Happy Reading

Toni's bookshelf: read

The Godfather of Kathmandu (Sonchai Jitpleecheep, #4)
Ape House
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Operation Napoleon
Walking Dead
The Sentimentalists
The Heretic Queen
The Midnight House
Cross Fire
Peony in Love
Absurdistan
Nefertiti
Finding Nouf: A Novel
City of Veils: A Novel
First Daughter
A Place of Hiding
Amagansett
Peter Pan


Toni Osborne's favorite books »
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Thursday, February 21, 2019

"The Secret Life of Mac", by Melinda Metz

This is a charming little story of MacGyver a tabby who is a kleptomaniac and loves a good challenge by playing matchmaker….he thinks humans are hopeless when it comes to romance and crazy for not following their instincts.

Mac is simply a loveable kitty and is definitely the star in the fiction. We meet him from the start where he lives with his humans and a bonehead of a dog named Diogee. Mac’s owners are on their honeymoon and is left in the care of Briony, a cousin now house/pet-sitter. Briony just left her fiancĂ© at the alter and Mac sense her sadness so he springs into action, back to his old tricks and sets her up with Nate, owner of a retirement home…..awe……

We have a cute romance and a little mystery going on: someone is trying to sabotage the retirement home and Nate has to find out who is doing it and why…. … no more pussyfooting for Mac he is out for the kill….and a little matchmaking….

Where this story excels is in the descriptive writing. Through MacGyver’s eyes the author’s expresses clearly his point of view. His voice is clear and loud, he is simply an adorable feline. Most of the story tells how the two main characters see their lives with tid-bits of Mac’s manoeuvers inserted here and there. The best part is definitely MacGyver no doubt in my mind. The human players main and secondary are good and well defined but Mac is my hero…:)

If you like cats and know how they think you will enjoy “The Secret of Mac” it will hit all those soft spots. This book is such a delightful read…Enjoy.

I received this review copy from the publisher Kensington Books via NetGalleys for my thoughts

Friday, February 15, 2019

"The Sky Above Us", by Sarah Sundin

Book#2, Sunrise at Normandy

This historical romance is sweet tale set at a time when ordinary men had to do extraordinary things, and when women first explored non- traditional roles.

“The Sky Above Us” is a heart melting adventure history-filled second to “The Sea Before Us” where three brothers have their say. This time Lt. Adler Paxton takes center stage and we follow him while he is in England with the US 357th Fighter Group to battle the German Luftwaffe in 1943.

This story is also of Violet Lindstrom who serves in the American Red Cross where she arranges entertainment for the troops at the Aeroclub. Both are numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets…..no need to expand you well know what comes next….

This story although has its suspenseful moments it did not quite resonate and I felt it dragged way too much. Adler is portrayed as the typical fly-boy who seeks forgiveness to become a better person and as the story moves on he of course with the help of Violet reaches peace of mind. Violet on her side is in charge of entertainment and we follow her on her day to day life entertaining kids and the troop while patiently waiting for Adler safe return to base.

Well done is the dog-fight over the skies of Normandy to clear a way for bombers and how Adler became an ACE. What particularly excels is how the story captures the turmoil and struggles of the time and the inner battles the two main characters face each day.

The author definitely did a lot of research and has provided a lot of details about flying planes and some military aspects of war. We also find a lot of spiritual aspects, biblical quotations and prayers throughout this story. Men prayed for their safe return home and women for their men to come back in one piece. This story is definitely a military romance with all the Christian elements we can have…


Received this ARC from the publisher Revell via the first reviewer program for my thoughts

Thursday, February 7, 2019

"The Birds That Stay", by Ann Lambert

This complex novel spins a beautifully laid out mystery set in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains where its inhabitants will play out a collection of events that shaped their lives. Each player reveals memories recalling how life was growing up. While the enigmatic Chief Inspector Romeo Leduc reluctantly answers the call when a reclusive older woman is found strangled in her home….seems the investigation will weave the sins of the past with today’s devastating consequences.

Ms. Lambert’s words clearly resonated not only did I picture vividly the scenery I also reminisced with her characters. Being a Montrealer I enjoy Canadian authors who set their stories near or in my home town and uses the patois and expressions of most of us French Quebecer do. The author does a magnificent job in doing so. It actually made me smile….yes, we really do speak this way….The mystery in itself is very slow in development a bit too slow for my taste but the complexity and the array of fascinating characters made up for it. Yes, it may be slow but no less has gripping tension to keep us glued to every word till the very end. Do not look for great police procedural this story dives more into the background and motivations of its players than anything else. The streets of Montreal 1970, the beautiful Laurentians (not so much today it is-30C) and Hungary 1944 revisited…..and lots more ……well-done.

I received this Arc from the publisher Second Story Press via Netgalleys

Friday, February 1, 2019

"The Peace Killers", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter # 2

This is another riveting story hard to put down. Mr. Patterson is at the top of his game and has provided once more a fast paced, exciting adventure played out by his most loveable although deadly characters: Zeb and the twin sisters Beth and Meghan. No worries, this second book can be read on its own merits.

The plot is as current as today’s news: a plan for peace between Israel and Palestine. In this exciting suspense, Israel is on the brink of war when Mossad is accused of murdering Palestinian peace negotiators. Zeb Carter will go to any means to find out who was behind the attack even if all hell breaks loose in doing so…of course it will…and following Zeb is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. I am a huge fan of this author and love how graphic his stories are, I could visualize each scene as clearly as if I was seeing it on the big screen. The action is very suspenseful and I was kept on the edge of my seat following everything and hoping Zeb and the twins will do their magic. In “The Peace Killers”, not only we have terrific protagonists but we also have a huge cast of equally intelligent and capable good and bad characters. Stay alert, concentration is needed to keep track of the comings and goings but it is well worth it.

I join those who say that Mr. Patterson’s books are always relevant and address today’s issues….well-done as always.

This series is a spin off to the Warriors thrillers series