Miss Morgan's Book Brigade: resilience of the human spirit to survive and rebuild

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles is based on a true story of Jessie “Kit” Carson, an American librarian who worked in a war zone to bring books to the people. In January 1918, as the Great War rages on, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library and works for the American Committee for Devastated France (CARD). Founded by Anne Morgan, the daughter of JP Morgan, this group helped rebuild the war torn French communities along the battlefront. When Jessie arrives, she creates children’s libraries. Turning ambulances into bookmobiles and trains French women as librarians. Then she disappears. Sixty-nine years later, in 1987, Wendy Peterson, a NYPL librarian and aspiring writer, stumbled across Jessie Carson’s name in the archives. With only a passing reference, Wendy becomes obsessed with discovering more about the elusive librarian. Is she prepared for what her search will reveal?  

I loved Jane Skeslien Charles’s The Paris Library and could not wait to read another adventure of the importance of books and community, even in war time. It is a story about the resilience of the human spirit to survive and rebuild. It is a story of inspiration and courage. I loved that Jessie felt the call to join CARD and leave her safe home for a war zone. I also loved that she did not let disappointment discourage her from doing what she set out to do. She was a librarian and was going to bring books back to the community. I also loved Wendy’s dedication to find out Jessie’s story and tell the world about her. This story is well researched and I enjoyed the author’s notes at the end about the real life individuals. If you enjoy stories about WWI and books, I recommend Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade. 

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade will be available 

in hardcover, eBook and audiobook April 30, 2024

Sugarcoated: a brother's best friend romance

Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas is the first book in the Hot Cakes series. Aiden Anderson and Zoe McCaffery practically grew up together. Everything was fine between them until she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card. It surprised him that she asked and it surprised her when he refused. Embarrassed and humiliated, Zoe threw herself into the family’s bakery business, determined to forgive Aiden and the whole incident. Now five months later, he is back in town, realizing his mistake and determined to tell her he has fallen in love with her and wants to make her his forever. However, there is a snag in his plan. He also has to tell her that he bought her biggest competitor. Aiden realizes he has his work cut for him. 

Sugarcoated is my first book by Erin Nicholas. It is a fun brother’s best friend romance. It was a fun and fast read. Zoe is spunky and sassy. Aiden is sweet and sexy. Their banter and flirting was fun to read. When it came to their spicy, sexy moments, it wasn’t as sexy. I literally skimmed over that part. Their flirtation was much better. The issue of Aiden buying her competitor and it’s revelation to Zoe was slowly built, yet over and forgiven a little too quickly. I enjoyed the secondary characters and their interactions with Aiden and Zoe. The story gives hints as to who pairs off in future stories in the series. Overall, I enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind picking up the rest of the series. If you enjoy fun romance, I recommend Sugarcoated. 

Sugarcoated is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Make Me Wilder: a fun, sweet, sexy romance

Make Me Wilder by Serena Bell is the first book in the Wilder Adventures series. In the small town of Rush Creek, Oregon, Gabe Wilder and his brothers operate the Wilder Adventures. Offering everything from fishing, hiking, survival camping and more, they have done well. That is until new businesses came to town and the new tourists have no interest in getting dirty in the woods. Enter Lucy Spiro, a city girl  sticks out like a sore thumb. She has been hired to give Wilder Adventures a bit of a makeover and help the family business thrive once again. Gabe and Lucy have an instant connection and while they are on the opposite ends of the ideas for the business, they cannot fight their attraction. Lucy is there to do a job and go back to New York City. Can Gabe show her that life in a small town with him would be worth it? 

Serena Bell is a new author to me. Make Me Wilder is a fun, sweet, sexy romance. I could not put it down. The banter and head butting between Lucy and Gabe had me smiling and the grand romantic gesture at the end made me sigh. I loved Gabe as the strong, older brother who felt a duty to take care of the family and the family business. I loved Lucy as a woman out of her element and yet willing to prove she can be as rough and tumble as the small town. Their banter and spicy moments were wonderful. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and look forward to reading their own stories. Every character felt real as their strengths, flaws and fears were relatable. If you enjoy easy to read, page turner romances with great banter, I highly recommend Make Me Wilder. 

Make Me Wilder is available in paperback and eBook

Never Lie: a domestic psychological thriller with unreliable narrators

Never Lie by Freida McFadden is a domestic psychological thriller with twists and turns. Tricia and Ethan are newlyweds who are searching for their dream house. They come to the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who disappeared without a trace. When they are forced to stay at the estate when a sudden blizzard blocks the roads. In her search to pass the time, Tricia comes across a secret room filled with taped sessions of Dr Hale with her patients. Tricia learns the chain of events and a web of lies unravels which led to Dr Hale’s disappearance. As the blizzard rages outside, there are strange events happening inside. Are Tricia and Ethan alone in the house? Or is someone watching? 

I have seen Freida McFadden books everywhere online; however, I haven’t had the opportunity to read one before. Never Lie is my first book by Ms. McFadden. It was a fast paced, easy to read, engaging story. With narrators you aren’t sure you should trust, readers will pick up clues and watch as twists and turns of a rollercoaster until the final page. I closed the book with a sense of awe and amazed at the all around craziness that occurred on the page. Overall, I enjoyed the story. I wasn’t wowed by it but I enjoyed it. I will try other Ms McFadden’s books in the future. If you enjoy fast paced psychological thrillers, I recommend Never Lie. 

Never Lie is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Finders Keepers Library: a heart-warming second love story with hope and healing

The Finders Keepers Library is the first book in the Love in Bloom series by Annie Rains. Savannah Collins’s life has been filled with lots of thorns and zero roses lately. As a gardener with a green thumb, she finds herself out of a job, dumped and evicted, all in one swoop. With all her belongings in her car, she heads to her Aunt Eleanor’s in Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer and hopefully figure out a new plan. What she doesn’t expect is to run into Evan Sanders, her childhood crush. Eleanor shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in the beautiful garden her late husband cultivated; anyone can stop by to pick a book or even leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys a portion of the library and the garden, it is a race to clean it up for a coming wedding. 

The Finders Keepers Library is a heart-warming second chance love story about hope and healing. It is a sweet story with a few tears and self-discovery. I loved the great applications of books into life situations. From classic stories like Anne of Green Gables to modern stories like The Hunger Games, the characters show us that books can be entertainment as well as  life lessons and inspiration. I also loved that the story uses the therapeutic aspect of gardening. I loved all the characters. From Savannah to Evan to Aunt Eleanor and to the secondary characters, just wonderful, wonderful characters. Their hopes, dreams and struggles were relatable and inspiring. I am looking forward to the more books in this series. I just didn’t want this story to end. If you love stories of second chances, healing with books and gardening, I highly, highly recommend The Finders Keepers Library. 

The Finders Keepers Library is available in paperback and eBook

Every Last Secret: a domestic thriller of neighbors, friends and secrets

Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre is a domestic thriller about neighbors, friends, and secrets. Catherine “Cat” Winthorpe worked hard to get where she is. She has a gorgeous home, great social standing and successful, handsome husband, William. When a new couple moves into the estate next door, She welcomes them, though cautiously, with open arms and friendly hospitality. Neena Ryder is not a fellow lady of leisure. She is a life coach who wants to move up in the world and moving into the neighborhood gets her one step closer. However, she’s not quite there yet. She is more aware of what she doesn’t have, namely a husband like William. As her infatuation with William grows, so does her friendship with Cat. However, beneath their friendly interactions, is a web of temptations, secrets and jealousy. Can their desire for the perfect life turn deadly? 

A.R. Torre is well known for her domestic thrillers. Every Last Secret is my second book by her and I was eagerly waiting to dive in. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, it was not the story I was expecting. It gave off Desperate Housewives vibes which is not my cup of tea. None of the characters had any redeeming factors. The women were catty, bitchy and downright psychotic while the men were weak and spineless. While seemingly realistic, these were not characters I wanted to really know more and understand on a deeper level. The thriller part of the story was a bit unbelievable and didn’t really make sense to me. Overall, I did not enjoy Every Last Secret, however I am looking forward to reading more of A.R. Torre’s domestic thrillers. If you enjoy Desperate Housewives and domestic thrillers, you may enjoy Every Last Secret. 

Every Last Secret is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Keepers of Metsan Valo: a mix of Nordic folklore, family traditions and mystery

 The Keepers of Metsan Valo by Wendy Webb is a mix of Nordic folklore and family traditions and finding a new future. In Metsan Valo, on the shores of Ile de Colette in Lake Superior, Anni Halla’s family home has been a place of happy memories, where she and her twin brother, Theo, explored the vast forests and listened to their grandmother’s folk stories. She comes back after the sudden death of her beloved grandmother and finds herself learning there is more to the family stories than just entertainment. As the family gathers for the reading of her grandmother’s will, there is tension in the air and not just between the family members. There are whispers in the wind, bursts of laughter when no one is around and nights filled with strange dreams and visions. As she investigates the strange occurrences, Anni learns there is more truth to her grandmother’s stories than she realized. 

Wendy Webb is one of my go-to authors for thrillers. The Keepers of Metsan Valo is a sleeper thriller with a mix of folklore, family drama and mystery. The story was engaging and mysterious. It was spooky enough to keep me reading and looking forward to more but not so spooky that I was frightened. The way Ms Webb incorporates forests and the animals into the story adds to the eeriness and atmosphere. I enjoyed the incorporation of Nordic folklore which isn’t used in literature very often. I enjoyed all the characters and how they interact with each other throughout the story. I also enjoyed the theme of staying connected to the family, the past and ancestors, remembering their stories and who they were. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to more books by Ms Webb. If you enjoy sleeping, gothic type thrillers, I highly recommend The Keepers of Metsan Valo. 

The Keepers of Metsan Valo is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: a practical parenting tool for Christian families

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God by Lee Ann Mancini answers the question: How can we raise the next generation to have an unshakable faith in God as they navigate the challenging terrain of modern culture? Author and parenting expert Lee Ann Mancini offers the idea that children need a heart change, not just a behavior change, in order to become effective disciples and followers of Christ. She offers ways to teach the essential Christian principles in order to navigate the world with grace, integrity, and a lifelong bond with God. With personal anecdotes and experience, Lee Ann Mancini offers practical strategies to address doubts, fears and questions biblically in today’s culture as well as ways for children to understand their emotions and actions. Raising Kids to Follow Christ has easy to understand apologetics for children and adults with fun ways for parent and child to connect. 

Raising Kids to Follow Christ is another tool at the disposal of parents to help teach biblical principles. With gentle reassurance that it is never too early or too late to start teaching children about Jesus and the cornerstones of Christian beliefs. From basic child rearing techniques to teaching the biblical virtues and the fruits of the Spirit. Each chapter has review questions for parents to consider, apply and adapt for their family’s needs. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot of ideas on how to teach biblical principles in a family environment. I would have liked it better if the questions were at the end of each chapter so the material is fresh in my mind in order to answer, instead of being at the end of the book. If you are looking for another tool in your parenting repertoire, I recommend Raising Kids to Follow Christ. 

Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God 

is available in paperback and eBook 

Fine Tuned: a single mom, a football and a fake dating deal

Fine Tuned by Annmarie Boyle is a Storyhill Musicians novella. Single mom Jessica McWilliams has spent her life uncertain until now. She has devised a plan to secure a future for herself and her son. First, she will finish her degree and two, prove to her boss that she is ready to be promoted to her dream job. Nashville Knights star football player Mick Lanuola lives by a simple rule: if it’s worth doing, do it well. When a chance meeting between Jessica and Mick leads to a viral photo, they agree to a strange proposition: fake date for several weeks and they can get closer to their goals. As they begin the dinner dates and charity events, soon their fake flirty moments turn very real. 

Fine Tuned is my introduction to the author and her series, the Storyhill Musicians. I like fake dating romances and the main hero is a football star. Sounds right up my alley. Unfortunately, from the start, I did not care for Jessica. She is annoying and abrasive. She constantly berates herself for her past, despite all she had accomplished so far. Mick was a sweetheart and I enjoyed his character. I also enjoyed Jessica’s sister, Amy-Lynn who has her own full length story in the series. Overall, I did not enjoy Fine Tuned; however, I am intrigued by the series. I will check them out in the future. If you enjoy fake dating with sports athletes, you may enjoy Fine Tuned. 

Fine Tuned is available in paperback and eBook

Wildfire: a passionate one night stand to a summer romance to a happily ever after?

Wildfire by Hannah Grace is the second book in the Maple Hills series. Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a Maple Hills party celebrating the end of the academic year. When a drinking game results in a passionate one-night stand, Aurora slips away before Russ has a chance to ask her full name. Both are shocked to learn that they are both counselors at a summer camp. The camp has a strict “no staff fraternizing” rule that has Russ determined to walk the straight and narrow while Aurora never truly cares for the rules. As they learn that they are both dealing with complicated family issues and hoping for a peaceful, fun summer, they are drawn together, further fanning the fire between them. Can they keep the fire of their passionate night under control or is it a fire that won’t be put out?

Wildfire is more than a spicy romance. It is more than a summer romance. It deals with deep family issues and finding the courage to stand up and say enough’s enough. I loved Russ and Aurora as individuals and as a couple. I loved that they found the strength to make changes inspired by each other. Add in fun banter and spicy moments and it is a great romance. I found the spice was a bit less than Icebreaker. There was more flirty build up than spicy scenes. I enjoyed seeing many of the characters from Icebreakers make the occasional appearance. Overall, I enjoyed Wildfire. I laughed. I sighed. I smiled. There are also humorous interactions between characters and heartwarming moments. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series. If you enjoy romance with fun banter and dramatic moments, I highly recommend Wildfire. 

Wildfire is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tempting Taste: an opposite attracts romance

Tempting Taste by Sara Whitney is the first book in the Cinnamon Roll Alphas series. All Erik Andersson wanted was a life of peace and stability. But when Josie Ryan comes into the bakery where he worked, exposing the toxicity of his boss, Erik finds himself quitting on the spot. Now, he resumes the search for work while entering into a business arrangement with a woman he calls a redhead tornado. Josie wows clients with her PR events and when she learns Erik is now jobless, she makes it her mission to turn his amazing talents into a successful business empire. Rule no. 1: keep it professional. However, Josie and Erik begin to find it harder and harder to follow this simple rule. Can they find a way to blend business with pleasure or will it fizzle like a deflated souffle? 

After reading Tempting Heat, the prequel novella, I was looking forward to the rest of the series, starting with Tempting Taste. Unfortunately, I did not love Josie and Erik like I did Finn and Tom. Their initial meeting was funny and when they ran into each other again was great. However, the story quickly fell from there. It is an opposite attracts romance but Josie has a strong personality and Erik is so shy that she overpowers him with decisions and directions. Josie was easily the most annoying character especially how she constantly harps on how she saw Tom first but he fell for Finn. Not true (read Tempting Heat to see why). While Erik was enjoyable but geez, speak up! Overall, I found Tempting Taste disappointing and I haven’t decided if I will continue the series. I do not recommend Tempting Taste. 

Tempting Taste is available in paperback and eBook

Five Winters: the twists and turns of life and the search for love and motherhood

Five Winters by Kitty Johnson is a story about motherhood, friendships and love. When she lost her parents in a car accident when she was 9, all Beth Bailey ever wanted was to get married and have a family. She always pictured her best friend’s older brother, Mark, as that guy. But now, she is 35 and she is witnessing Mark marry someone else. She realizes that her dream of marriage and a family can still happen, it will just have to be with a different guy. Over the next five years, she experiences unexpected twists and the highs and lows of life and love. Beth still clings to what she knows: family, friendship while learning the meaning of love, the truth about happiness and discovering that dreams sometimes take a different road than we expected. 

I was intrigued by the premise and the eye-catching cover of Five Winters. I also understood and related to the premise of watching your crush fall in love with someone else. However, from the get go, Beth was not relatable. She made odd decisions without much thought. She is passive aggressive at times and immature at others. I didn’t care for any of the supporting characters except Mark’s parents who truly loved and supported Beth like one of their own. The story itself seemed to be all over the place. Was it about finding love? Motherhood? Overall, it was a hard book to get through. I wanted to like this story, I really tried but it was a relief when it ended. It is sad to say that I do not recommend Five Winters. 

Five Winters is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tattered Stars: when coming home could be dangerous and yet healing

Tattered Stars is the first book in the Tattered and Torn series by Catherine Cowles. At 11 years old, Everly Kemper took a great risk to get important information to the authorities. It caused her world to come crashing down and she left the town. Now, 16 years later, she’s back to take claim of her inheritance and to rebuild her home and make peace with her family’s past in town. It would be facing him, the boy with the dark eyes, who has haunted her dreams since that night. Hayes Easton is now sheriff and is not happy when he learns that Everly is back in town, fearing what her presence would mean for the town. But when threats are made against her, he steps in to help keep her safe. What they both don’t expect is sparks to fly, they also don’t know that someone is watching and doesn’t like what they see. 

I love Catherine Cowles stories as they are filled with characters with wounds, living with harsh realities and yet find love in even the darkest times. I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. I wanted to reach through the pages and hug those who were hurting and hurt those who were caused to the hurting. Despite her past, Everly is a strong, independent woman who is determined to stand on her own two feet and is ready to knock down anyone who stands in her way. Hayes is the protector of not just the town but his family as well. He is drawn to Everly despite his best efforts to stay away. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and before I even finished the book, I was looking into the rest of the books of the series and adding them to my wish list. I highly, highly recommend Tattered Stars. 

Tattered Stars is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Lydia: a story of divine intervention, open hearts and generous hospitality

Lydia was a Gentile woman from Thyatira in Asia Minor. When she is introduced in Acts 16:14, she is a successful businesswoman in Philippi. She was a dealer of purple cloth which was prized and expensive. Lydia was also the head of her household. She may have been widowed or single. So strong was her faith that her entire household followed her example and were baptized. She extended hospitality to Paul and his companions even after their imprisonment (Acts 16:16-40). Lydia has the distinction of being Paul’s first convert in Europe and the first member of the Philippian church. Lydia’s story is more than just another conversion story in Acts. Her story is an example of hospitality and God’s divine intervention as he sees our hearts and recognizes the hunger and need for closeness with Him. 

At a makeshift place of worship on the edge of the Gangites River, a group of women hears the gospel. Paul speaks of Jesus, his teachings, his crucifixion and resurrection from the grave. He is the Messiah, the merciful and holy one who has come to save all people. Among the women was Lydia, a successful and well-known businesswoman in a world when women were not given the same respect as men. She may have had the education and the skill as well as the strength and determination to work in a male-dominated society. As a Gentile, Lydia was open. willing to and wanting to know more about the God who was powerful enough to part the sea and yet tender enough to yearn for his people and send His Son. Tears running down her face, she feels the longing and the pull toward God as God opened her heart to the gospel (Acts 16:14). There on the river’s edge, Lydia and her household were baptized. She insisted Paul and Silas and other travel companions, possibly Luke and Timothy, accept her hospitality and stay at her home. Her home may have become the center for the church of Philippi. 

Lydia may have been an influential and respected person in Philippi and inviting Paul and his companions was not only courageous but radical and unconventional for the time period. Was she hospitable before her conversion? We don’t know. She may have felt the sudden inspiration to offer them a place to stay. Hospitality is very important to God as he reminds believers to offer hospitality without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9), even to strangers as we may entertain angels without realizing it (Hebrews 13:2). There are many reasons to extend hospitality. First, it is love in action. It takes a great love to open one’s home and resources to others. Second, it provides the opportunity to share and reflect the gospel. Inviting someone over and demonstrating God’s love with service of food or shelter can open the door to reveal the love of Jesus Christ. Lastly, it helps build community. Knowing who we can turn to in times of trouble and need is a great comfort we can provide our fellow believers as well as our greater community. Hospitality doesn’t have to happen in a perfectly clean house with a perfectly crafted feast. It could be a simple meal of canned soup on a cold day. It can open your home to someone who briefly needs shelter. It comes from a desire to help in any way we can provide with love. 

Philippi seemed to be an unlikely place to plant the gospel. It was a prosperous colony on a main highway with Rome and was home to a large number of retired Roman soldiers. Despite the size of the city, it didn’t have enough Jewish males to provide the requisite quorum to form a synagogue, so it wasn’t Paul’s travel plans. One night, he had a vision of a Macedonian man begging him to help (Acts 16:9) and felt compelled to visit Philippi. When he arrived, he found a group of women praying by the river’s edge. God saw the need in Philippi and sent Paul. He sees our need and sends help, we just may not recognize it at the time. The Bible is filled with examples of divine intervention as Exodus 14:14 says “The Lord will fight for you; you only need.” He interceded with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3: 25,27). God also with Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6: 21-22). He interceded as Paul and Silas sat in prison (Acts 16:22-28). Divine intervention is a simple prayer away. Psalm 72:12 says that God will deliver to the needy who cry out.

In conclusion, for some, Lydia was probably just another conversion story. However, she is an example of the spirit of hospitality and divine intervention. For me, as an introvert and a naturally shy person, offering hospitality is easier said than done. However, when the Spirit moves and provides the open door, I find myself like Lydia, offering hospitality when it is needed the most. Divine intervention is more than just the stories in the Bible, it is a daily occurrence. I may not always be aware of how God intervenes for me, but I know He does. As Psalm 121:3b says, “he who watches over you will not slumber.” Lydia was a woman who had her heart opened to the gospel and it changed her life. The same God who spoke to Lydia’s heart is speaking to yours. Are you listening?  

If you would like to read a book bring Lydia to life, I highly recommend Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar

The Trail of Lost Hearts: two broken hearts and an unexpected second chance at love

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves is a story of two broken hearts who find the unexpected chance to love again. Thirty-four-year old Wren Waters believes the universe will send you what you need, you only need to pay attention. Her world is shattered when the death of her fiancé reveals secrets she wasn’t expecting. Falling into a deep depression, the only thing that seems to get her out of bed is geocaching, the outdoor activity using GPS to find hidden objects. Wren decides to take a weeklong trip to Oregon for a solo geocaching search. While on the first leg of her trip, she meets Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist on his own much needed trip. After a close call, Marshall suggests teaming up for the rest of the cache searches. Wren is hesitant at first, but decides to trust the universe one more time. As the road trip begins platonic enough, it soon blooms into something deeper and the more she spends time with Marshall, the more she wants to know about him. 

The Trail of Lost Hearts is my first book by Tracey Garvis Graves and it definitely won’t be my last. The story starts with a woman in a dark place, trying to take each day at a time, when a trip to clear her head changes her time. My heart broke for Wren who thought her life was on track when the sudden death of her fiancé made her question everything she thought she knew. My heart also broke for Marshall, who is also hurting from his own tragedy. Both characters felt real as they deal with grief, guilt and questioning decisions they cannot take back. I loved that their relationship truly starts platonically so much so that when the romance develops it was a pleasant surprise. Overall, I was hooked from the opening chapter and could not put it down. There were twists and turns to this story that is a wild ride of heartbreak, emotional breakthroughs and an ending that I thought wasn’t in the cards. I highly recommend The Trail of Lost Hearts. 

The Trail of Lost Hearts is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook. 

Off the Air: a journalist searches to solve a murder

Off the Air by Christina Estes is a murder mystery as a local reporter chases the story of her career. Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona. She usually covers general assignments from the monsoon storms to a newborn giraffe at the zoo. When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene races to the scene as she and other journalists rush to report the facts first. As the victim is identified as the controversial talk show host, Larry Lemmon, Jolene realizes that she conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an edge for now.  The circumstances around his death are suspicious, the story heats up as the competition to be the first to report grows as well. Jolene is determined to solve this murder as it is the story that could make or break her career. 

Billed as “equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining,” Off the Air is the debut novel for former Emmy Award winning reporter Christina Estes. I was intrigued as the main character is a journalist which doesn’t cross my path often. I opened the book eagerly for a fast-paced mystery. However, it fell fast. It wasn’t thought provoking or entertaining. I was bored. I didn’t care about the characters, especially Jolene. She is unlikable from beginning to end and didn’t help put journalists in a positive light. The constant mention of politics, while I understand that it fits the story with the death of a controversial figure, it really bogged down my enjoyment. The mystery quickly becomes secondary to the story and the story quickly becomes more of a love letter to journalism. Overall, the story was okay. If you enjoy journalism centric stories, you may enjoy Off the Air. 

Off the Air is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Moment in Time: one night can change the course of one's life and friendships

Moment in Time by Suzanne Redfearn is a follow-up to In An Instant (2020). It’s been eight years since the tragic events which changed Maureen “Mo” Kaminski and Chloe Miller’s lives. Now in their mid-twenties, they share an apartment in San Francisco with their roommate, Hazel. Life seems to be relatively normal as they both work through the challenges of adulthood and career. Suddenly, one night when Hazel ends up in the hospital after being raped, their lives are again turned upside down. When the suspected perpetrator turns up drugged and beaten and Hazel has disappeared, the mystery of what happened that night becomes the forefront of their lives. Mo and Chloe are desperate to find out what happened to their friend and bring her home. Despite being familiar with tragedy, Mo and Chloe will find themselves tested personally as well as their friendship. Will their commitment to their friend, finding the truth and seeking justice bring them closer together? Will they be driven apart for good? 

I read In An Instant a couple years ago and loved it. When Moment in Time was suggested for me, I grabbed it and couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately, something felt off about the story. I’m not sure what it was but I was bored and confused. While the subject matter needs to be taken seriously, I found myself not caring about Mo and Chloe as they searched for their friend and discovered what happened that night. At one point, one of the characters decides to get revenge on a cop for not taking the rape report seriously and then is shocked when she is arrested for it. Seriously?!?!? There were also too many plot holes and inconsistencies that just didn’t add up. Moment in Time just doesn’t have the same emotional impact that In An Instant did. It wasn’t as gripping and emotional as I expected. Overall, I did not enjoy Moment in Time. Despite my enjoyment and recommendation for In An Instant, I cannot recommend Moment in Time. 

Moment in Time is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook