Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

Baldacci is one of my favorite authors. This book differs from most of his action/adventure books in that it is about relationships and how we need them in our lives. The London Blitz is the setting. Baldacci captures the horrific nature of living in fear of bombs, hunger, and loss.

Ignatius Oliver, an Air Warden and bookseller with an open mind and even more open heart befriends two teenagers with radically different backgrounds. Molly and Charlie both deal with loss in their own way.  

The story illustrates how coming of age in the environment of the Blitz dramatically impacts not only the world-weary Ignatius but accelerates the maturing of the two teens.

Baldacci points out that the downside of loving someone is the possibility or reality of losing them, and the ensuing pain. However, he also points out that the benefits of loving outweigh the detriment of loss.

This was a different Baldacci and an excellent book that I highly recommend. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Unbalanced by D. P. Lyle

 

Jake Longly and super-hot Nicole are back with a new mystery.  While I like the Sam Cody character in Lyle’s other series, this series has its moments.   Jake’s enormous sidekick, Pancake, continues to stretch the bottom line of Jake’s restaurant with his apparent insatiability for food.  Clara, his restaurant manager, keeps Jake afloat.  A retired major league pitcher, Jake doesn’t present a picture of respectability.  He does as little work as possible and I’m guessing that is why I struggle to like his character.  In this book, he finally demonstrates some empathy and ambition regarding the plot.

 

A successful realtor is shot while Pancake and Ray are investigating a possible embezzlement for said client..

 

Although Jake does not work for his dad, Nicole, and Pancake do and where they go he goes. This leads to some action and a lot of investigation.  Jake and Nicole continue to indulge in frequent amorous indulgences while Pancake discovers a new love.  

At the risk of redundancy, I enjoyed the book but not as much as the previous books.  I think Lyle’s  Sam Cody books are considerably better.

Nicole is a fast driver and Pancake is an insatiable eater, which has been established in previous books.   Those two facts seemed to be overdone in this book.   Over and over again it was mentioned how much Pancake eats and how fast Nicole drives.  Perhaps a first-time reader would miss the redundancy but as a consistent reader. I just got tired of it.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Spotllight on The Northern Pacific Railroad by Tim Piper

Hotly-anticipated standalone in award-winning historical fiction series takes readers to Western Frontier 

A thrilling adventure for fans of the show “1883”

BLOOMINGTON, IL – In 1872, six hundred miles between Bismarck and Bozeman were to be surveyed for the Northern Pacific Railroad. But Sitting Bull is gathering strength to resist this incursion into the tribes’ hunting grounds. Citizens and politicians question the need for the rail line and doubt that it can ever be guaranteed safe from Indian raids. But financier Jay Cooke is willing to risk his financial empire to build it.

When Cooke summons Jubilee Walker to his mansion and presents a proposition for completing the survey, Jubil finds it impossible to resist. But the stakes are high, both financially and personally. How much will Jubil risk to turn his adventure travel tours into a major business? Can he do it without losing the respect of the people he loves? And will he even survive the attempt to complete the survey?

 

Book 3 in the Jubilee Walker series is based on actual events of the 1872 and 1873 railroad surveys, and the ensuing financial turmoil as investors lose faith in Cooke’s vision.

 

TIM PIPER is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois. 

 

Learn more at www.timpiper-author.com or follow him on Facebook.

 

2024 BookFest First Place Award for Young Adult Historical Fiction for “The Powell Expeditions”

 

2024 Goethe Book Awards Long List for Late Historical Fiction for "The Powell Expeditions"

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

To Die For by David Baldacci

Travis Devine is a secret agent, or a former Army Ranger or perhaps both.  He is assigned bodyguard duty which seems counterintuitive to what he things his rule might be.   His boss and handler, purportedly from DHS, General Campbell, differs with him as to his job description.   The body he is to guard is a feisty 12-year-old girl.

Devine is left in the dark regarding why Betsey needs protection.  Adding to the mix is the “girl on the train” who tried to kill him in the previous book.  Stir, don’t shake, some domestic terrorists, some garden variety thugs, a couple of recovering drug addicts, the FBI and the CIA and you have mayhem and confusion blossom.

The plot was just shy of Machiavellian and there was plenty of action, treachery, and intrigue.

I enjoyed it, recommend it, and look forward to the next Baldacci book regardless of the protagonist's identity. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Out in the Cold by Steve Urszenyi

Alex, a medic turned sniper is back.  Alex has trouble playing with others and an aversion to taking orders.  After being pushed out of the FBI and then loaned Interpol she ends up on Caleb’s anti-terrorist group.  A working vacation on a super yacht with her old boss and her boss’s billionaire boyfriend ends up as another typical Alex explosion.

The plot centers around a cabal promoting world war for financial gain.  The action is nearly continuous and makes it very difficult to put the book down at bedtime.  Street, a private security agent, interacts with Alex and Caleb, not without some friction.  

An old adversary turns up unexpectantly and with surprising behavior. 

Urszenyi has crafted a winning protagonist in Alex.   There is more than sufficient intrigue, action, and deceit, although this plot is not quite as byzantine as the first book.

I recommend the book and look forward to reading more from this author. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned