MURDER AT THE FLAMINGO by
RACHEL MCMILLAN

I really enjoyed this book and the time period it was set in. I don't know why but I felt like I was transported back to a time where clubs were fun and the music was swinging. The people were having a great time and happy times were on everyone's minds. Not everyone was happy though. Hamish suffers from anxiety and it comes up at the most uncomfortable moments in his life. When Hamish makes a decision to move to Boston, his life will never be the same. Does Hamish remember that you can't run away from your problems?

Reggie Van Buren is also on a quest to start a new life and Hamish and Reggie's lives will collide into a mystery that will take them to the seedy side of club life.  What better way to open a club than to have a murder take place on opening day. The place is in chaos and Hamish and Reggie team up to solve the case.

I love the pairing of these two characters and they reminded me of a duo set to conquer the world. I loved the description of Boston and thought the author did a great job of taking us back to the 1930s in style. Her writing intrigues me and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next in the book. There are a few slow parts that made me almost give up on the story. I'm happy to say that the book shined at the end and I look forward to the next in this new series.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

GATE 76 by ANDREW DIAMOND

This is a fast pace book with twists that keep readers on the edge of their seat. It had the feel of a cross between Perry Mason and Dragnet. Freddy is a good character and I like his profession as a private detective. Can you imagine that your job is snooping into other peoples lives? People have secrets and Freddy is the person to uncover the truth. What would you do if you saw a woman being forced onto a flight? Freddy dismisses what he saw until he hears unsettling news. Remember the woman he saw being shoved on a plane? Looks like the plane didn't make its destination.

Why would a plane explode? Was there someone on there who did it or was someone on the plane the target? Freddy takes on the investigation into the plane's demise and is thrust into danger, secrets and corruption far beyond what Freddy expected. The story is intense and I loved the mystery that seemed to explode as the story continued. It's a good story that kept me glued to the book and I loved finding out more about the mysterious woman. If you like a good mystery with well developed characters, this book is for you.

I received a copy of this book from Good Reads Giveaway. The review is my own opinion.

THE AUSCHWITZ LULLABY by
MARIO ESCOBAR

I have a few suggestions before reading this book. You should find a quiet place, grab a blanket and something to drink. Get a pillow so you can use it to scream in. For me these were must necessities  to get through this harrowing account of history that was deplorable.

Helene Hannemann was a special woman who loved her family deeply. She was of Aryan German descent while her husband was a Gypsy. The story seems relatively tame until one day when everything seemed normal, walking up the stairs to their place were SS guards. Helene's worse fear was coming true. They were there to take her husband and children away. Oh how I cried as I pictured Helene clutching her children with all the strength she had. There was no way she was staying behind while her family were going to face an  unbearable future.

The author pulls no punches as the camp is described in deplorable condition. Men were separated from their family and the story focuses on Helene and her children. I have read many books about the concentration camps were Jews were sent. The book has now made me aware that other nationalities were targeted as well. The book is based on a true story and the author has done an admirable job of showing us what a mother will do to protect her children.

I was sickened when Dr. Mengele was introduced into the story. He was such a heartless and ruthless person. This is where my pillow came into play. I stopped reading half way through the book, and screamed into the pillow as long as I could. The senselessness of this man's actions made anger take me over. How can anyone send innocent women, men and children to death while smiling the whole time? The author goes into vivid details of the torture, mistreatment and inhumane actions taken on these people. I will never understand how a person can declare himself king of the world and dismiss human life with a wave of a hand.

This book is a hard one to read, but important because it gives us a glimpse inside a world where death was an odor that lingered in the air twenty-four hours a day. You could screams of agony from children who were starving and shivering from the cold. The women there with the children grew weary as one by one a life was taken . Helene was a mother who was willing to stand up for what was right, did not worry about her safety and never gave up hope.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

THROUGH THE AUTUMN AIR by
KELLY IRVIN

This has been such an enjoyable story to read. Mary Katherine is a wonderful character who loves her ten children. She has been widowed for several years and some people in the community think its time for her to start courting again. I loved that the author made the main characters a bit older. It is refreshing to read about older people finding love again. I loved Mary Katherine's desire to open a bookstore. That has been a dream of mine for a long time.

Ezekiel is also widowed and owns the Purple Martin Cafe. He is always busy and has little time to socialize. Things may be changing because I feel that love is in the air. Will these two wonderful people find their way to each other?

My favorite character was Burke. He seemed down on his luck and was in need of a helping hand. I loved how Mary Katherine and Ezekiel take an interest in Burke. I'm not sure what I would do if I found a stranger in my home making a sandwich, but Mary Katherine is graceful as she offers him a place to sleep in the barn. Burke is a man of God but he has lost his way. What caused him to stray from God? 

The story is a delight to read and I loved the mystery that the author included in the story. Someone is going around to Amish homes and stealing things. They aren't items of real value but the thought of someone breaking in makes the town uncomfortable. I loved how the author used people in the story to help them overcome heartbreak and loneliness. Burke is not from around the community but their hospitality was very encouraging. It reminds us not to judge and remember that people are out there in the world hurting. I loved the story and how nice it was to see people working together. The book is well written and fills readers with hope, fellowship and a feeling of belonging.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

 THE SOUND OF DISTANT THUNDER by
JAN DREXLER

I am not very familiar with this author so I was excited to read this book. It has some promising things in the book which kept me reading. I did have a very hard time connecting with the story at times though. I did like that it was set during the Civil War. It was interesting to read about the Amish during this time. Most books about Amish are not set during the Civil War.

 Jonas is a good character with a few flaws. He is in love with the starry eyed Katie who only wants to be his wife. He on the other hand, has dreams of something else. Although Jonas shows signs of thinking of marriage I got the impression he was going to do something very seldom done by Amish.

He gets an opportunity to right a wrong by standing up for something he believes in. Slavery during this time was prevalent but Jonas does not condone it. I liked that he took his brother's place in the service. It was very courageous and I hoped being there would help him decide what he wanted to do with his life. During his service I enjoyed reading about what he went through and how war can cause emotional scars.

Poor Katie is distraught when Jonas leaves and I could feel her desperation. Was she worried about Jonas or that they hadn't married before he left? The best part of the story for me was the correspondence between Katie and Jonas as he is serving in the army.It reads like poetry and you can feel the depths of their passion for each other. Overall I have to say at the end of the book, I became a fan of the author. I love her writing style and ability to draw readers in with descriptions of Amish life and their commitment to each other.

I received a copy of this book from The Early Reviewers Program of Librarything. The review is my own opinion.

IN TOO DEEP BY LYNN H. BLACKBURN
This is one very intense book that kept me guessing throughout the story. The author delivers a story rich in a mystery that will put people in danger. I love how the author incorporates computer technology into the story with details that remind me of shows on television.

Adam and his team are called upon to investigate a crime that leaves the team grappling for answers. Who is the mysterious woman found and what message will be discovered on her? Adam will have to call upon his friend Sabrina to help his team out. Sabrina is very intelligent and highly trained in computers. I couldn't get enough of her expertise and how accurate the author is in Sabrina's knowledge.

Sabrina is getting closer to the truth and someone out there needs to stop her. When her life is in danger, Trent steps up his protection of her. This book is one of the author's best at keeping the story interesting and action packed. Just when I thought I had figured out a part of the story, the author throws a curve that I never expected. I loved the part when Sabrina visits the victims home.  I loved following her around the room as she took in every detail.

The story moves at a face pace and is filled with surprises and secrets from the past. Sabrina has not had the best relationship with her parents, especially her mother. As you delve further into the story it becomes clear that there is a much deeper secret to what the team and Sabrina is investigating. I was shocked at how sinister people can be and dysfunctional a family can become to gain power, control and cause destruction. Get ready for a powerful story that takes readers in to the depths of darkness.

I received a copy of this book from The Early Reviewers Program of Librarything. The review is my own opinion.

A WILLIAMSBURG CHRISTMAS by
ANNE GREENE


This is a nice and sweet story perfect for the holidays. I loved the time period that was in the 1950s. It was such a fun time as the world was changing everyday. The setting of Williamsburg is such an inviting cozy place to visit. Holly works at a Colonial Inn where Holly and her friend dress up in traditional Colonial attire. It sounded like such an intriguing place to eat and enjoy the history of a time long ago.

I liked Holly and her dedication to her twins. They sure are a handful at times which led to a little mischievous hi jinks from them. It was a hard time for Holly as Christmas was coming up soon. She has suffered a great loss and now has to raise her boys on her own. Her friend is a welcome character to the story and Shirley is always looking out for Holly and the twins.

The story is focused around Holly and someone from her past. Trent was the man she thought she would spend her life with. I guess something made him change his mind. How do you explain disappearing for a long time and suddenly reappear ? Holly is shocked to see Trent and still has a lot of questions for him. I loved the spiritual aspect of the story and how Trent tried to show Holly how much he has changed. The race is on to win Holly's heart when Trent has competition. I laughed at how the men pulled out all the stops to show Holly how much they cared. Who will win Holly's heart?  Don't miss this enchanting story of love, forgiveness and a time of celebration.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.