#BookReview - The Double-Edged Sword

The Double-Edged Sword (Tallent & Lowery Book 5)

By: Amy Lignor
Publisher: Suspense Publishing
Publication Date: December 2017
ASIN: B077PQJHY7
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: January 29, 2017

Everything and everyone has an opposite - good versus evil, yin and yang, God against Satan. And in book 5 of the popular Tallent and Lowery series, heroine Leah Tallent (one of my favorite characters in an adventure series bar none) is about to find out where she stands in her own personal battle between good and evil.

When we last saw Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery in book 4, The Charlatan's Crown, they were battling Daniel Bauer, the Australian fortune hunter they met in a previous adventure. Bauer had done everything in his power to make life unbearable for Leah and Gareth as he tried to use Leah's special skills to hunt for artifacts that he needed for some nefarious purposes. In book 4, they were all in a race to find a very special emerald that, once added to a powerful crown, would give the bearer powers beyond imagination. As the story winds to an end, Leah and Gareth barely escape with their lives. And the reader is left wondering what happens next...

When The Double-Edged Sword opens, Leah and Gareth are in Bergama, Turkey, exploring the ancient ruins of Pergamon. While Pergamon is known by some as "Satan's Dwelling," Leah and Gareth don't let that stop them. They are there because they had recently found a photo of Gareth's father with a handwritten "Pergamon 2009" on the back. The problem is, Gareth's father and mother reportedly died many years earlier in a car accident. If the handwritten inscription were true, then how could his father have died? Might he, and Gareth's mother, actually be alive? Might they have been caught up in the fight between good and evil, much like Leah's mother, Neith? Perhaps Daniel Bauer, or Michael Hansen, another power-obsessed psychotic we met in an earlier story, forced the couple to help in their search for the all-powerful crown. At Pergamon, Leah and Gareth hope to find clues to Gareth's parents whereabouts, if, indeed, they are still alive.

Leah and Gareth discover some pretty cool things while at Pergamon (no spoilers here although a river of mercury does stand out), and those discoveries lead them all the way to Crete, the largest island in Greece. It is here that knowledge of Minoan history is going to come in handy if Leah and Gareth are going to be able to save themselves and others. King Minos and the legend of the Minotaur, as well as the famous labyrinth where the Minotaur reportedly lived, come into play and the action reaches a fever pitch in that labyrinth.

The Double-Edged Sword is an all-out "bite your nails" adventure story wrapped within a mystery with just enough historical facts inserted to make everything seem plausible. Many of the places and artifacts the author uses do exist, and the reader will be hard pressed to know where fact stops and fiction begins. As with all the books in this series, the dialog between characters is sharp and animated, and truly brings the story to life. Leah has a very difficult decision to make that will test her relationship with Gareth and her choice may just decide whether or not the couple survives. Pages will be turning quickly as Leah struggles with her choices.

I have read all the books in the Tallent & Lowery series and must say that they keep getting better and better. Each story builds on the last and I would suggest that you start with the first book, 13, to get the full range of enjoyment from this series. With just one more book to go in this fantastic series, the action and cliffhanger ending in The Double-Edged Sword will leave readers hankering for that last book, to see how this epic fight between good and evil ends...

Quill says: Action-packed, a great plot, witty dialog, and some very cool historical places make The Double-Edged Sword another winner in the Tallent & Lowery series.

#BookReview - Common Backyard Birds

Common Backyard Birds

By: Doris Dumrauf
Publisher: Raccoon Creek Press
Publication Date: April 2018
ISBN: 978-0997676716
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: January 2018

Author/nature nature photographer Doris Dumrauf has put together a beautiful collection of "common" backyard birds that young bird watchers will love to add to their collection of special books.

Common Backyard Birds includes twenty birds that are seen in backyards across North America. Some of the names most people will recognize - American Robin, Mourning Dove, and Blue Jay - while others such as the Dark-eyed Junco may not be familiar to readers.

There's a full page devoted to every bird, with one, and sometimes two, beautiful photographs as well as a brief paragraph about the bird. The text includes information such as what that bird eats, its temperament (we learn that the blue jay is very aggressive and that small birds fly away when they see one), and where it likes to perch, or hide. Each of these "factoids" is told in the first person, as if the bird is talking directly to the young reader.

The author's deep love of nature, and birds, comes through clearly on every page. Her photographs are truly stunning and give readers a close-up look at the birds they might come upon in their own backyards. She encourages youngsters to provide the basics that all birds seek - water, food and shelter - so that they too can have lots of birds visit their yards. The last two pages of the book is a "How to attract birds to your yard" tutorial with lots of good information on how to make your own backyard attractive to birds. Common Backyard Birds is a fun book that provides plenty of helpful information. Rated for K-4th grade, this book would also be good for those working on research projects about North American birds.

Quill says: A truly lovely book about backyard birds that comes to life through the beautiful photography.

#BookReview - 365 Days of Cookies

365 Days of Cookies: Sweeten Your Year with a New Cookie Every Day

Publisher: Reader's Digest/Taste of Home
Publication Date: October 2017
ISBN: 978-1617656828
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: January 24, 2018

If you have a sweet tooth and love to bake, check out the new cookie book from "Taste of Home" that offers a different recipe for every day of the year.

Like many cookbooks, this one starts with several pages of cooking basics - obviously centered around cookies. The proper way to mix, how to measure different ingredients (liquid, sour cream, butter, brown sugar, etc.), as well as some "Problem-Solving Pointers" are included in this section. Then it's on to the fun part - baking the cookies! The recipes are divided into five chapters - Cozy Bites; Celebrate Spring; Summer Fun; Fall Flavors; and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

The recipes themselves are varied and a lot of fun to make - and the recipes I tested all came out tasty. Each recipe includes a colorful picture of the finished cookies, as well as prep time, bake time, and how many cookies that particular recipe will make. If you're in a rush, you can look for the "Short & Sweet" notation found on many of the pages. One of those recipes, for Peanut Butter Penguins, is definitely quick and easy, using a favorite store bought cookie as the base, and then "dressing them up" to look like penguins. The finished cookies were a big hit at a local school bake sale. There are several other animal face cookie recipes that will likely be big hits at school events.

I love to bake cookies but it seems that I have three very basic, very standard recipes that I always turn to when I get a sweet tooth attack. 365 Days of Cookies has definitely changed that. I really loved the "Short & Sweet" varieties which were perfect for those rushed days. This cookbook also includes ten recipes for special days of the year (World Nutella Day, National Gumdrop Day, Hot and Spicy Food Day) which added another level of fun to the book. Finally, something that was really appreciated in my rather messy kitchen is the heavy-duty cover and very thick and strong spiral bound format - it made a world of difference when referring to the directions while my hands were covered in flour. Overall, this is an excellent book for the cookie loving cookie baker.

Quill says: 365 Days of Cookies will keep "cookie cookers" busy and happy for a very long time.

#BookReview - The Place Where the Giant Fell

The Place Where the Giant Fell

By: John Henry Hardy
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: May 2016
ISBN: 978-1523973156
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: January 23, 2018

John Henry Hardy sets his pen to paper and delivers an engaging tale of forbidden love in his novel The Place Where the Giant Fell.

Goldfield, Arizona used to be a thriving mining town at the turn of the century. Carrie Ann Benton was a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Her daddy was a force to reckon with in the town. His name was Horace Benton and he was a racist, power-hungry Arizona Judge. He wanted nothing more than security and safety for his beautiful daughter, no matter the cost or consequences.

Perhaps the apple didn’t fall far from the tree given Carrie could be as headstrong as the father who raised her. She was mindful and conscientious of doing the right thing in the eyes of her daddy, but eventually, the heart wants what the heart wants. It would seem Carrie’s vision of happily ever after wasn’t quite what her father had in mind. Horace had designs that Carrie would eventually settle down and marry Earl Remington. His family came from fine stock and would certainly make things easier for Horace when it came to the next logical step in his political career. The only ‘mother’ Carrie ever knew was the hired help, Maria. She naturally assumed the role of ‘mom’ after Carrie’s real mom had passed away when Carrie was two years old. It wasn’t important to Carrie that Maria was Mexican and she wasn’t married to her father. She loved her as the only ‘mother’ she ever knew.

When Rodney Buchard asks Carrie to the school dance, it became abundantly clear to Horace Benton he had damage control to do and do it fast. No child of his was going to engage in the likes of some Mexican from the wrong side of town. His plan had been set long before Carrie knew anything about it. Carrie would marry Earl Remington; son of a rich cattle farmer and there was no further discussion to be had where this matter was concerned. Little did Horace know his daughter had other plans. It would involve a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, murder and a secret place to rendezvous. What began as innocence would change the course of the Benton family’s legacy.

John Henry Hardy takes an age-old premise of forbidden love and spins a tremendous tale of deceit and tragedy across the pages of The Place Where the Giant Fell. His descriptive prose of wide, open spaces of the Arizona dessert is captivating. The character development of Carrie and her forbidden lover, Rodney, sets the stage for the reader to willingly cheer on the underdog in hopes that true love will eventually conquer all. Mr. Hardy has a savvy style and is adept at planting seeds of action, danger and adventure to move the story along nicely. While this book is under 200 pages, Mr. Hardy hooks his audience at the onset and drives this story with a multitude of engaging scenery and dialogue. He knows his audience and speaks to them with confidence via his adept word placement throughout. I have not had the pleasure of reading any of Mr. Hardy’s work until now. However, having read this title, perhaps it is time to do so. Well done Mr. Hardy. I look forward to your next book.

Quill says: This is a story of forbidden love and the many consequences in pursuing it.

#BookReview - Maid of Baikal @PrestonFleming

Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War

By: Preston Fleming
Publisher: PF publishing
Publication Date: October 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9994418-0-0
Reviewed by: Diana Buss
Review Date: January 21, 2018

Beginning with a flashback to war in the Philippines, we meet First Lieutenant Edmund “Ned” du Pont, a leader in the U.S. Army. Haunted by his nightmares, Ned is also eager to fight again. After going to visit Colonel Charles Holt, they strike up a deal where Ned can return to war, but not exactly as he planned. Holt wishes to send him to Siberia, not to fight, but to aid in correspondence and intelligence as an undercover worker in the Russian Railway service corps as an American Railway Man and telegraph and wireless expert. While this task seems far from simple in the beginning, the truth is he’s about to be in over his head in a completely different mission involving a young Russian woman that could completely change the tides of the Russian Revolution.

Upon arrival in Irkutsk, Ned is to meet Staff Captain Igor Ivanovich Ivashov, his Russian liaison officer. After exchanging information and learning a very small amount about each other, they board a train heading to Omsk. Prior to arriving at their destination, however, they stop at Verkhne-Udinsk, where they will join Stepan Petrovich Dorokhin and his guests for dinner. It is at this dinner that Ned first meets Zhanna, Stepan’s daughter. Zhanna is a headstrong girl of eighteen, and Ned is instantly attracted to her, although he is unsure of exactly why. At the end of the evening, Zhanna gives a slip of paper to Ned with a message to meet her the following morning. The next morning, Ned meets with her and Zhanna reveals that she has been hearing voices of saints. The voices, she explains to Ned, have been calling her to go to Omsk to deliver a message to Siberian dictator Admiral Kolchak. That message could change the course of the war, and she wants Ned to take her there to introduce her to the Admiral. Ned refuses and later finds out she also asked Ivashov. Zhanna's voices, however, tell her they will soon meet again and her mission will be fulfilled. Later, her voices call her to serve in the Serbian Army and lead troops as the Maid of Baikal, but does she get more than she bargained for? How much can her faith and beloved voices protect her?

The Maid of Baikal was by far one of the most well planned and engrossing books I may have ever read. I was impressed from the very beginning thanks to a list of characters, carefully chosen musical themes, historical photographs and maps. There was not one time in this book that I was confused, not only thanks to the tools given in the beginning, but because each character and place was so well-written into the story. The Maid of Baikal provides a deep history in an entertaining and easy-to-understand way while allowing you to become connected to the characters and their stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was drawn in almost instantly. Anyone who loves history or a well-written story will love Maid of Baikal.

Quill says: The Maid of Baikal is an intriguing tale of war, miracles and the power of faith that is sure to engross history lovers.

For more information on The Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War, please visit the author's website at: www.prestonfleming.com

#BookReview - Whisperings

Whisperings

By: Julie Halliwell
Publisher: Off the Porch Press
Publication Date: November 2017
ISBN: 978-0-692-88340-2
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: January 22, 2018

In an enchanting tale of good versus evil, Julie Halliwell resurrects the archangels in her debut novel, Whisperings.

Michael, the archangel, protects against all forces of evil. Is it fate that Miguel, Jibreel and Rafael have embarked upon their respective journeys to make the world a better place of courage and hope? Perhaps it is more than fate.

Miguel lives in the Mexican countryside. His work consists of long days from sunup to sundown conducting back-breaking work in the fields. His pay is small and the drug cartel he works for could care less. They have product to be harvested and that's what matters most.

Halfway around the world, Jibreel is a young Hindu girl trying to make a better way. School is forbidden for the children in the small village near the Hindu Kush mountains. This, however, is not a deterrent for Jibreel and her young sister Hila. They are in search of purpose and the evils of the Taliban will not take this notion away from either of them. The very essence of Hila's name means 'hope.'

Rafael is a young African boy. He lives in one of the richest countries on the mighty continent of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a goat herder and spends his days tending to his herd and often ponders his purpose.

Each of these humans have been chosen by a higher power and in time, clarity will resonate for them to make the difference they are intended to achieve. Miguel learns he is named after the archangel Michael; the glorious protector against evil. Jibreel is named after the honorable messenger Gabriel. Rafael was named after the God of love.

Yuri is the conduit that will bring the three chosen together to launch his international peace project. He is privileged and six years earlier, his life consisted of a free-spirited enjoyment in a life as a university student in Moscow. Originally from the Ukraine, he lived a simple life on his family farm until oil was discovered. His life changed from humble beginnings to belonging to a family of great wealth. Unbeknownst to him, he would be the chosen one to unite Miguel, Jibreel and Rafael to solidify their quest of making the world a better place - a place of courage and hope for generations to come.

Julie Halliwell has penned an inspiring body of work. Her direct approach in focusing on the premise of Archangels and the power of belief is poignant throughout this novel. She uses simple language and realistic events that plant a seed of believability across the pages. There is heartache as much as there is victory in the scenes she sets that are anchored with credible dialogue. I applaud Ms. Halliwell for her patience in laying the groundwork through her worlds and delivering the premise of hope to anyone who is willing to embrace the story. The takeaway is a strong message of belief and faith. Well done Ms. Halliwell. I look forward to your next book.

Quill says: Whisperings is a novel of hope and new beginnings that encourages the reader to have a little faith and a whole lot of belief.

For more information on Whisperings, please visit the author's website at: juliehalliwell.com

#BookReview - Just Between Us

Just Between Us

By: Rebecca Drake
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: January 2018
ISBN: 978-1250167200
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rearick
Review Date: January 22, 2018

Alison, Julie, Sarah, and Heather may seem like a typical group of friends. They enjoy coffee after they drop their children off at school, some go to full time jobs while others are stay-at-home moms, but in reality, they are anything but typical. They all are hiding secrets, some more than others, secrets that can not only put them in danger, but hurt their families as well.

Alison works from home with an IT company and Julie works in real estate. Sarah and Heather are both stay-at-home moms. Although these four friends are not extravagantly rich by any means, they do live in a nice neighborhood with very little crime.

One morning as the ladies are settling into their favorite coffee shop, when Alison goes to receive their order, she notices something on Heather's arm. Heather, trying her best to hide it, didn't notice that her sleeve had risen up, exposing a bruise on her arm. When Alison asks her about it, Heather claims she must have bumped into something and brushes it off. Alison, concerned that it could be something more, lets it go, but brings it up to Julie. Alison thinks that it is possible that Heather's husband Viktor is abusing her. Julie doesn't think that there is anything wrong and that Alison is just being a little too paranoid. Julie talks to Sarah and they both agree that Alison is wrong and brush it off. They do not want to believe that Viktor, a well-known surgeon, could be hurting his wife. Although the ladies do not think that Viktor is abusing Heather, they do start to pay attention a little more.

One night while they are all at a party, Julie notices Heather and Viktor talking alone. Julie also notices that Heather looks a little tense while Viktor has a firm grip on Heather's arms. Not wanting them to see her, Julie tries to walk away, but Heather and Viktor notice her and rejoin the party like nothing ever happened. With Alison's theory in her head, Julie starts to wonder if Viktor could be abusing Heather. It isn't until the ladies are at the park with their children and they notice a mark on Heather's stomach, that they realize that Viktor is abusing Heather and that they need to help her.
After this incident, the group decides to have a sort of intervention with Heather. Heather, feeling as if she is being ambushed, finally agrees that Viktor isn’t the awesome doctor who everyone sees and confirms their suspicions. Although the ladies try to convince Heather to leave him, she refuses. Heather also informs the group that she is pregnant, which her friends think is even more of a reason to leave Viktor. As Heather continues to refuse to leave Viktor, her friend's concern continues to grow.

One night as Alison is sleeping, she receives the call that they all have been dreading. Heather calls Alison frantically in the middle of the night. Alison, worried that Viktor is about to do something, is surprised to hear that Viktor is dead. Alison, trying to calm a frantic Heather, rushes over while calling Julie and Sarah along the way. When they all arrive, they try to calm Heather down. Knowing, because of Viktor's injuries, that it would not look like self-defense, they come up with a plan to make it look like a carjacking, and take his car to the spot they picked out. Thinking that it is all over, and that they covered their tracks, they try to go back to normal.

The police begin an investigation and soon, the four friends start to worry that they may not have covered up everything and their nervousness grows. While they are trying to remain calm and continue on as normal, they receive a letter from someone claiming to know what the women did. The blackmailer has photos of that night and is planning on going to the police unless the women pay up.

The women are left to make a decision that could not only harm them, but will also affect their families as well. Their decision will change their lives forever.

Just Between Us is a really great book. The whole story is so suspenseful that I was not able to put it down. It is very well written with a lot of detail that makes you feel like you are there. There are so many twists that just when I thought I knew where it was going, it changed and it was something totally unexpected. When I first began Just Between Us, I thought I knew where the story was going, but admit I was very wrong - and that's part of what made this such a fun read.

Quill says: Just Between Us is a great suspenseful story that will show you just how much your decisions can alter and impact your life. It is a really great read.