The Mountain View Murder (A Wintergreen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Chaparral Press LLC
Paperback: 270 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Guess who cried at Lou Thorpe’s funeral?

 

No one. His wife, grown children, and best friends all attended the service, but no one shed a single tear. Poor Lou. He was out for his morning walk when a crazed driver knocked him out of life. Crazed? With no car, no driver, and no witnesses, it’s difficult to say. Was it an accident or intentional?

Until that morning, Bill O’Shea was living the dream. After a career of fighting crime in the big city, Bill bought a condo in the beautiful mountain resort community of Wintergreen, Virginia. When he met his attractive new neighbor, Bill knew his retirement was off to a great start. But then the short-staffed police department asked Bill to help them investigate Thorpe’s death.

Soon, Bill fell into an old routine. Interviewing suspects. Checking alibis. Everyone had a secret to hide, but Bill lacked evidence to tie any of the suspects to the crime. He was missing something–like he had an itch he couldn’t reach to scratch.

Will Bill and his new friends solve the case, or will the murder of Lou Thorpe remain a mystery forever?

If you love beautiful mountain settings, a charming cast, and intriguing plot twists, you’re going to love this new series!

Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

 

 

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Review

 

This was a fun new series that has an endearing protagonist, beautiful scenery, and murder.

I loved all of the descriptions of the town and mountains and especially the trail that one might traverse as a rite of passage or to say that they hiked the whole Appalachian Trail.

Bill O’Shea may be a retired detective but he hasn’t given up on life or his quest to uncover a killer, even as a volunteer to the police department. Bill brings together a cast of characters in solving the crime of who killed Lou Thorpe. There are many suspects but only one murderer that is hiding in plain sight. I have to admit I never suspected this character and there are not many clues that will give away the mystery. I will say that Lou is not a nice guy so it maybe isn’t really a loss for the town that he is now gone.  There was quite a bit of backstory to uncover and Bill is able to piece together the clues and uncover the murderer. The confrontation with the murderer was rather odd and I’m not quite sure why it happened the way that it did other than that since Bill is not officially on the police force he didn’t have the authority to arrest this person? But Mitch was there and ready to take this character down. It was a rather odd ending but it worked.

There is a bit of romance for Bill with a woman that lives in his condo complex, Cindy. I have mixed feelings about this character. She seems good for Bill, but at the same time, she pulls a “scorned woman” act that makes no sense. This is where I wanted to reach into the book and throttle her for not addressing her feelings with Bill. They aren’t young and you would think that they wouldn’t have time for this sort of behavior. I know Bill has no clue what is going on because she won’t speak to him. It is rather childish.

I did like all of the characters and how nothing was ever 100% truthful or accurate. It was the omission of details that kept the police and Bill guessing.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Pat Kelly was raised in the idyllic suburb of Yorktown, Virginia, where children ran barefoot through the grass and fished in the York River. After graduating from UVA, he left the state to pursue a career in finance. He settled in Texas, married a wonderful woman (Susie), and together they raised two daughters in Austin.

With the girls now grown and gone, Pat has pursued a lifelong love of writing stories. Countless hours at the keyboard have produced the Joe Robbins Thriller Series, two book awards, and four standalone novels.

A few years ago, Pat and Susie bought a summer home in the bucolic mountaintop resort of Wintergreen, Virginia. The beautiful vistas there inspired Pat to write a cozy mystery series featuring the reluctant detective Bill O’Shea. Join Pat’s newsletter to follow Bill’s adventures as he dodges irrepressible bears, pursues romance, and solves mysteries.

 

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INCLINED ELDERS

 

BY RAMONA OLIVER

 

 

Publisher: BookBaby

Publication Date: July 24, 2020

Pages: 246 Pages

Categories: Nonfiction / Positive Aging

 

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THIS BOOK WILL BE INVALUABLE IF YOU:

 

• Have a desire to continue living a purposeful life, no matter what your age.
• Are interested in learning how to maintain a positive attitude from adulthood to elderhood.
• Want to learn how to create a living legacy and serve as a role model for future generations.

 

WHY EMBRACE AN ATTITUDE OF INCLINE?

 

For the first time in history we are not only living longer, everyone has an important choice to make: commit to a meaningful, purposeful life of “Incline” as we get older or believe that a new stage – one of steady “decline” – is inevitable. What is not helping is that in the media and society in general there continues the somewhat negative connotation surrounding the concept of aging. And while, at least not now, we cannot do anything about the chronological process of becoming 60, 70, 80 years and beyond, we can change the mindset for it. Embracing change and looking at life with a keener sense of curiosity will lead to living with increased courage to live life to its fullest.

Inclined Elders is a call to action for you to opt for Incline. Not only for your personal fulfillment, but also to help fuel a social “legacy” that increases the number of positive older role models in everyday life. I have written this book to inspire, inform, and challenge you. By the time you reach the last page, I hope you will have made a new choice: to become an inspiring example of a life of Incline so our society relinquishes – once and for all – the notion that aging is synonymous with “decline,” “decrepit,” “senile,” and “over-the-hill.”

In this book, over 50 men and women ranging in age from 40 to 100 share their tips and techniques on how to live a life of Incline. Their strategies are supported by scientific evidence from the fields of Positive Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology.

 

WHO ARE INCLINED ELDERS?

 

We are the women and men who have made a conscious choice to ignore society’s negative mindset of “decline” and “over-the-hill” as we age. Instead we embrace a positive mindset of continuing to Incline and climb ever upwards.

Serving as vibrant role models, the Inclined Elders I spoke to for this book are leaving their own unique legacies of wisdom and inspiration for future generations. There needs to be more of us like them to effect real social change. So why not Incline too? There’s an amazing view from up here. Come with us and see for yourself.

 

 

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As someone that is *cough* over 50 *cough* this book really appealed to me and the mindset we should ALL have no matter our age. I will admit that I do not feel my age, I honestly think I am 10-15 years younger. Is it denial or is it just an age I would prefer to be? No matter, the answer, this book guides us to rethink how we view and feel about aging. There is nothing that says as someone ages that they have to wait for death once they hit a certain age. There is so much more to life and there is so much wisdom from those that have experienced life and are willing to share it with everyone they meet.

There are different chapters that focus on different aspects we should consider in our life such as Choices, Courage, Curiosity, and Change. I enjoyed the stories told by various people and felt motivated and encouraged knowing that if they can take a step in their life to keep living on an incline versus a decline, then so can I. After all, aging is a mindset and a positive attitude will only assist anyone wishing to live their best life.

I’m sure we all know someone that has a negative outlook and doesn’t do anything to make their life better. I know several people in my family like this and there is nothing any one person can say or do to change their minds. It has to come from within. If you know someone like this and they are open to reading this book, it might change their life.

The personal reflections, stories of gratitude, perseverance, and those that make every day count is what will resonate with many readers. It reminds us to also reach out to those that need assistance and encourage them to continue down their path to a better life.

There is one story that I could relate to – Nancy who was diagnosed with cancer and she decided to just approach it head on as she did with everything else in her life. This sums up my experience with cancer in my 30’s. While I wasn’t happy with what was going on (who would be?!), I chose to do what needed to be done and when others might have spiraled out of control, I kept moving and working because the cancer was not going to beat me.

I also appreciated an anecdote from BJ and a comment her mother made as she lay dying in her bed. She told BJ to “not wait until the last twenty minutes of your life to realize what life is about and what your purpose is.” I think many of us don’t have a plan for our life. That is ok, but we also should not sit around waiting for it to come to us and we should seek out what we want from life and how we can contribute to make the world a better place, even in a small way.

I believe this book should be a must read for people of all ages, especially for those that might be lost in their lives and need a place to start and realize that they can make a difference for themselves and those around them. The resources at the end of the book will give you many places to start if you don’t know where to start your journey.

We give this book 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramona Oliver has long been a passionate educator with former roles as a human resource manager/director, career coach, and director of outreach for St. Edward’s University. As a human resource director for many years, she championed the professional development of employees. While serving as president of the Austin Human Resource Management Association, she led a team that designed, developed, and implemented an award-wining leadership program. In addition, she launched a workforce readiness committee that partnered with community organizations to implement workforce readiness initiatives. At St. Edward’s University, she promoted lifelong learning and the adult undergraduate and graduate programs to older adults in the Austin community.

Ramona currently serves as an advocate of positive aging. Rather than accepting a mindset of decline, she is passionate about living life with an attitude of Incline. Ramona has been published on the Changing Aging website, offering posts with titles such as “Can We Please Stop Calling It Aging,” “What Are We Missing When We Settle for Life Stages?” and “Leave a Legacy and Live It Now!”

Ramona is a recipient of a Book Excellence Award for her current book, INCLINED ELDERS: How to rebrand aging for self and society. It has been recognized for high-quality writing style, book design, and overall marketing appeal.

She earned her Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. Ramona lives in Austin, Texas where she enjoys practicing yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and Nia and participating in various community groups.

 

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7/7/21	Notable Quotable	It’s Not All Gravy
7/7/21	Sneak Peek	The Page Unbound
7/8/21	Review	The Plain-Spoken Pen
7/8/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
7/9/21	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
7/9/21	Review	Book Fidelity
7/10/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/11/21	Excerpt	All the Ups and Downs
7/12/21	Review	Jennie Reads
7/12/21	Character Interview	Librariel Book Adventures
7/13/21	Guest Post	Book Bustle
7/14/21	Review	Hall Ways Blog
7/14/21	Excerpt	That’s What She’s Reading
7/15/21	Scrapbook Page	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
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Synopsis

 

2020 Maxy Awards Finalist – SciFi/Fantasy

The contest between men and women escalates to a new battlefield—genetics. Legislators mandate a testosterone-lowering food supplement to reduce violence and make gun control unnecessary. The blowback assumes epic proportions. Nadia Holkam—a pawn in the battle—desperately seeks her true identity.

Diana Holkam discovers companies are using her twin sister as a template for the perfect subordinate female in an experiment aimed at turning all women into pets. With help from a one-eyed Muslim Bible salesman, an African American woman promoting a testosterone-reducing food supplement, and an Indian geneticist fleeing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, they fight against a misogynistic CEO, a would-be prophet of male supremacy, and the mob. Neither side realizes the AI system developing the genetic “cure” has a different plan for human evolution—a plan that has something to do with fish.

 

 

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Review

 

Sci-Fi/fantasy books are not usually a genre I read, or at least not often. However, I was intrigued by the description of this book and decided to give it a whirl. What I found was a very bizarre book that featured gender wars, talking fish and multi-faceted characters.

There is a battle between the sexes and women currently hold the upper hand and food is doused with Testrial that seems to calm men down and they act more like servants than men. Not all men are like this, there are those that avoid any food that contains this ingredient and several are on course to create the “perfect” woman and return things to a time of the past where women were more like “pets” for the men. Obviously, most women (and some men) don’t want to see that happen. So a small band of protestors seeks to shut down Berky and Candor’s quest for this new lifestyle.

I found the characters to be quite interesting and the interactions between all kept the story flowing. There is some scientific discussion but nothing to drawn out to lose a reader. There is humor that I didn’t expect and was darker than you might expect. I was surprised by a few twists at the end regarding the twins, Nadia and Diana. There was also some graphic violence that was unexpected and it made me uncomfortable considering the level.

This book is definitely a journey for the reader and while sometimes it felt like I was trudging through, other sections were brilliant. Overall, we give this 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

J.S. Morrison is the author of “The Perfection of Fish” (Speculative Fiction, Satire, Black Rose Writing, 2020). He was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1947, had a career in Air Force Intelligence (1970-1991), followed by a career in the Tech industry (1991-2016). He has lived in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, and visited Asia, Africa, South America, and Antarctica. He optioned two original screenplays before deciding to write a near-future satire on gender wars. He currently lives near Annapolis, MD, where he is working on his second speculative fiction novel. He is a member of the Maryland Writers’ Association, the Columbia Writers’ Group, the DC Speculative Fiction Group, and the Black Writers Collective. When he is not writing or traveling, he dabbles in astrophysics as a member of a local scientific society.

 

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THE CHASE

 

U.S. Marshals Series, Book Two

 

By LISA HARRIS

 

 

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: July 6th, 2021

Pages: 320 Pages

Categories: Fiction/ Christian/ Suspense

 

 

 

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US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing–it’s time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that’s gone wrong–and things are about to get worse.

 

For these bank robbers, it’s never been just about the money. It’s about taking risks and adrenaline rushes — and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else–someone close to them–gets hurt . . . or worse.

 

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated, and failure isn’t an option.

 

 

 

Revell (Baker Book House) | Amazon | Christianbooks.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This action-packed novel kept me glued to my seat and took me for a ride!

Madison and Jonas are back in the second installment of the US Marshals series. I didn’t read the first book, and while I always recommend reading a series in order, you could read this as a stand-alone…but I think you might have better context for some of what Madison is dealing with if you read the first book.

There has been a series of bank robberies and Madison and Jonas have been provided with the identity of someone that might have been involved. What ensues is a chase (haha see what I did there?!) against the clock and the perpetrators to catch them before more people are harmed or they get away and are not brought to justice for their crimes.

I loved the fast pace of this novel taking me across Seattle and over to the San Juan Islands. I wasn’t sure what to expect next and enjoyed how the mystery unfolded. I was quite surprised by a few twists with the robbers and this author knows how to keep you on edge wondering what could possibly happen next.

There is a bit of romance between Madison and Jonas, or at least the possibility of trying a relationship to see if anything might come of it. I also appreciated the inspirational discussions and putting their faith in a higher power and letting things happen as they might. These discussions were also good for Jonas considering what happened with an old girlfriend and believing that all things happen for a reason. I think it also gave him some closure once he took some time to mentally process what happened.

There is also the case of who killed Madison’s husband? This has created a mental block for Madison but we see some glimpses of what might have happened but we will have to wait for the next book (or books) to learn the truth.

This is a series that I will be looking forward to and watching the relationship between Madison and Jonas expand and what case could come their way next. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Harris is a USA Today bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than 40 books, including The Escape, The Traitor’s Pawn, Vanishing Point A Secret to Die For, and Deadly Intentions, as well as The Nikki Boyd Files and the Southern Crimes series, Harris and her family have spent over 17 years living as missionaries in southern Africa. She is currently stateside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 

 

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7/6/21	Excerpt	Hall Ways Blog
7/6/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
7/7/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
7/8/21	Playlist	All the Ups and Downs
7/9/21	Review	Reading by Moonlight
7/10/21	Author Interview	The Page Unbound
7/11/21	Scrapbook Page	Forgotten Winds
7/12/21	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
7/13/21	Series Spotlight	Chapter Break Book Blog
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Synopsis

 

Born a runt, Rascal is destined to be an underdog. Despite what looked like an unbreakable bond with the daughter of the family who bred her, Rascal’s devotion is discarded when the mother loses her job, forcing the family into a financial crisis. Bitter and resentful toward a dog they can no longer afford to keep and who was never really wanted, the family throws out the young dog like garbage. Driven out to the country and left roadside, Rascal has nothing but a few pieces of kibble to help her survive the night.

Abandoned and alone, Rascal must learn to fend for herself and embark on a harsh and dangerous journey through wolf terrain in the mountain wilderness of Northern California. Along the way, she meets new families and strangers and is given many names. But will she ever settle with one family and one name? A Dog of Many Names is a courageous story of survival, seen through the eyes of a scared and desperate dog who just wants to love, be loved, and be given one last name.

 

 

Amazon – This Book releases July 6th, 2021

 

 

Review

 

This story follows the life of one dog, or at least part of her life, as she moves from family to family and also having to survive on her own in the wild. For anyone that is an animal lover, this story will punch you in the gut when you realize some things about one of the “owners” and watch as she works to thrive on her own in the wild.

Rascal (her first name) had a wonderful family and a good life until things go wrong at home and she is forced out. From there it is a journey on learning to fend for herself, learning to trust others, and just trying to survive day to day without a human providing food to her.

This was a quick read but an enjoyable story despite the hardships we watched Rascal (and all her other names) endure. There are many responsible pet owners out there but there are just as many that are not as you will see with the one that names her Ilse. I have rescued two dogs and while one was lucky to have been dumped or lost by an owner, the other had to fend for herself much like Rascal. Trust has to be earned. It takes Rascal a long time to trust again and who would blame her?

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

DOUGLAS GREEN is the author of the widely-acclaimed 2015 book The Teachings of Shirelle: Life Lessons from a Divine Knucklehead, and runs the advice website AskShirelle.com, based on the wisdom in the book, which he was taught by his ridiculous dog. Released from decades in the entertainment business for good behavior, he directed the film The Hiding Place and now works as a psychotherapist in Los Angeles, specializing in children and teenagers.

 

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Synopsis

 

A road trip can drive anyone over the edge—especially two former best friends—in bestselling author Ann Garvin’s funny and poignant novel about broken bonds, messy histories, and the power of forgiveness.

Widowed Samantha Arias hasn’t spoken to Holly Dunfee in forever. It’s for the best. Samantha prefers to avoid conflict. The blisteringly honest Holly craves it. What they still have in common puts them both back on speed dial: a mutual love for Katie, their best friend of twenty-five years, now hospitalized with cancer and needing one little errand from her old college roomies.

It’s simple: travel cross-country together, steal her loathsome ex-husband’s VW camper, find Katie’s diabetic Great Pyrenees at a Utah rescue, and drive him back home to Wisconsin. If it’ll make Katie happy, no favor is too big (one hundred pounds), too daunting (two thousand miles), or too illegal (ish), even when a boho D-list celebrity hitches a ride and drives the road trip in fresh directions.

Samantha and Holly are following every new turn—toward second chances, unexpected romance, and self-discovery—and finally blowing the dust off the secret that broke their friendship. On the open road, they’ll try to put it back together—for themselves, and especially for the love of Katie.

 

 

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Review

 

This book made me laugh and cry but mostly laugh.

This is the story of three friends from college and while they were dear friends then, something happened that caused a rift between two of them. The funny thing is that only one of them really knows why and the other can only guess. One of the three has a reoccurrence with cancer which leads to a road trip for the other two to get a dog she lost in a divorce. What ensues is hilarity especially with the addition of an unexpected addition to the crew, a B (or maybe D) list celebrity that sat next to Samantha on the plane ride to CA. However, Summer proves to be worth bringing along with her spiritual beliefs and uncanny ability to see through to the heart of the matter.

Holly and Samantha, while pushed into making this road trip together, are able to work through their differences. It takes a lot of time to get to the bottom of the situation, but when they do they realize that communication would have resolved these issues years before now. It is also a testament to us to not let a misunderstanding end a friendship and to push the issue if necessary. I do think that the miscommunication created the hardened personality that Holly had towards life.

I laughed through most of this book from the situations, the texts between Samantha and Drew, and Summer’s ditzy demeanor which I think was really a front. I will say that the ending was a gut punch even though we kinda knew it was coming. Some have said this could be like Thelma and Louise and I can see that in a way but no cliff.

I also appreciated the spotlight on Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. I didn’t know this place existed and I am in awe of what they do for the animals of the planet. If I am ever in Utah, I will be visiting their facility.

We give this book 5 paws and it was the right book at the right time when I needed a laugh but a good cry as well.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ann Garvin, Ph.D., is the USA Today bestselling author of I THOUGHT YOU SAID THIS WOULD WORK, I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around, The Dog Year, and On Maggie’s Watch. Ann writes about women, with a good sense of humor, who do too much in a world that asks too much from them. She teaches at Drexel University Masters of Fine Arts program and has held positions at Miami University and Southern New Hampshire in their Masters of Fine Arts program. Ann is the founder of the Tall Poppy Writers where she is committed to helping women writers find readers. She is a sought-after speaker on writing, leadership, and health and has taught extensively nationally and internationally.

 

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Synopsis

 

A thriller that depicts the resilience of a woman faced with devastating loss, the unexpected friendship forged from tragedy and the recurring societal themes that confront every generation.

Julianna Sandoval is living in limbo. Her husband’s plane has vanished over the Atlantic Ocean and although the Coast Guard has suspended the search, she clings to hope that he’ll still be found alive. Three months later, a young woman appears after hours at Julianna’s Ormond Beach restaurant, declaring, “He’s not who you think he is.” Before the stranger can say anything else, a gunshot through the window kills her instantly. Seasoned detective Paul Grant is assigned to investigate the girl’s murder. He senses that the shooting was not random but doesn’t know the connection to his only witness. Was the girl referring to Julianna’s presumed dead husband, her lazy stepson, her shady bar manager, or someone else? As Grant methodically gathers evidence and challenges alibies, Julianna’s faith in her friends and family is tested. The investigation leaves her wondering who she can trust and culminates with an eerie link to the past that no one sees coming.

 

 

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Review

 

This suspense novel is told from multiple points of view – Julianna, a restaurant owner, and Grant, a police detective. This works well because you see different sides of the same situation and how each reacts to the various revelations and facts that come out about the woman killed in Julianna’s restaurant. There is another subplot, the disappearance of Julianna’s husband, Michael. These two different stories are woven together and while you might be able to figure out why this woman was killed, you might not know all of the details. I had my suspicions about several characters and I was right in some cases and wrong in others.

This book also has a tie with trafficking and there are a lot of details provided for the reader to recognize it in their own community. This is a tough topic and very timely considering the larger number of young people that end up in the hands of those selling them for their bodies. I especially liked the chapter at the end where a young woman who escaped the trafficking shares her story and facts about that industry. It is an eye-opener for sure.

Grant is an interesting character because while he is relatively new to this town, he still hasn’t settled into his office and unpacked the boxes he brought with him. What does this mean for him? Is he invested in his new town and job? Too busy to unpack? I think there is a multitude of answers to this question. But he is a good detective and is able to uncover things that Julianna didn’t know and help solve the case.

Julianna has her own demons including losing a sister before she was even born and then her parents. While she doesn’t have a lot, she does have the restaurant her parents owned while they were alive. We also see her guilt and confusion about her missing husband. Could she have done more? She unearths some secrets she never expected and it causes her to question her own judgment. I can’t blame her, when everything you think is real is proven otherwise, you tend to doubt yourself.

There are a few twists at the end, one that I suspected, but it goes further than what I could have ever imagined. This was a very enjoyable book and I had a hard time putting it down. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Julianna | Monday, July 5

 

I poured myself a glass of red wine from an open bottle at the bar and pictured Michael sitting across from me. We were having a nightcap now that the diners had finished their desserts and coffee and were headed home, their tummies full of pasta with homemade Italian sauce. He raised his glass to make a toast—to having me all to himself for a few weeks. I was about to do something I considered reckless: abandoning the restaurant for two weeks to go on vacation in Italy. Before Michael, I’d never been out of the country, much less on a cross-Atlantic flight, but he’d planned our adventure to the last detail. We’d never really taken a honeymoon. I was too worried about leaving the restaurant unsupervised, but he’d finally convinced me to relax. Samantha and Alex could easily handle things while I was gone.

I guess it just wasn’t in my DNA to be so carefree, a work ethic I’d inherited from my father. Little by little Michael had shown me that it was okay to have fun. Taking time off for an overdue celebration of our marriage was part of enjoying life. He was a hopeless romantic.

I dabbed my eyes with a cocktail napkin. Now I was the romantic one, clinging to a distant memory. I was also feeling more hopeless—it had been ninety-five days since I’d last seen my husband.

I started to take a sip of wine when I heard a voice behind me.

“We need to talk,” she said.

I whipped around to see a woman leaning against the hostess stand at the front of my restaurant. We had closed over an hour ago. My bar manager and chef had just left for the night, leaving me alone to finish some paperwork. She seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Her voice sounded like a girl’s, but she looked more like a Real Housewife. She wore a tight navy dress with a scooped neckline that accentuated her rounded breasts. Gold bracelets adorned both wrists and her heels were so high that her feet arched unnaturally. Her bleached blonde hair was tousled about her face, and her skin was deeply tanned, the color that came from hours of soaking up the Florida sun.

“We’re closed,” I said, perplexed that this woman was somehow in my restaurant at nearly 1:00 a.m.

“You’re Julianna, right?” she asked. Her eyes squinted slightly.

Most of my customers, even the regulars, called me Miss Sandoval. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something off-putting about the informal way she said my first name. Or maybe I was just irritable from a long night. Holidays were always busy, and that night’s Fourth of July dinner crowd had been no exception.

“Look, I’m sorry, but we’re closed,” I repeated. “You’ll need to come back during normal hours.”

For an instant, I thought about my pistol in the safe in the back office. It wasn’t that I felt in danger—she looked more like the type who’d be robbed than someone who’d do the robbing. Still, her presence was strange, especially on the one night when my stepson was out of town, leaving me to close the restaurant alone.

“He’s not who you think he is,” she said.

I shook my head, trying to make sense of her words. Was she drunk? High? And who was she talking about? It didn’t matter. She was keeping me from going home and I was already exhausted. I reached in my jacket pocket for the key to the front door and stepped from behind the expansive bar to escort her out. As I approached, I got a better look at her face. She was heavily made-up, with contoured cheekbones, lash extensions and plumped-up lips. I reiterated that we were closed and she needed to leave.

“You stupid bitch,” she sneered. “You don’t have a clue!”

I stopped in my tracks. My entire body stiffened. The hatred in her voice was personal, as if she knew me, which she didn’t. Before I could respond, I heard a blast outside. Glass shattered like someone had dropped a full tray of dishes onto the concrete floor.

Her eyes bulged and she gasped for air, opening and closing her mouth like a hooked fish. Her doll-like face was now oddly contorted. She stumbled forward a few steps, struggling to maintain her balance. When she tried to speak, blood spewed from her mouth.

I screamed.

She lurched forward, arms outstretched, and tried to grab me.

I instinctively stepped back and watched in horror as she clutched her chest and gasped for air.

Our eyes locked.

She stared at me, terrified. Her expression was the haunted, helpless look of someone who knew death was certain. Then she collapsed face-first to the floor.

I took another step back, turned and sprinted through the open archway toward the kitchen. I continued retreating down the hall to my office and slammed the door behind me. My heart was pounding in my ears. My fingers trembled as I struggled to twist the flimsy bar lock on the door knob.

Only then did I realize that I had no escape. My small office had no windows or other exits.

I frantically snatched the phone and dialed 9-1-1.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry,” I chanted into the receiver.

“9-1-1. What is your emergency?”

“A woman,” I panted. “A woman has been shot.”

I glanced at the space between my desk and the back wall and squeezed myself into the small opening. My desk was made of wood. It wouldn’t stop a bullet. Still, I felt safer crouched behind it.

“What is your address?” the dispatcher asked.

“Café Lily. 216 South Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach.”

“And your name?”

“Julianna Sandoval. Please, send the police right away!”

I listened for any sounds of movement in the hallway. Whoever shot her could be coming for me next. The restaurant was eerily quiet, but that didn’t mean I was alone.

“Help is on the way, Julianna. Just stay with me. Where are you?”

“In my office.” My voice cracked. I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry.

“Did you see who shot her?”

I blinked, trying to recall the scene I’d just witnessed. I’d heard the gunshot and the window shattering. Why hadn’t I looked in that direction? The entire time, I’d never taken my eyes off the woman. Why hadn’t I tried to identify the shooter?

“Ma’am, are you still there?” the dispatcher asked.

“I’m here,” I whispered.

I eyed the safe on the wall. I’d have to give up the cover of my desk to retrieve my pistol, but I had no choice. A flimsy lock wouldn’t hold up against someone determined to break down the door. I stood quickly and pressed the cold metal keypad—0216, my parents’ anniversary. Or was it 0212?

My mind went blank.

No, it was 0216.

With a single motion, I grabbed the gun and darted back to my hiding place. I squatted behind my desk with the phone pressed against my ear and my gun pointed toward the door. As much as I tried, I couldn’t catch my breath.

“You’re doing good, Julianna. The police are on their way.”

But what if help didn’t arrive in time?

 

 

About the Author

 

Liz Lazarus grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, known for its high school football and being the last watering hole on highway I-75 before entering Florida. She was editor of her high school newspaper and salutatorian of her class. Lazarus graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA. She went on to a successful career as an executive at General Electric’s Healthcare division. Later, she joined a leading consulting firm as a Managing Director and is currently head of Operations for a healthcare start-up. Interestingly, Lazarus initially ignored the calling to become a novelist—instead, she tackled other ambitions on her bucket list: living in Paris and learning to speak French, getting her pilot’s license, and producing a music CD. But, as she explains, her first book “wouldn’t leave me alone—it kept nudging me to write to the point that I could no longer ignore it.” Though her first novel, Free of Malice, released in the spring of 2016, is fiction, the attack on the main character is real, drawn from Lazarus’ own experience. It portrays the emotional realities of healing from a vicious, physical assault and tells the story of one woman’s obsession to force the legal system to acknowledge her right to self-defense. Reader response to Lazarus’ first novel was so encouraging that she embarked on a writing career, releasing her second novel in the spring of 2018. Plea for Justice is a thriller that depicts the journey of a paralegal investigating the case of her estranged friend’s incarceration. As she seeks the truth, loyalties are strained and relationships are tested leaving her to wonder if she is helping an innocent man or being played for a fool. Her third novel, Shades of Silence, released in 2021, showcases the resilience of a woman faced with devastating loss, the unexpected friendships forged from tragedy, and the recurring societal themes that confront every generation. Lazarus lives in Atlanta and is engaged to fiancé, Richard. When not working, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spoiling their cat, Buckwheat.

 

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Synopsis

 

How far would one nurse go to help a dying patient with a dark secret?

Adrift, unfulfilled, and with a violent old flame suddenly back in her life, hospice nurse Scarlett Laurent is at a crossroads.

When a routine call leads her to James Francis, a mysterious patient with a dying wish, Scarlett is tasked with the unthinkable. Breaking her oath as a nurse will be no easy feat, and unfortunately for her, her problems have just begun.

As ghosts of James’s past come back to haunt him, Scarlett finds herself in the crosshairs of dangerous men hell-bent on revenge.

Lost and hunted by mobsters and crooked cops, Scarlett must navigate a web of dark secrets and lies if she hopes to make it out alive.

But who can she trust?

In a twisted game of fate, this dynamic thriller thrusts you into a whirlpool of betrayal, blackmail, and murder, and reveals just how truly fragile one can become…

 

 

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Review

 

Looking for a book that delves into the seedy underbelly of criminals and dirty cops? The characters that set you on edge and cringe at their actions? Then this might be the book for you.

The story follows several different characters whose storylines intersect. Luca – the criminal that was just released from prison; Scarlett – the hospice nurse that wonders if her life is all she wants it to be; Brooks – the crooked cop; Anton – in the Russian mafia and a former boyfriend of Scarlett; Josh – Scarlett’s fiance and seemingly good guy; Jimmy Francis – dying patient of Scarlett’s.

This is a fast-paced novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. As I have come to discover, many times characters are not who they portray themselves to be. But others are exactly as you see them described. These characters fit both bills. Luca is pretty much as you expect a hardened criminal to be with no intention of rehabilitating their life. Anton appears to have changed his ways, at least to Scarlett, but has he? Scarlett is a character that many might be able to relate to in the fact that she wonders if her life is going in the direction that it should be or if there is something else out there for her.

There were so many twists and turns to this book. The last 10% or so was extremely action-packed with a few crazy twists at the end. I thought about the situation Scarlett found herself in at the end and wondered if I could have done the same or how I would have handled the situation. You’ll have to read the book to find out!

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gareth R.T. Owen is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and filmmaker from Wales, United Kingdom. Gareth’s love for stories developed at a very young age and soon blossomed into an obsession. He studied creative writing and screenwriting before moving to Los Angeles, CA, where his work on screen has earned him festival awards including best film and best screenplay. Whether it be enjoying the work of others, or creating himself, Gareth is drawn to gripping psychological thrillers with a gritty tone.

 

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Synopsis

 

When a dead body is discovered lying barefoot in a restaurant parking lot, detectives Angela White and Paul Conley are called in to investigate the strange and disturbing crime. The victim turns out to be Jay Sharma, the hotshot CEO of a famed AI company and tech powerhouse. Jay’s distraught wife can’t imagine who could want to kill him. But the deeper White and Conley wade into the evidence, the longer the suspect list grows.

The detectives soon come face-to-face with the dark and sordid world that lies just under Silicon Valley’s polished and pristine exterior. From jealous ex-lovers to rival tech giants, Jay has created powerful enemies, all of whom would be happy to see him dead–and all of whom have solid alibis.

White and Conley hit dead end after dead end. And when blackmail schemes and copycat murders come into play, finding Jay’s killer becomes increasingly more urgent. Can they catch a break, or will a murderer go free in Silicon Valley?

 

 

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Review

 

When Jay is found dead in a parking lot, the police investigate but are thwarted at nearly every turn. Nearly every suspect or witness is omitting facts and derailing the investigation into his death. Then others start dying. Is this the work of a serial killer? A copycat? Will they be able to figure out who killed this man? There are several storylines to follow throughout this novel.

I thought the author did a good job of hiding the killer because I certainly didn’t expect the outcome. Of course, when you don’t have all of the facts because all of the characters are lying, well it would be hard for anyone to do their job. But I think that is what made the story interesting because we don’t have all the facts and those facts are slowly revealed throughout the book.

I was surprised that once the killer was revealed that did not end the story. There was MORE! The last 10% definitely had some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. Let’s just say that everyone got what was coming to them in the end.

I could see this turning into a series featuring the detectives White and Conley. Although, a revelation at the end would make that not possible unless something changes. Or perhaps it would just mean a new path for the detectives. I enjoyed their banter and friendship and I think that interaction made them a stronger team.

If you like mysteries with twists, definitely give this book a whirl. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Vineet is a tech professional by day and has been a lifelong fan of mysteries, be it in books or on screen. He enjoys writing and creating a world of suspense that leaves his readers guessing until the end. With his debut novel, Barefoot in the Parking Lot, and the follow-up short story, The Stick, he has fulfilled his dream of becoming a published author. He lives in San Jose, California with his wife and twin boys and hopes to keep writing for years to come.

 

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Synopsis

 

Jews being Jewish: that’s the subject of Jennifer Anne Moses’s new collection of short stories. Whether in Tel Aviv, suburban New Jersey, or the Deep South, the characters who populate the pages of The Man Who Loved His Wife grapple with God, their loved ones, fate, death, hope, Hitler, transcendence, and the 4000 year old history of Judaism. With a Yiddish sensibility born of passion, an eye for detail, and a deadpan sense of humor reminiscent of Singer, Salinger, and Tillie Olsen, Moses captures singularly Jewish and wholly human characters as they live and breathe through their stories. A secular Israeli loses his son twice, first to ultra-Orthodoxy and then to war. An elderly survivor of Nazism living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, believes his dog to be the reincarnation of his long-dead sister. Meanwhile, in Queens, an adolescent boy mistakes love for magic and brings his family to the brink of catastrophe. Lovely, tender, and hard to put down, these are short stories that leave you yearning for more.

 

 

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Praise

 

Few others writing today explore as profoundly the stress of childhood, adolescence, and parenthood on the second and third generations of East European immigrants—the Jewish family in its American incarnation—as Jennifer Anne Moses. — Sol Gittelman, author of From Shtetl to Suburbia: The family in Jewish literary imagination.

At their finest the stories in Jennifer Anne Moses’s The Man Who Loved His Wife have the wit, whimsy, and surreal wonder of Chagall paintings—but a dark, depraved Chagall whose angels are as deeply flawed as they are grittily earthbound. — Peter Selgin, author of Drowning Lessons and The Inventors.

The wonderful stories in Jennifer Anne Moses’s The Man Who Loved His Wife play the heartstrings like a harp, striking deep chords of pathos and passion to wild chords of hilarity. Seldom does such essential wisdom come in such an entertaining package. — Steve Stern, author of The Frozen Rabbi.

Jennifer Anne Moses is our century’s Bernard Malumud or Saul Bellow. With warmth, tenderness, and wit, she captures the essence of the modern Jewish experience in the family, the workplace, and the bedroom. It leaves you hungry for more. — Gabrielle Glaser, author of American Baby: A Mother, a Child, and the Shadow History of Adoption

 

 

Review

 

I always enjoy reading a book about a culture that I know little about. This book shares insight into the Jewish community, their history, and their way of life. But these are also stories of what everyday people experience and you might find yourself in the same situation or know someone that had these experiences. These stories are real life and I think that anyone would be able to relate or even identify with the various characters and their situations.

These stories also bring out a range of emotions for the reader. I felt joy, sadness, sorrow, and even a little anger. This is the mark of a good book in my mind when it touches many of the emotions and drags the reader into the story and the well-being of the characters.

We give the book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer Anne Moses is a multi-genre author whose books include Food and Whine, The Book of Joshua, Bagels and Grits, Visiting Hours, Tales from My Closet, and The Art of Dumpster Diving. The Man Who Loved His Wife is her first collection of short stories. Her essays and short stories have been widely published and anthologized. She’s also a painter. She is the mother of three grown children, and lives in Montclair, NJ, with her husband of more than three decades and their two bad dogs.

 

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