"The Long Call" by Ann Cleeves

If you are in the mood for an intriguing mystery/police procedural, British author Ann Cleeves’ “The Long Call” fits that bill! This is the first in a new series, Two Rivers, by the author in some time and it introduces Detective Matthew Venn.

Detective Venn has already had a rough day when he is called to a murder not far from the North Devon beach home he shares with his husband, Johnathan. Earlier, he viewed estranged father’s funeral from distance. He was not welcome because his parents belonged the Bretheren, a religious cult from which he was cast out several years prior.

As the investigation begins, a young lady from the Woodyard Centre goes missing. Everyone in the area wonders if the two events are related as this area has a very low crime rate. As Venn and his colleagues investigate the murder and kidnapping and grow closer to finding the culprit, several suspects emerge. It seems that the murdered man, the Woodyard, the Bretheren, and perhaps even Johnathan are tangled in the scheme.

This is the first book of Ann Cleeves I have had the pleasure to read, but it won’t be the last. Excited to find a new author with so many books from which to choose!

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: Mystery, thriller, suspense, police procedural, crime, international mystery, detective

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

#TheLongCall #NetGalley

"A Bound Heart" by Laura Frantz

Laura Frantz’ “A Bound Heart” is the story of childhood friends Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall who grew up together on the charming and beautiful isle of Kerrera (off the Scottish coast).

Although they had many of the same opportunities as children, they lead quite different lives as adults; Magnus is Laird of Castle Kerrera and Lark is the Keeper of the Bees. Lark has always been quite fond of Magnus and was heartbroken when he returned a few years ago to the isle with a wife. So, she busies herself taking care of her elderly Granny and her beloved bees. She also has a flirtatious friendship with the handsome captain of the Merry Lass, Rory MacPherson.

The inhabitants of the isle soon learn that Magnus’ wife, Lady Isla, hates the isle and living there. She is mean, rude and often physically ill. Furthermore, she does not like “the help” to be seen (including Lark). Matters only worsen when she is unable to produce an heir. Lady Isla is desperate to have a child and dies after ingesting one of Lark’s potions. Lark is soon tried and found guilty or murder. Lark and Magnus’ trials and tribulations and ensuing love story comprise the rest of the book.

Both Magnus and Lark are Christians and Frantz reminds us that it is “better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and angry woman” and also that “husbands, love your wives.” She also reminds us that “the true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good!”

If you require a lovely historical romance, this is for you! Frantz describes the isle of Kerrera so beautifully you will feel as if you are there. This book is great for any age reader.

Hoping that this may become a series (although the cover did not designate as such). I would love to read more about their lives after the ending of the book.

#ABoundHeart #NetGalley

Publication Date: January 1, 2019

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Scottish

Cover: Stunning and absolutely perfect!

Rating: 5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

"You Belong to Me" by Mark Tilbury

Those last three paragraphs! Wow… didn’t see that coming. That’s literally all you need to know.

When you feel like giving up because the chapters seem to be rehashing the same material over and over… keep on plowing through it. Don’t give up; it will be worth it! And when you are finished, let that last sentence sink in. Then give that title a little think.

Those of you who know me or who have read some of my other reviews know that I love me some justified revenge. Sometimes it’s fairly quick (Four Brothers) and sometimes it takes years (Remember… one of the best movies ever). Sometimes, two wrongs can make a right!

When I was close to the end, I almost thought that that there might be a part two. I hate those books that are written thinking that there will be two or three in the series (same story) and leave you hanging at the end of book one. Rest assured, you will be content when you read that final word.

#YouBelongToMe #NetGalley

Publication Date: February 4, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Cover: OK

Rating: 4.5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

"The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek" (Harley Henrickson #1) by Liz Andrews

I’ll be honest, the reason I requested this book is because it is set in my backyard. While I like cozy mysteries, I usually only choose one when I need a respite from my favorite thriller genre. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It is a cozy mystery, but it is so much more.

Notchey Creek is a town full of secrets. Seeminly idyllic, the town is stunned when a wealthy local history professor turns up dead. Lovable Harley Henrickson is determined to get to the bottom of his death but every corner she turns only brings up more questions.

Full of likeable characters, pet pigs, a rock star, and life lessons, this book is an excellent read. I did not expect the ending and I will be honest, I shed a tear.

I hope that this is the first of many Harley Henrickson novels. I plan to read them all!

#TheMistRisesOverNotcheyCreek #NetGalley

Publication Date: November 28, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Cover: Perfect
Rating: 5 stars
Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

"The Rain Watcher" by Tatiana de Rosnay

"The Rain Watcher" centers around the gathering of the Malegarde family in Paris for the weekend celebration of the family patriarch, Paul. They arrive during torrential rains and the beginning of massive flooding in the city. Both children, Linden and Tilia, are a bit taken aback when they see their father; he does not look well and has aged considerably. The celebration soon turns awry after Paul suffers a stroke during his 70^th birthday dinner.

The flooding serves as a backdrop for family drama and secrets revealed. As the waters rise and Paris deteriorates, so does the Malegarde family along with Paul’s health.

The plot that stood out to me, though, was Linden’s relationship with his Father, Paul. They both have secrets to share. They both hide behind things to protect themselves… Linden with his old Leica camera and Paul with his trees. 

Linden is jealous of the trees and the part that they play in Paul’s life… how important they are to him. A few lines from the book referencing trees really spoke to me… but I also saw them as how we as a society often feel about elderly people… “The tragedy is that people have lost interest in trees. They take them for granted. People don’t respect trees like they used to” and “No one really understand how slowly trees grow and how old they become” just as Paul’s children did not truly see their father aging.

In the end, we find out why the lime trees were so important in Paul’s life and why he dedicated his life to preserving all trees. We learn the family secrets and how they will affect this family going forward.

My only issue with the book was that it got a bit slow in the middle. I have been to Paris, but don’t know the names of the streets or areas, so that part seemed a bit hard to read and to go slowly. However, someone who was familiar with these areas might not agree.

While not my favorite de Rosnay book (it would be hard to the take the place of Sarah’s Key in my heart) it is still very worthy of a read.

#TheRainWatcher #TatianadeRosnay #NetGalley

Publication Date: October 30, 2018

Genre: Fiction

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 3 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book

"Once Upon a River" by Diane Setterfield

I have been waiting for this book since I closed the cover on “The Thirteenth Tale”! (If you haven’t read it, download it now!) Diane Setterfield spins a tale like no other.

“Once Upon A River” begins with the discovery of a lifeless child at the river. A child whose “corpse was a blank page” and gave up no story about what had happened. The child, a girl, was discovered by a man who stumbles, half dead himself, into the The Swan; an ancient inn that was known for its storytelling.

Rita, the local nurse, is sent to attend to the man and to hopefully discover what exactly happened to the child. Before Rita can finish her examination of the dead girl, for she was indeed dead, the girl comes back to life.

Who is this girl? To whom does she belong? Is she the daughter of a local couple whose child was kidnapped two years ago? Is she the child of a local prostitute who jumped from the bridge a few weeks ago? Is she the ghost of another’s sister?

As the story unfolds, we learn about the characters and the girl. We learn their stories-their hopes, dreams, character. We learn how virtuous people can be and we learn how despicable they can be. We learn about the river. How it gives life and how it takes it away.

The characters are so very well developed that I did not want to say goodbye to them. I wanted to continue, but remember, we all have rivers of our own to attend to!

#OnceUponARiver #DianeSetterfield #NetGalley

Publication Date: December 4, 2018

Genre:  Suspense, Mystery, Kidnapping, Supernatural, Gothic, British

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!

"Paradox (FBI Thriller #22)" by Catherine Coulter

I love justified revenge: Four Brothers, Carrie, Taken, Remember, True Grit and my all-time favorite The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Now that is some beautifully orchestrated justified revenge! And I can’t wait for Jennifer Garner’s new movie, Peppermint. That one looks awesome!

The problem is that everyone who seeks revenge thinks it’s justified. That’s what’s going on in Catherine Coulter’s latest Sherlock and Savich case, “Paradox”.

The book begins with a botched kidnapping of their son Sean. While trying to figure out who could want to kidnap him and why, they are called in to assist in another case. Willicott, Maryland’s police chief witnesses a murder early one morning while gazing at the lake from her home. When local officials drag the lake for the body, they discover bones from several bodies. A subsequent search uncovers an odd clue as to whom the bodies may belong. This seemingly idyllic little town has lots of secrets and a creepy murder house to boot!

Meanwhile, they discover that the kidnapper may be someone out for revenge and they must stop him before their family and others are devastated.

A great read for any Sherlock and Savich fans. Coulter tackles forgiveness and mental illness in this one, too.  Good story; this one has a truly satisfying ending! After all, some revenge may truly be justified!

#Paradox #CatherineCoulter #NetGalley

Publication Date: July 31, 2018

Genre:  Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Kidnapping, Mental Illness

Cover: Perfect

Rating: 5 stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!