Chasing China A Daughter's Quest for the Truth: a search into the past and one's roots

Chasing China: A Daughter’s Quest for Truth by Kay Bratt is one woman’s determination to discover her roots. Mia left China as a child, adopted and loved by an American family. While she is grateful for the family she loves and the life she has been given, she still feels this nagging feeling that something is missing. Determined to learn as much as she can about her past, Mia heads to China and tries to follow the path that led to her being placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted. As she seeks information, she soaks up Chinese history and culture, and she feels the officials are hiding something. They know more than they are telling her. Even more determined to discover the truth, she might have to find a different route to discover the truth. Will she be able to find her family? Is she ready for the truth? 

Chasing China is a fast paced, suspenseful story as Mia fights to learn the truth. It is heartbreaking to see the condition of the children in and out of the orphanage. I loved how Ms. Bratt truly captured the turmoil raging inside Mia as she wants to know her birth family and feeling she is betraying the family who has raised and loved her. The story also doesn’t shy away from the careless and yet prejudiced comments from Americans about an adopted Chinese child. Mia is truly an individual between two worlds, not fully feeling belonging to either. There were quite a few surprises in this story which led to a few tears falling as I closed the book. There are a lot of details about Chinese culture, the people and the orphanages which I appreciated. I truly felt as if I was there with Mia. I highly recommend Chasing China. 

Chasing China: A Daughter’s Quest for Truth is available in paperback and eBook. 

The Queens of Crime: five women, one murder case and a chance to prove themselves

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict is a story of four women fighting for a place in literature as they race to solve a murder. It’s London, 1930, five women crime writers band together to form a second society with the goal to prove they deserve to be recognized, the Queens of Crime are Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Nagio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. How do they prove they are worthy of recognition? Solve the real life murder of May Daniels was a young English nurse who discovered during a trip to France with her friend, seemingly vanishing into thin air. When her body is discovered months later in nearby woods. There are so many questions and inconsistencies that the women know that someone is hiding something. As they get deeper into their investigation, the killer targets Dorothy Sayers with a dark secret from her past. 

The only Queen of Crime I am familiar with is Agatha Christie. I have heard of Dorothy L Sayers by name only. The other ladies I had not heard of. I was looking forward to a fictionalized story of a true story from Sayers’ life, especially her unique relationship with Agatha Christie as a professional “rival” and friend. Unfortunately, I struggled with this story. I had no interest in the murder investigation and the constant girl-power, “I can’t believe he thinks that” attitude was annoying. I was also surprised there was no author’s note at the end of the story giving some insight into the author’s inspiration or thoughts on the real women. Author’s notes are usually very insightful and add more to the story. It was disappointing not to see it there. By the end of the story, I felt I did not know more about these women. I do not recommend The Queens of Crime. 

The Queens of Crime is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Calm & Bright: can the miracle of Christmas bring this family back together?

Calm & Bright is the first book in the Huckleberry Lake series by Autumn Macarthur. Brad Hughes hopes for some Christmas magic as he hopes he can convince his ex-wife that he has changed and is ready to be the husband and father he needs to be. Maddie came home to Huckleberry Lake, Idaho to care for her ailing grandmother. She sent Brad the divorce papers as he was a workaholic city boy and she wanted to stay in her hometown community. As he comes for the holidays for their son, Jacob, he only needs to convince Maddie that he has changed. Will Maddie take that chance again? Will Brad’s career once again come between them? Will God help them heal their broken marriage and hearts for a deeper relationship and faith? 

The Huckleberry Lake series is advertised as stories of the trials and joys of love, deepening faith and living happily ever after. I expected a heartwarming, inspirational story of faith, hope and love. Right off the bat, I did not care for Maddie. I found her to be childish, self-centered and expected Brad to be a mind reader. She was unhappy with their marriage and living situation, understandable. Does she even attempt to tell him she was unhappy? Divorce was her first and only option? The lack of communication bothered me. Overall, I did not care for these characters or this story. I usually enjoy a good second chance romance, however, I did not enjoy Calm & Bright. I will not continue with this series. I do not recommend Calm & Bright. 

Calm & Bright is available in paperback and eBook

Away Game: a close forced proximity romance

Away Game is the first book in the Scotia Storms series by Cathryn Fox. Chase Adams is caught in a severe snowstorm on his way to the Scotia Academy. In a near accident, he discovers a stranded motorist and offers her a ride. Sawyer wanted to escape to sunny Florida where no one knows who she is or who she is related to. The snow ends those plans. Now Chase and Sawyer are snowed in together at a small town inn with no power and nothing to do. They know nothing about each other other than their first names. Sawyer finds Chase to be sweet and kind and so not the guys she’s used to being around. Dare she say she has started to fall in love? However, when the storm breaks, she learns that he is everything she has wanted to avoid. And little does Chase know that Sawyer has the power to destroy his future. 

I expected Away Game to be a nice close proximity romance with a bit of mystery and a little hockey. The only thing that I got was the close proximity romance. There is very little hockey; other than Chase being a player. And there is very little mystery for the readers. Right off the bat, this story gives a lot away to the readers, while the characters are in the dark; and leaves very little for the readers to discover. I understand why the characters did not want to reveal who they really were to each other; but why did the readers need to know why? I don’t think so. It would have been nice to be shocked as the characters were when they discovered the truth. The majority of the book is them stranded together and leaves very little time for the conflict and resolution. I did not care for Chase or Sawyer. Overall, I was disappointed in this story. I do not recommend Away Game. 

Away Game is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

One Way Back to Me: a second chance romance

One Way Back to Me is the first book in the Wilder Brothers series by Carrie Ann Ryan. The Wilder brothers have retired from the military and together, they recreate the Wilder Retreat and Winery outside of San Antonio, Texas. Eli is in desperate need of a wedding planner for the company and Alexis Lane is perfect for the job. However, there is a history between them. They shared a dance at a stranger’s wedding and the spark was instantaneous, but he never expected to see her again. While the spark is still there for them both, Alexis is a little more gun shy as her past relationship has left her jaded and wounded. As they work together, they fight their attraction until they can’t anymore. However, when her-ex comes back for her, Eli is determined to fight for her for good this time. 

Carrie Ann Ryan’s books are known for edgy and steamy romances. I looked forward to One Way Back to Me as I love military and ex-military romances. And I loved the idea of this story as a sort of second chance romance and I liked the characters. I loved the banter between the brothers and the sexual tension between Eli and Alexis. I even loved the setting up for the conflict with the villains of the story. However, there was too much of an information dump with backstories of each brother and their issues. I feel there was so much information upfront, there was nothing left to reveal as a plot twist or add to the mystery. I had high expectations for this romance and overall, I was disappointed and will not be continuing the series. If you are a fan of Carrie Ann Ryan, you may enjoy One Way Back to Me. 

One Way Back to Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Snowbirds: a couple heads south for the winter and finds themselves at a crossroads

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy is a story of a couple who flees the Midwest winter in Palm Springs and finds their relationship at a crossroads. For thirty years, Kim and Grant had a great “separate but together” partnership, raising their twin daughters together. However, when the realities of middle age have reared its ugly head, flying south for the winter seemed to be the perfect solution. Kim immediately feels at home at the Le Desert community while Grant struggles. When Grant goes missing while on a hike, Kim faces two possibilities: Grant is truly lost or he has finally left her. As the search for Grant proceeds, Kim searches their life together and asks the question what does it take to truly commit to someone for a lifetime. Will Grant be found? Is their life together over? 

In The Snowbirds, Ms. Clancy sets out to explore “the redemptive power of finding ourselves and being found” with “compassion and humor” starts out great and what it means to truly commit to someone. However, while the story started out great, as the story jumps into the search for Grant and flashbacks to their life together, it quickly falls flat as Kim and Grant are hard to relate to and even unlikeable, especially in the story’s flashbacks. It is hard for me to relate to the “separate but together” partnerships, which can happen in unmarried and married couples. Overall, I was bored. I didn’t really care for Kim and her search for Grant. While I may not be the right reader for this type of story, there are readers out there who might connect with the characters and their relationships. 

The Snowbirds will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on February 4, 2025

Chasing Valentino: romance and old Hollywood

Chasing Valentino is the first book in the Hollywood by the Sea series by Julie Carobini. Greta grew up knowing that her great grandmother, Elizabeth, had starred with Rudolph Valentino in the 1921 film, The Sheik. She also wondered why she gave it up for a less-than glamorous life. When a 100 year old postcard arrives in the mailbox, new questions arise. As her life is currently at a stand still, she decides to head to California and trace her great-gran’s footsteps. Unfortunately, when she arrives in the fabled Hollywood by the Sea. she didn’t expect her grumpy neighbor, Dr Zac Holt, to insult her at their first meeting. Zac has developed a sour attitude but he can’t help but be drawn to Greta’s warmth and curious nature. His attempts to make amends are met with caution as Greta didn’t come looking for love but for answers. Can her search into the past heal them both and give a future…together? 

Rudolph Valentino was the first heartthrob and with his sudden death sent shockwaves through the world and into Hollywood history. Chasing Valentino is a love letter to the old Hollywood and the power of discovering yourself in the past. At first, Greta and Zac were hard characters to love as they had their own hurts and struggles and yet their subtle but sweet romance was endearing to read. I wouldn’t call it a grumpy-sunshine romance, more like grumpy-grumpy romance as they both had been jaded by love. However, as they spend time together, following the path of her great-grandmother, they find just a bit of hope in love again. I loved their friendship with mutual neighbors, Helen and Gus. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Chasing Valentino. I enjoyed the look into the early days of Hollywood, the myths and legends surrounding Hollywood’s first heartthrob and that romance wasn’t over the top. If you love old Hollywood and romance, I recommend Chasing Valentino. 

Chasing Valentino is available in paperback and eBook