Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Review, romance, Thriller on October 1, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Jane is a Los Angeles nurse who grew up in a Christian cult that puts celebrities on trial for their sins. Daniel is a has-been actor whose career ended when the cult family members nearly killed him for flirting with her. Eight years after a romantic meet-cute in Battery Park, both search for someone to fill the gap they imagine the other could’ve filled if given the chance. Jane compulsively goes on dates with every self-professed expert in art, music, and food hoping they will teach her the nuances of the culture she couldn’t access in her youth. Daniel looks for a girlfriend who will accept the disabilities left from the cult attack. A loving woman will prove to Daniel’s blockbuster star brother, Steve, that he’s capable of a supporting role in Steve’s upcoming movie and relaunching Daniel’s career. When a chance encounter unexpectedly reunites them, Jane and Daniel not only see another chance at the love they lost but an opportunity to create the lives they’ve always wanted. The only question is whether their families will let them.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * IndieBound

 

 

Review

 

This book was nothing like I expected. Now I can’t tell you what I really expected, but I don’t think it was cults, self appointed judges, or the struggle of one woman to break free and find herself amidst everything.

Jane grew up in a very religious environment. One could say it was a cult yet she manages to finally break free of that life. But is she really free? She is going by a different name, is hiding from her family, and always looking over her shoulder. To me, that isn’t really free. But Jane isn’t really sure where her life should go ever since she turned down attending a music school based on influence from her family. There are some other events that happen that are revealed later in the book that might take you by surprise. I know I couldn’t believe it when I read about part of her past. You’ll have to read the book to decipher what I’m talking about.

The Vanguard is one of those groups that you do not want to get mixed up with either as part of the group or someone they have targeted. They think that everyone is immoral and needs to be punished for their sins. But why do they get to choose? And can you imagine if you ended up in the hot seat and were found “guilty?” While no one was ever killed, the punishment is not one that will ever disappear. While this group is intriguing, I can’t say that most would condone what they do and it is no wonder they are wanted by government agencies.

Then there is the Fletcher brothers, Steve and Daniel. Steve is a celebrity and Daniel is no slouch either, in fact they are often mistaken for one another. Daniel has demons he is battling as he struggles to find his way in life after an incident in the past. He definitely has PTSD and I felt for the guy when an episode would hit him and his reaction to the stressor.

I picked up this book because the description sounded intriguing but there is so much more going on than the blurb describes. Plus I think it gives away some things that aren’t revealed until much later in the book. Jane and Daniel are interested in each other and have been since a chance meeting in the park, but eight years passes until they meet up again and they both have baggage that can affect everything for them. Will they work through it? Will it tear them apart?

I felt like the characters were well written and there are a few twists and turns that kept me guessing regarding Jane and Daniel and the missing eight years. There is so much more than could happen and the author leaves it up to the reader to decide what happens in the end for Jane and Daniel.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Born a missionary kid in Kobe, Japan, and homeschooled on the American Great Plains as part of an evangelical community, Jaye Viner straddles many worlds and too many personal interests. As an “Ex-vangical,” she now worships her cats and spends a great deal of time at the salon maintaining her blue hair. She holds an MFA and MA from the University of Nebraska. Her debut thriller, JANE OF BATTERY PARK, explores what it means to come from one place and want to learn how to be from somewhere else. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on August 2, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

When a teenaged girl disappears from an insular small town, all of the community’s most devastating secrets come to light in this stunningly atmospheric and slow-burning suspense novel—perfect for fans of Megan Miranda and Celeste Ng.

The town of Whistling Ridge guards its secrets.

When seventeen-year-old Abigail goes missing, her best friend Emma, compelled by the guilt of leaving her alone at a party in the woods, sets out to discover the truth about what happened. The police initially believe Abi ran away, but Emma doesn’t believe that her friend would leave without her, and when officers find disturbing evidence in the nearby woods, the festering secrets and longstanding resentment of both Abigail’s family and the people of Whistling Ridge, Colorado begin to surface with devastating consequences.

Among those secrets: Abi’s older brother Noah’s passionate, dangerous love for the handsome Rat, a recently arrived Romanian immigrant who has recently made his home in the trailer park in town; her younger brother Jude’s feeling that he knows information he should tell the police, if only he could put it into words; Abi’s father’s mercurial, unpredictable rages and her mother’s silence. Then there is the rest of Whistling Ridge, where a charismatic preacher advocates for God’s love in language that mirrors violence, under the sway of the powerful businessman who rules the town, insular and wary of outsiders.

But Abi had secrets, too, and the closer Emma grows to unraveling the past, the farther she feels from her friend. And in a tinder box of small-town rage, and all it will take is just one spark—the truth of what really happened that night—to change their community forever.

 

 

 

Review

 

I have mixed emotions about this book. The characters are small-minded, racist, homophobic, and misogynic. Very few of the characters are likable outside of the children. Even then I’m not too sure because they aren’t painted with the best brush either. What happens throughout the book could happen anywhere and the twists kept me guessing.

The book does jump back and forth in time, but not in any specific pattern. We see bits of pieces from the past that shapes the characters into who they are today.

What we know – Abi has gone missing but what we don’t know if she is dead or alive. There are some tidbits of information that might lead you to believe one way or another as information is shared. What unfolds would shock most towns and people. I know I was dumbfounded that people can act this way (and there are too many examples to list) because it goes beyond human decency. I suppose I shouldn’t have been too surprised because there are many people out there that live in a bubble and don’t know what to do outside of that bubble.

I did feel for Noah, Abi’s brother because of how he was treated by his father for being gay. And his brother Jude? That was an even sadder story. Their whole family was dysfunctional from day one and it did not get any better. Emma is Abi’s best friend and seems to be the only one that really wants to find out what happened to Abi. Unfortunately, what she uncovers will devastate many.

It did take me a bit to get into this book. It was harder for me to read because of the characters. At least the story is somewhat wrapped up at the end, but not completely.

Overall, we give it 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Anna Bailey grew up in Gloucestershire and studied Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, before moving to Texas and later Colorado. In 2018, she returned to the UK where she enrolled in the Curtis Brown Creative novel-writing course. She currently works as a freelance journalist in Cheltenham, where she lives with her three cats.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Fantasy, Review, Science Fiction on July 9, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

2020 Maxy Awards Finalist – SciFi/Fantasy

The contest between men and women escalates to a new battlefield—genetics. Legislators mandate a testosterone-lowering food supplement to reduce violence and make gun control unnecessary. The blowback assumes epic proportions. Nadia Holkam—a pawn in the battle—desperately seeks her true identity.

Diana Holkam discovers companies are using her twin sister as a template for the perfect subordinate female in an experiment aimed at turning all women into pets. With help from a one-eyed Muslim Bible salesman, an African American woman promoting a testosterone-reducing food supplement, and an Indian geneticist fleeing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, they fight against a misogynistic CEO, a would-be prophet of male supremacy, and the mob. Neither side realizes the AI system developing the genetic “cure” has a different plan for human evolution—a plan that has something to do with fish.

 

 

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Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

Review

 

Sci-Fi/fantasy books are not usually a genre I read, or at least not often. However, I was intrigued by the description of this book and decided to give it a whirl. What I found was a very bizarre book that featured gender wars, talking fish and multi-faceted characters.

There is a battle between the sexes and women currently hold the upper hand and food is doused with Testrial that seems to calm men down and they act more like servants than men. Not all men are like this, there are those that avoid any food that contains this ingredient and several are on course to create the “perfect” woman and return things to a time of the past where women were more like “pets” for the men. Obviously, most women (and some men) don’t want to see that happen. So a small band of protestors seeks to shut down Berky and Candor’s quest for this new lifestyle.

I found the characters to be quite interesting and the interactions between all kept the story flowing. There is some scientific discussion but nothing to drawn out to lose a reader. There is humor that I didn’t expect and was darker than you might expect. I was surprised by a few twists at the end regarding the twins, Nadia and Diana. There was also some graphic violence that was unexpected and it made me uncomfortable considering the level.

This book is definitely a journey for the reader and while sometimes it felt like I was trudging through, other sections were brilliant. Overall, we give this 3 1/2 paws.

 

 


 

 

About the Author

 

J.S. Morrison is the author of “The Perfection of Fish” (Speculative Fiction, Satire, Black Rose Writing, 2020). He was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1947, had a career in Air Force Intelligence (1970-1991), followed by a career in the Tech industry (1991-2016). He has lived in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and visited Asia, Africa, South America, and Antarctica. He optioned two original screenplays before deciding to write a near-future satire on gender wars. He currently lives near Annapolis, MD, where he is working on his second speculative fiction novel. He is a member of the Maryland Writers’ Association, the Columbia Writers’ Group, the DC Speculative Fiction Group, and the Black Writers Collective. When he is not writing or traveling, he dabbles in astrophysics as a member of a local scientific society.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, mystery, Review on May 23, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

A noir mystery set in a fictional midwestern city. As a gang war erupts, a gangster and the detective who sent him to prison work together to stop a serial killer and bury the past.

Kane Kulpa learned which laws could be bent and which broken after a short stint in prison courtesy of Detective Vincent Bayonne. Bound by time, integrity, and the reality of life in Central City, Bayonne and Kane made peace with the past. Now, gang tension spirals from corrupt to deadly, and a series of murders stresses Kane and Bayonne’s uneasy alliance. Kane balances on a razor’s edge to protect his bar, power, life, and family, and Bayonne hustles to keep another lonely man from being strangled.

Central City is a city struggling for identity. The cops protect the rackets, and the criminals shelter the injured. Innocence is only an appearance, and rage finds a voice.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Visit Central City Books to learn more about Central City and the characters.

 

 

Review

 

If you enjoy gritty noir mysteries, the mafia, turf wars and all that entails, then this will be right up your alley.

The book starts off with two young boys in the late 70s and their father in an altercation. The story jumps forward approximately 15 years and we meet a cast of characters that are intertwined in ways you may not even imagine. There are good and bad guys (and gals) and you might need a notecard to jot down who they are and how they know each other (or visit the Central City link above). We are drawn into the mystery of who is killing these men and why. Detective Vincent Bayonne is on the case with his new partner, Adam McKenna. Despite the fact that Adam is a new detective (and sometimes green around the gills), he plays an intricate role in this story.

Another key character is Kane Kulpa. Kane could be considered a CI for Bayonne but he isn’t without his own issues in this story. It took me a little bit to figure out how the various characters were tied to other characters. This is a good and bad thing because there is no shortage of characters, but there is a lot of backstories to wade through and get a good grasp on who each character is and the ultimate role they will play in this story.

There are some crazy twists near the end that really caught my attention and were not plot twists I expected. Perhaps I should have seen them coming, but alas I did not.

Noir mysteries are intriguing because while it is set in a slightly modern time, it feels historical. They don’t have cell phones or computers. The characters are in mafias or “gangs”. There are brothels. It feels very old school (think Rat Pack) to me but I like it!

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Indy Perro is a novelist, an independent thinker, and a recovering academic. Indy has a degree in history, graduate degrees in religious studies, comparative literature, and education, and has spent more than a decade teaching philosophy, religious studies, writing, and literature. He lives in northern Colorado, and when he’s not at his desk, he loves to hike, run, read, and study languages.

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Book Release, fiction, Review, Satire on May 20, 2021

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A “dazzling” (Bryan Washington, author of Memorial and Lot ) and brilliantly satirical debut novel for fans of Women Talking and Red Clocks about two best friends—a disgraced influencer and a struggling actor—who form The Atmosphere, a cult designed to reform problematic men.

Sasha Marcus was once the epitome of contemporary success: an internet sensation, social media darling, and a creator of a high profile wellness brand for women. But a confrontation with an abusive troll has taken a horrifying turn, and now she’s at rock bottom: canceled and doxxed online, fired from her waitress job and fortressed in her apartment while men’s rights protestors rage outside. All that once glittered now condemns.

Sasha confides in her oldest childhood friend, Dyson—a failed actor with a history of body issues—who hatches a plan for Sasha to restore her reputation by becoming the face of his new business venture, The Atmosphere: a rehabilitation community for men. Based in an abandoned summer camp and billed as a workshop for job training, it is actually a rigorous program designed to rid men of their toxic masculinity and heal them physically, emotionally, and socially. Sasha has little choice but to accept. But what horrors await her as the resident female leader of a crew of washed up, desperate men? And what exactly does Dyson want?

Explosive and wickedly funny, this “Fight Club for the millennial generation” (Mat Johnson, author of Pym) peers straight into the dark heart of wellness and woke-ness, self-mythology and self-awareness, by asking what happens when we become addicted to the performance of ourselves.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * BAM

 

Review

 

This is a satirical look at the world today where men are put into or join rehabilitation centers (cults) to rid themselves of their masculinity and one such cult is run by two friends that are washed up in their own lives and perhaps this is better than nothing.

Sasha was a rising star until a man (troll) kills himself and blames her…and weirdly, society jumps on the bandwagon and starts hounding and harassing her and she is stuck in her apartment with no safe way to get out. Sound somewhat familiar in today’s world? This type of behavior by the masses is very common and one could say they are bullying her for something that really wasn’t her fault. She didn’t put the gun to the guy’s head. However, it is her words that are what get her into trouble. I found the whole situation very sad and felt for Sasha and what she was having to go through.

Dyson is a successful actor as long as he doesn’t have any speaking roles and is apparently sought after for those types of roles. I guess everyone has to have a strength somewhere. He decides to start a cult on some land his parents own/gave him in New York. What ensues is quite interesting between the men that become a part of this cult and what they have to do to stay there and become “better” men. On one hand, it is absurd, but on the other hand, Dyson starts digging into the men’s history and what brought them to this point in their life. In a way, it is helpful to several of the men. One thing I noticed is that the men in this cult were all white men and they were being taught to be less white….another stab at society today?

I have to give the author credit for poking fun at what we see in the world today and how out of control it has gotten. There are a few lines that did stick out to me that I want to share because I agree wholeheartedly with these thoughts:

“No one communicates. They’d rather troll and drag and call out and harass and cancel. It’s painful. And my industry is the problem – tech companies killed communication, with social media, texting, apps that tell you when to express your love for someone.”

“Because that’s the problem now: everyone has all these thoughts and ideas and they spread them without considering whether they might hurt someone else.”

If you are into satire and dark comedy, this is probably a book you will want to read. I saw another review that compared it to Black Mirror and the weirdness of that show, and honestly, I could see this book being made into an episode of that show.

We give it 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Alex McElroy is a nonbinary writer based in Brooklyn. Their first novel, The Atmospherians, will be published by Atria in 2021. Other writing appears in Vice, The Atlantic, Tin House, TriQuarterly, New England Review, and their first book, Daddy Issues, was published in 2017.

Alex has received fellowships from The Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, The Tin House Summer Workshop, The Sewanee Writers Conference, The Inprint Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, and The National Parks Service.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Review, suspense, Thriller on May 17, 2021

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behavior in this novel of obsession, seduction, and murder.

Sophie O’Neill left behind an envy-inspiring career and the stressful, competitive life of big-city Chicago to settle down with her husband and young son in a small Texas town. It seems like the perfect life with a beautiful home in an idyllic rural community. But Sophie soon realizes that life is now too quiet, and she’s feeling bored and restless.

Then she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite who is part of an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives. Sophie finds herself completely drawn to Margot and swept into her mysterious world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying. As Sophie’s curiosity gives way to full-blown obsession, she slips farther away from the safety of her family and deeper into this nest of vipers.

When the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the Hunting Wives meet, Sophie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and her life spiraling out of control.

 

 

 

Bookshop * Amazon * B&N * BAM

 

Target * Apple * Google * Kobo

 

 

Review

 

Don’t mess with a Texas gal or her gun.

Welcome to the piney woods of East Texas in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and the rumors abound. Sophie and her family have moved back to this town where she spent two years in high school. She thought it would be a better place to raise her son compared to Chicago. She might be right and she may be wrong.

I will have to admit that the first half of the book (or so) was somewhat slow as we learned more about Sophie, Margot, Erin, Callie, Jill, and Tina. I learned that most of these women were catty and shallow, and liked to drink a lot. It seems like they were always getting drunk. I don’t know if they weren’t happy with their lives or if they were bored or something else. Sophie also has an obsession with Margot and it takes some time to really get down to the reason for the obsession. At the outset, it might be because she is bored with her life, and moving to this town may not have been what she was expecting.

Most of the characters are unlikeable but in a way, they draw you into their world. It is surprising what they manage to get away with and keep from their families, or are they? I think their spouses have an inkling about what is going on and either keep quiet or have their own agenda.

We learn at the beginning of one death, but you won’t get the details about that until much later. There is another death that shocks the small town especially when other information comes to light. One might think you learn who to trust or not trust, and just when you thought you had it all figured out there are some twists that will surprise you.

The moral of this story – don’t go looking for happiness in others because you will only find it in yourself.

Overall, I found this book to have some good suspense/thriller moments but it was hard to root for any of the characters except maybe Erin. We give it 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

May Cobb is a freelance writer from Austin, TX who won the 2015 Writer’s League of Texas Manuscript Contest. Her writing has appeared in Austin Monthly and the online edition of JazzTimes. Big Woods is her debut novel.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, fiction, Review, women on April 29, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Based on true events, The Healing is the story of Cate Henderson who, after twenty-six years in an abusive relationship, sets out on a quest to find healing. Cate packs up everything she owns and leaves Calgary on an odyssey westward, to Vancouver Island, where her ever-present journal and the abundance of nature become the foundation of her self-recovery. She yearns for something deeper and then when she isn’t looking, she finds love with the solid and virtuous Ethan. Cate thinks his steadfast love is what she is searching for, but soon realizes she needs to do her own work, that love for herself is the key.

With echoes of Eat, Pray Love, The Healing is a raw and vulnerable exploration of human resilience. At times both painful and uplifting, it’s a story about love, examining motherhood, partnership, grief, expectation, and optimism, and the journey inward to self-love.

 

 

 

Indigo/Chapters (CA)

 

 

Review

 

This story follows Cate, a woman that has left an emotionally abusive relationship is starting fresh in another part of the country. She has support from her children and meets some wonderful people in her new adopted town including the man that shows her what life can really be like with the right person.

This was an interesting read for me. I felt for Cate but was happy to see her realize that a long unproductive relationship was not something she should stay in for her own mental health. In her quest to rediscover herself, she meets men that aren’t necessarily good for her until Ethan. He is a good guy but has some of his own baggage and it was refreshing to see them work through things together and learn more about themselves and each other.

Cate also shares her journal entries with us and her desire to heal and move forward. She makes many discoveries about herself which only benefits her in the end. I thought the interaction with her children and ex-husband was telling and gave us more insight into her thought process. I enjoyed watching her grow in her new relationship and feel more comfortable in her skin.

My only negative is that the writing felt stiff and I didn’t feel like the story flowed as smoothly as it could.

Overall, we give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lynda was born in a small prairie town in western Canada in the mid-sixties. She lived with her parents and older brother in a succession of small towns until a traumatic life event had them move to Calgary, Alberta.

When she found out she was pregnant at the age of sixteen, Lynda’s life took on a whole new direction. With the support of her family, as well as a stack of student loans and grants, she attended university. Lynda married and had two more children.

After more than twenty years trying to fix something that was broken beyond repair, Lynda left her marriage to embark on a new life adventure on Vancouver Island. There she met her soulmate, David. They fell immediately and deeply in love and married in 2014. Later that same year, she and David adopted his step-daughter.

Lynda’s life transformed once again when she and David moved to the Middle East. The expat gig has provided exciting travel opportunities and a myriad of new cultural experiences.

Now, Lynda’s days are filled with yoga, meditation, reading, writing, cooking, taking care of business and connecting with people she loves. In the future, she dreams of growing her writing career poolside from her home in Panama.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Family, fiction, Review, women on April 5, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Odd things happen in Kiminee, Illinois. Lilacs bloom in winter. Gravel glows golden on occasion. Pigs play kick the can. So when Carly Mae Foley learns to read at age two and masters multiplication at age three, the town’s quirky, tight-knit denizens take it in stride and embrace her with pride. But when a terrible twister tears through, Carly Mae is maimed, dashing hopes for her future. Her father is swept away and assumed dead. And her mother slinks off after creeping, naked, with her lover from the remains of a ruined home. It’s up to Carly Mae’s grandmother and a devoted, one-eared dog to hold what’s left of the family together. But not everyone is rooting for them, and when an unspeakable crime occurs, long-held animosities boil over. Will the good folks of Kiminee pull closer together now—or be torn apart?

Influenced by folklore and magical realism, The Kiminee Dream is a lyrical story with characters equally charmed and challenged while living where the ordinary and miraculous coexist seamlessly. If you like depth as well as whimsy, arresting twists, and details that rouse your senses, you’ll love what is both an eloquent exploration of acceptance and a tender tribute to the people of Illinois.

 

 

Available in multiple formats via the Author’s Website 

 

 

Review

 

This historical novel is ultimately about family. Family may not always mean blood relatives, but those that you care about or care about you and your well-being. Families often fight and not get along, but overall they do care about each other.

Carly Mae is a unique child and some might say a prodigy. Is it genetic or just a strange fluke of nature? All is going well in her family until a tornado twists its way through town and rips apart a family and town that might barely be held together.

The book jumps around to different perspectives of the different characters. While the majority of the time it is from Carly Mae’s perspective, there are times when it is from her mother, father, siblings, or other citizens of the town including Tam-Tam, one of the oldest residents of Kiminee. The book spans approximately ten years but there are some flashes to the past and certain situations that created some tension between people and it assists in setting up the current family dynamic and the mystery that lies within.

The book has a mystical aspect to it as well. There is the field of Black-Eyed Susans that turn red at exactly 5:05 pm, the animals that seem to know who needs to be led to other characters, and just the interaction between everyone and their beliefs.

I enjoyed being swept away between reality and fantasy. Of course, the mystery aspect had me wondering who was this young woman at the beginning of the book that disappeared? What was the feud between Missy and Tam-Tam about? What happened to Damon after the tornado? Why does Emily get sick every time she is in Kiminee? So many questions and all were answered at some point in the book. Some had heartwarming conclusions and others were sad but had an upbeat resolution. It was fascinating to see how each storyline came together by the end of the book.

There were times when we would get a glimpse of what was happening with someone and I wanted to know more but had to wait until further in the book. Definitely teaser moments.

Overall, an enjoyable story and we give it 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

As a child, I loved the musicality of language and often recalled, verbatim, conversations I heard. A lost soul in my teens and early twenties, I finally righted myself in my mid-twenties and discovered a deep love of the creative process. I’ve been hooked on that ever since.

Significant mentors for me have been surrealist poet Nanos Valaoritis, who kept groups of students spellbound during office hours at San Francisco State University, and Ruth Stotter, a master storyteller who taught me the importance of getting out of the way of tales I am meant to tell.

My newest work, a novel titled The Kiminee Dream, incorporates fantastic elements but is grounded in reality—a place I like to straddle in fiction. My published books have received recognition in the indie publishing sphere, including the National Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and Indie Fab Book Awards, among others. In addition, four of my short plays have been produced recently in Northern California, where I live with my husband and two goofy little mutts.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Book Release, Review, Thriller, Young Adult on March 13, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz returns with a thrilling novel where an eighteen-year-old girl’s search for answers lands her in one of the most terrifying situations imaginable.

Four days…
Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out.
Four days of a thirst so strong, that when it finally rains, I drink as much as possible from the dripping walls, not even caring how much dirt comes with it.

Six months…
Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home…
Six months of trying to find answers and being told instead that I made the whole incident up.

One month…
Since I logged on to the Jane Anonymous site for the first time and found a community of survivors who listen without judgment, provide advice, and console each other when needed.
A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for.

Three days…
Since she mysteriously disappears, and since I’m forced to ask the questions: will my chance to find out what happened to me vanish with her? And will I be next?

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Indiebound

 

 

Book releases March 16, 2021

 

 

Review

 

This book took me on a wild ride, one I wasn’t sure how it was going to end.

It starts with a very unreliable narrator, Terra. She was kidnapped but all of the evidence points otherwise and this causes a lot of grief and anxiety for Terra. Luckily, she finds an online support group to share her fears and story. But we all know that people may not be who they appear to be online, is that the case here?

Besides her own life, she has become attached to one of the other survivors on the board, Peyton. There are other characters in the chat and it is interesting how they interact with each other and show concern for the others. I had to wonder why Terra was so honest with all of the details. I think her age and naivete played a part in her actions, she is 18 after all.

I felt for Terra and thought her character might be able to move forward. That is until nearly everyone seemed to believe that her story wasn’t true. It is hard to prove when there is no physical evidence that proves she was kidnapped and her aunt doesn’t seem to miss her for the four days she was gone. The stress of the event has Terra on edge and acting erratically. I can’t blame her, I can’t imagine the stress of surviving the kidnapping can take on a person.

This book had my thoughts and beliefs all over the board. I wanted to believe Terra, but here was all this evidence (or lack of evidence) that said otherwise. Thankfully, she has a new friend, Garrett, that believes her. He seems like a good guy, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if he was involved in the situation. The story picks up steam near the end as everything comes to a head. The truth was quite surprising and not one I expected.

Overall, we enjoyed this book and give it 3 1/2 paws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Laurie Faria Stolarz grew up in Salem, MA, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston.

Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.

Stolarz found sales success with her first novel, Blue is for Nightmares, and followed it up with three more titles in the series, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance, as well as a companion graphic novel, Black is for Beginnings. Stolarz is also the author of the Touch series (Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, and Deadly Little Lessons), as well as Bleed and Project 17. With more than two million books sold worldwide, Stolarz’s titles have been named on various awards lists.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, cooking, Cozy, Monday, mystery, Review on February 8, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Alene Baron is the proud owner of Whipped and Sipped, a café that offers healthful, delectable food and drinks. Her life consists of dreaming up new recipes, raising her three children, and arguing with her ex-husband–until her neighbor and close friend is murdered. She imagines nearly everyone she knows as a possible suspect. After a second attack, Alene is
determined to find the true killer … before she, or her family, become targets.

 

 

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Review

 

I do enjoy a good cozy especially if there is food involved and this book does not disappoint on the food aspect! Battered is set in a coffeehouse/cafe that servers vegetarian/vegan items and don’t worry, all of the recipes (or many of them) are at the end of the book and I’m sure you will want to whip up some of these dishes for yourself.

When you first start the book there is a list of characters with a brief bio on each of them (age, relationship, etc) and trust me when I saw that you will need this information because there are a lot of characters to keep straight in your head and how they are related to each other. But as you move through the book it will become easier to keep everyone straight. Despite the numerous characters, each plays a significant part in the storyline. They might be related to the deceased, or to Alene, or involved with the cafe. The personalities and traits of the characters are also varied and add some dimension to the story, even if it is a minor character. Alene tends to throw herself into the middle of the situation, which isn’t uncommon for a cozy. However, she tends to blurt out things that are supposition on her part and not fact. Not too uncommon when you have an amateur intent on solving the mystery.

There is a lot of information packed into this book. We learn the dynamics of Alene’s family, her friendship with Ruthie, the relationship with the neighbors and their dysfunctional families, and the story behind the employees at the cafe. You will find a lot of memories from Alene about events from the past that have an impact on where she is now in her life. I think some of the information would have been better doled out in future books to add to Alene’s background and further reveal how she ended up where she is today.

The mystery has some interesting twists that I did not expect before the killer was revealed. It all made sense when the details were laid out and there are a few clues that might get you to that point but probably not enough to point you in the right direction of the killer.

There is even a potential love interest for Alene, Detective Frank Shaw. The funny thing is that he was the police officer that took her to the hospital in the past when she gave birth to her youngest child since her (now ex) husband couldn’t seem to make it there.

I think there was only one thing that I didn’t quite understand. Ruthie is a vegetarian/vegan which would make sense since she is the chef at Alene’s cafe which is vegetarian/vegan. However, when Alene had a dinner for the family and friends of the neighbor that was murdered, she wouldn’t let anyone bring any meat products in so that Ruthie wouldn’t have to smell them. While that was a kind gesture, I would expect Ruthie to understand that some people do eat meat and wouldn’t have a problem with it being in the same room. She would obviously not eat that item.

Overall we enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in the series.  We give it 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Already known for her imaginative baking and fabulous dinners, G.P. Gottlieb began writing throughout her varied career. After recovering from breast cancer, she turned to writing in earnest, melding her two loves, nourishment for mind and body in recipe-laced murder mysteries. She is also the host of New Books in Literature, a podcast of the New Books Network.

 

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