Review: The Gulag P-Pa Diaries

8/6/2020

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Some self-disclosure before going into my review of this lovely memoir/diary work, The Gulag P-Pa Diaries: I did not grow up with grandparents. Sadly, my grandparents passed away when I was very young. I often feel envious of everyone who got to experience time with their grandparents. Reading Preseton Lewis’ The Gulag P-Pa Diaries really provided me an inside look into, not only what it means to be a family, but what it is to have grandparents care for you and be a part of your life.

Lewis’ work is a detailed account of the ups and downs of being a grandparent caring for grandkids. I appreciated the humorous outlook on everyday situations as well as the introspection of the necessary emotions at having to discipline and losing loved ones. It was a heartfelt and emotional reflection of what it is to be a grandparent. It made me think of how I see my own parents as they grandparent my nieces and nephew. If being a parent is a gift, then being a grandparent is definitely something uniquely important.

Overall, The Gulag P-Pa Diaries would make a beautiful read for anyone who is currently or expecting to be a grand parent. However, it adds a bittersweet experience to those of us who do not have memories, or even the best memories, of grandparents. I appreciated reading a grandparent’s perspective and reflecting on what it means to be family.

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Join my HORROR-ific Reads Challenge...if you dare!

8/6/2020

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I wanted a prompt list to help with my horror book reading. I could t find one, so I made one! It’s my first time making one and I’m looking forward to a fun and not so restricting reading list. I’m using #ghoulishreads for my list if you want to join in!

I don’t have a deadline for myself because, what is time? lol 2020 has been an adventure - to say the least. If you want a deadline - let’s say Halloween 🙂

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Review: Landing in My Present

7/28/2020

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Biography / Aviation / Historical / WWII
Publisher: Hellgate Press
Date of Publication: June 15, 2020
Number of Pages: 218

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For as much as I've always liked the subject of history, it has always been difficult for me to grasp events in proper order or remember their details. Well, having read Mary Walker Clark's Landing in My Present, I can now honestly say that adding a personal element to history has surely helped me, in not only learning more about history (namely, World War II), but being able to understand it from a more intimate perspective from Walker Clark's POV concerning her father's service as a pilot.

I had no idea of U.S. and China alliance or The Hump as it was called. NO IDEA. Through Walker Clark's thorough research in the involvement of her father in navigating The Hump. Her investigation encountered many discoveries and I found the book to be full of emotion as Walker Clark traced back the story of her father during this time. It gave this part of history another angle since it was such a personal labor of family and love. I found the author's work to be truly thoughtful and it made me wish other non fiction historical works were written in the same manner. I'm all for facts and logic, but adding a personal touch really made Landing in My Present a stand out work for me.

Truly a love song from a daughter to a father. I recommend it to all readers, history lovers and beyond.

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Review: Closer Than She Knows

7/20/2020

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Closer Than She Knows

by Kelly Irvin

on Tour June 22 - July 24, 2020

Synopsis:

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin

A serial killer bent on revenge . . . and striking too close to home.

Teagan O’Rourke has always loved murder mysteries. In her job as a court reporter, she has written official records for dozens of real-life murders. She’s slapped evidence stickers on crime scene photos. She’s listened to hours of chilling testimony. But she’s never known the smell of death. And she never thought she might be a victim.

Until now.

A young police officer is murdered just inches away from her, and then a man calling himself a serial killer starts leaving Teagan notes, signing each with the name of a different murderer from her favorite mystery novels.

Panicked, Teagan turns to her friend Max Kennedy. Max longs for more than friendship with Teagan, but he fears she’ll never trust someone with a past like his. He wonders how much of God’s “tough love” he can take before he gives up on love completely. And he wonders if he’ll be able to keep Teagan alive long enough to find out.

As Teagan, Max, and Teagan’s police officer father race to track down the elusive killer, they each know they could be the next victim. Desperate to save those she loves, Teagan battles fears that once haunted her in childhood. Nothing seems to stop this obsessed murderer. No matter what she does, he seems to be getting closer.

Book Details:

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: June 9th 2020
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 0785231862 (ISBN13: 9780785231868)
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Review

Closer Than She Knows by Kelly Irvin is a Christian Romance Suspense novel and it might be my very first one! What intrigued me to read this book was the mention of some ‘literary backdrop” for our story and protagonist, Teagan. I am a sucker for books about books or books containing some kind of literary mentions. I am totally a sucker for it - seriously. However, what really ended up dragging me into this fantastic story was the fact that from beginning to end - it was non stop. There was always something happening and always the feeling that something else was happening soon. A non stop creepy thrill ride is the way I would describe this book. Also, being the die hard romance reader that I am, I truly enjoyed the sprinkling of romance that this book had to offer. It gave me everything I like. Of course, I always wish the romance could be pushed farther - but that is just me in this case.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves thriller-y stories about serial killers and those readers who definitely enjoy the creep factor in stories. Try this book out, for sure!

Read an excerpt:

“We’re almost there, Ms. O’Rourke.” Officer Moreno came to a full stop at the corner of Park and Academic Court, where the glass-covered police department recruitment center and property room facilities glinted in the late-afternoon sun.

A smile brought out dimples on Moreno’s cherub-cheeked face. Her assignment to escort a court reporter and the evidence to the property room was almost to the halfway point. Teagan had told Moreno to call her by her first name, but the patrolwoman couldn’t seem to manage it. “I’ll get us through security, we’ll stow the evidence, and I’ll have you back to your car in a jiffy.”

Did people still say “in a jiffy”? Teagan’s grandma might, but this woman was no more than twenty-four. A couple of years younger than Teagan. She studied the officer’s face as she turned onto Academic Court and accelerated. The woman was for real. A straight shooter determined to be successful in a man’s world.

Teagan smiled, but Moreno had already returned her gaze to the road, hands at the proper ten and two positions on the wheel. “I know there’s plenty of other things you’d rather do than babysit evidence—”

The driver’s side window exploded.

The force knocked Teagan’s head against her window. Sudden pain pricked her face. Fragments of glass pierced her cheeks and forehead.

The car swerved, jumped the curb, and crashed into the wrought-iron fence that protected the academy.

Was this what Mom felt the day she died? The inevitability of it?

Air bags ballooned.

Teagan slammed back against her seat.

I’m sorry, Max.

I’m sorry I never said it.

A second later the bag deflated. The smell of nitrogen gases gagged her. Powder coated her face. The skin on the back of her hands burned.

Time sped up in an odd, off-kilter tick-tock.

Teagan struggled to open her eyes. Pain pulsed in her temple. Her stomach heaved. Waves of adrenaline shook her body as if she’d grasped a live electrical wire.

I’m alive. Today’s not my day to die.

The evidence. Protect the evidence.

***

Author Bio:

Kelly Irvin

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling author and two-time Carol Award finalist. She is a former newspaper reporter and retired public relations professional. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two cats.

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Review: The Republic of Jack

7/15/2020

1 Comment

I’ll be honest with you, reader, is now the perfect time for a political book? I had some hesitation with it, for sure. However, I’m glad I did because I truly enjoyed Jeffrey Kerr’s The Republic of Jack. It was a truly funny and satirical look at the fate of Texas if Texas would ever separate from the rest of the States. It was definitely a far-fetched and totally entertaining look at Jack Cowherd’s governorship....turned presidency? It was fun to read tidbits of Texas history and to read more about Austin, a city I have yet to visit. (Yes, I know that sounds weird because Austin is so popular, but Texas is a BIG STATE. I promise.)

Kerr did a superb job in getting this reader (points to self) interested in a political satire! This is definitely a first for me, and I believe it was only possible due to Kerr’s writing! The story itself had some twists and turns which had me guessing and laughing out loud. He was able to interweave bits of history in with his story that enriched it all the better. The dialogue and overall writing was witty and just overall good writing. It is definitely a book written for Texans!

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9-Jul
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10-Jul
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11-Jul
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14-Jul
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15-Jul
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16-Jul
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16-Jul
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Review: The Gulag P-Pa Diaries

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Amazon Barnes and Noble IndieBound

WEBSITE ║ FACEBOOK ║ GOODREADS
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Join my HORROR-ific Reads Challenge...if you dare!

Review: Landing in My Present

-------------------------------------
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THREE WINNERS
FIRST WINNER: $25 Amazon card
SECOND WINNER: Signed copy of Landing in My Present
THIRD WINNER: $15 Amazon card.
July 21-July 31, 2020
(US only)

Review: Closer Than She Knows

Closer Than She Knows

by Kelly Irvin

on Tour June 22 - July 24, 2020

Synopsis:

Book Details:

Read an excerpt:

Author Bio:

Visit her Online:
KellyIrvin.com
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Tour Participants:

Enter To Win!:

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

Review: The Republic of Jack

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Review: The Gulag P-Pa Diaries

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Join my HORROR-ific Reads Challenge...if you dare!

Review: Landing in My Present

------------------------------------- GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! THREE WINNERS FIRST WINNER: $25 Amazon card SECOND WINNER: Signed copy of Landing in My Present THIRD WINNER: $15 Amazon card. July 21-July 31, 2020 (US only)

Review: Closer Than She Knows

Closer Than She Knows

by Kelly Irvin

on Tour June 22 - July 24, 2020

Synopsis:

Book Details:

Read an excerpt:

Author Bio:

Visit her Online: KellyIrvin.com Goodreads BookBub Instagram Twitter Facebook

Tour Participants:

Enter To Win!:

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

Review: The Republic of Jack

CLICK TO ORDER ON: AMAZON

Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram Amazon ║ BookBub ║ Goodreads ​

Want to receive monthly highlights from Book Fidelity? Sign up!

2020 Reading Challenge

Archives

Categories

CLICK TO PURCHASE
Amazon Barnes and Noble IndieBound

WEBSITE ║ FACEBOOK ║ GOODREADS
║AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE║

-------------------------------------
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS
FIRST WINNER: $25 Amazon card
SECOND WINNER: Signed copy of Landing in My Present
THIRD WINNER: $15 Amazon card.
July 21-July 31, 2020
(US only)

Visit her Online:
KellyIrvin.com
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

CLICK TO ORDER ON:
AMAZON

Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram

Amazon ║ BookBub ║ Goodreads