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Yearly Archives: 2025
The Incredible Winston Browne–“the baseball-loving sheriff”
The Incredible Winston Browne
by Sean Dietrich
I am not a very emotional reader, but that was certainly my response to The Incredible Winston Browne. This fictional work is populated by people in the small town of Moab, Florida, in the 1950’s who will fill your mind and heart as they go about their lives reacting to their circumstances the best way they know how. Sheriff Winston Browne went off to war, came back to his home town, had his heart broken, and became a quiet leader in a place where there was little crime but a lot of needs. Winston becomes the father to the town and the coach of its popular Little League baseball team, the Dodgers, named after the professional team adored by the town.
While dealing with his own failing health, he steps in to encourage Eleanor, a strong woman who, though active in the community, has remained firmly rooted in the past like most of Moab. She is frustrated by the lack of a relationship commitment by Jimmy, Winston’s best friend. Winston also is instrumental in the future of Jessie, a ten year old girl who escapes from a religious cult. He stands by Buz, a teenage boy with a single, polio-afflicted mom and an alcoholic grandfather. Buz and his mom lack the financial basics even though both of them work, and Buz needs guidance to become the man Winston knows he can be.
Broken into fairly short chapters, the book initially takes the reader back and forth between the Moab setting and Jessie’s trip to freedom while pursued by members of the Temple Community of Sanctified Brethren who consider her an abomination. Each part is well written and engaging. Readers will want good things for the main characters whose personalities are gradually revealed by their actions as the tale is told. Jessie, in particular, is fascinating as she experiences the wonders of life outside the cult. Winston is a true hero as he quietly helps others.
The is the first book I have read by Sean Dietrich, who writes about life in the American South both in novels and in periodical columns. In this book he adds a homey touch by occasionally including a column from the local paper that is a rundown on the local gossip including who escorted whom to the movies or dinner in Pensacola and where the newlyweds went on their honeymoon. The columnist is careful to include several times that this is the second marriage for the groom. Tidbits like this one give the reader a feel for Moab and provide a little relief from the tension in the main threads. Dietrich regularly describes settings in such a way that they become real: “The county roads couldn’t have been any bumpier if they’d been manufactured by the National Washboard Company.” I will be looking for more of Dietrich’s works as he is an author with literary skills that encompass technical excellence and the passion of a storyteller.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction
Notes: 1. Clean
2. Great set of questions at the end of the book that our book club found very helpful in stimulating our discussions about symbolism and themes.
Publication: March 2, 2021—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
Doctor’s offices were their own kind of purgatory. He’d endured gunfire in muddy European trenches, and he’d captained teenagers across acres of farmland littered with antipersonnel mines. But he was frightened by a little old man in a white frock coat.
It was only a practice, but people in Moab came out to see the boys play three times a week because they were bored small-town people and they would have come out to watch paint dry if there had been nothing good on the radio.
There wasn’t a boy in Moab who didn’t respect Sheriff Browne. Even the hoodlums. Everyone like the baseball-loving sheriff. Some boys even worshipped him. To disappoint this man was like disappointing Abraham Lincoln and Gene Autry at once.
A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge–animal rescue
A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge
By Jessica Redland
Zara is the production assistant for documentaries about animal rescue centers and also about country living. Twenty-six years old, she has recently had a breakup from a six month relationship with a man who had been unfaithful to her. She is also insecure because of her mother’s obvious preference for her brother Roman who is a star footballer.
Snowy is the reclusive former Olympic gymnast whose extremely fair coloring makes him highly recognizable. Raising his son with the help of his amazing grandfather after his wife Eliza passed away has not been easy. He needs to protect him from taunts based on his resemblance to his father and from the paparazzi who even years after his wife’s death seek him out for a “good” story.
An injured owl brings Zara and Snowy together, and Grandpa gives the potential romance some encouragement. Zara and Snowy see past each other’s hurts and discover the really kind people buried beneath the facades erected to keep others out. Snowy’s son Harrison is a talented and enthusiastic gymnast under Snowy’s tutelage. Snowy also home schools the boy who is bright and polite. Harrison and Zara take to each other quickly making it easy for Snowy and Zara to move past friendship and develop a romantic relationship.
The road to happiness is not without its bumps. The reader will discover the inner workings of Zara’s family; her stepfather Owen has been stellar, if not always successful, in trying to smooth difficulties for Zara. Snowy had a very difficult relationship with his father who was also an Olympic gymnast.
Alcoholism is an issue for several characters in the book as they use alcohol to numb pain and grief. Of course, the alcohol just makes for more problems. The owl rescue work that Snowy and his family manage on their large property is an important focus in the book. Major threads include Zara’s need to think about her future employment prospects and Snowy’s conflicts about allowing friendships for Harrison and enabling him to achieve the competitive steps necessary to become an Olympian—if he chooses that pathway.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. Contains just a few instances of bad language and no open door bedroom scenes.
2. #2 in the Bumblebee Barn Series. It could be read as a standalone because Redland does a great job of filling in the backstory. You might enjoy it even more if you read #1 first because there are overlapping characters.
3. Clearly marked narration by chapter varies between Zara and Snowy and reveals their perspectives. It was a good choice for this novel.
4. Ending notes include interesting information on the various types of owls.
Publication: May 16, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
It didn’t matter how many times I saw a barn owl in flight, the silent majesty of its glide completely captivated me, the white face, body and underside of the wings giving the appearance of a ghost floating past. I watched it fly out of The Roost and ran to the open doorway to catch it disappearing into the night.
The universe was so much bigger than me and my problems and five minutes of stargazing helped put everything into perspective.
The Freak Show taunts from school circled round my mind and I pushed them aside. My appearance didn’t actually bother me. It was the taunts themselves which had bothered me because they’d led to me being an outsider and being alone like that had hurt. It still did.
The Proposal Plot–marriage material?
The Proposal Plot
by Kathleen Fuller
Books that focus on the Amish are generally clean and wholesome because they are a reflection of Amish faith and beliefs. The Proposal Plot is no exception, but that doesn’t mean that every character is a model of good behavior, kindness, and self-control. There is plenty of room for these characters to grow. Nelson Bontrager has been hurt in wooing two different women and has sworn off women altogether. Ella Yoder has been raised to believe she is not pretty and not “marriage material” because she is bossy and argumentative. The two clash from their first meeting. Ella’s spoiled sister Junia, however, falls head over heels in love with Nelson’s slightly younger nephew, Malachi. The girls’ dad, the widower Barnabas, owns E&J’s Grocery store and is caught in the middle between his two constantly warring daughters.
Wendy, a successful New York City lawyer, needs some distance from the career ladder she has been climbing so she moves temporarily to Marigold, Ohio, and opens an office in a nearby small town. She lives with and becomes a caregiver for her aging, diabetic mother. Wendy is talented at mediation and can afford to accept only cases she chooses and work the hours convenient to her.
This story is a roller coaster of emotions and conflict as there are love/hate relationships throughout the book. There is also a conundrum for one of the characters as she tries to sort out her attraction to Barnabas versus her attraction to the Amish faith. Learning about the backgrounds of all these characters and watching them sort through their feelings makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and a breath of fresh air from the daily news cycle.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Christian, Religion, Romance
Notes: #2 in the Amish of Marigold series, but could easily be read as a standalone. It appears there will be three books in this series.
Publication: May 7, 2024—Zondervan
Memorable Lines:
Regardless of what his future held, he had his family and his faith—and he was grateful.
But that would be a lie. Not that she’d been the most honest person all her life. She’d lied in court—what lawyer hadn’t? Over the years she’d lied to her parents more times than she could count, mostly so they wouldn’t worry about her or pry into her life. Most of all, she’d lied to herself.
I love having you with me. I just want you to know that I’ll be okay, whatever you decide.” She smiled. “God’s got my back. He always has.”
What Comes Around–Coroner vs. Pathologist
What Comes Around
By Annette Dashofy
The thirteenth contribution to the Zoe Chambers Mystery series is What Comes Around, a mystery that meets all of my expectations. The protagonist Zoe Chambers, the Monongahela Count Coroner, continues to have conflict with the arrogant and unpopular Dr. Davis, who acts in the role of Chief Deputy Coroner. In their rural area he is the main forensic pathologist.
There are three different crimes that Zoe and her husband Pete, the local police chief, are having to deal with: the brutal murder of a woman who came to town to talk with Zoe, a vehicular attack on a retired forensic pathologist, and a suicide attempt. Zoe is also asked to look into a cold case. She and those law enforcement officers working with her must be getting close to an answer because life gets more dangerous for them.
Investigating these crimes leads to four whiteboards at headquarters with multiple cross-references as the police try to sort out victims, criminals, leads, and motivations. Needless to say, with this many threads, there are numerous clues along with dead ends as some of those interviewed are lying. There are characters whose lives hang in the balance, and the reader is brought along for the well-told adventures. What Comes Around is the kind of mystery that keeps me going from one chapter to another as Dashofy sustains a fast pace with hooks leading to the next chapter.
An additional mystery is on a personal level for Pete and Zoe when a beautiful young woman arrives in town and requests Pete’s help. Something is just not right about her and about the stalker she claims is following her.
I recommend this book and this series. I plan on reading the 5 books I have missed, not to fill in blanks on the characters, but to devour those tales. I love a good mystery!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Mystery, Women’s Fiction
Notes: 1.#13 in the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series. It could be read as a standalone. I have read 8 of the books in the series and haven’t been hindered in my enjoyment or understanding by not having read all of then. I held off for a while in reading the series, starting with #5, because I couldn’t imagine wanting to read about a paramedic/coroner. It turns out that this series is not too graphic in terms of the bodies which was my main concern.
2. Contains some language, but it is not gratuitous, and there are no sexual encounters.
Publication: May 7,2024—Level Best Books
Memorable Lines:
Pete grabbed for his shoulders, but he juked out of Pete’s grasp. All four of the other officers dived at him, wrapping him up in their arms. For a scrawny kid, he managed to drag all of them a few more feet before they could stop him.
He hoped Abby could unearth this woman’s background online so he could determine what was going on with her. His gut told him she didn’t have a stalker. Nor did he buy Baronick’s ridiculous theory about her stalking Pete. But there was something going on with her. He just didn’t know what.
She flashed back on the awareness of being airborne. The jolt and metallic crunch of the impact. The stomach-curdling sensation of rolling, being flung around inside, pinned by the seatbelts and air bags.
Since the Day We Fell–sacrifices for love
Since the Day We Fell
by Kerk Murray
Is it possible to fall for someone so quickly and so thoroughly that you hardly know what is happening? It seems like that for Lisa and Noah, but Since the Day We Fell actually contains a slow burning romance as the two get to know each other as friends working on projects.
Noah comes to town trying to escape a bad relationship and finish writing his book. When he meets Lisa, his world changes and he decides her failing inn would provide the quiet and inspiration he needs as a writer. Lisa is desperate for guests at the run down inn after her mother passes. Things get worse when she discovers she only has a few months before the bank forecloses on the mortgage.
Noah tries to overcome his writer’s block and avoid paparazzi and his ex-girlfriend, the glamorous Sophia. Meanwhile, Lisa is grieving her mother’s death, trying to save the family inn and reputation, and avoid her abusive ex-husband. Help comes to both of them from an unexpected source, but there are plenty of bumps in the road to make the reader wonder if they will ever find their “happily ever after.” This book is a clean, feel good romance that explores love, friendship, and sacrifice. Although the community relies on tourists for its income, it embraces and supports its residents in ways that exceed expectations. Emma is Lisa’s best friend who will do anything for her. Daisy is a chocolate lab rescue dog that Lisa inherited from her mother. She is a sweet dog, but still puppyish and gets into mischief; her antics add fun and surprise to the story. Daisy’s name has a special, heartbreaking significance for Noah that is explained late in the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: #2 in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series, but worked well for me as a standalone.
Publication: April 23, 2024—Books Go Social
Memorable Lines:
She moved through the world with a gentleness and authenticity that was as refreshing as a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.
The pier stretched out beneath them, a dazzling array of colorful lights twinkling like a scattering of fallen stars. Under the moonlight, the ocean’s surface shimmered in a ripping of silver and shadows.
Remember, when emotions are high, judgement is low.
The Finders Keepers Library–caring and helping
The Finders Keepers Library
by Annie Rains
I was immediately enchanted by the format of The Finders Keepers Library. Each chapter begins with a quote, usually bookish, always by a famous author (from Lamott to Tolkien and many in between), and always pertinent to the content of the chapter. I am quite familiar with starting chapters with quotes, but sometimes they are obscure, obtuse, or irrelevant. Not in this book where they are charming and relatable! Each chapter also begins with a pencil sketch of flowers emerging from a book. This illustration has a special meaning because one of the main characters, Eleanor, owns the free library created by her deceased husband along with an extensive garden. They combined their hobbies in a way that engages the community.
Savannah is in between jobs and has just had a troubling medical diagnosis, lupus, that she is learning to live with. Rather than go to her parents’ home, she has a long overdue visit with her beloved Aunt Eleanor who could really use her skills with plants to get the garden in shape for the wedding of a friend of Savannah. Eleanor’s next door neighbor is Evan who was Savannah’s close friend every summer when she came to visit. When they parted ways after high school graduation, they lost touch with each other although neither forgot the “what could have been” of their relationship. Now they are at a different place in their lives. Evan is divorced and has newly become the custodial parent for his grieving daughter. Savannah’s partner of two years walked away when she got her lupus diagnosis. Eleanor has not left her house in a year since she was hospitalized from a bad fall. All of these really nice characters, plus several more, have issues to work through and obstacles in the way. Annie Rains weaves several sweet romances into this story of people helping each other. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: 1. #1 in the Love in Bloom series
2. Clean
Publication: April 16, 2024—Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Memorable Lines:
“If you ask me, a cup of tea and a good book is the best kind of medicine.”
“I think sometimes, when we’ve been wounded, we humans like to push people away, to prove our greatest fears.” She looked at him again. “What fear?” She shrugged. “That we’re unlovable.”
Knowing that someone loved you enough to bother you when you wanted to be alone was always better than leaving that person alone and letting them believe that no one cared.
Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone–pirate gold
Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone
By Sarah Graves
Ellie and Jake (Jacobia) are best friends and business partners in the Chocolate Moose, a small bakery in Eastport, Maine. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone finds the pair dealing with a complex web of murders in the middle of a sweltering summer and hectic tourist season. There isn’t a body, just an abandoned boat and a non-grieving widow left with three children and a mystery. Her husband has shown her an antique gold coin which is missing too.
On the home front, Jake’s large old house is bursting at the seams with extended family lined up outside the only bathroom. An expansion is not progressing according to schedule and winter is closing in.
Sharks play a huge role in this mystery from attacks on the investigators to the possibility that they are involved in several deaths or at least the “disposal” of the remains. A group of shark scientists are having a convention in the town, and Ellie has promised three dozen Chocolate Raspberry Scones. Ellie is a creative genius when it comes to her baking, but she has yet to perfect a recipe for this treat.
Jake’s sweet grandson Ephraim plays a big role in this cozy mystery. This four year old loves making music on a variety of noisy instruments from a kazoo to a toy trumpet, and this interest leads to a discovery that is critical to the plot.
Another intriguing character is Glenna LaFarge, known locally as the “witch of Walk Island.” Despite all the somewhat scary legends that have emerged around her, Ellie and Jake embark on one of many boating adventures in the book to confront Glenna and try to uncover some of the many secrets surrounding murders, a kidnapping and theft in the small tourist town. Jake and Ellie both show their daring and brave side as they track down the murderer. There is a fair amount of tension in this mystery, but there is also some humor sprinkled in as Jake knows how to laugh at herself and the crazy situations she finds herself in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery, Fiction
Notes: 1. #7 in the Death by Chocolate Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
2. Includes a recipe for a version of Chocolate Raspberry Scones. As a chocolate lover and a scone lover, this sounds very good.
Publication: April 23, 2024—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
…I still couldn’t make a sound past the jagged chunk of fright stuck in my throat. It was a shark, a ridiculously large one from what I could see of its dark shape moving under the water, still coming straight at us.
It’s another thing I’ve learned over the years: You can cry all you want, but it doesn’t fix anything; when you’re finished, you still have to get up and do something about whatever it is.
I got up and poured more coffee at the credenza near the door. The fancy contraption that brewed it looked complicated enough to refine uranium in.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth: A Mystery in the First Days of Flight
To Slip the Bonds of Earth
By Amanda Flower
Most books on flight focus on the famous brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. At a time when women were frequently shown disrespect, the Wright brothers’ college educated sister Katharine was outspoken and independent all while caring for her father and brothers after the death of their mother. She also was in charge of the business end of their bicycle sales and repair shop and worked as a Latin teacher.
When one of her students is accused of murder, Katharine moves into high gear to prove his innocence and discover who the real murderer is. Ironically, she had dismissed that student from her class a few days prior for his disrespectful behavior. There are many interesting threads along the way including a men’s only club in Dayton, Ohio, frequented by the political leaders of the city. The treatment of women and various social classes is also highlighted. Orville Wright took the plans for their airplane to a party and they disappeared resulting in another mystery. Katharine needed to determine if the murder and the stolen papers are related crimes.
I enjoyed the mix of history, fiction, and mystery. It is well written and interesting and kept me guessing to the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Katharine Wright Mystery series
Publication: March 26, 2024—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
When I was younger, there had been times when I’d lamented—if only to myself—my unremarkable appearance, but now, as an adult, I found it served me well. Those who had been lulled by the relative dullness of my looks had been disarmed by the sharpness of my wit.
“Poor decisions always come late in the day, Katie. I want you to remember that. As the day goes on, thoughts become muddled, because so many choices have to be made. A man’s willpower lags, and he makes mistakes, some of which may be the most costly of his life.”
“What did I teach you?” she asked in a hushed voice. I paused. “That sometimes doing the right thing is the wrong thing in the eyes of the law. That sometimes justice and mercy don’t coincide. That sometimes mercy is the better choice.”
Kita–Part I: Princess of Orith
Kita
Art and story by William Brenner
The protagonist of Kita is Tommy, a boy full of imagination. He fantasizes about the Kingdom of Orith. After school one day, he and his stuffed friend, Mr. Bear, head to the imaginary Green Root where they become involved in a conflict with wolves who are trying to take over the town. Mr. Bear is the last living Keeper, and Tommy is the last member of the King’s Guard. Their roles are to locate the rightful heir to Orith’s throne.
The divisions of the novel are:
Chapter 1: Kingdom in Crisis—attacks and a council meeting to determine Orith’s future
Chapter 2: Royal Lineage—Thaddius, Chief Librarian of the archives, leads the team on an adventure to prove there is a descendent of the previous leaders
Chapter 3: Adoption—the warrior princess Kita needs a home.
Kita is a graphic novel written and illustrated by the very talented Will Brenner. The story is told with an appropriate combination of drawings and text; sometimes only illustrations are needed to move the story forward. The graphics are very detailed and show well the expressions and moods of the characters. The story moves between Tommy’s real life and the life he creates in his dreams and in his imagination. Although those worlds are very different, they also overlap. For example, the wolves bully the other animal characters, and Tommy’s cousin Ricky and some of Tommy’s classmates bully Tommy. Some of the characters are likable, and others are villains. Kita’s original owner is a prime example of an uncaring pet owner. Tommy’s parents want to be supportive, but are not always successful at trying to understand him. Perhaps they are just overstretched in their responsibilities. I base that perception on the dinners served—mom brings home takeout for their meals.
This is a fun graphic novel that lets the reader escape into a fantasy world. I think middle graders, teens, and young adults would particularly enjoy this trip to Orith. The Epilogue has a great hook to attract readers to return to the series for Kita: Part 2 which is still in the preparation stages.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Notes: Middle Grades (ages 10+)
Publication: April 7, 2025—Great Bellows
Memorable Lines:
“Many things aren’t as they should be. But hang on to hope, young Guard of the King. It will be made right, even if it looks different than you expect. And how exciting that you may yet play a part in that.”
Baby Protection Mission–kidnapping rescue
Baby Protection Mission
by Laura Scott
Jump right into the action as Cade, owner of the McNeal Four Ranch, arrives at the Elk Valley Park in Wyoming to meet his sister Melissa. He is puzzled by her text request as he has been taking care of her one month old baby Danny while she gets caught up on her sleep. Enter a masked assailant and Cade’s sister desperately screaming for him to protect Danny, followed on the scene by police officer Ashley Hanson and her K-9 partner Ozzy, a black lab.
Ashley is there as part of a larger investigation by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies into a cold case that has been revived when two new murders seem to be similar to the five previous murders. She is a rookie with a lot to prove as her father is a top official in the F.B.I. in D.C. Ashley has good instincts, a kind heart, and excellent rapport with her tracking dog.
The kidnapping of Melissa is confusing because it seems she might not have been the intended victim. Ashley, with help from her team’s support group, investigates the many possible perpetrators and their motives. While she does her job of detecting and protecting, she also tries to help out Cade by doing a little cooking and caring for Danny so he can perform the essentials of feeding the livestock twice a day. As there continue to be more life threatening events, Ashley stays at the ranch and alternates guard duty with Cade. Their physical proximity leads to feelings they know they need to keep a lid on.
Cade is a Christian and he prays with Ashley before every meal, a practice that is not part her life. She appreciates, however, that he gives thanks to God for the food and His protection. He also asks God to protect Ashley and the others involved in the search for his sister as well as for the safety of Melissa and Danny.
I enjoyed this story, especially the efforts of several K-9 officers. Watching them work has encouraged Cade to get another dog when everything settles down. Ashley and Cade each have past issues they need to work through before they act on the attraction they have for each other. The other officers in the story are respectful, hard working, and supportive of each other. Surprisingly, there are none of the power plays between different agencies as is often depicted in the movies. I liked the conclusion of the kidnapping thread in Baby Protection Mission. The wider search for the murderer in the cold case was not resolved, and I assume it is a continuing thread in future books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian, Romance, Suspense, Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Mountain Country K-9 Unit Series, part of Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense (Inspirational Romance)
Publication: March 26, 2024—Harlequin
Memorable Lines:
Like most people, she didn’t realize many ranches were resource rich, meaning plenty of cattle and other livestock, but cash poor.
“Yet there’s no denying there’s just something about a big strong man holding a baby that makes me melt inside.”
He had to admit, a baby was more work than a dog. Well, maybe not more than a puppy.
education pathways 