Review: Things You Save in a Fire

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite books this year. It has a few layers to it. The story of a mother seeking to make amends with a daughter she left behind when she left her marriage. The story of a female firefighter trying to make her way in a job she loves but one that is primarily male dominated. And then the story of two young firefighters finding romance. I love Cassie. She is so strong, brave and flawed. I don’t want to go into details because the story is so good, I want you to read the book. If I start talking about the things that touched me, what made me angry, what made me laugh and what made me sigh, happily, I know I will tell too much. If you have a book club, you definitely want this book on the list. There is so much to discuss! If you aren’t in a book club, read it and send me a message. I’ll discuss it with you. Or find a buddy reader. Just read this book. It is one of the most interesting books I have read this year.
I read an advanced reader’s copy that I won. My understanding is that a discussion guide will be available online. I will be looking for that. I keep a notebook just to write down my answers and thoughts. I find that entertaining. I probably should find a local book club but, as an introvert, this fits me. Put this book on your TBR and look for it’s release in August.

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Review: The Haunting of Merci Hospital

The Haunting of Merci Hospital by Tanya R. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This turned into a nice surprise for me. I have enjoyed ghost stories and tales of haunts since I was a child. I can remember being in the backseat with my cousins just as it was getting dark out. My aunts were in the front seat talking about all the haunted places in the holler. It was delightfully scary and goosebumps would pop upon our skin. We would be showing our arms to each other with eyes wide open when all of a sudden my aunts would start screaming and shouting for us to hide in the floor because the haunts were after us. One of the best memories from my childhood. Haha. It is what set the bar for so high for ghost stories. Consequently, I read a lot of “haunting” books but am not always entertained by them. I’m happy to say I was entertained by this one. The author told the story straight with the appropriate amount of details to the setting. There were parts that chilled me. It was a fast paced story. Definitely a good tale for a gloomy afternoon. I read this book through the Kindle Unlimited program.

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Review: Once Upon a Crime

Once Upon a Crime by Mona Marple
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to this book on Audible. I recommend it for those who enjoy British cozy mysteries. The author paints a detailed picture of the setting. You can easily picture every scene as you listen. The narrator is excellent. She has a soothing voice and uses different voices for the characters. Listening to her reminded me very much of listening to story time at the library. I ended up listening to the entire book in one day. I was so caught up in the story I didn’t try solving it. I was enjoying listening while running it as a movie in my mind.

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Review: The Medium

The Medium by David Hatton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a truly interesting book for me. I saw it listed in a Goodreads Giveaway which I won. The synopsis intrigued me. I’m a believer who has a healthy amount of skepticism. I have gone to readers, though not psychic ones, and have been impressed by a couple. The rest either entertained me or tried to scam me. Psychics have been my dream. I would love to go to one but the ones I have come across aren’t the real deal, in my opinion. So this book hooked me even before I opened it. I wasn’t disappointed by the story. I think the author did a phenomenal job with the subject. Why only four stars since I clearly love the story? I had a hard time following the story at times. It’s not bad, (one thing for American readers, the book is set in England. The English used is not American so please keep in mind the words are not wrong, just different.), but the way the scenes changed was jarring for me. I would be totally engrossed and suddenly, with no warning, the scene shifted. It brought me out of the story every time. I wish the author had used a symbol or something to give a signal that a shift was happening. There was also a chapter that I had no idea who it was about. I still am not certain. This bothers me. I kept going though and am happy I did. I would encourage anyone finding these a bit difficult to continue reading. The story is an intriguing tale. It has so many things to think about and discuss. The psychic is only one part. Equally important is the story of betrayal between people who should care for one another. The murder mystery even pales in comparison with the story of betrayal at the this level. This book was a delightful surprise for me. I hope it will be for you too.

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Review: Humpty Bumpkin

Humpty Bumpkin by Sam Cheever
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Joey lost her parents in a small aircraft crash. She is out for a walk her her pit bull when she notices Caphy has something strange in her mouth. This leads into a mystery with bodies piling up.
I couldn’t put down this book. From the first page I was hooked. I think it was somewhere around the 30% mark that I was gobsmacked by the thought, “Joey is me!” Only younger, better looking and braver. Hahaha. Obviously I enjoyed the heck out of Joey and Caphy, (my Caphy is a shih tzu who could easily be convinced she is a pit bull). I enjoyed this mystery so much! I’m not always big on a romance starting out in a mystery. I feel like it really has to fit the personality of the protagonist, especially when the guy is an unknown. I feel like it was Joey’s personality to be attracted to Hal. The romance did go quick but when you’re in danger feelings tend to intensify. I’m interested to see if it slows down or remains at the fast pace. I tend to believe in love at first sight so either way works for me. I’m wondering if this is going in the direction of an investigative team. That would be fine by me. I was a fan of early mystery shows like Hart to Hart and McMillan and Wife, (anyone remember those?). The mystery is fast paced with lots of action and Caphy is a big part of the story. Make time for this one!


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Review: The Witches of Mystic Springs

The Witches of Mystic Springs by Mona Marple
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had a great time reading this book! It has two narrators which can be difficult to pull off, particularly when they both are on the same side. I have read enough books with this type of narrative to know that can get confusing. Happily I can say that this time it worked. Kudos to Ms Marple for making that difficult feat appear effortlessly. I had no difficulty adjusting to the alternating narrators. The mystery was told so delightfully it was like sitting listening to two friends talk. I loved the investigation of the mystery, the clues, the scary moments. I want to say more but I’m trying to encourage you to read this cozy mystery so I don’t want to give away the twists and especially the ending. I was surprised with the discovery even though the person was on my list. The reveal is genuinely entertaining. I was torn between wanting to devour each word and wanting to slow down the telling so I could savor the moment.
This book is a part of the Mystic Springs Series but if you haven’t read the previous books, don’t despair. You can read this as a stand-alone. Beware though, once you read it, you will want to read the whole series! If you’re looking for a magically good time with a few chills, this is the paranormal cozy mystery you want.

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Review: Get Up and Ghost: A Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium Cozy Mystery

Get Up and Ghost: A Chantilly Adair Psychic Medium Cozy Mystery by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a delight to read. I loved everything about it. I haven’t read the Angela Panther series but am going to check them out. For those who know her, Angela makes an appearance in this book. I love Chantilly and really enjoyed her psychic development. It was nice to be in on that journey and I thought the author did well with her timing on the development of Chantilly’s ability. I enjoyed the mystery. I thought it was well done and it wasn’t until close to the end that I figured it out. There is quite a bit of humor in the story. I laughed out loud, possibly too hard, at some of the conversations.
I definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy Southern mysteries, humor and ghosts. I can’t wait to read more!

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