This past week the garage went in! It has been just a little over a year since we moved here, and finally Doug has his garage. He’s a garage kind of guy, and I know it’s been harder for him to get everything done around here without one. Now we have a place to put The Bumble (his Dodge Magnum) and room for a work area and storage for Doug. Every day since we moved here, he does something to improve the property, but this was a big one. We had to wait a long time for the builders because of weather and other issues, but we’ve finally got it. Doug ordered it to match the house, so we’re happily Christmassy around here!
A little update on Opie. He’s really growing! He was 9 ounces at his first vet appointment and 2.5 pounds at his second one! All his bloodwork was normal, which was a concern since his mom, who abandoned him, is a feral cat. Here he is helping Doug with the wash:
In other news, I’m going to Holden Beach with my cousins in a week, so I’m getting ready for that. Hopefully I’ll have lots of good pictures to share!
Indie Spotlight is my effort to share Indie books with as many readers as possible. You can help too by sharing this post with your social media followers. Below is my review of an interesting alternate history novel, Wolves at the Gate. This is another review I did for The Historical Novel Society.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Lieutenant Jim Fraser was in turns eager and terrified. His Bravo Company led the American offensive to liberate Charleston, but would his wife Florie and their twin girls trapped behind German lines survive the coming battle?
Consider another Second World War. Due to a twist of history during his youth, Adolf Hitler turns west and out to sea against England and America in alliance with fascist Japan and Italy. After the British Empire falls, the Axis turn on an outnumbered and unprepared United States. Instead of being waged in far off land, total war rages across the Hawaiian Islands and South Carolina, down our streets and into the homes of our families.
BOOK REVIEW
In this WWII alternate history, Hitler spends a small part of his younger years in America and realizes that there are some there who agree with his views. In August 1940, Germany attacks an important British naval port, eventually causing England to fall. These events change history. After England falls, Germany and the rest of the Axis powers turn their focus on a very unprepared United States. As the Japanese invade Hawaii, Germany turns toward Charleston, South Carolina. This book is told through the eyes of many characters, including an Army National Guard lieutenant and his wife; a German paratrooper and his wife; an Army sniper; a German spy; and many military leaders on all sides of the war.
This is an intriguing novel, with a detailed and well-researched scenario. The specifics of how and when the Nazis end up in America are very believable. The plot is intricate and well thought out, but there is so much detail that I sometimes felt bogged down. There are also shifting points of view from so many people that I sometimes felt rushed from one character to the other. That being said, the premise of this novel is strong, and the author does a great job laying plain the horrors and atrocities of war. A Dramatis Personae at the beginning helps the reader keep track of the many characters.
The story is not concluded in this novel, so it appears to be the start of a series. I’m curious to see where it goes in the future. Those interested in World War II fiction and strategic military fiction will enjoy this book.
My rating is 4.4 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bart Stark is a U.S. Army paratrooper and a combat veteran, who later entered a life of crime as a prosecutor and defense attorney. Now, Bart is beginning the third act of his life as a novelist.
After leading a vagabond life which took them across America and Europe, Bart and his wife settled in the highlands of Panama. His favorite pastime is hiking his dogs in the jungle and daydreaming dystopian futures for his characters.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the image below to view on Amazon. **Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free.
BEFORE YOU GO
Remember, if you read the book, be sure and leave a review. It’s so important for authors and will help them immensely. Also remember to share this post with your social media followers.
This is a compelling legal thriller with a professionally smart but flawed main character whose extreme gambling debts have made him vulnerable. This novel will keep the reader enthralled with its intriguing plot and strong writing. The character descriptions make them come alive, for example, “The man carried some serious presence; maybe in another lifetime he could have been a scene-stealing character actor whose name you never remember but with a face you never forget. His eyes were coal-black pools, giving the impression that nothing existed behind them, as if they were there just for show.”
The fast pace is appreciated by this reader, and in between all of the action is great character development and some of the best writing I have seen in a legal thriller. The consequences of a gambling addiction are made plain, as is the importance of facing up to your mistakes. The evils of human trafficking and organized crime are brought to the forefront.
The author, Dylan H. Jones, easily holds his own, and then some, with those who are at the top of the genre. In fact, now that I have read his work, I will have higher expectations for legal thrillers in the future.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Dylan H. Jones is the author of the best-selling Detective Tudor Manx series, set on the idyllic Welsh island of Anglesey.
A native Welsh speaker, Dylan was born on the Isle of Anglesey and left at the age of eighteen to study at Leeds University. His love of storytelling and writing began at a young age when he slipped a copy of Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock from his father’s bookshelf.
Dylan’s debut novel, Anglesey Blue, was an immediate hit, taking the Amazon #1 spot in Welsh Crime on the first day of release. The novel was also long listed for the Guardian Newspaper’s prestigious readers’ choice award, Not the Booker Prize.
His following two novels, Doll Face and Shadow Soul, soon became firm favorites of crime fiction fans, and established DI Manx as a fresh, compelling protagonist in Welsh Noir. His standalone thriller, What Follows, set in Oakland CA, was published in 2021.
Dylan is also a creative director and ad agency copywriter, and now lives in Oakland, California with his wife, Laura, and daughter Isabella. Dylan loves great coffee and fine wines, and can often be found around the coffee shops of Oakland conversing with the locals and seeking inspiration in his next shot of espresso.
This was a pretty normal week, except for a painful visit to the dentist, which resulted in an almost root canal, which is not a term you hear often, but it appears I may not need to have one, and the pain is slowly going away with medication.
I’ve been reading a lot of books for The Historical Novel Society. Historical fiction is usually my go-to, and I am getting the opportunity to drop into fictional worlds set during so many time periods and events-the French Resistance, the Trojan War, 17th Century England, post WWII San Francisco, and more. It’s been a pleasure, and I always learn something new, which is what I love about historical fiction.
I’m set to post historical fiction reviews and Indie book reviews and promos. I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.
BOOK HAUL
Amateur sleuth Queen Elizabeth II is back on the case in 1960s England in the fifth installment of this historical mystery series the New York Times Book Review calls “sheer entertainment,” perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Richard Osman.
1961, England. The Queen is spending a night on board the royal train with her entourage and her sister, Princess Margaret. But before they reach their destination, an unreliable witness claims to have seen a brutal murder from one of the carriages.
The Queen and her assistant private secretary, Joan McGraw, get to work on their second joint investigation. No one else saw the crime. If there is a victim, could he be the missing photographer friend of Margaret’s new husband, Tony Armstrong Jones?
This time, the Cold War threatens to undermine the Queen’s upcoming visit to Italy. She and Joan must tackle dark forces that follow them all the way, in a tale of spies, lies, and treachery.
This historical mystery series starring a young Queen Elizabeth II looks like a lot of fun!
This week’s topic is “Books With A High Page Count.” I often keep the books I choose to 325 pages or less, but there are some exceptions. Many of the books Jodi Taylor writes are close to 500 pages, and I’ve read them all, so I’ve listed a few here. Some of the Harry Potter books are over 500 pages. I can’t say I’ve finished War and Peace or The Count of Monte Cristo, but they are over 1000 pages. Mockingjay, Book 3 of The Hunger Games trilogy, is 400 pages. The Lord of the Rings was originally intended to be one book, which would make it well over 1000 pages! And of course, I need to end with The King James Bible, which the internet tells me can range from 1200 – 2500 pages, depending on the edition.
What about you? Can you think of books with a high page count that you’ve enjoyed?
*I reviewed this for the August edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society.
1890. American Cora Beaumont has inherited her father’s dirigible, or airship, the Lady Air, with one caveat: She must be engaged. She indeed becomes engaged to the second son of a duke, Terrance Tristan, and embarks on a lavish voyage from America to London on the Lady Air with Terrance, his brother Nicholas, who is the eldest son, and their cousin Ophelia as three of the many passengers. It is an arranged marriage and Terrance has become decidedly preoccupied and detached. Then a dead body turns up, and Cora, as the owner of the Lady Air, begins an investigation to find the murderer, aided by Nicholas, who is the highest-ranking member of the peerage.
This is an excellent mystery with characters that pull you in right away. Cora is not the typical American daughter who is sold away to British lords so her family can gain prestige. She goes into the arrangement with open eyes and motives of her own. Only her engagement and marriage can secure her inheritance. She is also quite aware that the Tristans need her money. Ophelia is a delightfully feisty cousin and best friend, and Nicholas turns out to be a great investigative partner. This locked-room mystery plays out completely during the airship voyage. This novel has great twists, turns, and red herrings, but the relationships between the characters were the highlight. This was a “sit down and read to the end” book for me. Highly recommended.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
April J. Skelly (who also writes as AJ Skelly) is an author, reader, and lover of all things fantasy, medieval, and fairy-tale-romance. And werewolves. She has a serious soft spot for them. As an avid life-long reader and a former high school English teacher, she’s always been fascinated with the written word. She lives with her husband, children, and many imaginary friends who often find their way into her stories. They all drink copious amounts of tea together and stay up reading far later than they should. You can read more of her short stories at www.ajskelly.com
The title pretty much sums up my week. First, the integration of Opie into the family is going much better. The dogs are getting used to him–slowly, and he can be found lounging around the living room often, when he’s not in his room watching YouTube for cats!
This past week was my birthday and our 43rd anniversary. We got married on my birthday, so as we always joke, that means every year on my birthday, I have to get Doug a present! We went to Tupelo Honey in Asheville. I had my favorite–shrimp and grits. Doug got a fried chicken BLT. We also went antiquing, and I got some more jadeite for my collection. A picture of some of my jadeite collection is below. My new acquisitions are not in the picture. It was a wonderful day.
Youtube for cats is hilarious. Opie is mesmerized.
I will be posting reviews I did for the August edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society, starting with Wild as the Stars by Kerry Chaput, and Those We Carry by Scott Saxberg.
I will get some Indie reviews out in the coming week. I have so many, and I get more requests every day, so I am way behind.
I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday if time permits.
“Nobody outside the village knows the orphanage exists, Celina. We’re hidden by the mountains and everyone is sworn to secrecy. Please don’t give the soldiers a reason to come here…”
In a quiet village in German-occupied France, schoolteacher Celina ushers young Jewish children into her classroom. Watching their bright smiles as they learn how to write, she and sweet, handsome Remy promise to protect them. Every day she pretends to send them home, waving at the local police roaming the streets, as instead they sneak away to hide upstairs.
But Celina can’t stop thinking about the note left on her bedside table last night. Written in the secret code used by the Resistance, it told her a baby she’s sheltering could be reunited with its mother. Will Remy ever forgive her if she attempts to take the baby home? If she’s caught, they could discover the orphanage…
New York, present day. Haunted by a loss he refuses to speak about, Rachel’s grandfather is slowly losing his memories. Then Rachel finds a name scribbled into the old children’s book he used to read to her, which leads her to a French village with a dark and dangerous past.
Nothing can prepare Rachel for what she finds behind the orphanage’s crumbling façade. But as her own future becomes entwined with her grandfather’s wartime secrets, she will learn just how much courage it takes to follow your heart.
A breathtaking, emotional historical novel that will sweep you away to World War Two France, to the dangers of Nazi occupation, and the hope that prevailed in the darkest of times. For fans of Victoria Hislop, Soraya Lane and Fiona Valpy.
BOOK REVIEW
This is an intriguing dual-timeline novel set in WWII and present-day France and present-day New York. The WWII France timeline is most compelling, and I love the premise of a secret orphanage that the Nazis haven’t discovered where Jewish children are kept safe. In the present-day timeline, Rachel is investigating her Grandfather’s secrets as his dementia sets in and memories fail. The two timelines work well together, although I feel the novel would have worked just as well without the present-day timeline. The end result is satisfying and somewhat surprising. I thought I had it all figured out, and I didn’t. I love that. Fans of historical fiction should check this one out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara Josselsohn is a best-selling novelist and journalist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. Her newest book is The Secret Orphanage, a multigenerational novel about an American schoolteacher who becomes embroiled in the French Resistance and a present-day librarian compelled to discover her grandfather’s wartime secrets.
Her earlier historical novels include the Sisters of War series (Secrets of the Italian Island, The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, and The Forgotten Italian Restaurant). She is also the author of five contemporary novels: The Lilac House, The Bluebell Girls, The Lily Garden, The Cranberry Inn, and The Last Dreamer. Barbara has written hundreds of articles and essays in major and regional publications about family, home and relationships.
She lives just north of New York City and enjoys escaping to the beach whenever she can. Other than writing, her biggest passion is her family: her husband, her three kids, and her rescue pup, a mini-schnauzer named Albie. She is currently at work on her ninth novel.
Gail Meath, author of The Jax Diamond Series, is offering the ebook of Book 1, Songbird, for free for the next month! If you haven’t started this series, which features a 1920s detective, Jax Diamond, and his sidekick, a German Shepherd named Ace, this is a great way to begin–for free! See the links below. The first link will you to the Amazon ebook, and the second link will take you everywhere else! The ebook is free everywhere!
Remember, if you read this free book, be sure to leave a review. It means so much to authors and will help with the book’s success. Please also share this free book offer with all of your social media followers.
**Indie Spotlight is my effort to help Indie authors share their books with others. You can help too by sharing this post with all of your social media followers. Together we can help Indie books succeed. Below is my review of an honest and very personal story of loss and grief by author Bill Beckett.
BOOK REVIEW
The Empty Side of Our Bed is Bill Beckett’s story of the loss of his beloved wife Bonnie to cancer, and his painful journey forward. Beckett makes it clear that there are no easy answers and no step-by-step guidelines to cope with losing the love of your life. Instead he shares his emotions from the beginning of his journey until the present. His description of heartache as an actual, physical pain is so real, and he describes the darker times when he was overwhelmed with the physical agony of it, along with the mental anguish. At the same time, he shares happy memories with Bonnie and stresses the simple moments that we should all embrace to the fullest, because they are the ones he misses the most. He shares how he has learned to live with grief, and he honors his late wife and his love for her.
This is a wonderful tribute to the author’s wife, and at the same time, a deeply honest story of experiencing grief and moving slowly forward.
I received a free copy of this book. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bill Beckett is a former IT and digital forensics professional who turned to writing after the loss of his wife, Bonnie. He is the author of Love, Family, Cancer, a heartfelt account of their journey through illness. His current project, The Empty Side of Our Bed, is a deeply personal memoir about grief, healing, and rediscovering identity. Bill writes with raw honesty, offering comfort to fellow widowers and anyone navigating profound loss. He is a father, grandfather, and storyteller who believes in the quiet power of words to help us carry on.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the cover to purchase on Amazon
BEFORE YOU GO
**If you read the book, please be sure to leave a review on Amazon. It helps Indie authors so much. A review does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a sentence or two about how the book made you feel will make an author’s day and help their books succeed.
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