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Table of Contents

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Jayne Ann Krentz/ Amanda Quick/ Jayne Castle: Amazing Stories - ONE Woman!

G TIN T E G

Getting Published is Just The Start:

Randy Overbeck

32 Working Well With Indie Bookstores, Pt. 3: The Big Event

Maria V. Snyder

Mystery vs Suspense vs Thriller: What’s the Difference? Andy Peloquin

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36 InD’introduces: Shiloh Love!

March 2022

39 41 The Big Picture: Tamara Cribley

44 How To Help Our World: A View From the Trenches Julie L. York

48 Victory’s Secret: Chapter 7 Rachael Tamayo & Cynthia Austin

Reviews: Historical:

Contemporary:

Paranormal/ Fantasy:

Suspense/Thriller:

41 Young Adult:

New Adult:

Time-Travel:

Science Fiction:

Mystery:

Audiobooks:

Inspirational:

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Other:

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Our Staff: Publisher/Editor-in-chief: TJ MacKay Executive Asst./Review Coordinator: Katy Nielsen Copy Editors: Julie York, Marc Joseph, Katy Nielsen, Penny Baker Special Publications Editors: Sarah McEachron, Ryan Jo Summers Social Media: Laura Trujillo, Amanda Hupe, Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick Columnists: S.L. Carpenter, Andy Peloquin,Tamara Cribley, Rachael Tamayo and Cynthia Austin Transcription: Ralph Conley Graphics: Elle J. Rossi, Rachel Rossano

RONE Awards Coordinator: Amanda Hupe Technical Editors: Gabriella Sawyer Reviewers* Amanda Hupe, Chelsea Anderson, Belinda Wilson, Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick, Tricia Hill, Viola Robbins, Emerson Matthews, Sarah E. McEachron, Roslynn Ernst, Carey Sullivan, Victoria Zumbrum, Shailyn Rogers, Marie Sanderson, Austen Grace, Joan Lai, Cara Cieslak, N.E. Kelley, Heather McCoubrey, Jennifer Shepherd, Sadie Wilson, Annmarie Stilove *Please note, ALL InD’tale staff are required at times to read and review books. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. All books and material reviewed by InD’tale have been read by the stated reviewer and are the opinions of that reader.

Editor’s Note Support” seemed flummoxed. I guess they aren’t familiar with magazine production. After three hours on the phone, an update that promised to fix the problems (but ended up making everything considerably worse), I was left last week, starting from scratch and learning how to re-create a magazine. What you see today are the results of that footstomping process. The moral to the story? One truly can do anything, overcome anything and still be successful with sheer determination, patience and perseverance. Well… a lot of chocolate, caffeine, and an occasional Excedrin may have helped. Still, if you don’t believe me and my meager example, just read Jayne Ann’s journey in this issue, as well! So no matter what your mountain is today, keep on climbing!! The top isn’t as far as it seems (Okay, maybe it is, but…) each step brings you closer, and if you refuse to sit down and quit, you’ll get it done. And that is an accomplishment that can only be appreciated and savored completely when the climb is the

Every year, the March issue seems to be the most difficult to publish, mostly because we have three days less to hit all those deadlines, and when those deadlines are monthly, that amount of time can be an eternity. This year, however, I also made the colossal mistake of purchasing a new computer (the one I have been using since the inception of InD’tale was over 13 years old). As many of you know - and I didn’t realize - that came with a mountain of updates and changes that I was completely unprepared for. It seems nothing works the same! And when creating and formatting a magazine, that can mean hair-pulling, tear-laden, desk-pounding tirades. Even “Apple

Smiles,

TJ Macka y

Contributors

Randy Overbeck

Maria V. Snyder

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, and speaker. As an educator, he served children in roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His novels have earned national awards including the Gold Award from Literary Titan, Thriller of the Year from Readers Favorite, Silver Award for Mystery of the Year from ReaderViews, and Crown of Excellence from InD’tale Magazine. Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers, and participating in writing conferences.

Julie L. York Julie is an author, graphic designer, editor, and mom - though not always in that order. She also teaches English to adult and incarcerated students. She was was born and raised in the East Bay Area, California, graduated with a B.A. in English, minoring in Business Computers...got married and had children. Then, completed a Masters of Fine Arts in Media Design. Oh and did she mention she is a voracious reader? Thanks to iBooks and the Kindle app, Julie has consumed thousands of eBooks and claims reading is her rst love.

Maria V. Snyder started her career as a meteorologist, only to nd herself writing her New York Times Bestselling Study Series, which in turn gave way to many more chart-topping book series and a number of hobbies and experiences in the name of research, from glass blowing to fencing to Karate to travel. This remarkable author has visited all 7 continents and 71 countries so far! On top of other hobbies such as volleyball, photography, reading, and cello, she is writing several amazing series from fantasy to sci- .

Andy Peloquin Andy Peloquin is, rst and foremost, an artist and words are his palette. Fantasy is his genre of choice, and he loves to explore the darker side of human nature through the lter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. He is also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about his fascination for the worlds he encounters in the pages of fantasy novels.

Tamara Cribley Tamara Cribley is a self-professed formatting junkie who believes beautiful books don't happen by chance. Having worked as a Commercial Photographer, Graphic Artist, and Art Director, Tamara’s unique skills enable her to put together classy and professional books that keep the reader focused on the story. She resides in Colorado where she gives back to her community by being an active Search and Rescue volunteer, and in her free time, enjoys reading, gardening, and exploring with the dog.

Jayne Ann Krentz Jayne Castle

Amanda Quick

Amazing Stories - ONE Woman! 10

InD: It is so nice to get to visit with you, Jayne! Few people understand how wonderful it is to visit with someone else who loves all the people in our heads and on the page. JAK: A while back it dawned on me that those of us who have the gift of reading for pleasure are blessed. So many people don't read for pleasure–they can read–they just don’t do it for pleasure and relaxation. InD: It is kind of sad because you can learn so much from a story. There are people who look down on genre iction, for whatever reason, but there are so many lessons, and ways to be enlightened by iction you cannot get elsewhere. People won't usually sit down and listen to a lecture on some moral theme, but they will read a story and learn from that. JAK: I agree. Genre iction – and by that I mean popular iction – carries our cultural values forward. It is how we af irm them. We all know what a hero is supposed to do. We all know what makes the hero a hero. We get that from popular iction. It doesn't matter how lawed or how much trauma is in the background, we always know that in the end, the hero

or heroine will do the right thing, even if it costs them their life. InD: I totally agree. There are also so many other things we may never experience in our personal lives, but can learn and be enlightened by reading a story. They help us understand and empathize with the world around us. JAK: I think one of the greatest aspects of reading iction is that we do absorb a lot about the world and other people in it. It makes us more open to experiences. It allows us to take part in a journey we might not otherwise be able to take. Fiction opens minds in a way that, really, nothing else can do. It’s a unique experience. I think that is why we have stories. You have to ask yourself, why would we even invent the whole story telling thing? Humans have always told stories. It is how we carry information and values forward. InD: And you are the purveyor of all of those! Okay, let's talk about you! Your real name is Jayne? JAK: Yes. My birth name is Jayne Castle. That is where the Jayne comes from.

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In all my years of interviewing, I don’t think I have ever experienced a more amazing story of mega success coming from such an interesting set of setbacks. Having to drop a name because of poor sales, not once, but multiple times, then having those names rise back up to stardom! It is almost as interesting as the woman who experienced it. Jayne Castle (real name… seriously!) has established a best-selling career that spans over 30 years, and in that time has amassed a world of wisdom, humor, and self-depreciating common sense that everyone, no matter their background, can learn and enjoy. Talking with her is like talking to a dear, wise friend; one who is kind and approachable while sharing wisdom that burrows deep and is remembered long.

InD: Of all the names you use, Jayne Castle is the one I thought was a pen name! JAK: It was the perfect pen name, but I managed to sign it away early on in my career because I signed a contract I should not have signed. That was before I knew much about agents. Also, at the time, there was a widely held belief that if you wrote genre iction, you wrote under a pen name. I don't hear people talking about that very much anymore, but back in the day, it was a common practice. By the time I got my name back, I had already reinvented myself as Jayne Ann Krentz, Stephanie James, Amanda Quick, and a couple of others. InD: I did not even know about Stephanie James or Amanda Quick when I began pestering you for an interview! JAK: Amanda Quick was actually the one name I invented. I really wanted to use another name because I had managed to kill off my Krentz name with my early attempts at Futuristic Romance. The Futuristic books I wrote back in the 90s just bombed in the marketplace. Readers lined up around the block NOT to buy those novels. As a result, I had to reinvent myself and my career. I did that under the Amanda Quick name. You always learn something from those kinds of experiences. The thing I learned from the Futuristic failure was how to identify my core story. Once I got that blinding- lash-of-the-obvious, I realized my core story did not have to take place in a futuristic setting. I knew it would work remarkably well in an Historical setting. InD: You originally started out as Jayne Ann Krentz, writing Contemporary, and then went to Futuristic? JAK: Yes, the Contemporaries were my irst books. At some point I decided to try Futuristics. That was when I shoved my career into a very deep hole. InD: So you decided you needed another pen name and picked up Amanda Quick? JAK: Yes. InD: But Amanda Quick is Historical?

JAK: What I was writing in the Futuristics was a marriage-of-convenience story, a partnership kind of relationship in which two people have to work together in order to survive. It works brilliantly in an Historical setting because that was an acceptable concept for marriages in those days. Such an alliance is obviously fraught from the start. Lots of room for con lict and intense emotion, and that is what iction is all about. InD: So, did Amanda Quick do well? JAK: Yes, the core story worked much better in the Historical than it ever did in the future. InD: When did you go back to Jayne Ann? JAK: After the Historicals were obviously successful, my old publishers decided they could make Jayne Ann Krentz work again and invited me back. I kept both careers going, and eventually decided to try Futuristic again, but this time under the Jayne Castle name. That way if I bombed again, I wouldn’t kill off the Amanda Quick or Jayne Ann Krentz career. I never meant to have three names, let alone end up with three careers, but that is what happened. Along the way I’ve learned that it’s a mistake to think people will read you across all three (or however many) of your names. Surprise! They don't follow you everywhere. Sure, some readers will follow you, but a lot of them want not just your voice, but a particular world, and I have three worlds. Many of my readers prefer one or two but not all three. For instance, not everyone will go into my Futuristic world. Not everyone wants to read Historicals, and a lot of Historical readers don't want to read in the Contemporary world. It’s nothing personal, it’s just individual tastes. Readers may like my voice, but sometimes the settings are as important to them as my voice. That is a fact of the writing life that it pays to know if you are going to start fooling around with different genres. Understand that your readers may balk. InD: How could you do it if you didn’t want the hassle of different pen names?

JAK: I think the wise thing to do is to make it clear on the cover what genre each book is in. That is the big bene it of my three names. When you pick up one of my books, you know what world you will be entering. The name tells you. But I had to build three different audiences (historical, futuristic, and contemporary) to get to that point. I know other authors who move successfully between genres under one name and I think that’s the way to do it. They use the packaging of the book or the series brand to make the ictional landscape clear to readers. I do understand that some writers might decide to use a pen name for whatever reason, but by and large I don’t recommend it. It all comes down to the problem of promotion and marketing. If you decide to ire up a new name, you will have to build that new brand from scratch. Trust me, promoting one brand is a full-time job these days, so my advice is to think twice before you decide to multiply the workload. InD: That is very good to know, it’s really good advice. JAK: I suggest the author use one name and employ the series approach to distinguish the various ictional landscapes. Then the series name becomes part of the identity for that world, part of the brand. InD: I can totally see that. Because you have three pen names and each one is very distinct, you would have to send out three different newsletters and promote three different times instead of just sending out one newsletter, one promotion, one site. That would be a ton of work. The amazing part to me is that all three names are really successful. You say how hard it is, but you have done it very well. JAK: Yes, but my career has been a lot of years in the making. It was not an overnight success, and now I am kind of stuck with those three names. I can’t consolidate. InD: I have noticed, if I pull up your author pro ile now, it says, "Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick” or “Jayne Castle”, so people will know it is the same person.

JAK: I have to tell you, no one reads author bios except for interviewers [both laughing]. The average reader goes right past the author bio, and even if they read it, I don't think it necessarily clicks with them. InD: So most of your readers have no idea you are writing Futuristic if they read Historical? JAK: Or, if they do, they don't care because it is not something they read. I think most of my readers do have some idea that I write other genres, but they don't think about it because they don’t read those genres. Readers often fall in love with the setting. That is important to them and I totally get that. I am probably more widely read than many people because I try to keep up with what is going on, but I am the same way when it comes to settings and ictional landscapes. If one of my favorite Contemporary authors decides to do a Western, I probably won’t read it. InD: Because you don't like Westerns or because you don't want that author doing it? JAK: Western mythology is just not of interest to me. Like I said. Nothing personal. InD: Before visiting with you, I binged a bit in all three genres. One thing I noticed is that you have characters and little Easter eggs that intertwine and cross through all three genres. Someone who has only read one of your genres would never realize that. JAK: This is something my editor also pointed out. Over the course of my career, I accidentally created my own JayneVerse. The more I think about it, the more I realize that every author, over time, creates a universe that is very speci ic to them. They will spend their careers exploring their universe. It is unique to them. It will be shaped by things like their world views, their sense of right and wrong, their core values, and, most of all, by the emotional themes and con licts they are compelled to write. I am convinced that all authors, no matter what they write, will be drawn back again and again to the same emotional themes and con licts that inspired them to write in the irst place. I would bet those themes and

con licts won't change much from the beginning of their careers to the end. Authors are compelled by certain themes and con licts because that is the source of their power. Those themes and con licts will be unique to each author. When I look back over my career, I realize the fundamental theme and source of con lict that compels me is the risk of trust. InD: So you would say that is a theme that runs through all your books, no matter the genre? JAK: Yes. I think the biggest risk we take is trusting other people. There is no way to avoid it. We have to do it to some extent every single day, and the biggest emotional risks we take are in our most intimate relationships – lovers, friends, partners, family. InD: But you didn't realize it when you were irst writing your books? JAK: No. When you start out writing, you usually write from your gut. There’s no need to overthink it because you are guided by your intuition. That works great. But over time, you start to become more aware of what you are doing; what you want to write and what you don’t want to write. I think it pays to understand what you are doing because it frees you. Once you know that it's the emotions and con licts, not the world, or the timeframe, that makes your books work, you’ll realize you can take your stories anywhere. So if you do happen to kill off a career, as I have done more than once, you can retreat to another genre or subgenre–another sector of your private universe– and work with those same core emotions and con licts. They are universal. InD: Are there very many readers that pick up those small references to other characters from your other genres? JAK: Readers who read across my three subgenres certainly do. Those little Easter eggs are for them. I get a kick out of writing the little surprises into the story. InD: How do you keep track of them? I picture in my head that you have this big police board with everybody connecting. JAK: [laughing] I don't. I don't even want to think about it because if I do, I will get lost. Mostly I igure that if I remember a plot point or an element in a previous book, the readers probably remember it, too,

and will recognize it if I write it into another story. It’s the way I have created a few very loosely connected series – The Arcane Society novels, the Harmony world, my Burning Cove books. Readers love to return to a familiar world. We grew up on series: "Nancy Drew", "Harry Potter". It is one of the ways we learn to appreciate iction early on in life and the pleasure of reading a long-running series never goes away. InD: I think, in a series, you can also develop more depth because you have more room to explore. JAK: Yes, Mystery writers and Suspense writers have been getting away with that trick for years. Romance and Romantic Suspense writers get away with it because even though there is often a different couple in each book, the underlying setting is similar enough that people will get back into it. If they love Regency England, they're happy to go visit Regency England again with a different couple. They know the rules for that world and they like it. The familiar world is a big draw in iction. Most readers have a strong sense of the various popular iction settings. We already know if we like to visit them. Or not. For example, we are familiar with what American Westerns look like. If you want to read or watch a Western, you can instantly step right into that world because you know so much about it. The same is true for Historical Romance, whether it be Regency England, or the Victorian Gaslight world that Sherlock Holmes made popular. Most people who read in those worlds can identify London settings in two sentences. You don't need a lot of explanation. You know that there are horses pulling the carriages. They know what the carriages look like. It is the same with the elements of the 1940s and WWII settings. Those are worlds people can step into very easily. Writers need to be careful when it comes to trying to invent a new world from scratch. That is a bigger risk. InD: But in Fantasy or Futuristic you have to do that, to a certain extent. What are the pros and cons of being able to completely create your own world, as opposed to jumping in to one that we are familiar with? JAK: Obviously, creating your own world is a lot of fun. The writer is free because there are no rules, you can

make them up as you go, you just have to be consistent with them. But, the downside is that it will be an unfamiliar world to your readers and not everyone is adventurous enough to want to sink right into it. One of the reasons Fantasy writers get away with a lot is because they are working with elements that actually are familiar. We know about castles and elves and dragons. We grew up with them and they are not unfamiliar. I think the biggest risks are Futuristic settings or unusual, unfamiliar historical settings. Those take more obvious world building so people can feel comfortable reading. InD: I would agree with that because, in Futuristic, we don't have any common knowledge of what it will be in order to draw from, so you would have to take something from another world that we can relate to. JAK: Yes, and if you look back, most of our Fantasy stuff is actually Medieval. InD: I agree. In Futuristic, you have to grasp something that we can hold onto and build a world with. JAK: It is a more complicated process and a smaller audience, I think. InD: Maybe because it takes a lot more imagination because they would have to spend a lot more time creating in their heads. JAK: Not everybody is open to fantasizing that wildly. They like aspects of the familiar because that is what anchors the world for them and makes it possible to appreciate the emotions and the con licts in the story. InD: You do a fabulous job of that as Jayne Castle in your Futuristic “Ghost Hunter” series. I had trouble leaving that series in order to go back and try your other books. It was all kinds of fun!

JAK: If you look at it, you'll see that world has a lot in common with 21st-century Seattle. I put in just enough differences to give it a twist. At the beginning of each of those books is a little author's note that explains that there are weird things about this planet: alien ruins left over from thousands of years ago and a maze of tunnels under the ground and other cool stuff. There are also cute little dust bunnies. But the real problems are always caused by humans. InD: And that is something we can all relate to. The humans will always act like humans. JAK: That is what draws readers back to that world even though it’s in a Futuristic setting. Well, that and the dust bunnies. [both laughing] InD: Oh gosh, those are just so much fun! Every person who has read that series wants their own dust bunny. Everybody who has not read that are going to think that we're crazy talking about wanting a dust bunny, but you have to read it to understand. JAK: I told my editor the other day I think my tombstone is going to read, “Here lies what's her name, she wrote the dust bunny books.” InD: You landed on something so unique and creative and so much fun, you actually can't complain because they really are just fabulous. Dust bunnies, by the way, are real, live animals in the Jayne Castle books. Let's go back for the moment. Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like? JAK: I was born and raised in the desert of Southern California, Borrego Springs, a couple of hours from San Diego. InD: What was it like growing up there? JAK: It was good. It was a very small town. I always remember the sun because there was a lot of light. Now that I live in Seattle, I am fully aware I grew up with real sunlight. I've always liked the desert, but it turns out I prefer the urban lifestyle here in the city. InD: You have any brothers and sisters? JAK: Yes, a couple of brothers. InD: Did you like to read as a child? JAK: Yes, I was a big reader. My mother would read "Winnie the Pooh" to us when we were little kids. Those are the irst books I remember reading over her shoulder. That's why I said those of us who got the gift

of reading for pleasure are blessed. Is not something we set out to do. InD: I totally agree. Those who read for pleasure are in the minority. Did you like to write as a child? JAK: I don't remember writing stories. It was something I did occasionally if I got an idea. But I did do a lot of fantasizing in my head. I was always telling stories to myself in class. The writing did not start until I was in my 20s. InD: What about you as a teenager? JAK: I was probably the nerd in class. I was the one who studied and did homework. InD: When you were a teenager, did you ever think you wanted to be an author? JAK: I never saw it as a way to support myself. I grew up with the idea that I would have to get a job so I was always career focused. Even now, I would not advise writing as one’s only career choice. The old rule, "Don't quit your day job unless you are sure you can support yourself" still rings true. Even when I started writing, I had a full-time job as a librarian. I wrote on the side until I could make enough writing. InD: So when you graduated from high school, did you go to college wanting to be a librarian? JAK: No, I was hoping to get inspiration in college. I did not igure it out until the last few months of my senior year, and I was desperate. I think the only reason I wound up in library school is because a friend down the hall in the dorm was applying and I thought that sounded like a great job. InD: Did you enjoy being a librarian? JAK: I learned a lot working in libraries. For example, I spent a year in a school library. It taught me some valuable lessons. Among other things I discovered that I was not born to educate the young. I came away from the experience with enormous respect for school librarians and for school teachers. Talk about a gift or talent I do not have! Whatever magic some teachers and school librarians employ is incredible. So, yes, I learned a lot that year. But most of my career was spent in academic and corporate libraries. InD: What were the differences of being a regular librarian and a school librarian? JAK: Every setting requires different things from the librarian working in it. A school librarian is also a

teacher and must possess the skillsets of both professions. It is a very sophisticated job. I had the library skills, but I did not have the teaching skills. InD: At what point did you actually decide to sit down and write a book of your own? JAK: I didn’t read widely in college because I was reading for classes. I really wasn't free to read what I wanted until after I graduated and started working. That was when I could go back to the bookstore and the library and ind books that were fun to read. That was also when I discovered my passion for Romantic Suspense. There came a point after reading a lot of Romantic Suspense when I realized I wanted to be able to write it my way. InD: What was your way? JAK: At the time, I didn't really understand, but looking back, I think what I was reacting to was the fact that the biggest Romantic Suspense authors were British. They dominated that market. I think I was looking for an American voice, a voice that felt familiar to me. InD: So you decided you would write one of your own? JAK: I am making it sound more conscious than it was. I didn't think I could do it better than anyone else, I just wanted my characters to act the way I wanted them to act and have the conversations I wanted them to have, and experience the adventures I wanted them to have. InD: How did it go with your irst book? JAK: Oh, I did not sell anything for six years. In those days, there was no version of self-publishing. The only reason I got my irst contract was because Romance just suddenly blossomed in the U.S. It blew up big time, and almost overnight publishers were looking for books in that genre. You could say I was standing

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on the right street corner when the bus inally came by. InD: What do you think made romance blow up all of a sudden? JAK: The legend is, it went big because one of the major New York publishers decided that Harlequin was making a whole lot of money selling to American audiences. Someone in NYC decided it might be a smart move to go after that audience. InD: That's smart business. Were you writing the whole six years you weren’t getting published? JAK: Yes. In those days, you didn't have to write the whole book. You could write three chapters and an outline and submit them. InD: Every time you got your three chapters written, did you send them in? JAK: Yes. I looked up every editor I could ind in Writer’s Market and sent them off. InD: What was the book that inally got picked up? JAK: It was called "Gentle Pirate”. It is one of two books in one of the irst Romance lines in New York. Ecstasy was the line, and it was published by Dell publishing. They got lucky with a brilliant, trailblazing editor named Vivian Stephens. She discovered the American market for romance. NY publishing hasn’t been the same since. InD: It sounds like it is Historical. Was it? JAK: No, it was a Contemporary. The audience they were going for was Harlequin's, and those were Contemporaries, not Historical. InD: The only thing I remember in Romance back then is the old bodice rippers. JAK: There was a time toward the end of the 80s and early 90s that every publisher had a Romance line and they were all Contemporary. The Historicals were a different breed of Romance and they were single title releases. They were not published as lines. InD: So, "Gentle Pirate" was a Romantic Suspense? JAK: Yes. I have never written a book that did not have a mystery plot in it.

InD: Yeah, your books are not labeled Romantic Suspense, but every single one I have read is as much Mystery as it is Suspense. JAK: I don't know how to plot without those elements. InD: You can't really have suspense without some kind of mystery, and a mystery is going to be boring if you don't have some suspense at some point. JAK: Yes, I think of Romantic Suspense as its own genre. Here’s my basic de inition: In a novel of romantic suspense, everything that happens in the relationship has to in luence something in the suspense, and everything that happens in the suspense has to in luence the relationship. Those two elements work in lockstep together. You cannot pull out one and still have a book left. That’s what makes Romantic Suspense different from straight Mystery or straight Suspense with a love interest on the side. InD: That is very true, because if you pull out any one of the threads in your books, it would not work. JAK: Romantic Suspense is very tricky to plot for a lot of writers because you are essentially dealing with two heroes - the hero and the heroine. You have to ind a way for both of them to play the hero. InD: I have read that a lot of the reason you love writing Romantic Suspense is because of the strong heroine. I also noticed, in your series, across the board, you incorporate a strong psychic element. JAK: I've always liked playing with the psychic stuff. I think it deepens the bond of the relationship. It gives it another layer of intimacy and connection. It also allows me to do suspense plots that are not tied to real world police procedures and forensics. InD: The thing that hit me when reading your books is that psychic twist. It is unique and creative and not like any other Romantic Suspense. Really, when one reads a lot, the plots all start looking alike. I can like the characters, but at some point there is only so much you can do with the plot. Yours are completely different. They have something we don't read all the time.

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JAK: Well, it’s certainly fun for me to work with and it frees me up to do different kinds of plots. I think it appeals to readers because it goes back to the early days of mystery solving, which we know from the "Sherlock Holmes" stories. The crimes are solved by intuition and logic, not through forensics. InD: I love that. And the psychic elements are not weird, but just somebody following their intuition because they have this gift. It is using things of our world, without going into paranormal, but it is enough of a difference to not be normal, either. JAK: People don't have a problem with the psychic vibe in my books because it's just one step beyond intuition. Almost everyone uses intuition. I should emphasize that I deal with psychic elements, not the supernatural. I don’t do witches and vampires and ghosts. InD: They are every day people just experiencing what could be. It is something we can say could actually happen. It's a creative different way at looking at something. JAK: And it gives me a chance to do different kinds of plots. That is what is in it for me. InD: But at the same time, you have to do research because you have some very intricate storylines that connect. You have a lot a physics involved, do you research that a lot? Or is it just made up? JAK: I make it up. Okay, I try to make things sound scienti ic by providing some logical explanation. For example, I like to work with crystals and glass. In my JayneVerse, they function as a borderline between the physical and the psychic. InD: "Lightning in a Mirror" had to do with mirrors and how they re lect. JAK: Yep. The physics of mirrors are just plain weird. They have the properties of both a liquid and a solid. If we didn't have glass around us in great abundance, we would be astonished by it. Same with crystals. We take our cell phones for granted but they are glass and crystal. I like to spin off real physics, and take it one step into the unknown. InD: Do you ind that hard to write? Or does it come pretty easily? JAK: It comes pretty easily because I am making it up. I am writing iction here. InD: But, man, that is a really creative brain, Jayne! Out of the three genres, is there one that is harder or easier than the others to write? JAK: No, they all offer something unique and refreshing to me as a writer. One of the assets of having three worlds for so many years is that I don't get bored with any one world. By the time I have had

enough of the Contemporary world, I'm ready to dive into a Historical setting or a Futuristic setting, so it all is fresh and new again. Rotating between worlds has been a real boon to me as a writer. InD: Do you have any characters or storylines that have been dif icult? JAK: Well, they are all hard until you ind the magic, the thread you’ve been looking for from the beginning. Usually I don't know where I’m going in the story until I reach the end of the irst draft. InD: When you sit down to write a story, do you have an idea of the story in your head? JAK: What I usually have in my head is an overarching element of a mystery and that will drive the romance in the relationship. InD: For instance? JAK: Well, in "Guild Boss", which is the latest in the Jayne Castle world, I knew I wanted a woman who had been kidnapped and trapped underground in an ancient maze for a speci ied period of time. We had to know why someone would do that, so I came up with a rationale for why the bad guys would grab her from a wedding party and disappear with her. Then I had to igure out how she escaped from that situation. I wanted the male character to be the new guild boss, the new guy in town. These guys are one step above mobsters, in the public opinion. At the start of every book, I have a couple of opening scenes–maybe 30 pages–clear in my head. After that, the story takes shape on its own. I have a vague plot idea at the beginning, but I never stick with it. It always changes on me. InD: So you have the irst 30 pages, then you have to work through it and somewhere you get the spark or thread, then you know how it is going to go? JAK: Yes, and that’s usually toward the end. What I'm working with until then is whatever idea I got the day before. It just keeps evolving. I don't know how to explain how it works. The story just takes shape on its own because I keep asking questions like, “How does she wind up in the underworld maze? Why did she

lose her job? What is he doing in the story? How does the dust bunny show up and why?” Once you start asking questions, you have to answer them in the story. InD: Many authors, like you, who have had such long and illustrious careers, have such a wonderful volume of books, but you started in a traditional era when there wasn't any other way of publishing. Then, 20 years later, we are in the ebook era and readers are used to getting stories for $4.99 and not $8.99. That is a huge problem for those who want to begin your series. JAK: It is a problem. I’ve gotten the rights back on some of my earliest books and I have reissued them in ebook format at a lower price, but if I can't get the rights back, there is nothing I can do. The problem is that in the old days, you eventually could get your rights back sooner or later, but with the invention of e-books, the publishers can claim the book is always in print. InD: Does your traditional publisher just not listen to you or readers? How does that work? JAK: Traditional publishers do put certain books on sale for a great price for limited periods of time, but it is a somewhat random process. The titles selected are usually the early books in a series. InD: This has got to be so hard for you because there are so many readers who would love your earlier books and could help your platform, but how do you get them in there? JAK: The list of books at my website can be a bit intimidating. I’ve been writing for a while now and I’ve written a lot of stories. I want to emphasize that throughout my career I have always written books as standalones, even if they are part of a series. If you enjoy the world a book came from, there are more in that world but you're not going to have to read them in order. By the way, I don’t write standalones for the convenience of readers. I do it because I don't want to be too closely tied to the book I wrote a year ago or two years ago. I want to be able to create a fresh

story. Writing in my JayneVerse rather than sticking to a single series allows me to do that. I get to enjoy the best of both worlds. I hope my readers enjoy it, too. InD: Does your family read your books? JAK: Yes. One of my brothers does. The other one doesn't. Their wives read my books, bless them. InD: Does your husband read your books? JAK: Nope. He’s very supportive of my career but he doesn’t read much iction. He’s an engineer. InD: Did he meet you before you started writing? JAK: Yes, he was in my life before I ever started publishing. He has always been my biggest cheerleader. I have been very lucky. InD: Now you have to tell us about your romance! JAK: It was the year I was getting my Masters in Library Science, and I was doing research on a paper. He had a bookstore and I was doing a lot of the research off campus, and we got to know each other there. It was a whirlwind courtship, we were married a few months later. InD: Really? And it has lasted! That is absolutely wonderful. You have had such a fabulous career and you have such a huge body of work, are there things you would still like to accomplish on your bucket list? JAK: I never had a bucket list and I never look beyond the next book. I'm just totally involved in the book I am writing now. When I inish a book, I immediately start thinking about the next one. I just like the storytelling process. I'm addicted to it. I don't look too far ahead because I don't have those kinds of goals. I just want to be able to keep writing and selling my books. InD: What about personally? JAK: I don’t think too much about the distant future. A year ahead is about as far out as I go, and most of the time, I’m not thinking beyond next week. I’m an optimist. I love my family and I love my writing. There is no bucket list. I ind the concept depressing. I just want to be able to keep writing until the very end. InD: Tell me some of your very favorite places you've been to. JAK: We did a lot of cruising before the pandemic. Fell in love with the Mediterranean. Who doesn’t? I adored those outdoor caf s, the wine, and the sun. InD: Do you have any subjects you would still like to tackle? JAK: No. One of the reasons I’ve loved writing Romantic Suspense all these years is that I have never had a story I couldn’t it into the genre somewhere. Never had an editor say she couldn’t ind a place for it.

Okay, there were those irst futuristics that killed off my career for a while, but eventually I was able to publish in that section of my universe again. The lesson I learned is that it doesn’t always pay to be too far ahead of a wave. InD: You have been around so long, you have seen a lot of changes. What do you think of all the changes over the years? JAK: I think the arrival of the e-book is a wonderful thing. There is no telling how many readers had to drop out over the years simply because they could not read the small print in a paperback. In addition, audiobooks have been a gift to a lot of people who never enjoyed reading for pleasure. Most of us are happy to listen to a good story. Also, it has allowed writers to get published in a way they have never been able to do before. Believe me, if the technology had been available when I started out, I would have jumped on it. InD: Okay, let's do some favorites. Favorite color? JAK: My favorite colors are orange and yellow and red and cobalt blue. InD: Why? JAK: I love bright vivid colors. I don't like pastels but I do respond emotionally to strong, warm colors. InD: What is your favorite food? JAK: Something spicy, like curry. InD: Your favorite dessert? JAK: Well, we are low-carb, so there is not a lot of dessert eating in this household. I guess a glass of port and a spoonful of good peanut butter sounds like dessert to me. InD: Do you have a favorite time of day? JAK: Mornings. I am de initely a morning person. InD: So how early is the morning person in you? JAK: We get up at ive. When I was starting out and had a day job, I had to be at work by 8:00 a.m. In those days I got up at 3:30 or 4:00 to write. InD: Oh my goodness! I consider myself a morning person and I wake up happy, but I wake up at seven! Do you have a favorite place to be in the world? JAK: At my computer. I get the most satisfaction out of actually writing. InD: Do you have a favorite book or movie? JAK: My favorite movie will always be "Casablanca" because I love the script. My favorite book has to be Anne McCaffery’s "Restoree". It was true Futuristic Romantic Suspense. I found it when I was still in college and I never forgot it. I had never read anything like it. But I don't think it did her career any favors. She was too far ahead of the curve with that

book. She moved on to dragons and did just ine with Fantasy. InD: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you, both professionally and personally? JAK: Learn how to say no. That's a hard one. Sometimes you should say no to a speaking engagement, or a contract. Sometimes you should be saying no to a relationship. I think it is very hard for a lot of people to do. InD: You had to learn to do that? JAK: Yeah, my irst instinct is to make sure no one is terribly disappointed. InD: Is that your advice for both professional and personal? JAK: Yep. I think as a writer, you are going to have to learn to decide which battles to ight when it comes to contracts and editorial changes. Some things are worth ighting for, and some aren't. Learning how to walk away can be very hard. I think you need to step back and give yourself a minute before you automatically agree to everything offered or suggested. InD: Very good advice in order to have a happy life. Thank you!

By: Andy Peloquin

Mystery vs Suspense vs Thriller What’s The Difference?

Book Ad Report estimated that the Crime/Mystery genre generates upwards of $720 million in book sales each year—that’s A LOT of thrilling, suspenseful, and mysterious iction being read every year.

Romance novels may hold the record for being the most profitable and bestselling of the book genres, but hot on their heels is the Crime/ Mystery genre!

In truth, the Crime/Mystery genre is made up of three types of books: Mystery novels Suspense novels Thriller novels While there is a great deal of crossover between these three genres, they are each distinct sub-genres in their own right. But, what sets them apart? What makes one novel a Mystery while another is a Suspense? How is a Crime Thriller different from a Mystery Suspense? Let’s take a deep dive into the genre and ind out… De ining the Mysteriously Inde inable There is no “cut and dry” de inition of any of these genres, because they all fall under the broad umbrella of “Crime" iction. Crime iction, as its name suggests, focuses on a speci ic crime (or series of crimes), and involves some degree of investigation into said crime. What makes these three sub-genres different from each other is their approach to telling the story of the crime and its investigation.

A Mystery focuses chie ly on the process of solving the crime—or, put another way, unraveling the mystery and cracking the puzzle. Agatha Christie made Crime novels famous with her Hercules Poirout character, as did A.C. Doyle with Sherlock Holmes. Typically, Mystery stories like to dive deep into the investigative process, exploring the various methods used to interview suspects, ind new clues, follow leads, and ultimately uncover the identity of the culprit(s). They tend to be a bit more formulaic because their primary thrust is the crime itself. Characters often take secondary place to the mystery because it’s the mystery that becomes the most compelling element of the story. That’s not to say that the characters in Mysteries aren’t compelling—on the contrary, they are some of the most fascinating ictional people, like Sherlock Holmes. However, they are chie ly the vehicle used to bring the reader along to the ultimate solution of the crime. The crime itself—usually one that is puzzlingly, dazzlingly impossible—is the main hook of the story. There is usually some element of personal danger involved, but it typically starts out nonexistent or minimal and only ramps up as the protagonist gets

closer to unraveling the mystery and identifying the culprit. A Suspense pays more attention to setting and themes, layering suspenseful elements atop each other until the reader is on the edge of their seat and burning through pages at blistering speed to reach the culmination of the novel. Characters are more frontand-center than the crime or mystery to be solved, because it’s connection to the character that enables the build-up of suspense. Fears of the dark, the unknown, and what might happen is what skyrockets the suspenseful elements. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the outcome of the situation: will Catherine escape the pit in "Silence of the Lambs"? Will the trucks loaded with nitroglycerin reach their destination safely in "The Wages of Fear"? Will Roger Thornhill plummet off Mount Rushmore to his death in "North by Northwest"? Suspense ilms are gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, breath-taking creations where visual elements are utilized to augment the danger and stakes. In Suspense novels, similar situations are used, but described in great detail—all except that one detail

the character ultimately needs to survive. It’s only when that one way out is discovered that we readers get to breathe a collective sigh of relief. There is plenty of personal danger involved, but the protagonist will only slowly become aware of it. This slow unfolding helps to build the suspense more effectively. Often, the reader will be clued in on the dangers, but the protagonist remains unaware of their peril—another highly effective literary trick, because when you know someone is in danger, but can’t do anything to stop it, it instinctively creates an immense amount of suspense. A Thriller is all about that thrill of the heightened emotions—both positive and negative—and the sensational elements of the story. There is always a rush of adrenaline as the character races here or rushes there, off to stop a world-destroying villainous plot or save the love interest from death/certain doom. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on the dynamic between the protagonist and antagonist, because the endless push-and-pull is what makes for

such exciting reading. Action abounds, stakes are higher than ever, and though there is some mystery— as much “Who?” as “How?”—the ultimate goal of the story is to push the protagonist (and through them, the reader) to exhilarating extremes. Thrillers often feature more active professions, with high levels of personal and societal danger: law enforcement, ire ighters, spies, doctors, or even lawyers. The storytelling itself tends to be signi icantly faster because it’s that blistering pace which truly builds the excitement and makes for an absolute thrill. All three genres start from similar origin points (a crime of some sort that has to be unraveled or thwarted) and typically end the same way (the crime being solved and culprit punished), but each takes vastly different approaches along the journey. That variety in the execution of the three sub-genres of Crime iction is, in large part, what makes it such a highly popular form of iction!

By: Randy Overbeck

G N I T T GE

IS JUST THE START The hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” My response threw him.

At an author event— well, before the pandemic—an excited 18-year-old stepped up and asked me about my novel, "Blood on the Chesapeake". After I’d given my elevator pitch, he pivoted and asked, “How hard is it to get a novel published?”

“Really?” He looked unconvinced. “I mean it looks like fun. First, you hole up in your room and write your story and then you get it published. I mean, you sign books and everything.” I plowed on. “The book you see here took years to research, write and edit, and that doesn’t include all the time and effort it took to ind the right publisher.” The young man said, “I have a friend who wrote a Fantasy novel and published it himself. Jeremy said it took him only about three months. No big deal.” I nodded, not answering right away. “The self-publishing route wasn’t right for me, but it works for other authors. And it’s true that there are more routes to getting your book ‘published’ than ever before.” I used the air quotes for a little emphasis. “But getting it published is only a start. Unless you just want to be able to tell your family and friends, ‘I got my book published’, there is a whole lot more to it than seeing your words in print.” He looked a little confused, so I went on. “Maybe a few stats about the business will help make my point about the challenge ahead.” The young man shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and I could almost see the glaze roll over his eyes.

Do you realize that there is a new book title released on Amazon every two minutes?

I persevered. “Do you realize that there is a new book title released on Amazon every two minutes? Just to be clear, that means about 33 books every hour, 800 new titles every day, and that’s more than a quarter million every year. At last count, Amazon listed over 6,000,000 books on Kindle—and that’s only one tenth of the total number of books on their site!” He started shaking his head. “That’s unbelievable.” “And, on Amazon, guess how many copies of an individual title are sold, on average.” I paused. He took the bait. “A hundred. Uh, no, maybe a thousand?” He looked up hopefully, his brown eyes narrowing. “Six.” “What?” “The average number of copies of any title sold on Amazon is six.” I stopped, letting it sink in. “And that includes adding in three million seller titles, too.” He shook his head. “So, there’s nothing you can do… I mean if you’re the little guy.” “Oh, I didn’t say that.” Now it was my turn to shake my head. “If you’re serious about getting your work

out there, there’s plenty you can do. You can promote your book with a quality website, on social media—Twitter or Facebook or Instagram or Tik Tok—wherever you think your readers will be. You can get help from sites who can get more exposure for your writing. You can get out and promote the book yourself with groups, book clubs, even book stores. That kind of personal marketing can make a big difference. But, I won’t kid you; it’s a lot of work.” “So, why do you do it?” The young man pointed to the copy of "Blood on the Chesapeake" in his hand. “If it’s really that hard and you have to do all this extra work after you get the book published, why do you even bother?” I smiled. “Because I love it. The only reason you should choose to do something this hard is because you love it.” He looked unconvinced. “When I’ve spent hours, days, and sometimes weeks to get a paragraph, a page, a chapter just right, I’m thrilled with the result.” He started nodding his head. “After it’s published, and readers and reviewers write back or post 5 star reviews, saying how much they love the book, or how the book was hard to put

down, or how reading the novel late into the night made them lose sleep… well, there’s no feeling like it.” He grabbed up my two other novels, now holding both in his hands. “I’ll check them out. Thanks for the explanation.” I gave a quick wave. “Just decide if writing is something you love.” With the tsunami of books out there and the pandemic wreaking havoc everywhere, I’m truly thankful that readers continue to discover and enjoy my new series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries. The irst entry in the series, "Blood on the Chesapeake" (2019) takes place on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, where Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach and paranormal sensitive—encounters the spirit of a student murdered years before, still yearning for justice. The second installment in the series, "Crimson at Cape May" (2020) follows Darrell Henshaw to the incredible resort town at the tip of New Jersey. There, he is stalked by the Haunted Bride, who is desperate for him to seek justice for her, and for many more victimized girls.

In the recent release, "Scarlet at Crystal River" (2021) Darrell and his new wife Erin travel to sunny Florida for their honeymoon, only to be haunted by the ghosts of two murdered children

Working Well With Indie Bookstores, Pt. 3:

The Big Event Today is the big day of your event. Yay! You followed my advice in Part 2 and are ready to go. The car is packed with swag, books (if needed), and the other items you’ve determined is required for the event (banners, displays, a bottle of water, etc.). Working Well with Indie Bookstores Part 3: The Big Event Today is the big day of your event. Yay! You followed my advice in Part 2 and are ready to go. The car is packed with swag, books (if needed), and the other items you’ve determined is required for the event (banners, displays, a bottle of water, etc.). If you’re picky about pens, don’t forget to bring your favorite signing pen or Sharpie along. I’d suggest you arrive 30 minutes before the start of the event. That gives you some time to set up, use the restroom, and talk to the staff. There is no speci ic dress code. I’ve seen authors in jeans/ shorts and T-shirts and some in full costume. Gail Carriger, who writes Steampunk Romances, wears Victorian clothing. I also met an author who wore a pink tutu over his running shorts. In both cases, their clothing matched their books. The pink tutu author wrote a book about running and raising money for breast cancer and that was his way to get attention at races. Just be careful if you decide to wear a costume, there’s a ine line between tasteful and tacky. I tend to wear more professional clothes—a colorful tunic over leggings or a skirt. I also try to match the color of my clothes to my latest release. And don’t forget comfortable shoes!

Why comfortable shoes, you ask? Because my number one rule for signings/book events is "Don’t sit behind the table." (Unless you’re actually signing a book). Think about it from the customer’s point of view. They enter the store and there’s this table full of books and a person sitting behind it. It’s a bit intimidating and it’s also easy to slip past without engaging with the author—a missed opportunity! When I irst stated out, I would stand in front of the table with a handful of my bookmarks and talk to everyone who entered the store. If the bookstore put my table in the back, I’d grab a bunch of my books and hang out near the door. I’d do a quick pitch, “Hello, I’m Maria, a local author doing a signing today.” and would hand them a bookmark. I’d get one of four different reactions: • One—they’d breeze on by, ignoring me. • Two—they’d nod politely, take the bookmark, and scram. • Three—they’d glance at the bookmark and ask me what my books were about. I’d have my second pitch ready and I might make a sale. • Four—they’d ask me where the restrooms are (or help with inding a certain book). I’d politely tell them I wasn’t an employee, however I still directed them to the restrooms or to an employee for help. A few times, the person would

return to ind out more about my books. This tactic worked for me, but I know many authors are introverts... and you’re all cringing right now—talk to people? What horror is this?! There are a few tactics that might work for you. You can create a persona, like Gail Carriger. When she attends book events she wears her Victorian clothing and is "Gail Carriger, the Author". You could invite a friend or relative to be your spokesperson. One author’s husband was very outgoing and he roamed the store, talking to everyone about his wife’s book. She sold out (40 copies!). I once participated in a group signing of Young Adult authors to celebrate the release of the movie "Divergent". I brought my teenaged daughter and her friend to the event because they were

both big fans of "Divergent", however, they became my biggest advocates and ended up hand selling dozens of my books—who knew? The most frequent question at a book signing is, “What’s your book about?” Having a prepared pitch helps tremendously. For my irst book, "Poison Study", I’d say it was about, “A Medieval food taster who works for a military dictator. She’s in the line of ire if someone tries to poison him.” With a good pitch, hopefully, they’ll ask some follow up questions. If a customer wasn't sure if they would enjoy my book, I’d ask them who their favorite authors are. Their answers would help me determine if they read my genre. I don’t want to sell a book they wouldn’t like. That works for Young Adult readers as well. They’re all at different levels of

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By: Maria V. Snyder

On the lip side, Michelle also says, “If you’re on your phone to post on social media about the event, that’s great. Knitting or sketching can keep your hands busy and draw people in.” Offering a give away to readers is a wonderful way to collect emails for your newsletter. The give away can be a free print book, special swag, T-shirt, or a gift card (one to the bookstore is ideal). reading regardless of their age, but I can determine if my books are appropriate for them by who they love to read. Michelle Haring, the owner of Cupboard Maker Books has hosted hundreds of events and she has quite the list of Do Not's: "Don’t stare at your phone, or talk on your phone." "Don’t ill out Christmas cards, or do things that make you hard to approach.” One author balanced her check book and another sat and read a magazine during their signings. "Don’t invite a friend or family member and sit and talk with just them the entire time." Customers won’t want to interrupt your conversation. My mother always wants to come to my signings and I told her she’s welcome, but I warned her that, after a quick hello, I’d be focused on talking to customers.

Don’t, for the love of Karma, give away an Amazon gift card at an independent bookstore event! In fact, don’t mention the A-word or promote them in any of your materials at all! Direct readers to your website instead of that other site. A few more Do's: at the end of the signing, offer to sign stock, also keep track of your mileage and receipts for all your expenses, as they’re tax deductible. If you’re doing a group signing, talk to the other authors. Networking is a wonderful way to make new friends, share tips, and learn more about the business. Always be professional and mail a thank you card to the bookstore within a week after the event. I hope this series of articles has helped you. I realize that many Indie bookstores are not holding events during the pandemic, but I’m ever hopeful that the world will go back to normal and now you’ll be ready to make connections, reach readers, and have fun!

Writing Stories You’ll Live In! Shiloh’s closest friends describe her as a kindred spirit. She started out as a tender-hearted bookworm and began writing her own ictional stories in grade school. Growing up on a farm was a hard life. When not working in the ields, tending livestock, or doing household chores, Shiloh slipped away to her room and penned endless pages of fantasy adventures that she kept hidden under her bed. To this day, no one else has read those secret worlds she escaped to. Through spiritual, physical, and emotional challenges of life, she blossomed into an author. She is often heard describing writing as a saving grace. Shiloh majored in English, graduated, and eventually wrote her irst fulllength novel in December of 2006, which won the Golden Wings Award upon its debut release. For the next decade, she wrote for several publishers, achieving moderate success and numerous rave reviews on her unconventional stories. On the dawn of a new year, January 1, 2016, she of icially went Indie to write for herself, to be free to express the art in her soul on her own terms. Her irst two Indie novels received the esteemed 5 Star Crowned Heart review from InD’tale Magazine, with the second going on to become a RONE Awards Finalist. She has since received more

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Shiloh Love

fabulous reviews from InD’tale and a third Crowned Heart for her 2021 release, “Chained Reaction”. She enjoys submitting her books for review to keep her writing in check. A favorite quote from Shiloh, “The only time I’m truly free is when I’m writing”, goes to show her true passion for the written word and the gift of telling a story. Writing is her powerful coping mechanism. Shiloh has battled severe OCD, anxiety, and depression since she can remember, then was also diagnosed with Meniere’s disease in 1995. One place she escapes her suffering is in her books with characters created from her mind. She favors hunky gorgeous bikers and muscle car buffs as heroes, and realistic strong female protagonists that challenge their men in every way. Shiloh now makes her own book covers to further her creative outlet. Shiloh writes more than she reads nowadays, but if you ask her what’s the one book she’d go back to time and time again, her answer never waivers, it’s the Holy Christian Bible.

By: Tamara Cribley

Overwhelming is an understatement when it comes to selfpublishing. There’s so much to accomplish and very few resources which have the right checklists for what you need. The most wonderful thing about self-publishing is also the most challenging:

Overwhelming is an understatement when it comes to self-publishing. There’s so much to accomplish and very few resources which have the right checklists for what you need. The most wonderful thing about selfpublishing is also the most challenging: There is no “correct” (or incorrect) way to self-publish. Your personal goals will dictate your individual journey. However, there are some good generalizations to help you see the big picture, to get you from manuscript written to book published. When I started working with Indie Authors and Presses, my focus was on book design. It didn’t take long to see that there was a gap in the information that was readily available to new authors. Books often

arrived in my inbox with pieces missing. Requesting a copyright notice could send an author scrambling in frustration. "Do I need to hire someone? Maybe Copyright © 2022 is suf icient. What if I mail the book to myself? Will I be covered?" These aren’t ridiculous questions, though if you know how easy it is, you might ind yourself reminiscing about your irst experience. Formatting and design is, for the most part, the last step in the Indie publishing journey, and when authors come to me with missing pieces, I’m happy to help. Some of my most rewarding projects have involved helping authors pull the pieces together for a professional-quality book. Because of where my

Page". The title page is pretty easy to manage. It should include your title and the author’s name. It may also include the publisher and other elements. While a copyright notice isn’t strictly required, it’s an important page to include. It establishes your ownership of your work. It also provides a great deal of information to readers. The copyright notice appears on the left-hand (verso) page, behind your title page. It is something you can easily craft yourself. Glenna Collett of Book Design Made Simple wrote an excellent primer for what typically appears on a copyright page, and how you might modify it for your own use. She even has an editable template which you can download. (www.bookdesignmadesimple.com/copyrightpage-end-the-confusion) While many of the elements on her page can simply be updated for your use, "Copyright Registration" and a "Library of Congress Control Number" are elements that you’ll need to visit outside resources to complete. Copyright Registration

services land in the process, I don’t often think much about the big picture. How does a writer get from "Manuscript Complete" to "Book Published"? While there will always be exceptions, and we are each on a different path, there are also common industry practices you should consider in your journey. If you ind that this path doesn’t it you, that’s okay. I’m a bit of rule-breaker myself, but I think it’s important to understand why we break rules. Remember: If you’re writing a book to be read by others, you must consider their expectations.

Copyright registration is not required. From the moment you create your work, you hold the copyright. Registration provides greater legal recourse, should someone violate your copyright. If you choose to take this step, do so within 30 days of publication. To register, visit the U.S. Copyright of ice website and do the work yourself. It’s a quick, painless, and inexpensive process, costing $45. (www.copyright.gov, registration, for literary works) You do not need to pay someone else to do this. There are many predatory sites that will offer to complete this service for you at an exorbitant fee. Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) or Preassigned Control Number (PCN) “A Library of Congress control number (LCCN) is a unique identi ication number that the Library of Congress assigns to the catalog record created for each book in its cataloged collections. Librarians use it to locate a speci ic Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases.” It typically takes 1-2 weeks to register for your PCN. However, the publishing industry is still experiencing signi icant delays. (Note: The terms PCN and LCCN are often used interchangeably.) Complete this step early. This is also a quick process and there is no fee. (www.loc.gov/publish/pcn) International Standard Book Number (ISBN) ISBNs are the identi iers you’ll need to sell and track your book sales. A different ISBN is required for each format of your book. If you’re planning

Key Parts of a Book Beyond the story (or content) itself, there are very few elements your book needs in order to meet professional standards. Most books have front and back matter. These will be things like a "Dedication", "About the Author", "Acknowledgements", "Author Notes", "Testimonials", "Trigger Warnings", etc. Most front and back matter is optional. The most important element is the "Copyright Notice". The second, while not required, is a dominant industry practice, the "Title

Publishing Platforms There are two primary options for printed books for self-publishing authors, Print-on-Demand (POD) or Short-Run printing.

ISBN ASIN

on publishing hardback, paperback, and eBooks, you’ll need three ISBNs per story. If you are ONLY selling your eBook on Kindle, it is optional to forego an ISBN for the Kindle book format. KDP provides an ASIN (Amazon Standard Identi ication Number) which is a proprietary directory that can be used in place of an ISBN for Kindle books. Even if you only plan to sell on Kindle, I recommend using an ISBN. It allows for better sales tracking. You can use the same ISBN for both Kindle (KPF) and .epub formats, or you can get separate numbers. Both practices are common in Indie. Most publishing platforms can provide a free ISBN. (Note: the ISBN owner is the publisher of record.) When using a free ISBN, that platform becomes the publisher of record. Some retail outlets are unfavorable to self-published books and the ISBN record holder being KDP or similar can make your book less appealing. If, however, you are the publisher of record, either as yourself or as “Publisher”, which you set up, you’re likely to overcome that particular hurdle. Bowker is the only authorized direct seller of ISBNs in the U.S. (If publishing through Ingram, you can purchase a discounted Bowker ISBNs through them.) On the Bowker website (bowker.com), you can purchase individual ISBNs or a batch of 10. A single ISBN is $125, and a batch of 10 is $295. If you expect to publish more books, a batch of 10 will probably serve you well. Bowker also offers barcodes to accompany your ISBNs. If you are publishing with KDP or Ingram or most POD platforms, you do NOT need to purchase a barcode. They can be generated with your book cover template at no cost. Cover Art You must have a cover for your book, and a back cover and spine for a printed book. (Remember, eBooks don’t use spine or back cover art). This one is non-negotiable. It should be appealing to your readers and easily seen and read at a thumbnail size. While it may be your dream to see your book on shelves in stores, the reality is that most book sales are made online. If you are working with a cover artist, be sure they are familiar with the industry and can guide you in best practices for your speci ic book. If you’re doing your own cover art, do an incredible amount of research, and then consider hiring a pro. Authors are often too close to their subject matter to create successful covers that will appeal to readers who don’t have all the inside information. If you’re still committed to creating your own artwork, know the speci ications and requirements for your chosen platform(s). Best of all, download cover templates. All POD platforms offer them, and they will save you grief.

Platforms like KDP (Amazon), IngramSpark, and Lulu are POD platforms. They generally only print a book once it is ordered. POD books have reasonable quality and because there are limited, if any, up-front costs to the author, are a very easy option. Revenue generated through POD is based upon the production costs, the percentage to the retail and publishing platforms, and your chosen retail price. Short-run printers have a much wider variety of printing options available such as embossed covers, spot UV, paper quality and inish, etc. This option is great for the author who is either selling directly to readers or is selling wholesale. When you work with a short-run printer, you purchase a batch of books. Most printers have required minimum orders, and you purchase the full print run at once. Because you’re not going through a publishing platform, all revenue beyond your direct costs belongs to you.

Choose your platforms early so you can be sure that you’re aware of and meeting all of the speci ications and requirements, which vary from platform to platform. Timeline For new authors, or authors who are new to self-publishing, your timeline may take two to four months to complete everything you need to publish professionally. It can vary greatly, but when you’re new to this process, plan for double the time you think you’ll need. It is very easy to be delayed, both in your own process and by industry delays, over which you have no control. Many tasks can be completed in tandem. Start beta reading and proofreading early. While your book is out with readers and reviewers, spend this time making decisions and setting up your accounts. Decide on a trim size and your publishing platforms. Set up your pro iles and banking information. You can also start working on cover art. Often, the cover art sets the tone for the interior design and formatting. Start thinking about your metadata: the book blurb, categories, and keywords that will help readers ind your book through searches.

In the Indie world, you’ll hear an option referred to as "offset". Offset is a printing process and is not mutually exclusive to short-run printing. Offset printing uses plates to apply ink to paper. Digital printing, which is the primary option in POD, uses ink jets to spray ink on the page. Digital is a much more cost-effective process for low volumes. For large volumes, in the thousands, offset can provide a better unit cost. There are also shortrun printers who offer digital printing services that allow you to purchase a handful, or couple hundred books.

Consider your marketing efforts. If revenue is one of your goals, start planning. You may want a website and marketing graphics. Do you have a social media presence where you can reach your audience? While your book may be available for sale on all major bookseller sites, it will still be your responsibility to drive readers there to make their purchases. This can be an intimidating task for a writer, but your success depends on your ability to generate sales. Start marketing early and be consistent in your efforts. Formatting should take place after proofreading is complete. It’s also important to review your book after it has been formatted. When you see your book in a new format, errors that you have read past a dozen times will jump out at you. If doing an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC), set a deadline for feedback so you can make changes before publication. Once your assets are complete, start uploading and reviewing your iles. Order a proof copy so you know exactly what your readers will see. When your iles are approved, you can consider yourself “Published”.

You’re not limited to just one option. For retail customers, POD is a great option. For local shops and direct sales, short-run printing can generate higher revenue.

If you have questions about the Big Picture, or some tips that helped you get through the process, I invite you to join me next Sunday, March 13, at 3 pm PST. Participation is always free. Bring your questions, challenges, victories, and curiosities. Visit www.DeliberatePage.com/Roundtable for access info and reminders.

For eBooks, I recommend publishing directly on KDP for Kindle. Amazon is still the largest seller of eBooks. I also recommend publishing to other platforms. Draft2Digital (D2D) is a very convenient platform where you can upload your eBook to a single location, and have it pushed out to all major eBook sellers. D2D does take a small percentage of sales, but being able to manage everything in one place is very helpful, especially if you’re new to self-publishing.

to Help O W ld:

A View From The Trenches

I teach computer science and writing in a combined junior high/high school that is attached to a boy’s only juvenile correctional facility. It borders between a soft-ish boot camp and prison. It is a diversion program, hoping to aim the offenders at learning to make better choices so as not to make the systemic in/ out a normal thing. We can have 12-18 year olds at the facility, and in some of my classes, I can literally have both 12 and 18 yr olds together. The emotional and social distance between those two ages is enormous, and rarely gels well.

To say it is a stressful work environment is an understatement. The boys are not there because they have made good decisions. They are sentenced to the facility. No one wants to go to my school, and no one is there voluntarily. Think of the worst behaved students you remember from school, those one or two who could never behave at all, and/or the ones who never went, but you saw hanging around or causing trouble. That is every one of my students, not just one or two. Some of my high schoolers dropped out in 6th grade. Currently I have a 9th grader who has not attended school since kindergarten. Not hyperbole. This school year marks my 5th year there, with the previous ive years being at our Department of Adult Education, getting them ready for the high school equivalency tests (HiSET/GED). Most people I meet are horri ied at where I teach, and yes, I am there by choice. I wasn't sentenced there. Trust me; in the 5th largest school district in the nation, we easily have 1,200 open teaching positions a year. I have options. I preface this personal information because, being seriously down in the trenches in ways most cannot fathom, I see a lot. I hear a lot. I know a lot that those "in power" have no clue about, or are completely wrong about. I have very strong opinions. One of the things that has driven me batty for years, is how everyone who has any semblance of 15 minutes of fame, or a position that's even sort of listened to almost always has not one clue about reality, and is really good at the "YOU should's" or "YOU must's..." or "YOU have to's..." but don't follow their own words, and don't do what they say YOU should do. The thing is, you should be doing something, just not necessarily what "THEY" say. In my life as a teacher, I have met all kinds of the "THEY's", and have run into all kinds of "I don't know what to DOs!" Sometimes it's an excuse; sometimes it's just plain ignorance of what is out there or how to go about it because no one ever thought to teach/ show them. Many people I've met truly want to help do something, somewhere, but really have no idea

By: Julie L. York or

where to look because some of the places that do the hard work, that are in the trenches with those like me... they're hard to ind online because they usually are grant based, shoe-string budget operations that are mostly staffed by overworked, underpaid angels. Think social workers who work in and for a domestic abuse shelter. The workers are not making the big bucks, and stay hidden for good reason. A group comes to my facility weekly to teach the boys life skills, like illing out applications, dressing appropriately, budgeting. A lot of their budget goes to things for the boys—they will actually buy clothes for job interviews, and pay for various occupational and educational tests. There are so many reasons, monetary or time constraints, and yes, excuses, getting in the way of the "YOUs" helping and doing where it's needed. Some people have time, but not money. Others have money but not time. Some don't want to physically go into the dark places, but want to go somewhere to help. Others want to be able to do something at home and drop it off. So many actually want to be able to DO, but the talking heads are absolutely zero help in inding real opportunities. So, as someone buried 6ft under, or more, in the trenches, I want to introduce you to a website 100% dedicated to pairing those who want to help with Any and All places who need the help, and all aimed at your own and surrounding zip codes. Anyone can join, it's completely free, no restrictions except age: under 18 needs permission for some things. If you know or have a need, you can make an account to post your need. If you have a one-time project, or an ongoing need, make an account. If you want to help, make an account and go looking.

justserve.org I have used this site, I have directed others to this site, and there is an absolute need for those who can, to DO, everywhere. In my area, I've seen everything from mucking stalls of therapy horses, to reading to hospice patients, to bottled water drop offs for the homeless, to making blankets for low income neonatal patients, to dog walking in the shelters, to cards for the local St. Judes ranch, to packing bags with food for the weekend for students in low income areas. Within 25 miles of my zip code, there are literally hundreds of listings of needs, and you can view up to 75 miles around you. The point of the JustServe program and website is that EVERYWHERE needs help, but the needs are best served by those who are close by. Proximity makes it easier to know exactly where your time and money are going to, you can go visit or call many of the places, see in person what the group you've chosen is like. We, individually, can't save everyone, end world hunger, bring about world peace... but, individually, we can make a difference in our communities, in places where it is really needed, not in places some talking head says so. Those with the biggest needs are often the ones with the softest voices, because they are so busy DOING, that they rarely have time to toot their horns, shout, or get attention in the media. Plus, let's be honest, the media is not exactly out to show us how to help each other. Which is why the JustServe.org program and website was created. What brought this about is that my boys—they are mine, and I am iercely protective of my boys while they are at the facility—could have had such a different life and outcome if some community organization somewhere had the volunteers and money to reach them. There are places, not many, but they exist, whose sole purpose is to give youth in high crime, high gang activity locations an alternative.

There are places that offer free food and clothing to youth. There are places that have lists upon lists of resources, but no way to get them into the hands that need them. I'll use an example from one of my boys. He shared that his mom was always on drugs, or drunk, so he took things and money so his little brother had food and clothes and shoes. I asked him if he knew that every school counselor has a list of places that have those things for free. He was shocked. He hadn't want to be separated from his little brother, so he never said a word for fear they'd call CPS. He didn't even realize that he could ib about why he wanted to know about food and clothes... like, mom just lost her job and there's no money... that way avoiding suspicion, and a CPS call. If a community based organization had had the funds to paper his neighborhood with those lists, or people to go door to door, or into the schools, or anything... maybe he wouldn't be in my facility. Or if there had been a safe place to hang out after school, or adults around who were not gang banging, running guns or drugs, good adult examples instead of bad... so little for most of my boys could have resulted in so much of a difference to them. And the thing with JustServe.org is that you do NOT have to go into the dark places, like I choose to do, in order to do amazing things and help where it is desperately needed in your area. Some places just need donations of things, like toothbrushes, socks, material for blankets, because they have the bodies to help, but not the stuff. Other places are in need of bodies, like food banks who almost never have enough bodies to hand out things. A local food bank of mine has delivery drivers for the elderly and schools, but always needs people packing the food at their facility. Will participating in the JustServe website cure everything? No. Not even close. But doing just one thing will make a difference to someone. And, honestly, the best way to forget the pains and trials in your own life is to focus outside yourself. When I am at work, my sole focus is my boys and doing the best I can for them, inding what they need to be successful in my classes, and in life. I estimate that 75-80% of what I teach is not computer science, but life skills, thinking, problem solving, self-control, etc. Are some days better than others? Oh yeah. I get migraines, and there are days I can barely stand up, and I tell them how much I hurt. But I refuse to call off because being there for them, despite my pain, is a lesson many of them have never seen: doing what you need to do, when you need to do it, to the best you can, regardless of how much it hurts... because it's the right thing to do. And I am doing it FOR THEM. Often, I ind

that focusing on them shoves my pain into the background. Sometimes, one of the best ways to heal yourself is to forget yourself and focus on others. Trust me, if you are reading this, your life is incomparably better than millions of others, and better than so many who live in your area. As a single parent, and a teacher, I don't have much, yet I am always reminded just how much more I have, and have had, than many of my boys. And I am not talking just monetary, physical things. JustServe.org does not require anything you are not willing to give. You have total control over what you pick, who you pick, how often you pick, when you pick, and they don't care about why. I saw a listing once for making cards for seniors in hospice. They had no lower or upper limit, they just wanted handmade cards for those who were on their way out of this life, something to hold onto to know that they were being thought of. Another listing was for cases of water bottles for shelters. That's it. Nothing more was asked. In this life, in this day and age, with the world absolutely losing its marbles on a daily basis, there can be sanity. Helping others, inding ways that our time, talents, income, ideas, or physical selves can bene it our own communities can restore faith, belief, and hope in humanity, our neighbors, our towns... the best cures begin in the smallest places irst, and anything you can do, no matter how small, makes a difference to someone, somewhere. There is no better feeling in the world than helping someone. We all want to be needed. At JustServe.org, you can ind who needs you, and you'll likely ind that you need them just as much.

Chapter Seven Victory Should I care my husband is on his way to a brothel? Yes. I should be upset. Angry. Jealous. Any wife would be. But my only reaction is to wrinkle my nose in disgust. In the solitude of my dressing room, I’m free to feel horri ied without worry that it might show on my face. I choose my clothes and go shower, and try not to think about what William might be doing to those poor women.

I’m washing the dishes from lunch when I hear the front door. I don’t look up, wondering if William is already home. I’m nauseated just thinking about where he was and what he might have done.

“As expected, I suppose. Nothing special.”

“Victory.”

“Yes, I ate, thanks.” He clears his throat. “I got you something.”

Should I tell him what William told me this morning? I decide not to. I tuck the information away for another day. “Have you eaten?”

I spin at the sound of my name. Liam stands in the kitchen. He sets a brown paper bag on the counter.

I look up from the plate I’m washing. A present? For me?

“Liam, you’re back.” My heart lip- lops. “How was your trip?”

“Come look.”

He nods. “Fine, it was just ine. Got the work done. How were things here while I was away?”

Books. Many, many books. “Oh!” I reach in, retrieving book after book, setting them carefully aside until I reach the bottom. “Liam, they’re perfect. Thank you.”

The covers rustle as he rolls over and turns his back to me. My heart sinks. I recall what William suggested earlier - that he’s not attracted to me. When William said it, I had been embarrassed, but relieved. But the thought of Liam—does he feel this way, too? Rejection burns deep down to my soul. I roll over, confused. I close my eyes and try to ind sleep as tears silently sting my eyes.

I turn, inding him standing closer than expected. “You like it?” I nod. “I love them. You didn’t have to think of me. Thank you.” “Why wouldn’t I think of you? You’re my wife.” I’m William’s wife too, but apparently, that means nothing to the man.

**** The room is chilly but I’m warm when I wake, Snuggled under a well-worn quilt with a slow, thick heartbeat thumping in my ear. A hot, hard body against me. I’m startled at irst before remembering I’m in Liam’s bed. I’m curled into his chest, held in loose arms that are still heavy with sleep. His breathing is slow and

I smile again. “I can’t wait to read them.” “Here.” He takes the dish towel, “Go ahead. I’ll dry.” *** Tonight is the irst time I’ve shared a bed with Liam. Not knowing what to expect, I lay under the blankets as he moves around the room in black pajama bottoms and no shirt. It troubles me that I’m unable to keep my eyes from watching his every movement. His torso is smooth and muscular. He makes those plain black bottoms look downright sexy. I, other the other hand, am wearing a knee-length, polka-dotted gown in peach and white. I’ve never felt so self-conscious about my pajamas before. But, then again, I’ve never been in a bed with Liam. I snuggle down further. The bed is soft as I burrow under the covers, not knowing how to act or what he will do when he gets into bed. He meets my eyes as he reaches the bedside, and my heart thunders frenetically. I watch him pull back the blankets and crawl in. He turns off the bedside lamp throwing the room into darkness. His leg touches mine under the blankets, skin on skin. Hot. It throws my heart into palpitations. Surely I’ll burst into lames. Liam Yawns. “Night, Victory.” My jaw drops. Wait, what? Goodnight? No pawing at me? No assumptions of ownership and climbing on top of me to take what belongs to him? Forget my missing ovaries. At this rate, I’d be dead within the waiting on these two men to impregnate me. “Night,” I whisper loudly in the darkness.

“I I dry my hands and he points to the brown paper bag. I smile at its simplicity. I peer over the top of the bag and my heart lutters. Books. Many, many books. “

touches my forehead. My irst instinct is to move, but he seems so content. Who am I kidding? So am I. Content and warm and safe. I smile, knowing he won’t see it. I put my head back where it was on his chest, his chin resting on my head, our legs slightly tangled. My eyes being to get heavy again just as he stirs, stretching his legs and taking a deep breath. I lift my head to ind him awake, eyes puffy with sleep as a smile pulls his mouth up. “Morning, beautiful.” His voice is still rough with sleep. “Morning.” He stares at me; his eyes moving over my face and I don’t know what to say. My heart picks up its pace as

49 f

I dry my hands and he points to the brown paper bag. I smile at its simplicity. I peer over the top of the bag and my heart lutters.

his gaze lingers and our bodies remain close enough to breathe the same air.

The question startles me. “Just a little that my parents gave me. I was told that my husbands—”

I recall the kiss the day we got married, just a week ago. I remember the way it had felt, how my body had reacted to it. The moment invades my mind and I realize I want him to kiss me again. I want to kiss him.

“Look, I don’t want you to be unable to care for yourself, or our future children, if anything happens to me. I’m going to set you up with an emergency account, okay? Where do you bank?”

My wish comes true.

I give him the information for the National Bank on Sinclair Drive. He turns that way.

I hold my breath when he leans in. I close my eyes and feel hot, soft, full lips touch mine. No trace of tobacco this time. It ends far too soon. “You want breakfast? I can cook us something.” My stomach growls and he laughs, sitting up. “Guess that’s a yes. Take a shower and get dressed while I cook breakfast and then we can go do something today. I’ll take you out.”

“We’re going to go in and withdraw the money. Then I’m going to take you to a different bank and we will get you a new account that no one but you or I will know about. Got it?” “I don’t understand.” It’s only partly true. I understand what he’s doing, I just don’t understand why. Why the secrecy? The danger lingering beneath his words scare me. I won’t ask. I can’t. Curiosity isn’t a safe personality trait to let fester.

““I don’t understand.” It’s only partly true. I understand what he’s doing, I just don’t understand why. Why the secrecy? The danger lingering beneath his words scare me. “

He sighs, turning the car toward Sinclair. “Just trust me. There’s a lot that could happen. It’s just best to be prepared. A good husband should take care of his wife. . . in any circumstance. Don’t you think?” I remember the kiss in bed this morning. Heat lames my cheeks and warmth rushes to parts of my body that cause me to squirm in my seat. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. But isn’t it more important we produce babies? Not much else seems to matter.” He nods, pulling into the bank that’s only a few minutes from our home. “True. But that doesn’t mean it’s right. You’re my bride irst. I will do all I can to make sure you are cared for.”

Take me out? “Okay.” Getting out of the house sounds perfect. He pulls on a shirt and disappears out of the room. I peek out the window and see that William’s car is gone. Relief loods me. With no idea what time he leaves or when his light is, I don’t know if he’ll be back, but with Liam here, I don’t worry so much. I take a long, hot shower and dress in shorts and a shirt. I French braid my hair and spray on a little perfume before following the scent of food to the kitchen, where I ind the table set with hot coffee, eggs, toast, and cut fruit. *** “Victory, do you have any money?” he asks as we pull out of the drive.

I get out of the car, wondering if he’ll still mean that when he discovers my truth. What will he do when The Brotherhood puts my name on a list and someone shows up at our door? Not long after, we leave the bank and I have seven hundred dollars in my purse. He drives us thirty minutes away to a different bank. We open an account in my name, and then I stand - stunned - when he tells the cashier to transfer ifty thousand dollars from his account to mine. He signs something and I’m given a slip with my new balance on it. I stare at it, labbergasted. I had no idea he had so much money. How much do carpenter’s make? He tells the cashier I don’t want an access card and then turns to advise me that if I ever need the money, I’ll have to come to withdraw it in person. In the car,

he explains that it’s to prevent anyone from being able to steal my money if they ind my card. People like William—he inally says. I see. “You don’t like him,” I say. His jaw clenches as he drives. I don’t know where he is taking me. “No, I don’t.” “Why?” He grips the wheel tighter. “A few reasons. He’s a jerk for one. That and. . .”

tense, constantly watching his surroundings, ready for an attack at any given moment. I’m sure I have never seen this man before our wedding day. He glances at me, our eyes meet. “How?” He’s trying to decide if he should tell me. I frown, confused by his hesitation. Why hide it? Why would it matter? Again, I search for the piece of this puzzle that’s missing. There must be some reason why he would be afraid to tell me. But why?

“And what?” He sighs. “And I’m forced to share you with him. I don’t like to share the woman I. . .” He white knuckles the steering wheel. “That you what?” “Nothing.” I want to press, but I don’t. “I knew who you were when I got my letter, Victory,” he confesses. I look at him long and hard, searching my brain for any hint of recognition. The way he sits, his body

Guide to Our Reviews and Ratings: Our rating system is the standard 5 star rating system:

5 = 4 = 3 = 2 = 1 = CNF

exceptional excellent good fair poor = If the problems

in a book are such that a reviewer is unable to finish it, the book will be given to another reviewer to read. If both reviewers are unable to finish the book, it will receive the rating of “CNF” or “Could Not Finish”

We also rate the "Steam" or sex factor so readers can enjoy whatever level they are most comfortable with. The criteria is as follows:

1 Steam Kettle = 2 Steam Kettles = 3 Steam Kettles = 4 Steam Kettles = description 5 Steam Kettles = graphic description

Nothing but kisses Passionate kissing, Sex but the door is closed Slightly steamy sex with some Steamy sex with somewhat

Those books receiving a 4.5 or a 5 star review will also be awarded the "Crowned Heart" for excellence. This symbol will be seen beside the review in the magazine.

Undeliverable: Addressee Deceased Zerry Greenwood

there are surprises along the way. There is also humor laced throughout. Ravlen’s relationship with his boss’s daughter is a bit of a problem. He quickly sees her as a frivolous, jealous, petty young woman with whom he needs to lee, yet he stays. Why? It is never explained. Also, the side story of bobble-brained Bobby Sue, who once married, is never heard from again. The same thing happens to the twin brothers after they depart for California, leaving ends that are never tied up. The story does conclude nicely with a very satisfying ending. Overall, this novel is a pleasant, quick read. Lynnette Boyer

Mary Anne felt she needed to lee the coal-covered streets of Scranton, leaving behind her lifelong friend Ravlen, her bobblebrained sister Bobby Sue, drunken father, trouble making twin brothers, and enabling mother. In her quest, she has agreed to be a mail order bride to an aged rancher in Idaho. Mary Anne had corresponded with he betrothed sister Emma, whom she later discovers mislead her. On her wedding night the old man dies, leaving Mary Anne all his property, possessions, and the ranch. Left alone on the vast ranch with two cowboys, one who thinks she is a witch, how will Mary Anne fair? Will she thrive, return to Scranton, ind true love, or something else? This enjoyable novel begins in the streets of Scranton in 1873 then quickly takes the reader to rural Idaho. The story luidly moves between the two locations through letters between Mary Anne and Ravlen. Contemporary language is used throughout, however, so if one prefers authentic usage in their historical stories, this may be grating. While there are predictable scenes,

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Lessons in Spectacle (Her Majesty’s Matchmaker, Book 2) Avery Maitland

remaining males of the Carmichael family, he’s eager to return to London to curry favor with the Queen and regain his titles and lands—both the Anworth lands and the Carmichaels’. But hiding in plain sight is the last Carmichael. And James falls head over heels in love with her. When Portia arrives from Bombay in the midst of a rainstorm, dumped blocks from her guardian’s home, she has no one willing to help her. When James and his brothers happen upon her and her maid, she is defenseless and scared. But she takes note of the youngest Anworth. Readers, this new spin on Romeo and Juliet is simply delightful. James is the youngest son who is tormented not just by his brothers, but also his father. James grew up in the Colonies and his views on life stem from the New World. He enjoys the freedom of the streets of New York, and once the Anworths move back to London, he schemes and plots to return as soon as possible. The star-crossed courtship is quick and intense, and readers can’t help but root for them. In fact, readers can’t help but root for everyone except the eldest Anworth and his evil machinations. Heather McCoubrey

The Montagues and the Capulets —or in this case, the Anworths and the Carmichaels. A feud that spans generations and a love to heal all. When James Anworth is told he has to move back to London, he’s furious, and not eager to go back to an unfamiliar place. His father wants nothing more than to return. After being banished to the colonies for ten years for murdering the

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The Journey of Love (The Book of Love 12) Meara Platt

feel as though it is dragging as many pages are spent discussing whether they should or should not marry. Throughout there are references to situations from previous books in the series which seem out of place if this was the only one being read. The secondary characters and villains in the story unfortunately fall lat and come and go so quickly within the pages. Overall, a sweet read of two people trying to make a love marriage instead of one of convenience. Marie Sanderson

Strong-minded Cammy Farthingale wants nothing to do with London’s prestigious marriage mart. It’s not enough that she has begged her parents not to send her, but upon running away she is quickly seized by the dashingly handsome Lorcan Brayden as she is headed out of town. Due to unforeseen weather, the travels back take much longer than expected and Lorcan begins to realize that there is something more to Cammy than just not wanting to be married off. Fearing her reputation soiled, Lorcan knows that he must marry her when they return but what he didn’t expect is that the longer they spend together the more he is looking forward to marrying her. As Cammy slowly begins to let him in on her shocking and appalling secret, will this knowledge bring them to ruin or bind them together even stronger? A rare, sweet story with small twists that only add to the storyline! Cammy is an intelligent and refreshing character who may tend to overthink things at times which can lead to some humorous moments. This overthinking can also, at times, cause the book to

Loving her Highland Thief (Time to Love a Highlander Book 1) Maeve Greyson

back to the Keep, Kenzie realizes she has crossed through time and landed in the thirteenth century. Far from her family in 2019, Kenzie must quickly learn the ways of the Scottish Highlands in order to survive and not be labeled a witch sentenced to death. But Kenzie could have never foreseen falling for the betrothed Mathias. Is this her new reality or could this all just be a long dream she is destined to wake from? Transporting the reader to the year 1203, the reader will easily envision the beautiful lochs of Scotland, the foul body odor, and even show frustration at the severely patriarchal society that women must tolerate and accept. Strong-minded Kenzie is just what this century needs to shake things up and show them that women aren’t mere trading pieces used for gain. Intertwining both lovable and rough-edged characters makes the story interesting and keeps the pages turning. While some of the details are not wholly explained such as why some back away from Kenzie upon sight, it still makes for a beautiful love story that transcends the boundaries of time. Marie Sanderson

Chasing her wandering ram and dog, Kenzie MacMartin inds herself coming through the backside of a cave to ind a group of trespassers mucking up her farmland in the midst of a skirmish. When one of the rogues kidnaps her, Kenzie tries everything to escape this unruly band. Mathias Stronach, the next chieftain of Clan Stronach, can’t seem to wrap his head around where this wandering woman came from or why she speaks the way she does but feels a strong draw to her. Deep into the journey

Disrupting the Duke (Dukes Done Wrong Book 3) Alexa Aston

catastrophe. But then it abruptly moves to the supposedly unorthodox relationship between the hero and heroine, which hastily happens, especially since it is attraction at irst sight. The plot jumps from the childhood trauma to the adult, arrogant hero, Donovan, which feels a bit jarring. Because of this, readers may have a hard time connecting with him. Wynter, the iery, independent heroine, is easily likable, despite her fear of marriage. Overall, however, the book is a satisfying, pleasant read with de inite emotion throughout! Roslynn Ernst

Donovan Martin is the second son of the Duke of Haverhill. Donovan’s brother, Sam, and his mother are the only ones who pay any attention to him. When Donovan’s mother meets with a tragic end, Donovan is blamed and sent away to Turner Academy. Lady Wynter Day, daughter of Lord Cheston, is best friends with Sam. While traveling, Sam and the Duke are killed instantly in an accident, so Donovan, now Duke of Haverhill, is summoned home from the military. As Donovan learns to be a duke, his feelings for Wynter grow. Sadly, Wynter plans never to marry and believes she is un it to be a wife. Donovan doesn’t care. He loves Wynter’s unconventionality and his plan is to make her his duchess. If only he can convince Wynter that she can still be herself while married to him. Ms. Alexa Aston writes a marvelous historical romance illed with heartfelt drama and a beautiful love story, all rolled into one! The book starts morosely with a lot of death within the irst couple of chapters. Luckily, it moves quickly over the tragedies, not getting hung up on

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Lord of Forever (Lords of the Borders Book3) Mary Gilgannon

her. The more Nicholas gets to know Cristyn, the more he can’t let her go, even though she is supposed to be his adversary. Somehow, love blossoms between the two when it shouldn’t. What Nicholas and Cristyn are feeling could cause war and put everyone, including them, in danger. Ms. Gillgannon has written a highly intriguing medieval enemies-to-lovers tale! The locations are lushly drawn and easily imagined. The battles between England and Wales are vividly described. Unfortunately, the plot and time frame jump around, causing the writing to feel choppy. Many things aren’t explained, so there is some confusion about what is actually going on at times. Nicholas and Cristyn spend most of the time apart, even though they do feel something for each other. So, the ledging relationship between them never seems believable, nor is there really anything there. When Nicholas and Cristyn are inally intimate, it is a bit of a relief even though it doesn’t foster a strong kinship. Readers will not sense a connection except when everyone else is ighting. It would have been better as a historical story, not as a romance. An exciting, turbulent tale that is quite a roller coaster of a read! Roslynn Ernst

During a tournament, Nicholas Breutel is offered a chance to ight an enemy lord. After winning the tournament, Nicholas goes to stay at one of the lord’s holdings. When Nicholas is tasked with inding cattle that were stolen by the Welsh, he comes upon a small entourage containing Cristyn Ferch Hywel. Nicholas at irst thinks Cristyn is a boy, but after catching her, he realizes his mistake. So, Nicholas takes Cristyn hostage, planning on ransoming

The Earl and the Lily (Fogotten Flowers of Flanders, Book3) Everley Gregg

Tricia Hill Lady Lijsbet Lambert accepts the position of manuscript illuminator in Duke Phillip of Burgundy's court, her natural father. After years as the mistress to a famous painter, Lady Lijsbet is determined to forge a new path. She is unsettled when a new overseer arrives. Davion Price, Earl of Pembroke, intends to supervise the restoration and cataloging of the Duke's precious manuscripts and artworks. He's surprised to ind a female illuminator at work. Mostly, he's disturbed by his attraction to her for he is much too delicate to consider a relationship. A trip to Antwerp offers him the chance to resolve his ailment and to deepen his relationship with "Lily". Can these two souls damaged by their past ind a way to build a future? Steeped in history and rich with detail, "The Earl and the Lily" is a canvas layered with emotional depth and the power of love! Lady Lijsbet is an unusual medieval protagonist. She's older at twentyeight and has a "sinful" past. Only Lijsbet places importance on her past and illegitimacy as even the duchess fully supports her, which

The Orphan in the Peacock Shawl

desire is for Annabelle to care for her baby and turn her over to her own family. It isn’t until later that Annabelle discovers who the girl was—sister to a very powerful man. This story is illed with lowing descriptions and just enough romance thrown in to consider it part of that genre. John Hartley may be a rich man, and heir to his family’s estate, but he’s also got a kind heart. And, an eye for Annabelle. Despite her lower status, he never treats her with anything but respect. When he realizes she’s caring for his niece, he offers her the opportunity to work at the manor caring for the baby. Believing she doesn’t belong in John’s world, Annabelle refuses and turns the baby over to a nanny. It isn’t until the infant is deathly ill, that Annabelle is pulled back into John Hartley’s world. The story’s ending is a bit rushed, with both characters declaring their love for one another out of the blue. More interaction between Annabelle and John is necessary to make the ending more plausible. However, for fans of emotional, historical iction, this could be just the right book. N.E. Kelley

Annmarie Brear

Annabelle Wallis was herself an orphan. Taken in and adopted by a kind herbalist, Mrs. Wallis, Annabelle has grown into a ine young woman. When a young, very pregnant, woman appears at her door, Annabelle helps with the delivery. Yet, the next morning, the woman is gone, leaving her new baby wrapped in a shawl. The young mother’s express

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given the era needed more explanation. The court seemed remarkably free from the political tension one would expect. Davion is young, not even twenty-one. The imbalance in age and sexual experience, combined with his phobia, make it dif icult to view him as hero material for most of the story. His laws, though, make him more compelling. The historical detail fascinates throughout from "beguines" to "glass delusions." Like the master artisans in "The Earl and the Lily," Everley Gregg wields her writer's brush to paint a tale that captivates with every skillful stroke!

Christmas on Scandal Lane (Christmas Rogues and Scandals Book 1) Lauren Smith, Dawn Brower, Tabetha Waite, Nadine Miller, Anna St. Claire

It’s Christmas on Scandal Lane and there are lovers to be united for the holiday season. Dashing gentlemen and their ladies are having liaisons on Scandal Lane, some of them good and some not so good. However there are passionate trysts aplenty.Five stories which bring scandal, murder and love everlasting. There is something for everyone from writers who most de initely know what they are doing.The irst story really sets the mood and tells readers everything they need to know about Scandal Lane. Each story stands alone and are insanely enjoyable. A number of talented authors have written some beautiful Christmas historical romances with dashing men and the women they desire more than anything. There is an array of very colorful characters that readers won’t forget.Each story has fantastic descriptions and really sets the Christmas mood and brings romance, passion, and some very hot love scenes. To say there is a little sexual tension would be a

The men in the stories will have readers fanning themselves with their e-readers and there are strong female characters to fall in love with.Despite each story being relatively short, there is so much depth in each of them and the character arcs are awesome. Whether one is a fan of historical romance or romance in general, there is a huge serving of Christmas spirit and two lonely hearts coming together. There is nothing more to be said other than to download this anthology, make some hot chocolate, switch off the phone, get comfy and enjoy. With a name like Scandal Lane, there is sure to be some sexy shenanigans. Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

A Bonny Pretender (A MacNaughton Castle Romance, Book 3) Aubrey Wynne

she can’t stay that way and entice a husband, so they send her to London to learn how to become a lady. In order for her to become ‘marriageable’, she hides her true self. Frank Raines, meanwhile, has been lied to his entire life. In a world where a person’s birth is the keystone of their worth, Frank fears the worst if his true parentage were to be revealed. A chance meeting in the park draws the two together. Frank thought he wanted a proper English lady, but as time passes and Brigid accidentally reveals parts of her true self, he realizes that maybe what he needs is honesty. What a fun read! Brigid is a fun, spirited, enticing woman, and readers will certainly enjoy her escapades. When she climbs a tree to rescue a boy, the lad’s nanny is down on the ground fretting. Brigid’s exasperation with her is so comical readers will ind themselves laughing through the entire scene. Readers will also catch glimpses of her caring and compassionate nature—climbing that tree is more about bringing the boy down safely and calming his fears than about anything else. Frank’s struggles to forgive his mother for her deception is heart wrenching, but it’s that very lesson that teaches him how to live the rest of his life. Watching him grow and fall in love with Brigid is sweet and will keep readers up until the wee hours of the night to ind out how it all ends. Heather McCoubrey

Brigid MacNaughton is a tomboy, and she’s quite happy with that. Her family knows

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huge understatement. Fans of the genre will adore this anthology from the very irst page. A word of caution, it is most de initely a page turner and could be read in one sitting.

Historical

The Earl's Iron Warrant (The Duke's Pact Book 6) Kate Archer

the book does get a bit tiresome, but if readers push through to the end, they’ll be more than satis ied with the climactic results. The connection between Daisy and Charles feels realistic, not only in its physical intimacy, but in the depth of their similarities. Watching them work as a team to get rid of the story’s villains throughout the tale is fascinating and swoon-worthy. The author does a beautiful job of tying together a pure romance between two similar beings. Austen Grace

Charles Battersea, Earl of Dalton, is the last remaining rake amongst his friends, as the rest have all found themselves at the altar. Not only does Charles have to deal with this loss of comradery, but he now inds himself as the reluctant substitute guardian to Miss Daisy Danworth, after the passing of her treacherous father, Lord Childress. Daisy had been put in the care of the Duke of Glastonburg, but the duke decided to turn her over to Charles, hoping to straighten him out. Daisy and her companion, Mrs. Jellops, move in with Charles and ind themselves dealing with complications with servants, a missing crown jewel, murderous men from Daisy’s father’s past, and a confusing love square. Perhaps this change of events will thaw the cold hearts of both Daisy and Charles. To claim Ms. Archer’s novel is simply a cute romance would be a terrible understatement—this novel wonderfully portrays a beautiful connection between two similar people who are forced together by tragic events only to realize their love for one another. It’s an absolutely enchanting read. The characters’ lack of communication in the irst half of

The Look of a Storme (The Storme Brothers Book 3) Sandra Sookoo

Francis Hildebrand Storme, commonly known as Brand, was a Navy man his whole life—until he lost his eye in an intense battle. Now, Brand has become the rake of Ipswich and vows that love isn’t real, until he meets Miss Elizabeth Hayhurst. As the sister of a missionary, Lizzy constantly struggles with pressure from her brother to remain out of sin, though, all she has ever wanted to do was sail far away and go on adventures. When she meets Brand, the possibility of change is everywhere. For Brand, however, she’s simply a challenge—due to a

deal he made with his friends to bed her for money. Could Lizzy still change Brand’s mind about love? With fabulously engaging storytelling, Ms. Sookoo manages to whip readers into an obsessive frenzy over this drool-worthy Victorian couple. The plot is not at all clich since it has hardly any mention of the ton. It revolves mostly around the connection between Brand and Lizzy as they revel in all things adventure. It feels a bit unrealistic that they fall for one another so quickly, though, one cannot set a timer on true love. Most of the novel involves scenes with just the two of them alone, which seems a little unrealistic as they constantly manage to sneak off together. Nonetheless, readers can see more than just a connection through physical intimacy but one of the lovers’ shared similarities. Their irst intimate scene is anticlimactic to say the least, but the author makes up for it by showering readers with more romantic scenes between the two. Austen Grace

A Governess of Many Languages (The Governess Bureau Book 3) Emily EK Murdoch

Miss Elizabeth Fletcher is in need of a new assignment from the Governess Bureau. When she is chosen by Stuart Morton, Lord Galcrest, in a most unorthodox manner she is determined to persevere and make the Bureau proud. Stuart, however, has hired her for his friends, and she is thrust into a family situation that is anything but welcoming. The d’Allaire family doesn’t just have prankster twins for Elizabeth to wrangle, govern, and keep control of during their exceedingly long house party, they also have marital problems. If there is one thing a governess knows it is that she must keep her reputation pristine above all else. But with her attraction to Stuart, and the scandal threatening the family, how will Elizabeth ever keep her reputation and her employability? This third installment in the Governess Bureau series can easily be read as a stand-alone. Elizabeth and Stuart have a sweet connection, and his antics continually throw them together. Elizabeth’s knowledge and wit are refreshing and make her likeable and relatable. As their relationship develops Stuart is

of fate, he is mistaken for a hired hand. Alexander is surprised by Lord Darley’s death and intrigued by his young widow. So, rather than reveal his identity, he chooses to play the part of a stable manager while he tries to igure out what exactly is going on at Aldbey Park. As he inds more questions than answers, his mounting suspicions multiply while his feelings for Amelia build as well. Will their relationship survive the truth?

Cara Cieslak

Amelia is a refreshingly strong heroine. Going against the ton and their expectations, she wears breeches, trains horses, and turns out the inest thoroughbreds England has seen. Alexander is the perfect match for Amelia, appreciating her work ethic, humor, and passion for horses. As Alexander and Amelia begin to uncover the truth about her husband’s untimely death, they lirt with danger as much as each other. Their chemistry is undeniable. It is hard to believe a woman would be allowed this position during this time period, but with the delightful cast possible anachronism is easy to overlook. A unique twist on a familiar pattern. With mystery, intrigue, comedy, and a romance fanning the lames, this is a must read!

Thoroughly in Love (Aldbey Park Book 1) Chantry Dawes

Lady Amelia Darley inds herself widowed with an estate and many debts left to her by her late husband. Amelia is a terri ic horsewoman and breeds and trains the best thoroughbreds. But her sales will never be able to save her estate if she can’t convince people to purchase from a woman. Alexander Goldphin Hawke, the Duke of Leids has returned to England. He comes to Aldbey Park to collect the debt he is owed, but in a twist

Cara Cieslak

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hard to like at times, as he puts Elizabeth into compromising situations and seems to care more about a joke than her livelihood and how his actions affect others. Parts of the story are slow as the house party drags on, and the storyline is very predictable. But the twins and Stuart always show up just in time to move the story along. The characters are deep and layered once you begin to know them and understand their motives. Fans of historical romance and forbidden love won’t want to miss this book!

Pride of a Warrior (Men of the Squadron Book 5) Andrea K. Stein

Lady Lydia Howick has accepted the fact her beloved Royal Marine, Captain George Neville, is dead— until she sees a painting with George as one of the subjects, dated 1823, two years after his supposed death. She and her Aunt Lili seek out the painter and plan a trip to Algeria, to ind the Oasis where he painted the picture of George. Lydia is determined to ind him and bring him home. And Lili has her own reasons for wanting to return to Algeria. She needs to put her demons behind her. At one time, she was a member of the king’s harem, but with a friend’s help, managed to escape. George reveals himself on the way to the Oasis. He is one of the protectors on the trip. After spending the evening with Lydia, he vanishes. He loves her but has his duty to the crown to ful ill. “Pride of a Warrior” is the beautiful story of Royal Marine Captain George Neville and the pride he has serving his country, even beyond his commitment, and the woman who desperately wants him back. Though a good read, this tale several drawbacks. The pace feels rushed, especially at the end, where the climax feels

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as if it has been thrown in at the last moment, and the ending is very abrupt. It is also dif icult to discern Lydia from Lili in their dialogue. The descriptions of the desert, however, are breathtaking, and one can’t help but laugh at the interactions with the camels. One can easily imagine what the characters look like from their portrayals. This novel is a unique adventure tale, not your average historical. Belinda Wilson

Naughty Earls Need Love Too (That Wicked O’Shea Family #7)

who Lord Avery prefers, but now he has become the reason for contention between these two friends. Will everyone ind their happy endings or will friendships be ruined forever? This historical love story is very short but sweet. However, it does not feel completely historically accurate for the time; more like a contemporary story within a historical backdrop. Merry Farmer loves to add a little wicked streak in some of her characters and that goes for this book as well. Unfortunately, Alice is unbearable. She is cruel and manipulative. If that isn’t frustrating enough, Maeve is willing to throw away everything for her. Then there is Lord Avery, how can he ind either one of these women attractive when they both act like such children? But the pace moves quickly and it will inspire readers to look into the other book of the series. If readers are looking for a quick entertaining story, then this is it! Amanda Hupe

Merry Farmer

Maeve has always admired Lord Avery. In fact, she is in love with him even though he is a part of the scandalous O’Shea family. She knows marriage for her will inevitably be soon but can’t help but hope it is with Lord Avery. There is one problem, her best friend Alice is determined to marry him too. Alice needs to marry soon because she has a secret child that was conceived out of wedlock. She doesn’t want to be ruined. So now these two best friends are both determined to win the affections of Lord Avery. It becomes quite obvious

Temptation on the Alpine Express Kirsten S. Blacketer

Gertrude is full of secrets, especially the ones from her past.

Historical

reader in are the hints of political upheaval in Russia. They feel very true to history as the royals are sensing change is coming. Nikoli is brooding and strong. The only thing that is quite annoying is how many times he threatens to put Gertrude over his knee and spank her. It belittles her; and it is hard to see the charm in that. Gertrude’s emotions are guarded and for good reason, but it is wonderful to see her blossom. A good amount of suspense keeps the pace moving along, and some familiar characters from the previous book keep things lively. Overall, this book is delightfully entertaining from beginning to end. Amanda Hupe

Everyone loves a good enemiesto-lovers tale, and this book channels the trope perfectly! One of the things that really draws the

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However, she accumulates even more secrets being a lady’s maid for Countess von Bruenner. The Countess’ family is part of Russian royalty and tensions are high in Russia. The Countess has a very stoic and handsome guard named Nikoli who takes his job very seriously as he was trained by the best in Russia. When a picture is delivered with a threatening message, Nikoli makes a plan to protect the Countess, and Gertrude inds herself with the infuriating man on the Alpine Express. Despite the plan, danger inds Nikoli and Gertrude, and secrets are exposed, as well Nikoli and Gertrude’s true feelings for one another. But will the secrets of their pasts threaten to keep them apart?

Contemporary

The Christmas Pact Meg Easton

Determined Noelle Allred sets her sights on skipping Christmas now that her sweet Gran-gran is gone. Focused on work, Noelle attempts to avoid her family’s myriad of Christmas traditions. However, temptation to make a little extra money at work squashes her personal pact. Jack Meadows, her boss who never celebrates Christmas, hires Noelle to show his nephew the magic of Christmas that Jack cannot provide. Easily enough, Noelle’s agenda of holiday activities eventually includes Jack who realizes his mistake. Noelle’s genuine enthusiasm, her large fun- illed family, and the joy Jack sees in his nephew are too much for Jack since he knows his growing feelings for Noelle are inappropriate for their working relationship. Noelle knows her heart has already crossed the line and has to make a decision that will impact a career she loves. Readers of “The Christmas Pact” will adore Noelle’s love of Christmas, her grandmother’s memories, and her family’s

adventurous holiday traditions. Each provides genuine backdrops to Noelle’s determination to pursue the perfect Christmas for her boss’s nephew. The homemade cards that Gran-gran left for Noelle are like beautiful strings that pull the story along. Jack’s love of his sister is heartfelt, which softens his tough perspective on all-things Christmas. Noelle’s innocent kindness makes her delightful to keep up with as she takes Jack’s nephew to the variety of Christmas activities. Meg Easton’s story of evolution from boss to romantic interest will make readers hope that somehow Noelle and Jack will ind a way to love not only Christmas, but each other. Moira Wolf

as a kitten at his door. His brother had hired her to be a singing telegraph dressed as a cat for his birthday. Devlin is caught off guard by her beautiful voice and sets out to learn who she is after she leaves. “Purr-Fect Pitch” is a feel good and entertaining love story that leaves the reader wanting more. The story is illed with music, the power of love and cats. The characters are strong, well de ined and written, especially Kat. The reader will relate to how Kat is feeling and her struggles to be who she is. She is tough and does not want any handouts. Devlin wants to encourage her talent and help her any way he can but never thought he would fall in love with her. The reader will enjoy watching Kat and Devlin sneak around at the school and being caught in awkward situations. One will relate to Kat’s feelings and her past. She must do everything on her own. Devlin knows talent when he hears it but must tread carefully with Kat or he could lose her forever. Victoria Zumbrum

Purr-Fect Pitch Carolyn Wren

Katherine Grant is iercely independent and has had to rely on the generosity of other people after her parents died. Her dream is to become a singer and attend the exclusive Perdies College of Music on her own terms. Devlin Jones is the owner of Perdies College of Music and is awakened by a knock from his daughter. He has a hangover and Kat is dressed

Contemporary

A Rose By Any Other Name Alana Lorens

It's 2004 and Marisol Herrera, blogging as Jerrika Jones, sees her blog on single motherhood take off, just as her own son is ready to leave the nest. When an invitation comes for her twentieth high school reunion, she decides to attend and show everyone that she's made something of herself. Russell "Rusty" Asher was the high school jock who married the most popular girl. For a mixed race kid, he thought he had it made. After a nasty divorce and with his two sons barely speaking to him, Rusty isn't sure where his life is going. Marisol represents what he wishes he could have. But Marisol's secret and a sudden accident will force Rusty to decide which risks are worth taking. After twenty years, can the two of them inally make it work? "A Rose By Any Other Name" is a short blast to the past with a neat twist on a high school reunion story! Marisol embodies the many women who have had to raise their children alone. But Rusty provides contrast as a dad confronting a wife with a rich family who makes it nearly impossible for him to be with his boys. Class, race, and social issues are neatly woven throughout the story. It would have helped to

understand Rusty's legal rights toward his sons. Also, when his sons are involved in a serious mishap, the reader never learns their fate. This is due to the weekend storyline, but is rather unfortunate. Even so, readers searching for a sweet romance that offers diverse characters worth smiling and cheering for should look no further than "A Rose By Any Other Name"! Tricia Hill

against another for a man’s affections. While there are some comedic moments between the catty women, the plot of the story comes off a bit longwinded with the huge cast of characters. Because of this, it leaves little time to actually develop a feeling for the personalities of the two main characters. As entertaining as it is poking fun at the world of reality television, the story lacks any real plot surrounding the relationship between Bexley and Grayson. The speed with which Bexley falls for a man she barely knows seems a bit immature. Grayson is a bit more level-headed and has a real crisis of conscience when he realizes his obligations to the show may just send Bexley running. His efforts to balance the two are admirable. This is a cute, uncomplicated story. Fans of realty television shows may enjoy this book. N.E. Kelley

Falling for the Suitor (Suitor Science, Book 1) Holly Kerr

Bexley Carlisle has no desire to participate in a reality show designed to ind true love. To her, true love can’t be found in twelve weekly episodes. However, once she gets a look at Grayson Grant, the man who’s scheduled to be The Suitor, her competitive nature comes out, and she’s in it to win it —and him. Grayson lost out on the previous season of The Suitorette. Now, it’s his turn to choose. However, once he meets Bexley, it’s game over. Except he has contract obligations that must be honored. “Falling for the Suitor” is an inside look at the workings of a reality show designed to pit one woman

Christmas in Silver Leaf Falls (Silver Leaf Falls, Book 6) Brittney Joy

Corporate party planner, Vivienne Thompson, has been ordered by her employer to use up some of her vacation time. What better place to spend her unexpected break than with her great-aunt Gertie in the small town of Silver

Leaf Falls? Especially during the Christmas holiday season. Single dad, Lincoln Murphy, remembers Viv from their adolescent days when she would visit Silver Leaf Falls, and he would crush on her. As tempting as the thought of a holiday ling might be, Linc doesn’t want to give his young daughter the wrong impression. Fortunately, for Viv and Linc, Gertie has the whole thing worked out. “Christmas in Silver Leaf Falls” is a sweet, smalltown romance illed with holiday spirit. The descriptions of the town and the activities surrounding Christmas are well done and very colorful. Linc’s interactions with his daughter, Aunt Gertie, and Viv are heartwarming. The supporting characters, like Gertie, are well rounded without overshadowing the two main characters. Once Viv gets back into the swing of the small town, she easily falls in step with the holiday routine. The story does read like a made-fortelevision holiday movie, which is where it loses some of its luster. There’s nothing that makes it stand out from the others. More depth in Viv’s character explaining why she is so easily able to jump from a corporate whiz to a small town heroine would have been nice. The story is well written and gives one a wonderful sense of community that should carry over into all of the series’ books. Readers who like their holiday romances sweet, if somewhat predictable, will enjoy this book. N.E. Kelley

Contemporary

All The Right Reasons (Serendipity Falls, Book 2) Erin Bevan

Interior designer, Shelby, is about to make her mark on the design world with a huge project. Unfortunately, a combination of both personal loss and business expenses have put her at a low point in her career. Construction company owner, Dane, is also facing some personal challenges when his sensible assistant refuses to become his wife. With both Shelby and Dane scheduled to work on a major renovation, they ind themselves offered a contract to have their work ilmed. However, the offer comes with a glitch. The couple doing the renovations must be married. With everything on the line, the two agree to an arranged marriage for the duration of the job. Contemporary marriages of convenience can be very entertaining when done correctly. In this case, the added element of the production company’s requirements literally forcing the main characters into an arranged marriage is a nice twist. The logic, or lack thereof, that the characters

use to make their decision is entertaining. However, once the story gets into what should be the main plot, there is nothing new to the trope. The interaction between Dane and his exstepmother is unusually interesting and, at times, a bit uncomfortable. The main storyline, however, is predictable. The progression of the relationship between the hero and heroine is consistent, if a little boring. An additional layer of emotion between the two would add to the plot. There are also quite a few grammatical mistakes and missing words. Readers who like their romances on the light side with little romantic complication may enjoy this story. N.E. Kelley

Andrew (Sinful Seduction Book 1) Dania Voss

Charmeine Baker works hard running her parent’s church. She works hard and gets zero appreciation from her family but she continues on. When the owner of the church passes away and his son decides to use the land the church is on for apartments, he offers to let Charmeine buy it for two million dollars. Andrew Knight has been

Contemporary in love with Charmeine for years and despite the two of them sleeping together once, she’s always maintained her distance. When he hears about the situation with the church, he decides it’s time to take drastic action. He makes her an offer of marriage where he will buy the church and give it over to her parents. With no other options, she agrees and immediately moves in with Andrew. Will time spent in close quarters make her realize that they are perfect for one another? Or is Andrew making a huge mistake that could lead to disaster for both of them? The action starts from the very beginning of this novella and progresses quickly into an intriguing story. Charmeine is determined not to give in to Andrew, but there isn’t much push back when it comes to Andrew’s persistence. The sex scenes are hot and well written but one aspect that was a little strange was having them quote bible scripture which may pull some readers out of the zone. It’s a short book with a lot packed into it and great for passing a couple of hours on a cold winter’s night. More depth into the characters would have made the book that much better. However, it is a sensual and fun read. Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

recreate and teach some old dogs new tricks. This is clever writing, however annoying the sisters are, and the chaos the family leaves in their wake is curious and somewhat far-fetched. The romantic relationships and the changes amongst them seem pretty predictable. Nevertheless, this is a feel-good story to distract readers from the real life issues many face daily.

Love is a Filing Cabinet

Viola Robbins

Jeanne Kern

Minn Evans is on her way to a job interview when all that can go wrong does and she lands on a stranger in the elevator after a trip and fall. Needless to say she does not make her interview appointment time and does not get the job she is hoping for. However as fate would have it, the man who came to her aid that morning is a messy art director at the television studio in need of organization that Minn can deliver. Her sister Conn is one that somehow always lands on her feet without trying very hard. She lands the job and a relationship with the boss. Their parents are radical protesting hippies, and when their father has a health scare, it’s Minn to the rescue. She recruits Conn and their mother too. It’s all hands on deck to get dad back on track. “Love is a Filing Cabinet” is a clever story that takes some twists and turns and brings readers along for the wild ride. The characters are a dynamic bunch that ranges from calm, cool, and collected, to the zaniest wild child, and much in between. The situations that arise from helping out parents are endearing and Ms. Kern shows how some can

Confessions of a Fangirl (Book 1: Her Confessions) Kirsten S. Blacketer

Jen attends a meeting at work and this is when she irst spots a new employee. He’s introduced as a new transfer from Denver to the marketing department; Shaun Townsend. All the ladies notice him as he is a ‘hottie’. Jen and her two besties have a standing weekly movie night, tonight the chosen lick is Space Vendetta, which has an amazingly handsome actor that catches Jen off guard. She is so entranced by him she cannot get to her laptop quick enough to investigate all there is to know about him. When Shaun asks her out and they have an amazing date, things are looking up for Jen and her love life… until she gets stuck in a

rabbit hole of fandom and things quickly take a turn.

Ms. Blacketer has penned an entertaining read in “Confessions of a Fangirl”. The main character is drawn as the hard working gal, up for promotions until the world of social media and a fan convention take her main focus. Some of the scenes seem disconnected from ‘the real life’ responsibilities, however this makes for an entertaining read. The great family, great boyfriend, great job also makes it hard to believe that Jen almost throws it all away, when the main character annoys the reader, yet the author has done a great job in the character build. This book will give some clueless fans a deeper insight into what happens to some deeply loyal, hooked fans! Viola Robbins

Ask Me Nicely Dania Voss

them. She agrees, but wants a place of her own to maintain her independence. Harper and Ariana’s brother, Spencer, do not get along and exchange wicked jabs at one another and have for as long as they can remember. How will she handle living in the same part of town in one of his apartments? She secretly likes him and has for years, but refuses to tell anyone. Spencer sees the curvy Harper as nothing but trouble, but why is he so attracted to her when he does not even like her? “Ask Me Nicely” is a steamy story which combines two commonly used tropes: enemies-to-lovers and best-friend’s-brother. It is a simple plot with a twist – Harper harbors a deep secret she has only shared with a few select people. Sizzling heat is mainly what this story is about, with half the book dedicated to intimacy, which tends to overwhelm the plot. There are also disturbing mentions of alleged child sexual assault, suicide, and attempted sexual assault and may not be for the faint-hearted. The sudden, unexplained reappearance of Harper’s abusive stepfather into her life may leave readers bewildered. However, the snarkiness between Harper and Spencer is fun and adds lightness to the tale. For those who love a hot and spicy story, this is a prime candidate. Belinda Wilson

Harper Mitchell’s world is turned upside down when the Feds raid the San Diego real estate irm where she has been working for years and take her boss away in handcuffs. Suddenly without a home or a job, her best friends in Chicago, Ariana and Bethany, talk her into moving in with either of

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Contemporary

Unlock My Heart (Scarred Hearts Book 2) Jennifer Wilck

Abby Marlow is a powerful coding expert who gets hired at one of the best IT security irms in the country. She’s inally reached her goal of becoming inancially independent after the turmoil she experienced in her childhood. However, the CEO of the company, Ted Endicott, may be the only thing standing in her way of success. Ted has been hard of hearing since he was young and has always struggled with being judged by people because of his hearing. Something about Abby, though, has him intrigued. Not only is she gorgeous and smart, but she doesn’t treat him differently because of his hearing. Is he willing to risk falling in love with one of his brand-new employees? Not only is this a romantic slowburn story of love, but also a realistically intense story of two similar beings who do their best to avoid their attractions to one another, whilst dealing with a huge catastrophic crisis at their company. Ms. Wilck does an

amazing job of keeping the reader interested and building the love the two have for one another without rushing into any intense relationship. At one point, the author does use the “only one bed” trope, which feels a bit overused and clich . Though, this scene does set up an intense climax, keeping readers on their toes anticipating the big con lict as it comes full circle. Ted is very pushy at the beginning, but his development, along with the rest of the characters is worth waiting for, and the author does a beautiful job of neatly tying up all the loose ends at the end. Austen Grace

Contemporary

up for her and beating up jerks in her bar, he’s riding to the rescue when her house is set on ire, he’s not acting like his usual self. Maybe he’s not so bad after all.

Readers, be prepared to inish this book in one go. The sassiness of Poppy paired with the unending sarcasm of Chuck will have you laughing until tears run down your face. The way they bicker and faux insult each other, while also falling into lust, then love, is so fun to read and imagine. Finding Chuck sexy and irresistible is a fun process to follow with Poppy. It takes her by surprise, and she ights it as long as she can. The ighting it is the best part! This book is full of colorful and supporting characters. Poppy’s cousins are a hoot and make the bar scenes so much fun that readers will wish they had a neighborhood bar like Poppy’s in their life. This fun and endearing romance will stay with readers long after they’ve inished reading it. Heather McCoubrey

A Fair Warning (Grand Valley Book 1) Dianna Roman

Poppy Prince is the girl no one saw in school and the woman no one can love now. To get revenge on her ex-husband for cheating on her, she wants to leave a bag of dog poo on his front porch. She’s almost able to achieve this until her arch-nemesis inds her and stops her. Her arch-nemesis, Deputy Chuck Duke, has been a thorn in her side since he stood her up in high school. He’s always pushing her buttons, and now he’s acting differently—he’s standing

Wine Country King (California Suits #2) Claire Marti

While Campbell has clung to a secret crush on Jack since her brother brought him home during

their ROTC years, Jack has always looked at Campbell’s family as his own, which includes her being something like his little sister. When Jack decides to put roots down and open a hotel with Campbell, his view of her suddenly changes and Campbell’s feelings haven’t diminished over the course of her years chasing the title Master Sommelier. The duo are passionate about achieving their dreams, but coming back together ignites passions neither one of them are prepared for. Jack and Campbell both worry that their feelings for each other could put their work on shaky ground, not to mention they have no idea how Campbell’s brother would feel about a relationship between them. But reason and logic tend to burn to ash when love gets involved. Fine wine and hard emotions mixed with a scorching forcedproximity romance are sure to please the reader’s palate! Jack and Campbell are immediately relatable to readers through their dedication to achieve their dreams and their interactions with each other. This is slightly lost as the transition between them being resolved to resist their attraction and giving into that irst taste is nonexistent. This combined with the childish way they sometimes handle their growing relationship may leave readers feeling frustrated. However, the story is illed with sweet moments and amazing details that sweep readers into a world that feels like a vacation. Jack’s immense love and respect for Campbell shines off the page as he often admires her talents and intelligence. All in all, “Wine Country King” is a swoon-worthy tale Annalee Stilove

Paranormal/Fantasy

Heart of Lies (Alice Worth Book 7)

contains multiple plots, is exceedingly long, and at times Alice seems almost sel ish or childish in her decisions which feels out of character for her. The personal growth Alice shows is the best part of this story as she learns to let go of her past traumas and begins to fully trust those closest to her. A magical novel sure to leave the reader spellbound. Marie Sanderson

Lisa Edmonds

Private Investigator and Mage, Alice Worth, is at it again. Working to help solve unusual cases often involving the supernatural is Alice’s specialty. With her current relationship strained by the addition of her birth father staying with them, Alice struggles to ind her place in the pack. When mob boss Moses Murphy, her cruel and dangerous grandfather, inds her and gives her an ultimatum, Alice must come to terms with the fact that she may lose everything she has worked for. After her new case of a missing artist drops her right into the middle of a deadly game with the dark fae, she must use every trick she has to not only make it out alive but keep all of the others involved safe as well. Book seven in the series, “Heart of Lies” is full of shocking and thrilling twists that keeps the reader riveted from the beginning. Witches, wolves, ghosts, fae, and more are all intertwined to create a unique storyline. Readers who are not familiar with the previous books in the series may ind it a little dif icult to understand who is who, their relevant backgrounds, or past histories brought up throughout. This story

Necromancer Abbey (Souls and Shadows Book 3) Adrienne Blake

two is tested when she uses her power to help Henry’s family. The gift back ires and could destroy Henry’s true feelings for her.

An exhilarating, roller coaster, paranormal, romantic fantasy! Ms. Blake writes beautifully, bringing together a magical world living in perfect harmony with the real world. It is easy to visualize each place, even as magical creatures pass through, enhancing the story rather than hindering it. In the beginning, the story moves slowly, taking a while to really get going. Catherine, the shy, compelling heroine, grows throughout the novel, while Henry is truly an enigma, never exposing how he truly feels, even though readers will sense them. Cat and Henry manage to bring out the best in each other, though Henry does seem a little weak, especially since he doesn’t ight back against others, including his father. Readers, especially fans of Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” will savor and delight in the otherworldly fantastical tale! Roslynn Ernst

Catherine “Cat” Morland is a necromancer who communicates with the dead. She is forced to hide it because her parents have told her it is an evil talent. When a neighbor invites her to the magical Big Apple, New York City, Catherine is apprehensive about leaving home—until she meets Henry Tilney, who is going to be her mentor. Catherine secretly likes Henry and decides to go just to be close to him. As Catherine works in the magic shop with Henry, she learns how truly powerful she is. Instead of ighting her talent, Catherine learns to harness and control it. As Catherine gets closer to Henry, the shaky relationship between the

Paranormal/Fantasy

It's a Wonderful Lie (Heaven on Earth Book 1) Wren Michaels

Tricia Hill

It's Christmas Eve and Eden is miserable as she thinks of her cheating ex- ianc , the loss of her grant, and the quarrel with her mother. After drowning her sorrows in eggnog, she hunts for a Christmas tree, only to have one topple on her! As her guardian angel, Theliel has been saving Eden since she was born, except not in corporeal form which breaks all kinds of rules. But he's determined to pull Eden out of her funk and illuminate her worth. For one magical night, Eden discovers love and acceptance, only to have it disappear into a mist of memories. Theliel is given a choice: return to the angel fold and break from Eden or become completely human without memories of her. It will be up to love to be their guiding light as the two souls must ind one another and fall in love all over again! "It's a Wonderful Lie" brilliantly spins off the classic holiday movie to provide a fresh and enchanting tale of love, forgiveness, and faith! Eden is hilarious in her thoughts and antics, and at the same time recognizable as a young woman

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searching for love and acceptance, while downplaying all that she has to offer. Theliel, aka Theo and Teddy, is not only gorgeous, but he is also compassionate and caring, a quality that stays with him even in human form. While the sexual chemistry between the two is palpable, it is the soul-deep connection they have forged that guides them back to each other. "It's a Wonderful Lie" wraps up a heartwarming romance into a story that sparkles and shines from start to inish!

A Kingdom of Iron and Wine (The Ironworld Series Book 1) Candace Osmond

Avery Quinn lives in rural Nova Scotia. Her reclusive Aunt Tess has home-schooled her and raised Avery in a heavily sheltered upbringing. Not satis ied with her limited local opportunities, Avery and her friend Julie conspire to move to the big city to study after graduation. The bold move just happens to coincide with Avery’s eighteenth birthday, and when she starts getting nightmares and hallucinations, her world broadens in more ways than she could have imagined. Do vampires, fairies, and winged

monsters really exist? Or is she a country girl in way over her head? There are plenty of secrets to uncover and the biggest of all is that Avery is not your ordinary human. Avery’s awakening unfolds very slowly, little clues to the supernatural dropping into her path like crumbs in the forest. Candace Osmond’s imagination delivers fresh visions of diverse magical species, and cool pockets of hidden spaces that exist between our world, called Ironworld by the Fae, and Faerie, the world occupied by fairies, pixies, and nightmarish fae. At times, it seems as if the story keeps doubling back to the same characters for answers that they did not supply initially. Avery’s greatest threat may be the shadowy assassin stalking her for reasons unknown. It may be her new boyfriend, Cillian, who is hiding his true nature. Or it may be Avery herself, who is portrayed as uncommonly clumsy, foolishly prone to wandering into dark places, and incapable of intelligently processing new information. Readers will be kept in suspense just as Avery inds her bearings with Julie, Cillian, and her new supernatural friends. This lays the groundwork to a promising new series. Joan Lai

Embrace the Moon (Eternal Moon Series #4)

afraid, is truly captivating. Readers will ind his upbeat friendly personality as hard to resist as Skyler does. The way in which Skyler allows herself to be healed is remarkable. The courage she shows in order to be with the man she has fallen for is nothing short of heartwarming. All this is wrapped in a paranormal world so beautifully written it’s easy for the reader to get swept away. Annalee Stilove

Vicki Crum

With his band, Open Road, and his werewolf form, Ethan has everything his heart desires. At least that’s what he thought until he comes face to face with the hauntingly beautiful Skyler. Now Ethan wants nothing more than to have the one thing he never knew was missing from his life, a woman of his own to love, more speci ically, Skyler. The only problem is, she’s running like a bunny from a starving wolf. After experiencing how completely the lifestyle of fame and fortune can destroy someone and their family, there is zero way Skyler is getting mixed up in that. Besides, she has no time for a serious relationship with all the work she does. She’s always been good at guarding her heart, but somehow Ethan’s charm manages to slip past her barriers, which both thrills and terri ies her. An emotionally healing story illed with love that is sure to soothe the soul like a swoon-worthy country love song. Ethan is a surprising werewolf illed with happiness who has a heart of gold. His protective instincts towards Skyler are clearly present, but his dedication to inding out what makes her happy, and why she is

Her Dark Star Marj W. Ivancic

can see and hear Finnan in his tiny, enchanted prison and maybe set him free!

“Her Dark Star” is a fanciful jaunt along the boundary where our world meets make believe. It really is a few books rolled into one. It begins with Finnan waking up in Nadya’s living room and inding himself in a time dysphoria scenario, having to bring himself up to speed on current events. The middle part is the romance. If Finnan escapes his ball, will he stay or will he go? Can Nadya even trust him if he does stay? The last part is high suspense. Finnan has enemies and friends from beyond the Veil. How can he hide from one while revealing himself to the other? There will be monsters and explosions! The various parts are uncomfortable and unevenly paced and require the reader’s goodwill to accept some of the developments. “Her Dark Star” holds much to love for fantasy lovers, and romantics will enjoy the strong ending. Joan Lai

SUSPENSE: Finnan Dark Star, once a powerful and philandering warlock, has been trapped inside a magical crystal ball for a thousand years. He was outsmarted by his lover for possession of a prized grimoire and ended up imprisoned by her. Now he is a disembodied consciousness with nothing but the time to watch the world go by. Fast forward to present day, and the crystal that Finnan is trapped inside has accidentally come into the possession of Nadya D’Zugi. But wait! Is it an accident or is it Fate? Because Nadya just happens to be someone special, a mortal who

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Paranormal/Fantasy

The Cross of Tarlis: The Awakening (The Tarlisian Sagas) Julie D'Arcy

FANTASY/URBAN FANTASY: War is ravaging the land and with its many kingdoms. Tannith of Ellenroh, Princess of Dragonbane’s castle, is besieged, and her father, the king, has gone missing. Taking direction from the Council, she starts on a quest to end the war by assembling the Cross of Tarlis in order to raise her god and save her people. She takes her faithful faerie friend, Skylah, and her best friend and warrior, Etan, with her on the quest. On their journey they join with Kaden of the Wol head and his cursed brother, despite his reluctance. Both parties want to stop the necromancer, Sernon of Asomos, from gaining the cross. Much danger as well as many distractions stand in the way of them achieving their goal. They especially need to learn to trust one another, or evil will win the day. Julie D’Arcy makes the world of Tarlis come alive with faeries, dwarves, elves, and new races. A constant racing adventure. There are so many new characters each moment and more than one enemy so a list is needed to keep

track of where everyone is and who they are with. There is more than a love triangle with Skylah pining for Etan, and Etan set on Tannith, and Tannith wanting Kaden, and Kaden lusting for Tannith but insisting on denying any attraction. A wonderful fantasy packed with ighting, magic, and lore. A vivid world is created with lawed, relatable characters. Readers will be anxious for the next installment once they inish this nonstop, can’t-put-it-down adventure. Cara Cieslak

Pints & Potions (The Unlucky Charms #1) T.M. Cromer

accomplished. Follow Piper and Cian as they learn secrets about each other, attempt to decipher a riddle in an ancient grimoire, and try not to fall in love.

T. M. Cromer knocks it out of the park with this laugh out loud paranormal story. Piper is such an adventurous character, it’s hard not to love her. Cian and Piper have such a familiarity between them that it seems like they have known each other forever. Cian makes their relationship very uncomplicated, and their witty banter is highly entertaining. Where some readers may ind their feelings for each other develop too quickly, it does make the story very fast-paced and edgy. Even the side characters have fantastically cute and humorous personalities, which makes this one a very engaging page-turner. The setting of the story, Ireland, makes this story a little exotic and even more entertaining. The environment of Ireland and the accents that come with it make for some pretty amazing storytelling. Jennifer Shepherd

Piper Thorne decides it’s time for a change and jets off to take a vacation in Ireland. Not looking for love and trying to get away from unwanted attention because of her extremely powerful family, she is determined to spend her vacation unbothered. However, Cian O’Malley, a handsome warlock, spots Piper the minute she walks into his pub and is instantly mesmerized. Cian, coming from a cursed family, is unable to use his powers, but he is determined to change that, and with the help of Piper, this may be something that can actually be

far between. As one travels rough the story, the arcs come together for the inale, and the big question of whether or not there will be a happily ever after. A fascinating remix of a popular fairy tale with some very sexy differences. One to add to the e-reader and to be read list! Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

Pink Guitars and Falling Stars (Rockin’ Fairy Tales Book 1) Leslie O’Sullivan

A competition between an A list singer and someone who wants to get to the top… Justin MacKenzie is an indie musician and wants nothing more than to be a star. He enters a competition that pits him against Zeli, a singer with insanely long hair and an amazing voice. Zeli is a pop sensation and everything Justin doesn’t like. What Justin doesn’t expect is to fall for Zeli after a kiss, and see that the life of the hotshot singer is not all that it appears. Both embark on a journey to try and make sure that the real Zeli can step out and be seen. Will they be able to igure out what’s going on and keep their relationship? This is an interesting take on the story of Rapunzel. Character development is interesting and Leslie O’Sullivan has de initely nailed the initial animosity between Justin and Zeli. As they become closer, the relationship jumps off the page and morphs beautifully. There are awesome love scenes with a lot of description which pull the reader right in and keep a tight grip. Some aspects of the story slow down some, but they are few and

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Paranormal/Fantasy

Forever After (Vampire Reality Show #1) Ashley R. King

most would turn out to be his true mate, nor that they’d have a murderer to catch. This adorable, charming story adds a twist to vampire romance that is sure to leave readers thirsting for more. Autumn and Oliver’s relationship starts out rocky with hilarious banter, but the deep impact they have on each other and how good they are together builds page by page in a way that’s hard for readers to resist. Oliver truly cares about the people in his life and will stop at nothing to see them happy and taken care of. The growth Autumn experiences through their relationship is truly inspiring. Autumn brings light back into Oliver’s life and makes him truly feel alive again. Their growing relationship is wrapped up with a fantastic mystery and an air of suspense that keeps the reader lipping the page. This story is one of true growth, and love not to be missed. Annalee Stilove

Autumn’s unadventurous, routine life has started to weigh on her and is worrying her father. When the opportunity to join a dating game show to win Oliver, a vampire duke, presents itself, Autumn doesn’t hesitate. She knows she won’t win, but the experience will be exciting nonetheless. Having a horrible irst encounter with Oliver isn’t what she expected, but neither is developing feelings for him. The coming-out of paranormal beings has put a dent in Oliver’s inances, to a point that he must agree to his friend Max’s dating show idea. The thing sounds absurd to Oliver, but the money will save his family’s estate and his people. He never dreamed the human contestant that hates him the

Suspense/Thriller as well. Readers may ind this super luous as it does not add to the linear plot. Drug use is prevalent along with pornography, blackmail, kidnapping and murder. The writing style is basic but the overall story is riveting with all its creative twists and turns. If some of the unnecessary side topics could have been streamlined with more focus on the main plot, this would be an enthusiastic ive star read!

Fallen Star R. Weir

Ruth Lynn Ritter

After a job gone horri ically wrong and a less than stellar dismissal from the Marshal’s service, Hunter has found work in private security and investigation. It’s satisfying and pays well, even if it can be dangerous and the specter of his past continues to haunt him. His newest case is to uncover who is behind a blackmail scheme against a very high-pro ile actress. The job takes him and his team to the seedy underworld of the casinos in Reno, Nevada. As the investigation progresses, it becomes evident there are layers and layers of corruption, evil and very dangerous entities vying for control. Hunter is soon caught up and in way over his head as betrayals run deep and money and murder go hand in hand. With all the forbidden attractions one inds in the world of glitzy casinos, this story keeps readers on the edge of their seat! Enjoyment will depend largely on what one is looking for and comfortable with, however. A large portion of the book revolves around Hunter’s sexual appetites with women and his continual cheating on the women he cares about. This topic is also explored with almost every other character,

Wayne does an excellent job writing their story and portraying their attraction to one another. The hesitancy that Jess faces in moving forward is compelling, as the readers get a glimpse of her personal life growing up and the troubles that she has faced. At times, conversations between Jess and Seth seem elementary and forced, which make some pages cringe-worthy. However, the years of romantic tension and attraction may play into the rudimentary dialogue. As far as the action and thrill go, there is much to go around. The hatred in Jack’s voice can be felt through the pages and as the plot progresses, the thrill ampli ies until the very end. The ending is done in a way that completed both the romance and the con lict with Jack Walls. Overall, “The Detail” is a nice, quick read that follows the tension between both love and crime. Sadie Wilson

The Detail Dana Wayne

Detectives Jessica Foster and Seth Hamilton have been on the hunt for a suspected murderer, Jack Walls. When they are assigned to bring him in to face charges, traveling back home they notice they are being followed by a Jeep. As their suspicion arises, they try to get back quickly, but end up stuck in a dust storm. The next thing they know, their tires are shot out and both Jess and Seth are injured. The two detectives work together to bring Jack Walls to justice, while also iguring out their own romantic troubles along the way. The tension between Jessica and Seth can be cut with a knife. Dana

Serve ‘N’ Protect Tee O'Fallon

Cassidy Morgan is a freelance accountant that was recently left with limited mobility after a terrible car accident. Soon after the accident, her ianc left her due to her disability and she was

Suspense/Thriller left to deal with the trauma alone, swearing she would never let anyone break her heart again. Until one day she hears barking from her neighbor’s house leading her to ind Markus York, a U.S. Secret Service K-9 Of icer, laying on the ground nearly unconscious after an accident. He has been living under a false identity while his team works to ind the man that attacked him and killed another. Together, Cassidy and Markus learn to lean on each other and accept help from each other as they both deal with hardship. “Serve ‘N’ Protect” is an intense story from start to inish that is full of mystery, action, and romance. The book introduces us to Markus York and his K-9 in a way that grabs the reader and forces their attention on his backstory. The romance and tension between Cassidy and Markus are incredibly wellwritten. They have a pure and realistic connection that slowly develops throughout the novel. Both characters have troubled history that affects how they interact with each other, and it was beautiful to see a relationship that isn’t picture perfect. Many hints are dropped early in the novel to help the reader deduce who is responsible for the incidents involving Cassidy, but it is done in a way that there is still shock when the culprit is inally caught. Overall, this novel elicits raw emotion and sprinkles in important concepts such as sexuality and disability. Sadie Wilson

throughout. The dialogue is authentic for the characters, and Kevin Landt has done his homework on some of the LA scenes. This book, albeit short and sweet, could be so much more with another sweep of thorough editing, and adding some more description and showing. All in all, it’s a promising read with some interesting characters. Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

Myface Landt Genre:

Angela Fox is the queen of Myface, a social media app that everyone is talking about. When her account is the hottest of the month, things go into overdrive and everything starts to unravel. You see, Angela is not real. Sebastian Shafer is determined to make a name for himself, if it comes to using Angela Fox to do it, then so be it. He convinces his potential employer that he has a connection with the elusive Angela Fox, and it can bring them more fame than they can handle. What Sebastian doesn’t expect is to be dragged into the middle of a murder when a stage play director ends up dead. Sebastian may have bitten off more than he can chew, and with a murderer on the loose, it could wind up being a lot worse than he could ever have anticipated. “Myface” has an interesting concept in a world where social media is prevalent and so many people use it. It brings the subject of cat- ishing out in the open, and winds up in an interesting story and murder mystery with it. However, there is a lot of telling rather than showing, and the book needs to go through editing as there are typos and mistakes

From Fame To Ruin Jina S. Bazzar

Carol is dreading a light, the weather is bad and the meeting she needs to attend to prepare her for a legal battle is worse yet. While waiting at the airport, she is befriended by a certain chatty male. Ricardo is quite taken with Carol and has an undeniable magnetism that both seem to appreciate. When lights are canceled, they throw caution to the wind and end up at the resort for the weekend, leaving all other cares behind. Her family dynamics leave her plagued, and with an arranged marriage looming, matters only get more complicated. Add a handsome rock star in the mix and things take a wild journey. Can Carol and

Suspense/Thriller Ricardo repair relationships that are on destructive paths? Hang on for this wild ride! Ms. Bazzar has created an amazing story in “From Fame To Ruin”. Each chapter changes from four years prior to the current time, from Rio de Janeiro to England, and manages to intersect to a grand inale. The characters are plentiful, however readers will have their bearings on this tale a few chapters in. The family dynamic that Carol endures in her early life is more than most ever have to experience. The hero, many will ind endearing, and the heroine is one to love but it’s the second chance on love and a family that’s the warm blanket that wraps this book up beautifully. Readers should keep this author on their favorites list. Viola Robbins

Light At The End Henry G. M. Jones

that stole him from Gordon. Wyatt silently points the way from beyond the grave, leading Gordon from one target to the next. Reluctant but desperate, Gordon quietly carries out his son’s wishes in hopes of freeing him from purgatory. Gordon’s vigilantism attracts the attention of Ruben Keller, a homicide detective with a personal stake in the recent string of pedophile murders. Ruben’s daughter was kidnapped ive years ago, and he has been searching for her ever since. Could the latest serial killer be the ally he needs to inally ind her? “Light At The End” is smart and riveting. The victimization of children is a chilling and ugly reality, but Henry G.M. Jones gives it empathy by authentically showing us two fathers desperately seeking redemption for what they have lost. He gives it hope by imagining what the voiceless could hope to say. He gives it a soul by envisioning the cosmic connection that unites us from one plane of existence to the next. Gordon and Ruben’s singleminded commitment to pursuing justice, and closure, for their children, makes for a very plotdriven novella. Re lecting on whether retribution is the only form of that closure brings some needed depth. This story is beautifully written, thoughtfully crafted, and classy in its delivery. Joan Lai

PARANORMAL: Gordon Fulmer is a good father. But he failed his son when he lost Wyatt to a parent’s worst nightmare—a child’s death. Now, Wyatt is asking him to combat the evil that preys on society’s most innocent and helpless citizens, the same evil

Dunmoor London Clarke

Lady Helena Winters hasn’t seen her husband in over a year. Because of his unexpected disappearance, she has gone back to live with her father in Kent. Unsure of what her next step should be, she decides to accompany her father on a visit to the Dunmoor estate. Her husband grew up on the estate, and there are rumors that it is cursed. Upon arrival she meets Luke Lennox, the man who recently purchased the estate to turn it into a foundling hospital. Together they experience some strange and spooky occurrences at Dunmoor, and Lady Helena Winters’ stay becomes a much longer one than intended. In “Dunmoor”, London Clarke does an excellent job of building the atmosphere of a good old fashioned gothic story. However, there are a few trigger warnings that come with this book, such as sexual abuse of a minor, incest, sex traf icking, and some very graphic content. The characters are well developed, but it would be interesting to learn a little bit more about each of them so that there is more of a connection. The story is a bit slow-paced until

Suspense/Thriller about the halfway point, but overall is illed with spinetingling moments. The author leaves the ending very open, leading the reader to believe there may be a continuation in the future. There is a lot going on in this story, so it could be overwhelming for some, but this book will de initely give the reader chills and ensure that they keep their lights on. Jennifer Shepherd

Danger Unknown Kathi Oram Peterson

Brooke Steward, the wife of a murdered police of icer, is on the run. Brooke’s quick thinking turns into the unimaginable - a car accident - leaving her with a concussion and at the mercy of a good Samaritan, Michael Calder. Michael’s military history not only plagues him with nightmares, but his training as a military medic enables him to help Brooke. Michael’s solace since leaving the military is found in his horses who he trains to help people heal from trauma. Brooke trusts Michael even though her head tells her not to, her heart knows what is right. While Michael’s horses help others heal, Brooke may be who he needs to heal from his own traumas.

“Danger Unknown” will have readers on the run from the beginning. The fear of a mother protecting her child is relatable and convincing. Kathi Oram Peterson skillfully invites readers into the inner thoughts of both main characters. The ultimate plot of why Brooke is on the run is bogged down by other characters who possibly need a story of their own. Unfortunately, the absence of suspense, surprise, and clues may not allow readers the opportunity to solve the mystery. However, there are action scenes that will keep readers riveted to discover that evil doesn’t always win. Readers will love the evolution of Brooke’s and Michael’s relationship in “Danger Unknown”, giving everyone the hope that they, too, will ind their own Montana cowboy.

Young Adult

Fae’s Ascent (Clover Book 2) Nicole Kilpatrick

revel in the fun addition, and those unfamiliar will not catch the signi icance. The relationships between characters are what really make this book shine. Each character’s voice and dialogue are distinct. The plot is well-paced and Ms. Kilpatrick’s suspense building is incredibly skillful in nature, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they read. “Fae’s Ascent” cleverly blends excellent worldbuilding with charismatic character work. Shailyn Rogers

FANTASY: After a harrowing experience with Alistair, Clover lives safely with her family and friends amongst the Seelie Court. She learns to use her newly found powers and enjoys time with her leprechaun boyfriend, Finn. But the danger is not over yet. When Alistair begins scheming again, the Seelie and Unseelie courts must go to war. And Clover is forced to retreat beneath the waves with her merrow family. Finn discovers unexpected information about his parentage and is forced to make a dif icult choice. Betrayals happen left and right, leaving the Seelie court reeling and not knowing who is friend, and who is foe. Nicole Kilpatrick crafts a spellbinding, fantastical world with her take on the Faerie courts. “Fae’s Ascent” is best read in sequence with the irst book of the series. This sequel references many characters and events from the previous book, leaving a new to the series reader feeling a little left behind until they inally learn who’s who. Ms. Kilpatrick created a world of fascinating characters, lush with Irish folklore references. Much of that folklore is sprinkled in without much explanation, meaning those who know it will

Unreal Cindy Gunderson

Further away in the Southwest Territory is Mila. She is real. Her parents chose to refuse integration with the communities and fought for that right, but over time their population dwindled as more chose to leave. With lack of support from the communities, resources are scarce. Mila and three others work together in search of a better alternative. Cindy Gunderson created a thought-provoking and immersive read. From the beginning, the tone implies a beautiful world that was created logically. However, the idea of conspiracy and underlying societal issues are introduced early in the plot. Readers can speculate with this new information as it doesn’t come full circle until the end of the novel. “Unreal” encourages readers to grapple with complex ethical concerns as the characters struggle with their own choices regarding free will and what makes life real. This speaks volumes about what makes humans who they are and the value of real experiences, while also encouraging the continual pursuit of intellectual advancement. Sadie Wilson

DYSTOPIAN: Channel is a seventeen-year-old girl living in the Paradise 3 Community. She is unreal. Everyone in the communities have a retinal implant that allows them to see any virtual reality they want. After the earthquake, these communities were built to reduce waste and preserve the little resources that were still available to them. However, not everyone was readily accepting of the new way of life and refused to enter the communities. Channel has always believed her way of life was the better choice, but when the new technology, Cerebrolink, is introduced doubt sets in.

New Adult

Faerie Magic (Curse of the Fae, Book 1) Anna Applegate

PARANORMAL: When foster teen, Coraline (Cora), accidentally bumps her head and falls faceirst in water, she’s pulled into the

strange and intriguing world of the Fae. Because it’s forbidden for a human to return to their own world once they’ve learned of the Fae, Cora is hauled away by the Fae guard and destined to be imprisoned and serve the heir to the Fae kingdom’s throne. Fortunately for Cora, Noah Driscoll doesn’t support using humans as a feeding/energy source. Cora and Noah work together to fool the others and embark on a secret they both must keep. “Faerie Magic” begins with background on Cora and the unfortunate circumstances of her life as a foster child. The friendships she forms with the other fringe people who inhabit the local park give great insight into her personality, including her desire for independence. As well,

the park people’s friendship toward Cora is well done. However, the beginning background moves a bit slowly, and some of the extra characters seem thrown in and not necessary to the story. The independence Cora desires is the irst thing she loses once she becomes a captive of the Fae. Noah shows great compassion in giving Cora a way to avoid being given to someone who’d have no qualms about feeding on her for energy. The development of Cora’s feelings for not only the Fae but, especially, for Noah is well done. The story is a standalone, with a conclusion, yet it also sets up the world itself for future stories. Fans of fantasy with a touch of romance will certainly enjoy “Faerie Magic.” N.E. Kelley

Time -Travel

Echoes of Abandon (Echos in Time #2) Paula Quinn

It is the year 2019, and Michael Pendridge is suffering. He is a detective mourning the loss of his partner. He is approached about a case by a Mr. Green and receives a

brooch that magically takes him back to England in the 18th century. He inds himself in the middle of a crowd and runs into the most beautiful pick-pocket he has ever seen. Lady Charlotte Whimsby is in league with some dangerous men with power. Her estranged father, who is also a judge, is tired of Charlotte’s antics and hires Michael to watch over her. Michael has never met anyone like Charlotte but is torn because he believes in upholding the law at all costs. But he isn’t from this time, so why was he brought here? Those who are familiar with the Echoes in Time series will love the continuation of this time-travel love story. The beginning starts off strong with the mystery of the brooch, but that plot point is put on the backburner. If someone from 2019 found themselves in the 18th century, they would face

more hardships than running into a beautiful pick-pocket. Michael doesn’t disguise his accent and constantly talks about the future. It feels so far farfetched that it strains believability. Then there is Charlotte. There is nothing to like about her. She is entitled and thinks way too highly of herself. The story's pace is pretty slow and there are moments when random characters show up with no explanation. If readers start from the beginning of this series the plot would probably make more sense and it could be a timetravel favorite. Amanda Hupe

Science Fiction

Anatu of The Human: Tunrian Cyborgs Book 2 Marie Dry

President of Earth, John Davies has agreed to take a cyborg as his bride in an arranged marriage.

John needs to ind out more about the cyborgs and marrying one seems to be a good way to do it. What he didn’t expect were the feelings that would slam into him when he starts to get his bride better. Anatu had a mission and she was determined to see it through. But when her new husband takes her to bed every single night, her feelings for him become something she thought might never happen. He treats her well and is attractive in ways she never thought a human could be. Both of them have a different mission, but will they come together in their battle as they have as husband and wife? Or will their own agendas pull them apart?

The reader is thrown right into this story from the irst page. Anatu is an interesting character who is intriguing to say the least. There are a few funny moments, particularly when she tries to grasp the names of the female anatomy. Searing love scenes and the dynamic between Anatu and John is electric and it’s awesome to go through their journey with them. Marie Dry has a great imagination and has a knack for description and characterization. For fans of science iction, this is one they’ll love. It might be a good idea to go back to the irst book as there is some information that might need to come from that. However, this takes nothing away from the awesome story. Lynn-Alexandria McKendrick

and twists and turns one will not see coming. One will enjoy getting to know Miriam and Sam, feeling that each personality complements the other, and will enjoy watching them fall in love. One will be caught off guard with the ending, in the best won’t-haveseen-it-coming way! A must read for lovers of mystery with a paranormal twist.

The Foresight of Miriam Asquith

HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL: Rumors have circulated for years that Lady Miriam can see the future. When an attempted kidnapping goes wrong, Captain Sam Burke is sent to her estate to determine her abilities and to protect her if necessary. Sam has been on numerous assignments and has a past of his own. What he inds at Lady Miriam’s estates is a truly amazing woman with a unique ability, and a brother who believes in his sister’s ability, and a father who thinks she has a sickness. “The Foresight of Miriam Asquith” is a story combining real history with a very believable iction story. Timothy Best has done an excellent job of combining fact and iction and holding the reader’s attention throughout the book. One will be drawn into the story from the very irst page until the very end as one will try to igure out what the plot is and what is going to happen next. When the reader thinks they have the story igured out, the author throws you in another direction. Mr. Best has created very realistic characters and describes the scenes in that period well. There is a lot of action and gun ights,

cured of being a werewolf to be with her. He is tired of his immortality, so the formula must work to cure him.

When Kurt Bludgeoned Rusty (Whichur-Wolfe Detection Book Four)

“When Kurt bludgeoned Rusty” is a fantastical story with a convoluted plot keeping the reader engaged and guessing who the murderer might be. The characters are not all who they appear to be. The world building is exceptional, and it is easy to imagine the town of Killaman Falls and its surrounding woods. The townspeople are eccentric, as they have their monthly Full Moon Protection parties (FMP). They are delightful as they interact with one another donning their costumes for this FMP as this one coincides with Halloween. The back and forth between Emmalyst and Connor is enchanting. Connor throws out snippets of history throughout the story making it even more interesting. A beautifully written, cohesive story! One will de initely want to read the entire series.

Beth Henderson

Belinda Wilson

Connor Wolfe is currently living in Killaman Falls, New Hampshire, a very rural place where little happens until Emmalyst Whichur shows up to settle her murdered godmother’s affairs. Her godmother’s work on a secret formula to cure the werewolf virus is the target of a company run by a werewolf, Saltikoff. Connor, the reluctant werewolf, and Emmalyst team up to get the formula to the right person and solve the murders in Killaman Falls. When Rusty Olmstede is found bludgeoned to death, her husband, Kurt, is the assumed culprit, but is he? Emmalyst falls for Connor, and Connor falls for Emmalyst, but he wants to be

Another Day, Another Partner

Victoria Zumbrum

Timothy Best

Rachel Mucha

Of icer Luciana “Lulu” Martinelli prefers to work alone. Every

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Mystery

partner she’s ever had turns out to be a dud, beginning with the irst one that broke her heart and disappeared the next day. Unfortunately, her captain - who happens to be her father - has no intention of letting his daughter go it alone. So when he assigns her to his latest recruit, a former Boston detective, Dominic Delgado, who is both gorgeous and talented at his job, Lulu smells trouble. When the big-city cop is attacked after his irst day on the job, Lulu and Dom ind themselves involved in an investigation Dom thought he’d escaped. Then to complicate matters further, Lulu’s exboyfriend resurfaces with ties to the case. Teaming up with her old partner and her new one could be dangerous to Lulu’s heart, but with some serious criminals in town, she just might need that partner to watch her back after all.

Lulu suspects Dominic will be trouble when she hears his name, and to a reader’s delight the combo of Lulu and Dominic is more than trouble, it’s pure comedic drama. The story is split between Lulu’s relationships and investigating the criminals that have arrived in Lulu’s quiet Rhode Island town. In terms of con lict, Lulu has a great deal of potential bogged down in inexperience and partner trouble, that are mostly worked through. This growth is supported by the quirky cast of side characters. Although some of Lulu’s decisions are more reckless entertainment than good cop work. Still fans of cop comedies and boy meets girl romances will ind themselves caught up in the process and all the hijinks until the end. Sarah E Bradley

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Mystery

Songbird (Jax Diamond Mysteries #1)

contrived moments to bring the investigation to a conclusion that will satisfy the reader. The romance between Jax and Laura sparks from the beginning and amuses to the end but leaves room for further development. Overall, readers who like detective stories or cozy mysteries will enjoy reading about Jax, Laura, and Jax’s dog Ace investigating the murder all over New York and will most likely end this book ready for book two.

Gail Meath

Sarah E Bradley

Jax Diamond has an instinct for trouble and as a sharp, sophisticated, private detective he knows in his gut when something is wrong. When his latest assignment, a Broadway playwright turns up dead, Jax’s instinct screams that what looks like a heart attack is murder. After all, the victim’s new manuscript is missing, and several folks would pay a lot of dough for it. As he begins his investigation, he inds himself drawn to the beautiful rising star Laura Graystone, who seems to be tied into the case, but is not as helpless as she seems. Laura just wants to sing, but when danger begins to follow her, she’ll have to trust Jax and trust her own ingenuity to save them both and ind the answers Jax needs before the killer strikes again.

Shopping Can Be Deadly (A Discount Detective Mystery #3)

Set in the roaring 20s, New York, “Songbird” is a mystery and romance rolled together. The irst in the series, both Jax and Laura are presented as complex characters with plenty of depth to still explore. The plot is driven in two directions, irst by the mystery and second the romance between Jax and Laura. The mystery itself has a few twists and turns, with a couple of more

Charlotte Stuart

Cameron Chandler, a single mom and detective working for Pennywise Investigations, is faced with a terrifying experience when an active shooter appears in the same mall as her place of work. When Cameron tries to aid a gunshot victim, she is swept away by someone who could possibly be the shooter. Once outside, she realizes the person who pulled her from the mall is Gary, a man who once saved her life. He confesses that he is the intended target for the shooter and asks if she can watch his dog, Bandit,

Mystery

while he disappears for the time being. Cameron agrees, albeit reluctantly, and once Bandit is home with her, things begin to spiral out of control. What is Gary tied up in, and is helping him really worth putting her family at risk? And who exactly was the shooter at the mall? In “Shopping Can Be Deadly”, the character development is fantastic. Ms. Stuart does an incredible job of making the characters relatable in their own ways and even throws in some quirky characteristics that are very endearing. The story did have a slow start, but it didn’t take long for the pace to pick up. And while this book doesn’t follow Gary so much as the shooter, it is intriguing and dif icult to put down. The solid mystery will keep the reader guessing as they follow Cameron and her colleagues through interviews and property searches, trying to uncover the true motive behind the mall shooter. This mystery will surely entertain readers who love downto-earth characters, and dogs, of course. Jennifer Shepherd

French Ghost (Paris Ghost Writer Series #1) Corinne LaBalme

He is certainly a man shrouded in mystery, and Melody is very intrigued. While the story is incredibly engaging, it does end rather abruptly, leaving very many unanswered questions. The reader may ind that there are too many loose ends, even though this is only the irst book in a series. Nevertheless, “French Ghost” is a story of intrigue and mystery that will keep the reader on their toes and eager to continue on with the series. Jennifer Shepherd

Melody Lane, a ghostwriter, is hired by a French movie star, Charles-Henri Banville, to write his memoir. Unfortunately, he drowns before they are able to even begin working on the book. Melody inds herself in a metaphorical sinking ship when she is unable to maintain inancial stability. Luckily, Carlos Ortega, the biological son of CharlesHenri, hires her to continue writing the book. That is, until Carlos becomes a prime murder suspect for his father’s death. Melody must now dive deep into the past of Carlos and his family in order to save him from being locked away for good. Paris is such a beautiful place to read about, and Ms. LaBalme does an excellent job of describing all of the sights, sounds, and even tastes the characters experience in this romantic setting. The story will have readers wanting to book their next light to Paris just to experience all there is to offer, from the French cuisine to the beautiful architecture. In this irstperson narrative, the characters are very likeable, especially the sexy Spanish love interest, Carlos.

usual plot elements one can expect in a shifter romance, Ms. Lowe’s writing keeps them all feeling fresh and fun!

Gambling on Her Bear (Shifters in Vegas Book 2) Anna Lowe Narrator: Kelsey Osborne

PARANORMAL: Karen Proulx is a diamond thief—and a half-witch, half-dragon shifter. She’s in Vegas on a mission, to steal one of the most beautiful gems in existence. To have it would be a true prize. Unfortunately, it’s being held in the vaults of a casino run by vampires. When she realizes that a certain bear-shifter from her past is part of the security team, she might have found herself an extra treat. Tanner Lloyd is a bearshifter working undercover. His goal is to save his clan, and he doesn’t need any distractions. Especially his mortal enemy. “Gambling on Her Bear” is a fastpaced, action-packed, and sexy romance! Karen and Tanner burn up the pages with undeniable chemistry. From the very beginning they sizzle, and it just doesn’t stop! Karen is an independent and strong woman with a wild side who is easy to root for. In Tanner, she’s got her perfect mate, a by the book, no nonsense guy! Together, their journey is just as emotional as it is full of adventure, making the book a well-rounded and solid read! Ms. Lowe captures the atmosphere of Vegas perfectly, absorbing readers into the world she’s created! While the story follows a lot of the

Ms. Osborne’s performance is exciting and full of passion. She’s able to bring each character to life by truly connecting with the personalities. With the main characters, she’s able to adjust her tone and pitch to make them all sound unique. Some of the side characters might sound similar, but they each have their own different lare. She does a fantastic job of using her voice to keep the energy lowing and heightening the emotional experience of the listener! This is a perfect story for readers who love shifter romances and destined mates! Chelsea Andersen

Luring Levi (Tarnished Saints 2) Elizabeth Rose Narrator: Brian J. Gill

CONTEMPORARY: After spending seven years in jail for tax fraud, Levi Taylor wants to start fresh and put his past behind him. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. With no money and not many other options, he makes his way back to his hometown to live with his brother until he can get his life back together. In a strange twist of fate, he becomes the

town’s new mayor. When food reviewer Candace Kane arrives to judge an event at the local fair, her path crosses Levi’s—again. Having met seven years ago before his arrest, Candace has never forgotten the night the two of them spent together. That’s a bit hard to do when their one-nightstand resulted in the conception of twins. “Luring Levi” is a sizzling romance illed with “Will they, won’t they?” moments to keep readers engaged! Candace is a driven woman who readers will ind easy to relate to as she tries to balance being a mother, having a career, and cutting out that slice of time for herself. Levi is a bad boy with a lot of heart and plenty of swoonworthy attributes. Their interactions drive the story forward the most. Some of the circumstances that bring them together feel a bit too convenient and unrealistic. Nonetheless, with the heart of the town and the delightful characters, this is a very entertaining read! Mr. Gill’s performance helps create a world that is easy to fall in love with. He captures the charm of the town and the true personalities of the characters. While his vocal tone doesn’t change drastically for each character, he still has a way of making each one unique and easy to recognize. The pacing is perfect and keeps the low going, making it easy for readers to listen to large chunks in one sitting. In fact, they might have a hard time wanting to stop! This novel is perfect for lovers of contemporary romances and second chances! Chelsea Andersen

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Audiobooks readers might be disappointed not to get a fully rounded story from Elizabeth’s perspective as well. Overall, however, “Lost Love's Return” is an incredibly satisfying historical romance.

Lost Love's Return Alfred Nicols Narrator: Eric Altheide

HISTORICAL: During World War I, Elizabeth never expected to meet the man she loved in the ield. Working as a nurse, the young British woman meets Peter—an American. As she treats his wounds, the two begin to fall for one another—then Peter is sent home unexpectedly at the end of the war. With everything moving so quickly, Peter is unable to pass along a message to Elizabeth so they can keep in touch. All seems lost. Twenty-seven years pass, and Elizabeth is still the one woman on Peter’s mind despite attempting a loveless marriage with another woman. With the help of his son, he inds Elizabeth once again. The only thing he’s unsure of is if she still loves him back. Mr. Nicols delivers a moving and emotional historical drama with “Lost Love’s Return!” Readers are transported back to World War I and sent on the journey of a lifetime! The setting for the book is well researched, creating a fully immersive experience for readers. The connection between Elizabeth and Peter is instant and believable, making their years spent yearning for one another all the more emotional. Most of the focus is on Peter’s story, from meeting Elizabeth to inding his way back to her again. Some

The narrator, Mr. Altheide, has a rich voice that its the setting and mood of the book perfectly. His accents are wonderful and distinct, covering a vast assortment of regions. Each character has a unique voice that makes them easy to tell apart. The pacing luctuates appropriately with the events of the book, adding urgency when required yet also itting the tender, slower, moments as well. This is an absolutely fabulous production! A great read for lovers of historical romances and second chances! Chelsea Andersen

Fire Maidens: Greece (Billionaires & Bodyguards Book 8) Anna Lowe Narrator: Kelsey Osborne

PARANORMAL: Theo Lazaridis is a dragon shifter who is back home in Greece after ten years in the French Foreign Legion. After completing the tasks his father keeps forcing on him to see if he is ready to inherit, his next task is to marry. And his father has

potential mates waiting when he returns. Theo is not interested. Zoe Thomas is an archaeologist who feels like “something extraordinary” is hidden “among the mundane” of the area she is surveying on the east side of the island of Anemodonos. She feels at home on the island, although she is ‘x nos’--an outsider. She is winning over some of the islanders as they see the changes occurring on Anemodonos since her arrival. This story contains action, adventure, mystery, danger, evil, camaraderie, revelations, acceptance, healing, and a few surprises hiding within it. Listeners will cheer as the island inhabitants unite to face a foe with evil intent. Along the way, the author and the narrator paint such vivid pictures with words, that listeners can visualize the beauty of the Greek Isles as the story progresses. This audiobook may leave listeners with a strong desire to visit Greece as the story concludes! Not having irsthand knowledge of the Greek language, it is unclear whether the narrator pronounces every Greek word correctly. Nevertheless, the audiobook is a quality recording; the only issue is that most of the Greek characters sound English, and de initely not Greek. Other than this small issue, the recording is free from extraneous sounds and mouth noises. The volume is consistent throughout, and the characters are easily distinguished, although a few sound somewhat similar. This story is fun—to listen to and to experience! The ending was delightful, with everything tied up neatly and satisfactorily, and with the next story already set up. Carey Sullivan

Audiobooks

narrative style that works for the novella. In a few places, having more description would have bene ited the story. Overall, it’s a fantastic, quick read!

Light at the End Henry G.M. Jones Narrator: Henry G.M. Jones

SUSPENSE/THRILLER: Gordon, a troubled soul, lost his son Wyatt in a tragedy. Looking for revenge, Gordon listens to the ghost of his dead son who tells him who is responsible for his death. Only, it seems Gordan can never quite get it right. An important detail is missing, and the only way for him to discover it is to remember that horrible day for himself. Meanwhile, Detective Keller and his assistant Charlene are on a tough case. A string of murders sends them on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s quite possible the same person who murdered Wyatt is still on the prowl. Between the three of them, justice might be served after all. “Light at the End” is emotionally raw and powerful. A thriller that leaves readers guessing until the very end! Mr. Jones creates a world full of rich characters. First there’s Detective Keller and his assistant Charlene, struggling to solve the gruesome murders. Each goes through an assortment of emotions that bring their characters together. Then there’s Gordon who is coping with the loss of his own child. Twists and turns bring their worlds together in one startling and gutwrenching conclusion. Mr. Jones has a very straightforward

Narrated by the author, this tale is a well done audio production. Having Mr. Jones’ personal touch to the tale brings the story to life in the way he’d intended. His tone and pacing is perfect for the low of the narrative, and he is easy to listen to. The portrayal of Gordon is his strongest character, and Detective Keller would be a close second. From there, some of the characters start to blend and blur together, making them harder to differentiate. Overall, it’s a great listen! This is a good novella for those who are looking for a quick, spine tingling story! Chelsea Andersen

Clover Nicole Kilpatrick Narrator: Cassandra Alling

YOUNG ADULT/FANTASY: Clover O’Leary leads a charmed life. Well, until her 18th birthday. On her 18th birthday everything changes. The leprechaun, Finn, who was given the task of making sure her life is so lucky is inished with his job and her luck turns. When Finn inds out that his boss, Alistair, has evil designs on

Clover, he decides he cannot let Alistair’s plans come to fruition. Finn reveals himself, and together, Clover and Finn travel to Ireland through portals to cross into the Faerie Realm and seek an audience with the Seelie Queen. Clover hopes to ind a way to rid herself of the curse the evil leprechaun Alistair has placed upon her. Clover inds herself in a dangerous and mythical world surrounded by creatures she thought were iction with deepening feelings for a leprechaun she only just met but who has known her for her entire life. This fast-paced adventure is a magical tale illed with handsome leprechauns and mythical creatures. As Finn and Clover travel, they meet many leprechauns, humans, and other fantasy creatures. With each character so well written, it is surprisingly easy to keep them all straight, and it feels as though they are real friends or foes and not characters in a book. Clover is a sweet girl who is easy to like and relate to. The chemistry between Finn and Clover sparks constantly. An adventure with just enough romance. Each character is well developed with enough backstory provided to understand their motives and desires. With twists, unexpected revelations, and turns, the plot is anything but predictable. Readers will automatically be reaching for the next book in the series. Cassandra Alling’s narration is terri ic and enchanting. Her Irish brogue takes you right into Ireland but is clear and easy to understand. With great pacing Cassandra makes this an easy listen. Listeners won’t want to take a break, so they should carve out some time for this enchanting tale! Cara Cieslak

Audiobooks

end, which adds to the overall enjoyment.

Spellbound Julie A. D'Arcy Narrator: Aimee Smith

FANTASY: Isabella Barton is af ianced to Ivan; however, he is New York ma ia and takes her for granted. Isabella wants to be loved and longs for a family. She knows that Ivan doesn’t love her, but she doesn’t see a way out of the life she is stuck in, until something occurs that motivates her to return to Rhode Island. Zachariah is the irst sorcerer to the King of Tarlis; in the midst of an important battle, when his king is depending on his magical skills, he is whisked forward in time to Rhode Island and Isabella Barton. He is unconscious on a boulder in the ocean and will drown if she can’t get him moved, but the currents are strong, and she can’t reach him. A Story Mage appears and rescues him, but takes his amulet, which is the only way Zachariah can return to the past. The author does a wonderful job of encouraging listeners to care about these protagonists. The story seems to low naturally and the pace is steady throughout. This audiobook is de initely entertaining! Magic almost feels believable at certain times, and especially during particularly amusing events. The ending is incredibly creative, and Julie D’Arcy saves a few unexpected surprises for listeners at the very

The recording quality was good; however, the words preface and cursory are mispronounced (preface is spoken with a long e and pronounced as two separate words; cursory is recorded as cursurary). Nevertheless, Aimee Smith is able to engage listeners in this wonderful tale of righting some wrongs, inding true love, time travel, sorcery, and bad people getting exactly what they deserve. Listeners may ind themselves cheering at times, when good things happen and when evil meets its match! Carey Sullivan

Gambling on Her Panther (Shifters in Vegas Book 3) Anna Lowe Narrator: Kelsey Osborne

PARANORMAL: Dex Davitt is a panther shifter and the best card dealer at the vampire-run Scarlet Palace Casino in Las Vegas. His friend Bob helps him out when he can throughout the story. Bob is aware that Dex is $1M richer, following some fancy gambling three weeks earlier by one of his close friends—who left Vegas immediately afterward with half of the winnings. Unfortunately, Dex is being constantly scrutinized because the vampires suspect him in the loss of the $2M,

but can’t prove it. Dex loves Dakota Morganstern, a former stuntwoman, but she is human and might not stay with him once she learns he is a panther shifter. For her own safety, he has ghosted her for three weeks, to keep her off of the vampires’ radar. She’s mad! There is a lot of action in this audiobook; it’s a novella, thus, things start happening relatively early. Events are described colorfully, and listeners can visualize them well as they occur. It is easy to tell the bad characters from the good ones, and toward the end, several characters work together to right some wrongs for a very satisfying inish! The story provides some interesting original elements such as a vegan vampire(!) and a hedgehog shifter, while retaining the expected gargoyles, vampires, and witches in a mob-like setting. The pacing works well for this story. Kelsey Osborne narrates the story effectively and the production quality is good; however, the delivery is slow at times. She has a clear, crisp voice, yet there isn’t a whole lot of distinction between several of the voices of characters portrayed in this audiobook. There aren’t any unexpected noises in the recording and the narrator presents the story in a believable manner. There are multiple thrilling action scenes, which add to listener’s overall enjoyment of this audiobook! Carey Sullivan

Duke of Charm (Dukes of Distinction Book 2) Alexa Aston Narrator: Brian J. Gill

HISTORICAL: Samantha Wallace is heartbroken when her brother’s best friend, George, announces his engagement to another. Looking for a man exactly the opposite of George, she accepts a rushed engagement offer from Viscount Haskett. Samantha’s rushed decision leaves her married but miserable. George inds himself jilted at the alter and begins a path to bed every woman he can ind, but no more than three times each as a commitment is something he never wants to make again. Samantha inds herself suddenly widowed and held captive. To avoid being forced to marry the heir of the family, she makes a daring escape. Thrown together at a house party, George determines to make Samantha his. But Samantha has learned that marriage isn’t what she thought and never wants to make that mistake again. This second in the series tale can be read as a standalone, with readers pulled in from the start.

Brian Gill’s narration is smooth and easy. With an accent that pulls the listener into the drawing rooms of London and makes them never want to leave. The pacing is good, with clear and distinct voices given to each character. Historical romance fans won’t want to miss this sultry listen. Cara Cieslak

Imagining Violet Mary E. Hughes Narrator: Jacqueline de Boer

HISTORICAL: It is 1891, Violet Courtenaye is an incredibly talented violinist determined to make her place in the world. She’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime to audition for the prestigious Leipzig Conservatory in Germany. To prepare, she must practice endlessly with the best tutors in the city. If she succeeds, she will be one of the few female concert violinists. A number of obstacles stand in her way beyond her gender. The city is alive and full of distractions! Then there is her handsome tutor, her quirky landlady, and a rather delightful Canadian piano player. With the demands of her teachers high, she must ind a way to achieve her ambitious goals, but not lose herself along the way. “Imagining Violet” is a bright, creative, historical tale! Ms. Hughes has put in a great many small details that make the world she’s created vibrant and full of life. Told in the form of letters, the story covers Violet’s journey through music school. Because the book is told only through letters, there are hardly any

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Audiobooks

Samantha with her many scars still has an endearing personality and witty humor. Beginning with unrequited love, the story tugs on readers’ heartstrings and doesn’t stop. Each character is unique and distinct. An original story with surprises and twists to keep the pages turning. George and Sam have a spark from the beginning. With Samantha fanning the lames at the start, the tables turn and it becomes an inferno that cannot be put out. It is surprising —and not entirely believable— how quickly Sam lets George into her heart and her bed. Neither can ignore their chemistry, but they both have different ideas of what it should result in, tearing at the readers heart in the best way. A fantastic twisting tale to enjoy anytime!

Audiobooks scenes that involve dialogue or show any other characters. Everything is told through Violet’s account, and some readers might ind this offputting, delivering more description than action. In a few places, the story slows a bit as well. However, Violet as a character is strong and engaging to read, with interesting observations that carry the book through to the end. Ms. Boer’s performance as Violet is energetic! She is able to capture the innocent and lighthearted essence of Violet’s character perfectly! This portrayal keeps some of the slower parts moving and creates an emotional connection to the events of the book. Readers will instantly connect with her voice and

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become immersed in the story because of it! This is a great book for readers who enjoy historical iction! Chelsea Andersen

Inspirational

attitudes and circumstances of the tale are not quite historically accurate, this story tells a solid tale, although it is a quick short read. Overall, readers who want a guaranteed happy ending, renewed faith, and cute characters will want to add this book to their to-read lists. Sarah E Bradley

An Honorable Man for Katarina (Holding Out for a Hero Book 2) Nancy Fraser

Katy Anderson is relieved when Sheriff Matthew Logan arrives one day to inform her the father of her three children is dead. Secluded from everyone for the last six years, she is wary of the kindness Matthew shows her and her children but determined to somehow take care of her kids. Matt has always shied away from matrimony in light of his more dangerous career. But Matt is immediately taken with the young widow and her determination in spite of the harsh circumstances fate had handed her. However, as Katy learns more of who her husband was, she inds herself uncertain in the face of Matt’s generosity. After so many years of hopelessness, can she ind her faith in the Almighty and trust in love again? A sweet western romance. Katy is a determined mother with little reason to trust. Matt is an established member of the community who wants to ease Katy’s way. The romance between them is a love coming softly approach that warms the heart and soul. Although the con lict is quickly handled, and some of the

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Forever Friends (Home to the River, Book 1) Janet Spann

relationship between Millie and the nosey Clara is hilarious, right down to Clara seating herself in a lawn chair on the corner to spy on the entire neighborhood. Hank and Millie conspire to give Clara something to talk about and, in doing so, strengthen their bond and develop an attraction that goes beyond just best friends. Hank’s sense of humor and teasing is perfect for the storyline, even occasionally causing Millie to blush without being too forward. His character is often heroic in both thought and deed which makes him a perfect romantic lead. At times the backstory drags a little bit, while at others it gives the reader insight into the characters’ personalities. Millie’s concern over itting in with Hank’s family, given she’s known them their entire lives, seems a bit weak for an otherwise strong character. Fans of inspirational/ sweet romances with a good dose of humor will enjoy “Forever Friends.” N.E. Kelley

Widowed Millie Farnsworth is active, independent, and pretty much set in her ways. Although she misses her late husband, she’s content. Hank Cason is Millie’s widowed neighbor who just happens to route his morning walk past Millie’s door. They were couple-friends when their spouses were alive and remain good friends now that they’re alone. When Hank proposes marriage, Millie is left with a dilemma. Is she willing to give up her newly acquired independence and become part of a couple again? And, how will Hank’s family react, not to mention Millie’s busy-body sister-in-law Clara. A well-written and thoroughly enjoyable look at a much-later-inlife couple. The love-hate

Remembering Christmas (Rodeo Romance Book 9) Shanna Hat ield

Trevor King has his hands full running the King Penny Ranch and keeping his only two relatives,

a sister and an active octogenarian aunt out of trouble. He doesn’t have time for serious romance, and no matchmaking efforts can match the sparks he felt for the unknown woman he kissed in Vegas. Mykah Wagner has spent years focusing on her career with Creekdale Enterprises and pretending she never grew up on a dairy farm. When she arrives in Eastern Washington on her latest assignment, she discovers that the charming urban location she expected is in fact very reminiscent of her childhood but with the handsome cowboy she’d kissed and never forgotten living locally. She’s determined to focus on work, except the longer she stays, the more the residents, the region and Trevor begin to remind her of the best things from her past she’d forgotten and what she could have again. A sweet and wholesome romance, “Remembering Christmas” is a holiday read that is good all year round. As a later book in the series, it features many cameos from former books but can stand alone as Trevor and Mykah ind family with one another. Featuring a handsome and caring cowboy and a career driven city girl, fans of this genre will ind this book meets expectations and provides a slow pace, plenty of sparks between the lead characters, but a clean romance with minimal con lict. In short, this book is very Hallmark worthy. Sweet with plenty of eye candy but with few surprises. Overall, it’s perfect for fans of this genre and only adds fun to the series. Sarah E Bradley

Inspirational

Her Hometown Dream Rachelle Paige Campbell

why the owner of the mansion won’t sell to her. The story does carry many typos and grammar errors. Both main characters repetitively rehash their feelings, which affect the overall pacing. Lastly, there are times when scene believability is questionable. Still, “Her Hometown Dream” shines with the heroine’s faith and her strong character, the hero’s ultimate honor, and a small town that has a strong sense of community. Emerson Matthews

Amy Parker returns to her hometown after a ten-year stint away. She discovers the mansion that has always been a deep tie to her family is up for sale and leaps at the chance to buy it. The mansion is largely the reason she studied historic home restoration. She approaches the lawyer handling the sale, only to be told the seller will not take an offer from her. Like a house of cards crumbling, her dream shatters. Jake Grant is the lawyer tasked with selling the mansion. He is also an old friend of Amy’s from grade school. And he blames her for the death of his best friend. Now that the ten-year anniversary is coming, he wants to start a nonpro it organization to honor his friend’s memory. Except he needs Amy’s knowledge with nonpro its. Ms. Campbell has penned another sweet Christian novel with an appealing small-town setting and believable characters. There is a lot going on between the pages. We have old school friends Amy and Jake. She’s oblivious to his long-held anger at her and he’s in need of her professional services, just like she’s in need of his. If that’s not complicated enough, there is the mysterious reason

A Homecoming to Cherish (Cherish Series Book 5) Josie Riviera

Nora Lancaster grew up in Cherish but couldn’t wait to get out of that small town. She married a young boy and took off. Now years later she is back, divorced, a single mother with a rebellious daughter, to help at the inn her parents used to own. As she is volunteering at the inn, she meets Julian Wilson, a businessman who is in town to scope out a place for a chain restaurant. Nora and Julian enjoy each other’s company. But he is deeply religious, and she lost her faith long ago. As Julian and Nora’s friendship grows Nora must allow God to heal her heart if she will

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ever be able to allow herself to love again.

A sweet summer love story. Nora is a strong, stubborn woman with a teenage daughter who keeps her on her toes. The friendship between Nora and Julian that begins to blossom into love is tender and dear. Nora coming back to Cherish seemed forced because the innkeeper doesn’t want her there, and she has no connection to the inn besides an emotional connection. There is also no explanation about how Nora is making ends meet as she takes a summer off from her big city accounting job. The relationship between Nora and Julian progresses in a pleasing way, however, some of the other relationships feel rushed and incomplete leaving the reader frustrated and wishing for more. Despite its laws, “A Homecoming

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Inspirational

to Cherish” is a delightful story illed with faith and scripture to lift the religious reader up and leave them smiling. Cara Cieslak

Other

Truth and Other Lies Maggie Smith

WOMEN'S FICTION: After a mistake ended in her being ired from her dream job on the same day she discovers a devastating truth that ends her relationship with the love of her life, Megan Barnes leaves New York City and returns home to Chicago to re-start her life and career. But she soon discovers getting a job as an investigative reporter is impossible now that her mother has decided to run for Congress. Everything changes, though, when a chance encounter introduces Megan to her journalistic idol, Jocelyn Jones, who offers her a position in her PR group. Ambitious and driven, Megan dives in to promote the woman she admires most. But she soon realizes all might not be what she believed. Could Jocelyn be hiding dark secrets yet uncovered? Could Helen really be more than the suffocating, right-wing mother Megan always knew her as? Truth and lies come to a head as she learns nothing is what it seems. A poignantly told yet easily readable story. With a masterful touch, this author successfully navigates such hard topics as politics, cover-ups, and a myriad of other timely topics! Megan is a perfect representation of a young, progressively liberal woman with a decidedly conservative mother. Her journey from idealist young journalist to realistic and enlightened woman is truthfully told and honestly written. Helen’s reasons for keeping her secrets didn’t ring true considering the severity of the consequences, and there could have been a bit more depth in some areas, but overall this is a top-notch, feminist leaning, exploration. Realistically, it doesn’t end in happily ever after but with a lovely touch of future hope! Ruth Lynn Ritter

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