Return to the Shack by William P. Young - A Book Review

  

When The Shack was first release, I read it, talked my husband into reading it, and then we bought quite a few copies as gifts for others whom we wanted to have the experience of reading this story. So, I was so excited to learn that a sequel was to be released. Unfortunately, I had an unsettled feeling as I read this book that did not go away. I can't place my finger on what caused it, but at the 52 percent mark on my Kindle, I chose to walk away. Nothing about the book has drawn me back to finish it even though I had made it just past the halfway mark. I imagine this book will be perfect for some reader, who will then tell others about it, and buy gift copies. It just won't be me. 

The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay - A Book Review

  

Just because World War II was over didn't mean all the spies had returned home. Not all spies fit the stereotype. The Cold War years proved both of these things to be true. Katherine Reay makes the most of these facts as she leads readers into a place and time of great intrigue where only the most observant of people could piece together what was likely taking place behind closed doors.

Gemma Brown is a delightful character. While content with simple pleasures such as a cup of tea, a good book to read, and a comfortable bedsit to live in, Gemma strives to improve herself and her life. Her frequent rushing into new endeavors may have lead to brief brushes with disaster, readers will enjoy watching her self-confidence grow as she becomes more aware of her own strengths. Being driven by a sense of justice, a keen sense of observation, and a passion for mystery novels, Gemma begins to unravel something that British Intelligence had failed to do for quite some time.

Reay is able to weave a tense time in history, including the psychological toll it had on everyday life in the village of Great Rollright in Oxfordshire, England, with a spy mystery that would have made Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers proud. Reay has written the book in a way that made me feel as if I had stepped right into the story: meeting friends at the pub for dinner, bicycling long distances, and learning to bake right alongside our heroine. I highly recommend The Undercover Bookshop and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.