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book reviews |
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Debut author, KA Woodford introduces us to her psychological thriller, “Stolen”: Jenna Brandt can't stay out of trouble for five minutes. When she sees one of her friends about to be abducted, she launches into action not thinking of the consequences. Detective Sergeant David Sawran doesn't know what to think; troublemaker or daredevil. The vehicle she stole has evidence from a cold case fifteen years and fifteen hundred miles away causing Sawran and the original detective to team up hoping they can catch a killer before he finds Jenna.  This was an interesting read! Yes, it was a little gory in places. How could it not be when the story is about the hunt for a serial killer. This hunt stretched over a couple of decades, hundreds of miles and there were lots of missing girls. All the steps the police had to go through to eliminate suspects to find the killer was quite fascinating. I really do enjoy police-procedural stories. There was a little bit of jumping around in the timeline. There was also changing first-person point of view, that was not clearly defined sometimes. I do like the intimacy of first-person POV, however. Excellent closure at the end of major plot points. I award 4.5 stars to "Stolen".  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-KA-Woodford-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-stolen You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/woodfordauthor https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ka-woodford Psychological fiction, crime, thriller, police, kidnap, murder, killer Copyright ©2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction
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Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Priscilla B. Shuler introduces us to her story, “Kuimba” set in the American South a little over 100 years ago: South Carolina, 1914. Ophelia Smith’s life changed completely when she heard his beautiful singing. After hours of hard labor, the first-time mother feels blessed when the blue-eyed baby comes out of the womb making sweet music instead of cries. Naming him Kuimba for his enthralling voice, she proudly shares him with others who become enamored with the newborn… unaware of an older boy whose eyes are filled with hate. Over the years, Ophelia watches in awe as her child grows up healing people through his touch and being visited by holy beings. But she struggles to protect him from the brutal attacks of a savagely jealous young man whenever he’s out of her sight. And when angels warn her that God has one more task for the youth before calling him back to Heaven, she fears the looming fate that threatens to take him away forever. Will Ophelia’s magnificent son achieve his destiny and bring light into the world? KUIMBA is a spellbinding standalone historical fiction novel. If you like captivating characters, spiritual wonders, and divine fate, then you’ll love Priscilla B Shuler’s religious southern tale.  This story is set in the American South 1900s and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The title character is most unusual because he sings throughout the book. That is far from the most unusual thing about Kuimba. Much of the dialogue is heavily accented and that worked well for me because I have heard many southern accents. There is a lot of regional flavors, descriptions of the times, and mores of people who lived then. The other characters play very important parts also. I like the level-headed attitude that so many of them have. I also like how many of them experience drastic changes for the better as a direct result of knowing Kuimba. I award 4.8 stars to "Kuimba"!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Kuimba-Priscilla-Shuler-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-kuimba https://www.barnesandnoble.com/kuimba-priscilla-b-shuler You can follow the author: twitter.com/ShulerPriscilla https://priscillabshulerartistauthor.com https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-B.-Shuler www.facebook.com/priscilla.shuler.33 Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-series, mystery author, Marni Graff introduces us to the fifth volume in The Nora Tierney English Mysteries series, “The Evening’s Amethyst”: Who is Verity? That becomes the central question for American writer Nora Tierney, who has moved to her new Oxford home with her fiancé, DI Declan Barnes, and her young son. Declan's new case at Exeter College coincides with a frantic call from Nora's stepsister, Claire Scott: a fellow graduate student has died in a fall, and Claire begs Nora to help her prove her friend didn't commit suicide. The sisters conduct their own snooping, while Declan and his tam juggle this death with a cold case that proves to be more surprising than Declan could ever imagine.  I love Nora, don’t tell my wife or Declan. Her supporting cast adds so much depth to the story. Her life seems to be on the upswing in many ways. The author is very talented in weaving multiple stories into a cohesive and interesting plot! I was on the edge of my Kindle much of the way. The characters seem alive and quite three-dimensional. They struggle with everyday stresses and have worries just like us. Even the minor characters seem very organic in the story. A lot of the dialogue is witty and sometimes it is heartbreaking. The investigation proceeds at a reasonable pace and every step is realistic. I award 5 stars to "The Evening's Amethyst"!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Evenings-Amethyst-Tierney-English-Mysteries-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-the-evening-s-amethyst You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/GraffMarni http://www.auntiemwrites.com http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, dogs, toddler, action, mystery, suicide or murder, England, Oxford I reviewed other books by Marni: “Death at the Dakota” and interviewed her beneath that review: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/death-at-the-dakota-a-trudy-genova-manhattan-mystery-book-2-by-m-k-graff “The Golden Hour” we had an interview there also: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-golden-hour-by-marni-graff Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Award-winning, multi-volume author, Mercedes Rochelle introduces us to her third volume in The Plantagenet Legacy, “The Usurper King”: From Outlaw to Usurper, Henry Bolingbroke fought one rebellion after another. First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life. To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.  I have enjoyed this series so much! Mercedes takes a dusty and dry part of history makes pure entertainment out of it! I think she has a time machine because the actions and conversations seem so real, the people are real, whole and so organic. The things they do and say make a lot of sense. This is how people are, they worry first about their own well being and then they look to the welfare of those they love the most and the circle slowly expands. People today are the same as people back then. The writing is so good, Mercedes truly understands these people. Her powers of description provide the perfect balance with dialogue and action. There is lots of action also, love, bravery, murder and intrigue at all levels. I award 5 stars to “The Usurper King”! Considering all of the books Mercedes has written, this is the best!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/the-usurper-king https://www.amazon.co.uk/Usurper-King-Plantagenet-Legacy-Book-ebook You can follow the author: http://www.twitter.com/authorrochelle http://www.mercedesrochelle.com http://www.mercedesrochelle.net I have reviewed other books by this author: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/a-king-under-siege-book-one-of-the-plantagenet-legacy-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-kings-retribution https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/godwine-kingmaker-part-one-of-the-last-great-saxon-earls-by-mercedes-rochelle https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-sons-of-godwine https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-rivalry-by-mercedes-rochelle Tags: history, biography, fiction, medieval, European, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, historical, biographical, Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction. Multi-genre, multi-volume co-authors Krall and Barton introduce us to their collection of tales for the fall season: Travel the world and enjoy a collection of luxurious short stories with a paranormal edge from the writing desks of Bibiana Krall and Veronica Cline Barton. This 'spirited' anthology is guaranteed to give you the shivers and keep you reading late into the night with heady doses of mystery, haunted imagery and psychological suspense. Catch up and read Hearth Fires (Book #1) and get ready for an intense ride to places unknown. HVISKE (Norway) Here in the fjordic crags, each of us can be the victim of ourselves, the frozen death within waiting to be unleashed. I hear their silent whispers cry… ‘meg, meg, meg’. Most I choose to ignore, letting karma’s destiny of actions unfold. For those I extricate, the journey into the Northern Light or depth of darkness is swift. Choose wisely, hviske within. WIDOW’S WALK (Falmouth) After inheriting a historic mansion on the shores of Cape Cod. Abigail is consumed by grief for the loss of an incredible woman, and tormented by a childhood ghost that does everything possible to scare her out of her wits. When the troubling entity makes physical contact, it’s clear that Abby is in danger. Does the mysterious phantom want her dead? SCULPTURE OF THE DEAD (Aspen) I touch the cold, Colorado marble with my hands, running my fingers over the veins. I know when the stone matches the traits of the departed. Sculptural portraits, masks of the dead, fragments of limbs…the living think they want to remember their dearly departed with my creations. Sometimes it’s better to forget. SPIRIT ISLAND (Jasper) Seychelle is a free spirit, taking one day at a time and doing her best to help her family. When she accepts a creative assignment and experiences something, haunting and otherworldly in the wilderness… will it help her understand her own life better or carry her down a crooked and violent path she cannot return from? The past is alive. MODE de VEUVE NOIRE (Quebec City) Selfie, pose, look at me, I’m the fashion influencer you want to be. Follow, buy, so yesterday, darling--opinions, trends my ultimate worth. When wannabe, legend in her own mind Monique hits the streets of Quebec with an antique camera once owned by the famed Madame Coco, the photos she takes provide a stroke of famed acclaim, or dismal despair to those she hoped to install in her style hall of shame. The camera never lies, Madame. Click. Click. Click. RAGNO DAZANTE (Italy) Itsy, bitsy spider, dance, twirl and spin that tangled web. What waits for us on the other end of the cosmic red string? Aurelia has it all, a lush life in Italy, and fierce looks to match, yet she uses her power to dominate, mistreat and humiliate another woman. When Pietra finally embraces her dark birthright, the wicked game is afoot.  Hoo, boy! I love these stories! I can’t decide which is my favorite. but I do know which one creeped me out the most. Spirit Island takes that top slot, followed closely by Ragno Dazante. RD thoroughly surprised me with the ending. I didn’t see that coming. Mode de Veuve Noir had an unexpected climax also. Hviske was quite surprising as well. I guess my favorite is between Widow’s Walk and Sculpture of the Dead. Anything that makes me laugh as much as those two stories did lands at the top of my list for humor. This is a perfect offering for the fall season we are in now. What is left unsaid is almost as important as the writing. Extrapolation is a mark of good writing! 5 stars from me!
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Webs-Haunted-Book-2-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-tangled-webs https://www.barnesandnoble.com/tangled-webs Here is the review of Hearth Fires: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/hearth-fires-the-haunted-book-1-by-bibiana-krall-and-veronica-cline-barton You can follow the authors: https://www.twitter.com/Bibiana1Krall https://www.bibianakrall.com https://www.amazon.com/author/bibianakrall https://www.youtube.com/channel/bookem channel https://twitter.com/VClinebarton https://www.veronicaclinebarton.com https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton https://www.youtube.com/channel/#Bookem Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction Multi-volume author, Richard Smith introduces us to his MG stories of time travel, "Time Trap" and "Time Trap 2": Time Trap Who was the mysterious Hector Lightfoot? What was he up to when he disappeared, and who were the two ghosts once seen in his house? School friends Jamie and Todd are destined to find out when they go to London to spend a weekend with Jamie's Uncle Simon, who now lives in that very house. Soon after they arrive, Jamie has a frightening encounter with the two ghosts. Hector, a veteran from the First Afghan War, joined a covert expedition to China, and afterwards worked on a secret Government project in an underground lab at the British Museum. He vanished suddenly, and was never heard from again. Simon takes the boys to the lab, where they find a strange contraption - which, unknown to any of them, is a time-travel device. When the building is struck by lightning, the device is energised, and sends the boys back in time to the year 1862. There, surrounded by danger and exposed to disease, they are sucked into a life of crime in order to survive. Only if they can find Hector will they have any chance of getting home again. But why has he gone into hiding? Who is the man after him and what does he want? As the boys struggle to escape back to their own time, Jamie becomes convinced that the two ghosts he saw earlier are following them... Time Trap 2 Jamie and Todd are horrified to learn that the Grand Plan, which they thought had been defeated, is about to be implemented in 1775, America. Hector and Catherine have to go back in time and thwart Travis - an agent of the Grand Plan - who is hell bent on world domination. Jamie and Todd go with Hector and Catherine on a mission to 1775, to prevent a super gun from being used in the Battle of Bunker Hill, during the American War of Independence, but only have days to stop history from being altered.
 You can buy these books:
https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Richard-Smith-ebook https://smile.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Two-Richard-Smith-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/book/-time-trap You can follow Richard Smith: https://twitter.com/RichardSmithTT https://www.facebook.com/Time-Trap-1862-360641754046977/ http://www.timetrap.co.uk/ I promoted his first book here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-darziods-stone Copyright © 2021 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introductions Multi-volume author, MK Schultz introduces us to his latest in his science fiction series, “Equilibrium”: Experience Kassius Kanex like never before in the epic conclusion. In anticipation of the arrival of an evil that could rob Kassius Kanex of his power, he must go off-grid, in search of the only hope there is to defeat it. With the help of his larger-than-life, best friend Rock, the engineers, his faithful pod keepers, a secret-keeping crow and a time-travel-enabling octopus, Kassius Kanex must expand his organization to levels even he did not dream to be possible. Can the world survive the evil long enough for Kassius to find the only thing powerful enough to stop it? The whole of humanity depends on one thing: EQUILIBRIUM.  This has been an interesting and exciting journey in this series! The plots and subplots weave around each other quite well. Some of the events depicting the incarnate evil are somewhat horrific and bloody. Be warned. This style of writing reminds me of the golden age of science fiction and brings back fond memories of some great stories. The ending was very shocking also. I enjoyed the story a lot. The ending leaves room for the series to continue, I hope it does.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Equilibrium-Kassius-Kanex-Book-3-ebook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/equilibrium-mk-schultz https://www.iuniverse.com/-equilibrium https://www.goodreads.com/-equilibrium You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Makemali https://www.mkschultz.com https://www.instagram.com/mkschultzauthor https://www.goodreads.com/author/MK_Schultz I reviewed the first book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/kassius-kanex-by-mk-schultz I reviewed the second book here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-fishing-trip-kassius-kanex-book-2-by-m-k-schultz Tags: science fiction, action, adventure, time travel, suspense, dystopian Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Debut author, Joyce A. Harvey introduces us to her memoir about the loss of her daughter, “Swan Lessons”: Swan Lessons: A Bereaved Mother’s Story of Courage and Discovery by Joyce A. Harvey is an account of military harassment, a series of poor decisions, and the desperate suicide of a young Lance Corporal. It describes the daunting challenge of a bereaved mother attempting to proceed with a public career in the midst of profound grief. It is also an amazing story of ongoing communication with the spirit of her daughter Jennifer, through dreams, signs, and spiritual mediums, including George Anderson. The author tackles tough subjects such as whether to pursue a wrongful death suit with the military. She also takes on clichés that are typically said to the grief-stricken and helps readers understand why they are better left unsaid. She shares dreams where she was “warned” that she might lose Jennifer and dreams in which Jennifer “visits” following her death. Ms. Harvey tells readers early in the book about her association of Jennifer’s death with the song “Vincent,” which refers to Vincent van Gogh’s suicide. Could the seemingly “coincidental” appearances of the song and references to Van Gogh be vehicles Jennifer uses to communicate with her mother from the afterlife? There are individual books on grief, suicide, dream work, after-death communication, spirituality, and abuse of power in the military. However, the author hasn’t found any examples written by a bereaved parent that combine all of these subjects into one book, as Swan Lessons does, helping readers to put it all together. As the book winds its way through the canyons of grief, it offers glimpses of hope, moments of utter astonishment, and examples of courage. The author skillfully weaves journal entries, as well as letters to and from Jennifer, to tell the story of a mother-daughter bond even death cannot sever.  A powerful and well-written book! Though she describes it quite well, I find it very hard to imagine the grief that Joyce experienced. Isn’t that one of a parent’s worst nightmares? We, as parents, expect to pass on before our children. It seems the ordinary order of events. I have no reservation, in my mind, her pain was far worse than what she described. What she discovered after her daughter’s death is very fascinating. The communications from across the divide were extraordinary! I appreciate that she shared the good and the bad support she received from different people. Her extended family really stepped up to the plate. I award 4.9 stars to “Swan Lessons”.  You can buy this book:
https://rdrpublishers.com/swan-lessons-a-bereaved-mothers-story-of-courage-and-discovery https://www.amazon.com/SWAN-LESSONS-Bereaved-Mothers-Discovery-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-swan-lessons You can follow the author: https://joyceanneharvey.com https://www.facebook.com/joyceanneharvey grief, bereavement, death, heaven, Catholic church, suicide, dreams, signs, workplace abuse, military, marines Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Maura Beth Brennan introduces us to her latest domestic thriller, “The Edge of Fear”: When you have everything you always wanted, you have everything to lose. After years of struggling to overcome her tragic childhood, Hattie has the life of her dreams--her adored husband, Eli, her precious little daughter, Lilly, a beautiful home, and more money than she ever dreamed possible. But lately, a feeling nags at her, a sense of something not quite right. Is this just her imagination? Hattie's family and her best friend, Celine, keep telling her that it is. Meanwhile Hattie's ex-husband, Frank, has learned of Hattie's good fortune and it's eating away at him. He comes up with a plan to get some of Hattie's windfall for himself--a plan that will shatter Hattie's life and bring about her worst nightmare. That's when Hattie notices odd things happening. Small things at first--but the incidents escalate, until finally the unthinkable happens. Hattie does everything the police advise her to do. But as time passes and her life crumbles around her, it seems everyone fails her--law enforcement, a private detective, even her husband. Why has Eli suddenly gone off and left her to struggle with this alone? Desperate but determined, Hattie decides to take matters into her own hands. Aided by her best friend, Celine, she sets out on a mission. Will she be able to take back what is hers? Or will she lose it all?  I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a mother fighting to regain her daughter and life. The story is told in the first person and I love that for the intimacy it provides. The action builds up slowly as the ex-husband gets his plan rolling. The current husband is working his angle as well. I enjoyed the dialogue and the plotting quite a bit. The ending is so exciting! No spoilers from me! I was on the edge of my Kindle through much of the book. Get it! Read it! You will be glad you did! I award 5 stars to “Edge of Fear”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Fear-Maura-Beth-Brennan https://www.goodreads.com/-the-edge-of-fear You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/maurabeth2014 Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Tags: mystery, thriller, police, family, child, kidnapping, gang, ransom, bestie, girlfriend, rescue Multi-volume fantasy author, Jan Anderegg introduces us to her second volume in the series about children, dragon, and fairy tales: Jack thought he was an ordinary boy, until he found a dragon egg, and befriended the beautiful dragon, Julu, who introduced him to his true home, the magical world of Jirvania, birthplace of all imagination. As future Guardian of The Great Library, Jack must change the story to save Jirvania from the evil creatures intent on destroying imagination, but how? With his friends, he sets out to find the answer but each action he takes causes a ripple effect and time is running out. Soon the black hole of emptiness will swallow both our worlds. No pressure Jack, but you’re our only hope! Jirvania, Book 2 in the Julu series, is perfect for readers of all ages who love to pick up a book and escape to a different world.  An amazing story by an amazing writer. I love this series and this sequel is even better than the first book, Julu. I am quite taken by the author's skillful blending of historical events from different time periods including the very recent past into the story. The texture of the story is so rich, it draws on many different fables, fairy tales and various types of literature. One of the unusual things that endear this book to me is the strong fantasy themes with a large dose of time traveling thrown in. Stories with time traveling usually are found only in science fiction, with a few notable exceptions such as the Dragon Riders of Pern. I give this wonderful story a score of 4.9 stars!  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Jirvania-Book-Julu-Jan-Anderegg-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/jirvania https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jirvania-jan-anderegg You can follow the author https://twitter.com/JanAnderegg https://www.julu.blog https://www.facebook.com/Janilou2018 https://www.facebook.com/JanLucy2017 Tags: sword and sorcery, magic, time travel, dragon, music, poetry, art, fairytales, fables, I have reviewed the first book and interviewed the author here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/julu-by-jan-anderegg Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-genre, multi-volume author Stanley Straub introduces us to his first YA book: Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn: Fifteen-year-old, Bobby McDane goes on a mission to locate the last remaining unicorn. He learns to fly after reading comic books, against his dad's wishes. His dad says he will never amount to anything because all he does is read comic books. Bobby has a very smart dog friend who talks and helps him learn to fly. Bobby's mom cleans doctors' homes and Bobby accompanies her one day on one of her jobs at Doctor Vile's house. While there, he finds some notes in doctor Vile's diary saying that he had captured a unicorn named Flora and he was holding her on an island near Madagascar. After reading the notes, Bobby feels that the doctor is evil and needs to be stopped. He becomes determined to find Flora and set her free. It's up to Bobby to find Flora, set her free, and in turn save the world from the evil doctor.  Bobby has many adventures and some are quite perilous. This story is a lot of fun and will be enjoyed by many. There is plenty of action and funny dialogue! Bobby and his friends travel to unusual and interesting locations. Will Bobby find the missing unicorn? Will he save the world from the evil Dr. Vile? Since I don’t give spoilers, there is only one way to find out. I award 4.5 stars to “Bobby McDane and the Missing Unicorn”.  You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/McDane-Missing-Unicorn-Stanley-Straub-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-bobby-mcdane-and-the-missing-unicorn https://www.amazon.co.uk/McDane-Missing-Unicorn-Stanley-Straub-ebook You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/Renownedwriter https://stanleystraubauthor.com https://writerstar.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/stanley.straub.92 https://www.facebook.com/Stan-Straub-Author https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/76655467 tags: fantasy, talking animals Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz Debut author, Shane Scott introduces us to his first novel, “THE ALL God of Nothing”: What if God and the Devil had a daughter? Who would she be? The ALL chronicles four generations of the most powerful Immortal family in God’s creation. The Promethean saga spans uncountable years and dozens of worlds. Mortals, Gods, Devils, Dragons, Titans, Demons, Werewolves, Vampires and Angels clash in a never-ending battle of love and hate. The first book in the ALL, God of Nothing, starts the epic adventure. Murdered at seventeen by the Titan, Silver, God of Death, Aja Ashe wakes with her Dragon. Thrust into a bizarre world where her enemies are friends, and friends are enemies, she learns the truth about her parents and herself. Her mother is God, and her father is the Devil. She was the first thing born, not created. Enraged that Aja survived, Silver, God of Death, forces her to make choices to protect those she loves. Will Aja save the ALL or destroy it? If she survives, will she hate herself for what she’s done? WARNING This work of fiction includes topics some may find offensive. There is no graphic sex, but numerous sexual situations, including LGBTQ+. Also, it has instances of blasphemy, vulgar language, smoking, drugs, violence, gore, and mentions rape. Due to the nature of this work, it is intended for people 18 years or older.  This book is such a wild romp in the afterlife and the present, that I hardly know where to start. The characters are what make this book. If they weren’t so real and varied, I don’t think the story would work nearly as well. There are quite a few characters, also but the author pulls it off in a marvelous fashion. The plot is a coming-age story, it travels far and wide providing a great deal of entertainment, as Aja begins to find her place in the cosmos. She experiences many transformative experiences including her first drink, first hangover, first kiss and her first occasion killing someone. You are going to love this adventurous story! I award five stars to “THE ALL God of Nothing”!  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/GOD-NOTHING-Book-1-ALL https://www.goodreads.com/THE-ALL-god-of-nothing https://www.audible.com/pd/The-All-Audiobook You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/TheALLwriter https://www.facebook.com/TheALLwriter Copyright ©Mark L. Schultz 2021 except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume, multi-series, mystery author, Marni Graff introduces us to the fourth volume in The Nora Tierney English Mysteries series, “The Golden Hour”: From the award-winning author of the Nora Tierney Mysteries comes her most chilling novel to date, one author Elly Griffiths of the Ruth Galloway Mysteries notes: "Nora Tierney tackles her most complex and captivating mystery yet." Nora Tierney can't shake the feeling she has a stalker. While she's house hunting in Oxford, her partner, DI Declan Barnes, untangles the murder of an art conservator. When these situations collide, Nora finds herself fighting to save her child and the family she's trying to create. Ausma Khan, author of Among the Ruins and The Unquiet Dead praises THE GOLDEN HOUR: "One of the best things about Marni Graff's latest Nora Tierney Mystery is the down-to-earth depiction of family life coupled with the tightly paced build of a twisty, time-honored puzzle. A meditation on love, loss and motherhood, THE GOLDEN HOUR blends touchingly real domesticity with tongue-in-cheek humor, as the backdrop to a tale of art theft, germ warfare, and international conspiracy. The reflections of a reprehensible villain on the shortcomings of the British add just the right note of comedy to these otherwise weighty concerns. Added to this is a wonderful sense of place--Bath, Brighton, and Oxford are vividly rendered and charmingly true to life. Come for the crackling mystery, stay for the steady companionship of debonair detective Declan Barnes and feisty heroine, Nora Tierney, who offers warmth and smarts in equal measure." Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs Mysteries, adds, "THE GOLDEN HOUR is a compulsive read with a narrative that both charms and surprises. I love Nora Tierney and can't wait to see what happens next."  I really loved the story! The best thing for me was to see how real the characters were. They were well-rounded and fit their roles perfectly. They had realistic dreams, desires and frustrations. The conspiracy was cleverly managed too, everything was revealed in due course. I must admit to being quite puzzled in the beginning, appearances were very deceiving at times. If you enjoy a good detective mystery, you will love this story! I give 4.9 stars for “The Golden Hour”! You can buy this book:
http://www.bridlepathpress.com/Store/Books/The-Golden-Hour https://www.amazon.com/the-golden-hour https://www.goodreads.com/-the-golden-hour You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/GraffMarni http://www.auntiemwrites.com http://facebook.com/bluevirginmysteries Tags: amateur sleuth, police procedural, women sleuths, dogs, toddler, action, mystery, murder, art, epidemic, biology, virology, England, Russia, art restoration, stalker I reviewed another book by Marni, “Death at the Dakota” and interviewed her beneath that review also: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/death-at-the-dakota-a-trudy-genova-manhattan-mystery-book-2-by-m-k-graff I have reviewed "The Evening's Amethyst" here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-evenings-amethyst Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction Multi-volume author Alexa Spagnoli introduces us to her latest book, “Queen of Diamonds”: 2004 – Chicago gangster Nick Nicoletti was dying of heart failure. Who could he trust to help him keep control of his criminal enterprises before it was too late? Who had the cold-blooded killer instinct and cunning required to do what his businesses required and would accept the mantle he had to bestow when his time came? No man in Chicago could fill his shoes, as far as he was concerned. But he knew a woman who could. It had been twenty years since Cyn Hardy breezed into Las Vegas from small-town Michigan, a wide-eyed eighteen-year-old innocent looking for excitement in her life. During that time she married the son of mobster Joe Spagnoli, became the owner of the largest call-girl service in Sin City, and survived the murders of her husband, then her father-in-law, and finally her twenty-year-old son. As she was immersed in grief, her father-in-law’s closest friend, Nick, sent for her. Cyn had something no one in Chicago had – Nick’s complete trust. And she owed Nick big time. So Cyn Spagnoli was back in the Mafia again, learning Nick’s gambling and loan-sharking businesses and his specialty – assassination, tapped to become his successor.  I truly enjoyed this sequel to “Mafia Madame”! I loved the concept. Cynthia Spagnoli exemplifies the strong female protagonist. While grieving the deaths of her closest family in Nevada she steps up to the plate when asked to and accepts the responsibility wholeheartedly. This book is so well written. The authors make a great team. I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogues; the action was good and an appropriate amount of scene setting makes for an easy-to-read story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I award 4.8 stars to “Queen of Diamonds”.
You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Diamonds-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/queen-of-diamonds You can follow the authors: @SinCityMadame http://www.mafiamadame.com http://www.facebook.com/Alexa-Spagnoli @Johnldeboer http://www.novelsbyjohnldeboer.com Tags: Mafia, Las Vegas, Chicago, gambling, loan sharking, rivalry, the mob, assassination Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the authors’ introduction A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novelby Francis Williams Multi-genre, multi-volume, award winning author Francis Williams introduces us to the latest volume in the Thrones and Soldiers series, “Usurper”: Five long years have passed since Drysten was thrown into a cell. All hope of his escape or release left him with the realization his people had no idea he was alive. He was once a great warrior who fought proudly and ferociously for the very same king who cast him aside. He didn’t know how, but he knew he would find his revenge. One man placed into the cell beside him gave him the knowledge needed to wage war across the kingdom of Ebrauc. All he would have to do was wait for the moment he would be free. That moment has come, and with it the opportunity to serve one of the most ancient gods of Britannia. But with all things comes a cost.  This is a great sequel to Honor, the premiere of the Thrones and Soldiers series. This is wonderful dark historical fiction! There isn’t a plethora of information about the dark ages of Britain and Europe after the fall and contraction of the Roman Empire. The author does wonderful work to enrich the dry, dusty bones of this dark period of time. The multitude of characters are quite individual and realistic in their actions and conversations. The scene setting is well-balanced and supports the characters perfectly without taking over the story. I loved this book so much! I give it a score of 4.8 stars, the score would have been higher except for the large handful of spelling errors.  You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Usurper-Historical-Fiction-Thrones-Soldiers-ebook https://www.goodreads.com/-usurper You can follow the author: https://twitter.com/IamFrancisW https://www.instagram.com/iamfranciswilliams https://www.facebook.com/IamFrancisWilliams I reviewed the first book in the series here: Honor: A Dark Age Historical Fiction Novel (Thrones and Soldiers Book 1) By Francis Williams - Word Refiner We had a nice interview and continue it here on this review of Usurper. tags: action, adventure, ancient military, gods, God Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction |
Who am I?An avid reader, typobuster, and the Hyper-Speller. I am a husband, father, and grandfather. Archives
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