Welcome to my May book reviews! These are four and five-star reads from April. 
Three Gates to Hell: Hell’s Detours Can Lead to Heavenly Destinations
“Three Gates to Hell” was a hard book to put down. It is a Christian suspense story set in the Bay Area, which caught my attention as I was born and raised there. Bobby is a prison chaplain in San Quentin who has received a request that he didn’t like. The story flashes back in his time in Vietnam to his career in the Oakland Police Department, and his family life. The little details made it feel like it was a real story being told, not fiction. Bobby is a devoted family man and a hardened cop with a heart. The gritty story weaves his progression to faith, creating a character I rooted for. A well-written faith-based novel I can highly recommend!
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures
By DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Kirya Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pasturino, Maggie Watson, Colleen M. Chesebro
I have enjoyed the Poetry Treasures collections and was eager to read this one. As always, I found a gifted group of international poets. I appreciate how it is set up with the author’s background and then the poetry. There’s symbolic and free-verse poetry with various topics and beautiful images to accompany them. I encountered both familiar and new poets, and each one of them pulled me with their words. A perfect book for a quiet afternoon or to wind down before you go to sleep. I can highly recommend this to any poetry lovers.
Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna
This book, “Burning Butterflies”, offers insight into Southern Africa with stunning art, photos, and poetry. The paintings are stunning, and the personal pictures allowed me to immerse myself in a place I’ve never been. The words, though, not only entertained but educated me about animals I’ve only seen in the zoo. Plus, Ms. Cheadle followed up poems with additional details which I appreciated. I don’t want to pick a favorite poem because I felt like they worked together to tell a story. Worry is expressed for survival for some and how others survive. Plus, there’s a focus on the environment and what grows and blooms there. I can highly recommend this fantastic collection for those who not only care about our planet but love poetry, art, and nature.
The story continues as the different groups escape the volcano’s devastation. Yu’ung leaves her tribe in the hands of B’o as she accompanies the Old One to the mountain clan along with their proto-wolf. This allows the story to be told through more than one point of view and tribes as Yu’ung runs into issues that set them back. Despite the destruction of their environment, there persists a lack of trust among different tribes and species, but it also creates an opportunity for individuals who typically wouldn’t cooperate to do so. Having read the other series and the first book, I was eager to see what happened next. This story didn’t disappoint and had some twists and heart-stopping moments. The growth of Yu’ung into a strong leader is great to watch, and I have a soft spot for the wolves. Character integration feels seamless, yet identifying trustworthy individuals remains difficult. The details though are what draw me in and I feel like I understand as best I can the life our ancestors led. I can’t wait for the third book to see how the journey goes. I can highly recommend this, and it can be read as a standalone, but I’ve enjoyed reading it from the beginning and getting to know the characters better.
By Staci Troilo
“Weeping Boughs Don’t Break” is a family drama that focuses on a woman’s journey to independence, despite everything seeming against her. Claudia’s unexpected divorce is five years behind her. After suffering years of mental abuse and her husband’s cheating, she still lives in the house that carries all those memories, and all the debt. When her now-married ex-husband collapses, she gets a call from her children. They need her. So, as a good mother and a person who puts everyone in front of her, she goes to support them. But instead of giving that support, she finds out she’s responsible for making medical decisions for her ex. His current wife leaves unwilling to care for a sick man. Although Claudia reluctantly agrees to help because of her in-laws and kids, it takes a toll on her and reopens old wounds. The details of her Italian family and their faith added a special level to an already compelling situation. Plus, during all of this, she meets a kind, handsome man who befriends her, just when she needed it. A well-written Christian drama that I found hard to put down and can easily recommend!
By Sarah Penner
A young woman named Olivia is the wife of a famous magician in 1820s Venice. Suffering from amnesia after an accident, she helps her husband on stage, although she has no idea how he does his tricks. The husband appears to use her as a prop, but she is slowly rebelling. When one of their acts produces a fox, she immediately takes charge of it. Her care for the little fox leads her to search places she hasn’t been before. It’s here she discovers a secret. My theories regarding her fate were almost correct, but the truth still surprised me. A short story with an engaging historical setting and fantasy for those who like a bit of mystery, and a twist.
The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers: a Cornelis Drebbel Adventure
“The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers” was my introduction to Ms. Geneviene a few years ago on her blog, part of a weekly series. So, it was fun to revisit the story and read it in a couple of sittings. Felicity is a Victorian woman who refuses to wear the painful corsets with her gowns, but is more comfortable in her trousers. She travels with an alchemist, Cornelius, who isn’t exactly alive. Felicity comes across a young girl, Copper, who needs their help as an orphanage is coming to collect her, with her father missing. Plus, it isn’t only the orphanage that’s interested, including some unusual chimpanzees. Because of the circumstances, Felicity and Cornelius are left with only one option: keep Copper safe. Their search for Copper’s father drives the plot, featuring harmonic tuners, a purple world, villains, and an unusual green fairy. Steampunk and fantasy elements spring to life through vivid settings. An imaginative story that not only kept me entertained but also invested me in Copper, Felicity, and Cornelius’s outcome. I can easily recommend it to those who love an enjoyable steampunk fantasy.
Next week is the Creative Perspective Challenge, which is a week late due to my vacation. Will update soon on that!
Embrace your inner child by reading and reviewing a good book! D. L. Finn (Denise)
Great reviews, Denise! Thanks for sharing!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Denise, on these wonderful authors’ books. I hadn’t heard of The Conjurer’s Wife. It sounds intriguing!
It was a different read for me, Priscilla 🙂 I am glad I ran across a review for it and picked it up!
Oops, sorry, Yvette. My comment was supposed to be a general comment, not a reply to your comment.
Thank you, Yvette 🙂 Happy to share them. Xo
Thanks for the temptations.
Always glad to tempt, Craig 🙂
Great reviews, Denise. I’m happy to say that several of these are on my TBR pile and two are actively being read (I tend to bounce around a bit). Thanks for supporting the authors.
Thank you, Dan 🙂 You are doing some good reading then. I’d confuse myself if I bounced read…lol.
I don’t mix novels, but sometimes, if I’m not in the mood to follow the plot, I’ll read some poetry or a few short stories.
That’s a good way to do it
Lovely reviews, Denise. Congratulations to BF, Liz, Robbie, Jacqui, Staci, Teagan, and Sara.
Thanks very much, John. Hugs.
Thank you, John 🙂 Another great group of books.
Thanks for the shout out, Denise! And I am intrigued by several of your reviews. I haven’t found very many books that appeal on NetGalley so have been looking for more good reads.
Happy to share your excellent read, Jacqui! I haven’t been doing NetGalley because I’m determined to catch up with what on my Kindle, although I know that will never happen 😉 Hope you found something today.
Denise you gem! Cornelis Drebbel was such a fun person to have in my head. Although I hope the real Cornelis is not turning over in his grave about my fictional version of him! LOL. I’m delighted that you enjoyed “The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers: a Cornelis Drebbel Adventure.” Your review means a lot to me.
Wow, Cornelis and I are in terrific company too. What an amazing variety of books. Jacqui’s Badlands cover is particularly gorgeous. Staci’s title is so compelling. You’ve made everything here sound wonderful. Congrats to Robbie, Sarah, BF, Jacqui, and Staci on their marvelous books. Hugs all around.
This story was how I was brought into your world of writing 🙂 So excited to reread it in a book setting. It was a great month of reading and I agree about the covers, too! Hugs right back. Xo
Wonderful that you shared your great reviews of these super talented authors books, Denise. Thanks a lot.
Thank you, Timothy! All good ones 🙂
😊
Denise, I love how you succinctly review the books you read and so many of them! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Balroop. The quality of what I read helps. Xo
So many wonderful reviews, Denise! I also posted my review of Staci’s novel today, and I remember reading Teagan’s serial on her blog featuring Cornelis and Felicity. Congrats to the authors!
Thank you, Teri 🙂 I saw we both had Staci’s review today, how fun! I like rereading the blog serials in book form.
Thanks for these excellent reviews, Denise. I finished Burning Butterflies and completely agree with your thoughts. Badlands is on my book shelf line-up, and the others sound great too. Congrats to all the authors! 💕
Robbie never disappoints. You have some great reading coming up Lauren!
Agreed on both counts, Denise. 🙂
Lots of good reading here. I’ve read and highly recommend Badlands and am reading Weeping Boughs.
xo
It was was some good reading, Sandra. I can wait for Jacqui’s next book! Happy reading with Weeping Boughs xo
Wonderful reviews for our community of authors, Denise. You’ve been busy! That’s what happens when you go on vacation. I’ve only read one of these and only have one on my TBR pile. Thanks for all the great teasers. 🙂
I agree a wonderful community of authors that provide hours of great entertainment. Yes, vacation sure helps conquer some books. Always glad to share! Xo
<3
Thanks for the reviews, Denise!
I have a copy of “Burning Butterflies” I am looking forward to reading.
Teagan’s book sounds great. love her writing. Her new serial is the Bee’s Knees.
Jacqui’s book, the research is mind blowing.
So many books. So little time!
I’m happy to share them, Resa 🙂 You have a great read ahead. I always love the worlds Teagan takes us in! I agree the amount of research Jacqui does is outstanding. I do wish I had that extra reading time too.
Time…
Be well Denise! ❦🌸❦
Hi, Resa. Many thanks for your kind words about “The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers.” As a costume designer you would have loved dressing Felicity, not to mention Cornelis and his quirky personal style, LOL.
Thanks for supporting my blog serial too. Sorry I was so late with this reply. Big hugs.
Big Hugs!
I’m late too. I can only focus on 1 blog at a time… mostly. I’ve been on Art Gowns, so you are actually not late at all.
I would love dressing your characters! They are all very … tasty … in a wardrobe sense.
Somehow, we tend to end up reading a lot of the same books at the same time, Denise. 🙂 All these reviews are great! I can add my recommendation to Badlands, Burning Butterflies and Weeping Boughs Don’t Break! I see more that are intriguing! Thanks for sharing and congrats to these authors!
Hi Denise, thank you for your wonderful reviews of both Burning Butterflies and Poetry Treasures 5, it is appreciated. I have a few of these other books on my TBR and look forward to reading them 💐
Great to see Gwen, Colleen and Liz have more poetry out. AND Can’t wait for your next release:)
Fab reviews Denise. I also enjoyed The Conjuror’s Wife, and I’m now adding Staci’s book. Hugs xx
Thanks, Debby snd gor your recommendation for Conqurors Wife! Hugs back xo
I had a feeling Denise! Lol, I’m always glad to see someone read my recommends. Hugs xx