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:
Category Archives: Book Reviews – Fiction
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:
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:
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:
‘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”?
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
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:
What’s ‘Secret’ About “The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez”?
The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez
By Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Hyperion Books, 2008
Via: Library
Genre: YA
Pages: 332
Note: We read this book awhile back. Recently re-discovered it. Thought it rates a revisit. So here ya go:
Sonia Rodriguez is the family work camel. The oldest daughter in a family of nine, the 15 year-old wants to keep her grades up and the first member of her family to graduate from high school.
But the demands of caring for her pregnant-with-twins mother (“Sonia….. Ayudame!”) who spends all day, every day watching Spanish soaps, plus cooking, cleaning and caring for her younger siblings as well as endless trips to the tienda for cervezas for her loutish “drunkle” are overwhelming. “In mi cultura,” Sonia explains – a culture she both loves and hates – “familia es todo.” (Family is everything.)
‘Worst Hero Ever’ Has the Right Stuff – And Milk
Worst Hero Ever
By Archer Thorn (Blackstone Publishing, April 2025)
Genre: Fiction: Fantasy/Sci Fi/Humor/Action-Adventure
Pages (print): 211 + Glossary)
Via: Author Request
Riddles? Secret doors? Some faceless evil pulling the strings? A dead sister who may not be dead? Double-crosses? Betrayals? All kinds of techno gizmos and mechanical doodads with minds of their own? What could possibly go wrong?
Kimber: Wait! Wait! The first thing you need to know about this book is that it’s about me! Kimster the Amazing! Kimster the PAWsome! Kimster the marvelous wonder dog and stupendously splendiferous and seriously stunning super hero!
Mom: Dial it back a little, will ya Kimmi?
Kimber: What? Okay, okay. I s’pose we better go on with the book review?
Mom: Not much gets past you, does it?
Kimber: That’s what super heroes do. Nothing gets past us! Unlike that Jim Riven “worst” guy in this new fantasy book. So just remember. I’m the Real Deal, okay?
Since you asked Real Nice, here’s the 4-1-1 on the book:
‘Little Joe’ and Kimber’s New Best Bud
Kimber: I can’t come to the blog right now. I’m off to play with my new best bud, Little Joe.
Mom: The guy from Bonanza?
Kimber: Bo-whatza? Naw.
This Little Joe is a sweet and adventurous little pup. He lives with his hooman Anne and her fam in a farmhouse at the end of a long country road in this delightful new children’s book by Mike Darcy. I’ll let Mom fill ya in:
The 4-1-1
Little Joe is friends with a big green bullfrog named Hopper. The puppy accepts Hopper’s invite to the frog’s home for some “lovely fly soup.” Little Joe’s not too sure about the menu. But he likes to explore. Like another sweet furry face we all know and love. Anyway, the puppy takes Hopper up on his offer.
En route to Hopper’s pad, it starts raining. Hard. Think Noah. The friends decide to shelter in the forest. New places! New smells! New… danger?
Uh-Oh
Well. When Little Joe the not-Bonanza-guy takes off after a deer, the duo winds up lost. And face to fur with a hungry bear.
Kimber: I see those looks. Like when your faces gets all scrunched up and worrified. Not to Fret, Cookie. Our intrepid hero pup also winds up finding friends in unexpected places.
Lithe and lively, Little Joe and the Big Rain is a little Androcles and the Lion. A little Goldilocks. And maybe a bit Narnia. It’s well-written, structurally sound, and ripe for a sequel. The illustrations are adorable. (Kimber: Not as adorable as me, of course. But that’s a mighty high bar.)
Beautifully written with vibrant descriptions and vivacious storytelling, this book grabbed us on page one. It kept us following Little Joe and his adventures until the very end.
So if you or someone you know is looking for an engaging and entertaining read for the little’uns, Little Joe and the Big Rain fills the bill. If you’re looking for a new best bud, kindly get in line. Behind Kimber.
Our Rating:
4.5
