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Book Review: The Spy Coast (The Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Spy Thriller
Length: 341 pages
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

WELL THAT WAS A RIDE.

This book wasn’t on my radar whatsoever until my Dad mentioned it to me, and told me, “it has plenty of romance.” Famous last words.

NOW. I wouldn’t call this a romance, at all (there is a sub plot dynamic that does play into the larger theme). I did like the dynamic though and was intrigued by where the story would go.

This book gave me Red 2 vibes. But add in flashback chapters and focus on mostly one character. I did love that this had multi-POV and felt that all of the POV’s played a part and made sense for the story. The audiobook was great too, definitely recommend that format.

The twists and turns of the second half were fantastic. I usually don’t love thrillers because it often comes across as, a lot of bad people doing bad things. I loved that this did have some good guys who were trying to do the right thing. Even with complications and mistakes, I loved having someone to root for.

Not disappointed at all in reading this spy book. I will be interested to see what the next book in the series will be about!

Overall audience notes:

  • Spy Thriller
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: murder, loss of life, gun violence, kidnapping a child, teen drug use

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Book Review: Prom Night in Purgatory (Purgatory #2) by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 264 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 12th, 2012
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where does before end and after begin?

Johnny Kinross is a boy from the 1950s, a boy trapped in time, and Maggie is the girl who loves him. By some miracle and against all odds, Johnny and Maggie are given a second chance at life and love. But Johnny is freed from Purgatory only to find himself in a totally different time and place, in a world full of strangers. One unsolved mystery becomes another, and Johnny and Maggie must unravel the past to have any chance at a future. ‘Prom Night in Purgatory’ is the sequel to the love story that is unlike any other, where time is shifting and everything can change, and Maggie must fight for Johnny all over again.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE BOOK.

As a MAJOR Amy Harmon fan I’m a bit bummed this one didn’t work for me like I wanted it too. My biggest issue was just that it felt like it should have been one book. Much of this plot was dragged out.

I did like the romance between Johnny and Maggie. I loved how they found their way together and the ups and downs of worlds colliding. There’s a lot of complexity with side characters too. And I didn’t love the ambiguity of the ending.

I don’t really have much else to say??

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse, attempted sexual assault, gun violence, murder, loss of life

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ARC Book Review: Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Michelle Griep
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: September 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for rescuing black-market artifacts, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker. After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . . Award-winning author Michelle Griep weaves a tale of love, mystery, and intrigue set against the backdrop of the gaslit streets of Oxford, England.

Thank you Bethany House for the gifted copy.

THOUGHTS.

I think this was a good book overall and it does have its audience. I do think that the audience isn’t quite me. Some aspects didn’t work for me, but some did.

I liked most of the scenes involving the two main leads, Ami and Edmund. There’s a lot of moments for them to get to know each other and when a book only has one main kissing scene you want it to deliver and it does. I thought they had wonderful chemistry. I also thought the historical aspects were interesting too.

It is a standalone and wraps up most things well. There was one plot point that threw me off about closing part of the story, the rest was good though. The faith elements were fairly well woven in too. It is a more moderate theme throughout.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: physical altercations, murder, weapons violence

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Book Review: Slow Dance in Purgatory (Purgatory #1) by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal YA Romance
Length: 232 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 2nd, 2012
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Orphaned from the age of ten, 17-year-old Maggie finally finds a permanent home with her elderly aunt in a small Texas town. Working part-time at the local high school, she becomes enmeshed in a fifty-year-old unsolved mystery where nothing is as it seems. Who is the boy no one else can see? And what do you do when you fall in love with a ghost? This volatile and mismatched romance is doomed from its start, as Maggie struggles to hold on to yet another life destined to be taken from her. Secret love and hushed affections are constantly threatened by outside forces resulting in a terrifying race to stay alive.

‘Slow Dance in Purgatory’ captures the heart-ache of a love story where there can be no happy ending…

GHOSTLY.

I’m honestly a hard sell on paranormal ghost based romances and that was my biggest draw back here. Granted, I thought the way things worked out has me totally intrigued and I will be picking up the next book to see what happens.

It’s a very quick story (honestly thought it could have been one book??). I enjoyed both main characters and that we got dual POV. MY FAV. The dancing and little dates and intensely heated conversations were all great. There’s a lot to unpack throughout.

One of the side characters drove me up a wall and I wish we didn’t have any of his POV or commentary or anything else. It just came off naïve and silly and a page filler.

Otherwise, I’m loving getting the chance to work through Amy Harmon’s back list (I think this is her first released book too). It’s fun to see how writing styles have changed.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief gun violence, losing a loved one, physical altercations, bullying

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