Going into “Make Haste Slowly”, I figured that I was in for a light, cozy mystery that would pass a few hours. I was not expecting a story that would be so hard-hitting and engaging; I didn’t want to put it down! Amy Rognlie manages to write a compelling Christian mystery that incorporates tough subjects with finesse. Because I don’t want to give any spoilers, I won’t comment specifically on what topics come into play, but suffice it to say that they are certainly germane to what is going on here in America. Rognlie combines all of the elements very articulately, and I was not able to guess the various twists and turns that the narrative takes, nor could I figure out the ending ahead of time. The characters were a diverse mixture, and I appreciated the compassion that was extended even toward the so-called villains. Although there was a romantic thread, it was not overbearing and lent itself to the mystery. The Christian message was very strong without being superfluous, and one quotation really stood out to me and encapsulated the novel: “God will always relate to you out of the context of His love for a lost world.” With everything that was occurring throughout the story, the theme of redemption and of reaching out to the lost shone through evocatively. A few instances of divine intervention were so beautifully written that I got goosebumps. I highly recommend this novel and am hoping that the series will continue!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Slowly Fell - Jayne Fresina

While I'm not sure such a thing can exist, I would describe Slowly Fell as a cozy Gothic tale. There's all the earmarks of a Victorian Gothic: lost babes and a crumbling manse, witches and curses, consumption, murder and missing persons. But the central character of the novel, Sarah Wetherby, is such a stalwart and unflappable person that she stares down any spoopy mysteries through sheer force of will. She is Lady Elizabeth's "coping girl", sent all around England to help those in need, as a sort of helpmate to people Elizabeth deems worthy.

Sarah is sent to the town of Slowly Fell to help the parson, whose wife is dying, to help with his copious children and the sickbed. The novel bops around in time, giving us backstories to Sarah, Elizabeth, the town blacksmith, and the history of Slowly Fell itself. Turns out, all those stories are interconnected, often in ways that seem very upsetting to the principles. Much of this just slides off, due to tone, in a way that should have been frustrating, but wasn't? Or not ezactly. I didn't know what to expect from the novel, so it's hard to say. I think I was expecting more Goth and less coziness, but it wasn't a bad way to spend the time. Reminded me a bit of The Thirteenth Tale, in that way. It's half spooking, but safe. 

So disappointing.
I am going to be overusing the word trapped. You have been warned.
Peri the time shifter who can’t seem to stay out of trap after trap after trap. It was relentless, she was always on the edge of being trapped or trapped by her stupid actions. Her coworkers, lovers, even her cat trapped.
I tried hard to like this series, out of devotion to the author and her past work. I can’t, it is too random to unfocused with no direction. Peri is in the same situation she was in the beginning of the series at the end of book 2. They all ran around in circles, getting caught, killing, promising revenge, only to end up back at the beginning ? The people have changed some but this character is stuck in this endless loop of trapped, trapped, trapped. It was frustraiting, there was never enough time to connect with her or the other characters. There was an odd out of place character, Cam that didn’t fit into he sorry at all. Peri, is unlikable, one dimensional and uninteresting. All of them are really, we don’t get to know them only see them for a fraction of a second while they are trapped, being trapped, trying to get un-trapped. The theme of the story, trapped.
I’m done, this is the last book in this series I will read. I am a fan of Ms. Harrison’s previous series so I gave this one more effort than I normally would have.

* 5 stars *

What a wonderful little Christmas story! Since this follows Slow Hand with Nikki and Wade I don't want to say anything to spoil their story but if you've read Slow Hand you really should read Slowly Unwrapped. It's a short and sweet read that fills in a bit more about what happens to them.

Mai would rather be resting and enjoying herself on the beach instead of spending six weeks in Vietnam beside her grandmother. It’s not meant to be punishment as Mai is the perfect child, but her father is a doctor and he has promised to attend to children who have special needs in the area and someone needs to be an escort for grandmother. Mother is busy with her court cases so the responsibility lies with Mai. The older woman is not feeble having successfully raised her children in the US since her husband went MIA in the war and now she is returning to the place where her husband was last seen, in the attempts that there is some new information about his whereabouts. Arriving in this strange country, Mai now wishes she had listened to the language her grandma had spoken as the words and the meanings of these words get scrambled in her mind. It is “the land of togetherness” as Mai never has a moment to herself with family, friends and acquaintances gathering, talking and enjoying each other. Ba immediately settles in, the sights and the sounds of her homeland are a welcome sight. Mai is bitter for being there but soon finds friendship and I am transported to this foreign country, taking in the sights with these two ladies who see the this world through two different sets of eyes. Ba wants to talk to the guard who was with her husband Ut and I long to hear this part of the story but I don’t want to push the journey of Mai and Ba to an end. The ending, I waited to read it, to savor it and fully enjoy it. This truly was a spectacular, moving adventure!!