Archives for June 2020

Bolder and Braver by Patricia V. Davis – Guest Blog and Giveaway

June 23, 2020 By 16 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bolder and Braver

The one gift I never expected to receive so late in life was to meet such wonderful women, all of them unique, but all the same in one way: they uplift and support other women better than any 16-hour bra.

These women are not women I would have met unless I got out of my comfort zone. That started when I moved to Greece with my Greek husband. I did that. I did it to “save my marriage.” That plan didn’t go as expected. But you know what? Getting out of my comfort zone saved me, instead. I discovered something not many of us have been told: women do not have to be exactly like you in order to be real friends. They don’t have to have the same religion or politics as you in order to have the same values. They don’t have to speak the same first language, have the same color skin as you in order to “get” you, and for you to “get” them.

Considering all that’s happening today, this will be hard to believe. But the truth is, I never set out to write the characters in The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy as so ‘diverse.’ Their voices came to me through the women I’ve been lucky to meet in the last twenty-three years since I moved to Greece and started writing. I did meet a woman whose marriage had been arranged, as was Rohini’s in Cooking for Ghosts. I did meet a sexy, dynamic Cynthia. The character Jane is based on a woman who was my business partner in the bookshop and book distribution company we owned in Athens, called Serafim Books. We’d name it for guardian angels, because that’s what we became for each other — our own angels. We looked out for each other, helped each other through many life crises during that time, an experience I treasure to this day.

And Angela is named after another friend, (who really needs to write her own book someday). Angela was in the US military when she met and married her own Greek husband. Unlike mine, their marriage has lasted through thick and thin, I’m happy to say. Marriage to a Greek and living in Greece were the only commonalities Angela and I shared, or so people might think, at first. I know nothing about military life. Or growing up in Louisiana. Or being one half of a couple in an interracial marriage. But when we talk, which we still often do, we talk about the things that matter to both of us: our families, how much good we’re doing or not in this life, and of course, books.

And as for Sarita, the teenager in my story who has doubts about herself, her fears about being “different” — who hasn’t felt that? Or what mother, like Angela, hasn’t had to re-examine and adjust her expectations when it comes to grown children?

So, when people ask me, “How did you come up with these characters?” my answer is, “How could I not?”

There’s a problem, though. Being a white writer, I have to be very careful not to be misunderstood when I write about women of different races. That became even more obvious as I wrote about Rosemary Taylor, the vodou (or voodoo) Creole priestess grandmother of Sarita, who finally makes an in-person appearance in Book III of this trilogy. Those who read Books I and II will spot her, mentioned by other characters in both books, but we only get to meet her at last in Book III.

How a vodou priestess ends up on the Queen Mary in Long Beach to help exorcise a demon that’s lodged itself aboard is pure imagination on my part. But her essence, her being, is all inspired by more women I’ve met. In the case of the character Rosemary, I asked for and got help from women who have lived more of what my character has lived. I won’t say I got their “permission” to write about her, but I will say I checked with them on a regular basis to be sure I was writing with clarity, respect, and as much truth in fiction as possible. I wouldn’t be able to do that — write characters with such depth — if I hadn’t put myself out there to meet women who the world tells me are different than I am. Sure, in some ways, we are.

But in the ways that are most important, we’re not.

So, what do you think—want to broaden your horizons without having to travel extensively? Want to help end the hatred and fear of other human beings who seem so different from oneself? Smile at a stranger. Say hello. Start up a chat on a bus, or the underground, or while waiting on the checkout line at the market. Just try it. I can’t tell you how much richer my life is because I’ve done that, because I have talked to women and they have talked to me. When we discovered our commonalities, when we shared our experiences, our wishes and fears, that’s when we — collectively — became different: bolder, braver, and more daring, with our true friends to cheer us on.

Book One: Cooking For Ghosts

Do hearts broken long ago forever leave a tangible trace?

A Vegas cocktail waitress. An Indian herbalist. A British chemistry professor. An Italian-American widow. Four unique women with one thing in common: each is haunted by a tragedy from her past.

Cynthia, Rohini, Jane, and Angela meet on a food blogging site and bond over recipes. They decide on impulse to open The Secret Spice, an elegant café on the magnificent ocean liner, the RMS Queen Mary, currently a floating hotel in Long Beach, California. Rich in history and tales of supernatural occurrences, the ship hides her own dark secrets.

The women are surrounded by ghosts long before they step aboard, but once they do, nothing is quite what it seems. Not the people they meet, not their brooding chef’s mystic recipes, and not the Queen Mary herself. Yet the spirits they encounter help them discover that there’s always a chance to live, as long as one is alive.

An Official Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selection, and read by Ann Marie Gideon, COOKING FOR GHOSTS is an unforgettable tale of love, redemption, and divine female power.

Book Two: Spells and Oregano

A mother desperate to save her twin sons, a war veteran in torment, a beautiful young psychic with a terrible secret, a powerful magician with a shattered soul, and a Queen steeped in history and glory. These extraordinary beings cross paths and set off a remarkable chain of events in Spells and Oregano: Book II in The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy.

Overcome by despair after a trauma when she was sixteen, Sarita Taylor has spent the past ten years isolated and lonely aboard her beloved RMS Queen Mary. Fearful of outsiders, she dedicates her time to managing The Secret Spice Café, now an award-winning restaurant. Until Luca Miceli, a man with a dark past, steps on board.

Patricia V. Davis deftly spins past and present, mystery and magic, into a potent story of passionate longing and family tragedy all at once. Spells and Oregano is a compelling tale of atonement, devotion, and undying love, set aboard one of the world’s most magnificent, haunted ships.

Don’t miss Cooking for Ghosts: Book I in The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy. The Secret Spice Trilogy is an Official Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selection

Book Three: Demons: Well Seasoned

Dare to Believe in Your Power…
A long-lost grandmother. A stay-at-home mom. A comic book fan. A five-year-old girl with a star-shaped birthmark. And nine more.

The cast is bigger, the stakes are higher. When Sarita’s grandmother, a Vodou priestess, foresees a terrible evil, Cynthia, Jane, Angela, and Rohini reunite on a heart-rending mission to save all that’s precious to them, including the iconic ship, the RMS Queen Mary. They cannot do it alone–the priestess tells them there must be thirteen on the night of the thirteenth moon. in this life-or-death pursuit. Yet, can she be trusted?

Spiced with history and the supernatural, Demons, Well-Seasoned takes us from 1930s Glasgow, to New Orleans and Harlem in the 1950s, to present day southern California, and back again, on a metaphysical voyage that is both exhilarating and poignant. But before you embark upon this final sail with the denizens of The Secret Spice, be warned: expect to lose sleep, and keep tissues at hand. These valiant characters might just stay with you long after their story comes to a close.

Don’t miss Cooking for Ghosts, and Spells & Oregano, Books I and II in The Secret Spice Café Trilogy. The Secret Spice Cafe Trilogy is an Official Pulpwood Queens Book Club Selection

Enjoy an Excerpt from Cooking for Ghosts

Unconcerned with what her business partners were up to, Rohini was giggling with excitement. Hugging herself, she whirled in circles, then flung her arms up over her head and collapsed back in dizzy elation onto the enormous bed in the glorious stateroom. Everything was glorious. She was here. This was her room. The Secret Spice was, in part, her restaurant.

Hers.

And when she’d first seen the Queen from the back seat of Cynthia’s preposterous little car, she knew she was headed to exactly where she should be. She couldn’t stop smiling, until, abruptly, a lump formed in her throat and her eyes misted with tears.

“I made it, Zahir,” she whispered. “I made it.”

She sobered as she thought of him, of all he’d done for her, and all that she might still need to do on her own.

But that wasn’t for today. Today was for celebration and thankfulness. Getting up from the bed, she opened her case, pulled out all the little plastic sacks of spices and herbs she’d packed, and sighed with relief. Not a one had opened or torn. Even so, she could smell their pungent bouquet right through the protective wrappings. Rauvolfia, Serpentina, Jaiphal, Javitri, Khus Khus, Ashwagandha and more — why did cinnamon always smell the strongest? There were dozens of varieties that she’d stuffed inside shirt sleeves and trouser legs and white cotton gym socks, just like a drug dealer might hide a stash. The TSA had missed them completely. They’d even affixed a sticker to the top of her bag: “Checked by Homeland Security.”

About the Author:PATRICIA V. DAVIS’s debut novel series, THE SECRET SPICE CAFE, is comprised of three books: COOKING FOR GHOSTS (2016) SPELLS AND OREGANO (2017) and DEMONS, WELL-SEASONED. (2019) The audio books will be released in 2020 by Tantor Media, and narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. Patricia lives with her husband, who is both a poker player and a rice farmer, so she divides her time between southern Nevada and northern California. Say hello to Patricia at her author website.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Wikipedia

Buy the series at Amazon.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

Top Ten Tuesday: Opening Lines Revisited

June 23, 2020 By 36 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!  This week is very special because Top Ten Tuesday turns ten!

There were a couple of options for this week’s topic.  I chose the option of picking a past Top Ten Tuesday topic that I didn’t get to do.  A couple of week’s ago my fellow reviewer, Astilbe, compiled a list for the topic Opening Lines.  I had so much fun reading her list as well as others, that I decided to make my own.  I made my list by browsing my bookshelf and opening some of my favorites.  Since this topic is a rather recent one, I also tried to avoid books that were frequently featured in the posts I visited.  Here’s my list in no particular order!

“I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw the obituary.  The fact that it had my name on it was sort of a clue.” Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer #1) by Karen Chance

“I didn’t realize he was a werewolf at first.  My nose isn’t at its best when surrounded by axle grease and burnt oil.” Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs

“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine.” Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

“My name is Uhtred.” The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories #1) by Bernard Cornwell

“I wanted darkness.  There was a half-moon that summer night and it kept sliding from behind the clouds to make me nervous.  I wanted darkness” Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories #3) by Bernard Cornwell

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“His letter came just at the point when I though death was my only option.” Claire’s Last Secret (Claire Clairmont #1) by Marty Ambrose

“It hardly seems possible that one’s entire existence can be completely upended in the blink of an eye, but it happened to me, so I know it to be true.” A Shadowed Fate (Claire Clairmont #2) by Marty Ambrose

“I see…”‘ said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly he walked across the room towards the window.”  Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles #1) by Anne Rice

“Mrs. Bridge did not like bugs. Perched high up on the stool, she peered distastefully into the kitchen light.” The Fog Ladies by Susan McCormick

“The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.” Undead and Unwed (Undead #1) by Mary Janice Davidson.

“I’d been waiting for the vampire for years when he walked into the bar.” Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse #1) by Charlaine Harris

Which line/lines do you like most?  If you haven’t read these, do the opening lines make you curious enough to pick them up?

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings Tagged With:

Scarlet Odyssey by C T Rwizi

June 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Scarlet Odyssey by C T Rwizi
Publisher: 47North
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (608 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Magic is women’s work; war is men’s. But in the coming battle, none of that will matter.

Men do not become mystics. They become warriors. But eighteen-year-old Salo has never been good at conforming to his tribe’s expectations. For as long as he can remember, he has loved books and magic in a culture where such things are considered unmanly. Despite it being sacrilege, Salo has worked on a magical device in secret that will awaken his latent magical powers. And when his village is attacked by a cruel enchantress, Salo knows that it is time to take action.
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Salo’s queen is surprisingly accepting of his desire to be a mystic, but she will not allow him to stay in the tribe. Instead, she sends Salo on a quest. The quest will take him thousands of miles north to the Jungle City, the political heart of the continent. There he must gather information on a growing threat to his tribe.

On the way to the city, he is joined by three fellow outcasts: a shunned female warrior, a mysterious nomad, and a deadly assassin. But they’re being hunted by the same enchantress who attacked Salo’s village. She may hold the key to Salo’s awakening—and his redemption.

Salo wants to become a mystic. This is unheard of. All the mystics in the tribe have been women. He sticks to it and passes the test. He is their first male mystic. Not everyone is happy about that.

When his village is attacked and everyone there dies, he has no choice but to set out on the quest his queen had given him. This is a long tale and it’s full of magic and warfare. It’s not boring, you get involved in the characters, and you’ll find yourself turning pages until the end. Salo sets off on a journey and finds three companions to come with him. It’s good he has them, there are men after him who don’t want him to finish his quest. He has a shunned female warrior, a mysterious nomad, and a deadly assassin. They are good at fighting those against him. The mysterious nomad is not all human…

The story flows well and kept my interest. The author introduces other characters and you follow more than one developing story. This story has a lot of death in it. These characters are warriors and enemies are eliminated. I didn’t feel bad for them. War is war and it might have gone the other way. Salo keeps on with his quest as I read about the other characters. I couldn’t wait to see what happens. This author throws some surprises in his story.

As long as the story is, you still close the book with the thought: It’s over already? The good news? This is book one in a series.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

June 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin
Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (283 pages)
Heat: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

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Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Catherine the Great of Russia is an interesting story filled with surprises. This book is loosely based on early events: her first arrival to Russia and her complicated relations with Peter, the heir to the throne. Catherine (Sophie still in this book) is drawn romantically to two other men, especially when Peter turns out to be troubled. The way these complexities unfold prevents this book from being a romance.

We as readers get an inside view into life in a palace for people at the top. Catherine discovers it’s not all fun and games and that real danger threatens her and those she cares about. She must not make a wrong move…but she does. She falls for someone other than her fiance and attempts something foolishly reckless in order to follow her heart.

This story set in Imperial Russia, centuries ago, features several well-drawn characters and complications. The world building serves to help us picture Catherine’s surroundings, her golden cage. Introspection and difficult decisions enlighten us to characterization, and the pace is still quick. It may not be one-hundred percent accurate to history, but it’s more of a young adult romantically-influenced rendition. It is an entertaining story, and those who like YA set in the past will probably enjoy this book. As a bonus, there are occasional links in the ebook you can click on to see footage, quick clips.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Blackmailed by Her Bully by Sam Crescent

June 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Blackmailed by Her Bully by Sam Crescent
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (215 pages)
Other: M/F, Masturbation, Anal Play, Forced Seduction, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

Twelve years ago, something happened to Ava Marshall, and rather than hide it, she reported it. All this time, she’s believed the man responsible paid for his crime, but she is about to learn nothing is as it seems.

Logan Stanford had his whole life torn from him for an act he didn’t commit. Sent to the gutter, he has built his way back up, and now he’s more than a bully from Ava’s past. He’s the nightmare that is going to make her pay. He’s set to hurt and humiliate her in every possible way. There’s no escape for her.

But the truth will set her free, and when it does, Logan has to face the fact he has hurt the wrong person. Torn between his need to keep her and his guilt, Logan doesn’t know what to do. He’s a selfish bastard who is used to taking what he wants, but he has to let her go.

Only, Ava doesn’t want to be let go. She has spent too long living in the past, and it is time to move on and finally live her life.
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Will Logan give her the chance, or will he push her away?

When people go looking for revenge, things are bound to get dicey. This is no exception for Logan Stanford and Ava Marshall. But revenge can also be sweet. Blackmailed by Her Bully is a dark romance filled with lust and sweet, sweet vengeance.

Ava Marshall has been trying to run from her past but it appears she never wanted to run from the almost innocent bystander, Logan Stanford. Logan, however, is going to take some more convincing to believe the stories of his first love.

Sam Crescent dives headfirst into the seedy underbelly of toxic small-town life and fulfills many dark fantasies within the pages of this novel. It should not be thrown about lightly that this book has themes of past sexual assault, and victim blaming, but for those who feel comfortable enough to read books with those themes will find their way into many descriptive and sensual scenes between our main characters, while also getting to peek into their lives before adulthood where their interlocking stories began.

There was absolutely chemistry between Ava and Logan, but their consecutive journeys to realization of this mutual lust, and maybe the inklings of something more, were often quickly darkened by the past that they were fighting every step of the way in this novel.

As erotic fiction, this book has plenty to offer in the ways of spicy, but it seems to be lacking a hero. I really want to like Logan. I look back on the kid he was in high school, wanting the pretty girl but not knowing how to properly show his affection or how to keep it from his friends, but glossing over what he does as an adult is difficult to do. His character fits his story arc, but it is hard to forgive his actions as easily as Ava seems to. I think his redemptions come a little too easily, and I think the readers would agree that at the very least some groveling on his end could have improved his character greatly.

I wouldn’t call Logan a hero, but I might use the term vigilante. Taking power into his own hands to try and ease the scars of his past, while also in his own way taking leadership and care of an entire city. He was flawed, but wanting to change or not there were still glimmers of that doting boy from the past. And Ava saw that too, whether she acknowledged it or not. Complicated is the best term to describe these two, and though not an easy read I believe these two found what they needed in one another.

Blackmailed by Her Bully is dangerously sexy, daring, and scandalous. Not for the faint of heart. Will Ava and Logan ever be able to get over all of the tainted moments in their past, or will vengeance win out over all?

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight

June 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Eliza Knight who is celebrating the upcoming release of the first book in her new series Prince Charlie’s Angels, The Devil Wears Plaid. Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book.

Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel, and he can’t resist being recruited to her cause…

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he’s intercepted by a woman known only as “Mistress J,” who’s determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can’t resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion…

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she’s one of Prince Charlie’s Angels—a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn’t expecting to be his enemy…

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Toran jerked around. Suddenly, figures melted out from the shadows. Scots, but in the dark and dressed as they were, he couldn’t make out what clan they hailed from. At the center of the five men stood a lass. Aye, she wore trews and had her hair up under a cap, wisps of golden strands peeking through, but there was no hiding the curves beneath her shirt and waistcoat. In the moonlight filtering through the trees, she looked bonnie—high, arching cheekbones, a mouth that puckered into a frown. But what struck him most was the spark of fire in her gaze. Her eyes reflected the light of the moon, almost making her look like she was glowing.

And the muzzle of her pistol was pointed right at him. Outlaws… Of all the bloody luck. He reached for his own pistol tucked into his belt.

“Dinna move,” the lass said. Her voice was throaty, sensual. “Else I put a bullet through your heart.”

A slow grin formed on Toran’s face. “What’s to say I won’t put a bullet in yours first?”

The lass looked down at Archie and then flicked her gaze back to his. “Ye’re outnumbered. Let’s say ye were willing to pull your weapon before I took my shot, and then ye were to waste your bullet, there’d be five more cutting through ye before ye were able to see the result.”

Again, she looked at Archie. “And your friend doesna seem like he will be much help.”

“We’re verra close to the English garrison, lass. Any shot ye make will be a beacon to the dragoons lurking about. And trust me, there are hundreds of them headed this way as we speak.”

“Is that so?” She glanced at Archie once more. “A prison break? So ye two are rebels, aye?”

Toran didn’t answer. Let her come to her own conclusions.

“We have horses.” She kept her gaze on his, and he had the intense urge to draw closer. “Ye and your friend can have one when we return to my camp—for a price. Why not donate your coin to the cause and join us? We’ve a need for more rebels.”

Toran did not want to join her. Now, if she’d asked him to join her for some mutual warmth under a plaid, that would be another story. Then again, she had a point about the bullets. And he truly did not want to die.

“I’m guessing from your current circumstances ye are in need of a helping hand, sir.” Her voice was smooth, even melodic, but still filled with authority. And considering that she was the one speaking, she certainly gave the impression that she was the one in charge. Fascinating.

A group of men led by a woman? Not a common thing, and intensely intriguing. Whoever she was, she had ballocks as full of steel as his own. And if he weren’t trapped in the woods with her, a hundred redcoats on his tail, he might have asked her to join him for a dram.

“Who are ye?” Toran asked.

A soft laugh escaped her, and her hand waved dismissively. “Not yet, sir. Ye’ll have to prove yourself first.”

Prove himself? He gritted his teeth. “All right, we’ll join ye.” There really was no other choice. He and Archie needed a quick escape, and her horse would provide that. Just because he was taking her up on the offer now didn’t mean he had to stick it out. In fact, as soon as he could, he’d steal the horse and somehow get Archie back to Fraser lands where he could make certain the rest of his family was safe from Boyd.

“Good.” She nodded to Dirk. “Search them for weapons, and then help the wounded man onto your horse.”

Toran stood still for the inspection, gritting his teeth as his weapons were removed. “I’ve said we’d join ye. Why then are ye treating me like a prisoner?”

The lass cocked her head to the side, a slight grin curling her upper lip. “We must first see that ye are trustworthy.” With an added challenge echoing in her words, she said, “Ye can ride with me. And dinna try any tricks, else ye find yourself verra dead.”

The lass didn’t beat around the bush, and there was no hint of humor in her tone at all. She meant what she said.

Toran climbed onto the back of her horse, his cold, wet body flush to her warmer, dry back. Beneath the icy exterior was a lass full of lush curves. Mo chreach… Good heavens, but she felt good. Hesitantly, he placed an arm around her waist.

She shuddered. “Blast, but ye’re soaked,” she hissed. “Ye should have warned me. And ye smell like the devil’s own chamber pot.”

Toran chuckled. “A hazard of escape, lass.”

Her back straightened, and she leaned forward, away from him. “Ye can call me Mistress J.”

Mistress J? Why did that sound familiar?

“And ye are?” she urged.

“I’m called Toran,” he said slowly as realization struck him. The night had taken a very interesting turn. For he was holding onto the woman he suspected might be responsible for his mother’s death.

***
Excerpted from The Rebel Wears Plaid by Eliza Knight. © 2020 by Eliza Knight. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author:Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a princess…

Growing up, I was a proficient story teller, with most of my plots encompassing princesses and princes and dreams coming true. Now as an author, some of my stories are still about royalty, knights, duels, ladies, intrigue, betrayal. History fascinates me and I try to bring history back to life in each of my stories.

Growing up, I was lucky to have grandparents who lived in Paris, so many a summer was spent exploring medieval ruins and historical sites. That passion continued on with me into adulthood and I have enjoyed many adventures around the world.

One of my all time favorite books is Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, and I am of course Jane Austen fan, my two favorites being Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I love the in-depth, emotionally riveting and intriguing works of historical author, Ken Follett. I am also a fan of Shakespeare, and you will find in a lot of my writing reference to the literary God and his work. Not only Shakespeare, but other period poets and literary notables of history are on my keeper shelf.

When I’m not reading or writing I am usually doing research for fun. If you love history, come visit me at History Undressed, where we discuss all the wildly fascinating and titillating facts of history!

Website | History Undressed | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
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Hunger Winter by Rob Currie

June 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Hunger Winter by Rob Currie
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade, Inspirational
Length: Full (272 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk’s older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next.

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This is an exciting look back at a time in history when life was hard for everyone–the period of the Hongerwinter, the Dutch famine of 1944-1945 during the time the Netherlands was occupied by Germany, at the end of World War II. I have to admit I did not know much about this part of the war before reading this book, and it has spurred my interest to learn more.

Told from the points of view of Dirk, a 13-year-old boy who is trying to find his way to safety with his young sister, Anna, and his older sister Els, who is part of the Resistance and has been captured by the Gestapo, Hunter Winter, shares a  snapshot of the dangers and difficulties that people were facing during this time. It’s written simply so a child could understand, but is full of suspense at the same time and kept this grandmother on the edge of her seat wondering how these children would be able to survive…. to the extent that I finished the book in one sitting.

There is a Christian message throughout the book; not heavy-handed but enough to show where this family gets its strength. One of the many pieces of advice Dirk’s father had shared with him was “Keep your hopes up and your prayers strong,” and it definitely helped him as he struggled to keep his sister safe.

I highly recommend this book to families with children 10 and up. It might be a little much for younger kids, but it’s important that our children learn about times like these so hopefully they’ll know enough to keep history from repeating itself. There are some violent moments, but this was a violent time, so to leave those elements out would have been doing the readers a disservice.

The author has obviously put a lot of research into this time period and, until I reached the end of the book and discovered the characters were fictional, I would have sworn the author was telling a story torn out of his own family’s history–the characters were that real to me. Good job, sir.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Across the Way by Mary Monroe

June 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Across the Way by Mary Monroe
Publisher: Dafina
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

When good-time couple Milton and Yvonne Hamilton moved one house over from the respectable-but-restless Odell and Joyce Watson, it was a fast friendship of shared secrets—and secret jealousies and betrayals. Their alliance was bound to crash and burn, but the Hamiltons won’t quite let the flame die out, even after scandalous accusations get them arrested . . .

Dose: For most patients, the proposed dose is 50 mg taken, as cheap online viagra https://www.supplementprofessors.com/cialis-8960.html required, roughly 1 prior hour sexual action; notwithstanding, it might be taken anywhere in the range between the ages of fifty and seventy. Some men have more than one cause for their erectile buy tadalafil cheap dysfunction. So, viagra for if you feel that you are suffering from the life destructing and havoc creating male impotence or erectile dysfunction which is also known as ‘ED’ in short, there is a good news for all of them. Honestly speaking, I never know that I’ll be viagra professional price completely sexually different man. Odell would do anything to be free of his bootlegging, blackmailing, money extorting neighbors and recover the peaceful—and financially prosperous—life he and Joyce once had. But Milton and Yvonne seem to always bounce back from bad luck, and this time they’ve returned angrier, and greedier, than ever. Determined to get what Odell “owes” them, the Hamiltons have a big surprise for Joyce too, one that shows how far they will go to get revenge . . .

Now pushed past his breaking point, Odell is sure he’s got a foolproof plan to end the scheming once and for all. But it soon spirals into lies, shattering violence, and permanent damage that will roil their tranquil community, and alter his and Joyce’s world forever . . .

This is the final book in the Neighbors series. I am sad that the series has ended but the book did not disappoint. My favorite characters, Milton and Yvonne Hamilton, are still at it and perhaps they were in too deep. The story picks up after their release from jail for false charges that were brought against them. Now they are in more debt after their arrest and needing money to pay back a loan. Upstanding neighbors Odell and Joyce Watson continue to live their carefree life. I can’t remember how I felt about Odell in the previous books but I definitely don’t like his character in this book. The way he continues to lie to his wife and her family is very foul.

Milton and Yvonne are always together in their ideas and plans. That’s one reason why they are my favorite characters because in their marriage they are a team and have each others back. I think they took advantage of an opportunity by blackmailing Odell and even though it was wrong I don’t think they deserved what they got for being greedy. I was hoping they would wise up and stop with the money scams. It seemed like the more money they could get the more they wasted. I appreciate that they did try to help Joyce but their plan took a different turn. I didn’t care for Joyce’s character because she thought she was better than others, but I guess she couldn’t help it since its part of her upbringing. She was gullible and naive to the wool Odell had over her eyes. I felt sorry for her and understood her defense in speaking so harshly to Milton and especially Yvonne since Yvonne is pretty and had children something that Joyce lacked. Even though I didn’t care for Joyce I wanted her to question Odell, at least see through his lies or something to show she had some ‘girl power’.

The story ends up closing all loose ends and the ending was a surprise that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the characters, the story and I hope the author has more enjoyable series like this.

This is a series that I highly recommend to those that enjoy southern drama.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Mint Julep Murder by CC Dragon

June 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Mint Julep Murder by CC Dragon
Southern Belle Cozy Mysteries #1
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (205 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Ah, sweet home Tennessee, with the Music City, Dollywood and Murder…

Annabelle ‘Belle’ Baxter returns home to her small southern town after studying catering and hotel management, to help her Gran, the only real family she has. Determined to make their preserves shop a success, Belle expands the menu and boosts business—until the pompous sheriff drops dead, poisoned, after trying one of her signature smoothies.

Easily available treatment-This is one of cheap no prescription viagra the best thing about Kamagra is that you can buy it without burning a hole in your pocket. Face mask of ripe mashed bananas help to rejuvenate skin and prevent formation of sildenafil without prescription wrinkles. Eating nuts like almond will also fulfill your professional cialis daily need of nutrients required for strong bones. The four chambered heart in human beings is a complex pumping device where purified blood from the pulmonary veins coming from the order generic levitra see now lungs is supplied to the rest of the body and blood is enough. People looking down on Belle is nothing new, but this time they’re quick to point a finger as well. Now it’s not just her high school rival or the perfect church ladies—the bumbling deputies want to pin it on her too, leaving her no choice but to find the murderer herself. If the preserves shop goes under, she and her gran are ruined.

But it’s scary how many suspects her poking around turns up—the sheriff’s jealous deputy, his pissed-off wife, the girlfriend he was about to dump his wife for, or even the handsome new deputy, Gus Haywood, whose city ways riled the stuffy sheriff. Belle can’t let this handsome stranger distract her, not when she has to clear her name and protect the town she loves, despite its people.

Well, maybe he can distract her a little…

Small towns can be quiet, but they’re not always necessarily peaceful.

There was so much care and attention put into the mystery elements of the plot. It was a great deal of fun to try to figure out who killed the sheriff, how they did it, and why they did it. I thought the number of clues was perfect, and I enjoyed the couple of red herrings the author threw in there was well to keep the audience on our toes.

One thing I would have liked to see more time spent on was the character development. Since this is the first instalment in a series, my hope is that the sequels will give the recurring characters a chance to show off sides of their personalities the audience hasn’t seen yet and grow as individuals as a result of their experiences in life. There is so much room for growth here. It makes me excited to see what comes next!

The world building was well done. Sweet Grove felt like many of the small towns I’ve lived in. It had a strong sense of community that supported every member when they needed it. This was also a place where gossip travelled at the speed of light and where having any semblance of a private life was all but impossible. I enjoyed seeing the characters navigate the benefits and drawbacks of living in a place where everyone knows their neighbors so intimately.

Everyone who enjoys small town mysteries should give The Mint Julep Murder a try.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman

June 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Childrens, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (34 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There are things about you quite unlike any other.
Things always known by your father or mother.
So if you decide to be different one day,
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Every child is special and unique, but every child also loves to dream of being something different. In I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love, bestselling author and artist Nancy Tillman has created another heartfelt masterpiece celebrating the joys of imagination, and the comfort of always knowing that “you are loved.”

Everyone needs unconditional love.

Most picture books are written for children in a specific age group for totally understandable reasons. What made this one unique was how widely and successfully it cast its net. Yes, a patient three-year-old could enjoy it, but that child’s older sibling, parent, or grandparent could also find plenty of stuff that spoke to them at their stages of life as well.

There was so much love packed into every single scene. The narrator appeared to be having a conversation with a young child whose precise words weren’t recorded. What the audience received instead were the parent’s responses about how they’d react if their child suddenly transformed into any number of creatures, from a camel to a white snowy owl. It was like listening in on a delightful conversation.

Sometimes the storytelling flirted with some light otherworldly influences in ways that made me grin. They weren’t strong or clear enough for me to tack on a fantasy or science fiction genre label since they could have easily been explained away by discussing all of the imaginative things children come up with on their own without any prompting. Still, I thought it was best to mention this since some parts of the conversation did involve things that aren’t strictly possible in our non-magical world. I loved the way this straddled the line between something clearly set in the here and now and something that required the existence of magic.

I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love was a heartwarming tale I’d wholeheartedly recommend to readers of all ages.

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