Synopsis

 

Your husband tells you he’s transsexual.

Do you drop him like a hot rock? Could it possibly work out? Read this book!

Includes: the transsexual process, talking to others, assessing your relationship, finding therapists, maintaining your marriage, jealousy, helping your children adjust, and more. Also, for the woman who falls in love with a transsexual.

It’s not all about him. It’s about you.

 

 

Amazon * DX Varos Publishing * Barnes & Noble

 

 

Praise

 

“Being a transgender woman, it is easy for me to forget that it isn’t all about me. It helps me to relate better with my partner when I hear from another woman’s perspective. Although there were a few uncomfortable spots I would recommend this book to anyone that is considering or is already transitioning.”- Kristy Burney, Goodreads

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

If your spouse or partner recently came out as transgender and you’re wondering if this book is for you, trust me, it is! ‘It’s Not All About You: Living with a Transsexual Spouse or Partner,’ by Elisabeth L. Morrissey is a terrific book of advice for those who have recently realized that the person they were sharing their lives with is transgender.

It can be difficult to struggle with the question of what to do after your spouse tells you that they are trans. Of course, you want to be supportive, but where does this new information leave your marriage?

Elisabeth L. Morrissey has been married to a trans woman named Karen for twenty-five years, and, as such, she has a lot of knowledge about the trans community.

Although Karen was already living as a woman when she and Elisabeth met, Elisabeth has spent a lot of time researching laws regarding trans people and talking with people in the community about what they have dealt with in coming out. It’s a situation that not many people outside of the trans community talk about, but one that every married trans person and their spouse have to face.

Elisabeth offers a lot of useful advice from the pen of someone who has actual knowledge of the situation and I can see her advice being very helpful for anyone who is married to (or in a serious relationship with) a trans person.

From talking about how to obtain a good therapist or marriage counselor, to how to help your partner as they re-experience adolescence in the opposite gender, ‘It’s Not All About You,’ is exactly the type of resource that can come in clutch in a difficult time.

Although I have never personally experienced a spouse or partner coming out as trans, I have to say that I found this book very intriguing and informative. I am so happy that a book like this can be written, and I hope it helps anyone that reads it.

 

 

About the Author

 

Elisabeth Morrissey learned a lot as a volunteer for several years at the Gender Identity Center of Colorado, a transgender support organization, and from her twenty-five-year marriage to a male-to-female transsexual. She is otherwise a homemaker and support system for her spouse, Karen.

 

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WATERMELON TATTOO

 

by

 

Tony Burnett

 

 

 

Psychological Thriller / Suspense

Publisher: Watertower Press

Date of Publication: February 14, 2023

Number of Pages: 300 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Naïve but charismatic farm girl, Jacquelyn Benderman, has her life perfectly planned until her town blames her for the accidental death of the local high school’s star running back. Feeling like a pariah, she flees to Austin, Texas where her luck seems to change. Her rapid rise to stardom as a blues diva is derailed when an anonymous stalker begins systematically murdering her associates, leaving the police to suspect her.

As Y2K approaches, she wrestles with the guilt of falling for her roommate, a Romanian folk singer who survives as a call-girl, while the show band she sings with rehearses for a national tour.

Can she protect her new lover from danger? Will the world end at midnight? Is there no hiding place when everyone knows who you are?

 

 

 

Amazon│B&N│Bookshop│Watertower Press

 

Praise

 

“Burnett has created an unconventional and magnetic character who makes a memorable first impression.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Bodies, wrecked and loved, Wiccan handfasting, sex work, guns, watermelons, and music—lots of music—light up this thrilling nail-biter.” –Lesley Bannatyne, author of Unaccustomed

 

 

 

 

This book is not for the faint of heart…it will grip you and hold you captive from start to finish.

Set in the hill country of Texas (Austin and the surrounding area), this coming-of-age story spells out how dreams can be crushed, yet others rise from the flames. Jacqui has high hopes for her life, but an incident at their farm and another at a local pageant turn her life upside down. What follows is her journey to discover who she is and where she might go in life.

Jacqui is one of those characters you will love but feel conflicted about her life choices. While she didn’t really attend church growing up, her small hometown was typical of one in the bible belt. They had strong beliefs about what you did and didn’t do in this world. I don’t remember the exact year this story is set in, but it is sometime before 2000 since no cell phones are scattered across the pages. I have come to admire authors who can write a story where the characters do not rely on technology to get through their lives. The characters actually have to talk to one another and call each other to share news.

I was riveted by the stories that tied many of the characters together. It was honest and typical of what we might have experienced in our own lives. There is love, divorce, friendships, and conflict. The suspense portion might be easy to figure out “who” is behind the tragic events surrounding Jacqui as she seeks a new life. While I had my suspicions, it did take a little time before they were confirmed.

This book takes a raw look at drugs and their effect on people. Let’s just say it isn’t pretty, and if nothing else, it confirms my desire to stay as far away from them as possible.

This tale is spellbinding with all of the intertwining plotlines. Definitely a highlight of the books I have read so far this year. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Award-winning poet and songwriter Tony Burnett is the Executive Director of Kallisto Gaia Press. He served as President of the Writers’ League of Texas from 2013 to 2017. His poetry, short fiction, and environmentally focused nonfiction appear in over 70 publications. His previous books include the story collection, Southern Gentlemen and a full-length poetry collection, The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels. He resides in rural central Texas with his trophy wife and several rescue dogs who pay him no mind unless hungry. His hobbies include poking wasp nests with short sticks and wandering aimlessly about. He hopes you enjoy meeting his imaginary friends.

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

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05/30/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
05/30/23	Hall Ways Blog	Spotlight
05/31/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
05/31/23	LSBBT Blog	Spotlight
06/01/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
06/02/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
06/03/23	Jennie Reads	Review
06/04/23	The Book’s Delight	Spotlight
06/05/23	Forgotten Winds	Review
06/06/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Spotlight
06/07/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
06/08/23	The Clueless Gent	Review
06/08/23	Bibliotica	Review

 

 

 

 

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The definitive guide to creating the most mouthwatering hamburgers by America’s leading burger expert—expanded and updated with new and improved recipes

The Great American Burger Book was the first book to showcase a wide range of regional burger styles and cooking methods. In this new, expanded edition, author and burger expert George Motz covers traditional grilling techniques as well as how to smoke, steam, poach, smash, and deep-fry burgers based on signature recipes from around the country.

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific regional burger, and includes the history of the method and details on how to create your own piece of American food history right at home. Written by Motz, the author of Hamburger America and hailed by the New York Times as a “leading authority” on hamburgers, The Great American Burger Book is a regional tour of America’s best burgers.

Recipes feature regional burgers from California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. International locations Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Malaysia, and Turkey.

This is a book for anyone who loves a great burger, unique or classic. And who doesn’t love a great burger?

These mouthwatering recipes include Connecticut’s Steamed Cheeseburger, The Tortilla Burger of New Mexico, Iowa’s Loosemeat Sandwich, Houston’s Smoked Burger, Pennsylvania’s The Fluff Screamer, and Sheboygan’s Brat Burger.

 

 

Amazon * Abrams * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

I have enjoyed being a part of the Abrams Dinner Party because I get to learn about new cuisines, cooking techniques, and expand my repertoire.

This may be one of my favorite books so far. I probably say that often, but there is something about a hamburger that is good any time of the year. I also have a couple of burger-loving guys in the house, which doesn’t hurt anything.

I enjoyed looking at burgers from across the country. There were so many unique styles that were region specific. We live in the south (Texas, to be exact), and I was intrigued by several burgers. Some I will try; others, probably not. They were just a little too weird for me. Now the kid…he eats nearly anything, and I love trying new things because he will give them a whirl, whereas hubby is more picky.

I tried three different burgers this weekend, and all were delicious. I made the Guberburger (MS), Fried Onion Burger (OK), and The Green Chile Cheeseburger (NM). The Fried Onion Burger was probably the most “normal” burger of the three. The Guberburger has melted peanut butter on top, and the kid loved that one. I didn’t buy enough chiles for the Green Chile Cheeseburger, so I couldn’t enjoy any on mine. This would be great during Hatch Chile season later this summer. I did do a spin on the Bacon Avocado Toast Burger (CA). I put avocado on my bun (vs. toast) and used cheese and no bacon. I thought about cooking some bacon, but then I would have had to share it with hubby…and well, that would be too much work!

Probably the only thing I would have done differently was to use a cast iron skillet vs. one with a ceramic coating. While it was great to toast the buns, it seemed to take longer to cook the meat and get a good sear on it. But that is on me since the book does recommend using a cast iron skillet. Mine is smaller, and I wanted to be able to cook all of the burgers at the same time vs. in shifts.

There are so many more burgers I want to experiment with, so I am glad it is summer, and it is the perfect time to do that. If you enjoy a good burger, pick this one up and find some new favorites for the family to enjoy.

We give it 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

George Motz is a well-traveled Emmy Award–winning freelance filmmaker, author, and photographer. He has also been called the “foremost authority on hamburgers” by the New York Times, and “America’s biggest burger name” by Eater LA. In the spring of 2004, Motz completed Hamburger America, which was nominated in 2006 for a James Beard Award, and was recognized in 2011 by the US National Archives as an integral part of American food history. The film’s success led to a state-by-state guide to hamburgers, also titled Hamburger America: A State-by-State Guide to Great Burger Joints. And in 2016, Abrams released his first cookbook, The Great American Burger Book. Motz can be seen on his show, Burger Scholar Sessions, on Complex Media’s First We Feast, heading into its sixth season. He lives in Brooklyn.

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

After two heartbreaking losses, Luna wants adventure. Something and somewhere very different from the affluent, sheltered home in California and Hawaii where she grew up. An adventure in which she can also make some difference. She ends up in a place steeped in an ancient culture and a deadly history.

Raised by her grandmother in a Honolulu suburb, she moves to her parent’s home in California at thirteen and meets her brothers for the first time. Grandma persuades her to write a journal whenever she’s lonely or overwhelmed as a substitute for someone to whom she could reveal her intimate thoughts.

Lucien, a worldly, well-traveled young architect, finds a stranger’s journal at a café. He has qualms and pangs of guilt about reading it. But they don’t stop him. His decision to go on reading changes his life.

Months later, they meet at a bookstore where Luna works and which Lucien frequents. Fascinated by his stories and his adventurous spirit, Luna volunteers for the Peace Corps. Assigned to Cambodia, she lives with a family whose parents are survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide forty years earlier. What she goes through in a rural rice-growing village defies anything she could have imagined. Will she leave this world unscathed?

Inspired by the healing effects of writing, this is an epistolary tale of love—between an idealistic young woman and her grandmother and between the young woman and a young architect. It’s a tale of courage, resilience of the human spirit, and the bonds that bring diverse people together.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * iBooks

 

 

Excerpt

 

Prologue

 

Ov’s thin upper body is slumped over his crossed legs, his forehead resting on the platform. His brown, wiry arms lie limp, the right one extended forward, hand dangling over the edge of the platform. Dried blood is splattered on his head, and on the collar, right shoulder, and back of his old short-sleeved white shirt.

It seems fitting that he died where he used to spend most of his time when he wasn’t on the rice fields—sitting on a corner of the bamboo platform in the ceiling-high open space under the house. It’s where you get refreshing breezes most afternoons, after a long day of work.

The policeman looks down at Ov’s body as if he’s unsure what to do next. He lays down his camera and the gun in a plastic bag at one end of the platform untainted by splatters of gelled blood.

He steps closer to the body, anchors himself with one knee on top of the platform, and bends over the body. Hooking his arms underneath Ov’s shoulders and upper arms, he pulls the body up, and carefully lays it on its back. He straightens the legs.

He steps off the platform. Stands still for a few seconds to catch his breath. He turns to us and says, “It’s clear what has happened. I have all the pictures I need.”

He points to his camera, maybe to make sure we understand. We have watched him in silence, three zombies still in shock. Me, standing across the bamboo platform from him. Mae and Jorani sitting, tense and quiet, on the hammock to my left.

Is that it? Done already? I want to ask him: Will he have the body taken away for an autopsy? I suppose that’s what is routinely done everywhere in cases like this. But I don’t know enough Khmer.

As if he sensed my unspoken question, he glances at me. A quick glance that comes with a frown. He seems perplexed and chooses to ignore me.

He addresses the three of us, like a captain addressing his troop. “You can clean up.”

The lingering frown on his brow softens into sympathy. He’s gazing at Jorani, whose mournful eyes remain downcast. He looks away and turns toward Mae. Pressing his hands together, he bows to her. A deeper one than the first he gave her when she and Jorani arrived.

He utters Khmer words too many and too fast for me to understand. From the furrowed brow and the look in his eyes, I assume they are words of sympathy. He bows a third time, and turns to go back to where he placed the gun and camera. He picks them up and walks away.

For a moment or two, I stare at the figure of the policeman walking away. Then I turn to Jorani. Call him back. Don’t we have questions? I can ask and you can translate, if you prefer. But seeing her and Mae sitting as still and silent as rocks, hands on their laps, and eyes glazed as if to block out what’s in front of them, the words get trapped in my brain. Their bodies, rigid just moments before, have gone slack, as if to say: What else can anyone do? What’s done cannot be undone. All that’s left is to clean up, as the policeman said. Get on with our lives.

My gaze wanders again toward the receding figure of the policeman on the dirt road, the plastic bag with the gun dangling in his right hand. Does it really matter how Cambodian police handles Ov’s suicide? I witnessed it. I know the facts. And didn’t I read a while back how Buddhism frowns upon violations on the human body? The family might object against cutting up Ov—the way I’ve seen on TV crime shows—just to declare with certainty what caused his death.

I take in a long breath. I have done all I can and must defer to Cambodian beliefs and customs.

But I can’t let it go yet. Ov chose to end his life in a violent way and I’m curious: Do the agonies of his last moments show on his face? I steal another look.

All I could gather, from where I stand, is life has definitely gone out of every part of him. His eyes are closed and immobile. The tic on his inanimate cheeks hasn’t left a trace. The tic that many times was the only way I could tell he had feelings. Feelings he tried to control or hide. Now, his face is just an expressionless brown mask. Maybe everyone really has a spirit, a soul that rises out of the body when one dies, leaving a man-size mass of clay.

I stare at Ov’s body, lying in a darkened, dried pool of his own blood, bits of his skull and brain scattered next to his feet where his head had been. At that moment, it hits me that this would be the image of Ov I will always remember. I shudder.

My legs begin to buckle underneath me and I turn around, regretting that last look. With outstretched hands, I take a step toward the hammock. Jorani rises to grab my hands, and she helps me sit down next to Mae.

Could I ever forget? Could Mae and Jorani? Would the image of Ov in a pool of blood linger in their memories like it would in mine?

I know I could never tell my parents what happened here this afternoon. But could I tell Lucien? The terrible shock of watching someone, in whose home I found a family, fire a gun to his head? And the almost as horrifying realization—looking back—that I knew what he was going to do, but I hesitated for a few seconds to stop him.

 

 

Review

 

I’m not sure what genre to place this book in. Part of it is a romance, part family, and part is a young woman’s journey to find herself.

The book starts with a flash of the future, and from this prologue, it seems like it will be more like a suspense novel. That is not the case since Luna’s character doesn’t end up in Cambodia until very close to the end. However, it does set up an intriguing scenario that is fully revealed later.

Luna has struggled for most of her life. She grew up with her grandmother for many years, which forged a close relationship between the two. I loved how they were like two peas in a pod and seemed to understand each other better than the grandmother’s daughters. I loved the mango tree in the backyard and how it was the grandmother’s refuge. There is a lot of symbolism that could be derived from those thoughts.

Lucien had his issues as a younger man, but when he stumbles across Luna’s journal in the coffee shop, it opens up a new world for him. It isn’t that she had exotic travels or adventures, but the heartfelt words she shared touched him. He felt like he knew her before he ever met her. I enjoyed watching their friendship unfold. It takes courage to create a journal that details your life and share it with someone you have just met.

This novel is about finding yourself in this crazy world. Many struggle with discovering their place in this world, but sometimes it is easier with someone by your side walking the same path with you. I felt immersed in their lives as I read the journal entries and had a better grasp of who Luna and Lucien were as people. Everyone has their own journey and story to tell. It is all about finding the right person to share it with.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Evy Journey writes. Stories and blog posts. Novels that tend to cross genres. She’s also a wannabe artist and a flâneuse.

Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D., University of Illinois). So her fiction spins tales about nuanced characters dealing with contemporary life issues and problems. She believes in love and its many faces.

Her one ungranted wish: To live in Paris where art is everywhere, and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She has visited and stayed a few months at a time.

 

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In the 1880s Old American West, after befriending a little girl, a legendary outlaw trains to take on a band of miscreants who don’t exactly buy into his mystique, save the little girl, and become a real hero.

Hammerin’ Hank Haywood Posey is the greatest outlaw to ever live, but every great story eventually comes to an end. The year is 1885 and an old foe challenges Hank’s title and a showdown in an innocent, small-town flare-up. However, along the way, Hank befriends a young girl who admires the outlaw way of life, he falls in love with an escort, and a quaint small town, which leaves Hank fighting for more than just himself for the first time in his life.

Theme:
It doesn’t matter how good you are, you can’t do it all alone. The greatest strength in this world is the knowledge and comfort of relying on others.

Setting:
1885 in the Old West

Main Characters:
Hank Posey: The greatest, most dangerous outlaw the west has ever seen.
Clementine: a vicious young girl with a heart of gold and a fascination for the outlaw life.
Bandit: Hank’s horse. Has a lot of personality and is the only person in the world Hank truly trusts.
Johnnie Rowan: Hank’s replacement in The Wild Ones Outlaw Gang. Johnnie is always fighting to be just like Hank, despite having none of his qualities.
Angus Earle Denver: The Grandsire of the Wild Ones Outlaw Gang. Angus killed Hank’s father back in the day and Hank has been seeking revenge ever since.
Daisy: A whore turned escort, Daisy catches feelings for Hank and the feelings are mutual. After the showdown, Daisy and Hank have plans of settling down together.

 

 

Amazon

 

Review

 

If you are like me, you have probably heard the term Spaghetti Western but really didn’t know what it meant other than it was a cheesy western film. Well, I have looked it up for you and here is the official definition/meaning:

 

“Spaghetti” Westerns are a subgenre of Westerns whose name references the circumstances and location of their filming. Generally, a Spaghetti Western is a low-budget film produced by Italian directors (hence the “spaghetti” connection) and filmed in Europe, primarily in Almería and the Tabernas Desert.

 

Who knew, right? Think The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and Dhjango to name a few. Surprisingly, Blazing Saddles is not a spaghetti western.

I am not sure I have laughed so much reading a book in some time. All of the characters seem to be unredeemable, but they have spunk. Even the outlaw, Hank Posey, isn’t as tough as he might seem. Maybe because he is getting a little long in the tooth and isn’t quite as fierce as he used to be. Although, he does seem to kill people at random. I think most of the time it was a mistake, but who knows what was going through Hank’s head.

One character that stole the book, at least for me, is Clementine. She is a precocious child and seems to have Hank befuddled, so much that he feels that he needs to protect her, if from herself if nothing else. Of course, there is also Bandit, Hank’s horse. I think if he could talk, oh the stories he could tell.

You would think that outlaws would have a mind of their own and do whatever they want, but there does seem to be some code of honor among thieves/outlaws.

Despite the menacing outlaws, this story has a lot of heart and is a change for Hank. Perhaps he will follow a new path? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

This was quite a fun book to read with the quick wit, zany zingers, and craziness that ensues.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Steve Hanisch is a comedy screenwriter and self-published author with several film festival and screenplay competition wins from his work.

His screenplay festival awards include being the Winner of the 22nd LA Comedy Film Festival Screenplay Competition, the 6th Northeast Film Festival, Horror-Comedy Feature Screenplay Competition from the 9th International Horror Hotel, and The Green Light Award for Comedy Excellence from Die Laughing Film Festival. He also has a slew of other honorable mentions, runner-ups, finalists, semi-finalists, etc., from various film festivals over the years, on multiple scripts.

This book is based on the original screenplay of the same name, also written by Steve.

Steve lives in New Jersey with his wife, Kerry, and his loyal canine companion, Sadie.

 

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From the famed author of Under the Tuscan Sun , the most delicious Tuscan pasta recipes that can be made in the time it takes to b oil water and for the pasta to cook

Frances Mayes is known for transporting readers to the charming Italian countryside in her bestselling books. In Pasta Veloce , Mayes and veteran food editor Susan Wyler take us there us by sharing 100 under 30-minute pasta recipes, inspired by their time in Italy. These well-loved recipes blend traditional Italian technique with magic from the Mayes and Wyler home kitchens where experiments are always in progress.

Pasta is the most versatile food on earth. And if you do it fast! Pasta Veloce offers a multitude of under 30-minute, luscious recipes, all accompanied by Mayes’s evocative text. While there are numerous pasta cookbooks, few feature a true Italophile’s passion and eye for detail that can get a dish to the table in, as Mayes describes, “the time it takes to boil water.” From a Tagliatelle with Duck Confit, Chestnuts, and Coffee Reduction to a glittering Capellini with Golden Caviar to the perfect vodka sauce, Pasta Veloce is your guide on those nights when you’re ready to skip the whole production of it but still want to eat like royalty in a rustic Italian village.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop * Abrams

 

 

Review

 

This is an amazing pasta cookbook! Pasta is a dish that is easy to make inexpensively. This book includes so many wonderful dishes, and I can’t wait to try them all. There aren’t many over-the-top ingredients, and most you can find at your local store. You can swap pasta depending on what it calls for and what you have on hand, but there is usually a good reason for the specific pasta they use in the recipes. There is a wonderful pasta pantry section that includes an image of what the pasta looks like and a description. You will also find multiple pesto recipes at the end to top your favorite pasta. I have a feeling this is one I will utilize quite often, especially with men in the house that eat a lot.

I have tried two dishes so far and have comments about both on what could be done better. The first recipe I made was the Spaghetti with Filet Mignon and herbed Balsalmic Onions. This recipe calls for three red onions. That is a LOT of onion! I think I used two smaller red onions. I also used angel hair pasta since that is what I had on hand. I would not add the pasta and the reserved pasta water to the onion/sauce mixture until right before serving. The pasta absorbed more of the sauce/liquid than I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong; it was still very delicious!

 

 

The next dish I made was the Fusilli with Sausage, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Spinach, and Pine Nuts. This was also quite yummy but needed a little something extra. Perhaps some more seasonings. I also used fresh spinach vs. frozen, and I can’t remember what pasta I used, but I don’t think it was fusilli. There isn’t really a sauce per se, and I think it needed one. This is before it was dished up, so you don’t see the grated cheese we added to the top.

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Frances Mayes is the international bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun and The Tuscan Sun Cookbook. The award-winning movie by the same title was based on her memoir. She is also the author of A Year in the World, Bella Tuscany, Every Day in Tuscany, Women in Sunlight, and Bringing Tuscany Home, among others. She and her husband divide their time between North Carolina and Tuscany.

Susan Wyler is a cookbook editor, the author of Cooking for a Crowd and Cooking from a Country Farmhouse, and a former food editor at Food & Wine magazine. She lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Steven Rothfeld is a photographer whose work appears in The Tuscan Sun Cookbook, Bringing Tuscany Home, and Simply French. He lives in Napa Valley, California.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Eden Sands has been a star for twenty years, but it’s lonely at the top. Her mediocre marriage just ended, and her inner circle is smaller than ever. The stage is the only place she’s ever felt like she truly belonged, and yet, her last album flopped, and her upcoming tour hasn’t sold out. Eden’s desperate for her star to shine bright again, but when her team suggests a collaboration with an up-and-coming young star to give her a boost, she balks.

Anna Moss is pop music’s rising star. She’s idolized Eden Sands for most of her life―so it’s a dream come true when she’s invited to perform with her at the Grammys. Anna’s tired of being defined by her bubbly persona. She wants to be taken seriously as an artist, and a duet with Eden could be just what she needs.

As Anna and Eden rehearse, they soon realize they have more in common than their musical talents. Now they just have to decide if what is between them is a one-hit wonder or the making of a romance worthy of one of the greatest love songs of all time.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

Read for free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

You never know where you will find love. It might even be in your crush.

Eden and Anna are two stars fated for each other, but it takes time to come to that realization. Eden is divorced and trying to get her career back on track. Anna is very confident in who she is and is a star on the rise. When these two come together, the stars explode.

This was a tale fraught with emotion, discovery, and learning how to be true to yourself. While Anna is pansexual, Eden doesn’t know how she fits into a relationship. I enjoyed watching her discover who she was and what she wanted from life. Many times, we have a different face for everyone else. This was true in Eden’s case, but with time and understanding, she comes into her own. There is no timeframe that anyone has to meet to discover their passion, love, and inner soul.

I liked that this romance was not rushed. It was slow while they worked things out. This is important because it was a change for Eden, but it was what helped her recognize and embrace her true self. While they have their ups and downs, they do come together with a happily ever after ending.

There are some tense moments, but I chalked that up to Anna’s insecurity and immaturity when it comes to relationships. But those moments helped move the story forward. You have to have some conflict to round out a story.

This was an enjoyable read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

As the live broadcast went into a commercial break, Anna and Eden were rushed into position by members of the crew. Anna sat on the stool that had been placed for her behind the hill, hiding herself from view. Around her, the stage buzzed with activity. Briefly, she wished she could watch Eden deliver the first half of her performance, but at least she could watch the replay later.

“Ten seconds!” a voice called.

The activity around her briefly intensified, and then everything went quiet as the show returned from the commercial break. She listened as Eden was introduced, and then the opening bars of “Alone” began to play. Sitting with her back against the structure that housed the band, Anna felt the vibrations of the music all the way to her bones.

She closed her eyes, absorbing it, losing herself in the beauty of Eden’s voice and the electricity that filled the room. It was one of the most intense things Anna had ever experienced, being onstage yet hidden from the audience. As she listened to Eden sing, her nerves melted away. Anna was one with the music.

“I’m never alone, because I have myself to keep me company.” Eden delivered the final line, her voice heavy with emotion.

Anna’s heart clenched. Did Eden really feel that way? Was she alone when the spotlight didn’t shine her way? The music changed, and Anna leaned forward as the felt hilltop was stripped away, revealing the band. Eden stood overhead now, but Anna didn’t dare look up. She couldn’t let anything break her concentration this close to her entrance.

The opening beats of “After Midnight” pulsed around her, and Anna turned her microphone on. She pressed her hands against her thighs, ready to spring to her feet. Eden sang the opening verse, and Anna could hear the crowd clapping along to the beat. The energy in the room made the fine hairs on her arms stand at attention. With a hiss, stage smoke burst from the structure behind her.

“But after midnight . . .” Eden’s voice reached her.

Anna lurched to her feet, eyes on the red tape marking her way through the smoke now billowing thick around her. She stepped onto the main stage, where a spotlight engulfed her, and the crowd roared with surprise.

“I let my hair down. After midnight, I’m not afraid to be a clown.” Anna’s voice sounded clear and strong, and luckily for her, the stage lights were so blinding she couldn’t see the audience, even if she’d wanted to. She spun so that her skirt flared around her, then danced her way over to Eden as they alternated lines through the chorus.

Eden stood before her, looking like an actual celestial being, not merely a star. Her dress sparked beneath the stage lights, glinting and shimmering and dazzling Anna until she nearly did forget the words to the song. For a moment, she was lost, staring helplessly at Eden as an arena full of industry heavyweights looked on.

Eden gave her a reassuring smile, dipping her head in the smallest of nods. You’ve got this. Anna received the message loud and clear, and suddenly, she did.

“I’m a little bit more wild. I am my inner child. I haven’t taken off my rose-colored glasses,” Anna sang, tugging at imaginary glasses.

Eden held her gaze as the music swelled, her expression anguished. Then she turned her face toward the camera. “I don’t daydream anymore.”

Her voice was heavy with emotion, and damn, she had some acting chops. They’d tweaked the lyrics of the song to suit the theme of this performance, and Anna could hear the crowd buzzing in response.

Anna angled herself slightly toward the camera, which was on a boom that swung overhead, allowing the network to get its close-up for the people watching at home. Her gaze slid past it to the audience beyond. The stage lights had shifted, and now she saw so many faces she recognized, really intimidating faces.

She wrenched her gaze back to Eden. They circled each other as they sang, sparring back and forth as Eden wrestled with the demons of her younger self. Anna had never seen anything as mesmerizing as the way the stage lights glittered on Eden’s silver dress.

And then that rhinestone-studded dress was against Anna’s cheek as Eden embraced her inner child. When Anna straightened from the hug, her earring snagged on one of the crystals, yanking her back against Eden’s chest. She was stuck. Before she could panic, her earring broke, freeing her.

Anna spun to stand with her back against Eden’s, melting into the background as Eden delivered the final line of the song.

“After midnight, I’m free.”

The crowd began to whistle and applaud, the noise again making those hairs on Anna’s arms rise. Eden squeezed her hand, Anna’s cue to step beside her.

“Thank you so much!” Eden called to the crowd.

“Thank you,” Anna echoed, tears blurring her vision as she saw a few people in the audience get to their feet. It seemed to happen in slow motion: people in tuxedos and ball gowns, people Anna looked up to, industry legends, standing and clapping for her.

Well, for Eden, probably. For both of them, maybe. And then Eden pulled her in for a hug. Anna was grinning like an idiot, and Eden still smelled like rose petals, and she was definitely having an out-of-body experience right now.

Chapter 4 from STAR COLLIDE by Rachel Lacey, available May 2, 2023 from Montlake Publishing

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets, and she’s a passionate fangirl: she has attended hundreds of concerts, sitting anywhere from the last row to the front, and even backstage. Rachel loves to keep in touch with her readers!

 

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Award-winning cookbook author Liana Krissoff presents an evocatively written ode to home cooking with all the guidance you need to perfect your own easy-to-master family recipes

Trusted cookbook author Liana Krissoff is back. Previously, she showed you fresh, clever canning recipes; modern slow-cooker recipes; and easy vegetarian crowd-pleasers. Now, Krissoff brings you In Praise of Home Cooking —fit for anyone looking to perfect the staples, parents who want to whip up something tasty, curious kids who want to learn grandma’s secret recipes, and ever yone who has gotten tired of those absurdly labor-intensive recipes.

To Krissoff, developing resourceful habits and perfecting uncomplicated dishes––a pot of fluffy rice and one of creamy beans, a seared steak and a colorful salad––are integral to living with great pleasure, and so she shows us the way. Krissoff explores these simple but vital subjects—ranging from how to start a fire in a clearing in the woods to making a simple but celebration-worthy layer cake, and even remembering to make a mug of hot cocoa just because it’s the first cold, gray day of fall—reminding us that appreciating these moments is key to a life well-lived.

In this cookbook infused with memoir, there are charming step-by-step illustrations that demystify key kitchen skills, vibrant food photographs, and short essays that reveal keen insights gleaned from a life as a recipe tester, cookbook author, and mom interspersed among the recipes. The more than 85 recipes in this book are Krissoff’s essentials, perfected for your ease. They represent a chronicle of how she learned to cook but also of ongoing efforts to help her daughter develop a level of competence with improvisatory home cooking. From kneading your own yeasted bread dough to refining your classic tahini dressing, Krissoff brings you all the foolproof recipes you always wished you had, while offering insight into the meaning and beauty behind these simple moments.

 

 

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About the Author

Liana Krissoff is the author of six cookbooks, including Abrams’ Slow Cook Modern, Canning for a New Generation, Whole Grains for a New Generation, and Secrets of Slow Cooking: Creating Extraordinary Food with Your Slow Cooker. She has been a freelance recipe tester, editor, and writer for over a decade. She lives with her husband and their daughter in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

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Review

 

This book is great for newer cooks because it shares many tips and tricks to make one feel more comfortable in the kitchen. I think many that think that they cannot cook are primarily due to not having the confidence or skills to be proficient. This can be learned, and In Praise of Home Cooking will help someone increase their skill base.

The book starts with many basics, but even I learned a few things that I didn’t know before. I liked the list of supplies to have on hand, from knives to cookware and everything in between.

With each recipe, it shares what skills you will be practicing in creating that dish. This could be knife skills, cracking eggs, and more.

As I perused the cookbook, there were many simple dishes and then some that were a little more complex, but not so much that it would daunt any novice cook. I didn’t notice any crazy or unusual ingredients in the recipes. This makes it even easier for novice cooks because they aren’t searching for something they have never heard of or know how to use.

I have a taco spice blend that I like to use, but there is one in this book that I might need to give it a try. It is very similar to what I make now but includes corn starch that I don’t use.

One dish that I have made several times now is the Yogurt Marinated Spiced Chicken. This is so easy to mix together and works with white or dark meat. It might even work with pork. I might have to try that sometime.

I think this is a great book for someone just learning to cook. They will learn techniques and have a wealth of recipes under their belt to venture out into something more complex.

 

 

 

Become a faster, healthier cook with secrets from Weelicious founder and meal prep genius Catherine McCord

With celebrated cookbook author and Weelicious founder Catherine McCord’s step-by-step process, your kitchen will be beautifully organized and fast, healthy family meals will be at your fingertips—starting with 100 of her favorite recipes. McCord believes that success in the kitchen comes down to two things—organization and meal prep—and she’ll show you how to master both in Meal Prep Magic .

One step beyond the ideological approach of Marie Kondo and The Home Edit , McCord brings you a practical guide to organizing the most important space in your home and using it. If you’ve ever lost leftovers to the back of the fridge, failed to find a spice that you know you bought, or faced a cabinet full of mismatched Tupperware, her advice will forever change your relationship to your kitchen.

After showing how to maximize your space for efficiency, McCord offers up her favorite family recipes. Including tried-and-tested secrets for saving time, these recipes are easy to prep ahead, make entirely ahead, contain basic ingredients that are always in your pantry, and/or strategically employ your freezer, air-fryer, Instant Pot, slow cooker, and more. Think grab-and-go breakfasts like Raspberry Creamy Chia Puddings, creative packed lunches including easy-to-assemble Salad Jars, healthy snacks like air-fryer crispy artichokes, and irresistible dinners that are even better leftover, such as lemony chicken thighs with lots of herbs.

By following McCord’s simple strategies for meal prepping, you’ll always have food on-hand to enjoy throughout your busy week, limiting your trips to the grocery store and time spent in the kitchen. Eat healthy meals you love, while saving time, money, and your sanity. Never again stress out about what to make for dinner! Meal Prep Magic is a lifesaver for any and all home cooks, busy parents, and fans of Weelicious and McCord’s popular book Smoothie Project .

 

 

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Review

 

I love to cook, and discovering new authors, recipes, techniques, and other helpful hints really goes a long way to improving my skills.

This book is good for a beginner cook since it starts with organizing your kitchen, purging what you don’t need (perhaps those old spices from lord knows when), to what staples you need to keep on hand.

The recipes included are a wide variety and range from simple to a little more complex. The dishes also range from breakfast items to dinner, with dessert thrown in as well. I think that almost anyone could master these dishes with a little practice and utilizing the tips she shares.

I have to admit that one tip, clean as you go, is a wise one. This way, there isn’t a sink full of dishes at the end of the evening.

One recipe I would like to try soon is the Cheesy Brown Rice Cakes. There are a few ingredients and looks to be one of the simpler recipes in the book.

 

 

Cheesy Brown Rice Cakes

 

Ingredients

2 cups cooked brown rice (or any type of leftover rice)
2 large eggs, whisked
1/2 c grated mozzarella, cheddar, Gruyere or provolone cheese
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Olive, canola, avocado, or vegetable oil

 

Place the rice, eggs, cheese, and salt in a bowl and stir until thoroughly combined.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a thin layer of oil. Using an ice cream scoop or 1/4 c measuring cup, scoop four portions of the rice mixture and place them in the skillet with space between them. Use a spatula to gently press down into a 1-inch thick patty. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden and crispy on both sides.

*For sweet rice cakes, omit the cheese and add 2 tablespoons brown or coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook as directed and top with maple syrup and fresh fruit to serve.

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Lucia Scafetti, a Philly private eye, has tried to move out of the shadow of her infamous crime family. She has her own business, her beloved dog Rocco, and she’s starting to date the cute lawyer down the hall. Her life is upended when her notorious hitman father disappears while in search of the diamond and gold coins he stole from his last victim.

Lucia races to unravel the mystery of her father’s disappearance before a crooked and powerful cop beats her to it. Though Lucia’s allies are scanty and her enemies numerous, she tries to resist the questionable help on offer from her Mafiosi family. It looks like Lucia must finally decide on which side of the law she truly belongs, knowing the wrong choice could send her to prison – or an early grave.

 

 

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Praise for Felicia Watson

 

‘It easily checked all my boxes required for a successful science-fiction novel and kept me flipping the pages time and time again.
What I liked the best about this story, however, is the feeling of discovery as the Lovelace travels farther and farther into the unknown. I have a soft spot for stories that take the reader where no one has ever been before and We Have Met the Enemy delivers this feeling in droves.”-Publisher’s Weekly, for We Have Met the Enemy

“The prose is supple and accurate. It begins with action. While the reader is given time to breathe, the action thereafter never really lets up…McGuffins are skillfully crafted, aliens are both imaginative and credible, and the tech is believable and serviceable without getting in the way.”- Judy Moore, Author of ‘Is Death Really Necessary?’, for Spooky Action at a Distance

“A richly imagined and immersive starship tale. Watson’s prose is filled with vivid worldbuilding details while still managing to feel urgent and punchy…. Though the book is preceded by two others, the story is self-contained enough for those new to the series to hit the ground running. The tale is thoroughly in the tradition of Star Trek…and fans of that franchise will enjoy Watson’s Roddenberrian world. The result is pure space opera, nothing more or less.”- Kirkus Reviews, for The Risks of Dead Reckoning

“`The author delivers an enthralling mystery.. There are whiplash-inducing plot turns throughout and a wholly gratifying final act. Hopefully Watson will give this unforgettable private eye her own well-deserved series. A clever, supercool gumshoe effortlessly steals the show in this delightful caper.”-Kirkus Reviews, for Where No One Will See

 

Review

 

This book was quite a surprise. I didn’t expect to laugh and also have to try and decipher a mystery at the same time.

Lucia has a sarcastic wit, and I loved her! She may be from a mafia family, but she is working as a PI and making it a success. She has quite the brain to unscramble the clues in this book and uncover the true criminal. It doesn’t hurt that she has a dog, Rocco, that is her sidekick. He seems like my kind of dog, despite his crankiness towards people.

I enjoyed the journey to help uncover the mystery surrounding her father’s death and others. There were several surprising twists that I never saw coming. I don’t think Lucia did either until a few clues led her down that path.

I enjoyed that this was set in the 1990s before the tech boom. It tickled me to read about Usenet groups and Lucia trying to figure out if she needed a webpage or a cellphone. Sometimes it is nice to read a book that isn’t technology dependent.

There is a little bit of romance for Lucia, which is a nice bonus.

This was a book I didn’t want to put down, except when I had to for things like sleep.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Where No One Will See’

 

1. This is a much, MUCH revised version of the first novel I ever wrote. It’s set in the 90s because it was originally written in the 90s. One of the major revisions I made was to change the setting. It was originally set in New York City, but when I pulled it out, I thought, ‘Why not set it in the city I’ve lived in, love, and still visit frequently?’ Now that I’ve re-written it, it seems impossible for me to imagine Lucia living anywhere else.
2. I set Lucia’s office in West Philadelphia because it made sense but also because my husband used to live not far from the address of the fictional Overbrook Commons. That poor man had to put up with endless questions like: “Honey, where would someone go to buy legal pads in your old neighborhood?” or “What’s the best place to get water ice in your old neighborhood?” “Which trolley line runs closet to 40^th and Ludlow?”– and so on, ad nauseum.
3. Lucia’s dog, Rocco, is named after and based on my late dog Rocco, though the character is heavily mixed with my first dog (the first dog that was all mine, not a family dog), Tristan, who was, yes, also a dachshund.
4. I love Lucia, but I often disapprove of and/or disagree with her decisions. Same for Hank, the lawyer whom she dates. If you’re looking for the character I most often agree with – that would be Juli, Lucia’s best friend.
5. My late mother was Italian-American, so a lot of the Italian-American idioms, phrases, etc., come from hearing them from her or other family throughout my childhood. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to spell them and what they really meant. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of disagreement among Italian-Americans about both of those things, especially meanings, so I went with what I remembered. There is a glossary at the back of the book.
6. The diamond at the heart of the mystery, “The Kimberly Star,” is entirely fictional but is loosely based on the Krupp Diamond, which was found in South Africa and at one point was given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton. The coins mentioned in the story, the Kruger Double-Nine Ponds, are totally real, rare, and valuable coins from South Africa.
7. Two of Lucia’s strengths – sewing, and playing pool – are things I’m not very good at. I’ve worked at both of them with varying degrees of success. Meaning, I’m okay at pool but suck at sewing. That being said, I wanted Lucia to have at least one decidedly “feminine” trait that she puts to use in a surprising way. I did give her one forte we both share – swimming. Like Lucia, I love the water and swim almost every day.
8. While I was outlining this latest version of the novel, I spent hours researching guns – their different uses and capabilities, hitmen, the prison and court systems, police informants, notorious criminals, crooked cops, the particulars of break-ins and fencing stolen goods, as well as how bodies decompose. In short, I’m sure the research for this novel has landed me on several FBI watch lists.
9. Every chapter starts with a quote, and the title chapter is taken from that quote. The quote is not random – it sums up the theme or significance of the chapter. This convention is my trademark as an author and goes back to my fan-fiction days. Most of the quotes come from books I’ve read. I’m forever highlighting pithy phrases I run across while reading and saving them to a file which I pull out and peruse whenever I need a quotation.
10. All of the restaurants which are mentioned in the novel – other than the one belonging to Lucia’s family – are authentic Philadelphia restaurants that either exist now or did back in the 90s. They were all frequented by me and my husband back when we were dating. Since he’s one of my beta readers, that was kind of an Easter egg I put in just for him.

©Felicia Watson

 

 

About the Author

 

Felicia Watson, author of the ground-breaking romance, Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela, and the award-winning scifi novels, The Lovelace Series, started writing stories as soon as they handed her a pencil in first grade.

When not writing, Felicia spends her time chasing after her not-so-brilliant, but darling and beloved dogs, being chased by her truly brilliant, darling, and beloved husband. She is known to friends and family as an amateur pastry chef and still finds time for swimming and her day job as a scientist.

 

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Giveaway

 

This giveaway is for 3 print or ebook copies.

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

This giveaway ends on May 19, 2023 midnight, pacific time.

Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

 

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