This was a powerful and thought provoking book about compassion and suffering. While it is set during Jesus’ fasting in the desert, the narrative focuses more on the other people in the same area and their struggles and dreams. I especially liked the interactions between the women Miri and Marta.

I liked this urban fantasy featuring witch Rachel Morgan and her friends and allies. I especially liked the way she learned how to harness the ley line power within her. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, A Fistful of Charms.

This was a good depiction of a world in which the fantastical becomes real. I liked the interactions between the characters, especially Gwynn and the Rev.

While the plot sometimes got confusing, I enjoyed this thriller featuring the creators of The Shadow and Doc Savage. I especially liked the interactions between Gibson, Dent and Hubbard.

This book was an intense thriller in the Sara Linton/Grant County series, focusing mostly on Lena Adams and her struggle to identify the killer while dealing with her own personal issues. I liked the character interactions and the plot moved along well.

I enjoyed this collection of short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, especially the ones “The Siren of Sennen Cove” and “A Hansom for Mr. Holmes”. I also liked the essay “100 Years of Sherlock Holmes” which looked at how the Holmes character has been portrayed over the years on stage and film.

This was a very moving and complicated book about a boy trying to make sense of the world in his own unique way. I especially liked the alternating storylines between Oskar’s search for the lock and his grandparent’s experiences in World War II and afterwards. I also liked the use of photographs in the book.

I enjoyed this book of parallel worlds as Miriam discovers the truth about her mother and learns about a family she never knew. I liked how she uses her skills as a journalist to uncover secrets and I look forward to reading the next book in the Merchant Princes series, The Hidden Family.

This was a good fantasy fable about learning what’s important in life and what’s not. I liked the main character, William Bogart Ingersol, aka “Big the Dog,” even when he recounts his past behavior. I also liked the interactions between “Big” and the creatures and people of the Fair Lands.

This was a quiet, contemplative mystery regarding a missing parrot who may know some secret information. While the mystery itself was not that engaging, I did enjoy reading about Sherlock Holmes in his retirement years and how taking care of bees became a solace to him after years of detection.