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.

 

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Bowled Over Americano (Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. (April 11, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Sara Cain isn’t your typical thirty-two-year-old woman. Murder detective by day, writer and… sleuth by night? Just as long as there’s enough coffee to keep her going…

When her first novel gives her trouble, Sara goes for a walk to clear her writer’s block and ends up stumbling right into a real-life murder mystery. Magnum, an adventurous beagle, comes running off leash toward her in the local park, and she returns him home only to find his master dead on the entry floor.

Cliff Cunningham was a championship bowler with a mean streak and a temper, and police are pegging his Golden Pin bowling trophy as the murder weapon. While any number of people could have clocked a strike by knocking him on the noggin, the prime suspect is a friend of Sara’s mother—and she expects Sara to prove the woman’s innocence. A tall order, as the case isn’t officially hers and belongs to a rival detective.

But a promise is a promise, and Sara soon finds herself sleuthing undercover—and off the clock—in a world of polyester shirts and rental shoes. It’s not all bad, though, as she’s taking her friend and partner Sean McKinley along for the ride. They are better together than they’ve ever been split, and they’re not amateurs at finding killers.

Despite being up against small-town hijinks and colorful characters who threaten to roll their efforts into the gutter, they are having fun. That is, until they get close to the killer and a dangerous twist puts their lives at risk.

A completely addictive caper full of twists that offers up a serving of murder, a dollop of romance, and a dash of humor. This perfect blend of robust and sweet is bound to hit the spot with readers who are fans of Verity Bright, Tonya Kappes, and Agatha Frost.

 

 

 

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Review

 

While reading this book, the story seemed very familiar. I wasn’t sure why until I realized that she took her short story, The Day Job is Murder, and added more details and extended the book.

I have always enjoyed Sara and Sean’s stories, so I was happy to see that she decided to take the series and rewrite them to extend them and share more of their lives.

Even though I had read this story previously, I certainly didn’t remember all of the details. It was like reading a new mystery! I sifted through the clues about who killed Cliff Cunningham and have to admit I was stumped. There are clues, but nothing that pointed me in the right direction…or I just missed them! I enjoyed Sear and Sara’s adventures while solving the crime and revisiting how they came together as a couple.

Malcolm, the beagle, grabs a piece of my heart. That always happens when there is a dog involved. I chuckled during the scenes where Sean admits that he is not an animal person. That will have to change if he wants to be with Sara.

I noted the nod to her Madison Knight series in this book by making it a TV series. I haven’t read this series yet, either, but I will one day!

This was still as good as the first time I read it, and I give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers readers police procedurals, hard-boiled and cozy mysteries, thrillers, and action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two beagles.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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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.

 

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Whether you only have twenty minutes or an hour—or something in between—you can deliver a delicious entrée and side dish to the table with these quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing recipes. Organized by “available time” rather than by “kind of dish,” this unique cookbook is designed to help the time-conscious cook with dinner planning. Enjoy “Mac and Cheese with Candied Sausage and Green Peas” from the “20-Minutes or Less” section. You can create a hearty “Vegetable Stew with Blue Corn Chips and Poached Egg” in forty minutes. If you have sixty minutes in the morning to prep, you can make “Sweet and Spicy Turkey Taco Salad” in a slow cooker. And if you’ve got more time, plan ahead by making easy-to-freeze dinners on the weekend for a quick bake-and-serve weeknight meal.

As a busy mother of four, Kate Otterstrom also makes dinnertime fun with recipes you might not expect could work for dinner—including “Toothpick Appetizers for Dinner” and breakfast favorites like “Slow-Cooker Cheese, Sausage, and Mushroom Strata.” With the ingredients paired side-by-side with the instructions, it is easy to learn a new recipe or pick up where you left off after an interruption. Since Kate is gluten-intolerant herself, each recipe also includes instructions on how to adapt it for a gluten-free option, along with a dedicated space for you to jot down notes for additional variations. In today’s busy world, time is precious, and this cookbook can help you get dinner on the table with however much time you have.

 

 

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Review

 

I am always on the lookout for cookbooks with recipes that can be made in a short amount of time on the days when I need that quick meal. I discovered this cookbook and was intrigued that it had three different time frames to prepare a meal for the family.

The title is a little misleading since there is a section that does include time-consuming dinners with recipes for sushi, homemade noodle soup, and more.  However, the bulk of the book is comprised of recipes that require an hour or less to prepare and serve.

The book starts with a few pages of items to have in your kitchen – cookware, utensils, etc. There is also a page with what is called The Essential Pantry – items to have on hand to whip up one of these recipes. Because the pantry items are processed foods, most of the recipes will include these. I prefer to cook from scratch, but sometimes you just need something fast.

The recipes are grouped by the time frame needed to prepare them. It starts with College-Style Dinners that are 20-35 minutes, moves to Quick Prep Dinners that are 35-70 minutes, and so forth. I like that each section has a colored “tab” that is on the outside edge of the pages so you can quickly look up what is in that category. There is even a slow cooker section which is always nice because who doesn’t like to come home to a meal that is ready to go? Just add a salad.

Some of the recipes are very simple and reminiscent of my college and single days. Others are a little more robust. There are even gluten-free alternatives.

I enjoyed reading the author’s comments on each recipe. It provides a little background on why it is included or the memories it brings back.

I think this cookbook is geared toward someone with a busy life or just starting to experiment in the kitchen. I’m sure I’ll find a few recipes that will become family favorites.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kate Otterstrom earned her undergraduate degree in zoology before working for two years as a researcher. She returned to graduate school and obtained her law degree from Seattle University. She is married and the mother of four children. She lives in Spokane, Washington.

 

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Synopsis

 

Spanning over three generations, Incandescence is a book about a fallen aristocratic family set in 1970, Bangladesh. In a nuanced tale of love and betrayal, the protagonist is on an introspective journey of the self, space, and time. Mila Chowdhury, growing up in this somewhat odd and dysfunctional family, discovers life’s intrinsic value. That there is a huge gap between what is and what should be. How does one overcome such limitations and shortcomings? Paradoxically, the answer lay right here, within her own odd family.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

Long into the night, Prema had a dream. She dreamt of Waheed Murad. In strange classical Urdu, Waheed spoke to her—a reality juxtaposed against a surreal, ancient land of the dead. He came up to her. They looked at each other. He kissed her on the lips. Waheed’s handsome face was lost in the masses of her dark hair. He bent down and locked his lips onto hers until the lips moistened and looked glossy and dark. She pulled away from him. Each pair of lips was deadly dark, showing saliva of shining juices. Then, Waheed was gone. Just like that! A glass-screen fell between them. She saw him through it. Waheed danced in the luminous rainbow colors amongst the dead. He was cajoling her to give him her body—her vessel if she fancied him so much. Prema felt trepidation in the dream. That the dead actor wished to return to her body. She saw greed in those beautiful eyes of his—give it up for him. How astonishing that she should dream of him like that? Her favorite, she wished him well. She wished he lived forever but in own vessel.

The stuff of life; life rejuvenated, and reincarnated. Even the dead had life. Like love and other abstract elements, life lived on in some form or the other. A blade of grass or a sprightly butterfly, a complex morphological process took place before it changed into something new: the caterpillar into a butterfly—Waheed Murad, what did he transform into? She woke up in the darkness. She saw a face adrift through space. She opened her eyes and tried to see it for real. A bearded face of a stranger moved quickly across the space of the dim room, with his eyes cast downwards as it vanished completely. Oh! What was that? Her baby slept as peacefully as did her husband. Only, she saw, what she saw in wakefulness as well as in her dream—something ethereal…

 

 

 

Review

 

This novel looks at a multigenerational family, their expectations, and the reality of life.

The story starts with poetic descriptions of Mila and her love for Rahim. We watch her struggle with loving him but not being able to have him in her life due to his imposed relationship with Papri. This is a time of arranged marriages and family expectations that transcend love.

The story is set in Bangladesh, a part of the world I only know a little about, so I was engrossed in the family dynamics, politics of these towns, and the acceptance of situations that others might find immoral. I appreciated that not everyone in this one family agreed with the Matriarch’s decision to disown one of her children, supported him and his wife, and helped them along in life.

Times were not easy for anyone in this family, and they had to battle strife in their village and impending doom from the political side of their life.

It did take some time to get into the groove of the story, but once I did, it flowed seamlessly, and I enjoyed delving into the lives of these characters and the dilemmas that they faced.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Multiple contests winner for short fiction, Mehreen Ahmed is an award-winning Australian novelist born in Bangladesh. Her historical fiction, The Pacifist, is an audible bestseller. Included in The Best Asian Speculative Fiction Anthology, her works have also been acclaimed by Midwest Book Review and DD Magazine, to name a few. She is a featured writer on Flash Fiction North and Connotation Press, a reader for The Welkin Prize, Five Minutes, and a juror for KM Anthru International Prize. Her works have been translated into German, Greek, and Bangla, reprinted, anthologized, and have made it to the top 10 read on Impspired Magazine multiple times.

 

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Synopsis

 

On the cusp of turning eighteen, it’s time for Drew Lovell to become a man.

But deep within, Drew has questions—ones he doesn’t know how to phrase—about what that means and how to go about it.

During three intense stretches between 1985 and 1993, taking him into his mid-twenties, Drew undergoes a series of profound experiences—often wild, sometimes painful, and always revealing—that force him to rethink his current assumptions. Only after nearly dying from trying to conform to conventional models of masculinity does he begin to become the man he wants to be and not the one he thought the world required him to be. Still, he’s unable to live with full integrity until interaction with a pair of awakened humans inspires new awareness that helps him at long last embrace the truth of who he is.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Kat’s Cradle is … an inquiry into the nature of consciousness, evolution, and perspective that makes Kat just one of a series of strong characters whose lives intersect in … its paradigm-changing inspection of humanity, spirituality, and forces beyond human ken.”- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
​
“At once thriller and search for meaning, Karuna Das’s story of an extraordinary woman’s self-discovery imagines a world of conspiracy at the edge of science where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Kat’s Cradle probes the very nature of existence and digs for answers at the intersection of medicine and mystery.”- Tom Sweterlitsch, author of The Gone World

​”Kat’s Cradle is neuropunk at its mind-bending and truly optimistic finest.”- Heidi Ruby Miller, author of the Ambasadora series

“awe-inspiring science fiction. I look forward to the next installment.”-H. Miller, Amazon Review

“Great book, with really strong female characters. It’s scifi/ fantasy and an enjoyable read!”-AS, Amazon Review

 

 

Excerpt

 

“You’ve seen gay people before, right?” asked Tina. She’d noticed me staring at two handsome, muscular, shirtless men holding hands. One’s chest was hairy; the other’s was completely smooth. With their tanned skin, they looked like golden gods.

“Not ones I knew for sure were gay,” I replied. “Some kids at school, a few teachers. People call them fags behind their backs, and sometimes even to their faces. But nobody’s ever admitted it.” I could only imagine what people would’ve said—or done—to them if they had.

As we approached a glitzy tavern, I spotted a group of tall, big-haired individuals in feminine attire congregated outside the door. One bore a remarkable likeness to Cher.

The real-life star’s film Mask had come out that spring. But this was not drug-addict-biker-mom Cher. This was skimpy-sequin-dress Cher. I couldn’t take my eyes off … her?

“Whatchu lookin’ at, little fan-man?” Not-Cher called out, prompting me to avert my gaze. “You’re cute when you blush. Pussy—I mean cat—got your tongue? Wanna ditch the bitch and come get to know a real woman?” Not-Cher smiled at Tina. “No offense, darlin’.”

“None taken,” Tina replied through a laugh as we strolled by Not-Cher and friends.

I resisted the impulse to turn my head for another look once we passed. When Tina stopped to peer into the window of an art gallery down the block, I couldn’t help sneaking a glance back.

Not-Cher blew me a kiss.

“That’s a guy,” I said. I’d definitely never seen a real, live crossdresser before.

“Yep,” Tina replied. “You like that?”

“What?” I asked. I saw she was pointing at a watercolor on display in the window. “Oh.” The image depicted a beachscape. “Sure,” I said.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, taking my hand. “Come on.”

She led me across the street to a tiny doorway barely visible between two upscale shops. According to the hand-painted, weathered sign, we were venturing into the mystic realm of a fortune teller: Tarot cards, crystal balls, and palmistry were all on offer; for a mere five dollars per reading, our destinies would be revealed.

I passed on the cards and crystal ball, preferring to learn what the alleged seer could divine about me from my own body. Madame Cherie—who resembled the female impersonator from the nightclub across the street in more than name—insisted her readings were private affairs, to be witnessed only by the subject, and never to be shared. By disclosing her findings, I now risk incurring Madame Cherie’s everlasting curse. If you believe in that sort of thing.

“Your hands are soft for a man,” she said, holding mine lightly in her own. Before I could tell her I did construction work, she let go of one and scrutinized the other.

“I’m right-handed,” I told her.

“No matter,” she replied. “On all young men, we read the left, for it shows your potential. Come back when you’re older, and we’ll read the right to see how you’ve fulfilled that promise.” She felt the palm pad at the base of my pinkie. “A well-defined Mercury mount. You’re a good communicator, with keen insight into others.”

Favorable traits for a writer. Maybe there’s some truth to this stuff, I thought.

She pressed softly on the pads below each of the other fingers, then more firmly on the fleshy mound at the base of my thumb. “A somewhat elevated Venus mount. This predisposes you to promiscuity.”

Or maybe, I thought, it’s all a bunch of malarkey.

“Now we shall read the lines,” she said. “That is, I will read the lines, and you can read between them.” She squeezed my fingers together and bent them back, spreading my palm open. “Your heart line is deep and red. You are ruled by temperament.”

“Does it say anything else?”

“About your love life?” asked Madame Cherie with a smile. “The line is long with quite a few small breaks. The possibility exists for a satisfying and lasting romantic relationship. But it’s likely you will undergo a number of traumatic experiences along the way.”

Great, I thought. As I wondered where Tina fit into that scenario, Madame Cherie said something about cross marks on my head line and my facing a series of inner crises.

“Ah! See how your fate line forks?” she asked. She pointed to a comparatively faint crease beginning at the bottom middle of my palm and soon branching apart. “That means your life could go in either of two quite different directions.”

“Can I pick which one?”

“Your decisions in key moments most certainly will influence your destiny. But you won’t necessarily be able to predict where the choices will lead.”

So much for the big revelation, I thought.

“Your life line is deep,” she said. “But not particularly long. Rather short, in fact.”

“You mean I’m going to die young?”

“For your longevity we must look elsewhere.” She rocked my hand back and forth as she eyed the base of my wrist. “Good news! You have four rascette lines. And strong ones. These here, like bracelets. Three is far more common. You could live to be a hundred years old.”

That might be a bit much, I thought, albeit with some relief.

“Because it’s also deep, the shortness of your life line is more good news. You can overcome any physical problems you may develop.” She took another look. “Hmm.”

“What?” I asked.

“You have a second life line. This often reflects extra vitality. Initially I thought it was just that. It would go hand in hand—get it?—with your propensity for longevity and health.”

“But …”

“It’s perfectly parallel to the first.”

“And …”

“This might be interpreted as a sign you’ll lead a double life. Maybe you already are.”

 

Taken from the book’s First Movement, “Cock Tales,” and the chapter “Champagne Punch,” Copyright © 2023, Kyle Andrew Bostian

 

 

Guest Review by Nora

 

“Much contemporary philosophy considers the feeling of having an independent and unified self to be an illusion. It views humans as disjointed—and often conflicting– collections of beliefs and behaviors determined entirely by our cultural conditioning, by the dominant modes of thought in our social structures. In doing so, it takes away the possibility of free will or any real agency.”

There is nothing that unifies us as human beings so much as the search for who we really are. We’re born as one thing, grow into a sense of identity for a brief time, and then when we reach adolescence; we spend many years thereafter trying to figure out who, exactly, we are.

This is the situation that young Drew Lovell finds himself in when on the edge of teenager-hood he begins questioning his identity and sexuality. Being teased by his friends for not having yet had sex, Drew flippantly loses his virginity in a way that he finds unsatisfying. This first sexual experience does not dim his love for women, and he goes through his teenage years having as much sex as possible and also engaging in copious drug use.

Though he finds love as an adult, he also goes through heartbreak and the loss of several close friends. After having a seizure that nearly ends his life, Drew realizes that he must change something in his life and begins writing a memoir. The end of the book is very much about Drew’s final destination, despite him still being a very young man. But spiritual enlightenment can happen at any age, and it just so happens that Drew’s comes at an age when he still has most of his life ahead of him.

An authentic story that serves as both a fictionalized memoir and a coming-of-age novel, ‘Sex, Drugs, and Spiritual Enlightenment (but mostly the first two),’ is a rollicking read that you won’t soon forget! I know I definitely won’t!

 

 

About the Author

 

Karuna Das is the pen and spirit name of Kyle Bostian. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up in Massachusetts and now resides in Pennsylvania, but he lives wherever he happens to be at that moment and feels at home everywhere in the universe. He holds a BA in English and an MFA in Playwriting. In addition to his dramatic writing, he’s published the sci-fi novel Kat’s Cradle, as well as short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. He and his life partner Ti share their house with five wonderfully wacky cats.

 

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Synopsis

 

Can one nurse on a mission of mercy and rebellion turn the tide of WWI?

November 1914

The Great War has come to Brussels, and Edith Cavell, Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, faces an impossible situation. She has sworn an oath to help any who are wounded, under whatever flag they are found. But Governor von Lüttwitz, the ranking German officer, has ordered her and her nurses to also stand guard over the wounded Allied prisoners of war and prevent them from escaping.

Edith feels that God called her to be a healer, not a jailer. How can she heal these broken boys, only to see them returned to the hands of their oppressors to be beaten again?

So when members of the Belgian resistance, desperate for help, bring two wounded British soldiers to her hospital in secret, she decides she will heal the soldiers, and then help smuggle them out of the hospital to freedom.

With her loyal friend and fellow nurse, Lizzie, by her side, Edith establishes her hospital as a safe house for the resistance, laboring tirelessly to save as many soldiers as she can. Working under the watchful eyes of the German army, Edith faces challenging odds as she fights to bring hope to her small corner of a war-torn world.

Based on a true story, Under the Cover of Mercy is the remarkable account of one woman who defied an entire nation in order to heal those who needed her help the most.

 

 

 

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Review

 

I enjoy reading books that are based somewhat on reality, even if all the facts are not known. That is the case with this book. We learn about Edith Cavell, a nurse during WWI in Belgium that ended up giving up her life while helping soldiers escape the Germans. My heart broke for Edith when she was convicted of treason, but I admired her pluck in standing up for what was right.

This story is told from two points of view – Edith, and her Assistant Matron, Lizzie. At times it took me a minute to figure out whose POV was being told at that moment. I would have liked a clearer delineation of whose perspective we were seeing at that moment. Both of these women were to be admired for the lengths they went to to ensure that the soldiers were not caught by the Germans.

The story contains a lot of dialogue, whether between characters or internally. I was disappointed that there weren’t more descriptions of the women, men, or the hospital. We did see some descriptive narrative when they were walking about town and the shops they would pass, and towards the end when Edith was imprisoned and at trial, but not much more than that.

These women and the hospital were part of the Red Cross. I have to admit that I don’t know much about how they operate during war or if they are protected from attack, but that was my impression in this book. I would hope that since this is a neutral organization that wants to provide aid to everyone, no matter their heritage, that they are protected by common decency. It did give me the desire to research the Red Cross and its mission.

This is an intriguing tale about Edith Cavell and her mission in life, especially during the war. I appreciated the author’s notes at the end that shared more of Edith’s history so we could understand her better. Overall, we give it 3 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I was born once upon a time, and I started making up stories right away. Eventually, I started writing them down, and never stopped! I have a day job, which gets in the way of my writing, but it pays the bills so I CAN write, so I guess that’s okay! I am a bookworm, which I think is key to being a writer, and I am always looking for inspiration! I live in Indiana, am obsessed with hot chocolate, and I am on track to be the best aunt in the world.

 

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CONFESSIONS OF A KNIGHT ERRANT

 

by

 

Gretchen McCullough

 

 

Humorous Fiction

Publisher: Cune Press

Page Count: 240 pages

Publication Date: October 18, 2022

 

Scroll down for a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Confessions of a Knight Errant is a comedic, picaresque novel in the tradition of Don Quixote with a flamboyant cast of characters.

Dr. Gary Watson is the picaro, a radical environmentalist and wannabe novelist who has been accused of masterminding a computer hack that wiped out the files of a major publishing company. His Sancho Panza is Kharalombos, a fat, gluttonous Greek dancing teacher, who is wanted by the secret police for cavorting with the daughter of the Big Man of Egypt.

Self-preservation necessitates a hurried journey to the refuge of a girls’ camp in rural Texas. Then a body turns up nearby that is connected to Middle East antiquities, and they are on the run once more.

 

 

Amazon  *  Barnes and Noble

 

 

 

 

Eccentric characters, varied locations, and humor throughout made this a fun book to read.

I have never been to Egypt or Cairo, but I enjoyed the perspective provided of the people and political climate. Gary is there to recover the last remaining copy of his novel. I chuckled when the people that took over his apartment said they didn’t know where it was, and then it was discovered they used it as scratch paper. While there, they meet up with more intriguing characters, including Gudrun, a German woman that moved to Texas and now operates a camp for girls. This is what brings the gang to Texas.

I enjoyed all of the drama and humor. It kept the story moving at a steady, and at times frenetic, pace. Many times I had to just shake my head at their antics. I think Gudrun was my favorite character with her outlandish dress, words, and actions. However, Mary Alice runs a close second.

While filled with crazy scenarios, there are also some educational parts regarding Native Americans and Egyptians. We also have flashbacks to Gary’s childhood that helps explain why he is the way he is.

This was a fun book to read and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gretchen McCullough was raised in Harlingen Texas. After graduating from Brown University in 1984, she taught in Egypt, Turkey, and Japan. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and was awarded a teaching Fulbright to Syria from 1997-1999. Her stories, essays and reviews have appeared in The Barcelona Review, Archipelago, National Public Radio, Story South, Guernica, The Common, The Millions, and the LA Review of Books. Translations in English and Arabic have been published in: Nizwa, Banipal, Brooklyn Rail in Translation, World Literature Today and Washington Square Review with Mohamed Metwalli. Her bi-lingual book of short stories in English and Arabic, Three Stories From Cairo, translated with Mohamed Metwalli, was published in July 2011 by AFAQ Publishing House, Cairo. A collection of short stories about expatriate life in Cairo, Shahrazad’s Tooth, was also published by AFAQ in 2013. Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition at the American University in Cairo.

 

  American University Faculty Webpage

 

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

ONE WINNER!

 

In Confessions of a Knight Errant, readers get a taste of the Hill Country.

 

One winner will, too, with a one-pound

 

bag of pecans from Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Company!

 

(US only; ends midnight, CST 4/28/23)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For participating blogs, added as they pop up.

 

 

 

 

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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!

 

 

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**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.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

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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