"Malibu Burning", by Lee Goldberg

 

Sharpe & Walker #1

Although this story is a work of fiction it is a real possibility it could happened. “Malibu Burning” is all about firefighting and investigating the cause and finding the culprit and is the exciting and very captivating new series around police procedural staring Andrew Walker an ex US Marshall and senior investigation Walter Sharpe. This installment has Danny Cole, a prisoner, who joins an unconventional prison release firefighting program where he is teamed up with elite firefighters. But Danny Cole has one thing in mind...his next heist. The plot centers mainly on Danny the con man and what he is planning. The other part deals with the two wisecracking detectives.

The story is written in two different timelines and the chapters shift back and forth between characters I found it difficult to follow a first but when I got the hang of it I understood better what was going on. The banter between the investigators is something else I needed to get used to but eventually I did and found Walker and Sharpe hilarious and in the long run I enjoyed following them. Yes the dialogue is bit tacky at times but also entertaining. Of course the moving plot is over the top it is actually an adrenaline ride one can enjoy once into it. There is so much going on: fire everywhere, drones and ping-pong balls, trees and bushes and houses in flames....vividly said ...what a picture it leaves in your mind especially these hot summer days with all the fires raging around the world.....

I am pleased to have received this ARC from Thomas& Mercer via Netgalley

"Crossroads of Granite", by Michael Reit

Orphans of War book #3

“Crossroads of Granite” continues where “They Bled Orange”, left and is the final chapter in the trilogy. In alternate chapters and from the point of view of Christiaan, Lisa and Nora narrate their life during the last years of the war.

In a few words:

Christiaan was in the resistance till he was captured and sent to Mauthausen, a concentration camp, where he struggled to survive. While, Lisa at the front with General Patton’s army is caring for the wounded, Nora is interned in a concentration camp hoping to stay alive while helping those around her. As the noose begins to close around the Germans, life became dangerous for all. The physical and emotional stresses took a toll.... Too much horror and too much uncertainty....Quite a venture into a tapestry of courage, sacrifice and love...

My thoughts:

The events are based on true accounts from prisoners and survivors. The author does honors in representing them. The well-crafted chapters paint a vivid and poignant picture of what life was during the war. The dialogue is authentic and active. Mr. Reit doesn’t shy away from telling us the horrors the prisoners suffered at the hands of their captors but does this with tact. This story has a lot going on that is captivating to no end so much so I read it in two settings so eager to see what will come next and if the three heroes would manage to survive. The energy in this historical fiction is far more that I had expected. So well- said, so well- researched. Michael Reit is a powerful story teller and one of my preferred in historical fiction.

I received this ARC from The Book Whisperer via Netgalley

"Into the Fire", by Irene Hannon

Undaunted Courage book #1

A romantic suspense novel

This first experience reading Ms. Hannon was provided through the first reviewer program and I am glad they gave me the chance to read this wonderful story.

Arson investigator and a former smokejumper Bri Tucker, knows all about fires. When she inherits unfinished business from her predecessor she joins forces with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to track down a serial arsonist and murderer who will stop at nothing to carry out is plan.

It took a little while to get in the swing of things, we have a lot of key players to get to know but once all of them are placed the story grabs you and doesn’t let go. This clean tale is filled with excitement and nerve-raking scenes right up to the very end. I was pinned down enjoying every word. The emotions run high especially when it comes to the arsonist and what he is up to. The investigators suspicion on who this person may be and how they can stop him is so varied I was guessing trying to picture who it might be. Curiosity and anxiety took hold till the surprise was revealed at the end. It was a big puzzle from the get-go and a very well written one. Being a romantic story we gradually have Bri and Marc developing a relationship and a wonderful ending comes out of it.

This plot is well construction and excellently written. The simple and clear narration and vividly said dialogue by well-tuned characters is a reason I can say this story is one I enjoyed immensely.

"Save her from Evil", by Melinda Woodhall

Bridget Bishop FBI book # 7

When a book by Melinda Woodhall comes my ways, I simply have to read it. This latest is as captivating as all the previous installments. The plot played by well-rounded characters is vividly said and with many twists along the way hard to see coming makes for a very exciting read. This plot moves along at a steady pace and provides much drama and suspense to grab the attention from the get-go and hold us captive till the very end. I particularly like that her narration and dialogue are clear, concise and clean most of all active, not a boring moments. Ms. Woodhall mysteries have entertained me for a long time and still do to this day.

“Save Her from Evil “, is an excellent addition to a great series

Now a tid-bit of what to expect:

After a suspected wife-killer and wanted fugitive is arrested for a brutal attack on a young woman. He refuses to talk to anyone but FBI Behavioral Analyst Bridget Bishop. When a blood-stained tarot card found at the scene reveals a disturbing link to a series of unsolved murders Bridget suspects the man in custody may be a pawn in a deadly game ......

Another winner for Ms. Woodhall

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"The Girl in the Eagle's Talons", by Karin Smirnoff

Book # 7 in the Millennium series featuring Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist

I read the previous installments with joy and I have loved them all. The style has varied and the narration and dialogue of high quality through the years have been steady. Most of all it provided us with excitement following the attics of a high skilled hacker and her journalist friend. Steig Larson was the creator after his death David Lagercrantz took the reins and provided us the same quality we came to love. The chance then was given to Ms. Smirnoff. What a challenge this new writer has in her hands...

My thoughts on this latest is somewhat guarded since I have no idea what was going on for ½ of the book. The story is so convoluted at its best and so boring at its worst. This latest lacks flare the previous novels had and the heroine take way too long to show her face. The pacing in the part I read was slow and totally off, hard to know what was going on. What I took out it this story is in Gasskas there is a project brewing were a vast park of wind turbines will be built where the project had attracted organized crime. The style has no wits and fizz the previous installments gave us. It provides us with so much that is become difficult to keep everything straight...I gave up not wanted to waste any more time.

Definitely not the best book I read this year so far.

My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalleys for this ARC

"Catacomb" by J. F. Penn

I am not a big fan of horror or fantasy but I make a huge exception when it comes to J.F. Penn. Not only does she write beautifully well she incorporates mystic, old customs, a bit of religious beliefs, myths, rituals and other good things in her stories. What is not to like.

In her latest she brings us deep into the catacombs of Edinburg where an ancient evil waits. Each year, the Grendsluagh, a prehistoric monster, demands a human sacrifice in exchange for the city’s prosperity. Emily is this year’s sweet meal, till her father, Walker Kane, an ex-military search and rescue officer, comes to save her. With the help of urban explorer and mythology daredevils this team of adventurers delve deep into Edinburg serpentine catacombs.....Chilling moments from then on...what an exciting read.

This stand-alone action-adventure novella (130 pages or so) is a thrill to read even with its horror sequences. This fast-paced and spellbinding story is so vividly said that one setting it took to finish this fantasy I was too absorbed with what was going on to let go. My preferred scenes are the monsters they needed to confront before reaching their target, the Grendsluagh, kill him or get kill but Emily must be saved....

“Catacomb” is a race against time and a gripping adventure.

Well-done Ms. Penn and thank you for this ARC

"The Paris Assignment", by Rhys Bowen

This historical fiction, a blend of actual events and imagination, makes us relive the harsh reality of war. This is the story of Londoner Madeleine Grant who studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, married Giles Martin and raised peacefully their son Oliver ...till the war sets off alarms in France. The story will tell us what they did to survive.

The story is written with easy and it flows beautifully. The imagery throughout steady and unwavering and gives us several twists hard to phantom. It will be difficult not to be emotionally captivated with the description of horror suffered by those caught in the hands of evil men. Ms. Bowen held back on torture but did not mince her words describing the wrong done by the Nazi but also by those who took orphans in their care. The chapters of Oliver at the orphanage in Australia were an eye opener. Although it was not the first time I read how children were abused by religious orders it nevertheless touched me...How could they?...There is a lot of tension all through, it is hard not to want them to survive and lead a happy life. The story is not all doomed and groomed we have some romance and tender moments, family reunion and budding love.

With its excellent characters and gripping plot “The Paris Assignment” is a story that will inevitably pull most historical fiction buffs in and captivate them till they reach the last page. It did for me.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

"Saving Myles", by Carl Vonderau

Soon after coming home from a treatment center Myles sneaks off to Tijuana to buy drugs and is kidnapped. When the ransom call comes and the FBI can’t help, Fiona accepts help from Andre, a shady character she works for at the charity. Wade is leery of Andre but he swallows is doubts to get his son home. But now the family is enmeshed with the drug lords and money laundering enterprises... indebted to a Mexican cartel can have deadly consequences....

From the opening word I knew I would love this story. What a treat it turned out to be. This well- drawn drama is vivid, realistic and most of all tense. It explores the feelings of parents and how far they are willing to go to safe their children. Myles parents are Fiona and Wade, they beautifully express their fear and anxiety while dealing with hit men, suspicious deaths, informants and the inability of the FBI to help them. The pacing is fast and furious and so intense it is hard to put this book aside for another time. It wouldn’t be a good family drama without a boyfriend and a girlfriend to spice the experience, we also have that. In the mix add multiple murders and the result is one of those riveting and compelling novels.

“Saving Myles” gives you one of those emotional journeys hard to put down. Well-said and well-done.

Thank you Ocean Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC