"A Moment's Surrender", by John Burt

This story weaves complex themes of loyalty, betrayal and grief and is very hard to get into but is well worth to keep with it till the very end. This gripping story is one of a kind, a poignant exploration of human condition and the connections that comfort or break us.

“A Moment’s Surrender” is a mystery/love-story which focusses on a charismatic poet and those around him.

The story in a few words:

Paul Bishop in the aftermath of the murder of his friend poet Tom Corbin is haunted by guilt and bound by a devastating secret and takes upon himself to care for Tom’s terminally ill widow Susan. Tom had planned to leave his wife for another woman, Paul’s long-ago lover Rachel.

It didn’t take long for Paul to be drawn into a quagmire that explore guilt, regret, desire, grief and the painfully high cost of trifling with love.

My thoughts:

This emotionally rich and psychologically complex novel has slowly pulled me into a tangled web of relationships as each character lurches toward redemption. What a witty and entertaining portrait into the many ways we all possess to destroy and save each other.

Not an easy novel to read, very slow at time and other times boring but in all satisfying after the first 60 pages or so….

I stay on the fence here not hating it nor loving it.

I received a copy of this book from the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Quebec", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Book #17

The story in a few words:

Canadian Icebreaker “Resolute” vanishes in the Northwest Passage as a violent separatist attack erupts in Quebec City, are the two events connected?...

At the time of the crisis Zeb Carter and his team were in Quebec training with JTF2, Canada’s elite covert counterterror unit. All bets are off when violence against allied is made….Zeb and his crew will stop at nothing to help.

My thoughts:

Mr. Patterson is well known for his over-the-top action, the many surprising twits and his team with special skills. He has a pattern that works well and all his books follow this to a tee. The plot is well thought of, gripping and of course stressful leaving us on the edge of our seat from start to finish…. we also travel the world, this time he located his story on my home turf….

More than usual I had to set aside my believes and forget the little mistakes that slipped in but I admit it was hard. Quebec is a huge province so when Cities and streets were mentioned I was more attentive, even more critical.

This story is a good one even it follows the same old beat and Zeb and his team always manage to get out without a scratch.

This latest is not one of my favourites but I admit Ty knows how to pen a story to please thrill seekers.

Thank you Ty keep the good work.

"Lost in Yellowstone", by Nicole Maggi

 A National Park Mystery #2

Set against the beauty and danger of Yellowstone National Park this story follows Special Agent Emme Helliwell of the national Park Service while on a gruesome case of a sneaker-clad foot ejected from a geyser and uncovering what led this person to such a grisly end……The case draws Emme into the orbit of a private school for at risk-teens where radical backcountry excursions are part of the curriculum. Park Ranger, Holden Thrush, Emme’s ex-boyfriend, will assist her with the investigation.

“A foot in a geyser. A school in the wild. A truth no one saw coming.”

My expertise as an armchair sleuth was not very helpful, I kept guessing from start to finish and what a finish Ms. Maggi had in store for her readers. I didn’t have the slightest idea the whodunit was this person…. maybe you will, good luck.

I loved how Emme and Holden went about their investigation into the wilderness school and how the interacted with the teens and their councilors. The cast was wonderfully entertaining. How Emme confronted her personal issues including the unresolved tension with Holden was particularly sweet…..

In whole, this story is a gripping and an engaging one said in a prose that is effortless and very dynamic. The imagery leaves you with the beauty and dangers of Yellowstone. Maybe a chill or two…

This story is well-said and well done and one I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC