Archives for February 2022

Blood and Tears by John Carson

February 14, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Blood and Tears by John Carson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Two murderers on the loose. One relentless cop on their tail. Zero hope nobody dies.
DCI Harry McNeil is finally enjoying life outside of policing. But he’s forced back into all work and no play after a transport van explodes and a pair of convicted criminals disappear into thin air. And with his resources stretched to a breaking point and the escapees armed and dangerous, the Edinburgh detective fears nothing can stop more bloodshed.

So when experienced colleagues from Glasgow join the hunt, McNeil works the extra manpower hard to get the savage killers off the streets. But after the vicious slayings resume, the expert investigator and his team must race against time to stop a deadly spree of violence.

Can McNeil trap the ruthless felons before more body count rises higher?

DCI Harry McNeil and his partner Alex once again join forces with their friends and counterparts in Glasgow – DCI Jimmy Dunbar and DS Robbie Evans – when a daring escape outside the High Court happens and two convicted murders escape in the mayhem. Time is of the essence to bring these two fugitives – and their conspirators – into line before everything turns to blood and tears.

This is the fifth book in the DCI Harry McNeil series, and I admit I am thoroughly hooked. I also feel the author has really hit his stride with both this series and his writing as a whole. I find it very “moreish” in that once I get started reading even when I’m busy with other things I just keep wanting to know what happens next, and then after that, and again. While there’s nothing trail blazing with this series, I find the plot has an exceptional balance between detective work and action, the characters are fun, realistic and appealing. I care what happens to the characters, but I also love being along for the ride as they put the puzzle pieces together and solve the crime.

This story in particular had a slightly different bend to it which I found equal parts refreshing and completely different. It’s completely normal for there to be a dead body, a killer and the police figuring out who is responsible – but this time the two murderers are known to the police from the very first page. This is a classic story about what happens AFTER justice is served and the police and court system has worked correctly. What happens when one of the guilty has a strong network of connections and ties and has unfinished business he has no intention of leaving behind?

The jailbreak (or “court break” I suppose) occurs right in the opening chapters and what follows is an action packed, fast paced chase after the two murderers who are seemingly strangers to each other, and each go their own way. I loved how this gave a glimpse into what might happen after the system has performed well and this different look at police work from a new perspective.

Readers who enjoy a good police procedural but want something slightly different to the usual “who dun it” mystery should find this is a breath of fresh air. I strongly feel this story can be picked up as a standalone though it’s a middle book in a series. While there is plenty of backstory between Harry and Alex in particular, and the teams their work with to a slightly lesser extent – I feel this story can absolutely be enjoyed fully if it’s picked up on a whim with no prior background. I’m really enjoying this author and looking forward to reading more by him.

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

Readers or Non-Readers by Dave Maruszewski – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 14, 2022 By 11 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dave Maruszewski will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****

I don’t like demographics. I understand them from a publishing standpoint. If you have a target, you can aim for it. That makes sense. It makes strategies for sales and publishing that much easier.

However, I hate having to pick an age group as a writer, or anything other type of grouping. I think as most in my craft, I’d like to write for a multitude of diverse people. Then, let the chips fall where they may.

When it came down to picking my audience, I decided to write for people who don’t like to read. I think that many presume that people who don’t like to read are just that. Maybe, they aren’t that smart or they’ve learned to pursue lazier entertainment. My hypothesis is that many non-readers might have an anxiety or even a disorder. There is obviously corroborating evidence on this matter.

I was a terrible reader when I was a kid. My mind would drift often. Sometimes, I would do this out of boredom. Other times, the story made me think of a related topic and my mind would want to spend some (possibly many) moments thinking on them. Looking back, I’m less harsh on myself for changing tracks of thought. Isn’t that what books are supposed to do? Aren’t they supposed to get you thinking deeper on a topic? However, when you had to get X-amount of pages to be read by Monday, this was often less appreciated by my teachers and put me into some late nights.

So, where does this leave me? I’ve done some research on this topic, but I’d like to hear what you have to say. Were you an avid reader, or were you dragged to a pile of books that you dreaded? Or somewhere in between?

What would you think would help? What helped you find your love/like of reading?

I’m definitely interested, and it would help me in designing future books. For my own issues, I had to take a step back before going forward. I read less and easier products before I was able to read the more sophisticated works. How about you?

Recently knighted squires Raven, Romda, and Ravai are tasked to help a nearby priest. However, this simple errand turns into much more. They cross paths with the Dark Beast. After that brief encounter, they soon realize the Beast’s plans to destroy an entire town. They journey to this town, meeting residents who tell large tales about the Beast. How much of stories are true? The three will find out. The Dark Beast is coming.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Wow, that was crazy,” Ravai practically shouts.

“Crazy, but true,” says the driver. “But you all look like you could fall asleep.”

“Why do you say that?” says Ravai.

“Well, for one, your friend keeps falling asleep,” he says, and the driver’s friends snicker. “And your female friend hasn’t said a word since we teamed up. Maybe you should rest. We can stop here.”

Ravai doesn’t feel that tired, but he sees the look in Romda’s eyes that it might be a good idea. He acknowledges the stranger’s words, and they stop. It is in the middle of nowhere, trees and small fields all around.

Raven crawls to the nearest log and tries to lie on it. Romda isn’t so easily satisfied. She instead starts to pitch tent and gets out her small bedroll. Her movements are so slow it looks like she won’t be done for an hour.

Ravai continues to talk to the driver. “Turning people into beavers? That’s not possible. You are pulling my leg. How can that be true?”

“It is, I swear,” the driver says.

“How would you know?” Ravai challenges the driver.

“Because my grandfather gave him the rune and spell to do so…and now I serve the master,” the man says coldly.

About the Author: Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family. He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son, when they encouraged him to put his bedtime stories on paper.
His stories are created from an accumulation of experiences from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer. He strives to develop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well as entertaining to youths and adults.
In between writing stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com), Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Buy the book for only $0.99 at NetGalley or Amazon.

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

What I Would Tell a New Author by Seyoum Nigussie – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 14, 2022 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Seyoum Nigussie will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What I Would Tell a New Author

Everybody knows writing is not easy, and a new author is no different. But every author would have his or her mindset to accomplish something with writing and that mindset is the driving force for writing what you intend to write. When writing any genre of literature, there are prior considerations. The subject matter on what to write is the main consideration.
After identifying the story’s aim in question, identifying the extent of the story is the second consideration. At this stage, visualizing the story’s scope and dimensions is of vital importance. Once the scope of the story is determined, getting geared to writing begins. Once writing started, the nature of the story becomes to get shape. While writing, there will be moments of unease and doubts about the work underway.

A new writer should relax during the writing, and visualize more and more substances for the ideal subject story at hand. At some points, the writing becomes tiresome, and the flow of ideas from the brain onto the paper or screen gets stuck. But most of the time, the flow of ideas becomes natural and fluent. Adequately writing at the time of good flow of ideas is very crucial. When stuck somewhere down the road of writing, it is time to go back and refresh the story from the beginning. A new author should consider his or her work seriously and fondly. Working through and thoroughly, writing becomes so much more enjoyable. If there is no enjoyment in writing it will be futile for a new author to accomplish the desired goal.

World of Stars is a collection of poetry that portrays the beauties of nature and human experiences in the world. The poems enumerate various places, events, personas, notions and conditions that deserve poetic attention. A portion of the poems are made for tributes and gratitude to great personas who make this world as adorable as it is.

The poems are on varied topics and distinct from each other. Abstract and subjective ideas are woven into the poems to highlight the degree of transcendence. All the poems are metrical composition. By illustrating the good side of the world and nature within it, the poems aim to elevate people to a good way of looking at life as beautiful and meaningful.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Stars Every Where

Countless heavenly stars rock in the cosmos
Glamorous stars walk the earth for good cause.
Every where they reach for social worth
Stars every where delight of human growth
Through infinite universe that exists forever
Up in skies brighter and on earth glimmer,
To mark human lives for better and better
Gracious they are, stars appear every where.
As mysterious universe is subtle and endless
There could be time for galaxies to impress.
Leading human world into new progress
Fathoms of spirit generate legends to redress.
As microcosmic creatures inhibit on earth
Star lights come forth to unleash sound health.
Striving and tackling renewal of ethical wealth
Invincible stars would show up for moral rebirth.
As fountain of all lives and blossom of love
Stars reinvigorate themselves further to live.
As images of dreams and homages to believe
Stars every where shine out cures to relieve.

About the Author The world and life in general was promising to me until I was 17 years in my native country of Ethiopia. While a high school student in 1974, the world around me came crashing down when communist military Junta took state power and soon started a killing spree, at times committing mass murder. This was very traumatizing and the start of Stalinist ‘Red Terror’ on the ground. It was bad enough to hate being in life. From this, I quickly learnt life in the world is about taking on adventures.

With six of my school friends and one of our teachers, we formed an alliance to take action against the Junta. With 2 years of preparation we had managed to inform the public and get the local police headquarters on our side. Then, in April 1976 we staged a rebellion without violence in Nekempte, provincial capital of Welega. The revolt was short-lived, nothing lost with little gain. Amidst media control of the Junta, the news of rebellion was heard across the country. After that, my friends and I vowed to individually take on challenges for democracy as a life-long mission. We split apart and I went underground. When the security situation became harsh, I left the country for Sudan.

Despite traumatizing news and the realities around me with the ‘Periods of Gloom and Doom’, I took refuge in reading classical poetry which became my long time passion.

After a long journey through ups and downs, I suffered a car accident in Sudan, and left Africa all together – migrating to Canada in 1990. Through my journey in life, I looked around for a drug of relief from grief and nostalgia. Poetry reading had become my choice for entertainment and to delete bad memories and traumas. Soon after I realized that positive poetry is as good as drugs, music and paintings are, I decided to write one and here I begin with World of Stars.

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Buy the book at Amazon, Bookshop, Indigo Chapters, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, Kobo, Smashwords, or iBooks.

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California Man by EC Sheedy

February 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment


California Man by EC Sheedy
Salt Spring Island Friends Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Relationships don’t come easy when you’re too shy to love.

Bookstore owner Emily Welland is timid and deeply insecure—and she has her reasons. She’s read about Quinn Ramsay, the brilliantly successful celebrity entrepreneur, and she’s seen pictures of him in the tabloids— always with a stunning model or actress on his arm.

Quinn’s glittering California life is the polar opposite to her quiet and reclusive days on Salt Spring Island in the Pacific Northwest. So when Quinn comes to her island and shows an interest in her, her initial reactions are disbelief, fear—and panic attacks. None of which she can control.

All of which makes Quinn more interested than ever.

This is a cute trope that is used to good effect in California Man. Emily is the super shy book seller that freezes up when she meets people, more specifically, men outside the safety and security of her store. Quinn is the quintessential self-made, successful and rich bachelor who is tired of the rat race but not sure what else to do since it’s all he knows. The characters seem like they are diametrically opposed, yet that is what fun and entertaining romance stories are all about. Love happens when you least expect it and certainly Emily wasn’t ready for the intensity that is Quinn. Quinn didn’t expect the meteoric impact from a glance of gorgeous gray eyes. What comes next is the pursuit and chase, ultimately leading to what readers will expect to read, only to find out that the author threw in a plot conflict. A conflict I at first didn’t feel worked, but it’s what the author decided to have her secondary characters do that made it work, made me happy and I acknowledge the cleverness of it.

Most of the conflict is internal and it’s from Emily’s point of view. It is effective, although a little drawn out at times, but the emotions and feelings of sympathy for the heroine more than make up for it. Quinn’s life choice isn’t as impactful as the heroine’s, but it does play off her insecurities rather well. What I liked about Quinn was his realization that Emily is worth fighting for, and that means restraining his libido and putting her first, even when she makes it hard.

Because of Quinn’s initial restraint, I was hoping that this book was going to fall into the sensual category. Nope – it definitely earned a spicy rating. Of course, Emily rationalized it; total trope reasoning, but it’s the end result that more than makes up for it.

Another strong point in this story’s favor is how Quinn and Emily end up bringing out the best in each other, while helping each other with some of their tough life decisions. They made a great team. In fact, California Man is a pretty good read. I enjoyed it, the pace was consistent and always moved forward and I really appreciated Quinn’s depth of character, which was showcased in his interactions with James, a secondary character. The happy ever after was wrapped up with a delightful bow of love and happiness.

All in all, California Man is a romantic little gem and well worth reading.

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

The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March

February 11, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March
Publisher: St Martin’s
Genre: Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Sometimes life’s most magical journeys bring you back to where it all began…From New York Times bestselling author Emily March comes The Christmas Wishing Tree, an enchanting account of the magic and miracle of Christmas.

A man who loves adventure and the open sea, Devin Murphy returns for a short Christmas trip to his small hometown of Eternity Springs. Immersed in the joy and magic of the holiday season all around him, he doesn’t hesitate to play along when a young boy phones Santa to ask for a very special wish. Devin never guesses that a wrong number has the potential to make everything in his life so right.

Jenna Stockton adopted Reilly when he needed a mother and she intends to keep him safe. A small town across the country called Eternity Springs seems like a good place to hide from their past without any complications —until sexy Santa himself discovers her secrets. When Devin proposes a daring plan to face down the danger together and defeat it once and for all, she is tempted. Maybe Devin really is capable of making wishes come true? Perhaps in a Christmas wish they’ll both find the miracle they’ve been looking for all along…

A cute story for a sweet time of the year.

I’d never read a book by Emily March and when I saw this one, I had to pick it up. I’m glad I did. The writing was engaging and the story interesting. It’s a good read.

I liked the characters. Dr Jenna is a smart woman who has a kid and some issues to deal with. That’s fine. I liked that she wasn’t afraid to deal with the issues (no spoilers given) and her attitude was good, too. Have a problem, deal, move on and forward. The one thing I wasn’t crazy about with her wasn’t so much her, but how she managed to fall into situations that worked out. Sure, there was one big one that wasn’t working, but things seemed to fall into place rather easily for her, despite her other troubles.

I liked Devin, too. He’s an adventurer, but he’s also a romantic. It was cute to see him get together with Jenna and her son.

One thing that kept me from totally enjoying this book was the pacing. It took a long time for the characters to get together in the same place. I liked how the author strung the story out, but at the same time, it was a little too long. But that could be me.

If you’re looking for a sweet, holiday romance with some action, some suspense and love, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Making of a Memoir Writer – A Short Beginners Guide by N. Daniel – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 11, 2022 By 12 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. N. Daniel will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Making of a Memoir Writer – A Short Beginners Guide

My name is N. Daniel and I began writing memoirs about my life in 2013. Authors who write memoir have both the blessing and the curse of living through meaningful, sometimes traumatizing events, and coming out the other end with something worth mentioning. Unique experience is awesome in these circumstances but finding the profound in the ordinary is where most memoir writers make their living.

The first thing you need to realize is that memory is a day-dream. Your timeline, your conversations and your frame of reference are probably all false. Your goal is to ride the tide between reality and interest. Be accurate and use your deviance from the truth to reveal the lessons you have learned along the way. Reality is respectful to the reader but they will not pay attention if your story doesn’t flow correctly or meanders on loose ends. Change the timeline to build a climax. Weave narratives throughout to show people what you have learned without them doing the work. This is the real work of the memoir writer. If you need to combine or omit characters to simplify the story, do it! Streamline your thoughts. Streamline the narrative. Let it flow and shine. The most important thing you can do is to show people what you know with as little information as possible, and then show them more! Life is too complicated to explain everything, to have every little sub-plot involved. Make it easy. Make it smart. Write in a way that will make people interested but also be factual whenever possible. This is the memoir way.

The second thing you need to be aware of is this, don’t use memoir as a weapon. Respect your characters. Be sympathetic to them and be realistic about their aspirations and motivations. No one thinks they are evil. No one thinks they are wrong. Point out the inaccuracies in a kind and humbling way. If you google “writing a memoir” online, it will tell you to expect people to be hurt. That is very true. However it is up to you to tell your story fairly, realistically, without judgement. If you don’t like some one tell the reader why! Tell them what they did. Speculate about why they did that and be nice about it. Perhaps they came from a broken home, had improper role models or maybe they were just having a bad day. Be honest with others. More importantly be honest with yourself. Explain what you have done wrong, why you did it and how you could have avoided it. Value your readers enough to set your book in the real world. You don’t need to be the hero. You don’t need to sugar coat yourself. Just be genuine.

Finally, write from the heart. Talk about things that matter to you. Explain why you feel the way you feel. This is your story so you need to give as much detail as possible. The most embarrassing, self conscious and incriminating thoughts are often the ones readers relate most to. Find the bravery to be vulnerable. Find the courage to “take the hit” for your story. Reputation aside, we are talking about your life, your writing! People value a genuine story and the closer you can hit home the better. Put your soul into your writing. Tell people about your deepest desires, your deepest fears! Never shy away from sensitive topics and always, always, always be respectful to everyone you think might be reading your work. The profane, the controversial, the offensive has a place in your writing. This is reality we are talking about. This is real talk! Just remember to put things in perspective.

Everyone has a story in them just waiting to get out. Scratch the surface a little. Find out what you know. I guarantee you will learn more about yourself than your readers will. It is the ultimate journey of self discovery.

Bless you and your endeavors. Write me if you need help at: author@ndaniel.us

Yours,
N. Daniel

As Daniel recovers from a psychotic episode and months long mental health civil commitment, he befriends a youthful quadriplegic named Samantha who is dealing with life-threatening health problems. When cohabitation becomes necessary for Sam, caregiver and client both move to downtown Minneapolis to begin a new life together. Before they can get settled in, Daniel is diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and must undergo multiple surgeries. The two navigate the American healthcare system and work towards Samantha’s eventual independence, however, their relationship becomes toxic when a global pandemic shakes the nation and George Floyd is murdered by Minneapolis police officers.
Based on the author’s life, this endearing platonic love story is the gooey center of a turbulent world set aflame. Through the laughter and the tears, Samantha and Daniel play off each other like a tragic comedy duo that’s hell bent on finding humor within the most savage aspects of their everyday lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPTS (Please choose only ONE to use with your post):

Excerpt One:

I pulled into a gas station and had some trouble figuring out which side the tank was on. With some maneuvering I positioned the van next to the pump. Suddenly I realized that I didn’t have any money for gas. I paged through the three-ringed binder holding the mileage log and found what looked like a debit card in a pencil pouch.

“That’s the gas card, dear. You type in the mileage and the user code when you start the pump.”

“Oh, I get it. What’s the code?” I asked. “Look at the back of the card.” There was a tiny piece of paper fastened to the back of the card with clear plastic tape. It read “3742”. Sam put her limp left hand on her forehead as though she was doing a facepalm. I entered the information into the pump and opened the side door so I could talk to her while it filled up.

“So, you have had problems with these sores before?”

“Yes,” she replied, callously.

“They can be pretty serious business, huh?”

“You know the guy that played Superman? Christopher Reeve?”

“Yeah, everybody knows him. He fell off of his horse and broke his neck, right?”

“Exactly,” Sam continued. “He broke his neck at the base of his skull, so he had even less function than I do. Poor Bastard. Do you know how he died?”

“No, how?”

“Just like this. He got a pressure ulcer. Felt fine, just peachy. He went into sepsis and before they could give him antibiotics he dropped dead.”

Sam pointed her hand at me in the thumbs up motion.

“I wish I had the balls to just refuse treatment, but I am too chicken****.”

About the Author N. Daniel works as a medical caregiver in the greater Minneapolis/Saint Paul Metropolitan area in the Winter and as a landscape laborer for his father in Winona, MN in the Summer. His debut writing effort, “Corners Untouched by Madness: A Personal Journey of Overcoming Mental Illness,” has enjoyed modest success in certain writing circles. The Author lives with his wife and two dogs just outside of downtown Minneapolis.

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Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Non-Fiction Tagged With: , , ,

Wrong for Him by Christi Barth

February 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Wrong for Him by Christi Barth
Love Lottery Book Three
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Amelia Kirkland’s been head-over-heels for Teague Sullivan forever. Not that she’s ever let him know—as her brother’s best friend, he’s officially off-limits. That’s even more true once they become partners in rehabbing a historic inn. She can’t risk what she’s building with her brother and her friends just to fulfill a lifelong crush. Can she?

When Teague left the Special Forces, he didn’t know what would come next. Until his best friend, Alex, won an inn as a lottery prize and made him a partner. It’s his shot at getting everything he’s always wanted. Except for Alex’s beautiful sister. Amelia’s friendship was a lifeline while he was deployed, but that’s a line he can’t cross. He owes his friend too much to betray his trust. Now, though? Working and living with her every day? He wants more.

If their secret romance is discovered, it could ruin everything before the inn has a chance. But does their one shot at happiness require them to break all the rules?

I love reading a book series because it gives me the feeling of coming home. Wrong for Him is book three in the Love Lottery series. I fell in love with the cast of characters in book one and my love only grew larger in book two. At the end of book three I felt like they were my family. There is ‘prim and proper/OCD’, Alex, who has a sister named Amelia. Amelia is the guru of landscaping and always wearing gardening clothes. Amelia and Everleigh are best friends. Everleigh is the latest fashion trend and social butterfly. Alex and Teague are best friends. Teague is the retired military buff. Therefore, Teague and Alex are like brothers to Everleigh. Teague is like a brother to Amelia. The main characters were brilliantly created in an opposites attract kind of way. They would tease and banter with one another making me laugh. They had each other’s back when something went wrong. They were in every sense a family. Technically they either came from a broken family or didn’t have a family.

The four main characters that I listed above are from the city and they play a lottery and win a historical inn located in a small town. The adjustment from city to country is a hoot. What I especially loved was how they were welcomed by the small town. The cast of characters grew spellbound and yet each new character was well developed and relatable. I’d go as far to say they are unforgettable.

It’s worth mentioning in my book two review I voiced my concern over not seeing a book four listed or to be announced. I was really looking forward to a love story between Nora, the inn cook and James the high school shop teacher. Well, I’m ecstatic to tell you that Nora and James’s love story was included in book three, Wrong for Him. It was a double romance story. Two for one. Although, the main romance was between Teague and Amelia. Therefore, I’ll stay focused on them.

Teague and Amelia are the classic “friends turned lovers” trope. It was tricky because Teague is Amelia’s brother, Alex’s best friend. They have the “best friend code about not dating sisters”. Teague is seven years older than Amelia. Teague also was adjusting to civilian life after leaving the military. Amelia had childhood trauma she was working through that affected her relationships with her brother and Teague’s. She was no longer a child and wanted to be taken seriously by the people that she loved and respected. The romance between Teague and Amelia is heartwarming, sensual, complicated and genuine.

There is more than meets the eye when regarding the plot. I was pleasantly surprised with the plot regarding the inn’s cupola. Readers will know what I’m talking about when they get to that part. I’m sad the series has come to an end. I will cherish the entertainment it provided me. I appreciated the epilogue at the end, let’s just say it gave me a definite ‘book glow’. I will have to add Christi Barth to my favorite author list. I absolutely loved her writing style in all three books in the series. The Love Lottery Book series will go on my keeper shelf.

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

Securing His Mate by Laura M. Baird

February 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Securing His Mate by Laura M. Baird
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

A vow to his ailing mother gives Grizzly shifter, Micah, six months to find his mate, or he and his brothers lose their family’s land. He can’t contemplate a lifelong bond, but one tease of Nicolette’s enticing scent has him and his bear ready to do what it takes to make her his.

Nicolette and her sister are all each other have in the world so she protects their existence by living a sedate life. A chance encounter with the charming Micah has her rethinking her decisions.

But how will she view him when she learns he’s a shifter and her only experience with that world led to heartache?
Micah offers love and security, but can he convince her their bond is meant to be?

* * *

He’s reluctant to face his destiny.
She’s protected herself from more heartache.
Their bond will prove fate doesn’t make mistakes.

Vows are not meant to be broken – so Micah has to find his Mate with only one month left of the time limit given.

This is the fifth and final book in the Shifter Mail-Order Brides series, so all the other brothers have found their Mates, leaving only Micah, the youngest, left. He is fed up with the whole thing but will do his duty. He has no idea how though until he runs into Nicolette. Then he knows what he must do.

This is a typical fast-read paranormal. See Mate. Sniff Mate. Want to mate Mate. Boom! And, of course, the Mate takes it in stride. Okay, so maybe Nicolette has a wobble, but trust me, she takes it quite easy considering rape and murder were on the cards just a few minutes before.

This is a quick read at only 91 pages, so don’t expect anything too deep. However, if you are wanting a fast story that makes you smile at the HEA then I can absolutely recommend this one.

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The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnna Carl

February 9, 2022 By 1 Comment


The Chocolate Cat Caper by JoAnna Carl
Chocoholic Mystery, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

After giving up her career as a Texas trophy wife, 28-year-old Lee McKinney finds herself in a Michigan resort town, keeping the books for her Aunt Nettie’s luxury chocolate business. But she soon finds that her new life isn’t all truffles and bonbons…
Clementine Ripley, the defense attorney everyone loves to hate, is throwing a party that calls for several thousand dollars worth of custom chocolates—some made in the image of her champion cat. Lee jumps at the job, but sweet success takes a bitter turn when someone adds and extra ingrediant—cyanide—to one of their delicious chocolates and it finds its way into Ms. Ripley’s mouth. Now it’s up to Lee to figure out who tampered with Aunt Nettie’s recipe before they find themselves behind not-so-chocolate bars.

Chocolate, a mystery and cats? I’m in!

I picked up this book because there’s a cat, chocolate and a mystery. How can you go wrong? This is the first in the series, so it’s an easy pick-up read. This is an easy read and it’s perfect if one’s looking for a cozy to spend the evening reading.

Lee is an interesting investigator. She’s handy with chocolate and animals, but she’s good at solving mysteries. I liked the sprinkled in bits about making chocolate. It was interesting to learn about the process.

I have to admit there were times in this book that it seemed a bit slow. There was a lot of information about the chocolate, but sometimes the mystery seemed to get lost in the mix.

Still, it’s a fun read and worth the time. I liked how the mystery unraveled and it took me the whole book to figure it out.

If you’re looking for a cozy for the afternoon, then this might be the one for you.

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

Bury Your Past by J M Dalgliesh

February 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Bury Your Past by J M Dalgliesh
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

A secret worth dying for is a secret worth killing…

When a violent storm uncovers the remains of an unknown young woman, long buried among the sand dunes, DI Tom Janssen must piece together fragmentary evidence to determine how she came to be there.

In the years she lay undiscovered several young women have disappeared and as the team work through the possibilities they come to an uncomfortable conclusion… is a serial killer stalking coastal Norfolk? Each missing person had a story. Each of them had enemies. Some were more dangerous than others…

They appealed to the same men, dabbled in the occult and came to the attention of powerful figures who would brush them aside without a second thought. But who had the motivation to kill? Where is the killer now? When the past is brought into the light will they be willing to ensure their closely guarded secrets remain buried?

To do so, they will have to kill again…

Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery with a little humour, one that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.

DI Tom Janssen has settled back very well into life in Norfolk. His police work keeps him busy but isn’t hectic and he tries to spend more time with his partner Alice and Alice’s young daughter Saffy. When a huge storm passes through the coastal town the skeletal remains of what appears to be a young woman buried in the sand at a popular part of the beach shocks the locals. But this body appears to be just one of a few missing young women and something far more sinister.

This is the second book in the Hidden Norfolk series by Dalgliesh and I admit I quite enjoyed it for the most part. This story can definitely be read as a standalone – only a brief mention is made of the fact that DCI Tamara Greave was brought on to help work with Tom on a previous case together. Aside from the facts that they know each other, have worked together once before and there’s a small bit of attraction (carefully hidden on both sides) nothing else is needed or stated and so this entire story stands really well by itself, and I feel readers should feel quite confidant in picking up this book without reading the previous one.

While I admit the slight attraction between Tom and Tamara is very much downplayed by both characters and indeed from outward appearances they try to not even show or express it – this was the only part of the story that niggled at me a little. Tom is already in a committed romantic relationship with Alice and so it felt odd to me that there was some level of attraction between Tom and Tamara. This was all done very subtly and was realistic (even extremely happily connected people feel attraction to another person now and then) but it still struck a very odd tune to me, personally, and while I didn’t dislike it, it was something I found uneasy to read – partly I think because I wanted this to be a fairly straightforward police procedural mystery and also partly because it’s highly unusual for one of the heroines of the story to not be feeling (even hiding those feelings) in a very heroic manner.

That said, this was all very subtle and effectively had nothing much at all to do with the murder mystery, which truly was the main thrust of the storyline as a whole. Excepting this attraction between Tom and Tamara I felt the entirety of the rest of the story was really well handled. I thoroughly enjoyed the cast of secondary characters who were all drawn in for various reasons into the investigation and were all locals of the small coastal town. I enjoyed seeing Eric again and feel he will in the next book or two be a very strong presence as his detective and police skills grow by leaps and bounds. I also enjoyed that the plot was twisty enough to engage my mind but not so convoluted I couldn’t keep track of all the threads. I feel the author did an exceptional job balancing the plot and pacing and once I got going, I read the book quite quickly and really thoroughly enjoyed it.

Readers wanting a British style, police procedural mystery should find this really suits their mood. While a little gritty I definitely don’t feel this is too dark or edgy and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

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