Posts

Posted on

Kelly reviews A Hero On Mount St Helens by Melanie Holmes

TITLE: A Hero on Mount St. Helens: The Life and Legacy of David A. Johnston
AUTHOR: Melanie Holmes
PUBLICATION DATE: May 18, 2019
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Serendipity placed David Johnston on Mount St. Helens when the volcano rumbled to life in March 1980. Throughout that ominous spring, Johnston was part of a team that conducted scientific research that underpinned warnings about the mountain. Those warnings saved thousands of lives when the most devastating eruption in U.S. history blew apart Mount St. Helens, but killed Johnston on the ridge that now bears his name. Melanie Holmes tells the story of Johnston’s journey from a nature-loving Boy Scout to a committed geologist. Blending science with personal detail, Holmes follows Johnston through encounters with Aleutian volcanoes, his work helping the Portuguese government assess the geothermal power of the Azores, and his dream job as a volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Interviews and personal writings reveal what a friend called “the most unjaded person I ever met,” an imperfect but kind, intelligent young scientist passionately in love with his life and work and determined to make a difference.

REVIEW:
May 18, 1980
“Vancouver, Vancouver, This is it.”

Being from the Pacific Northwest and loving our mountains I understand David Johnson’s draw to Mt. St. Helens. It was amazingly beautiful mountain, it still is but in a very different way. I have climbed St. Helens twice now, once before reading this book and once after. I took a few extra moments the second trip up just for David. I was young when St. Helens blow but grow up learning about it and remember hearing David’s warning to Vancouver.

It was a wonderful tribute to a man who died doing what he loved. If you are from the PNW (or really anywhere) you should pick up this book and learn more about this wonderful young man.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & University of Illinois Press in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Fallen by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Fallen
SERIES #: Deep Ops #2
CHARACTERS: Brigid & Raider
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Too quiet. A talented hacker who got caught, Brigid Banaghan is now forced to work with a secret Deep Ops unit. But she won’t reveal any more to these renegade Feds than she has to. Especially not to Raider Tanaka, her control freak of a bodyguard and handler. It’s enough that his body is tensed for action and his heated gaze is always on her . . .

Too sharp. Raider knows there’s more to his new assignment than he’s been told. Why send a deadly agent of his experience to guard a computer genius—even a gorgeous, unpredictable, undisciplined one? But when Brigid’s estranged father is named in an investigation into Boston’s organized crime, Raider’s mind switches onto high alert, just like his senses . . .

Too close. To clear her father’s name, Brigid needs Raider’s help. The Unit’s idea that she bring a straight-laced Fed in as her “fiancé” won’t fly, though—not unless Raider can release his inner bad boy and become the rebel Brigid can’t resist . . .

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts To know if a book is good you only need to read two words… Rebecca Zanetti.

Raider and Brigid… Aw! Love them! They are perfectly meant for each other.

What I enjoyed most was the twist and turns. There were so many in this story.

Rebecca Zanetti is one of the best. She drags you into the story within the first few pages and never lets you go. By the end of the story you aren’t glad it is over you are sad that you have to come out of her world and leaves you waiting for the next in the series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Bloody Genius by John Sandford

TITLE: Bloody Genius
SERIES #: Virgil Flowers #12
CHARACTERS: Virgil Flowers
AUTHOR: John Sandford
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Virgil Flowers will have to watch his back–and his mouth–as he investigates a college culture war turned deadly in the latest thriller from #1 New York Times-bestseller John Sandford.

At the local state university, two feuding departments have faced off on the battleground of PC culture. Each carries their views to extremes that may seem absurd, but highly educated people of sound mind and good intentions can reasonably disagree, right?

Then someone winds up dead, and Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate . . . and he soon comes to realize he’s dealing with people who, on this one particular issue, are functionally crazy. Among this group of wildly impassioned, diametrically opposed zealots lurks a killer, and it will be up to Virgil to sort the murderer from the mere maniacs.

REVIEW:
Great book! I really enjoy books that keep me guessing but then also I enjoy when I am pretty sure of the “who-dun-it” and find out I was right.

Virgil is such an interesting character that I find myself trying to figure out how he is going to act before he even starts his investigation.

This is a great story that has twists and turns and I loved reconnecting with some of the characters we have met in previous books.

I also love the sub-plots and crimes that Virgil somehow gets wrapped up in.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Posted on

Kimberly reviews Second City Sinners by John Seidel

TITLE: Second City Sinners: True Crime from Historic Chicago’s Deadly Streets
CHARACTERS: Chicago Criminals
AUTHOR: John Seidel
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Countless criminals have made their mark on Chicago and the surrounding communities. Chicago Sun-Times journalist Jon Seidel takes readers back in time to the days when H. H. Holmes lurked in his “Murder Castle” and guys named Al Capone and John Dillinger ruled the underworld. Drawing upon years of reporting, and with special access to the Chicago Daily News and Chicago Sun-Times archives, Jon Seidel explains how men like Nathan Leopold, Richard Loeb, and Richard Speck tried to get away with history’s most disturbing crimes. . .

REVIEW:
It might be bad but I have been fascinated by Al Capone for a long time. I really find him an interesting character.

This book emcompasses Capone and so many others. Chicago has been laden with crime that have fascinated the general public over the years and this book adds to the fascination.

I thought this book was really well written and kept my interest. Many I have heard of but some I have not. Being a fan of John Douglas (FBI Profiler) this one fits right in to the same caliber.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

Posted on

Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Dash Of Christmas by Samantha Chase

TITLE: A Dash Of Christmas
SERIES #: The Montgomery Brothers #9
CHARACTERS: Carter & Emery
AUTHOR: Samantha Chase
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/24/19
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With a dash of Christmas magic…
Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…
Learn a little something about following their hearts…

Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restauranteur, he’s at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas…

Emery Monaghan’s no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she’s relieved―until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza’s son Carter―Emery’s childhood nemesis.

REVIEW:
This is the 9th in the series so really what this means is there are a lot of Montgomery’s to keep track of and it is not easy.

Besides the family we are dealing with Carter and Emily. They end up working together on a cookbook. But they have a past.

I never really connected with the characters. The story is sweet for a holiday romance but just not one that had me staying up late to read the story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Posted on

Kelly reviews Peace, Blood And Understanding by Molly Harper

TITLE: Peace, Blood and Understanding
SERIES #: Half-Moon Hollow #7
CHARACTERS: Meadow Schwartz & Eric Weston
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
NARRATOR: Amanda Ronconi
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/7/2019
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The “enchanting” Jane Jameson series returns with this fun and witty paranormal romance following a vampire consultant who has nefarious plans to oust Jane from her role as the head of Half-Moon Hollow’s vampire council.
Ever since Jane Jameson took over running the Vampire Council for Half-Moon Hollow, things have been a little unorthodox and that doesn’t sit well with the head office. Who would have thought vampires were so into bureaucracy and tradition?

Enter a vamp from corporate who’s determined to unseat Jane and get the council back on track—which means no more of this Kentucky neighborliness and mixing with humans, werewolves, witches, or anything else.

But Jane’s not interested in going back to the bad old days when the council was mired in corruption and tended to “accidentally” eat people now and again, but she might be in over her head this time. Good thing there’s a pretty new face in town who just might be the perfect distraction and help save Jane’s career.

REVIEW:
Meadow Schwartz just wants to live a quiet peaceful life filled with tea and her friends. But nothing can be that simple in Half-Moon Hollow. The Council has sent in an auditor to take a closer look at the way Jane and Dick are conducting business. Enter the stuffy uptight Eric Weston.

Another great installment from Molly Harper. I really enjoyed listening to Meadow’s story. As always Amanda Ronconi does an amazing job of bringing Molly’s characters to life. It was fun to see some of our past favorite characters pop up in Peace, Blood and Understanding. I love Dick’s nickname for Meadow “Hippy-Dippy”.

I can’t wait to see what is next in this series and what other secrets Half-Moon Hollow has in store for us.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts