The Versailles Formula

This is the third book in Nancy Bilyeau's 18th-century Genevieve Planché series. While it probably can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend beginning with the first book in the trilogy The Blue and then The Fugitive Colours. There is too much backstory that a reader needs to know in order to understand the current story. Please note that I received an advanced review copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on April 17, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Genevieve Sturbridge was never meant for a quiet life in the English countryside. Once an artist in the heart of London, she now spends her days in restless solitude. But when a familiar figure from her past arrives with an urgent request, she is thrust into a perilous world of spies and a formula that could shift the balance of power between France and England.

The thrill of the chase is intoxicating—the cryptic clues hidden in plain sight, the challenge of ferreting secrets from dangerous opponents, the undeniable rush of being needed again. But with every step deeper into the mystery, the danger grows. Someone is watching. Someone is hunting. And the more she uncovers, the more she wonders: Has she walked willingly into a trap?

The story started out well but as I reached Part 2, I wondered when art and pigments would enter the plot. Almost simultaneously with my thoughts, Genevieve is asked to return to France to investigate who is using the forbidden blue color that her husband created. While there, Genevieve will do a little spying for her country. 

I was disappointed with the book. It is advertised as a historical thriller but it isn't a thriller. I would categorize it as a historical mystery; a good one. A big part of my disappointment was the extremely high expectations that I held. Each of the author’s earlier eight novels were spectacular. Another blockbuster was expected. That said, it is a fairly good mystery. I would not want this installment of the series to be the end though. I believe that the series is only three books and, if so, The Versailles Formula is not the best ending. Another problem I have is that the story wasn't about the chemical formula for blue but rather the possibility that it is being misused. It took alot of pages before the identity of this mystery was given. 

Approximately one third of the book gave background information from the first two books. It was done well with equal amounts of dialogue and narrative but unless you've read those books, the level of drama from the backstory is missing. Also, Genevieve's career as an artist is not part of the plot. That's a departure from the earlier two books in the series. 

Enough with the negatives. What is positive about the book? Genevieve and Captain Howard's mission in France was fraught with plenty of twists and I was often afraid for both of them. It didn't appear that they would succeed in their quest to determine who was using the forbidden blue color. Almost daily they were accosted by enemies of England but the two were not always aware of the identity of these enemies. Part of the mission was to figure out who was who. If they could return to England with the name of the forger of blue then they were successful. Along the way these two met interesting Frenchmen who added "color" to the story. Pun intended. 

The book reads like a historical spy story. However, my impression of the series was something else. If this was a standalone novel I would rate it highly. It is part of a series, though, so I can only rate it based upon this fact. 3.7 stars out of 5 stars.

High Tea and Misdemeanors

The Indigo Teashop mysteries are one of my top three cozy mystery series. High Tea and Misdemeanors is the 29th installment of the series and it is one of the best to date. If you haven't yet read the series, you simply must. It's magnificent and has the fastest pace of all 29 books.

The publisher's summary: 

When a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.

Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed trapping a bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

I always have a good laugh at some of the rhyming two word adjectives that author Laura Childs uses; eg, a florist shop in Charleston is called Flora Dora and a sound was thump-thumpering. What I particularly noticed in this novel was that tea sommelier Drayton Conneley was described as being sixtysomething. He has been this age for 29 years! I must acknowledge, though, that if the characters aged throughout the series, none of them would still be alive and there would be no books anymore. We can't have that.

The murder occurred in the first chapter which I always appreciate because the rest of the story can be about the investigation. I noticed how well written the first chapter was compared to earlier books in the series. The story opens with the killer doing his thing. I don't believe Childs has written this chapter with a hook before. Usually we see setting descriptions and introductions to the main characters. The hook is the reason the chapter was so fast paced. 

The pace was maintained throughout the story. Theodosia didn't think about investigating, she just started to do so. While cozies require a suspension of belief, I thought it was bizarre that Theo's boyfriend, police detective Pete Riley, followed her ideas on how to investigate the murder. He did what he was told. Then again, with a long series it becomes dry reading about the amateur sleuth always scratching for leads from the police. I guess in this case the suspension of belief is appropriate.

High Tea and Misdemeanors is a wonderful entry into the Indigo Teashop series. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Confessions of Pope Joan

The Confessions of Pope Joan is the 7th book in the Vatican Secret Archives Mystery series. I have read every other book in this series and can honestly that all of them were fantastic. In this installment of the series Father Michael Dominic comes across the diary of Pope Joan, proving the existence of this female Pope.

The publisher's summary:

In the heart of the English countryside, a discovery is made that threatens to overturn centuries of Church history. When Father Michael Dominic uncovers a cryptic diary leading to a lost 1st century Gospel, he is thrust into a labyrinth of deceit, murder, and controversy. Alongside Hana Sinclair, a savvy journalist, Michael sets out to unravel a mystery buried deep within the Church's past. The Confessions of Pope Joan is a gripping tale of courage and faith, charting their quest against a powerful adversary seeking to keep the truth hidden.

Their journey reveals the existence of Pope Joan, the first and only female Pope whose reign has been obscured by time and conspiracy. As they traverse the intricate tapestry of deceit and power, they must confront a society unwilling to relinquish its patriarchal hold. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Grace Dempsey, assigned to a seemingly unrelated murder case in England, stumbles upon a thread that binds her to the historic revelation. Their paths converge, creating a thrilling narrative that intertwines past and present, fact and fiction.

As the Vatican's secrets unfold, Pope Ignatius, Michael's ailing father, battles his own legacy. Torn between preserving the Church's past and shaping its future, his decisions become paramount in the struggle for truth. The Pope’s radical stand for change, embodied in two Apostolic Constitutions, sets the stage for a new era in the Church while challenging long-standing beliefs and traditions.

The Confessions of Pope Joan is an intriguing blend of historical revelation, suspenseful mystery, and human resilience. It delves deep into the heart of the Catholic Church, unearthing secrets hidden for centuries. Through engaging characters, intertwined plotlines, and poignant insights, this novel offers readers an engrossing journey through a world where the past bleeds into the present, reshaping the future. With every turn of the page, The Confessions of Pope Joan forces readers to question the known and grapple with the unimagined, making it a must-read for fans of historical thrillers.

McAvoy presents a good case for the existence of a female Pope. It was exciting to read about regardless of whether Pope Joan existed or not. His extensive research into this subject is apparent. I love how McAvoy marries theological arguments with historical objects and adventure. He is an expert at it. In this installment of the series McAvoy addresses married priests and women’s roles in the Church

As usual, the story follows Father Michael Dominic and his friend Hana Sinclair as they travel to England to see an ancient Bible. A sheet of paper falls out. It is a poem that has clues to the location of a  diary written by Joan Anglicus. Joan is believed by some to be the only female pope in church history.  Others believe that she is a myth. Within this diary, Dominic and Sinclair find another document that leads them to the ancient gospel of Salome. Salome is believed to be Jesus's aunt who was at both the crucifuxion and resurrection. These two documents show that there were influential women who shaped the Catholic Church’s history. We then see Dominic and Sinclair travel to ancient religious sites and museums in order to protect these ancient documents and solve a murder along the way.

The author’s note at the back of the book explains what is fact in the story and what is fiction. I have always found these notes to be just as exciting as the novels. If you haven't read McAvoy yet, you simply must. 

5 out of 5 stars.

This Family Lies

J.M. Cannon is one of my favorite authors. In 2023 he published Blood Oranges which was one of my top 5 books for that year. He expertly writes suspense novels so I know that I need to read the two books that he published last year.

The publisher's summary:

Iris Adler was supposed to be killed.

In their home in Southern Louisiana, Iris and her husband Joseph are both shot point-blank in the head by an unknown assailant.

While her husband is killed, Iris survives, but only by a ricochet.

She wakes with her memory fractured. She doesn’t remember her husband’s family, eager as they are to take her into their world of marble, maids and prim Southern manners.

Not long after Iris goes to heal at the family’s historic plantation, a girl is found dead in the sugarcane stalks nearby. And of these wealthy, strange people Iris is surrounded by, she realizes one of them might still be trying to kill her.

The only thing certain is not everyone is getting out of this alive.

I LOVED this novel. I was hooked from the first chapter and had to read it all at once. This Family Lies is a psychological thriller on steroids. The pacing is fast and there are so many twists that I was spinning. The constant back and forth between the possible identity of the villain was exhilarating. Every chapter or two showed a dark side of a character and it was difficult to determine who the real villain was. In fact, you don't know until the final chapter.

Iris is main character and, as such, she is very sympathetic. I was rooting for her. However, several of the twists point to her being the one who killed her husband and wounded herself. Other probable villains were mother-in-law Augusta and sister-in-law Annabelle. These two ladies make great adversaries. Both are ambitious and aggressive in reaching their goals so their actions are always suspicious. Iris, on the other hand, is physically unstable and fragile and is at their mercy. Every once in a while Iris attempts to be independent but is shut down quickly by her in laws.

Mystery fans simply must read this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel This Blood Runs. 5 out of 5 stars 

Bad Mother

Bad Mother is a 2021 comic series featuring April Walters and her teenaged daughter Taylor. The story opens with April grocery shopping when armed robbers appear. All the staff and shoppers are on the floor hoping not to get shot when the police arrive. A shootout ensues in favor of the cops. When April gets home she realizes that Taylor is not home. She reviews her text messages from Taylor and sees Taylor's response to leave her alone. The next morning Taylor is still not home so April tries to make a missing persons report at the police station. She is told to wait 48 hours but instead April embarks on a harrowing mission to find her. April's journey that takes her through the underworld of her suburban community and sets her on a collision course with a massive crime syndicate and its lethal matriarch. Tested to her limits and beyond, April discovers that hell hath no fury like a mother scorned.

I loved this story! I read it in one sitting because it was so intriguing. April is not your ordinary soccer mom. She will go to any extreme to keep her kids safe. She also is one hell of a fighter who gets in rumbles with crime figures but manages to come out on top. The pacing was fast and with the colorful comic book panels this book is fantastic. The plot was very well thought out with plenty of twists and turns and the characters were realistic. This book is a winner.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Bard's Trail

I received a free copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club in exchange for an honest review. It is a UK political thriller from Andy Regan. Regan is well qualified to write this genre as his day job dealt with international affairs research in the House of Commons. He also  managed high profile elections in the UK. The book was published in February 2025.

The main character is Shay Mason. Shay presumed that he had left military bureaucracy far behind after his retirement. However, he is unexpectedly recalled to Whitehall and assigned to investigate the death of leading microbiologist Stewart Tyler. Shay teams up with his former girlfriend, Siobhan Andersson, which only adds to his pressure. The question to be resolved is whether Tyler's death was accidental or the result of past indiscretions. In the story we read about the drama and ambition that is normal in international politics and which forms the backdrop for dangerous alliances and the emergence of career-ending secrets. Some overseas governments have a stake in the outcome of the investigation. The setting is in several international and UK locations. 

The book started slowly. I had a hard time putting together the opening scene with what Shay was investigating, rather supposed to be investigating. After 100 pages the investigation had still not begun. There were long narratives and later lengthy dialogues. It should have been a nice mix. Shay is supposed to be a top notch spy but we don't see him in action. Instead, the reader is told he was good at his old job in intelligence. Remember the old adage, show don't tell. As far as being stressed out from getting reacquainted with Siobhan, I did not see him feeling any pressure. In fact, the two of them exchanged pleasantries for several chapters. 

The book has many problems which is why I was bored reading it. I am sorry to say that I just didn't like it.

2 out of 5 stars.

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits was published on New Year's Day 2025. The novel is co-authored by Wanda Brunstetter and Martha Bolton. It’s interesting that the cover states the book is "a cozy Amish mystery." Is the book classified as within the cozy genre or does the reader just have the feel of being cozy while they are reading it? I have wondered for awhile whether Amish fiction can be considered to be a cozy sub-genre and am still befuddled by it. Brunstetter has written 78 books to date and Bolton has written 88 inspirational books. 

The story opens with Fannie Miller deciding to enter the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest. After making the finals of the competition some of the contestants begin disappearing. Fannie calls on her old friend Foster Bates, a retired cop and part-time private investigator, to determine who is responsible. They wonder whether other finalists are responsible for these disappearances in order to thin out the competition. Possible whodunnits include the couple on verge of divorce who need the prize money or the three Beiler sisters who are always in a huddle whispering. We don't get the names of the missing folks until 70% into the story. One person is named but she returns to watch the baking finals competition after a multiple personality blackout.

 

The story moved slowly and I got bored. I didn't like the characters at all. Fannie is a bossy woman who no one wants to be with, including me. It’s hard to believe that she is Amish because she behaves like an Englisher from the inner city. Foster Bates is just plain dull. I can't believe that he got involved in the investigation based merely on a bossy woman demanding his participation. He was not interested in joining Fannie's investigation and always tries to avoid her so his decision to help her isn’t realistic. Foster is a low energy guy who doesn't really want to work. In addition, I did not believe their interpretation of events. The missing contestants didn't make the finals so why wouldn't they just go home? Halfway through the story Foster even wondered whether anyone was really missing and the reader isn't given the names of the so-called missing people. Another problem I had was the huge amount of narrative. There wasn't much dialogue, mainly narrative. It's impossible to know each character's motives without dialogue. Also, the Amish bishop was quite accommodating to Foster. He answered every question and also offered more information. This just isn't realistic and the suspension of belief went too far. 

I wonder whether Wanda Brunstetter contributed anything to this book other than her name. The writing was not in her style. With most of the characters being Amish, I expected an Amish setting. There was nothing Amish about the book or the characters dialogue or behavior. Likewise, I expected to read about the characters as they baked their goods. None of that was in the book.

This book was a disappointment. 2 out of 5 stars. 

Delicious

Delicious, the Life and Art of Wayne Thiebaud was published in 2007. When I purchased it I was expecting the 9 x 12 official art history book of the same title. The book I received is approximately 8 x 8 with 108 pages. It contains a short biography of artist Wayne Thiebaud as well as his development as an artist from age 8 until his death in 2021 at the age of 101. I was not aware that this book is a children's book for kids aged 9 to 14. However, I still learned alot about the artist. Thiebaud is known for his paintings of cakes, pies, cupcakes,  hamburgers and hot dogs. He is one of my favorite artists of the 20th century.

The book has full page copies of Thiebaud's art along with some history concerning the methods used to make the painting. Thiebaud was a contemporary and friend of Willem de Kooning. He utilized Kooning's technique of making brushstrokes in his dessert paintings and painted many layers in each painting. He also copied the methods of the Old Masters. Thiebaud was a skilled cartoonist who could draw Popeye simultaneously with both hands. While he married twice and had a family, he went to college and earned a MS degree in art history. Thiebaud's day job was a professionor of art at Sacramento Junior College. 

During the 1960s he was thought to be a Pop Artist like Andy Warhol. However, Thiebaud used different ways of painting that were more complex than Warhol’s. He began each painting with a thumbnail sketch and then drew triangles or squares that he later drew into the pies, cakes, etc... Although Thiebaud is famous for his desserts, he also drew cityscapes and landscapes. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will be thumbing through it alot in the future just to view those gorgeous paintings. 5 out of 5 stars.

40 Seconds

40 Seconds is a 2022 Comixology Original comic. This 120 page edition collects releases 1 through 5 of the comic. The book is a science fiction story about a team of science explorers. They are traveling in space through a series of alien gateways using Forge Gate Technology in order to answer a distress call from a galaxy away. The scientists jump across the universe through strange and beautiful landscapes only to be hunted by a vast inexplicably unstoppable horde. They can only learn the truth surrounding the distress call if they make it through the final gate in time.

While the story was gripping and fast paced, the first thing I noticed was the color palette of the comic strip panels. They are gorgeous. The first gateway has a beautiful pink landscape. The second was done in browns but the buildings were Asian inspired. I couldn’t tell if they were Japanese or Chinese. Colorist Brett Weldele did a fabulous job here. The next gateway was pink, lavender, green, blue, teal, orange and brown. The drawings of these worlds included ruins, jungle, urban areas along with strange creatures and enemies. The artwork made this story a fun one to read.

What does the title reveal about the story? The explorers have forty seconds to jump through the gates before they close and they are lost forever. I loved this comic and immediately re-read it. It's a fun story suitable for kids as there is no foul language, sex or violence. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Guests

I selected this book for the Key Word Reading Challenge this month. The plot is interesting. Six guests are invited to the private Stonecliffe Island in Lake Michigan for the reading of a will and some of them are going to die.

The story opens with Ryleigh, a struggling artist whose been invited by her best friend, Kerrigan, to spend a week on Kerrigan's family’s private island on Lake Michigan. Kerrigan is a housewife with a perfect life. She has a seemingly loving husband, Kip, and a glamorous downtown Chicago apartment. However, her husband hates her. Their marriage is a sham. Cole is the caretaker of the estate and his job is to make sure the guests of the estate have everything they want but he has private aspirations that he needs to accomplish before the summer is over. Also in attendance are newlyweds Stavros and Mika.

On the estate each guest has their own villa. There are staff on-call twenty-four hours a day, including a masseuse, chefs to make dinner every night, and waiters pouring endless champagne. Their stay is expected to be perfect. However, a violent storm arrives and there is no way off of the island. Then one of the guests disappears.

The story started off well but for half of the book there was mainly bickering among the characters. The first disappearance didn't happen until halfway through the story so I tired of this dialogue. The story took off though and the pace kept ratcheting up until the final pages. The guests pointed fingers at each other, accusing everyone of commandeering the disappearance of Mika and later the disappearance of Kerrigan. This back and forth continued to the end of the story which had me reeling from the frequent twists and turns.

Despite the slow start this was an exciting novel and I am glad that I stuck with it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Rising Sun Falling Rain

I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on January 30, 2025 and the story is set in post-WWII Japan after the atomic bombs were dropped.

The publisher's summary:

 

Introducing the stunning debut RISING SUN FALLING RAIN by Trish Devine. This powerful novel explores the clash between tradition and new ways, weaving a story spanning cultures and generations, celebrating the enduring strength of the human spirit.

 

New Zealand serviceman Mick Mitchell tackles the recovery of Hiroshima with compassion, Kiwi ingenuity and the determination to make a difference.

 

Eighteen-year-old Emiko Tanazawa, determined to break free from the constraints of her traditional upbringing, emerges as a driving force for social reform. Advocating for the rights of marginalised women and children, she embraces modern ideals born from the chaos of war.

 

Drawn together in the wave of change, Mick and Emiko fall in love and furtively marry, but dreams are not enough. Their plans for a better life are thwarted by the controlling influences of others, forcing them into an unforeseen future.

Twenty years later their daughter sets out to unlock the mysteries of her past...

I was expecting more from this novel than what I got. Mick's work as a truck driver was dull. He gave rides to folks going to and from a local hospital and work, if there was any. The beginning of the story described each day of Mick's but with a boring job comes a boring story. We read alot of sentences stating Mick drove here or he turned left. It might have been interesting if life on the military base was described in more detail. Early in the story Mick decides to help a young boy named Kazu learn English in exchange for help building wooden steps for buildings. When Mick sees a friend of Kazu's grandmother, he is smitten. Kazu is the link to Emiko, his grandmother's friend.

Once Mick and Emiko become a couple the pace picks up. This is around page 90 of this 256 page novel. However, for me the story was still slow. I wasn't engaged in the story until Karina, Mick and Emiko's daughter, came into the picture. Karina is the only character with emotion. All the others fell flat. When Karina found out that Mick was her father the story  became compelling and the pace was at lightening speed. The second half of the book was devoted to her and her search for her biological mother It was exciting. The only other problem I had was how the story ended. SPOILER ALERT. After Emiko recognized that Karina was her daughter there wasn't even another sentence.

This book was a disappointment. I am rating it 2 out of 5 stars.

Sugar Shack

I received an advanced review copy of this graphic novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on August 5, 2025. I have read most of Knisley's books and they all give a female perspective of various times in a woman's life. In this story we read about Jen, a city girl turned country girl, whose life has been constantly changing. Jen believes that it's time that she found her place in her new blended family. Her father Walter has a new wife and kids while she lives with her mother. Sugar Shack is the final novel in Knisley's Peapod Farm series.

The publisher's summary:

Jen couldn’t be more excited to spend time on Peapod Farms with her step-sisters, Andy and Reese. For months, Jen has been so focused on trying to figure out how she fits into her new blended family that she hasn’t realized she’s found her place… that is until Reese calls her sister.

Excited and content, Jen thought she had figured everything out,but now she’s not so sure. A rift emerges between the girls as Andy doubles down on being Reese’s ACTUAL sister, while Jen is just the STEP sister. With Andy’s attitude bringing a cold front to the farm it seems like it’s going to be a long winter.

Maybe between Peapod Farm’s first snow and learning how to tap a tree for sugar, Jen and Andy both will have a chance to truly understand what it means to be family.

This is a cute, kid friendly story. There is no foul language or violence and the drawings reflect the perspectives of the kids in the story. The recommended reading age is 8 to 12 years old. 

Jen loves visiting her father and her two step-sisters on the farm that her father owns. They have wonderful adventures such as building snowmen and snow castles, then coming indoors for plentiful mugs of hot cocoa. The farm has many maple trees from which the family makes maple syrup. I enjoyed learning how it is made. The title of the book comes from the sugar shack on the farm where the maple liquid is boiled down into syrup. First, maple liquid is tapped from the trees into a bucket and later made into the syrup. The step-sisters also have fun experiences with their friends from school. Jen is introduced to them and joins in their activities. Jen is boy crazy, though, and there are many scenes where she talks about her infatuation with a guy named Eddie. 

Jen spends her Saturday mornings studying with her rabbi for her Bat Mitzvah. She is a fairly religious Jew while her step-sisters don't have any knowledge of their Jewish ancestry. Technically the step-sisters are not Jewish because I don't think their mother isn't Jewish. If she is, this knowledge has not been passed down into the story.

The dialogue in Sugar Shack is written the way kids talk. With the brightly colored comic panels the book has the feel of a children's books, which it is. However, my sixtysomething self thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It sent me down memory lane to my own childhood where I, too, had fun with my friends and classmates. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Peacemaker

The Peacemaker is the second book in an Amish fiction trilogy by Wanda Brunstetter. It is part of the Mifflin County series. I reviewed the first book in the series, The Protector, on June 1, 2024.  The Peacemaker was published two days ago on March 1, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

An Unresolved Mystery Holds an Amish Community in Limbo In book two of A Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s disappearance continues to cause suspicion and pain to swirl in the Big Valley. Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?

As usual, Wanda Brunstetter has written another heartwarming Amish tale. The missing character Rosa has deeply affected all of the characters in this story. Her disappearance has not been resolved. Her wild boyfriend Ephraim finally settled down after her disappearance. Rosa’s brother Norman refuses to believe that he isn't guilty and her best friend Ada falls in love with Ephraim. While the story is about the relationships these characters have, the Rosa thread has been written extensively into the plot. The story isn't about her though. It's about Norman and his fiance Salina, Ada and Ephraim and Norman's younger sister Susan who is just as rebellious as Rosa. 

The characters I loved the most were secondary:  Ephraim's widowed grandmother Sarah and her friend Josiah. Josiah Weaver is my favorite. He too is widowed. He needs to use a cane but has a fun personality. Josiah met Sarah while he was searching for a lost cat. He fell for Sarah right away and the two of them frequently went out together.

While Ada is the official peacemaker of the story, her mother as well as Ephraim's mother and grandmother also have this trait. Also, the story has more than a few romances going on at the same time. I think there usually is one romance per a typical Amish fiction novel but here we have several. Obviously we have Norman and Salina, Ada and Ephraim, Norman's sister Susan and her wild living boyfriend Ben, and Sarah and Josiah. There's alot of love here. . . and grief.

If you love romance you will love The Peacemaker. 5 out of 5 stars.

Shadows of Marrakech

Shadows of Marrakech was published in 2014. It is the first book of Philip Brebner's Ramzi Murder Mystery series. There are 4 installments of the series to date. I received a free copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I must say I loved it!

The publisher's summary:

Running a bed and breakfast in Riad Waqi, an old courtyard house in exotic Marrakech, is not the escape it seems for Ramzi, a disillusioned Scottish scientist. He cannot decide who are more exasperating, staff or guests, especially when one of the clients, a young Frenchman Paul Gallisot, is murdered in the city.

Up for a challenge, Ramzi turns detective and makes his own investigations into the killing, at a time when Morocco prepares for the festival of Eid and the ritual slaughter of sheep in the nation’s homes.

Paul Gallisot’s childhood links to North Africa, his enigmatic wife Nicole, and their relationship with Tahar, who is suspected of being involved in the Casablanca terrorist attacks, lead Ramzi down a path as challenging as the maze of Marrakech’s historic medina.

As Ramzi makes headway, he meets the unorthodox Dr Rashida, is bewildered by Inspector Karim, endures the prejudice of Paul’s sister, is confided a mystery by an American Bob Spasoff, and in his role as hotelier, plays havoc with Riad Waqi’s guests.

The search for motive and murderer progresses from a traditional exorcism to a journey across the Atlas to the ominous Blue Rocks near the oasis of Tafraoute. There comedy turns to tragedy as he uncovers the facts and realizes that life defies scientific logic.

The setting is the most prominent feature of the book. The sights and sounds of Marrakech are on every page. The author obviously knows Morocco and the city of Marrakech very well. I found myself excitedly perusing online maps during my read to see where all the mentioned towns and sights were located. Brebner easily describes the atmosphere and culture of this exotic setting. 

Most of the story centers round a riad, owned by our amateur sleuth Ramzi. His riad is located inside the ancient Marrakech medina. I have always wanted to stay at a riad so it was lovely to read about their decor and placement in a community. So what is a riad?  The Marrakech Riads website states that a riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an indoor garden and courtyard. They are located within the old city walls of Medina. Generally, they are fully enclosed inside with an open-ceiling structure. Usually, the indoor courtyard of these buildings are decorated with colored traditional mosaics called “ Zellij” and have marble fountains in the center with plants, trees and flowers all around. The bedrooms are often located on the second floor, while the common areas and dining rooms are located on the ground floor. 

The writing style is light and humorous making the book a fast read. The murder investigation centered on Ramzi's conversations with all of the characters. He doesn't allow his sleuthing to be noticed during the conversations so it seems to the other parties that Ramzi is just visiting with them.  No one is aware that he is investigating the murder. The ending was a surprise and, again, the setting is the main clue.

I enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to reading the additional books in the series. 5 out of 5 stars.

Dumb

Dumb is the true account of cartoonist Georgia Webber's experience with a temporary but lengthy loss of her voice. This is an unusual disability, one I have never heard of before. Certainly there are those who have been born with speech impediments but an experience like Webber's is new to me.

The publisher's summary:

This graphic memoir is about how the author copes with her loss of voice due to a severe injury. Part memoir, part medical cautionary tale, Dumb tells the story of how an urban twentysomething copes with the everyday challenges that come with voicelessness. Webber adroitly uses the comics medium to convey the practical hurdles she faced as well as the fear and dread that accompanied her increasingly lonely journey to regain her life. Her raw cartooning style, occasionally devolving into chaotic scribbles, splotches of ink, and overlapping montages, perfectly captures her frustration and anxiety. But her ordeal ultimately becomes a hopeful story. Throughout, she learns to lean on the support of her close friends, finds self-expression in creating comics, and comes to understand and appreciate how deeply her voice and identity are intertwined.

Georgia has a difficult time getting her point across to her friends in everyday life. Alot of the drawings have no dialogue but you can see what is happening as she tries to communicate with others. She decides not to go to loud places and mainly uses writing to converse with friends. Georgia still meets friends at bars but gets stressed because it takes alot of effort to communicate. It is tiring. Friends begin to view her as someone who needs to be helped constantly. Many of them, though, find her silence attractive. I love that she began wearing red lipstick to make it easier for people to read her lips. 

The memoir reads fast. It's 178 pages are filled with drawings that are actually scribbles in black and red that are not always legible. However, they match the storyline concerning  communication problems.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this graphic memoir and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Petrus Prophecy

The Petrus Prophecy is the 3rd book in Gary McAvoy's Vatican Secret Archives Mystery series. There are 7 books in the series to date and its the best one I have read.  It was published in April 2022.

The publisher's summary:

Father Jonah Barlow is dead. The respected Jesuit scholar of apocalyptic studies might have died from a fall in his apartment . . . or was he pushed? All that is known for sure is that the provocative manuscript he was working on—a book that promised to reveal the upcoming fulfillment of ancient and recent prophecies, including the ghastly and shocking Third Secret of Fatima—is missing.

Two female detectives—one from Chicago, the other from Rome—take on the investigation as a possible homicide, turning to Vatican archivist Father Michael Dominic for his help, since Barlow sent the young priest the only other copy of the manuscript.

Newly elected Pope Ignatius, Enrico Petrini, intent on verifying the content of the manuscript against the original handwritten version of the Third Secret—which has been kept sequestered in the Pope’s personal vault for decades—discovers that the keys have been stolen. The search is on for the only other set, kept safely in the hands of a trusted monk in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a sinister ancient order known as the Knights of the Apocalypse seem to be using the predictions of the manuscript to create fear and chaos as the prophecies appear to be coming fulfilled. Is the end of the world imminent?

From Chicago to Jerusalem to Scotland, from Rome to the ancient island nation of Malta, join Father Dominic, journalist Hana Sinclair, their trusted team of Swiss Guards, a French commando, and the two detectives as they solve the bewildering puzzles of the Petrus Prophecy.

This book was an exhilarating read. From the first chapter to the last I could not stop reading until I finished it. The death to resolve was that of Father John Barlow. Was it an accident or a homicide? The gut instinct of detective Rebecca Lancaster of the Chicago Police Department tells her that a murder was probably committed. She believes that the research Father Barlow was conducting was important enough to kill for and that she needs to know more about it in order to resolve this death investigation. After obtaining approval from her boss to travel to Italy, Rebecca contacts a friend who is a member of Rome's police force. With Sabrina Felici's assistance, Rebecca begins her investigation. 

Barlow's book was about the third secret prophecy of Our Lady of Fatima, an historical event, St. Malachy's prophecy of the last pope, Petrus Romano, and the Miracle of the Sun which occurred in Fatima in 1917 several months before three children were visited by the Virgin Mary and given a three part prophecy. The first secret was a vision of hell and the second secret was the identity of the pope during WWII. Both were publicly disclosed in the 1940s but the third secret was disclosed in May 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The Pope stated that the third message was the Virgin Mary’s vision of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt on himself. John Paul II publicly credited Our Lady of Fátima for saving his life. The premise of this novel is that John Paul II only told part of the third secret. Barlow's involvement in the plot disappears halfway into the story. The real mystery is whether the priests who are using Barlow's ideas to force the end of the world will succeed.

There were lots of twists and turns in the story. Each twist takes the reader to a different location. The reader travels to the U. S., Rome, Scotland, Jerusalem and Malta. Knowing how to read symbols is essential to solving the mystery. The story is similar to Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series. Father Dominic and his journalist friend Hana Sinclair are both experts in this field. Hana has joined him on all of his earlier exploits. While they are searching for the keys the new pope needs, the Knights of the Apocalypse (KOTA) are making media releases concerning the end of the world. Hoarding of food and other goods  begins happening world wide and the stock markets are tumbling. 

The Petrus Prophecy is a wonderful book. Mystery lovers will want to read it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Bible Translations for Everyone

Today I am reviewing something very different from my usual fare and discussing a religious book. The author of Bible Translations for Everyone, Tim Wildsmith, is a pastor and You Tuber whom I follow. His book was published in November 2024. It's a short, 178 page, soft cover book that is easy to read. 

The book opens with a history of early English Bibles such as the Wycliffe, Coverdale and Tyndale  Bibles. It then moves to individual chapters for the most read English translations such as the King James Version, New King James Version, Revised Standard  Version, New Revised Standard Version, The New American Standard Version, New International Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, and the Christian Standard Bible. Within each chapter you will read about the historical context of each one, the textual basis, translation philosophy and the people who translated them, as well as the differences, similarities, strengths, and weaknesses of each. Succeeding chapters discuss the Catholic translations and other modern, 21st century translations such as the Legacy Standard Bible, Modern English Version, and the Common English Bible.

 

The final chapter delves into how you can choose the one that is right for you. The author recommends choosing two translations, one for daily reading and another for studying the text. After reading this book, you will understand the essentials of each translation and be able to make an informed decision about which ones are right for you.

There are over 400 English translations of the Bible and I wish there was a listing of all of them at the back of the book. The author does give us, though, a bibliography of recommended reading as well as a short glossary which I found helpful. Bible Translations for Everyone is a welcome introduction into the most popular translations available today and I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Budding Crisis #1

Budding Crisis is a Comixology Original comic that was released last month. It is the first installment of a 5 part historical fantasy series about power, privilege, magic and thieves.

In the fictional Bay of Cygnus, magic seeds from the Onamanthe plant have the ability to grant the user any wish they want. When the ship known as The Eclipse gets robbed in the Bay of Cygnus, the Dureni people have to find them before it’s too late. There won’t be another chance for them to find more seeds as they’ve become extinct and each nation was only allotted three seeds. However, in the process of searching for these seeds and the thieves who stole them, they uncover a conspiracy against one of the strongest armies in the world. A shipmate on the Eclipse loses a small box containing the magical seeds. The ship is docked at a foreign port where they have little to no authority. Of course, they are going to try and get the box back. 

I loved this story. It was easy to understand the plot but with many characters, all shady, I was not able to determine who the protagonists were going to be. Maybe the 2nd installment of the series will make this plain. The artwork is done in bright colors which always helps me love the story. I am drawn to these colors and it's what helps me decide whether I want to purchase a comic.

All in all, Budding Crisis was a fun read. 5 out of 5 stars.

Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart is a coming of age graphic novel. The story concerns the children of a town called Alexandria. Their parents are on a  mysterious, four-year religious pilgrimage so the kids are on their own. 

There are alot of characters. We have Ben Schiller, Otto, Empathy, Josh, Tommy, Lola, Tony, Erica, and Jessie. However, the main characters are Ben, Otto and Empathy. They speak with rude, crude and lewd words and cannot get their minds off of sex. I didn't like any of them. The characters are consumed with their love lives and going to parties. Ben (a girl) takes care of her younger sister who is hiding a dark secret. Ben ardently believes that her parents will someday return. Ben also has problems with her best friend because they are maturing at different levels. The characters are undisciplined but show up at school every day. I found that unusual because I would have been cutting class.

The artwork consisted of black and white line drawings that were crudely drawn. It matched the crude behavior of the characters. However, I didn't care for the artwork. The story itself was all over the place. There wasn't a story per se but rather snapshots of events the characters attended.

Sacred Heart has received many positive reviews but I didn't care for it. It's just not my kind of comic. No rating.

Lava Cakes and Lies

Lava Cakes and Lies is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Nova Walsh. It was published in December 2024 and features ex-lawyer Ginny as a bakery owner and amateur sleuth. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

The publisher's summary: 

High-powered criminal attorney Ginny Malone never expected to swap her designer suits for flour-dusted aprons, but a twist of fate sends her fleeing to the quaint coastal town of Moonstone Bay, California. With her spirited—and mischievous—cat Shortcake by her side, Ginny sets her sights on starting a bakery on the boardwalk, armed only with her grandmother's secret recipes and a dash of determination.

But Ginny's dream of sweet success crumbles when a dead body is discovered during renovations, and her gruff yet oh-so-intriguing landlord, P.I. Vince Rinaldi, becomes the prime suspect. The ovens are cold, the drywall is crumbling, and now danger is lurking behind every display case.

With the help of her hammer-wielding new BFF Lois, a sprinkle of legal know-how, and a heaping spoonful of wit, Ginny sets out to fix more than just ovens and drywall. As she digs into the case, the quirky townsfolk begin to look less neighborly and more suspect—and Vince might need as much rescuing as her broken heater.

Between perfecting her luscious lava cakes and untangling lies, Ginny must race to clear Vince's name before her fresh start becomes a recipe for disaster. Can she serve up justice and save a budding romance before the real killer strikes again?

Lava Cake and Lies is a charming and witty cozy mystery filled with heartwarming friendships, banter-filled clean romance, cat antics, and recipes you'll be dying to try. Perfect for fans of Ellie Alexander and Joanne Fluke, this book is a culinary cozy mystery that promises to be a real treat.

Usually a new cozy mystery series opens with a long description of the setting and introduces the characters. We read about their backstories from long narratives. Not so with Lava Cakes and Lies. The story opened with Ginny signing a lease for her bakery. The next morning she meets with her general contactor Lois and they find a dead body in the space. The mystery began quickly which is how I like my mysteries.

The investigation of the murder consisted of Ginny reading old newspapers and talking with her new friends. There wasn't any big build up to the reveal of the identity of the whodunnit. It just happened haphazardly when someone confessed while Ginny and Vince visited them. Romance was a large part of the story. Ginny and her landlord Vince hit it off from the start and were soon hugging and kissing.

The book lacks twists and turns and the investigation was lackluster. However, I didn't mind. The story read well. Maybe I have the genre wrong. It might not be a cozy mystery but just a cozy. I think cozy is the right description but the book is advertised as a cozy culinary mystery.

While I found some issues with the writing I loved this novel. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars and have pre-ordered the second book in the series which will be published on February 25, 2025.