Pages & Paws

Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie

Category Archives: Book Reviews – Fiction


by Leave a comment

‘The Story She Left Behind’ & A Little Bit of Pixie Dust…

The Story She left Behind

By Patti Callahan Henry (Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2025)

Genre: Fiction/Historical Fiction

Pages (print): 339

Via: Library

Talith: When the sky breaks open; transformation that changes you into who you are meant to be; into your very essence.

Kimber: I won’t grow up,
(I won’t grow up)
I don’t want to go to school.
(I don’t want to go to school)
Just to learn to be a parrot,
(Just to learn to be a parrot)
And recite a silly rule.
(And recite a silly rule)…

Mom: Kimmi, what in the world are you doing?

Kimber: I’m putting that book we just finished to music. You know. That one you said was – and I quote: “One of the most remarkable historical fiction/fantasy novels I’ve read in years.”

Mom: Oh. You mean Patti Callahan Henry’s The Story She Left Behind?

Kimber: Bingo! Now step away from the pixie dust and tell the peeps about this Totally PAWsome book already.

Mom: Roger that. Here goes:

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

DOUBLE the Fun With These 2 Thrillers

Two thriller/suspense novels set in The Great Outdoors. By two different authors. One’s set in the Cowboy State. The other, Big Sky Country. One is by an outdoor/Western author we know well. The author is by someone we’ve heard of before. Both pack a wallop. Here’s why:

Continue reading →


by 1 Comment

Why This Book Left One of Us Speechless

Strangers in Time

By David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, 2025)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Via: Library

Pages (Print): 431

Kimber here. Telling you to hold on to your kibble. Or whatevs. Cuz Her Momness and I? We just finished one of them thar “barn burner” thingies. It’s historical fiction. Set in an oft-overlooked epoch. By an author who’s not exactly known for historical fiction. But this fella? Even though David Baldacci’s an acclaimed, best-selling author of action/thriller tomes, he doggone outdogg-ies his-self with Strangers in Time.

I know. I’m adorable.

I’ll let Mom tell ya more:

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

Surprised in Spades by ‘Legends of the North Cascades’

Legends of the North Cascades

By Jonathan Evison (Algonquin Books, 2021)

Genre: Fiction

Pages (print): 338

Via: Library

Ever grab a book that surprised the stuffin’ outta you? You thought it was about one thing. But it turned out to be something else entirely?

That happened to Her Royal Momness and I the other day. Swooping into The Book Place, Mom only had about five minutes to snatch some new-to-her titles off the shelves. So, cuz she loves the Northwest and the Cascades are like, Totally Pawesome, she took a chance on an unfamiliar title and an author we’ve never heard of.

When the cloak of night descended, and they were awash in the light of the stars, spattered cold and white across the bowl of night, the world seemed all at once larger and more mysterious.

Were we ever surprised. Like this:

Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

New MG Sci Fi a Kick in the Pants

Rieden Reece and the Dark Shadow

By Matt Guzman (Mindfast Publishing, July 2025)

Genre: Middle Grade/YA Fantasy

Pages (Kindle): 257

Via: Author Request

“We’ve got a million things to do and ten seconds to do them.”

Rieden Reece is busy. He must save his big bro. His Mom. Himself. And rescue humanity from AI “integration” (think The Borg). As in, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. So no pressure, broseph in this delightful and uber absorbing sci fi adventure for middle grade readers and up.

Here’s the 4-1-1:

Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

New Holocaust Novel Packs a Punch!

The Ruins in Which We Bleed: A Gripping Holocaust Novel Inspired by a Heartbreaking True Story (World War II Historical Fiction Book 3)

By Steve N. Lee (Blue Zoo, June 2025)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages (print): 356

Via: Author request

“Run, Helena. Run!”

Mama’s terror-stricken shout echoes through the Warsaw sewers as Mama and daughter Helena flee marauding Nazis while the Warsaw ghetto goes up in smoke in this uber engaging and thoroughly absorbing historical fiction read set during World War II.

Having lost her entire family to disease and German brutality when the Sliwickis are forced into the infamous Warsaw ghetto, Helena hesitates when Mama tells her to run. But when the Germans grab Mama, Helena obeys. Running for her life, Helena soon realizes she’s lost everything. And everyone. Everyone.

Except Sparkle the cat.

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

New YA Adventure Rocks – or – Scraps to the Rescue!

Within the Crystal Mountain

By. J.L. Putney (Indie author)

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages (print): 295

Via: Author request

When you feel most alone, not alone, are you…

Kimber here. Being all Magnificent and everything. Telling you about this really cool Young Adult fantasy-ish book Mom and I just finished. It’s called Within the Crystal Mountain. By J.L. Putney. And it is absolutely de-barkful! (Mom: That’s Kimber speak for “delightful.” Go figure.)

Naw….

Now. Most hoomans will probably think this book is about magic and some kind of epic quest thingy. Naw. It’s really about my new best friend, Scraps the dog. Yeah. Scraps. More on that in a min. So kindly keep your shirt on, Toots.

Squirrel!

Wait. Where was I?

Oh yeah. Basic plot and stuff. Well:

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

‘Divine Justice’ an Adrenaline Rush!

Divine Justice

By David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, 2008)

Genre: Fiction- Thriller, Action/Adventure

Via; Library Book Sale

Pages (Print): 387

He’s lost beloved friends. His wife. And his daughter. And with two pulls of the trigger, Oliver Stone has become the most hunted man in America. Meanwhile, whoever thought a sleepy little coal mining town in the hinterlands of Virginia would end up like the Wild, Wild West? But it doesn’t take long in this David Baldacci page turner.

Well. At least “John Carr” is finally dead. But can the same be said about the shadowy “Camel Club” and the even shadowier “Triple Six Division of the CIA” – aka: the agency’s “political destabilization arm”?

Continue reading →


by Leave a comment

5 Thrillers: Which Are High Octane, Which Run Out of Gas?

Fort Knox

Mom and I recently came back from a trip to Fort Knox. Aka: The lobal library book sale. We brought home a boatload of titles on everything from high altitude climbing and historical fiction to action/adventure, whodunits and murder mysteries. Thirty-two titles for under ten buckaroos.

Oh yeah.

On that last book category. We nabbed some authors we’ve never heard of. And one we offered a second chance. Cuz we’re all nice and gracious-y. Sometimes. (Tip: The last James Patterson book we read was coma-inducing. Just sayin’.)

Anywho. The thriller thingies we’re gonna look at today are Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn. Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman. 21st Birthday by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Unfinished Business by J.A. Jance. And The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. Which are worth reading? I’ll let Mom tell ya more: Continue reading →


by 2 Comments

Why ‘Cross Roads’ Will Make You Want to Sing

Cross Roads

By Wm. Paul Young (Faith Words, Hachette Book Group, 2012)

Genre: Fiction/Inspirational

Pages: 286

Via: Library Book Sale

Kimber: Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay/My, oh my, what a wonderful day…

Mom: You’re awful chipper today.

Kimber: I’m always chipper. Especially when there’s a nice, juicy pot roast hangin’ around unattended. Or when we stumble upon a gem of a book at a library book sale.

Mom: You mean Cross Roads? That we picked up for like, a quarter at the library book sale?

Kimber: Bingo! I’ll let Her Royal Momness fill you in:

Continue reading →