Review: A Novel Crime by Deborah Vadas Levison

Product Description:

Struggling romance writer and recent divorcée Marcy Jo Codburn feels like a failure. She’s green with author envy and longing for a book deal, a launch party with cupcakes, and the admiration of her daughter. But her dream of literary success is fading faster than her beige hair dye. When she witnesses celebrated author Francesca Barber in a compromising position, Marcy sees her chance. Transforming into Summer Branigan, her bolder, blonder pen name, she leverages Francesca’s secret to secure the ultimate coauthor.

As their collaboration spirals from Marcy’s modest Connecticut home to Francesca’s lavish Hamptons estate, both women discover that in the cutthroat world of publishing, every story has its price. With looming deadlines, a kidnapping plot gone awry, and more than one fraud to hide, their twisted partnership careens toward a surprise ending neither could have written.

In this darkly comic page-turner, critically acclaimed author Deborah Levison skewers the publishing industry with razor-sharp wit. A Novel Crime asks just how far an aspiring writer will go to see her name on a book jacket—and what happens when the stories we tell start to write themselves.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the book overall but I knocked my rating by a star because of the ending. Yes, the book was dark humor so I expected a lot of over the top scenarios but the ending was just too much for me. 

That aside I had so much fun alternating between loving and hating Marcy and would definitely  recommend this for anyone who loves twisted humor. 

Review: A Novel Crime by Deborah Vadas Levison

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2026/02/review-novel-crime-by-deborah-vadas.html

Review: Sea Spray by John A. Heldt

Product Description:

Months after stealing two time machines from a madman who wants them back, the Lanes, a family of seven, seek peace and safety in 1927, the latest stop on a journey through time. For a while, each succeeds.

Parents Mark and Mary find housing in affluent East Hampton, New York, where a gracious elderly couple offers use of their mansion. Son Jordan and his new wife, Jessie, plan a family. Siblings Laura, Jeremy, and Ashley pursue fun and adventure. All form strong friendships with the Prices, a mysterious mirror-image family that lives next door.

Billionaire Robert Devereaux could not care less. Reeling from the theft of his million-dollar devices, he sends a hit man to the past to retrieve his property and rid the world of his former business partner and his troublesome clan.

Randy Taylor, who programs the machines, is determined to stop him. He tries to undermine his boss and save the Lanes, even as he tries to help his mother beat a deadly illness. He pines for the day he can join his fugitive friends and rekindle a promising relationship with Laura Lane.

Filled with romance, humor, and heartbreak, SEA SPRAY follows a modern family on the adventure of a lifetime as they navigate their way through the exciting and often dangerous world of Lindbergh, Gershwin, and Fitzgerald. 

My Thoughts:

Sea Spray is book #3 in the Time Box series. As usual, this book is well researched as are all of the books in Heldt's many time travel series.  You get a small peek into real historical events with a unique storyline starring a family from 2022.  In Sea Spray the Lane's have traveled to the roaring 20's. 

On the run, the family tries to blend in with the locals and become close friends with their affluent neighbors. Romance meets adventure with a dash of intrigue, you get sucked in pretty quickly. Surprises pop up at every twist and turn of the plot which kept me reading long past my bedtime. 

My Recommendation:

I recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic time travel and if you haven't read the first two, don't skip them. Sea Spray is fantastic but The Fair is extraordinary and you won't want to miss any of the action.  

Review: Sea Spray by John A. Heldt

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2022/01/review-sea-spray-by-john-heldt.html

Review: The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles Book 2) by John A. Heldt

Product Description:
Days after barely escaping 1889 with their lives, the Carsons, siblings from the present day, resume their search for their missing parents in 1918. While Adam and his pregnant wife, Bridget, settle in Minnesota, unaware of a wildfire that will kill hundreds, Greg seeks clues in his great-grandparents' Mexico, where he finds love, danger, and enemies. At the same time, Natalie, the ambitious journalist, follows a trail to World War I France, and teen twins Cody and Caitlin rekindle a friendship with an old Pennsylvania friend haunted by her past. In THE MEMORY TREE, the sweeping sequel to RIVER RISING, several time travelers find answers and meaning as they continue the adventure of a lifetime in the age of doughboys, silent movies, and Model T's.

My Thoughts:
THE MEMORY TREE is book 2 in the Carson Chronicles and hopefully I don't have to wait long for book 3 because the cliff hangers in this series are killer! 

Ever since I read my first John A. Heldt novel in 2012 I've been a huge fan. He always makes the past come to life and who wouldn't love the opportunity to travel back in time and meet their early relatives and see history as it unfolds. The one difference I found with this book over others I've read is that the fire in this novel didn't spark my curiosity about the actual event as with events in other novels by Heldt. I read this as part of the story and moved on. 

I also felt like there were a bit too many side characters in this story. I had a hard time keeping up with who as who in the beginning but once I was about a quarter into the book the pace picked up and I became just as hooked on the story as I usually get and quickly zipped to the ending which had an interesting twist that I didn't see coming. 

My Recommendation:
I recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction and non-scifi time travel. 

Review: The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles Book 2) by John A. Heldt

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2018/06/review-memory-tree-carson-chronicles.html

Review: River Rising (Carson Chronicles Book 1) by John A. Heldt

Product Description:
Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns his mom and dad are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.

While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.

In RIVER RISING, the first novel in the Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons.

My Thoughts:
I am a huge John A. Heldt fan. His time travel books are always fun and even educational. This was was no exception however I will start off by saying that the transition from Adam finding out his parents were time travelers to the decision for him and his siblings to set off on their own time traveling adventure isn't as believable as the rest of the book. 

Traveling past that (pun intended) the rest of the book is great and makes sense that it would play out the way it did. As the adventure begins the siblings have to make the transition from 2017 to 1889 and I had a good chuckle over the times that something modern slipped out when they were talking to their new friends. The rest of the story pulled me in quickly and I ended up zooming through the read. Each sibling has a story line of their own so the book switches back and forth between characters and I ended up growing to love them all. 

Again I learned about an event in history that I hadn't heard of before and once again I was intrigued enough to read of up the real life event. If I felt heartbroken for the book characters I can't even begin to imagine the emotions and pain that the real event brought on. Heldt captured it so perfectly that I could actually see it play out in my mind.  Below is an image from Wikipedia of the real event which is exactly how I pictured it while reading.

My Recommendation:
Overall this a great book for anyone who loves historical fiction with a time traveling twist.This was the first in the new Carson Chronicles series and the cliff hanger ending makes me look forward to book two. 

Review: River Rising (Carson Chronicles Book 1) by John A. Heldt

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2017/11/review-river-rising-carson-chronicles.html

Review: The Ulterior Motive by Jack Coleston

Product Description:
The fate of the United States hangs in the balance and only a select few can prevent the impending disaster. Stanley Carmichael is an intelligent and hard-working member of the Central Intelligence Agency. Yet, he never expected to be named Deputy Director of the CIA so soon in his career. Nonetheless, he finds himself stepping into shoes that feel impossible to fill. 

Anna Carmichael is a legend. She’s one of the fiercest ex-members of the Special Activities Division, where she saw more than enough blood and war for a lifetime. Now, she’s still CIA, but stuck behind a desk and bored. Luckily for her, it seems her fieldwork isn’t done yet. For as soon as Anna’s partnered with rookie FBI Special Agent Blayze Phillips, she realizes his investigation is a lot more dangerous than it seems—especially when it turns its attention to the mysterious Caliph al-Maqasid. 

They know that the Caliph spent the last few years successfully uniting fractured terrorist groups in the Middle East. Now he's formed the most well-funded, strategically efficient operation that’s on its way to becoming a true global caliphate. But who is the Caliph, really? Why doesn’t anyone know anything about this infinitely clever, charismatic, and terrifying man? And what, exactly, is he plotting next? 

The Carmichaels will have to work together to find out, because the Caliph is about to strike at the heart of America.

My Thoughts: 
This is definitely a "ripped from the headlines" read. It was so realistic that I got chills in some parts of the story because I swear I've seen news stories that were very similar. It makes the book that much more compelling. I only hope that someone who can pass for a real life Anna Carmichael is out there protecting is. 

The opening pages of the book begin with what actually plays out towards the ending which was a great way to keep me in suspense the entire time I was reading. I kept thinking "Who was it that Stanley saw?" and I never guessed correctly. 

The only reason I didn't rate this one a full five stars was because a few of the scenes and some of the dialogue didn't seem to flow as well as a most of the book. Otherwise this was an awesome, fast-paced thriller and the best part is that this is just the first book in a series. I can't wait for more. 

My Recommendation:
I recommend this one for anyone who loves political thrillers with real life scenarios. 

Review: The Ulterior Motive by Jack Coleston

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2017/02/review-ulterior-motive-by-jack-coleston.html

Review: Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt

Product Description:
Providence, Rhode Island, 2017. When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery. Within days, he meets Geoffrey Bell, the "time-travel professor," and begins an unlikely journey through the Roaring Twenties. Filled with history, romance, and intrigue, INDIANA BELLE follows a lonely soul on the adventure of a lifetime as he searches for love and answers in the age of Prohibition, flappers, and jazz.

My Thoughts:
Indiana Belle is book three in the American Journey Series but also stands alone if you haven't read the previous two books. The American Journey Series is also the second time travel series by the author whose previous Northwest Passage series was also about time travel.

In Indiana Belle I felt that the circumstances leading to how Cameron was able to time travel were a little far-fetched. He kind of bullied the professor into sending him back in time because of a photograph and I feel that the professor didn't handle the situation well.

Once I got past that, the story comes alive and I could clearly imagine what life was like back in 1925. That is what I love most about all of Heldt's works. I can always vividly imagine life back in the day.

I also felt a bit of suspense throughout the book because from the beginning the professor warns about messing with history. In this instance changes would actually threaten the professor's own existence.  As a result I felt a growing sense of unease because clearly Cameron was changing history and I was kept in suspense until the very end. There was also a quick peek at the future which makes me hope a future time travel book is coming soon.

Overall this was another great time travel book from an author I've come to look forward reading.

My Recommendation: 
I recommend this for anyone who loves time travel romance.

Review: Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2016/06/review-indiana-belle-by-john-heldt.html

Review: Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon

Product Description:
Alex Dale is lost. Destructive habits have cost her a marriage and a journalism career. All she has left is her routine: a morning run until her body aches, then a few hours of forgettable work before the past grabs hold and drags her down. Every day is treading water, every night is drowning. Until Alex discovers Amy Stevenson. Amy Stevenson, who was just another girl from a nearby town until the day she was found unconscious after a merciless assault. Amy Stevenson, who has been in a coma for fifteen years, forgotten by the world. Amy Stevenson, who, unbeknownst to her doctors, remains locked inside her body, conscious but paralyzed, reliving the past.
 
Soon Alex’s routine includes visiting hours at the hospital, then interviews with the original suspects in the attack. But what starts as a reporter’s story becomes a personal obsession. How do you solve a crime when the only witness lived but cannot tell the tale? Unable to tear herself away from her attempt to uncover the unspeakable truth, Alex realizes she’s not just chasing a story—she’s seeking salvation.
 
Shifting from present to past and back again, Try Not to Breathe unfolds layer by layer until its heart-stopping conclusion. The result is an utterly immersive, unforgettable debut.

My Thoughts:
Wow, Try Not to Breathe really pulled on my heart strings. What a sad, sad character Alex was. I felt so much empathy for her and was genuinely invested in how everything would turn out, hoping for a happy ending. She had a great life until her alcoholism ruined everything then she struggled to pick up the pieces and somehow get through her tragic days. 

Then you have Amy. Her young life cut short, trapped in a coma for 15 years yet she still has some semblance of consciousness leaving her internally and forever bewildered. Sob!

Although nothing about the story ends in a happily ever after, both Alex and Amy make major strides in improving their lives. 

My Recommendation:
I recommend this one for anyone who loves a suspense thriller full of emotion. 

Review: Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2016/01/review-try-not-to-breathe-by-holly.html

Review: Influx by Daniel Suarez

Product Description:
Physicist Jon Grady and his team have discovered a device that can reflect gravity—a triumph that will revolutionize the field of physics and change the future. But instead of acclaim, Grady’s lab is locked down by a covert organization known as the Bureau of Technology Control.

The bureau’s mission: suppress the truth of sudden technological progress and prevent the social upheaval it would trigger. Because the future is already here. And it’s rewards are only for a select few.

When Grady refuses to join the BTC, he’s thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison housing other doomed rebel intellects. Now, as the only hope to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age, Grady and his fellow prisoners must try to expose the secrets of an unimaginable enemy—one that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making.

My Thoughts:
Daemon and Freedom by Suarez were two of my favorite reads last year so I was looking forward to Influx and I wasn't disappointed. It was a great mix of futuristic technology, brilliant scientists and a secretive government agency. When the action finally starts (yes it was a little slow in the beginning) it's a wild ride to the end. So wild in fact that it gets a little over the top at the end with buildings flying off into space when hit by a gravity weapon. 

A lot of times sci-fi books are so plausible they even scare me a little but as much as I would like to imagine theres's all this amazing technology being secreted away the plot isn't at all realistic. As I usually do I set the unrealistic aspects aside and just try to enjoy the story within. That really what makes this one a recommended read. 

Review: Influx by Daniel Suarez

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2015/02/review-influx-by-daniel-suarez.html

Review: Peril in the Park by Barbara Venkataraman

Product Description:
There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late. 

My Thoughts:
Jamie Quinn has quickly become one of my favorite series characters. She's smart and helpful but isn't an annoying busy body like most cozy characters are. Her mysteries have all been quick and humorous, easy reads and the secondary characters are well done and lots of fun. 

In Peril in the Park, her and Duke get a blast from the past. Jamie's reaction and how quickly she got over it was the only reason I chose to give this one 4 stars instead of 5. If she was truly that upset I don't think she would be willing to put the past behind her so quickly. Other than that I loved the story and resolution. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

My Recommendation:
I recommend this book and the series for anyone who loves quick cozy mysteries. 

Review: Peril in the Park by Barbara Venkataraman

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2015/01/review-peril-in-park-by-barbara.html

Review: The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Product Description:
The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man Nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire.  The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord.

From the streets of Nashville to the back alleys of Lisbon, from the rooftops of Istanbul to the middle of the Thames, Nick and Kate chase their mark. When they find themselves pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard and a Portuguese enforcer who gets advice from a pickled head, they decide it’s time to enlist some special talent—talent like a machete-wielding Somali pirate, a self-absorbed actor, an Oscar-winning special effects artist, and Kate’s father Jake, a retired Special Forces operative. Together they could help make this Fox and O’Hare’s biggest win yet . . . if they survive.

My Thoughts:
I started this series with the second book, The Chase which I enjoyed. I put book one in the series on my TBR list and forgot about the series until I was offered The Job to review. Now after reading and loving this third installment I went ahead and read the short prequel, Pros and Cons and am currently reading book one, The Heist. 

This book is 100% fluff. It's a light and quick read with absurd circumstances and characters but it's a whole lot of fun. If you accept that it's fluff then you can set everything aside and love the book will the crazy goings on. 

My only gripe with the book is the relationship, or should I say lack of a relationship, between Kate and Nick. Kate obviously has feelings for Nick but does nothing about it. Being that this is the third book in the series I have a feeling that a relationship will never develop and it's already frustrating to me two books in. Just sleep together and move on already. 

My Recommendation: 
Just like the second book I recommend this for all Evanovich fans and anyone who wants a fast, easy read.

Review: The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/11/review-job-by-janet-evanovich-and-lee.html

Review: Death by Didgeridoo by Barbara Venkataraman

Product Description:
Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit. 

My Thoughts: 
I thought that Death by Didgeridoo was a cute and quick read. The mystery was simple and easy to figure out. Jamie has a wonderful sense of humor and there were several lines in the book that made me laugh out loud. She was fun and I really wished that she would have had an opportunity to get to know the prosecuting attorney, Nick, a little better. Hopefully there will be a little more romance in book two of the Jaime Quinn series, The Case of the Killer Divorce.

My review is based on the audio book read by Carrie Lee Martz. Carrie's reading style was a too monotone for me and her portrayal of the PI Duke's southern accent drove me absolutely insane. Each and every word was slow and drawn out in an overly exaggerated manner. I feel that had I read the book, I would have given Death by Didgeridoo a full five star rating.

My Recommendation: 
I recommend this one for anyone who loves cozy mysteries. 

Review: Death by Didgeridoo by Barbara Venkataraman

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/08/review-death-by-didgeridoo-by-barbara.html

Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Product Description:
Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad. 

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

My Thoughts:
When I selected this book to review I had no idea that it was the second book in the Fox and O'Hare series. That being said the book was great as a stand alone but I would definitely love to go back and read book one, The Heist. 

I'm a huge fan of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books but never cared for any of her romance books so I was excited that she ventured into the mystery/suspense genre with a little romantic tension thrown in. Kate is the bad ass that I always hoped Stephanie would progress into but never did. 

The Chase was a quick and entertaining read. The characters were lovable and fun especially Kate's dad and his cronies. It isn't a serious mystery or true suspense but it's a lighter version that works well.

My Recommendation:
I recommend this for all Evanovich fans and anyone who wants a fast, fluffy, easy read.

Review: The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/05/review-chase-by-janet-evanovich-and.html

Review: The Wife of John the Baptist by K. Ford K.

Product Description:
History and fiction merge beautifully in K. Ford K.’s vibrant, breathtaking novel about the man who became John the Baptist and the woman who loved him, his wife. K. Ford K. transports readers to a richly imagined landscape where Hessa, the daughter of a Greek trader, is being prepared for her marriage to a wealthy man. But when Hessa meets a charismatic, young man named John, who is rumored to be a prophet, she falls in love and runs away to marry him. Told in Hessa’s voice, this novel reveals the mystery of a man who was greatly admired in his time and who changed our way of thinking forever. Rich storytelling combined with epic history give us an unforgettable story, as only the wife of John the Baptist could tell it.

My Thoughts: 
I didn't become a fan of historical fiction until just recently. Reading a book a great as this one makes me sad that I didn't take up reading them earlier. 

I wasn't very familiar with the bible version of John the Baptist so I didn't have any idea how the story would play out. I also went into the book knowing that it was 100% fiction so I didn't have any objections as to how the story was told. 

What I really enjoyed the most about The Wife of John the Baptist is that John's wife, Hessa, has the ability to "read" the feelings of anyone she touches and the history of any item she touches. It really gives insight into Hessa's motivation throughout the book. 

Reading this book encouraged me to read more about John the Baptist and even after learning a little more about his life, I still loved that I had a chance to read this one.

My Recommendation:
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and romance.

Review: The Wife of John the Baptist by K. Ford K.

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/04/review-wife-of-john-baptist-by-k-ford-k.html

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

Product Description: 
To save her only brother, Andrea Finch must face down a criminal mastermind, the FBI, and her own demons in this thrilling novel from the author of the bestselling Tracers series.

Police detective Andrea Finch is a rising star in her department until a split-second decision derails her career. Disgraced and disillusioned, she’s on leave from her job when she gets an urgent call from her younger brother. She’d prefer to ignore his latest plea for cash, but this time instinct tells her something is very wrong. Andrea’s search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where danger lurks in plain sight and nothing is quite what it seems.

FBI agent Jon North is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. But when the evidence points to Andrea’s brother, Jon finds that persuading the stubborn cop to help will be harder than cracking his toughest case.

Andrea must find a way to do what’s right while protecting her only sibling. As the clock ticks down on a deadly plot, Andrea and Jon race to confront a heartless killer who will stop at nothing to deliver a final, terrifying message.

My Thoughts:
From the very first Laura Griffin book I read she quickly became one of my favorite authors. She always weaves a believable suspense story with just the right amount of romance and Far Gone is no exception. 

What's awesome about this book is that it's a different kind of mystery. This time we know up front who the bad guys is and we get to follow along with Andrea and Joe as they unravel the trouble that Andrea's brother is in and connect all the dots in the bigger picture. 

Another fun part of reading Far Gone is that characters from the Tracers series make cameos in the book just as characters from Laura's other books make cameos in the Tracers books. It's such a treat when I recognize someone from another book that I loved. 

My Recommendation: 
I recommend Far Gone for anyone who loves suspense thrillers with a hint of romance.

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/03/review-far-gone-by-laura-griffin.html

Review: Feedback by Peter Cawdron

Product Description:

Twenty years ago, a UFO crashed into the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula. The only survivor was a young English-speaking child, captured by the North Koreans. Two decades later, a physics student watches his girlfriend disappear before his eyes, abducted from the streets of New York by what appears to be the same UFO. 

Feedback will carry you from the desolate, windswept coastline of North Korea to the bustling streets of New York and on into the depths of space as you journey to the outer edge of our solar system looking for answers.


My Thoughts:
Feedback was a sci-fi surprise. As soon as I started getting into the book I kept thinking to myself that I knew what the book was about and exactly what was going on. Then everything changed and I couldn't wait for it all to play out. 

I really enjoyed the multiple twists and turns and was really thrown by the ending. I'm still brewing over it. I feel a little disappointed because it didn't fit my idea of the perfect ending but it didn't take away from me really loving the story. 

My Recommendation: 
I recommend this one for anyone who loves sci-fi and aliens. 

Review: Feedback by Peter Cawdron

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/03/review-feedback-by-peter-cawdron.html

Review: The Finisher by David Baldacci

Product Description:
#1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author David Baldacci as you've never seen him before. 

Why would Quentin Herms flee into the Quag? There was nothing in the Quag except certain death. 

Vega Jane has never left the village of Wormwood. But this isn't unusual -- nobody has ever left the village of Wormwood. At least not until Quentin Herms vanishes into the unknown. 

Vega knows Quentin didn't just leave -- he was chased. And he's left behind a very dangerous trail of clues that only she can decode. 

The Quag is a dark forest filled with terrifying beasts and bloodthirsty Outliers. But just as deadly are the threats that exist within the walls of Wormwood. It is a place built on lies, where influential people are willing to kill to keep their secrets. Vega is determined to uncover the truth -- but the closer she gets, the more she risks her life. 

With THE FINISHER, master storyteller David Baldacci conjures a thrilling, imaginative world where things are as wrong as wrong can be -- and introduces us to an unforgettable heroine who must think fast, look close, and defy all odds in her fight to do what's right.


My Thoughts:
Most avid readers have a few authors whose books are always must reads. David Baldacci is one of those authors for me.  When I had a chance to read an ARC copy of The Finisher I didn't hesitate to snap this one up and boy was I surprised by the story that unfolded.

Baldacci is most notably an author of suspense thrillers and with a title like The Finisher I was expecting an action packed adrenaline ride. What I got instead was a YA dystopian novel about a young girl, Vega Jane, who works as a finisher in a factory called The Stacks and the odd world she lives in, Wormwood.

Initially I almost gave up on the book because it wasn't what I expected. Also what was frustrating to me was that some of the names for common items in Wormwood were made up and some words are the same words we use. So if people are Wugs, horses are sleps and years are sessions why are there such a things as ceramics or even a pub crawl (with only one pub in the village).  It just seemed to me that there was no consistency. After I got over this, the story grabbed me and I'm very glad I stuck through to the end.

Vega Jane has had an awful lot of adversity in her young life but she comes through stronger than ever and she uses this strength to find out more about the world around her.


My Recommendation: 
I recommend this one for anyone who loves dystopian YA and I'm thinking The Finisher will be a series because of the ending. I certainly hope so.

Review: The Finisher by David Baldacci

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/02/review-finisher-by-david-baldacci.html

Review: Sinkhole by Deborah Jackson

Blurb:
Kat Delaney is a world class caver and microbiologist. While investigating one of the deepest caves on Earth, she becomes trapped, along with her team of fellow cavers and scientists. Far below the ruins of a Mayan city, they struggle to escape this mysterious cave, reportedly cursed and haunted by the Lords of Death. Kat’s husband, Mark, a doctor and pioneer of nanotechnology with a deep-rooted fear of caves, must try to rescue her. He enlists the help of a Mayan guide, who turns out to have revolutionary ambitions.

Kat must keep her unravelling team together when they discover that something as threatening as the Lords of Death lurks within the cave. Mark must choose between trusting a guide who is patently untrustworthy, or leaving Kat to die. Will they escape? Will science be the solution? Or will it simply affirm their sentence as the Lords of Death win once again?

My Thoughts:
Sinkhole is a book that I can easily see turned into a movie. It has action, suspense, drama and real characters. Each one of the characters in the story had their own reasons for putting themselves in danger by exploring the caves. Their backstories are written with enough detail that you become engaged with them, even the "bad guys", but not so much as to go over-the-top.

The plot is very well done but I do have to say that the reason Mark goes after Kat is just a little to far fetched. That is the only reason why I didn't give the book 5 stars. It seems to me that Mark could have found someone to search for Kat if he would have kept looking but he took it upon himself to search for her even though he is deathly afraid of caves. It just seems to me that with his money and resources it would have been easy to send a search team in.

Overall I enjoyed Sinkhole as much as Ice Tomb (read my review) and look forward to reading more by Jackson.

Recommendation:
I recommend this one for anyone who loves suspense thrillers with a sprinkling of sci-fi.

Review: Sinkhole by Deborah Jackson

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2013/01/review-sinkhole-by-deborah-jackson.html