Synopsis

 

A new cozy mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau series.

Avery Winters was overjoyed to be brought back to life… unfortunately, the dead were waiting for her.

Aussie journalist Avery Winters was content—she had a caring boyfriend, great job, and supportive… okay, so her parents weren’t actually supportive, but she’d accepted she could never be the son they’d wanted seeing as how she was born a girl. Avoiding them seemed to work well, and, she reasoned, no one’s life was perfect.

And that was fine, except whilst covering a news story in a storm, Avery’s cosy life disappeared in a flash. Lightning struck, stopping her heart and blowing her favourite black boots to smithereens. It was pure luck that an off-duty nurse was walking nearby.

When Avery came to in the ambulance en route to hospital, she’d thought the worst was over. She was wrong.

Her lightning-induced hallucinations—there was no way they were ghosts—were impossible to hide. Her boyfriend soon left, and her boss suggested she take extended leave. Unable to cover her rent, she moved back in with her parents. And that’s when the fun really began. Unable to cope with their insistence she was crazy, and desperate for an escape, she responded to a journalist-wanted ad… in the UK, because getting mega far away from her parents could only be a good thing.

Armed with a new fear of storms, companions others couldn’t see, and the hope that leaving the stress behind would improve her mental state, she boarded a plane for London. What she didn’t count on was not being able to leave her ghosts behind… literally. Oh, and that the quaint English village she’d be living in had more skeletons in its closet than the Natural History Museum.

When she stumbles upon a dead body in her rented apartment on her first day, she’s tempted to get back on the plane. But whilst it’s not a good omen, returning to her parents would be worse, so she decides to stay. Only, she’s not sure if it’s the best decision she’s ever made, or the worst.

She’s about to find out.

 

 

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Review

 

This was definitely a different type of cozy than I normally read but I really enjoyed the book.

Avery has moved from Australia to England to a small town to escape a broken relationship. She was also struck by lightning which has revealed a new talent, the ability to speak to ghosts. This can be a good and a bad thing and reminds me a lot of the show, The Ghost Whisperer.

Things don’t go so well for Avery when she arrives at her new home and finds a dead body on the floor. However, this turns out to be a really good thing because she meets new people and of course has to solve the murder, write newspaper articles that feature the town residents, and maybe even help a few ghosts along the way.

I thought this had a few different twists and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was and why. I think I solved the who right before it was revealed, but I wasn’t 100% sure on the why. There are a few clues and it all makes sense in the end.

I think this is going to be a fun new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next and if Avery finds a new love interest because there are hints of one in this book.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I’m a fantasy, cozy mystery, and suspense author with an associate degree of creative writing. My other day job is editing fiction and non fiction while my cat sits on my lap.

I love writing and sharing my stories, but I wish they wouldn’t keep me awake at night.

I also write women’s fiction under the pen name Eloise March.

 

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UNDER THE TEXAS MISTLETOE

 

by

 

KAREN WITEMEYER

 

 

 

Genre: Holiday Fiction / Christian Historical Romance / Novellas

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Date of Publication: August 31, 2021

Number of Pages: 304 pages

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

This historical romance novella collection presents “A Texas Christmas Carol,” where a town’s wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors. It also includes “An Archer Family Christmas.” When the Archer clan gathers for the holiday, they encounter an unexpected request for help that will require all their effort and a Christmas miracle to see them through. In previously published “Gift of the Heart,” a widow uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local resort owner. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love this Christmas.

 

 

Bethany House Publishers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes.

 

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Signed copies of the book.

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Synopsis

 

A prank gone wrong …

A case of mistaken identity …

Is this love story doomed before it can begin?

I messed up.

I accidentally told my parents I found love. Don’t judge. You deal with your mom constantly setting you up with models who want to use you for your connections and see how you respond.

Now my parents can’t wait to meet the man. Neither can I.

Internet dating to the rescue. But when my first date turns out to be Mr. Married Farter, I’m done.

Before I can tell my parents I’m a big fat liar I connect with Rafael, a Dutch guy from Amsterdam. And guess who happens to have the opportunity to live in Holland for six months? Things are suddenly looking up.

Except when I arrive in Amsterdam, Rafael isn’t the nice, dependable man I thought he was. He’s a mischief-maker who needs to grow up already.

But what if the immature prankster isn’t who he seems? What if Rafael is the nice, dependable man I thought he was? Should I give him another chance?

Is it possible I can find Dutch love Online?

This romantic comedy features a woman who protects her heart with a heavy dose of cynicism, a man doing his damndest to save his sister, and a whole passel of friends determined to push the two of them together no matter the subterfuge necessary.

Each book in the Love in the Lowlands romantic comedy series can be read as a standalone.

 

 

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Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This is the last book in this series (but I keep hoping for a book about Joke, I think she has a story to tell) and the gang is all here with the addition of a new friend to the group.

I loved being back in the Hague with Abby, Mia, Charlotte, and Avery….and of course, the hunky dutchmen that go with these feisty women. The story is fast-paced, hilarious, sexy, and sweet all at the same time. These women know what it means to have your back, mostly at Abby’s interference, but that is what friends do. They stick their noses in and back you 100% no matter what.

Sofia is a talented photographer but her passion is really her art. Her mom, a famous model, just wants to see her daughter in a happy relationship so sets her up blind dates whenever she can get away with it. So Sofia takes this into her own hands…well actually it is her best friend Zara…and joins a dating app. Men can be lowlifes but enter Rafael. Rafael seems like a loving brother and all-around good guy and their text conversations are fun. When these two meet, it will not be what either of them expected.

I loved how Rafael was protective of his sister and did whatever he had to do to keep her well and happy.  She is living with kidney failure and who knows if a kidney will be found in time. But that overprotective instinct causes him to make some bad decisions, especially where Sofia is concerned. But that is what makes this story feel real, that they make mistakes and bad choices which is what we all do.

Sofia is a no-nonsense kind of woman and will do anything for anyone she cares about. Heck, she is roped into taking photos at a kid’s party when she first arrives in The Hague, but that is just the kind of woman she is.

This series has been so much fun to read. I laugh, I cry a little, and I drool over some hunky dutchmen (just don’t tell my husband). I could even relate to how Sofia and Rafael meet since I also met my husband online. I relish in the girl gang friendship and how they are all there for each other no matter what, even at the whim of Abby who likes to stick her nose in everyone’s business. But that is what makes Abby endearing, the lengths she goes to for her friends.

I love how there is a “wrap up” that is a few years down the road. It is a great way to end the series and not leave us hanging too much as to what this group of friends is up to and if everything was still working in their relationships.

You won’t be sorry if you check out this series. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

As I enter, I hear a click above me. I glance up right in time to see a bucketful of water come raining down on me.

“What in the world?”

I dash to the side before my equipment can be soaked and therefore ruined, but I don’t move quick enough to avoid my hair and clothes being doused with water.

“Oh my god, this is classic!” someone says in between guffaws of laughter.

I lift my head to discover a man holding up a phone directed at me.

“Are you filming me? What the hell is going on? Was this some kind of prank?”

I lay my equipment on the sofa in the reception area before surveying the door. Yep, there’s a contraption with string and pulleys all right.

“What in the world is wrong with you? You could have ruined my equipment.”

“If you’d shut the hell up, I’d apologize.”

“Apologize? As if there’s an apology big enough for what you did.”

“Calm down.”

I feel my nostrils flare. I hate it when someone tells me to calm down. As if saying the words will magically make me calm. Not bloody likely.

“I’ll calm down when I’m damn well ready to calm down.”

“Real mature.”

I grab the sides of my head to keep it from exploding. “Are you seriously saying I’m not mature right now? You, who barely five minutes ago, set up a prank in a professional office? I’m the one who’s not mature?”

“You’re the one having a hissy fit in this professional office.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

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Synopsis

 

Two decades after his family suffers trauma, Max, the loving but remorsefully jealous older brother of a musical genius, chronicles the story of his dysfunctional family.

In mid-1970’s New York City, Max’s sister, Kayla, vaulted to fame as a piano prodigy, holding both audiences and her family in awe with her uncanny musical ability and warm smile. But deep within her lie the seeds of destruction: the paranoid fear of being stalked by a murderous fan. This mystery explores themes of family dysfunction, mental illness, and the long-term effects of family secrets going untold.

 

 

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Read for free with Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

Your Aunt Kayla was a piano prodigy of the highest degree. The term is thrown around way too much to describe any child who displays virtuosity on a musical instrument at an early age. Most of those deemed “prodigy” are talented, yes, but don’t really have the inner drive to propel them to greatness. Years pass, they may study their instrument with dedication, but almost inevitably their talent no longer seems extraordinary, and few can pursue music as a career. Kayla was one of the very few who deserved the term “prodigy.”

So. Town Hall. …

The publicity was phenomenal, with feature articles appearing in the main New York papers in the days leading up to the event. The family had been instructed by Herr Lindorf – Kayla’s teacher at Bellington – to refuse all requests for interviews of Kayla, because, he said in his heavy German accent, it would make the intrigue much greater when Kayla did perform. But Lindorf himself, if not the entire Bellington hierarchy, gave a lot of information to the media and passed out copies of the professional photographs Bellington had made. The shots selected for the campaign portrayed Kayla as a little girl, making her look perhaps only nine. She’d been posed in frilly costumes, which I knew Kayla hated. They’d stood her next to a grand piano, which looked large enough to engulf her. The articles stressed that Kayla Covo’s first full-length recital would be a miracle coming to fruition.

If the publicity bothered Kayla, she didn’t let on. It bothered everyone else in our family, though. Dad grumbled that he didn’t see why his little girl had to be plastered on posters at the entrance to the subway and likened the Bellington publicity to Nazi propaganda. Mom worried Kayla would be overwhelmed by all the attention. My own unhappiness stemmed from the realization that my influence in Kayla’s life was waning quickly, but my concern was more than outweighed by excitement and anticipation. I couldn’t wait for my sister to show the world what an outstanding pianist she was.

All Kayla would say is “I’ve got much more practice to do so everything is perfect.”

She spoke of perfection often, and, if there’s such a thing as perfection in music, then Kayla came as close to it as a human being can come. From the moment your Aunt Kayla walked on stage to warm applause, she held the audience in her hand and never let go. Her smile said it all. She loved being in front of the hundreds of people lucky enough to attend and exuded an air of extreme confidence, nothing feigned. She knew her power and her abilities. After a modest bow, she took her seat at the Steinway, placed her hands in her lap, and looked down, her gaze beneath the keyboard. All accomplished pianists pause to gather their thoughts before beginning, but Kayla had the habit of stretching the silence almost beyond endurance. While we waited at Town Hall, not a cough could be heard. Then Kayla started to play, and the wait had been well worth it.

We sat on the right side of the audience, to have the best view of Kayla’s face. From her look, we knew she’d transported herself well beyond the recital hall into a realm only she could occupy. I’d seen that look many times, a look I interpreted as complete oneness with the music. I’d often asked her to explain where she’d been in those moments, and she could never really say, but it was always clear she’d been in the music and part of the music at the same time.

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Following a 40-year career as a trial attorney in Washington, DC., Bruce J. Berger turned full-time to writing, earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from American University, and now teaches there. His first novel, The Flight of the Veil, is a sequel to The Music Stalker and achieved critical success, winning a Bronze Award in General Fiction from Illumination Christian Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews called The Flight of the Veil “A well-crafted tale about trauma and miracles. Get it.” He has also published more than 50 stories and poems in a wide variety of literary journals.

 

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Synopsis

 

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn’t be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It’s really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

 

 

 

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Review

 

This is quite a twisty tale told from multiple POV. Because of the multiple POV, we know for the most part who is doing what and who is involved in the deaths of the teachers, but we don’t always know the why. Plus, there are a few other mysteries floating around such as where is Teddy’s wife? Is she alive? Who is poisoning the students and staff?

This book is filled with many unlikable characters. I’m not sure too many of them had redeeming qualities. The school is filled with privileged students that don’t usually want for anything, faculty that are former students, and helicopter parents. All except for Teddy who feels somewhat snubbed and feels like it is his place to teach the kids a lesson, especially the ones that he thinks are cheaters, whether they truly are or not. As I said, not many likable characters.

The story has a fast pace and engaged me from page one. I was curious how things were going to turn out and as some truths were revealed, it was quite a jaw-dropper for me. We may know the truth, but is it really the whole truth? The characters don’t reveal everything at once, it is handed to us pieces at a time and just when you thought you might like a character, you are broadsided with another piece of evidence that could sway you the other way.

I have enjoyed this author’s books and this one is no exception. If you are looking for a psychological thriller, you won’t be disappointed.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

 

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Title: PRETTY BROKEN DOLLS

Author: Jennifer Chase

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 302

Genre: Crime Thriller

 

 

Synopsis

 

In the thin light of the moon, the woman’s limp body hangs from the iron fence amongst the redwoods. Looped over the railings is the little gold locket her mother gave her when she turned sixteen. The picture of the girl inside smiles out at a future she’ll never see…

As day breaks over the fairground, Detective Katie Scott forces herself to take in another disturbing scene in front of her. A woman, the same age as her, found slumped in the carriage of the Ferris wheel, red lipstick dragged across her lips, her throat cut.

Katie doesn’t want to believe that the serial killer picking off women across the state has found their way to the small town of Pine Valley, California, but when her team finds a gold engagement ring hanging nearby, it’s a terrifying, but undeniable fact.

With a twisted killer on her doorstep, Katie knows if she doesn’t act fast, she’ll find more women left out in the cold like broken dolls. Her team hit dead end after dead end, but only she can see the vital link between the victims: a connection with Katie herself.

Katie has spent years pushing traumatic memories of her years in the military far out of reach, but she must confront them now or more innocent women will die. But as the killer circles closer and closer to Katie, what if the only answer is to give him what he wants? There must be another way…

Warning – This absolutely unputdownable thriller will keep you up all night! Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine, and Melinda Leigh better hold on tight for a nail-biting rollercoaster ride!

 

 

 

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Praise

 

5 Stars! “This is the first book in the series I have read – and I want more! Suspense up to the end, characters I enjoyed, and K9 units. Loved it!” – NetGalley

5 Stars! “As always this Jennifer Chase thriller just cries out to be read in one sitting. Here we see Katie get tangled up with a serial killer although it takes time before anyone takes her seriously. Great characters and a great story, I loved this book.” – NetGalley

 

 

Excerpt

 

PROLOGUE

 

The front door stood ajar. It bumped gently against the jamb in rhythm with the evening breeze. The screen remained wide open and was bent precariously around the aluminum frame. Pieces of broken glass from a shattered light bulb above had scattered across the porch, leaving behind a shadowy darkness draped across the front of the small house.

The neighborhood remained quiet; the light blue one-story cottage eerily so. No outside illumination or motion lights flooded the front area. The blooming climbing vines and perfectly manicured bushes were eclipsed by the darkness.

Headlights approached.

A small, dark vehicle pulled into the driveway. Waiting a moment before turning off the engine, a woman pushed open the car door and stepped out. The young redhead was dressed for the evening, in a sparkly blouse and tight black pants. Wavering a moment in her spiked sandals, she looked at the house in curiosity—and then in disappointment. Quickly grabbing a warm jacket from inside the car and slipping it on, she walked up the driveway.

“Jeanine, where are you?” she whispered and headed to the front door, ignoring the shattered light bulb on the step crunching under her feet. She knocked on the door. “Jeanine,” she said, more loudly, leaning closer to the opening. “We waited for you… you missed a great party.”

No response.

The front door pushed open, revealing a darkened interior.

“Jeanine?”

The woman hesitated but seemed to be pulled by an unknown force. She stepped over the threshold, not bothering to close the door, and moved through the living room. Confused by the darkness, she turned on a lamp sitting on a small table. The room lit up instantly. Everything seemed in place. The oversized beige couches with brightly colored throw pillows, the dark mahogany coffee table with neatly stacked magazines and books precisely centered appeared usual for Jeanine’s house. It was always neat and organized.

“Jeanine?” the woman said again. “Are you here?”

The woman walked around and checked the kitchen and small bedroom, but there wasn’t any sign of her friend. She eyed a piece of paper on the counter and decided to leave a quick note, scratching out that she had stopped by and asking Jeanine to call her when she got the message.

She suddenly noticed a strange high-pitched whistling noise coming from the other side of the living room. Curious, the woman moved closer to the sound. The back sliding door was slightly open. The crack was enough for the wind to invade and make a strange noise.

Her foot touched something. A tall turquoise vase that had been sitting on a shelf nearby was now lying on the carpet. It seemed strange to her that it had been knocked over. She bent down and picked up the vase, replacing it on the shelf.

She retrieved her cell phone from her pocket and tried calling Jeanine again. It rang numerous times and then went to voicemail where Jeanine’s upbeat voice said, “Hi, sorry I missed your call but please don’t hang up. Leave a message and I’ll get right back to you.”

The greeting was followed by a quick beep.

“Jeanine, it’s Mandy again and now I’m standing in your living room. Where are you, girl? Everyone was asking about you tonight. Hey, and you left your front door open. Call me.” She ended the call.

Mandy was about to head back to the front door to leave, but something stopped her—it didn’t feel right—and instead, she stood at the sliding door staring out into the large backyard where dense rows of pine trees and acacia bushes huddled around the house’s boundary. During the day, the property appeared green and lush, but now it looked gloomy and foreboding.

Mandy flipped on the outside light, but it only lit up the patio areas directly outside the house, and the extended wooded region still looked dark.

She pulled open the sliding door and the wind whipped through the house. It chilled her. Goosebumps scuttled up her arms. Worry now set in and she didn’t know what to do. Redialing Jeanine’s number, Mandy listened to it sound again and in unison heard the faint, far-off ringing of a phone somewhere in the distance.

She stepped outside, trying to decipher where the ringing was coming from. “Jeanine?” she said, noticing that one of the outside chairs had been toppled over and lay precariously on its side.

Moving off the stone patio and pulling her jacket more tightly around her, Mandy slowly trudged toward the trees, a bit wobbly in her shoes. She turned on the flashlight mode on her cell phone and moved forward.

She dialed Jeanine again. This time, she heard the distinct ringing of the cell phone coming from the trees—low at first and then it rang louder.

“Jeanine,” she said, with barely a whisper. Her voice sounded oddly distant.

Looking down, she saw where there were crushed weeds and small broken branches as if someone had walked back and forth recently. Still, she kept moving forward, into the trees, swinging her cell phone back and forth which only illuminated a tiny patch of ground in front of her, creating dense shadows outside its beam.

Her pulse quickened.

Anxiety escalated.

Something fluttering on a bush caught her eye. She leaned closer, focusing. As she moved the cell light beam nearer, it revealed a piece of white fabric with a mother-of-pearl button still attached.

Mandy gasped.

It wasn’t the fact that she had seen Jeanine wear that pretty white blouse on so many occasions, it was the droplets of crimson spattered across the fabric that shoved a spear of fear into her gut.

Thoughts of dread and horror-filled scenarios ran through Mandy’s mind. Urgently, she pushed the redial button on her phone again.

The sound of Jeanine’s ringtone rang in the darkness. This time it kept ringing and there was no cheerful message.

Mandy walked further into the dark realm of the trees, still hoping that there was a logical explanation. Stepping over old branches with loud crunching noises and sidestepping bushes just before reaching the back fence of the property, she managed to make her way to the sound of the ringing phone.

Everything went quiet.

Mandy stood a foot from the phone lying on the ground. It mesmerized her. She slowly bent down to pick it up. With a startled gasp, she stepped back, dropping the phone as she stared at her hand. It was covered in blood.

In a frenzied panic, Mandy ran past the phone and continued along the low wrought-iron fence. The flashlight feature dimmed and she couldn’t see where she was going. Slowing her pace, she glimpsed something white and moving slightly.

“Jeanine? What’s going on?” She spoke in a strained whisper.

Trying to catch her breath and calm her hammering pulse, Mandy approached. Her cell phone flashlight surged and shone brightly on the blood-soaked white silk blouse, now shredded from Jeanine’s right shoulder. She reeled back at the sight of her friend.

Mandy couldn’t tear her eyes away from the horror. Her throat constricted as her breath trapped in her chest. She staggered backwards, taking in the entire scene—unable to turn her focus away.

Her friend’s upper body was impaled on the iron fence penetrating from her back through her ribs, and her throat was slit open. Her head flopped down, lifeless eyes trained on the ground. Her long brown hair fell forward, some strands sticking to the blood seeping from her chest. Her arms hung at her sides, legs crooked, like a marionette waiting for someone to pull the strings. Blood still dripped from her body, sliding down her arms to her fingertips before collecting on the ground—the wet crimson almost matching her fingernail polish. The body was shoeless and Jeanine’s feet were dirty and bloody—as if she had been running through the woods barefoot.

It was the sight of Jeanine’s face that made her sob in terror. Caked in grotesque makeup, making her look like a caricature of herself—a hideous broken doll. Red lipstick drawn heavy around her lips, dark purples for blush on her cheeks, and dark blues for eye shadow made her look like a circus clown instead of her friend.

Beside Jeanine’s body, a necklace hung on the fence. It was a small locket that she always wore, which her mother had given her when she turned sixteen.

Mandy mouthed the word “Jeanine” but no sound escaped her lips. Realizing she still had her cell phone in her hand, she tried to dial 911 but fumbled a few times with the buttons before she heard the words, “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with a deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

I’m seven years old and I’ve never had a best mate. Trouble is, no one gets my jokes. And Breaks-it isn’t helping. Ha! You get it, don’t you? Brexit means everyone’s falling out and breaking up.

Huxley is growing up in the suburbs of London at a time of community tensions. To make matters worse, a gang of youths is targeting isolated residents. When Leonard, an elderly newcomer chats with Huxley, his parents are suspicious. But Huxley is lonely and thinks Leonard is too. Can they become friends?

Funny and compassionate, this contemporary novel for adults explores issues of belonging, friendship, and what it means to trust.

 

 

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Review

 

Huxley is a typical seven year old boy. He gets into mischief, has a big heart, and isn’t afraid to say what he thinks or what he wants. His parents, on the other hand, want to make sure he stays safe from harm.

I loved Huxley’s outlook on life. He liked to make different words for common words to be funny. Sometimes, adults got it and sometimes they didn’t. He also saw the desire in others to have a friend when others might pass them by such as Leonard. I have to admit, I thought he might be up to no good, but when we learn the truth, our heart goes out to him and his situation. He also tends to get into a little bit of trouble when trying to stand up to bullies either for himself or others.

While the main character is a young boy, I don’t think this book is meant for younger readers. It covers more serious topics such as bullying, infidelity, pedophilia, and marital infidelity. But at the same time, it brings light to some more serious topics through Huxley’s eyes and his parents. Plus, it covers topics such as friendship and how to get over a disagreement with your friends.

This book will make you smile, especially at Huxley’s new words for more commonplace ones, and will give you insight into an average family. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Read an excerpt here

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Novelist, poet and scriptwriter, Gail Aldwin’s debut coming-of-age novel The String Games was a finalist in The People’s Book Prize and the DLF Writing Prize 2020. Following a stint as a university lecturer, Gail’s children’s picture book Pandemonium was published. Gail loves to appear at national and international literary and fringe festivals. Prior to Covid-19, she volunteered at Bidibidi in Uganda, the second largest refugee settlement in the world. When she’s not gallivanting around, Gail writes at her home overlooking water meadows in Dorset.

 

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From award-winning chef and Food Network personality Scott Conant, a cookbook of restaurant-quality Italian meals that you can make easily in your home kitchen

Thirty-five years into an illustrious career of restaurant openings across the country, widespread acclaim, and frequent appearances on the Food Network’s Chopped and many other shows, Scott Conant has returned home to create his most personal cookbook yet. Meals cooked from simple, fresh ingredients were staples of Conant’s childhood in a New England family with roots in Southern Italy. From his grandparents’ garden to the dinner table, he learned early on to appreciate the nuances of different flavors and ingredients, and the strong connection between food and family.

Focusing on these foods Conant grew up with and the ones he makes for his loved ones today, Peace, Love, and Pasta compiles simple, fresh, and flavorful Italian recipes for the home cook to bring to their own family’s table. These recipes are built on the art of cooking for love, fascination with flavors and ingredients, and the simple pleasures of taste and conviviality.

 

 

Amazon * Abrams Books

 

 

Review

 

This is my 4th year as part of the Abrams Dinner Party which is great for me as much as I like to cook and try new recipes. Pasta is always a good fallback because there are so many amazing things that can be made and this new book from Scott Conant will delight everyone because it is so much more than just pasta. There are beverages, soups, meat dishes, sweets, and even a Turkish section. It is all about simplicity and I can tell you from the few dishes I have made so far, they are definitely not complex and great for any level of cooking skill you might possess.

When I first opened the book, it opened to the Roasted Garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and EVOO Spread. I happen to LOVE garlic so I knew this was a MUST to make. Now you can put it on crostini or use it as a dip, but I knew it would be delicious spread on some chicken and put under the broiler to finish off the dish. Let me tell you, it was divine!  I didn’t use as much EVOO as it called for since I wasn’t using it as a dip and didn’t need it running out all over the dish. This is definitely a spread that I plan to make multiple times in the future. This is a photo of that spread, my mouth is drooling just looking at it right now.

 

 

 

The second dish I tried was the Sausage and Porcini Ragu. This is another simple dish that I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. It came together pretty quickly and the taste was outstanding. I am not a mushroom fan but it worked in this dish (plus there were not a lot of mushrooms). This dish is going into our rotation.

 

 

 

I have several other recipes bookmarked including one of the Turkish dishes, Sigara Börek. It is a pasta dough filled with feta cheese and pan-fried. I found the Yufka dough at a Middle Eastern grocery store and plan to try it out very soon.

Overall, this cookbook has a lot to offer everyone from the amateur to the more professional chef. Plus the recipes are great for bringing family together to try new dishes and even cook together.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Jolie Hogan likes coffee black, panties lacy, and tequila neat. She’s a cop, turned journalist, turned private investigator. People say she’s ballsy. Truth is, her courage is a recklessness that stems from her troubled past.

Jolie is currently in a mess of trouble. She’s been set up for murder by a powerful criminal attorney. The murder victims are the attorney’s wife and Jolie’s husband, Lucas. Jolie will do whatever it takes to clear her name. Including selling her soul to the devil. In Jolie’s case, the devil is a wickedly hot detective who brings the past back to haunt her.

 

 

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Review

 

This is not your average Ashley Farley novel that is sweet yet fraught with emotions. No, this is a grittier mystery (romantic suspense) novel with flawed characters and the search for the truth.

As is with all of this author’s novels, I was drawn in immediately. Who wouldn’t be when Jolie is hired to find out who a client’s wife is cheating with and it turns out to be her husband. And then they both end up dead and Jolie is caught in the middle of the situation. This is where her training comes in handy as she ferrets out the truth, which doesn’t come easy.

I really enjoyed this story and there were some twists I didn’t expect but they fit perfectly with the story. There is a wide variety of characters with motives that range from the pure to the extremely devious. Only Joie and those closest to her will be able to figure everything out, but will they do it in time? The action kept me glued to my seat and I think I stayed up just a little too late reading this book.

Pick up this book as soon as it releases and you won’t be sorry!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

 

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Synopsis

 

Sometimes, the one you’re saving is really saving you.

Harley loses everything when his master dies — his home, his best friend, his reason for living. Day after day, he trudges the streets, trembling from the biting cold, whimpering from the gnawing hunger.

Across town, Rachel has an alimony hearing looming and a make-or-break deadline hurtling toward her, yet they aren’t her biggest worries — her autistic son has withdrawn so far into his own private world, he barely acknowledges she even exists.

Luckily, the magic of life is in the surprises no one ever sees coming…

If you crave a story of love and loss, of compassion and belonging, of friendship that knows no bounds, you need to read When the Skies Cry.

 

 

Amazon * Amazon UK * Amazon CA * Amazon AU

 

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Review

 

Have tissues on hand, this book has all the feels running through it.

This book (really the series) is a must read for all dog lovers. While this story is a stand alone, there are some bits and pieces from As The Stars Fall that you just might recognize while reading this book.

This book is told from two points of view – Harvey, a dog that is not sure what happened to his owner, and Rachel, a single mom with a special needs son that isn’t sure how she is going to handle everything. That is until Harvey shows up in their lives and she sees the impact that he makes on her son. Harvey is also looking for something to fill his life, he needs a job because he is a working dog. It is the little things that he does that makes an impact in Rachel and Wes’ life.

I enjoyed watching the interaction between all of the characters, the fierceness of Rachel when protecting her son and eventually Harvey, and the touching moments throughout. Now, there are a few “mean” characters but thankfully they don’t get very far in this story. The ending had me in tears which is why you need some tissues handy. Actually, you need those tissues throughout the whole book, so many moments that will touch your heart and soul.

I also related to Rachel as a cancer survivor and what she had to endure.

Apparently, there are now two ending options available, but I only read the original and didn’t have the chance to check out the other ending. I think you probably can’t go wrong with either one as both will strike a chord with different people.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 58 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who graciously allow Steve and Ania to stay in their house.

 

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