I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Don Behrend shares a fun collection of poetry that twists everything from modern romance to the modern-day self-help trend in the book “In Doubtful Taste: New and Selected Poems”.
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The Synopsis
“Don Behrend’s In Doubtful Taste is a playful collection of rhyming poems that skewers everything from modem courtship to self-improvement routines to the sexual advantages of an octopus-and much more.The collection includes 56 poems presented in nine short sections, each titled with a “P” word, including “Pandemic”, “Ponderings” and “Peccadilloes”. Behrend’s speaker is amused and amusing, toying with the lingo and idiosyncrasies of our current zeitgeist.The poet delivers both elaborate and simple rhyme schemes, short witticisms and longer tales. His poems are clever without being shallow and are sure to elicit smiles and sometimes hearty chuckles.”BlueInk Review
The Review
Art and poetry can cut through the tension and troubles plunging our world into chaos, especially in the darkest times. The need to confront tragedy and heartbreak with humor and wit often comes to pass for those who have had to live through these types of events, and the author’s book perfectly captures this need.
The author balances the poems in this collection with enough humor to tackle the pain and trauma that was the recent pandemic. The rhyming verse throughout each of these poems really cuts through the themes and issues that our modern world deals with constantly. The wit and charm of the author’s writing style and the way these poems showcase the contradictions that always rule our lives made this a compelling read.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, heartening, and engaging, author Don Behrend’s “In Doubtful Taste” is a must-read poetry collection. The heart and charm of the writing style itself was a great way to cut through the tension and atmosphere of the subjects the author was touching upon and kept the reader invested in the gripping poems. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Dawud Ellayan shares the knowledge he has gained to help people achieve personal and professional success in the book “Elite Nuggets: Your Handbook to Greatness”.
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The Synopsis
Elite Nuggets exists to help you obtain your greatest professional and personal success without all the clutter of fluffy language, droning passages, or boastful and exaggerated claims of greatness and riches from the author. Instead, it condenses hundreds of hours of research into small “nuggets” to provide you with the most important takeaways from hundreds of resources on personal and professional success. In these pages, you will learn to improve upon:
• Time Management Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Mentorship Opportunities
• Productivity
• Forming Good Habits
• Anti-procrastination Strategies
• Creativity and Problem Solving
• Learning and Memory Skills
• Communication Skills
• And more!
The Review
This was a quick-paced and straightforward read. The detailed and thoughtful way the author was able to present the material to the reader gave both an educational and inspiring tone to the book’s writing style. The balance the author struck between the success that can be found in both the reader’s personal life with the business side of their life was great to see explored in this book.
The author covers a great deal of different aspects of success, from something as simple as time management to something subtle yet complexly related to each reader like creativity and memory. The use of both personal and professional stories to illustrate how each of these topics contributed to a person’s success really drove the heart and inspiration of this book’s message home perfectly.
The Verdict
Inspiring, memorable, and engaging, author Dawud Ellayan’s “Elite Nuggets” is a must-read nonfiction book on personal and professional success. The quick pace of the book and the way the author chose to focus on the personal experiences and tidbits of information that bring the heart of the lessons to life rather than a complex, detailed analysis of these lessons made this a compelling read that readers can reference and turn back to time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Meet Dawud Ellayan, a compassionate author with a passion for helping others reach their life goals and provide them with the tools needed in their journey for the pursuit of happiness.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and CEO David Thielen shares the knowledge and experiences he has gained to help newcomers to the role of CEO become a success in the book “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing: How a Programmer Became a Successful Startup CEO”.
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The Synopsis
Feeling lost as the CEO not sure what to do and what’s coming next? This is the life raft you need.
What exactly is the person in the corner office thinking about? This will take you inside their world.
Want to learn how to be a great CEO? There is no way to train for that job. But this book helps
Occasionally a startup grows to great success with no funding. Occasionally. Read how this one pulled it off.
If you are a CEO, read this tonight. It’s that valuable. If you’re going to be a CEO, read it before you start. If you report to a CEO, read it to understand the world your boss sees, providing you an understanding that will help you manage up.
The Review
More and more these days, people are having a difficult time finding steady work, and so many take the initiative to start their own businesses. The people who are able to make a successful run at building an actual company find themselves the CEO of their own business, and that can be a stressful experience. The author does an amazing job of capturing the path to becoming a CEO and how to bring that all together.
The straightforward and unapologetic way the author tackles the issues that will arise for newcomers to the role of CEO was fantastic to see in this book. The detailed and knowledgeable way the author presents this information touches the reader’s mind and heart, as you can feel the mental and emotional experiences the author had going forward in their line of work.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, masterfully written, and engaging, author David Thielen’s “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing” is a must-read nonfiction book on business and entrepreneurship that is not to be missed. The perfect guide and educational experience to help developing CEOs learn the tools of the trade and gain the confidence they need to move forward with their careers. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
I’m a transformational Chief Executive Officer with over 20 years of experience in devising and delivering comprehensive strategies in growth-oriented environments that drive business development, streamline daily operations, and promote company value.
At Windward Studios I established and built a software company from the ground up, growing it into one of the largest document generator applications prior to acquisition. We developed and launched an innovative product that provided clients with a modern and custom program to design complex document templates in a simplified manner.
Windward was created and grown with no funding. That is incredibly rare.
My recent book, I Don’t Know What I’m Doing! is my effort to pay it forward. Learning to be an effective CEO is brutally hard. I hope this book makes it a bit easier.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man working a hotline at the CDC sees an opportunity to end a global plague when a woman the world has been searching for may be on the line with him in author Brady Koch’s “The Hotline at the End of the World”, the third book in the All Our Forgotten Futures series.
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The Synopsis
In a world paralyzed by an unprecedented outbreak, Clint mans the CDC hotline, a solitary beacon of dwindling hope. Then, one fateful day, a call comes in. Clint finds himself navigating a delicate situation involving a mysterious woman, hinted at in classified files, who may possess the coveted cure. As the world remains under a suffocating lockdown, Clint’s every word, every choice, holds the weight of untold futures.
“The Hotline at the End of the World” is a gripping narrative of responsibility and suspense, set in a reality where a single phone call can alter the course of humanity.
The Review
This was a gripping and compelling short story. The author is able to weave together plot points from the previous two entries in this series to illustrate the desperation and sorrow that has overtaken the world, emphasizing in particular the importance of book one protagonist Sarah. The fast pace of the narrative and gripping imagery really elevate the tension that has built over time in this world.
The character development and world-building that this story does for the All Our Forgotten Futures series was incredible. The subtle moments of the narrative, such as the protagonist scratching at a phantom limb illustrate the things and people that are missing from his own life and the way this story builds towards an emotional and fantastic final entry into this dystopian-level sci-fi thriller.
The Verdict
Engaging, mesmerizing, and thought-provoking, author Brady Koch’s “The Hotline at the End of the World” is a must-read short story and emotional read. The twists and turns that drive this story forward and the shocking end that leaves the future on a somber note yet filled with endless possibilities make this a thoughtful and caring story to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Feel free to read over Brady’s shoulder if you see him working on a new novel or short story at the coffee shop or library. Despite his penchant for crime, horror, and the unusual in his writing, he’s actually a nice guy and welcomes your feedback. Brady Koch’s first collection of short works, Guns, Gods & Robots, is now available. His debut novel, All our Forgotten Futures, will be available in Winter 2023.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The survival of a technologically advanced world running low on oxygen forces Zarya to navigate a politically charged arena while her father searches for a means of resurrecting a project that might save their people in author Jackiem Joyner’s “Zarya Episode II: Sochi Unleashed”, the second book in the Zarya: Guardians of Cydnus Series.
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The Synopsis
In Zarya Episode II Sochi Unleashed, the fate of Cydnus, a highly advanced desert world, hangs in the balance. With oxygen levels beginning to deplete, this politically divided planet stands on the brink of an existential crisis.
In the heart of the advanced city of New Cebrenia City, Zarya, along with her father, Aaron, and friends Kizzy and Marco, must navigate a complex web of political strife. With Vice Chairman Eros’s dark plots threatening their progress, the security of their only political ally, the chairman, is under threat.
Their most powerful asset is Sochi, Zarya’s advanced AI Airboard. Yet, Sochi’s newfound ability to control other machines presents both significant opportunities and risks.
Meanwhile, Aaron embarks on a perilous journey into the cosmos, driven by desperation to resurrect a long-abandoned project that might be Cydnus’s last hope. His mission, shadowed by his past, is a race against time, with the future of Cydnus at stake.
Zarya Episode II: Sochi Unleashed delves into the intricate relationship between sentient beings and technology, bravery amidst uncertainty, and the struggle for survival. As Zarya, her allies, and Sochi traverse this journey, the tale evolves into a saga filled with challenges and triumphs. Welcome to Cydnus, a world teetering on the brink of an uncertain future, in this captivating narrative.
The Review
This was a fast yet epic read. The author did an incredible job of building upon the mythos the author created in book one and elevating the world-building through some pretty incredible political and action-packed strife for the characters. The strong imagery that the author’s writing has really brings out the heavy sci-fi elements of the narrative.
The balance of rich character development with the strong themes that reflect on our own society made this such a compelling short read. The pressures of their world’s fate and the threats that surround them help elevate Zarya’s evolution, and the desperation of Aaron’s mission elevates the depths of their dedication to their world. The themes of AI and our relationship with evolving technology, as well as almost cult-like reverence for political and powerful figures in our society that turn violent, made this a fantastic read.
The Verdict
Memorable, action-packed, and engaging, author Jackiem Joyner’s “Zarya Episode II: Sochi Unleashed” is a must-read sci-fi and YA short story, and a great entry in the Zarya: Guardians of Cydnus series. The twists and turns in the growing world the author has captured and the fantastic way today’s world plays out across this futuristic landscape made this a thought-provoking read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jackiem Joyner has loved Science Fiction ever since he was a child, fascinated by all the stories and imaginations of futuristic worlds. But it wasn’t until later in his life, after experiencing huge success in the recording business, that he decided to put pen to paper – the result of which is his debut novel, Zarya.
Gathering from his experiences traveling the world as a recording artist, he developed a knack for good science fiction stories after reading several books a month. Having used and operated many devices from the future, he incorporated exciting equipment and imaginary scientific ideas into dramatic thrillers that are sure to keep readers on edge.
Jackiem was born in Norfolk, Virginia and spent most of his young adult life in Syracuse New York before moving to Los Angeles, California where he currently resides. In addition to writing fun stories, Jackiem Joyner has experienced huge success as a recording artist, with multiple songs peaking at number 1 on the billboard charts and 5 international records released.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Jennifer Anne Gordon takes readers on an emotional journey of reflection, exploring the horror that is grief through a collection of short stories from a mysterious narrator in the book “The Japanese Box and Other Stories”.
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The Synopsis
This is the story of our unnamed narrator…an origin story of a would-be, hopes to be, serial killer.
The Japanese Box is a story that blends memoir, creative nonfiction, and the horror of a coming-of-age story, and a coming of middle-aged story.
Imagine growing up with a reflection that is often absent, and a Japanese box that is filled with things that should never have been there.
Memories.
Violence.
The Japanese Box is a love letter to anxiety, trauma, grief, and longing. It is a story of a child becoming
an adult, and all the ghosts and misfortunes that happen in order to survive.
The Lithium Moon: Simone is an artist by day, and an emotionally abused wife at night. She is a
successful artist with a long history of schizoid effective disorder with bipolar tendencies.
When her marriage goes from good to bad, she suffers her first miscarriage. The tragedy coincides with a
wolf moon—Trauma and magic converge seem to converge in Simone’s head.
This story explores sadness, illness, hallucinations, full moons, and the creative process.
What Stage of Grief is not a poem, or a song, but a dirge.
Fantasy and facts, this poem walks a fine line between nightmares and memories. Grief stories and love
stories. Dogs, and drama. Nightmares, and nevermore.
The Review
This was such a powerful and thought-provoking read. I’ve been such a huge fan of the author’s previous works, and so I was immediately drawn into the narrative. The visual imagery, the atmosphere, and the tension were all perfectly executed in this narrative, and yet it was the simple observations that really stood out. Amongst the horror and the tragedy of each story, moments, where one character would fixate on a K-Mart razor blade or a plastic bag from a convenience store, would create that unsettled feeling and become a great juxtaposition to the narratives themselves.
The combination of the mystery behind these narrators in each story with the emotional tragedy each story seemed to touch on made this such a compelling collection. The themes of toxic love, loss, trauma, and so much more became the focal point of each story’s dark twist, and the imagery and dialogue surrounding those themes in each story felt like something out of a Mike Flannigan show, speaking to the depth of what it means to be human against the backdrop of a great horror story.
The Verdict
Shocking, emotional, and heart-pounding, author Jennifer Anne Gordon’s “The Japanese Box and Other Stories” is a must-read horror anthology. The surprising, at times jarring twists each story takes onto itself and the heartfelt themes that speak to so many of us and touch upon everything from mental health to relationships and more, made this a gripping collection that you will return to time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
JENNIFER ANNE GORDON is a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer by day, and a curly haired neurotic writer by night. She is an actor, a traveler, a photographer, a lover of Gothic Horror, and a dog mom. She lives in the wilds of New Hampshire with her partner on and off the dance floor. Her novels include the Kindle Award for Horror 2020 Winning book, Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent, as well as the historical Gothic novel From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel #1) as well as When The Sleeping Dead Still Talk (The Hotel #2). She also has a published collection of her artwork, titled “Victoriana {mixed media art of jennifer anne gordon}.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A desire to find peace and isolation away from the glaring lights of the paparazzi leads a young couple to the small town of Magnolia Bluff, but dark secrets of the past collide with the threats of the present in author Charles V. Breakfield & Roxy Burkey’s “The Killer Enigma”, the 16th entry in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.
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The Synopsis
Enough is Enough – JJ rumbled when the Paparazzi invaded dinner
When JJ and Jo recognize privacy doesn’t exist for them, they head back to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity.
They reject the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. A supermodel needs time and space to recharge herself between jobs, and he needs time to adore his wife.
Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers, or will a dark past overtake them?
Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo need to take action. Chief Tommy Jager states he likes them, but he can’t wait for them to get back to their day jobs.
Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with the fresh flowers.
Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight
The Review
This was a riveting and engaging mystery. The author does a fantastic job of balancing the murder mystery aspect of the narrative with the character growth, and the way the author is able to fold in mystery, thriller, and romance genre storytelling devices into the story in a way that seems natural kept me invested in the story, as did the even pacing.
The things that stood out to me in this novel were the fantastic character development, the clash of these character’s backgrounds with the small-town life, and the shock of the murder itself. The characters exude power and control in the early parts of the novel, but as time goes on and these two protagonists leave behind the life they knew, the dangers they come across, and the small town life they are immersed in showcase the vulnerability and human connection these two characters develop.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, engaging, and gripping, authors Breakfield and Burkey’s “The Killer Enigma” is a must-read cozy murder mystery and a great entry in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. The twists and turns in the narrative and the tense atmosphere that builds around this mystery make this one book you won’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Authors
BREAKFIELD-Charles works as a data/telecom solution architect and supports digital security, blockchain solutions, and unified communications. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. Charles’ love of wine tastings, cooking, and Harley riding often provides writing topics.
Much of his personality comes from his father who served in the military for 30 years and three wars. Charles grew up on multiple bases and different countries. The multi-cultural exposure helps him with the various character perspectives they bring to the series. His personal ambition is to continue to teach his co-author Burkey, humor.
BREAKFIELD AND BURKEY together build stories as fictional story writers. Storytelling is the best method to share excitement, thrills, and insights to today’s technology risks.
EnigmaSeries.com has information on their 12 books, 10 short stories, audio books, book trailers, and the upcoming Enigma Heirs.
Look for our cozy mysteries/murders in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles.
Rox Burkey is a Customer Experience Specialist who works with businesses around the world. As a gifted speaker and accomplished listener, she bridges the chasm between business problems and technical solutions to optimize business productivity. She has written technology papers, white papers, but launches into high gear when plotting our next technothriller or short story.
As a child, she led the other kids with her highly charged imagination generating new adventures with make believe characters. She is proud of being a Girl Scout until high school, and contributed to the community as a member of a Head Start program. Rox enjoys her family, learning, listening to people, travel, outdoor activities, sewing, cooking, and thinking about how to diversify the series.
We have traveled to many places around the world. These travels are pulled into stories that requires real knowledge of specific locals. We deliver well-rounded thrillers that include levels of humor, romance, intrigue, suspense, and mystery.
We love to talk about their stories at private and public book readings or events. Burkey conducts podcast style interviews with a couple of author groups, and enjoys extracting the tidbits from authors, especially new ones. Her first interview was, wait for it, Breakfield. You can learn where they will be from the calendar on their website.
EnigmaSeries.com has information on the Enigma Series, 12 books, 10 short stories, audio books, book trailers, and the newest series Enigma Heirs releasing in 2023. We have proudly earned multiple awards for our fictional creations.
We are also part of the Underground Authors group writing cozy mysteries/murders in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. We are committed to providing an installment for Season 2 and Season 3 to accompany The Flower Enigma, released in Season 1.
Please enjoy snippets of our stories, book trailers, audible sections, CONTEST and get FREE stuff at www.EnigmaSeries.com.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A clash of the past and present leads a powerful magician and Wiccan high priest to challenge the complex notions of love itself in author W.L. Hawkin’s “To Dance with Destiny”, the fifth book in the Hollystone Mysteries Book series.
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The Synopsis
Twin wolves howled beneath a turquoise crescent moon, their bushy manes wild and ruffled and knotted by the winds of change. “It’s us. You over my heart, and me beside you. It’s our destiny.”
In the captivating sequel of To Kill a King, ancient magic collides with modern trickery, as a gifted magician and Wicca high priest embarks on a thrilling journey, defying the boundaries of time to challenge the very fabric of destiny. This gripping urban fantasy novel follows Estrada who, armed with extraordinary powers, ventures into the past hoping to alter Michael Stryker’s future. A maelstrom of unforeseen events unfolds, weaving an intricate web of chaos that changes the course of history itself. For in the intricate tapestry of time, even the most well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences.
While attempting to prevent the tragic outcome of To Render a Raven, Estrada struggles with the complexities of love, archaeologist Sorcha O’Hallorhan slips into her own time warp with a woman she once adored, and Conall Ceol, an Iron Age Druid bard, walks into the future to challenge Michael Stryker for Estrada’s attention.
DESTINY IS A SEDUCTIVE, YET WICKED, DANCER.
WOULD YOU CARE TO YOU DANCE?
#LGBTQ+ #urbanfantasy #thriller
The Review
As a longtime fan of history, mythology, and fantasy, the author’s narrative really spoke to me. The way the author was able to build upon themes and storylines so flawlessly from previous books in the series while also building upon new concepts and ideas was fantastic to see come to life on the page. The erotic element of the novel kept the tension heated and the imagery passionately written, engaging the reader to understand the characters on a deeper and more personal level.
This was a brilliant read, thanks in large part to the fantastic character development and the powerful blend of mythos and magic. The added combination of both fantasy and sci-fi thanks to the time-travel elements of the narrative and the complex and emotional development of Estrada as a protagonist kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to delve deeper and deeper into the action-packed time-travel adventure. Add to this brilliant LGBTQ themes and storylines and readers will be in for quite the treat.
The Verdict
Memorable, captivating, and engaging, author W.L. Hawkin’s “To Dane with Destiny” is a must-read erotic fantasy meets sci-fi thriller you won’t want to miss. The twists and turns in the narrative and the shocking revelations not only heighten the anticipation and passionate moments between the characters but the direction this series is taking as a whole, which is just so thrilling and gripping. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab your copy on October 31, 2023!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
W. L. Hawkin writes adventurous cross-genre fiction charged with “myth, magic, and mayhem” from her home in the Pacific Northwest.
Her urban fantasy series, the Hollystone Mysteries, features a coven of Vancouver witches who solve murders using their wits, ritual magic, and a little help from the gods. To Charm a Killer, To Sleep with Stones, To Render a Raven, To Kill a King, and To Dance with Destiny, follow stage magician and Wicca high priest, Estrada, as he endeavors to save his friends while working through his own personal issues.
Her standalone novel, Lure: Jesse & Hawk (2022) won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Gold Reader’s Choice award from Connections E-magazine, a Crowned Heart Review from InD’tale Magazine, and placed as a finalist in The UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Lure is a small-town romantic suspense story set on a Chippewa Reservation in the American Midwest near the fictional town of Lure River.
As an intuitive writer, Wendy captures what she sees and hears on the page and allows her muses to guide her through the creative process. In an upcoming book, Writing with your Muse: a Guide to Creative Inspiration, she explains her writing process and offers tips and techniques to help writers get their words on the page.
Wendy is a book reviewer and publisher with a background in Indigenous Studies and Humanities. Born in Toronto, Canada, she completed a BA in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, then moved to B.C. where she completed diplomas in Humanities at SFU and taught high school for several years.
She also spent a year as a relief lighthouse keeper, enjoying the rugged isolation of the West Coast, and blogging her adventures at http://lifeonthebclights.blogspot.com Her experiences color “To Render a Raven.”
An introvert, Wendy does most of her musing while walking her yellow lab through the forested trails of B.C. “I continue to explore my ancestry, often in my writing. I love nature, history, archaeology, myths and magic, and feel I was born in the wrong century. If I could, I’d travel back in time to experience cultures long since changed or vanished.”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A recently widowed woman finds herself finding the things in life that finally make her happy, including a new romantic interest, until he is later found dead, and she becomes the main suspect in his demise in author Sasscer Hill’s “Murder at the Willcotts Hotel”, the third entry in the Janet Simpson Cozy Mysteries series.
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The Synopsis
Sheltered from life by a domineering father and an overprotective husband, middle-aged Janet Simpson suddenly becomes a very rich widow. She always wanted to own a racehorse, but her husband never allowed it. Her newfound freedom and wealth provide her with a race filly and the kind of trouble from which only her wits can save her.
Wintering at a five-star South Carolina hotel, with her young racehorse at a nearby training track, Janet finds a new love interest. Until he’s a no-show for dinner. She is horrified to find his battered corpse and, the local police consider her a suspect.
Her anxiety doubles when she realizes the niece who has come to stay with her has been trailed by a stalker. Two killers are on the loose at her elegant, southern hotel. Can she sniff them out before death strikes again?
The Review
This was a fast-paced yet gripping read. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the suddenness and gripping nature of the mystery of this story while also delving into the heart of horse racing and life as a racehorse owner. The balance of these two worlds really speaks to a specific audience, while also leaving room for the general audience to get lost in this world and become enraptured with the narrative.
The heart of this story was the author’s incredible character development. The evolution of Janet as a character, who came from a life of domineering men in her life to gaining strength and resilience as a character showcases the powerful female protagonist she has become over time. The classic storytelling device of the protagonist becoming the main suspect in the case and the fight she takes on to not only prove her innocence but also stop two killers loose on the grounds of this hotel made this a compelling read.
The Verdict
Memorable, fast-paced, and engaging, author Sasscer Hill’s “Murder at the Willcotts Hotel” is a must-read novella and cozy mystery, as well as a great entry in the Janet Simpson Cozy Mysteries series. The twists and turns the narrative takes on and the gripping character twists that keep the action and suspense propelling forward made this a memorable read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on October 1st, 2023 or preorder today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Sasscer Hill, a former Maryland racehorse breeder, trainer, and rider, uses the sport of kings as a backdrop for her mysteries. Her “vivid descriptive” prose about greed, evil, heart, and courage propelled her “Nikki Latrelle” novels to multiple award nominations, including an Agatha, a Macavity, and the Dr. Tony Ryan Best in Racing Literature Award.
Her 2020 novel, TRAVELS OF QUINN, is “A heart-stopping thriller of a murder mystery”– Charles Todd, Anthony, Edgar, and Barry Award-winning author.
Born an Irish American gypsy Traveller, can Quinn escape a dreaded marriage contract and the life of crime forced upon her?
