The First Emma By Camille Di Maio

Camille Di Maio's fifth novel THE FIRST EMMA is the true story of Emma Koehler, whose tycoon husband Otto was killed in a crime-of-the-century murder by one of his two mistresses--both also named Emma--and her unlikely rise as CEO of a brewing empire during Prohibition. When a chance to tell her story to a young teetotaler arises, a tale unfolds of love, war, beer, and the power of women.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/First-Emma-Camille-Maio/dp/1948018764/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587743944&sr=8-1

Camille recently left an award-winning real estate career in San Antonio to become a full-time writer. Along with her husband of twenty-two years, she enjoys raising their four children. She has a bucket list that is never-ending, and uses her adventures to inspire her writing. She's lived in Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California, and spends enough time in Hawai'i to feel like a local. She's traveled to four continents (so far), and met Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. She just about fainted when she had a chance to meet her musical idol, Paul McCartney, too. Camille studied political science in college, but found working on actual campaigns much more fun. She overdoses on goodies at farmers markets (justifying them by her support for local bakeries) and belts out Broadway tunes whenever the moment strikes. There's almost nothing she wouldn't try, so long as it doesn't involve heights, roller skates, or anything illegal. Her books include:

THE MEMORY OF US - Amazon bestseller, finalist for the Holt Medallion Award for Literary Excellence.
BEFORE THE RAIN FALLS - Holt Medallion finalist, GDRWA finalist
THE WAY OF BEAUTY - Amazon bestseller in the UK and Australia
THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS- Pulpwood Queens Book Club Pick, Once Upon a Book Club Pick
THE FIRST EMMA

She appreciates you stopping by, and welcomes you to reach out and share a love of books!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/camilledimaio.author
Twitter: www.twitter.com/camilledimaio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/camilledimaio 

My Thoughts...
I read this book as part of a tour. I must say that this historical was very well researched and I enjoyed it. I learned a lot.
This is a must read for historical lovers. I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Promise at Pebble Creek By Lisa Jones Baker

Amish country girl Hannah Lapp lives for adventure—the kind found in favorite novels and the stories she secretly writes. And at her family’s popular tourist store, she’s fascinated by the different Englischers she meets. Especially when Marcus Jackson comes to town. She’s sure there’s more to the ex-city boy than his quiet, helpful ways, and she’s curious to find out just what it is . . .
 
Marcus fled Chicago before his brothers’ life of crime ruined his future. He’s not sure exactly why God’s plan brought him to this quaint little town. Or why his growing friendship with the bubbly, inquisitive Hannah has him trusting her with his past. But when local stores are robbed and suspicion falls on Marcus, can he and Hannah come together to prove his innocence—and make their own happy-ever-after ending?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Pebble-Creek-Chest-Dreams/dp/142014748X/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587741832&sr=8-1

Lisa Jones Baker grew up near a small Amish town in Illinois that she frequented with her family on weekends. She's also a dog lover and a fan of Scottsdale, Arizona, where she spent nearly two decades. Lisa graduated from Illinois State University with a French major; has been on five out of seven continents; and considers her parents the best in the world. Raised in a Christian home, Lisa has always been blessed with love and support. She enjoys hearing from readers at LisaJonesBaker.com. 

My Thoughts...
I loved going back to Pebble Creek. I am a little bit sad that this is book 6 of the series the final book. However I loved Hannah and Marcus' story. You will love this  romance and you are sure to want to read the first five in the series. You can read these books as stand alones but why when you read them altogether you get to spend more time at pebble Creek.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend the whole series.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Being Known By Robin Jones Gunn

After her mom passed away, Jennalyn was in the midst of moving, adjusting to life with a new baby, and helping her husband, Joel, work toward his dream job. At the time, she thought she’d processed her mother’s death, but only now that Jennalyn has two small children, a lovely new home, and a husband who is always working does she feel the full impact of what she has lost.

Even among her sweet circle of friends, the Haven Makers, grief silently overwhelms Jennalyn, until an unexpected encounter allows her to express herself in ways she hasn’t fully been able to with her husband. Even though Christy, Sierra, Emily, and Tess provide a soft place to land in times of tension, Jennalyn remains guarded, especially when Tess reveals she is tangled emotionally in a relationship that was thorny from the start.

Will the two women open up and remain honest with the others in their Haven Makers group? Or will their hesitation to truly be known, faults and all, keep them from holding on to the friendships that have been the sweetest gift during this season of life?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Known-Novel-Haven-Makers/dp/0735290776/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587747699&sr=8-1

Robin Jones Gunn has written over 100 books with sales of over 5.5 million copies sold worldwide. She and her husband have two grown children and live in Hawai'i.

Her best-selling Father Christmas novels have been made into 3 Hallmark Movies. Get a behind the scenes look in her book, "How My Book Became a Movie".

Robin's best-selling, award winning novels include the Christy Miller series for teens as well as the Sierra Jensen and Katie Weldon series. The characters in these series continue in Christy & Todd: The College Years, The Married Years, The Baby Years and in The Haven Makers series. More details at www.ChristyMiller.com

The Glenbrooke series by Robin features 8 gentle love stories and her Christy Award winning Sisterchicks(R) novels are a book club favorite. Her popular non-fiction titles include "Victim of Grace", "Praying For Your Future Husband",  "Spoken For", co-authored with Alyssa Joy Bethke. 

My Thoughts...
This book takes off from Book one Becoming Us. You don't necessarily have to read book one but it was so good.
I love the whole idea of the Haven Makers group, we need something like that.
This is an emotional read, but a good one.
I am such a fan of Gunn's she always writes maters of the heart in a way that draws you in for the long haul.
I gave this book 4 stars and I can't wait for the next book. I recommend this series.
   The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Good Boy By Jennifer Boylan GIVEAWAY!

From bestselling author of She’s Not There, New York Times opinion columnist, and human rights activist Jennifer Finney Boylan, Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs, a memoir of the transformative power of loving dogs.

This is a book about dogs: the love we have for them, and the way that love helps us understand the people we have been.

It’s in the love of dogs, and my love for them, that I can best now take the measure of the child I once was, and the bottomless, unfathomable desires that once haunted me.

There are times when it is hard for me to fully remember that love, which was once so fragile, and so fierce. Sometimes it seems to fade before me, like breath on a mirror.

But I remember the dogs.

In her New York Times opinion column, Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote about her relationship with her beloved dog Indigo, and her wise, funny, heartbreaking piece went viral. In Good Boy, Boylan explores what should be the simplest topic in the world, but never is: finding and giving love.

Good Boy is a universal account of a remarkable story: showing how a young boy became a middle-aged woman―accompanied at seven crucial moments of growth and transformation by seven memorable dogs. “Everything I know about love,” she writes, “I learned from dogs.” Their love enables us pull off what seem like impossible feats: to find our way home when we are lost, to live our lives with humor and courage, and above all, to best become our true selves.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Boy-Life-Seven-Dogs/dp/1250261872/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587173365&sr=8-1

Jennifer Finney Boylan is the author of sixteen books, including GOOD BOY: My Life in Seven Dogs. Since 2008 she has been a contributing opinion writer for op/ed page of the New York Times; her column appears on alternate Wednesdays. A member of the board of trustees of PEN America, Jenny was also the chair of the board of GLAAD for many years. She is currently the Anna Quindlen Writer in Residence and Professor of English at Barnard College of Columbia University.

Jenny is a well known advocate for human rights. She has appeared five times on the Oprah Winfrey Show and has also been a guest or a commentator on Larry King Live, Good Morning America, and The Today Show. She is also a member of the faculty of the Breadloaf Writers' Conference of Middlebury College as well as Sirenland, in Positano, Italy.

She lives in Maine with her wife Deirdre. They have two children. 

My Thoughts...
I felt like I was lost, This was a stand alone memoir but there must have been one before it that I missed. It was all over the place and the whole time lines were missing for me.
The writing is very well portrayed  but the blank spots have me wondering what I have missed.
With that being said this is just one persons opinion. Get your copy and see what you think. The cover is cute.
I gave this book 3 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Her Hidden Hope By Jill Lynn

Asking for forgiveness is the hardest part…

She once trusted him with her heart…

but will she ever trust him with the truth?

With only two weeks to renovate her family’s Colorado B and B, struggling single mom Addie Ricci can’t turn away help. Especially not when it’s her handsome high school sweetheart, Evan Hawke, who’s offering to pitch in. As they repair the B and B, Addie and Evan also begin rebuilding their relationship…until a secret from their past threatens to bring it all crashing down.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Her-Hidden-Hope-Colorado-Grooms/dp/1335488146/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587171806&sr=8-1

Welcome! I’m Jill. Award-winning author, hot mess, loud laugher and coffee addict. I write small-town stories filled with grace, humor and happily ever after. I also co-authored Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts—a book about how to support one another during hardships.

My books:
Texas Series
(Prequel) The Start of Us
1. Falling for Texas
2. Her Texas Family
3. Her Texas Cowboy

Colorado Grooms Series
1. The Rancher’s Surprise Daughter
2. The Rancher's Unexpected Baby (releases 1-15-19)
3. Mackenzie & Jace's story is to-be-titled (releases September 2019)

Non-fiction:
Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts

Find out more at Jill-Lynn.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest: @JillLynnAuthor 

My Thoughts...
I call these books afternoon breaks they are quick reads really short but full of promise and hope. I can read one in an hour and I am always left wanting more to read from Lynn she spins an enjoyable fun read every time. You are going to love spending the afternoon with Addie and her son and her high school sweetheart Evan.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend this great escape from reality.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

The Englisch Daughter By Cindy Woodsmall

A marriage is tested in this Old Order Amish novel of longing for renewed love and a path for forgiveness from the best-selling author of Gathering the Threads.

Old Order Amish wife and mother Jemima has put her marriage and family ahead of herself for years. She's set herself aside. Raising four children, she's followed all the rules and has been patient in looking forward to her time to chase a dream of her own.

But when she finds out that her life savings for pursuing that dream is gone--and her husband, Roy, has been hiding a child with another woman--her entire world is shattered. Will she be able to listen to God and love Roy's child? With so much at stake, how can she and Roy fix their relationship before their lives come crashing down?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Englisch-Daughter-Novel-Cindy-Woodsmall/dp/0735291020/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587174328&sr=8-1

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written twenty-two (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. Cindy has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal,and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the one of the top three most popular authors of Amish fiction.

She's won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer's Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings' Best Books of the Year. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn't realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn't allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy's house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them--afraid that if they didn't, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann's because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults' disapproval and the obstacles in each other's lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy's family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities--from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

If you'd like more information or to contact her, you can go to her website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall 

My Thoughts...
Woodsmall always writes the best forgiveness stories.
 Most of the Amish fiction is the same stories over an over. But not this one it is not typical at all.
I was so  touched by this story. I want the world to read it.
You won't be sorry.
Read it and find out What happens when your spouse has become a stranger.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend it. You are going to thank me after you read it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Little Secrets By Jennifer Hillier

Overwhelmed by tragedy, a woman desperately tries to save her marriage in award-winning author Jennifer Hillier's Little Secrets, a riveting novel of psychological suspense.

All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret...

Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family―until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken.

A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.

Permanently.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Secrets-Jennifer-Hillier/dp/1250154227/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587486382&sr=8-1

Jennifer Hillier writes about dark, twisted people who do dark, twisted things. Born and raised in Toronto and a proud Canadian, she spent eight years in the Seattle area, which is where all her books are set.

She loves her son, her husband, the Seahawks, and Stephen King. Not equally, but close. She's the author of six novels, including JAR OF HEARTS, which won the Thriller Award, and was shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards.

Her newest psychological thriller, LITTLE SECRETS, will be out on April 21, 2020 from Minotaur Books.

Learn more about her at jenniferhillierbooks.com 

My Thoughts...

I could not put this book down. It was such a great read. I loved all the secrets and twists and turns. This is a must read, be sure to add it to your list.
4 star read, I recommend this book.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Called Out By Paula Faris

Too often we lean into the wrong things and burn out. We buy society's lie that our worth is our work, our value is our vocation, our calling is our career. Confusing what we do with who we are wreaks havoc on our bodies, our souls, and our relationships. 

Called Out is a deeply personal book from Paula Faris, the beloved on-air reporter for ABC News and former co-host of The View. She shares her journey through conquering fears that nearly kept her from the high-profile, high-stakes world of broadcast journalism, and then the dangers when that world threatened to consume her. She burned out and faced public humiliation, physical breakdowns, and family struggles. But along the way, she heard God gently calling her out of that dangerous place. As she struggled to find who she was outside of what she did, she discovered her true purpose and true calling. Today, she is the host of ABC's popular podcast Journeys of Faith. 

Written with passion and conviction, this book reflects on what it truly means to be called, how to move past the fear holding you back, and how to walk in God's path for you.

Pick up your copy...
https://www.amazon.com/Called-Out-Traded-Dream-Calling/dp/0764235435/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587172924&sr=8-1

Paula Faris is a television correspondent for ABC News and host of the ABC podcast Journeys of Faith. From 2014 to 2018, Faris was co-anchor of Good Morning America Weekend. She also was co-host of The View for seasons 19-21. Faris graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in broadcast communications. She lives with her husband and three children in New York. 

My Thoughts...
I have always enjoyed watching Faris, I could never understand why she took a seat on The View. She had no place on that awful show. I love when she is on Good Morning America. So getting to read about her vocational calling and how (she admits this) she was a workaholic. Hearing about her journey was like sitting with a close friend and hearing them tell YOU  their story.
I felt a connection to Faris. I have so much respect for her after reading this.
This is a very inspiring read, full of hope and encouraging advice and so honest.
I gave this book 4 stars. I HIGHLY recommend it.
  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

The Ruby of the Sea By Peggy Lampman

From the award-winning author of THE PROMISE KITCHEN comes a riveting story of twin sisters caught in their mother’s crosshairs on what to do about their disturbed younger sister. Lush with devastating secrets, lies, romance and psychological drama…“You tell me about a family with some sort of dysfunction, and I’ll tell you that family is lying.”After aimlessly traveling the country for fifteen years, Linnea Chandler returns to her hometown of Key West, Florida keeping the genesis of a life-altering phobia to herself—not a good idea, as she comes to find out.The 19th Century lighthouse that she, her parents and two sisters call home also has a troubled past, carrying the frightening myth that eerily mirrors the mystery of her younger sister today. Should Linnea run while she can? The women must decide to what extremes they are willing to go to protect their secrets. Ignore the brutality behind the retrieval of spoils from a fatal shipwreck in 1857? Defy a 2017 hurricane threatening to pummel their town? And when their world is upended, do the women have the strength to move forward?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Sea-Peggy-Lampman/dp/057863709X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1587172145&sr=8-1

Peggy Lampman is the award-winning, best-selling author of THE PROMISE KITCHEN and THE WELCOME HOME DINER, both published by Lake Union Publishing. Her third title, THE RUBY OF THE SEA, will be published on Feb. 5, 2020. The Kindle version is now available for preorder. She is currently working on her fourth novel.

Her passion is writing novels that break down familial and cultural barriers. For her, creating a cast to populate a story is one of the great, cathartic joys of writing. Of particular pleasure is developing flawed characters-living in and reconciling with-the shadows cast by their equally flawed parents.

She was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, summa cum laude, from the University of Michigan. After graduating, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a copywriter and photographer for Hill and Knowlton, a public relations firm. She moved back to Ann Arbor, her college town, and opened up a specialty foods store, The Back Alley Gourmet. After selling the store, she wrote under a weekly food byline in The Ann Arbor News and MLive.

Her free time is spent reading, binge-watching NetFlix, herding kids and indulging in her fascination with Big Green Egg cult cookery. To learn more about her releases (and see what she's eating!), visit her author page,(peggylampmanbooks) and subscribe to her blog: www.dinnerfeed.com. 

My Thoughts...
We really need more books that touch on mental illness. This book had it all romance, family, drama. And some metal illness.
This is a book that takes a little time to move past so you can read the next book on your to be read stack.
I would recommend this 4 star book for a weekend read. Once you pick it up you are not going to want to put it down.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Dead Land By Sara Paretsky

Chicago may be the city of broad shoulders, but its political law is “Pay to Play.” Money changes hands in the middle of the night, and by morning, buildings and parks are replaced by billion-dollar projects.

Chicago PI V.I. Warshawski gets pulled into one of these clandestine deals through her impetuous goddaughter, Bernie Fouchard. Bernie tries to rescue Lydia Zamir, a famed singer-songwriter now living on the streets; Zamir’s life fell apart when her lover was murdered next to her in a mass shooting at an outdoor concert. Not only does Bernie plunge her and V.I. headlong into the path of some ruthless developers, they lead to the murder of the young man Bernie is dating. He’s a computer geek working for a community group called SLICK.

V.I. is desperate to find a mysterious man named Coop, who roams the lakefront in the middle of the night with his dog. She’s sure he holds the key to the mounting body count within SLICK. Coop may even know why an international law firm is representing the mass murderer responsible for Lydia’s lover’s death. Instead, the detective finds a terrifying conspiracy stretching from Chicago’s parks to a cover-up of the dark chapters in America’s meddling in South American politics. Before she finds answers, this electrifying novel pushes V.I. close to the breaking point: People who pay to play take no prisoners.

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Land-V-I-Warshawski-Novels/dp/0062435922/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1586648086&sr=1-1

Sara Paretsky is the award-winning creator of the V I Warshawski detective novels. When Sara introduced V I in Indemnity Only in 1982, she revolutionized the mystery novel. By creating a female investigator who uses her wits as well a her fists, Sara challenged a genre in which women were traditionally either vamps or victims.

V I is the quintessential urban woman. She grew up in the shadow of the old steel mills on Chicago's Southeast side and knows her way around every alley in town. She's a street fighter, a singer, a bit of a clothes horse, and a woman of great intensity and passion.

So how much like V I is her creator? They certainly come from very different places. Sara grew up in rural Kansas where she attended a two-room school. She continues to believe the high point of her life came at the age of twelve when she was picked to play third base for the Kaw Valley District 95 baseball team.

Bleeding Kansas, Sara's 14th novel, is set in the part of the Kaw River Valley where Sara grew up.

Sara first came to Chicago in 1966 to do community service work in the same neighborhood where Martin Luther King was organizing. It was a time of fierce passions in the city and in the country as people fought over racial justice, the rights and wrongs of the war in Vietnam, and women's rights. Sara has always felt that that summer changed her life forever, and when she finished her undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas, she came back to make Chicago her home. Some of the history of that summer is recounted in her essay collection, Writing in an Age of Silence.

Like V I, Sara likes to sing, in an amateur way, has a hopeless passion for the Cubs, loves Italian shoes'and is obsessed by the search for the perfect cappuccino, so much so that she even went to cappuccino school.

In other academic ventures, Sara received a PhD in American History and an MBA from the University of Chicago. In 1976, she married physics professor Courtenay Wright. The two live in the city of Chicago with their wonder dog Callie. Their lives are made brighter by their adored granddaughter, Maia.

Sara shares V I's passion for social justice. She founded Sisters in Crime in 1986 to support women readers and writers in the mystery world. To give back to the community, Paretsky established the Sara and Two C-Dogs Foundation, which primarily supports girls and women in the arts, letters, and sciences. She has endowed several scholarships at the University of Kansas, and has mentored students in Chicago's inner city schools. She serves on the advisory boards of Literature for All of Us, a literacy group for teen moms, and Thresholds, which serves Chicago's mentally-ill homeless.

Sara has received numerous awards, including the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers Association, the Gold Dagger for best novel for her book Blacklist, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from several different universities. Sara's books have been translated into almost thirty languages. 

My Thoughts...
A book with it all Crime, mystery, thriller. You are in for a treat with this one. I will say I read it as a stand alone. I have not read the first 19 books. I was not lost, I was not missing anything. the story flowed very well.
I gave this book 4 stars and I recommend this book.
 I plan to go back and look to see if I can find the first 19 books in the A V.I. Wasshawski series and read them.
 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.