I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A cowboy and his Native American bride seek freedom and community in the novel “Smoke on the Wind” by Syvila Weatherford.
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The Synopsis
“Smoke on the Wind” is a captivating tale that weaves the perils and dangers encountered on the Western frontier by Will Lawton, a young Black cowboy, after kidnapping then wedding his young Native American bride, Niabi. He plods a path packed with uncertainty that ultimately winds its way to an unthinkable opportunity – a race for free land.
Follow the characters of Smoke: the beautiful Louisa Ortega, who haunts the memory of the Chief’s son, Nashoba; Captain Horton, head of Fort Townsend, charged with keeping peace between settlers and tribes, and Dakota Sam, a rambunctious Civil War veteran attached to his military blues and backwoodsman ways.
This is the second book in an epic series, following the success of Weatherford’s first novel, “Blessings from the Four Winds.”
In this sequel, new characters are introduced: Liao Ming Chow, a Chinese immigrant, Sargent Thomas of the Buffalo Soldiers, and Mr. Todd Morgan the railroad tycoon. Niabi and Will raise two children and enjoy the protective company of their horses: Rodeo and FireTip. Their journey is marked by resilience, the spirit of community, and the ongoing struggle for safety and belonging.
This was an engaging and unique blend of historical fiction, romance, and western drama. The realism and detail the author pours into this narrative were astounding, as the language used and the historical context of these merging stories felt lifted right out of the history books without sacrificing character development or engaging dialogue. Although I had not been introduced to this series or its first book, the author wrote in a way that allowed readers to enter this story fresh, without bogging them down in story elements that would leave them lost. Instead, the narrative was both detailed and fast-paced, keeping the tension finely tuned within the context of this story.
The authenticity and personal history that the author infused from her own family into the backstory and development of these characters was remarkable. The exploration of how the black community lived in post-Civil War America, let alone in a lawless land such as the American West, and their contributions to organizations like the Buffalo Soldiers and others, was fascinating to delve into. The themes of interracial marriages and romances in such a dynamic point in American history were engaging, and the rich world-building the author provided to make this feel cinematic and atmospheric on the page was incredible.
The Verdict
Entertaining, thought-provoking, and thrilling, author Syvila Weatherford’s “Smoke on the Wind” is a must-read western historical fiction novel and a grand second entry in the Land Run series. The twists and turns in the narrative, the intensity of the relationships and community found in this book, and the personal and societal dangers faced by these characters at this time will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t already, preorder your copy today or pick it up on October 1st, 2025!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Syvila Weatherford embarks upon a third career as a novel writer. Prior to this, she worked for over twenty years as an Electrical Engineer/Computer Scientist followed by twelve more years as a Patent Attorney. She was born and continues to live in California, but has lived on the east coast and has traveled abroad for business and pleasure including London, Egypt and South Africa. She hails from humble beginnings but owes her progress to pearls of wisdom learned from her mother, nurturing family and friends, and a strong spiritual foundation.
For more information about her or the book please visit www.syvilaweatherford.com and register at the contact page for any notices about book signings and similar events, as well as to ask questions about this and future books by her.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two women from vastly different backgrounds must work together to discover the truth behind their shared beliefs in a dangerous race to stand up for what is right in author Brendan Corbett’s “Blood and Flame”, the first book in The Quinate’s Faithful series.
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The Synopsis
Two young women from vastly different worlds.
A magical quest that will test all that they believe.
Beneath the shroud of darkness, two Initiates await their future. Both seek the same-to undergo the Rite of the Faithful and become Mages in the Quinarium.
For Dara, becoming a Blood Mage is a way to flee poverty and leave her past behind, while Wynne’s desire to be a Flame Mage means rebelling against her family’s wishes and turning her back on her wealth and status.
Paired together to perform their unusual rite, they must stop the mysterious slaughter of a village’s livestock and investigate rumors of an impossible source of mana, the fuel used for magic.
Their quest sends them on a fantastical journey across the world of Llendshold, from dangerous Fae forests, across treacherous waters, and deep underground into a dwarf city.
In seeking answers, their loyalty to the Quinarium is shaken to breaking point. Nor can they ignore the power of their growing bond.
But if they stand up for what is right and embrace the truth, will it mean losing all that they hoped for?
Blood and Flame is Book One in The Quinate’s Faithful, a fantasy trilogy filled with magic, action-packed adventures, and a touch of slow-burn romance.
The Review
This was such a compelling and gripping fantasy read. The author brilliantly expands on this mystical world of fae and ogres, as well as many other creatures, while also showcasing the powerful magic that fuels this adventure. The worldbuilding was top-notch, really emphasizing the different classes of mage and the different approaches to magic that they embody. This also helped fuel the character arcs of this narrative, as the more ruthless blood mages often clashed with the healing and light fire mages. Yet, the book offers great LGBTQ representation through protagonists Dara and Wynn. Their journey does a fantastic job not only of allowing them to see one another but also of bringing them closer together as a result.
The themes explored in this book offer a unique perspective on the fantasy genre, as they examine what happens when organized religious institutions co-opt a particular faith, forcing those driven by faith to question who they follow and why. The slow-burning storytelling and time to explore every faction of this world helped elevate the strength of this religion and its profound impact on the world.
The Verdict
Thrilling, entertaining, and mesmerizing, author Brendan Corbett’s “Blood and Flame” is a must-read fantasy novel and a grand entry in the Quinate’s Faithful series. The twists and turns that this story takes, the balance of religious undertones, and the relatability and passion for these two protagonists and the cast of characters they encounter will leave readers breathless, as the cliffhanger ending keeps them eager for the next installment in the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Brendan Corbett grew up in a military family, always on the move. Books, particularly fantasy, were both stabilizing and the ultimate escape, companions to other worlds that could journey with him even when friends could not. As an adult his career turned away from the arts, though a wide range of experiences have brought him back to his love of writing. He now resides in Oregon with his wife, son, dog and two kittens. While writing consumes much of his time, you might also find him at one of his ridiculous list of hobbies, including cooking, gardening, hiking, gaming, archery, volunteering, and woodworking.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and firefighter Michael C. Ede shares the true stories and harrowing realities of life not only as a firefighter, but as a firefighter working in the struggling city of East Cleveland in the book “Working Fire in East Cleveland.”
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The Synopsis
A career firefighter with a personal commitment that: everyone gets home safe!
26-year firefighter, Michael C. Ede, a career firefighter with a personal commitment that “everyone gets home safe,” shares true stories of emergency calls, working relationships, and life inside and outside of the firehouse in the financially and morally crumbling city of East Cleveland, Ohio.
This book offers readers a unique opportunity to enjoy a completely transparent, start-to-finish 26-year career highlights of a firefighter in a busy urban department. Readers will benefit from an honest appraisal of what a firefighter experiences both, inside the engine house, and at the emergency scene throughout the span of an entire career. The transformation from young, inexperienced rookie, to old, seasoned veteran, is chronicled in a way that keeps readers anticipating each new phase.
There are three unique topics within the book that allow the readers to benefit from a very unusual and special work environment. The fact that the story takes place in a nearly all African-American impoverished city. A black-to-white employee ratio of 50/50 in the fire department, coupled with raw honest story telling, makes this story extremely eye-opening to most readers who have never experienced this type of work and racial makeup within the work force. The contrast of the firefighters is portrayed throughout the book, and the successes, as well as the failures, are brought to the forefront. The work environment is absolutely unique. It answers the questions in a reader’s mind pertaining to how well white and black firefighters work together. Suspenseful, gripping details reveal the answer, and show that when white and black firefighters work together, great things can, and often do, take place.
Reader be warned, there are no cover ups, embellishment, fluff, or exaggeration in this book. Action, hard–hitting humor, & raw honesty tell the story of inner-city career firefighter, Michael C. Ede.
The Review
This was an insightful and engaging read. The author did an incredible job of giving insight and knowledge surrounding life in service to the fire department and the inner workings of life in East Cleveland, OH. The balance the author found in conveying personal experience with the training and education, so few have surrounding fires in general and fighting fires with specific procedures, was engaging, and early stories, such as the one in which the author came close to a near-death experience with a 2-story fire, helped illustrate how firefighting departments learn from these experiences.
The author not only discussed the educational and experiential factors involved in firefighting, but also the social aspects. The idea of brotherhood among firefighters is unique, and the author’s emphasis on the unique racial harmony found between both black and white firefighters in East Cleveland, which at the time boasted an even 50/50 ratio, was so interesting and well-received, speaking to how living together and facing untold dangers can shed many prejudices and bring people together. The camaraderie and heart that the author poured into these chapters, along with the personal writing style that brought them to life, made for a very engaging reading experience.
The Verdict
Memorable, insightful, and compelling, author Michael C. Ede’s “Working Fire in East Cleveland” is a must-read nonfiction book on the subject of firefighting. The detail and relatability of the author’s writing style, along with the unique perspective this book offers, will give readers an engaging look into the lives of the unsung heroes who face these blistering fires daily. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Author of the book, Working Fire in East Cleveland, lives in AKron Ohio with his wife, and has two adult children… one of them is a firefighter.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Troy W. Norris explains the grounded science and essential steps behind the WellBalance method of personal growth in the book “The WellBalance Way.”
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The Synopsis
Discover the foundations for a flourishing life.
This essential guide introduces the science, structure, and philosophy behind the WellBalance Model. In a world overwhelmed by noise and pressure, it provides a clear, accessible, evidence-based framework for personal growth and resilience, with your formula to flourish through the wellsprings of wellbeing. Grounded in scientific evidence, the WellBalance Way explores how core elements like purposeful contributions, emotional strength, and social connection support sustainable and resilient wellbeing. You’ll learn how small, intentional changes can lead to powerful transformations and how to apply these in your own life. Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, feeling like something’s missing, or simply searching for a more grounded way to grow, this book provides a clear path toward lasting fulfillment and flourishing, rooted in science and designed for real life.
The Review
One of the first things that stood out about this guide and self-improvement book was the way the author curated the book to be read as a process, rather than all at once, really emphasizing the journey rather than the destination. The development of the WellBalance Life Lotus was a great visual representation of the journey, and the author’s writing style really speaks to both the educational value of the information and the emotional development the book encourages in the reader.
The idea behind this book is a powerful one, as it speaks not only to surviving in this world but also to finding a way to flourish in it. The author lays this out specifically through the promotion of a strong mind, a healthy body, and the maintenance of social connections, and then expands upon this with key scientific and detailed explorations of the topic. I especially enjoyed the passages on savoring and reflection in the book, which effectively emphasized the importance of taking time to appreciate small moments in everyday life and ensuring that you don’t let essential moments pass you by.
The Verdict
Insightful, compelling, and engaging, author Troy W. Norris’s “The WellBalance Way” is a must-read nonfiction book on empowerment, personal growth, and mental wellness. The blend of scientific and grounded information to support each element of this process, combined with the emotional and heartfelt connection readers form with both the author and the author’s method, will keep readers returning to this book time and again to continue on the path of WellBalance. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Troy W. Norris is a Harvard-trained scientist, published researcher, and founder of the WellBalance Institute for Positive Wellbeing. A certified life, health and wellness coach, Troy created the WellBalance Model to bring science-backed wellbeing practices into people’s lives, relationships and workplaces. With a background in precision medicine and digital psychiatry treatments, he recognized the need for better digital tools to personalize wellbeing interventions to match each person’s unique life situation. Troy’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at leading scientific and industry conferences. Troy developed the WellBalance Method while navigating his own path from burnout and breakdown to fulfillment and flourishing.
Today on my blog I’m excited to feature Barry Maher’s darkly comic supernatural thriller, The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon. If you love stories that bend reality, dive into the occult, and keep you turning pages late into the night, you won’t want to miss this one.
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SYNOPSIS
In 1982, failed songwriter Steve Witowski is running from both the law and his past when a reckless act of heroism—saving a woman from a brutal assault—pulls him into a world far darker than he ever imagined. That woman, Victoria, has just purchased a decaying church steeped in sinister history, and with her comes a web of occult rituals, crypts, and grave-robbing secrets that refuse to stay buried. As Steve becomes entangled in her dangerous world, the presence of a desperate demon closes in, blurring the line between delusion and reality. Haunted by visions, hunted by forces he refuses to believe in, and marked by the face of the man he killed, Steve is dragged deeper into a nightmare of dark magic, betrayal, and blood-soaked revelations where survival may cost him his soul.
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EXCERPT
Back in the 60s . . .
On Wednesday October 13th, 1968, a faculty panel recommended the dismissal of Professor John Harris—in absentia, as no one at Harvard had seen or heard from him in weeks. Harris later bragged about delivering his final lecture on “one shitload and a half of LSD.” According to the recording made available to the faculty panel, this was the sum total of that lecture:
“Good afternoon. Wow. American Literature, hunh? Let’s see. Moby Dick today. Right?”
“Moby Dick?” asked a confused voice. “No. What happened to The Scarlet Letter?”
“Right. Moby Dick,” Harris continued. “Great book. None of you have read it. None of you are going to read it. Nobody ever does. What you need to understand is that as far as I’m concerned—and I’m the fucking professor—Moby Dick is the same story as The Great Gatsby, which some of you may read. I call it, ‘the half-assed struggle of the individual to put their world to rights in the face of a failure that threatens to define their life.’ I think that’s from my thesis. Though maybe it’s not pretentious enough.”
Harris laughed. “Hey! How about this? Great Gatsby/Moby Dick: same story, different era, right? So, if someone someday tries to write that story for this generation, they should call it The Great Dick. That’d be perfect, wouldn’t it? The Great Dick. Alright, that’s got to be almost fifty minutes. See you next . . . whenever. Wow.”
SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 1982 Two Women and One Corpse
“Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to lie well.” —Samuel Johnson
CHAPTER 1
Okay, let me start out by admitting that I was an asshole. I know that. The ludicrous amount of fame and acclaim and money I’ve had dumped on me since that time only makes it more glaring. The fact that we lived in a different world back in 1982 is no excuse. It was the same world. It just wasn’t the world we thought it was.
I remember it was a Sunday night. Sundays always feel different. Looking back now and Googling a 1982 calendar, I’d guess it was Sunday, March 21st. I remember waking up and within minutes making the decision to leave. Quickly, before I could change my mind, I eased myself out of the rickety hide-a-bed.
Immediately, Maria rolled over into the spot I’d just vacated, breathing loudly through her nose and mouth, not quite snoring. I hate to say it, but she looked every minute of her thirty years. Her thick dark hair clung damply to her face; her heavy arms stretched outward. The cast on her left wrist looked like a giant manacle.
The grandfather clock beside the cigar store Indian read 1:37, though a few minutes before, it had chimed four times. That made as much sense as anything else in my life. I was thirty-five years old, a Harvard grad who’d spent the previous two years faking his way through a $13,500 a year job as a territory rep for the Richmond Tobacco company. That $13,500 was the most money I’d ever made. You’re probably thinking that when you adjust for inflation and translate that $13,500 into today’s dollars, it’s a lot more impressive.
No, it’s not.
I slipped on my jersey and my jeans and gathered the rest of my things in my old gym bag. Fortunately, enough moonlight crept in around the edges of the tattered drapes to give the room a dim glow. I wondered if it would be safe to hitchhike out of there, or if Indiana had already notified the California Highway Patrol that I was wanted.
My situation was bad. But not bad enough to, say, crawl into a grave with a rotting corpse.
That would come later.
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GUEST BLOG POST
Where Do You Get Your Ideas from?
A while back, I was speaking on an Asian cruise when I realized I could no longer figure out what the hands of the clock meant. The next day, during a session, I introduced the ship’s captain. Twenty minutes later I picked him out of the audience and asked him what he did for a living. (The uniform did look a tad familiar.) That same day, I gave up trying to understand foreign currency. Even American money was getting tricky. In Viet Nam, I handed a vendor two hundreds and a five for a $7.00 baseball cap. It was a very nice cap.
Back home, the first thing my doctor did was have me draw a clock face at ten to three. The second thing he did was take away my driver’s license. Then he sent me for an immediate MRI. The nurse there wouldn’t comment on the results, but when I asked where the restroom was, she said, “I can’t let you go in there alone.”
I explained that bathroom visitation was a particular expertise of mine.
“Like telling time?” she asked. “You need to talk to your neurosurgeon.”
“I have a neurosurgeon?” Just what I always wanted.
I also had a brain tumor—the size of a basketball. Or maybe the neurosurgeon said “baseball.” I wasn’t tracking too well at that point. Still, I quickly grasped he was planning on carving open my skull with a power saw.
“I don’t really need to tell time,” I said. “Or I can just buy a digital watch.”
Everyone said my neurosurgeon—or, as I thought of him, “Chainsaw Charlie”—was brilliant. My problem was that I’ve spent my life around intelligent people, and I’ve always believed human intelligence was overrated. To me, on a scale of everything there is to know in the universe, the main difference between Einstein and Koko the Wonder Chimp was that Einstein couldn’t pick up bananas with his feet. (As far as I know.)
Still, I went under the knife—or in this case, the power saw. Maybe I had a seizure. The doctors weren’t sure. That might explain what happened. Because I came out of the surgery with Lady Gaga singing non-stop in my head and an unforgettably vivid story, like a memory of something that I’d just witnessed.
Reacting to the intrusion, I suppose my brain could have given me Citizen Kane or a nice rom/com or a few episodes of Seinfeld. Instead I got open crypts, bizarre spells, sudden death and the Ralph Lauren version of the Manson Family. “How did my operation go? Well, I’m doing well, but the people in my head—or wherever they were—they went through Hell.”
Lady Gaga went away after a day or so. But the story stayed with me. And when I was able, I spent a couple of years putting it all down, working it out, trying to get it just right. And that became The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry Maher’s career has been anything but ordinary. He’s been an award-winning (if modestly so) poet, a magazine writer with bylines across the country, a speaker for some of the world’s largest corporations, and a man who once lived literally on the beach, seagulls and all. His syndicated column Slightly Off-Kilter and his darkly comic fiction reflect that same unpredictable spirit. Media appearances range from The Today Show to CNBC, with features in The Wall Street Journal and even Funeral Service Insider. Connect with him at BarryMaher.com or on Facebook.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A failed songwriter on the run finds himself ensnared in a chilling supernatural conspiracy in author Barry Maher’s “The Great Dick and the Dysfunction Demon.”
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The Synopsis
It’s 1982. Steve Witowski, a failed songwriter on the run from the law, finds himself caught in a supernatural thriller after an apparently innocent act of heroism—saving a woman from a vicious assault by a seemingly unstoppable wino. The woman, Victoria, is just part of a mystery Steve can’t unravel. Even as he’s looting the decomposing dead for the secrets of a self-proclaimed sorcerer. Even as he plummets into a nightmare of fire and blood and murder. Even then, Steve remains certain the sorcerer’s spells, the occult rituals—the supposed demons and supernatural horror—are simply delusion and fantasy. Steve is wrong.
Victoria, who has just bought a dilapidated church with a haunting past, entangles Steve in a deadly game of dark magic and rituals. As,unknown to him, the demon grows desperate, Steve plunges deeper into a world of crypts, grave robbing, and long-forgotten secrets, all while trying to escape his own haunted past. But when the face of the man Steve killed appears on his arm, the line between reality and nightmare begins to blur.
This supernatural novel will leave you on the edge of your seat, with wickedly funny dark humor and, ultimately, pulse-pounding suspense, as Steve and Victoria navigate a twisted adventure full of occult horror, supernatural suspense, and shocking revelations.
The Review
This was a fantastic horror novel. The author did an incredible job of capturing the campy 80s supernatural and occult vibes that the genre was known for during that era, while also infusing humor and wit into the character arcs and dialogue. The suspense plays well in this narrative, initially seeming more like a thriller before slowly peeling back the layers and delving into the dark heart of characters readers have known throughout their lives.
The dynamic character development and supernatural mythology explored in the book are what make it so engaging. The book delves into occult rituals and witchcraft lore, while also blending psychological horror and other elements into the narrative. The story is very adult-driven, with bloody imagery and heated sexual tension laced throughout the narrative, and the climactic final chapters will keep readers tense as these characters come crashing together in ways no one could have seen coming.
The Verdict
Dynamic, entertaining, and compelling, author Barry Maher’s “The Great Dick and the Dysfunctional Demon” is a must-read campy horror and occult novel. The twists and turns, the chilling atmosphere, and the captivating characters will blend well into the upcoming spooky season and do well with audiences who are rediscovering films such as Witchboard this holiday season. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Barry Maher’s career has been anything but ordinary. He’s been an award-winning (if modestly so) poet, a magazine writer with bylines across the country, a speaker for some of the world’s largest corporations, and a man who once lived literally on the beach, seagulls and all. His syndicated column Slightly Off-Kilter and his darkly comic fiction reflect that same unpredictable spirit. Media appearances range from The Today Show to CNBC, with features in The Wall Street Journal and even Funeral Service Insider. Connect with him at BarryMaher.com or on Facebook.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Ekta R. Gary shares the unique moments that lead up to or occur between the iconic stories of fairy tales in the book “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.”
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The Synopsis
Have you ever wondered why Jack and Jill needed that pail of water in the first place? Or how Sleeping Beauty managed to prick her finger despite a royal order to destroy every spindle in the kingdom?
Fairy tales and nursery rhymes have given us some of the most iconic characters and images in storytelling; think Cinderella’s glass slipper or Jack’s oversized beanstalk. But what about the in-between moments? The ones that never made it to the page?
In this enchanting micro-collection of short stories, award-winning author Ekta R. Garg explores the untold scenes between the lines of some of our most loved tales. Find out what the Wicked Witch of the East was doing in the road before Dorothy’s house fell on her. Learn where Goldilocks came from. Meet the conmen who convinced the emperor he had new clothes and more.
Rediscover the wit, heart, and magic of the classics, and see them as you’ve never seen them before in The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
This was such a fantastic collection of fairy tale short stories. Although a short read, the collection does an incredible job of creating powerful characters that are both familiar and unique at the same time, such as the Princess found in The Beauty Before She Sleeps. The rich imagery in each story feels both bright and visceral, and each tale expertly weaves together substantial emotional depth for these characters, much like the Witch and her apprentice and their familial connection in The Witch’s Apprentice.
What made these stories so unique was how they were found in the moments people rarely think of when it comes to iconic stories. From exploring how the Wicked Witch of the East ended up under Dorothy’s house to why both Jack and Jill needed a pail of water to begin with, these stories are a love letter to both fan fiction and fairy tales overall. The satire and wit that the dialogue brought to life were an outstanding balance to the self-reflection and introspective themes that these stories wove into their fabric.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, compelling, and entertaining, author Ekta R. Garg’s “The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories” is a must-read collection of short stories. The twists and turns of each story, along with their unique takes, dynamic characters, and memorable themes, will keep readers enthralled and eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A Reviewer, Editor, Author, and Dreamer of stories and books, Ekta has worked in niche publishing since 2005—she’s written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films! Ekta judges writing contests, hosts writing workshops, and podcasts about great books and how to write them. She’s currently the Content Coordinator of Neighbors of SW Champaign, a hyper-local magazine focusing on and lifting up the Champaign, Illinois, community. Ekta’s award-winning holiday novella, The Truth About Elves, and her award-winning fairy tale for grown-ups, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, are available from Atmosphere Press.
Join us as we celebrate the launch of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. Read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.
Visit Julie’s blog again for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to choose the theme of your book…or let it choose you. You can also read her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
Visit Katherine’s blog for her review of The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. You can also check out her response to our tour-themed prompt on what she hasn’t seen in a fairy tale that we wish we saw more of.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Kortney O. Lee shares the true meaning of being healthy and how to make lifestyle changes for you and your family in the book “What is Healthy?”
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The Synopsis
Do you know what is healthy?
Are you searching for something that actually teaches you how to get healthy?
If so, What Is Healthy? is for you.
This book is for those who are tired of diet books and tired of chasing answers that promise results but never provide clarity. With nearly a decade of research distilled into one blueprint, it explains what health really means, how to live it, and why so many people struggle to achieve it.
Inside, you will learn how to:
Understand how everyday decisions shape your energy, weight, and long-term health
Uncover the myths you were taught about food, dieting, and exercise—and why they hold you back
Recognize what truly counts as nourishment and how to choose foods that help you heal
Build habits that fit your lifestyle and strengthen your family’s future
See through marketing labels and health trends so you can make confident choices
Define what healthy really means for you and create a personal blueprint for lasting change
What Is Healthy? will change the way you see food, your body, and your future.
If you are ready to stop guessing and start living healthy with confidence, this is where you begin.
The Review
This was an informative and engaging read. The author found a way to effectively balance the impact of unhealthy foods and what constitutes the term “healthy,” while also examining the causes that force people into an unhealthy lifestyle and the psychological aspects of health. As someone who struggles with what many call “invisible illnesses”, many often impact weight and health conditions. So many times, people around us remain ignorant of the root causes of health conditions like obesity, frequently attributing it simply to laziness or a lack of control. Yet, more often than not, every individual is different, and some struggle with things no one could have imagined. Having a book of resources like this, which helps explore the many other root causes of unhealthy living, was refreshing.
The author explored many avenues of thought, from the economic and social class aspect of life that often makes finding affordable and fresh food nearly impossible. In contrast, fast food and pre-packaged foods remain readily available, despite the damaging effects of refrigeration trucks and methane-emitting livestock operations worldwide on the climate crisis facing our world. The author’s writing style was very evidence-based and fact-based, allowing the reader to have a book that would be an excellent resource for anyone looking to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
The Verdict
In-depth, honest, and engaging, author Kortney O Lee’s “What is Healthy?” is a must-read nonfiction book on healthy eating and lifestyle. The depth of knowledge and conversation that this book stirs up in readers, along with the compelling explorations of both the causes and effects of unhealthy life, will stay with readers and keep them returning to the book 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
Hello World! Kortney O. Lee is a self-proclaimed nerd of all things: history, math, technology, and random facts. He explorers systems most people overlook, from nutrition labels to ancient civilizations. A true Otaku, he geeks out on patterns, connections, and the hidden logic behind everyday life. To him, health, culture, and clarity all come down to understanding how things are built and how to build them better.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A former witch finds herself fighting for her life when deadly warlock magic is forced upon her in author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch.”
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The Synopsis
In her witch’s blood, a warlock’s power awakens . . . and it could destroy her.
Adeline Thorne was born to a witch. But when the magic that should have been her birthright never came, rage and humiliation drove her into a reckless rebellion. She lost everything: her coven, her pride, and her marriage.
Years later, she’s built a quiet life in the Pacific Northwest, distant from all things magic. She’s a portrait painter, a big sister, loving aunt, and ex-wife. And that was enough. It had to be.
Until a convicted warlock, desperate to escape his fate, forces his magic into her. But warlock magic is lethal to witches, a slow death. As the power manifests, Adeline knows she’s running out of time. With no other option, she turns to the last person she ever wanted to face again: the priestess who exiled her. A woman she despises.
But the priestess’s help comes at a price. Assigned to protect her is Luke Churchwell, a brooding runecaster with his own secrets—secrets that tie him to the warlock who cursed her. The deeper Adeline is pulled into the coven’s hunt for the rogue warlock, the more she realizes her greatest threat may not be the magic inside her… but the man assigned to guard her.
If you love the dark magic of Rachel Griffin, the sharp dialogue of V.E. Schwab, and the emotional landscapes of Alix E. Harrow, you’ll be spellbound by The Never Witch.
The Review
This was such a gripping and compelling urban fantasy meets occult suspense novel. The author did an incredible job of crafting a world set in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and yet still felt otherworldly and cultivated in its own separate world. The author’s carefully curated use of imagery in the writing style of this book really brought each scene to life so eloquently, such as scenes in which the protagonist found herself being tested for this newly forced upon warlock power that quickly took an explosive turn.
Immediately, this book set itself apart with a nice balance of rich mythos and character development. The politics and tension that the author built both amongst the witches and warlocks and within their own individual ranks were thrilling to read, keeping readers on the edge of their seats on who they could trust. The bond between Adeline and Sarah as sisters is powerful, and the chemistry she develops with warlock Luke, as well as the return of an old flame, adds a bit of romance and will-they, won’t-they moments for the characters as the narrative develops without sacrificing the main plot.
The Verdict
Action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining, author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch” is a must-read occult suspense and urban fantasy read. The first in what is hopefully a great new series, the book brings a unique spin on the contentious history between witches and warlocks, as well as their own unique approaches to magic, and the dynamic character development and multiple POVs will keep readers heavily invested in this fantastic author’s latest fantasy series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
JP (Jo-Anne) McLean is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. She is an Eric Hoffer Award winner and was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, the Chanticleer International Book Awards, and the Independent Author Network Awards. She is a B.R.A.G. medallion honouree and a three-time Literary Titan award winner. Reviewers call her books addictive, smart and fun.
JP holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, is a certified scuba diver, an exploratory chef, and an avid gardener.
Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP now lives with her husband on Denman Island, which is nestled between the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking dishes that look nothing like the recipe photos or arguing with weeds in the garden.
