Review: "The Debutante's Code" by Erica Vetsch

A new Erica Vetsch Regency novel? Yes, please!

Review: "Finding Lady Enderly" by Joanna Davidson Politano

Over the past few years, I've come to greatly anticipate Joanna Davidson Politano's releases, as I can always count on them to be thought-provoking, intriguing mysteries. Her new release, Finding Lady Enderly, is no exception!

Review: "Murder in the City of Liberty" by Rachel McMillan

How often do you pick up a book based on the cover? I'll admit that I do it a lot—and I did it with this book. Isn't the cover wonderful?

Review: "Betrayed" by Dee Henderson

During my college years, I probably would have said that Dee Henderson was my favorite writer. Her O'Malley series was one of my favorites, and I devoured everything she wrote. But aside from a novella I read (and reviewed) a couple years ago, I haven't read any of her books in probably ten years.

This novella, Betrayed, appears in The Cost of Betrayal, a novella collection that also includes entries from Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason. (It will also be available for ebook purchase by itself next month.)

"Lady Jayne Disappears" by Joanna Davidson Politano

I used to read mysteries all the time. As a child, I devoured every Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys book I could get my hands on. Though it's a completely different setting, Lady Jayne Disappears has a similar feel to those mysteries I so loved.

"Bellweather Rhapsody" by Kate Racculia

Over the past year, I've purchased several Kindle books recommended by Modern Mrs. Darcy ... and as far as I can tell, Bellweather Rhapsody is the only one I've read so far. Perhaps there's a lesson there! (As for what the lesson is, I'm not sure. Request fewer review books so I have time to read the books I buy? Don't be so quick to buy a book? Only buy books when I have time to read them? Or all of the above?)

"Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng

For more than a year now, I've been hearing about Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You. That cover immediately jumped out at me, which made me want to read it even more! However, I have a gigantic TBR list, so the chances of actually getting to it were slim. But then I found it on Audible Channels (a Prime benefit), and I listened to the whole thing in under two weeks, which is very fast for me with audiobooks.

"The Kill Fee" by Fiona Veitch Smith

Intrepid journalist Poppy Denby is back, this time investigating the theft of a Fabergé egg and, eventually, murder.

"the bachelor girl's guide to murder" by rachel mcmillan

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder (Harvest House, April 2016)
Add to Goodreads.

It's a rainy, dreary day today. The kind of day where you just want to curl up under a blanket with a good book and a cat. So that's what I did!

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In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

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I wasn't quite sure what to expect from The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder, but I thought it looked like fun ... and it certainly was! The novel feels old-timey—in a good way! Merinda and Jem do bear a resemblance to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and I loved seeing all the parallels. Also, the book just reads like an older mystery—like something Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers would have written.

While the mystery—surrounding two murdered girls and government corruption—was interesting, I didn't care as much about the "whodunit" as I did about getting to know Jem and Merinda. Much of the novel is told through Jem's eyes, and I appreciated that perspective. Jem is clearly Merinda's sidekick, and usually the sidekick is a supporting character, but not here. I loved Jem dearly, while I felt like Merinda was just "there." Hopefully Merinda will become equally fleshed out in future novels!

Throughout the novel, author Rachel McMillan includes two things that you may be tempted to skip over (these are things I generally skip): excerpt quotes at the beginning of each chapter and footnotes scattered throughout. The footnotes are fabulous! They are so funny and provide extra information that's helpful to know. And the excerpt quotes? They go with each chapter, but what you really want to pay attention to is the attribution. So great!

I thoroughly enjoyed this first encounter with Herringford and Watts, and I look forward to their future adventures! 4 stars.

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Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

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Meet best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem, who launch their own Sherlock Holmes-esque consulting detective business in 1910 Toronto in Rachel McMillan’s The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever–if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

Rachel is celebrating the release of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder with a Murder Mystery Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on April 28!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder
• A magnifying glass necklace
• A bowler hat
• A pocket watch
• A $30 Amazon gift card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 4/28. The winner will be announced at The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rachel and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"dressed for death" by julianna deering

Before I discovered romance, I adored mysteries. The Mandie books. Encyclopedia Brown. Nancy Drew. The Hardy Boys. While I don't read many mysteries now, I've continually heard good things about Julianna Deering's Drew Farthering series, so I decided to break from the norm and give the latest installment, Dressed for Death, a look.

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A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, but it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering Goes, Mystery—and Murder—Are on the Guest List

Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew's former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she'd taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder.

The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he's trusted and admired since his childhood—someone who's been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn't know whom to trust, and he's not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover—or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

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Dressed for Death is a very enjoyable mystery. Set in England in the 1930s, the book definitely brought to mind Downton Abbey, though the show was set in the 1910s and 20s. In fact, every time the cook in Dressed for Death spoke, I heard Mrs. Pattmore's voice! Much of the story takes place at Winteroak House, an estate that I imagine looked similar to Downton. Winteroak faced the fate that many houses on Downton did—the original owners could no longer afford to keep it, and the Cummins family purchased it after Mr. Cummins rose to prominence as a businessman.

While the book started out fairly slowly, the action picked up following Alice's death. At that point, I was quickly swept into the novel, trying, along with Drew, to pick up on the clues. There's a red herring, and I completely fell for it; the reveal of the true villain completely surprised me, though in looking back, I can see the signs of the villain's identity.

Dressed for Death does contain murder, violence, and drug use, but most of it takes place off the page, and nothing is graphic or offensive. As far as mysteries go, it's pretty mild.

While I did struggle to become engaged in Dressed for Death at first, I think largely because mystery didn't really begin until more than a quarter of the way in, I never struggled to keep up, something that can be an issue when jumping into the fourth book of a series. I would like to go back and learn the characters' backstories, but knowledge of the previous books is absolutely not necessary for understanding this novel.

I think fans of Agatha Christie will really enjoy the Drew Farthering Mysteries, and Downton Abbey fans will find in them something to fill the gap left by the end of the beloved show. 4 stars.

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Read an excerpt.

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Julianna Deering has always loved British history and literature and is particularly a fan of the classic mysteries written by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. She graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and now works for an attorney specializing in wills and estate planning. She lives outside Dallas, Texas, where she loves to quilt, cross-stitch, and watch hockey. Learn more at www.juliannadeering.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the jazz files" by fiona veitch smith

Going through Downton Abbey withdrawals? Did you love the strong, independent woman that Lady Edith became in the final seasons? If you answered "yes," then you should check out The Jazz Files, the first novel in the new Poppy Denby Investigates series. Lady Edith would definitely approve of Poppy Denby.

"whispers in the reading room" by shelley gray

If you're looking for historical fiction full of danger and intrigue with a touch of romance, then Whispers in the Reading Room is just your style.

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Lydia's job at the library is her world—until a mysterious patron catches her eye . . . and perhaps her heart.

Just months after the closure of the Chicago World's Fair, librarian Lydia Bancroft finds herself fascinated by a mysterious dark-haired and dark-eyed patron. He has never given her his name; he actually never speaks to a single person. All she knows about him is that he loves books as much as she does.

Only when he rescues her in the lobby of the Hartman Hotel does she discover that his name is Sebastian Marks. She also discovers that he lives at the top of the prestigious hotel and that most everyone in Chicago is intrigued by him.

Lydia and Sebastian form a fragile friendship, but when she discovers that Mr. Marks isn't merely a very wealthy gentleman, but also the proprietor of an infamous saloon and gambling club, she is shocked.

Lydia insists on visiting the club one fateful night and suddenly is a suspect to a murder. She must determine who she can trust, who is innocent, and if Sebastian Marks—the man so many people fear—is actually everything her heart believes him to be.

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Whispers in the Reading Room is one of those novels that you just can't put down. I should know, as I read it far into the night (and paid for it the next day). From the beginning, I was intrigued by Lydia, a quiet librarian who set aside her own wants to please her mother, even agreeing to marry a man she didn't love in hopes of securing her mother's financial security.

I also loved Sebastian, though perhaps I shouldn't have! Sebastian is not your typical Christian romance novel hero ... and that's probably why I liked him so much. He drinks, he owns a bar, he fights, he runs an illegal gambling club ... yet he is also fiercely protective of those he loves, he is generous to a fault, and he despises those who would take advantage of a woman in any way.

The novel's action moves at breakneck pace, as Lydia finds herself in one scrape after another and murders on Camp Creek Alley, the seedy area of Chicago where Sebastian's club is located, become all too frequent. There is also a delightful subplot featuring Sebastian's maid Bridget and his club manager Vincent. In essence, it's two love stories for the price of one!

For the first 90 percent of this novel, I was reading one of the best books of the year. At the very end, however, the novel faltered a bit. By that point, much, but not everything, had been resolved. Then the action jumped forward nine days, and the reader only finds out in passing who was behind the murders on Camp Creek Alley. Then the action jumps forward another week, and the reader learns that Sebastian has stepped in to help with Lydia's financial situation. It just seemed an odd narrative choice to me, as in the majority of the novel, the reader is completely involved in the action, so it was a letdown to find out about these two major events after they happened.

My disappointment in the end of the novel does not change the fact that it is a great book. It is so different from most of what is available in the inspirational market, and it is such a gripping story that, although let down a bit by the end, I still highly recommend it. 4 stars.

Note: Whispers in the Reading Room is the third book in Shelley Gray's Chicago World's Fair Mystery series. It functions as a stand alone novel, but characters from the first two novels do make an appearance. I read it just fine without having previously read the first two books, and now they are on my wish list!

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Read my review of Gray's The Outlaw's Heart (3 stars) in the Among the Fair Magnolias anthology.

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Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times best seller list. A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years. She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.

Connect with Shelley: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and The Fiction Guild. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio" by Serena B. Miller

About the book: A mysterious outsider casts a long shadow on Ohio's Amish country. Policewoman Rachel Troyer has always looked after her three elderly Amish aunts, proprietors of a farmhouse inn near Sugarcreek, Ohio. The idyllic town is popular with tourists, who come to sample its famous Amish goods. But one thing is clear to Rachel—Joe Matthews is no tourist. When the bearded stranger lands on her aunts' doorstep, begging shelter for himself and his young son, Rachel is suspicious.

Will she be able to uncover Joe's secrets despite her aunts'—and her own—growing affection for him?

My take: Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is an amalgamation of genres—Amish, romance, suspense, and mystery—that combine into a novel that's much better than I anticipated. Really, I don't know why I'm surprised, as I've enjoyed the other novels that I've read in the "Love Finds You" line. Still, I'm pretty tired of the Amish genre (with a few notable exceptions), so I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this novel.
However, in Sugarcreek, the main characters are not Amish, no one decided to become Amish, and no one contemplated leaving the Amish—which shows you this isn't your typical Amish novel!

The plot is intriguing, and Miller throws in several plot twists that I didn't anticipate at all—especially as the novel neared the conclusion. Rachel and Joe are both compelling characters, and Rachel's aunts—especially Anna—are quite endearing. I really loved almost everything about the novel. The only thing I didn't care for was the Stephanie character. She's a pregnant teen who really seemed to be included solely to contribute to a major plot point. Neither her entrance nor exit struck me as particularly realistic, and I wish either she had played a more major role in the novel or she hadn't been included at all.

Overall, Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is a great novel. It's mysterious, romantic, and thought provoking. I definitely recommend it! I also recommend the movie based on the novel. Though I haven't seen it yet (and probably won't for some time, as it's airing on Up TV, a channel I don't get), it sure looks good! Plus, it stars Tom Everett Scott ("Shades" on That Thing You Do) and Sarah Lancaster (Rachel on Saved by the Bell: The New Class)—two throwbacks to my teen years! Check out the trailer below, and if you happen to get Up TV, be sure to tune in on June 1.

My rating: 4 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other "Love Finds You" books: Mackinac Island, Michigan by Melanie Dobson and Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer & Ocieanna Fleiss.

About the author: Prior to writing novels, Serena Miller wrote for many periodicals, including Woman's World, Guideposts, Billy Graham's Decision Magazine, Reader's Digest, Focus on the Family, Christian Woman, and The Detroit Free Press Magazine. She has spent many years partnering with her husband in full-time ministry and lives on a farm in southern Ohio near a thriving Amish community. Learn more about Serena at http://serenabmiller.com.

About the movie and viewing party: 

   

Guideposts Books is excited to announce the premiere of a new film based on the book Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio (Summerside Press) by Serena Miller. The movie, produced by Mission Pictures International and filmed last fall in the actual town of Sugarcreek, will premiere on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at 7:00 PM EDT on Up TV (formerly the Gospel Music Channel). Visit the movie website for more information.

Serena and Guideposts will be celebrating with a Facebook viewing party! 

Join Serena and readers on Facebook while you tune in to watch Love Finds You in Sugarcreek to share your thoughts about the movie, chat with other viewers, and win fun prizes. Just use hashtag #LFYSugarcreek to join the discussion on June 1st.

Check your local listing for UpTV (http://up.viewerlink.tv) to find out when it airs in your timezone.

Excited? Help me spread the word! Just share this link and information on your social media along with the hashtag #LFYSugarcreek! Plus, we'll be tracking the hashtag and giving away Amazon & Starbucks cards to people at random who help to promote all throughout the month of May. Winners announced at the Love Finds You in Sugarcreek viewing party on June 1st.
 

"This is so exciting for Serena Miller and Guideposts! We are thrilled that Up TV has chosen Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio to make into a movie,” said Lenore Lelah Person, vice president and editorial director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media. “With Serena’s wonderful story and a beautiful backdrop in Ohio Amish country, fans of the story and the series will enjoy seeing it on screen. For more information read the media release.

For those who are not familiar with the Love Finds You™ series, this will be a great opportunity to introduce them to these uplifting and engaging romances. Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio is one of more than 50 releases in the popular Love Finds You™ series uniquely titled after actual American towns with unusual but intriguing names and combines travel, romance and faith in one package. The series includes both historical and contemporary releases, and each fictional story draws on compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Mission Pictures has purchased the movie rights to the entire series and plans to produce additional films based on the series in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the thousand dollar tan line" by rob thomas

Note: If you're a Veronica Mars fan who hasn't watched the movie yet, please don't read this review. It will reference some events from the movie, and I don't want to spoil it for you!

About the book (from Amazon): From Rob Thomas, the creator of the television series and movie phenomenon Veronica Mars, comes the first book in a thrilling mystery series that picks up where the feature film left off.

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She’s traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it’s spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is no simple missing person’s case; the house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica’s past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

In Veronica Mars, Rob Thomas has created a groundbreaking female detective who’s part Phillip Marlowe, part Nancy Drew, and all snark. With its sharp plot and clever twists, The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line will keep you guessing until the very last page.

My take: I pre-ordered this book with a little apprehension—could it possibly be as good as the series and the film? The answer is: almost. The case is interesting; Veronica does her thing with the help of Mac, Wallace, and Keith; several secondary characters from the TV show pop in; and there are a few genuinely shocking twists, along with several laugh out loud moments. All those factors work together to form a satisfying journey back to Neptune.

The novel is very good, but it isn't spectacular—too much profanity, a tendency to over explain Veronica's connection to places and characters (necessary for those who didn't watch the series, but a bit annoying, nonetheless), and one very obvious bad guy kept me from falling completely in love with this book. There's also too little Logan for my taste, which is understandable considering he's on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean, but I still wanted more. Fortunately, Rob Thomas has promised more Logan in the next book!

Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of Veronica Mars—and they're the ones who will be interested in it, anyway. I hope that this is just the beginning in a long series of novels—I'll take Veronica Mars however I can get it!

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book.
Read my other posts about Veronica Mars.

About the author: Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God, creator of the critically acclaimed television series Veronica Mars and co-creator of 90210 and Party Down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book and reviewed it of my own free will. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"snapshot" by lis wiehl

About the book (from the publisher): Two little girls, frozen in black and white. One picture worth killing for.

Federal prosecutor Lisa Waldren’s estranged father wants her to investigate a cold case from his FBI days. Lisa nearly refuses, even though a wrongly convicted man faces execution for murder. Then her father reveals a photograph: a little white girl playing alongside a little black girl at a rally in 1965 where the shooting of a civil rights leader took place. She recognizes herself in the photo.

She was there.

Lisa agrees to help, resolved to boldly seek answers she’s skirted for decades. What she discovers are layers of deception, both personal and professional, reaching as high as the head of the FBI. Possibly even the president.

And though Lisa and the other girl may have escaped the 1965 shooting physically unharmed, her little friend, now grown, bears the scars of it. All because of the color of her skin. As Lisa and her father get closer to the truth, the real killer turns the hunt around.

My take: Snapshot is a fast-paced mystery that takes the reader through several twists and turns before ultimately being resolved. It's written well, and the story is very compelling as it examines race relations in the 1960's and today.

I enjoyed Snapshot very much, even though it never quite reached the I can't put this book down until I know how it ends stage for me. As for what kept it from being a 5-star book, I'd say that sometimes the author told rather than showed what she wanted to get across. (An example of this is Lisa's relationship with Molly, the other girl in the picture. The two don't really connect at first, but the reader only knows this because the author spells it out in the narration—when the two actually interact, there is no indication of an awkward relationship.) There are also several sexual references in the novel—nothing explicit, but still more than you'd find in most Christian fiction.

I've read and enjoyed several of Lis Wiehl's other novels, and, while Snapshot wasn't as intriguing to me as some of her other work, it was still good. I look forward to reading what Wiehl writes next!

My rating: 4 stars

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Wiehl's Waking Hours & Darkness Rising (written with Pete Nelson) and Hand of Fate, Heart of Ice, & Eyes of Justice (written with April Henry).

About the author: Lis Wiehl is a New York Times best-selling author, Harvard Law School graduate, and former federal prosecutor. A popular legal analyst and commentator for the Fox News Channel, Wiehl appears on The O'Reilly Factor and was co-host will Bill O'Reilly on the radio for seven years.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"nothing to hide" by j. mark bertrand

About the book (from the back cover): A grisly homicide. An international threat. The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March.

The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue—but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.

In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose—and nothing to hide.

My take: Nothing to Hide is an enjoyable, intriguing detective novel. It's the third in Bertrand's Roland March Mystery series, though it functions as a stand alone novel, as well.

Bertrand's descriptions caused the novel to come to life, and I caught myself groaning and wincing as I read about the gruesome dead body that kicked off the novel's action. (This reminded me of the TV series Bones—it was as though Bertrand was describing one of the bodies whose discovery always begins an episode.) I'm not incredibly imaginative, so I love it when authors are able to put a picture in my mind!

The mystery goes through multiple twists and turns, and, like March, I was never sure whom he should trust. Eventually I began to put together the pieces of the puzzle—especially how the flashbacks interspersed throughout the novel fit in—but the end, though fitting, was not one I'd have predicted.

Though Nothing to Hide is published by Bethany House and some characters are believers, it is not an overtly "Christian" novel. It felt like a mainstream detective novel minus the language and sex with biblical truth (though subtle) thrown in. For me, that was not a problem, but those expecting a more traditional Christian novel may be let down. Overall a very enjoyable read! 4 stars.

Read an excerpt below: 
Nothing To Hide

About the author: J. Mark Bertrand has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. After one hurricane too many, he left Houston and relocated with his wife Laurie to the plains of South Dakota. For more information, visit www.jmarkbertrand.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through their book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"a darkly hidden truth" by donna fletcher crow

About the book (provided by the publisher): Felicity has decided to become a nun. She departs to visit convents in spite of her mother's imminent arrival and Father Anselm's request that she and Father Antony recover a missing priceless Russian icon before the Patriarch of Moscow arrives at the community for Holy Week. Felicity's discernment journey takes her to Rempstone, Norwich, London, and Walsingham, but her discovery of a friend's murdered body in a shallow grave, the disappearance of more icons, the shooting of a London art expert just after she visits him, the disappearance of Antony, and finally the abduction of Felicity and her mother teach her far more about motherhood, life, and love than she could learn in any convent retreat. Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote water-logged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of The Knights of St. John of Malta keep the pages turning. And will Felicity choose the veil—or Antony?

My take: A Darkly Hidden Truth is a well-written mystery that takes the reader on a journey through history and liturgy with a dash of romance thrown in. It is book two in author Donna Fletcher Crow's "The Monastery Murders" series, but you can easily jump in without reading book one. I really wanted to like it, but it just moved far too slowly for me. I suppose if I were really into English church history or learning about worship services surrounding Holy Week, I would have greatly enjoyed it. As it was, though, I just wanted to get to the "exciting" stuff—which began in earnest on page 263, when Antony was assaulted. From that point on, I flew through the pages, and I really enjoyed the way in which Crow resolved the conflict and wrapped up the mystery. I also appreciated the relationship between Felicity and her mother, and I thought the way Crow revealed the truth behind their relationship was touching.

Because of my lack of connection to the first two-thirds of the book, I have to give it 2-1/2 out of 5 stars. If you'd like to get a taste of the book for yourself, you can read the first two chapters here.

I also have to mention that the name Donna Fletcher Crow was very familiar to me, but I couldn't figure out why ... until I visited her blog. She wrote several of the "Choices" novels for kids—the ones that were a Christian version of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. I loved those books!

About the author: Donna Fletcher Crow is author of more than thirty-five novels. She has twice won first place in the Historical Fiction category from the National Association of Press Women, and has also been a finalist for "Best Inspirational Novel" from the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of The Arts Centre Group, and Sisters in Crime. www.donnafletchercrow.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"unhallowed ground" by mel starr

Surgeon and baliff Hugh de Singleton is happily living at Galen House in Bampton with his bride Kate when his former nemesis Thomas atte Bridge is found hanged. Though the death is quickly ruled a suicide, Hugh suspects foul play. The problem? Nearly every man in Bampton had reason to dislike atte Bridge, and Hugh is reluctant to suspect any of his friends. When Hugh's life is threatened, however, he realizes that if he, Kate, and their unborn baby are to live in peace, he must uncover the circumstances behind atte Bridge's death.

My take: I loved this book! It is not a particularly fast read (at least if you want to understand it—it takes place in the 14th century and contains lots of terms I was unfamiliar with ... thank goodness for the glossary!), but it is an enjoyable one. It is written as though it's Hugh's journal, and as such, he includes humorous asides and foreshadowing comments that I found quite enjoyable. It also provides insight into the state of medicine in the 14th century, and the description of cataract surgery was particularly interesting and squirm-inducing.

I greatly enjoyed unraveling the mystery along with Hugh, and it was quite nice to see some villains from the last book receive their comeuppance! (If you read A Trail of Ink, be sure to watch for the description of Sir Simon's ear...)

I read and reviewed A Trail of Ink—the third book in this series—last year, so I was prepared to enjoy Unhallowed Ground. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed, and I look forward to reading the fifth book, The Tainted Coin, when it releases.

I give Unhallowed Ground 5 out of 5 stars! If you'd like to read an excerpt, go here.


About the Author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  After graduating with a MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”