"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