What happens when what is supposed to take our minds off something horrible just drops us into a stranger world? That's what happens in Restorations by Charles Strickler. MIles West is looking for a diversion, and he finds one - just not one he'd ever expect. Fast-paced and full of mystery, detectives, and mobsters, Restorations is fun summer weekend read that will leave you feeling satisfied and want to follow Miles on more adventures.

Restorations was a fun and action-packed book, The plot line was engaging and fast-paced throughout. There was literally no lag time in this book whatsoever. I can't wait to read more from this author

I had a tough time getting into this story. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn’t click with me.

Not for me unfortunately it was more like a cosy armchair mystery than the fast paced action that I was expecting...in saying that it was well written just not my cup of tea.

I commend Charles Strickler for this roller coaster of a read! I so appreciated that the twists and turns (and there were many) were not telegraphed. What fun to just let a story unfold and be surprised. The characters are engaging and complex - I'm actually hoping they will appear in another story, as I found my time with them so enjoyable. The premise of treasure found, and the ensuing unraveling of the mystery made for a really compelling read.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Overall, I really liked this book. It was fun and pertaining. I found myself wanting to read more about Miles and the other characters. The writing creates the perfect atmosphere and the plot keeps the readers engaged whilst the characters leap off of the page. If you are looking for a quick and interesting read, then this is definitely the book for you. Thank you so much to Smith Publicity Inc. for providing me with a copy!

The book Restorations tells the story of Miles West who gets wrapped up in the pursuit of a treasure by a mob boss after Miles purchases an old car to restore. Miles works with an auctioneer named Bramley to decode a journal that he finds in the car, and a romance also develops between them. I found the story interesting, especially as they are trying to both run from the mob and find out why the mob boss wants to find them in the first place. However, I often found the dialogue stilted and awkward. The book often explicitly describes the thoughts and feelings of the characters rather than allowing the reader to infer it.

4 stars

Miles West bids on and wins a Stutz Black Hawk in an estate auction. Little does he know the trouble the car will cause him. When his mechanic and fellow restorer whiz kid named Wic finds secret compartments and gadgets in the car, Miles speculates that it belonged to a bank robber.

He teams up with Bramley Ann Fairchild, an auctioneer and antiquites researcher to look into the history of the car.

A smarmy lawyer from New York shows up and offers twice what Miles paid for the car. Miles' radar is on high alert. He has the lawer checked out and learns that he works or Carlo Bello, a major crime boss. Various thugs break into Miles' house and follow him and Bramley around the U.S.

Let the games begin!

To criticize the book: there are a number of typos and errors in the use of English, the thugs are laughably inept and Bramley's research makes some unbelievable leaps in logic. It is, however, a fun book to read; an adventure worth taking. It is written fairly well and the plotting is linear and easy to follow. There are just a few characters in the novel, so they are easy to keep straight. There is sufficient background information given about Miles, Bramley and most of the thugs to make them more engaging, but not so much that it interferes with the story. I liked Miles and Bramley. They make a good pair. The plot line was very interesting, as I love old cars myself and was fascinated to read about the customized Stutz. I am looking forward to reading another of Mr. Strickler's novels.

I want to thank NetGalley and Koehler Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Well, that was a fun read! Miles West buys an old car at an auction thinking he would restore it to help take his mind off the sudden death of his wife and parents. Little does he know that he is now caught up in the world of 1920's gangsters and current day mobsters.

Good writing, great story.

4.25☆

This book took a few passes to finish. The plotting and the content kept me going. There were moments when the writing felt a little stiff, but overall, this was a compelling story about theft, greed, and longing. The story was very interesting. It had sort of penny arcade crossed with Ocean's Eleven vibe. There are many hallmarks of the genre (great cars, bad guys, plenty of money), but harkening back to the 20s. If you want a thriller/ mystery with a masculine feel and a 20's tip, this is your jam.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.