5/5 ⭐ | Never Say A Word (The Claire Deveraux Series Book 2) by Alan Brenham

Just a few short years from the dreadful death of her brother Boyd and Louvre murder, Claire Deveraux is once again thrust into a horrendous experience. Back with the second book of The Claire Deveraux Series, author Alan Brenham takes readers to Italy as yet another personal nightmare plays across the page.

Claire Deveraux continues to work for the U.S. Embassy, in her most recent escapades she is sent to Rome for a foreign conference where she once again puts her lip-reading skills to work.  However, what she doesn’t realize is that she’s captured the unhealthy attention of Franco Lazzari.  Lazzari, as he calls himself, kidnaps Claire from the conference convinced he is going to make her his wife.  What follows is the whirlwind investigation, emergence of Claire’s twin Megan from her Luxembourg convent, and the frightening events that follow.

Brenham is exceptional in his French and Italian scenery.  From the European train travel to the Italian countryside, return to Paris, and various rendezvous within, readers are expertly transported from their reading chair to the European culture.  With a unique main character in the deaf and talented Claire Deveraux, eyes are opened to the silence and loneliness that encompass her life.  “Never Say A Word” shines a light on the struggles of living deaf, from romance, to friendship, living alone, and situational awareness.  I loved that readers are given a front row seat to walk in Claire’s shoes as she openly navigates the terror of her situation, her desire for love, and the loneliness that often accompanies her.

“Never Say A Word” is an incredible continuance of The Claire Deveraux Series as Brenham brings back the beloved Claire and her twin Megan in this nightmarish foreign kidnapping thrill ride.

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5/5 ⭐ | Every Silent Thing (The Claire Deveraux Series Book 1) by Alan Brenham

Three French words, a flash drive, and a dead woman.  That’s more than Claire expected out of her day photographing the Louvre, but it’s the strong kick off to author Alan Brenham’s book “Every Silent Thing.”  And yet, that’s not even the most exciting part of this read.  It’s the family dynamics and messes her family members find themselves in that make this such a speedy read.

Claire Deveraux works for the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France.  Originally from Texas, she has an identical twin sister and twin brother, a family of adopted triplets.  Claire though, lives a life of silence.  Deaf, with the ability to lip read and sign, she lives every day extra aware in her silent surroundings.  Being hunted by the Louvre killer is enough for any single woman in a foreign country, but add to that the trouble her sister, Megan, finds herself in and Claire is increasingly in danger. 

From the other side of the world Megan watches her boyfriend get shot to death, stealing the heisted diamonds, and running from the murderers.  With nowhere else to turn, Megan buys a one-way ticket to France.  Dragging her identical twin into her decisions can prove to be a fatal flaw as she tries to outrun her mistakes.

I love a strong female lead.  Add in a disability and representation for those that are deaf or hard of hearing and “Every Silent Thing” was an instant draw.  Author Alan Brenham does a fantastic job opening readers’ eyes to the world Claire navigates, her communication frustrations and even the loneliness she feels being unable to communicate outside of text or pen to paper. Furthermore, I loved Brenham’s back and forth, chapter by chapter, from hunter to hunted.  This rotating point of view added to the intrigue, suspense, and thrill of the chase. 

As Claire tries to escape with her own life from the Louvre killer, Megan is in her own cat and mouse chase, while their brother Boyd works to keep the family together, all while their adopted father back in Texas fights his own battles with cancer.  The finale of this hunted thrill ride comes together in a way readers will never see coming. Brenham weaves so many important, realistic, challenging, and eye-opening dynamics into this first book of The Claire Deveraux Series, brace yourself as the series continues.

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The Man Without Shelter by Indrajit Garai

Author Indrajit Garai does such a great job painting Paris in such a unique and familiar way. In this, their second book I’ve read Garai uses their familiar love of Paris to draw readers in and create a setting in which the plot of the book can beautifully play out. Using the Seine as their main artery, Garai’s books create worlds and stories around this body of water that captivate the reader.

Arnault and Lucy are our two key characters in “The Man Without Shelter.” They both come from two very different worlds amd backgrounds, but the story within ties them together in intimate ways and makes for one heck of an entertaining read. Both with hearts and heads in the right place, this story is a captivating read for any and all who seek redemption, intrigue, and the love of Paris.

The Bridge of Little Jeremy by Indrajit Garai

“The Bridge of Little Jeremy” is a love letter to art and Paris.

Jeremy and his mother live in an apartment overlooking the Seine. There are weasels and rats in their attic, the toliet is broken and the apartment is in other various states of disrepair. But, it’s been passed down through their family and gives them a roof over their head, an especially critical necessity given Jeremy’s bad heart. During the day Jeremy and his dog Leon paint, sketch and wonder the city while his mom works to make ends meet. But one day Jeremy stumbles on a hidden vault in their basement, he hopes that what he finds can be restored enough to pay the bills threatening to make them homeless.

This love story to Paris and art is tied amongst familial drama and a boy’s love for his dog, creating an excellent story full of engaging historical lines, beautiful scenery, and odd characters at every turn. Told from Jeremy’s point of view, the twelve year-old innocence of his narration adds to the depth and intrigue of the underlying story. With enough detail to make you feel right alongside them in Paris, and a familial history to help tie all the pieces together this is truly an emotional and heartwarming read.

Whether you’ve traveled to Paris or have a passion for art, “The Bridge of Little Jeremy” emotionally grounds readers to Jeremy’s plight and has you rooting for Leon and Jeremy as they take on the burdens of family history and financial hardship.

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

Publication Date: May 4^th, 2021

Rating: 3 ½ Stars

Author James R. Hannibal is no stranger to the fiction novels surrounding spies and espionage. After reading his Talia Inger series I was quickly drawn into this, his latest. The Paris Betrayal releases into the world on the heels of an actual pandemic making it easier to feel the urgency as Ben Calix works to stop a bioweapon from starting a global pandemic of its own. On the outs from “the company” Ben is on his own to stop the looming attack as readers following him through Europe in his quest to save the world.

Hannibal successfully uses his own history as an Air Force pilot and contacts with real-world spies to craft another thrilling and realistically terrifying read.  This Jason Bourne-esque read treads just a little to close to the actual Jason Bourne stories to feel wholly original, but nonetheless offers the action readers have come to love from Hannibal’s writing.

*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant

Publication Date: October 13^th, 2020

Rating: 3 Stars

What does a travel magazine writer and a small-town baker have in common?  Turns out not much. One is completely turned off to romance, and the other has their head in the clouds.  But, do either of them stand a chance against the “love angels,” the very duo that brings this world traveled writer to their small-town after the bakery’s love story goes viral and puts the town of Story, Kansas on the map?

Like Gerard, our hunky travel writer, I too put some pounds on from reading this delectable romance.  The sweet desserts cooked up by Bri are sure to give you a sweet tooth.  Thank goodness this was a quick read, or my wardrobe would have been needing an update from all the mouth-watering moments within. 

Author, Betsy St. Amant cooks up a delicious romance with swoon worthy characters as Bri persuades readers toward the quaintness of small-town living and Gerard seeks to broaden our travel horizons.  An engrossing, if at times predictable and cheesy romance.

*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Cities in Layers by Philip Steele, Andres Lozano (Illustrations)

Publication Date: August 11^th, 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Cities are large settlements of people which the book defines beautifully as comprising of walls or defenses, water, buildings, roads or railways, bridges, boats and monuments. This read looks at six cities through time, ranging from Rome in 753 BCE to New York City present day.  Each chapter begins with facts about the city, famous people who have lived there and the changes from modern day to the city beginning.  This is followed by an exciting and interactive illustrated map highlighting more than a dozen important landmarks through the years.

Readers will have fun tracking the landmarks by number across the interactive map as you are invited to learn more about each monument, church, plaza, bridge and more.  While COVID may have halted our travels, Cities in Layers provides the perfect opportunity to plan your next destination and historic stops along the way.  This book invites families to learn more about six key cities around the world as they daydream about travels to foreign, or even local, lands.

*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.  All opinions are my own.