Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Over the Woodward Wall (The Up-and-Under #1) by A. Deborah Baker

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Over the Woodward Wall (The Up-and-Under #1) by A. Deborah Baker which is another pen name for Seanan McGuire.

About the Book

If you trust her you’ll never get home…

Avery is an exceptional child. Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning, to the way he completes his homework – without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.

Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.

They live on the same street.
They live in different worlds.

On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a low stone wall into the Up and Under – an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures. And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.

Book Beginnings

In the same ordinary town, on the same ordinary street, lived two very different, very ordinary children who had never quite managed to cross paths with one another.

Friday 56

They fell quickly through what felt like a layer of mist or fog, something cool and clammy that chilled the skin and saturated the clothing, leaving all of them damp and somewhat bedraggled.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: The Cottage on Ghost Lane (The Beach House Mystery Series #1) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

Each house has a history. Each person has a secret. Each turn of events leads to danger.

Come back to me.

Cole Dalton’s wife, Caroline, had the words etched onto a pendant for him. Each time he deployed overseas as a military bomb tech, she stitched the pendant into his uniform. Cole returned safely from the battlefield . . . only to bury his wife after a tragic car accident.

Cole moves into their beachside cottage to both heal and find closure after Caroline’s death. But on the first day he arrives, he finds an intruder searching for something and desperate enough to kill.

Mysterious incidents continue to occur, leading Cole to ask: Was Caroline hiding something in the months before she died? But what? And why?

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed The Cottage on Ghost Lane. It was a great start to this new series by Christy Barritt that features standalone mysteries with the common theme of beach houses. This one was set in Rodanthe.

It's fast-paced and hard to put down. I finished it in two days which is speedy for me lately, lol. Filled with boatloads of intrigue, great characters, a compelling mystery that kept me guessing, a gorgeous setting, and a fascinating conspiracy, it had exactly what I look for in a good mystery. It's the perfect summer read. I highly recommend it!

4.5 STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Carved in Stone (The Blackstone Legacy, #1) by Elizabeth Camden

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Carved in Stone (The Blackstone Legacy, #1) by Elizabeth Camden releasing August 31.

About the Book

Gwen Kellerman is an heiress to the infamous Blackstone family, whose history of scandal nearly destroyed her. She now lives a quiet life at the idyllic college founded with her family's fortune and hopes to keep the tragedies of her past safely behind her.

Patrick O'Neill survived a hardscrabble youth to become a lawyer for the downtrodden Irish immigrants in his community. He's proud of his work, even though he struggles to afford his ramshackle law office. All that changes when he accepts a case to challenge the Blackstones' legacy of greed and corruption by resurrecting a thirty-year-old mystery.

Little does Patrick suspect that the Blackstones will launch their most sympathetic family member to derail him. Gwen is tasked with getting Patrick to drop the case, but the old mystery takes a shocking twist neither of them saw coming. Now, as they navigate a burgeoning attraction, Patrick is the only one who can save Gwen from new danger on the horizon.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams

About the Book

They trusted her to keep the peace between the paranorms. They made a mistake.

Kennedy escaped the family business when she turned eighteen. Now, an ill-timed vacation pulls her back to The Rain Hotel, the only known null zone on the planet. It’s a place where vampires can see the sun rise and werewolves can avoid the lure of the full moon. And it would be the perfect place for a paranormal wedding…if the bride wasn’t the local alpha’s daughter and the groom the scion of a vicious master vampire.

With a sexy werewolf determined to sabotage the wedding and dark forces threatening The Rain, Kennedy’s life is thrown out of balance when she’s forced to confront a past she swore to avoid. Ultimately she must choose: will she maintain the stability of the supernatural world…or will she destroy it.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved this book! I'm a big fan of this author's Shadow Reader series, so I was thrilled when I found out about this new one. This first installment did not disappoint. It was fast-paced and hard to put down. And I loved the whole idea of the null zone and the Rain Hotel. It was so unique.

Kennedy's an awesome character. She's got a take-charge attitude and never backs down from a challenge. It seemed like nothing was going right for her. She had to deal with one crisis after another after another, but she kept her chin up and did what needed to be done. Even though she would've rather been doing anything else. I admired that about her. Was her attitude abrasive at times? Sure, but in the kind of world she lives in, she pretty much had to be that way to survive.

This story took some twists and turns that I did not expect. Wow, I didn't see that coming! The next book in the series can't come out soon enough! If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend checking this book out.

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Heartbroken....

Hazel died very unexpectedly Wednesday and we're all heartbroken. It's too quiet around here without her. 

She was the happiest dog I've ever known. Her tail was always wagging and she always looked like she had a smile on her face. She had such a bubbly personality. She could turn a bad day good just by hanging out with her.

She never met a stranger. She loved everybody and would greet everybody enthusiastically (maybe a little too enthusiastically sometimes, lol).

She was the best helper. Always eager to help in the garden and with the chickens, quail, and goats. It was amazing how gentle she was with them. If a chicken or a quail got loose, she'd eagerly get them back where they belonged. And she was great at finding wayward eggs. Bringing them back as gently as she could. We did learn to not leave her unattended in the garden or with the bucket of just picked crops because she LOVED squash and would gobble it up as fast as she could. She loved tomatoes, strawberries, and potatoes too. She'd steal the potatoes, toss them around like they were a ball, and then when she was done playing with it, eat it.

Man, I'm gonna miss sweet Hazel so much. I haven't been able to fully wrap my head around the fact that she's really gone. 💔😭

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: The Cottage on Ghost Lane (The Beach House Mystery Series #1) by Christy Barritt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring the first book in a new series of standalone mysteries by Christy Barritt, The Cottage on Ghost Lane.

About the Book

Each house has a history. Each person has a secret. Each turn of events leads to danger.

Come back to me.

Cole Dalton’s wife, Caroline, had the words etched onto a pendant for him. Each time he deployed overseas as a military bomb tech, she stitched the pendant into his uniform. Cole returned safely from the battlefield . . . only to bury his wife after a tragic car accident.

Cole moves into their beachside cottage to both heal and find closure after Caroline’s death. But on the first day he arrives, he finds an intruder searching for something and desperate enough to kill.

Mysterious incidents continue to occur, leading Cole to ask: Was Caroline hiding something in the months before she died? But what? And why?

As danger closes in and a storm lingers off the coast, Cole must find answers. But ghosts of the past have a stranglehold on him. With his heart on the line, he must overcome the grief haunting him . . . or his story will become part of his cottage’s tragic history.

Book Beginnings

"Are you sure you should do this?"

Friday 56

The haunted look remained in Cole's gaze. He was obviously still trying to work through all this.

What have you been reading lately?

Release Day Review: Unleashing Fire (Fallen Legacies #3) by Julie Hall

About the Book

The world will ignite and so will I.

The Forsaken hunger for vengeance, leaving Steel and I with no choice but to follow Camiel to the only place strong enough to protect me — Eden, an ancient, hidden city darkened by my family’s secrets.

But Eden isn’t the safe haven I expected, and family runs deeper than blood.

As Thorne grows stronger by the day, his Fallen forces threaten to raze London — and then the world — to cinders. In order to stop him, the entire angelic community has to unite, but ancient feuds and millennia of prejudice put everything at risk.

My heart knows where I belong — fighting besides my loved ones — but I have a secret that could doom them all. There’s a dark power growing inside me, hellish and spiraling beyond my control.

The realms have merged. The darkness calls to me. And there's only one thing standing in my way... Steel.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

What an epic conclusion to this awesome series! I'm having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. It was just so good!

It starts off right where the last one left off. It's fast paced and had me racing through the pages. Things got so intense at times that I could hardly catch my breath. And I got so frustrated at myself because I couldn't read fast enough. There were shocking reveals, surprising twists that I never saw coming, and so many anxiety-inducing moments. I experienced pretty much every emotion you could think of.

I don't want to say much more because I don't want to accidentally spoil something, but trust me, Unleashing Fire was awesome! One of the best books I've read this year. I wholeheartedly recommend this series. I loved it!

I received an early copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: To Write a Wrong (The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency #2) by Jen Turano

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring To Write a Wrong (The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency #2) by Jen Turano releasing August 3. 

About the Book

Miss Daphne Beekman is a mystery writer by day, inquiry agent by night. Known for her ability to puzzle out plots, she happily works behind the scenes for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, staying well away from danger. However, when Mr. Herman Henderson arrives on the doorstep of the agency, desperate for someone to investigate numerous attempts on his life, Daphne soon finds herself in the thick of a case she's determined to solve.

Mr. Herman Henderson is also a mystery writer, but unlike the dashing heroes he pens, he prefers living a quiet life, determined to avoid the fate of his adventurous parents, who perished while searching for the Lost City of Gold.

As the list of suspects grows and sinister plots are directed at Daphne, the situation quickly deteriorates, and a revealed secret jeopardizes their newfound affection. Only time will tell if Daphne will be able to regain Herman's trust and save both their lives.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh

About the Book

Their friendship can survive almost anything…

For two best friends,

marriage could be their greatest test yet…

Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was a breath of fresh air. I was dealing with a lot of stress and nothing was really holding my attention. But, then, I picked up this book and could hardly put it down. Filled with lovable characters and a strong inspirational message, this was a really great modern-day marriage of convenience romance.

My favorite thing about this story was the faith element. It was so inspiring watching Trinity and Omar place their wholehearted trust in the Lord's hands. How they asked for His guidance and prayed about everything was so uplifting.

This story left a big smile on my face. I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary romance.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh, a really sweet Hallmark-esque romance.

About the Book

Their friendship can survive almost anything…

For two best friends,

marriage could be their greatest test yet…

Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Book Beginnings

"Let's get married."

Friday 56

Hopefully their love stories would be better than hers - jilted at the altar and now a bride in name only. She didn't want that for Faith and Joy, but was there even such a thing as true love?

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Miss Knight and the Ghosts of Tsavo (Society For Paranormals #1) by Vered Ehsani

About the Book
Armed with Victorian etiquette, a fully loaded walking stick, and a dead husband, Beatrice Knight arrives in the small colonial town of Nairobi desperate for a pot of tea and a pinch of cinnamon. But she’ll need more than that if she’s to unravel the mystery of the Ghosts of Tsavo without being eaten in the process. She must survive the machinations of her best friend's dashing godfather and the efforts of her safari guide to feed her to any lion willing to drag her away. What is a ghost-chasing widow to do?

Miss Knight and the Ghosts of Tsavo is the first case in the “Society for Paranormals” series, in which a paranormal detective refuses to let danger, death, and unsolicited suitors inconvenience her in colonial Kenya. Welcome to a cozy mystery series concerning Victorian etiquette, African mythology, and the search for a perfect spot of tea.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was an entertaining, fun, and witty read. I read the prequel and loved the world building so much that I immediately had to start book one.

Widow Beatrice Knight and her disagreeable relatives must start a new life in Africa after financial ruin leaves them bankrupt and unable to afford life in London. Bee’s work as an investigator for the Society for Paranormals & Curious Animals continues though. Her unique ability to identify supernaturals by seeing the energy fields that surround them really comes in handy. She’s not even settled into her new abode before she’s faced with her first case in this new country. A pair of goat-eating ghost lions are wreaking havoc around town and Bee is tasked with stopping them.

I loved learning about all the African folklore. It was so fascinating and a nice change of pace from what's normally found in this genre. And I really enjoyed the author's 'Fact or Fiction' section at the end of the book. It was filled with some very interesting information.

This was very much an introductory book, setting everything up for future installments, so, at times, the pacing was a little slow. There was a lot of explaining going on, and the plot would meander around sometimes. But there was a lot of promise here. I did really enjoy the prequel and am excited to see what happens next.

3.5 STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes releasing August 3.

About the Book

A mysterious song in the forest . . .
A discovery in war-torn France . . .
A journey toward hope.

The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds--carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it.
One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve--even if only for a moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby too. "The Angel of Argonne," they call the voice: a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves.

Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at long last, spark light into the dark.

On the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier comes an emotive tale inspired by the courageous soldiers of World War I.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Avalanche (Off the Itinerary #1) by M. Liz Boyle

About the Book
Five friends. One moonlit summit. An unforgettable journey.

Excitement hangs in the air as Marlee and her sisters join their friends on a daring hike up a Colorado mountain - in the middle of the night. When Sawyer first proposes the idea of a moonlit summit during the two families’ annual backpacking trip, Marlee is terrified but also hooked. Having grown up taking trips to the mountains, they’ve learned a thing or two about hiking, and Sawyer is confident they'll be back by sunrise. But when disaster strikes, their knowledge, faith, and stamina will be put to the test. Digging out of the cemented snow is the first of many challenges in the coming days, and now Marlee has to trust Sawyer, who, by the way, was the brain behind the dilemma. Will their faith and friendship survive, or will they cave under pressure?

This engaging journey, told by fifteen-year-old Marlee Stanley, captures a timeless sense of adventure. The five young adults strive to exhibit godly character throughout their escapade, but it will take immense strength to hike out of this mess.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This story puts you right in the middle of the action from the very beginning. There's a great sense of danger that immediately had me so invested in these characters lives. They faced some truly terrifying situations, but handled it all with such grace and bravery. I'm not sure I would've done as well as they did if I found myself in a similar situation.

I loved seeing the characters rely so heavily on God. In every harrowing moment they faced, they looked to the Lord for help. They placed their wholehearted trust in Him. It was so inspiring.

Informative and entertaining, this story was filled with lots of great tips if you ever find yourself in this kind of situation. The only issue I had was that sometimes the dialogue seemed a bit forced and formal, but other than that, I had a great time reading it and am eager for the next one. I highly recommend it, especially to younger readers.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Miss Knight and the Ghosts of Tsavo (Society For Paranormals #1) by Vered Ehsani

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Miss Knight and the Ghosts of Tsavo (Society For Paranormals #1) by Vered Ehsani.

About the Book

Armed with Victorian etiquette, a fully loaded walking stick, and a dead husband, Beatrice Knight arrives in the small colonial town of Nairobi desperate for a pot of tea and a pinch of cinnamon. But she’ll need more than that if she’s to unravel the mystery of the Ghosts of Tsavo without being eaten in the process. She must survive the machinations of her best friend's dashing godfather and the efforts of her safari guide to feed her to any lion willing to drag her away. What is a ghost-chasing widow to do?

Miss Knight and the Ghosts of Tsavo is the first case in the “Society for Paranormals” series, in which a paranormal detective refuses to let danger, death, and unsolicited suitors inconvenience her in colonial Kenya. Welcome to a cozy mystery series concerning Victorian etiquette, African mythology, and the search for a perfect spot of tea.

Book Beginnings

It's an uncommonly known fact that a strong pot of tea will obscure a werewolf's stench.

Friday 56

Snap out of this, I instructed myself firmly. You've been through worse. You should be able to handle anything. Especially after what happened in West Africa with an elephant-sized Praying Mantis.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

About the Book

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I was first introduced to this book by jenclair at A Garden Carried in the Pocket. It sounded so interesting and like something I might like, so I kept an eye out at my library for it. I was so excited when they finally got a copy of it on Overdrive. I was lucky enough to catch it right after they added it, so I snatched it right up and dove into it as fast as I could. It exceeded all my expectations.

I was intrigued right from the start. I was so curious about who Ryland was, what he was doing, what was going on, how he came to be in the situation he was in, and wondering if he could fix everything that needed to be fixed. I was so invested. I couldn't get enough of it. It held my full interest to the very last page.

Ryland was an entertaining narrator. There was a lot of technical science stuff that went way over my head and I was afraid I'd get frustrated by all of it. But Ryland had a way of making it all very interesting, and humorous, at times. And, I don't want to say too much because I don't know if this could be a spoiler or not, but there's a character here who has got to be one of my favorites of all time. They're so endearing, so likable, so fascinating. Just the absolute best!

I hadn't read anything like this book in a long time, so it was a welcome change and helped me get out of a bit of a reading slump. If you're a fan of sci-fi, this book is a definite must read. I highly recommend it!

FOUR STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams releasing July 27. I read this author's first urban fantasy series, Shadow Reader, about ten years ago and loved it. When I saw she was releasing a new series in this genre, I got so excited! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

About the Book

They trusted her to keep the peace between the paranorms. They made a mistake.

Kennedy escaped the family business when she turned eighteen. Now, an ill-timed vacation pulls her back to The Rain Hotel, the only known null zone on the planet. It’s a place where vampires can see the sun rise and werewolves can avoid the lure of the full moon. And it would be the perfect place for a paranormal wedding…if the bride wasn’t the local alpha’s daughter and the groom the scion of a vicious master vampire.

With a sexy werewolf determined to sabotage the wedding and dark forces threatening The Rain, Kennedy’s life is thrown out of balance when she’s forced to confront a past she swore to avoid. Ultimately she must choose: will she maintain the stability of the supernatural world…or will she destroy it.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Double Review: A book about conspiracies and a flash fiction anthology

The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time: Decoding History's Unsolved Mysteries by Brad Meltzer

This was a bit of a disappointment. It just barely skimmed the surface of these conspiracies. There was really no depth. Maybe I was just expecting too much from it, but I think it would've been better if it had been longer.

It wasn't all bad, though. It shed some light on some familiar conspiracies and introduced me to some new ones. It was very interesting reading about the rumors surrounding the Spear of Destiny. And the sections about John Wilkes Booth and then the missing Confederate gold held my interest. As did the bit about the gold at Fort Knox.

But there were some duds here too. The Georgia Guidestones, White House cornerstone, and Da Vinci's apocalyptic predictions didn't really stick with me. They kinda slipped my mind as soon as I finished them and I didn't remember them until I went back and looked at the table of contents. And don't even get me started on the chapter about JFK's assassination! What a total and complete letdown!

This was an okay read. I learned a few new things and have a few more questions about some things. But if you're looking for a book of conspiracies with depth, this isn't it.

3 STARS

Amazon / Goodreads

(At the time of posting, it's available in Kindle Unlimited)

Sensational: Havok Season Four (Havok Flash Fiction Book 4) by Various Authors

This was a great collection of flash fiction featuring a broad range of speculative genres. There's something here for everyone. And I loved that I could read them when I had a spare minute or two.

Like with any anthology, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but they were all unique, thought-provoking and well written.

Some of my favorites were Window by Sarah Wilson, Poisoned Melody by Kaitlyn Emery, A Recipe for Disaster by L.G. McCary, The Alien Mask by Paul Regnier, and Dolor of Defeat by Ronie Kendig. (Kendig's story is connected to her Droseran Saga, and it really made me want to dive right into the main story. I can't believe I still haven't read it. I've gotta remedy that soon.)

This anthology was a fun way to discover new authors. It always amazes me when an author can pack so much story into such a small space.

4 STARS

Amazon / Goodreads

(At the time of posting, it's available in Kindle Unlimited)

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. This was really good. It exceeded all my expectations.

About the Book

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could deliver, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.

Book Beginnings

"What's two plus two?"

Friday 56

The light on the Centrifuge screen blinks green.

"Gravity at full," I say with a smile.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Standoff (Natchez Trace Park Rangers #1) by Patricia Bradley

About the Book

The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it's being used to move drugs. Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers.

John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder, but things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling--hard--for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley introduces you to a new series set in the sultry South that will have you wiping your brow and looking over your shoulder.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I can't believe this was my first time reading a Patricia Bradley book. I'm definitely gonna have to check out more from her. This one was so good! It had everything I look for in a romantic suspense. It was impossible to put down and full of great characters, lots of suspense, an intriguing mystery, sweet romance, and an inspirational message.

This pulled me right in and didn't let go until the very end. There were a lot of characters and there was a lot going on, so I was a little concerned that I'd be lost. But no worries. It wasn't long at all before I had everything straight.

There were quite a few suspects, and I kept going back and forth on who I thought the guilty party was. I was still guessing right up to the reveal. Each person had a strong motive, so I was never one hundred percent sure who it would be. I love when a mystery can keep me guessing like that.

If you're a fan of this genre, I highly recommend checking this book out. I'm excited to pick up a copy of the second one!

FOUR STARS