The Abominable Snowman: A Short Story from Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a cute and humorous little story but then everything by Terry Pratchett is.

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Whispering Shadows by Jan-Philipp Sendker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Whispering Shadows is an excellent book in the start of a trilogy by Jan-Phillip Sendaker.

American Paul Leibovitz was once a successful advisor and father in Hong Kong for nearly thirty years. But then he experiences a personal tragedy and his marriage unravels.

He is now living as a recluse where he makes a connection Elizabeth, an American with a tragedy of her own. Her son was found dead. Paul then finds a new purpose and sets out to investigate this murder for her.

What he finds are dark secrets in China where the rich can corrupt the system. Who killed Michael – and why? All will be explained in this exciting book.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

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The Shadow of the Crescent Moon: A Novel by Fatima Bhutto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Shadow of the Crescent is a beautiful book about the horrors of war and terrorism in Afganistan.

The story takes place all on one Friday in Mir Ali, a small town in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas close to the Afgan border where three brothers meet for breakfast. Three hours later their day will end in devastating circumstances.
What decisions they must make is compelling reading and I recommend this book to all.

By the way, Mina is my hero.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.


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No Meat:

Irma Grese & the Holocaust: The Secrets of the Blonde Beast of Auschwitz Exposed by Ryan Jenkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fairly good book but there was too much speculation and not enough facts.

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The Black Dog Mystery by Ellery Queen Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the same vein as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, the Black Dog Mystery is the first in the Ellery Queen Junior Mystery Stories for boys and girls

When there’s a bank robbery in the village where Djuna lives and one of his dog’s best friends gets shot in the escape, Djuna decides to find out who did it. Djuna is a very clever boy and along his powers of deduction and his dog, Champ, solve the robbery.

One of the reasons also I like this book  is that Champ is a Scottie. You can never go wrong with a Scottie.

I approve heartily!

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review this book. 


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The Color of Secrets by Lindsay Ashford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Story of Forgiveness and Acceptance:

It is the middle of World War II, Eva has received news that her husband is missing presumed dead. Not knowing what the future will bring, she meets Bill, a black American GI. Though they are vastly different, they fall in love.

She learns she is pregnant but he has been shipped off to D-Day. She is left alone to raise their mixed blood daughter, Louisa. She feels she must bury the past but Louisa finds out and starts seeking the truth among all the lies.

This is a book of truths, lies, forgiveness and acceptance. But most of all, it is a book about love during a turbulent time. Some of the book is hard to read, but it is well worth the time.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for letting me review this book.


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Death Falls by Todd Ritter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happened to Charlie Olmstead?

On the same night that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, nine-year-old Charlie Olmstead jumped on his bike to see if he can get a better look. Off he goes on his bike, it is the last anyone ever see him. A search begins but ends. His mother, though, never gives up on the search. She searches up to the day she days. Eric Olmstead – and famous author and Charlie's brother –comes back to bury his mother and fulfill her last request: find his brother.

To do so he goes to the current police chief and his former sweetheart Kat Campbell, and it isn't long before they discover that finding Charlie was indeed his mother's secret obsession, and while she never found him she uncovered clues suggesting that he wasn't the only victim.

This was an extremely excellent mystery. One of those you keep reading through the night. I am going to eagerly read this author’s other books.

My thanks to Net Galley and the Publisher for letting me review this book.



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What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley by Kim Cross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley stands up there with Isaac's Storm in my opinion. At the beginning, there are the usual explanations about
meteorology and the formation of tornadoes. This, though, leads up to the description of the storms that ravaged Alabama, including the human interest stories of those who survived them and unfortunately those who did not.

Could not put this book down as I live in tornado alley.

My thanks to Net Galley for this book.

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The Life of the Apostle Paul by Barbara Dowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Definately a very good book on the life of the apostle Paul, which includes the history of the area where he was born, lived and preached up to his death in Rome.

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Nightmare in Greasepaint by L.L. Soares
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This certainly wasn't light reading so don't read it on a rainy and dark night.

Will Pallasso has brought his family back to his childhod home as he wan'ts to prepare the house for sale - which means getting rid of all the secrets in the basement. What are they? Read the book and you will find out -- but especially watch out for nightlights.

My thanks to Net Galley for letting me read this book.

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Wellies and Westies (A novella) by Cressida McLaughlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wellies and Westies was a lovely book - but then anything with dogs, a good-looking man with British accent will be good. I can't wait for the sequels.

It reminds me of the 44 Scotland Street novels by Alexander McCall Smith.

It is a light read and very enjoyable.

My thanks to Net Galley for the read.

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The Year My Mother Came Back by Alice Eve Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Year My Mother Came Back was a remarkable book about mothers and their daughters. It focuses on the ability to communicate with each other and the communication they hold back.

An example of this communication was brought out clearly in:

“Mom, you and I both lost our mothers twice: first to depression and then to death. Was it too painful for you to remember losing Rose? Is that you exiled her from your memories?

“Probably. Isn’t that why you exiled me from yours?”

And then late at the end, your mother is gone and problems arise:

“I roll onto my stomach and cry silently, my face pressed into the pillow. 'I miss you. I miss you. I miss you so much'.”

I lost my mother in 2013, and I still say this.

I recommend this book to all daughters who miss their mothers.

My thanks to Net Galley for letting me read this book.



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