Chantol Aspinall
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So many books, so little time.

The Skeletons of Birkbury - Diana J. Febry

3/26/2016

2 Comments

 
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The dead body of a young girl resurfaced after twenty years of being buried and suddenly the village people grew quiet. No one was willing to admit to anything. It seemed as though everyone in Birkbury had something to hide.

Chief Inspector Peter Hatherall and Detective Inspector Fiona Williams were assigned the case which led them to ask the question, "Who killed sixteen year old Jennifer?" Hatherall wanted to chalk it up to a random girl who had no connections to Birkbury but Williams felt differently. She was fascinated, intrigued and wanted to investigate further.

Numerous conducted interviews and evidence later revved up Hatherall's detective instincts. He was now certain that Jennifer's death had nothing to do with an outsider but in fact had everything to do with someone who was familiar with the area. Someone from the village. His main suspect; Mark Farley, the wealthy and charming husband and father. Hatherall, however, must be truthful with himself and decide if it's his instincts driving his suspicions or his past regrets and personal issues clouding his better judgement.

Let's be honest, I'm more of a romance junkie. Crime/Mystery *shrugs shoulders* I've heard of the genre, never been a die hard fan. Regardless I decided to give it a go and commit to the read. So happy I did. I hold no regrets. NONE. This novel had me hooked from Jenny's lifeless corpse said "Hello" to Frank Codrington on Graham Farley's inherited farm. (Did you see what I was trying to do there...no...okay, moving along).

The Skeletons of Birkbury had me drawing out my magnifying glass and dusty detective hat. I lived for the many twist and turns the author knitted and weaved into each chapter. I remembered making three intelligent predictions (I stress intelligent... it seemed that way at the time). You should have seen me putting clues together before the detectives themselves. Guess what? I was proven wrong each time. I guess I'm not cut out to be a good crime and mystery buster.

Speaking of good crime solvers, I thought that Hatherall and Williams made an awesome team. They trusted their guts and cracked the case wide open *cliche alert*.

As much as I enjoyed my read from the first page to the last word, we all know no book is a perfect saint. One major sin that proved unforgivable:

I get that the story was set in a village. A village filled with numerous families populating the area. On paper with the mention of so many characters, at times it was hard to remember who the character was and what relevance he/she had in the murder case.

In spite of this sin I loved it and would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get their Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes on. Thrilling plot and convincing story line. Discover the secrets buried in Birkbury today. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall

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Purchase Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Skeletons-Birkbury-Diana-J-Febry-ebook/dp/B0082PXOQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458350166&sr=8-1&keywords=the+skeletons+of+birkbury
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Lingering Shadows (Book 1) - Juliette Duncan

3/24/2016

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Elizabeth had all she wanted, as money was not an issue, however, she lacked what she needed the most, love. No fancy gift could fulfill her. No amount of lavish luxury could quench her heart's desire. Her father cared more about his social image than he did about her, his only daughter. Her mother, his submissive wife was no different and took his side no matter what.

Just when she discovered love buried into the depth of her first crush, Matthew, it was snatched away. He broke ties with her and the hurt still remained after years passed. Unwilling to forgive, Elizabeth held onto the bitterness, pushing away the God of creation she once loved.

Daniel, a charming lad with a cheeky Irish smile managed to lift her spirits. She loved him, she believed she did. Enough to marry him against the will of her parents. From the very beginning she doubted marrying him, but she wanted to prove to her parents that she was able to make her own decisions. Most importantly she would rather be with someone than to be lonely.

The wedding bliss faded with every drink Daniel took. At times she couldn't recognize the man she vowed to call husband until death. Alcohol was what he used to numb his pain both past and present. Each sip destroyed the fairy tale ideology she expected marriage to be. Doubts and insecurities surfaced and with a child on the way, Elizabeth most trust the guiding hands of God to restore what she has broken.

I enjoyed the authenticity of Lingering Shadows. It broke down the walls of perception and exposed readers to raw reality. We saw faith, marriage and families being tried by real life circumstances. This book is one in the series of three which means that Daniel and Elizabeth's story is far from over. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall

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Purchase Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Lingering-Shadows-Christian-Romance-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0130D21Y6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457460918&sr=8-1&keywords=lingering+shadows
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Unbridled Holiday - Kristin Dow

3/8/2016

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Brook must learn to trust the little people that congregate in her head. I'm talking about her natural, womanly instincts and intuition. Yet, she chooses to ignore their warnings and guidance. Which of course will lead her to dangerous waters and  paralyzing depths of disappointments, one after the next.

Her college rebound turned finance, Chip Kincaid vanished only leaving her a note with the dreaded words,
'I can't marry you.'
No reasoning, no explanation. Not even a check to cover the expenses of the wedding that never was. She puts on a brave face masking her broken heart and went with her sister to enjoy the honeymoon meant for her and Chip. They boarded a Caribbean cruise expecting a royal two weeks getaway.

Instead of the thrill of sailing over the exotic wonder, the trip starts off as a rocky ride. The pair were cramped into a small room and no matter how Brook tried, her bitterness consumed her. Little did she know she had caught someone's attention. In a fun twist of events she meets her admirer and just like that they fell in love and lived happily ever after. Well that would have been the case if Brook's and Scott's lives were based on fairy tale.

I must commend the writer for serving me a realistic romance. I thought this novel was unique, fun and exciting. Brook and Scott were relatable. Real people with real lives facing real struggles.

However, no book is without fault and I felt as though the main character's exes' points of views were unnecessary.

Aside from that, events and emotions came to life and thanks Kristin Dow, I did enjoy the Caribbean cruise. Vivid scenery. Not over done at all. This book will have you asking the question, Will Brook and Scott's romance strive on dry land? Find out in Unbridled Holiday. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall

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Purchase Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Unbridled-Holiday-Novel-Kristin-Dow-ebook/dp/B004ZUWZNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457023065&sr=1-1&keywords=unbridled+holiday+kristin+dow
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Voice in the Wilderness (Against All Enemies #1) - H.L. Wegley

3/3/2016

1 Comment

 
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KC Banning went from a patriotic American to being labelled as a domestic terrorist. This red haired network specialist knows too much. The two term serving president, Hannan will do all he can to silence her forever.

She runs after her mentor is shot dead. She is next. With no family to turn to she considers only one person, Brock Daniels, her one time childhood friend, now a well known blogger. After years of no communication, he is all she has. She knows that and so does he when he stumbled upon a news report telling America to beware of her.

They are united again, however, this is no time for friendly conversation. America is in danger and so are they. They must use all their wits and faith to fight off an evil president. But this isn't the only war they must engage in. A romantic war was waged between them years ago. Will they give in or will they allow their feelings of inadequacy to win?


This book gave me politics, romance, and action compiled into a few hours of a good read. Faith was tired by fire. I found myself relating to both of the main characters levels of faith. At one end of the spectrum we find KC who is struggling to accept that she can trust an unseen being. While at the further end is Brock whose trust is firmly set in a Sovereign God. A God he knows exist without a shadow of a doubt. I live for books that incorporate faith.

I enjoyed this book. The tension excited me, but it was the romance that made me fall in love with Brock and KC. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good romance. And this my friend is a good romance. Escape rattlesnakes of both the reptile and human kind, rekindle a dying faith and give yourself over to the power of love and forgiveness. Enjoy Voice in the Wilderness as much as I did. Happy Reading!
-Chantol Aspinall

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Purchase Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Wilderness-Against-Enemies-Book-ebook/dp/B013F47FA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456324936&sr=1-1&keywords=voice+in+the+wilderness
1 Comment

    My opinions, my thoughts, my reviews, my way. If you'd like your book to be reviewed and featured on this site, contact me. Don't be shy, I promise, I won't fracture your ego, however, I will be honest.

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