THE NEWCOMER by Robyn Carr

March 12, 2019

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Thunder Point, Book 2

From the publisher:

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr explores letting go of the past—and finding something worth building a future on

Single dad and Thunder Point’s deputy sheriff “Mac” McCain has worked hard to keep his town safe and his daughter happy. Now he’s found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they’re feeling like teenagers themselves—suddenly they can’t get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac’s long-lost ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. Mac and Gina know they’re meant to be together, but can their newfound love withstand the pressure?

I am ripping through this series, per usual with anything Carr writes. And looking at the reviews on Goodreads, I’m not alone. There are literally thousands of 4-5 star reviews.

The main characters in this romance, Mac and Gina, were the subplot of the first book in the series but here they take center stage. Carr also likes to include a bit of suspense in her love stories, and the mystery here is why Mac’s ex-wife has shown up ten years after abandoning her children and her husband. She had signed away all her custody rights but Mac understands that the children are curious about their mother. Especially the younger ones, who barely remember her. On the other hand, Eve is a teenager now and she definitely remembers her mother and has some very understandable anger issues. But there is more to this story than this surface tension, and it takes an interesting and somewhat suspenseful twist.

The second romance here is about Cooper, who is the newcomer to Thunder Point, and Sarah, a Coast Guard helicopter pilot who is single-handedly raising her teenage brother after the deaths of their parents. Sarah always has the problem of being reassigned hanging over her head, she has had to move along with her brother several times. And now that he is happy and settled in Thunder Point and the star of the football team in time for his senior year, along with the scholarship opportunities that represents, a rumor surfaces that she may be transferred yet again. Cooper knows something is going on with her, but she isn’t talking.

Another heart-wrenching subplot is about Ashley, Gina’s teenage daughter, who is suffering the effects of a broken heart and even worse, digital bullying which truly adds to the turmoil. Despite that, I’m really enjoying getting to know the people in Thunder Point. It is a mostly idyllic town filled with kind, generous people that I wish were my neighbors.

I finished this book and immediately picked up book three in the series. I know have a bunch of other books to read, new books that I’ve been waiting for, but I can’t seem to help myself! This series  probably needs to be read in order. I know as I read on I get more and more invested in these characters and that always makes for a better book. So start with book one, The Wanderer. The next book in the series is The Hero and I’ve already started it. Review forthcoming.

3/19 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE NEWCOMER by Robyn Carr.  MIRA; 1st edition (June 25, 2013). ISBN 978-0778314523. 360p.

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OF FIRE AND LIONS by Mesu Andrews

March 10, 2019

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A well written novel based on the Old Testament story of Daniel. The author evidences a great deal of research in presenting a novel like account of the life and times of the prophet. Daniel lived during the tumultuous times characterized by the rule of Nebuchadnezzar over the city state of Babylon and his conquests of much of the known world. The novel begins as the young girl Abigail is taken prisoner by the invading army of the Babylonians conquering Jerusalem and taking her and many others captives. They are being brought to Babylon as slaves. Along with her are five young men including Daniel and four of his friends. Daniel takes a liking and interest in Abigail starting a lifetime of love between them.

Andrews does not gloss over the miracles attributed to Daniel’s times and caused by the one god, Yahweh, that was worshiped by his people. There is the survival of his friends thrown into a blazing furnace and the later survival by Daniel of being thrown into a pit with several hungry lions. He is brought to Babylon in order to be trained to govern under the sway of Nebuchadnezzar along with other selected Hebrews as a means of assuring the rule of a wide variety of men selected from Babylon’s conquests. This is seen as a means of assuring loyalty to Babylon and is a far reaching belief going beyond the period being looked at.

Andrews, as is her practice, has done a good deal of research into the period surrounding Daniel’s life both by close reading of the book of Daniel and other prophets of that era as well as other surviving works available at present day. Literary license allows the author to resurrect conversations that possibly could have taken place based on events depicted. As an historical work the recreating of the world of about 500 B.C. is truly an engrossing project. The book is made into both a captivating novel as well as the creation of life lived in another and stranger period. The novel is by any definition a mesmerizing read and an all nighter for the reader.

3/19 Paul Lane

OF FIRE AND LIONS by Mesu Andrews. WaterBrook (March 5, 2019). ISBN 978-0735291867. 400p.

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THE WANDERER by Robyn Carr

March 9, 2019

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Thunder Point, Book 1

From the publisher:

From Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Virgin River novels, comes Thunder Point—the highly anticipated new series that will make you laugh, make you sigh, and make you fall in love with a small town filled with people you’ll never forget.

Nestled on the Oregon coast is a small town of rocky beaches and rugged charm. Locals love the land’s unspoiled beauty. Developers see it as a potential gold mine. When newcomer Hank Cooper learns he’s been left an old friend’s entire beachfront property, he finds himself with a community’s destiny in his hands.

Cooper has never been a man to settle in one place, and Thunder Point was supposed to be just another quick stop. But Cooper finds himself getting involved with the town. And with Sarah Dupre, a woman as complicated as she is beautiful.

With the whole town watching for his next move, Cooper has to choose between his old life and a place full of new possibilities. A place that just might be home.

 

I’ve read several Robyn Carr books, including the entire Virgin River series, most if not all of Sullivan’s Crossing and Grace Valley. I was in the mood for another series so I picked up The Wanderer, the first book in the Thunder Point series. All of these series are loosely tied together so starting a new one actually feels like going home again. I love the world Carr creates and I really love spending time with her characters. My only complaint is the sex is all the same in every book with every character, all the women have heart shaped kissable lips and well, you get the idea. But it is a minor complaint and really, I wouldn’t keep going back to her books if it truly bothered me.

There are two romances going on in this first book. Cooper and Sarah are the main story. The town cop. Mac, and his best friend, Gina, are the subplot romance. There is also a bit of a mystery here. Coop shows up in Thunder Point because his friend Ben has died, supposedly from a fall down the cellar stairs. But Coop wants to check things out himself. If you’ve read the Virgin River books, then these names should sound familiar – Luke, Ben and Coop are old friends.

The small town of Thunder Point is on the Oregon coast. Because this is the first book of a new series, it is a bit slow to build. There are lots of descriptions of the area and the people who live in this small town. and the descriptions make me want to check it out! If only it was real. Oh well, at least I can visit there through the nine books in this series. Moving on to The Newcomer, book number two. Stay tuned!

3/19 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE WANDERER by Robyn Carr.  MIRA; 1st edition (March 26, 2013). ISBN 978-0778314479. 377p.

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BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM by Peter Swanson

March 8, 2019

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Hen (short for Henrietta) and her husband Lloyd have just moved into a new house just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. They start to meet their neighbors shortly after moving in as a normal activity for people changing into a new environment.

Hen is an illustrator, and a fairly successful one. She is bipolar and has had a bad experience some years ago with a murder of someone that was close to her at that point. But she seems to be on the right meds with her condition controlled and has found happiness with Lloyd and with her work. This was until she and Lloyd in their process of meeting neighbors are invited to Matthew and his wife’s home. Hen sees a sports trophy displayed which she is sure belonged to the person murdered years ago and realizes that Matthew is probably the murderer.

Certainly this recognition would normally provide the ingredients of a great story with Hen reporting her suspicions to the police and than later confronting Matthew as he actually murders another man. But Swanson takes us far beyond one crime as the reader is introduced to Matthew’s psychotic brother Richard, Lloyd’s affair with another woman and her murder, and a probable description of the crime occurring years ago that Hen was privy to. A convoluted set of events certainly but put together by a master of the genre and bringing a great story and some sleepless nights to a fascinated reader. The ending is not broadcast but is logical based on events described with further books by Swanson eagerly awaited.

3/19 Paul Lane

BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM by Peter Swanson. William Morrow (March 5, 2019). ISBN 978-0062838155. 320p.

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THE DEVIL ASPECT by Craig Russell

March 7, 2019

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A novel that is guaranteed to grab hold of the reader immediately and not let go until the finale. It should be termed dark, but not gothic, although the concept of malevolent spirits permeates its pages. Viktor Kosarek is a young recently graduated psychiatrist who had studied under Carl Jung, one of the fathers of modern psychiatry. It is 1935 and set in a Czechoslovakia with the advent of Nazism on the horizon as Viktor seeks his first job. He holds the theory that evil in a person is due mainly to an evil spirit existing within the makeup of people. That the reason for murder taking place is the pressure brought by this force beyond the ability of the person to control.

Viktor’s theories catch the attention of the manager of a famous insane asylum known as the Hrad Orlu asylum for the criminally insane. At the time the asylum houses only six patients who are among the most horrific killers in Europe . He is invited to work at the asylum attempting to treat the six and prove his theory. Upon arrival Viktor begins sessions with the six; One woman and five men. He is aided with a young lady, Judita, handling the written transcription for the interviews with the patients. She is Jewish and is attempting to flee Europe ahead of the Nazi terror she realizes is coming. A love affair does develop between her and Viktor which plays out in the background.

A second scenario is developed dealing with a serial killer known only as Leather Apron who is terrorizing Prague. His methods of slaughter are reminiscent of England’s Jack the Ripper murderer. Russell follows the chase led by a policeman and also ties in ancient legends about evil entities that have permeated Czechoslovakia’s past.

The reader will be led into reading about murder at its most horrible with descriptions of mutilated bodies that can definitely be very difficult to bear. These are tied into Viktor’s findings in a logical way that helps lead to a finale that is logical and ends the novel in a manner very suited to the story being told. An excellent piece of dark literature that will keep readers glued to the pages attempting to discern an ending that is certainly not telegraphed but is quite satisfying.

3/19 Paul Lane

THE DEVIL ASPECT by Craig Russell. Doubleday (March 5, 2019). ISBN 978-0385544368. 432p.

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MR. ACCIDENTAL HERO by Gina Robinson

March 6, 2019

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Jet City Matchmaker Series, Book 1

From the publisher:

One beautiful and mysterious woman. One hot multimillionaire looking for his soul mate. When their matchmaker gets involved, though, falling in love is anything but accidental.

Jeremy Marino is the kind of guy who runs towards the sound of gunfire, leaping in to help anyone in trouble. His friends call him the accidental hero. He always seems to be at the right place at the right time to save a life.

Crystal Pruitt is the kind of woman who instinctively jumps in to help people in trouble. Her friends call her the accidental heroine. But a cool-hunter like her can’t afford any publicity.

When they meet working to save a trucker from his burning beer truck, the chemistry between them is off the charts. Until Crystal disappears into the gathering crowd, leaving Jeremy wondering if he’ll ever be able to find her again. Was their attraction real or just the heat of the moment?

This came up as a free Kindle book from BookBub, and if you haven’t heard about this site, check it out. If you like inexpensive or free ebooks, it is definitely worth a visit. I think the most expensive book I’ve seen on there is about $3.99, many are $1.99 or free. It’s one of the best emails I get every day.

I grabbed this free book and gave it a read and I was very glad I did. It is short, only 234 pages so almost a novella, but the characters and back stories are developed enough in that time frame. I actually thought it was possibly the second book in the series, but by the end I realized what was going on.

Crystal is a great character, strong, fierce, sure of her own self worth. I’ve had it with women with low self esteem; Crystal is the antithesis of that and a refreshing change in the romance genre. More and more strong women characters are populating this genre and I couldn’t be happier about it. Our hero, Jeremy, is literally that; he and Crystal meet when they are inadvertently at the scene of a horrific truck accident and they both jump in to save the driver. But like Cinderella, Crystal takes off before he can get her name or number.

Enter Ashley, one of Jeremy’s closest friends and a super successful professional matchmaker. She has been trying for over a year to find Jeremy a wife, he is more than ready to settle down. But he is intrigued with the mystery woman he met at the accident, so when she sets him up with Crystal, he half-heartedly agrees to meet her for coffee, not an auspicious beginning. But once they realize that they have met and where, the sparks fly and the romance is full on fire.

This was a super fast read, partly because it is a short book but mostly because the story is so engaging. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more books in the series.

02/19 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

MR. ACCIDENTAL HERO by Gina Robinson. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (January 15, 2018).  ISBN 978-1981468492.  234p.

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CEMETERY ROAD by Greg Iles

March 5, 2019

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There is one absolute truism in any of Iles’ books written about the American south and set in the twentieth century: There will be a man or woman that is inherently good and facing a group that is evil personified. Just prior to the present novel he was involved in writing several books centered in the city of Natchez. His principal character became involved with fighting a group calling itself the “Double Eagles”. The story actually painted the villains as being involved with both the assassination of John F. Kennedy as well as running Natchez.

Cemetery Road introduces Marshall McEwan in the role of principal protagonist and a shadow group known as the “Poker Club.” Marshall grew up in the small town of Bienville, Mississippi. He was an athlete, a good student and in love with a girl nicknamed Jet. Jet seemed to reciprocate this love until circumstances drove them apart. Marshall left his birthplace, went to Washington, D.C. and over eighteen years gained a well earned reputation as a great reporter. He found himself in many dangerous areas and it appeared that he would continue. His work won him a Pulitzer prize capping his already great reputation.

His progress was interrupted by his mother calling him to return to Bienville to run the family newspaper. His father who was the editor in chief had suffered a major coronary and Marshall was asked to keep things moving until his father recuperated. The biggest problem for Marshall was that he ran into his old girl friend Jet. She was married to Paul, a boyhood friend of his, but it looked like she and Marshall were still in love with each other. While they planned to leave together when Marshall was free to return to his Journalistic career Jet was hampered by Kevin, her son, and the obvious fact that her husband would never let him leave with his mother.

The circumstances of the novel include the winning of the construction of a big Paper mill by the Chinese government In Bienville and the prospect of more jobs, higher wages and added fortunes for members of the Poker Club. A murder of a man that found ancient bones and works at the proposed site of the paper mill with the prospect of the town losing the site and the Mill galvanizes the actions of both Marshall and the Poker Club in different points of view. Marshall to expose the murder and the club to protect their turf.

Iles is a superb builder of characters for his novels and Cemetery Road is no exception. How will the affair between Marshall and Jet turn out? And, of course will the Poker club succeed in keeping the knowledge of a probable historic site from the U.S. government and the turning of it into a protected national park. Like his previous novels centered on Natchez, this one is possibly the first of more. But it stands alone as a completely mesmerizing read with the questions raised by the ending not spoiling the enjoyment of a great author at his best.

3/19 Paul Lane

CEMETERY ROAD by Greg Iles. William Morrow (March 5, 2019). ISBN 978-0062824615. 608p.

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THE WRONG HIGHLANDER by Lynsay Sands

March 3, 2019

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Highland Brides, Book 7

From the publisher:

A laird’s daughter kidnaps a Highlander—and loses her heart… in New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands’ new historical romance

Lady Evina Maclean has heard much about Rory Buchanan’s skill as a healer. What she hasn’t heard is how good the brawny Highlander looks bathing in a waterfall. But Evina can’t afford the distraction, for her ailing father urgently needs care. Only when she’s rendered Buchanan unconscious and dragged him back to her family’s castle does the truth emerge—it’s not Rory she’s kidnapped but his brother Conran.

Other ladies try to ensnare Conran with flattery. Evina hits him over the head with the hilt of her sword to save her kin—and Conran likes the spirited redhead all the more for it. He’s learned enough from his brother to heal Evina’s father, but there are other dangers swirling around the Maclean clan. And while the beautiful, independent lady has sworn not to marry, this wrong Highlander may be just the right man for her.

I started this series with book 5, and I didn’t love it. But I forgot that and read book 6, which I liked a lot so here I am. I really enjoyed this latest entry in the series so now I think I will try at least one of the earlier books.

I love historical romances with strong women characters, and Sands introduces a new one here in Lady Evina. She rides her horse astride, carries a sword and is expert enough in sword fighting that she helps train the men. So when her father is dying, out of desperation she takes off in search of Rory Buchanan, who is reputed to be the most skilled healer in all of Scotland. She arrives at the Buchanan property to find a horse with a saddlebag stuffed with medicinal herbs, but the rider is apparently showering under the waterfall. When one of her men approaches him, he lashes out and Lady Evina rushes in and knocks him out with her sword.

They take the unconscious healer, tie him to the horse, and set off at a rapid pace for home. Lady Evina is praying that her father is still alive when they get there. Eventually the healer comes to, they make it back and he immediately starts seeing to the laird.

The confusion arises because it turns out the man she kidnapped is not Rory, but his brother, the always helpful Conran. He was out helping his brother collect medicinal herbs when he was called away to attend a patient, leading to the mistaken identity. Conran doesn’t bother to correct them, he has helped his brother enough that he knows what to do.

Conran and Evina have instant attraction. When she tells him she is married, he backs off immediately. Then he finds out that she is actually widowed, and he decides a dalliance with the merry widow might be fun. Except turns out Evina was married and widowed as a child, leading to some very uncomfortable sex and a compromising position.

There is also a bit of suspense throughout this story, as there was in the other books I’ve read in this series. This time it appears someone is trying to kill Evina, and that suspense keeps building, helping make the pages fly by. This was another terrific read, and the Highlands setting is a good way to help me through the Droughtlander.

3/19 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE WRONG HIGHLANDER by Lynsay Sands. Avon (February 5, 2019).  ISBN 978-0062890672. 288p.

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CALIFORNIA GIRLS by Susan Mallery

March 2, 2019

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From the publisher:

The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…

Finola, a popular LA morning-show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by the news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.

Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.

Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.

But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.

Susan Mallery writes great characters then puts them through hell, but they always find their happily ever after which is why I keep reading her. These sisters care about each other but also recognize each other’s faults. Even though I didn’t necessarily love all the sisters equally, I quickly became invested in what happened to them. I was especially rooting for Ali, who felt that Finola was her mother’s favorite and Zennie was her father’s favorite, leaving her out in the cold. So when her fiance dumps her via his brother, I really felt for her.

Finola’s world crashes when her husband leaves her for a young pop star, who is a bitch, by the way. Finola’s reactions felt very real to me, and I liked watching this character learn about herself and grow. I was very surprised by, and especially loved, her happy ending.

Zennie’s break up isn’t really even a break up. She went out with Clark a few times, thought he was nice but she just wasn’t interested in a relationship. So when he dumps her, it’s more surprising than upsetting as usually Zennie is the one to walk away. Meanwhile her best friend, a cancer survivor, asks her to be a surrogate so she and her husband can have a baby. After some soul searching Zennie agrees, but her family and friends are not all on board with her decision. Again the reactions all the way around felt real to me. So did Zennie occasionally thinking about Clark; after all, she wasn’t the one who dumped him and that gives her pause.

Mallery does such a good job with family dynamics and intersperses plenty of drama and laughter and of course, romance. I found myself totally engrossed, staying up much too late to finish it. But I had to get to the happy ending and I’m very glad I did. Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors.

3/19 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CALIFORNIA GIRLS by Susan Mallery. Forever (January 29, 2019). ISBN 978-1455541829. 496p.

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HOMECOMING by Andrew Pyper

February 28, 2019

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After learning of the death of their mostly absentee father, Aaron and his sister Bridget (Bridge) Quinlan are summoned to a vast property in the Pacific Northwest in order to hear details of Dad’s will. There they meet their mother and another sister. The will indicates that their father left a good deal of money to be divided up among the family. There is one unexplained condition, which is to stay on the property without leaving the grounds for 30 days. Can’t be that bad so they agree. But totally unexpectedly another group shows up the following day and is another group of Quinlan children. The discussions among both groups gives rise to the obvious conclusion that the frequent absences by the father are explained by the apparent fact that he had two separate families with one not knowing about the other.

The two groups get to know each other when something out of the ordinary happens. A very tall man-like figure and apparently an old lady are spotted wandering around in the forest surrounding the property. On top of that there is a group of buildings found in semi repair which looks like it was a camp.

The reader at this point could come to the conclusion that this is a ghost story. The reality is that Pyper has created something much more imaginative than a simple tale about wandering ghosts. None of the events in the beginning of the novel point directly at the ending. When it does occur it is something so out of any conclusions reached by the reader that the obvious idea is that it wasn’t prepared for by any action Pyper describes. But it is and so well done that the long hours spent reading the book are rewarded by one of the most ingenious stories that I have read in a long time.

My final reaction is that I want more, but based on the events and the finale this may not be possible. Even so this book is a must read, as is any future works by Andrew Pyper.

2/19 Paul Lane

HOMECOMING by Andrew Pyper. Simon & Schuster (February 26, 2019). ISBN 978-1982108977. 368p.

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