The Spiritual Adventures of Russell the Dog by Trisha Watson – #BookTour @iReadBookTours #Giveaway

Today I am thrilled to participate in the book Tour for The Spiritual Adventures of Russell the Dog by Trisha Watson, a unique, powerful expression of reincarnation, karma, grace, & forgiveness.

Join us for this tour from August 24 to September 4, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title: The Spiritual Adventures of Russell the Dog – A Blend of Truth, Fiction and Inspiration from the Other Side by Trisha Watson
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 284 pages
Genre: Dog Story, Inspirational
Publisher: Stone & Light Publishing
Release date: January 20, 2020
Content Rating: G for General Audiences

Book Description:

By reading this newly released book for the dog lover’s soul, you
are about to take a remarkable journey through the eyes of Russell the
dog. At times you will find that reading about his spiritual adventures
takes an open mind, and a willingness to laugh and cry. By choice,
Russell has come into this life with a unique dual purpose: to
experience his present lifetime as a dog and to review his previous
lifetime as a man. His journey is multidimensional; taking him through
numerous challenges triggering a spectrum of emotions which he resists.
One of his special abilities is to telepathically hear and communicate
with other animals, his Spirit Guides, and even people when necessary
for his growth. In the process, Russell learns about reincarnation,
karma, grace, unlimited thinking, and forgiveness – all from a dog’s
point of view and that of a soul who has had many previous human
lifetimes.

My Review:

You’ve heard that many times, but canines have such an impact on our lives and such a strong attachment to the human spirit, it’s almost easy to see Russell as the spiritual journey he is intended to be in this strong metaphysical romp.

Russell is a medium sized scruffy dog of interesting heritage. But Russell is not just a dog. He’s a conduit for the soul through which he’s been transformed into the physical and it’s his turn to finally and resolutely seek answers. While Russell the dog may not have been here before, his soul certainly has, and it is this journey for which you’ll become embroiled.

The engaging story of a puppy born into “the Pit,” as he describes it, is fraught with stories of hunger and constantly being on guard. The dangers are many. Becoming a rescue and finding a forever home, he begins the excursion into a succession of reincarnations. Each story may help explain the who and why of his soul, dissecting fears, confronting failures and learning to forgive himself and others, and finally love. All is directed toward growth.

The storyline is told in an easy, informative way, that quickly and totally immerses the reader in the philosophy, regardless the perspective from which you begin. Amazingly, it all begins to make sense. Russell’s spirit guides are familiar, patient, loving, and kind as they casually direct him to his next revelation and ease him from pain to enlightenment.

Flashbacks to Paul Coelho’s book The Alchemist but this gentle tale seems so much easier to swallow, digest, understand, and champion. And so many beautiful passages of prose…

“If he doesn’t succeed in reviewing his previous life, he will likely choose to return to a suspended state, leaving his soul’s growth stifled…”

“You did not fail but only revealed what you had not yet mastered.”

What is revealed in conclusion may come as a surprise to some readers, but with the strong mantra of connectedness, not unexpected. Powerful, immersive, and thought-provoking on many levels. Totally recommended.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

About the Author

Trisha Watson has a reverence for life, nature, and compassion for those
in need, including, and especially animals. Of course, that encompasses
pets too, and thus all her dogs and cats over the years were rescues or
strays. Because of her passion, a portion of the proceeds from the sale
of each book is donated to different animal rescue organizations.
Twenty years of self-employment helped her develop a can-do attitude.
When asked about the process of writing a book she said, “This story
wouldn’t leave me alone, much of it flowed easily. Some of it I don’t
remember writing, which at first was spooky, but later made complete
sense as the story revealed itself. My intention with this book is to
perhaps provide a source of inspiration and healing for those who read
it.” At sixteen, Trisha began her spiritual journey. Over the years she
has delved into many facets always with an open mind and a dash of
healthy skepticism. Never looking back, she keeps moving forward in her
own spiritual adventure, seeking to learn and share her experiences with
others. Trisha was born in Rhode Island. A few years later her family
moved to the “Mile High City” Denver, Colorado where she grew up. As an
adult she was drawn to the mountains eventually settling in Evergreen, a
small mountain town outside of Denver. It is there she’s built a life
with her husband Mark and their two dogs, Maggie and Cooper.

Connect with the Author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:
Aug 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 25 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / guest post / giveaway
Aug 25 – Rosepoint Publishing – book review / giveaway
Aug 26 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Aug 27 –Books for Books – book review
Aug 28 – Corinne Rodrigues – book review / giveaway
Aug 30 – Book World Reviews – book review
Aug 31 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Sep 1 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Sep 2 –Reading Authors Network – book review / giveaway
Sep 3 –Sefina Hawke’s Books – book review
Sep 4 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review

Enter the Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Penned In (A Farm-to-Fork Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon a #BookReview #cozymystery

“’Should we wake up the others?’ Felicia glanced around the table. The remaining guards looked shell shocked.”

Book Blurb:

Angie Turner, chef at Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant, has organized a team-building event at a haunted prison, only to find a real-life murderer in their midst. . . .

Contented employees make for a successful restaurant, which is why the County Seat’s crew goes on a quarterly out-of-office meeting. This time, the location is the Old Idaho Penitentiary near the Boise Foothills, a prison brimming with ghostly lore. The lock-in features actors role-playing as guards, fascinating prison stories . . . and an unscripted murder.

Who sentenced one of the faux guards to a very authentic death? Angie, her boyfriend, and the County Seat gang are locked in with a killer—excellent motivation for a little sleuthing. Between ghostly apparitions and flesh-and-blood suspects, Angie’s plate is full, but will her luck, and her life, hold out until the gates reopen at dawn?

My Review:

Yes, I love when a book location is one of my old stomping grounds and in particular this spine-chilling old penitentiary in the foothills of Boise. My WOW® motobuddies and I took the years’ ride-in-mascot to the prison for some very special shots of the facility with the mascot (and us in prison stripes).

In this Halloween themed novella, Angie Turner and her County Seat restaurant crew have scheduled a 24 hr stay in the haunted prison as a team-building exercise. (Sorry—no way would I want to be locked in that place overnight, particularly with no cell phone. So many stories about that place and it does give off creepy vibes.)

Anyway, in addition to the team, there are four “guards” (actors) as well as other guests. Angie is allowed to include Dom, her trusty St Bernard. It’s a cozy. Someone is gonna die. And it’s a prison after all…

I’m not sure how much team building actually got done, although we got to be privy to some support character personalities and their work together as they solved the whodunit. The fun part (for me) was the paranormal element—that of the story of a female ghost (so many stories there). The ghost and Angie communed and Angie (with the help of her crew) followed the clues. There can’t be that many suspects—right? But it won’t be as easy as you think to solve.

This is a great setting for a Halloween mystery. It’s has some interesting characters and the mystery moves along. A fast read and fun cozy.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

Add to Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48763879-penned-in

Book Details:

Genre: Two-Hour Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Short Reads, Fiction Short Reads

Publisher: Lyrical Press

ASIN: B07ZPKM799

Print Length: 92 pages

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Rosepoint Publishing: Four of Five Stars

The Author: Get a free story at http://www.lynncahoon.com.

Lynn Cahoon is the author of the NYT and USA Today best-selling Tourist Trap cozy mystery series. She also pens the Cat Latimer series available in mass https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0market paperback. And, because she can’t help telling stories, she also writes the Farm to Fork series. Romance novels are published under the pen name, Lynn Collins. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and three fur kids. Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.lynncahoon.com

NB: This is the first post using WP’s new block editor. I voted it down last time. Apparently, I do not have that choice this time. So, it being rather crude, it’s obvious there’s a learning curve and not easy for this old dog. Please forgive.

TV Netflix Series vs Audiobook – Walt Longmire Mysteries – by Craig Johnson

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”
Sherlock Holmes

Wahoo! One of my favorite Netflix series and lots of audiobooks (as well as ebooks) at my local well stocked library. We binged right through the Longmire series, even trying to discipline ourselves to three episodes per night, so of course when I discovered the audiobooks at my library I grabbed the first that wasn’t on a waiting list. And whadda know, it’s about bike week—Sturgis! (which, coincidentally, was last week). I doubt there is few around the globe that hasn’t heard of Sturgis, and no, that’s one rally I didn’t go to (just a little too nutsy for me), although that is me on my Kawi in the background of the blog banner getting ready to pull off the road.

An Obvious Fact-Book Blurb:

In the 12th novel in the New York Times best-selling Longmire series, Walt, Henry, and Vic discover much more than they bargained for when they are called in to investigate a hit-and-run accident near Devils Tower involving a young motorcyclist.

In the midst of the largest motorcycle rally in the world, a young biker is run off the road and ends up in critical condition. When Sheriff Walt Longmire and his good friend, Henry Standing Bear, are called to Hulett, Wyoming – the nearest town to America’s first national monument, Devils Tower – to investigate, things start getting complicated. As competing biker gangs; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; a military-grade vehicle donated to the tiny local police force by a wealthy entrepreneur; and Lola, the real-life femme fatale and namesake for Henry’s ’59 Thunderbird (and, by extension, Walt’s granddaughter) come into play, it rapidly becomes clear that there is more to get to the bottom of at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally than a bike accident. After all, in the words of Arthur Conan Doyle, whose Adventures of Sherlock Holmes the Bear won’t stop quoting, “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”.

Audiobook

This is Book 12, so while the protagonist or his major support characters are not wholly fleshed, they don’t need to be—they are whittled out of casual remarks, innuendo, description. Walt Longmire is the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. The wild west. Two other main characters, Henry Standing Bear (Native American) and Vic (Victoria Moretti), his (female) deputy—a Philadelphia transplant. Walt is often accompanied by Dog, (of dubious parentage) who needs no further description. Walt’s daughter is not notably featured in this episode.

Walt received a call from another county about a motorcyclist run off the road near Devil’s Tower and his mother shows up to ask again for Walt’s help. The mother is Lola, the mother for whom Henry named his classic T-Bird. Yes, it’s “the” Lola.

Unsurprisingly, it won’t be a simple hit-and-run and while the young man languishes in the hospital not expected to recover, Walt soon discovers bad-ass motorcycle gangs and multitudes of despicable conspiracies.

I love the scenes, so beautifully laid out you can smell the landscape, and the banter between Walt and (Henry Standing) Bear and his undersheriff, who by the way, is a great deal more profane than she appears on Netflix. Also appreciated the motorcycle lingo; been awhile since I’ve participated. Almost non-stop action, the multi-plotted storyline getting more complex with fast-turning pages. I love the tidbits of knowledge about the area, the people and culture and in this case, of course, motorcycles.

The narrator, George Guidall, did one heckava outstanding job creating a down-to-earth narrative and understated conversational quality to the written words. He wasn’t just reading it. He made it come alive. It’s drugs, money, and mayhem and I can’t wait to tear into the next episode that becomes available. 4.5/5 stars

Netflix Longmire Series

I loved this series of the modern Western crime scene. The TV drama series began on A&E but was picked up by Netflix and developed by John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin somewhere around the fourth season. It ran for six seasons and is still streaming on Netflix after the sixth season ended in 2017. Popular? Oh, yes…what is not to love?

Despite amazing viewership numbers, A&E felt that the demographic was primarily older Americans—the horror of it all! Thanks to a huge fan uproar (think Star Wars), it was picked up by Netflix.

The cast is perfect: Australian Robert Taylor as Walt, Katee Sackhoff as Vic, and American Filipino Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry. Also, it was filmed in New Mexico (not Wyoming). While it doesn’t follow each book of Johnson’s series per se, there is crime fiction we’ve come to expect including bank robberies, murder investigations, and prominently featured conflicts with the local Cheyenne Indian reservation.

The series became so popular they began a yearly July festival in Buffalo (WY). (Absaroka County is fictional), according to Wide Open Country.

If there was a revival, Season 7, I’d be tuning in. Hollywood version Americana but well written and immensely engaging and entertaining. 5 enthusiastic stars

Overall Impression

I don’t think you can go wrong with either the Netflix series and that outstanding cast, gripping installments, and immersive episodes or the books. (Of course, I’m among that older demographic that had A&E dumping it.) While the audiobooks, the character Vic being more profane, might alienate a few of that older demographic, the descriptive storyline, natural and often humorous dialogue, and the narrator’s excellent delivery make it a winner. I’m a solid fan looking for my next audiobook. Wholly recommended.

Rosepoint Publishing recommended

Book Details:

Genre: Native American Literature, Western Fiction
Publisher: Recorded Books
ASIN: B01K23ZXCE
Listening Length: 7 hrs 50 min
Narrator: George Guidall
Publication Date: September 13, 2016
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Link: An Obvious Fact [Amazon]

The Author: Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve Walt Longmire mystery novels, which are the basis for Longmire, the hit Netflix original drama. The Cold Dish won Le Prix du Polar Nouvel Observateur/Bibliobs. Death Without Company, the Wyoming Historical Association’s Book of the Year, won France’s Le Prix 813, and Another Man’s Moccasins was the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award Winner and the Mountains & Plains Book of the Year. The Dark Horse, the fifth in the series, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and Junkyard Dogs won The Watson Award for a mystery novel with the best sidekick. Hell Is Empty, selected by Library Journal as the Best Mystery of the Year, was a New York Times best seller, as was As the Crow Flies, which won the Rocky for the best crime novel typifying the western United States. A Serpent’s Tooth opened as a New York Times bestseller as did Any Other Name and Wait for Signs, Johnson’s collection of short stories. Spirit of Steamboat was selected by the State Library as the inaugural One Book Wyoming and included visits to sixty-three libraries. Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-five.

The Narrator: George Guidall is a prolific audiobook narrator and theatre actor. As of November 2014, he had recorded over 1,270 audiobooks, which was believed to be the record at the time. Wikipedia

Finding Home by Corinne Joy Brown and Ginny McDonald – #BookTour – #BookReview for iRead Book Tours #Giveaway

I am so thrilled to be part of the book tour for Finding Home by Corinne Joy Brown and Ginny McDonald. This is a delightful and beautifully illustrated book for young and old alike. Do you like horses? You will love this book!

Join us for this tour from August 3 to August 21, 2020!Book Details:

Book Title: FINDING HOME by Corinne Joy Brown and Ginny McDonald

Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 130 pages

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Loose Cayuse Productions

Release date: June 2019

Content Rating: G. There are no expletives, sex scenes or bad language anywhere.

“Born in the flatlands of Rock Springs, Wyoming, newborn mustang Pahaska
tells the heart-wrenching story of her separation from her mother and
the wild horse herd she was born into. Captured by strangers, her entire
world has disintegrated. Penned in the filthy, manure-filled confines
of a horse hauler’s trailer, her life is changed forever. Finding Home, a
2020 Spur Finalist for Juvenile Fiction, is a brilliantly written story
about the adoption of the mustang “Curly Girl” by a teen who has always
dreamed of having her own horse. Ginny McDonald’s illustrations convey
fine detail and emotion in the images of the horses, bringing each one
to life. This heart-warming tale will appeal to those with a love for
animals.” – Joni Franks, RoundUp Magazine, Western Writers of America“This beautifully written and illustrated book will appeal to any animal
loving young reader. Differences (equine and otherwise) are applauded,
working through complicated human relationships, a philosophical, well
balanced approach to difficult issues (wild horse roundups), and
positive animal training techniques are included in this educational,
riveting new book!” – Nancy Sachs, Director Platte Valley Pony Club

“To see the world through the eyes of a newborn filly as she grows into
adulthood, or an excited young girl in search of her first horse, is a
treasure found in Corinne Joy Brown’s novel Finding Home, a
story of loss and recovery told in a brilliant way. The illustrations by
Ginny McDonald help to refine the wonderful writing which places the
reader squarely in the experience of Curly Girl and Jesse, her adopter. Finding Home
is a wonderful story for our time, in consideration of the wild horses
whose freedom is threatened across the West and the people who adopt the
captured ones into loving homes.” – James A. Holmes CEO and Executive Director, Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation

Book Description:

For every girl or boy who owns a horse, or wished they did, Finding
Home brings all the drama and beauty of America’s wild horses to the
middle-grade reader.A coming-of-age story and a tale about friendship, trust and
understanding, both horse and owner have powerful lessons to learn.
Together, young Jesse Nolan from Colorado and her wild mustang, Curly
Girl, rounded up in Wyoming, discover what it means to rely on oneself,
as well as those who love you most.

My Thoughts:

This is such a sweet story of the strong love of horses and the dedication that it takes to actually owning and caring for a young animal with a mind of it’s own. Told through the POV of Jesse Nolan as well as the thoughts of Curly Girl, a young mare with unusually curly hair and mane, she is one of the wild Mustangs of Wyoming. Both have a lot to learn, although Jesse shows remarkable dedication and maturity for a young teen. It’s a heavy responsibility for one so young.

The story includes information about the wild horses that particularly roam the northwestern region of the US, including the Mustangs. It brought to mind one of the rides we took the year we decided to head north into Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. On a lonely ribbon of road out in nowhere, we became aware of a group of horses riding parallel with us on the other side of the road. Fascinated, we pulled over to watch them and discovered to our delight the herd, as a unit, also stopped to watch us. When we resumed out ride, so did they. So beautiful.

Jesse and her estranged family work out the care for the little filly, realizing the loneliness and fear she is experiencing having been separated from her mother and wild herd. It’s not easy and there’s a learning curve on both sides, human and equine, but not just for Jesse—her family as well. It’s a lovely tale of friendship and trust, learning to accept and work together, love and family.

A sweet story and the illustrations are just wonderful: emotional, loving, and lend sooo much to the story. It is easy to see the love and dedication of these magnificent animals.

I received this beautiful book for the book tour and so appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Wholly recommended for the young set as well as the young in heart.

Buy the Book:

Finding Home

Amazon ~ B&N

Meet the Authors:

Ginny McDonald is an award-winning, professional Colorado
illustrator and a longtime advocate for wild horses. She is the adopter
of an American Curly mare, and more recently, a second mustang named
“Lil Bit”. Ginny’s skill in the use of Prismacolor pencils brings this
story to life with rich detail and heartfelt emotion.

Denver native Corinne Joy Brown is a multi-published,
award-winning Colorado author, magazine editor and freelance writer
focused on the West .” Recent publications include “Young Rider”,
“Cowboys & Indians,” and “Working Ranch.” She’s also been a horse
owner most of her life. Corinne is committed to teaching the next
generation about the power of horses to teach and heal. “Finding Home”
is her eighth book.Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook

Tour Schedule:Aug 3 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway

Aug 3 – Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista – book spotlight / giveaway

Aug 4 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway

Aug 4 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / author interview / giveaway

Aug 5 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway

Aug 5 – My Journey Back – book review / author interview / giveaway

Aug 6 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review

Aug 7 –T’s Stuff – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Aug 7 – Books for Books – book spotlight

Aug 10 – Reading Authors Nework – book review / giveaway

Aug 11 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway

Aug 11 – Priya’s Lit Blog – book review / giveaway

Aug 12 – Older & Smarter? – book review

Aug 12 – Read and Review – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Aug 13 – A Mama’s Corner Of the World – book review / giveaway

Aug 13 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway

Aug 14 – Rosepoint Publishing – book review / giveaway

Aug 14 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway

Aug 17 – authors.ace – book review

Aug 18 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway

Aug 18 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight

Aug 19 – Krisha’s Cozy Corner – book review / guest post / giveaway

Aug 19 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway

Aug 20 – My Reading Journey – book review / guest post / giveaway

Aug 20 – Pen Possessed – book review / giveaway

Aug 21 – Svetlanas reads and views – book review

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Justice Gone by Nick Lombardi – Spotlight Five Time Award Winner – Legal Thriller

I am thrilled to present a five-time award winner for a forward-thinking novel I reviewed back in December of 2018. I knew it was good then and awarded my own five stars.

I was blown away by the descriptive collapse of the care of our veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome), both with the lack of support for vets as well as the state of awareness of our law enforcement bodies. Lombardi’s indictment hit the subject hard and was apparently about a year before it’s time. See my review here.

In the meantime, the narrative has quietly been racking up awards and should definitely get a hard second look to see what you missed.

WINNER OF FIVE AWARDS

2020 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD

NEW YORK CITY BIG BOOK AWARD 2019

2019 AMERICAN FICTION AWARD

NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCY AWARD – Best Legal Thriller of 2019

SILVER MEDAL WINNER 2019 READERS’ FAVORITES AWARDS

Chosen by Wiki.ezvid.com among their list of 10 Gripping and Intelligent Legal Thrillers

Book Blurb

An act of police brutality hurls a small town into a turmoil of rage and fear, igniting a relentless witch hunt and ending in the trial of the decade.

“When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.

A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran’s counselor, is caught up in the chase.

Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa’s patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield’s dramatic capture.

Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?”

Editorial Reviews

The courtroom scenes are wonderfully written…the characters are well described and the author paints a picture of each in the mind of the reader…Strong plot, strong characters and a strong writing style that I really enjoyed. This one is a definite “thumbs-up.” Strongly recommend! I look forward to reading additional works by N. Lombardi, Jr. Kim M Aalaie, Author’s Den

One of my favorite suspense novels of the year. It will make you question the legal system. The Eclectic Review

The courtroom action is excellent, trimmed to the most gripping parts of the trial, with plenty of emotional impact…a fairly realistic portrayal of the way small-town US society works…a fast-moving story with plenty of dramatic moments, and a big twist in the final pages. Crime Review

Big Book Award 2019 Winner

Book Details

ISBN-10:1785358766
ISBN-13:978-1785358760
ASIN:B07N175RZJ
Page Length: 336 pages
Publication Date: February 22, 2019

Buy Links

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
https://bit.ly/2SoiKwc

Kobo
https://bit.ly/2BgY7ID

Book Depository

Waterstones
https://bit.ly/2D37Y56

Amazon India

About the Author

N Lombardi Jr - author

N. Lombardi Jr, the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian).

In 1997, while visiting Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.

Nick maintains a website with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism etc. http://plainofjars.net

His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.

His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.

Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook
https://bit.ly/2sY7LeN

Goodreads
https://bit.ly/2D1Ktt5

If you missed this the first time around, now is your chance to follow the link of your choice and secure a copy of this award-winning novel for yourself!

One Night in Drake Mansion (Skeptic Detective Book 1) by Channing Whitaker – a #BookReview – Ghost Thriller

“Apophenia is a psychological phenomenon in which human beings tend to interpret random stimuli as being significant.”

Book Blurb:

A haunted mansion turned reality TV set. Now, which of the contestants will scream the truth first?

Amateur sleuth Harlan Holt only believes in cold hard facts. So when he’s cast for a supernatural reality show, he’s determined to disprove an 80-year-old spooky mystery and demystify the other contestant’s ghostly superstitions. And soon Holt is pitched into the rundown residence where a mysterious immortal magician is rumored to roam…

Along with a psychic, a ghost hunter, and a Hollywood scream queen, he sets off in search of clues in the race to unravel the decades-old murder. But when objects start flying across the room and he nearly gets killed, even Holt struggles for a scientific explanation of the strange phenomena.

Can Holt solve the case before the house claims another victim?

One Night in Drake Mansion is the first book in the intriguing Skeptic Detective mystery series. If you like good old-fashioned whodunits, clever heroes, and unpredictable twists and turns, then you’ll love Channing Whitaker’s original tale.

My Review:

Well, we’ve all done the ghost mysteries in the old, abandoned, and haunted mansion. But not like this. This one comes complete with lights, camera, action!

This is one of those that don’t necessarily hook you from page one–must have patience. The “skeptic detective” is protagonist Ph.D. candidate Harlan Holt. He is all about science and for him, everything has a reasonable scientific explanation. He is closely acquainted with Genevieve (Vieve), an aspiring medical student.

The premise, however, is not just about spending the night in a haunted house. It’s a reality TV show with crews, trucks, equipment, lights, and sound following every nuance of the contestants all hoping to win at least a portion of the promised million dollars. There is also an actress, a paranormal investigator, and a medium.

The Vinton Drake family of five and their guest Malvern Kamrar, a renowned magician all disappear one evening without a trace. There have been unexplained activities at the site for more than eighty years including sounds and sightings of apparitions in the upper windows of the mansion. In addition to surviving the night, they are hoping to uncover the real story of the disappearance and in this quest has Drake’s journal which may help provide some answers.

It doesn’t take long for Harlan to begin his investigation, poking into all the rooms. It rings so true of those old movies where the assembled gather in candlelight to provide their own field of expertise and exchange intel. The support characters are more two-dimensional but provide an acerbic wit and depth to the gathering offering theories based on their experiences.

Not just ghost hunting (WHO yah gonna call…), but POV switches to the crew manager and discussions of technology while filming, zooming in on-camera one or whichever is closest to the action. Remember, first it’s a reality TV show–ratings are where it’s at. Second–if they can figure out whether there are reasonable explanations for the manifestations that’s fine, but really, wouldn’t they rather have something sensational? RATINGS, people! And oh yes, things go way beyond your simple ghost hunting, haunted mansion storyline. Complex, tension-filled, things start happening. Is there a scientific explanation or is it really haunted?

The author is quite the storyteller and the well-plotted narrative complicated, multi-layered. You’ll never guess in a million years the conclusion. Wow, I just had to shake my head. I did NOT see that happening or even begin to fathom the double-whammy coming at me. I think the author had a chuckle or two knowing what he got over the reader. ACK! But I did have a quibble or two–the protagonist, while better developed–could not engage with either him or Vieve and must admit to having my attention flag a few times. Then–it heated up…

So completely unique and the first in the series that I can imagine is quite compelling. If you enjoy ghost stories, paranormal mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy this one. We received from Amazon with no expectation of a review and this is my honest opinion. Recommended.

Book Details:

Genre: Ghost Mysteries, Paranormal Suspense, Ghost Thriller
Publisher: Off Speed Press
ASIN: B07DP7HDZ1
Print Length: 294 pages
Publication Date: June 11, 2018
Source: Free from Amazon
Title Link: One Night in Drake Mansion

Rosepoint Publishing: Four of Five Stars

The Author: Channing Whitaker is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker originally hailing from Centerville, Iowa. An alum of Indian Hills Community College, Channing went on to study cinema, screenwriting, literature, and mathematics at the University of Iowa. His college years were also spent tending bar and in bar security, which he considers a valuable study of humanity, and an indispensable supplement to his formal education.

Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as writing for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His career has taken Channing from Iowa to Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and to California where he currently resides.

Channing is a fan of many media forms and genres. He considers himself a storyteller foremost and works in multiple media and genres himself. Channing’s artistic influences include Trevanian, Gene Roddenberry, Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Altman, though he credits his late father, a psychology professor, with profoundly impacting his approach to the deep, conflicted, and multifaceted characters which drive his stories.

In his home life, Channing is a father of two, a sports lover, and a real-life space exploration enthusiast.

Channing is among a small subset of writers who are also dyslexic. He considers learning to overcome the challenges of this diagnosis to have aided him in persevering amid the rejection-filled, uncertain, and competitive fields of writing and screenwriting.

Rosepoint July Reviews Recap–Hello Hot August Nights!

Rosepoint Reviews - July Recap

Here’s hoping that wherever you are in this world, you are yours are successfully handling this extended global pandemic.

Statistics are not looking good for this CoVid thing, now projecting to intensify this winter into next August before there is a vaccine. Granted, in our area we’ve become just a bit more lax in our shopping while still wearing mask and gloves, but limiting shopping mainly to groceries. Seems as soon as something gets opened, it manifests a confirmed case of the stuff and closes back up. We’ve yet to really discern the line between real and padded stats.

The gardens are doing okay with the rain but not with the wildlife. Either the deer or the bunnies have eaten the corn and beans and this year decided they like tomatoes. Beets, lettuce, kale, carrots, and swiss chard are eaten to the ground and the raccoons and squirrels are cleaning out the bird feeder. Squash and cucumbers are everywhere and I’m giving it away–go figure. (Where’s a raccoon when you need one?)

Okay, between mowing, weeding, and cultivating, I’ve read some amazing books this month, a number from my favorite go-to authors. The CE has stepped up again reading the action-adventure, military novels. There seem to be a spate of WWII books coming out again. I did a post on a Netflix series versus the audiobooks and want to follow up with several more in that vein as well, securing books from my local library–still closed–but doing just fine with online borrowing. Hopefully, I can get them read in two weeks! (Link below to my reviews.)

Audiobook review of The Atlantis Stone by Alex Lukeman

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

Exit Strategy by Jen J Danna (a CE review)
Muzzled by David Rosenfelt
Out of Her Mind by T R Ragan
A Mother’s Lie by Jo Crow (a CE review)
Goodnight Moo by Mollie Cox Bryan
The Atlantis Stone by Alex Lukeman
Storm Rising by Sara Driscoll
Lineage Most Lethal by S C Perkins
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis (a CE review)
Playing Nice by J P Delaney
Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima
The Hooligans by P T Deutermann (a CE review)
TV Netflix Series vs Audiobooks (Virgin River) by Robyn Carr
Night Shift by Annelise Ryan

Many of the above are from NetGalley or BookBub, and audiobooks are from my library. I’m beginning to discover free books from Audible.

The challenges: Audiobooks, almost at Stenographer level 10-15–I have 13. Eleven towards my NetGalley count giving me 58 in a challenge of 75. I need one more to achieve 10 for my Renaissance Reader level in the Historical Challenge and still at a loss as to how to upload to Mr. Linky on that one. Goodreads–I’m now four books behind schedule at 95 of 170 or 55% of that challenge.

Because the Murder Mystery Bingo Challenge became so overwhelming, I jumped at the Summer Bingo! Challenge created by Lynne at Fictionophile and won the first Bingo! I’m one of those who never win, but I’ll happily accept virtual as a win. The contest started on the first of June and will continue through August. SIMPLE and fun! If I can do this one, so can you! Fun Cards! To follow my progress on all the challenges, click on my Reading Challenges page.

I was invited to join the Vine Voice at Amazon and I’m thinking that and $5 would buy me a cuppa, maybe not at Starbucks, but hoping that would give me another small boost to credibility. Wish I had a badge for that, but alas, authors, you’ll have to be happy with that little designation next to my review now. Yay me.

In the meantime, blogger buddies, authors, and readers, take care, stay safe. I so appreciate your likes and connects!

Raccoon photo attribute: Deposit Photos

HIDING CRACKED GLASS BY JAMES J. CUDNEY- #CoverReveal

An ominous blackmail letter appears at an inopportune moment. The recipient’s name is accidentally blurred out upon arrival. Which member of the Glass family is the ruthless missive meant for?

Series Name: Perceptions of Glass

Happy Saturday! I’m thrilled to be part of the cover reveal brought to you by Digital Reads and Reviews of the new book by James J. Cudney, Hiding Cracked Glass, his second book in Perceptions of Glass series. Check out the book details and cover in this post.

Book #1 Name: Watching Glass Shatter

Book #2 Name: Hiding Cracked Glass (cover reveal for this one)

Publication for Book #2:

Next Chapter, October 8th, 2020

PreSale / Amazon Link: Pending from Publisher

Hiding Cracked Glass by James J Cudney

About the Book

An ominous blackmail letter appears at an inopportune moment. The recipient’s name is accidentally blurred out upon arrival. Which member of the Glass family is the ruthless missive meant for?

⇓

TA DA!

In the powerful sequel to Watching Glass Shatter, Olivia is the first to read the nasty threat and assumes it’s meant for her. When the mysterious letter falls into the wrong hands and is read aloud, it throws the entire Glass family into an inescapable trajectory of self-question. Across the span of eight hours, Olivia and her sons contemplate whether to confess their hidden secrets or find a way to bury them forever. Some failed to learn an important lesson last time. Will they determine how to save themselves before it’s too late?

Each chapter’s focus alternates between the various family members and introduces several new and familiar faces with a vested interest in the outcome. As each hour ticks by, the remaining siblings and their mother gradually reveal what’s happened to them in the preceding months, and when the blackmailer makes an appearance at Olivia’s birthday party, the truth brilliantly comes to light.

Although everyone seemed to embrace the healing process at the end of Watching Glass Shatter, there were hidden cracks in the Glass family that couldn’t be mended. Their lives are about to shatter into pieces once again, but this time, the stakes are even higher. Someone wants to teach them a permanent lesson and refuses to stop until success is achieved.

About the Author

Background

James J Cudney - author James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College, an historic but small liberal arts school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a degree in English literature and minors in Education, Business and Spanish. After college, I accepted a technical writing position for a telecommunications company during Y2K and spent the last ~20 years building a career in technology & business operations in the retail, sports, media and entertainment industries. Throughout those years, I wrote some short stories, poems and various beginnings to the “Great American Novel,” but I was so focused on my career in technology and business that writing became a hobby. In 2016, I refocused some of my energies toward reinvigorating a second career in reading, writing and publishing.

Author

Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, my mind and my body. At some points, it was just a few poems or short stories; at others, it was full length novels and stories. My current focus is family drama fiction, cozy mystery novels and suspense thrillers. I think of characters and plots that I feel must be unwound. I think of situations people find themselves in and feel compelled to tell the story. It’s usually a convoluted plot with many surprise twists and turns. I feel it necessary to take that ride all over the course. My character is easily pictured in my head. I know what he is going to encounter or what she will feel. But I need to use the right words to make it clear.

Reader & Reviewer

Reading has also never left my side. Whether it was children’s books, young adult novels, college textbooks, biographies or my ultimate love, fiction, it’s ever present in my day. I read 2 books per week and I’m on a quest to update every book I’ve ever read on Goodreads, write up a review and post it on all my sites and platforms.

Blogger & Thinker

I have combined my passions into a single platform where I share reviews, write a blog and publish tons of content: TRUTH. I started my 365 Daily Challenge, where I post about a word that has some meaning to me and converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have had weekly segments called “Ryder’s Rants” or “Baxter’s Barks” where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real. And that’s why they are me.

Genealogist & Researcher

I love history and research, finding myself often reaching back into the past to understand why someone made the choice he or she did and what were the subsequent consequences. I enjoy studying the activities and culture from hundreds of years ago to trace the roots and find the puzzle of my own history. I wish I could watch my ancestors from a secret place to learn how they interacted with others; and maybe I’ll comprehend why I do things the way I do.

Websites & Blog

Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/

Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com

Amazon: http://bit.ly/JJCIVBooks

Next Chapter Pub: https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/james-j-cudney

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/james-j-cudney

Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesJCudneyIVAuthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BraxtonCampusMysteries/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsMyTruthNow/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamescudney4/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamescudney4/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jamescudney4

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4

Genres, Formats & Languages

I write in the family drama and mystery genres. My first two books are Watching Glass Shatter (2017) and Father Figure (2018). Both are contemporary fiction and focus on the dynamics between parents and children and between siblings. I’m currently writing the sequel to Watching Glass Shatter. I also have a light mystery series called the Braxton Campus Mysteries with six books available.

All my books come in multiple formats (Kindle, physical print, large print paperback, and audiobook) and some are also translated into foreign languages such as Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German.

Goodreads Book Links

Watching Glass Shatter (October 2017)

Father Figure (April 2018)

Braxton Campus Mysteries

I listened to the first book on audio called Watching Glass Shatter. If you missed my review you can check it here. I enjoyed the unusual premise and unique storyline of the Glass family drama and I’m excited about the curves, twists, and simmering domestic histories as they push forward from Book 1. You MUST check out this book and see for yourself!