Movie Review: Irish Wish

March 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Irish Wish
Writers: Kirsten Hansen
Director: Janeen Damian
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Ayesha Curry, and Jane Seymour
Publisher: Netflix
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars (6 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

When the love of Maddie’s life gets engaged to her best friend, she puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid at their wedding in Ireland.

A wedding is the perfect place to fall in love.

I loved how charming and whimsical this film was. The paranormal themes were lightly and naturally interwoven into the plot, and I thought the relationships between the characters, especially when it came to Maddie’s interactions with James, the photographer who had been hired for the wedding, were funny and playful. A light touch was exactly what the storyline needed in order to come across as believable, so I was glad that everyone was on the same page there.

The dialogue felt stiff to me at times. It was particularly noticeable in the scenes that were supposed to be representing characters who were falling in love, and I wished that more attention had been paid to the nonverbal messages they sent to each other in those moments. There was so much else going for this film that it could have been much more relatable had the protagonists had a chance to find their groove together. I wish there had been a few more scenes showing how their feelings were evolving to better explore this aspect of the plot.

With that being said, I loved the Irish setting and thought it provided a wonderful backdrop for a tale that needed a little something extra to set the scene. This was such a beautiful part of the world that sometimes I wanted to pause the film just to drink in the famous cliffs Maddie visited, for example, or the quiet country roads where so many amusing things happened to the characters.

Irish Wish was gentle and romantic.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

God’s Surprising Way: The Path to Lasting Joy, Healing, and Love by S. Jeyran Main – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 19, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. S. Jeyran Main will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

God’s Surprising Way: The Path to Lasting Joy, Healing, and Love guides readers into the upside-down kingdom of God, where human expectations are consistently overturned. In this transformative journey, the humble are exalted, the last are lifted, and true greatness is found through servanthood, surrender, and sacrificial love. Through Scripture, theological insights, and historical reflections-from Augustine and Luther to Bonhoeffer and Nouwen-readers discover how God’s surprising ways cultivate lasting joy, deep healing, and authentic love.

Each chapter explores a distinct paradox of the gospel, demonstrating how humility, generosity, and obedience can transform relationships, communities, and personal faith. Practical reflections and prompts invite readers to integrate these principles into daily life-choosing forgiveness over resentment, service over recognition, and trust over control.

With accessible scholarship, devotional insight, and concrete application, this book reveals the practical power of God’s reversals. It challenges conventional assumptions about success, power, and happiness, inviting believers to live counterculturally in alignment with Christ’s teachings. God’s Surprising Way is both an invitation and a roadmap: to encounter God’s transformative presence, embody the values of the Kingdom, and experience joy, healing, and love that endure.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Jesus captures this dynamic in the Beatitudes, declaring, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4) and “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). At first glance, these promises seem upside down: mourning is not usually associated with comfort, and meekness rarely leads to inheritance. Yet Christ reframes human experience by grounding joy, healing, and love in God’s character and purposes. By letting go of pride and self-reliance, believers open themselves to God’s transformative presence (Augustine 1998, 72).

The parables of Jesus illustrate these principles. In the story of the lost sheep, the shepherd rejoices over the one found, highlighting that God’s joy is relational and restorative (Luke 15:4–7). Similarly, the parable of the prodigal son demonstrates that love often precedes merit: the father restores the wayward son, celebrating his return rather than condemning his failings (Luke 15:11–32). These narratives show that God’s approach subverts human expectations, creating spaces where joy, healing, and love coexist with brokenness and humility (Nouwen 1981, 52).

Historical theologians have reflected on this paradox. Augustine notes that “joy is the reflection of God’s eternal delight within the soul, not the applause of men” (Augustine 1998, 72). Bonhoeffer emphasizes that discipleship requires surrender: joy and peace emerge not in controlling life, but in trusting God even amid suffering (Bonhoeffer 1959, 112). Nouwen extends the idea into relational terms: when we embrace vulnerability and minister from our wounds, healing flows both inwardly and outwardly (Nouwen 1981, 52). Together, these voices remind us that the kingdom’s blessings are cultivated in hearts surrendered to God’s reversal of worldly values.

Practically, living this paradox involves embracing small, intentional acts of faithfulness. Choosing to forgive a persistent offense, offering service without recognition, or loving those society deems unworthy cultivates resilient joy, deep healing, and love that endures. Paul exhorts, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10). When we act according to God’s upside-down principles, we participate in the tangible expression of the kingdom, where the last are lifted, the humble are exalted, and the surrendered heart is filled with grace (Packer 1973, 215).

The story of Joseph illustrates the paradox of God’s kingdom. Betrayed, imprisoned, and overlooked, Joseph experienced pain and injustice, yet God’s providence turned his suffering into a means of salvation for many (Genesis 50:20; Owen 1677, 121). Similarly, David, overlooked as the youngest son, was raised to kingship according to God’s plan (1 Samuel 16:11–13). In both cases, joy and love were inseparable from humility and trust, while healing emerged through God’s providence.

The paradox of joy, healing, and love challenges human intuition but aligns with divine order. Living these truths requires surrender, humility, and attentiveness to God’s ways. Each act of humility or service becomes a conduit for divine joy, a channel for healing, and an expression of love, reflecting the radical, surprising ways of God’s kingdom in everyday life.

About the Author

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Jeyran Main has spent years immersed in the world of books as an editor and publisher. She is the author of The Radical Realism of Jesus: A Framework for Living in the 21st Century and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Living in the Light of the Cross magazine. Through her platform, HeavenlyHarmonyHub.com, she provides resources that encourage thoughtful engagement with faith. Guided by a passion for seeking truth, Jeyran explores how God’s counterintuitive Kingdom wisdom overturns human expectations and invites readers into a life marked by joy, healing, generosity, and love.

Website

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

Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee

March 18, 2026 By 2 Comments

Have You Seen Him by Kimberly Lee
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Thriller, Suspense
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

What if everything you believed about yourself was totally wrong?

For David Byrdsong, life is a series of daily obligations. An attorney, he lacks both ambition and the ability to commit to a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Gayle. Abandoned by his family at an airport when he was eleven, he learned to blunt his feelings, despite his subsequent adoption by a loving couple.

Until one day, when David discovers his own face in a missing child ad. Suddenly driven to uncover the truth about his past, he is forced to tap into his inner strength as he encounters corporate conspiracies, murdered bystanders, and distressing suspicions about the only family he’s ever really trusted. David enlists Gayle’s help—and the help of an unlikely stranger with secrets of his own—as he attempts to find his true family, whoever they are.

Thrilling, exploratory, and propulsive, Have You Seen Him is a story of lost identity, dangerous secrets, and a deeply personal pursuit of the truth.

This book is full of excitement as well as great character development. This book had me flipping pages to see what would happen with David and Gayle and their search to find out the truth. I absolutely loved them both and could so see this on the screen (Netflix, are you listening?). These are not one-dimensional characters, either… they have flaws and they are definitely not perfect. But, they work together and this, in my opinion, is one of the strengths of the book.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last.

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

Laughing Through the Storm by Jane Rogers – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 18, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jane Rogers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Diagnosed with epilepsy at 13, Jane’s life took a wild turn full of seizures, specialists, and some seriously strange hospital adventures. But instead of letting it break her, she learned to laugh—at the chaos, the cringe, and even the curveballs. Laughing Through the Storm is a hilariously honest memoir about finding resilience, ridiculousness, and unexpected joy in the middle of life’s messiest moments.

Enjoy an Excerpt

It was a frosty January morning in 1981 when I decided to make my dramatic debut in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. As the latest addition to the family line-up, I was a calm and easy-going baby, quietly lulling everyone into a false sense of security. Classic me— always setting up for a twist.

My dad worked for the Health of Animals, a branch of the Canadian federal government, as a veterinarian in Prince Edward Island. They were responsible for the control, prevention and eradication of certain animal diseases. As the district veterinarian for the entire province, he had responsibilities for the health and well-being of all livestock, from pigs and cows to chickens. His days were a mix of travelling to farms to test animals for serious diseases like tuberculosis and rabies; visiting auction houses to ensure only healthy animals were sold; attending meat-packing plants to collect samples; and making safety diagnoses to ensure that animals entering the food chain were safe for human consumption.

When I was two, my parents decided to move us to Riverview, New Brunswick, a town that became the stage for my happiest childhood memories. We lived on Hamilton Court, a little slice of suburban heaven with one particularly glorious feature: hills. Our backyard sloped gently, but our neighbours’ yards were even steeper, perfect for sledding. Every winter, kids from all over the neighbourhood would arrive armed with sleds, ready to turn those snowy slopes into the ultimate playground. We would shriek with laughter as we careened down the hill and tumbled into a snowbank. Gravity may have been our accomplice in the winter, but in the summer, it was the architect of our joy. My friends and I would roll down those same hills, giggling uncontrollably, dizzy from both the spinning and the laughter.

About the Author:Jane Rogers is an accidental expert in epilepsy, diagnosed at 13 and living with it ever since. She’s spent over three decades navigating seizures, side effects, and hospital adventures with grit, sarcasm, and a solid sense of humor. Laughing Through the Storm is her first book—a tribute to resilience, ridiculous moments, and finding light in the darkest places.

She lives in Ottawa with her supportive husband, Pascal, and their two mischievous chihuahuas, Junior and Bailey.

Fun Fact: Jane once had a seizure during a comedy show— and still insists the comedian owes her one.

Instagram | Facebook

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

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026 By 2 Comments

Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.

Audiobooks I’ve Enjoyed

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge Tagged With: ,

Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker

March 17, 2026 By 1 Comment


Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker
Publisher: Green Mermaid Publications
Genre: paranormal, historical romance
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

Haldor Falk, fierce warrior and powerful vitki blessed by the Goddess Freyja with the extraordinary ability to transform into a falcon, has been charged with forging Skjöld, grandson of King Harald Bluetooth, into a rugged warlord in the wild north of Norway.

With his acolyte’s training now complete, Haldor intends to return to the Viking stronghold of Normandy. But when a vision reveals an imminent attack on a dwarf guarding a hidden treasure trove in a secret cave, Haldor and Skjöld gain Dwarven-forged weapons and an unexpected, invaluable ally.

Úlvhild, a völva of formidable seiðr magic and Haldor’s lover of nearly twenty winters, foresees that the Dökkálfar Dark Elves will strike to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy. When the Norns unveil the terrible price of her fate, Úlvhild must confront a crimson-eyed witch to save her beloved falcon and ensure that the prophesied Son of the Dragon fulfills his destined path.

Falcon of the Faroe Islands is the sweeping, epic conclusion to the award-winning Valiant Vikings trilogy set in tenth century Normandy.

A sizzling blend of historical fiction, paranormal fantasy, Norse mythology, and steamy Viking romance!

I was so excited when this came up for review because it features my very favorite couple. You can see the reviews for the first and second books here.

Ms. Walker’s skill is making the history of this time period come to life is even more evident in this volume. I truly felt like I was immersed in the history and the spiritual practices.

It was also great to see repeat appearances from the characters from the previous books. Never fear, though, the book can still be read as a standalone.

I truly enjoyed this finale to the trilogy…. it’s the best of them all! Thank you for sharing this world with us.

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

Ten Things Most People Don’t Know about Me by Intensia – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 16, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Intensia will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ten Things Most People Don’t Know about Me

1. I have always been a sensitive, thoughtful person. As a kid, I was convinced that the blue ice cream flavor they called “Smurfs” was actually made from those little creatures. I would cry every time I saw it. I was probably the only unhappy kid in a store usually filled with joy.

2. Even if music is my vocation, silence is something very precious to me. It is not stagnation but regeneration, respect, serenity, effortless understanding and intimacy instead.

3. I am a plant-based person and have been for a long time. Even when I was little, I would refuse to eat animals, and growing up I tried to reduce this kind of things from my diet whenever I could. I do not miss anything. Quite the opposite. It is very satisfying to create new recipes and tasty ways to veganize dishes. If done consciously, it is good for the environment, the belly and other beings too.

4. To me, art is made to inspire, connect, unite, and entertain. I create for the resonance of souls, not primarily for the ego. That is also why I do not appear personally in the visuals related to my music. It allows me to focus on the message, the vibe, and the emotions I would like to evoke. There is no need to put my face forward or place myself into roles for music videos. I trust that my fans will remember me and recognize my style anyway.

5. Besides being a singer, songwriter, award-winning author and music artist, I am also an award-winning vocal coach and an officially recognized vocational teacher for singers and songwriters in Germany. My boutique flagship label and publisher, Intensia Music International, is dedicated to releasing my art and supporting upcoming artists in developing their professional skills and craft online. This might be the one and only music label that nurtures control and strategic personal alignment through education, instead of signing people.

6. Intensia is my legally recognized stage name. In Germany, the European Community country where I live, it can be officially acknowledged and registered in personal documents under certain artistic criteria. My inner voice whispered it to me a long time ago. It means an intense intention, in tension. I like it so much, and it describes me so well that I sometimes forget I was ever called something else. That given name belongs more to the person I had to be in order to become who I truly am. Some artists build stage personas for themselves. For me, it is the other way around. Intensia is who I really am, both as artist and human being.

7. I do not drink any coffee or alcohol. Both make no difference to me in terms of happiness or energy, but they do when it comes to nature and wellbeing.

8. Unless the restock of a certain treat is on its way, I will not eat the last one of that kind I still have at home.

9. I love collecting blank planners and notebooks. They are full of potential! I also design and curate my own lines. One is a thoughtful surprise for music lovers, singers, and songwriters. The other is an exclusive merchandise line available until the next song drops. You can find these affordable gift ideas and useful creations online on Amazon.

10. Although I do really care about a good sleep routine, I like to linger a little longer in bed in the morning. Even when I’m awake and ready to start, it just feels so cozy. Three alarms are barely enough to get me out of bed. I even have a “last call” reminder alarm for my final alarm.

Thanks so much for being here. The journey continues on Substack, where you are invited to join me as I share how the poetic excerpts from my award-winning book Words to Think. Or to Sing. come to life, one track at a time.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs really began?

Not with the words, not with the melody, but with a feeling.

Becoming a vision, becoming lines, becoming a complete piece of sonorous truth meant to be shared to unite people who resonate with it.

A mystical, fascinating process you can now be part of.

INTENSIA, a new heartfelt, poetic singer songwriter likely to belong with your favorite pop music companions, is turning the traditional release model upside down, inviting you to look into her soul and mind before anyone else.

Be among the first to witness this spark before her distinctive voice echoes through the world. This unique approach offers an unprecedented glimpse into evolving art, so you can feel and enjoy the essence of her songs before they are even complete.

Dive into this curated collection of lyric excerpts and emotional snapshots from pop songs in progress. Each piece stands on its own as a modern, poetic message, paired with brief reflections about the meaning or emotions behind the words.

It is more than something to read. It is a space to pause, reflect, and connect, with room for your thoughts and reflections too. Write what moves you, what you feel, what you dream. This book and its songs to be are meant to accompany you wherever you go.

For even more space to express yourself, the companion notebook PLACE TO THINK. OR TO WRITE. (ISBN 978-3-911445-02-3) is available as a dedicated space.

WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING. out 26 June 2025 on Amazon. Paperback (ISBN 978-3-911445-00-9), eBook (ISBN 978-3-911445-01-6).

Join INTENSIA’s free Intense Inside Club at www.intensia.music and discover this special music developing experience as it unfolds, where connection begins as songs come to life.

Enjoy an Excerpt

S T A I R C A S E

I saw red while you held my hand
on that hill in a castle of sand
being nice, coming out of the blue
you were losing me, undeniably true
I was just another trophy for your shelf
overloaded by the further rusty twelve

Dissociating from this charming place
you are a mess inside, I know it’s the case
this romance had better leave no trace
but at sunset we sat here on the staircase

About the Author From Munich’s vibrant core, Intensia is sparking a poetic, tuneful movement with a unique glimpse into her evolving pop songs-to-be book, “WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING.”. It combines lyric snippets with heartfelt reflections, inviting readers to discover her art in progress in a new and unexpected way.

INTENSIA’s story began in childhood with a simple radio cassette recorder, a portal to a mesmerizing world where her voice became a powerful way to explore emotions and transform them into melodies.

Her lyrics delve into self-reflection, personal growth, relationships, and empowerment. Themes that reflect the vision of her boutique flagship label, Intensia Music International, which is also dedicated to inspiring others to explore their creative side.

With a high art, down-to-earth attitude, INTENSIA stands for emotional pop tunes that feel like after a meaningful conversation with a good friend. Step into her world at www.intensia.music and you will find a new sonorous companion for life.

Website | Music Label | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Find reflections, impulses, and progress on the lyric excerpts from the book as they turn into cinematic, emotional pop songs to stream and experience: Substack

Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Other Tagged With: , , ,

Five Must-Haves in the Cozy Mystery Genre by Kirsten Weiss – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 12, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Must-Haves in the Cozy Mystery Genre

If you’re a cozy mystery fan (or writer), you know the genre delivers something special: a comforting escape wrapped around a clever puzzle. Cozy mysteries aren’t about gritty realism or high-stakes thrillers—they’re gentle, witty, satisfying reads that leave you feeling good when the final page is turned. But what exactly makes a story qualify as a great cozy mystery? Over years of reading and writing in the genre (including my Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series), I’ve boiled it down to these five essential must-haves. These elements show up in the best cozy mysteries time and again, creating that signature “cozy” feel readers crave.

  1. An Amateur Sleuth Readers Can Root For:
    Every cozy mystery needs a relatable protagonist who’s not a professional detective. She’s usually a woman (though not always) with a day job that conveniently gives her access to gossip and clues—think bakers, librarians, museum curators, or innkeepers. In my series, Maddie Kosloski runs a quirky paranormal museum in wine-country San Benedetto, stumbling into murders while managing cursed exhibits. She’s smart, stubborn, a little flawed, and deeply human—making her easy to root for. The best cozy mysteries let readers see themselves in the sleuth: ordinary people using wits, intuition, and community to solve crimes.
  2. A Charming, Contained Setting That Feels Like Home:
    Cozy mysteries thrive in picturesque, small-town or village environments where everyone knows everyone (and their secrets). Though recently, these mysteries are starting to move into contained urban neighborhoods (think Murders in the Building). With quaint streets, local shops, vineyards, or historic buildings, the setting becomes a character in its own right. My fictional San Benedetto, inspired by Lodi, California, offers wine-country charm with historic downtowns, Delta breezes, and tight-knit neighborhoods. This contained world keeps suspects limited and stakes personal, amplifying that cozy, escapist bubble readers love.
  3. No Graphic Violence, Gore, Explicit Sex, or Heavy Profanity:
    This is the golden rule of cozy mysteries. Crimes happen “off the page”—the murder might be discovered, but readers don’t witness graphic details. The focus stays on the puzzle, not the brutality. In my Paranormal Museum series, the emphasis is on clues, motives, and resolution, not blood. This “clean” approach makes cozy mysteries perfect comfort reads—ideal for curling up with tea without nightmares.
  4. A Clever, Fair-Play Puzzle with Red Herrings:
    Cozy mysteries are all about the whodunit. The plot must be logical, with clues scattered fairly so readers can solve it alongside the sleuth. Red herrings (false leads) add fun misdirection, but the reveal should feel earned and satisfying. In A Deathly Display, suspects include shadowy curators and jealous collectors, with clues hidden in exhibits and conversations—classic cozy mystery structure that rewards attentive readers.
  5. An Uplifting Resolution and Themes of Justice/Hope:
    Cozy mysteries end positively: the killer is caught, order restored, and characters grow. Themes of second chances, friendship, and good triumphing gently are key. The villain often faces consequences that feel fair, not vengeful. This “feel-good” payoff is why readers return—cozy mysteries reassure us that puzzles (and life) can resolve happily.

Ultimately, cozy is a feeling, and a cozy mystery is a promise of a certain reader experience. Together, these five must-haves create cozy magic: comfort, cleverness, and connection. They keep the genre accessible and addictive while allowing for creativity (like my light paranormal twists).

Speaking of cozy mysteries, my latest, A Deathly Display (book 11 in the Paranormal Museum series), hits all these notes: Maddie solves a museum murder with art-world intrigue, subtle haunts, humor, and heart. If you’re craving a cozy mystery with a whisper of the paranormal, grab it now!

What’s your favorite cozy mystery must-have? The amateur sleuth, the setting, or something else? Drop a comment—I love hearing from fellow cozy mystery fans!

Happy reading,
Kirsten Weiss

A killer stalks her sister.
A mysterious painting holds the key.
Can Maddie unravel the mystery before Melanie meets a deadly fate?

When Maddie and Herb attend a curation class at the upscale Domus Vinea museum, the mood turns darker than a gothic portrait after Maddie’s opera-singing sister, Melanie, discovers the museum director’s body. Now, with a cunning killer targeting Melanie next, Maddie must act fast.

Racing against time, Maddie and friends investigate a gallery of suspects, including a dashing vintner with a haunted painting that may hide a deadly secret. If Maddie can’t crack the case, and fast, her sister’s life could end in one fatal stroke.

A Deathly Display, the latest in the Paranormal Museum series, blends quirky sleuthing, small-town chills, and paranormal thrills with a dash of humor. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries!

Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit!

For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.

Enjoy an Excerpt

There are a few things in life you can be sure of. Death. Taxes. And divas being divas.

“Why?” Melanie sobbed. “Why is this happening to meeeee?”

I jogged to the fallen man and knelt beside him in the courtyard. Pressing a finger to his neck, I tried to find a pulse.

“Another body,” my sister hiccupped. “Why here?”

I sat back on my heel. The dead man faced the pristine marble fountain. And he was definitely dead. Though his skin was still warm, his eyes stared, as blank as the nearby statue of Hermes.

Yanking my phone from the rear pocket of my khakis, I called 9-1-1. The scent of orange blossoms billowed in the warm night air, but now the odor seemed sickening.

My mother appeared at my side. “Oh, my God. That’s—” She gripped my shoulder, her nails digging in. Just as suddenly, she released me and edged the toe of her low camel-colored shoes away from the pooling blood.

“I just f-found him there.” Melanie pointed.

“And it’s a terrible shock,” my mother said in a low voice. “Now, we need to pull ourselves together.” She looped one arm around Melanie’s hourglass waist.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“Murder, I think,” I said. “My sister found a dead man. His head is—” I swallowed and looked away. “There’s a lot of blood. We’re at the Domus Vinea Museum, in the smaller courtyard.”

“Are you in danger?” the operator asked.

“No. There’s a reception going on here. There are lots of people…” I glanced toward the opening to the courtyard. Guests had begun to gather, staring, in its arched entrance.

“Why does this always happen?” Melanie wailed. “First Sicily and now this. Am I cursed?”

“No, no,” my mother murmured, touching the squash blossom necklace beneath the collar of her denim shirt. “It’s just bad luck.”

“Help is on the way,” the dispatcher said. “Is the man you found breathing?”

“No. He’s dead.” I knew dead, and I knew what came after for the people left behind.

About the Author: Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum on X

Buy the book at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Google Books, Kobo, or your favorite online venue

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

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026 By 2 Comments

Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.

Books About My Favorite Topic

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge Tagged With: ,

Background of the Book by Victoria Weisfeld – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 10, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria Weisfeld will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Background of the Book

Mysteries and thrillers are what I write. They’re considered a genre, of course, but as Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell said, “Every good story has a mystery in it.” It’s the unknown outcome—will the hero succeed, will the woman find happiness, who is the real enemy?—that keeps us turning pages. It’s the desire to find out “what happens next?” I like to ground the mysteries in my stories in aspects of real life that I’ve experienced, though fortunately, I haven’t experienced everything I write about!

She Knew Too Much, my new thriller, is set in Italy, mostly in Rome. Yes, I’ve been there several times, exploring the city with my husband and on my own. It’s certainly one of my favorite places, so was fun to “revisit” it by writing about it. My main character is a travel writer and blogger. I engage in both those activities, so writing about them feels natural to me. When she’s attacked, she spends a few days in the hospital—and for that I drew on an episode in which my husband’s horseback riding accident led to two weeks in an Arizona hospital. Those experiences and many, many more end up woven together (dressed in new garments, as it were) in the novel.

In addition, I do a lot of research, because I love doing it. A lot of it is very specific or situational, like how long would it take to walk from x to y? And some is deep background. I stumbled on Douglas Preston’s The Monster of Florence about a northern Italian serial killer and the botched prosecutions of various suspects. This was very helpful in understanding how the Italian justice system works and how it differs from ours. I used Word Reference to help with translations and that site’s forums to interact with Italian speakers about slang and idioms.

I am an only child, so I never had a brother who was important to me, like Genie’s brother Robbie is so important to her. But I certainly have observed many siblings and how they interact. Also key to the novel, I’ve observed how people who must work together have to set aside personal feelings for the good of the project.

When people say, “It must be liberating to write fiction. You can just make it up!” I know they’ve never tried to write any. At least not the way I do. I work hard to stay grounded in a core of truth, a bedrock of shared understanding, so that I can connect with my readers. Once they trust me, I can stretch things a bit.

You might be thinking that science fiction and fantasy are two genres where the “shared understanding” idea doesn’t apply. But I believe it still does. My favorite contemporary science fiction writer is Neal Stephenson, and his science is impeccable. With that solid base, his characters can do . . . anything! Fantasy writers put people in unfamiliar worlds, with supernatural powers, but with familiar motivations and interactions: they’re on a quest, they’re fighting enemies, they’re seeking love or power. While we might not resonate with how they look or their unusual abilities, we can understand what they’re all about.

This is probably an oversimplification, but I believe it’s generally the case that people like stories and characters they can relate to. That was one of the joys of writing She Knew Too Much. I related not only to the main character, but to a good number of the diverse supporting cast, as well.

I hope your readers take the opportunity to read She Knew Too Much. I think they will find it a fast-moving story with touches of romance, humor, and a big dose of humanity. I welcome their responses. Thank you for inviting me to share these few words about its creation.

Travel writer Genie Clarke arrives in Rome seeking inspiration, but her trip turns deadly when she overhears two mafia operatives discussing a secret “Project.” Before she can escape, she’s attacked and left for dead. Awakening in a hospital-alive but hunted-Genie finds the police unwilling to believe her. Only Detective Leo Angelini takes her seriously, uncovering ties between her assault, a murdered woman, and a powerful criminal network.

With the threat escalating, Leo moves Genie into hiding, where she becomes both key witness and prime target. Cut off from safety and unsure who to trust, Genie must outthink the conspirators determined to silence her.

From Rome’s bright piazzas to its shadowed alleys, she faces a terrifying fight for survival-and an unexpected connection with the detective risking everything to protect her. She Knew Too Much is a lean, suspenseful psychological thriller about fear, courage, and the price of knowing too much.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I crossed the one-way traffic to reach the Piazza del Popolo’s spacious central rectangle. People ambled toward one or another of the half-dozen streets that converged on the Piazza or to the steps leading up to the Villa Borghese Gardens, where I’d spent the afternoon. I was aiming for the Via del Babuino, street of the Baboon, which got its name from a particularly hideous sculpture. In a few blocks, that street ended at the Piazza di Spagna and the always-crowded Spanish Steps, a half block from my hotel.

On the far side, I again negotiated the circling rush of traffic and chanced a look behind. What the hell? The spiky-haired blond had crossed the first stream of traffic. Now he jostled through the crowd, coming straight my way. He was tracking me, and he didn’t care if I knew it.
I was in trouble. And, if I didn’t want to believe my eyes, the hair on the back of my neck confirmed it. I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could in my flimsy sandals.

Dozens of times I’d traveled the few blocks connecting the two piazzas. Now this familiar street radiated hostility, and the stones of the Sunday-shuttered buildings reflected no warmth. Surely something, some business, would be open. I sped past my favorite stationery store, the gallery whose owner I’d interviewed. Shut tight as oysters.

Why hadn’t I asked someone near the piazza for help? Could I have made myself understood? Would they have agreed to get involved? I shook my head in frustration.

About the Author: Vicki Weisfeld is a Midwesterner (Go Blue!) transplanted to New Jersey. Her short stories have appeared in leading mystery magazines, including Ellery Queen, Sherlock Holmes, and Black Cat. Find her work also in a variety of anthologies: Busted: Arresting Stories from the Beat, Seascapes: Best New England Crime Stories, Murder Among Friends, Passport to Murder, The Best Laid Plans, Quoth the Raven, and Sherlock Holmes in the Realms of Edgar Allan Poe. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, which awarded “Breadcrumbs” a best short story Derringer in 2017, and the Public Safety Writers Association, which gave a similar award to “Who They Are Now” in 2020. She’s a reviewer of New Jersey theater for TheFrontRowCenter.com and crime/mystery/thriller fiction for the UK website, crimefictionlover.com.

Website | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

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