Review: The Warrior by Ty Patterson

The Warrior by Ty Patterson instantly grips readers with the rape and assault on African women witnessed by Major Zeb Carter. Zeb is a private military contractor who's job is to visit a few villages in North and South Kivu to get information on who's capturing mines and selling the minerals to people in the states. His investigation places his sights on someone who needs to pay for these heinous acts and Zeb is ready for him to pay up. The Warrior is a fast paced debut thriller by Ty Patterson that follows the usual pattern. What makes these types of novels distinct are always their main character. Zeb is an interesting, mysterious guy that intrigues me. There's no doubt he's skilled at his job working for the Agency, I only wish I knew more about him. Where does he come from? What's his motivation? I'm hoping in future novels by this author, he will address the need for more depth in his character. Because no thriller is complete without any sorts of thrills or action, there is more than enough here to keep readers on the edge of their seats. In between these moments are a little choppy, but I found that it was easy enough to follow. Overall, The Warrior is an engrossing, quick read that fans of thrillers won't want to miss. I look forward to reading more by this author. Hopefully Major Zebediah Carter will be his leading character in future novels.  ***

Review: What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

Another great read from Bette Lee Crosby. After reading Spare Change I was more than looking forward to reading more by this author (who also happens to be a goodreads friend). What Matters Most is the story of Louise Palmer and her plans to thwart the move to Florida with her husband Clay Palmer.

Louise is a woman who has planned her life and isn't very keen on change. She has the life she's always wanted in New Jersey. A quilting circle, family, friends, and a life. When Clay receives word that his uncle has left him his home in Tall Pines, Florida, he is more than happy to settle into retirement, sell their home, and move on to fishing and lazying about all day. Louise wants nothing more than to stay put.

The fun thing about What Matters Most is all the southern charm it is laced with. I felt as if I were sitting with a friend, shooting the breeze with my sweet tea hearing a story. A story full of well developed characters, laugh-out-loud moments, superstitions, and some real tension as well. I could definitely relate to Louise even when I thought she was acting ridiculously. Given the background Crosby provides, it's easy to understand why she's the way she is. Louise is a character I won't soon forget especially after reading the scene at a rest station when Yoo runs off. It was hilarious.

Ultimately Bette Lee Crosby has written another superb novel full of the southern charm I've come to expect since reading Spare Change. The story is about what matters most and one woman's journey to figuring that out.  ****

Review: A Delicate Truth by Zoe McKnight

Disclosure: I suggest reading Living in Glass Houses before reading A Delicate Truth

I loved A Delicate Truth by Zoe McKnight even more than the debut novel Living in Glass Houses. A Delicate Truth picks up with Blair, a main character from its predecessorLiving in Glass Houses. As we all know, Blair was harboring a huge secret from her husband that could break their union irrevocably. A Delicate Truth explores the outcome of having that secret.

Zoe McKnight does an excellent job of making Blair real to readers. The novel is told from Blair's point of view so we are able to understand her motivations, although most of the time I did not agree with her. I'm certain she was my least favorite from Living in Glass Houses. Because we are given a more intimate view of her perspective, I can say she's not so bad. Of course there are moments I could have shook her and said "get it together woman!". Eventually, she does grow and McKnight molds her into a character I actually came to care for.

The tension in this book is so strong from the beginning, it's hard to look away and live our own lives. I became so invested in Blair's life that I didn't want to do anything except read on. The secret that controls her life is the source of this tension and there were moments I thought ENOUGH! I can't take it anymore. Something's gotta give.

A great plot, well-developed characters, great pacing, and the hope for resolve is what drives this novel and can't be missed by fans of McKnight. I urge readers to read Living in Glass Houses first. There's mention of those characters and a recurring role for Elle here in A Delicate Truth. I thank Zoe McKnight for writing a followup and I'm interested in finding out what has happened with the lives of others such as Jonathan and Lauryn. I've learned from reading A Delicate Truth that sometimes you just have to put your big-girl panties on and deal with the truth. No matter the consequences.  ****

Review: Imagined Love by Diamond Drake

I took a detour from my usual suspense and horror novels to read the debut novel Imagined Love by Diamond Drake. Although it's not in the normal sense a thriller, I found each page to be more thrilling than the one before. I could not take my eyes off of this novel centered around some of the most interesting characters I've read about in a long time.

Imagined Love opens with the plot primarily centered around Willa Caldwell. She is desperately trying to make sense of the horrible situation she's put her daughter Jade and herself in. Initially the storyline follows the beautiful Willa then shifts to our real heroine Jade. Jade is wise beyond her years because of the home she was raised in. Although this causes her to be a strong, determined woman, it leaves it's marks on her psyche and she develops issues of her own.

Diamond Drake supplies the reader with a plethora of characters. Some forgettable, but most of them not. These characters introduce a host of contentions but also provide good insight that helps our main characters, Jade and Willa, really tackle the obstacles that are in their way. Matters such as abuse, rape, teen promiscuity, love children, welfare queens, life and death, and severely detrimental relationships. As layer after layer is shed, both Jade and Willa develop and become characters we would like to have a drink with some day just to shoot the breeze with and wonder how they made it through.

Jade takes over the plotline during the second half of the book. I realized once she became the starring character that much of the first half seemed a little rushed because it was really laying down the background to the woman who is also the leading lady in For The Love of Jade (sequel to Imagined Love). Readers are able to sympathize with Jade's struggles because of the amount of depth given to her homelife before becoming an adult. Her trust issues, guilt, and moments of low self esteem are given validation.

Ultimately, I can't wait to read more by Diamond Drake. I have For The Love of Jade on ice right now. I am reminded of all my favorite authors when reading Imagined Love. Readers of Terry McMillan, Omar Tyree, and Eric Jerome Dickey are who I'd recommend this novel to. The exploration of relationships, love, and moving on with Jade is a journey not to be missed. ****