Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

Invasive Species

Book Summary

The women in Cold Harbor all have something to prove, and they'll have to do it in a world full of monsters.

Something’s not right in Cold Harbor—more so than usual. While this sleepy small town has seen its fair share of monsters in cheating husbands and leering bosses, none are as hungry as Mrs. Smith. The mysterious resident has finally emerged from her crumbling mansion on the hill, mesmerizing the townspeople with her beauty. Her secret? Nine human sacrifices to feed her immortality.

Natalie Scott is more worried about Mrs. Smith blocking her first real estate sale—the one that will take her from stay-at-home mom to working woman extraordinaire. She's eager to prove herself in a world where the social mores of 1980s suburbia reign, where she's expected to keep a magazine-perfect home and raise beautiful children, all while sticking to her husband's budget. Natalie's two best friends are facing their own demons, and Mrs. Smith and her deep, dark woods are an easy scapegoat for everyone's problems.

But Natalie's twelve-year-old daughter, Jill, and her Icelandic housekeeper, Una, can sense something deeper at play. Armed with library books and a whole lot of grit, Jill and Una team up to save the town once and for all. But as the rest of Cold Harbor sinks into anger, fear, and jealousy, they’ll have to confront the question: What does it really mean to be a monster?

My Thoughts

Invasive Species by Ellery Adams is a departure from the author’s charming cozy mysteries.   Invasive Species is a unique blend of several genres into one engaging story.  It is an amusing story that will have you laughing often.   The multiple POV enhanced the story (added another layer to it).  The book is reminiscent of classic eighties science fiction films (had a bit of humor, horror, suspense, paranormal).  You cannot help but love a story that has you cringing one minute and laughing the next.  Invasive Species provided an enjoyable escape from everyday routines.

Invasive Species can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find Ellery Adams' other novels here.  Ellery Adams has The Liars' Book Club coming out October 27.  It is the ninth A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel.  

Thank you for joining me today.  I will be sharing my thoughts of The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson on Thursday, April 16.  I am still working on our storage shed.  I did not realize that I owned so many inflatables.  I am getting them sorted (by holiday), rolled tightly, and stored into storage totes (making sure they are labeled). We also have more Christmas decorations than I realized (my mother's favorite holiday).  I am trying to get all the outdoor projects done before the 90 degree weather hits.  I am currently reading A Child to Bind Them by Donna Gartshore. This is one of the great books coming out at the end of the month.  I hope that you have a wonderful Wednesday.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini

 The Patchwork Players

Book Summary

The cast of a smash TV show arrives at a quilter’s retreat for a week of camaraderie and creativity that takes some surprising twists in this heartwarming new installment of Jennifer Chiaverini’s much-beloved Elm Creek Quilts series.

Acclaimed TV actress Julia Merchaud almost can’t believe her good fortune. Her beloved historical drama, A Patchwork Life, revived her career and made stars of several younger actors. But Julia’s happiness turns to dismay when she learns that the hit show will have only one more season. Can she convince everyone to stay just a little longer?

Inspiration comes after a conversation with Summer Sullivan, one of the expert quilters who helped Julia prepare for her role. When Summer confides that Elm Creek Quilt Camp is in financial trouble, Julia concocts a brilliant plan that will help the Elm Creek Quilters and herself.

Julia sets about persuading the cast and crew to join her for what she promises will be a marvelous week at a luxurious nineteenth-century mansion amid the autumnal splendor of central Pennsylvania, a creative and dynamic working vacation they’ll never forget. Secretly, she hopes the bonding experience will convince them to abandon their other plans and sign on for another few seasons. But after several joyful days of quilting and camaraderie, Julia’s scheme takes an unexpected turn. Soon she’ll have to make hard choices about which matters more—career or friendship.

My Thoughts

I have read all The Elm Creek Novels, and I have been looking forward to reading The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini.  I found The Patchwork Players to be a letdown.  It is not of the same caliber as the majority of the books in the series.  The majority of the book is spent with Julia Marchaud and the cast of her show in Los Angeles.  I liked the close bond that Julia formed with the other members of the Elm Creek Quilt Camp. Elm Creek Quilters always deliver on a warm and friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and a chance to learn quilting techniques from quilt masters.  

Quilting is not at the forefront of this story, which is disappointing.  The pacing is leisurely and there is quite a bit of repetition.  Some of the repetitive details are reminiscent of details from earlier books.  A plus is that The Patchwork Players can be read as a standalone thanks to those details.  Don’t get me wrong, The Patchwork Players is a good story.  However, It is not what I have come to expect from this author.  

The Patchwork Players can be purchased from Amazon*.  You can find the other novels in The Elm Creek Quilts Series here.  If you follow Jennifer Chiaverini on Amazon, they will notify you when she has a new book release. Other books out today are More Than Friends by Denise Hunter, The Family Tree Murders by Laura Hern, The Lost Story of Via Belle, and Invasive Species by Ellery Adams (this is a departure from the authors usual cozy mysteries).  On Wednesday, April 14, I am sharing my thoughts on  The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson.  I hope that you have a delightful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore

. 

The Last Quiet Autumn

About the Book

Book: The Last Quiet Autumn

Author: Loni Kemper Moore

Genre: Christian historical fiction with strong faith themes

One letter stitched a family together. Now, with war on the wind, only love—penned note by note—holds the threads in place.

Autumn 1941

Three young women—strangers to one another—each receive an alluring invitation they cannot and dare not refuse—Thanksgiving dinner in Texas with a mysterious ninety-year-old woman.

Virginia Campbell, a poised Boston socialite on the brink of marrying into a powerful political family, is entrusted with a delicate family mission—one that could jeopardize the perfect wedded life she so carefully planned.

Eulalia Bell, a spirited nursing graduate, earned her scholarship in Nebraska thanks to the Orphan Train. But the truth of her past threatens the career she’s fought hard to build.

Francesca Smythe, a resilient wife and mother on an Oklahoma ranch, survived the Dust Bowl and Depression. She longs for the warmth and connection of a true family. When the letter arrives, she wonders if it holds the key to the belonging she’s yearned for all her life.

As secrets unfold and pasts entwine, these three women are drawn to a truth that will reshape their lives—about love powerful enough to face a potential world at war, desires too strong to be silenced, and the courage to claim their place in history.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Loni Kemper Moore is a sports-cheering, Diet-Pepsi-sipping, Rocky Mountain–adventure-seeking storyteller who longs to reflect God’s beautiful love through life’s hardest places, especially for remarkable women around the globe.

A preacher’s kid at heart though her father joined her mother in Heaven, Loni’s wanderlust was sparked early by family and missionary stories. She has visited more than a dozen countries, learning from other cultures while often experiencing life as “the other.” Though she attended multiple schools as a minority and later discovered African heritage through DNA testing, she approaches those experiences with humility rather than assumption.

Loni earned bachelor’s degrees in Education and Biblical Studies from the former Denver Baptist Bible College and completed graduate work in Education at the University of Evansville.

A Jesus-following history enthusiast, Loni was named Leonnie Sue after generations of strong women. Leonnie was her maternal great-grandmother, who died during the Influenza Pandemic, leaving behind her husband and four teenagers. Sue traces through the family tree to Susanna Dean, who stepped off a ship in Korea, Maine, in the 1640s. These inherited collections of more than 500 spoons; stories of faith, endurance, and love deeply shape Loni’s writing.

Her novel The Last Quiet Autumn came to life after cousin reunions on both sides of her family stirred memories of childhood gatherings at her grandparents’ homes—one on a Loudoun County, Virginia farm and the other on a southern Colorado ranch. Reflecting on shared family experiences and her parents’ childhood just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Loni began to wonder how different her life might have been without nearly two dozen cousins spread across four time zones. That question sparked a story that grew far beyond her original imagination.

When she isn’t writing, Loni is visiting friends, studying history, and exploring meaningful places—like the Cherwell River near Oxford, UK where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once walked. During a trip to Swindon, England, she visited the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met, a moment that proved especially encouraging.

Loni is the proud mom of Adam, a CAD engineer and YouTuber; Becca and Anthony, who made her a delighted grandmother of her “GrandMiracles,” Naomie and Zemira; and a frequent traveler with her beloved “Hugsband,” Robert, an embedded engineer. A granddaughter of ranchers and farmers, Loni holds close the legacy of trusting God through tragedy—faith that carried her grandparents and parents through the World Wars and continues to anchor her stories today.

More from Loni

I can still picture my grandmother standing at her farmhouse stove, cracking open precious eggs she’d just sold back to herself. The surplus eggs were sold to allow her to buy rationed products.

One recipe she made regularly was this ‘Wacky Cake’—a chocolate cake so frugal it needed no eggs, butter, or milk. While historians debate the exact origin of the name, the most likely explanation is that it earned its playful moniker from the unconventional method of mixing everything directly in the baking pan—no bowl required. Homemakers could hardly believe a cake without eggs or butter would actually rise and taste good. But it does!

As a child spoiled by Betty Crocker mixes, I had to admire her ingenuity, even if I couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm for the taste. When my character Chessa bakes in ‘The Last Quiet Autumn,’ I drew directly from recipes like this one. Understanding how women stretched ingredients during wartime rationing helped me write scenes that felt authentic.

Have you tried Depression-era recipes? I’d love to hear about your family’s resourceful traditions from that era.

It reminded me how faith, like that cake, often rises when we least expect it to.

Wacky Chocolate Cake

(a.k.a. Depression Cake or Crazy Cake)

Circa 1940s

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
• ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup cold water

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In an ungreased 8×8-inch square baking pan, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Make three wells in the dry mixture:

o   In one well, pour the vanilla.

o   In the second, the vinegar.

o   In the third, the oil.

       4.  Pour the cold water over everything and mix well with a fork or whisk until 

            smooth.

       5.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes 

            out clean.

       6.  Let cool in the pan. Dust with powdered sugar or enjoy plain.

My Thoughts

The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore is a historical novel told from the perspectives of three women.  The characters are well rounded and from different backgrounds.  The author effectively conveyed the historical context, demonstrating thorough research on the era.  I could not believe that a trained nurse could not get a job unless she could produce a birth certificate.  The alternating chapters made it hard to get into the story at first, but once engaged, I was eager to see what happened next.  I thought that the epilogue was unique and suited that period of time.  The Last Quiet Autumn is an enjoyable historical tale with a startling letter, train travel, meeting Mimi, a noteworthy Thanksgiving, rodeo nursing, a shattering radio broadcast, and finding family.

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loni is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click HERE to enter.  Good Luck!

The Last Quiet Autumn Celebration Tour Giveaway

The Last Quiet Autumn can be acquired from Amazon*.  The first two books in the Silver Receiver Series are Faith Lights a Flame and Hope Travels Through.  All three books can be read for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited.

I will return on Tuesday, April 14 with The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini.  It is the twenty-fourth The Elm Creek Quilts novel.  My front yard Easter display is down and I am now ready to set up my spring display (flower and cute baby animal inflatables).  We shall have to wait and see how it turns out.  I hope that you have a lovely spring weekend. Don't forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry.   Take care and Happy Reading.  

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 9

Stories By Gina, April 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 11

Simple Harvest Reads, April 12 (Author Interview)

A Simple Texas Girl, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Artistic Nobody, April 14 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 15

Guild Master, April 16 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 17

Fiction Book Lover, April 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Vicky Sluiter, April 20 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 20

Lily’s Corner, April 21

For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Author Interview)

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

How many of you do this?  I never go anywhere without a book or my Scribe.

*This post contains affiliate links

The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green

The Manhattan Confessions

Book Summary

The streets of New York are brimming with secrets, and discovering the truth means navigating danger, deception, and an unexpected romance.

Ivy Malone, a New-York Historical Society librarian, is dedicated to preserving Manhattan's rich history, but when society grand dame Adeline King anonymously reveals her shocking life story, Ivy finds herself holding a highly coveted secret. Burdened with the responsibility of keeping Adeline's identity hidden, the matter grows increasingly complicated when two men claim ties to the elderly woman--one of them accusing Adeline of involvement in a crime.

Another dilemma brews when Ivy's Italian cousin, Gina, is detained at Ellis Island for lack of proper documentation. Hoping an immigration service can resolve the misunderstanding, Ivy employs their help but is instead thrust into a dangerous world. With time running out, she must unravel the tangle of secrets that bind Adeline's past, Gina's freedom, and her own safety. Who can she trust, and how far is she willing to go to protect those she loves?

My Thoughts

The Manhattan Confessions by Joceyln Green transported me to the 1920s in New York City.  I thought the characters were developed and engaging.  I can tell that the author did her research on the New York Historical Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Ellis Island, and the immigration policies as well as immigration quotas.  We get to see the difficulties immigrants faced when immigrating to America. If they did not have the requisite documents, a sponsor, good health, or enough money, they would not gain entry, or they could languish on Ellis Island for months.   I thought it was terrible the way people took advantage of immigrants.  As we see in the story, secrets always have a way of becoming known.  The Manhattan Confessions is the third On Central Park novel and can be read independently.  The author skillfully blends history, romance, suspense, secrets, friendship, intrigue, and family into a compelling novel.

The Manhattan Confessions can be acquired from Amazon*.  The first two On Central Park novels are The Metropolitan Affair and The Hudson Collection.  You can find Jocelyn Green's other novels here.  I hope that I have helped you find a new book, series, and/or author today.  I love to browse the shelves at bookstores and libraries because it is the best way to find new books, authors, and series.  On Thursday, April 9, I am featuring The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore.  May your day be filled with smiles and kindness.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson

Targeted in the Swamp

Book Summary

Hunted by killers.

And time is running out fast…

Laurel Bell’s first day as a wildlife photography ranger takes a treacherous turn when she is nearly drowned by a masked assassin. Her witness protection cover has been blown, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her attacker returns to finish the job. Her only chance at survival is police sergeant Heath Calhoun, who will do anything to deliver Laurel to her marshal handler. But when Heath’s young daughter is taken hostage, the stakes are raised, and now they must race to outsmart the powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to exact their revenge…

My Thoughts

Kerry Johnson's Targeted in the Swamp quickly captured my interest.  I  enjoyed the suspense, mystery, danger, and the non-stop action.  The plot is well done with engaging characters, unexpected twists, and a fast pace.  My favorite character was Heath’s darling  and precocious daughter, Piper.  I thought the interactions between Laurel and Heath were realistically portrayed.  Laurel's fear was palpable as her assailants continued to pursue her (it had my heartbeat ramping up). The author's vivid portrayal of Allegheny National Park made it easy for me to imagine its scenery.  Targeted in the Swamp is the third Forest Ranger Rescuers book, but it works as a standalone. Targeted in the Swamp combines suspense, romance, danger, mystery, strong characters, and faith—everything I appreciate in romantic suspense.   

Targeted in the Swamp can be obtained from Amazon* and Harlequin.  The first two books in the Forest Ranger Rescuers series are Hunted in the Forest and Abducted in the Woods.  Cold Case Arson Investigation is the fourth book in the Forest Ranger Rescuers series and it will be out on October 27. You should check out Kerry Johnson's other novels.   JustRead Publicity Tours has a Targeted in the Swamp giveaway on Instagram.  Click here to check it out!  Good Luck!

Thank you so much for joining me today.  Those that celebrate the holiday, I hope that you had a lovely Easter weekend.  I will return tomorrow, April 8 with The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green.  It is the third On Central Park novel.  I am off to drop off a few things around the village. This is when I am glad that I have a golf cart (my cat, Dickens, prefers her stroller to the golf cart). Don't forget to check out the Targeted in the Swamp giveaway on Instagram. May you have a sunny spring day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly

The Barn Identity

Book Summary

The eighth in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, where the real estate market is to die for.

In Nashville, carpenter Whitney Whitaker is ecstatic when the owner of an antebellum livery stable approaches her about rehabbing the barn and offers Whitney free rein with the design. While unproven, it’s rumored that the building once served as part of the Underground Railroad. The project presents a unique opportunity to work on a site of significance and help preserve history, and she convinces her cousin to take a chance on the old property.

When a local journalist reporting on the renovation is found dead on the property, investigators suspect he might have been murdered for any one of several exposés he’d published about local politicians, movers, and shakers. Whitney wonders if there’s more to the story and whether the journalist’s fate might be tied directly to the stable renovation. Can she solve the murder and bring a killer to justice? Or might this goal be too lofty?

My Thoughts

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly takes Whitney Whitaker Flynn and her cousin, Buck to Leipers Fork, Tennessee.  I always look forward to the latest A House-Flipper Mystery because I like the characters, the animals, and the setting.  Whitney is a spunky woman who is also smart, a talented designer and renovator.  Whitney and her husband are expecting their first baby.  They are excited and wondering how the new baby will change their lives.  I enjoy the chapters from Sawdust’s (Whitney’s cat) point of view.    I find them cute. I have a feeling that Sawdust is going to be a little put out by the new addition to the family.

The mystery of the murdered podcaster was appealing.  I followed Whitney as she asked questions and searched for clues.  The source of the last puzzle piece truly delighted me. The barn renovation was interesting plus it added realism to the story.  The information on plant-based diets was not something that I had heard before (I avoid vegetables since I am allergic to most of them).  I liked the animal cameras with the live feeds in the restaurant (clever idea).  The Barn Identity is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a pregnant renovator, a snuggly Sawdust, a barn renovation, a murdered podcaster, scrummy smoothies, and a cow camera.  

The Barn Identity can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find the other books in The House-Flipper Mysteries here.  If you follow Diane Kelly on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  You can find Diane Kelly's other cozy mysteries here.  

I appreciate you joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, April 7 with Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson. It is the third Forest Ranger Rescurers book.  I hope that you have a Happy Easter and the Easter Bunny leaves your favorite candy (I want Werther's Soft Caramels).  I have my Mother's Easter treats ready and I have purchased the items for our Easter dinner. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.