Synopsis

 

 

15-year-old Emma Chan is an aspiring musician with her eyes aimed at the stars. Sure, she might not have won any notable competitions, but she isn’t “bad” by any means… unless you’ve met her easygoing and charming best friend, Naomi Lin, who seems to have the unique ability to accelerate Emma’s heartbeat.

On the surface, Naomi has her life together. Outside of being dubbed a child musical prodigy, she’s just another 15-year-old who likes coding, spending time with her friends, and reading celebrity gossip. But deep down, she longs to escape her life of expectations and build one that she truly desires, even if she doesn’t know what it means yet.

When the two friends team up to compete in a coding contest hosted by their childhood idol, their seven years’ worth of friendship falls into the danger of being jeopardized by deepening feelings, desperately hidden secrets, and the pressure of growing up. Emma and Naomi will have to adapt to the changing shape of their relationship, even if it means realising that life can be so much more complicated than they imagined.

 

 

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Review

 

While I am not a teenager anymore, I found this book to be engaging and hit on some important topics that impact teens today – mental health and sexuality.

Naomi and Emma met through music and became fast friends for many years. They happened to be at the same school, which helped forge that friendship. It was never easy; they lived different lives, but their love for music is what bonded them. However, the path wasn’t always easy. Emma is somewhat confident in her sexuality (Bi, but it isn’t clear until much later in the book), while Naomi is not. A misunderstanding of Emma’s feelings that are not reciprocated leads to more issues for Emma. But it was really just that final straw since she was having issues at home with her parents fighting and a path towards divorce. I appreciated how the authors made Emma vulnerable and did not shy away from her suicidal thoughts.

Naomi’s issues were different. She didn’t love music anymore, or at least not playing, performing, or competing. She may have been a prodigy at a young age but started losing that love for the piano. Perhaps it was the pressure of practicing and competing, or maybe this wasn’t what she was meant to do in the long run. Or maybe she just needs a break to rediscover who she is.

I enjoyed the world that this book opened up for me. I have never visited Hong Kong, but I felt like I had an insider’s look into that city. The situations that these teens face are very common, and they are not hidden in this book. They are brought out into the open for us to understand and perhaps even relate to.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Kylie Wang was born in Taiwan in 2006 and moved to Hong Kong soon afterward, where she attended school until she was 12. She is now a high schooler in the San Francisco Bay Area who writes to procrastinate on her school assignments. So far, she’s been awarded or published by YoungArts, the Ron L. Hubbard Writers of the Future Award, BlueFire, and more than 30 other venues. She started her first book, Stuck in Her Head, with her friend Liana when she was 14. You can find her editing her latest short story or attending California Writers Club meetings in her spare time.

 

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Liana Tang is a 17-year-old writer from Hong Kong who has been published or is forthcoming in 55+ publications. When she was 14, she reached out to Kylie to craft a #ownvoices book that would hopefully resonate with other teens’ experiences. She is enrolled at the University of Toronto and plans to study English Literature. She started playing piano when she was 3 and acquired an ARSM Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance with distinction when she was 13. She plays Pokémon, Identity V, and probably watches YouTube more than she reads.

 

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Synopsis

 

Elements seventy-eight through one-hundred on the periodic table serve as inspiration for this fourth and final volume in Jim’s Periodic Stories series. In it, two materialistic millennials get hooked on their platinum credit card with disastrous results. Do they learn a lesson? A young girl discovers there’s more to life than winning a gold medal in boxing. Find out what it is. And you will meet Stacy and Arnie, two science geeks who are devoted to each other and befriend the element fermium. Like in the previous three volumes, these stories are character driven and delve into the complexities of what it means to be human in this day and age. They are lovingly written and thought-provoking. Oh, yes, in every case, science plays a role.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Fermium

 

Boy, I didn’t realize how lonely I was until I met Stacy and Arnie. I mean, I was a friendly element. I tried to chat with the guys on either side of me, but to no avail. Einsteinium didn’t have much to say and seems always thinking about something way out there on the other side of the universe, and mendelevium was the same way, thinking of ways he could add to the already bursting at the seams periodic table.

The same was true with the other elements. I spent hours and hours attempting to engage them in conversations about isotopes or subatomic particles like quarks and muons, but no go. I tried not to take it personally, but sometimes I wondered, was all this rejection because I was number 100 on the periodic table? Maybe they thought it should be a feather in my cap having that coveted three-digit number. Maybe they were envious of me.

Whatever the case, I had no clue as to the answer. It’s hard to find out what people are thinking if no one talks to you.

But that’s what’s awesome about Stacy and Arnie. They have no arrogant attitudes. In fact, they have no airA at all. They like to talk to me, and I think that’s really cool. And I like talking to them.

For those who don’t know, I’m a synthetic element, which means I was made from another element (thank you very much plutonium!) My symbol is Fm on the periodic chart, and, like I said, my atomic number is 100. By the way, the atomic number refers to the number of protons in the nucleus, just in case you didn’t know. I’m named after Enrico Fermi, one of the pioneers of nuclear physics.

I could go on and on, but what I really wanted to tell you about was my new friends, Stacy and Arnie. I first met Stacy when she was beginning to work on a science report. We hit it off right away because we both love science.

In my mind, she’s great, although she will not say that. Instead, she’ll say that she’s what they call “challenged mentally” because her mom is a drug addict, which caused Stacy all sorts of problems in the womb before she was born. And then she ate some leaded paint that was peeling off the wall of the apartment they were living in when she was two or three, so, not a good combination. But I don’t care. She’s nice, and she’s fun to talk to. Plus, like I said, she likes science, and that really helps.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jim’s stories and poems have appeared in nearly five hundred online and print publications. His collection of short stories, Resilience, is published by Bridge House Publishing. Short Stuff, a collection of flash fiction and drabbles is published by Chapeltown Books. Periodic Stories, Periodic Stories Volume Two, Periodic Stories Volume Three – A Novel, and Periodic Stories Volume Four are published by Impspired. Dreamers, a collection of short stories, is published by Clarendon House Publishing. Something Better, a dystopian adventure novella, and the novel, The Alien of Orchard Lake, are published by Dark Myth Publications. In the fall of 2022, his collection entitled Holiday Stories was published by Impspired as was his collection of poetry, Haiku Seasons. In February 2023, Periodic Stories Volume IV was published, as was his collection of poems, The Alchemy of Then, both by Impspired. In June 2023, a collection of flash fiction, Dancing With Butterflies, was published by Impspired.In July 2023, his YA novella The Battle of Marvel Wood was published by Impspired. His short story “Aliens” was nominated by The Zodiac Press for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story “The Maple Leaf” was voted 2021 Story of the Year for Spillwords. He was voted December 2022 Author of the Month for Spillwords. He also reads his stories for Talking Stories Radio and for Jim’s Storytime on his website. He lives in a small town west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

Website

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A millionaire and a woman who thinks he’s a house flipper are stuck living in a house together with a menagerie of rescue dogs as roommates, in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

After her ex took all their money and bailed, Hazel Bristow is left broke and homeless. A kind friend whose home is on the market lets Hazel and her foster dogs stay there until it sells. It’s the perfect setup, until her friend forgets to tell Hazel she’s sold the house.

Linc Kennedy is shocked to find Hazel and her pups squatting in the house he just bought, but after some negotiating—she offers to cook amazing meals for him in return for a paycheck—he agrees to let her remain while he’s renovating the place. Linc tells Hazel he’s an investor who renovates homes for fun—he just leaves out the part about being wealthy.

Hazel’s intrigued by Linc. He’s funny, sweet, ridiculously hot, and loves dogs almost as much as she does. But her track record with men? Not great. She worries her trust meter isn’t in working order.

Linc’s never met anyone like the quirky beauty who puts everyone’s needs—human and canine—before her own. He didn’t tell her about his wealth because he’s been burned by women who only wanted him for his money. But with Hazel, he’s never felt more like himself. Now he has to figure out how to tell her the truth without losing her. Because Linc realizes what he feels for her isn’t puppy love—it’s true love.

 

 

 

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Review

 

This was just the right book for me to read at this moment. A light romance filled with DOGS!!! There are 6 of them altogether, which made my dog lovin’ heart happy.

I really liked Hazel and Linc’s characters. They were down to earth but still flawed. Hazel is getting over a disastrous marriage, and Linc is trying to move past women who only see him for his money. The chemistry between these two is HOT!

I read this just to enjoy the story and a little light reading. I sped through this book and didn’t want the story to end. I don’t know if this is a series, but I think Linc’s brother, Eugene, needs a book. I just feel like there is more to him than meets the eye. I think it would be cool is there was also a book about his other brother, Warren, and how he meets his husband and their relationship.

I also liked Linc’s mother. She is very down to earth and can see what her boys don’t see. But isn’t that a mother’s job? Hazel’s mom and sister are a bit of a handful, and while initially, I was very disappointed in their treatment of Hazel (they treated her as if she was ten and not a grown woman), I know they cared about her. However, things turn around when Natalie (the sister) has her own issues that need to be resolved.

If you are in the mood for a light, fun romance filled with adorable dogs, read this book!

We give it 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Jaci Burton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Boots and Bouquets series, the Brotherhood by Fire series, the Hope series, and the Play-by-Play novels.

 

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Synopsis

 

Appalled by his daughter’s vain and impertinent attitude, the king forces her to marry a peasant, hoping to teach her a lesson. Feeling devastated by this decree, Alora loses everything she knows and is thrust into a world she is not prepared for. The skills she learned to help her rule a kingdom have not prepared her for the drudgery of living the life of a peasant’s wife.

Larik, her new husband, is determined to help Alora and show her kindness despite her unfriendly personality. Will Larik’s example and affection towards her be enough to heal her heart of anger and grief so that she can see the beauty in the world once again? Can she let go of the past and allow herself to be loved? This is a retelling of the Grimms’ fairytale, King Thrushbeard.

 

 

 

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Praise

 

“What a wonderful book! It hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. It was full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved it!” –Ann Ferri, Book Reviewer

“I didn’t really know what to expect. What I found was a sweet romance with heroes and villains and a surprise at the end! The story has twists and turns and you won’t know what happens next until you keep on reading! It’s amazingly clever how the author retells the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, the spinner of gold. There was great chemistry going on in the romance and it totally engaged me. Well done!” –Sunnie Reviews

“Promises of Gold by Serena Clarke is a retake on the fairytale of Rumpelstilkin. I really did like it. This is a love story with heroes and evil villains. I think the ending will surprise most readers. It did me but it was a sweet surprise. This story is different from the original version but it still covers the gold from straw, guessing the real name of the hero and etc.” Debbie Curto, from Dusty Deliberations

 

 

Excerpt

 

The king slammed his fists on the table and stood up so swiftly that his chair clanged to the floor. Alora jumped in surprise. Her usually mild-mannered father heaved in a deep breath, expanding his great girth, dominating the room and casting his shadow over his daughter.

“Enough!” he cried. “You have grown heartless and spoiled and vain. And I will have no more of it. You are not worthy of your title as a princess or as my daughter!”

“Father!” she cried defiantly. Though she was surprised by his outburst, she had never been afraid of him. “This is nonsense! He is just a peasant.”

Her father’s face grew red. “As so you shall be! You wanted to marry a rich prince so you can continue in comfort. But I declare that you will not. Instead you will marry this peasant that so repulses you!”

Alora’s gaze followed her father’s pointing finger and landed on the peasant that was now standing, a startled look on his face.

“What?” she cried in disbelief. “I will not!”

“You will!”

“You cannot make me!”

“By the power I possess as king of Danitza, you shall. To refuse is treason and you will be banished!”

The king’s deep voice rang throughout the room and Alora finally cowered in fear. She sank back down to her seat realizing that her father could not rescind such a statement, even if he wished it.

“Your Majesty,” the peasant spoke up. “I could not possibly marry the princess.”

“You can and you will,” the king demanded.

“I have just returned from war. I cannot support a wife,” he argued.

The king shook his head. “I will give you enough money to return to your home if you will take my daughter away and humble her!”

 

 

About the Author

 

Serena Clarke is from Sunny St. George in Southern Utah. Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and has taken several writing classes in college. Her favorite genre is fantasy romance. She is not only an author but also a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team and creates book covers for indie authors. She has three fantasy romances and two fairytale romances. Her fantasy/romance novels are The Treasure of Isian, The Alliance of Isian, and The Secret of Isian. Her fairytale/romances are Promises of Gold and In Royal Ruins.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Love at first sight. It’s every girl’s dream. But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions. She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future? Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Tara Simpkins nibbled her balled fist, hoping to turn a rout into a win. Andy had spent three days installing her roof. He’d come into her life last Friday and was the perfect man. But unless she developed a way to keep him close, his exit would be speedier than his entrance had been.

The handsome roofer had captured her attention his first day on the job. He had even appeared mesmerized by Tara. That had never happened before. Men ran from her, not to her. She couldn’t tell what prompted his interest in her, yet he continued to hang around. She loved the chase but was unsure how to get herself caught. And that dilemma wouldn’t get resolved soon.

Andy seemed like her dream man. He was adept at keeping a conversation going, even though she wasn’t. Plus, he’d seemed curious about his customer in a non-threatening way. He resembled an old friend. The charisma he oozed added to his appeal.

Andy engaged her in conversation despite her ignoring his charm. Thoroughly smitten, she downplayed his attention. Because of that, he seemed to slow the hunt. But he still knocked on her door each evening after the work ended.

Tara had come to expect those knocks. How would she survive once they stopped?

 

 

Review

 

Of all of the books I have read by this author thus far, this is my least favorite. Maybe because I cringed throughout at Luke’s pushiness and Tara’s introverted nature. This did not seem like a love match, and not especially how quickly it happened. I was right to cringe at different scenes, and if Tara had been my friend, I would have been inserting myself into her life more to tell her to slow down. There is no reason to rush any relationship. I know there are those out there who will say that love at first sight can happen, but there were too many red flags, in my opinion.

However, this story is not without its merit in addressing heartache from the death of parents, faith in yourself, and finding love in whatever form it appears. I think it reminds us that we need to have faith in ourselves and even a higher power. There are lessons to be learned from everything in life; we just have to look for that information each day.

Outside of the main characters, there is a myriad of supporting characters that add depth to the story. The characters vary in personality, and there were some that I wasn’t fond of, but all of the characters blended into the story seamlessly. I enjoyed the various relationships between these characters and what they brought to the story.

Overall, the story (and this series) is about hope, and there is hope in this story. It is also about faith, whether that is internal or external. We give this book 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.

Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

It was a match made in heaven. Or so everyone thought. Sadie Mae Cummings is all set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Kyle, when she is assigned to tutor Lincoln, the new college football running back. This sophomore phenomenon has all the girls on campus knocking on his door. But Sadie isn’t interested in his advances.

Lincoln’s overblown ego doesn’t take well to being shunned, and he resolves to make Sadie his own. He pursues her relentlessly, until finally Kyle finds himself shut out of Sadie’s life, with their shared future crumbling around him.

After two years, Sadie’s relationship with Lincoln ends, and she is left having to put the pieces of her life back together. She desires nothing more than to recapture her relationship with Kyle. He has stayed true to the dreams they had planned together, living the vision even without Sadie by his side.

When she moves back to her hometown, she labors to rekindle their love. But things have changed, and Kyle has moved on. Sadie quickly discovers how hard it is to rebuild burned bridges.

Follow Sadie’s story as she fights for a chance to restore broken dreams. Will love endure?

 

This inspirational romance by E. C. Jackson is book two of the Hope series and is a standalone book.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Restless, twenty-one-year-old Sadie Cummings wiped down the counter space in her small kitchen nook. It was eleven o’clock. Five minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked. Sighing, she fretted about her boyfriend’s visit that morning.

“Why does he agree to come over, then not show up?”

In no time, morning had slipped into early afternoon. The breakfast she’d hoped would receive raves from Lincoln congealed on the stovetop. So much for using her cooking skills to entice him. With several swift movements, she scraped the masterpiece into the garbage disposal, fighting to control the uneasiness she couldn’t dismiss.

She was an expert at fooling herself and others, but today her mind refused to be pacified. One could only pretend for so long before the bottom dropped out completely. Truth had a bad habit of intruding into fairy tales. Especially when the make-believe stories were about real-life events.

The ringing cell phone grabbed Sadie’s attention. That her mother was on the other end was a forgone conclusion. Except for an occasional chat with her younger sister and older brother, the cell phone never rang. These days only her mother contacted Sadie on a regular basis. She peeked at the caller ID.

A moment before the call transferred to voicemail, Sadie snatched up the cell phone, held it against her chest, then gave a cheery greeting. Minutes later, she sauntered through the studio apartment thinking up reasonable excuses to end the call early. Jeanette Cummings expected a good deal more than her middle child was able to give.

Still stumped about finding an excuse to satisfy her mother, Sadie walked around in circles.

“Mother, I’m not trying to hurry you off the phone. I recognize your concern for the Franklins. Our families have been friends for years. It’s just . . . look . . . it’s . . . mother, I don’t have time to talk now.”

Sadie picked up twine from the counter and wove it between her fingers. Pulling it too tight, she winced, then unwound it from around her fingers and wrapped it around her thumb.

“I made plans for the day.”

Lincoln could arrive any moment. Somehow, she had to quickly end this conversation without hurting the only person who regularly called. Friendships were difficult to maintain these days. And her brother and sister only gave duty calls, then ended the conversation in a snap.

Jeanette sighed loudly. “I would offer to call back at a better time, but there isn’t one, is there, Sadie?”

“Mom . . .”

Sadie slowly shook her head. Guilt surfaced each time she talked to her mother. Raised in an orphanage, her mother wasn’t a clingy parent. She believed loneliness caused people to accept unhealthy conditions that a person who felt treasured might avoid.

“Of course, you’re removed from the lives of the families in Shiatown,” said Jeanette.

Blowing breath through her lips, Sadie laid her head on the cabinet with more force than intended. Wincing in pain, she rubbed the sore spot. The lull in the conversation helped gather her thoughts as her fingers massaged the painful area on her forehead. She parted her lips, then she shut them in hopes that her mother would continue speaking.

After a long pause, Jeanette spoke with a harsher tone than any she’d ever used with her daughter. “Listen to me. The Franklin family supported us through your father’s illness and death. We are burying Pastor Franklin this afternoon. His wife deserves a phone call from you.”

She paused before continuing. “Don’t forget, Sarah treated you like a daughter. You and Pastor Franklin shared the same birthday. September twelfth is four days away. My friend is burying her husband four days before his fifty-eighth birthday. And . . . what about Kyle? He lost his father and inherited a ton of responsibility on top of it. Honey, be the friend that I know you are. Time is slipping away. The funeral starts in two hours.”

Sadie stretched her neck from side to side, hanging her head in despair. Lately, her mother had begun to accept her decisions without fussing. However, today she seemed determined for Sadie to send well wishes to a man she’d rather forget. Feeling faint, she squeezed her eyelids together, but all she could see was Kyle’s sad gaze begging, pleading with her to choose him over the man Sadie picked.

Instantly, anger rose as Sadie justified that choice. She couldn’t back down now. There was too much lost ground and no way to regain her footing. The future she’d hoped for was gone. Somehow the leftovers had to be salvaged into a win or, at least, a tolerable solution.

Eyes darting around the room, she braced against the wall. “Friend? Kyle and I didn’t break up as friends. He acted like a judgmental pig; his last remarks were cruel.”

Sadie fumed. With one look Kyle had made her feel like trash. Less than the muck beneath his shoes. Disposable at best, and at worse . . .

 

 

Review

 

I really delved into this book, and the topics were relevant to what we might see in today’s world.

Sadie fell under the spell of a football player in college that she was tutoring. However, he was not one of the good guys; he was very controlling and took her away from her family and support system. She was one of those women we hear about but may not know. I felt for her and being unable to break free sooner than she does. Thankfully, she has a strong family support system that welcomes her back into the fold. However, will her childhood sweetheart forgive her for her indiscretions, or will he continue to hold her at arm’s length?

The story is filled with honesty, mistakes made, and forgiveness given by many. Sadie has a lot to contend with and has to learn how to win back Kyle but on his terms. I appreciated that she realized what she had lost and wanted to get it back, but it took her a bit to realize that you have to approach situations with care.

There is a great supporting cast of characters, and I really liked Cindy and Roland. I don’t know if they get their own book or not, but if they don’t, they should!

I like that the author didn’t shy away from this topic and interspersed faith and religion at just the right moment so the book did not feel preachy.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.

Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-one-year-old Neka is a bit of an introvert, she also happens to be stunningly beautiful. When she discovers her friend James is about to be dumped, she sees the perfect opportunity to escape from her quiet life. Can she summon the courage to leave it all behind?

James Copley comes from a ruthless family. It’s rubbed off. Years ago, he disengaged from his brother’s smear campaign, but now his father has offered him an ultimatum, “Get married or lose your seat at the table.” Plotting to stamp his design on the family business, he proposes to a woman, even though he doesn’t love her. But his carefully laid plans start to unravel when she leaves him on the day she’s due to meet his family. Could years of planning his comeback vanish with her departure?

A possible solution comes in an unexpected form: Neka. She’s not only a friend, but the daughter of his benefactor. And she’s right there, offering to support him. But will her support stretch to marriage? He attempts to win her over to his plan but collides with her powerful father who wants to leverage the situation for his own gain.

In their fight for survival and love, they are forced to face some uncomfortable truths. Can they overcome thwarted dreams and missed chances to find true love, or does forcing destiny’s hand only lead to misery?

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

Nikhol Lacey stepped into the muted glow from the wall sconce above the door, grabbed her luggage from the porch, and hurried down the stairs. The path lights cast a shining arc across the yard. Pine scented the air, and fresh-cut grass clung to her sandals.

She sidestepped debris along the footpath to avoid snapping any twigs. To anyone looking, the maneuverings would have resembled a child’s game of hopscotch. It seemed like ages had passed, but at last she reached her destination. Lips curving into a fleeting smile, she placed her cases at the cab driver’s feet.

After shaking her hand, he lifted the bags. His raspy voice broke the silence. “Good morning . . .”

“Call me Neka.”

She scooted into the car and eased the door shut behind her. But she froze in place when the noisy driver stomped every twig she had missed and slammed the trunk. Her gaze swept over the second-floor windows. The house remained dark inside.

Good. No signs of movement.

Neka lay back on the cushion but bolted upright when the driver sped away, crunching loose twigs scattered across the road.

She brushed her fingers over her neck and chest and then clung to the front of her T-shirt. Familiar landmarks silhouetted against the dusky morning. She sighed, touching the window as her home faded into the receding darkness.

Regret surfaced. Would her family understand her leaving home without notice? Massaging her right earlobe, she laid her head against the seat.

James needed her. She was the only person able to help him. Finally, someone she cared about required assistance that only she could provide. Tears blurred her vision at the admission that she often felt unneeded. Self-revelation came at a price. Closing her eyes, Neka laid her face into the palms of her hand.

She was committed. It was too late to turn back now.

Lord, help me. 

 

 

 

Review

 

This novel depicts the faith of many characters, but also their strong-willed personalities.

Neka is a kind, gentle soul who has loved James since she was 17. While he was kind to her during the four years until now, she wasn’t someone that I think he considered seriously for a long-term relationship until his father threw an ultimatum in his path, and his arranged fiancee dumped him. While they might know each other, they really don’t know each other. That changes over the course of the book as they deal with their respective families. Neka is a somewhat naive twenty-one year old, but her parents are also a bit overprotective. I suppose I can’t blame them, but some of their words to her seemed inappropriate. She is twenty-one, not a child. James’ father is no picnic either. Why would he force one of his children to marry just to stay in the company? Seems crazy to me.

Despite the family interference, James and Neka set down a path for life together. It takes some real conversations to understand each other’s beliefs and goals for life. It isn’t all about business, but there is a foundation for so much more waiting to be discovered. I believe James also helps to bring Neka out of her shell and make her more confident with her beauty and intelligence. Neka also shows unwavering faith in James and his goals for life and his business.

I felt like the characters had some depth and strong faith. There are some times when the conversations feel forced, but not too often. It also felt like we should know the characters and the families better than we do as if this is a book further in a series.

This was still a very enjoyable book, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. Thirty-one years later, she adapted the play into Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to the second book in the five-book standalone Hope series.

Jackson’s favorite pastime is reading fiction. She enjoys taking the journey along with the characters in the books. That also led to her unorthodox approach to story writing. Her vision for each book she writes is to immerse readers into the storyline so they become connected with each character.

“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on her Facebook author page. She feels that if every person reading her books feels connected to the characters, her job is done.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

The desert town of Rattlesnake isn’t a destination. It’s a last resort. Seventeen-year-old Jonah Guthrie’s aunt sold their home in New England and fled to this place to escape the humiliation of his dad’s indictment for embezzlement and subsequent disappearance.

While their late uncle left them a house and a silver mine, the house is in shambles and the mine is defunct. They’re almost out of money, so they have no choice but to stay in Rattlesnake. Then, Jonah discovers they’ve inherited something else. Her name is Catherine, and she’s been dead for over a hundred years. Now, she needs his help.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

For a moment, the sun balanced on the tip of the tallest peak, then slipped behind the mountains, turning them black against the sky. They were out of options all except for going back to Old Cemetery Road and dealing with the property. From somewhere far out in the desert came the loneliest sound Jonah had ever heard. That high-pitched yowl caught him at the center of his stomach. Suddenly, he felt eyes on him from every direction, and the shadows grew teeth.

 

 

Review

 

This story will appeal to those who enjoy time travel and paranormal books.

Jonah and Allie, along with their Aunt Margaret, move from New Hampshire to Rattlesnake, Nevada. This is what some might classify as a dying town. I don’t remember the population, but around 500 sounds right. So you can imagine what sort of folks live here and what environment these newcomers might face. There is a bully that runs the town, with his son a bully at the high school. The townfolks are very closed-minded and do not like outsiders at all, save a few.

I enjoyed watching the story unfold, from learning to navigate a new high school to trying to figure out what this ghost needs help with. Both kids are dealing with more than they should have in their lives, not only with the move but with trying to come to terms with the allegations against their father. Margaret is trying to support their little family, but it is hard to gain acceptance from the local residents, which in turn makes it hard for her to find a job.

Jonah is a bit of a wild card. He isn’t afraid to go after what he wants or stand up to the local bully, Snake. He can also see a ghost that needs his help in finding something, but she doesn’t know what. It takes an unusual turn of events for Jonah to figure out what she needs help with and then try to assist 100 years in the future.

This story is fraught with emotions, from loneliness to fear to desperation. There is even a little romance in the story. It depicts what people might encounter if in a similar situation. There is a silver lining at the end. It will appeal to a wide variety of readers, not just those who like young adult or paranormal aspects in their novels.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Until about a year ago, my writing was all about what was real and current in the world. I’ve written about cutting (Sliding on the Edge, 2009), death of a parent (The Princess of Las Pulgas, 2010), illiteracy (Double Negative, 2014–voted as one of the top ten novels for YA), homophobia (Sudden Secrets, 2014), injustice (Not Guilty, 2019, and paraplegia (Shattered, 2021–finalist in the Indie Book Awards). Then suddenly…Rattlesnake, my first other-worldly YA.

It was probably a reaction to what was happening in my personal life as well as the world around me during the Covid shutdown, but I needed escape, and I thought others did as well, so I gave this story my best shot.

When I’m not writing, I’m hiking, traveling, or practicing yoga. I love to cook, and I love to eat. I love to talk with friends, and while I’m not a snob about it, I appreciate good wine—all of these seem to pair well of an evening.

I live on the edge of a forest and don’t hate cities, but I can only take them in short stays before I itch to return to where there are a lot of trees or an ocean.

 

Website * Substack * Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

CONQUERGOOD & THE CENTER

 

OF THE INTELLIGIBLE MYSTERY

 

OF BEING

 

by

 

CG Fewston

 

Science Fiction / Dystopian / Steampunk

 Date of Publication: October 17, 2023

Number of Pages: 381 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

One of resilience and transformation, Conquergood’s life-changing discovery explores the depths of family, memory, love, and the mysteries that lie at the heart of the universe.

In 2183, Jerome Conquergood is an outcast roaming the abandoned and crumbling skyscrapers of Old York City outside the Korporation’s seductive and dizzying headquarters, a post-apocalyptic security-city for the mega-rich. Despite his hatred for the techno-optimism and the Korporation, Conquergood is compelled to save his mysterious twin brother Vincent by joining the Korporation, a mega-corporate and governmental entity in a world oppressed to peace.

 

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

CG Fewston on the Writing Life, Part 2

 

 

How has being a Texan influenced your writing?

 

For better or worse, Texans have a direct way of telling it like it is. When I travel the world, strangers always ask, “Where are you from?” And my reply is always the same, “Texas.” And every single person, no matter what country they are from, knows Texas.

So being a Texan shaped how I grew up, and it shaped me in how I see and think and tell stories. As a Texan I aim to be direct, unflinching, and authoritative. As a Texan I also seek to be kind, patient, and considering. So, this is how I was raised to be a Texan, but it is also how I treat the stories and characters I am writing. As a writer, I am patient and kind with my characters, and with a fierce intensity I must also be direct and immediate in the act of storytelling.

 

Where did your love of books, reading, and storytelling come from?

 

As a young child growing up in Brownwood, Texas without the internet or most of the technological wonders that we are blessed with today, books and storytelling — believe it or not — was a popular form of entertainment in my household.

My Grandmommy — Goldie O. — would read to me before bedtime each night I stayed with her in my grandparents’ lake house in Breckenridge, Texas where the white crane called Big Bird would stand in the shallows waiting for sunrise, and when the sun hit the great white bird, it would fly across the lake in all its wonder and glory. My Grandmommy would tell me stories about this bird, where it came from, where it was headed, and at night she would read from books telling to me the lives of historical figures, such as Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, and Helen Keller.

 

Why did you choose to write in your particular genre?

 

As a writer (and avid reader), I’m not bound to one genre. As a serious novelist I enjoy and focus writing mostly historical fiction, because the research aspect of writing about history is fascinating and challenging to me.

Conquergood is a sci-fi novel because the story demanded it so. I did not choose to write a sci-fi story. The story is set in 2183, and I tried to write about this time by going even further into the future and writing this story as though it were already history. But the story takes place in the far future with more advanced technologies which reshape humanity and culture, so the label the story has chosen for itself is one of science fiction.

 

 

 

 

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured in your book?

 

Yes, though it may be a strange one because it might not be currently accepted as an “under-represented group” — well, not for at least another fifty years or so.

The group I’m referring to is primarily A.I. related, and I imagine “Artificially Intelligent Related Entities” (i.e., A.I. Robots) might read my book one day and see themselves in the unique characters I’ve created.

There have been distinct times since 2007 while writing Conquergood where I felt that A.I. would one day read my words, read this novel, and learn something about themselves and about humanity. Now in 2023, that seems ever more likely than ever.

 

What do you like to read in your free time?

You can see my author website for everything I have recently read. The living writers who I frequently go back to are Paulo Coelho and Haruki Murakami. I did the same for Cormac McCarthy until his recent passing in the summer of 2023.

My “free time” (outside of my normal working-writing-reading hours) is spent with my family, and I read to my son Thor every night. Over the last few months, we worked our way through, and finished, The Notebook of Doom book series (2007) by Troy Cummings. We also read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl.

We’re currently reading and making our way through The Unofficial Minecrafters Mysteries series (2018) by Winter Morgan. We’ve already finished Stolen Treasure (Book 1) and Beneath the Blocks (Book 2), and we’ll soon be starting The Skeleton Secret (Book 3).

As anyone will quickly see, I love to read, but what’s more important is that I pass that passion on to my son so that he will have a strong desire to read, to learn, to think critically, and to explore new lands and new ideas when he’s older.

 

Do you have any writing pet peeves?

 

Yes. I like to be left alone to write. I must write in solitude — isolated from the world so my words can reach the world in their own time and place — and for me, this has a sense of delayed gratification — giving myself to something bigger than the moment or the current fad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The American novelist CG FEWSTON has been a Visiting Scholar at the American Academy in Rome (Italy), a Visiting Fellow at Hong Kong’s CityU, & he’s been a member of the Hemingway Society, Americans for the Arts, PEN America, Club Med, & the Royal Society of Literature. He’s also been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) based in London. He has a B.A. in English, an M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership (honors), an M.A. in Literature (honors), and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Fiction. He was born in Texas in 1979.

Fewston is the author of several short stories and novels. His works include A Father’s Son, The New America: Collection, The Mystic’s Smile ~ A Play in 3 Acts, Vanity of Vanities, A Time to Love in Tehran, Little Hometown, America, A Time to Forget in East Berlin, and Conquergood & the Center of the Intelligible Mystery of Being.

 

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1st: $100 Amazon card + eBook or paperback of Conquergood

 

2nd: $50 Amazon card + eBook or paperback

 

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4th: Book Lover’s gift bundle + eBook or paperback

 

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Whisky Hernandez
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Martinique
Independently Published (November 25, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 269 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Martinique. Memories. Murder.

A mystery is abound and the government has called in by special invitation the world’s greatest detective by study and trade, Whisky Hernandez, to help and assist the local police and solve the case fast, making use of her language proficiency in French and Creole. Full-time hygienist and part-time sleuth, this licensed private investigator, daughter of a talented New York and New Jersey former police detective, utilizes the help of her humorous photographer partner to get to the bottom of the mystery that is revealing itself on this island of flowers.

These honest and generous partners of crime-solving are experienced members in obtaining the proof they need to arrive at and protect the truth. Keeping her anxieties and panic attacks in check with the help of her service animal, Whisky is determined to dive into a variety of guilty-looking suspects, analyzing, scrutinizing, and, outsmarting all the ways the villain, the killer, is trying to get away with the clever crime.

Secret undercover work, hidden riddles, challenging puzzles, unique perilous and dangerous situations are all up against Whisky. But along with some banter and comic relief situations with her sidekick partner, our worthy and reliable hero will lead the way and do what it takes to get the job done. With twists, turns, swerves, and contorts, this resolute private investigator plunges into the depths of Martinique, coming up for air in an unforgettable ending.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Library sitting, don’t want to offend

 

 

When one does research at their local library there are certain expectations. Now while it’s true these expectations are dependent in large part on where the facility is located, how large it is, and whether or not it’s open, they are baseline expectations nonetheless and should be upheld to a standard that is good, no, great. And if the bookish landscape by which you have immersed yourself in, is Dickensian in every way, this should not impede on these aforementioned expectations.

For one thing, (and it should be noted that this is not a treatise or even a small dissertation on your local library accommodations), there needs to be pencils without erasers that need to be placed next to a small stack of small rectangular paper. And of course the pencils should be small. The reason for this is most likely that librarians command a level of resoluteness in their informativeness and there is no need to erase the catalog number they provide you with. As all people are equal, you as the patron of this fine, no, great, establishment need to play by their rules. The other reason for providing these pencils that have looked like they used a pencil sharpener incorrectly is that you must get used to gripping a writing utensil that may fall out of your hands at any moment. Because libraries serve as institutions for educating both the youth, the elderly, and the ever-disappearing middle-aged class (so sociologists have been reporting for years), what would happen if one’s writing utensil down the line slipped from their fingers and they signed their name John Hancock when their name very well was nothing of the kind. As seen, these two reasons for the first expectation tie into one another.

Now the second thing, the second great expectation, one which Pip would most assuredly expect if Miss Havisham managed a modern-day public library, would be that printers always have ink in them. This requirement even supersedes the prior one mentioned in the previous paragraph for to have no ink on a printed page defeats the purpose of using such a contraption in the first place. I say contraption as this might have been the language used by any Victorian Englander should they encounter a laser, inkjet, impact, LED, daisy wheel, or label printer. (If that is not the era-appropriate word, I will look it up at the library.) Many have the luxury of an at home-printer, but there are many, quality, no, great, citizens of the United States that have to scurry off to their library to print out an assortment of items, some of which might mean the difference even between marriage or no marriage. If it seems like that last little remark was personal, it was. Not to me, but to my fiancé who because there was no printer…Well, I’m not married, so you can piece that together. Nevertheless, these printers, equipped with ink that has not just chiefly been sourced from the melanin in squid ink, need to do what they say they’re going to.

Which brings me to my third, last, and final point of these library expectations. And that would be librarians liberally using the word “shhh”. I have been to a fair, no, great, amount of libraries around this country, territories included, and the knowledge that at a moment’s notice one dutiful librarian will utter that word that we have all come to know so well has brought order back to the potential chaotic sound nature. For if one person begins to talk and they are not stopped, someone else shall soon do the same. Like dominoes falling or a chain event rattling, the library could very well soon be a concert. But this would be nothing more than a concert of jibber-jabber, blather, and chatter. Perhaps it would inspire a poet’s stanza or two, but this would be all. So it should be quite apparent to all that set foot in a library that if they begin to raise the volume of their voice above the threshold that should not be crossed and they are not met by a “shhh”, the library has not done what it was supposed to and should be spoken about immediately. In a whisper of course.

So as has been said, there are three great expectations that a library needs to uphold in order to be a true establishment of book lending status. Let it be known throughout the entire plethora of daily, weekly, monthly, and statistically less than annually visitors of the educational building pillar of any community that if these three mandates are not met, their claim to libraryship must be challenged. Maybe someday in the future I’ll discuss the proper amount of time one needs to stay at a table when another person sits down, but etiquette is a whole other topic. Thank you and be a continuous, no, great, reader.

 

 

About the Author

 

J.S. Mason is an author of four short story collections and one cozy mystery and has the distinct honor of graduating pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and law school, receiving a diploma from each of the aforementioned education establishments.

Aside from their outstanding excellence within the field of academia, J.S. Mason has quite the records in the athletics department, hitting one triple, bowling one turkey, and scoring three hole-in-ones in a single miniature golf game.

Extending to the performing arts, J.S. Mason has played a sheriff with a past, a pushy prosecuting attorney, and literally a spear carrier, only to hang up their boots/tie/spear because there was too much drama.

Other noteworthy accomplishments of J.S. Mason are that they have a first, middle, and last name.

Impressively, with a background in law enforcement and trial litigation, J.S. Mason always manages to have their shoes tied when they aren’t wearing Velcro.

J.S. Mason is most proud that they are referred to in the third person on their bio, as this is always how they refer to themselves.

J.S. Mason is happy with this.

J.S. Mason is satisfied with this.

J.S. Mason is excited to provide more high quality books to their audience and hopes they consume them with the utmost pleasure.

For clarity, in response to what some of their reviewers have said, they are correct – J.S. Mason is in fact an honorary A.I. module from M.I.T.

J.S. Mason hopes for you to have a good day and get through it because it can be hard sometimes.

J.S. Mason looks forward to giving you the experience you deserve.

 

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