Dona's Book Blog

Thank you to the author Peter Malone Elliott, publishers Level Best Books, and Get Red Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of BLUE RIDGE. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine. My feelings on this book are lukewarm. I loved the concept and storyline; I'm a sucker for both domestic thrillers and warring twins. But the book needed fleshed out; another 50 pages of description would have done this one some good! Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The descriptions of Virginia are lovely. Tinged with shades of blue, purple, and green, I always say the majestic, rolling landscape of the Blue Ridge is nature's equivalent to the music of Patsy Cline-- an inexplicably perfect cocktail of sumptuous beauty, haunting melancholy, and dark-edged mystery.... Loc.49 2. Like many thrillers with clarity issues, this book has an excellent premise. Part political thriller, part domestic thriller, BLUE RIDGE abounds with tension and intrigue. I w...

Thank you to the author Kim Cross, publishers Grand Central Publishing, and also to NetGalley for an advance digital copy of IN LIGHT OF ALL DARKNESS. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The richness of detail is spectacular. (Maybe too much at times?) No, no, it's good, it's good. Honestly, in the details, I can really notice the depth of Cross's research. She's able to provide multiple descriptions of things, perspectives, or theories, because she has so many resources from which to pull. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof. 1. I grabbed this book at least partly because it sells itself as being "paced like a thriller!" Won't be the first true crime nonfiction that pulled me in with that, but plods along, plotless! True crime fascinates with other magic, it doesn...

Thank you to the author David Rosenfelt, publishers Minotaur Books, and SMPInfluencers Program for an opportunity to read TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS early. Thank you also to NetGalley for the digital widget. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The different dogs (I believe there are 5?) have so much personality. They simply jump off the page. The orphan dogs tug on my heartstrings just as hard as if they were adorable missing twin children, begging for a meal and warm bed. The irascible Sebastian the bloodhound is my favorite.  2. The sass, wit, and sarcasm add so much richness! Quote loc. 1203 3. Andy Carpenter is my favorite detective because he is so sarcastic, and because, as a defense attorney, he is positioned to know the ins and outs of the law. I sometimes find the "quirky detective" a little hard to believe, but Andy is totally authentic and believable. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for cri...