#fivestars – Page 3 – Rosepoint Publishing

The Other Side of Now: A Novel by Paige Harbison #AudiobookReview #FriendshipFiction

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Read by the author, this hilarious and heartfelt audiobook about how loves and lives are never truly lost, is perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

With a leading role on a hit TV show and a relationship with Hollywood’s latest heartthrob, Meg Bryan appears to have everything she ever wanted. But underneath, her happiness is as fake as her stage name, Lana Lord. Following a tiny nervous breakdown at her thirtieth birthday party, she books an impromptu trip to Ireland. Specifically, to the village where she and her best friend Aimee always dreamt of moving.

When Meg arrives, the people in town don’t just recognize her, they seem to know her. She quickly—reluctantly—realizes she has somehow slipped into an alternate reality. One where she did move to Ireland as a teenager, one where she never got famous, and—most shocking of all—one where Aimee is alive and well.

She just wants nothing to do with Meg.

Despite her bewilderment, Meg is clear-eyed about one thing: this is a once-in-two-lifetimes chance to reconnect with her friend and repair what she broke . . . or else risk losing Aimee all over again.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

My Review:

Oh good grief! Is this a YA? And a fantasy? And I read it? And loved it?!

It is and I did!

Meg and Aimee are high school besties, who, out for a fun night, decide to see a fortune teller. But while Meg has a dual life line, Aimee’s reading is curt, cut short, and reveals nothing. Kind of a downer ending a thirtieth birthday party, but then she is already feeling a bit let down.

Meg has found success as Lana Lord, a hit TV show. Aimee was killed in a traffic accident not long after the birthday party. Meg shuts down. She is beyond consolable and on impulse books a trip to Ireland where she and Aimee had dreamed of going to college.

With the way our family moved throughout my school years, I never had a chance to experience a “bestie.” So, no, I couldn’t identify with how closely connected Meg was to Aimee, but it wasn’t too difficult to understand how she could find herself at a traumatic crossroads in her life at age thirty.

The experience in Ireland, however, is not at all what she expected but it’s obvious something major is going on when everyone appears to know her.

POV switches back and forth from Ireland to her life in Hollywood. The hot bartender in Ireland may be an “ex” for one thing, the boyfriend at home may have been cheating on her. But is it really possible Aimee is living in Ireland—with her family? Why is she mad at her?

I loved the characters; the prose the author delivers is lovingly and emotionally delivered, believable. The atmosphere of Ireland fleshes out the scenes and leaves you yearning for her decision to stay. Must she return?

The author, once again, has a couple twists in store for the reader. Oh, the delicious fun!

How do you pull a satisfying conclusion to this conundrum?

Stay.

Go.

Stay.

Go.

Themes of friendship, family, loss and grief, dogs (yes, dogs!), happiness. Wait, did Meg remember that fateful night differently than Aimee?

My heart fell at one point. Not the ending I was hoping for. Then—NOT the ending—and my goodness, that writer can pull another one out of the hat. Amazing. So satisfying.

If you missed this one, I’d recommend you check it out. Have I ever steered you wrong?

This audiobook is narrated by the author and she certainly does a credible job. Thank you to my local library for the borrowed copy.

Book Details:

Genre: Friendship Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ASIN: B0DK7NHJ93
Listening Length: 10 hrs 22 mins
Narrator: Paige Harbison
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Paige Harbison - author — Paige Harbison – author

A little bit about me…

I grew up in the Washington D.C. area, raised by a musician and a writer. I graduated high school early, and went to college in St. Augustine, FL. Then, between Freshman and Sophomore year, I wrote my first novel. Everything in my life changed when, the following semester, I signed my first contract at age nineteen.

I transferred schools three times for fun, and changed my major from Theatre to Painting in order to accommodate my new career. I graduated early from Towson University and continued to work on my first three published novels, all YA: Here Lies Bridget, New Girl, and Anything to Have You.

Throughout the next decade I worked as a bartender and ghostwriter, traveling as much as I could, living it up in the name of book inspo.

At the start of the pandemic, I moved with my family to Palm Springs, CA and finally slowed down enough to start thinking about my own next chapter, which led me to leave the service industry, take some opportunities in film and TV, and start work on my next book.

I am now based in Los Angeles, California, where I live with my dog, Tarot, my partner, Richie, and the 12-9000 uninvited spiders that live in and around our home.

find me on instagram and TikTok, where I do comedy videos! @pharbeaux

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Award nominee

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

From multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg comes a new and unique memoir of her family and their influence on her early life.

If it weren’t for Emma Johnson, Caryn Johnson would have never become Whoopi Goldberg. Emma gave her children the loving care and wisdom they needed to succeed in life, always encouraging them to be true to themselves. When Whoopi lost her mother in 2010—and then her older brother, Clyde, five years later—she felt deeply alone; the only people who truly knew her were gone.

Emma raised her children not just to survive, but to thrive. In this intimate and heartfelt memoir, Whoopi shares many of the deeply personal stories of their lives together for the first time. Growing up in the projects in New York City, there were trips to Coney Island, the Ice Capades, and museums, and every Christmas was a magical experience. To this day, she doesn’t know how her mother was able to give them such an enriching childhood, despite the struggles they faced—and it wasn’t until she was well into adulthood that Whoopi learned just how traumatic some of those struggles were.

Fans of personal memoirs such as Finding Me by Viola Davis and In Pieces by Sally Field will be touched by Bits and Pieces: a moving tribute from a daughter to her mother, and a beautiful portrait of three people who loved each other deeply. Whoopi writes, “Not everybody gets to walk this earth with folks who let you be exactly who you are and who give you the confidence to become exactly who you want to be. So, I thought I’d share mine with you.”

My Review:

Above anything else, this might be a slightly long eulogy and love letter to her mother first and then her brother, Clyde. (I had to chuckle though, as that is the CE’s first name as well.)

But it’s no wonder she fills the book with praise, remembering so many stories in which her mother shines brilliantly with wisdom in raising, teaching, nurturing, and yes, strict discipline, her two children under the worst of circumstances.

Time and again, I marveled at how, when push comes to shove, her mother, Emma, manages to mold her daughter and son into strong, independent thinking, kind, and thoughtful people. Who taught her those qualities? She bestowed everything she had at grievous cost to herself, a great philosophical education that might have made Gandhi blush.

“You’ve got two choices. You can waste a lot of time complaining, or you can get up and figure out how to fix it.”

Besides the stories of her childhood and the beginning of her amazing career, she lays bare the loves she’s shared, including the birth of her daughter (her only child), the foray into drugs, and attempted reconciliation with her father. So many anecdotes regarding her experiences.

Whether or not you’ve been a fan of Whoopi (nee Caryn Johnson), reading this book may enhance your respect or create a new fan.

This audiobook is narrated by herself, complete with that distinctive voice, sense of humor, emotion. It’s a celebration of life.

Book Details:

Genre: Grief & Loss, Black & African American Biographies, Grief & Bereavement
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
ASIN: B0CMFC8M37
Listening Length: 6 hrs 43 mins
Narrator: Whoopi Goldberg
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: Whoopi Goldberg is the the author of the Sugar Plum Ballerinas books, as well as Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, illustrated by Olo. She has won a Tony, an Emmy, an Oscar, and a Grammy, as well as two Golden Globes. In 2001, she was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Whoopi Goldberg has appeared in scores of films and is a host of ABC’s The View. She lives in New York and Vermont.

#ThrowbackThursday

Banner picture credits:
Oda May Brown- Ghost – Images Press, Getty Images
The Color Purple – Bruce Gilkas, Film Magic Celie Harris
Wikipedia

Red Shadows at Saugatuck by Randy Overbeck #BookReview #ParanormalFantasy

The Haunted Shores Mysteries Series Book 4

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Darrell Henshaw hoped he was past it all. After all, no ghosts had visited him for years. Instead, he learns his five-year-old-son, Leo, has inherited his “gift.”
Now, they both can see ghosts.
Upon his parents’ insistence, Darrell drives his young family 800 miles to celebrate his aunt Gertrude’s 80th birthday. But, once they arrive in the resort town of Saugatuck, Michigan, their participation gets derailed by the spirit of a Native teen who went missing weeks earlier. When he and Leo inquire about the girl, the locals dismiss their concerns—”Those girls run away all the time.” Still, as questions pile up and threats grow, Darrell senses they may have stumbled onto something far worse and even more evil than one missing teen.
Can Darrell continue to pursue justice for the girl if it places his wife and son in danger?

His Review:

The main characters include a father who has just discovered on a trip to Michigan with his family that his five-year-old son apparently has the same “gift” he has with seeing ghosts. They are being summoned by the ghost of a Native teen but realizing that trying to help her plight may gravely endanger his own family. The writing is gripping, emotional, sensitive, and pocked with twists that’ll keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Many young Native American women go missing each year. Many of the young women leave to gain a better quality of life. The belief is that they run away from home in their early teens and are never heard from again. The actual reason is much more sinister. The plight of Native Americans is the breaking of treaties by the government and displacement of the tribes into some of the poorest areas and non-arable soils in our country.

Randy Overbeck has written a very fine exposé on the actual reason that they seem to be missing. The resulting crimes are neither investigated nor prosecuted! C E Williams This story made me angry because of the lack of attention to this matter by any governmental group. Shame on our country for not protecting these people and prosecuting the criminals. Read the story and see if you don’t agree. 5 stars – CE Williams

[Note: We’ve both been given the opportunity to read installments in the Haunted Shores Mysteries series, including Blood on the Chesapeake and Crimson at Cape May. Read one and you’re hooked. This can be read as a standalone, but each is a treat and we can heartily recommend. V Williams]

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ASIN: B0F89DGNMF
Print Length: 361 pages
Publication Date: July 23, 2025
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.” His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts. He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S.

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

Have a good week!

Rosepoint Reviews – June Recap – Toasty Temps – Cool Books

Progress came to a screeching halt with spring cleaning. Now with sizzling summer temps, little progress outside, and air conditioning inside, none to zip inside. Windows are a biggee, inside and out, but it’s too hot to contemplate doing windows in 97 degree temps with “feel like” temps of 105 F. Closets, cupboards, still beckon but at least it was hot enough to clean rugs and have them dry enough to walk on within a half a day.

Also, despite all the prep and barricades surrounding my veggies, the varmints found a way to eat the beans and peas, and most anything else I was hoping to harvest by July. I am, however, raising a bountiful crop of mosquitoes in the little water tub for the lotus seeds I planted and coaxed to the surface. The lotus seeds need six hours of sun and don’t get that on the deck but appear quite happy for the time being.

I’m thinking at this point if the critters won’t eat my tomatoes or radishes, maybe that’s all I can count on in my veggie garden. I may rip it out and put in a water feature—transplant my lotus plants. Maybe I could grow frogs.

Of course, we are still going to the Y three times a week, greatly enjoying the classes, meeting other seniors, and discovering muscles we forgot we had. We added another class for the current challenge, ending in August.

My “boys,” the CE and our son, celebrated birthdays the end of June. Upcoming doctor visits are beginning to take an additional toll on time with each birthday though, a reminder that time marches on…and on…

We reviewed sixteen books in June—trying to catch up with the books read during the May hiatus. (I’m still not entirely caught up.) The book up for review in July at the Y Book Club is Beartown, of which I’m familiar, of course, but will have to get the book and familiarize myself with salient points. I had a difficult time with it first time through.

The source of our books is our library, NetGalley, and author and publisher requests. As always, the links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase information.

#RosepointPublishing #JuneRecap

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Blackout by David Rosenfelt (audiobook)

Mini-reviews

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt (CE review)

Fatal Verdict by Peter O’Mahoney (CE review)

Smoke on the Water by Jack Bartley (CE review)

What We Left Behind by Luisa A Jones (CE review)

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano (audiobook)
One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood (audiobook-book club)
Body of Evidence by Stephen Penner (CE review)
A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander
The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman (audiobook)
How to Hotwire an Airplane by Henry Rausch (buddy read with the CE)
Folded Corners by Jean Grainger

Audiobooks Mini-Reviews

Never Lie by Freida McFadden (audiobook)

Women of War by Suzanne Cope (audiobook)

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper (CE review)

Favorite Book of the Month

The CE had more than one five-star review in June. He really loved Smoke on the Water and The Last Conclave, but we both loved How to Hotwire an Airplane.

Favorite for June – How to Hotwire an Airplane

My Reading Challenges page…caught up with May and June but dismayed at the numbers.

The Goodreads landing page may be correct at 94 for a goal of 150 or 63%, but the book count widget is still well off, leading me to believe that even when I reach my goal of 150, it won’t register the win. Otherwise, I appear to be behind in all my challenges except Goodreads.

I hope you found a book or two listed above that appealed to you and I always appreciate your comments. Most especially if you have reading suggestions! Have a warm but safe July!

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper #BookReview #ConspiracyThrillers

The Last Conclave - Amazon banner — The Last Conclave banner courtesy Amazon sale page

A gripping Vatican mystery of power, secrecy, and betrayal

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

A vanished conclave. An empty Sistine Chapel. And a secret buried for eight centuries.

From internationally bestselling author Glenn Cooper comes a gripping Vatican conspiracy thriller that has already topped the charts in Italy.

When Pope John XXIV is found dead in his bed just two years after his election, the world braces for a new conclave. But as the cardinal electors are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel, something unthinkable happens.

Hours pass. No smoke rises. No vote is announced.

And when Vatican Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino breaks protocol to open the doors—she finds the chapel empty. The cardinals have vanished without a trace.

CNN religion expert Cal Donovan is on-site to cover the conclave, but soon finds himself swept into a global investigation. As panic spreads and theories abound, Cal uncovers a chilling trail leading back to a centuries-old order—one that has waited in the shadows to cleanse the sins of the Church… with blood.

Ancient secrets. Ruthless power. And a final reckoning that will shake the foundations of faith.

His Review:

The recent conclave of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV. It was done fairly quickly after the death of John Paul II. (Apparently, he was being groomed by the former Pope in his final years.) All Roman Catholics know that the Pope is elected by a conclave of Cardinals under 80 years of age that meets in the Sistine Chapel to elect the successor. This story examines that tradition from a unique perspective.

Why has there never been a female head of the church? Tradition has it that there will never be a female pope. One of Christ’s closest confidants was Mary Magdalene. She certainly helped continue His teachings after His death. Catholic schools teach religion and a majority of the teachers are nuns. Then why are there no female priests? Other Protestant religions certainly have female church leaders!

This book delves into a mythical event in which all of the Cardinals are captured and taken away to a secret place in France. The world is in an uproar and many police and investigative organizations are searching for them! The master minds of this undertaking are a group of very rich people who wish to “right” history.

The fascinating portion of the story to me is the discussion of the Cathars. This was a religious group in the thirteenth century that believed in everything the church in Rome believes but did not believe that the church should be so rich and all powerful. They also believed that women should be equal to men and be allowed into the priesthood…and still do.

This is a very fascinating fiction thriller interwoven with historical events! 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Conspiracy Thrillers, Historical Thrillers, Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense Fiction
Publisher: Lascaux Media
ASIN: B0F8C5N5K6
Print Length: 312 pages
Publication Date: May 19, 2025
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Glenn Cooper is an internationally published thriller writer with over eight million copies sold in thirty languages. Many of his twenty novels have reached the top ten bestsellers list. Cooper holds a degree in archaeology from Harvard College and a medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He practiced internal medicine and infectious diseases before transitioning to biomedical research and becoming a biotech CEO. Additionally, he has written numerous screenplays and produced three feature films. He draws on his experiences and studies to craft fast-paced thrillers that explore historical, philosophical, religious, and scientific themes.

Have a good week!

How to Hotwire an Airplane by Henry Rausch #BookReview #AbsurdistFiction

A novel so good I had to share with the CE. His review below.

Book Blurb:

From the bestselling author of Submerged: Life on a Fast Attack Submarine in the Last Days of the Cold War.

In the spring of 2001, Hiram Bleeker, a lonely, guilt-wracked Vietnam veteran with severe PTSD, is holding a gun to his mouth. As he is about to pull the trigger, an enchanting woman who does not seem to be of this world introduces him to something that restores his soul—rescuing immigrants in the desert and flying them over the internal checkpoints of the US Border Patrol in southwest Texas. As he flies immigrants in his small plane and saves them from the killing dehydration and heat of the Texas desert, the darkness in his heart begins to fade. But when America is attacked on September 11, it succumbs to fear and hysteria. What was once a simple act of human kindness is now a serious crime against the state, potentially a capital offense. Hiram must woo the love of his life and elude the clutches of the Border Patrol while flying over the desolate and hostile plains of Texas. In this book, you will learn about the healing power of love, redemption through sacrifice, and how to hot-wire an airplane.

My Review:

Don’t you just love that title?

I’ll confirm first thing that the novel delivers on the title. Okay, yes, I’m attracted to stories first about dogs and also Vietnam veterans since my husband is one—the latter, of course. So, with that title and the promising blurb, I had to read this one.

I loved Hiram Bleeker who returns from service with PTSD, guilt-wracked, and with no close discernible support. His failure to end it all comes when he begins to transport rescue animals for delivery to their forever homes. And he does this, finding satisfaction in saving so many canine lives for some time.

It’s when he is approached to rescue humans in desperate circumstances that the whole operation becomes dicey. Each mission is unique and comes with perilous circumstances. His plane is a mess and often provides misgivings even from his passengers, but he loves her and knows her inside and out and can wrench out some death-defying aerobatics.

In the meantime, he meets a lady with whom some serious chemistry evolves. Most of my readers know I’m not big on romance, but I loved Lucy. Cerebral and well versed in most subjects, there is a magical quality about her that mystifies Hiram. The author has created an endearing, charismatic character who is equal to Hiram’s, both empathetic and forceful. She becomes a staunch supporter, an advocate, rallying around his undertaking to provide life support for fleeing immigrants.

“Another day with Lucy, another stop on the train to Weirdville. ‘Well, I’ve never seen a luggage rack on a hearse!’“

The storyline provides scenes of desolate vistas, heat-ravaged Texas landscapes, along with the life-threatening wretched conditions of those seeking sanctuary.

“…You have been classified as an Enemy Combatant.”
”What’s that?”

“It’s something we invented. Orwell was right: Control the language, control the narrative, control the population…”

The authorities are relentless and often brutal while the narrative shares in equal measure the support of humanity from unexpected resources.

The novel carries themes of compassion, courage, and redemption. A unique and emotional tale of liberation more than political commentary. The action-packed climax is satisfying and provides closure as well as food for thought.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own. Heartily recommended!

My Rating: Five Stars

His Review:

There are many dogs to be rescued in Texas. Hiram, a Vietnam veteran and pilot, has been flying these animals in his old Cessna 172 from the Texas border to a rescue for years. Prior to that, his life was a constant swirl downward and he decided life was not worth living.

He could completely dismantle the plane and reassemble it as necessary. His job transporting rescue dogs from Texas to the northern states saved many animals’ lives and kept his old plane flying.

He is approached by a lady who wishes to have a few desperate families flown from Mexico into various locations in the states. A quick flight of a few hundred miles and the cargo was delivered into the country without dealing with U.S. Customs but the Customs Agents became aware and want to shut his operation down and destroy his relic of an airplane.

This story moves well and paints the Border Patrol as little more than a lawless group of thugs. The overall storyline is very entertaining and enlightening. Enjoy! 5 stars – CE Williams

His Rating: Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Absurdist Fiction, Metaphysical Fiction, Political Fiction

ASIN: B0DHV4VVHX
Print Length: 346 pages
Publication Date: June 1, 2025
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Henry Rausch graduated from Stanford University and after earning a commission at Officer Candidate School reported to USS L Mendel Rivers (SSN-686) in August 1985. There he served as an Engineering Assistant, Communicator, and Sonar Officer. The ship conducted four classified missions for which they were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, and the Arctic Service Ribbon. After that tour he served as Weapons Officer onboard USS Sunfish (SSN 649) which conducted deployments in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. He left active service and served in the Reserves, primarily in NATO Submarine Command and Control. He retired as a Commander in 2005 with 22 years of service and lives with his wife in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He enjoys outdoor activities and flying small planes and has over 3800 hours of experience as a pilot in command.

Summer books — AI generated graphic courtesy Gemini Flash 2.5

Body of Evidence by Stephen Penner #BookReview #legalthriller

A Rain City Legal Thriller Book 6

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

She was murdered ten years ago. Now she has a story to tell.

Seattle Attorney Daniel Raine is hired by one Jim Carpenter who has been charged with a cold case murder.

A body has been discovered, buried under Carpenter’s business. When the remains are identified as a missing girl who was responsible for the DUI death of his own daughter, he instantly becomes the prime suspect.

It’s a clear case of a grief-stricken father out for revenge.

Believing Carpenter’s vehement protestations of innocence, Raine sets out to find out what really happened on that fateful day ten years ago.

But the case gets increasingly difficult as Raine finds himself battling a power-hungry prosecutor with an eye on higher office.

Even worse, all the witnesses seem to have something to hide, and as he digs for the truth, Raine has to fight through a tangled web of secrets and lies.

A web that will soon turn deadly…

His Review:

Attorney J. Daniel Raine enjoys his role as a Prosecuting Attorney. He is noted for his ruthlessness in getting criminals off the street. They are wards of the courts, usually for their remaining lives. However, he is assigned the task of being a defense attorney trying to keep a lovely mid-thirties defendant out of a life sentence. She is very pretty and is like a lost puppy needing rescuing.

Raine is up against a very seasoned prosecuting attorney who really wants to see him fail at his new role in defense. The judge does not allow him a motion to free him from this task. His attitude is “if I am the defense attorney then she is not guilty!” He finds every loophole possible and ignores evidence that implicates his client.

C E Williams This is a very interesting book and is engaging and interesting. I can thoroughly recommend to any who enjoy a solid legal thriller! 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Legal Thrillers, Murder, Murder Thrillers
Publisher: Inkubator Books
ASIN: B0FB9LNVXQ
Print Length: 295 pages
Publication Date: June 8, 2025
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Stephen Penner is an author, artist, and attorney from Seattle, Washington. He has written more than 30 novels and specializes in courtroom thrillers known for their unexpected twists and candid portrayal of the justice system. He draws on his extensive experience as a criminal trial attorney to infuse his writing with realism and insight.

Stephen is the bestselling author of several top-rated legal thriller series. The RAIN CITY LEGAL THRILLERS deliver the adventures of Seattle attorney Daniel Raine and his unlikely partner Rebecca Sommers. The DAVID BRUNELLE LEGAL THRILLERS feature Seattle homicide D.A. David Brunelle and a recurring cast of cops, defense attorneys, and forensic experts. And the TALON WINTER LEGAL THRILLERS showcase tough-as-nails Tacoma criminal defense attorney Talon Winter and her closest allies. Stephen is also the author of the MAGGIE DEVEREAUX PARANORMAL MYSTERIES, recounting the exploits of an American graduate student in the magical Highlands of Scotland, and several other stand-alone works.

In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family.

Sunday reading — AI generated graphic courtesy Gemini flash 2.5

Four eBooks, Three Genres – Mini-reviews Dogged Pursuit, Fatal Verdict, Smoke on the Water, What We Left Behind

During the time I took a quick blog sabbatical, we continued to read or, in my case, listen to audiobooks. Woefully behind on reviews, I’m posting shortened versions of some of the novels we enjoyed during the hiatus. (Links on individual covers are to Goodreads.)

His Thoughts:

Dogged Pursuit by David Rosenfelt

Minotaur Books
July 1, 2025

Car bombs are a very hands-off way to kill someone. No looking at the victim or victims, just a simple explosion and the deed is committed. The killer never has to look the victims in the eye. However, there are certain skill sets that are required to use this method of killing.

Ryan Tierney is arrested and placed into prison despite the fact that he was not involved in the crime. Andy Carpenter is hired to defend him. The evidence points to Ryan, including a car with his license plates witnessed at the scene of the crime by two police officers. The case seems open and shut.

David Rosenfelt writes a very entertaining novel with many twists and turns. He has been hired to defend this potential killer and is unfamiliar with the client he is defending. The dialogue is very entertaining between Andy and the various characters in this novel. It harkens back to some of the old Sam Spade novels I read as a teenager. I recommend this book as a fast-moving thriller. 5 stars – CE Williams

Note: This is a prequel to the popular Andy Carpenter mysteries and explains how he came to quit working as a prosecutor and opened his own practice as a defense attorney. It is also an introduction to his connection with Tara (his rescue dog).

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Fatal Verdict by Peter O’Mahoney

Thomas & Mercer
July 1, 2025

Sammy is not the brightest individual in any room, but a stroke of luck makes him an instant five times millionaire. He cannot believe his luck. Friends who had seemed to write him off years ago are suddenly back wanting to spend time with him. A lovely young lady named Haley has confessed undying love. The world is looking very positive for Sammy.

Sammy rewrites his will and five days later Sammy is discovered in the shallows with a bullet in his head. His most recent fling is now a suspect in his murder, but his brother Ken is brought in for questioning. Ken swears that he had nothing to do with the killing but that the money rightfully belongs to him. Sure, Sammy bought the winning lottery ticket but Ken felt that Sammy should never have actually got the proceeds. Ken has worked his whole life and why shouldn’t he have those winnings. Adding insult to injury, Sammy paid off some of Ken’s debts; but would not give Ken any money! Ken is a habitual drug user.

Haley is a beautiful and vivacious thirty something who discovered Sammy’s fortune and immediately latched on to him. A new will had been drafted five days before Sammy’s death and all of the money was left to Haley. Ken is livid and threatens Haley feeling the money was his rightful inheritance! He has a solid alibi.

This story features a prosecuting attorney who has been hired to defend Haley. He puts together a great defense team and the climax is very entertaining. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

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Smoke on the Water by Jack Bartley

Koehler Books
April 15, 2025

One of the ways to pay for college was to join the service during the Vietnam War. Tuition was paid and after graduation, the rank of Ensign was given. However, there was a price to be paid. Usually, sea duty followed graduation after a short introduction to military discipline. Following his graduation, the main character Lieutenant Junior Grade Jason Conley finds himself stationed on a destroyer escort off the coast of South Vietnam.

Support fire for the ground troops was supplied by the USS Everett stationed about one mile off the coast. Flashes from shore were followed by large water spouts which often times marched towards the ships on picket. The Everett only had a five-inch gun which was used to protect their position. The Vietnamese would go onto the sandy shore with the guns mounted on truck beds and try to sink the ship. The pucker factor was extreme.

The description of life in the U.S. Navy during the war is well-developed by this author. The young sailors were usually stationed out of Hawaii and to a much lesser extent Guam. The duty stations were usually for four to six months and life aboard ship was close at best. Naval tradition usually keeps the officers and enlisted men separated. This story tells the relationship between men aboard a smaller ship with fewer men. Jason made friends with a number of enlisted men and this is frowned upon by his superior officers.

The relationships between the crew members are vital to the overall mission and working together breeds comradeship and brotherhood. The story illuminates the problems that some of the crews on smaller ships faced. The antics and relationships with shore-based personnel, particularly nurses, are similar to my experience in the Navy. This book is riveting and well documents the extreme highs and lows of the period. It is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or wishes to become familiar with Naval participation in the early 1970’s. 5 stars – CE Williams

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What We Left Behind by Luisa A Jones

Storm Publishing
May 30, 2025

War is on the horizon and the bombing of London is expected to commence soon. Children are assembled and sent to the country with the anticipated bombing of London close at hand. Many of the parents are poor working class and the feeling is that they are dependent upon the charity of others. The children are torn from their homes and sent miles away to the Welch countryside.

The attitude of the men living in England was one of patriotism or shame that they are not fit for military service. Looked upon as less than manly, their favorite escapism is beating their wives and children. Some of the boys emulate their fathers and treat the girls and their younger brothers and sisters with contempt.

The volunteers who take these children in are burdened with more mouths to feed than anticipated. The shy and withdrawn children are usually picked on by their older siblings and other kids. Letters from home are very important to help the children adapt but they are often misplaced or not sent at all during this tumultuous time.

This story visits the nightmares that were endured by both the caregiving volunteers and the children they were trying to help. The author is very adept at providing a look into this very tumultuous time in history. The story is both heart-wrenching and engaging at the same time. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review these books. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

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