Book Review: If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner

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If You Can Hear This  by Faith Gardner is a Young Adult Mystery & Thriller novel about a high school AV Club and the search of their teacher who is missing. The expected publication date of this book is November 19, 2024. I'd like to thank NetGalley for sending me an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.   Overall, I can say that I really enjoyed the storyline. It reminded me of the Point Horror Books of the 1980's and 1990's and followed a similar formula. There were plenty of suspects and motives throughout but was a bit predictable. Additionally, I liked that the author had a diverse group of characters in the book, including two or three from the LGTBQ+ community, a couple that were people of color, and one that had a mental illness. I think it's important to include a diverse group of characters so that everyone has a book to read that depicts someone like them as well as educating others on people who are different

Book Review: No Easy Target by Iris Johansen

No Easy Target by Iris Johansen is a stand alone book that mentions characters from the Eve Duncan book series. Margaret Douglas had a troubled youth due to the fact that her father considered her a freak because she could talk to and influence animals utilizing telepathy. Escaping her father, she goes on the run to only be kidnapped and held prisoner by criminal Nicos. After escaping his grasp, Margaret has been on the run again for three years, that is until former CIA operative John Lassiter breaks into her apartment and eventually apprehends her.

This is the third book I've read by author Iris Johansen and by far my favorite so far. It was chosen as a book club read, so I'm not sure if I would have picked up to read on my own, but I am definitely glad I did read it. No Easy Target had a bit of everything in it . . . action, suspense, mystery, fantasy, and romance. It definitely had me on a roller coaster ride as I wasn't exactly sure how it would play out, but I was definitely happy with all the outcomes, and the story line flowed well. It is a stand alone book, but it has been written in a way that there will eventually be a sequel, hopefully. And, I want a sequel because I would like to see how the relationship develops between Margaret and Lassiter.

I loved the fact that the main character, Margaret Douglas, could talk with animals and that they would help her when she asked them for it. She genuinely cares about what happens to the animals as well. I absolutely loved this character. I also loved the character John Lassiter even though I didn't think I'd like at first because I thought he was going to be a bad guy. His right hand man, Cambry, was super likable as well. However, I kept reading his name as Camry. Nicos and Salva were the two main bad guys in the book, and they were absolutely detestable.

If you haven't read any of Iris Johansen's books, this is the one to start with in my opinion. I gave it five out of five stars . . . a definite must read. It definitely is perfect to take on vacation with you.

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