

Before the first dinner club at her house, Jane discovers that her new housekeeper has been murdered in her laundry room. This leads us to discover that Jane has a suspicious mind and is very interested in trying to solve the murder.  Her past career as a paralegal at a Denver law firm gives her some experience in knowing how to follow the clues.  

In this sometimes humorous and fun cozy mystery we follow along as Jane works on all of the clues to determine the guilty party.  Will it be one of the housekeepers' ex-husbands, her drug addicted son, or perhaps it is one of the members of the dinner club?  Or could it be someone else entirely?  You will want to be sure to get this hard-to-put-down book to learn the answer.  You won't be disappointed.

Book on Amazon

You can find this book along with others by Karen C Whalen on Amazon at Everything Bundt the Truth

More Reviews of Cozy Mysteries by Karen Whalen

The author has also written two other mystery series, and I have written reviews on both of these series.  I know you will enjoy them.

• Booty in the Backseat- Book Review
• Book Review-Stiletto to the Pedal
• Book Review - Friends Come to Call
• Book Review - Toes on the Dash
• Reviewing Murder at Sea Oaks Beach

The second book in the Sea Oaks Beach series will be coming out in April so watch Review This for my review.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Book Review of Bad Liar

A Crime Thriller by Tami Hoag

Bad Liar is Book #3 in the Broussard and Fourcade Series.

Series Location: The fictional town of Bayou Breaux located in the Bayou country of Partout Parish in the French Triangle of Louisiana. 

Main Characters: Annie Broussard and Nick Fourcade

Annie Broussard, a Sheriff’s deputy, and Nick Fourcade, a detective with the Sheriff’s department, met each other in Book #1 of the series (A Thin Dark Line) while working on a case together.  By Book #2 (The Boy), Nick & Annie are married and parents to a little boy.  

In Book #3, Bad Liar, Annie is now a detective with the Sheriff’s department, while husband Nick has become the lieutenant in charge.  They end up working two separate missing persons cases, plus, a  murder. 

Synopsis of Bad Liar

Bad Liar: A Novel

Annie is searching for Robbie Fontenot, whose mother is desperate to find her grown son, a recovering drug addict. The local police have no interest in the case, stating an adult has the right to disappear.  Annie agrees to help the mother search for her son.

Meanwhile, Nick Fourcade investigates the seemingly sudden disappearance of Marc Mercier, a local hometown hero. 

It soon becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems in the lives of either man. And it’s unclear whether either - or neither - might be the unidentified murder victim. 

Mix in old  jealousies, new deceits, family loyalties gone wrong and love turned sour and Nick & Annie end up with a complicated trail to follow. 

Summary

This riveting new police procedural/crime thriller by author Tami Hoag takes you down a path that leads deep into the Louisiana swamp, endangering all who cross the path of a bad liar. 

~The Broussard and Fourcade Three-Book Series by Tami Hoag

A Thin Dark Line

The Boy: A Novel

Bad Liar: A Novel

For more book reviews, check out

ReviewThisBooks.com

*Review of the Tami Hoag crime novel ‘Bad Liar’ written by Wednesday Elf

 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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