The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory reads much like a fable about a little boy who has a lot going against him. First, he's a foundling, seems slow to develop and is quite limited in many ways. However, he does seem to have magical powers that astound not only the nuns who first take him in, but the parents who ultimately adopt him. Misfortune seems to follow Moojie around, and he spends much of his time recovering from one disaster to another in this fantastical coming of age story. The plot itself is meaningful and written in a poetic style, often with made up words that will appeal to the younger audience. While a little hard to follow the story sometimes, the overall message is a positive one and is something we can all aspire to in our lives. After all life is about making choices.

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Broken Promises by Anne Willow

Broken Promises (Past Imperfect Mystery Book 1) by Anne Willow is a cozy mystery that will not only entertain, but you will learn a little about antiques in the process. This mystery features Julie, a likable young woman who has taken over her Aunt's antique shop "Past Imperfect" in a small, cozy town. Julie is escaping a somewhat troubled relationship, and taking over the shop seems to be just what she needs to start over. The author does a great job of describing the shop, the town and the townspeople. Julie seems to fit in just fine until she becomes a prime suspect in a murder case. Unfortunately for her, the victim was killed with an antique letter opener,and one that Julie is familiar with. Now she must figure out what exactly happened. This is a well rounded mystery, with a touch of the warm and cozy, curses of the past, and some history. Overall, a satisfying read that will appeal to a broad audience of readers. Highly recommend for a light reading diversion.

The Foundling's Path by Jemima Brigges

Living in the Shadows: The Foundling's Path - Part 1 by Jemima Brigges
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Living in the Shadows: The Foundling's Path - Part 1 by Jemima Brigges is a great story featuring two unlikely protagonists, one being Nell, a foundling, or unwanted child, and Meg, an herbalist gypsy who helps Nell when the child shows up on her doorstep, injured and afraid. Brigges has done a beautiful job of rendering this novel, showing the complexities of the time in the early 1800's. Women were not held in high esteem, in particular those who had no real roots or family. Certainly they were often mere servants, and expected to always acquiesce in every circumstance. This tale is reminiscent of the Bronte sisters' works, with plenty of detail that truly depicts the day to day harshness of life, and the struggle to survive while maintaining one's self respect and dignity. Wrapped in the travails of the women's lives is a good little story, one that will resonate with many readers with its cadence and clarity. Highly recommend.

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Murders of Misfortune by Ian D. Wright

Murders of Misfortune: A gripping story of a missing daughter and a trail of lies, blackmail and murder. by Ian D Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murders of Misfortune: A gripping story of a missing daughter and a trail of lies, blackmail and murder. (Murders of Consequence, Necessity & Misfortune Book 3) by Ian D. Wright starts off with a hellish crime and from there develops into a fine mystery. This crime meshes nicely with the balance of the book that focuses on a missing young woman named Felicity. However, she has been missing for roughly five years, and her mother barely took notice. With that premise, the author introduces us to a pair of young journalists, Emily and Steve Moon who come to investigate how Felicity went missing. Their quest will take them across the globe, into some wild places, not the least of which is the seedy underbelly of London in the 1960's. This novel has a fast pace, with good characters, an interesting plot, and plenty of complexity. A not to be missed mystery.

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Behind the Door (Hidden Motives, #1) by Adriana Gavazzoni

Behind the Door by A. Gavazzoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Behind the Door (Hidden Motives, #1) by Adriana Gavazzoni is an erotic mystery thriller with an engaging plot and sympathetic characters. When Simone meets Carl, the last thing she wants to do is assist him with his latest legal case. But as a gifted and thoughtful psychiatrist, who specializes in not so common sexual behaviors, and when Carl describes his case, Simone can't help but try and pitch in to help him. Carl is defending his long time friend Mark, who may have accidentally killed his girlfriend during sex. There is a good mix in this book, and the alternating views that pivot from Mark's detailed journal to the present day for Simone, is a good literary device, and flowed quite smoothly. Lara is the person who has been killed, and even though she is dead, her character is well described; she seems like a flamboyant and crazy lady. There is a lot of detail here about deviant sex practices, but beyond that, the story is substantial and works well on it's own. Overall, a suspenseful read, full of twists and turns, with a solid ending. Highly recommend and looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Small Change by Keddie Hughes

Small Change by Keddie Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Small Change by Keddie Hughes was a bit of a revelation. Not being familiar with Scottish football, and the extent to which people are addicted, this story struck at the heart of how enmeshed one can get in to a sport. Izzy is married to one such person in her husband Jim. As a volunteer at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Izzy is full of empathy, maybe too much so, when she meets Sean, a journalist. Their friendship is challenged because soon they will be looking into a murder of a young football fan. In addition, Sean happens to be the brother of one of Izzy's clients, and that's where much of the controversy starts and grows. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book with lots of twists and turns, an interesting plot, and well drawn characters. The author has done a great job of creating realistic life situations that many can relate to, as well as an entertaining mystery. Highly recommend.

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Mudcat Moon: A Jake Eliam ChickenBone Mystery Book 3 by Cliff Yeargin

MudCat Moon: A Jake Eliam ChickenBone Mystery by Cliff Yeargin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MudCat Moon: A Jake Eliam ChickenBone Mystery (Jake Eliam ChickenBone Mystery Series Book 3) by Cliff Yeargin fits the bill if you are looking for an enticing mystery, some Southern vibes, and sports as well. This original mix works out quite well in this story, which first must be noted is 3rd in a series of funnily named books, Rabbit Shine and Hoochy Koochy, in that order. Jake, a baseball guy, is the main character who gets wrangled into becoming a bodyguard for a famous newscaster by the name of Cissy, and a beautiful one at that. This is quite a deviation from making baseball bats, his day job. Thoughtfully written, you can tell the author loves sports, much of the fun of the book is the insertion of the classic Southern drawl and euphemisms that characterize the South, while the many characters become entangled in a messy mystery. Strong plot, well drawn characters, this book is highly recommended.

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