Maxed Out (The Owl’s Nest Mysteries)

 

by C.S. McDonald

​Adult Fiction, 184 pages

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: McWriter Books

 

 

Synopsis

 

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!

 

 

Amazon * B&N

 

 

Review

 

Alexa is back helping Angel Squad wannabee, Bobby Starr, solve a murder. This is actually the second of three that Bobby has to solve to be admitted to Saint Peter’s Angel Squad.

I really enjoy the time-slip with Alex traveling back to the 1950s to help search for clues and uncover the murderer. It helps that she can do some research on her computer in the present before being pulled into the past. I can only imagine how fascinating it would be to visit another time period, especially with the clothes considering Alexa’s chosen profession.

Alexa and Bobby are trying to figure out who killed Maxi’s husband that she was framed for and died in prison accused of his murder. The answer was definitely not one I saw coming and I don’t think there were many clues that would point the reader in that direction. However, Maxi was not a nice ghost. She was rude, mean, and manipulative. What happens to her once the truth is uncovered was also a bit surprising.

Alexa’s romance with Cliff continues in this book. They seem like a good couple but their relationship is a very minor part of the storyline.  Perhaps in the next book, the author will expand upon that relationship.

All of the characters are fun, some are whimsical, and most are down to earth. There is a good balance and flow from Alexa’s story to the minor sub-plots with Winnie and Holden.

Knowing that Bobby has to solve three murders before becoming a part of the Angel Squad leaves me wondering if this will be a three book series only or if there will be more and Alex helps Bobby in his new duties if he makes the squad.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

 

 

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

Autographed copy of MAXED OUT, plus other gifts (USA only) (ends Jul 23)

 

MAXED OUT Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Framed and Frosted (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Cinnamon & Sugar Press (June 22, 2021)
Number of Pages: 323

 

Synopsis

 

Framed and Frosted, the third book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, finds cupcake caterer, Emory Martinez, working at a Laguna Beach society Fourth of July soiree, with her sister and their new employee, Sal. With a host that seems intent on accosting both catering employees and guests alike, things go from bad to worse when he accuses Sal of murdering his long-dead son.

As the crescendo of exploding fireworks overhead becomes the backdrop for cupcakes and champagne, a deadly murder occurs. Can Sal and Emory explain why the cupcake the host ate, after shoving a trayful of buttercream frosted cupcakes onto Sal, resulted in his death? Or will the guests and detective alike believe that Sal is a murderer? Emory and her octogenarian employer, Tillie, whip into action to find out who framed Sal after being frosted by the victim.

Includes recipes!

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

Cupcakes are my second favorite dessert behind pie…but a very close second. So this series has me salivating at each page turn and I am dreaming of cupcakes at every turn.

Emory is a very likable protagonist and while she has been dealt a few blows, she bounces back. She is lucky to live with Tillie (Matilda to her son) and these two can get into a little bit of trouble as they show us in this book by working to solve the mysteries themselves. But if they hadn’t chosen to look into the murder then an innocent man would be in jail and who knows what other tragedies would have fallen upon Emory or her sister Carrie’s catering business.

This story does pack in a lot of sub-plots including a handsome young lawyer, a new police detective, Emory’s relationship with Randall, and the continued search for Emory and Carrie’s long-lost sister. Despite all of these other things happening in the book, they only add to the story and do not detract at all. I was amazed at how the author kept everything flowing smoothly and wove each story succinctly into the major plot.

The story does take a little bit from the headlines and mixes it in such as the racism towards the catering employee accused of murder. While this isn’t anything new, it does remind me of what we see happening in the world today.

This is a fantastic series so definitely give it a whirl but start with the first book to get a handle on all of the characters and the backstories of each. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.  She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and cozy mystery, SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION and CAKE POPPED OFF. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

 

Webpage * Facebook * Twitter * Blog * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister is about to see the ugly side of beauty expos…

Easter weekend on the Jersey Shore is hopping. Poppy’s Bed and Breakfast is busier than ever, but she needs to leave things in the hopefully capable hands of Aunt Ginny–and paws of Figaro the black smoke Persian. She’s selling her paleo muffins and keto cookies at the Health and Beauty Expo in Cape May’s Convention Hall. Normally sharing a booth with the love of her life would be a treat, but she’s recently discovered secrets that throw her new romance into chaos.

But more secrets are about to be exposed at the expo. In his keynote address, prominent cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lance Rubin reveals his breakthrough anti-aging technology. Unfortunately, someone has one-upped him with a truly foolproof anti-aging formula: murder. With the plastic surgeon dead under his own UV mask, and bedlam reigning in the hall and back at the B&B, Poppy needs to follow a twisted trail marked by glowing footprints to unmask a killer…

 

 

This book releases June 29th, 2021. Available for pre-order now!

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

 

 

Review

 

This is such a fun series and I couldn’t wait until the next edition in Poppy’s story was available to us…ok, it hasn’t been released yet but many thanks to the author for sharing an early copy so I didn’t have to wait too long.

As we discovered at the end of the previous book, Wine Tastings are Murder, Poppy decided that Gia was the man for her over Tim. However, she was in for quite a surprise when she learned that Gia was still married and his wife has shown up to try and reconcile. This definitely creates tension between Gia and Poppy and we see that throughout the whole book and both parties aren’t 100% honest with each other and trust has to be earned. Thankfully, the situation is resolved in this book and doesn’t drag onto the next installment. You will have to read the book to find out how this comes to fruition and Gia and Poppy are able to truly move forward in their relationship.

To top things off, Gia and Poppy are running a booth within the Beauty Expo that has come to town featuring Poppy’s gluten-free items and Gia’s coffee beverages. However, even that does not run smoothly for him with Tim nursing hurt feelings over losing Poppy to Gia and Gigi trying to cast aspersions on Poppy’s Paleo items. Gigi is not a likable character and has never been but she seems to ratch it up a level in this book.

There is of course a murder or two to be solved. There are some twists I didn’t expect and just when you think you know who the bad guy is, a new clue or scenario appears which caused me to rethink my original thoughts. I didn’t figure out the killer and this person wasn’t on my radar. There are quite a few possibilities and all with legitimate reasons but not enough to kill anyone. To top it all off, Poppy works with a long-time rival, Amber, to help solve the crime. Amber is a police detective and has always been a thorn in Poppy’s side. The animosity between the two can be seen throughout the book, but Poppy rises above it to help her out of a jam. Will this change their “friendship?”

And then there is a side story regarding Poppy’s best friend, Sawyer. I wondered if she was getting into trouble but the truth came out and it was like a weight was lifted from Sawyer’s shoulders because she didn’t have to mislead Poppy. It is an awwww type of situation so don’t worry about it causing any rifts.

The snark is still there and Joanne is quite the character with a biting wit. Of course Aunt Ginny is still causing trouble and even Figaro (the cat) has a love interest in Portia, a show cat.

This is such a fun series and I recommend starting at the beginning to truly follow the personal stories of Poppy, Tim, Gia, Ginny, and the biddies.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Libby Klein graduated Lower Cape May Regional High School sometime in the ’80s. Her classes revolved mostly around the culinary sciences and theater, with the occasional nap in Chemistry. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that forced her to remove gluten from her kitchen and adopt a Paleo Diet. Now her life revolves around coffee and bacon. When she’s not feeling sorry for herself that she can’t eat bread, she writes from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard. Most of her hobbies revolve around eating, and travel, and eating while traveling.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

 

Cozy Mystery Crew * Goodreads * BookBub * Instagram * Amazon

 

I love books and the thought of a book subscription box where the contents are a mystery each month is intriguing. So when the creators of this new box asked if I would be interested in seeing what they had to offer, of course, I had to say Yes! The great thing about Book Lovers Delight is that they focus on indie authors to help provide a wider net for these authors to share their works of literature with all of us that maybe wouldn’t have heard of them before. After all, there are so many books out there and just not enough time to discover all of them.

 

The photos I am going to share are from the first box and what you might expect each month. I’m not a video guru (yet!) so no unboxing video. But hopefully, this will still intrigue you.

 

So this beautiful green box arrives and if I remember correctly, it was in a large green mailing envelope. The top of the book reflects the company name (just in case you forgot what you ordered!)

 

 

When I lifted the lid of the box, I saw tissue paper and a letter on top.

 

 

The letter shares with us what is inside

 

 

Before I moved the tissue aside, I was greeted with this cute glass with Cheers written on the side. Perfect for what is about to come.

 

 

 

Everything in the box is tied to the book in some way. There are drink recipe cards that will fill that glass quite nicely. Suntan lotion so while you are poolside reading this book you don’t burn. And of course a book!  This one happens to be from author Meg Hafdahl. I have never heard of her but am intrigued and a bit spooked since it is a horror novel.

 

 

So if you are a book lover and want to try a new subscription box and perhaps find a new author to love, then check it out from Book Lovers’ Delight. And they are based in Texas for all you Texas fans.

 

Book Lovers’ Delight was founded when a group of individuals decided to turn their shared interests into an official Book Club. After carefully working out all the details, we are on our way to creating something extraordinary.

 

Book Lovers’ Delight is the brainchild of….

 

Through the Eyes of Authors

 

Sandy and Friends

 

Inklings Publishing

 

Houston Writers Guild

 

Authorology

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Conspiracies abound in this surreal and yet all-too-real technothriller in which a deadly underground alternate reality game might just be altering reality itself, set in the same world as the popular Rabbits podcast.

It’s an average work day. You’ve been wrapped up in a task, and you check the clock when you come up for air–4:44 pm. You go to check your email, and 44 unread messages have built up. With a shock, you realize it is April 4th–4/4. And when you get in your car to drive home, your odometer reads 44,444. Coincidence? Or have you just seen the edge of a rabbit hole?

Rabbits is a mysterious alternate reality game so vast it uses our global reality as its canvas. Since the game first started in 1959, ten iterations have appeared and nine winners have been declared. Their identities are unknown. So is their reward, which is whispered to be NSA or CIA recruitment, vast wealth, immortality, or perhaps even the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe itself. But the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes. Players have died in the past–and the body count is rising.

And now the eleventh round is about to begin. Enter K–a Rabbits obsessive who has been trying to find a way into the game for years. That path opens when K is approached by billionaire Alan Scarpio, the alleged winner of the sixth iteration. Scarpio says that something has gone wrong with the game and that K needs to fix it before Eleven starts or the whole world will pay the price.

Five days later, Scarpio is declared missing. Two weeks after that, K blows the deadline and Eleven begins. And suddenly, the fate of the entire universe is at stake.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * BAM

 

 

Review

 

This book is not going to appeal to all audiences. It will appeal to those that like the bizarre, are into RPG, and believe that multi-dimension universes are possible. While I may not fit into all of those categories, I have to admit this book was fascinating with all of the possibilities.

We follow K and several of his friends that have stumbled across a game called Rabbits. It isn’t spoken about and I’m not really sure how someone can win this game, but there are people that have won. It isn’t spoken about or really discussed and it is a game for those that notice variations in the world around them….once again, not me but I love just thinking about the possibilities.

I like the titles of each chapter, they are somewhat comical and add humor to this insane story. There are people disappearing, memories that may not be real, time lapses, and so much more.

The story does get bogged down in some of the details and since I do not understand some of the scientific theories discussed, it did go over my head. But I was pulled into K’s life and interactions with Chloe and others that led him down the rabbit hole of this game and as he fought for his life and trying to figure out what was real and what was not.

I read a few other reviews and realized that we never really know K’s gender. I assumed male but it could easily be a female. There is no way to know for sure and thinking back, that sheds a different light on some of the scenes.

If you like podcasts, you might want to check out the Rabbits podcast. I am not usually a podcast listener but will check it out just because I’ve read this book.

Overall we give this book 4 paws.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Terry Miles is an award-winning filmmaker; creator of the Public Radio Alliance and that network’s series of hit podcasts: Tanis, Rabbits (#1 on Apple Podcasts), Faerie, and The Last Movie; and co-creator of The Black Tapes. He splits his time between the dark emerald gloom of the Pacific Northwest and sunny Los Angeles.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

From the Pacific Northwest’s most influential chef comes a collection of recipes for ultra-simple sophistication inspired by the world’s most delicious cuisines

Acclaimed chef, restaurateur, and artist Renee Erickson invites you on a culinary journey via her favorite places in the world—Rome, Paris, Normandy, Baja California, London, and her hometown, Seattle. Equally aspirational travelogue and practical guide to cooking at home, the book offers 120 recipes and 60 cocktail recipes for simple meals that evoke the dreamiest places and cuisines. From not-too-intricate cocktails and snacks to effortless entrées, these are the recipes that inspire Erickson and make for relaxed, convivial evenings, whether at home or abroad. Showcasing Erickson’s appealing and high-style aesthetic and featuring gorgeous photography and hand-drawn illustrations, this book offers a richly visual survey of beautiful, easy ways to escape the everyday, with meals that you will want to eat every day.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Abrams Books * BAM

 

 

My thoughts

 

If you are anything like me, you haven’t done any traveling in the last year thanks to the pandemic. I’ve dreamed of places to visit and seeing new things and trying new foods.

Imagine my surprise when I received this book as part of Abrams Dinner Party. Flipping through the pages was like taking a trip to various locations with the colorful images, the mouth watering recipes, and even the drinks that highlighted each country or location.

This book is more than just a cookbook, it is an adventure with the author and her experiences, thoughts about the food, and so much more. I had to chuckle when I read a section where she considered making the book all about chips because she loves them so much.

There are so many different dishes to make from appetizers to main courses. There is also an abundance of adult beverage recipes and I plan to whip out my supplies and create a few of these refreshing cocktails. The author weaves stories about her time in the various locales and her life and why every recipe or location is special to her.

This is definitely a book to savor and imagine yourself in Baja, London, Paris, or even Seattle.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Renee Erickson is the James Beard Award–winning chef and co-owner of numerous Seattle restaurants, including The Walrus and the Carpenter, The Whale Wins, and the Narwhal Oyster Truck. She is the author of A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus: Menus and Stories.

 

Website * Instagram * Twitter

 

 

 

 

Can you eat barbecue and still lose weight and be healthy? Yes, you can. New York Times bestselling author Myron Mixon will show you how.

After more than thirty years of winning contests for his smoked hogs, briskets, ribs, and chickens, Myron Mixon knows a whole lot about barbecue. So what does the “winningest man in barbecue” know about living a healthy lifestyle? As someone who was overweight and unhealthy before losing more than 100 pounds, he’s figured out how to cook and eat the foods he loves and still live healthfully. Having kept those pounds off for more than two years, Mixon is living proof that you can eat barbecue and be healthy, if you know how to do it right.

This is Keto done the way we all want to live; the recipes in Keto BBQ are the ones Mixon uses to enjoy the barbecue lifestyle without gaining weight. Like Mixon, you get to eat the foods you love—including bacon-wrapped chicken breasts, smoked pork shoulder, baby back ribs, and even barbecue sauce—if you follow the recipes in this book. In Keto BBQ, Mixon shares a series of real—and real simple—changes you can make to your diet while still enjoying barbecue and other Southern foods in a healthier way.

 

Review

 

I love to eat and my husband is a carnivore, so I knew this book might have some good tips on making dishes that fit the Keto plan. Neither one of us follow Keto, but I do find it interesting and I think the biggest difference is that instead of using sugar the recipes call for monk fruit sweetener. I have seen it in the baking aisle but never really thought much about it as a sweetener so I was definitely intrigued. The book has a variety of rubs for different types of meats, bbq sauce that doesn’t use sugar (which I try to avoid anyway), and there are sections that cover chicken, pork, beef, vegetables, desserts, and beverages.

I have to admit that I do not grill or bbq as much as I used to and I live in Texas where the weather is almost always perfect for this type of cuisine. But from his first book, BBQ&A, I learned a few handy rubs and techniques and a recipe I find myself frequently making. So I was curious to see what this book could add to my repertoire and I found one recipe that was similar to something I already make the BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts. This varied slightly from how I normally make it, taking the tenders and covering with a few spices and then wrapping bacon around it, and I have to admit I didn’t follow the instructions…mostly because I was scrambling at dinner time. But after reading this will definitely give the full recipe a try.  Ok, I know I’m rambling. It happens sometimes. Anyway, this recipe calls for marinating the chicken in bbq sauce, then covering it in a rub, wrapping it with bacon, and then cooking in a smoker. I don’t own a smoker, but since I normally make my recipe in the oven, I knew that would work just fine. I ended up making a smaller batch of the chicken rub and coating my chicken in that before wrapping it in bacon. We did use bbq sauce once it was cooked as a dipping sauce. My husband raved about the dish, but then he tends to rave about most things I cook. I think it is because he doesn’t have to cook the meal.

I did try and make the Mint-Basil ‘Rita since a friend had just given me some fresh mint and basil…but I think I put too much lime juice and I didn’t realize I was out of sparkling water. sigh….sometimes I have to realize I can’t make recipes on the fly because I tend to be missing something. This is why planning is key! I am going to give it another whirl and make sure I have all of the ingredients on hand.

This book is worth picking up and flipping through especially if you follow the Keto plan. I will leave you with Mint-Basil Rita recipe

 

The Skinny Pitmaster Mint-Basil ‘Rita

 

Ingredients

 

6 Tablespoons fresh lime juice

8 leaves fresh mint

8 leaves fresh basil

2 cups ice cubes

3 oz tequila or rum

1 cup sparkling water

 

In a medium bowl, combine the lime juice with the mint and basil leaves. use a muddler or other tool to muddle the leaves and fruit, crushing them in the lime juice as best as possible. Divide the muddled juice and herbs between two standard margarita glasses.

Fill the glasses 3/4 of the way with ice. Add 1 1/2 oz of tequila or rum to each glass. Fill the glasses to the top with sparkling water. Gently stir the cocktail with a stirrer or long thin spoon.

 

 

RIVER, SING OUT

 

BY

 

JAMES WADE

 

 

Categories: Contemporary / Literary Fiction

 

Rural Fiction / Crime Fiction / Coming-of-Age

 

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

 

Blackstone Facebook  Twitter   Instagram

 

Date of Publication: June 8, 2021

 

Number of Pages: 315 pages

 

 

 

 

“And through these ages untold, the river did act as the lifeblood of all those things alongside it.”

Jonah Hargrove is celebrating his thirteenth birthday by avoiding his abusive father, when a girl named River stumbles into his yard, injured and alone. The teenager has stolen thousands of dollars worth of meth from her murderous, drug-dealing boyfriend, but lost it somewhere in the Neches River bottoms during her escape. Jonah agrees to help her find and sell the drugs so she can flee East Texas.

Chasing after them is John Curtis, a local drug kingpin and dogfighter, as well as River’s boyfriend, the dangerous Dakota Cade.

Each person is keeping secrets from the others—deadly secrets that will be exposed in violent fashion as all are forced to come to terms with their choices, their circumstances, and their own definition of God.

With a colorful cast of supporting characters and an unflinching violence juxtaposed against lyrical prose, River, Sing Out dives deep into the sinister world of the East Texas river bottoms, where oppressive poverty is pitted against the need to believe in something greater than the self.

 

 

 

Blackstone Publishing ║ Amazon ║Books-a-Million

 

 

Indie Bound ║ Downpour ║ Hudson Booksellers

 

 

Praise

 

”With echoes of Jim Harrison, Cormac McCarthy (and perhaps a smidge of Flannery O’Connor), River, Sing Out is a beautiful, brutal meditation on survival and love in the face of nearly unspeakable violence and depravity in an East Texas community ravaged by the meth trade. Taut, lyrical, and precise, the prose soars in this important new novel by James Wade.” —Elizabeth Wetmore, New York Times bestselling author of Valentine

”If you read one novel this year, make it this one. James Wade’s River, Sing Out, is an instant classic filled with characters that will break your heart, lyrical prose as haunted as the river it evokes, and a Southern Noir undertow that wholly sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages until it’s searing, masterful conclusion.” —May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives

”Wade, whose striking debut, All Things Left Wild (2020), traveled back a century in Texas history, uses an unlikely friendship to explore an equally wild present-day landscape…A haunting fable of an impossible relationship fueled by elemental need and despair.” —Kirkus Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

River, Sing Out – Book Trailer from AV FILMS on Vimeo.

 

 

 

 

 

If I could only use one word to describe this book, I think it would be poetic. The words flow seamlessly from one subject to another and the imagery fits East Texas to a T.

There are several plots in this story that meld together. There is a young boy, Jonah, that is just trying to survive despite abject poverty. River, a young woman that has lost her way but is determined to find her path, and John Curtis and Cade, local drug dealers and thugs who believe they are above the law. This novel is gritty and while has some happy moments, shows us the true underbelly of the drug world and the ruthlessness of those involved.

 

“How much of this life is truly your choice?”

 

This line resonated with me because I believe that we all make choices in our lives. Those choices may not always be the right ones, but every situation can be a learning experience. Of course, there are people and circumstances that create situations not of our choosing or making, but those are the times that one can learn from it and I think that is what happens with River and Jonah at different times throughout the book.

 

“You’ve made yourself the world’s victim and you’ll do the same with this.”

 

Jonah may be just 13, but he has seen a lot in his young life. His mother left him and his father is not a kind man. Plus his living situation isn’t wonderful but thankfully there is the kindness of a neighbor that looks out for him and gives him food when Jonah visits. This may be Jonah’s saving grace in life from a horrible life and abusive father. Jonah realizes that he wants more from life than what he has and seeks to find a better life for himself.

 

“He was her lifeline in so many ways. And he was kind to her. More kind than any human had ever been.”

 

I think my favorite character might have been River. She realized (albeit a bit too late perhaps) that a life wrapped up with drugs and thugs may not be the best for her. There was quite a little twist near the end that was quite the surprise. Her life was possibly never going to be all her own. However, her time with Jonah helped her see the good in people and strive harder to change her circumstances.

 

“We all come to appreciate those things lost to us. The sweetest breath of the day not realized until the night. Such is our reckoning as men. And how do you keep going, when something so meaningful is taken from you? How do you move forward? How do you move at all?”

 

This introspective quote gave me a lot to ponder. We all have losses in our lives and it is the hope for a better tomorrow that keeps us moving forward. I think that is what River and Jonah discover in their short time together. There is even a moment for John Curtis where I thought that he might want to change his life but it might have been too late for him.

This book will paint a picture of a world many of us are not subjected to but it gives us a glimpse into the lives of these characters and how they adapt and adjust to what life has thrown at them. The ending is both sad and joyful at the same time.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Wade lives and writes in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and daughter. He is the author of All Things Left Wild, which is a winner of the 2016 Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest, a winner of the 2021 Spur Award for Best Historical Fiction, and a winner of the 2021 Reading the West Award for Best Debut Novel. His fiction has appeared in various literary journals and magazines.

 

  Website ║ Facebook ║ Blog

 

Instagram ║  YouTube ║ Goodreads ║ Twitter

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

TWO WINNERS

Two winners each receive an autographed first-edition

hardcover copy of River, Sing Out

+ an autographed paperback copy of

multiple award-winning All Things Left Wild.

(US only. Ends midnight, CDT, June 18, 2021)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour,

or visit the blogs below

 

 

6/8/21	Book Trailer	Texas Book Lover
6/8/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
6/9/21	Review	The Clueless Gent
6/9/21	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
6/10/21	Top Five	All the Ups and Downs
6/10/21	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
6/11/21	Author Interview	Book Fidelity
6/11/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
6/12/21	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
6/13/21	Excerpt	Reading by Moonlight
6/14/21	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
6/14/21	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds
6/15/21	Review	Book Bustle
6/16/21	Author interview	The Page Unbound
6/16/21	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
6/17/21	Audio Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
6/17/21	Review	Jennie Reads

 

 

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Guilt is Midnight Blue: A Hazel Dean Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Eburnean Books (May 6, 2021)
Paperback: 290 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Hazel Dean can see other’s emotions in color.

She mostly uses it to help people find the perfect book in her shop, Books and Chocolate. But, when one of her customers is murdered, the police point to an old feud. Only Hazel can tell that the accused is innocent. She must navigate around her district attorney husband, and her surrogate uncle, the police captain, to find out what really happened.

Hazel drives, hikes and snoops all over her small Appalachian town in an attempt to bring peace to the victim’s family and prevent her community from being torn apart by old grudges.

 

 

Amazon – B&N

 

 

Guest Post

 

To Kill A Mockingbird: American Literature’s Greatest Work

 

To Kill A Mockingbird recently took the top spot in PBS’s Great American Read contest wherein Americans voted for their most loved novel. In fact, To Kill A Mockingbird was the only book in the top 5 that had a setting in the United States and only two of the top five were penned by American authors. (the others were Outlander, Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings) Interesting, but I’ll save that rant for another day.

 

 

To Kill A Mockingbird has it all: coming of age, legal thriller, social justice commentary and mystery all rolled into one. It has clearly defined heroes and villains, but also plenty of morally ambiguous characters.

I am fascinated with how autobiographical To Kill A Mockingbird is. Harper Lee’s father, who went by Finch, was an attorney involved in a trial similar to the one in the book. He defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. They were found guilty and hanged.

Dill is based on Lee’s childhood friend, Truman Capote. They were dear friends their whole lives and often edited each other’s work. Lee even went to Kansas with Capote to help him do research for In Cold Blood. Apparently, his flamboyant personality was off-putting to the locals and she was able to get more out of them with her down-to-earth attitude. The romantic in me likes to imagine that Lee, who never married, was in love with Capote her whole life.

Capote related that there really was a recluse that lived down the street from them. And he really did leave them gifts in a hollowed-out tree.

The hero worship Harper Lee feels towards her father is evident in Atticus Finch’s character. One of the working titles for the book was Atticus.

 

 

 

While Go Set A Watchman and the Broadway play version of the book spark doubt about Atticus Finch, he largely remains a heroic figure in American literary history. Some of the racial dynamics in the book have, gratefully, become outdated. However, a man willing to do whatever he can to defend the rights of others will always be someone to admire and emulate. Lee has been criticized many times for using a “white savior” trope. This is an oversimplification. Atticus didn’t actually save anyone. Tom Robinson died in the end. Atticus Finch was unable to enact any meaningful change. I don’t think that the point of this book is that Atticus is a savior or even a hero. I think its about a simple man, full of integrity, trying to do the right thing.

 

 

In my cozy mystery, Guilt is Midnight Blue, the main character hands To Kill A Mockingbird to a young man struggling with a moral quandary. When he reads the book, he is inspired by Atticus. He decides to stand up for what he believes is right, in the hopes that he will inspire his family in the same way Atticus inspired his children.

If you haven’t read To Kill A Mockingbird, you should. If you only ever read To Kill A Mockingbird in high school, you should read it again. It’s a beautiful, uplifting, hopeful novel that will help you solve your own moral quandaries.

 

Sources: pbs.org/thegreatamericanread/home/    Wikipedia.com/wiki/Harper_Lee   Wikipedia.com/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird          biography.com/writer/harper-lee

 

 

Review

 

I fell in love with this town in Appalachia and the people. I especially liked the take on the feud between the Trudgeon’s and McCleary’s much like the Hatfield and the McCoys.

Hazel has quite a unique gift and I enjoyed reading the descriptions of how she saw the different colors surrounding people she met and what those colors indicated. It was all very fascinating. I also loved her bookshop where the books had colors and she grouped them together by the colors they emitted and that also helped her pair them up with the right reader. I would be curious what book I should read based on the colors surrounding me.

The mystery was intriguing and Hazel just jumps right into the middle of things to discover the truth. She puts herself into a few sticky situations, but that is to be expected of most cozy protagonists. Hazel is a kind soul and I think brings out the good in people despite what those people may try to say and do.

This may be a new favorite series and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Hazel.  We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Josalyn McAllister is a cozy fiction author whose most recent works include Love Over Easy and Guilt is Midnight Blue. Josalyn started writing character descriptions at the tender age of seven, inspired by the works of LM Montgomery. In her teenage years, she moved on to Newsies fan fiction. Inspired by National Novel Writing Month, she wrote her first novel about a child she mentored in college. She has never stopped writing. Josalyn taught middle school history before deciding she would rather spend time with her own children than other peoples. A restless soul, she has moved all over the country and collected an eclectic array of hobbies. Her writing has a relatable quality that will charm and entertain you.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

WINNER – 2020 NEW ENGLAND BOOK FESTIVAL

From New England’s Storyteller Steven Manchester comes a soul-awakening novel about love, faith, and family.

Blessed with a high emotional IQ, Phinn Reed enters the world with the promise of finding his soul mate. With heaven’s memories erased, his romantic quest teaches him that the heart often sees clearer than the eyes—and that not everyone has ordered the same items from The Menu. Evidence that love stories come in many different forms, The Menu is a spiritual journey involving more than just a man and a woman; it is a modern-day tale that reaches far beyond the boundaries of reason.

 

“If you liked The Shack, then The Menu is a must read!” – John Lansing, Bestselling Author

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This is one of those books that will give you something to think about and maybe question what you believe.

The story starts with Phinn having a conversation with God about what he wants to experience on earth as a human and God let him know that life cannot be all good things, that there are some tribulations that you have to experience to appreciate the good things that happen. It is presented as a menu that he chooses his desires/wishes for his life. I thought that was a good analogy because who wouldn’t choose all of the good things in life to experience? But do we appreciate those things if we do not have to go through some challenging times to get to the good times? I think probably not because if everything in life came easily we wouldn’t appreciate what we have or what it took to get to that stage in our life.

There are mentors for Phinn along the way including a young boy that tells it like it is without any hesitation. As they say, “out of the mouths of babes.” Sometimes the answer is the simplest thing or thought and we tend to overthink or put too much pressure on ourselves to create the perfect outcome.

I appreciated the honest feelings that are portrayed throughout the book and that Phinn struggled with events at different times in his life. I think most people will be able to relate to his experiences, maybe not specific ones but how he acts and reacts to his life.

Pick up this book next time you want to be inspired and reflective at the same time. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

New England’s Storyteller Steven Manchester is the author of the soul-awakening novel, The Menu, as well as the 80s nostalgia-fest, Bread Bags & Bullies. His other works include #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; the multi-award winning novel, Goodnight Brian; and the beloved holiday podcast drama, The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, and BET’s Nightly News. Three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival, 2018 New York Book Festival, and 2020 New England Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

 

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