Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine

Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine (Stephanie Plum Book 29) by Janet Evanovich NewYork: Atria Books, 2022. 324 pages. ****

In this latest Stephanie Plum novel, Connie and Vinnie are kidnapped, and held for the return of a coin. Grandma attempts to help Stephanie locate them and to keep Bella, Morelli's Grandmother at bay. Bella has a warrant out for her failure to appear in court and threatens anyone with the "eye" who attempts to bring her in. Throw in a car and office explosion, Ranger, Morelli, and Lancelot try to protect Stephanie each in their own way to humorous results. 

I view a Janet Evanovich book as a palate cleanser. The situations that Lula and Stephanie get themselves into makes me laugh out loud. I know that when I start one of her books, I will read it in two days and thoroughly enjoy it. I will be in a good mood afterwards and won't tire of the doughnut eating and stops for fried chicken. Even though this is her 29th novel in this series and somewhat formulaic, it is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, a comfort food kind of book. You know what you are getting and it's something that you need right now.  If you are a Stephanie Plum fan, you will not be disappointed. 

From Amazon - Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

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As Bright As Heaven

 

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meisssner. New York: Berkley, 2018. 387 pages. ***

It's 1918 and the Bright family moves from Quakertown to Philadelphia in search of a better life for their three girls. Uncle Fred, an undertaker, invites them to live with him and he will teach the trade to his nephew and pay for the girls' schooling. Reeling from the death of their infant son, the plan provides hope for all of them until the 1918 Spanish Flu invades the city. Many of the young men have left to fight in the Great War and no family is left untouched by the flu. Bodies pile up at the mortuary and given the unsanitary conditions, masks are ineffective against this pandemic. How anyone survived is a miracle and the Bright family is no exception in their loss. 

This story may be too soon for some readers after Covid. Having experienced life during a pandemic, I have been curious as to how my family survived in Philadelphia in 1918. Blue collar workers of modest means, I have seen pictures from that time and marveled that here we are. Meissner touches on the parade which caused a resurgence of cases and deaths. While a sad tale, love and hope prevail. Each of the girls adapts to their new environment and disappointments, while finding love and a purpose in helping others. The first half of the book was stronger than the second half, a strong start and weak finish. 

From her website-

Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in readers' hands and translations in eighteen languages. She is an author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, which earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, named to Real Simple magazine’s list of best books for 2019; As Bright as Heaven, which earned a starred review in Library Journal; Secrets of Charmed Life, a Goodreads finalist for Best Historical Fiction 2015; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014.

She attended Point Loma Nazarene University in California and makes her home with her husband and yellow Lab in the Pacific Northwest.

Visit Susan at her website: https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor/ on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner

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Where Are the Children Now?

 

Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2023. 275 pages ****

In this sequel to one of Clark's best-selling novels, Where are the Children? Melissa is preparing for her marriage to Charlie and her role as stepmother to his daughter, Riley. Her brother, Mike is concerned that Melissa has not worked through what happened to them as children and feels that she is in denial and rushing into marriage. Charlie's first wife accidentally died while on vacation in Norway and Riley while happy about the wedding misses her mother and wishes her mother could attend. When Riley wanders off, Melissa is forced to confront what happened to her as a child while trying to convince the police that Riley has been abducted. 

Won a copy through Goodreads. 

It's been a long time since I read a book by Mary Higgins Clark, she passed away in 2020. However, I won this book through Goodreads, so why not? It is an excellent quick read. Even though it is a sequel, it works well as a standalone. Enough background is provided that the reader can understand what is going on. Like all psychological thrillers there are many twists and turns, I did have an idea where the story line was going, however, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. 

From Amazon...

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark wrote forty suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a his­torical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series including The Cinderella Murder, All Dressed in White, The Sleeping Beauty Killer, Every Breath You Take, You Don’t Own Me, and Piece of My Heart. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she coauthored five suspense novels. More than one hundred million copies of her books are in print in the United States alone. Her books are international bestsellers.

Alafair Burke is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels, including The Better Sister, The Wife, The Ex, and Find Me, in addition to the Under Suspicion series, coauthored with Mary Higgins Clark. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in New York City.

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Hide

 Hide (Detective Harriet Foster Book 1 of 2 ) by Tracy Clark. Seattle, Thomas and Mercer, 2023. 377 pages ***

Detective Harriet Foster with 17 years experience as a Chicago cop returns to work after her partner commts suicide and her son is a victim of street violence. Partnered with the most obnoxious detective in the department, she is determined to rise above his crude behavior. When a red-haired woman is discovered brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, her partner thinks he has solved the case without investigating the inconsistencies at the crime scene. When another woman is discovered dead in the same manner as the first, Harriet is determined to hunt for the murderer and suspects that there is a serial killer on the loose.

Quick read with many twists and turns, somewhat predictable. Enjoyable escapism. I will definitely read the 2nd book, Foster is a likable character and has potential for further development. 

From Amazon

Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PaI Cassandra Raines. Her debut, BROKEN PLACES, made Library Journal’s list of the Best Crime Fiction of 2018 and CrimeReads named Cass Raines Best New PI of 2018. The novel was nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, an Anthony Award for Best Debut Novel and a Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Her second Raines novel, BORROWED TIME, was a finalist for the 2020 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel and won the 2020 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. Book three in the Raines series, WHAT YOU DON’T SEE, was also short-listed for the 2021 Left Award for Best Mystery novel. Book four, RUNNER, releases June 29, 2021. Tracy, a proud member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, is a lifelong South-Sider and roots for every Chicago team with equal enthusiasm. She is currently busy writing her next book.

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The Only Survivors

 

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda. New York, MarySue Rucci Books/Scribner, 2023. 352 pages. ****

Ten years ago,  two vans filled with high school seniors set out on a school service trip and crash into a Tennessee ravine, only 9 survive. The nine teens make a pact to meet once a year to commemorate that horrible night and to support and protect each other. A few have moved from their hometown and continued their lives, however, they meet once a year in a house on the Outer Banks, a refuge, to reconnect and revisit the tragedy. Cassidy Bent has decided on this tenth anniversary to distance herself from the others, she deleted the email reminders, changed her cell phone number, and is finally happy with her new boyfriend. On the morning of the reunion, she sees an email with an obituary attached and realizes that she must be with the others to mourn her friend and fellow classmate from the trip. Throwing caution to the wind and lying about a business trip, Cassidy arrives to a house filled with suspicion and distrust. Finding a locked cell phone on the beach takes Cassidy on a journey back in time to that fateful night and causes her to question her oldest friends and what exactly happened that night.

I received an ecopy for a review

Megan Miranda has done it again. This psychological thriller with its many twists and turns will have you guessing from beginning to end. What really caused the accident and what secret have they vowed to protect?  The towns people  have not allowed anyone to forget the lives lost by dedicating the new library to them and hanging brass plaques with their names. Survivors' guilt has made them suspicious of each other and their role in who to save.  Hard to put down, once started, you will continue breathless until the very end. 

From Amazon

Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger; The Last House Guest, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick; The Girl from Widow Hills; Such a Quiet Place; and The Last to Vanish. She has also written several books for young adults. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Follow @MeganLMiranda on Twitter and Instagram, @AuthorMeganMiranda on Facebook, and visit MeganMiranda.com

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A World of Curiosities

 

A World of Curiosities  (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel, 18) by Louise Penny. New York: Minotaur Books, 2022. 390 pages. *****

In this latest Gamache novel, Three Pines is preparing for the end of winter and new beginnings. A previous case haunts Gamache and Beauvoir and has left them unsettled and unsure of themselves. The case involved a young girl convicted of the murder of her mother, however, Gamache isn't convinced that she did it, rather than her younger brother. Both young children were prostituted by their drug addicted mother. The sister has been released from prison and is graduating and her brother has come to Three Pines to join in the celebration. John Heywood's proverb comes to mind, "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good." Throw in a room that has not been opened in one hundred and sixty years and when unlocked opens a "world of curiosities." 

There are many layers to this book, and I was mesmerized from the very beginning. The good versus evil is well-played leaving the reader wondering is Gamache losing his edge? 

Sometimes when there is a long series of books, the author loses their edge, not Louise Penny. In my opinion, this is her best book yet! I am hooked! I've decided I may need to start with book 1 and reread the series before the next book comes out. In her own words "My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices. About friendship and belonging. And love. Enduring love.

If you take only one thing away from any of my books, I'd like it to be this:

Goodness exists." 

There is a series on Amazon Prime, The Three Pines,  based on her characters and books. The series has  received mixed reviews. I have enjoyed the shows; however, I watch them as a standalone and do not expect them to follow a particular book or storyline. 

For more information on Louise Penny and her books - https://www.louisepenny.com.

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The Lipstick Bureau

 

The Lipstick Bureau A Novel Inspired by a Real-Life Female Spy by Michelle Gable. Graydon House: 2022. 464 pages.  Selected List of Sources ****

Niki Novotna, a Czech native, with multiple degrees and speaking many languages, is married to an American from a prominent family. Inspired by the true story of Barbara Lauwers, Gable has written a gripping novel about the OSS Moral Operations in Rome during WWII. Not your typical WWII novel, we have a behind the scenes view of a small propaganda operation that provides big results in affecting the morale of the German soldiers and citizens in Italy. Using prisoners of war to infiltrate and distribute flyers, handouts, etc. Niki who plays a pivotal role in designing operations with the nicknames of Sauerkraut, Cornflakes, and Monte Rosa, fears that she may have crossed the line in paying prostitutes to keep the select POWs happy and will be charged with violating the rules of the Geneva Convention. With her career in jeopardy, her marriage in name only, her parents and brother unaccounted for, Niki is facing some harsh realities as the war is ending. 

I read this book in one weekend and didn't want to put it down. Gable presents the realities of war alongside the personalities and desires of the main characters. Survival is the name of the game and it's not always predictable or pretty. Historical fiction fans will enjoy a glimpse into how propaganda works and the OSS. An excellent Book Club selection for the many moral and ethical discussion points. This is the first book I have read by Gable and it won't be the last. 

I received an ARC from the publisher for a review. 

From Amazon- "MICHELLE GABLE is the New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment, I'll See You in Paris, The Book of Summer, and The Summer I Met Jack. She attended the College of William & Mary and spent twenty years working in finance before becoming a full-time writer. She grew up in San Diego and lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. Find her on Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest, @mgablewriter."

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