"The Last Disciple", by John W Mefford

A Jack Whitfield thriller book #8

For those following this series we know that Jack is on the run and with his confidante Natasha they race across Europe hoping to find the truth about Jack’s past. While in Budapest his memory rocks him and together they must use any means to learn the truth. Would finding what really happened in his past free him from the disturbing images he has in his mind.....or his visions all fiction?...from then on we step into an unstoppable whirlwind and a massive roller-coaster ride.

This story has some exciting chases, maybe a bit over the top but it makes for a very exciting read. I love this series it is one of my best not only it is action packed it also provides us with unexpected twists and turns and outcome we don’t see coming. The plot moves so fast in this twisted story that I couldn’t help but flipping the pages at a raging speed. Oh yes I am repeating myself I say this with every story Mr. Mefford wrote and I probably will in the future also. This author has a knack for penning a story that keeps us on our toes and teases us in ways that we need to know what comes next. I love how Jack’s character is portrayed as a caring but also a deadly individual (two sides of a coin sort of). The narration is fast and furious just like the action.

Reading “The Last Disciple” I was off on journey of intrigues, discovery, subterfuge and death.....what a good read....

Another great addition Mr. Mefford keep them coming. Thank you for the hours of enjoyment

"One Last Shot", Susan May Warren

Alaska Air One Rescue book #1

Oaken Fox, a country music star, wants to boost his fan base and joins survivalist Mike Grizz’s new adventure show in the Alaskan wilderness. It didn’t take long for tragedy to strike and have Air One Rescue on site, the experience was enough for Oaken call it quits but his producer has other plans for him...On the other side, Rookie EMT Boo Kingston is there to keep Oaken safe and is assigned to his training and safety.........and the story goes on when five women goes missing and Air One team uses all the skills to find them, Oaken needs to step up and be part of the team.

No lack of action in this one. If you like search and rescue activities in a mountainous environment you will be very happy with this story. We learn about ascender, carabiners, tension, knots and the many techniques used for a safe rescue. The narrative is very active I felt I was there with each step the characters took. The tension in vivid and intriguing in some ways, we never know what will happen next. Sure way to keep us turning the pages and interesting in the drama. Yes drama there is attraction between Boo and Oaken, tragedy: people getting lot or hurt, threatening others, you name it, you will find it here. What I like the best is the camaraderie played out between characters. They mess with each other and will go to no ends to help.

“One Last Shot” is all about ones last chance to start all over again, putting the past behind, forget and forgive and to look forward to a new beginning. Boo and Oaken’s characters show us how this is possible...

I received this ebook from Revell via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Vanishing Angels", by Melinda Woodhall

Book#1, in Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Thriller series

Melinda no doubt has found her perfect formulae and is sticking to it when it comes to giving us suspenseful and intriguing stories. In this new series we find the same beat her other series have given us. A heroine with a painful past who may or may not be an officer of the law, gruesome murders to pick interest, a vicious predator to hate, exciting plot full of action to please us and she never forgets to set the stage in a small town and always ads icing on the cake by introducing a smart dog and why not an handsome man to boot.....oh yes, not forgetting a plot that holds attention from start to finish and characters to die for....awe another winner.

In a few words:

FBI Special Agent Bailey Flynn is hoping that she and her search and rescue dog Ludwig can make a fresh start and start a new life in Belle Harbor. It was not meant to be: a vicious predator is stalking the coastal town. The life of someone dear to Bailey was taken..... Bailey needs to put the past behind and track down this killer before he strikes again.....

I was pinned to this story and I zipped through it in no time. Well-said, Well-done

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

"The Lies We Told", by Roberta Kagan

 Margot’s Secret Book #4

This is the final book in this wonderful series and it can be read on its own but I highly recommend you read this series in order in order to get the maximum pleasure of being immersed into the world of the characters. The stories are unputdownable.

In this last installment, Margot’s is a woman with a secret that could be deadly if uncovered. She becomes even more desperate when she meets Kurtis, a Nazi officer and soon finds herself entangled in a web of lies. Eventually she sees that be marrying Kurtis her hopes are that he will take care of her and that he will accept the child she is carrying as his own, ( of course he should never know the baby is not his). While in Berlin, her estranged sister, Trudy, has a dangerous affair with Peter, an SS officer. Their world clashes and all come to an end.

Although this story has much going on and you need to pay attention to follow all the coming and going. Of course if you read the previous installment it will be easier to put all the characters in the right place. Recurring characters have their own story and the few new ones add to the challenge of remembering them. Along the way we meet well known figures in history such Eva Braun and Hitler, and the usual Nazi conspirators. Along with these well-known personages we go to a party at Eagle’s Nest. So this story although fictional dabbles in some true events.

The story moves at a steady pace and is smoothly writing and very enjoyable to read. I loved this series and hate to see it end.

Well-said, well-done

I received this ARC from the Book Whisperer via Netgalley

"The Peace", by Roméo Dallaire

A Warrior’s Journey

Through the prism of his own life, General Roméo Dallaire takes us on a journey from the past wars through post-modern conflicts and toward his vision of lasting peace. Daillaire in good faith commanded the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Rwanda only to see the country abandoned and descend into hell of genocide. His experience has for ever marked him....

I read most of Mr. Dallaire’s books; they are deeply touching and told from the heart. In his latest he revisits in length his frustrations trying to prevent the 1994 catastrophe and is now more than determined to put a stop to the world disorder, abolish the use of child soldiers and intervene in conflicts. He is now working toward a better future. I wish him good luck in guiding us to a better place.

This is not an easy book to get into. A good 1/3 brings us back to 1994 and he expresses clearly once more the lack of support he received from the UN and the many countries that are members of this organization. One thing is said at the meeting but nothing comes out of it, Rwanda and its people are of inconsequential values..... Then he goes on to other conflicts from WW11 to the present and he does not mince his words.

I admit having a hard time with this book. Although the language is very polished I was not fond of harsh and severe tone in the narration.. After a while the negativity got to me and I started to read pages diagonally and skipping some passages and paying attention to others.

What can I say I enjoyed Mr. Dallaire`s previous books but revising them in a new version was not what I expected. I really cannot do much in the global circle of things and I certainly will not go marching or rallying for any cause...... I will leave all this to those with influence to try... we see how good this those....look at Ukraine and Gaza today`s tragedies......

I did not like this book but this is my opinion you may feel differently so don`t take my words for it and read and judge for yourself.

This is the way I see it.

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

"The Botanist's Tracks", by Michael Reit

Beyond the Tracks Book #3

In this installment we are taken to the Nazi agricultural camp of Rajsko, a sort ride from Auschwitz- Birkenau. You needed to be a valuable asset to survive the horrors that lies ahead. Felicia Hodak, a botanist with vital skills is assigned to tend to the plants needed for the Reich most ambitious experiment. While Sabina Kupka agreed to work for the resistance, what starts with significant roles soon propels her into a frontline one. By chance the women met and soon were engaged in a daring plan to arm the prisoners of Auschwitz.

Although part of a series this novel can be read as a stand-alone

Mr. Reit historical fictions mainly focus on lesser-known events and people in WW11. His books have usually provided us with information between facts and fiction, but this time not much is mentioned, so I presume at first the events and people were the fruits of his imagination till Mr. Google came into play. Yes the camp existed; Dr. Joachim Caesar was the head of scientists working in green houses although in the story the goal was to raise a substitute rubber plant.

In this story everything goes too neatly to sound real, the events are farfetched and I hardly believe clandestine meetings can always go so smoothly. With the help of an active narration, the plot has enough tension and drama to move along at a steady pace to keep us captivated and turning the pages. Unfortunately, the story leaves us questioning the whereabouts of the traitor, who was he (she) what a hole in the story to ponder on. I love the characters, Felicia and Sabina where innocent although smart. They played the male guards well to get to what they wanted....although the female guards were ruthless....the story tells us how much....

This latest may not be my favourite in the series but it was nevertheless a captivating read I enjoy passing time with.

This is an ARC which I received from NetGalley and the publisher for my thoughts

"Lines of Deception", by Steve Anderson

Kaspar Brothers book #4

West Germany, 1949

Munich nightclub owner Max Kaspar occasionally lends a hand to the newly formed CIA so when his brother Harry ventured beyond the Iron Curtain to rescue an American scientist, Max sets out to locate him.....he never expected the treacherous quest he would face....

Many moons ago I had read the prequel “Lost Kin” but my memory failed me I had a hard time placing what had happened to bring us to this stage. Luckily I had my notes and the synopsis helped a lot. We have a lot going on, this author has packed more information that I could absorb in the first third of the book but I gradually got the hang of it and I truly couldn’t put this story down from then on. The quest brings Max to Vienna, Prague, Soviet Est Germany and Communist Poland. Once Harry was located, joining in the pursuit was dangerous operators, Harry’s former lover Katarina, an Israelis agent and former Nazi Hartmut Dietz, now an East German Intelligence agent...and what about Stanley Samaras, the scientist? Was he really who he said he was.....food for thought and Mr. Anderson give us a mouth full. Along the way we are into an exciting saga. Hang on there, the pacing is relentless, not one minute of peace.

I appreciate the notes the author gives us at the end of the book it clarify so much and I understood and appreciated far more this fiction, By using actual events and characters to serve his story he introduces us to aspect little-know of history. The dramatization is well researched and is excellently and vividly said to give the “cold” atmosphere of place and time. Mr. Anderson definitely is a master when it comes to high adventure.

A big thank you Steve Anderson, do keep up giving us tit-bits of history

"The Royal Librarian", by Daisy Wood

This story has two timelines it goes back and forth between 1940 as the war rages and bombs rain down on Britain and present day Philadelphia with Lacey Turner digging into her great aunt’s family tree and coming across a book bearing the stamp of Windsor Castle’s royal bindery. Thus, begins a journey that will take Lacey from Buckingham palace in a quest to find out what is behind this mysterious book and the secrets Sophie Klein, her grandmother’s sister, has been hiding for so long.

The dual time line works seamlessly, the voices alternating between Sophie (1940) and Lacey (present day) as they tell us what is going on. It is a good story although the part in America was slightly boring and a bit too long. Once Lacey set foot in Britain and the two stories came together I was totally into it and flipping the pages to see what Sophie really was doing at the Palace. Escaping from Austria to take up a position in the Royal Library to translate letters written by the King to the Nazi regime...was she a spy? The past was definitely the more captivating story but the present brings closure.

This story is interesting we have no shortage of information of what was happening at the time. By featuring real people and their lives with fictional characters the author has giving us a tale that could be as true to life as possible. “The Royal Librarian” is an interesting recreation of a moment in time and is played out by wonderful and well-drawn characters. In whole this story is easy to stay with it, the pacing is steady and the narrative is quite engaging.

Most historical fiction enthusiast should love this one.

My thanks to Avon Books UK as well as Netgalley for this ARC

"Sandcastle Inn", by Irene Hannon

Hope Harbor book #10

This cute story of second chance brings warmth to the heart. Good people doing wonderful things to other without asking anything back. “Sandcastle Inn” will show us how this is possible.

Vienna Price returns for a passing visit home to Oregon after her career tanks she is there to nurse her wounds and chart a new course for the future. Matt Quinn on vacation takes a trip to Oregon to help his sister who has recently bought a dilapidated inn. Vienna and Matt cross path and luck is on his side, Vienna has just the skills to help him resuscitate the B&B....and find all the help they needed....and slowly they fall for each other....awe....

I enjoyed this fiction and how the characters matched so well. The atmosphere created is wonderful I wish this town wasn’t fictional I would like to meet the residents, of course these people are to idyllic to be real but one can dream. Through the pages we discover Matt’s tragic past and Vienna skills and how resourceful she is. The project brings in a wonderful couple Paige and Andrew who had lost everything and will do anything to start their lives again and getting a job as contractors at the Inn was a dream come true. For Vienna, Matt, Paige and Andrew all they needed was a second chance and Hope Harbor was there to help. This story keeps a slow and steady pace and is said with clean and active language.

And love is in the air......What a wonderful story, well- said and well-done.

Many thank you to the publisher Revell and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.