The Brittle Blossom by Jody Chaffin

September 29, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Brittle Blossom by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 4
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Holiday, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

One snowbound Christmas. One body in the ice house. Forty-eight puzzles to the truth.

The grandest gala in forty years fills the Hartwell manor with light and garland — until a blizzard seals the covered bridge and traps the whole party inside for the night. By first light, old Amos Greer is found frozen in the ice house. Everyone calls it a terrible accident: a difficult old man, a wild storm, one careless step into the cold. Retired schoolteacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth is the only one still asking who walked him out there.

But this time, the detective is you.

Each chapter hands you a scene and a word search. Solve the puzzle, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue — a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret the snow was never meant to give up. Track them across forty-eight puzzles and you’ll be ready to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place before Nell does.

Winter is no time to take risks outdoors.

This was the perfect setting for such a mysterious death. I found it especially interesting to see how many people were trapped in the Hartwell manor after the blizzard. That’s not as common now as it was a few generations ago, and it gave this tale a slightly eerie and old-fashioned vibe that worked well with the cozy mystery genre in general.

What struck me as a little odd was the lack of technology in this story given its contemporary setting. I would have expected more characters to, say, check a weather app before the party and be better prepared for terrible weather or for someone to have a SUV or other method of travelling that could possibly power through the snowbanks. My assumption was that this must have been a storm of the century to prevent such a large crowd from using modern conveniences to either send for help or head into town, but it would have been nice for the narrator to go into a little more detail about why these things didn’t occur.

The character development was even stronger this time around than it was in The Blighted Bough. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored conflicts among the recurring characters whether they were mild, serious, or somewhere in-between. This is a perfectly normal part of belonging to any community, of course, and it was only amplified given the recent death and the storm that prevented anyone from going home or even spending much time at all outside when they were trying to better manage their emotions. Here’s hoping this trend will continue as I’m really getting to know these characters well.

The Brittle Blossom made me yearn for a sensible amount of snow for Christmas.

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

The Blighted Bough by Jody Chaffin

September 28, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Blighted Bough by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 3
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

One golden harvest. One rotten secret. Forty-eight puzzles to the truth.

The apples are in and the whole of Larkspur Hollow has turned out for the Harvest Festival — the cider press running, the Green strung with lanterns. Then, on the second morning, Hal Bradley is found dead in the cider cellar. Everyone agrees it was a terrible accident: a careless man, a cellar full of working cider, one bad breath of air. Retired schoolteacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth is the only one still asking who put him there.

But this time, the detective is you.

Each chapter hands you a scene and a word search. Solve the puzzle, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue — a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret the harvest was never meant to give up. Track them across forty-eight puzzles and you’ll be ready to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place before Nell does.

No one can outrun the past.

As mentioned in my reviews of the first two stories in this series, I have previously had trouble with the limited character development in this universe. This is something I’m sharing yet again because I’m beginning to see signs of change in this area and I wanted to tip my cap to the author for this. While there’s still work to do as far as making the character well rounded goes, I did feel like I was able to get to know them better in the third instalment and am looking forward to seeing how they grow and change in the future as a result of living in a community where murders happen so regularly.

I struggled with the killer’s motivation this time around. It didn’t seem serious enough to warrant such a violent action, especially given how easy it would be to either hide what this person didn’t want to have revealed or to find people in town who would sympathize with them and not think of it as a scandalous thing in the modern age. As much as I wanted to give this one a higher rating, my difficulty understanding why the antagonist behaved this way was an obstacle to doing so.

With that being said, I loved the historical information about the 1920s and 1930s that was included about how certain parcels of land in this community were used back then. While all of the scenes were set in present day, the past influenced the characters in all sorts of creative ways. This is something that happens in real life fairly regularly as well across a wide variety of topics, so it was cool to see it represented in fiction.

The Blighted Bough was thoughtful.

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

The Bitter Berry by Jody Chaffin

September 25, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Bitter Berry by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Preston Hartwell came home to Larkspur Hollow the golden boy everyone remembered. By the week of the Strawberry Social, he’d made an enemy of nearly everyone. By the end of it, he was dead.

Everyone calls it a tragedy — a good heart giving out in the summer heat. Retired schoolteacher Nell Ashworth calls it murder, and she means to name who’s behind it. But this time, the detective is you.

Solve each chapter’s word search, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue: a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret long buried. Across forty-eight puzzles, you’ll gather everything you need to name the killer, the motive, the means, and the place — then find out whether you’ve cracked the case.

Six suspects. One sweet summer social, one bitter secret. A verdict only you can reach.

Nothing can conceal the truth forever.

While these can be read as standalone works, readers who stick to their publishing order will get to learn a little more about the recurring characters over time. I know I was pleased to meet up again with some familiar faces and figure things out about them that weren’t shared in the first instalment. This struck a good balance between encouraging new fans to join in on the fun while also rewarding its existing audience with some information that makes more sense to people who have already visited Larkspur Hollow in their imaginations before.

In my earlier review of “The Buried Bloom,” I mentioned wanting more plot and character development from these books, and I was happy to see the former be given more time to shine in the sequel. There were hints shared about aspects of this community that are such deeply concealed secrets I wondered if anyone outside of that particular family was actually aware of it. Had the recurring characters been given an equal amount of attention, this would have been an easy five-star read for me for sure. My fingers are crossed that I will be able to cross that threshold with a future review.

I adored the bittersweet mystery this time around, especially when it came to how differently a society might treat various members based on how much money or social standing they have. That topic is an especially good one for the cozy mystery genre due to how many different ways it can be explored. While I don’t want to accidentally give away any spoilers, other readers should take close note of how the various characters in this small town behave around each other and well as around outsiders. It’s something that I can only hope will explored more in future instalments of this series.

The Bitter Berry has only increased my desire to experience this entire series!

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

Temperament – A Novella by K. Aurum

September 21, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Temperament – A Novella by K. Aurum
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The stroke took his hand. The implant gave it back. Then it kept going.
Jon Finn was a violinist before a stroke stole his right side and his voice. The experimental device his doctors offer is a quiet miracle: it restores his hand, his speech, his playing. His recovery astonishes the hospital. His bowing has never been cleaner. He and the woman he loves have never fought less.

And, note by note, word by word, he is vanishing.

The implant doesn’t take his life. It takes his self: smoothing the edges, finishing the sentences, choosing the notes he used to reach for. Everyone sees a man restored. Only Jon feels his own wanting drain away.

Spare, unsettling, and quietly devastating, Temperament is a debut novella about identity, illness, and the hidden cost of being made better; a story that grows shorter and quieter as its narrator disappears.

Written by a practicing physician, it lingers where medicine can’t answer: when everything you can do remains, and only the you is gone, is that still you?

Sometimes science fiction is about asking questions that many people would rather ignore.

The author did an excellent job of exploring the ethical implications of using a artificial intelligence for medical purposes. Whether or not readers agree with the conclusions certain characters came to didn’t necessarily matter. An intelligent argument could be made for many different points of view, and even the ones I didn’t personally agree with still followed a logical and understandable path from one assertion to the next. This is the sort of discussion I’m drawn to when reading this genre, and it was handled smoothly here.

It would have been nice to see more clues added earlier on in the storyline about what was truly going on with Jon’s cognition. As much as I enjoyed being able to come up with my own theories about what was happening to him, this would have been an even stronger piece of work in my opinion if the author had spent more time developing the beginning and perhaps allowing a bit more of his opinion of how the final scene should be interpreted to bleed through, so to speak.

The deliciously ambiguous ending was what encouraged me to select a four-star rating for this tale. I appreciated the fact that it could be interpreted in multiple ways. While I don’t want to influence how other readers understood those last few sentences, their ability to be understood from so many different points of view reinforced my own assumptions about what was happening and made me shudder in a good way.

Temperament – A Novella reminded me why I like speculative fiction so much.

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

The Buried Bloom by Jody Chaffin

September 17, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Buried Bloom by Jody Chaffin
A Larkspur Hollow Garden Club Mystery, book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Thirty years buried. Forty-eight puzzles to the truth.

“Could such an interactive combination truly work? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes.'” — C.R. Hurst for Readers’ Favorite, 5 Stars

In the village of Larkspur Hollow, Vermont, everyone agreed that Cora Whitaker ran off in disgrace the summer of 1995. Everyone was wrong. Now her body has been found beneath the roses she once tended — and retired schoolteacher Eleanor “Nell” Ashworth is the only one still asking who put her there.

But this time, the detective is you.

Each chapter hands you a scene and a word search. Solve the puzzle, and the leftover letters reveal a hidden clue — a suspect cleared, a motive exposed, a secret the Hollow buried right alongside Cora. Track them across forty-eight puzzles and you’ll be ready to name the killer, the motive, the weapon, and the place before Nell does.

Six suspects. One garden full of secrets. A verdict only you can reach.

A complete solve-along mystery — no apps required. Just you, a pencil, and forty-eight word searches that build to a single solution. Perfect for cozy-mystery lovers and puzzlers alike.

Sharpen your pencil. Larkspur Hollow is waiting.

Unlike some plants, secrets can bloom anywhere.

It made me smile to see how small town politics played out in this mystery. While it isn’t strictly required to know about such things in advance, there were a few fun references to this cultural experience tucked here and there for those of us who have either grown up in such communities or who have other close ties to them. I was especially amused by the complex relationships between characters who had known each other for thirty years and sometimes much longer than that. They rang true and made this an even more engrossing read for me.

The limited amount of character and plot development was what ultimately lead me to choose a three-star rating. As much as I enjoyed solving the word-search puzzles at the end of every chapter and narrowing down my list of suspects, among other aspects of this case, there simply wasn’t much space for developing the characters or including as many plot twists as I was hoping to see. This is something I’m saying as someone who was excited to pick this book up and was hoping to give it a much higher rating. The framework for a potential five-star read was there, it simply needed to be fleshed out in order for me to feel justified in giving that rating.

With that being said, I loved the amount of audience participation that the author expected of his readers. This was the kind of tale that needed my full attention not only while I was in the middle of a chapter but also while I was writing down the clues and solving the word search puzzles. It was such a unique way to draw readers in and make this one feel as though I was playing an integral role in solving the case.

The Buried Bloom was an intriguing start to a new series.

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

Unravel – The ADHD Mindset Framework by Blythe Carrow

September 14, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Unravel – The ADHD Mindset Framework by Blythe Carrow
Publisher: Serona Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Stop the spiral and start the framework.

Most ADHD strategies fail because they focus on “trying harder” rather than understanding the neurodivergent loop. Unravel: The ADHD Mindset Framework is a comprehensive guide to the NOTICE, ANCHOR, RELEASE methodology—a proven psychological system designed to bypass executive function burnout and build sustainable momentum.

This framework isn’t about fixing your brain; it’s about untangling the friction points that keep you stuck in task paralysis. Inside this guide, you will discover:

The NOTICE Phase: How to identify the physical and mental triggers of an ADHD spiral before it takes over.

The ANCHOR Phase: Practical grounding techniques to stabilize your focus in high-stress environments.

The RELEASE Phase: A structured approach to closing open mental loops and reducing cognitive load.

Whether you are newly diagnosed or a veteran of the neurodivergent journey, this framework provides the “operating manual” your brain has been missing.

Building habits can be helpful for all sorts of people, especially those with ADHD.

The mindful approach to this subject matter was an intelligent one. Paying attention to one’s thoughts and feelings in the moment can be an important part of breaking habits that aren’t working for someone and beginning new habits that will hopefully make life a little easier. Repetition and remaining in the moment as much as one can no matter what else is happening are both important for this process.

I did find myself wishing that the author could have gone into more detail about how the NAR (Notice, Anchor, Release) method works. While there was an explanation given, of course, it needed to be brief due to how short this piece was and how little space there was for sharing multiple examples of how it worked or otherwise expanding the definition of this acronym. This was the only thing holding me back from selecting a full five-star rating as the advice itself was practical, evidence-based, and easy to begin working with.

With that being said, the brevity of it also made sense given the subject matter. Sometimes people who have ADHD can struggle with paying attention, so keeping this a succinct read could be helpful with that possible complication of this diagnosis as well. With only about six pages to work through, this is something that can be enjoyed in a single sitting for those who’d rather get straight to the point and start applying Ms. Carrow’s advice to their own lives.

Unravel – The ADHD Mindset Framework was a helpful read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Love, Fail, Repeat Part I – Not Safe by Alice Bohane

September 11, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Love, Fail, Repeat Part I – Not Safe by Alice Bohane
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A young mother.
A quiet new home.
A voice that should not be there.

Genna thought this house would be a fresh start.

After months of exhaustion, panic, and holding herself together for her baby son, she needs somewhere quiet. Somewhere safe. Somewhere that can finally feel like home.

At first, the house gives her exactly that.

Then, through the static, she hears a woman whisper:

He’s not safe.

There is no recording. No proof. Nothing anyone else can hear.

But the warnings keep coming.

Someone has been watching. Someone knows this house.

As the signs move closer, Genna begins to wonder whether the locked doors are keeping danger out…

or keeping her exactly where someone wants her.

Not every home is a safe one.

This novella was perfectly paced and deliciously scary, especially given the fact that everything in it could have easily happened in real life. There was never a point when the suspense tapered off enough for me to feel comfortable putting this down to do something else. Instead, I felt a pang of regret every time I had to take a break which is exactly what I love to find in this genre.

The character development was strong but also a little ambiguous at times. Sometimes I wondered if Genna’s perception of events matched what was really happening due to how much she worried about everything involving her infant son, although I must leave it up to other readers to decide for themselves how trustworthy her perception of everything was. What was more important to me was how she reacted to the subtle threats that kept being made against her family.

I should note that there was a cliffhanger ending which felt perfectly appropriate for the beginning of a new series. Of course certain reader questions must be put off until the sequels arrive for something like this. That’s honestly half of the fun of reading this sort of thing, and I liked the fact that Ms. Bohane was so comfortable leaving her audience hanging…for now. This was an excellent example of how to write this sort of ending in a satisfying matter while also remaining true to everything that needs to remain mysterious until the final book is released.

Love, Fail, Repeat Part I – Not Safe was a chilling thriller that kept me on my seat from the first sentence to the last one.

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

Tales of New Stenchford by Ben Rubin

September 10, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Tales of New Stenchford by Ben Rubin
New Stenchford, Book 1
Publisher: Nat 1
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

If you visit the town of New Stenchford, you might consider leaving your good shoes at home. No sparkling castle, or square-jawed heroes here. Mostly it’s just mud, beer, and trouble.

Queen Strongbottom, brave of heart, strong of bottom, runs the place, but has no idea that Wanda Stickybuns, the secret mistress of Queen Strongbottom’s father Gluteus, is plotting to overthrow the King and install her illegitimate two-headed son on the throne.

If you choose to come and see for yourself you’ll want to keep a close eye on your belongings and wash your hands thoroughly when you get home, if you get home.

It’s not beautiful, but it is home.

The world building was complex and attention grabbing. I especially enjoyed the many references to the unique food and drinks that characters have access to in New Stenchford as this isn’t something that contemporary authors always think to include when describing a setting to their audience. Small things like that can go a long way to creating a three-dimensional understanding of a world, though, and they made me curious to see what might happen to these characters in the future if or when a sequel is ever released.

It would have been helpful to have more plot development. Rizzle and his pals met many memorable characters along the way, but there wasn’t as much emphasis on their quest or the secret plot to overthrow the King as I would have liked to see. Sometimes this read more like a series of anecdotes than a novel that was slowly building up to an important confrontation in the end, and despite how much I liked so many other aspects of the characters and storyline I needed more conflict than I was given in order to justify a higher rating.

I enjoyed the many humorous references to a wide variety of historical and pop culture events that were included here. They were an excellent addition to a universe that was already designed to avoid taking itsel too seriously. Sometimes there were also dreamlike qualities to these scenes due to how gently they blended into each other and how wonderfully absurd some of them were.

Tales of New Stenchford was lighthearted and creative.

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

The Band From Another World by Kevin Garone

September 8, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Band From Another World by Kevin Garone
(Alien Survival Guide Book 3)
Publisher: Temor Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Marv traces a mysterious transmission to an abandoned house, he’s ready to finally uncover proof of an otherworldly invasion. But when he and his friends sneak inside, they don’t find aliens.

Instead, they find a dusty basement full of musical instruments.

To Marv’s friends, this means one thing: instant rock band. But Marv was right to be suspicious. Strange shadows reach from the walls. Faces flicker in the dark. Worst of all, his friends start acting off. Like they’re not entirely themselves anymore.

And it’s happening to Marv, too.

Suddenly, he can play guitar like a total legend-no practice, no lessons, no explanation. But every note pulls him in deeper. The thoughts in his head aren’t all his. And the music doesn’t want to stop.

Can Marv uncover the truth behind the transmission before he loses himself completely?

Because something else is listening to the broadcast. And it’s not here for the music.

Not every wish should come true.

The paranormal subplot was a surprising and welcomed addition to this universe. While I can’t go into much detail about it without accidentally sharing spoilers, what I can say is that it added another layer of depth to what I already knew about this universe and could be a fantastic springboard for future adventures if the author is planning to write more about these characters. I don’t know if that will happen, of course, but he left plenty of space here for further explorations of the world Marv and his friends live in which, if nothing else, provides a lot of fodder for the imagination in the meantime.

I mentioned wanting more character development in my review of book one, I Know What UFO Did Last Summer. This was once again something that came to mind while I was reading, but this time it involved the secondary characters instead of the protagonist. As much as I enjoyed the plot and world building, I was hoping to get to know Marv’s friends better by this point. Although I could easily describe his personality and habits, it’s something I’d struggle with a bit if someone asked about what Jace, Kenji, Nora, or Liv were like. If as much attention had been paid to this as was given to describing their interest in aliens, I would have happily gone for a full five-star rating.

This is the third instalment of a series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone story, too. With that being said, there were some wonderful references and callbacks to the first two stories included here. One of them involved a fun plot twist related to previously-introduced characters that I didn’t see coming in advance, so do keep an eye out for it if you’re already familiar with these characters. Balancing the expectations of new and returning readers isn’t always easy, and I must tip my cap at Mr. Garone for making things accessible and amusing for everyone.

The Band From Another World (Alien Survival Guide Book 3) was a wild ride that still has me wondering what might happen next.

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

Jazz Bang Boom by Will Okati

September 7, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Jazz Bang Boom by Will Okati
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Riot’s attempt to teach his pretty lover to behave himself doesn’t… quite… go as planned.

Jazz loves pretty things and things that go BOOM. Tyger, AKA Riot, is a man on a mission, searching for the bits and pieces that’ll repair his damaged, bio-constructed DNA. It only makes sense for the happily mismatched lovers to turn airship pirates and sneak, snatch or con what they need, right?

Right. One problem. Occasionally Jazz gets a little too fond of explosives, and Tyger gets a tad too focused on his quest. When that happens, they need to vent a little steam. So to speak.

Adrenaline is a drug like no other.

Jazz and Tyger’s relationship was what made this tale gel together for me. Not only was their chemistry fantastic, their dialogue was playful and witty as well. I loved seeing these two characters and thought they made the perfect match both inside and outside of the bedroom to the extent that I briefly wondered if this was a series I’d accidentally jumped into the middle of. It’s nice as a reader when that happens as it can give the characters an additional layer of depth due to all of the effort that’s been put into exploring who they are as individuals.

The ending was something I do wish had been given a little more time to evolve. While the fast pacing worked well for these characters and the world they inhabited in general, it would have been nice to slow down just a tad in the last few paragraphs in order to explain how their time travel worked and why they always seemed to travel together.

One of the things I found most interesting about the mystery and science fiction storylines was how much the author trusted his audience to put the clues together. As much as I wanted to know more about their adventures, this was one of those cases when it wasn’t strictly necessary to have a lot of plot development in order for everything to make sense. A little bit of development went a long way.

Jazz Bang Boom was action packed from the first scene to the last one.

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