Fictionophile – Rosepoint Publishing

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

Rosepoint June Reviews Recap–Hello July!

Rosepoint Reviews - June Recap

No longer the shelter-at-home orders, we have opened to Phase 3 in the NWI area. Still looking at the statistics, however, I’m not overly anxious to run out for any fun shopping any time soon and still condense my shopping to once a week for necessary groceries. It’s not very rewarding but at least both the CE and I remain CoVid free.

Stay Smart, Safe, Home

You’d think with all this mandated house time, I’d have more reading time than usual, but not at this time of year when finally the cattle guard opens and I can run to the back 40 for some serious grass, flower, and veggie time with my gardens. Finally, the year I decide I buy rain barrels to preserve some of the rain we get, we’ve had more than our normal share and I’ve had to dump more water than actually use on thirsty plants. So far, the earthworms are at risk of drowning and the birds are ecstatic.

Seventeen books in June! Most largely due to some massive help from the CE and rain. A variety of cozy mysteries, historical fiction, thrillers, sci-fi, and escapism action-adventure. Links listed below are my reviews.

The Secret of Dunhaven Castle by Nellie H Steele

Book Blitz of The Defense of Exeter Station by Tom Bedford for Digital Reads Blog Tours

The Incredible Key West-Caribbean Race by Michael Reisig

In My Attic by Lena Hanson
The Pearl of York by Tony Morgan (5* histfic-author req-read with the CE)
Act of Deception by John Bishop MD
Snowed Under by Mary Feliz
The Mockingbird’s Song by Wanda E Brunstetter
January River by Bernard Jan (author request-buddy read with the CE)
Legacy of Lies by Robert Bailey
The Nutcracker Conspiracy by Lauren Carr (audiobook)
A Fatal Fiction by Kaitlyn Dunnit
Grave Consequences by Lena Gregory
Dangerous Pursuits by Jo Bannister
The Secret of Dunhaven Castle by Nellie H Steele (author request-buddy read)
Newgate’s Knocker by Greg Peterson (a CE 5* author request)
Speakeasy by A M Dunnewin
The Defense of Exeter Station by Thom Bedford (a CE review)
The Incredible Key West-Caribbean Race by Michael Reisig (fav author 5*)
The Finders by Jeffrey R Burton

Many of the above from NetGalley, an audiobook for blog tours, and the CE either read or participated in five reviews. There were several author requests including one from Michael Reisig who really outdid himself this year with an entirely different concept in his Key West series with the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt. SOOO fun! It’s on special sale right now for the Kindle edition at only $.99 and your chance for an introduction to his exciting, humorous, and unique novels. (No, I’m not getting a cut.) In fact, I was introduced to a new author (to me) in June that I’m particularly excited about and of course it would be a K-9 series. My first review in July will be another favorite author, Amanda Hughes and her Bold Women series, this one of the early 20th Century, coming on Friday, July 3.

The challenges: (seriously?) Audiobooks, at the low end of Stenographer 10-15–I have 11. Eight towards my NetGalley count giving me 47 in a challenge of 75. I need two more to achieve 10 for my Renaissance Reader level in the Historical Challenge. Goodreads–I’m now one book behind schedule at 83 of 170 or 49% of that challenge. Because the Murder Mystery Bingo Challenge became so overwhelming, I jumped at the Summer Bingo! Challenge created by Lynne at Fictionophile. The contest started on the first of June and will continue through August. You’ll need to check her rules and get your card. SIMPLE and fun! Even I can do this one! To follow my progress, click on the Reading Challenges page.

Since writing the recap last month, seems conditions have only changed for the worse. Such a dark, tragic period in our country and around the globe. I hope that wherever you are, you continue to stay safe in the face of CoVid19 and are still coping successfully. I’m forever grateful for your likes and comments and always look forward to your posts!

Stay safe!

Rosepoint #Reviews – February Recap

Can you believe it’s March already?! March always reminds me how this whole writing, reading, blogging, reviewing thing got started–with my grandfather, of course!

Well, Faith and Begorrah (and btw, Begorrah is a form of “By God” in Irish slang), sure reminds me of the beautiful, musical way he pronounced my name. I don’t ever remember him, however, using the term “Erin Go Bragh,” spelled variously and used in wildly different meanings. Erin, of course, is the Angelical assassination of Eireann, which translates to “Of Ireland.” (The Irish word for Ireland is Eire, so says Patrick Murphy, good Irish lad.)

Ireland 9 by gliterly.com My grandfather, another good Irish lad named Patrick, professed a few more colorful terms, such as “Blatherskite,” given him by his uncle following his kiss of the Blarney stone three times. Apparently, that bestowed him full right to blarney on as he wrote the stories I published for him. Ah, but I digress…

February? I only read and reviewed five books. I KNOW–embarrassing, right? Falling down on the job, no doubt due to my distraction with Bookstagram. However, I was successful in enlisting the aid of my hubby, that Associate Reviewer I call “the CE”, who managed three books of his own. And I did manage three Throwback Thursdays, highlighting authors D. W. Ulsterman, Rick Mofina, and Melissa Stevens (not to be confused with Melissa F Miller from yesterday).

Shadow of a Century by Jean Grainer for The Love of Ireland by Judy Leslie I’m looking forward to participating in Cathy‘s “Reading Ireland” challenge, as noted in Lynne’s Fictionophile March post. I already have a couple books for the challenge, one by Jean Grainger, Irish author, Shadow of a Century and another titled For the Love of Ireland by Judy Leslie. It’s a chance to get a couple titles off my TBR!

March hopes to see the coming of spring and also marks another of my birthdays. Gulp–and this one will be a biggee. I’ll toast with some Bailey’s Irish Cream! So what did I read and review in February? (click) Continue reading “Rosepoint #Reviews – February Recap”

#ThrowbackThursday – the Caribbean Gold series – Book Reviews

#ThrowbackThursday on It's Book Life blog Renee began the Throwback Thursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk” to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Sounded like a good reason to join! My TT posts will not come from current ARCs or new releases. Means I’ll be going back over some of my oldies but goodies, some of my favorite stories and authors you might not have previously experienced. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out!

Originally posted January 2015.

“The Treasure of Tortuga was originally published in 2001 as the first half of a novel called Brothers of the Sword/Children of Time.” It was my introduction to the author Michael Reisig and I’ve been a fan ever since. With encouragement from his friends, Reisig rewrote and republished the original novel split in volumes. The Treasure of Tortuga became Volume 1 of the series called Caribbean Gold.

Book Blurbs:

Volume 1 of the Caribbean Gold series

“The Treasure of Tortuga draws you into an era of dark-hearted men, captivating women, and a seafaring adventure so real you’ll taste the salt spray. The year is 1668. Englishman Trevor Holte and the audacious freebooter Clevin Greymore, sail from the Port of London for Barbados and the West Indies. They set out in search of adventure and wealth, but the challenges they encounter are beyond their wildest dreams…some treasures outlive the men who bury them…”

Volume 2 of the Caribbean Gold series

The Treasure of Time – “In the spring of 1980, three adventurers set out from Key West in search of a lost treasure on the Isle of Tortuga, off the coast of Haiti. Equipped with an ancient parchment and a handful of clues, they embark on a journey…discover the power of friendship and faith, and the unflagging capacity of spirit, and come to realize that, some things are forever…”

Volume 3 of the Caribbean Gold series

The Treasure of Margarita – “Historical and modern adventure, sizzling romance, and Caribbean intrigue… The Treasure of Margarita spans three centuries of high adventure. Beginning in 1692, in the pirate stronghold of Port Royal, it carries the reader across the Southern Hemisphere in a collage of rip-roaring escapades. Then it soars forward five generations, into modern day intrigue and romance in Key West and the Caribbean. A staggering fortune of Spanish black pearls and a 300-year-old letter with a handful of clues set the course that Travis Christian and William Cody embark upon. But it’s not an easy sail…”

Irresistibly drawn to tales of treasure hunting, swashbuckling pirates, sailing ships, their courageous crews and the bawdy women who entertained them, I discovered “Brothers of the Sword/Children of Time” written by Michael Reisig in 2001. Envisioning a modern day Stanley McShane, off on another adventure, I witnessed my grandfather’s travels again through Reisig’s historical 17th century multi-masted sailing craft, experiencing much of the same kind of treasure hunting in the Caribbean, as did my grandfather in the South Pacific more than a century later.