book love

From My Bookshelf – A Spy in the Struggle by Aya de Leon

Yolanda Vance has a new assignment. As a fairly new FBI agent, it’s a bit of a surprise that they are giving her an undercover assignment but she will fit nicely into the job. Returning to the town where she attended college, her task is to infiltrate a group called Red, Black, and Green. She’s been told that it is a group of extremist activists that must be stopped.

But the people she meets aren’t anything like what she was told to expect. And her understanding of how the world works has to be altered when she realizes that simple determination to succeed isn’t always enough when you come from a neighborhood like Holloway.

As circumstances and evidence begin to point to a truth far different than her bosses have told her, Yolanda begins to question everything about the case she is working on. Who exactly are her bosses protecting and why? Does Yolanda have the courage to put another job at risk to do the right thing? And what about the unexpected romance in her life? Will she lose that once she tells him the truth about who she is?

Yolanda’s focus has always been on her own success. But what would she have to compromise this time to make that success a reality?

Well-crafted characters, a beautifully constructed plot . . . definitely found a new author to love with this book!

From My Bookshelf – The Audacity to be Divine by Judith Halbreich

I had never heard Mary Mrozowski’s name before reading this book. Now I know I will never forget it. Written by Mary’s daughter Judith, this book uses Mary’s own words to describe her personal journey from a painful childhood, through an unhappy marriage, and finally to a place where she learned to live her faith out in real, tangible ways in every moment of her life. A very worthwhile read.

From My Bookshelf – No Place to Hide by Opa Hysea Wise

When I saw that Kirkus Review called this book a “queer thriller”, I was intrigued. Now that I’ve read the book I would add that it also is a touch atmospheric. The author allows us to glimpse Smythe’s thoughts and allows us to experience her journey as it’s happening. Along with the “thrill of the chase”, Smythe’s growth throughout the course of the story adds an element of relatability to the story.

I love finding new authors at the beginning of their careers and I can’t wait to see how Wise follows up this captivating debut!

#Indiecember

In the most recent installment of “From My Bookshelf” I want to talk about one of my favorite months for books. The amazing Megan Tennant (click on her name to check out her Twitter feed) hosts an event that is called “Indiecember”. It’s different from every other reading challenge or readathon out there in that the goal is to REVIEW books, not just read them. Specifically we are challenged to review books by independent or self-published authors.

I first came across Megan’s name when my daughter recommended her book “Aletheia” to me. An indie author herself, Megan understands the importance of book reviews in helping to promote the work of authors that don’t have a big name publisher doing the publicity.

So get ready – I’ll be using this space to hype up the indie books I’m reading and reviewing this month. I just love finding new gems each December!

Quarantined Pages

I am typing this in June of 2020. Since March 13 of 2020 life has been . . . odd. The country has been dealing with the impact of a world wide pandemic. Schools and universities finished their year with students learning and working online from home. Business shifted to work-from-home set ups whenever and wherever possible . . . it’s been a shut-down/quarantine/isolation of sorts. Introverts loved it (until they realized that the rest of their family was going to constantly be underfoot!) and extroverts weren’t sure how we were going to survive!

Enter seven outstanding Booktube personalities! (If you don’t know what Booktube is you are missing out! It’s an entire community of book lovers and book reviewers who create content on Youtube!) They created a daily reading time that they called Quarantined Pages. Using Zoom meetings, readers from all over the world gathered together for an hour of silent reading after which we would discuss the books we were reading. As time went on, the group was acknowledged by Forbes and others which brought new members to our get-togethers! The organizers even found authors willing to come chat about their work! Some have been debut authors trying to get their first book out into the world at a time when book tours and book signings are not happening. Others have been established authors talking about their newest work. No matter the case, each of those “author chats” has been an absolute joy to be a part of!

A Twitter feed, a reading list on Goodreads, special registrations for the author chats . . . the numbers varied from one meeting to the next and we were checking in from LITERALLY all over the world. But one thing has been constant – At 51 years of age I might be the oldest face to show up and I feel completely embraced each and every time – they have become, for lack of a better term, my “bookish family”. Those who attend cover all ages, ethnic groups, gender identity groups . . . the only thing about us that is exactly the same is that we love to share books. And some of us get REALLY expressive when we experience “bookish joy” (I’m lookin’ at you Adri and Noria!).

I’ve had a few people chuckle when I’ve told them about this. But for this extroverted people person, this daily get-together of fellow book lovers became the one thing on my calendar that I could count on to occur exactly when it was scheduled to in a world when so many things were cancelled. Many of us have connected on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads . . . several of us have found new Booktube personalities to follow and we ALL have gotten a number of books to add to our personal wish lists!

To some it might seem like a simple thing. Maybe even a little silly. But when the world shut down from a pandemic, reading became a thing that connected a group of strangers and gave me something to look forward to every day. And I’m ever so grateful to have found such a unique, special online community.

From My Bookshelf – Kingdom of Liars (Nick Martell)

Michael Kingman has grown up under a dark cloud. When he was merely a child, his father was executed for killing the prince. Michael and his sister, Gwen, and brother, Lyon, were branded, forever marked as traitors. Raised by a foster father, the three siblings attempt to forge their way in a world that once revered their family name. “There must always be a Kingman in Hollow.” But what exactly were the Kingman children supposed to do when they were no longer tasked with protecting the members of the royal family to whom they had pledged? To make matters worse, their mother is in an asylum, her mind seemingly gone. But she does not possess the ability to wield any kind of Fabrication so her loss of memory makes absolutely no sense. Then Michael begins to hear rumors that maybe, just maybe, his father had been framed. But who can he trust? Not everyone in his life is who he or she appears to be. And he has never shown any ability with Fabrications so why are their holes in his own memory?

The world-building is outstanding, the character development captivating, and the story . . . well, the story will draw you in and refuse to let you go. Not everyone is who they claim to be and there are more secrets being kept than Michael can possibly imagine. This may be the first novel from author Nick Martell, but what a debut! This is to be the first in a series and there is PLENTY yet to be revealed in Michael’s story. Martell has definitely planted himself firmly on my “best of the year” list.

From My Bookshelf – Conscience by Cecilia London

Book 2 picks up right where book 1, Dissident, left us. The action is intense from the first page and it doesn’t let up. As she did in the first book, London artfully weaves flashbacks with current-day scenes creating an artistic approach that is captivating. With the simple headings “Present” and “The Fed” the reader has no difficulty keeping track of where they are in time.

What can I say about Caroline and Jack?! Two political opposites who find a loving partnership with one another and become a power couple to be reckoned with. They may not always see eye to eye but they ALWAYS support one another in the end.

The story is intense, fast-paced, emotionally rich, and left me with my hands shaking and a small knot in my stomach. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

From My Bookshelf – Enchant by Demelza Carlton

Retellings are a guilty pleasure of mine so I was drawn to this book (and the others in the series!). I’m especially fond of Beauty & the Beast and have read a few retellings of the familiar tale. So it takes something truly original to surprise.

Carlton delivered! When a young enchantress must assist an evil king who wishes to curse his brother, she has no clue the long-reaching impact it will have. Or that she will have the chance to make it right once she discovers what has happened. But will the Prince still love her once he realizes she is the cause of his curse?

Demelza Carlton has re-told several well-known tales. This is the first I’ve read and it will definitely not be the last!

From My Bookshelf – Buried by Lynda Plante

This is the first book I’ve read by Lynda La Plante and I’m more than a little excited to have gotten in on the first book in a new series! DC Jack Warr has done a decent job as an officer of the law. He isn’t the most driven individual on the force, but he can get the job done. His girlfriend, Maggie, and his new boss, DCI Simon Ridley, would like to see a little more passion from Jack when it comes to career aspirations. When Jack receives devastating news right as an intriguing case has landed in his lap, it’s all the motivation he needs to become truly passionate about pursuing the truth. But is his focus really on getting the job done? Or finding answers for himself? Where is the line between diligent investigating and obsession?

Tying together crimes committed decades apart, La Plante creates characters that are simultaneously frustrating and likable. The plot was well-crafted and just complex enough to keep you guessing. I look forward to the rest of the series!

From My Bookshelf – Cambiare by Avery Ames

If you start reading this book expecting a typical fae story, you are going to be shocked. Very, VERY shocked. Princess Cirelle makes a deal with a mysterious fae named Ellian to save her brother and former lover from a plague that is devastating her kingdom. The price Cirelle has to pay? One year of servitude in Ellian’s home. Cirelle knows much of the lore concerning fae and thinks she is prepared for her adventure. But there’s a dark side to her that is brought to the surface in the fae realm. As Ellian says, “There’s something dark inside you, Princess, and I’m afraid I’m setting it free.”

Intense emotions, subterfuge and plotting, and a small rebellion trying to prevent the queen of the Unseelie Court from locking the door between the fae realm and the human world. This one will keep you guessing right up until the last page and then leave you waiting for the sequel!