Lights Out (The SNAP Agency #1) by Natalie Walters

My thoughts:  This was an exciting, fast paced, intriguing story. I love the writer's style. I think the characters were well drawn verbally and their banter and actions kept the story moving.

This is just a story, but the reality of the scenario is disturbingly on spot. Terrorism on our own soil by seemingly innocuous individuals is a possibility too true. Smuggling in illegals for nefarious purposes is a sobering reality.

This book, though fiction, should be a wakeup call to government and private sectors and to people from the little man nestled away in his work place to corporate giants. 

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to others in "The SNAP Agency" series.

About the book: CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

The Robin and the Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen & illustrated by Jason Jameson [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

 My thoughts: A beautiful book. A Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale (or folktale). A treasure to keep and a wonderful addition to stories that the young should be exposed to.

A beautifully written story of a discontented tree and a Robin who pretties up his home (the tree). The cycle of life is also represented in the story.

The illustrations, alone, are a treasure. And this re-telling of an old Hans Christen Andersen story is exquisite. 

Truly a book to add to your collection.

Read a little and view some beautiful illustrations - click here

About the book: An exquisitely illustrated retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story "The Fir Tree"

In a forest far away from the hustle and bustle of town grows the Fir Tree. The meadow he lives in is beautiful and serene, but the Fir Tree yearns for the excitement of the outside world. His friend the Robin brings him gifts and tells him stories of the places she's been, the people she's flown over, and the many things men construct out of wood. The Fir Tree dreams of adventure and wishes to be something more. He imagines a new life as a ship's mast, traveling the world by sea. When men come to the meadow with axes one day and cut him down, the Fir Tree is eager to be chosen for a new purpose. But the Robin worries. What will become of her strong, beautiful friend? In a lyrical story of friendship and rebirth, Jason Jameson brings a Christmas classic to beautiful new life.

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 6

Ends November 29 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open USA/CANADA addresses.

No P.O. Boxes. Phone required for Canadian winners.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep (Barbour Publishing)

My thoughts:  Set in 1815 London, the story is that of a naval surgeon who seeks a medical practice and so joins with experienced Mr. Peckwood. (Note: doctors of this era are referred to as Mr. and not Dr.). Soon after he has invested his entire fortune in the practice, he discovers that Mr. Peckwood is not the sort of doctor with which he wishes to be involved. 

 And then there is the "spinster," Amelia, who is a writer about travels and destinations. Her brother is a recluse because of a major physical impairment. Their lives change direction when Amelia receives news her father has died.

The connection between surgeon Graham Lambert and Amelia is made when Amelia's brother, Colin, becomes a patient of Mr. Peckwood.

Peckwood is an unsavory man with misguided intentions and unearthly scruples. We must remember this was 1815 and the practice of medicine was often quite barbaric. 

A couple of other delightful characters..... the little boy, "Nemo," the bossy maid, and the sickly "Ms. Bog." They all add  delight to this story.

I really enjoy the writing style of Michelle Griep and she did not disappoint in Lost in Darkeness. I do not consider this a "Gothic" tale as much as I do a story of misguided intentions and unscrupulous character. The darkness is there in the story, but it is not horrific such as a true Frankenstein story. It is interesting that the author has placed a neighbor to Amelia as the namesake of the author of the famous Frankenstien stories.

About the Book: Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

"Christmas, Here I Come" [Review & Giveaway-USA/CANADA]

 

My sweater’s just ridiculous

with pictures of Saint Nicholas.

The right sleeve sports a massive hole.

It smells like green bean casserole.

It’s so big, it’s preposterous.

It might fit a rhinoceros.

But my sweater’s still the snuggliest—

who cares if it’s the ugliest?!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit! From writing letters to Santa to picking the perfect tree, these heartwarming poems -- plus a page of stickers! -- from author D. J. Steinber are sure to delight even the most sullen Scrooge.

My thoughts:  This is a decidedly secular Christmas book for children. There is absolutely no mention of the religious foundation that underlies the real meaning of Christmas. A small, budget friendly, little book of fun for leading up to the Christmas holidays. Kiddies will love the page of stickers in the back. A real buy at $5.99 for a paperback copy.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.

Candlewick Christmas books: "Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas" & "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore & illustrations by P.J. Lynch

My thoughts:  The traditional text that is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is again retold with all it's charm. The cadence in the telling of the mystery that is the visit of Santa, is captured in the artistry of P. J. Lynch whose renderings are evocative of classic and timelessness revelations of the period in which this beloved traditional poem was first written.

Swaths of blues, black, browns, greys wash over the pages; and under these shadows of the night, the story's characters enact the story. The kids in their bed (shown three to a bed as might often have been the way things were done in Clement Moore's time), mice asleep behind the walls with their nest of clutter, reindeer barely visible in the night sky.

Beautiful detail in the illustrations are softly rendered and worth seeking out under the wash of darkness that bespeaks night.

For those who love new versions and editions of Mr. Moore's famous Christmas time poem, you might want to have your copy of this one, too. A lovely book.

About the book: The classic Christmas verse in an elegant new gift edition--breathtakingly illustrated by P.J. Lynch.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . . .

P.J. Lynch brings his rich and atmospheric art to the well-loved holiday poem. Children will pore over every cozy detail in these warm, sweeping watercolor illustrations--from snug mice to stockings hung by the chimney with care to toys in the bundle flung over merry St. Nicholas's back. A glowing interpretation of a favorite read-aloud, this is a keepsake volume to cherish and return to year after year

Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas by Mark Lee & illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

My thoughts:  Little boys (well, girls too) love trucks. And in today's world we all know the importance of trucks carrying our treasures, our food, aiding in building and construction. 

In this book the whole town is working together to decorate for Christmas and trucks bring the different items for the decorations to the center of town. All is going well, all working together, until a mishap occurs and the star being placed atop the huge town Christmas tree falls.

This is a cute book and all the trucks will delight toddlers.

About the book: Add a big dose of Christmas cheer to an array of trucks for counting and you have the components of read-aloud holiday magic.

One doughnut truck, on a cold winter day, drives into town and parks and stays.

The snowy town is filling up with a procession of trucks of all shapes and sizes, including a snowplow, a crane, a digger, a semitrailer transporting the town's majestic Christmas tree, and even a flatbed carrying Santa's sleigh. All in all, twenty trucks roll in full of sparkle and anticipation, ready to set up the holiday festivities. But when the star being hoisted to the top of the Christmas tree wobbles and crashes to the ground, what could possibly be used to replace it? Thankfully, a pair of siblings scan the scene and come up with the perfect solution. Author Mark Lee and illustrator Kurt Cyrus team up again for a buoyant story delivering satisfying rhymes, holiday spirit, and most importantly, twenty trucks for counting.

GIVEAWAY

Both books for 2 winners

Begins October 26

Ends November 16 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA/Canada addresses. NO P.O. Boxes

Canadians phone required.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' prizes are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Bedtime With Mommy by Nancy I Sanders & illustrated by Felia Hanakata [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  Sweetness and cuteness in adorable abundance.

Children will love how all the baby animals cuddle up to their own mommy as night approaches and sleep-time draws nigh. This will set the emotional mood for human little ones to drift off to comfortable, confident, assured sleep knowing mommy has tucked them in.

Precious and lovable. Pictures are charming and the text is gentle with simple rhyme.

References to prayer, hymns, Psalms classify this as Christian. I highly recommend this sweet, softly padded board book for little one.

About the book: All around the world, it’s bedtime, and Mommies are tucking little ones into bed.

From the elephants on the grasslands to the camels in the desert to the polar bears in the Arctic, it’s time for snuggles, prayers, and bedtime kisses. This adorable boardbook features a Mommy and baby animal in 8 different habitats getting ready for bed. And the final spread is when Mommy tucks a child into bed. 

“I love bedtime with Mommy.  When we turn off the light. Her kisses, snuggles, prayers, and hugs Are special every night!”

• PURCHASE A COPY FOR JUST $8.99 - click here
• CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY - CLICK HERE: https://www.blessedfreebies.com/bedtime-with-mommy-book-giveaway.html

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Giveaway is hosted independently of Chat With Vera.

Labyrinth of Lies (Triple Threat #2) by Irene Hannon

My thoughts: As the title indicates, the story is a labyrinth. Complex. Twisting. Elusive identities. The author has developed likable characters whose individual complexities befuddle the reader lending to the intricately woven plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and the setting of a posh St. Louis boarding school was really nice. It takes place during a very cold Winter. Undercover detectives working as a teacher and a student were fun to imagine. 

The three Reilly sisters' loving bond is evidenced as two interact with their sister,  Detective Cate, in Labyrinth of Lies. When I read and reviewed Triple Threat #1, Point of Danger, I first met the three sisters and Eve was the main character. 

Murder. Missing students. Drugs. Mexican cartel. Innocent bystanders. Romance that is sweet but has a back story that classifies the story (in my opinion) for older teens and adults. 

The convoluted path through the story was not discoverable until near the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoy this book and Irene Hannon continues to be a favorite author. I look forward to Triple Threat #3 to see what happens next to the other Reilly sister.

About the book: When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?

Queen of romantic suspense Irene Hannon invites you to scale the heights of human folly and plumb the depths of the human heart in this second gripping book in the Triple Threat series.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.