Review Date: 11/17/2022

Another great book in an amazing series! This one had so much going on, just couldn't put it down. It was basically a one-day read because I didn't want to do anything else. Kate's personal life has a much stronger stage in this one.

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Review Date: 6/22/2012

This is a great way to introduce reluctant readers to the idea that each character has a story to tell. As the reader, I felt compelled to side with Charli as I read Always Upbeat. Then when I heard Blake's side of the story, I could understand some of his actions and emotions. I liked that the two books were in one so that readers could have the experience at once. The characters are in high school and the issues they deal with are quite mature and I would hesitate to allow my middle school student to read the book without my guidance. Read with a parent, it could be a really great opportunity to discuss some coming-of-age issues such as sexual morality and peer pressure.

I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions are 100% mine.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Kate's always putting herself in danger, but this one takes the cake -- she doesn't have her small-town cop friends to back her up. Suspenseful and shocking ending.

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Review Date: 6/27/2014

The interesting thing about this book is the intricately woven mystery that runs through its veins. Through The Angry Woman Suite, Fullbright personifies the impact that a parent can have on a child. How sad it is that adults can so deeply wound the children in their lives. Raw human emotions such as jealousy and psychosis are also portrayed through these characters. I can certainly envision this book in movie form; the story spans generations in order to create a cycle of love, betrayal, and abuse. Read this book with your choice of tissues and/or a blanket nearby! I received the book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

I loved Twilight but haven't read any other vampire-themed books since then. Belle Morte reminded me a little of Twilight, but has a unique storyline that I enjoyed. The book was long at 326 pages, and dragged on sometimes, but the ending was exciting and left possibility for a series. The main character Renie was brave, defiant, and often annoying particularly when she threw one of her immature tantrums. I liked her best friends Roux and Jason especially!

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

I read this after reading & loving Burden Falls. It took me forever to finish. Blackfin Sky was hard to get into, very difficult to follow, and spiraled in circles until I was dizzy.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

I really liked The Sundown Motel, so had high hopes for The Book of Cold Cases -- enough that I chose it as my BOTM. I love ghost stories, and this one included a haunted house which was icing on the cake! While this one wasn't as amazing as TSM, it was still pretty good. I liked Shea and her determination to solve a cold case. The way the author unpeeled one clue at a time kept my interest. The plot lost steam toward the end, which was a bit disappointing. I definitely plan to read more of this author's books, though.

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Review Date: 8/20/2019

I'm not a straight-up romance reader. I prefer books with a strong plot, deep characters, and a bit of slow-burning romantic chemistry. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek really met all of those qualifications. I learned so much about my home state of Kentucky while reading this book! First of all, did you know that blue people actually exist? Or that many remote areas did not have access to libraries in the 1930s. There was just so much to learn and love about this book.

Cussy Mary, the main character, is now securely lodged in my heart. She was absolutely preciousâ¦.such a selfless, loving, beautiful woman. The people who supported her were endearing, too. From her papa to her patrons to her friend Queenie, the side characters had so much to offer. I BEG the author to continue this story as a series. I will be the first in line to pre-order!

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Love this series.
FYI you can get books 1 and 2 free with Kindle Unlimited.

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Review Date: 9/9/2012

Before I read C. B. DeMille: The Man Who Invented Hollywood I had never heard of C. B. DeMille. This book does a good job of showing how minor events in DeMille's career and personal life ended up impacting him in a huge way. I would have liked to have learned more about the way that DeMille seemed to be restored to his Christian faith.

I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Not very exciting -- wish I'd skipped this one instead of paying $$ as my book of the month.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Another great read from Linda Castillo! This one really surprised me -- lots of twists and unexpected turns. I have two complaints, though. One is that there are always recaps of a similar nature in each book...I guess to make it a standalone or something. We get little blurbs explaining a bit of backstory and it seems like they're verbatim from previous books. The repetition is annoying. Secondly, there was an unsolved investigation from book 5 (or maybe 4?) that didn't get addressed here at all, and I wonder why. Maybe it will be referenced in the next one. Love this series, and will start book 7 tonight!

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Review Date: 11/18/2017

Fans of The Shack and This Present Darkness won't be surprised by The Delusion; spiritual warfare isn't a new book topic. However, this is the first time I've seen it so perfectly written for TEEN fiction. That's what makes The Delusion so special! It comes across as more of a horror story, or at least a thriller, and doesn't immediately connect with Christian beliefs. Though it does have biblical references, they feel quite natural as part of the story. As I read, I kept thinking of the ways this story could be integrated in a youth group book club, a church play, or even a Halloween activity for teens. The physical descriptions of guilt, hopelessness, and sin were deftly handled in symbolic ways that young people can appreciate.  Gallier also did a great job of describing the traumas of high school, right down to a suicide epidemic that isn't such a new thing in the news anymore. I really enjoyed The Delusion and hope to see more from this author! I received this book free with reader rewards; opinions shared are mine.

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Review Date: 6/12/2012

Desert Journey was a surprising book. While I could easily answer the questions posed in this book, or could put myself in the situation, it didn't end as I expected. I could relate to Jerry and his struggle to find closure in the decisions and seemingly wrong turns he has made in his life. Jerry tries to reconcile his present with his past. Don't we all have similar stories to share? And in the end, isn't that what many of us look for in a good book-something we can relate to? Without giving too much away, I want to mention that Jerry asks the same questions that many of us do in our lives. Questions like, What's going to happen? Did I make the right decision? How do I know? I don't want to spoil the book for you. It is something you need to experience for yourself.

I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions are 100% mine.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Helpful Score: 1

This book is a Lifetime movie waiting to happen. A quick read, the pages sucked me in with one crazy moment after another. While I'd love to say that the things that happened in the book sound preposterous, many things hit home for me (as the mom of 2 teens, as well as knowing some people who really are this manipulative). Going into this, do be prepared for a lot of drama, eye rolling, and for the waves of skepticism to hit. The author was spot-on with the actions and behaviors of the moms and teens! I figured out the twists early on, but enjoyed the ride. I am low-drama in my real life, but love books like this!

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Review Date: 7/9/2022

My initial reaction was that the story made no sense and had too many switchbacks. I also thought it was way too long. After thinking about it, though, I came to appreciate how the author handled the characters, and how she allowed the reader to make a judgment about the "true" ending. I didn't think I liked the book, but after thinking about it, I think there were some good features. The twist on the fairy realm was interesting, and the explanation for Lisa's disappearance was definitely unexpected (but also gross and creepy). As with all of this author's book, I liked the supernatural element.

The characters, especially Phoebe, seemed so dense that it bordered on ridiculous. When we're given backstory on her, though, it's clear that she was raised by a less-than-attentive mother, and already has a complex about being unintelligent. So while it seemed like she was making the dumbest possible decisions, she probably really was firing on all cylinders. The other characters were similarly dysfunctional. I had a hard time understanding why no one was willing to involve the police, but were bent on solving the mysteries of life on their own, but chalked it up to their collective stupidity. The Scooby Doo gang would have done a better job, but again, this crew did not have a lot going for them.

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

I liked how this one brought us happy memories from Kate's childhood. Though the mystery wasn't too hard to figure out, it was fun to see how Kate would get out of a bad situation. I also loved how the author worked in an unlikely hero for Kate at the end.
I started this series out of order, but have gone back and read from the beginning which I highly recommend.

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Review Date: 6/30/2012

Excuse Me is almost like a memoir, or perhaps even a journal. The chapters document the stages Boich experienced through his rehab and recovery. He describes his relationship with his spouse and how he learns to appreciate being in the moment with his family. He expresses the need for depending on support from loved ones. He exposes the connection between substance abuse and the deeper problems that instigate the need for drugs or alcohol.

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting can be an excellent resource for those who are experiencing the rough road to recovery. It is gritty and honest, no sugar-coating here. However, I think it would also be meaningful to those who are left in the wake of addiction.

I received this book to review. The opinions are 100% mine.

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Review Date: 10/10/2018

I received a free copy of this book for the blog tour. Opinions shared are mine.

Teen readers will relate to Selena's struggles and tough decisions. Fallen Leaves gives teens a chance to think through these situations in a non-threatening way. Since this is a Christian fiction title, it's also a clean read. I appreciate having books like that for my daughter!

One of my favorite quotes from the story is from Austin, who said, âIf life doesn't play out the way you envisioned, would you still trust in God's goodness and love for you?â Isn't that a question we all need to face?

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Review Date: 11/17/2022

Feeling kind of sad because I've almost run out of books in this series! Very thankful for PBS because I was able to get almost all of the books so I didn't have to stop reading.

A Gathering of Secrets surprised me in the end. There were so many people to suspect, and the case kept getting deeper and more heartbreaking.
Best part -- I love that Kate and Tomasetti got baby chicks!

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