The Belial Library by R.D. Brady

 

The plot in brief:  The Shuar tribe in Ecuador are the purported guardians of an ancient treasure. Among the rumored artifacts hidden away somewhere in a secret cave is a metal library containing the legendary knowledge of Atlantis. Two archaeologists, Laney McPhearson and Jen Witt, are hoping to learn the truth about this treasure cache from their Shuar friends. But they're not the only ones seeking the treasure. And if the wrong men get their hands on those artifacts and all that ancient knowledge, it could mean the end of the world. Luckily, Laney's boyfriend, former Navy Seal Jake Rogan, and their friend, Henry Chandler, the wealthy and reclusive CEO of the Chandler Group, are determined to keep that from happening. 

My thoughts:  I bet you can guess what made me want to buy and read this one! How could I resist a story with archaeologists, gold artifacts, lost treasure, underwater caves, fallen angels, and the legend of Atlantis? And it turned out to be a fast-paced, action-filled adventure--one of those entertaining popcorn reads that's perfect for summer. I really liked all the main characters, especially Danny, the 13-year-old hacker who works with Henry. And I thought the angel mythology added a nice twist at the end. If they ever make a movie of this one, I'd totally go see it. And I think I'm going to have to buy the next book in this series to see what fun adventures are next for Laney, Jake, Jen and Henry and their friends.

Happy Reading! 

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer

How it begins:  "Only the sharp clang of a bell above the door and lopsided towers of books greeted Hope Sparrow as she entered Dusty Jackets bookshop. She breathed in their ancient paper dust, their gentle decay. Between pages like these, she'd always found her refuge. Her Lucy Maud, Jane, the sisters Brontë, dear Louisa--all whispered the words she'd pored over in the dead of night and now fortified her strength for what she hoped was the last leg in a long journey."

The plot in brief:  Hope's come to Wanishin Falls, Minnesota, in search of several books her mom left to her. They're her only family legacy, and they just might be the key to finding a rumored family treasure. And Hope could really use a little extra money right now, both to help her leave her traumatic past behind, and to make her dream of owning her own food truck come true. 

The owners of Dusty Jackets, Mags and Ulysses Barrick, offer to help her search for her mother's books if she'll work in their bookstore for a few months in return. Their handsome grandson, Ronan, is willing to help, too. But Hope isn't big on trust, and would rather not get too close to anyone in Wanishin Falls. Only the people around her are too kind and generous to just give up on her. 

My thoughts:  There's a lot to like about this one: a charming small town setting, a dusty old bookshop, family secrets and a lost treasure. And I liked Ronan and Hope. But there are several side characters and small side stories that never felt fully developed, and that sometimes detracted from the main plotline. And when you combine Hope's complicated past with Ronan's complicated past along with their families's history there's almost too much going on; I felt like it forced the author to do more telling than showing, which slowed the pacing and kept the characters at a distance. And I really wish that the mystery itself, and Hope's and Ronan's search for the treasure, had unfolded a little faster. While the overall story has heartwarming and uplifting moments, for me this ended up only being a 3-star read. 

Happy Reading!

P.S. This book counts towards Susan's Bookish Books Reading Challenge.