Brown Books Publishing

Paperback: 200 pages

April 23, 2019

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, paranormal

 

Synopsis

Eric Horton sees fire.

When he sleeps, he dreams of a world screaming in the midst of devastating explosions. These dreams terrify him, and as more strange happenings unfold around him, he’s unable to shake the feeling that what he’s seeing isn’t just a dream.

When a new student, Renee, appears in his science class, he could swear he’s known her forever. But how could that be? As they get to know each other, he meets her father, who explains the experiments he’s been conducting involving “the Universal Energy Field” and “Collective Consciousness”—two things Eric has never heard of before. They seem to be tied to the idea that we are all connected by the same energy and are all more powerful than we realize. Eric begins to learn more about these groundbreaking concepts—but can they be real?

As his life continues to shift and his knowledge of the Field increases, Eric will be tested beyond anything he’s experienced before. He must decide whether he believes in that part of himself which ties him to the world around him, and he must access it—or lose everything he’s been working to keep.

 

 

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Review

This book actually surprised me because sometimes sci-fi/paranormal books are hit and miss with me.  But this story of a young man’s ability to absorb the energy around him and see or sense things intrigued me.  Since this is a YA book, it wouldn’t be complete without the usual teenage drama and young love.

This story follows Eric, an up and coming goalie for the high school he attends.  He has a younger sister and brother with whom he has a good relationship.  Actually, he has a good relationship with all of his family which is refreshing to see considering what we see in the news.  The drama or angst comes from his friends and their shenanigans, which is not uncommon for a teenager.  Eric has some strange dreams and has no idea what they could possibly mean until events prove his dreams to be a reality and not just some weird dream.

I enjoyed the science aspect of this story and the explanations of matter, energy, and harnassing it for the betterment of mankind.  I think that all of this could be possible one day, perhaps sooner than we think.  I also appreciated that the science in this book was thoroughly explained and not just glossed over.  The author definitely put her degree to good use in this book.

There is romance between several of the characters and of course northing runs smoothly as is usual with teens.  However, I felt that the advancement of the various relationships felt solid and realistic.  The relationships were subdued and did not progress too much more than kissing.

We give this book 4 paws up and if you enjoy YA with a sci-fi or paranormal flair, you might want to pick this book up for your next read.

 

 

About the Author

Tracy wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way, her life reflects the book through odd synchronicities. She has a degree in Biology like Mrs. Murry and without realizing it she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents. (Really, it was not intentional, because that would be weird)!

Tracy uses her science background in her writing through her emphasis on environmental issues and metaphysics. Growing up, Tracy’s younger brothers called her ‘sarge’ and once when she took a personality test for a job, the evaluator said she could give a Drill Sargent a run for his money. If you need someone to boss you around, Tracy’s your gal! Tracy lives in Indianapolis.

 

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Turkey Basted to Death (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
2.5 in the Series –  A Holiday Book
MYS ED LLC (November 15, 2019)
Number of Pages 133 pages

Synopsis

Thanksgiving is here, and Jolie Tucker has had quite the year! She is ready to sit back and relax with family and friends. But this is Leavensport, OH—so get ready for intense therapy sessions, dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, uninvited guests, and an inner-city teen advocate found DEAD—stabbed in the ear with the turkey baster!

Welcome to Leavensport, OH, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn!

 

 

Review

The great thing about novellas is that when you have just a little time to read you can still enjoy a book and this one checks off all the boxes – intrigue, love, family, and a killer.

This installment in the Cast Iron Mystery series brings together many elements to create a successful story.  Jolie and Ava end up sleuthing (of course), there is a mix of characters from all lifestyles, some intriguing twists and turns concerning the killer, and family that doesn’t understand boundaries…mostly Jolie and Ava’s families!

I was intrigued by Jolie’s visits to a counselor/therapist and the resulting information from her past that we learn.  It is heartbreaking on one hand, but perhaps answers some questions on another for Jolie.  You’ll have to read the book to find out what Jolie uncovers about her past.

The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing throughout the whole book.  I was quite surprised when the killer was revealed.  This was one I didn’t expect but had a few inklings as Jolie was putting the clues together at the end.

I wonder sometimes how Jolie and Ava manage their crazy families.  Ava is lucky (maybe?) that her family moved away, but when they come back into town, craziness follows.  Jolie somehow manages to keep her family in check (somewhat) considering they all live close by.

This series shows that you can have a complete story with plenty of detail in a shorter length which is perfect to read over lunch or when you have some time to kill.  We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

Moving into her second decade of working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her seven cats.

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Synopsis

A Boy.
His Pendant.
A Magical Tree.

In rural China during the New Year celebrations, Kai receives devastating news. A poor harvest spells disaster unless his mother accepts a job in the city caring for a wealthy family.

Abandoned in his mountainous village, Kai is desperate to bring his mother home. He gives in to superstition and unlocks the secrets of the Great Fire Tree. The Great Fire Tree will grant Kai’s wish—for a terrible price. With the help of his new friend Xinying and his trusted piglet, Kai will make a sacrifice to make his family whole.

Justine Laismith weaves together Chinese mystique and rural charm in an enchanting tale of an antidote that kills and an amulet that curses.

 

Excerpt

Kai fetched his basket. It was wide and deep enough that if he curled himself into a ball, he could fit in it. Two pieces of cloths were tied to it in a loop shoulder length apart, forming the shoulder straps for him to carry the basket on his back. Yee Por held the basket for him while he threaded his arms through.

With the bucket inside and Piglet on a rope, Kai descended toward the thick bushes. Down the mountain path and past the soft green that grew around the clearing to his favorite Dragon’s Pearl Tree, the tall tree with enormous fruit that went uneaten. To Kai, it was such a wasted effort; even more so last year when the tree tried to brighten up the dry season with heavy blossoms. They were unusual flowers; instead of branches, they stuck out directly from the trunk. But like any flower, the petals fell and produced its fruit.

“The birds would not eat them, so we mustn’t eat them either.” He remembered what Ma had said.

Every tree and every rock down that familiar path to the river reminded him of Ma, how he used to charge ahead with Pink Belly, whacking the bushes and frolicking in the clearing until Ma caught up with them.Today, he did not feel like playing with the new piglet in the same way.

He had always gone with Ma to fetch the water. She was stronger and carried the bigger bucket. He carried the smaller one. It only took fifteen liters.

Without Ma, the road back was windier and more treacherous. The burden of the water weighed him down as he lumbered upward. Thank goodness Piglet was only tiny and seemed to know how to handle the uneven terrain, grass or rock, upward or downward. He rested his tired legs and shoulders every few meters. But each time he stopped, he listened for voices. He did not want to be caught resting by the school bullies. Especially now he was on his own.

On one of these breaks, he heard a rustle. Then a pair of huge feet appeared on the path.

 

Review

This is a wonderful story for a child of any age (yes even the adults).  It deals with a subject that is sadly prevalent in China and possibly other parts of the world, children that are left behind in rural areas while the parent goes to a larger city to work and earn money to support the family.  Usually, the children are left with other family members or friends, but not always.  It doesn’t matter who they are living with, it is never the same as being with your own parents.

This particular story follows Kai.  Kai has quite the imagination for a young boy but it helps see him through some rough times while he is missing his parents, mostly his mother.  While there is no magic in the terms we might think of for magic, there is something magical that happens with Kai and his belief in a jade pendant, belief in a recipe that he has followed for some unedible fruit from a specific tree, and learning that maybe life can be better than he ever imagined.

This story teaches us about self-reliance and perseverance in going after what you want from life.  There are also two sentences in this story that stand out and could be the key for anyone reading this book and their outlook on life.

“We can all choose what we do, whether we wanted to let the setback really set us back.”  

“So I decided I would be like him, and be happy for what I have.”

 

I enjoyed reading this story and learning more about rural Asia.  The book is appropriate for any middle grade or older person.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

Justine Laismith is the winner of the Beyond Words: Young and Younger writing competition, who published her chapter book, The Magic Mixer. She grew up in Singapore and has worked in the UK pharmaceutical, chemicals, and education sectors. When not writing, she takes far too many pictures on her phone. She now lives in England.

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SINGAPORE FLING

Carpe Diem Chronicles, #2

by

MAIDA MALBY

 

Contemporary Romance / Multicultural

Publisher: EOT Publications

Date of Publication: October 21, 2019

Number of Pages: 267

 

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One alluring French-Filipina beauty. One sexy US Air Force officer. One torrid weekend affair. 

Maddie Duvall should be living it up at her challenging new job in glamorous Singapore. But two months after her wild weekend with Aidan Ryan, she’s still yearning for him. She craves the passion only he can ignite in her.

Aidan’s job takes him around the world, yet he can’t get Maddie out of his mind. When he returns to his assignment in Singapore, he seeks her out with a proposition she can’t turn down.

Intensely enamored with one another, their relationship takes off. But when Aidan’s mission exposes treachery by someone close to Maddie, lines blur and wires get crossed. Can their growing love survive the intrigue?

Singapore Fling is Book 2 of Carpe Diem Chronicles, a series of multicultural contemporary romance novels. The stories celebrate the rich cultures of exotic Southeast Asian islands through languages, food, and festivals.

 

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PRAISE

 

“This second full-length volume in her Carpe Diem Chronicles is sexy, quick to read, and full of well-rounded, interesting characters. Family ties and female friendship add to the depth of the world and make you want more books.” ~ Catherine Stein, Award-winning Author of How to Seduce a Spy

“This book was great. Everything from the well-rounded characters to the interesting foods and exciting locale drew me in as a reader. I could clearly picture, hear, and smell/taste the story. The plot was perfect and the romance had just the right amount of intrigue and crisis. ~ Danielle Bellwood, Author of Daring (The Candomble Book 1)

“This book is a great deal of fun and the hero and heroine are both likable and realistic people. As usual, Malby’s writing shines best when writing about Singapore, particularly the culture and the FOOD!! ~ Gena Gilliam, Amazon Reviewer

 

 

Love is a partnership, not to be dominated by one or the other.  This is the main lesson that Aidan and Maddie struggle to learn in Singapore Fling.

If you are looking for a book full of hot romance, culture, and even some intrigue, this might be the book (and series) you want to pick up for your next read.  I became immersed in this book and enjoyed every moment of the story.  It is definitely sizzling due to the food and the sex scenes but at the same time, both Aidan and Maddie are holding parts of themselves back from each other.  Is it apprehension?  Or maybe it is how they grew up or the job they hold and expectations.  There is one line that devastated me because no one should feel this way: “Apart from herself, nobody considered Maddie their number one priority.”  But on the flip side, she embraced her dual heritage – Filipino and French.  It made her unique and was an asset that drew Aidan into her life.

The dialogue between Aidan and Maddie was sensual, comedic, and loving.  No, life wasn’t easy for them and they both embark on paths that may not be right for their relationship, but this is a path that all relationships must endure to become something solid and lasting.  Because Aidan is military, he is used to being direct and to the point, and perhaps a bit harsh with his comments but wanting Maddie (and some input from his brothers) reshapes his rough and tough attitude to something a little softer, at least with Maddie.  Maddie realizes that she too has to bend and perhaps Aidan has her best interests in mind.

I thought the definitions at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch to introduce words I may not know and define them before they were used in the book.   The descriptions of the island, various locations they visited, the food all added to the picture in my mind as if I was there with them.  Not all of the food sounded good to me (I personally don’t like seafood) but I’m intrigued by the Hainanese chicken rice and will need to seek out this recipe and give it a try.

Some of my favorite lines:

“We’ve already established our chemistry; I don’t want to find somebody else.”

“Do you only go at one speed, Aidan?  The speed of light?

“Humility is a virtue you clearly do not have.”

“You shouldn’t wear perfume if you don’t want anybody to smell you.”

“He was coffee.  Black, no sugar, the way she preferred it: strong, hot, addictive.”

 

Overall I enjoyed the book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Maida Malby writes, reads, reviews, and lives Romance. Through her multicultural contemporary romance stories, she takes readers on trips to her favorite places in the world and shares her experiences of their rich cultural heritage.

She is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA), Cultural, Interracial, Multicultural Special Interest Chapter of the Romance Writers of America (CIMRWA), and several romance book clubs. Her To-Be-Read Mountain and reviews of romance novels are featured on her website.

When not writing, reading, or reviewing books, Maida consults her husband on word selection, debates with her ten-year-old son regarding the Oxford comma, cooks the dishes she features in her stories, procrastibakes using Baileys as her secret yummy ingredient, and watches golf and food shows on TV.

 

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Love Romance Reads

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

FOUR WINNERS!

1ST PRIZE (US only)

Kindle Fire 7 + Signed Copy of Singapore Fling

2ND PRIZE (US only)

Signed copies of Boracay Vows and Singapore Fling + charm bracelet

3RD PRIZE (US only)

Signed copy of Singapore Fling + spice paste packets (Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa)

4TH PRIZE (international)

 eBooks of all three books in the Carpe Diem Chronicles series

NOVEMBER 12-22, 2019

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

11/12/19	Top Five	The Clueless Gent
11/12/19	Bonus Post	Hall Ways Blog
11/13/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
11/14/19	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
11/15/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
11/16/19	Review	Missus Gonzo
11/17/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
11/18/19	Scrapbook Page	That’s What She’s Reading
11/19/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
11/20/19	Guest Post	The Page Unbound
11/21/19	Review	The Book Review

 

 

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Synopsis

Former opera singer Emma Streat has survived the murder of her husband and the destruction of her beautiful old house. Now a full-time single mother, she struggles to move forward and make a home for her two sons. Because of her detection skills, she has become a go-to person for help―so, when her rich, feisty, socialite godmother is blackmailed, she turns immediately to Emma.

Soon, Emma finds herself thrust into the dark world of cybercrime. Mounting challenges take her to exclusive European settings where she mixes with the elite of the financial and art collecting worlds.

When she is targeted by a cybercrime network using cutting-edge technology, it takes all of Emma’s resilience and wits to survive and bring the wily, ruthless criminal she’s hunting to justice.

Action-packed and full of twists and turns, Firewall will keep you guessing until the end.

 

Review

I didn’t realize when I picked this book up that it was actually the third in a series.  I was wondering when I kept reading about references to Emma helping solve her husband’s murder, so I went to the author’s website and that is where I discovered there was in fact previous books.  Despite not reading the first two books, the author does a good job of summarizing what happened and how Emma came to work with various intelligence agencies.

In this book there are actually multiple crimes that Emma is brought into assist but they all tie in together and Emma finds herself in several countries at the behest of the various agencies she has been helping.  It starts with her godmother, Caroline, who is being blackmailed and that crime is solved in the first part of the book but is it really?  Emma is taken to Italy to assist Caroline with an art viewing and possible purchase and there were learn that Caroline may have had some lasting repercussions from an attack in the first portion of the book.  It is then a whirlwind journey through multiple countries trying to find the cybercriminal mastermind.

I thought this was an interesting approach to writing this book – there isn’t just one crime but multiple that need to be solved.  Many are tied together and as one crime is solved it leads Emma to the next one.  Emma has dalliances with different men, but will any of them be her true love?  Each of the men brought something different to her life and only future books will tell us if any of these men stay in her life on a romantic level.

The book is action packed and despite Emma wishing she didn’t have to be in a few of these places, she is able to help root out those that are involved in the crimes and make connections that the agencies or police aren’t able to put together.  This is mainly due to her conversations with the various characters and not ineptness by the police.

I enjoyed this book and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter 1

 

March 25

A spring blizzard was cascading snow over Boston’s Public Garden. I poured my first cup of coffee and went to the living room window of my temporary apartment. People going to work struggled along the paths, heads bent, feet slipping. I watched, glad that in a few days I’d be on an island in the Caribbean. Lying in the sun with a man. Finding out if a dynamic former relationship could be renewed.

My phone on the counter sounded its little chime. I picked it up and saw that the call was from my godmother, Caroline Vogt. She never called before noon, but today the gravelly tuba voice reverberated in my ear.

“Emma, I need you, and I need you now.”

This was demanding, even for Caroline. I took a deep breath. “Why do you need me? Are you still down in the Keys?”

“I’m back in New York and something has happened.”

“What?”

“Oh God, I can’t believe it, but someone’s trying to blackmail me.”

“Blackmail? When?”

“Just now. I was simply sitting in my bed, eating my breakfast, and the doorbell rang. Minnie went to open it. No one was there, just a note shoved under the door telling me to pay a million dollars to an account in a Miami bank. Pay it today. If I don’t, my dirty little secret will go to the media tomorrow. All the media.” The tuba voice wobbled.

I shifted the phone. Caroline’s usual reaction to trouble was assault mode. Strike back. Never show weakness. This call for help was totally out of character—and the timing couldn’t be worse.

“Look. I can see why you’re upset,” I said, trying to apply calm. “Blackmail is nasty, but it happens. The dirty little secret bit— everyone has secrets and that person is just trying to scare you. If you’re really worried, I think you should call the police or a detective. Someone who has real expertise.”

“No. Absolutely not. I won’t have strangers prying into my business. You’re the person we all trust in a crisis. You found Lewis’s killer. You exposed those virus terrorists and saved your niece Vanessa. You have credentials. You have to find this bastard before he comes back and wants more.”

“Wait. Let me think.” I pushed back my hair. No way did I want to be the family detective, involved in another crisis, but Caroline was now in her eighties, a mega heiress from Chicago, a fixture in New York society. Divorced four times, no children. I was the closest thing she had to family and she was frightened. I must go, but with any luck I could still get to that island. Spend three days sorting her out, then fly there from New York.

“Emma?”

“I’m here. Listen. It’s snowing hard in Boston, a freak storm, but I’ll try for a flight today. Failing that, I’ll take the train. I’ll let you know. Relax, no need to be paranoid. Love you,” I said and clicked off.

A siren went shrieking down Arlington Street, the sound that signaled trouble. I sat down on the stool at the counter and reminded myself that I owed Caroline. She had been my unfailing support from the day I was born. She had taken the place of my dead mother. Fourteen months ago she had given me a stern lecture:

“You’re still young. You survived losing your rising opera career. You’ve done a superb job bringing up those two hunks of boys, but now they’re off to college. Cut the cord and let them go. You’ve got the money and the energy to do something important. Different.”

Good advice, but three days later, my husband was murdered and my world had gone up in flames along with my beautiful old house on the Connecticut River. I still had Jake and Steve, but creating a new life wasn’t easy. It was time, past time, to move forward.

I took a deep breath and picked up a pad of paper. First, call the airlines, then cancel this morning’s appointment for a haircut. Start packing.

By now experience should have taught me that one small incident can spiral into a tsunami of trouble. But no siren sounded, warning me that by helping Caroline I would be targeted by a network of cybercriminals. No way of knowing that her call would take me to many countries, lead to heartbreak, and nearly cost me my life.

Excerpted from Firewall: An Emma Streat Mystery by Eugenia Lovett West. Copyright © 2019 Eugenia Lovett West. All rights reserved. Published by SparkPress.

 

About the Author

Eugenia Lovett West is the author of Firewall: An Emma Streat Mystery. Eugenia was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father was Reverend Sidney Lovett, the widely known and loved former chaplain at Yale. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and worked for Harper’s Bazaar and the American Red Cross. Then came marriage, four children, volunteer work, and freelancing for local papers. Her first novel, The Ancestors Cry Out, was published by Doubleday; it was followed by two mysteries, Without Warning and Overkill, published by St. Martin’s Press. West divides her time between Essex, Connecticut, and Holderness, New Hampshire, where she summers with her large extended family.

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Three Widows and a Corpse (A Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Kensington (October 29, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

Synopsis

Food blogger Hope Early finds one item not on her scavenger hunt list—a dead husband . . .

Between developing her food blog, Hope at Home, and choosing low-cal recipes for a feature in Cooking Now! magazine, Hope has a full plate. Still, she’s never too busy to compete in a Jefferson, Connecticut, tradition—the town’s annual scavenger hunt.

But as she races with her team to check off the next item, Hope discovers a grisly surprise—the body of shady real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb, shot in a parking lot. His wife Elaine, who’s also in the hunt, gasps and nearly faints. But two other women on the scene cry out that their husband is dead.

It turns out this louse of a spouse was more than a little lax in legally divorcing his former wives. Did one of them put a bullet in the bigamist? Number one suspect and number three wife Elaine begs Hope to investigate. Now Hope is on a new kind of hunt—for a cold-hearted killer and triple widow-maker . . .

Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!

 

 

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound

 

Review

It is time for a trip back to Jefferson to see what Food Blogger, Hope Early, has new in her life.  Hope finds herself knee-deep in another mystery when she stumbles across another dead body while on a scavenger hunt.  The bigger surprise comes when two other women appear in town and claim to still be married to the deceased.  Who is the true widow?  Will Hope survive the search for the killer?  You’ll have to read the book to find out those answers and much more.

I’ve enjoyed this series because I love food and I am always intrigued at a look behind the scenes of what food bloggers do to create their recipes and posts.  I love to cook but have never really created my own recipe.  I have adapted some recipes but that is about all.  Several of the recipes in this book have chocolate in them so my mouth was watering just reading about the muffins, cookies, and cakes.  Recipes are provided and a few have caught my eye.

The mystery is intriguing and the author does a splendid job of hiding the killer in plain sight.  I’m not sure I suspected this character so I was surprised when the story came to a head and the killer was revealed.  There are several potential suspects and while I would have liked it to have been one character, no such luck.

Hope has multiple sides to her – she inserts herself into the case trying to solve the murder (despite her boyfriend the sheriff asking her to stay out of the investigation), she doesn’t know how to say no, and is a little insecure when it comes to her relationship with Ethan.  But all of these pieces come together to form a likable protagonist.

Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

About the Author

Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.

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Synopsis

Angela’s blue Subaru spins in an icy, Indiana intersection. She and her mother are not breathing. Hours later, she wakes in the ICU. Her arm paralyzed, her mother dead.

Police determine she ran the stop sign, and she believes it. She folds herself inward, unable to face either loss. Mustering the fight, she straps her arm to her chest and resolves to survive. Creased forehead. Locked jaw. She gathers bones and muscles, rejecting defeat. Angela returns to Aerospace classes and spends the summer finishing her work at NASA. Graduating, she lands a job a thousand miles from everything she knows.

Guilt, fear and pain eclipse who she is. She buries the tiny seed, planted by her mother, deep under the pain. Hiding a thousand miles away, Angela doubts her ability to love or be loved. But will she live? Will she learn to fly?

 

Review

I met Angela at a book event and was intrigued by her story. She was in a car accident that killed her mother and left her with various injuries that kept her in pain for 15+ years. This book is her story but is also a guide for those in similar situations on how to let go and move forward.

This story is an inspiration to those that think that they just can’t handle another day of pain. Angela sought help from multiple sources including holistic methods. She had a team of doctors on her side that tried new techniques and they emerged in the medical field. Some worked, some did not.

When they say that the mind is powerful they aren’t kidding. I think it was Angela’s inability to remember the crash that was ultimately holding her back from healing. Dealing with the memories helped her move forward further than she ever had in the past.

I liked that at the end of most chapters there are words to reflect upon and then chapters sprinkled throughout that gives the reader different things to reflect upon in their own lives. This book is not meant to be devoured in a day, but to be thoughtful over a period of days, especially if you are working through your own issues.

Angela has dogs that help her through the most of it and those moments touched my heart. I was teary eyed when she spoke about having to do what was best for her first dog when cancer was discovered. Having had to help two of my own dogs cross the rainbow bridge, this passage touched me the most.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up and highly recommend it for anyone going through their own issues to help them work through their issues and move forward in life.

 

 

About the Author

Angela is an artist and an Aerospace Engineer. With Zephyr Jackson, her loyal Labrador, at her side, she lives and loves fully in the midst of suffering. She experiences the support and love of Jesus Christ in every intimate moment and in all of His creation. On her yoga mat, she soothes her nervous system, uncovering her true self. Angela sinks her fingers into the soil and into the written and spoken word, creating beauty.

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Serf and Turf: A Silicon Valley Mystery
BGM Press (October 9, 2019)
Paperback: 213 pages

Synopsis

He’s afraid of losing his girlfriend. But maybe he should be more concerned about the dead body she’s crying over?

Marty Golden can barely string a voicemail message together, let alone keep up with his new love. This quirky uncle’s hectic Silicon Valley lifestyle needs a reboot when a youth league soccer game becomes a murder scene. And nothing can stop him from donning his amateur sleuth uniform when he discovers his sweetheart used to have quite a thing for the dead guy …

With a not-so-helpful paw from Buddy the Labrador,  he does his best to sniff out a long list of possible suspects. But between gossipy soccer moms and the costume-clad members of a Renaissance Faire, Marty’s theories fall harder than a jousted knight.

Can Marty solve the case before the trail and his new flame grow cold?

Serf and Turf is the third book in the zany, Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like laugh-out-loud comedy, dorky sleuths, and a festival of old-world fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s humorous murder mystery.

 

 

Review

With all of the possibilities available for the who the killer might be, the answer came out of left field!

Marty is still a quirky engineer that helps design a driverless car for a company called Rover.  I crack up every time he has the car “stay” especially when he is in an area that getting another car would be nearly impossible.  He has two adorable nieces that are spitfires, a compassionate neighbor that helps him out especially when he doesn’t even know he needs help, a girlfriend that has many interests that confound Marty at times, and a sister that loves to drive a “loud” car when it comes to the paint color.  And we can’t forget Buddy, his sister and niece’s dog, that Marty somehow gets roped into taking care of more than he expects.

I have to laugh at how Marty thinks he is a special investigator for the police, but it is his sleuthing that usually helps solve the case and this book is no different. Detective Mace has given Marty a code name so when they type Marty’s name into the computer it pops up and the police tend to treat Marty a little differently.  I had to laugh when he learns what his codename is in the system.  Normally he has his coworker Raj helping him, but Raj is out of the country and he has a new coworker assisting, Fernando.  There are some tense situations that arise but everyone keeps their cool and escapes unscathed, at least somewhat.

I enjoy the witty banter between characters and trying to solve the mystery.  The concept of the driverless car is always fascinating and what new features they are adding to the vehicle.

At the end of the second book, we were left hanging to the color of the new car for Laney and we finally learn the color about 2/3 of the way through the book.  WOW is about all I’m going to say.

Overall we enjoyed the book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails, and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author.” This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I’m comfortable with that situation.

Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.

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Giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

This delightful collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.

Um Hussam can’t find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate’s sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila’s husband Hassan can’t forget his deceased wife until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can’t help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon’s masterpiece. Khadija’s maid stabs her in the back while Rana’s husband Muafak can’t find the right excuse to avoid a fight.

 

Review

This is an interesting collection of short stories.  While the stories are set in Syria, the issues they deal with span the globe and aren’t limited to just their country.  Some of the stories made me chuckle and some were a little heartbreaking especially when it came to domestic abuse.  The women in Syria have just as many issues with their men as I see in the US.  Men that abuse their spouse, those that are shallow, infidelity, and so much more.  But the women don’t let that stop them!  Some are very clever and devious, and some are just trying to survive.

Each story had a moral to it but not all stories ended where I felt that it was wrapped up and concluded.  I wanted to know what happened next in a few cases.  I liked one story where a woman wanted a divorce and the “judge” said for her to bring him a cake but she had to ask for all of the ingredients from her neighbors.  On this journey, the woman realizes that maybe her life isn’t as bad as she thinks.  Sometimes I think that needs to happen in my country!

Overall I enjoyed reading these stories and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Inspiration for writing the stories:

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Synopsis

The Amazing Beatrix works as an acrobat in a 19th Century circus, no home or family to speak of. When a daring escape from her abusive ringleader crosses Beatrix’s path with that of the daring adventurer Colonel James Bacchus, the unlikely pair team up, fly to safety aboard the Colonel’s miraculous four-story hot air balloon, and begin a grand quest to find the most precious gem in the world, The Blue Star Sphinx.

If the heroes can outmaneuver the deadly treasure hunters, escaped convicts, and double-crosses that await them, they may win the treasure they seek, or better yet, a sense of true belonging.

Witty banter, colorful characters, and exotic locations pack the fantastical, globe-trotting adventure that reads like Sherlock Holmes meets Around the World in Eighty Days.

 

Review

This steampunk adventure story would be great for any (older) YA reader especially if you liked Around The World in 80 days.

The story follows Bee, an escaped acrobat from a local circus who takes off on an adventure in a hot air balloon with the Colonel and various other wayward characters that are picked up along the way. They are in pursuit of a murderer and even some treasure. All of the characters add dimension to the story and while life on a hot air balloon as large as the Ox isn’t feasible, it made for an interesting image in my mind. I think it might have been more like a Zeppelin than a traditional hot air balloon.

There are some topics that might be too mature for some readers such as the womanizer ways of the Colonel. While nothing is discussed in detail it is noted that he will have a woman on board and then set her off with a gift which sometimes isn’t appreciated by the woman.

I enjoyed the banter between the characters and their adventures across Europe.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

About the Author

I’m Pat!

I grew up in Illinois and now live in Los Angeles with my dog, Hank.

I like volleyball, gin, science, blues harmonica, and bar trivia.

I don’t like junk mail, people who don’t pick up their dog’s poo, astrology, and Capricorns.

My favorite authors include Bill Watterson, Liane Moriarty, and David Foster Wallace.

The genres I write in vary, but I always try to include unique characters, interesting language, and hopefully memorable reading experience.

You’ll have to tell me how I’m doing.

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