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Saturday, August 27, 2022

The Big Dark Sky by Dean Koontz – Book Review

Dean Koontz is a master storyteller. His fiction journey began when he was a senior in college and won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. Since then, he has never stopped writing.

Koontz latest book published in 2022, The Big Dark Sky, is all we have come to expect from this master of suspense.

Synopsis

Image by Daniel Burkett from Pixabay

The setting is Montana where, as a girl, Joanna Chase lived on a ranch until tragedy changed her life. At age 9, after both parents die, Joanna goes to live with an aunt in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Now it is twenty-five years later. Joanna is a writer still living in Santa Fe. She has only vague memories of the past until she begins to receive pleas – by phone, through her TV, in her dreams.

I am in a dark place, Jojo. Please come and help me.

Unable to ignore these desperate pleas, Joanna is compelled to return to Montana. Unknown to her until she arrives back at Rustling Willows Ranch, other people, including a scientist, a boy from Joanna's childhood, a private investigator and a computer expert, have also been drawn to this isolated area in Montana, haunted by a sense of imminent danger.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of this remote ranch, a madman lurks with a disturbing vision which tells him that mass murder is the only way to save the future.

Summary

Available on Amazon

The synchronicity of coincidences brings together this band of strangers under Montana's big dark sky. Will they be able to defeat the threat that could spell the end for humanity?

The Big Dark Sky is listed as a #1 Bestseller in Amazon's Science Fiction Adventures~

More Reviews of Books by Dean Koontz:

Elsewhere
Devoted
Quicksilver
For More Book Reviews by the writers on Review This Reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*The Big Dark Sky – Book Review 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) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Friday, August 26, 2022

A Regrettable Proposal: Memorable Proposals Series - Book 1 Reviewed

A Regency Romance

This is the first book written by Jennie Goutet that I have read, but it won't be the last!

I have stayed up late, into the wee hours of the morning, for the last two nights reading "A Regrettable Proposal" because I was so absorbed in the story. I simply could not put the book down, even though my eyelids keep closing out of sheer exhaustion. I would wake with a start and begin reading again. While I desperately needed sleep, I hated it when I got to the ending of the book. Fortunately, there are two more books in the series. I will start reading book 2 tonight and I can hardly wait.

Like all Regency Romance novels, this historical story takes place in 19th century England. "A Regrettable Proposal" follows the traditional style of writing by being clean & wholesome to read. It beckons us back to a time of elegance, balls, elaborate ballgowns, horse drawn carriages, and high society.

In my personal opinion, it is the mark of an extraordinary writer to be able to captivate a reader with a romantic story absent explicit sex, foul language, or extreme violence.

A Regrettable Proposal Synopsis
1812 - London, England

A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1)Check PriceStratford Tunstall never expected to be the fifth Earl of Worthing, but when both of his male cousins were killed in war and his uncle died, he fell heir to the Worthing estate, title, and responsibilities. "Family members who had not cared to know him before now would descend upon him at Worthing." Also, his uncle had taken a ward under his protective wing many years ago and she was also being summoned to the reading of the will.

Eleanor Daventry had no idea what was about to happen to her, but she knew she would survive somehow. She had been fortunate that her father's long time friend, the fourth Earl of Worthing, had provided for her since her father's death. Under his guardianship, she had received an excellent education and he had already provided for her upcoming "first season" to be presented to society. While the expectations would be for her to secure a titled suitor, she would prefer to secure a job and marry for love. Regardless, she would try to enjoy her season in London with her best friend, Lydia Ingram, from school.

The reading of the will surprised everyone, especially Eleanor. Now, what must she do?

The reading of the will also made Stratford wonder what he must do.

___________

While the Regency time period paints the picture of elegance, beauty, gentility & tranquility, people have always been human. Therefore, there has always been pride, arrogance, envy, & harsh realities.

This Regency Romance novel is one I can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical romantic fiction.

At publishing time of this review, "A Regrettable Proposal" is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Or, you can purchase it with the link below.

A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1)Check Price A Faithful Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 2) [Paperback] Jennie GoutetCheck Price A Daring Proposal (Memorable Proposals Book 3)Check Price Memorable Proposals Boxed Set: A Complete Regency CollectionCheck Price

A Regrettable Proposal: A Regency Romance (Memorable Proposals Book 1) by Jennie Goutet Reviewed by:

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Thursday, August 25, 2022

Sharing Your Memories

Sharing Your Memories

Have you ever wanted to share your memories for your grandchildren and future generations? There are so many ways to accomplish that and yet, sometimes it is hard to know where to begin. You could record yourself talking about your memories, write them out by hand into some type of book or type them into various memory book programs. In this post I will review three of the different methods I have used to share memories with my grandkids.

Memory Book

When my oldest two granddaughters were 13-14 years old, they went through Confirmation at their church. As a gift for each of them I presented them with a book of memories from my life. The book I used was called, Grandmothers Memories to her Grandchild (a journal of faith and love).

This book has pages for you to write small paragraphs about yourself and other family members. The paragraphs are interspersed with beautiful photographs of Thomas Kinkaid paintings and faith-based prose.

The book has a place to add the members of your family tree and a page about your birthday, full name and place of birth. In addition to these pages there are many other topics for you to write your memories. Here are a few of the topics:

What happened in the world when you were born?
My favorite verse about love.
The best thing about being your grandmother.
Memories of my Mother.
Memories of my Father.
Favorite photos of you and me.
Favorite Bible verse.

There are many other subjects that help to give you ideas of what to write. I found this book easy to write and I like the way it turned out. I wrote in the book over a 6-month time frame to give me time to think about each subject and then put down my thoughts.

Story Worth Book

On Mother's Day, my son and daughter-in-law gave me a subscription to the "Story Worth" memory book. Each week I was emailed a question from the company and then I would write my answer to the question and add any photos that I had that would go with that subject. At the end of 52 weeks the questions and answers, along with the photos were put into a book. Here is the cover from my book.

Here are a few of the topics from my book. They are all listed in the index of the book.

How did you feel when your first child was born?
Which fads did you embrace while growing up?
Describe one of you most memorable birthdays.
What is one of your favorite memories of your mother?
Did you have a car in high school?
Who are the best cooks in your family?
What did you read as a child?
Who inspires you?
What simple pleasures of life do you truly enjoy?
If you could choose any talent to have, what would it be?
Tell me about your siblings.

This is just a sampling of the questions to give you an idea of the types of questions in the book. If you are sent a question that just doesn't work for you, you can ask for a replacement question. I did this a couple of time during the year but after some thought I found I could find something to write for every question.

Shutterfly Book

After making memory books of my life, my husband and I decided we would also like some books made of his memories. I have always made a photo book each year using the format in Shutterfly. In looking at their options I found that I could also use pages of text in Shutterfly in addition or instead of photos. We decided this would be a good option for making a book of my husband's memories.

We started with some basic questions that he answered, and that I put in the book along with corresponding photographs. We then looked at all the questions that I answered in my books, and we used those questions as a starting point for his book. Each week I give him one or two questions. I then add the answers to the book. I also go through old photo albums and copy any photos that will work with the questions. We are still in the process of creating this book, but I really like the way it is turning out.

Whatever method you decide to use, I encourage you to get started. I think it is good to do it over several months to a year. At the end of the project, you will have a wonderful sense of accomplishment and your family will have a wonderful gift from you.

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Thursday, August 18, 2022

One Thousand Wells - Book Review

woman standing on dried, crackled ground

It takes audacity to dream of providing clean water for one thousand African communities. Beyond that, for twenty-one-year-old Jena Lee, what it would really take was learning what love requires—learning to love the world in all its brokenness, rather than trying to save it.

Of course, a love like that is born of risk, and doubt, and sometimes even, disillusionment. A love like that engenders a humbling vulnerability that can shake you to your core.

One Thousand Wells is the memoir you write after, or amidst, the transformation that has stirred your spirit and connected your deep gladness to the world's deep thirst. First, though, to identify that purpose and mission—that soul level gladness—you must find the stories that sing to you. For Lee, those stories came from people who had typically been overlooked.

Before Africa, Jena found herself drawn to the plight of the homeless. While volunteering at a Red Cross Shelter during high school, Lee discovered that among the homeless she had found her home. In the midst of their brokenness, Jena found that which is sacred.

When one has an overpowering sense of calling, there can be overwhelming questions: Where to begin? What to do? With whom to partner? How to inspire others to care about what you find to be most important in the world?

Without visibility and a powerful platform, even the best of intentions can fail to advance a desperately needed mission. Fortunately, there would be no failure to launch. With perfect timing, Jena Lee was connected to the Grammy Award-winning band Jars of Clay. Together, they would co-found the nonprofit Blood:Water and find the way forward.

For anyone with a heart for spreading love where it is needed most, Jena Lee Nardella's journey of outreach and inreach is sure to encourage action. How will we respond? What won't get done if not for us?

Let us each find that intersection where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park Book Review

Katherine Faulkner's Greenwich Park is a domestic psychological thriller. Learn more here.

The cover of Katherine Faulkner’s Greenwich Park reads, “gripping and haunting and gorgeously suspenseful” and I agree. I was drawn to the book by the title, a romanticized area of London, England, and by the artwork.

Greenwich Park the book is a murder mystery of the best sort. It draws you in. Pick it up and you might not want to put it down. Pick it up and you will find yourself guessing whodunit. I failed at the guessing of who did it, which I expect is good because it means the book has twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

Greenwich Park is a domestic psychological thriller that is set in the current day in the south east of London. It tells the story of a pregnant woman’s privileged life in a stately Victorian home and of her family and friends. Off work because of her history with difficult pregnancies and because of current health concerns, the main character, Helen, finds herself bored and lonely. That is, until she befriends a woman named Rachel. Rachel is also pregnant but embraces none of the care that many women exercise when they are pregnant. She smokes and she drinks and she is not very interested in her body or her unborn baby. She’s loud and she's obnoxious but, however, she is fun and she quickly manages to infiltrate Helen’s tidy little world. But is it really tidy?

Helen has been described as someone who has everything including “a perfect husband, a perfect brother and a perfect sister-in-law. When she meets Rachel, she also has the perfect nightmare.”

I like Crime by the Book’s three-point list of reasons to read the book. She says that it pulls back the curtain on the lives of people who appear to have picture-perfect lives, that it is a story of obsession and cat-and-mouse tension and that it is intricate and effortlessly told.

If it helps, Crime by the Book says that this book is similar to books to those written by Lisa Jewell, who I have yet to read.

FAST FACTS:

Author – Katherine Faulkner
Format – Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, audiobook, audio CD
Genre – Domestic Psychological Thriller
Pages - 375
Publication Date – September 13, 2021
Publisher – Simon & Shuster
ISBN Number – 978-1-9821-5031-0

If you love a good thriller, you will enjoy Greenwich Park. The book is definitely dark, looking into the world of pregnancy and early motherhood, of friendships, of privileged lives lived and, of course, of the secrets that people keep. I think that it is an excellent first novel, which the author wrote while she herself was on maternity leave. The rights to the book have been sold and I will be watching for a movie or television series as well as for a second book by Faulkner. Meanwhile, you can order your copy of Greenwich Park from Amazon by clicking right here.

See you

at the book store!
Brenda

More Psychological Thrillers:

Alice Feeney's Sometimes I Lie Book Review

Mark Edward's Here to Stay Book Review

Audrey Hepburn's Wait Until Dark Movie Review

Donald Sutherland's Don't Look Now Movie Review

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Saturday, August 13, 2022

The Investigator by John Sandford – A Book Review

A Letty Davenport Novel

John Sandford has written 31 books in the 'Prey' series starring Lucus Davenport.

In an early Prey novel, Lucus, an agent for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) meets Letty, a 12-year-old living in rural Red River valley. Letty ends up the center of a series of killings, and when her mother becomes one of those murdered, orphaned Letty becomes a ward of Lucus and his wife, Weather.

As the Prey series continues, Letty is featured in several other stories. First as the Davenport's ward, then as their adopted daughter, fans of this series of novels enjoy following the antics and adventures of Letty as part of the Davenport family, watching her grow up and go off to college.

The Investigator Novel

Available on Amazon

The Investigator is the first novel to star Letty Davenport as the central character. Now 24 years old and a college graduate, we find Letty working in Washington, D.C. in a desk job for a U.S. Senator. Restless and bored, Letty is ready to quit when she is offered a task she can't refuse: a real investigator job through the senator's office in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.

The Plot

Image Source: Pixabay

Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude oil. Letty's assignment is to uncover not only who is stealing and selling the oil, but learn what the thieves are doing with the profits. Rumors link this to a radical militia group and the Department of Homeland Security is extremely worried about the stolen profits financing a domestic terrorism plot.

Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser. As the two head to Texas, the case quickly turns deadly. Letty and John now know they are on the track of something bigger. This militia group, led by a woman, has set in motion an explosive plan and time is running out for them to stop it.

Summary

This fan of Sandford's Prey Series is delighted to see a favorite minor character become the main character in her own crime fiction story. I have a feeling that the author is planning a new series starring this delightful and talented young lady ~ Letty Davenport.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Update on Book Club

In January of 2020 I wrote a review on Book Clubs. If you are interested in starting a book club, I would recommend you read that review here Review of Book Clubs. In that review you will find out how the book club I belong to is set up and how we handle the meetings. In this post I will update you on what we have been doing since that last review and a little bit about some of the books we have been reading.

Our Book Club in 2020/2021

As you can all imagine 2020/2021 was a bit challenging for our bookclub. With the pandemic we had to look at how we could do it differently. We didn't meet at all for the first few months, but then in the summer of 2020 we all ventured out and met on my deck, where we could wear masks and social distance with each other. We hadn't picked any one book to read, but rather all discussed what books we had been reading. During the rest of 2020 we only met one more time in someone's family room where we could spread apart. In 2021 we decided to venture out and start choosing monthly books. A few didn't make it at first, but eventually most of our members returned to our monthly meetings.

We read 11 books in a year, skipping the month of December where we all meet for a holiday luncheon instead of our regular meeting. In the next section I will discuss the last 11 books we have read.

Books we have Read in the Last Year

When we started meeting again on a regular basis one of the first books we read was Educated by Tara Westover. It was a very thought-provoking book that gave us lots to discuss. Fellow reviewer Olivia Morris has also read the book and wrote a review which will tell you a lot more about the book. Educated
The next book we read was The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Piccoult. Jodi Piccoult is a favorite author that always spends a lot of time researching the books that she writes. This book deals with Egyptology along with discovering the relationships of the people involved. Most of our members really liked the book, although a few wished it had a bit less technical items on Egyptology.
The Giver of Stars was a book we read by Jo Jo Moyes. This book takes place in depression-era America in the hills of Kentucky. It starts with Alice who has married a rich American to escape the stifling rules of her parents in England. She soon finds that the hills of Kentucky can be just as stifling, and she signs up to be a traveling librarian from Eleanor Roosevelts new plan to bring books to rural America. The book shows us the brave women who worked this program and their relationships. It is based on a true story, and we found it very intriguing.
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is another book about the traveling book program. You can read more about it in the review that I wrote. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and also one that fellow reviewer Dawn wrote Here .
The next book we read was Gray Mountain by John Grisham. This book deals with mining and many of the legal battles the ensue when it is abused. It is very well written, and you can really become involved with the characters.
The Hypnotists Love Story is a novel by Liane Moriarity. We have read several books by this author and know they will always give us a lively discussion. This one did not disappoint.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton is a wonderful mystery that takes place in Australia in the early 1900's. It is a work of historical fiction.
The Husband's Secret is another book by Liane Moriarity. Everyone enjoyed the discussion on this book, and we delved a lot into secrets and what we would tell and what we would not.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman was our next book. It was a very interesting book about a young woman who lives a very structured life. She struggles with everyday social skills and tends to say exactly what she is thinking. This all changes when she meets Raymond. You must read this book to find out more!
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Piccoult. This was my favorite book this year. In this book Jodi tackles a very timely subject as the book begins in March of 2020 just at the start of the pandemic. I wrote a review of the book which you can find at Wish You Were Here.
A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd is a detective story which takes place in England. It features Scotland Yard detective Ian Rutledge and is an interesting mystery. We had a good discussion on the methods used to solve the mystery.
The last book on my list is the one we will be discussing this month. I have read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is Mitch Albom's Finding Chika. Fellow reviewer Pat Austin (aka Wednesday Elf) has written a review on this book. Finding Chika

I Hope you enjoyed hearing about these books and perhaps you will find one or more you'd like to read yourself. Happy Reading!!

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Friday, August 5, 2022

Silver Dollar Duke: Hearts of Arizona Series - Book 1 Reviewed

An American Victorian Romance

I am quickly becoming a big fan of historical fiction books written by Sally Britton. Previously, I read the Supposed Scandal series and loved all three books.

Silver Dollar Duke is the first book in the "Hearts of Arizona" series and I really enjoyed the story. I have no doubt I will love the next 2 books in this series as well. I plan to start reading the second book, Copper for the Countess, immediately.

I wasn't sure how an American silver dollar would relate to an English duke, but I was rather intrigued by the title. Turns out, the silver dollar played a big part in the duke's life, but I won't ruin that touch of mystery for you by sharing that significance in this review.

This is a rather light, entertaining read that any historical romance fiction fan would enjoy. In most of the books I read, the female is the central focus of the story. While there is a prominent female character, the duke and his childhood dreams are the highlight of this book.

Silver Dollar Duke Synopsis

As the second son of a marquess in England, Evan Rounsevell had his life mapped out for him. He knew he would be required to “work” for his father even though all of the family property would be inherited by his older brother, and then his brother's son.

Silver Dollar Duke: An American Victorian Romance (Hearts of Arizona Book 1)Check PriceDuke didn't resent the expectations or family obligations, but he did have a lifelong dream. As a child, he had met Buffalo Bill and had seen him perform. Duke wanted to visit the wild west of America and experience being a cowboy firsthand before he was completely entrenched in England. He spent his childhood learning to shoot, practicing lassoing a cow by lassoing sheep, and riding horses. As an adult, he knew he would have to run away for a little while to have the opportunity to make his dream come true. That is exactly what he did!

Duke quickly found himself running out of money as he traveled across America. He needed a job to continue his adventure and for his return ticket home. When he met the Bolton brothers in Tombstone, Arizona, they offered him a job as a ranch hand on their father’s ranch along with the promise of getting to participate in a cattle drive. Duke was thrilled by this fabulous, once in a lifetime opportunity. It was exactly what he had always desired.

There were some unexpected experiences in his wild west journey including falling in love with the ranch owner's daughter, Daniella "Dannie" Bolton.

The last thing Dannie needed was another "temporary" man in her life. From the very beginning, Duke had made it clear that he had to return to England. They agreed to be friends and nothing more, but the "best laid plans" often go awry.

Silver Dollar Duke: An American Victorian Romance (Hearts of Arizona Book 1)Check Price Copper for the Countess: An American Victorian Romance (Hearts of Arizona Book 2)Check Price A Lady's Heart of Gold: An American Victorian Romance (Hearts of Arizona Book 3)Check Price Silver Dollar Duke: An American Victorian Romance - AudioCheck Price

Read More Book Reviews at
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Silver Dollar Duke: An American Victorian Romance (Hearts of Arizona Book 1) Reviewed by:

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Thursday, August 4, 2022

The Perfect Predator - Book Review

Imagine being on vacation halfway around the world when your robust loved one is suddenly struck down by a mysterious condition that is immediately life-threatening. By the time you can get your partner on a medevac from Egypt, to Germany, and then back home to San Diego, his chances of surviving are slim to none.

The Perfect Predator is as real world as it gets. This medical thriller memoir could soon be your story, or mine. Thomas Patterson's life-or-death struggle against the deadliest antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world is no longer an isolated phenomenon. By 2050, someone will die every three seconds as a result of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It's already happening far too often—death by superbug.

By the time Patterson's diagnosis is made, his medical team soon runs out of answers and treatment options. It will be his wife, Steffanie Strathdee, an infectious disease epidemiologist, who refuses to give up... refuses to lose hope. Ultimately, it will be Strathdee's detective work that saves her husband's life.

Sometimes, the way forward is backward. One hundred years ago, before the advent of antibiotics, scientists were exploring phage therapy. Phages, which are viruses that prey on bacteria, though promising, were largely forgotten when antibiotics became the golden drug, the go-to treatment for infections.

While reading this book, I became completely blown away by the science, and wonder, of phages. They are everywhere (including within our bodies). A single drop of water may host a trillion phages! It turns out the right phage, aka The Perfect Predator, can take down even the deadliest of superbugs.

With the assistance of a rapidly deployed dream team (including key people from the FDA, Texas A&M University, the Navy, and the University of California San Diego), Strathdee and Patterson achieve an impossible outcome: a sure death is defeated.

If ever there was a timely read, this is it. The Perfect Predator is not only an exceptionally enlightening examination of the state of medicine in a world battling rampant global health emergencies, but it is also the kind of hero's journey that proves the power of one (plus one, plus one). One individual can make a difference, especially in combination with even a small community of people willing to go all out to achieve the impossibly possible.

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Thursday, July 28, 2022

The Brighter the Light- Book Review

The Outer Banks

I always love stories that take place in locations I have seen on my travels. When I saw Mary Ellen Taylor's latest book takes place in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I was instantly drawn to the book. The Outer Banks are wonderful and full of beautiful beaches and lighthouses. I looked forward to an interesting story based on this locale and I was not disappointed.

Main Characters

There are two main characters in this story and the author takes us back and forth between both their stories.

Ivy

We first meet Ivy when she comes to the Outer Banks to settle things after her grandmother has died. Ivy had been raised for much of her young life by her grandmother, living in the Outer Banks. When she graduates from high school she leaves for a new life in New York.

Ruth

Ruth is the grandmother, and we meet her through flashbacks to the 1950's when Ruth is running a resort on the Outer Banks. She is a very colorful character that works hard and runs the resort. She is an excellent cook who passes on her skills to Ivy.

Summary of Story

At the beginning of the story Ivy is returning to Nags Head, North Carolina in the Outer Banks. She has inherited a beach cottage from her grandmother and now she must return to sell the cottage and sort through all the belongings in the cottage. Ivy dreads returning and seeing the best friend and ex-boyfriend who betrayed her.

Folk lore from the area talks about a ship that rises from the sea after strong storms and the secrets it holds. After a storm, Ivy looks out the cottage window and sees the ship has again risen in the tides.

The secret of the ship is not the only secrets that Ivy uncovers during her stay at the cottage. She is conflicted about staying after a budding romance and memories from the past resurface.

My Recommendation

I really enjoyed this book. It had a great setting, interesting characters, and a memorable story line. I would recommend it for anyone looking for an interesting and thought-provoking summer read.

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Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Erin Napier The Lantern House Book Review

Discover HGTV Home Town's Erin Napier's children's picture book - The Lantern House.

Erin Napier’s The Lantern House is exactly what you would expect from a mother who also happens to be the designer of a hugely popular HGTV decorating show like Home Town. It’s a children’s picture book, which tells the story of a house as it becomes a home, effectively sharing the life cycle of a house.

Napier’s simple, sweet pose combine to take us on the house’s journey. The story starts with a new 1940s-era house and follows as the house grows and develops when a family moves in, when children are born, when they grow up and leave and when the couple grows old until just one of them remains and finally, the family’s ownership or stewardship of the house comes to an end. The house waits until a new family arrives and it starts the process again. There's a lot to think about here. The book shares as a house does both life's happy and life's sad moments.

What started as a story for Erin and Ben Napier’s daughters is now available for all of us to enjoy. According to People magazine, Napier said, "The house is a watcher, a keeper and a guardian of the families that live there.” It starts as a shell but the occupants make it become more human, taking on life along with those who take up home within the walls.

Napier says it seemed natural for her to write a story about a house for her children because she has worked with and learned the story of so many houses. On one page of the book, the family’s daughter is married at the hearth, a story directly taken from the history of the author’s own home. See what the author has to say about the book in this short video:

FAST FACTS:

Author - Erin Napier
Illustrator - Adam Trest
Format - Hardcover picture book
Pages - 40
Publication Date - May 2022
Publisher - Little Brown
Size - 9 inches x 9 inches x 0.4 inches
ISBN Number - 9780316379601
Age Recommendation - Preschool to Grade 3

The book is illustrated by American artist Adam Trest. He illustrates this particular story with a lively blue house, a red-headed family and a spirited dog that everyone will love.

The Lantern House is a lovely story book for any child, sharing the story of both family and home. However, besides being appropriate for children, I think it would also make an unusual but interesting gift choice for any book-loving young couple taking up residence in a house and beginning the process of growing their own home and family or even for anyone who simply loves houses. Find The Lantern House here on Amazon.

See you
at the bookstore!
Brenda

MORE CHILDREN'S BOOKS:

A Treasury of the World's Greatest Fairy Tales

Jamberry by Bruce Degan

Dr. Seuss' Horse Museum Book Review

Have You Met My Friend, Flat Stanley?

Christmas Pop Up Books by Robert Sabuda

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Saturday, July 16, 2022

The Match – A Novel by Harlan Coben – Book Review

We first met Wilde in The Boy From the Woods, reviewed earlier here on ReviewThisReviews!

In The Match, Wilde returns in a new thriller by that 'Master of Suspense', Harlan Coben.

Synopsis

Available on Amazon

Readers of The Boy From the Woods may remember that more than thirty years ago Wilde was found as a boy living feral in the woods, with no memory of his past, not even his name. He was eventually rescued and raised in a wonderful foster home, but his past remained a mystery. The policeman who first found him named him Wilde because of the way he had been living alone in the woods. He then grew up in a normal household, going to school and making friends, and later serving in the military. But, despite all this, he still feels he belongs on his own, living in the woods away from the comforts and constraints of modern life. His simplistic life style is lived in the Ramapo Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains located in New Jersey and New York. He is not completely isolated, as he keeps in touch with friends and the world via computer and cell phone.

But suddenly a DNA match on an online ancestry database brings his lost past closer than he ever dreamed when he finds a match to his father. Wilde tracks his father down only to find the man extremely hesitant to establish a relationship. So then Wilde reaches out to his last lead ~ a second cousin. Before they can connect, he discovers that the cousin has disappeared after experiencing a fall from grace that can only be described as a waking nightmare. This is connected to a Reality Show where the cousin was very famous and popular, only to have lies told about him and his wife that brought about his downfall.

Summary

How Wilde discovers the circumstances surrounding his cousin's life and exposes a family's darkest secret, while also discovering the shocking truth of his own past, is a thrilling story that will keep you reading deep into the night.

Another outstanding novel by Harlan Coben.

The Match - Wilde, Book 2

The Boy From the Woods, Wilde, Book 1

*Book review of The Match written by Wednesday Elf

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Thursday, July 14, 2022

Sparring Partners by John Grisham

Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse

Sometimes, especially if I've just finished a rather long book, I am in the mood for a shorter story. In his latest book, John Grisham, delivers three interesting short stories that can each be read in one or two afternoons. I downloaded the book when I saw a photo of the Gateway Arch on the front cover. Since I am from the St. Louis area, I always find it interesting to read stories about my hometown. It is fun to read about places I recognize and to see the St. Louis sports teams mentioned. I am also a fan of John Grisham's thrillers, so I know I will always find an interesting read when I pick up one of his books.

I really enjoyed all three of the novellas in the book. Below is a brief synopsis of each of the stories.

Homecoming

This story brings back a familiar Grisham character in Jake Brigance and returns to Ford County the scene of other Grisham books. In this story however, Brigance is no longer in the courtroom but is contacted by a former lawyer in town in a mysterious way. The lawyer, Mark Stafford left town three years earlier in the middle of the night without letting anyone know. It was discovered he had stolen money from his clients and then disappeared. Why is he back and what does he want with Jake Brigance? You will want to read this story to find the answers.

Strawberry Moon

In the second story in the book, we meet Cody Wallace, a death row inmate with only three hours to live. When all appeals have ended and the last chance for clemency from the governor has gone by, Cody has one final request. It is a very unusual request that you will have to read the story to discover.

Sparring Partners

Sparring Partners is the third story in the book and the one that takes place in St. Louis. I enjoyed the St. Louis references and the story was intriguing. In this book we meet two brothers who are partners in a major law firm that they inherited from their father. The firm had been very successful under the father's watch, but he is now in prison charged with the murder of his wife, the boys' mother. The firm is now in a financial turmoil and the brothers do not know how to work together.

In fact, the brothers will not even talk to each other except through the only person they both trust, another attorney in the firm named Diantha Bradshaw.

From here the story takes several twists and turns and keeps you engrossed until the very end.

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