Posted in 4 paws, Review, romance on November 29, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

When college sweethearts Frankie and Ezra broke up before graduation, they vowed to never speak to each other again. Ten years later, on the eve of the new millennium, they find themselves back on their snowy, picturesque New England campus together for the first time for the wedding of mutual friends. But they wake up in bed next to each other with wedding bands on their fingers—and no idea how they got there. Over the course of one New Year’s Eve, together they have to face up to whether they can overcome and reevaluate their complicated past, look toward the future and ask themselves the most troubling question of all: what if they both got it wrong the first time around?

 

 

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Review

 

This book definitely brought back some college memories!

Frankie and Ezra had a pretty good thing going in college, but they wanted different things and probably weren’t in the place to realize how much they wanted or needed the other person. I can relate to that; I know when I graduated from college, I wasn’t the most mature when it came to relationships. But that is the great thing about time; you grow and learn how to succeed in all aspects of your life. It took Frankie and Ezra 10 years to realize that what they had in college might just be the real deal.

However, it takes trying to relive the previous night that neither can remember to piece together what happened. How did they both come to be wearing wedding rings? How did Frankie get that lump on her head? How did they end up in one of the dorms? All good questions and the answers take input from others to bring forth the memories of what really happened.

Frankie and Ezra both have their issues from their formative years. Frankie and her genius ability on the piano. Ezra dealing with his mother’s cancer. I don’t think their lives were what they needed to become until they forged out on their own. I found it interesting that Ezra created a computer program that he sold for a pile of money. This was pre-2000, before the great computer explosion. I remember having a computer in 1995 and learning how to operate it, but the computers were nothing like we have today.

It is obvious that Frankie and Ezra had issues with communication and the ability to share their true feelings with each other. I don’t think they really knew each other until they reconnected at a friend’s wedding. However, each learns something from this time at their old alma mater, and they just might come out ahead in the end.

If you enjoy second-chance romances, you might enjoy this one.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Allison Winn Scotch is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including Time of My Life, In Twenty Years, and Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing. A cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied history and marketing, Winn Scotch now lives in Los Angeles.

 

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Posted in Poetry, Spotlight on November 28, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

A ghost spirit of dark’s universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light’s universe, and while They cannot meet, for They wander around separate realms and spacetimes, They live Their love through a secret and sacred interaction.

They are light years APART.

But there is INVISIBLE possession.

A precious NEED bridges the range.

A SECRET LANGUAGE.

A SACRED ENERGY.

A distant BOND is created.

An EVOLUTION of the SOULS.

Will they ever MEET for REAL?

And in what FORM?

A supernatural paranormal romance poetic novel of mystical and spiritual time travel, epitome of confessional metaphysical and existential love that is seen in space opera.

I prefer the dark
And often I cry
But is it so sad?
You prefer the light
And you smile
But are you happy?

Our eyes see
Different things
But our thoughts
Are aligned
And I’m wondering
Why I love you
When we can’t live
The same life

 

 

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Read more about the book in the Press Release

 

 

Praise

 

“Memorable!” – “Evocation of mystery” – “Ethereal nature” – “Modernist” – “Highly creative” – “Very unique concept” – “Astonishingly beautiful” – “Unique experience” – “Carries a beauty to it” – “(The poems) carry a plaintive beauty”

“The poems are painfully heartbreaking and pull at the strings of my emotions” – “Filled with yearning and angst” – “The poems touched me. I got emotional reading them” – “Powerful style with consistently vivid imagery and delightful word that nourish your soul” – “Unique themes with diversification that is the real beauty of this book”

“One of my favorite lines of poetry I’ve ever read” – “Sweet, stuffy, emotional and sooo many emotions my goodness” – “She did get into my head in ways I had not expected” – “She might take you places you did not expect to go” – “Her storytelling style is super unique and hypnotically engaging”

 

 

About the Author

 

Jazalyn attracts all cultures and traditions with an audience from all walks and stages of life as a consequence of the universal atmosphere that encircles her themes.

Her innovative and versatile writing style stemming from abstraction and absurdness captivates mystery and suspense with words swimming in surrealism and magical realism.

Her imaginative and inventive narration unites the philosophical with the psychological and the scientific elements of both fantasy and fiction that create and solve riddles and puzzles.

In what results as a contemporary genre of cinematic (epic) poetry in slice of life-vignette expression which provokes thinking and eyes new horizons.

Her latest books vViIrRuUsS, Rose, Hollow signify Jazalyn’s transition towards literary magnificence.

 

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Posted in Poetry, Spotlight on November 27, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

A socially underprivileged rose witnesses unpleasant events and behaviors that threaten Her inner peace and is determined to set life and love aside in order to find Her true, pure and moral parts of character.

30 petals of MOOD and STATUS.

A society full of INJUSTICES and UNFAIRNESS.

A ROLE She doesn’t want to play.

A RAGE. A RAVE.

A PAST that leads to HATE.

A RARE SOUL.

A wishful CHANGE of HEART.

She AROSE and She ROSE.

From IGNORANCE to STRENGTH.

A FUTURE that should lead to LOVE.

But can there be LOVE?

A dark fantasy magical realism poetic novel that endures urban social issues and inequality, and challenges self esteem, self help, self improvement, self development, healing.

I never knew how to have
I’ve learned to live without love
And I can’t change all of a sudden
Something’s got to happen

 

 

 

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Read more about the book on the Press Release

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Powerfully emotional experience” – “The depiction of an integral step in the evolution of the soul” – “Raises important questions concerning identity, the need to be loved and the value of solitude”

“Captures your heart and keeps you well engaged and feeling so many emotions” – “Heartfelt, relatable and very raw” – “The author has carved a poetry out of her emotions, the brimming reality and the facades we wear”

“Jazalyn has a very interesting writing style that is almost enviable” – “Ups and downs, the depression, turmoil, and triumph of the spirit and the heart” – “Meditation on one person’s inner struggles and gradual acceptance of themselves”

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jazalyn attracts all cultures and traditions with an audience from all walks and stages of life as a consequence of the universal atmosphere that encircles her themes.

Her innovative and versatile writing style stemming from abstraction and absurdness captivates mystery and suspense with words swimming in surrealism and magical realism.

Her imaginative and inventive narration unites the philosophical with the psychological and the scientific elements of both fantasy and fiction that create and solve riddles and puzzles.

In what results as a contemporary genre of cinematic (epic) poetry in slice of life-vignette expression which provokes thinking and eyes new horizons.

Her latest books vViIrRuUsS, Rose, Hollow signify Jazalyn’s transition towards literary magnificence.

 

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Posted in Poetry, Spotlight on November 26, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Three robotic viruses are released from unknown forces and compete with each other exposing crimes, with humanity’s scale of existence oscillating between total destruction and reinventing recovery.

A REVELATION of the THOUGHTS.

An AWAKENING for the HIDDEN reality.

A MADNESS pandemic.

A WAR of ESPIONAGE.

Whose VIRUS is which?

Is it too late for reinstating?

The PANIC button pushed.

An attempt to erase the MEMORIES.

Can an EVIL virus SAVE the world?

A post-apocalyptic techno thriller poetic novel that emulates psychological reactions of a serious medical and technological global emergency and provides philosophical insights on the world’s best direction.

It’s unfair
To be guilty
When no one
Is innocent

 

 

 

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For More about the book, check out the Press Release

 

 

Praise

 

“Funky and unusual” – “Variably engaging” – “Fresh and innovative” – “Fast-paced and well written” – “Poetry for a New Age” – “Very avant-garde style” – “The poems hold many truths that need to be recognized” – “Entertaining exploration into one’s own value systems”

“Definitely a new poetry author to keep an eye on!” – “(Poems) which often refer to bullying, truth as opposed to lies, and suffering for being too good” – “Such an easy and digestible read with the style and tone yet complex in its integrity”

“Evocative poems about futurism, the nature of life, and accepting its illogical truths” – “Outstanding contribution to human philosophy presented in a most unusual way” – “Beautiful writing, crazy themes and ideals and epic techniques used – a standout”

 

 

About the Author

 

Jazalyn attracts all cultures and traditions with an audience from all walks and stages of life as a consequence of the universal atmosphere that encircles her themes.

Her innovative and versatile writing style stemming from abstraction and absurdness captivates mystery and suspense with words swimming in surrealism and magical realism.

Her imaginative and inventive narration unites the philosophical with the psychological and the scientific elements of both fantasy and fiction that create and solve riddles and puzzles.

In what results as a contemporary genre of cinematic (epic) poetry in slice of life-vignette expression which provokes thinking and eyes new horizons.

Her latest books vViIrRuUsS, Rose, Hollow signify Jazalyn’s transition towards literary magnificence.

 

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Posted in 3 1/2 paws, fiction, humor, Satire on November 25, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

“Award-Winning Finalist in the Humor/Comedy/Satire category of the 2022 American Fiction Awards”

Inspired by real-life class-action lawyers, The Education of Ryan Coleman begins in a Texas courtroom, where an ambitious attorney from Philadelphia chases his share of a lawsuit and gets his ass reamed by the judge. During this “trial-by-fire,” Coleman meets Eugenia Cauley, a female legal shark whose life ends tragically, and Robert Smalley, a brilliant attorney and borderline criminal who boasts that “I have the greatest practice of law in the world. I have no clients.” Coleman enters a hedonistic world of wealth and power, and becomes an errand boy and fixer for Randy Hollis, an insanely successful lawyer who is trying to buy a professional football team. Patrick Coyle, a prosecutor with an old grudge, and Dick Dickey, former Secretary of Defense and CEO of a military contractor, try to ruin Hollis and Coleman. When an escort mysteriously dies in Hollis’ penthouse, Coleman must choose between telling the truth or going to jail. This satirical thriller reveals how our legal system enables lawyers to get filthy rich. As Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate magnate and media billionaire, once said, “Practicing law is the exact opposite of sex. Even when it’s good, it’s bad.”

 

 

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Praise

 

I laughed out loud at the salty wise cracks on most every page. But the lightning paced humor provides a serious message about corruption in class action litigation. This is a hilarious satire about a very real problem. —Matt Flynn, author, Milwaukee Jihad

Felgoise and Tabatsky take us on a wild ride into the intense and lucrative world of class action litigation. Sex, money and drugs are only part of the reward available for lawyers who are tough and crafty enough to play in a league where shameless greed is sometimes rewarded, but where the personal and professional risks are as big as the dollar signs. —James V. Irving, Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C., author, of Friends Like These and the Joth Proctor Fixer novels

Filthy Rich Lawyers is expertly crafted and witty, which helps ‘the medicine go down’ as we follow Ryan Coleman, a naïve stooge, as he navigates his way through a craven, soulless world.—Rick Parks Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, co-writer, Ever After and The Secret: Dare to Dream

 

 

Review

 

If you always thought most lawyers were the bottom of a scummy barrel, well this book will just verify those beliefs. Ryan Coleman is trying to break into the world of class action lawsuits. It starts with a small interest in one case, but by the end, it has blown up into something much more. It also proves that some lawyers are only in it for the money, which is the direction Ryan seems to be headed.

I imagine most people have been part of some class action lawsuit. We have all gotten the cards in the mail for things like data breaches and the like. But when it comes down to it, because there are so many people involved, you are lucky to get $20. Yet, when you read the settlement and see how much the lawyers receive, it just doesn’t seem right. I learned a few facts in this book about how those expenses and such are inflated, which means even more money in the lawyer’s pockets when all is said and done. While the book made me squirm at times with the details, it was also an eye-opening read.

I can’t imagine being a part of this world, and Ryan is dazzled by the money and the opportunity to receive a lot of it. Any sort of morals he had went out the window once he began hanging out with two other class action lawyers, Robert Smalley and Eugenia (Gene) Cauley. I felt like Ryan was being sucked into a world that kept him blind to the truth, and perhaps those things he was asked to do weren’t totally on the up and up. The book also describes the excesses that these high-powered attorneys obtained from exotic cars, yachts, large homes, and even security teams to protect them. And the connections they made to get what they wanted in life or a case.

This was quite a fascinating read, and I am glad I am not a lawyer, especially one of this ilk. I think this would be an interesting read for anyone thinking about going into the law profession.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Brian M. Felgoise, Esq., is a graduate of Temple University Law School and has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, including cases where billions of dollars have been recovered for class members who lost a significant amount of money.

 

 

 

David Tabatsky has authored, co-authored, and edited many novels, including The Boy Behind the Door, Friends Like These, The Marijuana Project, The Battle of Zig Zag Pass, and Drunk Log. His memoir, American Misfit, was published in 2017. Tabatsky was consulting editor for Marlo Thomas and her New York Times bestseller, The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2.

 

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Posted in Book Release, romance on November 24, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash their hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder, what if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

 

 

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About the Author

 

Chloe Liese writes romances reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a love story. Her stories pack a punch of heat, heart, and humor, and often feature characters who are neurodivergent like herself. When not dreaming up her next book, Chloe spends her time wandering in nature, playing soccer, and most happily at home with her family and mischievous cats.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, excerpt, Review, romance on November 23, 2022

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a romance about childhood friends who marry in Vegas and embark on a wild ride to find their happily ever after.

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has the both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off limits. Only he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince her that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

 

 

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Read free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Go! I don’t want to see any of you back here until Monday.”

Chloe stood outside the back door of their home in Little Italy, surrounded by both her brothers and her soon-to-be sister-in-law. They all had small suitcases at their feet as the Uber van pulled up to take them to the airport.

Mari, their mother, had a hand on Francesca’s shoulder as they saw the bachelor/bachelorette party off.

“Mama, are you absolutely certain?” Luca, the husband-to-be, her over-worried oldest brother, couldn’t stop the concern that crossed his face anymore than he could the love he had in his eyes for the woman at his side.

He and Brooke were the real deal. Head over heels, all in . . . completely lost in each other.

Chloe couldn’t be happier for them.

They needed Vega. Boy, did they need two nights in Vegas.

“I ran this restaurant before you were born and after with all three of you jumping around. I have it, Luca. Go. Just don’t get married. Wait until you come back for that.”

“What about babies?” Gio, the middle child and smart-ass in the family, asked.

“That you can do,” Mari said with a wink.

Brooke knelt to Franny’s level and gave the eight-year-old a kiss. “Listen to your nonna.”

There were hugs and waves as Giovanni, or Gio, as he was more often called, shoved all the suitcases into the back of the van.

Gio took the front seat as the rest of them climbed into the back.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Luca said to his brother. “Busiest time of the year.”

“It is not. That’s in the summer,” Chloe argued. It was the last week of November. The family restaurant was fully staffed and ran like a well-oiled machine, even with three of their employees out at the same time. “It’s going to be nothing but family and friends, celebrations and ceremonies from here on out. This is the last chance for you two to let loose until it’s all over.” Chloe reminded them.

“You mean until after Christmas,” Gio said.

“Right.” They weren’t taking their honeymoon until after Christmas. After they returned a week into the new year, then it would be Chloe’s turn to get out of town. Her long-awaited tickets to Bali were burning a hole in her pocket.

This was her last opportunity to cut loose until it was all over as well.

Chloe watched their family home disappear from sight. It was a four-story building with the family restaurant on the bottom floor. The second story was the family home where they’d all grown up, and the third floor was where Luca, Brooke, and Franny now lived. On the very top was what used to be guest quarters but now was the bachelor pad that Gio took over. Secretly, Chloe was hoping Gio would find Mrs. Right and move on himself so she could occupy the upstairs apartment as her own space. She loved her mother, but living with her was getting old. As an Italian, Chloe wasn’t going anywhere until she married, that’s just the way things were done in her culture.

“Franny is going to be okay, right?” Brooke asked Luca as they settled in for the short ride to the airport.

Chloe rolled her eyes.

Francesca, Luca’s daughter from his first unfortunate marriage, was probably already elbow-deep in gelato and milking Mari for all the attention and goodies a nonna could give her.

“She’ll be fine,” Luca said, kissing Brooke’s forehead.

The ride to the airport took less than ten minutes, a perk when you lived in San Diego and everything was close.

Getting through security and waiting in the airport would take longer than the actual flight to Vegas, but it beats a long drive across the California desert any day of the week.

“Thanks again for inviting Mayson to join you guys,” Brooke said to Gio and Luca.

“He’s a friend of yours. He’s a friend of ours.”

“Besides, we need even numbers,” Chloe added. As she said that, she saw Salena waving them over to her side before they entered the TSA line.

“Vegas, baby!” Salena all but yelled for everyone to hear.

Chloe tossed her arms around one of her dearest friends for a hug. They’d known each other before braces and periods. As ride-and-die friends went, Salena was someone Chloe could count on to be there.

“We could have picked you up,” Gio said.

Salena, who lived in Little Italy as well, shrugged. “It’s okay. I had Joey take me.”

“Joey? Do I know Joey?”

She waved a hand. “Flavor of the month.”

Gio narrowed his eyes. “You’re worse than me.”

“No one is worse than you,” Chloe and Salena said in unison.

 

 

Review

 

This book was just what I needed to read. It is a sweet contemporary romance with a little heat…and a little nail-biting action near the end.

Chloe and Dante have known each other their whole life, and Chloe has crushed on him for many years. However, her two older brothers are what have kept Dante from pursuing her any sooner than a fated trip to Vegas, where they end up in a chapel, married. What ensues is miscommunication between these two while they find their way back to one another.

I don’t know if I could handle being in Chloe’s shoes with two older brothers that have decided that no one is good enough for her. It doesn’t matter that she isn’t a gangly teenager anymore; they still take that responsibility seriously. It must be the Catholic and Italian in them. But I do like how their family is close-knit and watch out for each other.

Dante is Gio and Luca’s best friend, making it even harder for him to try to have a relationship with Chloe since she was always forbidden. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow once they accepted that they were meant for each other. It took time and some grand gestures on Dante’s part, but he never looked back from the moment they said their “I Do’s” at the chapel in Vegas.

There is some craziness near the end of the book, but when everything started, I had a strong feeling about who was behind it all. I won’t say much more and will let you discover the details for yourself.

This book is the 2nd in the series, but it can be read on its own. I don’t know what other books will come into play, but I am hoping that Salena gets a story. Now that is a woman that needs to find her center.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-six beloved books that have collectively sold more than 8 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned The Not Quite seriesThe Weekday Brides seriesThe Most Likely To series, and The First Wives series.

 

 

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Posted in excerpt, fiction, Giveaway, Literary, Review on November 22, 2022

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

“The hounding voice inside me would not let go.”

Thus begins the emotional journey of Afamefuna Onochie Nwaku, a Harvard-trained medical doctor with a career most can only dream of, a loving wife, and supportive family. Then, he receives a telephone call from his sister who lives in Nigeria that her life is being threatened.

Left with no other fair choice, Afam leaves behind his family, throwing his marriage into turmoil and risking the life he has built in Boston. Instead of the Nigeria that he loves, that he needs, he finds a land and people he barely recognizes waiting for him. Afam decides to stay but realizes that his future in Nigeria is as murky as the River-Niger after a torrential tropical rainfall.

As Afam sets out on a journey to reconnect with the family and heritage that he left behind, he must face new enemies in an increasingly corrupt Nigeria where many people see him as an American intruder. And through it all, he must fight to keep his family together—and alive.

 

 

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Advance Praise

 

“Mkparu has created a masterpiece of immigrant experience and connection, outlining many of the forces that influence and stress modern Africans and Americans alike.” — D. DonovanMidwest Book Review

 

Awards and Praise for Fidelis O. Mkparu

 

2018 EVVY winner, Literary & Contemporary Fiction for Tears Before Exaltation.

Silver Medal: Nautilus Book Awards, Fiction 2016 for Love’s Affliction.

Reader Views Literary Award Winner 2015/2016 for Love’s Affliction.

Finalist 2015: INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award, Multicultural Fiction for Love’s Affliction.

“A must-read, Love’s Affliction is an exceptionally gripping and poignant story. While intense throughout, there is resolution – and not quite what one may expect!”—San Francisco Book Review

“An exceptionally well crafted work, “Love’s Affliction” is an engaging and extraordinary multi-cultural novel that documents author Fidelis O. Mkparu as a talented, first class storyteller. “Love’s Affliction” is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and would prove to be a valued addition to community library Contemporary Fiction collections.”—Midwest Book Review

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

What a beautiful book, and what a fantastic way to round out any fall reading list! ‘Soulful Return,’ by Fidelis O. Mkparu is the kind of novel that you continue to think about for a long time after you are done reading it. For me, this was one of the best novels that I have read this year, and just an incredible story overall.

On his sixtieth birthday, Afamefuna must make a decision. For the past three decades, he has lived in Boston, first while he attended medical school and then as a doctor, married his wife Elisha and had two beautiful children.

Now, with his children grown and leading lives of their own, Afamefuna wonders, not for the first time, when he is going to be able to return to Nigeria, his birth country, to become the patriarch of his family there, as his father wanted.

Complicating matters, Afamefuna is offered the role of the CEO of his hospital, and Elisha is firm in her belief that he should take it. But soon, he hears word from his older sister back in Nigeria that their ancestral lands are in trouble.

Afamefuna’s sister, Adaku is having trouble holding the lands because she is a woman, and they don’t technically belong to her. Afamefuna realizes that he must return to Nigeria, despite his wife’s protests, if he wishes to hold his claim on the land that his family has held for centuries. But when he arrives, he is greeted by a country that is much different from what he remembers, and may not have changed in many positive ways.

As I said above, I greatly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it. I want to leave you with a quote that I loved from Afamefuna himself about his country:

“Standing alone there, it felt as if the immortal African spirit inside me was watching the natural beauty of my heritage with me.”

 

 

Excerpts

 

“It was the 1960s Nigerian Civil War that had brought us together. The bonds of our friendship were as strong as the strings that held our shared genes. War children, they had called us, but we were not at war. Adults fought in, died for, and deliberated about the war. We, the children of the war, played, fished, and sometimes pushed one another around. That was the extent of the conflict between us. We were youthful but not youths. The war taught us about life and death. It exposed us to violence, but we were not violent. Not then.” Page 106

 

“Peering out, I found the darkness like a malady. Not a single star dotted the sky, and it was as desolate as my aggrieved soul. The darkness made it look as if everything that existed beyond earth had vanished. Things looked so dire that even the owl had stopped hooting, as if it had succumbed to whatever ailed it. I knew that death would eventually come for me someday, but the eerie feeling inside me—queasy stomach, thumping heart, and sweaty brow—made me feel that it had arrived.” Page 200

© Fidelis O. Mkparu

 

 

About the Author

 

Multi-award-winning author Fidelis O. Mkparu is a Nigerian immigrant in the U.S. who wishes to speak about his experiences and those of his fellow immigrants. He is a professor of Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University and a senior attending cardiologist at Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio. Previously, he was a Spaulding fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School.

His preceding novels include Love’s Affliction and Tears Before Exaltation.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 3 print or ebook copies.

Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is open worldwide.

This giveaway ends on November 24, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Cozy, Magic, Monday, mystery, paranormal, Review on November 21, 2022

 

 

Synopsis

 

This is no ordinary book club! When the group chooses a book, they are whisked away from reality to find themselves totally immersed in the story. The characters, the setting, and the murder all come to life. In order to exit the book, they’ll need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

This time, the club chooses a mystery that takes place in a quaint western town – in the old Wild West. That sounds like great fun, until they arrive in the dusty old town in the Arizona desert, among cowboys and saloons. They discover that the outhouse isn’t the worse thing about this trip.

The good news is that Paige, Glo, Zell, Frank, and the other members of the club discover plenty of surprises here, and they have a great time visiting a piece of history. They’ll get to live through many exciting moments as they unravel this cozy mystery story.

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This is such a fun series, and I think everyone needs to rush out and read it and soon!

Paige and Glo inherited an inn from their great-grandmother, and in the basement is a magical library. It takes them and six others in their book club into the book to solve the mystery before they are returned home. In this installment, there is a special guest but no spoilers from me!

The book club is thrown into the Wild West, the late 1800s, and many of the amenities they are used to do not exist. They must adapt to not having a phone or even a camera at their fingertips. Luckily, the inn travels with them, and they can still have some creature comforts from home. I think I’d rather use indoor plumbing than an outhouse!

Turns out that there are a couple of mysteries to solve that are intertwined, but they don’t know this until much later. But the gang does well at finding clues and solving the mystery in the end.

I am always drawn into this series because it is so unique, or at least it is to me. I enjoy the banter between the characters, especially the mother/son duo. Forrest is more worldly than his mother would want to admit, but she still tries to shelter him whenever possible. Frank, the talking cat, can be a bit over the top, but he adds flair to the story. Because they end up in paranormal cozies, no one is surprised when he speaks.

I don’t think I figured out the mystery ahead of time. But I enjoyed sorting through the clues with the characters and wondering where the truth would land.

Definitely a series I will continue to read! We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley says that writing the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book series is the most fun she’s ever had at work. Fans of the series say her joy is evident through the stories she tells. Elizabeth is also the internationally 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 in the Pacific Northwest, the beautiful inspiration for the enchanted Destiny Falls world.

 

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Comments Off on Review – Cowboys and Chaos by Elizabeth Pantley #newrelease #cozy #MysteryMonday
Posted in Giveaway, Guest Post, paranormal, Review, romance on November 20, 2022

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A cursed town, a kidnapped selkie…what will happen when love is on the line?

Powerful selkie warrior Ronan must negotiate with a group of local sirens before war breaks out. The last thing he needs is a desperate human who steals his sealskin, intent on forcing him to help her. He decides to seduce her, get his skin back, and fulfill his mission. But finding out she’s his True Mate changes everything…

Widow Una MacCallan is determined to save her small Scottish fishing town from the curse that fell over it twenty-four years ago, even if it means blackmailing the fierce selkie. Though she knows he is the key to breaking the spell, she doesn’t anticipate the attraction between them. She can’t afford the distraction, and she doesn’t trust that his interest is anything more than a manipulation, a bid for freedom. But she keeps finding herself tempted…

Together, they must race against time to break the curse. But as the two get closer, they find themselves asking: can they give up love to save those around them? What is the price for their newfound passion?

Stealing the Selkie’s Heart is an exciting enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance and the first book in The Selkie Seas series by Ella Rose. Let it steal your heart today!

 

 

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Praise Stealing the Selkie’s Heart by Ella Rose

“A fun novel with a great HEA. I am looking forward to finishing the prequel. More fun awaits!”– John P., Amazon

“Stealing the Selkie’s Heart is a cute love story between a fisherman’s widow and a selkie warrior. One of the funniest utilizations of romance novel “logic” we’ve read in a while. It’s also fun to read along with the “whodunnit” portion of the book. If you like your PNR on the short, cute, & sweet side, this is a fun one to read.”– Meg Richmond, Reedsy Discovery

 

Praise Losing the Selkie’s Skin (Prequel)

“This was a really neat story about Selkies and the twists and turns they have to go through to help the Selkie Prince with his skin. I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to reading more of the Author Ella Rose’s books.”– Jacquetta Harvey, Goodreads

“ Mythology and folklore tales are highly intriguing on their own. These stories are filled with mystique, adventure, and a sense of intrigue and fantasy that is unique to the genre. But take mythology and folklore and intertwine that with paranormal romance and you’ve got yourself a book that is difficult to put down.
This book is wonderfully written and from the start, the reader will be drawn into the story, wanting and needing more. The author writes in a way that makes you feel for the characters, yearning for them to just finally get together. The reader cannot help but fall for the main characters as they journey through the book.
Losing the Selkie’s Skin is a wonderful start to a thrilling series, in so many ways. I highly recommend this book for lovers of paranormal romance, mythology and folklore stories.”– Kristin, Goodreads 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Thank you for graciously hosting me today. As you know, my latest paranormal romance novel, Stealing the Selkie’s Heart (The Selkie Seas, Book 1), revolves around selkies and other water creatures. But the number one question that’s on most people’s minds is: “What is a selkie?” And if that was your question, too, don’t worry—nobody has to know.

Based on Scottish folklore, selkies are seal shapeshifters who shrug out of their sealskin when changing to their human form—to remove the sealskin, they must unfasten tiny hooks that run the length of the stomach. To change into their sealform from human, they drape the sealskin around their shoulders, refasten the hooks, and curl into the change at will.

My selkies exist as their own race and keep well away from humans when possible. For, all mythological accounts can agree, once a human gains possession of the sealskin, the selkie is bound to that human until (s)he regains ownership of the skin.

But selkies aren’t the only creatures that exist in the Selkie Seas world: there are mermaids, sirens, and humans to contend with.

Humans are the closest to selkies, genetically, since selkies can change into human form and pass, for the most, as anybody else. They can intermingle and breed like any human, though the offspring are born with a question mark: if the parents are in selkie form when they conceive, the offspring will be selkie as well. But if the parents conceive in human form, the offspring will appear as human until their 22nd birthday, when they may try on a sealskin and attempt to change. Not all such offspring are lucky enough to access their sealform.

But mermaids and sirens are merely humanoid. In Stealing the Selkie’s Heart, my male MC, Ronan, points out that mermaids are vile creatures: “Like lampreys in the vague shape of human women. We kill them when we can.”

And sirens are dark scaled creatures, with noseless faces and talons, who move awkwardly out of water. Unlike mermaids, who lack the vocal cords to make speech possible, sirens can and do speak the same language as the selkies and humans. In Stealing the Selkie’s Heart, there is reference to a war that has been going on behind the scenes, and it’s not until reading the Selkie Seas prequel novella, Losing the Selkie’s Skin, that you learn more about the reason for the selkie-siren war.

Regarding social structure, in my Selkie Seas world, selkies and sirens live in migratory clans, though they spend much of their time on the Isle of Selbane, a fictional island in the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Both groups are governed by a king and queen, but only selkies are protected by Anchors, selkie warriors pledged to the safety of the clan.

Among the selkies, there is the myth of the True Mate, a metaphysical bond that ties them to their fated mate, whoever that may be. They get some sense of the bond during intercourse, but it’s only through simultaneous climax that the bond cements itself in place. Once bonded, the mates can experience mood shifts and emotions through the bond, though they cannot read minds.

As you can see, a lot went into the selkie mythology, and I tried to stay as respectful of the origins as I could, while still making my mark on the lore. As always, if you have selkie questions or curiosities about The Selkie Seas world, email me! You can always catch me at email.

Best,

Ella Rose

© Ella Rose

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

“Una froze in amazement. She knew the lore, probably better than most of the island having learned it all from her father, but to see a selkie in real life…It was incredible.”

I wish my errands could end this well! In ‘Stealing the Selkie’s Heart,’ the main heroine, Una, accidentally sees a selkie change into its human form and makes a decision that will alter not only her life but the life of her entire island forever.

The selkie is Ronan, a warrior in his clan who has come to shore only to meet with a siren emissary about the war that has been going on between their clans. When he realizes that his selkie skin has been stolen, Ronan is understandably angered.

Una intends to hold the skin hostage until Ronan helps her understand and stop the curse that has been put on her island, but Ronan insists that just because he is a magical being doesn’t mean he knows anything about curses. Still, he agrees to help her, assuming that he will be able to seduce her and retrieve his seal skin faster than she wants to let it go.

However, both of their plans are thrown into turmoil when they begin to fall for each other, and Ronan realizes that this woman—this infuriating, human woman—is actually his true mate.

Ella Rose is not an author that I have read before, but I will definitely be adding her to my list to keep an eye out for new releases. This was a dazzling novel that had everything I look for in a paranormal romance and more! Even the setting of the Hebrides Islands in Scotland created a scintillating atmosphere that pulled me in and wrapped me up in the story.

 

 

About the Author

 

Ella Rose is a paranormal romance author who loves kink, ink, and cake, and hopes you do too. She is a bi-sexual author writing through a Bi-Polar Disorder lens and thinks representation and mental health matter. She is the author of The Selkie Seas series, which includes Losing the Selkie’s Skin and Stealing the Selkie’s Heart.

Her latest selkie short stories will appear in Dark Rose Press’s Worlds Apart and Dragon Soul Press’s Beyond Atlantis anthologies. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Paranormal Romance Guild.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 2 print or ebook copies.

Print is open to Canada and the U.S. only, and the ebook is open worldwide.

This giveaway ends on November 24, 2022 midnight, pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway