Bookish Thoughts: Final Approach

 

Description:

She's intent on investigating a sinister plot of revenge, and it will take all her courage to survive.

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there's more to this story than meets the eye--and more to love and admire about each other. They'll have to put their skills to the test--and their hearts on the line--to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

Get your copy here!

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Double Take, Target Acquired, and Serial Burn, as well as the Extreme Measures, Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband. They have two adult children. Learn more at LynetteEason.com.

My Thoughts:

There’s a reason Ms. Eason has become (in my opinion) one of the best known and enjoyed authors of Romantic Suspense in Christian Fiction and this book reminds readers of why that is.  It is the action-packed, suspense driven, delightful romance that we’ve come to love and expect from this author. Though this book is the finale to the series, you technically don’t have to read them in order.  But the previous ones were just as good, so why would you want to skip them? 

  I actually read this book so quickly that I had to go back and reread sections of it before writing my review, because I kept thinking “wait, was that in this book?”  It was so edge-of-my-seat suspenseful that I saw midnight more than once while reading after the little ones were in bed!  I loved getting to know Kristine and Andrew and how naturally their romance developed amid everything happening and all of the questions needing answered.  There were also several red herrings planted that made me question my conclusions, though I did end up being right about part of the mystery!  I so enjoy how Ms. Eason both keeps me guessing, but also leaves just enough clues that I’m not completely frustrated when the answers come to light. 

  I do have to say that I found the final unveiling of the villain and their plan overly complicated and a little unrealistic.  I had guessed the villain and figured out a little of the plot, but when everything was explained, it just seemed a bit much.  But maybe it was supposed to be that way, to drive home the extremity of their obvious derangement?  If that was the intention, then it was spot on!  

  Overall, I really enjoyed this story and getting to see these characters finally get their story!  I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspenseful stories that keep you rushing to turn the next page!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my advanced copy of this book!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

As always, thank you for taking the time to stop by!  I wish I had more to say here, but my bed is calling and my brain is ready to answer.  So I'll simply say "cheerio!" until next time! 

Bookish Thoughts: The Collector Of Burned Books

 

"If you're going to rail against injustice, then at least

know what deserves your ire.  Not that a few copies of books

were burned - but that the people danced around the pyre."

Description:

Paris, 1940. Ever since the Nazi Party began burning books, German writers exiled for their opinions or heritage have been taking up residence in Paris. There they opened a library meant to celebrate the freedom of ideas and gathered every book on the banned list . . . and even incognito versions of the forbidden books that were smuggled back into Germany.

For the last six years, Corinne Bastien has been reading those books and making that library a second home. But when the German army takes possession of Paris, she loses access to the library and all the secrets she’d hidden there. Secrets the Allies will need if they have any hope of liberating the city she calls home.

Christian Bauer may be German, but he never wanted anything to do with the Nazi Party—he is a professor, one who’s done his best to protect his family as well as the books that were a threat to Nazi ideals. But when Goebbels sends him to Paris to handle the “relocation” of France’s libraries, he’s forced into an army uniform and given a rank he doesn’t want. In Paris, he tries to protect whoever and whatever he can from the madness of the Party and preserve the ideas that Germans will need again when that madness is over, and maybe find a lost piece of his heart.

You can purchase a copy here!

(at the time I'm posting this, I'm having difficultly getting Ms. White's website to load, so I'm not able to link it like usual, but hopefully whatever the glitch, it'll be working for you!)

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com. 

My Thoughts:

“When a people stopped entertaining opposing ideas, when they condemned the different as evil, then it was a short step from closed-minded to violently oppressive.” - Christian Bauer

This book was one where I was so happy to have both the paper and the ebook.  I enjoy using ebooks to highlight and make notes that I wouldn’t usually mark in paper books.  And there were so many thoughts, quotes, lines, just like the one above that just begged to be highlighted and remembered!

  I’ve been a huge fan of Ms. White’s books for over a decade now, so when she announced that she was writing a book set during WWII, with a Nazi for one of the main characters, I lined up for a pre-order.  And I’m so glad that I did!  This book was a little different from some of her previous books, a little more directly Catholic (as a Protestant, this personally didn’t bother me), and so very challenging with its both very direct and sometimes subtle messages about truth and fighting for freedom, including the freedom of thought and writing.  Something that was just  the same?  The author’s beautiful writing that drew me in so quickly to a world of war, words, love, and beauty in the brokenness. 

"'I think,' he said slowly, 'that the words we hear,

the words we read, the words we sing along to on the radio

and study in the papers with our morning coffee, become our thoughts.

I think our thoughts become our beliefs. And I think our beliefs become our actions.'"

  I was left with such a book hangover after finishing this one, as I mulled over the ideas the story shared and I had to rethink a few views/opinions I had previously held.  Now I feel challenged to go find a few of those burned books and see what Corinne and Christian were talking about!  Speaking of, I absolutely adored Corinne and Christian!  I never thought I’d consider writing that about a character in a Nazi uniform, but as the story points out, people are always more than the color of their uniform, the heritage of their last name, or the way in which they speak, if you’re willing to look beyond it.  And as both Corinne and I got to know the man inside of the uniform, we couldn’t help but love him.  And his heart-wrenching secrets.  And his noble, honest heart.

  I do have to say, the ending of the book was both so perfectly fitting, but also not quite what I was hoping for or expecting.  But it did show Christian’s honorable heart and motives, in the face of adversity.  So while I maybe would have “liked” a more romantic ending, I do believe this one suited the characters and the story much better. 

  Overall, if you enjoy WWII fiction that is well written, thought-provoking, compelling, and worth a few late night reading sessions, then I would absolutely recommend this book! 

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my advanced copy of this book (I did purchase my own paperback, as well)!  I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

I absolutely could have added more quotes from this book! I have so many highlights and notes in my Kindle app, it quite possibly might be funny! But I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for anyone else who enjoys hunting for the best lines to share.

Also, I have to add - this book has to be the one I've talked the most about with friends and acquaintances in recent months. Truly, I don't know that I could recommend it enough!