Heavenly Hazelnut Murder by CC Dragon

January 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Heavenly Hazelnut Murder by CC Dragon
Publisher: Totally Entwined
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Everyone has secrets…even a pastor.

Life had been back to normal in Sweet Grove, with smoothie sales up and murders down to zero. With Gran’s shop doing well, Belle helps her best friend by tending bar at the Honey Buckle whenever needed. Belle tries her best to like Pastor Luke, who she’s been dating for the last few weeks, but when she finds out he’s been less than genuine, things end badly. Their break-up is epic gossip all around the small town.

When the pastor turns up dead, people rush to suspect her. Apparently, their fight about her spending so much time in a bar was overheard. Belle knows she didn’t do it, but who would kill a pastor? Who else would have a motive? With the handsome but romantically complicated sheriff asking her a lot of questions, Belle decides she needs to get to the bottom of it, ASAP.

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Who would ever want to harm a pastor?

Once again, I was impressed with the world building. Sweet Grove embodied both the best and worst parts of small town life. It had a strong sense of community and a tight-knit and well-meaning group of characters living there who occasionally spent a bit too much time meddling in each other’s affairs. I say that with an understanding smile on my face as someone who once lived in a small town. There was something endearing about how much the characters genuinely loved each other in romantic and platonic ways even if I sometimes wished they’d be more mindful of respecting each other’s boundaries and privacy. That is an inescapable part of living in a rural area, though, and including it only made this town feel more genuine.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the mystery elements of the plot. As interesting as the multiple subplots about romance, farm animals, and baked goods were, there were times when they stole attention from the question of who killed Pastor Luke and what their motive might have been. There was room here for more development, although I did still enjoy what was written.

It was nice to begin seeing some character development in this series, especially when it came to Belle. She had matured since I last read about her. It was cool to see how all of her responsibilities from her multiple jobs, caretaking duties, and urge to solve local crimes were slowly shaping her into a better version of herself. This was especially true when it came to her dating life and what her expectations were of any man who wanted to take up some of her limited free time.

This was the second instalment in the Southern Belle Cozy Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone work, but I sure do recommend checking out The Mint Julep Murder as well to anyone who likes the sequel.

Heavenly Hazelnut Murder should be read by anyone who likes reading about delicious homemade goods while trying to piece clues together.

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

The Land Below by William Meikle

January 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Land Below by William Meikle
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A treasure hunt into the deepest cave system in Europe takes a turn for the worst.

Now rather than treasure it is survival that is at the forefront of the spelunkers’ thoughts. But their attempt to escape out of the dark deep places is thwarted.

Men are not at home in the depths. But there are things that are, pale terrifying things.

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Things red in tooth and claw.

Ed has talked his hotheaded brother Thomas into investing some of their family fortune into looking for hidden treasure left by a Teutonic Knight deep in a cave. Ed had carefully researched the two-page map he found in an old manuscript and is sure something has been buried where they are heading, but Thomas is merely interested in the fame and glory. When Ed hires on Daniel Garland – a washed up army Captain – for protection is causes friction with Thomas who is certain they have no need for a guard. As they meet a final member who joins their small team, their adventure takes them deeper beneath the earth they find there are far more dangers and monsters than any of them expected.

I am a massive fan of William Meikle’s S-Squad series and have read a number of his other books and enjoyed them to varying levels as well. I’m also often a sucker for a “expedition goes into the cave and finds monster that eat the party” style of book and was happy to give this one a whirl. I was delighted by what I found and enjoyed the full length story immensely.

I struggled a little to discover exactly which historical time period (or perhaps some “close but alternate” style of reality) this was set in as that aspect of the story was kept rather vague. It certainly isn’t a modern in the sense there were no cell phones or GPS and I’m leaning towards somewhere Victorian-ish as their headlamps were from encased flame rather than battery powered. Still, the time-period setting is not critical to the story and I feel readers who enjoy both past and present monster and adventure style stories should equally enjoy this book.

One thing I feel William Meikle absolutely excels in is his action/adventure and “big toothy monsters” plotlines. And this story has both these in spades. While I enjoyed the tension and interactions between Ed, Stefan, Thomas and Daniel it was the way they approached the cave and the monsters they faced within it that really captured my attention and had me up late into the evening turning the pages. I feel Meikle had an exceptional pace throughout the story and as the reader I felt the rising tension as the four main characters explored deeper into the caves. There was equal parts wonder and worry as the danger became more clear but – as you’d expect – the only way out was to continue going forwards.

Thrilling and just a little bit scary this was a brilliant story and one I greatly enjoyed. If there is a subsequent story after this I am very eager for it and will absolutely be purchasing it promptly. I can also very strongly recommend that anyone who enjoys this story try out Meikle’s S-Squad series which has many of the same strong positive points (start with “Infestation” and then move right along to “Operation: Antarctica”). With excellent characters that were unique and vividly different, some scary and amazing monsters, a grand adventure under the earth and a whole bunch of tension this story was excellently written and I feel should appeal to a wide range of readers.

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

Ice Cave by Toby J. Nichols

January 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Ice Cave by Toby J. Nichols
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Saxon Smith is on the research trip of a lifetime in Antarctica to explore a remote ice cave system. A previous expedition found hints that the much warmer subsurface caves could support life and Saxon wants to make that discovery and make a name for himself.

The small team descends into a cavern hollowed out of the ice by volcanic activity expecting lichen and arthropods and maybe the remains of extinct life, what they find is a lost world of dinosaurs that have adapted to the permanent twilight, cool temperature, and constrained location.

The expedition now face a terrifying fight for survival against savage theropods that have learned to herd and trap, and with their ice cave ecosystem starting to fail, they’re ravenous.

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I absolutely love “monster eats the crew” style of stories and add in a Scientific exploration and Antarctica and there was no chance I could pass up on this story. I was really pleased therefore when my whim paid off and this was a great, quick read. I enjoyed Saxon’s character and also found the other three members of their party to be interesting and different enough they didn’t feel like cardboard cut outs. There was some understandable – though slightly cliched – tension between the other characters but since this is the authors first book I was willing to give him some slack. There’s also a few typo’s that I really feel the editors should have picked up and will hopefully be fixed in future editions.

That said I found the meat of the story to be really well handled. I enjoyed the pace – while the length of the story is somewhat short there isn’t a lot of fat or waffling which really pleased me. The story starts as the expedition is beginning – already entering the ice cave in Antarctica and we can see the various elements of the team dynamic already in play. This helped me get a good feel for the other characters and I was glad I enjoyed Saxon’s perspective and character.

Some readers might find a few small sections of the story a little too close to horror or gory for their liking. Personally, I felt the author walked a good balance between a monsters/realistic style of writing and going too far into the horror/thriller dark edginess. To be fair though, there is a bit of “blood and guts” once the monsters start killing off the party. So I feel readers should be aware that while there’s no titillation or glorification of the violence, neither is this a “behind closed doors” style of story either.

While the trope of “hidden ecosystem in Antarctica” is not new I felt the author brought enough novelty and his own imagination to the table that it felt fresh and kept my attention from the start. I admit I’m a sucker for these sorts of stories but I feel this book was really well written – particularly considering it’s the author’s first. I felt the monsters were extremely creepy and realistic – I got a few good frights while reading and the tension and thriller aspects of the story were really well handled.

I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.

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

Bears Behaving Badly by MaryJanice Davidson

January 18, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Bears Behaving Badly by MaryJanice Davidson
BeWere My Heart Book 1
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

We’re not dating, we’ve never been dating, we’re not going to hook up, no way, absolutely not…oh. Oops.
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My primary focus has always been taking care of were-babies in the interspecies foster care system. I am unapologetically a fierce mama bear shifter and I am completely united with my team behind protecting at-risk were-children. So I have no idea why the appealing scruffy bear shifter PI David Auberon keeps hanging around, asking for sweets, and being charming and flirty. I’ve certainly got no time for shy solitary bears who can’t ask for what they want.

But what am I to do when a hideous bad guy shows up and I need to rescue a were-baby, except call on the skills of the handsome and growly PI? And if dodging enemies puts us in a tight spot…well, I’m not against tight spots.

It’s been years since I’ve read a book by Ms. Davidson and I’m glad I dipped my toes back into her writing style because Bears Behaving Badly was an entertaining mix of humor, mystery, werebear action and love shenanigans in closets and hospital beds. There were interesting secondary characters and a plot that was heavy, serious and yet, by virtue of the author’s writing style I remembered so well, never overwhelmed the book in darkness. It could have but I’m glad the author writes the way she does because I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. The good guys persevered, eventually, and the bad guys – well, the bad guys met the heroine, and wow, did she make an impression.

Annette is a woman who believes in saving kids. She gives her whole heart into her job and really cares for the kids she’s in charge of. She’s a defender, advocate and a wonderful character to get to know. She has a few quirks that lend humor and cuteness. Her partner against crime turns out to be a guy who should buy stocks in a maple syrup company. I like the sweet stuff but the hero beats anyone I know in that arena. Plus, the color red in any confectionary goodness makes an interesting entry into the relationship between Annette and David. I thought it clever, adorable and unique.

There was action because the bad guys were trying to stop Annette, David and their helpers from finding out what was actually going on and who was involved. The fight scenes were brief but well written and effective. There were bruises, contusions, torn clothing, near misses and fisticuffs. There were also wonderful acts of heroism, caring, friendship, family bonds and a stumbly, bumbly, relationship turning into love. The happily ever after was cute, satisfying and well done. I liked meeting Annette and David and I truly look forward to finding which secondary character in Annette’s ‘family’ will take center stage. I recommend Bears Behaving Badly for readers who enjoy madcap, criminal capers with an HEA to tie it up with a delightful happy bow.

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

Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart by Dion Leonard

January 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart by Dion Leonard
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Animals
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Finding Gobi is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains and across massive sand dunes, keeping pace with him for 77 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible determination and heart of this small animal, he found his own heart undergoing a change as well. Whereas in the past these races were all about winning and being the best, his goal now was to make sure he and Gobi’s friendship continued well after the finish line.
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However, before he could take her home, Gobi went missing in the sprawling Chinese city where she was being kept. Dion, with the help of strangers and a viral outpouring of assistance on the internet, set out to track her down, and reunite with the dog that changed his life.

Read this inspiring story and discover how miracles truly are possible—and find your own heart changing as well.

This little dog is truly amazing.

Having just lost my dog, I wasn’t sure I’d want to read anything about dogs or animals, but I picked this one up a while back and decided to give it a try. Gobi is a real trip of a dog. She managed to run along for almost 70 miles while Dion, her eventual owner, ran an endurance race. There is a lot about racing and running, so if that’s something that interests you, this might be a draw. There is a lot about the relationship between Dion and Gobi, as well as Dion and his wife, who helped him really decide he’d take Gobi home. He meets Gobi in the Gobi Desert and can’t leave the little dog in China. There is a huge chunk dedicated to getting Gobi to the UK and how hard it is to move a pet between countries. I had no idea how hard it would be. This book also showed me the depths of human meanness, too. I hated that Dion and his wife had to deal with the nastiness from the internet because the dog they weren’t able to bring home and had decided to retrieve, had gone missing. I know, it seems crazy. Just read the book.

If you’re looking for a book about the bond between people and dogs, then this is the book for you. It’s a great read.

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

Windmills by Lyndi Alexander

January 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Windmills by Lyndi Alexander
Publisher: Zumaya Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by by Dryas

Bio-terrorists release a plague in the United States that spreads to kill most of the world’s Caucasian population. As the deadly virus mutates, Tzu Shin, a renowned medical doctor and biologist, defects from China to help develop a cure. His only daughter, Lin Kwan, is left behind in Hong Kong with her aunt.

Then Kwan’s father summons her from across the sea to bring him Chinese medicinal herbs he needs to develop a cure. Lonely and missing her parents, she accepts the challenge, traveling with her sensei Li Zhong to the New World.

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The world has entered what is called the Second Holocaust when terrorists released a bioweapon in the United States that attacked mostly Caucasian people. It is believed that the substance was supposed to be use on global business and political centers. No antidote has been found and China has its eye on taking over America while it’s weak. What many don’t seem to realize is that the plague could come across the sea and affect them as it continues to mutate. What really happened is a mystery, but it seemed that the ship had crashed into its berth, which caused the substance to be released into the bay and a cloud of poisonous gas into the air. The horror was that half of the population of San Francisco was killed in 5 minutes. Eventually the gas mutated other ethnic groups became affected and as people tried to escape to other countries, they brought the disease with them.

The plot is interesting, and I liked the way the author took a different view of the normal apocalypse. Instead of everyone dying out at the same time it’s interesting that only Caucasians were affected at first then the mutation that started affecting other races. Plus, the world hasn’t gone completely lawless and there are still supplies and some form of government around. We get to see three different characters and their journey’s that have different goals but may end up in the same place. Each journey has its own perils and agendas.

The characters are well developed, and we learn a little of Chinese custom and how men and women interreact. We get to see their customs that have been kept alive even during the hard times. Each character that we meet has extreme bravery and a strong will to complete the tasks that have been set out for them.

The characters give us a view of just how much their culture is being held onto besides the horrors and difficulties. We could all learn a lesson watching this family take on two people without demanding recompense. If something like this ever happened, I believe there would be very few people that would keep their hearts open. I adore Mr. Shu because of just how much she cares for Lin and how strong and resourceful she is, especially by taking care of her husband. They are no longer young, and her husband is ailing from asthma. It so sweet watching Lin take the risks that come with walking the streets at night with the roaming gangs to get the medicine he desperately needs along with food. On one of her forays’, she meets the Enforcer, Xi San who does his best to keep the streets safe He is also facing the same issue as Kwan to leave San Francisco as he is becoming run down. He also receives a letter that changes his life and gives him hope for a better future.

This is a wonderful book with a complex plot, wonderful characters especially a strong woman who will do anything to help her father save the world. It will be interesting to see how both the Enforcer and Kwan’s journey goes, and I hope that they somehow meet together on the road. That is the one thing I wish was different, I hoped that we would get to see the end of the journey and what happens. However, like everyone else in the story we must have faith.

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

Night Song by E.D. Parr

January 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Night Song by E.D. Parr
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Twenty-five year old Oliver Honeycutt has no idea how handsome he is. He’s creative, brilliant at his job, and underused in the designer fashion store where he works. Behind the scenes, Oliver takes special care with orders for customer, rock star, Zane Highwood. When Zane is to be the main attraction in the store’s Christmas fashion show, Oliver hopes Zane will notice him.

Multi-millionaire, Noah Somersby, made his first million before he was twenty-one and now owns a number of casual-chic menswear stores. He’s a designer and desperate to find a man who will love him for himself and not see dollar signs as they kiss.

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In fact, Noah is super attracted to Oliver and Oliver thinks Noah is gorgeous.

As the store holiday party approaches, can serendipity bring them together?

Oliver loves his job in the stock room of a trendy shop that caters to rock stars. Lonely and still quite deeply in the closet Oliver wishes flirting and meeting people came easily to him but it doesn’t. Noah had seen Oliver a number of times on the early express train and while Noah had tried to give him a few come hither glances he finally decided to introduce himself to Oliver. When they meet by chance at Oliver’s work Christmas party can the turn their fledgling flirting from the train and make something more stable of it?

I really enjoyed this slow-paced and romantic holiday romance. I loved the buildup between Oliver and Noah – the fact they didn’t just eye each other off in the train, fall instantly in lust and jump into bed. Oliver was shy and very lonely and Noah might have been successful in his career but he wanted to be liked for himself and not his bank balance. I was pleased that each man was realistic, relatable and the author gave me enough time to get to know them both independently to want them to come together and see how they could form a relationship together.

I felt the conflict in the story was a little cliched but enough of the surrounding sub-plot, who Oliver and Noah both really were and their deep and genuine attraction to each other, managed to carry the story through this roughness. Readers looking for a fresh or unique story-line won’t find that here, but I was really pleased both Oliver and Noah’s characters were interesting and relatable. The sex between the two men was equal parts tender and hot, and I was really impressed that the author didn’t rush to have them jump into bed or fall in insta-lust.

With a good pace, strong characters and a lovely Christmassy setting this story had a lot going for it and overall I really enjoyed it.

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

Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common-Sense Approach to Reading, Spelling, and Literacy by Denise Eide

January 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common-Sense Approach to Reading, Spelling, and Literacy by Denise Eide
Publisher: Pedia Learning, Inc.
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

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Uncovering the Logic of English is a great read, geared toward those in education, but it will also appeal to anyone who has ever wondered why words are spelled the way they are in English. The book’s information is very helpful and will probably make better spellers of anyone who reads it.

The book makes sense of the common confusion about English. It clarifies. One is likely to find themselves saying “I always wondered about that, and now I know!” often while going through these pages. It is a book of discovery and truly is logical, yet interesting.

Anyone would benefit from picking up a copy of this book and reading it. One will not regret doing so and will learn a lot. The book merits the rewards it has won. Why not read it? You will be glad you did.

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

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

January 13, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Non-fiction, history
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow’s biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today’s America is the result of Hamilton’s countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time. “To repudiate his legacy,” Chernow writes, “is, in many ways, to repudiate the modern world.” Chernow here recounts Hamilton’s turbulent life: an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean, he came out of nowhere to take America by storm, rising to become George Washington’s aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, coauthoring The Federalist Papers, founding the Bank of New York, leading the Federalist Party, and becoming the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power. His is a Hamilton far more human than we’ve encountered before—from his shame about his birth to his fiery aspirations, from his intimate relationships with childhood friends to his titanic feuds with Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe, and Burr, and from his highly public affair with Maria Reynolds to his loving marriage to his loyal wife Eliza. And never before has there been a more vivid account of Hamilton’s famous and mysterious death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804.
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Chernow’s biography is not just a portrait of Hamilton, but the story of America’s birth seen through its most central figure. At a critical time to look back to our roots, Alexander Hamilton will remind readers of the purpose of our institutions and our heritage as Americans.

There are many books out about Alexander Hamilton, and Ron Chernow’s is an engaging and informative one. It is a thick book, but it is an easy read, not a dry textbook. Readers follow Hamilton’s life from the beginning and learn about his humble beginnings. That puts his achievements in an even brighter light than one may have done before.

The settings are well drawn, and readers will be able to picture those places, from an island to New York etc. Details not only help us to see and feel the surroundings but also play a part in shaping Hamilton’s views. What he saw impacted him, and this would play a role in his activities later on.

Readers get to see other famous historical figures through Hamilton’s eyes, and this is particularly interesting if one has read about Hamilton’s opponents. The comparison is enlightening. Though the book is written with obvious admiration for Hamilton by the author, it is done fairly, as would be expected of such a respected historian. Readers will learn more than just Hamilton’s past; they will discover or review important events in the nation’s history. Some of those things will be familiar, but others will be new. This book is well worth the read whether or not you are a fan of Hamilton.

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

Looking for Miss America: A Pageant’s 100-Year Quest to Define Womanhood by Margot Mifflin

January 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Looking for Miss America: A Pageant’s 100-Year Quest to Define Womanhood by Margot Mifflin
Publisher: Counterpoint
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Looking for Miss America is a fast–paced narrative history of a curious and contradictory institution. From its start in 1921 as an Atlantic City tourist draw to its current incarnation as a scholarship competition, the pageant has indexed women’s status during periods of social change—the post–suffrage 1920s, the Eisenhower 1950s, the #MeToo era. This ever–changing institution has been shaped by war, evangelism, the rise of television and reality TV, and, significantly, by contestants who confounded expectations.

Spotlighting individuals, from Yolande Betbeze, whose refusal to pose in swimsuits led an angry sponsor to launch the rival Miss USA contest, to the first black winner, Vanessa Williams, who received death threats and was protected by sharpshooters in her hometown parade, Margot Mifflin shows how women made hard bargains even as they used the pageant for economic advancement. The pageant’s history includes, crucially, those it excluded; the notorious Rule Seven, which required contestants to be “of the white race,” was retired in the 1950s, but no women of color were crowned until the 1980s.

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There she is…but she’s not just one thing.

I’d watched the end of a couple televised Miss America pageants and even attended a very small, very local pageant when I was a kid. I wasn’t fascinated by the gowns or the girls, but how they managed to wear those huge earrings and not have them ripped out of their lobes. I was a strange kid.

Since that’s what I thought of the pageants, I picked up this book. I have to admit, picking it up was a total lark. I just saw it at the library and grabbed. I wasn’t all that interested in pageants, but this book certainly opened my eyes. The girls who took part in the early pageants did it for the money and because they wanted to get the notoriety, but many of them were heavily chaperoned and some exploited. I had no idea the first few girls who won the Miss America pageant were sixteen years old. Crazy.

This doesn’t just give the dirt on the pageant, but also the stories of determination and overcoming difficulties. This book talks about the changes in the sixties when the contestants would push back against stereotypes and in the seventies when multicultural women were finishing high in the pageant and changing the ideals of what was beautiful.

If you’re looking for something that’s a little more substantive than it could be and full of great tidbits on the pageant, then this might be the book for you.

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