Book Review: We Are the Match, by Mary E. Roach

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

Frona is tall, willowy where Helen is curved, and if she were not standing beside Helen I would think of her as beautiful.

From the queen.

Was it this woman before us, pacing at the edge of the boat, her golden hair swept up to reveal smooth white shoulders? Does she fancy herself queen enough to vie for power against Zarek?

She is goddess of secrets and sex, and both are obvious in the tilt of her chin and set of her lips. She is beautiful, but  never in a way that could have rivaled Helen’s.

Paris of Troy had been planning to destroy the Family for a long time, as revenge for destroying the closest thing she had to family when she was younger.

Official synopsis:

Paris is a fixer for mob families on the Grecian islands when a powerful crime lord hires her to investigate a bombing. Insinuating herself into Zarek’s circle is the chance for revenge that Paris has been waiting for since she was a child. Years ago, Zarek wiped out everyone she loved. Now it’s Paris’s turn. Her target? Zarek’s beautiful daughter, Helen.

Helen wants nothing more than to abandon the violent world in which she was raised—and worse, an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. In Paris, Helen sees the perfect tool to help her escape. And in Helen, Paris sees a desperate woman who will be the perfect revenge. As the two work together to find the bomber, and their connection becomes increasingly intimate, Zarek’s empire grows more fragile and their own bonds of loyalty and purpose are tested.

When murder sends them fleeing to Troy, danger only brings Paris and Helen closer together—in love, in fury, and in the will to survive. If Zarek wants a war, Paris and Helen are ready to ignite it.

There’s a delicious electricity between Paris and Helen from the first time they meet. Initially, Paris thinks it will make it that much easier to carry out her plan, but as she and Helen get to know each other, of course things get more complicated.

While Helen’s identity is very much tied up with her crime Family, the ones closest to her that she feels she can trust are the body guard since she was born, Tommy, and her personal assistant, Erin. After Paris saves her life the night they meet, Helen brings her into the inner circle quickly, while assuring her father that she only intends to use Paris as a plaything until her arranged marriage. Anything or anyone Helen values could be used against her by a powerful and cruel man like her father.

The story moved quickly and easily earned 4 out of 5 stars. While each seemed to be evil in their own way, the characters had unique motivations and justifications for their often unsavory actions. The book also showed the fine line between passion and violence. 

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Becki Bayley is a wife and mother who enjoys reading, writing, and relaxing. Some of her other hobbies include jigsaw puzzles and LEGO. Check out what she’s working on at her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.

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Book Review: Six Weeks by the Sea, by Paula Byrne

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

Mr. Rose carried a goldfish in a pail. It was a sultry Sunday morning, but he was wrapped in a light wool comforter. His troublesome cough had worsened, despite the sea air and the ministrations of his physician, yet the fatigue he had laboured under when he arrived in Devonshire had dissipated. He felt renewed, invigorated and full of purpose.

That morning he had written again to Mr. Hayley, recounting the secret that the Reverend Swete had imparted to him at the midweek ball, his tongue loosened by several bowls of punch: the true identity of the girl on the beach. The child’s very existence was the strongest proof of all that they had fought for and canvassed. Their beloved poet had not lived to see the fruits of his labours, but Hayley’s Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper Esq. would make amends and seal William’s name among the great abolitionists, helped in small part by the addition of Mr. Rose’s own reminiscences and cache of letters from dear Cowper. All in good time, he said to himself.

This imagined summer holiday gives Jane Austen the love she tells so beautifully for the world.

Official synopsis:

When Jane Austen hears the news that her family is to leave their beloved country home for the city of Bath, she faints with surprise and horror. But there is one compensation: the promise of a six-week holiday by the sea while their new lodgings are being prepared. She relishes the bracing air and beautiful surroundings, takes pleasure in sea bathing, and shares laughter with her sister Cassandra and best friend Martha Lloyd.

To her joy, brother Frank arrives, fresh from naval exploits in the war against Napoleon. His friend Captain Parker seems to be making a play for Jane’s affections, but her sharp emotional intelligence tells her that something is not quite right. Meanwhile, she assists the eccentric Reverend Swete in finding a home for his bi-racial granddaughter who has arrived from the West Indies.

Jane initially takes against another visitor to the seaside resort of Sidmouth, the lawyer Samuel Rose, but as she gets to know him, a wholly different feeling begins to blossom. . . .

This was a truly delightful novel of what Jane Austen’s six weeks while moving from her family’s country home to Bath may have been. Her parents are hoping to marry their daughters into loving relationships, hopefully while elevating their station financially.

Happiness is what matters to Jane and her sister, whose previous fiancé died. While Jane knows the solicitor looks like a better match for success, she feels more attraction initially to another man in the community. But there is more to be learned about everyone, and none of them expects their story to end by the sea.

The story was relaxing and meandering between different members of Jane’s family and her brother’s friends and contacts. The book earned 3 out of 5 stars, but would be a more compelling read for those who are already fans of Jane Austen and want to learn more about what could be imagined for the missing chapters of her life. 

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Becki Bayley is a wife and mother who enjoys fresh air, feeling the sun on her skin, and reading books just for fun sometimes. Check out her adventures with her family on her Instagram, where she posts as SweetlyBSquared.

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Book Review: Sycorax, by Nydia Hetherington

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

My father was of the Sun, and my mother of the Moon, I said, gulping at the air.

Dripping in sweat, I wiped my face and wrapped the muslin over my eyes, as I’d done so many times before. Then, taking a deep breath, letting agony run through me in a silent cry, I concentrated on the sound of my mother’s bells, tinkling around my angle, and stumbled on. Forwards again. Step by step. Forwards. Breathing. Living. Moving.

The crow, patient with my slow advance, flew in circles, soaring above the path it knew so well, now lost within the storm’s debris. As we reached the lane to the market, it alighted on the branch of an upturned tree, before settling gently on my shoulder. It was a powerful act of solidarity, a message I couldn’t help but understand.

We’d enter the town together.

I wasn’t alone.

Without knowing the full story of The Tempest, Sycorax’s story of life before was still fascinating.

Official synopsis:

Born of the sun and moon, shaped by fire and malady, comes a young woman whose story has never been told...

They call her Sycorax. Seer. Sage. Sorceress.

Outcast by society and all alone in the world, Sycorax must find a way to understand her true nature. But as her powers begin to grow, so too do the suspicions of the local townspeople. For knowledge can be dangerous, and a woman's knowledge is the most dangerous of all...

With a great storm brewing on the horizon, Sycorax finds herself in increasing peril - but will her powers save her, or will they spell the end for them all? Find out in this gripping and vivid narrative exploration of one of literature's most mysterious figures.

Sometimes the retelling of one imagined lifetime feels like it lasts even longer. This book was like that. Spanning from the meeting of her parents to the fate of her son, the story of the magic woman born Raven and eventually renamed by the townsfolk to Sycorax, encompassed so many more legends, lessons, and tales than there seemed room for in one life.

The voice and descriptions contributed to a beautiful story with a full range of emotions clearly shared. This book will be readily recommended to those who enjoy period fiction, stories with amazing female characters, and of course expansion on Shakespeare classics. Sycorax earned 5 out of 5 stars.

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Becki Bayley is a wife, and mother who does her best traveling through reading, while cozy at home. Find out more about her life and reads on her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.

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Book Review: Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found, by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

I’m sitting outside on the stoop and I can’t imagine hitting the pillow. I am wired, my heart racing like it’s got enough voltage running through it to power the county grid.

At 4:00 a.m., the street is so quiet I’d believe I’m back in the suburbs. Must be how they grow trees in Brooklyn, extra thick and gnarly and lush. The leaves swish in the breeze like they’re whispering secrets.

The one word that keeps playing in my head, from all the info my uncle just dumped on me, is sacrifice…

Because that’s what I understand now that maybe I never understood before.

Kingston didn’t think he could return to his old home with his mother and actually find his father, but forces beyond his control seem to be making him look at things a little different. 

Official synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Kingston has just moved from the suburbs back to Echo City, Brooklyn—the last place his father was seen alive. Kingston's father was King Preston, one of the world's greatest magicians. Until one trick went wrong and he disappeared. Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, he's determined to find his father.

Somehow, though, when his father disappeared, he took all of Echo City's magic with him. Now Echo City—a ghost of its past—is living up to its name. With no magic left, the magicians have packed up and left town and those who've stayed behind don't look too kindly on any who reminds them of what they once had.

When Kingston finds a magic box his father left behind as a clue, Kingston knows there's more to his father's disappearance than meets the eye. He'll have to keep it a secret—that is, until he can restore magic to Echo City. With his cousin Veronica and childhood friend Too Tall Eddie, Kingston works to solve the clues, but one wrong move and his father might not be the only one who goes missing.

At 12 years old, of course Kingston doesn’t get much of a vote in what’s going on with his life. So when his mom says they’re moving back to the city where his dad disappeared during a magic trip, but redoing the family’s old magic store to be a coffee shop, Kingston is just along for the ride. He’s a good kid, and usually does as his mom says.

But strange things happen almost right away, and Kingston is given the idea that maybe he could bring his dad back from wherever he disappeared to, and they could go back to being a happy family again. He doesn’t want to go against his mom, but magic is practically happening to him without him doing anything, so it really isn’t his fault.

The book had a plot way more intricate than expected for middle grade fantasy/fiction. The world-building was clear, which is great since it’s apparently the first in an extensive series. The story would be easily recommended to those who enjoy magical realism and fantasy that is entertaining for middle-grade or adult readers. This first book in the series earned 4 out of 5 stars.

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Becki Bayley is a mom and escape reader. She enjoys parenting and hanging out with middle grade kids, since you never know what they’ll say next. Check out some of her favorite reads and her life on her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.

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Book Review: The Athena Protocol, by Shamim Sarif

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

I have a mouthful of dirt. Damp earth and pine needles. I fight to twist my way out, but my attacker has legs on either side of me and an arm on my head, and I can’t move. Feeling paralyzed sets me off into panic, but somewhere in my head, there’s a sense of the familiar. The look of the hands that are grasping mine, the scent of the person on top of me. My brain makes a connection. I stop resisting and wait, suddenly realizing who it is. Slowly, Hala releases the pressure of her arm, so I can moore my head to look at her.

“I missed you,” I say.

My face hits the dirt again. Okay, maybe there was just a hint of sarcasm in that comment.

“Let go of me,” I try, but it comes out a garbled mess with my mouth against the forest floor. But suddenly Hala’s grip softens again, and it’s almost easy for me to twist and cuff her off me entirely. I sit up.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, spitting a few times to get rid of the dirt in my mouth.

“I just landed a micro drone on that van,” she says.

While already part of a rogue justice organization, Jessie can’t resist the urge to do something against her direct orders. Those running the organization force her to pay the price, and she misses those she’s used to working with more than she expects.

Official synopsis:

Jessie Archer is a member of the Athena Protocol, an elite organization of female spies who enact vigilante justice around the world.

Athena operatives are never supposed to shoot to kill—so when Jessie can't stop herself from pulling the trigger, she gets kicked out of the organization, right before a huge mission to take down a human trafficker in Belgrade. 

Jessie needs to right her wrong and prove herself, so she starts her own investigation into the trafficking. But going rogue means she has no one to watch her back as she delves into the horrors she uncovers. Meanwhile, her former teammates have been ordered to bring her down. Jessie must face danger from all sides if she's to complete her mission—and survive.

Jessie and two other agents are the brawn of the Athena Protocol, executing the plans made by a handful of powerful women and based on exhausting research on those they’re bringing to justice. The women in charge, of course, leave nothing to chance, and expect their orders to be followed immediately and exactly. When Jessie steps out of line, the consequences are swift and strict. She’s out, even after planning their next mission which puts one of the main women in charge at risk.

They chose Jessie to join the Athena Protocol because she was determined and resourceful, so she utilizes these skills to not be left behind on their next mission. Expecting her to work relentlessly toward vigilante justice and then stop when they say so may not work out as the women in charge expect.

The story earned a high 4 out of 5 stars. This all-female crew was brilliant, talented, and strong, inside and out. There was also a small element of family drama encased in their found family. The book would be enjoyed by those who like strong female characters, justice, and intricate action plans.

{click here to purchase via my affiliate link}

Becki Bayley is a homebody who enjoys reading and building LEGO when she’s not at work. See what else she and her family are up to on Instagram, where she posts as SweetlyBSquared.

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Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Fog and Fury, by Rachel Howzell Hall {ends 8/4}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

Saturday morning brought with it thick fog. But as I drove north on Highway 1 – before I could even begin to list types of gems – the fog thinned, and sunshine spread like butter across the blacktop. And then I saw the blue sky and the gray ocean, and ahead of me, there was nothing but a straight road without one curve or bend.

This was not the devil’s highway.

Why couldn’t all of this highway be straight? Why was it crooked headed back to LA?

My grip loosened, and I unclenched my sphincter and rolled down the windows. I was now driving like I wasn’t on my way to court-mandated therapy.

I’d save that list of gems for a true emergency.

Sonny initially thinks life with her mother in Haven will be a relaxing change from LA. Soon enough, Haven is showing her its other side, and even destroying what she thought she’d miss from LA.

Official synopsis:
After ten years on the force, LAPD cop Sonny Rush relocates with her elderly mother to peaceful Haven, California, to join her godfather’s burgeoning PI business. What crimes could possibly happen in a town nicknamed “Mayberry by the Sea”? Sonny’s first case: find Figgy, a missing goldendoodle last seen sporting a Versace collar. At least scouting out a dognapper gives Sonny a chance to get to know her new neighbors.

Forty-eight hours in town and Figgy’s disappearance entangles Sonny in an unwelcome reunion with her ex, one of Haven’s wealthiest citizens. And when the body of a teenage boy is found along a popular hiking trail, Sonny is drawn into a web of strange beyond anything she ever saw in LA.

Then comes a local’s warning: question everything. Haven hides secrets that could destroy its idyllic facade. Or destroy Sonny first.

Oh, Sonny. Leaving the LAPD and moving to lil' Haven was supposed to be a re-start and refresh. She was ready to set up somewhere safe to live with her mom while her mother’s dementia progressed. Instead, her first intro to the community where her godfather was welcoming her to his business was clients with a definite link to the past she was trying to leave.

Before long, Sonny’s detective skills have connected a missing dog, a murdered high school boy (who wasn’t even her case!), and the whole image built on lies of what’s supposed to be a delightful and stereotypical small town. Unfortunately, there are some residents of blissful Haven who aren’t appreciating her ability to make the connections, and she and those she loves are being threatened. What’s meant to scare Sonny off the case instead strengthens her resolve to get to the bottom of things.

Fog and Fury is the first Haven Thrillers book, and introduces lots of complex characters. While the story presented within this book resolves the initial plot points, there are several loose ends to be wrapped up in subsequent books. Overall, this strong intro to the series earns 3 out of 5 stars. Sonny is an engaging and positive character with reasonable flaws, and she inspires a reader to want the best for her. Those who enjoy small town stories with a bit of police procedural and strong female characters will enjoy this book, and likely those to come in the Haven Thrillers series.

{click here to purchase on Amazon via my affiliates link - currently FREE for Kindle Unlimited users!}

Becki Bayley is a wife and mother who enjoys reading, counted cross-stitch, and tending to her flowers to watch birds and butterflies through the summer. Check out some of what she sees on Instagram, where she posts as SweetlyBSquared.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will win a copy of Fog and Fury!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Monday, August 4th, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be contacted via email the next day and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

Fog and Fury, by Rachel Howzell Hall {ends 8/4}

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Book Review: The Speed of Falling Objects, by Nancy Richardson Fischer

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

I sleep fitfully, waking again and again in the dark morning hours to insects burrowing beneath my sweatshirt. The worst part is that I have to look at them in the firelight, hairy legs, twitching antennae, stingers and pincers, to make sure they’re not deadly before I brush them away. Some sting, some don’t. They’re all repulsive. When Gus leaps to his feet, shakes out his shirt, shivers in revulsion, I’m glad. He sees me watching in the flickering light, hesitates like he’s considering coming over, trying to talk. I turn my back. He can spoon with my dad since he likes him so much.

The rains start like someone flipped a light switch. Rivulets find their way through the piled palm fronds. Each time I shift, another drips on me. It’s like water torture. Sometime before dawn, the switch flips again and the rains stop. Without the steady patter of water, I can hear Cass sniffling. She’s sitting at the edge of our shelter by the fire, feeding it with branches and pages from Jupiter’s book to keep it going. I’m furious at her. Beyond furious. I crawl over. “What’s up?”

Danny Warren would do anything to be closer to the father who left her life after an accident left her with only one eye. She’s watched every episode of his adventure show, and is sure his invite to star with a teen movie idol will be the ticket to the relationships her mother kept her from having with her father.

Official synopsis:

Danger “Danny” Danielle Warren is no stranger to falling. After losing an eye in a childhood accident, she had to relearn her perception of movement and space. Now Danny keeps her head down, studies hard, and works to fulfill everyone else’s needs. She's certain that her mom’s bitterness and her TV star father’s absence are her fault. If only she were more—more athletic, charismatic, attractive—life would be perfect.

When her dad calls with an offer to join him to film the next episode of his popular survivalist show, Danny jumps at the chance to prove she’s not the disappointment he left behind. Being on set with the hottest teen movie idol of the moment, Gus Price, should be the cherry on top. But when their small plane crashes in the Amazon, and a terrible secret is revealed, Danny must face the truth about the parent she worships and falling for Gus, and find her own inner strength and worth to light the way home.

A life-or-death adventure really brings out the best—and worst—in people. The beginning of the story was full of foreshadowing about nothing going quite the way Danny and her dad expected them to go. While Danny’s obsession with her dad’s show was certainly never healthy, when wildlife survival skills were needed, all the knowledge she had gleaned from just trying to get to know her dad saved her life, and others.

The characters who continued through the story showed dramatic evolution between their public personas, or who they even planned to be, and who they really were, when their lives boiled down to only survival.

Overall, the story and setting were fascinating, and the book earned 5 out of 5 stars. Those who enjoy books with engaging and varied characters, action/adventure stories, and rainforest or wildlife survival stories will love this one.

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Becki Bayley is a wife and mother who enjoys nature from the safety of her porch, with pretty birds, butterflies, and even snakes, but no biting or stinging creepy-crawlies. Check out the delightful view from her porch on Instagram, where she posts as SweetlyBSquared.

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