2026 Book Review #30:Sharp Force

 

This is a book series I've enjoyed for many years now. 

I've read all of the Dr Kay Scarpetta books in order and this one didn't fully  disappoint me, although it's not one of her best, in my opinion.  This is book 29 in the series. 

STORY SUMMARY 

There is a serial killer in Washington, D.C area and he/she is known as the Phantom Stalker. He stalks victims with very sophisticated technology that allows him to invade homes and spy on their every move. The victims often wake up to a ghost-like hologram and then are murdered right in their beds. 

It's the early hours of Christmas morning and the Stalker has struck again.

Dr Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner/forensic pathologist, is called to go to Mercy Island which is the site of a notorious psychiatric hospital where two people have been viciously brutalized. One victim, Zain Willard, the nephew of a presidential candidate, is still alive and in the hospital with horrible cuts to his body. 

The other victim is someone from Kay's past.....and from her genius niece Lucy's past as well.......

And it soon becomes apparent that Dr Scarpetta could be the next Phantom Stalker victim.

Who will discover the identity behind this killer and will it be soon? 

MY THOUGHTS

This wasn't one of my fave Dr Scarpetta novels.  It was a bit sluggish to me in the middle and usually I can read one of these books in 2-3 days. This took longer than a week for me to trudge through it yet I did enjoy it...it was just slow going and I think mainly because it focused so much on the technology.  At least that's how it felt to me. 

Then the ending was so abrupt that it was kind of unbelievable whereas in past novels, it leads up to an exciting climax and then boom. This lacked the excitement to me. 

I always love the characters that have been developed over the years, and the various personalities that are displayed in their back stories or the plot behind the main plot.  This book does a great job with looking at the relationship between Marino (former police detective) and his wife Dorothy (Lucy's difficult mom and sister to Dr Kay).  We also see something new...but not surprising....with Dorothy and Benton, (FBI profiler) who is married to Kay.   I liked the subplot with the characters more than I did the main plot. 

I found no editing errors in this book nor was there a ton of swearing.  I always appreciate that about this author. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (Due to some mature content).

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8. 

2026 Book Review #29:House of Glass

 

My reading has really slowed down this summer.....mainly because I'm rarely home!

So yesterday, I took myself to the lake since hubby is away again this weekend, and finished this novel I've had for 3 weeks. This type of book usually only takes me 5-7 days to read but summer has been so beautiful and I've done so much hiking that I  simply haven't given myself chunks of reading time other than before bed.  

If you like easy mysteries with a lot of suspense, you'll like this one. I like that it wasn't gory and no F bombs!

STORY SUMMARY

Rose Barclay is a 9 year old girl who has been identified with traumatic mutism. 

She witnessed the murder of her nanny, Tina at the same time that her parents are in the middle of a messy divorce. She immediately stopped talking. 

Stella Hudson is a "best interest attorney"' who works with children in high conflict custody cases as appointed by the courts. She never accepts clients under the age of 13 because of her own traumatic childhood, but her mentor and good friend, Charles (a well respected judge) believes Stella is the only BIA who can help Rose. 

The Barclay family is extremely wealthy and live in a historic home in the D.C area.  This is all due to Elizabeth'(Beth) family money.  Beth is a very much a controlling mother who oversees Rose's daily schedule and rarely lets Rose out of the house unless it is to work in the garden with her  grandmother, Harriet (paternal grandmother) or if she's with Ian (Rose's father) or with the horses. Beth herself has mood swings, similar to Rose. 

Once Stella gets to know each Barclay family member, and spends time at the Barclay mansion, she begins to see that this family is vastly more troubled than she realized. The house has absolutely no glass. Everything is plastic or plexiglass.  It's very eerie. 

As she comes closer to uncovering the secrets that the Barclays are hiding, danger starts to creep in, and her own past and her present are about to collide. 

Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. Beth, Ian, Harriet, Pete (the nanny's boyfriend), and even little Rose. 

Will the truth be revealed?  Or will Stella need protection from the very person she's supposed to be protecting? 

MY THOUGHTS

This was a good book with a lot of suspense.  

I liked the character development as well as the setting.

The chase scene at the end was a bit unbelievable but then again it's fiction so.....

Some of the main themes in this story center around: family dysfunction, deception, trauma and its consequences, the weight of carrying secrets, truth restoring love and forgiveness, divorce, drug use, friendship. 

As suspense novels go, this was pretty good!  I liked that there were no editing errors and no blatant swear words. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8. 

2026 Book Review #28:Return of the Spider

 

This has been my all-time favorite mystery series since the author's first Alex Cross book came out called Along Came a Spider in 1993. In fact, only one other fictional detective/psychologist beats the Cross novels, and that's Kay Scarpetta created by the author Patricia Cornwell in 1990.   Both series are ones I've read in order and currently I am up to date with the Cross series.  If you like murder mysteries/thrillers, I highly recommend both  series. This is Book 34 in the Alex Cross series. 

STORY SUMMARY

 Gary Soneji, the "spider" was a substitute teacher who became a hardened serial killer. And Alex Cross is the one to bring him down. However, in this latest book, Alex and Sampson discover that they made many mistakes back in their rookie homicide detective days.  

Now, Alex is retracing his steps from that long-ago investigation and is facing the "return of the spider".   

The police have discovered a murder book titled Profiles in Homicidal Genius that Soneji wrote in.  It details his transformation from a business employee, husband to Missy and daddy to Roni, a little girl (persona Gary Murphy) and substitute teacher and serial killer (persona Gary Soneji aka the spider).  

What went wrong at the beginning of those murders for Alex and John Sampson?  And how are they going to fix what turned out to be a huge mistake? 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a brilliant look at the start of Alex Cross's career and the whole background of Gary Soneji. I found it fascinating that the Gary character studied the real life serial killers Son of Sam, Zodiac Killer, Boston Strangler, etc.  

However, the book was a bit slower to me in the middle than most of the author's Cross novels.  Or maybe because it's summer and I've been so busy leading hikes, swimming in mountain lakes, and spending time with friends and husband, that my reading this month  has slowed down. 

The book overall is excellent and really explains alot about Soneji's background. 

I found it interesting that towards the end the author is alluding to the fact that Nana Mama might live to be 100 (she is one strong 90+ woman!) and that Alex is considering what I assume is thoughts of retirement. 

Either way....this is a great book and look-back at the very first novel that started it all. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content).

On a scale of 1=10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8. 

2026 Book Review #27:River Sing Me Home

 

This book jumped out at me from the library shelves due to the title.

It's an historical fiction story based on the slavery of the Caribbean Islands and it takes place in one year, from 1834-1835.  Rachel, the main character, and her journey to find her children who were taken away from her and are now young adults, is based on a true story.

STORY SUMMARY 

On the Providence Plantation, on the island of Barbados, the plantation master gathered his slaves together to make an announcement. It is August 1834 and the King of England has just decreed an end to slavery.  The Emancipation Act of 1834 was going into effect the very next day.  

But the joyful cries of the slaves soon grew silent because the master also announced that although they would no longer be his slaves, they would be his apprentices.  They would need to serve him for 6 more years. And no one can leave. "Freedom is just another name for the life they have always lived." (taken from the book jacket). 

So Rachel decided to run. 

She begins a desparate search for her children.  Five of them survived birth but were then sold to other masters/plantations. She wondered if any of them were alive. 

She was on the search for Thomas Augustus, Mary Grace, Cherry Jane, Micah and Mercy.  Were any of them alive? Where were they??

Rachel has to leave Barbados and travel to British Guiana and Trinidad.   She figures a mother cannot be truly free until she knows what has become of her children. 

The answers might be more than she can bear. 

Will they be re-united?? 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a powerful look at what the slaves in the Caribbean Islands endured and a history I never learned about in school or college.  I wonder why that is. 😢

The character developement is rich and complex and the setting is perfectly described. 

I love the themes of survival, hope, forgiveness, maternal love, the meaning of freedom, and resilience not just of individuals but of a community. 

This story will stick with you long afte the last page is turned. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9. 

2026 Book Review #26:Theo of Golden

 

What a lovely novel with a lovely premise. 

This is the author's book debut and it's a hit. 

STORY SUMMARY

The man's name is Theo. He doesn't reveal his last name. He asks people lots of questions about themselves yet rarely  talks about himself. He appears in the small town of Golden, Georgia one Spring day. 

Theo likes to visit the local coffeehouse called The Chalice and likes to visit Tony at the Verbivore book store.  

It's in the Chalice that he discovers 92 portraits done in pencil by a local artist named Asher Glisson. The portraits are of various Golden residents. 

Theo begins to buy them, one at a time, and then gives them to the people the portrait is depicting. When these exchanges occur, stories are told, friendships are birthed, and lives change. 

What is  Theo trying to teach the people of Golden? What does this book teach us? 

MY THOUGHTS

I loved this book the moment I opened it. First of all, there were 298 people ahead of me on the waiting list when I first signed up for this book from our towne library. 

Finally 12 days ago, it was my turn.  

The book is one to be savored. It's not a page turner meaning it's not like a thriller or mystery or family drama. It's kind of like an experience. It's the kind of book where I would read a chapter, think about it, set it aside and pick it up again later in the day. 

The characters are very well developed as is the setting.  I just love the descriptions of each character and the various establishments around Golden. 

But more than that, I love the story of Jesus entwined in these pages....this mainly comes out in the end but like I originally thought...Theo is  an example of how Jesus wants us to live.......

the themes of kindness, compassion, gentleness and self control are apparent in this story....the intentional generosity of Theo.....the connection between art/music and redemptive joy. 

The ending is simply exquisite. I cannot reveal what it is because it would totally ruin it for you.  But it's just beautiful and this story will resonate with me for days to come. 

There are many great quotes throughout the story and I'll share a few of my favorites: 

 "For anything to be good, truly good there must be love in it. Whether the art is sculpture, farming, teaching, law-making, medicine, music, or raising a child----nothing is what it's supposed to be if love is not at the core." (pg 119 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi, c2023)

"What does it mean that we place permanent boundaries around transient moments? what it it say of humankind that we take such trouble to freeze specific memories, that we devote such energy to capturing and preserving the "minute particulars' of our lives?" (pg 123) 

"...the best portion of a good person's life is "the little, namelss, unremembered acts of kindness and love." (Theo speaking of Wordsworth on pg 207)

"God gave us faces so we can see each other better." (pg 259)

"They are also told that faith, hope, and love endure, but the greatest of these is love." (pg 384)

If you only read one book this summer, make it Theo of Golden.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.  It's exquisite.  

2026 Book Review #25: Beyond the High Peaks

 

This is the kind of non-fiction book I most enjoy, other than books by some of my fave Christian authors like Priscilla Shirer, John Piper, Lisa Harper, etc. 

This book is a little bit Adirondack history and a lot Adirondack hiking on lesser known trails. Both topics I thoroughly enjoy.

SUMMARY

This is a collection of short hiking essays/narratives.  They highlight 12 different wild and utterly beautiful places in the Adirondack Mountains.  

Most hikers gravitate towards the High Peaks or  chase challenges like the Firetower Challenge (I completed that in 2015) or the Waterfalls Challenges, etc but the author has discovered that the Adirondacks have a lot more trails and mountains to offer.

There are over 40 designated wilderness area and wild forest regions within the Adirondack Park boundaries. I've been to most of them and have hiked in most of them. 

During the last 40 years, the author has visited most of these places and he journaled while on the trails.  He contemplated the relationship between wildness and being human.  He did this while totally immersing himself in deep forest solitude. 

He includes photos that go along with his descriptions, ruminations and reflections. 

Each chapter is titled and the book begins with an Introduction.

1. Pillsbury Lake Retreat
2. A Great Day in the Mountains
3. Alone in the Wild
4. The Last Warm Day
5. The Souls of Trees
6. Ridge Gambling
7. Wild Realty
8. The Whispering Wind 
9. A Nap by the Lake
10. That Climbing Rush
11. Cause for Concern
12. Going Deep

MY THOUGHTS

I loved reading this because some of the wilderness areas  and wild forest regions the author mentions, I have hiked in.

I've hiked at least 41 trails in the various wilderness/wild forest areas he writes about. Several of those are significant mountains. Two were High Peaks and 3 are on the top  100 highest for NYS/ADK. I know I'm missing some as for the last year I've neglected to record the trails I've been hiking with my hiking group. 

I love his descriptions of the trees and mountains he sees...and the air he smells and the sounds...like that haunting cry of the loon. 

If you like to read good descriptive narratives, and you like to hike, this book is perfect. 

I own a copy of this book and it will join my other Adirondack Hiking Guides and History books on my living room bookcase. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 12 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.

2026 Book Review #24: Sandwich

 

What a light....yet deep....book!

It's a play on words, really.  The title I mean. 

Dave and I were just in Sandwich 2 weeks ago spending the day and the description of the vacation cottages, etc is spot on. But it's also the main character being in the "sandwich" era of her life: aging parents and half-grown children, who are young adults with their own needs and issues.  I highly recommend this story! 

STORY SUMMARY

Rocky (Rachel) is married to Nicky and they have two almost totally grown up children: Willa, who is gay; and  Jamie who has a girlfriend named Maya.  Rocky and her family have vacationed on Cape Cod every year for 20 years. They look forward to it!  They rent a very humble, little beach-town cottage and they've made memories and messes:  emotional, marital, and because of the ancient plumbing, they've also had septic issues over the years. But the memories are sweet and they still all want to vacation together. 

With this year's vacation, Rocky feels sandwiched in between her aging parents and her young adult children. It's going to be a great vacation, as always, but Rocky is also dealing with, at age 54, the symptoms and mood swings of menopause. Rocky's body is changing...and so is her life. 

A chain of events bring Rocky into her past and she begins to relive not just the tender, poignant moments, but the sorrows a couple of long-ago summers when her  children were preschoolers. 

They are only on the Cape for one week...but in that week,  everything is in balance, yet everything is in changing. Rocky learns some things about her own family's past and then she is forced to accept that she can't hide certain secrets any longer, especially from the people she loves. 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a book with laughs, tears and many precious moments

I loved this book other than a few crass words and depictions as well as many editing errors. 

The characters are richly developed and so real! I could relate to Rocky on so many levels except the hot flashes (I didn't get those during menopause). 

The setting was so well described, I could smell the salt air and pines and feel the sandy shore under my toes. 

The main themes in this story seem to be: physical and emotional changes in women; transitions of life and relationships; abortion; homosexuality;  intergenerational dynamics/family dynamics; love, forgiveness, acceptance. 

Some quotes that really resonated with me were all from the ending of the story: 

"...that's part of choice--we get to make our own decisions, even if they're imperfect.The potential that you might regret something? We don't make anything illegal beause of that....." (pg 204 Sandwich by Catherine Newman c.2024

"Maybe grief is love imploding. Or maybe it's love expanding. I don't know. I just know you can't create loss to preempt loss because it doesn't work that way. So you might as well love as much as you can. And as recklessly. Like it's your last resort, because it is." (pg 220-221) 

 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content). 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9. 

 

2026 Book Review #23:The Lying Game

 

I've read quite a few of this author's novels.  Some I loved, others were just ok.

This one was very good!  My reading this past month has slowed down but I'm slowly getting back into reading more each day.  My goal for retirement was to read 2 books a week...but that's before I started volunteering with the hiking group I founded and also volunteer for another 2 ministries at church. But now that it's summer, I'm really only doing the hiking group so I hope to get more reading done each day. 

STORY SUMMARY

 It's a June morning and a cool one. There's a woman walking her dog in the pretty coastal village of Salten. She's walking along a tidal estuary known as The Reach. All of a sudden, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what at first looks like a stick. But the woman is horrified when she sees that it is a human bone!  

The very next morning, three women in their early 30s who live in and around London, are notified by a fourth woman. Their names are Fatima (married with 3 children), Thea (single career woman, anorexic and alcoholic), and Isa (living with her boyfriend and father of her baby girl Freya).  The 4th  woman's name is Kate.  She sends them all a text saying "I need you". No explanation.  And they haven't seen each other in 17 years. 

These 4 women were best friends when they were teenagers at Salten House, a 2nd rate boarding school. It was set near the cliffs of the English Channel.  Kate lived in an old mill on The Reach with her father Ambrose who was the art teacher at Salten House. Her "brother" Luc (they were like brother and sister but Luc was from France and his mother, now a heroin addict in France, used to live with Ambrose.  Luc's biological father is unkown. 

The 4 girls were inseparable in high school and were notorious for playing what they called The Lying Game. They told lies constantly to fellow boarders and to the faculty and staff. 

But their game had terrible consequences finally. 

As they gather aga; in in Salten....now all grown up.....they realize that their game of lying and their shared past with its secrets, was not buried as deeply...or as safely.... as they thought and hoped. 

What was the final big secret between them? and why is it surfacing now after all these years? 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a twisty plot kind of book.  I loved the character  development although at times every single character except Fatima, drove me crazy. 

The setting is well described and I could just smell the briny salt water of the Reach. 

The main themes in this book are: complex female friendships; parent-child relationship and being raised by single parents; addictions; the ripple effects of lying/dishonesty; the burden of teenage guilt; isolation by choice; deep loyalty; betrayals. 

I loved the way the book ended......it was a bit of  a surprise the way it ended although I did guess correctly who was involved in the crime. 

I don't want to reveal too much about what the crime was or who  was involved as that would ruin the story for you. 

I did find a few editing errors.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature content). 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 8.  

2026 Book Review #22:The Memory Thief

 

I had never heard of this author until I was browsing our library bookshelves and came across this novel.  The title is what drew me.  The photo art has nothing to do with the story, however. It's rather odd since it's set in Boulder, CO in the mountains. At any rate, it was a very different kind of story..... very original and very  creative.  

STORY SUMMARY

Aiden James (A.J.) is a mountaineer.  He rock climbs, ice climbs, and is a huge risk taker. He's married to Madeleine (Maddie)  Kimble and they have a 4 year old little boy named Gabriel (Gabe). Maddie is a writer. They live in Boulder, CO. 

Aiden and his best friend J.C and a couple of other friends are planning on climbing Mount McKinley's south face.  (the highest mountain in North America and located in Alaska).  Before Aiden leaves, he makes a vow to Maddie: "I will come back to you".  Maddie does not feel good about him going. 

And sure enough....late one night..she gets the dreaded phone call that Aiden has died in an avalanche.  She is left alone to care for Gabe.....and Gabe has a very big secret.   The phone call is from J.C and he is feeling survivor's guilt......he also feels something more.  He has loved Maddie for years.  But he resigned himself to the fact that Maddie belongs to Aiden. And now, J.C. feels guilty that he couldn't save Aiden.  He always wanted a chance with Maddie but certainly not at the cost of his best friend's life! 

Meanwhile, across the country, Nicholas Sullivan wakes up from a coma from a motorcycle crash and he has absolutely no memory of his life before the crash.  The crash happened on the same day as the avalanche:  June 7th.  Nicholas has dreams and they are very haunting.  They are about a mysterious woman and her little boy....but Nicholas has never met them! He feels like he knows them however, and he is determined to figure out who they are and leave everything to go and find them. 

What Nicholas discovers will demand a leap of faith that will change off of their lives forever. 

MY THOUGHTS

This was a really different book from what I typically read.  It's a drama with a bit of mystique and a kind of "super-natural" bent but not in a Satanic kind of way.  More like an other wordly, angels among us kind of way. 

It's definitely very original and very creative! It's a bit haunting but not spooky. It's also very emotional. 

The character development is quite rich and the setting is so well described. I felt like I was on the mountain! I loved all of the characters except Grace who was so utterly annoying.  But maybe that was the point! (Grace was Nicholas'  girlfriend). 

This book is about memory, friendship, love, loss/grief, forgiveness. 

I had to keep turning page after page to find out what exactly was going to happen!

The ending is beautiful.  Sad...but beautiful. and yet happy.  All of those emotions that make for an excellent read. 

The one thing that was a turn off for me, was the very explicit s*x descriptions.  I understand why the author chose to write this explicitly but I find it to be a turn off. That part read like a cheesy, steamy  romance novel. 

I found only a couple of editing errors in this book. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to some explicit descriptions of s*xual encounters).  

On a scale of 1-10, I rate  this an 8. 

From the descriptions of the author's other novels, I probably won't read any more of her books. They're not my type of genre. 

2026 Book Review #21:Northwoods

 

I had been seeing excellent reviews for this new-to-me author, and since this is her first novel and set in Wisconsin, I thought I'd try it.  Now, apparently, she has a 2nd book out that is a sequel to this one so I'll have to request that at the library. This was a fast, good mystery drama. 

STORY SUMMARY

 Eli North is a police officer and his mom, Marge, is the boss. She's the Sheriff of the Wisconsin county in Shaky Lake, a small northwoods community. They have a really small budget and Marge is overwhelmed with the current opioid epidemic going on in the county. 

Eli is a vet who carries some major emotional trauma and wounds from his time in Afghanistan. His marriage is over.  He rarely sees his son, Andy, who is only 12. Part of Eli's problem is that he is becoming an alcoholic. His drinking is getting worse every day. But...

The body of a teenage boy(Ben Sharpe)  is found on a boat in the lake...by Eli....and this begins to set in motion a lengthy investigation that Eli is a part of and that leads to the very wealthy country club community in town, along with a pharmeceutical salesman, and a missing teen girl named Caitlin Wallace who happens to be the only child of the salesman, Calvin Wallace. 

The autopsy shows that Ben died of a drug overdose...yet he never took drugs in his young life!! 

The FBI sends in a young agent named Alyssa and it's up to Marge, Eli, and Alyssa to go on the hunt...not just for Ben's killer, but for the person (or people) behind this opioid crisis. 

Will Eli solve the case of the missing girl, find Ben's killer and resolve his own emotional conflicts? Or will the  that haunts him and Shaky Lake continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods?  

MY THOUGHTS

This is a great read!  I loved the character development and the setting. 

There are some themes that intermingle in each character's life:  addictions (drugs alcohol, and work), divorce, post traumatic stress disorder/emotional trauma from war, "Big pharma" issues, forgiveness of self, redemption, parent-child bond. 

The setting was perfect for this story....I loved the author's descriptions of the town, the country club, and the lake. 

The mysteries wrapped up quickly and were definitely not predictable. There's a slight twist in the end that I didn't see coming and I liked how the author ended the book. 

I found no editing errors in this book! And it's a clean read with no f bombs. Excellent writing!

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10. 

2026 Book Review #20:I Surrender All

 

I'm a huge fan of Priscilla Shirer.  You may know her from the movie War Room. You've probably heard her dad or read one of his books (Tony Evans, pastor).  Well, this past Spring semester my ladies small group that I facilitate, read one of her latest books, I Surrender All. WOW.  Was it ever convicting and so deep yet an easy read.  It made for great discussions. 

STUDY SUMMARY 

The book was inspired by the themes in the movie The Forge. 

The study is a challenge and an invitation to surrender everything to Jesus Christ. To know and follow Him not just as your Savior but are your priority, your  first love, your Lord. To move beyond being a believer to becoming His disciple.   

"Because there is a difference". From the back cover:

"Salvation is a gift of God. It's free. It's grace. It's the cross. Discipleship comes at a high cost. It's surrender. It's effort. It's a daily choice to lay down your life and follow His. Few believers choose this route, but the ones who do will experience the abundance that only the surrendered life can offer. It's the one choice standing between you and the life of freedom and fulfillment, of peace and purpose you've always wanted." 

That paragraph spoke to me and prompted me to buy the book and lead the study. 

The book is divided into an Intro called "First". 

Then there are 8 chapters which are as follows:

1.  Everything You Have 
2. Everything You Need'
3. Everything You Are
4. Everhthing You're Becoming
5. Everything You Want
6. Everything You Face
7. Everywhere You Go
8. Everything for Jesus

There is a place of Notes and an About the Author page as well. 

MY THOUGHTS

This book study is fantastic for the new or mature Christ follower. 

The chapter are easy to read, include various Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments and have 3 questions at the very end for self reflection or for sharing in class/small group. 

There was space to write notes which I didn't do....I put my notes/thoughts into a journal. But I did highlight many sections or Scriptures that jumped out at me and I encouraged my ladies to do that as well.

There were 6 of us for this group and I  had some great positive feedback about what they learned, how they grew and how Priscilla's words challenged them. 

We chose to just meet for the 7 chapters for discussion and left the last chapter to read on our own as it's more personal stories from Priscilla and not much to share on. 

I highly recommend this book for a ladies Bible study/small group if you are a leader....or it's great to just read on your own!  I was definitely challenged in many areas and convicted to lay down some "things"/"Stuff" and give them over to God.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10. 

2026 Book Review #19:A Fountain Filled with Blood

 

This is Book 2 in the Rev Clare Fergusson mystery series that I discovered this past winter. 

STORY SUMMARY

Clare, the new Episcopal priest at St Albans Church in Millers Kill in eastern New York State, is shocked when she hears of the horrible beating a gay young man in town was subjected to.  Who would do such a horrible thing? Clare is a former Army Air Force chopper pilot and thought she had heard and seen it all between her job as a priest and the former duties of a helicopter pilot but she is shocked that homophobia seems to have struck this little town when another gay man is found murdered due to a savage beating.  What is going on in Millers Kill? Then another man is found dead!

Are these murders just random acts of violence or do they have something to do with the proposed spa that is set for construction on the  very wealthy Landry family land?   And how do the PCBs found in the water relate to the construction project? 

It seems as though this small town is as wicked as New York City.  

Clare gets involved with helping Russ Van Alstyne, chief of police, solve the murders and figure out why the head of the project has turned up dead in the local park?  Is his death related to the other men?  

MY THOUGHTS

This is a light mystery and very fast-paced. I love the character development between Clare and her friend Russ.  Russ is married to Linda who doesn't always seem interested in Russ's work.  Clare is interested and Russ is beginning to have feelings for the priest that extend beyond their new found friendship, but Clare begins to date a gentleman begins she also senses an attraction to Russ and knows that he is married and as a priest, she wants to be proper.  The verbal exchanges between these two characters and their mutual attraction really make the book move forward. 

In book one and now book two, the ending is a bit predictable and also a bit farfetched with what Clare does to help Russ solve the mysteries, but it's not super sappy and the overlying feeling of this book is just a light, easy mystery. I appreciate that there are no major swear words and that it's all around a good clean read.  

The themes tend to be mature.  This book deals with homophobia, bullying, threatening behavior, environmental issues, murder, and drug possession with intent to sell.  It all ties in nicely and the ending of the book leaves you wondering what Clare and Russ will be up to in Book 3. 

I love that the author wrote out the entire hymn.  The reason for the title I believe is because when Clare comes upon a certain murder scene, she thinks of the setting as a "fountain filled with blood" and prays over the man. 

I love that the author includes prayers and specific spiritual disciplines and although i am not Episcopalian, I appreciate the beauty of it. 

And as in book one, I appreciated and enjoyed the mention of many familiar and close to me landmarks in the Adirondacks: Lake George, Saratoga, "Story Land" aka in real life it was Story Town and now the Great Escape/Six Flags, Albany Medical Center (where my daughters were born), Glens Falls where my sister and her son work among other well known places in eastern NY. 

I found only a few editing errors in this book. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to some mature content). 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8. 

2026 Book Review #18:Dead Man's Wake

 

I just finished book # 14 in the Game Warden series set in Maine that I enjoy so much.  Once again, the author delivers an exciting, fast-paced mystery set on an island off of a lake. 

STORY SUMMARY

It's the evening of Mike Bowditch, Game Warden, and his fiancee's engagement party at his step-dad's luxurious lake house. His fiancee is Stacy Stevens, daughter of Mike's mentor and good friend Charley and  his wife Ora. 

Mike and Stacey witness a hit-and-run boating accident out on the lake in the gathering dark.  But when they arrive at the scene, their spotlight reveals a horrible sight.  There's a severed arm floating just beneath the surface and as day breaks the warden dive team recovers not just one naked corpse but two!  One is a man with the missing arm and the other is a married woman he was having an affair with and whose husband is a member of a local motorcycle gang. 

Mike begins to suspect that this was not a boating accident but  premeditated murders. 

The hunt is on for the mysterious boater who may be able to give some answers. There are many suspects around the lake which is nicknamed "Golden Pond" after the famous movie (Although the movie was actually shot on a lake in New Hampshire).  The suspects include the violent biker husband who may have taken vegenance on his wife and her lover; a bizarre woman who claims to have witnessed the crash but then changes her story; an agressive realtor and his wife who are determined to catch trespassers on their part of the lake, and the lakes eager but young constable who seems to be hiding some dark motives. 

Mike begins to suspect  that the murders involve a trained marksman who is smarter and more dangerous than any suspect Mike has ever dealt with. As Mike and Stacey get close to finding out the truth and identifying the killer, their own lives are suddenly on the line when they confront the killer who has plans to silence them forever. 

MY THOUGHTS

In true fashion, this plot is well developed with rich characters, a beautifully described setting and a fast paced mystery. 

It's a fast read and in some spots I couldn't put the book down, reading far later into the night than I was planning. 

It was exciting to me, who has read each book in the series in order, to finally learn that Mike and Stacey are getting married and the ending of the book does include their simple outdoor wedding. 

One thing that bothered me was all the editing errors all throughout this book!  Here's an example of an editing error taken from page 181 "Or he might already was inside the boathouse...." shouldn't the word "was" actually be "be"?? 

Many errors like that all throughout the book lowers the score for me.  

All in all, I love this series and think maybe the author needs to find a new editor since this isn't the only book with editing errors in the series. What this book does have going for it besides the excellently executed plot, is that it's "clean".  There are no graphic s*x scenes nor swear words which I appreciate. I think I saw just one "F" word which seems to be rare in many contemporary novels. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17and older. (due to some mature content)

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8. 

2026 Book Review #17:The Boxcar Librarian

 

I've seen this author displayed at my town library and had never read one of her books. 

This was fantastic. If you like historical fiction that is based on true events, and  books about books or libraries, then this is for you!  It's set in the early part of the 20th century (specifically1914,  1921, 1924 and 1936) and is just an excellent read. 

STORY SUMMARY

Millie Lang is an editor employed by the Works Progress Administration. But when she finds her self involved in a potential political scandal she's given a choice of either working out in Montana....a far cry from Washington, D.C. or a pink slip. She chooses Montana.  She needs to work on the state's American Guide Series which were travel books intended to employ America's destitute authors and editors.  The year is 1936. 

When Millie arrives in Missoula, Montana, she finds quite a diverse staff.  They say that they missed the deadlines for the guide due to someone sabatoging their work.  They believe this was done by "the Copper Kings" ...the state's powerful mining company. The reason? The company doesn't want their long and bloody history with union organizers in the Guide for the rest of the country to read.   Millie, however, begins to suspect that the answer might actually like with the town's mysterious librarian, Alice Monroe. 

More than 10 years earlier, Alice had created the Boxcar Library to  deliver books to isolated mining towns where men longed for entertainment and a connection. Alice thought she had found the perfect librarian to run the Boxcar Library:  Colette Durand, the only daughter of a miner who happened to carry around a shotgun and too many secrets in her eyes. 

No one in Missoula will tell Millie why both Alice and Colette went out on the inaugural journey of the Boxcar Library and that only Alice returned. What happened to Colette? 

MY THOUGHTS

This story is loosely based on a real librarian (the name Alice is fictionalized) who created the Boxcar Library.  It's about three very courageous women who were strong and who survived the rough and rowdy West. They had power by standing together to fight for the miner workers' lives.  

Through all of this history, books shine.  Books bring connectivity and light to people who need it most. 

I really enjoyed this historical fiction although there were many editing errors! 

The character development was rich and diverse.  I really liked Colette's character. She was my favorite because of her spunk and perseverance. 

Each chapter features one of the 3 women: Millie, Alice, and Colette.  The author gives the name of the character, the location in Montana and the year.  It's very organized and helpful for the reader.  

There are so many good themes running in this plot.  The main ones are: Fighting against corporate and political corruption (not much has changed, has it in this nation??!),  the importance of labor unions, females who are independent and emotionally strong, friendship, the father-daughter relationship, and the transformative power of books and reading. 

I highly recommend this story.  Usually it would only take about a week for me to read such a book but it took me longer as I've been  super busy with other things and haven't done much reading. 

I also liked that the author has notes in the back of the book about the real history revolving around the Boxcar Library. I've discovered a new to me author so I plan on looking for more of her books. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9. 

2026 Book Review #16:The Widow

 

I hadn't read one of this author's novels since around 2019 so when I saw this on the "new books" shelf at the town library, and read what it was about, I was intrigued enough to take it out. 

STORY SUMMARY

In the small town of Braxton, Virginia, the lawyer Simon Latch, makes just enough money to pay his bills and hold his family together. He's married to a woman named Paula and they have 3 children: Danny, Buck, and Janie. Paula and Simon are struggling in their marriage and at this point are more like roommates and Simon even stays many nights in his office on Main Street. 

One day an elderly woman, age 85 yrs old, named Eleanor Barnett comes into the office and wants  a will done. She regrets having it done with another lawyer in town, Wally Thackerman.  According to Eleanor, she is very wealthy due to her husband, now deceased, making a lot of money by putting stocks into Coca Cola and Walmart.

Simon thinks his luck has changed by Eleanor walking into his office. He works hard at keeping her wealth under the radar but after a few weeks, her story begins to raise doubts in his mind. For example: she can't seem to produce documents like bank statements with proof of her wealth. 

A few months later, Eleanor has a bad car accident due to drinking and driving and her friend Doris, who was a passenger in the car, was  hurt.  Both of them end up in the hospital and the family that Eleanor hit, is also in the hospital. 

When this happens, Simon learns that nothing is as it seems, and he soon finds himself faced with a murder charge! Eleanor has died from poisoning and everyone thinks Simon is the one who did this. 

But Simon knows he's innocent. However, he also knows that the prosecution has circumstantial evidence that can convict him of murder!  This conviction could send him to prison for life. As his trial progresses and the jury decides he's guilty, he knows there is only one way to save himself.  

So....he sets about to prove his innocence!  Will he and a few other people he comes to know and rely on, find the real killer of the widow? 

MY THOUGHTS

This was a good book and very fast paced.  I stayed up far too late some nights to read "just another chapter".  

The characters are diverse and interesting and very well developed.

The plot moves quickly and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, a twist happens.  

There were a few editing errors I noticed throughout the book but for the most part this book is just a quick, easy mystery and in my opinion, one of Grisham's better novels.  I still prefer The Reckoning though! 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9. 

2026 Book Review #15:Job, A Story of Unlikely Joy

 

I signed up for a womens class at my church for Monday mornings and we began this book at the end of January.  There are just 7 chapters but 14 weeks of class.  We have 4 more classes as today's had to be cancelled.  I am through with the book though and although some of the questions were deep, probing and needed commentaries to answer, I learned alot about Job and what God was actually doing in his life and how to comfort people who are suffering.  The what to say and not to say points were awesome. Some of it I already knew, as I had training to be a small group leader in 2009 at my church and we learned about "not singing songs to a wounded heart"....i.e. no cliches like "God has a purpose" or "you can always adopt" or "time heals all wounds", etc etc. 

BOOK SUMMARY

This is an indepth look at pain.  Pain in our lives is inevitable. God never promises that we will not suffer any trials when we become Christ followers. We might have emotional, mental, physical, relational, financial, or spiritual pain.  There is all kinds of pain.  

But regardless of your pain, there is a way to respond to it and there is a way to respond to others and their pain. 

Job was a godly man  who had some serious losses. It didn't seem fair at all. 

But..his closest friends...his comforters became critics. 

And Job's questions weren't answered. 

But in the middle of all that darkness, he clung to hope and the light of Life peeked through...and eventually...joy came out of the darkness and pain. 

Each chapter includes readings from Job in the Old Testament as well as various Scriptures in the Old and New Testaments in the reading portions as well as the homework portions. 

The book includes an Introduction. 

The chapter titles are as follows:

1. Subtracting Insults from Injuries
2. The Lonely Aisles of Ache
3. The Expulsive Power of the Cross with Regard to Pretense
4. The Serenity of Surrender
5. A Better Kind of Wound Care (I loved this chapter!!)
6. Seeing You Settles Me (another great chapter that really spoke to my heart)
7. Your Journal of Unlikely Joy

The book includes some  tips for leaders so this is a good book for small group leaders to use as well as people who teach the bigger classes.  In our class we had 45 women signed up but on most Mondays, we had about 35 women separated into groups of 6 or 7 at tables. 

Each session involves either watching the author, Lisa Harper, on dvd or discussing the homework/discussion questions.  The class instructor chose which questions we would discuss. Many times we only had time to do 4-5 out of about 10. Some were deeper than others. All of them tied in with Scriptures or were self reflective. 

There are also EndNotes in the back of the back and a short bio on the author at the beginning of the book. 

MY THOUGHTS

This made for a good class discussion.  The reading was easy, although there was a lot of it each week.  The questions were thought provoking and some were based on Scripture and  most were self-reflective.  

There were blank pages with lines for note taking while watching her videos. 

There are also large blank spaces to write in your answers which I found useful as no notebook was needed. 

In my opinion, this study is appropriate for  ages 17 and older and for Christ followers.  New Christians or non Believers might find it rather difficult. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this an 8.