Review: A Blazing Gilded Age

Synopsis:

A Blazing Gilded Age is the epic story of a volatile nation burning with ambition, yet bleeding with injustice. It was a time of profound change; boldly transforming from an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse.

Center stage in this turbulent saga, are the Wozniaks; a poor coal mining family struggling to achieve the elusive American dream. Confronted by the evil ways of their ruthless and depraved boss, Archibald Desmond Huxley, the Wozniak family is thrust into utter turmoil, thus igniting a blazing journey of revenge and survival.

During the Wozniaks’ quest, the lavish lifestyle of Huxley and his fellow titans, including J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, Mark Twain and others, are woven into the story line, thus painting a broad and vivid canvas of 19th century America. Springing to life are legendary figures and historic events that accurately depict an era boiling with bravado, innovation and astounding progress, yet blistering with corporate greed, class warfare, and political corruption. After many unexpected twists of fate (some fortuitous and others heartbreaking), the Wozniaks emerge victorious, thus finally achieving the American dream, yet not without scars.

Both powerful and poignant, “A Blazing Gilded Age” serves as an entertaining and enlightening read of how and why America has gone astray, and why it became a world leader. While on a personal level, it imparts the harrowing, yet triumphant, tale of a family’s struggle to survive in an age that, in many ways, was as dark and rough as coal, and, at times, could be as blazing as Hell. 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

A Blazing Gilded Age by Rich DiSilvio is a talented writer. His characters both big and small came alive on the pages. The plot was deep, heartfelt, and thorough. History mixed in with fiction. Made this a new favorite. America wasn’t always great…a lot of bad went with the good. Here, inside this tale, I got to explore the depth in which Americans suffered. Suffered for survival. Power, greed, corruption and progress we’re just several themes mentioned in the book. 

One particular family of low class is mentioned in great detail. They’re not famous. They work like slaves. Slaving for the bigger guys. Hard labor, suffering, and agnogy just to make a few pennies to survive…barely surviving. A Blazing Gilded Age is dark, haunting, and heartbreaking. Child labor, poverty, and loss are featured here in great detail. I felt like I traveled back in time to the late 19th century. Overall, Rich DiSilivio’s latest book is a must read for all. I highly recommend it. 

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Review: Heels, Heartache, & Headlines

Synopsis:

It’s a showdown for the spotlight as Hollywood’s elite Pampered Princesses scramble to outshine each other for the ultimate crown. But being on top is never what it seems…

Heartbroken and humiliated, teen supermodel London Phillips is done with her pity party and ready to move on. But between the mean-spirited media, a shocking realization about her billionaire ex, and a vengeful obsession, London’s discovering that while confessions are good for the soul, deception is so much sweeter… 
When it comes to juggling her cuties, Rich Montgomery is the queen. But now she’s fallen for a bad boy who comes with more drama than she ever did–and her fairytale love affair soon turns into a nightmare. Will she find a way out, or will pride get the best of her? 

Spencer Ellington could teach an advanced class in revenge. So when she’s shunned by her frenemy, Heather Cummings, again, backstabbed by her bestie, Rich, and sucked into her parents’ sordid antics, she’s ready to roll up her designer sleeves and pull out all the stops. After all, frenemies fight. Divas wage war… 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Heels, Heartache, & Headlines by Ni-Ni Simone Amir Abrams is a juicy YA read. A Comtemporary African American piece of literature that speaks real teenage language. The drama is high and the risks…make this a hot read. Nobody likes a diva. After reading this tale, I saw why. All the trouble that comes a diva’s way can turn her faster than a blink of an eye. The three divas inside were different but similar in ways. 

Ni-Ni Simone Amir Abrams has created three realistic queen bees. All trying to win the top place. However, that will prove most difficult as each girl has a secret. That could make or break them. Love enters their worlds and complications arise. Matters will need solving or they’ll escalate further than the girls thought. Betrayal, romance, and frenemies are popular themes found in this entertaining novel. Exes, bad boys, and revenge…are in the air. Heels, Heartache, & Headlines is full of action, drama, and some adult like material. I was fascinated with London’s, Rich’s and Spencer’s lives. One big emotionally exciting ride from beginning to end. Overall, I recommend it to readers. 

Review: Rayna

Synopsis:

Rayna escaped the bordello as a teenager. She meets a Buddhist monk that helps her to learn that life is worth living again. She learns different languages and several studies of martial arts. Rayna also has a secret. Without warning, time will stop moving. Only Rayna is allowed to move in this frozen world. She can not control it, but uses it to her advantage to seek revenge on those that have hurt her.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Rayna by R. K. Marts is a wonderful YA fantasy. One that instantly draws out an emotional attachment to the protagonist. I felt her sadness, anger, and frustrations. Then, the knowledge about her birth mom only led my curiosity out further. 

Rayna is a young girl who spent her entire life in an orphanage. The kids teased her because of her pretty looks. She has never known her mother. Soon, she’s adopted and and that’s where the plot takes a knife to one’s heart. Dark, frightening, and sad. Rayna will experience things girls herage never should have to go through…yet it still happens. From there she escapes and friends a monk. A man who defended her. I wanted to hug the monk. After that the plot spirals readers further on a journey of revenge, discovery, and a mission for truth. 

R. K. Marts’ book was easy to read. Following along, was simple. Danger, violence, sex, arejust a few themes inside this tale. I would recommend this YA read to those eighteen or older due to the adult content. Beside that, the story was powerfully told and engaging to read. I recommend Rayna to readers worldwide. 

Review: Shylock is My Name

Synopsis:

Man Booker Prize-winner Howard Jacobson brings his singular brilliance to this modern re-imagining of one of Shakespeare’s most unforgettable characters: Shylock

 Winter, a cemetery, Shylock. In this provocative and profound interpretation of “The Merchant of Venice,” Shylock is juxtaposed against his present-day counterpart in the character of art dealer and conflicted father Simon Strulovitch. With characteristic irony, Jacobson presents Shylock as a man of incisive wit and passion, concerned still with questions of identity, parenthood, anti-Semitism and revenge. While Strulovich struggles to reconcile himself to his daughter Beatrice’s “betrayal” of her family and heritage – as she is carried away by the excitement of Manchester high society, and into the arms of a footballer notorious for giving a Nazi salute on the field – Shylock alternates grief for his beloved wife with rage against his own daughter’s rejection of her Jewish upbringing. Culminating in a shocking twist on Shylock’s demand for the infamous pound of flesh, Jacobson’s insightful retelling examines contemporary, acutely relevant questions of Jewish identity while maintaining a poignant sympathy for its characters and a genuine spiritual kinship with its antecedent—a drama which Jacobson himself considers to be “the most troubling of Shakespeare’s plays for anyone, but, for an English novelist who happens to be Jewish, also the most challenging.”

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson is a modern rebelling of Willian Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. I truly enjoyed reading this new literary novel. It was fascinating to follow. From the start to end I was enchanted with the characters. Especially, Shylock. There is so much depth to him. This character’s struggles are engaging. Some are easy to understand while others are more complicated. Both internal and external conflicts are shown throughout the read. The other characters, Strulovitch and Zionist add to the tale. Their roles are quite interesting. The modern twist and drama soak up readers into an entertaining adventure filled with humor, betrayal, grief and rejection. Howard Jacobson has indeed captured William Shakespeare’s tale and brought to life a brilliant new masterpiece. This satire will leave readers like myself begging for another book, told by this talented writer. 

Shylock Is My Name is a new compelling piece of fiction that’s fresh, exciting, and keeps readers guessing. The style of writing is easy to read. The pages seem to fly by as readers delve deeper into the story. What I loved about this book, was that Howard Jacobson brought in a culture and heritage that is popular even today. The Jews and hatred towards them. Then there’s the issues of those leaving behind their Jewish heritage. Today, we see a lot of that as well. Other topics like revenge and anger are displayed. Once, I opened this novel, I couldn’t stop reading it at all. Howard Jacobson has a way of drawing his readers to his characters and their lives. Beautifully woven. Overall, I highly recommend Shylock Is My Name to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Faraway North

 

Synopsis:

These ballads convey a fantastic vision of the world as it was imagined in medieval Scandinavia, with monsters and magic intermingled with the very human concerns of heroism, tragedy, love, and revenge.

The great hero Sigurd is joined in this collection by troll-battling warriors including Holger Dane, Orm the Strong, and others. There are dramatic scenes of romance, betrayal, and loss. Some of the ballads translated here are attested by paintings or maps that date from earlier than when the first full ballad texts were first written down in the 1500s. An adventure ballad relevant to the history of an Eddic poem is also included.

The ballads are storytelling songs that were passed down as part of an oral folk music tradition in Scandinavia. This collection brings many new ballads to the English-speaking reader. The readable verse translations succeed in conveying the rhythm, spirit, and imagery of the originals. The translations are mainly based on Swedish and Norwegian ballads, with some from Danish tradition.

For each ballad, there is also a short introduction with commentary and background information.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Faraway North by Ian Cumpstey has set me back to when I was in high school. I remember reading a lot more literature that covered these themes back then. I was excited and enticed. The title brought a lot of thought running through my mind. I wasn’t sure what to expect, until reading it. Ian Cumpstey has won my attention with his brilliant writing style. Adventure after adventure, I was thoroughly entertained. Each ballad, contained action, risks, and sacrifices. Interesting, engaging, and beautifully told. Absolutely, a must read for all. I can’t remember enjoying a piece of literature as much as I have The Faraway North. Overall, this book is highly recommended to readers worldwide.

 

Review: To Love a Lord of London

 

Synopsis:

HER FIRST SEASON AND HER FIRST KISS …

Amy Ott is about to encounter her first season.
Knowing nothing about the workings of corsets and country dances,she’s looking for any help she can find… even when it comes from the most unlikely source…

.

London’s infamous rogue–an older Duke. The Duke of Wardington.

This catches the attention from the most rakish Lord in all of London.
Lord Nathaniel Dawnton knows what he wants.

Amy Ott.

When Nathaniel’s pursuits meet the walls of Amy’s strength, the young lord is ready to jump those walls blindly… even at the expense of reaching something he has been avoiding– his innermost fear. True love.

But once Amy’s dark secrets are out, will the fall have been worth it?

CAN LOVE FORGIVE ALL THINGS?

Miss Catherine Croftman is done with the Marquess of Clariant!
After the publically broken engagement of the century, she has her sights set on finding someone new…

Herself.

Andrew Dawnton is the Marquess of Clariant, the future Duke of Wardington, and he is madly in love with Catherine…
He made her a promise of marriage in their youth, but Catherine’s betrayal prevents the marquess from wanting anything to do with her afterward.

He’s haunted by a past that includes death and outrage, and trusting Catherine again would be a fool’s move.

Is Catherine truly ready to move on?
Will Andrew learn to forgive and keep his word?

CAN ONE EVER TRULY LOVE HER ENEMY?

The night that William, The Earl of Cartridge,was struck over the head changed him forever…
He’s been knocked out by a beautiful thief and plans to seek justice for this crime.

Jane Croftman’s family is wealthy beyond reason,but the land gentry’s daughter is willing to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves… even if that means stealing from members of high society or knocking out an Earl.

Anything for peace.

When William’s revenge turns into hot kisses and help, Jane tries to refuse them both.

Will William find the key to Jane’s freedom before it’s too late?

Will Jane learn to trust William with her life and possibly even her heart?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

To Love a Lord of London is a very entertaining read. A historical regency romance that has three romances combined into one amazing book. I am in love. Eleanor Meyers has once again, delivered a brilliant set of characters that will charm readers into the plot. Each set of characters, carry their own personalities so different from the others that it’s hard to resist such temptations. Each man presented before readers will have their hands full. They will surely be tempted as they women they fall for come into their hearts. Creating a fiery passion and an irresistible read. The emotional journey is engaging. I love following each character over coming their own obstacles. Trust, danger, and revenge can definitely have the opposite effects when carried out…fate can make life much more complicated and risky than originally planned. Never a dull moment in this clean romance. Eleanor Meyers is a new favorite writer of mine. Her words carry the right assortment of pleasures, adventures, and intrigue. Overall, I highly recommend To Love a Lord of London to readers everywhere.

Review: Closure

 

Synopsis:

A moving coming-of-age tale that follows three young boys through adolescence into adulthood, each trying to make sense of a world turned upside down.

Poland (1939)
The German army sweeps across Poland intent on the destruction of an entire people. In a small Polish town, ten-year-old Piotr Kowalczyk’s idyllic world will be forever destroyed.

Croatia (1944)
Young Dino Mitak flees to the freedom of the West as the communist-led Partisans move ever closer to Zagreb.

Australia (1980)
A small boy, already struggling to cope with the loss of a parent, is confronted by a gruesome murder.

From the tranquil foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland, to the Balkans and a simmering feud centuries in the making, to the streets of inner-city Melbourne where histories collide.

These events, generations and worlds apart, are interwoven in a poignant story of grief, hatred, revenge and finally, closure.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Closure by Neil A. White is a brilliant coming of age story that all readers will love. I was glued to the story from page one. Three boys…each one from a different country suffering through loss, grief, and troubled-times. Poland, Croatia, and Australia. It’s hard not to find one’s self drawn to each boy’s story. The danger comes alive. Emotions are formed deeply, creating the connection from readers to the characters. A historical novel that is highly engaging, suspenseful, and intriguing. The plot thickens as the pages are turning. The unknown of terror lies ahead keeps readers guessing. Each of the three boy’s will have the world’s the grew up in lost forever. They will know what pain is and the hardness of life that comes with destruction. Closure is about each character finding a way to close the darkness of their lives and to move forward with life, hope, and love. Neil A. White’s writing is stunning. I look forward to reading more books by him in the future. Overall, I recommend Closure to readers everywhere.

Book Review: Onyx Webb Book 6

 

Synopsis:

Welcome Back to the World of Onyx Webb! This is Book Six. (Episodes 16, 17 & 18)

Haven’t Gotten Entangled Yet? Please Start with Book One.

More questions get answered in Book Six and NEW characters are introduced, several others return.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Six:

1. The serial killer has taken his ultimate prize.
2. In 2010, Koda attempts to find the girl in the mirror by crossing over to the other side.
3. Onyx Webb finally has a new person in her life but like most things, it does not last.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Onyx Webb (book 6) by both Andera Waltz and Richard Fenton is a continuation of the most amazing series on the planet. Once more readers are taken into this multi-genre suspenseful journey. A journey that swallows up readers and drags them into the action-filled scenes. Death, murder, and paranormal activity followed every page. Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton have brought another masterfully woven tale to all. The characters are three-dimensional and will have readers hanging onto the edge of their seats trying to piece it all together. Characters like Onyx, Koda, Catfish, and Declan are also inside this 6th book. I loved following each episode with each group of characters. I felt like I was actually there going through it all instead of just reading along. The talent the writers have goes up and beyond. The anticipation of each new book is absolutely worth the wait. Onyx Webb Series (book 6) continues being held as my favorite drama adventure read. Overall, I highly recommend this compelling fictional world to readers worldwide.

 

Review: A Hero of France

 

Synopsis:

From the bestselling master espionage writer, hailed by Vince Flynn as “the best in the business,” comes a riveting novel about the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris.

1941. The City of Light is dark and silent at night. But in Paris and in the farmhouses, barns, and churches of the French countryside, small groups of ordinary men and women are determined to take down the occupying forces of Adolf Hitler. Mathieu, a leader of the French Resistance, leads one such cell, helping downed British airmen escape back to England.

Alan Furst’s suspenseful, fast-paced thriller captures this dangerous time as no one ever has before. He brings Paris and occupied France, to life, along with courageous citizens who outmaneuver collaborators, informers, blackmailers, and spies, risking everything to fulfill perilous clandestine missions. Aiding, Mathieu as part of his covert network are Lisette, a seventeen-year-old student, and courier; Max de Lyon, an arms dealer turned nightclub owner; Chantal, a woman of class and confidence; Daniel, a Jewish teacher fueled by revenge; Joëlle, who falls in love with Mathieu; and Annemarie, a willful aristocrat with deep roots in France, and a desire to act.

As the German military police heighten surveillance, Mathieu and his team face a new threat, dispatched by the Reich to destroy them all.

Shot through with the author’s trademark fine writing, breathtaking suspense, and intense scenes of seduction and passion, Alan Furst’s A Hero of France is at once one of the finest novels written about the French Resistance and the most gripping novel yet by the living master of the spy thriller.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Wow…immediately this powerful novel intrigues readers’ senses with fear, courage, and revenge. Alan Furst knows exactly what his readers expect and what they will want to read. His talent is found on every page of this fast-paced thriller. I loved how Alan Furst created a masterpiece surrounding the events of World War II. History fans will definitely enjoy reading this spy novel. As with all wars…the stakes are much higher in this war than any other. One of the world’s most evil dictators is behind all the murders, chaos, and fear that spreads like wildfire through France and the rest of Europe. A Hero of France brings to life one of the most popular historical moments of all time…World War II. Hitler is rising…and many brave souls are determined to bring down the Nazi leader. But it will be more than just going for justice…it’s revenge.  The sacrifices that will tear at readers’ hearts.

A Hero of France is about a man who leads a group of people in a resistance against the Nazis and to bring down Adolf Hitler. Going after this goal will prove difficult since they are all under surveillance. Members are separated and taken and it will take everything they have to come out of it all alive. The suspense builds as readers turn the pages. Every moment could be the destruction of them all. Amazing how one man was capable of changing his appearance so much that no one could recognize him at all. It made the Nazis search for him rather hard. Then there’s the romance…or true love between Joelle and Mathieu, the leader of the rebel group. He promises to come back to her and their home…but he must continue on his journey of getting out alive.  Danger…the threat of death is strong enough to keep readers guessing what will happen to or what happened to the some of the members. Some disappeared so well…that there are only rumors of what may have happened to them. The ending was brilliant…I enjoyed reading this historical thriller, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

 

 

 

 

Rveview: Onyx Webb Series (Book 5)

 

Synopsis:

Readers of the series will see the web tighten in this book, the past and present are slowly starting to catch up to each other and shocking connections continue to be made.

Onyx Webb is a complex multi-genre mash-up that combines elements of supernatural suspense, crime, horror, romance, and more. The Onyx Webb series follows the unusual life of Onyx Webb along with a central group of characters in various locations and times.

The billionaire Mulvaney family, piano prodigy Juniper Cole and her brother Quinn, paranormal show hosts Cryer and Fudge, and a few others make up the core of the series. Written like a book version of your favorite tv series (think: supernatural soap opera like American Horror Story) each character’s story moves forward with most every episode. It may appear that the characters are entirely unrelated and yet episode by episode, the connections will become clearer. Like being an inch away from a spider web, with each book, the web will move further and further away revealing the full story of every character and most importantly, the stunning conclusion for Onyx Webb herself.

In Book Five:

1. It’s the 1980’s and Bruce Mulvaney starts his own family while a killer watches from afar.
2. It’s 2010, and the Mulvaney’s are dealing with Koda’s accident.
3. Onyx Webb fights to keep her way of life.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Onyx Webb Series (Book 5) by both Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz continues to have it all. Suspense, intrigue, and murder as well as romance, ghosts, and revenge…are all inside each and every book. I have fallen in love with the Onyx Webb Series. It’s addictive. Characters such as Onyx, Declan, Koda and many others bring a variety and freshness that readers like myself don’t get when reading any other fictional series. There are a serial killer…tons of money involved, and a whole lot of drama that kept me deeply lured on every page. The plot as always is fast-paced and full of action. Never a dull moment inside this series. The characters are always doing something that releases a chain of events that affect others in the tale. Greed, love, and an emotional journey that has once again blown me away. Both Richard Fenton and Andrea Waltz are the best writers when it comes to hooking readers’ attention and entertaining them throughout every page as well as every book. I can’t get enough of what happens next…I loved reading this latest title and look forward to reading more by these writers in the future. Overall, I highly recommend Onyx Webb (book 5) to readers worldwide. Once you pick this up to read, you will be begging to read more.

 

 

Review: The Dove’s Necklace

 

 

Synopsis:

The stunning novel that explores the secret life of Mecca by the first woman to win the international prize for Arabic fiction.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in the Lane of Many Heads, an alley in modern-day Mecca, no one will claim it as they are all ashamed of her nakedness. As Detective Nasser pursues his investigation of the case, seemingly all of Mecca chimes in―including the Lane of Many Heads itself―in this brilliant, funny, profane, and enigmatic fever dream of a novel by Raja Alem, the first woman to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

Nasser initially suspects that the dead woman is Aisha, one of the residents of the Area, and he searches her emails for clues. The world she paints embraces everything from crime and religious extremism to the exploitation of foreign workers by a mafia of building contractors, who are destroying the historic areas of the city. In stark relief with this grimness is the beauty of her love letters to her German boyfriend. Another view reveals the city through the eyes of Yusuf, Aisha’s neighbor, increasingly frustrated by the acceleration pace of change.

As gripping as classic noir, nuanced as a Nabokov novel, and labyrinthine as the alleys of Mecca itself, this powerful and disturbing work of fiction masterfully reveals a city and a civilization in all its contradictions, at once beholden to brutal customs and uneasily coming to terms with new traditions. Raja Alem’s singular The Dove’s Necklace is a virtuosic work of literature that deserves the world’s attention.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

The Dove’s Necklace by Raja Alem is a captivating novel that will lure all readers to its great depth. A mystery that intrigues the soul to flip its pages in a haste to find out its secrets. What lies deep in this novel is a history that will blow readers away with every word. Raja Alem is indeed a talented writer with a way of bringing, to life, the murder, customs, and investigation that is portrayed in this stunning tale. The point of view is enjoyable. Told from an alley way’s point of view…was a brilliant idea. This sets readers, onto a journey, that will keep them hooked until the last page. Ever wondered about the city of Mecca and what secrets it keeps or the lives of the people? The Dove’s Necklace masterfully covers these and many more interesting questions that will surely rise as readers keep digging deeper into this powerful story.

Inside this riveting tale, The Dove’s Necklace, opens readers to the place where the danger and mystery begin. It’s also a place with tons of history such as wars, kingdoms, and customs that keep one’s mind buzzing with action. Raja Alem’s story is about love and revenge. Soon, readers are taken where a dead woman’s body lies…not only is she dead but also completely nude. No one knows the woman’s name…this scene and the people’s reaction to the dead woman’s body intrigues readers deeply. Who is she? Why her? Who killed her and why left nude? These questions and many others are answered but  will keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats as they rush through the pages with a burning intensity to find out the answers. I loved reading this Arabic story. Traveling all the way to Mecca without so much as leaving my seat was amazing. The raw beauty of the novel will hold readers in like prisoners…Intriguing, dramatic, and suspenseful…The Dove’s Necklace is a must read for all. Giving readers worldwide a glimpse into one of the most famous cities of all time.

 

Review: Murder at the 42nd Street Library

 

Synopsis:

This first book in an irresistible new series introduces librarian and reluctant sleuth Raymond Ambler, a doggedly curious fellow who uncovers murderous secrets hidden behind the majestic marble façade of New York City’s landmark 42nd Street Library.

Murder at the 42nd Street Library follows Ambler and his partners in crime-solving as they track down a killer, shining a light on the dark deeds and secret relationships that are hidden deep inside the famous flagship building at the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

In their search for the reasons behind the murder, Ambler and his crew uncover sinister, and profoundly disturbing, relationships among the scholars studying in the iconic library. Included among the players are a celebrated mystery writer who has donated his papers to the library’s crime fiction collection; that writer’s long-missing daughter, a prominent New York society woman with a hidden past, and more than one of Ambler’s colleagues at the library. Shocking revelations lead inexorably to the traumatic events that follow—the reading room will never be the same.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

 

Murder at the 42nd Street Library by Con Lehane is one that readers can’t miss. Librarians as sleuths…takes on an interesting role in a crime mystery novel. This is the first novel in a new series that makes tracking down a killer intriguing.

Con Lehane’s new crime mystery, Murder at the 42nd Street Library, will lead readers to a string of murders, a woman wanting revenge, and three generations of criminals. Readers will be kept guessing as the clues are pieced together and the truth starts to unravel. The scenes are intense with action, drama, and danger on every page. A woman abused my several men wants revenge, but then she is killed by a man whom she also had information on…and now, trying to piece together the whole mystery before another murder happens will be like racing against time itself. Internal conflict, criminals with too much to lose, and jealousy will keep readers turning the pages in a rush to find out what happens next. The writing is full of mayhem even on the last page. Murder at 42nd Street Library is a rare and complex crime mystery that once readers dig into it, it becomes addictive. Overall, I would recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Review: What Lies Between Us

Synopsis:

In the idyllic hill country of Sri Lanka, a young girl grows up with her loving family; but even in the midst of this paradise, terror lurks in the shadows. When tragedy strikes, she and her mother must seek safety by immigrating to America. There the girl reinvents herself as an American teenager to survive, with the help of her cousin; but even as she assimilates and thrives, the secrets and scars of her past follow her into adulthood. In this new country of freedom, everything she has built begins to crumble around her, and her hold on reality becomes more and more tenuous. When the past and the present collide, she sees only one terrible choice.

From Nayomi Munaweera, the award-winning author of Island of a Thousand Mirrors, comes the confession of a woman, driven by the demons of her past to commit a single and possibly unforgivable crime.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera completely transports readers into a whole new world. A world, similar to our own but holds a much more poetic dark sad tune. Love, death, pain, and loss…are themes that ring throughout this beautifully told, story. What Lies Between Us is indeed a perfect fitting for this novel. The death of a child is what lies between a husband and his wife. Every page is powerful told with raw emotions that will sweep over readers and consume them whole. Anger, resentment, truth, and a numb like pain that will flow from the pages into readers’ hearts. The beginning drags readers in quickly, the middle leaves readers floored, and the ending leaves readers breathless. The beauty and ugliness of life all wrapped up in the end…makes for a brilliant tale.

Inside What Lies Between Us, Nayomi Munaweera introduces us to the confessions of one woman. A mother of an innocent child…the wife of a great man…what transpires will cause readers to cry and to feel emotional as the journey of truth unfolds before them. This was the first novel, I have read by this talented writer. Her words of jealousy, mayhem, and revenge will intrigue readers worldwide. A dark thrilling tale of suspense that will leave readers happy that they did not miss reading it. The main character is definitely a heartbreaker…I highly recommend this cultural novel to all. Once readers open it, it will capture both their minds and hearts.

 

Review: Her Sweetest Revenge

 

Synopsis:

Mya Bedford’s hopes for a normal life, free from the hustle, seem more distant than ever when her best friend’s fiancé is shot, Mya’s husband is thrown back into the game, and a ruthless new crew hits the streets of Detroit. But there’s one bright spot: Mya’s father, Lester, has suddenly been released from prison. It seem like love is even blossoming again between Mya’s parents…

Mya can’t undo the past, but she can do her best to help her dad get his future back on track. The trouble is, the streets don’t forget, and the worst is yet to come. Soon Mya’s world is shattered in the bloody crossfire of someone else’s payback. Now, through the most bitter of tears, it’s time for her sweetest revenge…

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

Her Sweetest Revenge is the most enticing read yet by Saundra. Inside her third novel, readers will be hooked on the crazy drama world unfolding before them. Things never go they way we want them to, instead fate brings us a whole lot of trouble. Speaking of trouble, Saunder’s main character, Myra Bedford, goes through on hell of a rollercoaster ride. One ride no of us want to go through and yet Myra is pulled deep into it. One person shot, a husband, and a father back from being locked up sends a lot for one woman to handlle. But can Myra handle all that has been dished onto her plate or will her sweetest revenge go wrong? Definitely an intriguing read that readers will love. I highly recommend Saunder’s latest masterpiece, Her Sweetest Revenge.

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Chapter One

Nothing but numbers everywhere. Dead bodies could be found every place you looked. Those that survived were either barley hanging on or buried under many who were dead. Bombs, machine guns, and terrorists were to blame. It’s no longer just fear foreigners, but fear your neighbors and now family members. People were so easily turned to the other side. No one wanted to die. Yet so many were killed. Torture and rape were only used on those that were liked by the terrorists. And even then they killed you.

One way to survive the attacks was to go into hiding or hide behind those that were already dead. So that the evil men and their weapons wouldn’t find you. But, it was getting harder and harder to hide. No place nor stone left unturned. Terrorists could be anyone. Someone who you knew your entire life could suddenly be one of them. In order to live they would turn on others they loved or ever cared about. Like my brother. He disappeared when the terrorists first came then he suddenly popped up looking real bad. He was tortured. We took him in without hesitation and helped him heal…only to have been traded in… his life for ours. Apparently, he thought sacrificing our lives was the best choice. Unfortunately, he didn’t think the terrorists would kill him after they killed us. Mom, Dad, and CeCe were killed in a shoot out. I wasn’t there because I went to help a friend. I came back home to find my family’s car outside on the street. Their bodies were shot in multiple spots. My brother’s body wasn’t there. I went into the house. On the living room wall was the word traitor written in what looked like blood. Then, stepping further in, I saw my brother’s body. He was shot too, but still fighting death.

Leaning over him. I told him it’s going to be okay. But he kept trying to talk. I leaned closer. I killed them. I killed…them…sorry…then he stilled. No more fighting. Just dead. My whole family was dead.

I felt like crying. But the terrorists were not done. They wanted to finish my family off, and so far, I was still alive, walking and breathing. I was very much alive and that ruined their happy side, if such a side ever existed. Nothing but evil existed in their black souls. I only had seconds to get out before a bomb exploded. I barely made it out. Guns were going… I laid as flat as possible. Thankfully, the sky was getting dark and, just like the night, I would flee as far as my legs would carry me. Home was no longer safe. Nothing to keep me fighting at home. If my home was targeted so were neighbors. There had to be way to stop the terrorists. There has to a plan and there was only one way to defeat the bad guys…Numbers.

Numbers as in an army that would stand united against all evil.

But, for now, I had to run deep and as far away as possible. Only time will tell when those numbers will be found and put together. Life or death hung in the air. I chose life. If that meant hiding until the right time, then so be it. I will be ready to fight them. To take from them like they took from me.

Today’s Writing

Write about what happens when your character who is a high school student gets into a car with his or her friends. Once they get into that car on that day, they will never be coming back.  

 

– Write about how their is a love triangle connected to this high school student’s death.

– Who committed the murder and why? What are each one of the friends motives?

– Write about how a trial comes to start. Does evidence from the prosecutor prove that one of the guilty is innocent? Why? And how? What other shocking truths come out in the court room? How are the parents of the missing teen holding up?

– Was the death really over someone the missing teen loved or was it more gruesome than that?

– Has this type of violence been happening before in the same area? 

– Where was the missing teen’s body? What new evidence comes to light?

– What sinister things are about to occur, now that the body has been found?

– Will someone pose as the missing teen and kill others? Saying it was the ghost coming back for revenge? How much is truth and how much are lies?