Synopsis

 

The residents of Haven, Wisconsin, have dined on the Fine Chao restaurant’s delicious Americanized Chinese food for thirty-five years, content to ignore any unsavory whispers about the family owners. Whether or not Big Leo Chao is honest, or his wife, Winnie, is happy, their food tastes good and their three sons earned scholarships to respectable colleges. But when the brothers reunite in Haven, the Chao family’s secrets and simmering resentments erupt at last.

Before long, brash, charismatic, and tyrannical patriarch Leo is found dead—presumed murdered—and his sons find they’ve drawn the exacting gaze of the entire town. The ensuing trial brings to light potential motives for all three brothers: Dagou, the restaurant’s reckless head chef; Ming, financially successful but personally tortured; and the youngest, gentle but lost college student James. As the spotlight on the brothers tightens—and the family dog meets an unexpected fate—Dagou, Ming, and James must reckon with the legacy of their father’s outsized appetites and their own future survival.

Brimming with heartbreak, comedy, and suspense, The Family Chao offers a kaleidoscopic, highly entertaining portrait of a Chinese American family grappling with the dark undercurrents of a seemingly pleasant small town.

 

 

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Review

 

I have mixed emotions about this book. It started off slow but then started getting interesting especially when Leo Chao is found dead. Couldn’t have happened to a “nicer” fellow. Actually, he was quite a narcissist and the town was truly better off without him. Anyway, the mystery portion is probably tied to how he could have died; was it an accident, or was it murder? I did find this quote described Leo quite well:

 

Your father was the consummate American id, an insatiable narcissist, a shameless capitalist who wanted to screw everyone.

 

This family was quite dysfunctional and I wasn’t sure I liked many of the characters. James was probably my favorite character of them all with Ming not too far behind. They weren’t without their own faults and issues, but they seemed a bit more normal compared to the rest of the family.

This town in Wisconsin has racist issues especially toward those of Asian descent. There are countless mentions of bullying of the boys when in school and even as adults, there is a scene that could be considered bullying if what was said is true. I don’t want to give away too much so you’ll have to read the book.

Dagou, the oldest son, only wants what is due to him based on his father’s promises when he came back to help run the restaurant. But considering Leo’s character and other comments he makes at the beginning, it is easy to see why he wasn’t liked and why Dagou was doing what he could to get what rightfully his, at least in his eyes.

Katherine is of Chinese descent but was adopted and raised by a white family. She tries to find a tie to her cultural background through Dagou and his family. While I think it is noble that she is searching for roots and where she fits in, I think she was trying too hard and needed to find a balance between her ethnicity and her adopted family.

There is a scene at the beginning where James helps an older man try and find his family but the man dies before they can get on the train. James ends up with this man’s bag but it just seems to go missing in the story until about 2/3 of the way into the book. There are brief mentions here and there, but I kept wondering what happened to that bag considering the hints that are shared tied to the contents.

The characters deal with trust, loyalty, mental illness, love, and loss throughout the book. There are reflections on racism, immigration, and cultural differences that we can all learn a little something from the topics.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lan Samantha Chang was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and attended college at Yale where she earned her bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies. She worked in publishing in New York City briefly before getting her MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and was a Wallace E. Stegner Fellow in Fiction at Stanford. She is currently the Elizabeth M. Stanley Professor in the Arts at the University of Iowa and the Director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She is the first woman, and the first Asian American, to hold that position.

Chang’s first book is a novella and short stories, titled Hunger (1998). The stories are set in the US and China, and they explore home, family, and loss. The New York Times Book Review called it “Elegant.… A delicately calculated balance sheet of the losses and gains of immigrants whose lives are stretched between two radically different cultures.” The Washington Post called it “A work of gorgeous, enduring prose.” Her first novel, Inheritance (2004), is about a family torn apart by the Japanese invasion during World War II. The Boston Globe said: “The story…is foreign in its historical sweep and social detail but universal in its emotional truth.” Chang’s latest novel, All Is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost (2011), follows two poets and their friendship as they explore the depths and costs of making art. The book received a starred review from Booklist and praise: “Among the many threads Chang elegantly pursues—the fraught relationships between mentors and students, the value of poetry, the price of ambition—it is her indelible portrait of the loneliness of artistic endeavor that will haunt readers the most in this exquisitely written novel about the poet’s lot.” Chang’s fourth book and third novel, The Family Chao, is forthcoming in 2022.

Chang has received fellowships from MacDowell, the American Library in Paris, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

As the fifth director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Chang has been fundamental to the increase of racial, cultural, and aesthetic diversity within the program, and has mentored a number of emerging writers. In 2019, she received the Michael J. Brody Award and the Regents’ Award for Excellence from the University of Iowa.

 

Website

 

 

Synopsis

 

A new quirky young adult horror fantasy novel from the author of James Rhyder and the Cave of Dreams.

Sixteen-year-old Chase Addams just had the worst birthday of his entire life. He was terrorized at school by a death god, spent the evening in a haunted house, and even faced off with an urban legend in the flesh. If this wasn’t enough to ruin the average person’s day, it ended with his best friend and girlfriend, Asra Saitou, being dragged off into the abyss by a mysterious arm wreathed in flames. Chase soon discovers this kidnapping is part of a hidden war between the lands of the living and the lands of the dead. What’s even worse for the self-described uncoordinated, sarcastic, smartass is everyone thinks he’s something called a guardian —one of the heroic spirits who are summoned to not only fight in the war but keep the conflict from spilling out into the different realms of existence.

Now, Chase must come to terms with what it means to be a hero, avoid the terrors prowling in the lands of the dead, maneuver the politics of an interplanar war, and of course try to find Asra. All of this before a lurking darkness consumes both worlds. However, in this cosmic conflict, nothing is quite what it seems.

 

 

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About the Author

 

David Brooks is the author of over 100 middle-grade and young adult fantasy novels, only two of which have been written and released. That is to say, he is an author with an entire notebook bursting with ideas, and never enough time to get everything written. James Rhyder and the Cave of Dreams was his debut novel.

 

Twitter

 

 

Synopsis

 

Struggling artist Parker Derrick faces the death of her mother – and the emergence of villainous family members when she’s named the sole heir to her aunt’s North Arkansas estate. Surrounded by new friends and enemies, Parker must decipher who is really on her side…to help uncover a deadly secret.

 

 

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Review

 

This new author has written an intriguing tale that captured my attention and I ended up staying up to finish the book. While parts are predictable and there isn’t much of a mystery behind some events, I found the story to be more about family, second chances, and forgiveness.

Parker is a struggling artist that falls into a fortune left by a great aunt that she doesn’t really remember. On the heels of her mother’s death, this is a godsend for her as Parker doesn’t know what she wants to do now that her mother has passed and she isn’t needed in the small town of Lakeview anymore. She is on a journey to rediscover who she is because she isn’t having the best of luck as an artist and is at a loss what to do with her life. Luckily, the caretakers of the estate have been around for some time and are willing to show her the ropes and help her however they can. Lydia and Charles both have strong opinions and sometimes I feel like they might cross a line between being helpful and trying to control situations.

I enjoyed this story and was sad when one character turned out to be not so nice. I was hoping for a different outcome, but when the full truth is revealed it is rather shocking.

The story wouldn’t have any tension if it wasn’t for the family members that didn’t inherit anything and have decided that Parker is not deserving. It angered me how much danger they put people in and didn’t seem to care. And when some other truths come out, it is very sad to hear the lengths some will go to just for money.

A standout minor character is Cash, the beagle. He is adorable and I had to chuckle when Parker said he couldn’t sleep in her room with her and where is he a few nights later?  Yes, you guessed it, with Parker in her bed.

This is a good debut novel and I feel that the stories will only get better from here. We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Striding towards the house entrance, she glanced around nervously as she stepped up the white concrete steps and felt the soft plunk-plunk-plunk of the wooden floor of the front porch beneath her shoes. Ferns were hanging from the rafters all in a row, blowing ever so slightly in the cool afternoon breeze, the soft creaking of their ropes the only noise she could pick up on. It was oddly quiet. Clearing her throat, she knocked a few times with the brass ring at the door and waited. Of course, there’s a brass knocker, she thought.

After a couple of minutes, there was no answer, nor could she detect any movement from inside. She pushed bits of hair behind both ears, a nervous habit that often comforted her. After another minute, still nothing. She knocked again for good measure, and after waiting around and attempting to peer into the dark windows for what felt like an embarrassing amount of time, she decided to try the door herself. Surprisingly, it came open with little effort, and she found herself stepping into the foyer. Three chandeliers lined the massive ceiling of the entrance, and the light was reflected in every single space of every front room by the absurd number of mirrors hanging on each wall. To the right sat a black piano, polished so vigorously that it gleamed as if covered in black oil. To the left, past a wall of delicate and willowy vases, there was a bevy of sofas, and classic chaise loungers, scattered across what she could only assume was the entertainment room. Next to the piano was a large pedal harp made of mahogany, and even this simple instrument was possibly the most extravagant thing she had ever seen up close. Parker walked over to it first, running her hands over the steel strings, marveling at its craftsmanship and wondering how old it must have been. Even amid such extravagance, it had to be the most prominent item in the room.

There were several eye-catching marvels – marble statues of naked goddesses, a large bust of a bearded man, a cherry-red buffet holding oversized china pieces- and simply too much to see at first glance. Parker had fallen entirely silent while taking in the sights, and she realized that she was still standing alone in the house, as far as she could see. There was the soft ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere in the vast expanse of the house, but otherwise no other noise. There was a winding wooden staircase to the left, gleaming red and as shiny as a new penny. The steps led up and around a corner, out of sight, and she felt tempted to follow them. However, uncertainty kept her rooted to the spot. Finally, it was apparent that no one had heard her come in. “Hello?” she called, the eyes of the nude statues seeming to glare at her for interrupting their blissful slumber.

Parker stepped down off the porch and could feel the soft grass being crushed underneath her feet as she walked towards the pavilion, drawn in by the glorious plants that surrounded it. Once underneath its shade, she sat down on one side of its bench and looked out at the creek. Everything, from the sway of the trees in the breeze, the faint groaning of the frogs, and the stillness that had settled over the area, had a dream-like quality to it. She looked back at the house and could see stained glass biblical figures staring down at her from the windows. Next to the house, she noticed a pumpkin patch. A row of its fruits was ready to be picked.

Suddenly, a dog ran up the pavilion steps quietly and joined her, startling her so badly that she nearly fell off her seat. It was a beagle, and he appeared to be very friendly, poking his head into her lap, forcing Parker to pet him. As soon as she ran her fingers through his fur, distant childhood memories came to her, of running across the soft green grass, hearing the bark of a dog and her mother’s laughter, touching the dog’s sleek fur, and feeling the hot sun warm her hair. She realized the memory was from the first time she had visited this place and was perplexed by how the beagle had triggered those emotions. The inexplicable joy that had erupted in her chest was initially overwhelming, and she dabbed at her cheek, feeling a warm tear sliding down.

 

 

About the Author

 

By day, he’s a mild-mannered nurse, loving husband, and father of three dogs – who just so happens to write stories in his spare time. Inherit is his debut novel.

 

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Ice Cold Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Love-Based Publishing (January 25, 2022)
Number of Pages ~250

 

Synopsis

 

When Charlie agrees to accompany her friend Claire to her late grandmother’s reading of the will, she assumes she is simply there for moral support.

She doesn’t expect things to get so … strange.

It’s odd enough that it takes place over a weekend, but that’s just the beginning …

They also need to stay in Claire’s grandma’s supposedly haunted house with Claire’s estranged family.

Things get even worse when a huge storm snows them in. No electricity, no phone, and no way out.

Throw a dead body into the mix, and there’s no question it’s now the world’s worst family gathering. Ever.

At least Charlie brought lots of tea, which she’s going to need as she races to solve this closed-circle mystery before her friend’s dysfunctional family get-together results in anyone else being murdered.

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

 

 

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Character Interview with Michele

 

Meet Charlie, the main character of Ice Cold Murder (interview conducted by author Michele Pariza Wacek).

 

Hi, I’m Michele, the author of Ice Cold Murder, Book 2 of The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. Of all the characters I’ve written about, I can honestly say that Charlie is in a league of her own.

When she first came to me, she didn’t even have a name—she was simply the dead aunt who left Becca her house in her will in the beginning of It Began With a Lie (Book 1 of The Secrets of Redemption series).

Eventually, I gave her a name, Lottie, which wasn’t right (she definitely gave me an earful about it). And even though I don’t write paranormal books, she still ended up becoming a force to be reckoned with, appearing in Becca’s dreams to guide her and give her advice.

As I wrote the first three books in the series, Charlie informed me I needed to write her story, about how she first came to Redemption, Wisconsin. So, that became Books 4-5.

Once I published those, I assumed I was done with Charlie.

That was not the case.

A few months later, I got the idea for a Christmas murder mystery starring Charlie. The Murder Before Christmas was published on November 9, 2021, and it launched a whole new cozy mystery series called The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. (Of course!).

To celebrate the launch of Book 2, I thought it was time to have a little public heart-to-heart with Charlie. So, without further ado, let’s jump in.

 

MPW: Thanks for doing this with me.

CK: Of course. You and I are in this together, after all.

 

MPW: That is true. So, when did you first realize I was … ‘underutilizing’ you? I guess that would be the best way to describe it …

CK: (Chuckles.) So, first off, I think ALL characters feel underutilized. But what it comes down to is the lengths the characters are willing to go to get noticed. For me, it was about persistence. You kept wanting to stray, and I had to keep reigning you back. Remember that fairy tale retelling project that went nowhere for ten months?

 

MPW: Um …

CK: You spent ten months writing the first book, and you barely got halfway through the first draft!

 

MPW: That isn’t one of my prouder ‘moments.’

CK: That’s an understatement. And you were just so stubborn. It took you getting an eye infection during the pandemic before you would slow down long enough to realize the project you should be working on was my story in The Secrets of Redemption series.

 

MPW: Okay, but give me some credit. I pivoted last summer to start on The Murder Before Christmas pretty quickly.

CK: Yes, you’re improving. Not perfect yet, but definitely getting better.

 

MPW: Speaking of The Murder Before Christmas, when did you realize the spin-off series was going to be a cozy?

CK: I always knew it was going to be a cozy. I’m not sure why it took you so long to get on board.

 

MPW: Well, for one, the original series was a psychological suspense.

CK: Yeah, but there are cozy elements in it. Especially in Book 2, This Is What Happened to Jessica. But they’re all mystery-driven—they take place in a small town with a repeating cast of characters, and they’re clean.

 

MPW: That’s true.

CK: So, with The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, it just made sense to step fully into the cozy world.

 

MPW: When you put it that way, it does make sense. So, there are now two books in the series: The Murder Before Christmas and Ice Cold Murder …

CK: Don’t forget about the prequel short story, A Grave Error.

 

MPW: Yes, that too. Do you have a favorite?

CK: Hmmm. I like them both, but for different reasons. I was excited we were finally writing a Christmas mystery … I know we both wanted to do that for a long time.

 

MPW: That’s true.

CK: But Ice Cold Murder was a lot of fun, as well. After all, what’s more intriguing than being trapped in a supposedly haunted house with a dead lawyer and a dysfunctional family in the middle of a snowstorm? At least when it comes to solving a mystery.

 

MPW: I can’t think of anything better.

CK: Although if you ask Claire, she might have a different answer.

 

MPW: Yeah, that’s why we’re not asking her. And that leads me to my last question—do you ever get upset with me for all the bad things that happen to you?

CK: That question assumes you’re the one coming up with the bad things.

 

MPW: Wait … what?

CK: I mean, has it occurred to you that our stories are our stories and you’re just the one writing them down? Honestly, you’re kind of like a glorified secretary.

 

MPW: Um …

CK: Now, that isn’t to say I don’t get upset with you. But it’s mostly when you get stubborn and start working on other projects and listening to other characters when you should be paying attention to me.

 

MPW: Okay then. Good to know.

 

 

About the Author

 

When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories to be exact, ranging from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she also hosts a virtual book club you can check out and join (for free!) at MPWNovels.com.

Michele holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Let’s play a game.

You have 24 hours to win. If you break my rules, she dies. If you call the police, she dies. If you tell your parents or anyone else, she dies.

Are you ready?

When Crystal Donavan gets a message on a mysterious app with a video of her little sister gagged and bound, she agrees to play the kidnapper’s game. At first, they make her complete bizarre tasks: steal a test and stuff it in a locker, bake brownies, make a prank call.

But then Crystal realizes each task is meant to hurt—and kill—her friends, one by one. But if she refuses to play, the kidnapper will kill her sister. Is someone trying to take her team out of the running for a gaming tournament? Or have they uncovered a secret from their past, and wants them to pay for what they did…

As Crystal makes the impossible choices between her friends and her sister, she must uncover the truth and find a way to outplay the kidnapper… before it’s too late.

Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

 

 

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This book will be released on February 1, 2022. Pre-order it today!

 

 

Review

 

This YA psychological thriller might make you question what goes on in people’s minds! From the group of friends, to the “killer”, to the parents.

This is the first book by this author that I read and I was pulled into the story from the start as I watched this group of friends prepares for a gaming tournament yet a small twist in Crystal’s life changes her life forever. The story is primarily set in the present but there are some flashbacks to 5 years ago when a friend of Crystal’s goes missing. With those flashbacks, some of the twists might become apparent but not necessarily. This ragtag group of friends has mixed emotions when it comes to each other. Some get along great, and others have animosity towards each other. It makes you wonder why they hang around each other if they don’t like each other.

I have to wonder how I would react if I were in Crystal’s shoes and someone has kidnapped my sibling and says not to tell anyone. And then the tasks she has to perform seem innocuous at first but then become more and more dangerous, not necessarily to Crystal but her friends. Since the cast of characters is smaller, I wondered if it was someone we knew or not. I had some suspicions at first just because of timing, but I was wrong. I did determine who was behind it all but not until closer to the end. The twists kept me guessing until the very end.

And that ending? Did not expect that and makes me wonder, could there be another book that follows this one? Maybe, or we are just left to wonder how things play out for this group.

We give this a solid 4 paws up and if a psychological thriller is one of your go-to genres, then definitely check this one out.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Diana Urban is an author of dark, twisty thrillers, including All Your Twisted Secrets (HarperTeen) and These Deadly Games (Wednesday Books, 2022). When she’s not torturing fictional characters, she works in digital marketing for startups. She lives with her husband and cat in Boston and enjoys reading, playing video games, fawning over cute animals, and looking at the beach from a safe distance.

 

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Synopsis

 

A riveting tale about a Black classical musician whose family heirloom violin is stolen on the eve of the most prestigious classical music competition in the world.

Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can’t afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather’s fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen. Ray is determined to get it back. But now his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray’s great-grandfather are each claiming that the violin belongs to them. With the odds stacked against him and the pressure mounting, will Ray ever see his beloved violin again?

 

 

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This book releases on February 1, 2022. Pre-order today!

 

 

Review

 

I grew up playing musical instruments in the band, so when this book came around and involved a mystery and music? I was sold!

The mystery portion is who stole his violin, a Stradivarius that was given to him by his grandmother because it was the fiddle that her grandfather played when he was a slave in the 1800s. However, no one knew how valuable it would become until Ray has it cleaned up and the store owner has an inkling and suggests an appraisal. Ray becomes quite famous because of this violin and the violin becomes part of him, almost like another appendage. I can’t blame him for not letting it out of his sight considering the worth of the item! I did figure out who stole the violin, or at least suspected this character because nothing else reasoned out. I do have to say that Ray made some unwise decisions but I understood the passion he felt for finding his violin. It was one of these decisions that led to the recovery of the violin, but you’ll have to read the book to find out how and why.

While there is a mystery, this book is more of a retelling of the author’s life. Black classical musicians aren’t common and he fought a lot of racism honing his craft and showing the world that the music he could create was on par with any other musician out there. My heart broke for him, and any other person that is faced with discrimination and racism while improving their life. I thought the way that the character (and possibly the author) handled overt racism from those he met was right on target. I loved how he drew in those kids that were like him, possibly playing on a school instrument that may not be the best but was all that was available. Talent will outshine whatever means are available and it just takes the right person to recognize it.

Ray’s family disgusted me. They didn’t seem to care about him at all and his mother saw him as another paycheck, one to obtain the items she wanted versus what was best for Ray. I couldn’t believe she wanted him to drop out of high school, get his GED, and then find a job to give her money. Thankfully, he doesn’t go that route after being noticed by a professor from a college and helping him further his dreams of being a musician. His family also was out for just the money especially when they found out how valuable the violin was and declared that it was theirs and not Ray’s even though their mother, Ray’s grandmother, gave it to him in front of everyone. No one seemed to care about it when they thought it was just a fiddle. Just goes to show how money brings out the worst in everyone.

While I love classical music and played musical instruments, none were string instruments so some of the terminologies were lost on me, but I could imagine Ray playing his violin in front of audiences and the emotions that the music evoked in him and those listening. The descriptions of some of the pieces brought back fond memories and I will definitely think differently next time I am listening to classical music.

This book is more than a mystery, it is one man’s life and the achievements that were possible because he had passion. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Spotify play list inspiration

 

 

 

 

Frozen in Motion (Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Number of Pages ~275

 

Synopsis

 

A murder at the local hockey rink leaves photographer Callie Cassidy nursing a few injuries of her own, but that won’t stop her from trying to catch the killer—before someone else gets iced…

When hockey coach Renata Sanchez asks for Callie’s help exposing her ex-husband’s nefarious activities, Callie hesitates. After all, Renata’s brother, Detective Raul Sanchez, has been known to bristle at Callie’s interference. But with her own second-chance romance on rocky turf and her best friend’s engagement to a man Callie doesn’t entirely trust, she could use the distraction of an investigation.

Before she can even begin her research, a confrontation involving the ex, Renata, and Raul erupts right outside Sundance Studio. Then later in the day, the ex-husband literally drops dead and falls from the hockey arena catwalk—landing with a thud on top of Callie. Renata immediately takes the top spot on the suspect list, with Raul’s name not far behind. With time running out to save her friends, Callie enlists the help of her inquisitive cat and her loyal golden retriever to develop a picture of the true culprit.

 

 

Amazon

 

Book 1 – Suitable for Framing

Book 2 – Double Exposure

 

Read all 3 books for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter One

 

Tiny snowflakes fluttered onto the top rail of the wooden bridge that spanned Rock Creek. The water beneath gurgled and churned across the rocks, splashing past patches of ice that glistened near the banks. Combined with the gray clouds hanging low in the sky, the scene felt both serene and ominous. I cradled my camera in the crook of my arm as I considered how best to capture the mood.

Taking a step back, I framed the shot and snapped the shutter. Then I adjusted the lens an inch to the left and snapped again. When I studied the results on the camera’s LCD screen, I smiled with satisfaction.

A glance at my watch melted the smile away fast, though. I’d agreed to meet a friend at the Rocky Mountain High coffee shop at nine o’clock, and I had only one minute to make the five-minute walk through town. I tucked my camera in its bag, zipped it, and slung it over my shoulder.

“I hate being late,” I muttered. Still, I knew this morning’s impromptu photo shoot had been worth it. The overcast morning had generated such dramatic diffused lighting—how could any decent photographer resist?

I powerwalked across the Event Center staff parking lot, my boots crunching on the powdered gravel. Turning right, I strode down Evergreen Way. I peeked through the window of the Snow Plow Chow cafe but didn’t spot the handsome owner, my boyfriend Sam.

Boyfriend? The word screeched in my head like fingernails on a chalkboard. It might have been appropriate for the teenage versions of ourselves who’d walked hand-in-hand through the halls of Rock Creek Village High School a quarter of a century ago. But boyfriend and girlfriend sounded too…well, juvenile to describe the rebooted romance we’d been carefully navigating this past year. But since I couldn’t figure out how else to refer to our relationship, it would have to do.

As I passed the next shop, Yoga Delight, I noticed my friend Summer Simmons seated guru-style on a mat, leading a morning class. I waved, and she wagged a finger, silently scolding me for my recent absence from meditation class. I wrinkled my nose and touched my watch, indicating that I simply didn’t have time. She pursed her lips, and I scooted off, making an internal vow to recommit. After all, the classes always improved my attitude. Why did I perpetually find ways to avoid them? Tomorrow, I said to myself. Or maybe Monday…

A few steps later, I paused in front of my photo gallery. My photo gallery, I repeated to myself. I’d opened the place last year after resigning from my career as an investigative photojournalist, and I still reveled in the undiluted thrill of what I’d created. I traced the words etched on the door: Sundance Studio, Callahan Cassidy, Photographer.

I examined the window display, trying to assess it as a tourist would. In keeping with the village’s current Valentine’s Day motif, I’d selected a large canvas photo of two mule deer—a buck and a doe—nuzzling in a snowy meadow. A dozen red foil hearts framed the canvas, glittering as they swayed from silver strings affixed to the overhang. Cheesy, in my opinion, but everyone else in the world seemed enchanted by Valentine’s Day, so I’d felt an obligation to go along with the pack.

Next door, the bookstore with the clever moniker A Likely Story also embraced the V-Day concept, with its exhibit of romance novels and relationship self-help tomes. But instead of a warm, fuzzy response to the display, I wrestled with a spurt of unease. I attributed my negative reaction to the store’s owner, David Parisi, who’d recently become engaged to Tonya Stephens, my lifelong best friend. Everyone in town adored the charming Italian man, but I couldn’t let go of my vague, unexplainable misgivings. There was just something about him… I didn’t have time to fixate on David, though. Another peek at my watch showed me I was now officially late, so I scurried past the Fudge Factory without so much as a glance at the marshmallow-topped s’mores brownies.

Well, maybe one glance…

At six minutes past nine, I skidded to a halt in front of Rocky Mountain High and peered through the plate-glass window. My friend wasn’t among the smattering of customers—all tourists, I surmised from their designer sweaters and ski boots. I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t kept her waiting.

My cellphone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to read a text from Sam: Morning, beautiful. Thinking of you. How is your day?

Smiling to myself, I moved to enter the coffee shop, but before I could grab the knob, the door slammed outward. A squatty, wide, Mack truck of a man in an expensive-looking navy blue parka plowed barreled out, striking my shoulder with enough force to jar the phone out of my hand.

Though the collision was clearly the stranger’s fault, I politely said, “Excuse me.” The man barely broke stride. “You’re lucky you didn’t make me spill this overpriced coffee,” he growled. “What is it with the people in this stupid town?”

I gaped. By the time a burning retort dropped onto my tongue, the man was already out of earshot, and I was left feeling angry and what was worse, weak.

I scooped up my phone and stomped into the shop, where the aromas of rich brewed coffee and sweet, yeasty pastries soothed my nerves. From behind the tile serving counter, Mrs. Finney, the shop’s proprietor, looked at me with concern.

“That boorish man practically trampled you, dear. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I said, shrugging out of my coat. “Who is that guy, anyway?”

“The bloody wanker wasn’t kind enough to offer his name,” she said in her British accent. Everyone in the village knew the dialect was fake, but at this point, it was so deeply entrenched in her persona we’d be befuddled if she dropped it. “I’ve never seen him before, and I’ll be just as pleased to never see him again.” She leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “If I were still with The Company, I’d consider ordering a covert op to teach that young man a lesson.”

I grinned. Mrs. Finney—a real live former CIA agent—had the stature of a curly-haired gray army tank trussed in a lavender pantsuit. I estimated her age to be late-sixties, but despite my well-honed skills as an interviewer, I’d been unable to get the eccentric woman to divulge specifics. Still, in the year we’d known each other, she’d served as protector, dispenser of wisdom, and above all, loyal friend.

I set my camera bag on the counter and settled onto a stool. “Well, no harm, no foul, I suppose. Maybe he’ll make it up to both of us by dropping wads of cash in our shops.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “One can hope—though he didn’t bother with a tip.” She inspected me and changed the subject. “Your cheeks are extra rosy, dear. Let’s get you warmed up.”

While she bustled around the silver coffee urns preparing my beverage, I stripped off my gloves. After a moment, she handed me a steaming paper cup of dark roast with a squirt of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon, just the way I liked it. “Wrap your hands around this.”

I laced my fingers around the paper cup and lifted it to my nose, inhaling the steamy fragrance. My hands and cheeks tingled. “Ah, that’s nice.”

“You haven’t read the new adage.” In addition to her accent, Mrs. Finney was known for her sage axioms. She’d even made them a theme of her coffee shop, revealing a fresh one on her cups every few weeks. I read the printed inscription. “Bears are treated with respect because they demand it.”

“Love it,” I said. “Perhaps the giant who just ran me over could use an interview with one of our Rocky Mountain bears.”

Mrs. Finney’s attention shifted to a customer, who gestured from one of the bistro tables. As she bustled across the room to tend to the woman, I pulled off my knit ski cap and glanced in the mirror hanging on the wall. I grimaced at the sight. My cheeks were indeed rosy and my green eyes bright, but everything else about me appeared rumpled. I tugged at my wrinkled sweater and ran fingers through my shoulder length dark hair, trying to fluff some life back into it. Useless. In a mountainside town like Rock Creek Village, hat hair loomed high on the list of winter hazards—right up there with chapped lips and flaky skin. The challenge had been real when I was a teenager, but now, at forty-four, it was fast becoming a losing battle.

Mrs. Finney returned and lifted the cover off a glass pastry dome. With a set of tongs, she selected a cream cheese bear claw, placed it on a stoneware plate, and slid it in front of me. I tore off a bite with my teeth and wallowed in the rich sweetness. “Delicious, as always,” I said, licking my fingers. “Thank you. You are a genuine artist.”

She beamed. “I appreciate that, dear. And may I say the same about you? Three customers complimented my new photo display already this morning.”

I followed her gaze to the arrangement of canvas photos on the wall: winter landscapes of snowy mountains, a herd of elk drinking from the partially frozen creek, pine trees dappled with rays of sunshine. Beneath the photos, a discreet sign touted: On loan from Sundance Studio, Callahan Cassidy, Photographer.

In a rare burst of sentimentality, I reached across the counter and grasped the woman’s hand. “Mrs. Finney, I may not tell you often enough how much I appreciate you. Your support, your friendship…I’m just so glad you’re here. You mean so much to me.”

Her face flushed a bit, and she wiped her hands on a towel. “I feel the same, dear. Now, enough mush. I noticed you scanning the room earlier. Are you waiting for someone?”

I nodded as I popped the last bite of bearclaw in my mouth. “Renata Sanchez asked me to meet her here at nine. Said she had an important topic to discuss. Very cryptic.”

“I didn’t realize the two of you were friends.”

“We’re not besties or anything. I don’t know her that well. She’s good friends with Jessica, though, so she’s joined our group get-togethers occasionally. And…” I leaned in conspiratorially. “No one’s informed me of this officially, but I suspect she and Ethan are seeing each other.”

Ethan MacGregor was Rock Creek Village High School’s business teacher, and also Sundance Studio’s part-time marketing guru. I hoped soon he’d be my full-time partner.

“She could certainly do worse.” Mrs. Finney took my plate and dropped the crumpled napkin onto it. “Her brother was here a short time ago. I must tell you, he seemed agitated.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shocker. When isn’t Detective Raul Sanchez agitated? That man expresses cheerfulness about as often as my pets decide to behave—once in a blue moon.”

Mrs. Finney chuckled. “Be that as it may, he’s turned out to be an excellent detective. I admit, at first I wasn’t certain about his aptitude, but I’ve been pleasantly—”

Just then, the coffee shop door banged open with such force it made me jump. A gust of wind swirled inside, along with a few errant snowflakes. In their wake, Renata burst across the threshold.

Her eyes traveled around the room, dark as storm clouds. When she spotted me, she marched over and plopped down on the stool next to mine. “I swear, if that man moves here for good, I’m going to kill him.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Lori Roberts Herbst is the author of the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. Her debut novel, Suitable for Framing, won first place in the Murder and Mayhem category at the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and serves as secretary of the North Dallas chapter. She is also a member of the national Guppy chapter and Mystery Writers of America. A former educator, Lori spent much of her life writing, editing, and psychoanalyzing. Through thirty years of teaching journalism, advising newspaper and yearbook staffs, instructing budding photographers, and counseling teenagers, she still managed to hang on to a modicum of sanity. Then she retired and assumed her third career: author.

 

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Synopsis

 

Private Investigator Steve Rockfish needs cash, like yesterday. The bad news is that yesterday, a global pandemic raged, and Maryland was headed toward a lockdown that would ultimately lead to cheating spouses no longer “working late,” and hence a lack of new clients.

Rockfish’s luck changes when a Hollywood producer reaches out, but the job is two states away and involves digging up information on a child trafficking ring from the 1940s. What he uncovers will be used to support the launch of a true-crime docuseries. He grabs a mask, hand sanitizer and heads for South Jersey.

On-site, Rockfish meets Jawnie McGee, the great granddaughter of a local policeman gone missing while investigating the original crimes. As the duo uncover more clues, they learn the same criminal alliance has reformed to use the pandemic as a conduit to defraud the Federal Government of that sweet, sweet, stimulus money.

It’s not long before the investigation turns up some key intel on a myriad of illicit activity over the last eighty years and Rockfish rockets toward a showdown with the mafia, local archdiocese, and dirty cops. COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to his health.

 

 

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Review

 

This new mystery was a delightful blend of old world and new world detective skills with Rockfish and his potentially new protege, Jawnie. These two are as far apart as you can imagine when it comes to their thoughts and abilities except when it comes to wearing a darn mask because of COVID.

The mystery spans about a century when Rockfish is hired to investigate young women that went missing. There is a lot more to the story and it definitely ruffles some feathers once Rockfish lands in this small township and starts asking questions. The mafia plays a major role in what happens in this sleepy burg and they are not a fan of dredging up the past.

The dialogue is snarky and witty, the characters a bit crazy in their actions, but paired together it creates a fascinating read for any mystery buff. Jawnie has a lot to learn about who to talk to and what to say when it comes to investigations, but Rockfish is a great teacher and there are only a few “I told you so” moments.

This is set at the beginning of Covid-19 so there are a lot of references to the pandemic, wearing masks, hand sanitizer, and political jabs. I tended to skim over most of that because I really prefer to not have too much about the pandemic in my books since they are my form of escape, but it was rather comical to see many of the characters insist that others put on face masks and were rather insistent on it too. Of course, the face masks help during certain scenes when the bad guys don’t want to be identified.

I loved the ending and might have suspected some of it, but it sets it up for the next book due out in July 2022.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ken Harris retired from the FBI, after thirty-two years, as a cybersecurity executive. With over three decades writing intelligence products for senior Government officials, Ken provides unique perspectives on the conventional fast-paced crime thriller. While this is his first traditionally published novel, he previously self-published two novellas and two novels. He spends days with his wife Nicolita, and two Labradors, Shady and Chalupa Batman. Evenings are spent cheering on Philadelphia sports. Ken firmly believes Pink Floyd, Irish whiskey and a Montecristo cigar are the only muses necessary. He is a native of New Jersey and currently resides in Northern Virginia.

 

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Our Lunar New Year by Yobe Qiu

Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Publisher: Yobe Qiu LLC

 

 

Synopsis

 

It’s almost Lunar New Year! Xiao Mi, Hang, Kwan, Malai, and Charu all celebrate the New Year in their own special way. Experience how each one of the Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian children, and their families honor Lunar New Year, from dragon dances in China to firecrackers ​

 

 

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Review

 

We have all heard of the various New Year celebrations celebrated by those of Asian descent, but you may not have heard of all of them. This book is educational and spotlights the countries of
China, Korea, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. I had heard of the Chinese New Year and India’s Diwali, but not the other countries.

Each country has a section that shares the traditions and food that are celebrated at this time. It was fascinating to learn the different names of their celebrations, foods that they enjoyed and what they represented, activities that the family enjoyed in each country. The information is brief but since this is written for a child, it is enough information to intrigue a child to search out more information.

The illustrations are colorful for the most part but some are a little dull and not as bright as others. But they depict what the author is trying to convey about the different traditions.

This is a good introductory book and will spur some conversations and perhaps lead the parent and child to discover more about these holidays.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Yobe is an educator, entrepreneur, and mom who lives in NYC. As an educator, she focused on teaching families to embrace love, diversity, and different cultures. Through the years working in the classrooms and closely with other educators, she noticed the lack of multi-cultural resources that represented children of color. That is when Yobe decided to create multicultural children stories that feature Asian children, families, and cultures! Yobe loves spending time with her daughter, reading to children, and taking long walks during the day!

 

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Giveaway

 

Enter to win OUR LUNAR NEW YEAR signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Feb 14)

OUR LUNAR NEW YEAR Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

A magic mirror to an enchanted world… A mysterious ghost… A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch… A brave, sassy cat… Two unexplained deaths and a mysterious community filled with secrets… Can Hayden and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and return the community to its peaceful, enchanted existence?

Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue in book four of the Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Starting with a strange old woman at a cave and her father’s mysterious ferry journey, there are secrets to be unwound.

The enchantments in Destiny Falls are showing cracks, and Hayden suspects that it is tied directly to her family, which has a history that’s more complex than she realized. When two bodies are found floating in the bay it’s clear that the mysteries surrounding Gladstone and the ferry are more dangerous than people realize. And then . . . those spiders.

Luckily, Hayden and her sassy sidekick, Latifa have developed a group of family and friends in this enchanted place who are all ready and willing to help solve the mystery, and release Destiny Falls to resume its normal, amazing, enchanted existence.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This has been a fun series to read and in each book, we learn more and more about Hayden’s family, their magical abilities, and watching familial relationships continue to build and blossom. I think what I have enjoyed about it so far is learning about Hayden’s family and Destiny Falls. Sure the mystery part is intriguing and trying to figure out the killer doesn’t always happen, but the story of how Destiny Falls came to exist, along with Gladstone, is intriguing. Gasper really adds flavor as the ghost that can’t answer questions but can tell you a story with a lot of clues peppered within the pages.

The cats crack me up and Lola, the newest one, seems to be finding her voice. I could just imagine how she would sound. And when Hayden takes them for a ride in the convertible? I just chuckled at their antics and wardrobe.

While we have known who the old woman in the cave was, or at least suspected, it was nice to see it confirmed and slowly more information about the past is revealed and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that has me on pins and needles waiting to read the next book in this series.

I adore the budding relationship between Hayden and Han. It is nice to see them both finding someone that gets them and understands the magical aspect of Hayden’s life.

This is a series that all paranormal and magical fans will adore. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one.

 

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