The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 20: New Books to Make Your Heart Race

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 20: New Books to Make Your Heart Race - I read this sampler on a dark and stormy night which was the perfect backdrop. This collection offers multiple subgenre flavors with touches of espionage, historical fiction, and romance. Despite telling myself "I'll just take a peek but I do not need more books right now" I did indeed end up grabbing full ARCs of I, Spy by L.M. Kemp and The Anniversary by Alex Finlay, two authors who are new to me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by Mary-Jane Riley

Beattie Cavendish and the Highland Hideaway by Mary-Jane Riley - 4.5 stars This second book in the series charmed me even more than the first and I think as it continues I will become even more attached to the characters. This book featured a terrific sense of place in the chilly Scottish Highlands while expanding the character development of Beattie and Patrick. It also provided more of Beattie's backstory and featured her mysterious uncle. Definitely recommended for fans of historical mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (NetGalley ARC, pub 2/10)

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (NetGalley ARC, pub 2/10) I appreciated the themes around the biracial babies of post-war Germany and the experiences of the three primary characters during the late 40s to late 60s. The story rotates between these three characters before they eventually intersect, but the split focus limits the character development. While some of the story is quite touching, many of the situations feel overly convenient and predictable so it felt somewhat simplistic at times. I think there could be a lot more depth with a tighter focus. It was fascinating to learn that this was largely based on a true story and I hope more of these stories will continue to be told. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (NetGalley ARC, pub 2/17)

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (NetGalley ARC, pub 2/17) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This story started a little bit slow to me and I found the main character's backstory more tedious than sympathetic. But once we made it to the Astral Library the story picked up and I loved how imaginative it was. There were no huge surprises but I enjoyed the ride and the cast of supporting characters, especially The Librarian. A modern story for the timeless value of books and the sanctuary of libraries. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Humor Me by Chris Duffy (NetGalley ARC, pub 1/6)

I’m glad that Ingrid Fetell Lee chose this as the next book club pick as it wouldn’t have been on my radar otherwise. I liked how he wrote about humor in various contexts such as how and when to laugh at yourself (and when that goes too far), how to use humor for social connection, in a political sense, and even to acknowledge grief and resilience. It was also interesting for me to read this as I started a new job and am thinking a lot about establishing new relationships in the workplace. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke (NetGalley ARC, pub 1/20)

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke (NetGalley ARC, pub 1/20) ⭐⭐ I read a teaser in a Minotaur samplers and was intrigued enough to request the full book when it became available. This book had sections that made me enjoy it, but also a lot of cringe moment. I flat out disliked the main character which is a big challenge, and it felt very slow going for much of the book - it was much longer than it needed to be. There was also an interlude where it was trying to be a romance and I just found that unnecessary. By the end I couldn't understand what anyone saw in the MC and why they stood by her, and her growth was minimal and the unraveling of the mystery was just not that satisfying. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon (NetGalley ARC, pub 1/13)

Inside Man (Head Cases #2) by John McMahon (NetGalley ARC, pub 1/13) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book makes me willing to reconsider the thriller genre. You know that feeling when you’re worried you are reading a book too fast, and want to make yourself slow down more to savor it? That happened with this book. It had been a year since the first book in the series, but I was able to drop right back in with the characters and it was just as fast-paced and exciting as the first book. I hope there are more books coming and this author is now an auto-read for me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.