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A Long Time Dead by T.L. Bequettte

About the Book:

A decade ago, it had been unthinkable when Joe Turner's life-long friend, Owen Prescott, was charged with a grisly murder. Then Owen disappeared, leaving behind a brilliant career and budding romance to live as a fugitive from justice.

Now, haunted by the memory and clinging to a belief in Owen's innocence, Joe dives in to solve the cold case as the FBI closes in on his friend.

The award-winning Joe Turner Mystery series returns with a haunting, serpentine tale that pushes the snarky defense attorney to the brink.

Bequette has penned another riveting thriller that rewards the reader with a signature twist at the finale. Unlock the mystery to the latest Joe Turner thriller today.

Buy the Book – Amazon

Reviews:

San Francisco Book Review – 5 stars

Kirkus

Reclusive writer who’s a fugitive fights for his innocence in this detective novel.

Bequette’s third installment of a mystery series is a departure from his typical fare featuring resilient police detective Joe Turner. While Turner pops up sporadically in this volume, it is 30-something American writer Owen Prescott, a Dartmouth graduate from a wealthy family, who steals the spotlight. For over a decade, Prescott has enjoyed a solitary, secluded life of anonymity in the English countryside, far from the woman-chasing, vibrant social life he once relished. Flashback chapters tell the story of a time when Turner was assisting Prescott, who wrote under the pseudonym Ancil Bradford, with Boston book signings in 2013, despite the menacing omnipresence of obsessed stalker Desiree Richins. Desiree’s behavior necessitated a restraining order. That problem became coupled with a lawsuit filed by former creative writing instructor Norvel Anendale against Prescott for plagiarism, claiming he’d co-authored the novelist’s prize-winning bestseller, Orchards of Grace. Neither of those nuisances was enough to spook Prescott from continuing to celebrate his literary success, but he landed in hot water anyway as the lead suspect in Anendale’s violent murder. Soon after, Prescott eluded prosecution by fleeing America for Europe and went into hiding. Fledgling FBI agent Alyssa Wagner revives the cold case (“A native of Boston, Alyssa recalled the Owen Prescott disappearance as a teenager and was immediately intrigued by the idea of bringing the fugitive to justice”). She becomes determined to garner positive attention in her new position with the aid of facial recognition technology. Meanwhile, Prescott has become antsy, yearning for the literary spotlight. He ventures out in public, where freelance journalist Margo Stark spots him and decides to insinuate herself into his life with the intention of writing a career-defining, exclusive feature. As Wagner narrows her search and surveillance, edging closer to apprehending Prescott, the tale is complemented by a generous Boston backstory, chronicling the author’s legal troubles a decade earlier, all running parallel to his present melodrama. The denouement, filled with hidden identities and startling events, is a shocker.  

With the amount of characters Bequette incorporates in his novel, the tale is slow to gain narrative momentum and only moves into high gear after all of his players and their assorted backstories are established. The author’s previous headliner, Turner, takes a backseat this time, serving as Prescott’s former literary agent, which may or may not appeal to fans of the series. Nevertheless, Bequette’s prose is reliably crisp and descriptive, and lots of intrigue and suspense are embedded in a thrillingly serpentine story with plenty of twists and turns as Prescott tries to worm his way out of complex litigation. Also captivating is the backstory of Prescott’s longstanding, difficult relationship with his father, particularly during a vividly portrayed duck hunting trip, where shame and trauma mark the writer’s memory of his childhood. In the present, his father attempts to preserve the family name after Prescott has been charged with Anendale’s murder based on DNA evidence at the scene. With its surfeit of subplots and characters, the book eventually coalesces into one big hunt for justice as Prescott attempts to evade his pursuers and a surprise psychotic killer emerges in an ending few readers will predict.

An entertaining and exuberant suspense tale about murderous revenge in the literary world.

~ Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

T.L. Bequette is a criminal defense attorney turned writer from Lafayette, California. His debut novel, Good Lookin, A Joe Turner Mystery won the 2022 Independent Press Award for Crime Fiction, a Chanticleer International Book Award, and was a Finalist for a National Indie Excellence Award. Kirkus Reviews called the book “a rigorous, thoroughly engrossing mystery from a writer with immense potential.”

Blood Perfect, second in the Joe Turner series, was hailed by Chanticleer Reviews as “a tale that solidifies Turner as a charmingly reliable champion of the innocent.”

Much of Bequette’s law practice involves defending young men from Oakland accused of murder. He holds degrees from The University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School and serves annually on the faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic.

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Summer of in Betweens by by Richard Read, Jose Saco

 About the Book:

The novel presents a continuation of the lives of Bill McCoy and Susan Myers, key characters in the book, The Go Between. The summer between high school graduation and first year at college finds Bill McCoy working as a handyman on a small farm rented by a woman waiting for the divorce from her abusive husband to be finalized. Bill's girlfriend, Susan Myers, is serving as a summer intern in the Columbus, Ohio office of a federal congressman. Their separation opens the door for unexpected adventures and personal growth as well as dangers to the two young adults that they could never have anticipated.

 Buy the Book - Amazon

 Reviews:

 One summer had never been as eventful as the one that William Bill McCoy and Susan Myers had in The Summer of In Betweens by Richard Read (Jose Saco). As eighteen-year-old William prepared to graduate and start his first year at OSU, he never anticipated that his last summer would be spent separated from his longtime girlfriend, Susan Myers. However, Susan had been selected for a rare opportunity to be a summer aide at the Columbus office of Congressman Roger Bentley. Thankfully, William had his new summer work at the Chase Estate, working for the newcomer in town, Mrs. Maia Storm. Maia had rented an estate in the town of Hartland, escaping a sticky situation at home. However, it may seem the situation followed her to town. William and Susan were both drawn into new experiences that left them shaken, making the summer one they could never forget.

 The book started more like a teenage/young adult story, especially with the background the author had given of the book's prequel. Initially, it seemed to be a simple story. But as the book progressed, a more intricate and exciting plot was revealed. The story intrigued, shocked, and emotionally engaged me. I liked that the author showed the story from different characters' points of view. It allowed me to enter the characters' minds, know what they were thinking and feeling, and connect with them on a deeper level. Read further enhanced readers' engagement with the book by providing visual aids in the form of pictures.

 The book was graphic in a sexual sense. It explored behind the curtains of marriage as it examined delicate issues often tiptoed around in society, like sexual abuse in marriage. Sensitive readers should read with caution. However, lovers of romantic stories might be scintillated by the sexual tension that permeated some parts of the book.

 Many of the characters had a warmth about them. Their conversations were punctuated by a lightness and humor that could make readers giggle with good-natured mirth. William and Susan's characters showed incredible strength and intelligence — a trait that might connect them to the reader. Maia's character embodied a mental strength and personal conviction that made her character endearing.

 Some errors were observed in the book, and I found them disturbing. They bordered on misspelled or wrongly used character names. For example, on Page 236, the name 'Bannister' seemed to be a wrongly spelled version of the character Brock Lannister's name. However, it appeared that Roger Bentley ought to have been there contextually. A similar occurrence was spotted on Page 85 when the character William called another character's name that he had not yet known at that stage of the story. However, these errors took nothing away from the book's enjoyment and would only demand further editing.

 The Summer of In Betweens was entertaining, and I enjoyed the reading experience. It was exciting and had some action topped off by fun romance. I'd recommend it to lovers of thrillers meshed with some clandestine romance. As a result of the number of errors found, I'd rate The Summer of In Betweens three out of four stars.  

OnlineBookClub.org

 About the Author:

 The author graduated from Bucknell University with a degree in English and then spent two years teaching high school math and English with the Peace Corps in Eritrea. He worked for twenty-five years as a high school counselor and basketball coach for boys and girls teams.  Upon retirement, he counseled part-time with sexually abused children and their families.  Much of his fictional writing incorporates situations encountered by students and children that he counseled.

 Mr. Read lives in northwest Pennsylvania with his wife.  They have two daughters, four grandchildren, and two toy poodles.  Weather permitting, he enjoys training and competing in sprint triathlons.

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Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K

About the Book:

Is love the most revolutionary of all acts?

In this wide-ranging collection of twelve short stories, a startling array of characters explore their perspectives on love. The stories sweep from sharp realism to heady allegory, haunting fables to sci-fi thrillers, starring teens and drifting husbands, futuristic automatons and talking dogs, gardeners and gatekeepers, a blind girl, a young father, and many more.

In "Calamity Jane," see love through the eyes of teenage boys obsessed with the calamitous girl of the title; revisit the famous Greek love story in "Orpheus and Eurydice"; Dan's mechanical automaton seems to be his truest friend in the harshly conformist world of "Automatonomatopoeia"; a Crimean revolutionary gets waylaid at a mysterious gate in "The Invitation"; on a construction site in Yugoslavia, a young man tries to come to grips with unconventional fatherhood in "Vikings"; and in "The Conversation", a blind woman manages her relationship with a hectoring mother while finding other types of love.

These are just a few of the tales in Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories. Anyone interested in the struggle against stifling societal powers and the potency of love will see some of themselves in these pages. By turns exciting, meditative, and funny, these enjoyable, thought-provoking stories will linger long after the book is closed.

Buy the Book – Amazon.com, Bookshop.org

 Reviews:  

Resistance, Revolution and Other Love Stories by K. contains a series of short stories bound together by the theme of love during times of trouble. This anthology of stories is incredibly diverse and unique. K. soars above other authors with their sense of language, almost lyrically describing events in an abstractly beautiful way.

However, the prose is often so incredibly poetic that it was difficult for me to figure out what was actually happening. For instance, I had to read “Radius” multiple times in order to figure out what was going on with Mustapha’s brother, and I’m still not entirely sure I understood. There are so many abstract images painted to describe the story that are simultaneously poignant and senseless. During the portion describing Mustapha’s brother, I found myself squinting as if I were trying to decipher a Jackson Pollock painting. I knew it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.

Then it’s almost as if a different person picks up the pen to write “Calamity Jane,” wherein a teenage boy is exploring love and sexuality and the seemingly wanton need to tear down all women around him. It wasn’t a story that particularly resonated with me as a reader, mostly due to the amount of denigration focused on teenage girls throughout. The focus is on Jane, in particular, but also on any young girl who happens to wear yoga pants, who is thought of as an object in this young boy’s eyes. He constantly refers to them as “bitches,” and yet, he also constantly notes that they make his genitals “tingle.” If that made you cringe, perhaps skip this particular story. It strikes an ugly chord against the rest of the incredibly beautiful short stories.

In “Dog Whistle,” dogs are cruel in order to appease their masters, but with the touch of a gentle soul, realize the world around them is of their own making. Each story is so different in its own way and love truly ties them all together. I appreciate the different kinds of love woven throughout this story, not just pretty and romantic love. In “The Conversation,” familial love is explored, while in “Head Down,” a cheater falls in love. There were so many different voices within the book that it really felt fleshed out with untold ideas and unique stories. The stories were mostly very short and easy to read.

If you like philosophy, wistfulness, and the notion that love conquers all, this book will be a very enjoyable read for you.

~ Jenna Swartz, Seattle Book Review

 More Comments:

"Fantastical, meditative, and witty... An outstanding collection." 

-- The Prairies Book Review

"Undoubtedly eclectic, each selection takes on a life of its own with electrifying energy and the ability to incorporate themes that will keep ruminating in readers' minds long after the story is finished." 

-- RECOMMENDED by US Review of Books

"I ventured into every piece and without fail discovered K's phenomenally joyous understanding of the heights and horrors of human existence. Writing does not come any better than this." 

-- 5 Stars, Jon Michael Miller, Readers' Favorite

"Each plot is a masterpiece in its own, with such compelling story lines that you are forced to follow them until the end, and to uncover the secret message hidden within." 

-- Literary Titan

"This short story collection pairs desperate love with acts of violence in a diverse and moving debut." 

-- BlueInk Review

"An entertaining, fast-paced and powerful collection of short stories,author K's Resistance, Revolution & Other Love Stories is a must-read book." 

-- Pacific Book Review

"Beautifully penned, thought-provoking, intense and authentically engaging..." 

-- BookViral Reviews

"A collection of twelve short stories about the many forms of love. A perfect summer read we highly recommend." 

-- Chanticleer Reviews

 About the Author:

 K., an anti-war advocate, studied English, Religion and Philosophy at University of Toronto and has written fiction for years, publishing several stories in literary magazines. Resistance, Revolution and Other Short Stories is K.'s first book. K. lives in Malton, Ontario, Canada, with their spouse, five children, an American Wirehair cat and a Quaker parrot.

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A Break in the Fog by Molly Salans

About the Book:

A family in turmoil, a dangerous cult, and God at the center of it all, A Break in the Fog is a psychological novel that explores how faith can be used to heal, but also how abuse and how family is all that matters in the end.

With her mother dead, her sister Wendy addicted to drugs, and her father condemning her every decision, Clara Greenwood shoulders the weight of all her dysfunctional family’s problems. Desperate for a way out, she is reluctantly goaded into attending a meeting for a secret school, The Ancient Side of Ideas. She is quickly swept up in the cult, however, when she meets the charismatic Damien - one of its teachers. His charm and good looks melt her skepticisms away, convincing her to give up everything in her old life. But when Clara finds herself in too deep, can she find her way out before it’s too late?

Reviews:

“A Break in the Fog is a beautifully written story with themes of love, addiction, post-traumatic stress, and the true meaning of family. In this book, author Molly Salans, writes with prose that dances in the reader’s ear as she tells the story through the points of view of the three main characters. Joe (or Yosev)the father, and Clara and Wendy, the adult daughters. Well-written with beautiful scenery and complex characters, A Break in the Fog will have its readers wide-eyed and hoping for the best.” 

~ Kristi Elizabeth, Seattle Book Review

Full Review

“A Break in the Fog, by Molly Salans, had me thinking about Clara, the story’s main character, well after I finished the story. A wonderfully well-done novel, this is not a light read. The story follows Clara’s journey recalling her traumatic childhood, dysfunctional family, and her eventual wash up in a deadly cult. A tale that truly shook me, readers of serious fiction or those who are seeking a deeper understanding of cults, would thoroughly enjoy this book.” 

~ Theresa Kadair, San Francisco Book Review

Full Review 

Buy the Book – Amazon

About the Author:

An award winning psychological thriller, A Break in the Fog is a story about a family in turmoil and a dangerous cult. This novel is loosely based on the author's own cult experiences years ago.

A Break in the fog has won a first place award for best historical fiction, thriller and suspense

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Room Service Please by Alicia Cahalane Lewis

About the Book:

Have you ever stopped to think what makes a modern woman, modern?

In Room Service Please, Edie May, a budding dance protégé, has lost her virginity on the night of her sixteenth birthday, June 17, 1922, in New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Unprepared for this turn of events, Edie is nonetheless determined to confront the man who seduced her and demand he make things right. However, Edie has been mistaken for Agnes Ayres, the famous Hollywood motion picture actress.

As much as she tries to convince everyone that she is not the rising starlet, Edie is whisked into a role she is not prepared to play. Using her wits and ingenuity, Edie transforms herself from the daughter of a washerwoman living on the Lower East Side into a shining star of her own making, a true Modern, and one of the first flappers of her era.

Reviews:

“It all starts with a pair of too-tight shoes from the dime store. Ugly, black pumps for Edith to wear. But her mother wants her to wear them so that’s what Edith does. On the eve of her sixteenth birthday, Edith goes dancing without a proper escort and is mistaken for a movie star. No one believes she’s not the rising starlet, no matter how much she tries to convince them otherwise. She only wants a fun night of dancing, to not lose her virginity, and to not have a whirlwind of problems the following morning. No obstacle will stop her; Edith is determined to confront the man who seduces her and demands he makes it right. As she performs a role she wasn’t prepared for, Edith starts to find her true self, not whom her mother wants her to be or whom her dance teacher wants her to be, but whom she’s meant to be.” 

~ Grace Derickson

Full Review

“This evocative, deeply immersive tale is character-driven, a tale about taking impossible chances. Fans of beautifully wrought and suspenseful coming-of-age stories will not be able to resist the spell in Room Service Please. Lewis introduces a young heroine who is born on the wrong side of life but who must reinvent herself to rise up from the conditions to which life has thrust her. She is determined, intelligent, and beautiful. The beguiling prose sets the allure that this novel takes, introducing scenes that are not only focused but infused with realism. In turn inspiring and entertaining, Room Service Please is a tale about art and beauty and choices that shape the characters. I loved everything about this book — the powerful premise, the compelling characters, the unexpected twist, and the gorgeous writing. You won't be able to put it down.” 

~ Christian Fernandez

Full Review

 Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

Book Video 

  About the Author:

ALICIA CAHALANE LEWIS is a ninth-generation Quaker from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Naropa University where her poetry appeared in Not Enough Night. She is the author of nebulous beginnings and strings (Tattered Press, 2017), featuring art by Shenandoah Valley artist Winslow McCagg. Her chapbook, The Fish Turned the Waters Over So The Birds Would Have A Sky, a contemplative meditation on the origins of evolution, was published by The Lune Chapbook Series (Spring, 2017). The Intrepid Meditator (2021), a self-help memoir, and the accompanying novella, Room Service Please (2022), were published by Tattered Script Publishing. Her forthcoming novella, Restless, will be published by Tattered Script Publishing in February 2023. A Reiki Master, Alicia continues to live and work in the Shenandoah Valley.

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Terrain by Hesse Caplinger

 About the Book:

Marek Hussar is mobilized against the RUF in a remote stretch of war-torn Sierra Leone. Awash in a kaleidoscope of opportunism, an African general's graft draws his fireteam away from the assault and into far more insidious dangers.

Argos Argyros is a Greek in Brixton, with charm and looks and dreams of acting. He's just secured a casting call that could change his prospects for good.

Freddie Oslo is a Frenchman who develops special products for an American investment banking giant in London, the financial capital of the world. But as he watches the collapse of Bear Stearns from on high and LIBOR inquiries stir below, his superiors seem to close ranks and issue directives Oslo struggles to fully understand.

Three threads of life and fate intersect, bound to the same body of relentless, animate force.

Terrain―volume two of The Hussar Cycle―is a novel of striking structural and emotional counterpoint that braids thematic, narrative, and stylistic concerns in a singular, challenging, unexpected work of extra-genre literature.

 Reviews:

“Terrain is a good example of an international thriller in all aspects except the way it’s written. Instead of a plot-driven story with a focus on action, author Hesse Caplinger has chosen to present it in a literary style with plot permutations, complex characterizations and lavish descriptions. Motives are hinted at but not declared, dialogue is oblique rather than straightforward and much is left to the reader’s imagination.

While the writing is crisp and evocative the style at times supersedes the narrative which may have some fans of this genre preferring a more blunt and uncomplicated telling. However, for the reader who wants a story that transcends the genre, Terrain is a good choice.” 

~ Rod Raglin, Seattle Book Review

Full Review

“A globetrotting literary thriller that packs a punch and leaves readers with plenty to think about, Hesse Caplinger’s Terrain opens in 1995 in an evocatively described war-torn Sierra Leone…

Somewhat unusually for a thriller, Terrain features significantly more description and conversation than action and adventure. There is much quiet consideration of corruption and the horrors of war, and it often seems that a lot is left unsaid by the characters. This nicely reflects the secrets and underhand deals that underpin the plot, although it does mean that the story moves along at a slower pace than it otherwise might. Caplinger neatly exposes the corruption and opportunism with which businesses exploit conflicts, and he paints a bleak picture of how individuals can get swept along and eventually overtaken by momentous events.”

 ~ Erin Britton, San Francisco Book Review

Full Review

 Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

 About the Author:

Hesse Caplinger has written fiction, essays, profiles, and criticism. His work has appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Magazine, Glasstire, and elsewhere. He is the author of the novels "Equipment" and "Terrain."

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Tempest Poems by Ryan Meyer

 About the Book:

Ryan Meyer departs from the horror themes of 2018's Haunt in his new collection of poems, Tempest. He explores fear, hope, and self-identity through striking fictional vignettes and surreal personal accounts. Tempest is thus a marriage between the dichotomies of musical, rhythmic poetic dialogue, and the deeper, innate anxieties that accompany change. Discover your truest self and brave the Tempest.

Winner of the American Book Fest 2021 Best Book Award for Contemporary Poetry

Winner of the 2021 IndieReader Discovery Award for Best Cover Design in Fiction

 Reviews:

”Ryan Meyer’s poetry collection Tempest plays with metaphors and myths, assembling an assortment of short poems that filter ordinary experiences through vibrant imagery.

Elements from mythology stand out in the entries, as when Sisyphus recounts his fate and the power-hungry desires that landed him in the torturous underworld, where he feels a connection to the vultures that watch him. Magical realism is a factor, too: the narrator of “Antlers” laments the antlers that protrude “from my skull / Like antennae– / Tangible headaches.” They complicate his life, scraping ceilings as he moves around. But there are also more common subjects: in “Flamingo,” elements of a typical work day, like deadlines, are contrasted with “pink flamingo sunsets” that are reminiscent of a happy vacation.” 

~ Jeana Jorgensen, Forward Reviews

Full Review

“In the foreword, the author explains that, with the poems in Tempest, he aims to capture destructive and terrible things in a beautiful way. Although I can only talk about a couple of the poems in this review, I thought that most of the poems in this book were perfectly in line with this mindset and the dichotomy within them was what kept me interested and fascinated. This poetry collection is about difficult and hard moments as well as incredible moments of clarity. But they don't have the roughness or urgency you'd expect from them. Everything is told with calmness. Reading this book is like hearing the story of a destructive tempest after the boat has been rocked to shore and the sky has cleared again. Everyone is warming up next to a fire. The sea is tranquil and quiet. The fear has gone back into hiding.” 

~ Linda Arrighi, Reedsy

Full Review

Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

 About the Author:

Ryan Meyer is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Freshwater Poetry Magazine, Beechwood Review, Moon Tide Press' Dark Ink anthology, Folio Literary Magazine, and Spellbinder Magazine. Ryan and his books have been featured in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Publisher’s Weekly, Pop-Culturalist, Lambda Literary, Connecticut Magazine, and more. ​He published Haunt, his first book of poems, in February 2018, and his follow-up, Tempest, in March 2021. He lives in Shelton, Connecticut. Learn more at NothingPeak.com.

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Inhabitant by Charles Crittenden

 About the Book:

Experience the marvel of the universe through the eyes of the inhabitant!

After years of mistreating their home, the Inhabitant has been unexpectedly expelled from Earth and must journey across the universe to find a new home by any means necessary. Haunted by dreams of the past and hopes for the future, they can only rely on their experiences. Taking it day by day (and with a little help from a new friend), they explore new worlds, both wondrous and frightening, on the path to solid ground.

Charles Crittenden's Inhabitant brings a unique blend of poetry and storytelling, inviting the reader to join the search for a new home.

Reviews:

“Woven across fragmented poetry, Charles Crittenden’s Inhabitant is at once an adventure, existential questioning, and declaration of hope. Broken into four parts, the poetry collection follows the linear story of an astronaut expelled from Earth, a lonely voyager seeking a new home to sooth the emptiness that comes with eviction from one’s home. Their misadventures take the reader along to the desolate landscape of Mars, through Saturn’s perilous rings, and beyond: to the further reaches of the galaxy that dangle the idea of home just outside our reach.” 

~ Dina Dugar, San Francisco Book Review

Full Review

“The search for a place to call home is often a daunting one. Yet, for the speaker in Crittenden's poetry compilation, the challenge is far greater as he is navigating through the entire universe to find an abode in alignment with him. An almost seamless fusion of storytelling and poetry, Crittenden's compilation is bursting with energy and meaningful introspection of life in the cosmos that connects with all audiences. Themes of hope clash with isolation against the backdrop of scenes painted vividly using poetic devices, yielding a stunning splendor of images that probe into what is truly possible. Beyond the earth, are the possibilities truly limitless?

Right from the opening poem, Crittenden's comfort with experimental structure is on full display. The structural wordplay throughout takes on a life of its own and imbues the readers with the feelings the poet is trying to convey. For instance, in "Falling," the cascading structure gives off the effect of literally falling. While there isn't a distinctive rhyme scheme, the narrative structure more than holds its own as the speaker ruminates over his actions and their ramifications on an earth that is being destroyed with every passing second, whether that is with ‘people under collapsed buildings, houses swept away, cities leveled.” 

~ Mihir Shah, The US Review

Full Review

Buy the Book – Amazon

 About the Author:

A child of the 90s, Charles Crittenden is a creative type born and raised in St. Louis, finding escape in art and music while studying math and science. This path has led him through many projects with close friends while finding a path to bring the Inhabitant story to fruition. His best days are busy ones with family and a dog by his side.

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Cleopatra's Vendetta by Avanti Centrae

About the Book:

Bari, Italy, present day. Think tank Special Ops leader Timothy Stryker and his wife Angie, a self-made CEO, haven't exactly been seeing eye-to-eye. They take a much-needed Italian holiday, but it comes to a shocking end when Angie and their daughter are kidnapped.

Still raw from the death of their infant son, Stryker is desperate to rescue Angie and reconcile their differences. As he works to locate the captors' lair, he discovers the kidnappers are behind a string of recent assassinations and attempting another high-profile hit in only seven days. But when he learns their plans for his only remaining child, the scab on his heart tears open and blood begins to spill.

Working from inside her brutal captors' high-security compound, Angie realizes the cabal is hiding an ancient secret using modern propaganda techniques. And as Stryker races hitmen across India, Egypt, and Greece to thwart the next assassination and save his family, he has to connect a series of deadly dots tracing all the way back to the time of Cleopatra. Ultimately, the estranged pair must shake the deeply-buried pillars of western civilization to save their four-year-old daughter from an unspeakable fate.

Reviews:

“Royal secrets. Epic lies. This “dangerous” and controversial standalone thriller from international bestselling VanOps author Avanti Centrae is a fast-paced bombshell of a story about truth and courage.

Born a goddess, Cleopatra died a prisoner. But the cobra’s deadly kiss was just the beginning…

Fascinating, provocative, original, and timely, Cleopatra’s Vendetta is a sizzling novel that paints a disturbing picture of some of the most intricate issues that have plagued humanity’s past…challenges that color our days and provide the blueprint for our future.” 

~ Avonna Loves Genres

Full Review

Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

Book Video 

About the Author:

#1 International bestselling author who blends intrigue, history, science, and mystery into pulse-pounding action thrillers

Avanti Centrae always wanted to be a writer. Her father served as a U.S. marine corporal in Okinawa, gathering military intelligence during the first decade after the Korean War and her mom was a teacher. She grew up haunting silver bookmobiles in the Midwest but her practical family urged her to get a degree in computer technology, which she did. Eventually, she became a Silicon Valley IT executive, but her heart wasn’t in it. Before her hair began to turn gray, she had a health scare, which forced her to face her own mortality. At the top of the bucket list was becoming a bestselling author. She decided to break free of the golden handcuffs to pursue her dream. After years of drafting, editing, and finding an agent and publisher, her debut, VanOps: The Lost Power, released as an instant Barnes and Noble Nook bestseller. It went on to win three literary awards. Solstice Shadows, VanOps #2 quickly became a #1 Amazon bestseller in the U.S. and Canada, before winning a bronze medal at the Readers' Favorite book awards and nabbing the Chanticleer Global Thrillers Genre Grand Prize.

The Doomsday Medallion won an Honorable Mention at the Southern California Book Awards, was a quarterfinalist in the Publisher's Weekly Booklife contest, and was a finalist in the Book Excellence Awards. It also hit the Top 100 in the Canadian and Australian Amazon Kindle stores. Her trademark blend of intrigue, history, science, and mystery has been compared to that of James Rollins, Steve Berry, Dan Brown, and Clive Cussler. When not travelling the world or hiking in the Sierra mountains, she’s writing her next breathtaking thriller in Northern California, helped by her family and distracted by her German shepherds.

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Mia, The Crooked Road by D.A. Jennings

About the Book:

Adventure comes when you least expect it. Sometimes, when that happens life turns upside down. In this sequel to Mia, Ripples in the Water, Mia finds herself wandering down a path she never planned to take.

This detour forces her to question who she is and who she is becoming. It challenges what she believes to be her purpose in life and throws her into turmoil over the issues of forgiveness and friendship.

The crooked road is not part of her plan but perhaps it is exactly where she need to travel to discover who she is meant to be.

Reviews:

“In this follow-up to Jennings’ children’s novel Mia: Ripples in the Water (2019), Mia is back with her family of anthropomorphized mice in Italy. She takes part in the daily gathering of food, cooperates with her brothers, Cade and Rupert, and copes with the hostility and jealousy from another group of siblings led by her sister, Invidia. The book opens with an incident in the marketplace, where the mice escape a cat and the attentions of the merchants whose crumbs they steal...This vibrant blend of the spirit of the Redwall fiction series and the Ramona Quimby novels will likely appeal to young independent readers.” 

~ Kirkus Reviews

Full Review

Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

About the Author:

Mia, The Crooked Road, Receives International Children’s Book Award and 5-star Review.

With her latest book, Mia, The Crooked Road, author D.A. Jennings delivers another adventure where the courageous mouse, Mia, overcomes sibling conflicts, jealousy, and bullying from her sister Invidia. On her unplanned journey of self-discovery, she forms unlikely friendships with different creatures who share their opinions and advice with humor and sincerity. The Crooked Road powerfully shows how lies and misunderstandings can lead to a break in family relationships and even depression, and how forgiveness can lead to self-realization and friendship.

In addition to the Mia series, author D.A. Jennings has written three other successful children’s illustrated books that have been well received. She is an adjunct instructor for creative writing at Harford Community College and is regularly requested to present her books at schools and special events. Her books promote how to overcome conflicts, being a friend, taking care of the environment, and using your imagination. All her books may be viewed and purchased through her website dajennings.com or Amazon.com.

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The Greek Gambit by Charles Salter

About the Book:

Along the North Carolina coast, random people are aging decades in days and dying within a week. Suspecting some weird new form of radiation, the Pentagon sends its top secret Nuke Response Team Alpha to investigate.

Team chief Colonel Blake Hunter is on vacation in Greece when unknown agents try to kill him and kidnap his young family. What horrifying new weapon have the terrorists created? How can Hunter stop them when his wife and children are in the danger zone?

Reviews:

“Fans of plots with highly competent protagonists and sophisticated technology, such as the James Bond series, should read this book. The vividly depicted action sequences are excellent movie material, and I appreciated the use of functional technology, such as GPS and sensors that tell the protagonist's location and health state, as well as a holographic shield that works as an invisibility cloak. This all-around thrilling story offers readers an opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting and challenging world of a relentless agent on a highly dangerous mission from the comfort of their own homes, as well as appreciate the mundane after exploring the possibility of losing it all in the book. A tremendously captivating and addictive experience!” 

~ Foluso Falaye, San Francisco Book Review

Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

About the Author:

Charles A. Salter has published dozens of fiction and non-fiction books and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the past 4 decades. This is Book One of his new series NUKE RESPONSE TEAM ALPHA.

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Cycles of Norse Mythology by Glenn Searfoss

About the Book:

These stories are old, old as the Behmer Wold and seldom in life has there been such a brewing...

Cycles of Norse Mythology captures the passion, cruelty, and heroism of an ancient world. Encompassing Odin’s relentless pursuit of wisdom across the nine worlds, Gullveig’s malicious death at the hands of the Æsir that sparks a brutal war with the Vanir, Thor’s battles against the giants of Jotunheim, the tragedy of Volund, the many devious machinations of Loki, and the inescapable events of Ragnarök, this lyrical re-imagining of the Norse myths presents the gripping adventures of the Norse gods and their foes in a style to delight modern readers of all ages.

A detailed glossary provides a quick reference to the meaning behind names and terms used in the book. A Source Reference is included for persons who want to delve deeper into the study of Norse mythology.

Reviews:

“Searfoss brilliantly captures the voice of ancient Norse myths through a stunning writing style and characters who deliver astonishing tales about the time of gods and creation. The tales are divided into cycles, with the events occurring based around themes of prophecy, victory, vengeance, premonitions, Ragnarok, and the relationship between gods and men. The stories are brought to life with well-crafted details and vivid characters as Searfoss reimaginines the beginnings of well-known Norse characters. Several of the characters featured include Loki, Thor, Freyja, Sif, and Odin, each of whose origins are explored as well as their victories and struggles.” 

~ Elizabeth Konkel, Seattle Book Review

Full Review

“There are many stories about the Norse realm. Only a few are common and easily accessible. Glenn Searfoss gives readers access to more than just the common ones. The reader gets more dimensions with regards to the characters in the fictional universe. This book is a rewrite of the stories on Norse mythology with a fresh voice and packed with exciting tid bits. The book offers a revamped look at all the suffering, victories and battles of the characters in Norse mythology accompanied by a glossary for a better reading experience.” 

~ Literary Titan

Full Review

Buy the Book – Amazon, Bookshop.org

About the Author:

Engaging storytelling transports the reader to a different time/place/viewpoint and encourages their exploration of a subject.

A professional writer of 30+ years, Glenn Searfoss has authored numerous technical manuals, as well as books in the arenas of computer science, natural history, science fiction, and mythology.

Glenn lives with his wife in a turn-of-the-century, brick farm house in Colorado, USA. When not busy making a living, he gardens, works on the house (there is always something to work on with an old house), reads classic and not-so-classic literature and does research for new book projects.

Edda's and Sagas of the Northland recount epic struggles for control of the world. In this land lost amid the cycles of time, canny gods battle shrewd giants, while valiant heroes struggle against honorable foes. Comprised of over 100 stories, Cycles of Norse Mythology takes the reader on a thrilling exploration of the Norse Universe as the Gods and Giants are exposed in their complex interactions. From creation of the world to its violent ending, this comprehensive re-imagining breathes life and modern relevance into the Norse gods and their foes. Cycles of Norse Mythology is the culmination of 16 years intensive study of Norse myths that involved consuming research literature and story compilations published from the late 1700's to the present. Through engaging, lyrical storytelling, this work presents the author's interpretation of the subject matter. It is frustratingly easy to find out what happened to Odin, Thor, and Loki at Ragnarök, but not the other participants in the battle, nor the goddesses and the animals that populated their world. Delving into this world prompted the inevitable who, what, where, and why questions, which required more background and more tales from earlier in the mythology. So, the scope of this work lengthened over the years to encompass the entire breadth of Norse Mythology.

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Breaking the Stigma: Racism, the Opioid Endemic, Lies, and Inviting Grandma to the Dispensary by Charlena Berry

About the Book:

Are you a dispensary who is looking to increase your sales? Are you a budtender who is looking to advance your career? Are you looking to open a cannabis store in your state? If so, Breaking the Stigma is the book for you!

As a cannabis retailer, you face the same challenges as every business today, but there are more obstacles for you than the local brick-and-mortar shops or dominating online stores.

Being successful means creating a customer experience fueled by a thorough understanding of the consumer. For retailers in the still newly forming cannabis industry, this knowledge only comes from breaking through barriers of a deeply ingrained stigma—one with catastrophic consequences.

In Breaking the Stigma, Fortune 500 business executive Charlena Berry provides a framework for becoming a prosperous cannabis retailer, showing you how to overcome your product’s negative connotations and impart vital, need-to-know truths about your industry. With first-hand experience with the devastating opioid endemic, Charlena’s fight for cannabis’s legitimacy is a personal one. She shares decades of business insight to show you how to gain market share using traditional retail strategies to improve the customer experience and ultimately gain profitability. Insure your business and product sustainability and be part of the solution to society’s deadliest problem with this emotionally driven, fact-based strategy for long-term success.

 Reviews:

“If there ever was a book that could be named the number one how-to guide on starting your own cannabis business, this would be it. This book covers so much more than just the selling of cannabis...Not only does Charlena talk about the stigma of cannabis, she also gives the readers a solution to the problem. Most of the book contains a full business plan of how to create your own cannabis business. This book is like a gold mine for the entrepreneur! With chapters on customer service, leadership, branding, merchandising, omnichannels, marketing, and story operations, Charlena has literally built a business for anyone who wants to give it a shot.” 

~  Kristi Elizabeth, San Francisco Book Review

Full Review

“’The stigma of cannabis is one of the biggest barriers we face as retailers,’ writes Berry, a former Fortune 500 executive who now operates a cannabis business consultancy. This informative book begins with the author’s sobering admission that she got interested in medical marijuana when she witnessed opioid addiction in her own family...Having addressed the negative perceptions and positive impacts of cannabis, Berry turns her attention to the retail side in the book’s remaining chapters. She covers customer relationships, leadership, branding, service, merchandising, omnichannel, marketing, and store operations; in short, it’s a comprehensive menu of what any retailer needs to know, with a specific focus on selling marijuana.” 

~ Kirkus

Full Review

 Buy the Book – Amazon

 About the Author:

Charlena Berry is the author of Breaking the Stigma: Racism, Lies, the Opioid Endemic, and Inviting Grandma to the Dispensary. In this book, she exposes lies that created the stigmas associated with cannabis, and how these stigmas must be addressed to see continued growth in the marketplace. She then outlines a framework that provides key strategies for retailers to implement to improve the customer experience and increase profitability.

Writing from her experiences in the industry, Berry is a global cannabis business executive and the founder of Cannabis Business Growth, a premier cannabis business consulting firm. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in Supply Chain and Retail Operations for Fortune 500 companies like Whirlpool and Office Depot/Office Max.

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The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise

Story Summary:

She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price.

The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel.

Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway.

Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her. The Last Lumenian.

Amazon Link - https://amzn.to/3gUBBcA

Kirkus Review:

A rebellious princess discovers magical abilities that help her take on a powerful enemy in this debut fantasy.

As the king’s daughter, 17-year-old Ma’hana Lilla of the planet Uhna is expected to obey. But Lilla strongly disagrees with her father’s policies, which keep refugees imprisoned in squalid camps even though Uhna is immensely wealthy thanks to mastering technology that’s combined with elemental magic. Lilla joins the rebellion, but events become complicated when Callum a’ruun, a general with the Teryn Praelium, arrives with a delegation. They’re seeking assistance from the 19 worlds of the Pax Septum Coalition, which Uhna leads. Although the Archgoddess of the Eternal Light and Order prevailed last time in the era wars, the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction is again gathering an army of corrupt fiends and servants. Besides politics, Lilla struggles with panic disorder, grief over her mother’s early death, and alarm over the control her new, young stepmother wields over the king. Callum is both irritating and attractive, complicating Lilla’s relationship with Arrov, a pilot who’s joined the rebellion. But all these local and personal difficulties pale beside the undeniable call of Lilla’s true nature, her untapped magical abilities, and her essential role in combating the Archgod. In her novel, Blaise deftly blends Lilla’s approachable, young present-tense voice with sophisticated worldbuilding, seen even in minor details. For example, guards still wear cutlasses because Uhna was founded by pirates, and Lilla’s island home is reflected in her favorite expletive: “Buckets of fishguts!” The plot’s many disparate ingredients—romance, war, politics, magic, technology, family tensions, theology, psychology—meld in a deliciously hearty bouillabaisse, helped by intelligent exposition, surprising revelations, believable conflicts, and strong character development. Everything builds to an exciting, dramatic, and satisfying conclusion.

A terrifically entertaining, complex, and original fantasy.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/s-g-blaise/the-last-lumenian/

AWARDS:

2020 New York Book Festival Winner: Romance Honorable Mention: Science Fiction

2020 San Francisco Book Festival Winner: Science Fiction

2020 Annual Best Book Awards Winner: Best Cover for Fiction

2020 New England Book Festival Winner: Science Fiction

2021 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite: Fantasy

Author Info: S.G. was born in a faraway land of castles, monarchies and fallen dictatorships. Hollywood movies were forbidden under the Soviet oppression during her childhood, but her dad smuggled them in anyway, risking his life so that his children could experience the magic and hope inherent in those stories. She watched rebellions unfold in real time. Journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean for love. She ended up in sunny California, where she is living her dream - writing stories and annoying family members.

Twitter - @SGBlaiseAuthor

Facebook - https://facebook.com/thelastlumenian

Instagram - @sgblaiseofficial

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A Story of Karma by Michael Schauch

Book Summary:

In 2012, Michael Schauch and his wife, Chantal, undertook an expedition deep in the Himalaya of northern Nepal, into a remote valley that had been closed off to outsiders for decades. They led a team of artists (a photographer, a musician, and a painter), with the objective of capturing a moment in time through their unique lenses. As a mountaineering fanatic, Michael had a second (and less conspicuous) goal to climb an unknown mountain he had only identified through a photograph. What unfolded in the mountains forced him to question his values and his own identity, and eventually resulted in meeting a little girl, which was the most profound encounter of his life. Little did either know that from that moment they would completely change the trajectory of each other’s life.

A Story of Karma recounts this journey, and the years that follow as Karma (the little girl), and Michael and Chantal grow their lives together amidst the confusing dichotomies and backdrop of Karma’s 17th-century Himalayan village; the impoverished and polluted Kathmandu; and the modern world of Vancouver, Canada.

Amazon Link - https://amzn.to/3l1KS2F

San Francisco Book Review – 4 Stars

For Michael Schauch, the most influential journey of his life began with a photograph shown to him by a friend while in a restaurant in Vancouver. It was a photograph of a mountain. In Schauch’s mind, it was the mountain: “A perfect pyramid from its southwest aspect, with sheer faces and a striking ridgeline that snaked its way to a spear-tipped summit piercing both cloud and sky.” He had always enjoyed mountain climbing, but this one was different: it won his heart and drew him to it. He was desperate to conquer the mountain and so, accompanied by his wife, Chantal, and a group of friends, he undertook a trip to the Lugula, a sub-range of the Nepalese Himalayas. Unfortunately for Schauch, the weather was against him and he had to abandon the ascent of his dream mountain.

However, that was far from being the end of the story. While staying in the village of Nar, after abandoning his attempt to climb the mountain, Schauch and his group became acquainted with a teacher who told them about the local school and introduced them to its seventeen pupils. One of those pupils was a seven-year-old girl named Karma, who seemed to deputize as the teacher when he could not be bothered to teach. Karma quickly became attached to Schauch and Chantal, and they to her. Recognizing that Karma would never receive the education she both wanted and deserved if she remained in Nar, they offered to fund her education at a boarding school with a Buddhist ethos. And so began a relationship between the Schauchs and Karma and her family that would last for years to come

A Story of Karma is the perfect book for an armchair traveler with an interest in mountaineering and Buddhist philosophy. The first part of the book details Schauch’s discovery of his mountain and then his group’s long, arduous trek through Nepal. From the sights, sounds, and smells of Kathmandu, to the friendly and welcoming resting places they find along the way, to the tragically decaying remote village of Phu, to the mystery and melancholy of long-abandoned Tibetan settlements, Schauch does a great job of bringing the scenery to life and introducing the diverse people he encountered on his journey. His love for the region really shines through.

The second part of the book focuses on the Schauchs’ relationship with Karma and her younger sister Pemba, and on their attempts to ensure that the girls received the education they desired. At first, this involved securing them places at the boarding school, but later, it meant securing visas so that the sisters (with the full approval of their parents) could move to Canada with the Schauchs and continue their education there. There is some interesting information here, and it’s particularly informative to note the differences between approaches to life and education in Nepal and those in Canada, although it is likely of more significance to Schauch than it is to the general reader. Schauch and Chantal clearly had the girls’ best interests at heart, and with that in mind, it would have been nice to know more about the decision that Karma and Pemba should return home and what has happened to them since then.

A Story of Karma is an engaging travel book and an interesting tale of people finding each other in the most unexpected of places. It will prompt readers to consider issues such as tradition vs. modernity, preservation vs. change, and fate vs. destiny. The book also includes a selection of photographs, including some impressive mountain vistas, which serve to enhance the reading experience.

Reviewed By: Erin Britton https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/product/a-story-of-karma-finding-love-and-truth-in-the-lost-valley-of-the-himalaya/

About the Author:

Michael Schauch is a mountaineer, entrepreneur and storyteller who lives to explore remote places around the world and to share the depth and beauty of human connection he discovers along the way.

With early success as an entrepreneur at age 15, and over 20 years of global financial investment experience, Schauch brings his business acumen and altruistic heart to lead and support local and international mentorship, fundraising and educational initiatives. These include the education of girls and student mentorship in Nepal, outdoor youth leadership for those facing barriers to access nature and holistic Indigenous leadership development in British Columbia. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University and is a member of the Explorers Club.

He and his partner in adventure Chantal make their base camp in Squamish, nestled in BC’s rugged Coast Mountains and temperate rainforests.

https://www.michaelschauch.com/astoryofkarma

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Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Ocean's Biggest Secret by Jess Keating, Katie Hickey

This informative biography shows how Marie Tharp, a woman who persevered during a time when women were not viewed as smart enough to be a scientist, made her discoveries known and showed that she was a real scientist. Marie Tharp always loved the ocean and the mysteries it held. During the war when many men were drafted she saw an opportunity to be the scientist she had always wanted to be but there were still limitations for her just because she was a woman. Marie had to chart and plot the data in her office that her male colleagues collected out in the ocean and she made the most amazing discovery. Sadly, no one believed her because she was a woman and she was told to re-check her work. She checked her work again and again and grew to know the bottom of the ocean well. Her work was correct, now if she could just get someone to believe her work, sadly for anyone to invest in her work, a man had to present her work. Once they saw what she had found out they were astonished. This book is beautifully illustrated with bright hues of blues and yellows to capture the beauty of the ocean and the land.

Reviewed By: Liam - Age 8

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Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the World by Paul Fleischman and Melissa Sweet

I would liken Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the Word to Guinness World Records as well as to Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Fleischman includes twenty-six “word enthusiasts” who have had an impact on our language for decades. Examples include a man who has rewritten famous works of art (Shakespeare, the Bible) using only vanity license plates registered in the state of California. Another is the man who invented Star Trek’s Klingon language. While most of the individuals are men, there are a few women included as well. One is a woman who restored an extinct language from only a vision and perseverance. One could say that the individuals had a drive for competition, knowledge, and creativity, and an overall drive to improve the human race.

Alphamaniacs was an informative read, as I had never heard of the people included in this book. Honestly, I first thought I was getting a book about twenty-six wonders of the “world” because of not reading clearly, but I’m thankful for that mistake and find it amusing that my reading error fell in line with the point of the book. Those who enjoy history are sure to like this book, but really, everyone should know the facts given in it.

Reviewed By: Rachel Dehning