Books – Page 88 – Looking For a Good Book

April 15, 2019

THE FLIMFLAM AFFAIR – Bill Pronzini

I’ve been reading Bill Pronzini books for about as long as I can remember. His may not be a well-known name, but I know when I pick up a Pronzini book that I will get strong characters and a solid story. It has been a year or more since I last read a Pronzini book,… Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized, WESTERN

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews, Western

April 12, 2019

BODY & BLOOD – Amanda Havard

I really struggled with this book. Body & Blood is the third book in The Survivor’s series by Amanda Havard, and perhaps if I’d read the first book or two this would have been an easier read because I would have understood the characters a little better. On the other hand, if I had read… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, YA

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

April 10, 2019

THE ADVENTURERS GUILD – Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos

People have asked me what is the hardest part about writing book reviews and it’s an easy answer … reviewing perfectly average books. Books that are outstanding and books that are terrible are easy to review because you can go in-depth on why you think they are outstanding or terrible. But there is almost nothing… Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

April 8, 2019

THE LAGER QUEEN OF MINNESOTA – J. Ryan Stradal

Beer? Minnesota? I’m in! J. Ryan Stradal’s The Lager Queen of Minnesota is a story of family and the pursuit of dreams. Edith Magnusson is famous for her pies since they were named third best pies in the state of Minnesota. Edith’s sister is Helen Blotz. Helen turned the family soda business into one of… Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews

April 5, 2019

SORCERERS OF THE NIGHTWING – Geoffrey Huntington

Growing up, Devon March learned that the monsters in his closet were real – not figments of his imagination – and that he was stronger than those monsters. The latter was something that his father would tell him repeatedly. But when he is orphaned at age fifteen and sent to live with distant family at… Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, Uncategorized, YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, Young Adult

April 3, 2019

DEATH BELOW STAIRS – Jennifer Ashley

A historical fiction mystery featuring the working class (ala Downton Abbey)? Yeah, this sounds like a winner! Kat Holloway is a cook. She’s good enough that she could almost choose where she wants to work, though she will be part of the working class. She accepts a position at Mayfair mansion working for Lord Rankin.… Continue reading

HISTORICAL FICTION, MYSTERY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Reviews

March 29, 2019

DON’T DANGLE YOUR PARTICIPLE – Vanita Oelschlager

The only thing wrong about this book is that it wasn’t around when my children were growing up. With truly delightful artwork by Mike DeSantis, author Vanita Oelschlager offers up some silly examples of dangling participles: a deer on a skateboard; a girl blowing away in the wind; a girl melting while eating ice cream,… Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Picture books, Reviews

March 27, 2019

AMERICAN WOLF – Nate Blakeslee

The word “wolf” can definitely conjure up some strong images for people. “Menacing” and “predator” for some, “beautiful” and “regal” for others. For many, wolves became prey because of how they would inflict such destruction on livestock. Add a bounty on wolf pelts and the wolf was nearly hunted to extinction in the contiguous United… Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Nature, non-fiction, Reviews

March 25, 2019

THE TRIALS OF SOLOMON PARKER – Eric Scott Fischl

Once in a while you come across a book that you can tell you should like – it’s well written, it touches subjects that appeal to you, characters that are strong – but for whatever reason you just can’t connect with it. The Trials of Solomon Parker by Eric Scott Fischl is just such a… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, WESTERN

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Western

March 22, 2019

UNDER THE PENDULUM SUN – Jeannette Ng

Catherine Helstone’s brother is a missionary, but instead of going to Africa, like most of the missionaries of the time, he has gone to Arcadia … a special land of the Fae. Because she has not received any word from him, Catherine follows to Arcadia where she is met by Miss Davenport – a changeling… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

March 20, 2019

COGNAC CONSPIRACIES – Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noel Balen

One of the oldest Cognac estates in all of France is potentially facing a hostile take-over by foreigners. The renowned wine expert, Benjamin Cooker, is brought in to look over the books but he discovers much more than a hostile take-over when he is met with constant stalling and state officials, as well as running… Continue reading

MYSTERY

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews

March 18, 2019

REASON TO DOUBT – Nancy Cole Silverman

Nancy Cole Silverman’s Carol Childs Mystery series just keeps getting better and better. In Reason to Doubt, Carol faces a parenting nightmare when her daughter’s boyfriend – an apparently serious, staying-overnight boyfriend – is accused of some grisly co-ed murders. Carol gets a look at some of the preliminary evidence and it definitely points to… Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mystery, Reviews