"The Silent Sisters", by Robert Dugoni

Charles Jenkins #3

This series is around sleeper agents and one American’s duty to protect those involved. In this third installment, Charles Jenkins is approached by his CIA handler to return to Russia on a mission to ensure Intel is not lost and to help extricate the last of a sleeper cell that is being hunted by the Russian authorities. Out of “The Seven Sisters” two are left to bring out but Jenkins has been a fugitive from the Russian authorities for a long time and they are also on the lookout for him, if caught things can turn ugly fast.

Although this was my first book in this series I never felt lost not having read the previous books. Mr. Dugoni incorporated enough background to situate us without overwhelming his narrative with past details. As a 6’5” black man Jenkins definitely stands out in Russia and requires a number of ingenious disguises but disguise or not his first plan goes awry when he gets involved in an altercation that end in the death of a most powerful organized crime leaders’ son. Now Jenkins not only has the Ruskys on his tails but also the syndicate.

This fast-paced thriller moves flipping between Mafioso, Russian intelligence and spies and never waivers or slows down. So many twists and turns and harrowing moments to keep us on our toes and eager to see where all this will lead. The prose is vivid, colorful and engaging. The characters are strong. There is much going on and a need to keep things straight is a must as the tension mounts and gains speed. Thank goodness for the short chapters helping move things along. This is one of those stories hard to put down you get so wrapped up in action it is easy to lose track of time. Well penned….a terrific read.

I was provided a copy of this publication from Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: these are my thoughts.

"Malicious Intent", by Lynn H. Blackburn

A romantic suspense novel

Defend and Protect, #2

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera Inc is on the brink of a scientific breakthrough after years of research in the medical field finally a cutting-edge prosthetic is about to be unveiled. But someone is trying to sabotage the company, how far will they go. Meanwhile her childhood friend, US Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon reunites with her and intends to mend their broken relationship while working with her to help save her work and her life.

“Malicious Intent” is the perfect sequel to “Unknown Threat ‘ I read some time ago if you like a suspenseful story with mushy romance that last throughout the suspense you will enjoy every moment of this book. I pick up this type of book from time to time. The books by authors under Revell’s banner are well-written, use clean language and narrative and have a good story to tell. Lynn H. Blackburn is one that I love to follow and always eager to receive one of her books.

In this latest, Ms. Blackburn gives her protagonists a hard time and by doing so keeps our adrenaline levels at its peak and the story moving furiously. Who is behind the threats? We are kept guessing till the very end.

“Malicious Intent” is a solid suspense novel I enjoyed quite a bit.

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher Revell via the Early Reviewers Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Licensed to Thrill", by Diane Capri

Volume #1

This volume contains the first 3 first Hunt for Jack Reacher:

A novel “Don’t Know Jack”
A novella “Jack in the Box”
A novella “Jack and Kill”

I have explicitly expressed my views on each one of them so I will spare you most of my thoughts and give you a summary in a few words.

Confusing in general, after reading each of the book I had a hard time remembering what the plot was all about. The style was stilted and the narration choppy. The plots made no sense and the characters were poorly represented. In all not worth the time better to read Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series....Some you win and some you lose.....

"Jack and Kill", by Diane Capri

Hunt for Reacher #1.2 (#3)

Another short story 44 pages or so

And the saga continues when FBI Agents Kim Otto and Carlos Gaspar get a lead on Jack Reacher and set out to New Hope, Virginia...will they find him?

My thoughts:

Same style, choppy narrative, short chapter even shorter paragraphs this time the plot is a tiny bit more captivating but not by much. More frustrating is the story leaves us hanging....This series is not worth buying but as a freebie.... but if want to read it you need to start with book #1: “Don’t Know Jack”

"Jack in a Box", by Diane Capri

Hunt for Reacher # 1.1 (#2)

In this short story of 37 pages or so Agents Otto and Gaspar reveal a bit of themselves as they try to catch Jack Reacher.

My thoughts:

.Not much to this story. What is there is not important
.We learn little about the agents. Who cares about grand-ma or 5 kids?
.The story says nothing and brings nothing important to the hunt for Reacher
.Where is the plot? Babbling a lot about family matters
.Extremely slow moving.
.Boring 10 short chapter vignettes
.Poorly written: choppy sentences (resembling my above thoughts)
.Very forgettable: I had a hard time remembering what I had just read....

Conclusion:

Not worth reading forget buying (thank goodness if was a freebie)

"Don't Know Jack", by Diane Capri

Hunt for Reacher book #1

In a few words:

Agents Kim Otto and Carlos Gasper are assigned to search for a man named Jack Reacher and tasked with conducting a thorough background investigation but first they have to locate him. They are sent to his last known location: Margrave, Georgia, a small town where Jack was last seen. The off the book undercover assignment is to be completed under the radar. The facts were that no one knew for certain where he was, more likely he didn’t want to be found.

My thoughts:

There is a lot going on in this novel as the two agents try to gather some Intel on Jack. Not to long after reaching Margrave they are drawn into a current conflict and pulled into another mission while trying to stay under the radar. It has a lot of action, more than one body, a bombing and blackmail material. Shuttling back and forth along the US seaboard and a hop to Europe they realize fast enough that the stakes are high.

If you expect Jack Reacher (Lee Child’s character) to show up you will be disappointed, her never does. His name comes up many times and some sightings maybe; maybe not... he is a ghost, maybe not. The two FBI are always looking for him and the story continuously alludes to this mystery man. The narrative throughout is bogged down in minutia and is very choppy: the chapters are short and paragraphs even shorter making this a very fast read. You have to suspend beliefs to enjoy this story it lacks substance and character development. Otto and Gasper are horrible FBI agents; they make snap judgments and assume Reacher is behind all those heinous and horrible crimes. The story is illogical, contrived and poorly written and filled with gaping holes.

IMO: Ms. Capri companion series of books "Hunt for Reacher" is better left on the self.

"The White Rose Network", by Ellie Midwood

Germany 1942-1943

In the face of evil the bravest will shine...thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action.

This is the incredible true story of Sophie Scholl, a rebellious German girl, who risked everything to lead a revolution against Hitler’s regime. Moving to Munich to live with her brother she felt lucky to attend the university. Along with the same thinking students Sophie became sympathetic to the resistance movement that was slowly taken form among the students. Liberty and freedom was the group’s vision and soon The White Rose Network was in action making pamphlets and secretly delivering them and as they reached farther and wider audiences, Sophie became bold and taking risky decisions...till one day it all came crashing down...someone reported Sophie and her brother Hans to the Gestapo.....

What a heartbreaking story that moves between the group’s activities and Sophie and Hans arrests and trials in 1943. The characters are so realistic it feels as they are beside you narrating their experiences. Alexander Schmorell, Hans Scholl, Willi Graf , Christopher Probts (real people) also play outstanding roles in bringing to life scenes that I simply got caught up in. The history and storytelling flows beautifully and meshes with skill. This is a very moving novel of young people risking their lives for the greater good and by far not an easy read. From the start we know most will not survive the war and most will suffer a terrible ending.

Ms. Midwood is one of my favourite historical fiction authors. Her stories are so riveting and well-done it is hard to pass on them. Kudos to you Ellie for bringing us moments in history told in ways that are not only informative but very captivating.

I had the chance to receive this book from Bookouture via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review.

"Until Leaves fall in Paris" by Sarah Sundin

This book may be published as a Christian Romance but the setting around the World War period makes it more of an historical fiction encased with predictable romance.

1941, the story is partially set inside a Paris book store specializing in English literature despite that at the time Paris was under Nazis hands. The showcase two Americans, Lucie Girard, a former ballerina, living above the Green Leaf Books store decided to leave her profession to buy the store from the Jewish owners who needed to flee. Paul Aubrey, a widowed with a young daughter stayed behind at the request of the US government to gather useful intelligence while keeping his factory open producing German military equipment.

They met at the bookstore where Lucy secretly passed on coded message for the resistance. Being a rich entrepreneur working for the German, Lucy thought Paul was a collaborator and wanted nothing to do with him. But slowly as they became closers their feelings for each other changed and love was in the air..... awe....Their lives took an about turn the day the US entered the war and Sarah and Paul secrets were uncovered by the Gestapo.

In “Until Leaves Fall in Paris”, Sarah Sundin brings the streets of Paris alive with an evocative prose that sets us right in the busy and dangerous streets of Paris. We have several tense moments told without being too graphic. Eventually when our two lovebirds realized they needed to trust each other in order to survive the narrative changed tone and became mellow and harmonious. The plot is unique, well-written and filled with great characters. It is a story that kept my attention till the very last page.

Being a Christian based novel faith is at the forefront although not overly stated. For those not into religious connotations or scriptures you will not be overwhelmed by them. But who wouldn’t pray to the Almighty if the Gestapo were on your tails....Well-done.

I received this book from Revell via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review