Book Review: Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey (+ Chance to Win iTouch Spy Pack)

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

Publisher: Revell

Publish Date: January  1, 2012

Paperback, 322 pages 
Fiction, Suspense, Historical, Christian
 ISBN: 978-0800720469

My Review:
I am halfway through this one and if the second half is as good as the first half then this is a first-rate historical suspense thriller.  I loved getting to know the characters, but this jumps right into the action as well.  I know this is actually the second in the series, but I had no problem getting to know the characters.  The storyline is completely separate so that is no problem.  It's the two main characters that continue through the series.

I loved the setting.  I know very little about the occupation of France during World War II and particularly the occupation of Paris.  That is the setting, the end of the occupation and the resistance of the citizens of Paris.  I found this fascinating.  And then add in the art angle and I was completely sold.  The authors did a wonderful job weaving the historical with the suspense to make the book very interesting and hard to put down.

I have no reason to believe this will disappoint and I look forward to finishing the book.  I also look forward to going back and reading the first book in the series, The Swiss Courier and any future books that involve Gabi and Eric.

My Rating: 4.5/5.0 (at a little over halfway through, because of tour date)


Blog tour schedule: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13449999) 


About the book:

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. http://www.triciagoyer.com/historicalfiction.html#ChasingMonaLisa  

About the authors:

Tricia Goyer is the coauthor of The Swiss Courier as well as the author of many other books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Arkansas. For more about Tricia and her other books visitwww.triciagoyer.com 

Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including The Swiss Courier and the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California. For more about Mike  and his other books visit www.mikeyorkey.com 

Buy the book 

Win an iTouch SPY Pack in the Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway from @triciagoyer @mikeyorkey!

Chasing Mona Lisa is the continuing tale of Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler (first introduced in The Swiss Courier). This time the due are on a relentless quest to save the most famous
painting in the world  - the Mona Lisa. You can help Gabi and Eric with your very own spy pack when you enter The Chasing Mona Lisa Giveaway!

One passionate protector will receive:

• iTouch (The must-have device for any spy. Camera, Maps & Music.)
  
• Starbucks Gift Card (For all those late nights.)
• Moleskin Notebook (For those important notes.)
• Invisible Ink Pen (Don’t want anyone reading those important notes.)
• Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey (Great
  handbook and intriguing tale for any spy-in-training!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on January 31st. The winner will be announced at the Chasing Mona Lisa Facebook Party on 1/31. Tricia and Mike will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from Tricia's website) and giving away their books and a Book Club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Tricia and Mike.)

So grab your copy of Chasing Mona Lisa and join Tricia and Mike on the evening of the 31st for an author chat, spy training (do you know how to pick a lock? ) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

***I received this book through Litfuse Publicity for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free. 

Happy 20th Birthday Magic Treehouse Books!

I saw that the Magic Treehouse books by Mary Pope Osborne are turning 20 in a dedicated issue of Shelf Awareness that I received this morning and I had to post.  I have read Magic Treehouse books to both of my boys.  My oldest and I have also listened to them in the car as well.  I love these books.  I love that you get a little bit of history and some mystery mixed in. I love that they have a boy and a girl in them.  I love that they are siblings.  I love just about everything about these books.  I wish I could say I have read all of them, but I have not.  But seeing this newsletter this morning makes me want to go home and pull out one of the many we have on our personal bookshelf and read to my youngest tonight and I think I will.  He can choose the book and we will read together.

Do you have a favorite?  I'm not sure.  I loved the ones that revolved around Camelot and fantasy.  But the ones with American history were great too.  Mary Pope Osborne has a definite gift for children's books and it shows as these books have now spanned 20 years and I am sure they will span more.

So go, click on the banner, enter the giveaway.  And maybe you'll pull out a Magic Treehouse book to read to yourself, your child, your grandchild, niece, nephew, whoever, tonight or one night this week.