A Fool & His Monet

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Serena Jones has a passion for recovering lost and stolen art – one that’s surpassed only by her zeal to uncover the truth about who murdered her grandfather.  She’s joined the FBI Art Crime Team with the secret hope that one of her cases will lead to his killer.  Now, despite her mother’s pleas to do something safer – like get married – Serena’s determined to catch thieves and black market traders.

When a local museum discovers an irreplaceable Monet missing, Serena leaps into action – and a whole heap of trouble.

Review

A Fool & His Monet was a more light-hearted mystery novel.  Infused with a strong dose of humour and a keep-you-guessing mystery, A Fool & His Monet is an easy read that would appeal to a wider variety of readers who like a little mystery, but not heavy suspense or dark subject matter. 

Serena Jones is a likeable heroine who I found admirable in that she would push through situations that gave her pause or made her nervous (her elevator phobia aside).  She is very tenacious, not willing to let any stone go unturned in her quest for the truth. 

The only downside to the novel was I felt the motives behind the criminal mastermind could have used a little more “oomph”.  The crimes were elaborate to the extent that it felt as if the motives didn’t quite meet the severity of the crimes.  But of course, criminals aren’t always the most reasonable of individuals!  (lol)  

Overall, A Fool & His Monet, is an easy read, laugh-out-loud funny at times, and held a twisty mystery that kept me entertained and intrigued until the very end.  I’ll be interested in reading about Serena’s next escapades, and I’m very happy that I won’t have to wait too long.  The next instalment is due out in the fall of this year – woohoo!  

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Thin Ice

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After losing her parents and her sister, Christy Reed has been mired in grief.  Now, life is finally starting to feel normal again – until an envelope addressed in her sister’s handwriting arrives in the mail.  And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case…but he’s coming up with more questions than answers.  Is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game—or the target of a sinister plot?  As Lance digs deeper, one thing becomes clear:  someone in the shadows has a deadly agenda. 

Review 

Irene Hannon is seriously the Queen of romantic-suspense novels.  The plots are always original, the characters well-developed, the romance swoon-worthy, the spiritual element very real and encouraging, and the suspense of the “edge-of-your-seat” variety.  I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed in reading one of Irene’s novels.  As an aspiring writer myself, she is an author I very much look up to as she always delivers – and her writing is superb! 

Thin Ice is the second novel in the “Men of Valor” series, and is Lance McGregor’s story.  Readers were introduced to Lance’s older brother, Mac McGregor, in Buried Secrets.  There is a third brother, Finn McGregor, who is featured in the third novel, due out in the fall of this year, which I am eagerly anticipating.  I’ve already read the teaser for Finn’s story twice, and the cliff-hanger ending gave me the shivers.

But back to Thin Ice – it was one of those rare books that I wanted to read all over again after I turned the last page.  From the tense opening, to the explosive climax, it was a fabulous read.  For all the mystery/suspense lovers out there – I highly recommend this book!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Taming the To-Do List

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Ever just wish the world would stop for a day so you could catch up?

No matter how much we accomplish in a day, we nearly always feel a little guilt over what we didn’t do.  But do we really have more to do than the women who came before us?  Maybe not.

In Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis Whitwer exposes a seismic shift in society:  from one in which most of us were proactive to one in which we carry the burden of having to respond – to every email, text, tweet, and message we receive.  This creates a cycle where everyone else sets the priorities for our days rather than us directing our own lives.  The result?  We procrastinate, putting off the important stuff for later while we tend to the “urgent” stuff right now.

It’s time to take back your schedule!  Ready to tame that to-do list?  This book shows you how.

Review

Even though my job is fast-paced and ruled by strict deadlines whereby procrastination is an unfathomable thought, I’ve found that in my personal life, I can sometimes too easily “put off to tomorrow, what could be done today”.  And it’s always a variety of supposed reasons – (it’s amazing how many different excuses one can think up of when they are trying to get out of something!).  But really what is the root cause for all those excuses?

In Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis points out that procrastination can sometimes arise from is a fear of the outcome which perhaps results in failure - i.e. putting off starting a task or project for fear that it won’t be completed in the way we would have liked (which really is perfectionism), or failing to complete the task or project at all.  Of course, upon digging even deeper into that, one can see a root of pride.  We only accomplish things we can do and do well so that our image is protected.  But to take on a new project where one feels the odds of completing it in a worthy manner are not in your favour, and risk everyone seeing that and thinking badly of you?  Perish the thought! 

That begs the question: if we never challenge ourselves, how can we ever grow?  And it isn’t just growing in our natural abilities – what about our faith and walk with Christ?  If fear of failure is keeping us from accomplishing a personal goal, could it also be preventing us from following God’s plan for our life – thereby being disobedient to His call?  Yes, that’s a troubling statement, isn’t it!  Further it reveals a trust that is placed in our own abilities, and not in the power of Christ.

Of course, there are other reasons for procrastinating, and one of them I believe is “biting off more than one can chew”, as in, saying “yes” to one to many things when we really don’t have the time for it all!  Further, as Glynnis points out, some procrastination is a good thing.  On page 189 she states “all procrastination is delay, but not all delay is procrastination”.  For as it says in Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.  What I learned is that it’s just learning to recognize when procrastination in a certain situation isn’t a good thing, or is becoming a bad habit, and having the willingness to learn to change.

Glynnis doesn’t leave the reader at a standstill upon listing various reasons for procrastination.  She goes into detail about what can be done to help us overcome procrastination.  Some of her very helpful tips include creating a step-by-step plan for a “big project” so it doesn’t seem so daunting to start; implementing realistic timelines for completion of tasks; planning and adhering to simple routines; identify timewasters; have specific goals; enlisting the help of friends and/or family; having an accountability partner, etc.

Taming the To-Do List is a very practical book, but spoken from the heart of someone who cares.  Glynnis’ kind character shines throughout her writing and it felt more like sitting down over coffee with a girlfriend than actually reading an instructive book.  I highly recommend it, and will definitely be striving to apply her helpful advice to my life.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

The Painter's Daughter

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Sophie Dupont assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight.  In private, she paints the picturesque north Devon coast, popular with artists – including handsome Wesley Overtree, who seems more interested in Sophie than the landscape.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother Wesley’s responsibilities.  Near the end of his leave, he is sent to find his brother and bring him home.  Upon reaching Devonshire, however, Stephen is stunned to learn Wesley has sailed for Italy and left his host’s daughter in serious trouble.

Stephen feels duty-bound to act, and strangely protective of the young lady, who somehow seems familiar.  Wanting to make some recompense for his own past failings as well as his brother’s, Stephen proposes to Miss Dupont.  He does not offer love, but marriage “in name only” to save her from scandal.  If he dies in battle, as he fears, she will at least be a respectable widow.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie finds herself torn between her first love and this brooding man she barely knows.  Dare she wait for Wesley to return?  Or should she elope with the captain and pray she doesn’t come to regret it? 

Review 

Julie Klassen has penned another beautiful story with strong characters and a moving storyline.  Rich in historical detail, The Painter’s Daughter transports the reader to a Jane Austen-esque era resplendent with balls, mansions, family drama, romance, and betrayal, all shrouded in a veil of secrets.  I love the subtle shift in Julie Klassen’s books whereby an element of mystery is being added.  It was prominently shown in her previous work, The Secret of Pembrooke Park, and a thread of intrigue was expertly woven in The Painter’s Daughter, adding a greater depth to the story, and further appealing to a wider variety of readers.  It’s not just a simple, historical romance – The Painter’s Daughter is multi-faceted and greatly enjoyable - one that I would highly recommend. 

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The Mistress of Tall Acre

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The American Revolution is finally over, and Sophie Menzies is starved for good news.  When her nearest neighbor, General Seamus Ogilvy, finally comes home to Tall Acre, she hopes it is a sign of better days to come.  But the general is not a widower with a small daughter in desperate need of a mother.  Nearly destitute, Sophie agrees to marry Seamus and become the mistress of Tall Acre in what seems a safe, sensible arrangement.  But when a woman from the general's past returns without warning, the ties that bind this fledgling family together will be strained to the utmost.  When all is said and done, who will be the rightful mistress of Tall Acre?

Triumph and tragedy, loyalty and betrayal - you will find it all in the rich pages of this newest novel from the talented pen of Laura Frantz.

Review

I watched a new movie, Goosebumps recently.  Now that may be a strange thing to reference in a review about a historical romance, but there was a quote in that movie that I think aptly applies to this novel.  One of the main characters, the author of the Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine, acted by Jack Black, states that there are three parts to a novel: the beginning, the middle, and the twist.  That is so true for The Mistress of Tall Acre!

The beginning starts off well by introducing the reader to the main characters, the General, Sophie, and the General's daughter, Lily-Cate, as well a a strong supporting cast.  The relationships among these characters slowly blossom and carries the reader into the middle portion of the book whereby an element of danger is introduced and the relationship between the General and Sophie begins to deepen.  And the ending - the "twist" - WOW.  I did not see that one coming!  When it was revealed, it left me dumbfounded as to how the author was going to be able to give sufficient and satisfying closure to all the loose ends.  But she does!  

The Mistress of Tall Acre is a great novel.  It held a strong theme surrounding relationships and what it means to be mindful of others and their needs.  Faith also was showcased with a reminder to always, always trust God with your needs and desires - there is nothing too big that He can't handle.  Hallelujah!  

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Until the Dawn

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Fascinated by Dierenpark, an abandoned mansion high atop a windswept cliff in the Hudson River Valley, Sophie van Rijn sees no harm in setting up a roof-top weather station for her work with the newly established Weather Bureau.  While the villagers are suspicious of the mysterious estate and its tragic history, Sophie has come to see it as her own enchanted piece of paradise.

The first Vandermark to return to the area in sixty years, Quentin intends to put an end to the shadowy rumors about the property that has brought nothing but trouble upon his family.  Ready to tear down the mansion, he is furious to discover Sophie trespassing on his land.

Instantly at odds, Quentin and Sophie yet find common ground when she is the only one who can reach his troubled son.  There's a light within Sophie that Quentin has never known, and a small spark of the hope that left him years ago begins to grow.  But when the secrets of Dierenpark can no longer be kept in the past, will tragedy triumph or can their tenuous hope prevail?

Review

Have you ever sighed after reading the last page of a book?  Sighed because it was such a wonderfully written novel and the characters had somehow ingrained themselves into your heart so that it felt like a real "goodbye" when you finished their story?

That's how I felt when I read the final word in Until the Dawn.  I have read several books by the talented Elizabeth Camden, and I have yet to be disappointed.  She has a knack for creating a strong cast of leading characters to draw the reader into the story.  Sophie and Quentin are as opposite of individuals as one could imagine - one is bright, warm, and sunny in nature whose main passion in life, besides being a blessing to others and living out her faith, is having a climate observatory established in town and being able to work there.   The other character is a dark, brooding skeptic hounded by pain from an injury, guilt over his relationship with his former deceased wife, and driven by the need to repay his grandfather and raise his son to be self-supporting.  With two such opposing personalities, fireworks - and not the good kind - are guaranteed to follow.  But what becomes rather surprising is over the course of time, mutual admiration and respect for each other blossom - along with perhaps something else more intimate?

But romance isn't the only side to this story.  Locals call the beautiful Dierenpark Estate cursed and plagued by problems from the moment it was built.  Indeed, it holds more secrets than one could ever imagine, bringing an intriguing angle to the book.  Threaded together with Elizabeth Camden's fantastic writing, Until the Dawn is just a fantastic read that I would highly recommend - along with her other excellent novels.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

The Shock of Night

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When one man is brutally murdered and the priest he works for mortally wounded, Willet Dura, reeve to the king of Bunard, is called to investigate.  As he begins to question the dying priest, the man pulls Willet close and screams in a foreign tongue.  Then he dies without another word.

Willet returns to his task, but the clues to the crime lead to contradictions and questions without answers, and his senses are skewed.  People he touches appear to have a subtle shift, as though he can divine their deepest thoughts.  In a world divided between haves and have-nots, gifted and common, Willet soon learns he's been passed the rarest gift of all - a gift that's not supposed to exist.

Now Willet must pursue the murderer still on the loose in Bunard even as he's pulled into a dangerous conflict that threatens not only his city, but his entire world--a conflict that will force him to come to terms with his inability to remember how he escaped the Darkwater Forest - and what happened to him inside it.

Review

Wow, this was a fantasy novel unlike any others that I've read!  It's not your typical fantasy about witches, spells, dragons, etc.  It reads like a medieval mystery story, with the added element of "gifts" given to mankind - and one in particular is quite supernatural. 

The main character, Willet Dura, is a reeve to the king, in what I would describe as similar in scope to a homicide detective.  He's called when there's been a murder, and it is up to him to question witnesses and find the culprit.  He is an interesting character for while he holds what one would think is an esteemed position, he is scorned by the society in general, and has many enemies at court.  Perhaps not helping his reputation is his strange fascination with death - so much so, he will attend the kingdom's "hospice" when an individual is near the end, wanting desperately to know what the dying person "sees", and if there is truly a hereafter.  The one thing he truly lives for, however, is his love, Gael, and he looks forward to their impending wedding with no small amount of eagerness. 

With a complex main character, it is by necessity that the story be equally elaborate.  Indeed, it is intricate, and multi-layered, and as Willet goes about his investigation into the deaths of the priest and his guard, each new clue he discovers just leads to more questions than answers.  When he is granted a gift of sight into a person's mind, it becomes a blessing and a curse.  For with it, a person's guilt can be determined with a simple touch.  However, it is a gift equally fiercely protected and sought after, thereby endangering Willet's life more than ever before.  

The Shock of Night is guaranteed to keep the reader enthralled until the final page is read - and wishing desperately there was at least one more chapter!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.