Hey, readers. During the month of August, I read several books. Since I’ve been on a blog break, I’m playing catch-up with the reviews.
The Storm Girl
I enjoy dual timeline books and The Storm Girl didn’t disappoint. The story alternates between two main characters—Esther in the 1700s, and Millie in present day.
After her divorce, Millie Grafton buys a historical home that was once a tavern. The house needs renovations, so she hires contractor Nick Marshall. They discover a hidden passage behind the fireplace that leads to a hidden cellar and a partially collapsed tunnel.
Millie likes Nick, but her nosy neighbor, Sharon, is quick to point out that Nick’s father was once involved in some illegal activity and even hints they may even be connected to drug trafficking. When the body of a young woman is found in a nearby marsh, Sharon insinuates Nick’s family might have been involved.
In the 1700s, Esther helps her ailing father run a tavern. They also help smuggle goods and allow them to be stored in the hidden cellar. When a battle breaks out between the revenue officers and free traders, Esther and her family are caught in the middle.
The characters were well developed, and the author did a good job at keeping readers guessing whether some of them were good or evil. I also liked the way she tied the 1700s mystery to the present day.
Flight of Dreams
For years, I had heard stories of the Hindenburg Disaster. I’d even listened to the clip of Herbert Morrison’s live broadcast and eyewitness account as the airship exploded and burned within seconds. Before reading Ariel Lawhon’s Flight of Dreams, I couldn’t name a single passenger or crew member.
Told from the point of view of five people—the stewardess, the navigator, the journalist, the cabin boy, and the American, the book covers the story from the day everyone boarded the airship, to the fatal crash, and the aftermath.
There has been much speculation and many hypotheses as to what caused the zeppelin to incinerate. The author takes factual events and blends them with a fictional account of what might have happened.
Lawhon made the characters come alive, and I wanted to know more about them. For the first time, these people became real to me. They were no longer a list of passengers and crew who were part of the disaster that brought an end to air travel by dirigible. For readers wanting to know more, check out the links the author provided in her notes at the end of the book.
The book started slow, but the pace picked up mid-way through. At the end, it was hard to put down. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Last Summer Boys
Last Summer Boys is a delightful coming-of-age story set during the summer of 1968. Having grown up in that time period, reading this book brought back lots of memories from the late 1960s.
Jack Elliott doesn’t want his older brother to go to war. Together with his city cousin, Frankie, Jack devises a plot that he believes will keep Pete from being drafted. Along the way, the two of them along with Jack’s two brothers encounter adventures, help a neighbor who is being harassed by a motorcycle gang, and set out to find a lost fighter jet.
There is also a greedy land developer who is determined to take their parent’s land. All this makes for an interesting summer.
I would have given the book five stars, except for a couple of historical inaccuracies, but even those didn’t keep me from enjoying the story. This is a great debut novel for author Bill Rivers.
Tamarack County
After coming off what I feel is the high point of the series, Trickster’s Point, I looked forward to Tamarack County. However, it was a big disappointment.
The book started well and had promise, but this clearly isn’t Krueger’s best work. It’s almost as if he threw this one together. The plot seemed contrived, the characters were rather flat, and missing was the author’s usual vivid descriptions of the Minnesota wilderness. (Yes, we know the winters are cold, but…)
Also, Cork needs to get his act together with the women in his life. He apparently made his decision at the end of the book, which by the way, seemed abrupt.
I’ll continue with the series because I know Krueger is capable of MUCH better writing. Clearly, this wasn’t his best work.
That wraps it up for this week’s reviews. I plan to revert to a weekly review schedule next Tuesday.
30 Responses
Thanks for the reviews, Joan. Flight of Dreams looks the most intriguing to me.
Waiting for the “I’m retired” post.😊
The “I’m retired” post is coming soon, Pete. I will say that I’m already loving it! Thanks for stopping by today.
Flight of Dreams looks the most intriguing to me as well. I once read a short story which blamed two crew members’ homosexual encounter for the fire.
It was a good book, Liz. I had not read any books about the disaster before this. Really gave me pause to think.
I can only imagine.
Great reviews, Joan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts 💕🙂
You’re most welcome, Harmony!
Sorry the Krueger book wasn’t the best. I know you really like that series.
Last Summer Boys has been on my reading radar (I may even have it on my Kindle), and The Storm Girl sounds good.
I am so glad you enjoyed Flight of Dreams. I was mesmerized by the tale!
With a series, you always take chances. I enjoyed Last Summer Boys. I seem to be drawn to books set in the 1960s of late. It mentions Bobby Kennedy, so I’m sure you’d like it.
Oooh! I’m almost positive it’s on my Kindle. I need to look it up!
Thanks for the great reviews, Joan. As always, I’m taking notes and adding books to my To Be Read list. (I’ve now upped my estimate as to how long I’ll have to live to read everything on my list. I’ll need to make it to at least 125, I’m sure. 😁)
I’m laughing at your comment. I’m sure I’ll never outlive my book collection. I just keep adding to them. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these books, Joan. Sorry Tamarak County was a disappointment.
Thanks, John. As the old saying goes, “You win some. You lose some.” 🙂
Yes indeed.
Bummer about the Krueger book. It stinks when you are expecting one more and are disappointed. The others have me curious. Thanks for sharing.
This book even seemed shorter than the others, which is another reason that made me believe he rushed through it. But I’ve enjoyed the others enough to continue on. (Not to mention all the remaining books are on my Kindle.
Great reviews, Joan. I appreciate you sharing your honest opinion. Sorry for the one disappointment, but it happens. Thanks for sharing!
Such is life, Jan. I’m not ready to give up on Krueger yet. 😉
Great reviews, Joan. They all sound good except for the one.
Thanks, Denise. With a series, we always take chances of not liking some of the books. I’m glad I didn’t start reading with this one.
Shame about that last one. I know you were enjoying the series. I hope the next installment is better.
I’ll pick up with the next series. There have been a couple of them that weren’t my favorites. This one lacked Kruger’s usual writing style.
Glad you’re back. Happy Retirement!
Thanks, Judi! I’m already loving retirement!
This is the second complimentary review I’ve seen of Last Summer Boys, Joan. I don’t know if I would have noticed the historical inaccuracy, but I’m glad you enjoyed the book otherwise. And The Storm Girl sounded like something I’d enjoy. Thanks for sharing your recommendations.
I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t researched that particular event for a short story I published last year. It wasn’t enough to dissuade me from continuing the book. Most people would never notice them 🙂
That’s interesting, Joan. Research has to be done carefully or we risk some knowledgeable person calling us on our errors. That’s why I don’t write anything in a historical setting! Lol
So true! I’ve spent the morning researching some things about the Vietnam War. I think I might take a little “poetic license,” but I’ll be sure to say that in my author’s note.
🙂