⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars) The third book in the Timeless series, For a Lifetime, a historical time-travel novel blends suspense, romance, and tough choices. The story follows twin sisters Grace and Hope, who time-cross between 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, and 1912 New York City. On their twenty-fifth birthday, they must make the impossible choice—stay in one world forever and leave the other behind. The Salem witch trials timeline is intense, with the sisters navigating the paranoia and danger surrounding them. In 1912, Hope dreams of becoming a pioneering female pilot, while Grace works as a journalist uncovering corruption. As their decision looms, an unexpected tragedy throws everything into chaos, forcing them to […]
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Ambitious WWII Novel Falls Short of Its Potential
M.B. Henry’s All the Lights Above Us aims to capture the chaos and courage of D-Day through the perspectives of five women from vastly different backgrounds. The novel gives a unique take on the historic invasion by focusing on a single day, June 6, 1944, but ultimately, it falls short of being a standout in the crowded WWII historical fiction genre. The premise is intriguing: a Nazi propagandist questioning her choices, a resistance fighter seeking her parents, a Gestapo officer planning betrayal, a medical volunteer overwhelmed by casualties, and a British woman forced to house enemy soldiers. Their experiences highlight the vast reach of the war and the moral dilemmas […]
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A Doggone Wild Ride: Love, Loss, and Mayhem in Three Wild Dogs
Markus Zusak, best known for The Book Thief, turns his storytelling skills toward real life in Three Wild Dogs, a memoir about the joy and chaos of adopting three unruly rescue pups. From biting piano teachers to breaking bones to—yes—killing the family cat, Reuben, Archer, and Frosty bring love, destruction, and plenty of trouble into the Zusak household. This book had me laughing out loud one moment and near tears the next. Zusak’s writing is, as expected, top-notch—he can make training disasters feel poetic and losing a pet feel like the end of the world. But while his storytelling is strong, the book felt too long for its 240 pages, […]
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A Smart, Tense Espionage Thriller with a Fierce MI5 Operative
British author Henry Porter delivers a gripping spy thriller with The Enigma Girl, proving why he’s considered a worthy successor to John le Carré. The novel introduces Slim Parsons, a disgraced MI5 agent who’s as sharp as she is dangerous. After a botched deep-cover operation leaves her with a target on her back, she’s reluctantly pulled back in to infiltrate an investigative news site. What starts as a routine job soon turns into a tangled web of political intrigue, cyber threats, and old enemies resurfacing with a vengeance. Tension, layered subplots, and sharp character work fill the novel. Slim is an exceptional lead: smart, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge authority. […]
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A Journey Through Love and Loss in Venice
Rhys Bowen’s The Venice Sketchbook is an emotional dual-timeline novel filled with love, loss, and hidden truths. When Caroline Grant’s beloved great-aunt Lettie passes away, she leaves behind a cryptic inheritance—a sketchbook, three keys, and one last word: “Venice.” As Caroline embarks on a journey to scatter Lettie’s ashes in the city she loved, she uncovers a decades-old story of passion and sacrifice. In 1938, art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in Venice, reconnecting with Leonardo Da Rossi, the man she loves but cannot have. As war looms over Europe, impossible circumstances test their star-crossed romance, forcing Juliet to make heart-wrenching choices. The novel weaves together Caroline’s modern-day search for answers […]
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Unraveling the Past: A Necklace, a Mystery, and a WWII-Era Parisian Department Store
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Pam Jenoff’s Last Twilight in Paris blends historical mystery and wartime drama, following Louise, a British housewife in 1953, who stumbles upon a necklace in a secondhand shop. The charm stirs memories of her Red Cross days in Nazi-occupied Europe and the mysterious death of her friend Franny. Determined to uncover the truth, Louise’s search leads her to Paris and the dark history of Lévitan—a once-grand department store turned Nazi work camp. In a parallel timeline, Helaine, a young Jewish woman, struggles to survive in Lévitan after being separated from her husband during the German invasion. Their stories intertwine as secrets long buried surface. […]
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Picks and Pans, Issue 35
Welcome to this month’s book review newsletter, where I dive into the latest page-turners from heavyweights like John Grisham, William Kent Krueger, and David Baldacci—because who doesn’t love a master storyteller at the top of their game? But that’s not all! I’m also shining a spotlight on some phenomenal debut authors who are making waves with fresh voices and unforgettable stories. From pulse-pounding thrillers to heartwarming fiction (and even a few gems for the little bookworms in your life), there’s something here for every reader. Grab your favorite reading spot and let’s get to it—your next great read is waiting! A Pair of Wings By Carole Hopson Carole Hopson’s […]
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A Librarian’s Deadly Past Resurfaces in This Gritty Historical Thriller
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 Allen Eskens’ latest standalone novel, The Quiet Librarian is a gripping, dual-timeline thriller that explores war, survival, and the price of vengeance. The novel follows Hana Babic, a quiet librarian in Minnesota, who has spent decades hiding from her past as Nura Divjak, a teenage soldier-turned-legendary assassin during the Bosnian War. When her best friend is murdered, Hana realizes she’s being hunted, forcing her to resurrect the ruthless warrior she once was. Eskens doesn’t hold back in his portrayal of war-torn Bosnia, detailing the horrors Nura endured and the choices that shaped her. The historical sections are the strongest, offering compelling storytelling and emotional […]
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An Emotional Conclusion to the Murphy Shepherd Series
Charles Martin delivers another gripping, emotional, and thought-provoking novel in The Keeper, the fourth installment in the Murphy Shepherd series. With faith, family, and honor woven throughout, this book is as much a spiritual journey as it is a high-stakes thriller. Murphy is reeling from the loss of his mentor, Bones, when he’s thrust into another mission: rescuing the kidnapped daughters of a presidential candidate. The race against time is intense, but the deeper battle—Murphy’s struggle to find his footing without Bones—is just as interesting. As always, Martin masterfully balances action with heartfelt reflection, though the novel leans a bit too introspective. While the themes of faith and redemption shine, […]
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Slow Start, Steamy Distractions, and a Solid Twist in Blood Moon
3.5 stars Sandra Brown delivers another suspenseful thriller in Blood Moon, in which a troubled detective and a determined TV producer race against time to prevent another disappearance. Detective John Bowie, teetering on the edge of professional disaster, teams up with Beth Collins, a true crime producer convinced that a series of teenage girls vanishing under a blood moon isn’t a coincidence. With only four days until the next blood moon, they dig into a case riddled with corruption, danger, and an undeniable attractio The plot had promise, with an intricate mystery and a solid twist at the end. However, the book struggled to keep my attention. The pacing was sluggish […]
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