Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

#BookReview- Variety is the Spice of Life #amreading @BalroopShado @JillWeatherholt @mbiermanauthor @KateBateman


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We’ve had a rainy few days, perfect for cozying up to a good book!

I lucked out and got an extension on my WIP- whew! – so I have a bit of breathing room and decided to feed my muse with a variety of great books over the past week. From poetry to romance, suspense to historical, there’s something for everyone in the mix. 🙂

First up, I have a beautiful poetry book by blogging friend Balroop Singh- Magical Whispers…

I wait for whispers; they regale my muse. Whispers that can be heard by our heart, whispers that ride on the breeze to dispel darkness and ignite hope. I’m sure you would hear them through these poems if you read slowly.

My Review

Magical Whispers is just what the doctor ordered!

Filled with gentle lyrics to feed a tired soul, I found each poem uplifting and inspirational. The author took aspects of life and wove her spiritual nature among the lines, creating magic.

One of my favorites, Watch the Magic, portrays this beautifully.

Strokes of crimson herald the change 
Ochre tries to meet at the edges, 
With reverence I look around 
At majestic branches almost bare. 

Deep shadows dance around me 
Wind and breeze compete to win. 
Far away, at the horizon, gray scrambles 
To steal some golden kisses. 

A waterfall accentuates this beauty 
And the valley resounds with a voice, 
A familiar melody – melts all my angst 
Now I know what allures me here.
 
Ferns flock like old friends 
Blankets - that warm aching hearts,
Patterns of joy inked in green 
Calm chaos that lay hidden. 

That is the magic of a changing season 
Just step out and watch the spectacle. 
Mother Nature looks magnificent 
In all her outfits.

Singh, Balroop. Magical Whispers: Poetry . Kindle Edition. Singh, Balroop. Magical Whispers: Poetry . Kindle Edition.

With every reread, I feel the tension leave my body and a state of calm and peace takes over- Balroop’s poems heal the mind and warms the heart.

Next we have a sweet, inspirational romance by Jill Weatherholt- A Home for Her Daughter.

To give her daughter a brighter future…
she must leave the past behind.

Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Pexels.com

My Review

When Janie Edmiston inherits a home and a chance at a new life after an abusive marriage, she is understandably excited.

Until she learns of the conditions of the will.

Drew Brenner has closed himself off after the loss of his wife and child. Guilt drives him to leave his rewarding career as a paramedic to become a forest ranger where he doesn’t feel responsible for human lives. Then, an old dream is resurrected when he inherits the land where he’d spent many great summers at camp.

But, in order to keep the land he must help his childhood crush, Janie, get the camp up and running in time for its fiftieth anniversary only weeks away. The trouble is; Janie is as beautiful as he remembers, and her little girl is the same age as his daughter was when she died.

This is a beautifully written story of redemption and second chances. Life throws curveballs, it’s what you do with them that counts.

Into the mix, I added a fast-paced suspense by Mark Bierman- Vanished

Construction of an orphanage in Haiti’s northwest . . . yes. But a doomed rescue operation, human traffickers, human anomalies, extreme personal danger . . . risk of death? They hadn’t signed up for those.

My Review

An edge of your seat page-turner!

Tyler Montgomery and his father-in-law, John Webster go on a bonding mission to Haiti after the death of Tyler’s wife. Both men are suffering and hope helping in the building of an orphanage will bring them some peace. But, not long after they arrive, a young girl disappears from the mission and, after learning the law will do little to find her, undertake the search themselves.

The child- only seven years old- has most likely been taken by child traffickers, which angers and disgusts the men. As the search continues, Montgomery and Webster learn how prevalent trafficking is in third world countries. Often, parents themselves send their children away in order to give them a better life; instead they face slavery and sexual exploitation.

Faced with language barriers, mistrust, and violence at every corner, it will take these men strength and dedication to save little Chantele. At times I found Tyler to be overly impulsive- especially in a strange country- and it got them into some nasty situations, but he did it with a kind heart.

This is not an easy read, but I believe it’s an important one. If we don’t face the tragedies in this world, there is no hope of fixing them.

And last, but definitely not least, a historical caper by K. C. Bateman- To Steal a Heart

A master spy and a beautiful thief find love and intrigue in each other’s arms. . .

Photo by Marcelo Moreira on Pexels.com

My Review

A riveting tale of deceit!

Forced into bondage under the watchful eye of her cousin, Marianne de Bonnard will do whatever it takes to keep her younger sister out of his lecherous hands- even break the law. But when she is caught, Marianne learns the biggest danger is yet to come when a spymaster threatens to steal her heart.

France’s notorious spymaster Nicolas Valette has been watching the talented tightrope thief Marianne de Bonnard for some time. He needs her for his next mission- one that is of utmost importance- and makes her an offer she can’t refuse; freedom for herself and her sister if she goes through with the deed.

What follows is a cat and mouse game as Nicholas tries to rein in the headstrong Marianne so that he can teach her what needs to be done in order to succeed the undertaking he’s set out for her.

The chemistry between these two is scorching, but the author does a superb job of tempering it with witty dialogue and plenty of angst. I enjoyed this read so much that I immediately picked up book two in the series!

Did I trigger your interest? Have you read these books or others by these writers? Let’s talk…

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40 Replies to “#BookReview- Variety is the Spice of Life #amreading @BalroopShado @JillWeatherholt @mbiermanauthor @KateBateman”

  4. Wow, you did a lot of reading, Jacquie!

    I’ve read Balroop’s poetry collection and found it riveting. The same with Mark’s Vanished, although from entirely different emotional spectrum. I want to read Jill’s novel. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Congratulations to all of the authors represented here!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Thank you, Jacquie, for showcasing these wonderful writers. I loved Jill’s sweet book and like you, I feel Mark’s book is a must-read. I have Balroop’s collection but I’ve not read it yet (thank you for the nudge!), and I’m glad to meet K.C.🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  7. WoW! Thank you so much for the excellent review, Jacquie! You made my day! I really enjoy Balroop’s poetry, her words are golden and flow like a river. I have not read anything by Jill or Bateman, but you have triggered my interest. Have a great day!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. What a pleasant surprise Jacquie. Thank you for picking up Magical Whispers, I am glad the whispers of Mother Nature could “feed a tired soul”…Wow! What a compliment. Love it.

    I have read Vanished, a wonderful book with a meaningful plot and look forward to reading others listed here. Thanks for sharing the variety. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Excellent reviews, Jacquie! Congratulations to the authors! I have three of the four books in my TBR. I’ll check out the fourth one. I’m looking forward to reading them. Thanks for sharing! 😀 xo

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Four great reviews here, Jacquie. I’ve read Balroop’s book as well as Mark’s and enjoyed them both. Jill’s writing is always worthwhile, and I look forward to her latest. And thanks for the introduction to Kate and her book. Congrats to all the authors. Have a relaxing weekend and Happy Reading. 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I seem to be spending more time reading than writing lately, but I can’t say I’m sorry 🙂
      Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Diana. Windy here yesterday, but the sun was warm on our backs while we played in the garden.

      Liked by 1 person

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