Synopsis

 

The most dangerous lies are the ones that use the truth to sell themselves.

Medical treatment determined by artificial intelligence could do more than make Hope Kestrel’s career. It could revolutionize healthcare.

What the Seattle surgeon doesn’t know is the AI has a hidden fatal flaw, and the people covering it up will stop at nothing to dominate the world’s healthcare — and its profits. Soon, Hope is made the scapegoat for a patient’s death, and only Jacie Stone, a gifted intern with a knack for computer science, is willing to help search for the truth.

But her patient’s death is only the tip of the conspiracy’s iceberg. The Director, Marah Maddox, is plotting a use for the AI far outside the ethical bounds of her physician’s oath. A staggering plan capable of reducing human lives to their DNA code, redefining the concepts of sickness and health, and delivering the power of life and death decisions into the hands of those behind the AI.

Even if the algorithm accidentally discards some who are treatable in order to make that happen…

 

 

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Praise

 

“I’ve been waiting for a book like this: a full-frontal assault on the dangers of artificial intelligence and the failures of our mangled health care system, all wrapped up in a clever, ripping thriller. Jennifer Lycette is an author to watch.” — Rob Hart, author of The Paradox Hotel

“In her debut, Lycette explores the darkest realities about the healthcare system and what generations of the near future could potentially face if power shifts to the wrong hands. Perhaps even more gripping is how she delves into the ways grief can shape someone, causing them to make questionable decisions in the name of redemption. With nuanced characters and a truly terrifying premise, The Algorithm Will See You Now is an ambitious debut that delivers.”— Heather Levy, author of Anthony nominated Walking Through Needles

“Both tense and topical, The Algorithm Will See You Now is a meticulously researched and deeply informed novel about the perils of where healthcare is likely heading, and the agonizing human costs involved. There are no easy decisions here, and Lycette paints a wonderfully complex portrait in an exciting debut.” — E.A. Aymar, author of No Home For Killers

“Full of intrigue and smart thrills, The Algorithm Will See You Now is a incisive vision of a tech-driven future, amping up the contemporary horrors of our healthcare system to the extreme. Lycette’s mastery of the medical field shines through, and her empathetic storytelling invites us to examine where we are headed and how we treat each other as human beings.” — Victor Manibo, author of The Sleepless

“An AI is putting profit over life. And patients are dying. The Algorithm Will See You Now is a tense, terrifying ride that dives into prescient themes of power, control, and the corruption of Big Medicine. Here’s your wake up call. This disturbing future is closer than you think.” — L.P. Styles, author of The Molecule Thief

 

 

Review

 

If you are into conspiracy theories regarding the government, this might be a book of interest to you. It delves into the world where AI makes the medical decisions on whether a person will receive treatment for a deadly disease, like cancer, based on DNA and whether AI thinks that it can be cured.

This type of book is one of my favorites; it takes real-world scenarios and gives it a twist. While reading this book, I felt like this could potentially be happening already in our world. Maybe not AI making decisions regarding our healthcare, but how insurance companies do make decisions on whether to approve treatments or procedures based on their own criteria. This takes it a step further. This story also reflected the greed that is seen by healthcare and others with no regard for those that use their services. This may be futuristic, but I felt like this is what we might see today.

But beyond this aspect of the book, there is one woman’s quest to improve the situation. Hope is brilliant and offers a lot to the healthcare system that she works for. However, certain secrets come out, and it destroys her beliefs. She must make a decision on how to handle this turn and what it will mean for her professionally should she buck the system.

There will be characters that you dislike right off the bat and others that you will empathize with. One character, Jacie, took some time to like. I felt like her character was all over the highway in the beginning, and I didn’t understand her role until later.

This story played to my distrust of some entities in deciding what was best for me. It also encouraged me to continue to stand up for what is right and to now be swayed.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer / JL Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mother. She has a degree in biochemistry from the University of San Francisco and attained her medical degree at the University of Washington. Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine in her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since. Her essays can be found in Intima, NEJM, JAMA and other journals; at Doximity and Medscape; and her website. She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Mentoring program. Her other published speculative fiction can be found in the anthology And If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative (Alternating Current Press). The Algorithm Will See You Now (Black Rose Writing Press) is her first novel.

 

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Synopsis

 

Twenty-nine-year-old Nina Abrahams is not in a good place. She’s been fired from her restaurant manager job after she stands up to her bully of a boss, her motivational speaker mother is helping other people get their lives on track and ignoring the derailing of her daughter’s, and her best friend, Lucas Wilson, the guy she’s loved since she was eighteen, can’t seem to look beyond the girl in braces to the woman she is now.

When a new opportunity comes up, Nina decides it’s the perfect time to start over. The restaurant needs a reinvention and so does she. Unfortunately for Nina, the restaurant comes with hostile servers, a belligerent chef, and an owner averse to change.

But if Nina’s brave enough to take on the restaurant and tackle the people out to sabotage her, perhaps she can find the courage to tell Lucas how she really feels, even if it means risking the most important relationship in her life.

 

 

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Review

 

This story was a surprise. It is well crafted. I felt like the characters had depth, there were issues to resolve, and love to find.

Nina has a lot going for her – a supportive brother, good friends, and a love for the hospitality industry. Her mother is supportive but in her own way. I suppose that comes from being a motivational or inspirational speaker. But even they resolve their issues that have kept them apart and do not truly know one another. There is even her good friend Lucas whom she loves but doesn’t say anything for fear of messing up the friendship. But we all know how that goes…unrequited love is hard to dismiss.

I liked that Nina has some issues to work through, from her job to friends and family. It is a time for her to grow and stretch herself, become the best person she can be, and follow her dreams.

There is romance in the story too, but it is very clean, and I appreciated that aspect. The crux of the story doesn’t get lost in scenes between the characters. It is very much a G-rated book.

This was a fun book to read, and I will look for more books by this author. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lara Martin writes books about imperfect people living messy lives, falling in love and getting their perfect happily-ever-after. She’s lived in South Africa and Australia and now calls a cozy village in England her home. She’s tried a variety of amazing and awful jobs: video game reviewer, graphic designer, insurance claims agent (she has no idea how she landed this one), proof reader, feature writer, and magazine editor. She lives with her husband (always the first reader of her novels), two slightly terrifying teenagers, and the requisite psychotic cat. When she’s not writing, she can be found haunting local coffee shops.

 

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Synopsis

 

Set among the rolling green Irish hills, Kelkerry Castle is something out of a dreamy fairy tale. For hotelier Bridget Marshall, however, it’s a dream come true…once she’s sorted out the mold, lead paint, and ancient plumbing. And she’ll prove to everyone in the nearby village of Shansally (pop. 119) that she’s not just another silly, dreamy-eyed American—including her curt (if utterly gorgeous) new neighbor, Liam O’Flannagain.

Only, this breathtaking castle has far more secrets than expensive repairs. While someone—or something—here desperately wants Bridget to give up and walk away, there’s another force tugging Bridget to stay. Because whenever she’s with Liam, the ancient past seems to come to life again, sweeping them along in a story they’re apparently destined to relive.

Now, Liam and Bridget are caught up in a long-ago tale filled with love, danger, and betrayal. The past seems to be working its magic on both of them, pulling them into a love story they’re helpless to resist. And they’ll have to uncover the truth of what happened all those centuries ago before history—and tragedy—repeats itself.

 

 

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Review

 

This was such a fun read! It had many of the elements I enjoy in a book – mystery, suspense, romance, and time travel. The time travel wasn’t like most I have read; rather, it was more of the two main characters experiencing what those from the past endured. I do wonder why these two were chosen, and an answer isn’t provided. Were they descendants of the people whose body they were in?

The mystery was who was sabotaging the castle and Bridget’s work to open a hotel. I had my suspicions about one character, and I was glad to see I was correct. There was a twist with that plot line that I didn’t expect, so that added another dimension to the story.

The romance between Bridget and Liam took some time. He is very broody and does not like Bridget. There isn’t anything concrete as to why other than she is an American that came over and purchased a castle to convert into a hotel. Perhaps he didn’t want tourism in that small town? Or maybe he didn’t want to be there and would have rebelled against anything or anyone. However, when she breaks through his defenses, it still takes some time for him to come around and admit his feelings.

While I have never been to Ireland, I felt like I was there from the descriptions of the towns and the people. I could imagine the lush green meadows and more. I liked how there were bits of Gaelic sprinkled in, and I had to chuckle as Bridget learned what words meant or what words she should use in certain situations.

This was an enjoyable read, and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jessica Dall is the author of such novels as Forever Bound, A Dangerous Beauty, and The Stars of Heaven. She has written across an array of genres, though her love of history and romance always seems to find a way into her work. Born and raised in southern California, she now resides in Maryland with her husband and daughter. When not living vicariously through her characters, she enjoys travel, crafting, and helping others with their own writing journeys.

 

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Synopsis

 

Find out how I, a nobody from the state of Rhode Island, was invited to travel Europe with the son of the richest man in the world at the time. We drove 19,965 miles through 12 different European countries in 10 weeks. We dined with Kings and Queens in Denmark, we gambled with the Shah of Iran in Monte Carlo, we had high tea with her Imperial Highness of Iran Princess Farah in Paris, we were rescued out of handcuffs by Shirley Temple Black during the Russian Invasion of Czechoslovakia, and Brigitte Bardot – The sexiest women in the world at the time – “Would you please dance with me? And that does not even scratch the surface of this mind-blowing adventure of 10 lifetimes that took me an additional ten years just to process.

How did my companion turn a ship around in the middle of the ocean just because we missed its departure? Within 8 hours of sending his dad to Iran, how did 30-$100 bills get hand-delivered to our hotel room in Switzerland even though no banks or wiring offices were open? After being told by the telephone company in Nice, France, to put my call through to the USA, how did my companion from the first payphone have me talking to my dad in the USA in 30 seconds flat?

How did Israel in 1948 get the oil needed to survive when no country in the world could or would sell the oil? Is it true that his father had permission from the Israeli government to build an entire city in Israel to move the total Jewish population from Tehran, Iran, to Israel at his own expense?

I was one of only eight people in the world who knew about this history-changing plan as I saw the actual blueprint of the city, which cost more than I would earn in my lifetime. Wait till you hear of the story of the 100 suitcases or the one about the prisoner who returned voluntarily to Dachau, a German concentration camp after escaping and being free.

If “Nothing Boggles the Mind of Simple Men like The Truth, ” I promise that you will be glad that you read it because as you do, you will come to realize it must be true because nobody could make this story up.”

 

 

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Excerpt

 

I got the call at work. I recognized Moritz’s voice immediately from his German accent. His voice was thick with grief. He could barely get the words out.

“It’s Maurice,” he said. “He’s gone.”

Gone? As in dead? I couldn’t seem to process the information. I stared blankly at the wall of my shop, specifically at a poster for Goodyear Tires. “How?” I managed to ask.

“Massive heart attack.”

A heart attack? It seemed such an unglamorous way to go, so incongruous with the enchanting no-holds-barred way Maurice had lived his life. I did the math in my head: he was only fifty-two.

I kept the call brief, thanked Moritz, one of Maurice’s other close friends from Munich, Germany, clearly in a similar state of shock, and hung up the phone.

I sat down in a chair and let the first wave of emotion wash over me. True, I hadn’t seen him in years, but I still thought of him as my best friend, and now that cherished friend was dead—the man who had opened the world up for me in ways I never imagined possible. Now, nearly 26 years after the fact, I had to remind myself that the time we spent traveling around Europe just after college was not a dream, that I did not imagine Maurice. But in truth I knew I had not. In the deepest depths of my mind, I could not have conjured up the times we had together.

 

 

Review

 

Wow is the first word that comes to mind. This stroll down memory lane for a trip taken by Gary and Maurice was terrific. While I would like to say it is hard to believe all of this happened and the details that Gary remembered, I don’t doubt a word that was written.

This is also a story of an unlikely friendship. Maurice is from a wealthy Iranian family, and Gary is from a small New England family. But this is what made it work. They each brought experiences to the table that the other may not have ever experienced had it not been for this friendship. Maurice’s experiences were ones that many of us might only dream of – meeting royalty, staying in nice hotels, and gambling with other people’s money. But Gary brought humble beginnings and family to the table. Despite all that Maurice’s money could buy, it can’t purchase home-cooked meals and close-knit family ties.

Their jaunt around Europe was one that most of us would not experience, or at least parts of it. I believe that most of us touring Europe would see other parts of the countries. However, this was 1968, and the times were different. I loved how you could send mail to a hotel, and they would hold it for you, whether you checked in or not. I’m unsure what sort of mail you would need to have sent this way, but it was intriguing.

This friendship and adventure across Europe was a joy to read. I imagined what taking this journey must have been like and that relieving these memories brought back some happy times.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

In 1965, Gary Orleck graduated from Babson College—a small but outstanding business college with students from around the world—in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and set out along Route 66, working his way around the US for four months. Most helpful was an agreement he had with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that he could work in any store during his travels, but he could not be paid locally. Instead, his pay was sent to his home later. Gary was well-versed in the tire business because his father owned the largest Goodyear Tire and Service store in New England.

For a young boy from Rhode Island, this was a life-changing experience. Gary was present for the Watts Riots and the world premiere of Fantastic Voyage with Raquel Welch and Fernando Lamas at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. He arrived in San Francisco the day topless was approved. The four-month trip wet Gary’s appetite for more traveling. While driving home from California, he made a promise to himself: to drive around all of Europe the next year.

Gary bumped into a college student who graduated with him. The student was from Iran, a country most Americans had never heard of. Gary didn’t know it at the time, but his friend was from the wealthiest family in the world. His friend had lived in Switzerland for four years of boarding school, four years of college in London, and seven summers in the South of France for summer school. He asked Gary to join him that following summer to drive through Europe—his friend offering to be his tour guide since he knew Europe like the back of his hand.

At first, Gary was hesitant because of his friend’s perceived reputation, but he was very persuasive, promising to be the best tour guide ever. Reluctantly, Gary agreed, which led to the most mind-blowing experience—a ten-week trip through 12 countries and 19,920 miles of earth-shattering adventures that included turning a ship around in the middle of an ocean, dining with the King and Queen of Denmark, and the King and Queen of Belgium, meeting The Who backstage, being entertained by the Empress of Iran Empress Farah in Paris, gambling with the Shah of Iran in Monte Carlo, and even being rescued by Shirley Temple Black after being arrested during the Czechoslovakian Revolution in the summer of 1968.

Gary says, “It took ten years for me to process that trip—five years of research plus five years of writing—because I wished to share the greatest adventure a young naïve boy from Rhode Island could ever imagine happening. So, fasten your seat belts for a ride inside the elite world of the rich and famous, and join me on the trip of my lifetime. A trip you will never forget. I promise you that!”

 

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BLIND TRUST

 

The SNAP Agency Trilogy, Book 3

 

by

 

NATALIE WALTERS

 

 

 

Christian Fiction / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: April 11, 2023

Number of Pages: 320 pages

 

 

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Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can’t stop herself from going all in to find out why he’s coming after her. Unfortunately, she’s going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous–to both the mission and his heart.

Natalie Walters closes out her SNAP Agency series with a bang with this nail-biting story of a deadly government conspiracy, an unlikely couple, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

 

 

 

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All good things must come to an end, but I certainly don’t want this series to say goodbye! It has been an action-packed series with love and danger rolled into one.

In this final book, we watch the love story of Lyla and Nicolas unfold. It has been some time in the making, and the story does not disappoint. Lyla is impetuous, while Nicolas is steadfast, but when they say opposites attract, they aren’t kidding. These two could not be any different. But I think those differences pull them together and create a relationship that will always endure.

I loved the action that the SNAP agency experiences on a nearly daily basis. While I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, I can appreciate their training, skills, and dedication to keeping this country safe. I still think my favorite character is Kekoa, but the rest of the cast has wormed their way into my heart.

Lyla and Nicolas have an interesting relationship before admitting they love each other. In one scene, he says he is a partly cloudy and armadillo kind of guy. I loved Lyla’s confusion and Nicolas’ explanation. I got a good chuckle from this interaction between the two, and it sets off a running joke for later in the book. Here is just a snippet of that scene.

“No, I get the partly cloudy. Makes sense because you’re a bit moody, but armadillo? I’m going to need an explanation on that.”

“…And an armadillo because of its built-in Kevlar.”

“…you realize you could’ve picked a crocodile or a rhino for the same reason?”

“True. But can they roll into a ball like a Transformer?”

 

Another scene that adds humor to this story is a visit to the Rage room. If you haven’t heard of these, you go into a room with items you can destroy with a bat, hammer, etc. It is an excellent way to get out your anger or frustration. This comment from Lyla definitely made me smile.

“I was just, um, thinking it wasn’t fair that I came out of there looking like Clifford the Big Red Dog licked my head. And you pop a baseball cap on your head and suddenly your MLB’s poster boy.”

 

The crux of the story kept me guessing and wondering who was behind the case they were investigating. I never suspected how this would play out and some news that Lyla would learn before it was all over regarding her family.

I am sad to see this series end, but I realized I had not read the first book. So I will have one more encounter with the SNAP agency. While you don’t have to read this series in order, I highly recommend that you do to follow the SNAP agency, and each book builds off of the previous one.

We give this book, and the series, 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie Walters is the author of Lights Out and Fatal Code, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with her family, and connecting with readers on social media. Photo credit Emilie Hendryx Haney.

 

 

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A RIVER OF CROWS

 

by

 

SHANESSA GLUHM

 

 

Fiction / Suspense / Thriller / Revenge

Publisher: TouchPoint Press

Date of Publication: April 18, 2023

Number of Pages: 427 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1988, Sloan Hadfield’s brother Ridge went fishing with their father and never came home. Their father, a good-natured Vietnam veteran prone to violent outbursts, was arrested and charged with murder. Ridge’s body was never recovered, and Sloan’s mother— a brilliant ornithologist— slowly descended into madness, insisting her son was still alive.

Now twenty years later, Sloan’s life is unraveling. In the middle of a bitter divorce, she’s forced to return to her rural Texas hometown when her mother is discharged from a mental health facility.

Overwhelmed by memories and unanswered questions, Sloan returns to the last place her brother was seen all those years ago: Crow’s Nest Creek. There, she is shocked to hear a crow murmuring the same syllable over and over: Ridge, Ridge, Ridge.

When the body of another boy is found, Sloan begins to question what really happened to her brother all those years ago. What she discovers will shock her small community and turn her family upside down.

 

 

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Secrets. Lies. Betrayal. Revenge. These are characteristics that will draw me in every time to a book.

This is the second book by this author, and I can safely say she brings a sense of intrigue to everything she touches. The books are filled with drama, family, mystery, and conflict.

This book has alternating timelines, much like her first book. We are taken back and forth in Sloan’s life, where we see the pain she felt at losing her brother but not really knowing what happened to him, to 20 years in the future, where she is dealing with the fallout from the past. Not to mention the secrets about her past that are slowly introduced to us throughout the story. So many surprises that kept me guessing throughout.

I felt for Sloan and all she was enduring in the present. I think that much of her past impacted how she acted and reacted in the present. Especially as more details were coming out about missing boys from the past, was her brother one of them?

The author also addresses tough topics like PTSD, mental health, and trust. Nothing is held back, and we see Sloan work her way through the issues that are keeping her from living a happy life. She may not see it that way, but considering everything that happened in the past, it isn’t surprising when her marriage doesn’t last and her reactions to those from her past. She also must face her past when dealing with her mother and her mental health issues. That can be hard, and I didn’t envy her in the least.

This book may resonate with some, and even if you cannot relate to portions of the story, it will hold you captive until you are left wrung out from the onslaught of emotions.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanessa Gluhm works as a librarian at an elementary school in New Mexico, where she lives with her husband and children.  It was during her own elementary days when a teacher encouraged Shanessa to share a story she wrote with the class. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Her debut novel, Enemies of Doves, was an IAN Book of the Year Finalist in the category of first novel, an NIEA Finalist for cross-genre fiction, and first place winner in the Chanticleer Clue Awards for mystery, suspense, and thriller fiction.

When Shanessa is not writing, she enjoys birdwatching, reading, and watching true crime documentaries.

 

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Synopsis

 

She will save hundreds of lives. But can she save her own?

Inspired by a previously untold true story.

1943. 18-year-old Czech Inge is torn from her family and imprisoned in some godforsaken hellhole. There, she suffers month after month of torturous labor while praying for liberation by the Allies. But rescue never comes. And her dream of surviving the war dies.

Heinz, an SS Sergeant, has been force-fed the Reich’s poison since childhood, but nowadays, he covertly helps prisoners.

So when a random act of kindness thrusts Inge and Heinz together, they can’t resist being drawn to one another. Unable to deny their feelings, they dare to dream of a future, a life — together.

But their relationship does not go unnoticed. For Inge and Heinz, falling in love becomes a death sentence. And not just for them but for all those they care about.

Unless…

Inge makes an unthinkable sacrifice.

Set during history’s darkest hour, “To Dream Of Shadows” is an epic tale of compassion, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit.

Discover one of the most heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heroic tales of the Holocaust. Discover “To Dream Of Shadows.”

 

 

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Review

 

This tragic yet beautiful story reminds us of the horrors that Jewish people endured during WWII and the Holocaust.

This story follows two individuals, Inge and Rudi. They are on opposite sides of the war, he is part of the Nazi brigade, and she is a Jewish woman interned at his camp. Yet, there is something in both of them that speaks to the other on a deeper level. Rudi is humane and isn’t fond of his position, but he knows that he can’t make massive changes without arousing suspicion. Inge is one voice of reason in his head, and she challenges him to treat all of the prisoners humanely, that he wouldn’t treat a dog like how he treats these people just because they are Jewish.

My heart hurt for all that these women endured at the camp. They were beaten, starved, and forced to work long hours. No one cared about them; they only cared about how much work they could get from them until the women perished from their living conditions. The guards were cruel on top of that and took any opportunity to flog and beat the women.

The story moves at a steady pace and picks up near the end when the situation is coming to a head. There is a twist at the end that I probably should have expected but did not. The interactions between all of the characters made me feel like I was right there experiencing this situation.

The story is also about friendship and love. We are shown that even two people on opposite sides of a situation can look deeper into the other and find common ground and love.

I was captured by this novel and had difficulty putting it down. It is a book that could remain on one’s mind long after the book has been read. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 60 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who arrived in the garden one day and liked it so much, they stayed. Graciously, the cats allow Steve and Ania to stay in ‘their’ house.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Bonnie Brinks and her all-woman band, The Mermaids, are the pride of Moonlight Harbor. They’re the house band at The Drunken Sailor, and that’s just the right amount of fame for Bonnie. A lifetime ago, she went to Nashville to make it big, but she returned home with a broken heart and broken dreams. Now she’s got a comfortable life and a brilliant daughter, Avril, who plays for The Mermaids alongside Bonnie and Bonnie’s mother, Loretta.

Avril has big dreams of her own. Her life in Moonlight Harbor is good–she loves singing and playing guitar with The Mermaids, and she has the sweetest, most loyal boyfriend a girl could ask for–but it all feels so…small. She can’t help wondering if there’s something more out there for her. And she doesn’t understand why her mom won’t support her going to Nashville to find out.

Meanwhile, Bonnie threw in the towel on her love life long ago, but Loretta sure hasn’t. She’s determined to be swept off her feet, and she wants the same for her daughter. When the hunky new owner of The Drunken Sailor turns the tables on the band and Avril announces she’s leaving Moonlight Harbor, Bonnie’s comfortable life seems to be drifting away. Will these three generations of Mermaids find their happy endings on the Washington coast? Or will the change in the winds leave them all shipwrecked?

 

“Blooming with heartfelt charm and swoon-worthy moments…” Woman’s World Magazine

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Target * Walmart * Apple

 

 

Review

 

If you ever had the fantasy of writing music or singing, you will be able to relate to many of the characters in this novel. Three generations of women have a band called The Mermaids, and they are quite a hit in town. Don’t mess with small-town favorites; it will cause you problems. However, the youngest wants to follow her dreams of being a songwriter, the middle one doesn’t want to let her daughter go because she knows the heartache it might cause, and the oldest believes that everyone should follow their dreams…and find a good man!

Parts of this story sent up red flags, and what I thought would happen did happen. You will probably be able to figure it out, so I won’t mention which character or the situation. There is enough drama, along with love, that it rounds out the story nicely.

Bonnie, the middle one, has had a life that wasn’t quite what she expected. She doesn’t want her daughter to fall into the same traps, but at the same time, she wants her daughter to be happy. I was glad to see that Bonnie started opening up to men again. I had to chuckle at the voices in her head that made up “Team Estrogen.” These voices added quite a bit of humor at different times. Let’s just say they wanted to see Bonnie with a man and getting some action. The man that has his sights on her is JJ, the new bar owner in town. They are attracted to one another, and a mistake on JJ’s part when it comes to the house band in his bar nearly causes issues. I admired that he held back, treated Bonnie respectfully, and didn’t rush her into a relationship. I think he recognized that it would take time to break through her walls.

I really enjoyed this town, the characters, and the music. This is the seventh in a series. While it can be read as a standalone, you are better served to start at the beginning to follow the characters in this town and understand the relationship of everyone. I need to go back and read the first few books and learn more about some of the other characters in town.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance to self-improvement. Over three million books have been sold to date. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans, and her novels have been turned into movies for both the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

 

Website * Facebook * TikTok * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

“I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.”

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

 

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * IndieBound * Other Retailers

 

**The eBook was free on 4/8/23, so check your favorite retailer!**

 

 

Review

 

This was an action-packed, informative, and entertaining novel. This is perfect for anyone that loves space or the thought of being an astronaut.

While some of this is based on fact, it brings to life what could happen on a trip into space. It isn’t like Star Trek or any other sort of sci-fi show, but it outlines the dangers and pitfalls, along with the wonderment of all things beyond our atmosphere.

A small number of teenagers are chosen, via a contest, to go into space and around the moon. They train for all possibilities, and it isn’t guaranteed that they will end up in space; it all depends on how well they do learning the ropes. All four of the teens are gifted in their own right and bring a lot to the table. We see this as they encounter many obstacles on their journey. However, these events help bring them closer and team up to help everyone survive. I came to respect each of these teens. While they might have had the typical teen angst, they were also bright and had their own issues they were dealing with at the time.

This is not a superficial story; it delves deep into the fears, hopes, and desires of all of the teens, especially Fin since he is the main character. I found myself on pins and needles, wondering how events would turn out for them. I can’t even imagine being as brave as these characters are in the book. Heck, I can’t even imagine going into space.

I do think that this book is geared toward those slightly older than middle grade only because of the technical terms and equipment that are mentioned throughout the book. I used my great-niece as a guide, she is an advanced reader, but even she would have to ask about different words in the book. This isn’t a bad thing, and it would open up dialogue between children and their parents. However, this is still a very fascinating book that anyone will enjoy.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Read an excerpt here.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of adventure books for middle graders. His stories take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something on the journey. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.

 

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The Little Shop of Murders (Collected Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery Anthology
Pigeon Park Press (April 1, 2023)
Number of Pages – 260

 

Synopsis

 

Book shops, boutiques and small businesses are the lifeblood of small towns but what secrets lie behind those pretty display windows and in the alleyways behind these charming streets?

Step inside for a personal retail experience like no other!

‘The Little Shop of Murders’ collects together fifteen superb cozy mysteries written by some of the finest authors in the genre.

All author and publisher profits from the sale of this book go to children’s charities, helping those most in need.

 

Stories include:

 

Don’t Toy with Me by Diane Kelly
A Man With No Imagination by Millie Ravensworth
The Forget-Me-Not Antiques Mystery by Victoria Tait
It Was Our Song by Nikki Knight
Always and Furever by Eryn Scott
Wild Irish Dreams by Lise McClendon
Architect of a Murder by Carlene O’Connor
Blooms and Blackmail by London Lovett
Secondhand Murder by J. New
The Lady of the House by Flora McGowan
Requiem for a Violin by Geraldine Byrne
Nightly Nuisance by Kathryn Mykel
The Gift of Dragons by ACF Bookens
Nowhere to Hide by Debbie Young
Murder in the Bookshop by Rachel McLean

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

 

Review

 

If you enjoy a good mystery and discovering new authors, this is a great book for that. Not only do you get top-notch stories, but you might also find a new favorite author in the mix.

I have heard of a few of these authors, but not all, so I was excited to read stories to learn their writing styles and if these would be new authors for me to add to my ever-growing TBR list.

Each story is complete, with clues hiding or in plain sight and intriguing characters. Since these are short stories, there is not a lot of depth to the characters, town, or mystery; but that is to be expected since they are all short stories. There were a few that I wanted to know more about or be able to continue the story in other books. That may or may not be possible. I will have to look at the specific books to see if those characters continue into other books.

This is a great book to read over lunch or while waiting at a doctor’s office or other places. The stories are just long enough to keep you engaged but wrap up quickly if you are short on time.

Overall we give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Victoria Tait

 

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK, and never expected to travel the world.  She’s drawn on her experiences following her military husband to write cozy murder mystery books with vivid and evocative settings.  Her determined female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and you’ll experience surprises, humour, and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings.

 

Amazon

 

Carlene O’Connor

 

Carlene O’Connor is the USA Today bestselling author of The Irish Village Mysteries, Home to Ireland Mysteries, and the new County Kerry Mystery series. Her mysteries have been translated into German, Estonia, and UK markets thus far, and the Irish Village Mysteries have been optioned for television. Readers are encouraged to get in touch via Facebook, Goodreads, Book Bub, or through the contact form on CarleneOConnor.net. An admitted wanderer, Carlene spends as much time in Ireland as possible while currently residing in California and Chicago. She is always up for joining events via Zoom or in person.

 

Amazon

 

Eryn Scott

 

Eryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her Whiskers and Words cozy mystery series features deep friendships, strong families, a tight-knit small town, twisty mysteries, and a whole lot of adorable cats. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest with a handful of beloved animals. She enjoys knitting, hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and reading.

 

Amazon

 

Flora McGowan

 

Flora McGowan is the author of the Carrie and Keith Mysteries, novels and short stories. Her stories combine a mix of mystery with the mystical and supernatural, often with an historical element as well as a touch of humour and a dash of romance. Flora was born in Dorset and has spent most, but not all, of her life there, and many of her stories are based in this locale. Flora enjoys travelling, taking inspiration from the places she visits.

 

Amazon

 

Nikki Knight

 

Nikki Knight describes herself as an Author/Anchor/Mom…not in that order. An award-winning weekend anchor at New York City’s top all-news radio station, 1010 WINS, she writes mysteries including LIVE, LOCAL, AND DEAD, a Vermont Radio Mystery from Crooked Lane, and as Kathleen Marple Kalb, the Ella Shane and Old Stuff series. Her short stories appear online and in anthologies, and have been short-listed for Black Orchid Novella and Derringer Awards. She, her husband and son live in a Connecticut house owned by their cat.

 

Amazon

 

Diane Kelly

 

Diane Kelly writes funny stories that feature feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed friends. Diane is the author of over three dozen novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes white-collar crime series, the Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the House Flipper cozy mystery series, the Busted female motorcycle cop series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series, and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series. Find Diane online at DianeKelly.com, on Twitter and Instagram, and on Facebook at her Author Diane Kelly page.

 

Dead as a Door Knocker

 

J New

 

J. New is the author of The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries. Immerse yourself in country house murders, dastardly deeds at English Church fetes, daring escapades in the French Riviera, and the secret tunnels under London in the award-winning series readers call ‘Miss Marple’ meets ‘The Ghost Whisperer.’ She also writes two contemporary mystery series: Tea & Sympathy featuring Lilly Tweed, former Agony Aunt now purveyor of fine teas, and Finch & Fischer with mobile librarian Penny Finch and her rescue dog Fischer at the helm. Jacquie lives in the North of England with her partner and an assortment of rescue animals.

 

London Lovett

 

London Lovett is a cozy mystery author and connoisseur of delicious baked goods.

Many readers have called her Port Danby Cozy Mystery series a ‘new favorite.’ Port Danby features a small-town florist with a powerful sense of smell. Lacey ‘Pink’ Pinkerton uses her impressive nose to help solve crimes as an amateur sleuth alongside her detective boyfriend, James Briggs. Blooms and Blackmail is a Port Danby short story.

You can keep up with London’s books and access some delicious recipes on her website.

 

Marigolds and Murder

 

Debbie Young

 

Debbie Young writes two popular cozy mystery series featuring Sophie Sayers, set in a Cotswold village, and Gemma Lamb, set at a girls’ boarding school. One book in each series was shortlisted for the Bookbrunch Selfies Awards for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. She is founder of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival, UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors, and a course tutor for Jericho Writers. She writes in the Plotting Shed at the bottom of her cottage garden. Her novels are now published by Boldwood Books and she is represented by the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency.  Amazon UK

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

ACF Bookens

 

ACF Bookens lives in Virginia’s Southwestern Mountains with two hound dogs and a very energetic preschooler. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching shows with teenagers who are way cooler than she ever was and cross-stitch.

 

Website * Amazon

 

Kathryn Mykel

 

Kathryn Mykel is the author of the Award-Winning Sewing Suspicion – A Quilting Cozy Mystery. Kathryn is inspired by the laugh-out-loud and fanciful aspects of cozies. Kathryn Mykel aims to write lighthearted, humorous cozies surrounding her passion for the craft of quilting. Born and raised in a small New England town—Kathryn is an avid quilter.

 

Sewing Suspicion

 

Lise McClendon

 

Lise McClendon is the author of numerous novels of crime and suspense. Her bestselling Bennett Sisters Mysteries continue to charm readers worldwide. Her first mystery series was set in Jackson, Wyoming, featuring art dealer, Alix Thorssen. When not writing about foreign lands and dastardly criminals, Lise lives in Montana with her husband and has recently become a fan of sunny winters in the desert. She enjoys fly fishing, hiking, picking raspberries in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. She has served on the national boards of directors of Mystery Writers of America and the International Association of Crime Writers/North America, as well as the faculty of the Jackson Hole Writers Conference.

 

Bennett Sisters Mysteries * Alix Thorssen series

 

 

Geraldine Byrne

 

Geraldine Moorkens Byrne is an Irish mystery writer, poet, and educator. She lives with her family in Dublin, where many of her stories are set, especially The Caroline Jordan series. When not dreaming up modern murder mysteries, she knits, crochets, and teaches classes on Irish folk traditions. Until 2021 she owned Ireland’s oldest family-owned music shop, the basis for “Requiem for a Violin.” Mrs. O’Brien and friends will return in their own series in 2023, The Music Shop Mysteries.

She also writes a magical cozy mystery series, The Old Bat Chronicles, under the pen name Nina Hayes.

 

Website

 

Millie Ravensworth

 

Millie Ravensworth has been writing (and sewing!) for years, and it seemed like a natural step to combine the two things in a series of cozy mysteries. She lives in England and has an adorable dog who likes to be at her side when she is sewing/writing, but he’d much rather she played fetch with his favourite toy!

Izzy King and Penny Slipper, who appear in the story in this collection, can also be found in the Cozy Craft Mystery books that are available to read now.

 

Amazon UK

 

 

Rachel McLean

 

Rachel McLean is an award-winning crime author who writes UK-based police procedurals. She is best known for the Dorset Crime series and the DI Zoe Finch series set in her home city of Birmingham. Book 1 in the Dorset Crime series, The Corfe Castle Murders, won the Kindle Storyteller Award 2021. Her new McBride and Tanner series is set around Loch Lomond in Scotland.

 

Amazon * Website

 

Giveaway

 

 

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