Defending the Dead

I just finished reading Defending the Dead by Sheila Connolly.  It is the third book in the Relatively Dead series.  Abby Kimball is currently out of a job, but is using the time to fix up the house where she lives with her boyfriend Ned Newhall.  He purchased a lovely old Victorian that needs a lot of work.  Abby and Ned share a gift.  They can see the dead.  Well, only deceased people who are ancestors.  It seems that they have to be a lineal ancestor.  Abby only discovered her gift when she moved into the area and took a tour of an older home.  Abby can see them, sometimes even talk to them, or see scenes from the past play out front her ancestor’s point of view.  Ned has had the gift since he was young, but he suppressed it (actually, outright ignoring it).  Ned’s mother, Sarah, has the gift, but she did not embrace it either.  Now, though, they have someone else to consider.  Ellie has the gift.  Ellie is Ned’s biological daughter.  Ned’s ex-finance,   married a nice man, George, who cannot have children.  Ned was the donor for both of their children (they have a young son named Peter).   

Leslie has not taken the news of Ellie’s gift very well.  Leslie was also Abby’s boss at the museum, but she fired Abby (I personally do not think that it is fair or legal).  Abby has too much time on her hands to think.  Abby is working on the house, but it leaves her mind keeps whirling.  Abby wants to find out more about her gift and decides that Salem and the witch trials would be a place to start.  Wants Abby gets started, she gets drawn into the history and she wants to know why witch trials happened.

One day Abby gets a call and it is Ellie.  She took a bus to get to Abby.  Ellie misses Abby because she is the only person who understands what she sees and hears.  This makes Leslie realize that she has to let Ellie see Abby.  Ellie and Abby get together one day a week during the summer.  The other days Abby is researching the witch trails and her family lineage.  Will Leslie understand Ellie’s gift?  What will be the outcome of Abby’s research into her Salem ancestors and the witch trials?  Will Ned actually do any work on the house?

Defending the Dead is a good book, but I did not enjoy it as much as the previous two books.  I do not understand why the characters never embraced their wonderful gift nor Leslie’s attitude toward Abby.  This book is also very heavy on the history (I do not mind, but some people might feel bogged down by it).  I give Defending the Dead 4 out of 5 stars.  I enjoy reading Sheila Connolly’s books.  I read all her series (Orchard Mystery Series, Museum Mystery series, the County Cork Mystery series, and the Relatively Dead Mystery series).  For great information on cozy mysteries, check out the Cozy Mystery Blog and website. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for checking out my latest review!  I am off to watch Mr. Selfridge's!  I hope all of you have a wonderful week!  Happy Reading!

Kris

Amish Promises

Amish Promises by Leslie Gould is a lovely Amish fiction book.  It is the first book in The Neighbors of Lancaster County series.  Amish Promises is set in 2004.  Eve Lehman (she is considered an old Maidel) is living with her brother, Tim, who is a widower.  She is helping take care of his five children.  Eve promises Tim’s wife and her best friend, Abra that she would take care of the children.  Eve made a promise to herself that she would never marry an Amish man (she grew up with a harsh father and her brother is very similar).  The farmhouse next door has been empty since Old Mr. William’s passed away.  Eve received a call the current owner’s daughter and son-in-law would be moving in and asked her to tidy the place up.  Eve cleaned up the house and left a special quilt for its new residents.

Shani and Joel Beck along with their son, Zane (he’s twelve) are moving into the farmhouse.  Shani is a pediatric nurse and currently pregnant with their second child.  Joel was injured in Iraq and is having a difficult time.  Shani is hoping the quiet of the country and living in the farmhouse will be helpful and healing for her husband.  Zane is excited that there are children next door.  What they do not know is that Tim Lehman does not like his family to mix with Englischers (he has good reasons).

The day they move in Zane disappears.  Joel, who keeps refusing help, falls down the front steps breaking his leg.  Their landline has yet to be installed and, of course, cell phone reception is nonexistent.  Shani rushes next door to the Lehman’s to use their phone.  Shani finds another emergency in progress.  Zane had gone into the barn, scared a horse, which kicked Simon (one of Tim’s sons).  Simon is unconscious and has a broken jaw.  Two ambulances have to be called.  Tim insists that Zane do Simon’s chores until he is well again (they run a dairy farm). 

Charlie McCall, Joel’s army buddy and family friend, comes down on weekends to help out the family.  He helps them unpack, chop firewood, and plays ball with Zane.  Joel, unfortunately, instead of thankful for the help, sees how useless he is and falls into a worse depression.  Zane, though, takes to the Lehman children right away and they are fast friends.  But you know there is going to be trouble because of Tim.  Shani is struggling to take care of the home, Zane, and Joel.  Joel sits in front of the television all day and he is constantly worrying about everything (the pregnancy, money, and safety). 

Eve loves having Shani nearby and they get to know each other.  The children are soon going in and out of the Beck’s home after school.  Eve also gets to know Charlie (you can see where this is going to go).  Eve is also being courted by the Bishop, Gideon.  Eve, though, does not care for the Bishop and tries to avoid him.  Both families have their troubles and it is going to take something big to bring them together.

I give Amish Promises 5 out of 5 stars.  I really enjoyed reading this book and did not want it to end.  I have tried to summarize the book, but it is difficult.  There is a lot of action in the book (and I did not want to give away any spoilers).  It is a story of two families who seem very different, but they really have a lot in common.  They find a way to work together and respect each others beliefs.  I loved the book’s ending.  If you like Amish fiction, you will enjoy Amish Promises. 

I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for visiting!  I am currently reading Until the Harvest by Sarah Loudin Thomas.  Have a restful evening and Happy Reading!

Kris

Pattern of Betrayal

Pattern of Betrayal by Mae Fox and Amy Lillard is a delightful cozy.  It is the second book in the Vineyard Quilt Mystery series.  Julie Ellis is the manager of the Quilt Haus Inn.  Millie Rogers, the retired owner, has developed a Murder Mystery Weekend and then left it in Julie’s hands while she travels.  The inn is full (some last minute reservations) and Hannah Marks, the cook and baker as well as Julie’s friend (and former assistant), has a delicious menu planned.

They have an unusual assortment of guests, but they all seem interested in the civil war journal/book that Julie found in the basement.  Julie was looking for something to donate to the school auction and came across this unusual book.  Eric Rutherford, book expert, whom Julie consulted about the book told her that the book was only worth a couple of hundred dollars.  The local paper had written an article about the book and it was picked up by other papers.

Julie has everyone get dressed for the murder mystery and dinner (and puts the book in her office).  Everyone is eating while they wait for the mystery to begin with the lights going out after dessert.  Unfortunately, things do not go as planned.  The lights suddenly go out (not at the planned time).  When they finally get the lights on, Alice (one of the guests) is dead!  The police are called and Julie is really hoping to get a different detective.  Luck is not in the forecast for Julie!  Detective Everett Frost arrives.  This is just the beginning of a very long weekend.  The Detective tells the guests that they have to stay for 72 hours. 

The guests are now all leery of each other and start carrying weapons around the house.  Julie along with Daniel Franklin (from Threads of Deceit, the first book in the series) starts investigating to find out who wanted to kill her guest.  Daniel stayed in Straussberg and has opened up the museum.  Then someone steals the Civil War journal.   Julie thinks that there is more to the journal than meets the eye!  Julie and the staff will have their work cut out for them this weekend as they deal with the guests while trying to track down a murderer in their midst. 

I give Pattern of Betrayal 5 out of 5 stars.  It is a charming story with interesting characters.  Pattern of Betrayal is easy to read (can easily be read in a couple of hours).  The mystery, though, was very easy to solve.  You can almost guess who the killer is once you are introduced to all the guests. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading Threads of Deceit before reading Pattern of Betrayal.   I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

Thank you for stopping by and reading my latest review!  My weekend has been too busy.  I thought weekends were supposed to be restful!  I am currently reading Neighing with Fire by Kathryn O'Sullivan.  I hope you are having a great Sunday!  Take care and Happy Reading! 

Kris