If you receive my newsletters (be sure to sign up here), you’ve already received updates on some of my current reads. I think it helps to know what an author likes to read, because often it’ll be similar to what they enjoy writing. I just wanted to share some of my recent Goodreads reviews with you today. AND I wanted to share cover art for some of my upcoming releases!
Click on the book covers below for buy links!
Karin Kaufman’s Anna Denning Mystery Series has such a beautiful Colorado setting, and if you know me, you’ll know I have enjoyed every one of these mysteries. Bitter Roots is Book 5 in the series. Here’s my review:
(5 stars) I had the privilege of early-reading and endorsing this one. I have read every Anna Denning mystery and this one might be my fave! This is a mystery that has a similar feel to Agatha Christie’s And Then There were None.
Captivating from page one, Bitter Roots is one of those mysteries you can’t put down, yet hate to see end. Likeable sleuth Anna Denning takes us once again into the snowy Colorado landscape, where she’s trapped in a remote lodge with a ruthless killer and an assembly of suspicious guests. Readers will enjoy seeing the healthy, loving relationship between Anna and her fiancé, Gene, as they work together to bring the clever murderer to justice. Mystery-writing at its finest!
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Quite often, some of the best reads are ones close friends suggest, and that was the case with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Here’s my review:
(5 stars) This novel, written in letters between fictional characters, took me to an entirely new part of the world. I had many laugh-out-loud moments while reading, but sprinkled in were more serious anecdotes about World War 2 that brought tears to my eyes. I could recommend this novel to a wide range of people because it is quite clean. Lighthearted read that will pull you in quickly.
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I was also able to read Local Poet, which is a debut novel by Paul Trembling, a British author. I was surprised when I received it and saw it was novella length, but that’s no issue for me because often I’ve found novellas can pack a heavy punch, just like the short stories I used to love. Here’s my review:
(4.5 stars) Although it took a while for me to really get into this suspense novella, it really picked up speed after the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the first-person POV and how Laney’s poems tied into her death. I liked the overall concept of a conflicted hit-and-run incident and it made me think of how brutal the press can be.
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Susie Finkbeiner is another of my fave authors, and I dove right into her second Depression-era novel, A Trail of Crumbs. As usual, the historical element never feels heavy, but it conveys exactly the right tone for the period and the winsome main character, Pearl Spence, has a pitch-perfect coming-of-age view of the world around her. Here’s my review:
(5 stars) A gem of historical fiction, this novel perfectly captured both the desperation and the community support system that existed during the Great Depression. The main character, Pearl Spence, had totally won my heart in book 1, A Cup of Dust, but in this book, we see how life is molding her into the young woman she’ll become. I love spending time in Pearl’s “head” (since this is written in first POV)–it takes me back to my childhood and reminds me of the innocence, yet the heavier events we have to deal with along the way–and Pearl had more than her share. A new character in this one was Aunt Carrie, and I absolutely adored her spunk. I cannot WAIT for the third book in this series!
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Finally, I had heard a lot about Charles Martin books, and I picked up The Mountain Between Us from my library’s Overdrive system, since I read the sample chapters and had to know what happened next! I could NOT put this book down. Here’s my review:
(5 stars) This is one of those rare books I think I want to own in softcover, because I can imagine I’d loan it out to a wide variety of reading friends. I couldn’t put this adventure down. I loved the survival aspect of it, complete with the Macgyver techniques to stay alive. I loved the romance aspect of it, which came together in a way I only saw coming toward the end, and it still provided an amazing twist. This one delved into the deep, complex love of marriage and family in a memorable new way. Excellent read I thoroughly enjoyed.
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I also wanted to share the cover art of my upcoming books. If you follow my Facebook page here (or get the newsletter), you’ve already seen these! I’ll share expected publication dates and Goodreads links and larger pics of the series covers below:
BOOKS 2-3 in the HEMLOCK CREEK SUSPENSE SERIES:
-UNDERCUT: Coming in October 2017 (first releasing with an amazing boxed set I’ll share later this year!): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34880336-undercut
-DEADLOCKED: Coming in 2018: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34880346-deadlocked
(Find OUT OF CIRCULATION, Book 1, here: http://amzn.to/2prqrnC
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BOOK 3 in A MURDER IN THE MOUNTAINS SERIES:
-GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, Releasing December 2017: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26001114-guilt-by-association
It would be wonderful if you would add these books to your Goodreads To-Read lists. And be sure to review the ones you’ve already read, if you enjoyed them! I’m looking forward to bringing Molly McClure’s story to you in UNDERCUT, then another Tess Spencer mystery in GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, and finally Brandon McClure’s story in DEADLOCKED.
What have YOU read lately that just knocked your socks off? Do share!