Spring is here in Central Texas. Bluebonnets are up and a few of the other wildflowers are coming along. The weather has been great but I think the heat is not too far away.
I really read quite a bit in March but was so busy with that work thing, I didn't have the strength to share.
First off, I listened to the second Atlee Pine book by David Baldacci.
A Minute to Midnight
"FBI Agent Atlee Pine's life was never the same after her twin sister Mercy was kidnapped--and likely killed--thirty years ago. After a lifetime of torturous uncertainty, Atlee's unresolved anger finally gets the better of her on the job, and she finds she has to deal with the demons of her past if she wants to remain with the FBI. Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum head back to Atlee's rural hometown in Georgia to see what they can uncover about the traumatic night Mercy was taken and Pine was almost killed. But soon after Atlee begins her investigation, a local woman is found ritualistically murdered, her face covered with a wedding veil--and the first killing is quickly followed by a second bizarre murder. Atlee is determined to continue her search for answers, but now she must also set her sights on finding a potential serial killer before another victim is claimed. But in a small town full of secrets--some of which could answer the questions that have plagued Atlee her entire life--digging deeper into the past could be more dangerous than she realizes."
I had read the first book in book club and talked about it here. Long Road to Mercy.
Atlee continues her search of what happened to her sister by traveling to her hometown. But she gets mixed up in events involving a couple of murders, appears to be a serial killer. To complicate matters, when she advises the local police force to call the FBI as things are more than she or the locals to handle, someone from her past comes to help. Lots of actual, a good thriller. Great ending and hook for book three.
I also read two books in a new series by Janet Pywell. The Ronda George thrillers BUT I am going to post about them and the third book, next weekend, as book three comes out April 6.
So after three thrillers, I was looking for a break and read:
The Disappearance of Emily by Elizabeth Pantley. I had read book one in this Destiny Falls series also. Let me tell you about both. If you like a good cozy mystery with a little magic, I would recommend these books. They aren't about little kid magic, more of a parallel world where things are magical.
Falling into Magic - Destiny Falls book one
"When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her. She knew because the mirror had given her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate. Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of a world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had. But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world."
The Disappearance of Emily - Destiny Falls book two
About:
"Hayden fell through a mirror and was thrust into an alternate, magical place. Destiny Falls is home to a family she never knew she had. The town is enchanted and charming, but something is amiss. Then someone turns up dead, and there are too many other suspicious episodes to call them coincidences. All signs point to the mysterious disappearance of her mother – way back when Hayden was just two days old. Can she identify and eliminate the threat before another person in her life is stolen away?"
Here were my thoughts on the books:
Hayden is grown up, living with her grandmother and great grandmother. Her normal happy life is being upset by what seems to be a man stalking her. Hayden is attacked while walking home with her current day cat Sassy, from the groomer. She falls or is pushed into a manhole. When she awakes, she is in a strange room, with her cat, that she can now communicate with her cat. She has gone through some sort of portal into another world. People are saying they are related to her; brother, father, grandparents...all tying back to when she was born and her father and brother went away. The house seems magical, anticipating a person's needs and wants and changes accordingly. Destiny Falls seems like a lovely place with mostly lovely people. But the same man that pushed her keeps showing up. Her "stepmother" seems to want to get rid of her. There is also a thread of a story about an old witch in a cave that someone is being asking her to make a potion so they can take over Hayden's family's place in town. This part is humorous with the witch making demands of the person for the favor of the potion; a Wifi set up, items from Costco etc.
In book two, Hayden is settling in to her life in Destiny Falls as a Caldwell. She is still secretly wondering if she can return to her life with her grandmother, great grandmother and friend and business partner Luna but it isn't looking good. As she branches out, visiting shops, making friends, she is very intrigued by the ferry business at the water. There is no schedule, no information, people seem to come and go, some in summer attire, some with snow ski equipment. No one can tell her how this works or where the ferries go. The captain of a ferry gives her a very strange saying message saying only she can save her. Who is she talking about? The captain asks her to meet her the next day. The captain is found murdered later that day and a box of papers is delivered to her the next day. As the story goes, the box seems to be connected to the captain and Hayden is deep in the middle of the mystery.
More rooms appear in Hayden's part of the house. Her new yoga room has a mirror that she can sometimes see her grandmother and Luna.
I love the magic in this series. It is subtle but you wish it was where you live. I love the behind the scenes story of the witch in the cave.
We learn more about Hayden's past and her parents. The characters and interesting, quirky and likeable...well most. Excellent feel good ending with a lead into the next book
The Destiny Falls books were ARC's and I voluntarily provided this review.
Coming up, new Hallmark movies, a Netflix announcement, a trip to India (in books) and the Ronda George thrillerd. Whew
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