A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander

A Secret Bookcase Mystery

Book Blurb:

In the gripping conclusion to The Secret Bookcase series, Annie Murray races to untangle the ultimate plot twist…

Life is good for Annie: she’s found healing at the Secret Bookcase, her beloved Agatha Christie-themed mystery bookstore in the cozy town of Redwood Grove, and is on the brink of launching her very own detective agency. But she’s still haunted by one unsolved case: the murder of her best friend Scarlet ten years ago.

When Annie heads to Santa Clara for their annual book fair, she’s looking forward to meeting fellow booklovers. And she’s also got a secret mission: she’ll be close to Silicon Summit Partners, the powerful investment firm she just knows had a hand in Scarlet’s death. But when an industry colleague is murdered at the book fair, Annie is first on the scene to investigate. The suspect list reads like a book lover’s who’s who: a celebrity author with a suspicious agenda, a rival with a grudge, and even a kindly grandmother pursuing her lifelong dream of owning a bookstore.

With her fellow bookseller and crime-fighting partner Fletcher playing Watson to her Holmes, can Annie catch the killer before they strike again? And will it distract her from her mission to finally bring her best friend Scarlet’s murderer to justice?

This fun-filled and clean cozy mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton, and book lovers everywhere.

My Review:

I’ve been a fan of this author for some time. She can weave a great cozy mystery at the same time as infusing the storyline with engaging atmospherics.

“A hint of a strong antiseptic cleaner hung in the air, mingled with the distinct scent of corruption.”

Annie Murray has been looking forward to this book fair for some time, not just because she’ll hook up with industry colleagues, but it will give her access to the Silicon Summit Partners, who Annie has long suspected was instrumental in the death of her best friend, Scarlet, who was soon to be her partner in their new detective agency, Novel Detectives.

It’s not like Annie hasn’t gained some experience in the latter and, fortunately, she has a close associate, Fletcher Hughes, who’ll have her back at the book fair and at the investment firm she’ll investigate while there.

A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie AlexanderWhile Annie is attending the book fair and learning about virtual reality reading, there is a suspicious death. The victim was pushing his virtual reality reading device heavily surrounded by contentious activity. Was it the motive for murder?

Perhaps the headset wasn’t fully ready for market? Annie is working, unofficially, with the slightly green detective on the case while she proceeds with plans to secure evidence from the investment firm.

It looks like Annie has a strong set of support characters for her work with her new agency as well as backup for her bookstore, the Secret Bookcase. This series culminated with the exposure of Scarlet’s killer, so while this might have been the final episode of this series, the spin-off, Novel Detectives is slated to start early in 2026. It’s looking to be a good one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars Four Stars

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Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Craft & Hobby Mysteries, Cozy Animal Mysteries, Amateur Sleuths
Publisher: Storm Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1805089919
ASIN: B0DVZDJ13Q
Print Length: 238 pages

Publication Date: June 16, 2025 Just Released!

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK   |   Barnes & Noble

 

Ellie Alexander - authorThe Author: ELLIE ALEXANDER is a voracious storyteller, a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie, her books, and writing courses by visiting her online:

Website: https://www.elliealexander.co/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexanderauthor

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexanderauthor

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ellielovesbooks

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

©2025 V Williams

Cozy Summer Reading
AI generated graphic courtesy Gemini Flash 2.5

Nightshade by Michael Connelly #BookReview #crimethrillers

#1 Best Seller in Crime Thrillers

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

Introducing Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been “exiled” to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found weighed down at the bottom of the harbor—a Jane Doe identifiable at first only by a streak of purple dye in her hair. At the same time, a report of poaching on a protected reserve turns into a case fraught with violence and danger as Stilwell digs into the shady past of an island bigwig.

Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, Stilwell doggedly works both cases. Though hampered by an old beef with an ex-colleague determined to thwart him at every turn, he is convinced he is the only one who can bring justice to the woman known as “Nightshade.” Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.

His Review:

Nightshade by Michael Connelly
Nightshade cover – US

Santa Catalina is a world unto itself. “Twenty-six miles across the sea…” the island was a retreat for the Wrigley family and their casino. The casino was intended to be a retreat for the wealthy from southern California but a town was built and the island populated by the wealthy and their poorer caregivers.

Automobiles are not allowed on the island. Transportation is by foot or electric golf carts. This eliminates the gas and diesel fuel smoke so plentiful on the mainland. The rich can come and disappear on the island to many campgrounds and hiding spots.

Nightshade by Michael Connelly - UK cover
Nightshade cover – UK

The idyllic beauty and the island tranquility become background when a body is found bound in chains and weighted down in the bay. The body is distinctive by the purple streak in her hair. No way to deny foul play as she has obviously been killed and dumped at sea.

A sub-plot is introduced involving one of the island’s long residents. Protagonist Detective Stilwell has his hands full with both cases. He proves to be a determined and dogged investigator and will stop at nothing until he uncovers the secrets of both.

The story has many twists and turns as everyone seems innocent but someone must have tried to destroy evidence.

C E WilliamsThis author shares many interesting detective techniques and methods for solving the killing. The machinations of the suspects and their attempts at providing alibi are intriguing and entertaining. Enjoy! 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.

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thrillers, Literary Fiction, Police Procedurals
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
ISBN-13: 978-0316588492
ASIN: B0DNDZWQ9R
Print Length: 347 pages
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK   |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

 

Michael Connelly - authorThe Author: Michael Connelly is the bestselling author of more than forty novels and one work of nonfiction. With over eighty-nine million copies of his books sold worldwide and translated into forty-five foreign languages, he is one of the most successful writers working today. A former newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Connelly has won numerous awards for his journalism and his fiction. His very first novel, The Black Echo, won the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. In 2002, Clint Eastwood directed and starred in the movie adaptation of Connelly’s 1998 novel, Blood Work. In March 2011, the movie adaptation of his #1 bestselling novel, The Lincoln Lawyer, hit theaters worldwide starring Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller. His most recent New York Times bestsellers include The Waiting (2024), Resurrection Walk (2023), Desert Star (2022), The Dark Hours (2021), The Law Of Innocence (2020), Fair Warning (2020), and The Night Fire (2019). Michael is the executive producer of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, Amazon Studios original drama series based on his bestselling character Harry Bosch, starring Titus Welliver and streaming on Amazon Prime/Amazon Freevee. He is the executive producer of The Lincoln Lawyer, streaming on Netflix, starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. He is also the executive producer of the documentary films, “Sound Of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story’ and ‘Tales Of the American.’ He spends his time in California and Florida.

©2025 CE Williams – V Williams

Have a Great Sunday

 

Sincerely, Grace: The Knocknashee Series-Book 4 by Jean Grainger #BookReview #HistoricalIrishFiction

Book 4 of The Knocknashee Story

#1 Best Seller in Historical Irish Fiction

Sincerely, Grace by Jean Grainger

Book Blurb:

Knocknashee, County Kerry, Ireland

1941

For twenty-one-year-old Grace Fitzgerald, life is finally looking bright. Orphaned as a child and later struck down by polio, she then endured years of cold indifference at the hands of her sister Agnes. Now, with Agnes finally gone, Grace has found love with her handsome young husband and peace surrounded by friends in her home village of Knocknashee and in her ongoing friendship with the American journalist Richard Lewis.

But just as Grace begins to enjoy her hard-won freedom, a dark shadow falls, and most devastating of all, her dearest friend Tilly may be entangled in the sinister events unfolding around her.

Sincerely Grace is the fourth book in the Knocknashee Series.

My Review:

That masterful Irish storyteller is at it again with Book 4 of the Knocknashee Story now in November 1941.

Grace’s tenure as headmistress of the Knocknashee School is on very rocky grounds when Canon Rafferty is set to return.

Sincerely, Grace by Jean GraingerWhile WWII continues to keep Richard and Jacob on this side of the pond, it also means he is sent into the fray to write stories and Jacob to take pictures.  It keeps him closer to Grace when the chips are down with the Canon but also puts him and Jacob in harm’s way. Their escape and eventual return to London give both men a closer regard for Sarah and Pippa.

In the meantime, Declan, Grace’s groom has been killed in the search for men hit by a U-boat bomb. Grace becomes a widower about the time Richard (who is still unaware that Grace never got his letter of declaration) is becoming closer to Pippa.

There is conspiracy, possible espionage, and stories of the struggles of Ireland during “the Emergency” as well as interesting tidbits about the war you may not have been aware of previously. The intrigue ramps up and the tension tightens as forces still appear to be working against Richard and Grace ever becoming aware of the other’s feelings. It plays heavily on the reader’s heart since we are now fully engaged in Pippa’s character, a lovely, selfless your lady who appears to have given her heart to Richard.

Life is never dull in the village and the series continues to weave a narrative that builds connection and love to the characters.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars 4.5 stars

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Historical Irish Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Women’s Friendship Fiction
ISBN: 1917732031
ASIN: B0DT68LN2L
Print Length: 292 pages
Publication Date: April 28, 2025
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US Amazon-UK

 

Jean Grainger - authorThe Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

©2025 V Williams

#TuesdayBookBlog

Nothing Left of Me by Alex Walters #BookReview #NoirCrime

Book Blurb:

After a stakeout turns deadly, Detective Sergeant Jack Mellor’s life spirals out of control. Struggling with guilt, he quits the force and retreats to the remote northern Highlands, seeking seclusion. But peace is hard to find.

Nothing Left of Me by Alex WaltersWhen he’s hired to investigate the disappearance of a young woman, Mellor is reluctantly drawn back into a world of corruption, crime, and deceit. As disturbing secrets emerge, his new life begins to unravel. Complicating matters, his ex-partner Maddie reappears, and a potential new romance is shattered. As Mellor digs deeper, he uncovers a horrifying operation—with shocking connections to those he thought he could trust.

Betrayed and disillusioned, Mellor faces the darkest moments of his life. But as his world crumbles, will a glimmer of hope emerge? And in the hauntingly beautiful Highlands, with only a loyal dog for company, can Mellor overcome his demons and bring the guilty to justice?

His Review:

Nothing Left of Me by Alex WaltersRetiring from the Scottish police force in Glasgow, Mellor, a former police officer settles in the remote Scottish Highlands. He meets a lovely lady named Lorne and they are immediately smitten with each other. His near-death experience at the hands of a local thug, however, leaves him scarred and paranoid. When she is killed before their date, he disappears to his remote cabin in shock again and wonders why he seems to be a target.

The Highlands are remote but murders seem to happen all around him. Will he be the next candidate? Powerful people seem to be at play here, and when an ex-partner suddenly shows up, he’s left wondering why, and whether or not he can trust her. The storyline turns darker and it’s clear there are disturbing complications to his investigation of a missing person. The outlook is bleak.

C E WilliamsAlthough a rather slow burn start, the plot line turns complex with fully-developed characters. This well-written story reveals that even Northern Scotland is not immune to greed and the violence rampant throughout our planet. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These thoughts are my own.

 

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars 4.5 stars

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Noir Crime, Private Investigator Mysteries, Murder
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
ASIN: B0DN1CRHN1
Print Length: 336 pages
Publication Date: December 18, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK   |   Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

Alex Walters - authorThe Author: Alex has worked in the oil industry, broadcasting and banking and has run a consultancy working mainly in the criminal justice sector including police, prisons and probation.

As Michael Walters, he published three crime thrillers set in modern-day Mongolia, now re-published as by Alex Walters in completely new, re-edited versions. As Alex Walters he has written two thrillers set in and around Manchester featuring the undercover officer, Marie Donovan, Trust No-One and Nowhere to Hide. Late Checkout was the first in a series of crime thrillers featuring, alongside Marie Donovan, the rather distinctive DCI Kenny Murrain, who has subsequently appeared in four more books, Dark Corners, Snow Fallen, Stilled Voices and Life Remains. Alex is also the author of the DI Alec McKay series set in and around Scotland’s Black Isle, which currently comprises five books, Candles and Roses, Death Parts Us, Their Final Act, Expiry Date and For Their Sins, published by Bloodhound Books, with a sixth book coming in 2022. He had also written a standalone historical thriller called Winterman, also published by Bloodhound Books. His latest series is set in the Peak District and features DI Annie Delamere. The first three books in the series, Small Mercies, Lost Hours and Bad Terms, are available now from Canelo.

Alex lives in the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands where he runs the Solus Or Writing Retreat with his wife, occasional sons and frequent cats.

He can be contacted at: mike@whitmuir.com

Website:https://www.alexwaltersauthor.com/

Twitter: @mikewalters60

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexwaltersauthor/

Details of the Solus Or Writing Retreat can be found at: http://www.solusorwritingretreat.co.uk

Happy Holidays--Have a great Sunday!

Lost Souls by Theo Baxter #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Detective Marcy Kendrick Book 6

Book Blurb:

A killer on a sacred mission. A detective determined to stop him.

When LAPD Homicide detective Marcy Kendrick and her partner Angel Reyes investigate the bizarre death of a drug dealer in an abandoned warehouse, they discover he was waterboarded – with baptismal water.

Lost Souls by Theo BaxterIt isn’t long before the killer strikes again. This time the victim is a young woman. Her hands and feet were bound, she was decapitated, and her heart was cut out. Traces of baptismal water are found in her wounds.

As the death toll continues to rise, it becomes clear the killer is on a religious mission. It’s the kind of sensational case the press loves, and they make the most of it, stirring up a frenzy, dubbing the killer the Templar.

With the investigation under intense public scrutiny, Marcy’s boss demands a quick resolution. But that’s easier said than done because there doesn’t seem to be any connection between the victims.

Marcy finds herself hunting a killer who thinks he’s on the side of the angels, with no idea where he’ll strike next. Can she stop the Templar before he kills again?

Lost Souls – book 6 in the thrilling series featuring Detective Marcy Kendrick.

My Review:

Book 6 of a series and my first with the author and the series.  The main character is a strong female detective who has been around the corner a few times and knows the ropes. Marcy Kendrick seems to be pretty intuitive and often sparks off of her partner Angel Reyes, digging in and getting the next clue to follow.

There are three points of view; one is the perp, one is Marcy, and one is Angel. It’s obvious Marcy really likes Frank, but does she love him? This is a subplot meandering throughout the novel until Angel makes a change that throws Marcy.

Lost Souls by Theo BaxterThe antagonist has multiple problems, including PTSD from a stint in Afghanistan. When it’s his POV, his thought processes run a chill up the spine and might include parts that you’d rather skip than read. He is truly whacked.

Both Marcy and Reyes are in relationships, though Reyes harbors a secret love attachment to Marcy of which she appears to be unaware. She is in a relationship with Frank who had been shot recently and is coming off medical leave but is balking on going back to work. He decides what he needs is a dog—a malamute puppy—which will be a large powerful dog when fully grown. While the dog might throw a monkey wrench in the relationship between Marcy and Frank, Marcy seems to willfully accept Timber, but he’ll need a lot of training. In the meantime, Frank makes another critical decision.

Despite personal conflicts, Marcy seems to thrive on the job and is a strong leader in the charge to track down the perp and when it’s his turn for the POV, dread takes over, like watching an inevitable train wreck. You can’t not watch (or read).

While not fast paced, it’s an interesting storyline that stumbles on the romance angle of the MCs rather often. I wished they’d make up their minds, but liked both Jill and Frank. Invested in support characters and didn’t wish to see them hurt.

The conclusion came barreling in although I had to wonder about the climax scene and was not sure I bought that Marcy could drive 85 mph and follow the location texts from Anna to Angel or that Anna (given previous descriptions of the victims) could even have done that.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars 4 stars

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedurals, Serial Killer Thrillers
Publisher: Inkubator Books
ASIN: B0DMTPLNF5
Print Length: 299 pages
Publication Date: December 1, 2024 Just Released!
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK

 

Theo Baxter - authorThe Author: Theo Baxter has followed in the footsteps of his brother, best-selling suspense author Cole Baxter. He enjoys the twists and turns that readers encounter in his stories.

Sign up for Theo’s Special Reader List and find out about his latest releases, giveaways, and more here: https://sendfox.com/lp/m82og8

©2024 V Williams

#TuesdayBookBlog

Yesterday’s Paper: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars 5 stars

Book Blurb:

As storm clouds of war gather over Europe, Grace Fitzgerald in Ireland and Richard Lewis in the United States find their lives irrevocably altered by the looming conflict.

Yesterday's Paper by Jean Grainger

Ireland’s neutrality offers little shelter from the war’s far-reaching impact, and across the Atlantic, Richard witnesses a nation divided on intervention. Meanwhile, in sleepy Knocknashee, a twelve-year-old mystery surrounding a stolen child resurfaces, shattering long-held beliefs.

Fate seems determined to keep Grace and Richard apart, thwarting their plans to meet, and the vast Atlantic is not the only thing separating them. From the gentle green hills of Ireland, to the busy newspaper rooms of New York, from a London bracing for war to a Paris on the brink of invasion, “Yesterday’s Paper” continues the sweeping saga of Grace and Richard as they navigate love, loss, and the turbulent tides of history.

In this gripping tale of resilience and romance, the personal and the political collide, weaving an unforgettable tapestry of lives caught in the crosswinds of a world at war.

My Review:

Totally caught up in the story of Grace Fitzgerald, school teacher and now headmistress of Knocknashee, Cork County, Ireland, and Richard Lewis of Savannah, Georgia, USA, I couldn’t wait for installment two of the series and this doesn’t disappoint.

From Lilac Ink we learned Richard is the privileged son of a wealthy Savannah family, expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and instead would prefer becoming a journalist. His best friend Jacob Nunez is an aspiring photographer and together they have been scheming on a way to get to Europe to write stories and submit pictures for the home papers regarding Hitler’s growing intrusion into “neutral” countries.

Richard had become a pen pal of Grace, when in a fit of despair with her despicable sister Agnes, wrote her frustrations about the situation and enclosed it into a bottle which, thrust into the ocean, found its way to Georgia where Richard found it. He finds a way to bend the story to his political purposes and gains an editor who sends both he and Jacob to Europe.


Yesterday's Paper by Jean GraingerGrace had hoped she and Richard could meet in America when she accompanied Declan to New York
, but they were two ships that passed in the night.

The author always manages to weave complex stories into her plots with multiple layers of interest and well-developed characters. Declan’s possible connection to family in America, meeting pen pal Richard, and the advance of Hitler and the entry to WWII are part of a focus brought forward from book one. A lot of research into the position of both countries, the growing fear of the people of Europe, and the stark differences in the lives of the people in both countries as well as the tension-filled atmosphere of France keep the reader flipping pages.

Will Grace and Richard ever meet up? Will Richard and Jacob make it home safely in the massive exodus of the Jewish community? What will happen to that piece of baggage left with them on the train in their escape from Paris?

After the death of Agnes and her indoctrination of Grace, can Grace ever come to peace with her appearance, put the onus of her gimpy polio leg behind her, and accept the advances of her newly recognized male suitors?

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

 

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Book Details:

Genre: Friendship Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction
ISBN:1915790778
ASIN: B0D27P1Y46
Print Length: 296 pages
Publication Date: November 10, 2024 Just released!
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US  |  Amazon-UK 

Jean Grainger - authorThe Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft engaging narratives. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in Irish history, including World War I, the 1916 Easter Rising, World War II, and the mid-20th century. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

©2024 V Williams

How the Wicked Run (The Boston Clairvoyants Book 3) by Annabelle Lewis – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Destined for Love and Danger 

Book Blurb:

Sidrah Keeling, well-intentioned Boston clairvoyant and stalwart protector of her newfound family of psychics, purchases a country respite hours away from her grand Boston home. Lazy Pond Farm, just outside the town of Macoun, Massachusetts is an enormous fixer-upper, but it perfectly serves her agenda of fostering romance and promoting healing. In that order.

How the Wicked Run by Annabelle LewisBut instead, the group encounters trouble. Fate, as usual, has her own plans.

Macoun—named after the apple—is infested with racists led by a man who harbors terrifying secrets. Will Jenny, Max, Sidrah, Leon, and Bones (the fabulous five) have the power to change Macoun? Will they be able to rescue those who need saving?

And what about love?

As the fates do battle, so will the lives between the wicked and the good. A twisted thread. Who will break?
In How the Wicked Run, romance, mystery, and adventure collide once more for this enchanting family of audacious clairvoyants.

My Review:

I do enjoy a fun little romp into the possible world of the clairvoyants—who’s to say they don’t exist or in what degree? In this series, Sidrah Keeling has gathered like gifted persons, male, female, and Bones—that fabulous golden with a goal of “fostering romance and promoting healing.” Sweet.

How the Wicked Run by Annabelle LewisI loved the idea of Lazy Pond Farm, a major fixer-upper just outside of Macoun, Massachusetts, a property I’d have jumped on the chance to work myself back in the day. It’s to be a respite, a safe haven for those in the “family” to rest, relax, and recoup.  Descriptions have it sounding fabulous and the end proposed result is easy to visualize.

When two ladies go missing, however, they realize they might have gotten the property for more than their own mission. There are support characters in the periphery and an antagonist who is a brutal racist as well as a budding relationship between Jenny and a new member of the family. The dog has some amazing abilities and is incorporated with the human members as they each perform their individual talents in the quest for the missing women. If the women are still alive, can they find them before they are not?

Back in January 2021, I read Dead Cat, Run, the first in the series, and loved it. I could see it set up an amazing thought-provoking, head-scratching theme, some of which you might identify with, coupled with a well-plotted and paced narrative. The hook was there and didn’t let go.

Unfortunately, I missed the second in the series which must have explained the origin of the wealth behind protagonist Sidrah. While this is a good addition to the series, lacking this information might not make for a good standalone as I was constantly wondering where all the money came from. Otherwise, you might very well find this an interesting dip into the psychic world. It is engaging and entertaining.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author  that in no way influenced this review. (Actually, I begged her for a copy.) These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars 4 stars

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Book Details:

Genre: Psychic Thrillers, Psychic Suspense, Psychic Mysteries
Publisher: PePe Press
ASIN: B0BF7D156X
Print Length: 283 pages
Publication Date: October 3, 2022  Just Released!
Source: Complimentary Author Copy
Title Link: How the Wicked Run [Amazon]

 

Annabelle Lewis - authorThe Author: Annabelle Lewis—a pseudonym for the author—lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regrettably? Perhaps. She still believes she’s a Texan even though the math no longer supports that. Nor her birthplace. Nor her residence. No offense, Minnesota. You’ve got your good points too, but only about six months of the year.

In her youth, Annabelle was a complete failure. Ask anyone who knew her. Any of her teachers and family would tell you this. High school graduation was a sad day for all when Annabelle walked proudly off the high school stage, her thoughts consumed with boys, beer, and after-parties, and later into the arms of her parents. Her father’s laughter and singular remark? “I didn’t think you’d make it. Get a job at the post office, they have a good retirement plan.”

A high bar and words to live by, but Annabelle wanted more. She needed to flunk out of college too. But damn, she sure did have a good time. Trivial arrest records not-withstanding, it was a growth period for our girl. And if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of what was to come when she majored in criminal justice. Her lifelong aspiration was to become a judge. Hmm.

For better or worse, Annabelle didn’t graduate from college but did find gainful employment and a fulfilling career. This path ended when she became a mom. Married to her wonderful George, who to this day can hardly remember an actual proposal, Annabelle finally became a mother. She didn’t have a clue how hard she would need to work to keep those self-imposed requirements of Downey-fresh, iron-pressed sheets, home-baked meals, and mom-of-the-year awards arriving. She composed a small self-affirmation song and made her children sing it to her for money. She was a very good mom.

After clearing the largest hurdles of motherhood and regrettably, begrudgingly, and not-without-tears, launching her children onto the world, she looked around and realized she had a lot to say. Picking up a laptop, she got to work.

Annabelle spends her days continuing to tackle the challenges of motherhood, for both her humans and canines. She also writes. And reads. And cleans. And cooks. And bakes. And cleans again. She also supports her husband, George, in an administrative capacity for their small business. She’s in charge of payroll and cuts George’s checks. This leads to no marital acrimony.

In the beginning, with the blank page staring at her and possibly in a hostile mood after being literally mauled by a dog and by the world in general, she had an idea. What if she could wield a force of good upon unsuspecting evil-doers? What if she had the resources to get the job done without dealing with committee and anyone else’s whiney-ass opinions?

It was gold. It took off. Annabelle sat down and began to write and couldn’t stop. To date, having written over a million words in the Carrows Family Chronicles and her second series on the Boston Clairvoyants, several items have become quite clear. Annabelle had a lot to say. Annabelle really enjoys writing. And although she hates all things technology, she begrudgingly pounds her head on her desk daily as obstacles are thrown in her path. Almost a hero.

Since entering her world of make-believe, she has rebelled against all intrusion of real-world responsibilities. Her house is a mess, but she tries. Her family is fed, but more often than not, on takeout. She vows to shower every day, but no, it’s a vow she’ll never keep. Her friends are neglected, but not in her heart.

Read her mordacious blog! Read her books! Follow her on social platforms! Sign up for her newsletter! These are all good things. What are you waiting for? Jump into bed with Annabelle. She’s having a swell time. You should join her.

Read more at https://theannabellelewis.com/

©2022 V Williams V Williams

Rosepoint Publishing

All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends in the Road to Key West Series by Michael Reisig – #BookReview – #fictionanthologies

Rosepoint Publishing: 5 stars

Book Blurb:

All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends by Michael ReisigBest-selling author Michael Reisig has probably produced more profound, profane, and proverbial quotes than nearly any other writer in his class, and the following effort here, is really a wonderful, definitive collection of … Reisig… and his thirteen-book “Road to Key West” series. For the price of an order of french fries you can buy a ebook view of island life here — a few hours of Caribbean island-hopping insight in the form of clever quotes by the remarkable Rufus the Rastaman, as well as those from a gathering of other great authors, adventurers, and entertainers. All of which will make you nod your head with understanding or laugh out loud in pleasure, with nearly every page… As you walk along The Road To Key West…
As Rufus would say: Sometimes you’re the wind, and sometimes you’re the sails…
Cool Runnings, mon

My Review:

Yes! At last, one of my favorite authors has gathered a collection of favorite quotes finally answering requests from fans of the Road to Key West Series (and a number of others besides), including one from Stanley McShane (my grandfather).

All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends by Michael ReisigJust when you needed some humor in your life, these memorable (often touching) quotes bring a chuckle to your lips along with several LOL moments from some of your favorite characters of his popular series including Rufus, Crazy Eddie, Will, Kansas, Travis, and Cody, as well as others (including one from Paulo Coelho—I kid you not). Of his richly drawn characters, I love Rufus—always an enigmatic, engaging, and often mysterious individual armed with an appropriate saying (if not a timely prediction). But Crazy Eddie? He’s just plain lovably crazy.

“Remember, you’re not dead until someone can touch your eyeballs and they don’t flinch. Until then, you got a fighting chance.” –Crazy Eddie

“If you’re smoking after sex, you’re doing it way too fast.” –Will Bell

“Coincidence is the Grand Messenger’s way of reminding us how small the ship of life is, and that destiny sometimes has a sense of humor…” –Rufus

If you’ve never read a Michael Reisig book, whether in this series or one of his standalones, you owe it to yourself to get this little book, a great preface to his novels. It’s a wonderful collage of quotes and sayings, unforgettable moments in the novels that vicariously quench your adventurous spirit. The little pictures of the characters are endearing. Immerse yourself in the (often times philosophical) prose, his obvious love of animals, and the pure excitement of life through many heart-pounding exploits.

I was thrilled to receive a complimentary review copy of this book from Mr. Reisig that in no way influenced this review. (Visit any of my Road to Key West adventure reviews by searching this blog for Michael Reisig.)  The ebook is a bargain, but I’d suggest the print book with the graphics might make a delightful Christmas gift. A reading delight for men; a guffaw or three for women. These are my honest thoughts.

Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Genre: Fiction Anthologies, Satire Fiction, Literary Anthologies & Collections
Publisher: Clear Creek Press
ASIN: B09M99718T
Print Length: 171 pages
Publication Date: November 18, 2021
Source: Author request 

Title Link(s): All the Best Quotes by Rufus & Friends in the Road to Key West Series [Amazon]

Just released!

Michael Reisig - authorThe Author: Michael Reisig has been writing professionally for 20 years. He is a former Caribbean adventurer turned newspaper editor, award-winning columnist, and best-selling novelist.

After high school and college in Florida, he relocated to the Florida Keys. He established a commercial diving business, got his pilot’s license, and traveled extensively throughout the southern hemisphere, diving, treasure hunting, and adventuring.

Reisig claims he has been thrown out of more countries in the Caribbean Basin that most people ever visit, and he admits that a great many of the situations and the characters in his novels are authentic – but nothing makes a great read like experience…

He now lives in the mountains of Arkansas, where he hunts and fishes, and writes, but he still escapes to the Caribbean for an occasional adventure.

©2021 V Williams V Williams

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