Follow My Facebook and Instagram to see reviews as they come out

A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado

This is the second book in the Dani Vega series. Just like in the first book, Dani and the team have to decipher codes to stop a serial killer from striking again. Behind the scenes Dani is investigating new clues to find the truth about the murder of her father and clear her mother’s name. The writing is smart and keeps the reader engaged in following the puzzles. Dani is a great character with brains and strength as well as having a fierce love for her family. I’m enjoying this series; the plot is thought provoking and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.

D.W. Hogan author of Unbroken Bonds, Intentionally and contributing author in Feisty Deeds anthology

A Killer’s Game by Isabella Maldonado

Isabella Maldonado has a background in law enforcement and FBI training so her books have accurate information on chain of command and procedures. In her Dani Vega series that experience shines through. This is the first book in the series and special agent Daniela “Dani” Vega is pulled into a deep cover assignment with a band of assassins in a kill or be killed game of complex puzzles. The writing is excellent. The plot is extraordinary. The world building is visual. Dani is a complicated character with trauma from her childhood and military service that has shaped who she has become. I was captivated from the beginning. Fans of crime stories will want to read this one.

The God of The Woods by Liz Moore

This story is set in a summer camp in the Adirondacks in 1975. Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the camps owner has gone missing. But this family has lost a child before. Bear Van Laar, Barbara’s brother disappeared over a decade earlier and was never found. The mystery of what happened to the children kept me reading. The characters are interesting and the setting itself is a character in the novel. The plot reveals that being wealthy doesn’t guarantee happiness. For the mystery lovers out there, I recommend this one.

Tangles by Kay Smith-Blum

This historical fiction novel is set in the Pacific Northwest and involves the mishandling of nuclear waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Mary Boone, a secretary at the Hanford, along with her boss, Dr. Harry Griffin, risk everything to expose the damage caused by the negligence of the operation, as well as the human cost. When Mary goes missing, there are more questions than answers. Luke Hinson, Mary’s former neighbor, and now a scientist, picks up where Mary and Griffin left off. This is a well-crafted mystery with a tender love story and actual facts of what happened to the area during the Manhattan Project and cold war. If you love a good book with plenty of intrigue and real-life consequences, this should be on you to-be-read list.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

I read this book years ago, and reread it now after reading James by Percival Everett, as I wanted to do a comparison. I had to remind myself about the time in which Twain wrote this novel because the language is harsh. At times, Huck is sympathetic to Jim being enslaved yet still goes along with the statis quo in regards to slavery in general. I’d forgotten the ridiculousness of Huck and Tom Sawyer’s outrageous plan to free Jim when he was captured as a runaway and the absurdity that Jim would play along. I have to say that between the two books I like Everett’s book much more than Twain’s. It doesn’t hurt, though to go back and read the original to put things in context.

Face Of Greed by James L’etoile

This contemporary murder mystery is set in Sacramento California. Detective Emily Hunter and her partner Javier Medina are assigned to solve the homicide of a prominent businessman. The interaction between the detectives is entertaining, often humorous, and endearing. The crime initially looks like a home invasion gone wrong, but is there more to the killing than meets the eye? L’etoile adds some strategic twists to keep the reader guessing. The plot builds nicely. Hunter’s personal life adds a deeper dynamic to the story. I was invested in the characters from the very beginning. It has a satisfying ending. If you love a good who-done-it, put this one on your to be read list.

James by Percival Everett

This novel is the reimagined version of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the point of view of the runaway slave, Jim. The numerous awards this book has received are well deserved. Everett got down to the heart and soul of Jim. It was revealing to hear the man’s inner thoughts as well as see him as a leader among the other enslaved in his community. There is still the humor that Twain was famous for, but there is also the horror of the dehumanization and violence of slavery during this shameful time in American history. I thoroughly enjoyed this new take on an old classic.

Song of the Chimney Sweep by Tamatha Cain

I listened to this book on Audible, read by the author. It was great. Tamatha Cain weaves a bittersweet love story in this duel timeline historical fiction about a podcast that seeks to find the answers regarding the disappearance of a woman decades earlier. In doing so, they reignite the legend of a lost treasure supposedly hidden in the chimney of an unknown historical home. The intrigue keeps the reader invested in the answers. I enjoyed the background of the music industry that is also a central theme in the story. As the author connected all the dots in the mystery there were things I didn’t see coming; I admire that kind of skilled storytelling. Cain’s lovely singing voice adds so much to the telling. I encourage you to give it a listen.

The Irish Girl by Ashley E. Sweeney

This is the story of Mary Agnes Coyne, a thirteen-year-old Irish girl who, because of a tumultuous family dynamic, immigrates to the United States, all alone, in the late 1800’s. Her journey leads her to Chicago, which is my hometown. I really enjoyed reading the vivid description of the city during that time period. Mary’s development takes her from being a dreamer of what she wants her life to be, to fulfilling dreams she didn’t know she had in the beginning. Throughout the tale Mary is a strong female character, a hard worker and determined to survive all the adversity that comes her way. The story has friendship, love, violence, class struggles, courage and setbacks. It grabbed me in the beginning and kept me engaged to the last page.

Friends With Secrets by Christine Gunderson

I loved the two women characters in this story. They are both mothers whose children attend the same private school and there is trouble brewing around the coach of the girls basketball team. Together they must find evidence to expose the man’s sketchy past without endangering their families, their futures and possibly their own lives. It is a fast paced read with plenty of humor, intrigue and smarts. In the end it’s about friendship and doing the right thing even if it is unpopular with one’s peers. This is an enjoyable novel.

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

Set in Briarwood house, a women’s boardinghouse, during the 1950’s in turbulent Washington D.C., this historical fiction story delves into the lives’ and secrets of the tenants. As you would expect from a Kate Quinn novel, the research is impeccable. Each character had their own interesting backstory as well as their unique dilemmas they confronted in post-World War II America. The house itself is a character in the book. There is mystery, murder, romance and friendship. All the things I love in a good novel. I also like it when I learn something new about history. The Briar Club checks all the boxes!

Everything We Thought Was True by Lisa Montanaro

This is a thought-provoking family saga about a husband and a father who strives for a normal heterosexual life, while living a double life with male lovers. The character development feels natural as all involved experience a wide range of emotions and growth throughout the story. The dialog is as real as if this were nonfiction. So many questions are raised: How should a wife deal with such a situation? What are the lifelong implications for the kids? Should there be loyalty to one parent over the other? This is a timely story that stirs raw emotions and makes the reader hope that we do not return to a time when the LGBTQ+ community feels forced into living unauthentic lives. It is a story that will stay with you.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

This is a triple timeline, historical fiction, about the generations of the Weyward women. The writing is visual. The characters are well developed and the story is excellent. I find it impossible to pick my favorite Weyward, as they are each interesting and their stories equally compelling. They all have things in common; their connection to nature with a hint of magic and their troubled relationships with the men who fear them and try to control them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who love historical fiction.

This Isn’t Everything You Are by J. Marie Rundquist

The story centers on a pair of siblings who, as young children, experience a trauma that defines much of their lives going forward. This was the first book I’ve read where one of the main characters is Autistic. I found that point of view very informative and interesting. The other character is struggling to find her identity as she grapples with past mistakes and the consequences. The book is beautifully written and held my attention from the very beginning. For those who enjoy a contemporary family saga, this is a must read.

The Missing by Ben Tanzer                                                                                                                     Seventeen-year-old Christa runs away from home with her boyfriend after an argument with her mother. The narrative of the novel is what goes through the minds’ of her parents Hannah and Gabriel. Could they, should they have handled things differently with the girl? Was their toxic marriage a contributing factor in the girl’s decision to leave? They struggle with guilt and blame and are forced to look at their behaviors, reactions, mistakes and the times they were happy as a family. This is a deep dive into the thoughts and emotions of a couple who are facing the scariest scenario of their marriage. It’s thought provoking. Will Christa be found safe? You’ll have to read the book to find out. I recommend that you do.

Up to this point, I’ve nabbed these reviews off my Facebook page. Sorry the picture quality isn’t that great. Going forward, I’ll try to figure out a better way to post them here.