Book Reviews

Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor

11/9/2019

(My American Almost Royal Cousin Series Book 4)
By Veronica Cline Barton

Multi-volume, award-winning author, Veronica Barton introduces us to the fourth volume in her cozy murder series “Mistletoe and Mayhem”:
A family's legacy, a mother's anguish, deadly revenge, and bridezilla wannabes are set to rendezvous around the Christmas tree this Yuletide season. Rumor has it a feature film is in the works for the hit period drama series, Castlewood Manor, as the PR plans go into overdrive.

History is about to be righted by royal decree, which may have a devastating impact not only to the British/American family relations in the Lancaster household, but might also jeopardize the future of the Castlewood Manor production on the estate. American heiress Gemma Lancaster Phillips, PhD, is facing a unique crossroads in her life—marrying the man she loves and becoming the first American marchioness in British nobility as she teeters on the edge of accepting the family peerage and title from her cousin, Evan. Father Christmas has his hands full as tragedy, royal drama, conniving foes, and meddling friends and family threaten to bring this 'Tis the Season' to a fiery and disastrous end.

I love the stories that Veronica writes. I feel like a close friend of the family now. Veronica has built an amazingly realistic world for her characters to live, love and exist in.
The story is told in the first-person point of view of Gemma, the American heiress. Gemma and the other characters have real experiences and problems as they seek to deal with mysterious tragedies and snobby acquaintances. Danger seems to be lurking around every other corner.
It’s a very special holiday season because a family member that disappeared has returned home. I won’t say anymore to prevent giving out a spoiler.
I enjoyed this tale so much, “Mistletoe and Mayhem” gets five stars!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/mistletoe-and-mayhem
https://www.goodreads.com/mistletoe-and-mayhem
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/mistletoe-and-mayhem
You can follow Veronica Cline Barton:
https://twitter.com/VClinebarton
https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Cline-Barton
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Veronica_Cline_Barton
Tags: mystery, suspense, traditional detective, cozy, castle
Here is the interview with the author and the review of the first book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-crown-for-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the interview with the author and the review of the second book: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/cast-crew-and-carnage-the-filming-of-castlewood-manor-my-american-almost-royal-cousin-series-by-veronica-cline-barton
Here is the interview with the author and the review of the third book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/deadly-receptions-the-debut-of-castlewood-manor-by-veronica-cline-barton

Copyright © 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

1 Comment

Eternal Shadow

11/9/2019

26 Comments

(Fall of Gods Book 1) By Trevor B. Williams

Debut science fiction author, Trevor B. Williams, introduces us to the first volume in his series, “Eternal Shadow”:
What would you do if the world was going to end in ten years? For Jennifer Epstein, a by-the-books senior researcher at SETI, there is only one answer: prevent the apocalypse from happening. Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus were destroyed by an alien threat. The deck was stacked against humanity before the cards came out of the box.

But Jennifer isn’t alone. She has Samantha Monroe, her excitable but brilliant colleague. From South Africa, CEO Muzikayise Khulu of Khulu Global supplies his vast resources to the ultimate race for survival. The three find themselves in an unlikely alliance while political brinkmanship, doomsday cults, and untested technologies form ever-growing obstacles.

Will humanity unite to face the greatest challenge of their time, or will it destroy itself before the alien ship arrives?

I love science fiction, especially hard sci-fi! This is a great story! It is so well written. Trevor’s plotting is quite good, combining an imminent destruction of the earth with a first-contact type of story provides a white-knuckle ride!
The science is very well done and quite believable; the scenes are set perfectly. Some of the dialogue is so funny, I laughed out loud. The antagonists on Earth, a zealous, religious cult is very scary and very realistically presented. It is nearly impossible to stop a person willing to die for their cause, except to stop them before they do too much damage.
I am anxious for the continuations of the series. I award “Eternal Shadow” a score of 5 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Shadow
https://www.goodreads.com/-eternal-shadow
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/eternal-shadow-trevor-williams
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/eternal-shadow-1

You can follow the author:
http://www.trevorwrites.com/
https://twitter.com/tw_trevorwrites
https://www.facebook.com/tw.trevorwrites/
https://www.instagram.com/tw_trevorwrites/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Trevor_B_Williams
Tags: action, adventure, outer space, solar system, sci-fi, international, space station
Copyright © 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

26 Comments

Slowed by a Baby

11/2/2019

10 Comments

The African Woman’s Journey – Book 2
By Eileen Omosa

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Eileen K. Omosa, introduces us to the second volume of “The African Woman’s Journey”: “Slowed by a Baby”:

Is being a millionaire’s wife and pregnant, an automatic ticket out of the world of employment?

Richie and Sophia have returned from a ten-day honeymoon when he asks her to resign from her job and stay at home with his mother. His wife being in employment will reflect on his capability to provide for her.
In this second book in The African Woman’s Journey Trilogy, Sophia confronts a new challenge–as a career woman, can she become a stay-at-home-Mom if her husband is a millionaire?
Buy this book to learn from a tale of change and adaptation, where ambition, social expectations, and love intertwine.

This story was very enjoyable. I like the way the author writes. I think I liked it even better than the first one (link at the bottom). Getting married introduces many changes in the dynamic of two people and two families, as they work to blend their once-separate lives. Getting pregnant makes that work even more complicated, especially, when the baby shows up a few months after the wedding.
Eileen does a wonderful job of exploring the conflicting visions and desires of two people who are just learning how to communicate. This story is not short on description or scene setting, it is the richness of dialogue that made me laugh out loud so many times.
The personal and relationship growth of Richie and Sophia is heartwarming and encouraging. Each of them is fully fleshed out as well as the supporting cast of family and friends.
I award 4.9 stars to “Slowed by a Baby”, the score would have been higher except for a handful of spelling errors.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Slowed-by-a-Baby-African-Womans-Journey
https://www.goodreads.com/-slowed-by-a-baby
https://www.amazon.co.uk/slowed-by-a-baby

You can follow Eileen Omosa:
https://twitter.com/iGrowideas
https://www.eileenomosa.com
https://www.facebook.com/EileenOmosaAuthor

Previous book review and interview: http://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-choices-she-must-make-africas-billionaire-heirs-book-1-by-eileen-k-omosa

Tags: multicultural, hope, contemporary women’s fiction, sweet romance, marriage, communication, relationship, pregnancy, international business, Kenya

Copyright © 2019 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

10 Comments

Lake on the Moon by H.E. Wilburson

10/26/2019

14 Comments

The War of the Worlds (The Martian Diaries, Vol. 2) Audio Drama Sequel: A New Martian Menace Invades Earth
Narrated by Terry Thompson and Harry Preston

Multiple volume author, H.E. Wilburson, introduces us to the second audio book of three in his sci-fi series, Lake on the Moon: The Martian Diaries:
When a Martian cylinder lands on Horsell Common, Ogilvy the astronomer barely survives a deadly heat-ray attack and wakes up in a hospital inundated with casualties as the first War of the Worlds alien invasion rages. He alone discovers the real significance of the Red Weed brought to Earth by the Martians and dispatches vital evidence on board HMS Thunder Child, but it is lost when the ship is attacked and sunk by Martian tripods. Years later in 1919, in the aftermath of the Great War and Spanish Influenza, an insidious new alien menace emerges on Earth from the long forgotten Red Weed. A dangerous and daring plan is devised as Ogilvy, George (HG Wells' narrator), and other original characters strive to combat the devastating Martian plague threatening to extinguish all life on our planet.
Don't miss this compelling continuation of H.G.Wells' iconic book in the exciting second volume of The Martian Diaries science fiction series, featuring the original characters and a bespoke musical score.

I have been waiting to resume the story from “The Day of the Martians” for a long time. I loved the first audio book!
This is so well written and acted out! The voice actors do a very credible job and the sound effects along with the music really make the story come alive. Science fiction is my favorite genre, and both of these books are a wonderful extension of the classic story from H. G. Wells “The War of The Worlds”.
I give “Lake on the Moon” a score of 5 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/-lake-on-the-moon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lake-Moon-Martian-Invades-Diaries
https://www.audible.com/lake-on-the-moon
https://www.audible.co.uk/lake-on-the-moon
https://www.goodreads.com/-lake-on-the-moon

You can follow the author:
http://martiandiaries.com
https://twitter.com/martiandiaries
https://www.facebook.com/martiandiaries

Here is the link for my review of the first book: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/the-day-of-the-martians-the-martian-diaries-volume-1-by-he-wilburson-narrated-by-terry-thompson-and-harry-preston

Tags: sci-fi, science fiction, historical, aliens, Mars, invasion, England, Wales
Copyright © 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

14 Comments

Fix By Amanda Gregory

10/19/2019

55 Comments

Debut author, Amanda Gregory, introduces us to her novel, Fix:
Tammy was only fifteen when she was introduced to the world of drugs. Five years later, she finds herself on the other side of the country in California. Life is different here compared to the small town she grew up in New Jersey, but Tammy is still up to her old tricks bumming at her polar-opposite, lifelong friend Alecia’s place. Her new beau, Randy, is anything but good with his cold, mysterious demeanor but how can she say no when he suggests a road trip to visit his relatives in Colorado? Along the way, they make a detour at the Bad Karma Club in Las Vegas where they meet an unruly group: Mark leads the group with his obnoxious personality, his sidekick Ty, Angel whose dark disposition makes her seem just out of reach, and Alpha whose mysterious, green eyes unravel feelings inside Tammy that she can’t understand. The moment she meets them she has this unnerving feeling like she has finally found where she belongs. Tammy’s adventure gets even more interesting when Randy goes out on a “business” trip the next day with Mark and Ty, leaving her to defend herself in an unfamiliar area with Angel who introduces Tammy to her crush Charlie. The all-around funny guy Charlie is a dream to be around except for the fact that he has his own entanglement in the drug ring among other things. The moment of bliss turns sour when the boys return from their trip as Tammy finds out who she can really rely on and is faced with crossroads ahead. She finally finds the “family” that she has always wanted but it comes with a price. Will she self-destruct just to belong somewhere, or will she find another way to have it all?

At first glance, this Young Adult story seemed rather superficial, typical of so many who have no real aim in life other than survival and trying to feel good. However, it graphically shows how easy it is to become addicted to narcotics. Opioids are a serious issue in today's world. Navigating through the teen years into adulting is very difficult. Most of us decide to do it on our own, without seeking help from those who have been down that path already, the previous generation.
I was surprised by the depth of the story and I was pleasantly shocked by the ending. This is quite a good story.
The scene-setting was good, not too much or too little. The characters really shined for me; they came across as quite real, with depth. The dialogue, inner and outer, was the best part of the book. I was drawn into Tammy’s world effortlessly and empathetically. The first person POV made a huge difference, I really appreciate the intimacy it provides. The mark of good writing on my score card.
There are a few steamy sections and many instances of drug use.
I enjoyed the story a great deal.
I award a score of 4.8 stars to “Fix”, the score would have been higher except for a large handful of spelling errors. The author has corrected those errors, so your reading will be smoother.

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Fix-Amanda-Gregory-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-fix
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fix-Amanda-Gregory-ebook
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/manderz19
https://amandagregoryauthor.com
https://amandagregoryofficial.tumblr.com
https://smile.amazon.com/Amanda-K-Gregory
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Amanda_K_Gregory
Tags: fiction, literary fiction, YA, road trip, addiction, romance
Copyright © 2019 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

55 Comments

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Book Reviews

Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor

(My American Almost Royal Cousin Series Book 4)
By Veronica Cline Barton

Eternal Shadow

Slowed by a Baby

The African Woman’s Journey – Book 2
By Eileen Omosa

Lake on the Moon by H.E. Wilburson

The War of the Worlds (The Martian Diaries, Vol. 2) Audio Drama Sequel: A New Martian Menace Invades Earth
Narrated by Terry Thompson and Harry Preston

Fix By Amanda Gregory

Who am I?

Archives

Categories

Book Reviews

Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor

(My American Almost Royal Cousin Series Book 4)By Veronica Cline Barton

Eternal Shadow

Slowed by a Baby

The African Woman’s Journey – Book 2By Eileen Omosa

Lake on the Moon by H.E. Wilburson

The War of the Worlds (The Martian Diaries, Vol. 2) Audio Drama Sequel: A New Martian Menace Invades Earth Narrated by Terry Thompson and Harry Preston

Fix By Amanda Gregory

Who am I?

Archives

Categories

(My American Almost Royal Cousin Series Book 4)
By Veronica Cline Barton

The African Woman’s Journey – Book 2
By Eileen Omosa

The War of the Worlds (The Martian Diaries, Vol. 2) Audio Drama Sequel: A New Martian Menace Invades Earth
Narrated by Terry Thompson and Harry Preston