After the Crash

After the Crash by Michel Bussi

Publisher: Hachette Books

January 2016

ISBN: 978-0-316-30967-7

Pages: 400

Suspense

An airplane that is flying at night from Istanbul to Paris plummets into the Swiss Alps with 169 holiday travelers. Right before a fire rages through the aircraft the only survivor, a three-month-old girl is thrown from the plane onto the snowy mountainside. Since there where two infants on board the question becomes who is the miracle baby? Is it Lyse-Rose or Emilie? The families of both come forward for the child. One is powerful, wealthy, and dangerous and the other poor.

A private detective is suicidal and eighteen years later he has failed to solve the mystery of the girl that is now known as Lylie.  He is about to pull the trigger as he sits at his desk when he finally uncovers a secret that changes everything.  But will he live to tell?

This is a book that has some fantastic twists and turns and truly takes the reader on an amazing ride.  Just as the reader thinks they know the answer to the mystery another clue is uncovered that will have them second guessing whether or not they have any idea where this story will end up.  It proves to be a book that is very hard to put down once the reader starts it.  The reader will want to know just how the story ends and will devour each and every page to see if they will be able to figure out just how it turns out. The ending does not disappoint at all.  This is a must read for lovers of suspense.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Baby, Baby

Baby, Baby Family Heirlooms Series Book 1 by Karen Wiesner

Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing

July 2014

ISBN: 978-1-921314-29-2

Pages: 178

Contemporary Inspirational Romance

Peaceful, WI

Tamara Wolfe is Thirty-Seven years old.  Her life has been filled to capacity since she married her high school sweetheart, Robert, right out of high school and having several children.  Now that her last child is in preschool, Tamara makes the decision of taking her long time love of creating designer baskets and to turning it into a business.  What she doesn’t expect is for Robert to be against it so she seeks wisdom by praying. She just wants a small space of time for herself and that has her questioning if she is actually being selfish.  She also wonders if it is actually God is leading her in that direction or is He leading her to continue being the outdated model of a wife of being submissive but not equal.

This is an interesting story that shows how faith can lead the faithful.  For those that enjoy inspirational stories they will greatly enjoy this one. The reader is taken on a journey as Robert and Tamara find their way though Tamara’s decision of having her business and what it means for them together.  It is interesting to see how they grow through the story. The characters are complex and well written and move the story along very well.  For readers that enjoy this genre this is definitely a series to check out.

I give this one 4 red roses

LRH

Instructions for the End of the World

Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

December 2015

ISBN: 978-1-250-04786-1

Pages: 224

Contemporary, Young Adult

Sierra Foothills

Nicole Reed’s father prepared his family for every natural disaster that is known to man. The problem is that the one that struck was the one they were not prepared for.  Nicole and her family are forced to move to a remote area in the Sierra Foothills by her father. It is also a place without any modern conveniences.  For her mother it is too much to handle and she abandons them in the middle of the night. Nicole’s father heads out to track down her mother and leaves Nicole in charge of taking care of her younger sister, Izzy, and the care of the house. Nicole is doing fine running things on her own or at least at first she is. Then a forest fire starts to slowly inch closer, the pipes crack and they start to run out of food. From the neighboring community comes a handsome boy named Wolf that offers to help her out at a time when she needs it the most. Soon she must make a decision especially when she starts to have feelings for him. Feelings that she knows she will not be allowed to act on once her father comes back. As her family falls apart she must decide if she is going to start living for today or keep preparing for tomorrow’s disasters.

This is a good book that keeps the reader engrossed in a story that proves to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster. As Nicole tries to keep everything together and do what is expected of her the reader gets a glimpse of what she is dealing with and thinking as she tries to figure out what is best for herself and her younger sister. Both sisters do some growing up as they deal with all that is suddenly happening in their lives.  It proves to be a memorable book. 

I give this one 4 red roses

LRH

Seventh Grave and No Body

Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

October 2014

ISBN: 978-1-250-04564-5

Pages: 322

Contemporary Paranormal Romance

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The deadliest beasts ever have escaped onto our plane. They were forged in the fires of hell and if that is not bad enough there are twelve of them.  They are also after Charley Davidson and would happily rip out her jugular and serve her body to Satan for dinner. As if a mob of testy hellhounds weren’t enough to have on her plate Charley has more to deal with. Charley is retracing the last steps her father took before he disappeared.  It also is an investigation that has her questioning whether or not she really knew her father. She also has an ex-BFF that is haunting her night and day.  There are also a rash of suicides that are baffling authorities. If that wasn’t enough her sexy fiancé has the attentions of a local celebrity. This is not the best week of Charley’s life.  That also just barely scratches the surface of her problems. She has also had to become a responsible adult due to recent developments. She has decided to start small to conquer such a monumental task.  Really small. A pet small. Though how she is supposed to save the world against forces of evil when she can’t keep a goldfish alive she is not sure how to do that.

This is a series that gets better with each and every book.  Charley will have readers laughing out loud with all the trouble she manages to get herself into.  The stories get more in depth and complex with each one and readers will devour each and every book in this series.  It will also have readers eagerly reaching for the next book just to see what will happen to Charley next.  Charley and company definitely do not disappoint.  The characters also take readers on a roller coaster ride that doesn’t stop.  This is definitely a series to check out and enjoy.  It is also a series that will end up on many keeper shelves. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Strays

Strays by Jennifer Caloyeras

Publisher: Ashland Creek Press

April 2015

ISBN: 978-1-61822-037-0

Pages: 219

Contemporary Young Adult

Santa Cruz, California

Iris Moody is a sixteen-year-old that has trouble controlling her temper. With the death of her mother, a father that is a workaholic, failing English and being dumped by her boyfriend she has a lot in her life to be angry about.

Then a single note that Iris made in her journal is taken as a threat against her English teacher Iris quickly finds herself in a lot of trouble not just with the school authorities but now with the law.

Iris not only has to deal with summer school but she is also dog-phobic and has just been sentenced to community service rehabilitating troubled dogs. Iris doesn’t believe she is anything like Roman who is a pit bull with only three legs. Roman is also struggling to overcome his own dark past.  She also doesn’t think she is like the other humans in the program either. Iris soon learns that counting on the help of others may be the only way to save Roman when his life is on the line.

This is an emotionally rich story that will really hit readers hard. The characters are relatable and readers will find themselves connecting with them.  The story takes readers on a roller coaster ride that will pull at their heartstrings.  It will also have readers hoping everything turns out well for both Iris and Roman.  Watching as both Iris and Roman grow and deal with their pasts makes for a very satisfying read.  This is definitely a book worth checking out.  It will also stay with readers long after the turn of the last page. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Warring Desires

Warring Desires by Wanda Ann Thomas

Publisher: Wanda Ann Thomas

October 2015

ISBN: 1518833071

Pages: 311

Historical Romance

Jerusalem & Israel

Gabriel Onias is a widowed priest that comes from a wealthy family. He is appalled with the greed and corruption that is permeating the priesthood. He reaches the point where he can no longer tolerate the deceit so he turns his back on the only life he has ever known. He then shakes the dust of Jerusalem off his sandals and joins Herod’s army fighting to overthrow the corrupt leaders.

Shoshana Ehud is a humble mule train operator.  She courageously defends her family as they travel through war-torn lands with nothing more than her determination and a wooden club. She despairs ever knowing true love as she has been abandoned by a treacherous and deceitful husband. When her husband involves her family in a scheme to double-cross Herod he pushes them too far.

Shoshana rescues Gabriel from a bandit attack and it shakes his beliefs to the core. Gabriel is soon enthralled by a woman that he shouldn’t pursue. Though he is determined to confront the Samaritan woman’s husband and demand Shoshana’s husband grant her a divorce. Shoshana urges Gabriel to master the sword rather than fight her battles out of her fear for his safety. Being a soldier priest has Gabriel soon facing his biggest battle yet when Herod threatens Gabriel’s family and demands that he forsake Shoshana for a more advantageous marriage.

This is proving to be an unforgettable series.  This is another book that adds to the series. The characters are complex and move the story along very nicely.  Readers will be transported back in time to another world as each word brings the book to life for the reader.  There are characters that show up in this book that readers were first introduced to in the first two books.  The story is rich in detail and emotion that will have readers turning the pages just to see how things will turn out for Gabriel and Shoshana.  It will also have readers hoping for more books in the series to see what happens to some very unforgettable secondary characters that manage to steal some of the scenes in the book. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Enslaved

Enslaved The Last Orphans Series, Book 3 by N.W. Harris

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

December 2015

Pages: 300

Dystopian Future, Young Adult, Romantic Elements

Georgia

Shane and his friends managed to survive the first major attack against the enemy.  They destroyed the alien ships that came to harvest the children of Earth and turn them into slaves.  The ship that Kelly was on is the one ship that managed to escape. Shane is determined to do whatever it takes to save Kelly but if he turns his back on his friends he takes the chance of jeopardizing the whole mission.

Kelly’s mind is invaded by the enemy and she is turned into a slave soldier.  Any order they give her she will follow even if that order is to kill her friends, her little sister and Shane. As Kelly performs heinous tasks under the directions of her new masters she is trapped and helpless in her own body.  With each new direction her sanity and desire to live fade a little more.

Shane is ready to make a rescue attempt as soon as he is home.  When he finally gets there it is to find that Kelly is there too commanding an army of human slave soldier and she is determined to make him join her ranks.  Now Shane has to see if he can rescue Kelly before she gets to her sister or Kelly just might end up helping enslave the rest of humanity. 

This is proving to be a very additive series.  With each book the series gets better and better.  While readers will be thrilled to find out there is to be another book they will end up disappointed to find out they have to wait for it.  The action is pretty much non-stop and makes for a book that readers won’t want to put down for any reason.  It is also a series that stays with readers long after they finish each book.  It will be interesting to see just where the series ends up and how it gets there.  The characters are very well written and move the story along very well.  This is definitely one series that should be read. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH