Rambles of a SAHM

Once Upon A Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep | Christmas Fiction Review

Once Upon A Dickens Christmas

Michelle Griep

Historical Romance | Christmas

Three Delightful Christmas Tales from Beloved Storyteller Michelle Griep

Pour yourself a cuppa, get lost in the merriment of the season, and enjoy a Dickensian Christmas in three stories from fan favorite Michelle Griep:

12 Days at Bleakly Manor: Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle’s inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable—too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance?

The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if marriage is worth a second chance.

My Thoughts

Once Upon A Dickens Christmas is my first Christmas read of the season. I was thrilled to get my hands on it. It is a compilation of three different novellas. The first two, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor and A Tale of Two Hearts came out in the previous two years so I had already read them. I chose to skip over them and went right to The Old Lace Shop.

If you are a fan of Dickens then I think you will enjoy these three stories. Michelle Griep does an excellent job in capturing the essence of Dickens writing style with a unique twist that is all her own. There is a little bit of mystery and a little bit of romance thrown in to all three novellas.

This would make a lovely gift for the book lover on your Christmas list.

Disclosure Statement

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Gryphon Heist (Talia Inger Series #1) by James R Hannibal | Suspense Book Review

The Gryphon Heist

Talia Inger Series #1

James R Hannibal

Suspense

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe--a department only known as "Other." When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she'll be back in DC within a few days. But that's before she knows where the designs are stored--and who's after them.

With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?

My Thoughts
The Gryphon Heist is the first book by James Hannibal that I've read. Where have I been? I am definitely going to seek out his previous novels. He even has some juvenile fiction that I am going to look into for my grandkids.
Several years ago there was a show on television called Leverage. My husband and I used to watch it and really enjoyed it. I thought The Gryphon Heist had the same feel. It is most definitely a suspense novel but it has a light cleverness to it as well.
The characters are a motley crew of CIA agents and criminals. But likable criminals if you will. There is a lot of background that is covered in this first book of a coming series. I'm not going to go into it because it will be better for you the reader to uncover it yourself. Let's just say that the history of each of the main characters plays an important role in each of their motivations.
Like any good suspense story there are plenty of plot twists and turns. There are some points that you will guess at and get right and there are others that you won't even figure into the equation. I enjoyed every chapter and found the overall book to be a quick read.
The Gryphon Heist is a complete story but the characters go into the next novel. I've only read the sneak peek for book two but it looks like it will be just as good.
Connect With The Author

www.JamesRHannibal.com

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Disclosure Statement

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell | Suspense Book Review

State of Lies

Siri Mitchell

Suspesnse

The secrets of those closest to us can be the most dangerous of all.

Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.

With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next secretary of defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a web of political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains.

Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too. And the more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.

Not her friends.

Not her parents.

Maybe not even herself.

My Thoughts

Well hello Siri Mitchell! When one of your favorite authors decides to venture out of her usual genre it can be a little unnerving. Will it be any good? Should I give it a try? In the case of 'State of Lies' the answers are yes and yes.

'State of Lies' is filled with plot twists and turns that keep you guessing and rethinking your theories. By the end of the story I was about 50 percent correct in my assumptions. And I was totally amazed at what I had made wrong guesses on.

I really hope that Siri continues writting her signature historical fiction but I also want to read more suspense from her as well. Maybe a combination of both??? Anyway, if you are a fan of Siri Mitchell or of suspense (of the political nature) then I am quite sure you are going to enjoy this one.

Disclosure Statement

Arcade and the Triple T Token (The Coin Slot Chronicles #1) by Rashad Jennings | Juvenile Fiction Review

Arcade and the Triple T Token

The Coin Slot Chronicles #1

Rashad Jennings

Juvenile Fiction

Eleven-year-old Arcade Livingston has a problem. Two of them, actually.

The Tolley twins: bully brothers who are making Arcade's move to a new city and fitting in at his new school even harder. They expect him to do their research papers for the fifth-grade career expo's theme: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Trouble is, Arcade doesn't even know his own answer to that question.

Then at the library, Arcade's favortie sanctuary, a mysterious woman gives him a golden arcade token necklace that grants him a unique gift. A gift that allows him to time travel to different points in history and even into his own future--from standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the dugout with Babe Ruth to hanging on for dear life on the back of a bucking bull. Together with his sister, Zoe, and a small circle of friends, Arcade has a whole new set of problems on his hands. And an even bigger mystery to solve.

The question for Arcade is no longer, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It's, "Who is the rightful owner of the magic Triple T Token . . . and where will we end up next?

My Thoughts

If you have a middle-grade reader that also happens to be a boy then you need to take a look at this book. Arcade and the Triple T Token has a lot to offer for the reader. Arcade Livingston has just moved to a new town and is starting a new school so obviously the story deals with what it is like to be the new kid. It deals with bullying and some creative ways to handle it. It has a bit of time-travel which adds to the excitement. And it also has an element of mystery. What else could you want?

This story is well-written and as an adult I thought the pace moved along quite well. I think it will easily hold the attention of a young reader. It definitely has the slant of appealing to the boys but I think girls would enjoy the story too.

My favorite part is that of Arcade Livingston himself. He's a bit on the nerdy side (he loves the library for heavens sake!) but somehow he makes being a nerd cool. One of the biggest take aways for the story is to learn to be comfortable with who you are. I think that's such an important lesson especially at this age.

I'm looking forward to the future books in this series. I think the second installment comes out in September 2019 so you don't have too long to wait.

Disclosure Statement

The Wonder That Is You by Glenys Nellist | Children's Book Review

The Wonder That Is You

Glenys Nellist

Children's Book

"It felt as if the world stood still

The day my dream came true,

And all creation paused to see

The wonder that is you."

Every parent dreams of celebrating the arrival of their new child. This heartwarming picture book captures the moment that dream comes true.

Filled with tender emotion and joy, The Wonder That Is You is the perfect way to tell your little one how much they are loved.

My Thoughts

Some children's books are written especially for children. The words and illustrations are designed to capture the attention of the child as the parent reads to them. Other children's books are written with the momma in mind. The Wonder That Is You was written for the mommas. The precious message goes right to the heart of the new mother expressing all those beautiful hopes and dreams that we have as we cuddle our new little one.

If you purchase books for new baby gifts, this one needs to be on your list. It is beautifully illustrated and the verses are tender and touching. It will be a lovely gift to the new momma over and over again as she reads the book to her sweet new baby.

Other Reviews For This Author

Christmas Love Letters from God

Love Letters From God Little Love Letters From God Snuggle Time Prayers Snuggle Time Psalms NIrV Love Letters From God Holy Bible Connect With The Author

www.GlenysNellist.com
Facebook | Twitter
Linked In | Facebook | Pinterest Instagram | Goodreads

Disclosure Statement

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.