Review: The Mountains Bow Down

The Mountains Bow Down

Sibella Giorello

Series or Stand Alone: Raleigh Harmon series, book four

Series Order: The Stones Cry Out, The River Runs Dry, The Clouds Roll Away

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 336

Author Site: http://www.sibellagiorello.com/

My Rating: 3.75/5

Source: Received for review from Litfuse Publicity Group

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better... That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, the Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance. But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly gets lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensics background points to a much darker conclusion; somewhere onboard, a ruthless murderer walks free. Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis - handsome Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming onboard, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack - who might not be as arrogant as she originally thought. And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family. Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a mystery so daunting that even the mountains might bow down before it.

Review:

Raleigh Harmon is on a much needed vacation on a cruise to Alaska. The company may not be ideal but the break from work is certainly welcomed. Her eccentric aunt has arranged Raleigh to be a consultant for a movie being filmed on the cruise. The lead actor is supposed to be an FBI agent in the movie but his acting skills might get in the way of the movie actually being good. But when the actor’s wife is found hanging off the side of the giant ship Raleigh’s vacation becomes no more. Although most believe the woman’s death is a suicide Raleigh finds more and more evidence that a killer is loose on the ship.

To make matters more difficult, Special Agent Jack Stephanson is called in to help Raleigh with the murder case. Raleigh simply doesn’t have time to pick apart her complicated feelings for Jack. She’s got a limited amount of time to solve the murder, find the killer, and keep her mother from completely falling apart.

Raleigh is such a great character. I really liked her in Giorello’s previous novel and she didn’t disappoint this time around either. I definitely don’t envy Raleigh’s life although parts of it are so fascinating. Raleigh is a forensic geologist and The Mountains Bow Down was full of really interesting facts and details that brought in Giorello’s knowledge of geology. The information added a lot of credibility to Raleigh’s character and I really enjoyed reading it.

Not only does Raleigh have to solve a murder but she has to battle her feelings for Jack. Now I don’t honestly remember much of Jack from the previous novel or much of Raleigh’s fiance’ DeMott. I’ll probably have to go back and re-read. However, I was still able to feel the tension between Jack and Raleigh although I couldn’t really remember what had happened between them. Honestly Jack won me over. He’s cute, quick-witted, and funny but can be very protective, loyal, and caring as well. He must have been a jerk to poor Raleigh for her to feel so conflicted towards him. There were times when I wish she would have given in but she’s got some major will-power.

Also on Raleigh’s mind is her mother. Again, I’m getting peeved at myself for not recalling any previous knowledge of Giorello’s prior novel. Apparently Raleigh’s mother is extremely fragile. Her state of mind borders on the line of breaking and Raleigh takes great care to keep her mother calm. This cruise definitely takes their relationship and her mother’s mind for a roller coaster ride. It’s both heart-breaking and scary to see and I’m interested to see what happens for both Raleigh and her mother in Giorello’s next installment.

The Mountains Bow Down is an excellent novel. It’s so easy to get lost in Giorello’s writing. Although there are previous novels in the series, I still think The Mountains Bow Down can be read as a stand-alone.

P.S. (cover talk)

It’s very nice to look at. I like how it ties in with both the story and the title. I really love the whole cover theme to the series. I also really adore the titles. They’re very creative and unique.

Teaser Tuesday [64] - The Mountains Bow Down

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:




-Grab your current read
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given.
-Please avoid spoilers!

 

I pulled the covers up tight and listened to the ship sliding through the Inside Passage. The ocean brushed against the side, whooshing and splashing, and once again I thought of Judy Carpenter.

I wondered if she was completely dead when she was hung there, or if her last moments were spent listening to this cold brush of sound, the silver splash of ocean as it escorted her to an end of days. (91)

**Find out more about Teaser Tuesday at http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/. Join in the fun!**

Book Arrivals

Won/Miscellaneous:

• Damaged :: Pamela Callow (Kate Lange series, book one)(June 2010 - Mira)
  *from Paperbackswap
• Skipping a Beat :: Sarah Pekkanen(February 2011 - Washington Square Press)
  *won from Bermudaonion's Weblog
• A Witch and Angel Tale :: Ramona Wray(February 2011 - CreateSpace)
  *won from What's Your Story?

For Review:

• The Queen's Rival :: Diane Haeger (In the Court of Henry VII series, book three)(March 2011 - New America Library)
• The Mountains Bow Down :: Sibella Giorello (Raleigh Harmon Mystery series, book four)(March 2011 - Thomas Nelson)

The Clouds Roll Away

The Clouds Roll Away

Sibella Giorello

Series or Stand Alone: Raleigh Harmon series, book two

Release Date: March 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 336

Author Site: http://www.sibellagiorello.com/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: Received for review from Phenix & Phenix Publicity

Synopsis

[from goodreads.com]:

Raleigh Harmon's life seems as impossible to solve as the high-profile case she's pursuing.

Closing her assignment with the FBI's Seattle office, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns to her hometown of Richmond, Virginia, expecting a warm welcome. Instead she finds herself investigating an ugly cross burning at a celebrity's mansion and standing in the crosshairs of her boss at the Bureau. And the deeper Raleigh digs into the case, the murkier the water becomes...until she's left wondering who the real victims might be.

To make matters worse, Raleigh's personal life offers almost zero clarity. Her former confidant is suddenly remote while her former boyfriend keeps popping up wherever she goes. And then there's her mother. Raleigh's move home was supposed to improve Nadine's fragile sanity, but instead seems to be making things worse.

As the threads of the case begin crossing and double-crossing, Raleigh is forced to rely on her forensic skills, her faith, and the fervent hope that breakthrough will come, bringing with it that singular moment when the clouds roll away and everything finally makes sense.

Review:

Here’s another review that I waited WAY too long to write… and this time I’m actually pretty peeved at myself because I really enjoyed THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY. I knew beforehand that the book was considered Christian Fiction and while I’m slowly starting to introduce myself to the genre, it still shocks the crap out of me when I find one that exceeds all of my expectations.

THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY is a mystery/suspense/thriller that had me addicted to it in the first few chapters. Raleigh Harmon is a forensic geologist (how odd and cool is that?!?) who is returning home to Richmond, Virginia after finishing up a shaky case in Seattle. She returns to a new boss that wants nothing more than to sit her butt at a desk piled under mountains of paperwork, and a high-profile investigation that she wasn’t expecting to get a shot at. The case seems to be just another hate crime in the South but there is so much more than what is on the surface and it takes everything Raleigh has, including her faith, to keep her afloat.

I fully admit that I loved Raleigh. I can’t remember a lot of details about the novel but I know I enjoyed Raleigh’s personality and getting to know her. Apparently this isn’t the first book by Sibella Giorello that features Raleigh in it. I can’t figure out which installment THE CLOUDS ROLL AWAY is in her series however, which is a little frustrating. But besides that, I know I want more of Raleigh Harmon and I want it now!

I’m sorry I’m so sparse on details but a lot of it is so hazy now. I do know that (1) I want more by Sibella Giorello, especially if it features Raleigh and (2) don’t let the fact that this is Christian Fiction sway anyone from picking this one up. You definitely won’t be disappointed if you like mystery/thrillers!!

Book Arrivals

From Paperbackswap.com:

The Mists of Avalon :: Marion Zimmer Bradley
(Book one in the Avalon series)

Here is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne. A spellbinding novel, an extraordinary literary achievement, THE MISTS OF AVALON will stay with you for a long time to come....

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From Contests/Giveaways & Misc:

Dawn of the Dreadfuls :: Steve Hockensmith
(Prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
(Received for review - Check it out here!)

With more than one million copies in print, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was the surprise publishing phenomenon of 2009. A best seller on three continents, PPZ has been translated into 21 languages and optioned to become a major motion picture.

In this terrifying and hilarious prequel, we witness the genesis of the zombie plague in early-nineteenth-century England. We watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naïve young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. We laugh as she begins her first clumsy training with nunchucks and katana swords and cry when her first blush with romance goes tragically awry. Written by acclaimed novelist (and Edgar Award nominee) Steve Hockensmith, Dawn of the Dreadfuls invites Austen fans to step back into Regency England, Land of the Undead!

The Lumby Lines :: Gail Fraser
(Book one in the Lumby series)
(Received for review)

Nestled in the Northwest is a quaint little town that its quirky residents are proud to call home. With charming shops lining its one main thoroughfare, Lumby is home to the oldest apple tree in the county and the smallest bank in the state. And though it's hours from the nearest big city, readers will always find Lumby close to their hearts.

When Mark and Pam Walker, a vacationing couple from the East Coast, decide to restore Lumby's ramshackle Montis Abbey and turn it into an inn, it takes a while for the locals to warm up to them. Especially the irascible William Beezer, owner of The Lumby Lines-the newspaper "worth the paper it's printed on." At every turn, he tries to hinder the Walkers' efforts. But the couple soon learns that for every citizen like William, there are many more willing to lend a hand-and that Lumby isn't just a place, it's a way of life.

The Clouds Roll Away :: Sibella Giorello
(Book one in the Raleigh Harmon series)
(Received for review)

Forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon unravels mysteries in her hometown of Richmond where things are never quite what they seem. Raleigh's exemplary service in Seattle opened the door for her disciplinary transfer to be lifted, allowing her to return to her home FBI field office in Richmond, VA. A civil rights case turns out to be much more complex than anyone thought when Raleigh is forced to go undercover in a drug trafficking case. Things aren't any simpler at home. Raleigh's old friend DeMott wants her to find time for things outside of her FBI work: friendship and maybe something more. Raleigh will have to rely on her sharpest skills--and the faith that is slowly returning to her--to navigate her way through these clouds.

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Purchased:

The Fellowship of the Ring :: J.R.R. Tolkien
(Book one in The Lord of Rings Trilogy)

The first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic adventure The Lord of the Rings"Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron." -- C. S. Lewis"Exciting . . . Tolkien's invention is unflagging." -- W. H. AudenOne Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind themIn ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

Sweetheart :: Chelsea Cain
(Book two in the Gretchen Lowell series)

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland’s Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's—she’s in prison—but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison.

Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all.

Burning Wild :: Christine Feehan
(Book three in the Leopard series)

Born into a world of twisted monsters, Jake Bannaconni is shaped and molded into a cold, revenge driven man. Honed in the fires of hell, he controls his world and rules with an iron hand. He has everything and anything money can buy. He’s ruthless, merciless and considered a man to leave alone. His hidden legacy, that of a shapeshifter, makes him doubly dangerous in the corporate world. Emma Reynolds is a woman who knows how to love and love well. When their two worlds collide, Jake’s plans for a complete take over, may just come tumbling down.

Stardoc :: S.L. Viehl
(Book one in the Stardoc series)

Dr. Cherijo Grey Veil leaves Earth and accepts a position as a physician at Kevarzanga-2's FreeClinic. Her surgical skills are desperately needed on a hostile frontier world with over 200 sentient species and her understanding of alien physiology is nothing short of miraculous. But the truth behind her expertise is a secret which, if discovered, could have disastrous consequences between human and alien relations...

Feast of Souls :: C.S. Friedman
(Book one in The Magister Trilogy)

C.S. Friedman, acclaimed author of The Coldfire Trilogy, returns to the epic style which has made her one of the most popular fantasy writers in the genre. In this first book of the trilogy, Friedman introduces readers to a world of high fantasy, replete with vampire-like magical powers, erotic interludes, treachery, war, sorcery, and a draconic creature of horrific power and evil that will have readers eagerly awaiting the next novel in the series.

The Iron King :: Julie Kagawa
(Book one in the Iron Fey series)

Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.