Books Read in 2024

 

Made and error, actually 42 this year!

A Dangerous Goodbye by Fliss Chester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a good story. The characters were interesting and easy to follow. The plot did seem a bit obtuse but Fliss Chester brought it all together in a wonderful ending. All the red herrings were resolved and I was not asking any questions at the end. This is listed as #1 in the Fen Churche series and I think I will read number two to see where this fascinating lady is going.
The plot is a puzzle and she helps the reader solve it. Fun!

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Blood Alone by James R. Benn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. I knew nothing about the battles in WWII on the Island of Sicely. I did not know of the Mafia connection, both American and Sicilian.
The story was rambling and I got a bit confused a few times over the characters and the locations.
But James Benn managed to tie it all up and provide a wonderful ending...
Paving the way for more Billy Boyle in my future reading.

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The First Wave by James R. Benn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I like Billy Boyle he is a character that is developing nicely and I believe that I will enjoy a bunch of his stories. Currently there are 19 BB stories and I am reading #3 already.
This story is about Billy's adventure when allied forces landed in Algeria prior to D day. This story is based on actual events but the plot is pure fiction. Billy is Ike's nephew and that alone makes the story a fanciful look at what happened.
Of course Ike probably did have people working for him but I doubt it would have been a young and inexperienced kid from Boston.
Makes a great story.

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Books Read in November

Billy Boyle by James R. Benn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first I thought the whole premis of the story was far fetched and ridiculous. As I read on it became a totally engrossing mystery with wonderful characters. Billy is an interesting character who, although simple at first, becomes more and more complex as the story unfolds.
The story itself is the same, starts simple, ends complex.
Based on some real people and places and held my interest from chapter 2 right through the stuff at the end. I am starting number 2 of Billy's adventures in a few minutes.

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The Wedding People by Alison Espach
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is rare that I don't like a book. This book took too much of a suspension of reality. This from a reader science fiction.
The characters were as shallow as they seem to be as people. They were placed in odd situations and then continued as if it was normal behavior. I don't think there was one character I liked and I never was able to find a real plot. Just an unhappy woman finding herself in a weird situation with a bunch of weird people. Skip this one.

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Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a brilliant author. This book is a masterpiece of historical fiction. She brings life to the flight of the Hindenberg and its demise. I have seen movies, pictures and read other accounts but all pale set next to this book. I need not tell you the story, or reveal the ending, because most readers already know those things. This book is about people and their lives. Their emotions and what causes them to act. Put another way it brings actual "humanity" to the story. Flight of Dreams is a masterpiece because it shows us real people and how they might have acted. The book is fiction but, as Ariel Lawhon always does, she has breathed life into the characters.


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Red Lies by Cristelle Comby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine the the end f the Soviet Union is history. This story brings that slice to life. I liked it because of the way it ended. I must add that it was an adventure and a kick to read. Just enough history to keep me interested and enough action to keep it from being boring. I love the fact that the protaginist is a woman and that the men are pretty much hollow and predictable. Read this, its fun. Can't believe I did not remember reading it in 2021.

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Books Read in September

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book. I did find the jumping around to be a little distracting but... as I read it became clear where the author was going. Ariel Lawhon is a master storyteller. I was sometimes confused but never felt like putting it down. The action is non stop and the personal story is intriguing. If you have read other books on SOE this will become a favorite.

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A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first in what may be an interesting series. Many questions are raised, many relationships are hinted at and a whole family is caught up in the story. The plot was interesting but I thought a bit thin. I liked the writing and the way that the story was presented so Electra will get another chance on my bookshelf.

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