Teri M. Brown's Blog, page 31

Book Review: A Brick to Remember

A Brick to Remember by V.S. Gardner is the second in the series. I loved the premise of this story with a missing person's expert, Leanza, who chose that profession because her father went missing as a child. But what happens when she is on the biggest case of her life while living in the sleepy town of Logan, but her own dreams - dreams that seem to make no sense - start to intrude? And just how will Vonda fit into the picture?
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Gardner does a great job allowing her books to flow together, yet stand alone, so if this books strikes a chord, feel free to start here!

Book Review: A Killing on Hardee Street

A Killing on Hardee Street by V.S. Gardner is the first in a series located in Logan, South Carolina, a small town not too far from Myrtle Beach. In fact, this tiny town is patterned after VS Gardner's hometown!

In this novel, we meet Vonda, a recent widow trying to adjust to her new circumstances. We also meet Mitch and get introduced to his family and his construction company. As Vonda watches new homes being built from her back deck, she sees something she wasn't supposed to see - and this lands her in the thick of a mysterious disappearance. Will she be next?
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I enjoyed the easy tone of this Christian Cozy Mystery, and you will, too!

April 19th, 2024

A Killing on Hardee Street by V.S. Gardner is the first in a series located in Logan, South Carolina, a small town not too far from Myrtle Beach. In fact, this tiny town is patterned after VS Gardner's hometown!

In this novel, we meet Vonda, a recent widow trying to adjust to her new circumstances. We also meet Mitch and get introduced to his family and his construction company. As Vonda watches new homes being built from her back deck, she sees something she wasn't supposed to see - and this lands her in the thick of a mysterious disappearance. Will she be next?
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I enjoyed the easy tone of this Christian Cozy Mystery, and you will, too!

Book Review: My Sam Johnson

My Sam Johnson by Wayne Jones is, as the title suggests, a biography for general readers. And what exactly does that men? Well, Sam Johnson is a famous 18th century writer, and as such, can be difficult to understand. Wayne has taken it upon himself to help us not only understand Sam's writing, but also Sam's personal life.

Sam Johnson starts out his life with an unusual illness that changes the way he looks. He hates his life circumstances and hates the idea of doing what his father does for a living - selling books. Ironically, it is access to these books that shapes Sam into the writer he eventually becomes.

Wayne does a great job helping us understand the nuances of Sam's personality. In some ways, Sam reminds me of me when it comes to writing - he takes on more than he can chew and often doesn't give himself enough time to complete the project! I'd wager that he is a lot like many authors I know!
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I was most fascinated with his dictionary of the English language. Unlike many previous dictionaries, Sam included ordinary words and provided examples. And because Sam is Sam, he sometimes added definitions with a bias, which made me laugh out loud.
This is a quick but fun read that will give you some insight into an author you may not know.

Book Review: Lessons in Evil

Lessons in Evil is a novella by Babette Hughes. Babette is a 101-year-old who still finds joy in writing! And she hit her latest creation out of the park.

Annie Burg is an author who has been asked to write the unofficial biography of a very famous writer, Helga Hoffman. Annie doesn't want the assignment because of Helga's dismissive personality. Nonetheless, she takes it in hopes of restarting her career. But that is when everything turns sideways, and Annie finds herself in the middle of a Nazi-hunting investigation!
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I love Annie because I see her hang ups and all that is holding her back in life. I understand what drives her forward at the beginning of the story, but more importantly, what drives her at the end. The transformation is stunning. Add to that an antagonist you love to hate, and this novella has everything you need for a quick, satisfying read. Highly recommend!

Book Review: What Lies We Keep

What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts is a contemporary family fiction that seamlessly weaves cybersecurity with the lies we tell one another. Ted and Charlotte are on the road to "living the dream." Ted has a good job, they have a daughter, and are saving to buy their first home. But something is amiss.

Ted is hiding something and Charlotte, though she isn't sure what, is dragging him to marital counseling in hopes of saving their marriage. But the lies go beyond Ted, with two good friends, a brother-in-law, and even her mother keeping things from her - things that shape her world.
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This is not merely a story of Ted's redemption, but of Charlotte's journey to find the truth - about her husband, about her marriage, about her friends - and mostly about herself. Great read! I was fortunate enough to get an advanced reader copy (ARC). This book will be available on May 7th.

Book Review: Secrets in the Hollow

Secrets in the Hollow by ​Barbara Dullaghan​ is a debut mystery set in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. Not only does the storyline follow Carrie Peters - a woman of forty who has yet to figure out her life because she has been hiding her past, but it also provides readers with a great sense of place.

Throughout the story, we learn of the history of Sleepy Hollow, its cemetery, and its ghosts. At the same time, we learn of Carrie's secrets - her own personal ghosts that haunt every waking minute.
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What happens when secrets final come out? Do friendships remain? Can Carrie find her happily-ever-after?
I enjoyed Dullghan's first novel. Those who enjoy mystery will certainly find this to be a good read. ​

Book Review: 10 Little Rules for a Blissy Life

Carol Pearson​ wrote 10 Little Rules for a Blissy Life after her world, in a matter of eight weeks, fell apart. Her daughters were moving out to start their own lives, her husband lost his job, they realized their marriage was over, and her own income stream was destroyed by her business partners. Despite being broke, homeless, and dealing with interpersonal relationship issues, Carol was the happiest she had ever been. Why? She had begun living life by her own rules rather than the rules given to her by her parents, society, and the "shoulds" residing in her head.

Carol offers readers the ten rules that helped her navigate through these big changes and offers great questions and journaling space to help find where you might be stuck. The best part is that these are merely a starting place. She encourages readers to dig deep and discover their own rules for being happy in this life.

My favorite rule is #10 - Every Night, Give Thanks.
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This is a perfect book for anyone going through change and wanting to figure out how to do so gracefully. 

Book Review: Fractured

​Fractured by ​Thomas Kelso​ is a medical thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire read. It features an orthopedic trauma surgeon, Mark Thurman, and a stem cell scientist, Claire Hodgson. The two have figured out how to grow bones and heal fractures in days. And their first patient, one who arrives in the ER, happens to be a former Navy SEAL sniper and a friend of Thurman. In fact, Thurman owes his life to John Bristow.

Thurman's ties to Bristow and the SEALs, as well as his involvement as a trauma professional with the local police force, quickly entangles him - and his colleague - in a world of intrigue. Who tried to kill John Bristow - and why? More importantly, will Thurman's breakthrough be able to save his friend's leg, and will Thurman be able to save his friend's life?
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This is beautifully written and deserves the awards its won. Kelso has definitely captured me as a reader.

Book Review: Red Clay Running Waters

Red Clay, Running Waters by ​Leslie K Simmons​ is a masterful account of John Ridge, a Cherokee statesman and his wife, Sarah Northrop. Simmons' research is phenomenal and gives readers a glimpse into what it was like as Georgia tried to force the Cherokee from its borders.

Quite honestly, I had trouble reading and could only take the novel in small doses. Not because of the writing - which was flawless - but because of what I learned about how my government treated the Cherokee - lying, slandering, stealing, and killing.

In addition to the heartless treatment of a great People, the book also looks at love. The relationship between Sarah and John is beautiful, though in no way perfect. Despite having continual trials, this couple found a way to keep moving forward. It certainly gave me hope.
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This is not a book for the faint of heart, but one that should be on everyone's TBR list. ​