Synopsis

 

He could be dead, dreaming, or painfully alive. Does he really want to find out which?

Timothy Smit is sick. He’s stuck in middle management at a second-rate news aggregator when an intense coughing fit causes him to pass out at his desk. Tim wakes up in the ICU to a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer and the news that he likely has no more than a few months left to live.

Confined to a hospital bed with his health deteriorating, Tim finds himself immersed in a series of vivid dreams. As he becomes increasingly captivated by this enigmatic fantasy world, he realizes his dreams just might be keeping him alive.

But can Tim discover a real life worth living before it’s too late?

To Build a Dream is a mesmerizing psychological sci-fi novel that blurs the line between dreams and reality. If you like lone heroes fighting to survive, visionary quests, and a race against time, then you’ll love Greg Hickey’s enthralling dream world.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

Review

 

What if your dreams were helping you move on in your life or even keeping you alive? That is what seems to be happening with Tim. After being diagnosed with a normally fatal type of cancer, he seemingly starts to beat the odds. Were his dreams an escape? A way for his body to heal itself? Or something more? It is up to each reader to decide for themselves what is really happening in Tim’s dreams.

This book can be hard to read because of everything Tim is enduring while undergoing treatment for cancer. The effects are real and might hit too close to home for some people. The descriptions were what I would expect for someone battling terminal cancer, from the treatments to the sores, losing weight, and so forth. None of it is a pretty situation, and the fact that Tim’s dreams seem to be curative is beyond amazing.

Let’s talk about these dreams. In these dreams, Tim is in a tunnel being led around by a coworker, or at least someone who comes across as a coworker. The dreams are fairly repetitive as they stumble around these caves, not knowing where they are going or where they will end up. There were times I wanted to skip ahead because I didn’t feel like this wandering led to anything and felt like some filler. However, it is the dialogue when he exits the dreams with the doctors, nurses, and his sister that is intriguing. Were these dreams restoring his life? Is that even possible? The mind is an amazing thing, and I wouldn’t discount this entirely.

While we have an idea of how the book ends, I would have liked to have seen more information about where Tim went from there. Was he cured? Were there relapses? What did he do with his life? There were many unanswered questions.

This book was an interesting read, but do not expect to sail through it in one sitting. At least, that was not my experience.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Greg Hickey started writing his first novel the summer after he finished seventh grade. He didn’t get very far because he quickly realized he preferred playing outside with his friends.

Eight years later, he began to find a better balance between writing and life. He wrote the early drafts of his first screenplay, Vita, during his last two years of college. Vita went on to win an Honorable Mention award in the 2010 Los Angeles Movie Awards script competition and was named a finalist in the 2011 Sacramento International Film Festival.

After college, he spent a year in Sundsvall, Sweden, and Cape Town, South Africa, playing and coaching for local baseball teams and penning his first novel, Our Dried Voices. That novel was published in 2014 and was a finalist for Foreword Reviews‘ INDIES Science Fiction Book of the Year Award.

Today, he still loves sharing stories while staying busy with the other facets of his life. He is a forensic scientist by day and an endurance athlete and author by nights, lunches, weekends, and any other spare moments. After his post-college travels, he once again lives in his hometown of Chicago with his wife, Lindsay.

 

Website * Author Blog * Facebook

 

 

Synopsis

 

“It’s easy to have more than one life. You just have to know how to balance them . . .”

Raised to be the ultimate scam artist, April has been many women to many people. She seduces, extracts fortunes, and then vanishes without a trace. And now she’s finally living her dream of having two perfect—separate—lives. That means two mad-successful identities and two unsuspecting husbands. But a mysterious package has just arrived—and its contents threaten to expose April’s every scandalous secret . . .

Up against a merciless, unknown adversary, April must maintain her flawless images—while revisiting her past exploits. She’ll need to step up her tricks and utilize every conniving play she’s ever learned to save her freedom and her life. But amid all those she’s wronged, even April’s insight and savvy can’t predict who she can trust—or who wants to end her. And the ultimate price she’ll have to pay promises anything but survival . . .

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I don’t think the title does this book justice…this book is full of deception, action, suspense, and a twist at the end that blew my mind!

April goes by many names for her many different lives. I do well to keep my life straight. I can’t imagine juggling multiple! But she was raised to perfect this lifestyle. To gain all she could financially before disappearing and starting anew. She is definitely a product of her environment. But was it a good environment for her? There are details we learn later in the book (so no spoilers here) that had me wondering how her mother could raise her this way. But, if you look at her mother, it isn’t too much of a surprise. I do think that near the end, April was reconsidering her life and what she wanted it to be like, and was this her destiny?

There were times I wanted to feel bad for April, but she put herself in this position. She could have left this behind, but it might have meant finding an honest way of life and standing on her own two feet. As we get to know her mother, it is easy to see why this may not have been an easy task to attain.

If you enjoy a suspenseful novel filled with action, this is one that you should consider.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Briana Cole is an acclaimed author, motivational speaker, sex educator, and actress. Her novels are known for exploring unconventional relationships and making readers question all expectations about love, lust, and monogamy. An Atlanta native, she graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University and is a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her motto and ultimate drive toward success is a famous quote from Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

As a young wilderness girl, Pistol Rose knows nothing of the advanced Strelkie City or the mad king Ward Harrol who sits behind its walls. She doesn’t understand why the Strelkie forbid marriage.

When the king forces the surrounding countryside to change their traditional culture to match his vision, the Punimin resist, and Rose learns everything about how to kill Strelkie and get away with it.

But throwing her own secret wedding without being caught… is another matter entirely. Rose refuses to give up her lover, Clock Dancin, for the tyrants who threaten her way of life. And most Punimin stand with her–only one is a betrayer.

In this futuristic medieval steampunk country filled with liars, killers, and wilderuckers, the strongest weapon is love. But using it comes with a heavy cost.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

“Truly, war is ripe on the tree and the gentlest gust could bring a fall no one is quite ready for. It would be an avalanche in both directions, and they all know it. Enough of them want it that the wiser folks hold their breath. Or maybe they aren’t the wiser folks.”

The first in a series that is sure to pull in any reader, ‘Pistol Rose and the Wedding that Sparked a War’ by Michael Ryan Hahn, is a tale of two worlds and two directions.

The first is the world of the Strelkie, a posh city filled with delights for the lucky people who live there. The Strelkie are specifically told to move from family to family and household to household throughout their lives as a method of creating loyalty to their people and not to individual families.

In complete opposition are the Punimin, a group with strong family bonds who take to carving their family stories in any and all wood surfaces they can find.

Pistol Rose is a Punimin, destined to live a life of hardship outside of the city and to eventually go into her family business of gun making. Rose loves her family dearly, and she is a skilled gun maker, but when she falls in love with a boy from her village, she realizes that she has only two options. Either she can ask the local Strelkie emissary for permission to marry her fiancé and risk being turned down and possibly losing her love forever, or she and her love can escape to the forest to find a place beyond Strelkie rule.

Neither option is easy, as even escape will come with uncertainty and struggle. But Rose and Dancin’, her fiancé, decide to escape, not realizing that this decision will light the spark that ignites a war and that soon they will have no way out.

This was an excellent story for me, personally. I love great characters and great world-building, and this book had it all! I would recommend this for anyone who loves steampunk or fantasy because those elements were really present here.

Hahn is a very talented writer, and I can’t wait to read more from this series!

 

 

About the Author

 

‘Pistol Rose and the Wedding That Parked a War’ is Michael’s debut novel and the first in a planned 7- part series, The Anthem of Ash & Pistols. He previously wrote a standalone horror novella called ‘Children of the Storm.’ He recently released an adventure podcast in the style of old radio plays called Fire Pockets. His stories aim to weave exciting action with humor and heart, with complicated villains—probably because of his upbringing. He comes from a big ol’ raucous family, and he survived a shockingly bruising (but not altogether unfun) cadre of violently delinquent Boy Scouts to become an Eagle Scout. He loves fight scenes.

Michael won a ScreenCraft competition that led to development with Bad Robot. He’s a 3x ScreenCraft Finalist and has 18 other accolades from major screenwriting competitions, including AFF and Final Big Break.

As a director, he won Best Feature at GenCon and Best Director at BAFF for his micro-budget, wild sci-fi comedy action feature, ALIEN THEORY

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife. In his spare time, he designs custom habitats for cats.* The habitats are highly popular with the cats.

 

 

Website * X (Twitter) * Fire Pockets Podcast

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 2 copies.

The winners will have the choice of print or ebook.

This giveaway is open worldwide and on November 23, 2023, at midnight pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Did his book raise the dead? Outraged when The Post Gazette overlooks him for a well-deserved promotion, 43-year-old Sports Writer Christian Kane quits the Paper and moves to the country to write fiction. Inspiration flows from a lone grave he stumbles upon in the woods. He compiles “The Legend of Rachel Petersen,” a fascinating story revolving around the dead twelve-year-old girl laid to rest beneath the weathered tombstone. His book quickly becomes a Best Seller; then Hollywood turns it into a blockbuster movie. Kane becomes rich and famous. But then? Does an enraged Rachel become more than a figment of the writer’s imagination? Does she rise from her grave to seek revenge on Kane for slandering her name?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Books2Read * Audiobook (Apple)

 

 

Excerpt

 

He popped his head out of the hole and looked beyond the heaping piles of freshly dug dirt, making certain there were no intruders hiding in the bushes, waiting to rob him of his find. Satisfied there weren’t any, he reached down and grabbed the lid. Rusted solid, the tiny hinges creaked loudly as he tugged. He yanked harder and harder until they snapped.

Then… Wooosh! A gigantic gale force wind blasted up and out from the coffin, violently ripping the lid from his hand. The plank door pinned his legs against the earthen side of the grave. Using his arms, he shielded his face as the tornado strength winds blew straight up past him. His hair was blown straight on end. The tree limbs above him thrashed and whipped wildly as the colossal, continuous gust of wind ripped through the leaves. Dust, dirt, and stones, tore at his arms and face as they were hurled from the hole. The rush of the air howled loudly with an eerie, awful sound, as though a thousand people were screaming at once. Thaddeus grimaced as the forceful wind would not allow him to catch his breath.

As fast as the howling wind had erupted from the coffin, it abruptly stopped. Then the lid slammed shut with a loud whack. The branches bounced and swayed to a peaceful rest as Thaddeus, trembling, cautiously began to wipe the dirt from his face and arms.

Being more cautious on his second attempt, he slowly lifted the lid while peeking over it through squinted eyes. No howling gust of wind greeted him as the mummified remains of the once very pretty and young Rachel Petersen, laid to rest in a plain floral print dress, came into view. A thin layer of dust covered her and everything else inside the tiny coffin.

But how could that be? After that violent windstorm, which just moments ago blasted forth from the coffin, no dust would have remained. That was just another curiosity that never crossed Thaddeus’s mind.

Staring back at him were two large empty eye sockets in a tiny skull, which rested on a satin pillow. Her facial skin, once having a flawless peaches and cream complexion, was now brown, deeply gouged with wrinkles, and drawn tight, exposing her baby teeth. Her nose was reduced to two narrow slits. Red hair, parted in the middle, covered her forehead before coming to rest in curls on her shoulders.

The bones and joints in her hands and arms were clearly visible. Her skin-tight hands lay folded on her chest, clutching a rosary. An artifact!

“She looks like a dried-out prune with red hair,” Thaddeus thought to himself. Then his pulse pounded faster and louder in his ears when he spotted the holy prayer beads.
He stared wide-eyed at the white beaded rosary that had a tiny silver crucifix attached, then the corners of his lips curled into a sly smile as he congratulated himself on the find, “I knew there would be something of value buried with her.”

Slowly he reached down for the treasure. “One more inch and it’s mine.”

Then he quickly jerked his hand back when Seth’s warning echoed through his mind, “Do you want someone like her to haunt you for the rest of your life?”

“Nonsense,” he reasoned to himself with a chuckle. “Ha! What does Seth know?”

Then his subconscious haunted him, “What about your dream? The curse in hieroglyphics?”

He answered himself out loud! “That’s nonsense too! Take the treasure and cover her back up!”

Nervously, he wiped the beads of sweat running down his brow; again, he reached for the holy rosary very slowly while staring at her ghastly, withered face. And those two empty eye sockets staring back! He was expecting her to move, or worse yet, holler, “Grave robber,” and grab at him with her boney hands. Nevertheless, he desired that rosary so badly, he was willing to take that risk.

Thaddeus delicately grasped the tiny cross. Firmly, but with a gentle touch, the young archaeologist raised it two inches until all the slack was out of the chain. Now taut, it would not come away from the corpse any further; the remaining beads of the rosary had been intertwined around those hideous looking hands.

Keeping a vigilant watch on her hollow eyes, he tugged a bit harder on the rosary. He did not see when the army of huge, dark orange centipedes scurried out from under her hands. Quickly, one after another, thousands of the ugly bugs crawled out from their hiding spot and ran up the chain. They raced across his hand and up his arm. “Oh!” Thaddeus hollered as he let go of the cross and flung his hand back.

Thousands more continued to pour out from their hiding spot, climbing over his shoes, up his pants, up his legs, under his shirt. “Oh! Oh! Oh!”

Moreover, they stunk. Like battery acid mixed with used motor oil and ammonia.

A part of his dream flashed through his mind, “Within these walls lie the remains of Rachel Petersen. Cursed will be all those who dare enter.”

In one bound, he jumped the four feet out of the grave. The hideous bugs poured out of the hole and chased him down. Chills ran the entire length of his spine as he danced about, flailing his arms, trying to shake the repulsive insects off as more and more covered him.

He ripped his shirt off and used it to swat the creepy crawlers off his back, chest, shoulders, and stomach. They were in his hair; he shook his head. One was halfway in his ear when he pulled it out. He kicked his feet into the air while grabbing and shaking his pant legs; he stomped on the vile and relentless hunnerd leggers that did fall to the ground. The ones he missed, turned and came after him again.

For ten awfully long minutes, they kept up their never-ending assault.

While jumping up and down, he tripped over the shovel’s handle and fell face first over the freshly dug dirt pile back into the grave, landing three inches from Rachel’s mummified face; he swore he saw Rachel smile at him!

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This book was amazing! I had a hard time putting it down, wondering how everything would play out for Christian. The story takes us down a path for Christian of fame and fortune. But is it real? Did he write this blockbuster? Was it Rachel guiding him to tell her story?

There is a story within a story, and we get to read this blockbuster that Christian writes. I loved how it jumped back and forth in time between the present, the 1950s, and the 1860s. I was drawn into the different time periods. I thought the way Thaddeus and Seth uncovered the truth about Rachel was engaging. Who knew that this grave in the middle of nowhere would cause so much trouble yet create a mystery that needed to be solved?

The story is spooky and suspenseful but not in the horror category. It did keep me on the edge of my seat as I watched the story unfold.

And that ending? I did NOT see that coming. I wonder what the future holds for Christian based on that information. We are left hanging, so it is up to our own imagination as to what might have happened next for him.

This is a revised novel, so I don’t know how much it differs from the original version. But this one is definitely a hit in my book.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Living in Western Pennsylvania all my life, I’ve been an avid Whitetail hunter since old enough to tote a rifle, which is also about as long as I’ve had a fondness for word games and literature.

While hunting last year, I actually did stumble upon a weathered tombstone in the middle of the woods.

While waiting patiently for that big buck to cross my path, I had plenty of time to ponder the dead girl’s fate, which I was then driven to write.

Eerily enough, this is the premise of The Legend of Rachel Petersen, my first novel published in 2012, which I recently revised.

I refer to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, home.

My wife Becky and I share our home with two retrievers – Piper, and Remmy.

 

 

 

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FINDING COMFORT

 

Comfort and Joy Trilogy, Book Two

 

by

 

Kimberly Fish

 

 

Women’s Fiction / Contemporary / Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing

Date of Publication: September 1, 2023

Number of Pages: 312 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Even with all her experience, Gloria Bachman, retired banker, and candy entrepreneur, didn’t see this coming.

Sweeties, the beloved Comfort chocolate shop, was ready for its cameo in advertising extraordinaire Jazzy Mezcal’s famous travel and food show! Comfort town folks had worked hard all summer to get their shops Hallmark-movie ready. On the eve of the TV crews overtaking the town, Gloria’s Chamber of Commerce welcome party gets drenched in a wicked rainstorm. Locals call it a “blue norther,” and a dreaded agent of change. Flooding seems like the worst of their problems until the celebrity TV host turns up dead.

In shock, Gloria’s friends turn to her to figure out who could be responsible for such a disaster. With the TV crew and guests in town for the 8^th Street Market’s annual shopping event, suspects are endless. Reluctant to get involved, Gloria would much rather focus on the delicious romance with Mason Lassiter. And she would if a frenemy from Kerrville didn’t haunt her every step. Now, as Gardner Rogers treads on her turf, everything feels suspicious.

With all eyes on Gloria to find the truth behind Jazzy Mezcal’s untimely death, she indulges her curiosity for problem-solving while trying to disguise how unsure she is about the future with her boyfriend. Disruption in Mason’s world, mayhem in Comfort, and one epic chocolate disaster rouse Gloria to action and make her decide what’s worth fighting for. All she can say for sure is that no one is finding any comfort in Comfort.

 

 

Click to Purchase!

 

 

 

 

I have fallen in love with Comfort, Texas, and I really need to visit there sometime soon. I love small towns and the unique character they bring to those around them.

This story has me laughing, yet on pins and needles, as Gloria seeks the truth in a local homicide. There were so many surprises regarding the death of the network star that it kept me guessing throughout. Just when you think you know the full story, you are smacked with a new twist that you didn’t see coming. To even hint at those twists would ruin the book for you, so this means you will have to pick up the book and read it.

Gloria is growing on me. She is an older protagonist, which I appreciate. It is nice to know that not all main characters are younger and that the wisdom and maturity that she brings to the pages reflect well on her. There are so many great quotes from the book that relate to Gloria that I need to share a few with you.

“You feel responsible for everyone. It’s one of your worst traits.”

“You have an over-developed helper gene…”

“What you think is some dumb luck attributed to women who like to dress up and find the softer side of life is really a carefully honed skill. I earned it by sharp knocks, obstacles, heartbreak, and a lot of hard work. Some people call it character. I like to call it grit.”

These are all true of Gloria. She is kind to a fault and will go the extra mile for her friends. Yet she is tough when the situation calls for it. She had some tough times, but she is back on her feet with a chocolate shop (one of my dreams!) and a new love interest, Mason. I like that because they are older, they appreciate taking their time in getting to know one another and not rushing into anything too quickly. Their path together is not smooth, but I think this helps their relationship blossom and become stronger. There are some things tied to Mason’s past that will need to be resolved, but at least they are working on it together, and he isn’t shutting her out.

Gloria has also moved past putting up with shenanigans from people in her past, namely one Gardner Rogers. This woman has something up her sleeve, but it is hard to know exactly what. We learn a little bit more about her and her past with Gloria, but there is more than meets the eye with this one. So watch out for her!

There are a few other lines I wanted to share with you. If you are a woman, you will understand and perhaps even laugh at these statements.

“Menopause changed me. Honey, it changed us all. It’s like puberty’s ugly step-sister.”

“I’ll text Margo that you’re next door. She’ll want to come make tea or whatever it is you ladies do in crisis moments.”

This book stepped up the mystery aspect over the first in this series so much that I feel it fits into the cozy category. But there are plenty of other attributes to enjoy outside of seeking the truth in Jazzy’s untimely death.

This author knows how to bring friends together in support, good times and bad, and even when tracking down a killer.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, The Big Inch and Harmon General, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas, that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas based in the Texas Hill Country that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. Finding Comfort is her latest novel, the second book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.

 

 

 

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TWO WINNERS:

 

Signed copy of FINDING COMFORT + surprise bonus gift!

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/3/23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

10/24/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
10/24/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Stop
10/25/23	The Book’s Delight	Review
10/25/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Stop
10/26/23	Bibliotica	Review
10/27/23	Jennie Reads	Review
10/27/23	The Page Unbound	BONUS Stop
10/28/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
10/29/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review
10/30/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
10/31/23	Carpe Diem Chronicles	Review
11/01/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	BONUS Stop
11/01/23	It’s Not All Gravy	Review
11/02/23	Forgotten Winds	Review

 

 

 

 

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A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Montana
Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs, when twin sisters Hanna and Alex help out at the local high school reunion, volunteering takes a turn when they find a former classmate’s dead body.

Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.

Hanna quickly becomes the prime suspect—someone saw her slap Kyle in the face at the reunion dance. She’ll need her sister, their sleuthing canine, Watson, and their old friends and colleagues to help break this case wide open. While looking through old yearbooks and taking a stroll down memory lane, Alex uncovers a few secrets about Kyle, now, it seems like everyone had a motive to kill him.

But when the suspects start becoming the victims, Alex and Hanna know that they can’t melt under the pressure—they must find the killer before they become just another yearbook memory.

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

If you are ready for the holidays and want a cozy to read, check out this new book. It is set during the holidays, has plenty of decorations to keep you in the spirit, and delicious chocolates that will leave you salivating.

This is a fun series, and I like that the main character is a little older (40’s), runs a bookstore, and is navigating the world of dating with neighbor Tom. She also has to deal with sniping from another neighbor, Penelope. I think Penelope is just jealous that Tom chose Alex over her. But, in this book, there is another potential love interest for Alex, Eddie. Will he make the cut?

I loved the mystery because I did not guess the killer. I was sure it was a certain character and almost thought I was right until things turned. I was very surprised in the end, and I think you will be too. I think I might have suspected this character, but it was fleeting, and there was nothing concrete to say it was them.

I love the chocolates that Hanna creates. I would like a box mailed to me, please!

This is a delicious series, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favourite places to visit. She and her husband live a few hours away in a small village in Southern Alberta. When Christina isn’t writing she loves to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, or just hang out there eating gourmet hot dogs and ice cream. When the former banker isn’t enjoying nature, she loves to create and consume chocolate confections. Not necessarily in that order.

 

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Mess Hopkins, proprietor of the seen-better-days Fairfax Manor Inn, never met a person in need who couldn’t use a helping hand—his helping hand. So he’s thrown open the doors of the motel to the homeless, victims of abuse, or anyone else who could benefit from a comfy bed with clean sheets and a roof overhead.

When a mother and her teenage boy seek refuge from an abusive husband, Mess takes them in. Shortly after arriving, the mom goes missing and some very bad people come sniffing around, searching for money they claim belongs to them. Mess tries to pump the boy for helpful information, but he’s in full uncooperative teen mode—grunts, shrugs, and monosyllabic answers. It’s not long before the boy vanishes too. Abducted? Run away? Something worse? And who took the missing money? Mess, friend Vell Jackson, and local news reporter Lia Katsaros take to the streets to locate the missing mother and son—and the elusive, abusive husband—before the kneecapping loansharks find them first.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

Mess is one big mess, but a lovable one with a huge heart.

This book is a combination of a mystery/suspense novel with heart. Mess runs his family’s motel but tends to rent rooms to those who need a hand up in life. This doesn’t make a few people happy, primarily the manager and his Uncle Phillip. His parents are traveling the world, and we don’t see them, but his Uncle has inserted himself into the motel and Mess’ life. Let’s just say the uncle is a busybody, and while he might have good intentions, he certainly doesn’t know how to insert himself into Mess’ life so that he is appreciated versus scorned.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I liked Mess’ desire to help those who needed help, the characters that were developed and had some depth to them, and the potential for future installments in a series. I think with time, Mess could be a really good social worker, but he needs to work on some of his skills, like creating rapport with teenagers. He forges a relationship with Kevin, but it takes the whole book for it to finally click for these two. Of course, Kevin is your typical teenager (15) and makes some decisions that are not wise for him or those around him.

Mess’ friend Vell and his grandmother, Mama, are adorable. I wanted to join them at Mama’s house for lunch and conversation. She is the one that sends many of those that Mess helps his way. I’m not sure who has the bigger heart! I don’t think Mess could have worked things out in the end without their help. Or help from Lia, a reporter doing a story on the motel. Mess and Lia are attracted to one another, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. There is more to come for these two.

The mystery/suspense portion of the book is very light. I would almost consider this general fiction, but there are some portions of the book that are filled with action and a bit of mystery about where a certain item disappeared.

There are multiple facets to this story, and they all blend well together. I am looking forward to more from this author and this series…or at least hoping there is another story because there are some unanswered questions, at least for me.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Alan Orloff has published ten novels and more than forty short stories. His work has won an Anthony, an Agatha, a Derringer, and two ITW Thriller Awards. He’s also been a finalist for the Shamus Award and has had a story selected for THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology. His novel, SANCTUARY MOTEL, will be released in October from Level Best Books. He’s past president of the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. He loves cake and arugula, but not together. Never together.

 

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Synopsis

 

As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!

With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . . .

 

 

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Review

 

What a great start to a new series! Wine, small town, and murder…some of my favorite things.

Cece Barton is starting her life over in this small California town after the death of her husband. Her twin sister lives here, which made it a logical choice. Apparently, she is good at sleuthing since there are references to her solving a murder before. This is the first in the series, so I don’t know if it is a spin-off from another series or if there are just references to her solving a previous murder.

I wasn’t sure what to make of Cece at first. She seemed unsure of herself and perhaps a bit wishy-washy. However, as the book progressed, I watched her develop and become a little more self-assured. She has a great relationship with her sister but a rocky one with her daughter. However, they are both still grieving a loss, and sometimes, it is easier to take out your grief and anger on someone still living versus the deceased. However, I was glad to see that the relationship started back to somewhat normal by the end of the book.

I love it when despicable characters are axed in books. It is easier than dealing with a nasty attitude for a whole book. Not that there aren’t other characters that provide tension throughout, but sometimes truly bad characters need to go. I started having a strong inclination as to who the killer might be a little over halfway through the book. I didn’t know the why, but I just stumbled across a clue and thought it seemed likely. Glad to see I was right!

There is even a potential love interest for Cece, and I look forward to seeing where this relationship might go.

I think this will be a fun series, and I look forward to the next book. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Maddie Day is the Agatha Award-winning author of the Cozy Capers Book Club Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries, the CeCe Barton Mysteries, and the Local Foods Mysteries, as well as other series and short crime fiction written under the name Edith Maxwell. A member of Mystery Writers of America and a proud lifetime member of Sisters in Crime, she is a regular contributor at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen and belongs to the Wicked Authors, a group of bestselling authors who blog at WickedAuthors.com. Day lives with her beau and their cat Martin north of Boston, although she knows Indiana, California, and Cape Cod intimately. She is a wine enthusiast, talented amateur chef, and former farmer.

 

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Synopsis

 

Tana was ready to be the crown princess. She was not ready to lose her father and save her home.

Keegan had left his home to run away from his past, but he cannot escape his heritage or his mistakes.

As the two fight to save Heimat Draz, they discover they must learn to trust both themselves and each other, because a lot more than just Tana’s kingdom is at risk. If they cannot defeat the evil spreading, all of Sandig Skaa will be destroyed.

Secrets of the Desert is the first book in Sandig Skaa Chronicles (a 3-book fantasy series) with slow-burn, sweet romance and no spice, perfect for fans of books by authors like K.M. Shea or Tara Grayce!

 

 

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Review

 

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I am generally not a huge fantasy reader, but the author created a world that was fascinating, full of action, and kept me engaged throughout. This is billed as a romance, but that is a very tiny portion of the book and not really until near the end. You can tell that there is something blossoming between Keegan and Tana, but it takes the whole book to come to fruition. This is not a bad thing, but I was very invested in the main storyline – the attack on Tana’s kingdom and finding a way to save it.

Tana is a strong woman and is learning at the heels of her father how to lead and manage the kingdom in the future. I really loved how the King would thank everyone on payday for their service. That is something we should do in our world: recognize those who do good deeds, work hard, and make it a better place.

When the kingdom is overthrown, it is up to Tana to save it for her people. We follow her on an adventure to other kingdoms to rally support. The author does an amazing job of describing them, and it left me with a few questions and wanting to know more about these kingdoms. There are also many misbeliefs on Tana’s part (and those in the various kingdoms). As it happens in this world, false information is passed down from generation to generation, so they don’t trust others until they meet them and get to know them.

The book does seem a little slow starting off, but it picks up the pace and lets us see what Tana and Keegen are really made of and how they will resolve all of the issues.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Anabelle Raven loves reading and writing fantasy, low-spice romance, and strong female characters. She loves chocolate and sushi, though not usually together, and traveling to new places with her family.

 

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Synopsis

 

They can save their families. But will it cost them their hearts?

Louisa Silverton is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman, brought up to believe a healthy profit is the only route to happiness. With the family company over-leveraged and in need of a capital injection, she travels to England to find a rich husband.

The Honourable Miss Sarah Davenport has no time for romance. The family estate of Kenilborough is mired in debt, and only she can save it. Unconventional and outspoken, Sarah is dismayed that somebody as intelligent and attractive as Louisa is willing to sacrifice herself for financial gain.

As Louisa pursues her campaign, Sarah realises her objections to the project run deeper than mere principles. At the same time, Louisa finds herself captivated by Sarah’s independent spirit. Yet to indulge their unexpected passion would surely mean the ruin of both their families. Bound by duty, will they ever be free to follow their hearts?

 

 

 

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Review

 

This story has a lot going for it: victorian setting, typical male treatment of women, finding a suitable partner to save a family fortune, and so much more. Many of the things that you would expect to find in a story set in this timeframe. You will also discover that there is compassion and acceptance.

I really liked Sarah’s character. She is a no-nonsense woman and, at 16, has the weight of the family estate on her shoulders. Her father is no help, and her step-brother is squandering any income they derive from the estate. He is sleazy and not to be trusted. His mother, Sarah’s stepmother, is not a lot better. She tends to spend money like it is going out of style.

Louisa arrives to find a husband to help bail out her father, but she discovers a friendship and love that transcends family responsibility. I enjoyed the friendships she developed, her smarts in helping Sarah manage her estate, and realizing that life is too short to end up in a dead-end relationship.

While this may be a romance, this didn’t happen until near the end of the book. Yes, we see Sarah’s interest in Louisa about midway through the book, but there is no action on her part to capture Louisa’s heart. I thought this was more of a drama that reflects the times and women’s values, or lack thereof, based on the men’s thought processes of the time. The book does hold true to the time period, which I appreciated.

I did enjoy the book and the HEA ending. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Marianne Ratcliffe grew up in Lincolnshire. A biochemist by training, she has always found creating new worlds and interesting characters every bit as rewarding as discoveries at a laboratory bench. She has had short stories published in literary magazines and was runner-up in the Guildford Book Festival short story competition in 2010. In 2017, redundancy spurred her to focus on creative writing, the result being The Secret of Matterdale Hall, a sapphic romance/mystery set in the Victorian era. Marianne lives in Cheshire with her wife and two dogs.

 

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